The BEER thread.

I'm not out that way often, but next time I am, I'll keep it in mind. (It's a 90 minute drive. Not bad, but kind of need an excuse or reason other than beer. ) Thanks.

 

After chasing it all week and coming up empty - Especially since hardly any stores within 30 miles of me even had any - my wife comes home today and surprises me with 2 of these:



Did I mention how awesome my wife is?

 

Niiiiiice.

Best enjoyed with a fine cigar in a leather chair sitting by a fireplace. That **** will put hair on your chest.

 

Not sure I need more on my chest.

I won't open it for almost 2 weeks. Self imposed Lenten alcohol fast and all. But I can't wait to compare it to Sunday Morning Stout which is absolutely delicious itself. (It was on tap and I caved once. Hehe)

A friend managed to snag an extra bottle for me today too. So I'll drink one. The other 2 are being cellared indefinitely.

 

I'm a big fan of Founder's. Love their Breakfast Stout and Porter. Dirty Bastard is fantastic (can't wait to get my hands on Backwoods Bastard). Curmudgeon is almost perfection. I'm not into IPAs, so I can't comment on their offerings there. And they have some Nitro offerings I have yet to come across.

I'm guessing it's due to their success with KBS, Backwoods Bastard and a few one offs I missed. But they're now doing a whole "Barrel Aged" series. A new offering every couple months. Rumor has it, they'll re-release CBS (Canadian Breakfast Stout) this winter. But other than Backwoods Bastard coming this fall, their website doesn't name the future offerings, only "TBA."

Until yesterday when they revealed the upcoming barrel Aged release"

http://beerstreetjournal.com/founders-dkml/

Not sure how I feel about this one. If they called it a strong ale as it appears to be classified, I still might hesitate, but my curiosity would win out. But a malt liquor? I suppose if one fell in my lap, I might still try it, but I don't see myself running around in a desperate search for it. Flashbacks to college and cheap 40s trigger a bit of a retch response.

 

It's still just a rumor. Probably accurate, but still a rumor until officially announced.

As hard as it has been for me to obtain KBS (I was skunked last year and only got some this year by sheer serendipity), I'm not holding my breath on CBS. Of course, I'd love to get my hands on it. But we'll have to see how much they made this year and how wide the distribution will be. If it's anything similar to KBS this year, maybe I'll have a shot.

Got skunked on Backwoods Bastard last year too. That and BCBS are the next 2 goals.

Edited and by the way, dear autocorrect, never once have I typed "have" and meant "habe" or "hat bee." Lol

 

I heard about the infection with the Bourbon County Brand. I read that they're pasteurizing now to prevent it. Not sure how that'll affect the flavor though.

 

Today there's press releases coming from Founder's saying the third Barrel Aged beer coming in May will be Doom.

I guess the whole thing about DKML was either a joke or a hoax?

(edit: never mind. I can't read apparently. 2 different releases. 2 different months.)

 

Cracked open a Dragon's Milk tonight. Compared to Sunday Morning Stout, it was a bit of a letdown. Not bad at all, mind you. It was quite good. But it was nothing spectacular either.

I barely registered any Bourbon on the nose. And tasted nothing to tell me it was bourbon barrel aged. Nice, balanced flavor overall, but if you didn't tell me it was bourbon barrel aged, I would have never guessed. No bourbon. No oak. Not even that boozy. Very rich with coffee and vanilla though (and a slight hint of brown sugar). And for the price, I can't really complain.

I still haven't opened a KBS yet. That'll be tomorrow night / tonight (Thursday). I'm salivating already.

Speaking of Sunday Morning Stout, I snagged its descendant today: http://www.weyerbacher.com/beers/special-release/finally-legal/

Looking forward to trying this one out as well. As an aside, I also realized today that I'm officially a dirty old man. My first thought was that the name referred to a girl who was, well... you know. It never occurred to me that Weyerbacher was celebrating it's 21st anniversary and the name was the joke about 21 being legal to drink.

 

Dude...

Not sure which impressed me more. The KBS, which was nearly a religious experience. Or the bourbon, which, especially for the money, was insanely good. (Larceny)



The KBS was rich in chocolate, coffeee, and a good hint of bourbon (maybe a touch of vanilla). The Larceny was... dude...

 

Yeah, I wasn't all that impressed with Dragon's Milk when I had it.

I think I just drooled. I stared at that picture and wished you were my next door neighbor. When I go towards the white light, I want that to be the first thing I see on the other side.

 

Don't be so sure about that. We went from having a nice little drink or 2, to way overdoing it. Hangover city today.

I'm in desperate need of bacon and eggs, and a pot or 3 of strong coffee.

Tried a few other beers last night. The Einstock Wee Heavy was very, very good. Had a Coffee Oatmeal Stout from Thomas Creek. Not bad.

And a Sierra Nevada Bigfoot (Barleywine). No. Maybe my taste buds were shot by then, but no. Too raw. Too wild. Into the cellar it goes. Will try again in a year.

 

I don't get them very often unless I really overindulge. I'll bring the advil, prickly-pear, and coconut water. It sounds like hippie ****, but it works wonders.

Many of the Barleywines I've had are that way. Scratches an itch I didn't know I had sometimes, though.

 

Tried my first ever Hefeweizen tonight. How did I miss this style? And how the hell do they get these flavors out of simple wheat, malt and hops? Banana, grapefruit, apricot and pear?!?! This is definitely a great summer time beer. And the heads just don't quit! Not sure what voodoo the Germans used here, but it works (I'm sure it's the yeast).

Recently also had my first ever Quad. That isn't beer. It's some kind of dessert drink. Rich and sweet (and a mule kick strong). Figs, raisins, plums, sugar(?) I started hearing dance of the sugar Plum Fairy in my head while drinking it. Very good, but a special occasion kind of drink.

Out of all of the new beers and styles I've tried over the past month or 2, I think my new favorite for when I'm having several beers is a Dopplebock. Specifically, Troeg's Troegenator. Goes great with almost any meal. Rich, smooth, nice and malty, and strong enough to let you know you've had a few.



Don't worry though. Guinness is still my home.

 

Just had my first ever World Wide Stout from Dogfish Head...
How will I ever go back to even above average beer now? HOW?!?!?!

But seriously, that isn't beer. I know it's technically beer. It's made like beer, uses beer's ingredients, etc. But it's a whole different beast. Absolutely delicious, and VERY strong. But to lump that into a category with lesser mortals like, well, most other beer, feels like an insult to it. If I had never had a barley wine, I'd think that's what this was, because it reminds me of a fortified wine. But it's oh so much better.

BRB, licking the glass....

 

IIRC, longtime poster (now vanished) Scottchab used to have Dogfish Head as his avatar.

Im going to have to finally try it.

 

I can't speak for their 120 Minute IPA as I detest IPAs. But the alcohol is very well masked (to me anyway) with their World Wide Stout. Yes, it's obviously there, but not in a distracting way.

But it also isn't a beer you drink a few of. You drink one and enjoy it. Too expensive to drink often also. Special occasion type thing.

 

We've all been there, Strummer. But thankfully, that's not usually the case for me. If I get out of control, I meant to. Or I can enjoy 1 or 2 and be happy.

Edited to add: Just found out a friend scored some one of Avery' s The Nuttiest Professor for me. Should be interesting. (Bourbon barrel aged chocolate peanut butter stout)