What beer are you drinking now? #785

Pssst! A 2010 Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti showed up in my store...

Took it outside on a balmy 35-degree day...

Cannot believe this beer!

The chocolate, oak, and cayenne all represent - incredible!

Next up? My game-day breakfast...

Steak with gorgonzola wrapped in bacon and peppered

Bringin' that bad boy beer in to go wit da bits!

Double stout with chocolate and cayenne, steak with bacon, pepper, and cheese...

'Nuff said...

Breakfast behind me, finishing pour...


Coupla new DIPAs on tap for the games... 500 BC and Simcoe Molotov...

(Zhukov's went down yesterday - lol - epic double stout)

Big games on tap as well. At this stage of the season, picks aside, teams I like seeing do well include Arizona, Seattle, and New England. I know that's not really daring - the only reason Pittsburgh isn't in the list is because I really feel/fear they will ultimately disappoint, so I'm distancing myself early to avoid greater pain later. I like the Colts b/c of Luck, the Broncos for of Peyton, and Green Bay, too, but I need a team with a hint of defense (too much too ask for in this era of football?) for me to really get on-board, and the Seahawks, Cards, and Pats all know how its done.

Cheers, folks


Gettin' my ocean on...

 

Feeling kinda crappy from last night and this was the only beer in my house that looked perfect to me. Nice balance of spice and chocolate. And...spurs already up a goal. Things are looking up.

 

The wife is at church, I'm finishing off the last of a 750 Samichlaus - how great is that?!?!

Greg Lake (ELP) and Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)

A winters light and a distant choir
And the peal of a bell and that Christmas tree smell
And your eyes full of tinsel and fire...

 

Incredibly funky

 

A few Newcastle Browns and a coupla Olympias that survived last night. Pretty much it.

 

Backwoods Bastards @ Grapevine, Fort Mill, South Cackalacky.

 

Having tried two new fall releases from Carton, I wanted to share my reviews on Pumpkin beers.
Gilded Lily may be my beer of 2014. Limited release...

Carton Gilded Lily < 2014 new release
4.64/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Enjoyed this first release at the TEDxNavesink holiday party.
A: Creamy head, lasting lace, pale Tripel body.
S: Truffle aroma is prominent and at the right level. Melded with the classic Beligian esters and yeast and grass of a Tripel. ABV is well hidden.
T: As a reviewer wrote "Gourmet Beer", I agree. This beer should accompany James Beard event or win an award. The fecund, fertile, perfume of white truffles is a perfect accompaniment of beer. It proves beer's versatility to be a canvas on which to play.
F: Creamy, right-noted. Long finish. Invites more, but definitely a meditation beer and sipper.
Cant wait to try it again. Let it warm.

Carton Rav < 2014 new release
4.08/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
This is work in progress, or I think it might earn a higher rating.
Move over pumpkin ale, make way for butternut squash, which if you think about it, or taste it, may be a better gourd match for beer. But Rav doesnt stop there, it goes on to add fennel, sage, butter, and crushed biscotti - all local. All cuisine inspired.
A When she sticks more lace she's gonna go 4+, but for now the highlight is the COLOR which is more golden amber like the flesh of a butternut squash.
S while hard to pick out all the ingredients from the cupboard in the smell, they definitely contribute and are fun to pick out on the tongue. Still solid malt base spread with butter nut squash butter.
T: Follows the smell but offers more! A great sweet - to - pepper arc. Appetizing. If you focus you can detect the sage and fennel, not at all cloying. yet sweet. The right balance for a fruit beer.
MF: still a bit thin, but great finish.
Look forward to seeing Rav 6 graduate into production. I'd take this over most any pumpkin ale.

Pumpkin Ale reviews:
ABV My rate
Night Owl Pumpkin Ale 5.9 4.2
Elysian Brewing Company
Pumpkin Ale
Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale 5.84 4
Smuttynose Brewing Company
Pumpkin Ale
Hipp-O-Lantern 8.1 3.7
River Horse Brewing Co.
Pumpkin Ale
UFO Pumpkin 5.9 3.7
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
Pumpkin Ale
Post Road Pumpkin Ale 5 3.7
Brooklyn Brewery
Pumpkin Ale
New Holland Brewing Company 5 3.7
Punkin Ale
Dogfish Head 7 3.7
Triumph Brewing Company
Pumpkin Ale
Imperial Pumpkin Ale 8 3.5
Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Pumpkin Ale
Wolaver's (Organic) Pumpkin Ale 5.35 3.2
Otter Creek Brewing / Wolaver's
Pumpkin Ale
Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale 5.7 3.2
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Pumpkin Ale

 

Happy New Beer Sunday BA! Southern Tier's Rum Barrel Aged Pumking. I will take the uber fresh REGULAR pumking that I had this past august any day instead of this. A definite meh.

 

. . . um . . . pass that plate @Greywulfken

 

Big day in fantasy football. In the semi-finals of two of my three leagues. Projected to win in both, but projections mean nothing, gotta perform today boys! Starting it off with the Gluttony Sunday tradition, world class imperial stout and a big breakfast




Happy Sunday BA's!

 

You SOB - you beat me to it!

 

splitting this w a good friend. Happy Sunday BAs

 

Abstaining today.
Went the the Big Brew Sussex Winter Beer Festival
yesterday in NWNJ. Tried a few dozen samplings.
Taking a day off.

Stand outs were:

Blue Point Old Howling Bastard Barleywine
Big Muddy Vanilla Stout
Tuckahoe New Brighton Coffee Stout

 

Guess I'm the resident alcoholic today. Despite its great reviews, I was less than impressed with this one. Seemed almost flat with a very thin mouthfeel for something described as " old engine oil". The barrel character was the only saving grace although it had to partner up with that Band-Aidy smokiness. I'm sure l'll find a winner in one of the next 10 beers I drink . Cheers all.

 

Relaxing after dinner

 

A friend visited Founders and they poured him a "Milk Shake". So I tried it at home. Very good!

 

Decadent, belly-tingling, sweet octane...now I'm waiting for it to get to temp. (pacingbackandforthpacingbackandforth)