Wow. Glad I got my hands on this beer. I had read several articles on it and jumped on the chance to have my in-laws pick me up a bottle while they were up in Alaska. A little back story, I really like Porters. Tend to like them better than most Stouts. I know there is a fine line between the two but if I have two to chose from I usually end up liking a Porter more than a Stout. Not really sure why, Porters seem to be a bit rougher, more complex, deeper? Stouts are nice but some can be a little too smooth (for yet another sidebar, Russian Imperial Stouts are a whole other beast, same goes for Baltic Porters). So back to the beer in hand, Alaska Brewing Smoked Porter. What is not to like about this beer? Its a Porter, its a smoked beer, its from Alaska. Wow it is good. Deep black with a very nice deep brown and bubbly head. Get the smoked malt flavor up front, a tiny bite to go with the roasted flavors. Not really coffee or chocolate flavors but ..ummmmm. Can't really explain the taste. Just dang good. To paraphrase Ferris, If you have the means sometime, I highly suggested picking one up, it is just so choice. I'll give it 4.5 out of 5 pints. Probably my number 2 Porter/Stout overall. Sliding in just behind Stone's Russian Imperial Stout.
What else is in the fridge right now....hmmm let's see. A few bottles of Southern Tier IPA (very good, not too hoppy, nice and drinkable), Serra Nevada Glissade (A Golden Bock, ok, has a funky flavor in the middle I can't place and that I'm not to fond of), Alaska Brewing Co. Amber (very nice, review up shortly) and I have a mixed 6er from Dundees that I will be trying to attend the virtual tasting of this afternoon with the head brewer.
That seems to be it for now. Two posts in a week, what is the world coming too.....
Happy Drinking!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Long Time, No See...
Wow, has it been since January since I posted last? Yikes, my bad folks. I could throw out tons of excuses but I won't. Just too much going on. Plenty of good news on the Beer front. Went to a Brooklyn Beer dinner at Taco Mac here in Atlanta, good stuff and neat to find out about the way the company started. Got the kegerator disassembled for a good cleaning before I get ready to hook up some new homebrew. I should be brewing a wheat and maybe a nice Pale Ale this summer. Football schedule came out and I guess I need to come up with a warm weather breakfast beer, first 4 games are nooners, fun. I have been invited to virtual tasting next week hosted by the head brewmaster of Dundee, Jim McDermott. Now if I can only find a way to drink a few beers at work for the 3pm tasting. I also was contacted about reviewing a few new beers coming over from Ireland. Strangford Lough Brewing Company is sending me a few samples to try out. Really looking forward to those, love me some Irish beer.
Ok, what have I been drinking? Nothing too remarkable has crossed my lips. I did try the new Oskar Blues Gubna IPA. Really good, very floral, lots of grapefruit. Hides the 10%abv well and is not too bitter for a big IPA. Also had the latest Terrapin Side Project 10, Captain Crunkels Black IPA, I really liked it but talked to several people that didn't care for it. Lots of Coors Light has found its way in and out of the fridge. Actually found myself grabbing a cider a few nights ago while working on the car and finding the fridge empty of beer! I do have a few good things waiting to be opened at the moment. A buddy got me a bottle of Dogfish Head Rason 'de Extra, I'll give that one a shoot this weekend. He also rescued my collection of Terrapin Side Project Bottles. I thought I had all of them but #1, came to find out that I had thrown away my last bottle of #8, Pumpkinfest. He found me an extra in his stash, excellent.
What else? My in-laws made another west coast trip and brought back a small but very nice haul for me to try. Alaska Brewing Company Smoked Porter and Amber and a bottle of Russian River Pliny the Elder. Really looking forward to these. I did have one of the Ambers earlier this week and it was quite good. I'll write up a longer review this weekend to go along with the Smoked Porter and Pliny the Elder reviews.
Seeing that I am getting some interesting hits from industry types I am going to do everything in my power to up my post rate. Hopefully once a week. For now, I'm just glad to be writing this. As always, Happy Drinking!
Ok, what have I been drinking? Nothing too remarkable has crossed my lips. I did try the new Oskar Blues Gubna IPA. Really good, very floral, lots of grapefruit. Hides the 10%abv well and is not too bitter for a big IPA. Also had the latest Terrapin Side Project 10, Captain Crunkels Black IPA, I really liked it but talked to several people that didn't care for it. Lots of Coors Light has found its way in and out of the fridge. Actually found myself grabbing a cider a few nights ago while working on the car and finding the fridge empty of beer! I do have a few good things waiting to be opened at the moment. A buddy got me a bottle of Dogfish Head Rason 'de Extra, I'll give that one a shoot this weekend. He also rescued my collection of Terrapin Side Project Bottles. I thought I had all of them but #1, came to find out that I had thrown away my last bottle of #8, Pumpkinfest. He found me an extra in his stash, excellent.
What else? My in-laws made another west coast trip and brought back a small but very nice haul for me to try. Alaska Brewing Company Smoked Porter and Amber and a bottle of Russian River Pliny the Elder. Really looking forward to these. I did have one of the Ambers earlier this week and it was quite good. I'll write up a longer review this weekend to go along with the Smoked Porter and Pliny the Elder reviews.
Seeing that I am getting some interesting hits from industry types I am going to do everything in my power to up my post rate. Hopefully once a week. For now, I'm just glad to be writing this. As always, Happy Drinking!
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