Our Tastes-- Terrapin HI-5 IPA

Another in the Survival Pack, that is a winner. HI-5 IPA is a light orange pouring resinous wave rider! A true dry west coast style bitterness starts and finishes. I get a slight citrus nose to it with emphasis on orange. The biscuit malt gives it a touch of sweetness at best on a nearly nonexistent malt backbone. Hopped with Zythos, Centennial, Amarillo, Simcoe and Citra, then dry-hopped with Citra, Simcoe, Amarillo and Centennial. Talk about bringing your hop profiles forward! 5.9% can crusher!

Our Tastes-- Terrapin Recreationale

Another in the Survival Kit, Recreationale is a session IPA offering from Terrapin made with Zythos, Centennial, Bravo, Amarillo with a little Galaxy dry-hop. 4.7%abv makes it an all dayer (which reminds me, I need to try Founders). A great golden straw color with what I consider a "bland" or standard hop nose. It's a bit more bitter than Session Player but since I can't readily get that beer, this one will have to be my "go-to" for now. 

Our Tastes-- Terrapin Hopsecutioner

I've been a Terrapin fan since their Golden Ale was originally Cream Ale and Spike had to mail out the T-shirts you got via six pack redemption by hand. So to see their line expand (and be bought out) to Hopsecutioner, I had to write about it. An IPA with 6 hop additions including Warrior, Centennial, Chinook, Simcoe, Amarillo and a little Cascade dry-hop, that touts a smooth 7.3%abv. A good piney resiny offering that's a bit bitter for me, but nonetheless keeps me coming back for more. I've picked up the Ultimate Survival Kit mixed pack and can't wait for the Luau Krunkles IPA!

Our Tastes-- Black Belle (Uncut 2016)

This is the 3rd year of Blackstone's mega stout aged in Green Brier Distillery’s Belle Meade Bourbon® barrels, but this year it's served/bottled uncut at 18%abv. From the barrel to yo mouth ya'll. I read some reviews about flatness in the head and I hope 3 things happen for those souls who post low ratings based off of this attribute. 1. Have another 2. While doing so, sit and talk with someone who "knows" about beer so that you may be further educated on the overall flatness/dissipation of head on high gravity beers, much less those with abvs higher than some red wines. 3. Repost your apology and continued review, (which I assume will have a higher rating), on how you now realize mega beers like this no longer surprise you with low heads of retention and then throw around the term "cask temperature" for your next educational endeavor. And for giggles, this one will be made available in bombers at the dirt cheap price of $15!! along with Mocha Milk Stout and Barista Brew. Just typing this makes me want to bury my palate in darkness

Our Tastes-- Candy Bar Pinstripe Stout

Blue Pants has their flavored stouts dialed in! Tried Candy Bar Pinstripe Stout today and I'll admit, I've got to go back and try this against just their plain Pinstripe stout. So they take their aforementioned "base" stout at 8%abv and turn it into a Baby Ruth!! A full mouth, full bodied thick stout made with Magnum and Willamette hops, in my opinion to perfection. Pours a great thick tan head with good retention. Smell is spot on Baby Ruth for me with heavy caramel and peanuts. Taste over floweth with toffee, caramel and milk chocolate. A seriously well done stout and yet a touch sweet at the end for me. Further brings out the Stout Mouth in me!

Another Run....

On the Alfalfa Bootleg Train. Harriet Tubman had the Underground Railroad, I've got Alfalfa and the semi-weekly bootleg. Yes, of course I know there's no comparison! But we're living  150 years later, I'd like to think our priorities have changed a little. First up, Mocha Marlin by Ballast Point. This beer is amazing! My favorite style, porter, blended perfectly with coffee and cocoa. With eyes shut, it's perceivable to have a StarBucks mocha coffee in front of you. At first sip the sweet English-style porter begins and finishes with slightly bitter coffee. Head retention makes this one a great sensory experiment.

