Ymm, Beer!

[devildeac]

DD and I met for lunch and beer shopping. (Including a very nice delivery of several brews bought in Kentucky, thanks again!) The store we shopped at is small, and doesn't have the greatest prices (but then again, they are small, so it's not unexpected), but they do something cool that makes them stand out a bit...they offer tastings! The lady minding the store said they don't usually offer until after 5, but we were the only 2 in the shop, and she pulled four brews for us to sample. Two were from Unibroue (Terrible and Quelque Chose), one from Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V. (Gulden Draak) and another that I can't remember. (It was a cream ale).
The Terrible wasn't terrible at all, it was a high octane dark brew with lots of bite. More punch from the high ABV (10.2%) than hops, it would have been worth buying but I had already stocked up my cart pretty well. The Quelque Chose was a beatiful dessert beer, fermented with cherries, and that cherry flavor was in abundance. Moderate ABV at just over 8%. The other one I tried was the the Gulden Draak, which is a solid dark triple. I have never had it before, in fact the only beer I've had from that brewer is the Piraat. They had a six pack sampler from them that I bought, it was $20, but broken down into single beers it's a bargain. I didn't try the cream ale, but DD started his tasting with it.
Anyways..very cool of the store to offer that option, I wouldn't have walked out with the six pack sampler unless I had tried the Draak first.

I found the Quelque Chose a bit too medicinal/fruity but would like it with a fruit salad.

[devildeac]

Old Leghumper, a robust porter, by Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. Very cool label , not a bad beer. There is a new craft beer store in downtown Banner Elk. I took a few pictures and I'll post them later.

I have never had a Leghumper but we did have a cocker spaniel many years ago that peed on my foot...

We had a cocker spaniel that WAS a leg humper... true story. She was. And so was her uncle (Mrs. Ozzie's parents had her mother and uncle).

Wonder where she learned that...

[devildeac]

DD and I met for lunch and beer shopping. (Including a very nice delivery of several brews bought in Kentucky, thanks again!) The store we shopped at is small, and doesn't have the greatest prices (but then again, they are small, so it's not unexpected), but they do something cool that makes them stand out a bit...they offer tastings! The lady minding the store said they don't usually offer until after 5, but we were the only 2 in the shop, and she pulled four brews for us to sample. Two were from Unibroue (Terrible and Quelque Chose), one from Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V. (Gulden Draak) and another that I can't remember. (It was a cream ale).
The Terrible wasn't terrible at all, it was a high octane dark brew with lots of bite. More punch from the high ABV (10.2%) than hops, it would have been worth buying but I had already stocked up my cart pretty well. The Quelque Chose was a beatiful dessert beer, fermented with cherries, and that cherry flavor was in abundance. Moderate ABV at just over 8%. The other one I tried was the the Gulden Draak, which is a solid dark triple. I have never had it before, in fact the only beer I've had from that brewer is the Piraat. They had a six pack sampler from them that I bought, it was $20, but broken down into single beers it's a bargain. I didn't try the cream ale, but DD started his tasting with it.
Anyways..very cool of the store to offer that option, I wouldn't have walked out with the six pack sampler unless I had tried the Draak first.

Thomas Kelly Vanilla Cream Ale-meet Dr. Brown's or IBC cream soda. Not a brew I'd buy again.

[captmojo]

If I were to consume enough robust porters, I hump a leg too!








































TMI

[devildeac]

If I were to consume enough robust porters, I hump a leg too!








































TMI

Remind me NOT to play any drinking games with you...

[devildeac]

This was the 1st bomber served to 4 of us with some sharing during dinner last PM:

Hop Pursuit Extra Pale - Available March to June

As the sun rises earlier and stays out longer, we celebrate the coming of spring and the sprouting of this year’s hop crop with a new beer in our Brewmaster Reserve line-up. Hop Pursuit is a crisp, orange blonde extra pale ale with a medium malt body that’s chased by a ton of hop flavor and zing of bitterness. We brewed it with the less aggressive, old school craft brewing hops– Cascade, Willamette, and Mt. Hood– to celebrate more of the hop flavor and less of the hop bitterness. These give the beer a nice and fresh citrus herbal character without a lot of intensity; instead it has a softly flavorful character with touches of orange and lemon. We dry hopped for two weeks to amplify these delicate hop flavors. Available in 22oz. bottles and draught. ABV 6% IBU 55

Sometimes, these guys know their beers better than I do .



Some of the gang thought it too bitter but I found it a nice beverage with the shrimp, crabcakes, fruit salad and mixed greens/feta/black bean and almond salad.

