The Kick Box - On Hip!

Now moving on to a beer from Firestone Walker. This is Opal. It is a saison/farmhouse ale/wild ale (call it what you will) that clocks in at 7.5% ABV. Pours a bright, pale golden/yellow-orange with a one-finger head that quickly fades to nothing. Lots of sour, funky yeast notes in the aroma with lots of fruity phenols up front, as well some yeasty clove-like notes and spice. Some citrus, pepper, and bready notes also present. Flavor is very rustic and true to its style. Some spice and grains in the flavor, but upfront it's a lot of sour funk with a good amount of citrus and even some white wine characteristics. Hop bitterness is present and leaves a dry finish. The mouthfeel of this beer is light, crisp and refreshing, with an assertive effervescence. Extremely drinkable. Overall rating: A-

 

This will be the final beer of the night. It's 'Fresh Cut' from Peak Organic, a dry-hopped pilsner. It pours a clear, pale yellow with a one-finger head. Lots of earthy, grassy hop notes combined with zesty, citrus hops (lemon) and some bready malts. Taste is of earthy, lightly citrus hops and crackery, bready pilsner malts with some diacetyl. An extremely crisp and refreshing beer that is light bodied, smooth, and finishes dry. Carbonation is moderate. Makes for a great hot weather beer. Overall rating B+

 

I thought this was the beer blog..

 

Went out to lunch at The Beer Market in Rochester, NY. I had two beers with my bratwurst.

1) Frou Frou by Grimm Artisanal Ales
Grimm is one of my favorite breweries, and my favorite NY brewery. Grimm are gypsy brewers; a husband and wife duo who concoct their beers in their New York City apartment before taking them to an outside brewery for mass-production. Their beers are very hard to find as they are distributed within a limited area. Only a few places outside of NYC receive shipments of their beers, and when they do they sell out quickly.

Moving on to the beer, this is an IPA clocking in at 7.1% ABV. It's brewed with Glalaxy hops, oats and rye. Pours a hazy orange-gold with a thick one and a half finger head. Lots juicy citrus hops in the nose. Tons of grapefruit, pineapple, some pine, and some rye notes as well. The bitterness of this beer is medium with a juicy hop bite. Lots of grapefruit, orange, mango and even a little kiwi is present in the taste. Pine needle hoppiness present in the finish of this beer along with some faint floral undertones. The mouthfeel of this beer is amazingly smooth and creamy with a fair amount of thickness in the body. This can be attributed to the oats that are used in the brewing process.

Overall rating: A+




2) Lucky 13 by Lagunitas Brewing Company
This is an imperial red ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company. The beer pours a clear, dark amber color. Citrus hops, sweet caramel and some pine resin in the aroma. Flavor is balanced between bitter hops and sweets malts. Some breadiness from the malts also present with some hints of caramel. Very hoppy beer, but not overly bitter. Medium body to this beer with moderate carbonation.

Overall rating: A

 

Can never go wrong with anything from Lagunitas ^^^^^


i had a few laguntias IPA's last night. right now im drinking henrys hard soda, orange flavored lol.

 

Stopped by Gordon Biersch on the way home they had one called "barqe bock" that was the best bock I ever had. I tried to get it in a growler but he said he can't do anything over 8% in a growler. This was 9%.
I couldn't do a decent review of it though because I had it over 4 hours ago and honestly I can still taste the pretzel I had there so I am sure it distorted the taste a bit.

 

How do you guys (mainly PR) consume so much beer? Does it effect your weight at all? I like beer, but usually can only manage one (any more leaves me feeling gross). And I can eat a decent amount of food.

 

PR doesn't really drink a whole lot.

I have gained some weight. I have been in a very "I don't care" mood this year. I am sure I will cut back and exercise more....just not today.

 

Now drinking 'Super Going' by Grimm, a gose which is dry-hopped, oaked and orange zested. The name of the beer comes from a song by the experimental rock band, The Boredoms, off of their 1998 album Super æ. This is perhaps thee most refreshing beer I have ever had. This beer makes the perfect hot weather beer. The beer pours a hazy, bright yellow straw color with a nice one finger head. Aroma is of tart citrus, namely lemon peel and orange peel, melon, some yeast funk, grassy notes, and even wet hay. Lots of orange zest and tart lemon rind in the flavor, along with some oaky tannins, coriander and sea salt on the finish. Some lacto sourness as well. Mouthfeel is crisp, light-bodied, and has a dry, tart finish and medium effervescence.

