681. Weyerbacher – Heresy Imperial Stout aged in Oak Barrels
We’re sitting down to watch the second Hunger Games movie and having dinner. I’ve already had New Glarus Cherry Stout earlier today, so I thought I’d stick with the stouts, and go a bit bigger. I believe this is one of the beers my friend Travis gave me in a mixed 6-pack he brought back from his trip to Virginia Beach last year. Location: Poured into a snifter glass at my home in Bloomington, IL. Numbers: 8% ABV,...
677. Goose Island – 2012 Night Stalker Imperial Stout
The last couple weeks have been insane – between buying a new house, trying to get ours ready to sell, and work being crazy busy. I haven’t had much time just to sit down and enjoy a beer. But now that it’s Friday night, I’ve got a chance to enjoy one. So, I thought I grabbed the best one I could see in the beer fridge. I picked up this brew at the liquor store probably about a year ago because I’m a big...
674. Avery Brewing – 2009 Mephistopheles’ Stout
It’s Wednesday night, and my wife and kids are out at a class, so I sat down to really take time and enjoy this one. I was working on the review earlier for number 666 Lucifer, and remembered I had this one stashed away in the beer fridge. I picked it up at the local liquor store, because I couldn’t believe that it was actually 16.83% ABV. I had to give it a try, but I knew I should probably give it some time to mellow....
649. Southern Tier Brewing – Imperial Mokah
Wednesday nights are nice and relaxing, since my wife and kids have school stuff every Wednesday night. I spent most of the evening cleaning out my car, prepping to trade it in. Now I’m sitting down to enjoy this beer and the Mizzou basketball game. This beer was sent to me by my sister’s friend Brittany who lives near the brewery in New York. Thanks Britt!!! Location: Poured into a snifter glass at my home in Bloomington,...
638. Pipeworks Brewing Co. – End of Days Batch 168
Its just a lazy Sunday and I’m trying to make some progress on clearing out the beer fridge. I picked up this brew (and a few others) when I was in Chicago for work a few months ago. I’ve been following this brewery’s progress since they started a Kickstarter campaign to start up a couple years ago. I’ve been waiting for their stuff to make it downstate, but it hasn’t yet. The bottle says,”End of...
552. North Coast Brewing – Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
I’ve been having a great time hanging out with co-workers at a happy hour for a few of them who are moving on to bigger and better things. After having the Boulder Freshtracks, I thought I’d try something different. I ordered a beer, and the tap blew. The only only remaining one that looked good was the Schlafly Pale Ale. Guess what? That one blew too. To avoid further issues with the taps, I ordered this bottle, which...
550. Boulevard Brewing – Smokestack Series Dark Truth Stout
I stumbled across this in the back of the beer fridge, and I have no idea when or where I got it. The label says, “Best by 10/9/11,” so it must have been a while ago. I’m watching my Mizzou Tigers taking on Arkansas and enjoying this beer before I sit down to get some work done. The bottle says, ” Roasted English malts provide a deep, rich texture, Belgian yeast Vistowes plum like fruitiness, and German hops...
522. AleSmith Brewing Co – Speedway Stout
I’m at my local homebrew club meeting at Fat Jack’s here in Bloomington, IL. I thought I’d order a beer before the meeting started, and was surprised to see they had an AleSmith beer on the draft menu. I didn’t think they had started distributing here yet. Since I’d heard many great things about their beers, I had to give this one a try. Location: On tap and served in a small, 10oz curved glass at Fat...
505. Cathedral Square – Bourbon Barrel Aged Holy Moly
As I mentioned in my review of Urban Chestnut’s Thrale’s, I’m in St. Louis for the holidays and we’re at International Tap House (iTap) in Soulard to watch the Mizzou-Illinois basketball game. We’ve already had a couple of beers while watching the game, as well as some awesome BBQ from Bogart’s down the street. I wanted to go for a local beer I couldn’t get elsewhere, and this looked like the...
504. Urban Chestnut Brewing Co – Thrale’s
We’re in St. Louis for the holidays and went out with my friend Joe and his wife to watch the Mizzou-Illinois basketball game (I went to Mizzou and my wife went to Illinois). After meeting at Perennial Artisan Ales (hoping they’d have some TVs to watch the game, or some Abraxas I could buy – they had neither), we went to the International Tap House (iTap) in Soulard to watch the game. My friend Joe had this one...
