Haul for 10/29 Part 2

I wasn't done after Great Grapes.  After a quick trip to Wake Med, I found myself near the Triangle Wine Company store and decided to drop in.  Like the sucker I am, I can't just browse and found myself with more goodies.  Here's my last haul for at least a couple of weeks:

• Wicked Weed Tropicmost Passionfruit Gose - I actually bought this one based on interest alone and hoped that the price would be okay.  Fortunately, trying this one wasn't going to break the bank.  I didn't think it would since it's a gose.  Fortunately, I was right.  Price paid: $4.99
• Founders Backwoods Bastard - I really considered only buying one of these but sprung for the 4-pack.  The description on the bottle made me feel like there would be multiple instances where this beer will hit the spot.  Price paid: $12.99
• Innis & Gunn Highland Ale - It came in a nice box, talked about being aged in a barrel, and the price was very right.  I don't get many beers from across the pond, so that's another bonus. Price paid: $5.99
• Victory Moving Parts IPA - Normally I wouldn't get this, but it was on sale for cheap, probably because it's an older beer and needs to go.  I'm willing to take this bad boy off their hands. Price paid: $2.99
• Rogue Mom's Hefeweizen - Just like the Victory IPA, this was also on sale.  I don't have a lot of Hefeweizens in stock, so I figured this would at least add to the variety.  Price paid: $3.99
• Founders Harvest Ale - I guess this is a fresh hop offering from Founders.  Since the store only allowed 2 per person, I figured it was in high demand and worth getting.  Price paid: $2.99
• Wicked Weed Xibalba - Pumpkin + Chocolate + Chiles.  Sign me up!  Price paid: $7.77

Haul for 10/29 Part 1

I went to Cary for an eye appointment.  Turned out that I showed up a day early.  Have to head back tomorrow!  Nevertheless, I found myself in the area and decided to drop by Great Grapes to check out the selection.  It had been a while since I've been in there.  Their wares weren't all that bad and I even walked out with a case of wine, but I did grab at least one beer before I checked out.  Here's the haul:

• Wicked Weed Silencio - Let me just put the description of the beer down.  It sells itself.  "Bourbon barrel-aged black sour ale with coffee and vanilla."  A lot going on, but I'm definitely interested in giving it a try.  Price paid: $15.49

Haul for 10/9

This haul was from almost three weeks ago, but I wanted to make sure I had it listed here in the system.  I needed to hit up the tailor to get my suit fixed up for a wedding the following week.  I was a groomsman in the wedding and needed to look my best.  While I ended up not utilizing the tailor due to time constraints, I did take the time to drop by the nearby 42 Craft Beverage to look around.  Of course, I can't look around without buying something, so I did not leave empty handed.  Here's the haul:

• Stillwater Mono - I've had some interest in this brewery but found their beers to be a little on the pricey side.  This seemed reasonable so I figured I'd give it a go.  Price paid: $2.99
• Bell's 30th Anniversary - I find most brews from Bells to be very good and since it was an Anniversary beer, I had high expectations to be pleasantly surprised.  For the price, it seemed like a good buy to me.  Price paid: $3.49
• Eviltwin Ashtray Heart - Like Stillwater, I've seen a lot of beers from Eviltwin that seem to be very popular from other beer enthusiasts.  I didn't want to pay the steep price for a larger bottle, so this seemed like an even middle ground.  Price paid: $4.49
• Stone Enjoy By - I've had Stone Enjoy By before, but wanted to try it again since it is a pretty good beer.  Plus, they're in 12 oz sizes now, so I don't feel compelled to force myself to consume an entire bomber.  Price paid: $3.09
• Wicked Weed La Bonte - Seems like this was the grand prize in the haul, as it seemed to come from a different series from Wicked Weed.  I've been getting a lot of beers from Wicked Weed lately.  I hope I don't come across a disappointing beer, considering I'm putting a lot of focus on this one brewery.  Price paid: $11.99

236. Highland Clawhammer Oktoberfest Lager

"Clawhammer Oktoberfest is a lightly colored, but toasty, rich and full bodied Marzen styled lager brewed with traditional German malt and the finest noble hops.  A spicy hop finish and aroma balance out the abundance of malt flavor.  Clawhammer means pure high-country enjoyment!"

Today's brew was chosen as a pairing for some sweet and sour chicken over a bed of white rice.  Maybe not the most ideal pairing, but it worked for me!

The beer was poured into a DFH shaped pint.  It has a hazy orange color to it.  1 finger of cream colored head.  Average retention, leaves a ring of splotched lacing around the glass.  Not much to distinguish from the aroma except for caramel and biscuit.  

The taste is what I would expect from this type of beer.  Heavy with the malts, a caramel-like sweetness, and a touch of pepper and bitter hops on the end.  Light bodied, average carbonation.  Not an overly strong beer, very sessionable.  