Then let's stay with the sailing company and tackle The Cinnamon Raisin Commodore. A brown opacity with a confusing nose to say the least. Head is thick tan with the soft aroma of cinnamon. But the taste is of a dry stout balanced ever so gently with a SunMaid raisin and cinnamon roll. Man, this one makes me want to captain a ship over the edge! Mouthfeel is full and warming. It would be hard for me to pick a growler of either one of these to be buried with. So hopefully, I'll sip again later;)

BlackStone Tap House Review

I finally got to try out the new BlackStone TapHouse at their 15,000 sq ft production facility. It has a simplistic elegance to it. As I entered the tap area which is enclosed by solid glass panes on 3 sides, the first thing I noticed was the $125 stainless steel in-house light fixtures made using fermenter pieces with Edison bulbs to give it that soft ambiance. And wood is king in this place (figured Red would like that statement). Not like SwampHead, but NashVegas style. The grand bar is made with reclaimed floor joists from a warehouse built in the 1800s and faced with locally milled walnut that fell during a storm (not at Famous Doug's house). Not to mention the 500lb cross section piece the size of a Fiat from some giant Oregon or Washington State hard wood. The 16 floating taps allow you to interact with your bar maiden without breaking up the lines of the bar area and seem to yield more counter space. And of course the beer doesn't get any fresher, plus 2 of the taps are on nitro. Started  the Barrel-aged Baltic Porter and Barista Coffee stout and finished with Puckett's. Now you can try the Watermelon Goes-Ugh, but I'm not that adventurous. My only beef....where's the merch?? My bar chick had a sweet shirt on, you can buy fresh sixers on the way out, employees have sweet ball caps, but I saw none for direct purchase. Not a single nonic glass, die-cut poster, nothing. Get with it marketing, but then again if I had my choice of being able to enjoy (almost) every beer there or some underoos that have BS on the rump, I guess I'll go with the beer.

2312 Clifton Ave. Nashville TN 37209
Monday - Friday~ 4pm to 8pm
Saturday ~ 12pm to 8:00pm
Sunday - 12pm to 6:00pm

Brew Batch #76 Medusa™ Cream Ale

Kegged with an FG 1.005+ 0.001@ 70F to give a solid 6.2%abv. Has a great cloudiness to it. The initial taste is a dry apricot. Not sure this hop is worth all the hype and scarcity but nonetheless we've got about 5 gallons to taste.

Our Tastes-- Luponic Distortion #1

Bottled 5/24/16, this one hung in there with me until I could give it a whirl. 001, is the first in their revolving experimental hop series and it lives up to the description. Great frothy citrus nose that gives way to citrus up front and resin on the back taste. I wonder if they will continue to use the heavy wheat malt base to allow the hops to come forward. Finishes clean and dry with a well balanced 5.9%abv. I'm not sure I've ever actually bought a Firestone Walker beer, but as long as friends keep buying it for me, I'm good. I'd have another...if it didn't come in 1 packs and wasn't out of production!

Brew Batch #77 (or AG #2) REINKE'S REVENGE 2016 AG

Last Saturday was momentous! Not only did we revive Reinke's Revenge, but I got to brew it all grain for the first time with Red at BlackStone Brewing Company. Of course the master brewer had to tweak my initial AG recipe but with 7 different grains and 46lbs of them, we knocked out roughly 10 gallons of this (almost) annual favorite. Hop subs were Perle (Pur-lay) and Willamette (Wu-LAM-ett) to yield a OG 22.2 P animal. Wee Nay Nay even knocked out this snazzy video to commemorate the event and those spiffy Tshirts;) The beer's namesake may plan a trip to the TapHouse early next year to draw a half pint with us. 

link: https://youtu.be/Q5lHnmQvFn4

TnDC Field Trip #24 Reinke's AG

Last past weekend I got to brew with Junk and Red and there was so much to post, I broke it down into separate entries. Junk and I traveled to Flying Saucer (Nashville) where we were known as the "Mid Duders" on the tab to have the new BlackStone HangTime Pale Ale. Great new brew from BS. HangTime has a lighter body and slightly sweeter maltiness than my "go-to" PA Sierra Nevada. It doesn't seem to have that slight harshness that SN has. At 5.3%, this one has become my new favorite in the pale ale category. Also tried my first Dark Horse beer. I watched the series this brewing company had on TV and just wanted to be able to say I had one of their beers. Crooked Tree IPA finished with a good dryness with it's 6.5%. Picked up a couple 2016 Election pint glasses while we were there. A quick stop by Cool Springs Brewery yielded a Pecker Wrecker IPA and Drunkin Pumpkin. That seasonal brew was awesome, more the "pie" than gourd type. And lest we not forget my first ever orphan bourbon experience supplied by Wee Nay Nay.

