New Beer Friday - 2016 Holiday Edition

Hopefully, you've been good little beer nerds and nerdettes. If that's the case? Santa may reward you with a shiny new spaceship or better yet, you may get that 15 year vertical of that coveted Bulgarian Boza you've had your geeky eyes on since 2001. I can't help you with the Space Ship or the Boza (or Boza's side effects) but I can help you with the new beers that are guaranteed to make your holidays bright.

Uinta Hopscursion Brett IPA - Somewhat hazy in appearance, the head retention is pretty good. The nose has bretty barnyard funk, but not so much that you can't smell the citrus peel like hops. The taste starts with full on young and doughy brettanomyces. There is a bit of tartness but it's almost undetectable. The malt starts to show itself next with the citrusy and tropical hops carrying you away the end. Finishes yeasty and somewhat dry. This is not the type of brett beer to age. Hopscursion is perfect right now - like any fresh IPA. Drink 'em up now! 6.25% ABV @Uinta, Bayou

Uinta Sea Legs Brett Baltic Porter - I got to sample a bit of this from the barrel a few months ago. It reminded me of Jolly Pumpkin's Bam Noir - this final version is so much more than just a dark brett ale. The flavors here are deep and fruity. Dark fruits, cherry, vine berries and cocoa. After your tongue recovers from all of this, you get a little funk along with vanilla and bourbon on the back end. The result of all of this is rich and complex beer that's a sensory overload on the tongue. This is a very limited offering, don't wait too long. 8.2% ABV @ Uinta, Bayou, Beerhive, Beer Bar

Proper Géol English Barleywine - The nose is of toasted malt, caramel, toffee, slight nut, and alcohol aromas. Taste is much the same with toast, nut, earth, and wood flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of toast and earth bitterness and an alcohol kick on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with solid toast and nut aspects all around. This beer was designed for the winter solstice - a perfect warmer for the holidays. 9.8% ABV @ Proper Brewing

Melvin *(Asterisk) - Dank and chewy with some nice tropical hops. Pretty dry and unbalanced for such a big beer. Some medical burn. This is far from unenjoyable, it's very nice and has a wonderful hop presence. It just lacks the craftsmanship of many of Melvin's predecessors. These are limited as well. 9.5% ABV @ BeerHive, Beer Bar and Slackwater

Mountain West Green Urban Lunchbox Hard Cider - This unique cider is made from over twenty different varieties of apples that were grown in the backyards of happy apple loving Utahans. This a limited release cider made in collaboration with The Green Urban Lunchbox. A portion of the proceeds will go to them. This is one of those ciders that will be different every time it's made, due to the randomness of the apples. I'd suggest you snag some of this, if it's brilliant it may never exists again! 6.9% ABV @ Mountain West Hard Cider

Talisman Bourbon Barrel aged Stout #2 - Not had a chance to sample this latest batch. Please share if you have. 6.3% ABV @ Talisman

Also returning this week is Uinta's Cockeyed Cooper Barleywine. This beer missed the rotation last year. It's back with a modified label. Look for a beer that has a nice medley of toffee, vanilla, bourbon and caramel. I missed this beer! 11.1% ABV @Uinta

Cheers and Happy Holidays!