Denver Pale Ale, The Everyday Brew

I wasn't the greatest at the analogy sections of most standardized testing platforms, but I've managed to put together this little gem for you. Take a gander and see if you agree.

DPA : brews :: Bruce Willis : late night channel surfing

Great Divide's Denver Pale Ale (DPA) is the Bruce Willis of brews. No matter which movie is on, you end up finishing it satisfied. You could be flipping through channels, find Die Hard just starting and before you know it, you're 3 brews in, 10 bad guys down, and quoting Willis one liners. Heck you may even stay up for the encore performance of The Last Boy Scout. Much the same is this brew. You pop open the fridge, not sure what you are in the mood for and see a couple DPAs in the back. All of a sudden, you find yourself at the local brew shop searching for more. English style pale ale with an American micro brew spirit. Gorgeous copper color, simple light aroma, crisp flavor, citrus and just enough hops...the perfect everyday brew.

Now I have a machine gun. Ho Ho Ho.

Imbibilicious, out.

Serving Type: bottle, 12 oz, appx. $10 /6 pack

Glassware: Tulip

Color (hue and head): Copper w/ white foamy head

Taste: Hint of malt, citrus and hops, crisp, clean finish.

Grade: 87/100 (B+)

Musical pairing: Metric - Gold Girls Guns (not enough for Bruce)
Alternate Musical pairing: Bruce Willis - Respect Yourself (Yes, this is the 1st single from Bruce Willis's 1986 album, The Return of Bruno. MUST check out!)

Surroundings: Eating a late dinner, channel surfing, working late

Mikkeller - I Beat yoU

Yes, that's what it's called and it does what it says. For those unfamiliar with Mikkeller, he's a Danish "gypsy" brewer, moving from brewery to brewery, forgetting the rules and creating some of the most unique beers around. He's like that friend we all have that is just good at anything...you know, he can wax the floor with you at your best game, and had never even played the game before. In this case, the aforementioned Dane has brewed an american imperial IPA, at Brewdog in Scotland, and then gave it the name "I Beat yoU"!!  ...bold, very bold, sir.

Pours creamy, gold with a hearty, ivory head that lasts and lasts. Buttery up front and pine in the back, the flavor is strong, but gentle on the tongue. I like very much. It reminds me of Avery's Maharaja...which is in my top 10 list.

Touche, Mr. Mikkel Bjergso. You have won this round. The brew name speaks for itself. Your fine ale beats most of the imperial IPAs i've had enjoyed to date from some of the best craft brewers in the states. I will continue to seek out your creations for further analysis.

Imbibilicious, out.

Serving Type: bottle, 11.2 oz, $6

Glassware: Tulip

Color (hue and head): creamy, gold, cloudy. Thick, ivory head.

Taste: Buttery pine, maybe some honeysuckle

Grade: 95/100 (A)

Musical pairing: Land of Talk - Hamburg, Noon

Surroundings: Wrapping presents, enjoying beverage(s).

Schloss Eggenberg Samichlaus Bier

In these trying times of economic hardship, housing market woes, political standoffs and general American mess, the little things can pull us through. These are simple victories we all need to note today and recall to memory tomorrow, next week or maybe next year to give ourselves some perspective that the sky isn't actually falling. There's just so much more to live for other than the daily market numbers, oil prices, or the current tax rate. Some perfect examples may be your hometown NFL team pulling off a suprising Monday Night Football upset, or you found a penny on the sidewalk, or maybe you are even caught in a freak lightning hail storm at 11,000 ft, somehow make it back to town alive and the local bar opens it's doors to accomodate your need for a pick me up.

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That last part was exactly what happened to me on a recent trip to Steamboat Springs with my wife and parents. We suffered down the mountain, to the nearest town and made our way into the only bar we could find: Antlers Cafe in Yampa, CO. That all sounds pretty normal for family trips, but the thing to note here was the selection in this tiny cafe in a town of only 400 people. To be honest, the selection was minimal (only 3 brews on tap), but one of them was Samichlaus Bier...ON TAP!!

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Samichlaus Bier is a truly amazing Belgian brew that I've only seen in a few spots in KC. I've enjoyed this spicy ale a few times, but only from a bottle and only from limited venues. At 14% ABV, the situation couldn't have been more perfect. When ordering my second, I didn't even consider the day's drama, the symptoms of mild hypothermia, and the fact that someone had to drive us home.

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Serving Type: Tap

Glassware: Tulip

Color (hue and head): Deep copper. Minimal head, dissipates quickly

Clarity: Translucent cloudiness

Aroma: Spices, smokey brown sugar

Taste: Spice, brandy, raisins, burnt sugar

Grade: 93/100 (A-)

Musical pairing: Beach House - Norway

Surroundings: Wet and freezing clothers. Warm an toasty brew to warm our bellies.