Boulevard Brewing Co. Bully Poter * * * *

This is good beer 4 out of 5 stars. Check out my new Boulevard hat and Bully Porter T-shirt. I am not big on Porters but this was good. Pours very dark Amie didn't get a chance to try it I think she would of really enjoyed it. Best By Date 08/13/09. I purchased this and a few other Boulevard beers by doing the Mix a Six Pack at Friar Tucks on St Patrick's day. Big foamy head which you can see in one of my pics. Extremely dark brown looks black in color. It is always deceiving to me I see beers like Guinness and this Porter that are so dark and think it is going to be this thick soupy beer and it is quite the opposite. I liked the hoppiness (which Amie might not like that aspect) and reminded me of coffee too (I think Joe should try this beer). It is always interesting to drink a beer then look at some of the reviews and be like oh I didn't even pick up on that. I am a novice so it is still something new for me to articulate into words what I am tasting.

Beer Advocate gives it an A- with 319 reviews. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/423/1262

Rate Beer gives it a 92 http://ratebeer.com/beer/boulevard-bully-porter/115/88493/

Per the bottle: "In the tradition of great ales we've added a small
amount of yeast to the beer just before packaging to produce a
secondary fermentation in the bottle. The yeast, which settles
naturally to the bottom of the bottle, encourages further maturation
and contributes to the beer's complex flavor.

See more info at http://blvdbeer.com/bullyporter.htm

Brasserie D'Achouffee La Chouffe * * * * *

Yes sorry the glass is empty because I drank this last night during the Series Finale of Battlestar Gallatica. Amie might be embarrassed to be a BSG fan since it is a major Sci Fi show, but I love the show and I am very sad to see it end. Amie and I had some friends over to celebrate. The beer was gold in color and had a very big head.

This is a very good beer I have had this in the fridge for awhile salivating and waiting to drink it. It is not a solid 5 but it stands at that now. Beer Advocate gives it a A- so that made me feel more comfortable with my 5 rating. I have drank the beer before and was really surprised. I first had this wonderful beer at Growlers Pub in Sunset Hills with Amie probably early 2008. I got it thinking it would be a small bottle and not noticing the size. I almost always enjoy Belgian beers and this is a good example of one.

I went to La Chouffe's website http://www.achouffe.be/en curious what their glass's or mugs looked like since it says drink it from a "wide mouthed La Chouffe glass." I thought the red nosed gnome was kind of creepy but after visiting their site I think they are just trying to have him be a fun playful character.

Per the back of the Bottle.
"La Chouffee is brewed by the Atisans of the 21st Centuray at la brasserie d'Achouffe deep in the heart of Belgium's Ardennes mountains. The legend of gnomes (chouffes) who once brewed in this mysterious region provides the inspiration for this eccentric bottle conditioned, double fermented ale."

"This Belguim micro brewery crafts La Chouffe with local Ardennes' spring water top fermenting yeast, Pilsner malts and English Golding & Saaz hop and coriander for spice. Double fermentation produces naturual carbonation and a small yest deposti (lees) on the bottom of the bottle."

"Enjoy the golden color, dense white head and sweet-spicy flavor of La Chouffe. Server cool between 50 & 55 F and pour carefully into a wide mouthed La Chouffe glass to enjoy the full flavors and aromas of this ale from Belguims most eccentric brewery."

"Come and visit us at Brasserie D'Achooffee in the Ardennes mountains."

"In 2006 the Choffe gnomes discovered they have baseball-playing family at the Brewery Ommegang farmstead in Cooperstown, NY. Check them out at
http://www.ommegang.com


I am also a fan of the Ommegang Brewery and I am not understanding La Chouffe's goal with this statement on the back of their bottle. Well I did a little research and found out that the brothers who created La Chouffe were bought out by Duvel Moortgat in 2006. Duvel also owns the Ommegang beer line.

From the picture below you can see Brewtus (black and white cat) did not seem to be interested in La Chouffe he was more interested in bothering Calvin.

Obolon Premium * * *

Produced in the Ukraine it was good it reminded me of a pilsner like
Budweiser.

