Revisited! Hop Devil IPA (bottle) - 3.8

Hop Devil
India Pale Ale
Victory Brewing Company
Downington, PA
Alcohol Content: 6.7%
Old score: 3.8 (1/18/2008)

Jon:
I think I like this better the second time around, though it's apparently not reflected in the score. The nose reminds me of beer fest, probably because I seek out the hoppiest beers in the country for an entire evening. Solid brew.

3.7	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 4/5 8/10 3/5 3/5 7/10

Mark:
Bitter and sour! My two favorite flavors. This hits you with a bitter hoppy, lemony flavor, with a slightly sweet alcohol finish. Yum.

3.8	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 3/5 8/10 3/5 5/5 7/10

Jere:
Still as bitter this year as it was last, but I guess it's grown on me after 10 months and a day. I'm not sure why either, except that the beer reviewing has become synonymous with practicing, and is hence, an acquired taste.

3.7	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 9/10 3/5 8/10 2/5 4/5 7/10

Power Outage IPA (growler) - 3.8

Power Outage IPA
India Pale Ale
Rock Bottom Westminster
Westminster, CO
ABV: 6.5%

Jon:
Piney, very subtle. Interesting flavors if you give it a chance, but not hoppy enough at the first sip.

3.6	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 7/10 4/5 7/10 4/5 3/5 7/10

Mark:
This IPA kind of sneaks on you. At first it's a nice pleasant, mellow pale ale, then the hops hit you - bam! And you realize "it's an IPA!" Hooray! Nice hoppy aftertaste.

3.9	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 4/5 8/10 4/5 3/5 8/10

Jere:
This one sneaks up on ya, since it's not quite as bold as our usual IPA selection. I think I could get used to it though. Too bad it's not more widely available.

3.9	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 9/10 3/5 8/10 4/5 3/5 7/10

Halloween with Devotchka

Devotchka likes Halloween. Last year at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, they dressed up as dead mariachis. This year at the Boulder Theater, they were colonial Americans. I love their music, love their shows, and especially love them on Halloween. And they really make me want to buy a theremin. Haven't heard 'em? Go watch Little Miss Sunshine, buy their CDs, and/or catch a concert. You won't be disappointed. Gypsy rock never sounded so good.

On a mostly unrelated note, I dressed as Waldo this year (of "Where's Waldo" fame). Holy hell, I had no idea that I was jumping on the biggest Halloween bandwagon since sheets with eye-holes. Waldos everywhere. But even worse, every other person that passes you on the street decides to harass you with what he thinks is a hilarious quip. So if you ever find yourself dressed up as Waldo for one reason or another, here's some replies for the passersby that can't help but ask "Where have you been?!?!" and die laughing:

• Looking for someone to buy me a drink.
• Trying to find a friggin' restroom.
• Kicking the ass of the last guy who asked.
• Hanging out with your mom, mostly.

You'll be sure to have an interesting night.

-Jon

Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen (bottle) - 3.7

Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen
Märzen/Oktoberfestbier
Paulaner Salvator Thomasbraeu AG
München, Germany
ABV: 5.80%

Jon:
This is some mapley, brown sugary goodness right here. Not overly sweet, just exhibiting all the good qualities of an Oktoberfest bier. Nutty and toasty.

4.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 3/5 8/10 5/5 4/5 8/10

Mark:
I don't have a whole lot to say about this beer. A great cool weather beer, hence the "Oktoberfest" I guess. Still crisp, but with layers of spice and cinnamon.

3.5	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 6/10 3/5 7/10 4/5 4/5 8/10

Jere:
Third time's the charm for the Paulaner nuts. Had this first on tap but it did not agree with me. The second time was bottled, and it started to become a tad more palatable. Now I seem to be enjoying it fully.

3.7	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 7/10 3/5 8/10 3/5 4/5 7/10

GABF Report, 2nd edition

The Great American Beer Festival was a few weeks ago now, but my memory is pretty good when it comes to beers. Props to first-timer Dan for joining Kate, Jim, and I this year, and sorry to the many people that could've gone on Friday night had we gotten tickets sooner. Apparently I was in the mood for uniquely overpowering brews this year, because that's definitely what caught my eye:

• Avery's 15th Anniversary Ale wins my award for uniqueness. Hibiscus and white pepper are strange beer ingredients, but it makes for a surprisingly drinkable (and just plain surprising) brew.
• Rocky Mountain Brewery's Smoked Hefe is wickedly intense. It's nearly as smoky as the last bottle of mezcal that I bought. Liquid smoke.
• Speaking of smoky, Arbor Brewing's Engine #9 is a bit more palatable than Rocky Mountain's Smoked Hefe. Smoked Hefe is like putting a campfire in your mouth. Engine #9 is like cooking smoked bacon in your mouth. Mmmmmmm, bacon.
• Twisted Pine's Oak Whiskey Red picks up a huge alcohol taste from aging in bourbon barrels for 3 months. It tastes a helluva lot like Maker's Mark... I really want to find out where they get their barrels.
• Despite the mildly sexist name, Bull & Bush's Man Beer was one of my favorites of the night. Crisp, intensely earthy hops; like licking grapefruit juice off a pine tree (if you can imagine that being a pleasant experience).
• And to round out the list, Tröegs Brewing's Hopback Amber is quite possibly the most balanced ale I've ever tasted. Nothing overpowering here, just straightforward flavors that stand up to each other nicely.

So there you have it. Another year, another beer fest. Lesson learned this year: If you show up right when the doors are about to open, don't follow the arrows to the end of the line. You'll just end up walking around the entire convention center. Literally.

-Jon

Random update

Oh little beer blog, how I neglect you so. I should be recapping beer fest, but then I saw this and had to share: Cancer-fighting beer

I love science.

-Jon

GABF Tonight

I'll be making my way on over to the sold-out Great American Beer Festival tonight. I know you're maddeningly jealous, it's okay to feel that way. Unfortunately I'm going through some déjà vu... Just like last year, I'm recovering from a cold. And also just like last year, I warmed up with a Skinny Dip last night. Hopefully my sense of taste and smell will be up to par for the onslaught of one-ounce beers that are about to come my way.

-Jon

The Maharaja (bottle) - 4.1

The Maharaja
Imperial India Pale Ale
Avery Brewing
Boulder, CO
ABV: 10.54%

Jon:
Smells of burnt orange and... intensity. Tastes a tad sweet, like molasses, plus a burny taste similar to the aroma. Interesting approach, good complex brew.

4.2	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 9/10 4/5 8/10 4/5 5/5 8/10

Mark:
This is intense! It starts out with a huge hop burst with lemony and floral flavors coming through. There's almost a sweet raisin-type thing going on, trying to balance out those hops. Of course, at 10.54% ABV, there's a warm mellow alcohol taste and fairly warm finish with a nice bitter aftertaste.

4.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 9/10 3/5 7/10 3/5 5/5 8/10

Jere:
Raisins, you say? Here?! I must warn the others--oh no, I've been shot!! By a 10.54% beer, that is. I've heard of 3.2 beers, but this is ridiculous. Not a good idea for a productive night of band practice.

4.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 8/10 4/5 8/10 2/5 5/5 8/10

Mirror Pond (bottle) - 3.2

Mirror Pond
American Pale Ale
Deschutes Brewery
Bend, OR
ABV: 5.0%

Jon:
This beer is responsible for our amazing musical abilities. We drink it at almost every gig. We know it so well, we can even tell when the keg is brand new or nearly spent. That said, there's really nothing too special about it, besides the fact that it's not so hoppy that it tightens our throats. It may be the perfect gigging beer.

3.1	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 6/10 4/5 6/10 3/5 3/5 6/10

Mark:
I think that the most sensitive part of your mouth is that little spot right behind your front teeth, which I burned with a hot piece of pizza (gluten free!) right before I tried this beer. I can tell you that this ale smells mildly of bananas and tastes especially hopped for a pale ale, with a nice alcohol aftertaste. Cheers!

3.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 6/10 4/5 7/10 3/5 3/5 7/10

Jere:
Having become accustomed to the draft version of this P.A., the bottled one did taste a little off... No banana flavor was detected though.

3.2	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 7/10 4/5 5/10 2/5 3/5 7/10

Jackman's Pale Ale (bottle) - 3.8

Jackman's Pale Ale
American Pale Ale
Left Hand Brewing Co.
Longmont, CO
ABV: 5.2%

Jon:
Hazy. Tastes mildly of bananas. Clean finish, very agreeable.

3.6	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 7/10 3/5 8/10 4/5 3/5 7/10

Mark:
Very crisp, smooth pale ale with a surprising body that doesn't weigh it down. Tart, bright and hoppy with a balanced finish.

