December 25

December 25 - Goose Island Christmas Ale (Vintage from 2012)

 

As the blog comes to a temporary close (I'll keep doing this, just under a different post title), I first of all hope you enjoyed coming to see what I had to think about various types of beers.  I am no expert, but I had a blast giving you my thoughts, and of course tastes, on beers you may want to try.

 

After the hustle and bustle of watching two children open gifts and be ecstatic for everything that they received, as well as traversing to various family get togethers today, I feel that I deserve a beer.  I just hope that I make it to the end before I finish the beer and this blog post.  I'm exhausted!

 

At least none of the visits ended up like this today

 

For the Christmas night nightcap, we have a bottle of Goose Island Christmas Ale, which is a bottle from 2012.  I guess it's called vintage that way, but I'm just going on what I see others call it.  From what I gather, according to their website, Goose Island has replaced this with another Brown Ale called Sixth Day.

 

This Brown Ale (7.3%) pours a reddish-brown with a thin, creamy white head at the top.  The aroma is obviously a strong caramel that is sweet, not bitter.  It reminds me of the aroma I get with some tripel-style brews (strangely enough...).  The taste is very malty and hearty with a mix of various malts.  Brown sugar can be tasted here too.  The finish is sweet followed by a slight bitterness that sets in after the fact. 

 

Overall, I'm not a huge fan of brown ales.  I'll drink them, but they're not my first choice on the shelf.  However, 'tis the season for Christmas-related things, and with that said, I would purchase this beer again.  I wouldn't drink more than 2 of them at a sitting, mainly because the sweet caramel flavor would quickly get to me.  Appreciating this for what it is, I have to give this beer a 3.5/5.  The spices make it unique for a brown ale.

 

December 24

December 24 - Criminally Bad Elf

 

Merry Christmas Eve to all!  Tonight, I won't take too much of your time.  We have this evening, from Ridgeway Brewing (from the United Kingdom), an English Barleywine - Criminally Bad Elf.

 

Since the elves are running amuck tonight getting gifts ready for Santa's sleigh, they will probably need a stiff drink tomorrow night (or day, depending on time zone I guess...).  This is for them!  Clocking in at 10.5% ABV, this barleywine style ale is bound to relax those high-strung elves.

 

The aroma is very indistinct.  I got caramel and some toffee notes as well as slight hints of cherry.  The photo below does the pour pretty good justice.  Didn't have the right glass for the job, but it did just fine.  There was a decent amount of white head on the beer as it poured a reddish-orange color.

 

This brew was very malty along with some cherry flavor.  There was nothing distinct that I could pull from the taste other than that.  I guess I should mention that the alcohol was very well hidden for a 10+ beer!  Most barleywines are very flavorful, whereas this one was not.  Also, there wasn't much hoppiness to this beer at all. 

 

Don't confuse that with not being any good.  If you want to try a barleywine style beer without the in-your-face alcohol taste, this may be a good starting point for that.  If you're more into flavorfully explosive barleywines, you may want to pass on this one.

 

Taste is in the eye of the beer-holder here!  I'll stay neutral and give it a 3 out of 5.

 

Merry Christmas Eve!!

December 23

December 23 - Manyunk's Festivus Ale

 

In honor of the fictitious holiday made famous by the sitcom Seinfeld, tonight we are enjoying a Festivus Ale (7% ABV) from Manyunk Brewing Company out of Philadelphia.  I'm going to quote the can here because it is just pretty cool:

 

"Every year we brew a single batch of this holiday warmer using an original recipe thus making each year unique.  The rich plum and raisin flavor in this batch is certainly a feat of strength while the complex spice profile shouldn't be included in anyone's airing of grievances."

 

What is Festivus, you ask?  Let's allow Mr. Constanza to tell you...

 

 

Paying some homage to the show there, along with what to expect from this beer.  Plums?  Really?  That's a new one for me.  The raisin flavor I've had before with Dogfish Head's Raison D'Etre, so I had an idea what to expect with that...but plums?  Strange...but interesting!

 

Like many of the other Christmas Ales and Winter Warmers that I've had this past month, the spice aroma was also present with this brew.  Cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon are noted as this beer pours a reddish copper with a very (and I mean very) thin bead of head at the top.  Once or twice I also got a roasty aroma with this beer. 

