In beer news, I don't know how many of you are familiar with the site, Beer Advocate but if you want to learn about beer styles, where breweries or pubs are in your local area, beer in general, and even trade for something you really want (for you hard core brew junkies)--you need to check it out. I have an account under the name 38rakia, pretty much the same name on this blog, so if you find me on BA, drop me a friend request or whatever. They publish a magazine which you can subscribe to, or you can just explore the vast reviews on beer given by people like you and me, and that beer fanatic. I'm currently trying to trade for some Irish stout stuff with a guy in Delaware but I'm having a hard time finding Pliny the Elder down here, so if someone knows where I can get it, Bevmo does not carry it, I asked. Apparently Russian River doesn't wanna do business with them, so whatever. But anyway, if your looking for THE LAST BOTTLE OF DISSIDENT 2010! Or something along those lines, you can probably make a sweet trade for it. Reviews are helpful too.
Also, remember the Review on Baltika Number 9 last week? My mommy bought me this...
It's a pack of 3 Baltika's, Numbers 5-7, with a swanky glass! And it was like 8 bucks at Sunland Produce. So if you want to try Baltika and you need glasses for your new house/apartment or you collect glasses, then go buy it! Now, I had 5 and 6, but this isn't a review about them. Sorry.
Bevmo was where I went to get the Kona and Bitch creek, although they've got a five cent wine sale going on and it was pretty packed last night. However that didn't dissuade my dad (who wanted to stock up on wine) and I from going there. Bevmo had a sale on Bitch Creek and a few other things, including Kona.
Moving onto tastes...
Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale is a reddish color when it pours, hardly any head, it's a grassy hoppy smell. It's got this cool smooth finish at the end that makes it perfect for people who loathe the overload of hops in pale ale. It's got a mild hoppy flavor that's just right for what it is. I've noticed I'm more a Saison person, preferring Belgian Farmhouse style over anything else. But for a Pale ale, I'd drink this more. The brew is from Hawaii, which the island chain also hosts Maui Brewing too (which makes fine brews such as Coconut Porter and Beach Blonde) and I gotta say, the Hawaiians know what they're doin. Kona Fire Rock is a perfect summer beer, especially if your gonna be hanging out on the beach or having a bon fire or something. I had some Buttoni with this, which Pasta and Pale ale don't always work, but the Chicken and Prosciutto tortellini go great with this beer. Oddly enough. The company also makes Long Boarder and Pipeline (which is supposedly a limited release but it's still at Bevmo in huge amounts) which I gave out as a Christmas present this year after I got home from my brewtour. I like this beer, for the price, like 8.99/7.99 for a six pack, and you can find it at Ralphs of all places. Seriously. In La Crescenta, go to Ralphs, go to the beer section. Top shelf, next to Sam Adam's and Stone. Why it's over there I don't know, but it's there.
Bitch Creek ESB, the last part standing for "Extra Special Brown". It's from Idaho and it's brewed by Grand Teton, why it's called Bitch Creek, I have no idea and I suppose I could look it up but I'm feeling rather rushed considering it's supposed to SNOW here and my office is cold. It smells sweet and hoppy, now there's a fine layer of sediment that needs to settle after you pour it. At first I thought maybe I had gotten a bad batch of Bitch Creek but for whatever reason I remembered if wine has sediment, then beer could potentially have the same thing. I overlooked it and I'm glad I did, because it's basically just sediment, you'll live. Now the name, Extra Special is true. This beer is extra special and should be treated as such. It's a brown ale with a brown sugary taste which combines with IPA somehow, it's seriously the best of both worlds (a brown ale and an IPA) in a bottle. Which that beer is bottle treated, so you know it has to be perfect. Yeah if your sketchy about the residue because your a hypochondriac or you like jumping at shadows when it comes to food, then stay away from it because it'll just scare you. But you're seriously missing out. I have no idea what "bottle conditioned" means but I like it. I like it a lot. And I will save this six pack for special occasions. Seriously impressive. To me.
Now, my dad picked up a four pack of Coconut Porter from Maui brewing, because well, I wanted to try it. HOLY SH*T. So you're gettin a bonus review!
Yeah I'm drinking out of a Russian Standard Glass, so sue me. I buy Russian Standard from time to time and one time, they gave me some glasses. Yes, it's not a proper beer glass, but I wanted to see the color of the Coconut porter and you can't exactly see thru an aluminum can. For 8.99 a 4 pack, you may think that's pretty steep, and yeah, your probably right. BUT! You haven't had a porter until you've had this porter. Now, you'd think a coconut beer would be disgusting, sweet and creamy and just bleh. Not at all. It smells like a coffee coconut explosion inside a glass, it's a dark brown/black color. It tastes coffee-esque with just a hint of coconut. Not overpowering and not sickly sweet, it's a great form of Yin and Yang. Put this baby in the freezer and wait 10 minutes, you'll have a cold epic beer. It seriously exceeds expectations with it's quality and robust taste. It's like drinking a toasted coconut cream pie. It is pretty creamy, but not gross, it's just right. Like I said earlier, yeah the price is WOAH but it's totally worth the money. Especially if your going to the beach and you want to impress someone who loves coconut and beer, it gets cold fast and it's insanely good. This is more of a chick's beer though, which I don't think I've ever said that of any Porter. But this Porter is perfect for bitches who like they're little fruity cocktails, hand some socialite with no appreciation for beer a can of this. Teach them.
NEXT week Grasshoppa's...
Mississippi Mud! Porter & Pilsner! So I guess it's a Porner or a Pilster? Anyway, it was on sale at Bevmo in this ridiculous 1 quart container that looks like a moonshine bottle. Oh yeah, bringing out the Southern Roots!
And for the BG's, I'm going to attempt to find something. Since it's Martenitsa next week and such. Oh yeah, and those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, crash course in culture. Only involving beer. WOO!
See ya'll next week. Preferably Wednesday or something.
No comments:
Post a Comment