Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Shot

20120930:
I'm with my friends at One-Eyed Mike's and having finished drinking my glass or two of Grand Marnier, I'm ready for one last drink. A friend buys a round of pineapple upside down cake shots.
I wrote: "Pineapple Upside-Down Cake. This is pretty good. Pineapple liqueur over some sweet red thing. Syrup. Am I drunk? For sure." 12:40AM ET

The above comment suggests there was pineapple liqueur and grenadine, but most websites list pineapple juice and vanilla liqueur. Many websites also list butterscotch-flavored schnapps, also known as buttershots. Regardless of what went into the shot, it was undoubtedly delicious.

Common Ingredients:
Vanilla Vodka
Buttershots
: The generic term "buttershots" after DeKuyper Buttershots is used to describe butterscotch-flavored schnapps.
Pineapple Juice
Grenadine
: Added after the above. It drips down to the bottom.

[20121222]

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Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Shot

Relevant Links:
My Cook 20100821 Frozen Pineapple Upside-Down Cake post.

Grand Marnier Red Ribbon

20120930:
After having a round of fuzzy navel shots, my friends and I came to One-Eyed Mike's. Once there, I marveled at the numerous bottles of Grand Marnier. Apparently the establishment has a Grand Marnier Club where membership reserves a bottle of Grand Marnier in the member's name.

I wrote: "This Grand Marnier smells beautiful. One should drink it slowly. Enjoy and sip on it. I've had quite some bit to drink, so the delicious smell also comes with a desire to vomit. I had the fortune of starting a second glass, because someone didn't want their share. Grand Marnier is strong and tasty orange liqueur. I was told warm Grand Marnier tastes really good." 12:23AM ET
I also wrote: "I couldn't drink all of the second glass. I drank it until there was about a shot left. At which point, a friend of mine who couldn't stand sipping on it, shot the rest." 12:36AM ET

While at One-Eyed Mike's we also had pineapple upside-down cake shots.

[20121222]

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Grand Marnier Red Ribbon

Relevant Links:
Grand Marnier Red Ribbon (Grand Marnier Website)
Grand Marnier Website
Grand Marnier (Wikipedia.org)
One-Eyed Mike's

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Website Information:

Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge

History:
The original liqueur created in 1880 by Louis-Alexandre Marnier Lapostolle. A delicate blend of fine cognacs and distilled essence of tropical oranges with Marnier-Lapostolle's secret touch. Slow ageing in French oak casks gives it incomparable roundness and subtlety.

Tasting Notes:
Colour
Bright topaz with gold and amber tints

Aroma
Complex nose of orange flowers combined with scents of candied zests and toffee.

Flavour
Bitter orange flavours are enhanced by the cognac with nuances of orange marmalade and hazelnuts. The finish is long and harmonious.

Exceptional Range:
"Silver Medal" at the 2004 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Brooklyn Brown Ale

20120927:
I can't seem to find any notes on the beer attached to this date. It's possible I exclusively used it to cook: Italian Sausage with Peppers, Onions and Beer.

(20120927)

[20121201][20190310 Edit]

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20121201:
Today I drank a bottle and used a bottle to make another batch of Italian Sausage with Peppers, Onions and Beer.

I wrote: "This Brooklyn Brown Ale smells sweet. Tastes dark like a stout? Oh. I know, it has a delicious malty flavor. I like beers with a strong malty flavor. I really like it." 4:39PM

[20121201][20190310 Edit]

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20130106:
The Brooklyn Brown Ale tastes flavorless compared to the New Belgium Imperial Coffee Chocolate Stout. Of course I already know I enjoy this beer, but I'd have to say the Imperial Coffee Chocolate Stout is just that much better. 10:33PM PT

[20130107]

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20130124:
I wrote: "Brooklyn Brown Ale. I drank it from the bottle. It's sweet. It's quite sweet. The taste changed as I drank it. It gradually became less sweet and less delightful. It tasted more strange. I didn't finish the beer, not because it was bad, I was simply too tired to drink the rest." 4:37AM ET

(20121201)

[20130206]

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20131108:
I wrote: "This Brooklyn Brown Ale is slightly sweeter in taste than the Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale. I recall using this beer for cooking sausage. It's delicious." 7:18PM ET

[20131124]

