Firestone Walker - Sucaba/Abacus

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Got better as it warmed up, but I don't think bourbon barrel aged barleywines are always my thing. Don't think I'd buy this again. The barrel aging just dominates any of the base beer.

Sierra Nevada - Oatmeal Stout (Best of Beer Camp)

Part of the Best of Beer Camp mix pack (not pictured)

Pretty enjoyable.Smooth is the best way to describe it. Not bitter. Nice level of chocolate flavor.

3 out of 5 (It's a good beer, I wouldn't go out of my way to get it again though)

History of Beer with Greg Engert

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Mandy and I went to a class at the Livingsocial space in DC. It ended up consisting of Greg Engert (from Churchkey fame) rambling about the history & origins of beer for two hours. Depending on your interest level in beer, this was either a good thing, or a terrible, terrible thing.

First off, the beer drinking portion consisted of seven 4 oz. pours of a wide range of beers. Here's what I can remember:

Jolly Pumpkin - Bam Noire
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Weizen
Stillwater - Cellar Door
Victory - Hop Devil
Duck Rabbit - Doppelbock
Flying Dog - Pearl Necklace
Tupper's Keller Pils

There was also a table with an assortment of meat, cheeses & olives which people went to town on.

Greg talked non-stop for two 45 minute periods about the history of beer. It was pretty interesting for me, not so much for Mandy. Most interesting point was that all beer probably started out as very smokey & sour due to how grains would be dried and the beer fermented. Mandy was not impressed with the smoked beer:

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

The dude that sat next to me was not impressed with any of his beers. In the back right corner of the picture below, you can see his first two beers still full even after they passed out the second set of beers. He barely touched anything that was put in front of him. I have no idea why he signed up for and attended this class.

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Overall it was a little long and a little pricey. I'm not sure I'd recommend it, but it was certainly a change of pace on a Sunday night.

DC Brau - Deus Ex Machina

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

From a growler

Smells terrific. Very bitter. More on the grapefruit side of hoppy than the piney side. I'd buy it again. 

Doug's Tripel

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

At least I think its supposed to be a tripel. It seems a lot darker in the picture than it was in person.

Extremely carbonated. Letting it sit a few minutes helped it be less prickly.
Nice fruity esters. Sweetness is just right for the style. Enjoyable, I'd drink more if I had them. Thanks Doug!

DC Brau - Oaked Penn Quarter Porter

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Picked up this bottle after a tour of the brewery.

This is pretty tasty, but perhaps a little thin. I guess it is a porter though. The barrel aging isn't overpowering, which is nice. A subtle oakiness and hint of whiskey is present. It works well. Only complaint is it could use a little more carbonation.

And: Debuting at the request of my devoted followers is the following rating:

4 out of 5 (Its a good beer, and I'd potentially buy it again)

Cisco - Whales Tale Pale Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Some friends brought this over share.

Not bad. Bready malts. Only a slight hint of bitterness at the end. The best by date was in April on this bottle, although another in the six pack that I drank had a date of December and didn't taste much different.

I wouldn't buy it, but I'll certainly drink the other remaining beer in the fridge.

Great Divide - Barrel Aged Old Ruffian

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Oh man. This is delicious. Great fig and raisin flavor, with some vanilla there from the barrel aging. Its really good. Hops come through a little. Very good, very enjoyable (and better be for the price). 

Cigar City - Riverwalk Dry Hopped Pale Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Pretty easy drinking. For something billed as "dry hopped" I didn't think it was that aromatic. Nice enough. I did not get a second.

Epic - Straight Up Saison

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

3 Stars - Urban Farmhouse

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

You can definitely tell its high alcohol. The peppercorns impart almost a smokey taste (vs. peppery). Enjoyable enough, but expensive.

DC Brau - Your Favorite Foreign Movie

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Very light. Noble hops come through. Nice enough. Not sure I'd recommend it.

Also. Rant about beer names: Why the fuck would you name your beer this? I guess its not that ridiculous, but having to shout "I want a Your Favorite Foreign Movie" at a bartender is awkward for everyone involved in the transaction.

Oliver's - A human must never say no to an ape

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Super Dark!
Cask with ginger root and lemon peel

It smells like floor cleaner. Tastes slightly better. The ginger is really prevalent and it would definitely be better had they left it out. Otherwise a nice drinking blonde ale.

Allagash at Meridian Pint

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Part of yet another DC beer week event. There was a crazy amount of Allagash on tap, including two vintages of Confluence, some barrel aged beers, one coolship beer and other beers I had not heard of.

Goulschip - on the right Definitely tart. That's all I really get. It's brewed with pumpkin and an assortment of other things, but its just tart. Definitely enoyable though. (And the first Allagash coolship beer I've had). Yakuza - on the left Tripel dry hopped with sorachi ace & cascade hops It doesn't seem as sweet as I remember their standard tripel. I didn't get too much out of the dry hopping. Nice enough. Saison Mihm - (Not Pictured) This was really enjoyable. Dry and slightly spicy. Recommended. Confuence 2011 - (Not Pictured) Something didn't come together for me on this. The brett is more pronounced, but its not as "bright" as I remembered. Maybe better fresh?

DC Brau - Barrel Aged Beers

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I had these at Meridian Pint, part of a DC beer week event. There were about 6 DC Brau barrel aged beers on tap. Some of them were ridiculous (a barrel aged session IPA?) that I didn't bother to try.

Stone of Arbroath (Barrel Aged) - On the left
Some slight fruitiness comes through. Eh.

Hells Bottom (Barrel Aged) - On the right
The non barrel aged version is far superior. It gets a little lost with the whiskey/etc. Some roasted flavor. Eh.

Weyerbacher - Seventeen

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Courtesy of the Newtster!

This is a "big" saison. Definitely sweet for the style, and under carbonated (for my tastes). Tastes more on the style of a tripel maybe? Not sure I would pick up more, but I certainly wouldn't turn one down.

Stone - Smoker Porter with Chipotle Peppers

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This is actually pretty good. The heat from the peppers works well with the smoked malts. I wouldn't go out of my way to get it again, but its pretty interesting and tasty.

DC Brau & Stillwater - Middle Name Danger

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

From a growler. Very tasty. Slightly bitter. A little peppery. Mabye a little sweeter than I'd like but very enjoyable.

Sierra Nevada & Russian River - Brux

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This was enjoyable enough. The brett was more pronounced in the aroma versus the actual taste. It may be more interesting after a year or two after the brett has been able to do some work, but I'm not that patient. It was substantially more drinkable than the New Belgium Brett Beer though. Pass, for the short term, buy another for the long term?