So sorry for the delay; it’s been a bit of a bumpy ride, you see.
While I had no trouble consuming 30 new beers in 30 days, actually writing about each of them in a timely manner proved somewhat challenging. It seems that graduate school and early-morning beer essays become mutually-exclusive activities at some point.
Nonetheless, I couldn’t leave this endeavor unfinished; without further ado, the final six-pack, in summarized form:
25. Toppling Goliath Golden Nugget IPA (Feb. 13)
| Style: | IPA |
|---|---|
| Availability: | Year-round |
| ABV: | 6.5% |
| Hops: | Nugget |
| Notes: | Citrusy, fruity, hoppy, and delicious! |
| More Info: | http://www.tgbrews.com/site/beer/GNUG/ |
| My Take: | Drink this whenever and wherever you can find it, especially in fine company at The Coopers Tavern. |
26. Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier (Feb. 14)
| Style: | Marzen |
|---|---|
| Availability: | Year-round |
| ABV: | 5.1% |
| Hops: | Not specified |
| Notes: | Dark and malty with a thick mouthfeel; powerfully smokey aroma and taste |
| More Info: | http://www.schlenkerla.de/rauchbier/sorten/sortene.html |
| My Take: | Rauschbier (or “smoked beer”) gets its flavor from malt dried over an open flame. It pretty much tastes like liquid sausage. |
27. Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye (Feb. 15)
| Style: | IPA |
|---|---|
| Availability: | Year-round |
| ABV: | 8% |
| Hops: | Not specified |
| Notes: | Deep coppery color; a little hoppy on the front, but no discernable rye flavor. |
| More Info: | http://bearrepublic.com/beer/hop-rod-rye/#.Ua1dfGSc6Wk |
| My Take: | Unremarkable and pretty tasteless, contrary to others’ rave reviews. Maybe a bad batch? |
28. Bell’s Special Double Cream Stout (Feb. 16)
| Style: | Stout |
|---|---|
| Availability: | Seasonal – Winter |
| ABV: | 6.1% |
| Hops: | Not specified |
| Notes: | Thick, smooth and creamy with intense coffee and chocolate aromas/flavors |
| More Info: | http://www.bellsbeer.com/brands/12-Special%20Double%20Cream%20Stout%20 |
| My Take: | Perfect remedy for a nasty winter day. |
29. Taj Mahal Premium Lager (Feb. 17)
| Style: | Lager |
|---|---|
| Availability: | Year-round |
| ABV: | 4.5% |
| Hops: | Saaz |
| Notes: | Light color, inoffensive taste. Pretty standard lager. |
| More Info: | http://www.ub-global.com/Taj_Mahal_Premium_Lager.html |
| My Take: | Any lager tastes better with a picture of the Taj Mahal on the bottle. |
30. Timothy Taylor’s Landlord Pale Ale (Feb. 18)
| Style: | English Pale Ale |
|---|---|
| Availability: | Year-round |
| ABV: | 4.3% |
| Hops: | Not specified |
| Notes: | Hoppy, citrusy flavors on the front fade into a sweet, malty finish. |
| More Info: | http://www.timothytaylor.co.uk/OurProducts_Landlord.aspx |
| My Take: | Distinctly different in style from an IPA or APA; much maltier, yet still hoppy enough to please. A contradictory beer for a contradictory day. Thanks to Dave for furnishing this one! |
While I’ve conquered 30 new beers in 30 days (and since embarked on a whole new decade) the fermented adventures are far from over. Stay tuned!