Ommegang Game of Thrones Three-Eyed Raven

Ommegang Game of Thrones Three-Eyed Raven

Relevant Links:
Game of Thrones Three-Eyed Raven (Ommegang Website)
Game Of Thrones: Three-Eyed Raven | Brewery Ommegang (BeerAdvocate.com)
Ommegang Game of Thrones #5 - Three-Eyed Raven (RateBeer.com)

20150725: [20150903]
I thought this beer smelled strong (alcoholic fumes). Michael said it smelled like a normal dark beer. Afterwards I picked up scents of bread and wheat.

Josh didn't like it. He thought it tasted weird. It's possible this was due to the beer not being cold enough.

In any case, there was a slight banana taste. 20150726 12:30AM PT

Website Information:
GAME OF THRONES

THREE-EYED RAVEN

FROM THE DARKNESS I WATCH YOU. ALL OF YOU, ALL OF YOUR LIVES, WITH A THOUSAND EYES, AND ONE.

Push through the thick brambles and present yourself to the Three-Eyed Raven. Abiding in the shadows of the Three-Eyed Raven lies this deceptive Dark Saison. The ominous Three-Eyed Raven inspired us to brew a Dark Saison ale, a hybrid style open to brewer’s imagination. In the end it is neither a pure saison nor your typical dark beer, but instead a delectable blend that both deceives and thrills the senses.

Three-Eyed Raven makes for perfect season premiere pairing.

On sale April 2015, available in 750ml bottles and 1/6 barrel kegs.

TASTING NOTES
Three-Eyed Raven harbors a deep dark brown, almost jet-black color with a light tan head. Yeast forward aromas are packed with peppery phenolics and fruity esters. Despite what you might expect from a dark hued beer, the flavor brings to mind a traditional saison: a light, malty body with a hint of sweetness, and roast accentuated by herbal and spicy hops, yet underpinned by pleasant yeastiness. Finish is crisp, with lingering notes of herbal hops and Belgian yeast.

Malt: Our carefully crafted mixture of specialty malts.
Sugar: Dark Candi
Hops: Hallertau Spalt Select, Tettenang and Bravo
Spices: None
ABV: 7.2%
Available on draft and in 750ml bottles.

Pair with roasted chicken and pork, barbeque and other spicy dishes, grilled vegetables, goat cheese and smoked gouda.

King Harbor Abel Brown

20150725:
After having the King Harbor The Quest w/Citra, my friends and I split a bottle of King Harbor Abel Brown.

Michael started by commenting, "It smells like coffee," to which I said with a smile, "Because it is."

Giving the beer a whiff of my own, I thought it had a malty, coffee smell.

As for the taste, Michael thought it tasted like coffee without a beer taste, Josh liked the taste, and I also liked the taste. I found the beer had a watery mouthfeel. However, my taste buds were a off. 11:42PM PT

[20150725][20160925 Edit]

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King Harbor Abel Brown

Relevant Links:
Abel Brown (King Harbor Website)
Abel Brown | King Harbor Brewing Co. (BeerAdvocate.com)
King Harbor Abel Brown (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Abel Brown

Availability: Year Round
The Beer: Abel Brown (aka the breakfast beer, aka the dark beer brewed for the beach) is an American style brown ale that is blended with a cold brew, medium roast, single source, Arabica bean coffee. The aroma is fresh roasted coffee. The taste is a balance of coffee and mild chocolate/toasted characters with a subtle cinnamon note on the end. Abel Brown delivers all of the flavors of a stout or porter, but in the medium body and clean finish of a brown ale.

The Story: Abel Brown is a character in an old sea shanty about a sailor trying to convince a fair maiden to let him crash at her house. We assume that Abel had a few pints before the story begins and he probably needed to keep his palate wet while the story goes on, but he also couldn’t get too drunk since he knew this was going to be a long mission. So we made the educated guess that his brew of choice would have been a lower ABV, coffee blended ale, that didn’t weigh him down and kept him feeling refreshed. Cheers to you Abel Brown!

ABV: 4.7%
Pairings: smoked ribs & bbq sauce, doughnuts, long beach beef jerky co., warm days when you're craving a stout, candy bars
Recommended Glassware: Pint
Tasting Notes: iced coffee, mild roastiness, chocolate, clean finish

King Harbor The Quest w/ Citra

20150725: [20150903]
The Quest w/ Citra had a nice grassy smell. Going along with the smell was a hoppy taste.

Josh found it super hoppy and didn't like it (Josh dislikes extremely hoppy beers). Michael didn't like it either.

Steve, however, said it tasted good and "very orange".

