Terrapin - Big Daddy Vlady's Russian Imperial Stout

Dead Reptile

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Big Daddy Vlady's Russian Imperial Stout
Side Project Volume 13
Terrapin Beer Company
265 Newton Bridge Road
Athens, GA USA
Est. 2002
www.terrapinbeer.com
 
Brain Damage Quotient = 10.25% ABV
Fluid Oz. = 22.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark as the night and pours with a thick viscosity.
Roasted malts, chocolate and a bit boozy on the nose.
Minimal one finger, tan colored head.
Strings of lacing stick to the glass.
Starts with sweet chocolate taste. Finishes with roasted malt flavors and slight twinge of alcohol.
Minimal carbonation.
Not too complex, but full bodied with a viscous mouth feel. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
From its gold foil neck label to the sinister looking comrade on the label, right down to the giant imperial hops marquee, you get the feeling this is going to have a lot going on in the bottle.  Thick, viscous and a creamy smooth taste melted on the tongue. Big Daddy Vlady's was a fairly good rendition of a Russian Imperial Stout.

We served this up in small snifters, though the bottle recommends shot glasses are also appropriate. No squabble there as the 10.25% ABV starts right in on you. This is great to imbibe on a winter's evening, preferably at home. And be sure to share, after all there's 22 oz. in that bomber. That's just what we did.

Remember, to commune with your friends, comrade!

St. Bernardus - Watou Tripel

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

St. Bernardus Watou Tripel
Brouwerij St. Bernard NV
Trappisenweg, Watou, Belgium
Est.1985

http://www.sintbernardus.be/en/beers.html

Brain Damage Quotient = 7.5 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 25.4 


Postmortem Brew Review 
Hazy yellow orange in color with golden hues.
Lots of honey and yeast aromas up front.
Creamy and frothy white head that settles down to a cover.
Bread and grains with sweet fruit notes on the palate.
Just the right amount of bubbly carbonation.
Delicious, pleasantly refreshing.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
From the land where the monks are happy, and it's no surprise why. Watou is named after the "burg" it hails from, though the folks at St. Bernardus have other tripels in their arsenal. This one is as good as any (or even better) that you'll find from any of the Belgium brew houses.

Watou. Even the name is fun to say. As in Watou gonna' hav' mon? As for me, I'll have another Watou Tripel. Praise to the monks and pass the ale.

Williams Brothers - Alba Scots Pine Ale

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Alba Scots Pine Ale
Williams Brothers Brewing Company
Brewed by Heather Ale Limited
FK10, 1NT
Alloa, UK Scotland
Est. 1988
www.heatherale.co.uk 

Brain Damage Quotient = 7.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 11.2

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark gold and clear in color.
Smell of fresh pine aromas; not hints, but rather real pine smell.
Off-white head dissipates rapidly and covers to wisp.
Some lacing down the side of the glass.
Bright pine flavors as if you are drinking the sap of a tree. Not much malt detected.
Modest carbonation.
Light to medium mouth feel. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
You've no doubt heard the word haggis. How many have looked up what it is? Mmmmmm, sounds delish! No??? Well, the Scottish are a little weird, but I can be weird-er. May I suggest a food and beer pairing?

As long as it's gonna be a Andrew Zimmern event menu-wise, let's keep the beer in the same region. Region of weirdness that is. Alba is a Scottish Gruit style beer, an ancient recipe that gathers those things directly from an area and combines them as a fermented concoction. While most IPA's tend to have characteristics of pine notes, Alba has actual sprigs of spruce and Scots pine thrown into the batch.  They are gathered fresh during the spring months.

The bottlers call this a "triple" style ale from a traditional Highland recipe. The Vikings brought us both haggis and Scottish Gruit. If it was good for those hardy souls, it should fortify us. Natural diet proponent Euell Gibbons once asked in a 1970's breakfast cereal commercial, "Ever eat a pine tree?" Well, now I can say that I have drunk one, at least. It's a bluuudy fresh piney baastaard!

Would I drink this again? Yes. Would I ever eat haggis? Uh, no thanks.

