Well, we're back. This site really has a thirst (pun intended) for punishment, it seems. It used to be profiles of every brewery at SAVOR, which we backed off of this year, but for the second year in a row we bring you power rankings of the beers at Snallygaster. Snallygaster, the sixth annual beer festival brought to you by the Neighborhood Restaurant Group, has risen up the ranks to become one of the best beer festivals in the United States. The beer list this year really raises the bar and includes both whales, hyped breweries, and fan favorites.
With over 400 beers available, it can be really tough to know what to pick. Fortunately, the DCBeer team (and some friends) have combed through the list and ranked the beers. Like last year, "what we've done here is think about what our predilections would be on the day of. Which beers would we be most likely to shell out tickets for? This takes into consideration a great number of things: the esteem in which we hold a brewery, our relative style preferences, our understanding of a given beer's reputation, ABV, cost, availability (we're not, by and large, going to Snallygaster to drink things we can typically get). In some cases, but not all, we've consulted rating sites like Untappd, Beer Advocate, and RateBeer [and we thank each of these sites for being great resources]. In some cases we've consulted the breweries websites. What we've cobbled together is a rough approximation of our relative preference for the beers that will be available." Note that not al lof us have had all of these beers. We make no claim to that effect (it would be extraordinary if we had). Instead, we're using the factors above and our preferences to make our own lists.
How did we go about doing this? There were two rounds of rankings. Each beer was ranked 1 to 5 according to each scorer's personal preference and predilection for ordering. We then produced a Round 1 average across all scorers, rounded that score to the nearest integer, and ranked beers again within each bucket for Round 2, 1-5. So each of the 4's from Round 1 was ranked 1-5 compared to the other 4's, then the same with 3's, 2's, 1's. We then averaged each beer's Round 2 scores and sorted descending by Round 1 and then Round 2 scores. Because of rounding, the absolute position of a beer is probably less meaningful than its relative position in the list, so keep that in mind.
Big thanks to some folks whose expertise we relied on this year (Donnie and Bruce), DC beer writer extraordinaire Phil Runco, and of course your DCBeer team (Paul, Tony, Jake, Mike and yours truly). It's a heavy lift to do the power rankings, but it's a labor of love for all of you. Obviously this is not scientific, so don't come beating down our Twitter accounts for not putting your favorite IPA at #57 instead of #55. Make your own power rankings. Want to chat rationally about what you think we got wrong or under- or overranked? Let us know on Twitter at @DCBeer! We'd love to hear from you.
A few last things before we finally get to it:
1. I'm realizing that I should've merged in the location of each beer for this list. I'll try to get a downloadable PDF/Excel together with both our rankings and all of the information provided in the sheet from the folks at Snallygaster. Look for that tomorrow in this space. Sorry, that was an oversight on my part.
2. We've tried to be sensitive to last minute changes to the beer list, but exceptions and mistakes will occur. If there's something on here that doesn't make it to Snally, remember that it's just beer, there are at least 399 other options.
3. No hard feelings, breweries. It's not that we don't like you or your beers (generally, at least), this is the nature of power rankings.
4. Where you see commentary with multiple voices, you're looking at the internal discussion around that beer. In some cases commentary is tagged, in some cases, it's not. In any case it's some insight into our feelings on the beer. Enjoy!
5. There's a lot of snark in here, but the list at Snallygaster really is an embarassment of beer riches that we shouldn't take for granted. Kudos to Greg, Tim, and the NRG team for putting this together.
6. Want to join in the fun? Tickets are still available.
All that said, awaaaaaaaay we go! Have fun and be safe at Snally!
—
1. Mahr's: Ungespundet Hefetrüb (Kellerbier / 5.2%)
Description: Mahr’s Brau Ungespundet Hefetrub It pours with a big, creamy, long-lasting, head; has a golden-bronze color; a wonderfully fresh, perfumy; hop aroma; a remarkably smooth, almost oily, malty, palate; very fresh flavours; and a spritzy finish. It is beautifully balanced, but leans to the dry side. This is a delicious, appetising beer and a true taste of Germany’s fast-vanishing artisanal tradition.
Commentary: The German kegs the NRG team brings to this event are probably your best value. Nothing flashy, just really well-made beer without having to wait in line, and your best bet for having something like a session at this beer fest. Get a full pour of one of these or any gravity keg between waiting in lines for overhyped jooce.
2. Suarez Family: Look No Further (Pale Ale / 4.8%)
Commentary: This is an excellent brewery well worth checking out here.
3. Cigar City: Hunahpu's Imperial Stout (Imperial Stout (w/ Cacao Nibs, Chilies, Cinnamon & Vanilla) / 11.5%)
Description: In Mayan mythology, Hun Hunahpu was the father of the Mayan hero twins Hunahpu and Xbalanque. Hun Hunahpu, along with his brother Vucub Hunahpu, was tricked by the Dark Lords of the underworld and slain. Hun Hunahpu’s corpse morphed into a cacao tree, his head becoming a cacao pod, which in typically awesome mythology fashion, spit upon the hand of a young maiden named Xiquic who promptly became pregnant with the hero twins. The twins would ultimately grow up to avenge their father and uncle and defeat the Dark Lords and ascend the heavens to become the moon and sun. We brew Hunahpu’s® Imperial Stout once a year on the second Saturday in March. We will continue to do so until the end of the cycle.
Commentary: There aren't a lot of these kinds of beers (barrel-aged stouts) worth the hype. This one is. Massive, but somehow well balanced considering what goes into brewing it.
4. Melvin: Hubert (Pale Ale / 6%)
Commentary: Anything Melvin does in the pale ale or IPA category is well above average.
5. Other Half: Double Dry-Hopped Southernhopalistic (IPA (Double Dry-Hopped) / 7.5%)
Description: Topaz, Wakatu, and Nelson Sauvin hops
6. Weißenohe: Classic Bioland (Dortmunder Lager (Gravity Keg) / 5%)
7. Modern Times: Critical Band (IPA / 6.7%)
8. Allagash: Pick Your Own (Foeder-Aged Sour Red Ale (w/ Raspberries, Cherries, Strawberries & Blueberries) / 6.2%)
Description: Pick Your Own begins as a sour red ale that’s aged in an oak foudre with Lactobacillus and Pediococcus for two years. After adding fresh, local raspberries, cherries, strawberries, and blueberries, we age it for an additional three months. The finished beer is a vibrant, ruby red with an aroma of ripe berries and vanilla. As you might expect, berries fill the flavor. Pick Your Own finishes dry with notes of bread crust and a lingering, tart juiciness.
Commentary: If you haven't had an Allagash foeder-aged sour, this is good start. PYO isn't one you see regularly (which is why it's ranked higher than Avance, which is also delicious).
9. Oliver: Tuppence: Bourbon Barrel-Aged w/ Black Currants (Barrel-Aged Porter (Bourbon; w/ Brettanomyces & Black Currants) / 6%)
Commentary: The original Tuppence – a Brett-fetmented "Old World Porter" from Oliver and Stillwater – was an wonderfully odd, underrated gem. For this new iteration, Oliver mastermind Stephen Jones pitched some Ringwood ale yeast in addition to Brett, resulting in a beer he says has more body and lower ABV. Throw that in some bourbon barrels with some black currants, and you've got something very much intriguing.
10. The Veil: Crucial Taunt ^3 (Imperial IPA (Triple Dry-Hopped) / 8%)
Description: Crucial Taunt cubed is the TRIPLE dry-hopped version of our 8% house DIPA Crucial Taunt. This is the most hops we've put in a beer so far. This one is seriously insane. Incredibly complex and saturated hop character with virtually no bitterness.
11. Triple Crossing: Division Order (Imperial IPA / 8%)
Description: This is an explosively pungent Double IPA with aromatic notes of peach, pineapple, mango and white wine. Featured hops are Galaxy, Amarillo, El Dorado and Simcoe.
Commentary: Recently visited their original downtown Richmond location – the aroma/flavor description is accurate (minus the expected marketing punch-up), and it was an excellent beer. (BW)
12. Holy Mountain: Demonteller (Foeder-Aged Saison (Mixed Fermentation) / 5%)
Description: A MIXED CULTURE SAISON HOPPED WITH GALAXY AND MOSAIC. DEMONTELLER WAS FERMENTED AND AGED IN ONE OF OUR FOUDRES, CREATING A DELICATE OAK CHARACTER THAT BALANCES OUT A SUBTLE ACIDITY.
Commentary: Holy Mountain is the Right Proper of the West Coast. Or maybe RP is the Holy Mountain of the East Coast. In any event foeder-aged saison with Galaxy is squarely in the wheelhouse of things I expect to be great from HM.
13. Mahr's: Hell (Helles Lager / 4.9%)
14. Kulmbacher: Mönchshof Kellerbier (Kellerbier / 5.4%)
15. Weißenohe: Altfränkisch Klosterbier (Kellerbier (Gravity Keg) / 5%)
16. Burial: Allegory of Gluttony & Lust (Imperial IPA / 8.5%)
Description: Welcome to your subconscious. Made with Mosaic, Styrian Wolf, Motueka, and Ella hops.
Commentary: Is this a beer or my Xanga after Thanksgiving dinner with my family?
17. Kulmbacher: Mönchshof Schwarzbier (Schwarzbier / 4.9%)
18. Pen Druid: Mars (Brett IPA / 6.8%)
Description: WILD IPA fermented with our "Flower" culture of native yeasts. Made with VA-grown barley, spelt and oats malted by Copper Fox Distillery. Dry hopped with a MEGABLEND of hops. Dry as a bone and a thing of floral beauty. So so so refreshing!
Commentary: Pen Druid isn’t getting into DC too much, so if you’re new to the brews from this Virginia farm brewery, here’s your shot.
19. Zehendner: Mönchsambacher Lagerbier (Kellerbier / 5.5%)
20. Weißenohe: Kloster Sud (Helles Lager (Gravity Keg) / 5.4%)
21. Ocelot: Time After Time (IPA /)
Description: Hopped with Citra and Cascade.
Commentary: Ocelot makes the region's best IPAs. (Come @ me, bro: @philrunco.) At a bar, at a festival, wherever you can find it: You get the new Ocelot IPA. It doesn't even matter what the specific varietals are – in this case, Citra and Cascade – because no one coaxes flavors from hops like Ocelot.
22. Burial: Crystal Sphere (Imperial IPA / 8.3%)
Description: The bounty of Earth's wonder is at our fingertips. So we made this round and rich Double IPA with fresh peaches and honey, and double dry-hopped with Amarillo, Simcoe, and Azacca hops
Commentary: The idea of peaches + Simcoe is…a little disconcerting, but in a sea of DDH DIPAs, at least this one has a twist.
23. Melvin: Drunken Master (Imperial IPA / 9.5%)
24. Ocelot: Done, Done, On to the Next One (IPA)
Description: Hopped with Motueka & Azacca.
Commentary: Ocelot founder Adrien Widman recently told me that Done, Done On to the Next One was "coming along real nice." When it comes to Widman – a brewer with a penchant for humility and understatement – that's about as close as he comes to admitting a beer is probably a five-alarm banger.
25. Other Half: Vic Secret + Mosaic (Imperial IPA / 5%)
26. The Veil: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Sleeping Forever (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (Bourbon) / 13.2%)
Description: 12% anniversary imperial stout with a small portion of 2016 bourbon barrel aged Sleeping Forever blended in.
27. The Veil: We Ded Mon (Imperial IPA / 11%)
Description: We Ded Mon is the natural progression in our Broz series. You start off with a nice little Broz Day Off(IPA), which leads into a Broz Night Out(DIPA), that ultimately reaches a point that We Ded Mon(TIPA). Clocking in at 11%, we hopped this triple IPA just like the rest of the series with 100% Citra hops
Commentary: You all really want to be out here drinking a beer that comes from "Broz Night Out"? Are you some kind of caricature? (The name is blah, but the beer is nice – BW)
28. Casey: Cherry Fruit Stand: Bing (Barrel-Aged Saison (w/ Cherries) / 5.5%)
Commentary: I had an excellent cherry beer (Casey Family Preserves) from them a couple of years ago during a GABF weekend, and would expect this to be more balanced and just as good. (BW)
29. Port City: Red Wine Barrel-Aged Colossal Six (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (Red Wine) / 10.2%)
Description: Port City’s limited edition sixth anniversary ale. Inky black with a tan cap, the beer bursts with notes of cocoa powder, freshly roasted coffee, and leather. Delicious from the day it's packaged, the limited edition COLOSSAL SIX is designed to age well, enabling beer drinkers to enjoy its evolution over the course of months and years
Commentary: Here is one you won't really find around town. Red wine-barrel-aged imperial stout is something of an outlier for what you'd expect from the folks at PCBC.
30. Pen Druid: Gamelan Vibes (Saison (Mixed-Fermentation) / 7.2%)
Description: The first edition of a two-part release collaboration with Hof Ten Dormaal. This beer also was our inaugural wood-fired batch with VA wild yeast, barrel-fermented VA Oats, 2-row and wheat. VA Farmhouse Blonde lightly dry-hopped with CItra. — The second release is souring with Hof Ten Dormaal's bacteria collected on their farm
31. Pen Druid: Golden Swan (Saison (Mixed-Fermentation) / 6.7%)
Description: Our Wild Blonde made with Virginia-grown malt and Rappahannock-grown organic raw wheat from The Farm at Sunnyside. Bottle Conditioned.
Commentary: The brothers Druid have been working on this beer for a long time. Drinkability of pilsner, with the unique nature of Rappahanock terroir. Yep, Terroir suckas. Fer real fer real.
32. The Answer: All the Action: Quadruple Dry-Hopped (Imperial IPA (Quadrupel Dry-Hopped) / 8%)
Description: This is a quadruple dry hopped version of All The Action, our 100% Mosaic hopped DIPA with lupulin powder.
33. Other Half: Double Dry-Hopped Stacks on Stacks (Imperial IPA (Double Dry-Hopped) / 8.5%)
Description: Our standard Stacks on Stacks which is already generously hopped with Citra, Mosaic, and El Dorado and hits it again with Citra and Mosaic lupulin powders and more El Dorado.
34. Holy Mountain: Crystal Ship (Foeder-Aged Saison (Mixed Fermentation) / 5.5%)
Commentary: A lean mixed-fermentation saison brewed with pilsner malt, rye, and wheat, then hopped with Citra and Crystal? Yup, I will be one ticket for this ride. Few in the country do this type of beer better.
35. Weißenohe: Green MONKey: Polaris (Pilsner (Gravity Keg) / 5.8%)
36. Arizona WIlderness: Tiny Wooden Ships (Foeder-Aged Saison (Mixed Fermenation) / 5.6%)
Description: Collaboration with Creature Comforts Mixed Culture Sour Saison with 4 year aged hops added and matured (8 months) in one of our French Oak Foudres; followed by natural keg conditioning.
37. Jester King: Provenance: Lemon & Lime (Saison (Mixed Fermentation; w/ Lemons & Limes) / 6%)
Description: Our first batch of Provenance takes the vibrant flavors and aromas of oranges and grapefruits and presents them in the unique way that only wild fermentation with native yeast and bacteria can. Unfiltered, unpasteurized, and 100% bottle-conditioned.
38. Great Raft: Barrel-Aged Old May Joy: Pappy Van Winkle w/ Cinnamon & Coffee (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (Rye Whiskey; w/ Vietnamese Cinnamon & Coffee) / 10%)
Description: Old Mad Joy is a baltic porter with layered malt complexities of chocolate, coffee and roasted barley. This dark and rich lager shines with a boozy but restrained sweetness, and builds a slight fruitiness as it warms. 10% ABV
39. Melvin: Citradamus (Imperial IPA / 9.5%)
40. Great Raft: You, Me & Everyone We Know: Batch 002 (Barrel-Aged Saison (Chardonnay; w/ Peaches) / 6.5%)
41. Union: Old Pro Tee Time: Raspberry Lemon (Gose (w/ Raspberry & Lemon Tea) / 4.2%)
Description: We’ve taken our Old Pro Gose and upped the refreshment with an infusion of house-blended “teas” made from botanicals and natural fruit flavors.
42. Holy Mountain: Grapefruit Saison (Saison (w/ Grapefruit) / 4.8%)
Description: THIS SAISON WAS BREWED WITH PILSNER MALT ALONG WITH MALTED AND UNMALTED RYE. IT WAS HOPPED IN THE KETTLE WITH SIMCOE AND HALLERTAU BLANC AND FERMENTED WITH A BLEND OF SAISON STRAINS IN AN OAK FOUDRE. THE BEER WAS THEN TRANSFERRED INTO OAK PUNCHEONS AND AGED ON FRESH GRAPEFRUIT ZEST AND JUICE AND DRY HOPPED WITH SIMCOE.
Commentary: Not sure why they feel the need to shout about this. Maybe they just like grapefruits that much? I have reservations here because Simcoe is a garbage hop, but I'm going to drink this anyway because grapefruit is #1 in my heart.
43. Triple Crossing: Clever Girl (IPA / 6%)
Description: This latest IPA of ours is a sharp counterpoint to the resin, dank citrus of Falcon Smash. It's an incredibly light bodied soft and dry American IPA with impressions of tropical citrus and dark berry floral aromas.
Commentary: I've been in DC a lot less lately, so I'm a bad judge of how easy to find this beer is (at least relative to anything else they are bringing) – If you like IPAs and for whatever reason you haven't had it yet, you should.
44. Arizona WIlderness: American Presidential Stout (Imperial Stout (w/ Cocoa Nibs & Mesquite-Smoked Jalapeños) / 11%)
Description: A Russian Imperial Stout, that is viscous and bold, bursting with coffee, chocolate, and a slight spiciness from (Rhiba Farms) peppers and cacao nibs from (Zak's Chocolate).
45. Suarez Family: Palatine (Pilsner / 5.2%)
Commentary: They’re a little biased, but if the guys from Pekko say this is one of the best pilsners in America, I’m inclined to give it a go.
46. Maine Beer Co.: Woods & Waters (IPA / 6.2%)
Description: We brewed this special IPA to commemorate the establishment of the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. We incorporated Maine-grown barley and wheat, along with generous amounts of hops with flavors and aromas of pine and citrus, reminiscent of the outdoors. Cheers to Mother Nature and all she provides us!
CITRUS, BERRIES, PINE, SMOOTH
HOPS: MAGNUM, SIMCOE, MOSAIC, COLUMBUS, IDAHO 7
MALT: AMERICAN 2-ROW, BLUE OX PALE, BLUE OX WHEAT, BLUE OX VIENNA
Commentary: A beer for a good cause from a great brewery. Sure, why not.
47. Other Half: Double Dry-Hopped Forever Simcoe (Imperial IPA (Double Dry-Hopped) / 8.5%)
Description: Imperial single hop IPA w / simcoe
48. Mahr's: Saphir Weisse (Hefeweizen (Dry-Hopped) / 5.6%)
Description: Extra Hoppy Amber Weiss. Mahr’s master brewer has a new love — an exciting and saucy new variety of Hallertauer hop called Saphir, German for "sapphire." There’s a metric ton of Saphir hops in this ground-breaking Weiss.
49. Stillwater: Tropic Punch (Sour Blond Ale (w/ Mango, Passionfruit & Peach) / 4.5%)
Description: Tropic Punch Ale is a joint effort with nomadic brewer Brian Strumke of Stillwater Artisanal. We brewed this sour ale with lactobacillus and let it ferment with plentiful Mango, Passion fruit and Peach. Sweet from Sweden!
Commentary: All in on session Swedish Hawaiian Punch. Hoping they've got a Malibu sponsorship to go with it.
50. Diamondback: Papi (IPA / 7.8%)
Description: Our 100th batch and our first IPA with a quad-blend of hops. Hopped with Columbus, Citra, El Dorado, and Simcoe
Commentary: Haven't had anything from Diamondback (from Baltimore), but always game to try something from our neighbors to the north. Four hop varieties though? It's like they're not even trying. Call us when you've got the octoblend. (It's okay, and they're okay. I was whelmed -BW)
51. Burial: Surf Wax (IPA / 6.8%)
Description: If you want the ultimate, you've got to be willing to pay the ultimate price. But are you crazy enough? Show those guys that are inching their way on the freeways in their metal coffins that the human sprit is still alive. Mosaic. Citra. Centennial. Columbus. Lots of barley. Touch of wheat. The sea swallows the Sun. And who knows if it rises again. Vaya con dios.
52. Crooked Stave: Key Lime Tau (2π) (Barrel-Aged Sour Blond Ale (w/ Lactose, Lime Peel & Lemongrass) / 6.3%)
53. Weißenohe: Green MONKey: Hersbrucker (Pilsner (Gravity Keg) / 5.8%)
54. Graft Cider: Siege of Orion (Cider (Double Dry-Hopped; w/ Papaya, Soursop & Lactose) / 6.9%)
55. RAR: Double Dry-Hopped Hyde w/ Nelson Sauvin (IPA (Double Dry-Hopped) / 6.6%)
Description: Coming in at 6.6% and copious amounts of Mosaic and Citra hops. Double dry hopped with both.
56. Creature Comforts: Tropicália (IPA / 6.5%)
Description: Tropicália® is a balanced, soft, and juicy IPA. A hop aroma of citrus and ripe passion fruit leads into a full, fruit-forward hop flavor that washes over the palate, and ends with a subtle bitterness.
Tropicália is also the name of a Brazilian artistic movement that started in the late 1960s. It is best known today for its music, which merged Brazilian and African rhythms with rock and roll.
Commentary: Here's my marker: some day Tropicalia will have the same reputation as Two Hearted.
57. Port City: Rauch Märzen (Märzen (Smoked) / 5.4%)
Description: For the fifth lager we brewed a Rauch Märzen. Rauch Märzen is a traditional Bamberg-style smoked Märzen lager. Brilliant copper in color, the beer showcases German malt character, including a judicious amount of traditional beechwood-smoked malts that impart an appetizing, savory smokiness.
Commentary: Every beer in PCBC's rotating lager series has been incredible so far. Expect this one will be, too, for those of you who like smoked beers, at least. But if you want to take a pass on this one because you'll be able to find it around town, that's fine.
58. Kent Falls: Shruggie ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (IPA / 6.2%)
Description: Amarillo. Azacca. Galaxy.
Commentary: It’s an IPA? With Galaxy? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
59. Stillwater: Levadura (Gose (w/ Agave & Lime) / 4.5%)
Description: Oaxacan-style gose sour ale brewed with salt, agave, & lime
Commentary: The other “regional” gose that Stillwater has put out (Phuket edition, for example) was great. Hope there’s a smoky component to this.
60. Hardywood Park: Strawberry Papaya Berliner Weisse (Berliner Weisse (w/ Papaya & Strawberry) / 3.6%)
61. Manor Hill: Barrel Project: Grisette (Barrel-Aged Grisette (White Wine; w/ Blackberries) / 5%)
Commentary: This grisette is an underrated beer. Complex but not aggressive. I hope adding white wine and blackberries to it doesn’t make this lose that essential character, but we’ll have to see.
62. Bluejacket: For The Company (Helles Lager / 5.2%)
Commentary: Had this last weekend, it’s amazing, but it’s also on at Bluejacket right now…which is steps from Snally. Why wouldn’t you just go to Bluejacket for it?
63. Perennial: Barrel-Aged Abraxas (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (Rye; w/ Chocolate, Vanilla, Chili Peppers & Spices) / 11%)
Description: An Imperial Stout brewed with ancho chili peppers, cacao nibs, vanilla beans, and cinnamon sticks. Pouring deep brown with a thick head, this beer has a complex body with a delicious lingering roastiness. Abraxas is brewed with unique ingredients intended to challenge and excite the palate. It may be enjoyed right away or allowed to age in the bottle. Vertical tastings are encouraged.
Commentary: Like Hunapu, worth the wait in line. Also like Hunapu, it'll kick 15 minutes into the festival. Choose wisely.
64. Mad Fox: Double Dry-Hopped Orange Whip (IPA (w/ Citra Hops; Cask) / 7.5%)
Description: Brewed with our favorite American Citra hops, this IPA is extremely well balanced with a strong malt backbone.
Commentary: You know this beer is going to be left toward the end. Drink all of it. (Co-sign. BW)
65. Logsdon: Spontane Wilde (Barrel-Aged Sour Blond Ale (Spontaneous Fermentation) / 7.4%)
Description: Spontaneous beer brewed in the traditional “Methode de Lembeek.” Cave aged in oak 1-2 years.
Commentary: Logsdon makes excellent saisons, so give their lambic-esque interpretation a go.
66. The Lost Abbey: Framboise de Amorosa (Barrel-Aged Sour Red Ale (w/ Raspberries) / 8.5%)
Description: Framboise de Amorosa is our first foray into the world of raspberry beers. It begins as Lost and Found ale and is sent into freshly emptied red wine barrels. The beer spends over a year in the wood during which time it is spiked with three additions of raspberries.
AROMA: An overstated French Raspberry nose invites you to the glass. Amorosa beckons from the first splash in the glass. She is juicy fruit from the vine.
TASTE: The first sip is a sweet start with a long drawn out sour finish. Some of the sweetness from the raspberries comes out before smooth acidic notes join the mix. On the back end, the beer has a nice smoothing oak character which keeps it from becoming dull.
Commentary: The Lost Abbey takes on framboise? I'm intrigued. Very few of these Lost Abbey sours make it this far in keg form. This is probably underrated. (It is pretty good – BW)
67. Oskar Blues: Barrel Aged Ten Fidy (2016 Vintage) (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (Bourbon) / 12.9%)
Commentary: Isn’t this more appropriately called Twelve Ninty? Get your internal beer nomenclature right, OB.
68. The Brewer's Art: Sagamore Barrel-Aged Seven Beauties (Bière de Garde (Rye Whiskey; w/ Rye) / 5.8%)
Commentary: BIERE DE GARDE FANATICS GO WILD.
69. Cantillon: Fou' Foune (Lambic (w/ Apricots) / 5%)
Description: Blend of lambics aged 18 to 20 months and of Bergeron apricots.
Commentary: Absolutely amazing beer. If you’ve never had it before, you should, but probably not in this environment. You will not be getting the full experience, I promise you.
70. Hill Farmstead: Arthur (Saison (Mixed Fermentation) / 6%)
Description: Arthur (1922-2005) was our grandfather’s youngest brother; Hill Farmstead Brewery rests upon the land that was once home to him and his 13 siblings. In his honor, this Farmstead® ale is crafted from American malted barley, American and European hops, our distinctive farmhouse yeast and water from our well. Unfiltered and naturally carbonated, this is the ale that I dream to have shared with Arthur.
Commentary: TROLLOL Hill Farmstead at #70.
71. Foam: Folk Implosion (Imperial IPA / 8.4%)
Commentary: The latest hype monster out of Vermont is probably worth checking out here.
72. Jester King: Noble King (Saison / 5.8%)
Description: Noble King is a medium strength, highly attenuated, unspiced farmhouse ale brewed with an abundance of noble hops and fermented with wild yeasts from the Texas Hill Country. Unfiltered, unpasteurized, and 100% naturally conditioned.
Commentary: Put some Texas terroir into your face for (probably) double-digit tickets.
73. Upland: Cherry (Barrel-Aged Sour Red Ale (w/ Sour Cherries) / 6%)
Description: When we started experimenting with Belgian-style sour ales back in 2006, we immediately knew we wanted to add cherries to our program. We get over 4,500 lbs of red, tart Montmorency cherries each year from King Orchards in northern Michigan. We add the cherries to the mildly tart sour ale base and let it ferment for three more months before kegging and bottling, giving this barrel-aged fruited sour ale the distinct cherry characteristics. The beer pours with rich hues of red and pink foam, with zesty effervescence. Tart cherries dominate the aroma, with hints of wine and cider, and the finish is dry, with lingering cherry fruitiness.
Commentary: This year's Upland Cherry is very very good. Extremely pure cherry flavor. Also will break the bank pricewise.
Seconded. Really pure cherry flavor on this.
74. Alpine: HFS (IPA / 6.5%)
Description: Mosaic, Citra and Simcoe hops
Commentary: Alpine makes some excellent IPAs, and I can find nearly no information about this one.
75. Manor Hill: Citra Splendor (Imperial IPA / 8.3%)
Description: Welcome to the world of bright, citrus and tropical fruit forward IPA’s. This divinely hoppy brew will clock in at 83 IBUs and will pour a hazy golden color with a big white head. Aromas of lemon peel, tangerine, and passion fruit come through on the nose with some dank undertones. The flavor profile begins with an intense hop bitterness that is complimented by slightly sweet, caramel malt in the finish.
Commentary: I'm just going to say it: this is the best IPA Maryland has to offer.
Yuuuuuuuup.
76. District Chophouse: Russian Imperial Stout (2016 Vintage) (Imperial Stout / 12%)
77. Hill Farmstead: Florence (Saison (Mixed Fermenation; w/ Wheat) / 5%)
Description: Florence (1915-1967) was our grandfather’s sister, and Hill Farmstead Brewery rests upon the land that was once home to her and her 13 siblings. In her honor, this Belgian inspired wheat Farmstead® ale is crafted from American malted barley, organic Vermont wheat, European and American hops, our distinctive farmhouse yeast and water from our well. It is unfiltered and naturally carbonated. Soft, cloudy, and fresh, this is the ale that I dream to have shared with Florence.
78. Aslin: Double Dry-Hopped Orange Starfish (IPA (Double Dry-Hopped) / 5.7%)
Commentary: You don't see Aslin's beers on draft much. And they won't last long today. This is one of the whaley whales. I hope no one does something stupid like try to bottle it for trading off of the keg here.
79. Oxbow: Saisontino (Saison (Dry-Hopped) / 6.5%)
Description: European-hopped saison brewed in collaboration with Birrificio Italiano.
80. The Answer: Petty Larceny: Triple Dry-Hopped (Session IPA (Triple Dry-Hopped) / 5%)
Description: This is a triple dry-hopped version of Petty Larceny, our 100% Mosaic hopped session IPA with lupulin powder.
Commentary: Of all the Virginia jooce purveyors I've been the least impressed with these folks. I think you're better off drinking The Veil, Triple Crossing, Crooked Run, or Aslin.
Interesting take, there are obviously people who go nuts for The Answer. Not all jooce is created equally, I guess.
81. Sint Bernardus: ABT 12 (2006 Vintage) (Quadrupel / 10%)
Description: The St. Bernardus Abt 12 is the pride of our stable, the nec plus ultra of our brewery. Abbey ale brewed in the classic ’Quadrupel’ style of Belgium’s best Abbey Ales. Dark with a full, ivory-colored head. It has a fruity aroma, full of complex flavours and excels because of its long bittersweet finish with a hoppy bite. Worldwide seen as one of the best beers in the world. It’s a very balanced beer, with a full-bodied taste and a perfect equilibrium between malty, bitter, and sweet. One of the original recipes from the days of license-brewing for the Trappist monks of Westvleteren.
Commentary: Wait, this beer is 11 years old?
82. Holy Mountain: Second Death (Helles Lager / 4.8%)
Description: SECOND DEATH IS A HELLES STYLE LAGER BREWED WITH 100% GERMAN PILSNER MALT, LIGHTLY HOPPED WITH GERMAN TETTNANG AND FERMENTED WITH OUR FAVORITE LAGER YEAST.
83. District Chophouse: Nut Brown: Hazelnuts & Cocoa Nibs (Brown Ale (w/ Hazelnuts & Cocoa) / 5.4%)
Commentary: After the initial rush of people to tick boxes settles down, this is one of my consistent recommendations/highlights at Snally (BW).
This was in the top 10 of last year’s rankings for good reason. The base Nut Brown is one of the more overlooked beers in DC. This on cask with hazelnuts and cocoa nibs is nothing short of beautiful. I feel bad for you if you miss this, and these rankings have it criminally low.
84. American Solera: Little Foo (Barrel-Aged Saison / 4%)
85. Upland: Champagne Velvet (Pilsner / 5.5%)
Description: In 1902, Walter Braun, the son of German immigrants, created a recipe for a new pilsener beer named Champagne Velvet. Over the next 50 years it grew to become one of Indiana’s most popular beers, a go-to for many of our grandparents and great-grandparents. It was “The Beer with the Million Dollar Flavor,” which wasn’t just marketing fluff; it was actually insured with a $1 million policy.
Industrial consolidation took down this regional favorite and the recipe went missing for many years until a fan rescued the hand-written recipe from deep in a trademark portfolio. Upland reformulated the recipe using that scrap of paper and proudly brings this Midwestern legend back to life. Champagne Velvet has a refreshingly light pilsener body with some sweet complexities given off by the corn malt used in this recipe, making this the perfect lager. It’s smooth and light, but still full of flavor, the perfect everyday beer for craft beer drinkers and a step up for domestic drinkers.
86. Maine Beer Co.: Lunch (IPA / 7%)
Description: Lunch is a special whale that has been spotted off the Maine coast since 1982. She has what looks like a bite taken out of her fin, which adds to her unique character. We dedicate this beer to her determination and persistence. Keep on swimming!