Indeed! (I burped and tasted the orange flavor)

With that being said, the bitterness - a grapefruit-type of bitterness - was a bit more than what I am capable of enjoying. 11:25PM PT

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King Harbor The Quest w/ Citra

Relevant Links:
The Quest (series) (King Harbor Website)
The Quest - Citra | King Harbor Brewing Co. (BeerAdvocate.com)
King Harbor The Quest-Citra (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

The Quest (series)

Availability: Year Round
Style: Pale Ale
The Beer: The Quest single hop pale ale is a year round release with a rotating twist. While the grain bill remains constant the single hop will change several times through out the year creating a unique experience by showcasing different hop profiles and pairing them with a subtle fruit addition. This is our way of creating a great beer that showcases and emphasizes the awesome flavors of totally radical hops.

[...]
Citra – Born May 2015

Note: Appearance may change slightly between beers depending on a multitude of things. Feel free to contact us with questions about a specific version if you want to know why it is the way it is. Enjoy!

The Story: This beer is a journey, not a destination. It is the journal of our search for new and awesome hops. There are so many new varieties coming out that it would be a sin to blend them all into hoppy beers and never be able to experience what each one has to offer. This beer could also be easily done as a pilot only for us to personally enjoy and learn from, but we wanted to share this experience with you. Join us in learning about new hops, comparing hop profiles, and ultimately finding out which ones you love.

ABV: 5.9%
Pairings: baja fish tacos, pineapple fried rice, grabbing beers w/friends, adventures, ipanema salad, grilling tri-tip with a Dodger's game on
Recommended Glassware: Pint
Tasting Notes: bright hop aroma/flavor, subtle bready malt, clean hop bitterness, dry finish

Valiant Criterion

Valiant Criterion

Relevant Links:
Criterion (Valient Brewing Website)
Valiant Criterion (RateBeer.com)
Criterion | Valiant Brewing Co. (BeerAdvocate.com)

20150724: [20150901]
My friend and I went to the Orange County Fair today and we each got a beer. I got the Ninkasi Total Domination and he got the Valiant Criterion.

The Valiant Criterion had a very bright taste - citrusy, not sour. I thought it was really good (and I might have tried too much).

While Josh agreed that it was good, he also felt it lacked the quality of other amber beers which he enjoys. He also noted that it was more acidic than most ambers.

Website Information:
Criterion

Style: Belgian Amber, 5.6% ABV, 26 IBU

Criterion is a mosaic of flavors. Brewed with Wildflower Honey and Rye Malt. Clean malt aroma with a light wildflower honey, spicy and fruity notes. Flavor is both floral and spicy with a distinct rye profile that comes through mid-palate. The finish is dry with a low bitterness.

Awards:
Silver – US Open in Atlanta 2014

Ninkasi Total Domination

Ninkasi Total Domination

Relevant Links:
Total Domination (Ninkasi Website)
Total Domination IPA | Ninkasi Brewing Company (BeerAdvocate.com)
Ninkasi Total Domination IPA (RateBeer.com)

20150724: [20150901]
My friend and I went to the Orange County Fair today and we each got a beer. I got the Ninkasi Total Domination and he got the Valiant Criterion.

Of the Ninkasi Total Domination, I noted it had a bitter, grassy taste.

But other than that, I liked the citrusy taste of the Criterion (26 IBU) more than the bitter taste of the Total Domination (65 IBU).

Bottle Caps: Criterion (left), Total Domination (right)

Website Information:
Total Domination

Multiple hops collide in balanced perfection, dominating the senses and achieving total satisfaction. From the Pacific Northwest, birthplace of the modern IPA, comes a beer whose name says it all.

Tasting Notes
Total Domination IPA has a citrusy, floral hop aroma, and big hop flavor balanced with a richness imparted by Carahell and Munich malts. This beer is a big flavorful Northwest IPA that maintains its drinkability, and as such, has garnered great admiration from the novice craft drinker and the seasoned hop-head alike.

Food Pairings
Poultry, Seafood, Sharp Cheeses, Spicy Mexican or Thai Foods

IBU: 65 Bitterness Units
ABV: 6.7% Alcohol % By Volume
OG: 1067 Original Gravity
BORN: 2006 Enjoyed Since

Available: Year-round
Malts: 2-Row Pale, Munich, Carahell
Hops: Summit, Amarillo, Crystal
Packages: 12oz. 6-Pack, 22oz. Bottle, 22oz. Variety 4-Pack, On Draft, 12oz. Variety 12-Pack, 12oz. 12-Pack

Elysian Superfuzz Blood Orange Pale

Elysian Superfuzz Blood Orange Pale

Relevant Links:
Superfuzz Blood Orange Pale (Elysian Website)
Superfuzz Blood Orange Pale Ale | Elysian Brewing Company (BeerAdvocate.com)
Elysian Superfuzz Blood Orange Pale (RateBeer.com)

20150723: [20150829]
This beer smelled nice. At first it just tasted like an average pale ale, but then it mostly had a tangerine taste. Maybe this is what blood oranges taste like? I couldn't really remember the taste of a blood orange.