 

As for the taste, I definitely was able to identify the plums right off the bat.  However, they really mellowed out throughout the rest of the experience.  I didn't really taste them too much after the initial sip.  From there, I got a malty sweet taste with definite raisin flavor.  I'm assuming the majority of the sweetness was the plum flavor I tasted initially.  As I continued with the rest of the glass, the raisin flavor became more prominent.  After the malts coated my tongue, it was difficult to detect the plum.  This beer finishes with just a hint of bitterness, which balances well with the rest of the beer.

 

I'll give this beer a solid 3.5 out of 5!

 

I'll look for this beer again next year, but I guess, according to what I read on the can, it will be different next year.  This at least makes me want to try something else from this brewery. 

 

So, from Mr. Constanza himself, we wish you a Happy Festivus!

 



 

My wife tried to help me make our own Festivus pole in the background...we cheaped out and used an empty wrapping paper roll because that's what was leftover at the end of the day...

December 22

December 22 - Founder's Imperial Stout

 

Reaching into the back of the fridge this evening...what did I find?  We're going vintage tonight!  All the way from January 2013.  Hey, that's a lot in "beer time."  I found a 10.5% ABV Founder's Russian Imperial Stout!  I got this bad boy (and its 23 friends) from my brother and sister in law for birthday #31.  Why do I still have it, you ask?  Because I forgot I even had it to be quite honest.

 

This beer pours a deep black color with some dark brown head that doesn't show up until the beer settles down in the glass.  Something I don't usually see with beer very often.  The quality ingredients used by this brewing company leave a very fancy lacing on the inside of the glass.  The aroma gives me huge roasted chocolate as well as sweet coffee notes.

 

Founder's recommends drinking this at cellar temperature (50-55 degrees), however I decided to go against the grain and start drinking at about 38 degrees.  To be fair, I decided to drink this slowly (not just to pace myself) to see what changes there were as the beer warmed up.  There were definitely some to be noted.

 

From the fridge (at 38 degrees) this beer gave me a dark roasted coffee flavor with a complex malt profile (10 varieties of barley) which confuses, yet entertains the palate.  There is a strong alcohol bite at the end of this beer that warms and quickly mellows due to an offsetting hop bitterness.

 

As the beer warmed in my stout glass, the richness of the coffee flavor became much more robust.  The alcohol bite at the end nearly vanished into a slightly hoppy espresso bite.  It almost made me want another, but I figured one of these was enough for tonight.

 

Overall, if you're a stout lover and haven't had this beer yet (RateBeer gives it a 100 rating, for what it's worth...) I have one word for you: Must-Have.

 

That's two words you say?  Nope, it's hyphenated (at least for tonight).

 

Since this is a Russian theme now, I give this beer 4.5/5 matryoshkas...pretend the smallest one counts at 0.5.

 

 

 

December 21

 December 21 - Rogue Santa's Private Reserve

 

Taking things down a notch tonight after a Christmas party last night (Mad Elf last night was enough for me!).  A new beer for me, Rogue's Santa's Private Reserve, is a double-hopped red ale that pours with a nice head to it. 

 

I got very little from the aroma of this beer.  There is a mild amount of spiciness and maybe a biscuit aroma, but other than that, I got nothing.  The mouth feel of this beer is roasted and very malty.  The maltiness stays with you as you drink it while it finishes with a mild hop bitterness at the end.  As I continued to drink this beer, the hop finish got thicker and thicker on my palate.

 

Overall, if this is Santa's Private Reserve that he saves for this time of year, he clearly isn't a connoisseur of beer.  There really isn't anything that stands out here.  At 6% ABV, he must have a few and still manage to get and the work done for all of the good little girls and boys.  I guess he wouldn't want to be stumbling all over the place while managing those elves.  They'd probably run amuck and actually start doing those things that parents stage for the Elf on the Shelf pictures they throw on Facebook (you have way too much time on your hands by the way...).

 

  I'll let Frosty rate this one accordingly (he looks thirsty in the background, doesn't he?) with a Ho Ho Ho! out of a possible Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho! (3 out of 5 if you don't see what I did there).

 

 

Frosty says, "mmmm..."

