Guest Blogger; Este Amigo

PLEASE START USING DosBeerigos.com INSTEAD OF THIS SITE!

Good Morning Beer Country, Ferm here to introduce a good friend of mine and this weeks guest blogger. Este Amigo.



Original huh?!? Well I allow my guest bloggers to make up their own names and usually ask for a bit of help from Cerveza Chica.

Well here is a quick note from this weeks blogger Este Amigo;

What goin on everyone?!? My name is David, aka "Iowa", and for the blog aka "Este Amigo". I was raised in Iowa and moved to FL in ‘01 to attend FAU, it was basically the closest thing to the beach I could find. This was where "The Ferm" and I starting drinking together, wayyy to often. Well lets go back to the beginning; which found me in an abandoned farm house sharing my very first Natural Light at the tender age of 14 with some buddies, not much to do in Iowa except learn early and practice. Miller Lite was my beer of choice for the first years of undergrad and finally evolved into a Smithwicks man. Now that I’ve learned that beer isn’t just used for funneling and getting hammered I now have an appreciation for different brewing styles and flavors. I’ve become a stout and porter enthusiast, yet I will have to say that Post Road Pumpkin Ale by Brooklyn Brewery has taken the top spot on my micro list with its unique taste. Surprising since I’ve hated every other pumpkin ale I’ve ever tried. Well overall I’m still in the novice stages of actual beer “tasting” but I’m looking forward to the learning experience, but mostly the tasting experience.

Cheers!....No Wait Beers
~Este Amigo


**If you would like to be a guest blogger for Dos Beer-igos, shoot me ("The Ferm") an email at DosBeerigos@gmail.com**

Best Damn Brew Review - Review

If you follow me on twitter, or are a friend on facebook then you may have seen that myself and Cerveza Chica were working the Best Damn Brew Review in Hollandale last night.



This was the first time that we have worked a beer festival, and needless to say it didnt disapoint.

Thanks to Ian, from FreshBeer, we were put on the new Summit Beer Table and got to pour their Extra Pale Ale and the Red Ale. Check them out at Summit Brewery.

Ok, so I got to pour good beer, talk with some other bloggers, meet some "friends" from facebook, and mingle with some of my blog readers....sounds perfect right? Well for the most part yes. The down side is that I was exposed to what Fresh Beer and all other distributors see on a daily basis. Plain and simple; Most people don't give a damn what is in their cup. Its sad that you can have a great convo going with someone and they are talking about Beer Wars the Movie and then they turn around and tell you that "Beer is Beer, just fill my cup."

Sad, yes, but also a great opportunity to teach and educate. Case and point had a guy walk up last night in the begging of the event that wanted to try all the beers there. He sampled the Summit and the Shiner products checked them off his list and came back several times for the Summit Red. His words "I came here with a friend and an open mind, and I found my new favorite beer. I typically drink BudLight but I have fallen in love with the Summit Red."

So while im on my SoapBox preaching to my reading audience, I have to remind you that we need to embrace the ignorance, they simply dont know better. Talk to them, but a fresh micro in their hand and ask them simply what do you like about this beer. Micro drinkers know that we drink beer with more flavor than the big box boys. So continue to share.



Alright enough of that. Last night was a blast. It was always a pleasure to rub elbows with Mike from Mikelovesbeer.com, Brian Ed and Vanessa from Total Wine, Chris Ian and Adam from FreshBeer, and many others.

Cheers....na wait...BEERSSSS!

Double Bastard 2009

Double Bastard 2009
Stone Brewing Company
Escondido, Ca
10.5% ABV

C. Pretty Clear
H. Dark Red
N. Sweet almost like candy then a nice hint of hops lingering around there

Cerveza Chica; Upon first sip of this beer all I can think of is holy hops! The hops literally attach my tongue like a bastard. This beer is definitely incredibly hoppy but fortunately isn’t overly bitter. I am not a huge fan of really hoppy beers, but this one had a sweetness to it so I could deal with it. You can definitely tell that this beer is higher in alcohol because it is not something you can drink very quickly. It is definitely not a session beer and you sure as hell can’t chug it. The bottle says “the bastard shall set you free”, and I think I get pretty close to that. If you like hops then I would definitely recommend trying this beer on for size.
Score: 4.07

Ferm; Well, this was a beer that I highly anticipated ever since I heard that it was coming out down here this year. All I could think was Stone is making their version of Double Dead Guy (one of my favorites). Well this is probably the fifth time I have sat and drank this beer, but the first time I have actually written while drinking. I love this beer, but it seems like every time I drink it I get something new from it. The inconsistency brings me back every time for an additional sip. Now with that said I think I was pretty wrong in assuming that it was like Double Dead. This beer starts out with a perfect harmony of malt and hops then leaves a bastard of a lingering bitterness on your tongue. I love it. Stone did make this bad boy ready to cellar, and I have had one in that state since November. One of the good things I love about all stone beers is that they never let you down. This is a great beer from a great brewery. Pick it up if you can still find a bottle lying around! Worth a few tries!
Score; 4.3453

Overall; 4.20765

NØgne-Ø - Pale Ale

NØgne-Ø; Pale Ale
NØgne Ø
Grimstad, Norway
6.0 ABV

C. Cloudy
H. Orangish brown
N. Malt, caramel


Cerveza Chica: This beer smelled simply of malt to me so it wasn’t very exciting. I didn’t get much else from it. It’s a pale ale so I figured it was worth a shot. There wasn’t a whole lot going on with this beer. It is very easy to drink and not overly hoppy. If I had the choice I would choose something else to drink because this was just not a beer that I cared to have more of. There was nothing to it that made me want to come back for more. It was worth a try to see what kind of take a Norway brewery has on a pale ale, but it just wasn’t that special.
Score:3.27


Ferm: Well I have been meaning to try this line of beer for quite sometime. Cerveza Chica decided it was time to venture to import Pale Ales since we have had a majority of the Americans. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this beer. It really focuses on the malt, but has a nice subtle hop to it. It is smooth and easy to drink, sort-a sweeter than I like, but has a great aftertaste to it. I almost prefer the aftertaste more than the attack…odd I know. I think I will have to grab some more of the Nogne line for future reviews. This is worth a try if you like sweeter pale ales. Even as a gateway into hoppier pale ales. Very good beer!
Score:4.062

Overall: 3.666 (sign of the beast! SCARY!)

