What beer are you drinking now? #4528

Beechwood Brewing -- Hops of Fury
Triple India pale ale
ABV: 11%; pouring temperature: 46.8 ℉; canning info: C1 FURY 02/11/25
Source: local purchase (Coaltrain Fine Wine, Craft Beer & Spirits)



4.29/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Revisited March 13th, 2025

Glorious color and clarity; bold golden tones; dense streaming carbonation bubbles; thick head, white and sculpted with a dense sudsy appearance. Bright and intensely aromatic hop nose; spicy with pine resin and floral qualities mixed in; mild underlying sweetness. Incredible taste; balanced and complex; moderate light malt sweetness; spicy, herbal hop flavors; bold yet suitable bitterness. Heavy body; smooth and slick on the palate; mild undertone of alcohol warmth.

I surprised myself by apparently having this beer almost six years ago. I'm not sure where I got it from (likely Tavour), but my favorite local beer emporium has it in stock now. Well, this one is certainly fresh and comes across tastier than my first experience. I believe a few more cans may follow me home if it's still in stock.

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Original ratings and scores: 4.0 3.75 4.5 4.25 4.0; BA weighted overall score: 4.17; rDev: -3%

Deep gold body; decent carbonation; thick, frothy, white head. Relatively mild aroma; malty and spicy with some pine resin. Big malt flavor with an equal measure of pine resin; heavy biscuit; very strong hop bitterness; dull sweetness; peppery. Heavy body; sticky and coarse on the palate; alcohol dryness counterbalancing the residual sugars.

This is a bold and bracing triple IPA, highlighting a lot of hop presence. The alcohol presence is there yet pretty tame overall considering its 11.0% ABV. This has a classic west coast IPA appearance but with a definite high octane kick. Good stuff.

 

Alesmith Brewing Co. -- Barrel-Aged Speedway Stout (2023)
Imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels with coffee
ABV: 13.3%; pouring temperature: 41.5 ℉; canning info: 10/10/2023
Source: local purchase (Coaltrain Fine Wine, Craft Beer & Spirits)
Auxiliary vices: Omar Ortez -- The Edge - Maduro; Nikka Whisky Distilling Co. -- Nikka From The Barrel



4.44/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Deep, dark brown pour, clear yet opaque in the glass; lightly fizzy, light khaki colored head, somewhat thin yet lasting, mildly creamy texture. Sweet and alluring nose; somewhat floral with spicy notes; fresh thyme; mint; subliminal sweet chocolate. Dark chocolate and cocoa flavors; roasted grains; fine aged bourbon undercurrent; simple hints of vanilla and oak in the background. Heavy, silky body; smooth and slick ; well-balanced boozy warmth.

So I finely find this beast. I can't complain. The true beauty of the beer has to be its fairly simple appeal of being an imperial stout with straightforward bourbon barrel aging. Done right. No bones about it.

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...no, I didn't really pickup on the coffee aspect of this beer (goll durn stogie and Japanese whisky), but there is no denying the fine, fine craftsmanship of this beer...

 

...a slab of grilled ham steak, mustard, beer...this is Penthouse Forum-league material ...