Dogfish Head, Piercing Pils

A new winter release from Dogfish Head Brewery. This is replacing the Chicory Stout in the seasonal line up. Off the bat, I do have to say that I love Dogfish Head and their off center beer styles especially their historical series. However it does seem odd to release a lighter style beer in the Winter. Just thinking of pears and Pilsner make me think Summer refreshing flavors. 
This is as Dogfish Head explains a "Perry-Pils hybrid, Piercing Pils is a Czech Style Pilsner brewed with a White Pear Tea and Pear juice.  Both the juice and the tea were added in the kettle during the whirlpool (after the boil) for maximum flavor and aroma contribution.  The Pear fruit complexity pierces right through the spicy Czech Saaz hops beautifully, adding a gentle acidity to this pale lager that makes for a crisp refreshing sipper.  Amarillo hops add nuanced citrus notes that meld perfectly with the fruit."
I picked this up for the wife for dinner knowing that she likes sweeter fruit beers. She enjoyed it with dinner but said it just tasted "like a beer beer". I enjoyed one of these beers after dinner and found that although the aromatics are more interesting then a typical Pilsner, this one still tastes like a basic Pilsner beer. I do enjoy the style, but I was expecting something a little more unique and interesting. Overall, this is a good kickback and enjoy Sunday football beer, but not something I would recommend for our normal craft beer geeks. 

Personal Rating: 6/10
Style Rating: 8/10
Wanna try it now? Order it online at: https://www.whitehorsewine.com/proddetail.php?prod=638489001104

Victory, Hop Ranch Imperial IPA

Here's a new release from Victory. This is a new winter seasonal available in 4 packs. A very unique Imperial IPA due to the fact that it uses 2 very new hops (mosaic and azacca) which were formally unnamed and only referred to as hop #369 (mosaic) and #483 (azacca). Mosaic has been around for a short time but is quickly being picked up and used by most craft brewers because of its complex aroma and piney yet fruit forward flavor. The azacca hop was release very recently by the american dwarf hop association and was named after the Haitian god of agriculture. It has a distinctive nose with notes of mango, apricot, apples, and pears. These two new hops are the only hops used in this brew but they provide a really complex range of flavors and aromas. 

This beer clocks in at 9% abv which does not put it in the "sessionable" category. However, they brewed this one with Pilsner malt to give it a real light body. It is just enough to stand up to the big, bitter hop flavors but not enough to fill you up.

This is another brew from Victory that is really making me look at this brewery in a new light. A solid release that will definitely wow the hop heads out there. If Victory keeps this up, they will be far ahead of their fellow craft brewers!

Personal Rating: 9.8/10
Style Rating: 9/10

Wanna try it now? Order it online at: 
https://www.whitehorsewine.com/proddetail.php?prod=630279474044