The Kick Box - On Hip!

Merry Christmas everyone. At the moment I am drinking Resin from Brooklyn NY's Sixpoint.

This is a double IPA coming in at 9.1% ABV.

103 IBUs.

Pours a translucent copper or honey-amber color with an initial two fingers of head which slowly subsides to leave a fine layer of foam lacing on the top.

Aroma is true to its name, and is heavily dank and resinous. Tons of pine notes with a classic West Coast IPA aroma featuring a good amount of tropical, pithy citrus. There are some earthy and herbaceous notes, fresh-cut grass, as well as a peppery spiciness. There is a pretty sweet malty backbone to this, but overall it is just a very intensely dank smelling IPA that exudes a very sticky, resinous hop aroma just as its name suggests.

Flavor-wise it is very much in the with the nose in that it is just super dank and resinous with a very intense hop bitterness. I am getting just tons of concentrated grapefruit juice, orange and lemon rind. The hops are matched with a sweet malt backbone that is mostly bready in nature. I am also getting some pineapple and peach flavors. Again, very piny and resinous with an abundance of sticky hop oils present. Overall this is very much a bitter hop bomb of a beer.

Mouthfeel is slick and somewhat sticky with a medium body and relatively low carbonation. Overall it is a very dry upfront with some lingering bitterness on the finish. While this is not as good as thier 'Puff', it is still a close contender, and highly recommend to those who prefer the more bitter and resinous side of IPAs.

Overall rating: A

 

Moving on to Nelson, a beer from the renowned Alpine Beer Company out of San Diego, California. It is a golden rye IPA.

The beer gets its name from the Nelson Sauvin hops that it features.

7% ABV.

First, I am PISSED that upon cracking the bottle open, I notice this bottle, which I just purchased today, is WAY past its prime for an IPA, with a best by date of April 20, 2016. While the bottle was on the shelf marked 20% off, it should not have even been on the shelves being that far past date. This is unacceptable for the nearly $8 I paid for this bottle, and I will be saying something to the owner of the store in which it was purchased.

Nevertheless, the bottle has already been cracked, so here goes the review. It normally scores a 97 on BeerAdvocate, so I guess we will see how much the beer has declined, if at all, with age.

It pours a very hazy, golden-orange with a finger of head.

Already in the beer's aroma I am sensing the age as the hops are much more muted than they should be, with a predominately rye aroma detected. I am getting mostly biscuity malts, toasted grains, and some peppery spice. I am getting some faint citrus hops and pine resin, but I feel the age of this beer has muted those hops significantly in comparison to the malts, which seem to stand out far too much for an IPA.

Flavor is very rye-like, with lots of bready, biscuity malts and some buttery diacetyl (the latter could be attributed more to the age of the beer). The hops I am getting are somewhat lemony and grassy, with some very faint grapefruit as well as some faint pine. There are some peppery, spice-like undertones as well.

Mouthfeel is medium, creamy, and with a restrained but moderate carbonation.

Despite its age, it is quite good, though I am going to hold off giving it an actual rating until I can acquire a fresh bottle.

 

Merry Xmas.I'm drinking cognac.

 

I am now drinking the latest release from Grimm, this is their Castling, a bitter farmhouse ale / saison.

Bottled December, 2016

5.5% ABV

Poured this into my newly-acquired Grimm glass. It pours with a clean, clear straw yellow color.

Immediately on the aroma I am noticing a faint, somewhat odd sulfur-like quality. I am getting some musty Belgian yeast notes coupled with some lemon rind, lime, clove, coriander as well as some grain and cracker malts, but overall lots of rather odd, non-descript aromas that could be best described as sulfur-like and metallic.

Flavor is quite tart upfront with a nice bitter and dry hop bite. I am getting some tart lemon rind coupled with pilsner malts and a very peppery Belgian yeast character. I am getting flavors of clove, coriander and some banana. There is some bready malt sweetness towards the middle and finish. For a saison, this falls on the more bitter, dry end of the spectrum, which I am not a huge fan of when it comes to this style of beer.

Mouthfeel is light, crisp and refreshing, with a fairly assertive and effervescent carbonation. Again very DRY.

Overall this is one of the weaker, if not the weakest offering from Grimm I have had to date, which is surprising considering most of their beers are top of the line.

I am somewhat disappointed with this one.

Overall rating: B

 

Moving on yet another one, this is from Urban Family Brewing out of Seattle, Washington. This is Heart of Stone -- a sour ale brewed with apricots and plums.

5.5% ABV.

Pours a cloudy orange-peach color with a small head which does not linger for very long.

Aroma is of predominately sour fruits. I am getting lots of stone fruit, lemon rind, apricot, and plum, as well as some woody notes. This is coupled with some wild yeast funk that seems more lacto than brett.

Flavor is nicely tart and sour with lots of sour lemon and stone fruit. The apricot and plum are definitely noticeable towards the middle and finish, coupled with a nice lacto funk.

The beer has a light, soft body with a low to moderate carbonation and slightly lingering finish.

Overall rating: A

 

Drinking 'for Pete's sake' by duclaw.
Only got it because I needed ice and there was a minimum of $10. Purchase with a card.
It's not bad but I couldn't say it's good.

