Fresh Hop vs Fresh Hop

VS.

Last night I decided it would be a good idea to compare the Sierra Nevada Harvest Fresh Hop Ale and the Great Divide Fresh Hop Ale. In that order. The World Series was on and I figured it would be fun.

First the Sierra Nevada. The first noticable difference is the size of the bottle. You get a whole two more ounces with the Sierra Nevada. BONUS!!! The aroma is excellent. Hoppy and excellent. The taste does not disappoint either. Excellent hop flavor and what I call "after flavor". That's when you burp and get to re-taste the hops. I love that in a beer. No noticable alcohol taste in this one. Just hops with a little malt. I think this is a top notch beer.

Second, I opened the Great Divide. I've had this before and have always enjoyed it. A bit pricey at $6 per bottle but definately worth it as an occasional brew. Keep in mind that I had the SNHFH first. I wasn't able to spell hops like I usually can when I first poured this. Immediately I knew that I should have had this one first. The first taste was not what I had known of this beer. Again...should have had this one first. Fortunately it was a double duce (22 oz. bottle) and by the time I was half way through it was as I had known it before. Excellent hop aroma, excellent hop taste, and excellent hop after flavor. Also no noticable alcohol in this one. Another top notch beer. But if you ever decide to have both of these in one sitting, have this one first.

Overall both are fine examples of an American Pale Ale and I highly recommend both. The Great Divide is slightly less hoppy but no less enjoyable. Go get yourself one or 10 of each today, open one up, put on The White Stripes - Icky Thump, and enjoy.

Countdown

The space shuttle Discovery is going to launch today. It's a good time to listen to Countdown by Rush.

YASAIPR (Yet Another Sam Adams Imperial Pilsner Review)

Ok. It's all been done (Barenaked Ladies). Everyone has reviewed the Sam Adams Imperial Pilsner...but I'm still going to do it. Because you care.

Last night was a normal night...until I heard My Doorbell (White Stripes). My friend was at the door with two beautiful gifts. Two bottles of O'Dells Imperial Stout. This is the same friend that gave me the four pack of the SA Imperial Pilsner. James, You're My Best Friend (Queen). So I decided I'd try the Imperial Stout.

About the stout:
I poured it into one of my few pint glasses that aren't in storage. It has a nice dark color and smells great. The first taste exploded with flavor. Chocolate, coffee, coffee, chocolate. Initially it's like drinking a chocolate coffee, or coffee flavored chocolate. And then you get a slight taste of alcohol (it's just under 8%). There is also a faint hint of hops. This is an excellent stout.

But I'm not reviewing O'Dells Imperial Stout. I'm reviewing the Sam Adams Imperial Pilsner.

So after finishing the stout, I was feeling Imperial, so I poured the Imperial Pilsner. But I couldn't drink it because I had to go to the store for some supplies. But when I got back...

The Sam Adams Imperial Pilsner is a hazy beer. That's been the first thing I noticed both times I've had one. The next thing is the aroma. Nice hoppy aroma. When I first tasted it after getting back from the store, it was the perfect temperature. I don't know what it was because I didn't measure. The aroma is backed up by great hoppy taste. Like the stout, you also get a slight taste of alcohol (it's just over 8%) but it doesn't take away from the beer. This beer is worth the $2.50/bottle. If you haven't had this yet, go get one from your nearest store.


Thanks Muddy Mo for the SAIP picture.

Now playing: They Might Be Giants - The Spine

Sell that house!

We're trying to sell the house. It's only been a couple of months but it seems like forever. You never know when someone will want to look so you always have to have it like you don't really live there. That's difficult to do when you have two kids and a dog. We've stored a lot of stuff...like the fitness equipment...and my brewing stuff (but it's not like I have all the time in the world to make beer)...and my drums...to make it look like the house will hold everything a potential buyer would have. We have a showing as I'm posting this. Second showing in fact. I hope they buy it.

Nothing is playing on my playlist right now...I'm upgrading Winamp.

The fridge is stocked

So last night I picked up a 12 pack of Sam Adams Octoberfest, a 6 of Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale, a 6 of Hazed and Infused, and two 24 oz Sierra Nevada Fresh Hop Ale. I traded the Octoberfest for a 4 pack of Sam Adams Imperial Pilsner. This stuff is an excellent offering (probably my favorite) from Sam Adams. 'Cause I'm a hophead and this stuff delivers. Plus it's almost 9% alcohol so you really only need one. The Fresh Hop Ale was good too. The aroma and flavor was..well..fresh. Anyway, I'll get to have some tonight after the baseball game...little league.

Chrisy Moore - King Puck is playing right now.

I'm sure you want to read what I have to say

So I might post some stuff sometime. It will probably be about music...or beer. For instance, Van Halen is playing right now in my playlist of 234 hours worth of music. I'll be stopping at the candy store this afternoon to pick up some goodies. But what should I pick up? In the fridge I currently have:
Shiner Bock, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Corona, Chimay Bleu, Anchor Longhorn, Sam Adams Black Lager, Red Hook IPA, Paulaner Octoberfest Marzen, and some other IPA that I don't remember who brewed it, but it's not bad. So should I get some Mojo IPA or Hazed and Infused? Maybe the Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale. Titan IPA is always good.

Now Bob Marley is playing.