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Samuel Adams Double Bock Boston Beer Company - Boston, MA Doppelbock (8.8% abv)  FIRST PLACE Aroma: Great malt aroma with Munich malt notes and a hint of dark fruit.  Melanoidin, toasty malt nose is pleasing. Appearance: Dark chestnut / amber with a good stand of foam. Flavor: This rich lager is very bready, toasty, and malty with caramel / toffee tones and a sweet finish.  There are no off flavors in this beer - it is clean with lots of German malt complexity.  Well made and almost chewy.

Sam Adams Utopias 2003 Boston Beer Company - Boston, MA Specialty Beer with maple syrup - aged in Scotch, Cognac and Port barrels (25% abv)  SECOND PLACE  Aroma: Oak, vanilla, maple syrup, alcohol, cognac, honey, dark fruit. Appearance: Clear with a dark gold / amber color.  No carbonation. Flavor: Extremely complex flavors of rum, whiskey, dark malts, maple, toffee, oak, and vanilla.  This strong beer is well balanced - no one flavor overpowers the others.  The finish is very woody.  An amazing brew.

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Happy Ending Stout Sweetwater Brewing Company - Atlanta, GA Imperial Stout (8% abv)  THIRD PLACE  Aroma: NW American hops, coffee, slight fruit.  Very pleasant aromas that are well balanced. Appearance: Jet black and opaque. Flavor: Hop character balance with dark malts is wonderful.  The American hop flavor is elegant and smooth, and the mild bitterness goes well with the dark malts and alcohol notes.  This beer has a soft, pleasing mouthfeel and no off flavors.  This is an interesting and well-crafted recipe. Unique and creamy, yet rich and flavorful.

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Wild Dog Double Pale Ale Flying Dog Brewery - Denver, CO Imperial IPA (9% abv)  HONORABLE MENTION  Aroma: Intense, resiny NW hop aroma that is quite grapefruit like.  Hop aroma is smooth, mellow, and clean. Appearance: Medium reddish with an orange tint.  Very clear with mild carbonation. Flavor: Balance here is toward the hops.  There are fruity notes of apricot and a very strong hop flavor that is bold and intense.  There are floral, citrus overtones from the use of American hops.  A tiny hint of medicinal character emerges as the beer warms.  Overall, quite a hoppy experience.

Old Chub Scotch Ale
Oskar Blues Brewery - Lyons, CO
Strong Scotch Ale (8% abv)
Aroma: Peaty, roasty, and earthy with caramel notes. 
Appearance: Clear and dark brown with ruby highlights and mild carbonation.
Flavor: Medium mouthfeel - lighter in body than we expected - needs more viscosity?  Coffee hints with a touch of smoke.  Malt flavors are a bit thin, and this beer would be better with more intense malt flavor and a bit more sweetness.

Dragon's Milk Ale
New Holland Brewing Company - Holland, MI
Oak Aged Strong Ale (10% abv) 
Aroma: Coffee, earthy notes with a slight hint of cheese.
Appearance: Dark brown color.
Flavor: Winey, sour notes predominate.  There are vanilla flavors from the use of oak, but the acetic/lactic tartness covers up most of the complexity of this ale.  Roasty notes emerge in the finish.

Red Brick Winter Brew 2004
Atlanta Brewing Company - Atlanta, GA
Imperial Porter (7% abv) 
Aroma: Coffee with apple, fruity, chocolate notes.
Appearance: Dark brown with ruby highlights and a nice tan head.
Flavor: This smooth ale has flavors of caramel malt with some chocolate and herbal character.  We wished for more malt and dark grain complexity.  Overall, a very well made and pleasing Porter.

Weyerbacher Merry Monks'
Weyerbacher Brewing Company - Easton, PA
Belgian Strong Golden Ale (9% abv) 
Aroma: Pears, apples, citrus, yeast, phenols, and a hint of solvent.
Appearance: Deep gold with a bright, white head.
Flavor: This is a smooth beer with no hot alcohols.  There is a cidery hint that is slightly fruity and tart.  The mouthfeel is soft and creamy.  A good beer for its style, but could use more crisp, spicy, peppery character and less fruitiness.