BeerBorg

I am drinking an Abita Imperator Black IPA. Thanks Beer-lord for sending this one. It's good, not great, but good. I would rate it at an average Black IPA. And the reason I rate it that way is because I like my Black IPA's with little chocolate/roast character to it. I like them hoppy, like a normal IPA, just black in color. That's also why I like trying this style. Some breweries are real good at accomplishing that, and some are just average. This one has a fair amount of the chocolate/roast flavor too it. The hops are there, but somewhat covered up by the dark malts.

Thanks again for sending.

Samuel Smith Winter Warmer is my traditional start-of-winter-season beer. I started drinking them in '92 after being introduced to it by my international roomies at Disney U, and I've had one nearly every year since. It seems somewhat pedestrian now that I drink a lot of adventurous beers, but it's old-school traditional for me. And I think part of a great beer is sometimes the memories it invokes. That's definitely true in this case...

BlackDuck wrote:I am drinking an Abita Imperator Black IPA. Thanks Beer-lord for sending this one. It's good, not great, but good. I would rate it at an average Black IPA. And the reason I rate it that way is because I like my Black IPA's with little chocolate/roast character to it. I like them hoppy, like a normal IPA, just black in color. That's also why I like trying this style. Some breweries are real good at accomplishing that, and some are just average. This one has a fair amount of the chocolate/roast flavor too it. The hops are there, but somewhat covered up by the dark malts.

Thanks again for sending.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1415666065.667383.jpg

I think it was much better when it first came out only in draft. I think they may have changed hops or the recipe because it's just not the same. But everything Abita makes is just so-so for me. They are trying to hard to be middle of the road instead of taking the high way.

Big Al Brewing Time Capsule Brett IPA

swenocha wrote:And I think part of a great beer is sometimes the memories it invokes.

I think this is very true and well stated. Sometimes a so-so beer still is enjoyed because of the good times you recall when drinking it.

Summit Winter Ale.

Yeah, its that season here in Minnesota...22° and 5 inches of snow.

Already planning to visit the wife's grandma in Phoenix. What's the local craft beer scene like down in snow bird land? [emoji1]

Great night at the taproom. Went to try the new winter seasonal scotch ale, but there is a keg and a half of the fall seasonal still to kill (bummer). Well, i contributed to the cause and had a fall lager, but also had...


Sue

and...

Hop Project 80

sgtpeppr56 wrote:Summit Winter Ale.

Yeah, its that season here in Minnesota...22° and 5 inches of snow.

Already planning to visit the wife's grandma in Phoenix. What's the local craft beer scene like down in snow bird land? [emoji1]

kind of coolish here today also...only got in the low 70s

my Middletown Pale Ale

Working on a nice, warming bottle of Crown Royal.

My Kolsch that I tweaked for winter with Juniper and Munich. Excellent after a long ride...

The red is coming along nicely...

Went out last night and tried a bunch of stuff. Got a complimentary flight of four from the manager of the establishment, so tried 4 new brews (new to us). Trying to remember them:

- Arcadia Sky High Rye. First rye I can remember tasting, didn't care for it.
- Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA - 100% Apollo Hops. For an IPA it's probably fine, I'm not an IPA fan.
- Founder's Pale Ale on nitro - interesting. Most interesting of the four.
- Edit - remembered the 4th one. Short's White Falcon. A Belgian White with a very strong grapefruit after-taste.

Also tried Wolverine State Brewing's coffee flavored lager. Big coffee fan, not so much with this one.

Ended up drinking Founder's Porter (yum!) and the family had Bell's Christmas Ale. Nice night out.

Had a Sam Adams Cherry Wheat last night with dinner and was less than impressed. A bit of a cough syrup taste.

got my Middletown Pale Ale on tap

Drank the first Rick's Best Brown, the Bell's clone. Delicious!