Beer Geek Evening!

Tonight is in celebration of...well, not Wednesday, but artisan brews! Kevin and I will be drinking and reviewing some fantastic new brews from Boulevard, Bear Republic, Sierra Nevada, and maybe more! This Week I received a Gift Brew from Jeremy at Boulevard Brewing Company. This special beer is a multi grain Russian Imperial Stout. Brewed with 11, that's right 11 grains, including 7 kinds of Barley, 2 kinds of rye, and 2 kinds of oats. Let's just say we can't wait to give this a taste! Next on the tasting schedule is a "Hop Rod Rye" from Bear Republic, This is a serious rye IPA that boasts a whopping 96 IBUs and is listed on the top 100 beers of the world according to reviews from Beer Advocate.

I hope we still have a palate that will recognize the "Harvest Fresh hop ale" from Sierra Nevada. This beer is brewed with fresh (wet) hops that are picked and immediately driven to the brewery and put directly into the brew kettle. Fresh hops add a completely un-paralleled dimension of taste and mouthfeel. Well, pictures and reviews will follow (however the typing might be a bit mis-spelled) Cheers Friends! Nate

Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale 2008

This week marked the midwest release of the Fall seasonal from Sierra Nevada. This year is one of the best, without a doubt in the top two of the Fall seasonals. That being said, I'll tell you what I thought.

Color: pours golden and clear, thick and foamy head with nice lacing head all the way down.

smells a bit piney, more malt in the nose than anything, a kiss of Cascade hops but not too much at all.

tastes pleasantly bitter at the front but smoothes out, piney/woody taste and a nice hop bite. the finishing hops are nice in the aftertaste.

crisp and very light bodied, great carbonation and a wonderful drinkability. possibly one of the best fall seasonals this year. I also think that the style on BA is right, I would never guess this as an IPA, more of a APA. there is too much of a lager-type malt quality to this beer to call it an IPA

IBUs: 55

Serving type: bottle