The Sixth Glass Quadruple Ale

Dark amber color and sweetness on the nose, what I call the "farmhouse" kind. That prepared me for this to suck. It has a sweetness, but the first thing you taste in your mouth is the ample bitterness. This is amazingly well balanced. And by about the 4th sip, the sweetness is not in your face, and it all blends well together. Can't wait until the 6th glass, but unfortunately, with just a single bottle, that has been dwelling in my fridge for quite awhile as it is, and a pint sized glass, I won't get but two. Must admit, the label has my knowledge of literature beat, so in both senses, I will still have to wonder what mysteries await in the sixth glass. Then again, I'd be stone drunk by then anyway, so . . . MB

25.4oz champagne bottle complete with cork & guard!, 10.5% ABV

No. 1 in the Smokestack Series by

Boulevard Brewing Company

Kansas City, MO

purchased at Kenwood

Pumpkin Ale

A simple pumpkin ale. Not too much for spices, but a natural pumpkin sorta flavor. More like eating my vegetables than a slice of pie! Ehh, it's ok. ID

12oz bottle
Smuttynose Brewing Co. Inc.
Portsmouth, NH
purchased at Kenwood

Theobroma

Another list of odd sounding ingredients from DFH but one learns to trust them. Complex. Good flavor as everything plays well together. Maybe spicy on the aftertaste.Almost a wine flavor to it, but not as pronounced as in their ales aged in wine barrels. Cacao is listed as the main drive for this recreation of an ancient drink of the americas, but I can't taste it. I've had too many beers with a strong chocolate flavor. Oh, there it is, subtle but the cocoa is there on my like 7th or 8th sip. It is just a pleasure to drink a beer like this. Exquisitely smooth, and not a bad flavor anywhere, with so many ways this could have gone weird. Even my girl likes it, and she is very particular, against weird things. Toast the ancients, and enjoy a godly experience! MB

25.4 oz bottle, 9% ABV

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Inc.

Milton, DE

purchased at Holiday Market

Loch Down Scotch Ale

Haven't had a scotch ale in years, and always avoid them when I see them, ever since having one at BW's in Indianapolis like 10 years ago. My friends were stopping off at the brewery on their way for a visit and asked what I'd like, so I answered with something to the effect of "anything you'll drink, I'll drink". So they show up with this and I just had to laugh, as they hit the rare beer that I'm not a fan of. That is, until I tried it. Maybe I had a bad one, because this scotch ale is very drinkable. Sweet, dark, and high octane, two of which are my favs! This is not the "watered down scotch whiskey" I had been using to describe the flavor of a scotch ale. I'm gonna have to take this style off my taboo list and stop being so closed-minded. A little sweet to be my new favorite, but this is a straight up solid drink! And inspires me to stop by Battle Creek instead of just blowing past on 94 as I always do and did twice this weekend. ID

12oz bottle, 8% ABV
Arcadia Brewing Company
Battle Creek, MI
purchased at Arcadia by Steve & Jean

Brown Shugga' Ale

Unavailable last year, so I've been waiting awhile for this. Sweet, but accompanied by their usual assault of flavor hops. Perfect way to start the holiday season. All around good stuff. Celebrate with this!  MB

12oz bottle, 51.1 IBU, 9.9% ABV
Lagunitas Brewing Company
Petaluma, CA
purchased at Holiday Market

Imperial Creme Brulee Stout

Dark burnt grain flavor is good, with a strong vanilla flavor on the aftertaste. Sometimes I like vanilla, but this is a bit overpowering. Mellows a bit as it airs. ID

22oz bottle, 9.6% ABV
Southern Tier Brewing Company
Lakewood, NY
purchased at Holiday Market

Topless Witch Baltic Porter

Definitely a porter, but tastes a bit salty, like the sea itself. I bought this bottle because at the brewpub  I thought I remember this having a crazy hop flavor like the Zombie Dust. But maybe I'm confusing this with one of the others I had that day. Not bad, but I'm not crazy over it. ID

