Archive for the ‘Beers’ Category
What is Bikini Fishing?
With the The Pro Water Ski Tour coming to town this August, we have an imperative question to ask you: What is Bikini Fishing?
In conjunction with the Pro Ski Tour Event, (to be held at Juneau Park Pond), we will host a Bikini Fishing contest. Why not? This is clearly an awesome idea.
Only one problem though. We’re not sure what this new sport entails. Please detail your coherent response as a comment, and we will award a FREE CASE OF BEER to the person who is able to adequately describe this contest.
Lakefront Irish Style Stout
HOLY CRAP!! I’m like 40 min away from losing the “post 2 blogs in a week” bet! ..good thing I remembered! 
So its about that time of the year that the “Irish style” beers start coming out.. why not review one!
This one from Lakefront pours out nice and dark with a light brown head. Its got some good head retention and a lot of lacing. Its a great stout with a hint of smokiness to it. I’d talk about it more but then it would be after 9 when I post this..
SCORE!! I win!
Dark Horse Brewing “Cream Stout Too”
So I haven’t written a blog in a while. I haven’t written a blog about beer in even LONGER.. but on Saturday night while chatting with a friend a bet was made. I’ll spare you the details but it has something to do with 2 blogs, a week and a case of wine. I think he is relying on the fact that everyone at the party was cross eyed when we made the bet, and I think hes hoping I forget about it.. I’ll show him!
I walked into the cave to decide what I wanted to blog about and I came across the Dark Horse Brewing stuff and I thought “they make some great beer.. but aren’t very well known, lets do that” then I was about to grab their “Crooked Tree IPA” and made a quick change to their “Cream Stout Too” becuase… why not!
As I started pouring this it reminded me of the Goose Island Burbon County or the Oskar Blues 10-Fiddy, jet black and pours like motor oil. This slightly concerned me since I wasn’t planning on getting hammered on one beer. The chocolate brown head filled the glass but soon settled to a nice thin layer over the top.
I took a big drink and like the rest of their beer was glad I picked this one. Theres big flavors of roasted malt and LOTS of dark chocolate but its relatively quick for as thick as it pours and its not overly sweet. Also theres not a really bitter finish that you can get with some of the really big stouts.
Overall a very balanced beer and another solid entry form the folks at Dark Horse!
3.5/5 Blatzies
Wine Class Schedule
Blatz Market and Liquor Wine Class and Tasting Schedule
Wine Classes by Professional Wine Consultants
Certified Sommelier Nate Norfolk will be hosting wine classes on every third Wenesday, right here at the Blatz. You will taste at least six wines plus there is a power point presentation and snacks.
The cost of the class is $20.
Wednesday, January 20th
Six Great Grapes
New to wine, or just need a refresher course? In this class you will get to taste classic examples of the six leading wine varietals and find out about their history and rise to prominence.
Wednesday, February 17th
Port and Fortified Wines
The perfect way to warm yourself up in the dead of the winter, Port and other fortified wines have a centuries old history and were once the beverage of choice among the aristocracy.
Wednesday, March 17th
Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles…
Champagne may be the most popular sparkling wine, but there is whole world of other bubbles out there for all occasions. This class always opens minds and mouths.
Wednesday, April 21st
Syrah/Shiraz
One of the worlds greatest up and coming grape varieties is made in a variety of styles from its home in the Rhone Valley of France to Australia and more recently Washington state.
Wednesday, May 19
Chillin and Grillin
Summer really is the time for wine and this class will prove it. We will drink some summer sippers and patio pounders that will make you think twice about grilling with a beer in your hand.
Point Nude Beach Summer Wheat
This time we grabbed a beer from the 5th oldest continuously operating brewery remaining in the United States, Point Brewery. You only have a few more weeks left to grab this guy, the brewery stops putting it out July 31st!
This is an unfiltered wheat ale that is well balanced using “au naturel” raw and red wheat, then finished with Yakima hops. Its got a pretty weak head but a nice golden color. Its a little light on the wheat beer side, you could definitely put several of them back in one sitting.
For the price its a good deal, plus you get a sweet label with a bunch of implied nudity!
