Drake's Electric Owl

20171231:
When I poured the beer into the glass, the glass filled with foam.

The glass (right) was practically all foam when I first poured it. 

It had a coffee taste. Actually, it was malty. It had a decent taste. 7:49PM PT

A light tap of the bottle on the kitchen counter caused it to foam over.

All the excessive head was weird.

In any case, the beer was a blend of bitterness and malty flavor. I'm not sure if I liked it.

I placed the bottle down on the counter and it foamed over.

In a rush to head out for New Years Eve, I was drinking this 22 oz. bottle fairly quickly. 8:01PM PT

I'm not sure. As I came close to finishing the beer - with an estimate one to two ounces having gone down the drain as foam - I felt full and tipsy, but also overwhelmed by the total amount of sugar.

While a single sip was not overly sweet, drinking so much in a short time was excessively malty (taking into account my weight and my infrequent consumption of alcohol). 8:14PM PT

What a mess.

Finally, I drank the last of it, and overall it was too bitter - perhaps because I drank it too quickly.

With that being said, it served as a good pre-game. And at least it had plenty of maltiness. It would have been a great bottle to share three or more ways. 8:20PM PT

[20180305 Edit]

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All gone.

Drake's Electric Owl

Relevant Links:
Drakes Electric Owl (RateBeer.com)
Electric Owl | Drake's Brewing Co. (BeerAdvocate.com)

Right side of the label/bottle.

Left side of the label/bottle.

New Holland Dragon's Milk

20171216:
This beer smelled like a dark stout. It also had a bourbon barrel-aged smell.

The beer had a dark color, possibly black.

The beer had a thick texture. The first sip was good, but the second sip which immediately followed was strong, almost overwhelming. This was probably because I held on to the beer for too long (it was botted 6 6 17). 10:54PM PT

Eating Babybel (cheese) - although not a strong cheese - helped cut through the strength of the beer. Furthermore, as I drank the beer, it seemed to settle down. 20171217 1:57AM PT

I poured out about 2 oz. of the beer.

[20180303 Edit]

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2017121X:
Today I poured the rest of the bottle. This time around the beer was less bitter and not as strong. 20171218 6:05AM PT

[20180303 Edit]

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New Holland Dragon's Milk

Relevant Links:
Dragon's Milk (New Holland Website)
New Holland Dragon's Milk (RateBeer.com)
Dragon's Milk | New Holland Brewing Company (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

CORE BREWS
DRAGON'S MILK
A stout with roasty malt character intermingled with deep vanilla tones, all dancing in an oak bath.

BEER STYLE Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout
DEGREES PLATO 23
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME 11%
IBUS 31
GRAINS 2 row, munich, caramel, crystal, black, chocolate malt, flaked barley
HOPS Glacier, Nugget
YEAST American Ale
FIRST BREWED 2001

Pairings: Red Meat, Smoked Foods, Balsamic, Rich Cheese, & Dark Chocolate

Epidemic Ales Nightshade

20171212:
This Epidemic Bourbon Aged Vanilla Stout had a lovely barrel-aged bourbon smell. Oh, I think I smelled the vanilla.

The beer was mildly carbonated and there was a roasted malty taste. It's one of the best stouts I've had.

It's possible the sausages (Hogwash) paired well with the beer and enhanced its flavor. 8:54PM PT

The second half of the beer was more watery. This part of the experience dropped my rating for the beer down to 4.0 stars (out of 5) instead of 5.0. 9:32PM PT

[20180302 Edit]

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It should be noted that the beer I tried above was listed on the Hogwash beer list as "Epidemic Bourbon Aged Vanilla Stout" with 8.5% ABV. Nightshade is/was the only beer by Epidemic Ales which comes/came close to this ("Bourbon Barrel-Aged Vanilla Stout"), but that beer is labeled with 10.3% ABV. At the end of the day, for all intents and purposes, I will record the beer as Epidemic Ales Nightshade.