471. Elliott Bay Brewing – Heaven Hills Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout
As I mentioned in my last post, I’m in Seattle for work and am having dinner with my cousin at Elliott Bay brewpub. I started with their dry hopped IPA, and had their excellent fish tacos (which were a bit unevenly matched). After dinner, as well as some great family conversation, we both finished with one last beer. I’ve always been a fan of bourbon barrel aged Imperial Stout, and saw they had this one in the cask, so I...
462. Goose Island – 2011 Bourbon County Stout
Today’s my birthday, and I had a nice dinner out at Lucca Grill here in Bloomington, IL with my family, and enjoyed a couple of Boulder Beer Mojo IPAs (but I didn’t get a picture so I won’t count it here, yet). When we got home, I put the kids to bed, and finished off my birthday evening in perfect fashion with this beer. Thanks to my sister Kelly who gave me a four pack of this beer as a thank you for always...
461. Central Waters Brewing – Satin Solstice Imperial Stout
Tonight I’m at Medici in Normal, IL. A few members of our homebrew club are working on a beer for the Chicago Beer Hoptacular club competition. Before the meeting I thought I’d grab a beer. I didn’t recognize this beer or brewery, so I looked it up on my phone. The brewery is located in Amherst, WI, and the beer had some pretty good reviews, so I thought I’d give it a shot and add it to my list....
416. SweetWater Brewing – Happy Ending
I’ve been on a microbrewery tour of St. Louis with my friend Joe all day today. It’s been a long day, and in fact, I’ve racked up nine new beers today alone, so why not go for an even 10. We stopped at 4 Hands Brewing near downtown, the International Tap House in Soulard, and Urban Chestnut Brewing Co. near downtown. We finally headed back to Joe’s house and we decided to play a little pool and finish the...
409. 4 Hands Brewing – Bona Fide Russian Imperial Stout
I’m at 4 Hands Brewing in St. Louis, MO, enjoying a few beers in their tasting room, including their Divided Sky Rye IPA and their Reprise Centennial Red Ale. My friend Joe just had this beer, and recommended I try it myself. As a fan of Russian Imperials, I indulged in a third beer here before we headed off to another local microbrewery. According to 4 Hands, “Bona Fide Imperial Stout is a collaborative effort with...
406. Green Flash Brewing – Double Stout Black Ale
As you can see by my last few posts, my friend Joe and I have been out in St. Louis, hitting Perennial Artisan Ales earlier this evening. After enjoying their Vermilion and Abraxas, we headed back to Joe’s place, where he cracked open a Deschutes Black Butte Porter. It wasn’t quite time to call it a night, so Joe dug into his celler and pulled this one out. Location: Poured from the bottle into a pint glass, at my friend...
404. Perennial Artisan Ales – Abraxas
After having the Vermilion, my friend Joe demanded we get a bottle of the Abraxas. He’s had it before and raved about it. It’s an “Imperial Stout aged on Mexican cocoa nibs, ancho chiles, vanilla beans, and cinnamon,” so as you can tell, it’s supposed to have a rich, complex flavor. Location: Poured from a 750ml bottle into a goblet glass, at Perennial Artisan Ales in St. Louis, MO. Numbers: 10% ABV, ~...
396. Founders Brewing – Imperial Stout
It’s the 160th anniversary of the founding of my college fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi. A couple of years ago, I started the tradition of enjoying a beer from Founders Brewing on my Fraternity’s Founders’ Day. In the spirit of that tradition, I’m having Founders Imperial Stout tonight, and raising a glass to old Phi Psi. Location: Poured from the bottle into a snifter glass, at home in Bloomington, IL. Numbers:...
395. Terrapin Beer – Wake ‘N Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout 2010
It’s a bit of a lazy Sunday afternoon here at home, and after I had the Bell’s Oarsman Ale, I realized it had been quite some time since I dug into the beer fridge. So, I reached in and blindly grabbed one. This beer was given to me by my friend @jkaiseresq several months ago, and he said it was a pretty good beer. The bottle says, “Two Athens, GA companies, Terrapin and Jittery Joe’s, have teamed up to...
319. BJ’s Brewhouse McAllen, TX – Tatonka Stout Draft
We’re in McAllen, TX for work, and coincidentally, it was almost exactly a year ago that I was right here at BJ’s Brewhouse in McAllen having a beer. In fact it was their Piranha Pale Ale and Jeremiah Red Irish Strong Ale. I just had their Nutty Brewnette with my meal, and my co-worker and I decided to stick around and have another beer to celebrate the end of our crazy traveling these last three weeks. Location: On tap...
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