Victory - Golden Monkey

The Victory - Golden Monkey is an American spin on a Belgian Tripel. Similar to traditional Tripels, the monkey packs a punch at 9.5% alcohol by volume. This beer is surprisingly sweet and floral with a cloudy gold body. It includes various "exotic" spices that make it complex. Their website proposes making a "Monkey Julius" cocktail with 1 part OJ, 3 parts beer, and topped with champagne.

Beer stats:

Malts: 2 row German malt
Hops: European whole flowers
Yeast: Imported, of Belgian origin
Alcohol by volume: 9.5%

(Beer Rating: 8/10)

Sierra Nevada Celebration

Sierra Nevada is famous for their hoppy IPAs. The Celebration Ale is their winter seasonal and is inclusive of a piney aroma and bitter citrus hops. Despite the full hops, the beer drinks fairly smooth. My only critique of Sierra Nevada is that their beers don't have adjacent complex flavors to really make them stand out. I would put 3 Floyds over Sierra Nevada any day of the week (let's hear it for the small guys)

(Beer rating 6/10)

Three Floyds Alpha King

Three Floyds puts forth an array of high quality hoppy beers. The Alpha King is a citrus hop flavored pale ale with a great label. The beer is flavored with Centennial, Cascade, and Warrior hops. These guys aren't capable of making a bad beer.

(Beer rating: 8/10)

Stockyard Oatmeal Stout

JosephsBrau Brewing Company from San Jose produces the Stockyard Oatmeal Stout. It's secret is that it is a private label from Trader Joes. If you happen
to pick it up for cheap in a random grab bag 6'er at Trader Joes - this beer may stand out for you as a worthy find! It is a full bodied stout with chocolate, toasted oats and coffee flavors but doesn't drink like syrup as some stouts may. The hop qualities are complementary to the flavors and I found it paired well with pork.

(Beer Rating 7/10)

Upland - Bad Elmer Porter

Upland is a brewery based out of Bloomington Indiana. I tried their "Bad Elmer Porter". I thought it was an average porter (definitely not great, but not bad). I like their Wheat beer in the summer. I'm seeking out their Infinite Wisdom Tripel and always enjoy visiting them in Bloomington!

(Beer Rating 6/10)

Bell's Two Hearted Ale

The Two Hearted Ale from Bells is a IPA lovers dream. It has a high amount of hops but is very drinkable for an IPA. It has a heavy floral aroma that brings all of the flavors together. Bells is also the maker of their very popular beer Oberon (a wheat ale that is a perfect summer beer with or without a fresh orange!) I'm trying to find somewhere in Indiana that carries their Cherry Stout.

(Beer Rating: 9/10)

Granite City Two Pull

Granite City is a brewery/restaurant that started in Minneapolis and has expanded in the northern Midwest (11 states). For an expanding chain, their food is good/value and their beers are decent. My favorite is their "Two Pull" - named for getting two pulls of 2 different beers (Northern Light and Brothers Benedict Bock). It goes well with their flatbread pizza

(beer rating 6/10)