Golden Road The Way Point IPA

Almost home from a long trip! Job interview Friday in Washington DC, an then a full few days in San Francisco. Today is a long train ride home, on the Coast Starlight. It has been a stunning ride (pretty, hilly part shown).

I don't get home until 1 am, and the train started around 7am. But it was really a nice trip. And there is beer!

Indio

I brought a six pack of Indio to a Superbowl party this past Sunday.  While the party was great fun, the beer was very plain, oddly sweet, and generally lacking.  If I am going to drink a Mexican lager, I would stick with something like Sol.

Also, after the game I went swimming.  Suck it east coast.

Saison from St. Feuillien

Shaina tells me that the St. Feuillien Saison smells worse than it tastes. I think it tastes worse than it smells. Either way, not my thing.

Lots of floral notes, especially lavender.

Gueuze Fond Tradition

Gueuze Fond Tradition is a Lambic from Belgium. Shaina tells me it tastes like lemonade, but she is totally wrong. Or, rather, this would be the best lemonade ever. Certainly sour, with great bubbles. Nice richness late in there too. I wish I could brew a beer like this. Or have it on tap at work, for with lunch.

1084. Sam Adams IPL

Sam Adams Double Agent IPL is part of their Hopology Collection. Interesting beer - the citrus and floral hops compliment the thin lager well. But it ends up feeling like a lighter summer beer with too much hops to be a session beer. Sort of an awkward place, really. Still, glad I got to try it.

The photo is of me, using a car jack to lift part of the house. We are all amazed that nobody is dead. Or even a little hurt! And now we can open the front door again...

1083. Bruery Smoking Wood

I enjoyed this beer immensely. Instant best of. Though it should get points off for being so expensive...

1082. Lost Abbey Mayan Apocalypse

The Lost Abbey Mayan Apocalypse is a version of Judgement Day, on of my favorite beers, brewed for the end of the world. Which I am told happened last month. I must have missed it.

The beer was good, though I like the classic Judgement Day better. No need to mess with that beer.

Photo is me, installing a new exhaust on the motorcycle. What an upgrade!

1081. Einstok Olgerd

Einstok Olgerd Toasted Porter is from Iceland, and being 60 miles from the arctic circle, almost surely the farthest north beer I have blogged. Good too.

I am surprised it is 6%, seems high for a porter, but doesn't taste too boozie. Nicely roasted. A pleasant surprise from the local store, Bine and Vine in Normal Heights.

1080. Sam Adams Maple Pecan Porter

My expectations were really low for Sam Adams Maple Pecan Porter. It exceeded them. Barely.

1079. Bruery 5 Golden Rings

Belgian style golden ale brewed with pineapple juice and "spices". The bottle tells me that it is suitable for aging up to seven years. This one made it about an hour.

It also tells me to be careful about the sediment. I figure the motorcycle ride with it in the sidebag made that pretty pointless.

Weird. Strong pineapple. I would not have guessed 11.5%. Tastes kind of like a mixed drink I would serve in college. But better. Still not my thing.

1078. Bruery Rugbrod

Bruery Rugbrod JuleBryg-style dark rye ale. Several of the letter combinations in the last sentence may actually be words.

1077. Ironfire 51/50 IPA

Third best beer of the night. Out if three. Though it is awesome that Jamie got off work and joined us!

1076. Craftsman Holiday Spruce

I should know better than to follow a double IPA with a holiday beer. This one started with more holiday than spruce, but that may me my palate. By the end I was getting distinct gin notes. Kind of reminds me of the Trader Joe's holiday beers, but smaller.

1075. Port Brewing Nose Rider

Enjoying a Port Brewing Nose Rider double IPA with Joe at my favorite bar, Blind Lady Ale House. I liked it before I moved to the neighborhood, but now that it is a two minute skateboard or five minute walk from my house, I enjoy it more.

The beer was enjoyable, but sharp. Great smell, but a little too much pine.

1074. Ommegang Art of Darkness

Zajj is visiting!

The Ommegang Art of Darkness is outstanding. Dark, mild for how big it is, interesting yeasty flavors. The Ommegang yeast strain has some off flavors for me, but they blend well in this one. Tasty.

1073. Imperial from Costa Rica

Star is modeling an Imperial from Costa Rica. Reminds me of Budweiser. Ok I guess. (The beer, not Star)

1070-1072. Joe is Visiting!

Together we have enjoyed:

Bruery Mischief
Craftsman Edgar's Ale
Shock Top Midnight Wheat

Also, this may be the classiest drinking-a-Pabst-in-a-bathrobe picture that has ever been taken.

1069. St. Bernardus Christmas Ale

I really need to get back in the habit of posting these as I drink them. Taking four months off from blogging was a mistake. Now I forget or get lazy every time. No more!

1068. Stone Vertical Epic 12.12.12

Christmas Day, Jamie is enjoying a Vertical Epic in the most eponymous way possible.

1067. Twisted Tea

Mix Lipton powdered tea in vodka and add a splash of floor varnish. The things I do for this blog.