Cellar Inventory 2-8-12

Related posts:

1. New Wines and Cheeses at Imbibe Wine
2. New Wines at Imbibe Wine plus Upcoming Events
3. Wine Classes & New Wines at Imbibe

Shmaltz Albino Python – 22oz $5.50    6% abv.
A semi-clear golden color. A cross between a clean lager and a wheat beer.  The smell caught my attention. Herbs/Spices definitely mask most other components. Some sweetness in the background. Taste revealed a lot of the smells to me. The main spice is definitely ginger. I couldn’t mistake that spice. Malt is subtle, but its sweetness compliments the ginger well. In the end, the ginger spice is the only thing that lingers, and it does so for a while. I recommend this beer and enjoy it very much.

Shmaltz  Coney Island Sword Swallower 22oz $5.50   7.25% abv.
Pours a slightly hazy straw with an orangish core. Beautiful, thick white head – 2 fingers high sits on top with great retention and gorgeous lacing.  Smells of a well projected tangerine and pine with some metallic overtones. Layered and pleasant.  Taste is an dry rush of bitter hops and sticky sour orange and pencil lead, with some supportive malts that sit in the center rear of the tongue. Orange/tangerine lasts long into the finish with a decent bitterness left .

Shmaltz Reunion Ale 2011 22oz. $7.50     7.3% abv.

Very deep brown, mahogany in color. Looks almost black. Good looking, creamy tan head. Excellent retention and lace.  Lots of toffee and caramel up front. Cocoa and vanilla come in and blend very well. Toffee flavor comes in first, followed by some cocoa powder, and a bit of vanilla. An interesting spice feel from the peppers, which adds a nice complexity. Spicy note lingers for a while.  Medium body, with a great creamy feel. Alcohol seems hidden pretty well. A very nice, complex, and interesting beer for a good cause.

Shmaltz Coney Lager 22opz $5.50   5.5% abv.

Appearance is bright amber orange with a moderate amount of bubbles. Decent two fingers of off white head fades into a thin layer. Decent amount of lacing.  Smell is lots of malts with plenty of caramel. Some of the malts smell lightly toasted. Big presence of Pilsner yeast. Hints of nuts and maybe a little rye. Also some grassy hops. Fairly complex and full aroma.  Taste is like the smell, pretty complex and bold for a American lager. Big carnival of malts with lots of caramel, toffee, and toasty bread. Has some nutty characteristics and a little hint of spice. Also some grassy and herbal hops lingering in the background. Tastes great.  Crisp, smooth, and slightly chewy.  Overall a  nicely complex and very tasty lager. Very bold flavor and nicely balanced. One of the better American lagers out there.

Shock Top Pumpkin Beer 12oz $1.50   5.5% abv.
Pours a murky copper color with a 1 inch foamy white head that settles to a film. Random streaks of lace cling to the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, pumpkin puree, sugars, and typical pumpkin pie spices. Taste is exactly like the smell with a very sweet malt flavor to go along with the pumpkin and spices. This beer has a good level of carbonation on tap with a crisp and clean mouthfeel. Every aspect of the beer was bumped up a notch to make this serving type a pretty good one. I would definitely recommend trying this one!

Buffalo Bill Brewery  Pumpkin Ale 12 oz $1.70   5.2% abv.

Pours an orangey amber color. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and some cloves on nose. A touch of pumpkin in the background. The spices seem to dominate. Spices dominate followed by a rounded pumpkin flavor. A bit of malt, nothing too complicated or strong. No hop character that comes through as far as I can detect. Medium to light bodied. Smooth and slick feeling. Overall, a nice easy drinking beer.

Related posts:

1. New Brews at Imbibe Wine
2. Weekly Beer Review at Imbibe Wine & Spirits
3. New Brews at Imbibe

Related posts:

1. Rombauer Winemaker Dinner | August 26th, 2011 | 7 PM | $85
2. Mt. Veeder Winemaker Dinner | Oct. 20th, 2010 | $69
3. Meyer Family Cellars Winemaker Dinner at BCC | Saturday, March 26th, 2011 | 6 PM

Related posts:

1. MEET, GREET & EAT: Firestone-Walker Brewing Co. + Gourmet Sausages | July 15, 2010 | $15
2. MEET, GREET & EAT: Firestone-Walker Brewing + Pasta Night | June 30th
3. **CANCELLED**Firestone-Walker Beer Run | Oct. 10th, 2010 | $55

Related posts:

1. BCC WINEMAKER DINNER | October 20th, 2011 | $89
2. Bruichladdich Tasting and Dinner @ The Bistro – Oct. 24th, 2009

Upcoming Beer Events:  Kern River Beer  Bus  Sept 18^th

Meet, Greet & Eat: Unibroue Brewing (Canadian) + Gourmet Bangers – Sept 22^nd

Meet, Greet & Eat: Schmaltz Brewing  + Gourmet Tacos - Oct. 12

Meet, Greet & Eat: Stone Brewing + Gourmet Ribs – Nov 9th

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Pumpkin Ale, Kern River Brewing $4.99 22 oz.