Odell - India Barley Wine

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

India Barley Wine
Odell Brewing Company
800 East Lincoln Avenue
Fort Collins, CO USA
Est. 1989
www.odellbrewing.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 9.7 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 25.4

Postmortem Brew Review
Light, hazy amber color.
A large amount of hops, followed by malt caramel and a touch of yeast aromas to the nose.
Short head disappears to a cover but leaves clingy lacing.
Soft, sweet malt taste, some bold hops and honey (?) sweetness.
Soft carbonation.
Full flavored, somewhat complex bodied. Even more flavorful as it warms. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 
I have had this aging for nearly one year. It was brought out in the company of great beer lovers.  All agreed it was an excellent sipper. Not a heavy handed barley wine, as some tend to be. Not overly complex, nor difficult to consume.  In fact, it was deceptively easy to drink at over 9% ABV. And did I mention the hops? That is where it gets its double identity (a.k.a India) as there are 68 IBU's of hop heat neatly tucked inside this barley wine.

So glad I was able to share with those that appreciate a well made ale. Kudos Odell!

Abita - Strawberry Harvest Lager

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Strawberry Harvest Lager
Abita Brewing Company, LLC
Abita Springs, LA USA
Est. 1986
www.abita.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0

Postmortem Brew Review
Brilliant golden color.
Wheat grains and bright hops along with berry and bready smells.
Two-finger bright white head that leaves nice amount of stringy lacing.
Delicious strawberry fresh sweetness that balances with the finishing hops.
Good amount of carbonation.
Light tartness.
Light mouth feel. Easy to drink at low ABV and brisk, refreshing taste.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
This is some crazy good brew. I love the strawberry flavor. It tastes so very fresh, not like some additive, and I should mention that it isn't over-the-top either. Just a simple lager with pilsener and wheat malts. And oh those strawberries. Very refreshing. Try this as a great switch from your everyday lager or wheat.

It's quickly becoming my go-to beer, at the pool or after mowing the cemetery lawn. Muah haaaa haaa haaa!

Abita - SOS (Save Our Shore)

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
SOS (Save Our Shore)
Abita Brewing Company, LLC
Abita Springs, LA USA
Est. 1986
www.abita.com
and
sos.abita.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 7.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0

Postmortem Brew Review
Brilliant golden color.
Wheat; bready aroma. Bright finishing hops noticed.
Two-finger bright white head that leaves ringed lacing.
Dry, tart wheat taste. Citrus (like tangerine) touches. Slightly acerbic on finish.
Modest amount of carbonation.
Light mouth feel.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
At the intersection of Mardi Gras and exaggerated gasoline prices, we find this wonderful Louisiana beer. A bright pilsener done with a twist; wheat instead of barley. An unusual 22 ounce pilsener weizen. Truly a Big Easy beer, if ever there was one.  As a side note, the finishing note of the beer and the the aftermath of the 2010 gulf oil spill, reveal a bitter finish. Poetic justice, Abita!

The idea for such a beer was created as a response to help with the community, suffering from the great oil spill from 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico, along the shores of Louisiana. For every bottle sold, Abita donates seventy five cents towards, "... the rescue and restoration of the environment, industry and individuals fighting to survive this disastrous oil spill."  Nice effort on their part. They have gone above and beyond by even creating a superb web page for all to view. You can help the cause by viewing it here at http://sos.abita.com/

Beautiful bottle, web page, beer and cause. Do visit them and see what you can do to help out.

Firestone Walker - California Pale 31

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

California Pale 31
Firestone Walker Brewing Company
1400 Ramada Drive
Paso Robles, CA USA
Est. 1996
www.firestonebeer.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.8 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Very light golden color.
Floral hops, some pine. Bready malts and bit of sweetness on the nose.
Very white head, bubbly, fizzy about one finger high, covers quickly to wisp.
Minimal amount of lacing present.
Light citrus hops taste, light malts.
Light and crisp bodied. Light mouth feel. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
A lot has been written about this brewer, heaping praise upon some of their unique seasonal brews as well as their year-rounders. So a lot of anticipation was had in opening the bottle. I have to say that I was underwhelmed at this pale ale.

I have never had the chance to try any Firestone Walker ales, as I live on the east coast of the US. This bottle was purchased along with their Union Jack IPA (awaiting obduction by the Reaper). Pale Ale 31 was not so hoppy, nor did it carry any significant ABV - and that is the prerogative of the brewer in keeping with the style. After all, I am merely a home brewer and know little compared to their vast brewing expertise. In all, it was a good drinking beer, but not at the expectation level, at least for me, of a west coast pale ale.  Not too exciting, but I could see this being a great session ale.

