Mixed Drinks 20141231

20141231:
Today was one of those days where many drinks were drank and many photos were left untaken. This post serves as a summary of all such drinks and links to separate posts where applicable.

Amaretto Sour

To start off the night, I had a Widmer Brothers Brrr at about 7:30PM.

Then I went over to my friend's place where the two of us and two other mutual friends have a little bit more to drink and some food (Del Taco). There I had some Alaskan Amber and about two shots of Grey Goose Vodka.

At about 8 o'clock, we headed out. Arriving at our destination, we each had an extra shot or so of Grey Goose.

As things were still quiet and uneventful, we sat outside for a while and enjoyed the fire. There I had a taste of my friend's Midori Sour. While I wrote it tasted like apple, I'm not sure if I meant a regular apple or specifically a sour apple.

I also had a taste of my friend's Amaretto Sour.

Later, around 10 o'clock in the evening, I had an Amaretto Sour which I note tasted differently than the first one. 10:02PM PT

An hour later, I had a Vodka Soda. 10:50PM PT All that I say about it though is that it tastes decent. 10:58PM PT.

After the Vodka Soda, I went to use the restroom and someone there compliments me on my dancing, saying "You're a good dancer." While happy for the compliment, I also couldn't help but feel a little awkward - a public restroom is a strange place for conversation with strangers.

At half past eleven I had a taste of my friend's White Russian and absolutely loved it. 11:33PM PT

Champagne

As midnight approached, the establishment which my friends and I went to began passing out the champagne. The first one I drank tasted alright. Of course, that didn't stop me from swiping a second flute after finishing my first! At this time, I also made a note to myself to remember my jacket. 11:50PM PT

At midnight, the balloons dropped and it was a lot of fun. Among the fun was dancing, balloon popping, and I also noted drinking one more flute of champagne. 20150101 12:06AM PT

In the end, it was quite a night.

Grey Goose Vodka

20141231:
To start off New Years Eve, I had a bottle of Widmer Brothers Brrr, a little Alaskan Amber, and about three shots of Grey Goose.

As the Grey Goose was poured into big glasses, it's unclear exactly how much of it I had, but I would estimate having had two to three shots of it.

In any case, I first simply noted that the vodka was nice. 8:04PM PT.

Then I noted it was smooth, though the taste of alcohol is definitely present. 8:05PM PT.

Due to the pregaming, the rest of the night was simpler: Mixed Drinks 20141231.

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Grey Goose Vodka

Relevant Links:
Grey Goose Vodka
Grey Goose (vodka) (Wikipedia.org)

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Website Information:

TO CREATE GREY GOOSE VODKA, FRANÇOIS THIBAULT MAINTAINS AN UNRIVALLED LEVEL OF CRAFTSMANSHIP, USING ONLY THE VERY FINEST INGREDIENTS. ITS SIGNATURE SMOOTHNESS AND DISTINCT CHARACTER ARE THE RESULT OF AN EXTRAORDINARY PASSION FOR SPIRIT MAKING AND AN UNPARALLELED COMMITMENT TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE QUALITY.

EACH BATCH OF GREY GOOSE® VODKA BEGINS WITH SOFT WINTER WHEAT GROWN ON FARMS IN AND AROUND THE FERTILE PICARDY REGION OF NORTHERN FRANCE. GREY GOOSE MAÎTRE DE CHAI FRANÇOIS THIBAULT INSISTS ON USING ONLY THE HIGHEST-GRADE WHEAT—THE SAME WHEAT USED IN THE FINEST FRENCH BREADS AND PASTRIES.

AFTER THE WHEAT GRAIN IS FERMENTED AND DISTILLED INTO A HIGH-PROOF SPIRIT, IT TRAVELS SOUTH TO GENSAC-LA-PALLUE, IN THE COGNAC ARRONDISSEMENT (REGION), FRANCE, WHERE IT IS BLENDED WITH THE REMARKABLY PRISTINE SPRING WATER FOUND THERE.

La Trappe Quadrupel

20141230:
This beer has a banana smell. Correction, it has a strong banana smell. This smell settles into something more subtle (I suppose as all smells eventually do). I'm uncertain of whether I like how it tastes.

The final sips taste much stronger than the initial ones, most likely due to the beer being warmer. 20141231 1:29AM PT

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La Trappe Quadrupel

Relevant Links:
La Trappe Quadrupel
Quadrupel (Wikipedia.org)
La Trappe Quadrupel (Koningshoeven / Dominus) | Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven B.V. (BeerAdvocate.com)
La Trappe Quadrupel (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

La Trappe Quadrupel

Quadrupel is La Trappe’s heaviest ale with a stunning amber colour. Its warm and intense flavour is rich and finely balanced. Malty sweet, slightly burnt, and pleasantly bitter with a sweet aftertaste. Quadrupel continues to ferment after bottling and offers aromas of banana, almond, vanilla and others.

Characteristics:
Unfiltered, top-fermenting Trappist ale.

Alcohol content of 10%.
Serving temperature 10-14 ℃

Available in: 33cl, 75cl, 6-pack.

2014 Anchor Christmas Ale

2014 Anchor Christmas Ale (20150101)

When I was out shopping for beers at BevMo with my friend, we came across a huge bottle of Anchor Christmas Ale. According to our computations, however, the purchase makes a great gift and/or novelty, but the cost per alcohol is also higher.

While I have a record of drinking the 2011 and 2012 versions of the Anchor Christmas Ale, it seems I never got the 2013 version.

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20141230 Afternoon:
Yesterday I put some beer in the freezer and forgot about them. For most, if not all, this meant that the water froze and forced the air to find a way out.

Six-pack of 2014 Anchor Christmas Ale.