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Brooklyn Brown Ale

Relevant Links:
Brooklyn Brown Ale (Brooklyn Brewery Website)
Brooklyn Brown Ale (BeerAdvocate.com)
Brooklyn Brown Ale (RateBeer.com)
My Italian Sausage with Peppers, Onions and Beer post

---

(20131108)

Website Information:

BROOKLYN BROWN ALE
This is the award-winning original American brown ale, first brewed as a holiday specialty, and now one of our most popular beers year-round. Northern English brown ales tend to be strong and dry, while southern English brown ales are milder and sweeter. Brooklyn Brown Ale combines the best of those classic styles and then adds an American accent in the form of a firm hop character and roasty palate. A blend of six malts, some of them roasted, give this beer its deep russet-brown color and complex malt flavor, fruity, smooth and rich, with a caramel, chocolate and coffee background. Generous late hopping brings forward a nice hop aroma to complete the picture. Brooklyn Brown Ale is full-flavored but retains a smoothness and easy drinkability that has made it one of the most popular dark beers in the Northeast.

SPEC SHEET
Style: American Brown Ale
Malts: British Two-row Malts, Belgian Aromatic Malts, American Roasted Malts
Additions: Contains wheat
Hops: Willamette, American Fuggle, Cascade
Alcohol by Volume: 5.6%
IBUs: 30
Original Gravity: 15.5° Plato
Calories: 190
Food Pairings: Brooklyn Brown Ale is particularly good with steaks, burgers, stews and barbecue, where it can put its caramel flavors to work with the caramelized flavors in the meat. It’s also excellent with venison, ham and roasted pork, which engage the depth of malt character. Well-aged cheddar, Gouda, Gruyere and sheep’s milk cheeses will pair up nicely.
Availability: Year-round
Format: 15.5 gal kegs; 5.2 gal kegs; 24/12oz bottles

Awards
2012 World Beer Championships: Silver Medal
2010 World Beer Championships: Silver Medal

Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale

20120927:
I wrote: "This Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale has a lovely dark taste. 7.2% ABV. Tasty beer. Sweet. Yeah indeed sweet. Good stuff." 8:24PM ET
I also wrote: "The last drop of the Dogfish Head tastes as if it has a hint of chocolate." 9:36PM ET

(20120927)

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20131102:
I wrote: "The Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale is delicious. I love brown ales." 8:46PM ET

[20131124]

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20131108:
I wrote: "Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale. It has a great sweet toasty or caramel smell. It has a sort of chocolate taste. I love how it tastes." 7:00PM ET

A bit later I had a Brooklyn Brown Ale which I thought was sweeter than the Dogfish Head IBA.

[20131124]

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Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale

(20131108)

Relevant Links:
Indian Brown Ale (Dogfish Head Website)
Indian Brown Ale (BeerAdvocate.com)
Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Indian Brown Ale

Availability: Year Round
Forget about the car companies, this is the original hybrid. A cross between a Scotch Ale, an India Pale Ale and an American Brown, Indian Brown Ale is well-hopped and malty at the same time (It's magical!).

The beer has characteristics of each style that inspired it: the color of an American Brown, the caramel notes of a Scotch Ale, and the hopping regimen of an India Pale Ale. We dry-hop the Indian Brown Ale in a similar fashion to our 60 Minute IPA and 90 Minute IPA. This beer is brewed with Aromatic barley and organic brown sugar.

ABV: 7.2%
IBU: 50

National Bohemian Beer (Natty Boh)

20120912:
At the moment (20121223), I would say there are three things to be said about Natty Boh:
1) If you live in Baltimore, Maryland and drink beer, then there's a good chance you've had a Natty Boh.
2) If you live in Baltimore, Maryland and drink beer, but haven't had a Natty Boh, then you should drink it purely for cultural purposes.

(20120926)

3) If you've had a Natty Boh, but haven't drunk it in Baltimore, Maryland, perhaps you haven't had a Natty Boh.

I wrote: "Natty Boh. Tastes great at an Os game. But honestly, joking aside, it's not bad. I like it more than a Bud." 9:10PM ET

[20121223]

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20130204:
I have definitely underrated Natty Boh, and for that I apologize.

