Tuesday Tasting: Future Flavors

I don't have a new beer tasting for you today. However, I present you with what is to come. Behold: the future!

Two-stage brewing kit and porter recipe

With my remaining Flag Day funds, I stopped by the Grape and Granary and picked up my latest DIY project, a home brewing kit.

The kit includes a primary and secondary fermenting container, tubing, gaskets, whoseits, whatnots, thermometer, hydrometer, cleaning supplies, brewing manual, a bottle capper and caps. The store also sells its own prepackaged beer recipes, so I chose a porter for my first beer. The only thing I still need to buy is a brewing kettle (a five-gallon stainless steel pot).

I've already read through the brewing manual--some sections twice--which is more than I can say for this poor backburner'd book. In the coming weeks, I'll be updating on you on this latest experiment at Chez Enthusiastic-Viper.

I'm pretty sure nothing will explode. But I can't guarantee that the apartment won't have a foul odor while the wort transforms into delicious (I hope it's not poison) dark beer. Cheers!

For those of you who brew your own, feel free to impart your wisdom to a couple of first-timers.

Tuesday Tasting: Snaring the Monster

After falling for a red herring last week in the search for Lake Erie Monster, I had to track the beastly beer all the way back to its lair at Great Lakes Brewery.

Mmm ... nice lacing!

The Enthusiast and I had met my sibling and family at the Cleveland Zoo and headed to the Great Lakes brewpub for dinner (bratwurst and pirogies). And, of course, to finally sample Lake Erie Monster from the tap.

This unfiltered Imperial IPA has vibrant tinges of grapefruit. The hop bitterness tantalizes the taste buds beneath the citrusy sweetness. It is a smooth, yet full-bodied ale that gives no hint of its 9.1 percent ABV until its too late. I downed my first round and was halfway through my second when I realized, "Hey, maybe I should slow down so I can drive home."

I had actually snared the Monster in bottle form at the local fancypants grocer on Saturday as we watched Team USA not lose to England in their first game of the World Cup.

My first taste of the Monster was quite enjoyable. However, I pulled a Pepsi Challenge and drank a bottle at home after sampling it on draught at the brewery. It tasted like a totally different beer. The IBU profile seems to jump up from tap to bottle. The hops really punch through, nearing my too-hoppy boundary. Perhaps the Monster would be another good candidate for my first attempt at cellaring a beer.

At a Glance

• Who: Lake Erie Monster (Great Lakes Brewing Co.)
• What: 9.1 percent ABV, Imperial IPA, 12-ounce bottle, draught
  
• When: June 12-14, 2010
• Where: Home, Great Lakes Brewpub
• Why: I am Ahab, only better
  

Booze Hounds Beer Rating: 4.6 Hiccups (draught), 3.9 Hiccups (bottle)

[Drunkard's note: The Booze Hounds Beer Rating scale (0-5 Hiccups) is based on a complex mathematical formula that would be impossible to explain to such a dunderheaded audience. Let's just say the higher the score, the more likely I am to drink it again. Natty Light would get a zero.]

Tuesday Tasting: Sublimely Stoned

I almost had a brain fart on this one. I tried today's tasting sometime last week, when the Enthusiast and I had dinner with some of my familials, and the beer was so powerful that it nearly wiped itself from my memory.

The Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale by Stone Brewing Co. was on tap at my hometown pub, and apparently it's a rebrewing of Stone's 11th Anniversary Ale from 2007. Stone calls this a "black IPA," because, well, it looks black when poured.

Despite it's dark color, the Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale has a light body, with a citrusy bouquet, an upfront malty flavor, and a well-hopped finish. The hops in this beer are just shy of the too-hoppy boundary for my palate. (Though, the Enthusiast said the hops crossed the line.) I've read it described as "bittersweet," but I'd say it's the opposite -- the bitterness follows the sweet.

Boozer beware: At almost 9 percent ABV and served in a 22-ounce glass, the Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale lasted me the entire meal and set me afloat on the seas of tranquility. Another dose or two and I'd arrive at Blackout Island without passing go.