I moved some to the fridge section and had two of them out at room temperature (a bottle of Anchor Christmas Ale and a bottle of Alaskan Amber).

Then I had the following thought: if I pop the cap while the beer is still frozen, then I can quickly seal it (with a Christmas gift I received) and keep the gas inside the bottle after it thaws. Ignoring the already escaping air and my dad's recommendation to keep the cap on, I pop it and a bunch of beer flows out - exactly as if a regular beer had been shaken. I rushed to the sink and threw the beer sealer on, but it was such a mess that indeed it would have been better to just let some of it escape.

In any case, here are my thoughts on the Anchor 2014 Christmas Ale. There's a slight smell of nutmeg. It tastes watery with a slight taste of nutmeg and some carbonation. 5:35PM PT

2014 Anchor Christmas Ale in slush form. (20141230 Evening)

I love this nutmeg smell. I would reiterate that the beer tastes good, but that its a bit watery. 5:43PM PT

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20141230 Evening:
I took out the Anchor 2014 Christmas Ale which was frozen but placed in the fridge. Unexpectedly, the ice had not entirely melted and so we sorted of ended up sharing Anchor 2014 Christmas Ale in slush form. But here's the thing, the slush was actually decent.

Note that I thought the smell was the same as the Anchor 2014 Christmas Ale I had earlier today. 10:46PM PT

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20150101:
Today my friends and I drank a regular bottle of Anchor 2014 Christmas Ale (one that was not previously frozen). It has a medium to low level of carbonation and it also smells good. There's a slight bit of sweetness to it which is nice. Overall, I find it tastes similar to Guinness, especially in terms of its wateriness. 8:10PM PT

2014 Anchor Christmas Ale in Anchor Brewing Pint Glass (20141230 Afternoon)

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2014 Anchor Christmas Ale

Relevant Links:
Christmas Ale (Anchor Brewing)
Our Special Ale 2014 (Anchor Christmas Ale) | Anchor Brewing Company (BeerAdvocate.com)
Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later) (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

CHRISTMAS ALE

2014 Anchor Christmas Ale.
New tree. New recipe. Same traditions.

This is the fortieth annual Christmas Ale from the Anchor brewers. It is sold only from early November to mid–January. The Ale's recipe is different every year, as is the tree on the label, but the intent with which we offer it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life.

Our tree for 2014 is the Giant Sequoia. It was hand-drawn by James Stitt—who has been creating Christmas Ale labels for us since 1975—to look as a "Big Tree" planted in 1975 might look today.

"The Big Tree is Nature's forest masterpiece, and…keeps its youth far longer than any of its neighbors. Most silver firs are old in their second or third century, pines in their fourth or fifth, while the Big Tree growing beside them is still in the bloom of its youth, juvenile in every feature at the age of old pines, and cannot be said to attain anything like prime size and beauty before its fifteen hundredth year, or under favorable circumstances become old before its three thousandth."–John Muir

We chose the Giant Sequoia for our fortieth Christmas Ale in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Yosemite Act. Signed into law by President Lincoln during the Civil War, it granted the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove to the State of California "for public use, resort, and recreation." The first such land grant in American history, it marked the beginning of the California State Parks.

Brew Facts
First Brew: 1975
First Bottling: 1975
Alc. by Volume: Varies
Availability: Nov.-Feb.
Malt: Top Secret
Hops: Top Secret
Dry Hops: Top Secret

Angry Orchard The Muse

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

20141227:
The Muse mainly smells like a normal cider, though perhaps with a slightly more pronounced apple scent. It seems to have a sweeter taste as well. Its almost as if I'm eating an apple! Overall, I find this drink delicious. 11:59AM PT

I shared this bottle with my family over lunch. In particular, I gave my mom a small amount and she said she liked it.

[20150109 Edit]

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I'm not sure which Angry Orchard Cider House Collection I liked better, The Muse or Iceman. I believe Iceman tastes stronger* and The Muse tastes sweeter.

*In fact, Iceman is 10% ABV and The Muse is only 7.7% ABV.

[20150109]

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Angry Orchard The Muse

Relevant Links:
The Muse (Angry Orchard Website)
Angry Orchard The Muse (RateBeer.com)
Website information:

ANGRY ORCHARD CIDER HOUSE COLLECTION
THE LEGEND OF THE MUSE
Inspired by the festive nature of slightly sweet demi-sec champagnes and sparkling wines, The Muse is a bubbly, effervescent cider made from traditional culinary and bittersweet apples and aged on French oak. The cider is sweet upfront with a juicy apple aroma and bright acidity, and slightly drying on the finish with a lingering sweet apple note. The French oak adds a subtle wood impression, imparting notes of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and hints of vanilla. 7.7% ABV.

Widmer Brothers Brrr

Widmer Brothers Brrr

(20141224)

Relevant Links:
Brrr Seasonal Ale (Widmer Brothers Website)
Brrr | Widmer Brothers Brewing Company (BeerAdvocate.com)
Widmer Brothers Brrr Seasonal Ale (RateBeer.com)

20141224: [20150107 Edit]
This Brrr doesn't smell much different from the Alaskan Amber I had earlier today. It does, however, taste a bit more bitter.

I guess overall, it tastes more like a pale ale or IPA. After a couple more sips, I would say this beer has a definite bitterness in it. 11:44PM PT

Josh describes Brrr as having a piney taste. 11:52PM PT

20141231:
To start off New Years Eve, I opened a bottle of Brrr.

This Brrr tastes better today than the other day. It had more of a taste and only a subtle bitterness. 7:22PM PT

The last few sips of this beer were hoppy and really bitter.

