Day 335 - Gouden Carolus

So, last night of 2010, and took a risk on this one. A Belgian brew, which typically aren't my favs, but this one claimed a decent hops hit, so went for it. Plus the bottle was big and classy looking, so fits the night.

This one almost glows it is so yellow/orange in true blonde fashion, and like most BAs, the aroma is kind of fruity/spicy causing some trepidation. It is definitely a big taste, though the hops only play a minor role, perhaps providing the dry finish. It does still tug on the tonsils as it goes down, like all its brethren.

Specs:

Full Name: Gouden Carolus
Brewed By: Brewery Het Anker
From: Mechelen Belgium
ABV: 8%

So, using the blog to get out of having to watch some chick flick with Drew Barrymore, and will try and milk the big bottle as long as possible. Luckily, ellie doesn't read my blog so I won't get busted writing that, t least not until well after the fact... ;>)

HNY to all, hard to believe I'm down to my last 30 days.

Day 334 - Zlaty Bazant

So, no new beer last night, but as a side benefit of seeing some old friends, I got some new ones for the pipeline from the Galambos's, as Adam is transferring to Austria and brought these back from one of his trips.

So, unlike the "green bottle" export stuff, this is real beer. It has that classical pale yellow color, but a good pilsner-esque flavor and none of that dry nastiness. Could drink this one easily, though the ABV would catch up quickly I think. Alas, all the writing is unreadable, so the specs will be short.

Specs:

Full Name: Zlaty Bazant
Brewed By: Unknown Austrian brewer
From: Some place in Austria
ABV: 10% (or at least I assume what that big 10% refers to...)

So, clearly, to really sample a country's beer, one must travel to that country. Perhaps one day, I can do a new blog "the Traveling Beerest" and try local brews. Ah dreams...

Thanks to the Gumbi's!

Day 333 - Nothing new

Had a whole bunch of friends in town for a night, so was out with them and didn't blog. While I did have a beer, it was Sierra Vevada Pale Ale, which I have already blogged about.

So good times with old friends trumps new beer. Good trade...

Day 332 - Winter Welcome Ale

You know, I was concerned that this one might be on the sweet side, as some English ales can be (see the other day...). It is good when your fears are proved to be in haste.

The color of wood coals glowing in the fireplace, a calm, earthy aroma, and a very tasty dry malt flavor that fills the mouth and lingers a bit after swallowing. All in all, in my opinion, what an ale should be.

Specs:

Full Name: Winter Welcome Ale
Brewed By: Samuel Smiths Old Brewery
From: Tadcaster England
ABV: 6%

So, an above average beer on a Tuesday is a real treat. It makes me want to be in England, sitting in some old pub with friends, having a pint or two near the fireplace dark with soot from untold number of fires. While it would feel out of place drinking this sitting on a beach at some Carribean resort watching the sunset, I could probably deal with that discomfort... ;>)

Cheers!

Day 331 - Jackman's

The first 5th, and from a brewery that runs hot and cold in my mind. I'm finding this one a bit middle of the road, though perhaps a bit on the good side. It's a bit hard to tell, as I've just eaten dinner and thus full, which is not a good time to drink beer. At least I stayed away from the porter...

So, nice amber color, and a decent blend of hops and malt. Worth drinking yes, but also easy to give up in favor of something more interesting.

Specs:

Full Name: Jackman's American Pale Ale
Brewed By: Left Hand Brewing Co
From: Longmont CO
ABV: 5.2%

Going to have to go out and replenish the pipeline before the weekend, which means the chance to grab one of those $10/bottle palies I have been drooling over. Hum, maybe not drooling, at least not that I should document at least...

Cheers!

Day 330 - Seriously Bad Elf

So, the Lord of the Rings marathon is over, and I'm back to blogging. I was going to have this one last night, but I think it worked out that I saved it for tonight, that way the positiveness of yesterday was saved a sweet demise...

The color of a light whisky, and mild aroma, traps you into a sense of security that is overwhelmed by sweetness. Actually, the barley would have been better served being made into Scotch...

