Beer Tourism - Pennsylvania

I'll start by saying this is going to be the worst "tourism" post yet...

For those who do not know, Pennsylvania has some ass backwards beer laws. Beer can only be purchased from a limited supply of stores (usually restaurants) or beer distributors. If you buy from a distributor, you cannot buy fours, sixes, twelves; rather, you are limited to bulk...cases or kegs. In my case (in King of Prussia for one night), it would have made little sense...so I had to track down a "restaurant" that would sell a smaller quantity over the counter. While this sounds like an easy task, it really isn't. With the aid of Ba and a friendly girl at the front desk, I was able to find a "deli" nearby who claimed to have 500+ bottles - the best selection locally. I never thought a place with 500+ bottles could carry 500+ beers that I had no interest in buying :-\
I was really hoping for something from Troegs or maybe something obscure from upstate NY, but unfortunately, there was nothing out of the ordinary there...pretty much the micro/craft standards: DFH, Victory, Weyerbacher...all things you expect to see in a gas station in Delaware. Bummer. Bigger bummer: prices. 90 Minute IPA was 20-bucks for a four pack..Allagash bombers were also $20...you get the picture. Apparently the beer distributors have everybody's balls in a vice...oh well.

So, I took a chance. $20 for a four pack of River Horse's Hop-A-Lot-Amus. They are based out of Jersey, so this was a big chance in my book. According tot he label, this is an "unfiltered double IPA"...only part of this statement seems true. It is certainly unfiltered. I seriously think that this is grapefruit pulp, not brewer's yeast, floating around in here. Its kind of not good. Don't get me wrong, though, citrus/grapefruit notes in an IPA are my thing...this just doesn't seem like an IPA...especially not a double. Again, note that I may be spoiled. So I guess I'll just see what four at 8.5% does...I'm thinking the ABV is exaggerated...

ohtheguilt Ba score = 3.0* out of 5.0

* for the effort and the cute label. oh, and at least it isn't bud light lime...

Time to catch up...

So it has been almost two months since I have posted fresh reviews...I guess we'll just run through everything new that I have had in that time...briefly...VERY briefly...

These were both awesome...but in different ways. Try the Imperial Biscotti Break for dessert. Buy them both.

Save your money...this was a drain pour.

Another Stone collab...this time with DFH and Victory...I remember this being a pretty decent Saison...only sold in 12oz. singles at 4 bucks a pop, though...not worth the effort...

Ah, beers available in Wichita, KS that aren't available in Georgia...IIRC, both the Tallgrass beers (8-Bit and Velvet Rooster) were good and the Odell Black IPA was okay. Arcadia Loch Down was the highlight. Marshall and Free State were drain pours.

 













BA Boris is a big-boy beer...so good...so boozy...

 Made it to four of the five in the Mikkeller Yeast Series...I don't think it would have mattered, as these were pretty underwhelming. They are certainly finely crafted beers, but there wasn't anything outstanding going on here.

Well, I think that does it for all the important stuff that has happened in my life since the first week in May. I guess it was kind of a slow period for new beers...or maybe its just too easy to pick up some sessionables when the weather is warm...more soon...

-ohtheguilt

Anchorage Brewing - Galaxy

Again, apologies to the three people who read the blog about me being a slacker on getting new beers posted...between work and sessionable beer evenings, I just haven't been drinking much new stuff...

At any rate, I am in Louisiana for a work trip and since it really isn't worth posting an Louisiana Beer Tourism thread (check seekabrew.com), you just get a single review of a beer that isn't distributed in GA.

 Anchorage Brewing Co.'s Galaxy is a "White IPA" which is bottled with Brett (look it up). If you haven't had Brett beers, you are likely going to be in for a shock on your first sip...just keep in mind that the beer is supposed to taste like a musty, funky old basement...

Now, the label on the bottle goes on about all this awesome stuff that is in the brew (Galaxy hops, coriander, kumquats, and peppercorns) and details the fermenting/aging process (both in french oak) which all sounds pretty freakin' cool...when you pop the cork it even smells VERY freakin' cool. Unfortunately though, all the awesome sounding and smelling items are completely missing in the taste. You can certainly taste the brett..it isn't overpowering like Bitter Monk was, but it is there.  Its kind of a let down. I don't dislike Galaxy, by any means, I just feel like it had so much to offer and then just didn't deliver. I am relatively certain that it has nothing to do with the fact that I am drinking it out of a Best Western plastic cup...I'm glad I picked this up, because it is a decent beer, but I doubt I'll buy another. If you don't like brett, save your $12...if you do like brett, split a bottle with a friend and give it a shot.

ohtheguilt Ba score 3.5 out of 5.0

Sunday Stouts

It was unusually cool yesterday, which worked to our advantage considering we had the Whitey's down and Joel and Maggie over for some grilling and Sunday stout drinking. Thanks to both Whitey and Joel for contributing beer and food to the afternoon...

While we waited for Joel's arrival, Whitey and I sampled one of the most heinous beers we have each ever had:  La Migra Imperial Stout... from "Mexico's best craft brewery," Cucapa. Seriously, the beer smelled like piss...we each had a sip and dumped it. Oh well...

When Joel and Maggie showed up, we decided to get a real start to the afternoon...Goose Island Big John. Unfortunately, this brew is now discontinued...but wow...very impressive. Big John was bottled just over a year ago, and held up very well. Very rich chocolate and coffee flavors, but with an incredible smoothness. This is certainly not a sessionable beer, but a bomber split three ways was perfect. Big John was very deserving of my Ba 4.5...

Next up was Cigar City's Humidor Series Imperial Stout. This is their basic impy stout, but aged on cedar...the cedar was extremely obvious. Too obvious. The pour was viscous with barely a hint of carbonation, but a full nose of cedar. The cedar completely dominated the flavor as well...pushing all other flavors to the back of the line. It was unfortunate, considering the level that Hunapuh attains...a 3.5 from me on Ba, as it was just too much.

The afternoon lead us to a mini vertical of Stone's Imperial Russian Stout...Joel brought over a 2011 and we cracked open one of my 2012s. Obviously we started with the 2011 IRS, which (at just shy of a year old) had aged nicely. It is much smoother than I remember from last year and was damn near to perfection. Despite the flavors mellowing a bit, it is still a rich beer and still one of my favorite stouts. The 2012 was also delicious, but in a different way...I don't want to say that it is too young...it is just slightly young. There is a distinct hop characteristic based on the freshness of the beer, but it is still just as rich and complex as the 2011. I would still be happy to open a 2012, but it will certainly get better with age. Overall Stone kills it again, and IRS (no matter the vintage) is still high on my list.

