Thanksgiving is a time for Beer

Had a great time on the recent midwest swing through Bloomington, Chicago and Cincinnati. I can't remember everything we (me and Chris and Katie) had, but here are a few:

Alpha King at the Double Door: Excellent beer for a bar
Sposborth Coffee 2 and Sposborth Grand Cru (former was better)
Stone Yellow Snow (pretty good; not worth the price tag)
Bloomington Brew. Comp. Two Faced IPA (?) and Blond Ales (both terrible, unfortunately)
DFH World Wide Stout (awesome; also too awesome for Chris it turned out)
Otto's Jolly Roger Stout (good)
Hoppin' Frog B.O.R.I.S.

In Cincinnati I picked up a Jolly Pumpkin Bam Noire, Stone RIS, Buckeye IPA and St. Bernardus 12.

I'm going on a beer hiatus (until New Years, beginning tomorrow). However brewing will continue unabated.

Tonight I am having a 120 minute - Thanks to Chris and Katie!

Final Hershey Memorial Beer

Laughing Dog Dogzilla Black IPA - This one is not quite as good as the Dogfather, but is not bad. It has a good body and good hoppy aroma, but the taste is a little metallic. Not bad though.

I figure this will be the final beer in the Hershey Tribute series. It is time to move on. Although I really like the labels for Laughing Dog...much better than Flying Dog.

B

Hershey Memorial Beer #4

Laughing Dog The Dogfather Imperial Stout - I could not pass this bomber up at the store. It was too perfect. Usually, when purchasing a beer purely on the label, this ends up being a bad decision. Not so in this case. Aroma of huge toasted malts and a little bit of the hops. It looks awesome in the glass with a nice tan head. This beer is silky smoooth and tastes of bitter chocolate, caramel and all good things malt. My good stout streak continues!

A

PS: Note the priceless fake bullet holes on the label.

There Will Be Beer

I am having a Jolly Roger Imperial Stout in honor of Hershey. Due to its awesome alcohol content and awesome flavor he is smiling down from doggy heaven. Duane I bought you a third bottle. (I might buy one for you every time I have one, which I have done so far.)

Also what are the chances we could get together on Tuesday night in Chicago? We could rent a hotel room by the bar where Duane went a few weeks ago, or anywhere. Chris and I are going on Wednesday for the Steepwater cd release show and this would give us a fun day of sightseeing.

I would bring many homebrews.

I made an IPA last week. My racking tube is in pieces. when I fix it, I will dry hop and rack to the secondary.

My very long week of work is finishing. Thank god. Now I can get to the important business of beer blogging.

Also I had a fresh hop beer that I actually liked. This might mean it is very good, since I haven't liked them so far. Weyerbacher hit an AB with their fresh hop.

Boo to the existence of NFL network. They have taken away my favorite game of the year: Bengals v Steelers.

Hershey Memorial Beer #3

I'm in Portland now and my first task was to make a bee line to the Deschutes Brewpub.

Deschutes The Abyss - Hmm...Abyss on tap. Tastes of molasses and much less sweet than say Darkness. Caramelly and awesome. Another good beer that is roughly the color of Hershey.

A+

One more Hershey Memorial Brew: Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence Belgian 10th Anniversary Stout. This was a big winner, and by FAR my favorite Ommegang I've ever had. Brown and chocolately with a little bit of a bite to it, just like Hershey. This is an A/A+ Stout.

Also, I got a new laptop today with a built in webcam...here's my attempt at a video toast:

Hershey Memorial Beer Round 2

Going with the tribute to dogs theme, I figure I would break this one out.

Southern Tier Choklat Imperial Chocolate Stout - Chocolate aroma, chocolate taste, chocolate mouthfeel...a little thin on the body, but really good nonetheless. Reminds me of Hershey and makes me sad...

A

Another Beer for Hershey

I thought this one was appropriate to the occasion, both in its formality and chocolate-ness: Sam Adams Chocolate Bock. This is pretty good, although not overly chocolate-y. The flavor really came out as it warmed up though. Its reminiscent of a java porter to me. I'd have another. B+

Here's to all our dogs

Memorial Beer

I'm sad to report that we had to put Hershey to sleep today. His health had been declining rapidly for the last month and we decided it was time to let go :(

So, in memory of Hershey we decided to splurge on the good stuff at Brasserie V.

Cantillon Saint Lamvinus - This one is a vinous grape lambic. It is very pleasantly sour with a taste and aroma similar to sour grape juice (in a good way). An excellent fruit lambic.

