Hang on to your Nutcrackers!

So the holidays are upon us and so are all the wonderful holiday brews! This is both good news and bad news. Good news = a lot of good beer. Bad News = a lot of good beer consumed on top of a lot of great food!

Nevertheless, I always try and find a holiday brew I've never had before and give it whirl each season. This season I decided to try Boulevard Brewing Company's Nutcracker Ale. Some people are down on this beer because of its lack of creativity, I mean come on people, its beer!

Image courtesy of www.boulevard.com

This beer kind of reminds me of an IPA but with a big bold holiday flavor to it. What does the term "holiday flavor" mean? I'll explain. Those normal spices of an IPA come out but with an extra hint of some winter flavors. The two main ones I pick up on are a strong toffee flavor and also a strong caramel flavor. The color of the beer is also very nice, a deep reddish-brown color that evokes even more of that holiday flavor. I usually stay away from Boulevard Brewing, not for quality reasons, but for loyalty reasons. Being a St. Louis resident I am partial to the locally owned and operated brewer, Schlafly. Sometimes it pays to switch things up, and I am glad I did, this Nutcracker ale did not disappoint, but don't worry Schlafly, your still my brewer of choice!

Also, I would like to wish a Happy Holidays and thanks for following us from Shaun and I! 

 -Scott

16 years of awesomeness from Stone Brewing

For those of you in the know, know that you can recognize a Stone Brewing beer from the other end of the bar. That signature gargoyle sitting atop a clever name for well-deserving beer. That gargoyle always catches my eye whether I see it in the grocery store or at the bar. I like that about Stone Brewing. They want you and the people around you to know that you are drinking a Stone beer. They also put a little story on each bottle, whether it pertains to that beer or not depends, but nonetheless it makes it more than just a beer, its a drinking experience, if there is such a thing.

I love that gargoyle

This particular IPA is just what it name says it is, a 16th anniversary IPA. Perhaps what sets it apart is the fact that according to the bottle it is aled with a lemon verbena, an Argentinian seasoning often described as "more lemon than lemons" and lemon oil. This really means nothing to me except that it adds, in my opinion, a VERY noticeable finish to an otherwise strong, spicy IPA. The bitterness of the hops comes through strong and rightfully so as this actually a double IPA. The ABV on this beer is 10% and boy can you tell, the high alcohol provides another bite to the finish that lets you know what you're getting into, something I can appreciate. Also, the aromatics of this beer are phenomenal. I usually don't obsess or even harp over the aroma of a brew, but damn, this beer smells great!

This particular bottle was the last bottle on the shelf at my local store, however I do believe that Stone Brewing has produced all of their previous anniversary ales for most of the year. If that's not the case don't worry, they will definitely release a 17th anniversary IPA sometime next year. That's the other great thing, they've made an anniversary IPA every year since their second year in business. So if your wondering what's so special about the 16th anniversary the answer is nothing, Stone Brewing just loves making great beer, and thats why I love them! 

-Scott

Shaun Here with yet another review for your reading pleasure!

O'Fallon Black Hemp. Brewed with hemp seeds. It didn't really sound appealing to me but having had their Hemp Hop Rye and enjoying that very much I figured I would give it a whirl. According to Beer Pulse it isn't supposed to be available until January. (see their comments here)

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=776458954166429253#editor/target=post;postID=5753404098184246094

But I suppose thats one of the benefits of living in Saint Louis.

Black hemp is a really good beer, It has a wonderful Dark bitterness and a host of complex flavors. One of which is the toasted hemp seeds of course. They are not overpowering but instead compliment the rye hoppy flavor with a hint of wheat to temper the bitterness.

It struck me as being the stouter version of their hemp hop rye.

very very good, not too heavy, great balance of flavor, Thumbs Up!
4.25 out of 5...

If you like stouts and bitters you'll love it!

Shaun here,
Another beer review coming your way.


BELGO! Belgian style IPA from New Belgium
On the box it says "where hops go to disco" I thought that was both funny and after tasting it .....appropriate. One of my major complaints of many "self proclaimed" IPA's is that the hop content is lacking. Not the case here. Belgo has a very hoppy aroma and flavor. There isn't a ton of sweetness as with many traditional "true" IPA's. I suppose this is the Belgian influence. Its a pleasant beer that gets better as you drink more of it. It starts with a fairly intense bitterness which people who aren't real big hop fans may find offensive but after the second or third drink this quickly subsides and you start to pick up on the floral hop flavor. This is after all what the IPA experience is all about. So I would definitely recommend giving this one a try. However, I wouldn't make plans to drink more than three in a sitting. Its pretty filling and it has 7% alcohol content. Four out of five... Try it and let me know how you like it.

Octoberfest... In November!

Well October may be over, but that doesn't mean Octoberfest is. Okay, well maybe it is too. Nevertheless you can still enjoy a Sam Adams Octoberfest, even though its not October. 

Best Beer Ever? 

Where do I start with this beer. It has been a perennial favorite of mine ever since I started drinking craft beers. Before some of you freakout about how Sam Adam's isn't a craft beer company, let me explain. While Octoberfest is mass produced seasonal beer, Sam Adam's has done a magnificent job of marketing this beer as if it were a limited release from a local brewery and when you drink it, it certainly feels/tastes that way. Living in Saint Louis, the biggest competitor in the O-fest market is probably Schlafly's O-fest, which is equally delicious. Don't get me wrong, I love all things Schlafly (for the most part) however, there is a definite sweet finish with Sam Adam's O-fest that I personally find appealing. 

To be honest, there is not one thing I dislike about this beer, even the label is something I appreciate. The various shades of blue, orange, and brown perfectly evoke the colors of fall, in my opinion. Also, the deep red-amber hue of the beer adds to the fall coloring. This beer is the perfect bridge between the heavier brews of the winter and the lighter, fruity brews of the summer. Just enough spice to remind me that the holidays are coming and just enough malt and citrus to make me appreciate the lighter brews of the summer. The slight hints of toffee and caramel are also nice reminders of what I love in heavier brews. Another great thing about this beer is that it is relatively easy to home brew a Sam Adam's O-fest clone, which means you can have great tasting Octoberfest year-round! 

This may end up being the most controversial thing you see on this blog, but in my opinion Sam Adam's Octoberfest is the best seasonal beer I have ever had. I know thats a bold statement, but if you have some other suggestions, let me know and I'd love to try em! 

-Scott