Whisky Review – Compass Box Asyla

While browsing Compass Box’s online whisky shop, I noticed the sampler set that you see in the above photo. This set includes five of their core expressions, presented in a black lacquered, clamshell box, and also comes with a tasting notes brochure. Although this sampler set was love at first sight, I was unwilling to part with the online price of $60+. But then about about two weeks ago, while shopping for a house warming present at Wine Works in Marlton, NJ, I noticed that they were selling this set for $40. All I can say is, “SOLD!“.

$40 for 250ML may seem expensive, but when you consider the cost of sampling these whiskies at a bar, this is an absolute bargain. Here is what a dram of these whiskies

Beer Review – Great Divide Titan IPA

photo courtesy of www.dailybeerreview.com

A while ago, I went to Roger Wilco and picked up a six of the Great Divide Titan IPA. This is another example of the great craft beer that comes out of Colorado with the likes of Avery, Left Hand, and Oskar Blues.

Here is what Great Divide has to say about their Titan IPA:

Beer Review – 21st Amendment Fireside Chat Winter Spiced Ale

I know I usually start these reviews with a little story, but there really isn’t one this time around. I picked up this can of 21st Amendment’s Fireside Chat as part of a recent mixed six pack purchase at The Foodery. I read some positive reviews, so I thought I’d give it a try. That’s all I got.

Here is what 21st Amendment Brewery has to say about this seasonal beer:

Beer Review – Trappistes Rochefort 8

photo courtesy of beermentor.wordpress.com

A few weeks ago, I went to Roger Wilco in search of Harviestoun and wound up with a mixed six of various Trappistes and Abbey ales. The first bottle that I opened was the Trappistes Rochefort 8. Always a fan of products imported by the folks at Merchant du Vin, I was confident that this beer would be good, but I did not know much about the Abbey or the monks.

A brief history from the Merchant du Vin site:

The Abbey of St-Remy, in the southern part of Belgium, was founded in 1230, and the monks began to brew beer sometime around 1595. The beautiful small brewery in the abbey, Rochefort Trappistes, is one of only seven Trappist breweries in the world and makes full-bodied, deeply flavored dark ales. They are bottle-conditioned and among the world’s most highly-respected beverages. Only beers made in a Trappist Monastery, under the supervision of the monks, can use the Authentic Trappist Product seal.

Here is what Merchant du Vin has to say about the Rochefort 8:

Beer Review – Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted

photo courtesy of onebeeratatime.wordpress.com

During the summer, I had the good fortune to try the Harviestoun Old Engine Oil, so when I saw the Bitter & Twisted at Roger Wilco, I jumped at the chance to try another Harviestoun product. Here is what Harviestoun has to say about their Bitter & Twisted:

It is a delightfully refreshing blond beer with a finish that is like a twist of lemon. Bitter & Twisted has a very fresh hoppy profile and the judicious use of aromatic Hersbrucker and the spicy Challenger. The distinctive finish comes from late hopping with Stryian

Beer Review – Oskar Blues Old Chub

Looking for something different, I picked up a six of the Oskar Blues Old Chub. We have tried their Gordon Ale, Mama’s Little Yellow Pils, and Dale’s Pale Ale (see G-LO’s reviews here and here), so Oskar Blues wasn’t an unknown commodity. And as far as a canned beer goes, Oskar Blues puts out an exceptional run with some of the most interesting can designs out there. Thus, in keeping with my affinity for the bright and shiny packaging, I picked up the Old Chub.

Here is what Oskar Blues has to say about their Old Chub:

Whisky Review – The Balvenie Single Barrel 15 Year Old

I first tried The Balvenie Single Barrel 15 at the Rare Craft Roadshow event that I attended back in late September. Since I found this whisky to be very different from all of the other Balvenie expressions that I’ve tried over the years, I decided to add it to my Christmas wish list. Thanks to my very generous Mother-In-Law, I now have my very own bottle.

Here is what The Balvenie has to say about this whisky:

Beer Review – Anderson Valley Brewing Boont Amber Ale

photo courtesy of www.thesumofallbeers.blogspot.com

A long while ago, I picked up a Boont Amber Ale in an effort to redeem Anderson Valley Brewing Company for the Summer Solstice. When we reviewed the Summer Solstice as a part of our summer can contest, we had come to the unfortunate conclusion that it was just awful.

Here is what Anderson Valley has to say about their Boont Amber Ale:

Beer Review – Otter Creek Oktoberfest Autumn Ale

Photo courtesy of http://thesumofallbeers.blogspot.com/

I fished out the last of the Oktoberfests that I had accumulated in the run-up to HalloweinerFest. The last bottle was an Otter Creek Oktoberfest Autumn Ale. The ROK and the Wookie had reviewed the Otter Creek Summer Solstice.

Here is what Otter Creek has to say about their Oktoberfest Autumn Ale:

Beer Review – Lagunitas Hop Stoopid

Photo courtesy of http://killgorack.com/

A while ago, G-LO and I had split two bombers: the Bear Republic Ricardo’s Red Rocket Ale and the Lagunitas Hop Stoopid. While I had posted the review for the Red Rocket, I appear to have omitted the review of the Hop Stoopid. Lagunitas Brewing Company has quickly become one of our favorites brewers, as we have already reviewed the Lagunitas IPA, A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale and The Hairy Eyeball.

Here is what Lagunitas has to say about their Hop Stoopid Ale: