Fruitin' It Up With Stevens Point

Bought a 12 pack mixer of fruit beers from Stevens Point a while back and figured I should write them up on here...since that's what I do.

 Mango Lager

 Tart Cherry Lager

Watermelon Mojito

NOT PICTURED

Lime Lager

Part of the reason why it has taken me so long to write about these is because their really isn't a whole lot to say. All of them weigh in pretty light on the Drinkenscale with a 4.2 and none of them are exceptional.

If I'm picking a favorite here it was the Mango Lager but only slightly. It had a mango flavor(I would hope it did...) and the beer itself was ok. 

The beer on all four of these was the same with just different fruit tastes so the differences in them were the fruit flavors themselves. Give me this lager without the fruit and I'll tell you it is ok. With the fruit it was at least somewhat interesting.

The Watermelon Mojito was my least favorite but again, it's a small margin from first to last here. I just don't really like the flavor of mojitos and that is what I tasted instead of watermelon.

Cherry tart had a slight cherry flavor, but after drinking far, far, far superior cherry beers in the past I just can't give this beer a good review.

I forgot to take a picture of the Lime Lager which kind of fits with the beer because it was pretty forgettable. Better than Bud Light Lime (I assume because I've never had Bud Light Lime...I'm not a sadist) but still...just a boring lager with a lime-ish flavor.

You can do worse that these beers, but you can also do a lot better. If you're drinking with some friends who don't really like beer, and might like a fruity drink a little more, this MIGHT work but probably not. Because it is still pretty beer-y and not particularly fruity, I'm not sure who would really LOVE any of these beers. I guess the FRUIT BEER AFICIANADO maybe...I don't think those exist though.

What's The Only Thing Better Than One Woman?

Two Women...

M Looking for F for FFM

Oh New Glarus...you've never failed me and this is no exception. German Pilsner so really subtle in flavor but damn delicious. Clocks in at a 5.0 on the Drinkenscale, a really light, easy, drinkable beer. 

The name of this beer is because it is a collaboration of two breweries led by women: New Glarus and Weyermann Malting. Never had anything else by Weyermann but New Glarus is 100% class and always amazing.

This is a perfect beer for a good day drinking session. I've said it before on here but pilsners are not easy to do because you can't just load up on the flavor to hide the flaws. A good pilsner has to be damn near perfect and Two Women is right up there.

Liquid Distilled Happiness in a Bottle. New Glarus Wisconsin Belgian Red

The beer so classy it has to be photographed on the stairs!

This are really two sides to this particular beverage. On one hand, it might be the greatest thing I've ever put in my mouth. Just pure liquid deliciousness. On the other hand, it really doesn't possess any of the traits of a beer so I can't call it the greatest beer ever but I can call it ridiculously tasty and amazing.

Very low, only a 4.0 on the drinkenscale, so it's definitely not going to get you drunk unless you drink a whole lot of it. You might want to after the first sip though. 

WAIT! Before you sip, you should smell! This stuff smells like a cherry blasted heaven has been forcibly shoved into my nose hole. I never want to stop smelling it...but I had to...so I could drink it.

There is one flavor that stands out more than anything...CHERRY. This is a cherry drink with hope and malt and other beer stuff. The other beer stuff must lend to the flavor but it does it in the background because the only thing that really stands out is the cherry. However, it is not cloyingly sweet or overly sour. The other ingredients are damn near impossible to pick out but they work together to create this amazing drink. Hell, even my wife liked it! and she hates beer!

As a beer blog, I should judge this as a beer...but it's hard! It doesn't have any of the qualities that beer usually possesses but it's so damn good otherwise. I'm saying this is probably the best drink ever but I could never call it the best BEER.

If you are in Wisconsin and have the opportunity to get your hands on a bottle of Wisconsin Belgian Red you better! If you don't, I'll find out!

The Chronpickles of Making Beer Pickles

Making beer pickles is something I've been thinking about doing for awhile now and today...I've finally done it.

First, let's take a look at the ingredients.

Ignore the Pepto Bismol, spaghetti, dirty dishes, medicine, and cleaning wipes...

Can't make pickles without cucumbers. Unless you're making really weird pickles.

Look at the dill! It looks DILLicious!

I decided I was going to make 4 batches, each one based off of 2 different recipes then add habanero to one of each of the recipes to kick it up a notch. The recipes weren't much different but one had me cooking the liquid and dissolving sugar into it where the other did not.