After the mini vertical, we had a nice palate cleanse in the form of burgers and dogs (thanks Whiteys!) and crisp, refreshing Dale's.

To close out the evening, we decided to bring out the big guns...one of my favorites: Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel...no need to re-hash this one...just go read about it here.

Overall a great afternoon with great people and delicious beer...we really should do this every weekend.

Goose Island King Henry

Finally...the true king of beers...I guess that really is true now considering that AB owns Goose Island.

Anyway, last week the girls each had dinner plans, so Joel dropped in for some take out sushi and a few big beers. Even though it could have aged longer, we pulled the trigger on my King Henry. The story behind this bottle is great...think back a few months about my brief note about Louisville Beer Store. When I was up there over X-mas, I spent a bunch of coin and was hooked up with a free bottle of King Henry (IIRC, you can't even sell this stuff in KY because the ABV is too high). Either way, huge props to LBS...they are awesome.

Back to the beer: King Henry is a barleywine that is aged in Pappy Van Winkle 23 barrels (the same ones that Rare Bourbon County Stout is aged in, I believe). My sample was bottled on 10/8/11...i think the bottle number was in the mid-800s. As stated above it could have aged, but damn...we had to open it. I'm glad we did because it blew my mind. This is seriously a top-5 all-time beer for me, and easily the best barleywine I have ever had. This brew lives up to the hype. It pours with minimal carbonation...caramel color and has a huge bourbon nose. The flavors meld, but vanilla, toffee, dark fruit, and booze are very obvious. King Henry is a 13.4% beer, and it drinks as such. That said, the booze is not overpowering...its perfect. I really wish I had a stock pile of this to see how it would develop over several years, especially considering how awesome it is so young. There isn't much more I can tell you...King Henry really is a must-have...

ohtheguilt Ba score = 5.0 out of 5.0

Oh-The-Liver Part 2

It has taken me a little while to get this post up...actually, I forgot that I never wrote it...whatever.
Day two of the incredible bender started off light an easy with a Saison Dupont, fresh from Joel's new keg. the Saison, was extremely crisp and refreshing...I can't wait to hit this keg again, especially as the weather warms up...very nice beer.

Next up was DHF 120 Minute IPA. Okay, the day started off like a jackhammer...I think 120 is somewhere in the range of 16%-18%...IIRC, we split this one two ways. Its not for the faint of heart. Strong, almost syrupy when poured, the beer was hot, but drinkable. I think I am going to keep my bottle in the cellar for another year or so, but this is definitely worth a try. That is assuming you aren't trying to buy it in GA...

 

 Third beer of the morning...err, day...was The Bruery Hottenroth Berliner Weisse. The Hottenroth was a bit different than anything I've had...it was almost like a champagne, but with a more sour flavor. I enjoyed it, but I don't think it is a brew I would pick up frequently...assuming I was able to pick it up frequently. Not sure the background on it, but NC Ryan brought it down, so it is likely pretty rare.

 So we finally cranked it up a notch on our fourth beer...Kuhnhenn Barrel Aged Fourth Demenia (4D). 4D was HUGE...big bourbon flavor, coffee, vanilla, molasses...tons of stuff going on here. This was definitely a sipper, but was certainly in my top 5 of the weekend. Easily one of the smoothest drinking high ABV (4D is 13.5%) beers I have had. I could write a ton about this one, but for the sake of brevity, just understand that I scored it very high on Ba.

The 4D carried us to my (pretty sure everybody else kept going, but I had to bail) final big beer of the weekend...Cigar City Hunahpu's Imperial Stout - Rum Barrel Aged (pretty sure this was from last year's batch - bottled in mid-2011 and came from my father-in-law as an X-mas gift). When we opened this, the aroma was really strong and very boozy. I thought this was going to be way too hot to drink, but we poured it and were pleasantly surprised to find that the flavor didn't match the aroma at all. Again, another super smooth drinker for the ABV and considering it was barrel aged. Given the chance, I would certainly pick this up again, and not even worry about cellaring it.

Overall, we had an awesome two days drinking some of the finest beers in the world...thanks again to Tim and Ryan for bringing some killer shit and also to Joel for hosting and allowing us to raid his cellar for some outstanding beers. We will do this again.

Beer Tourism Raleigh and Wilmington, North Carolina

As usual, I am traveling for work. Also, as usual, project budgets don't allow for an easy flight...so, a trip to Wilmington, NC netted a flight to RDU and a two-hour drive to Wilmington. I can't complain much, as the flight allowed me to hit the triangle's best beer store - Sam's Quik Shop. Thanks to NC Ryan I didn't drive right past this place. The exterior screams 70s backwoods gas station; however, when you walk into this place, it immediately hits that you are in a world class beer store. Sam's has everything I could imagine that was available in NC. There was an incredible selection of Euros, locals (Olde Hickory, Foothills, etc), and various US crafts (Ballast Point, New Holland, Great Lakes, etc) that aren't available in GA. So, I decided to go with NC Ryan's recommendations (2012 Olde Hickory Imperial Stout and 2011 Olde Hickory Irish Walker), and finishing off my purchase with a Ballast Point Sculpin (see Beer Tourism - Orange County, CA) for hotel consumption. I probably spent 45 minutes in the store between talking to staff and browsing the selection of beers and glassware. The prices are decent and the selection is incredible...I would highly recommend stopping by here if you are in the Durham, NC area.

After a painstaking NCDENR file review in Raleigh, I rolled down to Wilmington, NC. I think this is a college town, but I'm not positive...there are a ton of fixies and just about everybody has a soul patch, or lip piercing, or sleeve tattoo...either way, not a terrible little place. Some library research on my rural property capped off the day's work...on to the bar...

I started my evening with a draught Duck Rabbit Rabid Duck at Cape Fear Wine and Beer. This was a pretty cool place...lots of crazy beers on draught and in bottles. The staff was pretty cool and the Rabid Duck was delicious (I gave this a 4.0 on Ba). I chose the Rabid Duck (despite the fact that it is distributed in GA) because there wasn't much on tap that we don't have in GA...either way, I feel justified...it was a better choice than the other options. If you are in Wilmington, go here...you aren't going to find much better (there were several 4-packs of DFH Immort Ale available). I would have stuck around for another, but I was getting hungry...

After my quick stop at Cape Fear, I walked just another block over and stopped at Front Street Brewery for dinner and a beer. While I am always open to recommendations, this one wasn't so great...maybe it was because I was coming off of a delicious beer, or maybe it is because I am a jerk, but Front Street was weak. The Port City IPA was a let down, and the food was fair at best...bummer. The thing that sucks the most about these kind of really local places is that, more often than not, the bartender doesn't know a thing about the beers that are served...huge let down, based on the simple fact that the bartender was more interested in pouring Yeager shots than understanding the beer...AT A BREWERY. Oh well, I don't want to come off as too much of a tool, as the bartender was just a kid.

