This Beer Rocks-Sucks!!!!

Laaaazzzyyyy Boy.

That's me.  Never had the Killer Whales party last fall, and lots of changes since then so I would still love to have one but need to get organized.

Still Gathering.

Getting my ducks in a row for the eventual party.  I need to get going on a venue.  Crimeny.

Gathering for my Party.

As part of the 96 Project I as going through my beers and finding ones to try.  Obviously I can't drink it all so I am going to have a party.  I'm calling it the Killer Whales Party, whales being those special beers you always hear about and read about and drool over but never find because your local packie store doesn't carry them or they sold out already.  I have a few whales: a 2004 Samiclaus, a 1993 Samiclaus, some Sam Adams Triple Bock from 1996, and some Thomas Hardy ale from 2001.  Not much mind but enough to give tastes to about 10 folks.  Should be fun.

Getting There.

We had our medical and lift-evac training this past weekend at Snow King so it was a good chance to get rid of some beer.  Got rid of about two cases.  Only 94 or so more to go.  They were Full Sail Session export and fest ales.  Held up well despite being around 5% booze and three years old.

Whoof.

No, not "whoof" as in "bark"; "whoof" as in loudly sighing mixed with mild disbelief and sinking anticipation of lots of work ahead.  Like realizing you have to rake off the leaves on your lawn before winter, it is raining, and you have a three acre lawn.  What brings on this state of mind you say?  Realizing how much beer I have.

Little backstory:  my 18 yo nephew is living with me and my mom for a gap year.  He works four days a week in construction, and is involved in ROTC.  He grew up in Colorado so he went back in September for an interview with his CO, and while he was gone for the week I took advantage of the car being out of the garage to reorganize it and my pantry.  I had also lost one job back in August so once the bike tours were mostly done I could tear into the garage.  I had come into possession of some used heavy duty storage shelf units from the lost job and thought they would be handy in the garage cleaning and reorganization.  Long story short, a week later I had completely reorganized my gear and beer storage areas.  Good news: being organized, finding stuff I had forgotten about, and being able to find it easier now.  Bad news: discovering just how much beer I have.  I stopped counting at 96 cases.

That's correct.  Your eyes are not deceiving you.  96 cases.  NINETY-SIX CASES.  Most are commercial beers and most have the alcoholic backbone for long term cellaring.  Most are made for long term cellaring anyway.  Many are not and need to be drunk.  So, I set up an shelving unit just for the "consume soon" beer with about 12 cases.  Expect some reviews here soon.  I took a couple cases with me on a road trip to Fruita Co and drank a case and a half.  Some were good, others on the downhill slide.

This was on the downhill slide.  Don't remember any details of the bottling date, alcohol  percentage, or tastes.  I was pretty far into my cups as the British would say (as apparent from the lack of focus in the photo).  I do remember it being very uncarbonated, and a bit malty despite being a double black IPA.

This Oskar Blues IPA was just fine.  Caught it in time.

So, "Whoof" as in I have a job ahead of me: drinking 96 cases of beer.

Brewing Frenzy.

With the forced time off due to warm weather, I have a bit of time to kill so I have been on a homebrewing jag.  I have a porter and winter red ale in the fermenters and another spiced winter warmer ale just boiled yesterday.  All have a OG around 1055-1065 so pretty peppy.  Maybe I'll do a hefe for the spring this week too.  Gotta clean out the beer storage area.

2011 Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Harvest Wet Hop Ale.

I bought this bottle some years ago, stuffed it in a box, put it in the pantry, and forgot about it until about a month ago.  I pulled it out and though I had better drink it (especially after the Infinium fisasco).  In a 24 oz bottle; 6.7% alcohol.

Appearance:  pours nicely with a large head that lasts and coats the glass in some great belgian lace; Good darker yellow/lighter orange color with some red hints.  Bit cloudy  but not unusual given the age of the bottle.

Smell: Very malty, bready with a bit of mustiness (old bottle).  Hints of booze and some hop smells but hops almost non-existent.

Taste:  Malty blast with some bitterness but nicely balanced.  Hops way in the background.  Still smooth and good despite age.

Mouthfeel:  Coats the mouth well, good carbonation.

Overall:  Would not have thought a beer of this type with this low an alcohol level would last but it shows SN is a good brewer.  Pretty damn good.

Canned Beer Rocks.

Even with all the homebrewing I do, I still enjoy commercial beers.  A lot of beers are now coming in cans, and I think it is great.  Cans keep UV light away from beer (less skunkiness), are lighter than bottles, and are easily recyclable.  A win-win-win.  Don't think I will ever can my beer though; too much of a pain.  I have been brewing in October with an imperial porter and a red ale.  Yay!

Sam Adams and Weihenstephan Infinium Beer Review.

While digging through some boxes in my pantry I came across a box full of beer, one of which was this nice bottle.  I was going to stick it back in the box and forget it until I read the little info hanger that said enjoy it before July 2011.  Opps.  It was a 2010 vintage and would have thought given the 10% alcohol it would age nicely.  NOT.  It tasted old and over the hill.  Damn.  I really shouldn't call this a review since I was well past the best by date.  Shucks.  And I haven't seen it again so no chance to score a new bottle and try it. 

Splat!

Holy-Dick-in-the-Dirt my Maibock is strong.  I had a small 8 oz bottle last night and I forgot how strong it was: 8.7% alcohol.  Whew.  More than two and I would have gone splat.  I suppose I need to take a few photos and review it now.  Patience Grasshopper....