Welcome to Cosmo's Beer Blog!

We’re a small group of friends and family scattered across the country who’ve all developed a thirst for craft and import beer. We decided that a blog would be a great venue for us to share our hobby. Here we will review beer, compare notes and challenge each other with "Beer Missions".

So welcome to our little world of discovering great tasting beer!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Surly Wet

Wet by Surly
Style / abv: American IPA / 7.5%
Source / Temp: 1 Pint Can / 55 deg
Glass: Half Pint Glass

Appearance: Clear reddish-gold ale with a thick white head.

Aroma: This brew has an awesome citrus aroma with notes of orange and grapefruit. I also notice a hint of lemon-grass.

Taste: The taste is so full of crisp citrus fruits that it literally reminds me of biting into a juicy orange. The middle is sort of a sweet pine and is followed by a big hop finish.

Drinkability: The body is surprisingly watery with medium carbonation. This is easily one of the most drinkable 7+ percentage beers I've ever had.

Notes:
This beer tastes and smells so good that I don't want to put down my glass. I have had the pleasure of trying some of the finest IPA's that America has to offer and Wet is easily one of the finest IPA's I have tried. The only real problem with this beer is that it is not readily accessible in Indiana. Fortunately I have found a couple of great traders in Minnesota that are willing to help me acquire  future batches.

I give Wet 9.5 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Monday, November 28, 2011

Marshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout

Last September, a good friend shared a bottle of Hunahpuh's with most of the bloggers here. We were all blown away by that amazing stout and ever since then, I have been very interested to try the base stout that Cigar City Brewing uses to create their Mayan inspired Hunahpuh's. Recently, the same friend was kind enough to share this foundation:

Marshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout by Cigar City Brewing
Style / abv: Russian Imperial Stout / 11.5%
Source / Temp: bottle / ?
Glass: Large Wine Glass

Appearance: Completely black ale with a thick mocha brown head.

Aroma: The aroma is both appealing and unusual. I smell cocoa powder, molasses, soy sauce, and I detect just a hint of alcohol.

Taste: I taste creamy molasses, dark cocoa powder, and a medium roasty finish. This is a very sweet brew, but the roasted malt finish balances the taste nicely.

Drinkability: Despite Zhukov's being an extremely thick brew with only medium carbonation, I find it to be surprisingly drinkable. Not drinkable like a glass of pilsner after mowing the yard in the hot summer sun, but rather drinkable like a cup of hot chocolate that you just can't put down on a cold winter's day.

Notes:
As Zhukov's warms, I notice more roastiness in the finish to the point that it actually tastes a bit smokey.

Some aspects of this beer feel like they contradict one another: good and strange aroma, sweet and roasty taste, thick and drinkable body, highly alcoholic with almost no evidence in the taste or aroma. Yet somehow they all work together for an extremely enjoyable beer and one that I will seek out again.

I give Marshal Zhukov's 9 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Canadian Breakfast Stout


Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS) by Founders
Style / abv: Double Imperial Stout / 10.6%
Source / Temp: 750ml bottle / 55 deg
Glass: Medium Sized Snifter

Appearance: Black ale with a tan head.

Aroma: The first thing I notice is that this ale smells like a tame KBS. I pick up a light bourbon scent, chocolate liquor, and a bit of alcohol.

Taste: This is a very sweet beer. I taste creamy chocolate milk, a bit of coffee, tons of maple, and just a touch of bourbon. I am strongly reminded of a sweet Starbucks coffee. The only evidence of hops is a very slight bite somewhere in the middle. I do not taste any alcohol.

Drinkability: This smooth, creamy ale has just a little bit of carbonation. This is a dessert beer that while tasty, it is not very drinkable. I cannot imagine drinking much more than about 6 ounces.

Notes:
As CBS reaches room temperature, the sweetness becomes over-the-top. I find myself with my nose in the glass, yet less and less tempted to take a sip.

I am glad that I was lucky enough to secure a single bottle of this interesting and lauded ale. It is a tasty brew that was fun to share with my fellow bloggers. I must admit, however, that while I will continue to hunt and scrap for bottles of KBS and Backwoods Bastard, I will not go to the same lengths for CBS. There is one exception: many who have had both say that CBS on tap is far superior to CBS in the bottle. So I will reserve my final judgement of CBS for the day that I have opportunity to sample it on tap... if that day ever comes....

I give CBS 8 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

A Zombie at the Beach

Fun Picture by Charles

Friday, November 25, 2011

Sun King Brewery: Osiris



Sun King Brewery Osiris
Type:  APA (American Pale Ale)

I first tried this beer as a sample in the Sun King Brewery in Indianapolis, Indiana right before the Three Floyds Anniversary celebration (good times) this year.  It was a great experience at the Sun King Brewery and it is amazing now out of the colorfully ornate 1 pint can.

Appearance - Pours with a full head and a light amber color.  

Aroma -  Fresh, crisp citrus…amazing and perfect.

Taste -  Absolutely perfect, just like the aroma.  Pours in rich and creamy with a….hate to use the word again, but 'perfect' carbonation tantalizing the tongue with 'perfectly' (dang it, can't stop using that word) balanced lasting hops.  The subsequent tastes repeat this process 'perfectly' till the bottom of the glass.

