Hop Cast

In episode 82 of the Hop Cast, Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder are joined by Anthony Stagno to sample some rather rare beers with high ABVs. The first one the three of them jump into is the one Anthony brought with him, the Perfect Storm from Pelican. The Perfect Storm is an English Barleywine with an ABV of 13.5%. The 2009 Perfect Storm is Pelican’s 2008 Stormwatcher’s Winterfest Barleywine, aged in 1998 Evan Williams Bourbon Barrels. After the Perfect Storm three of them savor the final drops they then move onto The Bruery’s Black Tuesday. The Black Tuesday is an Imperial Stout with an ABV of 19.5%. This might be the highest ABV beer Brad and Ken have featured on the Hop Cast. While enjoying this delicious black treasure, Anthony shares the story of how the name Black Tuesday came to be.

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The holiday music is playing and the shopping has begun so that could only mean one thing, December is here. Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski went back and forth on this months beer selection. There are so many great holiday beers to choose from. They decided to go with something that takes the idea of what a holiday beer can be to the next level. Without further ado, the December beer of the month is the 2 Turtle Doves from The Bruery. The Bruery just recently showed up in the Chicago area and Ken and Brad have been enjoying just about everything they have gotten their hands on. And the 2 Turtle Doves is no exception.

Now watch out before you try taking on this holiday beer alone. This Belgian Strong Dark Ale comes in at 12.0% ABV, not something to be taken lightly. The 2 Turtle Doves pours out a dark chestnut, almost espresso with a very thin tan head, that quickly resides. Just a little lacing on the glass which seems about right for such a high alcohol beer. As this beer warms up the alcohol in the nose is more pronounced. There are some nice dried fruit smells, maybe dates or figs; along with toasted malts and chocolate and a hint of carmel. This is the type of beer that you just want to taste to see what else is going on. And when you finally do, the taste is fantastic! That sweet dried fruit comes through right away but there is also that rich chocolate flavor, not a sweet chocolate but a roasted nutty chocolate. Finally a light alcohol in the finish to warm you up inside. Although the alcohol comes out it isn’t a burn instead it’s very smooth and leaves a nutty and woody taste in your mouth. A well balanced beer throughout. Definitely unique and makes for a perfct holiday beer for yourself or as a gift. Open one of these after dinner with your family, it could be the perfect end to the night.

Happy Holidays from the Hop Cast!

It’s a new month and its time for Hop Cast to pick their November beer of the month. With the recent release of Surly Brewing’s Darkness and The Bruery Black Tuesday, it seemed fitting that November’s beer of the month should be a Russian Imperial Stout. Since both those beers are tricky to get if you didn’t go to the release parties, Hop Cast decided to choose a beer of the month people should be able to find pretty easily. So for the November beer of the month, the Hop Cast has chosen North Coast’s Old Rasputin. Brad and Ken recently reviewed the Old Rasputin XII on episode 54 with Shawn Horton. Don’t be fooled, just because this guy is in a smaller bottle doesn’t mean it isn’t packing a huge punch. Coming in with an ABV of 9.0% this isn’t a beer you should be drinking all night no matter how delicious it is. The Old Rasputin pours out black as night with a two finger tan head; within a few moments the head slowly starts to reside and leaves some nice lacing with it. The aroma of chocolate, roasted malts, vanilla and bourbon drift out of the glass. What you smell is what you taste with Old Rasputin. Dark roasted malts, chocolate, with alcohol that will smack you in the face and warm you up. Even though that alcohol is pretty strong, it’s very well balanced and finishes with a coffee bitterness.

You can find North Coast’s Old Rasputin pretty much year round but its perfect for a cold fall or winter day when you’re looking for a beer to warm you up.