Austin Beerworks Heavy Machinery Half IPA

Austin Beerworks generally stick to their tried and true canned libations, but of late, they've unleashed a series of different IPA's on to our unsuspecting yet appreciative populace.  The third batch of their Heavy Machinery series is a Half IPA, a light-bodied concoction of hoppy goodness...in a tall boy no less.  The beer is golden with a thick white head, a delicious aroma of pine and citrus, and a nice bite from the hops in the brew.  It tastes like an IPA, but feels lighter and cleaner overall, hence the "half" designation.  I dug it.  A good IPA is like a good stinky cheese.  It's not for everybody, but there's just something about it that keeps me coming back for more.

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Alaskan Troppelbock (Pilot Series)

Here's a sweet one.  The cats at Alaskan Brewing never disappoint, and their Pilot Series Troppelbock is definitely a treat.  The beer is a nice reddish amber, and the aromas of dark fruits, malt, and hints of vanilla are detectable immediately.  The head is pretty light and dissipating due to the light carbonation therein, and the flavors consist primarily of the aforementioned dark fruits and molasses.  There is also a real alcohol smell and taste to the brew, like it's been aged in barrels.  Though very sweet, at 10.5% ABV, this beer is not to be trifled with.  Delicious but with a punch, best served after a meal...let's say steak.

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Clown Shoes Vampire Slayer

Aside from having an excellent brewery and beer name, Clown Shoes Brewery's Vampire Slayer is a very tasty Imperial American Stout.  The beer is a dark brownish black that starts with a nice tan head that dissipates very quickly.  The initial aroma is one of coffee, dark chocolate, dark fruit, and raisins, all of which are represented very nicely with the flavor of the beer.  The hops are there to give it just enough kick that i almost detect a little citrus flavor, though that may just be the alcohol as this brew chimes in at a whopping 10% ABV.  The Slayer is a great beer, perfect for after work, or after dinner, and i recommend using a glass you can sift it in to keep the aromas and tastes booming.  Well done.

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Deschutes River Ale

Summer in Texas means trips to the lake to swim and ski and drink beer or trips to the river to float and swim and drink beer.  So, it was nice of the folks in Oregon's Deschutes Brewery to craft a nice summertime beverage with their River Ale.  The beer is a cloudy gold with a lot of floral aromas.  It tastes like a sweet, clean pale ale, with little hints of florals and caramel here and there, and it's amazingly easy to drink.  Cold, refreshing, and just the right amount of hops that give the beer a crisp and slightly bitter flavor.  Good stuff to beat the heat.  (Oh, and don't take glass bottles to the lake or river.  Use your head.)

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