December 20

December 20 - Troegs Mad Elf

 

Holiday Christmas party...bad music...mad elf...nuff said!!

 

The beer I look forward to at the holiday season is this 11% ABV from Troegs. Mad Elf, a Belgian Dark Strong Ale, is just what you need if getting through an event with family is in need (not that I did...just saying if YOU do...).

 

The aroma is mild with some tart cherry and slight sweetness (from the honey).  The pour is a slightly red caramel color with very little head.  The mouth feel is carbonated with a sweet caramel taste. There is a tart cherry bite at the end with a warming alcohol feeling all the way down.  

 

Thank god I found a 6 pack of this in my cabinet from last year. A well aged mad elf is in my future this holiday season for sure!!

 

Can't wait to enjoy more of this over the next few days!!

 

 

December 19

 December 19 - Founder's Harvest Ale

 

After last night's choice, I figured that this was bound to trump that mess...and dear Lord did it ever!

 

Out of Michigan, this brewery has yet to disappoint me with any of their beer styles, especially the IPAs.  I enjoy their Breakfast Stout, Imperial Stout, and the various IPAs they make.  This American IPA is a 7.6% ABV beer and is wet-hopped.  The wet-hopping uses fresh hops instead of those lighter, dry ones.  The use of fresh hops in this process add a wonderful hop profile to the beer.

 

This beer pours a hazy yellow with a light, white head at the top.  The aroma is slightly hoppy with some fruity tones to it.  The taste is outstanding!  The hops resonate throughout this beer, yet they are not too bitter.  I get pine, citrus (especially orange), and earthy flavors from the hops here.  The finish of this beer is very smooth and not overly hoppy.  However, as a hop-connoisseur who loves the hop bite, the mixture and abundance of flavors are enough to keep me happy even without being too hoppy.

 

Worst part about this beer is that I drank it like a session ale (sub 5% ABV).  It's not even close.  Yet it went down smooth like one.  Wait...that's not a bad thing.  On the other hand it is...it was gone too fast.

 

4.5 out of 5 hops tonight!

 

 

December 18

 December 18 - Blue Moon Short Straw - Farmhouse Red Ale

 

I really wasn't too excited about this beer when I pulled it out of the fridge tonight, but I figured Christmas is red, the label is red, and tonight, my sweatshirt is red.  So, let's do it.

 

From the Expressionist Collection (not really sure what that is...) from Blue Moon, this Farmhouse Red Ale checks in at 5.4% ABV.  There is a sweet, yet tart cherry aroma with this deep red-colored beer.  The more I smell it, the more it kind of reminds me of a V8...maybe there's some tomato in there too?

 

The taste is just OK.  There is a tart finish to the beer at the end, with some lingering cherry taste to it as well...not sweet cherry either.

 

This blog post is blah.  This beer is blah. If this was the only choice for a beer I had, I may think about drinking water or soda instead.  I said before that I'd try anything once...this probably won't get a second shot (unless there's no water or soda at the hypothetical gathering).  Guess I was the one who drew the short straw...

 

 

 

2 Sad Christmas trees for a 2 out of 5 rating

 



December 17

 December 17 - Heavy Seas Loose Cannon

 

Skipping the Christmas theme for the evening to get my IPA fix for the next couple of days...sorry if you're disappointed.  I also decided to use my fancy Dogfish Head/Sierra Nevada collaboration IPA glass for the occasion (a nice gift for any hophead out there, by the way!).

 

Tonight we'll take a look at an American IPA from Heavy Seas (Clipper Brewing Company), out of Baltimore, MD.  With IPAs, for me, they're either really aromatically hoppy, really bitter hoppy, or a tender balance of the two.  Ladies and gentlemen, we have a very balanced IPA on our hands here.

 

It's definitely an IPA, but the aroma threw me for a loop, so I had to cheat a little tonight to figure out what the heck I was smelling.  It was a little different than I was used to for an IPA.  I decided to fire up my Rate Beer app, and see what others were saying about this.  As I read some of the reviews, some of them are way off and I completely disagree, but one review unlocked the aroma, at least for my nose.  The aroma was definitely hop-filled (not overpowering), but there was a sweet, apple-like aroma here too.

