Brew Review - Upright Seven

1) “Whoa, what was that? Not what I expected”
2) “Not bad, I’ll have a few more tastes”
3) “Put some music on, I’m ready to get down on this beer”

If you’ve had Upright Brewing Company’s “Seven” brew, you might have experienced the same three steps of drinking Seven that I did. With an increasingly sparkling reputation on the West Coast, the tiny, yet brilliant Upright Brewing has been making unique, farmhouse-inspired beers that blur the lines between beer styles and challenge a drinker’s taste buds – and Seven is no different. I was drawn to this beer by three things: my buddy Chip actually bringing it to my house, the beautiful 750 ml bottle and simple label, and the mystery shrouding a beer simply named with a number (and a lucky one at that).

Seven pours a strong golden color and leaves a massive, dense white head that lingers in the glass. The smell is nice and flowery with citrus and a hint of hops. The taste, however, is where the shock is experienced – that first taste is surprisingly bitter/sour with some spiciness which had me believing that this was a traditional sour ale, and leaving me second guessing what I was expecting to drink. However, I noticed that after that initial shock, the sip mellowed and left a nice aftertaste and good mouth feel. The taste was sweet, hoppy, and citrusy with a strong initial hit followed by a mellow lingering aftertaste. The beer, like Upright’s other beers, uses saison yeast and four kinds of hops to get its unique taste and characteristics, and results in a farmhouse ale definitely worth trying. After a few more sips of this 8%’er, it was time to “do work”, listen to some Elliott Smith, and toss it back.

For those interested in expanding their farmhouse horizons, Upright is traditionally hard to get East of the Rockies, but can be purchased via various specialty shops on the Inter Web - take a look at www.northwestliquidgold.com

Serving Type: 750 ml bottle
Glassware: Goose Island chalice
Color (hue and head): rich, golden color; thick, white head that lingers
Aroma: flowery, citrusy, hoppy, sweetness
Taste: Initial bitterness, spiciness, sweet, hoppy, citrus
Grade: 92/100 (A-)
Musical Pairing: Elliott Smith – Waltz #2

Brew Review - Nectar IPA

Sweet nectar of the gods, this is good! Spring is here (finally) and it's time to give those spring flowers something to hope for. I rarely get the opportunity to enjoy a lazy Saturday afternoon, but I'm taking full advantage and assisting my attempt to catch up on some reading with a Nectar Ales Nectar IPA. The brew pours a light copper, orange with a good head that dissipates quick. It carries a clean hop aroma, but exudes more the sweet and floral as opposed to northwest pine forest. Makes me think spring/summer thoughts, where as the other IPAs tend to push me in the direction of pine and fall aromas. Yeah, the temp took a wicked spring dip into the 40s and 50s, but the Nectar IPA has a caramel backbone and medium body that suits the cooler spring days just fine. Clean finish and quite enjoyable. I will be picking up another 6 pack from Mike's Wine and Spirit soon. It's my neighborhood brew (crack) dealer...hope to see you there soon.

Serving Type: 6 pack/12oz bottle

Glassware: Tulip

Color (hue and head): light copper, orange; thick head, quickly dissipates.

Aroma: sweet, floral, hops.

Taste: fresh cut grass, spring flowers; caramel, light malt; medium body.

Grade: 93/100 (A-)

Musical pairing: Matt and Kim - Daylight

Surroundings: Lazy Saturday enjoying some brew, book, blog and boxer (dog).

Brew Review - Boulevard Imperial Stout

Today, Boulevard finally released it's much anticipated Imperial Stout. Last released in January of 2009, I remember it taking a few weeks/months for the Imperial Stout to sell out city wide and you could at least find it in a few smaller venues for a while. This was the same for the BBQ and the more recent Rye on Rye. Unfortunately for this brew connoisseur, the local appetite for Boulevard's offerings across Kansas City seem to have vastly improved recently. Considering the Chocolate Ale realease a few weeks ago (sold out city wide in a matter of hours/days), I stopped into a few of my local spots on the way home from the office tonight to assess the situation. I found the Imperial Stout stock to have a pretty good dent in it already. I was hoping the Chocalate Ale fiasco was a statistical outlier, but it appears I was wrong. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about the recent serious local success of my hometown brewery, but I've never had to work so hard for some good brew. Boulevard's success is much deserved. Now that my partner in crime, Yum Beer!, has moved to Chicago, I have to work that much harder to nab his alotment as well. (You're welcome, bro). There is a 2 bottle limit per customer, so plan accordingly. Make sure you are getting your full allotment as this brew is perfect for aging in your cellar. Also, Royal Liquors (103rd) is offering a deal on the Smokestack glassware as well if you're buying the stout: $2.99 vs 4.99.  Easy way to complete your collection at the same time.

