Not All Who Jaunder Are Lost

The Juanderer

I am always excited to try a new coffee beer, especially a Stout or a Porter. When I saw the last 4-pack of this barrel-aged imperial coffee porter, it was like winning the lottery!

Empyrean Brewing Co., out of Lincoln, Nebraska, has created an impressive porter. The upfront notes are sweet chocolate that transitions quickly to bold coffee notes from the Columbian coffee used in this beer. The coffee lingers with just a subtle whiskey finish.

This is one of the best imperial coffee porters I have ever had! It is a nice warmer at 8.4% ABV on a cold winter’s night by the fireplace. As part of the Carpe Brewem series of small-batch barrel-aged beers, you will want to get your hands on these treasures.

Cheers!

Surly Good Night

I was out running errands, getting ready for Christmas. What do I see? Indeed, it was a Christmas miracle when I found the Surly Brewing Co 2024 Double Barrel Darkness Imperial Stout!

You can see there were eyes on this beer as I poured it. The lovely, thick, tan head compliments the immense dark color. I let this pour warm for about 20 - 30 minutes to let all the notes come through. Deep chocolate notes greet you. The rum sweetness from the Tattersall barrel appears with a quick transition to the warming bourbon notes from the O’Shaughnessy barrel. The finish has marshmallow and vanilla notes.

The body provides a thick mouthfeel with amazing legs clinging to the glass. The ABV checks in at a healthy 12%, making this a perfect choice on a cold winter’s night.

Cheers!

A Unique Twist to a Superb Mexican Lager

How do you stand out?

The rise and growth of craft beer make it harder and harder to stand out. There are different ways to be creative, but it is getting harder to do so. I think Heaving Brewing likes to push the envelope without losing what the particular style should be.

Mexican Lagers like Donkey Show from Heavy Brewing are more popular than ever. They are made with Pilsner malts and some corn, which provides a unique flavor with a kiss of sweetness. For those looking for a smooth, light, refreshing beer, they are the perfect choice!

The history of the Mexican Lager starts with German and other European migrants who arrived in Mexico with a love for brewing. The only problem was access to the barley malts they were used to brewing with. What would be widely available when trying to figure out what to supplement the lack of malts? That would be good old corn! The amount of corn used can vary as much as from 10 - 40% of the grain used in the beer. It is amazing that the lack of one ingredient caused innovation!

Spirit Infused Oak Spirals

Many people are familiar with barrel-aged beers. You put a beer into a wet barrel to extract the spirit's flavor. Most often, we think of bourbon barrel-aged stouts. There is an art and science to determining how much spirit booziness you want in your beer.

I like a hint of the spirit to be present, but not enough to overpower the beer's flavor. In addition, I enjoy the oak notes that appear with barrel-aged beers.

So besides putting the beer into barrels, is there another method to provide the experience? This is where spirit-infused oak spirals come into play.

I have piqued your curiosity as to how this relates to Mexican Lagers. To understand this, you must enter Jeff Gude's mind!

So How Did It Turn Out?

Jeff Gude, owner and brewer, took me through the process of using the spirit-infused oak spirals. He selected some tequila blanco spirals and was ready to use them in a batch of the Donkey Show Mexican Lager. The question was how long the infusion process would take. The guidelines are between 10 and 14 days.

After 14 days, the lager seemed ready to keg and put on tap. Jeff told me it was ready, and I couldn’t wait to try it! The color was a bit deeper golden than the base Donkey Show. The oak notes appeared and provided a richness to the Mexican Lager. The tequila notes were very subtle.

The venture into spirit-infused oak spirals seems like fun yet challenging. What does it take for the beer's body to accept the notes you desire? How do you get the right balance of spirit and oak notes? Well, I can’t wait to see what Jeff tries next!

Venture out to Heavy Brewing in Gretna, Nebraska, to experience this wonderful Mexican lager and all the great beers!

I highly recommend enjoying some of their pizza while you are there, too!

Cheers!

Matryoshka Barrel Aged Imperial Stout

Like Nesting Dolls, Matryoshka Releases In Variants Each More Delicate Than The Last

A tradition in stouts like no other!

