1st beer up for Merry was Hansenn's Lambic Experimental Raspberry 2009 matured in oak barrels. The nose of tart raspberries and Brett, with a clear deep ruby color hits the palate with a sourness of acetic acid (vinegar) and a tart of oak that reminds me of drinking dill pickle juice as a kid... it was a risk then but so rewarding... compared to Lindemanns lambic this is the Ferrari of lambics. The initial profile makes you suck yourself into your own head, then as the first impression lulls you awe for more. 100% Belgian.
2nd My choice, Highland Seven Sisters abbey-ale dubbel 6.5%. Double the grain bill and Belgian dark Candi, slap some Trappist ale yeast with a great ester quality, made with Pilsner, Pale, Extra Special and Chocolate malts. Sweet aromas with a hint of nuttiness makes this limited a definite keeper. Hopped with Hallertau Hersbrucker and German Spalt.
3rd up is John John (which means technically I'm staying rogue for the time being). This beer is a collaboration between brewmaster John Maier and John Couchot the master distiller. In this one they take Dead Guy and put it in Dead Guy whisky barrels. Being first in the John John series a 3,100 gallon batch of John John Ale produces 1357 cases of beer. 6.5%abv and deep honey color with a strong vanilla oak flavor and quick dissipating head makes this beer the best and most complex I've Rogue had.
4th be Heavy Seas Siren Noir English style imperial stout! Man they fermented and flavored with Belgian chocolate nibs! It pours an opaque black with slight malt nose, taste is full with little to no roast or toffee but great caramel vanilla slightly hanging on the plank I call my tongue 8%
Finished the night at The Bier Garden with a great meal and some local beer that at this point I can't really remember, Appalachian? Catawba Valley? It was all good, best St. Pat's ever!
