Justintoxicated. - Vancouver, BC

~'cause life is too short to drink the same thing twice~
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Brooklyn Black Ops - Brooklyn Brewery, 10.7% ABV, (Brooklyn, NY) On the back label: “Brooklyn Black Ops does not exist. However, if it did exist, it would be a robust stout concocted by the Brooklyn brewing team under cover of secrecy and hidden from everyone else at the brewery. Supposedly ‘Black Ops’ was aged for for months in bourbon barrels, bottled flat, and re-fermented with Champagne yeast, creating big chocolate and coffee flavors with a rich underpinning of vanilla-like oak notes. They say there are only 1,000 cases. We have no idea what they’re talking about” My Rating: A Why I like it: extremely nice balance of alcohol and flavour Where I got it: Legacy Liquor How much: $27 (after 10%), 1 pint 9.4 fl.oz., Winter 2011 Do I love this enough to drink it again: YES Would I recommend this to beer afficianados: YES Tasting notes: pours coffee black, minimal head, layered retention, barely visible slow-moving CO2 streams. Big roasted coffee and alcohol on the nose. Huge chocolate and roasted coffee up front, high depth in the mids, fades into caramel and oaked vanilla. Controlled 5/10 level-sweetness, subdued alcohol presence, creamy mouthfeel and crisp and mildly bitter finish. Med-High complexity, high depth, great carry, great transitions, fabulous drinkability. Super smooth for 10.7% ABV and great flavour to boot; so glad I picked up 2 bottles.

Brooklyn Black Ops - Brooklyn Brewery, 10.7% ABV, (Brooklyn, NY)

On the back label:

“Brooklyn Black Ops does not exist. However, if it did exist, it would be a robust stout concocted by the Brooklyn brewing team under cover of secrecy and hidden from everyone else at the brewery. Supposedly ‘Black Ops’ was aged for for months in bourbon barrels, bottled flat, and re-fermented with Champagne yeast, creating big chocolate and coffee flavors with a rich underpinning of vanilla-like oak notes. They say there are only 1,000 cases. We have no idea what they’re talking about”

  • My Rating: A
  • Why I like it: extremely nice balance of alcohol and flavour
  • Where I got it: Legacy Liquor
  • How much: $27 (after 10%), 1 pint 9.4 fl.oz., Winter 2011
  • Do I love this enough to drink it again: YES
  • Would I recommend this to beer afficianados: YES

Tasting notes: pours coffee black, minimal head, layered retention, barely visible slow-moving CO2 streams. Big roasted coffee and alcohol on the nose. Huge chocolate and roasted coffee up front, high depth in the mids, fades into caramel and oaked vanilla. Controlled 5/10 level-sweetness, subdued alcohol presence, creamy mouthfeel and crisp and mildly bitter finish. Med-High complexity, high depth, great carry, great transitions, fabulous drinkability. Super smooth for 10.7% ABV and great flavour to boot; so glad I picked up 2 bottles.

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Old Rasputin XII (12th Anniversary) - North Coast Brewing, 11.2% ABV, (Fort Bragg, CA, USA) From ratebeer.com: “Seems hard to believe that we’ve been making Old Rasputin for 10 years now, but that’s what’s happened. And, to celebrate the occasion, we’ve brewed a special small batch that’s been aged for 9 months in some 12 year-old bourbon barrels. It’s bottled in 500 ml bottles with a cork and wired finish and a special commemorative label —— and it’s amazing. The depth, intensity and complexity of the flavor profile make it a worthy tribute to this fine beer.” My Notes: My Rating: A Why I like it: Rich, deep, smooth, creamy Where I got it: Brewery Creek (?), 2011 How much: $24, 16.9 fl.oz. Do I love this enough to drink it again: Yes Would I recommend this to beer afficianados: Yes Tasting Notes: pours plasma TV black, small head, nano CO2 foam, ringed retention, sticky lacing. Light coffee malts on the nose. Delightfully creamy at the start, medium thick viscosity, mild & gentle roasted coffee throughout, 5/10 sweetness, transitions beautifully into a soft bitter chocolaty finish. Notes of vanilla, almond, and cherries. High complexity, med-high length, fabulous transitions, high depth, long length. Almost perfect but a bit of ethyl alcohol detection at the 2/3 mark; probably can’t be helped but still detracts from the tasting experience. Be careful with this one, 1/2 bottle through and it is on.

Old Rasputin XII (12th Anniversary) - North Coast Brewing, 11.2% ABV, (Fort Bragg, CA, USA)

From ratebeer.com:

“Seems hard to believe that we’ve been making Old Rasputin for 10 years now, but that’s what’s happened. And, to celebrate the occasion, we’ve brewed a special small batch that’s been aged for 9 months in some 12 year-old bourbon barrels. It’s bottled in 500 ml bottles with a cork and wired finish and a special commemorative label —— and it’s amazing. The depth, intensity and complexity of the flavor profile make it a worthy tribute to this fine beer.”

