beer

Dec 16th, Chocolate Stout

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I can see a new trend in organic beers, that’s cool!

Organic Chocolate Stout from Bison Brewing, Ukiah, CA. 5% alc/vol.
This is a really good beer, I can taste a little smoked flavor which is always welcomed! 4 out of 5!

The label says:

Stout brewed with Peruvian Cocoa.
One need not sacrifice the pleasure of everyday living to be green. 
In the ancien Aztec kingdom, cocoa beans were considered so precious that they were used as money. On special occasions, Montezuma himself served his palace guests chocolate in goblets of beaten gold. Cheers, Dan

Dec 15th, Coconut Porter

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A canned beer! I haven’t had much luck with the fruity beers so far so I was a little hesitant at first…

Coconut Porter from Maui Brewing Company, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii. 6% alc/vol. A porter brewed with hand-toasted coconut.
It’s an OK beer, nothing to write home about. I can’t taste the coconut at all. A 3 out of 5.

The can says:
Why Cans???
Welcome to the microcanning revolution…
Cans eliminate light damage and reduce the risk of oxidation, keeping this craft brew fresher than in bottles!
Cans are lighter, chill quicker, and can be enjoyed on beaches and in sensitive environments  Aluminum is the most recycled and most eco-friendly material.
Coconut Porter is fresh handcrafted robust porter brewed with six varieties of malted barley, hops and hand-toasted coconut.
Brewed with Aloha
…Like hot chicks on the beach.

Dec 14th, Colette

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When I open this up and saw the cap I first thought I had a duplicate from yesterday, but it was a different brew from the same brewery.

Colette Rustic Farmhouse Ale Refined from Great Divide Brewing Company, Denver, Colorado. 7.3% alc/vol.

Not a great beer, I only had half of it. I could probably have finished it if I had to, but why should I if I don’t like it? 1 out of 5. I like the label, and the brewery seems cool, but this beer is not for me.

The label says:
Colette is our homage to the saisons that Belgian farm workers have enjoyed for centuries. Brewed with barley, wheat and rice and fermented at high temperatures with a special blend of four different yeast strains, Colette is fruity and slightly tart, with a dry finish that makes it that rarest of treats – a beer as refreshing as it is complex.
Suggested food pairings;
Charcuterie plate (country sausage & sauerkraut), foie gras, Indian curry, Camembert cheese.

Dec 13th, Denver Pale Ale

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It seems like this year, it’s either a hit or a miss, nothing in-between. Today was another hit, that makes me happy!
Brilliant English-Style Balanced Denver Pale Ale from Great Divide Brewing Co, Denver Colorado. 5.5% alc/vol
Another good 4 out of 5!

The label says:
Great minds drink alike.
DPA is a world-renowned, classic pale ale with a malty middle and an equally hearty compliment of hop aroma, flavor and bitterness.
Suggested food parings:
Spicy shrimp tacos, beer battered fish & ships, Italian sausage, prosciutto wrapped asparagus, Humboldt Fog goat cheese, strawberry shortcake.

Dec 12th, Hullabaloo Winter Beer

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I’m a little sad we’re already halfway through the beer calendar.

Hullabaloo Winter Beer from Hangar 24 Craft Brewery, Redlands, California. 6.5% alc/vol
I like this beer a lot, it has a bitter aftertaste which really hits the spot, but I feel there is something missing for giving it a 5, it’ll have to be a strong 4 out of 5.

The label says:
Experience a world of hearty flavors and aromas with this special winter beer. This brew starts as a scottish ale featuring European and domestic malts, giving Hullabaloo intriguing caramel and roast nuances. A blend of American and English hops delivers ample bitterness & unique hop profile. This is a big, rich beer with a nice underlying complexity – Toast to the season!
Seasonal.

Dec 12th, Hullabaloo Winter Beer

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I’m a little sad we’re already halfway through the beer calendar.

Hullabaloo Winter Beer from Hangar 24 Craft Brewery, Redlands, California. 6.5% alc/vol
I like this beer a lot, it has a bitter aftertaste which really hits the spot, but I feel there is something missing for giving it a 5, it’ll have to be a strong 4 out of 5.

The label says:
Experience a world of hearty flavors and aromas with this special winter beer. This brew starts as a scottish ale featuring European and domestic malts, giving Hullabaloo intriguing caramel and roast nuances. A blend of American and English hops delivers ample bitterness & unique hop profile. This is a big, rich beer with a nice underlying complexity – Toast to the season!
Seasonal.

Dec 11th, Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout

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The beer of the day was Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout from Anderson Valley Brewing Company, Boonville, California. 5.8% alc/vol.
A strong 4 out of 5! A good winter beer for sure!

The label says:
A classic example of oatmeal stout: Deep garnet-tinted ebony in hue with a dense, voluptuous mahogany head. Aroma of fresh-baked bread, toffee, raisins, dried cherries and dark coffee. Pleasantly creamy, rich body with pleasing dark malt and freshly toasted bread aromas, finishing roasty and dry.
Solar Powered Brewery

Dec 10, Out Of Bounds Stout

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What, Seriously? Hells Yeah! I already knew it was gonna be a 5 out of 5 when I unwrapped this and saw the label…
Out Of Bounds Stout from Avery Brewing Co, Boulder, Colorado. 6.3% alc/vol. How could you possibly go wrong?

It is really an amazing stout too, not just the name and label, the taste was awesome as well! Like a really good dark and smooth chocolate, you don’t need a whole lot, one bottle and you’ll be satisfied, but you never actually want it to end. There’s no way you can top this, everything about this makes me extremely happy. It’s a 5+ out of 5! The first 5+ in 8 years!

The label says;
Experts only ♦ ♦
This big, roasty stout takes flavor to the extreme. We aren’t afraid to use a ton of roasted barley and a mountain of hops to give this full-bodied stout that little extra something you’ve been looking fo.
Brewed with Rocky Mountain water, malted barley, hops, and yeast.

On a side note, someone marked this ABS on the wrap, what does that mean?

Oh yeah, totally watching the Swedish broadcasting of Serious Request. Love it!

Dec 8th, Leffe Blonde

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We’re only 8 days in and I’ve already gotten one cider, one awful blueberry “lager”, one wheat, and now a Belgian Pale Ale. What’s up with that? Give me some real beers people! Highly disappointed!
Leffe Blonde, a pale ale from Abbeye de Leffe in Belgium. 6.6% alc/vol.  Eeeh, not so good. I might starting to get used to the wheat beers, but I think it will take me another 30 or so years to get used to the Belgian brews. 2 out of 5.
I dig the foil around the cap though, you don’t see that very often nowadays and it reminds me of the pilsner my grandfathers used to drink.

The label says;
Savor the Mystery of the Ages
Award winning Leffe Blonde is a full-bodied deep golden ale that is surprisingly subtile and delicate. Belgium’s classic abbey ale is best served in its own chalice-shaped glass accentuating the ale’s aroma and creating the perfect head.
Deliciously soft and subtile.