Breckenridge Vanilla Porter

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Breckenridge Vanilla Porter
Breckenridge Brewery
471 Kalamath Street
Denver, CO USA
Est. 1989
www.breckbrew.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.7 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Rootbeer color.
Smell of malt and vanilla sweetness on the nose.
Tan head, about one finger high, covers to wisp.
Fair amount of lacing down the side of the glass.
Vanilla taste flirts through the malt body.
Light to medium bodied mouth feel. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
A super porter with the great taste of vanilla added.  I have tried this both in the bottle and on draught, with my preference leaning toward the draught pour.  But by no means does that diminish from the bottled version.

This porter exclaims that it's "Remarkable" and "Partakable" and also that it's "Seldom Seen and Never Duplicated".  It reads and sounds like the sideshow barker at your local carnival or county fair.  Whatever the pitch, go try some of this special porter made with real vanilla.  Oh so good!

Mickeys Malt Liquor

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Mickeys Malt Liquor
Mickeys Brewing Company
MillerCoors
Milwaukee, WI USA
Est.????
www.mickeys.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.6 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0


Postmortem Brew Review
Light golden to straw, in color.
Grainy and sweet smelling with no hops.
White head with zero retention and lace.
Medium, active amount of carbonation.
Light bodied. Sticky sweet taste on palate.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy

Known as the "grenade" for its bottle's appearance, Mickeys Malt Liquor is one of those distinct throw back beers from bygone days.  It's in the same category as the Schlitz Malt Liquor "Bull" and Haffenreffer's "Mean Green" whereas any frat boy with pocket change looking for a cheap buzz, is the target market.

It is not without any merit.  This little pocketful of dynamite will fit neatly in the cooler and won't weigh you down.  It's pretty easy to swill out of the large mouthed, chugger style opening.  They even have rebuses under the cap to entertain you once the buzz hits.  And when the buzz does kick in, you'll be glad they are pictures, (not complicated things like words!)  At a mere 5.6% ABV, it will hit you like a UFC fighter.  Seriously, some of those guys are pitchmen for this little stinger.

You should be getting the picture of where this fits into your beer drinking escapades by now.  So, get stung if you will, but The Reaper has warned you!  Use care in handling these grenades.

Pairing Tip - - - This brew goes well with Asprin or Ibuprofen.

Smuttynose - Old Brown Dog Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Smuttynose - Old Brown Dog Ale
Smuttynose Brewing Company
Portsmouth, NH USA
Est.1994
www.smuttynose.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0

Postmortem Brew Review
Deep rich brown color.
Hops, malts and maybe cinnamon or nutmeg in the aromas.
Soft warming feel and fruity, soft spice flavor.
Two finger head with some rings of lacing.
Sweet caramel malts and some nutty spices tickle the tongue.
Medium mouth feel and good balance of carbonation.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
There's Olive, perched on her pillow bed, posing for the camera. Good dog! Just a snapshot in time, capturing the moment of her grandeur. Looking like a 1989 GABF Silver Medal winner all the way!

The beer is a snapshot too, of what a good brown ale can be. Just like the working class dog in the photo, this beer will serve you well.  It has enough rich color and body along with some oomph to keep you up and going...perhaps for a walk? Did someone say 'go for a walk'???

Grab the leash and get down to the store to adopt one (or six) of these pups.  Get going.

Avery - White Rascal

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
White Rascal
Avery Brewing
5763 Arapahoe Ave.
Boulder, Colorado USA
Est. 1993
www.averybrewing.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Golden yellow body.
Light scent of coriander and spice. Touch of yeast on the nose.
Fairly long lasting head that is tightly bubbled.
Minimal lace on glass.
Light and airy taste similar to a sparkling wine.
Light mouth feel. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Great little wit.  Refreshing and surprisingly drinks like and expensive Belgian style, though it is light in alcohol.  I found this to have such a tight crisp flavor and bubbly head.  It could have passed for a sparkling wine.

Typically, I do not prefer witbier but as the dog days of summer press on, it's reasonable to persue these light tasting, lower alcohol but full flavor brews.

Rogue - St. Rogue Red

Taps for a Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

St. Rogue Red
Rogue Ales
2320 OSU Drive
Newport, OR USA
Est.1988
www.rogue.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.1 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 (On Tap)


Postmortem Brew Review
Reddish copper in color.
Dry hoppy aroma; spruce scented.
Off-white head with good retention and lace.
Medium, active amount of carbonation.
Medium bodied.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Also on tap at the World of Beer, another fine Rogue brew for the Beertopia lineup.  This one has a distinct hoppy aroma and flavor.  It is dry hopping that brings the flavors out in this ale.  A nice but not overpowering amount of hops.  Easy to drink and oh, so tasty.

Get some religion and get this St. Rogue Red.

Rogue - John John Juniper

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

John John Juniper
Rogue Ales
2320 OSU Drive
Newport, OR USA
Est.1988
www.rogue.com 

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


Postmortem Brew Review
Yellow orange in color.
Juniper berry taste and aroma with floral scent of hops.
Off-white head with good retention.
Medium, active amount of carbonation.
Light to medium bodied.  Slight oak aged taste.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Another of the rare beers of Rogue from the tap, sampled on the east coast of the US.  John John was delicious.  A tickle of juniper taste and a slight oaked blast towards the end.  Not overly hopped; at only 34 IBU it was just right.  The play of the hops aromas and juniper taste made for a very pleasing and interesting taste. Tastes wonderfully like a Spruce Pine tree!

Great to have a sample of this at "Beertopia" at my local World of Beer and their celebration of Rogue ales on tap.

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.