USA USA USA USA USA USA!!!!!!!!

I.........................................................................
I BELIEVE................................................................
I BELIEVE THAT.............................................................
I BELIEVE THAT WE...............................................................
I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!!!!!!!I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!!!!!!!!I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!!!!!!!!!I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!!!!!!!!

USA Scotland kicks off in my living room at approximately 7:07 pm.  Clark D and I decided to do some blogging and watch the USA demolish the plaid skirts of Scotland.  Screw the bagpipes, screw the scotch. Give me Stan the Man's harmonica and some beer.

That being said, since we are playing the absolute whitest team in the world, Clark picked up a bottle of white ale.  Cathedral Square in the house!

On to the blog!

Brewery: Cathedral Square
Beer Name: White Ale
Beer Style: White Ale
Price: $3.99 for a pint at Schnucks

Appearance:  Light in color but surprisingly cloudy; not clear at all.  A very unfrothy head and no lacing on the glass.

Aroma:  A very light Belgium skunkiness.  Clark says we should be sitting in a windmill in the Netherlands or something.  Not sure what that has to do with the smell but hey; it sounds OK.

Mouthfeel:  Not much happening; just a little wet bis about it.  Not very bitter or very sweet.  Just kind of sits there and hangs out waiting to be swallowed.

Taste:  Clark says a Belgium taste with a sour finish.  It is somewhat yeasty which leads to the sour taste.  I don't get much Belgium but I do get the sour.  Especially after you swallow.  Clark wants to know how the Scots will survive the sun in Qatar in 2024.  I'm thinking SPF 500 will be a start.

Overall Rating:  Clark says a 2.5 based on the Belgium taste.  He is not a huge fan of the home of Marouine Fellaini.  I'm giving it a 3.  Drinkable but not much there.  Probably a nice summer beer if you are looking for more than Bud Light.

Not a bad start but we are getting ready for a heavy hitter:

Brewery:  Sam Adams
Beer Name:  Sam Adams Dark Depths Baltic IPA
Beer Style: IPA
Price: $5.89 at Schnucks

Appearance:  Black.  Nice head and lacing.  A dark, dark beer.  It looks absolutely non-IPA like.  Not at all.  Can't get past the overpowering aroma of skunky malt.

Aroma:  I skipped to this because this beer may be the smelliest beer I have ever seen (or smelled actually). It smells like the exhaust from a semi with a bad catalytic converter.  Knock you over and hit your head on the concrete smell.  WOW!  Dooley has smelled his about 14 times since cracking it open.  I'm smelling a little black licorice more then anything.  Clark says cough syrup.  Speaking of porn stars; has anyone seen Sasha Klejtian lately?  Holy pipe fitters!  He has the look.  All he needs is a tool belt and a plaid shirt with cutoff sleeves.  I AM HERE TO FIX YOUR CABLE MA'AM.

Mouthfeel:  Clark says it has a decent feel to it, not too heavy not too light. It is probably the best part of drinking this beer.  I say sort of tingly and smelly.

Taste:  Clark says that the heavy malt and black licorice taste will survive for a few days after drinking this beer. His tastebuds will definitely be compromised for days to come.  I'm thinking this beer is the most un IPAish IPA ever brewed.  I can't taste a hop; much less anything resembling a beer besides malt.  This may be the weirdest beer ever.  I'm thinking the taste isn't bad unlike the asphalt smell.

Overall Rating:  Clark gives this his lowest rating of the beer blog so far. .75.  Tn his rating is the same as we give Omar Gonzalez's scrunchy.  Not his best day at the hair dresser.  As for the rating, I'm going a solid 1.0. Probably the worst beer I've ever drank besides the obvious; Coors Lite, Miller Lite, Keystone Ice, etc.

Luckily, I have two bottles of chocolate stout in the fridge...