Brew Batch #75 42-A IPA

Kegged tonight so I can send some bombers home with Junk for Red(I hope)! Same wonderful hue I remember. You want a bomber, come have a pint! FG 1.012+0.002 @77F, to give 7.88%abv (1st one 7.43%). I love the yeast profile on this one. The 1275 Thames Valley rounds out the chewy Cascade dry hop well.

BlackStone Taproom Now Open

A long time in the making but BlackStone Brewing's taproom is finally open. This highlight flick showcases the 16 tap spread. All beers are BS core, seasonal, specialty with 2 nitro and a homebrew. Oh yeah, homebrew. Using a half barrel system Red & homebrewer sling out a Pro-"Amish", not Amish, batch at BlackStone caliber to the masses. Got wood? BlackStone does. Corsair barrels housed their Baltic Porter for a bit as the Belle Meade barrels currently house Black Belle. Tours on Saturday and Sunday (can't ask for Arto, he's off I'm sure;) Blackstone restaurant has closed but current hours are M-F 4-8, Sat 12-9 and Sunday 12-6 for the taproom. Raise a pint and thank Kent for slapping endosperm since 1994. (still working on video upload, try this link) Wee Nay Nay fixed the video for me so I"m reposting from July. (Review of TapHouse visit to follow)

Our Tastes-- Good Gourd

Good Gourd, is a fantastic Imperial pumpkin offering from Cigar City. I'm admittedly one of those "gobble up all things pumpkin" this time of year. Shipyard is a standard, Schlafly, BlackStone (of course), DFH Punkin (damn those hand made growlers!) This one pours an awesome deep amber with a sweet nose that explodes of Yankee Candle company pumpkin pie! The taste of the special spices is truly incredible. Made with Ceylon cinnamon, Jamaican all-spice, Zanzibar cloves and nutmeg; it gives me the feeling of having pumpkin brew on a Caribbean island as it warms with a hint of pirate rum and smooth vanilla. Part of the Alfalfa and "mole-vision" Babs Bootleg train, I only wish I had sprung for a growler!

Brew Batch #75 The GIPA

Kegged today and the swill is very promising. First impression is that I'd like a little more grapefruit. But we'll let Junk be the final word on whether or not it becomes a regular. FG 1.008+ 0.001 @74F, to yield a solid 7.5%.

Brew Batch #76 Medusa™ Cream Ale

Judge me not, but 2 years ago I wanted to try this new novel Neomexicanus hop varietal (grown by CSL Farms exclusively) and the only way to get it was to order NB's Medusa™ Cream Ale. Well, I missed out. But not this year. Since I'm having a "Junky" visit +/- Wee Nay Nay in a month, I wanted to have a great "IPA or Die" series on tap for him and he opted into a recipe with a hop neither of us have had instead of a hoppy wheat, which I support fully! So today I'm knocking out Medusa™ Cream Ale and relishing the idea of finally seeing what this varietal tastes/smells like. OG 1.052+ 0.001 @70F.

Our Tastes-- Citrus Mistress

If I were to have an affair, this would be my mistress! Citrus Mistress, is a grapefruit IPA that is simply stellar! I've had a few GIPAs this summer and it runs only a second place (I think) to G. Sculpin. Nose is a phenomenal grapefruit and hoppiness. Color is a burnt orange that makes me feel "Oktoberfest/Pumpkin ale" fuzzy inside. Down to the last sip this 6.5% brew is a great CommonBond master brewer donation.Only thing, apparently it only comes in 1 packs?

Brew Batch #75 42-A IPA

It's been 10 years since I made my first attempt at my own IPA extract recipe. But today almost 50 brew batches later I tried it again. Following old notes, I married the Nugget, Fuggle and Kents together and added an extra pound of cane sugar. Except this time I over shot my OG by 12 points or so. Guess I've gotten better at extraction. OG 1.072+0.002 @77F with plenty of left over yellow crowns.

Our Tastes- DFH Seaquench Sour

For my first ever sour, I have nothing to measure by, but it seems "spot on"? SeaQuench is a DFH offering and a Junk's Junk. Color is a medium clear copper and a nose of pure citrus, dare I say a beer-lover's margarita aroma? Lime is very forward on taste, but honestly I would never guess it's a blend of a beer I can't tolerate...GOSE! Now look, I've tried a couple and I just can't corriander/salt my way through a pint! But this, catches the palate just right in every way, even from a predisposing skeptical manner. A kolsch, Gose, Berlinerweiss blend? Partnered with The National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD to get their Maine and Chesapeake Bay salt blend just in time for Sam C to snub his nose at Reinheitsgebot's 500th anniversary. Look, at 4.9% I'm cutting mine and my neighbor's yard on this one!

Our Tastes-- Bad Attitude Two Penny

Brewed by Ticino Brewing Company and now retired, it pained my heart as I realized I'd probably never have this brew again. A great example of an English Porter with a fantastic robust caramel taste and superbly balanced hop. Made with British malts and American hops, this beer at 8.15%abv and a nifty 11.2oz was awesome. Apparently still a preferred style by dockworkers, this porter is made using a double boiling process in conjunction with a first wort hopping. This has to be where it gets it's deep caramel toffee overtones. Glad I saved it to savor!

Brew Batch #74 The GIPA

My love of Ronald Reagan is no secret. My lust of grapefruit IPAs this summer also no secret, so the GIPA is for both! My attempt included 8.3 oz of pulp on cold crash. Hopefully this brings out the Cascade and Centennial well. If not I'm also dry-hopping with peel and will secondary on some pulp as well to enhance the aroma. OG 1.064+0.002@ 78F.

Our Tastes-- Toasted Coconut Porter

A quick growler via the Alfalfa and Babs Bootleg Train, yielded this little intriguing beer made by Orange Blossom Brewing. Now I'll be honest I bought it off of it's name alone, not for the 42 or so it had on ratebeer at the time of purchase. Having said that, it was a decent trunk share with a great brown color, but the you'll be waiting on the toasted coconut to show up at the tail end. It's there, subtle but there. Hey, at least at 5.25%abv you can slap on some Hawaiian Tropic and cut the grass all day and smell like coconut.

Our Tastes-- White Widow

From Band of Brothers Brewing Co., White Widow is first and foremost just a funny name. You'd have to know about the brewers to catch my humor. I'm just waiting for one called Black Panther;) Alas White Widow is a white IPA pouring a clear very light yellow. Color was reminiscent of a light lager or kolsch. Medium white froth gave way to a soft floral hoppy nose. Body was good and taste on this 6% bevvy was simply bitter perfection. Can't quite nail down the hops and no website up for the "brothers" yet. Part of the Alfalfa and Babs bootleg train (early period) and a definite keeper. No discernible wheat to the taste, so I'm thinking they weren't going for wheat IPA.

Balls and Chain 10k (Leg Two)

Many years ago, I hitched my wagon to the Big D train and knew that we'd always have the Stanley Cup playoffs and "single-dom" .Well, as it happens the second of my groomsmen locked it down to a good lookin' seat cover (that's trucker talk for a pretty lady) on 7/30/16. So as I said in the previous post, I'd see if I could lengthen the run for the amount of time I've know the Wolf Pack-ish member and this 6.75 miles almost did me in. Thank goodness there was some Idyll Hounds Man O' Wheat waiting for me.

It's only 88F with 64% humidity, but this 4.8% bevvy is just what the running coach ordered. A coastal snag, now locally available, I'll have to say is one of my favorite wheats! Fantastic color and white head pour forth with a nose of fresh bread. It says unfiltered but seems to have cleared out just fine. Smacks of a nice American wheat that you could have with low country crab boil all day. Man, I'm hungry. Can't distinguish the hops, Saaz? Website leaves a little to be desired but since they used to be located in Seaside proper, kind of, they're probably busy brewing beer for the masses at their new facility. Keep it up guys and let me know when you are sponsoring SeaSide Half;) and I'm glad that according to your label you're on my planet.

Our Tastes-- Flex Arcana

As part of the Alfalfa & Babs conglomerate, Eduardo infiltrated our favorite growler station to provide us with this libation. Upon entering he knew he was "in" when they said "Hey brother" and no Bothans died getting us this growler. Flex-Arcana is a brew I've been dying to try and it did not disappoint. A Belgian Imperial Stout I've never had until today. Pouring an expected opacity with a tannish head with hint of pink? Nose is fantastically deep and complex. The chocolate is there with some dryness but the tastes is where it's at. A forward full mouth feel of dark slightly bitter roasted chocolate. As it passes through the palate, low and behold a minuscule cherry taste, but more as an after thought. A 10%, "top o' the morning" badge awarding lovely. My only regret is the limited nature and the half growler I got instead of the biggin'.

