#235: Evil Twin Brewing » Bozo Beer (Imperial Stout)

Evil Twin Brewing » Bozo Beer (Imperial Stout) | ABV: 17.2% | Rating: 9.4/10

..

After a bit of an odd night on a far-too busy week, my partner and I decided to stay up a bit too late with great beer - in that way that you feel refreshed the next day, even though you got less sleep than you were supposed to. There's no messing around on a night like that, so we decided to bring out the big guns.

I'd somehow forgotten about Bozo's ludicrous 17.2% since picking it up several months back. I've had plenty of Stouts/Imperial Stouts brewed with coffee, but nothing like this.

Bozo starts up with a soft, roasted, stout nose with foreshadowing hints of chili, molasses and wood. Spilling over onto my palate, it's absolutely exclaim-worthy and delicious. Decadently smooth up front, silky & oily notes of chocolate and cocoa cascade with a rising flame of chili pepper heat.

More flavors keep peaking through - a mild nuttiness, faint cinnamon, robust roasted coffee, cane sugar and vanilla extract... even green pepper spice on the finish.

Despite all of this, Bozo is still surprisingly refreshing on a hot evening and masks the high ABV in stupendous way - in a blind test I'd put this at an 8.0%, tops. Damn good beer and absolutely recommended, especially those looking for a new, flooring experience.

#208: Jack's Abby Brewing / Evil Twin » Jack's Evil Brew (Schwarzbier)

Black

The Brewery: Jack's Abby (Farmington, MA) / Evil Twin (Denmark)
The Brew: Jack's Evil Brew (Schwarzbier)
Availability: Bottles/Draft (Limited - Brewed Once)
ABV: 5.20%
Rating: 8.9/10
Location: Home
Found: Fingerlakes Beverage Center

If you've been following the blog at all, you'll know Jack's Abby is one of my latest go-to breweries for smashing innovation and tradition, without loosing general drinkability and enjoyment. Partner that up with one of my favorite European and nomatic brewers (Evil Twin) and I'm going to buy your beer immediately. I'm also a sucker for a good schwarzbier.

As per it's type, Jack's Evil Brew serves up jet black, with a thick finger of ivory head. A surprisingly herbal nose of cut grass starts things off, augmented with sweet, woody, earthy and nutty notes. Intriguing...

As hoped, it's packed with flavor - nutty, roasted notes meld with mild cocoa for a malt-forward experience and a prickly, dry finish. Subtle, but present earthiness, a touch of hops, caramel, chocolate, and even herbal, tea-like notes all peak though.

Overall, an awesome brew if not just a touch peculiar.

Coming soon...

...to a blog near you. Evil Twin's Imperial Doughnut Break! 11.5% and brewed with a massive amount of doughnuts. 

#088: Evil Twin » Justin Blåbær (Berliner Weiss/Fruit Beer)

ZOMG is Blåbær fea4ver...

The Brewery: Evil Twin Brewing (Denmark)
The Brew: Justin Blåbær (Berliner Weiss/Fruit Beer)
Availability: Draft and 22 oz. bottles
ABV: 4.5%
Rating: 9.3/10
Location: Home
Found: Finger Lakes Beverage Center

The Story? As you may have deduced from some of my earlier posts, I'm a big fan of Evil Twin and Berliner Weisse beer. When I caught wind of this collaboration with Westbrook Brewing Co. (where it's brewed), despite it's insanely bizarre labeling and branding concept, it went high on my radar.

I just missed the boat TWICE enjoying this on tap in Vermont (taps of this kicked at two different bars in two different cities shortly before I arrived), but Finger Lakes Beverage Center (our newest supporter to the right of your screen) came to the rescue as usual, having stocked it just moments before I stopped in for a growler.

This particular Berliner Weiss is brewed with real blueberries, taking the Berliner Weisse mit Schuss tradition in a less syrupy direction. As many Evil Twin brews pack a serious punch of flavor, I know I'm in for a treat with this one.

The Beer? Blåbær immediately doesn't look like any other Berliner Weiss I've had yet - hazy, deep amber coloring crowed with white, fizzy head that has a light violet hue to it on first pour. The blueberries really enriched deepened the appearance of this typically golden, translucent beer.

The taste? BAM! Bright sour flavors of lemon, cherry, and blueberry slap the palate right out of the gate. Acetic and astringent on the tongue and taste, Blåbær hits like a fierce, further soured lambic.

In the second glass, the carbonation eases from prickly, to a fine effervescence and the tartness hits it's stride. The blueberries subtle flavor begin to peak through adding a through of sweetness while emphasizing the tartness, backed by firm yeast notes.

