Sunday Beer Blog

This Sunday’s offering is from Black Plague Brewing. The imperial milk stout, Medusa, is brewed with coconut, maple syrup, and cacao nibs.

Medusa

It’s dark in color, pours with little head, and clings to the glass. It smells sweet with no particular ingredient aroma overwhelming the senses. The mouthfeel is very light and moderately effervescent for an ABV of 8%, and chocolate and coconut are the stars of the first sip.

Overall, I shared this 16oz can with Derek and I was happy I did. It drank like a dessert beer so more would have been too much for me. This beer was a nice part of my La Bodega beer club, but I don’t think I’ll purchase it in the future.

Black Plague Medusa
Dark & Dessert-y

Brewery: Black Plague Brewing

ABV: 8%

Purchase Location: La Bodega

Sunday Beer Blog

Today’s offering is 49th State’s Dia De Los Moles. It’s a mole inspired stout with notes of chocolate, cinnamon, spices, and chile.

49th Sate’s Dia De Los Moles
Dia De Los Moles

I was excited for this one and not disappointed. It’s dark, but not heavy, and has a smooth mouthfeel. I can’t say I’m hit with all the suggested notes but I’m preferring that. There are a lot of extremely flavorful stouts out there right now, and while I’ve enjoyed many it’s refreshing to sip on a subtle and delicious take.

I feel it is important to add a disclaimer: I’m obsessed by chile in beer and keep searching for all heat and zero flavor. This has a gentle heat to it that I definitely appreciate. I suggest getting one while you can.

Brewery: 49th State Brewing

Purchase Location: La Bodega

Name: Dia De Los Moles

Style: Stout

ABV: 6.8%

IBU: 36

Sunday Beer Blog: Must Kuld Porter

La Bodega gifted us with a beer from Estonia this month. Estonia! If you’re like me, here’s a map to paint a clear picture.

Map
Estonia

What I found more interesting was Chris Pilkington of Scotland’s Brewdog joined the Põhjala team. The creative collaborations are going to be endless.

Black Gold
“Black Gold”

The beer itself was dark brown and opaque. The scent was fruit and molasses. The mouthfeel was surprisingly light and the first taste was also surprisingly syrupy. The second tasting gave me a more complete picture. The malt comes in and balances the sweet. Cocoa and coffee flavors abound, but lean toward a bitter finish.

Black Gold

I think this was a beer which would have been better after a sturdy meal. Even the bottle says to enjoy “as a dessert at the end of a decadent meal”. I feel that if given enough food flavor, this porter would cut through and finish the evening quite nicely.

Brewer: Põhjala

Style: Porter

ABV: 7.8%

Purchase Location: La Bodega

Sunday Beer Blog: Tastes Like Space

Belching Beaver has been impressing me for a while now so I was excited to try Tastes Like Space when Derek brought it home. (Gifts like this keep a marriage happy.)

Tastes Like Space

TLS is a stout with caramel flavor and cocoa nibs added. The pour provided a rich dark color and decent head that dissipated quickly, and it had a delicious chocolate scent. The first sip was sweet at the front and a bit bitter at the finish. Not bitter in a bad way, just in a well-rounded way. I’d venture to say the initial taste is caramel and the finish is nib.

Tastes Like Space

The can reads “store cold drink fresh”, but we enjoyed this brew at room temperature. I think it really let the caramel and chocolate notes shine through.

We are big fans of Sam Smith’s Organic Chocolate Stout. This one is very similar. I can’t wait to try mixing it with a Cherry Lambic. (If you haven’t tried this, do so now. Thank me later.)

Sláinte!

Brewer: Belching Beaver Brewery

Style: Stout

ABV: 5.3%

Purchase Location: La Bodega

Sunday Beer Blog: Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout

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I am an unabashed word-nerd, so when I saw this brew on tap it was lurve! I point this out because it’s important for you to know, dear reader, that there is zero chance this post is unbiased. This beer could have been the worst. It could have been a delicate combination of flavors such as rotten eggplant and earwax, and I would still have nothing but glowing things to report.

“If you love those yummy Harry Potter jelly beans, you’ll love this!”

“Who hasn’t wondered what old eggplant tastes like blended?”

“Smoooooooooth.”

With that warning done, this brew was quite good. (Trust me.) It pours a night-black with foggy clarity. Initial sniffs return with yeast and sweetness. Rogue describes Shakespeare as a “mellow chocolate stout” created with “free range coastal water”. I include the first descriptor because it’s aligned with my thoughts. I include the second because it made me laugh out loud. I’m Alaskan. I read “free range coastal water” and I think moose pee. Indelicate, I know, but the absolute truth. See how I would like this beer no matter what?

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This stout was smooth, dark chocolate in view, and milk chocolate in taste. It was very easy to drink and fit the winter weather perfectly. I was surprised by the carbonation level- higher than most stouts. The only possible negative I have is it did have a slightly bitter aftertaste that lingered.

I know I would usually have a comment from my husband included that would give you another opinion, but my drinking buddy was Chowder. (He insisted I drink it all by myself. He’s a very thoughtful chihuahua.) Instead, I leave you with wise words from the bard:

10. Macbeth: Act 2, Scene 3

Drink sir, is a great provoker of three things….nose painting, sleep and urine. Lechery, sir, it provokes, and unprovokes; it provokes the desire but takes away the performance. -Shakespeare

Beer Name: Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout

Beer Style: Stout

Brewer: Rogue

State: Oregon

ABV: 5.8%

Purchased: Anchorage Wine House