3.8	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 4/5 8/10 3/5 3/5 8/10

Jere:
Jackman--as in Hugh? That's what comes to mind first when sampling this robust brew, although the resemblance to Wolverine is purely coincidental. Perhaps there are other similarities to the professional Aussie, but at the moment they escape me. The palate certainly gets a workout, which may or may not be a result of the Chinese food leftovers consumed 20 minutes earlier.

4.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 9/10 5/5 8/10 3/5 3/5 8/10

Third Eye P.A. (bottle) - 2.9

Third Eye
India Pale Ale
Steamworks Brewing Co.
Durango, CO
ABV: 6.6%

Jon:
Fizzy and mild, a hint of sweetness prevails. Enough hops, but not shining through. Still decent.

3.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 7/10 3/5 7/10 3/5 4/5 6/10

Mark:
Not very strong-flavored for an IPA. The hops are there and the alcohol content but it almost tastes watered down. There's definitely an odd aftertaste--almost metallic. Maybe it has something to do with the naked, floating green lady on the label...

3.2	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 6/10 3/5 7/10 3/5 4/5 6/10

Jere:
Not terribly impressed, in case the rating weren't obvious enough... The naked lady on the box didn't really help bring up the rating either, sadly enough. A very zinc-y, mineral-y aftertaste.

2.1	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 5/10 2/5 3/10 2/5 2/5 4/10

Vertical Epic 08.08.08 (bottle) - 4.5

Vertical Epic 08.08.08
Belgian Strong Ale
Stone Brewing Co.
Escondido, CA
Alcohol Content: 4.5%

Jon:
Amazingly fragrant--citrus, berries, yeast, spice, something almost floral. Golden pale, fizzy, and a bit cloudy. It tastes much as it smells with a big alcohol warmth, and leaves the tongue a tad dry and tingly. A hint of sourness and honey really brings out the complexity. Perfect hops. Impressive beer.

4.7	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 10/10 4/5 10/10 4/5 5/5 10/10

Mark:
So I read the bottle (lots of print) and it says you're supposed to age this stuff, but I don't know if I could stand it for very long. Very crisp, dry light honey-colored ale. It's got some great hops and really interesting aftertaste. I think sour and honey describes it well.

4.4	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 9/10 4/5 9/10 4/5 5/5 9/10

Jere:
Quite the aftertaste, which (for a change) I like. Not exactly the cheapest bomber on the shelf, but it'll do. I like the name, too!

4.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 9/10 5/5 8/10 4/5 5/5 8/10

Blog-iversary

One year ago today, we set out on a mission to drink good beer and write about it. While we haven't always had the time or sober cognizance for the writing part, we did drink a lot of damn good beer. We'll be celebrating our blog-iversary this Saturday evening at the St. Julien Hotel by, um... playing music and drinking beer. May the beer and tunes keep flowing for many years to come!
Mestizo's Good Times Blog, Year One - The Rundown:

• Posts: 43
• Beers reviewed: 25
• Best beer: Mojo IPA (4.8)
• Worst beer: Pabst Blue Ribbon (1.7)
• Favorite brewery: Stone Brewing Company
• Favorite style: India Pale Ale
• Mestizo gigs: 35
• Bootleg tracks posted: 5
• Albums recorded: 1
• Most important lesson learned: If you must drink PBR, don't pour it in a glass.

Jon's new super-cool beer timeline:

Guinness Draught (can) - 4.1

Guinness Draught
Dry Stout
St. James's Gate Brewery
Dublin, Ireland
ABV: 4.1%

Jon:
Classic and distinctive, doesn't get better than this. This beer pretty much defines it's own category (at least in the ol' US of A), and is marketed as heavily as Nike. You know it's good. Give in to the pressure.

4.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 10/10 4/5 9/10 3/5 3/5 9/10

Mark:
Cool bubbles and a pretty head, but it's too sweet for me. Also, I "accidentally" got really loaded in an Irish pub a couple of days after my daughter was born. Oops--Guinness has never been quite the same. I still like Irish whiskey though...

3.5	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 9/10 3/5 6/10 3/5 3/5 7/10

Jere:
I miss the Baileys, or the Bass/Harp/<insert additive here>, but by itself, 'tis a fine, fine beer. Sweet as a <insert sweet thing here>.

