Monthly Archives: April 2016

Reformation Atlas IPA

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reformation-atlas

I’ve been spending a lot of time in Georgia for the past year, and as that time comes to a close, I’m going to try to review a few more local Georgia beers before I lose access. Today is Atlas IPA, from Reformation Brewery in Woodstock, GA. It’s am American IPA with lemon and a bit of bread and pine in the nose. The middle is peppery, with lemon and orange, and some orange and pine in the finish. A really nice, well done IPA that doesn’t stand out from the crowd and is an easy drinker. The body is medium, and the alcohol is 6.8% ABV.

I give it a 3.9 out of 5.

Allagash Tripel Ale

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allagash-tripel

I’ve done several Allagash reviews lately, and there are more to come, but tonight’s brew is their Tripel ale. It’s a beautiful bottle-conditional standard Belgian Tripel, with yeast, honey, and fruit in the nose. The middle is fruity with pear and grape notes dominating. The finish is sweet and silky, with just a hint of pepper at the end. It’s an outstanding example, perfectly executed, one of the best of the style. The body is medium to heavy, and alcohol is stout at 9.0% ABV.

I give it a 4.7 out of 5.

Stochasticity Project HiFi+LoFi Mixtape

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stochasticity-project-hifi-lofi

From Stone’s Stochasticity Project, HiFi+LoFi Mixtape is a blend of fresh strong ale with ale that’s been aged for three months in oak. According to Stone, this was a common practice when fresh stock ale was smoky and bitter, it would be mixed with ale that had aged and mellowed to make it more drinkable. I don’t know about the old stuff, but Stone’s version is definitely drinkable. The nosy is slightly yeasty with lemon, and maybe just a tiny hint of oak. The middle is deliciously full of flavor ranging from sweet apple to creamy butter, and bitter pine. The finish is bready and slightly sweet. The body is medium and the alcohol is stiff-ish, at 8.8% ABV. I love barrel aged ales, and this is no exception.

I give it a 4.4 out of 5.

Allagash Black

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allagash-black

Allagash calls Black a Belgian-style stout, brewed with roasted and chocolate malt and caramelized candi sugar. The nose has a bit of coffee and dark fruit. The middle is silky smooth and bready. It’s brown sugary sweet, but only mildly so; not too sweet. Coffee and chocolate rise in the finish. The body is medium to heavy, and the alcohol is high for a stout, but not for a Belgian at 7.5% ABV. A beautifully executed stout, in all, and lovely to drink.

I give it a 4.6 out of 5.

Howe Sound Diamond Head Oatmeal Stout

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howe-sound-diamond-head

Diamond Head is a traditional Oatmeal Stout from the fine folks of Howe Sound Brewing in beautiful British Columbia, and I love a good Oatmeal Stout. The nose has roasted grain and caramel. The middle is smooth and silky as an Oatmeal Stout should be, and bready and toasty with hints of coffee and oatmeal. The finish is dry, as the oatmeal kicks up and the sweetness in the middle disappears. The body is light to medium and the alcohol level is 5% ABV. A really nice, classic Oatmeal Stout.

I give it a 4 out of 5.

Unibroue Raftman

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unibroue-raftman

Raftman is a Belgian Pale Ale from Unibroue, made with smoked whiskey malts. The nose is floral, yeasty and bready, with a bit of lemon. The middle is fruity and light. Banana, apple, and pear are here. I have to say, I’m not picking up any smokiness from the malt at all. The finish is more of the same. The body is medium, and the alcohol is a pleasant 5.5% ABV. A nice refreshing beer that would be great for summer.

I give it a 4 out of 5.

Allagash Confluence (2015)

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allagash-confluence

Confluence is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale, dry hopped and fermented with Brettanomyces. The fact that it is dry-hopped does not mean this is a “hoppy” beer, and in fact, in traditional Belgian style it is the malt and yeast on display here. Even though this is a “strong” pale ale, it’s certainly on the lighter side for a Belgian, and for Allagash. The head is foamy and quite pronounced. The nose is quite faint, and has some grape and pear notes. I didn’t catch much else. In the middle are strong pear flavors and a bit of lemon. This continues into the finish with the pear fading and the lemon rising, and some pepper entering the mix to spice things up. The body is medium to heavy, and the alcohol is a reasonable 7.1% ABV.  A nice, clean, very well done beer.

I give it a 4.2 out of 5.

Green Flash Le Freak

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green-flash-le-freak

On the bottle, Le Freak is described as a “Belgian Imperial IPA.” The Green Flash website expands a bit, explaining that it’s a hybrid of a Belgian Tripel and an American Imperial IPA. Interesting. The head is beautiful. Big and velvety, and it lasts for minutes. The nose is distinctively Belgian, with loads of fruit. The hybrid nature comes through in the middle with something I might describe as a battle between the sweet and complex Belgian, which is definitely here in full force, and the strong bitter west-coast style IPA that Green Flash is known for, which is just as present. There are spices, cherry, plum, pine, orange and grapefruit all mingling and alternately coming to the fore. The finish has some bitter citrus rind from the IPA, but is more Belgian in character with marmalade and a bit of licorice. The body is quite full and heavy, and the alcohol is 9.2% ABV, about what you’d expect for this style of ale. It’s probably not the next big thing, but it’s a fun mix, certainly enjoyable if you like the component styles, and well executed.

I give it a 4.2 out of 5.