Boulevard Sixth Glass Quadruple isn't as sweet as Kangaroos

I'm at my brother's house the night before the other half of the family takes off for Utah. I'm able to check out my Christmas gift to Warren, a Kangaroo skin for his new house, which I'm sure his fiance will be thrilled about. Several years ago my brother gave me a prized gift after spending a semester abroad, a Kangaroo testicle beer opener. It's a gift I treasure greatly for it's uniqueness, ball puns, awkward situations and general hilariousness. It was featured in several posts last year:

I took a trip to Sydney in September and decided it was imperative to return the favor. Days before I left Warren closed the deal on a house in Houston and a housewarming present was in order. Before any PETA followers stop reading the blog, let me say that these pelts are sold at any novelty market in Aussieland and Roos are as prevalent and detrimental to crops as deer are in the states. This pelt is plush and majestic and I'm excited to see where Warren puts it, and then which closet his fiance eventually throws it in.

Doesn't it look like a furry stingray to you?

Anywho, onto beer. I have the final entry from the anticipated Boulevard Brewing from Kansas City. It's receiving a Texan homecoming at Warren's house.

Mr. Armadillo asks what the hell you're looking at, buster.

The Quadruple pours a huge head and is way over carbonated. There's a fine brown sugar quality but otherwise it's surprisingly un-complex. I expect more from a quad but you also can't tell that it's 10.5%. Not complex but drinkable, a nice dessert to a wonderful evening with brother. TRANSFORMERS rating.

We Are Back!

It's been a couple months since we last posted, but David and I are getting back in the game! I could give excuses about our absence, like I was working constantly at advertising grad school or David was making it happen...

Like a boss, except he doesn't send faxes anymore. A boss doesn't do that, only college interns...once they learn what the hell a facsimile is. Kids probably think it's a type of emoticon.  If video killed the radio star, everything else killed the fax machine. Well, they had a good 15 years.

Anywho, the point is 2012 is a new year and we're going to continue where we left off; exploring new beers hoping to inspire people to experience craft beer they've never heard of before. The twist is, David and I are no longer living together. There were no divorce lawyers involved, although I did end up with the beer brewing kit (sadly sitting in storage).

I now live in San Francisco and David in Los Angeles. Even though we're only separated by a 5 hour drive, thanks to the odd character of beer distribution, we'll be tasting a wider selection of beer and probably creating more of an online conversation with each other and you, the community. I hope our 3 month sabbatical didn't turn you away from Milk Is For Babies, because there's a great deal more in store.

I for one am going to publish a few back-dated entries that I've written but for one reason or another, haven't posted, including the final beer in the beer every day year, beer 400. We'll still be drinking and writing, usually at the same time, just not each day. We hope you tune in and let your friends know!

Avery The Czar Imperial Russian Stout solves a mystery

It's two days after Christmas and my great aunt has shed mystery within the house. The man trapped within the painting in the living room turns out to be Uncle Jedediah. The parental units hung it up because the person was family, but they couldn't remember who it was. Apparently Aunt Sara told us that he was used when she was growing up up to scare the children into eating their vegetables. To me he looks like a distinguished Russian Tsar.

Avery's Czar is 55 IBU's throws down with 10.57% alcohol. There's a subtle and well balanced coffee and chocolate roastyness in the smell. The mouth is subtle as well, the chocolate and coffee and roast blending together for an up front sweetness and dry finish that results in a balanced complexity.  This isn't kingly, like an AleSmith Speedway Stout, but it still deserves royalty. The Prince? Well as it warms up the alcohol comes through with a sharpness. How about a Duke? Not The Duke, John Wayne, but maybe a Duke of Westchester. Duke of Greeley? This beer has changed slightly, like what I know of Greeley. One of David and I's close friends Dan is from Greeley Colorado, the state where Avery is also based. When I first met Dan he told me there wasn't much to the city, but I found out later from my cousins that Greely is actually known for its enormous amount of shit. It's the fertilazer capital of America. Nonetheless, this beer and my friend Dan, better known as Danimal, is way above that shit. THE ROCK rating.

For dessert, I'm watching a Band of Brothers episode, enjoying some a Christmas gift from my parent's wine tasting friends, from a Chocolate store in Napa. Chocolate and an imperial russian stout pair deliciously together. Chomp, gulp!

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Juniper Black Ale is a boozy dessert

On the heels of the Beer Camp Weizenboch comes an 8% Juniper Black ale that sounds very enticing. Both these beers are high in alcohol for their style and I'm convinced that these people at beer camp just want to get drunk on the good stuff. And I have to say...good for you!

This is delicious as hell (happy berfday Jesus, sorry). There is a smooth roast with only a small but tasty spicy bite to it thanks to the juniper. It's especially amazing with the ice cream and pairs like a like a liquid syrup. . I'd say it's THE ROCK rating. This is a beer I would like to gather more of and share with my friends.

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Weizenbock is a homebrewer's dream come true

Merry Christmas! I awoke from a Brandy Alexander induced 5 hour post Christmas power nap. Oops. Somebody got a little sauced at Christmas. Happens to the best of us. I even missed the Lakers losing, which makes me sad that I missed that.  But thankfully I have a holdout from the summer to get me back into the Christmas drinking spirit.

This is a holdout from the summer months that I bought and held onto. The Sierra Nevada Beer Camp is a really great idea and epitomizes the spirit of Craft Beer - collaboration, passion for beer and creating unique products. Applicants send in a video on why they should be invited to the Sierra Nevada brewery one weekend in August. The winners are formed into a small team and together they brainstorm a beer recipe and brew it that weekend. It sounds like a wonderful, dream come true experience for any home brewer and if I hadn't been behind on my application for the Miami Ad School, I would have applied. Now you'll know what I'll be doing this June!

