CS Booze Club.

[Jester]

Lagunitas Day Time Ale (California, 4.65% ABV): Very light yellow color with high clarity. Quite piney and hoppy nose, more than I think I'd like. So now I'm worried about the taste. Taste is actually very smooth and mellow, not at all like the nose. Light and refreshing, with a hint of hops and pine. Decent, not great. 5.5. Best thing about it is the amusing label, which in small print says it is a "Fractional IPA," and then in tiny, almost impossible to read print under that, it says, "(is that ridiculous, or what...!?)"

[Jester]

From Boulevard Brewing's Smokestack Series, it's Chocolate Ale, a beer "brewed with cocoa with natural flavors added." At 9.1% ABV and $15 for the 750 ml bottle, I have high expectations.

The color is far lighter than I expected, a light brown with a tinge of red. Interesting. The nose is....also unexpected. It seems a bit sour, actually, with a hint of sweetness hiding in the background. Curiouser and curiouser. But the ultimate truth, as always, is in the taste. And the truth is.....meh. There's some chocolate and cocoa in there, sure, but they seem to be undertones. The main taste is an odd mix of beer, hops, sweetness, and again, a bit of sour. Not at all impressive. And sadly, in addition to this bottle, I somehow have a second bottle of the stuff as well. Meh, indeed. 4.0.

EDITED TO ADD: I noticed from my list of beers I've had this year that I'd already had the Chocolate Ale from Boulevard. As I found no review by me of it here, I did a little digging in my various notes and apps, and realized I'd had it at World of Beer, on draft. And my notes indicated that I loved it, and I scored it a 7.5. Which just goes to show you how vastly a draft and bottle can differ. For all I know, the other bottle of it that I have will be wonderful. But this one....wasn't.

[Victory Sabre]

Hello, I am Victory Sabre, and I have a beer buying problem. I go into the liquor store, and say to myself, only one bottle of beer, and I walk out with 3.

Yeah, that happened tonight.

George Hunter Stour from Castle Danger Brewery. 8.0% ABV

I was shocked to see it in my local liquor store. I thought it was only available in the Duluth area. So, of course, I had to get it.

Pours like motor oil, a good sign for myself, and Jester, that it'll be a good beer. Not too much head, but it is dark brown in color, and what's here dissipates slowly. It is pitch black in color, and the nose is minimal.

Taste : not bad, there is some bitternes to it.some hints of chocolate, and coffee. Not bad at all, though I was expecting a bit more flavor, but what's there is pretty darn good.

6.5 out of 10

[Victory Sabre]

Another impulse purchase, and since I've been talking up Cigar City berrs to friends visiting Florida, this is very appropriate.

Lips Of Faith Series, a collaboration with New Belgium and Cigar City Brewing. It is an ale brewed wih Anaheim and Marash chilies. 8.5% ABV.

I have had an ok, and a really bad, beyond bad, experience with beer brewed with chilies, so here's hoping for the best.

Golden in color, with a moderate head. There is a nose, but hsrd to describe.

Taste: nice. This is good. I am a chili head, so I can handle most heat. There is very little, but what's there really works well with this beer. It's a very easy drinking beer, and would even work for non chili heads.

7 out of 10

[Jester]

Meeting a Legend

There are some beers that are legendary, and every now and then, we actually get to taste the legend.

Cigar City is Florida's premier craft brewery. Based out of Tampa, they've made a hell of a name for themselves, not just in Florida, but around the nation. Some of their beers are utterly amazing, including their Cucumber Saison, Maduro Brown Ale, and Bolita Double Brown Ale, among others. But one of their beers has become the stuff of legend. Hunahpu is an imperial stout that is so popular, Cigar City actually had a festival for many years built up around its release, at which you could not only buy Hunahpu, but taste and buy many other brews as well. (Which they discontinued after the last one got a bit out of hand.) Until recently, Hunahpu was only available in a bottle, and only available at the brewery in Tampa. That changed when they actually made some for draft purposes this year, with only five of the kegs produced leaving the brewery.

A week or two ago, a local craft beer bar announced that they would have one of those five kegs, and they'd be tapping it Thursday, May 21, at 7:30 pm. For those keeping score, that was yesterday.

I showed up at the bar at 6:30, hoping I was smarter than most, and I was rewarded with a seat at the bar, as the crowds had not yet descended. Being known to the bartenders, and having one of only ten or so bar sears, I knew I was guaranteed to get a glass of the famous brew. In the meantime, I had a pint of El Coco, a collaboration beer between Cigar City and 5 Rabbit. It was delicious, probably the best coconut beer I've ever had, and I don't use such phrases lightly.

