Thursday, December 23, 2010

Food in Life - A Blog by Jen: Christmas Aliens


Sometimes it is rough writing this blog.....not so much for the lack of recipes or lack of cooking that I do, but more for the inspiration and funny or interesting stories that I use to deliver the recipes. Sometimes it takes me a few days to come up with something and other nights I am hit with my creative muse right in the middle of cooking and am able to write and cook simultaneously.

This week I KNEW I wanted to share with you a cooking adventure and recipe but was on the fence about how to deliver it until I got an email from a dear friend who was unfortunately accosted by aliens this last week and narrowly escaped if only by the grace of my cooking.

I was in possession of 6 whole days off from work this last week and used the first two to make confections galore. You might remember Toffee Claus from last year....she is well and alive and despite the crummy weather, made enough toffee for about 30 gift bags.

Also included were the very well received Almond Florentine Cookies from last year, which I didn't make nearly enough of this year (lesson learned), dark chocolate bark with dried fruits, hazelnuts and sea salt and my new favorite......Peppermint Patties and Dark Sunshine bites.

So without further adieu, the email read as follows:

Hi Jen,

Thank you so much for the holiday sweets. I have a little problem....You won't believe it!

I was on my way home from work last night with my bag of treats (yes, I had sampled). I made a quick stop at the grocery store and when I opened my door an alien was trying to abduct me! When I thought of all the things of value that I had with me, I offered up my most valuable prize which was my treats. He happily took the treats and left me alone! Whew, thanks to you, I am safe....but the real problem lies in the fact that the bag was addressed to "Mike and Heidi" and since Mike is out of town with the boys, until Thursday, he will miss out on the yummy treats! Possibly if you have some extras Mike can have his own bag of yummy treats sometime and we will guard them from the aliens :)

Lots of Love,

Heidi

Seriously???? Even if I was out of treats I would have made more....not only because these are a couple of my favorite people, but also....aliens????? How awesome is that????

So I fixed up a goodie bag for Mike and the kids and handed it off today.....I hope that his daughter saw it home safely because after 20 pounds of sugar, 7 pounds of powdered sugar, 12 pounds of butter, 10 pounds of chocolate, 8 pounds of nuts, 2 pounds of dried fruit, 20 hours of cooking, 10 hours of wrapping and packaging and another 2 days of delivering, Ms. Toffee Claus is done for the season.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, I hope that your season is as blessed as mine with wonderful family, fabulous friends and always good food.

Peppermint Patties
From Gourmet Magazine, December 2007
With alternate option for Orange flavored, which I called Dark Sunshine bites


2 1/2 cups confectioners sugar (less than 1 pound), divided
1 1/2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 1/2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
10 ounces 70%-cacao bittersweet chocolate

Make filling:


Beat 2 1/4 cups confectioners sugar with corn syrup, water, peppermint extract, shortening, and a pinch of salt using an electric mixer (with paddle attachment if using a stand mixer) at medium speed until just combined. Knead on a work surface dusted with remaining 1/4 cup confectioners sugar until smooth. Roll out between sheets of parchment paper on a large baking sheet into a 7- to 8-inch round (less than 1/4 inch thick). Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes. Remove top sheet of paper and sprinkle round with confectioners sugar. Replace top sheet, then flip round over and repeat sprinkling on other side.

Cut out as many rounds as possible with cutter, transferring to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze until firm, at least 10 minutes. Meanwhile, gather scraps, re-roll, and freeze, then cut out more rounds, freezing them.

Temper chocolate and coat filling:

Melt three fourths of chocolate in a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Remove bowl from pan and add remaining chocolate, stirring until smooth. Cool until thermometer inserted at least 1/2 inch into chocolate registers 80°F.

Return water in pan to a boil and remove from heat. Set bowl with cooled chocolate over pan and reheat, stirring, until thermometer registers 88 to 91°F. Remove bowl from pan.

Balance 1 peppermint round on a fork and submerge in melted chocolate, letting excess drip off and scraping back of fork against rim of bowl if necessary, then return patty to sheet (to make decorative ridges on patty, immediately set bottom of fork briefly on top of patty, then lift fork straight up). Coat remaining rounds, rewarming chocolate to 88 to 91°F as necessary. Let patties stand until chocolate is set, about 1 hour.

