Hello To All Those Who Imbibe,

This week's new arrivals offer up new names and some big flavors, starting with:

Jolly Pumpkin Madrugada Obscura Stout 750ml  $19.99  8.1% alc.

   Dark brown with reddish brown highlights, there's a dense, brown head with good retention. The nose is roasty and sour. The sourness brings to mind acidulated malt, as it has a very sharp lactic character. Cocoa, roast, burnt sugar and mild fruit character are all present, as is a little coffee. The palate opens super sharp and fruity with plums and cocoa. An intense lactic sourness is present. Burnt sugar and toffee help temper the sourness, along with a nice roasty malt character that's been thinned out by the yeast. The sourness is very sharp and is actually very pleasant. Drying, roasty and fruity sour on the finish, this is solid.

Omer Belgian Blonde Ale  750ml $12.99 8% alc.

  Omer, gold award winner of the World Beer Cup 2010. Looks pale golden, with a good fluffy white head. Decent carbonation, good lacing. Smell is a bit faint, but pleasant of citric hops. Taste is good: malts, citric hops, some spice notes like pepper and clove. This beer has a real bite to it. The alcohol is well hidden, the aftertaste is long lasting bitter sweetness. Drinking a bit more of this, it gains in significance: the spiciness is really great. Nice and demanding experience.

Rogue Brewing Hazelnut Brown  22oz  $6.99  6.2 % alc.

    Pours crystal clear red-brown color with a slightly foamy 2 finger light tan head with good retention that reduces to a thin lacing cap that lasts for the remainder of the glass. Some light lacing on the glass that looks pretty good. Aromas of chocolate, roasted malt, caramel, honey, and hazelnut with some citrus. Fairly strong aromas. Taste of chocolate, roasted malt, hazelnut, and caramel. There is some noticeable bitterness but not much, mostly malt forward, and the flavors and bitterness are well balanced. Finish is fairly dry but there is some toasted and hazelnut flavor that lingers for a short period after the finish. Medium bodied with some fairly high carbonation. Has a bit of a prickly feel to it as you drink. Also has a very smooth and creamy body. Very enjoyable to drink. Overall, this is an excellent brown ale with plenty of flavor and a smooth mouthfeel.

Samichlause Breing Helles 12oz. $6.50  

14% alc.

   Pours crystal clear golden orange, with small fizzy tan head which soon is reduced to almost nothing. Aroma of rich vegetables, stewed carrots, some soy sauce, sweet caramel, a touch of wood, hickory. Very syrupy mouth feel. Flavor is almost like sweet and sour sauce, with a lingering finish that is a bit boozy, like vodka. Overall quite nice and enjoyable. This beer would do very well with ageing, to tone down the heat a little, although the heat is not unbearable.

  Cheer!

- Dan