As 7:30 neared, the owner of the bar walked through the crowd and asked for two glasses of the stuff. His bartender chided him goodnaturedly, as the owner had made it clear that they were not to start pouring the stuff until 7:30. Of course, the bartender gave him the two glasses, and no one said a word against it, as the bar owner was the reason we'd get to drink the stuff ourselves. People really can be not dicks when they want to be not dicks.

At 7:30 precisely, an alarm went off, signaling the time was at hand. (No, seriously...they set it up to have a loud klaxon noise going off. It was hilarious.) in my prime position, I was one of the first to get a glass of the Hunahpu, which they were selling for $12 for an 8 ounce pour. (The one bartender had told me this earlier, and I had responded, "I don't give a shit about the price, I just want to try that damn beer.")

I have heard that this beer is overrated, and any beer that gets this much hype is bound to make some people feel that. It is certainly hyped to a ridiculous degree, and it won't cure cancer or making you any sexier. (In my case, it would be impossible to be any sexier, thank you very much.) So the question is, how good is Hunahpu, really?

In my opinion, the answer is: it's really, REALLY good. From my notes: "Ridiculously malty nose. Super malty, super rich, super smooth, super tasty. Well balanced, sweet, rich, and awesome. Hint of caramel undertone." And I gave it a rarified air score of 9.0. Upon further consideration, I may bump that score up to 9.5, but I haven't quite decided that yet. Keep in mind, while I have given out a few 9.0's before, I have only ever scored one beer a 10.0 and one beer a 9.5. And as I typed this, I came to the decision....yes, this is actually a 9.5. Easily one of the best beers I've ever had.

Is it still overhyped? Sure. Is it overrated? Hard to say. It won't cure cancer or make you sexier, but DAMN this is a tasty beer!

And it's a good thing I was smart and got there early and got my seat. Because as I was thinking about getting a cup of it to go for a friend working at another bar, and perhaps one more for me, the keg kicked. The keg was a skinny (not a full keg), which is what they use exclusively at this bar (it's a small bar, and room is minimal), and contained a bit over 5 gallons. And that all went in 19 minutes flat, shattering that bar's previous record for going through an entire keg of around 2 hours. Even the bartenders were a big shocked. They had not expected it to last the night, but 19 minutes? Ridiculous. And it might just add to the legend.

Personally, I'm wondering if the other four kegs that left the brewery went as quickly. I don't know that they could go quicker, because for 19 minutes, almost all the bartenders did was pour Hunahpu. There was literally a line out the door behind me, and not everyone got one. My friend next to me actually got three to go for her coworkers, and they were among the last three poured. The two bartenders smartly had set aside two for themselves.

So, my advice, if you are ever in a position to taste, buy, sample, acquire, or in any way get your hands on some Cigar City Hunahpu? Do it. Carpe beerem!

[Victory Sabre]

One speed Belgian Ale from Bever Island Brewing. 4.7% ABV 19 ibu 1.042 og 2.5 srm. made with Organic Belgian Pilsner and Munich Malts and Organic German Tradition hops.

Murky golden color, moderate head.kind of a citrus nose.

Taste: interesting. a refreshing beer for a nice warm day. fairly delicious. I would have this again. 7 out of 10

[Victory Sabre]

Have made it to Dallas... Wisconsin, and am at the Valkyre Brewing company.

Hot Chocolate. It's made with cocoa and cayenne pepper.

Nice pitch black, and a bit of head.you do get chocolate on the nose.

Taste: nice. the chocolate hits you first, then the pepper kicks in. if you aren't a chili head, not for you. I am a chili head, and this beer makes up for the Cave Creek Chili Beer. after this, and the last one from NB nd CC, I will no longer fear chili beer.

6.5 out of 10

[Victory Sabre]

Raven Queen Black IPA.

Pitch black again. Not too much head. the nose is licorice.

Taste: and so is the taste - licorice. very strong. there really isn't too much hops in the flavor. I am not the biggest licorice fan, but this isn't too bad, but, probably wouldn't go for it again.

5 out of 10.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

Raven Queen Black IPA.

Pitch black again. Not too much head. the nose is licorice.

Taste: and so is the taste - licorice. very strong. there really isn't too much hops in the flavor. I am not the biggest licorice fan, but this isn't too bad, but, probably wouldn't go for it again.

5 out of 10.

I'll have to try that . . . I like licorice.

We've just had our beer case reset this past Wednesday and we've got quite a number of new imports and specialty brews.

