Well, as they say, all good things must come to an end. I haven’t mentioned here but I recently was hired for a new job at KRIS (NBC,CBS) to be a camera operator. I’m both crazily excited but nervous as hell as well.
However, there is a price to pay for my new circumstances.
Thanks to the new schedule, I will be no longer able to attend Beer School at the House of Rock anymore (or at least, for the foreseeable future).
So, it was with heavy heart that I attended my final Beer School last night. However, I did have fun as I invited some friends on Facebook to mark the occasion. So, I wasn’t crying into my beer like someone who lost his woman in a freak cockfight accident. In all, I’ll miss you, Beer School. You’ve allowed me to experience new types of beer I’ve probably wouldn’t have heard of. So thanks for the memories (and free swag) and I hope our paths cross soon.
But enough of that maudlin stuff, this is BEER DAMMIT. It must be consumed lest it consume you first. (I think Nietzsche said that, I could be wrong though.)
All the beers that were consumed came fromSixpoint Brewery in Brooklyn, New York. They have a peculiar way of selling it as they only come in a four-pack and they come in a box rather than the open carrying case you usually see for most beers. We only tried five out of the six core beers from Sixpoint but I found out later from the website, we only scratched the surface of the beers they created. Some brews are only made for special events or are “randomly available”.
Crisp - I didn’t notice a particular smell. Taste a bit hoppy but not too much for me to dislike.
Sweet Action - Lives up to its name with a sweet smell. Very light and smooth with a slight hoppy aftertaste to it.
Brownstone - Has a coffee-like smell and taste, reminds me of a stout or a Hobgoblin dark ale. Plus, its name reminds me of the song by Guns N’ Roses.
Bengali Tiger - A kind of fruity smell. While it is hoppy, I can add it to the small list of IPA’s I like.
Resin - Smells and tastes like a stronger version of the Bengali Tiger but somehow is not too overpowering for me.
Jacob’s Best O’ the Bunch! - This round’s going to the Brownstone. If it didn’t have that aftertaste, Sweet Action would’ve made it for sure. But, the taste and smell of Brownstone stayed with me longer and were, overall, a bit more enjoyable. To celebrate its victory, I offer this song.
This will be a short post as I’m only trying 3 beers and 1 cider this time around. These beers were purchased at World Market. Like HEB, they also have a “make your own six-pack” stand. While the HEB will happily offer more hard-working ’Murican domestics, World Market offers the shady-looking immigrants as well. You’re not quite sure what they’re like until you get close enough to one and they start stabbing you in the back of your throat or they give your mouth a sensual massage and show you how to find the “womens” and yeyo.
Magic Hat Heart of Darkness Stout - Has a strong coffee-like smell to it when opened. Has a nice smooth chocolately taste to it, not as strong as I thought it would have. I don’t know why I expect every stout to taste like a Guinness, but I guess when you get burned once… Magic Hat beers has always been hit-or-miss with me but this is definitely one of the hits. (Note: This is the 170th beer I’ve tasted! Huzzah! )
Ska Brewing Pinstripe Red Ale - Has a bit of a skunky smell to it like a Corona. It does taste a bit like a cerveza, but it’s much smoother with a pleasant taste. After letting it sit for awhile, it reminded me of another red ale, the Newcastle Werewolf, My Autumn Seasonal Beer of 2012. Not quite as strong though. Altogether, it’s a beer I’ll be keeping my eye on.
Harpoon UFO Hefeweizen - The smell, to me, doesn’t have any particular scent that stands out. In fact, it reminds me a lot of other domestic beers in its taste and overall appearance (Miller Lite, Bud Light, etc.). That being said, it is a good smooth beer, perfect for watching the skies for real UFO’s
Woodchuck Winter Cider - Now this is a cider that I’ve been waiting to try for a while especially since I fell in love with the Woodchuck Fall Cider. Like most ciders, it has a sweet apple smell, very pleasant to the nostrils. It has a very sweet vanilla taste to it. I can hardly taste the alcohol at all, tasting more like apple juice. While it’s not quite as awesome as the Fall Cider was, it’s still a good and sweet cider on its own.
Jacob’s Best O’ the Bunch! - I’m gonna have to give it up for the Magic Hat Heart of Darkness Stout. I think out of all of them, the taste of the stout really stayed with me and, despite my doubts, was an excellent beer.