A

Best Harvest/Fresh Hop yet

Found another one that I've been eagerly awaiting last night at the new Sahara Mart: Great Divide Fresh Hop. This is the best yet of the fresh hop beers I've had. SUPER hoppy... really did taste like I was biting into a hop that had been soaked in hop juice. Very fresh and crisp tasting also, but at the same time very sticky and citrusy. I would expect everyone would like this (although Barry will probably inexplicably not like it, despite the fact it was seemingly created solely with him in mind). Grade: A/A+

Barley Island...my how you blow

Also from Tuesday:
Barley Island Barfly IPA. To be fair, this wasn't totally horrible, but it was certainly unmemorable and below average. I have nothing much to say about this. Another bad Barley Island. I think they're about to be on the list as well.
Grade: C-

Mmmmm...bastard-y

From Tuesday:

Finally got to have the elusive Stone Double Bastard I've been wanting for about a year. It lived up to expectations. I really liked it. (In fact, I went to Big Red today to get a 3 liter one to serve as a Thanksgiving cornucopia, but discovered they were $79 so I nixed that plan). Double Bastard confirms the mathematical theorem that 2 is, in fact, >1.
Grade: A+

Coffee + bell peppers

From Monday:

I found this (rare? new?) Dark Horse the other day at the Hop Shop in Indy. Perkulator Coffee Dopplebock. It's pretty tasty. Definite coffee and toffee flavors, although it had a really bizarre smell that, to me (Katie couldn't confirm this), smelled exactly like cooked bell peppers. That wasn't part of the taste, but was an overwhelming whiff of weirdness to me. It didn't really detract from the experience though. I liked it. I'll give it an A-

Super-aged beer

I'm behind again and catching up all at once. This one is from Sunday:

Found this Sam Adams Triple Bock at the new beer store the other day. Didn't know anything about it but it looked cool in a little bottle slightly bigger than airplane wine. This is a super-big port-like beer whose closest cousin is probably Dogfish World Wide Stout. Similar chocolately, port-wine flavor and alcohol punch in the face. Also hints of caramel, maple syrup, and raisins/plums. It's a sipper...I've been working on it for about 2 hours now, but still enjoying it. I just looked this up on Beer Advocate, and I guess it hasn't been made since 1997 so this is at least 11 years old. It still tastes great, although the inside of the bottle is now caked with some pretty gross funk. Hopefully I won't die tomorrow. Grade: A-

ps...if anyone wants one of these let me know-I think they had a few more on the shelf and they were only 6 bucks. I'm guessing its a bit too much a.b.v. for you guys though ;)

Thomas Hardy's Ale

This was a pretty rare find. I bought it from a basement bar in State College called The Brewery, which is about the dankest urine-est smelling place I've ever been too. It's like, if The Pub on State Street had a shed, and that shed had its own shed and in the shed of the shed of The Pub there was a basement and in that basement there was a bar called the Brewery. I'm talking about The Dank. The guy behind the counter said they've had a case of Thomas Hardy's Ale for about three years (the vintage is 2004).

Having said all of that, the beer was fun to drink, since I've never had anything quite like it. Very sweet and raisony and surely higher than the 11.7% ABV listed on the bottle. It was not beer; more like brandy. Basically flat. Again, fun to drink. One per year seems about right.

Grade: A-.

Single Greatest Beer I've Ever Had

I'm almost at a loss for words to describe the spendor that is Founder's Backwoods Bastard. If you can find this anywhere, please, please buy all they have. I will buy anything you don't want. There were only 2 bottles at the store when I got this and they said they wouldn't be getting any more in :(

So, this is a bourbon barrel ale. What that means to you is that it tastes like a Stone Oaked Bastard blended with your favorite bourbon stout. It's like someone poured a bunch of vanilla extract into the stone, and blended it with some vanilla icecream. It's like a bear float. I'm in heaven. So smooth, so flavorful, wow. Not to mention one of the coolest labels ever. They guy on the label looks like the old man who lived in the Wooley Swamp way back in booger woods. (He didn't do a lot of harm in the world, he just never did do no good). If you don't know what I'm talking about, ask Duane.

A+ is too low a grade for this one. It is in the true pantheon of beer champions. Founders does it again!

Edit: This was so good that after I finished it I just rinsed the bottle out and drank the watered down dregs. I know that's sad and pathetic, but it should tell you something. I honestly can't recommend it enough.

Good beer from Texas

Yet another overexposed picture brought to you by my crappy camera phone.

Saint Arnold's Divine Reserve #5 - Aroma is pure bitter chocolate. This might be the most chocolaty beer I've had. It kinda reminds me of the Stone's 12th Anniversary, but this one is better. Although I think this beer is kinda old, so maybe the age has improved the flavor. Very tasty

A

Back to college

The Kettle House was an upstart brew house when I was in Missoula. You could stop by for a pint or growler, or buy ingredients and brew there. Their Double Haul IPA is good. It's way malty and creamy, with just enough hops to finish the deal. Plus, I dig the whole can revolution.

B +

Real Freshlike

Deschute's Hop Trip tastes of very fresh grassy hops and mild citrus, is mellow and EXTREMELY easy to drink.

A -

Lots of catching up to do....

This is going to be a mega post with several days worth. In related news, I found a new beer store in Indy last night (The Hop Shop) which had a pretty amazing selection. I arrived after closing time but they let me in anyway. So, I rushed and didn't get as much as I might have, but there are some cool review coming this week, including this one from tonight (I'll make my way back in time and reconstruct my week of beer)

Boulder Beer Obovoid an oak-aged imperial oatmeal stout or "empirical stout" as stated on the label. This was a good one...it has the mellow vanilla oak flavor and smooth oatmeal flavor but still has a little raspy bite. Not in my top 5 stouts, but well above average. It's an A grade beer, just not quite up to the level of competition of some of the other ones we've had this year.

