Beer 304/365 – Red Brick Porter

Style: American Porter

ABV: 7.7%

Purchased at: Sent as an extra in a trade.

What makes this beer different: Wasn’t expecting much, but there was a really nice balance of coffee/chocolate flavors.

Will I be drinking this again: Very limited distribution and limited release says no.

Grade: B+

9/8/2010: Red Brick Porter is brewed by a small brewery in Atlanta, Georgia. I have never heard of Red Brick brewing until I received this beer, so I am going into this review blind. But I am always open to try any porter/stout. Besides in my book I just consider porters “Lite Stouts.” I always opt for a Porter when I don’t feel like drinking something heavy, but want that dark chocolate/coffee kick.

The smell is even parts chocolate/coffee, with a little bit of earth to it. The flavor is pretty plain and simple, 50/50 bittersweet chocolate/roasted coffee mix, with a little bit of a tobacco type flavor. Mouthfeel is well carbonated for a porter, which is part of the reason the alcohol is hidden so well. I would have never guessed this to be a 7.7% ABV beer. Overall nothing super special about this beer, but it is very drinkable.

Picture of the day: Laziness at its finest

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Beer 226/365 – Sweetwater Sch’weat Wheat Ale

Style: American Pale Wheat Ale

ABV: 4.7%

Purchased at: Sent to me as an extra

What makes this beer different: A really drinkable summer beer.

Will I be drinking this again: If it was available in this area I sure would.

Grade: B+

6/22/2010: Had this beer sent to me as an extra in a trade I did recently. Traded a growler of Monkey Boy from East End Brewery, for a Hunahpu. Been trying to trade for a Hunahpu for a long time now so I was pretty excited to fall into this trade. I also recently traded 3 2010 Dark Lords for a 2007 and a 2008 Dark Lord. Got real lucky to respond to that thread on BA before anyone else did.

Had no idea what to expect with this beer as I have never heard of it. It smells very lemony, and moderately hoppy. The taste is actually very unique, a lot of lemon flavor, some spiciness, and an average amount of hops. Its a very crisp and refreshing beer to be sure. Its very light bodied and carbonated beer, which makes it perfect for summer. Kind of surprised that this only rates a B- on Beer Advocate. Hey to each their own right?

Picture of the day: The most convincing argument for athiesm ever.

Beer 221/365 – Sweetwater Happy Ending Imperial Stout

Style: Imperial Stout

ABV: 9.0%

Purchased at: Sent as an extra in a trade

What makes this beer different: Very smooth, drinkable, and light bodied for an Imperial Stout

Will I be drinking this again: If it was available in my area heck yeah.

Grade: A-

6/17/2010: Tis the season for big thick stouts right? Okay maybe not for everyone, but I am down for a good stout 24/7/365. This was sent to me as an extra in a trade, and i usually like to drink those right away for whatever reason. I also received a Sweetwater Sch’wheat which ended up being pretty good. I would like to get my hands on one of their IPA’s as its supposed to be their best beer.

Happy Endings Stout almost smells like a chocolately milk stout in a way, very sweet smelling. The flavor is pretty straight forward, very malty with some bittersweet chocolate, and a little bit of earthy hops in the finish of it. Is it possible for an Imperial Stout to be refreshing? Because in an odd way this one is. Very creamy and smooth, and hides the alcohol very well.

Picture of the day: I used to have a bunch of hermit crabs back in the day, and I gotta say this is a really cool idea.

Beer 122/365 – Terrapin Oak Aged Wake-n-Bake

Style: Imperial Stout

Purchased at: On Tap @Smokin Joes – Pittsburgh PA

What makes this beer different: So much coffee its almost like chewing on an espresso bean

Will I be drinking this again: I sure hope to. Not sure if this will be a one time thing

Grade: A+

3/10/2010: I know I have been throwing out A and A+’s lately like its going out of style, but I have been going out of my way to drink great beer. Had this one at Smokin Joes in the South Side. They have been been getting a lot of good beer on tap lately. Founders Sappy Slappy Bastard, Bells 9000, and the Oak Aged Wake-n-Bake. I actually tried a sample of this on Monday night when I met up with Andy, I liked it so much I had to come back for an entire pint.

Wake-n-Bake has by far the strongest coffee scent of any beer I have had prior to this one. A little bit of an oak scent struggles through the pot of coffee smell. The taste is just amazing. So much coffee you almost feel like you have coffee grinds in your teeth. Coffee is no doubt center stage, but you can tell some oatmeal was used in this because it is super smooth. A bit of vanilla peeks out, and a tiny bit of oak in the aftertaste. To be quite honest if I didn’t know it was Oak Aged I would have had a hard time picking it out. This might have just moved up to #2 on my coffee stout list right behind Alesmith Speedway Stout. Do yourself a favor, if you see this on tap grab one.

Picture of the day: Lady Gaga makes a better door than a window.