Allagash Curieux, TiarnA and Midnight Brett

Allagash Curieux - Ale aged in oak bourbon barrels (2013)

Brewed and Bottled by Allagash Brewing Co., in Portland, Maine. USA.

Year Round Brew.

25.4 fl. oz. / $16.99 USD (w/ Free Company Glass) / 11% ABV

About: "Allagash Curieux was our first foray into barrel aging. Curieux is made by aging our Tripel Ale in Jim Beam bourbon barrels for eight weeks in our cold cellars. The aged beer is then blended back with a portion of fresh Tripel. The resulting beer is soft with coconut and vanilla notes, with hints of bourbon."

Thoughts: Cork popped out like Nothin'! My second Allagash brew. I once had a 12 oz bottle of their Black. Looking at this bottle I wonder what kind of Ale this is. Is it one of their other ales that they've barrel aged? It doesn't really say on the label. It doesn't say much of anything on the label other than when, how many and how heavy.

One thing I didn't expect at all was for this beer to pour a really cloudy lime green yellow. Hold on, let me hit the lights. Curieux poured a really hazy soft yellow color with shades of orange and apricot. Carbonation is rampant and there's a huge marshmallow fluff head because of it.

The scent is really light. Especially for an 11% beer. I'm getting very soft notes of dried banana chips. Belgian yeast, vanilla and oak. It smells very crisp. It's not all too deep in character, but it smells good.

Taste is mild orange peel, citrus, yeast, soft pepper, rain, margarita salt and angel tears. Don't got much experience with Belgian Tripels, but this tastes great to me. Very peppery in the finish and those pepper flakes bounce around and pop. It's smooth and pleasurable. It's just not all that interesting. It's got a lot of thing I like such as peppery tones and spice though. It's a bit hazy feeling, but really soothing overall.

Allagash TiarnA - ale aged in oak barels (2013)

Limited Edition Brew.

12.7 fl. oz. / 14.99 USD / 7.1% ABV

About: "Tiarna is a blend of two beers, one aged in oak and fermented with 100% brettanomyces and the other fermented in stainless with a blend of two Belgian yeast strains. Both beers were brewed with a combination of 2 row and wheat malt in addition to specialty grains. It was hopped with Hallertau, Styrian Goldings and Cascade hops. The finished beer is dark golden in color with citrus, pineapple and bread in the aroma. The flavor of this tart beer has notes of grapefruit, lemon, and bread crust, and a long, dry finish."

Thoughts: Popped the cork like a willing cherry and a little smoke came pouring out. Sniffed it of course. Smells a little sour, a little fruity. Started the pour and it all came out bubbles. Stopped. It's lighter than I expected, but then again, I know nothing at all about this beer as I write these words. The whipped topping head on this thing just keeps... fucking... growing! Contents under pressure is right. The carbonation on this thing is off the fucking charts. It's like the Stuff from that old horror movie, the uh... Stuff.

TiarnA poured a very light cloudy yellow with so much carbonation that the head grew and ended up expanding out of the top of the glass and nearly fell down. It was so Stay-Puffed however that it just swayed in the wind of my table fan. Crazy shit. There must be a thousand million bubbles rising up in this beer.

Smelling it both at the head and the bottle and really the head isn't holding much of the scent back. It's bright, vibrant, fruity, and wild. This beer smells sour as fuck, dude. It took about five minutes for the head to die down near something acceptable to drink. Oh, and I poured it soft. So soft.

First gulp and it sure is wild. A little smokey, but not how you'd expect smokey to seem. It's more like stale cigarette smoke. Not terribly unpleasant though, so don't get me wrong. It's sour and pleasing to the tongue. It tastes good. It's not all that sour, which is a bit too bad... but it's got a flavorful and fun profile. The oak barrel aging is very light here. It's woody or woodsy or whatever you call it, but there's not much flavor of whatever barrel it was that's imparted in it. I don't know what these barrels were used to age, but if anything it's some sort of wine.

It's soft, fizzy, a little earthy, slightly tart, a little sweet, very low bitterness, and is overall enjoyable. Mouthfeel is a light to medium with a lot of carbonation. This tastes really good, but I wonder what justifies the price. How it was made most likely.

Allagash Midnight Brett Ale (2013)

Limited Edition Brew.

12.7 fl. oz. / 13.39 USD / 7.3% ABV

About: "Midnight Brett is chocolate brown in color, brewed with 2-Row, Midnight wheat, raw wheat and rye malt. It was hopped with a blend of Perle, Glacier and Simcoe hops. The beer was fermented with our house strain of Brettanomyces in stainless tanks. The finished beer has the aroma and flavor of fresh berries, sour cherries and a slight roasted character. The finish is pleasantly tart and fruity making this beer very drinkable."

Thoughts: I was down at the old watering hole when I saw an Allagash truck leaving the liquor store. I was headed in that direction anyhow, but consider me intrigued so I browsed the isle only to find a single bottle of this that wasn't there before. Strange that there would only be one, but I immediately grabbed it despite it being a bit expensive (but then again aren't all Allagash products?) and here we go. Oh cool, I just looked at the side of the label and this was bottled on my birthday. Nice.

Unlocked the cage and slid out the cork smooth and easy with a loud pop and a ton of smoke emerging. Midnight Brett poured somewhat true to its name with a solid dense raspberry brown, but a near black nonetheless. The frosty beige head was thick and lasted forever.

This smells pretty sour. I'm sure in for a treat aren't I? The malt profiles are bouncing all over the place. It's a funky one that's for sure, with that grimy raw wheat and rye battling it out on a pummeled floor of pale. Swirling the glass I get a hint of underlying sweetness, one of cherries, plums and figs... but once it settles that sour house yeast floods the nose. There are other odd notes in there, like cocoa, damp driftwood, and booze.

First sip and well, that's not all that sour at all. Everything was rather calm in fact. It tastes like berries, the middle is a very gentle haze with a hint of tartness, and it all rides out with a roasted nutty like quality. The wild yeast is the main flavor aside from the soft sweetness, and it hangs around long after the swallow. Nothing harsh about this one though. This is some really tame stuff. Tasty, and a little funky, but really really tame.

Mouthfeel is pretty standard for an ale, if a little light. It's clean and leaves a smooth texture in the mouth. This one is OK, but nothing great. I guess if you're into subtleties and all that you might like it a little more than I do, but I would have preferred it to be more up front and powerful.

