Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA

Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA (2011)

Year Round Brew

25.4 fl. oz. / $7.99 USD / 9% ABV

About: "Double Simcoe IPA is our incredible reward for 'Hopheads' seeking the intense hop flavor in a Double IPA, without the harshness. It is brewed utilizing only the Simcoe hop variety. This hybrid hop, developed and trademarked by Select Botanicals Group, LLC in the year 2000, was created for its high alpha acid content, maximum aromatic oils, and low harshness levels so that brewers can really put a lot of ‘em in a beer and not create an overly harsh taste."

Thoughts: Popped the cork and this golden hued brew formed into an almost burgundy or ruby-like color in the glass. The light caramel colored head built as a two finger but once I filled the glass it suddenly began to expand to the size of a fist. Nuts. I haven't poured all of the bottle in yet, and right now this beer is a murky haze. There's no seeing through this fog.

Smells a bit like Belgian yeast. Hmm... I'm getting tons of fruity hops that almost smell a little bit like funky mango or uh, some kind of sour fruit like guava. Once it warms it gets more of a caramel and grapefruit mix, and a lot more floral than fruity.

Alright, got hit with a wild haze of booze there. Well, I guess the mixture of these Simcoe hops and Belgian yeast are a bit of an acquired taste. This tastes a little bit like pineapple, but not nearly as sweet. It's sweet and sour at the same time actually. There's a decent flow of malt that comes in as backup, but most of the taste appears to be that strong yeast. There's a lot of dank citrus coating the inside of my mouth. There's a mix of pine and grass in the aftertaste which is pretty hard to differentiate, so I'll just say both.

Mouth feel is ultra frothy. This is a froth bomb of burptitude! It's a bit numbing after a while.

Poured the second half of the bottle into the empty glass and around the end I witnessed a huge bundle of stuff plop out. The brew is a lot darker, grainier and even murkier than before. It appears to be more of a dark reddish-brown now. Smell is the same, and the taste is still just as pungent. It seems to be a little bit more pronounced through, and full flavored... more rounded. It could just be my imagination, but I started out not really liking this beer all too much. For some reason though, I'm enjoying the second glass a lot more. Not a spectacular tasting brew in my opinion, but at least it got better instead of worse. The second glass was cold by the way, I had the open bottle back in the fridge.

Weyerbacher Hops Infusion

Weyerbacher Hops Infusion - India Pale Ale (2011)

Year Round (Standard Release)

12 fl. oz. / $0.78 USD (Sale) / 6.2% ABV

About: "Our brewers’ intention on Hops Infusion was to create a complexity of hops flavor and aromas, not found in any other beer. Made with seven hop varieties, this deep copper-orange IPA is loaded with juicy hop notes of pine, lemon zest, and a layer of pink grapefruit and a strong foundation of toasted caramel malts underneath it all give this beer a complexity that’s unparalleled. Hops Infusion weighs in at 6.2% and is available year-round. In case you are wondering, the seven varieties are Cascade, Pilgrim, Centennial, Liberty, Saaz, Fuggle and E. Kent Golding."

Thoughts: Poured a totally glowing orange amber shade with a thick as all hell fluffy bubbly head that was pretty darn white but just a tad orange itself as well. This beer is incredibly hazy and there's hardly a bubble rising when I check through it.

The scent is strong with this one as it hit me during the pouring, and let me tell you, it is beautiful. I'm getting some spicy sweetness

Sweet candied hops up front. I'm getting a gentle soothing of caramel like tones, and peach(!) of all fruits. Cool. It's almost a little bit grassy towards the back of the tongue but not really. This brew is pretty smooth tasting. Low bitterness. Sweet, mild and fruity. Enjoyable.

Mouth feel is very frothy and bubbly, and it's almost like swallowing air. Interesting.

This is a pretty unique tasting IPA. I really didn't know what to expect at all, but I don't think I was expecting something this drinkable. I pounded the thing in four gulps (which I don't ever do in reviews). It was pretty refreshing too. I'm not exactly blown away or anything, but this is a pretty quality beer and I found myself really enjoying it. Too bad I hear it's getting discontinued.

Weyebacher Heresy

Weyebacher Heresy - Imperial Stout aged in OAK barrels (2009?)
Rotating Schedule - February (Limited Release)
22 fl. oz. / $7.99 USD / 8% ABV

About: "This is an incredibly intriguing ale is made by aging our Old Heathen Imperial Stout in oak barrels that were used for making fine Kentucky bourbon! The result is an extraordinary, dark, and mysterious stout whose very essence has been enhanced. The aroma is filled with vanilla, cocoa, and roasted coffee beans. This silky-smooth brew has notes of oak, whiskey, roasted barley and vanilla that meld together on the tongue to create an incredible sensation."

Thoughts: Poured a super dark black with shades of brown around the edges and an ultra frothy tan head that just... wouldn't... die!

It's got a wonderful smell. Chocolate and coffee scents blend well together with a little tingling of the alcohol striking a nerve. It doesn't smell crazy strong, but rather a low flow of chocolate milk for the grown ups.

Tastes of the smell, then the malt, and afterward the coffee slowly creeps in for a while before the swallow, and afterwards, it completely obliterates the palate and takes over! Damn. Let me try it again without swallowing. Yeah, I know how that sounds! Malty. Sweet. Seemingly well balanced as those hops try their mightiest to come out but just can't seem to make it. It's got the toffee of a Heath bar with a nice zing of alcohol and the finish is a bit woodsy. I've noticed that I tend to like the alcohols that have been aged in oak barrels. Is that a "who doesn't?" sort of comment? Well, if so then why aren't they all?

