100 Beers. Exactly 100. Thank you.

"Ugh. I hate Finland. I need 100 beers." - Nathan Explosion, Metalocalypse. The story so far: a series of Saturday night plans fall through, prompting a trip to the liquor store and a call to Food Wall for some "We Delivery." But I want to try something new, one of those classy micro-brew stores that are popping up all over the place. Before I know it I'm eyes-deep in imports, micro-brews, nano-brews and limited editions and suddenly I realize... I love good beer, but I don't always remember which beers I like, and so I always fall back on the same three or four that I know I will enjoy when I find myself staring down a wall of opportunity. In short, I need to start taking notes. A beer journal, if you will. And why not put it online? Maybe other people want to know what I'm drinking, so that the next time they find themselves in my shoes (bored on a Saturday night with a thirst for classy brews) they'll have the forethought and presence of mind to reach for something new and exciting.

[ineed100beers]

Back in Black IPA

21st Amendment Brewert, California USA

 American IPA

2.00 per 12oz can (Craft Beer Cellar)

6.8 ABV

Brewed from dark malts and three different kinds of hops, this is a straight up, black and on black, murdered out American IPA with a twist. Points for coming in a can, first off, and double points for epic can art (blacked out Paul Revere on an iron horse). Add in the clever brewery name multiplier and this beer's well on its way to a new high score. 

True to form, the color is black as coffee with a light, foamy head. The aroma is thick with dark malt and hops and the taste isn't much different. It's almost got an earthy, mossy feel to it, backed up with a bitter kick from the hops. This actually reminds me a lot of a black and tan I recently had with Sierra Nevada IPA and Stout. It also reminds me of my good friend Bryce's recent home brew -- an excellent balance of hops and dark malt as well with subtle blackberry notes.

Not intensely bitter, but enough to let you know it's there. Caramel and burnt coffee after taste. Substantial mouth feel. Thick, almost syrupy. I wouldn't drink more than a few of these in one sitting, for fear of overstimulating my taste buds. 

A-/B+

[ineed100beers]

Fraoch Heather Ale

d'Ecosse, Scotland Heather ale $3.25 per 12 Oz bottle (Craft Beer Cellar) 5% ABV From the bonny bells of heather They brewed a drink long-syne, Was sweeter far than honey, Was stronger far than wine. They brewed it and they drank it, And lay in a blessed swound For days and days together In their dwellings underground. This I just had to try. Heather beer has been brewed by the Celts, Picts and other natives of the British Isles since before the Roman invasion and has recently become available again thanks to a few choice brewing companies. Heather was used before hops as a preservative and a flavoring agent, but they've mostly fallen out of favor. Probably something to do with the complex brewing process and scarcity of heather flowers these days. I'm such a sucker for early European history, I couldn't walk away from such a rare breed. This beer surprised me at first with its sweetness, as well as its exotic, spicy flavor. It has the character of say, a an English brown ale, but the flavors going on beneath the surface are amazingly complex... there's a distinct floral note obviously, but I'm picking up on cardamom, perhaps nutmeg and clove... it's really, really interesting! The aroma is spicy, malty and almost musky.  Mouth feel and finish are pretty smooth, but this doesn't feel like a beer I could see myself drinking a lot of. I am inclined to say that this is a good beer for winter months. Very, very interesting, and I'm glad I tried it, but I'm not going to run out and get a Fraoch tattoo any time soon. B/B+

[ineed100beers]

Session Black Lager

Full Sail Brewing Co. Oregon Premium Black Lager 1.50 per 11oz. bottle (Craft Beer Cellar)

5.6 ABV

Something about this tiny little bottle just drew me in. It's got the old timey feel of Red Stripe, but it's small enough to fit in your breast pocket.

Lovely dark amber colour, almost looks like a frothy merlot in the right light. Deep malty aroma. Taste has strong toasted malt flavors and a caramel finish. On the whole this is a very smooth drinking beer -- I would almost liken it to a light stout, if such a thing exists. It's not as bold as a good stout, but also not as filling; I could see my self drinking a few of these over a nice steak dinner without having to be rolled out of the restaurant. 

I'd give this a B/B+ and I would probably buy it again.

[ineed100beers]

Dales Pale Ale

Oskar Blues, Colorado USA Pale Ale $2.00 per can or 11.00/6 12 Oz. can @Craft Beer Cellar 6.5 ABV You know, writing this review down is a little bit silly. I know I love Dale's Pale Ale. I know I love Oskar Blues Brewing company. It would take one hell of a knock on the head for me to forget that. None the less, for posterity's sake, I guess it's not a bad idea. I don't want one of my favorite beers feeling left out of the list, now do I? First of all, I love the can. I'm going to be saying that pretty much any time I mention Oskar Blues. Their branding is really part of the whole experience, and that includes the can. I'm probably not the only guy who has made the association between good times and dirty cheap, no swill beer, swigged from those lowest of low-brow beer receptacles. That's not to say I haven't had lovely times with bottles, growlers, grolsches, 22s and so on of fine, classy micro brews, but cans have an unmistakable charm. They're also less expensive, better for the environment, much more portable and they keep the beer fresher, longer. Can't go wrong there. Anyway, Dales really holds a special place in my heart. It was the first PA I fell in love with and has become, in many ways, that one, perfect PA for which all others have become but distant shadows, enjoyable only for the similarities they share with the platonic ideal. It is hoppy and bitter and crisp, the way a PA should be, but not overly so. The hops are bitter, of course, but they have a certain sweetness to them, almost floral. Very well balanced. The mouth feel and finish are perfect. Clean and smooth and not too heavy, perfect straight out of the can and well frosty. The kind of beer I'd want to drink outside of a part on a cold Autumn night up in New Hampshire, just a handful of guys standing around a fire, popping cans and loving life. A/A+