985. O’so Brewing Co. – King Louis XIII Imperial Barrel Aged Lager
In an attempt to try to make a little extra from this beer blog I’ve been writing for the last 15 years, I decided to sign up for some affiliate programs. One of the programs I tried was The Rare Beer Club. When I joined, I got a very nice note from them along with a couple of rare beers, including this one. This one looked very unique, being a barrel aged imperial lager, so I was eager to try it. I’m looking forward to...
983. Rogue Ales – Dead Guy Imperial IPA
For our Halloween party each year. I usually pick up a few cases of commercial beer for people to drink instead of my homebrew. Since it’s a Halloween party, I usually try and get beers that fit with the theme. So, usually one of them is Rogue Dead Guy Ale, but this year I found this Imperial IPA version and went for it instead. And since it’s been in the beer fridge for a couple of months now, I figured I’d better...
970. Samuel Adams – Griffin’s Bow Oaked Blonde Barleywine
It’s Independence Day and I decided to dig deep into the beer fridge to see what I could find. I pulled out this big barley wine from Sam Adams that I think I’ve had in there since about 2012. I think it was part of a 3-pack of Sam Adams big beers for the holidays back then. My dad was visiting, so we just relaxed on the couch and watched fireworks while I sipped on this big beer. Location: Poured into a TEKU style pint...
960. Full Sail – Black Gold Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout 2006, 2009, 2011
2006 Black Gold Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout TGIF! It’s been a great Friday because I Took the day off work, and did a little bit of Christmas shopping. So after a busy day at the stores, I came home and decided to break up in a big beer from the beer cellar. This beer was given to me by John Harris when he was the brewmaster at Full Sail Riverplace and I got to brew with him as part of my cuisinternship. I’ve been...
959. Cigar City – 2014 Winter Warmer
It’s Thanksgiving weekend, and without any family visiting, it’s been pretty relaxing. It’s a football Saturday, and so I got in the hot tub and watched the Mizzou-Vandy football game – getting to see Sarah Fuller, the first woman play in a major college football game. Tonight, I’m just hanging out, watching TV, and eating leftovers from our Thanksgiving dinner. Since I’m approaching the last couple...
958. Sonder Brewing – Otto Imperial Stout
I took the day off of work today, so it’s the first day of my Thanksgiving break. Although it’s a day off, I spent a good portion of it studying for a financial services designation that I’m working on. So, while watching the videos I’m supposed to watch, I decided to crack open a beer – and since I’m not going anywhere, I decided to crack open a big one. Also, since the label said “Extend the...
955. Tangled Roots – High & Tight Barleywine
It’s my birthday weekend, and despite the fact that it has been raining, it has been a nice, relaxing day. I’m watching college football and decided to crack open a beer. Since we don’t really have anything going on, I thought I’d break open this big 10% ABV barleywine I picked up at the Tangled Roots brewery a few weeks ago. Location: Poured from the 32oz crowler into a TEKU pint glass at my home in...
941. The Bruery – White Chocolate
Happy Thanksgiving! My dad and sister are here from St. Louis and my in-laws from in town are here. Either my sister or my dad bought this for me last Christmas and my sister really wanted me to open it and share it with her. It’s a big beer that’s aged in a bourbon barrel with cacao nibs and vanilla beans. Location: Poured into a Teku pint glass from the 750ml bottle at my home in Bloomington, IL. Numbers: 14% ABV, ~420...
900. Dogfish Head – 120 Minute IPA
It’s been a super busy Saturday, starting with my son’s soccer game at 11:30. Then we went straight to my daughter’s dance performance at 1 o’clock, and then to my son’s baseball game at 3:15. After all of that, I needed a beer, and since I hit number 900, I though I’d crack something a little special open. I bought this 120 Minute IPA a few weeks ago when I saw them at the liquor store. It felt a...
792. Evil Twin Brewing – Molotov Cocktail Imperial IPA
It’s been a pretty relaxing Friday night. We couldn’t really go out and do anything, since my son has been sick the last four days, and we needed to stay home tonight. I finished up my review of Dogfish Head Sixty-one, and I’m settling into watch a movie and do another review. I’d heard of Evil Twin Brewing, and was looking forward to trying it, but couldn’t find it anywhere near me. However, when I was...
700. Full Sail Brewing – Imperial Stout 2008
There’s a ton of stress right now in my life between owning/maintaining two homes and trying to sell one of them. On top of that, I’m having to interview to keep my job, deal with air conditioner issues at both houses, and other things too numerous to mention here. I chose this big beer to enjoy for the ceremonious landmark of #700 because I was given it by John Harris when I brewed with him at Full Sail Riverplace in...
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....
592. Legend Brewing – Barleywine
Yesterday, my son, who is learning to ride his bike, went off the trail by our house and went straight off a 4 foot drop into a creek. His hand was cut pretty bad and there was lots of crying… As well as daddy having to carry him 1.5 miles back home. Today was a long busy day at work, and we were supposed to have baseball practice. Due to my son’s injury, he didn’t want to go. So, I decided I was going to chill out...
584. Weyerbacher Brewing – Double Simcoe Double IPA
As I mentioned when I had the Harpoon Leviathan Imperial IPA, my friend Travis brought me a six pack of big beers from his vacation to Virginia Beach. Huge thanks to him for these brews. Tonight I went to the gym, and decided to reward myself with this big double IPA. Location: Poured into a slightly curved pint glass at my home in Bloomington, IL. Numbers: 9% ABV, ~ 290 Calories Appearance & Aroma: It’s a dull reddish-brown...
531. Capital Brewery – Autumnal Fire Doppelbock 2010
If you’re a regular reader, you know I found a streak of older beers in a corner of my beer fridge. I think I left this beer sitting there for a while because I knew it could stand up to a little bit of age. This beer was actually sent to me by Kirby Nelson, the (now former) brewmaster at Capital Brewing, after I reviewed their Fest Seasonal Beer as part of my Oktoberfest Challenge. I really appreciated him taking the time to...
487. Bells Brewery – This One Goes to 11 Ale
I spend last week in Seattle, Washington – mostly for a work conference – but I didn’t let that stop me from seeing the city’s craft beer scene. I was able to hit 12 microbreweries and try over 20 local craft beers during my trip. Today, I’m back home at Fat Jack’s in Bloomington, IL for our monthly homebrew club meeting. Before the meeting I grabbed this beer… mostly because I liked the...
293. Stone Brewing – Double Bastard Ale Draft
After everything that has been going on, I really needed a night out. Fortunately, I found out that a local distributor had picked up Stone Brewing and we would now be able to get it in our area. A local bar, Fat Jack’s, was having a “tap takeover” (like they did with Goose Island a couple months ago) with several Stone beers. I had several of their beers when a friend from San Diego shipped me a few last year,...
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