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale * * * *

Ok this is my last Christmas Beer for a long time. Good to end the winter season on such a good note we are only a couple days (Friday the 20th). Then I can begin tasting some spring beers. This was a very tasty and alcohol filled beer. 10% alcohol by volume. I am a sucker for high alcohol beer especially when it has such a complex taste like this beer does. As you can see Brewtus liked the beer too (at least the bottle). I was concerned about this beer being in the fridge since December. Amie and I bought way too much beer from Friar Tucks during Christmas Vacation. Apparently since it is a 'living ale' it can be aged for up to 15 years. I could of drank this next Christmas. Oh well I am trying to clear out the fridge of all the December Beer. It is a tough job. :-)


Per the back of the bottle: "Brewery St. Bernardus was founded in 1946 in Watou, Province of West Flanders in Belgium. These exceptional quality ales are brewed by using only the finest malts, local grown hops, yeast and artesian water pumped from a depth of 500 feet. After the brewing process these traditional ales are matured in tanks for three months before being bottle conditioned. The results is a naturally carbonated 'living ale' which can be aged for up to 15 years and will satisfy the taste of even the most discriminating connoisseurs."

"Bringing heavenly nectar within reach"
"St. Bernardus Christmas Ale is the youngest descendant in the illustrious family of delicious Abbey Ales brewed by brewery St. Bernardus since 1946. This specialty ale of 10% alc./vol. is characterized by its deep dark color with a creamy thick head, and a full almost velvety mouthful with a fruity nose. It's a seasonal ale, brewed annually for the Holiday Season. The long winter nights are perfect moments to savor this ale, with family and friends, and to enjoy its unique complex taste. "

Growlers Pub * * * * *

Amie and I went to Growlers last night for a St. Patricks Eve Dinner and drinks.
I love Growlers food and the 132 beers they have to drink 33 of which are on tap.

Carlow Brewing Curim Gold * * *

Happy St. Patricks Day! I picked some appropriate beers for yesterday
and today. This beer is an import from Ireland. Per the bottle:
"Celtic Wheat Beer, Fruity, aromatic, and refreshingly crisp.". This
was a good beer I would drink it again.

Irish "Holy Trinity"

From left to right Harp, Guiness, and Smithwicks.

Sam Adams Boston Lager * * * *

I may have rated this before and may have rated it a 3 out five
stars. However if I am to buy a keg of Sam Adams I think that
deserves a rating of 4 out 5 stars. Mmmm good. At one time I was not
a fan of Sam Adams because it was a bityer hoppy beer. Which I have
grown to like. My friend Joe has always been a fan. It is Joes
birthday this month so we got a keg of Sam Adams for his birthday party.

Samuel Adams Holiday Porter * * *

Yes I know it is a little late for a "Holiday" beer, but I have a few
left. Spring is not here yet. It is tasty beer I am rating it a 3
out of 5. Per the bottle, "Samuel Adams Holiday Porter is a full-
bodied brew with a big toasty flavor that is both fulfilling and
refreshing. A special blend of malts balance the English hops to
deliver a smooth and delicious winter brew. Samuel Adams Holiday
Porter is a full-flavored porter inspired by the famous drink of
London's Victoria era luggage porters. Brewed with generous portions
of Caramel, Munich and Chocolate malt, this hearty porter finishes
with traditional English Fuggles and East Kent Goldings. Cheers! Jim
Koch"

I want to thank Joe for this fine beverage he shared with me.

Achel Trappist * * * *

Authentic Trappist - Bruin Bier - Biere Brune. Imported from
Belgium. Now this us a beer! I love Trappist Ales. This is good.
This beer was very foamy when I poured it. It still has a head.
Mmmmmm good.

Tucher Kristall Weizen * *

Well this is the second "Kristall" type beer it is ok but has a weird
metallic taste. It is very light, no body. I am going to rate it a 2
out of 5 stars. I would not buy it again. This is a I am drunk and I
am not worried about taste kind of beer.

AB/Inbev - Amberbock * * *

Beers at Frankie G's Friday night. Amberbock is our favorite draft at
Frankie's.

