CS Booze Club.

[wolfie]

thick head that dissipates fairly fast.

Thick head? Loses its head quickly? Sounds like it should be named "Co-worker beer".

[Jester]

The menu also lists it at 1.079 OG & 10.4 SRM - I have no idea what those mean. I am sure Jester could help there.

OG stands for Origianl Gravity which, much like taxes, I've had explained to me multiple times and still don't understand worth a damn, other than to know it's not important enough to me for me to bother remembering whag the hell it is.

SRM, on the other hand, is far simpler: I have no freakin' clue what that stands for!

[KiaKat]

Per Google, SRM stands for Standard Reference Method, which is a spectrophotometer measure used to judge the colour of beer via its attenuation to a specific wavelength.

Original Gravity is, simply, a measure of the sugar pre-fermentation, and therefore the eventual alcohol content. It's not the most accurate measurement, given that hydrometers are notoriously unreliable and subject to human error, but it is the easiest. Generally, it's measured in grams of sugar per 100g of wort, but I barely remember the conversion to the Plato scale (where degrees are double the eventual alcohol content). Example per Wikipedia: "OG 1.050 is roughly equivalent to 12°P."

Specific Gravity is a ratio of density, dependent on the temperature of the liquid and the number of atmospheres of pressure. The ratio is SG(true)= P(sample)/P(water). Assuming the sample and the water are the same temp and under the same amount of pressure, you'll end up with the correct SG. For more, and all the various formulae and conversions, the Wiki page is pretty good: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravi...holic_beverage).

Thank you, advanced inorganic chemistry class!

[Jester]

Thank you, Kia. That explanation was thorough, well written, and made parts of my head hurt that I didn't even known I had.

Per Google, SRM stands for Standard Reference Method, which is a spectrophotometer measure used to judge the colour of beer via its attenuation to a specific wavelength.

And that means....what, exactly? In other words, when presented with a specific number for the SRM, what does that number tell us about the color? And does it tell us anything about the beer beyond its color? If not, why have a numerical index for the color of a beer other than, let's be honest, pure pretentiousness?

[Jester]

In keeping with a theme they've been running, Rogue Brewing has yet another Voodoo Doughnut beer. I've tried two of the three previous ones; the peanut butter chocolate whatever one just didn't sound appealing to me, so I took a pass.

But now I have a bomber of their latest one, and as with all the Voodoo Doughnut beers, this one comes in a big Pepto Bismol pink bottle. A blind man could spot this bottle! In this particular pinktastic bottle is Lemon Chiffon Crueller Ale (6.8% ABV). The color of the beer is more standard than the bottle: a nice reddish orange. The nose is a bit beery with a hint of lemon. The taste.....well, there's no way to get around it. It tastes a whole lot like a lemon doughnut. As I happen to absolutely love lemon doughnuts, this is a good thing. And I can not only taste the lemon filling and the doughnut itself, but somehow they got the taste of powdered sugar to make itself known.

Definitely a strange brew, and I don't know if I'm gonna be able to drink a whole 25.4 ounces of this, but I'm sure gonna try. My score? A lemonicious 7.0.

[KiaKat]

Thank you, Kia. That explanation was thorough, well written, and made parts of my head hurt that I didn't even known I had.

Thank you and I'm sorry?

And that means....what, exactly? In other words, when presented with a specific number for the SRM, what does that number tell us about the color? And does it tell us anything about the beer beyond its color? If not, why have a numerical index for the color of a beer other than, let's be honest, pure pretentiousness?

Honestly, I have no clue. I can read, understand, and convey the science behind it, but the practical isn't meshing. My presumption, however, is that it is just another method of categorizing beer, perhaps as a nod towards its weight or thickness? I'm still a novice at beer evaluation, for all that I'm a theoretical expert at wine and spirits evaluation.

[Jester]

After a 14 hour shift at work, I need a good beer. And I'm hoping this is such a brew. It's another bomber-sized bottle, so it's gonna be interesting, one way or another!

From my favorite California brewery, Lost Coast, it's the 25th Silver Anniversary, a Belgian style ale brewed with spices (8.8% ABV).

