#288: Firestone Walker » Double DBA 2013 (Imperial Special Bitter)

Firestone Walker » Double DBA 2013 (Imperial Special Bitter) | ABV: 12% | IBUs: 29
I picked this Double version of Firestone's flagship, DBA back in the fall of 2013. I'm a big fan of their Proprietor's Vintage Series series, as so far everything from that line has aged well for me and DDBA is no exception.

Double DBA starts off with huge, pluming aromas of candi sugar & booze. Notes of bourbon, caramel, and toffee bloom from the glass. There's a touch of spice in the way back as well. Appearance-wise, It's a deep amber color with a ring of white head.

Onto the palate, it's a playground of rich complexity. New flavors boundlessly surge in and out of the spotlight - a rush of whiskey, then pepper, hops, honey, even wild herbs gallops across the palate, finishing with a firm heat in the chest. Further through, soft sage notes start to appear. It's all wrapped up with a hardy, full mouthfeel that's slightly sticky, but still well carbonated.

This Double DBA, bottle aged for a year and a quarter, is a complex and bold ride from a big beer.

Coming soon!

It still amazes me how vastly different the brand selection can be just a few cities over, even in the same state. Lunch at Blue Monk in Buffalo, meant a must-stop just a few blocks down to Village Beer Merchant, which last time didn't disappoint with finds like Madame Rose, Backwoods Bastard (draft) and other notable brews.

This time around, it's my frist pass at The Wild Beer Co., Maine's lauded Lunch, and the classic Leipziger Gose. Posts coming soon...

During checkout, I noticed an empty case box from BFM in the window and had to inquire if they had any in stock. My memory quickly blurred at the two other BFM offerings, when this 2006, Cuvee du 7eme anniversary ale came to my attention at a fantastic price. This will be an adventure at 8 years, but well worth it. Story coming soon...

#264: Bandwagon Brewery » Sour Blonde

Bandwagon Brewery » Sour Blonde (Aged - Wine Barrels, 4 Months)
ABV: 6.0% | Rating: 9.0

It's been... a while since I've posted about Bandwagon. Over the last year or so, I've personally found many of their draft offerings - their own and others - inconsistent, young, or even occasionally disappointing. I hate to hate on local, so I keep my blog mouth shut from time time to time. Their beers that are on, are really dead on, so I always keep a hopeful, open palate.

It was time for some post-birthday shenanigans with some very close friends who recently turned 21 and were up for exploring a bit of what downtown Ithaca had to offer for beer.

I snagged a flight of top notch brews from Cortland, Dogfish, Troegs, and the only flight that included this sour as I will always try a sour, from any brewer. I was glad I did this time around especially...

This fantastic sour kicks off with an earthy funk of Brett and backed up with firm, supportive malts. The funk really gets in there, in the nose, taste and exhale.

Notes of white peach, sour white grapes, and wet hay make for a killer tartness amongst heavy easters and a chalky dry finish. Way in the back there's even notes of sour dark cherries and red wine notes.

Once again, when Bandwagon is on, they are really on. A sour worth seeking out.

#241: Goose Island Beer Co. » Madame Rose 2012 (Flanders Oud Bruin)

Madame Rose 2012 (Flanders Oud Bruin) ABV: 7.1% | Rating: 9.3/10

At the end of June, I received a call from the IRS that was truly cause for celebration - Ithaca Underground, the organization I've been building for the last 6 years, had finally received 501(c)3 not-for-profit status. However, since it was just a verbal at the time, I needed to keep my lid shut for just a few more days, so it was time for some in-house celebration.

This Madame Rose is one of the first I picked up for aging while I was out in Buffalo a couple years back, so this seemed like the perfect choice to crack into and toast to. It's a Brown Ale, aged in French oak Cabernet Sauvignon barrels with Michigan cherries and Brettanomyces. I'm so ready...

Madame Rose  kicks off with a beautiful, velvety nose of tart cherries, oak, and red wine. There's a few slightly funky aromas of sour red grape and ripe red fruits peaking through with a sliver of brown sugar.

The body is a wonderful, ruby-brown with a quickly fading off-white head.

The taste is incredible and quite reminiscent of red wine, including a velvety dry finish. It's elegant, well-carbonated and full of tart fruits like dark cherries, with a hint of mild red apples. There's a touch of sweetness and the start of each sip with is a nice detail. The carbonation level is ideal to release the beautiful oak and red wine notes.

Overall, a wonderful effort. It's not the sourest, fruitiest Flanders out there, instead Madame Rose delivers a lively, lavish beer experience with a healthy dose of wild complexity.