My dad said he liked the smell of this one. 11:02PM PT

Website Information:
SUPERFUZZ
BLOOD ORANGE PALE

Call it Orangesploitation

STYLE: Blood Orange Pale Ale
BODY: Medium
TASTING NOTES: Is a mind-bending whirl of the aromas and flavors of blood orange and Northwest hops.

MALTS: Pale and Munich
HOPS: Bittered with German Northern Brewer and Cascade hops and finished with Citra and Amarillo

ABV: 5.4%
IBUs: 45

AVAILABILITY: Summer Seasonal (APR – JUL) — Draft, 22 oz bottles, Six Packs/12oz bottles

Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout

Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout

Relevant Links:
Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout (Rogue Website)
Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout Beer (RateBeer.com)
Sriracha Hot Stout | Rogue Ales (BeerAdvocate.com)

20150722: [20150829]
So I gave this beer a whiff and mostly detected a stout smell. My friend Josh felt he could sort of smell the Sriracha. I could, however, definitely taste the beer's spiciness. Not entirely familiar with the taste of Srircha, I placed the taste similar to other stouts with a chili pepper taste (e.g. Elysian Peste Chocolate Chili Ale). Tasting a small sample, he also tasted the spiciness. 20150723 12:53AM PT

The next day, my dad further commented that he thought this beer didn't taste good, just spicy. 20150723 11:02PM PT

Website Information:

ROGUE SRIRACHA HOT STOUT

TASTING NOTES:
STYLE: Stout
FOOD PAIRING: Spicy
TASTING NOTES: Ready to drink with soups, sauces, pasta, pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, chow mein, or anything you'd like to wash down with a spicy kick. #SrirachaStout
INGREDIENTS: Huy Fong original hot chili sauce and sun ripened Rogue Farms ingredients.

Dedicated to the Rooster
750ml bottle / 15° Plato / 5.7% ABV / 55 IBU / 77 AA / 118° L

AWARDS:
2015 World Beer Championships, Gold

HISTORY:
Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout Beer is a collision of crafts with Huy Fong Foods, the world-renowned brand behind the iconic Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce.

Victory Sour Monkey

Victory Sour Monkey

Relevant Links:
Sour Monkey (Victory Website)
Sour Monkey | Victory Brewing Company (BeerAdvocate.com)
Victory Sour Monkey (RateBeer.com)

20150722: [20150827]
My friends and I went to Eureka! today and I ordered a beer flight. Fourth from the left was Victory Sour Monkey.

Beer Flight @ Eureka!:
Bottle Logic Goldzilla
Lagunitas Equinox
Lagunitas CitruSinensis Pale Ale
Victory Sour Monkey

Appearance: [1] [2] [3] [4] Last, but not least, the Sour was clear and yellow in color.
Smell: [1] [2] [3] [4] The Sour had a more lemony smell.
Taste 1: [1] [2] [3] [4] Finally, the Sour had a sour smell and definitely had a sour taste. 9:58PM PT [F]
Taste 2: [1] [4] Realizing that the Sour was lighter than the Equinox, I drank the Sour after the Goldzilla. It has a tasty sourness. [3] [2] 10:12PM PT
Taste 3: [1] [4] The Sour was a solid sour. [3] [2] 10:19PM PT

[20150827] Apparently this beer is based on Victory Golden Monkey.

Website Information:
Sour Monkey

Sour Brett Tripel

This electrifying transformation of our famed Golden Monkey may just blow your mind. Tastefully twisted to offer nuances of sweet fruit and a sharp tang of tartness, this exhilarating combination of flavors makes this brew a Monkey all its own. Respect the Monkey and Taste Victory!

Composition
Malt: Pilsner
Hops: Tettnang Tettnang
ABV: 9.5%

Flavor
Aroma is very varied with lemon, sour, and mild brettanomyces notes. Flavor follows with a tart acidity. Not dry as it finishes with a malty grain flavor.

Availability
Available seasonally in 750ml bottles.

Lagunitas CitruSinensis Pale Ale

20150722:
My friends and I went to Eureka! today and I ordered a beer flight. Third from the left was Lagunitas CitruSinensis Pale Ale..

Beer Flight @ Eureka!:
Bottle Logic Goldzilla
Lagunitas Equinox
Lagunitas CitruSinensis Pale Ale
Victory Sour Monkey

Appearance: [1] [2] [3] The CitruSinesis was orange and not as cloudy as the Equinox. [4]
Smell: [1] [2] [3] The CitruSinesis smelled as hoppy as the Equinox smelled, but had less of an orange smell. [4]
Taste 1: [1] [2] [3] Anyways, the CitruSinesis had a brighter taste. [4] 9:58PM PT [F]
Taste 2: [1] [4] [3] The CitruSinesis tasted hoppy with a light orange flavor. [2] 10:12PM PT
Taste 3: [1] [4] [3] The CitruSinesis was a solid pale ale. [2] 10:19PM PT

[20150827]

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Lagunitas CitruSinensis Pale Ale

Relevant Links:
CitruSinesis (Lagunitas Website)
Lagunitas CitruSinensis Pale Ale (RateBeer.com)
CitruSinensis (OneHitter Series) | Lagunitas Brewing Company (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

CITRUSINENSIS PALE ALE

brewed with natural blood orange flavors

We took some fresh Sanguinello Blood oranges, juiced 'em, concentrated that juice (without heat) and threw it into a wheatier version of our New Dogtown Pale Ale. The end result? A refreshingly hopped pale-ish ale with a huge citrus burst!