 

The body of the beer was very smooth with some caramel maltiness throughout.  The hop flavor lingered on the palate for a while, but it wasn't a hop bitterness.  There is almost a fruity finish with this beer too.  A smooth drinking IPA through and through.  At 7.25% ABV, I'm really liking this beer.  It's not your normal run of the mill IPA for sure.  I'd venture to say that if you're not an IPA fan, this may be something to try because you're possibly going to be surprised.  Maybe, just maybe, you'll venture into the world of flowery goodness...probably not, but it's worth a shot anyway!

 

 

There's your Christmas theme for this evening!

 

 

December 16

December 16 - Hoppin' Frog Frosted Frog Christmas Ale

 

Seeing that I didn't have a theme for today's choice, I just picked the prettiest bottle in the fridge and popped it open tonight.  The winner was Frosted Frog Christmas Ale from Hoppin' Frog Brewing Company (from Ohio).  This brewery is relatively new to me.  The only things that I've seen from them are bombers at my local bottle shop.  I've had their Gangster Frog IPA and Double Pumpkin before which I was pleased with so I figured I needed to give them another go 'round with a different type of brew.

 

Another winter warmer here, but I think lately I'm picking brews without those god-forsaken cloves (I guess I'm getting lucky because I'm sure not reading the bottles that closely when I purchase them).  According to the bottle, this has cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg (SWEET! NO CLOVE!).  There is a definite nutmeg and cinnamon aroma with this brew.  The ale pours a translucent caramel color with very little head. 

 

For me, this is a very smooth drinking winter warmer (and we all know how I LOVE winter warmers...maybe they're growing on me...?).  The mixture of spices is far from overwhelming.  Honestly, I notice the cinnamon the most out of all of the spices used.  There is some lingering nutmeg on the palate with a brown sugar and molasses taste as well.

 

Yet again, the alcohol is well hidden.  There is a slight warming sensation with this beer, but at 8.6% ABV, it makes sense that something should be there. 

 

So, my gift to you, this beer's rating checks in at a 4 out of 5.

 

Yay! Presents!

December 15

December 15 - Sam Adams Merry Maker

 

The night is right for baking Christmas cookies.  The night is also right for drinking cookie beer.  Gingerbread stout to be specific.  Honestly, I felt left out of the cookie baking so I wanted to feel like I contributed, so I busted this beer out for all of the cookie makers (and non-makers) in my house tonight.

 

With a few guest tasters in attendance tonight, they all had various viewpoints on this beer.  Two out of the three guests enjoyed the brew.  The third (who was the oldest and not a connoisseur of beer, to say the least) told me it tasted like motor oil.  She was excused from her opinions after that comment. 

 

This beer pours an opaque black color with a coffee colored head.  The aroma gives a strong roasted coffee bean aroma with some gingerbread as well (at least I think it does...I'm excited for gingerbread so I may be biased here...).  There is a very sweet taste here that coats and warms the palate, just in time for the cold, winter months.  There is a slight clove taste with a touch of molasses (at least according to one of my guest tasters who enjoyed the brew).  There is a coffee/espresso finish (according to my other guest taster) with virtually no hop bite at the end. 

 

At 9% ABV, get comfy at home and enjoy this wonderful beer.

 

 

mmmm....cookies...AND beer....

December 14

December 14 - Sierra Nevada's DevESTATEtion

Devastation outside!  Snow everywhere!  I don't know exactly how the people at Sierra Nevada felt when they lost their barley crop this past year and named this beer in honor/remembrance of that, but I can imagine.  OK, really I can't, but that's besides the point.

Anyway, starting things off with this beer...getting into this beer was a different challenge.  I guess the folks at Sierra Nevada were mad that their crop got ruined, so they didn't want the same thing to happen to the beer too.  The top of the bottle, including bottle cap, was sealed in a black wax.  Carefully using a knife, I whittled down the wax in order to expose the cap.  Don't worry, all 5 of my fingers are intact.

 

When pouring this beer, the head on this thing was really thick.  I thought it was my poor pour, but each glass after that did the same thing (I got 2.5 glasses out of this bomber!).  The head stayed with this beer the entire time too.  It got thin, but never completely disappeared.

