David and Dave came up to Boston this past weekend to visit. They arrived at my place after spending 8 hours on a bus from NYC to Boston. Perhaps taking the bus on the day it snowed heavily wasn't such a good idea. Since they got into Boston at 1 AM Friday night was a bust, but we had some beer at my place before turning in.
Saturday morning we had breakfast at Mr. Crepe. After Mr. Crepe we stopped by lab because I had about an hour's worth of work to do. After leaving lab we headed towards the Institute of Contemporary Art, but got off out South Station to have a drink first. We ended up at a depressing hole in the wall called Bernie's Pub where Dave and I had PBRs and David had a Bud.
We then returned to South Station, and took the Silver Line to the ICA. The exhibit was called "Super Vision," which explored how technology has expanded the scope of what we can see in the context of contemporary art. I could definitely see the connection with certain pieces, but others seemed like a bit of a stretch. Overall there were some really cool pieces, and the new ICA building was really nice.
After the ICA we went to Bukowski's for lunch/beer (644-647). We arrived at around three, ordered a round and burgers and stayed on for a few more beers before heading out.
After leaving Bukowski's we were tipsy enough to think it was appropriate enough to pelt each other with snow. At this point David stopped taking notes on what we did for the night, so it just gets hazier. We had planned on going to a few bars that Dave or David had picked out in Allston/Brighton, so we headed in that direction. We got off of the B line where Comm Ave. splits from Beacon, and started walking. Quickly, public urination was agreed upon as a reasonable course of action.
Proceeding down Comm Ave, we were distracted by Sunset Grill and Tap before we could get to one of the chosen bars, however we ended up going next door to play pool. We played several games and had a couple beers (#648 and a DFH 60 Minute). I believe I was $6 up by the time we left.
The next few bars are somewhat fuzzy. I remember David and Dave playing pool in a bar where we had at least one Guinness and a shot of Jameson each. I think this was immediately after pool at the other bar, though there might have been another bar in between. The next bar I remember is where we ended our night. We ordered a round or two of something, which I can't remember. When David tried to get another round he was refused service, so we left (~9:30).
David then laid down in the snow in someones front yard and lost his glasses. We looked for quite awhile before giving up and going to the KFC across the street. Our visit to KFC was brief, shortly after I received our food David puked on the floor, which necessitated a quick departure. After a cab ride back to my place David fell face first over some bushes into the snow in my front yard and laid there for a few seconds before he puked again. We got him upstairs and into bed, and then Dave, Susan (a roommate) and I went to the Sligo. We ordered a round of Stella and then left because it was too crowded. Back at my place we drank some more beer (Ommegang, Hop Devil and Brooklyn East India Pale Ale). Dave challenged me to a wrestling match, so we went out into the back yard and fought in the snow. After that we turned in.
The next morning we had brunch at Rosebud, and then Dave and David caught the bus back to NYC.
644. Sebago Lake Trout Stout
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Sebago Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.80%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Stout, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.0): Pours an opaque black with brown edges and a small head that quickly fades to a ring.
Smell (3.5): Strong notes of coffee dominate, with lighter notes of coffee and fruit.
Taste (3.5): Light roastiness upfront, with some sweet malts that come through in the center. The finish is roasty with a chocolate sweetness.
Mouthfeel (2.5): Light-bodied, low carbonation, a bit thin.
Drinkability (3.5): The thinness is a little off-putting, but the flavors are nice.
Overall (3.3)
645. Harpoon Refsvinginge Private Stock (100 Barrel Series #18)
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Harpoon Brewery
Alcohol: 7.80%
Serving: Tap
Style: Danish Farmhouse Ale
Appearance (3.5): Pours a clear copper with a thin head that fades to a film leaving patchy lace.
Smell (4.0): Overall the aroma is light, but there are nice malty, caramel notes with a soft fruitiness that reminded me of berries. Swirling enhances the maltiness and brings out some alcoholic aroma.