I am used to the west coast producing much hoppier pale ales, so my preconceived notions may need a quick ctrl-alt-del. I do look forward to the Union Jack. I have hopes of a hoppy experience. 

Bear Republic - Ricardo's Red Rocket Ale

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Ricardo's Red Rocket Ale
Bear Republic Brewing Company
345 Healdsburg Avenue
Healdsburg , CA USA
Est. 1995
www.bearrepublic.com 


Brain Damage Quotient = 6.8 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 


Postmortem Brew Review
Rootbeer color.
Smell of malt and vanilla sweetness on the nose.
Tan head, about one finger high, covers to wisp.
Fair amount of lacing down the side of the glass.
Vanilla taste flirts through the malt body.
Light to medium bodied mouth feel. 


Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Another from the trip out west, Bear Republic self brands this as "a bastardized Scottish style red ale..." that traces it's origins to their homebrew roots. Well what do you know? Here's a bastard that anyone can like! The overall brown body has tinges of ruby around the edge of the glass. The bottom of the glass had about two inches of this redness showing, making it look like a real rocket at takeoff.

Delicious malts and vanilla notes all around make this a superb tasting amber style ale. Wish I'd grabbed a sixer of this stuff. Now I know what to look for, when I take off for my next trip to the west coast.

Breckenridge - Pandora's Bock

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Pandora's Bock
Breckenridge Brewery
471 Kalamath Street
Denver, CO USA
Est. 1989
www.breckbrew.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 7.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Clear brown color on the pour. Reddish tints.
Smell of malt, some caramel and a bit of hops.
Tan head, about one finger high, covers to wisp.
Fair amount of spotted lacing on the side of the glass.
A bit malty at the start in taste, but finishes with a touch of caramel sweetness.
Lightly carbonated.
Light to medium bodied mouth feel. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
It's that time of the year.

"Dead" of winter.

My time- - -Bock time.

Bocks used to be the staple winter alternate in the dark days before the craft/micro brew revolution. Every brewery had one to switch up from the summer lagers. Many of you might not be able to remember the stone age of beer, pre 1985. I'm a relic.

Generally speaking, in today's fanatic microbrew climate, most drinkers might tend to dismiss them out of hand. Admittedly, they are not for everybody.  Fortunately, they don't have a large learning curve of enjoyment to realize if they are for you.

This one is a sleeper of a Bock. Pretty standard as far as Bocks go. Maltiness you expect, nothing over the top, uh, ohh, wait! 7.5% ABV! Well, a little something over the top, indeed! Tastes good; no alcohol present in the way of your enjoyment. And that ABV boost helps nudge you closer to the warm springtime ahead.

Help herald the end of winter's doldrums. Open Pandora's Bock and see what flys out. Remember, there was hope in the end. Now you're curious, too.

Big Sky - Montana Trout Slayer Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Montana Trout Slayer Ale
Big Sky Brewing Company
Missoula, MT USA
Est. 1995
www.bigskybrew.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.7 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0

Postmortem Brew Review
Golden to amber and clear colored.
Light wheat grain notes in the aroma with a twinge of hops.
Two-finger white frothy head. Slowly dissipates leaving stretchy strings of lace.
Satisfying hops flavor and delicious light wheat taste.
Moderate amount of carbonation.
Light and refreshing mouth feel. Super easy to session.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Big Sky - in a can. So many brewers are getting down to canning. A thing of beauty when it comes to chilling, transporting and preserving great beer. And, by no means is this some kind of tuna fish in a can. It's Montana Trout Slayer, a lovely golden yellow Pale Wheat Ale that is simply delicious to session. Put it in your backpack, or cooler to the beach. Hey, you can take it down to the river and keep it with your creel in the chilly river water. Easy to chill down and cool off with, lightweight to carry. And at 4.7% ABV, it let's you focus on reeling in the big one.

"A Bigger Tale With Every Ale" is printed on the side of the can, indicating that your fish stories about the-one-that-got-away will increase with your beverage consumption. Everything you need to know about what's inside, and outside, is on the can. Yep, it's all there, neatly on the can. Including the warning from the "Sturgeon General". Well, I am taking some liberties with that schloky pun.

You don't like my puns? Cry me a river.