#204: Vintage » Dogfish Head 120 (2007), Dogfish Head Midas Touch (2007), Stone Old Guardian (2008), Ithaca Beer Old Habit (2013)

This weekend ended up being inadvertently full of delicious, aged beer. From Fingerlakes Beverage Center taping Stone Brewing's 2008 Old Guardian, to two of our close friends sharing two bottles from their 2007 visit to Dogfish Head, and one of two bottles of Ithaca's Old Habit released last May.

Dogfish Head » Midas Touch - 2007 (Hybrid) | ABV: 9.0% | IBU: 12 |
Now a year-round offering, this classic Ancient Series offering is brewed with barley, white Muscat grapes, honey and saffron. After 8 years, it mellowed considerably. A calm, wine-like nose followed by flavors heading into the honey-liquor spectrum. Smooth, distinct honey sweetness coupled with notes of apple juice and fruit cocktail. I'm definitely going to age one of these myself... wonderful for a cold night in.

Dogfish Head » 120 Minute IPA - 2007 (Imperial IPA) | ABV: 15-20% | IBU: 120 |
Next up from the share box is DFH's top tier from their lauded, 'Minute' IPA series (denoting the length of the boil time of the wort in which the hops are continuously added). Normally an IPA is the last thing you're going to cellar, but with a monstrous ABV and IBU ranking, this one needs some time.

This 2007 120 pours up murky, with a huge super-boozed nose. The hops have lost most of their bitterness, but the strong hop heat remains. This is a strong ale in all sense of the word. Beautifully chewy, there's firm notes of raisin, burnt caramel, with a sweet spice to it, in the direction of cinnamon candy. Wow!

Stone Brewing » Old Guardian - 2007 (Barleywine) | ABV:  11.26% |
On Friday, I went in for a session beer and came out with the opposite. Fingerlakes Beverage Center has a handful of Barelywines aging, so I'm always intrigued as to what they'll pull out next.

This '08 is smooth at first. It's still decently carbonated for being 6 years old. The flavors build on eachother wonderfully, with a soft, rising heat without being as boozy as expected. Strong, bright citrus and tropical flavors blending with candi sugars with a big nose full of raisin auromas, which surprisingly don't make their way into the flavor spectrum. I could see this aging even longer.

Ithaca Beer Co. » Old Habit - 2013 (Rye Beer) | ABV: 9.0%
The youngest of the batch, Old Habit is brewed with four different rye malts and fresh centennial and crystal hops, then partly fermented in Rye Whiskey barrels.

It's by far the most pungent of the group, with sharp flavors, mildly reminding me of an Indian spice soda I once procured. Thick, chewy mouthfeel and a dark, ruby brown; this brew is packed with whiskey, oak, vanilla, and acrid fruits and nuts. A solid sipper, I'm looking forward to where the last bottle of this goes in the next few years.

#203: Firestone Walker Brewing Co. » Parabola (Russian Imperial Stout) & §ucaba (Barleywine)

Two barrel aged brews, cellar aged for an additional year...

The Brewery: Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (Paso Robles, CA)
The Brew: Parabola (Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout)
Availability: 22 oz bottle/very limited draft (Proprietor's Vintage Series)
ABV: 13%% | 82 IBUs
Rating: 9.8/10
Location: Home
Found: Fingerlakes Beverage Center

The Beer? 
Unboxed, unfoiled, and uncapped, Parabola serves up deep dark brow with almost no head.

The nose? Holy hell... you'll get drunk off the fumes on this one. Bold aromas of bourbon, vanilla, lots of milk, dark fruit and faint molasses set up an alluring beertopia.

On to the palate, it's heaven - dark, sweet, with a ton of booze heat, like some whiskey-malt nectar. The mouthfeel is silky, sticky with a substantial mouthcoat. Flavors of bourbon, coconut, raisin, and cane sugar swirl around throughout, with notes of toffee, coffee, and dark caramel rising.

An incredible, artful brew, and true "reserve" warranted territory.

_______________________________________________________________________

The Brewery: Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (Paso Robles, CA)
The Brew: §ucaba (Barrel Aged English-style Barleywine)
Availability: 22 oz bottle/very limited draft (Proprietor's Vintage Series)
ABV: 13%% | 42 IBUs
Rating: 9.9/10
Location: Home
Found: Fingerlakes Beverage Center

The Beer? 
I wanted to have these brews back to back nights, but work travel and a bit of a cold going around town, put this one off a few extra days of high anticipation.

Formerly known as Abacus, the oddly-monikered §ucaba pours out a murky, brown-ruby with a fast fading head. A huge, drunken nose, full of booze, raisin, vanilla, and candy sugar follows up.