Here's to some good brew drinking with friends, to Boulevard gaining phenomenal appeal to many, many more locals, and to the anticipation for more future brews to arrive. 


Salud!


Serving Type: 750ml Bottle
Glassware: Smokestack Tulip
Color (hue and head): Dark and heavy brown. Thick/heavy, mocha head w/ staying power.
Aroma: Roasted malts, oak, dark chocolate, coffee grounds, oats.
Taste: Very roasty w/ bitter chocolate. Earthy w/ coffee. Finishes w/ a nice backbone of booze.
Grade: 99/100 (A+)
Musical pairing: Innerpartysystem - American Trash
Surroundings: Working late, wife out of town, watching bad TBS late night movies. Overboard.

Chocolate Ale Blitzkrieg(Brew Review)

The Chocolate Ale Blitzkrieg was practically over in all of 3 days. It was here and it was gone before we knew what had happened. So, I'm showing up late to a party that's already over...but is it? I felt a little down that Boulevard's latest release had gone by the wayside in a matter of days, maybe a week, then I remembered the W.C. Fields quote: "Everybody should believe in something...I believe I'll have another beer." Why the heck did that pop in to my head, you ask? Well, it reminded me that we aren't interested in having just one taste or one beer. The true beer lover would have a few (if not many) tastes and enjoy every moment. The Boulevard connoisseur would not have purchased only one bottle to try; they would have given themselves the opportunity to try and try again. So I hypothesize there are many a brew lover out there (or at least in Kansas City) that have nestled away a tiny stash of Chocolate Ale to bring out to play another day. I didn't really miss the party at all, I just showed up at intermission...any of my friends will tell you, I'm late to everything.

I decided to wait to try the Chocolate Ale with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law while on a quick jaunt to Portland for some beer and Cake (band) over Valentines weekend. I know what you're thinking, 'Imbibilicious, what about your wife?!' Well, I did what any loving husband would do...I left her in KC. Don't worry, she was OK with me spending my V-day weekend with my other love, the sweet nectar known as beer.

The Boulevard/Christopher Elbow collaboration survived the trip from KC to PDX just fine. I was quite worried Portland security was going to confiscate the brew in baggage claim - not because it was a security risk, but because the people of Portland have a love for ale that's on another level. No offense to my fellow Kansas Citians, but we could all learn a lesson or two. Anyway, I digress. On to the tasting!!

We popped the cork and poured three generous servings into tasting snifters. I have to be honest, I was not expecting such a light ale color. I knew to expect something different, but I was stilled amazed...especially when the chocolate aroma hit my nose from three feet away. "Incredible!" I whisper to myself with eyes wide. On first sip, the chocolate was light and the ale was crisp and clean, but as the brew warmed in my hand, the chocolate seemed to creep out more deeply. In a way, it tasted as if someone at the brewery accidentally spilled Carnation Instant Breakfast in my beer before bottling. The flavor was unexpected, but very intriguing, and very believable. Much like adding the likes of Jack Black to Yo Gabba Gabba* made the show all the more appealing. I wanted more, but with three adults, the bottle was emptied too quickly. Luckily, I was able to nab a few for the cellar. You won't have to twist my arm to pop one open again soon.

*Yes, you read that right. I made a Yo Gabba Gabba reference in a beer blog. But it all the more explains the intriguing flavor I was getting from the Ale. Open YouTube. Look it up. Yo Gabba Gabba is a show for the 2 to 6 year old crowd, where current entertainment icons frequently make guest appearances, wear hilarious costumes, and sing some pretty fun songs...for younger folks. You should check it out some time (with your kid, niece or nephew, or a Boulevard Chocolate Ale, but never alone of course).

