CS Booze Club.

[Victory Sabre]

It's been a while since a review. Sorry about that all.

I just got done torturing myself with an Angry Orchard, so on to, hopefully a good ber.

Lakefront Brewing Fxed Gear 6.8% ABV

Brown in color with a moderate head. I get hops in the nose.

Taste : this is interesting: it's an ambr ale, but seems somewhere in between that and an IPA. This is a good combination. It isn't too hoppy, but there's enough to keep me interested.

7.5 out of 10

Also, I consumed my 300th unique beer last night: Spilled Grain Brewing Barnwood Bitter. It as a very good ESB. I can't wait to get back to Annandale in 2 weeks to try more of their brews. It was a 7.5 out of 10.

[Jester]

Amusingly, on the very same night that Vic downed his 300th unique beer, I downed my 600th. It would have been sooner, but I was both very busy this month, filling in at my friend's magic bar, and very distracted, with the new girl in my life.

August will be my slowest month for new beer so far this year, without question.

[Victory Sabre]

I love clearance beer. I bought a whole lot, and it cost $24.

Ethos IPA from Tallgrass Brewing - 110 IBU

Holy head, I only poured half into the glass. It is also taking a long time to dissipate. Nice murky golden color, and there's a lot of hops in the nose.

Taste: Once I get through the head, Nice hop flavor, and it bites hard in the aftertaste, really hard. You also get the citrus hints in the hops. This is not a beer for the non IPA lover. That is not me, so I can say it's really good.

7 out of 10

[Jester]

I love clearance beer. I bought a whole lot, and it cost $24.

I love stuff like that! Considering what people like us spend on beer, that is definitely a nice change of pace!

[Jester]

I'm not big on most Belgian beers, be they beers actually from Belgium, or simply Belgian style beers brewed elsewhere. There are, however, notable exceptions. St. Martin's Tripel, for example, is a beer I've often described as "licking heaven." Another one I really enjoy is Gulden Draak, which is classified as a Beligan Strong Dark Ale (see below). I've had it many times, and can still tell you without question where and when I first tried it, which is a testament to its quality.

So I was kind of stoked a while back when I picked up this oversized bomber (25.4 oz) of the Brewmaster's Edition of Gulden Draak, which was aged in whiskey barrels. My bottle was bottled in February of 2014, according to the label. Hey, the Belgians take their beer seriously. And this is a serious beer; just like the regular Gulden Draak, the Brewmaster's Edition weighs in at a strong10.5% ABV. And remember, this is a big ole bomber, with a cork and wire cage around the cork and everything. Not surprisingly, this wasn't cheap, either: it ran me $20. They really want you to think about what you're getting into before you get into it!

So....let's begin!

The color is a deep and cloudy orange amber, with some hints of pink, with not too much head. The nose is unmistakably Belgian; it has that certain sweetness that one expects from Belgian beers. The taste is very smooth, and not nearly as sweet as the nose or some other Belgian beers. I'm not really getting any of the whiskey barrel taste, to be honest. It is a tasty beer, though, and I'm sure it will be the only one I need tonight. Very good, yes, but sadly, not nearly as great as I had hoped. Of course, it's gonna make for one heck of a Monday night. Especially as I'm expecting a call from the girl later, when she's done with work, and depending on when that is and how far along I am in the bottle, it could be a very interesting night indeed! Score: 7.0.

[Victory Sabre]

Well, not a Belgian, but another Tallgrass beer.

8-Bit Pale Ale - 5.2% ABV

It seems Tallgrass beers have a lot of head, because this one also is crazy in that department. Lighter golden in color than the last one. There is a citrusy nose, but not in a hoppy way.

Taste - Not much, to be honest. There is a slight citus taste. There is a slight bit of hops. Somewhat bland. Really not much to say about it, beyond the fact the can is cool looking.

4 out of 10

[Victory Sabre]

Baltika #4 Dark Lager - 5.6% ABV

Brown colored, minimal head. Nose reminds me of a nut brown ale.

Taste - Well, honestly, it tastes a lot like a nut brown ale. There is some sweetness to it. Just not a fan of the style.

4 out of 10.

[Jester]

I love nut brown ales, and while Baltika 4 is not technically one of them, it is quite delicious if you like dark and somewhat nutty beers. So I urge you to give consideration to Baltika 4, and any beer by Baltika, because they make fantastic beers, Vic's review notwithstanding.

