Ok, so my goal with this blog is to share 52 new (to me, and you’re just going to have to trust me that I haven’t tried these) beers with you over the next 52 Friday nights! Hence, Friday Night Pints! Get it?
Now, my beer reviewing skills need honing, so "beer" with me! Constructive suggestions welcome, but probably ignored. Here goes…
Speakeasy Ales and Lagers
San Francisco, CA
Double Daddy Imperial IPA
9.3% ABV
22 oz. Bottle
I am a hop head, as any of you who have enjoyed a beer with me can attest, so the first FNP was a double IPA suggestion from my favorite beer guy (Greg) here at the Whole Foods in Short Pump. I’m not knocking Greg’s ability to lead a beer lover in the right direction (he VERY rarely steers me wrong), but Speakeasy’s Double Daddy was a somewhat disappointing first choice. Not bad, it just didn’t rock my hop loving taste buds. It poured an orange/copper color with a thin, white head that didn’t stick around long. Low hop aroma (I want the hops to jump out of the glass and punch me in the face, so maybe low to me won’t be so low to others!), and a malty, toasty flavor. Mouthfeel was pretty thin with decent carbonation. More English IPA* than American if you ask me, but no one did. Double Daddy is certainly drinkable, but probably isn’t one of those beers I’m going to start drooling over waiting for 5:30 on Friday.
A disappointing start, but a grande finale for the first FNP (seriously, you thought I would only have ONE beer on a Friday night?)! Not that this officially counts toward the “52 FNPs”, but it was too good not to mention! Williamsburg Alewerks (not a misspelling) Bourbon Barrel Porter. This beer was BLACK with a nice, one finger tan head. The first whiff reminded me of a Black Russian with very strong coffee and chocolate aromas. The alcohol was definitely present in both aroma and taste, but not overwhelming. A nice, medium mouthfeel with just the right amount of carbonation. Definitely a beer I will look for again, although It was a “brewmasters reserve” so I am thinking I should have grabbed two! Their regular Washington’s Porter is one of my faves also!
On a side note, Saturday at the brewery was once again nothing short of a sweat barn (no A/C), but a blast as usual! I was disappointed not to get to do tours (my usual Saturday gig), but hey, there is always next week! Plenty of folks to help at the tasting desk and filling line, and no less sweating!
Feel free to email me YOUR Friday Night Pint@ fridaynightpints@gmail.com
Cheers!
Becky
*I looked it up on line. Munich malts used giving it that toastiness.
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