The MKE Hop Happy is what I decided to cook with. I combined the sugar, salt, beer, water, and vinegar and cooked it until the sugar dissolved. A very simple process. Then I added the dry ingredients to the jars.

Fresh dill, mustard seed, peppercorns, garlic cloves, kosher salt, and habanero for the spicy batch. The non-spicy batch was habanero free.

Bubble bubble toil and trouble...

Basically at this point I sliced cucumbers into a sort of spear-ish shape, added them to the dry ingredients and poured the liquid on top until the jars were full. 

Look at how pretty we are. Get lost in our eyes...

Then I took my other beer, which did not get cooked at all, and followed a very similar procedure: garlic, habanero(in one)salt, mustard seed, peppercorn, etc...

Terrible picture but a pretty damn good beer.

I've had the Beyond the Pale from Steven's Pointa few times and I knew it was a good hoppy beer so I'm hoping it makes good beer pickles

That was pretty much it, a really simple procedure. Took maybe 20 minutes and most of that time was cleaning up the giant mess I was making because I'm sloppy. 

As for the taste...I'll let you know after they've sat for at least 48 hours...*WINKY FACE EMOTICON*

Soon...they will be in my belly.

A Plastic 40 and a Dream

I've been meaning to grab a big ol 40oz of something cheap and review it for the blog. It's been way too long since I last updated so I figured this would be the perfect way to get back on track. I present to you...A 40OZ OF OLDE ENGLISH MALT LIQUOR!

First things, I was very disappointed in the shatter proof plastic bottle, I wanted to feel the heft of a glass bottle wrapped in brown paper in my hands. Also, I wanted that metallic sound upon opening the cap but that was taken from me by the plastic. Therefore this beer scores very low in the look and sound department.

Next, I poured some out for my homies lost in the struggle because it just seemed right to me.

You can tell I'm hardcore because I have a Dave Matthews tattoo

Then, I drank some...it wasn't the worst beer I've ever had. It definitely wasn't good, but you know, I didn't hate it. I wouldn't go out and buy another one anytime soon but I'd rather drink this than a bud light or miller ultra or bud select 55.

I started in my dining room but soon realized a 40 should be properly enjoyed on a stoop. With no stoop to be found, I settled on my deck.

Got my damn rap face on in this picture. 

Olde English 800 Malt Liquor comes in at a staggering 7.5 on the DRINKENSCALE. This is a beer designed for one purpose. To be cheap and to get you drunk. If I'm basing it entirely on it's sole purpose than this beer is a clear winner. If I factor in taste though, it loses a lot of points. Add in the disappointing plastic bottle and you're down in the bottom tier of beers. The experience though, sitting on your stoop(deck) drinking a 40 from a brown paper bag...that can't be replicated. Worth every second.

Six Pack O' Questions with Blacklist Brewing

This is going to be a regular feature of the Beer'd Baron and Blacklist Brewing is the lucky first brewery to get featured. I've not had the chance to sample many of their beers but they are one of my favorite small breweries based on the little bit I have had.

I emailed with Brian Schanzenbach one of the BIG WIGS at Blacklist Brewery and asked him a SIX PACK O' QUESTIONS

1. What is your favorite beer not brewed by you?

My favorite beer not brewed by me is almost impossible to decide on just one…but most memorable might be the first Ayinger Hefeweizen I had at a little restaurant outside of Munich.

2. Where did your brewery get their name?

We based our name Blacklist from the stories of sour beer producers being blacklisted from even entering other breweries from fear that they might contaminate the breweries with “wild yeast” and bacteria. Although we have not released many “sour” beers into the public we plan to go that direction in the future. I’m sure you know “sour” beers properly made take a long time. 

3. What is the worst beer you've ever brewed?

The worst beer I have ever brewed. Haha one time back in my home brewer days I made a beer for a Lord of The Rings marathon party. It was a beer with star anise, lemon peel substituting hops. Lets just say I have good friends because we still drank it. 

4. What are three yearly events you do not miss?

Three yearly events I do not miss…

1. Schanzenblast ( This year will be year 13. Its a party of close friends that                           involves beer, camping, campfire, and a little more beer. )

2. Oktoberfest in some form and location…. I can’t resist slapping on some                       lederhosen!

3. My birthday. I seem to keep getting older so I know I don’t miss it.

5. What is the best beer you've had in the last month?

Sierra Nevada Kellerweis! Sometimes the simple things well done get me the most excited!