[devildeac]

2nd bomber, again divided among 4 of us with some other sharing among the gang:

HELIOS ALE

ABOUT
(Re) Introducing Helios Ale. We’ve rebranded and repackaged the former V-Saison and now introduce Helios Ale. This bottle conditioned, Belgian-inspired ale remains the same refreshing ale that you enjoyed as V-Saison, however, in a more approachable, less expensive 22 oz capped bottle. Helios Ale has an earthy, aromatic hop start and shifts into aspects of lemon peel and black pepper. This is a quenching, invigorating ale, despite its substantial strength.

COMPOSITION
Malts: imported German malts
Hops: European whole flowers
ABV: 7.5%

AVAILABILITY
22oz (capped) bottles year round

All who sampled enjoyed this more than the Hop Pursuit. Two of them were my daughters who aren't really beer drinkers. This was quite the pleasant, refreshing brew with the same dinner menu as in the prior post. The slightly lemon/peppery funk to this saison paired well with all components of the meal. This was a "steal" at $5.90 at Wines and Wares in J'ville and, if you can find it at Total Wine, it might be a buck cheaper. I'd guess the IBU to be in the 30-40 range at the maximum.

[devildeac]

Dessert :

Theobroma

Availability: Limited
This beer is based on chemical analysis of pottery fragments found in Honduras which revealed the earliest known alcoholic chocolate drink used by early civilizations to toast special occasions. The discovery of this beverage pushed back the earliest use of cocoa for human consumption more than 500 years to 1200 BC. As per the analysis, Dogfish Head’s Theobroma (translated into 'food of the gods') is brewed with Aztec cocoa powder and cocoa nibs (from our friends at Askinosie Chocolate), honey, chilies, and annatto (fragrant tree seeds). It's light in color - not what you expect with your typical chocolate beer. Not that you'd be surpised that we'd do something unexpected with this beer!

This beer is part of our Ancient Ales series - along with Midas Touch, Chateau Jiahu, and other - step back in time and enjoy some Theobroma.

Quite the fascinating and distinctive brew. Almost reminded me of milk chocolate covered fancy-arse orange jellied candies with a generous amount of orange zest/peel. Served slightly chilled in wine glasses as our after dinner drink/dessert, I think we all found it to be easy on the palate, guessing an IBU of about 40 and a bit winey at 9% ABV. The ancho chilies gave it a tiny bit of a zing, but nothing fiery. The cocoa nibs/powder were not dark or overly chocolatey as one might expect if you had a porter or a stout. Spendy at about $10 for the bomber but worth a try, as just about all the DFH brews are.

[captmojo]

If I were to consume enough robust porters, I hump a leg too!








































TMI

Remind me NOT to play any drinking games with you...

Hah HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

[devildeac]

Oooh, forgot the nightcap from Friday:

Pangaea

Availability: Limited
Brewed with ingredients from each and every continent, this is slightly spicy ale, with a mouthful of rich flavors. Pangaea is a great food beer.

Our list of worldly ingredients includes:

Crystallized ginger from Australia

Water from Antarctica

Basmati rice from Asia

Muscavado sugar from Africa

South American quinoa

European yeast

and North American maize.

Pangaea is released annually in the fall and is bottled in 750ml bottles.

In the video below, Sam talks about the inspiration behind the Pangaea project (while also managing to mention 'poop' and 'dinosaurs'). While we do realize that trying to bring the world together via ingredients in a beer bottle may not result in immediate and lasting world peace - we've gotta have goals!

Pleasant and refreshing beer shared with dukediv2012 after our arrival a the beach late Friday night. Well, actually early Saturday AM. Ginger is the word with this as I did not appreciate the quinoa, maize or rice. Clear, light yellow-orange pour with a brief, fizzy head. Would be a great fall/winter beer with caramel/nutmeg/cinnamon/pumpkin flavored desserts or with a pork roast with a sweet glaze. Another distinctive DFH brew. IBU about 20-30 and ABV was 7%.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Water from Antarctica....

Clear, light yellow-orange pour with a brief, fizzy head.

Two words come to mind. Penguin pee.

[devildeac]

Water from Antarctica....

Clear, light yellow-orange pour with a brief, fizzy head.

Two words come to mind. Penguin pee.

Talk about quoting out of context...

[devildeac]

First dinner brew tonight:

Squall IPA

Availability: Limited
An unfiltered, 100% bottle-conditioned, super-pungent imperial I.P.A. clocking in at 9% ABV and dry-hopped with Palisade, Amarillo, Simcoe, Cascade, CTZ, and Willamette hops.

As many of you know, Dogfish Head is named after a 'head' of land off of Boothbay Harbor, Maine where company founder Sam Calagione grew up. A few years ago we discovered and fell in love with a Portland, Maine company called Rogues Gallery that makes beautiful, unique clothing. Their rustic, quality-centric creative approach mirrors our off-centered obsession with inspired brewing. As Time Magazine put it Rogues Gallery is all about "Masculine-style with a nostalgic eastern seaboard feel". Alex Carleton and the crew at Rogue's Gallery were down with getting their chocolate in Dogfish Head's peanut butter. We agreed to do a beer in keeping with their brand and a line of co-branded clothing in keeping with ours. The theme of the clothing line is superlative stuff to wear while drinking beer at a sunset beach bonfire and the clothes will be available by mid-summer 2009. The beer first came out in June of 2009 in a handful of eastern seaboard states, a second 2009 release started shipping to wholesalers in November 2009. A more wide-spread release of Squall IPA is planned for 2010.

