Stone - Double Bastard Ale (2010)

Dead Bastard

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Stone Double Bastard Ale (2010)

Stone Brewing Company

North San Diego County

Escondido, CA USA
Est. 1996

www.stonebrew.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 11.2 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 22.0

Postmortem Brew Review
Brilliant copper color.
Sweet malts, fruity citrus hop oil aromas.
Minimal off-white head with dots of lacing on the glass. Head disappears quickly.

Aggressively hopped flavors. Bready malts and a bit boozy on the back part of the sip.
Good amount of carbonation.
Complex flavored, full body. Oak flavors as it warms.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
"Ye Shall Know the Bastard, and the Bastard Shall Set You Free" written at the bottom of the bottle, as it is on the Bastard series, serves to warn you of what lies ahead. If you've had any of the others, the original Arrogant Bastard, the Oaked Bastard or the Lukcy 13asartd, you had better take notice that this time the warning should really be telling you something.

This over the top hopped, over the top ABV brew will really ring your bell. So take it slowly and settle in. You'll be arm wrestling this Double Bastard with both hands. The ABV of 11.2% is pronounced subtly but firmly as you work your way through each sip. The unclassified nature of the hops and the fact there are somewhere well north of 100 IBU's should also give you a heads up as to its potency.

The back label diatribe warning leads off with, "Double Bastard Ale is not to be wasted on the tentative or weak. Only the worthy are invited and then only at your own risk." So easy mate. Share with a worthy friend, or slowly and steadily at your own pace. You have been warned. Muaaa haha haaaa haaaa!

Rogue - Double Dead Guy Ale

Double Dead Guy

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Double Dead Guy Ale
Rogue Ales
2320 OSU Drive
Newport, OR USA
Est.1988
www.rogue.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 9.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 (On Tap)


Postmortem Brew Review
Yellow orange in color.
Caramel malt taste and aroma with floral scent of hops.
Off-white, almost tan head with good retention.
Light carbonation with hoppy finish.
Light to medium bodied, hearty flavor.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Irony, in a bottle.  It's twice the goodness of regular Dead Guy, and that's all you really need to know.  Muahaahaahaaahaaaaaa! ! ! ! !

The Reaper enjoys this Super Maibock ale when it's just the regular Dead Guy.  It was on tap at World of Beer for a display of Rogue's finest fares.  The event?  Beertopia. So appropriate for a fine brewer like Rogue.

This has made limited appearances, so be sure to get some when you see it.

Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head - Life and Limb

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head - Life and Limb
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Chico, CA USA
Est. 1980
www.sierranevada.com
http://www.sierranevada.com/about/content/life-limb_release.pdf  

Dogfish Head - Shelter Pale Ale
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
6 Cannery Village Center
Milton, DE USA
Est. 1995
www.dogfish.com
www.dogfish.com/community/news/press-releases/life-limb/limb-life-brews-at-sierra-nevada.htm 

Brain Damage Quotient = 10.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 24.0

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark brown color.
Roasty malt aromas with caramelized candy sweet smell..
Slightly less than one finger of foamy tan head.
Not much head retention, but there are scant 'legs' of lace like in distilled products.
Dried fruity taste with immediate bit of sourness that immediately smooths to maple sweetness.
More grassy sweetness from the birch syrup and a slight nutty finish with a small bite of hops.
Medium carbonation.
Medium bodied mouth feel. Very smooth and balanced. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Good things happen when good people come together with a passion for beer.  Ken Grossman and Sam Calagione of Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head breweries have come up with this collaborative strong ale.  Made from exotic things such as pure maple syrup from Sam's family farm in Massachusetts and estate barley grown by Ken's "farm" at the brewery in Chico.  Not your ordinary ingredients in beers and ales, but we aren't talking about your ordinary brewers here.

The counterpart to this brew was "Limb and Life", made from the second runnings and brewed to an ABV of 5%, or half that of its bigger brother.  Limb and Life was available in select locations on tap and meant to be the session ale whereas Life and Limb was meant to be sipped.  I was fortunate to be in the store when their one and only carton of Life and Limb was opened.  I have been relishing sampling this bottle for several months now.