(20130204)

I wrote: "Natty Boh. Less of that bad beer taste than what I drank the other day. It's actually real solid. I have underrated this bear." 9:44PM ET

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National Bohemian Beer (Natty Boh)

Relevant Links:
National Bohemian Beer Website
National Bohemian Beer (BeerAdvocate.com)
National Bohemian (RateBeer.com)
National Bohemian Beer (Wikipedia.org)

(date unknown, 2013 MLB Season)

Crispin Original

~I'm not a beer. I'm a cider.~

20120923:
I wrote: "This apple cider is simple and refreshing. It feels a lot more clean and frankly crisper than other apple ciders which I can remember. The flavor reminds me of the flavor of apple juice found in those round-shaped plastic bottles I often had as a kid. One could say its apple juice, but with 5% alcohol by volume."

[20121115]

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20130413:
I had a taste of my friend's Crispin (draft) and I think some of the ice had melted and slightly diluted the cider, easing some of the crispness. Nevertheless, it was tasty and a different experience from a glass than from a bottle. I doubt I could tell if either Crispin from the tap or from a bottle is better.

[20130416]

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Crispin Original

Relevant Links:
Crispin Original (Crispin Website)
Crispin Original (RateBeer.com)
My Crispin Artisanal Reserve The Saint post

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Website Information:

CRISPIN ORIGINAL

CRISP, REFRESHING NATURAL HARD APPLE CIDER

From the tap at Golden West Cafe.

Crisp over ice. A classically styled, but untraditional hard apple cider. Fruit forward, with a fresh, crunchy appley nose and a deliciously creamy, refreshingly crisp mouth feel.

ABV: 5%
Calories: 150
Colorants: 0
Benzoate Preservatives: 0
Sorbate Preservatives: 0
Added Sugar: 0
Added Malt or Spirit Alcohol: 0
Gluten Free: Yes
Naturally Fermented: Yes
Carbohydrates: 15g

21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon

20120923:
I wrote: "Hmm this watermelon beer is... I don't know. It's not bad, but I don't really know where the watermelon flavor comes into play. Maybe a little sweetness or hint of it."

[20121115]

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21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon Wheat Beer

Relevant Links:
Hell or High Watermelon Wheat Beer (21st Amendment Website)
Hell or High Watermelon Wheat Beer (BeerAdvocate.com)
21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon Wheat (RateBeer.com)
My 21st Amendment Monk's Blood post
My 21st Amendment Fireside Chat post

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Website Information:

Like Lady Liberty, we stand for independence and perseverance. In the pursuit of innovative beer, there is no obstacle too great. No journey too long. No fruit too gigantic. This American wheat beer is brewed with real watermelon, for a flavor that's surprisingly crisp, dry and refreshing—summer in a can.

Hell or High Watermelon Wheat is our summer seasonal beer available from April through September in six pack cans and on draft. We start by brewing a classic American wheat beer, which undergoes a traditional secondary fermentation using fresh watermelon. A straw-colored, refreshing beer with a kiss of watermelon aroma and flavor.

ALCOHOL CONTENT: 4.9% ABV
HOPS: MAGNUM
COLOR: PALE STRAW
FLAVOR: 100% FRESH WATERMELON PURE
BITTERNESS UNITS (IBUS): 17
YEAST: TOP-FERMENTING ALE YEAST
MALTS: TWO-ROW PALE, WHITE WHEAET

Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale

20120920:
I wrote: "It isn't strongly pumpkin. Though I focused more on the taste of the beer near its end. Slightly watery mouth feel. I guess its actually the mix of nutmeg and loss of [?]"
*The message just ends there. Awkward.

[20121115]

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Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale

Relevant Links:
Harvest Pumpkin Ale (Samuel Adams Website)
Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale (BeerAdvocate.com)
Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

A perennial favorite at our brewery Halloween party, Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale is brewed with over 17 pounds of real pumpkin per barrel, adding a full body and sweetness to this dark reddish amber brew. Deep roasted malts, including a smoked malt, lend a distinct roasted character while traditional pumpkin pie spices give the beer a subtle spice note.

Flavor: Smooth and roasty, real pumpkin adds to a full body and sweetness while deep roasted malts lend a toasty finish to this subtly spiced brew.
Color: Dark reddish amber, 33 SRM
Original Gravity: 15° Plato
Alcohol by Vol/Wt: 5.7%ABV - 4.4%ABW
Calories/12oz.: 199
IBUs: 14
Malt Varieties: Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, Caramel 60, Special B, and smoked malt
Hop Varieties: East Kent Goldings and English Fuggles
Special Ingredients: real pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice
Yeast Strain: Samuel Adams ale yeast
First Brewed: 2010
Availability: Seasonal (Sept. - Oct.) and in the Harvest Collection Variety pack

Boulevard Dark Truth Stout

20120914:
While I can easily fix the occasional typing errors in notes taken earlier in the evening, fixing errors taken after five or so drinks is quite a task. On this evening in particular, I already had an Apricot Wheat Ale, a Strawberry Blonde Ale, a shot of gin, and some wine.