At a Glance

• Who: Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale (Stone Brewing Co.)
• What: 8.7 percent ABV, "black IPA," 22-ounce draught
  
• When: June 2, 2010
• Where: Ray's Place
• Why: Dinner pairing
  

Booze Hounds Beer Rating: 4.3 Hiccups

[Drunkard's note: The Booze Hounds Beer Rating scale (0-5 Hiccups) is based on a complex mathematical formula that would be impossible to explain to such a dunderheaded audience. Let's just say the higher the score, the more likely I am to drink it again. Natty Light would get a zero.]

Tuesday Tasting: Sierra Nevada Summerfest

Today's tasting selection was a recommendation by Jamoosh. A refreshing beer sounded like a perfect pairing to Saturday's pig roast party -- especially after a 10-mile trail run that morning.

I'm usually wary of "summer" brews because they tend to be too sweet for my palate. However, the Sierra Nevada Summerfest offers none of that mouth-puckering fruitiness you find in the likes of, say, Leinekugel's Summer Shandy.

At 5 percent ABV, this pilsner-style lager is not going to deliver you to the safe harbor of Blackout Island by itself. It wasn't until I was offered a taste of tutti-fruity moonshine that my sails caught the wind and took me where I wanted to go.

I will concur with Jamoosh and say that it is a nice refresher for a hot summer day, but it's not a heavy hitter by any means. Its light body and mildly hopped finish left me more full and bloated than happily buzzed after three-quarters of a 12-pack.

The beer did, however, clear my system fast enough for me to record a new personal best in Monday's 5-K to cap off a much improved month of running.

At a Glance

• Who: Summerfest (Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.)
• What: 5 percent ABV, pilsner-style lager, 12-pack
  
• When: May 29, 2010
• Where: Memorial Day weekend pig roast
• Why: Post-run, hot day refreshment
  

Booze Hounds Beer Rating: 3.9 Hiccups

[Drunkard's note: The Booze Hounds Beer Rating scale (0-5 Hiccups) is based on a complex mathematical formula that would be impossible to explain to such a dunderheaded audience. Let's just say the higher the score, the more likely I am to drink it again. Natty Light would get a zero.]

Breaking the Silence, Ending the Streak

Sorry to get all Half-Fast on you. You know how it goes. Work gets busy. Running is little to none. Blogging material escapes you. To make a short story longer, I didn't feel like blogging and now I do.

With deadlines met and my idle thoughts returning, I got back outside to run after a three-day break. Of course, I picked a day that was supposed to approach record temperatures. And so I picked a route that would keep me mostly in the shade, Hampton Hills.

I didn't feel like wearing shoes, but I also wasn't sure if my feet could handle my first barefoot run on rough trails so I brought along the Hippie Shoes just in case.

The trail I run at this park is kind of like a three-part course over 3.2 miles. The first part is in the woods on mostly smooth dirt, with a river crossing and a steep uphill. The second part is through a field of rolling hills and tall grass. The third part returns to the woods with less than smooth dirt and gravel and steep downhills and a few uphills.

My soles were fine and dandy until that third part. I left the huaraches in the car. My plan was to run one loop barefoot to see how it felt and grab the Hippie Shoes, if necessary, for a second loop. Oh yes, the footwear was necessary.

The jagged rocks and gravel, steep wood-plank steps and exposed roots tortured my feet during that final third of the trail. My form was already suffering from fatigue. I couldn't relax and adapt my footfalls to the terrain. But overall, I was happy with my longest toughest barefoot run yet.

After I grabbed my Hippie Shoes, I reversed route to find the Enthusiast and Dobson. I was hoping to run two loops for 6.4 miles, but my first lap was so slow that I didn't have time for a full second without making my companions wait. Instead, I ran to them and we all ran back to the trailhead -- about 5 miles total for the day.

And because I know my audience ...

Still cute after ruining your shoes ...

