Stone IPA

20101231:
STONE IPA $4.15 (TAP@IslandsRestaurant)

I wrote: "Strong flavor with long bitter aftertaste. Bite is a good word. First sip is surprising. Every sip after is okay. Pine."

Josh didn't like it, so he let me have the rest of it. He mentioned that an IPA should be the last type of beer you have, because of the type's strong flavor.

---

20120127:
STONE IPA (BOTTLE)

I wrote: "Stone IPA. Hmm bitter. No wait. Just hoppy. Its good. Maybe too piney for some." 10:15 PM

[20120413]

---

20120822:
Josh, Jon, and I went to Stone Brewery went to Stone Brewery and the Stone IPA was part of the beer sampling at the end of the tour. Of the Stone IPA, I wrote: "Stone IPA. It has a lighter smell than the Levitation, but more of a bite. I did not like this grassy aftertaste." 7:16PM PT

Sampler:
Stone Levitation
Stone IPA
Stone Arrogant Bastard
Stone Ruination

[20121227]

---

Stone IPA

Relevant Links:
Islands Restaurant Website
Stone Brewing Co. Website Yes/No
Stone IPA (Stone Brewing Co. Website)

---

Website Information:

Stone IPA

Deep Golden Color
An "India Pale Ale" by definition is highly hopped and high in alcohol (ours is 6.9% alc./vol.).

Medium Bodied Refreshing Ale
Light-medium malt character with a heavy dose of over the top hops! Two full weeks of "dry hopping" give this beer its abundant hop aroma and crisp hop flavor.

100% Natural
Only Barley, Hops, Water & Yeast are used.
No Additives
No Chemical Preservatives
No Pasteurization
No Adjuncts (rice/corn)

6.9% Alc. Vol.

---

More Website Information:

STONE IPA
An "India Pale Ale" by definition is highly hopped and high in alcohol - you'll find our Stone India Pale Ale to be true to style with a huge hop aroma, flavor and bitterness throughout. If you're a hop-head like us, then you'll love our Stone India Pale Ale! Medium malt character with a heavy dose of over the top hops! Generous "dry hopping" gives this beer its abundant hop aroma and crisp hop flavor.

QUICK FACTS
FIRST RELEASE DATE: August 1997
HOP VARIETY: Columbus, Chinook & Centennial
STATS: ALC/VOL 6.9%, 77 IBUs
AVAILABILITY: 22oz Bottles, 12oz Bottles, Sixpacks & Draft

2009 Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon

20110127:
I wrote: "Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon CA 2009 13.9% ABV. Very deep smell. Smooth and delicious. I'm not yet developed the ability to distinguishing flavors, but overall I enjoy this wine." 5:55 PM

[20120413]

---

2009 Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon

Relevant Links:
2009 Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 815, USA, California (CellarTracker.com)
2009 815 Cabernet Sauvignon (Joel Gott Wines Website)

---

Website Information (CellarTracker.com):

Vintage 2009
Type Red
Producer Joel Gott (web)
Variety Cabernet Sauvignon
Designation Blend 815
Vineyard n/a
Country USA
Region California
SubRegion n/a
Appellation California
UPC Code 188985000137

---

Website Information:

WHAT: The Joel Gott 2009 815 Cabernet Sauvignon offers engaging and layered aromas of blackberry and dark plum with hints of spice, cedar and vanilla. The polished tannins and velvet texture lead to an elegant and long finish.

WHERE: We shop California’s premier winegrowing regions including Napa, Lake County, Mendocino, Lodi and Sonoma for the 815 blend. The Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa is complex with great depth. Lake County fruit provides the wine with minerality and rich texture, while the Mendocino fruit supplies spice and bright red fruit character. The Lodi component shows dark fruit and soft texture and the Sonoma fruit also adds a touch of spice and fruit. The blend from these vineyards and regions results in a beautifully orchestrated wine.

WHY: Our 815 Cabernet is named for the August 15th birth of our daughter Lucy during the 2003 harvest.

ALCOHOL: 13.9
RELEASE DATE: May 2011

TASTING NOTES: The Joel gott 2009 815 Cabernet sauvignon offers engaging and layered aromas
of blackberry and dark plum with hints of spice, cedar and vanilla. The polished
tannins and velvet texture lead to an elegant and long finish.

