As if Christmas Day didn't bring enough, a mini-growler from the Barrel Chest (Roanoke, VA) tap was a Boxing Day purchase. I've been having mediocre luck with off-the-beaten-path imperial stouts lately, and that unfortunate streak was not broken with this one. The initial pour was as expected: dark, thick black, with a thin dark-brown head. The nose was as expected, too: Coffee'y, chocolatey, and boozy. But there is a heavy metallic bitterness to the aftertaste that was just off-putting (at least to me). And, at 12% ABV, it's a beer that needs to be savored slowly, but savoring was difficult with the back-end funk. I tried it over two nights, with no real change in the experience. Not Ycch, but not a do-again for me.
Now, the 12-ounce of DuClaw's Sweet Baby Jesus that is in my fridge, *that's* another story . . . .
"Amazing what a minute can do."
I thought the Hiwire was ok when I tried it.
The Bolo is good.
Brown ale is a tough style to develop a standout.
Definitely dates me, I think Pete's Wicked Ale was awesome.
It would be awesome to see a brown ale beer trend reinvigorate the style a la IPAs, sours, gose,...
Paying a visit this afternoon, in advance of seeing The Book of Mormon at DPAC tonight. Any recommendations (or things to avoid) from this esteemed group of beer aficionados?
"Amazing what a minute can do."
It's been probably 2.5 years or more for me so I'd echo fuse's comments. I'd get a sampler (brews named for Derm historical figures/characters/events/locations, IIRC) and whatever seasonal tap they have (guessing an imperial stout), enjoy the show and report back to us tomorrow.
[redacted] them and the horses they rode in on.
Tocobaga-Cigar City Brewing
The 6th and final installment from windsor's beer delivery express from points south of the Triangle area. It's labeled as a red ale but this ain't yo' mama's Killians. This is a highly hopped and malted imperial red ale. WTH? Imperial red ale? Devildeac must be a few yeast short of a full mash tun. Well, at 75 IBUs and 7.2% ABV, it is not really a session ale. Poured a reddish-dark amber with a moderate, foamy head. Immediate aromas of pine and citrus with hints of brown sugar sweetness. Tastes are juicy, piney and herbal hops with some caramel bready presence, too. It's a bit lower ABV than the sticky, delicious Oskar Blues G'Knight but higher IBUs so it's still fairly balanced statistically but the tongue-o-meter thinks the hops win here. It'd make good friends with a spicy, peppery-rubbed hunk of cow or pork or with any spicy Indian or Chinese food, also. Speaking of OB, I'm going to find a litter of their imperial red ale named above and have a side-by-side on the next go-round of my Florida beverages, along with a Le Freak and the Unholy comparison as mentioned upthread. A hearty, hoppy thanks again to windsor and her beer buddy.
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[redacted] them and the horses they rode in on.
Sadly, pathetically, embarrassingly, I held on to my bottle until last PM for an ale to celebrate the safe return of our youngest daughter and her husband from their NYC trip to view the Pinstripe Bowl.
Wisconsin Belgian Red (2014)-New Glarus Brewing
Better later than never. Surprisingly, this low ABV ale (4-5%) in a green, wax-dipped/capped 750 ml bottle from mid 2014 was still rather tasty. Poured a dark ruby-brown into wine glasses with a rapidly disappearing thin head. Smells like my Ocean Spray Cran-Cherry juice that I've been drinking for breakfast the last couple days, but bubbly. A bit tingly, like champagne, with tart and sweet cherries tantalizing the taste buds along with a hint of citrus, likely from (one and done) Wisconsin wheat, with a bit of breadiness from the Belgian barley, gently roasted. Aged on oak for a year but I couldn't discern any woodiness or vanilla. There was a bit of sediment in the last 2-3 ml which I mostly avoided, thankfully. This was a huge smile-maker from our honored guests and didn't last very long in our glasses. I'm not sure when I'll ever sample this again so our brief liaison tonight was particularly pleasurable, almost as savory as a 68-63 victory in the NC game.
[redacted] them and the horses they rode in on.
Exit 3 Blueberry Braggot-Flying Fish Brewing Company
From the great (cough, cough) state of NJ with its numerous southern/central blueberry farms comes this (not really a) beer but I couldn't find the Ymm, Braggot thread. Poured a pale apple juice hue with a minimal head with no retention. Honey-ish smells not surprising as this is pretty much a honey-fermented beverage that is briefly acquainted with likely very small quantities of Horizon hops (IBU 10) and large quantities of Belgian pilsner malts and then fermented with Belgian yeast and champagne yeast strains because standard beer yeasts can't survive at ABV much above 10% and this "honey wine" rolls on and off the palate at a stunning 15% ABV (no typo). Tastes are honey, apple, honey, pear and (not surprisingly) more honey. Mildly sugary-sweet but not as much as I might have imagined with (sadly) minimal blueberry presence. This is a dessert wine, err, ale but would pair nicely with berry fruits, either fresh or baked into a tart/compote/pie. Quite the deal at Total wine for $6, including a $2 clearance discount for a discontinued ale, likely from 2014.
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[redacted] them and the horses they rode in on.
Reviewing while drinking...
Catawba Brewing - King Winterbolt Winter Ale
Having this one at Jack of the Wood Pub here in Asheville, home of the original Green Man Brewery, and a pretty tasty Shepherd's Pie.
Brewed with crystal and dark malts, Sorachi, East Kent Golding, and Cascade hops.
Poured a very murky brown, which reminds me a lot of the Catawba River (how fitting). A very small off white head that sticks around and leaves a thick coat of lacing.
Not much on the aroma, mostly spiciness, and maybe some cinnamon. A bit of a dark dried fruit smell, but very subtle.
Much more carbonation on the palate than what you would expect from the appearance. The spiy hop notes burst through first. The initial bitterness is tamed rather quickly by the sweetness of caramel and dark fruits. Finishes dry and makes you want to keep drinking.
The flavors of this one really comes out more as it warns. Very enjoyable. Pick one, or 6, up if you find it.
Happy New Beers!
Hoppy New Year!
[redacted] them and the horses they rode in on.
We only added about 95 pages to this thread in 2015 after adding around 105 in 2014. Need more beer posts!!!! I'll start again tonight .
[redacted] them and the horses they rode in on.
Troegs Brewing Troegenator is now available at your local Harris Teeter. Buy a 6er! Very high quality (and high gravity) double bock style lager.
[redacted] them and the horses they rode in on.
Having a Ninja Porter and being reminded of how good it is. The Ninjabread Man and Love Ninja are great, but sometimes it's nice to just enjoy the original.
The Footman-White Rabbit Brewing Company
Drink local! (Angier, NC)
Pretty much nailed it as above except the bomber 3 of us shared tonight was divided half for the post below and half "straight up" and had an overly generous foamy, tan head despite a slow, careful pour. Perhaps a bit more coffee perception in The Footman than in the Creme Brûlée from Southern Tier.
[redacted] them and the horses they rode in on.