TROPICAL FRUIT, CITRUS FRUIT, PINE, SUBTLE MALT SWEETNESS
HOPS: AMARILLO, CENTENNIAL, SIMCOE
MALT: AMERICAN 2-ROW, CARAPILS, CARAMEL 40L, MUNICH 10L, RED WHEAT
Commentary: Classic, and another that will probably be left at the end because it isn't the whale it used to be. Oh well. Kill the keg. (Maine's beers kicked before the end last year, but they were around for several hours, and they're delicious whenever you're ready – BW)
87. The Bruery: Grey Monday (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (Bourbon; w/ Hazelnuts) / 20%)
Description: Grey Monday is a special, limited edition version of our Black Tuesday imperial stout to which we’ve added hazelnuts to the barrels while the beer ages. Originally concocted for a molecular gastronomy dinner at a favorite Orange County restaurant a few years ago, this variation on our already popular stout was an instant hit both among the restaurant diners and our own staff, begging to be brewed again and bottled up.
88. Foam: Experimental Jet Set (Imperial IPA / 9.2%)
89. Upland: Boysenberry (Barrel-Aged Sour Red Ale (w/ Boysenberries) / 5.7%)
Description: Boysenberry is a single barrel experiment offered exclusively at the Wood Shop to showcase the balance of the fruit and our sour blond ale Basis.
Commentary: What the hell is a boysenberry?
90. Allagash: Cuvee d'Industrial (Barrel-Aged Sour Blond Ale (Red Wine, Port, Rum, Aquavit & Sauternes) / 8.6%)
Description: Cuvée d’Industrial is comprised of a blend of twenty-four select barrels from our wild beer cellar. Our Brewmaster chose each barrel based on the specific characteristics it would bring to the blend. Barrel types used in this blend include: chestnut, port, rum, aquavit, American oak, Sauternes, and red wine. The resulting beer features aromas as diverse as apple, grape, caramel, and clove. Its flavors of biscuit, slight mocha, and cinnamon all come together with clean acidity—thanks to the mixture of Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, and Saccharomyces that collectively made this beer’s creation possible.
91. Sint Bernardus: Baksteen Winkel (Saison / 6.2%)
Commentary: I had no idea they even made a saison. I'm curious.
92. Bluejacket: Kelsey & Greg's Wedding Ale 2017 (Sour Blond Ale (w/ Apricots & Peaches) / 4%)
Description: A tart, blond wedding ale, bursting with juicy stone fruit; aged 6 weeks on 900 pounds of locally-grown Glen Glow peaches and white nectarines sourced from Smucker Farms and Toigo Orchards (Lancaster/Shippensburg, PA), soured in our horizontal lacto tank & 100% fermented with brettanomyces drei.
Commentary: My favorite beer Bluejacket is bringing.
Same. One of the better Bluejacket beers they've ever made. A truly insane amount of fruit goes into this, and it tastes like it.
93. De Ranke: Cuvée de Ranke (Belgian Strong Blond Ale (w/ Lambic) / 7%)
Description: Cuvée De Ranke is a mixed yeast mixer, a combination of beer aged and aged lambic. Taste: Full sour taste with a hint of oak through wood storage.
Commentary: Not that anyone cares, but this beer is so good, you guys.
94. Logsdon: Cerasus (Barrel-Aged Sour Red Ale (w/ Cherries) / 8.5%)
Description: This is our organic kriek or tart cherry beer, a barrel-aged West Flanders style Red Ale with two pounds of fruit added per gallon of beer. Both sweet and tart Oregon cherries are added to our oak aged Far West Flaming during the aging process with a combination of several yeast strains and lactic bacteria to develop a secondary fermentation. The crystal malts, oak tannins, and fruit developed into a soft well rounded beer of Burgundian character. The beer will increase in acidity as it ages providing additional character.
95. Founders: KBS (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (Bourbon; w/ Coffee & Chocolate) / 12.4%)
Description: What we’ve got here is an imperial stout brewed with a massive amount of coffee and chocolates, then cave-aged in oak bourbon barrels for an entire year to make sure wonderful bourbon undertones come through in the finish. Makes your taste buds squeal with delight.
Commentary: The last few years this beer has been great, and it's possible that given the beer list here it's underrated.
96. Great Raft: Southern Drawl (Pilsner / 5%)
Description: A hop forward lager with complex, citrusy aromas derived from German hops and wheat phenols. We use our house German lager strain to provide a fresh backdrop for this perfect session lager. Mildly traditional…Wildly drinkable.
Commentary: Yeah I’m biased, but I deeply love Southern Drawl. It’s going to be in the mid-goddamn-80s on Saturday. This is a delicious thirst quencher. It’s got a real soft bitterness for a pilsner, almost like NEIPA and lager had a lovechild. Don’t @ me, Andy.
97. The Veil: Never Never Aloha Aloha (Gose (w/ Hawaiian Punch) / 4.9%)
Description: Never Never Aloha Aloha is the double fruit version of our Hawaiian Punch inspired Gose, Never Aloha. Clocking in at 5.1% this Gose with Hawaiian red alaea sea salt is conditioned on hundreds of gallons of pineapple, mango, passion fruit, blood orange, Guava, and cherry purée. Super tart and loaded with tropical notes on the aromatics and flavor profile.
Commentary: God damn it.
98. Great Raft: Grace & Grit (Imperial IPA / 8%)
Description: Our Double IPA has strong tropical aromas derived from massive amounts of Citra and Amarillo hops. This incredible bitterness is balanced with honey malt creating a soft and slightly sweet hop bomb.
99. Weißenohe: Mönchskeller (Märzen (Gravity Keg) / 5.4%)
100. Weißenohe: Bonator (Doppelbock (Gravity Keg) / 8.2%)
101. Firestone Walker: SLOambic (Barrel-Aged Saison (w/ Marionberries & Boysenberries) / 6.6%)
Description: We are fortunate to have great relationships with our local growers who provide us with superb fruit for our beers. Like last year, we had the opportunity to purchase fresh marionberries and boysenberries, both close cousins to the blackberry, so we pounced. For this vintage, fresh berries were added to Sour Opal, a beer matured up to 24 months in oak barrels, and then fermented using our proprietary blend of microflora for an additional three months. Bursting with ripe berries and brambles, as well as hints of jam, the fruit gives way to a rustic funk and soft oak flavors, finishing with a mouth-watering acidity. We humbly present 2016 SLOambic. A Santé!
102. Melvin: IPA (IPA / 7.5%)
103. Union: Royal Farmhouse (Belgian IPA / 8.5%)
Description: A royal family of juicy, sticky, resinous hops unite with the most honorable of funky & fruity farmhouse yeast strains & four noble grains to produce this king of farmhouse DIPAs. A fanfare of dank tropical fruit aromas announces this big Double IPA and then stands at attention with the backbone of Belgian Pale malt, rye, spelt, & oats. The fruity esters of our Farmhouse yeast and a touch of residual sweetness make this one very powerful IPA. All hail the king!
Commentary: Criminally underrated. This was first produced as a collab with DC Brau, and the beer is absolutely gorgeous.
104. Almanac: Strawberry Rhubarb Sour Wheat (Barrel-Aged Sour Blond Ale (Wine; w/ Strawberry & Rhubarb) / 6%)
105. Birds Fly South: Paper Airplanes (Brett Pale Ale / 6%)
Description: 100% Brett Pale Ale Blended/Refermented with Foudre 1 (Vin Santo) and dry hopped with Nelson Sauvin
106. Avery: Islay (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (Scotch) / 10%)
Description: This complex and smokey stout, clocking in at 10%ABV, was aged in Scotch barrels hailing from the island of Islay in Scotland.
Commentary: Scotchy Scotch Scotch fans rejoice, everyone else blanches.
107. American Solera: Amber Canyon Magik (Barrel-Aged Saison (Pinot Noir) / 6%)
108. 3 Fonteinen: Oude Kriek (Kriek / 5%)
109. The Answer: Phantom Limb Pain (Imperial Stout (w/ Coffee & Coconut) / 10.6%)
Description: Phantom Limb Pain is an Imperial Stout with Swiss Almond chocolate coffee and toasted coconut added. Nuff said.
110. Firestone Walker: Parabajava (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (Bourbon; w/ Coffee) / 14%)
Description: Parabajava is an ongoing series of infusing some of the best coffees in the world in to Parabola, our decadent Russian Imperial Stout. This year, we collaborated with local Templeton coffee roaster Dark Nectar to find the perfect coffee to complement the rich dark chocolate and bourbon character of Parabola. After tasting single-origin coffees from around the world, we found what we were looking for. Their Ugandan single origin roast adds subtle nutty and fruity accents that round out the flavor profile of Parabajava, resulting in an overall profile reminiscent of a rich, espresso-infused batch of fudge brownies. The barrels selected for the final blend were from several batches in the summer of 2015, averaging just over a year in age at blending. We then cold-infused freshly roasted and coffee direct from Dark Nectar. We recommend that you drink Parabajava fresh to enjoy the coffee character at its peak.
Commentary: The beer for high-octane coffee fans with swollen livers. This probably won't last long as it's a fan favorite among the Untappd set.
111. Arizona WIlderness: Blanc (Pilsner (w/ Brettanomyces) / 5%)
Description: Hoppy Pilsner dry hopped with Hallertau Blanc and Nelson Sauvin. Conditioned with Brettanomyces for 2 months.
Commentary: Brett Pils? Sold. The idea of grassy noble hops and dry, slightly funky Brett on a pilsner chassis is something I'm here for all day.
112. Charles Towne: Double Dry-Hopped Mars Express (Pale Ale / 5.8%)
Commentary: Had the chance to have some Charles Towne in a visit a few months ago. Their beers are legit. One of their brewers left Trillium to found them and brews as good a beer as anything they have. Definitely try these.
113. Fonta Flora: Metallic Primate (Saison (w/ Orange, Coriander & Earl Grey Tea) / 4.6%)
Description: White saison with orange, coriander, and Earl Gray
114. Oxbow: Metal Face (Saison (Mixed Fermentation) / 6.5%)
Description: Mixed fermentation farmhouse ale – stainless steel aged farmhouse ale that utilizes a blend of house saison yeast and lactic acid producing bacteria
115. The Bruery: Mash & Coconut (Barrel-Aged Imperial Brown Ale (Bourbon; w/ Toasted Coconut) / 13%)
Description: This is our classic bourbon barrel-aged barleywine ale, Mash, stretching to new levels. Mash & Coconut has coconut added – nearly 1 lb. per gallon, which ratchets up the complex coconut character and complements the oaky and vanilla notes that are imparted to the beer as part of its extensive maturation in bourbon barrels.
116. Westbrook: Bourbon Barrel-Aged 4th Anniversary (2015 Vintage) (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (Bourbon; w/ Coconut, Almonds & Vanilla) / 10%)
117. Almanac: Splendid Population (Barrel-Aged Sour Blond Ale (Wine; w/ Muscat Grapes, Peaches, Nectarines & Vanilla) / 8.8%)
118. Westbrook: Mexican Cake: Bourbon Barrel (2015 Vintage) (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (Bourbon; w/ Chocolate, Vanilla, Cinnamon & Habanero) / 10.5%)
Description: Happy birthday to us! To celebrate our first year as a brewery we brewed a serious imperial stout and aged it on cocoa nibs, vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, and fresh habanero peppers. This was the first offering in our annual Anniversary series. It was so delicious we decided to bring it back each May!
119. The Answer: Diablo's Brunch (Imperial Stout (w/ Maple Syrup, Coffee, Vanilla & Cinnamon) / 12%)
Description: Imperial Stout with VT maple syrup, hazelnut coffee, Tahitian vanilla beans and Indonesian cinnamon. Inspired by Quy "Diablo" Pham, world class bartender at Mekong.
120. Sly Fox: Jameson Barrel-Aged O'Reilly's Extra Stout (Barrel-Aged Stout (Irish Whiskey) / 6%)
Description: Brewed specifically for the Jameson Caskmates program, O’Reilly’s Extra is a more robust version of our dry Irish Stout that was finished in oak barrels that previously aged Jameson whiskey.
Pale and chocolate malts were combined with roasted and flaked barley to create a rich, smooth stout accentuated by notes of whiskey and vanilla picked up from the former Jameson vessels. Unlike our standard O’Reilly’s Stout, this beer is served with CO2 to allow the whiskey notes to shine through.
Commentary: How the hell did this get ranked so highly? What is wrong with you people? You love Jameson that much?
121. Casey: Saison (Barrel-Aged Saison (Mixed Fermentation) / 5.5%)
122. Oxbow: Tourist Season: Pekko (Saison (Dry-Hopped) / 4.5%)
Description: Dry-hopped single-hop farmhouse ale brewed w/ rotating hop varietals. 4.5%
123. American Solera: Solera Skins Blackberry (Barrel-Aged Saison (w/ Blackberries) / 5.6%)
124. Krug: Kellerbier (Kellerbier / 5%)
125. Allagash: Ghoulschip (Barrel-Aged Pumpkin Ale (Spontaneous Fermentation) / 6.9%)
Description: Our favorite Halloween tradition is brewing Ghoulschip with fresh, local pumpkins, molasses, and raw pumpkin seeds. On All Hallows’ Eve itself, we send the beer to rest among the specters in our Coolship, where it collects wild microflora from the chill Maine air. The beer then ferments in a stainless tank on our house yeast before heading into oak barrels, where it sits in waiting for up to three years.
Although Ghoulschip isn’t spontaneously fermented, we rely on natural microflora to sour it. The finished product is a blend of one-, two-, and three-year-old beer. In the first sip, caramelized malt and a mild acidity balance Ghoulschip’s subtle earthiness. The finish of this light golden beer is dry and tart. Boo!
Commentary: The pumpkin beer for people who like pumpkin beer that tastes nothing like pumpkin beer.
126. Brooklyn: Cloaking Device (Barrel-Aged Imperial Porter (Red Wine; w/ Brettanomyces) / 10.5%)
Description: At first glance, the true power of Brooklyn Cloaking Device is hidden. All at once there comes a wave of Brett-powered earthy aromas, a thrilling rush of cacao-like fruitiness, hints of vanilla and pineapple, a touch of acidity, underlying forest-floor funk and the powerful murmur of French oak barrels. A beautifully dry finish cuts through and leaves you wondering how we got the drop on you. This is the true power of the Cloaking Device: the element of surprise.
Cloaking Device stands as a tribute to these porters past. We brewed a strong Brett-fermented porter and aged it for nine months in French oak red wine barrels from our pals at the Larkmead Winery in California. It was then hand-bottled and re-fermented in the bottle with Champagne yeast. It is delicious, a versatile companion for food, and conducive to dreams of adventure.
127. Perennial: Owen (Saison (w/ Brettanomyces) / 4.7%)
Description: Owen is a table strength saison kettle and dry-hopped with Mosaic, and package conditioned with Brettanomyces Claussenii. It opens with aromas of ripe papaya and subtle pineapple. The tropical character continues on the palate with complementary notes of rose petals and mineral water. High attenuation and a lean base of Pilsner malt and torrified wheat combine to create an incredibly dry beer with a snappy finish. Serve as an aperitif or try with ceviche.
Commentary: Perennial's beer is reliably tasty, and this is something that is very much in their wheelhouse. It won't be too much of anything, just a solidly balanced, dynamic saison.
128. Birds Fly South: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Wolves in the Piano (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (Bourbon) / 14%)
129. North Coast: Alt Nouveau (Altbier / 4.7%)
Description: The “alt” in Altbier has dual meaning, referring both to the top-fermenting yeast used to make the beer (Latin— altus— high) and to the fact that this ale is literally the old style of beer in a country now famous for its lager beers (German—alt—old; from an earlier time). Made famous in the city of Dusseldorf, Altbier has a varied profile, depending on the brewer, from malty to hoppy.
Alt Nouveau is a decidedly hoppy take on the style, reviving a brand the brewery first released in the mid-nineties. The Art Nouveau style illustration on the label is inspired by the artichoke plantings at North Coast’s partner, Fortunate Farm, in Caspar. Learn more about Fortunate Farm in our video section.
130. Oliver: Barrel-Aged Intrigue to Tangiers (Barrel-Aged Spiced Beer (Mead; w/ Honey, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Coriander & Star Anise) / 6.2%)
131. Two Roads: Barrel-Aged Henry's Farm (2016 Vintage) (Barrel-Aged Doppelbock / 8.2%)
Description: Henry's Farm Double Bock is intensely malty with notes of caramel, toffee and pumpernickel, with a kiss of hops for balance- finally, it's aged in rye whiskey barrels that deliver a warm, rich flavor and bold character.