Brewer: Rogue (one of my favorite brewers- never had a bad beverage from them- pretty excited)
Beer:  Chocolate Stout
Style:  Chocolate Stout
Price:  $5.99 at Friar Tucks

Appearance:  Dark brown, think Sade; not Halle Berry.  Rather clear; slight lacing on the glass.

Aroma:  In my best Homer Simpson voice, "Ummmmmmm, chocolate."  Clark says cocoa.  Whatever you want to call it, it is chocolate.

Mouthfeel:  Not much happening here again.  Somewhat boring.  Clark says a slight fizz but nothing too interesting.

Taste:   Ummm, pretty yummy but not as good as I was expecting.  Definitely a chocolaty start but a weird, metallic aftertaste.  I'm not sure about it.  We are striking out tonight.  Clark says it tastes better now that's warmed up a bit.  Not sure that's a real good thing.  Either its growing on me or my taste buds are dulling.

Overall rating:  I'm going a solid 3.5 with the chance to rise up to a 4 or so if I buy another bottle.  Clark goes a 4.  Pretty good but not the best chocolate beer I've had recently.  Clark says a very good winter beer.  Anything is good compared to the last beer from the Baltics.

New Blog! Smaltz Brewing Company Reunion Ale 13! & Bonus beer!!!!

After the Cards left us in a state of depression, we have two things to live for:

BLUES HOCKEY and THEBIGWALLABOWSKI!!!!

We have both tonight as the Blues are skating in Florida and I have a big bottle of Reunion Ale 13 from the Smaltz Brewing Company:

Speaking of the Blues, they just scored.  Derek Roy on the backhand.  Nicely played.  Landon dressed up as TJ Oshie for Halloween.  Landon lay actually look a little older then Oshie though.  Damn this beer is good.  I'm on a beer roll at the moment.  Let the ratings begin!

Brewer:  Shmaltz Brewing Company and Terrapin Brewing Co, from Athens, GA. http://www.shmaltzbrewing.com/
Beer Name:  Reunion Ale '13
Beer Style: Ale with Cocoa Nibs, Vanilla, Cinnamon, and Coffee
Price: $4.99 at Friar Tucks (if memory serves correctly)

Aroma:  Smells chocolaty.  Seriously, almost like bitter cocoa puffs or just a can of cocoa.  I like it but it is strong.  Makes me think I should pour this in a bowl of milk and have toast and a glass of juice ready to go.

Mouthfeel:  Not much happening with the feel.  Rather flat but acceptable.  No detectable fizz or bubbles at all.

Appearance:  Not super dark but definitely leaning that way.  Slightly murky with a reddish tint when held to the light.  It does pour beautifully though.  A nice thick head and plenty of lacing on the glass.

Taste:  Delicious.  Like cocoa puffs.  Delicious beer cocoa puffs.  3 nothing Blues.  Stewart and Petrangelo scored in the second period.  Dooley just joined the blog party and he says he is getting a strong cinnamon taste with a hint of coffee.  The only thing we don't taste is the vanilla.  It is a complex beer with plenty of flavor and tastes.

Overall Rating:  John says 2.5.  He didn't care for it.  He likes to keep his coffee (Sanka) and beer (Coors Light) separate.  I wholeheartedly disagree and think this beer was wonderful provided you like chocolate or cocoa or whatever.  The cinnamon and coffee are secondary tastes that make it a complex, flavor-filled joyride of beverage heaven.

Dooley just showed up with a bottle of the same beer I reviewed on Monday.  This is shaping up to be a good, good night.  PLAYER of the MONTH Alex Steen just scored.  4 nothing Blues.  Florida is not very good.

We are going to drink the new bottle John brought and review the blog that I posted Monday.  Look for additions to that one including highlights of the Blues third period from five days in the future.  (I'm psychic).


OOOOOHHHHHH.  Round two bonus blog material tonight.  Its getting crazy in here.  We are going to do a bonus bottle with a new blogger, Tony my neighbor.  He showed up with another bottle from a local brewer:  Cathedral Square Holy Moly! Imperial Stout.  I poured it and it had just a slight bit of head on it:

Aroma:  Foamy.

