Just returned back to the office after our week in Northern WI (over 8 days, only having two people say some iteration of "F9fck Duke" in the presence of my myriad of Blue Devil gear is somewhat of a win). Checking in with my
Official Brew Devil ReportTM:
Friday, 6/28
Founders Brewery on the way up through MI. Would have loved for it to have been just me and the wife, as the kids were antsy from the car ride and the lunch rush left the service level below acceptable levels. One and done, so had to make the one a good one...
12 Feet Under- 14.3% ABV Double BA (?) Triple(?!) IPA - Founders Brewing Co. - A blend of three of their IPAs, twice barrel aged and then dry hopped. Very, very good, very sweet and oaky without being unbearable hoppy.
Before pulling out of Grand Rapids, we stopped at The Knickerbocker (New Holland's GR location) and picked up their newly released Maple Oak and Orange Chocolate variants. Another cool location I wish we had more time to enjoy.
After pulling into Mackinaw City for the evening, we walked across the street for dinner to Rusted Spoke Brewing Co. Service was remarkably better than Founders, despite having a packed house as well. So much better, than instead of getting to try a few different beers on the menu, our server instead brought me, unrequested, two refills of their
Flat Tire Baltic Porter - 5.4% ABV which was a nice smooth, smokey porter. Knowing I only had time for one more, I swung for the fences and went as heavy as I could;
Daddy Boy's Rootbeer - 13.8% ABV Imperial Stout, which if I was a terrible father I might have allowed the kids to take a sip... It was that rootbeer-y. Maybe next time
Saturday, 6/29
Finally rolled into town and stocked up at the local grocery store... SERIOUSLY, if you ever find yourself in Mercer, WI, stop in at Snow's Family Market and check out their beer selection that covers 1/3 of their store. Mark Snow has a Three Floyds mind in a Deliverance location. While the new purchases were chilling in the cabin's fridge, I drank copious amounts of Spotted Cow that were previously left in there.
Sunday, 6/30
Cracked a
Dragon's Milk Reserve: Orange Chocolate - 11% ABV Stout - New Holland while fishing. Bugs were bad, but the amount of orange was juuuust right. Followed up with a
Serendipity - 4% ABV Fruit Beer - New Glarus... Apples, Cherries, Cranberries... Oh My! At such a low ABV, I contemplated hydrating myself with this nectar of the gods the rest of the trip, but I decided to share the other 5 bottles instead.
Monday, 7/1
Group went into town for lunch, so I snagged the only two beers on the menu I hadn't consumed previously:
Todd - The Axe Man (Surly Release) - 7.2% ABV IPA - Surly Brewing/Amager Bryghus Collaboration &
Scream IIPA - 9% ABV Imperial IPA
Tuesday, 7/2
During the USA v. England match I drank 6 or 7 Busch Lights with the locals to fit in... then drank a bomber of each after the kids went to bed to wash out the taste:
Wisconsin Belgian Red and
Raspberry Tart - 4% ABV Fruit Beers, both New Glarus
Wednesday, 7/3
Nitro S'Mores - 10% ABV Imperial Stout - Southern Tier Brewing Co - Made a fire for the family, drank this chocolate, graham cracker and vanilla nitro while they made real S'Mores
Thursday, 7/4
Drank a twelve pack of
#MERICA! - 5% ABV Lager - Surly Brewing Company and then lit off fireworks on the lake like a responsible adult.
Friday, 7/5
Breakfast -
BA Imperial Pajamas - 13.5% BA Oatmeal Stout - Begyle Brewing
Lunch -
King Sue - 7.8% Double IPA - Toppling Goliath
Dinner -
Blithering Idiot - 11.1% Barleywine - Weyerbacher Brewing Company
Dessert -
Creme Brulee - 10% ABV Imperial Double Milk Stout - Southern Tier Brewing Co
Any of you who have kids and have vacationed with in-laws know that I needed Every. Single. One. of these drinks.
Also, New Glarus should use this picture for an ad... I accept cases of beer as payment
New Glarus.jpg