A Winter Warmer that could even warm the Grinch's heart.

Harpoon Brewery

Winter Warmer - 5.5% ABV

What a season for Winter Warmers! Gab and I finally get to review one together. It has been a long time since we were able to sit, cackle, and do what we do best...DRINK!

To really get the full effect of this Winter Warmer I like to rim the glass with some simple syrup, then dip into some cinnamon and sugar.  Once the brew is poured into the dressed glass, the white head rises to the top with flecks of cinnamon. The aroma rising from the amber colored beer is sweet with some spice.  The cinnamon from the beer and from the garnish really takes off.   After the head fades what is left is a gorgeous ambered colored beer with ample carbonation dancing to the top.  It almost brings tears to my eyes because it is such a beauty...sniff sniff.

After my inappropriate response to this stellar specimen, I had to redeem myself...fast!  Must DRINK!!!!  So, I did.  Once the glass reaches my lips the cinnamon and sugar take over and the medium to light bodied beer rolls perfectly over my taste buds.  A sweet taste from the sugar, a spice from cinnamon and nutmeg, then a sweet malty flavor kicks in just before a slight bitter end.  What a list of flavors this beer offers. 

Harpoon's Winter Warmer is a very drinkable beer that even non-beer drinkers can enjoy.  Even though  these people can not be trusted or do not have souls, they may be able to repent by drinking this fine beer. 

Obviously this is a seasonal beer and if you want to get it you must get to stepping NOW!!!!  Last week there were just two cases left in the isle.  Are you sweating and starting to panic?  You should.

Gab : I agree, this is the best winter warmer I've tried. It lacks the heaviness of Iron Hill's and is very drinkable. Perfect for long evenings spent by the fire in the company of best friends. 

Cheers!

K&G

A Hound That's Welcome at My House Anytime...

by Gab

"Anytime you're thinking Evil, you're thinking the blues." ~Howlin' Wolf

2011 has been an amazing year for many reasons, not the least of which is the 100th birthday of Mr. Robert Johnson.  In honor of the this reknowned blues master, Dogfish Head Brewery collaborated with Sony Music to craft the perfect celebratory ale. Hellhound On My Ale is a super-hoppy ale that hits 100 IBUs in the brewhouse, 10% ABV, 10 SRM in color, and dry-hopped with 100% centennial hops at a rate of 100 kilos per (yup, you guessed it!) 100 barrel brew length. Phew!

 That gorgeous, cloudy color makes my mouth water all over again...

In addition to the intense hops, there is a delightful hint of citrus due the the dried lemon peel and flesh added as a shout-out to Robert Johnson's mentor, Blind Lemon Jefferson. The attention to detail in this collaborative series is just too awesome for words.

My hop-head intuition told me this was going to be an amazing beer before I even lifted the glass to my lips, and boy was it right on the dang darn money! Refreshing with just enough hops (for me), and the hint of lemon adds a nice, crisp finish. Two sips in, I could not stop smiling. After one pint I was the happiest person in the Foley living room! I had waited weeks to try this special release, and it was everything I dreamed it would be.

Kath: Once I opened the Hellhound I knew that I was going to make a face that would send small children sceaming.  I tried to compose myself as I clinked glasses with Gab and my hubs...but the soapy head and cloudy brew was scaring me!  I hated it!  A shiver went down my spine and I could have sworn a hound made it's way into my kitchen to bite my ass.  NOT GOOD.  So, if you like pine, lemons. and Pledge this brew is for you...NOT ME!

Poor Kathleen's taste buds were so violently assaulted by this beer that she could not sleep until she shared that with you!

If you enjoy a fair amount of hops, you should definitely try to get your hands in this limited release. Save it for a time when you can kick back, play some soul-feeding blues and toast the Mississippi delta bluesman who inspired this very finely-crafted beer.

Cheers!

~K & G~

The Tale of Two Christmas Ales

Tis the season to be on the hunt for the best of the best Winter Warmers.  I have tried several (shocking, I know) and to my delight I have not tossed any in the sink in disgust. 

Just to list a few...

Iron Hill Brewery - Winter Warmer

Flying Dog - K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale

Harpoon - Winter Warmer (My ultimate favorite)

Lancaster Brewing Company - Winter Warmer

All of the brews were pretty tasty and the Harpoon Winter Warmer is FANTASTIC! I serve it in a glass rimmed with a little simple syrup dipped in cinnamon and sugar.  Pure Christmas Bliss.

