¶ Barrel Aged Beer Tasting and Review
Grab a beer and pull up a chair . Welcome to the Northwoods Beer Guy Podcast . Hey , ladies and gentlemen , welcome back to the Northwoods Beer Guy Podcast . This is Mike , the Northwoods Beer Guy , and , as always , I am once again joined by my co-host , jim . Hello Mike , how are you doing ? Doing good man ? How about yourself ?
I couldn't complain that's good , can't complain , because I wouldn't listen anyway if you're complaining just kidding . See how you are . I know I was just . I had some good things I was going to say about you , but I said that because of what I have laid out in front of you money .
I know no bars , no even better , even better than that , really , barrel aged , barrel-aged beers .
Oh , all , right , now you pique my attention . I have your attention , don't I ? Yes , what kind of .
We have another and we actually did a podcast from this brewery once before we did a bar . If you remember , but this is their 2022 lineup , okay .
Of their barrel aged beer , and this was by distal . Oh , we did it on location . On location , I remember , yes , and that was probably 21 .
Yes , I built 20 or 20 , 21 , I think , 2021 , and so now this is their 2022 lineup and this was the year that I I didn't know this before , but they have because this is their all of them but one are their dasvidaniya okay series and they have a dasvidaniya day okay , and you buy tickets and basically we were there anyway because our daughter had a basketball
game , okay , and unfortunately it was the same time as because at this Dasvidanya Day , you buy a ticket , they actually you get served a meal in their barrel room , oh , and you get to try samples of every one of these . Plus , you got a bottle or can of every one of them . Really , yep , wow . I saw the notice online .
You know that they were doing it and I talked to my wife . She's like well , we got a basketball game . I said if , if they say that they'll hold the beers for me , she goes , then just buy it , you know , get the ticket and then we'll . I'm like okay . So I got a hold of them and they were generous enough to to do that .
Oh to say that yes , we will hang on to you know , box them up for you and wait for you . I'm like , okay , perfect , so we did that , went down , and then they gave me this glorious box full of these .
Nice and we get to taste them .
And we get to taste . We're going to taste them all right now Nice . So yeah , it was interesting , but we've been there . It's really an impressive brewery .
Yep State of the art .
If you're ever in the normal Illinois area , bloomington normal , but it's in normal , unlike Mike , unlike , but it's in normal , uh , unlike mike , unlike me uh , make sure to stop because it is a cool place and they've got a beer for everybody . I mean they're they got just a sheer volume of the different beers they make is incredible because I believe .
Correct me if I'm wrong , but the dasvidaniya is their barrel age series correct and they have a whole nother sours and ipa , their ipa .
One member has like a grateful dead looking guy on it and it I can't remember , is it Deadhead series or something like that , but they have all these different and then they have , like you said , sours and all this other stuff . They got something for everybody , really Right .
But I personally I think they're known for Dasvidaniya , right , they're really good at their barrel aging process . Yeah , they've done it for a while in their barrel room , because that's the part that really was a bummer .
If I could have had whatever their meal was or lunch in the barrel room , I thought that would have been really Just to get that aroma Exactly All that bourbon in the air . Yeah , so it might be one of those that one of these years we'll have to make a special trip down there just to attend that .
Yes , because it was on a Saturday , you know , and I think that would be pretty cool , well , cool , I guess . Well , we've got how many do we have . We've got one , two , three , four , five , six .
We have eight , eight , eight , eight , eight beers in front of us here , so we might as well just get started and once again , we're going to just try little bits of each of them , and I'm sure we're going to revisit some of these afterwards .
All right .
So the first one that they have is actually and I didn't realize this , but I think this is like their base , because this is their Russian style Imperial Stout , yes , and I think this is what they use in Dasvidaniya . Okay , but this is before it's barrel aged , I believe .
All right , and I apologize , I'm gonna probably butch , but this is is it privyet privyet ? P-r-i-v-y-e-t . All right , and what's that mean ? Uh , russian Stahok ? Oh , you got that ? Hi or hey , hey . See , I should look at the notes that Jim gives me beforehand .
So , privyet Privyet , which is Russian for hi or hey , is the base beer for our award-winning bourbon barrel aged Dasvidaniya . Even though this beer isn't aged in oak barrels , it greets you with a color as dark as night , a thick tan head and characters of dark chocolate and roasted malts with abundant fruity esters .
Generous hop additions balance the maltiness of this beer , along with a mouthfeel that is rich , creamy , full and smooth . Wow , and then yippa , nice .
So 11.4% , 11.4% on their base Right , and this is the lowest ABV one for this episode Of the eight .
this is our lowest , so we're starting a little and working our way up . So this will be interesting since this is not barrel age to compare them to these other ones to see how that affects it . Oh , that's pretty dark and definitely has a dark tan head on it .
Yes , look at that . Yeah , that smells good . We're going to go to up there . Put that can back . Ooh .
That's it is . It's really , when something like that and you smell it , you're expecting to smell the booziness of a barrel and it's not there because it's not barrel aged . It smells good , smells good . Well , here we go . Mm , hmm , that's not bad . Nope , that is not bad at all . Wow , I definitely get the roasted malts for sure . Yes , at all .
Wow , I definitely get the roasted malts for sure . Yes , you know , you get that dark chocolate kind of a you know deep flavor Fruit esters . I guess I'm not . I do pick up something , but I didn't know if it was a little bit of a hop , like on the finish , on the finish .
right , I'm trying to decipher that . It's not the dark chocolate , is it ? I don't know , you know , because sometimes that heavier chocolate has that it does have kind of that it could be that aftertaste too .
Yeah , I mean , it's that's not bad . This is for a non-barrel-aged russian imperial stout . That's , that's pretty decent .
Yeah , wow and this is how we're starting out .
This is how we're starting out at a measly . You know . I say 11.4% . I was going to say , if you know , somebody hasn't ever had a Russian Imperial Stout , this is a good one . Oh yeah , and I think a lot of people might be scared off because of the 11.4% Right , and I don't think they should be .
No , I mean this is the flavor spot on . I mean , I mean this is the flavor spot on . I mean I guess the other part too is Imperial Stout , so you might get scared by . It's going to be stronger or heavier but it's not .
And if you remember , Russian Imperial Stout did not originate in Russia , Remember you told me that that's right .
Remember that . So you're learning .
Yeah , it's sinking in yeah , and you're retaining . I retained it . That's kind of crazy . That's a good thing . It started in Britain . Yes , it did , because they were shipping it to Russia , or ?
something you remember . So what do you think ? So we should maybe go back how many beers now have you ?
scored . It's getting real close to we're going to be real close to 5,500 .
Okay , You're still an amateur , then Yep , all right , and then what's your average ?
score Average is still . It's like 2.97 . Wow Is where ? But you know our average on the scale is a 2.5 .
Right , but your average is way high , so you're over-inflating all the beers you drink . No , I think what it is . I'm more grounded than I am .
I think what it is is . We've tried so many barrel-aged beers that it kind of brings up , you think so I think , some of it .
All right , well , I'll let you .
