Sorachi Slammer
Pour: Poured well. Developed a thick, large-bubbled head which died down to about a 1/4" and held there for a while.
Appearance: Nice reddish hue. Hazy, I expect from the amount of hop material as I warmed up a small sample and it remained hazy.
Carbonation: I found this one to be over-carbed, even fizzy. That could be due to the altitude, however. I would say this one is as highly carbed as some belgian golds, and heffes.
Aroma: Distinctive funk of Sorachi - almost no malt aroma. Enjoyable if you know that's the hop used. Very odd hop. Sweet and fruity one sip, 'off'-tasting on the next. I have found that with all my Sorachi beers as well. The aroma improves greatly as the beer warms. Cirtusy, but never grassy. Whoever came up with that hop profile deserves an award!
Taste:Being a hop-profiling brew, it's not fair to judge on how it tastes, since it's basically a tool for judging the hop itself. That being said, I think the recipe does that very well. As for the Sorachi's, I think they'll have their place in the flavoring/aroma areas more than the bittering area. I find the bitterness to be a tad harsh in the brew. The flavor is fantastic, fresh, grapefruity, a touch of earthyness. This would be a perfect compliment to a hearty lamb stew. Enough bitterness to cut the grease of the lamb gravy, and citrusy as hell to go with the baby carrots and parsnips. I'm getting hungry now!
Overall: This is a nice beer. It's not going to make my top 5 for quaffing (mine didn't either) but it would have a place in the arsenal for sure (see the lamb stew above.) This beer also has the perfect amount of dryness for this style - you know you're drinking a beer with a ton of flavor, but it's not cloying, and doesn't hang around too heavily on your palette.
What else to say? This is good beer, Dude.