...at least I have the Sculpin chilling...damn, the Sculpin is so good when it is fresh...

New Belgium Shift

NB beers only lead to heartbreak (except Clutch..oh and Ranger).

Shift is a recently released "session" beer from New Belgium (in what appears to be a Red Bull can). That is all it is. A session beer. This might be great for a full day of drinking by the pool or on the beach, but the huge loss here is in the value. Eight bucks for a 4-pack of tallboys at 5%, with basically no flavor, just isn't going to cut it. Not only is Shift lower on the ABV side for a session, but it is just plain uninspired..flavor-wise, I'll take SNPA, 420, Dale's, Torpedo, Full Sail IPA, or any other standard $14-$16 12-pack that can regularly be found in the fridge. All things considered, it still destroys the mass marketed domestics, euro-lagers, and "mexican" beers. I know this "review" doesn't speak much tot he beer, itself, but I'll just wait for Ranger to be available in 12-pack cans. Sorry guys...

ohtheguilt Ba score = 3.0 out of 5.0



Off-topic rant:

Dear Drinking Made Easy,
I love your show, but the Aspen, CO ep sucked...the drunk (out of control) girls were weak...just plain weak. Keep drinking, but ditch the baggage. Also, that cameraman (Gio??) can freakin' chug some beers...props to him. Last but not least, if you ever need help with the beer parts of the show, please be in touch.

Your friend,
ohtheguilt

Sierra Nevada Hoptimum

I am spoiled . My taste has become completely jaded and biased. Sierra Nevada's Hoptimum should be one of my favorite beers. It isn't.

So maybe this year's batch was a bit off, but after the likes of my recent experiences with 21A Hop Crisis, Hopslam, Double Trouble, Harpoon Leviathan (IPA), Deviant Dale's, Sculpin, etc, etc. Hoptimum just didn't cut it. I truly feel terrible even typing that, especially because I keep various flavors of SN beers sitting around the house (they know how to do hoppy), but also because I was expecting to have my mind blown. Lesson learned...don't ever get your hopes up. That said, Hoptimum still rates significantly higher than average for me...its just that it doesn't work next to the above-mentioned beers.

Anyway, Hoptimum is SN's whole cone hop DIPA. It is just over 10% ABV, but drinks on the mild side. While this is a good thing, the brew is lacking somewhere. It is obviously up against some really stiff competition (other impy IPAs and my palate). Upon opening, the aroma is lacking. There isn't the punch that I was expecting. it pours nicely, though and has the right carbonation - not a ridiculous head. The taste is as underwhelming as the aroma (for a DIPA)...its good, but it isn't incredible. At the rate that these 4-packs flew off the shelves, I was expecting more...maybe people in Atlanta suck. Scratch that. People in Atlanta do suck. Hoptimum is a great IPA, but it is just a good DIPA...

ohtheguilt Ba score = 4.0 out of 5.0 

Bear Republic Racer 5

Thanks to Ryan (from NC) for bringing this down for me...I have had to pass up Racer 5 several times, in several states due to luggage issues, but now have finally checked it off my list...glad I did!

Bear Republic is another CA brewery that isn't distributed in GA...and like so many others, I really wish they were. I know I say it all the time, but I would session Racer 5 like its nobody's business...it is just that easy to drink (and I am typing this with an open SN Torpedo sitting next to me. I love this beer, but Racer 5 puts it to shame). Anyway Racer 5 is still a bit hop forward, but like most of the higher end IPAs, there is a sweetness that eases the bitter hoppiness. It creates a great balance and makes this a hell of an easy drinker...the Mrs. really liked it too...and that says a lot for a west coast IPA. We get the standard citrus and pine hop aromas and flavors here...but it is the sweet malt finish that makes it go down so easy. Overall a perfect drinker and it went down so well while enjoying the evening (earlier this week) on the back deck. If you are in a state that has 6-packs, I am envious of you...

ohtheguilt Ba score = 4.5 out of 5.0

Oh-The-Liver

Welcome to Spilled Beer's very first bender...err...uhh..I mean very first large scale tasting.
It all started several months ago when the "crew" decided that attendance at Brickstore Pub's HMOG was going to be mandatory. By the time March 23rd rolled around almost everything had fallen apart (beer shipments, keg deliveries, waning enthusiasm, etc.), including attendance at HMOG...however, that didn't stop us from drinking mind blowing beers for two straight days. Although I am not going to bother with Ba scores, keep in mind that the majority of the beers in this post were scored at 4.5, 4.75, or 5.0...

Despite the lost beer shipment from Joel's brother, Ryan, we started strong with a few beers "imported" from New York by Tim...Troegs Nugget Nectar and Maine Brewing Peeper. These were a strong start to the evening (note that I was not in attendance for the Speedway Stout, and didn't partake in the Allagash in the photo).

Next on the itinerary was dinner and drinks at Local Three..the trip netted two new drinks...Red Hare Rabbit's Reserve #2 Imperial Red and also a few gulps of Black Maple Hill Black Label Bourbon. Both were delicious, as was dinner.

On to bigger and better...we ended up back at Joel's and started light with an Ithica White gold...not bad, but not my gig..we followed that with the most expensive beer of the weekend...Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Rare (Stout)..an absolutely incredible beer. I won't say that it was a bit hot, but it was a little bit hot..either way, still delicious.

 After the rare, came the coffee variation. I preferred this to the rare, but was certainly in the minority on that decision..my Ba score for the coffee variation was a 5.0...not much else to say, other than the "coffee" was incredible.

After the coffee, we kept the stout theme rolling by breaking into Joel's stash of Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout...another variation. This time Founders used its Breakfast Stout as a base and age the brew in bourbon barrels...again, another heavy-hitter, and another high Ba score:

 And after that everything changed. Ryan procured 2 bottles of Trappist Westvleteren 12 for the weekend...this is arguably the best beer in the world, and I felt honored to be a part of tasting this incredible brew. My understanding is that the Westy 12 is still brewed by monks in Europe and is not yet available for retail purchase in the US. I don't care how Ryan got this (hell, I don't even want to know), but damn...talk about ridiculous...this beer was nothing like any beer I have ever had. It was best described as "grape forward"...not like a wine, but like an aperitif meets a beer...maybe. I just don't know how to describe it, other than nearly perfect. You can bet your ass that if I am ever back in Belgium, I will be shipping this back to the US in bulk.

