130, 131 and 132

Last Mug Challenge brunch.  It got a little sloppy.

Starting off with a nice red ale, Maudite.  Has a sour, tart smelling bouquet. Fizzy mouth-feel. Thin to no head after the pour.  Reddish, caramel color. 

Beer: Unibroue Maudite

ABV: 8%

Home: Chambly, Quebec

Birth: 1992

Slogan: "(damned)"

Going heavy with the Bigfoot barley-wine. BIG flavor, BIG bitterness.  This is a tough one for sure - good thing it's only a 12 ouncer. 

Beer: Sierra Nevada Bigfoot

ABV: 9.6%

Home: Chico, California

Birth: 1983

Slogan: ""

Finishing off sweet, too sweet. This apple brew is like fruity pop.  Has thick lacing.  Possibly the wine coolers great, great, great grandfather. 

Beer: Floris Apple

ABV: 3.6%

Home: Melle, Belgium

Birth: 1654

Slogan: ""

102, 103, 104.

It's been a lazy headache-riddled day, but starting off with the Aventinus Double Bock.  Hair of the dog ended up working in my favor.  This beer has a nice three finger head and a dark carmel color.  Has a nice clove, spice flavor and pillowy mouth feel.  Finish is a little too sweet for my preference, but definitely a lot of interesting dark fruit notes going on here.  This is the "oldest wheat doppelbock of Bavaria."

Beer: Schneider Weiss Aventinus Doppelbock

ABV: 8.2%

Home: Kelheim, Germany

Birth: 1907

Slogan: ""

Got to back it off a little... Grolsch.  This a clear, slim, even-headed lager.  Comes in a green bottle, so there's inevitably a little skunk aroma at first.  It's light and crisp.  I'll note this below, but this has been around since 1615!!

Beer: Grolsch Lager

ABV: 5%
Home: Enschede, Netherlands

Birth: 1615

Slogan: "Delicious, naturally aged beer"

Last minute decision on this third and last brew for the night.  It's been on tap for a while, and well, I've really got to take advantage of that when it happens.  The Baba, as in bah-bah black sheep or that's what I think of when I see this.  It's categorized as a black lager, but could almost pass for a stout.  Head is not quite white, not quite tan, and frothy.  A little smoky, not-so-sweet, biting bitter finish. It's also USDA Organic.  BAH!

Beer: Uinta Baba

ABV: 4%

Home: Salt Lake City, Utah

Birth: 1993-2012 (not sure)

Slogan: "Earth, wind and beer"

99 and 100!

The weather this weekend has been AWESOME!  Spent the day biking around Cambridge running random errands and just enjoying no schedule at all.  I realized that we should probably hit up Bukowski's since I only have two more to One Hundred!

First up, the apply Ephemere.  This breweries package is pretty and shiny to say the least.  The beer itself has a really nice, dry green apple flavor.  Has a thick light and fizzy head. Pours a cloudy orange, but clears up.  Really great session beer.

Beer: Unibroue Ephemere Apple White Ale
ABV: 5.5%
Home: Quebec, Canada
Birth: 2001
Slogan: ""














Drum roll.... Delirium Tremens!  Latin for "shaking frenzy" or the shakes associated with alcoholic withdrawal this is a great brew and again great packaging presented here.  I mean, the bottle is green, so it makes total sense to paint it and wrap it in foil, right?  The Belgian Strong Ale is a style that I'm learning I like more and more.  There is constant activity in this glass and I'm not referring to the pink elephants.  There is a small imperfection in bottom of this glass that creates a constant tornado of bubbles rising to the top - retains the three finger, foamy head nicely.  Tastes of sweet, fermented, pitted fruits.  The high ABV is masked... be careful.

Beer: Delirium Tremens
ABV: 8.5%
Home: Melle, Belgium
Birth: 1988
Slogan: "Welcome to the World of the Pink Elephant"

101.

Time for a barley wine.  Been putting it off for a long time, but this one is the bomber of the two on my list. The Hog Heaven would be a nice pint (or less). It has bitter hop notes and is very dry.  It has a thin head with light even lace through the session.  The second poor becomes more earthy, more bitter and little bit weird.  ABV is apparent toward the end.

