CS Booze Club.

[Victory Sabre]

I will only be drinking one beer tonight, and after you see the ABV, you'll know why.

Avery Brewing Co. Rumpkin - 18% ABV!

It is an ale brewed with pumpkin and spices aged in rum barrels.

Ok, time to rip off the tin foil over the cap.

Nice brownish color. There is almost no head. The nose is strong and tasty smelling. From a far, as I type this , I get just a delicious hint of pumpkin spices. Up close those spices are stronger.

Taste - oh, boy. There are pumpkin spices at first, somewhat muted. Then a bit of rum kicks in, then a stronger pumpkin spice kicks in. Second sip is same as the first. a very, very delicious beer. Also a dangerous one based on the ABV. Even though it is extremely tasty, I don't think it would be easy to chug, even if I didn't know the ABV.

9.5 out of 10 is a worthy score for this beer. Now to spend the rest of the night enjoying this.

[wolfie]

18%? My initial reaction was "That's more than the yeast can survive", but then I saw that it was aged in rum barrels, making it a "fortified" beer (analagous to a fortified wine, such as Port).

[Victory Sabre]

Sam Adams has their Utopias that are between 22-28% ABV. I got to see a bottle at a local liquor store a couple of weeks ago. I could have afforded it, but didn't feel comfortable spending over $200 for a beer.

I, honestly, don't know how this was made, but it works. I've had Dogfish Head 120 minute IPA, that was also 18%. It was the only beer I've eer given a perfe 10 score for.

I think the strongest beer is in the 60% range, and it's rare, and expensive, as hell.

[Victory Sabre]

Sleep Walker Tripple IPA (yes, tripple IPA) from LTD Brewing in Hopkins, MN - 11.5% ABV and 135 IBU!

Yes, I am crazy. Jester even told me so when I told him about this beer.

I like how it pours, a lot like motor oil. A moderate head, and some lacing when the tulip is swirled. The lighting in my apartment isn't the best, but it appears to have an amber color to it. The nose is hops. Sweet, sweet hops.

Ok, time for the tasting.

Wow! It is mellow, and smooth, for a second, then the hops kick in big time. You get that hop bite really hard. For a hop head, like me, it is delicious. The second sip is just as good as the first. This is a very impressive beer, and I have to give it a 9.5 out of 10. I really like this beer, and hope that sometime I can get another bottle.

[Victory Sabre]

3 Sheeps Paid Time Off from their Nimble Lips Noble Tounge Series - 10% ABV

Pours, and looks like motor oil. Minimal head. The nose I get hints of chocolate.

Taste - Chocolate. I also get the walnuts and he coconut as well. I also get some smokiness as well. Very good flavor.

8 out of 10

[Victory Sabre]

I was hoping to get some BCBS today, but there was a problem: the local liquor store got it Wednesday, put it out Wednesday, and sold out of it Wednesday.

So I pick up a 6 pack of Stone Xocoveza - 8.1% ABV

Nice black color, with brown head. The nose is complex. It's got hints of chocolate, and coffee, and a hint of vanilla.

Taste - Well, this is interesting. All the flavors mentioned in the nose are there, but there'd a bit of spice to it. According to the bottle, there's peppers also in this beer. There's also cinnamon and nutmeg. On the second sip I also get those flavors. Damn, there's a lot in this beer, and is well balanced.

8 out of 10

[Victory Sabre]

Beaver Island Smoked Willy. This is an amped up version of their Ripple. It's got some smoked hops in it.

Golden in color, with a fairly thick head. the nose is very subtle.

Taste. The smoke is very prominent. It really amps up their ripple, which is ok, but nothing to go out of my way for. it really tastes like a Reischbier (spelling wrong, I'm sure). this is a good powered up version of the beer.

7 out of 10

With this beer I am 1 for 3 on special releases. failed on BCBS and BA Darkness. both sold out here while I was at work.

[Victory Sabre]

It's 8:20 PM. Perfect time for breakfast

Breakfast Stout from Founders - 8.3% ABV

It pours, and looks like motor oil. It has minimal head. The nose smells like coffee.

Taste - Yes, it does taste like coffee, in a pleasing way. It's also mixed with chocolate flavors. Honestly, there's no better way to describe this beer other than that. It's a good choice for unique beer #425 for the year.

8 out of 10

Also today, after a tip from a member over at the Beer Advocate forums, I was FINALLY able to get both BCBS, and Surly BA Darkness. I wa a very happy camper. I will be reviewing those in the near future, maybe even this week yet.

[Victory Sabre]

Surly Darkness 2015

It's a very thick pouring beer. There is a small head, that's a nice brown color. It's pitch black, I can't see light through it. The nose smells good. Hints of cherries, and other good aromas.

Time for tasting - wow!!!!!!!! This is a very rich beer. I get smacked with coffee, cherries, chocolate, and other flavors. It's also a very strong beer, like 1 glass and done type beer, so I will have to cork the bottle.

7.5 out of 10

[wolfie]

It's 8:20 PM. Perfect time for breakfast

Breakfast Stout from Founders - 8.3% ABV

If the beer you had for breakfast tasted good, have one more for dessert. Cookies for reference.

[Victory Sabre]

I've reviewed it before here, but, seriously, get Trappistes Rochefore 10. You can't go wrong with this beer.

Also, on the beer front, I'm taking a, much needed vacation to South Padre Island in February. I hope to have tons of new beers reviewed from said vacation.

[Victory Sabre]

The Samuel Smith Winter Welcome went down way too fast. To slow down, I'll do a review.

1554 from New Belgium

Very dark, with minimal head. The nose is non existent.

Taste: damn! Delicious! Dark tasting. Rich flavor. A good beer for the last day of Fall.

8.5 out of 10.

[Victory Sabre]

Old Crustacean Barleywine 2010

Yes, this has aged 5 years.

Interesting brown color. No head. Interesting nose.

Taste - Well, very mellow. Smooth. It says it's 110 IBU, but doesn't have the hop bite, which has mellowed out a lot.

7.5 out of 10

[Victory Sabre]

Here's what I wrote last night about Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout -14.3% ABV.

Pours, and looks like motor oil - usually a good sign. There's a minimal head to it. The nose is rich with the smell of the barrel.

Now to the main event -
Woah! I get hit with flavors, I get the barrel flavor, but also caramel, and vanilla, I think. Yes, caramel, and vanilla according to the bottle. This is a rich, boozy beer, full of flavor. I can see why all the fuss is made over this beer, it's amazing.

4.9 out of 5

Now back to drinking.

[Victory Sabre]

So, time for a review of a beer. Oliphant Brewing Steve Dirkul Dunkel Lager. 5.6% ABV.

This is a nice shade of brown, with a farily thick head, that sticks around. There is a nose, but it's not too strong, but what I do get is very pleasing to me.

Now to the main event. Fairly smooth drinking beer. It feels good in the mouth drinking it. Nice flavor, not too boozy. Just an all around delicious, easy drinking beer.

I was thinking of opening a beer I picked up when I was on South Padre Island, but chose not to. I just wasn't in the mood for an almost 10% ABV bomber tonight.