egg layers!

On the third day of Beermas I went and bought for me

Three French magicians

Two love ya dearlies

And the simplest answer there could be  

This one was a little hard to work out, but try this - Dude has a mustache that looks French and there's a bird.  Also a snake, and some of those lay eggs like birds.  The whole thing is very magical, and it's a countdown song that must have had some magic long, long ago.  Yeah, good enough.

I know I was griping about the excessive amount of pale ales in the Advent calendar, but here I am with another one.  Well, it's a double IPA and from Basqueland, so we know it's a damn fine beer.  It's called Truth Serum, so if it presents itself well we can believe it.  ...Right?  Anyway.  It's awfully cloudy for an IPA, but the citrus perfume is almost explosive.  There's also a mild hint of pine underneath.  The look makes me expect a NEIPA style juiciness, but that's not to be had.  Instead it's a real bomb of bitter/licorice, weirdly, with only the tiniest bit of pithy orange lurking in the background.  It has a lot of body, an odd mix of smooth texture in the liquid and prickly taste from a double dose of hops.  It's quite a beer to chew on, with more of a summery flavor, but the overall feel is quite suitable for a chilly winter evening.  It's like having a warm coat in an obnoxiously bright color.  And you love it.

pick yer brain

I went looking for Halloween themed beers, or at least pumpkin ales, and would you believe that they hadn't arrived yet?  A week before the big day!  Well, pumpkin ales work for Thanksgiving too.  At least there was a creepy can on the shelves, even if it isn't a nice stout: Laugar Hopzale, a douple IPA.

Beer for your braaaaaaaaain...

It has quite a strong hoppy-citrus aroma, perfuming the air as soon as the tab opens.  Not cloudy, but a rather dark shade of gold.  Clean, white head, although it does dissolve pretty quickly.  The flavor is heavy on the tropical fruit, very tangy, more mandarin than orange.  There is a nice base of bitterness, but it isn't greatly noticeable.  It's a little sticky, thicker than many IPAs, but it's not unheard of with those fruitier ones.  It's nice for sipping, taking it down too quickly does cause a little bitter to build up at the back of the tongue.  Not quite a Halloween treat but tasty enough!

Supplier: La Buena Cerveza
Price: €6.78

what do you expect anymore

Oh, beautiful chaos!  If there's something noticeable about the world today, it's probably that.  Of course not everybody thinks it's beautiful, although this double IPA from Jakobsland would be hard to say no to.  It's a Galician beer, so they might know something about chaotic weather, which is one thing that is certainly happening (even in Madrid!).

There's a strong hoppy aroma immediately after popping the tab, a little musky and enticing.  It's a nice sunny color, pale white head, goes down pretty fast but maintains a nice little ring just on top.  Sweet citrus comes out right away in scent, although the flavor is more balanced with bitter and even a little savory.  There's a kind of roughness in the aftertaste, giving the beer a hardy and wild feel.  It's a bit strong in fruitiness, a little bit of a tropical fruit salad in fact, but that's a good summer drink right there.  It might seem a little heavy for a quiet drink around the pool or on the beach, unless you're used to some heavy lifting with your glass.  In spite of the heaviness it really is a bright and happy beer, ready to light up your afternoon or evening.  I wouldn't even miss snacks with this one, it's a good flavor all on its own.

Supplier: Cerevisia
Price: €4.10

where are those matchmakers now?

I had to be contented with a merely acceptable stout yesterday.  What kind of asshole would complain about that?  I'm so spoiled in terms of black beers.  I've been pretty sniffly lately anyway, with a little spring cold, so I wouldn't appreciate the finer points of a more elegant brew.  Possibly.  I don't know.  I have faith in my beer sense.  So, I have something else from La Buena Cerveza that's a little sharper and more penetrating, almost as if I knew I was going to need it.   That's not true.  I like IPAs too, and it's good to change things up every once in a while.  It's A Match comes from a collaboration of Naparbier, who I know, and Caleya, who I don't.  I feel confident putting my trust in Naparbier, they've done some very nice things in the past.  Caleya's just along for the ride.

Considering what we imagine large birds to do with faces...

...this could be legitimately terrifying

There is a strong hoppy ale aroma, cutting right through any leftover cold funk.  It's also a happy golden orange, leading one to think optimistically about the drink.  The first sip is heavily bitter, although it gradually subsides into a more citrusy flavor.  There's still plenty of bitter in the aftertaste.  It takes a while for some sweetness to develop, making the beer more grapefruity than orangey for the first few sips.  Even with the lingering congestion, the taste comes through strongly, and leaves no citrus note unplayed.  I'm finding this IPA a bit on the sticky side, not as clean as regular IPAs.  I know it's double, but syrupy beer can be distracting.  Overall, though, it's a very nice ale, probably more the speed of transitional seasons when you get cold and hot on the same day.  Or even the same hour.  It might be too heavy for a summer beer for some tastes, and too bright for winter for others.  I am not disappointed by this match-up on a cloudy spring evening.

Supplier: La Buena Cerveza
Price: €4.10

unstoppable

Edge Brewing may be based in Barcelona, but their labels proudly state American Craft Beer.  Given the importance of the water used in brewing, I'd suppose that American breweries would have a hard time emulating the final product.  It's certainly better than Barcelona tap water.  Edge has a number of interesting and delicious brews, but today I felt like a good strong ale.  Juggernaut Double IPA was on the shelf to meet the need.

It's a rich orange tinged yellow color with a bright, foamy head.  There's an immediate whiff of citrus when opening the bottle, but it's delicate and fruity, not overbearing.  The flavor is an interesting blend of sweet and bitter, in the best sense; they seem to work as a swirling yin-yang rather than angry racers trying to pass each other on the road, so while the taste seems to change by the moment, it's in complimentary ways.  There is a tendency for the flavor to hang around, so it's not as clean as other ales might be, but the taste itself remains light.  For a double IPA it's not very harsh, although some might find the hops a little much.  But they should know it's a double before they start drinking.

Supplier: La Birratorium
Price: €3.65