Chicory Stout made me SMILE

Dogfish Head

Chicory Stout - 5.2% ABV

Dogfish Head has been very consistent on producing quality beer and they did it once again with the Chicory Stout.  Even with the low ABV of 5.2% I was very impressed.

This beer was not only pleasing to the palate,  it was pleasing to the eye.  The color was almost jet black with a fair amount of carbonation bolting to the top.  A mocha colored head finished the picture perfect beer.  A coffee and charred wood scents rose from the glass that would make any beer lover's mouth water. Sigh, I need a moment to gather my thoughts.

Don't you wish you could reach in and grab this beer?  

The flavor was just as I expected, coffee with a  smokey backbone.  It was a light to medium bodied beer that left a little hint of chocolate sweetness on my tongue.  This is a well balanced coffee porter that I will certainly get again and again.

Cheers!

~K~

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~

Are you feeling lucky...PUNK? Hell Yeah!

Dogfish Head Brewery

Punkin Ale

7% ABV

This is brew is as illusive as the Loch Ness Monster and the Yeti...but I caught and drank it before you tucked your kids in bed!  

After chasing this beer for the past month I was scared to open it for the fear of disappointment.  Thank the dear beer gods I was not left holding a bottle and asking...why...why me!  It was all that I wished for and then a little extra! 

This full-bodied brown ale (BTW, I love the Indian Brown Ale too) has organic brown sugar and brewed with pumpkin meat.  Even with a 7% ABV it was incredibly smooth, mildly spicy, and had hint of pumpkin in the background.  I think if you are looking for a seasonal beer without the overwhelming pumpkin flavor or spiciness of nutmeg or cinnamon  go with Dogfish Head Punkin. 

Cheers!

~K~

Blue Monkey Springfest 2011

Well, we made it! Ready for some highlights?

(Photo courtesy of Cory Dunsmuir)

We loved meeting the folks from Weyerbacher. Natalie DeChico was super-friendly and we both enjoyed tasting Verboten Belgian Pale Ale, 5.9% APV and 30 IBU. Gab likey'd, Kath - not so much.   BUT, my (Gab) favorite beer of the evening was Weyerbacher's Tiny, which I closely guarded and kept to myself. It is a Belgian inspired Imperial Stout weighing in at 11.8% - Not so TINY!!. You’ll find big chocolate and roasted notes, balanced with the Belgian flavors from the Abbey yeast strain. 

Nicole, Gab, and Kathleen

Brooklyn Brown Ale - 5.6% APV, was a fave of Kath's. Had a nutty, chocolate color, for what it's worth. Don't really know what color means for craft brews. Guess we have to drink some more to find out, huh?

Blue Point Blueberry Ale from Long Island was another fave of Kath's. Light on the APV (4.39%) with an equally low IBU, it smelled of blueberry lusciousness from the first sip. It is a nice, light, summer-drinking beer, perfect for outdoor parties.

Gab: Not my favorite, and an unexpected taste. I'm not a fan of mixing fruitiness and beer. I feel the same about wine, too! Give me pineapple in my vodka any day, though!!!

Mark Weinmann from Great Lakes Brewing Company was also extremely cordial and took time to talk to us as well. When he heard we were beer bloggers, he did not hesitate to top us off, blah ha ha! His lovely wife sent him to Springfest with wildflower seed packets, love it! Great Lakes Brewing Company is an environmentally-respectful and socially-conscious company. Their Edmund Fitzgerald Porter was another of our faves. Malty, Nutty, with a hint of coffee. 5.8% APV.

BOTTOM LINE: Our one overall favorite was Dogfish Head's Indian Brown Ale. Complete lusciousness! Described as "the original hybrid, a cross between a Scotch Ale, an India Pale Ale, and an American Brown. Our Indian Brown Ale is well-hopped and malty at the same time (magical)". 7.2% APV at a 50 IBU.  For me (Kath) I am so surprised I liked this beer.  I am a Hop-Hater from way back but I really liked this beer. I actually went out today to get a 6 pack. 

Gab: I LOVED Dogfish Head's Indian Brown Ale, but my #1 fave was Weyerbacher's Tiny. I was very privileged to have tasted it "under the table", I definitely owe my sister for not sharing. Thank you so very much, Natalie! 

One thing I was wondering about, though - where was Flying Fish???? I was so looking forward to sipping some Exit 9, and any Exit, for that matter!

What were your faves from Saturday night? Let us know in the comments, and tell us what you ran out to buy post-hangover on Monday!

Be back tomorrow for Wino Wednesday!

XOXO

K & G