(20141231)

On a related note, I don't detect any of the flavors mentioned in its taste description. 7:24PM PT

Afterwards, I hopped into my friend's car and he drove us over to a mutual friend's place where I had a little Alaskan Amber and some Grey Goose Vodka. After that we had a bunch of mixed drinks and champagne.

20151229:
Josh and I split the last remaining bottle of Widmer Brothers Brrr from last year. Overall, I found it tasted quite strong and consequently I didn't detect any bitterness. After my final sip, I could taste the spices which lingered on my tongue.

Website Information:

BRRR SEASONAL ALE
BOLD HOP FLAVOR, MALTY SWEET FINISH

WARM UP WITH A COLD ONE. OR TWO. OUR WINTER RED ALE IS THE PERFECT TREAT, NAUGHTY OR NICE. THE DEEP RED BODY FILLS YOUR GLASS AND A CITRUSY HOP AROMA FILLS YOUR NOSE. THEN CARAMEL AND CHOCOLATE MALTS REWARD YOU WITH A PERFECTLY BALANCED, MALTY SWEET FLAVOR AND VELVETY FINISH.

AVAILABILITY: OCTOBER - DECEMBER
BITTERNESS: 50 IBU
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME: 7.2%
ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 17 PLATO
MALTS: PALE, CARAMEL 10L & 80L, CARAPILS, DARK CHOCOLATE
HOPS: ALCHEMY, SIMCOE, CASCADE

Bunratty Meade

20141224:
This drink smells sweet and definitely smells like white wine. Similar to the smell, the drink has a sweet taste.

A second whiff reveals some alcoholic fumes. I would actually say the drink has a subtle sweet taste, as opposed to a prominent sweet taste. 7:22PM PT

I had another small helping of this and it tastes good. 8:04PM PT

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Bunratty Meade*
*This beverage is not mead (Wikipedia.org). As the label states, it is white wine flavored with honey.

Relevant Links:
Bunratty Meade (BevMo!)
Bunratty Irish Mead (RateBeer.com)

Mike's Hard Blood Orange

20141220:
An hour and a half after tasting the Blue Moon Gingerbread Spiced Ale and in between games of Taboo, my friends and I paused to share a bottle of Mike's Hard Blood Orange. From my share, I found it smells and tastes like a juice soda. 2:27AM PT

Apparently the flavor was introduced as a spring seasonal in 2013 and has since been re-released.

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Mike's Hard Blood Orange

Relevant Links:
Blood Orange (Mike's Hard Website)

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Website Information:

HARD
BLOOD ORANGE
IT'S BLOODY AWESOME

mike's blood orange® contain:
5% alc/vol
205 calories
29 grams of carbs
27 grams of sugar
0 grams of fat
0 grams of fiber
0 grams of protein
per 11.2 fl oz bottle.

Blue Moon Gingerbread Spiced Ale

Blue Moon Gingerbread Spiced Ale

Relevant Links:
Blue Moon Gingerbread Spiced Ale (Blue Moon Website)
Blue Moon Gingerbread Spiced Ale | Coors Brewing Company (BeerAdvocate.com)
Blue Moon Gingerbread Ale (RateBeer.com)

20141219:
[20141226]
Like with the bottle of Leinenkugel's Cranberry Ginger Shandy, my friends and I each got a small taste of this Blue Moon Gingerbread Spiced Ale.

I can smell the presence of spices. Unfortunately, while the beer clearly has some spice and tastes good, it's not interesting. 11:09PM PT

Website Information:
Blue Moon
Gingerbread Spiced Ale

A Taste That’s Right Out of the Oven.
Limited Winter Release.

History
Not too long ago, we asked fans to suggest ingredients for a new limited winter release that would best fit the season. After lots of great suggestions and tastings with fans, Gingerbread Spiced Ale came out on top. With tastes of ginger, cinnamon, and molasses, it’s clear why they chose this wintery brew.

Available in 12-oz. bottles, Brewmaster's Sampler Pack

Profile
Ingredients and Profile
Malts: Pale, Munich, Caramel, Wheat
Hops: Hallertau
Our Twist: Ginger, Molasses, Cinnamon, Allspice, Nutmeg
IBUs: 16
Appearance
Light amber/copper color with brilliant clarity and a white, creamy head.
Aroma
Forward notes of ginger and cinnamon balanced with molasses. Background notes of nutmeg and allspice balanced with notes of caramel.
Taste
Ginger, cinnamon, and molasses taste with slight nutmeg and allspice. Slight caramel sweetness balanced with smooth bitterness.
Mouthfeel
Medium to full body.
Finish
Lingering ginger, cinnamon, and molasses taste and a hint of bitterness.

Food Pairing
Notes of ginger pair well with ginger dishes like ginger chicken or ginger carrot soup, curry chicken, goat cheese, and desserts made with ginger, cinnamon, or chocolate.

Leinenkugel's Cranberry Ginger Shandy

Leinenkugel's Cranberry Ginger Shandy

Relevant Links:
Cranberry Ginger Shandy (Leinenkugel Website)
Leinenkugels Cranberry Ginger Shandy (RateBeer.com)
Leinenkugel's Cranberry Ginger Shandy | Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company (BeerAdvocate.com)

20141219:
My friends and I divided this bottle into six cups, and so each of us had a small taste. This beer smells like apple juice. The taste largely matches the smell: it tastes mostly like apple juice, but with a hint of ginger. 10:56PM PT

Afterwards we tried Blue Moon Spiced Ale.

Website Information:
Cranberry Ginger Shandy
Did you know the great state of Wisconsin produces more cranberries than any state in America? Our hometown pride inspired us to brew Leinenkugel’s® Cranberry Ginger Shandy. The combination of traditional wheat beer with natural cranberry flavor and a note of ginger is as refreshing as a toboggan ride Out Here.