Overall rating : A

Pretty much every single one of Grimm's beers are awesome. At least the ones I've had.

 

Nothing will really effect your weight unless it's consumed in excess of your daily energy expenditure over a period of time. Normally I only drink 1-2 times per week. This week I am on vacation, so I am drinking more than usual and will probably put on a pound or two over this week I am off from work. I am not worried about it because after the week is over, I am going back to my normal routine and will quickly lose whatever weight I gain. But while I am on vacation I am going to enjoy myself and not worry too much about what I eat or how much I drink.

I will agree that drinking can make you feel like crap. Even if I have one or two beers early on in the day, it can sometimes makes me feel slightly lethargic and "gross" for the rest of the day, which is why I prefer drinking in the evening or night. Today I started drinking early, so it did leave me with a kind of "yucky" feel.

 

Now drinking Aphrodite (aka Aphrodisiaque) from Brasserie Dieu du Ciel out of Quebec. This is a 6.5% ABV stout brewed with cocoa and vanilla. Pours an opaque pitch black color with a one-finger tan head. Big coffee and vanilla aroma to this beer, along with cocoa powder, bourbon, and some caramel and roasted malts. Lots of dark, roasted malts upfront in the flavor, along with some mild hops, brown sugar sweetness, subtle vanilla bean and cocao nibs. Mouthfeel is medium-heavy, creamy, and with low carbonation. A stellar stout.

Overall rating: A

 

The final beer of the night is another one from Almanac out of California. This is their San Francisco IPA, a west coast IPA brewed with Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe, Hallertau Blanc and El Dorado hops, making this a very tropical, juicy, citrus heavy IPA. Very hoppy beer without being overtly bitter. The malts balance the beer out and give it a clean finish. The beer pours a cloudy yellow-gold with a one-finger head. Lots of sweet tropical fruits in the nose -- grapefruit, passionfruit, apricot, lemon and orange rind etc. Some herbal and grass-like notes, as well as some pine. Flavor is of juicy, tropical hops -- grapefruit, passionfruit, orange, some peach and white grape. Body is medium-light, crisp, and moderate carbonation.

Overall Rating: A-

 

On this fine Summer afternoon-going-into-evening I am enjoying Prarie-Vous Francais by Prairie Artisan Ales. This is a low ABV sour table beer/saison which only clocks in at 3.9% ABV. The low ABV makes this an extremely refreshing and sessionable sour ale. The only thing that keeps me from drinking this in large quantities is the price. It pours a pale-bright, cloudy yellow color with a vibrant head that quickly settles. Aroma is of sour citrus and brettanomyces yeast funk. Slightly grassy on the nose with a touch of black pepper as well. Some banana and clove notes also present in the aroma. Flavor is mildly sour with light citrus and some herbal tones, some grass, and some hay. The beer finishes dry and crisp. Mouthfeel is light with a sharp effervescence. A highly drinkable and refreshing farmhouse ale from one of my favorite American craft breweries.

Overall rating: A-

 

Now drinking Funky Gold Mosaic, another beer from Prairie Artisan Ales. This is a sour ale that's been dry-hopped with Mosaic hops. Previously I had their Funky Gold Simcoe, which was dry-hopped with Simcoe hops. This pours with an incredible hazy, golden yellow color. The nose has a lot of sweet, juicy citrus and tropical (orange, pineapple) notes upfront, along with some funky notes of hay, wet grass and horse blanket. Some earthy, somewhat floral hop notes are present as well. Taste is of sweet and sour citrus (lots of orange, lemon peel and grapefruit) and some sour apple, along with same lacto sourness and faintly earthy, grassy hops. Mouthfeel is light and effervescent with a clean bite and dry finish. Awesome sour!

Overall rating: A+

 

Now drinking yet another sour, this time from Goose Island out of Chicago. This is Sofie, a Belgian-style farmhouse ale. This is the 2015 edition, and was bottled in May of last year. You can immediately tell the difference between this and an American farmhouse ale.. This has much more of a spicy, phenolic Belgian yeast flavor. Lots of sweet, fruity notes, along with some clove and funky Belgian yeast notes. Some spicy phenolic and estery notes, as well as some floral notes. Flavor is of sweet, tart and juicy fruit, along with some bubblegum esters, some sour Belgian yeast funk, and spice (coriander). Mouthfeel is light and crisp, with vibrant carbonation.

