576. Broadway Brewery – Barleywine
Today was supposed to be the day of my alumni golf tournament in Columbia, Missouri, but the golf course was closed due to all of the rain recently. So, my friends Bill, Tom, and I had a great brunch at a Mexican place in town, went out and shot Tom’s pistol at a shooting range, and then stopped at the famous Shakespeare’s Pizza for dinner. After that, we headed to Broadway Brewery so I could try a few more local craft...
575. New Belgium Brewing – Hop Kitchen – Hoppy Bock Lager
As I mentioned in my last few posts, I’m in Columbia, Missouri, home of my alma mater, for an alumni golf tournament. My friend Bill and I have already stopped at Booche’s for a burger and a Stag Beer, as well as Flatbranch, where I had their Red Wheat. Now we’re at Addison’s Bar and Grill meeting up with our friend Tom. I haven’t heard of New Belgium’s Hop Kitchen line, but thought this beer...
574. Flat Branch Pub & Brewery – Red Wheat
As I mentioned in my last post, I’m in Columbia, MO – home of my alma mater, the University of Missouri – for a fraternity golf tournament. My friend Bill and I already stopped for some great burgers at Booches and a Stag beer. Avid readers of the blog know I usually hit up Flat Branch Pub & Brewery for a couple beers when I’m in Columbia, and this trip was no different. Bill and I met up with his...
573. Pabst Brewing – Stag
This weekend I’m in Columbia, MO, home of my alma mater, the University of Missouri, for a fraternity golf tournament. I met up with my friend Bill and we hit one of my favorite food spots in town – Booches. I absolutely love their little cheeseburgers, and it’s a must for me when I hit Columbia. It’s also kind of a divey, pool-hall kinda place that serves cheap beers like this one. Therefore, to enjoy the...
572. Highland Brewing Co. – Black Mocha Stout
This beer was sent to me by my sister’s friend several months ago. Unfortunately, there was no date on the bottle and I’ve lost track of when my sister gave it to me. The bottle says, “Highland’s most robust beer, having a very malty body with a large, roasted chocolate flavor, all achieved solely through the use of special roasted barley grains. It is black in color with a very clean finish and a moderate hop...
571. Great Lakes Brewing – Lake Erie Monster
It’s Friday night and we’re at one of our usual favorites – Flinger’s Pizza Pub in downtown Bloomington, IL. I was looking for something I hadn’t had yet, and this one fit the bill. I’ve also found that I tend to like IPAs and other heavily hopped beers here, because they go nicely with our old standby – the tomato-basil cheesebomb. Location: On tap and served in a regular pint...
570. Deschutes Brewing Co. – Red Chair Northwest Pale Ale
I can’t remember the last time my wife and I had a date night, but tonight we hired a nanny for the summer and we’re letting her watch the kids as a trial run. We went out out to one of our favorite spots in town for a date night – Reality Bites. The atmosphere here is dark and intimate and it’s pretty much what you’d call a “tapas bar.” They have a few craft beers on tap, and this was one I...
569. Southern Tier Brewing Co. – Unearthly Imperial India Pale Ale
We’re at our usual spot this Friday evening – Flinger’s Pizza Pub in downtown Bloomington, IL. As I’ve mentioned before, with each beer, we get a free slice of pizza (which we give to the kids). We love the tomato-basil cheesebomb, and it tends to go great with some hoppy beers. Also, since this is my one beer for the week, I figured I’d go big with this one. I had the Oak Aged Unearthly last year at the...
568. Bell’s Brewery – Pale Ale
With the drugs I’m on following my heart surgery, I’m limiting my beer intake to a beer or two a week. I’ve still got a bunch of beers in the beer fridge to catch up on, and I was looking for something lighter. I can’t remember how I picked up this beer, but I think it may have been in a mixed six-pack at the local liquor store. The bottle says, “A blonde ale made from a delicious blend of pale malts with...
567. Anderson Valley Brewing – Poleeko Gold Pale Ale
I’m happy to tell you that my heart surgery went well. It’s been almost a month since my surgery, and I’m finally starting to feel a little bit back to normal. I had a little bit of nerve damage, but other than that, it was pretty smooth. It’s also been a month since I’ve had a sip of beer, and I’ve been craving some. Tonight we went to one of our favorite local pizza spots – Flinger’s...