Fort George Brewery in Astoria, Oregon, started a tradition in 2017: barrel-aging it’s From Astoria With Love stout. Why stop with a good thing when you can make it a great one? Starting with Westland and Westward Whiskey barrels, this stout ages for 12 months before the magic begins with smaller and smaller variants being created.

On this particular August night, with Big Ten football media days in full swing, an imperial stout seemed to fit the occasion! So, I am enjoying the 2023 release of Mexican vanilla beans and coconut. First, I must thank my good friend Mike B. for giving this to me for my birthday.

This full-bodied stout immediately has deep chocolate and vanilla notes. The coconut notes are mild, and the finish reveals the whiskey in this 12.2% ABV stout.

A must experience. Cheers!

What a Cutie!

Oh, check out the cutie on my patio tonight! Pulpit Rock Brewing Company created this 6.5% ABV American IPA with the women of Pulpit Rock for International Women's Day!

What a Cutie has orange and peach notes, a medium body, and a medium hop bitterness finish. It's another good IPA from Pulpit Rock Brewing in Decorah, Iowa.

Cheers!

It's Groovy Baby

Austin Powers really has no clue about what groovy means. If only he had the chance to try groovy Ruby from Barn Town Brewing, his eyes would have been opened!

This hazy 6% ABV grapefruit IPA is so refreshing with a combination of sweetness and that tart grapefruit finish. To be honest, I have never experienced anything like it! I can say from personal experience that groovy Ruby pairs well with Barn Town’s country skillet for Sunday brunch!

Make your way to West Des Moines, Iowa, and enjoy all of the great brews at Barn Town Brewing.

Cheers!

Is it Death Star or Deth's Tar?

Those who know me know I am not a Star Wars fan but a Revolution Brewing fan. Whenever I am in Chicago, I always try to find their beer. A good friend recently got me Deth’s Tar for my birthday. Even though it is hot outside, there is never a bad time for a barrel-aged Imperial Oatmeal Stout!

This beauty has a nice, thick, tan head. The first sip is full of chocolate and oak notes. The bourbon notes are mildly present initially but become more predominant at the finish. The body is full and silky in this 14.8% ABV stout.

Revolution Brewing has many great beers, such as the Anti-Hero IPA. Look for them in Chicago or wherever their beer is distributed.

Cheers!

The Weather Outside is Frightful, but this Stout is so Delightful!

There is another round of spring storms tonight. I was able to grab this photo as the rain started to fall. This imperial stout from Lupulin Brewing and Back Channel Brewing Co. has a fun name: Church Basement Pancake Breakfast. I don’t recall ever being in a church basement for a pancake breakfast, but if it is as good as this stout, I missed out on a good thing!

A nice creamy head greets you with coffee, maple, chocolate, and coconut notes. There is a sweetness upfront in the rich, thick body of this 10.5% ABV stout, which finishes with lots of chocolate and coffee. A treat that makes this Monday way better!

Cheers!

No Foolin' Hopsy Likes Them Hazy and Dank

April Fool’s Day is a bit dark and dreary, but Hopsy was happy to be back outside with a hazy, dank IPA from Lumen Beer Co. called Lumenati. For those who like a dank IPA, this one is for you! Subtle pineapple and stonefruit notes quickly transition to dank, grassy, bitter notes. The hop profile is Citra, Mosaic, Citra Cryo, Columbus Cryo, and El Dorado hops in this hazy 7.2% ABV, 35 IBU IPA.

When making your way to Omaha, Nebraska, a trip to Little Bohemia and Lumen Beer Co. is a fun experience!

Cheers!

No Blizzard Could Stop Snomaha

Winter collaborations always have an opportunity to leave fate to Mother Nature. When Kros Strain Brewing Company headed to Iowa City to brew with Big Grove Brewery, there was a chance Old Man Winter could ruin the day. Fortunately, these two incredible Midwest breweries got together to brew a West Coast Double IPA. The excellent hop profile of Chinook CGX and Centennial CGX hops, then dry hopped with Strata and Nectaron hops, came in at 8.5% ABV.