Affligem Noël Christmas Ale

Affligem Noël Christmas Ale - Ale brewed with spices (2013)

Brewed and Bottled by Brouwerij Affligem / De Smedt in Opwijk, Belgium. 

Winter Seasonal.

25.4 fl. oz. / $9.49 USD / 9% ABV

About: "Affligem Noel is known for its rich, complex flavor and is one of those very special beers that people await to be released every year. It's a dark, ruby red Abby beer with the fresh smell of wonderful spices, such as licorice and orange zest. Affligem Noel is a true seasonal specialty with a complex flavor that is excellent with festive holiday foods or simply enjoyed on its own.  The perfect alternative to wines and liquors."

Thoughts: Produced 9/4/13. Drank 1/3/14. Noël poured a really beautiful and transparent deep shade of cherry red. The light egg nog cream colored head started to fizzle away fast but developed into a thick layer atop the brew, as carbonation is very heavy.

Smells frosty. Har. Up front it's Belgian yeast, crisp apples and black cherry. Very nice. Following behind there's some peppery bread loaf, cough syrup and pear juice. It smells rather sugary, and has a hint of alcohol lingering beyond the cold.

The beer started off very sweet but calmed quickly. I was hit with a huge sensation of cherries, candi sugar, and a haze of dry spices reminiscent of allspice and nutmeg. The sweetness quickly turned into a mouth drying haze, and then shortly afterwards emerged the base flavors of sourdough cinnamon bread, funky yeast, caramel malt, pepper, toffee, ash, dirty water and moist leaves. It's a really delectable beer, with the alcohol fumes and the fire that builds inside narrowly outweighing the beautiful tastes here. If it were the other way around things would be almost as perfect, not that I mind.

The mouth feel on this ones is really light, somewhat airy, soft and thin. It doesn't exactly seem to match the taste and smell of the beer, but it's not off putting or anything... though it could be a bit silkier. Overall this is a very enjoyable beer, and though it's got some minor flaws, I'd highly recommend it. Choosing the Mad Elf glass was the right choice for this one as cherries are all over this thing, and the strength isn't exactly hidden either. Belgian christmas ales, man... you know?

Het Anker Lucifer

Brouwerij Het Anker Lucifer - Belgian Pale Ale (2013)

Brewed and Bottled by Brouwerij Het Anker in Mechelen, Belgium.

Year Round Brew.

25.4 fl. oz. / $9.99 USD / 8% ABV

About: "Lucifer entered the market in the mid 1980s under the label of Liefmans breweries. It was an extension to the popular segment of strong, blonde beers. After Liefmans Breweries disappeared, Lucifer fell into the hands of our neighbours and friends Duvel Moortgat. However, they only wished to concentrate on Liefmans’ fruit beers. Lucifer was in danger of dying a silent death. But we didn’t let it get that far, our conscience couldn’t allow this to happen. Het Anker received the right to produce and commercialise Lucifer. May we roast in hell if it doesn’t follow the success of our own beers!

Lucifer, as the name might suggest, is similar to Duvel. Ok... A Belgian golden, it has sweet malt and a light fruitiness on the nose. The flavor is quite delicate, with a nice bready sweetness up front, a light fruitiness throughout, and long dry finish. Hops: Magnum, Spalt, Saaz"

Thoughts: Today is my son's birthday. He's almost two days days old. Fuck to the yeah! So I thought I'd celebrate tonight with the beer I named him after. Loud ass pop off of the cork. Simple enough pull with a little snug, but not too slippery or stuck... if you know what I mean! Smoke comes firing out. Much like the hell-fire of a newly condemned soul thrown into an unforgiving world of despair.

Well son of the morning star, if this ale isn't a lot lighter than I had expected it to be. Not that I assumed it would be blood red, but... with a name like Lucifer, I figured it would at least be RTTDD. Absolutely massive head on this! It... just... won't... die. Down, that is. Total fluff. This has to be the whitest head I've ever seen on a beer. There's an insane amount of carbonation rising up. The brew is a total cloud of dirty yellow color. Major lacing all around.

The scent is immediately crisp, fruity, no doubt of the Belgian variety. It smells very refreshing, and a little bit spicy. Need I say... tempting? This really is one beautiful smelling beer no doubt about it. It bounces all over the place but at the same time remains in the same spot, like a figure 8.

Taste is just like the scents. It's slightly dank, rustic, tingling, enticing, fruity, zinging, and the flavors just bounce around in the mouth like Q*Bert on a 3-D pyramid pedestal. It's not overly sweet or wrecking, nor is it dull or lousy in any way, in fact, Lucifer tastes fucking great. It feels good and is you can tell immediately that it's a well crafted and cared for beer. It's got a gentle spice, and after the swallow it's a total mellow feel. This beer tastes not only awesome, but it light as a feather while leaving you stiff as a board.

Mouth feel has a heavy foamy feel when you keep it inside for a while. This stuff puffs out quickly. It does go down smooth as HELL though, and leaves a crisp, almost drying sensation. I didn't know that this was a Pale Ale going into it, but I haven't had too many like this for a while... especially strong ones with Belgian influence. The taste was like one big flashback to my past. Not only did this beer surprise me, but it enlightened me as well.

Firestone Walker 15th Anniversray Ale

Firestone Walker 15th Anniversary Ale - A Blend of Barrel Aged Beers (2011)

Limited Release (Brewed Once)

22 fl. oz. / $24.99 USD / 12.5% ABV

About: "As a finished beer, XV is alive with amazing complexity and yet it is quite possibly the most integrated and seamless blend yet.

Looking at a blend of 8 beers on paper at first looks chaotic and potentially disjointed; however, a closer look reveals and interesting theme: 76% Barley Wine style beers, 19% Stout and 5% Imperial IPA. XV introduces our new blonde barley wine "Helldorado" with flavors of lavender honey liqueur. The well established "DDBA" delivers its signature American toasted oak, English caramel toffee and light leather nuances. 2010 vintage "Sticky Monkey" folds in brown sugar, maple, cinnamon, ginger and ripe figs. "Parabola" brings the familiar flavors of roasted dark coco, and chocolate covered cherries. "Velvet Merkin" carries silky milk chocolate, toasted coconut and creamy textures. "Good Foot" and "Bravo" add assertive barley wine warmth and lush barrel derived vanilla bean notes.  The game changer this year is the addition of "Double Jack" to the blend.  At just 5% its massive dry hop character brings citrus zest, tangerine and mango aromas making this a completely new beer.

