ALE

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I love beer, specifically the creativity of the brewing process, distilling everything down to the most minute of details, from hopping, to sanitizing, to bottling. The overall taste of beer is very region-specific (access to certain hops, water source, etc.). It’s an ever-changing craft of experimentation and creativity.

For a few years now, I’ve been cleaning and collecting the bottles of craft beer of which I’ve drank from. Below is my updatable and evolving list of brews (of bottles I’ve collected – no doubles):

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Greenbush Brewing Co. (Sawyer, MI)

1. Trucker Tussle – Imperial IPA w/Sour Candies – 8.8% – 147 IBU – rarely brewed…super tart / super hoppy…not allowed to tell what specific candies are used…2nd hoppiest beer brewed by GB…tastes like nothing you’ve ever experienced…all-time fave
2. Starchicken Shotgun – IPA – 6.8% – 80 IBU – GB’s best-seller…west coast in style…never a bad time for some chicken…ol’ reliable…monotony be damned
3. Broken Promises – Wheat IPA – 7.9% – 73 IBU – not a huge fan of purebred wheat brews but wheat IPAs are bomb…zythos hops are rare/unmistakable…piney/tangy notes…unbelievable beer
4. Mr. Hyde – Ale w/Infusco Coffee – 7.8% – might be biased due to my affiliation with Infusco…a hopped/caffeinated consciousness…one of the few brews that can morally be consumed in the pre-Noon hours (“Dude, are you an alcoholic?” “What? This is coffee.”)…the dark-roasted Indonesian Sumatra beans are bursting with flavor…half-coffee / half-beer
5. Remnant of Dragon – Imperial Red IPA – 9% – 100 IBU – Frankie Quinn in the Annex poured and sold me this as my first legal beer in November 2015…holds a special place in my heart…the dragon’s eye on the label reminds me of Smaug the Dragon from The Hobbit…definitely a rich/ballsy IPA…pretty much tastes like the blood of a dragon
6. Doomslayer – Ale w/Maple Sap – 8.5% – 37 IBU – dark and sweet…released in Spring…the Doom (winter) is slayed…you just gotta try it
7. Ursus – Old Winter Ale – 8.5% – 37 IBU – an old winter ale for old winter nights…this will zonk you out for the night…prepare to feel like a bear on the cusp of hibernation
8. Distorter – Stout-ish Porter – 7.2% – 50 IBU – nutty/roasty tasting porter (w/a touch of stout)…in terms of classification, it’s pretty much in a category of its own
9. Brother Benjamin – Imperial IPA w/Honey – 10.1% – 114 IBU – “Definitely not a porch-pounder.” – owner, Scott Sullivan…the Panos Farm’s honey is ever-present…don’t drink too many of these
10. Anger – Black IPA – 7.6% – 85 IBU – classic / year-round brew…roasty/toasty tasting IPA…heavy mouthfeel with a sweet finish
11. Apathy – Oatmeal Stout – 6.7% – 46 IBU – pairs good with breakfast…tastes like a mix of coffee, brown sugar, and a stout…earthy hops…slight hints of vanilla
12. Hee Bee GB – Orange and Honey Pale Ale – 6% – 44 IBU – soft mouthfeel, sweet tasting honey from Florida
13. Pain – Imperial Milk Stout – 11.2% – 78 IBU – creamy, bold, heavy, dark, super sweet…dangerous/unnoticeable alcohol accumulation…best milk stout on Earth
14. 400 Divine Rabbits – Ale w/Agave Nectar – 6.3% – 15 IBU – if I had to choose a beer to consume via my bottles on a long bike ride, this would be it
15. Dunegräs – IPA – 6.7% – 67 IBU – previous title owner of GB’s best-seller…classic IPA
16. Underwater Space Gator – Pale Ale – 6.1% – 42 IBU – slightly fruity, bitter with a mild/sweet finish…good stuff
17. Yogi Borealis – Pale Ale – 6.1% – 68 IBU – almost has a spiced flavor with the obvious orange/lemon zest…tasty beer
18. Demeter (Glacier) – Fresh Hop Pale Ale – 6.8% – 70 IBU – fresh glacier hops from Hop Head Farms…smooth and full of marmalade/orange flavor…released around September when the fresh hops are primed
19. Demeter (Cascade) – Fresh Hop Pale Ale – 6.8% – 70 IBU – fresh cascade hops from Hop Head Farms…smooth and full of citrus/earthy flavor…released around September when the fresh hops are primed