Rating - 10 out of 10

This is a close tie with Zombie Dust from Three Floyds for APA's, from the same great state of Indiana (what is going on over there?).  Because of Osiris and Zombie Dust I have a new found attraction for APAs and the relationship is growing.  We found another winner.  Great job Sun King Brewery you are amazing!

Broma Theon
(food of the gods)

-charles

Mikkeller 10 (APA)




Mikkeller 10
Type:  APA (American Pale Ale)

Appearance - A liquid very similar to a Hefe weisen or Belgian trippel with smokey liquid pours with a hefty  and lasting head.  

Aroma -  I would not have believed it unless I smelt it personally, but the smell that quickly dropped my expectations is…..wet dog.  Yes, the smell was wet dog with a side of hops.  Not very refreshing to start.

Taste -  Tastes more like a belgian trippel than an APA to me, but I'm fairly new to APA's so I'm trying to figure them out.  My absolute favorite APA is Zombie Dust by Three Floyds, but…I'll talk about that one in another review.  The citrus is definitely quality, but I just can't shake the 'wet dog' smell to really enjoy the hops.  Seeing that they brewed this limited release at De Poef, Belgium I am going to take a wild guess to understand why there are strong Belgium yeast overtones.

Rating - 6 out of 10

It was really hard to score it so low with the amazing complex flavors, but I just can't get past smelling wet dog while I am stuffing my face into the glass.  This is my first time trying anything by Mikkeller so I will try not to judge my next tastes of their beer based off of this limited release.  Till next time.

Broma Theon
(food of the gods)

-charles

Monday, November 21, 2011

Saint Arnold Divine Reserve 11 (aka Endeavour)


Saint Arnolds Divine Reserve 11
Type: American Double, Imperial IPA

Appearance - While it pours with a full head, it quickly settles to allow you to enjoy the experience.  Waiting is sometimes frustrating when you want to taste a great beer.

Aroma:  Fresh honey with a slight hint of grape fruit.

First taste - Definitely taste the honey and the rush of my favorite flavors...hops!!  I imagine that this Divine Reserve 11 would have tasted even more amazing had it been completely fresh, but even after the many months of waiting for me to taste it, I'm impressed.  I admit that I have not found a beer that Saint Arnolds produces that completely captures my taste buds, but tonight...I found one.  Thankfully Saint Arnolds is smart enough to keep this one around for good and is releasing it as a normal production beer under the title, "Endeavour."  The vote was between the name 'eleven' and 'Endeavour' and Endeavour won.  I voted for Endeavour myself....who calls their beer eleven?  Really?!

Later tastes - Creamy, rich, a slight warmness, and the slightly bitter hoppy goodness that I love in my aftertastes. Some hate it, but I absolutely love it.

Rating: 9 out of 10

For its new name's connotation of the Space Shuttle Endeavor and for the James Cook's ship Endeavor, it represents the best that I've had from Saint Arnolds to date.  Good job Saint Arnolds, keep 'em comin'!!

Broma Theon
(food of the gods)

-Charles

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Canadian Craze

Beer geeks around the world have long pursued Founders' Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS). Described by Founders as an "Ale brewed with Chocolate and Coffee aged in Maple Syrup - Bourbon Barrels" it is easy to understand its appeal. Of course many brews fall short of the delicious descriptions conjured up by marketing professionals but CBS has consistently received excellent reviews on websites like Beeradvocate and Ratebeer. Over the years CBS has become legendary. Part of this fame is also based on Founders reputation as masters of bourbon barrel aging. When Founders commits to aging ale in bourbon barrels, they rarely miss the mark.

Until recently, CBS was only available on tap and it's legend grew as the chosen few beer reviewers lauded it's amazing taste and aroma. Earlier this year Founders started bottling in large format 750ml bottles. Their first release was Blushing Monk and immediately people started speculating that CBS could be, or should be, next. Founders played their cards close to the chest as anticipation grew but in late August Founders announced that the next large format release would indeed be Canadian Breakfast Stout. The web was abuzz with anticipation and excitement and our little tasting group was no different.

On one of my many trips to the local bottle shoppe, I discussed the impending release of CBS with my friend and purveyor of great beer, Dave (or as he is called on Beeradvocate: backfat). "I'm not even going to bother trying to get it locally", Dave said. "It's going to be a bloodbath." I chuckled. Laura and I thought about driving up to the release party but ultimately decided to skip it. I figured it would be difficult to get, but I had always been able to track down any brew that I really wanted and figured this would be no different.

As the date for distribution grew closer, I began calling my various sources for rare beer. I could tell early on that store employees were being harassed by frenzied beer fans, concerned that they might not get a bottle of CBS. Was Dave right? Maybe I should have made the trip to Grand Rapids to secure my bottles... still, I wasn't too worried. I put my name on three bottle lists and stayed in contact with eight different stores. At the first store I was number 14 on a list, at the second I was number 5, and at my regular spot I was number 8. The only problem was that no one knew how many bottles they would receive. More time passed and rumors of extremely limited bottle counts began to surface. Now I began to lament my decision to not attend the release party in Grand Rapids. With no going back, I tried to call stores often enough to keep abreast of what was happening without becoming a nuisance. The problem was that with so many callers, beer stores were growing weary of any mention of CBS.

