Shipyard XXXX IPA

This IPA comes out of Shipyard Brewing in Maine.  I have had their IPAs in the past and they are excellent. This brew had a 9.25% alcohol content, so it is very strong (as expected from a XXXX).

The beer poured a dark golden brown and had a strong malty aroma, along with citrus.

The beer had a strong, solid hoppy taste as you would expect and a long malty finish.  The malt flavor was a little strong for my taste, but is typical of such a high alcohol beer.

You should try this beer, it is quite good.

I give it 4 out of 5 hops.

Firestone Union Jack IPA

Firestone makes some pretty respectable beers, so I was expecting something big from this IPA.  At 7.5% abv it is right up there with some big hop brews.

The beer poured a dark golden brown with a good head.  The aroma was pretty malty, which was a turn off for me.  The taste was pretty disappointing with way too much malt for an IPA.  It was an ok beer, but if the bottle didn't say IPA I would have guessed it was something else.

If you like a good malt flavor, you should try this, but if you want big hops don't bother.

I give it 3 out of 5 hops.

Beer Republic XP Pale Ale

The XP Pale Ale from Beer Republic was pretty dreadful.  I have had some of their beer in the past and it was usually pretty good, but this beer really left me wanting more.

It was a low alcohol pale ale (5.5%), so I wasn't expecting too much hops, but I still over estimated things.  This beer was like drinking a Miller Lite.  It had very little taste going on.

I can't recommend trying this beer.

I give it 1.5 out of 5 hops.

Rogue Dead Guy Ale

This beer is from Rogue Ales in  Oregon.  It has a 6.5% alcohol so it isn't too strong and is very drinkable.

Overall this beer we quite nice.  Not as hoppy as I typically like my beer, but it was very nice.

It had a slight sweetness to it that came through in the aroma as well as the taste, with only a moderate bitter after taste.

This is definitely worth trying.

I give it 4 out of 5 hops.

Port Brewing Wipe Out IPA

This is a local brewery that is getting a great reputation that it deserves.  I have had this beer on tap and it is very good, but out of the bottle it was only average.

If you have a chance to get it on tap you should try it, but out of the bottle it is only ok.

I give it 3.5 out of 5 hops (on tap it is 4.5).

Lagunitas IPA

The Lagunitas IPA is  true IPA.  It was a bit low in alcohol at 6.5%, so I didn't expect too much from it, but I was surprised.

This IPA was pretty hoppy for only a 6.5% ABV, and it was excellent.  It poured a light golden color and had good hop aroma, with a medium fizz.

I give it 4.5 out of 5 hops!  You should try it.

Karl Strauss 23rd Anniversary Ale

Not sure what to say about this beer, expect yuk.  I didn't care for it at all.  If I wanted to drink bourbon I would just buy that.

I don't like Karl Strauss beers much anyway, but this was atrocious.  Stay away.

I give it 1 out of 5 hops.