Ymm, Beer!

[devildeac]

Bavarian Amber Lager-Red Oak Brewery

Ozzie and dd split a victory, bowl-eligible 6er tonight at La Maison devildeac!

Woo-freaking-hoo!

Poured from 12 ounce bottles into standard pint glasses with the Paradigm of Optimism sipping from my 2010 National Championship pint glass. Amber color with a frothy, tan head. Mild caramel-y aromas and tastes with light herbal bitterness. I'll guess IBUs around 20 and the ABV is probably <6%. Nice pairing with some spicy queso and a chocolate chunk cookie after the Miami hail Mary failed. Karma.

And the two bottles each that followed the first were just as good! EnJoyed the company immensely and the game too! LGD GTHc! Let’s beat those cheating bastards next week!

I see what you did there.

[devildeac]

Prima Pils-Victory Brewing Company

Beer #3 from my personal retainer from a 15 pack from the prior tailgate.

One of their classics/originals.

Pour was a straw-yellow from a 12 ounce can into a standard pint glass. The head was frothy and generous after aggressively decanting. This is a fairly hoppy pilsner with moderate floral aromas and tastes along with some caramel and lemon flavors (neither added). I'll guess IBUs of 30, maybe 40 with the stated ABV at 5.3%. Held up nicely, pairing it with some leftover, mildly spicy Thai food tonight that consisted of chicken, multiple veggies and cashews.

[devildeac]

Hop Devil (Enjoy By 07 JAN 2019 stamped on bottom of can)-Victory Brewing Company

Beer #4 of my allotment from the 15 pack.

Poured from a 12 ounce can into a standard pint glass with a foamy, off-white head. Smells like pine and resin and tastes like pine and resin, just like I remember from my last one 5-6 years ago or more. There's a bit of butterscotch at the end but I'm guessing all the hops are Chinook/Cascade/Centennial and just not to my liking much any more. I'll guess IBUs about 70 and the ABV is 6.7%. This is a good, old school IPA but I much prefer newer, fresher, fruitier and even experimental hops in my IPAs now.

[devildeac]

Late entry from Saturday PM:

Bourbon Barrel-Aged Biere de Garde (draft)-Ponysaurus Brewing Company

Drink local! Again!

Older son-in-law treated me to a pint of this before dinner, partially because he and his wife (our older daughter-D'oh!) felt guilty for not sharing any of their crowler of Bond Brother's Adult Daycare, a 10.5% ABV Belgian-style quad aged on cherries with me, and partially because I was paying for her birthday dinner at one of their favorite sushi restaurants after our pints. I "almost" said no to this .

Pour was a full pint and was a slightly cloudy, medium amber color with a small, light tan head. Pretty seductive aromas of pears, apples, almonds, vanilla and bourbon. Tastes were fairly typical for the style, a French farmhouse ale, with vanilla, caramel apples and pears, a bit of funk with the bourbon barrel-aging adding some coconut, wood and a very smooth, boozy finish. I'll guess IBUs about 30 and the ABV was on the electronic beer board at 6.8%.

Ponysaurus makes very good beers and this one is of very high quality.

[devildeac]

Speaking of Paul Johnson.

From 12/17/17:

Sour Monkey-Victory Brewing Company

Golden Monkey goes Brett!

They took their classic/true-to-style Belgian style tripel age and aged it with brettanomyces yeast.

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into my large, lovely Ommegang tulip with a small, fizzy head and a gold-yellow hue. There's a bit of funk in the nose but mostly lemon and orange. Tastes are very slightly cloying (guessing there's some Belgian candi sugar used) with a noticeable Sour Patch Kids lemon-orange zip, some honey (not added) and a tiny sprinkle of black pepper that pretty typical of a Belgian golden/tripel ale. No mussels for me but I'd happily sip another one of these with some sweet and sour chicken or shrimp. I'll guess IBUs about 20 and the ABV is a seductive and dangerous 9.5%. There's 5 remaining from my 6er that was about $12 with my 10% off Total Wine coupon. What to do, what to do?

From last PM:

Sour Monkey (Canned on 03 AUG 2018 stamped on bottom of 12 ounce can)-Victory Brewing Company

Not much different than the bottle version above except maybe more lemon-lime than lemon-orange flavors and aromas. I really like the twist they put on their old standard, Golden Monkey. This is really quite a gem to include in a mixed 15 pack. I'm not quite profligate enough to spend $20 on a 750 ml bottle of White Monkey, another variant that I *think* is aged in chardonnay barrels but if someone wanted to share a bottle at a tailgate...

