Corsendonk Abbey Pale Ale

Brewery: Brouwerij Corsendonk
Style: Tripel
ABV: 7.5%
Country: Belgium

Poured a bright golden yellow that was slightly hazy. Head was stark white and was massive and foamy taking a long time to die down. Aroma was mild and sweet. Vaguely smelled like apples. A hint of spiciness was noticeable as well. Taste was mostly dry and subtle with only a hint of fruity sweetness. Sweet malts are present but most of the flavors are coming from the hops and yeast. A clove spiciness was the most prominent which was followed by earthy and herbal flavors. The finish contained some bready malt flavors along with more yeasty notes. No real bitterness to speak of.. Body was bubbly and crisp giving the beer an champagne like feeling overall. I had to remind myself a few times while drinking this that this was 7.5% ABV. There where no overt alcohol flavors which was nice considering there where no dominant flavors to mask them. The only hint that this was alcoholic was a pleasing warmth in the end. This was a yummy beer for sure. A-

Dixie Blackened Voodo Lager

Brewery: Dixie Brewing Company
Style: Schwarzbier
ABV: 5.0%
Country: USA, Louisiana

Dark brown hints of ruby. Thin white head dissipated quickly. Rich aroma with dark fruits, clove spiciness. I was a little under the weather at the time and my nose was a bit stopped up so any real subtleties were lost on me. The aroma that came through I liked. Had almost a cola quality to it as well. Interesting mix of flavors. Cherry sweetness upfront with more cola and licorice. Some roasted flavors were present as well. Light bitterness rounded out the finish. This sort of reminded me of a root-beer of all things both in taste, appearance, and all around feel. Body was a bit light and the finish was rather weak. B-

Allagash White

Brewery: Allagash Brewing Company
Style: Witbier
ABV: 5.2
Country: USA, Maine

Bright straw yellow, hazy with visible yeast and sediments. Fluffy white head dissipated rather quickly but left some bubbly lacing. Lemongrass, dry wheat, yeast, and malt grains were the most prevalent flavors in the aroma. Dry and smooth moutfeel was the first thing noticed. Wheat flavor was most noticeable but didn't dominate the other sweet malt flavors. Lemon zest and earthy notes from the yeast are present throughout which led to a light bitterness in the finish. Carbonation is on the lighter side of things but still has a nice crispness to it. This was a fantastic beer and a perfect one to drink on a hot day. I'll be looking forward to having more of this. A

Scotch Silly

Brewery: Brasserie De Silly
Style: Scotch Ale
ABV: 8.0%
Country: Belgium

This is my second scotch ale, the first being the great Skull Splitter. Hazy copper color. Thin head that dissipated quickly leaving a thin lacing. Sweet and malty aroma. Hints of apples and raisin are both present. First sip was similar to aroma with sweet fruits present. Whiskey and alcohol flavors are both substantial but a little more subdued than the Skull Splitter. Body was thick, creamy and plenty smooth. A nice roasted flavor rounded out the finish with a mild bitterness. This was a great beer but not quite as good as Skull Splitter. Less complex and a bit more subdued flavor. Certainly a good pick. B+

CSB Extra Special Bitter Ale

Brewery: Laughing Dog Brewery
Style: ESB
ABV: 5.50%
Country: USA, Idaho

The CSB in this case stands for "Crotch Sniffing Bastard." Pour was bright caramel brown and a bit hazy. Big off-white foam that was creamy and lingered a long time. Caramel sweet aroma with hints of honey and herbal hop notes. The first sip took me way off guard. The main flavor was tart and sour apples. This tasted more like a cider than a beer. Finish was dry with a lingering bitterness. This one was too much for me. I couldn't get into the flavor and there wasn't anything beyond the tartness. This one ended up going down the sink. :( F

Lion Stout

Brewery: Ceylon Brewery PLC
Style: Stout
ABV: 8.8%
Country: Sri Lanka

It had been awhile since I've had a stout so I picked up this interesting looking one from Sri Lanka. Color was a black color with hints of brown around the edges. The tan head was huge, thick, and bubbly. Nose was dominated by strong roasted notes. A sticky sweetness is apparent as well along with a wave of alcohol. Taste was surprisingly sweet. Toasted caramel along with molasses and dark fruits. Finish brought with it the strong roasted flavors that were present in the aroma. Espresso and a hint of chocolate are both present in the finish as well. Not much bitterness is present, but it is still noticeable. Body wasn't the thickest I've had but still had some heft to it. Mouthfeel also had a slickness to it. The alcohol was totally masked in the flavor which was surprised me. For an b% ABV beer, this went down nice and easy. B+

Skull Splitter

Brewery: The Orkney Brewery
Style: Scotch Ale
ABV: 8.5%
Country: Scotland

From the bottle, "Skull Splitter takes its name from Thorfinn Hauskaluif - the 7th Viking Earl of Orkney." The description alone was enough to make my inner kilt tingle with excitement. With a namesake like that, this had better be a great beer. Pour showed the color to be a rich mahogany brown with a crystal clear body. Big off-white foam left plenty of lacing which lingered the entire way down the bottle. Aroma contained dark fruits, brown sugar, and cinnamon spices. A smooth and creamy body lead to a light sweetness from the malts along with noticeable solvent flavors from the alcohol that mingled with spicy notes. Taste was similar to that of a mild whiskey or scotch. Plenty of roasted flavors jump out during the finish along with a pleasing warming sensation and a slightly puckering bitterness. This would be a great sipping beer on a cold night. A-