581. Harpoon Brewery – Leviathan Series Imperial IPA
Last Monday night, I went to my homebrew club monthly meeting. I met up with my friend Travis, as I do most meetings, and he surprised me with a mixed six pack from his vacation to Virginia Beach. I’m extremely thankful, especially since almost all of the beers he brought me were big, flavorful brews. The bottle says, “Our Imperial IPA is brewed to challenge the senses. The vibrant aroma rushes out of the glass with a...
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...
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...
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...
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...
545. Uinta Brewing – Crooked Line Detour Double India Pale Ale
A few months ago I was in Seattle for work, and picked up a bunch of beers that I couldn’t get back here in Illinois to bring home in my suitcase. I hadn’t heard of this brewery before, or seen any of their beers, so I was excited to give it a try. However, I went to the liquor store the other day, and saw this beer on the shelf. I’m still excited to give it a try though. The bottle says, ” Detour blazes the...
539. Firestone Walker Brewing Co – Double Jack Double IPA
It’s a nice Sunday evening, and I’m watching the Amazing Race. Earlier in the day, I was cleaning up in the basement, and found a stash of beers I was hiding from myself. I’m not sure how this beer ended up in there. While it probably ages well at 9.5% ABV, it’s not meant to last. The date on the bottle is 11/7/11, so it’s not too bad (a little over a year old), but it was time to drink it....
501. Stone Brewing Co. – Stone Enjoy By 12.21.12 IPA
When I crossed the halfway to 1000 beers mark, I held a poll to see which beer I should drink to celebrate #500. The 2008 Schlafly Reserve Oak Aged Barleywine won, and I enjoyed that beer yesterday. Since the beer that tied for the second spot has a very visible “Enjoy By” date on the front, I decided to go ahead and crack this one open this evening. This is a well-hopped double IPA that Stone wants you to drink right...
459. Oskar Blues – Gubna Imperial IPA
A few weeks ago, I was on vacation in Florida, and on the way down, we stopped at my friend Joe’s house in Atlanta. He picked up a bunch of beers for me that I couldn’t get at home in Illinois, and made sure they were in cans so I could enjoy them on the beach. I had heard a lot about this beer, and was really looking forward to trying it. I had an extremely long day at work today and so I was looking for a big beer to...
440. Green Flash Brewing – Imperial India Pale Ale
I’m at our monthly homebrew club meeting at Fat Jack’s in Bloomington, IL, and I was looking for something I haven’t had yet. I’ve had a few Green Flash beers, and they’ve generally been pretty good. So, I didn’t feel like I was going out on a limb to try this big hoppy beer from this brewery. According to the brewery, “San Diego IPA, as it has come to be known by many, is pale in color,...
423. Piece Brewery & Pizzeria – Wingnut
As I’ve mentioned in my last couple of posts, we’re in Chicago for the day. It was finally a chance to stop Piece Brewery & Pizzeria, a place I’d heard about from several people in my local homebrew club. The pizza was excellent and they had several brews on tap. I already had their Worryin’ Ale and finished off my wife’s Golden Arm. I thought their double IPA would be a good beer before heading...
411. Stone Brewing – 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA
As I’ve mentioned in my last several posts, I’m in St. Louis today doing a tour of microbreweries. However, we’re currently at the International Tap House (ITAP) in Soulard to enjoy a few more beers and watch the Missouri Tigers in March Madness. I was looking for something local on tap I hadn’t had yet, but I couldn’t find anything. This beer caught my eye, and since I hadn’t had it yet, I went...
400. Upland Brewing – Double Dragonfly Imperial IPA
As I mentioned in my last couple posts, we’re in Indianapolis, Indiana for my wife’s birthday. She wanted to take the kids on a roadtrip to the Children’s Museum here. Before heading to the museum, we stopped at a local pizza joint – Bazbeaux’s Pizza – for a pizza and a couple of local brews. I started with the Upland Dragonfly IPA and she and I shared the Sun King Sunlight Cream Ale. As we...
382. Destihl Restaurant & Brew Works – Bourbon Barrel Aged Deadhead Double Red
We were out getting our Christmas photos done at the local pack ’em in, rush ’em through, up-sell them like crazy photo studio. Talk about an incredibly stressful afternoon! Fortunately, the photo studio is right next door to the local brewpub Destihl Restaurant & Brew Works. We decided to relax and enjoy a beer or two while waiting on our photos. I decided to go for the biggest thing on the beer menu to help...
364. Schmaltz Brewing – He’Brew Bittersweet Lenny’s R.I.P.A.
As I’ve mentioned in the last several reviews, I was at Bruegala beer festival in Bloomington, IL. I had an extra sample ticket left and was looking for something to try. I’ve always thought Schmaltz beers were pretty solid, and I was looking for something solid and hoppy to leave the event with. When I got to the table with this beer, I have no idea why the label was on upside down, but it was. Location: Enjoyed a 3oz...
361. Southern Tier – Oak Aged Imperial Unearthly India Pale Ale
Another special release during the Bruegala beer festival, this one sounded pretty good. I’ve had several Southern Tier beers, and they do a pretty good job with some big flavored beers. I made an IPA aged on oak chips once and was surprised by how good the mix of hops and oak flavor tasted. This one was a much bigger beer, and it didn’t disappoint with an equally big flavor. Location: Enjoyed a 3oz sample, in a...
333. Bear Republic – Ryevalry
As I mentioned in my last post, I’m on a “mini-micro” tour, visiting 3-4 microbreweries in St. Louis with my friend Joe. We stopped at The Stable, a craft beer bar and nanobrewery, because I had a gift certificate from my sister. Since I’d already had a couple of Double IPAs this afternoon, including the STLIPA at Urban Chestnut, and the Double IPA at Six Row, I thought I’d try this Belgian style double...
331. Six Row Brewing – Double IPA
After having the STLIPA and Winged Nut at Urban Chestnut, my friend Joe and I headed over to Six Row in St. Louis on our “mini-micro tour” (stopping at 3-4 microbreweries today). We were bummed we missed out on their bacon infused “Porked Porter” yesterday. Additionally, their taps seemed a bit limited, as the bartender mentioned that they were preparing for the St. Louis Brewers Heritage Festival next...
330. Urban Chestnut – STLIPA (St. Louis India Pale Ale)
As I mentioned in my last post, I’m in St. Louis doing a “mini-micro tour” (hitting 3-4 microbreweries) with my friend Joe. After lunch, our first stop was Urban Chestnut brewing for a couple beers. They have a very cool set up in an old carriage garage, and both the brewery and bar are new and modern. Joe and I sat at the corner of the bar and had samples of several different beers. They are very, very generous...
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