Specs:

Full name: Seriously Bad Elf
Brewed By: Ridgeway Brewing
From: Oxfordshire England
ABV: 9%

Truly an evil elf that made this one, as it is like drinking a Christmas cookie made of malt. The label says it is a rather serious English double ale, but I think it rather lacks any kind of seriousness. Hum, at least they could have roasted the malt a bit, to bitter it up, but no, might as well drink a bottle of Kayro syrup...

Going to have to man up to get this one down, but that is the burden I have chosen.

Cheers!

Day 329 - Christmas - Took night off

Having a lord of the rings movie marathon with daughter Liz. Taking the night off from beer blogging.

Merry Christmas to all!

Day 328 - India Pale Ale

Tis the night before Christmas, and behold in my hand,
A bottle of beer, now ain't that just grand.
A palie in name, and also in taste,
I'll drink til it's empty, no drop will be waste....

Specs:

Full Name: India Pale Ale
Brewed By: Diamond Knot Brewing Co
From: Mulkilteo WA
ABV: 6.2%

No time to e-chat tonight, as our traditional watching of The Christmas Carol at 8 o'clock on Xmas eve starts in a few minutes.

Ho, ho, ho to all, and to all a good night!

Day 327 - Pale Ale

Enough, fruited/spiced stuff, just a simple, plain pale ale tonight, in prep for the big bottle palie tomorrow night.

More yellow than orange, and a non-descript nose, leads to a simple, drinkable beer. Nothing fancy, just a beer. Don't get me wrong, it is better than the massed produced, or the "premium" European exports, but nothing notable after that, other than being a new brewer.

Specs:

Full name: Pale Ale

Brewed By: Napa Smith Brewery

From: Napa CA

ABV: 5.2%

I guess if you were having a wine party with a Napa theme, you could have this beer on hand for your friends that don't wine, and be safe.

Cheers.

Day 326 - The First Snow Ale

A very attractive label.... The 3rd from this brewer, and a ho-ho-hum brew.

Ok, a decent enough golden color, and nothing fancy about the aroma, but the taste is just basically non-existent. Sure, there is a hint of some spice there, but only enough to distract not impress.

Specs:

Full Name: The First Snow Ale
Brewed By: RJ Rockers Brewing Co
From: SC
ABV: not on bottle, and not worth spending time finding

Got to give this brewer points for labeling, as they are all good. I just wish they put the same creative effort in their beers. Still, perhaps it is intentional to appeal to more drinkers, but the only snow with this one is the snow job that it might be worth drinking...

Dang, still one more night between now and the weekend and the big bottle palies. Of course, in two weeks, the Wednesday Whisky of the Week starts, assuming brother Shard get's the first month's samples out timely and I can convince son Cullen to build the wiki we plan to track that adventure in...

cheers.

Day 325 - Blueberry

So, the 2nd frubie from the same brewer, and over 100 days later, I'm still haunted by the first, but since I already was in a masochistic mood from yesterday, figure I might as well get the pain over quickly.

So, a blueberry, oatmeal, stout. Truly, there is nothing about any of that description that shouts "I am going to be good". Still, in all fairness, and to be true to my dedication, I am drinking this. A deep brown color (go figure), rather non-descript aroma (thank goodness), and alas, the taste. At least the blueberry is subtle, or at least burried underneath the oatmeal and the stout. Not meaning to be sexist here, but it reminds me of a scene from some movie where girls are wrestling in mud. A lot of arms flailing about, but in the end, they still have mud in their mouths...

Specs:

Full Name: Blueberry
Brewed By: Buffalo Bills Brewery (aka Pyramid Brewing Co)
From: Seattle WA or Portland OR (so you can't find them)
ABV: 7% (ok respectable)

Well, that purges the pipeline of frubies, and if I am lucky, that will be the last for this year. I still might have the spiced seasonal left to do, but down to the last 40 overall.

Just need to make it to the weekend, when I have a few big bottle palies to pull out.

Cheers.

Day 324 - Shiner Holiday Cheer

Perhaps I don't read labels on purpose, lest they influence my decision making process.....

