I Like Beer...

Years ago Tom T. Hall had a country music hit when he wrote "I Like Beer".  Well, guess what I like beer too.  (No surprise if you read this blog).

This week was a particularly good week for tasting beer.  It started out on Tuesday night at iTap.  (I worked late and was thirsty when I got out of the office).  When, Emily saw me walk in I asked her for a Firestone Walker Union Jack.  This is one fine IPA out of Paso Robles, California.  It has a nice orangish color to it and is it hoppy.  Four pounds of hops per barrel.  As good as it was, I finished the evening with a really big beer; Hebrew Jewbilation Ale.  It is aged over Oak and comes in at 10.5 percent by alcohol.  It is darker than most Stouts I've enjoyed and has a nice hoppiness that finishes with a taste of malt and alcohol.  After that I called it a night and got my butt home before I could get myself in trouble.

The next day was the 4th of July so we headed to Grafton and one of my favorite spots to drink fine beer, the Piasa Winery.  The owner Will, knows his stuff and I asked him what he recommended.  He gave me a taste of Dark Horse Brewing's Crooked Tree Ale and I was sold.  It was the first product I have ever had from the Jackson, Michigan brewery and based on this IPA I hope to taste a lot more.  It was hoppy but not obnoxiously so.  It pours an amber color and is unfiltered.  Big in hops as I say, but a bit on the dry side.  If you are a "hop head" you really should find this beer and try it.   Before leaving Will asked me if I was familiar with Samuel Adams small batch brews.  I said no, so he educated me.  I bought a bomber of Dark Depths Baltic IPA.  I had the chance to taste it this afternoon and it was, well, interesting.  It's hard to describe.  It has lager yeast, bills itself as an IPA but also reminded me of a Porter.  The contrasts make for an interesting combination.  It pours dark like a Black IPA, but the malts that come through at the end of it are subtle.  I'm not sure I will buy it again, but as I say the contrasts make for an "interesting" beer.

Work and Beer

I sure hope you're having a great summer.  I am but it's flying past in a hurry.  This past week was a real bear as I worked about 55 hours setting up, configuring and resolving a lot of problems associated with the move of PCs.
The beer this summer has been amazing.  I had the chance to hang out at two of my favorite watering holes last weekend and each had a great Stout aged in barrels.  iTap in Soulard had New Holland's Dragon Milk aged over Oak.  The Tap Room had their own Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon barrels.  Yes, I know they are not really summer beers, but man are they good.  As someone much wiser than myself once said, "So many beers, so little time".   Happy Summer!

In Praise of Good Beer - Part I don't know

I had a free night, so I headed down to iTap in Soulard. What caught my attention you ask? How about a nice IPA from 2nd Shift called El Gato Grande. Steve Crider sure can brew it. But, the girls tending bar were having issues with the keg so I switched over to another IPA. My server Emily recommended Odells Double IPA. It's name...Mercenary Double IPA. My was it good.

I had to get home and had time for one more, so I asked Emily for a recommendation of a really big beer. She knows her stuff and she knows me. Emily took about a half a second and said "how about a Boulevard Rye on Rye.

I have to tell you...it was amazing. Of course, it was sweet, but anytime you drink anything over liquor barrels you know it will be. But, Boulevard has done a really nice job with this. I can't wait to taste it again. And thank you Emily for a really great beer!

Another Awesome Ale

So, I get off work last night and I ask the bartender at one of my favorite watering holes, what new big IPAs do you have? And without missing a beat he says have you tried the Lenny's RIPA? As fast as I sampled a taste of it I was sold.

It's a big big beer; a Double IPA. As the Shmaltz Brewing Company literature says it is brewed with an obscene amount of hops and malt. Then it is aged in Rye Whiskey barrels. The combination and aging work to perfection. You might think something that big would be undrinkable. But, no it was amazing. I would like to have ordered another but at 10% ABV I decided not to since I was driving. But, the next time I am the bar I will have several more glasses of this wonderful beverage.