Taste (4.5): Lightly toasty malts upfront, which is followed closely by some flavors reminiscent of a liquor like brandy or cognac. The finish has a light alcoholic spice, pepper and a light but persistent bitterness.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation, smooth.
Drinkability (3.5): Strong flavors and evident alcohol, but overall very enjoyable.
Overall (4.05)
646. Berkshire Coffeehouse Porter
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Berkshire Brewing Company Inc.
Alcohol: 6.20%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Porter, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a very hazy dark-brown with a moderate beige head that persists as a significant film and leaves heavy lace on the side of the glass.
Smell (3.0): Overwhelming coffee aromas mask anything else, except for perhaps a very faint aroma of chocolate.
Taste (3.5): Light chocolate sweetness upfront with some dried fruit. The fruitiness becomes more noticeable in the center before it's eclipsed (though not completely) by some roasted coffee flavors.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, very smooth.
Drinkability (4.0): Flavorful and balanced.
Overall (3.6)
647. Hercules Double IPA
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Great Divide Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.10%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a hazy copper with dense but thin, off-white head that leaves sheets of lace.
Smell (4.0): Hops, hops, hops! Citric and resiny and strong. There's also some sweet maltiness, but mostly the hops dominate.
Taste (4.5): Again, lots of hops. Toasty and caramel malts make a brief appearance upfront, but are quickly met by resiny, citric and grassy hops. Not too sweet, which is a fault of many DIPAs.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation, a tad oily.
Drinkability (4.0): Great for a DIPA. I actually find the DIPAs that are hoppier to be more drinkable than the overly malty ones.
Overall (4.15)
648. Golden Monkey
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Victory Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Tripel, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.5): Pours a golden-amber with a sudsy white head that quickly fades to a patchy film.
Smell (3.5): Spicy and peppery with a bit of banana fruitiness and some sweet tropical notes.
Taste (4.0): Bananas upfront, peppery spice in the center, followed by a mildly bitter taste that mingles with lingering fruitiness and alcohol.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, high carbonation, smooth.
Drinkability (3.5): Flavorful and nice though the alcohol is noticeable.
Overall (3.75)
Saturday morning we had breakfast at Mr. Crepe. After Mr. Crepe we stopped by lab because I had about an hour's worth of work to do. After leaving lab we headed towards the Institute of Contemporary Art, but got off out South Station to have a drink first. We ended up at a depressing hole in the wall called Bernie's Pub where Dave and I had PBRs and David had a Bud.
We then returned to South Station, and took the Silver Line to the ICA. The exhibit was called "Super Vision," which explored how technology has expanded the scope of what we can see in the context of contemporary art. I could definitely see the connection with certain pieces, but others seemed like a bit of a stretch. Overall there were some really cool pieces, and the new ICA building was really nice.
After the ICA we went to Bukowski's for lunch/beer (644-647). We arrived at around three, ordered a round and burgers and stayed on for a few more beers before heading out.
After leaving Bukowski's we were tipsy enough to think it was appropriate enough to pelt each other with snow. At this point David stopped taking notes on what we did for the night, so it just gets hazier. We had planned on going to a few bars that Dave or David had picked out in Allston/Brighton, so we headed in that direction. We got off of the B line where Comm Ave. splits from Beacon, and started walking. Quickly, public urination was agreed upon as a reasonable course of action.
Proceeding down Comm Ave, we were distracted by Sunset Grill and Tap before we could get to one of the chosen bars, however we ended up going next door to play pool. We played several games and had a couple beers (#648 and a DFH 60 Minute). I believe I was $6 up by the time we left.
The next few bars are somewhat fuzzy. I remember David and Dave playing pool in a bar where we had at least one Guinness and a shot of Jameson each. I think this was immediately after pool at the other bar, though there might have been another bar in between. The next bar I remember is where we ended our night. We ordered a round or two of something, which I can't remember. When David tried to get another round he was refused service, so we left (~9:30).
