Let's see. What else has happened? Oh, that wonderful nectar called Hopslam was released. A 10% IIPA that is, as I see it, an ode to the Simcoe hop. If you ever have someone question your description of grapefruit in beer, just have them stick their nose in this bad boy. Every year beer geeks everywhere await its release, and they couldn't have been disappointed by this year's edition. While perhaps a tad sweeter than I would have liked, the ruby red grapefruit character is back in full effect. I love it. I can't drink alot of it, but if it is a one or two beer night, there is no better option for a guy like me. I tried to find a picture of the label to post on here, but I'm sure you all know what it looks like.
I also discovered a new beer recently. Troegs Brewing, out of Harrisburg, PA, releases a Wet Hop Ale, called Nugget Nectar.
Now, I had this beer in February, so I didn't know how well the hop character had held up since it was brewed. Yeah, I know, its only a few months, but with wet hop ales, fresh is always best. Anyway, this beer did not disappoint. Rich and well balanced, this was one hoppy monster. In spite of my previous show of affection for HopSlam, I actually would drink the Nugget Nectar over it any day of the week, and twice on Sunday. That's how good it is. They don't sell it here in KY, or even in IN. I found mine in Cincy at Jungle Jim's. It is a bit of a hike, but they have one fantastic beer selection, full of lots of beers you can't find here in KY.
Speaking of beers you can't get in KY, I visited Todd at The Keg in Clarksville, IN today. Todd had a beer geek field day last week. He got in some new, very hard to find beers. First is the Nogne O Dark Horizon 2nd Edition. I won't spend too much time talking about it, because the case he got was gone in a matter of days.
However, he got two other beers that I, for one, never thought I'd get to try. First is Black Albert, a Belgian Royal Stout from De Struise out of Belgium. This beer was originally brewed for Ebenezer's Pub, in Lovell, Maine, and that was where US distribution began and ended. However, a few months ago, I heard rumblings of a couple cases hitting the IN market. Before I could get to those places, the bottles had all disappeared. Then, I heard Rich O's was getting a keg for Gravity Head. I wasn't sure I'd make it up before the keg blew. So, once again, I thought I'd miss out.
Then, I went to The Keg. I now have a bottle of BA in my cellar, just waiting for the right time to enjoy. I'll be sure to let you all know just when that is.
The other beer that Todd got in was from Mikkeller. Mikkeller is a pretty cool operation. Mikkel, the now lone brewer, doesn't have a brewhouse. He rents out space wherever he can find it, whether its Struise, or Nogne O, or whoever. So, if you try one of their beers, be sure to check the label to see where the beer was actually brewed.
So, this beer is called Beer Geek Brunch Weasel.
It is a bigger brother of their Beer Geek Breakfast, a beer that I have never been shy about criticizing. BGB is a 7.5% Oatmeal Stout brewed with coffee, and BGBW is a 10.9%Imperial Oatmeal Stout, also brewed with coffee. The major difference is the coffee that was used. BGBW uses Kopi Luwak. For those not in the know, here's what Wikipedia has to say about it: "Kopi Luwak is the most expensive coffee in the world, selling for between $120 and $600 USD per pound...Kopi is the Indonesian word for coffee, and luwak is a local name of the Asian Palm Civet. The raw, red coffee berries are part of its normal diet, along with insects, small mammals, small reptiles, eggs and nestlings of birds, and other fruit. The inner bean of the berry is not digested, but it has been proposed that enzymes in the stomach of the civet add to the coffee's flavor by breaking down the proteins that give coffee its bitter taste. The beans are defecated, still covered in some inner layers of the berry. The beans are washed, and given only a light roast so as to not destroy the complex flavors that develop through the process." So, poop coffee. Anyway, I love many of the Mikkeller beers I have had, and I can't wait to try this very rare beer. If you feel so inclined, Todd has some bottles left. It will set you back about $11, if memory serves, but I have a feeling it will be well worth it.
In that same trip, I also picked up a bottle of Mikkeller's Single Hop Simcoe IPA. As I stated before, I LOVE Simcoe hops. So, I am very anxious to try this one. The only other all Simcoe beer I've ever had is Weyerbacher's Simcoe IIPA, and I love it. So, I have high hopes.
I guess that'll be about enough for now. I promise to try and update more regularly. Also, we'll have some more tastings coming. First, I think, will be a four beer tasting of all of Oskar Blue's beer. I am very excited about that. I haven't had the Old Chub yet, but Gordon might be the best IIPA (ish) being brewed in America.
Until next time, cheers everyone.
2 comments:
I got a bottle of the red rye, and another of their beers but i don't remember what it was now, the other day, good stuff!
and then i realized that I did not post that comment on the proper post...dang
Post a Comment