The beer is unfiltered and unfined, so there will be a small amount of sediment in the bottom of the bottle.   XV is best enjoyed poured carefully into a half-filled brandy snifter or wine glass. Allow it to warm to 55F to fully enjoy the pleasing and complex aromas. As the beer sits and breathes in the glass, a richer, orange zested, chocolate dusted, vanilla custard character is reveled, so take your time. If you wait to open your bottle later, store it in a cool dark place. I suspect that this beer will age well and change favorably for years to come. It was an absolute pleasure in the making and I truly hope you enjoy our Sixth oak-aged blend!  Our journey continues and it’s just as fun and exciting now as it was back in 1996.

18% Helldorado (11.7% ABV) Blonde Barley Wine. (Buckwheat Honey and 100% El Dorado Hops)

17% Sticky Monkey (12.5% ABV) English Barley Wine. (Mexican Turbinado Brown Sugar)

17% Bravo (13.5% ABV) Imperial Brown Ale. (100% US Grown Fuggles Hops)

13% Double Double Barrel Ale (11.5% ABV) Double Strength English Pale Ale. (Double Version of Flagship)

11% Good Foot (14.3 ABV) American Barley Wine. (Copious amounts of American Grown Hops)

10% Velvet Merkin (8.6% ABV) Traditional Oatmeal Stout. (100% US Grown Fuggles Hops)

9% Parabola (13% ABV) Russian Imperial Oatmeal Stout. (Simcoe, Brao, Styrian Golding and East Kent Golding)

5% Double Jack (9.5% ABV) Double India Pale Ale. (Triple dry-hopped DIPA)"

Thoughts: I've never had a beer that came with a certificate before! Wow... cool shit.

XV poured a dark cherry color with a slightly brownish shade once it filled the glass. The head was minimal and very tan, and understandably faded quickly.

This beer smells absolutely beautiful. God damn... boozy dark fruits and dark chocolate predominate. It is wondrous. This is one fierce smelling barleywine man, I'll tell ya, and the really cool thing is with this blend that they've done this beer has a really awesome stout characteristic that comes in halfway through and a big hop profile at the end. Up front though it's really malty, heavy and dense smelling. In a word: Powerful.

First gulp and I am fucking blown away! You don't really get a ton of oak in the scent at first, but right off the tongue there's a massive sweet and delectable booze blow followed by a smooth woody finish. Second gulp now, this is pure insanity. The spice and flavor rolls around vertically in the mouth, constantly pounding down on the tongue like raindrops of ecstasy. It tingles, it's sticky, it's got a little bit of a harshness to it but it's not overly harsh and it falls back reasonably. It's slightly smoky. Tons of dark fruit, plum, raisins everywhere, figs, freshly fallen leaves, vanilla, Belgian chocolate, cinnamon, pepper... hints of cherry, cut grass, celery salt, mild coffee, red wine and hidden floral notes after it's swallowed. Oak is everywhere and leaves the mouth feeling as is there should be a few splinters in there after a short bit of drinking. This is some crazy shit!

The mouth feel is full, takes a while before it gets foamy, stinging, tickling and coats evenly leaving a massive amount of the gorgeous taste to linger for long periods between sips and gulps. Starts to get drying after a while, though not aggressively so. Nice feeling all around.

After warming for an hour this one gets really mellow. Slightly puckering effect with heavy booze, and yet, the booze isn't grossly overactive, but rather just explosive at first and fades so quick due that barrel aging that it's simply blissful. The price of this one hurt me at first, so much to the fact that I left it in the fridge for a few months. Tonight was the night, and unholy hell, what a fantastic night it has become! If you ever see this on the shelf, buy it!

In an act of courtesy, I offered a drink to my lady:

Me: "Hey, come over here and tell me what this smells like."

Her: "Uhg! I don't know but it's disgusting."

Well played.

Avery Old Jubilation Ale

Avery Old Jubilation Ale (2012)

Winter Seasonal.

12 fl. oz. / $2.45 USD / 8.3% ABV

About: "Our winter strong ale has a gorgeous mahogany hue, a hint of hazelnuts, and a finish reminiscent of mocha and toffee. No spices, just a perfect blend of five specialty malts. Hops: Bullion / Malts: Two-row barley, Special roast, Black, Chocolate, Victory / Food pairing: Old Jubilation Ale is comfortable being sipped and quaffed alongside many large cuts of meat you typically find around the holidays. Roast duck, crown roast, rack of lamb, prime rib, herb- and honey-crusted chicken and all manner of gamebirds are great choices, as are seasonal soups made with spices like nutmeg and cinnamon."

Thoughts: Old Jubi poured a dark and hazy copper tone with shades of ruby red and had a fluffy, light-tan colored head atop the thing.

Getting a lot of chocolate and black malt here... toffee, peanut brittle and very little bits of coffee way in the background. It smells raw and wet. It's got a really fruity tone to it that's a bordering on funky. Kinda like a homemade oatmeal with raisins and apricot chunks, and coffee milk poured into it. Something weird about it too, but it's hard to finger.

Heavy spicy malt, grassy hop background, vapor, dirt, heavy bitterness and a bit of tartness. It's like an evil generic Dr Pepper with stinging hazy booze fumes. This kind of reminds me of a porter, or an woodsy brown ale. There's a major roasted thing going on that's taking over much of the beer and it's got a gentle smokiness to it. That being said, I'm not really all that much into this beer. I appreciate the strength to it and that makes it a head above other brews like this I've tried, but it's far too nutty of a beer for me. If you like brown ales with a bit of smoke and a lot of nuts that are really strong, then this one is for you.

Mouth feel is very smooth, easy drinking, it's got a little heat at the back of the throat and there's no bad aftertaste... if you don't mind a little char. Aside from being a strong version of a plain tasting beer, this one is still a bit too plain for me.

Breckenridge Christmas Ale

Breckenridge Christmas Ale (2012)

Brewed and Bottled by Breckenridge Brewery of Denver, CO. USA.

Winter Seasonal. 

12 fl. oz. / $2.29 USD / 7.4% ABV

About: "Bottled joy to the world. The chill of a Colorado high-country winter calls for a beer with extra flavor and strength. Here it is. At over 7% alcohol, with a sturdy texture and rich flavors of caramel and chocolate, our holiday seasonal is the fermented equivalent of a good fire. Malts: Two Row Pale, Caramel, Chocolate, Black / Hops: Chinook, Mt. Hood / Yeast: Top Fermenting Ale Yeast."