22oz bomber, 52 IBU, 9% ABV
Three Floyds Brewing
Munster, IL
purchased at FFF

D.O.R.I.S. the Destroyer Double Imperial Stout

Dark and thick, barely carbonated with just the slightest dark brown head, lasting only a few seconds. Toasty and thick in the mouth with a hint of sweetness and an even smaller hint of chocolate. The acronym name stands for Double Oatmeal Russian Imperial Stout. A fine sipping brew! Just how I like my stouts. This one lays a layer of charred mud in your mouth, and should pack in a hell of a buzz! I'll say MB.

22oz bottle, 70 IBU, 10.5% ABV
Hoppin' Frog Brewing Company
Akron, OH,
purchased at Kenwood

Zombie Dust

Been waiting awhile to post this one. My new favorite ale and my dedicated house brew! When I first tasted this I was blown away by the unique hop flavor. FFF's Alpha King had been my long time favorite hoppy brew, dating way back, but they have outdone themselves with this one! I'll say again, one-of-a-kind hop flavor, balanced bitterness, and oh so drinkable. Not to mention absolutely awesome label art. Drink this beer, please! Wait, on second thought, don't do that, it's hard enough to get this one as it is, so get your hand off of my drink, fool! Ahhh, heavenly! MB

12oz bottle, 60 IBU, 6.4% ABV
Three Floyds Brewing
Munster, IN
purchased at FFF, when it's in stock! (fuck u FFF and your 2 case limit!, jk)

Jaw-Jacker Ale

A festive Fall pumpkin ale, as the label suggests. Sweet smelling, but very dry and refreshing. I was worried about too much sweetness, but this is very well composed! Tastes like a beer, not a dessert, just the right amount of sweetness, and excellent combination of the pumpkin spices. A must have for holiday gatherings and such. Pumpkin ale (not sure if actual pumpkin was used, but label says cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.) done right! MB

12oz bottle, 6% ABV
Arcadia Brewing Company
Battle Creek, MI
brought from Arcadia by Steve and Jean

Arctic Panzer Wolf Imperial IPA

Had this at the brewery, and now in a bottle at home. A hint of sweetness and some alcohol taste at the back of the throat. Pretty bitter, but I fear my bitter taste buds are getting worn out! Or else all the bitterness is just balanced due to how sweet this would otherwise be. Like this, as I do all FFF brews, but still hate that they don't put the particulars on the label, ugh. Anyway, this is pretty easy drinking for a high gravity brew. ID

22oz bomber, 100 IBU, 9.5% ABV
Three Floyds Brewing
Munster, IN
purchased at FFF

Whoo Hooo! Mobile Problem Resolved

The last couple of posts are not actually from today, but rather old posts that were caught in limbo on my phone as the Blogger app stopped working for the last 6 months or so. But all seems well and good now, so let's drink some beer!!

Summit Pilsener Bohemian Style

Grainy whiff and flavor. Like an Urquell but maybe with more grain. Suitably bitter so it all blends nice. Pleasant hot weather ale, when you demand some flavor in a light beer. Miller Lite can't hold a candle to this! ID

12 oz bottle
Summit Brewing Company
St. Paul, MN
purchased at Kenwood

Kostritzer Schwarzbier

Dark but very thin and dry. Slight coffee flavor and hint of sweetness at the back of the tongue. So easy going, I think I could drink the 3 liter boot on this one! MB

.5 L draft, 4.8% ABV
purchased at Prost! in Lincoln Park

Lazy Magnolia

Smooth and drinkable in large quantities, with great color and flavor. The first beer I've had tonight that I ordered again, so that's the reason for the post. A slight nutty sweet flavor of pecans, I think, or maybe I taste that only because the menu says it's there. But I definitely like this one! MB

16oz draft
Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company

Kiln, Mississippi
purchased at Lynch's Irish Pub, Jax Beach, FL