Dark reddish brick colored, very attractive. Smooth subtle nose with a hint of sweetness, but the nose doesn't really give much away. Now this does have that "Belgiany" sweetness I'm not always fond of, but still, this is pretty tasty. A bit of sweetness, a bit of spice (though more sweet than spice), all around, not too bad. But maybe not the best for me. Still, decent effort. A 6.0.

[Victory Sabre]

In honor of National Beer Day, I think a review is in order.

Double Decker English Style Porter from Brew Bus Brewing out of Tampa Florida. 6.5 ABV

Very dark and an extreme amount of head, so much I can't pour it all at once. I do get hints of chocolate in the nose.

Taste : oh, yes. Once you get past the head, you get a rich chocolate flavor. It is a really smooth and easy drinking beer, probably too good. I had better savor it, because it's my only one I brought back. 8 out of 10.

[Victory Sabre]

Reindeer Droppings English Amber Ale from Ridgeway Brewing 6% ABV

Not very amber colored. Really golden in color. Not much head to it. The nose is skunky.

Taste: the nose fooled me. It isn't skunky tasting at all. Kind of a sweet taste, nothing too over the top. Not a bad beer, but nothing that I would go out of my way for.

5.5 out of 10.

[Jester]

Still trying to get shit done for my trip. Good thing I had this extra day for it! But of course, running errands and packing is thirsty work. Time for a beer!

From Colorado's vaunted Avery Brewing's Dictator Series, I have a big ole bottle of The Czar Imperial Stout. And at 11.1%, this Czar may be overthrowing you!

Pours like motor oil? Check. Hell, it almost pours like sludge. In a dark beer (this one is very dark brown, almost black), this is usually a very good sign. No real head to speak of, but for this style, that is not surprising. (Unless the Bolsheviks snuck into my beer pantry when I wasn't looking and took his head....) The nose is super malty and super rich. (Czars do tend to be rich, ya know.)

Holy Romanov! This is really malty, rich, tasty, and awesome! A malt lover's beer! If you're looking for hops, look elsewhere, my friends, but if you seek the dark and tasty malts, get yourself and audience with the Czar! This is really quite delicious. Score: a royal 8.5.

[Victory Sabre]

Tonight's beer is collaboration beer with Epic Brewing and DC Brau

Fermentation Without Representation Imperial Pumpkin Porter 8.4% ABV

Pitch black, with a little head. I really don't detect much nose on it.

Taste : bizarre. Bland. Not really much like pumpkin, or any pumpkin beers I've had. Really disappointed with this beer.

3 out of 10.

[wolfie]

Pours like motor oil? Check.

You keep mentioning beers that pour like motor oil, but that covers a wide range. I've seen 0W20 and 20W50. Both can legitimately be called "motor oil", but they are VASTLY different in pour characteristics. What do you mean when you say "pours like motor oil"?

[sms001]

when presented with a specific number for the SRM, what does that number tell us about the color?

Low to high is pale to dark, ie.; a weisse or pale lager is an SRM 2, an Imperial Stout would (should) be a 40+. Guinness Extra Stout is a 38, for instance.

[Victory Sabre]

'39 Red IPA from Beaver Island Brewing 68IBU, 6.9% ABV, OG 1.065, SRM 15.1

Nice red color with little head. some hops in the nose.

Taste: there is a nice hop bite with it, but there is also a mellow flavor as well. Not bad at all, and just what the doctor ordered after an insanely busy day at work. makeing money is good!

6 out of 10

More info, just in case you're interested
Made with British Golden Promise, Medium Crystal, Belgian Aromatic, and Special B Malts.
HOPS Bravo, Cascade, and Colombus.

[Victory Sabre]

Beaver island Brewing Ripple 4.8% ABV 24 IBU, OG 1.047, SRM 3.8
hops Spalter
malts German Pilsner, Munich, and Vienna.

Golden in color, minimal head. not much nose.

Taste: it is a pilsner, but better tasting than most. not bad for what it is. 5.5 out of 10.