WINEGROWING NOTES: We shop California’s premier winegrowing regions including Napa, Lake County, Mendocino, Lodi and Sonoma for the 815 blend. The Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa is complex with great depth. Lake County fruit provides the wine with minerality and rich texture, while the Mendocino fruit supplies spice and bright red fruit character. The Lodi component shows dark fruit and soft texture and the sonoma fruit also adds a touch of spice and fruit. The blend from these vineyards and regions results in a beautifully orchestrated wine.

VARIETAL: 100% Cabernet sauvignon
APPELLATION: 100% California
BARREL: 25% new American oak

New Belgium Dig

20120126:
Nice sweet pine smell. Hmm... Definitely crisp and hoppy. I guess it's a bit dry too. After reading the description on the side of the bottle, I suppose I can taste a "grapefruity citrus." Quite carbonated. I'll watch an episode of BLEACH and taste it again. Let it warm up a bit. Hmm... It's just a little bit tastier. Overall, I find it as good as most other New Belgium beers.

(The actual bottle, but not from the actual day.)

While at the store, I saw a bottle of Orkney Dark Island. I walked away for a moment and another costumer came, spotted it, and picked it up. Darn. That bottle tasted good just looking at it. Oh well. I'm sure I'll run into it again.

---

New Belgium Dig

Relevant Links:
New Belgium Dig (RateBeer.com)
Dig | New Belgium Brewing (BeerAdvocate.com)\

---

Website Description: (RateBeer.com)

Unearth your bottle-opener because this Pale Ale is something you can Dig. Sorachi Ace hops provides a fresh Spring zing with incredible lemon aroma. Nelson Sauvin is next in line with bursts of passion fruit, mango and peach. American favorites, Cascade and Centennial round out this crisp, clean Pale Ale. Dig in!

(The actual bottle, but not from the actual day.)

Dogfish Head Chicory Stout

20120122:
I wrote: "Chicory Stout. It has a kind of sweet berry taste to it, in addition to the light stout taste. Yeah light coffee. The taste sort of diminishes as I progress (with drinking it)." 9:10 PM

[20120412]

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Dogfish Head Chicory Stout

Relevant Links:
Chicory Stout (BeerAdvocate.com)
Chicory Stout (Dogfish Head Website)
Chicory (Wikipedia.org)

---

Website Information:

Chicory Stout

Availability: Seasonal

Chicory was one of the first beers we started brewing at our pub back when it opened in 1995. It's a dark beer made with a bunch of roasted chicory, organic Mexican coffee, St. John's Wort and licorice root. We use whole-leaf Cascade and Fuggle hops, as well as pale, roasted and oatmeal grains.

Back in 1995, we had a teeny, tiny brewing system and had to brew all day, every day to keep the bar stocked. Brewing with the same four ingredients got really boring really quickly. That's when Sam's ADD kicked in and he started adding some nontraditional ingredeints.

Chicory Stout is our winter seasonal and released in bottles each year in November and December. We do brew this beer in smaller, draft-only batches for our brewpub throughout the year.

Chicory is roasty and delicious, and it's a fantastic food beer. It pairs very well with chocolate!

ABV: 5.2
IBU: 21

Food Pairing Recommendations: Grilled chicken, BBQ, shellfish, sushi, smoked fish and yes ... chocolate!
Glassware Recommendation: Pint
Tasting Notes: Creamy, roasty, peppery, dry & chocolatey
Wine Comparable: Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon

Magic Hat Howl

20120122:
I wrote: "This Magic Hat Howl Black-As-Night is nice. Some chocolate taste of the black lager." 8:21 PM

[20120412]

---

20120129:
I wrote: "Poured into glass cup. Yeah this Howl is good. Nice black lager taste. Quite carbonated. As such, sometimes I swish it around before drinking." 8:34 PM

[20120413]

---

Magic Hat Howl

Relevant Links:
Howl (BeerAdvocate.com)
Winter: Howl (Magic Hat Website)
Magic Hat Howl (RateBeer.com)

---

Website Information:

Winter: Howl — Black-As-Night Winter Lager
Born of dark and cold and snow in the marrow of the northeast's longest night, HOWL comes in on wailing winds with winter-weary eyes burning holes in sunless shadows. In its darkened depths our inner voids are warmed.

HOWL will remain until your bones are thawed, your spirit is freed... and until there is no longer a need.

TYPE: Black Lager
YEAST: San Francisco Lager
HOPS: Apollo, Hallertau
MALTS: Pale, Carafa, Cara, Munich, Crystal
ABV: 4.6%
GRAVITY: 12.00 Plato
BITTERNESS: 32
SRM: 39.0
AVAILABILITY: October 15 to January 15

A dark, medium-bodied beer with a rich roasted malt flavor and smooth hop bitterness.