[devildeac]

Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dark Rye (Bottled January 16, 2017)-Ardent Craft Ales

From their Black Paper Series

A 750 ml trader from accfanfrom 1970. Many thanks!!

Celebratory beverage divided over two nights. Pour was a viscous, dark, dark brown int a Founder's snifter each night. There was a thin, tan head on night #1 and next to no head tonight, despite careful corking last PM. Seductive aromas of dark chocolate, a whiff of java, dark fruits and some bourbon. Flavors are reproduced on the palate and are accompanied by some plum, molasses, dark caramel, a hint of mustiness and heavily roasted grains. IBUs are 41, about as expected for the style (its base is an imperial stout), and the ABV is 11.9% (so not quite the 118-84 proof I was searching for ) but this punches at a much higher weight class as 375 ml of this last PM and tonight left me a bit stunned. A superb concoction as expected from Ardent Craft Ales.

[devildeac]

Pink Guava Milkshake IPA (draft)-Gizmo Brew Works

Even more local!

Treated myself to a snifter of this while selecting some trading brews on the way home from work this afternoon. Pour was a hazy, hazy pink-yellow with a creamy head. This stuff really, really smells and tastes like an alcoholic tropical fruit smoothie with juicy guava, pineapple, mango and orange scents and palate-tickling flavors. Bitterness is the pithy/rind-y kind and I'll guess 40 IBUs. Packs a moderate wallop, too, at 8% ABV so it's technically an IIPA. No cans/bombers available but someone would be smart serving a growler of this with some curry or sweet and sour entrees.

[devildeac]

Aztec Gold (draft)-Gizmo Brew Works

Still local!

Two ounce taster after my Pink Guava Milkshake IPA.

Pour was a thin, dark brown with a small head. Nose of milk chocolate, vanilla and coffee with tastes mirroring the aromas. A bit thin for an imperial stout that had 60 IBUs (I'd have guessed 40-50) with the ABV at 9.2% and not boozy at all. Happy to have tasted but I think I would have been disappointed with a $6 snifter or a $10 bomber, which is not a bad price for a high gravity ale with a couple additives (cocoa nibs and vanilla).

[devildeac]

From 10/31/17:

Good Gourd-Cigar City Brewing

Pretty darned good descriptions above. The orange and apples are excellent observations. Flavors and spices blend fairly well. I'll guess IBUs of about 20, thinking this is an amber ale for the base beer as it's not dark enough for a brown ale or porter and there are no nutty or chocolate flavors either. ABV is 8.8% so there's a bit of an alcohol burn, unlike Gordgeous and more on the order of Southern Tier's Pumking or Weyerbacher's Imperial Pumpkin. I'm quitting after half a bomber now and will sip the rest tomorrow evening.
[redacted] them and the horses they rode in on.

From sheep-sacrificing tailgate yesterday:

Good Gourd-Cigar City Brewing Company

Bomber, courtesy of August West. Thanks!!

Pretty similar thoughts from just over a year ago from fuse and the knucklehead who reviewed it after him. Modest pumpkin flavors, not overly spiced and mildly boozy. Very good pumpkin ale.

[devildeac]

From 1/24/17:

From 9/29/13:

Warlock-Southern Tier Brewing

Pumking's dark side. Part of their Blackwater Series, this imperial stout really is more of an imperial porter as the color is closer to mahogany brown and not midnight black and the consistency is a bit thinner than a RIS should be. That's not to detract from the quality either as this is like liquid pumpkin bread (but no spices) baked with coffee beans and dark chocolate chunks (thought there is no sludge in the last 30 ml of this bomber). Ale yeast, two hops, four malts plus pumpkins comprise the ingredients. I'd guess the IBU in the 50 range and we dropped down a bit in ABV with this selection to 8.6%. August West kindly provided this dessert brew. Have it alone or with any spiced cakes.

From tonight:

Warlock (DOB: 7/14/15 at 06:11:47 to be precise )-Southern Tier Brewing

It's (almost) always interesting to re-visit some brews, even if it's 18 months old .

