Thee Ol’ Boozeroony – What are you drinkin?

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One of the more sweet lagers I’ve ever tasted (Kona Brewing topping the charts on that one), otherwise it’s pretty much what you’d expect from a beer named after summer. Very light on the tongue, easily drinkable and a refreshing but low abv of 5%. Enjoyed a few on my porch earlier and it really feels like summer’s already here. The 85 degree heat might have a bit more to do with it than the beer though, I suppose.

Allagash Curieux

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While a little on the costly side to easily recommend (between $20-$50 per 750ml bottle depending on location) I really loved it. The telltale signs of the bourbon were in the flavor of the drink and the intoxication might as well have come from it too.

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Dogfish Head’s Bitches Brew. Crafted in honor of the 40th anniversary of Miles Davis’ seminal jazz work. A blend of beers, three parts Imperial Stout to one part Honey Ale with gesho (an african grown hop alternative) sitting at a 9% abv. In many ways I’m reminded of the Old Dominon’s Oak Barrel Aged Stout w/Vanilla Bean thanks to the honey ale. Thin for an Impeiral Stout but not watery. Starts off with your expected chocolate and coffee flavors but gives way to a clean, brightly sweet finish. Despite the 9% heat I didn’t really feel it all that much. It’s a very mellow, chill-out kind of beer.

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Packed with flavors and heady aromas, I often draw comparisons to pumpkin or banana bread. Fruity without being too sugary sweet or overtly “fruit” flavored, spicy, hearty enough to stick with you for a while and soul-warming with a respectable 8.2% ABV. The deep violet-red color is almost enough to bring to mind a red wine. Complex enough for a trained tongue to extract all manner of flavors from, inviting enough for both beer snob (hi) and beginner alike to enjoy. While having taken a few liberties with the recipe compared to St. Bernardus, Chimay or Trappistes Rochefort, I’d like to imagine that the monks who still master those brews would be able to appreciate this respectful and tasty tribute to the work of hundreds of years of solitude.

TONIGHT:

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Troeg Bros brewing company’s Troegenator Double Bock, an American take on extremely hefty German lagers. Still carries the usual sweetness of a lager but with a boosted ABV of 8.2%, extremely dark and much more of a sipper. Fascinating taste progression from that of toffee at the start to caramel mid-sip, and then a finish that strangely reminded me of apple butter on toast. The alcohol is almost impossible to detect as you drink, you’ll only realize how strong it is once your cheeks start warming up.

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Priced at what many would be considered to be sheer insanity for a dram of such vintage, this $80 bottle was distinctly different from its shelf-mates. Similar to the Yamazaki, it tasted far better than any of the bottles usually seen in this price range. I was expecting something more peppery and wood-heavy on the tongue, but it was actually quite fruity with a base of vanilla. The drawback to Grangestone 21 is that it didn’t do anything particularly special, I suppose. It was not an outstanding drink but aims higher than the pricetag would suggest, which suffers due to the scotch’s lack of complexity for the age of the bottle. Don’t know if I’d pick up a bottle on my own, but still worth looking at.

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The ABV is almost half of the Gonzo Porter, which gives me reservations about buying the Pearl Necklace over its stronger cousin. Still, could be a fun beer to break out with unsuspecting friends and family for its provocative name and Flying Dog’s adventurous spirit in daring to make a beer using seafaring creatures as an essential element. The mere idea is enough to turn some heads for sure.