ABV: 7.9
O.G.: tbd
IBU: tbd
Availability: June
Introduced: 2015
Sold As: 6pack, keg

The man bent over his guitar, a shearsman of sorts. The day was green. They said, 'You have a blue guitar, you do not play things as they are.' The man replied, 'Things as they are / Are changed upon the blue guitar.' And they said then, 'But play, you must, a tune beyond us, yet ourselves, a tune upon the blue guitar of things exactly as they are.' He sighs, I cannot bring a world quite round, although I patch it as I can. I sing a hero's head, large eye and bearded bronze, but not a man, although I patch him as I can and reach through him almost to man. If to serenade almost to man is to miss, by that, things as they are, say it is the serenade of a man that plays a blue guitar..." These, the words of the Conjurer-in-Chief; Wallace Stevens, describe in perfect detail the work of a brewer as he sits to write a new recipe. Perfection is the goal, to fill a desire for a perfect beer. Yet the instrument of his mind and that of the brewhouse and yeast are the fallible tools at hand. And so he patches it as he can. A little hop here, a little citrus there, a yeast to marry the two, the worty substrate of reality calling the key and time signature. The beer that comes will be the beer we drink, the beer whose story we will tell here. The brewer does what he can and imagines a world quite round. Conjurer-in-Chief Stevens concludes; "Exceeding music must take the place of empty heaven and its hymns." What does it all have to do with beer?

Lagunitas Equinox

Lagunitas Equinox

Relevant Links:
Equinox (Lagunitas Website)
Bottle Logic Goldzilla (RateBeer.com)
Equinox Ale | Lagunitas Brewing Company (BeerAdvocate.com)

20150722: [20150827]
My friends and I went to Eureka! today and I ordered a beer flight. Second on the left was Lagunitas Equinox.

Beer Flight @ Eureka!:
Bottle Logic Goldzilla
Lagunitas Equinox
Lagunitas CitruSinensis Pale Ale
Victory Sour Monkey

Appearance: [1] [2] The Equinox is not as cloudy as the Goldzilla, but has a similar orange hue. [3] [4]
Smell: [1] [2] The Equinox had a hoppy smell. [3] [4]
Taste 1: [1] [2] The Equinox had a refreshing, hoppy taste. Thinking about it, I probably should have drank the CitruSinesis and the Sour first. [3] [4] 9:58PM PT [F]
Taste 2: [1] [4] [3] [2] The Equinox is much more grassy in comparison to the other three beers. 10:12PM PT
Taste 3: [1] [4] [3] [2] Finally, the Equinox was a solid IPA. 10:19PM PT

Website Information:
EQUINOX

First Brewed in 1995...

A creamy, pale oat ale hopped up with a huge charge of Equinox and Simcoe hops for a piney, eucalyptus, cedar, sprucey, forest blast. First brewed in 1995... brewed today in a time of change.

ABV: 8.
O.G.: 1.078
IBU: 50
Availability: MAR - JUN
Introduced: 1995
Sold As: 22oz, keg

Qan you imagine a world without Beer? Everything ewe gnoe would be different. Phish might phly, daugs might uze power touls. Pfriedae nights mite be spent building treez out of the day after tomorrow's pstale sour qreem and cheaze leavings. And then their'd bea the speling iszuues. Thingss wood bee just plane wierd, eye meene weird. Come two thinq of itt, Eye think aya cood stand beain a liddl bit hapier write gnau... (glug, glug, glug... gulp.) Mmm, aah! Once again all is right with the world, the fish are in their ocean, the dog will not maim me, I'll have a date for Friday night, and I know for sure that in fact God loves me. Beer. You only borrow it.

Bottle Logic Goldzilla

Bottle Logic Goldzilla

Relevant Links:
Bottle Logic Goldzilla (RateBeer.com)
Goldzilla | Bottle Logic Brewing (BeerAdvocate.com)

20150722: [20150827]
My friends and I went to Eureka! today and I ordered a beer flight. First on the left was Bottle Logic Goldzilla.