Overall rating: A

 

This one of my new glasses given to me by Southern Tier beer rep.. Long story : couple weeks to a month ago a beer store manager give me a hard time about a ST hoodie I was buying, accused me of stealing it. So I called ST and told them, they in turn told the rep in my area, he not only given me some swag a few weeks ago. He hooked me up again with 8pack Cherry Gose, some more glasses, key chains another hoodie (one that actually fits) today.. probably 100$ worth of stuff if you had to buy it from the ST shop. That's good business!!

BTW they are due to open Southern Tier restaurant here in September.. got to keep em coming back ..

Cherry Gose its a little winey .. not a lot of carbonation ..its comforting on my belly ache..

 

Drinking tavern ale from big Boss brewery.(heard someone call it a distillery recently. Gave me a lol)

It tastes like water was added to a really strong scotch ale. Or dark Belgium.
It's definitely different. It was made in 2015 and barrel aged.
Has strong hints of some spirits that I can't place specifically. (I'm not a spirits drinker...it's not tequila. I can tell you that much)
Goes without saying that there was a strong but pleasant alcohol taste considering the low 7%abv.
I don't know what to make of this one. It's like the budweiser of barrel aged ales. I think a B would be the score is am tasting.

 

This is a cool glass, Orison. I love how it fades from orange at the bottom to clear at the top.

How the fuck does someone accuse you of stealing something you're buying? Makes no sense whatsoever.

The cherry gose was pretty good. More like an imperial gose, though, as most traditional gose is not more than 5% ABV.

ST has slipped a bit over the years, IMO, but that could be because better breweries have sprung up in recent years. I still enjoy their beers from time to time, though. Their 2XIPA is an awesome double IPA. Pumking will always be a seasonal favorite of mine, even though its quality has slipped.

 

agreed. Some the brews begin to have the same background after a while. I do enjoy them from time to time. If Ive nothing else to go to ., my few craft singles stores carry a lot of ST, and Flying Dogs, Lake Erie.. I switch up. pricey when buying singles like that.

the deal was the cashier told me I could buy the hoodie, she has asked me how much am I willing to pay for it, and I said 20buck. she said its yours. I went to get it and had already told my gf to run the debit card and pay for it, when I was trying it on to make sure it fit. didnt matter cause I was cold that evening. the manager come out from behind me welding the hanger the hoodie was on telling me to get the fuck out his store and its was just crazy. I was fearing I might have to shoot him if he hit me with the wire hanger. hes said you people come in to my store and steal and we was all taken by it, like WTF is this dude on, Im buying it, the cashier said I could have it. and the cashier knows we are regulars .. the manger flipped shit again and was about to put his hands on me when I told him I wouldnt do that. when leaving the store he was flipping out on the cashier(now we learn its his girlfriend) .. I come back in cause he thought I was out of ear shot and told him that was enough!! real asshole over a hoodie .. holy shit .. when I told ST rep about it, they said never going to give that store promotional items again.
ST knew this wasnt even their problem, it was a problem with the store. but somehow felt the passion I have for their beer and products when I said I woudnt even of wanted the hoodie if it had some other logo on it. but since it was a ST hoodie I was like awe man I really want that.
now the ST rep told me the promotional items for the beer stores, they are free to do whatever they want with them. but not free to almost assault someone and accuse them of stealing when they actually paid for it already.. NUTS!!

 

Just finished drinking a pumpkin ale which scores higher than Pumking. This is Horsehead's pumpkin ale, by Horseheads Brewing Co. in Horseheads, NY. -- a pumpkin ale which clocks in at 7% ABV. Pours a slightly hazy orange-brown with a one finger head. In the nose it's tons of pumpkin pie crust and pie filling with lots of spice -- some vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove and allspice. Some toasty caramel malt undertones as well. Lots of bready malts in the flavor reminiscent of pie crust, along with real pumpkin reminiscent of good pumpkin pie filling, including flavors of vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a rich, assertive carbonation. Very creamy and smooth. Incredible pumpkin ale. It reminds me a bit of Pumking when it first was introduced. Awesome pumpkin ale!

Overall rating: A