42/100) Founder's

I have set myself the goal to review three beers or ciders every week for 100 weeks. I will be learning about beer and ciders more as I do this, and if I am successful in this venture, I will have tried about 300 unique drinks. If you're curious how I'm doing, the number in the post's title tells you which week I am in now.

Black Rye, Curmudgeon, Breakfast Stout, Imperial Stout

I decided to mix it up with four "dark" beers from Founder's instead of just three. The most significant of the below is the Breakfast Stout because it below has two rare versions. They are the CBS and the KBS. The Canadian Breakfast Stout was aged in bourbon barrels that were prepped with Maple Syrup. The Kentucky Breakfast Stout was aged in bourbon barrels. Both are amazing. Just good luck finding a bottle of either anywhere. I've not had much luck.


Black Rye) A dry-hopped rye beer, this dark ale comes strong with a peppery nip from the rye and a wave of crisp bitterness just before the finish. Somewhere within its dark swirling depths, room for mild chocolaty and toffee touches mix in just enough to make this one enjoyable. I just wish the bottle had more personality. ☆☆☆

Curmudgeon) Despite it's name and face, this old ale is not a crusty codger but is more like your friendly grandpa with a slight sweet spot. The molasses has long since melted his heart and mellowed him through time spent in aging gracefully in oak barrels. I suggest having this on a cloudy, rainy, or otherwise gloomy day. The subtle flavors are sure to perk you up. ☆☆☆☆

Breakfast Stout) This may be weird for you to hear, but let this one warm up. The rich chocolate malts and solid coffee come through so much better if you wait a bit. While I'm not sure if I suggest actually having it with breakfast, it does go well with sweeter foods such as cakes, cupcakes, doughnuts, and pancakes. It's a true "for breakfast" stout. ☆☆☆☆

Imperial Stout) Somehow this one seemed more to me like a double porter than a stout. I know that the differences between a stout and a porter are really very subjective, but the emphasis on the roasted flavors bespoke more of what I am used to in a porter. That sort of quibbling aside, this one is silky smooth and rich with the aforementioned roasted backdrop. ☆☆☆☆

41/100) Dogfishhead

I have set myself the goal to review three beers or ciders every week for 100 weeks. I will be learning about beer and ciders more as I do this, and if I am successful in this venture, I will have tried about 300 unique drinks. If you're curious how I'm doing, the number in the post's title tells you which week I am in now.

90-minute imperial IPA, Beer Thousand, Midas Touch, Raison D'extra

Thanks to a friend who was gracious enough to snag me these bottles, I have now tried some of the "legendary" Dogfish Head fare. Aside from plain just knowing how to make amazing beers, they resurrect recipes to brew "ancient ales." From what I understand, that means they have even used amphora to brew beers.

90-minute imperial IPA) I am seriously going to have to start taking hop-heavy beers off my list of things to review. Piney, resiny, and yet very smooth, I only made it through a small glass of this beer before my taste buds were nuked. Don't let my two-star on this one fool you, it only means that I, personally, don't want to have another all that much. My hop-loving friends rave about this one, and for those of you curious, they also make a 60 and 120 minute versions. It's just not my style. ☆☆

Beer Thousand) Made with 10 different grains and 10 different hops, this beer was dialed to a 10% ABV. And that's how you get the name: 10x10x10 = Beer Thousand. The smell is like that of sauvingon grapes with a touch of peach and plum. The flavor tastes similar to that aroma, but there is more to it as a bit of a yeasty flavor rides in the background. A lot of complexity to this one, but a smooth easy finish. ☆☆☆☆

Midas Touch) So apt is the name that you could say that this beer is gold-touched. The pour is a golden apricot. The ingredients even include honey, muscat grapes, and saffron. The aroma is something like grape juice, but the taste is on a different plane. It's very easy to drink and no harsh nuggets of hop-originating bitterness. ☆☆☆☆

Raison D'extra) My attempts to describe this beer will not do it justice. It has characteristics of a brown ale, but the raisins -yes, there are tons of raisins in this beer - do something special to the finish. My only advice is let this baby warm up and sip it slowly. The flavors change and open up as it approaches to room temp. This is a truly upgraded raison de etre. ☆☆☆☆☆

40/100) North Coast Brewing Co. 2

I have set myself the goal to review three beers or ciders every week for 100 weeks. I will be learning about beer and ciders more as I do this, and if I am successful in this venture, I will have tried about 300 unique drinks. If you're curious how I'm doing, the number in the post's title tells you which week I am in now.

Scrimshaw, Old Stock Ale 2014, PranQster

After one week of North Coast, I just had to do a second. 'tis all.

Scrimshaw) so named for the practice of carving images into whale bones. This pilsner is German style and therefore was going to be a bit straightforward. Or so I thought. It pours a darkened yellow with a touch of orange and like the intricacies of a Scrimshaw, has just the right traces of browned malt flavors amidst sea of light, refreshing crested waves. ☆☆☆

Old Stock Ale 2014) Amazing. The magic word is "dark fruits." As the title suggests, this ale is meant to be socked away with the rest of your stock until whenever you feel is right. Mine wasn't aged long, maybe six months, but I can see how the flavors would mellow out over time. This is one beer that is barely worth describing because I suspect from one year's reserve to the next the flavors will be different. Tack on how much it can change over time and that is a lot of diversity in one beer. ☆☆☆☆

PranQster) This Belgian-style Golden Ale is very similar to La Merle in flavor but instead of being tart is nice and warm. I still marvel at the name though. Is this a prankster beer because it looks "light" but is very rich? I suggest springing it upon a friend and enjoying the reaction. ☆☆☆☆

39/100) North Coast Brewing Co.

I have set myself the goal to review three beers or ciders every week for 100 weeks. I will be learning about beer and ciders more as I do this, and if I am successful in this venture, I will have tried about 300 unique drinks. If you're curious how I'm doing, the number in the post's title tells you which week I am in now.

Brother Thelonius, Old Rasputin, La Merle

North Coast is legendary. They've been around since 1988 and over time have become very well established, distributing their beers to 47 states, parts of Europe, etc. And while I've even heard them touted as one of the top 10 breweries in the world, what caught my eye was the name: NorthCoast. I don't see California as all that North, but if you look at where they are situated, they are indeed settled in the Northern end of California in a place called Fort Bragg. I can only presume that is the origin of the name.

Brother Thelonius) so titled to honor Thelonious Monk, this abbey ale's sales support a Jazz school, a legacy of a musician with the same name. The bottle cover depicts a stylized image of that jazz master, and I hope you noticed the halo made of black and white piano keys. The beer itself pours a nice a brown-red and plays across your tongue as a malty masterpiece of bliss. ☆☆☆☆

Old Rasputin) The aged Russian mystic is brilliantly represented in this potent imperial stout. Pitch like his beard, it too holds a wealth of secrets. I thought is was a bit boozy and harsh on the finish, but the rich maltiness and thick mouthfeel won me over. I will have to see sometime if the barrel-aged version smooths out that crusty edge, but for now I'm still very satisfied. ☆☆☆☆

La Merle) This saison farmhouse is golden and great. For those of you who don't speak French - like me-, the name means "the blackbird." Perhaps the name is a reference to Poe's the Raven? Unfortunately for me and my literary fandom, not likely. However, it could be from "La Merle Noir" a piano and flute piece that encapsulates how much of a nuisance a black bird can be. The song is quite frustrating and jumpy unlike the smooth, tart traits of this beer. ☆☆☆☆

(This post was composed while listening to Thelonious's jams, by they way. I recommend Monk's Dream. The album is very soothing)