The Weizenbock is a surprising 6.8%, a bit high for the style but on par with the Weihenstephaner Vitus.  The aroma is incredibly sweet and quite yeasty. The pour leaves the brew cloudy from the unfiltered wheat flakes. Their are flavors of apple and other citrus. This would've been a deeelightful summer beer on the porch, but it goes just as well with me Ma's roast beast (beef) on Christmas. Happy holidays everyone. TRANSFORMERS rating.

Saint Arnold Stout and Sailing Santa are not inspiring a miracle on 34th street

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, except for a chubby mouse, because I was out delivering gifts to family friends, who then graciously invited me in to drink their beer and eat their cheese. Warm houses and friends and round bellies, that is the Christmas spirit. The Hamels, who I'll be skiing with next week and whose wedding I went to last year (the reference below on the napkin), offered me a brew I had seen on local shelves but had not acquired.

The Saint Arnold brewery is for the moment, the only local Houston brewery, and we visited it around this time last year (St. Arnold Brewery Tour). From what I can gather the Stout is one of their newer additions and a departure from their typically German style of brewing. It's billed as a seasonal 'Winter Stout' and clocks in at 5.6% alcohol. There is subtle roast aroma and the body is light, giving credence to debunking the myth that all dark beers are heavy. Only Guinness tastes heavy people, and it still has fewer calories than Bud Light (give or take). This Stout has flavors of coffee and a hint of chocolate, but otherwise this is more of a beer to consume rather than enjoy because it lacks a robust character. If I'm out at a bar this week and it's on tap, I'll enjoy ordering it, but don't go out of your way. ARMAGEDDON rating.

This is the first entry I will have posted since drinking a beer every day for 400 days. Since I'm no longer drinking on the straight and narrow, I can drink on the far and wide, which makes for a poor saying but a truthful fortune; i.e., drinking multiples of large beers in one day will make me F-A-T like Jolly Saint Nick.

Speaking of, leave it to me to only just now decorate the Christmas tree with my personal ornaments the night before Christmas. Fortunately, I have found just the man to help me get far and wide tonight.

Sailing, surfing, Santa does it all. Saint Arnold is also attempting some dexterity with their Sailing Santa, which is a blend of their fantastic Elissa IPA and their delightful Christmas Ale. What rating will the Sailing Santa receive for Christmas?

Well, Santa likes to party with a heartwarming 7%. The IPA really shows through with grapefruit and citrus flavors following a subdued hoppy bitterness. This combines with an unfortunately light spice from the Christmas ale. I'm not feeling the greatness of an inspired blend here. What made the Elissa IPA so fantastic was the clean, razor like bitterness of the hops. And the spice in the Christmas Ale, like Rudolph's Red nose, was the star of the show. Here, St. Arnold has combined the two only to mute the best characteristics of each.

Like the stout, Sailing Santa is a fine drinking beer, but why drink a dull combination when you can drink a smaller bottle of each, right? Maybe use a straw and can mix them together in your mouth? That doesn't make sense but neither does a surfing Santa. Board shorts in the Arctic? Come on! Where's his dry suit? ARMAGEDDON rating and Merry Christmas to all. 

The Bruery 4 Calling Birds spices up my last night in San Francisco

I partied hard last night to celebrate the end of school at a Christmas themed party, where there was Maker's Mark and Fernet on tap, which is David's wet dream, but arrrgh. I hate it. Fernet is the worst. The hipsters up in San Fran love it with ginger ale, but I still can't handle the licorice and spiced fused concoction. Spice seems to be the theme of week though.

Today I turned in my portfolio, outlining several campaigns I helped create over the last three months during school. The lead campaign in my portfolio was actually a personal one, this blog. It was really interesting looking back on the year and why I initially began the blog. The retrospective has my wheels turning. I finished an epic year of beer every day, now what happens? How do I approach writing the blog now? My goal last year was simply to finish the year, and after beer 365, I decided to continue until the round number of 400. 3 months have passed without a post. This is the beginning of a new era, the renewal of my exploration of craft beer. What is my goal now? I have ideas but will hone in on something more specific in the new year.

Until then, I return to my favorite brewery and one of its most epic beer series, The Bruery's 12 Days of Christmas. This year it's 4 Calling Birds. A Partridge and a Pear Tree was before my time with The Bruery, 2 Turtle Doves was a tour de force, 3 French Hens was a powerful dark belgian strong ale, but how will 4 Calling Birds deliver?

An astronaut playing the banjo is my portfolio cover. It seems odd but it says what it needs to.  For instance, Space is awesome and I'm a nerd. Deep stuff.

4 Calling Birds is an 11% dark ale brewed with gingerbread like spice. You can age it for 8 years but I couldn't let a Christmas go past without at least trying it. In the Christmas spirit, I want to say I'm thankful for having a completed portfolio, to be enjoying my favorite craft brewery, not being a student any longer, and seeing my family tomorrow in Houston. I appreciate the indulgence of Christmas like spices here, but after a half a glass down, I'm not thankful for the spicy qualities, which are overwhelming.

A couple more sips gulps later and the brew still isn't integrating with the spices well. This is an example of The Bruery doing what they do well, a dark strong belgian ale, like their Cuadruple (made with agave), but the spices could definitely be more subtle. The Two Turtle Doves was orgasmic, it was so complex. This year they went more Christmasy and less belgian, and the result is a 'spirited' brew. With the robustness of this spice, this is a beer to share with others and not alone, but I'll finish it all the same. The Bruery rocks, unfortunately, this is not The Rock. TRANSFORMERS rating.