Translated Notes:
I wrote: "Dark Truth Stout. That's good shit. I might be drunk, but this tastes great. Yeah, its good." 10:41PM ET
I also wrote: "Omg shot of gin. fucking drunk by now. I can't really see the screen. I mean screen letters. Gin. That shit probably would have been better with soda or water. I'm definitely done by now. I had two beers, a shot, plus one. What else must have ???? I'm tipsy lol and [we're] talking about where else to go lol." 20120915 12:11PM ET

Original Notes:
I originally wrote: "Dark truth stout thats good shit. I mifht he deunk but thid tastes geat.. yeah goood." 10:41PM ET
I also originally wrote: "Omg sjot og gin. fuckng drunk by noe cant rwallt see dvreen. Im meab xcewwed letters. Gin that shit prib woylda been beyyer wirh soda or whaywv. Def donw by now. Two bewrs a shot plus one.. what else musy have nemn i m ipsy lol and taljung svout whete rpde to go lol" 20120915 12:11PM ET

[20121223]

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Boulevard Dark Truth Stout

Relevant Links:
Dark Truth Stout (Boulevard Website)
Dark Truth Stout (BeerAdvocate.com)
Boulevard Dark Truth Stout (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Dark Truth Stout

Style: Imperial Stout
Availability: Year-round, 4-Pack Bottles Only
Locations: Try our Beer Finder
Throughout the ages, man has been fascinated by the quest for hidden knowledge, the search for the secret to transforming the elemental into the extraordinary, the simple into the sublime. Ladies and gentlemen, we present for your consideration this exotic, inky concoction, the almost magical creation of our modern day alchemists who have turned humble grains—barley, wheat, rye, and oats—into black, liquid gold. Layers of complex flavors slowly emerge from the glass: espresso, roasted fig, crème brulée. Belgian yeast provides a plum-like fruitiness, noble German hops reveal spicy, herbal notes, while the rich, velvety mouthfeel mellows to a dry, smoky finish.

Color (EBC) 225
Bitterness (IBUs) 60
Original Gravity (Plato) 21
Terminal Gravity (Plato) 4.7
Alcohol (ABV) 9.7%
CO2 - Bottles 3.08 vol. (6.1 g/L)
CO2 - Kegs N/A

Buffalo Bills Strawberry Blonde Ale

20120914:
After the Apricot Wheat Ale, I was welcomed to try this Strawberry Blonde Ale and all I know from my notes is that I like it better than the Apricot Wheat Ale. Of course this is a relative comparison and doesn't say much about how this beer stands on its own.
I wrote: "I like this Strawberry Blonde Ale over the Ithaca Apricot Wheat Ale." 9:53PM ET

Afterwards I had the choice of a shot of gin or a shot of tequila. I choose the shot of gin. 9:54PM ET

Then there was this weird concept of taking the bag of wine out of its box, holding it up, slapping the bag, and then drinking from the nozzle. By now, I am definitely tipsy. 9:54PM ET

Of course, I have one more drink to go before ending the night: Dark Truth Stout.

[20121223]

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Buffalo Bills Strawberry Blonde Ale

Relevant Links:
Buffalo Bills Strawberry Blonde Ale
Strawberry Blonde Ale (BeerAdvocate.com)

Ithaca Apricot Wheat Ale

20120914:
Tonight was a night full of drinks and the one that started it off was this Ithaca Apricot Beer. I didn't really like it, and my next beer, Strawberry Blonde Ale tasted better.

I wrote: "Ithaca Apricot Beer. Definitely tastes like apricot, but apricot beer isn't worth drinking. Well it's good if you like apricot." 9:06PM ET

[20121223]

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Ithaca Apricot Wheat Ale

Relevant Links:
Apricot Wheat Ale (Ithaca Website)
Apricot Wheat (BeerAdvocate.com)
Ithaca Apricot Wheat (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Apricot Wheat Ale
Availability: Year Round
Our #1 Selling Beer
Our easy-drinking wheat beer is light in color and body…perfect for those looking for a lighter taste. The combination of wheat and barley gives Apricot Wheat a different malt character than our other ales. The hint of apricot gives this beer a pleasant nose and fruity finish.
ABV: 4.9%
Malt: 2-Row Pale, White Wheat, Acidulated Malt
Hops: Cascade
Other: Natural Apricot Flavor
Suggested Food Pairing: Complements Summer Salads and Fruity Desserts, Excellent ingredient for pork accompaniments/sauces.
Recommended Cheese Pairing: Soft goat’s milks cheese like Chevre.

