Gotland, Right Proper Brewing Company

Very smoky, it almost tastes like a porter and a nice smoked pork sandwich combined. Definetly not something I would plan on drinking all night, but something that would be fun to drink and talk about...Mexican to Indian.

Enjoyed at a local D.C. bar that produces it's own beer, with what I think was a little jazz duo playing live. Beer and sax!

Before this I had tier The Duke, which was dry and effervescent in the same way champagne can be. Also good.

What did I do before I came here? Watched some Attack on Titan anime on Netflix. Spoiler alert: The show fakes you out, makes you think the hero is dead, thrills you with the mystery and violence of a ripped six pack having martial arts wielding Titan who fights titans, and disappoints you by revealing that the titan was the hero all along, hanging out in the nape if the Titans neck.

Before the bar but after the Netflix? I went to Georgetown and bought some leather boat shoes. They were well worn floor samples, with a $25 discount. Time will tell if it wa a good decision.

This beer is growing on me as a great sipper. But if I had had it with the sandwich it would have been too much. I could see this being very good with cheese.

I brought my Chocolate City growler with me and I need to figure out what to get to take home.

The beer...B+.

Red Nectar Nectar Ale, Paso Robles, CA

This is another beer I got from the beer summit.  I have never seen this beer before nor have I heard of it.  The beer pours an amber red color.  Very light on hop characters.  Has a very sweet taste, with almost a honey taste.  The beer feels very heavy for an amber beer.  This beer I would consider OK.  I probably wouldn't buy it if I saw it again.  I don't recommend it. 

Banner Beer Co. American Rye Ale, Williamsburg, MA

This is another beer I got from volunteering at the beer summit.  The Banner American Rye Ale is a dark rye ale.  It pours a a dark brown color.  The beer only has 4% alcohol.  Its what is known as a session beer, which are beers between 4 and 5 percent abv.  They call them session beers because you have a few if them in a session.  Session beers have been popular around Boston, with breweries such as Notch that only brew session beers.  When I talked with the banner brewer he mentioned all his beers were going to be session beers.  This beer is really good.  Easy to drink.  Has hop characteristics like a pale ale.  With using rye instead of malts, there's more of a bitter taste which is expected.  Overall I recommend this beer.  Give it a try if you see it in a liquor store. 

Atwater's Brewery Lager, Detroit, MI

I got a large amount of various beers while volunteering at the Beer Summit Spring Festival at Castle in the Park Plaza Hotel here in Boston.  A lot of the beers I got are harder to find.  The Atwater's lager out of Detroit.  Its a very easy to drink lager.  Reminds me of German style lagers.  Lighter and less malt flavors than American lagers like Sam Adams and Brooklyn.  If you are looking for a German style lager that's light I definitely recommend this. 

Mystery Seizoensbier (Seasonal White?), Amsterdam, Netherlands

I fell of my chair in this bar...well, really kind of an outdoor cafe by a canal on a beautiful day in Amsterdam. I was completely sober. Factors:

- 2 hour time difference from previous destination.

- All night 7 hour flight, sleepless.

- Hungry

The biggest factor was that the canal sidewalk with the table was at quiet an angle, as reflected in the beer in my glass also resting at quite an angle.

The beer was I think a nice white seasonal. I think I remember it having a fruity taste. Nothing unexpected. B.

I think I had shifted to stand up or something and next thing I know I fell hard on the sidewalk, my glass spilled and eventually shattered. Total embarrassment, but I shrugged it off.

Hijs'm Oatmeal Milk Stout, Brouwerij De Prael, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Enjoying a fine Dutch beer, in Amsterdam. I guess the brewery, Brouwerij De Prael, is organic. Around the corner and slightly down the street is also a store with bottles, glasses, etc.

I'm drinking the Hijs'm Oatmeal Milk Stout, 8.1% and a steal (maybe?) at only €3.50. Thick and not very carbonated, served in a tulip glass. Has a sweet chocolate-coffee taste. Good, nothing wow inducing though. B...I wish my girlfriend was here.

Also, I just noticed in the restroom that I am either tan, flush, or sun burned. And the sink faucet is a beer tap. It won't stay open unless you apply pressure to it.

Before the stout I had one of their IPAs, either the Nick & Simon or the Johnny Green Label. But it doesn't matter; the nice young man serving them behind the bar gave me samples of each. The IPAs were both good. B.