This ale has a unique taste.  I am glad to have aged it for several months so all those flavors could commingle.  It would make a wonderful after dinner sipper.  It goes equally well on a sunny, lazy Sunday afternoon, which is how the gang and I enjoyed it.

As The Reaper,  it's my job to know about life and limb, but it appears these two beer maestros were able to drop some knowledge on me with their "Life and Limb"  Muahahaha.  See if you can't still get your hands on this while it may still be available.

Cigar City - Batch #69 Double Cream Ale

Taps for a Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Batch #69 Double Cream Ale
Cigar City Brewing Company
3924 West Spruce Street
Tampa, FL USA
Est.2008
www.cigarcitybeer.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 9.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0  (On Tap) 

Postmortem Brew Review
Copper color body.
Bready, malty aroma with soft hops and fruit aroma.
Off white minimal head that settles to a cover.
Little head, but good spot and string lacing down the glass.
Sweet malty taste with some tropical fruit notes.
Creamy sweet sugary twang at end of each sip.
Slight alcohol notes as it warms up.
Medium bodied mouth feel.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 
I came across this brew, served on tap, while out of town on a business trip.  I decided to reap its reward of flavor.  This is quite an interesting beer, perhaps because it is locally brewed in FL.  Sweet fruity taste at times and a sleeper at 9.5% ABV.  You hardly notice the alcohol content for the delicious taste wrapped around it.

I was told that it is currently only in kegs at the moment, so tough luck if you aren't in their delivery area.  However, that is excellent luck for the rest of us!

Samuel Adams - Utopias 2009

Potent Patriot

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Samuel Adams - Utopias 2009
Boston Beer Company
Boston, MA USA
Est.1985
www.samueladams.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 27.00 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 3.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Rich amber color.
Smell of alcohol like bourbon, wafts from the snifter.
No carbonation, no head. Served at room temp.
Extremely sweet on the sip; sweet and malty in taste.
Dry on the palate and warming going down.
Some alcohol bounce at the end, but mellow.
After 20-30 seconds a distinct beer flavor presence appears.
There are clear 'legs' that coat the glass when swirled.
Medium bodied viscous mouth feel, similar in feel to pure maple syrup.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
I got two words for you.........."UTOPIAS, BITCHES!"

Contrary to popular belief, you meet the nicest people at bars.  I met Dean at World of Beer over the holidays and we struck up a casual, yet mutual conversation over beers.  He is experienced in sampling many different beers as myself, but has had some that I would never have the same access to.  He told me he had a bottle of Sam Adams Utopias and was willing to share some with me.  I blushed at the prospect.

Our mutual admiration for different beers led us to a second meeting with his wife Jennifer, and that sealed the deal for today's third meeting.  Meeting today with Utopias in hand, he poured a generous sample of the libation for me to review.  I felt as giddy as an eight year old schoolgirl.  The beer is amber and rich like a fine bourbon.  The most peculiar thing noted was looking into the glass from the top, I could see my fingers at the bottom, holding the glass.  But when observed from the side through the glass snifter, through the beer, my fingers disappeared.  The stuff was like polarizing film when turned at a 90 degree angle.  That was odd to say the least.  

Utopias has a heady distinct alcohol smell to the nose and again, I'm thinking bourbon.  That is where the differences end.  The taste is very sweet initially, and slowly simmers down while warming and coating the tongue and back of your throat.  Where a whiskey or bourbon would continue warming down the esophagus into the stomach, the beer quits at that point. But, at about 30 seconds into the sip, there is an unmistakeable beer flavor that makes it's presence known.  Very good, indeed!

Overall, I found it quite interesting and pleasurable to sip.  It is not one to quaff in volume as it is a mind boggling 27% ABV.  Enjoying it with a cigar would make a great pairing if you partake in smokes.  Most importantly, enjoy it with friends, old or new!