The thing that's kind of interesting with untapped is you can see I can look and see how many we've by a tenth of a point , how many beers we've rated at that number . Oh right , you know , and I think the most common is like a 3.0. , is it ? I believe so . When you get up into the upper fours it gets a lot less . The air is thinner .
Yes , air is thinner from four and up . Four and a half up , for sure is way thinner .
So what are you thinking on the score for this first ?
one . Hmm , I like that . I think on the base model I'm gonna go with three and a half . I could drink that can for sure . Very good flavor . I wouldn't want to drink too many because it's so high alcohol ? yes , it is , but to share with friends and such perfect beer . I mean , I think the flavor is really good , like you said .
I'm trying to figure out that aftertaste as far as if it's the dark chocolate or if it is a little bit of the hop type thing with it , but it's probably as closer to that , that dark chocolate and uh . But I definitely get the roasted malts and all that stuff . I think it's really good .
I like it so I like it too . I'm gonna go maybe just a tick lower , not saying it's bad they're not in any way but it's gonna give me some more flexibility as we go through the rest of these beers , oh yeah wait a minute I gotta count , so'm going to go with 3.3 . Okay , still way above average for me .
So I'm thinking that we might be in that four territory again here really soon . So that one is really I mean for the way for us to start off our tasting . That's a good way .
Yeah , and , like I said , I did not realize that . You know , you look at the artwork on the can , so I should let everybody know we have four cans and this is the only 12-ounce can . Yes , the other three cans are all 16-ounce . And then we have four bottles and those are Are they 20-ouncer ? They've got to be . I don't think they're 22 .
One pint .9 , so it's 500 milliliters . Okay , so basically another pint , but then those four are in bottles . Uh , but you look on all the artwork is all like those . The russian nesting dolls , yeah , and I apologize , I don't remember the name of that , but that's what ?
oh boy , oh um , since you brought it up but hold on a second .
But this first one you know , the artwork on that is a group of those , yes , but I never put two and two together that this was actually somewhat part of this Dasvidanya series . So there you go .
Okay , so I think we kind of touched on it , but Privyet means hi , hi , and Dasvidanya means Goodbye . Okay , yep , so the name of the doll , the nesting doll , because they fit inside they break in half , you open it up , and then there's another one and another one .
And what are those called ? That's what I just said . I don't remember the name of them . So that's your first question .
Well , and it's worth a million points . Yeah , I don't know . All right , it is here . I'll spell it , and then you've got to pronounce it correctly .
Okay .
M-A-T-R-Y-O-S-H-A .
Can I see it , since I just have to Matrosha , matrosha ? Huh , yeah , we're probably off on that too , but Our pronunciation is wrong .
Nesting doll yes the nesting doll . Yeah , so then that brings me up to our next question
¶ Glassware and Craft Beer Tasting
for you . We're doing some very good craft beer today , so for best flavor , craft beer should never be tasted . In what type of glasses ? In what type ?
of glasses , right , like a material or just a style of glass . You know what's funny ?
I saw a story one time where somebody was talking to I don't remember if it was a bartender or a brewery or what they were talking to , but it was some kind of beer expert , okay , and he said the worst thing that ever happened to beer was the pint glass well , I'm like , I'm like really and he , and you know , because he's like , yeah , because it's just
the shape and all that , it does not help to bring out anything in the beer and all that .
So that is one of them . But what kind of glass ? What is that style called ? To get you a million points ? Oh , geez .
So it's that glass , but I don't know the actual technical . Yeah , that's what you need to know . I just always had heard it called a pint glass . I don't . What is the actual name of it ?
Shaker A shaker name of it Shaker , a shaker , and what's the second kind of glass ? That's bad .
I'm just going to say tulip glass , I don't know Tiku Tiku .
Dang it . The Tiku and the shaker are the worst ones for tasting craft beer , really .
Did it ? No , like I said , I've heard , like the Pilsner , that shaker glass . I've heard that one before . Yes , but so the Tiku ? I guess I don't know .
So the cons are it's expensive , it's shadowy and a little more challenging to manage . Oh , okay , I don't know . But and this is like my crack research team spent hours and they went hey here .
Huh . Well , that's interesting because , like I said , I had saw . That's funny , though , because it almost looks like a wine glass .
Yeah . Yep , that Tiku does Right so you probably don't want to be drinking good craft beer like this on a wine glass . No .
And I should say that , ladies and gentlemen , and now , granted , we have , ours are like taster size , but they are a snifter glass yes , you know what you think of for like brandy or bourbon snifter type Made just for craft beer .
Just for craft beer , and these are the smaller version and typically when you go to a brewery and you order like if you go to Distal , you're going to get a 10 ounce pour . Yes , you know , and most places , if it's a brewery or a craft beer bar , if it's a barrel age , high octane , you're going to get a 10 ounce pour instead of 12 .
Yes , you know . So , yeah , all right , so that I'm really going to give you one question , because we , since we have so many beers , yeah , we got to get back into this , we got to roll into this Stuff here .
So what's number two ? So the number two , the first Dasvidaniya that we're going to try . Okay , this is their Rye Barrel R Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged Imperial Stout . Okay , and this one is 13.6% ABV .
Oh , so we went two percentage points , yeah , 2.2 percentage points up , and the description on this one , and they do have a little more on the oh , this is talking about the doll and such on the can .
Okay , what we had also is this oak rye whiskey barrel aged stout is rich and robust , with roasty maltiness that finishes dry , with pleasant spiciness from the barrel and added rye wow .
So it should have that little bit of a peppery kind of a peppery , because typically the rye has that , yeah , well , and the other good part too for listeners is we've left these out for a little while too , to let them get up to room temperature .
Try and get a little closer too , because these things we always say you should try and drink them between 50 to 54 degrees or in that ballpark , because that's where the flavor is going to come from . Did you stick your thumb in it ? I just did , oh , and not on purpose . Oh .
Now you can smell there's , there's a barrel and there's something . There's something good going on .
Wow , that , that smells good , that's pretty good now , it did not it did not say what brand or anything of barrel right , so we don't know , unfortunately which company ?
what company ?
it came from .
But that is pretty darn good , yeah , I mean I'm not getting a burned on my throat even like that one of those episodes where we had the pepper ones on there . There's no burn yeah .
It doesn't burn like that habanero no Central . Not even close , not that this said , there was pepper , but typically rye has a little peppery flavor to it . But no , this is smooth , this is really smooth .
Wow . I mean , and we have one of our local distilleries has a lot of oak barrels in their distilling . This oak is much different than that we have around here . I think this is a much better flavor .
Yeah , this is , wow , really good . I would not if you ask and I know I've said this a lot on some of these beers , but if you ask me , I would never guess that this was 13.6 . No , you know , because it doesn't drink like that . You know , this is really . This is good .
I mean , it is amazing when you try a barrel-aged beer from a brewery that knows what they're doing . Yes , with barrel-aging , because they're amazing . I mean , you know .
Right Now . Did we I don't remember did we talk about ? Are we still in barrel-aged January or do we have to extend it ?
No , this is February now but remember we had , the first episode wasn't barrel age , and then we did have our year in review , which we had barrel age beers that we tried , but there was only a few , so technically it's still barrel age season .
