Sadly, again, due to shitty lighting, any cell phone pics don't come out. So from here on out (unless I can figure out a way) any beers tried at bars will have googled images used to represent them. As for the Pecan Harvest..it's considered an American Brown Ale...I don't know how else to classify it, so sure! 5.0% ABV and 20 IBUs...fairly standard for a 'flavored' beer. Gorgeous copper colored pour, decent head..not much lacing. Very malty, but sweet aroma..probably bready, nutty malts. A little of that sweet pecan pie-type aromas coming through, but not much...some hints of caramel, like in a Milky Way. Wicked smooth taste..silky almost. Sweet malts, like honey oat bread..more of that nice pecan pie taste compared to the nose. Nice light brown sugar and caramel or toffee notes..sticky sweetness of glazed pecans lingers. For all the sweetness, not a heavy brew at all. Very, very tasty and crisp, good for the holidays as well as just hanging out on late summer nights with the crew.
Stone Vertical Epic 10 - 10.10.10
Every year since 2002 on the 'palindromic date' (I think there's a legit term for these days ex. 02.02.02, although a true palindromic date happened last year, with it being 01.02.2010 and one happening this year on the 2nd of Nov - 11.02.2011) Stone releases a specially brewed beer, unique in it's own way. This one was released on 10.10.10 (2010) (actually on the 11th due to the 10th being a Sunday..according to Stone). This Vertical Epic is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale that is brewed with Muscat, Gewürztraminer and Sauvingnon Blanc grapes as well as chamomile, with 9.5%ABV and about 45 IBUs according to the recipe Stone listed. The picture above doesn't quite give the real pour justice, a beautiful golden yellow haze with copper hints. A very sweet aroma, akin to a sweet Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling (from the grapes used, DUH!) and a bit of a saison. Hints of banana, bready malts..a little citrus thrown in probably from the hops. For the taste, the hops don't come through at all, just in the nose. It's incredibly smooth and creamy, a full mouth-feel beer, but not heavy whatsoever. Hints of banana/bubblegum like a hefeweizen, slight malt notes, and again, the sweetness of a nice Australian Sauv Blanc. The sweet taste lingers on the tongue with a little tart and sour here and there, with a bit of a drying carbonation to boot. The description gives this beer no justice.. it was phenomenal!! I just wish I could get a hold of all the previous ones!
So last call rolled around and I had seen this one on the menu a few times..waitress didn't give me time to look through the menu, so I just blurted it out! Holy Shit! Literally..this beer is just like it's name. It even smelled like Jack/Jim..which aren't my usual cup of tea when it comes to liquor. 8.19% ABV..listed as an American Strong Ale. Aged in premium Kentucky Bourbon barrels for at least 6weeks... An oaky, rich earthly aroma, with tons of woody malts and a bit of bitter hops..alcohol notes comes through too. Sweeter aromas come about too..maybe some vanilla and maple, like a good bourbon. The taste was a kick right in the grundle..holy bourbon, Batman! This tasted like it was an 80proof whiskey, with a little carbonation. It got smoother and easier to drink as the glass got more and more empty, but wow, if you're not a bourbon person, tough to stomach for sure. The taste was nothing like beer..heavy vanilla, oak, some maple syrup mixed in. A very intense beer, but incredibly unique. Know that I know this kinda style tastes almost like a whiskey..I'll think twice before ordering one, but wouldn't mind the experience again. For sure a unique beer though.. whiskey beer... wow.
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