Why I Love Bourbon County Black Friday

Black Friday is my favorite day of the year. Why I feel that way has nothing to do with great deals on electronics, clothing or other household items. It has everything to do with the release of Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout.

The release of BCBS always seems to bring out a polarizing reaction amongst beer enthusiasts. The reason for that is undoubtedly the fact that they are owned by AB InBev. To some, it does not matter and they will wait in line to purchase a beer they adore. For others, it is a day to make a statement that they avoid Ab InBev and all of their products. From the latter, one thing I found amusing was a viral image on Facebook of people marking themselves safe from AB InBev like they were marking themselves safe from a catastrophic event in their area. I do not fault anyone who avoids purchasing Goose Island BCBS because of the entity that owns them, in fact I respect it.

As someone who loves BCBS, I have to admit, it bums me out that I am supporting AB InBev. Especially because I spend the entire year avoiding most of their products and love supporting Independent Craft Beer. However, to me, this one particular day is about more than just the beer for sale. It is about getting together with family and friends and the beer serves as a reason to do so. It has become a yearly tradition for us and each year I cherish it more and more.

Our yearly tradition usually starts with me picking up my friend(s), with one of us usually running late, and heading to our first stop around 8 AM. We pick up our bottles, and then head off to the next stop as soon as we cash out. Usually around the second stop the need for coffee comes into play for everyone else in the car. I normally run on excitement throughout the morning but it turns out my friends and wife do not. We look for the nearest coffee shop, which was Tim Horton's this year, and I am fairly certain the coffee we got that morning has yet to cool down. My dad will then call and join in the fun. Years ago, my dad thought the concept of chasing this beer was ridiculous, but the infectious nature of traveling from place to place to get something that could sell out at any moment became a thrill for him. Also, he realized it was an easy way to Christmas shop for his son. My dad also enjoys the mid-morning break of stopping for breakfast at one of our favorite diners. Then after breakfast the second part of the hunt begins, and that is finding the beer on draft. Once we find it, we  share a few laughs over a pour, reminiscing about the morning and laying out a better plan for the following year. The most ridiculous part of the day then begins-- my friend Paul and I go shopping for matching shirts(this year's dancing bears X-Mas sweaters were exquisite) before heading home for a mid-afternoon nap. We then get together for a late dinner and catch up with other family & friends over a BCBS and a lot of laughs. The night normally goes late and our Saturday mornings tend to start a little bit slower.

This whole thing might sound ridiculous to you but it is something I look forward to every year. As I get older I realize that some traditions matter and this is one of them. Life pulls us in many different directions throughout the year. I love that there is one day on the calendar that we all just drop everything and enjoy some beer. Black Friday for us is that day and I hope the tradition never ends. 

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Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Dogfish Head 75 Minute IPA

I first came across Dogfish Head's 75 Minute IPA as part of their bomber series. At the time, I thought it was a bit too pricey and I left it on the shelf. I still wanted to try it but admittedly I forgot all about it. There is always a surplus of great beer on the shelf and if I pass on one, there is always something else to try. I admit however, I was thrilled to see 75 Minute IPA get a fall release. I am on a huge maple syrup beer kick and I really wanted to see how the beer in between two classics(60 Minute & 90 Minute) stacked up.

Like Wood Aged Bitches Brew earlier this year, 75 Minute IPA is now packaged in 6-packs and its per-ounce price has dropped substantially. The aroma of this copper-colored ipa was familar(grapefruit, orange peel, earthy pine, caramel, toasted bread) for a Dogfish Head IPA but offered something new, a subtle maple sweetness. When I took my first sip, those familiar notes shined and I knew I was drinking a Dogfish IPA. The normally bitter finish is where you can find the addition of maple syrup. It adds a nice touch of sweetness and complexity. As always, I wanted the maple syrup to be a touch bolder but I will admit what is here works just fine. This may not be a beer I want to drink year-round, but it works nicely as a nice compliment to crisp Fall weather.

