Brits and a German

I've been a bit negligent lately.  I did procure a bunch (case perhaps) of new beer options from the great Wegman's selection over the weekend.  I was accompanied by that legendary beer connoisseur of the family - young Samuel.  He has already been to quite a few liquor stores and bars already (as a percentage, it might be a bit scary).  It took me a few days to break into the new options.  Here are a couple.

Aventinus (Rating = 3.5)
Another German beer that tastes like bananas.  What's with this trend?  It was ok, - definitely a funky beer.  I don't recall having a wheat dopplebock before.  So, it was light and slightly heavy at the same time.  Smelled chocolately and kind of heavy, but was light on the palate, with the late banana taste.  A bit of an enigma.  I liked it, but wouldn't tel l people - you MUST drink it.

I did also get another extra one in here.  I thought I had the other Schneider beer from the list, but it turned out to be a different one.  It was a straight Weiss beer that was pretty good though.  Probably would have been a 4.0 if it was officially on the list.  But no, wasted drinking effort.

In related news, I've started to notice my beer belly start to grow a bit.  I do not think it is coincidence.  I think it might be from the beer.  Not sure how to solve this and keep drinking.  I've told many a friend that has gone about a weight loss program by cutting out booze that they are just plain stupid.  You must continue to drink while you get in shape.  So, I will have to work on that one.

Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale (Rating = 4.0)
Ahh, memories.  This particular beer reminds of some friends from college.  They got married just a few years after we graduated - ceremony at Marsh Chapel on the campus of Boston University.  I remember the wedding well (ok, not really well).  I was friends with the bride, having met her my first day of freshman year in my door.  We lived in the massive Warren Towers on Comm Ave.  I stayed good friends with Alicia for the entirety of the college years.  She met Matt at BU (I think I met him once or twice) and then got married.  Matt was a big beer guy back then (and did some home brewing, etc.).  At the reception, they had some great beer.  This was one of them.  I didn't realize a) it was a bigger bottle and b) it was strong.  Not that I wasn't headed in that direction anyway, but I got myself nice and toasted.  It was a fun wedding (again, I think) and I remember a lot of dancing.  That means that a bunch of other people probably tell a story to the effect of "remember that wedding we went to with the really, really drunk and really really tall guy at?"  Yes, that would have been me.

Anyway, it was nice to have this one again, it had been a while.  This is a really tasty beer - not too nutty, but just enough.  Easy to drink.  And the cool, official looking bottle.  A winner.  I've got a couple other Samuel Smith's varieties in the house on deck to try.  Stay tuned.  And no, Samuel Smith is in no way related to Samuel Adams (obviously, they share a first name, not a last name).

St. Peter's Cream Stout (Rating = 3.5)
I know I end up with a lot of ratings in the 3.5 range.  I think this is my middle-of-the road rating.  Anything below a 3 feels like I'm saying - don't drink this crap.  This is a little bit lighter stout, but it does have some coffee flavors to it.  A little bitter finish, but an ok stout.  I'd still take the traditional ones - Murphy's and Guinness over this one.  And, for the record, I don't think St. Peter has anything to do with this brew.  I'm just saying.    

Beers down: 37
Beers to go: 964

Here is the updated spreadsheet.

Monday Night Drinking

Nothing like a good Monday night to knock off a couple from the list.  We will see how tomorrow turns out, but right now, I'm feeling good.  Nothing like drinking some beers, having some steak tips and watching some Who's Line Is It Anyway.  BTW - this is still a very under-rated show.  Still worth watching - almost better with Aisha Tyler hosting.  But, three more off the list.  I like it.  And for the record, I was in Wegman's the other day and I think I found another source for a large amount of other beers on the list.  It was like a beer wonderland - even though it looks like many that I can find at the local (Julio's Liquors - what up?), it was a bigger place, easier to find stuff.  I might cheat on Julio's and give it a try during my next excursion to load up.

Adnams Broadside (Rating = 3.5)
When I was looking at the list of beers, I was certain that my occasional dyslexia was coming back with a vengeance.  But, nope, this is spelled correctly - the brewery is named Adnams.  This beer has quite the back story according to the bottle (which I attempt to read religiously - and not based at all on Judiasm).  This beer is apparently in honor of some battle between the Royal Navy and the Dutch in 1672.  I can't imagine that this battle was in any way a technically historic battle, I mean, the Dutch?  I guess that the seamen (yes, I said that) might have been drinking a bit before they called in to this battle.  Regardless, who really cares about that dumb battle?  The beer is ok - I wouldn't kick it out of beer bed, but I wouldn't trek across the universe for it either.  Has some spice and citrus and was a passable amber ale - the bottle says it tastes like fruitcake, I didn't get that.  But, calling someone a fruitcake is a very nice way to insult them.

Three Philosophers (Rating = 4.0)
So, I have had this beer before and it is from one of my favorite breweries (that doesn't at all sound like the words of an alcoholic, does it?).  We went to Ommegang in Cooperstown, New York a few years ago with a good friend of mine when we went to the Baseball Hall of Fame (do you believe the wives attended too?  Well, they did.).  Great little brewery, it is actually owned by Duvel, but they've left it to them to make the brews they want to make.  It is a nice mix of Belgium influenced beers with lots of different styles.  In the past, they've had contests for home brewers to submit the next beer.  This one is a nice a mix of vanilla and chocolate with some slight cherry taste (thanks to the lambic ingredients).  This one is a strong one (9.8% alcohol) - maybe not perfect for a school night if you plan on getting into work on time (combined with the large bottle format, you know my love for this format).  

For the record, the three philosophers might actually be the Epicurean, the Cynic, and the Pythagorean.  Apparently, they sat together, thinking of nothing.  I've done that before.