Serving Type: 750ml Bottle

Glassware: Tasting Snifter

Color (hue and head): Hazy, transparent, traffic light yellow (almost orange). Light and lacey head.

Aroma: Cacoa powder, soft, nutty.

Taste: Carnation, hint of fruit, nuts. Very light hop backbone. Inviting.

Grade: 93/100 (A-)

Musical pairing: Cake - Satan is my Motor

Surroundings: Portland, beer capital of the world, visiting family, watching yo gabba gabba with niece.

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.

.

. 

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!!

. 

.

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.

.

.

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.

Brew Review – Pliny the Elder

It has been over a month since my last submission. Sounds a bit like confession, but, hey, I went to Catholic school for 13 years and that guilt thing seemed to have seeped in a bit. Anyway, vacations were taken, friends were married, kickball championships were siezed, and time was managed poorly in between... oh, but the sweet beverage was flowing all the while, thanks to Yum! Beer for stocking Tank 7 at his wedding reception. Props to you, sir!

Speaking of good brew and festivities, I'd like to shed light on a beverage that quickly hopped into my top 10 list of brews during my brief blogging sabbatical. It celebrates the Roman scholar responsible for creating the botanical name for hops: "Lupus salictarius", meaning wolf among scrubs. Pliny the Elder is a double IPA, tasting of fresh pine, with an extremely clean and crisp finish. It's brewed by Russian River in Santa Rosa, CA, making it impossible to find in KC. Unless you know a guy out west who's willing to transport booze across multiple state lines (thanks again John K), I recommend a quick 8 hour trip to Argonaut Liqours in Denver. Your tastebuds will thank you for it.

Serving Type: 500 mL bottle

Glassware: Tulip

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

Clarity: Translucent cloudiness

Aroma: The northwest in the fall. Piney trees, pine cones, fallen pine needles in the snow...and hops.

Taste: Identical to the aroma. Wanted to immediately grab a flannel shirt, a map, and a backpack and head into the wild.

Grade: 97/100 (A+)

Musical pairing: Frightened Rabbit - The Lonliness and the Scream

Surroundings: Barbequing ribs with Yum! Beer and enjoying a Saturday of freedom (from the wives)

Brew Review - Caldera IPA

Brew Reviews are back (we'd like to say they're better than ever, buuuutttt...yeah)! We thought it appropriate to start off with a summery brew that we've been drinking a bit of lately in the Caldera IPA. CANNED Caldera IPA.

We don't know much, but we do know that we were told long ago, "Canned beer = evil". And outside of our occasional 10-12-18 hr drinking binges, we don't really disagree...until now. To be clear, this isn't your father's $2.99 six pack, but instead a $14 six pack that puts a healthy dent in your wallet. Are there more affordable/possibly better brews on the market? Sure, but we feel that the can is part of the novelty. Plus, in that outdoorsy Oregon way, the can's descriptions of eXtreme/non-couch based activities makes you feel bad that you aren't rafting some category 5's at that moment.

Simply put, we liked the beer. The beer poured a nice, light golden/amber color with less than an inch of off white foam. The smell is what got us - heavy, floral hops and super super "clean". A boner quotient of 4 if you will (you'll hear us use that lingo every now and then...we don't even know what it means). Unfortunately, the taste was a slight let down compared to how great the smell was. Caldera has a good piney, grassy, flowery after-taste that has some maltiness and only a little bit of hop. Being huge DIPA fans and all around bad asses, we wanted the hops to be a bit bolder and more inline with the smell. Still, overall enjoyable and worth purchasing when my Christmas bonus shows up.

Music-wise, this beer screams Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer. Laid back, the twang of the guitar in the background, dangerous undertones (listen to the lyrics, it is about a killer after all), it's all there. When we listen to this song we visualize ourselves drinking a Caldera IPA straight outta the can with our currently unpurchased cowboy boots up on the rail of our currently unpurchased Craftsman house.

