Three Heads Brewing Co. out of Rochester, New York has been in business for a few years now. They started out active on beer review websites and decided to open up their own brewery. They recently reached my local market and I recently grabbed a bottle of their Java Sutra Coffee Porter.
As we approach what I consider to be the day of stout beer, St. Patrick’s Day, I decided to remove from my beer fridge and sample the Big John Imperial Stout from Goose Island. To help combat the 11.5% ABV, Goose Island added cacao nips to this beer which should add some nice chocolate notes.
During a recent trip to Maryland, I grabbed a bottle of Heavy Seas Bourbon Barrel Aged Siren Noire – an Imperial Stout brewed with chocolate and aged in bourbon barrels (of course). I hadn’t seen this one in the Philadelphia area yet, so the choice was easy. At 9.5% ABV, I’m expecting rich chocolatey notes with some bourbon and oak undertones.
Oyster stouts have always been a, “Oh that’s pretty cool” beer for me and only recently have I begun seeking them out. They offer another twist on my favorite malt-centric style, bringing a bit of ocean saltiness and brine into play. When these flavors are kept local (to me), as with the Flying Dog Pearl Necklace, it makes it all the more irresistible.
Skull Splitter. Skull Splitter. Such a good name for a beer that I had to say it twice. This one almost jumped off the shelf and into my hands, without even finding out what it is. So what is it? The Skull Splitter is a 8.5% ABV Scotch/Wee Heavy ale from Orkney Brewery in Scotland. The bottle is adorned with an angry looking viking, arms crossed over his axe. Let’s see if the beer can live up to such a great name, and label adornment.