A few notes/variations:

For the Dark Sunshine Bites I used the zest from 1 orange and substituted Orange Extract

Garnish for the Peppermint Patties for us was crushed Peppermint Sticks

Garnish for the Dark Sunshine bites was bits of Candied Orange Peel

Make sure the filling is well frozen before dipping in the chocolate!

Don't roll any thinner than 1/4 inch, otherwise they tend to droop when you are coating them with chocolate.

Feel free to use small cookie cutters for fun shapes, but avoid shapes that have skinny forms like candy canes or snowflakes as those tend to break easier. Rounds/ornaments were great, trees, bells, light bulbs and even the gingerbread men worked well.....we only lost a few angel wings in the process.

As you get towards the end of the filling, feel free to roll it in to little balls and dip those in chocolate, they are delicious no matter what shape they are in.

Printed by permission. Visit Jen's blog @ http://foodinlife.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Hop Head Said - A Blog by Curtis: Mission Street: Pale Ale and IPA




I am giving you a twofer this week reviewing two offerings found only at Trader Joe’s: Mission Street Pale Ale and Mission Street India Pale Ale. What makes these beers local? Well, two things make these beers local in my book. First, there are umpteen TJ’s in Ventura County. I know that is a stretch especially since you can find TJ’s all around the country but since you can probably find one within a 30 or 40 minute drive I classify that as local. Secondly and most valid reason is that these beers are contract brewed by Firestone Walker’s breweries just up the 101 in Buellton and Paso Robles.

All of the Trader Joe’s branded beers are contract brewed and I haven’t found one that wasn’t a solid well brewed beer. With brewers like Firestone Walker, Gordan Biersch and Montreal’s Unibroue routinely contributing to TJ’s beer line it isn’t hard understand why that is.

On to the reviews:

Mission St. Pale Ale is a wonderful session beer. A session beer is a beer that is light both in body and ABV and can be enjoyed in moderation with little worry of becoming inebriated. Mission St. Pale Ale poured a golden straw color with a head filled with tight white bubbles that lasted throughout the pint. The first whiff was full of hops and as that dissipated the aroma settled into a mouth watering mix of hops and malt. The beer has a moderate hop bite though not as pronounced as a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. The hops are tamped back by a firm malt backbone but finishes dry. The dry finish and a lingering hop taste do nothing to quench your thirst but don’t worry at 4.6% ABV you can enjoy a few of these before its time to go home.

Back in October I raved about Firestone Walker’s Union Jack as my go to beer (one that I stock and drink when my homebrew is gone) but it has been replaced by Mission Street IPA. The good news for Firestone Walker is that it was replaced by another one of THEIR beers.

Mission St. IPA poured a crystal clear dark straw with an off-white head. The aroma was full of citrus hops though not as pronounced as Union Jack. The beer has a great citrus hop flavor (a mix of grapefruit and tangerine) and the sharp piney bitterness that is rounded off by a solid malt backbone. This is a really good example of an American IPA and while I don’t have the specific IBU for this IPA it is well within the hop guidelines. At 6.1% ABV Mission Street IPA is right in the middle of the ABV range but take care not to enjoy this one too much because it will sneak up on you. All in all this is a great everyday beer and at $5.99 a sixer you can’t afford to miss this beer.

Published by permission. Visit Curtis' blog at http://hopheadsaid.wordpress.com/

Monday, December 20, 2010

Debbie Does Music: I thought this would be titled “Being In The Right Place At The Right Time”


But instead, it’s titled “How The Accordion Came Between Me and Butch”.The Hotel Cafe in Hollywood was the setting. As I dodged the rain to get into the venue, I happened to see a musician checking in, who said he was with Butch Walker’s band.

Right Place.

He was also inquiring about getting passes for his friends who were coming to the show. Since the evening was a benefit for LAFD Spark of Love Toy Drive, musicians didn’t get any passes for this show.

Right Time.

I offered up my two extra tickets to the guy. Followed with a “and you can introduce me to Butch”. He agreed, “no problem!”

I was giddy. As I reached into my purse to hand him my business card, he slipped through the door calling over his shoulder “I’ll see you inside”

But…wait…

There were hundreds of people inside. Hundreds. But not my “In”. He was nowhere to be found. Butch wasn’t going on for three hours, he probably wasn’t even there yet, so I relaxed with a drink, my camera and a standing spot close enough to get a few shots of some great talent!


