Grand Rapids, Michigan - Imperial Stout - 8.3% ABV - This delicious stout poured a pitch black with a frothy brown head. Sweet aromas of chocolate, coffee, dark fruits, hops, and hints of oats compose the nose. The mouth features flavors of espresso, roasted caramel malts, chocolate covered raisins, with hints of oatmeal. The Breakfast Stout has a medium-plus feel with a smooth, velvety finish. After having this, it became one of my favorite Imperial Stouts. 4.8/5

Petaluma, California - IPA - 6.2% ABV - This classic IPA poured a clear copper color with a fluffy white head. Fresh aromas of citrus, lemon peel, sweet malts, and hints of spice compose the nose. The mouth features a nice floral and fruity front with a finish that brings a citrus bitterness, bready malts, and a blast of hops. This brew has a medium bodied feel with a smooth, crisp backbone. This IPA is responsible for getting me into craft beer. Cheers! 3.9/5

Salt Lake City, Utah - IPA - 7.3% ABV - This ale poured a golden orange color with a thick white head. Aromas of earthy pine resin, grapefruit, lemon peel, and grass notes compose the nose. The mouth features balanced flavors of grapefruit, resinous pine, and sweet malts, while having a smooth crisp finish. I've always been a fan of Uinta's Hop Notch - it's better than bacon, cheers! 4.4/5

Kalamazoo, Michigan - IPA - 7.0% ABV - This enticing ale poured a hazy, amber gold color with a frothy white head. There's a huge bouquet of citrus, floral notes, sweet malts, and hop aromas on the nose. The mouth features decadent flavors of bubblegum, apricots, grapefruit, and pine, while having a medium bodied feel with a crisp and balanced finish. The Two Hearted Ale certainly took my heart and I by surprise, cheers! 4.7/5

Salt Lake City, Utah - Imperial Stout - 10.2% ABV - This beaut poured a thick black color with a small brown head. Aromas of roasted malts, big coffee notes, which I absolutely loved, as well as a woody characteristic with hints of smoked bourbon composed the nose. The taste was a blast of dark roasted coffee, with undertones of char, sweet malts, and bourbon. This Big Bad Baptist had a velvet like mouth feel, which left a long finish in the mouth. I was taken by surprise on this one - it was absolutely amazing. Cheers! 4.8/5

Pliny The Younger, Pliny The Elder, Cuvée de Tomme, and Damnation | Santa Rosa, California - Triple IPA - 11.0% ABV - This highly coveted ale poured a clear, golden-amber color with a small layer off white foam for the head. Aromas of big hops, grapefruit, pine, distinct tropical fruits, as well as hints of alcohol compose those nose. It tastes very similar to Pliny The Elder, but surpassed it's accomplice with a strong hop finish. Other flavors, such as grapefruit, peach, and sweet pine balance out those hops to give it a great balanced taste. The mouth feel is medium, with a beautiful silky finish. The Younger was truly a great experience in which I shared with great friends. This brew lives up to it's hype and also surpasses the Elder, in which I had the opportunity to taste them side-by-side. Cheers! 100/100

Escondido, California - American Strong Ale - 11.2% ABV - This ale poured a dark reddish-brown color with a khaki colored head. Aromas of sweet toasted caramel, burnt toffee, roasted malts, spices, and dark fruits are prevalent on the nose. The mouth features flavors of vanilla, charred oak, toffee, sweet malts, and distinct hops, while having a silky mouthfeel with a long finish. Double Bastard can't get any better than enjoying it out of a three liter growler straight from the brewery, cheers! 4.6/5

Los Angeles, California - Imperial/Double IPA - 8.0% ABV - This ale poured a hazy golden yellow color with a white head. Intense citrus aromas and pine are on the front of the nose, while having strong pineapple and grapefruit notes. This one tastes great - a big mouthful of pineapple and citrus takes precedence over the orange-zest notes. The mouth has a medium-minus mouth feel, with a clean and crisp finish that leaves you looking forward to the next sip. Golden Road did it again. Cheers! 4.4/5