The back of 2010, the front of 2011
Recent beers in roughly ascending order of recentness…
New Glarus Unplugged Old English Porter: Oh my god, this beer made me do a dance of joy. Thrilled that I have one more bottle, sad that I have ONLY one more bottle. It’s recognizable as a porter, but so sour that a warning sign was posted next to it: “This beer is SOUR!” Flavors that I don’t even ordinarily like throw a party in my mouth: black cherry, wood, kombucha — and I’m dancing despite myself. It’s really kind of like listening to Girl Talk for the first time.
Surly Furious on cask: Delight. I remembered how good Sam’s was at the Happy Gnome and jumped at the chance to order one at Ngon on the evening of the winter solstice. Grapefruity, endlessly smooth, so great, even Meghan liked it. If my girlfriend likes an IPA, then that IPA is an IPA that everyone should put in their mouth.
Lagunitas Brown Shugga: Baby’s first Lagunitas. I didn’t chill mine nearly enough the first time I drank it. Candied piney hops? No thanks. But in a frosty mug? Fresher and not too sweet. Yes, actually, I think I will, thank you.
21st Amendment Fireside Chat: Surprisingly kinda weird! I figured the brewery that knocks watermelon wheat ale out of the park could do no wrong, but I found Fireside Chat bitter and clovey.
New Glarus Raspberry Tart: Cracked on the occasion of my thirty-first birthday. Oh yum. Like their Belgian Red, sweet and tart but still recognizable as beer. I heart raspberries and the raspberry flavor here is just as real as expected. My only complaint is I’m now spoiled for Lindeman’s Framboise.
Kasteel Rouge: Wow, and this one is like a Belgian Red spiked with concentrated cherry juice. Good and sour and intensely juicy-sweet. I wasn’t sure about this at first, but it grew on me. Alternated sips with a Bell’s Best Brown Ale, while I was at it.
Dark Horse Tres Blueberry Stout: I’m into it. I think this has exactly the right amount of blueberry flavor. What I really need to do, FOR SCIENCE!, is make a clafouti or crême brûlée or something to eat alongside it.
Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter: Very nice indeed, though maybe not quite as sublime out of a bottle as I remember it from a tap at the beer fest last summer. But this is nice and robust, and as it warms I detect a little bit of the sourness I adore in New Glarus’s sour porter. I have a barrel-aged version of this too! Exciting!
Summit Winter Ale: Number one with a bullet my new Summit favorite! Dark dark dark, thick creamy head, the smell of faraway woodsmoke in cold snowy air up top and creamy vanilla on the bottom with toasty malt sandwiched in between. Nice with ice cream.
And a discussion question: What do you pair with macaroni and cheese? Common Roots has had a delicious truffle mac&cheese for the past month or two. I’ve tried it with a brown ale, a cream stout, and most recently Finnegan’s Irish Amber. None objectionable, but none perfect either.
smole 3:48 pm on October 2, 2010 Permalink |
Sounds delicious. You could always have it in a beer float, too.