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.

---

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.

---

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.

---

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.

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout 2017

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout 2017 - bottle

20171124:
I smelled the beer and thought it was the same as any other, but I tasted it and it tasted absolutely amazing. It was smooth, and it didn't have an alcoholic taste; this, however, might have been because I've already sampled several strong beers in succession. This hypothesis was supported by the beer's strong finish (the last sip was strong). 6:29PM PT

[20171205 Edit]

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Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout 2017 - taster and bottle cap

Relevant Links:
Bourbon County Brand Stout 2017 (Goose Island Website)
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout (RateBeer.com)
Bourbon County Brand Stout | Goose Island Beer Co. (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

BOURBON COUNTY BRAND STOUT 2017

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout 2017 - bottleneck label

BREWER'S NOTES
Brewed in honor of the 1000th batch at our original Clybourn brewpub. A liquid as dark and dense as a black hole with thick foam the color of a bourbon barrel. The nose is an intense mix of charred oak, chocolate, vanilla, caramel and smoke. One sip has more flavor than your average case of beer.

RECIPE INFORMATION
Style: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
ABV: 14.1
IBU: 60
Color: Midnight
Hops: Millennium
Malts: 2-Row, Black Malt, Caramel, Chocolate, Munich 10, Roasted Barley

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout 2017 - bottle label

AVAILABILITY
Limited Release

Bottles (16.9oz Bottles) & Kegs (1/6 bbl)

AWARDS
World Beer Cup Awards:
2006: Gold – Wood & Barrel Aged beer
Great American Beer Festival:
1995: Strong Ale

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout 2017 - bottleneck label, pt. 2

Avery Uncle Jacob's Stout

Avery Uncle Jacob's Stout - bottle

20171124:
I decided to skip tasting the Rochefort Trappistes 10 because I had it before. This Avery had a pleasing strong smell and taste, that is, the smell and taste were not overpowering. However, the final sip was strong enough to make me wink my eye. 6:18PM PT

[20171205 Edit]

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Avery Uncle Jacob's Stout

Avery Uncle Jacob's Stout - taster

Relevant Links:
Uncle Jacob's Stout (Avery Website)
Avery Uncle Jacob's Stout (RateBeer.com)
Uncle Jacob's Stout | Avery Brewing Company (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

Uncle Jacob's Stout

ANNUAL BARREL SERIES
BOURBON BARREL-AGED STOUT
14.9% ABV

Jacob Spears, our 6th Great Grand Uncle, is credited as the first distiller to label his whiskey “Bourbon.” He built his distillery in Bourbon County Kentucky in 1790 — 203 years before we began brewing. While obviously a bit too late to produce Uncle Jacob’s wash, we’ve instead created something far more complex. In his honor, we present this robust, silky smooth, full-bodied and altogether extremely American rendition of an Imperial Stout aged for 6 months in the very finest Bourbon barrels. This explains a lot about our penchant for big brews! It’s in our blood!

Availability
Annually February through May
12 oz Bottle
5.16 gal keg
15.5 gal keg

DESCRIPTORS Silky | Bourbon | Vanilla
MALT VARIETIES Flaked Oats | Roasted Barley | Midnight Wheat | 2-Row
YEAST VARIETIES Westmalle Belgian Ale
HOP VARIETIES Bravo
DRY HOP VARIETIES N/A

Suggested Pairings
Brownie Sundae: A match made in heaven, this smooth yet robust Bourbon barrel-aged stout pairs beautifully with the rich, gooey chocolate brownie.

The Bruery Share This: Mole

The Bruery Share This: Mole - bottle (front)

20171124:
I love this style of beer. Well, I don't know the beer's official classification, but it reminded me of Elysian Peste Chocolate Chili Ale. 5:21PM PT

[20171205 Edit]

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The Bruery Share This: Mole

The Bruery Share This: Mole - taster

Relevant Links:
Share This: Mole (The Bruery Website)
The Bruery Share This: Mole (RateBeer.com)
Share This: Mole | The Bruery (BeerAdvocate.com)

The Bruery Share This: Mole - bottle (back)

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Website Information:

SHARE THIS: MOLE

Let’s move beyond the concept of grabbing a beer, and reach for something bigger. Share This beer and be part of helping friends become mobile for the first time in Mexico – the source and inspiration of select ingredients in this beer. Each release in our Share This series spotlights unique ingredients and an important cause. Share This: Mole is a mole-inspired imperial stout collaboration with Chef Anne Conness, featuring ancho chilies, chipotle peppers, cinnamon, vanilla and cacao nibs. For each bottle we produce, Free Wheelchair Mission receives one dollar.

