Inaugural Frozen Turkey Balls 10K

Great news the BlackStone sponsorship has helped double attendance at these unorthodox 10Ks. So at 7am and 725am respectively Andy Mc (Yard Dog brewing Co.) and myself set out on satellite runs to maintain sponsorship. Today, I am thankful for my beard during No-shave November, because only my upper cheeks seem to burn as I ran from pocket to pocket of sunshine on the 25F course. It was in those pockets I noticed my gait lengthened and pace slowed as I let the snotcicle attempt to thaw from my mustache. The last 2 courses, I've lost track of distance but that was not the case as I trucked out 6.2miles in 57:32. Andy Mc knocked out 51:35 and experienced the blindness due to uncontrolled tearing. To celebrate we're having Red's Belgian Tripel for this 3rd in a hopeful continuing series of 4.

Our Tastes-- Shock Top Choc' Top

A fine sampler brought over by The Enabler, we tried the beer both ways, Shock Top on top and bottom. Oddly enough the Chocolate Wheat layered out better on the bottom with the original on top better than the inverse. My brew was pure Shock Top initially with heavy lending to the orange but both of us agree there is little difference in the nose, as there was really none to mention. By no means is this a "black and anything" at all, but a good beer to end the anchoring of the garage shelves on for sure. Chocolate gave us a 4.3% abv while the original yielded a 5.2%, overall a decent mixer but no Black and Fud.

Think You're a Brewer?

Go for it. (My shortest post ever). My score at Level 3 15/21, eat it Trebek.

Our Tastes-- Five Crown Imperial Stout

I'm offended that this is described as a "winter brew". Some of us enjoy a nice heavy black one in the middle of the summer. Pouring the antithesis of white light, Joe Formanek's 15 year practiced Imperial Stout is also part of the 2011 LongShot winners and pours a full bodied 8.9% brew. Head is thick medium brown with little alcohol nose and a slap to the nostrils of pure burnt toast. Hop nose comes on for me only because I can only imagine what hop additions had to be a part of this brew to balance it out in the slightest. The roasted malt bill sits squarly on the back of the tongue well after the last of it has passed into the gullet.

Our Tastes-- A Dark Night in Munich

Part of the 2011 LongShot winners, Corey Martin brewed up A Dark Night in Munich. Dark brown in color with a creamy light tan head, I didn't do this one justice by having it in time and the aroma of great cereal is bludgeoned to death by the bitter tea taste. I feel bad in part for having this lager so late after date but there's only so much time and liver. For a dunkel it has kept well, and the 5.9%abv is a bit of saving grace as it mingles around on the palate. Lattice looks good and is a depiction of a well made beer (or clean glass). Well I only made it to the quarter-finals in 2008, so Corey's up on me.

Beers Not Bombs

Look, I don't normally advocate for products, but every now and then money is just damn well spent with regards to homebrewing/microbrews. Peruse War to Peace with regards to their usage of spent IEDs/nukes on beer products and I think you'll dig it. Already looking at gifts for my dad! My fav is the Fat Boy replica, but then again that one put us behind on the tech race;(

Our Tastes-- Deschutes Black Butte Porter

 

The final beer of my primary elk hunting season. Deschutes offered up Black Butte (or as my wife would say "butt" but why's it spelled funny, yeah it owned me too) Porter. An abysmal brown with oddly bright white/tan heads. Nose may be diminished due to time but lattice seems to be in tact. The mouthfeel is full and bangs of subtle sweet roast coffee. No hop mention on the profile other than what has been put in to balance the malt bill. I couldn't find a great graphic, so I just didn't put one up! Made with Pale, Carapils, Chocolate, Crystal, Wheat malts and Cascade, Bravo and Tettnang hops, I didn't realize this was Deschutes flagship beer. Deschutes grabbed my attention in 2010 at GABF because they had introduced the "first" Cascadian Dark Ale which sparked much debate on which brewery had actually been making a beer of this distinction but GABF had only recognized for the first time this year (2010). Hey, maybe Andy Mc. could get his GABF certification, he has a decisive palate. Then vote for me:) blah!

Our Tastes-- Odell Cutthroat Porter

Coming into some of the last of the Collbran, Co beers I snatch up the last pint of Cutthroat porter. Now before you get all anti-violence on me, it's named after the Colorado state fish, (hippies). A pint full of clear dark brown and skimmingly light head. The nose is of stupendous roasted dark chocolate with a mouthfeel and taste that's clean and non-cloying making me want the next gulp. Odell has captured my attention with their IPA and 80/- as well, but this one may take the cake. A 5%abv brown porter silver medal winner.

Brew Batch #54 REINKE'S REVENGE 2013

Racked it over onto a nice thick 60 oz. bed of blueberry puree today. Gravity 1.024, so it's got just a little more to crash to before going into the keg slumber.

Our Tastes-- Alaskan Stout

One of the last odes to Collbran, I picked up a sixer of this. Had never seen or had it and the mom n' pop gas station had a sale on it. Pours a solid 10W-30 after 10,00miles. Head is light and flat with a nose of sweet roasted coffee, almost akin to a sweet porter. Taste is a full mouthed up front (thanks to the oats I'm sure) lightly caramel roast with a touch of bitter. Great story behind Alaskan Stout's label and a realization on my part of it being their 4th year-rounder. Bucket list includes visiting this brewery.

Our Tastes-- Samuel Adams Merry Mischief

Oddly enough since last season this beer apparently has been renamed Merry Maker. Color is a very dark black brown with immense nose of strong gingerbread, allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon and a good dose of alcohol (9%abv). The taste is that of drinking a gingerbread man (or for me a woman;) with a splash bitterness of nut more prevalent than that of hop. This may be my favorite small batch Jim has dosed out at SA. Some of them are a bit odd but once again he knows how to put it together and make some great seasonal money. I already can't wait to have this one again and the pint is only half gone. Made with "Samuel Adams two row pale malt blend, wheat, Special B, Paul’s roasted barley, and flaked oats" then East Kent Goldings and Fuggles hopped, I should have known it was 300cal/pint!! May have to make this one my half marathon recovery bomber.

Brew Batch #53 Black IPA (aka nIPA)

Well it's official, this one pours a serious foamy head that's guaranteed to get better as time goes on (however long that may be;). But upon first glance it looks like an unassuming dark stoutish beer dressed in black, sweet roasted coffee perhaps with a touch of maltose? The nose starts to give it away though, a roasted grapefruit? Then an attack on the palate of Summit, Chinook, Centennial, Cascade, Centennial, and dry-hop Cascade, those slashes give way to slight coffee bitterness. So cloaked in deceiving black and cuts at the mouth and senses, ninja IPA's a keeper. *Note: use some straining on out-post to decrease particulate and rack before dry-hopping. Next time ninja, next time.. (bong)