 Hard to follow the Westy with anything, but in light of the fact that Ryan's FiftyFifty (50/50) Eclipse Brandy Barrel was stolen/lost in shipping, I donated my recently purchased bottle #3885 2011 Eclipse Elijah Craig 18-year (note the white wax) to the pot. It probably could have stood the test of time in the cellar for a bit, but in light of the situation, it was best drunk. In my Mind this Eclipse variation was the smoothest, easiest drinking barrel aged beer I have had to date..another high Ba score...

I think we sessioned some Hopslam somewhere in here and Jart and Dave F. joined the group..but that is of no concern. We had two more beers before watching Nirvana at the Paramount...and passing out.

Founders Crumudgeon's Better Half was next up. Unfortunately, Better Half was the worst beer of the night...that says a ton. The beer is highly rated on Ba and was very hard to come by...while it was a great beer, it just didn't rival the other beers of the evening...taken out of this context, Better half would have likely been incredible...as stated, it was an unfortunate night for Founders...that said, my bottle will cellar for a year, and will likely be delicious...

 Last on the list was Stillwater Folklore (thanks, again, to Tim)...unfortunately, I have no recollection of this one other than the picture that I took of the bottle...so that is all you get, a picture...i am sure it was delicious, based on my "live" Ba score, though...

Maybe tomorrow I will post the beers from 3/24...

Rogue XS Imperial Stout 2011

Sorry guys/gals, no picture of this...it was too difficult to take a picture of a dark ceramic bottle in artificial light. (Yes, I seriously typed that after drinking an 11% bomber). So....

Rogues XS Imperial Stout...it comes in a fancy ceramic bottle with a plug-thing...it costs about 12 bucks...no light can pass through it. There is nothing else I can ask for for coolness and value. The beer pours with very little carbonation, and (in case you missed it above) pitch black. This is one of the best cups of coffee I have had in recent memory (excluding the obvious previous posts, of course). Very roasty finish, bitter overall (black coffee and baker's chocolate), and no taste of booze whatsoever. I'd say this doesn;t really need age to be a good beer. Its very simple and is extremely drinkable (especially for the hardcore coffee drinker)....and it only gets better as it warms. While I am a fan here, I would not recommend this to the faint of heart..

ohtheguilt Ba score = 4.0 out of 5.0 

Beer Tourism - Orange County, CA (Part 2)

Sorry it has taken so long to get this up, but I had a busy weekend and work has been absolutely terrible. On the plus side, I haven't had anything baller to drink since these...oh wait...a couple Russian River beers on Friday...oh well...

Hair of The Dog is based out of Oregon and is not distributed in GA...obviously I sampled these while in CA last week...figured I would go ahead and wind my trip down with two of the biggest beers I could find. I picked these up at The Bruery Provisions over in Orange. A quick note about the store: pretty cool place, lots of random brews and plenty of Bruery stuff (duh)...also, the cheeses and meats they had at the deli counter looked/smelled delicious...wish I was traveling with Mrs. ohtheguilt andhad some time to try a bite...anyway...

Adam is considered an Old Ale...and it is strong. This thing pours incredibly dark and smells of booze and dark fruit. The taste is similar: dark fruit...smoky/roasted malts...it leaves almost a coating in your mouth. The beer is much better as it warms, but overall, it is a real sipper. The 10% ABV is fairly obvious...maybe some age would do wonders for this...despite the fact that it is already very good.

ohtheguilt Ba score = 4.25 out of 5.0


Fred is quite a bit different than Adam. In comparison, Fred is much lighter, in both color and body. Fred is billed as an American Strong Ale and is much sweeter and easier to drink. There is more of a hop characteristic to Fred...citrus is noticeable, but it is not anywhere close to being bitter. The other predominate flavor here is honey...and i think that this is what adds to the "creaminess" of the beer. At any rate, this was a good one...again, at 10% ABV, it is another sipper, but it goes down much easier than Adam. It gets the same score from me as Adam, but for different reasons...

ohtheguilt Ba score = 4.25 out of 5.0

Beer Tourism - Orange County California

Man, work sucks, but sometimes you just have to make the best of it. Crappy trip this week to SoCal for a PITA site..might as well hook it up with some good beer.

Work issues aside, I started off my two-night trip in style by hitting up Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa. As this was my first experience in a beer store in California, I was a bit overwhelmed. The good news is that we get most of the Stone beers in GA, so those are immediately off my radar...or are they? The only Stone beers that I have not been able to find in GA are the 2011 collaborations...I have had 3 or 4 at this point (thanks to work travel), so I picked up some TBA to round off the series (i think i am missing only one other). On to bigger and better...after a brief conversation with one of the employees, I was led to the shop's FiftyFifty stash, and scored a Elijah Craig 18-year Eclipse...pretty pleased with this purchase, despite the sticker shock. Next up, I grabbed a Deschutes Stoic and a Ballast Point Sculpin (the later of which is for hotel consumption). 

Then I did some work...work, work, work...and then lunch:

My second stop was about 40 miles east of Costa Mesa...Riverside, CA. I hit up a nice little shop called La Bodega...talk about exceptional selection. These guys had Euros like I have never seen before...all sorts of off the wall stuff....and tons of glassware, to boot. Again, service was outstanding, and I received many recommendations for local brews. I ended up walking out with an AleSmith Decadence, a Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel Cognac (again, major sticker shock) and a Heretic Evil Cousin.

Again, more work stuff happened here...a BUNCH of work stuff, really...

My final stop for the evening, prior to retiring to the hotel, was for dinner. My choices were relatively limited, seeing as I was (am) staying in Garden Grove, less than a mile from Disneyland (pictures of the nightly fireworks didn't really turn out well when taken from a cell phone), but again thanks to Ba, I hit up the OC Brewhouse at the Orange County Hyatt..apparently their gig is to serve local brews on draft. I had some decent fish tacos and sampled some fair Ballast Point brews: Yellow Tail (pale ale, Ba score 3.75) and Calico (amber ale, Ba score 4.0). While not off the charts, these beers are certainly worthy of a good session if they were local to GA.

Once back I decided to hit up my sessionable purchases...first up was Heretic Evil Cousin...an Imperial IPA (gratuitous balcony shot).

 This is Heretic's west coast-style IPA...in brevity, it smells sweet, but is bitter as hell. This is normally not an issue for me, but, damn. At 7 bucks its worth a try, but Evil Cousin is far from sessionable. My understanding is that this is a relatively new brewery, and I think they are on the right track, but this beer didn't cut it for me. My Ba score was a 3.5...maybe another shot at it could prove different, but for now, this is where I am...

I finished off the evening with the Ballast Point Sculpin that I picked up at Hi-Time.