6. Weather is sunny and you're hanging with friends - What's in the keg?

It doesn’t matter whats in the keg if its sunny and I’m hanging with my friends but probably something refreshing like a good pils or hefe.

Some great answers from a great brewer. I've only had the privilege of drinking a couple of their beers and they were both excellent. I intend on definitely trying as many as I can. If you see Blacklist Brewing beers in your local beer store, you better snatch one up and enjoy it. 

 Keep an eye out for the next 6 Pack O' Questions with another brewer. If you have a suggestion for a brewer you'd like me to try and get ahold of, leave it in the comments.

The Beer'd Baron Visits: Big Axe Brewing

Finally, a Gastropub near me! I was extremely excited to visit Big Axe Brewing last night and sample their selection of beer.

Ugh...I need a better camera.

That's supposed to be a picture of the beer menu but it didn't come out too particularly well...They have 5 beers on tap and no clever names for them. Amber Ale, IPA, Chocolate Oatmeal Stout, American Wheat, and a Red Ale.

I had a flight so I could try them all and I was relatively impressed. None of them stood out as being amazing but they were all good beers. The Chocolate Oatmeal Stout was definitely lacking chocolate...to the point that I tasted none but it was still good. If they just called it a stout I wouldn't have been disappointed at all but since they called it a Chocolate Oatmeal Stout I was looking for chocolate that just wasn't there.

The IPA was the best beer but that's not really a surprise coming from me. I love IPA's. Big Axe's is definitely a good one. Nice citrus flavors, good hops, just a good overall IPA.

The Red, the Amber, and the Wheat were all good with the Red standing out the most. Good flavors, good hops, good beer.

I'll definitely return in the future. The food was good but I'm not going to get into that since this isn't a food blog but I will say I had a tasty cheeseburger. 

I'll be going back in the future and writing more in depth about each of their beers individually but for now I'll just say that I was satisfied.

CHEERS!

Avery Brewing Maharaja Imperial IPA

Avery Brewing Co. is another brewer I completely new too but if this is an indication of their quality, then you can say that I'm a fan. To be fair, I'm a fan of IPA and this is a IMPERIAL IPA or an IIPA. I I CAPTAIN! 102 IBU? Yes please. I would like all of the IBU's to dance on my taste buds. 10.2 on the Drinkenscale? WHOA!  But it's just so drinkable! I wouldn't have guessed this was a 10,2 and I'm still having a hard time believing it. Are you lying to me AVERY BREWING COMPANY? Is your label a farce?!?!?

I love me an IPA, all of the bitterness and the citrus and the smell..nothing smells better than a good IPA and this is a good smelling IPA.

If it has a flaw it's that it really is another IPA but to me,..that's not really a flaw. The Maharaja doesn't really bring anything new to IPAs but I don't care because it does what it does so well.

Strange Brew Breakfast Grapefruit IPA

This beer surprised me. I don't like grapefruit. In fact, I think it's just awful. That being said, I have enjoyed a grapefruit radler in the past, most notably the Schell Shocked from August Schell Brewing This is an IPA made with grapefruit and when I poured it, I could smell the grapefruit and I got nervous. The radler works because the grapefruit doesn't really stand out. This IPA is the opposite...it works because the grapefruit takes center stage. Give me a glass of grapefruit juice and I'll punch you right in the mouth. But for some reason, when you mix that flavor with beer, I suddenly like it. This grapefruit IPA comes from Strange Brewing Company out of Denver, CO. It's the first beer I've ever had from them and it puts up a strong showing. There is citrus coming out of the wazoo with this beer and I love it. The grapefruit works quite well. I think I would like this more with a different citrus fruit but I like this as is. 7.0 on the drinkenscale and pretty light so it's an easy drinker though the 65 IBU, which I think is enhanced a little by the grapefruit, might turn off some drinkers. If you get nervous about a beer over 50 IBU this might still be a good beer for you because some of the bitterness is coming from the grapefruit and it's not the same as a high IBU IPA. I will definitely drink this again given the opportunity.

Stillwater Surround...5.1 for yo mouf!

