Lagunitas Sucks

So I've probably written on more beers from Lagunitas than anyone, but, it's sort of hard not to talk about all of their work when it's some of the best around and certainly one of my top favorite breweries. For so many reasons beyond beer, too. So they have this seasonal release called Brown Shugga' and at one point in time they were setting out to make another yearly batch, but something didn't turn out quite right and what they had was an entirely different beast. They decided to call it Sucks, mostly as a joke that Lagunitas can't get anything right. Bunch of damn stoners. But, alas, as an accident they just so happened to create one of my favorite beers. But even it too, was to be released seasonally, Not anymore. Ladies and Gents, I give you the year-round, 32oz (that's 1 quart) of liquid gold. Sucks can now be found everywhere, forever. Thanks to the new Chicago brewery Lagunitas can keep up with their ever increasing demands. If you ever find yourself in Chicago with a spare several hours, do yourself a favor and go to the brewery. I promise you'll be blown away. Sucks is a cereal medley of grains; barley, rye, wheat and oats. Liberally dry hopped for dankness. I can't tell you what hops they use because, well, they don't tell anyone. Jerks. Just trust me, go drink a lot of this beer. Cheers!

My Score: 99

Rate Beer: 100

Beer Advocate: 97

THE MITTEN

It's coming whether we like it or not. That old-ass bitch, winter. I often like to stave off the brutal Michigan chill with beverages of the higher alcohol content variety. Including barley wines, quads and every once in a while, a cider. Hard ciders are gaining popularity at an insane speed here in the US and people are going nuts for them. Whether you think you have a gluten intolerance(you don't) or you just simply don't like beer, ciders are becoming the choice for a lot of people now. One cider I had tried last year simply blew me away as I had never heard of ciders being made this way. Aged in whiskey barrels. And why not? Beer is. Mead is. Virtue cider out of Fennville, MI makes tons of great ciders, but The Mitten just does a mouth good. A blend of seasons past ciders and fresh pressed cider brings not only tartness, but the unique qualities a whiskey barrel can impart. Vanilla, caramel and hints of oak mix with sweet and sour aged and fresh apples. It's one of life's perfect marriage of flavors. Pair with friends and fires. Oh, and donuts. Cheers!

Rate Beer: 96

My Score: 90

BEAN FLICKER

I like my blondes like I like my coffee... tasting like coffee. Bean Flicker by Odd Side Ales is sure to blow your mind a little. It's a blonde ale so it's translucent yellow in color but when you put it in your mouth your pallet is overcome with coffee. I don't know how they did it, but I'm glad they did. They removed all the gut heavy weight of a coffee stout but left the flavor and shoved it into a sessionable, easy drinking blonde. Perfect for a summer day and easy on the alcohol. Smooth on the pallet with light carbonation. A nose of vanilla, almost brownies. Pair this beer with more of these beers. They're tasty as hell. Cheers!

Beer Advocate: 87
Rate Beer: 95
My score: 84

Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw/Blue

Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer! A top of it's class Belgian dark strong ale brewed every year on the 24th of February to celebrate the birth of Charles the Fifth. Also known as Cuvée of the Emperor this exceptional beer is a special version of the Golden Carolus Classic, with a huge flavor profile and mysterious aromas added. Sweeter malts and elevated abv at 11% give this beer an almost wine sensation in the mouth. Kept with a cork and cage, perfect for sticking in your basement and forgetting about it for a year or so (but age-able for up to 10 years!). Shit, I'd get two and drink one fresh and sit on one. This is such an incredible, flavorful beer. Something that is so special it should  never be drank alone. Get someone you know who has never had anything bigger than a Bud light and let them have a glass. Not only will they be drunk before they know what hits them, they may fall in love with better beer! That's win/win in my book. Cheers!

 Rate Beer: 100 

Beer Advocate: 96

Thirsty Thursdays with Dave: Final Absolution

Simple, Dubbel and Tripel or Trippel, not triple. Tripel's have triple the amount of malt which give them a much higher abv. Big frothy heads, notes of cloves and bananas. Lightly hopped only for preservation, the bitterness is almost unnoticeable. Tripels finish with a spicy sweet taste but the mouth feel is light and easy, due to Belgian candy sugar. Despite the higher alcohol content, the best Tripels are the one's where you can't tell you're getting hammered until you stand up. Dragonmead brewery offers this in a nice light-proof box with Final Absolution. Keeping true to the style most often done by Trappist monks, Final Absolution is a fine example of an American-style tripel. Native to Michigan, found at all finer beer stores and the Vile Co. homebase fridge. Meant for sipping, if you're a girl. To be paired with cheeses and bbq'd meats or, just for those cold nights when the only warmth is the glowing laptop screen on your face... Cheers rubes!

Beer Advocate: 90 

Rate Beer: 94