20. Demeter (Chinook) – Fresh Hop Pale Ale – 6.8% – 70 IBU – fresh chinook hops from Hop Head Farms…smooth and full of pine/spiced flavor…released around September when the fresh hops are primed
21. Racecar Love – Nut Brown Ale – 6.3% – nutty/chocolatey brown ale with hints of caramel…GB doesn’t brew many brown ales but this is off the charts
22. Dystopia – Russian Imperial Stout – 9% – 62 IBU – the alcohol is hidden well…roasty/malty/molasses-like brew
23. Orange Hyde – Coffee Cream Stout w/Orange Zest – 7.8% – sounds like dessert because it pretty much is…ton of flavor
24. Seven Years of Good Luck and Bad Timing – IPA – 7.7% – 77 IBU
25. Indispensable – IPA – 8.2% – 84 IBU – citrus/spiced flavor…just an odd IPA…but I like it
26. Vanderbush – American Tripel Ale w/Vandermill Apple Cider – 10.2% – 38 IBU – for those who like fall, apple cider, and beer…bottoms up
27. Juicebox Hero – Citrus Ale – 6.2% – 36 IBU – similar taste to Yogi Borealis…orange zest
28. 1825 – Belgian-Style Golden Ale – 9.3% – not a huge fan of Belgian brews but 1825 is very very good…GB’s first beer and original recipe of Scott, the owner…year-round
29. Mammoth – Winter Weizenbock – 8.3% – 28 IBU – released simultaneously with Ursus, signaling the heart of winter…great German beer…heavy yet drinkable
30. Axiom – Belgian Tripel Ale w/Orange Zest and Coriander – 8.9% – stronger and sweeter than a normal Belgian…tasty
31. Closure – Pale Ale – 6.4% – 40 IBU – as general as a GB ale can get…doesn’t mean it’s not tasty
32. Unicorn Killer – Ale w/Pumpkin & Spices – 7.3 % – 42 IBU – on tap all Fall at GB
33. (Barrel-Aged) There Are Owls in the Roadhouse – Porter w/Raspberries – 9.3% – seriously like dessert…my fave barrel-aged brew
34. (Barrel-Aged) Doomslayer – Ale w/Maple Sap – 9% – 37 IBU – Doomslayer (above) aged in whiskey barrels
35. Cassius – (Barrel-Aged) IPA – 8.7% – 84 IBU – a unique combo that is a barrel-aged IPA
36. Retribution – Belgian Ale – 8.3% – 28 IBU – lighter version of 1825
37. Cabra Perdida – Blueberry Imperial Cream Stout – 11.2% – blueberry dessert
38. Sunspot – Hefeweizen – 6% – 15 IBU – “a hot way to cool down” in the summer
39. Sotto Voce – Ale w/Orange Juice & Spices – 6.3% – 17 IBU –
40. One and the Same – Ale w/Raspberries – 6.5% – 16 IBU – fruit beer…nice to mix it up in the summer
41. Monopolipa – IPA w/Raspberries – 8.5% – 65 IBU – a hoppy fruit beer…super tart and tangy…tasty but not what I prefer
42. Jadis – Winter White Ale w/Spices – 6.1% – 20 IBU – spiced, light brew…good in the winter daylight hours
43. (Barrel-Aged) Vanderbush – American Tripel Ale w/Vandermill Apple Cider – 10.7% – 38 IBU – Vanderbush (above) aged in whiskey barrels
44. (Barrel-Aged) One and the Same – Ale w/Raspberries – 7% – 16 IBU – One and the Same (above) aged in whiskey barrels
45. Krampus III – Winter Ale – 12% – 80 IBU – a notch better than its predecessor
46. Krampus II – Winter Ale – 12% – 90 IBU – not sure how to describe this one
47. (Barrel-Aged) A Sheep in Tall Grass – Scotch Ale – 11.2% – 56 IBU – tastes like an enhanced Founder’s Dirty Bastard…aged in whiskey barrels
48. Traktor – Golden Cream Ale – 6.1% – 28 IBU – as domestic as one can get at GB
49. Red Bud – Wheat Ale – 6.1% – 28 IBU – super similar to Traktor
50. Atomic Tauntaun Overdrive (ATO) – Ale w/Strawberries and Habeñero Peppers – 7.7% – 20 IBU – exactly what it sounds like
51. PhD – Ale w/Frosted Flakes – 8.8% – 16 IBU – interesting beer…can definitely taste the frosted flakes
52. Delusion – Imperial Cream Stout aged in Templeton Rye Whiskey Barrels – 11.7% – not a huge fan of whiskey
53. Rage – Imperial Black IPA – 14.6% – 156 IBU – the heaviest GB beer…also, highest IBU profile…more alcohol-like than beer-like…a snifter of this and you may need an Uber

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New Belgium Brewing Co. (Fort Collins, CO)

