Creme Brulee (Imperial Milk Stout)
Southern Tier Brewing Company
Lakewood, NY
9.20% ABV
Style: American Double/Imperial Stout

C: Super Dark
H: BLACKKKKKKKK
N: Once again dessert in a glass; Toffee, Caramel, Sugar

The Ferm; Had this bad boy off draft from The Coffee District in Delray Beach. Served in a bad ass St. Bernardus “Pimp Cup” aka chalice. Like the Kuhnhenn which was reviewed yesterday this beer is just like shoving your face in a huge dish of Creme Brulee.
The taste of the beer follows to a tee the way it smells. Southern Tier could rename this beer Toffee because that flavor overpowers everything on the initial attack. Don’t get me wrong I like Toffee but JEEEZZZZZZ. Hints of caramel and coffee linger but nothing that stands out. This would be pretty challenging to drink a whole bomber by myself. Though I think I could handle it.
Overall I felt that the Kuhnhenn Creme Brulee was better simply because it was more balanced all around. Although I would not discount the Southern Tier version. They are both VERY GOOD!
Score: 4.160

Mokah
Southern Tier Brewing Co.
Lakewood, New York
11.00% ABV

C: Pours Clear, for a Dark Beer
H: Black
N: Tons of Chocolate and Coffee

HopScotch; Pours dark and sits black in my glass with a small, creamy, off-white head. The nose is a swirl of caramelized chocolate and espresso (more chocolate than espresso) with a suggestion of vanilla. Medium to full-bodied with laid-back carbonation. Sugary, malty, chocolaty flavor with a modest shot of espresso and a whisper of vanilla. Sweet mocha finish. Decadent. Luxurious. I would drink this one all day – every day – if I could pull it off without my liver crapping out on me in about a week and a half. World class beer!
Score: 4.3

The Ferm; Well I’m pretty sure we all remember what I thought about Choklat. If not just click HERE for the review of it.
This beer like Choklat has a strong, up front, and in your face nose. It is a perfect blend of Javah and Choklat in one beer. The nose follows straight through to the taste of this beer. It’s sexual. The mouth feel of the beer is smooth as silk and leaves a nice lining on your glass. It is a perfect sweet coffee stout. I personally could drink this year round. Buy it while it is out, since it is a limited release. It will age well till next years release.
Score; 4.712

Overall; 4.506

Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti
Great Divide Brewing Co.
Denver, Co.
9.50% ABV

C: Hard to see when the lights are off (beer is dark)
H: Dark as Night
N: Extremely Limited, Soft Chocolate and Roasted Malt

Kirk Diggler;
A: Roasted and chocolate malts (but very subdued), no hop/esther aromatics, I pulled a clean fresh oak aroma, but other than this, nothing stood out.
A: Pours black w/ a creamy chocolate brown head. The head is quickly dissipating, but very inviting at first pour.
F: Sweet chocolate malts upfront, no hop flavors perceived upfront, the balance is a great play between: smoky / chocolate / and coffee. Finishes with an oak / bitter hop quality.
M: The body is chewy w/ great carbonation/creamy feeling. One of the smoothes drinking beers in this style.
O: This was my first taste of something from the Yeti line and I was very impressed. I love the mouthfeel and appearance. When you see a chocolate/tan head on a beer it begs to be drank. The aromatics are pretty subdued. I would have liked to pull more from the aroma, but just as in nature, the yeti is a mysterious creature. If you manage to find one, you can try and catch it, but it’s probably gonna escape you. And when you try to tell your friends about it, they are just going to think you’re crazy until they get to try it for themselves.
Score; (4.7)

The Ferm; Ohh Yes another Chocolate Beer, but will this one live up to the taste of Southern Tier Choklat? I mean if any beer is going to be “Yeti”-like in rareity it is the Southern Tier Choklat because it taste just like chocolate. Ok, enough about another beer that I am in love with. I am here to talk about the Chocolate Yeti. Thanks to Evil Twin for bringing this one out to the tasting. I think this is a good time to remind people that “Beer People R Good People”. Anyways..
Poured super dark, and had little to no nose. Well I am not going to lie I dug right into this beer. The taste hit me upfront with some Dark Chocolate and hints of coffee. The body on this is “on-point”, great balance of thickness and carbonation, the mouth feel is perfect. The flavors blend so well together, and they get better with a bit of warmth. DAMN THIS IS GOOD. It is rare that a beer comes out with such a large distribution area that is soo damn good. Honestly to style it is up there with Choklat….I will hunt this Yeti down again and savor it again!
Score;4.799 (Same as Choklat)

Overall: 4.7495

Yep this upcoming week is American Craft Beer Week!

What is that? Well here is some history from American Craft Beer Week.
“Look for American Craft Beer Week promotions featuring craft brewers in breweries, restaurants, and better beer stores (There were more than 500 events in 2009.), become a fan of American Craft Beer Week on Facebook for more information on events around the country and toast the week with a delicious beer brewed by one of the over 1400 craft brewers in the US.

