This brew hails from Centralia, Washington. Usually I just drive past this town. Because of this beer, I stop and visit.

Dick's Cream Stout = 7/10
Ratebeer 3.47 92nd percentile
Beer Advocate 81%

Sweet balsamic and chocolate liqueur were a surprise to my nose. Despite the shock, a creamy, chocolate toast with slight balsamic vinegar was a great comeback from this jet black fluid. The low bitterness left a creamy coating of chocolate and sweet vinegar.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content 0 5.5%
Value +1
Appearance 0

Farsons Lacto Stout
Stockyard Oatmeal Stout
Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout

Sculler's IPA = 9/10

Ratebeer 3.43 90th percentile
Beer Advocate B+

Just a quick review. The nose was oddly vacant with only a hint of sweet citrus. The taste makes it all worth while. Big flavours of bubblegum, cotton candy, herbal and grapefruit. Slick is the feeling as this brew blasts you upfront with all things PNW hoppy; then the warming caramel malts settles things down. An excellent IPA, get it if you see it.

Taste +5
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content +1 6.8%
Value +1
Appearance 0 (boring label)

Citra IPA (Dead Frog)
Burton Empire Ale
Sink the Bismark

Boundary Bay is located in Bellingham, Washington. I always grab something by this brewery when traveling to Seattle. It is nice to see these beers available in Victoria; Rain City Brands brings these guys in.

Ski to Sea ESB (Boundary Bay) = 7/10

Ratebeer 3.55/5 no percentile
Beer Advocate B+

An unexpectedly strong aroma rises from the glass of this extra special bitter. It is floral, citrus and quite bready. At the start of the sip, a prominent hop tingle meshes well with the ample carbonation. This could be called a mellow IPA. The hop tingle never leaves; floral, citrus and pine are the flavours of the day. In the background, toasted caramel malts are begging to be loved. Love them I do. Sadly the toasted pine tingle fades too quickly leaving a slight astringency. A great ESB.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content 0 5.5%
Value +1
Appearance +1 (nice and descriptive label)

Driftwood Naughty Hildegard and beer snobbery at its best
Belk's ESB Anderson Valley

Ratebeer 3.24 77th percentile
Beer Advocate B-

Taste +2

• Nose of lime leaves and pine hops
• Taste was bitter and astringent with citrus and pine, maybe a tad floral
• every taste had a mild lime flavour and banana
• Malts were of course caramel with a little bread

Aftertaste +1

• The caramel malts and citrus/lime fades to leave an acidic tongue coating
  

Alcohol Content +1 7.5%

Couldn't really notice a burning nor warmth.

Value 0

It was a neat flavour but not worth a repeat purchase.

Ingame Enhancement 0

The aftertaste still haunts me.

Overall 4/10

It was a unique taste sensation that kinda worked. The tart lime cordial meshed well with the caramel and PNW hops.

Mango Weizen
24-mile Blueberry Pail Ale
Audacious Apricot Wheat

Fish Tale Organic IPA

Ratebeer 3.3 82nd percentile
Beer Advocate B

Taste +3

I never get tired of tasting good PNW IPAs. This one comes from the Fish Brewing company in Olympia, Washington. They also brew the Leavenworth beers for that uber-cute Bavarian town. The nose is sweet with citrus and subdued pine. Again the taste is smooth with citrus, resin and pine. You get most of the bitterness at the back of the mouth. The citrus is leaning more to the tangerine side of things. This IPA is brewed with organic Pacific Gem hops with 42IBUs for those keeping score. Malts were light with caramel

Aftertaste +1

There was a bare lingering of caramel and light tangerines

Alcohol Content +1 6.7%

Just as a good IPA should be.

Value 0

This was not an outstanding IPA. It must be tough to release an IPA in the PNW; they must be outstanding to rise above the others.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Still in Seattle, still drinking great beers.

Overall 6/10

This was a solid IPA, just not outstanding. The caramel malts were overshadowed by the citrus and pine hops. Props go out for being Organic.

Nine Donkeys of the Hopocalypse
Pliny the Elder and Adrenaline Shots
Green Flash Imperial IPA

Mango Weizen (Trade Route Brewing)
Flavoured Wheat Beer

Ratebeer 3.01 44th percentile
Beer Advocate B

Taste +3

I'm sure you can imagine what the nose was like. Yup, it smelled of wheat tartness, yeast and tart mango. Luckily it was a nice balance of sweet and tartness. The sweet mango creaminess/juiciness balanced well with the tart wheat, biscuity yeast and lemon tartness. It poured cloudy with a orange hue like fresh mango juice.

Aftertaste +1

The mango juice and tart wheat rolls of the tongue and leaves a slight astringent residue.

Alcohol Content 0 5%

Value +1

This is a nice flavoured wheat beer. The added fruit juices did not overwhelm the palate.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Still sitting in my Seattle hotel room sampling many great beers.

