Saturday night.  Mizzou/ Tennessee.  John and I just got back from Friendship.  Had two Downtown Browns to start the evening.  Quite a fine start if you ask me.  We made it back just in time to see Drew Locke throw a pick six to tie the game at 7.  Beautiful.

On to the beer.  We are going to try a mash up that I had about 2 weeks ago and put on untappd.  Bear with me on this one.

Brewer:  4Hands/ Horny Goat
Beer Name:  Chocloate Milk Stout/ Salted Caramel Brown Ale
Beer Style:  Mash-up of the two- chocloate milk stout and brown ale
Price:  12 packs of the 4 hands are about $14 at Sams right now.  The brown ale was about $10 at Friar Tucks.

Aroma:  Touchdown MIZZOU!  John is going to have to do the aroma as I am getting over a 2 week sinus infection and haven't got my snoot back yet.  He says you can smell the chocolate and something else; maybe the caramel.  John says it smells very sweet.  The caramel is over-aromatic.

Appearance:  After mixing them, its a very dark brown.  Looks like a quality brown ale.  John says non-see through; unlike his SC United underwear. 

Mouthfeel:  Very smooth.  The ale lightens the milk stout quite a bit.  Not a whole lot going on here for the most part.  A little fizzy. 

Taste:  I did this a couple of weeks ago after I had drank quite a bit.  I thought it was good then and I am sure it is good now.  The sweetness of the ale has been tempered by the stout.  Its a very close to perfect mix.  The sweet caramel still overrides the taste but the bitterness of the chocolate tempers it quite a bit.  John and I think this would be even better if you mixed about 1/3 to 2/3 with the stout being heavier.  We think a hint of caramel versus the overriding taste would be better.

Overall rating:  That being said, I'm going a 4.5.  If you like caramel, this is like drinking 6% candy.  I mean pour this over ice cream and call it a caramel float.  I'm going to see if John has vanilla ice cream.  John rates it at a 4.0.  He is not as big of a caramel fan as I am so he says it is slightly overpowering.  I agree and we are going to retry this with a 1/3 to 2/3 mix.  Its still good though.  Just could be better.  John and I need to open a brewery.

Next Beer:  This is the beer Goose gave me for XMas last year.  It has been aging for 11+ months.

Brewer:  Maredsous Brewery; Belgium.  It is a division of Duvel. 
Beer Style:  Dubbel Ale
Beer Name:  Abbaye-Abdij
Price:  Not sure- Xmas present.

Aroma:  This beer is not lacking on aroma despite my somewhat stuffed up nose.  I'm getting Belgiuny fruit; prunes, plums, lemons, dates, raisins.  John says it has a very strong aroma; fruity as well.  Abby says caramel although we are sure that was left over from John's previous beer.

Appearance:  A medium brown and very clear.  I am surprised by the clarity and lack of floation devices in the beer.  No lifejackets or body parts or anything.  Nice lacing on the glass.  This is a well-made beer. 

Mouthfeel:  Slight burn on the way down (8% may explain that) John says its bubbly.  I think its very fizzy and light.  Typical belgiun ale.    John says tingly one the way down. 

Taste:  Wow.  This is fruity but delicious.  I mean delicious.  This may be the best Belgiun beer I've had.  I really like it.  John says a tart start to a nice, fruity finish.   

Overall rating:  I'm saying 4.0.  John Says 4.25.  We are both big fans.  Its very good.  If you like fruity, belgiun beer, this is the one for you.

Next Beer:  I am really looking forward to this one.  It is another flavored stout.  I am excited by this one.

Brewer:  Perennial Artisan Ales, St. Louis MO  http://www.perennialbeer.com/
Beer Style:  Stout- And I mean STOUT
Beer Name:  17 (Mint Chocolate Mint Stout)
Price:  This was about $16 for the big bottle at Friar Tucks.  It was expensive.  I have high hopes.

Aroma:  This beer smells like a stout.  Its a nose-crushing chocolate, coffeish, slightly minty express train that lights your nose on fire.  Did I mention this is 10% yet?  Its a not messing around beer.  John says minty/

Appearance:  Ummmm,  black.  And maybe a little darker.  The lacing on the glass is dark brown.  John says it looks like spurting out of the ground oil.

Mouthfeel:  Like Stephen King's "Firestarter" this beer burns.  For real.  Its STRONG.  Like STRONG.  And minty.  Both factors add up to the very heavy mouthfeel.

Taste:  John took one drink and I quote:  "I don't like it.  I don't like mint."  And I can see why.  It is quite minty.  Its more minty than I thought it would be.  I don't need to brush my teeth tonight.  Its really quite extraordinary.  I have never had a beer like this before.  John says MINTY.  As in Quaker State MINTY.  I say its not bad; just like an alien being that you determine is not really harmful not bad.  There's always a question mark in the back of your head.  Seriously, I admire the brewer for trying to do what they did.  I'm not sure it worked but it does exactly what it sets out to do.

Overall rating:  I say a solid 3.5.  Only because it completely accomplishes its goal.  I admire the audacity for tryintg this beer.  I am notrecommending you try this unless you REALLY like mint.  John says 1.75.  Obviously, he thinks the mint is too much.  He says the only redeeming factor is the chocolate taste in the background.

LAST BEER:  Thank you.  After I just danced in a half shirt, its time to call this a night.  But one more first:

Brewer:  Ommagang, NY.
Beer Style:  Belgiun Tripel
Beer Name:  Game of Thrones, Valor Doehaeris
Price:  About $10 at Friar Tucks

Aroma:  Its way less fruity then the one Goose got me.  It has a very pleasant fruit smell to it.  John says his nose is permantly ruined from the Mine Stout.

Appearance:  John says its missing the motor oil.  It is very light.  We may need to rethink our beer order for the next blog.  To be fair, I thought John picked the stout.  John says clear and golden.    It is opaque.  See through like John's SC United undies.  (Michelle said its a g-string but I cannot deny or confirm).  By the way, we are editing.  It is chunky as a bowl of mixed nuts.  Seriously, it looks like an asteroid field.

Mouthfeel:  Very light, John Says almost champaigney.  I agree.  Its a super light feel.

Taste:  A belgiuny, fruity beer.  Not bad.  Very light.  I am going to be hung over tomorrow.  9% is light at this point.  John says not overpowering.  John says he likes it.

Overall rating:  I say 3.5. John says 3.75.  As usual from Ommegang, It is a quality beer.