Tasty's Double IPA: First, I have to mention that I don't generally drink DIPA's because my palate can't handle more than one at a sitting, and I drank this one warm because I couldn't wait. As soon as I opened the bottle, the complex hop aroma filled the room. It poured foamy because of the temp, and I wasn't careful either. The head lasted a long time before falling enough to pour the rest. First sip was an outright hop assault on my poor, generally sub-40 IBU palate, but that hides the 9% alcohol very well. You don't even realize it's that strong. This was probably the hoppiest beer I have had in a long while, if not ever. I was amazed with how you can almost taste the different hops individually, especially the fruitier ones, but not quite. I had to force myself to finish it because big IPA's are just not my style. Like an awesome bowl of chili with just too much heat that it punishes you.
Traditional BocK: This was ok, not as much body as I was expecting, but had some sweetness and grainy maltiness, low bitterness, and could have used a touch more darker grain character for my taste, but decent.
Cranberry Wit: I was expecting a beer that would be more refreshing for a Spring/Summer release. The cranberry adds a nice tartness to the Wit style that I like, and the spices were good... except for the cinnamon. That was the "one of these kids is not like the others" spice. To me, cinnamon is too much of a warming spice better reserved for Fall/Winter beers, and with the cranberry, maybe those are the seasons where this beer fits better... but as a refreshing warm weather Wit, not so much.