Our Tastes-- Sho' Nuff

Sho'Nuff is a "low down golden ale" from ATG that I had to try as soon as I saw the label. Pouring a sickly almost dark mustard yellow with an over abundant head form the pint can, all I can say is......... I love it! This is a fantastic gateway Belgian table beer to convert your BMC friends over with. The taste is of straight biscuit with a little pepper. It's a perfect 4.9%abv and says to "shotgun the shogun" from the can. For those of you that don't know who Sho'Nuff is, you need to go watch The Last Dragon in it's entirety to be with me on this post. I watched it all the time growing. LEROY!!! When I say who's the master, you say....

Brew Batch #73 The Twins' DIPA

Kegged today so that I can use the Blichmann gun to bottle the bombers next week. I think that will help with carbonation. FG 1.014+0.002 @77F to give us a perfect 9.98%abv.Color came in at a nice medium brown, The nose at 77F is more EtOH than hops. I'm hoping chilling brings that back. Swill gives a nice toasty biscuit with smooth Cascade and just a hint of cedar/apricot from the Glacier. This keeps going and you can look for me to create a venue on Untapped;) I'll pic update the bottling.

Out Tastes-- TropiCannon Citrus IPA

I've drank Heavy Seas beers for a long time and it seems as though they are opening the brewing schedule for some different styles yet again. TropiCannon is one of the many IPAs I've dedicated my palate to this summer and it's a good'en. Pours the color of orange blossom honey with a nose of heavy mango and a touch of lemon that intertwines perfectly with the grapefruit. So far this is my most favorite IPA of the summer. A relative of Loose Cannon with some hop swaps and secondary additions and the same abv at 7.25%. If this is the Simcoe hop coming forward, I really dig it. BTW, Happy IPA Day!

Hoppy Breasts?

An article from the newly wed Junk reveals another positive to having a "hop mouth" lady in your life. Guess we know where his mind is? I'm just curious as to which hops are highest in 6-prenylnaringenin. 

Our Tastes-- SweetWater Goin' Coastal IPA

I've inducted another into the TnDC flock and shortly we'll have Alfalfa of the Samford chapter. In her escapades to B'ham, she and side kick Babs picked up a couple of growlers and one was filled with Goin' Coastal IPA. Now that SW has suffered a theft of roughly 3300 cases of it's summer tacklebox in which there were 3 of these each (roughly 10,000 bottles) this growler has gone up in value. So as it pours a darker than expected orange with thick white froth, I whiff. The pineapple is truly epic! I thought at first it was their IPA with pineapple flavor and yet it is not. The original is a bit more dry. Tapping into some wheat on the grain bill, the citrus must be the key to wafting the pineapple since they don't use real fruit pulp. But the Big Cs shine through and pair with the pineapple like magic. Dry hopped with Cascade, Simcoe, Goldings and Centennial makes the nose the best part. At 6.1% I'd luau all day with this one.

Brew Batch #73 The Twins' DIPA

For the birth/celebration of my 1st child I brewed Evie's English style bitter. So it seemed only appropriate for me to venture out into a recipe untried for our child rearing finale and brew The Twins' Double IPA. Was actually going to brew this 2 months ago today but some folks couldn't wait another week to be born on May Fourth like good little fraternal twins. This is my first attempt at not only a DIPA but the use of a hop tea as well. OG 1.090+ 0.002@ 80F and a little higher than I had calculated (was looking for closer to . Let's hope 1056 can chew it up again for me. This will be bottled only in bomber and given to a select 24 folks, minus QA pops of course. And thanks to Haley E.R. Cooper for help with cleaning up my design for the crowns over at bottlemark.com.

Brew Batch #72 Ikigai

Half into my new mini kegs, the other half into a case of short necked ambers with the previous shown crown. Tastes of green hoppy raisins with a full and forward 11.2% abv. FG 1.020+ 0.001@ 78F. Same rules of engagement apply with gathering an ageable bottle, you must be present for a draft pour. We'll limit this to an 8oz pour.

2016 Hop Forecast

Too much good news to not pass along. Finally, a little relief at the hop!

Polyphenols

Another health benefit rears it's head as a champion of beer intake. "Human urinary composition controls antibacterial activity of siderocalin" in the Journal of Biological Chemistry shows the positive polyphenol effect of beer. Siderocalin blocks bacteria's iron uptake ability particularly E. coli. No iron, no protein synthesis, O2 perfusion, replication, no nothing, just like humans. So have a cold one. Our next education point will be about hop filled pillows for insomnia. I don't condone it, who in the hell wastes hops like that? A hoppy beer will put you out too:) Need an in depth read on a previous study?

