CS Booze Club.

[Victory Sabre]

Well, I'm insane (I'm sure some of you already knew this ).

I drove to Iowa today, and along the way picked up some new brews.

I'll review the 483 Pale Ale from Great River Brewing Company Quad Cities Iowa.

http://www.greatriverbrewery.com/the-beers.html

I picked this up at the Ames Iowa Sams Club store. It came in a 4 pack of 16 oz cans. If I return the 8 cans to Iowa, I'll get 40 cents back on the can deposit. Since I live in central MN, they'll go to the neighbors for recycling, I'm sure.

Now to the beer itself.

Nice head thick head when poured. It's a Pale Ale, but it's not as harsh as a lot of Pale Ales. Goes down smooth. The next time I'm in Iowa, and I see it, I'll get some more.

I'll review the other beers I got this weekend later. As a tease, I did try another beer right as I got back into town, and home, but slammed it, so no review on it tonight. It's called Wild Plum Farmhouse ale from Tallgrass Brewing Company Manhattan, Kansas.
http://www.tallgrassbeer.com/beers/w...-farmhouse-ale

[sms001]

As in ginger infused brandy, or a brandy-based liqueur?

Label says "Ginger Flavored Brandy - Extra Sharp" (And it is - sniftered about an ounce last night and it is definitely ginger - almost peppery in its bite.

It's called Wild Plum Farmhouse ale

This sounds interesting.

[Jester]

As if I don't have enough craft beer in the house--oh, wait, you can never have enough craft beer in the house. Let me try that again....

As if I didn't have plenty of craft beer in the house already, between what I have in the fridge, the pantry, and tucked under the corner table for overflow, my boss went and added to it.

Apparently he got me in the Secret Santa drawing at work. Now, I figured whoever got me would get me some sort of beer or rum, or perhaps a gift card to the local World of Beer. Any of which I would have been thrilled with. I'm pretty easy to shop for, after all. I just didn't want a joke gift, something that's funny but in the end utterly useless to me. Like, say, a huge dildo from the local adult store. Funny? Sure. Of any use to me? Um, no.

So I was a bit confused when I got my Secret Santa gift at the exchange, and it was a decently large (bit bigger than a shoebox) and rather heavy box. Open it up, and there in lay SIX large bomber bottles of different craft beers. Three of which I've had and liked on various levels, and three of which I'd not had before. But as I'm always willing to try new beer, I was totally fine with this.

But of course I had the obvious question for my boss. To wit, howin the hell did he keep this gift under the requisite $20??? Well, apparently these were all samples that had been provided to the bar by various beer reps. Now, some people might have viewed such a method of Secret Santa-ing as cheap. Not me. I viewed it as creative and ingenious, and more importantly, a way I got six big bombers of craft beer! Bonus!

[Victory Sabre]

As if I don't have enough craft beer in the house--oh, wait, you can never have enough craft beer in the house. Let me try that again...

With all the driving I've been doing lately, buying beer on Sunday (kiquor stores not open Sunday in MN), I know the feeling. My fridge is full of beer. So full, I had to take out the big bottle of gin to make room.

[Jester]

My fridge is full of beer. So full, I had to take out the big bottle of gin to make room.

I have often said negative things about my older sister on this forum. Many if not most of them well-deserved. But today, I shall sing her praises.

Why?

Well, for the day I got to her house for some function or other, and when I asked why they had only crappy beer in the fridge, Older Sis directed me to the garage....where they had a fridge dedicated solely to craft beer.

She may have her issues, but she certainly has her brilliant points, too!

[Jester]

Time to break open a new beer!

I've recently become a huge fan of Scotland's Innis & Gunn Brewery. So recently, when I saw on their Facebook page that they had a beer I'd not tried that took a medal at a recent beer competition, I asked my local beer monger if he could procure the beer for me. And the beer monger came through!

Innis & Gunn Oloroso Cask (Scotland, 7.4% ABV): According to the label, this is "ale matured in Oloroso sherry casks." It is a gorgeous golden red amber in color. Decent beery nose, but nothing over the top. The taste, however....very impressive. It has the usual subtly sweet smoothness I've come to expect from I&G, and has a bit of a caramel backdrop to it. Tastes better upon each sip. A truly excellent brew. Delicious! 8.0.