Finally distribution week came and the incredible stories began. People waiting outside stores who refused to make lists, some even sleeping in their cars. People hearing they would get bottles, only to find their store received none. Stores not selling a single bottle to the public but rather letting employees purchase their entire allotment. As I touched base with stores that did not make lists, I received the same news: either their bottle allotment was so small that they were already gone or they received no bottles at all. I still had hope as my name was in good position on a few lists. I spoke with the first store and found out that I was number 14 on a list for 12 bottles. I called the second store and found that I was number 5 on a list for no bottles. Uh oh. I called my last hope and found that I was number 8 on a list for 12 bottles! Okay, this would work out just fine... or maybe not. The shop kept taking names and as their list grew well beyond their allotment they decided that the only fair thing to do was to have a lottery. The list grew to around 40 names and the bottle count dwindled to 4 as their employees reserved bottles for themselves. At this point I was hopeful but not especially optimistic. I spoke with one of the employees who stated, "we're going to do the drawing at 5 this afternoon. Everyone just wants to get this whole Canadian Breakfast Stout thing behind us". I empathized with him for a minute before hanging up.

After work I decided to run over to the store and see how the drawing went. A group of people that included Dave and the store owner were quietly chatting as I entered. I smiled, congratulated them for being almost done with all the craziness, and asked how the drawing went. Dave pulled out a bottle of CBS and said, "isn't that a beautiful thing?" He held it forward and handed it me. As I looked over the label he said, "we just did the drawing and you won. That's your bottle." I paused for a moment wondering if he was kidding, but quickly concluded that Dave wouldn't be that cruel. I was a little stunned and a lot excited to realize that I would finally get to try this storied ale.

As Dave walked back to check some stock I said, "Man, you called it on the CBS release! How did you know that it would be so crazy?"

"Well, I figured this: bottle one of the most sought-after stouts in the world that tastes so good that you'd stab your best friend in the face just for a sip; it has to be crazy." I think I'll listen next time.

So last Friday night on the eve of the Three Floyds 15th Anniversary, I decided to open my bottle of CBS. It seemed appropriate as the group assembled included most of us who write here.

So next up... my review of CBS.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Beer Tasting September 2011



Saturday evening Laura and I hosted our second beer tasting party. Thank you to everyone who came out! We really enjoyed spending time with you, chatting, and sampling brews.

The picture above shows everything that was shared.

Top Row; Left To Right
1) mdvatab - Home Brew - American Pale Wheat
2) Bell's - The Oracle - American Double / Imperial IPA
3) Kuhnhenn Brewing Company Bourbon Barrel Fourth Dementia - Old Ale
4) Deschutes Brewery - Hop In The Dark Cascadian Dark Ale - American Black Ale
5) Cigar City Brewing - Hunahpu's Imperial Stout - American Double / Imperial Stout
6) Avery Brewing Company - Maharaja - American Double / Imperial IPA
7) mdvatab - Home Brew - American Stout
8) Founders - Backwoods Bastard - Scotch Ale

Bottom Row; Left To Right
1) Great Lakes Brewing Company - Burning River - American Pale Ale
2) Three Floyds - Zombie Dust - American Pale Ale
3) Another Zombie Dust
4) Half Acre Beer Company - Daisy Cutter - American Pale Ale
5) Another Daisy Cutter
6) Maui Brewing Co. - CoCoNut Porter - American Porter
7) Another CoCoNut Porter
8) Founders - Porter - American Porter
9) Great Lakes Brewing Company - Edmund Fitzgerald Porter - American Porter
10) Deschutes Brewery - Black Butte Porter - American Porter
11) Nøgne Ø - Det Kompromissløse Bryggeri A/S - Porter - American Porter
12) Three Floyds - Amon Amarth / Ragnarok - American Porter


Pale And Porters
With a general theme of Pales & Porters it was fun to compare a variety of American Pale Ales and Porters to see how they stacked up. For me, Zombie Dust was the clear winner of the APA's but Porters wasn't as cut and dry. While I really liked trying some new Porters alongside some old favorites, the Edmund Fitzgerald continues to be one of my favorites. The CoCoNut and Nogne variations were both very good and I will seek them out again.

Everything Else
We got to sample a couple of great Double IPA's in The Oracle and Maharaja. Mark brought out a couple home brews which were tasty and fun to try. Laura and I both have a special place for all things aged in bourbon barrels and we both loved the Kuhnhenn and Hunahpu's. The final sampling was a bottle of The Abyss which was unfortunately infected, but enjoyable to try nonetheless.

Thank you to everyone who brought beer. Your generosity was much appreciated!

Eis Igian,
Randall and Laura

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Jaded


Jaded by Stillwater Artisanal Ales
Style / abv: Belgian Strong Dark Ale / 10%
Source / Temp: 11.2oz bottle / 55 deg
Glass: Medium Sized Snifter

Appearance: Even though I poured fairly gently, the brew still poured with a thick tan head. The body is a medium brown with dark orange tones.

Aroma: I pick up sour plum, grapes and what seems to be dry white wine..