Bruery Black Tuesday and Melange #3 complete my life

I'm in Los Angeles for the weekend after booking spur of the moment tickets last week. My portfolio for ad school is due Wednesday and I wanted to get out of town and have my mind off it for a bit, so I'm back in the town I've called home for the last 9 years. We hear from Karl that there's an incredibly special beer pouring at The Bruery Provisions store, and of course that's the one place we don't really need an excuse to visit in the first place. Is it true that Black Tuesday is pouring here? Will we be too late?!

Black Tuesday, as you can read on the label below, is an Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels. It's over 18% alcohol and it's been a Holy Grail for David and I for years now.

Every year the Bruery creates the opportunity to purchase a bottle of the brew online on a Tuesday and pick it up at the Bruery a week later. They sell out quickly and the website frequently crashes, so we've never been able to buy a bottle. But apparently The Bruery has made more this year. It's one of the highest rated beers on Beeradvocate, I believe, and it should be. Look at the price of the bottles on eBay:

Anyway, so we arrive and they not only have the Black Tuesday on tap, but the special edition Melange #3 which is 15.5% is also available. I'm stoked! These are beers off my bucket list. 

So the Melange #3 is a blend of three bourbon barrel aged strong ales. White Oak Sap is a wheat wine, especially made for the Melange, is combined with The Bruery anniversary series old ale (I believe the Cuir) and the imperial stout, Black Tuesday. Talk about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. It's the beer on the left in the picture. It has an incredibly complex palate with chocolate, dark fruits, oak, vanilla and rich toffee. I mean, wow, so smooth. You can barely taste the alcohol too. It's one of those beers I could drink every day for the rest of my life. For $8 we are poured 4 oz of the Melange and 2oz of the Black Tuesday, on the right.

The Black Tuesday is aged in bourbon barrels for over a year and it has rich caramel, toasted malt, vanilla, and anise as some of the flavors. What's amazing is not only the complexity, but how well hidden the alcohol is. This is the 3rd beer I've tasted that's 18% and you can barely taste the alcohol. The other two were made by Dogfish Head, and the alcohol comes through like a hammer. Here it's a feather pillow. If the Melange is a beer I could wish to drink everyday, the Black Tuesday is my Friday night after work and special events drink. It's too powerful and too amazing to be drunk everyday, there needs to be an occasion, albeit a weekly occasion to drink this. What I love about the Bruery is they could make a living off making these two beers, but they're innovators and would become bored only making two beers. But God I wish they would. If these and a Bruery Mischief are the only beers in my beer closet for the rest of my life, I would survive.

After only drinking 6 oz of beer, both of us have a weird buzz going on. It's a very heady, kind of high, buzz because while we sipped these, the sips were incredibly potent and hit us all at once. Wild to be buzzed on half a can of beer. I must be feeling goofy because for these beers, I'd rather not be buzzed and continue drinking their complexity. But you can't always get what you want, right?

These beers were on my bucket list and I feel so incredibly appreciative towards life after drinking something this fantastic. Sounds a little sappy but true, it's pure greatness. The Black Tuesday has a 98 out of 100 rating on beer advocate: B.A. Black Tuesday. Like Spinal Tap's drummers, I'm a bit worried about spontaneous combustion right now. BAD BOYS rating to both, obviously. Thank you David for driving down here.

Staropramen Czech Pilsner at the Amsterdam Cafe

I'm taking a break from my studies in San Francisco to check out a bar that I'm sure will become one of my favorites. Only 2 blocks away, the Amsterdam Cafe has over 20 beers on rotating taps with another 350 bottles in the refrigerators behind the bar. It's a sight to behold. There's a few beers that are $3 on Mondays and I take the only one I haven't tried yet, a Czech Pilsner.

The Staropramen is a fine drinking beer, although you get a bit of that sour malt that accompanies many of the cheaper foreign beers who brave the atlantic cross, but it's a dry and relatively crisp drinking beer that's perfectly fine for rolling solo to a bar during a the Monday Night Football game. THE ISLAND rating.

Black Diamond Rampage Imperial IPA competes for Top Dog

With the final day of class behind us today and Thanksgiving this week, the school is throwing a potluck thanksgiving feast. I brought chips, 5 layer dip and a little RAMPAGE!!!

It'll actually be the Elephant from Black Diamond Rampaging, fueled by a maddening amount of hops, rather than me, unless you count my addiction to the bourbon pecan pie a rampage. If I have seconds, you might.

At 9%, it's a big beer that comes with a crazy label. The mouthfeel has flavors of vanilla and caramel with a tinge of citrus, all of which mix together as well as well as boys and girls at an 8th grade dance. Everyone looks good by itself but nobody is dancing. And coincidently, like any potluck this brew is a mixed bag and uneven. The demented rhino is a fun label, but it comes off as a novelty. Especially since it has red devil eyes. You know who else has devil eyes? Zombies. If there are Elephant Zombies around, then you know it's the ARMAGEDDON...rating.

Beer 400 will be remembered as the 2011 Old Stock Ale that knocked my socks off

The final day of a beer every day is upon me. Here it is, the nice big number and beer I wanted to it end with. I chose a beer that would age well so I could revisit a year from today. And it's glorious, a 11.9% old ale from North Coast called the 2011 Old Stock.

I had the 2009 whiskey barrel aged at a Whole Foods tasting with Karl and it was so incredible I bought an additional one to age. It was beyond superb. The 2011 isn't aged in whiskey barrels but still is incredibly smooth, leaving no trace of the orbital alcohol level, and there's a great aroma of butterscotch and tobacco too.