132. Aslin: How Now Brown Cow: Coffee & Coconut (Sweet Stout (w/ Coffee & Coconut) / 6%)
133. Allagash: Hoppy Table Beer (Belgian Blond Ale / 4.9%)
Description: While Hoppy Table Beer was inspired by the Belgian tradition of low-ABV, easily drinkable beers, it still occupies a hop-forward spot all its own. Brewed with our 2-row malt blend, Maris Otter malt, and oats, the beer is then spiced with a subtle addition of coriander. We ferment it with our house yeast for classic Belgian citrus aromas. Hoppy Table Beer is hopped with Chinook, Cascade, Comet, and Azacca hops, then dry hopped with more Comet and Azacca. A mildly hoppy aroma full of grapefruit springs from this straw-colored, light-bodied ale. Flavors of pine and stone fruit balance the beer’s clean, slightly bitter finish.
Commentary: One of the better year-round additions from a brewery in recent memory, but also pretty widely available.
134. Evolution: Nouveau Rouge (Barrel-Aged Sour Red Ale / 6.3%)
Description: Almost two years in the making, our sour red ale is an ongoing project that pays tribute to the sour ales of Flanders. No. 1 is Tart and earthy with notes of vanilla and tannin from our oak aging process, this complex ale is layered with unique character.
Commentary: Man, Evolution just does not get any love. This is a great beer, but they just don’t have the reputation for this style that they deserve. Same with Lot 6 DIPA. Kind of bonkers. This is a sleeper.
135. Civil Society: Camo (Imperial IPA / 8.5%)
Description: Incredibly smooth IPA and full of flavor
136. J. Wakefield: Miami Madness (Berliner Weisse (w/ Guava, Mango & Passionfruit) / 5%)
137. Union: Older Pro: Wine Barrel-Aged w/ Mango (Barrel-Aged Gose (White Wine; w/ Mango) / 4.5%)
Description: Every summer we brew our Old Pro Gose to beat the heat with its light, refreshing body and lemony tartness finished with a hint of salt. Now that summer is gone we find ourselves still craving the Old Pro’s quirky charm. So, we took a portion of the summer’s last batch and aged it in beautiful oak barrels that had previously held California Chardonnay wine and added a heaping dose of organic fruit. The result is a beer with delicate oak notes, a subtle hint of white wine, bright fruit, and that signature sour and salt you’ve come to love from Old Pro.
Commentary: I’ve had trouble appreciating these as much as straight up Old Pro (I’ve had blackberry and peach before), but maybe this one will turn the tide. The problem is this just isn’t as refreshing and crisp as regular Old Pro, which is where that beer really shines.
138. Weißenohe: Green MONKey: Mandarina (Pilsner (Gravity Keg) / 5.8%)
139. Finback: Another (IPA / 6.3%)
140. Fonta Flora: Darwin's Forehead (Porter (w/ Sea Salt & Caramel) / 6.8%)
Description: Caramalized and chocolate malts blended w/ caramel. Notes of smoked salt, roasted cocoa, arabica coffee beans
141. Maine Beer Co.: Another One (IPA / 7%)
Description: When we expanded our brewery in 2013, the stress was something, to say the least. I ran out of creative juice for a minute so I decided to have another one for inspiration.
GRAPEFRUIT, TANGERINE, RESINOUS, CLEAN MALT PALATE
HOPS: CASCADE, CITRA, SIMCOE
MALT: AMERICAN 2-ROW, RED WHEAT, CARAPILS
Commentary: It's…another one. It's a Maine IPA. It's going to be delicious and beautifully made. The fact that it doesn't stand out here is a testament to Snally.
142. Captain Lawrence: Harvest Valley Black Raspberry (Barrel-Aged Sour Red Ale (w/ Black Raspberries) / 6.5%)
Description: Ale aged in oak & fermented with black raspberries
143. Casey: Dry-Hopped Funky Blender (Barrel-Aged Saison (Mixed Fermentation; Dry-Hopped) / 7%)
Description: 75% Nelson, 25% Galaxy
144. Kulmbacher: Kapuziner Weisse (Hefeweizen / 5.4%)
145. Great Lakes: Barrel-Aged Christmas Ale (Barrel-Aged English Strong Ale (Bourbon; w/ Cinnamon, Ginger & Honey) / 9%)
146. Logsdon: Seizoen Mecca (Saison / 5%)
Description: Made with Mecca malts
147. 4 Hands: Kriek (Barrel-Aged Sour Red Ale (Cabernet Sauvignon; w/ Cherries) / 7.3%)
Description: This beer was aged in Cabernet barrels for 2 years with sweet cherries and a blend of wild yeast and bacteria. Kriek has a bold cherry aroma with hints of oak and a strong tart finish. This beer pours pink in color with a thin white head.
148. Burley Oak: Savage AF (IPA (Double Dry-Hopped) / 7.3%)
Description: Our Savage IPA with a double dose of Citra, Mosaic, and Falconers Flight in the dry hop.
149. Burley Oak: Strawberry Daiquiri J.R.E.A.M. (Sour Blond Ale (w/ Strawberries, Lime, Lactose & Vanilla) / 4.8%)
Description: Sour ale with lactose conditioned on strawberries, lime, and vanilla.
150. Firestone Walker: Generation 1 (IPA / 7%)
151. Allagash: Avancé (Barrel-Aged Quadrupel (Bourbon; w/ Strawberries) / 9.7%)
Description: Allagash Avancé is a product of patience. Aged with strawberries for three years in bourbon barrels, this strong, sour ale has the aroma of strawberry preserves and toasted oak. The oak and berries continue their presence in flavor, and compliment the sweet, warm finish.
152. Bruery Terreux: Beauregarde (Barrel-Aged Sour Red Ale (w/ Blueberries) / 5.3%)
Description: Beauregarde is our first ever use of blueberries and we couldn’t be happier with how this beer turned out. We added an incredible amount of fruit to our barrel aged, sour blonde ale and the result is just as expected. A lovely shade of reddish purple with flavors of tart blueberries, just in time for summer. Perfect along side a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.
153. Jester King: Boxer's Revenge (Barrel-Aged Strong Blond Ale / 10.8%)
Description: Native yeast and souring bacteria captured from the land and air at our brewery in the Texas Hill Country slowly imparted a sense of place in this dry, tart, highly attenuated ale during months of fermentation in oak barrels. Unfiltered, unpasteurized, and 100% naturally conditioned.
154. Kent Falls: Getaway (Brett IPA / 6%)
Description: Brett imperial pale ale brewed with destination hops. This southern hemisphere inspired brett IPA carries lots of melon, peach, and gummy worm resin character. Perfect for those days when you need to getaway
155. ANXO: Cidre Blanc (Dry Cider / 6.9%)
156. Burial: Innertube (Pale Lager / 3.2%)
Description: Feel good about your beer. American light lager made with barley, corn and rice.
157. Ocelot: Superfly (Saison (Mixed Fermentation) / 4.4%)
158. Manor Hill: Tequila Barrel Super Gose (Barrel-Aged Gose (Tequila) / 5%)
Commentary: Have concerns this is going to be way too acidic. I'm not sure what makes something a Super Gose at 5%. Like tequila in general: approach with caution.
159. 3 Fonteinen: Oude Geuze (Gueuze / 6%)
Commentary: Snally isn't the right time to drink 3F Oude Gueuze. Get your ass to The Sovereign and do it properly with the little lambic basket and everything. Don't be out here drinking Oude Gueuze in front of live bands in 80 degree heat. Have some respect for the Belgians.
160. Cascade: Manhattan NW (2015 Vintage) (Barrel-Aged Sour Red Ale (Bourbon & Wine; w/ Cherries & Apricot Noyaux) / 10.3%)
Description: Manhattan NW is a blend of sour quad and blond ales aged in bourbon barrels with sour pie cherries and apricot noyaux. A tribute to the classic Manhattan cocktail, this fan favorite features flavors of bourbon, maraschino cherries, bitter almond and a hint of malt sweetness.
Commentary: A really interesting beer that does kind of taste like a Manhattan. Worth a taster of.
Or…just drink an actual Manhattan.
(It's okay, but it's not my favorite from them – BW)
161. 3 Stars: Harvester of Sorrow (Barrel-Aged Saison (Cabernet Sauvignon) / 6.5%)
Description: The oak from the Cabernet wine barrel contributes flavors reminiscent of pineapples, coconut, passion fruit & mangoes. Soft, almost creamy mouthfeel followed by a nice dry, though slightly tart finish.
Commentary: Haven't had this yet this year (assuming this is a new wave). Past iterations have been very good and even made some of our "all-DC" teams when we did that post. You'll almost certainly see this around town soon.
162. American Solera: Cranbarrel (Barrel-Aged Sour Red Ale (w/ Cranberries) / 5.6%)
Commentary: The enamel on my teeth is crying already.
163. Aslin: Gose: Blackberries & Raspberries (Gose (w/ Blackberries & Raspberries) / 4.5%)
164. Crooked Stave: Nightmare on Brett Sour Cherry (Barrel-Aged Sour Brown Ale (w/ Cherries) / 9.7%)
165. Finback: Visible Spectrum (IPA (w/ Mango) / 6.2%)
166. The Hop Concept: Mosaic & Eureka (Imperial IPA / 8%)
Description: Our flagship series of dry-hopped IPAs explores the limitless combinations of our favorite classic, new and experimental hops. Each one is crafted to bring out the complementary characteristics of the different varietals – and deliver a solid hit of bold, crispy freshness. Mosaic & Eureka Two heavyweights with complex flavors meet head-on in this one-of-a-kind IPA. Mosaic – probably one of the most aptly named hops – fuses an array of tropucal fruit, citrus and berry with mild herbal, earthy and pine characteristics. Heady Eureka hops emphasize heavy pine, underlined by mild floral notes and rounded out with dank aromas.
167. Heavy Seas: Peg Leg: White Oak, Cocoa Nibs, Coffee & Vanilla (Imperial Stout (w/ White Oak, Cocoa Nibs, Coffee & Vanilla; Cask) / 8%)
168. Charles Towne: Ralf (Kellerbier / 4.5%)
169. Burley Oak: Head Stash (Imperial IPA / 8.5%)
Description: Mosaic Lupulin Powder and Galaxy Hops
170. Hellbender: Brett?? Present. (Peaches) (Sour Blond Ale (w/ Peaches & Brettanomyces) / 6.2%)
171. RAR: Double Dry-Hopped Marylan (Blond Ale (Double Dry-Hopped) / 5.2%)
172. The Brewer's Art: Shot Tower Barrel-Aged Choptank'd (Saison (Gin; w/ Rye, Honeysuckle, Lemon & Grapefruit) / 4.4%)
173. Alpine: Willy Wheat (Wheat Ale (Dry-Hopped) / 5%)
174. Heavy Seas: Double Cannon: Tropical Blend (Imperial IPA (w/ Hop Oil & Grapefruit; Cask) / 9.5%)
175. Final Gravity: Foggy Notion (Imperial IPA / 8.2%)
176. Final Gravity: Gold Foil (Imperial IPA / 8%)
177. Ocelot: Barrel-Aged Capsized (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Sweet Stout / 11%)
178. Union: Barrel-Aged Chessie (Barrel-Aged Barleywine / 9.8%)
Description: Packed with nearly 2,000 lbs. of malted barley per batch and generously hopped in the kettle and in post-fermentation, this legendary barleywine-style ale has layers of complex flavor to wash over your palate. Drink her fresh to experience all the hoppy, bitter goodness of the dank and piney Columbus and Centennial hops or let her retire to the depths of your cellar to later reveal her dark fruit and rich malt character.
Commentary: This beer placed during Blind & Boozy a few years back. It’s delicious, but if you’re the person drinking BA barleywine in mid-September outdoors in 80 degree heat, I feel genuinely bad for you.
179. Ninkasi: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Ground Control (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (Bourbon; w/ Hazelnuts, Cocoa Nibs & Star Anise) / 10%)
Description: Ground Control boldly combines local and out-of-this-world ingredients. This rich, complex Imperial Stout is brewed with Oregon hazelnuts, star anise and cocoa nibs, and fermented with an Ale yeast that survived a trip to space and back. Mankind will enjoy the sweet finesse of this beer that only fares better with time.
Commentary: I'm not in a hurry to drink this beer outside on a warm day, but I am a fan of the original version and would expect this to be pretty good. – BW
180. Civil Society: Fresh (IPA / 6.2%)
Description: IPA with Citra, and Columbus hops
Commentary: During the CBC Week IPA Day at Meridian Pint, folks were raving about the Civil Society IPAs. This is noteworthy given the competition. Probably a sleeper here.
181. Commonwealth: Halcyon (Barrel-Aged Sour Blond Ale (w/ Apricots & Passionfruit) / 6.4%)
Description: Halcyon is our blond barrel sour bombed with passionfruit and apricots
182. Port: Mongo (Imperial IPA / 8.5%)
Description: Our flagship Double IPA, Mongo harnesses the flavor of Columbus, Cascade, Centennial, and Simcoe hops. Massive resinous aroma leads to citrus notes with a piney bitterness on the finish.
183. Creature Comforts: Athena Paradiso: Guava & Passion Fruit (Berliner Weisse (w/ Guava & Passionfruit) / 4.5%)
Description: A REFRESHING, GENTLY TART, GERMAN-STYLE WHEAT BEER. OUR TAKE ON THE CLASSIC BERLINER HAS A BLEND OF CITRIC AND FRUIT NOTES WITH NODS TO CIDER AND SAUVIGNON BLANC. WE GO THROUGH TWO FERMENTATIONS WITH THIS BEER TO OFFER AN INTERESTING COMPLEXITY IN AN AMAZINGLY LIGHT AND DRINKABLE BEER. ATHENA IS A TRIBUTE TO OUR HOME THAT SHARES A NAME WITH THE GREEK EMBODIMENT OF WISDOM AND CURIOSITY. GIVEN OUR AFFINITY TO THE PECULIAR AND CURIOUS, WE THINK ATHENA IS A PERFECT AMBASSADOR FOR THE CLASSIC CITY.
Commentary: OKAY GUYS, IT'S THE BUTTON ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE KEYBOARD. ON SOME KEYBOARDS IT LIGHTS UP IF YOU TAP IT. I'M ALSO HERE FOR TROPICAL FRUIT-LADEN BEERS, FOR THE RECORD.
184. Diamondback: Green Machine (IPA / 6.1%)
Description: This beer is our house India Pale Ale. Dry hopped with Citra and Ella for a juicy, citrusy finish.
185. Jolly Pumpkin: Bamarillo (Barrel-Aged Saison (w/ Pineapple) / 5.1%)
Commentary: Man, remember when La Roja was everywhere in DC beer bars? That was a great era.
186. 4 Hands: Preserved Lemon Gose (Gose (w/ Lemon Verbena, Lemon Basil & Lemon Zest) / 4%)
Description: A light, slightly tart, wheat beer with sea salt, lemon zest, lemon verbena, lemon basil and lemon balm.
187. Casey: The Low End (Barrel-Aged Saison (Mixed Fermentation) / 4.5%)
188. Ardent: Fall Sour Blend (Barrel-Aged Sour Red Ale / 6.5%)
189. Dogfish Head: Oak-Aged Vanilla World Wide Stout (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (w/ Vanilla Beans) / 17.5%)
Description: Brewed with a ridiculous amount of barley, we've now taken this Dogfish Head classic and aged it on oak with real vanilla beans! With a little tender love and care we foster this beer from smooth, sweet wort into the big, bad blackend stout it always longed to be. Its bold, port-like complexity goes great with (or as) dessert.
190. Stillwater: Cocoa Cacao (Imperial Stout / 11.5%)
Description: In collaborating with Stillwater Artisanal we always focus on distinct, clear, punchy flavors. This beer is no exception. Inspired by everyone’s favorite candy, this is a chocolate bar in a bottle. Unwrap!
191. Heavy Seas: Loose Cannon: Citra & Orange Peel (IPA (w/ Citra Hops & Orange Peel; Cask) / 7.3%)
Commentary: Heavy Seas does a lot of cool things with their casks and they should be around all day. I think they're all a bit underrated. – BW
192. Kent Falls: The Hollow (Pilsner / 5%)
Description: Our house pils. Inspired by Czech pilsners, we use a blend of central European yeast strains and six week lagering to produce this clean and crips lager which has a habit of disappearing in bunches
193. DC Brau: Baroness Kölsch (Kölsch / 4.5%)
194. Lagunitas: Sakitume (Imperial IPA (w/ Rice & Sake Yeast) / 9%)
Description: This Raging Bull'uva Double-ish IPA is punched with Sake Yeast and Rice, then hopped-up for a cold-clip of counter-balanced bitterness… it just don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
195. Lickinghole Creek: Great Commander (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (Rum; w/ Vanilla, Cocoa Nibs & Chilies) / 13.5%)
Commentary: I am still consistently amazed that a brewery named Lickinghole Creek has made it, but it’s proof that good liquid forgives a lot of other ancillary things.
