superspak (10160) reviewed Citra Evolution from Ellison Brewery + Spirits 7 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
16 ounce can into tulip glass; no can dating, but is a recent release. Pours opaquely hazy golden orange/amber color with a 1 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big tangerine, grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, mango, melon, berry, citrus peel/rind, light pepper, pine, wheat, white bread dough, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and moderate bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big tangerine, grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, mango, melon, berry, citrus peel/rind, light pepper, pine, wheat, white bread dough, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, grassy, spicy bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of tangerine, grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, mango, melon, berry, citrus peel/rind, pepper, pine, wheat, white bread dough, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and moderate bready malt flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and minimal lingering hop astringency after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy/sticky, and fairly resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol for 6.75%. Overall this is a fantastic NEIPA. All around outstanding complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and moderate bready malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the modestly bitter/drying finish, never overly aggressive. A bit more drying that expected for the style; but the hops are extremely vibrant, juicy, dank, and earthy. Nice bready malt backbone, with minimal residual sweetness. A highly enjoyable offering as expected.
superspak (10160) reviewed American Lager from Ellison Brewery + Spirits 7 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
16 ounce can into lager glass, canned on 3/8/2018. Pours fairly crystal clear pale golden yellow color with a 1 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin spotty lace cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of cracker, corn, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, and light herbal/grassy/peppery earthiness. A touch fruity, but not overwhelming. Nice and pleasant aromas with pale malt/grains and light earthy hop notes; with solid strength. Taste of cracker, corn, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, and light herbal/grassy/peppery earthiness. Light herbal, grassy, spicy bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of cracker, corn, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, and light herbal/grassy/peppery earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice robustness of pale malt/grains and light earthy hop flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and zero cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Moderately crisp/clean finishing. Perfectly clean on lager flavors, with zero yeast notes present. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy, and lightly sticky mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 4.5%. Overall this is a very nice pale lager. All around nice pale malt/grains and light earthy hop flavors; very smooth, crisp, clean, and refreshing to drink. Very flavorful and not watery for the ABV. Perfectly clean pale malt/grains and solid earthy hop presence. A very enjoyable offering, and spot on style example.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8
Statement on the pint can recommended to drink from the can, but I’m a rebel so I poured it to a tall lager glass. Clean, pale yellow color but shiney and pleasing to the eye. Medium head allowed me to pour the pint without waiting for the head to dissipate. Crisp, mildly hoppy. Good from start to finish. A very enjoyable beer that I will definitely buy again.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
16 ounce can into pint glass, canned on 1/17/2018. Pours slightly hazy medium orange/amber/light copper color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy cream colored head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of big caramel, honey, brown sugar, brown bread, toasted biscuit, light nuttiness/roast, citrus, herbal, pepper, and floral/grassy/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of dark/bready/light roasted malts and light-moderate earthy hop notes; with great strength. Taste of big caramel, honey, brown sugar, brown bread, toasted biscuit, light nuttiness/roast, citrus, herbal, pepper, and floral/grassy/toasted earthiness. Light herbal/grassy/spicy hop and roast bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of caramel, honey, brown sugar, brown bread, toasted biscuit, light nuttiness/roast, citrus, herbal, pepper, and floral/grassy/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready/light roasted malts and light-moderate earthy hop flavors; with an awesome malt/bitterness balance, and zero cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering hop/roast bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, creamy/bready/grainy, and lightly sticky/chalky mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol for 5.7%. Overall this is an awesome American amber! All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready/light roasted malts and light-moderate earthy hop flavors; extremely smooth and easy to drink with the mellowly bitter/drying finish. Rich Crystal/Honey/Munich malt complexity with balancing earthy hops. A really enjoyable offering, and spot on style example. One of the best true to-style ambers I've had.
superspak (10160) reviewed Relativity from Ellison Brewery + Spirits 8 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
16 ounce can into tulip glass, canned on 12/4/2017. Pours moderately hazy/cloudy deep golden amber/light orange color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and rocky white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Thick foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big tangerine, lemon, orange juice, peach, pear, apricot, pineapple, grapefruit, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, citrus peel, light pepper, pine, honey, biscuit, light caramel, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical hops, fruity yeast, and bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of huge tangerine, lemon, orange juice, peach, pear, apricot, pineapple, grapefruit, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, citrus peel, light pepper, pine, honey, biscuit, light caramel, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel, herbal, grassy, spicy bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of tangerine, lemon, orange juice, peach, pear, apricot, pineapple, grapefruit, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, citrus peel/rind, pepper, pine, honey, biscuit, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical hops, fruity yeast, and bready malt flavors; with an awesome malt/bitterness balance, and zero lingering hop astringency after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from bitterness. Medium carbonation and medium-full body; with a very smooth, creamy/bready/sticky, and lightly resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Mildly warming alcohol for 8%. Overall this is a fantastic DIPA! All around outstanding complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical hops, fruity yeast, and bready malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the modestly bitter/drying finish. Never overly aggressive. Not quite the full on NEIPA I expected; but they label it as Vermont style, so that makes more sense. Lots of stone fruity yeast notes. Hazy but not opaque. Extremely juicy/dank balanced hop complexity; nice bready malt backbone, never sweet/heavy feeling with adequate lingering bitter dryness. A highly enjoyable offering.
deyholla (22727) reviewed Tiramisu Stout from Ellison Brewery + Spirits 8 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8
On tap. Pours black with a light brown head that dissipates quickly to the edges. Aroma has dark grains and coffee with some hazelnut and a hint of roast supporting. Flavor has hazelnut and dark grains with a growing strong espresso.