This is easily one of the best IPAs that I have had...perfectly balanced, nicely sessionable..overall, a complete success. Sweet on the aroma, hop forward, but not bitter...its just that damn easy...I wish this was available in 6s and in Georgia...it would make my day/week/month/year...ohtheguilt Ba score 4.75 out of 5.0.

More to come...

Beer Tourism - Memphis, Tennessee

I had the pleasure to take a brief work trip to Memphis last week. Luckily, my old buddy Nate was available for some Memphis fun. Because of Tennessee's shitty beer distribution/laws, I kept it pretty local/macro...nothing exotic, but very good times...

We started out the afternoon on Nate's front porch with with a very easy drinker: Ghost River Golden Ale. Ghost River revived an old brewery in Memphis and began brewing their own beers just a few years ago. Generally speaking they distribute kegs to local restaurants, but Golden Ale is their first bottled beer. This is a very familiar formula...nice, easy drinking lager. Nothing out of this world, but as far as supporting the local guy, this is by far your best bet.

After we finished up the golden we moved on to Southland Park ..seriously. Dog racing at 4 in the afternoon on a Wednesday in West Memphis, AK...you cannot ask for much more! Nate and I split a bucket of Coors Light/Miller Lite (no pic required here, but keep in mind that the Coors bottles had that blue line on them to tel me that they were "very cold"). As a side note, people get up-tight about dog racing...don't. Those dogs eat better meat than I do. Just make your bets and hope that Santa's Little Helper gets to go home with Homer and Bart at the end of the night..anyway, 26 bucks later (yeh...the one-dollar Quiniela..it was hours of fun) we rolled back to Nate's for a brief meet-and-greet with his little one and then on to Young Avenue Deli.

Young Avenue Deli is known for a couple things...incredible shows, a big beer list, and home made french fries. There wasn't a show that night (Nate was lucky enough to have seen some awesome bands in a very intimate setting there in the past), but the fries were ridiculously good. The beer list was definitely big (especially for TN), but since I was trying to play it local and light (still had to drive across town), I stuck with the Memphis boys again, and ordered a few draught Ghost River Glacial Pale Ales (no pic for these). Again, the Memphis locals follow a known pattern to make a very sessionable, yet slightly hoppy brew (more flavorful than the Golden Ale mentioned above). Again, nothing mind-blowing here, but another easy drinker...this time with a bit more of a hop kick. If I lived in Memphis (and had a kegerator) I would likely keep this around the house.

That about covers the Memphis trip..wish I had an extra day to go bottle shopping/perusing, but I was in a bit of a rush (thanks, work). Oh well..

One other note: I cannot believe that I didn't die on the flight home...terrible thunderstorms for more than half the flight...ugh. I fly (pretty much) weekly, and have done so for the past 5-6 years...this flight home was number two on my top ten worst flight list...

SKA Decadent Imperial IPA

I decided to pour another big IPA...

SKA's Decadent Imperial IPA comes in a waxed bottle (very cool looking...in a cheesy SKA sort of way), suggesting that you would want to cellar it..however, seeing as it is an IPA, freshness is critical (in my mind, at least). So, no sense in letting this sit around and get crappy...
Decadent threw me a curve though...it isn't a huge hop forward, west coast style IPA...there is a strong bitterness there, but it takes a back seat, as is diluted by the malty sweetness. I'm getting an odd, almost metallic, aftertaste from this...but I am trying n=to not let it sway my opinion. That said, I was expecting more complexity too...it just isn't there. Neither is the booze. Ba reviews describe this as easy drinking, and I tend to agree; however, that is not what I am necessarily looking for in an imperial IPA...I like my hop aroma and my bitterness. This is, by no means, a bad beer, but I just doesn't live up to my (unjustifiably high) imperial IPA standards..

ohtheguilt Ba score = 3.5 out of 5.0

Deschutes Hop Henge Experimental IPA

Big thanks to Ryan and his sister, Ashley, for getting some west coast beers to Georgia for me...this is only the first of many from this awesome package.

Deschutes Hop Henge Experimental IPA is not quite what an IPA; however, it definitely is "experimental." At 8.5% ABV it is considered imperial, but there isn't the slightest hint of booze. Hop Henge is very mild for a west coast IPA, and while on the citrus side of the spectrum, there is a syrupy sweetness (think tropical fruit - pineapple, etc.) that destroys the hop bitterness. The balance here is incredible and rivals some of the best balanced hoppy beers on the market (its not Pliny, though so don't get too excited). All praise aside, this just isn't my gig. Mrs. ohtheguilt just had a big sip and thoroughly enjoyed it (she had similar fruit and sweetness thoughts), but it doesn't have the hop bitterness that I love so much. That said, the execution of this beer is near perfect...Deschutes is a pretty bad-ass brewery.

ohtheguilt Ba score = 4.5 out of 5.0

Big Eddy Wee Heavy

Sorry for the lack of updates, but work sucks...in light of the shit that is work I am starting big this evening: 9.5% Scotch Ale...

2012 is the first year that Leinenkugel has brewed the Wee Heavy as part of their Big Eddy series and from what I have just tasted, this was a good idea. Wee Heavy is precisely what I expected it to be...and more. The beer pours with minimal carbonation and is a brilliant amber color. You can smell the sweetness right away..loads of caramel and toffee, with hints of vanilla. Compared to other wee heavies that I have had this is much more like an American barleywine. The brew is really drinkable and will certainly satisfy your sweet-tooth. As usual, I have nothing more to say about this beer...just think Sweetwater 15 or Bristol Old No. 23...and that is all you need to know.
Overall, a choice selection and well worth the price if you are digging the malty goodness.

ohtheguilt Ba score 4.25 out of 5.0 

(note that the new Ba scoring system includes quarters)

AleSmith Wee Heavy and CCB Big Sound (Bourbon Barrel)

We got together with some friends on Saturday night for a nice dinner and a few beers. I made an impromptu decision to break out two very different scotch ales to have a nice little tasting.

First up was AleSmith's Wee Heavy (picked this up on a recent trip to Ohio). This beer is a drinker..late 2011 vintage, but I have to wonder what it would be like after a year, since it is so mellow right now. At any rate this is the "lightest" scotch ale that I have had...carbonation was decent, hints of vanilla and caramel...not boozy at all (considering 10.5% ABV), nice malty finish...over all a nice smooth example of the style. 4.0 out of 5.0

 After a segue, Cigar City's Big Sound (bourbon barrel-aged) was up next. I have to get a big thanks to my father-in-law in here for this one. He picked this up while at CCB over Thanksgiving, and during his conversations with the CCB guys, he happened to score this bottle that the brewmaster had waxed and stashed away. Thanks, Peter!

