Follow me:

    Early Warning: MikeLovesBeer 3rd Anniversary Party is June 10th

    April 5, 2011
    / Announcement, Beer Events /
    2 Comments

    Time sure does fly when you’re having fun.  And it seems like just last month when I was celebrating my blog’s 2nd Anniversary with a bunch of friends at Coffee District in Delray Beach.  But another year is just about passed and I think it’s time to do the whole shindig again.

    So mark down Friday June 10th on you calendars and this year we take the party to the Funky Buddha Lounge and Brewery!  It’s sure to be a great time.  I’m still working on some details but here is what you can expect.

    • First and foremost the ability to purchase brews from one of the US’s hottest breweries, right here in South Florida.
    • Hang out with like minded craft beer lovers, me included of course.
    • Live music from my good friends Brian Torres and Casey Phipps (Band Name TBA).
    • Working on a number of raffle items.
    • And did I mention beer?

    As of right now we will say the party kicks off around 8 pm.  And this is my event so there will be no cover at all!  Within the next week I will get all the details worked out and flyer made.

    So I hope this is early enough warning for everyone.  You can request your days off, get a sitter, arrange a DD.  But you better not miss this!

    Share
    Leave a comment

    Obovoid

    April 1, 2011
    / Beer Review /
    Leave a comment

    Name – Obovoid
    Country – United States
    Type – Russian Imperial Stout

    April 1st.  The day people play countless jokes upon one and other.  I had a very nice idea for a joke to play but lack of planning will cause this to be used for a rainy day.  Instead I look at today as opening day for my beloved Phillies.

    Roy Halladay takes the mount today at 1:05 pm in Citizen’s Bank Ballpark to take on the Astros as we phight to head back to the World Series.  And I expect nothing less than no hitters from both Halladay and Lee to open the season.  Is that too much to ask for?

    But I guess on to the beer right?  So for today’s review here I have Obovoid.  It is an oak aged oatmeal stout according to the makers, Boulder Beer.  I had this one a couple years ago when my taste was not nearly what it is now.  I remember it being quite strong and struggling to get through it.  I doubt that will be the case now but let’s see.

    The brew pours a pitch black color into my nonic pint glass.  A light brown or tannish head sites on top and leaves a bit of lacing as it slowly subsides.

    The nose is full of oatmeal, mocha and cocoa.  There is slight scent of alcohol in the back but it’s not something that burns the nostrils.

    Chocolate and coffee dominate the taste.  I get and ever so slight hoppy taste in the back.  And there is a bit of an oak presence.  It becomes more apparent when it warms up along with the alcohol.  And I must say the body on this is very thin and light.  I expected something heavier and more creamy since it is an oatmeal stout according to them.

    Well I can definitely say I didn’t struggle through this bottle at all.  Oh what time can do to one’s taste buds.

    While I thought the beer was full of flavor I was very let down by the body of the beer.  Typically the use of oats in a beer is to give it more body and this was super light.  It didn’t make it a bad beer.  It just made it less enjoyable.  I don’t know if this was a below standard batch or what.

    If you have had this beer and thought it had a lot of body do let me know.  I will definitely try another bottle.

    But until next time, go Phils!

    Grade – B-

    Share
    Leave a comment

    Vuja De

    March 30, 2011
    / Beer Review /
    7 Comments

    Name – Vuja De
    Country – United States
    Type – American Wild Ale

    Dictionary.com defines Deja Vu as the illusion of previously experiencing something actually being encountered for the first time.  While Cigar City and Saint Somewhere defines Vuja De (ed. note: not a real word) as the feeling that none of this has ever happened.  Strong words.

    I find it sort of funny the naming and definitions of these words as many people called Sea Bass a Cigar City and Saint Somewhere collaboration beer when it wasn’t in fact.  It just simply used a yeast strain from Saint Somewhere.  But fast forward a few months and the actual collaboration between the two Florida brewers has come to light.  Being a sour beer of it’s own I’m wondering if CCB had some fun with the naming of this because so many people thought Sea Bass was the official collaboration.

    So let’s head right into the beer now.  I poured it, rightfully so, into my Cigar City snifter.  It poured out a deep reddish brown color.  The head was a bubbly light red to tan color.  It was an interesting color for a brew’s head.

    Oh you know it’s a sour ale.  I could smell it just from pouring it and well before sticking my nose in the glass.  Vinegar, cherries and raspberries in the nose.  Some funky yeast notes in there as well.

    To say the taste is mouth puckering would be an understatement.  It is tart with tastes of lemons and sour cherries.  But it is also funky with vinegar, hay and other barnyard like tastes.  The alcohol can be picked up a bit but I’m surprised how well it is hidden at 9.96% ABV.  Super complex.

    So what do I think of the real Cigar City and Saint Somewhere collaboration?  In a word, awesome.

    It reminds me a good deal of Sea Bass but slightly more complex.  I get a ton of things in the taste while most other sours I typically just pick up vinegar and a sour fruit.

    Also with the higher than normal ABV for a sour this should age rather nicely over a few years.  Thankfully I picked up a few bottles of this just for that.

    A great beer made by a couple great Florida breweries right here.  If you like sours then seek this out.

    Grade – A

    Share
    Leave a comment