Beer Tasting Snapshots
I tried two new-to-me brews in the last week, but since I skipped my usual Tuesday post, I'll have to catch you up with a quick update:

Unibroue Terrible: Bubbly dark Belgian ale, 10.5 ABV, 4.4 Hiccups

New Holland Imperial Hatter: Well-balanced hops, 9.4 ABV, 4.2 Hiccups

[Drunkard's note: The Booze Hounds Beer Rating scale (0-5 Hiccups) is based on a complex mathematical formula that would be impossible to explain to such a dunderheaded audience. Let's just say the higher the score, the more likely I am to drink it again. If Natty Light is your control beer, mark it zero.]

Tuesday Tasting: Ithaca Ground Break

On her way home from winning the bread, the Enthusiast called to say she was stopping by the grocer and did I want any beer? But of course I did.

I've been itching to get a taste of Great Lakes' newest brew and asked her to pick up some Lake Erie Monster if the store had it and to surprise me if not. Thus, I was presented with the result of the latter situation, a sixer of Ithaca Ground Break, an American-style saison.

The Enthusiast chose this beer because she recently enjoyed Ithaca's Apricot Wheat and knew that I tend to enjoy the saisons. I can't fault that logic.

Ground Break is a seasonal, available from February to April, and weighs in at 6 percent ABV. It pours a golden orange in color with a thick frothy head. This beer suffers from a trend I've noticed in American brewing where the hops consume the flavor. And as a "springy" seasonal, what little flavor that did pop through was overly sweet.

The overwhelming sensation was fizzy, hoppy and sugary -- not tart like I expect from a saison. If that's your thing, go for it. But it doesn't suit my palate.

To me, the hops weigh down the usual light and refreshing quality I prefer from this style of beer. I guess that's why it's an "American-style" saison. What, does that mean in name only?

Maybe I'll "cellar" the rest to see if it gets better with age.

At a Glance

• Who: Ground Break (Ithaca Beer Co.)
• What: 6 percent ABV, American-style saison, six-pack
  
• When: May 17, 2010
• Where: The Viper Lair
• Why: Trying new things is my thing
  

Booze Hounds Beer Rating: 2.4 Hiccups

[Drunkard's note: The Booze Hounds Beer Rating scale (0-5 Hiccups) is based on a complex mathematical formula that would be impossible to explain to such a dunderheaded audience. Let's just say the higher the score, the more likely I am to drink it again. Natty Light would get a zero.]

Tuesday Tasting: Thirsty Dog Cerberus

Cerberus is the name of the fierce three-headed watchdog of the Underworld in Greek mythology. It is also the name of a 10-percent ABV Belgian trippel ale by Akron's own Thirsty Dog Brewing.

Were I Heracles, I would have put this beer in a headlock and wrestled Cerberus down to the ground before returning it to the depths of Hades. Were I Orpheus, I would have played my banjo for the beast and serenaded it into a mellow sleep. However, I were neither.

Cerberus pours a light golden color, and I shit you not my first whiff smelled of MGD. However, once the frothy head (nice lacing) settled, the smell seemed to change, more resembling a typical Belgian ale.

Sometime after my first Cerberus and before my last, the Enthusiast informed me that I smelled like cheap beer. This had me worried.

This beer was available at my local grocer in a four-pack, which I teased you with in yesterday's post. I paired this selection with a lamb pita roll from Aladdin's and drank it down during the Cavs playoff win over the Celtics last Friday -- one for each period.

Perhaps my consumption timeline was the culprit. Though the beer first smelled of genuine swill and made me smell like a cheap date at a frat party, the taste was quite pleasant. However, with such a high alcohol content, maybe I shouldn't have been guzzling it so fast.

Beware of hangover.

