New Releases Panel
Tom Dalldorf
Editor/Publisher, Celebrator Beer News
Matt Margulies
Owner, Matteo’s Public, Nevada City, CA
Big Mike Moore
Director, CA State Beer Competition, Roseville, CA
New England IPA
Samuel Adams – Boston, Massachusetts
Just in to the Celebrator office is this citric fruit punch from Sam Adams. Cloudy orange color with rich frothy head, a citric punch bowl of aroma with juicy hoppy flavors in abundance. Sure, they are hopping (sorry) on the bandwagon but doing it in style — if you like the style. 6.8% abv. Highly Recommended
Chai Yeti Imperial Stout with spices
Great Divide Brewing – Denver, Colorado
Black color with slight ruby center and a rich, frothy mocha head. Subtle roasty-spicy aroma. Creamy, soft, rich and yet assertive and complex malt flavors. Chai gets top billing but plays a supportive note in the rich, roasty, slightly bitter finish. 9.5% abv. Recommended
Hazy IPA Lateral
Dust Bowl Brewing – Turlock, California
Cloudy golden-white color with a frothy white head. Juicy hop nose. An East Coast–West Coast mash-up. 6.7% abv. Recommended
Hibernation Ale
Great Divide Brewing – Denver, Colorado
Beautiful dark amber color with a rich, frothy cream-colored head that persists. Complex aromas of well-aged ale coming to fruition. Creamy, rich malty flavors are well-balanced, leading to a satisfying finish. Excellent example of the style. 8.7% abv. Highly Recommended
Mexican Chocolate Milk Stout
Upslope Brewing – Boulder, Colorado
Dark brown mahogany color with a slight head. Aromas of cocoa, coffee and mole. Some chili spiciness and slight nuttiness. Full, rich body for low alcohol. Spicy cinnamon flavors in the finish. A chili, mole, heavy meat dish is a natural pairing. AND, this is a session beer (but you don’t miss the alcohol). 4.8% abv. Outstanding
Neapolitan Dynamite Imperial Stout
Stone/Abnormal Beer collaboration – Escondido, California
Opaque black with a slight mocha head. Huge coffee and chili pepper aromas entice. Tart, roasty malt plays against fruity adjuncts but comes together in the finish. A big, assertive, complex stout. 8.5% abv. Highly Recommended
Oatmeal Stout
Upslope Brewing – Boulder, Colorado
Opaque black with a slight head. Aroma of black, roasty malt. Black malt lends a slight bitterness. Clean and balanced, with a dry finish. 5% abv. Highly Recommended
Punk in Drublic Hoppy Lager
Stone/NOFX collaboration – Escondido, California
Clear golden color with a frothy head. Aroma speaks of a disconnect with traditional brewing. Essence of Fat Mike and Bretty flavors with tart hopping. Blame Fat Mike. 5.8% abv. Highly Recommended (for channeling your inner punk)
Signature Oak Aged Imperial Cream Stout
Mad River Brewing – Blue Lake, California
Opaque black color with a creamy brown head. Sweet roasty aromas invite that first sip. Rich, roasty malt flavors dance on the tongue. A soft yet firm hop bite in the finish. 8% abv. Highly Recommended
Smoked Porter
Brewery Ommegang – Cooperstown, New York
Black color with a mocha brown head. Reserved smoky-roasty aroma with some cherry notes. Restrained smoky notes with rich, roasty, creamy malt flavors. Dry finish devoid of acrid smoke aftertaste. Well done! 7.6% abv. Outstanding
Sugaree Maple Pecan Pie, Barrel-Aged
High Water Brewing – San Jose, California
Clear dark amber color with a rich, cream-colored head and superb lacing. Subtle aroma of roasty, nutty notes. Big, assertive, sweet-tinged flavors dance on the tongue. Slight oak-barrel notes in the finish. My, my, that’s some pie. 9.5% abv. Highly Recommended
Tangerine Express IPA
Stone Brewing – Escondido, California
Hazy golden color and a frothy white head. Mandarin fruit with some white pepper notes. White pepper and bitter flavors dominate, up to a tropically bitter finish. 6.7% abv. Recommended
The Swindler Barrel-aged Feral
Societe Brewing – San Diego, California
Clear golden color and a frothy white head. Brett nose with citric notes. Amazingly dry and zesty on the palate; lends itself to many food applications. No swindle with The Swindler. 6.2% abv. Outstanding
Jewbelation 21, 21st Anniversary Ale
Shmaltz Brewing – Clifton Park, New York
Deep mahogany color and a rich, cream-colored head. Huge, complex aromas of roasty malt and some barrel-aging. Delicious malt bomb with long-lingering complex flavors with spicy notes. Long, rich finish belies the high alcohol and the 10 malts and 11 hops involved. 12.1% abv. Highly Recommended
Vengeful Spirit IPA
Stone Brewing – Escondido, California
Cloudy golden-white color with a slight white head. Citric hop notes. Great integration of hops and malt. Peachy stone fruit flavors. Excellent balance and assertive hop profile. 7.3% abv. Highly Recommended