Brooklyn Local 1 (Rating = 3.5)
I think I liked this one.  But, it's hard to say - it is a weird mix of a saison with a strong Belgian.  It's got German malt, Austrian hops and sugar from Mauritius (where my sister actually has visited - apparently, a very nice tourist area on your way to/from Madagascar).  It confused me a bit.  Again, I think it was good, but hard to say.  Full disclosure - I drank this one on Friday night (not part of my Monday night drink-fest).

Beers down: 34
Beers to go: 967

Here is the updated spreadsheet.

Two Jokes on beer

Tonight was a chance to try a nice double wit from fine folks of Boulevard Brewing in Kansas City.  Middle America representing with a Belgian style beer.  Nice chance to enjoy a strong brew in a large format (love the large bottles, feels like you are opening some champagne or something; I guess that's why Miller High Life went with the Champagne of Beers motto).  Anytime you can get two solid pints from a single bottle, I'm usually down.

Two Jokers Double Wit (Rating = 2.5)
I had high expectations for this one after reading the description in the book.  Hazy orange look with off-white head (yes, I said head...insert Beavis laugh here).  Tastes of citrus and cotton candy.  Then, add the description on the bottle including notes of coriander, grains of paradise and lavender.  Sounds like a nice beer or at least a lovely scented soap.  It is a weird mix of wheat beer, lambic fruit beer and other stuff.  Unfortunately, it doesn't work.  Too fruity for me.  And, yes, that isn't said very often - I enjoy a nice fruity drink with regularity.  Sorry Boulevard - not a good selection.  What else you got?

Beers down: 31
Beers to go: 970

Here is the updated spreadsheet.

Locked and re-loaded

I racked up another nice tab at Julio's over the weekend and grabbed another batch of beers to taste.  I had a couple on Sunday and had another taste tonight.  A couple of weiss beers and a standard English amber ale.

Hobgoblin (Rating = 3.5)
Sure, the name and the bottle picture are cute.  The beer is solid, if not spectacular.  Tastes like a real English Ale - dark color and heavy taste.  Apparently, it contains some "fuggle" hops - who knows what those are.  But, it works as a beer.  Nice after work beer.

St. Bernardus Wit (Rating = 4.0)
A nice, classic wheat beer.  Apparently, closely related to Hoegaarden in Belgium.  Nice orange, fruity wheat beer.  Another good summer one.  And it somehow feels right to see a monk on the label - like he is really suffering for the sake of the beer.

Ayinger Ur-Weisse (Rating = 4.0)
I really liked this German brew - a little darker than the normal weiss beer with enough kick to make it enjoyable and not too fruity.  Nice job Germans.  First the world cup, then this beer.  I guess my people will give you a temporary pass on that whole World War thing.  At least while I down this beer.  

Beers down: 30
Beers to go: 971

Here is the updated spreadsheet.

Independence Drinking

It's been a solid week or so for the list.  Knocked off a few different brewskies at varying events over the past few days.  To recap:

Hell or High Watermelon Wheat (Rating = 2.5)
I like me some watermelon beers.  Boston Beer Works serves a lovely version with a slice of watermelon in the pint glass.  Nothing screams manly beer like a slice of fruit in your glass.  Dearest folks at 21st Amendment - your watermelon beer, whilst it has a nice name (and a nifty can), it is not a great beer.  Someone forgot to put in the watermelon flavor into your watermelon beer.  This is not the reason they repealed prohibition.  Call the good peeps at Boston Beer Works and try their recipe please.

Stonecutter (Rating = 4.0)

I think this might be the first New Zealand beer I've ever had.  This is the last in the initial batch that I received as a gift from my British friend Harvey.  We got to enjoy this by the pool with another close friend today. 

 This persnickety beer was a surprising delight.   A little bit of caramel with some chocolate, but still very drinkable.  Apparently, some American brewers utilizing malts from Australia, Germany and the UK with New Zealand hops can make a steady Scottish Ale.  Who knew?  Even the packaging was well done.   This is a good one. 

Estrella Damm Inedit (Rating = 4.0)
So, the fanciest of fancy pants chefs took 1 year to develop this beer.  Farran Adria, the chef at Spain's El Bulli were apparently challenged by someone to make a great beer.  The restaurant has been closed for a bit after being named one of the best restaurants in the world for a few years running.  They did a nice job, this is a pretty nice beer, in a cool champagne style bottle.  This was also a gift - but not sure it is worth the amount it probably sells for.  

Golden Draak (Rating = 4.0)
A pleasant surprise at my Uncle's annual July 4th party - he had a new beer from the list.  I got a chance to try the Draak, a pretty strong sucker.  It was tasty and refreshing - hard to describe, rich, but yummy.  Not sure I could have a full drinking session on this one (if I did, I'd be a relatively cheap date).  The Belgians do know how to make a good beer though.  It is hard for me not to think of the (relatively unknown) classic movie Enemy Mine with Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett, Jr.  This movie might have been featured on HBO back in the day and I probably saw it a few dozen times.  It was a science fiction flick where Quaid is some sort of astronaut fighter pilot vs. LGJ, who is an alien - a Drac.  I thought it was Draak - but I it was actually a Drac.  If you haven't seen it, you should.  It is touching movie about overcoming your differences.    

For the record, he did also have London Pride at the party - I stand by my earlier post, a great drinking beer (which is likely the goal of many beers - people should drink it, right?).

Saison IV (Rating = 4.0)
After (ok, maybe as) the Belgian futbol team was beating the US in the World Cup, I decided to crack open this one.  A really nice refreshing, light and crisp Belgian selection, I enjoyed this while the US was unable to come back and beat them to advance.  US lose, but we all win for this delicious selection.  Worth a try.

Beers down: 27
Beers to go: 974

Here is the updated spreadsheet.