At a Glance

• Who: Cerberus (Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.)
• What: 10 percent ABV, Belgian trippel, four-pack ($12.99)
  
• When: May 7, 2010
• Where: The Viper Lair
• Why: Think global, drink local

Booze Hounds Beer Rating: 3.8 Hiccups

[Drunkard's note: The Booze Hounds Beer Rating scale (0-5 Hiccups) is based on a complex mathematical formula that would be impossible to explain to such a dunderheaded audience. Let's just say the higher the score, the more likely I am to drink it again. Natty Light would get a zero.]

Tuesday Tasting: Great Lakes Brewing Big Black Smoke

When I'm not busy drinking all the Belgian beers I can get my hands on, I'm slurping down porters at an enviable pace. Big Black Smoke is a Great Lakes Brewing Co. pub exclusive, which means you can only get the stuff if you get your ass up to Ohio City to the brewpup on Market Avenue. That's exactly what the Enthusiast and I did this past Saturday afternoon.

We had Big Black Smoke for the first time last year and were happy to see it again on the draught board. We sat at the bar and ordered two from the pleasantly nonchalant British barkeep. Then we sat there sipping our beers as we stared at the growler jugs directly in front of us. Beer to go? Why, yes, please. We'll take the big one!

Two local institutions, Great Lakes Brewing and Swensons.
If you could read the other glass, you would know THE PLACE to drink in my hometown.

Big Black Smoke is a 6.2 percent ABV porter with -- now, this might shock you -- a smoky malted flavor. See Billy, sometimes there is something in a name. This beer has big smoked flavor up front, but its sweet undertones balance it well.

The head is thick and frothy, but not as dark brown as you might expect from a porter with an emphasis on its roasted flavor. (For instance, the head is not as dark as Great Lakes regular Edmund Fitzgerald, which has more chocolate and coffee flavoring.)

The Enthusiast and I paired this with some barbecued chicken kabobs and boy-howdy was it good!

A Note on Growlers: You have to drink the whole thing once you open it, or the beer will go flat. I was hoping to get two days out of this one, but by the second day nary a head formed. Sad, but I drank it anyway.

Booze Hounds Beer Rating: 4.4 Hiccups

[Drunkard's note: The Booze Hounds Beer Rating scale (0-5 Hiccups) is based on a complex mathematical formula that would be impossible to explain to such a dunderheaded audience. Let's just say the higher the score, the more likely I am to drink it again. Natty Light would get a zero.]

Tuesday Tasting: Flying Dog Raging Bitch

A coworker told me about this brew on tap at the Lockview, one of those trendy grilled cheese places that seem to be the cat's ass these days--at least in Northeast Ohio (see also). When he described it to me I said, "It sounds like a cross between a Belgian ale and a 90 Minute IPA."

"That's actually a really good comparison," he said. I still stand by that statement after tasting the beer on Friday.

Flying Dog's Raging Bitch is an 8.3 percent ABV American IPA brewed with Belgian yeast (hence my dead-nut's-on assessment above) and was released in celebration of the brewery's 20th anniversary.

The Enthusiast and I tasted hints of the sour citrus, and the hoppy bitterness was very subdued until the finish. The sensation of drinking the Bitch was like eating a tart grapefruit.

The only issue was the cost. The Lockview had this at $8 a pint. Way overpriced. I have yet to price the beer at the grocer to gauge just how badly I was gouged at the Lockview, which is way overpriced in general. (If any of you have a price point for Raging Bitch in bottles, please speak up.)

Booze Hounds Beer Rating: 3.9 Hiccups

[Drunkard's note: The Booze Hounds Beer Rating scale (0-5 Hiccups) is based on a complex mathematical formula that would be impossible to explain to such a dunderheaded audience. Let's just say the higher the score, the more likely I am to drink it again. Natty Light would get a zero.]

Tuesday Tasting: Southern Tier Imperial Cherry Saison

This week's selection was courtesy of the Enthusiast, who picked up this 650-ml bottle on a trip to our local fancy pants grocer, West Point Market. This review has been in the hopper for a couple weeks as I had a plentiful spate of new brews recently, but not in the last week. I apologize if my taste bud memories are stale.