 Beer: Avery Brewing Hog Heaven
ABV: 9.2%
Home: Boulder, Colorado
Birth: 1993-2004 (some where in there)
Slogan: "The Holy Trinity of Ales"

leviathan, smutty ipa, carlsberg, boston ale

It's National IPA Day!

Starting off strong with the Leviathan, aka sea monster from the Old Testament.  This is a high alcohol brew, but I think it's light in body.  Bitter with dark candied fruit flavors - also described with tropical fruit notes. Has almost no head after the initial pour.

Beer: Harpoon Leviathan Imperial IPA
ABV: 10%
Home: Boston, Massachusetts
Birth: 2008
Slogan: "Love beer. Love life. Harpoon."














And for the last IPA on my list... Smuttynose.  Honestly, this is not my favorite IPA, but I gotta drink it.  This is bitter all around. Really dry finish.  Thin head with even lacing.

Beer: Smuttynose "Finest Kind" IPA.
ABV: 6.9%
Home: Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Birth: ~2003
Slogan: ""















Now for a light one.  Carlsberg, is clear and crisp.  Golden in color and thin head. Not bad, but not much else going on here.

Beer: Carlsberg Pilsner
ABV: 5%
Home: Denmark
Birth: 1904
Slogan: "That calls for a Carlsberg"















On my card is the Sam Boston Lager, but the bar no longer carries it on tap.  So, they gave the me the Boston Ale.  My notes say, "coriander and cloves are fighting my mouth on a bed of maple leaves." This is #4, but that is a pretty clear explanation. More pubs should have this on tap!

Beer: Samuel Adams Boston Ale
ABV: 5.4%
Home: Boston, Massachusetts
Birth: 1988
Slogan: ""

47, 48 and 49

The Ruination ruined my pallet.  Holy hoppy start to finish.  Hard to drink this one.

Beer: Stone Ruination IPA
ABV: 7.7%
Home: Escondido, California
Birth: 2002
Slogan: "A liquid poem to the glory of the hop!"














Saison Dupont (cork pops)... I forgot to look up!  I always look up!  Smells skunky, but maybe its the green bottle.  Super smooth and refreshing.  Among the greats for the Saison/Farmhouse style. Would be great with red meat.

Beer: Saison Dupont
ABV: 6.5%
Home: Tourpes, Belgium
Birth: 1844
Slogan: ""















Time for a High Life.  Crushed field corn.  Bubbly, watery.  Good closer to the evening.

Beer: Miller High Life
ABV: 4.6%
Home: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Birth: 1903
Slogan: "The Champagne of beers"

43, 44, 45 (1/3 done), and 46

Starting tonight off with the Sinebrychoff Imperial Porter which is Finnish like our killer goalie, Rask!  This brew is very smoky, rich in carmel and coffee.  Pours black with light brown head.  Very nice.

Beer: Sinebrychoff Imperial Porter
ABV: 7.2%
Home: Kerava, Finland
Birth: ?
Slogan: ""















Next on the list is Orval.  Pours beautifully with a fluffy cloud of head, but is more bubbly or fizzy than creamy.  Little hoppy and crisp with a more sour finish.  Fun fact, this brew is only distributed through Washington state.

Beer: Orval Trappist Ale
ABV: 6.2%
Home: Viller-devant-Orval, Belgium
Birth: 1931
Slogan: ""















One of my less favorite lights, Sam Light.  Not much to say here. Just another light beer. Consistent bubbles maintains a light head with zero lacing.

Beer: Sam Adams Light
ABV: 4%
Home: Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts
Birth: ~1984
Slogan: "Never Say Never"















My fellow mug challengers' response to going for four, "OMG, I haven't seen that since B's Aunt J!" (Sorry potential readers, for the definitely necessary inside joke.)

Allagash White has a thin head that leaves thick lace. Smells distinctly Belgian.  I've always loved the haziness of this brew.  It's sweet, flavorful and a little bubblegummy.