In terms of smoothness and richness, this one is up there with a Trappist quadruple, like a Rochefort or Le Trappe. The flavor profile has chocolate, caramel and brown sugar notes. I could drink something like this for the rest of my days. I love old ales for their unique complexity and this only strengthens my bond with them. Wow. Such a fantastic way to end the year. BAD BOYS rating.

Tonight I leave for a bachelor party in Vegas and will spend the weekend with my brother and college friends. For the first time I won't need to seek out new beers, which is a very odd feeling. It's hard to describe, I've dedicated myself to a daily ritual and now the ritual is gone. I can't say I'm not a little saddened. What's next? Life without a daily beer? Yikes. Like I'm going to let that happen. If my liver had arms he/she/it would be punching me in the face for saying that.

Tuesday I leave for Sydney, Australia, where I'm semi excited to try their beers, which I hear are incredibly malty. It'll be a big change from the hoptastic beers of Southern California. Thank you for following me this year! The beer year may be over, but I'm really excited to continue my exploration in the future.

Stone Levitation arises to the occasion

Last night my brother Warren asked me to be his best man! We've come a long way since this picture, which is my favorite from our childhood. I'll be giving the best man speech in front of nearly 500 people, yikes! I'm for sure going to need some Levitation for that.

This is also the 20th Stone beer of the year and the 2nd to last consecutive beer of the year, 399. It's also my first day of unemployment. My final day in the entertainment industry was yesterday and in a couple weeks I'll be moving to San Francisco and beginning Advertising school! After soaking this in, I realize it's a pretty big day here. Good thing I have a quality Stone with me.

The Levitation is a flavorful 4.4% brown/amber style ale with with a hint of coffee. It has a malty aroma and finishes slightly bitter. I'm not fans of the style but this rises way above. Don't mess with stone and grab a sixer of this for a lazy weekend. TRANSFORMERS rating.

Lost Abbey Carnevale is ready for a summer party

Big news in the Walker household today. And by household I mean me and my beer, because David is in NYC. I changed phone providers and am now the proud owner of an iPhone 4. I have a first generation iPhone in my desk somewhere and I'm excited to rejoin all them cool kids with their fancy phones. Keeping in with the celebration, I'm popping a Carvevale Ale from Lost Abbey! Here's to acquiring as many free applications as I can possibly stomach.

Carnevale is a 6.5% saison/farmhouse ale that pours an enormous head several fingers thick. It smells musty and earthy and once I sloth through the foam I'm tasting one spicy dish. Herb and pepper notes dance around the barn with citrus flavors. What stands out is how much is going on, yet, the beer stays light and refreshing. My palate personally enjoys saisons much more when they're not very tart or fruity, and this has several flavors familiar to a belgian blonde, which I enjoy. It's incredibly drinkable and although they say it's a winter beverage (Carnevale is in February), this would be more suitable for a Mid Summer Night's Dream performance in the park. THE ROCK rating.

Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale can't beat The Art Of Flight

Recovering after the long wedding weekend back home, I'm synergistic my beer with the what we're watching...You love that word, don't even try to hate right now. So David works at Red Bull and is heavily involved with their biggest movie to date, the snowboarding film THE ART OF FLIGHT. The talk is that it will be known as the greatest snowboarding film possibly ever. He's flying to NYC tomorrow for the premiere. I don't snowboard and in fact strongly dislike snowboarders because I ski, but this film looks amazing. Here's the trailer here. The quality of the shots is mind blowing:

I'm also hoping to catch some air with Bear Republic's 6.8% Red Rocket Ale. I love Bear's Racer 5 IPA and I can't believe it's taken me this long to try out its ginger brother.

Who flies a helicopter like that? Crazy people I tell you

Bear is calling this a "Bastardized scottish red ale" and true to form it is more of an amber than a red. The beer is heavy and a little too sweet. There's a very rich caramel and toffee flavor that hits your hard and mixes it up with the hops. The brew contains a similar hop profile as Racer 5 but not as intense. I'm enjoying but it's really all up in my grill, like powder blowing up in the face of these insane snowboarders. This is is not for everyone (David didn't like), but for me I enjoyed. However, for a day drinking hoppy red ale, I'd consider a Drake's Denogganizer first. TRANSFORMERS rating

Iron Fist Uprising inspires peasants to rise up and...drink more Uprising

What happens when we travel down to San Diego for a wedding but there's terrible traffic and I'm late to pick up my tux? Well before anyone gets married we have to stop at a brewery, duh. 

I love it when dad's bring their kids to breweries. It inspires future Walker

Iron Fist is a favorite of David and I's and yours truly especially wants to fill up our growler with their potent Oatmeal Stout, Velvet Glove. Our college friend Gordon is with us and this is his first time to any SoCal breweries.

Iron Fist has a new blend that's cold off the fermenter, a big bad, belgian triple/ipa called UPRISING. This has motherloving 12% alcohol packed into a 10oz snifter. With the clock reading 4pm, I am only now getting over the atomic hangover I incurred last night, and this thing might send me right back to the stone age.

The Uprising has a Paul Bunyon body, big and bold. A sweet yeasty and grainy aroma is followed by a sweet caramel and sharply bittered body. Initially the alcohol doesn't seem very present, merely peeking around the corner, but as the beer warms the glass becomes the perfect storm of sweetness, bitterness and alcohol that threatens to implode my mouth. It's an impressive beer that gets a little ahead of itself.

"Please," the Groom said, "Growler me."