196. Victory: Home Grown (Pale Lager / 4.8%)
Description: Six varieties of American whole flower hops (Centennial, Mosaic, Azacca, Cascade, Chinook, Citra) pack bold and juicy flavors into this crisp, drinkable lager.
197. Boulevard: Love Child No. 8 (Barrel-Aged Sour Red Ale / 9%)
Description: Boulevard's Love Child Series of "wild" ales are barrel-aged with such boisterous cultures as Lactobacillus and Brettanomyces. These wayward offspring can prove so complex that we employ gauges on the label to convey the intensity of three key personality traits, Funk, Sour and Fruit, presenting a picture of the ale at the time it was released. It will change as it ages, but don't we all? A blend of wood-aged sour beer, Love Child No. 8 is composed of multiple vintages of a Flanders-style sour red ale and a sour Belgian-style golden. This release features soft lactic acidity punctuated with slight acetic notes and a tart, fruity flavor remiscent of sour cherries and green strawberries.
Commentary: The Love Child series is great. Don't feel guilty about a pass on Tank 7 or Saison-Brett, but you won't find this everywhere. It's like an imperial oud bruin. Addendum: goddamn this is low.
198. Graft Cider: Hivemind (Cyser (w/ Macha, Lactose & Lemongrass) / 6.9%)
199. Modern Times: Devil's Teeth: Bourbon Barrel-Aged w/ Barrel-Aged Coffee (Barrel-Aged Strong Ale (Bourbon; w/ Bourbon Barrel-Aged Coffee) / 11%)
Commentary: HOW IS THIS SO LOW? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? Actually, fine, just leave it a all for me. That’s fine.
200. Singlecut: 19-33 (Pilsner / 5.4%)
Description: AS THE FIRST operating micro-brewery in Queens since Prohibition, our address coincidentally also signifies the year Prohibition ended. So what else could we call our flagship Lager, a Czech/German Pils mashup brewed with only authentic ingredients from both regions? A satisfying rich malt body, crisp and super clean finish with overtones of lemon rind and mild spice.
201. Almanac: Dogpatch Currant (Barrel-Aged Sour Red Ale (Wine; w/ Currants) / 7.5%)
Description: The art of creating the perfect fruited sour ale starts with the barrels. As sour beer ages in barrels, each cask displays unique traits: bright fruit flavors, intoxicating aromas, and clean sour character. We selected our favorite Dogpatch Sour barrels, a Flanders red-inspired ale, and added a small mountain of blackcurrants. Inside the barrel secondary fermentation kicks off as the fruit and beer merge into one. The resulting barrel-aged ale is deep burgundy in color, laced with complex sourness, and rich in currant flavor. Pair this crimson ale with grilled venison, duck leg confit, and summer fruit marzipan tarts.
202. Bell's: Kiwi Club (Gose (w/ Kiwis) / 5%)
Description: Kiwi, tart, quenching. Gose with kiwi, coriander and sea salt.
203. Singlecut: Double Dry-Hopped Workers Are Going Home (Imperial IPA (Double Dry-Hopped) / 8.2%)
Description: AND WHEN THEY GET HOME they’re cracking open this super soft and smooth, stone fruit & mango / mild tangerine / dank citrus IIPA that drinks like a much more sessionable brew. This is our most international IIPA yet, hopped with new-age Euro as well as Aussie and PNW varieties. Hey it’s nice to know every day has its night.hemisphere. Bright, citrus juice, crisp clean malt, with a nose of grape and light flowers.
204. Crooked Run: In The Zone (IPA / 8.5%)
Description: Hazy Wheat Double IPA with Mosaic Hops
Commentary: Crooked Run is quietly making some of the tastier DIPAs in the metro DC area. This is pretty far down here, consider it a sleeper pick.
205. Hardywood Park: Tropic Like It's Hot (Wheat Ale (w/ Pineapple, Lime & Passionfruit) / 5%)
Commentary: Feel like this is a beer that could actually improve with chilies. Am I crazy?
206. Tröegs: Scratch #293: Double Mango IPA (Imperial IPA (w/ Mango) / 8.8%)
Description: Mango purée provides this hefty DIPA with its sweet, tropical nose, while a blend of American hops bolsters the mango flavor and adds a smack of citrus fruit, sticky pine, and guava-like juiciness.
Hops: Azacca, Comet, Simcoe
207. Avery: Dui Cochi (Barrel-Aged Imperial Porter (Bourbon; w/ Coconut, Pumpkin & Spices) / 18.6%)
Description: This festive holiday porter has been aged in bourbon barrels with coconut, spices, and pumpkin added.
208. Ballast Point: Virginia Sculpin (IPA / 7%)
209. Boulevard: Saison Brett (Saison (w/ Brettanomyces) / 8.5%)
Description: Saison Brett, based on our very popular Tank 7, is assertively dry-hopped, then bottle conditioned with various yeasts, including Brettanomyces, a wild strain that imparts a distinctive earthy quality. Though this farmhouse ale was given three months of bottle age prior to release, further cellaring will continue to enhance the “Brett” character, if that's what you're after.
Commentary: So wild that people sleep on Saison Brett these days. This is archetype-defining.
210. Hardywood Park: Ruse (Barrel-Aged Imperial Sweet Stout (Red Wine) / 11.3%)
Description: Patiently aged in red wine barrels, Hardywood Ruse unites port-like qualities with distinct dark chocolate and molasses characteristics, while oak and leather dominate the aromatics. Ruse offers a rich mouthfeel with a deceptively dry, tannic finish.
211. Manor Hill: Oud Bruin (Barrel-Aged Sour Brown Ale (Sherry) / 7.7%)
212. Hardywood Park: Foolery (Barrel-Aged Imperial Sweet Stout (Bourbon) / 13%)
Description: Foolery is a huge Imperial Stout aged for eight months in bourbon barrels. Massive chocolate, vanilla, and caramel flavors are preceded by aromatic hints of dark cherry, tobacco, leather and oak. Thick and rich, Foolery brings rounded bourbon character contributions from the barrels and a nice warming finish.
213. Alewerks: Unrequited (Imperial IPA / 8.5%)
214. Stone: Neopolitan Dynamite (Imperial Stout (w/ Strawberry, Chocolate, Vanilla & Coffee) / 8.5%)
Description: You hold in your hands the most recent winner. Finding inspiration in that humble box of striped ice cream from out childhoods, Neapolitan Dynamite is an intense Imperial Stout brewed with vanilla, strawberries, and chocolate, revved up with a shot of coffee to fuel the ultimate dance contest on your palate, gosh!
Commentary: Stone, what are you doing? Why are you doing it?
215. Victory: D'Town IPA #2 (IPA / 5.6%)
216. Singlecut: Tell Shaky & Boxcar Joe (Imperial IPA / 9%)
Description: WE’RE GONNA KICK DOWN THE DOORS of restraint with this bruiser of an IIPA. Double dry-hopped, drinks smooth smooth smooth, no sign of the 9% with a unique combination of new varietal PNW hops. Fast Talking Fanny and Washboard Sam are already down at the Union Hall sipping this beaut of a brew. Just say Automatic Slim sent you
217. Kent Falls: Kiwi Melon Gose (Gose (w/ Kiwi & Watermelon) / 4.6%)
218. Aslin: Berliner Weisse: Peaches & Apricots (Berliner Weisse (w/ Peaches & Apricots) / 3.5%)
Commentary: These guys are most known for their hazy IPAs but they also make some fantastic fruited sours – Donnie
219. Ardent: Gooseberry Gose (Gose (w/ Gooseberries) / 4.6%)
220. DC Brau: Deep Cuts: Centennial Wet Hop (Pale Ale (Wet Hop) / 5.3%)
221. Two Roads: Igor's Dream (2015 Vintage) (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (Rye) / 11%)
Description: In honor of Stratford’s aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky, we’ve created this most unorthodox Russian Imperial Stout. Made with rye and aged in oak whiskey barrels that give it a depth of character like no other. We think Igor would be pleased with the attention to detail in our creation.
Commentary: Every time I underestimate Two Roads they wind up wildly exceeding my expectations. Their Kriek at SAVOR last year was an example. I’m not in for RIS, in general, but I might have to take a flyer on this.
222. Upland: Darken (Barrel-Aged Sour Brown Ale (w/ Ginger, Coriander, Star Anise & Grains of Paradise) / 9.7%)
Description: Belgian-style sour ales heavily influenced our Sour Program in the beginning, and Darken is a take on an "old ale" or Flanders Oud Bruin style. We add nearly the entire spice rack to this ale, including star anise, ginger, grains of paradise, black pepper, and coriander. Formerly named Dantalion (the powerful Great Duke of Hell, if you’re curious), Darken is complex ale with an approachable tartness and flavors of spice, fruit, caramel, and chocolate. Darken has a medium-low body, with a dry, spicy finish.
Commentary: Love the idea of the spices in a sour like this. Not sure it’ll work, but can’t say they’re not ambitious.
223. Tröegs: Scratch #284: Raspberry Gose (Gose (w/ Raspberries) / 5.4%)
Description: Sour meets sweet in this puckish summer wheat. Scratch Raspberry Gose, born as an antidote to hot and hazy East Coast summers, is a friendly tug-of-war between ruby red raspberries and the benevolent bacteria lactobacillus. Prickly and floral, tangy with a touch of salt, this beer is your ticket to an endless summer. Just be home by dark.
224. Brothers: Apple Brandy Softly Spoken (Barrel-Aged Barleywine (Apple Brandy) / 11%)
Description: We like to speak softly here at Brothers, letting our beer project what we want to communicate. And sometimes, if we want to raise our voice a little, we throw our Barley Wine, Softly Spoken, into Apple Brandy barrels to age for 15 months. Apple Brandy flavored Softly Spoken features a malt flavor and smoky background, with a sweet, fruity bite and belly warming feel. Speak softly, drink confidently
225. Founders: Imperial Tropicus (Imperial IPA / 8.4%)
226. Lost Rhino: Red Flanders (Barrel-Aged Sour Red Ale (Red Wine) / 5.8%)
227. Heavy Seas: Powder Monkey: East Kent Golding (Pale Ale (w/ East Kent Golding Hops; Cask) / 4.8%)
Commentary: A nice pint of bitter right here.
228. Schlafly: Hop Trial: Relax (IPA / 6.5%)
229. Commonwealth: Pink Fluffy Unicorns (Imperial IPA (w/ Pink Guava) / 10%)
Description: Triple IPA conditioned on a massive Pink Guava addition! This smoooov magical beastie clocks in at 10% abv! Our first ever triple IPA
230. Fair Winds: Ghost of the Mariner: Barrel-Aged (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (Bourbon; w/ Coffee) / 9.5%)
Description: Aged in Jim Beam Bourbon barrels with freshly roasted coffee beans from our friends at The Roasterie in Kansas City, Mo. Strong oak and coffee flavors. Finished with a hint of vanilla.
231. Saint Somewhere: Le Suel Et Unique (Sour Lager / 5%)
Description: Lager soured by wild yeast
232. Almanac: Blueberry Ginger Gose (Barrel-Aged Gose (Wine; w/ Blueberries & Ginger) / 4.8%)
Commentary: When will breweries stop brewing with blueberries?
233. Crooked Run: Cruise Control (Pilsner / 5%)
Description: Pilsner with Motueka and Wakatu hops.
234. Crooked Stave: L'Brett d'Blueberry (Barrel-Aged Sour Red Ale (w/ Blueberries) / 6%)
235. Bruery Terreux: The Wanderer (Barrel-Aged Sour Red Ale (Wine & Bourbon; w/ Blackberries & Cherries) / 8.3%)
Description: To achieve the ideal profile of The Wanderer, the majority of the blend features wine barrel-aged sour ale with blackberries and cherries. We then folded a small portion of our bourbon barrel-aged anniversary ale into it for additional layers of oak, vanilla and toffee, accentuating the dark fruit notes and delightfully sour tinge. Whether it’s a trip down memory lane or your first experience with these flavors, we hope you enjoy the journey.
236. Crooked Run: Vibes (Berliner Weisse (w/ Blackberry, Vanilla & Lactose) / 4%)
237. Alpine: Windows Up (IPA / 7%)
Description: Windows Up is a single IPA made with Mosaic and Citra hops. It pours a hazy straw color and is topped with bright white beer foam. Piney aromas mingle with fruity notes, while hints of citrus fruit and an overall lingering resinous quality lend a touch of complexity to this dank IPA.
238. Cigar City: Guayabera (Pale Ale / 5.5%)
Description: The Guayabera shirt is well known for its four over-sized pockets. The human being is notable for opposable thumbs on her two hands. When these two notable forces team up, they collectively provide space for an entire six pack of beer. Guayabera Citra Pale Ale is a remarkably sessionable brew and you will want to wear the proper attire to facilitate bringing along a few extra cans.
239. Crooked Run: Sin Nombre (Imperial Stout (w/ Cinnamon & Vanilla) / 11%)
240. Sierra Nevada: Hop & Sour (Sour IPA / 4.5%)
Description: This zesty beer was dry-hopped with a massive amount of citrus and fruity hops for an extremely hoppy—but not bitter—exploration of flavor.
241. Bell's: Wedding Ale (Spiced Golden Ale with Honey, Orange Peel & Coriander / 7.5%)
Description: A subtle blend of orange peel and coriander enhance the aromatic profile of this golden ale. Brewed with a combination of wheat and pale malts, Wedding Ale is fermented with our signature house ale yeast. A light touch of European hops rounds out the beer, while a generous addition of honey adds a dry complexity rather than sweetness.
242. Dogfish Head: Carobock (Weizenbock (w/ Carob Pods & Vanilla Beans) / 8%)
Commentary: “Just because you can brew with carob doesn’t mean that you should” is something everyone’s grandmother will someday stitch onto a pillow for your couch.
243. Brothers: Heaven's River (Imperial Sweet Stout (w/ Coconut & Coffee) / 8.5%)
Description: The Milky Way, in all its vast expanses, is known as the River of Heaven in Japanese folklore. When we look up at night, we can’t disagree with their interpretation. Based off of our galactic Great Debate, Heaven’s River is an Imperial Milk Stout featuring chocolate, rich creaminess, and a subtle background sweetness accentuated with flavors of coffee and coconut. Let the river flow, from our taproom to your glass.
244. District Chophouse: Oktoberfest: Sunbeam Hops (Märzen (Dry-Hopped w/ Sunbeam) / 5.5%)
245. Bluejacket: The Darling Buds 2017 (Pale Ale (Wet Hop) / 6.4%)
Commentary: Just. Walk. To. Bluejacket. Afterward.
246. Crooked Stave: Salvador Cybies (Barrel-Aged Belgian Strong Dark Ale (Whiskey; w/ Cherries) / 9%)
247. Heavy Seas: CrossBones: Simcoe & Grapefruit Peel (Session IPA (w/ Simcoe Hops & Grapefruit Peel; Cask) / 4.5%)
248. Oskar Blues: Interstate SMASH Express: Calypso (IPA / 6%)
Commentary: SMASH beers (single malt and single hop) are more fun thought experiments than well-rounded offerings, in my experience. Prove me wrong, OB. I'll see you after the first 247.
249. Schlafly: Caraway IPA (IPA (w/ Caraway Seeds) / 7.2%)
Description: Adding seeds to beer is something we’ve long wanted to do, and toasted caraway has the elegance to do it well. Earthy, licorice-like flavors balance well with the strength of Chinook and Cascade hops; caramel and rye malts add a strong, sweet-malty character, all combining to present an harmonious union.
Commentary: I have no idea why this beer exists. What the hell is this, the beer version of "Will it sandwich?"
250. 21st Amendment: Tasty IPA (IPA / 6.8%)
Description: Hops are beautiful, they are beautiful in beer. Hops don’t tell you what to do, the are tasty with nothing to lose. The incredible aroma and flavor from the hop oils and resins that reside in the lupulin powder of these wonderful green magical flowers brings beauty into the world, they make it Tasty.
Commentary: I have no idea if this is tasty or not, but I can’t imagine it punching out the 400 other some odd IPAs on this list.