There was Meiko, who looked like a little girl in her candy cane striped tights and pig tails, but sang about what happened when she fantasized about having a hot affair with Santa before killing him, because her manager suggested she write a Christmas song. This girl has spunk. And lungs.


There were the The Weepies, who’s harmonizing is breathtaking, and music makes you want more.

.


And, of course, there was Butch Walker. Whose stage presence makes you dance, and who sang four Christmas songs, including Little Drummer boy and Winter Wonderland. With an accompanying accordion player among the six others on stage. An accordion player who never introduced me to Butch. Oh well.

Right Place

Right Time

Wrong Want.

I’m okay with that. But I don’t trust accordion players anymore. I think that’s only fair.

Printed by permission. Visit Debbie's blog @ http://www.exurbmagazine.com/

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Debbie Does Music: Shawn Mullins


As a busy mom, being a hipster is hardly likely. After I get three boys to school, get some exercise in, run errands, do laundry, blah blah blah, there is a good chance I missed anything hip on any given day.

But what that does mean, is when I hear a voice I love, I’m excited, and it’s New To Me Music!! I don’t care if it’s a year old, a decade old, or released today. And if you are busy, you may feel the same way.


We can’t all be cool, and I wear my “Uncool Mommy Blogger” crown proudly.

Today I’m all excited about Shawn Mullins. His new album, well, new to me (it actually came out in October of this year), Light You Up, is FANTASTIC! The album’s namesake song is hot! Serious make out session song (for those young hipsters, anyway). The rest of the album is definitely more of a country feel (he is from Georgia, after all) than the radio hit, but it’s all good. He even has a song titled The Ghost of Johnny Cash (the only country singer I truly have loved). Tinseltown is a keeper, as is California. This is not your daddy’s country music.

As I get excited about New To Me Music, I sometimes wonder “where the HELL have I been??” This is his 18th album, it’s not like he’s a newbie. Oh ya, that’s right, I have three boys, ages 10, 7 and 7, I’ve been in a cloud of non-hipness for a good portion of those years. But, baby, I’m back! DDM is here to let all you mommies and non-hipsters wear your crowns with pride as well.

An added bonus, you can get Shawn Mullins (New To Me) album, Light You Up, for $5 if you get it on Amazon this month. That is a bargain for some truly good music. Give yourself an early Christmas present today, or a late Hanukah present! You will be glad you did.

Printed by permission. Visit Debbie's blog @ http://www.exurbmagazine.com/

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Date Night - A Blog by Mari: Dizzy Flashback of San Diego…


Good music is like a religious experience. By “religious” I mean having your lungs crushed by a lyric or note, and feeling like you’re on to something sublime and so rare that you believe only people who shared your soul could have the capacity to understand, and in that shattering moment you feel like you’ve merged with this music, and that the particles in your body are being edited, as though you’ve been teleported through a transpod and come out The Fly on the other end.

When I was in college in San Diego I wanted to meet the man of my dreams during one of these religious experiences, and what better place to find twoo wuv than the place where souls are most open and receptive?

I was taking a Jazz History class and required to attend live jazz shows. In the Gaslamp District of San Diego was this place called Dizzy’s, and one jazzy night I got all gussied up. I put on a cute black dress, tied a red ribbon in my hair, grabbed my favorite coat from the closet and went to Dizzy’s.

When I arrived, I grabbed my coat from the backseat and threw it over my arm, and walked. I could already hear the brass from half a block away, and I thought: this could be the night I meet him, the one. Am I the only girl who does that? Holds that silly feeling that maybe, here (wherever here is), I’ll meet him?

It’s a bit puerile, but fuck it.

Inside Dizzy’s, I felt a slight chill so I pulled on my jacket. I whipped out my little notebook (so that I could write about the concert for my music class) and I listened. I let my soul open so I could feel that slight mingling with the stars in the heavens. Then I got a whiff of cat piss.

My roommate, Bette, had an unusually large-testicle’d cat that she called “Big Poppa.” Big poppa was an outdoor/indoor cat who liked to drain his nut sack into the furry, loose pussys that roamed the block in Normal Heights; it seemed he liked to come home and drain his bladder on my clothing.

I knew something smelled strange, but I didn’t want to admit it was me. I had just walked in and didn’t want to leave. Dammit, I came here to meet my son-of-a-bitch soul mate who, might I add, was taking his sweet-ass time finding me on earth. Where the hell was he, anyway? Africa? I’m right here, pal. Ma’ can’t ring the triangle for eternity. You come and get it, for fuck’s sake or you’re going to be assed out.