Beer Flight @ Eureka!:
Bottle Logic Goldzilla
Lagunitas Equinox
Lagunitas CitruSinensis Pale Ale
Victory Sour Monkey

Appearance: [1] The Goldzilla was very cloudy and orange. [2] [3] [4]
Smell: [1] The Goldzilla had an orange/wheat smell. [2] [3] [4]
Taste 1: [1] The Goldzilla had a carbonated mouthfeel and a banana taste. I like this banana taste. [2] [3] [4] 9:58PM PT [F]
Taste 2: [1] Making second rounds, The Goldzilla seemed to have lost the banana taste. With that being said, it was still good. [4] [3] [2] 10:12PM PT
Taste 3: [1] The Goldzilla was a solid beer. [4] [3] [2] 10:19PM PT

Stone RuinTen IPA

Stone RuinTen IPA*
*Now known as Stone RuinTen Triple IPA

Relevant Links:
RuinTen (Stone Brewing Website)
Stone RuinTen IPA | Stone Brewing Co. (BeerAdvocate.com)
Stone RuinTen IPA (RateBeer.com)

20150722: [20150825]
So my dad decided to open one of the 22 ounce Stone bottles and whichever one he opened, its clear that it aged a whole lot. In particular, it has an extremely strong alcohol taste. Actually, it's more of a burning sensation than a taste. 1:05AM PT

Website Information: (as of 20150826)
STONE RUINTEN TRIPLE IPA

HOP VARIETY: MAGNUM, CENTENNIAL & CITRA
STYLE: TRIPLE IPA
ALC/VOL: 10.8%
IBUS: 110

Bottled in 2014.

We first released this decidedly indelicate beer in 2012 as Stone Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our belovedly bitter Stone Ruination IPA. Stone RuinTen Triple IPA uses the same recklessly hoppy recipe as the 2012 release; only the name has been changed to include "Triple," which helps describe the over-the-top hop profile and elevated alcohol by volume. We packed a whopping five pounds of hops into each barrel, and cranked up the ABV to stand up to the hop onslaught. The results are glorious, and we know you’ll rejoice in tasting this audacious gem of hoppy splendor. You’re welcome. Again.

Maui Brewing CoCoNut PorTeR

20150720:
Today I went to Slater's 50/50 with my friends and to drink I ordered a beer flight. After I tasted each of the beers in the flight once, I also gave my friend Josh's CoCoNut PorTeR a taste.

(20170514)

According to the menu, it's an American Porter and the brewery is located in Lahaina, Hawaii.

I could smell a bit of the alcohol, and perhaps a bit of the coconut. I was, however, surprised at the presence of coconut in the beer's taste.

After trying the CoCoNut PorTer, I went on to try Michael's drink, Barley Forge The Patsy.

[20150821 Edit][Part of Beer Flight at Slater's 50/50 (20150720)] [CoCoNut PorTeR]

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20170514:
Oh wow, this Coconut Hiwa Porter had an amazing malt taste. I didn't taste any coconut though. It tasted smooth, especially considering I haven't had many beers lately. 4:30AM PT

(20150720)

[20170725 Edit] [Coconut Hiwa Porter]

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20180715:
Today I decided to drink this old can of Coconut Hiwa Porter. It smelled like cocoa and it might have smelled like coconut. It was flat, but surprising had a good taste despite being over a year old. 6:43 PM PT

[20181223] [Coconut Hiwa Porter]

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Maui Brewing Coconut Hiwa Porter*
*Formerly Maui Brewing CoCoNut PorTeR

Relevant Links:
Coconut Hiwa Porter (Maui Brewing Website)
Maui Brewing Coconut Hiwa Porter (RateBeer.com)
Coconut Hiwa Porter | Maui Brewing Co. (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information: (as of 20170726)

COCONUT HIWA PORTER
A robust dark ale with hand-toasted coconut & hints of mocha.

ABV 6.0 | IBU 30

Nutritional Information (Per 12 oz)
Calories: 183 kcal
Protein: 2 g
Carbohydrates: 16 g
Sodium: 10 mg
Sugars: 0 g

Total Fat: 0 g
Saturated Fat: 0 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Dietary Fiber: 2 g

Website Information: (as of 20150821)

CoCoNut PorTeR
...Like Hot Chicks On The Beach

Our CoCoNut PorTeR is a fresh handcrafted robust Porter brewed with six varieties of malted barley, hops and hand-toasted coconut. It begins with a malty-toasted coconut aroma followed by a rich, silky feel with tastes of dark malt, chocolate and hints of coffee. It then finishes with flavors of toasted coconut and hoppy spice to balance the finish.

ABV 6.0 | IBU 30

Saint Archer Coffee Cream Porter

20150720:
Today I went to Slater's 50/50 with my friends and to drink I ordered a beer flight.

Smell: This beer definitely smelled like coffee. I also noted its thick head.
Color: Simple to distinguish from the rest, the Saint Archer Coffee Cream Porter appeared black.
Taste 1: Before tasting the beer, I gave it another whiff and found it had a bit of a toasty and/or nutty smell. I liked that the beer tasted like it had some substance to it (the opposite of a watery beer). I guess I should say I liked the beer's perceived viscosity.
Taste 2: The beer no longer tasted as creamy or thick as it did before. But I've also had (?)*
Taste 3: Saving the best for last, the Coffee Cream Porter still tasted like coffee. Furthermore, it had an easy taste (drinkable). Inspecting all four glasses, the Coffee Cream Porter was the only one with lacing.