FOOD PAIRING
Chicken mole poblano, Beehive Big John’s Cajun cheese, cinnamon toasted pecans, tacos de papa. A churro, a chance, a chair.

BREW INFO
ABV: 11.1
IBU: 0
SRM: 0
Release: 2016

Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)

Founder KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) - bottle

20171124:
This beer had a definite coffee smell.* I love the smell.

The beer tasted delicious. There was a little alcohol flavor on the sip. 5:10PM PT

*So much so that it put doubt in my mind that the Local Craft Beer Effin Birthday Cake I tried earlier had any coffee notes.

[20171205 Edit]

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Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)

Founder KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) - taster

Relevant Links:
KBS (Founders Website)
Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) (RateBeer.com)
Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) | Founders Brewing Company (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

KBS

What we’ve got here is an imperial stout brewed with a massive amount of coffee and chocolates, then cave-aged in oak bourbon barrels for an entire year to make sure wonderful bourbon undertones come through in the finish. Makes your taste buds squeal with delight.

ABV: 11.8%
RateBeer Rating: 100
Availability: April

Draft | 4 PACK | 750ML

Firestone Walker Parabola

Firestone Walker Parabola - bottle

20171124:
2017 Release. This beer had the same alcoholic fume as the last beer I sampled: Firestone Walker Bravo Imperial Brown Ale. This one was strong; like some other beers I tried today, it reminded me of the Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA. The beer had a sweetness to it. It was an amazing, drinkable strong beer. 5:03PM PT

[20171205 Edit]

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Firestone Walker Parabola

Firestone Walker Parabola - taster

Relevant Links:
Parabola (Firestone Walker Website)
Firestone Walker Parabola (RateBeer.com)
Parabola | Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

Parabola
Russian Imperial Stout

March 25, 2017 Release

Parabola is a beer of darkness and immensity, a barrel-­aged beast that is routinely ranked as one of the top beers in the world. This Russian imperial oatmeal stout is aged for a full year in Heaven Hill barrels, developing flavors of rich, chewy roasted malts, charred oak and bourbony vanilla. Parabola bares its teeth with its impenetrable black hue and soaring alcohol, yet its bite remains refined with a silky, balanced finish.

Beer Information
ABV: 14.5%
IBU: 69
COLOR: 103 SRM
MALTS: Crisp Maris Otter Pale, Munich, Cara-hell, Carafa, Dark & Light Crystal, Chocolate, Oats, Roasted Barley
HOPS: Bittering—Zeus; Late Kettle—Hallertau

Availability
12oz
Very limited draft

Firestone Walker Bravo Imperial Brown Ale

Firestone Walker Bravo Imperial Brown Ale - taster

20171124:
2017 Release. This beer had an alcoholic smell. It also had an alcoholic taste. Various persons in the room (who are participating in the beer tasting) mention that it tastes like whiskey; I agree. It is, however, smooth. It's sweet. This one's good if you like certain types of hard liquor. 4:55PM PT

Firestone Walker Bravo Imperial Brown Ale - bottle

I learned the beer was self-classified as an imperial brown ale. 4:56PM PT

[20171205 Edit]

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Firestone Walker Bravo Imperial Brown Ale

Relevant Links:
Bravo Imperial Brown Ale (Firestone Walker Website)
Firestone Walker Bravo Imperial Brown Ale (RateBeer.com)
Bravo Imperial Brown Ale | Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

Bravo
Imperial Brown Ale

February 4, 2017 Release

We proudly present the 2017 Vintage of Bravo, our Imperial Brown Ale aged in retired American oak bourbon barrels. Although Bravo was the first strong ale brewed for our Anniversary Ale blending program over ten years ago, it has yet to see its own bottled release, until now. Balancing rich toasty and chocolate malt flavors with a gentle balance of noble hops, Bravo is brewed to showcase barrel flavors with massive bourbon barrel notes that morph as the beer warms in the glass.

Beer Information
ABV: 13.2%
IBU: 28
COLOR: 28 SRM
FERMENTATION: Retired Oak Bourbon Barrels
MALTS: Two Row, Munich, c-75, Simpsons Dark, Roast Barley, Dextrose
HOPS: Columbus, Tettnanger

Availability
12 oz bottle
Very limited draft

Local Craft Beer Effin Birthday Cake

Local Craft Beer Effin Birthday Cake - taster

20171124:
This beer had an alcoholic smell, but less than the Firestone Walker Stickee Monkee I just tasted.

