B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher Oatmeal-Imperial Stout

Beer: Hoppin' Frog B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher Oatmeal-Imperial Stout
Brewery Location: Akron, OH
Beer Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 9.4%


Bodacious Oatmeal Russian Imperial Stout is what the B.O.R.I.S. stands for if you were wondering. Hoppin' Frog is a really nice regional brewer from Ohio. I've tried about five of their offerings and have only one on this site for review. As far as I know I think they only send out their beer in bombers, and their brewery does sell direct to the public, but they do not have any type of brewpub/bar at the brewery. I really liked their DIPA, Black and Tan, Silk Porter, and the Gulden Fraug from what I remember.

Appearance: BORIS pours a very dark black with brown highlights around the edges, and it is capped off with a very thin head that dissipated quite quickly and left minimal lacing.
Smell: The nose starts off with plenty of roasted grain, coffee, bitter chocolate, and some oat flakes coming in nicely as well.
Taste: The flavor profile is much more pronounced than the smell with big flavors of roasted malt, espresso, bitter chocolate, oats, and a thick dark fruit quality as well.
Mouthfeel: The oats make this RIS one of the smoothest stouts with this much alcohol that you will find. The warming alcohol kicks in after only a few drinks in this thick and chewy sipper.
Drinkability: This beer is delicious and very easy to drink.


This is an excellent and well priced Russian Imperial Stout. The addition of the oats really makes the mouthfeel my favorite aspect of the beer. The flavor profile is complex with the alcohol well hidden that you don't find often in many big stouts. This is certainly one of my new favorite imperial stouts.

Cheers!
Matt

Hoppin' Frog Mean Manalishi Double IPA

Beer: Hoppin' Frog Mean Manalishi Double IPA
Brewery Location: Akron, OH
Beer Style: Double IPA
ABV: 8.2%


I haven't had any Hoppin' Frog in quite some time for some reason. I am not sure why I've strayed away from them, but this DIPA offering brought them right back for me. Hoppin' Frog has been in business for about eight years and make a well respected and solid line-up of beers. It was beautiful out today, so what better time for a double IPA than grilling out and sitting outside?

Mean Manalishi pours a deep rusted amber hue with a big two fingers worth of off-white head. This beer also leaves very good lacing as well as a small blanket of head for the entire beer. It is hard to miss the loads of fresh hops in the nose with big scents of resinous pine and pink grapefruit with little malt coming through. The flavor profile is in your face the entire way on this beer and come through so much better than the nose. The resinous pine flavor comes out full force with subtle flavors of caramel and citrus fruit. The pine flavor is so intense and lasts until the very last sip of the beer. The mouthfeel is quite nice on this beer even with the intense bitterness from the hops, but overall is quite smooth with very little alcohol noticeable on the mouthfeel. The drinkablity for this hop-head is perfect and I would go for another one of these.

Overall this is a very tasty offering from Hoppin' Frog. I really enjoyed the pine bitterness in the flavor profile that was bold enough to let you know it was there but not over the top in any way. This is a DIPA for hop-heads. Great effort Hoppin' Frog!

Cheers!
Matt