Mikkeller; Cascade Single Hop IPA

Mikkeller; Cascade Single Hop IPA
Mikkeller
Lochristi-Hijfte, Belgium
6.9 ABV

C. Cloudy
H. Orange
N. Sweet, nice balance of hops and malt, subtle pineapple

Cerveza Chica: They call this an American style IPA and upon smelling it you think that they might be on the right track. When you taste it it’s a whole other story. It is absolutely disgusting. It literally tasted like dirt to me. What the hell were they thinking?! The nice sweet smell was very deceiving. It tasted like rotten garbage and anything else that you can think of that’s horrible. I was excited to try this since it’s from Belgium, but now I will definitely be reluctant to try anything else from this brewery. Yuck! I can’t get the aftertaste out of my mouth.
Score:.57


Ferm; Wow, well once again I felt like I should contact Glade Plug-ins on this beer. The noise was soo sexy I was actually really excited about trying this beer. It had a perfect balance of malt and hops on the noise and let off a subtle scent of pineapple, and I love pineapple. I put my mouth up to the glass tilted my head up and let that lovely scent of beer hit my senses and POW…I was attacked by straight malt and then possibly the worst after taste I have ever experienced. It tasted like dirt or smoke or something, but it won’t go away. The bottle says that it is an American Style IPA well I think that Belgium should stick to making their beers and not American Style. Cause Our IPA’s don’t taste like SHIT! THIS ONE SURE DOES.
Score;1.99 (id give it lower but it smelled like heaven)


Overall; 1.28

Starr Hill: The Love

Starr Hill: The Love
Starr Hill
Crozet, VA
4.60% ABV

C. Cloudy
H. Orangey yellow
N. A lot of yeast with notes of coriander and subtle citrus

Cerveza Chica: This beer smells like your typical wheat beer so my expectations weren’t too high. I smelled a lot of yeast and some citrus so I was semi enticed to drink it. I like the Starr Hill line so figured it couldn’t be too bad. This beer tastes pretty strong in the beginning but then it just completely dies. It leaves nothing behind. All I could taste was some yeast and bitterness. It isn’t a very complex beer at all. This beer was just okay, nothing special to write home about.
Score: 2.27


Ferm: This is my least favorite from Starr Hill, it really isn’t anything special. A good beer if you like this type of beer. A straight forward white, very similar to many on the market. Easy to drink and good for the summer. IMO it is ok.
Score:2.001

Overall: 2.135

HopSlam Ale

HopSlam Ale
Bell’s Brewery, Inc
Comstock, MI
10% ABV

C. Clear
H. Perfect Shade of Amber
N. The Name Doesn’t Lie; Hops Hops and more Hops (pine, citrus, and subtle sweet notes)


Cerveza Chica; WOW! This beer literally attacked my taste buds, but in a good way. I am by no means a hop fanatic, but they were right on the mark with this one. I loved the smell of this beer. It was a perfect balance of hops and sweetness. The bitterness was definitely there, but it wasn’t so overpowering that it made me pucker or have difficulty drinking it. I also love the fact that it is 10% alcohol but you can’t really taste it at all. The bitterness definitely lingers in your mouth but you are left with more of a sweetness in the end. This beer is without a doubt special and I feel very fortunate that Ferm was able to get his hands on some since it is such a limited release. This will be hard for other Bell’s beers to follow.
Score:4.77


Ferm; Shhhh..Don’t tell Cerveza Chica, but I think I am going to have an affair with this beer. Yep, I’m in love. Super Hoppy, nice sweet notes, and very little malt…but just enough to get 10% ABV! I think I have found a new favorite beer. Sadly this one is really hard to get hold of, and is a nice limited release. The down side is I only picked up a six pack. While I’m not a huge fan of Bell’s Beers this is amazing. If you can get your hands on this bad boy RIGHT NOW! This is hop perfection! I wouldn’t change anything about this beer. I love the lingering bitterness. Ok, so here time for a score. Sadly I wont give a beer a 5, simply because there is no where to go from there, and aren’t we all looking for the NEXT GREAT BEER?!? Well this is close to a 5.
Score:4.9777

Overall: 4.87385

aghhh its morning!

Damn its morning already....crap im thirsty!

::Crowd Question:: Ferm, why you so dehydrated don't you drink a lot of water?

Ya, I typically do, water and beer are about the only things that go into the body, and on occasion some coffee. Wait, what am I talking about here!?

Ok the reason I am in this state is because we had what I like to call the "Meeting of the Minds". A Social Media Beer Tasting that was out of this world. You didnt get an invite?!? Yah well thats cause there were only 9 of us, and as @DailyBeerReview says you have to be a "Cool Kid" to get invited! Ok so here is the skinny.