Unibroue La Fin Du Monde * * * *

This is a triple fermented beer that is very very good I almost think
it is a five star beer. More investigation will be required. :-)

Per the bottle: "The excellence of triple fermentation through a blend
of special yeasts gives this malt beverage LA FIN DU MONDE (The End of
the World) an exquisitely robust flavour of exceptional refinement.

Magic Hat #9 * *

"Taste alright" per Amie she thought it smelled like Scrubbing Bubbles
I thought that was crazy till I smelled it and I could smell the
similarity. I did not like the first or second sip at all. I will
blame that on possibly not having a clean palate. I am half way
through the glass I even tried washing my mouth out with lemon water.
It is still not good this is a 2 out of 5 stars. So that means I
would drink it if it was free but I will not buy it. Sorry Magic Hat.

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier * * *

"The Worlds oldest brewery". It was good but a bit of a mettalic
taste. 3 out 5 stars.

Magic Hat Brewing Co. HI.P.A * * *

The 3/4 Pint of Indian Pale Ale.  It was good, it was extremely hoppy, just as their website says it is HIGHLY HOPPED.  I would drink it again. I gave it a 3 out of 5 stars.  It was almost too much to handle at first but I am going to contribute that to the fact I was eating Chinese food (crab rangoon) with it.   This was one of the beers that Amie bought with the Magic Hat Brewing Company's Spring Fever 12pack during her travels out in North Carolina.   I visited their website it is a very unique one very different navigation.  http://www.magichat.net/

Per their website: http://www.magichat.net/springfever/beer

hI.P.A.

hI.P.A. is a highly hopped India Pale Ale and the Spring SeasonAle. A medium-bodied beer with a fresh and fruitful nose of vernal vitality. It begins and ends with a big hop bite that is itself forever balanced on the brink by a steady rhythm of malt. Dry-hopped for extra quenching in the face of heat and beat, it's an ideal accompaniment to chilling out, turning inward or sailing onward through the music of the night toward the dawn of the mind. It's the liquid way to say be here now lest you never come this way again. 

About our Label Artist:
Stanley Mouse is widely heralded and otherwise internationally acclaimed for his iconographic concert posters for venues like the Fillmore Auditoriums and the Winterland Ballroom as well as his classic album covers for the Grateful Dead and other bands, Stanley Mouse is the man Bill Graham said 'put the face on rock and roll music.' Learn more at Mouse Studios.

• Type: Spring India Pale Ale
• Yeast: English Ale
• Alcohol: 5.8
• IBUs: 45
• SRM: 7.0

• Gravity: 16.5
• Malts: Pale
• Hops: Columbus
• Extra Ingredients: Dry hopped with Columbus

Boulevard Brewing Company Blog * * * * *

The Boulevard Brewing Company Blog gets 5 stars out of 5. I found out about their blog from using my own blog. Intersting eh? Well I will explain how. I use feedjit Live Traffic Feed as you can see on the lower right of my blog. So I can see where my visitors are coming from and I was surprised to see that someone visited my site from http://beermadehere.blogspot.com/ I checked it out and I was even more surprised that it is the blog of Boulevard Brewing Co and they have a link to my blog! It is a validation as a blogger to be linked somewhere especially a website that is established and directly related to your topic. My girlfriend and I are fans of Boulevard Wheat Beer and a Long Strange Triple. I checked out the blog and their main site. I became even more of a fan when I saw their "Green efforts" it was good to see a company recycling, and has a "green roof". I am a cycling enthusiast and I saw they held a bicycle race "2008 Boulevard Cup". I also read their FAQ http://boulevard.com/faq.htm I like that they are not going to expand outside the Midwest and will focus on covering this area well. They are a private company so no concerns of an Inbev buyout. So yes I liked their blog most importantly because I am linked on it. :-) So any other websites or Brewery's take note. Compliments get you everywhere. Thanks Boulevard Brewing Company!