Ingredients
(Specified by Brewmasters)
Malts:
Pale and Wheat
Hops:
Cluster
Other:
Natural cranberry and ginger flavors

Food Pairings
The cranberry and ginger flavor profile makes it a great pair for honey-glazed ham, brie cheese or a green salad with tart vinaigrette dressing.

Great With Chai Bellavitano

Beer Stats
ABV: 4.2%
IBU: 11

Samuel Smith's Organic Raspberry Fruit Beer

Samuel Smith's Organic Raspberry Fruit Beer

Relevant Links:
Samuel Smith's Handcrafted Organic Fruit Beers
Samuel Smith's Organic Raspberry Fruit Beer | Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster) (BeerAdvocate.com)
Samuel Smiths Organic Raspberry Fruit Beer (RateBeer.com)
Samuel Smith Organic Raspberry Ale (MerchantduVin.com)

20141219:
This beer delightfully smells like a flavor of jello. Unfortunately, I think it tastes funny. 6:55PM PT

Among Samuel Smith's organic fruit beers I've also tried the Apricot and the Cherry.

Website Information: (Merchant du Vin)
Samuel Smith Organic Raspberry Ale
Rich aromatic organic ale with beautiful raspberry aroma and flavor

The History of Organic Raspberry 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. Raspberry Ale is Certified Organic by the USDA-accredited UK Soil Association.

While there are older breweries in England, it would be safe to say that few breweries are so little changed as this gem at Stamford, which has stood in the center of the 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.

Taste
A dramatic fruit beer with an intense, mouth-watering fruit character derived from the natural acidity of organic raspberries. Slow, complex fermentation lends structure and depth to this special fruit beer. Smooth body, finishes dry, with a soft raspberry note.

Serving Suggestion
Classic roast turkey and stuffing; chicken brochettes; meat or cheese fondue; or spinach salad. Try with fruit salad at brunch.

Accolades
Platinum Medal - "Superlative" - World Beer Championships, 2011
First place, fruit beer category - US Open Beer Championship, 2010

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

Stats
ABV: 5.1% - OG: 1.065 - IBU: 11
Ingredients: Water, organic barley malt, organic wheat malt, organic raspberry juice, organic sugar, organic natural raspberry aroma, organic hops, yeast.

Sierra Nevada / Allagash Myron's Walk

Sierra Nevada / Allagash Myron's Walk

Relevant Links:
Sierra Nevada / Allagash Beer Camp Myron's Walk (RateBeer.com)
Myron's Walk: Belgian-Style Pale Ale (Beer Camp Across America) | Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (BeerAdvocate.com)

20141217:
Citrus smell. Average beer smell. Myrons walk. Very drinkable, somewhat crisp mouthfeel. Some bitterness which rounds the sip out. Noticing some of the citrus flavor. Reading the bittle, apparently there is coriander but I dont know what that would taste like. Hmm, even after several sips, the bitterness is still apparent after every sip. Overall, I don't really like this beer as much as any regular pale ale. 9:34PM PT

Website Information:
Sierra Nevada
Myron's Walk: Belgian-Style Pale Ale
Brewed in collaboration with Allagash Brewing Company
Portland, ME

We named this beer in honor of Myron Avery, a founder of the Appalachian Trail, or the A.T., which starts near Sierra Nevada’s North Carolina brewery and ends near Allagash’s home in Maine. Both breweries have a tremendous love of the outdoors, and Avery and the A.T. are great reminders of the wild spirit of exploration that connects us both.

In 1995, Rob Tod started Allagash Brewing Company and since then, Portland, ME, has been a place of reverence in the Belgian brewing pantheon. Allagash adds their Belgian flair to variety of beer styles and are one of the few American breweries to use a traditional coolship for true spontaneous fermentations leading to seriously complex beers native to their coastal home.

Overview
ABV: 5.3
Beginning Gravity: 11.8
Ending Gravity: 1.8
Bitterness Units: 38

Ingredients
Yeast: Belgian
Bittering Hops: Bravo
Finishing Hobs: Cascade, Citra, Mosaic
Malts: Two-row Pale, Unmalted Wheat, Munich, Victory
Other: Coriander

Tasting Notes
Myron's Walk is a Belgian-style pale ale combining the best of our two breweries. It features intense citrusy flavor and a complex aroma from the use of fruity and resinous whole-cone Citra and Mosaic hops offset by the complex spicy character of Allagash’s house Belgian yeast strain.

Mission Dark Seas

Mission Dark Seas Russian Imperial Stout

Relevant Links:
Dark Seas Russian Imperial Stout (Mission Brewery Website)
Dark Seas | Mission Brewery (BeerAdvocate.com)
Mission Dark Seas Imperial Stout (RateBeer.com)

20141205:
[20150118]
I'm here at Eureka! and before the end of happy hour, I ordered a glass of Mission Dark Seas.

This Dark Seas has a very chocolate smell. Oh wait, it just has a stout smell, but it's nice and solid. Oh, there's some alcohol smell as well.

After all the sniffing, I taste the beer and find it has a strong alcoholic taste. To be more accurate, this Dark Seas is really strong. 6:47PM PT

Note that while drinking this Dark Seas, I was also working on a glass of Ballast Point Sculpin IPA.

Eventually, upon finishing off the two, the strength of the Dark Seas was apparent. I also found it had more of a taste compared to the Sculpin IPA.

While it was my fourth beer of the day (I also had a Pacifico and a Speakeasy Big Daddy IPA), the Dark Seas was also my favorite. 7:00PM PT

Remark: Of this beer I also wrote: "I p8je it." Although it took me some time to figure out what "p8je" was supposed to be, I eventually figured it out. Can you? Here's the layout of my phone's keyboard:

1234567890

QWERTYUIOP

ASDFGHJKL

ZXCVBNM

_,spce.

