Category Archives: 28 in 28

A sporadically annual attempt to try 28 different beers in the 28 days of February.

02.06.11
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Beer 3 of 28: North Shore Jalapeño Peppercorn Bock

4% Bock from OntarioThe Beer: A 4% Bock from Port Stanley, ON
The Location: Jay’s place

Friday was the night before my birthday and I was invited to Jay’s house to join he and my old college friend, Kurt, for a night of beer, corned beef, and a whole bunch of guitar. Kurt is an incredibly gifted home brewer, a natural, and had heretofore been unable to make a real, honest mistake. That was, we were told, until the Jalapeño Peppercorn Bock. So bad, Kurt had claimed, that he’d dumped half of it from the carboy down the sink, saving a few bottles for fun.

So Kurt cracked it open and poured a sample around, pouring a fairly dark amber with a small amount of white head. The aroma was definitely jalapeño, some black pepper. All of it a little muted. We grinned and took our first sip, and we were shocked to find a delicate, light beer with subtle, fresh peppers and some spicy hops. It was actually good. We kept sipping only to find our initial thoughts were right, that some time in the bottle had treated this North Shore offering well.

I guess we’ll still be waiting on that first big Kurt failure, because this one wasn’t it!

02.02.11
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Beer 2 of 28: Lion Stout

The Beer: An 8.0% Foreign Stout from Nuwara Eliya & Biyagama, Sri Lanka
The Location: My Cellar

I recall drinking one of these a number of years ago, during a weekend where the boys were over to play video games, and just prior to a golf game. 8% on an empty stomach can be a bit. That was a good game of golf.

She pours pitch black, tan head that dissipates quickly. Sweet aroma of molasses, coffee beans, raisins and chocolate. This one, like the one before it, is rich and thick to drink, a bit oily and very smooth. The booze is actually quite noticeable, but surrounded predominantly in the raisin and molasses with hints of roasted malts, chocolate and boozy black cherries.

Stout night is over, and I’m likely to abstain on Thursday as I’ll be hitting the gym. But Friday is a night of guitar and beer with Jay and Kurt, so I anticipate some fun. Stay tuned!

02.02.11
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Beer 1 of 28: Ölvisholt Brugghús Lava

The Beer: A 9.4% Imperial Stout from Selfoss, Iceland
The Location: My Cellar

My favourite style of beer is an excellent Imperial Stout, and at the same time I want something with an incredible amount of flavour. I know when I get into home brewing soon it’s going to be to make truly extreme beers, so the promise of a smoked Imperial Stout was.. promising.

This one poured almost jet black, great ruby red edging, and a thick tan head. The aroma is certainly strong in smoke, cocoa, roasted coffee, and a distinct sweet cherry. Great! This one is an Imperial done right – smooth, almost oily, so easy to drink. Lots of great smoke but done perfectly, allowing the cocoa and cherry to make their way through. A great first choice to kick things off!

02.02.11
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28 in 28 Challenge

Nothing forces one to return to blogging quite like a goal, so a goal I have. In the midst of my attempts to make my way in a new job and further my health goals with a Q1 challenge I have taken it upon myself to work on clearing out my 200-bottle beer cellar. I had originally proposed to my wife that I would make this a 40-in-40 Lent Challenge. Those of you who know her can anticipate her reaction. My argument – Jesus turned water into wine at the end of a wedding when people had already had their fill of wine, thus he clearly has no issue with my drinking. Further, as I like Jesus and not religion what better way to combat the shackles of religion than a drinking challenge around a popular religious series of days?

So here I am, relegated to the shortest month of the year. The 28-in-28 Challenge. I have to drink 28 different beers in 28 days. Not necessarily 28 beers I’ve never had – I’ll try to track as many of those down as I can – but 28 different beers in 28 days. And my goal is to have one of my own brewed before this is done.

Oh, and I’m not alone. My buddy in brewing, beer and blues is worth reading as well: jrazyblog.

Cheers!
Rick.