Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut Down Ale

Why I tried this: I honestly don't remember. I can tell you that the name of this beer is quite the mouthful. I probably saw it in the bottles book and picked it out because of the name. However, I generally have enjoyed Lagunitas beers before, so that probably played a pretty big part as well.

Smell: Has a very slight spice scent to it, but mostly has a malty and floral hop smell.

Taste: Not quite what I was expecting. There are some very light spice and citrus flavors, but mostly it's an epic battle of sweet malts versus mildly bitter hops. Normally, I'm not a fan of hoppy beer, but the malts are able to keep things balanced to the point that I actually really enjoyed this mix. The slight bitterness at the end was fairly nice, giving it a modest crispness.

This was a pretty good ale. It was very strong at nearly 10%, but you couldn't taste any of the alcohol. Instead, you got a nice balance of sweet malts, light citrus, some spice, and floral hops that added a bitterness to the end of the beer. It smelled nice, and went down pretty easily. Overall, I'd give this beer a quarter full glass. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a good ale and wouldn't mind trying it again.

--Jeff

Stone Ruination IPA

Why I tried this: This is another brew off of my IPA bender, and Stone is a brewing company that I've enjoyed other brews from. They always seem to make their beer with a little "like it, or fuck off" attitude, which was enough to engender me to their style.

Smell:This has a super piney hop smell, almost like sticking your nose into a bucket of raw hop flowers. While it's not a super pungent smell, it definitely lets you know what's coming up.

Taste: Ouch. This thing is like taking a sucker punch to the gums from the amount of hop flavor there is. I can almost feel the enamel in my teeth beginning to rot a way a little as I sip on this bastard of a brew. The strangest bit is actually the mouth feel though. It's a nice smooth feel, but the after taste almost punishes you for even daring to drink it.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give it a 6. This is just a personal preferences sort of thing. I found Stone Arrogant Bastard to be an interesting drink, and the Ruination definitely follows suit for that in your face attitude. If you're into a more hoppy bitter beer, then I definitely recommend it, but if you're more of a fruity Mike's Lemonade swill drinker then stay away. Your kind aren't wanted or welcome with this group.

--Scott

Boddington's Pub Ale

Why I tried this: I love Boddington's. Especially when it's on draft. Went to World of Beer UCF and found out today was my lucky day!

Smell: Smells a bit yeasty. Other than that, it really doesn't give up that much. Not very exciting if you enjoy a good smell.

Taste: It was a medium bodied, smooth, creamy rush. Boddington's goes down so smooth and just has such a pleasant earthy taste that it's hard not to like. It finishes off slightly bitter, but nothing that detracts from the initial taste.

On a scale of 1 to 10 I would give Boddington's an 8/10. The beer is just a pleasure to drink. The taste is moderate but enjoyable. The mouth feel and drinkability is where this beer really shines. I'd rate it higher, but the lack of a pleasing smell drags it down a tad. Should be a beer anyone can enjoy, though.

--Jeff

Delirium Tremens

Why I tried this: When World of Beer first opened I found myself absolutely floored by the amazing selection on hand, and while I had already put a few hundred different brews under my belt I was still a little flabbergasted as to where I should start. Luckily a neon sign sat in the corner, quietly proclaiming with a pink glow that Delirium Tremens was voted World's Best Beer in the 1998 World Beer Championship. I put that medal to the test.

Smell: The initial smell of this beer is a nice sweet smell, immediately followed by a spicy yeast note that is common in many Belgian style brews. There's also a slight smell of pear, clove, and the slightest hint of citrus. There's no discernible hop smell, and the aroma is really quite pleasant.

Taste: Wow. Just wow. This beer is extremely flavorful, starting out with a nice mild sweetness to it, but accented with a thin malt flavor. You can definitely get a bit of clove, pear, and banana. Towards the end you can definitely get a spicier flavor fromm the Belgian Yeast, which is balanced out by a slight bitter from the hops. Really just an all around amazing taste by my palate.

On a scale of 1 to 10 I'd give this a 9.5. This beer is an extremely complex Belgian, and by my count is deserving of the award it was given. Hands down this is my favorite Belgian, without a doubt, and is ranked in at least my top 5 for favorite beers, if not my favorite outright. The only reason I hesitate to give it a 10 is because this is something that the "uninitiated" in beer culture might find a bit too complex, and weighing in with an 8.5% ABV might be a bit too strong for the newbies out there.

--Scott

This beer is definitely pretty good. A sweetness with a balance of hops, nothing too overpowering. Smells a bit of bananas, but finishes with a taste of clove. Definitely very nice, not something I could have a few of though.

I'd give it an 8.5/10.

--Jeff

Love this beer. Scott recommended it to me when I showed up to WoB one day, this will for sure be a beer that I enjoy over and over for a long long time. 9/10

--Jon

Fuller's London Porter

Jeff lovin the Fullers

Why I tried this: London Porter has long since been a favorite of mine. As far as porters go, this one shines above the rest. I saw it in the beer list at World of Beer, and I haven't had it there yet, so it was a logical choice.

Smell: Smells of earthy roasted malts with coffee overtones. Very nice.

Poor sad empty
glass

Taste: An explosion of earthy, roasted malts hits you as you begin your sip of this beer. This follows by a slight transition into a chocolate and coffee finish, all the while holding that strong roasted malt flavor. It doesn't let up all the way down. Simply delicious.

On a scale of 1 to 10 I would give this a 9. Hands down, this is the best porter I've ever had. It has a full bodied flavor that never gives when it finishes. Heavy, thick, very roasted, and not for the light hearted who would like a moderate tasting or easy drinking lighter beer. The smell is incredible, the taste more so, and the beer just looks damn sexy in a pint glass. You can't go wrong if you're into dark beers.

--Jeff

I thought this porter was delicious with a robust flavor but well rounded. I will for sure be drinking this plenty more 9/10

--Jon

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