9 strangers (for the most part) got together last night for the first meeting, hopefully of many, from all different backgrounds within the Beer Industry. The nine were headed up by Ed Roberts from total wine, his goal was to get all of us together so that we can discuss the industry in general and see what we can do to make it better, OHH YAH and DRINK REALLY GOOD BEER!



So the lineup went 3 bloggers (@MikeLovesBeer, @DailyBeerReview, & @DosBeerigos), 2 Fresh Beer Reps (Adam & Ian), Jonathan from the Boca Beer Lovers, and @BrewSleuth (jack of all trades). Cerveza Chica went along for the ride so that makes 9, 7 guys and 2 ladies, and 12 BIG BEERS. Such a great group of people, we had some very good conversation, and a lot of fun as well.

Sampling started with my offering of Howl from Magic Hat, and went on to some rare, infected and aged bottles. That lineup went Howl, Left-Hand Smoke Jumper, Ian's Raz-perial Stout (homebrew), HopSlam, Bolita Brown, Chocolate Indulgence, Lozen Boer, Mikkeller Belgian Wild Ale, Seriously Bad Elf, Smoked Bourbon Homebrew, 2 Turtle Doves, Squall, Canteen Gueuze (2008), Avery Maharaja (2007).



Highlights cause they were all very good, were the Smoked Bourbon Homebrew (Coffee District and Funky Buddha Collaboration that was AMAZING!), the Bolita Brown (famous infected batch from Cigar City and it was, Infected it was even VERY GOOD), and the 2007 Maharaja (it aged really nicely).

We will be doing these on a regular basis from super secret locations, we even speak in code so no one that sees the group understands what we are saying. So if your lips are wet from reading this review and you didnt make it yesterday, maybe just maybe, you can BRIBE Cerveza Chica for the "rotating" spot with Dos Beer-igos.

------Ok------

More New, News! LoL

Cerveza Chica is the guest blogger this week, if you didn't read her profile the last time, just go back in history and read it (middle of January i believe.

and

WERE MOVING?!?!? WTF! Yep the site is in the process of moving to www.DosBeerIgos.com, I am in the middle of playing around with WordPress, but it is going to be more of a real webpage....I hope to release it sometime in March. While im building it let me know if there is anything you would like on the site and I'll attempt to put it on!


Enjoy your Sunday!

News Day YAY!

Alright Kiddies its news day.

A lot has been going on in the Micro-Beer world this past and there really is too much to cover full stories. So I decided I Ill just post a quick blob about a topic and post a link. If you want to read then go for it!

Alright.....lets start with a picture of a baby drinking a Rolling Rock.



Why did I just do that...I dunno, I hope you enjoyed!

Ok so REAL NEWS from this past week.

TnP Not Strong Enough?!?!; yep the crazy guys from BrewDog didn't think that the Tactical Nuclear Penguin was strong enough, because a German brewer beat their ABV. So this week they released their Quad-IPA; Sink the Bismarck which comes in at 41% ABV. Yep I think I have some Sour Apple Pucker that is lower in ABV....pretty crazy

Bang it here for the story (thanks Beer News!); Sink the Bismarck

Stone Lovers got to watch Greg fall in love this week; not really sure if this constitutes news or not, but who cares..it was a good watch.

Check the Love Story out here; Stone Across the Pond Pt3

Oskar Blues relases another Monster in a CAN!; Yep just when you thought TenFidy wasnt big enough the boys over at Oskar just released plans for GUBNA Imperial IPA! It should be anywhere you can grab the line (which should be South Florida)

Read More Here (thanks BeerAdvocate); GUBNA Imperial IPA

Ehh that should be enough to hold over you crazy beer lovers for at least a week. Well news wise at least. Enjoy your day!

Beerrrssss!,
Ferm. Out!

Samichlaus Classic

Samichlaus Classic
Castle Brewery Eggenberg
Austria
14.00% ABV

C. Clear

H. Dark red almost carmel in color

N. Sweet Fruit and Alcohol....NICE!!!!



Ardilla voladora; Bam! Bien! This has always been one of my faves. It's got big malts up front, alcohol in the middle with a tiny hop bite at the end. The malts and alcohol then mash together and lingers through the mouth with a nice warm caramel aftertaste. Not good for weak, but awesome for the cool and confident popular kids. Bam Bam Bam!!!
Score:4.95


Ferm; I have wanted to try this beer for a long time. Found a bottle and had to pick it up. This beer is AMAZING. I typically don’t like malty beer and this is beer is 100% of that that. But at perfect temperature the malt settles the STRONG alcohol taste. Has subtle fruit flavors that linger on the palette. This beer would cellar amazingly. I think i may have to go back and attempt to find another bottle to hold for a bit of time. At 14% ABV this would cellar for a good few years. Great Beer!
Score:4.696

Overall: 4.823

Shiner Bohemian Black

Bohemian Black, Black Lager
Spoetzl Brewery
Shiner, TX
4.9 ABV

C. DARKKK

H. BLACK

N. Smells like water and mild liquorice

Ardilla Voladora; super light liquorice and smoke, mixed with water and with light carbonation. goes down very easy. good for those who love licorice. me, not so much. I don’t like licorice either.
Score: .75

Ferm; Ok, so out of all the black lagers that i have had this comes in last place. It almost taste like I licked a grill that had a tone of char on it. It is smooth and easy to drink with that said. I would not buy it again. If your looking for a black lager I would recommend any but this one. Disappointed.
Score: 1.65

Overall: 1.2

Crazy Night

As I pulled into the parking lot all I could see was a dark black door. There appeared to be shadows moving around inside with beads, hats, and all types of craziness.

