CS Booze Club.

[Victory Sabre]

Empyrean Dark Side Vanilla Porter 23 IBU, 5.7% ABV & 14.5 OG

Very dark withminimal head, not much nose.

Taste : kinda weak. There is a slight vanilla taste toit, but not much at all. Ok, but not impressive.

4.5 out of 10

[Victory Sabre]

Samuel Smith Nut Brown Ale

Pleasing brown color. Minimal head. Nice nose.

Taste : kinda sweet. It's ok, but a lot of nut brown ales just don't work for me. This is one of them.

4.5 out of 10.

[Victory Sabre]

Collaboration Not Litigation Batch #8 from the Avery and Russian River Brewing Companies
8.9%ABV and 18.6 OG

This beer was created when both breweries discovered that they each produced a beer called Salvation. They had 2 choices: sue for the name, or work together. Well, of course, they worked together to produce this beer based on both of their Salvation beers.

Nice brown color with a fairly thick head. There is a nose, but is slight and hard to describe.

Now for what you all are looking forward to - Taste: Very rich flavor. Damn! this is very good indeed. Now I haven't had either of their Salvation beers, but this blend works very well. Very pleasant to the palate. A joy to drink, and I'm glad they decided to work together to produce an amazing beer.

9 out of 10.

[Jester]

Samuel Smith Nut Brown Ale

Pleasing brown color. Minimal head. Nice nose.

Taste : kinda sweet. It's ok, but a lot of nut brown ales just don't work for me. This is one of them.

4.5 out of 10.

Everyone is different, and everyone has their opinions, and I recognize that and respect that.

However....

I cannot in good conscience let your review on this beer be the only one here. You are not a fan of nut brown ales, as you say yourself. I, on the other hand, very much am. And I view Samuel Smith's version as one of the preeminent standards of the style. It is everything you could want in a nut brown ale, and more. It made me reevaluate my opinion that Newcastle was the best nut brown ale out there. It wasn't.

Samuel Smith's, however, may well be. I recommend it to anyone and everyone who want to taste what a truly great beer can and should be. It is, in short, spectacular.

[Victory Sabre]

Sam Smith Nut Brown Ale is probably a damn good example of that style, I just don't like it. If you're curious about the style, then I would recommend you try that one, and se what you think.

Now to tonight's beer, maybe the first, maybe the only.

Bitter End Double IPA from Millstream Brewing company out of Amana Iowa

I was shocked a few weeks ago to see the Millstream products locally, I just thouht they were Iowa exclusive. The DIPA is a limited release, and since I love IPAs, I thought I had better get it.

I like the color: a nice dark brown. There is a little bit of head, but not much. I get a nice hop smell in the nose.

Taste: starts out kinda slow, not much flavoe, then the hops kick in big time. I was surprised how they kicked in, because it was fairly smooth at first. This Bitter End is a hoppy end.

7 out of 10.

[Victory Sabre]

There, now lubed up from the last beer. I am also done reading the latest news article from the New Horizons probe, so it's time for another beer.

Black Butte Porter from Deschutes Brewery 5.2% ABV

Black in color, with a thick head. The nose is not present.

Taste : well, hello now! I get a strong chocolate flavor in this. There is a bit of hops in it also. Nice balanced flavor that makes my hot sauce burnt taste buds jump to life.

8 out of 10

[Victory Sabre]

Ok, one more

Murphy's Red Ale

Dark red, with a thick head. There is a nose, I like it, but hard to describe.

Taste : not too impressed. It has a bit of a skunky flavor to it. Not impressive at all.

4 out of 10.

[deadbody]

There, now lubed up from the last beer. I am also done reading the latest news article from the New Horizons probe, so it's time for another beer.

Black Butte Porter from Deschutes Brewery 5.2% ABV

Black in color, with a thick head. The nose is not present.

Taste : well, hello now! I get a strong chocolate flavor in this. There is a bit of hops in it also. Nice balanced flavor that makes my hot sauce burnt taste buds jump to life.

8 out of 10

One of my favorites.

[Victory Sabre]

That's a good choice to have as one of your favorites. Tonight I will be headed over to the Beaver Island brewery and try out their new beer: Crosby Pilsen Mash. And, yes, I will give you all a review of it.

[Victory Sabre]

And, as promised.

Crosby Pislsen Mash from Beaver Island Brewing 7.5% ABV & 58 IBU

Light golden with minimal head. no nose to it

Taste: light, refreshing. there's a bit of citrus to it. not bad on a day where the AC stopped working at work and the kitchen was an oven.

6.5 out of 10

[Victory Sabre]

Tonight I've got a treat.

My friends were in Two Harbors Friday and Saturday. I asked them while they were there if they could stop at the Castle Danger Brewery and pick up 2 beers for me. They did, and here they are.

Gentleman George Hunter Stout - aged in bourbon barrels - 8%ABV
and
Sommelier George Hunter Stout - aged in wine barrels - 8%ABV

Since it was a while ago here's my review of the base beer - George Hunter Stout

George Hunter Stout 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 bitterness 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

So now we will see if the flavor is amped up. I will also be drinking a George Hunter Stout as a control.

Gentleman first.

It is a bit darker when poured. The head is noticeably darker. It is very thick, but dissipates slightly faster than the control beer. The nose is also a bit stronger than the control beer.

Taste: Holy cow. The bourbon barrel really hits you, and it hits you hard and fast. It is a very strong flavor.

Now off to the Sommelier one

The head is a bit thicker. It is also darker than the other 2 by a bit. It seems to last longer, also. The nose is weaker than the Gentleman, it is more in line with the control beer.

Taste: Wow, again the barrel really adds complexity to it. It's a lot smoother than the other 2, but is full of flavor. It has a very rich and complex flavor, and I really like it.

Ok, so final verdict:

George Hunter Stout is a good beer that needs some more flavor. It's children: Gentleman and Sommelier have achieved that goal and then some. They are great children of the parent beer, and deserve high praise. They are very good, I just wish that they bottled it, instead of begging people to get it from the brewery for me.

Gentleman George Hunter Stout 8 out of 10
Sommelier George Hunter 8.5 out of 10.

Now I've got 3 beers to finish up. See you all on the flip side.

[Victory Sabre]

Well, time to Dare To Be Stupid, and have another new beer.

Abita Wrought Iron IPA 6.9% ABV

Golden head. A bit of head that sticks around. Holy citrus for the nose.

Taste: Yep, for sure a solid IPA. Nice hops, that merge into citrus flavor. Perfect to end this night of severe thunderstorms.

7 out of 10.

I might have more reviews tomorrow, but they might not count as beers as they will be samples.

[deadbody]

[QUOTE=Victory Sabre;1279291]Tonight I've got a treat.

My friends were in Two Harbors Friday and Saturday. I asked them while they were there if they could stop at the Castle Danger Brewery and pick up 2 beers for me. They did, and here they are.

QUOTE]

Castle Danger brewing makes me sad. I had a couple of their beers and they were OK, and then we stopped to try and make a purchase once, and the owners wife was a total bitch to us, so I won't spend any money with them.

[darkroxas45]

Chairs for you Jester

[dalesys]

Chairs for you Jester

Rabunzel, Rabunzel, let down your rair...