Good times! Great brews!

So our evening turn out to be a raging success. 1st and foremost thank you so much to boulevard for allowing us to be one of the tasters for the absolutely amazing "big stout" test run it was really good and we both appreciate the chance to try it and give feedback.

Also during this evening we tried the hop rod rye from bear republic, this beer is on the top 100 at beeradvocate.com and with real good reason, hop heads rejoice that this is available in springfield cause man is it good, not for the feight of heart but if your looking for a challenge or think your ready to step up to the next level give this one a shot. At only 4.99 a 750 its priced right and in a killer brew.

One more for you, we also got a London porter from arcadia ales, my girlfriend andie spent the evening with the beer geeks and wanted this one, and it was very good as well, very rich and creamy this was a pretty big porter, very thick and rich in flavor, lots of malt and a nice but not to overbearing coffee flavor in the finish. So there ya have it folks one very successful beer geek evening, hope you have a chance to try some of these as they are well worth the shot. Cheers!

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

Oktoberfest 08'

Sorry this blog is a little late but WOW, We had a blast. Took a tour of Boulevard Brewing company and got to see the huge new expansion. Sampled some amazing beer, and got to try a Pilsner test brew as well. This is a picture of the clan in the tasting room. The picture below is the historic Mash Tun imported from Belgium when the brewery was being established and the picture at the bottom is the new bottling line that isn't even operational yet. I think next year will be a definite return trip to the Boulevard Brewery.

Bell's Cherry Stout

Adventurous? are you sure? well, if you aren't shaking in your boots I have something that will possibly change your mind. I have never (and We've had lots of different beers) EVER had anything quite like this. From Bells Brewing Company, who have always suprised in the way of adventurous brewing. Have releases this iears batch of their Cherry Stout. This Fruit Stout is brewed with Cherries and Cherry juice. Poured into a Glass it looks like one bloody mother of a stout. But so incredibly dark I couldn't see through a small amount up to a bright light. tAstes smooth and chocolatey with a strong Dark Cherry presence, which almost seems like Black Cherries. KEvin didn't like this one, but I thought it was one of the best but most interesting stouts I've ever put to my lips.

Plesent Suprise

I picked up a beer from a brewery that I have never had anything from before, so of course it was their IPA. 7% abv 69IBU this is what I have been waiting 3 weeks for, this hophead has been jonesing real bad. If you are around the Wine center anytime soon defiantly worth a shot its nice and hoppy so if you are a beginner be careful this isn't a small step up. Citrus and hops drive this one a nice medium body and a very piney clean finish, I'll be buying more from this brewery as it seems they are well above average.

Goose Impresses Bigtime

I started out a big skeptic of Goose Island brewery and for a completely unfair reason, hear-say. People told me time and time again it was not good beer, or it was mediocre at best, and its my own fault for waiting so long to get around to trying their beers. But that being said they do have alot of quality brews and this year they have just flat outdone themselves with the fall Harvest Ale.

When you crack this cap remember walking outside on a crisp cool fall morning, try to think of all the scents before you take a good smell of this one.

This beer has a extremely complex smell and flavor that will honestly appease just about any palate whether it be new to the world of craft beer or a veteran I think this one has something to offer us all. I am not going to go into all the specifics of this one just know it comes extremely highly recommended by both me and my fellow beer geek. Next time your out and feel you want something most definitely unlike anything you have ever had before please give this one a shot, I can almost guarantee you will not be disappointed.

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