Thoughts: This good cheer beer poured a very muddy mahogany color with a light, silvery-cream head that faded pretty quickly.

Smells of a Strong Ale. I've gotten used to this type of beer. At first it was very much an enigma to me, as were "Christmas" beers in general. Now I don't necessarily go in looking for spice all the time. I can accept different styles for the classification. I'm picking up caramel and chocolate malt for the most part. This beer is very malty. Mixing pale and black malt is pretty interesting. Black malts have a very distinct characteristic to them, and while it's apparent here, the pale malt is really pulling everything else back a bit. I guess you can say that the smells are branching out, like a tree. And that tree is decorated with small popping bits of classical hops.

This beer has a pretty heavy taste, and there is a touch of natural spice from the ingredients here. It's got a rich dirty caramel thing going on mostly, with a peppery backup and touch of sweet fluff. Hops are noticeable after the swallow and it's followed with a bit of a clove-like smokiness and a rusty cola aftertaste. The brew itself is a tingler and dances around on the tongue. It's got a dusty-like taste but I doubt there is any cinnamon in this. After a while the heavy malts and gentle bittersweet flavor of the brew is matched with some sprinklings of grapefruit citrus.

Mouth feel is medium. I'm picking up a slightly watery texture, but the ingredients here add a lot to it so doesn't seem so. It slightly foams up but goes down quickly and slowly fades off into the distance.

This is an OK beer. It's not overly flavorful, nor does it leave a lasting impression at all. From the standpoint of a "Christmas" Ale, this could be any beer for the winter months. Nothing off putting about it at all, and it's generally pleasant for the most part. Really nothing special.

Long Trail Imperial Pumpkin

Long Trail Imperial Pumpkin - Ale brewed with Pumpkin and Spices (2012)

Autumn Seasonal (Limited Release - First Batch).

22 fl. oz. / $6.94 USD / 8% ABV

2013 Artwork

About: "Long Trail Imperial Pumpkin Ale is the latest introduction to the Long Trail Brewmaster Series. This limited release seasonal treat is small batch brewed with pumpkins, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves with increased malts and a touch of bitterness for the perfect balance. Malts: 2-Row, Wheat, Caramel 80L, and Caramunich / Hops: Nugget, Mt. Hood, Willamette."

Thoughts: Poured a slightly dark orange-brown honey color with an oatmeal color head that dissolved pretty quickly. This beer is very murky. Murky and hazy. Maximum carbonation.

This one smells pretty uncooked. Not overly sweet scented like pumpkin pie brews, but rather like a moderately spiced mash. Kinda fruity. Smells a bit smokey around the back of it... like cigarette ash.

Major booze sting on first gulp. Tartness. Took a bigger second gulp and there's still that booze so don't consider this one well hidden by any means. It's lightly spiced, heavy on the pulpy taste and just edging on sour. The beer is extremely malty. It's got some mild cinnamon here and is pretty heavy on the clove, and with the mix of those (the drying of the cinnamon and the flavor of the clove) makes you feel as if you just smoked a clove cigarette. It all becomes nutty as you get into it, like cashews or peanuts. A very strange brew.

Mouth feel is light and airy. A little bit foamy around the end and leaves a little bit of the sticky stuff behind.

Previous

Overall I find this beer a bit more sour than I usually like. The sweetness here is pretty much non-existent and the abundance of building spice as you continue to drink doesn't really compliment the bitterness all too well. That being said, it's not horrible. There just seems to be a lot more "beer" flavor coming through as opposed to pumpkin beer... how do I phrase this? It's as if I'm drinking a beer that is in itself two different entities. While it's blended, I'm feeling more of an individual vibe from each of the flavors here. It's weird. While the flavor of this beer falls off really quick, it's got a really nice aftertaste.

Long Trail Imperial Pumpkin - Ale brewed with Pumpkin and Spices (2013)

Autumn Seasonal (Limited Release - Second Batch).

22 fl. oz. / $6.99 USD / 8% ABV

Second Thoughts: Poured a dark cinnamon color with a thick and frothy orange cream colored head.

Smells great. Spices hit up front with ginger, black pepper, nutmeg, a little cinnamon sugar, and crayola crayons.

Yup. Tastes like crayons. This is like the mystery at the pumpkin wax museum. The smell is definitely better than the taste... but it's not completely horrid. There's a lot of black peppery spice which I like since I like that kind of thing. It's very malty. A little bit funky and earthy. Spicy. And a tad sour.

The new artwork got me this time around, as did the whole thought of revisiting pumpkin ales, but I'm not really much of a fan of this one overall. Totally way better label for 2013 though.

Avery The Beast Grand Cru Ale

Avery The Beast - Grand Cru Ale - Batch 7 (2009)
Brewed and Bottled by Avery Brewing Co., in Boulder, CO. USA.

Yearly Extremely-Limited Release (August)

12 fl. oz. / $9.49 USD / 15.07% ABV

About: "The Beast is a seducer – accommodating, complicated, powerful, dark and created to last the ages. With a deep burgundy color and aromas of honey, nutmeg, mandarin orange and pineapple, this massive and challenging brew has flavors akin to a beautiful Carribean rum. Dates, plums, raisins and molasses are dominant in a rich vinous texture. Cellarable for 10+ years. The Beast is the first installment of “The Demons of Ale” series.

Hop Variety: Bravo, Magnum, Bullion, Sterling, Hersbrucker, Tettnang / Malt Variety: Two-row barley, Honey malt, Dark Aromatic, Pale wheat, Roasted wheat, Special B / Sugars: Dates, Molasses, Dark Belgian Candy Sugar, Colorado Honey, Raisins, Turbinado / Food pairing: Pineapple upside down cake pairs nicely with the sweet, rum-like flavors found in our Beast Grand Cru."

Thoughts: Avery's Beast poured redder than the devil's dick! An extremely murky burgundy, caramel toned, with a very light tan cream colored head of froth. The thickest lacing I've ever seen on a beer is going nowhere.

Fire and maniacal laughter. The smell of this thing is dangerously sweet and heavily intoxicating. Picked up dark fruits immediately: plums, raisins, dates. Then mainly caramel, sugar and booze... afterwards some honey and a shitload of molasses. And smores too.

