When I was growing up, my feet were growing faster than my height … so I had that Sasquatch effect… the Bigfoot.  In honor of that memory (since I was hanging out by myself tonight) I broke out the GDBC Yeti.  The Yeti is also a Sasquatch.

The Yeti is also a Chocolate Oak-aged Imperial Stout and yes it was chocolaty!  Again, the aroma was right on … the flavor wonderful, and I savored it for a good 1/2 hour.  This was a sippin’ beer.  When it warmed up, the flavor and aroma got even better.  I could recommend drinking this brew around 55 degrees and it would still be very pleasant.

You should see two things in the picture of me drinking this beer … 1) the chocolate all over the sides of the glass, and 2) the Bigfoot standing behind me … see him?  You can tell by my eyes that he spooked me…

Beer Mentor

I’ve been wanting to try this Duck Rabbit beer — and I did!  Actually, the first time I tried it was yesterday at the Northern Virginia Summer Brewfest.  They had their Milk Stout available, so I sucked down my 4 ounces in my tester.  It was nice to get a full bottle today — this time of the Brown Ale.

This brewery (located in North Carolina) claims to be “the dark beer specialists”–I think they are.  Both of the dark beers I’ve had from them are good.  The brown ale was spot on — flavor profile, color, aroma, mouthfeel.  It was an excellent beer to savor as I was transferring my homebrew between fermentors.   If you get a chance — try some.

Beer Mentor

Stone brewing has that unique quality of producing really good beers AND the ability to make you believe all the beers are related and tell a story.  Their marketing is top notch, but it is backed up with excellent quality and flavor–my hat is off the the Stone Brewing Crew.

Today’s beer? A nice change of pace … The Levitation Ale.  This beer is Stone’s lowest ABV–but that doesn’t distract from the flavor profile at all.  In my mind, it lives up to its reputation; however, I find it funny that it is placed in the “Amber Ale” category.  I don’t think Stone calls it an Amber Ale but both of the more popular rating sites list it as such.  In my mind it was strangely like an East Coast IPA in flavor … which is fine by me.  I also found it funny that some of the ratings on Beer Advocate because everyone expected this beer to also be over the top.  Funny — it’s just a great Sessionable APA in my mind — and quite a decent one at that (someone must agree … it won a gold medal)!

Enjoy,

Beer Mentor

I went with another strong beer tonight — North Coast Brewing’s Russian Imperial Stout.  With at least 12 gold medals to its credit, this beer delivers.  If you like that smooth chocolaty taste and the crisp, warm alcohol finish, you’ll enjoy this beer.

I poured it big and the head rose in response … a nice tan color, it settled on top of the beer and lingered — it helped bring out the aroma and I just sniffed it for a while.  Yes, this is a good beer.   Take some money out of your wallet and go buy a couple for yourself.  You wont be disappointed!

Beer Mentor

My friends and I (yes I have friends) …

rolled into the Dogfish Head Alehouse in Falls Church and surveyed the wondrous beer menu.

If you saw this menu it would be hard for you to make a decision too … but I settled on the big beer — the Palo Santo!  This is a wonderful brown ale aged in oak casks at about 12%.  It’s such a big beer it comes in a snifter! LOL!  No matter — I savored it … and it delivered!

If you are in the area — go to this restaurant!  The food is wonderful and I can’t speak highly enough about the beer.  Wow.  Worth a trip.

Beer Mentor

Had a preparatory beer tonight before heading over to the Hair Raid band practice.  These guys are a lot of fun, high energy, and I will be playing with them (one song) on Saturday at the Tortoise & Hare bar in Crystal City.  You’ll have to come out and check it out …

What was my beer?  I went with a Boulder Beer British-style Ale … Cold Hop.  This is a very nice ale brewed with 5 different kinds of hops.  When you open and pour it, you definitely get that interesting hop aroma (from the New Zealand hops) and then the flavor balances well.  This one (in my mind) is more of an East-Coast style Pale Ale … the malt flavor comes through more than you would think after an initial sniff.  The finish is nice and made me want to drink a couple of more … but I couldn’t cause I had to play the bagpipes … yes!

Beer Mentor

In honor of the IPA I brewed today, I had a nice IPA; the Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPA.

This one probably qualifies as an Imperial IPA as well … and it had that flavor.  I was very happy with this as my nightcap beer.  This west coast-style IPA really did an excellent job of balancing the hops and the malt.  As usual, the hops came through strong, but did not overpower this one.  It is nice …

One of my friends came over today for the “brew festival” and brought some of his English Bitters he made … that one was good and will probably be one of my next few “new beers.”

Overall, I had a great Father’s day …

Beer Mentor

I took it easy today, reached into my trusty beer fridge, and pulled out an Abita.  This is a brewing company in Louisiana that has really come on in the last few years and have been making some very drinkable beers.

Their Jockamo IPA is well-balanced and goes down smooth.  It has a very nice aroma, the hops are blended well with the malt.  I’d drink more (if I had them) … unfortunately, I only had this one … darn.  What is it with me and IPAs lately?  I guess I’m still rebounding from my 6-month trip to Germany …

Beer Mentor