TnDC Field Trip #23 Junk's Nuptials

It's been quite some time since the last Field Trip for the group, so why not a jaunt to Franklin to witness Junk joining the Clan of the Golden Band? I had my dad in tow for the festivities and sippage and it goes a little something like this.

BlackStone taster of P.D. Ogg Porter. Only a ten ounce pour of this one is apparently legal in TN. Brewed in celebration of American Craft Beer Week for Dr. Paul Ogg of Denver's Declaration Brewing Co, this is an Imperial Porter to remember. A thick tan head sits atop a nose of toffee coffee chocolate that even my dad can pick up (and his nose doesn't work so well). Color is an awesome medium to dark brown with translucent dark amber hues. The legs on the glass are superb with a great "peekaboo" on the EtOH. Cleansed the palate with Session Player.
Post nups it's BlackStone's Slackline Helles Lager. I didn't even know BS made any lagers, or is it Kent's alter ego...? A wonderful slightly sweet destroyer of 94F wedding heat. Could eat straight peppers out of the garden if this stayed on tap. Great fresh breadiness to finish hopefully from a little Munich malt. So pristine clear it had to pass through the centrifuge. Available draft only at Puckett's Grocery and the first tap to blow. So much for that roadie growler:(

Finally, Strawberry Picnic Summer Ale. Balls N Chain was worth this one! $2400 worth of strawberries per batch gives this one a darkened unhealthy kidney dehydration color topped with a thin white head. The nose however is magical cotton candy. BOOM, the taste comes on strong like taking a bite out of Strawberry Shortcake's hair. 5.2% means I had 3, I think (someone kept picking up my glass)

Wee Nay Nay, welcome to the flock. Can't un-ring this bell.

Balls and Chain 5K (Leg One)

It's a nice UV Index 10 94F with only 35% humidity as the runners take to the start. Attendance was low for this one, more than likely because it wasn't he customary 10K most have come to expect. But this appears to be the year that ALL 3 of my groomsmen will be getting married. Trust me, if you knew these guys marriage AND in the same year is like being bitten by a great white shark that is being struck by lightning while on Uranus :) I just wanted to type Uranus. So to celebrate the pending nuptials of Junk and Wee Nay Nay, we ran Balls & Chain 5K (3.25mi). I ran for the pending growler of Summer Picnic from BS, but have hydrated with a special brew for the occasion. Bridal Veil Rye Pale Ale. Pouring the the "traditional" white top and clear dark straw this one's a keeper. The body is bready, light but with a slight spiciness on the back of it's warming taste. I am shocked at how well the Magnum, Cascade, Chinook, CTZ and Citra hop balance. 5.5% makes this an easy all-nighter. So start preparing for Leg Two as Big D weds Mrs. Big D in July at which time we'll celebrate with a 10Kish run. You'll notice the longer the couples have known each other, the longer the race. Should put The Enabler plus One at about a 15K?

Our Tastes-- Pliny the Elder

Pliny the Elder. This taster was a special gift from Andy Mc and Missus. I had to post my own pic for absolute proof of this beer moment. Pouring a seductive nose of sweet pineapple cantaloupe golden melon with little indication of anything else. Bitterness is by far more suppressed than I thought it would be. Since reading of the Elder and Younger I've concocted this high abv enamel stripping beer charring its way across my palate. But no, the unassuming dark straw color and light mouthfeel breadiness envelopes the 8% abv perfectly (hence the 100 on ratebeer). Funny though, this beer is brewed year round and is readily available across Northern California. Bottled 2/11/16 and clinks in Andy Mc's glasses like meat and potatoes I could drink this all day, well at least until I had to take a nap. I rank this beer moment with my first Utopias, Speedway Stout, Westie 12 and Raspberry Tart. Go find and have this beer fresh!!

Our Tastes-- STA 6 Alberts

6 Alberts is a session IPA given to us by Straight to Ale. I've really started enjoying these session IPAs. This one pours a lightness that reminds me of a west coast IPA or blonde. A very respectable white thick froth and nose of sweet heavy citrus (more orange) pine. The taste and mouthfeel is a dry full bitterness. STA has taken the "monkey" astronaut to a whole new level. During space exploration between 1948-52 six primates were used experimentally. Bet they didn't have this 4.2%abv bevvy on board or maybe the Citra and Amarillo combo would have helped them through their tests. Then again neither of those varieties were available then. Poor monkeys.