I'm enjoying this but it's a tenacious beer, an 'in your face supporter' of all things intense. David is driving and this put him back on his heels a bit. For me, one glass is all it takes to slay the Goliath...of my hangovers. Back to the water bottle. Still, worth the experience. TRANSFORMERS rating

Nogne O Imperial Stout bottles my Oatmeal Stout

As the Labor Day weekend begins with a half-day at work, I head directly to my temple for my style of Friday Shabbat service at Beverage Warehouse.

This store has been our go-to beer supplier for the year and as you can tell, it is fantastically stocked. These two pictures only represent bottles in the bomber size, there's an entire wall of 4 and six pack options two long to photograph. This will probably be my final time here, as I'm moving to San Francisco shortly after a vacay in Australia, so I'm nostalgically taking pictures and taking the time to wistfully stroke my chin whiskers as I choose my final selections.

I pick out the beer of the day as well as my final, beer 400 beer in 400 days. I chose a beer that has fantastic potential for not only as a symbolic end to my experience, but also to revisit. I chose a 2011 North Coast Old Stock Ale. I plan to drink one next Friday, the 2nd in 6 months, and then the third a year from now. The final beer I will save for David's consumption. Revisiting a single beer as it ages will hopefully have the effect of purposing me to continue drinking and revisiting beers. Stay tuned a week from now to see how the first one does.

Afterward, I head home and bottle my 7th home brew and third partial mash, an Oatmeal Stout, with the help of Lindsey, who's unemployed butt makes itself useful as a bottle cleaner and capper. As always, I was worried about high temperatures, but this one tastes solid. It's a bit watery but the roast comes through nicely. I bottle it a happy homebrewer.

Classy glass for a classy beer

I celebrate with a newly acquired Imperial Stout from Nogne O, a Norwegian brewery. I've heard really great things and I'm excited to make it beer 393, on the day, of my first stout's bottling...

75 IBU's and 9% alcohol, these Norgie brewers don't back down. My first sips reveal an incredibly smooth and balanced product...like, fantastically so. Dark chocolate flavors with a slightly little roast and coffee and brown sugar flavor thrown in for good measure. I'm really enjoying how the hops balance out the malt. Rich but easy to drink -- this is motor oil light. The alcohol is so well hidden it's sneaking up on my brain as I finish the bomber. Half-day Fridays are off to a glorious start! This is strong, subtle and smooth. Absolutely worth the 8 bucks I spent on the bomber. BAD BOYS

Stone 15th Anniversary Imperial Black IPA is back in black

Another day in Hollywood winds down and I'm languishing in the office waiting for an 8:30 dinner. Wednesday next week, which the Milk is for Babies readers will come to know as "Beer/Day #398," will also be my final day working in the entertainment industry. 2 years at talent agencies, 1.5 year as a director's assistant and 1.5 as a producer's assistant and I'm calling it donzos. Advertising Grad school here I come! I'm alone in the office and feeling a bit wistful, wondering if I'll miss reading scripts and actors and directors. And the answer right now is, not really. But at least I'll still have a ton of fun stories...until I forget them.

 

Will I ever look at a script and see not a story but a dead tree? Jeez, that's morbid. Maybe it's the imperial (que John Williams Imperial March theme) black IPA from Stone Brewing. Their 15th anniversary beer is balls to the wall; 10.8% alcohol, bold hops and a beer style that is unusual but quickly gaining popularity, the black IPA.

 

This fella is rich and robust with earthy chocolate flavors and a one-two bitterness punch from the dark roast and hops. The alcohol is well blended with the bitterness. It’s full bodied and a little syrupy, like a very imperial stout, like the Velvet Glove from Iron Fist. Or it could just be that the beer is not very cold. The freezers suck here...

Well, at least mine don't want me to be the Keymaster. None of the beer's elements, as in your face as the dark roast and west coast hops can be, are overwhelming. It is intense though, so people who can't handle big beers, stand clear of the road. However, if you know Stone, you know that they're unapologetic in this regard. If you love the brashness and boldness of Stone Ruination, Arrogant Bastard (and especially Double Bastard), you will want to jump on the highway and say "HIT ME" with this one. It's unique, finely crafted and something to behold. BAD BOYS rating.

There’s a new wave of black IPA’s out there, I’ve tasted several just in the last couple of months, and once last year from Deschutes which was excellent (post). I don't think all IPA lovers will enjoy them, evidenced by David's unwelcoming embrace, but I really enjoy them. The style is tough to pull off but if done correctly, there is such a unique complexity from the roast and hops. I highly recommend trying the next one you see.

Btw, do you think as a father I'll be that weird dad who sings "400 beers on the wall, take one down pass it around, 399 beers on the wall. It was an imperial ipa and the rating was..." to help them sleep? The answer is no, because my future wife or ex-wife, depending on how the cookie crumbles, would kill me. I'll just have to make him read my blog when he's 11.

Mikkeller Williamette showcases the fuggle out of that hop

This is my third single hop IPA from Mikkeller but the hop, Willamette, I know very little about. My googling machine conveys that it's similar to the English style Fuggle but is more fruity and has floral notes. So what's the real story?

It's improbable, since most of/allMikkeller's beers are limited production, that he would make six packs of his single hop varitals, but Jebus I wish he would. He has the innate ability to balance the hops and malts to create brews that are delicious and showcase the IPA. He puts together the perfect backing band for the pop star, Willamette. The hop itself is delicious and tasting some light citrus, apple, pear flavors. I wish their was a Single Hop Super Hero who doled out six packs right now. Rrreal bad. TRANSFORMERS rating.


Side story, as I went out on the patio to grab the beer, I was almost past the screen door when something huge caught my eye and gave me a jolt. It's not every day you see a white Praying Mantis!