*A different section on their website listed the hops as being "Columbus, Hallertau" instead of "Apollo, Hallertau."

Pineapple Upside Down Cake Martini

20120118:
I came to 7 West Bistro Grille for a meetup. After finishing an Appletini I had a "Pineapple Upside Down Martini."*

Menu Description:
Pineapple Upside Down Martini Vanilla-Infused Vodka, Pineapple Juice, Grenadine

Pineapple Upside Down Martini

I wrote the following: "This upside down thing smells like cake. With cherries. I guess after that there's either a pineapple or coconut flavor. Anyways tasty." 6:50 PM ET

I suppose the vanilla is what made it taste like cake. Interestingly, my mind might have paired coconut with pineapple, and so while there was no coconut, my instant comment implies I thought there might have been.

*[20180619] The more popular name for this drink is "Pineapple Upside Down Cake Martini." Some, however, refer to the drink as written here.

[20120320][20180619 Edit][Part of Martinis at 7 West Bistro Grille]

Appletini

20120118:
I came to 7 West Bistro Grille for a meetup and I first had an Appletini.

I only wrote the following: "Sweet. Good." 6:44 PM

Appletini

Menu Description:
Appletini Vodka, Apple Schnapps

Afterwards I had a Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Martini.

[20120320][20180619 Edit][Part of Martinis at 7 West Bistro Grille]

---

Appletini

Relevant Links:
Appletini (Wikipedia.org)

Kona Koko Brown

20120116:
I wrote: "It has a raspberry smell. Maybe a little coconut. The aftertaste of coconut is clear. Enjoying the beer along with my mom's sugared-and-roasted coconut." 9:54 PM
I wrote: "Maybe I didn't wait long enough for the beer to warm. Overall the beer was good." 10:19 PM

I would definitely give this beer another try.

Remark: Apparently this beer was first released in February of 2011.

[20120120][20160925 Edit]

---

20140113:
I wrote: "Stout chocolate smell. Creamy... wow! Bam! Chocolate taste! Like chocolate milk." 7:26PM ET
I also wrote: "After subsequent tastings, this beer didn't taste like chocolate milk. It was, however, still tasty. Maybe I just tasted what I wanted to taste." 7:42PM ET
Summarizing, I wrote: "Overall, the beer was really sweet and I liked it a lot." 8:26PM ET

[20140405]

---

Kona Koko Brown

Relevant Links:
Kona Koko Brown Ale (RateBeer.com)
Koko Brown (BeerAdvocate.com)

---

Website Information:

Koko Brown
NUT BROWN ALE

A Nut Brown Worth Cracking

Is there anything more iconic of the lush tropics than the coconut? The delicious heart of this island treasure has a nutty, toffee flavor and aroma that sends you straight to the beaches of Paradise. Kick back with a Koko Brown, brewed with real toasted coconut, and savor the mahogany color and smooth, roasty malt taste.

Available Winter/Spring

SUGGESTED FOOD PAIRINGS: Koko Brown pairs well with coconut and caramel flavors, such as Thai curries, BBQ meats and carne asada. Its refreshing nutty aroma makes for the perfect beer after a day on the water.

Brew Specifications:
BITTERNESS: 28 IBU
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME: 5.5%
ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 13.3 P
MALTS: PREMIUM 2-ROW, VICTORY, CARAPILIS, MUNICH, CHOCOLATE
HOPS: CASCADE, WILLAMETTE, WARRIOR, MILLENNIUM

2008 Robert Sinskey Pinot Noir

20120111:
I wrote the following: "2008 Robert Sinskey Pinot Noir. 14.1%. Deep grape taste. Smooth tasting. Not sour. Slight pinch at the end. Sweet. Great, especially for a red." 6:33 PM

Apparently wine at Gertrude's is half off on Wednesdays:

Wine on Wednesdays—After 4 p.m. every Wednesday evening, all bottles and glasses of wine are half price. In addition, BMA Members receive their usual 10% discount!

