Cali-Belwhat

Since they started distribution in the Chicagoland area a few months ago, Stone Brewing has really grown on me. Finnegan's Irish Pub used to have 30 different beers by Stone on tap, so I got to try a rather large selection of their line-up, including rare beers that have been cellared for the past few years. Plenty of them stood out, like their Smoked Porter with Vanilla Bean, El Camino (Un)Real Black Ale, and the Cali-Belgique Belgian-Style IPA.

One great quality of IPA's are their ability to balance out rich, creamy, fatty, and greasy foods with their crisp refreshing bitterness. That is what helps to make them a great choice for a summer drink. Back when it was on tap at Finnegan's, I had a glass of Cali-Belgique with a plate of onion rings. By themselves, the two has really opposing tastes - Cali-Belgique with its floral and citrus bitterness, and the onion rings with their greasy and saltiness. However after a few rings, the beer seemed different - not as bitter, but instead creamy and drinkable, while still retaining a light citrus flavor. A very good pairing I think.

Cali-Belgique India Pale Ale
Brewery: Stone Brewing Co.
Country: USA (California)
Style: Belgian-Style IPA
ABV: 6.90
IBUs: 77
Serving Type: 22oz Bottle
Cost: (unknown at the moment, bottle was a gift. Will edit as soon as I know)

Apperance: Hazy golden orange. Creamy and lasting head that leaves a nice lacing on the glass.

Aroma: Very fragrant and floral with a nice citrus hoppiness.

Taste: Strong notes of orange citrus and pine bitterness, as well as spices. Decent carbonation, and a nice hint of sweetness in the aftertaste that was not expected with an IPA but helps to balance out the hoppy bitterness. Leaves a smooth coated feeling in your mouth.

This is another fine brew by Stone that I would recommend to anyone that likes bitter beers. Cali-Belgique also currently stands as one of my favorite IPAs to have with a meal. It balances very well with anything that has a nice creamy or rich taste to it.

You can still find Cali-Belgique at Binny's I believe - it has been awhile since I looked for it though.

An Ice-Cold Bitch

It's summer, and not much is better than sitting on your deck after a long day of work and enjoying a nice India Pale Ale. Flying Dog's Raging Bitch, a Belgian-Style IPA, is perfect for this activity. Not only is this a strong, crisp, and refreshing IPA, but it is also Flying Dog's 20th Anniversary brew. According to Flying Dog's website:

"Bitches come in a variety of forms, but there's never been something as sassy as Flying Dog's Raging Bitch Belgian IPA. An American IPA augmented with Belgian yeast, our 20th anniversary beer jumps out of the glass and nips at your taste buds with its delicate hop bitterness. At 8.3% ABV, this bitch is dangerously drinkable."

Raging Bitch
Brewery: Flying Dog
Country: USA (Maryland) 
Style: Belgian-Style IPA
ABV: 8.3%
IBUs: 60
Cost: $10 / 6pk (12oz bottles)

Appearance: Raging Bitch has a nice light golden copper color, and holds a thick head when poured well. Left a nice lacing that lasted even after I finished the beer, and persisted to stick for awhile as a constant reminder that I should clean out my glassware in a more timely fashion.

Aroma: Hoppy and slightly fruity. The high amount of hops give it a strong and fragrant aroma.

Taste: Crisp and refreshing. A nice mix of hoppy bitterness with noticeable fruits. I couldn't quite pick them all out, but I did notice hints of pear, grapefruit, and orange.

Drinkability: Even at a strong 8.3%, their website tells it like it is - this is a dangerously drinkable bitch. I was honestly surprised by the ABV, as it is hard to taste the alcohol in this beer. I expected it to be somewhere between 4 and 5 percent. Raging Bitch goes down smooth, and is very refreshing on a hot summer day.

I highly recommend trying Flying Dog's Raging Bitch. Right now it stands as one of my top IPAs, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. I'm curious to see what foods this would pair well with.