Day 359 - Honey Raspberry Ale

Ok, one last attempt to find a decent fruited beer, and as probably could have been predicted, what part of "honey raspberry" didn't I get...

So, this one has a very nice red color, and clean aroma, and honestly, the first sip is the worst for sweetness and after that it becomes drinkable. Would I lie about that...

Specs:

Full name: Honey Raspberry Ale
Brewed By: Spanish Peaks Brewing Co
From: various (Polson MT, Denver CO)
ABV: 5.1%

The real reason of course why this one made it in the blog (besides me being crazy enough to buy it...) is that I didn't get out to the store for my final pipeline trip and this was the only thing I had left. Ah well, now I am down to my last 6 pack, I will find a way to make it all palies, starting with the 90 minute IPA from Dogfish Head, which I have been putting off for too long.

Cheers!

Day 358 - 16 Mile Amber Sun Ale

Big aluminum bottles are kind of cool, but this one masks a very nice colored beer (deep reddish orange), and in my opinion, inparts just a hint of metalic to the taste when you drink out of it. I'm not sure of the economics of glass vs solid aluminum, but probably easier to ship and less breakage with the metal.

From a glass, this is a very pleasing beer, balancing both malt and hops into a tasty brew. You can appreciate it, without being to distracted by it. The analogy being walking down the street with your sig other, and seeing something eye-catching, but not so much you get an elbow in the ribs or feel too bad....

Specs:

Full name: 16 Mile Amber Sun Ale
Brewed By: 16 Mile Brewing Co
From: Georgetown DE
ABV: unknown, but guessing 5ish

So very cool bottle plus good beer plus less than 2 hours away makes for potential visit. They have a couple of other ales out, so will have to try them.

Down to the last week, going to be strange when the year is over, but at least I have my W.o.W. to keep me going. (no, not World of Warcraft, Whisky of Week...)

Cheers!

Day 357 - Full Circle

you know, sometmes life is just not fair, and the same is true in the beer world. I mean, how does a kolsh style follow a tasty palie. The answer, not very well...

The color is a pleasant deep yellow, but the taste is just too plain to compare. It's drinkable, just not memorable.

Specs:

Full Name: Full Circle
Brewed By: New Holland Brewing Co
From: same as the rest (don't have my glasses so cant read it on the label...)
ABV: 4%

So, the yin/yang caught up with this one, and the full circle means you get nowhere fun drinking this. Actually, not a bad beer to have around for those who typically drink the mass produced swill, just make sure you have something tastier for yourself...

Have a good weekend!

cheers.

Day 356 - Imperial IPA

The good thing about this blog is, I can do whatever the heck I want. So we went out to dinner with our friends Steve and Monique Conway last night, so got back a bit late and tired to do my blog (plus only had relatively boring beer with dinner - Yuengling draft).

Thusly, I brought 2 into the house, as I thought I had drunk one previously, but it turned out I had not, so then picked this IPA as the throw back to yesterday. Sometimes I am just that good....

So, burnt orange color, citrusy aroma, and then just plain deliciousness. Nothing but hops to tingle those taste buds.

Specs:

Full Name: Imperial IPA

Brewed By: Mendocino Brewing Co

From: Saratoga Springs NY

ABV: 8%

Either I was thirsty, or this beer is really good as it is already just a memory. Probably a combo of the two.

Oh well. On to the other, which hopefully will not be too much of a let down.

Day 355 - Bourbon Barrel Stout

Thursday night, and it has been a long day, and for some crazy reason, I pick up the heavy stout instead of something simplier and lighter. So my already overutilized brain must work for a few minutes longer.

So dark, it is almost like a black hole with no light getting out, a rather pleasant if malty aroma, and then a full frontal assault on the tastebuds. This is a beer that makes you stop and take notice, and one worth forming an opinion of slowly as it's complexity requires patience. I still don't know if I really like it for itself, or just for it's cool name.

Specs:

Full name: Bourbon Barrel Stout

Brewed By: Bluegrass Brewing Co

From: Louisville KY

ABV: unknown

So a 2nd good one from this brewer, but not quite where I'm ready to move to KY. They have some other tasty sounding beers, so will see if I can find another in the next 10 days.

So much beer, so little time....

cheers!

Day 354 - Old Foghorn

Late in the game here, and a new style comes into play. Fact is, it's getting really tough to find beers I haven't had yet that aren't $5 a bottle.

A bright, fall-leaf colored brew, but the fun stops there. The taste is akin to those same leaves steeped in water for a few months, then a few cupfuls of sugar added. As this is the first of this ilk I've had, I don't have anything to compare it to. May just have to get one other before year-end just to see.

Specs:

Full name: Old Foghorn Barleywine Style Ale
Brewed By: Anchor Brewing Co
From: San Francisco CA
ABV: 8.1%

So, the website claims it is fully-hopped, but that taste is burried deep under the sweetness. Hum, actually, this is like a dessert beer of sorts, so if you're into that kind of thing, give this a try.

Off now to watch American Idol with new judges and switch to the whisky of the week blog. Life is tough... ;>)

Day 353 - Chelada

Ah, sometimes my willingness to go way out there is even too much for me. I happened to see that beer that Tom Wulf sent me the pic of, and of course got it.

The color is beer, with a reddish tint. The taste is pure awful. What else would you expect. Given this is a 24oz can, it is taking me a long time to get through it, and it is questionable if that will even happen.

No sense putting the specs down for this one. If you want to know, why?