Beer #1 of the night - Baxter Brewing - Phantom Punch Winter Stout. Named for the punch that won the Ali/Lister fight in '65 in Lewiston, ME (it barely looked like Ali connected and Lister just dropped) . Baxter brews in Lewiston.. and much like that punch.. and this year's winter, the beer will sneak up on you and knock you down! A 6.8% ABV Foreign Export Stout (brewed with cocoa nibs and vanilla beans).. it's a thick black/brown pour with a full mocha head. It lingers, but ends up leaving no lacing. Cocoa nibs, black coffee and dark, roasty molasses dominate the nose with a subtle hint of vanilla. This is so smooth and rich.. it drinks like a 10% or higher Imperial Stout., and has the kick of one too. A super well-hidden ABV, the chocolate malts shine here, like a black chocolate ice cream float. Bitter and roasty notes find their way though the sweetness to the finish. Slight touches of ash and smoke on the finish leave it dry and sweet at the same time. The cocoa and vanilla used here merely play a secondary role in this brew, it's not overdone as with many mid-range ABV Stouts. Have 2 or 3 of these and you'll feel like you got rocked with a phantom punch for sure!
- - 8 Hops!
But what's the fun of a Friday night in without having more than one beer!!?
Sierra Nevada - Narwhal (2012) A massive 10.2% ABV, 60 IBU Imperial Stout brewed for the first time this year. The name.. the label.. well, you know how they say that a good portion of wine is sold simply by sight of the bottle alone? Sold! This pours like used motor oil..almost black and more viscous than your average beer. There's a lot to the nose.. bitter black chocolate, fresh espresso, molasses, toffee, dark caramel, plums, black cherries and a surprising amount of hops. This is WAY too easy to drink. It's rich, but crazy light in body for something this this ABV. It drinks more like a Porter. Smooth roasty chocolate malts are upfront.. vanilla and thick caramel sweetness. Coffee, some smoke and bitterness from chocolate and earthy hops comes through. This hoppiness mixes so well with the minimal alcohol burn that it's - 1. tough to distinguish them and 2. both are kept very well in check. The alcohol is so hidden here, it's scary. A nice amount of carbonation on the finish with a mocha/coffee/milk chocolate milkshake feel and sweetness. Vanilla and toffee poke through here as well. This is a first release?! Let's see what age does to this puppy! This. Is. Great.
- - 9 Hops!
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