Jenn and Estelle aren’t surprised by this article (let’s be honest, who is?); it’s time to taste the 2012 edition of Abita’s Christmas Ale. The recipe changes annually (here are 2010 and 2011), so I’m never quite sure what to expect when tasting this one. This year’s is a dark brownish beer with reddish highlights. The head is thin and quickly dissipates. Lighter scents of spices and caramel. Spices, caramel, lemon, pine are the flavors that come to me. A  [ Read More ]

The World’s Best Dark Ale. These words not only appear on Unibroue’s website announcing the availability of 17 in the United States but also on the back of the bottle itself. The original batch of 17 was brewed in 2007 for Unibroue’s 17th anniversary. That original batch won many high honors including platinum medals three years in a row at the World Beer Championship. However, in 2010 the same original batch aged three or so years was named the World’s  [ Read More ]

The menus are out and the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Beer List is updated (along with a brand new app). Let’s chat about what’s on the list. Last year I wrote a huge article detailing every beer at every location. This year I’m going to cut it down a bit and talk about the changes; a lot of the beers, especially at booths like Mexico and China, have the same exact boring selection. The majority of Brewer’s Collection  [ Read More ]

La Terrible is a brew from Unibroue that you won’t find at Walt Disney World. It’s also one of Kim’s favorites. Unlike most of Unibroue’s offerings, this Belgian Dark Strong Ale comes in a simple black bottle with silver markings. It also lacks the story or legend that accompany the other beers in Unibroue’s lineup. This one’s all about the ale within. La Terrible pours nearly pitch black with a large tan head. It has a clean sweet scent with  [ Read More ]

Stillwater, Minnesota is a small historic town on the river near the Minnesota and Wisconsin border. Stillwater has its reputation of having a great line up of eating establishments near the river. On March 10th Lift Bridge brewery, Stillwater’s first brewery since prohibition held a release event for their new Irish Coffee Stout. The Irish Coffee Stout is a blend of their Imperial Stout after it has been aged in whiskey barrels with a big Milk Stout, and then infused  [ Read More ]

The tree is finished; next on the list of Christmas decorations is the lights. Hopefully it goes better than this: Anyway, that’s not really what you’re here for is it? On with the beer! Tonight I’m pouring myself another holiday beer. Pink elephants: they’re not just in Dumbo anymore. From Brouwerij Huyghe (Huyghe Brewery in Belgian) comes their holiday beer, Delirium Noël. Huygue also makes the delicious Delirium Tremens and Delirium Nocturnum. All the Delirium beers feature pink elephants; on this bottle, the  [ Read More ]

Yes, it’s time for another Unibroue beer from those fine Canadian brewers. This is Trois Pistoles, a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. Before we begin, this one gave me a bit of surprise when I was opening it. I removed the cage from around the cork in the bottle but didn’t remove the cork. I turned to do something else, but while I was otherwise occupied, the cork shot out of the bottle and straight up into the air. The foam  [ Read More ]

Boulevard’s Smokestack Series Imperial Stout is made with English malts, German hops and Belgian yeast. Would that mean if it were to be sold in Epcot it could be sold in the UK, Germany and France pavilions? Well probably not since it’s made in Kansas City. The Roasted English malts give this beer a rich malty sweetness with a dark fruit hint, such as raisin flavors. The complex malt bill also gives this beer a full amount of body for  [ Read More ]

It’s been a little quiet around here! Awhile back I grabbed a 6-pack sampler and have been too lazy to post any reviews… The Leinenkugel’s Creamy Dark was a decent beer. Unfortunately it didn’t have any distinct quality to make it stand out from any other dark beer. Hint of coffee and chocolate. It was thinner than it looks so that threw me off as well. Would I have more than one? Probably not but it wasn’t horrible by any  [ Read More ]

Josh and I enjoyed a classic Mexican beer, Dos Equis, at a great Mexican restaurant in NC!