Brewnited States of America

NEW HAMPSHIRE White Birch Brewing Nyx American Black Ale, 7.0% ABV Ebony and ebony. It's definitely a black, maybe very dark brown ale with kind of a red hue in the head. Smells buttery and sweet, like the darkest of malt flavors Tastes just like it smells, ironically. Doesn't feel as full-bodied as a big stout. Feels more like an ale, which is why it's a black ale, duh. Has a (ned) stark bitter finish. Would go great and balance well with some beef short ribs or bbq.

NEBRASKA Nebraska Brewing Company Barrel Aged Reserve series Hop God Belgian Style IPA Aged in Chardonnay barrels & bottle conditioned 10% ABV Smells like a Belgian sour beer at first, but it tastes crisp and clean--not funky--with a little oak flavor. They call it Hop God because they start with their Hop God Belgian Style IPA and then mature it for six months in French oak Chardonnay barrels. But in this case "Hop God" is a bit of a misnomer This beer was a lot better than I was expecting. One of the best beers I've had in a while.

INDIANA Three Floyds Brewing (Munster, IN) Alpha King Pale Ale Pale ale? More like an IPA, Dogfish-style. Like a creamy, well-hopped IPA. Caramely malt flavor with a clean finish.

Very drinkable, despite sourness and high alcohol. Clean finish.

SOUTH CAROLINA Palmetto Pale Ale Very hoppy aroma Great bitter taste with just the right amount of hops Clean finish, doesn't stick around too long

Works well in a (barley)wine glass.

IDAHO Dogfather Imperial Stout Overwhelming chocolate cocoa aroma Thick, velvety chocolatey and cocoa-y stout. Delicious. Don't want to eat a dark chocolate bar? Drink this instead. Pairs well with the Doggfather album.

NEW YORK Brewery Omnegang Valar Morghulis Dubbel Ale , 8% ABV Funky black tart cherry aroma Dark color, with lots of floaties Full bodied taste with black currant, licorice, a bit of a bite and a lingering black cherry aftertaste.

WASHINGTON (the state) Elysian Brewing Space Dust IPA (Part of their Manic IPA Series) Glassy amber complexion, neither clear not opaque.Strong citrus aroma (lemons, oranges). Maybe from the dry-hopping with Citra hops? Not extremely bitter... Doesn't hit you in the back of the throat like some big IPAs. Finishes clean Very drinkable for a 7.2% ABV IPA.

  This beer’s made only once a year, when the hops are harvested. Well worth the wait.

This beer begs for a plate of spaghetti and meatballs to go with it.

MASSACHUSETTS Slumbrew Fundraiser IPA (Double IPA) 7.5% ABV, 80 IBU Smells a bit lemony Good balance, almost sweet nutty IPA Not too intense Drinkable, but not easy drinking Full bodied but not filling Cloudy, not overly hopped

MAINE Shipyard Brewing Co Smashed Pumpkin Tastes like the part of a pumpkin pie closest to the crust, when it's been burnt a bit. Delicious, full bodied but looks filtered & not extremely thick. Great balance with a burnt oak finish.

CONNECTICUT New England Brewing Co Sea Hag IPA Smooth golden IPA Tastes like it's made to be drunk during a Connecticut summer (so, spring everywhere else?).

UTAH Uinta Brewery Detour Double IPA Unavoidably strong smell of hops as it was being poured into a glass. Cloudy amber color, looks unfiltered. Smooth, oak flavored IPA, almost nutty. Avoid if you're allergic to nuts (just in case). The hops in this one are like Goldilocks' porridge--not too much, not too little--just right. The bottle says "brewed with renewable power - wind and solar." Yay for green energy.

OREGON Oakshire Brewery (Eugene, OR) Reserve Limited Release 7th Anniversary Ale Pours a dark brown with a huge airy head. Tastes much sweeter than any porter I've ever had. Makes sense because it's matured on tart cherries. It's aged in bourbon barrels, but every sip is not as filling as a Thanksgiving dinner, unlike most bourbon barrel aged beers. The tartness and acidity of the cherries sticks around for a while after you take a drink. Doesn't really pair well with spicy tacos. Would pair well with those red cherry sour balls. 4.5 (out of 5) stars for originality 2 stars for drinkability

VIRGINIA Hardywood Hoplar 
Imperial IPA, 8.5% ABV, 100 IBU.
Conditioned in “tree-cycled” tulip poplar wood. Medium head. Dark amber in color. Tastes creamy like a Dogfish Head 90min IPA.