Beer: Allagash White
ABV: 5%
Home: Portland, Maine
Birth: 1995
Slogan: ""















As we leave tonight the Goonies, Beavis and Butthead, and Indiana Jones are on the TVs. Sensory overload.

40, 41, and 42

This is a big, awesome Russian Imperial Stout.  Old Rasputin is roasty, chocolaty and a little hoppy.  Full bodied with a nice dry finish.  Creamy light brown head with extreme lacing.  It will sneak up on you.

Beer: North Coast Brewing's Old Rasputin
ABV: 9%
Home: Fort Bragg, California
Birth: ~1988
Slogan: "How hard it is to make and keep a good friend" - Joni Mitchell














The Cascazilla pour a deep orangish brown color.  Floral aroma, malty, a little spice and a fruity finish.  This is definitely an odd one for the books, but I think it's great.

Beer: Ithaca Beer Company's Cascazilla
ABV: 7%
Home: Ithaca, New York
Birth: 1997
Slogan: "Capturing the spirit of the Finger Lakes"














A beer that I've always seen around, but never really tried - Geary's Pale Ale is nutty and has sweet notes of toffee.  Lighter and crisp, but with a lot of flavor.  I'll definitely not shy away from this pale ale again.

Beer: D.L. Geary Brewing Co. Pale Ale
ABV: 4.5%
Home: Portland, Maine
Birth: ~1983
Slogan: ""

36, 37, 38, 39

Alright, so right about here I slacked off real bad on this whole blog thing.  So my post from here through July/August might be a little lame... unless I took good notes in my phone.  Also, this was a mug teammate's birthday and a redheaded slut shot made it in the mix here.

90 Minute! Smooth and hoppy like raisins and fruitcake.  Thin head that has good retention.

Beer: Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
ABV: 9%
Home: Milton, Delaware
Birth: 2001
Slogan: ""

Julius Dunkel. Dark caramel color. Cloudy, sweet raisin and dull banana flavors.  Very bready.

Beer: Julius Echter Hefe-Weissbeir Dunkel
ABV: 4.9%
Home: Wurzburg, Germany
Birth: ~1643
Slogan: ""

London Porter.  Large bubble head that dissipates quickly. I noted "swished coffee run off in mouth"... translates to coffee flavors and solid mouthfeel.  Also, dark chocolate.

Beer: Fullers London Porter
ABV: 5.4%
Home: Chiswick, London, United Kingdom
Birth: ~1845
Slogan: "Quality. Service. Pride."

Ballast Point. Light, bubbly lager. Good one to end on. This brewery also makes spirits.

Beer: Ballast Point Longfin Lager
ABV: 4.6%
Home: San Diego, California
Birth: 1996
Slogan: "Dedicated to the craft"

32, 33, 34 and 35

Whales Tale Pale Ale is good to start off with.  Smells a little malty. Thin, fizzy head, crisp and refreshing.  Great for the summer.

Beer: Cisco Brewers' Whales Tale Pale Ale
ABV: 5.6%
Home: Nantucket, Massachusetts
Birth: ~1992
Slogan: ""














Up next: Weihenstephaner.  Pours with nice thick, but light head.  Smells like spicy bananas.  Tastes the same, but finishes with some citrus.  Very smooth and light-bodied.  These monks have been doing good work for a long time.

Beer: Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier
ABV: 5.4%
Home: Freising, Germany
Birth: the year 725!
Slogan: "The world's oldest brewery"














Blanche de Bruxelles... this label makes everyone chuckle.  Look closer.  This is a really great Belgian white or Witbier.  Head is more foamy, light and retains well.  Orange citrus and peel are dominating.  Nice session beer.

Beer: Blanche de Bruxelles
ABV: 4.5%
Home: Rebecq-Quenast, Belgium
Birth: ~1989
Slogan: ""















The first beer that I learned to like that wasn't a standard college party beer, Blue Moon.  So much orange flavor here.  Fresh mouthfeel.  A solid wheat beer.  Their head brewer and founder has a PHD in brewing from Belgium!

Beer: Blue Moon Belgian White
ABV: 5.4%
Home: Golden, Colorado
Birth: 1995
Slogan: "Beer as Art."