This one pours a very deep reddish brown color, and the sweet aroma should have been a clue of what was to come, but as I had just come in from walking the dog on this cold night, the old nose wasn't quite working properly. The label says it is an ale brewed with peaches and pecans, and by god, that is what it tastes like too...

Specs:

Full Name: Shiner Holiday Cheer

Brewed By: Spoetzl Brewery

From: Shiner TX

ABV: 5.4%

Dang, who associates peaches with the holidays? What is worse, in a moment of insanity, I added another frubie to the pipeline, which means I will have had 2 in two weeks. Those kind of records are just not meant to be set.

Ah well, happy holidaze...

Cheers

Day 323 - Fish Tale Organic IPA.jpg

A new palie, and certified organic at the same price as some of the regulars, so worth the try.

The classic golden orange color, hoppy aroma and good citrusy bitterness. It actually finishes quite clean, and perhaps a tad lighter on the hops that I really like, but all in, a tasty beer and clearly heathly as well... ;>)

Specs:

Full name: Fish Tale Organic India Pale Ale
Brewed By: Fish Brewing Co
From: Olympia WA
ABV: 6.5%

A day spent on work stuff and helping Liz with college apps, started out kind of shaky but ended well, and thus a good day finishing on a good beer. Who could ask for anything more.

Cheers!

Day 322 - Michelob

Here's to good friends, tonight is kind of special,
the beer you pour, must be something more, somehow
Let it be Lowenbrau.

Hum, start out thinking this was the jingle for Michelob, then remembered at the last that clearly it wasn't. Ah well, Ellie and I were out for our annual holiday dinner with the A-Team and Procs, and pitchers of Michelob were the best choice. Actually, good news is, it was close to another Total Beverage, and whilst Tony didn't find that Schaeffer he was looking for, I did pick up another 6 for my pipeline, so all in all, a very good evening.

Ellie reminds me that the jingle for Michelob was short "Weekends were made for Michelob".

Not really going to go into this one, as other than reminding me of college days, when Mich was the keg beer of choice, it really is just a basic, non-descript lager. Not much on taste, easy to drink.

Given it is after 10, I will end this and go curl up in our new UVa Snuggie, thanks to the Procs, and dream of picnics next spring with the goodies supplied by T&J.

Cheers.

Day 321 - Santa's Swallie

The piepline is refilled for another week, but sadly with few seasonals, as I caught them in between restockings...

At least it is friday, and this one is festive enough in looks and name to get by. Actually, it pours a quite pleasing orange/red, like a sunset over fields of wheat. I was a bit scared by the mention of it containing seasonal spices of nutmeg, cinamon and that ilk, but luckly, they play only a very minor role, to the extent that if you didn't read the label, you wouldn't guess they are there.

Specs:

Full Name: Santa's Swallie

Brewed By: The Inveralmond Brewery

From: Scotland

ABV: 4.3% (ie just above water...)

So, for the curious out there, a "swallie" is the Scot name for a drink. This would be a great Xmas party beer, as it is festive looking, but very mild on taste so could be drunk by the masses. It is also just shy of 17 oz, so requires fewer trips to ther fridge.

Hum, guess because it is friday, I am finding all the positives here. All in all, I was hoping for a little more heft to this one, but alas, that expectation fell short. Still, a beer is a beer, and for that, I am thankful.

Cheers.

Day 320 - Sabeco

The last of this pipeline, and another in the line of SE Asia imports. The best thing about his beer is that it at least doesn't have the P word on the label. It does say export, which perhaps means "we have to sned this overseas because no one here will drink it...)

Not to be too graphic, but it is truly the color of pee after eating a bunch of asparagus, ie bright yellow. After that, it is very common in flavor, not bad, but not good either. A definite good choice for drinking games, as it is easy on the ABV and any distracting taste.

Specs:

Full Name: Sabeco Saigon Export
Brewed By: Siagon Beer Alcohol Beverage Corp
From: HCM City, Vietnam
ABV: 4.9%

Good news is, I get to refill the piepline tomorrow, which happens to be a friday, which means a speacial one might slip in the basket. Like I need the excuse...

Cheers!

Day 319 - OK Beer

All's quiet in the Light household, as Cullen is off to AZ, and Liz is doing a good deed by picking up a friend down at JMU. I made the trip to the mall for one more gift to be mailed, while Ellie has been busy packaging up boxes for mailing. Hum, I said quiet, not restful...

For this one, it is all about the name, and it lives up to it fully. Mild yellow color, mild aroma, and mild taste. Yep, it's ok.

Specs:

Full name: O.K. Beer Okocim
Brewed By: Okocim Brewery
From: Poland
ABV: 5.6%

Down to one left in the pipeline, and hopefully will be able to then fill the next week or two with some tasty seasonals. At least that is my goal. Also, will have to find a special one for New Years, maybe splurge on one of those pricy palies.

cheers.

Day 318 - Mississippi Mud

So tonight being our family Christmas dinner, since Cullen is heading out to AZ to visit Elia over the holidays, I figured I'd pull out the big gun. A 32oz, package-is-everything, black and tan.

While a true B&T is mixed so that the light and dark beers stay separated in a clear glass, obviously that is impossible in a pre-mixed bottle. This one gets it's darkness and malt from a porter, and it's lightness and ease of drinking from a pilsner. All in all, it works ok, and the bottle is impressive, so for the wow factor at a party this one is decent.

Specs:

Full Name: Mississippi Mud Black & Tan
Brewed By: Mississippi Brewing Co
From: Utica NY
ABV: 5% ?

A bit of an enigma this beer. There is no website, only references to the beer on other postings about beer. Rumor has it that is is at least distributed by the company that makes the Arizona Tea brand, but no confirmation of that, nor do I really care. It doesn't crack my favs, but was ok to drink, and in the big bottle, I could give Cullen half without feeling jipped. After all, isn't that what Christmas is all about... ;>)

cheers!

Day 317 - ESA

What was that old song "I don't like Mondays", by the Boomtown Rats. Sometimes it does feel like I have a silicon chip inside my head, but alas the programing is rather buggy at times....

Oh right, the beer. A nice brown, ale-ish color, and it has an ale-ly smell, and guess what, drinks like an ale as well. Slightly dry, but malty.

Specs:

Full Name: ESA (short for extra special ale supposedly)
Brewed By: Yards Brewing Co
From: Cheesesteakville PA
ABV: 6%

Ah well, each day brings it's own test of character and, in my case, test of taste buds. This one doesn't fail, and Cullen likes it ok, but then his standard measuring stick is a Nattie Light....

It's gone, and so am I.

Cheers!

Day 316 - India Pale Ale

A wet rainy, cold day, and oh yeah, the Redskins played pathetically and lost again. Some might pick that as a good excuse to have a beer, and they would be perfectly right about that, but Ellie, Cullen, Liz and I went out to dinner, and even though Liz was exhausted after working at Free People most of the day (her first on that job) and has a project she is working on, and Cullen was fighting a strange bug, we had a great time. Don't feel too bad for the "kids", as it was their idea.... Now a good time with family is worth celebrating!

Specs:

Full Name: India Pale Ale (a bit boring...)

Brewed By: The St George Brewing Co

From: Hampton VA

ABV: 5.5%

This is another true "pale" ale, as while the color is a nice burnt orange, the taste runs to the dry malty side, and that doesn't make me very hoppy..... It isn't bad, just kind of snooze-city. Ah well, there are more fish yet left in the pond, though my bucket is getting full, and by bucket, I mean I'm on the last notch on my belt. Gonna have to start that old exercise program back up. My regimen of 12 oz curls every night doesn't quite seeem to be doing the trick. Go figure.

cheers

Day 315 Brown Sugga

Another day spent doing the Christmas shopping thing with Ellie, and even though at times we have a difference of opinion on a certain idea, somehow we manage to take care of everyone on our list.

Clearly there was risk in this selection, as anything that prominently talks about sweetness in the beer is potentially scary. Still, it pours a nice coppery color, and actually, tastes like a decent palie except for a strong sweet finish. Guess I dodged a bullet on this one...