[MoonCat]

Willow Creek Winery Chocolate Temptations.


WOW!!!

[KiaKat]

Label says "Ginger Flavored Brandy - Extra Sharp" (And it is - sniftered about an ounce last night and it is definitely ginger - almost peppery in its bite.

I bet that would be a good base for a Brandy Alexander. Or a variation on a Jack Rose. Play around with brandy cocktails that contain any fruit or cream, and you'll end up with something a bit more savoury than the usual sweet stuff.

[Jester]

Football playoffs. In other words, time to drink beer!

From Mad River Brewing Company in California, Jamaica Brand Red Ale (6.5%): very cloud, deep red appearance. Rich, smooth, refreshing, and yet light nose makes for an awesome first impression. This is on delicious red ale. Smooth, rich, refreshing, with a touch of hop bite for balance. It could be argued that it's cheesy to put a Jamaican flag on a label for a beer made in California. Hell, I would make that argument myself. Because, well, it is. But this is a delicious tropical-inspired brew that would go quite well with jerk chicken and plantains. The labeling and naming are suspect; the beer is not. Score it a 7.0.

[Jester]

Lost Coast Brewery's Raspberry Brown (California, 5.0% ABV): dark reddish brown color. Smooth sweet raspberry nose with hints of chocolate. As for the taste...you know that delicious chocolate raspberry candy that kinda melts in your mouth and makes you smile inside? This is that taste captured in beer form perfectly. 7.5.

Note: Lost Coast Brewery is one of my favorite American breweries, because almost everything I've had by them has been brilliant. Their 8 Ball Stout, my first exposure to Lost Coast, is a fantastically delicious dark beer. Their Downtown Brown is a classic example of the style. Their Tangerine Wheat is one of the best fruit beers I've ever had, and a great beer for brunch--I call it a beermosa. Their Watermelon Wheat was less than impressive, but given all the other great brews I've had by them, I'll give them a mulligan on that one. What I'm trying to say is if you see a Lost Coast product in your local bar, grocery store, or liquor store, don't hesitate to buy it. You'll thank me for it.

[Jester]

Another Innis & Gunn product! This time their Bourbon Aged Stout (Scotland, 7.4% ABV): flat black in appearance. The nose is subtle, but definitely redolent of bourbon and oak. Rich, complex, bourbon flavor marries well with the stout characteristics. More of a sweet stout than a dry (ie bitter) stout. Delicious! 7.5.

[Victory Sabre]

Ok, home after a drive today, so, time for beer. BTW it's %^$% cold outside.

Because of this, I'm going after a Schell's Brewery Chimney Sweep beer. Considering I was in their hometown today (New Ulm, MN) it's a perfect fit. I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but they are the second oldest brewery in the nation.
http://www.schellsbrewery.com/ourbeers_info.php?id=31

This beer is based off of their very popular, but very limited, Stag Series # 3. When I had that, I was totally in haven, and this beer is just a slice of it.

Look - very dark, like the soot after a fire in a fireplace on a cold night. Decent head. Now to the taste.

The best way to describe it is this: you're sitting in front of a nice roaring fire. you breathe in the lovely smell from the smoke coming off the fire. It smells amazing - smoky. Well, that's the taste of the Chimney Sweep beer.

The smoke flavor is very overpowering, but fits so well. I can't get enough of this stuff on a very cols winter night. I highly recommend this beer if you can get it. Sadly it's only in MN, IA, and WI. If you can get it - GET IT!

[Jester]

Vic, if you like smokey beer, try some of the beers from the German brewery Aecht. Unbelievable. Very smokey, but very flavorful and tasty. Most smoke beers are either very smokey but with no real flavor, or decent tasting but without much smoke. Aecht beers are both very smokey and very tasty. My favorites are their Weizen and their Urbock.

[Victory Sabre]

If I can find it, I'll try it.
EDIT
It's kinda weird, first Sunday in months that I haven't gone to another State, so I wasn't able to get more beer.

[Victory Sabre]

Ok, I'm at happy hour right now. I've had a sucky day. To make up for said day I'm enjoying several Anchor X-Mas ales. Really good and making me forget my day and screwed up wrist.