30 and 31

Cambridge's first 90*F day of the year... I'm not sure I'm ready for it.  Bad things happen, like your beer getting warm and legs stick to chairs.

First beer tonight is Sierra Nevada.  I've learned that some people really like this beer, but I've just not been on that band wagon.  It's hoppy and that's about all I have to say.

Beer: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

ABV: 5.6%
Home: Chico, California

Birth: 1980

Slogan: ""

Vintage style can with gold writing. Tastes like MGD.  They should really do a blind test to see how many people can tell the difference.  

Beer: Carling Black Label Beer
ABV: 4.0%
Home: Canada (originally)
Birth: 1870s
Slogan: "Over a century of international brewing tradition"

28 and 29

Just another $2 Taco Tuesday :)

Up first tonight: Tetley's.  After pouring, this brew is fun to watch setup.  The head is thick and slow to form creating a monochromatic effect through glass. Just as the can says it's smooth.  This English Bitter style would make for a nice session (perhaps for when I have my 22 oz. mug) - has just the right amount of bitterness.  It might be an acquired taste as other reviews I've seen weren't the best.

Beer: Tetley's Smoothflow from Carlsberg
ABV: 3.6%
Home: Leeds, United Kingdom
Birth: 1822
Slogan: ""














Finally, a stout with an ABV to match its full bodiedness!  The head on this one is thick, dark and velvety... almost like chocolate mousse.  Coffee and chocolate are very apparent on the nose.  This beer is black - cannot get darker than this I'm pretty sure. VERY NICE!

Beer: Ipswich Oatmeal Stout
ABV: 7.0%
Home: Ipswich, Massachusetts
Birth: ~1991
Slogan: "Proudly brewed in Ipswich since 1991"

25, 26, 27

It's Memorial Day!  Going ALL-American!

Brew #25 is the Black hOPS.  This American Black Ale tastes almost stout-like, but has next to zero head and is relatively clear.  Chocolaty and roasted hops are very apparent. Creamy and full-bodied.  Sidenote, they have a brewers internship program!

Beer: Blue Hills Black Hops
ABV: 6.75%
Home: Canton, Massachusetts
Birth: ~1994
Slogan: "This microbrewery is dedicated to the art of brewing the finest beers using only choice, American grown, ingredients."












Back in Black!  The only beer that makes me think about AC/DC and Paul Revere.  Another American Black Ale - this one is more carmel and hops drop in for a bitter finish. Has a large bubble frothy head with medium lacing.  This can is awesome as well.

Beer: 21st Amendment, Back in Black
ABV: 6.8%
Home: San Francisco, California
Birth: ~2000
Slogan: "Celebrate the right to be original"














Last one for the day: Full Sail Amber.  This American Red Ale sits real pretty with me.  Nice copper color, thick head to start, leaves a thin lace ring.  Has a bready, citrus feel and finished with that floral hop that I love so much!  I've been to this beautiful brewery before - you must go too!

Beer: Full Sail Amber
ABV: 5.5%
Home: Hood River, Oregon
Birth: 1989
Slogan: "Specialists in the liquid refreshment arts since 1987"














It was a good day to be an American.

21, 22, 23, and 24.

My camera was exceptionally bad tonight, so I'm linking all these in case you want recognize any of them later...

It's hard to make out here, but the Celebrator comes with a complimentary billy goat ornament (which I will attach to my mug in a few months)!  This was not a beer that I've heard of before and certainly one of the reasons I love this challenge.  I'm going to say this will be in my top 5 post-mug-challenge re-order.  Nice dark creamy head, lacing marks each sip like rings on tree trunk.  Very chocolaty with some hints of darker fruit.   Popes love it!

Beer: Ayinger Celebrator Dopplebock
ABV: 6.7%
Home: Aying, Germany
Birth: ~1999
Slogan: ""















Flying Dog Old Scratch... what a name.  Head isn't thick, but has good staying time.  Very easy to drink session beer in my opinion.  Smells hoppy and citrus infused - way heavier than tastes, but crisp and refreshing with more citrus hops in the aftertaste.  The Flying Dog ranch up the mountain from Hunter S. Thompson... now their labels make more sense.

