It’s weirdly cloudy outside, but it hasn’t gotten any cooler. Do gray skies give me an excuse for a dark beer? You bet! And this one is a northern one, so maybe fitting. If we got a good rain, which we won’t, it might evoke some seafaring fantasies. Or forests, dark and foreboding. Actually, that sounds a little more like Laugar, threatening images on the label, and what we have today is Lervig. Not only that, but there’s something light and silly about a three bean stout. You can only imagine the symphony later.
It doesn’t look especially thick as a liquid, but the head certainly has a whipped-up appearance. It’s a very dark beige and only diminishes slowly. More than any kind of beans, I’m getting cinnamon from the aroma, with a touch of gingerbread. It’s thick, smooth and rich on the tongue, liquid gingerbread in fact. Is there vanilla and cacao? Vanilla for sure, cacao probably, but I can’t identify tonka as a distinct flavor. When I have had it, in stouts, it’s been more of a variety of cacao than something uniquely its own. The whole blend is very Christmasy, and it’s too bad I didn’t pull this out for Beermas. Well, maybe I can make an exception with repeats. It is almost a whole dessert in itself, I think any kind of baked good or pastry would just be too much. A nice simple ice cream might be ok, even something like strawberry. It does calm you right down, almost giving you a gauzy curtain to shield yourself from reality, and I expect it has to do with the strength. But for the life of me I can’t find the ABV on the can. It does seem to recommend splitting this little 330ml can into several servings, though. Should have been a warning.
Hoo boy, it’s really summer now! Not my favorite season, really, even though I am blessed with A/C at the moment. Maybe it’s my aversion to beaches that turns me off of the season. Also, the dearth of dark beers in the past. This year there are a few more stouts around than other years, which certainly warms my heart, and you’ve already seen some evidence of my enjoyment. This is the last one from La Mundial, a Lervig Imperial Stout with a name that makes me thing there ought to be a story – Konrad’s Stout. Can’t find a story in a quick Google search, but maybe that’s a Google problem. We’re having more and more of those.
Beer float worthy head, thick and bubbly, and a little nest of tiny bubbles at the bottom. It’s slightly cakey in aroma, but only a mild whiff. It smells fresh and bready, almost perky. Tastewise, it is a full-fledged stout, bitter and toasty warm. It warns of coffee or licorice, but doesn’t quite go there, staying strong in its stouty identity. It doesn’t quite feel as strong as its 10%, but it definitely has presence. It’s also fairly clean going down, not a whole lot of afterfeel, although there is a little bit of film on the back of the tongue reminding you that you have had a drink. In a way it’s good, since you don’t have the desire to just chug the thing. As usual, it might be too heavy for some given the weather, but I have no problems sitting in a shady place and enjoying a fine northern stout.
Number two stout from my last foraging, Basqueland’s Seven Minute Siesta. It sounds more like some kind of IPA than the Imperial Pastry Stout is claims to be, but we’ll see if there isn’t a surprise in the can. It might be that an 11% beer is just the thing to knock you out for seven minutes. This is part of their 10th anniversary series, one of the two stouts in a sextet of other ales, including a black IPA. For some reason, it seems to me like Basqueland ought to be even older than 10, but we must remember that the 2010s was the high point of establishment of Spanish craft beer. 2015 is a solid year to be born. Actually, it’s my nephew’s birth year too, so it must have been a year for crazy creative things to come into the world.
Again, very appetizing going into the glass, with a very fluffy mocha colored head and more tiny bubbles than I was expecting. As the head dies back I take a whiff of a cakey, fruity, chocolate syrupy beer. It has the aroma of the best kind of pastry stout, the one that has sweetness but isn’t a sugar bomb. A deeper sniff brings up some toasty maltiness too. The mouthfeel is surprisingly thick, much more robust than I thought it was going to be. The sweetness is well-balanced, strong but not overwhelming. It’s something akin to dark chocolate, doing away with the bitterness of stouts without drowning the flavor in lactose or sucrose. While filling, it was not very sticky at first, although there is some build-up in the mouth over time. It doesn’t leave much of an aftertaste, just the sensation of having your tongue varnished. And not shitty cheap stuff either, high-class celebratory shine for the ages. Happy birthday to you, Basqueland, may you keep your quality and your market for decades to come.
