8.20 - Another Incredible Tasting

These tasting groups are starting to get interesting!  Stuff I've never seen, stuff I've only heard about, stuff I've been wanting to try..  blah blah blah.. let's get to the beer!

in the order they were opened and consumed:

Cigar City - Cucumber Saison  --  a 6.0% ABV  20 IBU Saison brewed with fresh cucumbers.  Interesting to say the least.  Had a fresh juiciness to it that you would attribute to biting into a farm-fresh cucumber.. like salad in a beer.  Sounds weird, but it works.  Was a touch cool tonight, but this would be fantastic on a blistering hot summer day.  Enough yeast comes through to give it that dry, traditional aspect..  I actually dig it!    - -   8 Hops!!

Birra Tenute Collesi - Imper Ale Maior Nera  --  an 8.0% ABV Belgian Dark from an Italian brewery.  A total surprise.. a great, rich, sweet Belgian.. something of a cross between a Dubbel and a Quad.  Tons of nice plum and toffee notes, hidden ABV.  Super smooth and very nice    - -    7 Hops!!

Battle Road - Barrett's Farmhouse Ale  --  a 5.5% ABV Saison/Farmhouse from one of MA's newest breweries.  Typical Farmhouse nose.. a touch less barnyard funk that I'd expect and even less yeasty notes. Lacks what I'd hope for in the style.. just highly carbonated, citrusy, bright pale ale    - -    6 Hops!

Crooked Letter Brewing - Mystery Romp  --  a 6.5% ABV Coffee Porter.  750ml growler, filled from a fresh keg by a trader in MS.  Terrific roasty, iced coffee nose.  A touch thin for what I'd expect from a Porter, but it works with the coffee aspect, making it more drinkable than I'd expect a fuller bodied one to be.  Again, like iced coffee - huge roasty notes with sweet vanilla and milk chocolate..  winner of the tasting for me, at least.  DANG!    - -    9 Hops!

Goose Island -  Night Stalker  --   an 11.7% ABV  60 IBU Imperial Stout - actually shares the same base beer as Bourbon County Brand Stout, but is dry-hopped like a mofo.  Knowing it was dry-hopped beforehand really helps my perception of this..  the hopping is very noticeable, even in such a big beer. Normally, the hops and a big, roasty, chocolate bomb like this wouldn't be my thing, but its all very very balanced.  Very cool to try and very nicely done!    - -     9 hops!!