Paulaner Salvator doesn't quite save my day

I don't like the way that AT-ST is looking at me...I have a bad feeling about this. Let's get out of here Han.

Not only did I split a Kogi Quesadilla and Sliders today for lunch, but my office CEO made an executive decision (I kid you not) and replaced the Oreo's in the kitchen with cookies looking exactly like these:

Seriously, who does that? You don't put a free kegerator next to the water cooler when you employ a bunch of alcoholics. You can't give the sluty secretaries in MAD MEN free contraceptives, right? I have a cookie problem; how could you, in good conscious, replace Oreo's with this crack? They might as well put out black tar herion and some clean needles every morning. I had two today. This is only the beginning.

Anywho, Paulaner Salvator has a whole lotta bock going on with deep brown nut and caramel roast.  It's a double bock and it's a little too intense for me, and it's not my style. THE ISLAND rating.

Seriously though, I kinda wish the AT-ST slayed more Ewoks in Return of the Jedi. This isn't helping:

Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout is smoothly intoxicating

I spent the day day recovering from our double brewery excursion yesterday and used the time watch football and transfer our Belgian IPA from the primary to the carboy. We poured a healthy glass to sample and while there will be a few tweaks on our next recipe, we both believe the current batch will turn out pretty great. David believes that the temperature control we achieved during this batch through the new wort cooler we bought and my heated bedroom (grrrr) made a huge difference in the brews consistency. It's going to be super hoppy but smooth, and I can't wait to taste it again in two weeks. Still working on a name...

Before fighting the Imperial Forces lead by Darth Stout, R2-D2 posed for a picture with his adversary

I can smell the alcohol (7%) heavily in Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout, as well as a healthy dose of chocolate. The body is really smooth and creamy with an enticing cocoa presence. I'm really enjoying this. Big thanks to my coworker Kate Schriver for giving this to me as a Christmas gift. This warms the belly and my tired soul. THE ROCK rating.

Winter Hook Winter Ale watches David's legos and helps me vanquish my online enemies (who are probably teenage kids)

David had his beer at Library Alehouse so I'm absorbing one of his gifts from his Washington trip, the Winter Hook ale from Red Hook. It's a solid Christmas ale with a lil' spice, lil' hop, and lil' caramel malt. Put them together and you get a TRANSFORMERS rating. Or a Lego Star Wars set. YEP

Merry Christmas to David, from David

As I destroy people in Call of Duty Black Ops, alternating between the Gun Game/Sticks and Stones Wager Match, I realize it's been a while since I imbibed a Red Hook and I'm quite happy about being reintroduced to them. Red Hook ESB changed my life and now Mr. Hook has caught my attention again. I'm looking forward to the next brew from them.

Btw, this Wager Match is incredibly addicting. Do you realize these people are geniuses? They designed an entertainment platform that combines gaming and gambling, the two greatest addictions ever (outside of drugs and cookies). If David and I weren't so cool and social, a serious problem could definitely develop that requires intervention (says Walker as he stares pas his Shark Slippers at David who is building Star Wars Legos with the focus of a Zen master).

Would C-3PO drink Lips of Faith Vrienden?

Back to work, and it was a pretty long one today. Bluh, came home and sat down to watch Chopped (I'll fight anyone who hates on that show) and then the Family Guy Star War series, we're in the middle of Something Something Something Dark Side. Good shit.

I grabbed this over the weekend at Whole Foods because most of the Lips of Faith beers have been good. It's a New Belgium/Allagash collaboration. Allagash-good, New Beligum-fingers crossed. I STILL can't smell that well thanks to my annoying cold, but I can smell this, and it's a little sour, funky, a little like a saison. Maybe that's coming from the hibiscus or endive? What does endive smell like? Isn't hibiscus a flower? What's going on here? It also tastes sour, fruity, though not as bad as a saison. A slight bit of smooth malt right at the beginning, but then its all sour from there. Finishes pretty nicely, sour/tart doesn't stick around too long, unlike...

Anthony Daniels. Kinda fruity, but overall a good thing. That is, a good thing if you can stand his odd mix of Star Wars sentimentalism (endive) and English manners (hibiscus). A fair match of personal qualities and beer flavors . Not really, just go with the "fruity" thing and it works.

Celebration Ale from Sierra Nevada generates mixed feelings

This tastes like Christmas Ale but much like my current construction project, still this falls flat (so far). However, I may be the last man standing on the 'hater' side of the line, because everyone else seems to like it.

Linus, staring contest you and me....Dammit, you always win!

More of a fan this year than when I had it last, but it still doesn't turn me warm and fuzzy. It tastes simply like a Sierra Nevada red ale. I dunno, based on everyone's favorable perceptions you should try this; however, my opinion still hasn't crossed over from the dark side. ARMAGEDDON rating.

Skyscraper Winter Warmer does nothing of the sort; also, meet LINUS

David returned from Japan today and had a little belated birthday gift waiting at the door from our Chicago friend. You may think it's a gag gift, but it's actually perfectly normal, albeit inspired, present if you know either of us.

meet Linus

How hilarious is this? It's a porcelain cookie jar! His helmet is a top that opens right above his eyes. I feel like I'm eating brains each time I open it. ZOMBIES! We decided to bestow the fellow with the wussiest name ever, LINUS. Herbert was a close personal second. Norman would've been third on my list if we hadn't hit a home run on the first pitch. I love naming shit.

Onto the Winter Warmer. Smells wonderful with an intense cinnamon, nutmeg and apple aroma. The taste doesn't correlate to the aroma though. The malts and spices are underwhelming. If you're looking for Christmas Ales, pick another. THE ISLAND rating.  

Abita Andygator Helles Doppelbock

That beer title is a mouthful. Isn't Andygator something you'd name a stuffed animal? Or a character in TOY STORY? I can just imagine the goofy Dinosaur screaming, "AHHHH! It's the AAAAndy Gator!!!" and then turning around and running straight into a wall. Anywho, here it is.

As I type this up Sunday, I'm watching Star Wars IV (the first one). And I forgot about all those weird creatures and extra CGI Lucas put in on the new DVD's. It's the same movie but because I've seen the original so many times, the additions make watching some scenes a completely different experience. It's fine, it's just not what I expected.

This beer says it's a Doppelbock but if you look at the picture it, it poured much lighter than expected. And the taste was a beast unto itself. It's unique. Not to say I enjoyed it, but it's unique. The taste I couldn't place for some time because I wasn't expecting it, but David made an excellent point and nailed it. The Andygator is crisp with a dry finish. But it's also starchy. I think it's safe to say that this isn't like your typical Doppelbock. The taste is close to a cereal or even a rice based beer. It's very much like drinking a bowl of Kicks Cereal (which are for kids, so I wouldn't dare). The Andygator's odd name alludes to its flavor but to Abita's credit they made a unique beer. ARMAGEDDON rating.

Remember, the Sand People are easily startled but they'll soon be back, and in greater numbers.