[Victory Sabre]

I love nut brown ales, and while Baltika 4 is not technically one of them, it is quite delicious if you like dark and somewhat nutty beers. So I urge you to give consideration to Baltika 4, and any beer by Baltika, because they make fantastic beers, Vic's review notwithstanding.

I love their #9, it is amazing. I think the local liquor store has another of the Baltika beers, and I'll give it a try. I sure as hell won't judge Baltika based on this one beer.

[Jester]

Note from the other night with the Gulden Draak Brewmaster's Edition: it got me quite drunk, as you might expect a 25.4 on bottle of 10.5% ABV beer to do. My girl could actually hear me getting drinker as we talked on the phone. Hell, *I* could hear my voice starting to slur as it went on.

Hangover the next day did require me to break my no caffeine rule, as Gatorade and Advil weren't cutting it, so I had a rare Dr. Pepper. Wheeee!

[Jester]

Ya gotta love a brewery with a sense of humor. Lagunitas Brewing is one such brewery. Not only do you want to read some of the fine print on their labels ("Beer Speaks. People Mumble."), but they just don't take themselves all that seriously. Case in point: the beer I'm about to drink, which they amusingly called, and this is its actual name, "Lagunitas Sucks." (8.0% ABV) More on the label in a bit. First, the beer!

Golden Amber in color, with high clarity and a thick white head. The nose is smooth with a definite note of hops, but not overpoweringly so. I was expecting more hops on the tongue. And it has hops, but it is ultra smooth, with just enough hops to satisfy those who need it. Tasty, tasty beer. You do get some of the hops on the finish. Lagunitas Sucks does not suck. Judges, score this beer a 7! (Bonus points to anyone who gets the reference.)

Back to the label. I don't know the back story, but the label seems to indicate that this was not the beer they originally intended. Under its name is printed "Brown Shugga' Substitute Ale." Which is odd, as I've had their Brown Shugga' but it seems for some reason, at some point, they could not brew it. I have no idea why. But remember what I said about the fine print? In a very small fine print that many people will probably never see (I almost missed it myself) is printed the following:

"E.K. Ross would have enjoyed our suffering in 2010 when we saw we couldn't brew our BrownShugga. But in that time of deepest despair, as is common to artists everywhere...broke, hungover, abandoned by the muse and prepared to take a job at Arby's, we found in that darkness the spark of inspiration that would yield up this really sanctified recipe!"

I have no idea idea who E.K. Ross is, how serious the above statement was, why they spell Brown Shugga' differently in the statement, or really, anything about this, but I do know that these guys (A) can flat out brew, and (B) are people I want to drink with.

[Jester]

So the new girl sent me some beers (I think I mentioned it in here), and she stuck some sticky notes on most of the bottles to tell me her impressions or thoughts about the beers. One of them was Sierra Nevada's Ovila, a Belgian-style Abbey saison (7.5% ABV). The note on it said she absolutely loved this beer. As I've not had it before, and she loves it, I was looking forward to this one, even though we don't always agree on beer.

Dark amber color, almost brown, but in a beautiful way. The nose is floral, but in a smooth and restrained way. There is that hint of Belgian sweetness, but it doesn't seem overpowering.

The taste is amazing. Smooth, slightly sweet, slightly floral, but just well balanced and delicious. No wonder Diane loves this beer. Damn good beer. Score: 7.5.

[Victory Sabre]

Made it to the Oliphant brewery 1st anniversary party.

Occtober Boi Octoberfest - 7.4% abv

Amber colored. minimal head. minimal nose.

Taste: damn! this is good. slight hint of hops. a very good Octoberfest beer.a perfect start to this party.

7.5 out of 10

[Victory Sabre]

Next selection

Plumbob Chamomillionaire lager w/ Chamomile and Plums 6% ABV

Amber colored, thick head. floral nose.

Taste: holy cow! this beer could be dangerous! there is a nice sweetness to it. it isn't offensive, but right. there are the floral elements also. wow! Really good.

9 out of 10.

I feel bad for those who can't try this. I'm sure Jester would thumb his Good Gourd at me.

[Victory Sabre]

Captain Ryeker Red Ale 7.5% abv

amber colored, moderate head. minimal nose.

Taste: delicious red rye ale. got some rye flavor. nice red ale flavors.delicious.

7 out of 10.

Edit: I was talking to one of the owners and asked if they would do an Admiral Ryeker since he appeared in the final episode of STNG? it sounds like for next year, we will, and it will be in the 9- 10% range. Awesome!