Beer Tasting
Rather than spend the weekend alone in the house while my parents are away at my great uncle's funeral, I decided that I would make a visit to Chad's in College Station. I pointed out that I have easy access to a local Spec's store, giving me the ability to procure some harder to find beers that would be difficult or impossible to find in College Station. Chad was understandably very excited about this.
So I went to Spec's, and after a while just looking at their stunningly vast assortment of beer I made some selections, some of which had been suggested by Chad. I got us seven different varieties of beer, and drove up. We (Chad, Randy, Woot and I) went to Cazadore's before and it was great. Then we returned to Woot's place since it has two couches, a large TV and a DVD player and selection, while Chad has a 12" screen and no media devices.
We started off with the Brekenridge oatmeal stout. It was warm since the beers had not had a chance to chill much, but stouts are usually equally good warm. This was no exception. We all liked it. It's a good stout, but I like the Bridgeport Blackstrap better, and as far as oatmeal stouts, I've only had one other one before (Young's) and I think it was better as well.
Next on the list was the Sierra Nevada Bigfoot barleywine ale. It was very impressive, and probably my new favorite hoppy beer. Everyone agreed that it was a truly excellent brew, and it's too bad that they don't carry it at HEB. I think that they are now seriously considering ordering it online through Spec's. It's very similar to the Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA, the previous champion of hoppiness. All were in agreement that the Bigfoot was probably better, and it's much cheaper.
Next was the one that we had all been anticipating since it made its appearance. Packaged in a large ceramic jug (not glass, opaque clay), the Rogue Imperial IPA was next in line. I have to say that this is probably the best beer I've had. It was very well balanced and smooth. At more than $12 a bottle it would be an occasional purchase only.
After the powerfully alcoholic Bigfoot (9.6) and Imperial IPA (9.5) I kind of lost track of the order we were going in for the remainder of the beers. I think that we tried the Rogue chocolate stout next. It tasted exactly like a good dark chocolate. In fact, David (Woot's roommate) got out some dark chocolate that he had and we were able to compare them directly. Very close. We proceeded rapidly (probably too rapidly) to the Rogue hazelnut ale. I can't really remember that one as standing out very much. It was probably good, but next to all the other good beers that we were trying, this one didn't make an impression. That may also be because I had had a shot of Knob Creek and it was starting to kick in, adding to all the beer. I brought out the Brekenridge 471 IPA next. I recall that it was quite good, but not as good as the Sierra Nevada.
That concluded the tasting of new beers. I had also picked up a pack of Dogfish Head Raison d'Etre, one of my favorite beers, so I had one of those, rounding out the evening. I may have had one of the remaining Bigfoots... I can't be sure. We all rode back in Bobby's truck (he'd shown up at some point, but only had not been drinking). Considering how bad I felt today (having to cancel the ride I'd planned with Chad), future beer tastings will probably have fewer varieties of beers... I'm sure that mixing so many (strong) beers caused my body to be very unhappy with me.
So I went to Spec's, and after a while just looking at their stunningly vast assortment of beer I made some selections, some of which had been suggested by Chad. I got us seven different varieties of beer, and drove up. We (Chad, Randy, Woot and I) went to Cazadore's before and it was great. Then we returned to Woot's place since it has two couches, a large TV and a DVD player and selection, while Chad has a 12" screen and no media devices.
We started off with the Brekenridge oatmeal stout. It was warm since the beers had not had a chance to chill much, but stouts are usually equally good warm. This was no exception. We all liked it. It's a good stout, but I like the Bridgeport Blackstrap better, and as far as oatmeal stouts, I've only had one other one before (Young's) and I think it was better as well.
Next on the list was the Sierra Nevada Bigfoot barleywine ale. It was very impressive, and probably my new favorite hoppy beer. Everyone agreed that it was a truly excellent brew, and it's too bad that they don't carry it at HEB. I think that they are now seriously considering ordering it online through Spec's. It's very similar to the Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA, the previous champion of hoppiness. All were in agreement that the Bigfoot was probably better, and it's much cheaper.
Next was the one that we had all been anticipating since it made its appearance. Packaged in a large ceramic jug (not glass, opaque clay), the Rogue Imperial IPA was next in line. I have to say that this is probably the best beer I've had. It was very well balanced and smooth. At more than $12 a bottle it would be an occasional purchase only.
After the powerfully alcoholic Bigfoot (9.6) and Imperial IPA (9.5) I kind of lost track of the order we were going in for the remainder of the beers. I think that we tried the Rogue chocolate stout next. It tasted exactly like a good dark chocolate. In fact, David (Woot's roommate) got out some dark chocolate that he had and we were able to compare them directly. Very close. We proceeded rapidly (probably too rapidly) to the Rogue hazelnut ale. I can't really remember that one as standing out very much. It was probably good, but next to all the other good beers that we were trying, this one didn't make an impression. That may also be because I had had a shot of Knob Creek and it was starting to kick in, adding to all the beer. I brought out the Brekenridge 471 IPA next. I recall that it was quite good, but not as good as the Sierra Nevada.
That concluded the tasting of new beers. I had also picked up a pack of Dogfish Head Raison d'Etre, one of my favorite beers, so I had one of those, rounding out the evening. I may have had one of the remaining Bigfoots... I can't be sure. We all rode back in Bobby's truck (he'd shown up at some point, but only had not been drinking). Considering how bad I felt today (having to cancel the ride I'd planned with Chad), future beer tastings will probably have fewer varieties of beers... I'm sure that mixing so many (strong) beers caused my body to be very unhappy with me.