My wife and I are relaxing this weekend just enjoying ourselves — bike riding, hiking, sampling wines, beers, and fireworks … tonight, we’ve just been hanging around enjoying the beautiful weather.  We were sitting on our patio this evening — she drinking a gluten-free beer: Redbridge … and me drinking a beer from The Bruery: 2 Turtle Doves.

I’ll have more to say about the gluten-free beers in another post.

Oh, yeah, nothing like some nice popcorn to go with your beer! LOL!

As I said, my beer for tonight is The Bruery‘s 2 Turtle Doves.  They claim this is their Christmas beer — it’s pretty spicey!  It’s also loaded with alcohol: 12% ABV.  Since it is a Belgian strong-ale, I got out one of my Rochefort glasses to use when drinking it.  Is it good? Yes, actually, very good.  Because of the Alcohol content, you definitely have to sip this beer — but it’s wonderful … the spices (chocolate and pecans) really do help this brown ale.

Yep … a sippin’ beer but enjoying every drop!

Beer Mentor

My friend Russ and his father-in-law joined me during my brew session a couple of weeks ago.  To celebrate (and because Russ’ wife and in-laws are from England) they brought me a couple of bottles of this Ruddles County.  Not only is Russ’ family from England, they are specifically from  Bury St Edmunds, where Greene King brews all of its beers.

So, while brewing, he had some great stories to tell!  This beer is a premium ale–quite refreshing and definitely in style.  I could drink a few more pints of this beer that’s for sure!  I recommend all of the Greene King beers … except, I haven’t had the IPA … yet!

Beer Mentor

I was over at Sine Irish Pub again today and realized I hadn’t had the Smithwicks since I started this list.  Smithwicks is the Oldest Ale in Ireland (since 1710) … a nice red color.  I guess they have it on draft there at Sine’s.

It came out in its nice pint glass — I took a long pull on it and declared, yes, I like this beer.  I’m not sure what more I can say–flavor was good, aroma was what I expected … it went well with my BLT.   I’ll drink it again!

Beer Mentor