They've added spices to this one as the last ingredient on the bottle is "natural flavors" and it really does taste like a slice of pumpkin pie that has been covered with melted semi-sweet chocolate chips or a dark fudge sauce. I think there's a bit less coffee tastes to this edition but the ABV has been truly "imperialized" at 10%. This is another one of those Southern Tier Blackwater Series brews that is best shared among several tasters, though I am sheepishly finishing the entire bomber tonight over about 90 minutes and the second pour/snifter is disappearing very slowly.

From ramgate yesterday:

Warlock (? 8/25/15 date on bomber label)-Southern Tier Brewing

August West with another cellared/aged winner. Thanks!

Staying with the pumpkin theme, this is the dark side of Pumking and still was quite tasty, thankfully, even after > 3 years in the bottle. Pretty similar tasting impressions with maybe a bit of coffee aromas and flavors, not too heavily spiced and a bit less pumpkin, perhaps hidden by all the dark malts used to create this imperial stout. A nice brew to share 3 ways.

[devildeac]

From 3/14/18:

Snow Hands (draft)-Haw River Farmhouse Ales

A winter answer, a Belgian-style strong/dark/quad ale, to their summer Sun Hands, a Belgian-style tripel.

Pour was a dark brown with a copious, foamy, mocha head that had to be tilted-off several times so the full half pint ($4) serving could be realized. Nose of dark dried fruits and spice. Tastes of liquid raisins, dates and figs with a moderately sweet, yet spicy and rummy finish. Label states maple syrup and foraged spicebush berries are added. I didn't get the maple but did perceive the expected dark candi sugar given the style. The spiciness (nutmeg, allspice, clove) surprised me a bit as I was expecting the "berries" to be sweet but found this instead with a bit of research: https://www.backyardforager.com/spic...ndera-benzoin/ with the following quote:

"I’ve heard people describe it as tasting like a mix of allspice and pepper, but to me, the flavor defies description. It’s spicy, complex, dark, has a little heat, and there’s something floral in there, too."

I'll guess 20 IBUs based on the style with the ABV at 10%, about as expected. This would make an interesting liquid dessert or a companion with a caramel/mild chocolate baked goody. Might also make a fine pairing with a pork roast, ribs or a beef brisket.

I liked my last Haw River beverage better (Torn Paper Leaves), but the 500 ml bottle of this would make a nice drop at the advertised price of $7.49 or $7.99.

From Saturday tailgate:

Snow Hands (no date on 500 ml bottle)-Haw River Farmhouse Ales

Mattman forgot this a few weeks back so we sipped this and toasted him for his fine selection. It did indeed make a nice drop. Thanks!

Pretty similar pouring/aromatic/tasting impressions with perhaps a bit of maple perceived on this presentation. It'd make a nice pairing as above but was well-suited for our burgers, footlongs and all the toppings before we beat the cheats.

[devildeac]

From 1/9/16:

Lindley Park-Olde Hickory Brewing

I could probably stop after luscious and decadent but when you sip 6 ounces of liquid pleasure, made with raspberries and honey, a more thorough description is warranted. Poured from a bomber and shared with our son last PM, it appeared almost black, tinged with ruby highlights. Small, tan head that disappeared quickly to reveal dark chocolate and berry aromas covering more dark chocolate, sweet honey, raspberry and boozey (bourbon barrel aged) flavors on the palate. Frighteningly smooth and dangerously sippable at 10% ABV with my guess at 40 IBUs. Don't bother with any cakes/pies/pastries/baked goods with this beverage, this is your dessert. (Well, maybe a sliver of Black Forest Cake would work. ;) ) After sharing a Bolo, a Backwoods Bastard and half a bomber of this yesterday, we couldn't sip any more so I'm left with about 11 ounces all for myself tonight. Woe is me.

From Saturday's tailgate:

Lindley Park (August, 2016 printed on label)-Olde Hickory Brewing

Cellared in the August West storage facility. Thanks for sharing!

This bomber, divided 3 ways, was a wonderful breakfast dessert beer and quite good even after almost 2.5 years in storage. Pretty similar impressions as above with perhaps a bit less booze burn and a very chocolate-y, berry finish.

[devildeac]

Better Than Yours (illegible dots/printing on bottom of can)-Gizmo Brew Works

(brewed and packaged by Fortnight Brewing)

Local. Again.