I sat in cat-urine stink for one entire song before leaving. I knew that others had probably smelled it, and I knew that if my soul mate smelled Big Poppa’s piss he might avoid me.

I don’t know why, five years later, I’m suddenly reminded of Big Poppa’s bladder issues, but it got me to thinking that perhaps beautiful, live music is one more place to meet the loves of our lives–whether friends or lovers. I guess I must search Ventura for a venue which plays good, live, fresh music.

Published by permission. Visit Mari's blog at http://www.mari-go-round.com/

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Debbie Does Music: The Day the Music Died


There were tributes around the world yesterday. It’s trending on twitter, viral on facebook, and everyone knows WHO John Lennon was (even if they spell it Lenon, but I digress…)

Among some of the tributes, was a live show last night in Ventura, CA where singers/songwriters played Lennon songs. The ustream video is here! Let it play while you work today. Some great talent today, has Lennon to thank yesterday, for inspiration.

There is a lost interview with Lennon, that occurred three days before his untimely death. A portion of it is here, and it will be printed in Rolling Stone Magazine in it’s entirety this Friday.

“What they want is dead heroes, like Sid Vicious and James Dean,” Lennon, then 40, told the magazine of fans and critics who didn’t exactly stay loyal to him during his five-year break from music.

“I’m not interested in being a dead f–king hero…so forget ‘em, forget ‘em.”

Lennon also empathized with another up-and-comer: “God help Bruce Springsteen when they decide he’s no longer God…They’ll turn on him, and I hope he survives it.”

As for his Beatles buddies, Lennon intimated that he would be open to returning to the road with Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. However, he saw no need to rush any reunion, putting it to the interviewer that “there’s plenty of time, right?”

“We just might do it. But there will be no smoke bombs, no lipstick, no flashing lights. It just has to be comfy. But we could have a laugh. We’re born-again rockers, and we’re starting over.

“There’s plenty of time, right? Plenty of time.”

There’s that bittersweetness we were talking about.

The topics of conversation only grew in depth and breadth from there (though nine hours of talking will do that to you).

“Give peace a chance, not shoot people for peace,” Lennon said at one point. “All you need is love, I believe that. I’m not claiming divinity. I’ve never claimed divinity. I’ve never claimed purity of soul. I’ve never claimed to have the answer to life. I can’t live up to people’s expectations of me, because they are illusory.

“The hardest thing is facing yourself. It’s easier to shout ‘revolution’ and ‘power to the people’ than it is to look at yourself and try and find out what’s real and what isn’t, when you try pull the wool over your own eyes and your own hypocrisy…that’s the hardest one.”

And for all the deep thoughts revealed, there was also plenty of humor…even if it was at the expense of some fans.

“When I was younger, one…I could say ‘when one was younger,’ but maybe they’ll think that’s too ego…you know, I’m not allowed to speak on that level, because that upsets the little turds, right?

“So let’s put it like, when I was younger, I used to think that the world was doing it to me and that the world owes me some thing…When you’re a teeny bopper, that’s what you think. I’m 40 now, I don’t think that anymore, because I found out it doesn’t f–king work. One has to go through that. For the people who even bother to go through that, most assholes just accept what it is anyway and get on with it.”

Many of life’s big questions, eerie in retrospect, also popped up.

“We’re all part of it, there’s no separation in that respect,” Lennon said. “Am I real? What is the illusion I’m living, or am I not living? I deal with it everyday, the layers of the onion.”

“Don’t be afraid to be afraid. Yes, I’m often afraid and I’m not afraid to be afraid, it’s not at all scary. At least when [the world] is all right, let’s enjoy it.”

Lennon also discussed his childhood, and his constant struggle to balance his desire to be tough, citing Marlon Brando and James Dean, and to be the Oscar Wilde-like “sensitive poet.”

“It’s more painful to try and not be yourself in a way,” he said. “People do spend a lot of time trying to be someone else all the time, I think it leads to terrible diseases.

“I come from the macho school of pretense. I was a suburban kid imitating the rockers. But it was a big part of one’s life trying to look tough…I thought that’s what it was, trying to be the tough James Dean all the time. I still drop in to that when I’m insecure.”

