Beer Club Mountain Excursion: Mountain Breweries

Theme: Mountain Breweries
Date: April 11th, 2009
Location: Sam's totally awesome mountain house in Rabun Gap, GA. The first official Beer Club overnight and, with that, the first time no one had to drive home. Historic and hopefully repeatable. Twelve happy members present.
Beer club rating of the view: 22 (almost everyone's double thumbs up-- Christout was hesitant.)



Let's get to the beer!

1) French Broad Gateway Kolsch,
Asheville, NC

This beer "smells like wet dog" and offers a "metallic taste" that had drinkers saying, "has a lot more flavor, but similar to Miller Lite."
Beer rating: -1

2) French Broad 13 Rebel ESB
Asheville, NC

The second Asheville offering "tastes better than it smells" ("like mold"), reminded reviewers of "cocoa", and had one participant recalling fondly, "a little fruitiness at the end, just like my old boyfriend*."
Beer rating: 3

3) Fort Collins Retro Red
Fort Collins, CO

This beer was considered "quite hoppy for a red ale" and tasted "metallic - copper, specifically," and reviewers were quick to add "I could go for more of them." Seemingly unrelated: "old speckled hen" and "My first fake ID was from Fort Collins!"
Beer rating: 6

4) Breckenridge Avalanche Amber Ale
Breckenridge, CO

While reviews began mild: "sour at first," "I kinda taste paper", so too was the beer. "You could drink this all night long, but your palate would not be challenged" preceeded "single dimensional" and the damning, "I will never drink Breckenridge again!"
Beer rating: -5

5) Fort Collins Rocky Mountain IPA
Fort Collins, CO

Comments were brief as beer was enjoyed: "fruity" "excellent" and "nicely hopped."
Beer rating: 7

6) Collaboration Not Litigation Ale, Avery Brewing
Boulder, CO

This "ode to Matthew Vivian" and peace was "caramel-y," "peaceful and caramel-like" and "layered." "Puckering at the end" and a taste of "meunster cheese" led to exclamations of "whoa- this is different" and "I love this!"
Beer rating: 11

DINNER BREAK

Turkey Chili: "If you know anything about me, it's that I love turkey chili. If you know two things about me, it's that I will go for seconds of turkey chili."
Frito topper: "I learned this from my school cafeteria." "I'll have to stop by for lunch sometime."
Corn Bread: "Can I have this recipe?"
Salad: "Thanks for keeping the cheese separate!"
Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale, Oskar Blues Mama's Little Yella Pils ("ick")- Lyon's, CO

ONWARDS!

7) Stone Levitation Ale, Stone Brewing Co.
San Marcos, CA

This "bitter" ale was considered "really hoppy, but not in an IPA way" and one drinker declared, for better or worse, "I've never tasted a beer like this before." With its low alochol content, members noted "you can almost sell this in Utah!" As for its label? "Explanation too long." In sum, "I don't care for this" "No thank you."
Beer rating: -3

8) Great Divide Old Ruffian Barleywine
Denver, CO

Drinkers likened this "really hoppy, but sweet!" brew to "dark fruit-- fig! Prune!" and declared it "syrupy with an alcohol kick." Of barleywine in general: "Barleywine: they're like shape-shifters or something."
Beer rating: 9

9) Avery Hog Heaven Barleywine
Boulder, CO

Members asked, "what are some synonyms for 'head'?" when poured this "sweet n' malty" brew which, in comparison to the last beer, was "sweeter- spiciness with the initial taste." Also, the following words are written in all caps: "RUPE EJECTS!" Huh.
Beer rating: 10

10) Oskar Blues Ten Fidy Imperial Stout
Lyons, CO

One VERY enthusiastic review was countered by the comment "motor oil." Others too involved in a discussion of time travel to focus on beer.
Beer rating: 5

11) Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti
Denver, CO

Though one reviewer was "too drunk to comment", he wrote(?) "vanilla and perhaps a lot of hops for an imperial stout." Others called it "amazing" and "killer, dude."
Beer rating: 11

Closing notes: while the focus and the comments dwindled at the end, the taster's appetites certainly didn't. Two (2!) flourless chocolate cakes, agreed by all to be quite rich (with one glaring exception), apple matzoh kugel, and popcorn were all happily consumed. There was also a delicious Belgian berry beer (I cannot remember the name- little help?) that was enjoyed off the record. Also, not taking cabs or having to drive was fantastic.

Thanks again to Sam for her incredible hospitality!

*Best comment of the night?

Picture at top taken, without permission, from Catherine. Thanks!

Next meeting: Thursday, April 16th at Panahar, followed by a viewing of "Beer Wars"
Theme: ???