Being Belgian Beer #4

La Bavaisienne Bier de Garde

Similar to the previous saison, but with a more complex malt character and better balance.

Being Belgian Beer #3

De Ranke Saison -- very bitter. Quite different than the previous two.

Being Belgian Beer #2

Stille Nacht -- which happens to be the first beer in the advent calendar too.

1st food course

Meat, cheese and veggies. Yummeh!

Being Belgian Beer #1

I probably won't say too much about the beers as we go. This is the first one -- it's a Swiss "after ski" ale, served warm (!). Surprisingly tasty.

Being Belgian #7

It's time again for the big Belgian beer/food extravaganza. Good times ahead this evening!

Beer Advent Day 1!

It's the first day of Advent, so here's the first beer.

It's Stille Nacht from De Dolle Brouwers in Belgium. 12%abv, 0.33 liter bottle, bottled October 2009.

I've never had it before, so I'm looking forward to trying it tonight!

Speaking of Advent...

Just a quick reminder of the beers from last year to get us prepped for the bounty of daily beer awesomeness to come...

Happy Thanksgiving

After a couple days of cold and snow, turkey day cleared and warmed up a smidge. Beautiful scenery and good weather are two of many things, including the annual beer advent calendar starting Sunday, to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

No more cast

I just have to wear this thing for a few more weeks. At least I can take it off for showering.

Wreck The Halls

Hoppy Holiday Ale
Full Sail Brewing, Hood River, Oregon
22oz bottle, 6.5%abv

This one is better than the last, but still not super. Billed on the label as a "sublime hybrid of an american IPA and a winter warmer" -- it's not really sublime, and I'm not really getting much of the hybrid bit either. If they simply billed it as an American IPA, it would be a good beer. It's all hops, both in the nose and taste, with little body or spiciness.

It's a tasty beer, it just really doesn't feel like it fits well in the winter category.

Old Humbug Winter Ale

Southern Oregon Brewing, Medford, Oregon
22oz Bottle, 8.2%abv

This is meh. Color is dark and clear. Light head dissipates quickly. Slight malt aroma but not really a ton of anything in the nose. There's is a hint of paper in the nose. Flavor is sort of "off" with more paper notes. There's a dry, bitter finish, but the bitterness is a bit harsh.

Overall not impressed.

Bear Republic Tribute Brown Ale

American Brown Ale
22oz bottle, 6.3%abv
Bear Republic Brewing, Healdsburg, CA

Pours dark brown with a medium tan head.

Aroma is malty with subtle hops.

Flavor is strongly malty, with a solid hit of roastiness that hits immediately.

Finishes nicely dry and balanced but not overly bitter.

A very nice American Brown from the republic of bears.

Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron

Brown Ale aged in palo santo wooden casks.
Dogfish Head Brewing, Milton Delaware.
12%abv, 12 oz bottle

This is super yummy. Pours thick and black with a nice dark brown head. Aroma is lots of malt with some great vanilla and caramel notes. Nice rich mouthfeel but surprisingly drinkable for as crazy strong as it is.

Highly recommended.

The verdict is in...

and my wrist is broken. I'm sentenced to 17 more days in a cast. At least I get it off before Thanksgiving.

And since I had to get another cast -- on election day -- I went with blue to support my side...

My name is Mud

"But call me Alowishus Devadander Abercrombie. That's long for mud, so I've been told..."

This moment of Primus-lyric-inspired-randomness brought to you by the first mud run of the Fall. I'm sure the novelty will wear off, but it was slippery mucky fun today.

Boil-ocity

The boil isn't as pretty, but once you add the hops it sure smells good...

Purdy

I love the way the foam looks on the wort just as it comes to a boil...

Diamond Knot Brown Ale

Diamond Knot Brewing, Mukilteo, Washington
22oz bottle, 6%abv

I'm in the middle of brewing, so this will be brief: this is a very good brown ale, you should try it.

Silver Moon Brown Eyes Ale

American brown ale brewed with molasses.
22oz bottle, 7.5% abv.
Silver Moon Brewing, Bend, Oregon.

My brother-in-law Stafford and I are brewing a batch of brown ale tomorrow, so we picked up a few different browns to try. This one is decent, nothing super special. A bit light in color, and a bit hoppy. More like the Ninkasi double red ale than a brown. Good, just not a great brown. Could have a bit more dark malt character to balance out the hops.