*Possibly "too much to drink" considering I never finished the sentence. Of course, I didn't have to drive.

[20150821 Edit][20190320 Edit][Part of Beer Flight at Slater's 50/50 (20150720)]

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Saint Archer Coffee Cream Porter

Relevant Links:
Coffee Cream Porter | Saint Archer Brewing Co. (BeerAdvocate.com)
Saint Archer Coffee Cream Porter (RateBeer.com)

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Commercial Description:
(Available on Draft)

ABV: 6.2%

For our sophomore offering in our Nitro series, we wanted exploit that nitro creaminess, so we created our Coffee Cream Porter. We chose a Bolivian coffee with our friends from Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, which lends itself to a nougaty milk chocolate and toasted praline character. Layered with chocolate, crystal and Maris Otter malts, vanilla beans from Madagascar and lactose for that delightful creamy mouthfeel, this beer is the sweet porter that leaves you wanting dessert, especially if that dessert is another pint.

Beach City Beach de Garde

20150720:
Today I went to Slater's 50/50 with my friends and to drink I ordered a beer flight.

Smell: In comparison to the Hangar 24 Belgian Summer Ale, the Beach de Garde had a darker, more mellow smell.
Color: In addition, it appeared to have an orange or perhaps red color.
Taste 1: After drinking some water, I tasted the Beach de Garde and noted it was stronger, i.e., it had a more alcoholic taste to it, than the Anderson Valley Summer Solstice.
Taste 2: Coming around to all the beers for a second taste, I found the Beach de Garde was the most unpleasant.
Taste 3: After finishing the Belgian Summer Ale, I decided to finish the Beach de Garde so I could end with the Summer Solstice and Saint Archer Coffee Cream Porter. While still the most unpleasant, it was easier to drink than before.

[20150821 Edit][Part of Beer Flight at Slater's 50/50 (20150720)]

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Beach City Beach de Garde

Relevant Links:
Beach de Garde (Beach City Brewery Website)
Beach De Garde | Beach City Brewery (BeerAdvocate.com)
Beach City / Iron Hill Beach de Garde (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:
A classic French Farmhouse Beer similar to a Saison but brewed with lager yeast at elevated temperatures. This technique brings out malt accents and subtle spice with a crisp, clean dryness.

Brewed in collaboration with 2014 WBC Gold Medal winner Paul Rutherford of Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant in Philadelphia, PA.

38 IBU | ABV 7.8%
AVAILABILITY: Seasonal
COMPOSITION: Floor Malted Pilsner, Carabelge, Melano
HOPS: Hallertau
FLAVOR: Evenly blended with fruit and spicy notes.
FOOD PAIRING: Asiago, Brie, Colby Cheeses and a variety of Shellfish and other seafood.
SERVING SUGGESTION: Tulip Glass

Anderson Valley Summer Solstice

20150720:
Today I went to Slater's 50/50 with my friends and to drink I ordered a beer flight.

Smell: The Anderson Valley Summer Solstice smelled like an ale.
Color: It had a dark red color.
Taste 1: Wow, this beer had a nice cream taste; it tasted a bit darker than the average cream soda.
Taste 2: Nice, this was probably the second time I had a cream ale at Slater's 50/50 and have it absolutely taste like cream soda, though this one tasted less so like cream soda than the Mother Earth Cali' Creamin'.
Taste 3: The beer tasted sweeter now than it did before - either my palate adjusted to the bitterness or the Beach City Beach de Garde affected my perception of the beer's sweetness.

[20150821 Edit][Part of Beer Flight at Slater's 50/50 (20150720)]

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Anderson Valley Summer Solstice

Relevant Links:
Summer Solstice (Anderson Valley Website)
Anderson Valley Summer Solstice (RateBeer.com)
Summer Solstice | Anderson Valley Brewing Company (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:
Summer Solstice Seasonal Ale

Summer Solstice® is a slightly sweet, malty session beer with a creamy mouth feel and clean finish. With hints of caramel in the nose and a touch of spice, it’s become affectionately known as "cream soda for adults". The unique flavors and superior drinkability make for the ultimate refreshment on a hot summer day.

AVAILABILITY: April – August

FOOD PAIRINGS: Sweet potato fries, barbecue chicken, ginger beef kabobs, S’mores
CHEESE PAIRINGS: Mascarpone, Brie
GLASSWARE: Pint Glass

ALC/VOL: 5%
BITTERNESS: 6 IBU

MALTS: Pale Two-Row, Crystal (40L and 80L)
HOPS: Bravo

Hangar 24 Belgian Summer Ale

20150720:
Today I went to Slater's 50/50 with my friends and to drink I ordered a beer flight.

