Special delivery from Uncle Crappy over the summer, I finally got around to crackin this one open. 2 of my favorite things, Dogfish Head and an IPA. Hopefully I don’t get sea sick.

**I hosted a beer tasting last night at Bocktown Beer & Grill and didn’t get home till way late. If you came out, thanks! If not, chug a Bud as your penance you heathen!**

Dogfish Head Squall
brewery: Dogfish Head – dogfish.com
beer website: http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/occassional-rarities/squall-ipa.htm
style: Imperial IPA
abv: 9.0%
serving size: 750ml
glass used: snifter
price: $11.99

Overview
I could tell you about it but instead I’ll leave it to head pimp of Dogfish Head, Sam Calagioni

Click here to view the embedded video.

What I think
This starts out with an unusual aroma to it. It smells stale. The pour was epic so I was thinking that maybe my smeller was on the fritz. Took a step back and savored the moment because honestly it was beer porn. LOOK at that picture!  It’s heaven… but unfortunately the taste wasn’t. At first was in love with the hop punch to my face but by the time I was done with the first glass it went from “wooohooo!” to “zzzzzzzzzzzzzz!”. That’s right. Boring as all hell. The beer turned bland and I was disappointed. I’d tell you the flavors and all my usual jazz but there was none of that. It ranks up with Killer Penguin boring.

I talked to a few friends about their bottles and the overall opinion was that I may have had a bad one. I know I’m not going to like everything from a brewery but this one felt from the get-go that something was off.  Since this is such a rare beverage to get in SWPA does anyone wanna send me some to revisit

Spoon’s rating: C -

Sickpuppy and myself made a trip to Bocktown in the Robinson/North Fayette area of Pittsburgh for a Monday afternoon delight. OK that just sounded bad. We are actually going to be part of the Beer Dependence Day event on July 3rd and wanted to go scope out the area and see what we will be doing. The trip quickly turned from business to OMFG look at this sweet beer selection! MANY beers we have been unable to get were all in one place.

Southern Tier Oak Aged Unearthly IPA
brewery: Southern Tier – southerntierbrewing.com
style: Imperial IPA
abv: 11%
serving size: 22oz
glass used: snifter
price: $15

Overview
At the Southern Tier Brewing Company, vigorously hopped beer is our standard and inspiration. We continue a commitment to innovation with an aggressive offering. Oak Aged Unearthly is a manifestation of the brewer’s craft; skillfully balancing art and the forces of nature to produce a divine liquid. Delicately pour a taste of this oak aged brew into a fluted glass. Smell the enchanting aromas of the hops waft forward as your first sip divulges this beer’s fervent soul. To underestimate Oak Aged Unearthly is to trifle with the mysteries of the universe, so please consume wisely. Consider it an immoral act to blacken an ale. We suggest they don’t rely on conventional standards. Allow the darkness to consume you. Cheers!

What I think
My eyes bugged out of my head when I saw this available. Not just a couple bottles but CASES. I haven’t been able to find this in stock anywhere else in Pittsburgh. I put my personal excitement aside since that has brought me to failure before. I admit that I think the original Unearthly is OK but I’ve had better IPAs. The bartender Kris poured the beverages for us and I had to compliment her skills as she managed to get the perfect head in a snifter. Right away from the aroma and first taste this reminded me of the mind blowing experience of the first time I had Southern Tier’s Gemini. Citrus and balanced hops with a smooth finish.

The hops were not as overpowering as I was expecting but this was a treat in oak aged goodness. I did get a hint from the oak aged but the smoothness just amazed me. To me I was damn close to reaching beervana again.

Buy this beer. Age this beer. Whatever you have to do, get some.

Spoon’s rating: A+

Either you love it or hate it when Dogfish Head experiments with flavors. Me, I love it. Correction, I luuuuuurve it. They won’t release a beer for the sake of saying they brewed something new if it didn’t pass a rigorous tasting first. My palate rests in their brewing.

Dogfish Head Burton Baton
brewery: Dogfish Head – dogfish.com
beer webpage: http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/occassional-rarities/burton-baton.htm
style: Imperial IPA
abv: 10%
serving size: 22oz
glass used: snifter
price: $5

Overview
A blend of oak-aged English strong ale and our 90 Minute I.P.A.. Citrus notes from Northwestern hops meld with vanilla notes from the oak.

What I think
I was blessed with a perfect night to cook on the grill some dead cows so it was only fitting I hit my collection of IPA’s. I’ve eyed up this bottle for awhile and finally bit the bullet when I was at the store last week. The pour could only be best described as beer porn. Creamy 2 finger head and crisp amber body glistening in the sun. The aroma was mild floral and faint citrus. The taste was… OK here I was worried because many Imperial IPA’s I’ve had lately would punch me in the palate with strong alcohol flavor. For a 10% ABV beer it was extremely balanced. I picked up mediocre maltiness which was a huge plus because it didn’t overpower the hops nor succumb to high alcohol. The finish was smooth and malty. Savor this one, don’t slam it.

If you’re a fan of the Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA there is a 99.9% chance you’ll love this. If you don’t like the 90, shut up and drink it anyways

Spoon’s rating: A-

This is a 50/50 blend of unfiltered Hoppe and Unearthly Imperial IPA. Grab on to something tight and hold on.

Southern Tier Imperial Gemini Blended Unfiltered Ale
brewery: Southern Tier - southerntierbrewing.com
style: Imperial Ale
abv: 10.5%
serving size: 22oz
glass used: sniffer
price: $12.00

Overview
High in the winter sky, two parallel stick figures are visible & known as “the twins,” or the constellation Gemini. The astronauts of the 1960s flew as teams of two in a program named after the celestial pairing. At Southern Tier, we have our own fraternal twins, Hoppe & Unearthly. Blended together & placed in this vessel, the mission of our Gemini is to travel high & take passengers on a journey far into the heavens.

What I think
This was one of those moments where I went to the bomber cooler and said “oh! shiny label! BUY! BUY! BUY!” and I’m thankful I did. Since I do live in Pittsburgh and it is football season I will dub this the  Immaculate Consumption.

As soon as I popped off the cap I could detect the hops fighting to get into my glass. The pour was close to heaven as it finished with a heavenly body and an unblemished head. Aroma was all hops which means to me good times ahead. I was anticipating a firm body and fell in love with a malty flavor dressed in hoppy goodness. The finish was the taste I wish to have as I meet St. Peter at the pearly brewery gates. Friends, I reached beer nirvana.

The flavor, aroma and overall experience has made this a crowning point of my beer tasting career. I’m not kidding when I say, for the flavor profile I have, this is the best beer I have ever tasted and I hope the next one is just as good.

Spoon’s rating: A+