4.4	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 10/10 5/5 9/10 2/5 4/5 9/10

90 Minute Imperial IPA (bottled) - 4.0

90 Minute Imperial IPA
Imperial India Pale Ale
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Milton, DE
ABV: 9%

Jon:
Grassy nose, clings to the glass well. Sugary on the tongue, but a firmly bitter finish. Intense stuff.

4.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 9/10 3/5 8/10 3/5 5/5 8/10

Mark:
It's like hoppy liquid bread. Mmmm... beer meals. :)

4.2	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 9/10 4/5 9/10 3/5 5/5 8/10

Jere:
Definitely thick, and my, what a kick! But at $10 for a 4-pack, this one won't be added to the favorites list anytime soon.

3.8	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 8/10 4/5 8/10 3/5 4/5 8/10

Mongoose IPA (bottled) - 3.7

Mongoose IPA
India Pale Ale
Hale's Ales Brewery
Seattle, WA
ABV: 6.2%

Jon:
This beer is dark... with floaties. Never had an IPA with floaties. Smells wonderful, has a huge orangey-citrus nose with hints of something nutty. Very malty, wonderfully spiced... totally weird for an IPA. But I like it anyway. A lot.

3.9	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 9/10 4/5 8/10 4/5 3/5 8/10

Mark:
Remember that soft drink with the weird snotty floaties in it? This is like the beer equivalent, but it is very nice. (It was called Orbitz, and no, the floaties were not like this. -Jon) More malty than most IPAs, but still lots of hops with a depth that some IPAs lack.

3.7	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 8/10 4/5 8/10 4/5 3/5 7/10

Jere:
Floaters! 'Nuff said.

3.4	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 2/5 7/10 4/5 8/10 3/5 3/5 7/10

Flight of the Conchords

These guys are hilarious. I can't even describe it. I'll just list some of my favorite lines of the night:

• "I think you've mistaken us for New Zealand."
• "Congratulations, bitches!"
• "Jesus is our drummer."

The new songs they're cooking up are great (look for "Angels" on YouTube sometime), and we got to hear a lot of our favorites. Bret singing the female vocal parts was pretty funny. The ongoing banter and the willingness of the crowd to heckle these two are probably the best parts about seeing them live. And they forget the words to their own songs even more often than I do. Sweet!

Où est la piscine? Splish splash?

-Jon

Pink Martini with the Colorado Symphony

Kate was the first to introduce me to Pink Martini, and after a great appearance at the Boulder Theater a couple years ago, we've seen them virtually every time they've been in town since. We finally got a chance to see them perform with the Colorado Symphony this month, and it was stellar. Pink Martini is a "mini-orchestra" that normally tours with 10-12 members, performing elaborate arrangements of tunes from old movies and some outstanding original compositions. The Cuban influence is the most outspoken in my rhythmic opinion, but the variety of styles present (not to mention the variety of spoken languages) is mind-boggling. I just plain love this band.

The show was at Boettcher Concert Hall (whose curvy walls I have only been inside a handful of times since the obligatory elementary school field trips of my youth), and the sound was rather impressive. We sat directly above and behind the wonderfully flamboyant and insanely talented pianist Thomas Lauderdale, whose hands were usually hidden from our view on the keys (that is, when they weren't up in the air during a dramatic gesture). Fortunately I could see inside the piano from my perch, and the way the hammers were pounding away on the strings I wouldn't have been surprised if he turned around and had a couple of extra arms. Hearing the pipes on China Forbes always leaves me speechless, and holy freakin' hell, they have three percussionists, and they all ROCK. They have so many sweet percussion toys, but I found a new favorite to drool over that night: machine castanets. They are a pair of castanets mounted to a base so you can hammer on them with your fingers, and they made quite the slick addition to the conga setup (hint hint, Mark). I believe the trombonist was absent from their last trip here, which was unfortunate, because he is crazy talented. He played an amazingly intricate piece with the symphony that was all over the place. Really amazing player.

Having a symphony backing up the band was quite the experience as well, though I didn't feel they were utilized to the fullest extent. They were only used as occasional accents for several songs, and they even sat out completely on a couple. (The vibes in particular could have been featured more often, in my opinion.) The difference in volume level when the symphony was full blast vs. them sitting out was a tad jarring too, though I suppose this couldn't be avoided. The conductor even provided a bit of comic relief during Thomas' unique rendition of Rhapsody in Blue--after the intermission, the drummer apparently forgot to release the switch on his snare, and it was vibrating horribly to the bass notes of the piano. The conductor went to go save the day during a piano solo, and he couldn't figure out how to to fix it! He gave up to get back to his duties, then went back for another attempt on the next solo. After a few nervous glances to the percussion section, he finally figured it out. Containing my laughter was almost too much for me... this guy is setting the tempo for an entire symphony, and he looks like he's never seen a snare drum in his life! But anyway, the quiet humor was welcome and it didn't kill the piece too badly (for me, at least). Definitely not something you see at the symphony every day!

