Samuel Adams: Merry Mischief Gingerbread Stout, Batch No. 1

You know, it's funny how things work out. I've been wanting to return to News, Views, and Brews for quite some time. As I've said in previous posts, my absence from posting in this blog is not because I've stopped drinking beer. Quite the contrary, in fact. My last post was in February, and I had just started a new job; things were definitely looking up. Working a job, full-time, for 40 hours a week really does take a lot out of a man. My weekends were spent enjoying my beers and I neglected the blog for a bit. Transport to December: it's time to resurrect News, Views, and Brews.

With all of the social media out there these days, many of my beer pictures have found their way to Instagram. It takes less time to share them that way, and if somebody truly cares what a beer is like, they know how to get into contact with me. I have since realized how unsatisfactory this logic is, so my return has arrived. There will be many more additions to NVaB in the coming weeks and months; keep your eyes peeled and your taste buds ready!

Now, the beer. This brew pours, as expected, a deep brown. I would like to say black, but I can tell that it is not entirely black when held to light. As I move the beer to and from the light, the aromas coming off of it are amazing. Just as the bottle says, this guy is an aromatic spice bomb. Ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon are figuratively flowing over the lip of the goblet. I smell the clove as well, but it is most definitely not as predominant as the others.  A cappuccino-colored head leaves minimal lacing as it falls down the glass. Going off of aroma and visuals, I'm very excited to give this beer a shot.

Keep in mind, I'm drinking this a bit cold. I feel this beer, as with most stouts, will be much more complex as it warms up. While cold, I get nutmeg, anise, and even some dark fruit (no lie, even almost a hint of raspberry or blackberry) flavors on the front that merges into a spicy, cinnamony, slightly bitter finish. Roasted maltiness mixing with all the spices really presents a great beer-drinking experience.

This is the type of beer I refer to as a sleeper. No, it's not a Sleeper Agent Cylon like Boomer. What I mean by this is that it's relatively high in ABV and does not taste like it. Where is the booze flavor in this beer? It is well-hidden and ready to strike. It'll sneak up on you quickly, especially those lacking in some sort of adequate alcohol tolerance. The brew ranks in a 9.0% ABV, so enjoy it responsibly. The gingerbread man on the label wasn't responsible, and look what happened to him!

I like this a lot Boston Beer Company. I feel that winter ales, especially warmer style ales like this stout, have a well-deserved niche in the holiday booze market. Properly channeling this with a great beer is something every brewery attempts to do. Some are successful, some are not. I truly expected nothing less with all of the history under the belt of Samuel Adams. Go out and find it. Give it a shot. If you like stouts, or winter ales, get your hands on one. Damn, it's good to be back.

Epic Brewing Company: Brainless on Peaches

As I prepare myself for Inland Empire Brewing Company's Third Anniversary tomorrow, I figured I'd have a delicious brew to wind down after a busy, yet very positive, week. As I visited my friend Stan at my local bottle shop, I saw three brews from Epic Brewing Company that I'd never seen before. In fact, I hadn't even heard that brewery's name until I saw the bottles. I was immediately drawn to them and I had to purchase two of them. Naturally, this is one of the recent purchases. It had a tag hanging on the neck saying this beer won a silver medal at the GABF (Great American Beer Festival) in 2011. That was enough to sell me.

The beer pours a delicious-looking apricot color. Minimal lacing around the glass with a frothy egg-white head, the brew is quite pretty to be honest. The aromas on the nose are Belgian candied sugar, oak, and definitely peachy fruitiness. Obviously the bottle says all of these things, but that is truthfully what the nose consists of. Maybe some chamomile, but overall it smells fruity. Upon tasting, it's actually somewhat bitter on the front of the tongue; however this is immediately countered with a very oaky flavor (delicious). The finish is fruity, dry, and somewhat bitter. Not a hoppy bitterness though. More like a canned peach flavor. Overall I think this is a really good fruit beer. Notice I did not mention booze or alcohol in any part of the description. I cannot even pick out that flavor, or "hotness" in the throat, in this brew at all. Ladies and Gents, be warned! Ranking in at 10.7%, this is a monster that hides its booze very well.

Epic Brewing Company, you have earned yourself another fan today. Time to search out everything I can find from you. Folks, I would highly suggest you do the same. I really do not think you will regret it. Salt Lake City, it's about time you start making, no pun intended, epic beers. This is definitely one of them. Well done, Epic B.C.

Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project: Hedgerow Bitter

Oh, Pretty Things! Personally, I have become quite the fan of Pretty Things. The first time I had one of their beers was at Stone Bistro and Gardens. I was there with some friends, and I discovered that they specifically preferred saisons over any other style of brew. I quickly gathered the bottle list and picked a saison for us all to try. It was Pretty Things' Jack D'Or. I had no idea it was their staple brew, but nevertheless, all four of us enjoyed it greatly. One thing I like about this brewery is their sticker over the bottle cap. A minute detail, yes, yet I still love finding that sticker on every bottle of Pretty Things I pick up. Here's why: it difereciates their bottles from any other bottle on the shelf. Their artistic labels may blend in with other labels if you aren't looking carefully. However, you know it's a Pretty Things bottle by looking at the neck and top of the bottle. You will find the teal band with red flowers and the Pretty Things shield on top.

Now that I've effectively shown my appreciation for the "Beer and Ale Project" myself, it's time to get to the beer. The beer pours a golden light amber color with about an inch of head, with decent head retention on the glass. The aromas present are slightly spicy with hints of clove and yeasty fruit (similar to that presented in aromas from a Belgian yeast strain). I don't get much hop character in the aroma.

The flavor is dead on, as it reminds me of an English style bitter pub ale (and yes I know that is what these brewers are going for). I would say that this beer "tastes as it smells," but I feel that doesn't effectively describe it because of the minuscule bitter aspect of the beer! The bitter dryness presented in these types of beers is nothing like the West Coast hoppy bitterness that breweries don't let us forget out here. It's nice to have something different, while still classic, from Massachusetts. Additionally, though, as you progress in drinking the beer the bitterness seems to fade away as the tongue gets used to it. It still lingers in the aftertaste, but it's not as predominant as it was upon first tasting the brew.

Go get some of their brews if you can find them. They're worth it in my regard. I like it, Pretty Things. I have three more of your beers to enjoy soon. I'm most looking forward to "Our Finest Regards," as barley wine-styled ales are quite the favorite of mine. Folks, I'm spending my Thursday evening enjoying Pretty Things; I hope you are spending your Thursday in similar fashion.