I had quite the selection before me at La Mundial. I feel sorry for Lorien, who seemingly happily brought down all the examples of stout from the shelves and dug a few out of the fridge too. I guess it’s his job and all, but there were people coming and going and it has to be a distraction to have a bunch of beer all lined up on the counter, waiting to go back to their proper places of display. Anyway, I did see a few that looked like they should not be passed up. Although it’s part of the ethos to do your best to consume locally, I just had the urge to be international this time. I did of course buy a national beer, but the one I have now came from Scotland. It’s Vault City’s Mini Mars. This “stellar” stout is certainly going to be more of a dessert than a meal, or even than just a snack. It might be mini, but these things have a way of punching above their weight, if they’re any good that is.
Powerfully pastry aroma, with the vanilla giving it a touch of cola. There is a good head – for about 5 seconds and then it dissipates, also cola-like. It’s still a good, dark brown color, though. There’s also the chocolate and caramel notes that you would expect from its namesake. Although it flows easily and doesn’t look like a thick beer, it definitely has a heavy feel. The caramel is dominant in the first sip and leaves a stouty bitter aftertaste. There’s a feeling of consuming something burned or at least caramelized, something that almost tastes like it should be crispy. It leaves a little tickle on the tongue, again harking back to the cola with its fizz, but is otherwise smooth. Even the “burned” taste is not very abrasive. Although thick and mouthfilling, it’s a slippery and easy beer for drinking. It is probably fortunate that it isn’t especially alcoholic, although the impression is one of a much stronger beer. It’s a beer that shoots for the stars, and at least for me, it’s out of this world.
In spite of, well, everything, there’s nothing like a stout to calm your nerves. And sometimes it’s nice to have a stronger one than normal, one with a little more oomph. If it happens to have a cool label too, so much the better. It was both the label and the name that pulled my hand right to Abduction in Be Hoppy’s fridge; pink rainbow unicorns can’t be ignored and above the name? Double fudge barrel aged. Fall on your knees, this is now your god. Lo, it has descended from the heavens. I would call the aliens on the lest hand side of the can Simpsonsesque, although that’s probably only because of the cyclops look. The two-eyed one on the right reminds me more of Toejam and Earl. I wonder of the people at Pipeworks have those influences in their pasts. They are from Chicago, so it’s certainly possible.
It’s promising in the pour, looking thick and sleek, and oh my god it’s as chocolately and liquory as you would ever want in a beer. I tasted even before sniffing, and there’s a good layer of graham cracker in the aroma, but the same notes of the flavor are present. Every piece of the style description comes out, with a slightly bitter stout entrance, a long cocoa road and a sweet bourbon tail-end. It develops kind of a tang as you drink and leaves a syrupy coating on the glass. At some point, the wood of the barrels starts making an appearance and you think the whole can might have been a bad bet to make. Eyes bigger than your stomach, as it were. It’s delicious, but definitely heavy. It’s a little strong in alcohol and in nature to be an accompanying drink, to a dessert or anything else, but it’s certainly a course of its own.
Yes, it’s still summer. Just the damn beginning, in fact, and it already feels like it’s been summer for years. I had my nod to most people’s summer preferences last week, so now it’s time for my tastes to come back – stout! And not just a stout, imperial stout. And not just imperial stout, but chocolate! And coconut. Coconut is also good. It was really the name that called to me, though. How could I not pay attention to something called Hokey Religion? From Emperor’s Brewery, no less. Welcome to the dark side!
Black, black, black, and while fizzy, not much head accumulates. The adjuncts are evident from a whiff; I’m getting a good amount of marzipan. Flavorwise, it has more liquor than simple stout. There’s a wine-y tang, a slight whiskey burn, and not a whole lot of sweetness, actually. The beer has body and soul, very mouthfilling yet drinkable. At its 12.6% it does pack a punch right away, so not one you really want to indulge in on an empty stomach. It smooths out with some time, though, getting even easier and more dangerous to drink. These days are not for savoring this kind of beer right on the street, unfortunately, but hidden away in a little cave and lurking in the shadows feels just right for this brew. I don’t know if I could stand wearing a hood, though.