Serving Type: CAN (!!!!!)
Glassware: Nonic pint glass (and some straight out of the can)
Color (hue and head): Light amber with an off-white head
Clarity: Settles clear

Aroma: Intense floral notes, citrus hops, grassy, clean

Taste: Hoppy, a bit of a malt aftertaste, piney Grade: 87 (B+)

Musical Pairing: Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer

Surroundings: At home, eating a Chicken Fajita Burrito from Jalapenos

Bud Light Lime: Evidence that God Hates Us

My colleagues have invested considerable time and energy into sharing the gems of the craft beer world. I trust you've found their work both enjoyable and highly educational. Sadly, I do not hold similar beer street creds, nor can I express myself in the beer connoisseur vernacular. For example, some of the common words I use to describe my favorite beers include: "really good," "f'n good," "dude, it's rad" and "more."

My intent here is not necessarily to educate, but to occasionally warn the public that all is not magical and delicious in the world of alcoholic beverages. The truth is that some beers significantly decrease your quality of life. As such, let's take a moment to highlight one of these unpleasant beverages, before it ruins your relationships with co-workers, friends and family. And if you have no idea what I'm talking about, well you sir, you have never tried Bud Light Lime.

Let's break it down:

Commercial promise: "Bud Light Lime: The Summer State of Mind"

Glassware: Bottle, can, red cup, vase, novelty plastic coconut, etc. It's 95 degrees out and you're half in the bag already, so anything goes.

Color: Like Bud Light's slightly gay cousin. It appears to glow, but hey it's 2010, you can expand your horizons a bit.

Aroma: Like a lime candle.

Taste: Panic, sheer terror ensues. Quick, you've either just drank a melted, lime candle or have been subjected to a very unfunny practical joke. Chase immediately with Mike's Hard Lemonade or kerosene... whichever is closer.

Grade: 45/100 (F-) . Points awarded solely for its ability to enable practical jokes.

Musical Pairings: Is there a specific audio frequency that induces nausea? Well, until scientists can help you out there, Nickelback or Chipmunks remixes on YouTube will have to do.

Surroundings: May invade the cooler of your upcoming BBQ. The guy in the visor brought it. Also, it's the only possible beer on tap in Dante's Inferno.

Blind Squirrel, Great Success!

Throw in some malt, some hop, a few gallons of water and a touch of faith and you get some damn good brew. Six weeks ago, Yum! Beer, Investor #1, and I spent a nice little Saturday whipping together a concoction of ingenious design (instructions included). Finally, after two weeks of fermentation and four weeks of bottle aging, the Blind Squirrel Nut Brown was ready for unveiling. A good balance of malt and hop, not to heavy and not too light, hint of spice and everything nice...not to toot our own horns, but it rocks! We are pleasantly surprised with our first brew batch and eager to start a second. Have you tasted the Blind Squirrel?

Serving Type: 22 oz Bottle

Glassware: Pint

Color (hue and head): Amber, translucent caramel. Half inch head, sticks around in a lacy fashion.

Clarity: Slightly cloudy.

Aroma: Malts, nuts.

Taste: Malty, nutty, hints of brown sugar and spice. Maybe a bit of vanilla. Simple and exact.

Grade: 86/100 (B)

Musical pairing: The Decemberists - I Was Meant for the Stage

Surroundings: Enjoying a nice spring afternoon with the Yum! Beer and Investor #1

Brew Review - El Mole Ocho

Man law = no fruit in beer, but it doesn’t refer to vegetables in any way.  New Holland noticed this loophole in legislation, taking a stab at a brew with flavors of a traditional mole sauce (dried chilies and Mexican chocolate). At first sip, the chili pepper flavor with a malty backbone is interesting and a welcomed deviation from the norm. From smell to mouth feel to aftertaste, chili pepper is the captivating thought. I found myself frantically searching the kitchen for a bag of Lil' Guy's tortilla chips. All that and a bag of chips? Unfortunately not. Halfway through the bomber of brew, the chili flavor wavered from interesting to borderline annoying. Where’s the cocoa? I couldn't locate the mole flavor in the beer at all...only chili peppers and minimal coffee. Like a Michael Scott diversity day seminar, the brew grade quickly headed south in snowball fashion. While I welcome the creativity, I’m left with 22 oz of missed opportunity. That’s what she said! Muahahaha! I'm not going to put the kibosh on vegetables in beer just yet. We’ll just say the jury is still out on the subject, needing more evidence to make a final ruling. I’m hoping for a stronger execution down the road. Meanwhile, I picked up some Lil' Guy's, salsa, and a fine 6 pack of IPA from my favorite brewery in Fort Collins. I’ll take my vegetables beside my beer for now.