[20120120]

---

2008 Robert Sinskey Pinot Noir

Relevant Links:
2008 Robert Sinskey Vineyards Pinot Noir Carneros (Robert Sinskey Website)
2008 Robert Sinskey Vineyards Pinot Noir Carneros,USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros (CellarTracker.com)

---

CellarTracker.com Information:

Vintage 2008
Type Red
Producer Robert Sinskey Vineyards (web)
Variety Pinot Noir
Designation n/a
Vineyard n/a
Country USA
Region California
SubRegion Napa Valley
Appellation Carneros

---

Website Information:

PINOT NOIR
Los Carneros
2008

Tasting Notes
Bright, gem-like translucent ruby color tumbles into the glass, as classic Pinot Noir aromas of berries, earth and spice leap towards the nose. Ripe tannins weave an elegant texture, soft and velvety, that holds beautiful flavors of dark cherry, cranberry, vanilla, sweet herbs, forest floor, and exotic spice. The wine finds incredible balance between flavors, tannins and acidity, making it a fantastic dinner companion.

2007 Domaine Cabirau Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes Serge & Tony

20120111:
I wrote: "2007 Cabirau Grenache. The red tastes good. Spicy alcohol taste." 4:31 PM

[20120120]

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2007 Domaine Cabirau Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes Serge & Tony

Relevant Links:
2007 Domaine Cabirau Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes Serge & Tony, France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes (CellarTracker.com)

---

CellarTracker.com Information:

Vintage 2007
Type Red
Producer Domaine Cabirau
Variety Grenache
Designation Serge & Tony
Vineyard n/a
Country France
Region Languedoc Roussillon
SubRegion Roussillon
Appellation Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes

2009 Domaine de la Collonge Mâcon-Fuissé

20120111:
I wrote: "2009 Domaine de la Collonge Macon-Fuisse. 13.5% ABV. The white tastes nice." 4:31 PM

[20120120]

Maredsous Brune

20120804:
I wrote the following: "I don't know why I don't get much of a scent. Oh [it is] nicer when it warms up. [There is] a sweet fragrance. [The] taste is also sweet after it warms up. [It is] delicious. [There is a] a slight [hint of alcohol]."

[20200110 Edit]

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Maredsous Brune

Relevant Links:
Maredsous Website
Maredsous 9 Brune/Bruin (RateBeer.com)
Maredsous 8 - Brune | Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV (BeerAdvocate.com)

---

Website Information: (English)

Brune
The brown beer was originally only brewed for Christmas, but over the centuries it became a force to reckon with.

Maredsous Brune (ALC. 8%) has a creamy foaming, dark, burgandy color, is easily recognizable by its expressive aroma bouquet. A generous caramel bouquet is completed with masterly fruity touches.

Black and Tan (Guinness and Bass)

20120108:
After drinking an Old Fashioned I had a Black and Tan composed of Guinness and Bass.

I wrote the following: "Gooood." 1:38 AM PST

[20120120][20180620 Edit]

---

Black and Tan (Guinness and Bass)

Relevant Links:
Black and Tan (Wikipedia.org)

Old Fashioned

20120108:
I started out drinking an Old Fashioned (Glenlivet, muddled cherries).

I wrote the following: "[It] tasted bland. [It was] alright. [It was] strange." 1:38 AM PST

I was not sure which recipe the bartender used to make the Old Fashioned, but I'm pretty sure the whisky used was The Glenlivet. Regardless, perhaps next time I'll try drinking The Glenlivet neat or with a splash of water.

Afterwards I had a Black and Tan (Guinness and Bass).
[20120119][20180620 Edit]

---

20120211:
I wrote: "Muddled cherries. I think a little Jagermeister. Southern Comfort. An orange slice. Topped with club soda. I was given a choice of club soda which is traditional or Sprite for a sweeter taste. Nice taste, not strong." 5:03 PM
"It's what the bartender whipped up for an Old Fashioned. But I like the mix. It's reasonably tasty." 5:30 PM

Here the Jagermeister plays the role of the Angostura bitters listed in the IBA specified ingredients and the Southern Comfort plays the role of the whiskey.

[20120410]

---

Old Fashioned

Relevant Links:
Old Fashioned (Wikipedia.org)
The Glenlivet (Wikipedia.org)
The Glenlivet Website Day Month Year
Jagermeister (Wikipedia.org)
Southern Comfort (Wikipedia.org)

Seven and Seven

20120106:
I wrote: "7 and 7. A shot of Seagram's Seven Crown (whiskey) and 7UP. Good taste. I wouldn't really know, but I think there's more Seagram's than 7UP. Good." 8:58 PM PST

(20120106)

Despite my instant comment and my lack of experience with Seagram's, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that I would prefer a rum and coke to a 7 and 7.