Beer: Flying Dog Old Scratch
ABV: 5.5%
Home: Frederick, Maryland
Birth: 1994
Slogan: "Good people drink good beer"














An old favorite and standby of mine, Bass.  Can't go wrong with this pale ale.  Moderate hop, bready, little bit of a sour aftertaste. Has a thick head that fades quickly.  A real meat and potatoes brew.  Serves as both your black and your tan.

Beer: Bass Pale Ale
ABV: 5.0%
Home: England
Birth: ~1889
Slogan: ""















Raspberry UFO... Just in time for summer.  The berries are certainly apparent in this New England favorite.  Head is thick, but resides quickly.  Bready to start, with fruity finish.  Sweet, unfiltered goodness.

Beer: Harpoon Raspberry Unfiltered Offering
ABV: 4.8%
Home: Boston, Massachusetts
Birth: 2006
Slogan: "Love Beer. Love Life. Harpoon"













We have a guest blogger tonight folks, stay tuned!

18, 19 and 20!

I absolutely love Oskar Blues' cans and the head on this beer.  Starting off with the Old Chub tonight.  This great big scotch ale makes me wonder why I'd ever drink anything lighter again.  It has a lot of chocolate going on and some light smokiness. Smells sweet like you're more savory candies - carmels maybe.

Beer: Oskar Blues Old Chub
ABV: 8%
Home: Lyons, Colorado
Birth: ~2008
Slogan: "its like SPUTNIK!"















Warsteiner.  Oh, man! I did not like this beer.  I'm not much of a Pilsner fan, but I really can't imagine this is ordered by non-mug challengers.  Very skunky.  Check out Beer Advocate for a less negative opinion.

Beer: Warsteiner Premium Verum
ABV: 4.9%
Home: Warstein, Germany
Birth: Brewery is 200+
Slogan: ""















So close to my heart... Pretty Things.  Bombers only!  The Jack D'or is unfortunately the only Pretty Things on the mug challenge menu.  It has a nice floral hop and hints of clove, some get bananas.  The head is frothy and has good staying-time, laces moderately down your glass.

Beer: Pretty Things Jack D'or
ABV: 6.4%
Home: Somerville, Massachusetts
Birth: ~2009
Slogan: "Stay pretty and drink real beer"

14, 15, 16, and 17

Tonight, I decided to do an ebb and flow of crazy flavor and dirty water.

Up first, G'Knight!  This little can packs a punch.  Smells sweet and head settles thinly, leaving a light lace on you glass. Imperial is all you need to hear, full flavor and although a carmelly crystal clear beer, full-bodied (not apparent in this photo).  The hops are floral, then bitter with quick finish.

Beer: Oskar Blues G'Knight Imperial Red
ABV: 8.7%
Home: Lyons, Colorado
Birth: 2011
Slogan: "can'o bliss. satisfy ya."














There's some tricks to the mug challenge I'm finding.  There is a category labeled "Specials" which is all the special bottles Bukowski's has for whatever period of time.  Most of these are $18 or more.  Occasionally, there's mirage on this list - you have to look twice at the price, then want to give it back after ordering.  Right now, it's MGD. Gag.

Beer: Miller Genuine Draft
ABV: 4.66%
Home: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Birth: 1986
Slogan: "...best draft beer in a bottle..."














I usually like to start things off with bomber, but mid-session works too.  22 oz. Arrogant Bastard up to bat!  It is a nice deep reddish color.  Not as scary as the bottle portrays, but not one I'd drink all the time.  Great bitter hops, nice malty body.  Damn heavy.

Beer: Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale
ABV: 7.2%
Home: Escondido, California
Birth: 1997
Slogan: "You're not worthy"















Last and least... Amstel Light.  Does Europe even claim this beer?  Watery.  Lowest ABV I've ever seen.  Good choice for the end of this session.  What you would expect from most light beer.  Crisp, refreshing, hydrating.

Beer: Amstel Brouwerij Light
ABV: 3.5%
Home: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Birth: 1872
Slogan: "We believe it will be time well spent"