Anyway, there was some concern about the late 2011 bottles of this beer being infected and gushing, so we took the proper precautionary measure and opened this up outside...carefully...on video. It didn't pop.

First thing that hits you is bourbon...lots of it...didn't even have to pour it before the aroma hit...its big. Pours nearly pitch black (kind of strange for a scotch ale) and drinks like syrup. Flavors range from dark fruit to caramel, but consistently tastes like bourbon. It is an okay drinker, but the huge hit of bourbon really kills it for me. Should have let this cellar for a while...probably should have been opened this time next year. Oh well, it was still delicious. 40 out of 5.0. 

Oskar Blues Deviant Dale's IPA

"Sippin' on a tall boy"
Nice beer for Tornadopocalypse 2012...bring it!

Yet another fine IPA. Bordering on "imperial" Deviant comes in at 8% ABV, and is much more drinkable than the "regular" Dale's...come to think of it, this should be the "regular" Dale's...Oskar Blues did a nice job on this one..smooth citrus up front and an easy bitterness...nice balance overall. And. And...wait for it...freakin' tall boys! I have no idea what the head is like or how this beer pour,s because tonight is tornadopocalypse and the only way to properly celebrate such an event is to drink beer out of a can...and not just any can...a 16oz. can!

There is nothing more to say about Deviant...its hoppy, its bitter and its absolutely drinkable...if i had a pick-axe handy (and if I didn't want to savor this), I'd shotgun the remaining three...

ohtheguilt Ba score = 4.5 out of 5.0

BFM Cuvee Alex Le Rogue

This has been a really good beer week for me...another favorite brewer for this one: BFM. Cuvee Alex Le Rogue is labeled as a Jurassian imperial stout brewed with black pepper, vanilla and tea. My bottle is labeled "Batch 2008," and as usual, I really have no idea if this is from 2008 or not...oh well...whatever, it is pretty decent. As with most good stouts, there is very little carbonation here. But that is basically where the similarities  end. There is a dark fruity aroma (maybe some cherries, even apple) and a slightly sour/bitter initial flavor that melds with tea as it lingers. The vanilla on the label is not noticeable, but there is distinctly black pepper on the finish. Other than the color and lack of carbonation, I don't really see this as being an imperial stout...it is definitely an imperial something, but not a stout. The more this thing warms, the more sour apple (both taste and smell) I am getting from it...really strange. This is a good/interesting beer, but it just isn't an imperial stout, and really wasn't anything like what I was expecting. I guess this makes sense coming from BFM, but I'm not sure how I feel about that, so I am going to skip scoring this one on Ba for now.

Mikkeller/Three Floyds Boogoop

Another less than stellar day at the office yields a more than stellar beer..

Boogoop is the fourth collaboration between two of my favorite breweries, Mikkeller and Three Floyds. Although I have not had the pleasure of trying the previous goops, I can almost certainly say that none of the beers I have had from either of these breweries has has fallen short of expectations. So...Boogoop is labeled as a Buckwheat Ale/Wheatwine, but I am not certain what to think of it. It pours like a Belgian (thick, sticky, foamy head), smells like an imperial IPA (big hops) and drinks like no other beer I have had. It is definitely a bit hot, as the booze comes on pretty strong, but you don't notice it at first. The initial flavor is hoppy and is followed a subtle Belgian yeasty flavor (think earthy...peaty), and then the booze (10.4% ABV) hits...almost like a light tingling, or medicinal feel. Either way, this brew is different. I am glad I have an extra bottle to cellar (thanks -again- Joel), as I will be extremely interested in what happens to this stuff after a year or so. If you can find this (Green's on Buford had several bottles last week) and a re feeling adventurous, go ahead and pick up a bottle or two...it probably isn't for the faint of heart, but worst case scenario, bring it to my house and I will split it with you...

ohtheguilt Ba score 4.5 out of 5.0

Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel

Its been a couple days, since I have posted so I figured I would attempt to out-do all of my previous posts by blogging about weasels shitting . No really...its only Tuesday and this is where my week is headed...

Mikkeller's Beer Geek Brunch Weasel is my favorite stout (and in my all time top 5 beers). This is likely the fourth or fifth bottle that I have had, and considering I have never seen it on a shelf in GA, that says a ton about my ambition (or maybe it says a ton about Whitey and Joel - who have each picked up bottles of this for me in the Carolinas...either way). So my understanding of the story here is that Mikkeller made a base beer (Beer Geek Breakfast - a delicious imperial stout) and decided to make several variations on it (Beer Hop Breakfast - the hoppy version, Raunch Geek Breakfast - the version with bacon, etc.)...Weasel is one of the variation and happens to include some rare Asian coffee beans somewhere along the brewing cycle.

Now, these "magical" beans, if you will, are supposedly the most expensive coffee beans in the world (according to wikisomething, about $600/pound) and are referred to as Kopi Luwak or civet coffee. This reference is to the Asian Palm Civet (a fox- or weasel-like animal) who roams around Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, etc. and eats coffee berries. The civet digests the "meat" of the berries and the "bean" is left in the civet's stomach/digestive tract to be worked over by various acids and enzymes...eventually, the civet shits...pardon me, defecates out the beans. Poor people then collect the beans, clean and dry them, and then profit. Apparently the beans make a smooth and rich coffee that isn't as bitter as coffee made with beans that don't come out of a weasel's ass. And here, I would have assumed just the opposite...anyway...the beer is brewed with these beans...and it is DELICIOUS!

Weasel pours dark and thick with just the tiniest bit of carbonation. The beer can be had cool-ish or at room temp, but as it warms it only gets better. I like to chill it for just a bit, pour less than half and let the rest warm up while I sip on the first pour. The flavors are exactly what should be expected from a good imperial stout, but with the extra coffee kick and a ton of sweetness on the finish. The booze isn't heavily pronounced, but its there...as is to be expected from an almost 11% beer. I'm not sure how else to describe this to you...maybe its worth it to find a bottle, drink it, and then tell me what you think...

ohtheguilt Ba score = 5.0 out of 5.0 

The Alchesmist/Ninkasi/Stone More Brown than Black IPA

Finally got back out on the bike today thanks to Joel (and his threats)...not much of a ride, but cheap Terrapin Hopsecutioner was flowing at the trail thank to the Southeastern Bike Expo. Anyway, I braved the "low" temps and wind, and decided to reward myself when I got home...

