Category: Stouts and Porters

Avery Brewing – 5 Monks (Bourbon-Aged Quad) Review

Posted on by Drews Brews Reviews

5 MonksAll You Need to Know

Brewery: Avery Brewing
Style: Quad
ABV: 19.4% (boom!)
Cost: $15 (12oz) (also boom)
Glassware: Snifter, Teku
Temp: 55°F
Availability: Limited (Once)
Purchased@: Friendly Greek

Quick Take: 5 Monks, while on the sweeter side, stops just short of cloying to be a sipping warmer with some malt depth that’s made just a touch deeper by the bourbon-aging. Avery is world class when it comes to big beers, so the fact that 5 Monks kills it shouldn’t come as a surprise. Awesome beer and one the dark malted Belgian and bourbon lovers should hunt down immediately.

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Bell’s – Black Note Review (with comparisons to KBS)

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Black NoteAll You Need to Know

Brewery: Bell’s Brewery
Style: Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout
ABV: 11.4%
Cost: ???? (12oz)
Glassware: Teku, Snifter
Temp: 55°F
Availability: Nanosecond in Jan, Feb or March
Purchased@: Beer Trade

Quick Take: You certainly don’t need me to tell you that Black Note is a fantastic beer (it is btw). It has a reputation that existed long before this blog and will for as long as Bell’s brews it. I love the combination of the typical dark, malty flavors with the tang of dark fruits that still gives you the mouth feel you want without being too sweet. It’s a top stout for me and one of the most well-balanced, layered bourbon beers I’ve had.

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Jackie O’s Brewery – Dark Apparition Review

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Dark ApparitionAll You Need to Know

Brewery: Jackie O’s Pub and Brewery
Style: Russian Imperial Stout (RIS)
ABV: 10.5%
Cost: ???? (12oz)
Glassware: Snifter
Temp: 55°F
Availability: Various Times
Purchased@: Beer Trade Extra

Quick Take: Dark Apparition is in a different class of RIS, being a drinker instead of an intense sipper. It isn’t battling for the top spot in my RIS-loving heart, but I would gladly buy a case to get me through those fall evenings without hesitation. Dark Apparition is simply delicious and another reminder of why I love dark beers.

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Episode 13 – Southern Tier – Fuse Box

Posted on by Drews Brews Reviews

Episode 13 of Drew’s Brews Reviews is here! The beer review show you never knew you wanted and no one needs. I mix it up this episode by trying the “concept case” from Southern Tier called the Fuse Box. Southern Tier is essentially repackaging three of their standard beers and asking its customers to blend them together to create various concoctions. The cynical among us might see this a marketing gimmick, but I toss that aside and put my taste buds on the line by mixing an IPA, Ale, and roasty Porter with tasty results. And yes, I freakin’ nailed that pun about “mixing it up” before you even knew it was a pun. BOOM!

Ep 14 — Firestone 17th Anniversary Beer (Maybe — Footage is Blurry)

Continue reading “Episode 13 – Southern Tier – Fuse Box” →

Firestone Walker – Velvet Merkin Review

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Velvet MerkinAll You Need to Know

Brewery: Firestone Walker
Style: Oatmeal Stout
ABV: 8.5%
Cost: $4 (5oz)
Glassware: Snifter
Temp: 50°F
Availability: September
Purchased@: Capone’s Restaurant (Philly Beer Week)

Quick Take: What this lacks in complexity, and it is definitely lacking, it makes up for in lightness and drinkability. This is a well-blended beer that integrates the bourbon to enhance the base beer without overrunning it. Just temper your expectations, especially if your reference point for dark and delicious Firestone beers is the rich, boozy and complex Parabola.

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