I opened the door, and took a peek inside....and what I saw almost knocked me off my feet.

BEER GEEKS! oh my Heavens BEER GEEKS! (no offense to anyone there...lol)

Yep, I knew I was in the right place. These were my peeps. They came in all shapes and sizes. All different ages, sexes, and backgrounds. Though we were all different in just about every way we all were united for the love of one thing- BEER!

Where was I? Heaven? Colorado? Mardi Gras? Nope.....I was at the Boca Beer Lovers meetup.

Yep, and I was a virgin...it was magical.

The Boca Beer Lovers meet up once a month and dicuss all things beer. These meetings are a great place to come and sample some new beers, try some homebrews, meet some new friends, and talk about all things that have to do with beer.

Last night we sampled the house brews from The Funky Buddha (which I reviewed already from their soft opening), several of their stellar tap selections, and (the treat) some Great Lakes Beers.

Yep, Great Lakes, you can only get that stuff in Clevland, Ohio or the Boca Beer Lovers meetups.

Jonathan Gottlieb, has been putting these meet ups on for the past eleven months, and has seen the group grow from a handful to 30+ at last night's meetup.

For more information about Boca Beer Lovers and a detailed break down of which Great Lakes Beers we sampled last night, jump on over to Boca Beer Lovers.

I'll See Ya Next Month!

Konings Hoeven, Dubbel Trappist Ale

Konings Hoeven, Dubbel Trappist Ale
Koningshoeven BV
Netherlands
7.00 ABV

C. Dark

H. Diarrhea Brown

N. Malty, sweet fruit of figs in a blanket

Ardilla Voladora; Port Wine, very figgy and fermenty smell on the nose with light carbonation...reminds you (if you like wine) of drinking an Amarone or a good Ripasso. Tastes like how it smells but not as intense but ends with a toffee caramel finish lingering on the mouth. It would be a good post dinner (i just burped)...or with a nice hot bowl of French onion soup. MmMmMm fooooooood. MMmMmmMm french onion soup...But other than that, it's something that i wouldn't be able to drink an entire bottle of since i'm not really a big fan of dried figs or raisons.
Score:3

Ferm; This is the only Trappist Ale outside of Belgium (according to my esteemed colliege), and it is the only Trappist beer that I have had that smells like Shark Bites. RAWRRRR, yep I said it Shark Bites. I felt like i opened my lunch box saw that shiny little package and busted them open....looking for the great whites! Ohh yah and this beer is quite tasty too! It was like a sweet little treat. Smooth for a malt heavy beer, not big and chewy. Has a nice taste and leaves a little lingering sweetness of fruit on the palette. If you like beers that are sweet but not overly sweet try this.
Score:3.67

Overall:3.335

Corsendonk Abbey Pale Ale

Corsendonk Abbey Pale Ale
Brewery Du Bocq
Oud-Turnhout, Belgium
7.5 ABV

C. Super Cloudy

H. Golden yellow

N. Wheat and Lemon
Bueno; Higher carbonation on the front that hits you like a fresh can of soda, big wheat taste with a hint of lemon that lingers throughout. Much better and more flavorful than the Sterkens. A great one for those who love wheat beers. Also good for post mowing the lawn on a hot summer day, or good for a summer evening hanging out with friends over hot dogs and ribs...mmmm ribs....Actually, I think it would complement ribs with spicy bbq sauce very nicely with side of coleslaw that’s light on the mayo, cheesecake for desert.
Score: 4

Ferm; Wow, well I just got sidetracked by watching the new taping of We Are the World. WTF seriously?!?! anyways back to beer. This is a nice beer. Light with a subtle bitterness to the taste. Disappears quickly. Solid beer. Worth a try. But seriously don’t watch the new video for we are the world. That was horrible. But this beer was good.
Score:3.25

Overall: 3.625

Sterkens White Ale

Sterkens White Ale
Sterkkens Brewery Meer
Belgium
4.70% ABV

C. Slightly Cloudy

H. Golden Yellow like pee

N. Honey, camomille, very floral,

Ardilla Voladora; Moderate carbonation, reminds me of iced green tea with honey on the front and a little bit of lemon zest, and lingers in the mouth for a bit. Goes down easy like water or carbonated iced tea. Great for hot summer days when you're doing yard work and you need to take a break and drink something refreshing to quench your thirst.
Score: 3.4

Ferm; Clean and crisp this beer doesn’t hang around long; in taste or in my cup. A little too easy to drink. Very clean crisp and smooth. A sexy blonde. If you like commercial White Ales (Blue Moon, Shock Top, or any others) this would be a good one for you to pick up. It isn’t too heave in alcohol so you can have a few of these bad boys...ehh or girls. Good Beer for being outdoors. A Solid White.
Score:3.422

Overall;3.411

This Weeks Guest Blogger is...

Good Morning Beer Nation!

It’s Sunday, and that means you get to meet your next GUEST BLOGGER!

That said are you ready to meet your guest blogger?!?!?

This week I am going to be doing reviews with; Ardilla Voladora!

Ardilla Voladora has a pretty extensive background in wine and beer. While she is more of a fan of wine, she truly appreciates beer!

Her first micro that she could remember (it took her some time to actually remember) was probably a Long Trail or Magic Hat up in Boston. She really liked the taste and how different it was from normal mainstream beer.

She worked in the wine industry for a few years. Wine being her first true love, she felt it was a perfect fit. Her experience led her into a different direction and right down the beer road. She now is currently in the Beer Industry, and is working to bring better beers to people all over the local area.