Taste: This starts with a very sweet and smooth red grape and plum front, a fairly spicy middle, and slight dry grain (maybe wheat?) finish. That doesn't really do it justice... this is a pretty complex brew and I'm having a difficult time nailing it down. It is reminiscent of a sweeter Rochefort 8.

Drinkability: This ale is just a little thicker than water with medium carbonation. This is a very enjoyable and at 10% abv, surprisingly drinkable beer.

Notes:
There is a noticeable alcohol warmth but I really don't taste it. After letting the brew warm a bit, the scent of alcohol is much more noticeable.

With the plethora of available Belgian Ales, I haven't felt much draw to try American takes on Belgian classics. After giving this brew a chance, it is apparent that I have been missing out. While I will always enjoy St. Bernardus, Rochefort, Westmalle and the like, Jaded is proof once again that the American brewers can come up with great variations of any style. The only real shame here is that this particular ale was only brewed once with no immediate plan to brew it again.

I give Jaded 8.5 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Friday, September 2, 2011

Beer in Dayton, Ohio

I wanted to write a quick post about a few of the great places in the Dayton, Ohio area to pick up amazing beer.  Many people have heard the name Arrow Wine, but few have paid attention my two preferences; Centerville Carry Out at 725 and 48 and Belmont Party Supply off of Smithville and Watervliet Ave.  I like Arrow Wine, I really do, but....they have a more kindred spirit for those 'wine' folks.  I'm not against the wine brethren, but they seem to receive preferential treatment in selection and focus as the name of the store is Arrow 'Wine.'  The name Centerville Carry Out and Belmont Party Supply aren't exactly all encompassing either, but at least they're not purposely picking favorites.

Names and preferences aside, I just love Centerville Carry Out and Belmont Party Supply.  They are small locally owned stores that have amazing selections to keep me browsing for more than what should be 5 minutes when I visit from Houston, TX.

Keep up the great work guys, we'll see you in Dayton, Ohio soon for some great selections we just can't get down here in ol' Texas :)

"Broma Theon"

-charles

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Perkulator

Perkulator by Dark Horse Brewing
Style / abv: Dopplebock / 7.5%
Source / Temp: 12oz bottle / 50 deg
Glass: Beer Mug

Appearance: Murky brown with some red tones. It poured with a medium sized, thick bubbly brown head.

Aroma: HUGE coffee aroma with a little vanilla.

Taste: Sour coffee with a little bit of roasted malt and slight dry bitter finish.

Drinkability: With a body that is just a little bit thicker than water, you'd think that it would drink very easily. It doesn't.

Notes: The warmer it gets, the more sour it smells and tastes. I definitely think it's worth trying but the aroma is much better than the taste.

 I give Perkulator 5 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Friday, August 19, 2011

Founders... Again!

Okay, I have definitely been on a big Founders kick lately. I think this will be the last one I review for a while... until I get my hands on a bottle of Canadian Breakfast Stout that is!

Breakfast Stout by Founders
Style / abv: Imperial Stout / 8.3%
Source / Temp: 12oz bottle / 55 deg
Glass: Wine Glass

Appearance: Dark brown, verging on black. Poured with virtually no head, just a small ring of brown bubbles.

Aroma: Fresh coffee, maple and dark chocolate. I'm not sure I pick up on the Kona, but the Sumatra is evident.

Taste: Rich dark chocolate blended with robust coffee and roasted malt. Interestingly, I think the Kona is more evident in the taste. I can't taste the hops but they bite my tongue at the finish.

Drinkability: This beer has creamy, thick mouthfeel making for a good sipping beer.

Notes:
Breakfast Stout is one of my very favorite stouts. I look forward to it when it comes out each season and I buy enough to last a while.

I give Breakfast Stout a 9 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Blushing Monk

Blushing Monk by Founders
Style / abv: Fruit-Vegetable Beer / 9.2%
Source / Temp: 750ml bottle / 50 deg
Glass: Small Snifter

Appearance: Dark red brew with a fizzy amber head.

Aroma: An explosion of raspberry with some tart yeast and sour grape candy.

Taste: This beer tastes like fresh raspberries with a little grape and no discernible hops. It is very sweet and very tart with the 9.2% alcohol hidden so well that I couldn't tell it was alcoholic.

Drinkability: Slighty thicker than water with tight caronation. I can't imagine drinking this or any fruit / vegetable beer all the time, but I really enjoyed this brew.

Notes:
While Blushing Monk isn't very complex, it is the oppitome of fresh. I am so glad that Founder's is now bottling some of their specialty brews and I look forward to having this again next year!

I give Blushing Monk a 7 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

An Old Favorite

Imperial Stout by Founders
Style / abv: Russian Imperial Stout / 10.5%
Source / Temp: 12oz bottle / 50 deg
Glass: Wine Glass

Appearance: Black with a small chocolate brown head

Aroma: Chocolate liquore with a little bit bit of maple and roasted malt

Taste: Much like the aroma, it tastes like a dark chocolate liquore with and a nice roasted malt finish. The bite from the 90 ibu's does a good job balancing the sweetness.

Drinkability: Smooth creamy body with light carbonation. I can definitely finish off a bottle, but it would be the rare day that I'd drink two.