Dogfish Head rarely misses when it comes to IPAs. I really enjoyed 75 Minute IPA. I will need more time to figure out where it stands on my list when it comes to 60 & 90 minute, but I think the answer for me, funny enough, will be somewhere in the middle.

Overall rating: 3.75/5

Rating Scale:
1. Repugnant and undrinkable
2. Acceptable but forgettable
3. Good, worth a purchase
4. Excellent, a step above the norm
5. Truly Exceptional. Drop everything, BUY IT NOW!

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For more beer reviews check out: http://www.acraftylook.com

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Firestone Walker Dark & Stormy

The Firestone Walker Proprietor's Series needs no introduction. This series is so outstanding that even my least favorite beer in the series is still excellent. The only reason I would spend any time writing about it is if they did something different enough with it that I legitimately was not sure what to expect. With Dark & Stormy, Firestone Walker did just that. Dark & Stormy is a rum barrel aged blend that is 80% Helldorado and 20% Velvet Merkin, with freshly zested ginger and lime. 

When I first heard about Dark & Stormy, I was not as excited as I usually am about a new release in the series. I had no issue with the blend or the rum barrels, only the addition of ginger & lime. They felt like unnecessary adjuncts to an amazing series, but if any brewery could pull it off it was Firestone Walker.

The aroma of Dark & Stormy is very rum-forward. There is a nice honey sweetness as well, along with ginger, lime, a hint of chocolate, vanilla, coconut, caramel and spice. I grew optimistic from the aroma and that was rewarded when I took my first sip. Rum dominates initially before the ginger & lime are showcased. The creaminess of vanilla from the barrel finds its way in, along with the familiar graham cracker from Helldorado and a touch of chocolate from the Velvet Merkin. I wanted more of the Velvet Merkin to come through but I found myself enjoying Dark & Stormy for what it was. A fun, yet different addition to an illustrious series. However, I would not recommend this to any one who does not like rum. Rum is the dominant note here and I could see that being off-putting to some. 

Dark & Stormy is another great addition to the Proprietor's Series. I will admit it rates on the low end for me as far as the series goes, but I still think it is excellent.

Overall rating: 4/5

Rating Scale:
1. Repugnant and undrinkable
2. Acceptable but forgettable
3. Good, worth a purchase
4. Excellent, a step above the norm
5. Truly Exceptional. Drop everything, BUY IT NOW!

To discuss this blog or all things beer like my Facebook page

Look for me on Instagram & Untappd and Twitter @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews check out: http://www.acraftylook.com

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Clown Shoes La Bestia Furiosa

Cooler temperatures have arrived and my craving for rich imperial stouts is at an all time high. Over the past week I have enjoyed a few, including this year's Sierra Nevada Narwhal. That beer is always particularly amazing and at its price point I can't recommend it enough. This blog however, is not about Narwhal. It is about Clown Shoes' La Bestia Furiosa, so let's get to it.

Aged in both rum and bourbon barrels with chiles and spices, this Mexican-Style Imperial Stout was impossible not to purchase. I have enjoyed many of Clown Shoes' barrel aged offerings in the past and expected this particular one to be no different. I typically love Mexican-Style stouts as well, and that alone made this an automatic purchase. Basically, this beer checked a lot of boxes. I just hoped it was as good as I wanted it to be.

La Bestia Furiosa's aroma is full of rich, decadent chocolate. This translates to what dominates the flavor as well but we will circle back to that. The nose also had a nice touch of cinnamon, nutmeg, peppers, bourbon, vanilla and a touch of rum. There was a lot in the aroma of La Bestia Furiosa to like.  Everything I mentioned in the aroma is in the taste but the chocolate I mentioned earlier makes this one of the sweetest beers I have had in awhile. I admit, it has been a long time since I had Clown Shoes' Chocolate Sombrero which is the base beer for La Bestia Furiosa, but I do not remember it being this painfully sweet.

I arrogantly thought I could tackle the 22 oz. Bomber by myself, but I was completely overwhelmed by the La Bestia Furiosa's sweetness. The more this beer warmed, the sweeter it got. The rum and vanilla in particular come through more as it warms, further enhancing the cloying sweetness. While I could continue to complain about this beer being too sweet, I think you get the point.