Sierra Nevada Snowed in Stout

20120912:
I wrote: "I taste some chocolate. It's quite strong."

[20121102]

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Sierra Nevada Snowed in Stout (Beer Camp #45)

Relevant Links:
Beer Camp Beers (Sierra Nevada Website)
Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Oatmeal Stout (RateBeer.com)
Snowed In Stout - Beer Camp #45 (Best Of Beer Camp: Oatmeal Stout) (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

45. Snowed In Stout
ABV: 9.4%
Original Gravity: 22.9 P
Final Gravity: 6.0 P
Bitterness Units: 51 IBU
Color: Black
Bittering Hops: Brewer's Gold & UK Challenger
Aroma Hops: Willamette & Styrian Golding
Malt: Pale 2-row, Caramel (60L), Rolled Oats, Chocolate, Black & Roasted Barley
Yeast: Ale
Description: Brewed in honor of the season's only snow-day in Chico, this big stout was born out of winter, but is perfect any time of the year. This imperial oatmeal stout is inky black in color, with a big milk chocolate, mocha-like aroma. It has a silky body from the use of rolled oats, and a round and lasting finish.

Lindemans Framboise

20120909:
I wrote: "It's just fizzy juice. Haha. That is, this drink doesn't taste like it has any alcohol. Though it's tasty. People who like fruity beers should most certainly enjoy this drink."

[20121024]

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20130511:
I'm here at Kulminator and I've tried my own Tripel Karmeliet and went on to take a sip of Stefaan's Lefebvre Hopus. Next, I was ready to try Aurelie's Lindemans Framboise. Unfortunately, while reaching over to take a look at the bottle, I clumsily knocked over her glass. While there was still about a glass worth of framboise in the bottle, I still felt bad for what happened.

I wrote: "Framboise smells like candy. Tastes like juice. Delicious."

Of the three, I would say I like the Tripel Karmeliet best. In fact, Tripel Karmeliet probably stands in my top three of beers tried throughout my entire trip in Europe.

[20130615]

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Lindemans Framboise

Relevant Links:
Framboise (Lindemans Website)
Lindemans Framboise (BeerAdvocate.com)
Lindemans Framboise (RateBeer.com)
Framboise (Wikipedia.org)
Lindemans Brewery (Wikipedia.org)

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Website Information:

Long before hops were common in most beers, various fruits and vegetables were used to season beers. The acidity of Lambic beers blends perfectly with raspberries.

Taste: Magnificent aroma, delicate palate of raspberries with undertones of fruity acidity; elegant, sparkling clean natural taste.

Style: Raspberry Lambic.

Color: Rose. Serving suggestions: Chocolate desserts (especially chocolate decadence), fresh raspberries, ice cream with a raspberry demi-glaze sauce, créme caramel, baked Alaska, Olympia oysters, caviar. Serve in flute-shaped Lambic glasses at 45 degrees.

Serve cold at 2-3 degrees Celsius.

Widmer Brothers Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout '12

20120909:
I wrote: "It definitely has the smell of a stout. There's also an alcoholic perfume. The date on the bottle is March 12 12 but on the label it reads 'Prost! To improving with age!' Tastes strong. I don't detect the raspberry flavor. Very dark color from the side."

I also wrote: "I'm starting to get some bitterness in the aftertaste. There's also some sweetness to it now. Accompanied by the bitterness. Ooo... I got some chocolate flavor kicking in. Nice."

[20121017]

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Widmer Brothers Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout '12

Relevant Links:
Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout '12 (Widmer Brothers Website)
Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout (BeerAdvocate.com)
Widmer Brothers Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

RASPBERRY RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT ’12
ALE BREWED WITH RASPBERRIES

AN EXTREMELY RICH AND COMPLEX BEER, THE ADDITION OF RASPBERRIES DURING THE FERMENTATION PROCESS RESULTS IN AN ALMOST PURPLISH OPAQUE COLOR WITH A BEAUTIFUL BROWN HEAD. WARM CHOCOLATE AND ROASTY NOTES COMPLIMENT THE HOP BITTERNESS.