1. Cellar Blender – Sour Ale – 7.5%
2. Ranger – IPA – 6.5% – 70 IBU
3. VooDoo Ranger – Imperial IPA – 9% – 85 IBU
4. VooDoo Ranger – IPA – 7% – 50 IBU
5. Rampant – Imperial IPA – 8.5% – 85 IBU
6. Hoptober – Golden Ale – 6% – 40 IBU
7. RyePA – Rye IPA – 7.5% – 75 IBU
8. Snow Day – Black IPA – 6.2% – 55 IBU
9. Citradelic – Tangerine IPA – 6% – 50 IBU
10. VooDoo Ranger – 8 Hop Pale Ale – 5.5% – 35 IBU
11. 1554 – Black Lager – 5.6% – 21 IBU
12. Ben & Jerry’s – Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale – 6.3% – 14 IBU
13. Belgo – Belgian IPA – 7% – 60 IBU
14. Fat Tire – Amber Ale – 5.2% – 22 IBU
15. Snapshot – Wheat Ale – 5% – 13 IBU
16. Trippel – Tripel – 8.5% – 43 IBU

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Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (Chico, CA)

1. Flipside – Red IPA – 6.2% – 60 IBU
2. Hop Hunter – IPA – 6.2% – 60 IBU – farm distilled hop oil
3. Ruthless Rye IPA – Rye IPA – 6.6% – 55 IBU
4. Torpedo – Extra IPA – 7.2% – 65 IBU
5. Know Good IPA – IPA – 6.2% – 62 IBU
6. Coffee Stout – Coffee Stout – 6.2% – 53 IBU
7. Black IPA – Black IPA – 6.9%
8. Tumbler – Brown Ale – 5.5% – 37 IBU
9. Tropical Torpedo – Tropical IPA – 6.7% – 55 IBU
10. Five Hop Experimental IPA – IPA – 5.8% – 60 IBU
11. Peach IPA – IPA – 5.8%
12. Single Hop – Cascade IPA – 6.3% – 45 IBU
13. Beer Camp Golden IPA – IPA – 6.5% – 50 IBU
14. Pale Ale – APA – 5.6% – 38 IBU
15. Vienna – Vienna Lager – 5.3% – 28 IBU
16. Snow Wit – Belgian IPA – 5.7% – 40 IBU
17. German Style IPA – Hopfen Ale – 6.1% – 45 IBU
18. 11.5° Plato – Session IPA – 4.5% – 35 IBU
19. Summerfest – Pilsner – 5% – 28 IBU

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Three Floyds Brewing Co. (Munster, IN)

1. Alpha King – APA – 6.5% – 66 IBU
2. Zombie Dust – APA – 6.2% – 50 IBU – my first (non-legal) craft beer
3. Space Station Middle Finger – APA – 6% – 50 IBU
4. Yum Yum – APA – 5.5% – 55 IBU
5. Gumballhead – Wheat Ale – 5.5% – 28 IBU

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Bell’s Brewery (Kalamazoo, MI)

1. Two Hearted Ale – IPA – 7% – 55 IBU – one of my all-time fave brews…most frequently consumed craft beer in the nation (via Untappd)…can even find this in a small gas station in rural Vermont
2. Best Brown Ale – Brown Ale – 5.8% – 35 IBU
3. Oberon – Wheat Ale – 5.8% – 10 IBU

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Burn ‘Em Brewing (Michigan City, IN)

1. Brindle Brown Ale – Brown Ale – 6.7% – 61 IBU
2. Longjohns On – Winter Ale – 9.3%

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Lake Placid Pub & Brewery (Lake Placid, NY)

1. Big Slide – IPA – 7% – 70 IBU
2. Around the Bend – APA – 5.4% – 40 IBU

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Samuel Adams (Boston, MA)

1. Hoppy Red – Red Ale – 5.7% – 44 IBU
2. Hopflake – White IPA – 6% – 55 IBU
3. Rebel Rider (West Coast) – IPA – 6.5% – 45 IBU
4. Harvest Pumpkin Ale – Pumpkin Ale – 5.7%
5. Holiday Porter – Porter – 5.9% – 40 IBU
6. Rebel Rider (Session) – IPA – 4.5% – 45 IBU
7. Octoberfest – Märzen – 5.3% – 16 IBU
8. Old Fezziwig Ale – Winter Ale – 5.9% – 25 IBU
9. Winter Lager – Lager – 5.6% – 22 IBU
10. Boston Lager – Lager – 5% – 30 IBU
11. Cold Snap – Witbier – 5.3% – 10 IBU
12. Pumpkin Batch – Pumpkin Ale – 5.6% – 26 IBU

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Lakefront Brewery (Milwaukee, WI)