The newest one I tried was back in April . . . Shock Top Variety Pack. Has four flavors: Original, Honeycrisp Apple Wheat, Lemon Shandy and Spiced Banana Wheat.

The original variety (which has hint of citrus) is really good. Smooth, has a slight aftertaste of orange. Very good for warmer weather.

8 out of 10 for me. Definitely would purchase again.

The other varieties unfortunately are only available in the variety pack. I'll list each flavor separately:

Lemon Shandy: Definitely had a strong lemony flavor to balance w/the hops. A bit overpowering for me. For someone who likes lemon flavored stuff, I found this a bit disappointing . . . it definitely wasn't Mike's. I didn't care for that flavor much, so I'll rate this a 3 out of 10.

Honeycrisp Apple Wheat: Good sweet apple flavor, not quite as sweet as Angry Orchard (and that IMHO tasted really good . . . more like apple juice.) Shock Top has a close version to that - would definitely buy if it were sold separately. 7 out of 10.

Spiced Banana Wheat: I have to admit, this was the reason I bought the variety pack. The sales rep who orders this stuff in for me (comes in through our local Bud distributor) was bragging on this variety and I am a banana lover if there ever was one.

Tasted almost like I was biting into a slice of banana bread soaked in beer . . . I want this one to be sold separately in at least a 6 pack. Good balance of flavor and smooth finish.

9 out of 10 for that flavor.

Not sure what I'll try this coming month . . . so many new varieties to choose from at work.

We have Newcastle Best of Britain variety, Occulto, Natty Green's Pale Ale (have had some of the Natty items for awhile, as they are a local brewer) Lagunitas, we've got Strongbow variety packs (those sound really good, BTW,)

Oh well, I'll just cruise down the beer aisle when I get ready to leave on Wednesday (payday) and see what jumps into my cart.

[Victory Sabre]

At the american Sky Brewery, and am having

bourbon Barrel Aged Sneak Attack 13% ABV AND 74 IBU.

Pitch black, with minimal head. the nose is of the barrel.

Taste: nice. it's got a nice smooth flavor. you can really taste the barrel in it. really nice. 8 out of 10.

Now tomorrow will be another beer day. I will start my day off at the Montgomery Brewing Company, in Montgomery, MN, where history will be made with the first Sunday Growlers able to be sold. then back to Hudson, then to the Oliphant brewery in Somerset.

[Victory Sabre]

Sadly, Goddess, unless you're in certain parts of Wisconsin, you're not going to find it. But it was an interesting beer to say the least. I don't think I picked any for my to go 24 pack.

[Victory Sabre]

Now that I'm home, 5ime for 1 more.

Night Wolf German Schwartz Beer from the Valkyre Brewing Company.

Pitch black, with minimal head. No nose.

Taste : this is interesting. There are a lot of flavors competing here. There is a bit of nuts. A bit of chocolate. Some spices. Very interesting indeed. This miht be better on a cold winter day, than a day in the mid 70s, but it tastes good.

6.5 out of 10

[Jester]

I am a chili head, and this beer makes up for the Cave Creek Chili Beer. after this, and the last one from NB nd CC, I will no longer fear chili beer.

I am going to disagree with my friend Vic here regarding CCCB and other chili beers.

I am a fan do Crazy Ed's Cave Creek Chili Beer (and not just because it is from the Phoenix area), as well as Billie's Chillies. These beers are not for everyone, but they are spicy and tasty if you are into such things, and I'm a fan of both.

(Ghost Face Killa, made with ghost peppers, is another story: for me, and for most people I know, it is so ridiculously spicy as to be undrinkable. I poured the majority of mine down the drain, after it took me an hour to get down two sips.)

[Victory Sabre]

Holy cow! Today is the first day where growlers could be sold on sunday in MN, and the Montgomery Brewery in Montgomery is the first one approved for it. it's packed! even a tv news crew is here. time for a review

black ale.

Pitch black, with minimal head. the nose. is minimal.

Taste: really good. There's a strong chocolate influence. really good.

8 out of 10.

[Greenday]

Went to the bar for a work meeting Wednesday. Asked for a Yuengling and my two co-workers both got Dos Equis since it was on sale. Waitress came back and placed our beers in front of us. I get mine and oh my, it was quite light in color. For those who actually live in NJ/PA/NY/FL, you know that Yuengling is amber in color. Didn't have to taste or smell it, clearly wasn't Yuengling. So we decided to have a taste test. Coworker 1 said Heineken, Coworker 2 said Bud Light (To which I replied I will never order Bud at a bar), and I had no idea. Coworker 1 won with Heineken. I drank it anyway but it's just meh.