It seemed to have coffee notes similar to those often found in stouts. Actually, it might have just smelled like a typical stout (without any chocolate or coffee notes). There was some light carbonation.

I liked this one more than previous one (Firestone Walker Stickee Monkee). 4:44PM PT

Local Craft Beer Effin Birthday Cake - bottle

[20171206 Edit]

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Local Craft Beer Effin Birthday Cake

Relevant Links:
Local Craft Beer (Yelp.com)
Local Craft Beer Effin Birthday Cake (Untappd.com)

Firestone Walker Stickee Monkee

Firestone Walker Stickee Monkee - taster

20171124:
2017 Release. This beer had a cherry smell. It smelled like a candy. It had a sweet taste with a little alcoholic burn. There was no alcoholic smell. It had a nice spiciness. Overall, it was a great beer: it had the strong taste of my aged Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA, but incredibly smooth. 4:35PM PT

[20171205 Edit]

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Firestone Walker Stickee Monkee

Firestone Walker Stickee Monkee - bottle

Relevant Links:
Stickee Monkee (Firestone Walker Website)
Firestone Walker Stickee Monkee (RateBeer.com)
Stickee Monkee | Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

Stickee Monkee
Barrel-Aged Central Coast Quad

Firestone Walker Stickee Monkee - taster

2017

Brewed with Belgian candi sugar and aged in a selection of fine bourbon barrels, Stickee Monkee trailblazes its own category as a “Central Coast Quad.” The name Stickee Monkee is a nod to the Central Coast’s native Sticky Monkey flower, as well as a shout­‐out to the Belgian monks who pioneered the Quad style.

It has been said that the only constant is change and the same is true for barrel-aged beers. Cut from a similar recipe, this barrel-aged Quad evolves and shows a different face each year; a result of time spent aging in the barrel. Turbinado brown sugar from Mexico adds wonderful molasses flavors that are reminiscent of Belgian candi sugar. It has a full body and lush texture with barrel expression all over; toasted oak, coconut, leather and rich cigar tobacco.

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Beer Information
ABV: 12.5%
IBU: 36
COLOR: 75 SRM
FERMENTATION: Lucha Libre (Ballistica)
MALTS: 2 Row, Munich, Carmel, Torrified Wheat, Belgian Candi Sugar, Brown Sugar, Roast Barley
HOPS: Styrian Golding

Availability
12oz
Very limited draft

Russian River Consecration

Russian River Consecration - bottle

20171124:
The beer had a definite sour smell. However, it didn't taste like a typical sour beer. The beer tasted sour but the sips ended with an unusual bitterness. This might have been because I just finished a bottle of Small Town Not Your Father's Cream Ale. 4:29PM PT

Russian River Consecration - taster

[20171205 Edit]

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Russian River Consecration

Relevant Links:
Consecration (Russian River Website)
Russian River Consecration (RateBeer.com)
Consecration | Russian River Brewing Company (BeerAdvocate.com)

Russian River Consecration - back of the bottle

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Website Information:

Consecration

SOUR DARK ALE AGED IN CABERNET BARRELS WITH CURRANTS

Dark Ale aged in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels from local wineries. It is aged for 4 to 8 months with black currants, brettanomyces, lactobacillus, and pediococcus added to each barrel. Rich flavors of chocolate truffle, spice, tobacco, currants, and a bit of Cabernet. Very full-bodied, sip slowly!

AVAILABILITY
Pub draft and bottles, local distribution draft and bottles, limited draft and bottles to most distributors, seasonal

Original Gravity: 1.078
Alcohol by Volume: 10%
Color: Reddish Brown
Bitterness: High

Small Town Not Your Father's Vanilla Cream Ale

20171124:
This beer had a vanilla smell. The taste was initially amazing, but the aftertaste was displeasing. 4:23PM PT

[20171205 Edit]

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Small Town Not Your Father's Vanilla Cream Ale

Not Your Father's Vanilla Cream Ale - bottle

Relevant Links:
Not Your Father's Vanilla Cream Ale (Small Town Website)
Small Town Not Your Father's Vanilla Cream Ale (RateBeer.com)
Not Your Father's Vanilla Cream Ale | Small Town Brewery (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

NOT YOUR FATHER’S
VANILLA CREAM ALE

Chances are you’re probably familiar with the island of Madagascar thanks to some talking cartoon animals or a super strict geography teacher. What you might not know is that Madagascar produces the best vanilla in the world. And we use a healthy dose of it (literally tons) to make Not Your Father’s Vanilla Cream Ale, a classic American favorite that comes through with a vanilla flavor that’s anything but ordinary.