Hint: At first I thought the word was "love". (scroll to the bottom of this post to find the answer)

Website Information:
Dark Seas
Russian Imperial Stout

9.8% ABV , 75 IBU

Such a nice big beer for so many occasions, Dark Seas will intimidate those not willing to embrace the glory of its magnitude. Black as the darkest night, and full of dark fruit, coffee, and intense chocolate aromas. Dark Seas is sure to please those who choose to discover this wonderful beer.

2012 Bronze Medal, Dark Seas, San Diego International Beer Competition
2012 Silver Medal, Dark Seas, Los Angeles International Beer Commercial Competition
2013 Gold Medal, Dark Seas, Los Angeles International Commercial Beer Competition
2014 Bronze Medal, Dark Seas, Los Angeles International Commercial Beer Competition

Answer: The word "p8je" was supposed to be "like".

Speakeasy Big Daddy IPA

Speakeasy Big Daddy IPA

Relevant Links:
The Usual Suspects (Speakeasy Website)
Big Daddy IPA | Speakeasy Ales & Lagers (BeerAdvocate.com
Speakeasy Big Daddy IPA (RateBeer.com)

20141205:
[20150118]
After drinking a Pacifico, I went on to drinking this Speakeasy Big Daddy IPA.

Overall, I thought it was not bitter. Unfortunately, the taste was also not as happening as most IPAs I've tried.

After finishing this beer, I headed on over to Eureka! with my friends for some fries and more beer (Ballast Point Sculpin IPA and Mission Dark Seas).

Website Information:
BIG DADDY IPA

Big Daddy IPA is a hop-head's delight, a generously dry-hopped yet surprisingly drinkable American-style India Pale Ale. Poured into a standard American pint glass, the beer is a golden straw color, with tight carbonation and a slightly off-white head that leaves a lovely lacing. The aroma is floral, fresh grass, pine needles, grapefruit, and a some subtle notes of fresh bread.

Style – American India Pale Ale
ABV – 6.5% ABV
IBU – 60 IBU
Malt – Two Row Pale, Light Munich
Hops – Columbus, Cascade, Centennial
Availability – Year-round
Formats – Draft, 12oz. & 22oz. bottles

FOOD PAIRINGS

American comfort fare: Big Daddy is the perfect complement to buttermilk fried chicken and biscuits, a wood-fired sausage pizza or the classic bacon cheeseburger.

Bring out the spice: For those with a taste for heat look for Big Daddy's dry, hoppy bite to accent the bold flavors of curry dishes, cajun spice or tacos al pastor.

For a fresh catch: To bring out the aromatic citrus and floral notes pair with grilled salmon or fried calamari.

Drake's 1500 Dry Hopped American Pale Ale

Drake's 1500 Dry Hopped American Pale Ale

Drake's 1500 Dry Hopped American Pale Ale

Relevant Links:
Drake's 1500 (Drake's Website)
Drake's 1500 Pale Ale (BeerAdvocate.com)
Drakes 1500 Pale Ale (RateBeer.com)

20141118: [20141211 Edit]
This Drake's 1500 has a good amount of taste. It's just a little bitter. I like the taste at the start.

It has a standard smell, which is good. Overall, its a good tasting beer. 5:44PM PT

Seen here was Sliver's current rotation of draft beers. Check out what I've
written about them in the past: Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale,
Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen, Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA

Website Information:

DRAKE’S 1500 – DRY HOPPED AMERICAN PALE ALE

A hop-forward American Pale Ale. Loads of Simcoe and Amarillo hops are blended in the fermenter just after fermentation has finished to impart a huge aroma of pine and juicy citrus. Available Year Round.

THE 1500 STORY:
As we approached our 1500th batch in San Leandro, the brewers decided to attempt something different. They set out to make a pale ale with a clean, stripped down malt bill and plenty of late addition hops that would give the beer huge flavors and aromas of bright citrusy American hops without overwhelming the balance with bitterness. The resulting beer packed the aromatic and flavorful hop punch of a West Coast-style IPA at a very easy drinking 5.5% ABV. The brewer and the people loved it. Now 1500 is a Drake’s flagship beer.

FACTS
Malt: American 2-Row Barley, Simpsons Caramalt 30-37
Hops: Bittering- American Bravo; Kettle- Cascade; Whirlpool- Simcoe & Amarillo
Dry-hop: Simcoe & Amarillo
Yeast: White Labs 001
Original Gravity: 12.2 degrees Plato
Alc/Vol: 5.5%
IBUs: 48

Ninkasi Venn

20141113:
This beer named Venn is solid; it's simple, but solid. Perhaps it's one of the better lagers I've had. 11:12PM PT

[20141207 Edit]

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Ninkasi Venn

Relevant Links:
Venn (Ninkasi Brewing Website)
Venn Dortmund-Style Lager (BeerAdvocate.com)
Ninkasi Venn (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Venn

Venn is the definition of balance, where American craft meets European tradition. First brewed in 19th century Dortmund, Germany, the hallmark of this style is its sophisticated symmetry. Brilliantly marrying a perceptible Noble Hop bitterness with a rounded, sweet malt flavor, Venn is golden in color, clean and harmonious.
Tasting Notes
The hallmark of this Dortmund-style pale lager is the balance between perceptible Noble Hop bitterness and rounded malt flavor; making it deliciously easy to drink.

