Most often, I'd assume due to generally higher ABV's and extra brewing costs, small batch brews that brewers decide to bottled for individual sale are bottled in 16oz, 22oz, and 750ml sizes… Not to say specialty brews can't ever come in packs or 12oz containers, it's just more common to see the truly small batch brews sold individually in larger bottles… These things also lead me to assume that any small batches put in smaller containers could often become overlooked by craft drinkers, which is a sad thought… Thus I've decided to post reviews of beers in containers 12oz or less, each month on the 12th… I truly believe it'd be a shame to let any sort of pretension stand in the way of potentially discovering any brews that just so happen to be divided into smaller containers… I will be attending a wedding this upcoming 12th, thus I'm releasing this overview early, but "XII's" will become a regular posting, so please enjoy the read and stay tuned for more!!
Evil Twin Brewing X Stillwater Artisanal Ales X Stone Brewing - The Perfect Crime [Black Smoked Saison] (120z ---> Dogfish Head Curved Pint Glass : 6.8% ABV : 60 IBU)
It poured velvety smooth and what seemed to be fairly heavily bodied also, forming a nice two inch head composed of decently large bubbles… The light tan head faded slowly and a rather large retentive cap sat atop the almost pitch black beer that barely lets the faintest amount of light sneak through itself… The nose is fairly reserved, but smokiness is easily the first scent in the air, with hints of brown sugar or molasses floating around there, as well as a few hints of belgian yeast gently being present… The smokiness easily being more noticeable than one of Stone's previously released smoked saisons, "Matt's Burning Rosids," which I consider to be a great thing!! After taking my first swig of this brew, I was surprised that the yeast was the first taste that hit my pallet, followed by some sweeter malty essences of caramel or brown sugar… The smokiness actually takes a quick moment to fully develop, but it does eventually present itself more and more, and accompanying it were some earthy hoppy notes that also added just a touch of spice as well… The finish allows the smokiness to fully assert its' presence as it comes full force and lingers quite a while, but is mellowed out by some touches of chocolatey sweetness and dark berry flavors… The mouthfeel on the beer is very nice, as it was fairly heavy bodied as predicted, but its' body matched the beer style quite nicely and let the flavors flourish and present themselves in the best way possible… Overall I was definitely surprised by this beer, as I would almost dare to call this saison, a Belgian representation of a smoky barleywine… I hate to try and label specific genres, as I've been scorned by the whole music "-core" scene and the slews of ignorant YouTube comments in relation to "-core" labeling, but I truly believe that's the best way to relate this beer's flavor profile to a fellow drinker… Another great brew - Cheers!!Mikkeller - Hop Burn Lo [Double Imperial Pale Lager] (330ml ---> Dogfish Head Curved Pint Glass : 10% ABV)
It poured nice and light, with another solid two inch head formed atop this decently hazy, heavy orange brew… Without even trying, the earthy hop and lager yeast aromatics found their way to my nasal pallet, and lured me towards my first sip as the head left a good deal of lacing along the glassware… My first true sniff of the brew did contain a bit of hop notes, but the malty caramel-like sweetness and lager yeast are surely the main components… Immediately as I took my first sip, the bitterness hit the tip of my tongue, cutting through some heavy malty features… Mid pallet lets that yeast show it's head a bit more without being cut down immediately by that bitterness, but again that sweetness is still doing its' very best to be at the forefront of this brew!! The finish is nice, as the hop flavors finally get a chance to come through on the back end, bringing with them the slightest nuances of citrus and wheat… Though still present, the previous sweet elements all but fade away by this point in each sip, which actually works in this beer's favor… The mouthfeel on this beer is nice, but I believe the maltiness of this beer, and possibly the higher ABV, helps to contribute to it feeling so thick that it's almost syrupy as it coats one's mouth… Overall this was not my favorite beer of all time, as it's sweetness was an almost overbearing element… Never having had a super hoppy lager, I'm not sure if the sweetness is an industry standard in this style, but it was easily the most unenjoyable element… In comparison to "My Antonia" from DFH, the only other cold fermenting brew I've had that is leaning towards being extremely hoppy, this beer falls far short, as the hops seem to pale in comparison to the other elements presented in this beer… I wouldn't say it was a horrible beer, but I just hope any other I try in this newly invigorated style is gonna be far less lovingly sweet than this brew… All sweetness aside, I've enjoyed far worse beers, so make sure to try this representation of an IPL before the market becomes flooded by Stone!! Another great brew - Cheers!!
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