Appearance – Pours a very clear copper/amber color with a big foamy white head.  It leaves some lacing on the glass.

Smell – Very surprising nose.  I am getting floral hops with a citrus like zest to it.  Some malts and a little boozy.

Taste – Pretty hoppy for a bock.  More of the malts and spices.  There is a slight metallic taste I was getting in the back.  Then it finishes with an alcohol bite to it.

The next in the collaboration brews to celebrate Sierra Nevada’s 30th Anniversary is a Helles Bock done with home brewer extraordinaires Fred Eckhart and Charlie Papazian.  This is a pretty impressive bock.  There is a lot going and a pretty big hop presence to boot.  This series is just a great idea and I’m glad Sierra Nevada are doing them.  Cheers to you SN!

Overall Grade – B

Appearance – Pours a crystal clear light orange color with an almost finger wide white head that disappears very quickly.

Smell – The nose is very faint.  Some malts with a bit of earthy hops.

Taste – Sweet, bready malts pretty much through out and a hint of hops in there.  Very crisp finish.

It’s great seeing Sierra Nevada doing new things.  I know some geeks felt they just got so comfortable with what they had we weren’t going to see new things from them.  But they are definitely doing a good job with the new things.  Nothing crazy here on Glissade but it is a very nice and refreshing bock.  This could be a summer seasonal as well as a spring one.

Overall Grade – B

Appearance – Pours an orangish amber color with a big white head that leaves some lacing.

Smell – Sweet and malty smell with some underlying hop presence.

Taste – Sweet malts upfront followed by a very unique hop taste.  I can’t really put a finger on what exactly it tastes like but it is definitely different from most beers.

Dead Guy Ale has been a favorite of mine for quite some time but I just never got around to reviewing it.  After having some left over from a visit to a friend’s house I figured what better time than now to do a review.  This was probably one of my first few beers I tried when getting into craft beer.  I loved the name as I am a fan of the former hardcore band Deadguy and just had to try it.  A very different beer from the rest and that is a good thing here.  The smell and taste are unlike any others I have tried and that makes it stand out.  Love it.

Overall Grade – A