December 13 - DuClaw Brewing For Pete's Sake!

After visiting The Fridge yesterday and picking up some new need-to-try brews, I decided to call an audible tonight and pop open one of those instead of one I already purchased.  

I'll be honest, my palate doesn't feel as sharp as it did at the beginning of the month.  I guess the self-imposed duty of giving you, the reader, some quality notes is feeling the pressure.  Don't worry, I'll persevere.  This happens every year at the halfway point.  

From DuClaw Brewing in Maryland, comes the older, more sophisticated (and more alcoholic) brother of Sweet Baby Jesus, For Pete's Sake!  FPS is an Imperial Porter compared to little bro and is a strong 9% ABV compared to 6.2%.  

This brewing company was one of the first craft beer experiences that I had, and I spoke about it last year.  Long story short, it was before I knew how good craft beer could actually be and what its intent was.

Not going to tell you about it if you didn't read it last year...go read it for yourself and come back when you're finished...

DuClaw doesn't make a bad beer, and if they do, I've never had it.  There are some that are better than others of course. There's one that I prefer that don't even exist, but if you mix two together, you'll be glad you did.  The mystery beer I speak of is what is called the Sweet Naked Jesus; a 1:1 combination of SBJ and Naked Fish, a chocolate, raspberry stout.  

This beer poured a nearly opaque black with tinges of red mixed in.  There was a creamy brown head at the top of the glass and lacing for the entire hour that this bad boy sat in my glass.  It was definitely a sipper, but not for the reason you think...I"ll explain.

First, though, the aroma was an awesome peanut butter brownie.  That's it...

There was definitely lots of body with this beer.  The mouthfeel was sweet and heavy malt at first.  As the beer warmed (since we all know a higher ABV usually changes profile as it warms...right?) though, there was a more pronounced roasted dark chocolate flavor with it.  Regardless of warm or cold temperature, there was a nice bitter dark chocolate bite at the finish along with some decent alcohol warming throughout.  

For me, the awesomeness didn't make it past the aroma.  I don't know what I was really expecting here because there's only so much you can do with a beer.  You don't REALLY want a peanut butter beer, but the essence of one.  You don't want chocolate in your beer, you want chocolate malts to get some of that flavor, but again, not all of it.  You can't just throw chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker into a wort boil and expect to get an awesome, knock your socks off S'Mohr's Beer.  See the name?  I tried it...it doesn't work...

Brewers have to flavor their beer with the same ingredients and some adjunct ones; malt, yeast, water, hops and whatever else the brewmaster can add within reason (and sometimes outside of the realm or normalcy).  I knew I wasn't getting a beer that tasted like a peanut butter and chocolate cookie, but I still expected it anyway.  

...how to say what I'm trying to say...let me try again.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I got exactly what I expected, but still wasn't blown away.  I'll give it a 3.5 out of 5 tonight.  Don't get me wrong, I'd say it's worth the try for sure, but I'm not sure I'll seek it out specially another time.  I, personally, still prefer Sweet Baby Jesus! for my palate's taste.  Not to mention I can mix it with Naked Fish for another, totally different beer...

I could try to mix Naked Fish with For Pete's Sake...Naked Pete?  For Fish's Sake? 

...definitely not Naked Kramer...this was to be a "mind blown" meme...I don't think it worked right...

December 5 - Sixpoint Brewing 4Beans

After the hustle and bustle of last night's party, and today's cleaning up around the house and rounding out the Christmas decorating, it's time to sit down for a few and unwind with a new brew.  I have a bit more time tonight for a better post, unlike last night's post which I threw together quickly.

Tonight, from Sixpoint Brewery in Brooklyn, New York we have an Imperial Porter, 4Beans.  This beer is brewed with coffee added and Madagascar vanilla beans.  Clocking in at a whopping 10%, this beer in a can packs a punch for sure!  

Doing some research after drinking this, the name comes from the inclusion of 4 different types of beans to brew this beer; coffee, cacao, vanilla, and romano beans.  This is an updated version of their 3Beans recipe from 2013 that adds the Madagascar vanilla beans.  Take a look at the video below from Sixpoint regarding their 3Beans brew.  It's a pretty cool view if you have 13 minutes.

Over the past year, I find myself drinking a lot more coffee than I used to.  I initially thought that it was because 2 kids and a busy lifestyle called for it, like a pre-requisite.  After a while, I found myself appreciating the different flavors that each cup of coffee had, much like different flavors in beers.  

Not this late in the evening though, it's time to make the switch!

Anyways, back to the beer.  This beer poured an opaque, jet black color with a thin, creamy, beige head.  A roasted malty aroma was prevalent with this beer along with some sweet vanilla notes.  I almost could gather a hint of bourbon here too, which adds even more layers to the nose.

When it was cold, this beer had a heavy, roasted malt flavor initially followed by a coffee bitter bite at the finish.  A thickness, almost syrup like, coated every part of my mouth after each sip.

After the beer warmed up a bit, the coffee bite could be enjoyed throughout the sip.  One more thing to mention is that between sips, not right afterwards, there was a nice warming sensation in the throat, probably from the high ABV of this java-infused brew.

Each beer I've had from these guys has been a winner, from their Global Warmer to their Resin as well as The Crisp.  Each style just tastes like a quality brew.  I just wish I could get this around here instead of having a friend bring stuff back home for me (thanks again by the way!).  

This one is no different.  If you run across any of their beers anywhere, as long as you like the style of beer you pick from them, I guarantee you won't be disappointed.  If you are, just drop it off at my place and I'll be glad to help you finish it.  I feel like I've said that before...

4 beans for 4Beans out of 5 tonight!  

Borrowed my wife's iPhone for this snapshot.  Looks like I need to upgrade my camera in the near future...I'll stop the artsy can stuff at some point...maybe...

December 15 - Duclaw Brewing - Guilty Filthy Soul

DuClaw Brewing Company - Guilty Filthy Soul

My first visit to DuClaw Brewing Company was about 3 years too early.  I was there for my best friends bachelor party to kick off the festivities for the night and we sat down to get some brews and food.  I vaguely remember anything about the beers because I didn't appreciate the craft brew scene at the time.  I probably was "that guy" who asked a local brewpub for "something that tasted like Miller Lite."

You can dress this beer up in a fancy glass, but ...

...it's a good looking pig in this case though...

I have recommended these guys to others when they get to the Fells Point area in the Baltimore area, but have found out that they no longer set up shop there.  Luckily, my neighborhood bottle shop decides to pick up a lot of their stuff since they are relatively local so we can all try their awesome creations.  These guys don't make a bad beer.  Well, if they do, I haven't had it yet.  

Tonight's beer is an Imperial Chocolate Rye Porter that clocks in at 7.7%.  Whoever came up with the name hits this right on the head.  Do you enjoy chocolate and want to feel guilty about it?  Well, then this is for you!

Really though...who doesn't love chocolate???

This porter poured an opaque, black color with a creamy beige colored head.  There was some significant lacing left in this glass at the end.  The aroma was very unique in that it smelled like semi-sweet chocolate, coffee, and cocoa.  Most porters that I have had in the past have a roasted note to them, but not this one.  I did see that others, via RateBeer, noted roasted aromas, but I couldn't convince myself that was the case here.

The taste, like the bottle describes, is a velvety, smooth chocolate and coffee combo that comes off as sweet, yet balanced.  I like my hops for sure, but I don't get too much hoppy bite from anything going on here until the very end.  Even then, the hop bite may be confused with the spicy rye flavor that I believe finishes off this beer.

Solid Combo of Beer and Chocolate!  4 out of 5!