The flavor is incredible - I'm marrying this beer. Dark and semi-sweet with a dry finish. Even being cellared for a year, there's still a touch of hops peaking through the hot alcohol punch. Faint citrus and tropical fruits are threaded through more prominent notes of plum, red apple & skin, and sarsaparilla. It's delightfully creamy and never silky or oily.

Another slam-dunk from FW's Proprietor's Vintage Series and a must try for Barleywine lovers.

#177: Bell's Brewery » Expedition Stout 2013 (Russian Imperial Stout)

One of the best...

The Brewery: Bell's Brewing (Kalamazoo, MI)
The Brew: Expedition Stout (Russian Imperial Stout)
Availability: Draft & Bottles (Limited)
ABV: 10.5%
Rating: 9.8/10
Location: Home
Found: Chicago

The Story? Back in the fall of 2012, thanks to my cousin Alex, I had my first taste of Bell's. He had a bottle of Bell's monstrous Expedition Stout from traveling earlier in the year. Fast forward to March of 2013 and picked up a six-pack while in Chicago. This Russian Imperial Stout is meant to be aged and so, I cracked into two of them to share upon the return home, but the rest went to the cellar.

10 months later, I had to see how things were progressing.

The Beer? Thick, lacy, hot-coco colored head tops Expedition's deep, dark, opaque brown body. Alluring aromas of sweet chocolate, dark fruit, and even soft hop citrus follow.

Huge, creamy chocolate flavors swirl around - sweet and wet at first, but quickly drying into baking coco, booze, and espresso. The mouthfeel is straight silk and far lighter than it should be for a beer with this much girth.

Expedition is completely exquisite with notes of vanilla, toffee, and bourbon rising in the second sip. A firm, bitter finish starts early and continues to build on itself. Earthy notes fill in further through. This roasted, slow sipper demands to be savored and not just because of the sheer 10.5% ABV, which instead is well masked by the rich, luxurious flavors. Towards the end, faint nods of licorice, anise and other herbs, and black tea finish off this deep darkness of a beer.

Overall, one of the best beers Bell's produces on a yearly basis and one of, if not the best 12 oz Imperial Stout. Highly recommended.

#175: Founders Brewing Co. » Devil Dancer 2012 & 2013 (Triple IPA)

The Brewery: Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, MI)
The Brew: Devil Dancer (Triple IPA)
Availability: Draft and bottles (Limited)
ABV: 12% | 112 IBUs

The Story? At the end of 2012, I'd realized I'd dragged my heals on picking up one of Founders boldest releases, Devil Dancer. But, low and behold, one lonely bottle remained at Ithaca Coffee Company. The neck label had somehow slipped off and adhered itself right over the barcode, which made the transaction a bit interesting. Arriving home, I felt there was something special about this bottle and decided to cellar it until the following year. Normally, I wouldn't age an IPA, but with such a high ABV and hop content, I figured it was worth a shot.

Flash forward to this past holiday season and my good friends at The Westy have a bottle of 2013 waiting for me. Time for a comparison to see how things change.

2012 | Rating: 9.4/10
The Beer: This Devil wastes no time kicking the gate down with a huge, pungent nose full of sweet raisin and fruitcake... and booze, of course. A ring of ivory head caps the deep, murky copper body.

Massive mouthfeel, dense body with plentiful flavors of dates and hot hops. Even with over a year of aging, firm hop bitterness is still present throughout. Awesomely boozy, silky, and sticky, heading into barleywine territory, but drier and more burly. All that wrapped up with a nice dry finish. Wonderful.

2013 | 9/10
The Beer: This year's Devil is similarly represented, but the ring of head is white and the body more of a murky light brown, neither having darkened with age yet. The nose is similar, but with more of the dry hop shining through and not nearly as pungent and boozy. Sweet raisin aromas are still quite present.

Flavor-wise, 2013 bursts out much brighter with a pine and resin finish. There's still distinct raisin notes and high malt and booze presence, but with more bitter and bright and less spice and depth.

Overall, fresh or aged, Devil Dancer is in the top of Founder's 12 oz. offerings, but in this bloggers opinion the aromas, spice, and sweeping complexity is worth the wait.

#148: Stone Brewing » Old Guardian Barley Wine (2012)

Stone's Old Guardian from last year emerges from the cellar...

The Brewery: Stone Brewing Co. (Escondido, CA)
The Brew:  Old Guardian Barley Wine (2012)
Availability:  Draft, 22 oz bottles (Classic, seasonal)
ABV: 11.6% | IBUs: 80
Rating: 9/10
Location: Home
Found: Fingerlakes Beverage Center

The Story? After getting a chance to see the Doctor Who' 50th Anniversary Spectacular in the theater on Monday and finally having a warm house to come home to, my partner and I were in a bit of a celebratory mood.

