Wine Lovers Beer List

Wine Enthusiast released a list of their Top 25 beers.  I agree with some of the choices (#4 Avery Maharaja is top 3 in my book), and was left puzzled by others (#18 SA Boston Lager).

I take listed for what they are, people's opinions on the Top-whatever of something.  I make lists, talk about lists and contemplate lists, but they are what they are, just a list.  Here is the top 10 on their list of beers:

1. Captain Lawrence Rosso e Marrone
2. Unibroue Maudite
3. Orchard White
4. Avery The Maharaja
5. Southern Tier Imperial Pumking
6. Rochefort 8
7. Eliot Ness Lager
8. The Lost Abbey Cuvee de Tomme
9. Nogne O/Jolly Pumpkin/Stone Special Holiday Ale
10. Russian River Beatification

All I want for Christmas....

This is my Christmas list this year.  First off, my Five beers that I have enjoyed and want more of this year.

1. Stone Vertical Epic 09/09/09.  This was the first porter that I have enjoyed in a while.  The beer has more of a sweetness, not much burnt maltness to it.  Delicious.

2. Troeg's Nugget Nectar.  I am looking forward to this beer coming out again.  We were fortunate enough to get some in August, and I still have a bottle for over New Years.  But there is nothing better than Nugget Nectar out of a cask.

3. The bottles of Flying Dog's Raging Bitch.  I know they will be out soon, but it should be now.  I can't wait to get this and share it with my friends who cannot get it.

4.  Jolly Pumpkin anything.  So glad the Michigan Brewers Festival allowed me to sample their beers, and then the present from my brother to enjoy WeisenBam and La Roja.  I just want more.

5. Kuhnhenn Brewing's Solar Eclipse Imperial Stout.  One of my favorites from the MBF.  Their Simcoe Silly was almost just as good.

6. Basically any of the other delicious samples from the MBF, New Holland, Arcadia, and Short't to name a few.

7. I was happy to be introduced to Koningshoeven.  It was requested that I try it, which I thoroughly enjoyed, by the chef at Jack's Bistro because they were out of...

8. Witkap Pater Dubbel.  Grape Kool-aid.  I don't know why, but I get grape kool-aid from it.  Yes, I know there is other stuff, but what blew me away was the grape kool-aid.

9. My Base Beers.  They are the special beers that no matter what, you know what you are getting, and it is a good one.  60 Minute IPA, Racer 5, Yuengling Lager, etc.  It doesn't matter.  It established the style for me.

10. My next beer, because that is my favorite kind.

Too Early

I stopped in at Baltimore Taphouse yesterday on my way home from work and had a Sierra Nevada Celebration, officially opening my Christmas beer season.  I felt a little odd.  I do not like the Christmas creep, and I was partaking in the offerings of the creep.  Felt kind of off.  Anywho, it is a delicious brew, as usual.

What do you think, Too Early?

Tall or Short glass

There have been times when I have been asked whether I wanted a tall (20 oz.) or short (16 oz) glass of Guinness.  But never have I received and 8 foot tall glass.

As stated here:

A crowd of 400 people gathered in the bar's patio to watch the mammoth 900-lb. glass, made of shatter-resistant acrylic, being filled with 2,772 lbs. of beer.

That is one nice pour.  The world record beer bested the former record of a small 4 foot glass.  Crazy stuff.

Welcome Back, Kasper

Kasper on Tap, the beer blog taken away from us by The Sun, has reappeared HERE.


Follow it, he likes converation.

Jolly Pumpkin No.2

Tonight, I figured it would be a good night for La Roja, which is:
An artisan amber ale brewed in the Flanders tradition. Deep amber with earthy caramel, spice, and sour fruit notes developed through natural barrel aging. Unfiltered, unpasteurized and blended from barrels ranging in age from two to ten months.

The beer is a good beer, but I can find some flaws in my favorite style brew.  First off, I find that the beer starts out too carbinated.  The cherry is in the nose, but you have to search for it in the taste.  Finally, I feel there is too much of an alcoholly taste to it.

Other than those few complaints, I do like the beer.  It is smooth in the mouth, with a really nice tart sourness to it.  It really zaps the tongue in a pleasant way (if you like a Flemish red style beer).

Overall, I would suggest this beer to someone who is looking for something different, is adventurous, and patient- you have to wait for the cherry to come out.

Time for me to get some more Jolly Pumpkin beers.

Veteran's Day

This one is for you: Sprenkle, Yoder, Matty B, Sheatler, and all the other soldiers out there.

Stay safe out there.

dreary day beer stop

I would like to say everyone should take a moment today to think about those serving the country.

I had off today, but had a lunch meeting for a committee that I work with.  After the lunch, I ran up the Well's Discount Liquors to use a gift card I received last christmas (most people wouldn't be able to hold onto it as long as I have).  I came away with a couple of things that I can look forward to, and another that I thought I would give a shot.

I gave Anderson Valley Brewing's Brother David Double a go.  I didn't know much about the brewery or the beer, but thought I would try it.  If you have had it, let me know.

Next, I grabbed a bottle of Wild Devil from Victory Brewing.  I loved this beer when I had it before, and wanted to make sure I had a bottle for another time.

I then saw the bottles of the Stone Vertical Epic 09/09/09.  One to drink this winter, one to save for the future.  This is one of the few porters that I like, so maybe I should have grabbed a bunch of them.

Finally, I was able to grab a bottle of the Autumn Maple from The Bruery (last one on the shelf or I would have grabbed a couple).  I have been looking forward to trying this beer, and this was the first opportunity I had to get one.

Overall, I feel that I had a good go at the store.  I didn't spend too much money, and was able to being home some good stuff.

Have you picked up anything lately?

The Hindenburg beer

I would drink it, would you?   Actually, I think it is a really neat collectable for someone with way too much money.  But other than being really old, what is the guarantee that it was on the Hindenburg.  After the crash were they like, "Oh My, Let's save a bottle of beer!"

Craft Beer Sales

Who is the biggest you ask:  (@Cizauskas via @ratebeer)
 And other numbers...

 Chart found here

Jolly Pumpkin Weizen Bam

Definitely will agree with the name as it slams into your mouth with delicious funk. I am not the biggest hefeweizen fan, but this one definitely agrees with me.

The beer poured a cloudy yellow (what I think a hefe should look like). Lemony/grassy/funk smell comes out of a good size head that holds up well against the glass. The funk gives the initial taste a different swing to it. The lemony/green appleish taste goes well with the little carbination that it has.

This beer was a delight to drink, and it is definately something I will be looking to get again.

"The Button"

Great movie from Funny or Die:

The Button - watch more funny videos