Have you tried the Domanie DuPage? Give it a shot. I've been digging it a lot.

I don't have a car and automatically disparage everything else from Illinois that isn't created in Chicago (no I have not tried it but I've never been impressed by anything from Two Brothers.)

Two Bro's is fairly hit/miss, I agree. Don't recall anything amazing by them off the top of my head.

So after a week of purging and exercise (this just in, beer can make you fat) it was time for "A Night of 2 Stouts".




Founders - Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS)

Wanted to get into one of these while they were at their freshest.

Pours absolutely jet black with the consistency of motor oil. Smells kind of like bitter dark chocolate and coffee flavors.

The first sip hit me with the alcohol burn (11.2% ABV) but after I settled in it opened up. Wow. This thing is complex as hell. It's aged in oak bourbon barrels but I only got the slight hint of bourbon in the taste. Highly drinkable which, given the high ABV, is an accomplishment in and of itself. The chocolate and coffee taste stayed throughout the entire thing and towards the bottom I finally started getting some of the vanilla and it got a little boozy at the very bottom. Still, this thing is pretty amazing. I know it has all the elements of beer but it almost feels like you're drinking something else. Some weird bourbon coffee drink or something. I wouldn't pair this with anything. Much like having a good cigar or a good scotch. Just drink it. Completely unique beer. I'm glad I've got 3 more. I'll probably wait and let them age a bit and see how they change.

Not sure they're worth all the hype but that's probably just my issue with the supply/demand marketing game they play.

NIIIICE. Damn. That sounds exactly like Goose Island's Bourbon Barrel Stout that I love so dearly (I ALWAYS have a 22 on top of the fridge, seriously, and I drink one every month or two.) I hope I get to compare them at some point. Derris is BCS down there for you to try?

Next up was:





Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti - Imperial Stout


This wasn't fair to this beer. After the experience I had with the KBS this was a bit of a let down. I drank it right after the KBS.

It was weird. Imperials aren't really known for their hoppiness (I don't think) but it's all I could taste after the KBS. You could really taste them. BUT, I had one small glass and then I ate dinner. After dinner I went back to it and the hops were almost non-existent. Maybe I just needed to cleanse the palate. It was much better after I ate. Still, the oak flavored dominates here and it's quite boozy (9.5%). Lots of bitter coffee flavors. Def a hearty brew.

I'll want to try this again on it's own because I was comparing it too much to the KBS. Seemed like a solid stout though.

That said, after drinking the KBS and the 22oz Yeti, I was damn near drunk.

BCS?

I know Goose Island isn't. I've asked about it. Not many sightings of Three Floyd's stuff or Russian River stuff either.

Sorry, BCS - Burb Co Stout (Goose Island). Not available there eh?

Tried Lucky Bucket Lager. It was underwhelming.

That's cool, I'm not a big fan either. I think there is too much caramel malt flavor in the beer, but I know a lot of people enjoy it for it being a Pre-prohibition Lager recipe.
I finally had the Odell's Myrcenary Double IPA tonight along with Unibroue La Terrible tonight on tap. Both were delicious, but the La Terrible was more formidable and noteworthy. I finished the evening with an ESB from the Upstream Brewing Co. in Omaha and a sampler of a home brewed Porter.

You obviously haven't tried anything recently by Half Acre... they're killing it. Daisy Cutter comes in 4-pack tallboys for $8.99.

West Lakeview and Binny's South Loop and Lincoln Park are all must visits.



There's so, so much. When you hit the SL Binny's, you'll be overwhelmed. That store was sucking wind at the beginning of the year but they've kicked it in the ass and now offer the best and largest selection in Chicago. There's a bar with 16 taps too... so go in the afternoon. There's just too much to recommend but definitely check out Half Acre's Daisy Cutter and Gossamer. Three Floyd's Arctic Panzer Wolf and Dreadnaught are worth the price tag as well. I wouldn't waste your time with anything by Two Brothers, Flossmoor or Metropolitan (except the Krankshaft Kolsch).

Plenty of Night Stalker available though. A delicious, hoppy stout for under $10.

Yeah I've got a bottle of that waiting for me in my fridge.

Good Man! This is what I need.

Also I got 4 12oz bottles of Kentucky Breakfast Stout. Went to my local store, asked the head of the beer department:

- So, do you have anything by Founders?
"You lookin' for that Kentucky Bourbon [sic] Stout?"
- You know I am. You got it?
"Weeeeellll, we had 4 packs but they're gone. But we do have single bottles, 12 ounces, for $6 each. How many you want?"
- How many you got?
"...How many you want?"
- I guess just 4. That ok?

So he goes in back and grabs 4 bottles. As he's walking out another employee looks at what he's carrying and asks who they're for. My dude nods in my direction and says "A customer... why?" Second dude says "Bob (or whoever) said we couldn't sell more than 2 to one person." My guy says "Well Bob doesn't run the beer department, I DO. He doesn't know shit about this, he just pays the bills." And that was that.

Awesome.

Downed 2 bottles of Allagash Triple earlier. Drinking a Green Flash Imperial IPA right now.
Going to the bar in about 10 minutes.

I had one last night. I'll write it up while I'm in chicago this week.

You know why? It was outta respect. [/goodfellas]

Ive been slacking need to get back on the horse here.

