The Year Of Beer

End of the Road

2009-10-04T08:57:00.000-07:00

Well... it's been a great adventure. I think we were successful (at least in part) in the primary goal of The Year of Beer. My appreciation of styles and great breweries has certainly improved by leaps and bounds. I'm now a fond lover of styles I previously hated. I've learned that expensive doesn't always mean good, and cheap doesn't always mean bad.

While I moved ahead in spits and starts, Dan's 'tortoise' approach of slow and stead definitely won out. I concede the life altering stein prize to you!

Here are the last of the year of beer pictures that were still in my phone... None of these were mind blowing, but the Midas Touch was a little different for sure. The Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye was definitely memorable. Cheers!

Thomas Creek Vanilla Ale (7/10)

2009-10-03T15:26:00.001-07:00

Not bad! Vanilla is very subtle...

Tallgrass Ale 7/10

2009-09-28T15:40:00.001-07:00

Buzzard bay limited (7/10)

2009-09-27T14:17:00.000-07:00

Beer

Tallgrass ipa (7/10)

2009-09-25T15:53:00.001-07:00

Buzzards Bay Black Lager (6/10)

2009-09-25T14:23:00.001-07:00

Bitter

New Belgium 1554 Black Ale (9.5/10)

2009-09-23T15:27:00.001-07:00

Dogfish Head - Palo Santo Marron (8/10)

2009-09-23T15:03:00.000-07:00

You have to be in the mood for this one. DARK, THICK.... heavy beer, but delicious.

Thanks Bo! Loving solid beer!

2009-09-19T10:51:00.001-07:00

Guinness 250 Anniversary (6/10)

2009-09-17T13:51:00.000-07:00

Draught bottle much much better!

Victory whirlwind (8/10)

2009-09-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

May be my favorite witbier now!

Harpoon rasberry UFO (9/10)

2009-09-13T14:36:00.001-07:00

Yummm!!!!

Key West Golden Lager

2009-09-08T16:18:00.001-07:00

Good for a lager...

Hurricane Reef Pale Ale (6/10)

2009-08-31T15:04:00.001-07:00

Diamond Bear Paradise Porter (6/10)

2009-08-29T15:22:00.001-07:00

Diamond beer - presidential IPA (7/10)

2009-08-28T14:38:00.001-07:00

Stoudts Gold Lager (8/10)

2009-08-16T14:06:00.000-07:00

I wasn't a big fan of the other Stoudts beers... but this is one of the better classic Munich lagers I've had. Great beer if it's REALLY hot, or to go with BBQ, or a traditional southern meal. Very light, easy to drink... good starter beer. Eddie would love it.

Boulder Beer Flashback Anniversary Ale (4/10)

2009-08-16T12:44:00.001-07:00

Boulder Beer Mojo IPA (8/10)

2009-08-16T12:44:00.000-07:00

Boulder Beer Hazed & Infused (9/10)

2009-08-16T12:40:00.000-07:00

HOMEBREW Cranny-Hefe

2009-08-15T15:39:00.000-07:00

Ohh snap I finally brewed a normal beer! A little flat, but I can fix
that with co2... Can't wait for Bo or Jason to judge!

TYOB

2009-08-15T15:16:00.000-07:00

This has been a pretty successful blog as far as I'm concerned! We've catalogued pictures and reviews of well over 150 beers, homebrews and tours. Very Very Cool!

Fat Tire Amber (8/10)

2009-08-15T14:38:00.001-07:00

I beer therefore I am...

2009-08-15T13:04:00.001-07:00

Progress...

2009-08-15T10:27:00.000-07:00

So I just updated the progress gadget at the left.... use the tab up at the top to switch it over to the histogram (I can't seem to figure out how to make that the default).

Dan (with his commendable mid year performance) has pushed ahead and crossed the 100 beer mark. With about three weeks and 20 beers to go, I'm confident I can catch up. I have a feeling he'll be otherwise occupied. :)

Ballast Point Yellowtail Pale Ale (7/10)

2009-08-15T09:43:00.001-07:00

Very drinkable, quaffable even.

