grinding on

I had been collecting a good number of stouts over the past few weeks, but we're in spring now, so something a little lighter might be in order.  Of course, it is still March, so it might feel like winter again.  Plus, we're stuck inside anyway.  I had to search long and hard to find this red ale from North Brewing.  I was congratulated on my choice when I brought it up to the counter, so that gives me hope.  West Coast Red Ale better not let me down now.

Ruddy but clear, very light beige head, piney aroma.  It's quite a mouthful, more than I expected from the appearance, with a touch of bittersweet and bread.  You might think that a West Coast ale would have more of the craft IPA fruity hops, but I'm not sure I even detect any fruit at the start.  Maybe the bitter could be grapefruit.  It's not very citrusy, though.  It's a very calm and light flavor, relaxing, pleasant.  It could be enjoyable on a balcony, looking down on a deserted street in the afternoon, or huddled up on the couch at night with a good book or disease disaster movie.

Supplier: Be Hoppy
Price: ∼€5.60

here's to the apocalypse

I thought it best to pick up some goods before a probable lockdown, and I was not alone.  A couple of people were packing up a good number of bottles and cans from Be Hoppy, and while I was making my purchase somebody called through the doorway asking about hours "before the apocalypse".  The answer was they were going to close up shop at four, any bottle and can was welcome to be bought, but no drafts.  Naparbier's Zombified Imperial Stout really looked like the right choice for the moment.

Ugh, when a zombie has better teeth than you do...

Although it's not a pastry stout, it's similar in look and aroma to my recent Small Pleasure.  There's a little more spice in this one, though, something verging on cinnamon.  It's more a typical stout, with a little dirt and a little smoke, in flavor.  I'm not getting a lot of coffee out of this one, although there might be a hint of dark chocolate.  It has a pretty heavy feel, one of the more syrupy beers.  It doesn't leave a lot of aftertaste, though.  While it's a good beer for a barbecue or a night with some savory dishes, I don't think it would be my top choice if I was going to be fighting zombies soon afterwards.  Need something with a little more zap...

Supplier: Be Hoppy
Price: ∼€4.50

a quiet celebration

These are dark days we're living in, days of uncertainty and suspicion.  Black beers go with absolutely everything, so there's no way I can put them aside now.  Somehow, they popped out on the shelves now at the end of winter rather than at the beginning, but what the hell, I won't look a gift beer in the mouth.  I should have looked harder for an Irish beer, but a pastry stout and the weather at the moment will have to do.  Small Pleasures is a Spanish beer, from Speranto and Medina, surely a worthy match to any Irish stout I would have found.

It has a heavy alcohol sweetness, like brandied cakes or cherries in liquor.  There's just a tinge of brown at the bottom of the glass while the rest of it looks pretty good and black.  Dark beige head, not too much of it though.  The taste has a bit of an edge, although it's overwhelmingly fruity; banana, apple, maybe peach make an appearance.  It's a fruit pastry without any doubt.  It's supposed to have some marzipan stuffed in there somewhere, which might be part of fruitiness.  It has a snap and a sharpness that keeps you from just swallowing it all down, which you might be tempted to do.  Doesn't stop the beer from being a tasty treat all the same.

Supplier: Labirratorium
Price: €3.70

and 1

This is the last beer from Espuma.  Sigh, things come and go.

It's another black beer, and I thought it said pastry stout when I first picked it up but then I saw it was...Panty Stout?  Ok, that's new.  It's from Oedipus, a Dutch brewery, and those northern countries do have a knack for black beers, so I think it will be just fine.  Especially to go with the black days of a virus apocalypse. 

Stockings over your face might be more protection.  You look more dangerous to germs.

Oh, it's extra sweet in smell, makes me think again that it was meant to be "pastry".  It's not a perfectly black beer, more of a superdark brown with a tannish head.  The head is quite exuberant, too.  After some moments of rest, the beer takes on a slightly citric touch in the aroma.  Then, the taste is surprisingly light and fruity.  Where's that pastry?  Orange marmalade tart maybe?  There is a swirl of bitterness and even a little smokiness hovering behind that tart surprise.  In some ways it's a nice change from the heavier, and much more chocolatey and coffee-dependent, stouts of late.  It has a bright and snappy flavor, making it quite suitable to sit with on a sunny and unseasonably warm afternoon.  The hint of bitter makes for a nice balance so it doesn't get overly tropical.  Overall, it goes down very cleanly and easily.  A nice all-year beer.

Supplier: Espuma
Price: €1.65

2...

As I said, I picked up some good shit at Espuma before they closed their doors.  I mean, not many black beers go wrong for me.  Plus, I know Laugar.  And I know Russian Imperial Stouts.  Braskadi is actually a collaboration with Perro Libre of Brazil, so there could be some sunshine from the south hidden in this thing.

Good color, although a bubbly more than a creamy head.  The aroma is sort of a chocolate liquor, promising sweet and alcohol roughness.  At first it is a little chocolate bon-bon, but it only takes a couple of seconds for a wave of licorice to pour in and settle down, remitting only slightly at the end when coffee makes an attempt to be noticed.  There's also a bit of woodiness in the aftertaste.  It turns out palo santo is in the mix, which might explain that.  It might also be the source of the slight spiciness, being an aromatic tree and all.  There's also supposed to be raisins, but I am not finding a trace of them in this beer, although their essence seems to show up in other dark beers like a ghost or a hologram.  The licorice kind of dies down after a couple of sips, leaving a heavy dark chocolate and coffee profile to the flavor, like many a stout.  It's pretty heavy, but in spite of that there's a snappy feel and an energy that lots of stouts, especially sweet ones, don't command.  I want to say it's like a blend of cinnamon and mint, but it isn't quite either of those things.  I'm going to shrug and chalk it up to the palo santo.  Maybe this is a good luck beer with that kind of stuff in it.  Witch's brew, anyone?

Supplier: Espuma
Price: €3.26