Double DBA is Awesome

Back at Parry’s for another couple of pints with friends and some great food.  Tibor and I split calzones – he ordered a Buffalo Chicken Calzone and I ordered a Meat Calzone.  I was surprised with the Buffalo Chicken Calzone as I was not sure what to expect; it was excellent.  For beers, Melanie informed me that they just tapped Double Double Barrel Ale from Firestone Walker and I promptly placed an order.  DBA is a very tasty beer on its own and Matt Brynildson, head brewer at Firestone Walker, is at the top of his game.  I think Firestone Walker is the best brewer in the U.S. at this time – period.  Double DBA (12% ABV) is classed as a Barley Wine and is essentially a double strength DBA.  DBA is the flagship beer at Firestone Walker.  Double DBA is excellent and easily one of the best beers I have had the opportunity to sample this year.  DBA has very nice caramel, toffee and oak tastes and is just perfectly balanced with the triad of alcohol, bitterness and sweetness.

Double DBA website description – “DDBA is our flagship beer brewed at double strength.  It is amazingly similar in many respects to our barrel fermented DBA and possesses everything we love about that beer times two.  English caramel malts lend rich toffee character that pairs well with assertive medium toast American oak barrels.”

Firestone Walker - http://www.firestonebeer.com/beers/products/double-dba
Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar - http://www.parryspizza.com/parrysbar/

I also sampled a Sam Adams Old Kentucky-style Ale (7.5% ABV - ??) that is classed as an American Strong Ale.  It is not a bad beer, and is easy to drink.  However, I would suggest not trying it after Double DBA.   Double DBA is a much larger beer and easily overpowers Old Kentucky.  There is very little information that I could find on Old Kentucky Ale and I would like to try it again – first this time.

Dogfish Head Tap Takeover at Parry’s

A few weeks ago, we met up with friends for a couple of pints at Parry’s during the Dogfish Head tap takeover.  Dogfish Head had 16 taps and it was a very good selection from the Delaware brewer with the slogan of “Off-centered beer for off-centered people”.  I sampled two IPAs that I had not tried before and bother were very good.  First up was Burton Baton (10% ABV and 70 IBU) an Imperial IPA that is a blend of English-style Old Ale and Imperial IPA and then aged in oak tanks for ~ one month.  This is a very tasty beer with oaky notes from the tanks and citrus notes from the hops.  Next up was 120 Minute IPA (18% ABV and 120 IBU) an Imperial IPA that has to be the highest ABV beers I have tried.  I have had 60 Minute and 90 Minute and it is a rare treat to have 120 Minute on tap.  120 minute lives up to the expectations and is one to be savored – it is for the hop lover and with the ABV one is all you need.  I really like Dogfish Head because they push the boundaries with their beers and are constantly trying new things and new ingredients.  They also have very high standards and will dump a batch if the quality is not at their expectations.  Try something for Dogfish Head if you are looking for something different – they make very good “off-centered” beer.

Burton Baton website description – “This oak-aged gentle giant has been gaining popularity over the past few years and is now available year-round.  For Burton Baton, we brew two "threads," or batches, of beer: an English-style old ale and an imperial IPA.  After fementating the beers separately in our stainless tanks, they're transferred and blended together in one of our large oak tanks. Burton Baton sits on the wood for about a month.  When enjoying the Burton Baton, you'll find an awesome blend of the citrus notes from Northwestern hops melding with woody, vanilla notes from the oak. The wood also tends to mellow the 10% ABV of Burton, so tread cautiously!”

120 Minute website description – “Too extreme to be called beer? 120 Minute IPA is brewed to a colossal 45-degree plato, boiled for a full two hours while being continuously hopped with high-alpha American hops, then dry-hopped daily in the fermenter for a month and aged for another month on whole-leaf hops!  Clocking in at 15-20% ABV and 120 IBUs, 120 Minute is by far the biggest IPA ever brewed! It's easy to see why we call this beer THE HOLY GRAIL for hopheads!  We brew 120 Minute IPA a few times a year, but it goes fast. If you find some grab a few bottles -- some to enjoy and some to age.”