[20120119]

---

20120612:
We're here at Buffalo Wild Wings and Josh ordered a seven and seven.

I wrote: "This seven and seven, I had a taste, is good. Better than the one at the bowling alley which used well whiskey." 8:00 PM PDT

(20120612)

I ordered a Red Stag and Coke.

[20120628]

---

20121006:
I wrote: "After Brewer's Art (20121206), my friend and I went to Red Maple. First I had a (Bacardi) Rum and Coke. I later had a (Seagrams) 7 and 7." 20121007 1:00AM ET

[20130323]

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Seven and Seven

Relevant Links:
7 and 7 (Wikipedia.org)
Seagram's Seven Crown (Wikipedia.org)

Surfer Martini

20120106:
Today I went to eat at Clancy's Clubhouse and to drink I got a Surfer Martini.

I wrote the following:* "Surfer: Vodka + Malibu Rum + Banana Liqueur + Pineapple Juice. First taste. Blah. Starts tasting better. Never great, but in the end alright. And without food, it definitely had me buzzed after drinking two thirds. JK had a sip and he first said it was strong. His second comment was that it was okay." 8:08 PM PST

*I love when I find missing information!

[20120323][20180620 Edit]

---

I wanted to verify the above drink and found the following recipe online:

Ingredients:
1 1/2 ounce vodka
3/4 ounce Malibu Coconut Cream
1/2 ounce banana liqueur
Ice
Fresh pineapple slice for garnish

Instructions:
Put all ingredients into a shaker and fill with ice
Shake well
Strain into a Martini glass
Garnish with a slice of fresh pineapple and serve

Shirataki Jozen Mizunogotoshi

20120105:
This sake was good. 6:42 PM PST

[20120118 Original Post Date][20180625 Edit][Part of Sake Flight at Kaisen Kaiten]

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Shirataki Jozen Mizunogotoshi

Relevant Links:
Shirataki Jozen Mizunogotoshi (Pure Flower) Ginjo Sake (RateBeer.com)

Hatsumago

20120105:
This sake was perhaps spicier than the Kurosawa." 6:42 PM PST

[20120118 Original Post Date][20180625 Edit][Part of Sake Flight at Kaisen Kaiten]

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Hatsumago

Relevant Links:
Hatsumago Nama Moto Junmai Sake (RateBeer.com)

Kurosawa

20120105:
This sake might have had the same plum taste as the Urakasumi. 6:30 PM PST

Actually, it tasted like rice.

This fourth sake was unpleasant. 6:42 PM PST

[20120118 Original Post Date][20180625 Edit][Part of Sake Flight at Kaisen Kaiten]

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Kurosawa

Relevant Links:
Kurosawa (Black River) Junmai Kimoto Sake (RateBeer.com)

Urakasumi

20120105:
This sake was good. It might have tasted like plum. It was pleasant. 6:30 PM PST

[20120118 Original Post Date][20180625 Edit][Part of Sake Flight at Kaisen Kaiten]

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Urakasumi

Relevant Links:
Urakasumi Website

Ozeki Karatamba

20120105:
This sake was stronger than the Otokoyama. 6:30 PM PST

[20120118 Original Post Date][20180625 Edit][Part of Sake Flight at Kaisen Kaiten]

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Ozeki Karatamba

Relevant Links:
Ozeki (Champion) Karatanba (RateBeer.com)
Ozeki (Champion) Karatamba (Dry Wave) Sake (RateBeer.com)

Otokoyama

20120105:
This sake was not bad. It didn't taste like rice. 6:30 PM PST

[20120118 Original Post Date][20180625 Edit][Part of Sake Flight at Kaisen Kaiten]

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Otokoyama

Relevant Links:
Otokoyama Website
Otokoyama (Mans Mountain) Junmai Sake (RateBeer.com)

Deschutes Inversion IPA

20120102:
I wrote: "Deschutes Inversion Shorty. Nice IPA smell. Really nice taste. I really like this IPA. Very balanced. Yeah. As far as I can remember this is one of the best IPAs I've ever had." 4:44 PM PST

(20180210)

Unfortunately, Deschutes is currently only distributing to the western half of the United States.

For some reason, perhaps by chance, I "correctly" spotted the Deschutes Inversion IPA as a great beer, but "incorrectly" commented on the Deschutes Black Butte Porter. Especially since the porter is, in some sense, better than the IPA.

