Beer O' Clock

I can't believe there hasn't been a Beer O' Clock since camp. I'm calling managment and having myself fired. This is an outrage.

Really, what better do I have to do than write BOCs?

Seems appropriate this week. Sure the game will be great and all that tomorrow, but I'd love to see a "BeerFest" type showdown of Big Ten fans.

Each fandom gets to pick its best five beer drinkers. And then they're put through the Beer Olympics -- pong, quarters, chugging, flip cup and whatever else is out there.

My money on the last two standing? Iowa and Sconnie. Easy. Third? Probably 'Sota, but a distant third. Besides, their football program has sent them to the hard stuff by now.

But promise to be nice to this guy at Penn State. He looks sorta mean.

Tuppers Hop Pocket Ale

This is an American Pale Ale from Tuppers' Hop Pocket Brewing Company (Maryland). The ABV here is 6 percent.

Taste is almost all hops. The little bit of malt is eaten up by the hops. There are fruity notes, including orange. This eventually gives way to a piney/grapefruit aftertaste that I simply require from my hoppy-type beers. There is a slight bitterness to the aftertaste, so be warned. It might not be your thing. It's most definitely mine. I also think there's a bit of caramel, which also is fine with me.

The Hop Pocket gets a B+ on 276 reviews from Beer Advocate. I'm cool with B+. This is another import from @vaHawkeye. Thank you, sir!

Stoudts Double IPA

An American Double/Imperial IPA, Stoudts Double IPA is from Stoudts Brewing Company in Adamstown, Pa. It packs are  pretty stout (see what I did there? I write for a living) 10.0 ABV.

Amazing hoppy smell with maybe a hint of grape and a caramel malt base. Feels smooth and has a sharp citric and grapefruit taste balanced with a sugary/caramel malt. Nice dry finish. Overall, Stoudt is a well-balanced DIPA that lays on the fruity hops but has some sweet malts to please, too. I loved it.

Stoudt gets a B+ on 660 reviews at BA. I'd go a little higher, at least A-. Another one from @vaHawkeye. Hey, you guys get your own Iowa football blog.

La Roja

Here's La Roja, an American Wild Ale from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales in Dexter, Mich. It's a 7.20 ABV. I got this sample in the male from @hawkinmi. Thanks so much!

The flavor has punch, with a funky tartness that is the first thing that hits you. Tart is the main thing here. It sometimes rolls into sour, which really, really worked for me. The tart also had some cherry to it, which I loved. It's got that going for it and that's more than enough. Really good. The aroma is rich, dried fruit. Could it stand more malt to balance the tartness? I don't think so. I like the extreme. Give yourself over to something. Don't pitter patter. Sour beer is good. Go extreme.

I know, "American Wild Ale." Here's what BA says:

"Sometimes Belgian influenced, American Wild Ales are beers that are introduced to "wild" yeast or bacteria, such as: Brettanomyces (Brettanomyces Bruxellensis, Brettanomyces Lambicus or Brettanomyces Anomolus), Pediococcus or Lactobacillus. This introduction may occur from oak barrels that have been previously inoculated, pitched into the beer, or gained from various "sour mash" techniques. Regardless of which and how, these little creatures often leave a funky calling card that can be quite strange, interesting, pleasing to many, but also often deemed as undesirable by many."

La Roja gets a B+ on 518 reviews at BA. I'd give it an A.

Hop Stoopid

Hop Stoopid is an American Double/Imperial IPA by Lagunitas, of Petaluma, Calif. It has an 8 percent ABV. I picked it up at Steve's in Madison on the suggestion of @stormingspank.

Fruity, mostly grapfruit throughout. Potent flavor befitting its "imperial" label. The biscuit/grapefruit combo is totally dominant here. Clean and consistent. The flavor hangs around for minutes after each sip. They don't use whole hops with this one. Hop oil and extract isn't bad, though.

Hop Stoopid gets an A- on 10,080 reviews at BA.

Moloko

Here's Three Floyds' Moloko, a milk/sweet stout with 9.50 ABV. I bought it at Steve's or Woodman's in Madison. Both places.

Started off creamy and sweet, with caramel, milk chocolate, and molasses all making an appearance. The roasted grains gave it a hint of coffee and dark chocolate and just enough bitterness to take the edge off the initial sweetness. The finish showed a lot of alcohol, but was never overly hot.

Gets an A- on 237 reviews over at BA.

Illumination

This is Illumination by Central Waters, an Amherst, Wis., brewery (I don't even know where that is). It's an American DIPA and carries a 9 percent ABV. I picked it up at Steve's in Madison.

This one packs 108 IBUs. If you don't like hoppy monster, run away. The caramel malt fades fast. Pine, citrus, grapefruit and mango put the hammer down. I really liked it. Probably couldn't drink more than one a night, though. As the bottle says it's a palate crusher. The bottle is right.

Illumination rates an A- at BA. I'd say that's right. I really liked this beer. It's one I passed over until @MetsFanVI told me to bring him one from Madison. I thought what the heck. Glad I grabbed one.

Raging Bitch

Here's Flying Dog's Raging Bitch. It's a Belgian IPA with 8.30 ABV. Received this in a generous beer care package from @vaHawkeye.

The hops live up to the name rather quickly. Somewhat floral up front and that brings the hops to the fore. The hops are backed nicley by a toasty malt. This is one of the more balanced IPAs I've drank in a while. For someone looking for the completely hoppy nature of an IPA, this beer will not do it for you. But for someone looking for a nicely balanced IPA without the funk, this will work.

This beer gets an A- on 550 reviews at BA. It's my favorite Flying Dog product.

Hop-a-lot-amus

This an American DIPA from River Horse Brewing Company of Lambertville, N.J. It carries an 8.50 ABV. This is yet another from the beer care package from @vaHawkeye.

It has a dry pale and malt scent along with a mild bitterness and some light bready notes. There is balance here, too, with the maltiness co-mingling with a nice citrus hop flavor. But the leading flavor is aggressive grapefruit bitterness that really dwarfs the malt contribution. This is a full bodied beer. This is one I will try to seek out for another shot. Like it and want more.

 Hop-a-lot-amus gets a B at BA on 79 reviews. I'd at least go B+. And I will pick it up if I can find it in the midwest.

Dale's Pale Ale

This is an American Pale Ale from Oskar Blues Grill and Brewery in Lyons, Colo. Dale's Pale Ale has a 6.5 ABV and it comes in a CAN. I picked one up at the Wine Cellar in Verona, Wis.

Comes in a can, so what? At least it doesn't come in a vortex bottle.

The beer pours an amber color with the head large, creamy and an off white color. The sweet malt nose is reinforced by some floral spiciness from the hops. Crisp, clean, fresh. Front is thick malt, sweet and moderates the hops nicely. The hops aren't invisible. They've got a powerful bite with a dry aftertaste. I could see this being a great tailgate beer.

Plus, it comes in a CAN!

Dale's Pale Ale is hanging at B+ after an impressive 1,148 reviews at BA. Want . . . more. I did pick up a for more Oskars. I think you'll be hearing more and more from this brewery. You'll also be seeing more cans, IMO.