Anderson Valley - Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout
Anderson Valley Brewing Company
17700 Hwy 253
Boonville, CA USA
Est. 1987
www.avbc.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.7 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Rich dark brown color.
Roasted malt, bready, dark fruit (raisin) and hops.
Tan colored, one finger head is gone in sixty seconds.
Negligible lacing on glass.
Roasted malt dominates the taste. Bits of coffee and dry chocolate play in the background. 
Light to medium bodied. Smooth and easy to drink.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Here's another from the trip out west. Only later did I find out it is also available in Florida in select areas. Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout is rave reviewed on some websites. I found it to be a very pleasant, well crafted brew, however it didn't knock my socks off as it did for other reviewers. Still, it's a fine Oatmeal Stout and adheres to the style very well. Is it the best I've had? No. But it is a great measuring stick.

Others have judged it highly. Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout has won several awards. To wit:

• Bronze Medal at the 2010 World Beer Cup®  
• Silver Medal at the 2004 World Beer Cup®  
• Bronze Medal at the 2004 GABF®
• Gold Medal at the 2009 L.A. County Fair International Commercial Beer Competition 

So I must be wrong. How about, you try one, and let me know your thoughts?

Anchor Bock Beer

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Anchor Bock Beer
Anchor Brewing Company
1705 Mariposa Street 
San Francisco, CA USA
Est. 1896
www.anchorbrewing.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Mahogany dark red color.
Roasted malt, smokey grain mixtures and a bit of floral hops.
Tan colored, one finger head; tight bubble head, evaporates slowly to a cover.
Some stringed and spotted lacing on glass.
Good malty taste with soft hops taste in the finish. Smooth and easy to drink.
Light to medium bodied.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Anchor has atypical version of a Bock, but a Bock nonetheless. The body is dark and malty as a spring time Bock should be.  The taste is balanced and pleasant with out much fuss and bother. Most Bock style beers I've encountered are a bit dry and astringent in body makeup. But this one is borderline on the rich side; both flavorful and easy to drink.

A nice annual beer to look forward to, at the end of winter's blues.

Dogfish Head - Palo Santo Marron

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer 
Palo Santo Marron Brown Ale
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
6 Cannery Village Center
Milton, DE USA 
Est. 1995 
www.dogfish.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 12.0 % ABV 
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Solid looking, rich thick brown color.
Sweet malt aromas. Bit of woody scents and slightly boozy on the nose.
Small bubbles in the one-finger caramel tan colored head.
Spots of lacing on the glass with each sip. Head simmers to a ring on edge of glass.
Sweet but not too sweet caramelized malt taste. Touches of vanilla on back of tongue.
Medium carbonation.
Full bodied, not too complex, but with a definite heavy alcohol presence. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 
Not one of your run-of-the-mill brown ales, this one. The first sip told me to sit down. And I did. And it was
consumed by the sip after that. Slowly. Deliberately. Not unlike the process that must have went into building
the most gi-noumous tanks of Palo Santo wood in which, it became a beer.

First sip: Boozy. My oh my the alcohol! But not stinging or warming. Just there...lurking.

Next sip: Enjoyable. Sweet malts rolling.

And the next: Enveloping. Tongue treated to vanilla finish.

Then: Rich. Not dulling. Not cloying. Full, in body. Simple character of malt, vanilla, earthy wood.

Now: Pleasurable. Each sip is taking me further from second thoughts of the 12% ABV. Alcohol still there...lurking...lurking...but not beating up my senses.

I once had a beer. Or should I say, she once had me?

Glass is gone now. This beer has flown.

Sigh. Queue the sitar.

Isn't it good? Paraguayan Wood.

Deschutes - Red Chair Northwest Pale Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Red Chair Northwest Pale Ale
Deschutes Brewery
901 SW Simpson Avenue
Bend, OR USA
Est. 1988
www.deschutesbrewery.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.4% ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Beautiful amber color.
Piney and citrusy hops and roasted caramel malts in aroma.
Near-white, two finger head. Nice draped lacing, good head retention.
Caramel malts abound. Zingy pine hops taste.
Moderate amount of carbonation.
Light to medium bodied. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Okay, so I couldn't wait. Had to try another Deschutes from the cache of beers brought back from Arizona. Another crowd pleaser. I also enjoyed this "Northwest" version of a Pale Ale. It differs from the Mirror Pond Pale Ale by the variety of hops used in the batch and the malt.

Whereas Mirror Pond has Cascade hops in the mix, the NWPA uses more of the maltier side, (7 types of malts, in all), to produce a softer pale ale, although it achieves 60 IBU's compared with 40 in the Mirror Pond.

