Christmas Cheers

I usually try to keep most of the posts centered around beer, education of that subject matter, the micro, chemistry and even engineering that surrounds it. I'll even throw in a cool product test (ie. Guardian Angel strips), interesting trip or just entertaining knowledge. But knowing that Star Wars episode 7 is due out next December, this owned me. Mini-me really enjoyed this and if it makes you feel better, I had a little Maker's egg nog while I watched this one.

El Gordo Surprise

The time had come to drop off our samples (aka The Winners) at Good People brewery for HODO 2015. Upon arrival we noticed activity behind the bar at the front door. It appeared to be a bevy of box opening. Our curiosity got the best of us, and we peered over. What stared back at us was a beer ready to lucha libre our taste buds into oblivion, "El Gordo".

This is the one and only beer listed under Good People's Bearded Reserve List, so we definitely felt like we walked in on something special. The gentleman behind the bar let us ogle the cache. We kissed our lucky stars at our impeccable timing. And then he so politely informed us that all these bottles will be out in distribution and available tomorrow. Oh that's right, no retail sales out the front door to take home. Blast you Alabama Law!!! Still pretty cool to see.

Our Tastes-- Side Project #23 Guano Loco

Side Project #23 from Terrapin was a donation from Junk. The label is spectacular and I may have mentally hyped this beer up more than it needed. Pouring a medium brown with slight red hue in sunlight through the pint glass had me salivating. Nose of sweet chili is upfront and accounted for. But the chili pepper is overly warming for me with regards to the capsaicin in the back of the throat as I waited...and waited for the "brownie" part of this brew to show, to no avail. This concoction has 2-row pale, Victory, special Roast, Crystal 65, Crystal 85, Brown Malt, Chocolate Malt with Super Galena and US Goldings hops. It has the, "I just ate at Taco Bell" feel for me. And one thing's for sure, if there was a chocolate brownie in here the chili peppers ate it and left the 8.6%abv hanging out. I've got the label and the memories for this one.

Tripel Overhead (Bourbon Barrel Aged)

Time again to dive into the collection from "The Great Beer Trek", and taste another sample. Let's see, whadda we got in the 'ol beer fridge. Hmmm, Ahh, here we go, Tripel Overhead from Mother Earth Brewing.  A Belgian-style Tripel, aged in oak bourbon barrels. Seems alright. The label shows the rhythmic waves rolling in on a quiet beach. A tranquil looking scene. Cool man, seems to match the groovy vibe of the tasting room from what I remember. The cork pops, and right away, I get a sweet noseful. My senses transport me to a beach at sunrise, and the breeze hits me just right as I get a whiff of lingering suntan lotion as it mixes with the salt in the air. Or maybe that's the label talking, whatever, I smell some banana and a little bit of coconut. Moving on, the beer pours a beautiful orange with a light off-white head. It is reminiscent of the ebbing sea foam at the end of the day, as the sun warms the dusk sky just before it dips below the horizon. Wow, this label is really starting to go to my head, let's try to stay focused here. Upon first taste, the malt provides a hint of sweetness, but not as much as the nose would have led to expect. As the sip lingers, the refinement of the oak bourbon barrel aging takes over. Not to the point that I feel like I am knocking back three fingers, neat. No, the taste is more subtle, like I'm sipping on a digestif, walking on the shore with my chinos rolled up in a cuff, and a cable knit sweater covering my shoulders from sea air. Now I've really been seduced by the label. Oh well, guess I best sit back and enjoy.

Brew Batche(s) 62* Cherry Wood Porter?

Finally got this behemoth bottled and kegged for HODO. The "porter wine" came in at FG 1.023+0.001 @74F to yield a whopping 10.76%abv. Chery wood porter fell to 1.030+0.001@ 72F to give a nice 6.17%abv. Wyeast 2112 really worked out on these batches. Hope at least one of these two place on 1/19/15!

The Crowler

7 weeks had passed since the great trek to Gotham (aka NYC). With many samples amassed along the way, none were more intriguing than "The Crowler" from Oskar Blues in Brevard, NC. You remember, The Crowler. "It's a can...It's a growler... no, it's The Crowler." Straight from the tap beer in a portable 32 oz can that kept beer fresher, longer, stronger, faster. Ok, lets not get too carried away, we'll just see about that. I commandeered two samples during my visit, one Deviant Dales and one Ten Fidy. I would have gotten more, had the unique spinning thingy machine that sealed the top to the Crowler not malfunctioned, but alas. First up, Deviant Dales, an 8% IPA. Our trepidation about holding carbonation was immediately put to rest as the pop tab opened the the Crowler with a refreshing spritz. Upon first pour, the tiny bubbles rose through the copper hue, and alit themselves in a tight 1/4" head atop the beer. Impressive. A nice maltiness came through on the nose, reminiscent of sweet cornbread. The taste revealed a piney hop flavor that grew and grew like a well stoked furnace on the palate. Whooo! Not for the fainthearted. Regardless of the overwhelming hop profile, it was an IPA nonetheless, the beer was still quite quaffable. Before we knew it, the Crowler had given up all its goodness, and we were left with the smoldering ashes of a pine tree forest fire in the back of our throats. What I was most impressed with though, was the Crowler being as good, if not better, as advertised. But, I will hold off final judgement until we try the Ten Fidy, a well aged Ten Fidy. Think you're up to it...Crowler?

Brew Batch #61* REINKE'S REVENGE 2014

Repeating #44 twice with changes to the LME only, 61* tasted divine. The dark allowed for more of the raspberry tones to come through with regards to the sweetness but the special dark seemed to enhance the bitterness of the raspberry and bring forth more coffee notes as well. These are being entered into this years HODO simultaneously, so it'll be fun to see how the tasting notes are viewed through the same BJCP category. FG 1.016+ 0.001@ 70F 8.66%abv (dark) 1.018+0.001@ 70F 8.93%abv (special dark, but got an extra 1.2lbs of LME). Spot on consistent, if you ask me. On tap near you?