Welcome to what I hope will be the first in a series of weekly articles on craft beer. This is a column on the science and art of one of the world's oldest drinks. It is not a column on the crazy things you and I have done with this beverage and will someday tell our kids about; it is merely about the flavors and the work that go into every bottle, bomber and pint of beer we consume. I strongly urge you to respect all federal and local laws regarding beer and to please enjoy responsibly. You'll get the best understanding of the craft if you aren't completely wasted.To begin this column, which I hope will involve interviews, brewpub restaurant reviews and other fascinating facts about the world of craft beer, I'm going to start with a couple of beers I had while Hurricane Earl came and went. I stocked up on beer expecting the worst, and while the worst didn't come, I still had a pretty enjoyable evening. I'll highlight the two beers I had.

To review a beer, I utilize all my senses, as drinking doesn't just encompass the drinking aspect: It is the entire experience. I review a beer based on its appearance, its smell, its taste and finally its mouthfeel (the consistency of the liquid in the mouth).

Founders Devil Dancer:

I started with a beer I have been holding for a while now. Founders Brewery, out of Grand Rapids, Mich., produced this limited-edition triple India Pale Ale (a lighter-colored beer produced with very large amounts of hops) in the summer months. This beer poured out of the bottle into a snifter a light copper color with an amber hue. A slight amount of head retained on the top for a short period of time. Upon sniffing the beer, the incredible amounts of hops in the beer sang out with a bitter citrus scent on the nose. The 12-percent alcohol by volume was also quite apparent as it really takes your nose aback.

Upon tasting the beer, I sensed more of the same, a mix of alcohol and hoppiness. This beer is not for the inexperienced or unprepared. That said, it maintains a decent balance of booziness cut by the hops. Flavors of citrus, caramel and bread come through the flavor profile. The mouthful is quite thick with a slight carbonation on the tongue, finishing with a puckering from the hops and burn from the alcohol. Overall, this is a decent beer for the experienced beer aficionado but not the most accessible beer. If you are willing to try something very hoppy and powerful, I recommend giving it a shot next summer when it's available. 7/10

Dogfish Head Bitches Brew:

This beer was released this week by Dogfish Head in Reheboth Beach, Md. and has been highly publicized. It is named to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Miles Davis album of the same name, an album that brewery owner Sam Calagione considers a large influence on his own life and business. Bitches Brew is a mixture of 75 percent Imperial Stout (strong dark beer) and 25 percent honey beer.

Poured out into a snifter, this beer comes out black and oily. I've hardly seen many beers this dark. Upon sniffing, there is a definite sweetness to the drink and a bit of roasted malt also appears in there. In tasting, that sweetness comes out more definitely. There is a mix of chocolate and coffee in the beginning that settles to the sweetness of the honey beer. A slight taste of hoppy bitterness can be tasted in the finish as well. On a mouthfeel level, this beer is very thick and syrupy. For having an alcohol level of 9 percent, the booze is not very apparent. Despite being very heavy and sweet, this beer is quite drinkable. It is nothing groundbreaking or unbelievable, but it tastes good and has a good profile of flavors. It's an interesting drink that anyone can appreciate. There are still some liter bottles available here and there, so get them while you can. 8/10

That's it for this week; I hope to have more explanation of beer and more widely known beers in the weeks ahead. I just thought it would be fun to tell you what I had riding out the hurricane that never really was. Keep drinking good beer!