[20180430]

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Epidemic Ales Nightshade

Relevant Links:
Beers (Epidemic Ales Website)
Epidemic Bourbon Barrel Aged Vanilla Stout (RateBeer.com)
Epidemic Ales Nightshade (RateBeer.com)
Nightshade | Epidemic Ales (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

Nightshade
Bourbon Barrel-Aged Vanilla Stout
Brewed and Bottled by Epidemic Ales
Concord, CA

1PINT 6FL OZ | 10.3% ALC/VOL

Nightshade Bourbon Barrel-Aged Vanilla Stout- Black as the darkest night, rich as the most decadent dessert, this one is for the true stout lover. A barrel-aged, full-bodied ale, this beer draws its flavors from specialty grains infused with bourbon and flavored with vanilla beans. It's a beer and a shot in one.

Epic Tart 'n Juicy Sour IPA

20171212:
I thought this Epic Tart 'n Juicy Sour IPA was only sour but I smelled hops. Then I realized that both "sour" and "hoppy" are part of the beer's name on the menu: "EPIC TART N' JUICY HOPPY SOUR."

Menu Description: (Hogwash)
EPIC TART N' JUICY HOPPY SOUR 4.9% 40 11.5 Oz {LGB} Salt Lake, UT $8

It was a mix of hoppy and sour, not too sour, and there was a slight bitterness. The beer tasted mellow.

Ada thought it was kind of sour, but the sourness didn't last long. 8:23PM PT

The second half of the beer was more bitter and less sour. Furthermore, the bitterness lingered in the mouth but only made itself known upon taking a sip. 8:38PM PT

[20180302 Edit]

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Epic Tart 'n Juicy Sour IPA

Relevant Links:
Tart 'n Juicy Sour IPA (Epic Website)
Epic Tart N' Juicy Sour IPA (RateBeer.com)
Tart 'n Juicy Sour IPA | Epic Brewing Company (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

Tart 'n Juicy Sour® IPA

Published in 12 oz. Cans

We've combined the clean, puckering tartness of kettle souring with an abundance of juicy, citrus-driven hops to create a beer that’s the best of both worlds - Tart n' Juicy Sour® IPA.

Does not contain dairy.

Glassware: Pint
Food Pairings: Salads, bloomy rind cheeses, and egg dishes

The Lost Abbey The Angel's Share

20171207:
This beer had a deeper smell compared to the smell of the Stout of Body Experience; and less fruity. The smell was closer to that of the aged bottle of Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA I once had. 6:32PM PT

The Lost Abbey The Angel's Share - full glass

This beer, though strong, was drinkable. Furthermore, I absolutely enjoyed it. I would, however, recommend that it be enjoyed in small sips. 6:59PM PT

Menu Description: (at The Dark Horse Inn)
Lost Abbey Angel's Share (14.5%) Bourbon barrel aged barleywine; incredibly smooth and sweet with a long lasting finish, luscious texture layered between fruit and malts $6/6oz*

*While the menu read 6 oz., the glass was filled to the 25 cL line (8.45 fl oz.). All other evidence, however, suggests that I have correctly identified the proper beer: 1) The Lost Abbey, 2) The only "The Lost Abbey" beer on Untappd at Dark Horse Inn after September 17 was Angel's Share Bourbon Barrel-Aged (11/12, 11/14, 11/26, and 12/7), 3) my picture of the menu consists of Angel's Share.

The Lost Abbey The Angel's Share - empty glass

[20180202 Edit]

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The Lost Abbey The Angel's Share

Relevant Links:
The Angel's Share (The Lost Abbey Website)
Lost Abbey The Angels Share - Bourbon Barrel (RateBeer.com)
The Angel's Share - Bourbon Barrel-Aged | The Lost Abbey (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

Angel's Share

Down in Kentucky and across the pond in Scotland, distillers who age their whiskeys for many years refer to the evaporation of the spirits from their barrels as “The Angel’s Share.” We couldn’t agree more. Each time a barrel is filled, a measure of liquid seeps into the oak and is lost for good.

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This striking Strong Ale is brewed with copious amounts of Caramel malt to emphasize the vanilla and oak flavors found in freshly emptied bourbon or brandy barrels. The beer spends a year in oak before it is packaged for release. The beer is 12.5% ABV and is available in 375ml bottles and on draft at inspired locations.

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The Angel’s Share story
It’s warehouse #5 built in 1886 that gets the most attention. The other four weren’t built so well and succumbed over the years. On the outside, to most #5 is a rather unremarkable white washed building. That is until they pass through the weathered doors and are easily consumed. Here in the hallowed halls it just oozes history. Inside this three story building, they find row after row of whiskey slumbering away the days until the distiller calls their name and they are called into action.

