Each year at the Churchill’s Pub & Grille in San Marcos, California, Port Brewing Company releases their anticipated Churchill’s Finest Hour. This massive 11% ABV Imperial Stout is a blend of (I believe) Older Viscosity and Serpent’s Stout aged in bourbon barrels. The result is a rich, decadent and complex stout that showcases master blending and quality control.
If there’s another Double IPA to live up to what we experienced with Citra from Kern River, it would be another beer by the same guys! Their 5th Anniversary Ale is a Double IPA, and depending upon who you ask, is as good or better than Citra. From Kernville, CA this 8% ABV Double IPA exemplifies the same “west coast” IPA qualities as Citra: citrusy, juicy and equally bitter.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! In this episode, we’re drinking green beer. But, this is no dyed beer, instead it’s the “naturally” green beer Magic Ghost from Brasserie Fantôme in Soy, Belgium. This Saison / Farmhouse Ale is made with green tea and other spices, although we’re not entirely sure the green tea alone causes the green appearance.
The third installment of Founders Backstage Series is Curmudgeon’s Better Half, an 11.9% ABV Old Ale. Formerly known as Kaiser’s Curmudgeon, this re-branding is their Curmudgeon beer aged in bourbon barrels that previously held Michigan maple syrup. So, an Old Ale brewed with molasses, aged on oak and then in maple syrup bourbon barrels – whoa.
The Bruery Provisions shop in California is home to many one-off limited releases. This time, the Orange County based brewery put out Mother Funker, a golden ale aged in oak barrels. Said to be their most sour beer yet, Shane and Nick open this one for Nick’s “Golden Birthday” – his 25th on February 25th.