Ardilla Voladora will bring some different insight to the tasting blog. She loves the ability to pair beer with food, or have food cooked with the beer. A bit of a self-proclaimed foodie, she sheds light on an aspect of beer that we at Dos Beer-igos haven’t even touched with a ten foot pole.

So that said welcome Ardilla Voladora to the blog!

CHEERS!!....no wait BEERSSS!!!!!!

(Note: if you would like to be a guest blogger please shoot me an email at DosBeerigos@gmail.com)

Flat Times for Big Beer

Yep its NEWS day again!

Ill save you the boring part of this article, which was about how Big Beer is struggling, and this is the hardest economy b/c people dont have money to waste on product.

I beg to differ. Im sure you, just like me have been effected by this current economic state. I have come to realize that if I am going to spend my hard earned money on something, it is going to be good. More Quality and Less about Quantity on the things that are pleasurable. In fact, I have found that I am happier purchasing an assorted six pack of micros than I am when I buy an 18 pack of Bud Light.

Hey Big Guys!, it isnt marketing or the economy. With more of the beer drinking community learning about different and bigger beer, we have come to want more from our beer.

If I am going to have a beer, I would take a Dogfish, MagicHat, Stone, etc. then a light lager coming off the shelf any day.



That said here is the interesting part of the article from Bloomberg Business Week;

CRAFT BEER SALES RISE 12.4%
One segment of the beer industry that has resisted the recession is craft breweries, increasingly popular for flavorful beers made in smaller batches. According to data from the Nielsen Co., craft or microbrew sales rose 12.4% in 2009.

Craft brewers are lucky that rising interest in their products has reduced the impact of the recession, says Julia Herz, craft beer program director at the Brewers Assn., a trade group for craft brewers.

Customers "want flavor, diversity, and choice," Herz says. "That's how craft has remained a high priority and an affordable luxury."

Craft beers account for 5.8% of the overall beer market, according to Nielsen. The vast majority of beer sold is produced by either the MillerCoors partnership or Anheuser-Busch InBev, the company that now owns brands like Budweiser and Bud Light. According to IBISWorld, by volume, InBev controlled 49.9% of the U.S. market in 2009, while MillerCoors controlled 28%.

To finish reading the article check out Flat Times for Beer Stocks

What are your thoughts?

Hopsecutioner

Hopsecutioner
Terrapin Beer Co.
Athens, Ga
7.30 ABV

C. Clear as can be

H. Dark golden yellow, Almost perfectly amber

N. VERY HOPPY, EXTREMELY Pleasant. Piney and slightly citrus-y



Cerveza Chica; Well, I must admit that the name of this beer scared me, but Ferm. was really excited about trying it so I had no choice in the matter. It definitely wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be, and in fact it was very smooth and fairly easy to drink. Don’t get me wrong you could definitely taste all of the hops, but it wasn’t hop overload. I really enjoyed the nose of this beer because it didn’t smell too bitter. This was an IPA so I am more partial to them, and I have to say I wouldn’t mind drinking more of it. You get the hops initially, but then they quickly disappear. This beer is without a doubt worth trying.
Score:3.37




Ferm; Ok, Hop Heads I thought that this would take my head off by its name…well not really. This was a sexy beer with its white sticky head, that decided to hang out on my glass the entire time. It smelled like a Hop BOMB but fell a little short on the attack. A smooth taste lead into a lingering bitterness. Don’t get me wrong this was an awesome IPA, just the name lead me to believe that I finally found a beer to compete with Ruination. Well not so much, but it was still a great drink. I would put it on par with Hop Slam by Bells. This is a beer that is easy to drink more than one, and is definitely worth picking up this weekend from your local beer shop. I think I will grab a few more.
Score: 4.498

Overall: 3.934

Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout

Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout
Terrapin Beer Co.
Athens, Ga.
8.10 ABV

C. Clarity what’s that? This beer is just BLACK!

H. DARKNESS

N. Cold Coffee...and that’s all


Cerveza Chica; Let me begin by stating that I wanted to save what I thought would be the worst beer for last. Man was I right. The smell of beer was repulsive to me. All I could smell was coffee and nothing else. Last I checked coffee is something that you drink in the morning, and it doesn’t pair well with beer. I literally could only take two sips of this beer. I did not taste the oatmeal in it at all because the coffee was so overpowering to me. I could taste the alcohol in this and it was definitely like a stout. I am not upset in any way that this is a seasonal beer and that it is gone. Good riddance.
Score:1.77


Ferm; This coffee, wait I mean beer is strong, smooth and yummy. Now I’m not a fan of Porters or Stouts, as I have said a million times already, but this is solid. I think the more I try of this type of beer, the more it is starting to grow on me. This one starts with straight coffee and then blends smoothly into its malt and then finishes sorta sweet. Not a bad after taste. Worth a try for the coffee fan, even if your not a fan of crafts. This is a beer that I think I may try to break Mother Ferm in on, since she is a big fan of coffee and not so much on beer.
Score: 4.085


Overall: 2.9275

Old Horizontal 2009

Old Horizontal
Victory Brewing Company
Dowingtown, PA
11.00 ABV

**Seasonal Release**

C. Pretty Clear

H. Red-ish Copper

N. Very Pleasant; Sweet fruit scents; apple, pears, peach, etc.


Cerveza Chica; I seriously LOVED the smell of this beer and wouldn’t mind smelling it all day long. Weird I know. It smelled like fruity candy to me so I was very excited to try it. What a let down! This beer was like drinking wine because you can definitely taste the 11% alcohol content in it. It tasted nothing like how it smelled. If you want a beer that isn’t overly heavy and will get you drunk quicker than most this one will work. This is definitely not one of the better barleywines out there. Worth a try, but doesn’t compete with some of the other ones out there for instance Smuttynose is really good in my opinion.
Score:3.67