An excellent sour for the adventurous beer enthusiast and a steal for the price, especially compared with some of Evil Twin's line.

#060: Evil Twin Brewing » Molotov Cocktail (Imperial IPA)

Hop bomb and total annihilation of the senses...

The Brewery: Evil Twin Brewing (Denmark)

The Brew: Molotov Cocktail (Imperial IPA)

Availability: Draft and bottles 

ABV: 13.0%, IBU: (100+?)

Rating: 8/10

Location: J. Ryan's Pub (Syracuse)

The Story? It was that time of year again for my day-job's bi-annual meetings, but this time around, the whole week was moved to Syracuse. I like a change of pace, sign me up. Oh, and the first full night we're going to Dinosaur BBQ afterwords? Say no more.

After a day's worth of learning, reconnecting, and powerpoints; I unreluctantly devoured some of my favorite slabs of charred flesh, washed down with an Empire Brewing Amber and Syracuse Pale Ale from Middle Ages. Good food, drink, company, and conversation.

On the way to Dinosaur BBQ, I'd realized that my (so far) favorite pub in Syracuse, J. Ryan's Pub was only an 8 minute walk from DBBQ. I can swing that. I bet I could persuade a few others to enjoy one more round. On the walk back to the hotel from DBBQ, I realize we're going to pass within one block of JR's 69 glorious taps. Now it's just a sign. A few willing compatriots and I bolt in and begin to take in their encyclopedia of offerings when my eyes see two irresistible words - EVIL TWIN. 

For anyone unfamiliar, Evil Twin is based out of Denmark and is one of the largest gypsy brewing companies in the world. 

The Beer? I take a long sip and prepare myself for a mouthful of huge hop juice... "I've made a huge mistake."  Kidding, but in all seriousness, this is the hop equivalent of a hot-sauce drinking contest. Molotov Cocktail is an ultra, brutal IPA and the extreme of hop-head-only territory.

Dry, intense grapefruit and citrus rind dominate alongside piney resin, caramel and fleeting wisps of biscuit. This Evil Twin caries a heavy and full mouthfeel, giving way to a sweetness that almost peeks though, due in part to the high ABV, but is rather quickly slapped back into place by the immense hops.  

Curiously, this pure bitter nectar without a lot of hop heat. Instead, we have a slow sipping, palate wrecker of a brew with hints of tropic and citrus, buried in pine and pith which leaves a dessert velvet tongue in it's wake. 

While this one is obviously brewed to show the extremes of hop potential, there are some subtle complexities just out of reach. I'd be quite interested if Evil Twin ever oaked or barrel aged this one. A few additional subtlties could really fill this one out. It's a estimate to craft beer severity, but seems to lie just south of it's full potential.

Must-try for devoted hop disciples...

#047: Evil Twin - Femme Fatale Brett (IPA)

Birthday beer on draft...

The Brewery: Evil Twin (København, Denmark)
The Brew: Femme Fatale Brett
Availability: bottles and draft
ABV: 6.0%
Rating: 9/10
Location: Ithaca Coffee Co. (Triphammer)

The Story? My birthday was last weekend and amidst a flurry of shows, rehearsals, a myriad of bands and people coming by, through and sleeping at the house. On my actual birthday, I decided to take a 15 minute break alone and reflect on the last year with a quality drink before things got too crazy. Ithaca Coffee Co.'s Triphammer location has one of the more unique draft selections (while only 12 taps) in town. I'm usually there for a quick drink after work when there's something especially intriguing on tap as I'm rarely in that area during usual evening hours. So, with a day off and 15 minutes to kill and need to be in that area anyways, I figured there'd be something available to wet my whistle.

The Beer? Served on draft with a pinky finger of fluffy white head topping the liquid gold. Anyone venturing in to Coffee Co. will be blessed with James' deft pouring skills. Beautiful aesthetics are followed by a wonderful mouthfeel and incredible citrus hop and brett flavors.

Silky smooth and refreshing. Just enough Brett without overpowering the delicate balance of hops and mild malts while build the backbone of this mildly wild one.

Draft makes quite the difference on this one, having had the bottle version early in the year. Very fresh hop taste on tap. Through the glass a dry funk begins to emerge. An musty complexity, slowly rising amongst the fresh, citrusy hops.

The "brett" tag may leave some looking for an extreme, puckered, or heavily funked ale, but that's not what Evil Twin's aiming for on this one. Firm citrus notes, fresh hop bitterness, with mild sweetness and breadiness; all with a subtle lace of funk woven in. Not for those looking for an "extreme" brew, but for those seeking a unique, quality variation.