Gotlandsdricka

I've been chiming in about this beer on Facebook and Twitter for the last couple of weeks, so i figured it was time to actually do a blog on the stuff.  Gotlandsdricka translates roughly to "Drink of the Good Land," and comes to us courtesy of central Texas brewery Jester King.  Aside from having one of the most awesome and creepiest bottle labels to ever grace a craft brew, the beer is pretty damn tasty too.  A farmhouse ale, the beer is brewed with rye, juniper, smoked malt, and birchwood.  It's got a light sour flavor to it and feels like it would go great paired with variety of cheeses.  Definitely worth your time, if anything just to feel like a Viking for a little while.

Visit the brewer.

Brother Thelonious Belgian Style Abbey Ale

Always a fan of Belgian style beers, i was happy to try Brother Thelonious from North Coast Brewing.  Aside from the awesome association with jazz pianist Thelonious Monk, the brewer donates money to the Monk Institute of Jazz in support of Jazz education for every bottle sold...and the beer is pretty damn good too.  Dark, sweet, and strong, the brew drinks very smoothly with heavy caramel malts and some light hops. Like most abbey ales, this one is pretty rich, but it is ridiculously easy to drink one after the other.  Watch out though, as the 9.4% ABV can always pack a punch.  Something good finally came out of California.  Hayo!

Visit the brewer.

And, as a bonus, enjoy an old performance of "Epistrophy" below.

Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout

Although here in central Texas, our weather has been all over the map lately (25 degree low on Wednesday and a 72 degree high today), i'm giving myself over to my usual ilk of winter beers, that is to say, porters and stouts will be filling my belly for the upcoming months.  That being said, Colorado's Great Divide Brewing Co. has just thing soothe my craving for heavier libations, their delicious Yeti Imperial Stout.  The brew is dark, with a nice frothy head that dissipates quickly, but carries the aroma and flavor of cocoa or dark chocolate along with coffee and roasted malts.  The Yeti has a creamy taste with blends of the aforementioned chocolate and coffee, as well as some hints of toffee and caramel.  The sweetness combines well with the hops giving it a smooth and rich feel and taste.  And it's no slacker in the alcohol department either (9.5% ABV).  All in all, the beer is an excellent stout.  Kudos to the kids at Great Divide.

Visit the brewer.

Avery Samael's Oak Aged Ale

Now this is what i've been waiting for.  The good peeps and brew masters over at Avery Brewing Co. in Colorado have unleashed a series of "Demon Ales" upon an unsuspecting populace of beer drinkers.  And so we have Samael's Oak Aged Ale.  To start, this thing is over 15% ABV, so it packs a punch.  Taste wise, the first thing that hits the palette is a ton of caramel, followed by some hints of vanilla.  The malts take control of this beer, putting the hops in the backseat.  It's sweet, but not too sweet, as there seem to be some bittering agents in the mix to make the beer more complete.  All in all, it's a pretty tasty brew...and not to be trifled with.  The aroma is oak and pure alcohol.  It almost smells like caramel and scotch, and i wholeheartedly approve of that.

Visit the brewer.