Notes:
Imperial Stout by Founders has long been been one of my favorite Russian Imperial Stouts. This is a very nicely crafted ale that is somehow both simple and intense.

I give Imperial Stout 8.5 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The Devil's Got My Tongue!

Devil Dancer by Founders
Style / abv: Tripel IPA / 12%
Source / Temp: 12oz bottle / 50 deg
Glass: Snifter

Appearance: This brew pours a translucent dark gold with a reddish cast. It almost looks like a glass of honey topped with a white foamy head.

Aroma: Pine, sour citrus and marmalade

Taste: Pine and burnt marmalade followed by alcohol and a big bitter aftertaste that fades quickly. The aftertaste reminds me of bay leaves.

Drinkability: A little creamy with a slight grittiness... though the grit just may be my tastebuds retreating from the bitterness... While I typically enjoy Imperial IPA's, this beer is just a bit too harsh for me. After one glass, I'm ready to move on to something else.

Notes:
I posted this same basic review on Beeradvocate, but I will be a little more frank here: I think that Founder's is a great brewery but I haven't loved any of their IPA's. I'm not saying their IPA's are bad, because plenty of people enjoy them. I am saying that they do not suit my tastes... at least not so far.

I give Devil Dancer 5.5 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Monday, August 15, 2011

Sanctification

Sanctification by Russian River Brewing
Style / abv: American Wild Ale / 6.75%
Source / Temp: 375ml bottle / 50 deg
Glass: Small Snifter

Thanks to Mike for sharing this intersting and complex ale!

Appearance: Light yellow with a very thin white bubly head.

Aroma: This beer has a distinct sour "earthy" smell with lemmon grass and pepper.

Taste: I taste star fruit, lime, and freezer burned ice in this sour ale. Long after the sour aftertaste has faded, there is a slight spiciness. It's almost like an earthy, dry Sour Patch Kid.

Drinkability: Thin and watery with tight carbonation. This is a pretty sour beer and I find that the sourness goes a long way, so I can't imagine drinking more than a glass or two.

Notes:
This is a very interesting ale. While this isn't something that I'd drink on a regular basis, that really has more to do with the tartness of the style than the quality of the brew. Still, this ale has really made me very interested in trying more sours and American Wild Ales. It is exciting to embark on a journey into a "new" style!

I give Sanctification 8.5 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Moloko

Moloko by Three Floyds
Style / abv: Milk Stout / 8%
Source / Temp: 750ml bottle / 55 deg
Glass: Small Snifter

Appearance: Coal black with a thin tan head.

Aroma: Strong coffee and espresso scent with lots of caramel and roasted malt.

Taste: Chocolate milk and espresso with a roasty and light citrus finish. This brew makes me think of a Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks with more espresso and a hint of orange.

Drinkability: Rich, medium to thick body with very little carbonation.

Notes:
While I typically enjoy milk stouts, I especially enjoy Moloko. The roasted malt and slight hop finish balance this ale into a very drinkable milk stout.

I give Moloko a 9 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

AIPA

American IPA by Schlafly
Style / abv: American IPA / 7.2%
Source / Temp: 12oz bottle / 50 deg
Glass: Small Snifter

Appearance: Cloudy, dark golden with an orange hue.

Aroma: Very nice sour citrus tones with lemon and orange peel.

Taste: Loads of citrus flavors with a strong dry grapefruit taste. I pick up a light alcohol flavor with some yeast esters in the middle and a medium hop bite in the finish.

Drinkability: Medium creamy body, with light carbonation.

Notes:
To me, this is the perfect single IPA. While having enough aroma and taste to keep me interested, it is simple to enough to remain very very drinkable.

Standing by my "perfect" comment, I give AIPA a 10 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Parabola

Parabola by Firestone Walker
Style / abv:  Russian Imperial Stout / 13%
Source / Temp:  650ml bottle / 50 deg
Glass:  Medium Snifter

Appearance: Deep, dark brown brew with a thin dark brown head.

Aroma: Sweet bourbon infused with molasses and a slight scent of alcohol.

Taste: Dark chocolate, mild bourbon, some milk chocolate and a surprisingly strong hop bite at the end.

Drinkability: Thick and creamy, this is a sipping beer at it's best. The alcohol is hidden very well.

Notes:
While this isn't my favorite barrel aged stout, this is a very special brew. It makes me think of a milder and slightly less flavorful version of Rare Bourbon County. I will definitely be making the trip to Chicago to pick some up when they release it again next year.

I give Parabola a 9 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

The Elder


Brew Details and Conditions:
Brewer: Russian River
Brew: Pliny The Elder
Style: American Double IPA
Alcohol: 8%
Source: 1 Pint Bottle
Glass: Medium Snifter
Temp: 50 deg
Appearance: Golden yellow
Aroma: Sour citrus fruit, lime and something sweet... maybe honey. As the Pliny warmed, I noted an scent of what I would describe as alcoholic melon.
Taste: Refreshing and surprisingly complex taste for such a low-intensity Double IPA. Right along with the scent, I taste sour and tropical fruit with some slight tones of honey and melon. Warmth seems to shed a lot taste resulting in what almost seems like a different beer all together.
Drinkability: Smooth watery body with fairly tight carbonation. Very drinkable for a double, but then again... for my tastes (and in my opinion), this beer really doesn't seem like a double IPA. The alcohol content and mouthfeel are more comparable to an IPA than a double.
Notes:
I had very high expectations for this beer. It is so well regarded that I couldn't help but expect this beer to blow my mind. I got two bottles and when I had the first, I was a bit let down. Knowing that I had high expectations, I waited until the second bottle to do my review. While Pliny is definitely better than average, I am just not super impressed with it. Its good enough that if it were easily available I would get it on occasion but its nothing that I'd drink with regularity.