Food Pairings
Sausages, Schnitzels, Spaetzles, Trout, Fondue, Potato Salad

IBU: 25 Bitterness Units
ABV: 5.1% Alcohol % By Volume
OG: 1050 Original Gravity
BORN: 2014 Enjoyed Since
Available: September - December
Malts: Pilsner, Vienna, Carahell, Acidulated
Hops: German Magnum, German Hersbrucker
Packages: 12oz. 6-Pack, On Draft

Bison Organic Honey Basil

20141107:
I came to Sliver for the first time today and in addition to having pizza, I also ordered a pint of Bison Organic Honey Basil. It definitely* has a honey taste. So sweet and so good. 8:01PM PT

*20150221: I figured out today that "eeginiteo4" was intended to be "definitely".

Bison Organic Honey Basil (20150126)

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20150126:
Having forgotten that I already tried the Bison Organic Honey Basil, I returned to Sliver today and ordered another pint of it.

It has a hazy orange color and the head quickly dissipated. It has a sweet smell with what appears to be a mix of honey and orange. There's some slight carbonation in the mouthfeel with a sugary, honey taste. There is, however, a slight bitterness. Overall, it's very refreshing. Unfortunately, I don't detect the basil. The beer leaves a nice lacing on the glass. 6:42PM PT

Bison Organic Honey Basil (20141107)

The beer was really good; I liked the taste. It was like a sweet-tasting pale ale without the typical pale ale taste. Maybe the basil had an underlying effect of the taste. 7:04PM PT

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Bison Organic Honey Basil

Bison Organic Honey Basil (20150126)

Relevant Links:
Honey Basil Ale (Bison Brewing Website)
Bison Organic Honey Basil (BeerAdvocate.com)
Bison Organic Honey Basil (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Honey Basil Ale

Beer brewed with clover honey and fresh whole leaf basil.

Deep copper with amber hues, our Honey Basil Ale is a captivatingly aromatic beer infused with clover honey and fresh whole leaf basil. It is herbaceous, floral and virtually hop-less with soft hints of caramel, a pleasant basil aftertaste, and a crisp, dry finish.

(6.0% abv | 12 IBUS).

Honey Basil Ale is available year-round in 12 oz. 4-packs and draft. For more information on how to locate or order Honey Basil Ale, contact info@bisonbrew.com.

Honey Basil + Food

Pizza-MargheritaDraft Magazine recently featured our Honey Basil Ale in its publication stating that, "If there was ever a beer made for pizza—this is it". And we couldn't agree more! In fact, it is a perfect match for anything that uses basil as an ingredient. From Italian food to Thai cuisine, Honey Basil is one the most dynamic and food friendly beers in the market. Recommended pairings include pizza, pad Thai, ceviche, salads, steamed mussels, shrimp scampi, tomato sauce, pesto, grilled chicken, crème brulée, goat cheese, Burrata, mozzarella. For an interesting twist, substitute Honey Basil Ale for soda water in cocktails. Check out the Honey Basil Gin Fizz or the Honey Basil Julep for recipe ideas!

Lagunitas IPA

20141107:
I wrote: "Lagunitas IPA. This beer tastes real grassy and has a definite bitter taste. The beer is solid, but quite bitter, and so anybody who doesn't like IPAs probably won't like this one." 4:58PM PT

Lagunitas IPA (20141107)

[20141203]

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20141212:
The first few sips have a good taste and then the bitterness begins to make its presence known. 4:20PM PT

The beer seems like it has some chocolate notes. Actually, chocolate is probably the wrong description, but I do find the flavor reminds me of something sweet.

Thinking about the flavor more, perhaps sweet is also the wrong description. Maybe the flavor comes from the hops. I'm confused. 4:25PM PT

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Lagunitas IPA

Lagunitas IPA (20141212)

Relevant Links:
Lagunitas IPA (Lagunitas Website)
Lagunitas IPA (BeerAdvocate.com)
Lagunitas India Pale Ale (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Lagunitas IPA was our first seasonal way back in 1995. The recipe was formulated with malt and hops working together to balance it all out on your 'buds so you can knock back more than one without wearing yourself out. Big on the aroma with a hoppy-sweet finish that'll leave you wantin' another sip.

UNLIMITED RELEASE
ABV: 6.2%
Sold as: 6pks, 12pks, 22oz Bombers & Kegs
Net contents: Ounces and ounces of Malt, Hops, Yeast and water.

Samuel Adams Fat Jack

20141026:
I smell as if there's some nutmeg in here. There might also be some cinnamon. The beer has a very carbonated taste. Its a bit more like the sour type of pumpkin beers. 7:35PM PT

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Samuel Adams Fat Jack

Relevant Links:
Samuel Adams Fat Jack (Samuel Adams Website)
Samuel Adams Fat Jack Double Pumpkin Ale (BeerAdvocate.com)
Samuel Adams Fat Jack Double Pumpkin (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Samuel Adams
Fat Jack

This rich and luscious brew indulges in flavor with over 28 lbs. of pumpkin per barrel, for a full bodied sweetness and deep russet color. Classic pumpkin pie spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice ignite a warmth and spark that’s deepened by an undercurrent of roasty smoked malts. The result is a delectable brew full of enveloping layers of flavor and spice.

HOP VARIETIES: East Kent Goldings and Fuggles
MALT VARIETIES: Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, rye Special B and smoked malt
YEAST STRAIN: Samuel Adams ale yeast
COLOR: Rich copper, SRM: 25
SPECIAL INGREDIENTS: Real pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg & allspice
ALC. BY VOL/WT: 8.5% ABV - 6.6% ABW
IBUs: 25
CAL PER SERVING: 288
AVAILABILITY: Limited

THE TOOLS
Making favorite fall flavors richer, fuller, and thoroughly satisfying. We began with a pumpkin ale and then doubled its pumpkin, spices, and strength. Fat Jack’s smoothness and richness comes from its abundance of roasted malts, including a hint of smoked malt for a further roasty dimension, and pounds of real pumpkin. These decadent flavors are given an added kick and warmth from familiar fall spices of like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice and strength for a hearty fall treat with a full bodied sweetness and deep russet color.

