Racer 5 IPA

Style:American IPA
Alc %:7
Brewery:Bear Republic
Country:US
Tap/Bottle?:650ml bottle
Where/When:Home, Sept 2012
Cost:$13
Rating:8

Nice slightly off white head that disappears.
Pours fairly pale and clear- not a lot of bubbles.
Nose is a lovely hint of tangerine.
I can't quite pick the up front fruit- it's an amalgam of citrus, lychee and a little pineapple followed by a blending of malts and hops- the malt is assertive without been overpowering and the hops too are assertive and lingering but not overbearing.
Not aggressive (hop wise) but likely something that would be considered divisive by non hopheads.

Damn this is nice- it's not over the top in fruit or hops but it's very drinkable.
It's well worthy of 8/10.

It's two year since I've had this beer and I wanted to sit down and really have a crack at it. I like it quite a lot and now that it's becoming more readily available will continue to buy from time to time.
Kudos to Phoenix Beers for distributing this and others.
I will aim to get the Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye soon for review (again!)

Dundee India Pale Ale

Style:American IPA
Alc %:6.3
Brewery:Genesee Beer
Country:US
Tap/Bottle?:bottle,
Where/When:Home, August 2012
Cost:$4
Rating:5/10


Not a bad white head, pours a nice copper colour.
A bit of herb on the nose but not alot.....
It's crisp and sharp tasting, just a little orange but mostly herbal and a little dank- not so pleasant. Not much malt and not really alot of hops either, tho there is a peppery note towards the end.
I don't consider this true to style in that the fruit, hops and malt are not prominent features and the herbalness of this is not overtly enticing or interesting. I give it 5/10.

Karl Strauss Red Trolley Ale

Style:Irish Red Ale
Alc %:5.8
Brewery:Karl Strauss Brewing
Country:US
Tap/Bottle?:bottle,
Where/When:Home, August 2012
Cost:$4
Rating:6

Nice off white fluffy head.
Smells slightly musty tho a bit of malt and caramel.
And the malt and caramel comes thru after an initial wateriness-
I don't mind the slightly rich malt and caramel note- it's quite pleasant. It's quite sweet but I don't mind that tho that might put some people off. A little bite on the tip of the tongue at the end.
The musty funkiness that I associate with this style is minimal.
So yeah I'm not to keen on this style but the sweetness pulls me in, the balance is semi as the hops don't really cut thru much. I give it 6/10.

Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale 2012

Style:American IPA
Alc %:6.7
Brewery:Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Country:US
Tap/Bottle?:bottle, 710ml
Where/When:
Cost:$10
Rating:7

Nice fluffy white head.
Pine on the nose.
Nice fresh mouth full of juicy hops and malt- bit of orange and grapefruit, moreish, fairly light and finishing with a bitterness that is solid but not overpowering.
Very drinkable IPA that was hard for me to walk past and I will be hoping it's still in stock next time I go to the bottle-o!

Phoenix Beers in Perth are importing this and more.

Magic Hat #9

Style:Fruit/Vegetable Beer
Alc %:5.1
Brewery:Magic Hat Brewery
Country:US
Tap/Bottle?:bottle, 355ml
Where/When:Home, August 2012
Cost:$4
Rating:6.5

Not a bad head that fades.
Yes the nose has a lovely apricot scent.
To an extent that apricot  appears up front but in a mild way, it fades and is followed by a light malt backbone and then a bit watery. Lastly a sharp and slightly sweet bite/note.
Quite different with a bit of apricot nectar about it, but overall I liked this more than last time I had it.

When I first had this I took the 'Vegetable Beer' title just a little literally and just didn't like it.
Beer Advocate calls this a "Fruit/Vegetable Beer" but the brewery calls this English Ale and the type as "Not Quite Pale Ale".

Big Eye IPA

Style:American IPA
Alc %:6.8
Brewery:Ballast Point Brewing Company
Country:US
Tap/Bottle?:bottle, 355ml
Where/When:Home, July 2012
Cost:$17 a 6 pack
Rating:8

Nice reddy orange copper colour, slightly off white head that sticks around.
Bit of pine and apricot on the nose.
Fruity and a little tangy, as it warms the malt becomes more noticeable, but the sweet juicy bitterness makes this a very enjoyable drop. Well balanced between the fruit, malt and hops- nothing overpowers or dominates.

