Since I made the mistake of bringing bringing some homebrew by Hammerhead, I’ve been threatened with having to review beer in public, which while fun, is seriously hard work! Take this week, for instance: since I was heading out of town to visit family and friends, I opted to grab a bottle of Rogue Shakespeare Stout and swing by the shop on my way out of town, thinking I could pour some tastes and be on my way; Matt, however, had other plans, and forced me to stay for another hour, sampling some Dogfish Head India Brown Ale. As it came to pass, I spent my two metabolizing hours in a pleasant location, but eventually had to convey myself away, knowing I wouldn’t be able to contribute to a proper review of Stouts.
Instead, I took my work home, and drank with my mother.
Continue Reading »
Finally something I was familiar with. I have never had this particular variety, but I am a fan of Rogue’s beer in general. I got to the shop and Sean and crew had been fortunate enough to get off work early and had just opened the bottle. This was a much less formal tasting compared to weeks past, I enjoyed it that way.
Meet my new friend: Rogue Shakespere Stout Both users and the pros rate this particular beer with an “A” on BeerAdvocate.com Finally we make it to a stout, this is my home field stouts and porters. I liked it but Cody and I both felt it tasted a bit “dirty” or “earthy” Interestlingly enough Huckleberry stopped by later with brews in tow and had another of the same. I sipped on it and it did not have the same dirtinees to it. This to me was a very good mild flavored medium body stout with a good amount of “this and that” it was a great just drinking beer (provided your not drinking a lot of them), or even better with a big plate of cow of some sort.
Second I made it to a customer brought beer. Whoever you are I may love you. All I have had of Dogfish is their IPAs the 90 minute is the beer that finally got me to quit trying to like them, just too many hops. Well thier Indian Brown is wonderful. Don’t let the A- fool you on BA.com people are idiots. For a darker brown this was good bit sweeter than what I am used too, and to me it did have the signature hop flavor that every Dogfish Head has. This beer is delicious, and @ 7.2% its enough to get a bit of a buzz going without drinking a six pack in a hour, but not enough that your going to get in trouble going to meet the inlaws after two beers.
I was in heaven with a couple of good “dark beers” however this was part one of the night. It went downhill from there (in several ways). Won’t you please feed my attention whoring desires and come read what I write next? Oh but you ask when should I return? That kind sir or madaam is the mystery, afterall I can’t reveal all my secrets. So be sure to check back again soon.
Ok I cave, a preview: What happens when 3-6 guys continue to drink after everyone leaves. One of which is young and fully admits to having a “good time inducing quantity”? Religion, Shouting, Pimp Cup, Natty Lite, Gangster rap? (Yes more gangster rap, we love eminem but please give us a better suggestion). Try and contain yourself this wait will be much shorter than the elusive: HH Belt Buckle Hunt.
I had notes written out as I do at every tasting so I can keep one beer straight from the next. Well this week I left them at work and I am sitting at home to write the blog and I don’t need them because these beers all made such a huge impression on me. After the first few sips of each one I couldn’t tell the things apart. Sure maybe Beer 3 had a tiny bit more spice, or a slightly different element of citrus too it. However none of them stood out to me as significantly different than the others. Maybe it was the sinus infection or maybe I just hate “Good Hefeweizens” I can say for certain I did not enjoy any of these beers.
In this tasting I realized a few things: My tastes are not as diverse as I would like to think they are. I just flat out like darker beers (not a Guiness man but a good strong porter or mild stout). I don’t hate ALL (just all of them that we sampled) Hefeweizens in fact I think on a hot day in the summer a Sam Adam’s Hefe is great.
Sean made a point of “well it would be good with food or in this situation.” I quickly shot back “If it were good beer it would be good anytime.” That is a huge miss-statement to say the least. How many times have you personally had something at a friends house, or in a certain situation (post ride, with dinner, etc) and loved it; only to go buy a six pack and think “Really this is what I was raving about?” I suppose it is just like food if you have a great meal but your wait staff is slow and inattentive all night and the atmosphere is noisy and cluttered your food taste somehow less than great when in actuality it was the surroundings. -Lesson learned
So the beer: Basically they are all light, fruity, sometimes spicy * 6 bottles. I will let Sean speak to how they actually differ. Someone made the comment of so and so would be a great post ride beer, I however thought they would all be great Post- Nothing beers. In fact by the end of the night I was allowing for a small swallow of each to be poured into my glass and basically choking them down. I know its nearly blasphemous, but it is what it is.
Yes we serve minors but only in extreme cases.
Next week I hope to hit some stuff each of us has normal drinkers has had in our fridge. Perhaps less “Grapevine Market” beer and more “HEB” beer. Thoughts??
