Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head - Life and Limb

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head - Life and Limb
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Chico, CA USA
Est. 1980
www.sierranevada.com
http://www.sierranevada.com/about/content/life-limb_release.pdf  

Dogfish Head - Shelter Pale Ale
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
6 Cannery Village Center
Milton, DE USA
Est. 1995
www.dogfish.com
www.dogfish.com/community/news/press-releases/life-limb/limb-life-brews-at-sierra-nevada.htm 

Brain Damage Quotient = 10.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 24.0

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark brown color.
Roasty malt aromas with caramelized candy sweet smell..
Slightly less than one finger of foamy tan head.
Not much head retention, but there are scant 'legs' of lace like in distilled products.
Dried fruity taste with immediate bit of sourness that immediately smooths to maple sweetness.
More grassy sweetness from the birch syrup and a slight nutty finish with a small bite of hops.
Medium carbonation.
Medium bodied mouth feel. Very smooth and balanced. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Good things happen when good people come together with a passion for beer.  Ken Grossman and Sam Calagione of Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head breweries have come up with this collaborative strong ale.  Made from exotic things such as pure maple syrup from Sam's family farm in Massachusetts and estate barley grown by Ken's "farm" at the brewery in Chico.  Not your ordinary ingredients in beers and ales, but we aren't talking about your ordinary brewers here.

The counterpart to this brew was "Limb and Life", made from the second runnings and brewed to an ABV of 5%, or half that of its bigger brother.  Limb and Life was available in select locations on tap and meant to be the session ale whereas Life and Limb was meant to be sipped.  I was fortunate to be in the store when their one and only carton of Life and Limb was opened.  I have been relishing sampling this bottle for several months now.

This ale has a unique taste.  I am glad to have aged it for several months so all those flavors could commingle.  It would make a wonderful after dinner sipper.  It goes equally well on a sunny, lazy Sunday afternoon, which is how the gang and I enjoyed it.

As The Reaper,  it's my job to know about life and limb, but it appears these two beer maestros were able to drop some knowledge on me with their "Life and Limb"  Muahahaha.  See if you can't still get your hands on this while it may still be available.