So to sum up, the performance was great, conductors can be hilarious, and Mark needs to buy some machine castanets. I was also exceedingly happy to be joined in attendance by my favorite sister, my favorite brother-in-law, and my favorite girlfriend. Can't beat that!

Next up: Flight of the Conchords

-Jon

Broken Halo IPA (bottled) - 3.6

Broken Halo
India Pale Ale
Widmer Brothers Brewing Company
Portland, OR
ABV: 6%

Jon:
Lots of hops, nicely bitter. Got a weird bite to it, almost gives it a sort of metallic quality. It feels lighter than it tastes in terms of body, if that makes any sense.

3.6	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 3/5 7/10 4/5 3/5 7/10

Mark:
Hoppy--with a lemony zing to it. Very crisp and clean with a slightly bitter aftertaste. Tastes like lemon peel beer.

3.5	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 7/10 3/5 7/10 4/5 3/5 7/10

Jere:
I like it, and I don't know why. It's a good though, for sure, I just can't put my finger on it.

3.6	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 6/10 5/5 8/10 4/5 3/5 7/10

Juanes!

Summertime is concert time, which means that little local musicians like me get a chance to see what the big boys have to offer when they come to town. Kate and I saw Juanes at the Magness Arena last Friday, the latest stop on his "La Vida" tour. I don't know many Juanes songs, and I haven't even been a fan for that long, but it seemed like a great concert to start out the summer with, and we weren't disappointed.

As we all know, arena concerts are tough. The bad acoustics are generally handled by turning up the volume so loud you couldn't hope to hear an echo if you're anywhere near the stage. Kate and I were ten rows back, in front of a massive array of speakers, and we really got our heads blown off. The bass rattled my rib cage (the drummer sure loved his kick pedal) and the vocals were explosive, but the screaming fan behind us somehow took the cake as far as overbearing noise goes. Two pairs of emergency toilet-paper ear plugs and some minor hearing damage later, we got used to the volume and were able to enjoy the show. I guess we just didn't know that we were getting into full-blown Latin pop star territory, otherwise we would've been prepared with proper earplugs.

If you've been to a Mestizo gig, you've probably heard our cover version of "A Dios Le Pido" featuring the mangled-Spanish stylings of yours truly. Since it took awhile to get accustomed to the volume level, it was a tad unfortunate that the band started with this song. I was, however, grateful for one song that I knew the lyrics to, as my Spanish comprehension is at the sub-toddler level and Juan's ample between-song banter was entirely in Spanish. The Spanish-ignorant among us did get thrown a couple bones--a "thank you very much" and one bit about how he plays his guitar in English so we can understand him. One part of the show needed no translation--a slideshow of land-mine victims played on the sides of the stage during a slow ballad. It was cool to see a world-class performer who is so passionate about people and about music, which was the only thing that made the all-Spanish presentation a tad disappointing (other than my own lack of comprehension).

The music was really great--rockin' guitar licks, hip salsa beats, and lengthy vocals that just plain make me jealous. Let me tell you, this Columbian is real rockstar. There was a stage extension in the middle of the arena for Juan to strut on, and more than one female fan braved her way on stage to get up close and personal (one even wrestled her way out of a security guard's grip). I'm also the type that loves to watch a hand percussionist with an extensive setup, and this guy was busting out some complex rhythms. Expect some new Mestizo knock-offs in the near future if I'm ambitious enough to attempt any more of these impressive songs.

Next up: Pink Martini

-Jon

Fire Rock Pale Ale (bottled) - 3.3

Fire Rock
American Pale Ale
Kona Brewing Company
Kailua Kona, HI
ABV: 6.0%

Jon:
Honey-brown hue, appropriate for the mild honey flavor that is present. Adequate hops, but not too bitter. Great for spring.

3.6	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 7/10 4/5 8/10 4/5 3/5 7/10

Mark:
A velvety-smooth pale ale with a balance of malt and hop flavor, but with a sweet, almost nutty aftertaste. Very nice.