Southern Tier Imperial Cherry Saison is 8 percent ABV and has a sweet cherry aroma, but only a light hint of the fruit comes through in the flavor. It was incredibly carbonated, which gave it a light refreshing quality to offset the heavier alcohol content. However, the bubbles fizzed out the flavor a little too much. This would be a pleasant post-run beverage on a hot afternoon. And cherries are known for their restorative qualities, so bonus.

According to this news brief, this flavor was released in the summer of 2008 and the Southern Tier beers page doesn't mention it at all, which makes me wonder if it has been getting stale aging on the shelf since then. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Saison is another variety of Belgian ale, which has been a mainstay of my new tastings lately. I promise I'll get some variety in here soon. Or maybe I won't. It's my palate, I'll drink what I want to.

Booze Hounds Beer Rating: 3.6 Hiccups

[Drunkard's note: The Booze Hounds Beer Rating scale (0-5 Hiccups) is based on a complex mathematical formula that would be impossible to explain to such a dunderheaded audience. Let's just say the higher the score, the more likely I am to drink it again. Nitmos, do the math.]

Tuesday Tasting: Three Little Indians

Over the weekend, Gin hosted a small gathering to celebrate her return from India. For the occasion, she made some tasty Indian food and provided a smuggled batch of one of that country's best beer offerings, Kingfisher. To be safe, I decided to bring my own flavors, but I wanted to match her theme, so I picked a couple of India Pale Ales to wash down the curry.

Kingfisher Premium Lager: This is exactly the kind of beer you'd expect to find in India. A simple, light lager that would be refreshing on a hot summer day. Reminds me of the majority of Mexican and Asian beers on the market.

Left Hand Warrior IPA: I'm a big fan of Left Hand Milk Stout, so I decided to try out this 6.6 percent ABV offering, which is one of Left Hand's seasonal brews. The bitter hops are balanced well with the sweet malt flavors, but it didn't impress me as the Milk Stout did when I first had that. Maybe I'm just not in an IPA mood these days.

Otter Creek Imperial IPA: Compared to the Left Hand Warrior, this 11 percent ABV brew had a lot more of the fruity flavors that I associate with tasty IPAs. However, it was also quite a bit bitterer.

I don't know what it is about me and IPAs in recent tastings, but it gives me the bloat and a touch of the grumble gut. Back-to-back tastings of two IPAs was probably not a good way to get a proper feel for each of these beers. C'est la vie.

Booze Hounds Beer Rating: All better than Natty Light.

• Kingfisher: 2.4 Hiccups
• Warrior: 3.4 Hiccups
• Otter Creek: 3.3 Hiccups

[Drunkard's note: The Booze Hounds Beer Rating scale (0-5 Hiccups) is based on a complex mathematical formula that would be impossible to explain to such a dunderheaded audience. Let's just say the higher the score, the more likely I am to drink it again.]

Tuesday Tasting: Dobson's Olde English Imperial Stout

A long time ago, in a Brew Kettle far, far away ...


The Enemies of Mankind have usurped the language of brewing to employ it as an evil marketing campaign for awful beer. The aisles are heavily patrolled by "triple hops" and "craft style" options. But there is resistance.

The Viper's eldest sibling ventured off with a small battalion in rebellion against those who think beer is something to be taken lightly, something that can be purchased in a low-calorie option.

A growing population is rising up against tasteless brews, fortifying their encampments in their homes and at independent breweries. You can join them. However, you may find that making such a choice will lead to the dark side.

Behold, a new hope: Dobson's Olde English Imperial Stout, a bold and rich brew, with 9 percent ABV, recalling an era of peace, when beer was good.

OK, so perhaps it's obvious that I watched the Star Wars marathon on Spike (sorry, different Spike) this past weekend. Moving on.

The Brew Kettle is a brewpub in Strongsville, Ohio, that allows patrons to concoct their own beer. They provide a tutorial, the ingredients, and their facilities for you to mix up a batch of beer, and they to brew it for you. When the beer is done, you get about three cases of beer.

