Sean Lightholder, you may remember him from last Autumn’s epic pumpkin beer series of guest posts, came clinking across the Atlantic with a bulging suitcase of the best American beers he could get. I find it very upsetting reading other people’s posts filled with tales of beer that’s nigh impossible to procure, so allow me to apologise in advance for any feelings of envy the following may cause.
We kicked off with Sierra Nevada Nooner Pilsner which was very tasty and refreshing.
Next we had a bottle of Sean’s own Kolsch Kringle which had aged nicely with some allspice flavours coming through.
Then we had the pumpkin pie in a can that is O’Fallon’s Pumpkin Beer. Available all year round bizarrely enough.
Boulevard Irish Ale was up next. It was a very pleasant Amber ale.
Next we had Buffalo Sweat from Tallgrass, it’s a really sweet Oatmeal Cream Stout. I know some people who’d love to use it to make brownies.
Lagunitas’ Cappuccino Stout is one you have some chance of getting in Ireland and if you do see it, you should pick up a bottle. Even the coffee haters in the group enjoyed it!
Firestone Walker’s Parabola Imperial Stout from 2011 was up next. One word: excellent. More words? Warm, oaky and lovely vanilla.
Next we shared an Alaskan Smoked Porter from 2011. This one was on my 1,000 Untappd check in wishlist and, full disclosure, I may have played fast and loose with my check in order to make sure that it was the one to earn the ‘Extraordinary’ badge. I was very happy with it as my milestone. It’s only 6.5% (I know, only!) but four years on it tastes amazing.
Next we had a Gose from Anderson Valley. It’s brilliantly named The Kimmy, The Yink and The Holy Gose! Some of the group didn’t like this at all but I was glad to double the amount of Gose(s?) I’ve drank.
Next we stayed strange with Temptation, a sour from Russian River. It’s aged in Chardonnay Barrels and our French friend was a big fan. Quelle suprise!
After that we started on the IPAs, first up was Firestone Walker’s Union Jack IPA. Juicy!
Then we had the humorously titled Lil’ Helper Midwest Coast IPA from Mother’s Brewing Company. At 70 IBUs the hopometre was starting to twitch.
Boulevard’s Pop Up Session IPA was next but at only 40 IBUs that was out of sync, I believe it may have been my fault too, no matter, it still tasted great.
Another Sierra Nevada was up next, 2015’s Beer Camp Hoppy Lager which did exactly what it said on the tin, or, eh, bottle!
Ballast Point’s Sculpin was next, it was my second time to have this beer, it’s only gorgeous from a can.
And then we had another ‘must try before you die’, the Grapefruit Sculpin. Breakfastastic!
Diamond Bear was a double IPA with a healthy dose of malt that went down very nicely.
Tommyknocker’s Chile was my last beer of the night. Talk about a kick! A great finish to a night of Big Beers. You will notice that they were only small pours though as all of the bottles were shared between five of us, so nobody had a sore head this morning. Sláinte!