Ferm; Well I tell yah what, if Victory doesn’t make it the beer business they could sell this beer to Yankee Candle company for a new candle scent “Sweet Barley Wine”. THIS BEER SMELLS AMAZING! It also had some sexy head to it too! As for the taste well it is pretty big and bold. The expiration date on this is over 4 years in the future. It would be a great beer to cellar for a year or so, and then re-visit it after the beer calms down just a tad. For right now it is very strong on the alcohol side but does show promise with some very nice malt notes at the end. Though it is seasonal if you can find it on the shelf I say buy two. Drink one now and then enjoy the second next year.
Score: 4.045

Overall: 3.8575

Well last night was a very special night at The Lodge in Boca Raton.

Marco from St. Bernardus was in town from Belgium and swung by to speak about his wonderful nectar from heaven; St. Bernardus Beer!



There was a wonderful beer and cheese tasting while Marco talked about his experiences with the brewing industry and growing the brand that is so well known across the globe.

Some of the interesting things he said last night included the new expansion plan for the company. Moving to Australia and Russia hopefully soon. He also spoke about how beers such as the Christmas Seasonal came about; it was originally a special release of Abt. 12 that was so popular they decided to do it every year.

The fire-side chat was about two hours long, but once it was over Marco stayed around to drink and be merry with many of the fans that came to hear him talk.

When asked about the American Beer Industry, well Marco stated a few interesting things. He feels that while in Belgium they may make the best beer, American is the best place to experience a beer. He said that we really respect and embrace beers from all over which is amazing. He also wished that each brewery would focus on a smaller line of offerings and master them instead of trying to brew 10+ different types of beer per brewery. One thing he would change about the American Industry, well that would be the length of fermentation time per beer. He believes that as American Brewers we try to turn our beer quicker thus not reaching full potential of the product.

It was a pleasure to meet Marco and spend some quality time with other bloggers and beer lovers at this event!

Who knows what will come of last night.....Mike from MikeLovesBeer.com was there and we spoke about a few new ideas.......HhhhMmmmm?!?!

The Lodge is starting to do more of these meet and greets with some of the highest respected breweries around the country, I highly reccomend checking them out. You can find additional information off their fan page in Facebook!

Beers!

Blanche De Chambly

Blanche De Chambly
Unibroue Inc
Quebec, Canada
5.00 ABV

C. Cloudy

H. Golden Yellow

N. Almost like an Orangina; sweet citrus with light spice (coriander)



Cerveza Chica; This beer reminded me of a cider for a couple of reasons. When it first hits your tongue it’s very pungent and carbonated. It made me think of apple juice and fittingly apple cider as well. I did not like the aftertaste of this beer. It left me with a semi sour and not very pleasant taste in mouth. This beer didn’t do too much for me and I love cider. I will say it wasn’t a very heavy beer, but it didn’t leave me wanting more.
Score: 2.47


Ferm; So the wonderful thing about this beer blog is I have people recommend beers to me that I would never think to try otherwise. Well this was a recommendation, and I have avoided this brewery’s beers for a while since I thought the art work was odd and almost “Magic the Gathering-esque”. Well like that horrible waste of a time card game I found myself a tad bit interested in this brewery. Also like the card game I found it a bad move, and a waste of time. The beer wasn’t anything special. It had some really weak head that disappeared FAST, the odor was really good, and the taste...well it was just overall too sweet. Almost over-powering. I’ll give the brewery another try, but if it ends up with the same review I’m just going to “Blame Canada” just like they did on South Park.
Score: 2.43

Overall: 2.45

Samuel Adams; Coastal Wheat

Samuel Adams; Coastal Wheat
The Boston Beer Company
Boston, MA
5.40 ABV

C. Cloudy

H. Yellow, almost like your pee after you took a lot of vitamins

N. Light Lemon Hints, Sweet, Almost like a Bud-Light with a twist of lemon


Cerveza Chica; This beer was surprisingly good to me. It was very light and easy to drink. It reminded me of a good summer beer. I thought it was much like Shock Top, although instead of orange citrus notes it was lemony instead. I liked that it wasn’t very heavy so you could definitely put back a few of these no problem. I am usually not a big fan of what Sam Adams puts out, but this one was more up my alley.
Score: 4.07

Ferm; Well I think Sam Adam’s missed the boat on this one, cause it would be great on a boat. They missed the release of this beer by one season IMO. This would be a fantastic beer for the summer, but why they decided to release it at the end of winter/beginning of Spring is besides me. Well at least we can have it for summer! It is a very light beer, with sweet notes and slight sour notes from the lemon. If lemonade and beer had a “love-child” it would be this beer. I recommend it for any guy that might be trying to get his “lady-friend” into craft beers. Very easy to drink and quite enjoyable!
Score: 3.78

Overall; 3.925

Our Super Sunday Show down; Ale vs Lager

Ok, Well its sunday and it is pretty super as well. I have heard rumors that there is a big sporting event going on today and while looking it up on the internet i stumbled across a great show down of sorts as well.

ALE vs LAGER

Yah well I know it doesnt have the same ring to it as Saints vs Colts but hey; work with me here!

So what is the difference between an Ale and a Lager?

Well Ryan Sloan from AnnArbor.com explains;

What is the difference between ales and lagers?

