Lost Coast 8-Ball Stout

Taps for a Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Lost Coast 8-Ball Stout
Lost Coast Brewery and Cafe
617 4th Street
Eureka, CA USA
Est. 1990
www.lostcoast.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.3 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 16.0 (On Tap) 

Postmortem Brew Review
Deep brown to black in color.
Malty aroma, notes fo chocolate and coffee.
Minimal brownish-tan head with rings of lacing on the glass.
Nicely balanced hops and malt characteristics.
Full flavored, full body mouth feel.
 
Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Creamy smooth and rich fullness makes this stout a delightful finish any night.  Another delicious dessert stout that contains wonderful tastes and smells to light up your nose and palate.  It's not as notable as some other oatmeat/choclolate style stouts, but a great drink, nonetheless.

Nicely done tap handle that looks like an 8-ball and cue stick.  Rack one up for yourself.

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!

Ommegang - Three Philosophers

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Ommegang Three Philosophers
Brewery Ommegang
656 County Highway 33

Cooperstown, NY USA 
Est. 1997
www.omegang.com  

Brain Damage Quotient = 9.8 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark red/copper color.
Cherry and chocolate aromas.
Full caramel head that lasts and leaves good lacing.

RIch tasting cherry and other dark fruits; figs or raisins?
Full bodied.  Complex flavors under the cherry. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Cooperstown, NY is famous for two things. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and the author James Fennimore Cooper, after which the town was named.  Actually, after his father.  We now need to make it three things.

Ommegang is crafting a reputation in the Belgian style of ales, in that sleepy little neck of the woods.  This Quadrupel  is as far out as the location. If you have ever driven to Cooperstown, you'll know what I mean.  First off, there is no getting around the fact that you'll be driving to the town.  Local airports are way more than a hoot and a holler from here.  Secondly, after you've driven for miles, you'll find that you can't go the last mile or so into town.  You have to park and ride public transportation to arrive.  But once you have arrived, it is evident that the trip was worth every sacrifice.  Don't believe me?  Ask any 'hall-of-famer' who has made the journey, literally and metaphorically.

The idyllic setting by Otsego Lake, the pastoral ball field and baseball museum/shrine, are worth driving to see.  Thank goodness the brewery doesn't make us come all the way to them to enjoy their craft.  Although, the ale is similar to the burb's park-like setting and the 'Hall', so it too would be worth the trip.  And at a mighty 9.8% ABV, the Quad can knock one outta' the park.

In conclusion we find, in one small out of the way town, you can ponder:

• classic American literature 
• the art of throwing a curveball 
• and crafted Belgian Style brews

Perhaps those are the things Ommegang's 'Three Philosopers' discuss at great lengths in Cooperstown.

Penn Brewery - Penn Dark Lager

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Penn Brewery - Penn Dark Lager
800 Vinial St
Pittsburgh, PA USA  
Est. 1986
www.pennbrew.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0  

Postmortem Brew Review
Deep brown color.
Roasted malt smell and hints of toffee; all aromas are subtle. 
Toffee and roasted malt in taste with small hops bite at end.
Minimal tan head with some lacing.
Medium to light mouth feel with active carbonation.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
This is an interesting brew that brings darkness bun not heft to a beer.  In that sense it makes a handy session beer, the next time you are looking for a change of pace.

The brewery has been 'resurrected' from near death, something that interests The Reaper in me, muahahahahaa.  The neck label boasts "Celebrating 20 years" and they have seen some changes in that time.  You can read about it on their one web page, that right, one page only.  See for yourself.

This company is a work in progress that appears will culminate in bringing brewing back to Pittsburgh now that Iron City has closed. Let's hope for a revival as this brew is a good indication of future success.

Key West Sunset Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Key West Sunset Ale
The Florida Beer Company
725 Silver Palm Avenue
Melbourne, FL USA
Est. 1994
www.floridabeer.com 

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

Postmortem Brew Review
Amber in color, almost orange in hue.
Smell of sweet bread-like yeast, mild malts and slight hops aroma.
Two finger off-white head that dissipated slowly.
Medium carbonation with small nucleated bubbles.
Light bodied and flavor; clean, dry hops finish.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Key West is the sister to the Ybor line from The Florida Brewing Company.  The Key West Brewery was part of a merger under The Florida Brewing Company that took place in 2003 as an attempt to secure better distribution within "The Sunshine State."

The Florida brewing company is turning out some pretty fair beers in the Sunshine State.  They are making a steady reputation in micro brewing. Sunset Ale touts itself as "The Original Beer of the Conch Republic."  We are a fierce groups of pirates, here in Florida.  So if you venture into our area, pick up some of this bounty and see first hand, what it's all about.

Abita - Restoration Pale Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Abita - Restoration Pale Ale
Abita Brewing Company, LLC
Abita Springs, LA USA
Est. 1986
www.abita.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Hazy orange yellow color.
Barley with hint of hops in the nose.
Short and fast dissipating head.
Virtually no head by end of glass and little lacing on glass.
Good but not pungent amount of hops in finish.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
This "Big Easy" pale ale was easy to drink but just not that big to set it apart from others in its style.  It could be a session drinker if you are looking for something to mix up your next party, away from the BMC set.  It does offer some hops character, but for a pale ale it needs more presence.  Hmmm...and their Turbo Dog was pretty good.....

The ale gets its 'Restoration' name after the tragic hurricane that befell New Orleans in 2005.  I'll call this one a work-in-progress. As with all restorations, we'll wait and see if the hard work pays off down the road.  Mean time, there are many more Abita brews out there just waiting to be had.  Stay tuned.

Dogfish Head - Festina Péche

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Dogfish Head - Festina Péche
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
6 Cannery Village Center
Milton, DE USA
Est. 1995
www.dogfish.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Cloudy, pale yellow color.
Tart fruit aroma with subtle sweetness.
Fast dissipating, crisp white head with zero lacing.
Ticklish carbonation throughout.
Light, dry mouth feel.
Crisp yet tart/acidic finish and flavor.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Interesting 'summer' brew that was in a sample pack from the jumbo liquor store. Since summer is still upon us in south Florida while others are at or on the fringe of winter's doorstep, we'll give it a go.

First off, this is not a beer in the usual tradition. That is to say in its taste.  Well, what I'm trying to say here is you have to try this for yourself.  It rolled onto the tongue tartly, leaving hints of peach sweetness at the edge of your sensory periphery.  I likened it to Asti Spumante at one point.  See if you don't think so too.

From reading up more about the Berliner Weisse style, I found that it is not produced much these days.  Give Dogfish Head kudos for experimenting with the style and bringing it to our palates.

I really must get around to trying one of their beer beers after sampling some of their more off-beat concoctions.