I would have liked to review each Winter Warmer but I decided  to pick just two and I thought the two with the same name was the ticket.  Christmas Ale by Great Lakes Brewery and St.Louis Brewery/Schlafly Bottleworks.

St.Louis Brewey/Schafly Bottleworks

Christmas Ale - 8% ABV

I happen to see it in the make your own six pack and thought, what the hell.  In the cart it went with a few other treasures. 

Hello, Christmas in a bottle!!!  Really!  I opened the bottle and instantly smelled orange and cloves.  The color of this bottle of Noel was a rich amber with a small creamy head.  It did not hold the head for long but it had a decent amount of carbonation.

I was not too sure with the orange action oozing from the bottle but the fist sip proved my intuition to be wrong!  What a well balanced, sweet, yet not too sweet, spiced, fruity, and just a drinkable beer. Oh, and with a respectable ABV of 8% I was feeling mighty festive after three bottles.

Great Lakes Brewing Company

Christmas Ale - 7.5% ABV

Even though they share the same name the two beers are completely different.  The Schafly Christmas Ale had an orange flavor that lingered with some clove but this number used honey, ginger, and cinnamon.  Great Lakes once again did not let me down.

After I emptied the bottle out into a glass. the head rose to at least 3 fingers high.  When the head slowly shrank a beautiful copper colored ale was left in the glass. 

The taste was constantly evolving.  I instantly tasted ginger, then honey, and last cinnamon.  The three flavors melted together to produce a well brewed ale.  Again, with a nice 7.5% ABV it left you no choice to feel all warm and fuzzy for Christmas.

So, if some of you faithful readers want to try a good Winter Warmer instead of trying to hide that obnoxious Elf on the Shelf try some of my picks!

Cherrs!

~K~





My NOT so Epic Afternoon With Stone.

Stone Brewing Company

Vertical Epic Ale - 9.4% ABV

Stone Brewing Company has been releasing a Vertical Epic Ale since 02/02/02 and you guessed it, I got the 11/11/11.

I am usually not a HUGE fan of Stone Brewing Company because they tend to be Arrogant Bastards and use way too much hops.  I have sampled a few of the Bastard Releases and what a Bastard it was to my taste buds. Gab and I also tried two of Stone's Collaboration Releases, and if I remember correctly, I thought the Cherry Chocolate Stout was ok but the Japanese Green Tea IPA was a hot mess! 

Now, back to the present and the Vertical Epic Ale 11/11/11.  The label says the series are bottle-conditioned ales that are specifically designed to be aged until sometime after December 12th, 2012!  Even though some people say I am a beer hoarder (Gab & Ryan) I am quite sure I can not hold onto a beer that long.

Once poured in a glass the dark amber colored beer produced a nice frothy head.  The aroma was a bit strange to me.  I was expecting to smell more spices but was not hit with much of anything.  The label mentioned cinnamon with chilies so I was anxious to give it a try.  I should have waited.  UGH!!!  It was NOT what I thought it was going to taste like at all!!!  I was expecting some drinkablity and some heat from the chili.  Hell no!  I got bitch slapped by a freaking pepper!  Seriously, it was like taking a shot of beer while gnawing on a pepper!  If I wanted to eat right and sit with a veggie tray I would of gone to Whole Foods not Canals!!!  I wanted beer! A good beer damn it!

After I dumped out the bottled veggie tray I ran to the beer fridge, where I so called hoard my beer, and saw yet another Stone bottle mocking me!  This one was a different Gargoyle smirking above the label.  It was the Stone Belgo Anise Imperial Russian Stout. 

Belgo Anise Imperial Russian Stout

ABV - 10.5%

I did not waste much time pouring this in a glass in hopes of saving my taste buds from it's unfortunate peril.  The color was just beautiful.  A dark, dark, dark mahogany and the caramel head was inviting.  The aroma was that of licorice, chocolate, and coffee. All scents that are very much my cup of beer.  The first sip was a shock of coffee, like a typical stout, and once that dissipated a faint licorice flavor comes forward.  The two ingredients totally complimented each other.  At the very end of the complex journey of flavors a vanilla undertone sneaks in on your palate.  Now that my Bastard is a freaking beer!  No veggies here!!!!

