#278: Port Brewing » Old Viscosity (Imperial Stout)

Port Brewing » Old Viscosity (Imperial Stout) | ABV: 10% | Rating: 8.8

I picked up this bottle of Old Viscosity online in 2013 or late 2012, after a highly colorful review of how thick and intense of a dark beer it is.

Old Visc pours up jet black as expected, crowed with a voluminous mocha head. The nose is unexpectedly milky for an oak-aged brew, full of oak notes as well with a touch of vanilla and cocoa.

Onto the palate, it's a bit more straight forward than the initial verbose description, though still a solid beer nevertheless. It's silky up front, easing into a deep, dark bitterness. The carbonation is far livelier than expected from a barrel aged brew. Roasted malts, mild coffee, and soft cocoa notes are present as well. Further through, distinct molasses and chocolate ice cream notes appear.

Overall, not as chewy as I'd expected, but still a weighty brew that is packed with dark bitterness.

#231: Shmaltz Brewing Co. » He'Brew Funky Jewbelation '14 (Strong Ale)

Shmaltz Brewing Company » He'Brew Funky Jewbelation 2014 (Strong Ale)
ABV: 9.4% | Rating: 9/10

This year's Funky Jewbelation blends up...

Jewbelation Fifteen (Aged 18 months)
Messiah (Age 3 months)
Bittersweet Lenny's RIPA (Aged 12 months)
Reunion (Aged 6 months)
Origin (Aged 6 months)
Rejewvenator (Aged 6 months)
Death of a Contract Brewer (Aged 4 months)

...aged 35% in bourbon barrels and 65% inf rye whiskey barrels.

Presented as a dark, murky brown with an ever-staying ring of off-white head; a huge, boozy nose kicks this year's Jewbelation off with a bang, touched with cherry and dates. The flavors follow suit and are surprisingly and deliciously sour.

Big, bold, sour dark-cherry bliss right here. It's chewy, intense, but expertly well-balanced. The best quick comparison I could give on this is an American Strong Ale and Oud Bruin hybrid.  It finishes up dry, with plentiful dark fruits including cherry and pomegranate, with a touch of champagne and a healthy hint of rye and bourbon.

Overall, it's considerably more fruity and sour than 2013 and less of a booze-heavy sipper. A tasty, strong/sour hybrid.

#061: Middle Ages Brewing » Mayan Apocalypse (American Strong Ale)

For the end of days...

The Brewery: Middle Ages Brewing (Syracuse, NY)
The Brew: Mayan Apocalypse (American Strong Ale)
Availability: Draft & cask only (very limited)
ABV: 8.9%
Rating: 9.3/10
Location: J. Ryan's Pub (Syracuse)

The Story? After the palate wrecking hops of Evil Twin's Molotov Cocktail, I was in the mood to hop to the other side of the spectrum. I've always been pleased with Middle Ages' cask offerings at J. Ryan's so I figured for $4 I really couldn't go wrong...

The Beer? A fine, smooth pour of perfectly low-carbonated hazy goodness topped with a creamy crown of head. Even as the glass heads to my mouth I catch a whiff of sweet alcohol.

A plethora of sweet malty goodness, heavy creamy mouthfeel, bold raisin and booze blooms across my palate. A real hop-killer right here and great follow up. Overall, it's quite potent and in a blind test I'd put this in the same barrel as some of my go-to, quality old ales. This works exceptionally well on cask too. Perfectly old, strong, and modern all at the same time. Probably the best deal I've had on a pint in months.

There's very little information on this one, so feel free to comment if you have more details on malts, hops, and process.

I'm glad luck was in the wind, so I could participate in this final cask of Mayan Apocalypse,  which was originally released on December 21st, 2012. Relatively pleases we're all still here too (well... most of us, haha).  Cheers!

Quicky!:New England's 668 The Neighbor of the Beast & Ommegang Scythe & Sickle

An evening off among fiends and home made food along with New England Brewing Co.'s 668 Neighbor Of The Beast and Ommegang's Scythe & Sickle. Two vastly different Belgian style American brews the former is strong, golden ale with some very unique elements. The latter, a variation on a harvest ale featuring rye, oats, wheat, and barley for a subtly complex, drinkable fall offereing.