This fall seasonal ale is brewed with real pumpkin and a hint of allspice. It pours slightly orange in color with a light sweetness and spicy finish. The really beautiful thing about this beer is that it, like all of the Kern River beers, display amazing depth and flavor, yet still retain a balance that makes you enjoy it drink after drink after drink.  This is a beer  that is made to get you into the mindset of fall and definitely is no trick and all treat.  This is also a beer whose supply only lasts for about 2 weeks, so be sure to swing by today and pick up your half dozen.

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Life and Limb – Brown Ale, Sierra Nevada Brewing  $10.99 25 oz. 10.2% abv.

Chestnut brown as it pours, a very dark brown when in the glass, when held the  light you can see it is clear, and a dark brown. The head is soft, dense and fluffy, tan in color. The head seems to last forever on this guy.  There is a nice earthy smell, a sweetness with woodsy syrup smells, and caramelized malts. There is a slight amount of booze in it, as well as some root beer notes. Toasted malts flavor hits first, this is followed by a bitterness and earthy flavor, followed by a lingering syrupy sweetness and finishing out with another hit form the hops. Complex, and interesting.  The body is medium heavy, but leaning towards the heavy side. There is a nice smooth creaminess to the feel. The carbonation is fine in size, and plenty abundant. Very nice.  Overall very interesting, great mouth feel, the flavor is interesting and complex, and it would be a great beer to have with some dark chocolate or a cigar.

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Stone 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA $6.50 22oz. 10.8% abv.

Pours a jet black color with brown highlights. The head is thick, two fingers, and a dark tan color, which takes a while to dissipates and leaves some nice lacing.The scent is very earthy, a serious hop aroma is coming from the glass, even at a slight distance. There is a slightly roasted scent as well, but it is masked by the strong floral hop presence.  This is a tasty beer! There is a lot more to this beer than you’d expect from the smell. I was expecting all hops, but there is a nice mocha and roasted flavor that goes along well with the hops. Finishes with bitters that stick around for a while in the palate.  Medium bodied with little carbonation. There is a nice mocha and hop feel in the palate. This is without question one of the best Black IPAs.

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Smashed Pumpkin, Shipyard Brewing  $8.99 22oz. 9% abv.

Color is light for a pumpkin. Almost golden yellow, only slightly orange/brown. Big, bubbly head and a fully carbonated body. Spices pop out but don’t stand out like a pie spices. Light grains back up the spice character. Light malt body for the flavor. Crisp almost like a pale or pilsner malt was used. A lot of carbonation in the light body. Once again vibrant but loaded with nutmeg, cinnamon and pumpkin. Bubbly finish with the spices lingering over some sour malts. Great beer for the Holidays.

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P.S. I expect  the seasonal release for October Fest brews and holiday blends to be arriving soon, so please keep an eye out on our web site for these new arrivals.

Related posts:

1. New Brews at Imbibe Wine & Spirits
2. New Brews at Imbibe Wine
3. New Brews at Imbibe

Related posts:

1. Kern River Brewing Beer Bus | Sept. 18th, 2011
2. Mazzei Sangiovese Seminar | Sept. 23rd, 2010 | $29
3. Imbibe Wine Dinner | Monday, August 1st | $39

 LIVE MUSIC

*EVERY TUESDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY*

AT IMBIBE WINE & SPIRITS

Tuesdays from 6:00 – 8:30 pm

Fridays from 6:30 – 9:30 pm

Saturdays from 7:00 – 9:30 pm

Friday, September 2nd

Pianist/Vocalist Dena Reynolds

Saturday, September 3rd

Vocalist Zanne Zarow & Saxophonist Mark Meyer

Tuesday, September 6th

Guitarist Paul Cierley & Bassist Rick Lincoln

Friday, September 9th

*Special Event*

The Adventures of Rodeo & Juliet

w/ Guitarist/Vocalist Chris Harris & Vocalist Jan Harris

On tour from Nashville TN

Saturday, September 10th

Vocalist Candace Freeman & Trumpeter Mike Raney

Monday, September 13th

Guitarist Paul Cierley & Bassist Rick Lincoln

Friday, September 16th

Guitarist/Vocalist Bunky Spurling

Saturday, September 17th

Vocalist Kama Ruby & Trumpeter Mike Raney

Tuesday, September 20th

Vocalist Lawanda Smith & Trumpeter Steve Eisen

Friday, September 23rd

Guitarist/Vocalist Michael Montano

Saturday, September 24th

Guitarist Paul Cierley, Bassist Rick Lincoln & Trumpeter Steve Eisen

Tuesday, September 27th

Saxophonist Mark Meyer, Trumpeter Steve Eisen & Special Guest Vocalist Pasha

Friday, September 30th

Guitarist/Pianist/Vocalist Terry Huston

Related posts:

1. LIVE MUSIC: The Adventures of Rodeo & Juliet | Nov. 24th – 5 PM | No Cover Charge!

Great Summer brews have just arrived – must tries for the Dog Days of August.