Overall 6/10

If you are looking for a refreshing flavoured wheat, your search is over. This one would be perfect on a hot summer day.

Tangerine Wheat (Lost Coast)
Belgian Wit (Granville Island)
White Bark Wheat Ale (Driftwood)

Elysian Perseus Porter

Ratebeer 3.53 88th percentile
Beer Advocate B+

I picked this one up in Seattle at my favourite specialty beer store, Pike Street Beer and Wine. They always have the best selection in town. The prices are a little top shelf but not outrageous. The owner is always nice and kicks out a free glass for me. Then again I also spend about 3 figures whenever I go in there.

Taste +4

I love a good porter and this one did not disappoint. The not too overpowering smoky nose with hints of light chocolate told me I was in for a treat. The taste had a medium mouthfeel that was creamy. The favours mirrored the nose with light smoke and rich bitter chocolates. It was not too bitter at all; just right.

Aftertaste +2

This new friend stayed around for a long time. He told tales of light milk chocolate adventures, creamy smoke filled desires and a light warming of alcohol rendezvous.

Alcohol Content 0 5.4%

A very drinkable bomber; you don't even have to share.

Value +1

This one can be found for about $4.50US.
Ingame Enhancement +1

This was sampled in my Seattle hotel room. Hence the towel as a backdrop. Every six months I hit Seattle to stock up on exotic brews.

Overall 8/10

I think I have found my everyday porter soul-mate.

Granville Island Porter and Real Life
Black Butte Porter
Sleemans Fine Porter (YUCK)

Pike Tandem

Ratebeer 3.35 77th percentile
Beer Advocate B

This is one of those most go places for any beer drinker; the Pike Brewery near Pike Place Market. The pub is great, the beer is better and the food..yum.

Taste +4

It pours with a mucky, ruby/rust colour. Nose has a lot going on, but it is malty dominant with green apple and caramel. In stark contrast every sip is smooth and velvety. If you taste through the slight pit fruit tartness you get plums, bruised apricots, hints of yeast and bread. It reminds me a little of well made scones. Did I mention the grapefruit bitter ending..

Aftertaste +2

There was a long lingering of yeast mixed with bruised fruits.

Alcohol Content +1 7.5%

Ouch, but your tastebuds were focused on other things so the alcohol slipped right by.

Value +1

This is nice, slightly complex and delicious.
Ingame Enhancement +1

I have learned that I am not very good at versus on L4D. At least I did not score lowest.

Overall 9/10

If you like your beers big and on the sweet side, head for Seattle. It reminded me of a strong scotch ale with extra hops.

Belhaven Wee Heavy
Swan's Scotch Ale and Comedy writing
Doppel-Hirsch

Flavius: Did you hear that Steve Jobs had a liver transplant?
Meterman: This is concern that he used his fame and fortune to get a liver transplant quicker.
F: Nope. Apple R&D department made this one. It's called the iLiver.

Snoqualmie Porter

Ratebeer 3.48 84th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

Taste +2

I found this a little watery for a porter. The standard flavours were there; roasted coffee, grains, toast and chocolate. It just seems a little watery, but it was silky smooth. IBU 28.
Aftertaste +2

Thankfully it ended with a nice lingering of roasted grains and smoke.

Alcohol Content 0 5%

Value 0

It was nice but I have had better.

Ingame Enhancement 0

Still in Seattle, but getting a little tired after sampling lots of beer.

Overall 4/10

If you like a milder, smoother porter you might like this one.

Black Boss Porter
Granville Island Porter and real life
Sleemans 'Fine' Porter

Diamond Knot IPA

Ratebeer 3.92 98th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

My buddy Gord picked this one up after sampling a few Diamond Knot brew at Bottleworks. We sampled three other beers from this brewery and here is a quick rundown.
Honey brown- uneventful, good afternoon patio beer.
Nut brown - I drank it unaware that there actually was beer in my glass.
Industrial IPA - Textbook double IPA, the taste was primarily bitter grapefruit. It was almost undrinkable and slimy. Still very good though.

Taste +4

This is one nice IPA. The nose is as expected with floral and citrus hops and sweet caramel, but not too much of each. Your taste is luxurious with the strong ruby red grapefruit and pine hop bitterness riding on a sweet caramel and vanilla pony.
Aftertaste +2

The finish is rather dry and astringent, but there is a long lasting sweetness. It's that ruby red grapefruit sweetness you would expect from a good IPA.

Alcohol Content +1 6.2%
Does not seem out of place and you cannot taste it.
Value +1

One of the best IPA's I have tried; not super hoppy nor super sweet either.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Still in Seattle, still drinking great PNW beers.
Overall 9/10

Truly a great West Coast IPA.