I have to admit, one of the big advantages of being in Seattle for nearly a week with only one responsibility was that I was able to space out my tastings over many days. Plus, try more stuff! So let’s finish this out, starting with…
Triplehorn Brewing, Falcon Cloak blonde ale: nice malty nose-reminds me of the Munich base malt and the beer itself is an easy drinking, sweet beer with not too much pop on the finish. Give me all the nachos and this. Or just this.
Skookum Brewery, Murder of Crows Imperial stout. This has been aged in seasoned oak and it tastes WOODY. There is also a sliver of a dry finish, which I wasn’t expecting at all. But I think I like it. The wood presence is there but there isn’t an alcohol note overwhelming the stout flavors.
Dagger Falls, Sockeye IPA: this is really malty for an IPA. While it it does have a peasant grapefruit thread on the side, the malt is dominant in the nose and mouth, until the very end, when a creeping bitterness appears. It’s almost surprising. I’m not sure if this beer has decided what it wants to be when it grows up. I don’t dislike it but I’m also not sure how to categorize it. Still, I’d drink another, and try more stuff from them.
Gig Harbor, Round Rock IPA-nasty vegetal finish. So, no.
Wander brewing, Shoe Toss rye IPA. I like this beer! There’s a sweetness in the middle that really helps ground the beer, while the hop bitterness and the spice quality of the rye malt smartly spar on the finish. I wasn’t expecting much but I’m delightfully surprised.
Ole Swede, Blueberry Cider. This has a tart blueberry nose with the cider sweetness in the mouth, an elbow nudge of tartness along the way, with a very, very dry finish. I am finding this enjoyable, with the tartness somehow complimenting the dryness at the end. I would recommend this cider, with the caveat that I don’t know a lot about the cider.
Hilliard’s Boombox IPA: my first sip finished buttery. Further sips had the bitterness step in but the butter flavor didn’t abate. This is a super nope.
A pint for Dionysus 