The weather outside is frightful, but I got a Good Beer...NO SHIT

 

"The Tail of Two Dogs"

Flying Dog Brewery

Road Dog Porter - 6% ABV

Some people head to the store to get eggs, milk, and bread before snow, (I guess to make french toast?) but I head right to the liqueur store.  There is no freaking way I am going to be stuck here on a cold night without provisions! I ended up walking out with a 6 pack of River Horse's Oatmeal Milk Stout plus a few singles of Kujo Imperial Coffee Stout and Road Dog Porter both by Flying Dog Brewery.

I already had the River Horse (great beer too BTW) so I went with the two gems from Flying Dog Brewery. 

Road Dog Porter had a creamy head that rose to about an inch but started to retreat within seconds.  What was left in the glass was a slightly hazy beer with an amber hue.

A malty aroma escaped from the glass along with a hint of hops.  God, I hate hops!  The bottle stated it had just 31 IBUs, so I thought I was safe from the hops.  Thankfully, my first sip was malty and earthy with mild carbonation.  Once I left the glass sit for about 10 minutes so the brew could get a little warmer the flavors shifted.  I could now taste the coffee and the roasted nutty characters emerged. 

How COOL is that label?  That dog is such a bad ass! This is the first label to be illustrated by Ralph Steadman and was almost not seen!  Initially this label was deemed profane and Flying Dog along with the ACLU went to court to fight to keep Ralph's motto "Good Beer...No Shit" on the label.  After many years Flying Dog won and it was ruled that art can not be censored!  Boosh! 

Now that my friends, is a good beer...NO SHIT!

Flying Dog Brewery

Kujo Imperial Coffee Stout - 8.9% ABV

My next move was to the nasty dog that looks like it was going to bite my face off!  Kujo Imperial Coffee Stout poured a gorgeous mahogany brown with amazing cascading! Sure I poured it with a heavy hand, but I am sure with a non aggressive pour it would be just as mesmerizing.  The head on this beer was a creamy coffee color that just about jumped out of my glass.  The head was riddled with large bubbles that seemed to last forever.

Really, how can you deny this?

The smell of coffee and vanilla took over my nose as well as my taste buds. I was expecting the coffee beans to take over, since it is an Imperial Coffee Stout, but the vanilla was more noticable. Kujo was medium bodied with a bitter/dry finish.  I left the beer  to warm up and the coffee flavor picked up.  I enjoyed this beer icy cold as well as slightly above room temperature. 

Kujo may have scared the crap out of me but it was worth every damn sip!

Cheers!

~K~ 



A night with my Evil Twin

Evil Twin Brewery

Soft DK - 10% ABV

Spending time with my evil twin is usually a good time and sometimes involves possible illegal activity with poor judgement, but last night none of the above.  Sigh.  Instead I was sitting with an empty bottle of Soft DK brewed by Evil Twin Brewing. 

What?  Never heard of it? Uh, me either!!  My brother on the other hand has been drinking this brew for a few months even though the name Soft DK should have turned him off.  Evil Twin Brewing is a brewery from Denmark and just debuted in the US in April 2011.  A brewer by the name of Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø began his home brewing in 2003 but did not enter the commercial craft brew scene until 2005. Oh, and the name Evil Twin...hmmm.  Jeppe's brother is Mikkel Borg Bjergsø , who owns Mikkeller Brewery! Talk about sibling rivalry.  You may have heard of a few of his brews such as Beer Geek Brunch Weasel (made with weasel poo- true story), Beer Geek Breakfast. Big Worse, and many many more.

Some of the Evil Twin Lineup.

As you can see the name of the beers are a little off the wall and I believe one of them (not pictured) is called Cat Piss.  Yeah, not sure that is a crowd pleaser but whatever floats your boat, right?  The beer that I am reviewing is the the brew on the far left marketed as Soft DK because the US is all freaking uptight about being PC.  Whatever.

Soft DK 's color was dark as night with a beautiful caramel colored head.  Lacing and the carbonation looked amazing and I think it whispered...DRINK ME.  The aroma was that of chocolate, sweet coffee, and vanilla.  At this point, I was pretty sure I was going to totally fall in love with a beer named after poo!  My first sip was a total shock to my taste buds.  It was extremely bitter, almost like a hop bitter.  God I hate hops.  I did not see the IBU on the bottle but I went on Google and it was listed at 60 IBU's. Once the bitterness finished beating my tongue up it had a strong dark chocolate flavor with a dry finish.  After a few more sips I tasted a faint coffee undertone and some vanilla.  What I did not pick up was the alcohol taste.  With 10% ABV I was expecting to have a strong alcohol burn but it was not present. 

Overall,  my night with the Evil Twin was not as exciting or tasty as I hoped for but at 10% ABV it was all forgotten and forgiven.  

Cheers!

~K~ 

Oktoberfest Lager in the winter...Whaaaa?