Stoudts Scarlet Lady - (6/10)

2009-08-15T09:37:00.001-07:00

This was ok, but Dan's Red Headed masterpiece was much better.

Stoudts American Pale Ale (3/10)

2009-08-15T09:37:00.000-07:00

this tastes like the bad version of the IPA I made... didn't even finish it.

Upland wheat (6/10)

2009-08-07T14:36:00.000-07:00

Stone 13th Anniversary Ale (8/10)

2009-08-06T14:36:00.000-07:00

Very good!

Off-loading

2009-08-03T13:25:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when I can't post with the blackberry for a while. Some of these are identifiable, most however are not. None of them were better than a 6 though (OK, the New Belgium - Skinny Dip gets a 7).

Rogue Morimoto Black Obi Soba Ale (9.5/10)

2009-08-03T13:18:00.001-07:00

Seriously, one of the nicest beers I've had in months. Excellent! Wow!

Bells Pale Ale (7/10)

2009-08-02T15:03:00.001-07:00

Shipyard Bluefin Stout (7/10)

2009-08-02T13:00:00.000-07:00

Peak Organic Pale Ale (6/10)

2009-08-01T15:29:00.000-07:00

Not feeling this brand at all

Allagash tripel ale (6/10)

2009-08-01T14:01:00.001-07:00

Absenteeism

2009-08-01T05:50:00.001-07:00

Yeah, yeah I know... there's been next to no activity from me in the past several weeks (ok, months). It's not that I haven't beer drinking. I've just not been posting. As a result my phone is filled with a smattering of beers that will all end up here.

I would say that life gets in the way, but Dan trumps me on that one. :)

Never the less we're coming up on the '30 days to go' count down. I for one am headed into the bonus round... maybe at least one new post a day for the final wrap up.

Cheers!

Peak Organic Espresso Amber Ale (7/10)

2009-07-31T16:31:00.001-07:00

Wierd... Not sure.

Rogue summer orange honey ale (7/10)

2009-07-31T14:03:00.001-07:00

Chick beer but good!

Smuttynose Old Brown Dog Ale (8/10)

2009-07-30T14:25:00.001-07:00

Smuttynose robust porter (6/10)

2009-07-29T15:46:00.001-07:00

Smuttynose shoals pale ale (6/10)

2009-07-29T15:18:00.001-07:00

Smuttynose Sumer Weizen Ale (7:10)

2009-07-28T14:11:00.001-07:00

Holy Mackerel Pomegranate Black Ale (8:10)!!!

2009-07-27T14:48:00.000-07:00

Smuttynose IPA (8/10)!!!

2009-07-26T15:41:00.000-07:00

Really good!

Smuttynose Hanami Cherry Ale 6/10

2009-07-25T17:04:00.001-07:00

Great Scot Pale Ale (7/10)

2009-07-25T14:46:00.001-07:00

Fwd: Mickeys big mouth (1/10)

2009-07-24T16:49:00.001-07:00

No... Bad...

Begin forwarded message:

From: Jennifer Barton <jcahill50@gmail.com>
Date: July 24, 2009 6:24:24 PM EDT
To: "rojocito@gmail.com" <rojocito@gmail.com>
Subject: Mickeys big mouth (1/10)

Sierra Nevada Torpedo (7/10)

2009-07-18T17:20:00.001-07:00

Shiner commemorator (6/10)

2009-07-12T12:03:00.001-07:00

Not bad for a twist cap...

The Union -

2009-06-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

Cool looking country bar in Milton. Need to try!