You have to understand, we are as far away from what you'd call 'nature' as possible in this urban parking lot called Los Angeles. David and I live in Marina del Rey, surrounded by huge apartment complexes, water and boats. Pizza delivery people rarely come down here, let alone insects. So this fella was a very cool surprise for me. Apparently their sightings symbolize the coming of personal growth and inner change. Science would say that because he was 4 inches long but still white, he was seeking a protective place to molt (shed his skin) for the final time, thus becoming green. But as a passive idealist, I will go with the former.

What's even weirder, is that Lindsey and David get home late and coincidently had a captured insect with them. A bee, which they want to "put a leash on" using floss. SOOOMEBODY has been sniffing paint chips. David is a little insulted that I hadn't captured the creature - "they're really rare you know." I'm beginning to feel 7 years old again.

What's with all these insects? Symbolism or are they just getting lost? I was never a kid who collected animals and such, although there was a kid in elementary school, Will, who grew frogs in order to skin their hides. He's a big rig truck driver now, I kid you not. Redneck to the core. Another story I just remembered from an old ex-girlfriend was from her childhood, her family caught a praying mantis and a scorpion and decided to invoke Darwin's Survival of the Fittest. They placed a glass bowl over the two unwilling participants to see which creature came out victorious, gladiator style. The main event was billed "WELCOME TO THE THUNDER DOME." HA. I just wanted to tell that story so I could say that phrase. Mad Max 3 rules. Bye

Great Divide Belgian Style Yeti is this family's black sheep

Last night at Beechwood, I actually had the original Great Divide Yeti after the Golden Monkey, which as always, was soul touching. I picked up this golden labeled gem at Whole Foods.

From a homebrewer's perspective, what's interesting about the Yeti is that the clone recipe uses White Labs 001, a very neutrel and hop friendly strain ubiquitously utilized by Stone. Most Stout and Imperial Stouts use a more malt friendly yeast such as an Irish or London. So the introduction of a sweet and possibly fruity (or spicy) Belgian Yeast will noticeably alter the Yeti's standard flavor.

I hold the Yeti and Oak Aged Yeti in the highest regard, how will this Belgian style yeast turn out?

Will the serendipitous showing of ARMAGEDDON define this beer's rating?

The Belgian yeast forcibly changes the very rich and distinctive Yeti roast. It brings a sweetness and light apple flavor that for me, doesn't mix well. This isn't doing it for me, the yeast not only adds a peculiar flavor to a dark stout, but it also detracts from the Yeti's inherent malty goodness. ARMAGEDDON rating. For the record, David finishes his pour and the rest of mine, so he doesn't mind the odd mix so much. To each his own. However, I'm sticking with the original gangster Yeti. Ho fo sho

Fortunately, David is making his famous and incredibly delicious Clam Chowder this afternoon, so I'm washing out the bad marriage with some good cream, bacon, and several glasses of The Bruery's Black Orchard, poured from a growler that was filled last weekend. Party on Wayne.

Victory Golden Monkey isn't worth its weight in gold

David, Lindsey and I are ending a whirlwind of house warming and birthday parties with some pints of malty goodness at Beachwood on Washington, which boasts a new menu by Roy Choi, the chef behind the Kogi trucks. Unfortunately I'm too full with cake and mac & cheese (did somebody just call me a fat kid?) to try the new stuff, but I still have room in my beer compartment for a tripel from Pennsylvania brewery Victory.

The yeasty aroma drowns out any other smells pretty well. The body is sweet but still pretty yeasty. I'm not picking up the complexity - spice, fruit, etc - that I was hoping for. The flavors are pretty restrained. I like the idea of magical golden monkeys and I'm enjoying drinking this at 11:45pm, but it's not particularly grabbing my attention. ARMAGEDDON rating.

For an outro, I'm adding an unnecessarily long (30 secs) of Beechwood's calming blue fire to ease your afternoon. Shalom. Hakuna Matata

Bear Republic XP Pale Ale hoppily ends the work week

I bought this during my July trip to Lake Tahoe and since I love all things Bear Republic, quite excited to see how they take on a non-IPA style of beer. Me thinks it will taste similar to a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, but let's check it out.

It's made with Centennial and Cascade hops, which are typical American style hops especially for the West Coast producers. It's full bodied and hoptastic, exactly what you might expect from the producer of Racer 5. The body has some nice light caramel and fruitiness to it. Overall, a very balanced hoppy pale ale that's easy to enjoy. TRANSFORMERS rating.

Bruery Snicklefritz would impress James Franco

The Bruery's Snicklefritz is named after a minor but beloved line from PINEAPPLE EXPRESS by James Franco's character to Seth Rogan's.

He ain't getting any
of that Pineapple Express.(snidely)
  
Chris is getting Snicklefritz.

It's just a hilarious name, right? Say it out loud and languish over the words and if you don't giggle, then go enjoy a crossjoint and then repeat it. Will work every time. Here's my favorite scene from the movie, which is the opening. Bill Hader puts me in stitches every time, especially his musical interlude at :30.

The beer itself won second place in The Bruery's home brew Batch#50 contest several years ago (I recently had their last home brew winner, Batch 300, last week). It's a Belgian-Style Strong Pale ale spiced with cardamom, ginger, juniper berries and coriander, along with a long line of zests including lemon, orange and grapefruit. We tasted it at The Bruery last Saturday and I'm eager to give it a thorough once over. 