Lennon said he later learned how important it was to develop one’s—er, his—weaker side, crediting Yoko Ono with helping him see that.

“That’s what feminism is all about. That’s what Yoko’s taught me. Yoko’s been telling me all the time, it’s all right, it’s all right.

“I was torn between being Marlon Brando and the Oscar Wilde part of me…If you showed the other side, you were dead.”

The overarching theme of the interview—or at least of the pieces that have so far been released—are, oddly enough, about how much control we truly have over life.

“We always have a choice, but how much of it is preordained? It’s very strange sometimes. And that’s a good ending,” he told the interviewer.

Read more:http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b215029_john_lennons_lost_last_interview.html#ixzz17XxvrHNT

I think we all have a favorite Lennon or Beatles song, and I know I have fond memories of listening to my sister’s White album over and over with her. I think I’ll listen today, with the rest of the world. And just maybe, today will be a day of peace. Wouldn’t that be nice?

Printed by permission. Visit Debbie's blog @ http://www.exurbmagazine.com/

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Hop Head Said - A Blog by Curtis: This and That


I will be doing something a little different for my review this week. I won’t be reviewing any beer but I will be reviewing several beer related items.

The first item I wanted to review this week was a new beer location in Camarillo. Located inside the Village Commons Market the BEER CAVE is a welcome addition to the beer scene in Ventura County. This store gets it right. None of the beer is outside the cooler (at least the good stuff) AND the cooler is dimly lit. This helps to significantly reduce any heat or light damage that can occur when beer is left out on the shelves for even a short period of time. They also have “Cave Coats” for you to wear if you are just browsing and want to or need to linger in the cooler.


Another thing that tells me the folks at Village Commons Market get craft beer is they were just getting ready to put BeerAdvocate rating tags on the beer. How many times have you been in a store where there are Wine Spectator ratings all over the place and then you go to the beer section and you are left to fend for yourself? Keep in mind though; these ratings will only compare beers that are the same stylistically. Last thing, you can tell a lot about a person by the books they leave around the house. When I purchased my sixer of Firestone Walker’s Velvet Merlin I noticed that there were three different beer books on the counter. This tells me that they are interested in beer and it doesn’t take much reading in any of those books to become an authority on any given beer. Who knows, maybe someday they will write a beer blog. If you stop in, mention you heard about them here at HopHeadSaid.

The second item is a beer review site called Pintley.com. This weekend I was listening to a podcast interview with them on The Brewing Network so I decided to see what they were all about. Pintly is way more than a review site, it is a recommendation site. Think of it as the Pandora for beer drinkers. Here is how you get started, sign up (it’s free) spend one minute (literally that is all it takes) to rate 20 beers they pick. From there they will make recommendations to you based on the beers you liked. The more beers you rate the better the recommendations for you will be. It is a great way for newbie craft beer drinkers to get beer recommendations when they are out and about. I would set up the account from your computer first (a little more convenient) but then they have apps for your favorite phone so you can take it with you anywhere. You can also set up wish lists (remember GOOD beer makes GREAT gifts) and share your beer reviews with friends. My user name is hopheadsaid become my friend and see what my top choices are.

Lastly, it is time for the celebration/holiday/winter warmer seasonal beers. Some of the best flavorful and malty beers of the year come to life in the winter months. This is the time of year when many breweries will spice up their regulars or brew special batches of higher alcohol beers to keep you warm on a long winter’s night. Here are a few suggestions:

- - -

Crisp Medium Body:

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

Full Sail Wassail

New Belgium Brewing 2 Below

Pyramid Snow Cap

Red Hook Winterhook

Summit Brewing Winter Ale


Full Bodied Sippers:

Full Sail Old Boardhead

Kulmbacher Eisbock

Wychwood Brewery Bah Humbug!

De Ranke Pere Noel

Avery The Czar

Great Divide Old Ruffian

Great Divide Yeti (oak aged)

Sierra Nevada Big Foot Barleywine

- - -

Happy Holidays.

Published by permission. Visit Curtis' blog at http://hopheadsaid.wordpress.com/

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Debbie Does Music: To Tubeify or Not To Tubeify?


The modern day Napster? Maybe. Too good to be true? Probably. Playing with it now? Definitely. Tubeify is the menaje trios of Last.fm, Billboard and Youtube. Brought to you by Tomas Isdal, a University of Washington PhD student.