American Craft Beer Week (was last week!)

(and this was my initial entry until the week blew by me!) Let's all set a goal to have a craft of our choosing each day this week. The Brewer's Association celebrates Craft Beer Week each year around the 3rd week in May. So my first taster this week will be a score by Junk's fiancée (to call her Junkette or Wee Nay Nay is still to be decided for blogging purposes) KBS. Somewhat of a rarity between Happy Endings and AleSmith Speedway Stout (I went with beers of the same style, one of which I have had and am currently cellaring plenty and the other only once). 

Poured into a goblet with an opacity matched only by an overdue oil change. The tan head was a given but the nose was multifaceted with bourbon, oak, EtOH, vanilla and thick syrup. Taste of this 12.4%abv cave-aged beast is chocolate coffee heavy and a strong out breath of warm alcohol. As I give it thought the nose matches that of vanilla wafers dipped in bourbon heavy vanilla pudding. It's the smoothness o the smell that gives you false hope of having 2 of these. Mouthfeel is full to say the least. To be able to have one of these is a life moment that should be savored each year IF you can get your hands on it. My is of a quiet house and my first run since the twins. 

Brew Batch #72 Ikigai

Racked this ole boy over to a gravity of 1.020+ 0.002@75F with a 3 inch yeast bed gobbling up a half gallon. BUT the taster on it has slight hops and about 12% abv sneaking up on raisins. So I put it on some Chinook, Cascade and German Perle on it for about 30 days to see what happens. By then I'l have a wood decision.

UnImpeachable Pale Ale

I've had a couple of Salty Nut Brewery's beers like Hopnaughty and Imperial Moustache Red, but they might as well go ahead and double down on UnImpeachable Pale Ale in the fermenter! I'd have 2 pints of this rarity just to say I had it! And yes, I've already placed an order for the T-shirt;)

2016 Hop Season

Hop Season is now in full swing with the emergence of Sunbeam . Pushing it's way through a nice layer of compost, still with only one large crown, I'm hoping for more than the one cone I've harvested in the last 5 years. I'd take pics of Nugget and Zeus, but Nugget busts out each year and seems to be growing well. The 3 Zeus plants have branched out into about a dozen crowns now. Boy, it'd be great to brew and Zeus, Nugget IPA in August!

Brew Batch #72 Ikigai

The last of my "I wanna try it" batches, Ikigai Barleywine. This one came in at 1.104@72F. The swill is straight sugar coated raisins followed by a 6 hop addition bitterness. Hopefully it'll get on down while it's somewhat still cool at night, then I'll dry-hop on 3 ounces and age till just before AU vs Vandy (gotta a guest coming in, hope he brings those bourbon barrels). I may split this one over some wood, will definitely bottle some. Already have the crowns in hand. After this it's onto a "contract" brew and some nice IPAs for the summer, did I hear someone ask for a session IPA?

Lando Backs Colt 45 (again)

When I read this being a huge Star Wars and Colt 45 fan (yes I did try it in my earlier college years), I had to repost it and put in my 2 cents. This is an awesome marketing idea. I remember the smoothness of these ads when I was PBA (pre-beer age) and thought I'd like to be Billy Dee suave. Of course, we have people claiming race targeting, etc. blah blah blah. But Colt 45 only carries a 5.6%abv, which is what most craft beer drinkers pee and considering The Most Interesting Man was just retired I think Pabst is hitting a home run. No one persecuted Dos Equis for their 9 year run and the last time a checked Lando was targeting Tie Fighters (pew pew). I just wish he had cut his nails in the new commerical.

Our Tastes-- Tropical Disturbance

Another SwampHead beauty, Tropical Disturbance double IPA leapt from the 750ml bottle with a citrus nose that reminded me of a fresh orange being peeled in front of my nose. And the bottle was a good 3 feet away! I've been enamored with this brewery since before they jumped into their new mega space in which they currently reside and am secretly trying to figure out when I can see it. It poured a yellow straw wih high levels of hop particulate. At first I thought it was yeast bed but oh no, it was the Wrath of Lupulin (different than Khan). The slight sweetness from the Crystal malt is perfectly balanced with the Centenial, Columbus and Simcoe blend to give it the perfect sugar laden pine cone in a pint. And don't get me started on the label! Just when I thought I saw 3 panthers another appeared, how many do you count? At 8.7% I'd like to have these one weekend until I smelled like turpentine:)

