CS Booze Club.

[KiaKat]

If you liked Jameson 18, try Redbreast 12. Less commercial, less woody, and amazingly elegant. Also about half the price of 18.

[Kaylyn]

Thanks! I'll keep that in mind, KiaKat.

I had a taste of Jameson 18 earlier, and I think I must have had it chilled before (not over ice, just out of the fridge) because at room temperature it was a bit rougher than I remember (though still much better than any other whiskey I've ever tried). I have it chilling now and I'll try it again later and see if that matches the memory a bit better.

[Jester]

And now, with dinner, from North Coast Brewing, it's Reudrich's Red Seal Ale (California, 5.4% ABV): nice medium copper color. Somewhat hoppy nose. And it is hoppy, but the hoppiness is balanced nicely by a rich maltiness that makes this a well rounded beer, somewhat of a hybrid of a red beer and a pale ale. And a pleasant surprise, as I got this as part of a mixed six pack last night, but this one was an afterthought, as they were out of something else I wanted to try. But I'm glad I got this, and will probably get it again. Stands up well to my spicy red pasta sauce, and actually goes really well with it. Overall, I'm both happy and impressed. Score it a 7 out of 10.

[deadbody]

Jester if you ever come to MN (not likely cause if I was in Key West there is no way in hell I'd venture back to the frozen North) we need to get together and drink some very good beer.

Gonna be opening a Sierra Nevada Narwahl tonight. 2012 variety. Delicious Russian Imperial Stout, close to 10% abv, but well hidden. Super rich, coffee and chocolate notes along with some delicious char. Pours black as night with a very creamy dark head.

Fuck now I am thirsty/

[Jester]

Deadbody, believe it or not, I've been to Minnesota. In the summer, of course, as we all know how much I hate the cold. Fun place. (I was in the Cities when I was there. Partied on Grand Avenue and everything.)

As for the beer you mention, I've not heard of it before. The amusing thing with me and Sierra Nevada is that almost all of the beers I've had by them outside their flagship Pale Ale (which is simply delicious) have been mediocre or worse. But I do love a good Russian Imperial Stout, so I will keep an eye out for the Narwahl.

[deadbody]

Tonight is gonna be my friends homebrew coffee porter while I play SWTOR.

Tomorrow I am not sure yet, hoping to sit out on the patio with a bomber of something boozy and a nice cigar and play swtor while the wife and kids are gone.

Jester, why don't you pick for me. I have Goose Island Bourbon County brand stout, Founders KBS, Surly Darkness, Founders Russian Imperial Stout, Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Stout, Central Waters Barleywine, I think I still have a bottle of Central Waters bourbon barrel barleywine.

I just realized that I have a crap load of beer in the cellar. Jester what do you want me to drink tomorrow?

[Jester]

Jester, why don't you pick for me. I have Goose Island Bourbon County brand stout, Founders KBS, Surly Darkness, Founders Russian Imperial Stout, Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Stout, Central Waters Barleywine, I think I still have a bottle of Central Waters bourbon barrel barleywine.

I just realized that I have a crap load of beer in the cellar. Jester what do you want me to drink tomorrow?

I can't pick for you. Not because I can't decide, mind you. But because I'm not really familiar with any of those beers.

My experience with Goose Island is that the beers of theirs I've had are mediocre at best, though I have never had the Bourbon Country stout.

I've been impressed with Founders overall, but again, never had any of those beers. Not even sure what KBS stands for, either.

And I've never even heard of Central Waters Brewing, so can't comment on them at all.

But you asked me to pick for you, and pick for you I shall. And not randomly, either, but with sound logic and intelligent reason.

I like what I've had from Founders. I am a sucker for Russian Imperial Stouts. And you want a beer that goes with a good cigar. Cigars are best enjoyed slowly, as they are savored. As are Russian Imperial Stouts. And if the cigar is any good, a nice dark beer will go great with it.

So, without having tastes ANY of the beers you mentioned, I can say without question that you should absolutely drink the Founders Russian Imperial Stout with your cigar tomorrow night!

[sms001]

My experience with Goose Island is that the beers of theirs I've had are mediocre at best...

Despite my Chicago background, I agree, with one exception - their "312" on tap is fantastic. Bottled, not so much.

And I've never even heard of Central Waters Brewing, so can't comment on them at all.

Great little brewery about an hour and a half west of Green Bay. They really took off a few years ago with some new ownership. I don't think they have much national distribution, but if it ever makes it down there, Mudpuppy is a decent (5/10) porter, their two IPAs are bizarrely different in quality (Glacial [Something] being pretty awful, and Hop Rise an easy 8/10 that I believe is both boil and dry hopped.) Their creme de le creme as far as I'm concerned is a seasonal that should be out right now: Octoberfest Lager, which is one of the best Marzens I've ever had.

[deadbody]

I can't pick for you. Not because I can't decide, mind you. But because I'm not really familiar with any of those beers.



So, without having tastes ANY of the beers you mentioned, I can say without question that you should absolutely drink the Founders Russian Imperial Stout with your cigar tomorrow night!
:

Jester you are missing out. Goose Island Bourbon county brand stout is one of the greatest beers ever. Founders KBS is Kentucky Breakfast stout, it's their imperial stout aged In bourbon barrels. Central Waters is a small Wisconsin brewery that makes some pretty good stouts and barleywines.

But I shall raise a glass of Founders RIS for you tonight.

[Jester]

Despite my Chicago background, I agree, with one exception - their "312" on tap is fantastic.

I will respectfully disagree with you. As a huge fan of wheat beers in general, I made a point of trying the 312, and have had it on tap. Not actually sure if I've even had it in a bottle. But what I've tried, while decent, was not much more than mediocre.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on that one.

[sms001]

We'll just have to agree to disagree on that one.

Concur.

IF we all had the same taste, there'd just be one beer. And that would make sms very sad indeed.

[Victory Sabre]

Jester if you ever come to MN (not likely cause if I was in Key West there is no way in hell I'd venture back to the frozen North) we need to get together and drink some very good beer.

Gonna be opening a Sierra Nevada Narwahl tonight. 2012 variety. Delicious Russian Imperial Stout, close to 10% abv, but well hidden. Super rich, coffee and chocolate notes along with some delicious char. Pours black as night with a very creamy dark head.

Fuck now I am thirsty/

And, if he does head to the frozen tudra, I HIGHLY recommend going to New Ulm, MN to visit the Schell Brewery. It's the second oldest in the nation, after Yuengling (which I'll have some smuggled to me in a few weeks).

looooooonnnng day at work, tomorrow even longer. First beer tonight was Paulaner Salvator Doupplebock. It was ok, but that's about it. second beer is the Warsteiner Premium Dunkel. I like this one a lot better. I'm not the best at describing flavors, but I do know what tastes good to me, and it is.

[Jester]

Vic, Franziskaner has a Dunkel that is to die for. I don't think I've had the Warsteiner Dunkel, but I have had many tasty pints of the Franziskaner, both draft and bottle. No disappointment there.

[Jester]

Got an unexpected day off from the new second job. Means I get to watch the whole ASU-Stanford game, rather than just the second half. And on my way home, I made the glorious mistake of stopping by the local restaurant supply store, which happens to have a great selection of craft beer. This was a mistake, because I spent money I should not have spent. Glorious because, well, craft beer, hello? Got plenty of stuff I've never had before, and a six pack of the amazingly tasty Dirty Bastard I just recently reviewed here. And I'll make up for the financial error by going out less after work, and coming home to drink said craft beer.

Tonight, I shall watch the game here at Casa de Bufon, rather than at a bar, and shall have several of the aforementioned beers. And, of course, tell you all about them.

[Jester]

For kickoff:

From Mexico, Chili Devil chili beer. A golden lager with a Serrano pepper in it. Normally I drink my beer from a good old fashioned pint glass, but pepper beers like this should be drunk right from the bottle, in my opinion. Wow. A nice spicy beer. That Serrano really comes through and makes this hot and tasty. And yes, you can have a good and tasty and SPICY beer. Unless it's Ghost Face Killa, which is simply spice on spice insanity, and totally undrinkable. Chili Devil is the best of both worlds, spicy and tasty, and cold and refreshing. 6.5. (Hey, it's a chili beer...rarely great beer, just a nice change of pace.)