Hanukkah beer for the Hanukkah badge!

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Bottle @ GABF 2017. Pours a dark brown black color with a small off-white head. Has a slightly roasted malty caramel chocolate and dark fruit aroma. Slightly roasted malty spicy caramel and dark fruit flavor. Has a slightly roasted malty caramel spicy dark fruit finish.

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8.5

Bottle thanks to Bryan. Pours a brown color with a medium white head. A big fruity barrel nose. Light funky sourness, bourbon, sweet nutty base, some light caramel. Interesting beer. Whiskey and wood and prunes. Tart.

Intense heavy hoppy IPA

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle thanks to Myles. Pours a dark brown with small beige head that lasts. The aroma is dark fruit, caramel, pure sugar. Medium body, raisin, caramel, boozy finish, good.

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

From May 2007

This pours from 22oz bottle(Brewed and bottled in Saratoga Springs, NY) a dark brown with a medium sized off-white head of foam that shrinks quickly leaving just a ring around the glass with a little lacing.

The smell is pretty big. I note caramel malt, roasted malt, and an ample nose of alcohol.

The taste on first sip has the caramel malt right up front and it's pretty sweet but it's joined almost immediately by some very nice roasted malt tones and some dark chocolate that stops the flavour from becoming too sweet. Nice and, boy, this is going to be a sipper for me for sure because I'm getting the alcohol kick right after the swallow and it's quite warming but the flavours of this American Strong Ale are very tasty so I'll have no problem dealing with that. ;^)

Further sips in and I'm now getting some toffee and *that* just makes me smack my mouth in appreciation and...the finish starts off sweetish, turns toward the bitter side but ends up on a slightly sour note leaving a lingering and delicious aftertaste. I'm pretty impressed with how complex and diversified the flavours are but they all work together very nicely. The only "negative" thing I can say about it is that, for me, it's not something that I can finish at one sitting. Not a 22oz bomber. But that's okay.

Bottom line: This is a pretty impressive example of the style in my book. If you haven't tried it before and see some, buy one and sip on it.

PS: I'm "capping" the 1/2 bottle I have left and I'll sip on it some more tomorrow.

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 3 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5

Hazy gold pour with an off white head and good retention. Fair lacing. Tastes like a typical pale ale to me. Light hops bitterness. Crisp mouthfeel. Okay.

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 8

Bottle part of the He'Brew birthday box from brother in law, damn these beers are strong as shit. Pours deep dark brown small head. Beginning of first glass is all booze on both nose and taste. As it warms get more subtext and less rubbing alcohol. Fig, molasses, raisin, root beer, herbal and medicine. Thick some syrupy parts and warming finish. Anyways watching a dark show and this fits.

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8

Bottle at home from brother in law for birthday. Very dark brown slightly thick murky pour. Nose is dark fruits and caramel and booze. Tastes of fig, plum, caramel, earth, rootbeer. Hint of booze on finish some lingering fruit. Smooth enough.