1. Fixed Gear – Red Ale – 6.8% – 33 IBU
2. Fuel Café – Organic Coffee Stout – 6.4% – 17 IBU
3. IPA – IPA – 6.9% – 38 IBU
4. Growing Power – Organic Farmhouse Pale Ale – 6.7% – 35 IBU
5. Organic White – Witbier – 4.6% – 13 IBU
6. Riverwest Stein Beer – Lager – 5.6% – 15 IBU

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Goose Island Brewery (Chicago, IL)

1. Goose Autumn Ale – Red Ale – 6.7% – 65 IBU
2. Green Line Pale Ale – Pale Ale – 5.4% – 30 IBU
3. 312 Urban Wheat Ale – Wheat Ale – 4.2% – 18 IBU
4. Goose Winter Ale -Brown Ale – 5.3% – 25 IBU

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Ballast Point Brewing Company (San Diego, CA)

1. Grapefruit Sculptin’ – IPA – 7% – 70 IBU

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Round Barn Brewery (Baroda, MI)

1. Hop Dealer – IPA – 6% – 75 IBU
2. Wood Oaked IPA – IPA – 6.8% – 42 IBU

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Tapistry Brewing Company (Bridgman, MI)

1. Mi. Stout – Imperial Stout – 8.1%

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Great Lakes Brewing Company (Cleveland, OH)

1. Hop By Numbers – IPA – 7.2% – 80 IBU
2. Commodore Perry – IPA – 7.5% – 70 IBU
3. Burning River – Pale Ale – 6% – 45 IBU
4. Edmund Fitzgerald – Porter – 5.8% – 37 IBU
5. Conway’s Irish Ale – Red Ale – 6.5% – 25 IBU

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New Holland Brewing Company (Holland, MI)

1. Ichabod (2015) – Pumpkin Ale – 5.2%
2. Zoomer Wit – Pale Wheat Ale – 4.7%

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Upland Brewing Company (Bloomington, IN)

1. Dragonfly – IPA – 6.7% – 65 IBU
2. Helios Pale Ale – Pale Ale – 4.9% – 44 IBU
3. Bad Elmer’s Porter – Porter – 5% – 20 IBU
4. Easy Chair – Red Ale – 5.3% – 22 IBU
5. Wheat Ale – Witbier – 4.7% – 15 IBU
6. Champagne Velvet – Pilsner – 5.5% – 29 IBU

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Ale Asylum (Madison, WI)

1. Hopalicious – Pale Ale – 5.7%

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Breckenridge Brewery (Littleton, CO)

1. Oatmeal Stout – Stout – 5% – 36 IBU

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Saugatuck Brewing Company (Douglas, MI)

1. Neopolitan – Milk Stout – 6% – 37 IBU

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Marz Community Brewing Company (Chicago, IL)

1. Boogie Nights – Pale Wheat Ale w/Tea – 7% – 70 IBU
2. (Barrel-Aged) Corrupt – Polish Imperial Stout w/Dark Matter Coffee – 11.5%
3. Refuge of the Damned – Imperial German Alt – 6.5% – 45 IBU

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Mikkeller (Copenhagen, Denmark)

1. Breakfast – Imperial Oatmeal Stout – 7.5%

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Dogfish Head Brewery (Milton, DE)

1. Indian Brown – Brown Ale – 7.2% – 50 IBU

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Uinta Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, UT)

1. Hop Nosh – IPA – 7.3% – 82 IBU

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Moody Tongue Brewing Company (Chicago, IL)

1. Caramelized Chocolate Churro Baltic Porter – Porter – 7%

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Stone Brewing Co. (San Diego, CA)

1. Mocha IPA – Imperial IPA – 9% – 80 IBU

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Tribute Brewing Co. (Eagle River, WI)

1. Buckskinner Bock – Bock – 6.8%

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Geneva Lake Brewing Co. (Lake Geneva, WI)

1. Implosion – Double IPA w/Honey – 9.3% – 85 IBU

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Short’s Brewing Company (Bellaire, MI)

1. Huma Lupa Licious – IPA – 7.7% – 96 IBU

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Lone Pint Brewery (Magnolia, TX)

1. Yellow Rose – IPA – 6.8% – 62 IBU

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New Glarus Brewing Company (New Glarus, WI)

1. Moon Man – Pale Ale – 5%

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Off Color Brewing (Chicago, IL)

1. Troublesome – Wheat Beer w/Coriander – 4.3% – 10 IBU

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Pearl Street Brewery (LaCrosse, WI)

1. Linalool – IPA – 6.8% – 60 IBU

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*Note: The beers listed within each brewery are in order of favoritism. However, the breweries, themselves, are in no particular order.