Mouth feel is a bit watery. But there is trickery afoot as it does come off as rather thick. I've noticed this with quite a few brews actually, so maybe I'm not the authority on the feel of mouth... but to me, it all changes within the span of twenty seconds.What am I supposed to do? Keep it in my mouth and let it break down or just chug it once to decide how the mouth feel is? Not every brew does this, but many of the heavier ones do. Just as the scent and taste go through changes, so does the feel of it. So I guess that makes this one thick and watery.

There's a little smoke in the aftertaste. Which I like in this kind of brew. And I don't know but it seems a bit fruity too. Don't know if that's the pussycat on my tongue or what, but it's kinda like... strawberries. Mary Jane's lip gloss, really. As I swirl my glass and stare down into this magnificent alcoholic galaxy of light foam, I know that I've had too much to think comprehensibly. For a 2009 bomber that's been who knows where, it's pretty awesome...

Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot Barley-Wine Style ALE

Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot Barley-Wine Style ALE (2011)

Brewed and Bottled by Weyerbacher Brewing Co., in Easton, Pennsylvania. USA.

Year Round (Standard Release)

12 fl. oz. / $3.29 USD / 11.1% ABV

Theirs: "Enjoy Blithering Idiot in a brandy snifter or wine glass with full-flavored meats and cheeses, or as an after-dinner drink. Lay a few down. Aging only helps a barleywine develop more complexity. At 11.1% ABV this fine ale will keep for years. We feel comfortable setting our “Best By” date out to five years past the bottling date. This wonderful brew is available year-round."

Mine: Super hazy light-brown, somewhat copper with a very slow-to-form head that did indeed form and then lingered for a good amount of time.

Smells of heavy alcohol and melted down sugar daddies, or that cereal Golden Crisp I remember having when I was a kid. Honey, with a small hint of fruity tones.

Strong! Caramel backs it up heavily as the intensity dies down. It's spicy and sweet, hardly any bitterness, but strong alcohol. Fruity tones come out a bit more in the taste. It's like biting into a reverse caramel apple (that's a ball of caramel, coated in an apple flavored candy shell - I'm a genius to think up such a concept). There's a brown sugar type of biscuit like note at the end of everything. I like it.

Thick. Fizzy and attacking at first. Stingy once it settles. Coating once it's gone.

Aftertaste is so good. It's actually quite remarkable how good this tastes considering the initial heavy alcohol of each gulp that simply proceeds to kick the ass. If this brew gets better with a couple years age then it must be absolutely fuckin' remarkable by that time, because it is damn good with this new batch I'm drinking right now! My suggestion would be find a bottle and drink it, immediately. If you grab a four pack, save one of them for next year. This is my second Weyerbacher brew, but do believe me that I plan on trying all of them whenever I come around to do so. I can't find any of their Bombers (let alone any of their brews) in my area. I've only come across random singles here and there in the fridge, and sometimes their appearance startles me out of a purchase. I've never seen a company's bottles so manhandled at the store and still around. Maybe it's the price?? It sure as fuck isn't the taste!

Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale

Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale (2011)

Brewed and Bottled by Weyerbacher Brewing Co, Inc. Easton, Pennsylvania. USA.
Autumn Seasonal (Yearly Release)

12 fl. oz / $2.99 USD / 8.0% ABV

About: "Like a pyramid for a pharaoh, we set out to make a bold monument for The King of the Pumpkins! This 8.0% ABV pumpkin ale is the mother of all pumpkin ales. It is heartier, spicier, and more “caramelly” and “pumpkiny” than its faint brethren! We have added lots of pumpkin along with cinnamon, nutmeg and a touch of cardamom and clove giving this beer a spicy, full-bodied flavor. This truly is an Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Perfect finisher on a cool autumn night, or match it up with a slice of pumpkin pie and fresh whipped cream."

Thoughts: This artwork is one of the most awesome of all the pumpkin ales. This Pumpkin King is one magnificent bastard! Cool shit, mister. Also, this Ale won the Bronze Medal at the 2010 Great American Beer Festival in the 'Field Beer' Category.

Copper, just like a penny. And the tan colored head is about the equivalent of one too, gone in an instant.

I'm immediately hit with the scent of sweet cloves, reminiscent of Djarum cigarettes. I remember them fondly, and smelling this makes me think I should pick up another pack for old time's sake. There are hints of nutmeg and a dash of cinnamon.Yeah, this one smells pretty sweet and spicy. I wonder how it tastes...

Burnt coffee grounds, first of all. What the hell is this!? The difference between the smell of this and the taste is just absurd. Stale clove cigs, dipped in allspice. I don't recall ever having cardamom, but I hope it tastes better than this. This Imperial tastes like some funky caramel candy that's been stepped on by a coal miner.

It's foamy, feels thick (yet goes down like it's thin) and stays on the tongue. Why it's this foamy in my mouth without too much carbonation seems rather strange. After a while it's like I just french kissed my ex girlfriend back in '95 all over again. She was a butt fiend. And maybe that sounded wrong.

Sticky, smokey, and like I took a fork and knife to my boot. It's funny how smelling this is like running a fresh clove cigarette across your nostrils, and yet the taste is like you just lit up one that's already been half smoked the day before.

I don't really either love, nor do I hate this ale, despite however you may interpret my review. But I suppose it will be interesting to see where it fits along with the others in my graded summary. I've still got six other pumpkin ales to go from the batch I picked up, and I'll be grabbing more the end of the week.