Chocolate, caramel, smoke...chestnuts roasting on an open fire...Christian Grey nipping at your nose...wait...what is that Fifty Shades blu ray doing hanging out back there?

Anyway, this is another good beer from Duluth, MN. This time from Stillwater. It's a 10,0 on the drinkenscale. Heavy and deep and dark. Luscious comes to mind. It's another smooth beer, I could just drink it and drink it and well...en up really fat but very happy as well. There's a bitterness that lies behind the chocolate an smoke and it's really good. I'm not one to talk about Mouthfeel on here but...well...no, I won't mention the word mouthfeel. Good beer!

O'Dell's Tree Shaker Imperial Peach IPA

After the first two heavy and high drinkenscale beers I'd had I figured I would lighten things up a bit...

Look! You can see through it...and it has the word Peach in it! It must be lighter and lower on the drinkenscale, right? 

Well, it is...but not by much. This robust Imperial Peach IPA measures in at 8.0 which is still enough to put you down if you aren't careful. It doesn't taste like it at all though. This is a Ninja Beer. You never see it coming. One minute you're upright and enjoying life then BAM! katana in the gut. Ninja Beer. 

The peach is subtle but it's good. I'm a little concerned this beer isn't sure what it wants to be. I see IPA and I think IBU but it's relatively low at 48. I see peach and I think fruit beer but the peach isn't the star of this beer. It's a good beer, just not what's expected when you read the label. It is very crisp and refreshing though. I could sit and drink these all day but I only bought one bottle. O'Dell's has never let me down in the past. I'll keep drinking their beers going forward, that's for sure.

Surly Blakkr

Surly is one of the preeminent brewers in the Minnesota area and I try to drink their beer whenever I get a chance. The Blakkr is a collaboration between Surly, Three Floyds, and Real Ale. It's an Imperial Black IPA. You get some pineapple in the smell...this is one of the best smelling beer's I've ever had. It just smells wonderfully drinkable. The taste does not disappoint either. This is a beer that defines the word beer. Supposedly tastes of black licorice but I'm not sure I noticed that much. Instead I tasted a lot of rye and hops. This beer is about as black as a beer can get so it's aptly named. I'll drink more and I'll drink more soon.

Is this Heaven? No, it's a three year aged Yeti from Great Divide

I've never been made sad by a beer before...there is a first time for everything.

I didn't want to open it at first. It had been aging for three years and was sent to me by a good man and and and I just felt like it might be wrong of me to open it. Who am I to expose this fine brew to the air? I am but a mere mortal.

Alas, I opened it. I knew I was always going to and as the opener pried off the cap, I felt like I was destroying something beautiful. I was greeted with a most wonderful smell, chocolate, malt, caramel...wonderment.

I poured it into a glass...

Not a lot of head but a deep and rich brown, almost black filled the glass. The pour was astounding...the bottle filled the glass right to the brim. It was slightly over the edge but thanks to liquid's many unusual properties, I did not spill a drop. The first sip put a smile on my face. The chocolate and malt came through strong, a slight alcohol taste which was wonderful, but no burn at all. This is so incredibly smooth, it's like drinking Billy Dee Williams. That's it...this is the Billy Dee Williams of beer. I know he shilled Colt .45 but this beer is Billy Dee Williams in beer form. Dark, chocolate, smooth...ummm...has a head. ALL THINGS BILLY DEE WILLIAMS IS!

I'm never going to taste this beer again and that thought makes me sad. However, I will celebrate it while it exists and savor it..make it last. If by some odd circumstance you see yourself with an opportunity to drink this beer, make sure you do.

It's Been Awhile...

Expect some new posts coming from me this weekend. I'm drinking some beer right now.

PREVIEW
Surly Blakkr
A 3 Year Old Yeti from Great Divide
A Watermelon Wheat and Pineapple Hefe from Horny Goat

MAYBE EVEN MORE

Lucid Foto IPA

Lucid Foto is an American IPA which I suppose makes it an American Indian Pale Ale so....it's an IPA made in America. It's good. It's an IPA. It doesn't reinvent the style or anything but it tastes good. 6.5 on the Drinkenscale and 65 IBU. I would like to say more about this beer but I don't have much else to say. You like IPA? You'll like this beer? You don't? You won't. It's just that simple.