One thing this beer barely delivers on is the heat. When there are 3 different peppers in a beer with a dragon and a volcano on the label there is a realistic expectation that the beer is going to be spicy. In La Bestia Furiosa's case, the spice is there but it is subdued. I have complained about this before but if the heat was dialed up just a little more, I think it would have made the sweetness bearable for me. Unfortunately, it just did not happen.

While I was not a huge fan of this beer, I could definitely see a fan of dessert beer enjoying it. If rich, absurdly sweet beers are right up your alley then you will love this beer. It is not my thing but it does deliver what it promises--a Mexican Hot Chocolate-style stout with dual barrel treatment. It just wasn't for me.

Overall rating: 2.25/5


Rating Scale:
1. Repugnant and undrinkable
2. Acceptable but forgettable
3. Good, worth a purchase
4. Excellent, a step above the norm
5. Truly Exceptional. Drop everything, BUY IT NOW!

To discuss this blog or all things beer like my Facebook page

Look for me on Instagram & Untappd and Twitter @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews check out: http://www.acraftylook.com

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Ithaca BullsEye Red Ale

I give a lot of credit to Ithaca Beer Company for really advancing my love of craft beer. When I was in college I remember falling in love with their Apricot Wheat, a beer that to this day I consider a fantastic summer crusher. I also loved their long-departed Pale Ale. As my tastes advanced I found myself enjoying their Nut Brown Ale, Flower Power IPA and CascaZilla Red Ale. I have always thought they made delicious beer but admittedly I do not buy their products as much as I used to. When I saw their new Bullseye Red Ale, I purchased it immediately. This was a brewery I have enjoyed over the years tackling a style I love and one they have succeeded at before. It was the kind of beer I could not wait to have in my glass. Ithaca’s latest take on a red ale clocks in at 5.5% ABV, which is a full percentage point lower than CascaZilla making it more sessionable. However, if its aroma is any indication, Bullseye is far more complex. The aroma is floral, spicey, piney, woody, citrusy with a toasted bread, toffee and caramel malt backbone. The taste matches the nose with its complexity. Grapefruit and pine come through initially before some bready, caramel malt sweetness provides a nice touch of balance. The finish is earthy, spicy, piney and dry. There is a lot to like here about Bullseye. Its flavor certainly compliments the season nicely. My issue with this beer is the lack of body. The flavor of the beer is great. What is unfortunate is that the flavor is extremely muted. My first thought after I took my first sip was, “this beer would be amazing if it was not so watered down.” It tastes exactly like a light beer version of a cold weather red ale. I wanted to love this beer so much, but I became more and more frustrated as I worked my way through the glass. This review does sound more harsh than it should. I am just disappointed because while I did like BullsEye, I wanted to love it. Still, this is one of my favorite styles of beer and I am thrilled to see Ithaca re-imagine it. While they did a decent job, I can’t help but wonder what could have been if these complex flavors were allowed to shine more. Overall rating: 3/5 Rating Scale: 1. Repugnant and undrinkable 2. Acceptable but forgettable 3. Good, worth a purchase 4. Excellent, a step above the norm 5. Truly Exceptional. Drop everything, BUY IT NOW! To discuss this blog or all things beer like my Facebook page Look for me on Instagram & Untappd and Twitter @ACraftyLook For more beer reviews check out: http://www.acraftylook.com Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Rating Scale:

1. Repugnant and undrinkable

2. Acceptable but forgettable

3. Good, worth a purchase

4. Excellent, a step above the norm

5. Truly Exceptional. Drop everything, BUY IT NOW!

To discuss this blog or all things beer like my Facebook page

Look for me on Instagram & Untappd and Twitter @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews check out: http://www.acraftylook.com

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Southern Tier Oat BBA Imperial Oatmeal Stout

Over the past week I have been on a small quest to find 4-packs of Southern Tier Warlock. Not for blogging reasons but more for the reason of picking up one of the pumpkin beers I really enjoy. So far I have been unsuccessful but it has given me plenty of time in different stores to contemplate beers I have yet to try.

