Beer Reviews- Stone, New Belgium, Four Peaks

I've been super busy with the start of the new school year, so blogging and basically all beer related things has taken a back seat. A couple weeks ago I was in Arizona for a quick visit to see my grandma. As one can imagine, beer is hard to come by in Sun City, but lucky for me there was a Trader Joe's not far from her house. Trader Joe's had a nice beer selection, and even better, the ability to by individual bottles. I knew I had to have some Stone Brewing Company, and chose the Leviatation, which I'd had before, but it had been quite awhile. I picked up New Belgium's Triple, something not available among the New Belgium beers here in Minneapolis. Also, I bought a local Scotch Ale from Four Peaks Brewing Company in Tempe. There were a couple others, but nothing worth mentioning, so I'll stick to reviewing these three offerings.

Stone Levitation: Let me start by saying that it's a cruel world that Stone beers are not available in Minnesota. A damn shame actually. Everything I've had of their's is great, Arrogant Bastard is excellent, their Smoked Porter is outstanding, and Levitation is phenomenal. Levitation pours a dark ruby red with an off white head. It has a nice citrusy hop presence in the aroma. A hoppy bitterness is balanced nicely with the malty sweetness in the body. A wonderful smooth drink ability, a great mixture of West Coast hops and maltiness. Just another great beer from Stone.

New Belgium Triple: While we have a few New Belgium beers available in the Twin Cities, this isn't one of them. I'm a huge fan of New Belgium, and a big triple fan, so I was excited about this beer. It pours a nice golden color with a thin white head. A musty-yeasty aroma along with some citrus and spice. A nice subtle orange flavor with some spicy notes and some warming, alcohol presence in the finish. A little less sweet than some triples I've had, instead a little more dry and crisp. Nevertheless a great triple, with a nice flavor and wonderful, soft mouthfeel.


Four Peaks Brewing Kiltlifter:
Four Peaks Brewing Company is a brewery out of Tempe, and apparently this is their flagship. My cousin told me this is a popular beer on tap around town, and I can see why. This is a great Scotch Ale. It pours a redish brown with a thin white head. Wonderful malty sweetness, smooth body with a some nice softness. Typical of the style, there's no hop presence, instead great bready, biscuity flavors with a subtle smokiness and great sweetness. This was an excellent scotch ale.

I'll have some more reviews from some beers I drank this summer coming up. I also am hoping to brew a couple beers in the next couple weeks. I bottled the second go of Irie Stout, in preparation for the National Organic Homebrew Challange. It didn't end up as big as the last time around, not sure what the cause of that was, but it tasted great when I bottled it today.
More to come. Just not sure how soon.
Salud!
Bearded Brewer