 

As for the aroma, there was some roasted chocolate and earthy aroma with hints of citrus.  Taste-wise, there were no surprises here.  This brew tasted exactly how it smelled.  There wasn't a ton of hop-bite at the end either.  A very smooth drinking IPA (6.7% ABV) for sure.  My wife tried it (who hates IPAs by the way), and was actually pleased with it.    

Take that drought!  4.5/5 for this Black IPA!



December 13

 December 13 - Breckenridge Christmas Ale

 

Wife went shopping, time to get to work!

 

From Breckenridge Brewery out of Colorado, tonight we have Christmas Ale.  The beer pours a deep caramel color with very little head on top.  The aroma reminds me of a tripel-style beer.  This American Strong Ale clocks in at 7.4% ABV.  The alcohol is very well hidden in this beer.

 

I got to be honest.  This beer doesn't really have a whole lot going on (or maybe my palate is off tonight...I did start the night off with a glass of Braaaiins).  There are some spices in there, but I have no clue what they are.  Many of the other reviews on this beer said the same exact thing.  According to Breckenridge, I'm supposed to get caramel and chocolate.  I guess I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, but it doesn't taste like a Twix bar or anything that has chocolate and caramel mixed together to me. 

 

Don't get me wrong, this beer is a smooth drinking strong ale with very well-disguised alcohol.  Overall, it's not a bad brew.  If you're looking for a stronger ale, with not too much alcohol bite, this is for you.  Not to mention, the price point isn't too shabby either!

 

Well...at least it's supposed to snow tomorrow, I guess???

 

Bumble sad about beer.  Bumble happy about snow.  Bumble confused...

 

 

December 12

December 12 - Old Forge Brewing Plowshare Porter

 

Well, it's hard to believe that this endeavor is halfway over after this blog post.  All good things must come to an end I guess (at least until next year).  Since we're not ending this yet, let's speak of that another day.

 

Tonight is a local beer from Old Forge Brewing Company in Danville.  My wife and I love heading over to OFBC for the food, atmosphere, and the variety of beers that this place has on tap.  The bad news is that we haven't been to the new brewpub since they've relocated.  The good news is that we are planning to do it in the near future (right Amanda?).

 

This brewery, as of last January, has begun selling to consumers in cans.  It seems to work out very well for them!  Well, the consumers benefit too, from a 16 oz. can instead of a 12 oz. can/bottle!

 

This beer wasn't quite what I expected from a porter.  I expected a heavy beer that would weigh me down and sit in my belly.  I got none of that.  This beer poured a deep brown color with a thick beige head at the top when poured from the can.  A slight roasty and earthy aroma were noted after this beer was poured.  As for the taste, it was a very smooth drinking porter with roasted and chocolate malts that were very evident.  Just a small bite of hops at the end finished off this porter.  Just like a typical porter, this weighs in at 5.7% ABV.

 

Tonight...I got nothing for witty wordplay or fun photos about the beer.  Just like the farmers who used a plow (with a plowshare), I'm all business tonight.

 

3.5/5

 

 

 

December 11

 

December 11 - Victory Brewing Company - Winter Cheers

 

After getting stuff done around the house, helping my wife put 2 kids to bed (she does most of the work, if I'm being honest), getting some Christmas shopping/gift making done, it's finally time to unwind...a little later this evening. 

 

Last week, I saw that my new favorite local bottle shop in Sunbury, Bottleworks, has this beer up on their Facebook page.  A new brew that I've never seen before, needless to say, I was intrigued.  This beer (according to Victory Brewing's website) is a holiday draft and 12 oz. bottle specialty.  As I said last night, I'll try anything once (or twice...)!

 

Long story short (since it's late), if you're a hefeweizen fan, you'll really like this winter ale.  It is all things hefeweizen; transparent, golden color, white head, clove and banana flavors, so on and so on.  This beer drinks so smooth, that at 6.7% ABV, if you had a 6 pack or case of this, you may be in trouble!  A very refreshing beer that, like a traditional hefeweizen, is reminiscent of warmer, summer days.  Seems strange to have this type of beer as a winter seasonal to me, but I'll definitely get it again! 

 

Noooooooooooooooorm! - Cheers
(Get it?)

