Hop nest monster

With a name like that, you'd hope for something not this gross.
Because this is, in fact, quite gross. A Drainpour special.

Will travel for beer

Spent time at Lagunitas and Russian River yesterday. Very different places would be an understatement. At Lagunitas, if you say you'd like a tour, they basically take you up to this party room and pour you whatever you want for an hour and a half. I was rather strange. Then, when the tour started, we just stepped out and went to Russian River. Did I mention all the free beer? At Russian River they had the nerve to make us pay for beer. Sat at the bar, tried the 12 beer sampler, ate surprisingly good pizza, and drank more Pliny and Temptation. Blend of Consecration and Temptation was killer. Off on day 2.........

Mmmmm....darkness

Real acid?

Crazy Canadian Stouts and my Snuggie

Eat your heart out Duane Ellington. Snuggie's in effect, along with a mellow, yet very smooth and rich, roasted Imperial Stout. God bless our backwards neighbors to the north.

Cass

Went to a German styled bar last night called Oktoberfest. Before going out, I was under the impression I was attending an actual Oktoberfest.

The beer was kind of shitty, but not terrible. So far, the brewpubs I've been to have given me a hangover and in general sucked. And all have been all-you-can-drink for "man won" (about 8 US dollars). My kingdom for an American Double IPA.

The people I was with were western (mostly American) a-holes. Haven't found any good beers or friends yet. To wit: one of the guys got us in trouble for throwing breadsticks at another table. WTF? It reminded me of the time I was at the terrace with Mel, Mark, Kristen and some others when a guy at our table stole the jacket from the drummer of the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash. And then threw firecrackers into the crowd behind us.

Haven't had an IPA, driven a car, or used a fork in four weeks.

All is not bad, however. Hiked my fifth mountain in Korea on Friday and then ate an incredible feast afterward. Viva Pork. Makkoli is my favorite traditional beverage here.

Drinking a Cass, which if you read the can says, "SOUND OF VITALITY." Your guess is as good as mine.

Damn

This beer tastes like a caramel sundae, drizzled in chocolate, kissed by vanilla, and smacked by coffee. Make of that that this is delicious.

Fresh Hop, Some of you are real nice and some of you are pretty lame

This beer tastes like a fresh glass of carbonated orange juice with a dry champagne finish and a squeeze of lemon. Make of that what you will.

Round 2

Surly fest!

The friendly shopkeep threw this in from his private backroom reserve
for me-hope it's good

Plus a mystery box

Beer baron bootlegging day

Satisfaction Jacksin

Ale Asylum's Double IPA pours a nice ruby red with a mild citrus scent. Tastes of smokey malt and a hint of orange citric hops and ends with a slight alcohol burn and tingly carbonation. Expensive and my first impression is good but not great.

B -

Strange but true

I have a Carl Karlson in my class this semester. Sadly, no Lenny Leonard

B2BIPA2

Borth2Borth Double IPA in this house tonight

New Belgium Abbey Ale

Abbey Ale was on sale at the grocery store, so I got a 6 pack the other day...have been working my way through it. Much better than a Fat Tire, much worse than a Pere Jacques. Sigh.

Potent and potable, but not great.

Dark Days

Uber dark pour loses its head quicker than Anne Boleyn.

Sweet malts, subdued chocolate, and a fruity berry quality rule the nose.

Taste is far less muddled that my initial tasting after DLD, when this beer was a hot, diesel mess. Dark Lord grips the tongue with a vibrant sweetness. Strong cranberry presence, muted coffee, dab of chocolate, topped with vanilla. A biting tartness slips in at the end, confirming the cranberry essence that I've only experienced with Darkness. Interesting. Strangely, there are qualities that remind me of a Dairy Queen sundae replete with strawberry topping.

Consistency of a sundae topping, though not as full as I'd expect. A bit thin, but very oily/syrupy at the same time: more olive oil than 10W30.

Alcohol is very well hidden and I truly believe this bottle has benefited from a bit of time to settle down.