Trippel Belgian Style Ale – Green Flash Brewing  $8.99 22oz.

Rich pale malt flavors provide a solid base for zesty Styrian Golding and Czech Saaz hopping. Trappist ale yeast contributes the fruity, spicy profile of classic, monk-brewed, Belgian ales.This Trippel is luscious, fiery, golden brew and a contemporary rendition of traditional Belgian Trippel.

ABV: 9.7% | IBU’s: 24

Summer Saison Green Flash Brewing $8.49  22oz

Golden yellow in color with a thin and bubbly white head to. Pretty nice lacing on the glass as I drank it. The aroma has some crisp, pilsner like malts to it mixing with some Belgian yeast spice. I get a little clove to it out of the yeast. Some brighter, refreshing lemony citrus is present as well. The taste shows a lot of the Belgian yeast spice throughout the flavor. Midway some of the sweeter grainy malts come through, while in the finish I get more of a bitter citrus rind presence. The mouth feel is light with carbonation being above average. Overall it was a pretty good beer, but not outstanding in the style. It was flavorful and pretty easy drinking but the spice and bitter citrus rind felt a little harsh at times. Overall an enjoyable beer though.

ABV: 4.5 IBU’s: 20

Lucky 13 Amber Ale  Lagunitas Brewing $4.99  22oz. 9% alc.

Amber, orangey/copper color, very mildly cloudy. Short bubbly white head with lots of lacing. Apples, grapefruits, bananas. Belgian yeasts, fresh hop aroma, bitter malts and some honey-influenced sweetness. A very aromatic brew. Big fresh hop mouth feel with bitter malt and Belgian yeast flavors. Moderately fruity with apples, grapefruits, bananas, and maybe even candied plums in the mix. Earthy and piney, with a bready/wheat beer characteristics. Very well put together body overall. 8.5%ABV is a great percentage for the body, very smooth. Bitter, earthy, fruity and malty brew. Medium body with medium carbs. Really a fantastic amber. A great investment for amber or red ale lovers.

Conflux No.2 White IPA Deschutes Brewing $8.49 22oz.- msut   7.3%Alc. IBU’s 60

Pours out a clear, straw yellow with fluffy white head that fell slowly to leave a film on top of the beer. It has a nice spicy aroma. i get orange, coriander, lemon grass, white pepper, and spicy yeast. There is also a nice citrus hop aroma with some fresh baked French bread. I also get hints of pear and apple. It is a nice spicy, hoppy wit beer. The aroma comes through quite a bit. citrus hops, lemon grass, orange peel, coriander, yeast, and lots of nice bready malts. The hops also lead into nice melon flavors. Finishes with citrusy, fruity hops, and dry and bitter.

Xingu Brazilan Black Beer Cervejaria Sul Brasileria  $2.49 12oz. $.7% Alc.

Dark Brown/Black with a thin hazel head, very healthy lacing. Very faint aroma of lager yeast. Maybe a bit of caramel/chocolatey sweetness, but really not much to smell.  The weak smell belies a very flavorful dark lager. Almost a cola taste with pale fruity notes that open up on the back. Roasted malts and a hint of coffee and chocolate notes you’d expect from a stout, but very much a lager. Nice, crisp presence. Just enough carbonation to hold up the taste. Leaves a very slight coating on the mouth. Surprisingly light, extremely drinkable. Served cold, goes down easy. The rich flavor and light body make this a great beer to pair with copious amounts of meat.

Don’t forget the Meet & Greet with Kern River Brewing on August 16^th.  Brewers Kyle and Eric  will be  at IMBIBE sharing their brews. Don’t miss this one.

Dan

The Beer Man

Related posts:

1. New Brews At Imbibe
2. New Brews At Imbibe
3. New Brews at Imbibe Wine

Related posts:

1. Kern River Brewing Beer Bus | Sept. 18th, 2011
2. MEET, GREET & EAT: Firestone-Walker Brewing Co. + Gourmet Sausages | July 15, 2010 | $15
3. MEET, GREET & EAT: Firestone-Walker Brewing + Pasta Night | June 30th