This is some sinister shit right here! Hell fuckin' yeah. Indeed a fire is ignited in the belly upon consumption. Sugary sweet graham crackers fill the mouth, then a stinging booze tickles the throat just before the swallow and afterwards a blistering attack of dark fruits explode in every direction before a gentle tingle of burnt sugar and honey slowly ride out. It's got a rum taste, wine like finish, little bit of smoke from the fire being extinguished, lingering tropical fruity notes in the aftertaste while breathing in.

Mouthfeel is extremely smooth, and tingly.

I knew nothing about this beer before I picked it up, the only thing I knew is that it had been calling out to me from up on that shelf behind the counter, where the few bottles aren't in direct visibility. The last few weeks that I've been picking up swill, I can't help but look up and over there at it while I pay for my shit. This is my first beer from Avery Brewing, and after I looked on their website now I see that they're also the providers of this pumpkin beer Rumkin that's I've been hearing so much about. I. WANT. IT!

Southern Tier big red and Farmers Tan

Southern Tier big red - IMPERIAL red ale (2011)

Retired Beer (Last brewed in 2011).

22 fl. oz. / $7.45 USD / 9% ABV

About: "Inspiration can sometimes be found in the strangest of places. This eccentric brew started with a single flower from a hop named Hallertau. The delicate and spicy aroma present in the flower has been responsible for generations of great beers. Hallertau hops are to a brewer what an old tractor is to a farmer: reliable. Big Red expresses the nobility of Hallertau by placing it at the forefront of this Imperial Ale. Pour it into a snifter. A swirl allows the spicy aromas to come forward as a taste to the lips reveals the complex balance between sweet malts and the bitterness of hops. Big Red’s ability to please is as dependable as your grandpa’s old tractor. Please consume wisely."

Thoughts: I really wanted to find this so bad as it had been retired and I didn't have the bottle for my collection. Traveling back from the IMAX cinema I decided to get off the highway and roam through a few towns... no luck with anything for the most part as this is fucking wine and salad country, but I never expected that I'd see this bottle in the fridge of a hole in the wall!

Big Red poured a light amber orange that formed into a deep orange in the glass, with a thick off-white head formed by small bubbles. The beer is incredibly transparent and there seems to be a nice amount of carbonation.

The scent is definitely hop forward and heavy. The hallertau smells very robust and there's a low level malt rumbling underneath.

This is a powerful tasting sweet and savory beer. There's not really much too it ingredient-wise but it really bursts at you. Those sweet caramel and lighter chocolate malts form the foundation, and these hops just pop throughout and add another layer of flavor that is a tad peppery, spicy and just downright excellent. There's a great mix of malts and hops here. While the brew is smooth and sweet, the hops bring out a gentle bitterness that doesn't hit too hard and adds to the flavor and aroma greatly. The balance is about 50/50 I'd say. It's done remarkably well. This is a beer that delivers on the taste from the first sip to the last gulp. One where every time you drink you feel it all over again as if it's the first time you've tried it.

Mouth feel is smooth and gentle.

I'm glad I got the chance to drink this before it disappeared forever. It's not nearly Southern Tier's best beer, but it's a solid one and really hit the spot.

Southern Tier Imperial Farmer's Tan - Pale Lager (2011)

Summer Seasonal (Limited Yearly Release - May)

22 fl. oz. / $8.99 USD / 8.6% ABV

About: "The hallmark of hard work. Neolithic humans evolved from nomadic hunters into a more settled agricultural society, changing life forever. The "founder" crops they raised included wheat and barley. It is little surprise that the first examples of brewing appeared during this age. Brewers owe much to that epoch. Similarly, we thank our farmer friends of today for cultivating the ingredients that are responsible for the beers we now enjoy. Their laborious days spent outdoors under the hot sun earn them respect, as well as a mark of distinction: the farmer’s tan. So, roll up your sleeves and turn the soil. Just be sure to chill a bottle of Farmer’s Tan to enjoy after work. Malts: 2-Row Pale, European Pilsner, White Wheat / Kettle Hops: Magnum, Mount Hood / Dry Hops: Santium, Sterling and Mount Hood."

Thoughts: Poured a very light straw yellow that has now become the most transparent beer I've ever witnessed, with a huge two finger fluffy white head. No carbonation bubbles rising up. Kinda looks like the color of the sun in the light, though not as blinding.

Smells strong. Wheat and hops that are ready to blast off. It's got a somewhat fruity tone. Spicy with a touch of moldy honey, and a little flowery as well. Slightly pungent, but at the same time you get a hint of candy.

Wow. First gulp was like a roller coaster ride. This is one tasty pils! Grassy, wheaty hops with a gentle malt backup that slowly rises and evens things out before retreating. Peppery, musty hops after breathing in. This beer goes through some really cool circling of flavor stages. High alcohol is laying low tonight, probably behind the little bit of funk. Or maybe I'm just used to it. Despite that, this brew is relentlessly strong! So watch out.

This is one thick feeling brew. Seriously full bodied... which is absolutely nuts considering it's the clearest beer I've ever seen. Then again, it's got artwork of a rooster with a farmer's tan which implies that it had been wearing a short-sleeve shirt and that's pretty weird too. Kinda funny though.

Aftertaste is a bit of sweet grass and strong grapefruit on the back of the tongue. If this had just a bit more of a malt presence it would be perfect. After a short while it gets a bit chalky, like earthy minerals. Little bit drying. Not my favorite Southern Tier by far, but it's different from their others and that's what really matters. They don't make the same beer over and over and just name it something else. All that said, you gotta have a strong will (and tongue) to get down with the farmer's tan. It's pretty brutal, but in a very good way.

Red Branch Diabhal

Red Branch (Rabbit's Foot Meadery's) Diabhal - Belgian Style Ale Fermented with Honey (2012)

Brewed and Bottled by Red Branch Brewing Company in Sunnyvale, CA. USA.

Year Round Brew(?)

16 fl. oz / $5.99 USD / 8.2% ABV

About: "Fermented with traditional Belgian barley, yeast and candi sugar we have taken the liberty of adding a generous amount of the finest honey to create the only ale of its kind. Lightly carbonated when bottled or with a thick head and fantastic ‘Belgian lace’ when poured from the tap. It is similar to a tripel, but paler, drier and lighter bodied due to the honey. The style is often named after the devil and of course we have taken the opportunity to do the same - our version, "Diabhal" or Devil in Irish. Winner - 2009 Gold Medal: Braggot - International Mead Festival." 