All right . Well , I just wanted to make sure so the listeners know .
Yes . So yeah , good question , good question , and you know we'll have to see we may continue it again . We probably should , because I'm sure we've got some other .
Well , we've hit two of the big companies now and I think later on this year we're going to have from another Wisconsin brewery .
Oh , yes , we will . I guess we could tease it a little bit . It'll probably be later in the season , unless we go over twice and pick up what we have . But we did go in together and joined the Barrel Society for three sheeps .
Yes .
And it's always interesting . It was really cool when you get an email saying , oh , here's your first two beers you get and I was like what we already got some in , so we got .
They're on reserve for us .
We're sitting there waiting , yeah , and then we did order a couple because they're yeah , well , we'll get into that when we get to them , but it's gonna really be a cool thing to try all these .
I think we're gonna have to break those up into a couple episodes at least , yeah , but uh , I think that'll be really neat , all right , so , let so , let's get focused back here . All right Back to the rye whiskey .
Rye barrel . So I will try to do my best to come up with a score . Okay , wow , this is going to be a challenge because we're going to have , I think , some upper echelon scores here . So I think we may need to make a rule that says we might have , or able to , double .
We might have or able to double . We can have ties . Okay , we can tie .
I think that might be just because I think this is going to really impress us .
Looking back on it , I'm thinking three and a half , yeah , I may have already painted myself into a corner because it's like ugh .
Yeah , so this one I like . It's so hard because it's so good to differentiate just some of the flavors , I'm going to say a 3.9 . Wow , okay , nice , I like it . I'm like right now I still don't have any bourbon burn on my throat .
Flavors are good . I like it . I agree a hundred percent with you and I think I'm going to go a 3.8 . Okay , just one step down from you , but it's really good , I think for a rye . We've had a number of rye whiskey , barrel beers . I think this is way up there . Yeah , this is very good .
Yeah , you know , and I think we might have to revisit that one later .
I think so yeah , because that is smooth and just yeah good , very good .
Very good , that's a good one .
Yeah , so that was their rye whiskey barrel and that was in a pint . Can the next one we have is in one of their liter bottles ? Yes , is it a liter ?
was a pint , I'm sorry you said a little over a pint right one pint , yeah , 0.9 fluid ounces .
So just over a pint in these bottles , all right did you have a ? Question , or should you want to just break into this next one right away and well , here's a dumb , here's a good question .
Okay , you should have this one . Okay , which four american presidents ?
were home brewers . George washington was one , okay , if I remember right yep so um , can I ask a question ? Yep , I mean are .
Are they like spread out throughout the all the way from george washington to present .
Okay , okay , so it narrows it down to 40 to 40 set . Well , 40 something , because there's a couple duplicates in there , boy . So Washington , I'm thinking there might have been more early on . Okay , oh boy , who else is going to be ? Thomas Jefferson Ding ?
ding , that's correct . Oh , that was a total guess . Total guess , all right .
See , I don't see any more modern day myself . I'm thinking , and I'm probably way wrong , but I just don't , because I know . You know , jimmy Carter's brother had Billy Beard out there . I don't know if they ever brewed , though I think I'm going to stick with like the older . How about Andrew Jackson ?
Close James Madison .
Oh , and then you have one left Is it an old Nope ? No , nope . A Nope , a newer one Yep . So I was totally wrong .
There are three older ones and one newer one , and it's not .
Carter . Right Correct , was it Carter ? It's not Carter . It's not A home brewer , that's newer Dude , this is difficult .
See , this is difficult . I thought this was the easy one for you . You no . Who is going to be a home brewer ? Should I give you a hint ?
yeah , if I could , yeah the only president to brew inside the white house . He brewed inside the white house . That didn't help me at all , didn't it ?
no , the first three brewed at their own houses okay in the white house .
Who would have been man enough to brew inside the white house ?
probably some deep dark corner somewhere . Yeah , I was gonna say probably not in the main level , probably not right out in the rotunda or anything but boy , I don't know , I don't know how new you're thinking either .
20th century , teddy Roosevelt , barack Obama .
Really yeah .
I had no idea . Huh .
Yeah , I never would have guessed I guess I didn't .
Well , I thought would have guessed I didn't , I guess , I didn't .
Well , I thought you knew that , knew Nope , I had no idea . I thought you were holding out on me .
Nope , I totally had no idea on that , because I thought , okay , I'm sure it's not President Trump , and I thought the Bushes don't seem like they were really beer , I think it would be brewing and Ronald Reagan , I don't think , would have brewed .
Who in the world . I don't think , clint , you know and I didn't .
Yeah , so I totally , I didn't even . Oh , I thought that was a gimme for you . Never even would have guessed him . All right , so what is next ? All right , so the next one we have is their Dasvidanya Cherry Cordial Rye .
Ooh , Rye whiskey , barrel aged imperial stout with cherry chocolate and vanilla . That's a good combination .
13.6 abv that almost sounds like a , like a float or a sundae or something exactly , and what their their description said was this stout brings flavors of tart cherries , dark chocolate and vanilla , with a dry finish and pleasant spiciness from the barrel and added rye . All right Well , so similar .
The last one was their rye barrel , but this is their cherry cordial rye barrel . And this is the first one that we've had today from them
¶ Flavorful Barrel Aged Beer Review
in a bottle .
Yes , it's a bigger bottle too . It's a bigger bottle . It's not a 12-ounce bottle .
That comes out pretty dark too there you go , it looks good . Yeah , it smells pretty good . Ooh boy , that smells good the aroma . I was like man , wow , you know . Really good , and our two little glasses don't take a whole lot out of that bottle . So we're going to have to revisit some of these . Yeah , you don't , I still . I smell the rye .
You know the barrel itself . You do get a little bit of a sweeter kind of smell , but it's not over the top . Ooh , that has a sweet , definitely sweeter than just the rye barrel . Is that the vanilla On the finish ? It's the vanilla for sure . Wow , totally get the vanilla . You get that little bit of tart up front , which is not really strong .
It's really that vanilla is really a different flavor vanilla .
Yeah .
It's not like the madagascar vanilla that's in captain . No , no , nope , not .
This is really good yeah , wow , boy , that is chocolate , I guess . I think the vanilla maybe covers up some of the chocolate flavor . Yeah , but boy that . That chocolate finish or , I'm sorry , the vanilla finish , is like wow , yeah , and I mean the cher .
I mean I have a little bit of a tart , but nothing but not over the top .
No , not really , like some of them we've had .
Yeah , not a sour tart , I mean , but that's a good combination , those are good . Yeah , and this is 13.6 . So this is Wow . So the first , last two have been 13.6 , which is we're getting up there , we're stepping up our game .
The next one goes up . Oh , it does , yeah , just to let you know , Thanks for the warning . Yes , not as big of a step as what the between the first one and the next one , but , wow , I like that . That is like I said that vanilla finish . It's not . I still think one of the all-time best vanilla beers we had was that , wasn't it , was it ?
Uh , we talked about it for the beer .
It was an absolute or absurd .