Update: I looked at my receipt and it was Johnny Green Label.

Ron del Barrilito

We bought this Ron del Barrilito in Puerto Rico during the summer of 2013, it's been sitting in my liqour cabinet since then.

Very fun label, almost distinguished looking. I really like the clean white look of the label and cap. The gold foil effect with embossing on some parts also looks good.

The label, neck, and inside of the cap are all decorated by a cherubish child with a small barrel.

The rum is very nice, smooth but still with some kick. It has a very pleasant strong wood flavors, appropriate since the name is basically "from the little barrel." Also slight sweetness. A+

Berkshire Brewing Co. Lost Sailor IPA

Had the BBC Lost Sailor IPA on draft at a bar called the Asgard in Cambridge.  Its a very easy to drink IPA.  Has a mild floral smell and taste.  A very sessionable IPA. 
The brewery is from western MA.  Very easy to find on draft or bottle around Boston.  I definitely recommend giving it a try.  Along with the Harpoon IPA , a good way to introduce someone to the IPA style.

Cerveceria 5 de Mayo Osadia Ale Oscura

Tryng a Mexican craft beer, Osadia dark ale. Made in Puebla, Mexico, but bought in Boca del Rio, Veracruz (still Mexico). I wasn't there, but my traveling companion went to a liqour store by the mall to look for a local rum I had noticed. 

I'm not sure if the brewery is Arte en Maltas (Art in Malts) or Cerveceria 5 de Mayo, since both are named on the bottle and cap. I had already known there was more of a beer scene in Mexico then we can see from here in the states, but I was surprised by what I saw at a Belgian beer bar in Puebla.

This was bought in late December. The label is fun and appropriately Mexican. We also bought their Saga white ale. This beer was a dark ale, but when held up to the light it was more a dark caramel. At first taste it was very drinkable and almost creamy. Further drinking revealed some bitterness and and an unplaceable aftertaste (plasticky?). Full disclosure: my companion used this glass to make herself a michelada a few days ago and maybe she didn't wash it out right. I'll give this a B.

Enjoyed at home on a telework day.

Sam Adams Cherry Chocolate Bock

The Cherry Chocolate Bock by Sam Adams came in the Sam Adams winter mix pack.  Its the first year I've seen this beer.  It pours a black color. Very strong taste of chocolate with just a hint of cherry.   I'm generally not a fan of fruity beers but I have to say this beer works well.  Its a good beer to have on a cold day.  I'd imagine it would go well with a desert.  Especially a slice of cheesecake.  I definitely recommend this.  Even if your not a big fan of the style. 

Two Roads Honeyspot Road White IPA

Bought during the holidays at the Whole Foods in WestHartford. I wanted to take some things from Connecticut with me, along with a beer I found that would fun for a Hanukkah dinner. The label says it's from Stratford; it is a pretty fun design. The label on the neck has what appears to be a VW van drawing and the back of the bottle has a clear sticker of pulley hook with the number two.

The beer is effervescent and tastes like what it is, citrusyness of a white ale and piney taste of an IPA. But maybe not as good as an actual dedicated version of either, B.

3 Stars Samsquanch White IPA

Enjoyed at Shaw's Tavern right after the previous Right Proper post (after another beer for each of us at the previous place), this 3 Stars Samsquanch white IPA had a slight bite.  The "type" says it, like an IPA and a white ale. Not as bitter as an IPA.  We gave it a B.

A local D.C. beer from a relatively new local brewery.  She had a White Rascal from a can (in a pint glass) and an Allagash White on tap. My beer was also in a pint glass.

Good ambiance with live music; we split a burger with bacon and avocado accompanied by truffle fries.

Right Proper Brewing Company Häxan Robust Porter and Raised By WolvesAromatic Pale Ale

At a new brewery bar in Shaw, D.C., Right Proper.  The Raised By Wolves pale ale had by my companion was a little bitter, not too filling or heavy, B-.  She said she was biased against "that kind of beer."  

The beer on the left (above), is the porter.  It was a little bitter and flavorful, with and coffee and chocolate flavors.  We had them in 20 oz glasses; my companion liked the rounded shapes that subtly open up at the top. B, nothing special but good.

The bar is new with a lively ambience and allows for conversation because there isn't loud music. We just stood because the wait for a table was one hour.

We were both thirsty from drinking a couple of Bloody Mary's earlier in the day when we were teleworking during a snow day. We probably should have had more water before we came here.