251. Green Flash: Treasure Chest 2017 (IPA (w/ Passionfruit Tea) / 5.7%)
Description: Every year since 2011, Green Flash introduces a new Treasure Chest beer to benefit breast cancer charities. This year’s offering is a bright and tropical IPA featuring Green Bullet, Warrior, Citra, Cascade, and Simcoe hops. It is infused with passion fruit tea and is 5.7% ABV | 65 IBU
Commentary: Bring back old Hop Head Red.
252. Lost Rhino: Say Son of Funk (Saison (w/ Lemon, Basil & Brettanomyces) / 6.3%)
Description: Locally harvested wild yeast, fresh lemon basil, and brett.
Commentary: Lost Rhino's barrel program flies under the radar locally. Probably a volume-related thing, but it's a bummer they don't get more play.
253. Green Flash: Spanish Trampoline (IPA / 6.6%)
Description: Bouncing into new territory, Spanish Trampoline features huge hop aroma with low bitterness. Brewed to celebrate National IPA Day on August 3rd, Spanish Trampoline is tropical and dank with notes of passion fruit and mango.
254. Atlas: Equinox Dry-Hopped Should I Stay or Should I Gose (Gose (Dry-Hopped) / 4.4%)
255. J. Wakefield: El Jefe (Hefeweizen (w/ Coconut) / 5.5%)
256. De La Senne: Taras Boulba (Belgian Blond Ale / 4.5%)
Description: Light blonde with 4.5% alc., generously hopped with the finest aromatic hops, giving it a very refreshing character and a scent reminiscent of citrus.
Commentary: You can get this anytime you want at The Sovereign, but after a long day of standing outside maybe you'll want it all the same.
257. The Lost Abbey: Carnevale (Saison (w/ Brettanomyces) / 6.8%)
Description: Brewed in celebration of Lent and Easter season, Carnevale is light bodied Saison, using Brettanomyces along with Amarillo and Simcoe hops to generate flavor and depth. Carnevale’s complexity grows with time. The citrus notes tend to wane and the wild yeast rears its wonderfully tasting head.
AROMA: Moderately spicy nose with hints of tropical fruits and toasted biscuits. Some tangerine and apricot help round out the citrus notes. TASTE: Mildly sweet with subtle pop, the carbonation helps introduce the deep flavor of Brett to the palate.
258. Cascade: Figaro (2015 Vintage) (Barrel-Aged Sour Blond Ale (Chardonnay; w/ White Figs, Orange & Lemon) / 9.1%)
Description: Blend of sour Blond ales aged in Chardonnay barrels for up to 18 months with white figs and lemon peel. Featuring complex flavors of dried figs, citrus peel, green grapes and apple skins, this NW style sour ale is ready to drink now, but will continue to evolve in the bottle for several years.
Commentary: Cascade beers are good but also cost too many tickets, probably. Use caution and see if you can get a pour or two at the end if you've got some tickets to use up. (Sound strategy. Also, I think this is one of their better beers, but I am decidely pro-fig. – BW)
259. Avery: Rumpkin 2017 (Barrel-Aged Pumpkin Ale (Rum) / 16.9%)
Description: We wondered what would happen if a monstrous pumpkin ale, plump full of spicy gourdiness, were aged in fine fresh rum barrels to add suggestions of delicate oak and candied molasses. Rumpkin is what happens!
Commentary: Wild that this is so low. True you don’t want a 17% pumpkin ale, but that rum barrel really works magic on this one.
260. Sierra Nevada: Oktoberfest (Märzen / 6.1%)
Description: Each year, we partner with a different German brewer to explore the roots of Germany’s famous Oktoberfest beers. This year, we’re collaborating with Germany’s Brauhaus Miltenberger, whose approach to the classic style we’ve long admired. The result is a festival beer true to their style—deep golden in color with deceptively rich malt flavor and balanced by traditional German-grown whole-cone hops.
261. DC Brau: On the Wings of Armageddon (Imperial IPA / 9.2%)
Description: OTWOA is a single hop blend* beer utilizing Falconers Flight™. Brewed with just enough Pale malt, Cara-60, CaraPils and Malted wheat to carry the intense hop character onto the palate. At first glance, it has an orange hue in the glass with a viscus, rocky head that refuses to dissipate. Upon first sniff there are dominate aromas of citrus, white grapes and grapefruit with light bread and biscuit notes. After the first sip we taste a mellow bitterness that only grows as more is consumed. Moderately carbonated, deceptively smooth, refreshingly dry and extremely heady for a beer at 9.2% ABV.
Commentary: OTWOA is a great beer. Full stop. But it's also the beer that proves the rule that availability breeds contempt. Gone are the days when folks were lining up at the brewery for can releases of this. An excellent beer, but one you can find pretty regularly if you'd like to, and it's going to eat into your quota at 9+%.
262. Captain Lawrence: 6th Borough (Pilsner / 5%)
Description: The 6th borough may just be a state of mind, but we live here, and this beer was brewed here. Bright, crisp and hoppy, this beer will bring you back to the "burbs" with each sip.
263. Jester King: RU55 (Barrel-Aged Sour Red Ale / 7.3%)
Description: Farmhouse red ale aged in oak barrels with wild yeast and souring bacteria. Unfiltered, unpasteurized, and 100% naturally conditioned. This beer is a tribute to our good friend and professional brewer Russ Beattie.
264. Great Lakes: Barrel-Aged Barleywine (Barrel-Aged Barleywine / 10.2%)
265. Maine Beer Co.: Peeper (Pale Ale / 5.5%)
Description: LIGHT CITRUS, RASPBERRIES, BLACKBERRIES, SUBTLE PINE, LIGHT BREADY
HOPS: AMARILLO, CASCADE, CENTENNIAL
MALT: AMERICAN 2-ROW, CARAPILS, VIENNA, RED WHEAT
266. District Chophouse: IPA: Amarillo & Mosaic Hops (IPA (Dry-Hopped w/ Amarillo & Mosaic) / 6.8%)
267. Boulevard: Tank 7 (Saison (Dry-Hopped) / 8.5%)
Description: When our brewers were experimenting with variations on a traditional Belgian-style farmhouse ale, the perfect combination of elements came together in fermenter number seven. You could call it fate, but they called it Tank 7, and so it is. Beginning with a big surge of fruity aromatics and grapefruit-hoppy notes, the flavor of this complex, straw-colored ale tapers off to a peppery, dry finish.
268. Captain Lawrence: Leeds to Paradise (Imperial IPA / 7.5%)
Description: Dry hopped with Amarillo, Zeus, Citra, and Motueka hops
269. ANXO: Collaboration #5 (Dry Cider / 6.2%)
Description: Our first cider in cans! Blended at Shacksbury in Vermont after a long tasting and blending session with cidermaker Colin Davis. This cider is primarily made with wild apples foraged from Dorset Mountain in Danby, VT. We then blended in cider made from apples sourced from Dragon Orchards in England, and a cider made from all organic apples from the famous Petritegi ciderhouse in Basque Country.
#5 is a medium-bodied cider with lots of red berry notes, great acidity, moderate tannin, and slate and stone on the finish. This is just as much at home on the dinner table as it on a beach or a tailgate. ABV 6.2%
270. ANXO: Rustic AF (Dry Cider / 6.5%)
271. Alpine: Duet (IPA / 7%)
Description: A West Coast IPA. Our original single IPA made with Simcoe and Amarillo hops in harmony.
272. RAR: Nanticoke Nectar (IPA / 7.4%)
Description: Our flagship brew, and a year round offering in kegs and cans, Nanticoke Nectar starts with citrus notes that progress into bold grapefruit and pine, then finishes clean with a balanced, hoppy bitterness. A subtle yet deep English malt profile elevates the hop notes while a slight sweetness underlines the brew.
273. ANXO: Transcontinental (Dry Cider / 7.8%)
274. De Ranke: XX Bitter (Belgian Blond Ale / 6%)
Description: XX-Bitter is our bitterest high-fermented beer, which, despite its low alcoholic strength, produces a rich full flavor that lasts for a long time.
Taste: Very bitter, yet balanced. With a pronounced hop flavor that lasts for a long time.
275. Founders: Frootwood (Barrel-Aged Fruit Beer (Bourbon & Maple Syrup; w/ Cherries) / 8%)
Description: We took a crisp, light-bodied cherry ale and hid it away in oak barrels that have held both bourbon and maple syrup. After a lengthy stint, it emerged a changed beer, blanketed in notes of warm vanilla and earthy sweetness. The wood proves itself the star of this beer, adding depth and taming the tart cherry while the maple imposes a velvety texture that lingers for not a moment too long.
276. Ballast Point: Brett Grunion (Brett Pale Ale / 5.5%)
Commentary: Grunion is a great beer on its own, I can’t imagine how it would improve with Brett, but maybe I’ll give it a shot. For science.
277. Right Proper: Baron Corvo (Bière de Garde (Mixed Fermentation) / 7%)
278. Schlafly: Berry Berry Tart (Fruit Beer (w/ Raspberries, Blueberries, Blackberries, Lemon & Vanilla) / 6%)
Description: This beer tantalizes your taste buds and sparks decadent desires. It blushes with color from raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, which give an irresistible tart-fruit flavor. Vanilla beans round out the semblance of a pastry–this is the ale version of a French tart. Voilá!
Commentary: Schlafly, you don’t need to be making French tart-themed beers. You don’t. We respect you already. We know your name and your game. Send Tasmanian IPA and stop with this.
279. Atlas: Dance of Days (Wheat Ale (Dry-Hopped) / 5.7%)
Description: Dance of Days is a pale ale generously hopped with beautiful and bright Citra and Mosaic hops. We add wheat malt to the grain bill of the Pale Ale to give the beer a robust body and silk mouth feel that perfectly compliments the floral and citrus flavors from two of our favorite hops. Named in homage to the DC punk scene, this well balanced Pale Ale has hop flavor and aroma for days.
Commentary: Phil Runco named this the beer of Summer 2016. It’s back for 2017, and now it’s being canned so you probably don’t need to run this down at Snally.
280. Jailbreak: The White Russian (Cream Ale (w/ Coffee & Vanilla) / 5%)
Description: Light in color yet full in flavor. An appropriate marriage of golden malts and perfectly roasted coffee from our friends at Ceremony Roasters. A hint of vanilla is added to recreate a White Russian worthy of The Dude’s respect. Jailbreak abides!
Commentary: Another pretty good candidate to stick around until the end of the day, but it is definitely worthy of consideration.
281. Supreme Core: Sagamore-Oaked Cider (Barrel-Aged Cider (Rye Whiskey) / 8%)
282. Smuttynose: Märzen (Barrel-Aged Märzen (Wine) / 8%)
Description: When Smuttynose Brewing Co. opened its new brewery back in May of 2014, we had installed a world class, state of the art German brewhouse fabricated by Steinecker. The system, while incredibly flexible, is especially adept at brewing lagers. This year, Smuttynose decided to graduate the incredibly well-recived 2015 Smuttlabs Oktoberfest into a new counterpart to our Pumpkin Ale seasonal. Our Oktoberfest is a classic, true-to-style Oktoberfest beer, aka Märzen. This style dates back to the 16th century when German brewers brewed darker versions than what you see today. They were, and continue to be, slightly stronger and hoppier than their golden-hued cousins and were meant to withstand a few months of cellaring during the summer months when, due to lagers predilection for the cold, it was more difficult to brew beer. By the end of September, during the late-summer harvest, temperatures had cooled off enough and any remaining bottles of Märzen were consumed during the classic Oktoberfest celebrations. While we hope you can make it to the brewery for our Oktoberfest party, we, at the very least, hope you enjoy our nod to the rich history of German beer and its attendant culture.
283. Cascade: Sang Noir (2016 Vintage) (Barrel-Aged Sour Brown Ale (Bourbon & Wine; w/ Cherries) / 10.1%)
Description: Sang Noir is a blend of imperial red ales aged in bourbon and wine barrels for up to two years with Bing cherries. The darkest in our series of 'Sang' projects, Sang Noir features notes of dark roast malts, bourbon, black cherries and port wine
284. Jolly Pumpkin: IO Saison (Barrel-Aged Saison (w/ Rose Petals & Hibiscus Flowers) / 6.8%)
285. RAR: 10 Layers (Sweet Stout (w/ Cocoa Nibs) / 7.2%)
Commentary: Who is asking for all these dessert stouts? What is the appeal?
286. Mad Fox: The Funk (Saison (w/ Citra Hops; Cask) / 6.4%)
287. Sint Bernardus: ABT 12 (Quadrupel / 10%)
Description: The St. Bernardus Abt 12 is the pride of our stable, the nec plus ultra of our brewery. Abbey ale brewed in the classic ’Quadrupel’ style of Belgium’s best Abbey Ales. Dark with a full, ivory-colored head. It has a fruity aroma, full of complex flavours and excels because of its long bittersweet finish with a hoppy bite. Worldwide seen as one of the best beers in the world. It’s a very balanced beer, with a full-bodied taste and a perfect equilibrium between malty, bitter, and sweet. One of the original recipes from the days of license-brewing for the Trappist monks of Westvleteren.
Commentary: If you're going to go with an Abt 12 quad (AND YOU SHOULDN'T BECAUSE QUADS ARE ABHORRENT), at least get the 2006 vintage so you can say you had an 11-year old quad. Everyone on Untappd wil be like: 😮
288. Great Lakes: Rackhouse (Barrel-Aged Strong Ale (Bourbon) / 9.5%)
289. Perennial: Glitter & Gold (Bière de Miel / 6.5%)
Description: Glitter & Gold is a Midwest bière de miel brewed with Missouri wildflower honey, a good grip of spelt, and flaked oats. Soft and billowy, yet intensely floral. It's a toast to the wedding of our good friends, Chad and Ashley. Drink with ones you love. Bottle conditioned.
290. Saint Somewhere: Grand Cru (Sour Brown Ale / 9%)
291. Avery: Überschwein (Barleywine (Double Dry-Hopped) / 9.2%)
Description: Hog Heaven with an extra three pounds of Columbus Hops in each keg. Intense bitterness and the dankest of dry-hopped aromas with a rich caramel malt backbone.
292. Mad Fox: Dry-Hopped Defender (Pale Ale (w/ Columbus Hops; Cask) / 5.2%)
Description: Subtle fruit aromatics introduce assertive Simcoe hops balanced by a juicy malt flavor and a crisp finish.
293. Ninkasi: Oktoberfest (Märzen / 5.9%)
294. Tröegs: Scratch #287: Witbier (Witbier / 4.9%)
Description: A perennial favorite at Tröegs, our Belgian-style Witbier (or “white ale”) incorporates subtle tartness and a delicate orange aroma to complement the distinctive spicy flair of LaChouffe yeast. We circulate a blend of coriander, orange and lemon peel, and pink and green peppercorns through our HopBack vessel to impart a soft floral aroma with a spicy finish and citrusy zing.
295. Flying Dog: Foeder-Aged Orchard Ale (Barrel-Aged Fruit Beer (w/ Apple Cider) / 8.5%)
Description: Orchard Ale is is a blend of two parts Blonde Ale mixed with one part cider from Distillery Lane. The cider we use includes a mix of Bulmer’s Norman, Tremlett’s Bitters and Summer Rambo apples. Yeah, you read that right. Summer Rambo Apples. We added Hallertau hops for bittering and the end result is a crisp green apple flavor complimented by subtle Belgian yeast notes. You’ll be able to try this year’s Orchard Ale alongside our 2015 Orchard Ale, which has been hibernating in a foeder (a giant wooden vessel for aging) for the last tenth of a decade with brettanomyces.
296. Atlas: NSFW (Imperial Black IPA / 9.2%)
Description: Not a beer to bring home to Mom, NSFW is most at home in shady joints and dives from Mos Eisley to Gommorah. Born on a moonless winter night in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest, it made its way east, dodging authorities at every turn. So black it makes both pot and kettle blush, NSFW features criminal hop bitterness and a dank pine aroma that will make police dogs alert their handlers. Use with extreme caution, and don’t tell your boss.
297. Potter's: Farmhouse Dry (Dry Cider / 8.5%)
Description: Pale gold and effervescent with pronounced fruit aroma hinting of peach and melon. Don’t let the heady nose fool you – with no residual sugars, the flavor is crisp, tart, and exceptionally dry. Uniquely refreshing with a crisp finish that pairs well with a variety of foods including pork, duck, wild game, and aged cheeses. Sold in 750mL bottles.
