Adelbert's Gypsy Belgian IPA

Austin brewery Adelbert's just released their first collaborative beer, a Belgian IPA called Gypsy that was brewed with Kim Clarke, formerly of the Celis Brewery, and more notable the first female brewmaster in Texas.  The Gypsy is a medium bodied, golden brew with a light and thick head.  The beer smells of citrus and bananas with some light floral hints.  The taste is sweet and hoppy, a light, easy to drink IPA.  If you're not normally an IPA drinker, you may enjoy this tasty collaboration.  Hopheads on the other hand, should probably look elsewhere.

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Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout

When a beer has a name that sounds like a pimp...you buy and drink the damn thing.  And so we have Firestone Walker Brewing's take on an oatmeal stout, Velvet Merlin.  The beer pours a dark brown, blackish color with a fast dissipating tan head (it kind of looks like a Coke).  Aromas of coffee, malt, and woodiness pair with flavors of caramel, oatmeal, and more coffee.  For a stout, it's actually pretty refreshing and crisp, and is easily drinkable at 5.5% ABV.

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Southern Star Buried Hatchet Stout

Oh, you American Double Imperial Stouts...how you make the day just that much better.  Texas's Southern Star Brewing has an excellent one to boot with their Buried Hatchet Stout, a dark black stout with a creamy tan head.  The beer smells of coffee and chocolate and tastes the same, but with some hints of toffee and cream throughout.  Add in a decent amount of hops to give just a little bit of bite to all that roasted malt, and you've got yourself a lovely pre or post dinner beer.

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Southern Tier Choklat

Apparently, tis the season for chocolate beers in my house.  I've been on a kick lately.  One of the best that i've imbibed thus far is the Choklat Imperial Stout from New York's Southern Tier Brewing.  It's a monster.  The beer pours a dark black with a mocha head, giving off a dominant aroma of dark chocolate.  The taste is chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, but with some burnt malts, alcohol, and some back end tartness to round the whole thing out.  It's a perfect dessert beer...and it's 10% ABV.  Pair it with some cheese, mint candies, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

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Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale

The winter months increase my cravings for dark, strong beers tenfold.  Stouts, porters, and such make their daily rounds over my palette...and into my belly.  And scotch ales.  I love the scotch ales.  Maybe it's the hints of bourbon and alcohol flavors.  Maybe it's the sweetness and bite.  I don't know.  But they sure do win me over every year.  Founders Brewery out of Grand Rapids, Michigan has a tasty offering called the Dirty Bastard.  The beer is a dark and inviting mahogany with a light head, aromas of malts, dark fruits, some banana, and alcohol.  As far as flavor, there's some subtle spices mixed in with the mildly sweet fruits, alcohol, and hoppy back end.  Probably one of the better scotch ales i've had in a while.  Oh, and at 8.5% ABV, you know you've got a good night ahead of you.

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Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

Nothing says winter and the holidays like some good stouts, and the Black Chocolate Stout from Brooklyn Brewery is pretty damn good.  This dark brew pours black with a thin head, but plenty of carbonation to give the beer a little kick.  The aroma is one of chocolate, coffee, toffee, nuts, dark fruits, and some subtle hints of alcohol (bourbon or scotch).  The taste is surprisingly crisp with bitter, dark chocolate overtones, and some slight, fruity sweetness on the back end.  Celebrate with this guy pre or post meal (it is 10% ABV after all), a fine winter's treat.

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Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale

I actually tried this guy a few weeks ago, and i'm just now getting around to writing about it.  Also i've been a little sick.  And i'm busy.  Who are you to judge?  Get off my back!  Whew!  Now that that unpleasantness is out of the way, on to the beer.  Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale from Shipyard Brewing out in Portland, Maine is a pretty serviceable pumpkin ale.  It's not too flashy, but it doesn't really need to be.  The brew pours a light amber and gives off an aroma of nutmeg, cinnamon, and pumpkin.  As for taste, seasonal spices, a hint of bitterness, and some sweetness on the back end.  Overall, a decent beer for the fall.

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