It’s been a month and a half? Seriously? Have you been counting?
I know, I’ve been away for a bit, but I have good reasons. A few I’ll share with you.
First, I went to Beer Hoptacular again! This time it was held at a venue that can actually handle a good number of people. It was a blast, much better than last year’s. The ability to walk through a location without bouncing off of people is highly underrated.
Second, I’m 5 beers (that’s right, five) away from reaching the 366 beers in 1 year goal. It’s not even December! Either I have a problem, or I’m very dedicated to searching out new beers (my money’s on the latter). I’ll be heading over to Goose Island Clybourn after work today, might finish it up shortly.
Third, I heard about something new here in Chicago called Middle Brow. It’s a startup brewery that’s going to be holding homebrew contests! Winners will have the opportunity to have their beer brewed by a pro. Interesting, huh? Check out their Facebook or Tumblr if you’re interested. I’m hoping to sign up soon!
Now to catch up on a few beers!
Rogue – Pumpkin Patch
Sight: Brown in color with a slight orange tint and a thick white head.
Smell: Pumpkin pie spices with nutmeg seeming to overpower
Taste: Creamy mouthfeel with a thick malty backbone. It’s spicy with a lot of pumpkin flavor, but it never seems overwhelming. A nice mild bitterness rounds out the finish.
My overall grade: B+
If you like pumpkin beers, this is a great choice. It’s pretty much the polar opposite of the Pum King on the pumpkin scale (it’s tastes like pumpkins instead of pumpkin pie).
Half Acre – Mr. Ouroboros
Sight: Bright copper color with a light white head
Smell: Lots of grassy hops. Imagine sitting on your front porch just after mowing the lawn
Taste: Soft, creamy mouthfeel with plenty of sweet light malts and a crisp grassy hop finish to maintain balance
My overall grade: B+
A very easy drinking and refreshing beer. I wish this one was around during the summer. I’d be drinking it on my porch (couch) after cutting the grass (watching tv).
Pipeworks – Well Read Temptress
Sight: Bright red (yes, red) with a thin pink head that disappears quickly
Smell: Lots of raspberries and a mild sourness, very intriguing
Taste: Very bubbly and sharp on the tongue. Sweet and tangy with a light finish. Lots of fruity sweetness at the end.
My overall grade: B
This one was fun to drink. Definitely out of the ordinary, a little funky and lots of bright flavor.
Boulevard – Nommo Dubbel
Sight: Ruby red and slightly brown with a thick creamy head
Smell: All Belgian yeast with a tiny lingering malty sweetness in the aroma.
Taste: Thick and creamy with lost of malty sweetness. The Belgian yeast shines through with plenty of spice and a mild dried fruit flavor toward the end.
My overall grade: A-
A delicious beer worth drinking repeatedly. It’s big and quite heavy, so working through a bottle may be a chore. But, it’s definitely worth undertaking.
Pipeworks – Abduction
Sight: Black with a thick tan head, like motor oil
Smell: Molasses, heavy alcohol, and floral hops in the aroma. It’s kinda frightening.
Taste: Heavy malty sweetness, a little chocolate and coffee, like making hot chocolate on the stove and leaving it on a little too long. Big boozy burn and a bitter hoppy finish.
My overall grade: B
This imperial stout packs a punch. You might want to share this guy.
Well, I better go get my Christmas shopping done.