Anheusuer/Inbev Bud Light * *

Yes I drink Bud Light.  It is like a dirty sin for true craft and micro brewery drinkers.  I feel bad giving it press.  I have heard some nasty things said about the AB products recently.  With all the negativety put aside.  I guess you could say I grew up on Bud Light meaning my first legal drink was a Bud Light.  I was a Bud Light drinker till I learned about the wonders of microbrews.  This bud light was free thanks to some friends that came over this weekend, but I would buy a bud light if I had to if a local brew was not available.  Some bars all they have on draft is bud light.  So it really makes it 3 stars but I didn't feel right doing that so i gave it a 2 stars.  Bud is easy to drink and tasty, however after drinking this beer and then going to drink Schafly or Boulevard you see how void of taste and body it is.  I have drank it many many times, for example at the many Cardinal games I have gone to where that is the most prominant beer on tap.  It is really a shame what happened to AB with the
Inbev purchase.  I really try to support local brewries which sadly AB is not truly any longer.  They are a giant brewry owned by foreign company Inbev.  Yes there are St. Louis employees.  Yes the beer was brewed and bottled in St. Louis.   I am torn about this being from St. Louis and I am not trying to sound like a beer snob.  I think as you can see from some of the beers I have tried and will continue to try I will try anything.    However I believe in supporting good local companies like Schlafly and Boulevard.  More thoughts to come on this topic.  I am sure you all have some opinions so feel free to share them.  Thanks

Unibroue Raftman * * *

Unibroue Raftman 3 stars, I enjoyed this beer I was torn and almost gave it a 4 out of 5 stars.  Amie did not like the bitter after taste and would of given it a 2 or 3 stars.  I was not drinking it out of the correct glass but it was a Unibroue Trois Pistoles glass.  So I figured it was the beat I could do.  I enjoyed the Raftman and look forward to trying it again.

According to the back of the bottle.
"This full bodied beer brewed from delicately smoked whiskey malt, offers a subtle bouquet and a delicious lingering aftertaste.  Brewed in memory   of those bygone masters of the forests who were always amenable to settling their differences over a beer and a shot of whisky."

  

Since	1995
Type	Specialty Ale brewed with whisky malt, refermented in the bottle
Alcohol	5.5 % alc./vol.
Color	Coral sheen
Taste	Smoked whisky malt, trace of hops, subtle caramel
Aroma	Smoked whisky malt
Shelf Life	2 years
Serving Suggestions	Smoked fish, meat and mildly spicy meals

Launched in March 1995, Raftman is a beer with a coral sheen that is slightly robust. It contains 5.5 percent alcohol and combines the character of whisky malt with the smooth flavours of choice yeast. It has a subtle and exceptional bouquet that creates a persistent smooth feel. Raftman complements fish, smoked meat and spicy dishes. .

It is brewed to commemorate the legendary courage of the forest workers These hard working men knew when to settle their differences and share their joie de vivre with a beer and a whisky.

The above description was accroding to: http://www.unibroue.com/products/raftman.cfm

If you get a chance to try it let me know what you think.

International Tap House Opened in Chesterfield MO

I wanted to share some very exciting news.  There is a new bar open in St. Louis or more exactly Chesterfield MO. and it is called the International Tap House (iTAP).  I have not had the pleasure of visiting it yet but I have heard some positive things from my friend Tom who has been there.  As you can tell from the name they have beer from all over the world.  As you can see from the image they have 500 beers available 40 beers on tap all from 20 countries in one location.  

Some interesting things to note they have the correct glass for each beer to be poured in.  So not only do they have a large selection of diverse beer they want you to appreciate the beer the way the brewer wanted it be served.  

Regarding food being served at iTAP, this is from the about us section of their website:  "While we have 2100 cubic feet of coolers to chill beer to the perfect point we don't have a kitchen, but we do have a food menu. You won't go hungry at iTAP.  Thanks to a partnership with our neighboring restaurants, order from us, we will get it from them and you can enjoy it with the perfect pour of beer."

I wanted to share this good news with all the St. Louis folks because I really enjoy and appreciate liquor stores, bars, and restaurants that have good and diverse beer selection (like my favorite Growlers).  I have a feeling I am going to love the iTAP.  I look forward to telling you about it in the near future.  

Check out their website.  http://www.internationaltaphouse.com/

They were also featured on KMOV check out this video.  

http://www.kmov.com/video/?z=y&nvid=326901&shu=1