Dogfish Head - http://www.dogfish.com/
Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar - http://www.parryspizza.com/parrysbar/

July Beer Dinner - Oskar Blues

Dennis and Gayle hosted the July Beer dinner and we focused on the beers from Oskar Blues. Gayle made some family favorites and the food was excellent – sausage that has specially prepared from a family recipe, cheese grit casserole, corn on the cob, carrot salad and strawberry rhubarb pie. Lori made guacamole and her salsa that is just fantastic for appetizers. Nicole and Tibor brought over chocolate chip cookies and a cherry cheesecake. Everything was excellent and all of the beers were fantastic. Tibor brought over some of his home made wine – a Gewürztraminer that was very good. I had picked up beer earlier and Tibor picked up beer too – we had all that is currently canned by Oskar Blues. Oskar Blues is based in Lyons, CO and there are 7 different styles available in cans. Ten Fidy is brewed in the fall and luckily, I had some stashed away in the beer fridge. I wanted to age some and taste it as time passes.

We started off with Mama’s Little Yella Pils (5.2% ABV and 35 IBU) a Traditional Pilsner and Silver medal winner for Bohemian Style Pilsener at the 2011 GABF - Great American Beer Festival.

Next up was Dale’s Pale Ale (6.5% ABV and 65 IBU) an American Pale Ale.

Followed by Old Chub (8% ABV), a Scottish Ale and winner of the Bronze medal at the 2011 GABF - Great American Beer Festival.

G’Knight (8.7% ABV and 60 IBU) was formerly called Gordon Knight and is an Imperial Red / Double IPA.

Deviant Dale’s (8% ABV and 85 IBU), an IPA that took a sliver medal at the 2011 GABF – Great American Beer Festival.

Gubna (10% ABV and 100 IBU) an Imperial IPA

We ended the evening with Ten Fidy (10,5% ABV and 98 IBU), an Imperial Stout. I think the beer improved with aging and I was amazed with the balance and smoothness enhanced by a little aging.

The food and the beers were excellent. All of these beers are really good and I highly recommend anything made by Oskar Blues. We were split on the favorites for the evening. Gayle liked Mama’s Little Yella Pils, Dennis picked G’Knight, Tibor picked Deviant Dale’s, and I picked Ten Fidy. I always have something in my fridge that is brewed by Oskar Blues. We are planning to go tour the brewery in August and eat at the Tasty Weasel. Next beer dinner will be in September – just in time for Oktoberfest.

Oskar Blues - http://www.oskarblues.com/

Wookey Jack & Hop 15

We went to Parry’s the other day for dinner and I tried a couple of new beers. I am a “fan” of Firestone Walker and I had not tried Wookey Jack (8.5% ABV and 60 IBU) that is an unfiltered Black Rye IPA. I also tried Port Brewing’s Hop 15 (9.7% ABV and ?? IBU) that is a Double IPA. So, two beers with the IPA as the base or foundational style and I liked Wookey Jack the best. I thought Wookey Jack was very well-balanced and I liked the combination of Citra and Amarillo hops. I have used both these in home brews and they add great aroma and flavor to the beer. Hop 15 was a good beer and really focused on the hop bitterness, Wookey Jack was just preferable to my palate. I would have either of these again. 

Wookey Jack website description  – “Wookey Jack is our first foray into the dark outer world of black IPAs. Rich dark malts and spicy rye careen into bold citrus laden hops creating a new dimension in IPA flavor. This brew has been left unfiltered and unfined to retain all of its texture and character. At 60 IBUs, Wookey Jack is gnarly on the outside yet complex and refined on the inside.” 

Hop 15  website description – “Welcome to San Diego- Home to Hop Heads on every corner and THE best place in the world to live if you enjoy Humulus Lupulus and the smell of a well hopped beer. This is Southern California, it’s the place where Blind Pig started the Imperial IPA revolution and San Diego Brewers have continued to be at the forefront of its evolution. Today, fans of Double IPA come from every corner of the globe in search of many of the world’s best and most incredibly well hopped beers. It’s no secret that you can find many of them at Port Brewing as well. Like you, we love these beers and mostly we enjoy the happiness they bring us. First brewed in 2002 to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Pizza Port in Solana Beach, Hop 15 was imagined and designed by Tomme Arthur and Jeff Bagby as a celebration of 15 years of “Good Beer Brings Good Cheer.” Hop 15 has 15 different hop varieties added to the beer every 15 minutes. Over the years, Hop 15 has racked up numerous accolades. It has won two silver medals at the Great American Beer Festival. It also was named Alpha King in 2004 and 2008, and received a first place award at the Bistro Double IPA beer festival in Hayward, CA. Hop 15 remains won of the stickiest most resinous beers we have ever tasted and for that, we are thankful it is on tap at our brewery each and every day.”