298. Cigar City: Pascua (Pilsner / 5.4%)
Description: Five hundred and four years ago Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon first set foot on an unexplored land he called “La Florida”, a name that nodded to the lush flora of the alien land and to the Easter holiday (Pascua Florida to Spaniards) during which he landed. Floridians now honor Ponce de Leon’s discovery every April 2nd on Pascua Florida day, a state-wide holiday that celebrates discovery, springtime and the divergent cultures that make Florida a truly singular culture. Brewed on April 2nd and inspired by our favorite Hoppy Pilsners, Pascua Pilsner boasts 100% German-malted barley and an assertive hop profile of herbal, spicy flavors conferred by Hallertauer Mittelfruh and Styrian Bobek hops in the kettle and a generous helping of Hallertauer as a dry-hop. German lager yeast helps to create a dry, crisp and pleasantly complex pilsner that’s a perfect herald for springtime in Florida.
299. Arizona WIlderness: Graham's Watermelon Gose (Gose (w/ Watermelon) / 4.5%)
Description: A SOUR/SALTY wheat ale with AZ watermelon (Hauser Farms), AZ Salt & AZ Sonora White Wheat (Hayden Flour Mills).
300. North Coast: Belgo Style Dry-Hopped Pale Ale (Belgian Pale Ale / 4.1%)
Description: Our Belgo-Style Dry-Hopped Pale Ale is a summer session beer extraordinaire; light and spritzy, fermented to brut-like dryness with our Saison yeast. If you liked our Petite Saison, Puck, you’ll love this variation on the theme infused with Citra, Simcoe, and Mosaic hops for a sunny, tropical finish.
301. O'Connor: Backyard Bonfire (IPA (Smoked) / 7%)
Description: Showcasing barley malt that was grown and smoked in our backyard by our friends at Copper Fox Distillery, paired with Sorachi-ace hops, this beer balances herbal and fruity aromas with the smoky character from the apple- and cherry- woods used.
Commentary: I am intrigued.
302. Two Roads: Roadsmary's Stepchild (Barrel-Aged Sour Blond Ale (w/ Pumpkin) / 9.3%)
Description: Roadsmary’s Baby is a traditional pumpkin ale with a Two Roads spin, it's aged in rum barrels for added complexity and depth of flavor. The result is a smooth drinking ale with notes of pumpkin, spices, vanilla, oak and a touch of rum.
303. Sly Fox: Keller Pils (Kellerbier / 4.9%)
Description: By public demand, an unfiltered version of our award-winning Pikeland Pils straight out of the beer cellar occasionally appears on tap. A Northern German-style Pilsner brewed with imported German pils malt and hopped with German and Czech hops. Light in body, light straw in color, dry and unfiltered.
304. Flying Dog: Peach Cobbler (Blond Ale (w/ Peaches, Vanilla & Spices) / 5.9%)
Description: Brewed with peaches, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and vanilla beans, Peach Cobbler Ale’s deep orange hue fills the air with hints of peach jam, warm pie spices and pie crust notes from the malt. If the description alone has you wanting another, you’re in luck. This little treat is a manageable 5.9% ABV so go ahead, have one more slice, we won’t tell a soul.
305. Potter's: Passionfruit Mosaic (Cider (w/ Passionfruit & Mosaic Hops) / 8.5%)
Description: Cider infused with passionfruit pulp and dry hopped with Mosaic. Inspired by our friends at Saison and Saison Market in Richmond, VA.
306. Three Notch'd: Minute Man (IPA / 7%)
Description: Forget everything you know about IPA’s! This unique and brand new style of IPAs has a super low bitterness, allowing the fresh fruity flavor and aroma of hops to completely dominate. This beer is unfiltered and unclarified, leaving the yeast to add to the smooth mouthfeel. The Galaxy, Mosaic and Idaho 7 hops make this beer super “juicy” and fruity with a strong, citrus bouquet aroma.
Commentary: Here's another example of a beer you drink at the end because it'll be around and it is good.
307. Victory: Selene (2016 Vintage) (Dark Saison (w/ Brett) / 7.5%)
Description: Dark hazy brown brew. Smell is loaded with character from the secondary fermentation, horseblanket and must. Similar flavors follow with some leather notes as well. Dark chocolate sweetens things up for a moment before getting dry.
308. New Belgium: New Belgium Love: Oscar Blackberry (Barrel-Aged Sour Brown Ale (Blackberry Whiskey) / 7.5%)
309. Firestone Walker: Pivo Pils (Pilsner / 5.3%)
Description: Pivo Hoppy Pils is a classically rendered pilsner with a West Coast dry-‐hopping twist, showcasing stylistic influences from Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic. Lighter beer styles like pilsner have been hijacked by industrial lager beer in the United States, and it’s time for craft brewers to take it back. Pivo Hoppy Pils offers impeccable balance with floral aromatics, spicy herbal nuances, and bergamot zest and lemongrass notes from dry hopping with German Saphir hops.
Commentary: Pivo is great, but, again, you’re not coming to Snally to drink Pivo. It might be a fun side effect of Snally, but it’s not the intention.
310. Green Flash: Divine Sauvage (Barrel-Aged Tripel (Red Wine; w/ Brettanomyces) / 10.5%)
311. De Ranke: Noir de Dottignies (Belgian Strong Dark Ale / 8.5%)
Description: Noir de Dottignies is a complex, high-fermented dark beer, brewed with 7 different mues including chocolate and roasted malt.
Taste : Flavored roasted malt flavor with a soft bitter taste.
Commentary: Great beer in an inappropriate context.
312. De La Senne: Jambe-de-Bois (Tripel / 8%)
Description: Blond and copper-colored, Jambe-de-Bois is a powerful and full-bodied beer. It has a scent of ripe banana and a subtle blend of old varieties of aromatic hops. As for taste, the malt dominates, supported by a long and delicate bitterness. It has 8% alcohol.
Commentary: A great tripel from a great brewery that you can always find at The Sovereign and have no need to drink here.
313. Smuttynose: Smuttonator (2014 Vintage) (Doppelbock / 9.8%)
Description: S’Muttonator Double Bock displays the characteristically full malt flavor that can only come from using the best German specialty malts, and a traditional decoction mashing technique. The extra effort also adds a lot of extra time to each batch, but that’s the only way to get the nuttiness, toffee notes and smooth character beer drinkers expect from a double bock. When you drink your S’Muttonator, you’ll see that it’s time well spent. S’Muttonator is brewed in our state-of-the-art LEED Gold® Certified brewery located on a picturesque 17-acre campus, that includes our 98-seat farmstyle restaurant – Hayseed, in Hampton, NH. We’ve been a pillar of the brewing community since we poured our first beer back in 1994. Come on over and check us out – your tastebuds will thank you!
314. Uinta: Cockeyed Cooper (Barrel-Aged Barleywine (Bourbon) / 11.1%)
Description: Launch into the exquisite flavors of bourbon with splashes of vanilla. Watch for currents of dark chocolate and dried fruit. Generous amounts of hops and malts make for a smooth journey from start to finish. Decadent desserts and aged cheeses make superb companions.
315. Anderson Valley: Barrel-Aged G&T Gose (Barrel-Aged Gose (Bourbon; w/ Lemon & Juniper) / 6.5%)
Description: After scaling up our G&T Gose recipe to a higher gravity and increasing the additions of botanicals, we aged it for three months in third-use barrels that once housed our Bourbon Barrel Stout. The resulting beer is truly unique and complex: the deeply charred barrels impart a notable “bourbonesque” hue to its appearance, while hints of vanilla and oak give balance to the botanicals leading to a soft bourbon flavor up front and a juniper-like finish
316. Ommegang: Cubism (Imperial IPA / 8.6%)
Commentary: Trying to imagine what Ommegang’s take on an Imperial IPA would be like.
317. Ommegang: Nirvana (IPA / 6.5%)
Description: Nirvana IPA is kettle-hopped with Bravo, Simcoe, Centennial, Topaz, and Mosaic, dry-hopped with Centennial, Citra, Simcoe and Amarillo and clocks in at 6.5% ABV and 60 IBUs. The flavor is hoppy, juicy and citrusy goodness – without harsh bitterness.
318. Ommegang: Pale Sour Ale (Sour Blond Ale / 6.9%)
Description: Pale Sour begins with a mixed culture fermentation in open copper vats. Aged over several months in stainless tanks, master blenders blend new batches with older ones until the optimal balance of flavors is reached.
A beer that drinks much like a fine white wine, Pale Sour pours a bright golden hue with a brilliant white head. The flavor is an elegant interplay of sweet and sour and the mouthfeel is soft with a delicate body and clean finish.
319. 3 Stars: Trouble in Paradise (Sour Blond Ale (w/ Mango & Guava) / 6.5%)
Commentary: The first batch was a bit too fruit-forward, the second too acidic. This one is juuuuuuust right.
320. Alewerks: Jubilee XI (Belgian Strong Dark Ale / 11%)
321. Perennial: Hopfentea (Berliner Weisse (w/ Tropical Tea) / 4.2%)
Description: A wave of tropical fruit and spice brighten this lively, tart wheat ale, taking the German Berliner Weisse tradition on an island run. Hopfentea, steeped on a house-made tea blend of dried mango, papaya, hibiscus & lemongrass, pairs well with light appetizers, salads and high humidity.
322. Schlafly: Pumpkin Ale (Imperial Pumpkin Ale / 8%)
Description: Our Pumpkin Ale blends the spices of the harvest with full-bodied sweetness for a beer that tastes like pumpkin pie. Pounds of pumpkin form a malty foundation that supports the fall flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.
While pumpkin beers were produced in the early days of the American colonies, they were different from the pumpkin beers we know today. Colonists used pumpkin and squash as the fermenting medium, since malted barley was scarce. Once malt became more readily available, it replaced these alternatives to grain. In the 1990’s, American craft brewers reintroduced the style to the delight of pumpkin beer drinkers.
323. Oxbow: Saison dell'Agrosta (Saison (w/ Lobster & Sea Salt) / 4.5%)
Description: Gose – inspired seaside saison brewed with live Maine lobsters and sea salt. Collaboration with Birrificio del Ducato of Parma, Italy. 4.5%
Commentary: Surprisingly light and sprightly this is a good go-to when tongue fatigue sets in.
324. Uinta: Fest Helles (Helles Lager / 5.5%)
Description: Fest is a delicate balance of malt and hops. With its bready malt character and grassy aromatics, this German-style lager is the perfect go-to for late Summer drinking, lederhosen optional.
325. Bell's: Octoberfest (Märzen / 5.8%)
Description: Crafted as a flavorful session beer and perfect for autumn, Octoberfest spends a full six weeks fermenting.
With herbal hop aromas, this balanced amber lager focuses on lightly toasted malt that lends body without too much sweetness. Perfect for a week-long wedding celebration in Germany or the start of the Michigan autumn.
326. Dogfish Head: SeaQuench (Sour Blond Ale (w/ Lime, Black Lime & Sea Salt) / 4.9%)
Description: SeaQuench Ale is a session sour mash-up of a crisp Kolsch, a salty Gose, and a tart Berliner Weiss brewed in sequence with black limes, sour lime juice and sea salt to make this the most thirst-quenching beer Dogfish Head has ever brewed.
327. Fair Winds: Nautifest (Märzen / 5.5%)
Description: Vienna and Dark Munich malts drive the toasty malt backbone to this copper colored lager. Lightly hopped with German noble hops Tettnanger and Hallertau Mittelfruh for a subtle, herbal nose and touch of spice to the dry finish
328. Atlas: Tomb Essence (Imperial Stout (w/ Rye, Molasses & Caraway Seed) / 10%)
329. Evolution: Hops Limón (IPA (w/ Lemon & Limes) / 6.8%)
330. Bell's: Sparkleberry (Sparkling Ale w/ Raspberries / 8.3%)
Description: An American interpretation of a Belgian Tripel, Sparkleberry Ale is Sparkling Ale brewed with raspberries. Originally brewed for release at Kalamazoo Pride in 2013, Sparkleberry is now part of our specialty lineup.
Slightly tart, dry and spicy with a fruity aroma, Sparkleberry won a Bronze Medal at the 2013 Great American Beer Festival.
331. Mad Fox: Wee Heavy (Scotch Ale (Cask) / 8.6%)
Description: A Stong Scotch Ale and a Mad Fox classic. Full bodied with a deep malt character. Very lightly hopped.
332. Des Rocs: Grand Cru (Belgian Strong Dark Ale / 9.5%)
333. Bluejacket: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Double Mexican Radio 2017 (Barrel-Aged Imperial Sweet Stout (Bourbon; w/ Vanilla, Cocoa, Chilies & Cinnamon) / 12%)
334. Right Proper: Kick.Kick.Snare (Berliner Weisse (Dry-Hopped) / 3.1%)
Description: Tart, citrus, funky.
Commentary: Damn. K.K.S. is back? /beelines to Right Proper
335. Sierra Nevada: Rye Dunkelweizen (Barrel-Aged Dunkelweizen (Rye) / 9.6%)
336. Bluejacket: Transistor (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (Bourbon; w/ Cocoa & Vanilla) / 15%)
337. Burley Oak: Phantom of the Oak: Blueberry (Barrel-Aged Sour Red Ale (w/ Blueberries) / 5%)
Commentary: STOP BREWING WITH BLUEBERRIES.
338. Cigar City: Jai Alai (IPA / 7.5%)
Description: Jai Alai, a game native to the Basque region of Spain, is played on a court called a fronton. Jai Alai players attempt to catch a ball using a curved mitt whilst the ball travels at speeds up to 188mph! Proving they have a sense of humor the Spanish dubbed this game, with its ball traveling at race car speeds, “the merry game.” Tampa was once home to a bustling Jai Alai fronton but sadly all that remains of Jai Alai in the Tampa Bay area is this India Pale Ale that we brew in tribute to the merry game. The India Pale Ale style of beer has its roots in the ales sent from England to thirsty British troops in India during the 18th century. Pair Jai Alai India Pale Ale with beef empanadas, deviled crabs, and other spicy dishes.
339. Hellbender: Dunkelweisse (Dunkelweizen / 4.7%)
Description: 100% wheat and open fermented with German hefeweizen yeast, this beer has a ton of complexity for its low ABV
340. Supreme Core: Micawber (Dry Cider / 6.9%)
341. Three Notch'd: American Golden Sour (Sour Blond Ale / 7.5%)
342. Stone: RuinTen w/ Blackberry, Strawberry & Lemon (Imperial IPA (w/ Blackberries, Strawberries & Lemon) / 10.8%)
Description: We first released this decidedly indelicate beer in 2012 as Stone Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our beloved bitter Stone Ruination IPA. Stone RuinTen Triple IPA uses the same recklessly hoppy recipe as the 2012 release; only the name has been changed to include “Triple,” which helps describe the over-the-top hop profile and elevated alcohol by volume. We packed a whopping five pounds of hops into each barrel, and cranked up the ABV to stand up to the hop onslaught. The results are glorious, and we know you’ll rejoice in tasting this audacious gem of hoppy splendor. You’re welcome. Again.
343. Wychwood: Hobogoblin (Extra Special Bitter / 5.2%)
Description: Traditionally brewed to produce a wonderfully well balanced blend of smooth, rich & satisfying flavours from chocolate & crystal malts combined with a crisp, refreshing bitterness from Styrian, Goldings and Fuggles hops.
344. Victory: Festbier (Märzen / 5.6%)
Description: Friendship and camaraderie: the two keys to any festive event. And then there’s the beer. It should be full-bodied, yet infinitely smooth. Seductively malty, with a kiss of the hops for balance. This is our Festbier. Painstakingly crafted from German malts, decoction brewed for full flavor and carefully aged for depth of character. Gather with your friends for a festive moment of Victory!
345. Caracole: Saxo (Belgian Strong Blond Ale / 8%)
346. Blue Mountain: Spooky (Barrel-Aged Pumpkin Ale (Bourbon; w/ Cocoa Nibs) / 8.2%)
347. Heritage: Double Taxation (Imperial IPA / 9%)
348. O'Connor: Spyhop (White IPA / 7%)
Description: Spyhop is a Belgian-inspired White India Pale Ale infused with an abundance of hops. “Spyhopping” is when a whale slowly pops its head above water for a better view of what’s at the surface. You will instantly spy this beer’s hops in its tempting aroma, but beneath the surface are complex notes of coriander, chamomile and grapefruit.
Commentary: This is the only beer categorized as a white IPA at Snally this year.
