Recents21st Ammendment - Back In Black
(Insulated glass courtesy of Busty LaRoux) - Shiv's had these a few times, I recall, and I've finally gotten around to picking up a 6er. I have 4 left, and I really like them. This whole "black IPA," by the way, rivals only "ageing in wood barrels" as this year's new beer fad. If double or triple monster holy shit IPA's were the last big trend, or maybe "making belgians in america," then it seems like I've seen a few of these black IPA's sprouting up, the other one around here being Otter Creek, a smallish mediocre rewery from VT. But I like the dark malt flavor, and the big wet hop flavor. I guess maybe because it's a little different, and because it's very drinkable, and plus in this case... cans. I fucking love cans. B+
New Glarus - Back 40 Bock
Good 'Ol New Glarus brewery, always reminds me of Madison. This and a few others were knocking around my father in law's garage fridge last week when I visited ATL. A WI relative brought them down the month prior, and dad In Law don't do anything strong, he's an MGD man. "Do you think you could drink these, please, before they go bad." You, sir, have come to the right person. So the beer. As with most of theirs, it's malty and minerally, and early hopped (most of their beers are dry like that, unless it's a big IPA). It was perfectly fine, but not a knock out. B
New Glarus - Coffee Stout
You know, sometimes I'm in the mood for a stout, but not a big bad holy shit stout. This is perfect in that regard, just enough to be interesting but still borderline-slammable. Again, I dug what they make, and I love to support them. Good folks. B
Sweetwater - Georgia Brown Ale
Mom's fridge was the same... "I bought these for your uncle but he didn't drink them." SAY NO MORE. Sweetwater is probably a better overall brewery than New Glarus, but they don't have that one killer variety that slays people in an everyday, drink-a-caseload-at-the-lake kinda way (Spotted Cow). This is perfectly fine, matly and hoppy and good but not something I'd probably seek out. B
St. Bernardus - Abt 12
All this takl of Abbey 12 make me fucking go out and get one a few weeks back. Hadn't had this before, I don't think. I couldn't wait any more last night and broke it out. This deserves the praise it gets here, it's mellow and FULL FLAVOR but still so incredibly pleasant. Coppery tan in color, almost think enough to drink with a fork. And the flavor changes with temperature, for sure. Everything is here - big yeast flavor, several kinds of malt flavor, good hops to balance it out, and note of alcohol that can't quite hide itself behind all that other stuff. 10% hit my empty stomach pretty damned hard before dinner, even though I was sipping from a tiny cup... Much like the Wu Tang Clan, Abbey 12 is nothing to fuck with. It doesn't get much better than this. Solid A.