David then laid down in the snow in someones front yard and lost his glasses. We looked for quite awhile before giving up and going to the KFC across the street. Our visit to KFC was brief, shortly after I received our food David puked on the floor, which necessitated a quick departure. After a cab ride back to my place David fell face first over some bushes into the snow in my front yard and laid there for a few seconds before he puked again. We got him upstairs and into bed, and then Dave, Susan (a roommate) and I went to the Sligo. We ordered a round of Stella and then left because it was too crowded. Back at my place we drank some more beer (Ommegang, Hop Devil and Brooklyn East India Pale Ale). Dave challenged me to a wrestling match, so we went out into the back yard and fought in the snow. After that we turned in.
The next morning we had brunch at Rosebud, and then Dave and David caught the bus back to NYC.
644. Sebago Lake Trout Stout
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Sebago Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.80%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Stout, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.0): Pours an opaque black with brown edges and a small head that quickly fades to a ring.
Smell (3.5): Strong notes of coffee dominate, with lighter notes of coffee and fruit.
Taste (3.5): Light roastiness upfront, with some sweet malts that come through in the center. The finish is roasty with a chocolate sweetness.
Mouthfeel (2.5): Light-bodied, low carbonation, a bit thin.
Drinkability (3.5): The thinness is a little off-putting, but the flavors are nice.
Overall (3.3)
645. Harpoon Refsvinginge Private Stock (100 Barrel Series #18)
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Harpoon Brewery
Alcohol: 7.80%
Serving: Tap
Style: Danish Farmhouse Ale
Appearance (3.5): Pours a clear copper with a thin head that fades to a film leaving patchy lace.
Smell (4.0): Overall the aroma is light, but there are nice malty, caramel notes with a soft fruitiness that reminded me of berries. Swirling enhances the maltiness and brings out some alcoholic aroma.
Taste (4.5): Lightly toasty malts upfront, which is followed closely by some flavors reminiscent of a liquor like brandy or cognac. The finish has a light alcoholic spice, pepper and a light but persistent bitterness.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation, smooth.
Drinkability (3.5): Strong flavors and evident alcohol, but overall very enjoyable.
Overall (4.05)
646. Berkshire Coffeehouse Porter
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Berkshire Brewing Company Inc.
Alcohol: 6.20%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Porter, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a very hazy dark-brown with a moderate beige head that persists as a significant film and leaves heavy lace on the side of the glass.
Smell (3.0): Overwhelming coffee aromas mask anything else, except for perhaps a very faint aroma of chocolate.
Taste (3.5): Light chocolate sweetness upfront with some dried fruit. The fruitiness becomes more noticeable in the center before it's eclipsed (though not completely) by some roasted coffee flavors.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, very smooth.
Drinkability (4.0): Flavorful and balanced.
Overall (3.6)
647. Hercules Double IPA
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Great Divide Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.10%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a hazy copper with dense but thin, off-white head that leaves sheets of lace.
Smell (4.0): Hops, hops, hops! Citric and resiny and strong. There's also some sweet maltiness, but mostly the hops dominate.
Taste (4.5): Again, lots of hops. Toasty and caramel malts make a brief appearance upfront, but are quickly met by resiny, citric and grassy hops. Not too sweet, which is a fault of many DIPAs.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation, a tad oily.
Drinkability (4.0): Great for a DIPA. I actually find the DIPAs that are hoppier to be more drinkable than the overly malty ones.
Overall (4.15)
648. Golden Monkey
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Victory Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Tripel, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.5): Pours a golden-amber with a sudsy white head that quickly fades to a patchy film.
Smell (3.5): Spicy and peppery with a bit of banana fruitiness and some sweet tropical notes.
Taste (4.0): Bananas upfront, peppery spice in the center, followed by a mildly bitter taste that mingles with lingering fruitiness and alcohol.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, high carbonation, smooth.
Drinkability (3.5): Flavorful and nice though the alcohol is noticeable.
Overall (3.75)
Labels: American Double IPA, American Porter, American Stout, Danish Farmhouse Ale, Tripel