I give this nice rendition of an IPA/ Double IPA  8.5 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

No Label Brewing Co.

Ah yes, another new American brewery...No Label. I was in Specs the other day and their friendly beer rep recommended that I begin to look for a beer by a new brewery called No Label.

What is No Label? According to their website nolabelbrew.com, "There are many ways of how our name came about. Basically we wanted to name our brewery something that symbolized all four us. ...NO LABEL BREWING means to us is that our beer is for everyone. We don't put a label on our beer...."

Just thought I'd share a potentially new brew that will be tried as soon as I can get my hands on one.

"Broma Theon" (beer of the gods)

-charles

Saturday, July 9, 2011

The Family Reunion, Tasting 4

July 6th, 2011

The group this evening was what has become the core group of tasters. We had another good line-up with one repeat from earlier in the week:
1. Three Floyds - Gumballhead - American Pale Wheat
2. Three Floyds - Pride and Joy - American Pale Ale
3. Three Floyds - Robert The Bruce - Scottish Ale
4. Oskar Blues - Old Chub - Scotch Ale
5. Brouwerij Westmalle - Westmalle Trappist Dubbel - Dubbel
6. Flat Earth Brewing Company - Cygnus X-1 - English Porter
7. Ceylon / Lion Brewery - Lion Stout - Foreign / Export Stout

Westmalle seemed to please most, but it was no surprise that Robert the Bruce was the brew that was enjoyed by everyone.

We had a blast sharing one of our favorite hobbies with the family and really hope that everyone who partook found a couple of new brews to enjoy.

Eis Egian,
Randall

The Family Reunion, Tasting 3

July 5th, 2011

The group tonight was a mix of people who had joined us the previous two nights. It's interesting how the ales of varying intensity have apparently scared off a few but have also attracted many repeat customers. Tonight we sampled a new variety:
1. Madhouse Brewing Company - American Wheat - American Pale Wheat Ale
2. Great Lakes Brewing Company - Burning River Pale Ale - American Pale Ale
3. Sun King - Osiris - American Pale Ale
4. Boulevard Brewing Co. - The Sixth Glass - Quadrupel
5. Avery Brewing Company - The Czar - Russian Imperial Stout
6. Firestone Walker Brewing Co. - Abacus - American Barleywine
7. Three Floyds - Dreadnaught - Imperial IPA
8. Full Sail Brewery - Reserve Old Boardhead Barley Wine Ale - American Barleywine

While tastes differed as usual, the two clear favorites of the evening were Abacus and Dreadnaught. Both are fantastic brews, but I was surprised that a Double IPA could be such a crowd pleaser.

Eis Egian,
Randall

Monday, July 4, 2011

The Family Reunion, Tasting 2

So tonight we hit an almost entirely different line-up with almost a completely different crowd. Tonight's tasting included the following:
1. Madhouse Brewing Company - Pastime Pale Ale - American Pale Ale
2. Three Floyds - Pride and Joy - American Pale Ale
3. Anderson Valley Brewing Company - Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout - Oatmeal Stout
4. Bell's Brewery, Inc. - Bell's Special Double Cream Stout - American Stout
5. Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster) - Oatmeal Stout - Oatmeal Stout
6. Lindemans - Framboise - Lambic
7. Stone Brewing Co. - Arrogant Bastard Ale - American Strong Ale
8. Founders - Breakfast Stout - American Double Imperial Stout
9. Three Floyds Brewing Co. - Apocalypse Cow - American Double / Imperial IPA
10. Lagunitas Brewing Company - Imperial Stout - Russian Imperial Stout
11. Founders - Kentucky Breakfast Stout - American Double Imperial Stout

While KBS was still well received, tonight the big winner was Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout.

Night two was just as fun as night one, but one thing that was noticeable was that with a much larger crowd to share the beer, the overall inebriation was lower :)

Eis Egian,
Randall

Sunday, July 3, 2011

The Family Reunion, Tasting 1

Mike, Laura and I are attending a family reunion so we decided to bring a ton of great beer and try to create some converts. Tonight we went through:
1. Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV - Duvel - Belgian Strong Pale Ale
2. Brasserie de Rochefort - Trappistes Rochefort 8 - Belgian Strong Dark Ale
3. St. Bernardus - Abt 12 - Belgian Quad
4. Deschutes Brewery - Hop In The Dark - American Black Ale
5. Founders - Kentucky Breakfast Stout - American Double Imperial Stout
6. Boulevard Brewing Co. - Imperial Stout - American Double / Imperial Stout

KBS was the big winner followed by St. Bernardus 12. For my taste, Hop In The Dark was an excellent brew that was reminiscent of one of my favorites: Three Floyds Black Sun Stout.