 

Now drinking yet ANOTHER beer from Urban Family, this is their Pineapple Milkshake Ale. It is an IPA brewed with milk sugar (lactose), pineapple fruit and juice, and Calypso hops.

5.5% ABV.

Pours a cloudy yellow with about a 1/2 finger head. Lots of sediment when held up to the light.

Aroma is pretty much straight up pineapple juice with some citrus from the hops as well. There is some resin and dank pine also, along with some soft and very faint bready malts, but overall this is very much like straight up pineapple juice in its aroma.

Flavor is very heavy on the pineapple, with some slight pine and herbal hop undertones present as well. Malts are next to non-existent in the mouth,

Mouthfeel is light, smooth and with an almost flat carbonation.

Overall rating: B+

 

Missipillian imperial red ale was the one I had that I couldn't think of.

 

Brandy whilst cooking.

 

Well, I somehow unexpectedly got my hands on a can of Tree House beer, and holy fuck the hype is most definitely real with this one. And this is not even considered to be one of their best beers (though is still very highly regarded), yet to me it is easily one of the best beers I have ever tasted, hands down. Absolutely fucking incredible!

So here's how the story goes. Christmas day I went over to my aunt and uncle's house. My uncle is originally from Massachusetts and recently went home to visit. My uncle, knowing I am a beer aficionado, started talking to me about beer after I brought over a 4-pack of Genesee's Salted Caramel Chocolate Porter. He mentioned his recent trip to Mass and how there is this brewery there he went to with his brother called Tree House. I immediately lit up when he mentioned it. A few minutes later he walks into the kitchen, only to return a few seconds later with a can of Tree House's 'Single Shot' in his hand. My reaction to being handed this beer was probably the highlight of the day, because I have been wanting to get my hands on one of their beers for a while now and I was not at all expecting this.

Single Shot is a coffee milk stout coming in at 6.4% ABV.

The beer pours a beautiful, creamy deep black color with about a finger of tan head.

The aroma is simply heavily with a huge aroma of fresh brewed coffee, dark and milk chocolate, brown sugar and vanilla bean.

The flavor was equally incredible with, again, just lots of nice coffee/espresso and chocolate flavors, coupled with flavors of rich, caramel malts and vanilla bean.

The mouthfeel is what really cements the greatness of this beer. It was incredibly smooth with a velvety mouthfeel that goes down like silk. The carbonation was very restrained, and the body was medium to full. The creaminess of this beer is also incredible.

Overall an amazing, amazing beer that I am fortunate to have tried. Now if only I can get my hands on more of their beers.

Overall rating: A+++

 

My neice isn't to far from tree house she thanked me for telling her about it but she wasn't down for Christmas. I will have to find out the next time she comes down and mention to bring a few bottles.

Drinking beam me up stouty from Saugatuck
Very good beer. Has a great coconut taste to it.

 

drinking coors, but I have some jublale to wash it down with. .can't drink all that much work night.

 

Their beers all come in cans, which is even better when it comes to transport.

 

Got the Guinness variety pack.
I'm not a big fan of the extra stout but I never had the west indie porter or the Dublin porter so I had to get it.
Both porters were pretty damn good. It's been a while since I had a purchase from Guinness and said it was worth the money. About damn time.
Finally got that resin from six point. Looking like I will have to wait until I get home to enjoy it though. I already have plenty of beers to last me until I get home...then again a can would be great on the train ride to the game tomorrow. Tough decision with that one.

 

The Resin is very good. A solid double IPA, but not nearly as good as the Puff.

 

I want to make a long list of the hardest beers to get and go wander around a beer store until someone asks if they can help me. And just see if I can get any of the tough ones. Or maybe even mix in a few discontinued for the he'll of it.

 

Drinking Oatsmobile from Bells. Good beer but below average for bells.
Drank the first one out of the bottle because I just got in and didn't want to do anything for a few minutes. I will see what difference we get in comparison to a pint glass.

 

Much more drinkable I'm a glass. But tastes watered down. I just realized they are clearly going for their version of budweiser. While it is a bit better than bud it is still made to taste like a macro swill. I may just drink the rest out of the bottle and save one bottle to display on my bar.

 

great lakes edmund porter .. delish ..

 

So yeah... that last time?
I totally went into SL and proceeded to get plastered while I went to a (virtual, of course) club where there was some good tunes and a lot of nudity.
Well, nude virtual avatars anyway, lol.

The fuckin point is... I got hammered on some mixed concoction I made that included moonshine and mojito... I think.

And now... I'm back for more drinkin again.
Tryin some new brews tonight.
Not sure what all I'll get to (I got an 8 pack "Microbrewery Collection" for Christmas), but here's where I'm starting...



(Alc. 6.9%)

Smellin: Hmm... it's bright with a whimsy of hops in the air. And hints of nuts and spices around the edges.

Tastin: A slight creamy texture, but with defined edges. It's bright, with an underlying (kinda) bitter bass line. Some lemon and grapefruit citrus notes on the high end. And I can't help but feel something is nutty in the mid-range.

Overall, a highly tasty brew! I'd easily drink this again... and probably more of them than I should at a given session. A good winter campfire beer.


(And now I'm catching up on the last couple pages of posts... and probably walking my dog in a sec...)