American Craft Beer Week

By Krissy Ness

This past week was American Craft Beer Week, and the whole country was talking about it. From taprooms to Twitter, people were ranting and raving about exclusive new beers, some of which sold out within hours of their releases.

Barrel Aged 2014 Surly Darkness (ABV 10.3% IBU 85, Minnesota)

This highly sought after Russian Imperial Stout scored a 99 (out of 100) on BeerAdvocate and 100 on RateBeer. I was fortunate enough to try this beer on tap and in bottle condition. On tap, this beer poured deep dark and heavy and topped with a delicious, frothy, tan head. Apparent notes of whiskey on the nose right off the bat and subtle hints of molasses, dark roasted malt and vanilla. This heavy bodied beer was creamy and smooth at the start and finished with an exciting bite from the Amarillo, Columbus and Simcoe hops that really round out the flavor. The bottle condition was similar to tap. However, the aroma and finish were much more potent. To fully enjoy the Darkness it should be served in either the Darkness tulip or a snifter.

Boulevard Love Child No. 5 (ABV 8.2% IBU 8, Missouri)

The fifth installment of this funky and sour “wild” ale really outdid itself, totally crushing last year’s No. 4 brew. It scored a 97 on BeerAdvocate and 98 on RateBeer. Combined with multi-vintage, Flanders-style red ales that have been stored in whiskey and wine barrels, this ale has a beautiful red-orange color and a white fluffy head that diminished quickly. This beer is definitely a sipper that will make you pucker with every drop. Only bittering hops were used in this beer; no hop characteristics are present. This beer should be served in a tulip, preferably in the Boulevard tulip if you can get your hands on one.

Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale (ABV 9.75% IBU 74, California)

This special “Uber ESB,” which scored a 91 on BeerAdvocate and a 98 on RateBeer, is medium bodied, deep orange in color and dawns a minimal white head. This beer starts out subtle with a boozy taste and smell, and it finishes with an earthy, piney taste. Ask for the beer to be served in a snifter or a pint glass, depending on how brave you are.

John Henry 3 Lick Spiker Ale (ABV 9.10%, Colorado) 

Scoring an 84 on BeerAdvocate and an 86 on RateBeer (I personally think the score is low for what it deserves), this American Strong Ale is boozy! John Henry meets the definition of a sipping beer. It is aged in bourbon oak barrels, and the bourbon tickles the nose before you even drink the beer. The body is deep, dark and thick with an off-white head that sits only for a minute atop the beer. This ale should be served in a snifter for a maximum flavor profile.

New Belgium/Red Rock Brewery Paardebloem (9.0% IBU 14, Colorado)

This ale, which is part of the Lips of Faith Series, is brewed with peach juice, grains of paradise and dandelion greens then blended with wood-aged beer. This is by far one of my favorite beers. This beer is a semi-light drinker with a slightly heavier body and a beautiful long-lasting white head. The color of this beer mimics the peach juice additive and has a beautiful light orange-yellow color. The peach scent enters the nose before the beer is tasted and offers a flavorful finish with a little funk kick. This beer scored an 81 on BeerAdvocate and an 83 on RateBeer. Enjoy this beer in a New Belgium globe.