THE TRADE
For years we have been brewing pumpkin ale for our Halloween party using local pumpkins. We found that the richness and smoothness of the roasted malts and pumpkin could be brought to a new level for a much stronger brew. We use over 28 pounds of real pumpkin to give Samuel Adams® Fat Jack a deep smoothness, full body and authentic pumpkin flavor.

THE LEGACY
Pumpkin Ale is one of the oldest styles to originate in America. When New England colonists lacked some beer ingredients they turned to what they could find or grow themselves. In place of malt they used other fermentable sugars like molasses, sweet potato, or pumpkin. Alas, pumpkin beers weren’t too popular since the pumpkin was used for its sugar alone rather than its flavor. Today, pumpkins, along with other pumpkin pie spices, are used in addition to malt to create these fall favorites. Craft brewers have also taken these to the next level by creating double or imperial versions, amping up the strength, flavor, and spice.

Blue Moon Cinnamon Horchata Ale

20141026:
This Blue Moon Cinnamon Horchata was good! The first sip was deliciously sweet. However, it sort of fades away as the drink goes on. In any case, the beer definitely has an horchata flavor! 6:23 PM PT

Blue Moon Cinnamon Horchata Ale - Bottle

[20141129]

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201411??:
I had a second bottle somewhere during this time. While I didn't take any notes, I recall the experience was the same as my first experience with the beer.

[20141129]

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Blue Moon Cinnamon Horchata Ale - Box

20141128:
"This Blue Moon Cinnamon Horchata tasted, as before, sweet. The initial sips, however, I think due to the food I was eating (chicken and salad), was a bit bitter. Overall, the I thought the beer was delicious." 1:17AM PT

[20141129]

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Blue Moon Cinnamon Horchata Ale

Blue Moon Cinnamon Horchata Ale - Label on the Back of the Bottle

Relevant Links:
Cinnamon Horchata Ale (Blue Moon Website)
Horchata (Wikipedia.org)
Blue Moon Cinnamon Horchata (BeerAdvocate.com)
Blue Moon Cinnamon Horchata (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Cinnamon Horchata Ale

History:
Cinnamon Horchata Ale, mucho gusto.
For this beer, our brewmaster reached back to his roots and found inspiration in the traditional agua de horchata. Our cinnamon-spiced ale is his interpretation of this delicious Latin beverage. It’s brewed with natural long-grain rice for a creamy texture to complement flavors of cinnamon, making it the perfect treat for a get-together with friends.

Ingredients and Profile:

• Malts: 2-row pale malt and long grain rice
• Hops: Sterling Hops
• Our Twist: This isn’t a classic beer style. We took a traditional Mexican non-alcoholic drink and made it into a refreshing beer.
• IBUs: 10
• Original Gravity: 13.8
• ABV: 5.5%

Glassware: We recommend pouring Cinnamon Horchata Ale in our signature Blue Moon® glass to accentuate its color and allow room for a creamy, white head.
Appearance: Unfiltered Ale with a remarkable golden color. Pours with a creamy, white head.
Aroma: A rich cinnamon aroma followed by subtle sweet notes.
Taste: Fresh cinnamon tastes balanced with a caramel maltiness.
Mouthfeel: The long-grain rice gives the beer a, creamy, medium body.
Finish: Light cinnamon notes gradually fade.

Food Pairing:
The creamy texture, and notes of cinnamon will bring out the flavors in semi-soft cheeses like Fontina, Vanilla and custard desserts, crepes with apples, or anything with chocolate.

Bison Organic Chocolate Stout

20141010:
This beer has a solid stout smell.

It also has a very carbonated mouthfeel.

I find it hard to detect more than a generic stout taste.

If anything, it has more of a coffee taste than a chocolate taste.

Overall, the beer is solid and the fizzy mouthfeel drops off, which to me is a good thing. 7:38PM PT

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Bison Organic Chocolate Stout

Relevant Links:
Chocolate Stout (Bison Brewing)
Bison Organic Chocolate Stout (BeerAdvocate.com)
Bison Organic Chocolate Stout (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Chocolate Stout

The Original Chocolate Stout, brewed with Peruvian cocoa.

Like Barry White’s voice in a bottle, Bison’s Chocolate Stout is a dark, slow-pouring aphrodisiac of the smoothest proportions. Rich and roasty with charismatic flavors of dark chocolate and espresso, and creamy, dry finish. (5.0% abv | 20 IBUS).

Chocolate Stout is available year-round in 12 oz. 6-packs and draft. For more information on how to locate or order Chocolate Stout, contact info@bisonbrew.com.

Chocolate Stout + Food

back-ribs-sl-1646464-xEarthy, roasty and rich, Chocolate Stout pairs extremely well with grilled dark meats, mushroom-based dishes and sauces, pungent cheeses and rich desserts. It is also our favorite beer to use in the kitchen. There is something super magical about our Chocolate Stout that makes it a fantastic tenderizer for meat — especially short ribs. It adds amazing texture and flavor when baked into bread and also makes for a bad-ass ice cream. But, our most famous recipe, by far, is our Chocolate Stout Baked Mac & Cheese. Recommended pairings include oysters, grilled meats, short ribs, pulled pork, bacon, mushrooms, stews, quinoa, baked mac & cheese, chocolate, cheesecake, Gorgonzola, Stilton, Maytag Blue.

Environmental Impact

Bison strives to lead by example, educating that one not need sacrifice the pleasures of every day living to be green. Mindful of our carbon footprint, we strive to reduce our business and personal impacts.