Initial attempts at answering this question left me with a post that was several thousand words too long, several chemistry degrees too dense, and entirely useless to the general beer drinking population. I decided a better approach was to address the most commonly held misconception regarding ales and lagers.

If they aren't different styles, what is the difference?

The fundamental difference between the two is simply that ales are fermented with a different group of yeasts than lagers.

Ale yeasts ferment at warmer temperatures than do lager yeasts. Ales are sometimes referred to as top fermented beers, as ale yeasts tend to locate at the top of the fermenter during fermentation, while lagers are referred to as bottom-fermenting by the same logic.

So what does that mean for you?

There is one important and practical distinction between ales and lagers that results from this yeast choice.

Lagers, as a result of their cool-fermenting yeast strains, have less yeast-derived flavors than ales, which contain a complex range of spicy/fruity flavors produced by a warmer fermentation. Usually described as clean-tasting, lagers offer a more clear expression of grain and hops.

Ok so now that you know the difference between to two which is your favorite....or do you not care since they both lead to the same end-result?

Ohh yah and who are you cheering for today Colts or Saints?

I'll pick the Ale!

Magic Hat; Howl

Magic Hat Brewing Company

South Burlington, VT
4.60 ABV
**Winter Seasonal**

C. Clear, for a very dark beer

H. Black

N. Strong Coffee, light smoke, and hints of chocolate

Cerveza Chica; I wanted to end our tasting session with this beer because I had a pretty good feeling that I would not like it, and therefore I didn’t want it to ruin the other reviews for me. In doing this I was most definitely right. I do not like coffee normally, and I especially don’t like beer that tastes like it. So that is where this beer lost me. I also am not a big fan of dark beers, and you can’t get any darker than this one because it is literally black in color. I found no redeeming qualities to this beer. It also left a smoky taste in my mouth and made me feel like I was drinking coffee with lots of caffeine in it instead of beer with alcohol. I would be fine never drinking this beer again.

Score; 1.07

Ferm; Well this is the second, Black Lager that I have reviewed for the site. The first was the Dixie Voodoo Black. So ill compare the two. If you read that review the Dixie it was clean, crisp, and water-like. Howl, has a TON more flavor. It is smokey as expected from a deep black beer, but has a great settling almost sweetness to it. If I could compare it to a person; remember that gothic chick that was in high-school. Well she seemed dark and probably smoked ciggs cause she thought it was “cool”. Well then when you got to know her and passed all the black clothes and make-up, she was sorta sweet, but yet still dark. Yep that’s this beer. So if your into all that dark stuff I would recommend this beer. It has grown on me throughout the month since I was shipped 12 of these bad boys from the “beer fairy” up north (they may make a special appearance some time soon…stay tuned!). Well you cant go grab this one, but if your nice I may share my final three with you! Check it out next winter season, for sure!

Score;3.685

Overall: 2.3775

The Funky Buddha Lounge, Boca Raton

**I now interrupt your regularly scheduled program with this news update**

THE FUNKY BUDDHA LOUNGE IN BOCA IS NOW OPEN AND BETTER THAN EVER!

Question from the crowd; "Wait hold up Ferm, did you say they're open, they never closed?!?!?"

Well they are re-open folks, and last night Dos-Beerigos was invited to check out the new diggs and what can I say I'm speechless.

Cerveza Chica and I went by and were greeted at the door, Cerveza Chica had to speak for me since my jaw was on the ground....this is what I saw......



It was heaven within a beer bar!

Now what’s different about the new Funky Buddha? Well besides the fact that the place has grown by at least 4x's, the stage is larger (allowing for more acts, and the most important....HOMEBREW!

Yep Funky Buddha now not only carries some of the finest Micro's in the local area in draft and bottle (over 110 at any given time) but they also now carry up to 6 HOMEBREWS.....ohh yah!

So the new Brew/Pub of sorts had some offerings and I had to test them out; as a beer fan and a homebrewer. Last night they were offering;

an IPA "Hop-Gun"; and it's just like the movie Top-Gun because it "enters the danger zone" with 6 different types of hops entered 14 times in the brew!

They also had the "Floridian" which was a pretty straight forward Hefe. with some amazing yeast notes to it.

A "Piiti" Porter; which was probably my favorite of the night (and I hate porters!) it was big and bold up front with a nice sweetness lingering at the end....a nice treat!

Finally, a Kolsch Style Brew by the name of "Kaya"; very easy to drink and had nice sour and sweet notes to it...great for a fan of Lagers or lighter beer.


The grand opening is tonight (2-5-2010), and I have to say you must go in and try the homebrews then venture down the draft lines to the Micros (they have some awesome stuff on tap right now...)

The New location is located in the same shopping center as the last location just further down! All the information can be found here @ The Funky Buddha

See yah @ Funky Buddha

So Cheers.....wait no BEERS!

