Drews Brews Reviews

Against the Grains – Mac FannyBaw Review

Posted on November 21, 2014March 1, 2015 by Drews Brews Reviews

All You Need to Know

Brewery: Against the Grain
Style: Rauchbier (Bourbon Aged)
ABV: 8.5%
Cost: $19 (24oz)
Glassware: Snifter, Teku
Temp: 50°F
Availability: One Off
Purchased@: Pinocchio’s Beer Garden

Quick Take: Mac FannyBaw is brewed as a 750ml monument to smoke and tangy malts. Pushing the smoke cloud to the side, regular beer drinkers will find a fine, but unremarkable ale. Unfortunately, this is a niche beer that probably won’t satisfy that niche. I appreciated it for being different and find it to be an ok beer, but it can’t live up to the high cost of entry.

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The Why Not of Aging IPAs – Science!

Posted on November 19, 2014March 1, 2015 by Drews Brews Reviews

In a world of beer cellars and “vertical slices” going back through 15 generations of a single beer, the beer age rage is strong. If you’ve ever had a properly stored beer with some age on it, you already know why. If you never have, I highly recommend it. My first was a 3 year old Avery Mephistopheles that turned my brain into toasted porridge (I don’t know what that means either) and a high I’ve been hunting down since. I only have another year to wait for my next Mephisto!

While I have roughly 20 beers aging under my bar, a paltry sum compared to most enthusiasts, only one is an IPA. I know the initial gut reaction is to drop to your knees, screaming to the beer gods, “Why would you age an IPA!”, but a Dogfish Head 120 can handle the fall of civilization and still be drinkable by whatever irradiated overlords still roam the cracked husk know as earth (an 18% ABV can do that). Generally though, hoppy IPAs are meant to be drank and drank now. I think most IPA lovers know this or figure it out after trying that IPA they forgot about on the back shelf, but what keeps IPAs from keeping? Well, that worthless pursuit, “science”, can shed light on this cruel trick of nature.

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Last Week in Untappd – 11/10 – 11/16

Posted on November 17, 2014March 1, 2015 by Drews Brews Reviews

The beers of Untappd (drewsbrewsreviews) mostly came from the personal collections of beer enthusiasts this week, so many thanks to the people and their sharing spirit. Sad to say that a portion of this was guzzled during the Green Bay routing of the Eagles, but at least we had a big beer to make that big loss go down easier. We are nearing some major releases and events, so my Untappd is probably going to blow up soon. In the calm before the storm, I’ll be sneaking in some traded Gandhi Bot and maybe a Prairie Bomb. Looking forward to it!

Goose Island – Bourbon County
Location: DBR Bar
Style: Imperial Stout (Bourbon Aged)
Score: 4.5/5
Original Comment: Why not drown the Eagle sorrows in a vintage 2013 bourbon. Can’t wait to try the 2014 offerings.

Additional Thoughts: Always good to revisit an old friend right before we get to experience its 2014 brethren (and when your team is getting pulverized by the Aaron Rodgers TD machine). Obviously this wasn’t much of a beer review, but I’ve had this beer plenty and didn’t feel like adding much. A year on and the BCBS remained largely unchanged . The sweetness might have bumped up a touch, a dangerous aspect with such a syrupy booze blast of a beer that teetered on medicinal to begin with. Actually two of our group, one a major boozy beer fan, couldn’t handle it. Not for everyone indeed, but it got me pumped for the 2014 Vanilla Rye BCBS.

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Dark Horse Brewing – Plead the 5th (Bourbon Aged)

Posted on November 14, 2014March 1, 2015 by Drews Brews Reviews

All You Need to Know

Brewery: Dark Horse Brewing
Style: Russian Imperial Stout (Bourbon Aged)
ABV: 11%
Cost: ???? (12oz)
Glassware: Snifter, Teku
Temp: 55°F
Availability: Fall/Winter
Purchased@: Beer Trade

Quick Take: Going into this beer, I had a good idea that I would like it. The base beer is one of my favorite Russian Imperials and few beers get worse when rubbed up against some bourbon barrels. With the confidence and craftsmanship to add woody vanilla and spicy, almost pepper-like heat to a near perfect RIS, Dark Horse’s BBA Plead hits huge and satisfies as a layered, full-bodied body warmer. Fantastic RIS and an all time favorite.

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Last Week in Untappd – 11/2 – 11/9

Posted on November 10, 2014March 1, 2015 by Drews Brews Reviews

The Untappd (drewsbrewsreviews) beer highlights continue with a fresh batch of checked in beers from the fantastic beer bars of Lancaster. I had plans for bigger beers, but it ended up being a bit of a slow week.

Bullfrog – Hunger-N-Thirst Saison Collant
Location: Hunger-N-Thirst
Style: Sasion
Score: 3.5/5
Original Comment: Lactose, toasty grain, musty grass, cat pissy aroma-creamy lemon, dry toasty skunky finish. Very New England saison. Impressed!

Additional Thoughts: This one completely surprised me. I’ve had numerous beers from Bullfrog and all have been serviceable, but unremarkable. This is the first that caused me to take notice, and it’s a one off collaboration with a Lancaster beer bar, using hops grown by the owner. With Saison Collant, Bullfrog isn’t afraid to utilize complex, and sometimes unpleasant, farmhouse qualities, give it some body, and apply some bold hopping. I look forward to future collaborations.

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