No , um absolute vanilla , or whatever you know what I'm talking about ? I don't , yeah , so that was a good vanilla yeah , I apologize , I'm drawing a blank for the the beer name , but oh my gosh , that was probably almost the most perfect vanilla flavor in a beer that I've had , but this , the finish is really . You know , vanilla is very good .
I would almost like it a touch more vanilla .
Yeah .
Just a touch , not a lot , just a little bit more . It's still because there's no burn , it's still very smooth . Oh yeah .
And when you said about the tartness of the cherries , up front , I agree I think they did that extremely well . Right , and if a little bit more vanilla , yeah , I think then you'd be skirting with some of the high . Yeah , the highest of the high , the higher type stuff , but this is good .
Yeah , I'm thinking I might put this one one touch below the rye barrel . Okay , I'm going to go with 3.8 .
I'm going to actually I think I'm going to go one touch higher .
I'm going to go with 3.9 . You like this one .
I like this one . I think that tartness and then the vanilla finish really added something to it , so I think I like it a little bit better . Yeah , I mean , and again we're splitting hairs .
Yeah yeah , this is some rarefied air . Yep , because everything we've had so far has been way above average .
But yeah , you know we've had , because there's a couple episodes we had where everything was pretty low .
So these are especially for barrel-aged beers .
I mean these are really really good . Yeah , this is very good . Wow , I'm impressed .
We might have to revisit this bottle .
We can do that . Anything is possible right Anything is possible , so I'm running out of questions , but I do have another one for you .
Okay , it looks like so .
Do you have any pets ? Yeah , Dog and a cat . Dog and a cat , I guess you could if you count our COVID chickens too . I got them , but All right , Because the college wouldn't let Callie bring them with . Oh well , I tried to tell them it was her support animals .
They didn't buy it , Darn it . So true or false Okay .
Are hops . You know what's poisonous to dogs ? Ooh , that's a good question . I'm going to say fact . You are correct , it is true . Yeah , I knew it was part of . I can't remember if it's like nightshade family or some genus of plant that it's yeah , I did not know it until I read it .
I was like really I'm like most dogs I know will eat anything .
Yeah , yeah . So don't let your pets eat just raw hops , If you're growing them out there .
So yeah . Huh . So what do we got next for a beer ?
All right , we got something that's going to be good ? I think so . So now remember . I told you this one we step up this one we go up to . So we're stepping it up . Yep , and this is their Dasvidanya S'mores , s'mores , bourbon barrel aged imperial stout with toasted cacao nibs , cinnamon and natural flavors . Cinnamon-n-n-n-n , cinnamon-n-n-n-n .
This imperial stout brings familiar notes of the campfire treat , along with hints of bourbon and oak , together with a dry finish . All right , well , you've piqued my interest again . Okay , here's one thing , and I think we talked about it once before . Okay , and they have a sign in the brewery too .
But on the can it has support flavor boycott , bland , oh nice .
I think we talked about that too . Yeah , like we like flavor .
Yes , don't be afraid of flavor . Yep , because we've talked about when we've went to some other breweries before or tried some , and they're like , let's say , close to a college or in a touristy area and they're more trying to just brew beer for the masses , so to speak . So their flavors are really muted and you and I are definitely big on the flavor side .
Right , especially if you put it on your can . Yeah , if Right , give us , especially if you put it on your can . Yeah , if you put it on the can , let us taste it . Yep , if it's on the can , it should be in the can , because the reason why we're buying the beer is to taste that flavor , exactly .
We don't want to taste something else . Yeah , so I think that's cool . Boycott Bland Couldn't have said it any better . No , no , so does say anything about , but I don't know if that's like , maybe with the natural flavors , possibly because it says it has familiar notes of the campfire treat . So I don't know .
That's the one thing I was looking at to see if it said anything about graham cracker , but it doesn't so what are natural flavors ? Uh , the opposite of artificial , oh gotcha okay narrow it right down for me .
Yep , all right well , here we go .
Aroma's good , aroma's good yeah , boy , I get the cinnamon , I get almost like a muted cinnamon .
Is that what that is ? I was almost thinking it might have been like a marshmallow . That could be too .
But not really powerful sweet . No , that's almost . It tastes more like a marshmallow than cinnamon .
Yeah , but I mean , there is a little bit of a cinnamon touch to it . Yeah , like a cinnamon marshmallow almost . Yeah , I don't , is that ?
possible could be wow , but that definitely I don't really get . Like you said , a graham cracker , no right . But when , as soon as you said marshmallow , it just like that's it . I can taste that , but it didn't say anything about it in the . You know the description , right , but that's really interesting .
I mean this , that's another good .
I'm like , wow , that's good definitely different from the cherry cordial .
Yes , but in a good way . I mean , it's like again laterally good , yes , it's not . Yes , it's still good , it's right on that same plane .
I still like you said too I kind of wish you had a little bit more of a distinct s'mores flavor . Yes , but boy , I wouldn't turn it down , you wouldn't push it away . I wouldn't turn if somebody goes you . Like you said too , I kind of wish you had a little bit more of a distinct s'mores flavor .
Yes , but boy , I wouldn't turn it down , you wouldn't push it away . I wouldn't turn it If somebody goes . You want some yeah .
Yeah , I'll take some .
Really twist my arm hard Right . Wow , that is really good , you know .
but the one thing I'll have to say , I don't even , not saying even a beer , but like at a campfire .
I was going to say , well , unless you had like the cinnamon and sugar graham cracker . But I don't think I've even had one like that with . That's a good take on it . I mean , I think it's not overpowering cinnamon , it's just like no , it's like your taste buds are like on , that's , that's really good .
Yeah , I agree , and , like I said when you said marshmallow , I think it has more of a marshmallow flavor to it . That's good . That's boy . Um , what are you thinking ? Um , I gotta look at . Oh yeah , well , this may have to be one that I tie . Okay , I think I'm gonna go with three nine on this one as well .
You're gonna tie them up yeah , I just I think it's really good flavor . I don't , I don't necessarily know if it's a four , but it's real close and it's different than the Cherry Cordial , but it's , like you said , almost like a lateral type difference . So , yeah , I'm going with a 3.9 .
Yeah , I mean I'm going to say exact same score and I guess I mean I wish that there was a way because you know , not being a brewmaster , not knowing how hard it is , but I mean that flavor is just like amazing . Again , no burn from the bourbon barrel .
Right right .
Very smooth . We haven't had a burn yet on these . None of these , I mean , have all been super smooth and you can smell it . And it's 13.6 on this one .
No 14 on this one . So this is a 14 .
Yep Does not taste like a 14 . We , so this is a 14 . Yep Does not taste like a 14 . We are really , I think , blessed by these flavors right now . This is each one is a little bit different , but a little bit different good . Yep 3.9 for me . I think we're pushing up on getting . If these last four now are as good , We'll find out , won't we ?
Wow , so that's good . I'm really happy with that .
That's a good flavor and , like I said , we've had some s'mores beers that taste just like a s'more . We've had some that don't really taste like it . I mean , this is kind of in between . Yes for the flavor but boy everything else is just like wow , you know that's crazy all right , so you're ready for another question .