Chocolate Stout is brewed with 100% certified organic hops, malts and cocoa. Restaurants and bars choosing to sell just one 15.5-gallon keg of organic beer per week causes a farmer to convert one football field of farmland from conventional to organic agriculture. That is a HUGE impact, and we have the numbers to prove it!

Firestone Walker Pale 31

20141006:
From the bottle, this beer has a berry-like smell. It definitely tastes like an ale.

I sensed the bitterness on the second sip; it's a persistent bitterness. This might be because I haven't had a beer in a while. 6:06PM PT

Firestone Walker Pale 31 - Bottle and Beer in Glass (20141215)

[20141119]

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20141215:
Firestone Pale 31 has a sour smell to it. Actually, perhaps "sour" is inaccurate, maybe its the smell of the hops?

In any case, the beer has a carbonated mouth feel, more so than most other beers I've had recently. In addition, it has an interesting taste; something makes it taste slightly different from other pale ales. 10:59PM PT

While the beer dominantly tastes good and goes down easy from the beginning to the middle of each sip, the end of every sip leaves a subtle bitterness in my mouth. As such, only the bitter aftertaste disrupts the overall experience.

Firestone Walker Pale 31 - Bottle (20141006)

Randomly I would note that the beer doesn't leave a sugary coating (I suppose I was thinking of malty brown ales for some reason).

It should also be noted that burping gives a flowery taste. Thinking about it more, it tastes like complex, Belgian beers which are sweet. As such, I would conclude there's a decent amount of sugars in the beer, but either not enough to leave a sugary coating or not enough to overtake the bitterness. 11:13PM PT

Remark: This is the first time I used my newly bought Firestone glass. The only other time I've drank a brand of beer in its corresponding branded glass (not in a bar) is with Ommegang (Hennepin, Three Philosophers). Unfortunately, that poor glass got crushed on its transition from Maryland to California. 11:01PM PT

Firestone Walker Pale 31 - Beer in Glass, Half Empty (20141215)

[20141229 Edit]

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Firestone Walker Pale 31

Relevant Links:
Pale 31 (Firestone Walker Brewing Company)
Firestone Walker Pale 31 (BeerAdvocate.com)
Firestone Walker Pale 31 (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

pale 31

california pale ale

A tribute to our home state of California – the 31st to be added to the Union. Beautiful floral and citrus hop aromas greet the nose with undertones of lightly toasted malt. Crisp pale and crystal malts offer a hint of sweetness. Subtle hop bitterness offers a refreshing finish. Perfect for a sunny California day at the beach or BBQ with friends, Pale 31 represents the bold yet approachable spirit that embodies our state.

REMEMBER: Watch for bottled on dates located on the necks or bottom left corner of the label for each of our beers. Our beer is not pasteurized, so it is best when stored at 44F or below, out of light and within 120 days of the bottled on date...this ensures freshness and ultimately a great Firestone Walker beer!

brew notes

style: California Style Pale Ale
abv: 4.9%
ibu: 38
color: 7SRM
fermentation: Selectively fermented in the Firestone Union oak barrel brewing system
malts: Premium Two-Row, Maris Otter Pale, Munich, Crystal
hops: Bittering—Fuggle; Late Kettle—Cascade, Centennial, Chinnok; Dry Hops—Cascade, Centennial, Chinook
availability: 6 pack & draft (13.3g/5.2g)

The Macallan 12 Years Old

20140930:
The Macallan 12 Years Old on the rocks.

This Macallan smells lighter, and has less of an apple juice scent than the Johnnie Walker Black Label.

The drink was okay upon first contact, but then the spice and burn hits.

The second sip was easier than the first. 7:15PM PT

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The Macallan 12 Years Old *
*The Macallan distillery makes a 12 year old whisky aged in fine oak and a 12 year old whisky aged in fine sherry casks. I'm guessing the one I had was aged in sherry oak (based on color and taste).

Relevant Links:
The Macallan 12 Years Old (Macallan Website)
The Macallan distillery (Wikipedia.org)

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Website Information:

Colour: Rich gold
ABV: 40% (USA 43%)
Nose: Vanilla with a hint of ginger, dried fruits, sherry sweetness and wood smoke
Palate: Deliciously smooth, rich dried fruits and sherry balanced with wood smoke and spice
Finish: Sweet toffee and dried fruits, with wood smoke and spice

Johnnie Walker Black Label

20140930:
Johnnie Walker Black on the rocks.

(20160827)

It smells like apple juice to me. However, it definitely doesn't taste like apple juice.

Instead, it taste really strong to me. While it gets a little lighter as the ice melts, the drink still has a spice to it.

Having tried very few whiskies, I didn't really enjoy this cup of Johnnie Walker until the end.

(20160828)

I'm quite tipsy from it. 7:03PM PT

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20160827:
Today I drank some Johnnie Walker Black neat. It was smooth with a strong spice.

I poured some more and added two drops of water using an ice cube. I felt like it was easier to drink. Without the two drops of water there was simply too much spice! 5:38PM CT

[20160915 Quick Edit]

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20160828, 31:
I definitely had some more the next day (20160828) and the day we left for the airport (20160831).

(20140930)

It's possible I had some on the days in between, but there's no text or photo record of such.

[20160915]

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Johnnie Walker Black Label

(20160827)

Relevant Links:
Johnnie Walker Black Label (Johnnie Walker Website)
Johnnie Walker (Wikipedia.org)

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Website Information:

Johnnie Walker
Black Label
Regarded by experts as the ultimate Scotch deluxe whisky, the benchmark by which all others are measured. With its origins in the 1870s Old Special Highland Whisky, Johnnie Walker Black Label simply became "Black Label" in 1909.

[A lot of information omitted]

It can be enjoyed on its own, with a dash of still or sparkling water, or with soda or ginger ale as a long drink.

[A lot of information omitted]