AVAILABILITY: SPRING SEASONAL
BITTERNESS: 70 IBU
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME: 9.3%
ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 21.5 PLATO
MALTS: PALE, ROAST BARLEY, CARAMEL 60L, MIDNIGHT WHEAT, CHOCOLATE MALT
HOPS: ALCHEMY, WILLAMETTE, CASCADE

SoCo and Lime

20120907:
After I finished my Amaretto Sour, my friends and I had a final drink for the night: shots of SoCo and lime.

The lime lingers. I'm not sure if I like it or not.

[20121017][20180712 Edit][Part of Drinks at Various Places]

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20140729:
After having a pickle back here at Hooters, my friend and I order and sip on some SoCo and lime.

I wrote: "In contrast to the good tasting pickle back, this SoCo Lime was just alright." 11:31PM PT

Menu Description:
SOCO LIME Southern Comfort and lime juice

[20140909]

---

SoCo and Lime

Relevant Links:
Southern Comfort (Wikipedia.org)

Washington Apple

20120907:
I tasted the apple in this shot, but not the sour. It tasted good. However, I liked the Redheaded Slut more.

[20121017][20180712 Edit][Part of Drinks at Various Places]

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Ingredients for a Washington Apple:

Sour Apple schnapps (e.g. Sour Apple Pucker by DeKuyper)
Crown Royal Canadian whisky
cranberry Juice

Redheaded Slut

20120907:
This shot contained Jagermeister and cranberry juice.* It went down easy and the Jager taste was subtle but tasty. The Jager rounded out the drink.

I later had a Washington Apple.

*According to the Wikipedia article, a redheaded slut will also contain Peach Schnapps.

[20121017][20180712 Edit][Part of Drinks at Various Places]

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20130103:
I wrote: "Redheaded Slut. Jagermeister and Peach Schnapps topped with cranberry juice. On the rocks. I mostly taste the Jager followed by hints of peach. It's simple, but easy to drink and has a good taste." 11:47PM PT

[20130117]

---

Redheaded Slut

Relevant Links:
Redheaded slut (Wikipedia.org)

Fireball Cinnamon Whisky

20120906:
Back in March I had Fireball with Coke. Today I simply had a shot of Fireball. It tastes great.

[20180712][Part of Drinks at Various Places]

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Fireball Cinnamon Whisky

Relevant Links:
Fireball Website
Fireball Cinnamon Whisky (Wikipedia.org)

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According to Wikipedia, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is bottled at 33% ABV.

Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin Ale

20120904:
Having a beer during an ESPN Fantasy Football draft.

I wrote: "This beer is off to a great start with lovely pumpkin spices on the nose. It's followed by a great taste. Good stuff."

[20120929][20121115]

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Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin Ale

Relevant Links:
Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin Ale (Brooklyn Brewery Website)
Post Road Pumpkin Ale (BeerAdvocate.com)
Post Road Pumpkin Ale (RateBeer.com)
My Brooklyn Lager post

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Website Information:

BROOKLYN POST ROAD PUMPKIN ALE
Early American colonialists, seeking natural ingredients for brewing ales, turned to pumpkins, which were plentiful, flavorful and nutritious. Blended with barley malt, pumpkins became a commonly used beer ingredient. Post Road Pumpkin Ale brings back this tasty tradition. Hundreds of pounds of pumpkins are blended into the mash of each batch, creating a beer with an orange amber color, warm pumpkin aroma, biscuity malt center, and crisp finish.

SPEC SHEET
Style: Genuine Pumpkin Ale
Malts: American Two-row malt, British Crystal Malt, Belgian Biscuit and Aromatic Malts
Additions: Dickinson pumpkins, and nutmeg; Contains wheat
Hops: Willamette and American Fuggle
Alcohol by Volume: 5.0%
IBUs: 24
Original Gravity: 13.5° Plato
Calories: 165
Food Pairings: The perfect beer for holiday dining, roasted ham and turkey, root vegetables, macaroni and cheese, mascarpone and Thanksgiving dinner.
Availability: August-November
Format: 15.5 gal kegs; 5.2 gal kegs; 24/12oz bottles

Samuel Smith's Organic Apricot Fruit Beer

20120903:
I can smell a hint of apricot. There's definitely an apricot taste - it's not overbearing. It tastes more like an apricot soda than an apricot beer.