More Black Than Brown IPA is one of Stone's 2011 collaboration beers...this time with The Alchemist and Ninkasi. As usual, this isn't available in GA (picked it up in Ohio this week), but is incredibly delicious. Despite the color and hop-forwardness, this is actually a very light drinking beer (even Mrs. ohtheguilt liked it). However, caramel (and maybe chocolate) are present behind all the citrus hops...its really an incredible combination, and it makes this brew extremely drinkable. This was the fourth of the 2011 collaboration that I have had and is easily the best (San Diego County Session Ale with Ballast Point and Kelsey McNair was a solid second). I really don't have anything left to say about it...

ohtheguilt Ba score = 4.5 out of 5.0

Birra Del Borgo / Dogfish Head My Antonia

Coming home from Cleveland (temps in the 30s and really windy) to temperatures in the upper 70s just begs for a nice, crisp beverage...to be had on the back deck...

My Antonia (well, this version) is a collaboration between Birra Del Borgo (of Italy) and our favorite Delaware brewer, DFH. I wouldn't normally pick up a 12-dollar imperial pilsner, but after success with Mikkeller's Draft Bear, and on a recommendation from Bill, I bought this one...man, am I glad I did. Another perfect outdoor, nice-evening brew. Obviously My Antonia is on the lighter side, but don't be fooled by the "pilsner" designation...this is no macro-style pils...floral and citrus hops come on upfront with a mild bitterness. The finish is a crispy malt...overall very mild and very drinkable. The alcohol is pretty subtle as well...just a really well-rounded and finely crafted beer from these guys. Unfortunately I have never had DFH's "solo" My Antonia as I would have really liked to compare the two...especially back to back. Oh well. Anyway, give My Antonia a shot on a nice evening...hell, maybe even the guys that are only into macros would like it..afterall, it is a pilsner...

ohtheguilt Ba score = 4.0 out of 5.0

AleSmith X

Yep..another San Diego beer in Cleveland...this makes perfect sense..

An overly excited beer store clerk, really wanted me to try this...it was kind of strange, but whatever. His shop looked like a beer-geek Mecca, but apparently had no customers...4 cases of HopSlam were sitting out in the open collecting dust, and several bottles of 2 to 3 year old micros (seriously, I bought a Goose Island Fleur that was bottled in early 2010) were literally coated with dust. After talking about SweetWater 420, this guy was so excited for me to buy a $6 bomber that he gave me an Urthel glass, just so I wouldn't have to drink it out of the bottle in a hotel...freakin' random, but I wasn't going to argue, as he had WAY too much glassware stock. Anyway, about the beer...

AleSmith X is labeled as an extra pale ale. The beer is basically a pale, but lighter. One of the Ba reviews described it as an "epic session beer" and i cannot agree more. Very simple, lightly hopped with subtle citrus and tea flavors. This may actually be the easiest drinking (but best tasting) beer I have ever had...for the price, though, it just isn't worth it. Bummer. It is a fun one...would be perfect in a kegerator...oh well...again..

ohtheguilt Ba score = 4.0 out of 5.0

Green Flash West Coast IPA

So I had to go to Cleveland, OH to get beer from San Diego, CA...makes perfect sense. Also, I think San Diego is German for "whale's vagina"...we can agree to disagree...

I have been trying to get my hands on Green Flash's West Coast IPA for a little while now, so my stop at a grocery store (highly rated on Ba) in Brecksville, OH was fruitful...yielding a 4-pack of hoppy goodness. I have no idea how old this beer is, but it does taste fresh. The beer is very hoppy...citrus up front and on the finish. It appears to have some sedimentation, but since I am in a hotel, I'm drinking from the bottle...either way, not a big deal. West Coast IPA is exactly what it says it is, a west coast IPA...think of Lagunitas IPA or maybe Sierra Nevada Torpedo and that is what you have: a balanced easy drinker with a low-ish ABV. It is on the bitter side, so you probably don't want to feed it to the macro crowd. My understanding is that Gren Flash is now distributing in most states that surround GA (go figure), so I imagine (or I hope) that we will be next on the list. Oh, and the bottles are really cool (but difficult to photograph).

 If this was more reasonably priced, sold in anything other than 4-packs, and available in Georgia, it would be the normal session beer...unfortunately, it is none of these things...yet.

ohtheguilt Ba score = 4.0 out of 5.0

One quick note: I bought a couple of AleSmith brews to take home, and will be dropping by Great Lakes Brewing and Southland Beverage tomorrow for a bit more Ohio beer tourism...stay tuned...

Saturday Night Beer-Geeks...again

My buddies, Whitey and Bill swung by last night to partake in a little tasting...that turned big. Both Whitey and Bill are real beer guys, so we had to break out some pretty baller brews. Both of the boys showed up with a nice selection and after a quick bottle-waxing session we got to work on the big stuff...

I'm not going to pretend that I really remember the nuances of each of these guys, and considering that we had to break up the monotony of incredible beer with a few smaller (volume) beers and..uh...well, vodka tonics....so, yeh...lost the nuances..

So, the short and long is that you know what these are and that they were all damn good...here is a brief run down:

North Coast Old Rasputin XIV Anniversary (barrel aged)- WOW...huge beer, boozy, delicious...
SweetWater 15 - really nice barleywine from the local guys - incredible bang for the buck
Three Floyds Behemoth - another barleywine, but super hopped...again, delicious
Pisgah Vortex II - badass imperial stout from North Carolina 
Nøgne Ø Underlig Jul (Peculiar Yule) - an incredibly spiced x-mas beer

Overall, a really nice selection of big flavor beers (my Ba scores were either 4.0 or 4.5 for each of these), all had while catching up with some good friends... 

Heavy Seas Below Decks 2011

Catching up on my Friday evening...

Despite being a fan of all things bitter I've been getting on a barleywine kick recently and decided to crack open a Heavy Seas Below Decks 2011 (sorry, no picture) last night. I am very glad I did. Below Decks is an incredible value for what it is...a nice strong, sweet barelywine bomber for  6 bucks...incredible! The sugar and caramel are very obvious in the aroma and in the taste...its almost a level of sweetness that rivals a can of soda...but, well...this was aged in bourbon barrels, so it certainly isn't soda. The booze is also upfront on this one, but is really tamed by the big sweetness. This thing is huge, and delicious. It isn't the best barleywine I have had, but for the money, its absolutely awesome. Seriously, if you like barleywine, give this one a shot...and if you have never had barelywine,  try this one soon.