Basically, the gist of Tubeify is to turn youtube into a jukebox of sorts with an easy to use interface. But Youtube alone can’t get you the cool factor of the Time Traveler feature. This allows you to search any given time period since 1964, the interface uses Billboards top 100 of each said period, and pops out video selections for you to peruse while you experience sight and sound from your time selection.

I immediately went to my high school graduation year. Can you guess what that was? Here is a snapshot of it:


So I sat and took a listen/watch down memory lane. I’ve never actually experienced some of these songs in video form, since the greatness of Youtube came long, LONG after those days for me. Sigh.

This is the sort of thing that can get you lost for a few hours, so don’t take it lightly. But do take advantage. I have a feeling the Big Brother “Label” won’t be liking how the music is being shared for free.

You do need an invitation to get onto Tubeify. Get it here, and go and play for the day, or night. Or all day and night. It makes music fun! Click on the “request invitation” and add your email. You’ll get an email from Tubeify in just a few minutes and get started. Be warned, you may not want to stop.

Printed by permission. Visit Debbie's blog @ http://www.exurbmagazine.com/

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Hop Head Said - A Blog by Curtis: Big Island Imperial Pale Ale- 2010 Bourbon Barrel Aged


Before I get started with the review I want to talk about the term imperial. You will find the term imperial used in many styles and what this really means is that one or more of the beers attributes is out of the accepted style guidelines. More bitterness and/or more malt and/or more alcohol, do you get the picture? The most common beer styles that use this label are IPA’s and Stouts.

Imperial IPA (also known as Double IPA or DIPA) i probably my favorite beer style. These are BIG beers. They have BIG hop aromas and high IBU’s. Hops are used to balance the BIG malt base in these beers. The malt base in these beers also produces a lot of sugar that is then converted to alcohol and so these beers have BIG ABV’s. Any one of these BIG’s can be too much on their own so it is up to the brewmaster to find that sweet spot and create one BIG balanced beer.

Big Island Imperial Pale Ale just wasn’t big enough for the brewers at Island Brewing Co. No siree. They decided they should take one of their biggest beers and make it a little more complex by aging it in bourbon barrels. As a point of clarification, sometimes there is a small amount of bourbon left over in the barrels that can affect the flavor of the beer. However, the bourbon flavor and aroma usually comes from the beer’s direct contact with the bourbon barrel’s “marinated” wood. The flavor and aroma imparted in the beer are influenced by the age of the barrels (how many batches have been conditioned in it) and the amount of time the beer spends in the barrels. At any rate my reaction to this beer is something that can best be explained in this quote from the movie THE CHRISTMAS STORY when Ralphie is helping his dad change a tire. Only I said this when I took my first drink…

Oooh fuuudge!”
Only I didn’t say “Fudge.” I said THE word, the big one, the queen-mother of dirty words, the “F-dash-dash-dash” word!

This is one big and tasty beer but let me start with the nitty gritty. This is a small special release (I had bottle 236 of 275) aged in bourbon barrels which takes up a lot of space and energy for conditioning and thus demands a premium price. A 650ml bottle or “bomber” costs $25. Don’t let that price scare you away after all you aren’t going to be drinking this beer every day after work. However, this is a great special occasion beer. Also this beer is so big (taste and alcohol) that you will want to share it with one or two friends. Please don’t sit down and drink this all by yourself, it is NOT a Bud Light and you are not at a kegger.

True to Imperial IPA’s it poured deep dark amber with a small lacy head (alcohol can inhibit the proteins needed to form a thick dense head) and the aroma screamed “I’ve been aged in a bourbon barrel”. There might have been hops there but they were certainly overpowered by the bourbon. The beer was malty and smooth with a warming alcohol sensation. The malt was quickly replaced by a hop bitterness that was then quickly replaced by bourbon. By the end of my glass (I shared the bomber with one other person) the beer started to get a little over the top. That is an incredible statement for me and those that know me can attest to that but it is true. I think if I had shared it with one other person and enjoyed an 8-10 oz pour instead of 12-14 oz pour I wouldn’t have hit the wall with this beer. My suggestion for you is to enjoy this BIG beer in small pours and enjoy it you will.

Need more Hop Head Said? You can find extra beer info, drinking tips, old reviews and geeky brew nonsense on my blog. http://hopheadsaid.wordpress.com/

Published by permission. Visit Curtis' blog at http://hopheadsaid.wordpress.com/