Sunday, I finally got to taste the stout my brother "brewed." He asked awhile ago to use a photo of Dobson for the label. Unfortunately, Dobson's photo shoot made him look "too cute" for the image he had in his mind, so he had to settle for what you see above.

The beer was surprisingly drinkable, with a slightly bitter aftertaste. The beer pours a deep black with a thick brown, frothy head. The high alcohol content gets devoured by the roasted flavors.

My father and I are still convinced that the Brew Kettle just dumps out whatever the customers put together and brew the beer themselves.

Booze Hounds Beer Rating: 4.1 Hiccups

[Drunkard's note: The Booze Hounds Beer Rating scale (0-5 Hiccups) is based on a complex mathematical formula that would be impossible to explain to such a dunderheaded audience. Let's just say the higher the score, the more likely I am to drink it again.]

Tuesday Tasting: Arcadia Ales Cereal Killer

Last week, I had cause to buy more beer, and in the effort to explore variety's spices, I picked up yet another beer I've never tried: Arcadia Ales Cereal Killer.

Cereal Killer is a 9.1 percent ABV English-style barleywine that is brewed in small batches and only available in November, which means it's been sitting on the shelf for at least three months. Had I done my research beforehand, I likely would have selected something else. But that would take away from the spontaneity of these tastings.

Furthermore, I am not usually a fan of barleywines, as I tend to find them too sweet. However, the description on the sixer (not the same as the one given on the website) reminded me of my own description of the Grimbergen Dubbel last week. I gave the Cereal Killer a try, hoping it would be a little different than other barleywines I've had.

I was wrong.

The flavors were overwhelmed by sweetness and the heavy alcohol flavor. The aftereffects of drinking this beer, aside from drunkenness, are the same as if you downed a whole bag of sugar-coated fruity gummy rings, which I did last night as I drove home from work, much to the chagrin of the Enthusiast. My mouth felt thick with syrup.

Arcadia Ales, which is based in Battle Creek, Mich., suggests that Cereal Killer is well-suited for the cellar to further age this brew, which will develop "more sherry-like flavors and aromas similar to a cask-aged port," according to the site.

I've never had the patience for cellaring beer, but perhaps it's time I gave it a try. It seems to have worked for Jamoosh. However, as I wasn't too keen on the Cereal Killer un-cellared, I don't have much motivation to buy it again to give it a try after a year or more of aging.

Booze Hounds Beer Rating: 1.7 Hiccups

[Drunkard's note: The Booze Hounds Beer Rating scale (0-5 Hiccups) is based on a complex mathematical formula that would be impossible to explain to such a dunderheaded audience. Let's just say the higher the score, the more likely I am to drink it again.]

Tuesday Tasting: Grimbergen Double Ale

Last Friday, after a work week of no running, I decided I deserved a tasty beverage to go along with an equally tasty dinner from Swenson's. The Enthusiast and I popped over to Acme No. 1 to peruse the beer aisle. My taste buds have lately leaned toward all things Belgian, and as luck would have it Acme had a sixer of Grimbergen Double Ale on sale.

Grimbergen Double Ale (or Dubbel) is brewed by Alken-Maes group, based in Waarloos, Belgium. it's a Trappist style ale and pours as a dark amber brown with a moderate and bubbly head. It weighs in at 6.5 percent ABV.

The flavor is sweet and malty, with a crisp tinge of tart fruitiness and a bit of a boozy undertone. It paired quite nicely with my Quarter Pounder Plus and Tater Puffs -- and especially the vanilla malt shake -- from Swenson's. The Grimbergen also helped me rest and relax Sunday night after my hilly nine-miler.

Booze Hounds Beer Rating: 3.5 Hiccups

[Drunkard's note: The Booze Hounds Beer Rating scale (0-5 Hiccups) is based on a complex mathematical formula that would be impossible to explain to such a dunderheaded audience. Let's just say the higher the score, the more likely I am to drink it again.]