The beer is a solid representation of the style, although the style itself is simplistic in nature and isn't trying to do too many things.  That said, it did not wow me and I while I wouldn't mind having it again, I also would be more willing to try the same style from other brewers and see how they fare.

Grade: C+

Price Paid: $1.99 (12 oz bottle)

235. Wicked Weed Terra Locale Briars & Brett

"Patience for the painstaking is a rarity.  It takes a.... let's say, special person to devote hours to work rooted in the meticulous.  The farmer who reaches through the thickest brambles knows that the briars will take his blood in exchange for blackberries.  The bartender who carefully measures spirit, tincture, and bitter into tins will start all over again if balance is not struck.  The brewer who barrels young brett beer will wait, with calculated anticipation, the months it takes to reach its fullest, perfect wildness.  Patience takes practice, and painstaking work means braving briars, perfecting tins, and bracing against time for brett.  It takes a...let's say, rare person."

"Briars & Brett is a farmhouse ale inspired by the Pre-Prohibition Gin Fizz cocktail.  Brewed with Riverbend Malt, 200 pounds of local summer blackberries and our proprietary Brett blend, this spirited ale was finished with lemon zest and fresh basil.  It was then laid to rest in local Cardinal Gin Barrels for 3 months."

Last night, my intent was to consume both the Reunion Ale '12 and the Briars & Brett.  I failed to meet my goal and settled to have Briars & Brett tonight after dinner while watching Clemson dispatch Notre Dame.  I'm not a fan of either team, but it was the best thing on tv.  

The beer was poured into a slender, stemmed pilsner glass.  It has a nice burnt orange color.  Very heady, could easily get three fingers of off-white colored head.  First pour resulted in an overflow.  Low retention, sounds effervescent.  A couple splotches of lace left over with a small spot of film on top.  Aromas of clove, funk, berry.  The funk is strong in this one.

The ale tastes of blackberry, gin, juniper, hay, lemon peel, It's tangy and tart, a sour note lingering in the aftertaste.  Average body with high carbonation.  8.3% ABV, and it'll sneak up on you.

I keep asking myself if I liked this beer or not.  I think I did.  I know it's a different style, one that I'm not overly familiar with.  Still, I consumed the bottle and didn't find anything too offensive about it.  That said, it also wasn't very memorable.  I came, I saw, I drank, I conquered.  I forgot.  The concept was great, with brett and blackberries and gin from a local producer.  I think that ultimately it was a bit too different and too rough for my taste-buds.

Grade: C

Price Paid: $9.99 (500 mL bottle)

234. Shmaltz Brewing Reunion Ale '12

"Teaming up with Terrapin Beer Co. for the second time, Shmaltz Brewing returns as a production partner for Reunion '12.  We brew Reunion each year in memory of our dear friend and partner in this venture - Virginia MacLean.  Virginia lost her battle with Multiple Myeloma in 2007.  It was her wish that we continue to raise funds and awareness on behalf of The Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research (www.imbcr.org)

This year's beer is a dark ale brewed with cocoa nibs, vanilla and cinnamon.  It was inspired by a fantastic dessert that we used to share with Virginia at our favorite restaurant.  This brown ale leads with a sweet and subtle cinnamon aroma  Complex malt overtones quickly give way to a chocolate and vanilla mix of satisfying bliss.  

Many thanks to all who have supported this project and have helped us honor Virginia's memory.

Cheers - Pete & Alan"

With the cooler weather and infinitely gray clouds and rain in my neck of the woods, I felt the need to get my hands on a darker beer.  Since this was a beer from 2012, I felt it was time to cycle through this bad boy and get it out of my collection.  I opted to have this for dinner and dessert, pairing it with a flatbread pizza.  No, it wasn't a match made in heaven, but I did my best to make the best of it.

This was poured into a stemmed snifter glass.  It had a nice cocoa color and provided 2 fingers of frothy, tan colored head.  It had average retention, leaving splotches of lacing on the glass and a thin film layer on top.  I could pick up aromas of roasted malts, cinnamon, cocoa, milk chocolate, and a hint of vanilla.

This beer was not what I expected.  I could taste milk chocolate, coffee, vanilla.  The cinnamon must have faded with time.  That was the good part.  The not so good part?  It had this tart bite to it.  Not bitter, just a little sour.  The beer was light to medium bodied with average carbonation, clocking in at 7.9% ABV.

First thing I ask myself is if I let this thing sit too long.  It was probably meant to be consumed within a year or two, tops, and here I was at year 3.  It wasn't overly sour or off-putting to the point that this became a drain-pour.  Call me stubborn, but I didn't have much of a problem drinking and finishing.  Still, I do have a Reunion 13 and I'll probably consume it within the next couple weeks and see if I get a better result.  That said, if you still have some of this stuff, go ahead and consume now!

Grade: C-

Price Paid: $8.50 (22 oz bomber)