Short Pours

With current laws changing in AL, I couldn't help but to pass along this great article on fractional pours. This would be right up Arto's alley;)

Brew Batch #71 Imperial Red Ale

Kegged tonight as part of my "I'm scared to try these high abv batches". After losing 1/2 gallon to the trub! FG 1.022+ 0.001@ 73F. It yielded a solid 12.7% CLEAR red hoppy beast! All kegged, will have to Blichmann any bottles. Truly a superb beer that puts 42-A to it's test. However, I'll be resurrecting that one on good old notes this summer as part of the "IPA or Die" series. Next up, the big bang.

Got Growlers?

Yesterday SB211 passed, so growlers to go could happen as soon as June 1st. Recap: 2012 Gourmet Beer Bill gives us 13+% beer (homebrewers pissed that "homebrewing" of which FTH was founded through wasn't more of a concern for FTH), 2013 Homebrew legal (many homebrewers re-embrace FTH), 2014 breaks to be given to 25K breweries only (squashed, I think), 2015 Brewery Jobs Bill the initial growler bill passed in parts, I think, but no growlers, 2016 Growler Bill sent to governor as of yesterday to allow 288oz per person per brewery in the state each day (which is a lot of driving and sipping) passed. We also get some kegs for charity from breweries and some archaic restrictions on where breweries can be built (part of Brewery Modernization Bill from previous years, I think). So to recap, all of a sudden a micro can sustain much better now as of June 1st by selling straight to consumer for off site. Ah yes, one day I'll pour a pint of Possum Tail Pale Ale into some newby's growler and tell them to put it up against Sierra Nevada!

St. Paddy's Day 2016

As I remember last year's post, I also had to work, but am managing to get in a pint of lovely darkness. I also had to remind myself after almost 20 years of celebrating St. Patty's Day that it is short for Patricia not the intended Padraig, so Paddy is the correct. It amazes me that a man can drive snakes out of a country and we still celebrate his traditional death 1600 years later. Then again for me most times a good snake is a dead snake. Yeah, I'll pour up another for that. Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh 

Brew Batch #70 Blueberry Stout

Kegged 2.5C of this one today and bottled a case in nice blue crowned long necks. I ended up using the entire 120mls for blueberry flavoring because the 60mls in the secondary just didn't get me there. Hopefully it doesn't overpower the roast character, but live and learn, FG 1.008+0.001 @68F to give it a nice 4.99%abv. I missed using real fruit like I have on previous batches (WMB) but also realize the tedious nature of doing .You have to worry about continued fermentation sometimes, racking and losing volume, etc. I'm not the only brewmaster that likes using real fruit, so maybe I can find a way to balance old school and new techniques. On a side note, the Imperial Red dropped to 1.025, needless to say AM 1056 from Wyeast is a mule!

Our Tastes-- Pay it Forward Cocoa Porter

Canned only a year ago 10/01/14 (or so), I put this favorite style of mine to the test. Pouring a clear yet particulate medium to dark brown highlighted in red, the nose on this one is superb. A warm cocoa and ethanol mix. As I quaff, the complexity of the roasted malt bill and bittersweet cocoa blend together impeccably. This is the only West 6th Brewing beer I've had. Pay it Foward's body is full for such a clear beer and the 7%abv is only slightly noticeable. Hhhmmm, good thing I have KY connections may need a solid sixer of this one for further QC.

Brew Batch #71 Imperial Red Ale

I've got a couple of back to back high gravs I've been wanting to do while it was cold (thanks El Niño), so today I'm trying my hand at an Imperial Red Ale. Good malt backbone, several ounces of Cascades and Centennials, should lead me right into my "IPA or Die" series for the spring/summer where I plan to load the keezer with nothing but IPAs. OG 1.106 +0.001@ 69F, man I hope that true 1L starter I did works!

Sound Advice

When putting together children's furniture, this is an indicator you purchased a product from a sound and understanding company.

Brew Batch #70 Blueberry Stout

Into the secondary today with 60mls of extract. Everything I've read says 120mls but I can't un-pour it when it's in the bottling bucket! Comes in at 1.010 +0.001 @67F and rolls around in the mouth as a dry stout so hopefully the blueberry will lighten and sweeten it just a touch. Should be ready for the prodigal son's return.