New Holland - Dragon's Milk

Dead Dragon

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Dragon's Milk
New Holland Brewery
66 East 8th Street 
Holland, MI USA
Est. 1996 
www.newhollandbrew.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 10.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 22.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark chocolate black color.
Caramel malt and vanilla aromas and taste.
Brown sugars, fruits and figs in the flavor.
Tan head with minimal retention and lacing.
Minimal carbonation.
Complex taste; malty and rich. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
One of my minions, a "ghost writer", has come calling again. When I get around to some of this ale, I'll add my two cents. The following comments do not represent my personal views, so tough noogies if you don't like them:

Ghost Writer's Eulogy
I tried this at our Christmas Eve dinner and will say as a lover of Guinness, this has all the same rich flavors, but is smoother.  At 8.5 ABV it makes you do really stupid things!  (Ah, yes TK it surely does, because it is 10%, NOT 8.5 as you claim!  Ha! The Reaper corrects you!)

Imagine me trying to snowboard on my ten foot backyard hill in MN at an age of almost 60???  What was I thinking...or is that drinking?  Dragon's Milk is most enjoyable and I wish I had a photo of me 'd-r-a-g-o-n' my ass up the hill, wipe-out after wipe-out! 

---TK

Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale

Taps for a Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale
Stone Brewing Company
North San Diego County
Escondido, CA USA
Est. 1996
www.stonebrew.com
www.arrogantbastard.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 7.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 16.0 (On Tap) - 22.0 (Bomber Bottle) 

Postmortem Brew Review
Rusty orange/amber in color.
Hop oil aroma, pine and citrus scents.
Minimal off-white head with dots of lacing on the glass.
Aggressively hopped smell, taste and flavor.
Complex flavored, full body with active carbonation.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
"This is an aggressive beer.  You probably won't like it..." is the lead on Stone's Arrogant Bastard website banner.  That's brash confidence, bravado and machismo.  Call it a warning to the timid, or a throw down to the brave.  Their website even has the IBU's listed as "CLASSIFIED".  Basically, don't order this if you only want to peak your curiosity.

Listen up people!  It is so arrogant, they developed a separate website for this ale.  Their main website is not big enough for its flavor, hops or ego.  Get the point?

I, for one, am not challenged by hops.  I enjoy spicy food and hopped up beers and ales.  And as stated before, I am the Grim Reaper and do not fear gargoyles.  Good thing for that, because the warning is more than fair.  This beer makes an attempt to rip your taste buds off your tongue.  It comes remarkebly close to doing so, I might add.  But, Stone has another ale for that purpose; the to-be-feared Ruination.  But that review is for a later date when my mouth heals from the Arrogant Bastard.

It's not for everybody...and Stone make no bones about it.  Like the finer things in life, it is an acquired taste.  It will feel as if a 4th of July fireworks display has gone off in your mouth.  You have been warned!

Holy Mackerel - Mack In Black Imperial Black Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Holy Mackerel
Mack In Black Imperial Black Ale
Gordash Beer Company
Melbourne, FL USA
Est. 2003
www.holymackerelbeers.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 8.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark chocolate brown, nearly black color.
Pomegranate and malt, bittersweet taste.
Hints of chocolate flavor, lots of carbonation.
Bitter alcohol aftertaste; antiseptic.
Medium sized, brown head that dissipated slowly leaving some lacing.
Medium to heavy mouth feel; complex flavors. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
This one had some bitter alcohol taste throughout the glass. It was very, very dark in color; nearly black. The alcohol and pomegranate produced an unusual aftertaste, while the nose had more ester smells which were more pleasant. Interesting, but not my cup of tea.

Mack in Black also had lots of fizzy carbonation present. Their website recommends storage of this type of brew as it will keep for up to 2 years. This one was labeled as a 2008 edition, so perhaps it needed a little more keeping. Maybe it had not been handled well, prior to my purchase.

As for this review, Mack in Black, "...sleeps with the fishes". On another note,they do have second creation; a small batch "Special Golden Ale" that will definitely get a try sometime.