Smell: The Hangar 24 Belgian Summer Ale had a much brighter orange smell than the Anderson Valley Summer Solstice.
Color: It had a yellow color.
Taste 1: I decided to try it first and found it had a bright, lemony taste.
Taste 2: With a delicious bright, citrus taste, the Belgian Summer Ale was most certainly worthy of being a summer seasonal.
Taste 3: The last sip tasted a bit watery, but still citrusy.

[20150821 Edit][Part of Beer Flight at Slater's 50/50 (20150720)]

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Hangar 24 Belgian Summer Ale

Relevant Links:
Belgian Summer Ale (Hangar 24 Website)
Belgian Summer Ale | Hangar 24 Brewery (BeerAdvocate.com)
Hangar 24 Seasonal: Belgian Summer Ale (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:
Hangar 24 Belgian Summer Ale
Summer is here! We use a unique souring process to give our Belgian Summer Ale a complex, refreshing tartness that’s perfect for the arrival of warmer days. Aromas of clove, pineapple, and bubblegum pair with flavors of spicy Belgian yeast, hints of pear and nutmeg, and the signature tart finish. It’s the perfect brew for those summer days on the beach or in the backyard.

Alcohol Content: 5.8%
IBU: 15
Glass Type: Tulip
Serving Temperature: 42º fahrenheit
Food Pairing: Fruit salad, calamari, grilled fish, light pastas. Gouda & fresh buffalo mozzarella.

Barley Forge The Patsy

20150720:
Today I went to Slater's 50/50 with my friends and to drink I ordered a beer flight. After trying all four of the beers in the flight and taking a sip of Maui Brewing CoCoNut PorTeR, I went on to try my friend Michael's drink, Barley Forge The Patsy.

Despite its dark color, The Patsy had a standard taste. Elaborating, it was not so bitter and tasted like the average ale. Of course, I had already taken about five sips worth of beer by that point and that may have affected the taste.

[20150821 Edit][20190320 Edit][Part of Beer Flight at Slater's 50/50 (20150720)]

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Barley Forge The Patsy

Relevant Links:
The Patsy (Barley Forge Brewing Co. Website)
The Patsy | Barley Forge Brewing Co. (BeerAdvocate.com)
Barley Forge The Patsy (RateBeer.com

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Website Information:
THE PATSY

The Patsy is Barley Forge’s coconut rye stout. Brewed with US 2-row malt, flaked rye, chocolate rye, and various English specialty malts, this medium-bodied beer features a rye spiciness balanced with dark chocolate and espresso, as well as copious amounts of toasted coconut. This beer pairs well with pulled pork, braised brisket, gorgonzola cheese and chocolate desserts.

GRAIN BILL: Two Row Malt, UK Pale Malt, Flaked Rye, Munich Malt, Extra Special Malt Chocolate Rye
HOPS: Northern Brewer
EXTRAS: Chocolate, Caramel 80, Toasted Coconut
COLOR: 41 SRM
STARTING GRAVITY: 16.0° Plato
IBU: 37
ABV: 6.6%

SanTan Mr. Pineapple

SanTan Mr. Pineapple

Relevant Links:
Mr. Pineapple (SanTan Brewing Company Website)
Mr. Pineapple | SanTan Brewing Co. (BeerAdvocate.com)
SanTan Mr. Pineapple (RateBeer.com)

20150719: [20150818]
After getting lunch at The Bread Crumb Ohana Cafe, my friend and I went to BevMo and bought various cans and bottles of alcohol. Because it sounded refreshing and vaguely screamed Hawaiian, we decided to try a can of Mr. Pineapple.

This beer smells like pineapple juice. But unlike the smell, it doesn't taste like pineapple juice. Overall, the taste is a bit off and the beer tastes a bit more like a typical ale, especially towards the end. 2:11PM PT

Website Description:
MR. PINEAPPLE

ABV 5% | IBU 15
HOPS: Columbus/ CTZ
MALT: White Wheat, 2-Row, Munich malt
YEAST: German Wheat

AVAILABILITY
Seasonal Draft & Cans – Arizona, California, Texas*

PINEAPPLE WHEAT
GABF Silver Medal Winner, Mr. Pineapple was originally conceived for SanTan ’s annual Luau Day. Hazy straw gold in color, we add natural pineapple juice (Rainforest Alliance Certified) to a traditional wheat beer creating a refreshing tropical flavor. The pineapple is subtly balanced with a firm malt character and a slight hint of clove. *Availability subject to change

Congratulations to our good friend Mr. Pineapple on winning 2014 BEST LOCAL BEER – ARIZONA in the Phoenix New Times 2014!

