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    The Dogfather

    November 24, 2010
    / Beer Review /
    4 Comments

    Name – The Dogfather
    Country – United States
    Type – American Imperial Stout

    Gimmicks work in pro wrestling.  But when it comes to beer they can sometimes be a let down and bit over board.  Well now that I think of it some pro wrestling gimmicks are quite overboard (e.g. Papa Shango).  And while I try not to get roped into gimmicks in the beer world I just simply can’t help it sometime.  Like when a brewery out of Idaho names a beer after one of your favorite movies of all time.  I give up peacefully and will not resist.

    I’ve wanted the Dogfather from Laughing Dog for awhile.  And when Total Wine started carrying Laughing Dog as a brewery direct offering I knew it would soon be mine.  And with the release of the seasonal Dogfather that day has finally come.

    I cracked open the bomber and poured it into my Cigar City snifter.  It pours out a pitch black color with a nice brown head.  Surprisingly for an imperial stout it leaves a good amount of lacing on the glass too.

    The aroma is packed full of cocoa that reminds me of the powdered cocoa used as a kid for chocolate milk.  And speaking of milk there is a very distinct lactose smell in there as well.  A slight alcohol aroma is picked up on the back and even a little more when the beer warms up.

    I am greeted in the taste with more cocoa but along with some bitter chocolate and bitter coffee tastes.  There are some roasted malts but they are subdued and the lactose smell is present in the taste and give a nice feel in the body of the beer.  A little boozy bit at the end.

    I will admit I was a little surprised by how present the cocoa flavors and smells were in this.  Yes you come to expect some chocolate in imperial stouts but this was more than I expected.  And that is a good thing as I love chocolate flavors in beers.

    I think this is a very fine seasonal offering from Laughing Dog and am thinking I will get another to lay down for some time to see how it ages.  The bitterness of the coffee and chocolate will die down and probably give a nice sipping stout.

    So do you like imperial stouts?  Have you yet to have the Dogfather?  Well let me just say they made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.

    Grade – A-

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    Beer and Food Sampling Tomorrow at The Living Room

    November 23, 2010
    / Beer Events /
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    Awhile back someone working at a bar told me that the day before Thanksgiving is one of the largest drinking days of the year.  The reason he said for this is because people dread being around so much family the next day.  Well if you are one of those people I have something just for you.

    Wednesday night The Living Room in Boynton Beach, FL will be hosting a beer and food sampling.  Between 6:30 and 8:30 you can enjoy 5 beers paired with complimentary food courses.  Here are the beers to expect.

    • Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve
    • A Cigar City Brewing beer to be determined
    • Well’s Banana Bread Ale
    • Starr Hill The Gift
    • Dogfish Head Chicory Stout

    If you are interested you can RSVP by calling Emily at 954-899-3600 and get the price of $15 for the event.  If there are still places open tomorrow night you can attend for $20.  So if you want to go be sure and call in.

    So get some good beers in you along with some good food before the big turkey day on Thursday.

    The Living Room
    1709 N. Congress Avenue
    Boynton Beach, FL, 33426
    561-742-4399

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    Better Late Than Never; Flying Fish Available at Total Wine

    November 20, 2010
    / Beer News /
    3 Comments

    This actually occurred last week but for one reason or another I never got around to mentioning it.  Total Wine has welcomed yet another brewery to their Brewery Direct program.  And this is Flying Fish out of Cherry Hill, NJ.

    I hold Flying Fish sort of close to my heart as they are right across the Delaware River form Philadelphia (my home area).  I have had a number of their beers before so it makes me happy to be able to easily get them now instead of having to pack them in my suitcase to bring home from a trip.  This now saves that room for some other stuff.  I’m think Yards next time.

    But as I said, as of last week Flying  Fish should be available in all Total Wine and More stores that didn’t already carry them.  They intend on carrying everything the brewery releases including their much talked about Exit series beers.

    Here is what you can find already available.

    • Hopfish IPA
    • Extra Pale Ale
    • Belgian Abbey Dubbel
    • Exit Series 4 – American Trippel
    • Grand Cru Winter Reserve

    I have had each one of these and I don’t think there is a bad one in the bunch.  I will even go as far as saying I think Exit 4 is extremely good (review to come soon).

    So next time you are in Total Wine grab something from Flying Fish and enjoy a beer from New Jersey’s largest brewery.

    For more information on Flying Fish and their beers please visit their website.

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