Specs:

Full Name: Brown Sugga Ale
Brewed By: Lagunitas Brewing Co
From: Petaluma CA
ABV: 9.99%

So, seems that adding more sugar pumps up the ABV. It is a bit heavy, so no temptation to sit and drink more than one, but a good change of pace.

Peace out....

Day 314 Scuttlebutt

Friday baaaaabeeeee. So, to celebrate my first new customer as well, I pulled out the big bottle IPA.

The oh so important pour into the shot glass yields a golden color, and the mouthwatering aroma of hops, but will the taste be there as well? Mostly yes. That wonderful hops flavor is in full splendor, but is not quite A+. The name is Gale Force IPA, but I'd classify more as a strong tropical storm....

Specs:

Full Name: Scuttlebutt Gale Force IPA

Brewed By: Scuttlebutt Brewing Co

From: Everett WA

ABV: 5.25%

So, we'll leave it at that, as it is friday night, and even if I have no life, I can at least act like I do...

cheers.

Day 313 - MaiTai

Ok, it isn't a beer, but when you already have done a Singha, and you're at a Thai restaurant, what else is there?

Fruity, a brownish yellow, and packing a bit of a punch. All in all, exactly what one would expect from this drink.

Specs:

Full Name: Mai-Tai
Made by: the bartender at the Thai restaurant we were at
From: Bethesda MD
ABV: Can only guestimate = 40% of 20% = 8%

So, older brother Rick was in town for the night, so Ellie nd I sat through the nasty Beltway traffic to go out to dinner with him. We get down to Bethesda, and they are having electricity issues, so a buynch of restaurants are closed, and the rest have decent waiting times. We lucked in a table at this Thai restuarant, but then we lost power right after we were served, so it was dinner in the semi-darkness, and alas the power came back on before we were finished, so the credit card machine was working again...drat

Back to malted/carbonated beverages tomorrow night.

Cheers

Day 312 - Carib

After a couple of Bass ales last night, i was looking for something on the light side tonight. I found it...

Classic beer yellow, and matching easy drinkability common to this type, even with the P-word on the label. It won't win any awards, but then, I get to add another country to the list (hum, may have to count one of these days...)

Specs:

Full name: Carib Lager
Brewed By: Carib Brewery (nothing like keeping it simple)
From: Trinidad
ABV: Not on label, guessing 5 at best

Actually, not a bad beer and the bottle is already empty. Another good beer to serve at parties if you want to look sophisticated (and go two-fist-i-cated) without getting filled up or distracted by actual taste in your beer.

Picked up a couple of larger sized bottles for fun, a palie and a b&t, probably pull one one this weekend.

Cheers!

Day 311 - Bass Ale

Ok, a rather common bar beer, and no pic. Yep, I was out and so this is what I blog about. I mean, given a choice of any beer on draft for $3, and there is this or Bud Light, the choice becomes simple.

The good thing about Bass Ale is that is is not overpowering, but has a good color and taste, and is rather easy to drink. That worked, as it was one of those times wher the beer wasn't the focus, but rather getting schooled on Sales 101 from a good friend who is an extremely successful software sales professional. Todd can tell one of his reps they're a piece of whale crap, and they think they're perfume...

Specs:

Full Name: Bass Ale
Brewed By: hum, guessing Bass Brewing Co
From: England somewhere
ABV: modest, probably low 5s

Actually, this worked as my pipeline was dry and I didn't get a chance to get to the store to replenish. Sometimes, things just work out...

Cheers

Day 310 - K-9 Winter Ale

Oh the weather outside is darn cold,
and this beer runs malty and bold,
Colored orange like the sun down low,
Drink it slow, drink it slow, drink it slow....

Specs:

Full Name: K-9 Cruizer Winter Ale
Brewed By: Flying Dog Brewery
From: Frederick MD
ABV: 7.4%

A very tasty one in the winter ale category. Full flavored, but not too sweet or heavy, or worse, full of nasty spices. After a slow start with the first two beers (admittedly a wheat and a porter), I'm really going to have to make a trip to Frederick to find this brewer, or at least pick up a few of their others.

cheers!