I opened the can, and as I poured the DIPA, I got a distinct orange and floral aroma. Citrus and stonefruit notes quickly transition to those nice dank hop notes. I enjoy West Coast IPAs, and this one didn’t disappoint! The crisp body accentuates the hops to take in the experience completely.

I am glad to see Big Grove Brewery now distributing to Omaha, Nebraska, and I am excited to see them open a new taproom in Omaha! Oh, and yes, the crew from Kros Strain made it back before the storm hit. Hopefully, these two breweries will collaborate more!

Cheers!

President's Day with The Stout - 2024 Reserve

As we think about our past great presidents, such as George Washington, I wonder what they would think of today’s craft beer. President Washington was known to enjoy a good Porter. It would be incredible to see what he would think about Zipline Brewing Co’s barrel-aged The Stout.

The 2024 Reserver was barrel-aged in Cabernet Sauvignon and Bourbon barrels. The flavor profile changes as it warms. My first sip had prominent chocolate and cherry notes. As the stout warms, the oakiness comes out in this full-bodied stout. The wine barrel adds another characteristic: a bit of dryness that kicks in on the back and side tastebuds.

It is an incredibly big stout, coming in at 13.7% ABV! Zipline Brewing covers the spectrum of craft beer, and I enjoy trying all the styles they make. It is always a presidential type of day when you have a glass of Zipline Brewing beer!

Cheers!

Nepo Baby is Out of This World

Nepo Baby is a hazy DIPA that is a collaboration between Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. and BlackStack Brewing. This 7.8% ABV IPA has a hop profile of Strata, Nelson, and Riwaka hops.

The nose on this one, for me, is distinctly pineapple. The notes are pineapple and stone fruit. The body is a bit lighter than other DIPAs I have had from Toppling Goliath. The finish is dank and holds on for a while.

Another enjoyable collaboration brew from Toppling Goliath.

Cheers!

Dogfish Head World Wide Stout - 25 Year Anniversary

I was at a local store and saw a 4-pack of Dogfish Head World Wide Stout calling my name! I looked at the ABV of 15.5% ABV and thought for sure that it had to be barrel-aged. That is not the case; there has to be a ton of grain to get this stout to this level of ABV.

There is such an immense chocolate note upfront that is captivating—the decadence of the chocolate warms and finishes in a nice roastiness. The legs on this stout are incredibly clinging to the glass. It was a great experience to enjoy this one!

I look forward to saving the other three and having one each of the following years to see how the flavor changes!

Cheers to 25 years of World Wide Stout!

Hazy and Bright On a Cold Snowy Night

When I think of Deschutes Brewery, the first words that come to mind are “fresh squeezed.” The Fresh Squeezed IPA set a very high bar for Deschutes. When I found this Hazetron Imperial Hazy IPA, it was time to put it to the test!

Today was a snowstorm, and I needed something to remind me of warmer days. Hazetron is a perfect warmer, coming in at 8.0% ABV. The orange and stone fruit notes are what I get upfront. The body is soft, transitioning smoothly to a mild hop finish.

The hop profile consists of Simcoe Cryo and Experimental 630 hops. The one thing that is always difficult is getting a beer, not knowing how long it has been on the shelf. When I made my purchase, I checked the canned date, which was three months. Amazingly, Hazetron is still extremely fresh with no sediment flakes after 90 days!

Give this one a try to shed those winter blues.

Cheers!

Savor Winter's Best Warmer - Barleywine

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It was several years ago when I was attending a technology conference. I met this gentleman from Chile who had a pretty fascinating hobby. He would take a two-week vacation every year, traveling in the United States to find the best barleywines and cheeseburgers. I know it seems like an odd combination. I wish I had his contact information to tell him about Barleywine Volume 9 - Port from Kros Strain Brewing!

I enjoyed trying different barleywines and was excited to get this English-styled one for Christmas! I know I wouldn’t have the patience to wait 24 months to enjoy this beer if I brewed it. The barrel aging occurs in port and bourbon barrels, creating a 13% ABV barleywine.