I'll talk a bit about the brewery instead Lucid Brewing is out of Minnetonka, Minnesota, another one of the fine craft brewing establishments here in the north. I've had a few beers from them in the past and they've always been quality. I'll be sure to keep drinking and talking about Lucid in the future!

Founder's Rubaeus Fruit Beer

Founder's has put together a really unique beer and I like it. It still tastes like a beer but there is a strong raspberry flavor going on here. It's advertised on the bottle as a "PURE RASPBERRY ALE" and it tastes like that. Fruit beers can go south quickly, you get a mediocre beer flavor covered up with some weak fruit flavor. This is not that beer. This is delicious. The raspberry flavor is fantastic, and it's put on top of a good beer. It's a 5.7 on the Drinkenscale so it can get the job done without overwhelming you.  The only downside I can find it is it a little too sweet but it's definitely not cloying. The tartness of the raspberry just works.

Lake Superior Deep Water IPA

Another Duluth, Minnesota brewery brewing beer, Lake Superior Brewing makes some really good beer.  This is a black IPA from them so its got the IPA flavors mixed with some maltyness. I think the perfect word to describe this beer is like. I don't love it, I don't hate it, I just like it. It's very drinkable, the maltyness goes well with the citrus of the IPA. It's a very light but dark beer so it makes a good beer for someone wanting some of that roasted dark beer flavor without that roasted dark beer feeling. I actually don't know the ABV on this one so I can't put it on the Drinkenscale but I can say there is little to no alcohol flavor. Good beer. I wish I had more to say about it but I don't. It's a good beer.

New Holland Dragon's Milk

Dragon's Milk...the legendary nectar drawn from the teat of a mythological beast. New Holland has fermented and bottled this amazing liquid and bestowed it upon us mortals to sip upon...and you better sip on it. This is not a chugging beer at all. It hits SPINAL TAP on he Drinkenscale (that's 11 for you philistines out there), you have a duty as a human being to sip on this beer. It burns a little going down but then, what would expect from dragon's milk? It's a double stout. That's two stouts for the price of one. It's aged in bourbon barrels and the flavor really comes through. This is not necessarily a beer guy's beer. You don't sit around watching the game and pounding Dragon's Milk. You drink one every now and then, savoring it's flavor and then you don't drink another for awhile. Too much dragon's milk can be a dangerous thing. Everyone who likes beer should give this a taste.
I believe the Khaleesi herself, Daenerys, drinks this from time to time though I think she gets it straight from the source.
Find some...drink it...thank me later.

New Holland White Hatter

New Holland calls their White Hatter a WPA. It falls somewhere between a pale ale and an IPA and it really skates the line quite well. When you combine two styles of beer, you can end up with something that ends up lacking in both departments. However, with their White Hatter, New Holland has really created something unique. It has some of the citrus and hops you'd expect from an IPA combined with the subtlety of a pale ale. Where Oskar Blues failed me a little by advertising their beer as an IPA, New Holland calls theirs something different and so I knew to change my expectations. That doesn't mean this is some amazing beer, it isn't, but it is good. I"d drink it again. Also, with it falling on the lower end of the Drinkenscale at 5.5 you don't have to worry about getting too drunk.

Oskar Blues Pinner Throwback IPA

Oskar Blues is the creator of one of the best beers ever made, Old Chub on Nitro. This however is a very different beast. Pinner is what they call a "throwback IPA". I'm not 100% sure what that means but this doesn't remind me of an IPA at all. It lacks the bitterness and the strong flavor I associate with an IPA. It honestly reminds me more of a pilsner. It has some of that citrus flavor you expect from an IPA but it's so subtle that you might miss it. I like this beer, but since I was expecting something different I was disappointed. It's a low 4.9 on the Drinkenscale which makes sense with it's overall weak flavor. I don't know...this is a hard beer to judge because of my expectations. I feel like I'd have to drink it again to really give it a fair shake and maybe I will in the future. Going in knowing what to expect might raise my opinion Pinner quite a bit. As it stands though, I would have a hard time recommending this beer as labeled. If you go in expecting IPA prepared to be left wanting.

Surly Cynicale

Surly usually doesn't let me down. This Cynicale is really good, but I just drank that Founders Imperial Stout and I think it's having an impact on my opinion of this beer. After that thick, luxurious, Imperial, this ale lacks a little, It's a real good beer though. Here's the thing...look at that picture. I fit the entire can in that glass without spilling a drop. It was a PERFECT POUR. People go through their whole lives without a pour like that. Where the beer goes slightly over the lip of the glass but never dribbles out. AMAZING. Beer'd Baron you've done it again you handsome devil!

