Deschutes Red Chair Northwest Pale Ale

Dark orange in color with a humble off-white head, comes off pretty hoppy for a pale ale, more like an IPA in my opinion. Lots of grapefruit in the mix as well as some pine. If you can get through the hop bite, there's some bready maltiness to Red Chair, and maybe some pepper and a leeeetle bit o'lemon. Pretty good overall, but just one at a time for me.

Runoff Red IPA by Odell's

When I saw this at the beer store I thought it was a new, offering, but alas, it is merely an old beer with a new name. According to some reviews on Beer Advocate, this appears to be a new trend - labelling formerly "Red Ales" as "Red IPA's". Check out the original IGB review from April 2011:

http://ill-gottenbooty.blogspot.com/2011/04/beer-review-odell-red-ale.html

Not much to add to the last review - pretty damn good beer!

Empyrean Beer Quest: Hawaiian Porter

Tried a pint of this today at Lazlo's South - thick & creamy, dark as night, the Hawaiian Porter is a great winter ale. According to the Lazlo's website, there coconut, chocolate, coffee and turbinado sugar. Ratebeer further describes it as having Kona coffee and cacao nibs. I'm going to have to go back and try another, since I didn't catch any of the coconut (thought there was some vanilla though). The coffee, however, was very evident. If you like your stouts and porters with coffee or chocolate added (as opposed to just getting the taste from the malted grain) - and I certainly do - this a beer for you.

KCCO Black Lager

A collaboration between Resignation Brewery and Red Hook, this schwarzbier or black lager, is pretty mild, with the heavy chocolate and coffee notes that you often find in black lagers, largely absent. There is some smokiness to it though, and a slight hint of dark fruit and even some vanilla. A good solid session beer.

Goose Island's Bourbon County Barleywine Ale

A few weeks ago I was enjoying some fine ales & lagers at Yia-Yia's with my two youngest sons and ordered a round of Bourbon County Stout. Alas, they had only two bottles left, which I passed on to the youngsters and enjoyed a Bourbon County Barleywine instead. This wonderfully stimulating brew poured such a deep, dark, mahogany, that it looked black at first, surprising for a barleywine, which tend to be a lot more transparent and usually a lighter hue. As with their stout, there is a distinct taste of the residual bourbon, even though they specifically state that it's third use barrels that they use to age the ale in. The bourbon imparts a velvety smoothness and brings out notes of figs, cranberries, dates and raisins - the dark fruits, and even a little apricot. As it warms up I detect vanilla, coffee, and a bit of chocolate. A very complex beverage.

Founder's Breakfast Stout

My second try with the new kid in town, Founder's Brewery. According to their website it is brewed with flaked oats, imported bitter chocolate and Sumatra & Kona coffee. 60 IBU's give it a nice hop hit and the 8.3% ABV makes it a wee bit dangerous. It poured a tarry black, with a beige 1/2 finger head. Pretty strong aroma of coffee right off the bat, as well as some sweet chocolate. As the brew warms up I can detect a bit of cinnamon and some dark fruits as well. A fine sippin' beer for frigid nights.

Jack Stout by Wild Onion Brewing

An ale as dark as night for the year's longest night, Jack Stout by Wild Onion Brewing is a great example of the style. Somewhat sweet, but not as much so as a milk stout, assertive, but not annoying in the hop department. Low ABV makes it sessionable and great for Christmas parties where you have to drive home afterward! Semi-sweet chocolate and dark roast coffee are flavors that come to the fore, but there's a tiny bit of vanilla and even some dark fruit (raisins, figs, black cherries) on the back end. Wish I'd have bought more than one!