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Craft Beer & Brewing Best – Black Lung Brewing

Black Lung Brewing in Round Lake Beach, Illinois is our first stop from the Best Beers as tabulated by Craft Beer & Brewing magazine.

The beer they were recognized for is Left Fork a Kentucky Common Ale. I was surprised by that too.

But let’s create a taster tray with a few other of their beers that caught my eye…

Pancho & Lefty Mexican Lager – “Adjunct international lager with Pilsner grains, flaked Maize and noble Saaz Hops! A wonderful, dry beer that is delightful all year round.”

Mind of Peace Saison – “Strumming series saison infused with Sage, Green Tea, Mint and Rosemary mash water. Then Double Dry Hopped with Hallertau Blanc and Fuggle hops.”

Curb Check Carrot IPA – “Curb Check is a 7.0% hazy ipa with cascade, mosaic, and galaxy hops. Along with puréed carrots, spices Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans and Malto-dextrin sugar. All coming together to create a uniquely spiced beer for the holidays!”

Tame the Chaos DIPA – “Citra and Mosaic hops give
you that dank, yet punchy aroma, paired with a sharp bitterness and balanced malt backbone! This is our first journey into the west coast style, double ipa. We brewed it to remind us of a
simpler time. We hope you find comfort in the raised bitterness and enormous hops aromatics!”

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Christmas Beer Time – Day 11

One explanation for Santa Claus getting all those presents delivered in one night, is multiple Santas. Gigantic Brewing in Portland is on the same wavelength when it comes to their 2024 winter warmer, Santa Clones.

“This collab with Weird Portland United is a deliciously malty, rich beer layered with caramel and a hint of dark fruit that’s crafted for cozy, festive vibes.”

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A Book & A Beer – Everyone This Christmas has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson

I have read the first two “Everyone” meta murder mysteries and was excited to see a third book pop-up. And it is Christmas themed, Everyone This Christmas has a Secret is the latest from Benjamin Stevenson.

Ernest Cunningham is back to solve a third mysterious case involving a philanthropist and a magician.  And yes, the case is laid out with no fake-outs or last chapter new information like the past two books.

I will keep the rest of the plot for you to discover but I will say that the end reveal of the how done it is quite ingenious.  Which makes it worse that the rest of the quite slim book seems, well, slim.  The author doesn’t bring back characters from the first two books except for Ern and Juliette (briefly and at a distance) when he probably could have to add some extra twist of interpersonal drama.  Also, even though it is set in Australia and the weather is not the chill type, the lack of seasonal festivity is pretty glaring.  It is barely mentioned sans a Secret Santa and a Rudolph costume.  The book could well be called, Everyone at the Magic Show has a Secret.  There is also an arch enemy brought up early in the book that doesn’t pay off at the end for me at least.

It is a fun and super quick read though and the winks and nods and breaks in the fourth wall are good fun but seems a skosh underbaked overall.

For a beer pairing, I want to suggest Australian Summer beers but SoCal does not get much in the way of Aussie craft. I would also like to suggest just Summer beers but that doesn’t fit the current season since we are in holiday mode in 70 degree weather. So the best recommendation would be to stock up on dark lagers since they are en vogue. Urban Roots has some good ones as do many breweries.

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XVIII

I was reading one day, when I suddenly realized, I had not added the 2024 Firestone Walker Anniversary Ale to my rolling five year collection.  I do not know why I had not recognized that deficiency earlier as each year I review the new edition.  So I dutifully headed to the FW website only to find that XVIII is a Brewmasters Collective only release which was the second crappy thing that life had handed to me in November.

But when I calmed down, I reached out to learn, to my relief that the barrel-aged blend would indeed be purchasable by the likes of me and now I can review it!

Before we dive into the newest blend, let us cast our taste buds back to 2019 and the XXIII and see what five years has done for the beer.  

The 2019 pours a close but not quite black color.  The nose on it is cola, dark berry and a touch of chocolate.  The first sip is giving me barleywine vibes as there is both a lightness on the palate with a bit of hop still there but that gets taken over, slowly, by the more roasty and cocoa hits so that the finish becomes quite smooth.  Only at the end does a little alcohol burn poke out s little bit.

Now on to 2024 / XXVIII, headlined by 37% Stickee Monkee and 28% Bravo, both bourbon barrel-aged. In fact only 11% was not bourbon rested and that 11% was Rye barrel-aged. The other noteworthy bit is that a collaborative stout blend with Colorado’s Weldwerks makes up 7% of the beer.

And this blend pours a pitch black, not seeing through this. Smells clean with pops of vanilla. This is very smooth and has a nice combo of vanilla and caramel. Almost an ice cream swirl. I say this a lot but especially, in this case, how will this soft flavor age? As the glass warms, the bourbon notes start to assert themselves which gives me more hope.

Of the two, the new one is more my speed and more 2024 craft beer as well.

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Christmas Beer Time – Day 9

Up in Seattle, Cloudburst Brewing has ventured into the gap of the missing Anchor Steam Our Special Ale with their own Distinctive Holiday Ale.

“We get that a spiced winter warmer is not an easy sell (LIKE, PLEASE BUY THIS BEER) but that version was essentially canonized. It was always rich in malt and interesting in flavor – often spiced, but never with the same combination – and packaged in an iconic bottle (or magnum) with a new label every year. If that beer was to no longer exist…well, what does that say about…um…the storied winter seasonal beer market? And thus, we put it upon ourselves to create a similar rendition, filling that glaring, singular hole on the shelf at your favorite bottle shop. A beer of malts, hops, spices, joy and cheer.”

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Ojai

It has been quite some time since last I visited Ojai. Enough that I thought it was south of Ventura and not slightly north.

But there are a couple good beer reasons to visit. One is the Ojai location of Topa Topa Brewing. Second is the foraging and unique Ojai Valley Brewing.

The first is a nice Main Street spot with all the TT hits. I started with the red ale, Disco Solstice before moving on to can pours of the 2024 Howler Coffee DIPA and then the collaboration Extra Coasty XPA with Craft Coast of Oceanside. All three were strong but the cold brew taste and aroma of Howler was the clear winner.

After a beer siesta, a walk to OVB was in order and the Pixie Wit and Accidental Belgian at the start of the taster tray were strong. The Sugar Bush Pale Ale was good as well but the closer, Bruja, a barrel-aged stout was weak. The plus though is that the tasting room is also for Side Street Wine, so you can double dip.

For a third option, you can check out the selection at Ojai Beverage. There is a big beer cooler and some slightly overpriced spirits.

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Christmas Cider Time – Day 8

Time to switch it up and have a winter cider, let’s head over to GABF winning cider maker 2 Towns Cider House for a Polar Party.

“Shake things up with Polar Party as you step into a winter wonderland swirling with a lively blend of elderflower, PNW blueberries, and fresh-pressed apples. This limited cider is guaranteed to break the ice at any winter bash.”

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Review – Costco and Deschutes Vintage Ale 2024

There are not to many beers nowadays that get the social media talking, but one that has bucked that trend is the Costco Vintage Ale brewed by Deschutes Brewery.

I am lucky enough to know someone with the magic card and so I got to get the boxed barrel-aged beer to try.

I am amazed to see an old school 22oz bomber bottle when I wrestle the bottle out of the packaging. In the first few sips, I am getting a woody bitterness that hides the light bourbon note underneath. The aroma has a green almost peppery note to it which is at some odds to the flavor. That and the viscosity belie the 12% abv. It is almost like a coffee cocktail.