 

 

December 10

December 10th - Slyfox Christmas 2013

 

Not quite sure why I keep doing this to myself without noticing.  Maybe it's because I like Slyfox beer.  Maybe it's because there was a fun spot on the back with a built in name tag area in case you wanted to give this as a gift (anyone that wants to get me Christmas gifts, take note...).

 

What exactly was I talking about above you ask?...nutmeg...allspice...cloves...AGAIN!  Maybe I should just read a label before purchasing a beer next time.  Honestly it's because I'm a sucker for an ugly Christmas sweater, which I will now be wearing to work in the morning thanks to this beer.  If you tell me you've never bought a beer because of its label, you sir/ma'am are a liar.  I'll admit it. I do more often than not if it's something that I've never had before.

 

Anyway, aside from my rambling, this beer isn't too bad.  It's not technically classified by untappd.com (which is a pretty cool app to keep track of the beers you've had, rate them and more...)as a "winter warmer," but given the "winter ale" tag instead.  This beer, right away, has those pesky nutmeg and clove notes in the aroma, which always frighten me.  Like I've said before, I'll try anything once...usually twice when it comes to beer since my palate has the occasional off-day (there I go rambling again).  It pours a nice reddish-copper color with a thin bead of head at the top.  The cinnamon in this beer helps (at least for me) to offset the clove and nutmeg flavor.  They are definitely there, especially lingering on the tongue after swallowed.  There are also some licorice notes that I get here too.

 

Yet again, I will be adding this beer to my own personal winter warmer category, like I did yesterday.  Definitely enjoying this beer at the moment as I settle in for the night and attempt to keep warm as the wind blows outside and temperatures plummet.  Maybe I should go throw my ugly sweater on to help keep warm too...?

 

 

 Thematic as always, I give this brew 3/5 ugly sweaters.  Which is your favorite?  

 

 

December 9th

December 9th - Sierra Nevada Celebration (2013)

 

Today marks the 7th anniversary of my wedding day to my wonderful and beautiful wife.  In honor of this, I figured I should stick with the themed beers at least for another day.  Not sure what tomorrow will hold just yet, but we'll figure that out later on.

 

According to Sierra Nevada, this IPA is brewed with the first hops of the growing season.  The beer pours a beautiful copper color with a very creamy, white head.  The aroma is very mild for an IPA... not very overpowering whatsoever.  These hops give the beer a very piney and citrusy taste, which is a great combination.  Due to the complexity of ingredients from Sierra Nevada in this beer, there isn't anything that really stands out flavor-wise (in case you were wondering, it does measure at 6.8% ABV).  Just a melding of flavors that make the beer very unique.  The hop bitterness lingers on the palate for a little while as well. 

 

This beer seems very fitting for my own personal "winter warmer" category.  I enjoy the IPA category as we all know already, but loathe the winter warmer (see December 3rd and December 4th posts).  The piney flavors remind me of the winter season, in a cabin, with snow on the ground (or maybe that's just the label...), while the beer itself (like most all IPAs) warms the entire throat as it is consumed.

 

 

Since it's a celebration, 4/5 party hats for this beer!  Hip Hip Hooray (Beer)!

 



 



December 8th

December 8th - Leinenkugel's Snowdrift Vanilla Porter

 

Seems appropriate for the day doesn't it?  Finally getting some worthwhile snow here in central PA, it only seemed fitting to twist a cap off of this newly found brew and see what it had in store.  Leinenkugel's never lets me down whether I'm in the mood for a wheat beer in the spring or summer, and now in the winter months, I have found yet another quality brew with this porter.

 

All of that being said, don't expect this beer to blow your taste buds away.  Like many of their beers, at least for me, it's a safe, middle-of-the-road beer that isn't a game-changer, but is a quality product that is reasonably priced for the craft beer market.

 

Obviously, since this is a porter, it poured very dark, with some slight, milky colored head.  There wasn't too much in this bland aroma, however, as I drank it, some weaker coffee notes began to come through.  Taste was clearly coffee, but not high-test.  The best way I could describe it would be a watered-down coffee flavor.  That sounds bad, but it really wasn't...unless you're expecting a punch-in-the-mouth-espresso-flavor.  Definitely a mild coffee flavor.  The vanilla flavors weren't overpowering either.  Once again, very mild.  Overall, a very smooth drinking porter.

