spot update: Cigar City Black ash at proof

This ones looks like its a peppery, unique black lagger, that is aged in black ash casks. Its a collaboration between cigar city and Max Lagers (an Atlanta brewery). Its ingredient list looks like it uses a lot of the same ingredients that you would get off of a black IPA, except fermented more like a lagger.

its high gravity lagger yeast should mean that its hop and wood character should shine through the most.

• Cigar city,
• black ash, abv unknown
• Style: black lager
• rating: ratebeer (unknown), beer advocate (unknown)

Their is not a lot of reviews, information, or background to this one atm. its very new and really as a result, is not very well known. the Reviews of it atm are pretty good, so I would suggest picking it up if your a huge fan of either Black IPA's (and want to try one in the form or a lager), or a a big Cigar city fan.
Get it while its still available!

Prost!

spot update: Woodchuck cellar series dry hop

This little gem was found at beerstop, and my god, is it a good cider. Of course, its title can be misleading. This beer has no bitterness whatsoever. Of course, anyone with any brewing knowledge would know this, since dry hopping adds absolutely NO bitterness to a brew.

Bitterness can only occur when hops are boiled in a process of isomerization, where the alfa and beta acids of hops become soluble to the liquid as a result of the heat. However, the boiling process vaporizes the sensitive hop oils and resins present on the hops, which is why late additions and dry hopping is used to enhance beer aroma and hop flavor.

This liquid is unique because it is a cider that has the aroma of a well hopped beer. I found it to be both a fantastic deal and a fantastic bottle of cider.

I honestly did not believe the price. 3 bucks a 22 oz bottle? Really? I had to ask the clerk to be sure. And had to buy a bottle when I left after looking around and adding some new material for the next beerstop brewlist update.

This cider does quite a lot. It finds a good balance between being too dry and being too sweet, coming off with a champagne like mouth-feel, but with a much sweeter taste (yet not approaching what i would call apple juice sweetness). The hop aromas also make for a very unique experience.

I suggest that you pick it up for new years, especially if your not a big fan of beer but are curious to seeing the positive effects of hop aroma and flavor.

ratebeer (84\100)
92\100. and for 3 bucks, their is no excuse.

La' Cheim!

Costco, the all or nothing gamble

Costco, the all or nothing gamble

Costco..............yea, this one varies a LOT from store to store (and from state to state). Some places actually have a good selection of very good brews at very, very good prices. For others, the best you can do in terms of beer is maybe bulk Newcastle or Guinness, if your lucky that is. In Tallahassee we tend to fall into the former category, and normally there is almost no reason to go to Costco if your beer hunting (for liquor however, there is a lot to like).

The one saving grace is that occasionally, on a blue moon, they have stocks of cheap Chimay Grand Reserve (blue) for sale. Right now is one of those times, and there is even picture evidence! Thanks Kyle!

A Diamond in the rough?

price is 9.99 a bottle. That's easily the best deal in town on the stuff.

So remember, if your going out to Costco to pick up some holiday supplies, pick up a bottle of Chimay as well. For as long as they still have it!

Prost!