Serving Type: Bottle (22 oz)

Glassware: Tulip

Color (hue and head): Pours caramel brown, with minimal to no head. Looks like a beer that should change your life.

Aroma: Chili peppers, smoky, spicy.

Taste: Chili peppers, minimal coffee, chili peppers, maybe a molecule of cocoa, and chili peppers…missed the mark on mole. Spicy finish with chili breath for the rest of the evening.

Grade: 77/100 (C+)

Musical pairing: The Mars Volta – Viscera Eyes (English mixed with Spanish, but rocks your socks off…contrary to review)

Surroundings: Porching it with some ale drinking amigos. Enjoying spring in KC.

Brew Review - Avery Salvation

A bold SAT analogy:

“Avery Brewing Company is to craft beer as Michael Jordan was to the NBA”

Before you accuse me of failing the SAT’s, hear me out…Just like Michael Jordan didn’t “save” the NBA (Bird and Magic did because Bill Simmons told me so), Avery hasn’t “saved” the craft beer market. What MJ23 did do, besides burn our retinas with “Space Jam”, was revolutionize the NBA and make it the global brand we see today (he also jacked up salaries, gambled a ton, and made Mario Mendoza look like Ted Williams, but those are stories for a different day). In the same breath, Avery, by consistently putting out delicious brews, is helping lead the movement of the moderately-sized craft breweries to legitimize the craft beer industry and push innovation and overall quality in the American beer we know and love. Competition breeds excellence after all.

Salvation pours a slightly cloudy, golden orange with about a half inch of white head and smells delicious. Not overpowering, but slight hops, citrus, and sugar…AKA right in my “wheel house”. The taste followed the smell closely and I was presented with an overall good Belgian that I would drink without hesitation in the future. I don’t know why I act shocked the more Avery I expose myself to, but I walked away with yet another excellent Boulder, CO birthed beer.

Surfer Blood = the future. My knowledge of Surfer Blood occurred only because they opened for the British band Art Brut (“Ready, Art Brut!!!”) at Lincoln Hall in Chicago last October. I can confidently say that pounding Guinness, listening to two wildly different Indie bands changed my musical life – SB’s Astrocoast album has been in my and Beautiful’s rotations ever since. These young West Palm Beachians make mellow, smart, nostalgic Indie music that seems above their years and at the same time makes me feel bad about myself due to my realized lack of talent in anything musical (with the exception of the Recorder). Take a listen to “Twin Peaks” immediately.

ENJOY!

Serving Type: Bottle
Glassware: Boulevard Smokestack Series Goblet
Color (hue and head): Golden orange, with a small white head
Clarity: slightly cloudy
Aroma: gentle citrus notes and sugary notes
Taste: citrus, slight sugar notes, very slight hop finish...good Belgian overall
Grade: 89 (B+)
Musical pairing: Soft and lazy melodies yet great music overall…Surfer Blood – “Twin Peaks"
Surroundings: “Rocking” with Beautiful and enjoying the Jamaican Jerk pizza from Ingredient

Brew Review - Rogue Chocolate Stout

A “wise” man once said, “We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams”. That semi-creepy man also happened to be a great purveyor of chocolate and the possessor of both a Wonkenator and a farty bubble machine. There are no additional jokes in me saying that my first thought upon initial sip of the Rogue Chocolate Stout was seriously of poor Augustus Gloop, who met his end as he attempted to further his downward spiral into Diabetes.

I’ve always had a fond place in my heart for Rogue, but this beer kind of shocked me – possibly because I’m a relative new comer to the Stout genre. The smell was so hardcore chocolate that I literally thought it might be too “dessert-y”…mix in a bit of caramel and coffee and this was one step away from a brownie. The taste was a good balance of roasted malts, morning coffee, and chocolate aftertaste. As is important with stouts, the tongue coating was great and long lasting meaning I enjoyed the aftertaste for awhile between gulps. Rogue = awesomeness.

