Rockmill Brewing Dubbel

Every "beer geek" is born from an epiphany moment in which a certain beer opens up their eyes to the world of craftbrews. For Matthew Barbee, it was a Saison Dupont that was paired with a grilled peach salad. Not soon after, he decided to move from Los Angeles back to his native Ohio to open up his own brewery in the sleepy town of Lancaster. Blessed with water quality nearly identical to that of the Wallonia region in Belgium, Rockmill Brewing began producing four unique Belgian-style ales in 2010.

The Rockmill Dubbel clocks in at a robust 8% alcohol by volume. It pours a rich mahogany color with ample champagne-like carbonation with a light tan head and thick Belgian lacing. Aromas are of caramel, raisins, bananas and toast. The predominant flavors are of toffee, black cherry, dried plum and cognac. The finish is long thanks to a delightful balance of spice provided by the yeast and hops. This brew would pair perfectly with smoked barbecued ribs, a heart beef stew or a washed-rind Belgian cheese. Or you can serve the way Mr. Barbee serves it: with dark chocolate that has been dusted with Himalayan pink sea salt.

Rockmill is currently producing four barrels a week (roughly 130 gallons), but they are hoping to expand production in the near future. Their next release is slated to be a whiskey barrel-aged Belgian tripel. Undoubtedly, Matthew Barbee's Rockmill brews have provided that epiphany moment for more than a few "beer geeks."

Stone Belgo Anise Imperial Russian Stout

Stone is easily in my top 5 favorite breweries. I was hooked merely by seeing a beer labeled "Arrogant Bastard". Granted, this was when I was still a newbie to the craft brew world and was still foolishly led by names and labels. But, like every other beer Stone offers, Arrogant Bastard lives up to its name.

This brings us to a new release from Stone... and imperial stout brewed with anise, oak chips, and Belgian yeast. It pours jet black, with a brownish tinge around the edges and a moderate dark tan head. Aromas are very, very strong of anise and black licorice. There is also a slight oak and vanilla aroma, but I don't catch much roasted malt. After opening up a little bit, the aromas all meld to give a root beer quality to the aroma... very pleasing.

The licorice is not as strong in the flavor as the aroma. The mouthfeel is not a thick as a typical imperial stout and the carbonation is on the high end. Root beer once again comes to mind. Roasted malt and dark fruit linger in the background as well as a slight acidity that lives a little burn in the chest along with the alcohol.

It's certainly an interesting beer. I'd imagine setting this beer down for a few years would do a great deal of good in terms of blending the flavors more. This seems like a beer that will have its haters... but I enjoyed. Seek it out and see what you think. Prosit!

Ithaca Flower Power IPA

Due to an advantageous microclimate, New York's Finger Lakes are well-known for producing world-class wines. However, in the sleepy college town of Ithaca, wine isn't the first beverage of choice. Ask anyone on the street and they'll tell you that Ithaca Beer Company is where it's at. Opened in 1998, Ithaca Beer Company is now available in seven states and they recently were awarded two medals at the Great American Beer Fest. One of their highest rated beers is their Flower Power IPA.

Flower Power pours a honeylike golden color with a moderate white head. Aromas are of tropical fruits, Juicyfruit gum, wildflowers and pine. The predominent flavors are of pineapple, honey, grapefruit, orange, spruce and fresh-cut grass. Flower Power finishes both bitter and sweet thanks to herbaceous hop character and malt sweetness. It's very versatile as a "food beer," but it would best match-up with Indian cuisine with curry, gorgonzola cheese or a spicy conch chowder.

Port Brewing Company Old Viscosity

A few years ago a buddy of mine moved to the west coast. It was a very bitter-sweet moment for me. On one hand, I was losing one of my best buds. On the other, he was moving on to bigger and better things that would, in the end, make him happier. Of course, another positive was that fact that any visit meant some great coastal beer that was not available to me here in the Midwest.

Enter Port Brewing Company. No, not Pizza Port. However, Port is the result of Pizza Port's former director of brewing operations and a pal. Adding even more connections to this brewery, they set up camp in Stone's old brewing facility in San Marcos, CA.

Flash forward to 2006, and Port is a brewing. This particular brew is a very dark american strong ale coming in at 10% abv. The beer pours a very dark, opaque brownish/black with a thin tan head. The consistency is near motor oil. The nose gives off aromas of woody, roasted malts as well as chocolate, alcohol, and a slight bit of bourbon. The flavor is a mouthful with slight acidic tinge that leads to roasted malts, bourbon, chocolate, and a slight hoppy grapefruit quality in the finish. Very full bodied.

I was very impressed with Old Viscosity. Very near and imperial stout. Should I find myself on the west coast anytime soon, I will surely seek this brew out. I suggest you do as well.

Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre

Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre is a Belgian brown ale made with beet sugar, green raisins and Belgian yeast. In 2000, Malt Advocate Magazine named it "American Beer of the Year." First brewed in 1996 at their brewpub in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, this brew hit the store shelves in 1998.

Raison D'Etre pours a deep mahogany in color with a tan head and moderate carbonation. Aromas are of plum, toffee, spice and bread. Flavors of raisin, brown sugar, maple syrup and molasses tickle the palate. The finish is long, sweet and complex due to sweet malt and Belgian yeast. Possible food pairings are steak, blue cheese and smoked sausage. At 8% alcohol by volume, this brew is potent and is definitely a sipper. Raison D'Etre is best enjoyed from a snifter glass at 50 degrees.

Smuttynose Farmhouse Ale

Farmhouse ales, also known as Saisons, have had a long history as thirst-quenchers. Traced back to Wallonia, a French-speaking area of Belgium, Saisons were brewed for farm workers during the harvest. Once considered to be endangered as a beer style, Saisons have made a significant comeback due to growing interest in Belgian-style ales from beer enthusiasts worldwide. Smuttynose Brewing, out of the quaint seaside town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, has been making their Farmhouse ale since 2008.

Saisons are known for being funky, dry and crisp. The Farmhouse Ale pours a slightly hazy golden color with a rocky white head and significant carbonation. Aromas are of spice, banana, pepper and apple. It has pronounced flavors of sweet malt, lemon peel, coriander and terroir. The finish is a combination of honey-like sweetness and sour notes from the yeast. It is a bit bigger and sweeter than tradition Saisons, but that is due to it having a higher gravity (9.3% alcohol by volume.) It is a perfect pairing for jambalaya, spicy crab cakes or a fromage triple-creme.

Great Divide Hercules Double IPA

Great Divide Brewing hit the ground running when they opened in 1994 in Denver. Within three months of brewing their very first batch of beer, Great Divide was awarded a medal at the Great American Beer Festival. From the moment they opened their doors, Great Divide has thoroughly dedicated itself to making "big beers." Some of these progressive, bold offerings have included wood-aged beers, barleywines, smoked ales and double India pale ales.

Hercules Double IPA is not a brew for Joe Sixpack. It is malty, sweet, bitter, potent and aromatic. A veritable cornucopia for the senses, this double IPA is unforgiving and forceful. The brew pours a very dark orange color and has an ample, off-white head with good carbonation. Aromas of orange peel, toffee, spruce and hazelnut will attack your olfactory system. It has flavors of Tootsie Roll, grapefruit, caramel and a hint of toasted vanilla bean. It finishes sweet at first, but the spiciness from the hops dries out the finish. At 10% alcohol by volume and 85IBUs, Hercules packs a real knock-out punch. Without a doubt, Hercules is one of the very best double India pale ales in the world.