 

I don't know if there is such a thing as a session porter at 6%, but this would be the next best thing if you're in the mood for more than one coffee-flavored porter/stout.

 

Frosty Sez:

 

 

Reflections Part 1

Week #1 - December 1st-7th

 

As I reflect on the week that was, I could get used to this...

December 7th

December 7th - Spring House Brewing Company - Big Gruesome Chocolate Peanut Butter Stout

 

Sounds awesome, right?  Well, it is.  I have had this beer numerous places, and it never disappoints...even after having it tonight.  More on that in a bit...

 

Saturday evening - Date night with my wife for our 7th wedding anniversary :)

 

If it was relevant to speak of the food and service, I would do so...however, I think I've said all you need to know already.  Honestly, if you're reading this blog, do you really care about how my dinner went?  No?  I agree...let's get to the beer!

 

Tonight, pouring this brew from the tap, there are heavy roasted chocolate notes along with some hints (at least I think) of peanut butter.  When sipping this very strong imperial/double stout (8.5% ABV) there, once again like last night (another Spring House beer - Braaaiins), is a ton of flavor on the palate.  Everything finishes with a bitter chocolate finish, however, not too bitter.  For me, it is almost like a dark chocolate bitterness.  After you've swallowed the sip of beer you are left with a coating of chocolate and peanut butter on the tongue (I'm cool with that...I like peanut butter).

I won't say where I was, but someone needs to clean the keg lines...with a rotating beer selection on hand, boasting of 30+ beers on tap at a time, you may want to pay attention to cleaning the lines in order to give a beer taster the correct flavor instead of a mixture of old, stale beer, and fresh, new, awesome beer...just sayin'...

 

Don't worry...I'm not mad.  I have a bomber of this in the beer kitchen too, for CLEAN consumption!

 

All things considered (except for dirty, dirty lines), this beer gets a 4/5 in my book!

 

Oops...I guess I kinda did say where I was, didn't I...? 

December 6th

December 6th - Spring House Braaaiins - Pumpkin Ale for Zombies

 

Birthday party + family + kids = Beer!!

 

I love this time of year for many reasons. Time with family, birthdays of my kids and wife, Thanksgiving, and last, but certainly not least, pumpkin beers!!  I wish that some companies would make pumpkin beer year round.  I guess there's something to be said for delayed gratification.

 

Straight from the keg tonight, this is, by far the best and most unique pumpkin beer I have ever had.  A cornucopia of ingredients are present in the aroma including, vanilla, cinnamon, and hints of chocolate.  A taste explosion occurs next with more vanilla, cinnamon, and of course, pumpkin. Just a kick of bitterness finishes things off with this beer.

 

It should go without saying that I will shed a tear when this keg is kicked...until I remember there is a bomber bottle still ready in my beer kitchen.

 

In honor of zombies everywhere, this beer gets a 4.5/5 rotting bodies (that's a great thing, in the zombie world by the way...).

December 5th

 December 5th - He'Brew Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A.

 

After two straight nights of winter warmers, (by the way, I was mistaken that last night's brew of choice...it wasn't technically a brown ale...) I thought I needed to get back to my roots...sort of...

 

India Pale Ale's are, by far, my favorite style of beer.  The first IPA that I ever had was at the beach, on vacation, quite a few years ago.  I took a sip and thought to myself, "Dear God, who wants to drink flowers?"  Now, IPAs are my go-to beer.  I haven't found too many IPAs that I don't like.  If I find a Double IPA it's an added bonus.  A Rye IPA is a variation of an IPA with more malty mouth feel.  Add them all up, and what do you have?  A Rye IPA that weighs in at a very stiff 10% ABV!

 

He'Brew Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A. from Schmaltz Brewing Company, is a very malty, and very hoppy, Rye DIPA.  Made in honor of Lenny Bruce, a Jewish comedian with very controversial viewpoints (insert history lesson), this is brewed with 8 different types of hops and then dry-hopped with 3 types of hops, there is a definite hoppy-presence with this beer.  I have had hoppier beers, but with this one the hop balance is just right.  It pours just like an IPA should with a copper color and an aromatic head.  Overall, quality Rye DIPA!

