Bruery Acer Quercus syrups my day

I was planning to make my 7th home brew today, but after a 2 hour cleanup, the brew store was already closed. To console myself, I'm attacking my body with a 4 meat pizza and the highly touted 9.5% collaboration beer between The Bruery and Laweon's Finest Liquids, a nano brewery in Vermont. 

It’s technically a rye beer, but there’s so much more infused into this - an oak aged ale brewed with maple syrup and date sugar (and smoked malt). I'm hoping the rich combination will overload my senses and lull me into a blissful food coma.

 

The aroma is incredibly malty and the syrup balances out the bitter roasted malt with a fascinating sweetness. The smoked malt is subtle and kicks in at the end. Acer is smooth and complex, a true sweet stout. I think this is inspired and a ingeniously Promethean beer. BAD BOYS rating. Drinking this saved my day, until I realize that this is a limited production and there isn't any more to go around....NOOOOO

The Bruery Trade Winds made with Thai Basil is seasonally amazing

Two years ago David, Nick and I went to the first LA Beerfest at Sony Studios (which has since turned into a shit-show) and amidst a hundred vendors, bumped into these two guys set up next to Fireman's Brew pouring two beers from "The Bruery."

I think the first beer we tried was either a Saison de Lente or a Rugbrod, but their second beer was a summer seasonal made with Thai Basil which was astounding. Our minds were blown and we had just crossed a threshold; in a very unlikely place we'd stumbled upon one of the best breweries in the U.S. 

Since then, neither David or I have tasted Trade Winds - until today. And we have a growler of the stuff! Two years later and we're having a homecoming for our threshold beer to The Bruery.

The Bruery's brewers are Promethean with many if not most of their beers and this one is an excellent example. Who woke up at one day and said, "hmm, I'm going to make beer with basil, thai basil to be exact." Truly Amazeballs.  The beer's base is a belgian golden ale, but instead of using candi sugar, typical for the style, they use rice in the mash to lighten the body and increase the gravity and then spice with Thai Basil. The result is a beer that is subtle and earthy, with a hint of spice from the Thai Basil, which is evident in the first sip. The result is a basic golden ale that's easily drinkable (too much so) and a complex flavor profile. Some might argue that this is like their Mischief, only better. For me, how can you pick between your two kids? Well, for my parents it's obviously me and not my brother Warren, but I made that easy. Here it's much more difficult :). BAD BOYS rating. 

Melissa R, Nick G, Lisa, Jake, Jenny and Tiffany are coming over to eat and watch the 3rd game between Dallas and Miami. I'm using this excuse to do a flight of my homebrews, as everyone except David and myself haven't had all three of my beers.

I love this, because I'm able to stand up and give a spiel about how each brew was made, funny tidbits, and how clever I think the names are (self absorbed much?). To my surprise though, Heisenberg's Honey Wheat, a winner at previous parties, is not the leading man here. My first brew, King Moonracer's Revenge made with clove, probably got the highest all-around rankings. Lisa's favorite was King Moonracer, Jake's the Red Headed Step-Child (because you just can't beat it), and Mel's was the Honey Wheat. The super hoppy Double Dutch Rudder (a belgian IPA, a beer where two different styles rub off on each other) and one of my personal favs, Jake loves but is probably too hoppy for the ladies' tastes.

Overall, everything but the Mavs loss was a great success! This entire weekend was filled with beer and breweries and great friends - another stellar weekend thanks to beer!

Green Flash Brewing Grand Cru Steals Fire from the Gods

Green Flash Brewery I'm becoming impressed with. It's one of those very small breweries that I can't help but admire because they are Promethean. Their Double IPA is wild. Le Freak combines an Imperial IPA with a Belgian Tripel and tastes fantastic. They brew types which are out of the box and in doing so have won me over. I love a beer that's especially unique. Wednesday we tasted Grand Cru.

So um, where can I steal a Green Flash glass from?

It pours dark with limited head and has a rich chocolate and nutty aroma. It's a dark ale but made with Belgian and American yeasts, so it's sweet but less like caramel and more like ice cream. There is a strong presence of malt and the beer finishes quickly thanks to it's 9.1% alcohol content. It's fairly balanced and not too filling.

This is an HB Toss Pass (any NCAA football gamers out there?). You are sucked into this beer's standard dark ale aroma and appearance but as the HB (halfback) swings around the end he doesn't keep running. Oh damn. He falls back and heaves the ball downfield. The safety has bit on the running action and scrambles to recover but it's too late. Boom shaka laka, it's sweet and finishes quickly.

Grand Cru, you're a solid trick play and I plan on drinking you at THE ROCK.