Erie Brewing Company

Fallenbock - 7.8% ABV

Last week I had my cousins over for a mini Oktoberfest/Holiday party and they brought over some craft beers to sample as well. One beer that  brought back a twinkle in my eye was Fallenbock,  by Erie Brewing Company.  Oh, and the drunk ram on the bottle made it even more enticing.  Seriously, a beer to knock out a ram is a brew for me!

Once opened, the traditional Oktoberfest Lager had a rich malty scent that made me so wish it was fall again.  The days of pumpkin beers and a wonderful array of beers to choose from, not like now...NOTHING but leftover beer and snow!  Damn it. 

The color was a rich chocolate brown topped with a rather weak head.  Small and only lasted just a few minutes.  What?  Fallenbock had a classic lager body and the taste was of chocolate malts with a crisp finish.  Nicely done, and with a 7.8% ABV I was waiting to be like the ram on the label, happy and on my back.  Blah ha ha...wait.

Cheers!

~K~

My Night With a Yeti

by Jackie M.

I need chocolate. A burly man. And sometimes, some booze. Not necessarily in that order. I think all women do actually. 

*Gents, pay attention here. I've yet to meet a lady that disputes the following theory.* 

I believe that women only need to know two things in life to be happy: 

1. That they're loved. 

2. There's chocolate in the house. 

Seriously. Nothing else matters. Women are all about security, and if we are secure in our knowledge that we are loved and that our pantry is stocked with chocolate, then all is well with the world. But if one of these sacred rules is broken, if there is doubt, then life may as well be over. That being said, it does happen, from time to time, a moment when we ladies feel like the world is ending. So what's a girl to do when she's not feeling the love, and her cupboards are free of that delicious cacao-based manna? Turn to the third (lesser known) part of my theory: If all else fails, booze. I faced just such a dilemma the other night. After suffering another long workday, I came home hoping to find a few little pieces of dark chocolate to help shore up my weakening spirit. But there were none. I searched high and low, but there was nary a morsel of the good stuff in sight. So what did I do? I turned to the bottle. And not just any bottle. I turned to the Yeti. 

Thankfully this dark beast of a beer didn't disappoint. It's rich, chocolate-y overtones helped stave off one of my cravings, and with an ABV of 9.5%, this Russian Imperial Stout was kind enough to help me forget why I'd been so stressed earlier in the day. Its sweet, rich aroma has notes of caramel and vanilla that mingle together nicely. But its complex flavor is what will immediately capture your attention. It completely engages your focus so that you have to consider its strength, its range, its mystery. Its nuanced flavor starts smooth and ends with a little bite, but it's just a nip, and the overall finish is velvet-smooth. Don't be turned off by the 75 IBU, the edge of bitterness is necessary in order to fully understand and appreciate the rich and sweet, deep comfort that lies at the center of this beer. Like a burly man, this beer is perfect for when you want to snuggle up by the fire and enjoy the deliciousness of being wrapped in something warm and fuzzy. So, ladies, should you find yourself without an ounce of chocolate in your pantry and lacking the sating love that allows us to keep the home fires burning, give the Yeti a go. You won't be disappointed.

The 2011 Best in Brew!!!

What a year 2011 has been for Gab and I.  We traveled to Wyerbacher Brewery in Easton and attended a local Spingfest.  I also hosted an Oktoberfest that would make any beer enthusiast proud.  We hope that this year brings many more fantastic discoveries and less hangovers.  But before we ring in the new year Gab and I wanted to leave our loyal readers a list of our top 5 beers of 2011.

Number 5...

Gab: Weyerbacher - Double Simcoe IPA

Kath: Shipyard Brewing Company-  Imperial Porter (Pugsley's Signature Series)


Number 4...

Gab: Great Lakes - Lake Erie Monster

Kath : Breckenridge Brewery - Vanilla Porter


Number 3...

Gab: Iron Hill Brewery - Ironfish

Kath: Brooklyn Brewery - Black Chocolate Stout

Number 2...

Gab: Dogfish Head - Hellhound On My Ale

Kath: Weyerbacher - Imperial Pumpkin

Number 1...

Gab: Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales - E.S. Bam Hoppy Farmhouse Ale

Kath: Southern Tier - Imperial Pumking


Gab: This was hard for me. We have sampled and enjoyed so many wonderful brews this year, picking just 5 was not so easy. SO, I have a few honorable mentions: Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale (SOOOO good), Dogfish Head 120 minute IPA (I was Vigga vigga in about 5 minutes, while on the phone with Kathleen and watching American Horror Story - the perfect cocktail!), and Weyerbacher's Heresy - Maker's Mark barrels make everything better, kinda like bacon.

Kath: This was also hard for me too!!!  I was in love with so many beers last year that I felt like I was a teenager again, thinking I was in love ever other week.  True Story.  As Gab mentioned earlier,  the Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale was a sneaky seasonal ale.  It was not hyped up but it was incredible.  I also have to give a honorable mention to The Poet by New Holland  Brewing Company, and last Brooklyn Lager by Brooklyn Brewery.  Brooklyn Brewery has made me happy on several occasions.  Wink Wink.
 
Hoppy New Years!!!

Cheers!

~G&K~



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~