What kind of German film watcher am I, without German beers for my weekend? Not to worry, I’ll have a couple on Sunday. For tonight, it’s a strong imperial stout, to go with bittersweet feelings about film festivals. This is not the first time I’ve picked up a Pyrene, and I seem to recall being impressed. This Black Boots is also a collaboration with Pink Boots Brew, named for the women’s society looking out for them in the industry. Maybe I should have had this one in March…
Yep, yep, new towel
It is a very proud pouring beer, with quite a thick head. It does kind of deflate like a cocoa soufflé, though. There’s a very breakfast cereal-y aroma, with chocolate, but also a savory breadiness, so toast is definitely present and maybe a little bit of sausage? The flavor starts out with a somewhat cold dark chocolate whisper, but then something green floats up out of the abyss. It tastes like a health drink pretending to be a shake or something. It doesn’t taste so much like an old beer as a beer that hasn’t quite settled yet, but it could still be that it’s older than it should be. And has been dragged around out of refrigeration more than necessary. I’m not enamored of the sprouting flowers flavor, that also starts to develop a little sourdough aftertaste, but it’s not the worst beer I’ve ever had. It’s not even the worst one I’ve had this month. But maybe I really should have had it in March.
I had heard about a newish beer store down by Mercado de Embajadores, a good thing since La Buena Pinta has decided to be purely a bar, much like The Beer Garden, so I took some time to check it out. I actually missed them in their first place, which was supposed to be extremely small, even more than little Oldenburg of years ago. Hidden Beers now has some room to sit and stretch out with a beer or two. I had a nice conversation with the proprietor about dark beers, especially porters. Turns out he’s a big fan of traditional English porters; dark beer lovers unite! While I didn’t indulge in the porter side, I was guided to some powerful stouts and went away with Mexicake. It’s another example of those Mexican chocolate stouts, that often have a little kick to them, a nod to the gastronomy. Weirdly, most of those stouts come from the UK, at least the ones that make it to Spain. This is in fact one of those, from Tempest Brewing of Scotland.
Oh, what a glorious pouring, black and thick-looking, sliding silently into the glass. Not a lot of head, just some beige lace on top of the glass. The aroma is interesting. It’s sweet, but also has a natural feel to it, not like extra help has been added to boost the scents. My first impression is malt, but there is a kind of apple deep down and naturally a little chocolate on top. The taste is sweeter, but not overwhelmingly so. It has a good balance of the ingredients, with some breadiness for good measure, and really only the suggestion of chilli (or chile as they insist). For some that would be a disappointment, but I don’t really need my beer to be all that spicy. I can also pick out the hot chocolate drink flavors, with cinnamon and vanilla lurking somewhere in the taste. For the most part, it’s a very smooth beer, in spite of the chilli prickle, and one that I would have summer or winter.
It’s Beermad number ten, and more populated than the last time, from the very beginning. It wasn’t that much of a line, not like years ago, but last year I was the only one at the gate until practically opening time. There were about 20 people hanging out patiently this year, even as opening time came and went and the gate remained shut. They got us in pretty quickly once things were worked out inside, whatever it was that had to be done; people are pretty used to what is expected by now. It’s only 11(:15) and I’m already feeling thirsty, so I set off to get my first drink and take a look around.
There are quite a few new names this year, along with some old familiar friends, so I’m feeling hopeful. As usual, I want to start off strong with a nice stout/porter. Not far from the entrance I found Japi, beer from Cantabria, and a new one for me. Fortunately, they have a black beer, simply called Japi Negra, which I happily accept as my first of the day.