To clarify, I don't know how an apricot beer actually tastes, but I created an expectation of how one might taste.

Seriously though, this doesn't taste like it has any alcohol in it.

[20120929][20141226 Edit]

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Samuel Smith's Organic Apricot Fruit Beer

Relevant Links:
Organic Apricot Ale (Merchant du Vin Website)
Samuel Smith's Organic Apricot Ale (BeerAdvocate.com)
Samuel Smiths Organic Apricot Ale (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information: (Merchant du Vin)

Samuel Smith
Organic Apricot Ale

Classic rich, ripe apricot aroma and flavor in superb organic ale.

The History of Organic Apricot Ale
Samuel Smith's Organic Fruit Beers are brewed and fermented at Melbourn Bros. Brewery in Stamford; then blended, conditioned and packaged at Samuel Smith's Old Brewery in Tadcaster; they are Certified Organic by the USDA-accredited UK Soil Association.

While there are older breweries in England, it would be safe to say that few are so little changed as this gem at Stamford, which has stood in the center of this beautifully preserved market community since 1825. From the antique grist mill to the ancient copper vessels, Melbourn Bros. remains today, a working brewery which blends the traditions of the ancient craft with that of the early industrial revolution. Closed in the 1970s, restoration with respect for the historical brewing equipment was begun by Samuel Smith's in the 1990s.

Before Samuel Smith's earned organic certification for Melbourn Bros. Brewery in 2008, Apricot Ale was their top-selling beer. The search to find Certified Organic apricots took some time, but Samuel Smith's Organic Apricot Ale was finally introduced to the US in February 2012.

Taste
People have enjoyed apricots since prehistoric times - so long, in fact, that the origin of apricot trees, Prunus armeniaca, is uncertain. Although the scientific name suggests an origin in Armenia some scholars think apricots originated in China. They are now grown around the world where the climate allows.

Apricots contribute to a stunning fruit beer: the ripe, aromatic bouquet supports a sweet, summery flavor with just a suggestion of stone-fruit tartness. Samuel Smith's Organic Apricot Ale is rich and full-bodied; the color is a glowing hazy orange.

Serving Suggestion
Try with curries or Moroccan chicken; rice pilaf; or couscous. A wonderful pairing with fruit salad - whether it contains apricots or not. Try with vanilla ice cream or custard for dessert.

Accolade
Gold Medal - US Open 2012. "Top fruit beer" as announced July 31, 2012. Here is the full list of winners.
"Five out of five mugs" - Modern Brewery Age, March 28, 2012. Here is the complete review as a 47 KB .pdf.

Product Sizes and Quantities
18.7-ounce (550 ml) "Victorian Pint" bottles / 12 bottles per case

Stats
ABV: 5.1% - OG: 1.065 - IBU: 14
Ingredients: Water, organic barley malt, organic wheat malt, organic apricot juice, organic sugar, organic natural apricot aroma, organic hops, yeast.

Schlafly Pumpkin Ale

20120901:
I wrote: "This is a sweet beer. The pumpkin flavor is noticeable on the first couples sips. Afterwards, it comes and goes depending on how much bitterness remains on the tongue."

[20120929]

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Schlafly Pumpkin Ale

Relevant Links:
Pumpkin Ale (Schlafly Website)
Schlafly Pumpkin Ale (BeerAdvocate.com)
Schlafly Pumpkin Ale (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Pumpkin Ale

Available September-October.

ABV: 8% | IBU: 16

APPEARANCE: Copper-colored, bright
PROCESS: Brewed with pumpkin squash and a blend of spices
HOPS: Marynka (PL)
MALTS: 2-row and Crystal malted barley, Munich malt, wheat malt, chocolate malt
YEAST: American Ale
OG: 18.5
SRM: 26.6

Our Pumpkin Ale blends the spices of the harvest with full-bodied sweetness for a beer that tastes like pumpkin pie. Pounds of pumpkin form a malty foundation that supports the fall flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.

While pumpkin beers were produced in the early days of the American colonies, they were different from the pumpkin beers we know today. Colonists used pumpkin and squash as the fermenting medium, since malted barley was scarce. Once malt became more readily available, it replaced these alternatives to grain. In the 1990’s, American craft brewers reintroduced the style to the delight of pumpkin beer drinkers.