Perfect Summer Saison

Dear Green Flash Brewing Co.:

This beer rocks.  It is absolutely perfect.  Please make more and send it directly to my house.  On ice.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
    Me.

Summer Saison (4.5% ABV)
Green Flash Brewing Company
San Diego, CA

Suburban happy hour....fail

With two kids and a puppy, we still try to get out of the house like we used to.  Friday night was one of those nights where we were trying to get out and enjoy Happy Hour like normal people but a tragic string of events kept crapping on our plans.  First, our establishment of choice was out of business.  The curse of suburbia.  Second, the backup plan was packed and they lied about their wait time.  Who does this when 4 adults and 4 small children show up at their restaurant?  Don't you people know that when you say 20 minutes, we carefully weigh if the kids can wait 30 minutes before getting a morsel of food in their fingers?  Even though you make the most delicious chicken and bacon-laced waffles in suburban America, 40 minutes without an end in sight was enough to make me want to boycott you for a while.  And I will.

So anyway, we ordered takeout from somewhere else and decided to do some bomber tasting back at the Casa de Beer.  First up, the Anniversary Ale [3rd] from Port Brewing Company. 

Anniversary Ale (10% ABV)
Port Brewing Company
San Marcos, California

Wow, great first choice.  This beer is strong....and it tastes strong.  On their website, the Brewer describes it as "the taste is a thick, chewy hop presence only barely contained by balancing malts. The finish is pure hop expression with a moderate warming alcohol sensation."  If by warming sensation you mean giant buzz, then yes, you are correct all around.  I give it 4 stars because although the flavor was good, it was just a bit much (heavy, both on the booze scale and flavor scale) for me.  But if you like strong beers, you'll probably like this one.

2nd Annual International IPA Day

August 2: International India Pale Ale (IPA) Day was founded in 2011 by Ashley Routson and Ryan Ross.  They set out to start a movement desiged to unite the voices of craft beer enthusiasts, bloggers, and brewers using social media.  Their goal was to pick a day, August 2, and give breweries, bloggers, businesses and consumers the chance to connect and share their love of one specific type of craft beer.

Ok, whatever. 

For me, IPA day is just another reason I should drink a beer after work.  Maybe it will be an IPA and maybe it won't be.  Regardless of if it is an IPA or not, it will be a good beer, that is for sure.

After a 60-minute hellacious workout at bootcamp on Thursday night, I went out for a beer with my bootcamp partner in crime.  Our beer of choice?  90 Shilling from Odell.  Solid.  But I knew that the Husband had selected an IPA to share with me when I got home.

His selection?  The Brutal IPA from Rogue Ales in Oregon.  Previously bottled as the "Brutal Bitter Ale" and also sometimes bottled as "Portland State IPA" (2010). When I first smelled this after pouring it into my glass, I was scared.  It smelled like something I would very much hate. 

Brutal IPA (5.8% ABV)
Rogue Ales
Newport, Oregon

However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the severely hoppy smell didn't hold a candle to the taste.  It was hoppy alright, but it wasn't nearly as hoppy as it smelled.  It wasn't so hoppy that you would only want to order one of them.  4 stars.

Oh, and Gus gave this beer 2 paws up after sneezing 5 times but before passing out in his kennel.

Summertime in Arizona

I think this just about sums it up...

Fat Tire Amber Ale
New Belgium Brewing Co.
Fort Collins, Colorado