Kinda looks like an Ozzy Man more than a … Cantiman
It has a good look, dark brown, fluffy beige-ish head, and with kind of an oaty stout aroma. Maybe a little malt-heavy, but that’s not bad for a dark beer. It hits a little malty on the tongue, and gives a heavy first impression, but it really is pretty slick drinking. It takes a bit for some bitterness to make an appearance, but eventually it does, from the back of the tongue, interestingly. As a relatively light stout, it’s a good beginning for me. Other times I dive in a little too fast, but this feels…sensible.
I do not remember that motto for Leiner
Now it’s time for something different, and I noticed quite a few different things on the signs. As usual, lots of IPAs, but also some fruity sours with less common fruit. I toss some plans around in my head as I head for another new name, Tensina. There’s a Little Cherry Sour waiting for me.
Incredible color, Kool-Aid worthy, bubbly but not much head, and not much aroma either. It does have a little bit of a cherry yogurt smell, maybe due to the lactose that they told me was in there. Although it looks fizzy, it’s very smooth feeling, not a single tickle on the tongue. The sour cherry flavor is there, but it’s hardly overpowering. It has a very dry feel, in fact. It seems like Kool-Aid with less sugar than normal, and a little watered down too. Well, the color is right anyway. That’s not necessarily bad, we need to have some subtle things to tune our palates to once in a while, to keep us on our toes. I’ve been awfully spoiled with strong flavors as of late.
Is Iris the brewer? Got distracted, didn’t ask
Now we get back to my preference, the dark beers. I saw Pohjala’s Chocolate Porter listed alongside some Lervig and others, and had to go back for that. I think I’ve probably had it either at Taproom or from the bottle, but there’s no harm in trying a new serving style and new environment.
As expected, it looks splendid with it’s color and head. It smells a little coasty, but it is a Baltic porter, after all. A second whiff gives me a hint of licorice. Dark chocolate taste, crumbly, slightly savory, a real mouthful. Licorice is enhanced by the Sachertorte, which is quite dry. Again, it’s not a kick you in the face kind of beer, it’s very mild, but the flavors that are there come right out without shame. I start to pick up a little porter plumminess after a while, adding something sweet on top. The bottom of the Sachertorte has some fruity, jammy surprises awaiting, which end up adding some moisture, but overall it is the porter that is carrying the weight of softening things up here. Not a bad combination at all.
Finally, one more tongue cleaning sour. There’s some mystery about the exact fruit in it, it might be cranberry, but probably raspberry. This is DAI Sour.
Big bubbles, but little head, suggestive if light aroma. It’s fuzzier than the cherry, but with more woodiness and confidence. It does have the essence of a cranberry drink with something sparkling added. A cranberry virgin cocktail, I guess. I am a little whistful for the days of tongue wresting brews that fight all the way down, but Anne Bonny here is no doubt a thirst quencher. Not a flavor bomb in any way, but definitely palatable, and not as dry as Little Cherry. It’s very much a drink, not a sensation.
And with that, my Beermad concludes. See you next year…
More stouts, gods in the heavens, give me more stouts! There are plenty to be had, from breweries known and unknown. This one in particular is a known one, Attik, although I haven’t had much experience with their stouts. White Delight sounds…a little suspicious based solely on the name, but seeing that it’s described as a pastry stout, flavored with coconut, almond and white chocolate, you can’t resist a taste. This is also one of La Mundial’s stock, having rested for a few cold months. Since it is a stout at 9.6%, it’s unlikely that much damage was done.
Soft and fuzzy pouring out, little head, just a little cap on top. It doesn’t explode with scent sensations, but the coconut makes a firm point of being noticed. Not much else comes through to the nose. There’s a natural feel to the coconut taste, very woody and scratchy. It’s sweetish, but not excessive. There seems to be a little vanilla lurking around, peeking out of trap doors or from the fronds of palm trees. Although full-flavored, the beer is not heavy or difficult, it goes down very smoothly and doesn’t have a lot of alcohol weight to it, despite being almost 10%. It has something of an ice-cream or fudgecicle feel to it, with a layered but clearly chocolate taste and smooth and cool texture. Since we’re coming close to summer now, with sun and temps and everything, it’s something to keep in mind. Especially since my beloved stouts seem to be having their moment in the sun. Or maybe more than a moment!
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