The reunion has just begun and we've got plenty more to share!

Eis Egian,
Randall

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Dark Lord Day 2011

Well, it took me a little longer than I thought to get this video completed...life is moving at break neck speeds right now.  Dark Lord Day 2011 was a great adventure and here's the quick video of a few moments during that day at Three Floyd's brewery:



Part One







Part Two





"broma theon" the food of the gods


-Charles

Monday, May 9, 2011

Our First Ever Beer Tasting Party




Saturday evening Laura and I hosted our first ever Beer Tasting Party. The picture above shows everything that we enjoyed that night.

Top Row; Left To Right
1) St. Bernardus - Abt 12 - Belgian Quad
2) Three Floyds - Black Sun Stout - Irish Dry Stout
3) Unibroue - La Fin Du Monde - Belgian Tripel
4) Three Floyds - 2011 Dark Lord - Russian Imperial Stout
5) Three Floyds - Dreadnaught - Imperial IPA
6) Another bottle pf St. Bernardus
7) Three Floyds - Rabid Rabbit - Belgian Saison
8) Three Floyds - Robert The Bruce - Scottish Ale
9) Bell's - Oberon - American Pale Wheat Ale
10) Guinness - Extra Stout - Irish Dry Stout
11) Birra Peroni Industriale - Peroni Nastro AzzurroEuro Pale Lager

Middle Row; Left To Right
1) Sun King - Osiris - American Pale Ale
2) Oskar Blues - Old Chub - Scotch Ale
3) More Old Chub
4) Three Floyds - Pride and Joy - American Pale Ale
5) Brasserie de Rochefort - Trappistes Rochefort 8 - Belgian Strong Dark Ale
6) Lindemans - Framboise - Lambic
7) More Peroni
8) Left Hand - Milk Stout - Milk Stout
9) New Glarus - Spotted Cow - Cream Ale
10) More Pride and Joy
11) More Guiness
12) Sun King - Sunlight - Cream Ale

Bottom Row; Left To Right
1) Founders - Kentucky Breakfast Stout - American Double Imperial Stout
2) More Guinness
3) Founders - Backwoods Bastard - Scotch Ale
4) Spaten-Franziskaner-Brau - Hefe-Weisse - Hefeweizen
5) Founders - Red's Rye PA - Rye Beer
6) Aonther Osiris
7) Oskar Blues - Gordon / G'Knight - American Double / Imperial IPA
8) A second Rochefort 8
9) Some more Backwoods
10) Another KBS
11) Bell's - Two Hearted Ale - American IPA
12) Another Robert The Bruce
13) And finally... a Guinness

Not pictured:
Peoples Brewing - Aberrant Amber - American Amber / Red Ale

We had a great time sharing a food and brews with friends and we look forward to doing this again!

Eis Igian,
Randall and Laura

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Mission No. 3 - Imperial/Double IPAs



This mission was great,

Hardcore IPA (explicit imperial ale) - (rated 5) - Poured like grape fruit juice, smelled close to belgium ale with a hint of lime, but did not pleasure the taste buds.  I can taste the alcohol immediately, a bit overwhelming.  It has a pleasurable aftertaste and perfect carbonated consistency, but the flavor just never sat right with me.  No matter how many times I sipped it just seemed like something was just 'off'.

Moylander Double IPA - (rated 8) - Pours with a full head, and a light citrus aroma.  This is a very sneaky beer...I can't taste the alcohol at all and it is 8.5%!  It does not have a typical, or at least typical in the double IPAs I've had so far, taste.  In fact it almost feels like it has no taste until the aftertaste, very strange.  The aftertaste lets you know it is an IPA, but that's pretty much it.  Almost too much carbonation, but this is a great beer.  I found another one I like...next.

Moylander Triple IPA - (rated 9) - the more hops the better!  I was very excited to see a triple sitting beside the double IPA by Moylander.  It has a familiar aftertaste as a Belgium ale and the crisp punch of the triple IPA, what a great combination.

Bells Hopslam Double IPA - (rated 9) - I can't get this beer in Houston and forget the specifics, but I remember that it was an amazing beer....sorry I didn't write the review when I tried it.

Harpoon Leviathan Imperial IPA - (rated 9) - This was the most surprise I had so far. I picked it up as a four pack for fairly cheep ($11) and did not expect to get the drinkability it served. Pours very crisp with little to no head. With a sweet and mild flower effervescent it is quite the delight. The aftertaste leaves a touch of warmth, but well balanced, so well balanced you are ready to take the next drink somewhat quickly. I found myself finishing a bottle before I completed the taste test...interesting. Either way, this is a big surprise and I am very happy to have found such a cheap wonderful Imperial IPA.

Bridgeport Hop Czar Imperial IPA - (rated 7) - Pours as a solid amber with little to no head. Initial whiff is a subtle pleasant flowery smell.  Initial taste is lacking with plenty of carbonation.  Aftertaste is warm and pleasant, which can almost fool me into desiring another one.