For several months I had been contemplating buying Southern Tier’s Oat, a bourbon barrel aged imperial stout. If you have been reading my blog long enough, you know this kind of beer hits right in my wheelhouse. The funny thing was every time I seemed to come across it, I found myself buying something else. I realized as I was looking at the remaining bottles of Oat that I might find myself in the same position with that as I did with the 4-packs of Warlock. So instead of missing out on Oat as well, I decided to give it a try.

In the past Oat was not barrel aged, but I love the idea of bringing back a beer from the past in a new way. The aroma is rich espresso, dark chocolate, caramel, smoke, vanilla, a touch of bourbon and a lot of oak. The barrel is really showcased on the first sip. Bourbon and vanilla come through initially along with molasses, dark chocolate, coffee, anise, caramelized sugar, dark fruit with a boozy, spicy finish. I realize I am close to 6 months late on trying this beer but in its current state it is delicious. Its velvety smooth mouthfeel made me wish I had another bottle. If I come across a second I will immediately throw it in the cellar to give it a little more time to mellow. I think just a little more time will work wonders for this beer. As it is right now, I think it is a fantastic drinking experience. I am trying to find ways to be negative because of how long I slept on this beer but it is difficult. This is a really great beer from Southern Tier. I will continue my quest to find a 4-pack of Warlock but if I come across this beer instead I will be thrilled to purchase it again.

Overall rating: 4.25/5

Rating Scale:
1. Repugnant and undrinkable
2. Acceptable but forgettable
3. Good, worth a purchase
4. Excellent, a step above the norm
5. Truly Exceptional. Drop everything, BUY IT NOW!

To discuss this blog or all things beer like my Facebook page

Look for me on Instagram & Untappd and Twitter @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews check out: http://www.acraftylook.com

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Cigar City Cubano-Style Espresso Brown Ale

Cigar City Brewing is one of my all time favorite breweries. I enjoy many of their offerings, including Red Tocobaga which is my all time favorite red ale. Each time I visited their brewery in Tampa, I seemed to be there during the month that White Oak Jai Alai was available in cans but never their Cubano-style Espresso Brown Ale. That was by no means a bad thing, but I really wanted to try the Maduro variant. When I did get to try it, it was in a flight and was unfortunately lost in the shuffle. That particular day was the first time I drank Hunahphu Imperial and I was drinking two different years of it. Everything in my flight paled in comparison to that beer geek moment.

For years, I have been hoping for a second chance to try Cubano-style Espresso. Well, that day has finally arrived. Ever since I first read that that Cubano-style Espresso was getting a large release I found myself counting the seconds the seconds for it to arrive. I finally had the chance to not only drink it but also give it the full attention it deserved. Much like many other Cigar City beers, it did not disappoint.

Coffee, creamy vanilla and chocolate stand out the most in the aroma. The aroma is also nutty with hints of caramel, toffee and toasted bread. The first sip matched the nose for the most part. Coffee is front and center along with milk chocolate. Caramel, nuts & toffee are just underneath those bold flavors before a creamy vanilla finish. The finish also contained a subtle hint of earthy hops as well. There is a lot to like here. The coffee treatment is fantastic. It is a touch sweeter than I want it to be but keep in mind that I am a black coffee drinker, so I prefer my coffee on the bitter side. The vanilla flavor is awesome and adds a nice amount of creaminess to the mouthfeel. In a perfect world, I would have dialed back the carbonation here ever so slightly to enhance that creaminess. That, however, is a small complaint. Cigar City has brewed a winner here. It took almost two and a half years for me to get a chance to try Cubano-style Espresso again and it was well worth the wait.

Overall rating: 4.25/5


Rating Scale:
1. Repugnant and undrinkable
2. Acceptable but forgettable
3. Good, worth a purchase
4. Excellent, a step above the norm
5. Truly Exceptional. Drop everything, BUY IT NOW!

To discuss this blog or all things beer like my Facebook page

Look for me on Instagram & Untappd and Twitter @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews check out: http://www.acraftylook.com

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!