Scratch Series 19

First of all, Coolest Growler Ever. The picture doesn't show it, but there is a big-ass handle strapped to the growler.

So I drove down to Troegs for Scratch 19 today. The batch size was smaller than expected, so only available in growler form. Because I know how you like-a the hard to find stuff, I hand bottled most of it. Will carbonation survive?

We have another entry for the stout-off at beerfest.

Golden Promise 2: Full Throttle

Inspired by Barry diggin into the archive, and feeling the spirit of Sposborth, I am cracking a more mature homebrewed delight after two months or so in the bottle in my closet. I am happily surprised at the improvement.

There is a notable alcohol aroma and citrusy and balanced flavor. (Think Hopslam.) Even though it was the intention, an IPA this is not.

I'm not sure the picture shows it, but the color is much improved and so is the clarity.

I had been pretty down on all grain brewing, but bottle conditioned beers really can improve. There is a lot more where this came from and it will be ready for beerfest.

My best beer. Holla!

Why Must A Go-To Beer, Now that I have one, be unavailable? It's Bullshit.

I like Nugget Nectar. It's got a juicy home brew quality, it's a bit mellow in the big beer world, and I could, and would like to, drink it for hours.

Hazy orange pour, indeed nectary

Hops on the nose, pineapple juice and fresh ripe pear. Nice.

Ripe fruit on the tongue, again with the pear, but there's more here. Really vibrant: peach, nectarine, and oddly some perfume quality, followed by a malty punch and back of the mouth bitterness to finish her off.

Multi faceted beer starts a bit thin, rolls thickish and creamy, and finishes bitter clean, but a bit watery.

A

I'm thankful for the opportunity to drink this. While it may not stand up to some big IPA's , this beer stands strong in it's style and is a treat.

Mystery Sposborth

Prepour
Midpour
Almost full
Finished
I have a plain bottle labeled OD DS (1) on the cap in black marker. What will I be drinking?

Update from the brewer

I am pleasantly surprised by the Odds and Ends Stout. This has been in the bottle for about six months. The head is on par with a nitrous poured Guinness.

There were no coffee additions to this batch, I think, but I could be wrong. I will look at the archives.

I detect the rubber flavor too. I think this is the result of a too high mash temperature. The more recent version which is not bottled yet addresses this. I will bottle soon so that version 2 is ready for beerfest.

Pizza Reduxe

Sun-dried tomato pesto

Kalamata olives

Love

Tomato chunks

Fresh mozzarella

Under Appreciated, relatively speaking, Good Shit

Storm King is delicious, and hoppy, and malty, and smooth, and drinkable, and good. Three cheers for this fine, fine stout. I dig it because it isn't such a messy alcohol bomb that you're supposed to love because only your grandma can purchase it on one day, with super secret availibilty involving color coded tickets and hoarding and ricockulus hype, and people drooling through their computer screens at the wonders of this mega souped up sludge that people will happily give a testicle to try, or possibly their entire scrotum to trade for. It's just a good fuckin' stout. That is all.

Strong A

Stoudts Double IPA

• Pine, pineapple, grass
  
• Sweet; chewy
  
• Extremely pale
  
• Serious competition for Nugget Nectar; probably better
  
• Grade: A
  

Mead

Who wants to brew me up some mead? It's apparently a beverage on the ... grow!

Old Standbys

Been busy lately, so we have been falling back to the old standbys. Duane has really been enjoying the Bitter Woman in the Rye from Tyranena while I have been sticking with New Glarus. The Black Wheat, Berliner Weiss (new batch is even better), Crack'd Wheat and the Imperial Saison (even Duane likes this one and he hates Saisons) are all excellent. New Glarus beers are one of the good things about living in Wisconsin. Duane did pick up a case of the Berliner Weiss and he does think that it is a beer you can hang on to for awhile. We may even pick up another case, as you never are quite sure when New Glarus will switch production lines.

Last weekend we did crack a Strawberry lambic from Upland. Unfortunately it turned out to be a drain pour. Not much sour or strawberry taste at all. We did enjoy a BORIS, which was tasty as usual.

What does everyone else consider as their old standbys?

My Apologies to Any Offended Catholics, or Death Eaters Worshipping the "Other Lord" for that Matter

What's the overall consensus on the Dark Lord?

Pizza Night in America

One step closer to my ultimate goal of running a brew pub/pizza parlor. This is best pizza I've ever made. Whole wheat crust. Made the sauce too. W/ caramelized onions and mushrooms.

Upland beer fest during Southdowns beer fest

Just wanted to alert everyone to this:
http://www.uplandbeer.com/eventinfo.php

We might want to put in an appearance. I think there are going to be a lot of guest beers as well as the upland stuff. Also, for you traders, this might be an opportunity to set something up?

Pete, find me one of these please!

This seems to be from NJ...keep an eye out!

Friday night, it's alright

Duane and I stopped at the Malthouse for a beer before dinner. Duane tried the Red Eye Bloom, a wit beer from Wausau. It was quite tasty, heavily spiced including clove and coriander. I had an Atomium Grand Cru, kind of a cheesy label, but a tasty 8% Belgium all the same.

Let the Debate Begin

I'm drinking Founders Breakfast Stout and Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout back-to-back.

Which is better and why?