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It’s a weathered building with a timeline of over one hundred and twenty years of continuous service. Looking around, there is a warm orange glow from all the wood inside. On both sides of the room for as far as your eyes can see, there are wood racks with carvings, nicks and dings. It smells sweet in here. Could that be the Whiskey breathing? Perhaps it’s the angels doing their work? Or is there just something sweet about 200 year old wood that intoxicates your sense of smell.

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Imagine the history that belongs to the wood in this “shed.” It comes from seeds that were planted when the idea for the Revolutionary War was just fermenting. And it’s still here, every single day telling the story of this distillery. This warehouse has seen it all. It survived the harsh winter of 1913. There was the Tornado in 1956 and who can forget the flood of 1973? But, it’s still here. Still working, living and breathing whiskey as great grandpa designed it to do.

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Sure, there are more cobwebs and spiders than there used to be. It’s an old building after all. One of the family members proclaimed it to be a grand old warehouse of monumental importance, so now it’s on the National Registry of Historic Buildings. Yet, the premise has always been the same. We need a place to age those spirits. And #5 has always been there.

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Ask the family members to describe #5 and they all tell you the same thing.”The Angel’s get more than their fair share from #5 but we don’t care. To us, there is nothing finer than the whiskey that comes from old #5. We wish they drank less. But then again, we really don’t need an excuse to drink more?”

ABV:
14%

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TASTING NOTES:
AROMA: There are so many aspects at work in this beer. We have an inital impression from the oak aging of fortified wine and Port. There is a pleasing vanilla backdrop supported by some great sweet malt notes.

TASTE: An incredibly smooth and sweet beer with a long lasting finish. The Bourbon barrel aging of the beer results in a full bodied and luscious texture layered between fruit and malts.

STYLE REFERENCE:
Barrel-Aged English Style Barleywine

Ferment.Drink.Repeat Stout of Body Experience

20171207:
This beer had a sour smell. It had a watery texture with a slightly sour taste.

Ferment.Drink.Repeat Stout of Body Experience - full glass

I next read the menu description and it seemed right. In particular, it tasted as if it was barrel-aged.

Ada had a sip and she detected a sweetness and slight bitterness. 5:59PM PT

Menu Description: (at The Dark Horse Inn)
Ferment.Drink.Repeat Stout of Body Experience (11%) Barrel-aged imperial belgian stout; bold roasted malts, chocolate & dark fruit, clove & pepper with hints of vanilla, oak & a touch of funk $7/8oz

I enjoyed the beer's fruity flavors. Overall, the beer had an entire blend of flavors worth enjoying. It was smooth. 6:27PM PT

Ferment.Drink.Repeat Stout of Body Experience - empty glass

[20180202 Edit]

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Ferment.Drink.Repeat Stout of Body Experience

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Website Information: (https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56eb44e7a3360c45493cd1ff/t/59fe29ad8165f5564ab0d848/1509829038706/All+Standard+Pours+%246+%2820171104+-+For+Web%29.pdf)

Stout of Body Experience
Barrel-aged Belgian Imperial Stout ~ 11%

$8/8 oz. Pour, $4 Taster
750ml Bottles to Go - $22.95 + Tax and CRV

Our first barrel-aged beer! We started with an Imperial version of our popular Ol' Black Belgian Stout, then aged it in Oro en Paz Cabernet barrels for four months – the result is a Stout of Body Experience you have to taste to believe! Bold notes of roasted malts, chocolate, dark fruit and black currant (cassis), accented by clove and pepper from GigaYeast Scourmont Abbey Ale yeast, layered with hints of vanilla and oak, with a drying sensation and just a touch of funk from Brettanomyces picked up in the barrels.

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Website Information: (https://dothebay.com/events/2017/10/13/fdr-barrel-aged-bottle-release-stout-of-body-experience)

Ferment.Drink.Repeat is having their first limited bottled beer release — a Cabernet barrel-aged version of their Ol’ Black Belgian-style stout. Hand bottled, hand corked and hand caged, each 750ml bottle of Stout of Body Experience will teleport you with bold notes of chocolate, roasted malts and spice, layered with dark fruit and currant, finishing dry from oak barrel-aging. Get details here about the release of this 11% ABV Imperial barrel-aged beauty.