Mouthfeel:  Foamy.

Appearance:  Extra Foamy.

Tatse:  Foamy.

Overall Rating:  Foamy.

Seriously.  Here we go.

Brewer:  Cathedral Square Brewery, St, Louis, MO http://www.cathedralsquarebrewery.com/
Beer Name:  Holy Moly Imperial Stout
Beer Style: Imperial Stout
Price:  $5.79 at Dierbergs (foam not included)

Aroma:  Whooaaa! Not a summer beer says Tony.  Slightly whiskeyish.  And by slightly, I mean a shot in the face.  Holy moly!  This is some string stuff.  Foamy says John.  I think it smells like a sour raisin or a prune. Tony says it smells pungent.

Mouthfeel:  Strong alcohol taste.  Mouth tingles from the oncoming numbness.  Tony says he is not buying this again.  John says a strong feel from the get go.

Appearance:  Dark and nothing to see through at all.  A true stout.  Dark and lovely.

Taste:  As far as Imperial Stouts go, this isn't bad.  The whiskey aftertaste is strong but not overpowering.  John says stongly malted.  Tony says it tastes like an irish coffee; really black irish coffee.  Strong coffee with whiskey aftertastes.

Overall rating:  Clark just pulled out a "as soon as it touches your lips."  He says foam and alcohol.  Clark gives it a 3.0.  He likes the foam.  Tony gives it a 3 also.  I'm going a 3.5 as it is not bad for an imperial stout. Not my favorite style and I would throw up if I had to drink the entire bottle, but it isn't that bad.  I didn't

PS:  Tony says his Dos Equis tastes like water.  Clark is switching to actual water (Coors Light) in a minute.

Game 5 Beer Blog!

Note:  Blue typing was added five days later when John Dooley brought another bottle up and we reeveluated this one.

World Series Game Five! What better way to watch then with a new beer and a new blog?  So far, not so good.  Fourth inning and we are down 1-0.  Double play for the Cards.  Out of the inning.  Wainwright looks good but Lester looks really good again.  Maybe Wano should use a pound of goop in their glove as well.  I hear you get a better grip when you combine rosin, stickum' and superglue.  If you see Jon Lester, ask him.

On to the beer and the bottom of the fourth.

Brewer: 4 Hands Brewing Company.
Beer Name: Cast Iron Oatmeal Brown
Beer Style: Brown Ale
Price: $4.99 for a pint bottle at Friar Tuck's.

IT'S A HOLLIDAY!!!!!!!!!  Home run!!!!!!  Tie game in the fifth!!!!!!!!  Cue the Madonna 80's jam!  Lets celebrate!!

Ummm, a nice long drink after that blast!  AND BELTRAN flies out to the wall.  Shit.  Thought we went back to back.  Come on Yadi...  Not happening this inning.

On to the rating:
Appearance:  Ummm, dark brown with a reddish tint.  Clear enough to see light through but barely.  Not cloudy at all; just dark.  A perfect pour with a great head and lacing.  Looks delicious in the glass.

Aroma:  You can smell the chocolate in this ale.  Think bitter chocolate; not sweet.  A little alcohol undertone as well.  Definitely a real beer in the glass.  It smells good.

Mouthfeel:  Very crisp; smooth feel in the mouth.  Tingly and light but still substantial.

Crap.  Boston has two on and one out.  We need a DP with Lester the stickum molester at the plate.  0 and 2.  He might be the worst bunter ever.  Maybe he just needs more pine tar.  Sweet K for Wainwright! Jacoby Dingleberry is up.  2 on, 2 out.  Come on Wano...