Three characteristics in particular jump out at me; the aroma, the fullness of body and its complexity. The beer pours a dark golden color with a finger of head. The aroma has robust spice notes including cinnamon, as well as a slight yeasty smell. I'm not used to full bodied beers from the Bruery and this is a welcome change. Accordingly, the Snicklefritz's complexity quickly captures my attention. The spices compliment a sweet, slightly caramel body and a mild apple flavor. This is a distinctly Belgian style brew ha ha, that adds in enough spice to embarrass any Winter Warmer. I'm dually impressed they were able to achieve this complexity without overwhelming your palate or ruin the delicious Belgian body. 

This is something to enjoy wrapped up in a blanket and sipped on while listening to good music, so you can spend time sifting through the library of spice and flavor. THE ROCK rating. 

Deschutes Black Butte Porter boosts my trivia score

At age 28, I'm finally attending my first Trivia Night at a bar. Weird right? How else could I possibly spend my Wednesday nights? Oh wait, I used to be in a bowling league. Ah, balls get in the way of everything.

Speaking of, Susie and I's team name for trivia at South is "Black Turtleneck HandJobs" in honor of Steve Jobs resigning and becoming 'unemployed.' Hand job is still a job, right? Sadly, the team title was runner up in the best name category for the night, right behind "Michael J Fox says 'What earthquake?'" That's just all sorts of wrong and hilarious.

"Black Turtleneck HandJobs"

South has a decent selection of beers but I've had most of them, except for this dark butted beauty. The Oregon based Deschutes brewery makes one incredible porter, and it goes by the name Black Butte.

There's a wonderful dark roast aroma and the mouth feel is silky smooth. Small amounts of chocolate, biscuit and coffee roll together for a well balanced profile. The roasted malts roll off the tongue and stick to the back of your mouth for just a moment before disappearing, leaving you wanting more. This is a sports bar OR a parlor porter, able to be consumed in large quantities or sipped casually and appreciated. Simply, the Deschutes Black Butte Porter is one of the better porters I've tasted this year. THE ROCK rating.

Trivia wise, with the first round of Paul Rudd/Anchorman trivia and the second round of Saxophone solo's, we did pretty well for two people who were competing against teams of 4 or more, but after the third round asked us to name the top 10 fantasy football picks listed on yahoo, we were goners. I'm coming back with reinforcements -- David and Karl will destroy you. Together they are equal to the IBM machine that beat those dorks in Jeopardy. Your up'ms will come South Trivia Night!

Drink with the Wench Interview!

Over this past July 4th weekend as I crossed the threshold of T-Minus 30 beers left in the year, I decided it was time for a little shameless self-promotion. I chose to keep relatively low on the publicity radar this year but hell, I've written every day for 300 days at this point, why shouldn't I get some love? Beards need love too.

So I sent word to a blog I follow, Drink with the Wench (http://drinkwiththewench.com/) asking if I she could interview me for her blog and she responded quickly and enthusiastically. She had a pretty busy summer but now it's up on her website!

I haven't read it since I wrote it, so I honestly have no idea what golden information nuggets lie within. Currently I'm furiously forgoing any work obligations (I'm leaving any way, eh) and am focusing on any unwritten posts the last two weeks and working on updating the back-list of reading. In the meantime, check out the interview!

http://drinkwiththewench.com/2011/08/featured-beer-blogger-walker-davis/

Anderson Valley IPA malts me nicely

I'm pouring this just as David is finishing up with TRON and it reminds me that I missed her coming to the office last week to meet my boss (I work at a production company). A little bummed, but I was in Napa so I can't complain. What about you - incredible wine or Olivia Wilde? Does Olivia taste like blackberries, chalk and pepper all at once? Doubtful.

Anderson Valley IPA is a good malty IPA with a light caramel flavor. Their beers tend to be maltier rather than hoppy and this IPA is no exception. However, the hops do balance their naturally malty beers nicely. I wouldn't say this is Hop Ottin, as their name advertises, but it results in a balanced ipa that's enjoyable. TRANSFORMERS rating.

Wild Blue Blueberry Lager turns me into Violet Beauregarde

Three things strike me as unusual here; an 8% lager, a fruit lager (rather than being an ale) and a crown royal pillow case. I'm more surprised that I haven't featured a prized possession in my entire beer blogging year. Shame on you Walker. Shame. I'm also surprised with the choice of lagering a fruit beer and I'm tired of wondering what the result will be...

It's a lager, so I poured this into a pint glass but I can't smell anything. Online the website recommends a tulip glass, which would probably be the first lager poured into a tulip glass. This beer is crazy. The alcohol is surprisingly well masked. The berry flavor is sweet and tasty cold and as it warms, the flavor actually sticks with the body of the beer. In many fruit ales, as the beer warms the fruit flavor noticeably separates from the body of the beer - the result of using fruit syrup rather than real fruit - and it turns a decent beer into something considerably less so. I'm really enjoying this bizarre but tasty blueberry style. I'm a little bummed I chose to savor this tonight rather than on a summer afternoon, but you can't win'm all. Besides;

Despite this being made by Anheuser-Busch, I enjoyed it. Sue me. ARMAGEDDON rating.

Bruery Batch 300 is a homebrewer's Independence Day

Batch 300 is the winner of The Bruery's homebrew competition last Spring and David has been singing its praises around the house. Style wise, it's an interesting beer; a Belgian style ale brewed with citra hops and aged in oak cubes, i.e. an Oak Aged hoppy Tripel. Lov'n it. I'm also loving the witty repartee onscreen between Big Willie and Jeff Goldblum in INDEPENDENCE DAY.

It's also my brother Warren's last day in town (and we're eating Papa Johns pizza for breakfast, because that's how New Yorkers roll), and he told us a hilarious college memory. A pledge in his fraternity knew the below speech by heart and would get up at parties during band breaks and recite the entire speech. That would be too much for me, I would probably piss my pants to see that happen in its entirety, but you tell me.