Thoughts: Poured an incredibly cloudy auburn-red! Almost looking a bit like fruit juice or the rind of a pear. The bubbly white head was thick to form and didn't entirely dissolve, instead leaving a thin layer atop the brew. There was a loud pop from the flip top cork and some smoke flowed out, but there doesn't seem to be much carbonation at all.

Light but a dangerous rumbling alcohol, very fruity (mostly pear and sour apple) and spicy. It's got a gentle sweetness from the honey, and a little bit of tart from that belgian barley and yeast. Candi sugar and honey give it a bit of a mystic creep. It smells a bit dangerous.

Wow! That is some good shit. An amazing detour from the usual and a great sipping beer. It's got an absolutely perfect balance of sweetness and tart, and it's really mind-blowing how it goes through the stages and just pulls back on each one at the exact moment. Incredible. Notes of pear, apple, grapes, honey, sugary type spices, steaming hot bread, cleverly hidden booze and a touch of orange zest in the end. It's got a fierce taste that slowly expands and twirls around, and leaves a crisp, fresh aftertaste. That immense taste wears off somewhat quickly after the swallow, which is a bit unfortunate, but it leaves you just craving it that much more.

Feel is a bit foamy, light on the tongue, easily downed and lightly coating on the teeth.

I've never been this intrigued by a seemingly Light beer (one with an 8.2% ABV if that's possible), or perhaps a Heavy Pale Ale rather. But I like it... it's got style. The taste of the beer isn't incredibly complex, it's got its own personality when it comes to how the flavor is delivered. Once it warms the alcohol here exposes itself much like the devilish character on the label exposing his horned head. Be prepared for a booze takeover if you take too long with this one. It is indeed an odd beer, very cider like with Loads of honey! Diabhal would fit right in with some of DFH's occasional rarities, and if you've tried many of those, then you'll probably be accustomed to this one somewhat.

This bottle is going into my collection. You can't be a drunkard without a bottle collection after all. ;)

Dogfish Head Raison D'Extra

Dogfish Head Raison D'Extra - Ale brewed with raisins (2007)

Limited Release (On Hiatus Brew)

12 fl. oz. / $8.69 USD / 18.5% ABV

About: "A bigger, bolder version of our Raison D'Etre. This is a bulbous, brown ale brewed with a bunch of malt, brown sugar and raisins."

Thoughts: D'Extra poured out an seriously thick and cloudy purple-ish brown color that left my glass in a muddy water type state. The surprisingly light head came to a sliver upon the early pour and then faded just as fast as I could snap a few shots.

First hit on the nose and unholy shit is this stuff strong! Raisins, molasses, brown sugar, caramel, and of course... the BOOZE! I think I caught a buzz of that first whiff. Almost like a cinnamon way in the background but not really... maybe cloves.

Very fucking bready with a fierce hitting mild brown sugary spice. Booze warms immediately, and puts a total haze into the throat. It's overly sweet and incredibly indulgent, yet that brown sugar slowly grips it and pulls it back into a gentler softness that rides out smoothly. In-credible.

This beer is pretty thick feeling and very syrupy. You gotta swallow this beer twice just to get it all down.

It's a good thing these are only sold in one packs, though at the same time, that's also quite irritating. Give it a big bottle for that price at least. It left me craving more. I wonder when DFH is going to brew more of this one. I'm unsure if this 2007 bottle is from the last batch they brewed, but it could quite possibly be as people all over the net have been drinking these lately and the trail ends there.

Mixing Brews #1

Harpoon Leviathan Barleywine Style Ale "VS" Stone OAKED Arrogant Bastard Ale (2011/12)

WHAT'S GOIN' ON: Harpoon's Leviathan Barleywine Style Ale ($2.95) is an "English Barleywine" with a 10% ABV, hailing from Boston, Massachusetts... This vague as all hell interpretation of an English style ale features "a distinct malt backbone balanced by a unique blend of hops." She's keeping the mystery with her for a more interesting encounter perhaps. But what's this? Enter the self-proclaimed "Aggressive Bitch-Slappin" (not an exact quote) brew that throws "sex appeal" out the window and goes straight for the jugular! That time of the month other jugular, that is. Har har. Stone's OAKED Arrogant Bastard Ale ($3.55) is an "American Strong Ale" coming out of Escondido, California with an ABV of 7.2%, and features a true... Rapist's wit.

HOW IT WENT DOWN: These two beers formed to create a copper toned brew that is grainy as all fuck! During the pours its yellowish eggshell khaki colored head was growing all over the place. As I hold this big ass mug up to the light and above for a toast, I know that the shit has indeed, just got real.

The scent of this combination is utterly sweet and toasty... like fruity syrup dripping on heated wood, sizzling and wet. An abundance of barley malt come through first, and while the malt dominates for the most part, the hops appear to be crackling in the distance, like embers in a bonfire.

Though the taste goes through several small phases, it is bittersweet all around from beginning to end. But a very sweet bittersweet nonetheless. No sour or foul notes to be had. The two beers play off of each other, and seemingly duel it out on the taste buds at first. Try as it may, the candy like sweetness from the Leviathan becomes engulfed and injected upon by the grassy hops and oak chips from the Arrogant Bastard. It all blends together quite well however and in the end doesn't seem that these two brews are very far apart. As it warms more of the hops get their chance to shine through, and eventually leave this concoction with a medicinal taste almost like cough syrup.

The mouth feel is light, thin and frothy. It's a little bit sticky feeling, and coats evenly.

This merging of brews taste quite pleasant, if a bit underwhelming. Oak aging sometimes compromises a brews natural integrity, for better or worse, but it's always an entirely different monster. From what I've noticed in my limited experience with oak aged beers, it that the original formulas become a lot more mellowed out and subdued. Subdued... yet flavorful, interesting, and unique. This mix is far from a striking blow, but is still some quality stuff. I'd take it over NyQuil any day... wait a minute ...that gives me an idea.

Berkshire Raspberry Barleywine Style Ale

Berkshire Brewing Raspberry Barleywine Style Ale (2012)

Seasonal Release (February)

22 fl. oz. / $5.99 USD / 9% ABV

About: "This special ale is inviting with its ruby hued appearance from the generous use of half a pound per gallon of fresh raspberries from a local farm only a few miles from the brewery.  Luscious malts and a balanced hop bitterness support the rich sweet/tart character of the fruit.  This brew is dangerously drinkable, challenging the notion of what a “fruit beer” is. Available each year in February, in time for Valentine’s Day." Awwww...

