547. AleSmith Brewing – Old Numbskull Barley Wine Ale
I’ve heard a lot of great things about AleSmith beers, and really wanted to try them, but we haven’t been able to get them here in central Illinois. Fortunately, my friend David, who lives out in San Diego was willing to send me a couple of them. If you live in the San Diego area and need a photographer, please give him a shout – davereedphotography.com. So, as I sit here and watch my Missouri Tigers on TV, I decided...
440. Green Flash Brewing – Imperial India Pale Ale
I’m at our monthly homebrew club meeting at Fat Jack’s in Bloomington, IL, and I was looking for something I haven’t had yet. I’ve had a few Green Flash beers, and they’ve generally been pretty good. So, I didn’t feel like I was going out on a limb to try this big hoppy beer from this brewery. According to the brewery, “San Diego IPA, as it has come to be known by many, is pale in color,...
406. Green Flash Brewing – Double Stout Black Ale
As you can see by my last few posts, my friend Joe and I have been out in St. Louis, hitting Perennial Artisan Ales earlier this evening. After enjoying their Vermilion and Abraxas, we headed back to Joe’s place, where he cracked open a Deschutes Black Butte Porter. It wasn’t quite time to call it a night, so Joe dug into his celler and pulled this one out. Location: Poured from the bottle into a pint glass, at my friend...
363. Green Flash Brewing – Hop Head Red Ale
I’m still at Bruegala beer festival in Bloomington, IL, and I’ve taken the opportunity to try a few new beers. This is one I’ve had before, but didn’t get a chance to review it. Ever since I got a recommendation on Twitter from@Lauren_BILLYves – who as it turns out, is Lauren Hinkley, the daughter of Green Flash Brewing founders Mike and Lisa Hinkley, I’ve tried several of their beers, including...
293. Stone Brewing – Double Bastard Ale Draft
After everything that has been going on, I really needed a night out. Fortunately, I found out that a local distributor had picked up Stone Brewing and we would now be able to get it in our area. A local bar, Fat Jack’s, was having a “tap takeover” (like they did with Goose Island a couple months ago) with several Stone beers. I had several of their beers when a friend from San Diego shipped me a few last year,...
276. Ballast Point – Sculpin IPA India Pale Ale Draft
Tonight I’m at Fat Jack’s for our monthly steering meeting for the ABNormal Brewers. I like that they usually have some different beers on tap, and tonight was no exception. I felt like something hoppy, so I decided to go for one of the only IPAs on the list. Numbers: 7% ABV, 70 IBUs Appearance & Aroma: It was slightly hazy and golden-straw colored. It had a very thick, creamy, bright-white head on it, which left...
263. Stone – Stone IPA India Pale Ale
As I mentioned a few months ago, a friend from San Diego mailed me three Stone beers for my challenge (Thanks again David!). This one was hiding in the back of the beer fridge, because I was really looking forward to it. I wanted to make sure it would be enjoyed at a time when I could really savor it. Especially after having the Ruination, I was excited to get a chance to try this one. Numbers: 6.9% ABV, 70 IBUs Appearance &...
262. Green Flash Brewing – Le Freak Ale
I announce each of my posts on Twitter (@1KBeers), and recently got a suggestion via Twitter from @Lauren_BILLYves – who as it turns out, is Lauren Hinkley, the daughter of Green Flash Brewing founders Mike and Lisa Hinkley. Obviously, she suggested I try a brew from Green Flash Brewing, and specifically, Le Freak. The bottle says, “Extreme ale converging San Diego-style imperial pale ale and Belgian-style...
248. Stone – Ruination IPA India Pale Ale
As I mentioned a few months back, a friend of mine sent me several Stone beers from San Diego. I’ve really been looking forward to these, but unfortunately, they got caught in the back of the beer fridge, so I thought it was time to break them out. I won’t list what the entire back of the bottle says (I posted it in the photo below), but here’s a little piece, “Stone Ruination IPA. So called because of the...
7. Ballast Point – Calico Amber Ale
San Diego’s Ballast Point Brewing Company Calico Amber Ale carries a Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal logo from 2001. It says “it is brewed in the American Amber style. Full bodied and aromatic, it is brewed with six malts for a deep red color and full flavor.”. It also indicates it was a Gold Medal Winner at the World Beer Cup in 2002. As you can tell by the photo, it was over-carbonated, but on the bright...