Is it weird that both Willy Wonka and Johnny Cash were the first two things that popped into my head when drinking the Chocolate Stout? Is it coincidence that Rogue, W Squared, and JC are all icons in their own right? I think not, I’ll thank you for asking. My first thoughts were of the darker material that peppered Cash’s later works, during which he was in bad health and mourning the death of June Carter Cash. “Ain’t no Grave” from American VI was the final material that he recorded with Rick Rubin (coolest white dude...ever) before his death. Much like the beer itself, Cash’s voice, tone, and sound all point to something infinitely dark and oppressive, yet the lyrics themselves are light and spiritual. This beer, based on color, smell, and consistency represents something dark...a true stout - Yet, the aftertaste points to something much less ominous and much more pure. The end result of many of Johnny Cash’s masterpieces.

Prost!

Serving Type: Bottle
Glassware: Boulevard Smokestack Series Goblet
Color (hue and head): Black as night with a tan 1 inch head
Clarity: Ink
Aroma: hardcore chocolate with caramel tones, thick, all in the nose (even my nose)
Taste: roasted malts, coffee with a thick chocolately aftertaste…good tongue coating
Grade: 91 (A-)
Musical pairing: All that needs to be said: Johnny Cash – “Ain’t no Grave”
Surroundings: Your ma’s house

Brew Review – Avery Mephistopheles Stout

How does one screw a chance at an eternity of bliss? Mephistopheles was the second angel to fall, banished from heaven to the depths for rebelling against God. I’m not sure about you, but I have done some rebellious things myself…especially after a few brews. My thoughts: Angels, Mephistopheles and Lucifer, tied one on by enjoying some of their 16% home brew. With the brain to mouth filter lost, sarcastic remarks and prankish humor ensued. The next morning, they woke up in a mysterious, dark place with a wicked headache. My close friend, Shame, and I have awakened in similar places, and for similar reasons, but my wife always seems to forgive me…after a couple of days…and some chores.

Serving Type: Bottle (12 oz) (bottled 11/2008, batch 4)

Glassware: Tulip

Color (hue and head): Sell your soul to the devil black; So deep you almost see purple. Head dissipates immediately into the depths.

Aroma: Raisin, brown sugar, alcohol

Taste: Plum and chocolate, brown sugar. Sinfully strong, seductively sweet. Warm on the belly (alcohol) but relatively easy on the palate considering 15.92% ABV. Quickly dizzies the mind making it tough to fully enjoy a follow up brew.

Grade: 89/100 (B+)

Musical pairing: Modest Mouse - Polar Opposites, immediately followed by Modest Mouse - Shit Luck

Surroundings: Playing indoor fetch with the dog, watching HGTV.

Brew Review - NB Lips of Faith La Folie

Vinegar, spoiled yogurt, bitter and sour…not exactly adjectives that elicit a positive response when describing a beer’s smell and taste. In fact, in almost every case those are the exact adjectives that beer brewers try to avoid at all costs. But just as music evolved and expanded from its symphonic beginnings, so too has beer and its many brewers chosen to expand their horizons and push the envelopes of what is “cool” and even drinkable – Hipster/Indie music please meet Sour Ales.

Saying that Sour Ales have been invented in the last few years would be inaccurate and disingenuous as Flemish Red and Brown ales have existed for years in Belgium. However, the American beer drinker’s desire to willingly consume these beers has increased dramatically as of late, and New Belgium’s Lips of Faith La Folie offering is a direct result of that desire.

Sour Ales are brewed using bacteria strains called Lactobacillus and Pediococcus and the Brettanomyces yeast strain. These strains cause acidic and sour flavors to be present in the beer and give it its barely tolerable smell and taste. To put this beer style in perspective, the very smells and tastes that brewers of most other beer styles try to avoid are the same that lead purveyors of this style to surrender $7-8 dollas to drink willingly.

Suggesting that I enjoyed this beer at first smell and taste would net me the “Wayne Campbell shaaa, right” award (if such an awesome award existed) - It was bitter, extremely sour and smelled like a cross between bad yogurt and something else where the “good” bacteria had crossed over to the dark side. If I’m not exactly talking up this beer it’s for a reason. The smell and taste were so horrifyingly shocking that it led to the following exchange with my fiancé:

Me: “This smells like baby diapers and bad yogurt.”
Beautiful: “Really? Sounds delicious…drink up beer blog man.”
Me: “I really don’t think I can drink it – I’m not even kidding. Maybe if I let it fester for awhile longer I’ll decide I REALLY want it.”
Beautiful: “Man up.”