Ibrew2or3 (10819) reviewed Relativity from Ellison Brewery + Spirits 8 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Pint can pours with an opaque gold copper body that supports a nice dirty white head of foam that leaves behind some spotty lacing. The aroma offers up tangerine, tangelo candy, cantaloupe and a mild degree of floral and peach. The taste delivers a pleasing load of smooth sweet juicy tangerine, cantaloupe, honeydew and a bit of tangelo. To midway the floral notes really come forward to the point of being like a perfume counter. It ends with fading juiciness and lingering floral hop bitterness.
superspak (10160) reviewed Tiramisu Stout from Ellison Brewery + Spirits 8 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
16 ounce can into snifter; no can dating, but is a recent release. Pours nearly opaque dark brown/black color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and rocky khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of big nutty medium roast coffee, milk chocolate, cocoa, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, coconut, cream, frosting, almonds, cake batter, and toasted brown bread; with light notes of smoke, char, herbal, and roast/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of dark/roast/bready malts, coffee, lactose, spices, and light earthy hop notes; with great strength. Taste of big nutty medium roast coffee, milk chocolate, cocoa, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, coconut, cream, frosting, almonds, cake batter, and toasted brown bread; with light notes of smoke, char, herbal, and roast/toasted earthiness. Light herbal/spicy hop and roast/char bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of nutty coffee, milk chocolate, cocoa, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, coconut, cream, frosting, almonds, cake batter, toasted brown bread, light smoke/char, herbal, and roast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/bready malts, coffee, lactose, spices, and light earthy hop flavors; with a great roast/hop bitter/sweet balance; and zero acrid/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from hop/char bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, creamy/silky, and lightly sticky/chalky balanced mouthfeel that is nice. A tad thin for the ABV, but spot on otherwise. Minimal warming alcohol for 8%. Overall this is an awesome dessert style coffee stout! All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/bready malts, coffee, lactose, spices, and light earthy hop flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the mildly bitter/drying finish. Great well rounded stout complexity, with awesome balance of coffee/lactose/spice notes to make it taste exactly like Tiramisu. Never overly sweet/heavy for a dessert stout. A really enjoyable, unique, and well made offering.
superspak (10160) reviewed Dawn Street from Ellison Brewery + Spirits 8 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
16 ounce can into tulip glass, no can dating. Pours slightly hazy medium golden yellow color with a 2 finger dense and rocky off white head with amazing retention, that reduces to a large cap that lasts. Thick soapy lacing clings around the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Fantastic appearance. Aromas big tangerine, grapefruit, peach, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berry, lemon/orange zest, light pepper/pine, lightly toasted biscuit, light honey, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical hops and moderate bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of huge tangerine, grapefruit, peach, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berry, lemon/orange zest, light pepper/pine, lightly toasted biscuit, light honey, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel, grassy, spicy bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of tangerine, grapefruit, peach, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berry, lemon/orange rind, pepper, pine, lightly toasted biscuit, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical hops and moderate bready malt flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and zero lingering hop astringency after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, bready/grainy/sticky, and lightly resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 6.5%. Overall this is a fantastic American pale ale! All around outstanding complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical hops and moderate bready malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the modestly bitter/drying finish. Super dank, vibrant, and juicy hops; great balancing bready malt backbone, with minimal residual sweetness. A highly enjoyable offering, and spot on style example.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
16 ounce can into lager glass; no can dating, but is a recent release. Pours crystal clear pale golden yellow color with a 1-2 finger dense and rocky white with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Dense soapy lacing clings down the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of cracker, corn, white bread, lightly toasted biscuit, light pepper, and herbal/grassy earthiness. A bit fruity/yeasty in the aromas, but not overwhelming. Nice aromas with good balance of pale malt, corn, and light earthy hop notes; with good strength. Taste of big cracker, corn, white bread, lightly toasted biscuit, light pepper, and herbal/grassy earthiness. Mild herbal, grassy, spicy bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of cracker, corn, white bread, lightly toasted biscuit, pepper, and herbal/grassy earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice robustness and balance of pale malt, corn, and light earthy hop flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and zero astringent hop flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from bitterness. Fairly crisp/clean finishing. Very clean on lager flavors, with minimal yeast notes present. Medium-high carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy, and lightly sticky balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 4.25%. Overall this is a delicious American-style pale/light lager! All around nice robustness and balance of pale malt, corn, and light earthy hop flavors; very smooth, crisp, clean, and refreshing to drink with the mildly bitter finish. Very flavorful for the low ABV. A very enjoyable offering. I doubt it meets the low calorie/carb requirements to be a true light lager, but this is still a spot on style example.