I have a cold at this review, so my observations might be slightly off. This is a complex beer with caramel and raisin notes upfront. In the middle is tart cherry notes wrapped in a rich oakiness. The finish is very warm and delightful. An indulgent drink that makes you feel like royalty!

Cheers!

Hoppy Heat

When you say them out loud, there are combinations of flavors that you think are crazy or ingenious! Kinkaider Brewing from Broken Bow, Nebraska, is the genius behind the Mango Habanero version of the Rambler IPA!

The sweet mango notes are predominant up front, and something catches the back of your tongue - the habanero heat! The first taste was faint, but as this IPA warmed up, the heat was more present, which I loved. For me, habanero is an excellent clean heat that works well in stouts, and now I know in IPAs, too.

This Rambler is 6.6% ABV and is a great IPA any time of the year, but remarkably warming on this cold December night.

Cheers!

What Happens When a Sharknado Meets a Cloud Jumper?

Santa looks happy to have a Shark Jumper!

Who doesn’t like a good Sharknado movie? I am sitting here imagining the shark landing on a soft cloud; hence, you have a Shark Jumper! Pint Nine Brewing Company knows how to make a good thing even better!

Shark Jumper is a hazy DIPA that takes all of the good qualities of the Cloud Jumper pale ale and takes it up a notch. This hazy has citrus (orange) and stone fruit (peach, apricot) notes in a slightly sweet body that finishes with mild hop bitterness. This is an IPA that everyone can enjoy! For those that frequent Pine Nine, I got Mr. Dunn to have one, and he never drinks IPAs!

It is hard to believe that it is 7.7% ABV. Shark Jumper is another excellent beer from Pine Nine Brewing Company. I would like to see them keep this one on tap more often!

Cheers!

Joy to the Luxurious Llama

Joy to this styling llama! The envy of all other llamas. So, am I really talking about llamas or triple IPAs?

Lupulin Brewing brings joy to the season with their triple IPA by the name of Luxurious Llama. The aroma is full of stone fruit. Orange and stone fruit notes embrace the soft body. The finish is a mild bitterness that rounds out this incredible beer. It definitely does not seem like a 10% ABV beer, as it is very smooth.

I recommend this beer at the end of a long day and in a quiet place. Enjoy each sip and then dream about that next Lupulin Brewing beer! Santa, if you are reading this post, could you please bring me a few more Luxurious Llamas for Christmas?

Cheers!

It's Not Complicated it's Stupendous

I was at the Zipline Brewing Co. taproom shortly after Complicated Patterns came out this year. I had never had it before, but multiple people were ordering it. I was finishing up having a beer with a friend, so I got a 4-pack to go.

I cracked the can open, and there was a rush of citrus aroma that was utterly mesmerizing. The citrus and tropical notes upfront pulled me in. There is a slight bit of sweetness in the body of this hazy DIPA that is perfect. There is some warmth in this 8.5% ABV beer that finishes a bit dank to create a well-balanced experience.

This is one excellent Brave New Brew to experience, along with all the other awesome beers from Zipline Brewing.

Cheers!

The Spumoni of Bourbon County Stouts

It has been many years since I have had Spumoni. It is a layered delight of chocolate, strawberry, and pistachio ice cream. I believe that my grandmother introduced it to me. I do remember the combination of wonderful flavors!

Goose Island’s 2020 Proprietor’s Bourbon County Stout brings those flavors back together in this 14.2% ABV barrel-aged stout! The nose is definitely chocolate with a bit of oak and bourbon. The notes are chocolate-forward with a bit of vanilla. The middle introduces the bourbon. In the finish, I get tart cherry notes and the warmth of this big stout. I couldn’t pick up on the pistachios, but that flavor is usually very subtle in Porters and Stouts.

I am grateful to the friend from Chicago who gifted me this fantastic stout! It has been taken care of very well. This three-year-old stout, I would imagine, has changed from the original release date but has matured exceptionally!

Cheers!