Three Philosophers
Tonight’s adult beverage is feeling philosophical. Brewery Ommegang’s Three Philosophers Belgian Style Blend. A true Belgian-style Quadrupel: 98% ale plus 2% ale with cherries added. Would Plato approve? Continue reading
Shipwrecked Double IPA
Tonight’s adult beverage is rated “Arrrrrrrr.”
Mission Shipwrecked Double IPA pours amber with a big, bonewhite head. Sweet and malty, with a solid suggestion of candied citrus up front. Smooth mouthfeel: piney and sprucey and bitter and sweet, with a long-lasting bitter finish (grapefruit?). A toasty, burnt-sugary, malty flavor manifests as the beer acclimates to room temperature, suggesting that I should try this one again soon, but unrefrigerated.
Rampage Imperial IPA
Got to love the amber-eyed elephant stomping through the hops.
Black Diamond Rampage Imperial IPA is hoppy and malty, with suggestions of citrus and pine. Understated bitterness, with enough carbonation to tickle the tongue. Minimal lacing. Refreshing, but I’m not entirely convinced it lives up to the promise of the elephant on the label.
A Little Sumpin’ Wild Ale
Sometimes you just need a little sumpin’ wild…
Lagunitas A Little Sumpin’ Wild Ale is very citrus-y. Brighter and bigger than I remember Lagunitas’ Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ and Little Sumpin’ Extra being. Nice and bitter. Enough carbonation to tickle the roof of the mouth. Mouthfeel somewhere between a wheat and an IPA. Notes of malt, tangerine, and grapefruit.
Decadent Evil
Got to like a beer with a pinup on the label.
Valley Brewing’s Decadent Evil Belgian Style Golden Ale is tasty, indeed. Golden and effervescent, with little-to-no lacing on the glass. Notes of caramel and honey (more honey flavor than many meads I’ve had). All-in-all, an impressive California Belgian. And, at 9.5%, it’s certainly “decadent,” though its “evil” has yet to be proven.
Barleywine Style Ale
Will I see the green flash? At 10.9%, I just might.
Citrus and hops. And hops and citrus. And citrus-y hops. And hoppy… you get the idea. Scrapes the roof of the mouth with initial hoppiness, but improves as you become accustomed to it. Green Flash Barleywine Style Ale is good, but no Olde GnarlyWine. For that matter, it’s not an Old Guardian, either. And I didn’t see any green flash.
Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew
Can a beer possibly be as good as a classic album?
Alchemy! Dogfish Head Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew is a bold, black imperial stout fused with Tej (an African mead brewed with honey and gesho root). Complex and bitter, but with a honeyed finish. Notes of coffee, tobacco, caramel, bitter chocolate, and red earth.