Lucky Kat

Magic Hat Brewing Company
South Burlington, VT
5.80 ABV

C. Clear

H. Copper/Dark Orange

N. Strong Pine and Floral Scents


Cerveza Chica; I really enjoy IPAs so I was excited to have this beer back in my possession. The smell of this beer was very pleasing to me, although I cannot really pinpoint something to tell you what it reminds me of. It is a very drinkable beer and the alcohol content to me is just right. I kind of got a little bit of a fruity taste from it. The hops in it kept me coming back for more. I feel that this is an all around great beer and one I would definitely recommend over a run of the mill IPA like Sierra Nevada.
Score; 4.47

Ferm; Well most beers from Magic Hat are usually a bit off of their original descriptions. #9 is an IPA with apricot, the Odd Notions are randomly brewed with odd recipes, and other seasonal and regular offerings are just a tad bit off of the “norm”. Lucky Kat is not that. This is a standard IPA, a little darker and maltier than most, but never the less a straight forward IPA. That said, I like it. Great blend of Hops and Malt. It isn’t overly hoppy or super strong with malt. Easy to drink and maybe that’s why Magic Hat offers this bad boy year round. Nice off white head…not “super sexy” cause it disappears rather quickly. I would recommend this to anyone that like a standard IPA that’s a bit darker.
Score; 3.339

Overall; 3.9045

Vinyl

Magic Hat Brewing Company
South Burlington, VT
5.10 ABV

C. Clear

H. Dark Amber / Light Brown

N. Strong Earth Tones; hints of caramel

Cerveza Chica; The smell reminded me of dirt and was too smoky for me to get past. It definitely made me not really want to drink it, but I wasn’t as disappointed as I thought I would be. The smell of the malt seemed very heavy and caramel like so I had the idea in my head that it would taste a little like a lighter Guinness. I was happily proven wrong. It was not very heavy, and therefore fairly easy to drink. I was interested in trying this beer as we waited for some time for it to make it to Florida, but I could do without it now that I have tried it.

Score; 2.97

Ferm; Ok, Spring Seasonal offering from Magic Hat. The message under the cap said “Never tease, aim to please”. Ehh……I normally would agree with most Magic Hats but this one was just sort-a ok. It reminded me of when I was a child and I was outside playing in the park, the smell of loose dirt, dead leaves on the ground, and new ones starting to come out on the trees. This is a great representation of a “Spring” Beer. Everything screams spring from the color, getting lighter from the winter beers, to the odor of earth. The taste is pretty strong with coffee and light hints of caramel and nuts, not much though. I can say that the beer did get better with each sip, but wasn’t one that I would rush out to pick up a bunch of. Worth the try from the sampler though.

Score; 2.968

Overall; 2.969

Magic Hat; Odd Notion Spring 2010

Magic Hat Brewing Company
South Burlington, VT
6.00 ABV

C. Cloudy

H. Dark Yellow

N. Sweet Notes; not from hops or malt, nose mainly from the yeast. Hints of lemon and anti-bacterial soap….very fresh

Cerveza Chica; You can definitely tell that this beer is unfiltered. The attack on the tongue is quite strong especially from the carbonation. This beer is very drinkable and enjoyable to me. The smell hits me coming from all the yeast. This beer seriously reminds me of UFO. In my opinion, they are very similar to me and not in a bad way. It is a shame they change the recipes for the odd notion beer each season so we will not be able to have this again.
Score; 3.77

Ferm; Alright, I was very excited about trying this beer, mainly because Magic Hat does change the recipe every year and every season. This year for spring we are blessed with an un-filtered ale. It is very interesting beer. Unlike most unfiltered offerings from other breweries I feel that this beer is a bit more complicated. It dances on your tongue and has a hint of sour notes right off the bat. Who would figure that this beer settles down nicely on the palette unlike that sour little brat in the movie theatre that makes noise throughout the entire movie. I will always recommend picking up the seasonal sampler from Magic Hat just to try the Odd Notions, but this Spring offering even more so! Enjoy this one while it is available!
Score; 3.89

Overall; 3.83

Garde Dog

Flying Dog Brewery
Fredrick, MD
5.50 ABV

C. Cloudy

H. Yellow

N. Not pleasant at all, almost rotten, skunky…

Cerveza Chica; This beer definitely tastes a lot better than it smells. I was pleasantly surprised by this beer especially considering the initial smell. It is for sure like a spring seasonal beer. It is easy to drink, but there is nothing particularly special about it. I will say that I enjoy the finish of this beer because it doesn’t leave anything negative behind. I wouldn’t rave about this beer, but I was nonetheless happy that I was able to try it.
Score; 3.07



Ferm; Alright another Spring Seasonal Offering, this time from Flying Dog. Garde Dog is said to be a French Farmhouse Ale. Well, I don’t know about you but I have never came across a “Farmhouse Ale” before, little less one from France. This beer smelled like shit, that’s sorta like a farm. Luckily, it didn’t taste like that, it sorta tasted like a pilsner, light and refreshing. Barley/grains on the attack with a almost subtle lemon taste on the tail-end. Then **POOF** the beer disappears! Its very easy to drink, just not very complex. Worth a try, pick one up if you like yellow beer with a bit more flavor. Score; 3.191


Overall: 3.1305

Introduction Cerveza Chica!

Well sorry its a day behind but here is the Bio for the guest blogger for this week. I will post the 1st beer blog tonight so check back!

Now Introducing Cerveza Chica!

Hi, my name is Kelly a.k.a Cerveza Chica in keeping with the theme of the blog. I am a native Floridian, more specifically to the Boca Raton area. I have been drinking beer for more years than it was actually legal for me, but I did not get into craft or micro brew beers until probably two years ago. Before that I was strictly a Bud light girl or a variation on any other macro brew. I used to be more of a fan of wine and even liquor since it was easier and less filling to catch a buzz that way. I have definitely gotten a lot more of an appreciation of good beer now though. It is really fun to try new beers as they come out on the market. Florida isn’t the best state for beer and distribution, but we work with what we are given. I am a big fan of IPAs and Belgian beers. I don’t like really dark or heavy beers. In a nutshell I would have to say that my favorite beer currently is XXXX by Shipyard. I could drink this all the time if allowed. I am excited to share my thoughts on different beers with you and I hope you will enjoy reading the blog.

~Beers!

Cerveza Chica!