566. Great Dane Pub & Brewing – Crop Circle Wheat
My family and I are headed from Central Illinois to Rochester, MN and Mayo Clinic for my mitral valve repair heart surgery. Around lunchtime we hit Madison, Wisconsin and decided to stop for lunch. Thanks to a recommendation from my friend Fred, we decided to stop at Great Dane Pub & Brewing and enjoy a sampler. With all sorts of tests tomorrow, I have to limit my beer/alcohol intake, so my wife and I split this. I started to do a...
565. The Abby St. Sixtus – Westvleteren XII
I’m sure my upcoming heart surgery will go just fine, but before I go, I wanted to make sure I had this beer. It’s considered by many to be one of, if not, the best beer in the world, and is on the list of “1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die.” It’s one of the most coveted beers by all beer geeks. I was fortunate enough to get a six pack brick when they went on a once-in-a-lifetime sale here in the...
564. Russian River Brewing – Supplication Ale
I found out I’m going to need mitral valve repair heart surgery this coming Friday, so I’m digging in the beer fridge for a few good ones before I have to head to Mayo Clinic for the surgery. I picked this one up in Seattle when I was there a few months ago, and brought it back on the plane with me. The bottle indicates it’s aged in Pinot Noir barrels with cherries added. It says its aged in the barrel 12-15 months...
563. Illinois Brewing Co. – Big Beaver Brown Ale
As I mentioned in my last post, when I reviewed Illinois Brewing Co.’ s Big John Barley Wine, I’m at Illinois Brewing Co. today brewing a batch on their system for our homebrew club’s barrel project. We finally finished up our brew, and while the snow is really coming down outside, we sat at the bar and enjoyed a beer inside. Behind the barleywine, this was the next most interesting for me on their house tap list....
562. Illinois Brewing Co. – Big John Barley Wine
Today I’m at Illinois Brewing Company here in Bloomington, IL. They let our homebrew club come in and brew a beer on their system for our club’s barrel project. I actually put together our Russian Imperial Stout recipe to brew on their system, so we can age it in a Buffalo Trace bourbon barrel. We had a great time brewing, despite a few hiccups, and went upstairs for a bit during the boil to grab a beer. Since it’s...
561. Odell Brewing Co – Myrcenary Double India Pale Ale
I was out in Colorado for work about a year and a half ago and picked up a four pack of this beer at the local liquor store. I enjoyed the other three while I was there, and brought this one back in my luggage to review when I got home. Apparently, it got lost in the back of the beer fridge, and I noticed it just recently. One reader – Larry, whose beer journey can be found here – recommended it as one of his favorites, so...
560. Samuel Adams – Third Voyage Double IPA
My homebrew club acquired a few bourbon barrels, and our group is brewing an Imperial Stout to put in the barrel. We’re brewing tomorrow at Illinois Brewing Company (IBC), here in Bloomington, IL. We have the grain, about 250lbs of it, but found out IBC only has a small corona mill. Therefore, my friend Fred and I started milling the grain this afternoon at his house. While we were milling the grain, Fred offered me this beer...
559. Finch’s Beer Co. – Fascist Pig
Well, it’s been an interesting day with several good things happening. Today, I found out I got a promotion, and then got a phone call from Mayo Clinic. I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it, but I need heart surgery for a mitral valve repair. My surgery date was supposed to be May 16, but today I got a call asking if I could come in next Friday (yes, in one week). To celebrate both of these, my family and I went out for...
558. Bell’s Brewery – Lager of the Lakes
My wife and son are out tonight, and I’m relaxing at home with my daughter. She’s playing in the basement, so I thought I’d take the chance to do another review. I can’t remember if I picked up this beer on a trip to the brewery in Kalamazoo, Michigan last year, or if I got it in a mixed six pack at the local liquor store. Either way, the bottle has a batch number of 10204 on it. The label says, ” As...
557. NW Peaks Brewery – Triumph Ale Imperial IPA
I picked up this beer a few months ago when I was in Seattle for work. My cousin really wanted me to try this brewery and we got there at the last second (they were actually closing), but we talked with the assistant brewer for a bit and he let us stick around and have a beer. At the time, I had the NW Peaks Redoubt Red and it was pretty good. I wanted to try more, and since I was flying out the next day, my only option was to buy...
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