Sure , all right , so this is a multi-part . Okay , so there's four countries in the world where a fast food restaurant has beer on its menu . So the first question is what's the name of that restaurant ? Very common restaurant , fast food restaurant , mcdonald's , you got ?
it right , they have beer on the menu . Okay , and now to get points . And now what ?
countries .
Now to get points you gotta tell me which . Yeah , I should get at least a point for .
McDonald's You'll get like here we go , you get a tick mark Okay , which four countries have beer on its McDonald's menu ?
So you can get a McBeer , this is an easy one . Germany yes , there's a half a point , okay . Czech , no , no , minus 100 . No , whoa when else . I'm trying to think where else . Three of these are in Europe and one is in Asia . I was going to say they're not here . Three in Europe , so I had Germany , scotland , england .
Close France , france , oh geez , and one more in .
Europe . How about Spain ? Oh it's , oh geez . And one more in Europe . How about Spain ? Oh its neighbor Portugal .
Portugal and the last one In .
Asia , japan .
South Korea .
South .
Korea Wow , minus 10 million points .
I deserve that . Well , you tried Good effort , though that's crazy , though I had no idea
¶ Distinct Barrel Aged Beer Blend
that .
You didn't know that A McBeer . Nice Good call , yeah , all right , so what ?
do ? We got now this next one . Honestly , I've been really waiting to try , and this is their 15th Anniversary Brewer's Choice , nice , and it's a blended barrel-aged Imperial Stout 14% . This limited-release 15th Anniversary variant variant is a custom brewer's choice blend of barrel-aged beers Bourbon Barrel , dasvidaniya , okay , okay .
You're going to want to listen All right .
Bourbon Barrel Dasvidaniya Rye Barrel Dasvidaniya . Bourbon Barrel Triton Barley Wine . Bourbon Barrel Antiquity Rye Wine Wow . Aromas of chocolate , toffee and dark fruit greet you , followed by complex flavors of bourbon , vanilla and oak . The spiciness from rye malt and rye whiskey barrels rounds out a dry finish .
So they blended four different beers , one , two , three For their 15th anniversary . Four Yep for their 15th anniversary . Four Yep for their 15th anniversary , and this one has the gold label on it . Oh , look at that baby ?
Yeah , the presentation lets us hope . What's on the inside is just as good .
It fits as good as what's on the outside .
Man .
Well , that's cool . There we go . I was going to say I have , like , an antique bottle opener and it was not cooperating . So All right Well .
All right , so here we go . Look at that it's definitely dark , yet it's definitely dark .
It has that tan little bit of head on it Because once again it's 14% . Wow , it's got a good aroma , ooh , 18% . Wow , it's got a good aroma , ooh , ooh .
Yeah , that smells pretty good . It smells like bourbon barrels right there .
The bourbon barrel , the rye barrel , the bourbon barrel triton , their barley wine , and then an antiquity rye wine . So four different barrels . Four different barrels . All right , that's pretty good . Wow , wow , I really don't . I guess I was going to say I don't get a dry finish , but I kind of do A little bit , a little bit , but it's not terrible .
It's not like you're going ah .
Yeah , not like it was in a wine , cask , correct .
Boy , that's pretty .
I think it's just the right touch of dryness . Yep , that's smooth , that's really smooth , no burn .
No burn at all . I can't believe last 14% . Well , the other ones are 14 , but they're 14.6 . Oh , so we're even stepping it up another six-tenths of a percent .
Wow , that is really good .
This does not taste like a 14% at all .
This is one of those . This is scary .
Somebody would drink that bottle and get messed up , and then you wouldn't even see it coming .
You drink that bottle , you get up to go to the bathroom . You're like it coming . You drink that bottle , you get up to go to the bathroom .
you're like whoa , I'm on a ship , I'm going to sit down .
Let me grab a hold of something that is good . Wow , this might be the best one so far today . Yeah , this is good . Wow , this is really good . I might dare say could be on my list for beer of the year this could be .
I think you're right . I think this . Yes , we will definitely put it on the list for being talked about , because this is super smooth , very good flavor . I'm impressed .
I think we sometimes talk about it .
But I mean , how you know , like for a new craft beer maker or brewer , anybody that's in this position where you go , I got a really good beer , all right , and now I'm going to take this really , really good beer , I'm going to put it in another barrel , and I'm going to put it in another barrel , well , and then I'm going to put it in another barrel and
then another . So how do you ?
But this is different . This is not like that . This they blended .
Oh , so they had it and then just poured it together Four different beers .
Yeah , they , you know , because we've had somewhere . The last barrel is what you tasted , right ?
You know , and I mean they get a good product . I mean it's like , are you like playing with fire ? Right when you know you got a good beer . Well , I'm going to try one more thing . Or it's like where is your finish line for putting them in different barrels ? And you're like these are all good , man Boy .
So do you want to go first ? No , but I will All right , because I'm sitting here going geez , this is good . Yeah , like I said , this would be scary drinking . Yes , super good flavor I'm going to go a .
I'm going to 4.4 .
Honestly , I think this is really good . I think they did an amazing job on this one .
Yeah , I mean I don't see anything bad about this . I mean I guess I wish I could explain to the listener more of what the different barrels taste like . Yeah , I can't , only because it all just kind of melds together perfectly . Yeah .
Yes , yeah , because I say you know , you look at it . So the rye barrel we just had , yep . The bourbon barrel comes up next Yep , this one , okay . The barley wine I've never heard of , no , their bourbon barrel . Triton barley wine I've never heard of that . And I've never heard of their bourbon barrel antiquity rye wine . I don't know what those are .
Right . So I mean for me , kudos . I mean I'm going to go with 4.5 . I really like it . I mean this is wow . I mean , Mike , I think this might be your first top-shelf beer that you've actually given me .
Well , I don't just . You know , I've got to save them .
You did really good on this one buddy .
Yeah , that's good .
I'm impressed .
Wow , that is crazy . And , like I said , when I got it and I pulled , you know , looking at the bottles when I got the box from them . And I saw that and I was like I got to figure out what that is , you know , and .
I put it downstairs when we got home and then just you know , oh , got home , and then just you know , because , as the listeners have have probably noticed by now when , when we do these series like this , we're taking a year at a time , so to speak , and we let them sit for right , try and let them sit for a year or two .
And how do you let them age ?
I have them up upright out of the direct sunlight in a room temperature , you know perfect , perfect , see yeah , or basement temperature , but still , yes , that is awesome , I mean , and this I mean that is a good beer .
That's good , that's really good . They did a good job .
All right . Well , I'm going to give you an easy question , since you brought me a good beer . Thank you , easy question .
If I knew you did that , I'd bring more good beers . Then Well , here's your question Are you ready ? I'm ready .
Easiest one .
¶ Exploring Barrel Aged Beer Varieties
Which country in the world serves beer in its elementary schools ?
Germany , no oh , belgium , wisconsin oh .
Belgium , belgium , really . They began serving low alcohol content beer as a healthier option to traditional soda , which is more sugary , you didn't know that Somehow . I don't think that would fly here , not in the United States , right , so they serve a .
