Week 8: Like a Kid in a Candy Store

1. Weyerbacher Fireside Ale

2. Manayunk Brewing Co. Yunker's Nocturnum

3. Founders Breakfast Stout

4. Russian River Pliney the Elder

5. Sly Fox Phoenix Pale Ale

6. Rogue Mogul Madness

7. Stone Arrogant Bastard

8. Earth, Bread and Brewery St. Arthur Stout

9. Pretty Things St. Botolphs Town

10. Duck-Rabbit Brown Ale

Where do I start? Since there really is no way to tell you what I enjoyed most this week, here are a couple words about each.

The Weyerbacher was downright fantastic. Smokey and malty, dark and sweet and very smooth throughout, this Dark Ale was perfect for a cold night. I believe that the Yunker's Nocturnum is done for the season. She was a Strong Belgian, definitely a bit fruity with some added spice.

OK, OK...Founders Breakfast Stout is a Double Chocolate Coffee Oatmeal Stout. This is just flat out decadent. For a treat for the nose and palate, enjoy this in a snifter so that you can take in all the balanced abundance. I bought this in a four pack so that I can enjoy a few more before warmer weather starts to surface here.

Those three would have made a great week by themselves, BUT I just happened to pop into the Kyber and see that Pliney The Elder was on tap. Just three times this winter did I happen to come across what I feel is the best Imperial IPA. A woody aroma where the hops jump out at you. The grapefruit taste lingered on my palate while that piney taste resurfaced again and again. Amazingly well-balanced for any IPA lover.

The Sly Fox Pale Ale is a perfect Pale Ale from our canning friends from Royersford, PA. I would like to talk a bit more about the Rogue and Stone Ales from this week, but you already know how truly great these breweries are.

The last three brews on this list all tried to top each other. Earth, Bread and Brewery makes damn fine beers. St. Arthur was a chocolaty dry stout, light on the cocoa but big on taste. Pretty Things Brown Ale was just plain nutty. Probably more complex than I was able to notice -- there were hints of brown sugar, mild on the hops -- but something to reach for when you see it. That is my way of telling you to seek it out. Lastly, is the great dark beer brewers from Duck-Rabbit. A ruby dark ale, sweet and citrusy for a brown ale, I wasn't sure if she was loaded with fruit or caramel.

I truly felt like a kid in a candy store this week.

Cheers for now.