3.5	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 6/10 4/5 8/10 4/5 3/5 7/10

Jere:
Nutty, eh? I don't know if I'd agree with that assessment, but I like the fact that it's from Hawaii, so I'll give it some merit there. I'm guessing this will be a one-time-only drinking experience--unless we get to Hawaii someday on our world tour!

2.8	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 2/5 5/10 3/5 7/10 3/5 2/5 6/10

Long Hammer (bottled) - 3.0

Long Hammer
IPA
Redhook Ale Brewery
Woodinville, WA
Alcohol Content: 6.51%

Jon:
This is the only draft IPA at our favorite pool hall, but unsurprisingly my memory is too poor for a good comparison to this bottled version. Anyway, this beer is copper-colored with little aroma, and as far as taste goes, it barely teeters on the edge of the definition of IPA. It seems very lightly hopped, almost to a fault. Still, the crispness of this beer is refreshing. Not a bad value, but should be reclassified.

3.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 6/10 3/5 6/10 3/5 4/5 5/10

Mark:
More like an extra pale ale than an IPA, it is very refreshing and seems to be on the lighter side, even with the 6.5% ABV. It's a little better on tap, although the last two pints I had seemed a little skunky. Could have just been a fluke, though.

3.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 6/10 3/5 6/10 4/5 4/5 6/10

Jere:
My memory is flawless, and the draft version is definitely superior... If Mark would just get a kegerator then all our problems would be solved! It just goes to show that you can't take it with you, as the bottled Long Hammer loses something in translation.

2.8	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 5/10 2/5 4/10 3/5 3/5 6/10

Old Guardian Barley Wine (bottled) - 3.7

Old Guardian
Barley Wine
Stone Brewing Co.
Escondido, CA
Alcohol Content: 11.26%

Jon:
The least sweet barley wine I've tried--and sweet is why I didn't like some of the others. There is sweetness there, of course, but more honey flavors than the weirdly intense figgy flavors I was expecting from past experience. A lot of depth--plenty of hops, and a bitter tea finish. Every sip yields something new.

3.7	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 7/10 3/5 7/10 3/5 5/5 7/10

Mark:
Old Guardian is a beautiful honey-colored ale. Surprisingly, there wasn't a strong aroma, but the taste is definitely intense. It starts out sweet, but balanced with bitter and spice. Definitely for sipping only!

4.1	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 7/10 4/5 8/10 4/5 5/5 8/10

Jere:
Tastes like beer with wine poured in it. Also, be careful how much you consume--half of a 22oz bottle knocked Mark on his ass the first time he tried it. Luckily I just had a fourth of that (bottle, not Mark's portion). Anyways, good for getting drunk fast.

3.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 6/10 4/5 6/10 2/5 5/5 6/10

Mojo Risin' (bottled) - 4.5

Mojo Risin'
Imperial/Double IPA
Boulder Beer Company
Boulder, CO
Alcohol Content: 10%

Jon:
I was really stoked to try this super-charged version of Mojo, and it doesn't disappoint. The relatively mild citrus aroma doesn't prepare the drinker for how amazingly bitter this beer is. The lemony hop flavor just wrecks your face in an instant. As intense as it is, it's surprisingly balanced (as much so as an Imperial IPA can be). Great stuff.

4.4	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 9/10 4/5 9/10 3/5 5/5 9/10

Mark:
Oh my... This is like drinking two Mojos in one glass. Super-charged. Great citrusy flavor with an intense bitter finish followed by an alcohol "glow." I think it made my ears red. Great!

4.8	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 10/10 5/5 10/10 3/5 5/5 10/10

Jere:
Long build-up for trying this out, and it was worth the wait. We didn't think Mojo could get any better, but slap a "Risin'" on that and you're good to go. We'll be hard pressed to top this next time. But our wallets will thank us if we try something else.

4.4	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 10/10 5/5 8/10 2/5 4/5 10/10

RPM Challenge - Report Card

New songs written in February	3
Unreleased songs recorded in February	13
Beers consumed in February	50+
10-song album finished	Yes
Days to spare	1
----------	---
Final Grade	B-

We would've liked to finish writing more new songs, but we adhered to the minimum rules and successfully met the challenge. After a long month of writing, practicing, gigging, and recording, we ended up only using tracks from our final recording session. We are happy enough with the results to start plans on incorporating the tracks into a new limited-release CD, so keep your eyes peeled for that. We would like to thank New Belgium Brewing, Deschutes Brewery, and Grupo Modelo for helping us persevere through the hard work.

