Day 342 - Estrella Damm

Friday night, and I didn't get a chance to make it to the beer store today, so had to go with the last available. It was another attempt to find a decent European import, but alas...

The color of straw, no discernable aroma, and a flat taste. At least it doesn't have the nothing bitterness of its green-bottled brethren, but otheer than that, not much good to say about it.

Specs:

Full Name: Estrella Damm
Brewed by: SA Damm
From: Barcelona Spain
ABV: 5.2%

So, at least I broke back above the 5% ABV floor, and well, had a beer from a well-known Barcelona brewery. Hum, maybe they give this to those bulls that then go crazy and run around the town.....

Cheers!

Day 341 - Smadny Mnich

The 3rd in the Gumby Austrian collection, and a return to my beer blog after two days of being a bowl of pained jello. The pipeline is also getting thin, so will make one of my last trips to the beer store to replenish tomorrow.

Ah right, the beer... So, very pale yellow, like a winter sunrise, fresh aroma, and a subtle step up from your basic lager taste. Drink this one, and you might pause while chugging it in some beer drinking game to notice it, but then by the 2nd or 3rd, your taste buds will just shrug as it passes by.

Specs:

Full Name: Smadny Mnich
Brewed By: Unknown (another written in Austrian label)
From: see above...
ABV: 4.3% ( a logical assumption given that is on the label)

Ok, I don't break the streak of sub 5%'s with this one, but actually, as my first beer back on a tired stomach, probably not a bad choice. Actually, it shows that there is decent beer in Europe, but that they keep it for themselves and ship us their "premium" stuff...

In the end, this is a classic beer that belongs in a can, as a bottle would be too much. It easily surpasses expectations, as long as you don't have any. I try and keep an open mind and mouth, which has led to a very interesting journey.

Hum, last thing, but since I am nearing my last here, I'm open to any recommendations on which should be my last?

cheers!

Day 340 - flu wins - day 2

Finally starting to feel better after having to change shirts 4 times today because of sweating. Hum, perhaps that was TMI, but the end result is no beer again tonight. I did realize though that this is the only times in the last year I missed due to illness, which is pretty good all in all.

On the Whiskey of the Week, which was supposed to start today, my dad and brothers actually broke out the first one monday night (after I started to feel bad...) and are now waiting on me to put the wiki up (trying a new format) and to try on my side. For those curious, it is an 18 yr old Glenlivet. Hopefully will be up for that tomorrow.

Day 339 - no beer - flu bug

So, Ellie came home not feeling well yesterday, and it hit me right after I finished my blog that night, so given I could barely move, no beer blog last night.

Day 338 - Stovepipe Porter

Totally changed it up tonight, with a glass of the dark stuff. Given the name gives it away, no need to point out the obvious.

So yes, the color of good dark maple syrup, and that roasted malt smell that loudly announces what will come. Actually, just a very full-flavored beer, as comforting as the old sweatshirt and sweatpants you wear around the house on weekends that your wife hates..... ;>)

Specs:

Full Name: Stovepipe Porter

Brewed By: Otter Creek Brewery

From: Middlebury VT

ABV: 4.4%

Ok, I don't recall this blog being about finding the lowest ABV beers available, but it seems that way lately. Tomorrow, I end it, even if I have to drink that Bud in the fridge. Well, maybe I won't go that far......

Cheers!

Day 337 - Quilmes

Figured that I needed a beer to suffer through the REdskins game, and of course was right. Even with my Skins Tshirt, santa hat and ice-chilled beer mug, the Skins lost to the hated Giants (again...).

So the beer. This one is another chugging contest caliber beer. It's light, easy to drink, and doesn't distract or grab the tonsils. It's drinkable enough, but has no real character.

Specs:

Full Name: Quilmes
Brewed by: Cervecería y maltería Quilmes
From: Quilmes Argentina
ABV: 4.9%

So, two nights in a row of sub 5% ABV beers to start the year. Hum, only way it can go is up. Until then,

Cheers.

Day 336 - Kozel

Heading over to the Procs for the evening, so will write the blog tomorrow.

Tomorrow...

So, another from the Gumbi collection, and shared with Dave. Good news is, Dave liked it. Bad news is, Dave likes his beer fairly tasteless, though in all fairness, in quantity at least.....

A very pale yellow, and taste to match makes this one an excellent choice for drinking games. Of course, you'd have to go to Austria to play, but that wouldn't be so bad I think.

Specs:

Full Name: Kozel
Brewed By: Some brewer in Austria
From: Austria....
ABV: 4%

So, maybe the best thing about this is the pic of a goat drinking on the can. Of course, it would take a mug the size of the one shown to feel this one... Still, I appreciate the beer and the source, and we had a good time at the Procs (even if Mary won the game both times we played....)

cheers!