Also, who would you vote for as President - Bill Pullman or President Palmer/Dennis Haysbert from 24?

The Batch 300 clocks in at 8.2% and thanks to a very intense piney hop flavor, it's a very American take on a Belgian tripel. The oak imparts a very vinous flavor as well but also contributes to a very balanced and smooth flavor that is without an overwhelming sweetness. As I continue drinking and the beer warms up a little and that complexity from the oak and hops combination really burns through. This is definitely a gentlemanly sipper, but it's oh so good! A tip of the hat to any homebrewer who makes a beer this complex. THE ROCK rating.

Bruery Black Orchard Dark Wit pulls off a hat trick

With my brother Warren in town and me moving out of LA in 6 weeks (you heard it here first), a trip to our favorite brewery The Bruery is in order. I'm designated driver on the way back, so naturally I drink several beers beforehand and plan to sober up while I'm at the brewery, but nobody believes I will! I don't know what I could have done to give them that belief...

 

After a detour to The Bruery Provisions store where Nick G, Warren, David, Aaron B, Jamie, Karl and his crew order some sampler plates and I stock up on beers from there store such as the Stone 15th Anniversary Imperial Black IPA, Iron Fist Velvet Glove and the brand new brew from The Bruery's Provisions Series, Snickelfritz, we're onto the main brewery.

Beer drinkers take blurry pictures. It's an occupational hazard

Upon arrival, I note a sign posted above the bar noting the Bruery produced 2500bbls last year - that's 31 gallons per 1 bbl - so 77,500 gallons. This year they produced 5000 bbls - 155,000 gallons - double! Wow. I've seen The Bruery in Chicago and New York, but I didn't realize until today after I asked the bartender, that this 4 year old brewery is in over 16 states. It's absolutely amazing. We started drinking their beer 3 years ago, and I suddenly feel like I've been at the epicenter of what will become one of the most renowned breweries in the United States. Bruery's a pretty damn special place. This will probably be my last time here which makes me sad - I might even miss the creepy babies hanging around here (Creepy Babies),  so I'm buying a long overdue hat to keep me company in San Francisco. 

The one beer I am going to have today is their seasonal Black Orchard Wit. The style is unique and I've never heard of a black belgian wit bier. It's 5.7% and chamomile is added for the aroma. This could be really amazing or Patrick Rue's day dream gone wrong, what will it be?

The flavor profile is fascinating and delicious, a subtle dark roast bitterness at the beginning that fades as the sweet belgian wit and spice (coriander and orange peel) subtle kick in. I'm going to use that word again because I don't know how else to convey this beer; it's so subtle. As far as unusual styles go, this is up there. I feel like the Bruery pulled of a hat trick here, combining all these ingredients to make a smooth and delicious brew. At the end of the day, we had already filled up our 3 growlers for the party at home with Loakal Red, Mischief, and Snickelfritz, when David walked away from the car and back into the brewery. He returned sometime later with a newly purchased 4th growler full of the Black Orchard. He bought (a probably unnecessary) 4th growler just to make sure we had more of the wit to drink this week because it was that good. A true gauge to the tastiness of any beer is the length a person will go to find and drink it. I think the 4th growler speaks to the power of this beer. BAD BOYS rating.

The brother's Davis take over a table

Oskar Blues Old Chub treats me like scottish royalty, minus bagpipes

I'm at the Alibi Room Friday night introducing the original and by far the best Food Truck food, Kogi, to my brother. Having planned to take him here at some point, I also know what beer I'm getting...OLD CHUB

No, that that old chubby guy, this beautiful scotch ale is from Colorado brewery Oskar Blues, makers of my favorite imperial red ale, Gordon's Red Ale. Oskar Blues also holds the distinction of being one of the first craft breweries to embrace the use of aluminum cans to distribute their product but there's a metallic taste to my first sips of the Chub, so I'm doing the American thing and granting it freedom from its aluminum bonds. Plus I'm a certified beer snob now and must have any beer other than Bud Light poured into a glass.  Excuse me, sir, after passing the grey poupon, can you pass me something Belgian?. That's me, a Snobby Chub.

Kogi knocks my socks off

Did somebody order a scotch, style? The hops are minimal and a rich, malty chocolate flavor permeates the profile. It's full bodied and smooth as jazz. Wow, if there was a chorus of Old Chub drinkers with me, we would all raise up and sing it's praises. Chub is by far the best beer out of a can I've ever had, but I'm glad it's in a glass. If you haven't tried beer from Oskar Blues, don't let the metal fool you - they're worth their weight in gold. THE ROCK rating.

AleSmith Horny Devil mirrors Louie C.K. tonight

David's been saving this AleSmith since December 2010 and we're hoping to compare it to a newer Horny Devil soon. The room is filling with great irony as Warren, David and I are watching Louie C.K.'s latest episode, which is entirely focused upon the topic of masturbation. This season of LOUIE has been outrageously funny. This is the opening sequence from tonight's episode:

Louie is awesome, but the Fox News reporter gets a few jabs in as well, "Shakespeare definitely masturbated" being my favorite. Onto the beer! And Louie's "O" Face...oh oh oh

This is an 11% belgian golden strong brewed with coriander. The spice is deftly utilized with a soft touch. There's a light yeast aroma and the flavor is smooth and slightly sweet, not a lot of caramel going on but a very balanced sweetness. The alcohol is skillfuly hidden as well. This is a nectar of the gods. Did Michelangelo brew this ale? I'm very excited to see what an un-aged 2011 Horny Devil is like. BAD BOYS rating.