Radler instead of a . Well then it probably kicks all the kids mellow . I bet you're right , probably not .
Not during school , maybe after school . Well then , you've got to wake them up and send them home , but interesting .
I get that , they got to wake them up and send them home . But interesting , I mean I get that they don't want them to have the soda , I get that , but I guess I didn't think having them drink and it's like the Czech Republic , where the beer is actually cheaper to make than bottled water , yeah , than bottled water .
See , we're learning all sorts of stuff . That research staff I'm hiring more and more Because you said I keep getting the emails . Yeah , seeing how good I am with it , I know I've got to give some of the credit back to that research staff , exactly .
They're helping me out . I'm glad that you helped share the wealth , so to speak , of knowledge , of knowledge , and the kudos , your crack staff . Anything I do to help Help the show , there you go . I Anything I do to help help the show , there you go . I appreciate it because it needs help .
So what do we got next ? Awesome .
Well , now we're stepping it up again to 14.6% and we're finally to their Bourbon Barrel Aged Bourbon Barrel . So we hadn't been to the .
Bourbon Barrel , yet we haven't went out that way , no .
So this is their Bourbon Barrel Ag aged Imperial Stout , and what their description was ? It said , the hidden soul of this oak bourbon barrel aged beer that we said dasvidaniya farewell to several months before revealing , is its rich flavors like dark chocolate , toffee , black cherries and coffee , along with robust and roasty maltiness that finishes dry .
Okay , this should be interesting , and again , we don't know what , what distillery , right , right , we don't know that . So it would be interesting sometime if we go back down there to ask right , you know , and see if they would . I'm sure they would tell you looks like it's a . It's definitely dark .
Definitely looks like an imperial stout . Oh yes , that smells good too , gosh , still nothing bad .
Ooh , yeah , like I said , the smell is stronger , I think , than the boozy aroma is more than the boozy taste . Yes , it has been on the other ones , right , so now , well , let's see . So this is their Bourbon Barrel Bourbon Barrel 14.6 . 14.6 . 14.6% .
That's smooth Smooth . I have a little more bourbon flavor .
Yeah , I don't get the burn at all .
No , you know , the bourbon flavor comes through more than any of the other barrel ages , yep Barrel flavors .
Definitely a stronger flavor in that than in like the rye barrel .
Yes , for sure .
That one's got a little bit more of a bite .
Yep , little bit more of a bite , yep , but for 14 it's still . I wouldn't have guessed it was 14.6 . No , I mean , it doesn't have near any of the burn that you would if you're gonna have like straight bourbon , right , right , correct , yep , this is , I guess . Now my taste buds are like kind of from that last one we just had .
They're like they're used to that last one , which was super good . So now everything's like trying to elevate up to that higher level yeah , and this , like I said , this one .
It has a sharper flavor . Yes , you know what I mean . I don't know if you want to call it that , but you know I'm saying it's definitely a uh , somewhat of a bite to it I guess right .
I mean it's because , like the other , and again , this is out of a can , so we had yes , and the last right last one was a bottle so the other canned ones were the rye barrel and the s'mores . So this is the bourbon barrel . Yep , so I mean the flavor . I mean it doesn't have near the flavor , probably like the s'mores does .
Right , it's a different flavor though .
Yes .
Yep , not bad . It's , like you said , difficult to describe .
Correct , you know . And then , since you brought that up , it's kind of like I wonder why they decided to put this in a can and some of the others in a bottle Right Now , the 15th anniversary . I totally get , because that's more of a limited type thing .
Oh , yeah , for sure , they could almost put that probably in a .22-ounce thing he could have .
Yeah , but you just kind of wonder . You know why they picked the way . They did be a reason for it , but and I know , like the , the bourbon barrel that's available pretty much all year right , that's on , tap on tap there . Yeah , when you go there you can get a flight , because that's what we did . Remember , we got a flight of dust vidania .
Well , at the brewery , and I think the other part that's unique is I believe I could be wrong , but in your bottling process you got to set it up for three different ways of bottling to a 12 ounce , 12-ounce can , a 16-ounce can and these glass bottles .
Oh yeah , it's not like most craft beers , it's the same can for all their styles , all the way across Right yep . So I mean that's got to tell you that they've put a lot of money .
They've put a lot of effort into it .
yeah Right just into their bottling process , exactly .
Huh . Well , what do you think of this one dude ? Well , I like the last one better . I have to say that for sure .
And then I'm looking at the s'mores in a rye barrel . I don't think it's up to that level . I'm going to have to say a 3.7 .
That's exactly what I was going to say . I just I like the flavors on those other ones a little bit better , I know , and this is good , this is very good . But when you compare them to the other ones , I'm not going to say a little harsher flavor , but it's a little stronger flavor maybe .
I don't know . I don't know how to describe it . It's not easy to describe because it's not a bad flavor , but we're just trying to split the hairs , so everybody knows . I mean , I wish I could explain exactly what it tastes like .
It's still good , yes , but we've had other bourbon barrel Imperial Stouts . Yes , that are definitely better , I think . Just on the flavor , right , but this is still . I would not turn that can down .
No , that is good , that is really good .
Boy , we got two beers left , two beers left ?
Yeah , all right . So my next question when did the owner of Distal , who is Matt Potts ?
Okay .
When did he first start brewing beer in his garage ? His first five gallon batch of beer .
Does it start with a one or a two ? A one , a one , okay , 19 .
Yep , okay , good , I got the first two numbers right 19 .
Yep , I wonder how old he is . I'm going to say he's been doing it for a while . I'm going to say like 1989 .
Oh , you were close . This is the 30th year 1995 . Oh dang it , so it wasn't quite that far , you were close .
So I was like huh , I thought well , you never know . Because I thought okay , was never know you know . Because I thought okay , was he . You know , like my brother , I mean , he homebrewed for quite a while , right Before he started actually you know brewing for a brewery , so , yeah , it makes sense , you know own your craft .
Yeah , so the next after we finish this next beer . I got some questions for you about the new facility there . Oh geez .
Oh yeah .
I know , I've seen it , I've been there I don't know trivia , but I know we're gonna do square feet . Oh geez , yeah , right in the wheelhouse , all right so what do we got now ?
so the next one oh , this has potential as well . Okay , potential . This is their black band . Double barrel , wow , double bear , double bourbon barrel , aged Imperial stout with vanilla . Say that three times . Exactly 14.6% ABV . All right , and here's what it says . We aged this beer in heaven Hill bourbon barrels , so they named , they named it .
That's a good , that's a good brand to heaven Hill bourbon barrels for several months , before transferring it to bourbon barrels from Black Band Distillery , which is in Peoria , nice , to age further , finally revealing its rich flavors like dark chocolate , toffee , black cherries and coffee , along with a robust and roasty maltiness that finishes dry .
Wow , that's a lot going on .
Yeah , so Heaven Hill , and then they put it into the local Black Band distillery . Have you had any liquor from Black Band ? I don't think so . Okay , I've seen it . When we would go down there . I saw it listed , but we never went there , sampled any of their stuff .
Right , correct , all right . Well , it's definitely a dark beer .
