Beer O'Clock

No, this is not me.

I promised a beer blog before I went on vacation. Didn't quite happen, so here's one now.

I've been in Wisconsin for a lot of the last two weeks. I could now be classified as a "solid" with all the encased meats and cheese.

This is the homestretch. Just three weeks until Big Ten media days and less than 60 days until Eastern Illinois.

The only beer from below I'd recommend for a tailgate is the Ranger, BTW.

El Camino (Un)Real Black Ale - Stone / 21st Amendment / Firestone Walker

This is an American strong ale that's a collaboration between Stone, 21st Amendment and Firestone Walker.

It's most distinctive features are fig and pink peppercorn. The fig figures big time. First, a dark chocolate, roasted malt and then the figs and, finally, hop bitterness with the peppercorns, which leave a bit of a bite that I sort of liked.

Sort of an old ale, but this crosses a few styles. Stoutish, barleywine-like.

El Camino rates an A- at BeerAdvocate.com. I found it at Binny's in Chicago, so it might be fairly difficult to find. I think A- sounds about right. I love all Stone product and didn't even know they made this. I loved how I couldn't quite pin down the dominant style. It's a 9.5 ABV.

Barrel Aged Schmaltz's Alt

This is an altbier that is aged in red wine (Pinot?) barrels. And you can really taste the red wine. Very strong and very good.

This is just a 5.10 ABV, so it really gives itself over to the barrels. The aging has little competition with alcohol, so it's a nice balance. It has grape and cherry flavors with light malt and a vanilla oak finish.

It rates an A- on 17 reviews at BeerAdvocate.com. I would be right there with an A-. The taste was memorable and I have a soft spot for Schell's Brewery, which brewed this.

I picked this up at Benz Beverage Depot in CR, so you don't have to drive to Madison to find this one.

This is The Kraken.

A few Twitter pals got together and gave a Bell's Two Hearted clone a shot.

Everything worked perfectly, except the lack of carbonation. It just didn't carbonate. I don't know why. I'm a mere lackey in the operation. But beyond that, it had a wonderfully sweet taste to it. If it would've carbonated, it would've been dangerous.

I still have five left and I'm hoping some carbonation still might happen.

We're going to give it another try. Probably another ale.

Great Divide's 15th Anniversary Wood Aged

This is an American double/imperial IPA from Great Divide. It has 10 percent ABV and, I believe, it's no longer available. I received this in a trade with Kansas City's own @Rod_Leviathan, a Hawkeye fan and Twitter pal.

Fantastic foam is a highlight. A white foamy head that lasted until the bitter end. Malts, light citrus and a little wood backed by caramel malts with some hop to round it out. The vanilla finish also was tasty. Dry finish compared to a lot of DIPAs that have a little bit of an oily feel.

The 15th is an A- on BA with 251 reviews. I'd have to agree. Grab anything Great Divide when you can. It's a terrific brewery.

Pendle Witches Brew

Hey, lookie here. There's a Moorhouse Brewery in Burnley, England, which is by Lancashire, which is where the first Morehouses, my arm of the name, came over from a boat to the states.

So, maybe we're related.

This is an English pale ale with a 5.10 percent ABV.

Wasn't bad. Wasn't great.

A bit understated and kind of fruity, but I'd go back to it. Off-the-beaten-path English breweries aren't for everybody, but I'd give this one another shot.

It rates a B on 74 reviews at BA, with complaints of an aftertaste that I didn't really notice. I found this at Benz.

Arcadia Cereal Killer Barley Wine

Another import from @Rod_Leviathan, this is an American barleywine with 10.00 percent ABV. Rod found it in KC. I've only ever seen it at Family Beer and Liquor in East Dubuque. The laws in Iowa have changed, the distribution hasn't.

I've found barleywines to be sweet and fruity. Too fruity and I don't dig it. This one struck a wonderful balance. The brown sugar is up front. The alcohol is present in the middle with the dark fruits taking over after that. Lots of ripe plum, raisin, sweet dark cherries, and a hint of bitterness at the finish. 

This rates a B+ at BA on 167 reviews, so not everyone sees it quite as I do. I'd say it's in the A range with a spot in my fridge when I can find it.

Ranger

This is an American IPA -- with a 6.50 percent ABV -- from New Belgium.

Begins with a sharp carbonation and the bite of 70 IBUs, the International Bittering Units scale. The bitterness is not overwhelming because there's not a lot of gravity here. The hop flavor is piney and chewy, with little citrus or floral. Highly drinkable. Dangerous at 6.5 ABV, considering it would take a lot to feel full off of this.

We get New Belgium, all of New Belgium, in Iowa! Found this one at Benz. I say it's a tailgater, just be careful with the 6.5 ABV. Your Busch Light-grade beers come in between 3.5 and 4.5. Big difference.

Rates a B+ with 383 reveiws at BA. I'd agree with that.

Gorch Fock

This is a Munich helles lager from Three Floyds. It's an extremely drinkable lager with 4.5 percent ABV.

The taste is balanced. It has a strong Germanic malty mix of bread and light caramel that's evened by a sharp, spicy bitterness that runs right up the middle. The same citric feel from the smell adds some zip to the sweetness. Hops carry into the finish.

Well done version of a helles, with a nice, drinking lager.

Rates a B on 100 reviews at BA. I'd go more in the B+ range.

Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale

An American strong ale from Stone Brewing, with an 8.70 percent ABV.

Sublimely tastes sweet up front with sweet roasted malt and caramel mixed with the floral and citrus hops, followed by pine, grapefruit, orange peel, toffee, faint brown sugar, mild hop spices, roasted grains, a hint of pepper and maybe some chocolate. This is complex and pretty well balanced for an overall sweet beer, which has enough hop flavor to even out. The aroma is hoppy, but the taste is dominated by sweetness mixed together with a variety of hop sensations. 

Another beer I couldn't quite slide into a category so easily. Strong ales can do that. I'm not making it a staple, only because I don't see it all that time.

I picked this up in Madison at Steve's Liquor. It rates an A- on 1,042 reviews at BA.