Firestone Walker - http://www.firestonebeer.com/beers/products/wookey-jack-April-2012-
Port Brewing - http://www.portbrewing.com/our-beers/hop-15/ 

Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar - http://www.parryspizza.com/parrysbar/

Denver Beer Company

A couple of weeks ago, I needed to stop by my bike shop, Salvagetti, and was also able to get in a stop at the Denver Beer Company for a quick sampler. Denver Beer Company has been open for just under one year and they took a medal at the 2011 GABF for their Graham Cracker Porter. They were out of Graham Cracker Porter, but I tried a sampler of 4 different beers and they were really tasty.

Sample 1 – American IPA – an American India Pale Ale
Sample 2 – Belgo IPA – A Belgian India Pale Ale
Sample 3 – The Wilderness – Russian Imperial Stout
Sample 4 – The Wilderness aged in Wild Turkey Barrels

The Wilderness aged in Wild Turkey Barrels was my favorite and captured nice oaky and vanilla flavors from the barrel. The other beers were very good too and Denver Beer Co. has a great “vibe” to the place. The facility is in an old garage and the beer is brewed on site and then served at bar in the same facility. There was a large crowd and the garage doors were open to an outdoor sitting area. I will try more beers from Denver Beer Co., probably on my next trip to the bike shop.

Denver Beer Company - http://denverbeerco.com/
Salvagetti - http://www.salvagetti.com/

New Belgium Tap Takeover at Parry’s

On Saturday, the family went to Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar for lunch and for me to sample a couple of beers from New Belgium that I had not tried before. We arrived shortly after 1 pm and I ordered the New Belgium / Lost Abbey Collaboration – Brett Beer (7.5% ABV), a beer with Brettanomyces, and the waitress informed us that they had just tapped a keg of La Folie (6% ABV and 18 IBU), a sour brown beer, and it was already half consumed – in 10 minutes. So I placed an order for La Folie as well. For lunch Lori and I ordered the Greek salad and Fried Mozzarella – both were excellent and went well with the beers. I enjoyed both of these beers and La Folie was my favorite – I had been looking forward to trying this one for some time. I really enjoyed the sour beer and I will try more sours in the future.

Note - Photo from the Parry's Facebook Page.

La Folie (Left) and Lost Abbey / New Belgium Collaboration Brett Beer (Right)

Last weekend when we were at Parry’s, I tried Black Fox – Debut (6.6% ABV) a Saison or Farmhouse-style Ale that was quite tasty. Black Fox is a new brewer based in Colorado Springs that is transitioning from a “contract” brewer to a new brewery. If their other Saisons are as tasty as Debut, I’ll look forward to sampling more from Black Fox.

The next tap takeover will be Dogfish Head on the 28^th and I am looking forward to it.

New Belgium - http://www.newbelgium.com/beer.aspx

Lost Abbey – http://www.lostabbey.com/lost-abbey-beers/

Black Fox – http://blackfoxbrewing.com/Home_Page.php

Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar - http://www.parryspizza.com/parrysbar/

Stone – Ruination 10th Anniversary IPA

I watched a recent podcast review of Stone Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA (10.8% ABV and 110) that was very positive and I just had to locate it and try it.  Whenever I see something new or a special release from Stone, I try to obtain some.  I picked up a couple of bottles at a local shop and promptly sampled one.

American Double / Imperial IPA - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/140 – BeerAdvocate

Appearance – Copper and perfectly clear with great carbonation that poured with a three-finger head that stayed around for some time.

Aroma – Hops and glorious hops – citrus, grapefruit, pine, and perhaps a touch of tropical fruit (mango / orange).

Taste – Excellent – if you like hops you will like Ruination 10^th Anniversary.  You get just a touch of sweetness, but the hops are focus.  You get tastes similar to the aroma.

Overall – A+ - Ruination is called Ruination because your palate is “ruined” after trying it and this is a good thing.  Ruination is a very good beer and Stone made it even better with the special 10^th anniversary edition.  If you like hops and IPAs, try to find Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA – it is a real treat. Hopefully, you are worthy – to borrow a phrase from Stone. 

Website description – "Stone Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA was created as an homage to the almighty hop. As the celebrated Stone Ruination IPA approached its 10th birthday this June, we knew we had to do something special, so we cranked it up from 7.7% to 10.8% and used twice as much hops–a whopping 5 pounds per barrel, including a pound each of Citra and Centennial in the dry hop. The results were GLORIOUS, but don't take our word for it. The only people more bitter than those who don't get any... will be those who do."

URL – http://www.stonebrew.com/ruintenth/