While I'm not as much of a fan of winter commutes as I used to be, I do look forward to one of my favorite seasonal styles - Barleywines. I grabbed this one from the cellar, let it cool a bit further and cracked into this delicious year-in-waiting brew.

The Beer? Old Guardian pours out a hazy, murky amber color with just a bit more than a ring of lacy head. Already, there's plenty of boozy raisin notes backed by big malts, an inviting earthiness, and hints of coco. This should be a great ride.

Flavor-wise, there is a straight-up honey finish, which is quite enjoyable. Smooth and chewy mouthfeel and despite the aging, has still retained pleasant hop character.

I prefer my barleywines on the English-style, less bitter side of things, which is why I aimed to age this one, that started out at an IBU of 80. And I'm glad I did.

In addition to the distinct honey notes on the finish, Old Guardian is a complex journey through golden and purple raisins, agave candy, and sugared grapefruit. Undeterred by the 11.6% ABV, the ester and booze notes are well hidden and isn't as much of a sipper as I'd imagined.

All in all, a sweet, smooth, and creamy experience all around. A creamy, malt-wallop with mild, balanced bitterness. Looking forward to the 2013 Smoked version that remains cellared.

#039: Ithaca Beer Co. - Cascazilla (Red Ale aged on bourbon soaked oak)

Cask night at Ithaca Beer Taproom!

The Brewery: Ithaca Beer Company (Ithaca, NY)
The Brew: Cascazilla (Red Ale aged on bourbon soaked oak)
Availability: Cask only (limited)
ABV: 7.3%
Rating: 8.5/10
Location: Ithaca Beer Taproom

The Story? On Monday, I received a note that a friend I hadn't seen in two years was going to be celebrating her birthday with a small crew at Ithaca Beer Taproom on Wednesday. Short notice... but, to hit IB on cask night? Twist my arm.

As with any short-run series and experimentation, Ithaca Beer's cask & 5-barrel series have had some real winners (see Black Mamba) and some less-memorable attempts, but they're always worth keeping up on. This weeks' phrase "Cascazilla aged on bourbon soaked oak" immediately caught my attention.

The Beer? For starters, we've got a fresh hop nose. It's dialed back from Cascazilla's usual ferocity, but as is to be expected from the cask and the oak. Now for the taste - nice smooth hops and very drinkable. Bourbon and oak we're an excellent experiment for one of my staple Ithaca brews.

A bit sweet at first, but then Cascazilla's dryness kicks in with noticeably (in perspective) more carbonation than in some of the other cask offerings, though nowhere near usual draft levels. The bourbon is mellow and eludes to vanilla extract, dancing around in the background.

This one really retains the hop beauty of Cascazilla in a subtler frame with mellowing of oak and semi-sweetening effects of the bourbon complexity.

#027: He'Brew Funky Jewbelation #8 2013 (American Strong Ale)

One of the most complex aged blends I've ever encountered...

The Brewery: Shmaltz Brewing Company (Brooklyn, NY)
The Brew: He'Brew Funky Jewbelation #8 2013 (American Strong Ale)
Availability: Bottles
ABV:  9.4% | IBUs: ?
Rating: 10/10
Location: Home

The Story? BeerStreetJournal put this one on my radar and it immediate went to the top 5 on my "Must Have" list for 2013. Why you ask? This beer is a blend of...

Jewbelation 15 (aged 7 and 10 months)
Origin Pomegranate Strong Ale (aged 11 months)
Bittersweet Lenny’s R.I.P.A. (aged 12 months)
Messiah Nut Brown Ale (aged 6 months)
Coney Island Lager (aged 12 months)
Albino Python (aged 3 months)

After blending, 55% of the batch is aged in Bourbon Barrels and the remaining 45% is aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels. Obviously, this beer will be intense... but will it work?

The Beer? Wow, I can smell this beer from the table! Booze and huge malts on the nose. Fruity too - bright with a hint of citrus.

This one is a sipper. Earthy, delicious sourness with raisin and sour apple notes. Very sweet. The Origin Pomegranate is very present, giving the beer a juicy mouthfeel. The Albino Python heaves the finish with a touch of dry spice.

Halfway through it starts to pick up strong notes akin to a winter/holiday warmer. Carrying on, bold tartness of cherry, molassas and bourbon continue to swell - even going so far as to pick up nose characteristics of Bourbon County. The final dredge brings peaks of the Rye Whiskey with sweet Bourbon finish.

Overall, a strikingly bold, adventurous beer. A rewarding experience for the price. Recommended.