Besides drinking my weight in Bud Light Friday night at a bar watching the Dawgs lose here were some others:



Red Brick Double Chocolate Oatmeal Porter

Had this on draft with the Blue Plate special for brunch on Saturday. This is by local guys Atlanta Brewing Company. That's the only pic worth a shit I could find. It's not even listed on their site. Don't know if it was just a one off or what. Still, it was kind of meh. If you're going to double up on something it should really but prevalent but the chocolate just wasn't. If I wasn't drinking it with food I probably wouldn't have finished it. It's a shame too because I want to like and support these guys but their stuff, for the most part, just isn't up to snuff. I sort of like their Blonde but all of their beers have a sort of aftertaste that just kills any good will they might've had. I still hold out hope that they'll keep working at it though. C for the style.




Duck Rabbit Porter

First beer I've had from these North Cack boys and I thought it was great. The smell is classic porter. That roasty, chocolatey maltness is all there. The taste didn't quite live up to the smell but I thought it was solid. I could see myself keeping some of these around. I'm starting to think that Porters are one of my favorite styles of beer. Nothing you can drink much of but I've had some great ones in the last few weeks. Just a great beer that needs no food and can stand on it's own, or, a fantastic beer with a hearty meal. Beer Advocate is kind of lukewarm on this one but I think it's a solid effort by a (relative) upstart company here in the South. B+.



Fuller's ESB

First foray into the Fullers world and have to say that this shee is pretty good. Nice copper color. Sweet maltiness all over the place. The bitterness kind of comes in there at the end but this is pretty great. Not sure I'd search these out often but I wouldn't hesitate to order one if the mood struck. I don't really have a good reference point for these though. Maybe the first I've tried of the style. Still, pretty goog. B+.



Bout to grill out and drink some Stone Levitation's. Will report.

DFH Palo Santo Marron



The bottle said this was a brown ale...not so much as this thing was jet black. 12% ABV turned out to be too much (or just enough depending on who you ask) for me. Two of these while grilling up some chipotle chicken thighs and I was feeling more than alright right away. As long as it stayed ridiculously cold it was damn delicious. Super spicy, a bit bitter on the end, but I kind of like that and smelled fantastic. However, once it got even slightly close to room temperature all I could taste was alcohol. Will definitely drink this again (definitely in moderation though).

Fat Tire now in the kegerator.

Duck rabbit milk stout is my shit

I too think that maybe Porters are my favorite beer type. I sure as shit review them all well.

Recents...


Lagunitas - Little Sumpin'

You know, I've seen these guys and this particular beer a ton of times, but it occurred to me at the store the other day that I've never actually had it, I don't think. So I went for it, and I'm VERY glad I did. This is, basically, 90% similar to Bell's Two Hearted. They're very, very similar. The malt in 2 Hearted is better, more rounded and full, and I would say Bell's is the better beer. But sweet jesus these guys know what to do with some hops. In this beer they are the story, though the malt body is perfectly good. They are HUGE, green, wet, sweet, piney, fruity, and frankly endlessly fascinating. I strongly recommend pouring this into a pint glass, and not getting lazy (coughLIKEMEcough) and drinking it straight from the bottle... let this explode on your face like Dale at a junior high sleepover. A


Founders - Kentucky Breakfast Stout

....Well well well. We meet at last. I'll get down to it. This is incredible, but it's not as good as Goose Island's Bourbon County. They're kissing cousins, for sure - both are aiming for the same space, and both bring a big ol' goddam possy with them. A 12 oz bottle of either of these beers is an event. A 22 of either is "what you're doing tonight," followed in very short order by "sleeping your face off." The malt is so thick you can drink it with a fork. There are shades and layers to the roasts. The hops have depths too, but with this beer there is a ton of sweetness. It tastes more like chocolate and sugar than the Goose Island, and I admit I prefer less sweetness than this. But it is a phenominal beer. Just excellent. And thank jebus I have 3 more stashed... A+


Oh and I drank some bullshit at Logan waiting for a delayed flight to Chicago on sunday, from Boston Beer works, whoever the fuck that is. I had 2 different kinds, and both were boring bullshit. No pictures for you.

Along with dinner at K-backs last night, tried:



De Dolle Oerbier - Belgian Strong Dark Ale - 9.5%

Darks are not my favorite type of libation, but this is what John brought me when we sat down ( I always let him select at least the first one of the evening- he knows what I like, or what I'm willing to be adventuresome with). The keg had only been tapped yesterday afternoon, and the ale was not exactly bone-chilling cold, but perhaps that's the way it's meant to be served, damned if I know.

This is definitely Belgian, definitely Strong, and definitely DARK. Huge, creamy head that eventually dissipates, leaving that nice lace. Aroma is fruity, almost wine-like, with lots of chewy malt and little hop influence. The taste follows the aroma- very big, very fruity at first with lots of malts crammed into it, with a somewhat sour middle, and those flavors blending for a well-balanced finish. The alcohol really became prominent as the ale warmed up. Complex shit, this is. I imagine that those whose tastes lean toward this style of beer would really enjoy it. Given my preferences, I wouldn't rush to drink a lot of it, but I can see having one or two sitting in front of a huge roaring fire on a wet Autumn night in Bruges, wearing a fine silk smoking jacket and floppy ascot ala Aleister Crowley, the conversation being dominated by how uncivilized and smelly Frenchmen are, in general, and how much space is left in the dungeon. B, maybe B+ even.

With dinner, had a couple of these from another freshly-tapped keg:



La Chouffe- Belgian Strong Blonde Ale- 8%

I think this has already been mentioned here, but too lazy to dig for it. I wish I could get my hands on some St. Feuillien Blonde here as a benchmark for this style, because my taste-memory of it has faded somewhat in the last few years, but suffice it to say that this is dead square on target for my general taste in fine beer. Crisp, refreshing, mildly fruity, and just plain delicious. A-.

Sitting in the Goose Island brewery pub now.