Oh yeah, the beer. Good, almost great. A saison to the definition of the term. 6.5 on the Drinkenscale but doesn't have any real alcohol flavor so a very drinkable beer for anyone.

Seriously though..that pour. Just amazing.

Founders Imperial Stout

Is this the best Imperial Stout I've ever had? I don't know but it's definitely up there. Good God, Founders you magnificent bastards! Looking at this beer...no light will ever pass through it. All light is absorbed by its darkness. Does any type of beer smell better than an Imperial Stout? I say nay.I popped this open and my nostril was filled with rainbows...BLACK RAINBOWS. Then I poured it into the glass and it was thick and viscous, like molasses. It drinks so smooth though. SO SMOOTH! At 10.5 on the Drinkenscale, this beer is dangerously smooth. I could sit here and drink it all damn day. You get chocolate and malts and barley and and and I don't know but I'm loving it. This is the smoothest Imperial I've ever had and I'm going to buy another the next chance I get.

Green Flash Green Bullet TRIPLE IPA

DO YOU LIKE IBU'S? If not...stay the hell away from this beer. It's pushing the needle to 100 IBU which means BITTER. Personally, I love it. I'll take all of the IBU you want to throw at me. This is my first beer from Green Flash, a brewer out of San Diego, and I'm very impressed. This thing is heavy, coming in at 10.1 on the Drinkenscale. It tastes like it too. While the alcohol isn't excessive, it's definitely there. There is no hiding from that burn. This is a beer that could be absolutely overwhelming to someone who doesn't drink a lot of beer, so...novices? beware. (I don't like that term, novice. It sounds pretentious...like I'm a PROFESSIONAL BEER DRINKER.) But, if you're used to drinking light beers and such, I wouldn't recommend just jumping right into something this strong. Really, really great beer.

Surly Hell - Is It The Perfect Wednesday Beer?

A Helles Lager (Hence the clever name) Hell apparently means "bright" in German and I think that suits this beer quite well. I call it the perfect Wednesday beer because it's a low 4.5 on the Drinkenscale and is really easy to drink. The kind of beer you can drink during the week and still get up feeling fresh in the morning for work. If you want to drink all day, you can absolutely do worse than a Surly Hell. Surly is one of the better Minnesota craft brewers and I've yet to dislike any of their beer. They do some really heavy beers and some really experimental beers. Surly Hell is proof they can brew. It takes a lot more skill to brew an excellent light beer than it does to brew a heavy full flavored beer. Surly takes their craft very seriously, and it shows in their finished product.

Oskar Blues Old Chub Nitro -Great beer? or GREATEST BEER?

This is it...the Cadillac of beer. Nah, the Bugatti of beer. No, that doesn't sound right either...the best beer, Yeah, that works. If there is a better beer than Old Chub Scotch Ale on Nitro I haven't had it yet. It's just so smooth. Like drinking a beer milkshake with incredible flavor. The malt...OH LORD the malt. There's a bunch of malt in here, some hops, some chocolate, and just a dash of DELICIOUS.

Gaze upon it's beauty.

Old Chub by itself is really good. It's the Nitro that really makes the difference here. It takes a delicious beer and adds the smoothest (I'm going to say it!) mouthfeel you will ever experience in a beer. No bubbly carbonation, just pure smooth malty liquid going down your throat. 

Is it the surface of the moon? Nope, It's OLD CHUB!

8.0 on the drinkenscale means this is a beer that knows what it's doing. I could just sit and drink it all day long except it is heavy as most Scotch Ales tend to be. This is not a chugging beer, or a beer you drink when you plan on doing anything outdoors. This is an end of the evening, sitting and relaxing, ready to fill up your tummy beer. It's dessert in a pint glass.

Uinta Detour Double IPA

I'm an IPA man. I love my hops an bitterness and IBU's as much as anyone. Uinta is a brewery out of Salt Lake City, UT and this is the first beer I've ever had from them. If I love IPA's then it stands to reason that I'll love a double IPA twice as much right? Well, that's not far from the truth. This beast of a DIPA clocks in at 95 IBU which is just the perfect amount of bitter to make my tongue smile. If you tend to shy away from the bitter beer then stay far away from Detour. Another one high on the ABV, Detour pushes the Drinkenscale all the way up to 9.5. That's enough to make you feel it. You don't taste it much though. For being such a high ABV, Detour drinks nice and smooth with little to no alcohol burn. A worthy addition to my belly.