Bells Oberon (6/10)

2009-06-19T17:05:00.001-07:00

Moylans hopsicle (8/10)

2009-06-19T16:50:00.001-07:00

I OWN the month of June! :-)

2009-06-19T03:19:00.001-07:00

Sam'ad's blackberry witbier (7/10)

2009-06-12T16:13:00.000-07:00

Full sail ipa (6:10)

2009-06-10T16:43:00.000-07:00

Terrapin rye squared (8/10)

2009-06-10T16:19:00.001-07:00

Magic hat odd notion (4/10)

2009-06-08T15:04:00.001-07:00

Wacko summer ale (6/10)

2009-06-07T16:32:00.001-07:00

It's pink.

Magic hat lucky cat ipa (7/10)

2009-06-06T17:44:00.001-07:00

Magic hat summer sampler

2009-06-06T17:43:00.001-07:00

Palmetto pale ale (6/10)

2009-05-24T15:43:00.000-07:00

Weak beer but great company...

Best Homebrew Yet...

2009-04-26T15:50:00.000-07:00

This ESB is definitely the best batch yet. Very drinkable... good balance of hops and malt. Great all around taste profile. Now, if only I could do something about this chill haze. DAMN!

Oh well, nothing a filter couldn't solve I guess.

FCB major toms pomegranate wheat (7/10)

2009-04-24T15:27:00.001-07:00

A little mediciney...

FCB Kidd black lager (6/10)

2009-04-24T14:14:00.001-07:00

Ehh...

I am a craft brewer.

2009-04-23T14:40:00.000-07:00

HELL YEA!

I Am A Craft Brewer from I Am A Craft Brewer on Vimeo.

FCB Z smoked amber lager

2009-04-21T14:52:00.001-07:00

Tastes like Gouda dunked in killians.

Beer Wars

2009-04-20T16:09:00.001-07:00

So I went to see a 'simulcast' screening of the documentary "Beer Wars" last Thursday. The editing/producing/directing was a little cheesy, but the content was cool. I basically hate the macrobreweries and VERY active Washington beer lobby now more than ever.

I think this might count for my educational requirement... but barely. My hope is to try and find a better course credit somewhere else.

Rocky mountain ipa (fort Collins) 7/10

2009-04-17T17:55:00.001-07:00

Smells and tastes like raw hops.

Yorkshire ESB in the 'Boy

2009-04-05T15:07:00.000-07:00

yummy.

Brewed up an extract kit yesterday afternoon whilst chillin' on the back patio and enjoying the weather. I used a White Labs liquid British Ale yeast which in the past I've not been too crazy about with lackluster performance. 24 hours in and it's seriously rocking along with 2 inches of krausen.

It's sort of a ruddy mahogany color and smells great. ~49IBU... two hop additions and only a 45min boil. Interesting.

Drinking Binge

2009-03-29T18:10:00.001-07:00

Maybe it was remote congratulations to great family news this week... or perhaps libations to drown out a crappy week at work. Either way I made some great progress on the YOB. After updating the progress plot (I've been slacking in that department)... I ONLY HAVE 9 MORE TO GO! Now the pressure... with only a few left, which ones do I choose?

North Coast Pranqster (5/10)

2009-03-29T17:51:00.001-07:00

It tastes kinda like the innkeeper on about day two.

Victory Hop Devil (9/10)

2009-03-29T10:12:00.001-07:00

Good... but it's no Stone or Dogfish Head.

Next Batch!

2009-03-29T10:09:00.003-07:00

Yorkshire Square ESB... just awaitin' the brew kettle. YAY!

Victory Hop Wallop (8.5/10)

2009-03-28T10:11:00.000-07:00

A tad over the top, but good... especially with spicy food.

Stone - Ruination IPA (9.5/10)

2009-03-28T10:09:00.000-07:00

Yum. I've probably already rated this one, but it still rocks.

New Belguim - Fat Tire Ale (4/10)

2009-03-27T10:06:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure I liked his at all... it had a funny, I think I might gag, thing going on.

Kind Pale Ale (4.5/10)

2009-03-27T10:03:00.000-07:00

eh... it was ok.

Sweetwater Ron Burgundy (8/10)

2009-03-23T10:01:00.000-07:00

Lots of alcohol... reminiscent of a Scottish heavy.