Raspberry Milkshake IPA

Stolen from our older daughter and her husband as partial payment for a sleepover with the grandkiddies on Saturday .

Pour from a 12 ounce can was a very hazy, pineapple-lemon hue with a pink tinge. Head was moderate and frothy. Pineapple-y and tropical nose with Dole pineapple juice tastes blended with mango and papaya (none added) with a mildly sweet berry finish. The can states the Vic Secret and Azacca hops were not boiled but "pounds on pounds were added to a lengthy hop stand and massive dry hop" which yielded the extremely juicy aromas and flavors. Lactose and vanilla beans finalized the creation of this creamy, smooth concoction. Beer milkshake, indeed. I'll guess IBUs about 50 and the ABV is 8%. I actually bought a 4 bagger of this while at the brewery Friday afternoon and traded one, will drink two of my own and deliver one to Ohio next month in exchange for some Ohio winter brews.

[devildeac]

Bourbon Barrel-Aged Delirium Noël (draft)-Brouwerij Huyghe

Hint: Not local .

Two ounce taster that almost made me forego the half pint that followed.

Pour was a dark brown with a foamy head. Seductive aromas of dark, dried fruits (yes, raisins, dates and figs can be sexy ), dark caramel and whiskey and equally delightful palate-pleasing flavors of the same with a very warming, bourbon finish. Untappd claims IBUs of 23 which sounds about right for a Belgian quad. Untappd also claims the ABV is 12% which appears incorrect as the electronic beer board at Bottle Revolution stated 10% as does beeradvocate. This was a superb offering and I'll buy a 4 pack or large format bottle if I see one this month or next.

Hope OPK is taking notes...

[devildeac]

Canadian Breakfast Stout (draft)-Founders Brewing Company

I thought they brewed this for the last time in 2017 but davec tipped us off that it was available earlier this month in his area and upon reviewing the tap list at Bottle Revolution before leaving the office this evening, I discovered this listed and simply could not resist, never having tasted it before, despite having two 750 ml bottles from 2017 aging in the "cellar." It's an imperial stout that is brewed with chocolate and a blend of coffees before being aged for over a year in spent bourbon barrels that were most recently aging maple syrup.

Half pint pour ($6) was a dark, dark brown with a sliver of a tan head. Coffee, coffee, coffee, then dark chocolate, dark maple syrup/brown sugar, followed by bourbon scents tickled my nose. Pretty java forward tastes, much moreso than 2017 was the claim by the owner, which were escorted by semi-sweet chocolate, heavily roasted grains and dark caramel stickiness with a warming whiskey-ish closing. I'll guess IBUs about 40 and the ABV was a stunningly smooth 11.7%. This sold out last week (I never got my beer club email) but the owner said he *might* get another case or two and promised to save me a bottle if he did.

Another "white whale" checked of the beer bucket list .

[devildeac]

Fake News (unreadable buncha dots on bottom of can except /18)-Gizmo Brew Works

From their website cuz I ain't trying to type all that stuff while reading the can .

"“The earth is flat.” “Sell out and you're still craft”. “The IBU’s are too low”. There's a lot of fake news flying around these days. To set the record straight while you tweet and leak, we present you with Fake News: New England IPA. This brew was “alternatively” hopped to restrain the bitterness in order to Make Juiciness Great Again! Caliente, Mosaic, Citra and El Dorado collude to provide a huge aroma of peaches, oranges and tropical fruits. Sure it’s hazy in appearance, but ironically, one sip and the facts become clear. Covfefe.

Poured aggressively from the 12 ounce can into a standard pint glass yielded a massive, foamy head . Nose was a bit soapy along with some citrus. Tastes were a bit off with pineapple juice soaked cardboard and some pine, soap and guava. IBUs of 65 and ABV at 5.8%. If the contents of my 2nd can smell and taste like this, the remainder of the 6er is being returned next week for a refund or credit. Not quite Ycch, Beer but certainly disappointing after 3 milkshake IPAs.

[devildeac]

Damn Right (more illegible dots on bottom of can)-Gizmo Brew Works

Pineapple Milkshake IPA

Sounds like the same basic recipe with pineapple puree substituted for the raspberry puree. Pretty juicy, tropical stuff with some pineapple sweetness and a bit of pineapple "core" or rind. I might have actually liked the Pink Guava Milkshake IPA best but that was also the only draft version of the 4 milkshake IPAs that I tasted. Very good offering.

