Hop on the Beer Bus - Tasting I

Hop on the Beer Bus

Beer Tasting Group

Session 1 - 1/20/16

A semi-serious group of overly lucky beer nerds get together to indulge in neck-beardery (aka - being overly critical of the best beers available at the time of tasting).  We're located just outside Worcester, MA and will have guest appearances of locals throughout or tour of the world's best beers.

Cheers!!!

Attendees:

Kevincredible

Firestone Walker Chris

dolomite

Billy Bang Bus

Lineup for the tasting (in order of consumption / reviewing):

Brewkettle White Rajah (2016)

IPA - 

6.8%

North Royalton, Ohio (yeah baby!)

 Overall:  Delightfully sharp hops flavors with pine and dark stone fruit lingering in the background.  Dry resinous pine finish which keeps you coming back for more.  

A personal favorite of mine and worth the effort to land a sixer from the Buckeye State.  A strong 91 out of 100.  Excellent!

Treehouse Good Morning (2015)

Imperial Oatmeal Stout with Maple and Coffee 

8.4%

Monson, MA

Overview:  As you can see from the tag, it's almost two months old in the growler.  Could have fooled us.  Strong notes of sticky maple and rich earthy coffee.  Full mouthfeel which leads you to believe it's a barrel aged monster stout.  Not sure this would even benefit from barrel aging.  Notes of vanilla and chocolate fudge emerge as it warms.  A true winter delight as it warms the cockles of the heart.

Get your mules lined up for the next release - worth the extra wait.

****Best in Show**** (98 out of 100 - Classic)

Freemont Kentucky Dark Star w/ Coffee Added (2015)

Imperial Stout w/ coffee added aged in Bourbon Barrels

14.5%

Seattle, Washington

Overview:  A delicious Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout that stands up to the monumental beer before it.  The coffee is rich, earthy and lightly sweet.  This was a pleasant surprise delivery heavy full flavors of chocolate, coffee, bourbon and a luscious velvety vanilla finish.  Excellent balance and truly decadent.

I feel confident rating this as a 95 (Classic).  Excellent balance for such a large stout.  Hides the 14.5 well but it's a full flavored Imperial Stout.

Goose Island Bourbon Country Proprietor's Stout (2015)

Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels with Pecans, Maple Syrup and Roasted Chili Peppers

14.2%

Chicago, Illinois

Overview:  An odd leathery aroma with smoky chocolate notes.  An odd one for sure but certainly not awful or 'sickeningly sweet' like reviews have stated.  I don't feel aging will benefit this beer in any way.  Peppers and maple syrup (of the golden Grade A variety - not the Dark Dark Amber of the Good Morning).  Nobody at the tasting table could get any pecans out of the beer - which would have been nice to add some lightly salted roasted pecans to offset the maple / roasted pepper flavors.  Oddly the roasted pepper added an almost pumpkin-like essence which was enjoyable.

My notes from untappd:

Rich fudge with sweet barrel notes. Definitive vegetal nose which fades. Sweet brown sugar and bourbon. Solid but not balanced.

This beer would have excelled with some salted roasted pecans - still a good barrel aged adjunct stout 87 out of 100.

Slumbrew Yankee Swap (2014)

Imperial Stout aged in Turkey Shore Distilleries rum barrels

12%
Somerville, Massachusetts

Overview:  This beer looks outstanding when poured.  Dark brown with red highlights.  Light skim of carbonation on top is attractive.  Beer is nearly a one trick pony with a sugar-cane-rich Rum barrel smash to the teeth.  It's tasty for sure but after a few sips it gets a bit old.  Can't imagine drinking the entire bomber myself but I could have been convinced as I'm a bourbon nut (think Havana Club 8).

Untappd Notes:

Sweet Panela sugar or cane sugar on the nose. Raw sugar and oak barrel flavors. Good stuff. Thanks Chris!

Rating:  This one would have benefited from a heavier body.  Again, the 12% was well hidden behind the sweet rum notes.  Would have billed this as an imperial Rum Barrel Aged brown ale.  86 out of 100.

The Bruery Chocolate Rain (2015)

Black Tuesday with Vanilla Bean & Cocoa Nibs. 

18.2%

Placentia, California

Overview - As with Grey Monday and Mocha Wednesday, Chocolate Rain delivers waves of chocolate fudge, raisins and semi-sweet chocolate.  Served at around cellar temp, this beer really excelled as it warmed from there.  Enticing nose of bourbon and rum barrels (could have been sensory overload at that point).  Long velvety finish.  This beer officially made me a Bruery fan.  Looking forward to opening my Cuivre now!

Rating:  This beer would have taken down most competition.  Nearly flawless execution brings me to rate this as a Classic 97 out of 100.