Two Beer Dudes: Two regular dudes who happen to be huge fans of American craft beer.

Vanilla Barrel-Aged Barleywine

Short Fuse Brewing Company

American Barleywine

8.8 by scot

First time using a book my daughter gave me for Christmas on walks and beers near Chicago. Drank at the brewery. Opaque, black and thick. Minimal mocha foam that runs away. Vanilla, bourbon, brown sugar and hints of dark fruits. No bitterness. A bit of rye spice that lingers. Taste is almost a complete copy of the nose. No alcohol is noticeable. Smooth and enjoyable. Bigger end of medium body. Light carbonation, great for the style. This is a rock star first impression of a beer from ...read more

Overall Rating: 8.8 by 1 dude 100%

Shady Days

Arvon Brewing Co.

Sour - Fruited

6.1 by scot

Purchased in October from Siciliano's. Pours opaque maroon. Reminds me of the pomegranate that I was just eating. Not quite a half inch of light maroon foam that eventually leaves for better opportunities. There is some lacing that looks like it has fruit bis. Aroma is light tart and berries. Not a distinct berry, but a berry medley. There is strong vanilla that is easily mistaken for lactose sugar. If I had to single out a berry: raspberry even though it isn't in the beer. Taste follow...read more

Overall Rating: 6.1 by 1 dude 0%

Barrel Aged Christmas Bomb

Prairie Artisan Ales Brewpub

American Imperial Stout

6.3 by scot

Purchased at Iron & Glass in Minooka. Pours dark as night that is overcast and no moon. No head. The adjuncts void out what should be a beautiful mocha foam. Aroma is one note: cinnamon. Taste follows the nose: cinnamon. Medium mouth feel. Oily in the finish. Light carbonation except for on the lips. This beer is one dimensional. For a barrel aged beer there is no hints of barrel on the nose or palate. Maybe take some lessons from Goose Island on how to barrel age. This beer falls ...read more

Overall Rating: 6.3 by 1 dude 0%

Magic Trait

Speciation Cellars

American Wild Ale

8.8 by scot

This beer was on tap at the brewery. For a 12 ounce pour it was $9.00. A pinkish red that is bold and beautiful in the glass. Not much head but that just means the glass was very close to full. Aroma has is tart with some wild funk with a touch of berry sweetness. Taste follows the nose almost perfectly. Tart in the finish, that lingers, but that is tethered back by the sweetness of the berries and currants. The mouthfeel is spot on: typical light end. No lacing. Taking away the price,...read more

Overall Rating: 8.8 by 1 dude 100%

Traveling Scientist

Hop Butcher For The World

American Pale Ale

8.7 by scot

Purchased from Iron & Glass in Minooka on 2024-09-06. Unusual for Hop Butcher, no date on bottom of can. Assuming fresh. Pours cloudy like a NEIPA but ABV takes it to the pale ale range. White foam covers but goes away leaving a mere ring around the edges. Some lacing but wispy thin. Aroma jumps out during the te pour into a Town Hall nonic pint glass. Mango, other non-distinct tropical fruits and softly dank. Taste follows the nose: mango, dank with lots of tropical fruit. Some light ...read more

Overall Rating: 8.7 by 1 dude 100%

Gummypalooza

Noon Whistle Brewing

American IPA - New England (NEIPA)

7.3 by scot

Poured from a can with date of 04-24-2024into my Russian River glass. About 10 days old. Gifted to me via Rich. It looks like a NEIPA in the glass: big head with lots of staying power and cloudy. Lacing is thick and immediate. Aroma is grapefruit, with hints of orange, mango, ripe fruit sugars, and berries. Taste is a bit subdued as compared to the nose. Late ripe fruit sugars linger softly. Not bitter. A bit crisper on the carbonation than expected. Could be tones down as it gives the ...read more

Overall Rating: 7.3 by 1 dude 100%

Goofy Boots

Penrose Brewing Company

American IPA - New England (NEIPA)

7.6 by scot

Had at the brewery with Rich. Poured cloudy with that NEIPA consistency and look. Aroma has some fresh hop burn but that is quickly squelched by pineapple, mango, green herbal, and, peach. Taste falls short of aroma. Back hit of pineapple, peach and mango. Thinner than would like for style: not because of the carbonation, just not body. Not bitter. Somewhat sweet. The abundance of green hops in the aroma and early taste bring this down slightly. Really good otherwise. I would have it a...read more

Overall Rating: 7.6 by 1 dude 100%

Bourbon County Cafe de Olla Stout (2019)

Goose Island Beer Co.

American Imperial Stout

8.9 by scot

Part of the 2024 Bourbon County weekly I am doing. Pours opaque. A rich brown sugar foam covers the beverage but runs away and hides faster than Carl Lewis, distracting from the overall look. Big bubbles, almost looks like boiling caramel. Aroma is coffee and sweet sugar. The coffee is robust even after five years. Bourbon and char pop out nicely around the smooth edges of the java. Taste is fairly muted until the late middle into the finish. Lingering milk chocolate latte. Char, bourbon, ...read more

Overall Rating: 8.9 by 1 dude 100%

Floating West

Fox Republic Brewing Company

American India Pale Ale

6.9 by scot

Tasted at the brewery on tap with Rich. First timer. Pours clear with a nice light tan foam. Good retention. Lacing throughout. Light scents of caramel and pine. Citrus and straight up malt are in the background. Taste is again light. Caramel, pine and citrus in the finish. Light end of mouthfeel. Citrus and pine bitterness build. A good beer and far from great. Easy to drink. Thinness leads to bigger bitterness. I would have it again but I want to try other beers here. Enjoy!...read more

Overall Rating: 6.9 by 1 dude 100%

Sensation Basin

Hop Butcher For The World

American IPA - Imperial New England (INEIPA)

7.8 by scot

Purchased at Iron & Glass, Minooka on 2023-07-14. Date on can of 2023-06-26. Pours cloudy but not opaque. An inch of pure white foam covers. Great retention with lathering foam covering the glass and top of the beer. A beer isn't a beer without some good head. Aroma is mainly orange/tangerine with hints of pineapple, pine, cedar, and bright stone fruit. Great depth of aromas from the hop quad: Mosaic, Riwaka, Nectaron, and Strata. Taste has a sweet presence, typical of the style and ...read more

Overall Rating: 7.8 by 1 dude 100%

DDH Filter Wave

Phase Three Brewing

American IPA - New England (NEIPA)

7.4 by scot

Purchased at Iron & Glass, Minooka on 2023-07-14. Has a date on the can bottom that I cannot read. Old eyes. Pours opaque, typical for the style. Some white foam but nary any head. Despite the lack of physical foam some lingers on top and on the edges throughout the tasting. Gold in color. Aroma makes me think more of a West Coast IPA: very dank, pine, resin, and grapefruit. Some sweetness. Hints of orange. Taste isn't as acute as the nose. Dank with resinous pine. Grapefruit is ...read more

Overall Rating: 7.4 by 1 dude 100%

Hoppy Thursday

Hop Butcher For The World

American IPA - Imperial New England (INEIPA)

7.6 by scot

Poured from a can purchased at Flight Bottle Shoppe. Date on can of 2022-09-27. Pours the typical opaque for the style. A vigorous pour into my Pliny the Elder glass brought about a huge amount or large bubbled foam. Sporadicly thick lacing left in the wake as the top becomes frothy, almost creamy. Aroma is ripe berries surrounded by orange citrus. Pretty straight forward but that doesn't take away from the overall aroma. Taste is a bit thin. The hops aren't that strong while the young b...read more

Overall Rating: 7.6 by 1 dude 100%