Small brewers are small businesses; they provide so much to their local communities and have reshaped American beer culture. On April 22, 2010, U.S. Congress began discussing House Resolution 1297 (PDF file) supporting the goals and ideals of American Craft Beer Week.
For the Homebrewers

Homebrewers, American Craft Beer Week has not forgotten about your role in helping us get 10,000 fans of American Craft Beer Week 2009. This year we have a homebrew recipe from the American Homebrewers Association’s Big Brew celebration. American Craft Beer Wheat can be brewed in early May, and then you can tap it May 17-23!.”

So what are you doing for Craft Beer Week? Well there is no reason why you should not celebrate this week, and no reading my blog (while appreciated) is not celebrating actively.

Here are some of the events in the local area this upcoming week!

Monday 05-17-2010
The Coffee District: Delray Beach; Weekly craft beer meetup. Bring a bottle of something rare to the area to share and enjoy good beer company.
Vine and Barley: Ft. Pierce; Terrapin Keg Tapping Party, 6pm, Come to the tapping of a few special Terrapin kegs; Oak-aged Wake-N-Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout and Terrapin ‘Side Project ‘Monk’s Revenge Double IPA/Belgian Tripel

Tuesday 05-18-2010
Boca Beer Lovers: TBA; This is a monthly meetup group that shares good beer (Google Boca Beer Lovers for more info)
BX Depot: Lake Worth; Avery Brewing – We will feature Maharaja and offer a tasting of some of their other beers.
The Coffee District: Delray Beach; Come meet the Founder & CEO of Harpoon, Rich Doyle. Specials and win some SWAG!

Wednesday 05-19-2010
Abraxus: Miami Beach; from 10-12 for their American Craft Beer Week edition of their Beers of Abraxas tasting. 12 – 3 oz. pours of their finest American Craft Beers for $15.
BX Depot: Lake Worth; Dogfish Head- Until we run out, we will compare “08 and ’09 Worldwide Stout and feature Aprihop on tap
Drinking Made Easy w/ Zane Lamprey; Ft. Lauderdale: Come witness the EPIC miracle himself Zane Lamprey from Three Sheets live on stage at the Culture Room

Thursday 05-20-2010
BX Depot: Lake Worth; Southern Tier- We will feature Oak Aged Unearthly and who knows what else will be poured
Whole Foods: Boca Raton; Join Matt “Can a brother get some samples?” Villei from Shipyard for a tasting at Whole Foods in Boca from 3-5pm. FREE!

Friday 05-21-2010
BX Depot: Lake Worth; Cigar City- We had to include this brewery in the mix as it is a Florida brewery- Can anyone Say Hunahpu Imperial Stout, we will have some pours of this delicious brew and maybe some glassware, and we are not done.
Total Wine: Boca Raton; If you missed him at Whole Foods you can catch Matt from Shipyard at Total Wine in Boca for a tasting of Shipyard and Sea Dog from 5-7pm

Saturday 05-22-2010
Abraxus: Miami Beach: HUGE Beer Tasting for only $20.00 which includes Food, Water and a sampling on beers. Also bring what you have and share with everyone!
BX Depot: Lake Worth; Amazing Beer Dinner; showcasing some great food and brews.

Remember that there are tons of bars carrying a great selection of Craft Beer. So check out The Lodge, The Funky Buddha, Charm City Burgers, Brother Tuckers, Trist, Bar Louie, Grease, Havana Hideout, and more!

So there you have it, if you can’t find something to do this upcoming week….well then I’m sorry…I tried! Have a Craft Beer and enjoy a week long celebration!

Slainte!

Sea Monster Imperial Stout – 2009
Ballast Point Brewing Company
San Diego, CA
7.00% ABV

C: Appears clear from the corners
H: Black
N: Chocolate, toffee and bourbon notes that warmed to espresso

KirkDiggler;
A: Chocolate, toffee and bourbon notes that warmed to espresso
A: Pours black with a ¼ “ tan head which quickly dissipated, no lacing.
F: Espresso and coffee upfront, burnt roasted malt and chocolate make up the rest of the flavor which is wonderful. I didn’t get any Hop Bitterness in the taste. The Espresso and Chocolate are in complete domination of the flavor profile.
M: The mouthfeel is thick, full bodied, and little carbonation.
O: This is a should have/must have in my book. If you are a fan of dark and sweet stouts, this is your money. Highly suggested if you find it: buy it, age it, drink it. Be sure to first sip cool, and let it warm so you can experience the full flavor profile.
Rating: 4.25

The Ferm; This is my first ever Ballast Point Beer, and it lives up to the hype that is talked about on the internet. This beer is smooth to drink and pleasant on the palate. The beer is just smacked full of flavor; coffee, chocolate, roasty malts, and some toffee flavors round this “monster of the sea” out. This is really the only beer I have had that smells similar to Choklat from Southern Tier. Wonderful tasting beer.
Score: 4.732

Overall: 4.491