We've learned some good lessons, and we're going to do our best to keep writing and working hard during the other 11 months of the year. But first, back to the important stuff--new beer reviews starting next week!

-Jon

RPM Challenge

Today I stumbled across The RPM Challenge, a challenge to musicians around the world to write and record a 10 song album of original material entirely in the month of February. As we are not the types to back away from a challenge, I signed us up, and we fully intend to complete said challenge using our state-of-the-art iPod home recording gear. Why would we subject ourselves to a month of deadline-induced pressure and agony, you ask? Well:

• We're into that sort of thing.
• Having only one job with pressures and deadlines is for sissies.
• To knock us off our asses and write some damn music.

Be warned that the end product could end up... well, bad. Hopefully we will use this opportunity to try some wild and crazy things--some of which might work, some of which definitely won't--and we all know that's a dicey proposition when it comes to music. Even so, we're stoked to give it a try, and the tracks will be available, for good or for awful, in a few months. Wish us luck!

-Jon

Flying Dog IPA (bottled) - 3.1

Snake Dog
IPA
Flying Dog Brewery
Denver, CO
Alcohol Content: 7.1%

Jon:
There are some strange flavors going on here... lemony, peppery, burnt orangey... I can't quite put my finger on it. Even so, this beer isn't too distinctive or overly desirable. I feel the same way about most Flying Dog brews--I'll happily drink it, but won't usually buy it.

2.8	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 5/10 3/5 5/10 3/5 3/5 5/10

Mark:
This is a very drinkable IPA. Still nicely hopped, but very refreshing. Almost a toned down Stone IPA.

3.4	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 6/10 3/5 7/10 4/5 3/5 7/10

Jere:
On the one hand, very agreeable beer. But on the other, I'm not exactly dying to try another... but I probably will.

3.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 5/10 2/5 6/10 3/5 2/5 8/10

Hop Devil IPA (bottled) - 3.8

Hop Devil
IPA
Victory Brewing Company
Downington, PA
Alcohol Content: 6.7%

Jon:
Very bitter stuff, like lemon rinds soaking in strong tea. Even so, quite addictive. It sports a deceptively smooth look and aroma, so tasting this one was an interesting, and pleasant, surprise.

3.7	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 3/5 8/10 3/5 4/5 7/10

Mark:
This starts with a harsh citrus bitterness, but quickly smoothes and fades to an almost sweet alcohol aftertaste. It has a color like unfiltered honey with an almost nonexistent head. Very nice... and different.

4.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 8/10 5/5 9/10 3/5 4/5 9/10

Jere:
Hop's the word for this one, which may explain its high price in the current hops shortage crisis. I think I'll have to limit myself to one, all things considered, especially when there's Mojo available.

3.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 7/10 3/5 7/10 2/5 3/5 7/10

Allez Cuisine!

I try to spoil myself with good food and drink on a fairly regular basis, but I know I must be hard up for something new and exciting when I see an $11 beer on a menu and can't even think of not getting it. To my credit, it was bomber-sized, and I did go through more than one server trying to get an accurate description of it. Furthermore, one doesn't go to a sushi restaurant looking at prices--one fills oneself chock full of sushi until not another grain of rice can be consumed, all in the hope that such an overwhelmed stomach can't possibly regret a large bill at the end of the night. Throwing some beer and sake into the mix can't hurt either. Now that's what I call foresight.

Kate and I were at Sushi Tora, a restaurant that rightly claims the title of "Boulder's Best Sushi," boasting of real wasabi and homemade sauces. The fish is fresh, the chefs are friendly, even the rice has the perfect amount of vinegar to make your tongue sing. But back to beer. The beer I couldn't resist was Rogue's Morimoto Soba Ale, a buckwheat ale that has found the perfect companion in sushi. It's grainy, with just a tinge of hop flavor, and it's the cleanest finish you'll ever find in a beer. It's like having a tasty side dish of soba noodles in a bottle. In short, it will make you eat way too much sushi. And yes, "Morimoto" refers to the one and only Chef Masaharu Morimoto, no doubt the coolest of all Iron Chefs, east or west. I'm curious to see how this beer would stand up to other foods or by itself, but with sushi, it's my new king.

On another note, the writer's strike has reinvigorated my love for the Food Network, as it is now one of the only things worth watching on television. Its only failing is that it motivates me to eat, not cook.

-Jon