Pisgah Vortex 2 (9.5/10)

2009-03-20T15:39:00.001-07:00

Lagunitas - Unlimited Release IPA (9.5/10)

2009-03-16T14:48:00.001-07:00

This was another winner from Bruisin' Ales. Awesome IPA. Not super burn your brain bitter (45.6 IBU), and so when I took a big sip I was like, 'hmm, this is good but not stellar.' Then out came all the happiness. Malty complexity... lots of different hop and crystal malt flavors... citrus...

It lost a quarter point for so so head retention (likely a dirty glass... my bad). It lost another quarter point for a ting of bottle cap metallic, it's the nature of the beast. I thought about giving a fraction of a point back for witty label description, but it didn't seem right (worth the mention though).

Hurray for beer. I needed this one.

Rogue juniper pale ale (8/10)

2009-03-14T16:12:00.000-07:00

DMG (damn good beer!)

Harviestoun - Ola Dubh Ale Special 16 Reserve (7/10)

2009-03-14T12:01:00.001-07:00

This is a crazy dark beer. It smells exactly like molasses and has a bittersweet chocolate taste to it. Being aged in 16 year scotch barrels it takes on a slight whiskey after note. At nearly $10 a bottle it's good... but certainly a special treat. Man, I wish I was back in Asheville.

Green Flash Brewing Co. - Hop Head (8.5/10)

2009-03-11T16:51:00.001-07:00

It's an extra hoppy (45 ibus) version of Dan's Red Headed Hop Child. Good call Bruisin' Ales... good call.

New belgium fat tire (7/10)

2009-03-09T16:05:00.001-07:00

Finally on the east coast...

Catawba Valley - Firewater IPA (8/10)

2009-03-08T06:04:00.002-07:00

Green Man - ESB (6.5/10)

2009-03-08T06:04:00.001-07:00

French Broad - Rye Hopper (8/10)

2009-03-08T05:53:00.001-07:00

French broad - Rye hopper 8/10

Wedge iron English ipa (6/10)

2009-03-07T15:17:00.000-08:00

Green man cask ale (3/10)

2009-03-07T12:58:00.000-08:00

3 points fir serving a real ale... 0 point for the beer.

Bells two-hearted ale (8/10)

2009-03-07T11:02:00.001-08:00

Terrapin big hoppy monster (9/10)

2009-02-28T16:27:00.001-08:00

Cottonwood Frostbite (8.9/10)

2009-02-28T12:46:00.000-08:00

Yummy... serious hoppy malty yumminess.

Red-headed hopchild is served!

2009-02-27T15:25:00.001-08:00

WTF!!! Super spicy ginger notes, pop-rock carbs, nutmeg and cinamon!
What the hell happened?!? I took an amber, used an abby yeast, and
dry hopped with ~2% alpha hops... This should be a bitter
Killians... I mean, I like it, but it's not what I expected at all.
This is almost as gingery as juju by magic hat!

Ommegang abby style ale (7/10)

2009-02-26T15:52:00.000-08:00

Whooooah wheat

IPA Food

2009-02-24T15:54:00.001-08:00

Longhanmer ipa, homemade red beans n' rice (local andoulle) and extra
Chache's... Wha-what??

Cajun and ipa.. Like pb&j...

Cool magazine

2009-02-22T15:45:00.000-08:00

Found it at the counter at harry's.

Sweetwater Festive Ale 2008 (9/10)

2009-02-22T14:20:00.000-08:00

My favorite place to drink this one is around the campfire, especially if I have one of the larger bottles with the messy wax seal. But, not this time. I had this one in the kitchen. This is evident by the Florida Sportsman mag open in the background. See the trout's distant saltwater cousin with the spear shaft through it? 20 lbs. of red snapper goodness. Looking forward to fishing season.

Red Hook - Copper Hook Spring Ale (4/10)

2009-02-19T15:34:00.001-08:00

Boooooring.

Woohoo!!

2009-02-18T15:31:00.001-08:00