Thoughts: True to its name, this brew poured a raspberry red color straight out of the bottle. Got some pretty good head retention. This beer is has a slight cloudiness to it. 

This smells great. Very sweet, those raspberries come out on top and there's almost like a silky malt flow in the undercurrent. I myself am a bit perplexed as to why my brain went to silky as a way to describe a scent, but it just smells silky smooth. It smells sweet, but not overly sweet and there's a little bit of booze lurking in the shadows. Not getting any hops in the nose.

Taste starts off beautiful with a rich malty tenderness mixed with those sweet raspberries. Very light orange-zest citrus hops come out in the flavor around the middle, and in the end there's a tingling tartness that gently flows in then out. Savor, gulp and repeat. After a while the alcohol brings forth a fog in the mouth that lasts between each sip or chug. The booze seems well hidden, but it's a creeper, slowly wedging its way into the flavors. A gentle bitterness to this beer, I'm going to say, really helps it out from being one of those disgustingly sweet and vomitory semi-brews. This is true Ale, through and through, and it's pretty damn good too.

Mouth feel, and very important, this feels like Beer! It's a bit frothy, medium to heavy, good carbonation, and filling. It doesn't really coat the mouth much in terms of anything sticky, which one may consider with a fruit beer or barleywine/strong ale, but the taste stays long after it's been swallowed.

Alright, poured the rest of the bottle in and now it's a little bit grainy and hazy as all fuck. Berkshire of course produces unfiltered and unpasteurized brews that allow the yeast to remain in the bottle... so always expect a treat when that second glass is in front of you. This beer isn't really complex at all, but I have no problem with the way it presents itself. Especially for a fruit beer, since they're apparently so easy to fuck up.

At the end of the bottle now and it's a bit warm and still tastes good, but it's far better when it's cold. If you're one of those people who think all fruit beers are absolute shite, I'm going to tell you that this one has a 50/50 chance of you enjoying it, and those are the best possible odds in this imaginary scenario. If you give fruit beers a try from time to time and a lot of them suck, which they will, then this one will not. You can trust me. I'm a professional. Though Valentine's Day has far since passed, you can still buy your girl a bottle of this, smash it over her head and say "I love you... when you're unconscious."

Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza

Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza - Oak Aged Bottle Conditioned Special Ale (2011)

Brewed and Bottled by Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales LLC, in Dexter, Michigan. USA.

Winter Seasonal (Limited Release)

25.4 fl. oz. / $14.99 USD / 9.0% ABV

About: "Belgian Christmas ale aged in oak barrels. Deep mahogany and malty, it offers Layered Hops, Figs, Raisins, Sugar Plums, Cashews Betwixt Rum Laden Truffles."

Thoughts: I had to grab this one. A Jack-O-Lantern with a Christmas cap covered in snow? Heeeelll Yeeeeaaahh... as I popped the cap, it went flying! There's some yeast around the inside of the cap, foaming. I stop, and say a backwards prayer to Lord Glenn Danzig, before setting out to get that feeling he doesn't tend to indulge in: Un-sober.

Poured a dark, very murky, brownish-orange that looked a quite grim actually. It had a huge, fluffy egg-nog white head that was all small beautiful bubbles hiding underneath a thick froth. Thousands of carbonation bubbles rapidly float upward all around the edge of the mug. There's still one-fourth left in the bottom of the bottle that I'll pour in once it's warmed up a bit. 

All the voices in my head agree, this smells pretty awesome. It's not jumping out at me like a hurled pumpkin to the back of the dome, but it definitely smells of a Pumpkin type beer (note: there's apparently no pumpkin in this). Sweet and a little bit spicy at first, the more I take it in I start to notice flowery hops. Very earthy and like a fruity pulp.

Light spices... spices... alcohol shock to the facial nerves!... mellowing, pop of hops... second taste: getting fruity tones all around, a malty sensation starts to flow in, then a little bit of sour mash or yeast. After another high alcohol tinge, some sweet sugary candy fruits come through, and then are backed up by those sour, flowery hops. Tasting the air in my mouth a bit and I'm getting freshly cut grass. Cherries. Granny Smith Apples. This is what Mad Elf should have tasted like. The flowery hops (perhaps that strong, sour yeast) are distracting me a bit, overall lowering the score on this one, but it more than makes up for it with the other flavors. If there are those dastardly Saaz hops in this, they're present but laying low just enough.

Thick and frothy. Very giving in the puckering effect department.

It's a bit tart for me. Aftertaste is the wood from that oak barrel. It's all interesting and a sensation in itself, but the semi-overwhelming sourness puts a harness on this rabid weasel!

Alright, pouring the rest in. There were only a few little pits and pieces floating around earlier on, and it hasn't seemed to change this time around. Though, it's really hard to tell as the brew may appear a little lighter from an angle, once you try to look through it the middle turns darker than dark. It's not the most balanced that it could probably be, but the malts do a fine job of holding that sour back a bit... not much, but a bit. The malts and spices (that aren't heavy, nor peppery) save this brew from complete disaster. That yeast is strong! And whatever hops they used didn't exactly help matters. Thankfully it seems it all has worked out in the end, aside from a dry raspy feeling I'm gettin' in my throat right about now from talkin' so much.

Huyghe Delirium Noël

Huyghe Delirium Noël (2011)
Brewed and Bottled by Brouwerij Huyghe in Melle, Oost-Vlaanderen. Belgium.
Winter Seasonal (Limited Release)
25.4 fl. oz. / $11.49 USD / 10.0% ABV

About: This is their Christmas Ale. That's about as much info as I could find.

Thoughts: Don't know what to expect with this one. Elephant on the cover with a Christmas hat (I guess Pink Elephants are their thing). The bottle says absolutely nothing about what's inside other than it's a Belgian Christmas Ale. I searched online and got big stocking full of absolutely nothin'!

The cork popped out with authority and as I stared inside the bottle, the grey smoke inside didn't rise or even seem to move. Just suspended in dusk. I poured it out into my glass and the bubbles were extremely furious, all different sizes of them, rising up, rolling, popping, growing, seemingly climbing all over one another. I've never in my life seen a head like this. It's fuckin' alive, man! It's like that black venom symboite... only instead of black goo, it's bubbles in a beer. But it was moving just like in Spider-Man 3 when it crawled up PP's arm. Poured a light, yet pretty murky amber with light shades of reddish-orange. After going completely nuts the head pretty much all but disappears.