Done and done. After taking her advice and a beating to my always fragile manhood, I continued to sip and became surprised as I watched its rating go slowly up and up (see post-freshman year college GPA). Eventually, it gained “lemon” status as something that you never quite love to eat/drink, but you can tolerate and maybe even crave occasionally.

I originally had zero idea where to go with this one musically – Aqua – "Barbie Girl” because I hated it so much? As I hated the beer less and less, a trio of songs popped into my head that all had a commonality to them – they were all definitely not mainstream and all took a few listens to fully appreciate:

Of Montreal – “Gronlandic Edit”
Neon Indian (who you might see show up in another review) – “Deadbeat Summer”
Gorillaz – “Stylo”

Known for their penchant of inventing new genres of music, Gorillaz and its first single from its new “Plastic Beach” album became the pairing of choice. The song’s repetitive synthesizer-driven beat, Damon Albarn’s original voice and lyrics, and the randomness of Bobby Womack and Mos Def, all supported a beer that was random, risky and “new”, originally grating, and eventually even enjoyable (the song more than the beer).

Serving Type: 22 oz bottle
Glassware: Smokestack Series goblet
Color (hue and head): light brown, no head
Clarity: opaque
Aroma: heavy heavy citrus notes, "clean" smell, herbal
Taste: very sour and bitter, bad lemon
Grade: 82 (B-)
Musical pairing: Not mainstream, different, risky music that takes a few listens to get used to…Gorillaz – "Stylo”
Surroundings: At home, about to watch an overpriced movie on Time Warner On Demand

Brew Review - Avery Maharaja

Every now and then you “stumble” across a beer that surprises and completely changes the beer-drinking game for you when you least expect it. A relatively low key, random Thursday wasn’t really the backdrop I had in mind for putting a new brewery on my map, but in the same breath the twenty fourth of May, 1976 in Paris began much the same way (the “Judgement of Paris”, FYI – go Google it).

The setting for this beer really couldn’t have been more perfect – my virgin happy hour at the new Blanc Burger + Bottles on the Plaza with nice, late February weather (which in the winter of 2010 in KC means “not shitty”), a certain uncertainty in my brain with the Avery Brewing Company having only sipped one or two of their delicious brews to date, and a new hipster hoodie, western style shirt, and pair of checkered Van’s slip-ons creating an especially dashing ensemble.

Upon the first pour, being an IPA/DIPA junkie, the brew’s color and initial foam consistency was as expected and comparable to a few of my favorite hoppy beers. Maharaja poured a nice, golden color with a slight orange hue and a well formed ¾” white head. That’s where comparisons to “every other” IPA stopped. The smell was an overpowering one of heavy citrus fruits, floral notes, and a slight grassy, clean finish. The hops were so prevalent that I thought it might rip my tongue off (which in this case, is a delightful thing) and at 10.3% ABV it is a beer that can be sipped instead of bonged.

Most importantly, the atmosphere directly contributed to how much I enjoyed this beer. The music at Blanc wasn’t being narrated by Spider Harrison and the weekly top 40, Bryan at Blanc stopped to explain some of his favorite beers and talk about how well their new location was doing and why, and liquidsunshine and I were busy making new, slightly not sober friends.

Musically, only one genre could ever fit such an intense, energetic, and chaotic beer like this one – punk. As I kept drinking this beer all of the greats flashed by in succession – The Stooges to the Ramones and Clash to the Misfits and onto a newer generation led by Titus Andronicus. From New Jersey, their self titled track “Titus Andronicus” is on their debut full length album called “The Airing of Grievances” and is an ode to a past musical age that channeled heavy distortion, raw energy, and disregard for the well being of society. This is what flashed in my head:





Serving Type: 22 oz bottle
Glassware: tulip glass
Color (hue and head): golden with a slight orange hue
Clarity: slightly cloudy
Aroma: heavy heavy citrus notes, "clean" smell, herbal
Taste: hops galore, citrus, slightly bitter after taste
Grade: 93 (A-)
Musical pairing: Intense, unbridled energy..."Titus Andronicus - Titus Andronicus"
Surroundings: Blanc on a Thursday during Happy Hour