Ymm, Beer

[richardjackson199]

#47

Bourbon Barrel Aged Caliente GBS 750ml Bottle (1), New! Complete Set Exclusive!

Long awaited from year's past, Bourbon Barrel Aged Caliente GBS is aged on ancho chiles and extra cinnamon for a deliciously spiced drinking experience.

Best pepper beer ever for me. Bourbon, cinnamon, a hint of heat on the finish.

I was thinking the same. Best pepper beer ever for me too, and I don't give that kind of praise out lightly. This beer captured the flavor of the ancho chilies, focusing on that more than just heat which was adequate but not remotely unpleasant. And that complete set was so good, I'm not even sure this was the best beer in it. But I had it as one of the first beers in the set, and was blown away.

[richardjackson199]

My dog in my lap and on my laptop is making it kinda hard to type. But she's just so damn precious what am I supposed to do? Throw her in the pool like a football? No fuse. No.

But after a few more beers, who knows?

[devildeac]

What is a beer-wine hybrid?

https://www.uncorkd.biz/blog/heck-beer-wine-hybrid/

I searched but can't prove this but I believe the correct name for this product is "graff." Sporks if someone can find a link.

[richardjackson199]

#48
GBS Caliente- from last years set. No barrel aging but still excellent. They made a lot and son and I split a case of 12.

Yep this one. I missed the fact that there was a Barrel-aged version. But this beer was so perfect it didn't need it.

[devildeac]

What is that beer? Looks more like Witchcraft than Beer Craft

That is Rogue Dead Guy Ale, an old, old favorite of mine and one of my early craft ales.

[devildeac]

What is that beer? Looks more like Witchcraft than Beer Craft

Could be a Burial Beer but not enough bizarre prose on the cans.

[richardjackson199]

#49

2020 GBS Barrel Blend 750ml Bottle (1), New! Complete Set Exclusive!
An exquisite blend of our finest ales, aged over a year in Bourbon Barrels.

This was my favorite of this years set. Even better on draft.

This also may have been my absolute favorite from this year's set. But it was close between this one, Rum-Barrel aged Frosty, and even just the BBA GBS 2020 for that honor. So many winners that by the end of 2020 I had forgotten that 2020 sucked. Thank you!!

[devildeac]

I found a couple graffs I've sipped before.

"Look At This Graff!!! (draft)-Bond Brothers Brewing Company

Local. Again.

Credit-RJ199 was very generous this evening; many thanks again!!
Style-it's listed as an American Wild Ale () so why call it a graf/graff
Stemware-10 ounce snifter
Appearance-a hazy, session IPA yellow; small, fizzy head
Scents-fruity hops and apple juice
Mouthfeel-cidery and mildly bitter; a bit thin
Tastes-fresh pressed apple juice, pineapple
Adjuncts-well, if it's a cider, there's beer added, or, if it's a pale ale, there's cider added
IBU-25
ABV-7%
Overall impression-quite an interesting blend/hybrid beverage
Ymm, Beer rating-this earns a high cat 2 based on solid tastes of the 2 beverages "brewed" together and creativity; really glad to try something new/different

[devildeac]

Another graf/graff:

Full Stem-Fullsteam Brewery in collaboration with Stem Cider in Denver, CO

Drink local! Nice name .

Credit-my VISA card
Style-a graf (I linked this somewhere upthread yesterday) which is a beer/cider hybrid
Format-5 ounce sample
Appearance-crystal clear; yellowish light amberish; no head
Nose-grapefruit infused cider
Mouthfeel-bubbly with a hint of bitter
Tastes-light grapefruit (see hops below); strong, tart apples; slight pucker
IBU-maybe 20
IBU-6%
Grains-Locally malted wheat, Locally malted barley (Munich), Flaked wheat, Two-row brewer's malt, Locally malted Appalachian wheat
Hops-Mosaic, Citra, Magnum
Adjuncts-Local apple juice
Overall impression-totally new "hybrid" to me; very well done, especially given I'm not a big cider fan
Ymm, Beer rating-cat 2, high tier; maybe a beverage for those who like ciders but not beers; would certainly order again

[devildeac]

And those are the two graffs I've ever tasted.

[richardjackson199]

#50

Rum Barrel Aged Frosty GBS 750ml Bottle (1), New! Complete Set Exclusive!

White Imperial Milk Stout with spices, aged in Rum Barrels. #50

Lots and lots of rum, in a good way.

Half way to 100!

Well speak of the devil. There is RBA Frosty himself. I could smell that rum across the house. I thought Rum was never my favorite liquor, but damn good rum is another story. This was of that variety. An unbelievable beer that really needs to be in every complete set going forward.

[devildeac]

#97

Synthesis

Also Garden Grove Brewing and Urban Winery

16% ABV 11 IBU

Synthesis is a hybrid between a barleywine, a white tawny port, and a mead. Traditional barleywines are made from 100% barley but we included equal parts barley, va grown vidal blanc and chardonnay grapes, and orange blossom and wildflower honey and then aged it for 14 months in syrah and cab sauvignon barrels. A true fusion of wine and beer.

This is one where you go “this is a beer?” But in a good - non-Veil smoothie way. Really interesting. Still have one. The bartender was talking about keeping one for 10 years. I’ve made it five.

Beautifully balanced port forward hybrid beverage. Part wine, part mead, part ale. Honey up front, wine finish.

Never had a beer/wine/mead combo.

[devildeac]

Sounds good. I need to try more Maibock beers, and this one sounds worthy. Probably better than Malbock wines, but that is a good wine style.

It's worth a single to try but not a 6er. Rogue was one of the leaders in the craft revolution but they've been caught and passed now with better quality although they still produce a lot of quantity, it's not as good as the leaders.

[devildeac]

Good word. I didn't know that one. I like chicanery.

Chicanery would be a good name for a Hardywood ale, along with some other shenanigans.

[devildeac]

Time for an hour walk on the beach so I'm able to develop a thirst for later.

[richardjackson199]

You amaze us every time you mention any of your Family Tree selections.

Seconded

[richardjackson199]

That sounds like an amazing combination, a barleywine and a Cru.

I can't even imagine what that would taste like. But everything Brian seems to blend includes some sort of Barleywine, and every one has been amazing. So amazing is a safe assumption for Cousin Cru

[accfanfrom1970]

#98
Vasen
They have a series of their stout - velvet walrus - I don’t know why it’s called that. I’m enjoying their latest and so far best now -

BBA Velvet Walrus on Raspberry

This rich milk stout was first conditioned on a generous addition of raspberry puree, after which it spent months aging in Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels, imparting flavors of brown sugar and vanilla. Smooth dark chocolate and rich roasted malty character round out the flavor profile of this complex barrel-aged brew. 9% ABV.

There is a lot of raspberry in this one, chocolate, hint of bourbon. Their stout is thinner than Hardywood’s, this one is sweeter too. 16oz. cans. I have one to trade 5/1.

[richardjackson199]

I still have 4 of the 2019 set left and haven't touched the 2020 set except for gifting the extra 6 cans to the children and their spouses.

Haven't touched the 2020 Set. Oh man you're in for a treat. I've had or shared them all. They don't need aging, but I'm told it couldn't hurt. Never really been patient enough for such things

[richardjackson199]

That's a lotta caliente.

Muy Caliente