First smell is that familiar Belgian yeast. Here we go again. A little bit of fruity, sweet and sour wine. 

Sweet malts up front. Dark fruits. Immediate warmth. No un-pleasantries. No shock to the senses, and actually quite smooth. Let's try it again: Minor spices, and a little fizz. The smell and tastes are completely different, thank the dark lord! Those flowery hops almost scared me for a second there, especially after my last encounter with 'em. The taste isn't exactly remarkable, like say for instance, Monk's Blood... but it tastes very good. The uber-hops are pleasantly subdued by the malts here and there's a low level lingering sweetness about it. Otherwise, it seems pretty plain for a Belgian Spiced Ale.

Very silky and smooth. Goes down so easy and doesn't have a bite to it. Finish is basically non-existent aside from some minor hop nibble on the tongue. It's tame but welcomed.

This is a very Nice brew that isn't Naughty at all. For a 10.0% the alcohol doesn't show itself at all. It's invisible! There's no bitterness and no sour. It's sweet, semi-sweet and the slightest bit grassy once it's all drank and done. Being free of all funk and dank, that's a good thing this time around... I just wish there was something in there to spice things up a bit.

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale - Belgian Abbey Ale (2011)
Brewed and Bottled by Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV in Watou, Belgium. Western Europe.
Winter Seasonal (Limited Release)
25.4 fl. oz. / $11.99 USD / 10% ABV

12 fl. oz. / $ 6.45 USD / 10% ABV (2013)

About: "St. Berneardus Christmas Ale is the youngest descendant in the illustrious family of delicious Abbey Ales brewed since 1946. This specialty ale is characterized by its deep dark color with a creamy, thick head, and full, almost velvety mouthful with a fruity nose. These exceptional quality ales are brewed by using only the finest malts, local grown hops, yeast and Artesian water pumped from a depth of 500 feet."

Second Thoughts: One of my very first Christmas ales and one that I've really fallen in love with with each time I drink it. Pours a dark reddish brown with a thick luxurious head full of foamy bubbles. The scent is incredible as always.

Poured this into my goblet. The smell is just beautiful. Nicely spiced and that base beer underneath is stupendous. A real treasure. The taste is out of this fucking world. It just explodes into a galaxy of flavors and all of them are amazing. Dark fruits, plums, sweet haze of booze, luscious malt bill, beautiful spice that tingles on the tongue.

A crazy mouth feel that just pops everywhere. The head hits with the liquid and gets between the gums and tingle away. It's smooth and soft. Nice.

This is one of my favorite beers of all time.

Thoughts: Uncorked this bad boy and there was a lot of smoke. It poured a very dark, almost bloody looking amber with a creamy, puffy head that foamed like mad. It's got a very unique color that I haven't seen much. A strange hue. Not really brown and not really nearly purple, but interesting nonetheless.

Alcohol, malt and hops hit the nose first as this one is still cold. I breathe in harder and get a whiff of cinnamon and spice. Smells really sweet, but there's a lingering hop in there that's being naughty! As it warms the nose stays its ground. Defiant one, aren't we!?

Malty, little attack of the hops. Spices are nice and full flavored. It's a bit peppery. Picking up dark fruits, almost like ripped open plums in blackberry juice... Dashes of nutmeg and freshly ground cinnamon. There's an undertone of grapes or wine, but it doesn't distract. The clove here, is probably the deciding factor in a brew like this. This clove is blended to perfection within the contents of the brew's entirety. It comes off sweet, mild and smokey but doesn't leave any languishing harshness. It falls back appropriately and lets the other spices, malt and hops just circle around and twirl. Very nice.

Pretty damn creamy. Heavy froth in the mouth. Thick. This is some serious drinking.

Aftertaste is bready. I really like this beer. Don't love it necessarily, as for a Christmas brew that tinge of extra-strong awkward hop comes through a bit much, but damn is it still good. A Hell of a lot better than most of the rest I've tried. So far this is ranking about 2'nd place out of the holiday feasting.

Ah, this is bottle conditioned. I just poured the rest of it into my mug. Not that I can see anything in there as it's hazy as a snowy Christmas morning. Another thing I like about this one is that this brew doesn't fuck around. The booze is hard, and these are some hard times. So therefore, I thank you St. Bernardus. You've made the moment in time a little more tolerable. Until next time.

Ridgeway Insanely Bad Elf

Ridgeway Insanely Bad Elf - Imperial Red Ale (2011)

Brewed by Ridgeway Brewery in South Stoke, United Kingdom (England) and Imported by Shelton Brothers.

Winter Seasonal (Limited Release)

12 fl. oz. / $3.99 USD / 11.2% ABV

About: They say this beer is "so strong that they'll only serve it in 12 oz bottles." Aside from that I'm having a bit of trouble finding any information on this one.

Thoughts: Poured an incredibly clear cherry amber red with an eggshell head that left all different sized bubbles floating along the top.

Smells like malty cherries.

Strong alcohol fumes engulf the senses (I love saying that). Hit with cherries, and candy apples. Very sweet with a vinegar backdrop and let... me... remember... like a stale, 3 day old, warm, open can of Pepsi, only still cold. Or like a sticky piece of candy that's stuck to a table and for some reason a week later you stick it in your mouth and it's got a little bit of dirt and dust on it. Or the smell of a half eaten browned apple. How do I know what those things taste like you ask? Quit asking questions. It doesn't necessarily taste good, but it's strong and very sweet at first with every gulp, so at least you can chug it a few times and get it over with.

Medium, starts to foam after a few seconds, high alcohol tingling.

Well at least it's interesting. But it's got this really stale taste halfway through that doesn't let up with each sip. Perhaps it's the Rye and little big of grassy hops that's making this happen. Too bad. It started off pretty good, but ruins itself rather quickly. This is the second of the Ridgeway brews I've recently had (first being Pickled Santa) and they both kinda remind me of a Natural Ice/Light. Corn... a Cheap Lager pretty much. And hell, I like Natural Ice. I don't give a fuck. I can dig it. But it's cheap and isn't exactly delectable (so they say). I don't like paying three to six bucks for a bottle of beer (no matter what country it comes from) that tastes just as good with a little bit of spice. When in fact, I could simply mix a little bit of nutmeg and cinnamon into my Natural Ice, and throw a cherry in there.