Winewench and I haven’t been going anywhere new lately.
Our weekly outings have been limited to stopping by Yard House, mainly because lately we’ve been interested in beer on Fridays and frankly Yard House has the best selection of beers we like, and it’s nearby.
That all changes this weekend, with the arrival of Aces & Ales Strong Beer Festival.
Claiming 60+ of some of the strongest beers in the world, we just had to go.
We arrived about 4:30 on Friday, and the place was already busy, but we managed to secure a spot at the bar.
While you could still get your beers by the pint, with so many to try we opted to purchase the 7 ounce “taster” glass, which included your first draft for $14, including your first draft. This allowed you to try 7 ounce “tastes” at $4 a pop, and you can use the glass all weekend.
Right out of the gate I opted for a Ballast Point Sculpin IPA. Ballast Point Brewery, out of San Diego, has both craft beers and spirits, and is definitely on our “must visit” list the next time we get down to San Diego. Light and crisp, it was a great beer to start the evening.
Winewench, who decided that when we are drinking beer wants to be known as Beer Frau, opted for a Widmer Brothers’ Reserve Prickly Pear Braggot, and pronounced it as a “YUM”. This is an extremely limited release beer, only 400 barrels, so if you find some, snatch it up.
Next I tried the Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg Samiclaus Bier listed by the Guiness Book of World Records as the “strongest lager beer in the world”. With a 14% ABV I don’t doubt it. it turned out to be much too sweet for my taste, but Beer Frau loved it, and gladly took the rest. In the meantime her glass of Moylan’s Kilt Lifter Port Barrel went untouched, the victim of a “YUK”.
Moving on, I tried a Rogue XS Imperial Stout. Nice creamy texture with chocolate and coffee. Beer Frau moved on to a Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine, which again elicited a “YUM”.
Beer Frau then tried a Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Old Toe-Sucker Barleywine, which she rated an “ICK”, which is slightly better than a “YUK”. In the meantime, I had tried both a Deschutes Hop Henge and a Pyramid Breweries Outburst, both satisfyingly hoppy and eminently drinkable
But the best was yet to come.
At 7pm, a small keg of Ballast Point Sea Monster Stout was personally delivered by Jack White and Yuseff Cherney, the founder/owner and head brewer, and tapped. It was the high point of the night. Full, rich and creamy, we both had several glasses.
The Strong Beer Festival is running the entire weekend, and we plan on returning for more great beers.
...And This Is Why We Drink™
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