Taste:  This is the first beer I have tried from 4 Hands.  1 and 2.  COME ON WANO!!!  YES!  Tackleberry struck out!!!  Still 1-1.  Back to the beer, this is the first beer from 4 Hands for me.  It is excellent.  Think a smooth brown ale with a heaping of bitter chocolate on top.  Complex yet very smooth from start to finish.  It is definitely more bitter then the average brown ale but it works with the chocolate flavor accompanying the bitterness.  This is an excellent alternative for people who like chocolate but would prefer something lighter then a stout.  This beer is really good.  John says this tastes like a brown ale to start with with plenty of chocolate at the end.  Which is good.

Overall Rating:  4.5 out of 5.  I'm going to have to buy another bottle and retry this.  I may be improving the rating.  Truthfully, I'm not sure why I'm taking a half point off.  Maybe just slightly too bitter but I'm really being picky.  SIDENOTE:  I swear to God I'm going to jam that stupid helmet on Jonny Gomes' head if he doesn't stop waggling it around for 10 seconds between pitches.  Has there ever been a more annoying pre-pitch ritual then Johnny Gomes head massage?  HAHA, he struck out!  1,2,3 Pedroia, Ortiz, and Jonny rubbing his Domes.  We need to pick up a couple of runs and put this one to bed.  I like having to win one of two in Boston with Wacha and Kelly against Lackey and Peavy.  Back to the beer, if you like chocolate at all, try this beer.  It is delicious.  I absolutely agree with my rating from Monday.  This beer is delicious.  Dooley likes this one as well.  He is throwing out a 4.25 for this one.  I am thinking this is a solid 4.5 with a legitimate chance to move up.  I'm going to have to head down to 4 Hands and have lunch over XMas break for sure.  By the way, I like beer.  I'm going to crack a new bottle and go ahead and get a little crunk up in herr.  I'll add the new beer to the blog for Friday with the Smaltz Reunion Beer.  

I'm going to post this as I am assuming the Cardinals will win.  If we don't, I don't want to type about it anyway.

By the way, I love Matt Carpenter.  I nicknamed him MC because he gets the party started.  Can't call him Carp obviously.  Going MC.

Until next time (Wednesday most likely- I have two more bottles of 4 Hands plus a bunch of others in the Fridge.  Viva La Friar Tucks!!!

GO CARDINALS!!!!

Return of the beerblog!  Bringing back John D. to guest rate some oatmeal stout!  From St. Louis go to brewery Schlafly no less!  Enough with the exclamation points.

We have a live GnR concert in the background.  Ritz Carlton in 1988.  They are rockin' it.  And Axl doesn't give an f-bomb.

And off to the rating:

Brewer:  Schlafly
Beer Name:  Oatmeal Stout
Beet Style:  Ditto
Price: $7.99/ six pack

APPEARANCE:  As the picture shows, this beer is slightly darker then average.  If the average is pitch black with the shades drawn on a moonless night twelve miles underground.  It looks slightly syrupy during the pour.  All in all, it looks like a stout.

AROMA:  Black licorice with a hint of coffee.  Black, freshly ground coffee.  And LOTS of licorice.  Think black licorice ropes from the skating rink.  3 foot ropes swizzle-sticked in your beer.  Use those babys as straws and you are getting close.

MOUTHFEEL:  Fizzy at the end; definitely a mouth-full.  Tingly on the back of the tongue.  And I can no longer spell or type.  The spellchecker just gave out so beware.

TASTE:  John and I think they left the oatmeal out and replaced it with a triple pack of Good N Plentys.  This beer is licorice with a whole lot of coffee in the background.  The malt is slightly present as well.  If you like a good, dark beer this will be right up your alley.  John says it tastes like it has been smoked on a slab of beef ribs for the last 8 hours.  I think it is a little too bitter for my taste.  I like a stout with flavor; not just bitterness and this one seems to fall just a little bit short.  I would prefer something other then Folgers flavored Twizzlers.  Axl just said he doesn't give a f-bomb either.  

OVERALL RATING:  John is giving it a 3.5.  He says not his favorite stout or dark beer but it is drinkable (especially since I brought it over).  I am going 2.5.  Its not bad but it has too little flavor for me.