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron Brown Ale
..this is attempt number 3 to post this blog and I have yet to figure out to copy it before I hit “publish” so its also going to be time number 3 writing it! *shakes fist at computer*
For anyone familiar with Dogfish Head brewery you know they don’t mess around when it comes to their beer. The Palo Santo (holy tree) Marron Brown Ale is no exception. It is aged in Paraguayan Palo Santo barrels that are typically used by wine makers. This Friggin’ beer is 12% ABV but you would never know it! You definitely get some caramel and vanilla flavors but the most interesting flavor comes from the wood its aged in. There are also some familiar flavors that you would recognize from a traditional brown ale. The $13.99 a four pack these guys cost is totally worth it, I don’t know how long I’ll be carrying it though so if you want it hurry down!
Magic Hat’s Wacko!
I typically order a good variety of seasonal beers but this one definitely peaked my curiosity being brewed with beet extract and all. I actually sold through the first case in less then a week and didn’t even get to try one making it even more intriguing to me. So since I haven’t written a blog in a while I figured this would be a good pick!
The first thing you notice is the slight pinkish color, not quite as deep as a berry weis, but certainly noticeable. Nothing too crazy on the nose, but I’m also just getting over a cold so I’m sure that doesn’t help. I gave it a good swig, thankfully the beet isn’t over powering. In fact, the beet barley comes through except for a little bit on the finish. I was a little surprised considering Magic Hat’s #9 and H.IPA and others I have had, it makes sense though. Most summer seasonal are light easy drinking beers that you can put quite a few back in one sitting. I would say that is a pretty accurate description of the Wacko, but If you want to try it, stop in!
Abita Turbo Dog
…Yes I’m bad at keeping this up to date. I know this! I’m SORRY! Since the last time I did get a bunch of new beer in that I will go over quickly before I get into my “Turbodog” review.
New last week: Abita; Turbodog, Purple haze. Bear Republic; Racer 5, Red Rocket. Horny Goat; Exposed, Belgium Wheat, Hopped and Horny. Also Goose Island Matilda. Now onto my review of “Turbodog”
The label for “Turbodog” is pretty plain, the front doesn’t give you much of an indication of what your getting, those boys in Louisiana must all think we’ve all had it before! Upon some further investigation (turning the bottle around) I learned its a dark brown ale…. kinda. Its brewed with several different malts and fermented using an German ALT yeast.
This hodgepodge of brewing brings out the characteristics of a dark ale and some of the flavors of a stout with out the bitter finish. I’d have another, but I wouldn’t have named it “Turbodog” unfortunately they didn’t ask me!
Summer Shandy is in!
So today I got a few new beers in however a few I was expecting didn’t make it in this week. But thats OK.
Its apparently the return of Summer Shandy already but you wouldn’t know it from the weather.
New Glarus has a new one, “Black Wheat” that I haven’t tried yet so I couldn’t tell you much about it.
I got “Gordon” by Oskar Blues which I am looking forward to trying. Its a mix of a double IPA and an Imperial red.. and it comes in a can!
I got the last case that my distributor had of Tyranena’s “Dirty Old Man” which is one from their Brewers Gone Wild collection. Its an Imperial Rye Porter aged in rye whiskey barrels.
…and on the uninteresting but convenient page we have re-sealable 16oz aluminum bottles of Miller Lite in 9 packs. Thrilling, I know!
Beer tasting tomorrow! 5-7!!
Ale Asylum Hopalicious
Ale Asylum Hopalicious Available at the Blatz Market & Liquor
Ale Asylum is “Bottled in Madison – Brewed in Sanity”… which sounds questionable, at best. With eleven separate additions of hops in the recipe, Hopalicious may not typically appeal to those who consider themselves “adverse” to “hoppy” beers. But Ale Asylum keeps it on the straight and narrow with this local favorite.
Hopalicious is sweet and smooth, which are characteristics rarely associated with such a huge dose of hops. Ofcourse, if you’re desperately in search for the hoppiest of hops flavored beers out there, Ale Asylum won’t let you down either. The flavor of hops stays true, without giving you a smack in the back of the mouth like many hopped up variety.
Stocked regularly in the Blatz Market and Liquor, you can find this beer both in our Blatz Cave and in our Build Your Own 6 Pack Cooler tonight!