BA Score: 88 (0574 Reviews); The Bros: 092; RateBeer 94 Overall; RateBeer 89 Style [IPA]
BA Score: 93 (1050 Reviews); The Bros: 100; RateBeer 97 Overall; RateBeer 98 Style [PORTER]

Yard House:
4.0% Timmermans Strawberry Lambic
6.8% Deschutes Inversion IPA

(20120102)

[20120118]

---

20180112:
This beer was harsh. In other words, it was too grassy. I didn't like it much. It had an extremely dry mouthfeel. It was a dry beer. It had a bitter aftertaste. 11:34PM CT

[20180309]

---

20180210:
The beer had a hoppy smell, and possibly had a honey smell as well. Whether or not the smell was honey, it suggested the beer would be sweet instead of grassy.

(20180210)

I noticed the carbonation, followed by a sticky mouthfeel. The sugars coated my mouth. There was a subtle bitterness lurking around, but not a grassy bitterness.

Overall, I was not a fan, but I can imagine some beer lovers enjoying it.

After reading the beer's description, I believed the smell I detected is considered "floral." In fact, I had considered using this term, but the beer didn't exactly smell like flowers. 1:18PM CT

---

Deschutes Inversion IPA

(20120102)

Relevant Links:
Deschutes Inversion IPA (Ratebeer.com)
Inversion IPA (BeerAdvocate.com)
Inversion IPA (Deschutes Website)

---

Website Information:

Inversion IPA

(20180112)

Alc. 6.8% | IBUs 80 | 228 Calories, 12 oz serving

Paradise is stumbling upon our whole flower hop room and inhaling. Inversion IPA is as close as you can get without knowing somebody.

Enter, if you will, all the glorious aromatic complexity of the hop. This big, bold IPA's intense multi-hop kick gets a subtle dose of restraint from select Crystal and Carastan malts. For discriminating hop heads.

(20180112)

Timmermans Strawberry Lambic

20120102:
I wrote: "Timmermans Strawberry. Nice strawberry smell. Like strawberry cream smell. Nice taste. At first kinda funny. Cloudy, peachy pink color." 4:00 PM PST

Yard House:
4.0% Timmermans Strawberry Lambic
6.8% Deschutes Inversion IPA

[20120118]

---

Timmermans Strawberry Lambic

Relevant Links:
Timmermans Strawberry Lambic (RateBeer.com)
Timmermans Strawberry Lambic (BeerAdvocate.com)
Timmermans Strawberry Lambic (Anthony Martin Website)

---

Website Information:

TIMMERMANS® STRAWBERRY LAMBIC

For anyone who finds strawberries irresistible, Timmermans® Strawberry evokes the fragrance of long sunny days. Its strawberry flavour will have you wrinkling your nose in delight with each sip. Its luminous colour and its fruity freshness are a treat for taste-buds and eyes alike. A totally juicy experience.

Taste-wise …
Its aroma evokes the perfumes of a lovely summer’s day. Its strawberry flavour confirms the nose’s impression, without being over-sweet, and is enhanced by a real feeling of freshness, recalling those tiny green granules that are found around ripened strawberries. Its taste is consistent and spreads very quickly throughout the mouth, finishing on a note that is fruity rather than sweet.

Alcohol : 4%
Colour : Red
Fermentation : Spontaneous
Type : Fruity

BJ's Annual Grand Cru

20120101:
Upon being seated and seeing the menu, I had no doubt in my mind that I wanted to order the Grand Cru as well as purchase the glass. I don't remember the prices at the moment, but buying the beer and the glass together saves $1.

I wrote: "BJ's Annual Grand Cru. Slightly grassy, hoppy? No, I got it: citrusy, but not obviously. Nice taste. Ok, I can smell the citrus now." 6:30 PM PST

[20120118]

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BJ's Annual Grand Cru

Relevant Links:
BJ's Annual Grand Cru (BJ's Website)
Grand Cru (BeerAdvocate.com)
BJ's Grand Cru (RateBeer.com)

---

Website Information:

BJ's Annual Grand Cru

First brewed to celebrate the new millennium, BJ’s Grand Cru has been an annual tradition ever since. This strong Belgian-style ale is brewed with imported Belgian malts and some secret ingredients, resulting in a malty character with a whirlwind of fruit and spice flavors.

Style:Belgian-Style Pale Strong Ale
Alcohol:10%
Awards:Silver: Belgian-Style Strong Specialty Ales at 2002 Great American Beer Festival; Silver: Belgian Strong Ale at 2000 World Beer Cup
Seasonality:January/February
Availability:All BJ’s