Day 309 - James Boag's

Another trip to Home Depot today to get more lights, and the usual hauling boxes up and down to the basement commenced today. Ho-ho-ho.

So, green bottle, Premium on the label, even the Aussies get into the act. Still, almost a yellow color, and an underlying sweetness moderates out the typical bitterness that you get with the European brethren of this ilk.

Specs:

Full Name: James Boag's Premium Lager
Brewed By: J Boag and Son
From: Tasmania Australia
ABV: 5%


Well, not really a great end to the weekend, but hey, it wasn't about the beer, but about finding the Christmas Spirit. Alas, it was in any of the boxes I brought up so far (just a sore back...), and it certainly wasn't in this bottle, so the quest will continue. Actually, sitting in the living with the tree a few feet away makes it seem close, so I figure it is hiding around here somewhere.

Cheers.

Day 308 - Old Jubilation

A day spent doing Xmas stuff, after having to take the cats to the vet in the am. Shopping, buying a tree, getting more lights for the outside (new LEDs ones are very cool, and don't break as easily as those little glass things) Oh yeah, this is a beer blog... Another winter seasonal, and this one notches it up a bit.

A pale sparking brown color, strong malt aroma that gets lost once this one hits your mouth, and hit it it does. Very strong roasted malt flavor, with that dry bitter finish that is common with this type.

Specs:

Full Name: Old Jubilation Ale
Brewed By: Avery Brewing Co
From: Boulder Co
ABV: 8.2%

Another cold night, so not a bad beer under the circumstances. I couldn't drink a ton of these in a row, as the strong taste would get to me, and i might just go crazy tonight and have a 2nd beer, though lighter. Hum, there is an idea for new Xmas lights, a bunch of beer bottles....;>)

Cheers

Day 307 - Smuttynose Winter Ale

It's friiiiiiiidaaaaaayyyyy. A rather tough week ends with a good day, so what better way to celebrate the start of a weekend than with a beer. Let's get greedy, and say a good beer....

So Smuttynose hasn't let me down yet, and while dark ales are not my favorites, especially when they are of Belgian style, they are comfortable, and this one is like that ratty pair of jeans with the hole in the knee I keep in my closet. Deep cola brown, clean smell and roasted malt taste.

Specs:

Full Name: Smuttynose Winter Ale
Brewed By: Smuttynose Brewing Co
From: Portsmouth NH
ABV: 5.1%

The only beef I have with this is that it does grab my tonsils a bit, but that is true of all this style for some reason. Tastewise, it is very good, and it is refreshing in a way. Try it if you like this style.

Cheers!

Day 306 - Phin & Matt's

An ale tonight, from a brewer that did a very good job with a palie. It's good to taste a second satisfying effort.

The color of wet oak leaves, a earthy aroma, and just a nice, light, malty taste. I could drink a fair number of these, and probably enjoy each one, without being distracted. It won't hit the top of my charts, but definitely worth having on hand.


Specs:

Full Name: Phin & Matt's Extraordinary Ale
Brewed by: Southern Tier Brewing Co
From: Lakewood NY
ABV: 5.5%

So, the label claims it is brewed with 3 different hops and 3 different malts. Whatever they do, they achieve a simple yet drinkable drop. A good beer for a Thursday night.

Cheers.

Day 305 - Bald Eagle Brown

Ah, hump night (wednesday, middle of the week....), and a second from this brewer. My biggest problem is not remembering which ones I've had, but which ones I didn't like. The first from this brewer fell into that category.....

So, I could say that #2 tastes like #2, but in fact, it is better than that. It is brown though... I wouldn't so far as to say it is like cat poop to a dog, ie a delicacy, but if you like a light roasted flavor on the dry side in your beer, this one might work for you.

Specs:

Full Name: Bald Eagle Brown

Brewed By: RJ Rockers Brewing Co

From: Spartanburg SC

ABV: 5.6%

Definitely going to BYOB if I head down to SC, and that's all I'm going to say about that...

Cheers!