[devildeac]

From 11/10/13:

75 Minute IPA-Dogfish Head Brewing

Another contribution from August West to tailgate yesterday and an excellent combination of their 60 and 90 Minute IPAs, though the 90 is really an IIPA. So, does that make this an almost imperial IPA or is it a 1.5 IPA? As you might expect, the stats are an average of the two brews with IBUs of 75 and ABV of 7.5%. Poured a clear dark amber with a bouquet of pine, resin and citrus with sweet caramel/maple aromas, too, from the heavy malt body and the addition of maple syrup. Not sweet enough that you'd think about pouring on your pancakes or waffles but just enough to tantalize the palate. Matched well with the pulled pig and all the fixins. Also paired nicely with the pumpkin/pecan cheesecake, deep dish caramel apple pie, red velvet cream cheese pimp cake and pineapple layer cake. Too many desserts yesterday. Definitely worth finding and sharing.

Great label too but can't figure out how to include the image.

From 11/12/18:

75 Minute IPA (brewed on 10/8/18 stamped on bottle neck)-Dogfish Head Craft Ales

On the 5th anniversary of August West's trader/treat at tailgate, CB&B traded this to me last Saturday. Thanks!

Let's see, what's different 5 years later? I thought there was a bit less pine/resin with this version and more orange, orange zest and orange liqueur, resembling the 90 Minute IIPA more than the 60 Minute IPA. There's a very subtle and very pleasant, sweet maple finish. The smoothness belies the 75 IBUs and the 7.5% ABV is on target with the style. This is certainly worth a 6er, keeping 3 for yourself and sharing/trading the others.

[devildeac]

Tart Cherry W-n-B (500 ml bottle; retired beer from 2016 Reserve Series)-Terrapin (cough*millercoors*cough) Beer Company

A derivative of their Wake n Bake series which has always (?) been a coffee oatmeal imperial stout base, this one with Montmorency cherry juice added.

Our younger son-in-law toured the brewery last week before attending the Georgia-Auburn FB game as part of a bachelor weekend for a good friend of his from HS and college. For $12, you got the tour, two Terrapin pint glasses and (he claims) as many fills of the pint glasses as you desired (). He opted for 3 (maybe 4) half pint pours pre-game. He bought three $8 bottles from their Reserve Series: the above, Raspberry Truffle (consumed Thursday night with the above) and Moo-tella, a hazelnut coffee oatmeal imperial stout (I think), which we'll save for their New Year's visit.

We shared the 500 ml from snifters. Pour was a ruby-dark brown with a modest, pinkish-tan head. Chocolate-covered cherries were immediately perceived, followed by aromas of cold-brewed, dark roast coffee. Coffee is the first flavor and then tart cherries and semi-sweet chocolate morsels. Palate-pleasing and coating sensations were smooth and silky (oatmeal was one of the grains). Finish was dry and mildly boozy without barrel-aging. IBU surprisingly low at 20 (most imperial stouts are 40-50 or higher) and the ABV was a warming and dangerous 9.4%. One could make a case for this as a breakfast stout with assorted baked delights but it was wonderful as part of a nightcap, too, without any desserts.

[devildeac]

Raspberry Truffle W-n-B (2017 Reserve)-Terrapin (millercoors) Beer Company

Second 500 ml bottle from Thursday night, shared with our younger son-in-law who procured it for about $8 from the brewery last week.

This one is their Wake-n-Bake coffee oatmeal imperial stout with raspberry added.

Poured a dark, dark rub-brown with a modest, creamy pink-tan head into a couple snifters. Oh, my, I just walked into a coffee shop that sells truffles, too. Java and dark chocolate covered raspberries tantalize me first. Tasting is like biting into a Godiva-dipped raspberry jelly candy and following that with an espresso chaser. Bitterness is from the heavily roasted grains as the stated bitterness of 50 IBUs really doesn't feel that high. ABV is 9.4%, making this liquid dessert a dangerous delight. A brownie or fudge cup might be tasty with this, too. Ingredients should look familiar:


HOPS: Nugget

MALTS: 2-Row, Dark Crystal, Barley, Oats, Chocolate, Black, Roasted Barley

If you like tartness, I'd select the Tart Cherry version over this one which was a bit sweet but not overly cloying. I liked both of them. A lot.