Spaten Optimator

Spaten Optimator is a nice, dark, malty doppelbock. It really is a good specimen of the beer it represents. It doesn't do anything special with it's flavor but it doesn't have to. This is another one of those BEER beers. 7.6 on the Drinkenmeter means this is a beer you don't want to necessarily chug. It's great for washing down spicy food as all malty beers tend to be. It's a German beer through and through. Good stuff!

Castle Danger 17-7 Pale Ale

This will probably be a short post because there just isn't a lot to say about this beer. As far as pale ale goes it's good. It's just not anything special. Castle Danger is out of Two Harbors, MN and I've had some really good beer from them. This just isn't it. Again, not bad, just boring. It's a beer, that's all I an really say.It's light, it's got some hops. I'm not complaining about it, I'm just not impressed I suppose.If it was hoppier or lighter, it might be something really special but instead it falls right in the middle of all of the flavors they are looking to achieve. You're not going to dislike this beer. It's a 5.8 on the Drinkenscale so it gets the job done.

Blacklist Brewing Or Del Belgique Verte

This is why I drink beer. Because, while most beer is good, every now and then you stumble on something wonderful. This Or de Belgique from Blacklist is amazing, This is a brewer out of Duluth, Minnesota where there are some truly great brewers. The smell of this beer is intoxicating, it hits the nose beautifully and all I wanted to do was drink it...which I did. It's a 9.5 on the Drinkenscale so be careful imbibing this too quickly. It's a strong Belgian golden that drinks so smooth. It leaves a hint of alcohol burn as it goes down, but it's nothing overpowering. This is an extremely drinkable beer with a high ABV and a very complex flavor. It's hoppy too! There's a lot going on here and my tongue liked all of it.

Hofbrau Dunkel/Dunkel Gold

I went from technically not a beer, to what I would consider to be an absolute beer. When you think of BEER flavor, I imagine you're thinking of a Bavarian dark beer. This has flavor in spades, a strong, spicy very drinkable beer. Tipping the Drinkenscale at 5.5 you can drink them and not have to worry about forgetting how good it is.
Low IBU coming in at 22 because this is not a hop head's beer. This is a beer man's beer. (I LOVE HOPS BY THE WAY SO I'M NOT DEGRADING THEM) I just think this tastes like what you expect beer to taste like. No surprises, no fruits, no hops...just BEER.

Crabbie's Spiced Orange Alcoholic Ginger Beer

I was hesitant to include this one because it TECHNICALLY isn't a beer, it's an alcoholic soda. However, it has the word BEER right there in the title so it counts.
This basically tastes like a slightly alcoholic ginger ale with a tiny, tiny hint of orange. My first sip left me slightly disappointed but I think I was expecting something else. After finishing it I can definitely say I liked it. It was a unique flavor at least. Very low on the Drinkenscale, coming in at a measly 4.8, it's another "beer" that you can sip on all day long and barely feel a thing. I'd recommend this for drinking if you like soda, just don't expect a BEER.

IT HAS NO IBU BECAUSE IT TECHNICALLY ISN'T A BEER

Sam Adams Blueberry Hill Lager

This will be an "I don't know...it was in my fridge" entry. While waiting for some good beer to cool I decided to drink something from my fridge. This had been in there while and I honestly don't even remember why I bought it. I'm guessing I was building a 6 pack at one of the small liquor stores and their selection was very limited.

Anyway, this isn't bad. It smells strongly of blueberry and it has a blueberry flavor to it. The underlying beer just isn't that great. This would be a good inoffensive beer for a person who doesn't really drink beer because the beer doesn't shine through.

5.5 on the Drinkenscale, so it's not going to get you drunk quickly. 18 IBU which I'm assuming is the bitterness from the blueberries because beer sure as hell isn't coming through on that measurement.

You can do worse than this Sam Adams Blueberry Lager but I wouldn't really recommend buying it unless you are really low on choices or you really like blueberry. Although, I've had superior blueberry beer in the past.