Oak Aged Mocha Stout - Review

Have you ever been stumbling around, only to find yourself tripping over a real gem? Well, I just did.

Tonight.

In my fridge.

I forgot that I bought this. It kept getting moved further and further back in my fridge (and I have a small fridge, how it got lost is a mystery). Today, I guess, was the day I was supposed to celebrate life with this delightful capturing of tasty malts, smooth coffee, and delectable chocolate. Welcome Peak Organic's Oak Aged Mocha Stout to your table, everyone.

I don't know about you but dark beers do it for me (unlike Prince Valium). The complex and arousing notes fill my tongue and nose with joy and in no way put my taste buds to sleep

After you open the bottle and take a nice deep nose-worth, you get a whiff of coffee and the undertones of malt. Dark chocolate hits you at the end. Taking a sip gives a smooth mouth feel, at first, with a strong, yet not overpowering, low-acid coffee flavor. You then get the vanilla (from the oak) followed by dark chocolate (comparable in flavor to the Ghiradelli 60% Cacao bittersweet chips) in a just-sweet-enough offering. Once it passes over your tongue completely, the oak kicks back in and you get the signature 'tannin mouthfeel' as you do in red wines. Very little bitter. The top notes (coffee and chocolate) linger for a few moments...

Just long enough for your hand to pick that delivery vessel back up again and get it to your mouth for another reminder that you made the right beverage choice tonight.

Perhaps I was a scoche over-dramatic. What can I say, I felt like using my creative writing skills I learned in high school. I promise you though that it is every bit as good as I made it sound. This is a great treat for you dark beer lovers, coffee drinkers, and purveyors of fine chocolate, and hope you consider picking up a bottle the next time it becomes available in your neck of the woods.

Angry Orchard Hop'n Mad Apple - Review

Since realizing that I should lay off the gluten, I have been trying to find options that are still tasty. I have had a handful of gluten-free beers, but let's be honest: No-to-the-bueno. So, that leads me to the hard cider side of life when looking for a beer-alternative.

This post is going to be all about Angry Orchard's offer, Hop'n Mad Apple.

Seeing the word mad made me hopeful that I could Hulk out and smash something, but this calms the inner beast. A tart hit like a granny smith, a little sweet like white grape juice, and a bit of bitter due to the hops. I think the only thing that would add to this would be an oaking, adding some vanilla tones. Perhaps that could be a warming fall variety of the brew? I for sure believe that this should be a long-term offering, with or without the vanilla. This will have a permanent spot in my fridge as long as it is made.

Pros: Decent flavor. Smooth, yet sharp, tongue tantalizing refreshment

Cons: Only being ultra-critical can I state that I would like to get some vanilla undertones.


Is there something I should try? Have a favorite cider? Let me know!

Keep on smashin', smashers.

Not Your Father's Root Beer - Review

I had high hopes for this alcoholic root beer. I mean, root beer, at 6%. Bottoms up! ...Right?

Well, kind of.

The root beer flavor that it has is decent. It's spicy and has pizzazz (can I still use that word?), but like the old-school root beer barrel candies it is way too sweet. You even get that artificial flavor aftertaste after it goes down. While that is great for nostalgia, my adult palate wants more. Think Virgil's Root Beer.

My input: make it half as sweet and it would be phenomenal! Due to its sweetness, the drink-ability factor goes down. After two bottles, my taste buds get sick of it and I start to get a twitch from the sugar rush. Not that having one is a bad thing, but hey, sometimes you want more. Am I right?

Pros: The vanilla flavor is good, and almost has a Madagascar vanilla bourbon hit. Spicy notes add depth.

Cons: Too sweet - increase the alcohol content (beefier yeast) or drop the sugar. Decreased drink-ability due to it being too sweet for my taste.

Note: After going to Small Town Brewery's website, I see that they showcase a 10% AND 19.5% beverage in the same vein (ale with spices). I would love to get my hands on that and compare the three. I would like to determine if the increased ABV knocks the sweetness down. The draft options sound tasty as well: chocolate porter and apple pie beer. If you make it out to Chicago, or live there now and want to give input, I'd love to hear it.

Peace out, suckas!