So, my afternoon was not a complete Epic Fail.

Cheers!

~K~

Pretty Things Babayaga and Guest with Heat

Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project

Babayaga - 7% ABV

Hello boys and girls, I recently had the opportunity to try out Pretty Things "Babayaga" Stout which is their winter seasonal brew.  It is brewed by Pretty Things Ale and Beer Project located in Westport, Massachusetts.  I've tried brews from this place before and I knew before trying it I would more than likely enjoy it...so...I went ahead and bought twelve of them.  

First and foremost, the abv of this stout comes in low at 7%.  I was a bit disappointed at first, but due to the quantity I have, I wasn't too worried.  Even with a heavy pour into a snifter the head was small, dark brown in color, and dissipated quickly.  This brew has a complex smell for me.  I get roasted malts, faint chocolate and alcohol, maybe some oatmeal as well.  The taste is complex as well, I've never tasted anything like this before. You can taste a bit of a smoked flavor along with hints of mocha along with a fruit and nut taste.  A very unique brew to say the least and is very drinkable! 

 This one gets the two hangover up vote especially after drinking three of them a few nights ago.  Overall, this is a very drinkable stout and I highly recommend trying one or three.  Also, after my initial "tasting" I had the great pleasure of having this on tap at a nearby saloon.  This beer tasted just as good on tap as it did bottled.  

Pictured along with my brew is my evil Glock model 21SF chambered in .45ACP.  The "SF" after the model number indicates this is a short frame model as compared to their Glock 21 which has a larger frame.  Glock was founded in the early 1980's by Gaston Glock who is an Austrian engineer.  The pistol's frame is made of polymer which is considerably lighter than steel.  Although Glock was not the first to manufacturer a polymer framed pistol it was the first successful one with their Glock 17.  Glock pistols come in various sizes and calibers and are carried by many professionals world wide as well as a popular weapon for the shooting enthusiast.  Glock pistols are simple to operate and easy to maintain.  Whether you want something for range use or a compact weapon to conceal on your person for self defense a Glock could certainly meet your needs.  Anyway, just like with various brews...there are various guns to try out to find your personal likings.  I personally prefer a 1911 but a Glock will work for me as well.  

Cheers!

~Ryan~

I do like it Sam I Adams!!!

The Boston Beer Company - Samuel Adams

Thirteenth Hour - 9% ABV

Sam I am DIGGING you!!!!  I would drink this on a train, in a plane, and in the rain!  Samuel Adams has been one of my go to beers lately too.  I enjoyed the Pumpkin Ale, Winter Lager, and the OctoberFest.  As you all know I was obsessed with all the pumpkin brews.  Not one beer held a candle to my favorites Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin or Southern Tier Pumking but Sam Adams was a close runner up.  As Gab put it, during one of our liquid lunches, it is the sleeper of the season! 

 The Thirteenth Hour is one of four of the Barrel Room Collection all of which are sold only in a 22oz bottles. On the bottle the brief but catchy description was:

The thirteenth hour is the witching hour and refers to the mysterious combination of flavors in this brew.  We've combined the roasted chocolate and coffee flavors of a stout with the spicy character of a Belgian ale aged in oak. 

Uhhh, hello...this sounds like my perfect beer!  Oh and let's not forget it made with Kosmic Mother Funk!  You read that right! Sam Adams created KMF (Oh lookie...my initials!) which is a name for the process of aging ale in large oak tuns that is blended to varying degrees in each of the beers in the series to add unique spicy, fruity, and complex character.  Get the Kosmic Mother Funk outta here!!! 

The color was a deep mahogany with a creamy tan head.  It had an unusual scent that had me stumped and intrigued.  I knew I picked up the usual suspects for a stout which is chocolate and coffee, but there was a sweet scent wafting from the glass.  Maybe cherry?  An oaky vanilla aroma was also noted.

The Thirteenth Hour has a nicely balanced spice and sweetness that lingered on my taste buds.  It was not as full bodied as I anticipated but not let down.  Since this beer is a Belgium Stout is is a little different than your tradtitional stout.  I liked how all the flavors mingled with each other so I was not overwhelmed with one ingredient. 

Sam Adams once again, did not disappoint me.  I think you too would enjoy this beer here or there...You would like them everywhere!

Cheers!

~K~