#014: Stillwater Artisanal Ales - Debauched, Debutante, Jaded, & Hardly Barreto

Baltimore Beer stop #2...

Sunday we stopped in for brunch before preparing our bodies for Sleep, Converge, Margrudergrind, and more at Maryland Deathfest. With another long day ahead, good food and good beer were again in order.

The Story? Gypsy brewer Brian Strumke has been traveling the globe for the last 3 years, brewing conceptual beers at various breweries, similar to how Mikkeller and Evil Twin operate  Most of their ales fall somewhere on the saison/farmhouse/Belgian spectrum, but with innovative and creative experiments with herbs, wild yeasts, and a variety of aging techniques and barrels. The result is an ever-growing resume of complex, world-class creations with an expert hand for balance and nuance.

Since Brian doesn't have a physical brewery and Maryland laws restrict many aspects of being able to sell beer at breweries, the beautifully named Of Love & Regret is the home of many draught and rare bottles from Stillwater to be consumed on premise (some for take-away as well). A wonderful interior and fabulous staff with gourmet selections for foodies and beer lovers alike.

Debauched (Brunello): Scandinavian Farmhouse Ale | 6.7% ABV
I jumped right in while waiting for my Roast Ribeye French Dip (which was as amazing as it sounds), with a 375 mL bottle of Stillwater's Debauched - a Scandinavian Farmhouse ale brewed with whole Juniper bushes, aged for months in Spanish Brunello barrels, then re-fermented with multiple strains of Brettanomyces. I couldn't pass this one up and glad I didn't...

Huge sour nose of funk and tart right off the bat. Nice fluffy head. Low carbonation. Cool and smooth. Not over powering and a great, high-quality sour to start with.

Wet up front with a sneaky dry finish. Several sips in, the tart blurs into funk. Incredibly complex without being overwhelming, like a low-carbonation Champagne. Hints of lemon throughout with a big wet mouthfeel that is easy down.

Towards the end of the bottle we're met with a string of earthy funk flavors and a long musty finish. Beautiful.

Débutante: Farmhouse Ale | 6.4% ABV
My first draught of brunch. I ordered this in part as my partner's twin sisters were having a débutante-themed 16th birthday party the following day, which we'd be missing because of the trip. The other reason is it sounded wonderful and I am going to make my way through everything this man brews at some point.

To start, there's a light air of honey on the nose. Dry, prickly carbonation on the tongue. Very delicately spiced and incredibly well-balanced taste. Subtle is the name of the game with this one.  Almost bitter. Mild funk and fruit rind with honey comb - not honey sweet. Tart wheat finish.

Jaded: Wheat Saison | 9% ABV
Brewed in collaboration with Urbain Coutteau of De Struise Brouwers, this chestnut colored wheat saison is finished with rose hips, violets and jasmine.

An herbal wake-up beer! Much more in-your-face than my previous two glasses. Bright for a second, then it darkens up with some big malts. The jasmine, violet, and rose hips are superbly blended and balanced. Floral coating of the tongue with a dry finish. Complex pepper and nutty elements throughout. For an experienced pallet.

Hardly Barreto: Farmhouse Ale with Brett. | (unknown ABV)
This one was a special surprise. Brewed for Max's Taphouse owner Casey Hart's wedding, this brew is the aforementioned Débutante plus Brettanomyces. Twist my arm.

Immediate tangy brett on the nose. Bright taste and lively carbonation. Light mouthfeel with a mild funk. A pleasantly light sour for a special occasion. Not released to the public.


Overall a top-notch experience. Knowledgeable, approachable staff. Quick service. Robust tap selection of Stillwater and other local brews and similarly minded imports. One of the best gastropubs I've been to and will undoubtedly be visiting again.

Wishlist!: Sierra Nevada & Boulevard Brewing - Terra Incognito (Sour/Wild Ale)

Heavily hopped brown ale with 45% aged in old wine foudres and 30% in whiskey barrels. If that weren't enough, the real kicker is after blending, it's bottled with Brettanomyces. YUM.

The 2013 batch (coming soon) will be distributed by Boulevard Brewing, so unfortunately, I may have to wait until 2014 when that version goes out through Sierra Nevada's distro. If any one within Boulevard's distro region wants to trade... let's chat.

Thanks to the wonderful Beer Street Journal for putting this beauty on my radar.

Wishlist: Heavy Seas - Holy Sheet

Heavy Seas third installment of their Uncharted Waters Series is Holy Sheet - a 9.0% ABV Belgian style abbey ale spent time in a brandy barrel. Their Siren Noire is hanging out at the house now. Looking forward to giving it a friend later this month (May 2013).