After trying these different beers I tried the 479 again and found its taste was a little lacking.  Maybe I had it in the fridge too long, I don't know.  The winner of this contest has to be the Harpoon Leviathan Imperial IPA for a great balance of cost and flavor.  The Moylander wins by its great taste, but the Leviathan gets it in the end due to its sheer value.

Till next time,

Broma Theon (the food of the Gods)

-charles

Friday, March 4, 2011

Oskar Blues

Oskar Blues

Just thought it would be worth to watch a quick video of the 'Gubna', probably my favorite Imperial IPA still. I will get the review out soon for Mission 3, enjoy the video from their website.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Mission 3: Double Imperial = Double Taste

If you're new to the blog, please check out our scoring system under the Beer Missions tab to better understand how we are rating beers.


Okay, so this mission is going to start with an admission: I don't like reviewing beer that I don't enjoy. Don't get me wrong, I love trying all kinds of beer but I always feel bad about scoring brews low because I know that a brewer somewhere worked up a recipe and I hate trashing someone's invention. And if I'm being totally honest, I have to admit that I don't feel inspired to write about beers that I don't like. Obviously this creates an unrealistic cross-section of my tasting experience. It probably appears that I love every beer I try when the reality is that I run across many brews that don't suit my tastes.

Well, this mission didn't give me any room to hide, so I'll shoot straight.

(1) Southern Tier - Unearthly
Watery with a marmalade flavor that isn't over the top. An interesting brew that I won't avoid but probably won't go out of my way for either.
Score: 5 out 10

(2) Flying Dog - Double Dog
Oddly, the scent reminds me of a Belgian pale ale. Strong orange taste with a strong bitter alcohol finish. I won't say that this beer is bad, but it did not suit my tastes at all.
Score: 1 out 10

(3) Founders - Double Trouble
Awesome citrus hop scent, big citrus and pine front and a nice dry finish. Now, this I enjoyed!
Score: 9 out 10

(4) Mojo Risin - Boulder Beer
Small orange taste with a huge bitter finish. I like the little brother much, much better.
Score: 4 out 10

(5) Rouge - XS Imperial Pale Ale
I almost added this brew to my list of favorites. This brew reminded me distantly of an English IPA without as much "earthiness", which I really enjoyed.
Score: 8 out 10

So in the end, I did find a couple real winners. XS is good enough that I will seek it out and Double Trouble had to be listed as one of my favorites.

My new list looks like this:

(1) Bell's - Hopslam
(2) Three Floyds - Dreadnaught
(3) Oskar Blues - Gordon
(4) Three Floyds - Apocalypse Cow
(5) Founders - Double Trouble
(6) Victory Brewing - Hop Wallop

The separation between 1 - 3 is minuscule enough that it's difficult to say that I really have a favorite.

Thanks Charles, this was great mission! Lots of fun and very tasty!

Eis Igian,
Randall

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Mission No. 3: Preview

I'm already geared up for Mission Number Three, great idea Charles! I have 5 never before tried (by me) IPA'S in my fridge, chilled and ready to go.

I thought that before I got going on this mission, I'd post my current top five IPA's:

    1. Bell's - Hopslam
    2. Three Floyds - Dreadnaught
    3. Three Floyds - Apocalypse Cow
    4. Oskar Blues - Gordon 
    5. Victory Brewing - Hop Wallop

After compiling this list, it led me to feel that I didn't really like being limited to a "Sweet 16" list on Our Preferences. What about numbers 17, 18 and 19? What about the fact that I like my favorite stout for entirely different reasons than I like my favorite IPA? How do I even compare KBS to Hopslam to Rochfort 8? In light of this, I abandoned the "Sweet 16" and made a categoric list. I don't intend to have a 100 beers on my favorites list... but then again, why not? If we get to that point, we could always create a preferences / profile page for each of us.

But now back to the mission. With today being a great football day, I'll begin my journey into Mission Number Three by trying at least two "new" IPA's. I can't wait!

Eis  Igian,
Randall

Monday, January 17, 2011

Mission No. 3 - Double IPAs

Wow, this is a crazy one for me.  I definitely didn't see myself enjoying IPA's, let alone their double goodness older kin the Double (or Imperial) IPA.  I love the more rich flavor (and usually alcohol percentage) in the Doubles so it is part of my new challenge.  Being that we all like IPAs now (except Laura I think), the challenge will be to try at least 5 new Double or Imperial IPAs that you have never had before and then give a final tally of your top 3 favorites even if those favorites didn't move before the Mission.  The hope is that we will be forced to travel to the undiscovered country and find some new tracks of land worthy to return to in the future...find new great beer!

Although the challenge is not very original or thought provoking, I honestly just want us all to find some amazing new Double IPAs.  Maybe I'm just selfish.  Or maybe I'm thinking of all of us since we like IPAs!!

So far the Double IPAs I've loved are (in order):
1) Gordon - Oskar Blues
2) Dreadnaught - Three Floyds
3) Hercules Double IPA - Great Divide Brewing Company
4) 471 Small Patch Double Hopped IPA

Strangely enough, Colorado has 3 of my favorite 4 so far.

Very excited to find a few more great ones to throw on the list!  Cheers and let's see what great new Double IPAs you can find for me...I mean we can all find for each other!!

"broma theon"
"food of the gods"

-charles