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thirsty thursdays
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
Short's Soft Parade. You've had it. Bitches love that shit. Unfortunately, however, they have no idea what they're drinking. They just "want something fruity that isn't really like a beer.". Au contraire, mon cheri, it's still very much a beer you're drinking. In fact, it's a rye beer so it's even more beer than you realize. Included in that rye wort is 200 pounds of pureed strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. On paper this is very much a beer but once it's in your face hole it feels more like a wine. At 7.5% abv this is still a kick in the groin region (that's right ladies, it's no longer 9%). Not the best fruit beer you could come across, especially if you live in the Mitten (the only place Short's distributes their beer to), but it sure is good. Guy's it's okay to order this beer too. Don't worry, you won't ever see your bartender roll his eyes at you. Cheers!
Beer Advocate: 82/85
Rate Beer: 68/91
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
American Pale Ale. Not quite an IPA, but some come damn near. If you live near Indiana you're fortunate enough to get a hold of one of the better representations of the style. Three Floyd's Zombie Dust. This beer showcases the Citra hop and while it's only 50 ibu, it's still very full bodied, aromatic and hoppy. Citra hops are just what they sound like, giving off orange and grapefruit aromas. Three Floyd's doesn't have a far distribution, as they are still a fairly smaller brewery, so if you're ever travelling to the Chicago area I'd suggest making a detour. They make other amazing beers but this is made year round and it's worth the trip. Drink This beer for breakfast.
Cheers! -Dave
Beer Advocate: 100
Rate Beer: 100
Hoppy and roasty. Think big coffee porter style but also with a large focus on the hop profile. American black ales or, black ipa's, when done well can empart a huge amount of flavors. Stone's Sublimely self-righteous black ipa nails this style and luckily it's available year round. Roasted malts give the toffee, coffee notes while the large amount of hops bring out juicy grapefruit. Big abv at 8.7. This beer hits every time and pairs great with damn near anything barbequed. Most places that carry Stone's beers can get this if they don't already carry it. You should probably already be drinking this. Cheers! -Dave
Beer advocate: 94
Ratebeer: 100
I have to tell you about Evil Twin's two Jesus stouts. First, Even More Jesus. The giant flavors of this stout keep up with any of the near mythical, once a year stouts from Founders or Goose Island. Deep colors, huge chocolate and coffee notes. Big abv, big mouth feel. It's a beer to savor. Brewed in limited quantities but this beer seems to be everywhere right now. Get your hands on this work of art. Had it? Loved it? Go big then, tough guy. Double Barrel Jesus awaits your confessions, with what seems like double the intense flavors of even more jesus. Both at 12% abv. Evil Twin makes all their beers at other breweries, every beer is a collaboration. This one is done with Westbrook Brewing, who make an incredible line of beers. Hunt these stouts down and grill something. Preferably something bloody. Praise Jebus!
Even More Jesus
Beer Advocate: 95
Rate Beer: 100
Double Barrel Jesus
Beer Advocate: 98
Rate Beer: 100
This one is for the ladies and dudes with vaginas. Only kidding, but really, this beer is fucking delish. Brewed with a shit-ton of fresh Michigan raspberries, it's not only refreshing but it keeps you wanting more and more. Not overly sweet, there's a huge malt bill to balance out the sour/tart from the berries. To hell with your summer shandy, with a 5.7% abv this is going to be my frequent lawn mowing beer this summer. You want to get real crazy? Pour yourself a glass of your favorite IPA and top it off with a bit of Rubaeus, thank me later. A seasonal release but you should be able to find this wherever finer beers are sold and poured. Cheers and mahalo! -Dave
Rate Beer: 99
Beer Advocate: 90
One of these will give you a buzz. Three of them might have you talking funny. Brewed by Trappist monks in the quadrupel style, abt12 is an incredible beer. Dark in color, heavy with flavors of dried fruits, sweeter, boozy... honestly, everyone who likes beer should try this beer. World-class ratings touts this beer as one of the best to be had, and with good reason. With a recipe centuries old, this beer was once brewed at an abbey where you could only get the beer if you visited the monastery in Belgium. Now, it's shared with the planet. With a 10% abv this is no session beer, but a sipper to be paired with finer foods. To be enjoyed as a treat for the pallet, not for the average bro belly.
If you try any of the beers I've blogged about, let this be the first. Try it cold, then try it room temperature, a whole new beast awakens. And for shits sake, buy some beer glasses and pour this mother in a tulip. Cheers and mahalo!
