Ben & Jerry's Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale by New Belgium

Picked up a New Belgium Folly 12 Pack today, and included in it was this oddball: Ben & Jerry's Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale. Pretty interesting, even though I usually am not impressed by the novelty beers. It's, as advertised, a partnership between two Colorado favorites: Ben & Jerry's, the progressive ice cream dudes, and New Belgium, the beer giants of the Rocky Mountains. I expected something a lot more obviously like a dish of ice cream, and I'm sure that a scoop of ice cream in a mug of this ale would be great, but it comes across as simply a well-crafted brew. It poured a chocolatey brown with a two-finger tan head. Aromas of chocolate and (as expected) and a strong chocoalte taste with a less-obvious hints of caramel. I'm not detecting any of the saltiness however. Overall, a strong contender, but ultimately just a novelty act.

Leinenkugel's Spiced Pear Shandy

Kind of like their pumpkin spice shandy; but with pears instead of pumpkins! There's some nutmeg and cinnamon and maybe a hint of apple too. I'm sorry that I'm not too loquacious with these shandy offerings...there is just not too much there...should be okay too drink while cooking tomorrow.

Leinenkugel's Cocoa Berry Shandy

Bam! Cocoa! Bam! Raspberry! Bam! Wheat! Bam! Bam!

Start off with a perfectly serviceable dunkelweiss (dark ale) add cocoa nibs and rasberry flavoring and this is what you get. Kind of taste like those chocolate candies filled with rasberry that you get a Christmas. Not very complex, but tasty nonetheless.

Boulevard's Imperial Stout Aged in Whiskey Barrels

Last one in the Great Eight box (excepting Tank 7, which I've had before). Did I ever mention that I really like stouts, especially in the colder seasons of the year? And if you're going to brew a stout, why not go all out, making it an imperial at 11.0% ABV and aging it in whiskey barrels? The stout pours a nearly impenetrable black, with an almost imperceptible tan head. You can really taste the whiskey here, augmented by the alcohol heat - this must be the first batch brewed with these particular barrels (the taste that the barrels impart gets weaker each time it's used). The taste is quite strong, redolent of milk chocolate and espresso. Hints of vanilla, figs, and black cherries. We may have our Joyce Family Christmas beer!

Boulevard's Tell-Tale Tart

The next offering from the Great Eight variety pack. I've gotten to be quite a fan of the sour beers lately. Goose Island has had a few on the market for several years, but they seem to be the new fad. Tell-Tale Tart pours a coppery red, with a small finger and a half head. The tartness is not overwhelming, and would be a nice introductory ale for the neophyte. In addition to the sour tartness, there is some cherry notes, with perhaps some strawberry as well. As it attains room temperature there is a suggestion of sour apple as well. Honestly, I've had better sours, but this one could be a great "gateway" tart ale.

Boulevard's The Calling IPA

The first (or rather second, because I've already had Tank 7) from the Great Eight 8-pack from Boulevard. The Calling is an 8.5% ABV India Pale Ale. It poured a golden hue with a three-finger pure white head. It has a slightly oily consistency and is heavy on pineapple and mango hoppiness, with some breadiness as it warms up. Pine hoppiness also starts to show up as the temperature rises. Pretty decent IPA.

Boulevard's Great Eight

I picked up this eight-pack at a grocery store that I'll likely never shop at again...I thought it was going to be eight different beers (I should read the label more carefully) but it's two each of four different beers, one of which I have tried many times before. Reviews to come