ohtheguilt Ba score 4.0 out of 5.0

New Belgium Lips of Faith Series Cocao Mole

Tonight's selection is New Belgium's Lips of Faith Series Cocoa Mole (the "e"  should have one of those fancy Spanish things over it, but I don't know how to do that via a blog post). Anyway, Joel and I split a bomber of this tonight, and I am still not sure what to think of it. Described as a Chile beer at 9% ABV, this thing is all over the place. Seems like NB used a brown as a base and added a metric shit-ton of spices and bunch of peppers. The aroma is overpowering cinnamon, but the taste is all chocolate and pepper (mainly on the finish). I am super-sensitive to peppers/spicy stuff (hot spicy, that is) and haven't had any issues with other pepper beers (specifically Founders BA Spite Guaillo and Left Hand FTB Pepper Porter) but this one was almost like a slow burn well after the finish. Kind of strange...but I am still feeling it a bit an hour later. Oh well...not a huge issue and not a deal breaker. Unfortunately, though, there are other Chile beers that destroy this one (see above), so I can't say that I was incredibly impressed. Cocoa Mole was a decent beer, and I would recommend it to anybody who wants to try something really out of the ordinary...that said, if you can some how manage to get to Founders and they happen to have the BA Spite on draft, get that instead....but good-freakin-luck...just buy the Cocoa Mole...

ohtheguilt Ba score 3.5 out of 5.0

Boulevard Smokestack Series Dark Truth Stout

Shitty day at work = big beer at home...

Boulevard's Dark Truth Stout is one of the easiest drinking stouts I have had. Great roasted malt and chocolate flavors, with just a tiny bit of bitterness. The carbonation was close to perfect, as it poured a respectable tan head. Ba reviews (as usual) were across the boards, but predominantly mentioned too much booziness for a 9.7%...I completely disagree. The booze was there, but certainly was not too powerful. Overall, a great drinker and likely my favorite of all the Smokestack Series beers that I have tried. If this was available in Georgia, I'd buy another 4-pack.

ohtheguilt Ba score = 4.0 out of 5.0

Side note: I just got a call from a co-worker, and she is bringing back a supply of Three Floyds Behemoth for me, from a trip to KY. This just made my day...thanks, Caroline!

HaandBryggeriet Barrel Aged Porter

Its cold outside...so cold that I decided to take the Norwegian route this evening...

 HaandBryrgeriet Barrel Aged porter is just that...except it was aged in Akevitt barrels. I have never had Akevitt, but my understanding is that Norwegians drink it to "keep warm"...in other words, it should be strong stuff. When I opened this thing up, it was silent. Not a good sign. However, I was immediately hit with the aroma of (what I believe to be) Akevitt...strong spicy booze (think of cheap cologne).  The good news is that despite the lack of carbonation and the incredibly strong Akevitt aroma, this beer is drinks very smoothly. It is definitely a porter and drinks as such...dark and sticky, but with a pleasant sweetness. Now, keep in mind that the Akevitt is still there...its just not overpowering, but the flavor is obvious, and it mellows with warmth. But beware: you have to get past the smell of it. It seriously smells like a creepy Russian gangster. Picture this: a dirty 2nd gen. Range Rover, blaring techno at an obscene volume...it pulls up and a Russian gangster hops out. Slicked back hair. Gold chain. Chest hair poking out of his silk button-down...now imagine taking a whiff of him. Cheap cologne and sweat...that's what this beer smells like. That said, if you are looking for a strange dark beer, this is it...if you are just looking to drink something that is damn good, then move right along...

ohtheguilt Ba score 3.5 out of 5.0

Hoppin' Frog Hop Dam (Triple IPA)

Tonight I samples yet another beer from the long list of "clever" hop-related-name beers...see also: Hoppyum, Hopsecutioner, Hop Devil, Hop Slap, Alphaphylactic Hop (seriously), Hop Zombie, Hop Burn...and on and on and on (seriously, serach for it)...

Hoppin' Frog's Hop Dam is...well...it is pretty hoppy. Labeled as a Triple IPA (not to be confused with Miller Lite's "triple hopped" marketing), its no shock that it rings in at 10% ABV...and probably really is "triple hopped." This is a pretty bitter brew, not the most bitter that I've had, but certainly has some bite (Hoppin' Frog's website lists the IBU as "HIGH"...it has got to be over 100...lots of citrus and pine hoppiness, but only a marginal malt backing. The brew pours an almost orange hue and is packed with sediment (almost a half-inch at the bottom of my bomber)...not exactly a selling point for me, but still drinkable (and gets even more drinkable as it warms).  I wasn't floored by Hop Dam, just as I haven't been floored with most of the other "clever" names (Hopslam completely excluded), but the beer is exactly what it claims to be...a supper hoppy imperial IPA...good enough for a Monday night.

ohtheguilt Ba score = 3.5 out of 5.0

Cigar City at The Porter

Last night Mrs. ohtheguilt and I hit up The Porter with another couple (Joel and his wifey) to sample the recently tapped Cigar City Brewing kegs (and a cask). If you haven't been to The Porter, go there...the beer selection is incredible, and the food is pretty decent too.

Anyway, we decided that we should go ahead and sample some of the CCB brews that we can't normally pick up in our area. We started off with the Jai Alai cask ale. Jai Alai is CCB's year-round IPA, and is quite a good brew in general. The cask version was (obviously) a bit different than the bottles we have had. The cask pours very hazy and is certainly less "hop-forward" than the bottles...almost a muted, lighter flavor. The brew is still hoppy, but has mellowed in the cask...not bad.

Next up was Warmer Winter Winter Warmer. This brew is touted as an English-style barleywine. Again, we were not let down. WWWW was extremely sweet with hints or raisins, figs and (probably) other dark fruits. As a warmer, it wasn't as spiced as most, and as a barleywine, it wasn't as boozy as most...overall, a pretty balanced and fun brew. Glad I have one in the cellar...

Our third taste was Improv (an Oatmeal Rye Brown Ale)...Joel ordered this one, so I really just had a brief taste...not enough to form a truly informed opinion, but certainly enough for a description. Improv poured really dark with lots of oatmeal and roasty/almost burnt aroma. The taste is a bit lighter than expected and sweeter, as well. Sounds like it opened up a bit more upon warming...I'd like to try this again.

For our finale, Joel and I split a 750 of CCB's Humidor Series IPA...

Needless to say, the Humidor Series beers are all aged on cedar...this one is actually a version of Jai Alai, but (obviously) aged on cedar. The cedar aroma is very obvious, but the hoppiness is still noticeable, but has been mellowed by the cedar, making the beer very smooth and drinkable. Unfortunately, this one isn't exactly available in Atlanta...or at least not off the shelf. However, it was certainly a nice twist on a very good base beer. Go try to find this...

Overall a nice evening with good friends and some pretty damn good beers. Now I'm really excited to crack open my CCB cellar stash (a great X-mas gift from my father-in-law)...