Similar to the 90 Minute IIPA but bottle conditioned and unfiltered. Tons of citrus hoppiness (Mrs. DD guessed orange and I thought grapefruit) and lotsa caramel and crystal malts and maybe a bit of chocolate malt give this light orange-brown ale a hearty backbone ready to stand up to the chicken and rice casserole, green beans, broccoli and cranberry sauce making up tonight's dinner. I'm gonna guess 80-90 IBU and it was indeed 9% ABV. Four of us split the 750 ml bottle with another taster or two helping us. That's so we could have dinner beer #2 ;) . There will be one of these at a Brunchgate this fall ;) .

[devildeac]

I see ohioguy2 on line now. Wonder what he has tasted recently... ;)

[devildeac]

Mid-dinner beer:

V-TWELVE

Amber, aromatic strong ale...

Our vintage-dated, Belgian-style specialty ale, offered in corked 25.4 oz. bottles, is a sensation in subtlety.

Heady with a aromatic fruity start and taste, this amber ale features hints of pear and apricot in its well-nuanced flavor. The initial impression of fruitiness concludes in a refreshing dryness that begs you to sip again. Be fore- warned, this ale is immense as it registers 12% abv.

COMPOSITION
Malts: imported German malts
Hops: Styrian Goldings & Tettnanger whole flowers
Alcohol by Vol: over 12.0%

Some features of a tripple, dubbel and barleywine/strong ale. Agree with the brewer's thoughts about pear and apricot and perhaps a bit of apple, too. Some caramel and dried darker fruits hidden as it warmed a bit. Amber in color and a mildly fizzy but small head. Nice blend with our dinner tonight which I described in the Squall IPA post earlier. I'm gonna guess IBU about 50-60 and the ABV is a dangerous 12% on the bottle. Definitely a brew to be shared as 4-5 of us sampled the 750 ml bottle. Bring yer own to Brunchgate this fall as I only bought one of these several months ago. Several of us will help you drink it ;) .

[devildeac]

Dessert/after dinner brew was Heine Brothers Coffee Stout from the Bluegrass Brewing Company in Lou'vul, Kin-tucky. They have no info about this on their web site so I am on my own again here. Dark, dark brown and almost black pour that I prolly let out on the counter too long before pouring as it foamed everywheere. Even had to lick it off the counter to clean it up and so I would not waste any . The head was medium tan and generous and both the nose and tastes were mostly coffee as it is brewed with coffee beans and apparently coffee is added to the final product. As Lavabe said after we had a bottle each of the Kona Porter one Christmas, "pleas pass the cream and sugar." We sipped this at cellar temperature with a Key Lime pie for dessert. My son loved it but I would have preferred it with a chocolate dessert, or with a scoop of ice cream as a beer float. A bit of dark chocolate sneaks into the tasting and it is silky smooth from the oatmeal also used in the malt part of the brewing. I did cheat a little and snooped around some other beer sites to read a bit more about this brew . I'd guess IBU about 40-50 and the ABV around 7%. So there's my "coffee" for the evening that I mentioned to ohioguy2 in his coffee thread .

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Here's some of the brews available at Bulldog Beer in Banner Elk. Also a picture of the bulldog, Winston. Looks just like Churchill, doesn't he!

[CameronBornAndBred]

Great pics Ozzie! That Ten Fidy won't be your style brew, but it's the best (my favorite of the ones I see) in your pics...and that's out of a lot of really good beers! Looks like a great shop, thanks for sharing. Woof!

[devildeac]

Here's some of the brews available at Bulldog Beer in Banner Elk. Also a picture of the bulldog, Winston. Looks just like Churchill, doesn't he!

Bring back a 4 pack of the Ten Fidy. And The Gub'na if they have it. It ain't cheap but I got the money, honey (if you got the time/beer/whatever ). CB&B will help with costs . Might be worth a 12 pack of budlite for traders .

[CameronBornAndBred]

Here's some of the brews available at Bulldog Beer in Banner Elk. Also a picture of the bulldog, Winston. Looks just like Churchill, doesn't he!

Bring back a 4 pack of the Ten Fidy. And The Gub'na if they have it. It ain't cheap but I got the money, honey (if you got the time/beer/whatever ). CB&B will help with costs . Might be worth a 12 pack of budlite for traders .

Don't take advantage of friends! At least an 18 pack.