My Notes:

  • My Rating: A
  • Why I like it: Rich, deep, smooth, creamy
  • Where I got it: Brewery Creek (?), 2011
  • How much: $24, 16.9 fl.oz.
  • Do I love this enough to drink it again: Yes
  • Would I recommend this to beer afficianados: Yes

Tasting Notes: pours plasma TV black, small head, nano CO2 foam, ringed retention, sticky lacing. Light coffee malts on the nose. Delightfully creamy at the start, medium thick viscosity, mild & gentle roasted coffee throughout, 5/10 sweetness, transitions beautifully into a soft bitter chocolaty finish. Notes of vanilla, almond, and cherries. High complexity, med-high length, fabulous transitions, high depth, long length. Almost perfect but a bit of ethyl alcohol detection at the 2/3 mark; probably can’t be helped but still detracts from the tasting experience. Be careful with this one, 1/2 bottle through and it is on.

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George Hornsby’s Hard Ciders, (Modesto, California) 1) Amber Draft (Traditional & Dry) 6% ABV My Rating: B Why I might like it: smooth Who I recommend it to: those who don’t like the taste of alcohol Where I got it: W.16th How much: $19 for 6pack, Oct 2011 Tasting Notes: pours darker amber than the crisp apple (see photo), small quickly dissipating head, runny lacing. Smells of 100% filtered Sun-Rype apple juice on the nose. Taste is very clean apple juice with a minor alcohol bitterness in the backdrop. Finishes smooth, off-dry, tart and induces salivation. Carbonation is soft, controlled and crisp. Low-medium in complexity but makes up for it in drinkability and balance. It becomes more bitter as it looses its chill. 2) Crisp Apple (Golden & Smooth), 5.5% ABV My Rating: B+ Why I might like it: tastes just like apple juice Who I recommend it to: those who don’t like the taste of alcohol Where I got it: W.16th How much: $19 for 6pack, Oct 2011 Tasting Notes (Nov 14/2011): pours a lighter shade of yellow, minimal head, minimal lacing. Same as above, lots of red apple on the nose and is very inviting. Taste is more of like biting into an unprocessed spartan/ambrosia red apple. Sweet, crisp, minor woodiness, and a slight sour tart and tangy bitter finish. More complex than the amber draft and more enjoyable.

George Hornsby’s Hard Ciders, (Modesto, California)

1) Amber Draft (Traditional & Dry) 6% ABV

  • My Rating: B
  • Why I might like it: smooth
  • Who I recommend it to: those who don’t like the taste of alcohol
  • Where I got it: W.16th
  • How much: $19 for 6pack, Oct 2011

Tasting Notes: pours darker amber than the crisp apple (see photo), small quickly dissipating head, runny lacing. Smells of 100% filtered Sun-Rype apple juice on the nose. Taste is very clean apple juice with a minor alcohol bitterness in the backdrop. Finishes smooth, off-dry, tart and induces salivation. Carbonation is soft, controlled and crisp. Low-medium in complexity but makes up for it in drinkability and balance. It becomes more bitter as it looses its chill.

2) Crisp Apple (Golden & Smooth), 5.5% ABV

  • My Rating: B+
  • Why I might like it: tastes just like apple juice
  • Who I recommend it to: those who don’t like the taste of alcohol
  • Where I got it: W.16th
  • How much: $19 for 6pack, Oct 2011

Tasting Notes (Nov 14/2011): pours a lighter shade of yellow, minimal head, minimal lacing. Same as above, lots of red apple on the nose and is very inviting. Taste is more of like biting into an unprocessed spartan/ambrosia red apple. Sweet, crisp, minor woodiness, and a slight sour tart and tangy bitter finish. More complex than the amber draft and more enjoyable.

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Burton Baton - Dogfish Head, 10% ABV, (Milton, Delaware) On the side: “This special ale is a two-thread blend of young & wood-aged imperial i.p.a. Please share it with loved ones and hoard it from the non-believers.” My Rating: B+ Why I might like it: smooth creaminess that I find rare in IPAs Who I recommend it to: Bold bitter beer drinkers Where I got it: W.16th How much: <$20 for 4pack, Summer 2011 Tasting Notes: pours light nut brown, small lasting head, micro CO2, very sticky lacing. Toasted toffee malts on the nose, very inviting. Burst of of orange citrus fruity malts, 4/10 sweet creamy spiced cinnamon/nutmeg notes, a hint of smokiness mixed in the sharp long dry biting bitter finish typical of IPAs. Great balance, med-high complexity, long length, high depth. Excellent mix of sweet, bitter, fruity, spices, hops, and malts - and an incognito 10% ABV to boot.

Burton Baton - Dogfish Head, 10% ABV, (Milton, Delaware)

On the side:

“This special ale is a two-thread blend of young & wood-aged imperial i.p.a. Please share it with loved ones and hoard it from the non-believers.”

  • My Rating: B+
  • Why I might like it: smooth creaminess that I find rare in IPAs
  • Who I recommend it to: Bold bitter beer drinkers
  • Where I got it: W.16th
  • How much: <$20 for 4pack, Summer 2011

Tasting Notes: pours light nut brown, small lasting head, micro CO2, very sticky lacing. Toasted toffee malts on the nose, very inviting. Burst of of orange citrus fruity malts, 4/10 sweet creamy spiced cinnamon/nutmeg notes, a hint of smokiness mixed in the sharp long dry biting bitter finish typical of IPAs. Great balance, med-high complexity, long length, high depth. Excellent mix of sweet, bitter, fruity, spices, hops, and malts - and an incognito 10% ABV to boot.

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