 

In honor of the Jewish faith and nature of this beer, I give it 4/5 Stars of David.

 

Mazel Tov to you Lenny Bruce!  And Mazel Tov to you if you're Jewish, and reading this too! 

 

If you're not, then to you I say cheers! 

PS - Happy "End Of Prohibition" Day!

 

December 4th

December 4th - Weyerbacher Winter Ale

 

I gotta be honest, at first whiff, I had a flashback of last night's brew. I smelled spices, including those darn cloves again. I envisioned that awful taste wrecking my palate. Against my better judgment, since I have already committed by opening it, I took a sip and hoped for the best...

 

No cloves...no nutmeg...Thank GOD!

 

This Brown Ale style brew is a lower ABV from Weyerbacher (5.6%) in comparison to everything that I have had from them so far.  The beer has some roasted notes that aren't too overpowering.  It also pours very dark.  Not quite that of a stout or porter, but it's not too far off.  This beer drinks very smooth with a little warming taste at the end.  I also get some caramel notes along with just a hint of spiciness (again, no cloves!).

 

Looking for more of a session-able beer to enjoy in the winter months?  This may be for you! 

December 3rd

 December 3rd - Dark Horse Brewing Company - 4 Elf Winter Warmer Ale

 

 

Not quite sure why I bought this, other than the fact that I have never had it before.  I guess I'll try anything once!

 

Winter warmer's are probably my least favorite category of beer.  I usually can find something from a category that I actually like.  Leinekugel's Summer Shady is one of very few shandy beers I can palate (I actually enjoy it!).  The only thing that comes close to palatable in this category for me is Sam Adams Old Fezziwig Ale.  I usually get rid of that in the variety pack since my brother-in-law drinks it (thanks Nate!).

 

Back to this beer...at an 8.75% ABV, the alcohol is very well hidden.  There is not a boozy taste with this beer.  However, the spice combination doesn't do it for me.  I can get past the nutmeg.  I can get past the allspice...but the clove is what does me in.  There aren't too many things I enjoy with cloves.  This beer is included in that statement. 

 

For me, a rating of 2.5 lumps of coal out of 5 (either way, it's in the middle) is as high as I'll go.  Looking at Rate Beer, this beer falls into the 94th percentile.  Chalk it up to a difference in palates, I guess.  Tomorrow's brew will have to be better than this...

 

 

December 2nd

 December 2nd - Southern Tier's Warlock

 

Last night, my wife and I decided to run some errands and our last stop took us to a bottle shop that, if you're reading this, you already know about called Bottleworks.  A small, specialty beer joint that always has beers that are different and hard to find.  They close at 5PM on Sunday evenings...we arrived at 4:58...thank goodness they were still open and didn't decide to close early.  Otherwise, this brew wouldn't have been in my possession today!

 

As for the beer itself, to me, it is a very close cousin of the popular Pumking, Southern Tier's pumpkin ale that is world-renowned, and during the Fall months becomes very difficult to get your hands on as the days go on.

 

This particular beer is an Imperial Stout instead of an ale brew.  As you can see, it pours black with a slight bit of a caramel-colored head.  The recommendation is to serve in a goblet at 42 degrees, so I'm following the rules.  Definitely not disappointed!  As with many pumpkin beers, there is a pronounced nutmeg taste...however, with this beer the nutmeg to me is very slight to undetectable.

 

Weighing in at a hefty 8.6% ABV, this beer is sure to warm you through the Fall and Winter months for sure!  Cheers!!

 

 

 

 

December 1st

So I got this idea from a pinterest post via Facebook and decided to use yet another form of social media to chronicle my journey to Christmas by trying a different beer each day until December 25th.

 

December 1st - Stone Enjoy By 11.12.13

 

OK, so for starters this beer is to be consumed to be fresh before the above mentioned date. Stone - 1 , Bryan - 0.

 

This beer is a very hoppy DIPA that measures in at 9.4% ABV. The hop aroma, hop flavor, and hop bite are wonderful for any hop head. A very tough beer to find locally, I had a friend bring this back from NJ and was glad that he brought 2! Since this beer is no longer in production, I will have to wait for the next installment in the Enjoy By series.