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Horn Dog Barley Wine
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Fat Tuesday is upon us, which means it’s practically required that I indulge in a strong brew.
That fact was made clear to me by a good friend who moved to New Orleans a few years ago. This morning I awoke to an email in which he promised to hole up on Bourbon Street and attempt what he called the “Anti-Beer-A-Day Challenge” of drinking a full year’s worth of beer in one day.
At 10.2% ABV and bearing the logo of Flying Dog, the Horn Dog Barley Wine Style Ale is more than capable of living up to the occasion.
My bottle (“VINTAGE08″ according to the label) poured a smooth, reddish brown with a narrow but creamy head. And let me tell you, this dog smells pretty good. Malty. Strong. But complete with alcohol that crawls right up your nose and begs your eyes to water.
Good, smooth, and drinkable, the Horn Dog doesn’t bite. The flavor is sweet, tasting of brown sugar, caramel, and full of dark fruit. On the label you’ll find a reference to licorice and chocolate, and those flavors come out mostly at the tail, which continues to wag long after the sip has slipped away.
Stone Ruination IPA
Posted by: | Comments“A liquid poem to the glory of the hop.”
– from the Ruination IPA bottle
IPA Monday, how I love you. You are attentive, appearing just as I need you most, always at the conclusion of the week’s first workday. But you never fail to light up my life by being both a reliable constant, and a constant surprise.
For example, take today’s amazing Double IPA from Stone Brewing Company — the Ruination IPA.
I expected — and received — an amazing hoppiness. But I did not expect the malt, or how the taste mixed with the hops to create a sort of herbal candy swirling through my mouth and clinging in flavored swaths to my gums.
The sensory excitement begins long before you taste the beer. The Ruination IPA bottle doesn’t have a label in the traditional sense — it’s screen printed, resulting in a rough, stubbled texture like a statue carved from stone. The feeling reminds me of running my hands along gargoyles atop Notre Dame de Paris — no accident on Stone’s part, I’m sure.
HE’BREW Messiah Bold
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On this night when Hollywood celebrates itself, and with Jon Stewart and his shtick so absent from the Oscars, I’ve decided to keep Kosher with HE’BREW: The Chosen Beer – Messiah Bold, by the Shmaltz Brewing Company.
This is the part where I’m supposed to insert jokes about Hollywood, Jewish producers, and maybe even toss in some yiddish puns. But Shmaltz is way ahead of me — why not take a moment to watch a HE’BREW Commercial, Two Jews Walk Into A Bar, or Doctor.
And on the label:
Why is this beer different from all other beers? As commanded, we at HE’BREW Beer have been fruitful and multiplied our offerings. Tradition teaches that the Messiah’s name is Shalom — Peace. With your first sip of this rich, dar, and delicious libation, we hope to offer a momentary taste of microbrewed bliss . . . Now, our award-winning brewers can’t claim supernatural powers — simply a fanatical commitment to brewing world-class beers: A truly scrumptious mitzvah (good deed)! Through the new Millennium and beyond, may your cups runneth over with the blessings of great beer and great shtick. To the Future! To a Bold Life! L’Chaim!
I’d intended to drink Messiah Bold and Genesis Ale on back to back nights. But instead of one of each, I accidentally grabbed two bottles of Messiah Bold. What will I do with the second bottle? Send me your ideas in the comments.
Introducing Marc and Aimee
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Just after getting hitched, Marc and Aimee hit the brew room at The Upland Brewing Co. in Bloomington, Indiana.
A few weeks ago, two good friends of yours-truly posted a husband and wife beer review to The Forum. Marc and Aimée had a blast and it shows in their writing, so I invited them to contribute more.
You’ll find their beer and brewery reviews in a special section of BeerADay.net. Just click on “He Said, She Said” from one of the menus at the top of the page.
Their credentials — they love beer, and they specialize in an endearing banter that I believe you will enjoy as much as I do.
A brief example of their enthusiasm for good beer is portrayed in attached photo. Moments after their marriage, on the way to the reception, I drove them both to The Upland in Bloomington, IN where we took over our usual seats, played darts, and drank beer. At some point we were reminded several hundred guests were waiting on us, and if Marc and Aimée hadn’t been serving a couple of kegs of Upland Beer at the reception who knows if we would have ever left.
At least, that’s how I remember it.
Andy with the newlywed Marc & Aimée
OAKED Arrogant Bastard Ale
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What a difference some oak chips can make! If I compile a list for my readers of “Must Try” beer from this “one a day: no more, no less, no repeats” challenge, then the OAKED Arrogant Bastard will be hard to shake from the top.
I was a little nervous about how this “twin” beer would impact my Beer a Day.net challenge. If the only difference between Arrogant Bastard and OAKED Arrogant Bastard were a few wood chips, then I’d likely find myself squirming when asked if I REALLY only drank one beer a day without repeating all year long.
As luck would have it, the OAKED is in a category all its own.
When I drank the original Arrogant Bastard Ale last night, I enjoyed the beer but had to warm up to it. The piney, spicy hops stayed in my face and just wouldn’t let me relax while I drank the beer — they demanded attention. Ultimately, I pacified both the beast and my abused palate with a pairing of sharp cheddar cheese.
I expected the oak to simply add to the clamor, as one more strong flavor ardently petitioning for redress of some forgotten wrong, more than happy to take its revenge on my weakened taste buds.
But the OAKED Arrogant Bastard Ale proved to be far more diplomatic. Rather than rough me up, it seduced me with its fine perfume and soothing taste. In fact, this diminutive bastard (12 ounces) has proven to be one of the highlights of this entire beer drinking challenge.