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TASTING NOTES
There’s really no synonym for vanilla, so trust us when we say this tastes like a bunch of vanilla pods got together and had a vanilla party inside a vanilla mansion hosted by Vanilla Ice. With a creamy, sweet finish, this brew will easily become one of your go-tos when you want something smooth and flavorful.

Art in the Age Snap

20171124:
This ginger snap had a strong flavor and was smooth. The ginger taste was subtle. Overall, I enjoyed sipping it. 3:47 PM PT

[20171205 Edit]

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Today (20180627) I read a news article - dated February 23, 2017 - that said Art in the Age would be discontinuing four of their flavors - including Snap. However, it seems possible that the flavors are still available under a different name.

[20180627]

Stella Artois Cidre

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

20171124:
This drink mostly tastes like apple juice. It was easy to drink. There was a slight alcoholic taste that imparted some bitterness. 3:30PM PT

Stella Artois Cidre - bottle (front)

[20171205 Edit]

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Stella Artois Cidre

Relevant Links:
Cidre (Stella Artois Website)
Stella Artois Cidre (RateBeer.com)

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Stella Artois Cidre - bottle (back)

Website Information:

Welcome to Cidre season,
when winter blankets are packed away and picnic blankets lay down to play. Add a splash of spontaneity to your repertoire, and raise a glass to it all coming together just so. As golden afternoons unfold, savor the taste of Stella Artois Cidre, a bubbly cider described as such:

Balanced.
Pairs a soft, apple-y sweetness with a crisp dryness.

Effervescent.
As bubbly as the personalities on your blanket.

Refreshing.
The perfect partner for any alfresco gathering.

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Cidre hits all the right flavor notes in this deliciously delightful composition. It’s music to your palate.

New Belgium French Oak Saison

20171121:
This beer had a pungent smell, but it tasted good. I was expecting a different taste from a saison; this one had a sour taste. I enjoyed it. 10:19PM PT

New Belgium French Oak Saison - full glass

[20171205 Edit]

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New Belgium French Oak Saison

Relevant Links:
French Oak Saison (New Belgium Website)
New Belgium French Oak Saison (RateBeer.com)
French Oak Saison | New Belgium Brewing (BeerAdvocate.com)

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New Belgium French Oak Saison - lacing / empty glass

Website Information:

FRENCH OAK SAISON
BARREL-AGED SOUR FARMHOUSE ALE

To understand "Belgian-style beer" is to understand Belgium's nuanced regions and historical past. To the north, we have Flanders, a region invaded and occupied by many foreign powers over hundreds of years, known for everything from white beer to oak-aged sour brown ales.

To the south, we have Wallonia, a region known for its rich farmland, industrial coalfields, French culture and farmhouse ales like Biere de Garde and saison. Our French Oak Saison pulls inspiration from both regions by marrying a dry, hop-forward Wallonia-style saison with a golden ale soured in French oak foeders for 15 to 18 months -- a method derived from Flanders. The rye and spelt grains in the saison contribute to a medium-light body while the Huell Melon and Tettnang hops give aromas of honeydew and white pepper.

The result is a rustic, goldenrod yellow saison offering pleasant lemon and white grape aromas and a bright, mouthwatering sourness with a clean, dry finish.

A true blending of inspirations.

TASTING NOTES
VISUAL Goldenrod yellow, medium sheen, moderated white foam.
AROMA A mix of balanced aromas: lemons and phenolic, mild white grape, white pepper, and coriander. Light tropical fruit and floral. Bread dough and stone fruit with a smidge of isoamyl acetate, bretta, grassy and pine.
FLAVOR Sweet with a surprisingly strong sour initially that fades but lingers slightly. Light bitterness.
MOUTHFEEL Smooth but puckering and mouthwatering.
BODY Medium-light body, astringent finish.

BEER FACTS
ABV 7.5
IBU 23
YEAST Hybrid saison yeast
HOPS Nugget, Tattnang, Huell Melon
MALTS Pale, rye, spelt