Surly Brewing Co 1349 Black Ale

Tonight:
Surly Brewing Co 1349 Black Ale
Brewed with Coffee
Product of Norway
13.49% ABV

I'm going to be honest, I don't really taste the coffee. It's tasty, but I expected a beer brewed with coffee to have some bitterness to it. Instead, this beer is sweet and has a bit of a syrupy aftertaste. If given the choice between the 1349 and the J.W. Lees (last night's beer), I'd pick the 1349. But if I was in a good bottleshop, I don't think this would be the first bottle I'd pick up.

Tomorrow: Deschutes Black Butte Porter

J.W. Lees Limited Edition Harvest Ale

Tonight:
J.W. Lees Limited Edition Harvest Ale
Brewed in 2010
Matured in Sherry Casks
11.5% ABV

I'd recommend drinking this beer exactly once in your life. It's an experience worth having. But it's not a beer I would drink again and again. The beer has a very strong, sweet flavor. While it's tasty, it's a bit too much for me -- almost as if it's trying to hard. I normally like cask-aged and barrel-aged beer. But I think this beer would be better served by dialing back the flavor just a tad.

If you do drink this beer, I'd recommend splitting a bottle with a friend and pairing it with cherry pie. You may also want to decant the beer. It does not carry much in the way of carbonation, so you don't have to worry about losing your fizz. But you might spare yourself some of the lees I currently have floating in my glass.

Tomorrow: Surly Brewing Co 1349 Black Ale

Beers for Advent

To celebrate Advent, I'm drinking beer. The idea isn't original, I must confess. I read about the Beer Advent Calendar, realized it would be difficult to get in the U.S., then realized I could make my own by buying some good beer at BevMo. It wasn't cheep -- buying 27 bottles of craft beer, much of it imports. (I'll admit I'm predisposed to Belgian beer, but it's easier to get imports in single-bottle, 12-16oz volume than it is domestic beer). 

So here I am, counting down to Christmas via beer. It's technically the night before Advent begins (Advent Eve? Is that a thing?), but I'd be remiss if my first blogpost didn't involve an actual beer.

I should also note that there are plenty of places online where you can get beer tasting notes. I won't try to replicate or duplicate that functionality here. Instead, I'm providing my impressions of the beer.

Tonight: the Leffe Blonde.

Leffe is one of my go-to beers. I prefer the Brune over the Blonde, but the Blonde is still pretty good.  If you're new to Belgian beers, the Leffe Blonde is probably a good place to start. It's flavorful and a good example of the style, without being overwhelming. Don't get me wrong, I love an overwhelming beer from time-to-time. But if you're new to a style, it's probably best to start with something a bit more approachable. In that case, the Leffe Blonde may be the beer for you. It's still a bit more demanding and flavorful than a session beer -- so don't pick up a 6-pack thinking this beer will get you through Sunday football.

Tomorrow: J.W. Lees Limited Edition Harvest Ale