As of the time of this publication, the world is still spinning. Weather
you fear asteroids, alien invasions, global catastrophe or the DABC we
have a way to make sure you go out looking good, while having a happy
tongue.
We'll start with New Beer Friday and move on from there.
I was only able to find one new beer this week, Full Sail's Nut Brown
Ale. I haven't had a chance to try it yet. Others describe it as "a
little buttery. Lots of the nutty roasted barley taste. There is a
pleasant bitter tanginess. Warmly dark with a malty base". @ Liquor
Stores
If you fear the world's end today? We have a special beer for you. If
your just looking forward to the Winter Solstice? We have something for
you as well. Let's start with the "Doomsdayers" shall we?
There could be no more appropriate beer for you guys & gals than
Unibroue's La Fin Du Monde (The End of the World). This brilliant
Canadian classic pours a hazy golden color with a towering white head.
The nose is of fruity esters with notes of banana, clove, bubblegum, and
a bit of spicy alcohol. The taste begins with a good deal of fruitiness
(nectarine, pear, peach, mango, and white grape) and flowery honey
blended with peppery clove. Next comes some powdery yeasts and a bit of
bready malt followed by a touch of drying alcohol in the finish. A
great beer to "kiss your ass g'bye". @ Liquor Stores
For you Pagans, Witches & Realists we have Anderson Valley's Winter
Solstice. This fine Winter Warmer pours a beautiful reddish-brown color
with a creamy, fluffy head. The nose is mildly hoppy with delicate malt
sweetness. Vanilla bean is dominant with orange peel for balance. There
also seemed to be a hint of nutmeg. The Taste was of roasted malt,
vanilla and carameled apple. The bitterness was mild which allowed the
vanilla to finish slightly above the hops. Sweet and slightly spicy, The
higher alcohol (6.9% ABV) added a nice warming affect. The balanced was
perfect from start to finish. I love this beer so much I buy up all
that I can, as to enjoy it year round. @ Liquor Stores
We have a returning champ as well. Now, as far as I'm concerned there's
only one number you should be thinking of today. Not 122112 but 529.
Squatters' 529 is an Oud Bruin style ale. If your not familiar with this
Belgian style, they are light to medium-bodied, deep copper to brown
in color. They are extremely varied, characterized by a slight vinegar
or lactic sourness and spiciness to smooth and sweet. A fruity-estery
character is usually apparent with no hop flavor or aroma. Low to medium
bitterness. 529 refers to the number of days spent in the barrels (18
months).
529 Pours a deeper amberish color with a small sized off white head. The
nose is of of cherries, dust and some spiciness. The taste starts with
notes of cherry tartness, caramel and brown sugar. Tobacco notes come
next as well as lemon peel and sour grapes. The finish is tart, woody
and dry. @ Squatters & The Beer Store.
And finally... For the Ninth Beer o' Xmas that the Beer Gnerd pushed on thee... It's RedRock's Secale!
This beer is a bock at it's base, but has the addition of rye malt and
is aged in High West Rye Whiskey barrels. Secale pours a dark ruby color
with a moderate two fingers of off-white head. The nose has a dry
roasted malt aroma along with a light rye spiciness. It's rounded out
with a mild caramel malt and vanilla aroma. The taste starts with
Caramel malts and toffee. Chocolate covered raisins come next come next
with a dry rye spiciness. Hints of vanilla and whiskey come next in the
end, as well as a subdued hop bitterness that balances the malty
sweetness in the finish. The body is full and the whiskey notes become a
bit more pronounced as it warms. The 8.5% abv is well hidden but sneaks
up you quickly.
Cheers!
4 comments:
It's going to be a lovely sour Christmas isn't it.
Has anyone else noticed that the 2012 Secale has a bit of tart sour bite to it? Had a bottle last night and that flavor seemed a little off. What I do not know is if that flavor is associated with the rye or is it from some unknown barrel bug.
Cheers,
Scott
I've had a bottle with the same tartness. It's likely a barrel infection, they don't all have it. Too bad eh?
Thanks for clearing that up. I guess that means that each barrel is bottled separately (or at least in groups) as opposed to blending the whole load together to get a completely uniform beer. I guessed that the tart was not what they were going for, but I did kind of like it. Now I need to try to get hold of a bottle that is not "bugged".
Another example of why all breweries should bottle date every bottle that goes through the line.
Cheers!
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