Tower 10 IPA

Style:American IPA
Alc %:6.5
Brewery:Karl Strauss Brewing Co.
Country:US
Tap/Bottle?:bottle, 355ml
Where/When:Home, July 2012
Cost:$17 a 6 pack
Rating:7

Pours an orange copper colour with a clean white head of 1cm that disappears to very little.
Sweet nose- pineapple and a hint of honey.
Starts off with a light fruity and sweet maltyness that becomes more intense - then the bitterness kicks in and lingers. Malt definitely plays a big role in this one, it's not a West Coast Hop Bomb but a sweet and easy drinking IPA IMHO.

Brooklyn Lager

Style:American Amber
Alc %:5.2
Brewery:Brooklyn Brewery
Country:US
Tap/Bottle?:bottle 330ml
Where/When:Home July 2012
Cost:approx $20 for a 6 pack
Rating:7/10

Pours a nice orange gold colour with a nice head that dissapears and laces the glass.
Sweet fruity nose.
Clean and fresh up front, with biscuit notes and lemon and finishes with a full and unique malt backbone. It's sweet, bitter and a little spicy- mild bitterness.
Sometimes I've had this and found the malt hit quite full on for a brew that is very common place in New York and I imagine it's slowly making it's way into mainstream America.
I don't love this beer but I do like it and am pleased that it's become a lot more available in Sydney in the last 6 months.
Again it has to be said how bold it was back in the 1980's for this brewery to put out such a full flavoured flagship beer.
I've decided to give it 7/10.

Moylan's Hopsickle Imperial IPA

Style:Imperial IPA
Alc %:9.2
Brewery: Moylan's Brewery
Country:US
Tap/Bottle?:bottle, 650ml?
Where/When:Home, July 2012
Cost:$20
Rating:8.5

Simply put- Incredible!
It's been a while since I've had a Imperial IPA and this was no let down.
The nose was kinda mild compared to the taste.
The taste is bold and big, like a full on brown spirit. The Alstrom Brothers (Beer Advocate) suggest Herbal and Tobacco flavours which I can kinda agree with. It almost heads to burnt orange territory but just holds back.
It's not one of those piney IPA's which kinda makes it different.
It is creamy and the alcohol is fairly well hidden.
It's a great drop, would love to have access to this at every bottle shop I walk into but it's just not going to happen. Shame.

Stone 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA Stone

Style:American Black Ale
Alc %:10.8
Brewery:Stone Brewing Co
Country:USA
Tap/Bottle?:bottle, 640ml
Where/When:Home Jan 2012
Cost:$20
Rating:8.5

It is a very dark stout-like looking brew.
A little smoky, even musty (or is it earthy?) on the nose with a hint of pine. I'm not saying there is no citrus but the mustiness clouds things a little.
Chocolate and hints of cocoa along with lot's of roastyness all over with finishing notes of licorice- good thing I love licorice although this isn't overtly sweet but easy to drink and moreish.
Juicy but smooth and a little creamy too.
I had this over a 3 hour period and really enjoyed it- highly recommended and not strictly a winter or cool season ale.
I had this in NYC Thanksgiving 2011 but didn't get to finish it- this time I did.

Samuel Adams Summer Ale

Style:American Pale Wheat Ale
Alc %:5.3
Brewery:Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Company)
Country:US
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When:home, June 2011
Cost:$15 a 6 pack
Rating:6.5

Cloudy pour, orange/yellow- head disappears.

Lemon shines tho not over dominant with what seems like pear to soften it all off.

It's has elements of a wheat beer- wheaty and summery and a little spice at the end.

Sweet and easy to drink with a fairly high carbonation.

I saw this @ Dan Murphy's so thought I would give it a go, even tho it's cooling down a bit here in Sydney. Initially I didn't like it- i thought i could taste something metallic about the 1st bottle I had but after that it grew on me.

Solid, 6.5/10

Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye

Style:American IPA
Alc %:8
Brewery:Bear Republic Brewery
Country:USA
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When:Home, March 2011
Cost:$12 approx.
Rating:8/10

Fairly dark on pouring. Nice off white head that all but dissapears.
Fantastic oily resiney nose.
It's nicely balanced too with lovely sweet malts.
The bitterness coats my tongue- it's super.

Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA

Style:Imperial IPA
Alc %:9
Brewery:Dogfish Head Brewery
Country:USA
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When:Home, Dec 2010
Cost:$12 approx
Rating:8+
This was a lovely drop but not at all like other Imperial IPA's- nice juicy fruits but mild bitterness yet very drinkable- the alcohol is hidden expertly- which makes it very session able.

Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA

Style:US IPA
Alc %:6
Brewery:Dogfish Head Brewery
Country:US
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When:Home, Dec 2010
Cost:approx $7
Rating:5.5

Nothing outstanding about this- no outstanding fruit or hoopiness.
Just an ok drop that is barely worth a mention in the scheme of all things IPA.
I would go so far as to say that it didn't seem like an IPA but an average lager.
This was a Grey Import.

Lagunitas Maximus

Style:Imperial IPA
Alc %:7.5
Brewery:Lagunitas Brewery
Country:USA
Tap/Bottle?:bottle,
Where/When:Dec. 2010
Cost:
Rating:8/10

Nice orange/copper colour, and nice white bubbly head.

Candied sweet citrus nose. V nice.

Nice toasted malt backbone. Slightly dank pine needles with a hint of grapefruit sweetness and a mild pleasant bitterness. For a Imperial IPA (according to Beer Advocate) it's just on the right side of intensity of flavour for my pallate- not over the top.

I like this and think it's session able for sure.

Hop Stoopid

Style:Imperial IPA
Alc %:8
Brewery:Lagunitas Brewery
Country:USA
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When:Home, Nov 2010
Cost:$13
Rating:8

Nice white head. light orange/copper colour.
Lovely floral and citrus nose.
Strong malt all the way, bit of pine and a bit of citrus-grapefruit mainly.
Although the taste lingers on the tongue it's not heavily bitter.
It's a lovely drop and I'd love to have one ready to pop in the fridge when I felt like it.
I enjoyed this and rate it as highly as when I last had it....just.
This is a grey import. I had one in the States at the end of September and I wouldn't say this bottle had a freshness problem anymore than I could say the bottle I had in LA did.

Stone IPA

Style:India IPA
Alc %:6.9
Brewery:Stone Brewery
Country:US
Tap/Bottle?:Bottle
Where/When:Home, Nov. 2010
Cost:$5.50
Rating:6.5

Light orange copper colour with a little white head.
Nose:Lovely sweet pine.
A little herbal up front followed with a mild bitterness that lingers nicely. Not alot of fruit.
I get a slight mineral taste. Well balanced.
This also felt creamy with food and had more body to it, however i think I'm going to give it 6.5/10.

Stone Ruination IPA

Style:American Double/Imperial IPA
Alc %:7.7
Brewery:Stone Brewing Company
Country:US
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When:Home, Nov 2010
Cost:$7.50 for 375ml
Rating:8.5/10

Cloudy light copper colour with a nice white fluffy head.
Nose:Lovely mix of citrus, malts and passion fruit. It does have me salivating!
Citrus with a solid backbone of malts-
a creamy mouth feel, highlighted with food, the bitterness is bold, but not over powering.
The alcohol is nicely hidden which makes it a very session able drop, that said it is an ale you can't ignore- it's big! And kinda filling too!
I'll give it an 8.5/10

Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA

Style:American IPA
Alc %:7.2
Brewery:Sierra Nevada
Country:USA
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When:Home Nov. 2010
Cost:$5.50
Rating:6

Lovely white fluffy head, nice orange body.
Sharp perfume on the nose, not as citrus as i expected. A little bit of pine and sweet pineapple.
Bitter much. Citrus rind and a bit of pepper along with a solid bit of toasted malts.
Not as sweet and fruity as i expected - and in that sense it is a little different for it's style-
the bitterness really lingers which is true to style.
I want to have this again 'cos this didn't quite hit the spot.
6/10

Bear Republic Racer 5

Bear Republic Racer 5
Quite pale in colour for a IPA....and that's my notes...
musta got busy!
Will rate it a 7/10 all the same.
Cost: US$ 4.29