Decisions, decisions. Both are great choices for Pale Ales and I can't decide which I enjoyed more. Take a ride on the "Red Chair" and get the 'lift' you're looking for.

Deschutes - Mirror Pond Pale Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Mirror Pond Pale Ale
Deschutes Brewery
901 SW Simpson Avenue
Bend, OR USA
Est. 1988
www.deschutesbrewery.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.0% ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Pleasant amber color.
Floral hops and roasted caramel malts in aroma.
Near-white, two finger head. Wonderful ringed lacing and superior head retention.
Caramel malt and biscuit flavored with floral hops taste.
Moderate amount of carbonation.
Light to medium bodied.  Perfect session beer. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
New, uncharted ales brought back from a visit west of the Mississippi!

40 IBU's and a ton of fresh hop flavor make this a stellar Pale Ale. It was love at first sip. I brought several of Deschutes ales back from a recent trip out west, but was also able to sample this while in Arizona. A great color, terrific fresh smell and just the right amount of hops attracted me to this ale. I read the beautifully worded label and now wish to see the brewery first hand, on the banks of the Deschutes River.

I could drink this one all day long. More Deschutes in the fridge...can't wait to try them all now!

Bridgeport - India Pale Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer 
India Pale Ale 
Bridgeport Brewing Company
1318 N.W. Northrup 
Portland, OR USA
Est. 1984
www.bridgeportbrew.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Golden color with hazy body.
Big smell of citrus, floral hops. Only the smallest amount of malt detectable in aroma.
Near white color, one finger head. Sticks around a while.
Good amount of sticky, draped lacing on glass.
Light, not too sweet, malty taste with boost of hops taste in the finish.
Light to medium bodied.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Several things appealed to me about this IPA. First was the company name, as it reminds me of home. Not Portland OR, but my hometown is named Bridgeport. Brushing nostalgia aside, this bottle conditioned brew states. "Oregon's Oldest Brewery" on the bottle cap and also in raised script lettering, on the bottle neck. Being first at something, in the beer industry, is always good to claim.  Eyeballs roaming around the label, we find the statement, "Reach Beervana" in a fancy font on the backside. Hmmph...that's pretty cool. Must find that spot, someday.

But mostly, what intrigued me was this; over two years ago, I ordered this IPA while in Colorado but they were out. I really wanted to try it then, and resigned myself to another day.  Fast forward - - - today is the day! I really liked this brew by Bridgeport. A real great blast of floral hops on the nose, and a nicely balanced malt and hops composition in taste. This is so drinkable for an IPA. Pure pleasure to enjoy. I've a few more Bridgeport ales in the fridge and can't wait to review them as well.

Sometimes, you just have to wait. And brother it was worth the wait.

Orlando Brewing - Blackwater Dry Porter

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Blackwater Dry Porter
Orlando Brewing
1301 Atlanta Avenue
Orlando, FL USA
Est. 2002 
www.orlandobrewing.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.43 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Very dark brown, almost black in color.
Chocolate smell with coffee and sweet caramel notes.
Tan, one finger head. Minimal ringed lacing and little retention.
Chocolate and roasted malt sweetness in the taste. Dry finish, 'pops' on back of tongue.
Moderate amount of carbonation.
Medium bodied.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
I was rummaging around, inside the crypt chiller, attempting to rotate my stock of, um, shall we say...goodies! After an inspired chat with another who is deeply in tune with Orlando Brewing, I decided now was the time to pluck this one from the chilly darkness and bring it out into the light for re-examination.

Orlando Brewing's Blackwater Dry Porter stole the show back in October when a brewery visit we did make.  Yes, it is organic, just like all of their other brews. It's sinfully dark and sweetly noted with sugary carmelized whiffs of roasted malt. I honestly don't know whether to sit and smell the rich aromas, or drink it to taste. I yield to the drinking! It is a wonderful porter. Put it on your "must try list" on your next visit to The Orlando Brewery. You know you're going - oh yes you are! There's more than a mouse in O-Town.

The brewers are either being cautionary or outright mocking us, as the side label states, "KEEP COLD - LIVE BEER". Well.....duh! Of course it's 'live'. But rather alive, in fact with yeast. Well, there you go, 'cause now it's all gone. Not live anymore.

Another "Dead Soldier" claimed by the reaper! Muahaaahaaahaaaa!