349. Smuttynose: Schmutzig (IPA (w/ Wheat) / 5.8%)
Description: Last fall I received an invite from Dave Brodrick to help celebrate the marriage to his beautiful wife, Iris. Dave (of Blind Tiger renown) asked me to brew a beer for the event. Happy to oblige, I tossed around the idea of several different styles but kept coming back to late-addition hoppy beers. I knew I wanted a session beer for the wedding and had recently been enjoying the Brooklyner Schneider Hopfen Weiss. I wasn’t looking for a beer quite that strong and so dialed back the starting gravity to be inline with a more traditional hefeweizen. The beer itself ended up with a bit too much banana character from the yeast as the ’Shire was hit with a massive ice storm the day after we brewed. We lost power for a day and a half (even that wasn’t too bad as some folk were out of power for weeks) which caused a warmer fermentation than desired. Instead of a nice mix of fruit and clove, it was definitely skewed toward the banana character, but the huge, floral notes of the hops actually balance quite nicely. Think Juicy Fruit. All in all, I think it’s an excellent beer.
Commentary: Not the only wedding beer at the fest…
350. Lickinghole Creek: Eat It Too (Barrel-Aged Quadrupel (w/ Apples & Cinnamon) / 9.6%)
Description: Bourbon Barrel Aged Quad with Apples and Apple Pie Cooking Spices
Commentary: The name of this refers to the fact that it's an apple pie-themed beer. This name disconcerts me. It fills me with weird feelings. I don't like it.
351. Saint Sylvestre: Gavroche (Bière de Garde / 8.5%)
352. Ballast Point: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Sea Monster (Barrel-Aged (Bourbon) / 10%)
353. Stone: Punk in Drublic (Pale Lager (Dry-Hopped) / 5.8%)
Description: Hoppy Lager brewed with Huell Melon hops.
354. Tröegs: Scratch #299: Weizenbock (Weizenbock / 7%)
Description: When it comes to brewing, yeast is a fickle partner. It’s headstrong. A maverick. But a cozy home and a hearty meal go a long way. The freedom of open fermentation snaps our weizen yeast to life, adding notes of candied clove and black pepper to the bready Vienna malt of Scratch Weizenbock. A big brother to DreamWeaver Wheat… why not?
355. Blue Mountain: Full Noonan (Imperial IPA / 8.2%)
Commentary: Related to Peggy or…?
356. Oskar Blues: McKercher's Keller Kolsch (Kölsch / 5.2%)
357. Evolution: DelMarVa Pure Pils (Pilsner / 4.8%)
Description: A supremely sessionable Eastern Shore take on a Czech-style pilsner. Golden in color with floral and citrus zest hop characteristics from German Saphir and Opal hops. Crisp with delicate malt flavors and a dry finish. Making any Eastern Shore adventure ever-better!
Commentary: Very serviceable pilsner alert.
358. Tröegs: Scratch #290: Apple Farmhouse (Saison (w/ Apples) / 5.9%)
Description: Our friends at Big Hill Ciderworks pressed dozens upon dozens of bushels of Winchester and Rome apples for this Scratch farmhouse-style ale. The sweet and tannic combination of the apples complements the distinctive fruity esters and spicy notes of the La Chouffe yeast.
Commentary: Saison yeast has enough apples. Not down for adding more apples to the apple yeast beer.
359. 3 Stars: Raspberry Dissonance (Berliner Weisse (w/ Raspberries) / 3.6%)
360. Mustang Sally: Dortmunder Lager (Dortmunder Lager / 5.7%)
361. 3 Stars: Pounding Trees (Imperial IPA / 8%)
Commentary: This is a great IPA and way too low on this list, but it’s also got some pretty stiff competition.
362. Uinta: Pit Stop (Sour IPA (w/ Apricots) / 6.3%)
Description: Brewed with apricots and an abundance of hops, this kettle-soured Apricot IPA entertains even the most sophisticated palates.
Commentary: I like the idea of this more than I like most Uinta offerings, actually. Wish I knew what the hop bill was so I could give a more full-throated endorsement.
363. Victory: White Monkey (Barrel-Aged Tripel (Chardonnay) / 9.5%)
Description: Chardonnay barrels from Wente Vineyards in CA were used with Golden Monkey happily hibernating inside them for the past 3 months. There will only be approximately 2,800 cases of 750 mL corked and caged bottles available throughout Victory’s distribution area.
Commentary: Did you know something like 20+% of Victory's sales are Golden Monkey? This is the more refined version of it, I guess.
364. Ballast Point: Sour Wench: Raspberries (Berliner Weisse (w/ Raspberries) / 6%)
365. Bluejacket: Turning Road (IPA / 7.6%)
Description: A bright, intensely aromatic IPA brewed with wheat + oats & exclusively hopped with Mosaic. Grassy & floral, with deep notes of lemon, peach, melon & mango.
366. Two Roads: Plum Gose (Gose (w/ Plums) / 5.2%)
367. Tröegs: Hop Knife (IPA / 6.2%)
Description: Hop Knife Harvest Ale recognizes the time-honored tradition of hand-harvesting at the peak of maturity. At the end of fermentation, the beer flows through our HopCyclone releasing a bounty of preserved citrus rind, crushed jungle and tropical aromas.
368. Denizens: Ill Cru (Barrel-Aged Quadrupel (Whiskey; w/ Brettanomyces) / 12.9%)
369. O'Connor: Punkelweisse (Dunkelweizen (w/ Pumpkin & Spices) / 6.5%)
Description: A German-style Dunkelweisse or Dark Wheat Beer, is brewed with pumpkin and spices. The use of cinnamon,all spice, nutmeg, ginger and pumpkin compliments the banana and clove flavors of a typical German hefeweizen yeast strain. The Punkelweisse is dark in color and medium in body, creating a well-balanced, drinkable, seasonal beer. It’s autumn in a glass.
370. Perennial: Southside Blonde (Belgian Blond Ale / 5.5%)
Description: Southside Blonde is a sessionable Belgian-Style Blonde Ale that is light-bodied and dry with a hint of fruitiness from the yeast. Southside is a friendly pairing with a variety of foods and an approachable choice for all types of beer drinkers
371. Denizens: Born Bohemian (Pilsner / 4.9%)
Description: This Czech-style pilsner is straw in color, light in body, and finishes with a round mouthfeel. This beer is distinguished from the German-style pilsner due to a softer water profile and the use of Czech Saaz hops. Light toasty malt is complemented by a floral and spicy hop character throughout, making for a balanced and refreshing beer. (4.9% ABV)
372. DC Brau: Oktoberfest (Märzen / 5%)
Description: DC Brau's Oktoberfest has a classic light amber to copper hue that is topped with intense German malt aromas of toasty bread, light caramel and faint biscuit. It's supported by a traditionally light Noble hop aroma that complements the rich malty notes. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy with a medium body that gives it a pleasing richness. The hops perfectly compliment the dominant malt character to form a very refreshing Oktoberfestbier that can be enjoyed all thru the fall months.
Commentary: Tasty beer that you will be able to find everywhere this month.
373. Bold Rock: Blood Orange (Cider (w/ Blood Oranges) / 4.7%)
Description: Our Blood Orange cider is a blend of blood orange juice and locally harvested Blue Ridge apples, featuring a light and refreshing apple cider start coupled with the crisp tartness and tangy citrus flavor profile of blood orange. Due to the all-natural process, each bottle has a distinct haze of cloudy orange.
Commentary: I'd rather have a radler. Why is there not a single radler at Snally? WHAT'S THE DEAL, TIM?
374. Green Flash: GFB (Blond Ale / 4.8%)
Commentary: This will be drowned out by all of the barrel-aged blonde and mixed fermentation beers.
375. Smuttynose: Hatchling #3 (IPA)
376. Stone: Enjoy By 10.31.17: Galaxy (Imperial IPA (w/ Galaxy Hops: Cask) / 9.4%)
377. Bold Rock: Crimson Ridge (Dry Cider / 6.9%)
Description: We crush a custom blend of apples from nearby orchards and carefully craft this premium hard cider. Off dry and exceptionally well balanced, Vat No. 1 brings out the very best in apples from the Blue Ridge Mountains. The different qualities of different apples all play a role with no one dominating. This cider has a happy apple finish.
Commentary: A great cider to give as a gift and one not bringing a whole lot of excitement to Snally, unfortunately.
378. Lagunitas: Plum Jasmine Gose (Gose (w/ Plum & Jasmine Flowers) / 6.5%)
379. Jailbreak: Imperial Scoville (Imperial IPA (w/ Thai Chilies) / 9.8%)
Description: The Imperial Scoville pushes boundaries with a bigger malt bill, higher ABV, more hops, and more heat with the addition of red Thai peppers in the dry hop. The Thai pepper provides 20x more heat than jalapeños alone as well as a touch more sweetness. Not a punisher but rather a sizzler…
Commentary: This beer will derail your Snally in at least three ways: 1. almost 10%; 2. DIPA palate wrecker; 3. chilies will make it so everything downstream tastes like burning. Seems like something you should ingest a lot of.
380. Lagunitas: Wilco Tango Foxtrot (Imperial Brown Ale / 8.1%)
Description: Rich, smooth, dangerous, and chocolatey. It's a big ol' hoppy Imperial Brown Ale to help you with your slippery slide on into the heat of the night.
Commentary: There was a time when India brown ale had some pull as a style, and this isn't that time. Beers like WTF and DFH Indian Brown are tasty but out of favor in the current zeitgiest. Still can find bombers of this for super cheap on shelves though.
381. Founders: Doom (Barrel-Aged Imperial IPA (Bourbon) / 12.4%)
Description: Doom may be impending but that doesn’t mean you have to fear it. A collision of worlds, the intense hop character of our imperial IPA mingles with the warm vanilla and oak notes imparted from time spent in our favorite bourbon barrels. Like all good things, Doom comes to those who wait.
Commentary: Barrel-aging IPAs is dumb. Discuss.
Very dumb. Almost as dumb as serving IPAs on nitro. "We used all these extra hops to cut through the nitrogen, which dulls the hops we usually add."
Normally I'd agree but it works here for me. I will sit on that island, gladly. Don't nitro the IPAs, though.
I am also in the “dumb until it works” camp, which it mostly does here.
382. Heritage: Freedom Isn't Free: Gin Barrel (Barrel-Aged IPA (Gin) / 6%)
Commentary: See: Founders Doom. Barrel-aging IPAs is just not a great idea. Points for doing it in an interesting barrel, I suppose, but there are so many other styles I'd rather see in a gin barrel.
383. Sierra Nevada: Otra Vez (Gose (w/ Prickly Pear & Grapefruit) / 4.5%)
Description: On our search for the perfect warm weather beer, we wanted something light bodied and thirst quenching, yet filled with complex and interesting flavors. We stumbled across the fruit of the prickly pear cactus, native to California. This tangy fruit is a great complement to the tart and refreshing traditional gose style beer. Otra Vez combines prickly pear cactus with a hint of grapefruit for a refreshing beer that will have you calling for round after round. Otra Vez!
Commentary: Mas como "no otra vez," verdad?
384. Dogfish Head: Punkin Ale (Pumpkin Ale / 7%)
Description: A full-bodied brown ale with smooth hints of pumpkin and brown sugar. We brew our Punkin Ale with pumpkin meat, brown sugar and spices. As the season cools, this is the perfect beer to warm up with.
Commentary: This beer has its adherents. Fortunately they will be able to find it pretty much everywhere until January or so.
385. He'brew: Geektoberfest (Barrel-Aged Sour Blond Ale / 6.5%)
Commentary: If you, too, were offended by the idea of He'brew barrel-aged sour blonde having cocoa nibs in it, maybe you'll find this cocoa-less rendition more palatable.
386. Smuttynose: Orville (Saison / 7%)
Description: Orville the beer is a new, 7% Smuttlabs release made with a rye, oats and barley, fermented with saison yeast and liberally hopped with Falconer’s Flight hop blend. It’s exactly the kind of juicy, tropical fruit bomb beer geeks are looking for, but you’ll notice a subtle peppery spiciness from the rye and the saison yeast.
Commentary: Folks who like DC Brau's OTWOA should give this a go to see how the Falconer's Flight hop blend does in saison form.
387. Uinta: Brett Tripel (Tripel (w/ Brettanomyces) / 8.5%)
Description: Featuring aromas and flavors of dry fruited spices, hints of clove, and an earthy funk, this Belgian Tripel Ale is brewed with pink peppercorns and fermented with traditional Belgian yeasts and brettanomyces.
Commentary: No offense, Uinta, but Snally isn't the day I'm taking a flyer on an 8.5% Brett Tripel.
388. Anderson Valley: Boont White (Witbier / 5.1%)
Description: Boont White is a crisp, medium-bodied ale with a Belgian yeast character of stone fruits and peppercorns with floral aroma. Wheat and Munich malts give it nice head retention and lacing and balance the subtle hop additions leading to a refreshing, satisfying finish.
Commentary: Fun fact: this is one of two witbiers at Snally.
389. Brooklyn: Oktoberfest (Märzen / 5.5%)
Description: When Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria wanted to celebrate his wedding engagement in 1810, he did what any good Bavarian prince would – he threw a beer festival. Both the festival and the special beer served there became known as Oktoberfest. Brewed from the finest German malt and hops, Brooklyn Oktoberfest is true to the original style, fullbodied and malty, with a bready aroma and light, brisk hop bitterness.
Commentary: It's a Marzen. It's a well-made Marzen. It's…not going to stand out in a sea of well-made Marzens. It isn't local. It isn't German. It's from Brooklyn (the place). Didn't even know they had a beer scene in NYC tbh, pretty interesting.
390. O'Connor: El Guapo (IPA (w/ Agave) / 7.5%)
Description: El Guapo, translated “the handsome one,” looks sexy, smells beautiful, and feels great! El Guapo is a medium-bodied Agave India Pale Ale with grassy citrus nose, notes of sweet caramel, and finishing with a smooth but strong bitterness.
Commentary: How can a beer look sexy? Explain this. When will breweries stop with copy like this?
391. Evolution: Jacques Au Lantern (Pumpkin Ale / 6.1%)
Description: Our fall seasonal is an unfiltered amber ale brewed with pumpkin and spices, and fermented with a Belgian yeast strain. Roasted pumpkin is added to the mash along with traditional pumpkin pie spices creating a classic fall beer.
Commentary: An amber ale and a pumpkin ale together? Wow, it's not often I get a 2-for-1 on styles I don't like, you guys.
392. Mustang Sally: Coffee Vanilla Porter (Porter (w/ Coffee & Vanilla) / 6%)
393. Original Sin: Black Widow (Cider (w/ Blackberries) / 6%)
Description: Made with Blackberries and Freshly Pressed New York Apples
394. 21st Amendment: El Sully (Pale Lager / 4.9%)
Commentary: Mmm Mexican lager. Just a kiss of hops, if you've come from anything remotely hoppier the nuance will be lost.
395. New Belgium: Tartastic (Berliner Weisse (w/ Ginger & Lemon) / 4.5%)
Commentary: You, too, can find this on shelves at your Giant.
396. Original Sin: Hard Cider (Cider / 6%)
Commentary: Nothing against Original Sin, but pass on this. At least try the Supreme Core cider that's new and not widely available if you want a cider.
397. He'brew: Hannukkah in July in Napa (Barrel-Aged Sour Blond Ale (Cabernet Sauvignon; w/ Cocoa Nibs) / 8%)
Commentary: You had me up until "cocoa nibs." Barrel-aged sour blonde was fine. I could even look the Evil Twin-esque beer name, but who thinks this beer needs cocoa nibs? FFS.
398. Smuttynose: Pumpkin Ale (Pumpkin Ale / 6.1%)
Description: Since 2003, we’ve brewed Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale with real pumpkin and a blend of classic pumpkin pie spices in tribute to our colonial forebearers. Recipes calling for the use of pumpkins have been found from early European settlers in New England, when brewers sought to extend their supply of costly imported malt with locally grown ingredients, such as squash and “pompions.”
Commentary: Okay bear with me: what if we took all of the leftover pumpkin beers from last year (like from every brewery), and we used them to water a pumpkin patch, and then we harvested those pumpkins and brewed a pumpkin ale with them. I would drink 4oz of that beer. (The beginning, and also the end of DC Beer and Garden)
399. Victory: Hoppy Quad (Quadrupel / 13%)
Description: Bright and bold, the Trappist brewers who inspired this style of ale might marvel at the aromatic hints of citrus, resinous cedar and tropical fruit that flow from this special brew. Belgian-style fermentation and impressive American hops make this light bodied ale intense, inviting and entirely unique. Enjoy Hoppy Quad and Taste Victory!
Commentary: NO. NO TO HOPPY QUADS. NO TO QUADS. STOP.
Not Ranked Because of Late Changes/Additions:
Deschutes Brewery
Old Ox Brewing Company