Definitely a dark beer in 14.6 . And again when you start in Heaven Hill Barrels yes , it can't all be bad . Yeah , smells good . Ooh , that definitely does have a pretty nice smell to it , boy that smells pretty . That smells good , smells inviting . Boy , that's got a smoother flavor than just the last one . Right , that has a really smooth flavor .
That is not bad . So you wonder , is that the Heaven Hill or is it ? I'm sure it's a combination of both , because I'm sure the Black Band . Now it raises a question with you to say , okay , I wonder what Black Band bourbon tastes like . Right , huh , that is smooth , that's not bad , wow tastes like you know . That is smooth , that's not bad .
Wow , oh , you remember when we were talking about because a few weeks ago , when you had got the bottle of Angel's Envy right and we tried that along with the Goose Island , okay , yep , bourbon County , when I was downstairs , when I was getting these beers ready , I did notice that I had one of those . I had the Eagle Rare .
I had the Old .
Forester , and what's the other one that they ?
had , I still got all those oh . So that could be an episode right there If you got the bourbon to go with it , if we had the bourbon to go with them .
Wow yeah , so we'll have to talk to our friend John . Have him buy all the other bourbons . I think I still got one one of the . Well , you may too , and I know Toby does the Pappy Van Winkle Central Waters , so you can buy that bottle . No , I was going to have John buy that one too .
Oh okay , he can just bring them all .
Just bring them all . Yeah , we'll bring the beer . You bring all the bourbons , Wow .
Yeah , that's a good very good idea .
Yeah , but that's what I was thinking . I was like you know , if we have barrel-aged January into February farther , because we've still got Goose Island , we haven't even got to Goose Island . Yeah , we did one episode . Oh , yeah , we did the one . Yes , we did . I'm sorry , but I got those other .
We still got more bottles of those too .
Yeah , we got more years of those , and then I've got those other ones too , so anyway .
So we've got stash upon stash that we haven't even tapped into yet .
Yep , we sure do , boy . That's pretty good so what are you ? thinking I'm going to go a 4.0 on this one . I think it's definitely very smooth . I think no way I'd have thought it was 14.6 . I think , compared to just the bourbon barrel , I think it's way smoother than that one .
And again , when you start with Heaven Hill barrels and then you go to the Black Band barrels , it seems to work really well and , yeah , I think it's good . I think it's another one of those that could sneak up on you . It's not going to sneak up on you quite as much as the 15th anniversary one would , but it's still a very good beer .
I think they did a good job .
Yes , I will echo your same exact comments . I like this one too . I mean , it's hard to come up with different superlatives .
I think it's one of their beers because they're really all so good .
Yep , I mean I'm going to stick with you on the same number , 4.0 . I like it . It's just wow . I wish I could describe it even better for the listeners , just so they would understand , but we've not had anything that's been bad from distal I mean any one of these .
One thing I should tell the people too these bottles were all coated in wax the tops . So before we started this , I cut all the wax off because we talked about that mirror before where , before you start drinking , you want to cut the wax . And that's what I did , because I was like , yeah , I don't want to try and do it when we've been .
Right , you know Well , and that's the hard part too . I mean , that's not the best thing for any of these , because you know you're going to be drinking beer and then you're going to have a knife to like kind of pop . These tops off . Right so yes , we're under our last set of questions
¶ Craft Beer Brewery Visit & Tasting
.
Okay .
So in 2016 .
2016 , okay .
They began construction on that new building that you and I went to that . We've been to yeah , okay , the brewery and beer hall . Beer hall , yeah , how many square feet is that baby ? Oh man , it's a big building . Yeah , yeah , it's . Only Could you put your house inside it .
Oh yeah , yeah , maybe not your house , but my house , you could .
I think you could put both houses in it Side by side .
Yeah , in front of your parents' house , 100,000 square feet Close , you were so close 47,000 . I was way off .
And how much did it cost to ?
build 2016 . It's not as bad as if they built it today , yep , but still , man , because there's a lot of glass and a lot of I love when you walk in and they got that big fireplace going .
Oh , looking over a pond , looking over that pond , Yep .
Boy $5 million oh close again $15 million .
Only off by one number . Yeah , but it's a big number $15 million Only off by one number . Yeah , but it's a big number .
So they completed it in March of 2017 . That place is like I said before , if you get a chance to go there , you've got to go there , because I remember Susie and I had went a number , probably two or three times , and then when you and Julie came with us we were like we've got to go and I'm pretty sure you were just like whoa .
That's like I mean . It's on the scale of the one in Iowa .
Toppling Goliath . Toppling Goliath , yes .
It's on the same scale . I think that the distal brewery is probably a little bit bigger .
Oh , yeah , I think so . So it's Boy and they've got that their barrel room is gigantic .
Yes , Temperature control Temperature , oh yeah .
We've only peaked in there . Like I said , if we did the Dust with Annie day , we could eat a meal in there . But we'd look in there and it's like , oh my gosh , You'd see all these barrels just sitting in the racks full of beer . And they do it every year . Yes , you know . So yeah , Wow , that's crazy $15 million .
Yes , it's kind of like your money , yeah , yeah .
Yeah , you're only one number off .
The zero .
No , actually you're like eight numbers off . Oh .
So what do we got for the last one ? Our ?
last one . This is their Fritzson Coffee Vanilla . Fritzson Vanilla . Fritzson Bourbon barrel aged imperial stout with coffee 14.6% ABV once again .
Okay .
And their description says in memory of Steve Fritzson and I apologize , I don't know who that is Okay , this stout features Red Dog House blend coffee locally roasted by Serious Coffee Roasters in Bloomington , illinois . Okay , enjoy , smooth , bright coffee notes , subtle sweetness from the vanilla and a dry finish .
Cheers , steve , all right , so I'm guessing this is going to be more coffee forward , I would guess . But again , this is one I've never You've never had this one either Never had one of these with really a coffee-type note , so to speak . Well , it's dark . It's dark like the rest of them , so nothing's changed there ?
No , they're all right in the same area .
Okay , smells good , smells good , they've all smelled really good .
Did I miss the type of barrel it was aged in ?
It did not say . Okay , it did not say on our notes here , but it is barrel 8 .
It's bourbon barrel yes , it is bourbon . Okay , ooh , you can taste the coffee . As one of our friends would say , there's coffee and cigarettes .
So when I first tasted it , my initial thing was ooh . But then the coffee kind of got really strong , but then it faded and then it's the vanilla Right On . The aftertaste is vanilla .
But , initially I was like oh , that coffee's ooh , that got ooh , now it's gone you know the way the taste buds are just like being like tricked . Oh yeah , and all the difference that's definitely not .
That's not bad Because it's not over-the-top coffee , mm-mm , mm-mm and the finish is definitely vanilla . Yes , did it say ? Yeah , it doesn't say you know whatever vanilla , whatever type of it . So it must be just vanilla , because normally if they have some exotic vanilla somebody will point it out .
Yeah , that's still smooth though Very smooth . But I do get that dry finish . My tongue is a little bit dry . I don't know what that's caused from or what flavor is bringing out the dryness Boy that's good , that's good yeah . Wow , we've definitely had some very good ones .