Also tonight: Barley Island Beastie Barrel Stout. Another local Indiana beer (Indianapolis) that totally misses the mark on oak aged stouts. Almost every good one I've had (the Boulder and the Yeti jump to mind) the oak makes the flavor smoother and sweeter with vanilla-ish bourbon-y goodness. This version is sharper and more acidic. It reminds me of the acid-y, smokey taste in my lungs from a fireplace fire with the crappy (possibly treated) wood from the gas station or grocery store. A major letdown. C

Last night: Had a few Two Hearted's (Always a winner in my book A) and the new Bud American Ale. The Bud was horrible. I'm glad I satisfied my curiosity, but it was not good at all. D+

Thursday: Another Allagash, this time the Grand Cru. I expected to like this more than the Dubbel but actually liked it less. Kind of unpleasant. Not my favorite Allagash at all. C

Tuesday: Went out to celebrate passing the proposal. Had Founder's Breakfast on tap (even better from the keg than the bottle...I think it might have been on a nitro tap-It seemed VERY creamy...grade: A) and Hell Hath no Fury on tap (about the same as the bottle... I've been liking it less and less the more I've had Grade: B )

Monday: Three Floyd's Munsterfest. A funky "floydified" octoberfest. I'm not a huge octoberfest fan to begin with, and this version didn't really do a whole lot for me. Typical floyd's beer verdict for me: glad I tried it, won't have it again. C-

Sometime over the weekend: Browning's She Devil Imperial IPA. Another sub-par showing from Brownings. They're officially off my list now. This was ok, but nothing special. For beer in general it was maybe a B+ but in the IIPA category it was more like a C+.

Harvest Time

Founder's Harvest Ale is odd. It's hefeweizen-esque with some really sweet flavors, like fresh squeezed oranges and lemons. The fresh hop beers are a different beast, as the hops have a different flavor quality. It's not nearly as good as I remember, in fact, it's a bit sour as well.
There was an odd fizz upon opening the bottle, so maybe this one's not a bit off. I'll re-rete if necessary, but for now......

C+

A posting of several beers

I'm working on a Bell's Kalamazoo Stout instead of working on my applications. Tastes okay. There is some coffee flavor but I can't detect the brewer's licorice which the bottle says is present. Grade: BC.

Earlier today I tried mixing one of my Nugget Pale's with a Hop Back Amber Ale. Here is a picture of the result. Didn't taste great. Didn't taste bad.

Had a Sam Adam's Intense Pilsner. It was intense, I'll give them that. Grade: BC.

On election night I had a Brooklyn Local One. I like this beer a lot. But it is not great. Grade: B (trending toward an AB).

Even Barack Digs the IPA

Russian River Blind Pig is good.

A

Dissertation Proposal Passed!

In the immortal words of Brian Johnson:

Whiskey, gin and brandy
With a glass I'm pretty handy
I'm trying to walk a straight line
On sour mash and cheap wine
So join me for a drink boys
We're gonna make a big noise
So don't worry about tomorrow
Take it today
Forget about the tip
We'll get hell to pay
Have a drink on me!

Homebrew Tasting

Back from a Sposborth Tasting Event in Reston over the weekend. We had Coffee Stout, Java Stout, Whiskey Stout, Whiskey Stout II, Belgian Pale, Pilsner, Chocolate Biscuit and most excitingly a Java/Whiskey Blend, which turned out to be a 'gusher' (first ever in fact). Opened the bottle and whoosh it was like opening a bottle of Champagne.
To the right is the Sposborth Nugget IPA, which was also tried over the weekend. Not balanced at all: bitter, one dimensional. (The only hops are nugget and the only malt was plain two row pale malt.) Icky.

After all the non-IPA I had over the weekend, I am happy to be drinking a Brooklyn East India Pale Ale. Also note my new glasses, which I label as Irrelevant Beer Purchase No. 3,171.

Tastes great to me. Grade A.

Halfstravaganza - A Hop Lover's Dream

Duane is the man. All attendees of this weekend's Halfstravaganza were treated to an outright glorious tribute to the all-mighy hop.

Town Hall- Fresh Hop - A hop punch to the face, followed by a hop jab to the gut, ending with a hop punch to ball sack. No balance, all hops, bitter and delicious as hell. A

Port Brew -Hop 15 - Sweeter, more potent but hides the alcohol well. A double that doesn't give into massive booziness in taste. I like that. A -

Russian River- Pliny the Elder - The easiest drinking double IPA I have ever drank. Mellow citrus, lovely clen finish, awesome in it's relative simplicity. A

Alpine Beer Company- Pure Hoppiness - Hoppy and very creamy. Hints of honey? Hopslamish. A -

Surly - Darkness - Most complicated beer I have ever tasted. Whiskey, vanilla, hops, brownies, melted ice cream? Very sweet, very different, very good. A +