Coronado Orange Avenue Wit

Coronado Orange Avenue Wit

Relevant Links:
Orange Avenue Wit (Coronado Website)
Orange Avenue Wit | Coronado Brewing Company (BeerAdvocate.com)
Coronado Orange Avenue Wit (RateBeer.com)

20150718: [20150816]
This beer had a wheat smell and a cloudy orange color. The head had also quickly dissipated.

While I didn't really like how it smelled, I did like how it had a nice orange taste.

Actually, it might have been a bit harsher than... Never mind, I can't put my finger on it. In any case, I don't really like dark-tasting wit beers. 11:05PM PT

Website Information:
ORANGE AVENUE WIT
CALIFORNIA WIT

This So-Cal take on a traditional witbier honors Coronado’s main street, which is home to our brewpub and was once lined with orange trees. Bolstered by orange zest, coriander and orange blossom honey, it’s Belgium by way of Coronado. Expect a refreshing, light-bodied brew rife with citrus zing and a hint of earthy spice.

Beer Profile:
Malt: 2-Row, Wheat, Cara
Additional Ingredients: Orange Zest, Orange Blossom Honey, Coriander
Hops: Northern Brewer
Yeast Profile: Cal Ale
IBU: 15
ABV: 5.2%

Awards:
Copa De Cervezas Chile 2014
Orange Avenue Wit- Bronze

Yokohama International Beer Competition 2013
Orange Ave – Bronze

World Beer Championship 2012
Orange Ave. Wit – Gold in Experimental beer

SD International Beer Competition 2008
Orange Ave – Silver in Spice/Herb/Vegatable

Availability:
Year Round
6 pack | 22 oz | Draft

Hakutsuru Sho-une Junmai Daiginjo Sake

20150718:
This sake had a fresh taste to it, though slightly interrupted by the aftertaste of edamame (appetizer at Gesshin).

Unfortunately, since I don't drink sake on a regular basis, I was at lost on the drink's finer qualities. But as implied in my Hakutsuru Sayuri Nigori Sake post, the experience is in the attempt.

[20150816]

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Hakutsuru Sho-une Junmai Daiginjo Sake

Relevant Links:
Hakutsuru Website
"SHO-UNE" Story (Hakutsuru Website)
Hakutsuru Sho-un Junmai Daiginjo Sake (RateBeer.com)

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Website information:

ALC. 15.5% BY VOL.
INGREDIENTS : RICE, RICE KOJI
SAKE METER VALUE (NIHONSHUDO) : +2 (lower=sweeter, higher=drier)

Using only the finest rice "Yamada-Nishiki", and Nada's famed natural spring water "Miyamizu", "SHO-UNE" has been brewed as the Supreme of Japanese Sake. This graceful Sake with fruity scents, velvety smoothness can be enjoyed chilled or at room temperature.

Scale 1-5, 1=Sweet and 5=Dry, "SHO-UNE" is 4
Scale 1-5, 1=Full-bodied and 5=Light, "SHO-UNE" is 2

With food
Matches dishes with a salty taste or a rich taste. Baby clams steamed in Sake, Sashimi, Japanese stew (vegetables or fish stewed with soy sauce, fish broth, Sake, etc.), Broiled fish or prawn with a salty taste.

Temperature
Enjoy this Sake chilled or at room temperature.

Speakeasy Black Hand Chocolate Milk Stout

Speakeasy Black Hand Chocolate Milk Stout

Relevant Links:
Limited Series (Speakeasy Website)
Black Hand | Speakeasy Ales & Lagers (BeerAdvocate.com)
Speakeasy Black Hand Chocolate Milk Stout (RateBeer.com)

20150709: [20150814 Edit]
I'm here at Elevation 66 with my friend and I order the Speakeasy Black Hand Chocolate Milk Stout.

It smells like a regular stout and tastes like chocolate milk - though not as much as Shake Chocolate Porter by Boulder Beer. 7:37PM PT

It has a little punch - a burn - on the back end of each sip. I don't taste the chocolate during the second half of the beer. 8:35PM PT

Website Information:
Style – Chocolate Milk Stout
ABV – 6.9% ABV
IBU – 34 IBU
Malt – Two-Row Pale, Crystal Wheat, Chilean Chocolate, Chocolate Wheat, De-Bittered Black, Rolled Oats
Flavoring – TCHO Ghanaian Roasted Cacao Nibs
Hops – Columbus
Availability – Jan - Mar
Formats – Draft & 22oz. bottles

This chocolate milk stout is full-bodied and creamy, with sumptuous chocolate notes and a delicate roasted character. Black Hand pours a rich dark brown with a milky coffee-colored head. Bittersweet chocolate and roast envelopes the nose, carried by roasted cacao nibs and chocolate malts. The aroma blends effortlessly with soft flavors of dry chocolate and darkly roasted malts. The addition of milk sugar provides a silky smooth body, with a subtle natural sweetness of cream.

Pair with – Waffles and whipped cream or french toast with fresh berries complement TCHO's bittersweet roasted cacao nibs.