We've had some good ones again today , which we expected , Just like when we do Central Waters , just like when we do Goose Island .
you know you're going to be splitting hairs At the very top end of the spectrum .
Yeah , really really good beers . Yeah , what are you thinking ?
So I think for me very good beer , there's no doubt . So the only things that I'm talking about are probably just like really really tiny or minute little things . The dryness is a little bit different for me . I guess . I don't think it changes the flavor , it's just a little different . So that's about the only thing I can .
I can't pick up a lot of the because , like now after like the second or third sip now I can't taste the vanilla like that very first taste , that first one , that vanilla is very you could taste all three things like you said yes yeah , which which was very cool . So I think I'm gonna double up like that black band . I'm going to go with 3.8 .
Okay .
I wish I can't even like hardly separate some of these because they're so close .
I know that's the sad part it is . It's like ugh .
And this is probably one of the few episodes where we've actually had to double up a lot of these scores because they're so close .
I mean , I don't think you them . No , I'm gonna go with 4.0 on this one as well . All right , well I thought you liked that last black band was better .
So yeah , uh , geez let me , let me look at my scores again , because I like that I can't , I can't triple it up .
I'm gonna go with a 3.8 as well . Okay , because three , three of them at 3.9 would have been too much for a coffee stout . It's not bad , no , no , it's super . And , like I said , that initial taste when you got all three flavors was amazing .
Yes , the more you drink it and you're right the vanilla kind of gets pushed to the back a little bit and you get a little more of that coffee . Yes , but still very good . Oh , very good , 100% agree . So , yeah , I'm going to finish this one and another day . These were good . Yeah , these were very good .
Boy . So I guess you know , overall this is a really really tough category . Oh , extremely .
Number one for me . Well , for me and for you were both the 15th anniversary , and I'm saying it now we're putting it in consideration for beer of the year .
Yes , I second that motion .
You know , and there's other ones here that could have been , but I think that one was so far ahead , right .
I think what ? I think that the listeners are probably looking for us to separate it out , correct ?
And I would , Of this group that was by far the best one .
I'll second . I mean there's no . I don't think you can go wrong by nominating no , because we're not saying it's the best now , we're just saying we're going to think about the other ones . Now you have to beat this . This is the king on the mountain right now , right Knocked it .
Well , it's put into the same group , as you know the other ones , Because we've actually been doing it the right way . This year Instead of like last year where you had to go back through and listen to a whole bunch of podcasts .
We're learning , we're learning where we're trying to nominate beers to be in there and , yeah , this group , because this group , again , when it comes to the barrel aging which you know , again , I think we're more I'm not going to say expert , but we're more familiar with Right .
You know distal , we're not afraid of them . No .
Distal is one of the preeminent ones that we and I'm sure there's around the country . I'd love to get a chance to try some barrel aged beers from other states , yeah .
I mean , and especially like the listers out there , let us know what .
Yeah , if there's ones in your area that you know of . Let us know , Cause we want to try them . We might do a road trip . Yeah Well , you never know .
We'll be doing a road trip .
We may be going to another state , yeah uh , but anyway .
So that 15th anniversary , I think , was by far number one hands down hands down , and then the black band , I think was number two , okay , you know .
And then we had others , you know , of course , like the cherry cordial , the s'mores were very close , the coffee was close . You know that rye whiskey was was close , I mean , but while you look at them , uh , for for me it went from a 3.5 to a 4.4 , you were 3.3 to 4.5 .
Right , so all within a point .
Yeah , you know , and it's , it's . Yeah , they were very good . You know , I knew that distal wouldn't let us down , and they sure didn't , you know . And , and we do have next year we'll do another one , because I've got 2023s downstairs too .
So , and you did actually learn some russian ? Yes , you did . You know hello , hello and goodbye . Goodbye , dasvidaniya , yep , and what kind of nesting doll it is yep , I can't pronounce it , but I know what it says how it's spelled , but this is one of those I'd have to put up there with the same echelon um , with the central waters , with the bourbon county .
Oh yeah , they're , they're right up there at least for the upper midwest yeah they're in the top three .
Oh , you know them central waters , goose island , they're , they're , they're the preeminent bear laging right ?
well , he's in our area right .
And then the um goose . Uh , three sheeps , they're up there michigan dragons Dragon's Milk oh . New Holland , yes , new Holland . Yeah , dragon's Milk . Dragon's Milk , yes , I think they're up there . They're up there too . Yes , yes .
Got a very good process Very good , and so we have not been steered wrong by any of these . No , but this is like you know . I don't even know if we could split .
I mean , they're all got very good products , very good , and that's one of those .
Yeah .
How do you pick ? Because they all know what they're doing and they do it well .
Yes , and here's the other thing that we didn't talk about .
How long were these aged ? They did not really specify Any months , any length of time , because one , like the coffee one it just said , you know several months . Right , we don't know if it's at two months or 30 months , who knows .
Because , like Central Waters , they say exactly , they point it out Right , they point it out , but they also are doing stuff for up to six years in a barrel . You know what I mean , right .
Where these , they do it every year . Yes , so you know it's under a year , right , but it could be 10 months , it could be 11 months , it could be eight months , who knows ?
Because I mean that I think has a lot to do with the flavors that come through Right , exactly , and they're doing it right .
They're doing it right . Yep , I agree . Well , awesome dude . Thank you so much for struggling through the Dasvidaniya with me , me and uh . There just happens to look like there's a bunch of stuff left in these bottles and cans , so we're gonna have to revisit some of these .
I think , when we get done here . But yes , uh , yeah , thank you . So thanks for inviting me , thanks for finally bringing your top shelf off from I'm trying , wow , I'm trying one time in like several years , in almost 100 episodes in 90 , some episodes .
I finally brought a good , a good badge . Kudos to you . Yes , thank you . And uh , yeah , we'll , we'll keep plugging away . We're getting closer to our 100th anniversary 100th episode there you go . So yeah , we got some stuff cooked up for that and hopefully it'll be working out . There you go , but yeah , Keep listening .
We're trying to tease everybody for what's going to happen .
Yep , and we do have options where we could continue to do some more barrel-laid stuff for a little while yet . Well , we could do it a long time if we wanted to Darn it , but we'll probably do it for a little while yet , and then we're going to go back to some other stuff . So awesome , well cool , jim . Thank you so much .
Man and ladies and gentlemen , thanks for listening in and by all means , like we , because you're not going to regret it , try some of these Dasvidanias . Yes , you're not going to regret it .
And they have other stuff and take some home .
And the food there is amazing too . So that's one of those breweries that their food is as good as the beer is , so awesome . Well , hey , ladies and gentlemen , like we always say , we hope your campfire is always warm and your beers are always cold . See ya , Bye . Thank you for listening to the Northwoods Beer Guy podcast .
If you have a question , a comment or a beer you'd like us to review , please feel free to send us a message at northwoodsbeerguy at gmailcom . You can also find us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . If you're on untapped , look up Northwoods Beer Guy and send a friend request . Until next week , I hope all your campfires are warm and all your beer is cold .