"He's no good to me dead..."

Who all loves Star Wars? I for one am a big fan. Who all loves beer? I mean... yeah... you're here reading this now aren't you? well, Monday Night Brewing peaked my mutual interest with their Han Brolo Pale Ale.

This unfiltered pale hits you very sweet upfront, and fades to a bitter hop towards the end of your journey. Not bad in any sense. I learned that they used milk sugars in this brew as well, which gives it a chewy feel on the palate. One of the side effects of having that lactose is a smooth silky feel over the tongue. I initially didn't notice the citrus tones in the brew, I was more focused on the maltiness, but i learned that Monday Night claims notes of grapefruit and tangerine. I guess the power of suggestion lends some meaning, cause i now find those notes. 

Overall, I enjoy this brew from one end to the other. I could do without the lingering bitter aftertaste, but it's not uncommon on these types of brews. Just keep that in mind if its not something you enjoy.

So, with disregard to Han saying, "Never tell me the odds",  Taylor gives this Rebel Scum 3.7 out of 5 parsecs.

What Are Friends For?

Really though, what are friends for if they don't share good beer? Fortunately, I have great friends! One of my best friends recently moved to his wife's homestate of Virginia. One of the craft brews he found in stores there was this Tumwater Porter put out by Washington's own Fish Brewing Company.

Now I know this isn't a Virginia brew, but I haven't seen them here locally to me in TN. I have to say, this is a pretty darn good porter. Medium body, yet full of flavor. It has seven different malt varieties, including cocoa. That explains why it has such a rich chocolatey, creamy profile. Also, pleasantly nutty without being too much. It is very balanced. It ends you off with a smooth, dry finish. 

It's a very drinkable and full of complexities. Even though I prefer a heavier porter, or even a stout, I'd drink this one again. I really enjoyed it and if you're a porter fan, you will too. If you have these at your local market, pick up a case before you leave.

Taylor gives this one a 3.5 out of 5.

For the Tennessee Natives

Those who know Nashville know that craft beer is taken in all seriousness. There are a few greats that people worldwide know all too well. Yet there is one great TN brewer who has escaped my radar, until now.

My father-in-law (owner/operator of popular Nashville food truck, Funk Seoul Brother) commandeered this locally longed for brew. It's so good, that the taproom supposedly had a line of 350+ people trying to snag a case of this limited release Double IPA. I guess my father-in-law likes me okay enough to gift me a can of this "Nashville Gold". Anyway... here it is.

Bearded Iris Brewing employs Old World fermentation techniques mixed with modern innovation to "bring you a beer that's as skillfully designed and delightfully unique as the flower for which it's named".

Their Mood Ring Double IPA definitely fits that bill!

It is brewed with raspberries, for which I owe the ruby red color to. Then it's accompanied by a hint of vanilla and some lactose, as well as some hops common to an IPA. It has an excellent fruity flavor profile, and is very smooth. Although the fruit flavor is somewhat upfront, it does not come close to "wine cooler status". It is a somewhat tart raspberry hint that compliments the bitter hop quite well. 

Overall it is an excellent Double IPA, and I can understand why the Tennessee locals desire it so much upon it's release. I do personally prefer some other IPA's due to my liking for less "fruit forward" brews. At any rate, however, if you ever have the means to get in line at the taproom, do it!

Oh, and don't worry, this beer is on their list of recurring releases.. so you'll have your chance.

All things considered, Taylor gives this flower a whopping 4 out of 5.

"Well Your Left Hands Free..."

The band Alt-J may talk about a left hand being free in one of their hits, but you will want to make sure yours has a bottle of Left Hand Brewing Co.'s Milk Stout firmly in grasp.

For those unacquainted with these brewers, they claim to have a sense of balance in their beer by saying, "A healthy dose of all things in a balanced way keeps your right brain feeling good and the left brain knowing it’s all good... ...Everyday we strive for that perfect balance between malt and hops..."

I'm not too sure about all this "balance" mumbo jumbo. Perhaps it is just my poorly educated palate? Or simply my preference to more "nutty" stouts? At any rate, this wasn't my favorite. Does this mean that I hate it? HA! Heck no. This sweet stout has a proper roasty-toasty coffee feel to it, with a good amount of bitters from the hops, just as any stout deserves. It has the creamy feel any reputable stout with milk sugars should have. It does seem a bit lighter in flavor as other stouts, mainly because I don't feel the requirement to almost chew it as I drink. You may, then, be wondering what warrants the reservations I have. Well, simply put, Left Hand kind of over-hyped this brew for me. They claim that "America’s great milk stout will change your perception about what a stout can be." That just doesn't sit well with me. I have had many other stouts that I would rate higher than this. Again, not to say this brew is BAD in any way, just doesn't stand up to the words that are behind it. 

All things considered, it is a beer that is worthy of purchase. Just don't get ahead of yourself and hope that it's the best stout you'll ever have.

Taylor rates this beer a 3 out of 5

Mahalo Maui Brewing Co.

Aloha my fellow craft beer Ohana! 

Today we are gonna take a trip down to the Hawaiian islands with Maui Brewing Co.'s flagship Coconut Hiwa Porter.

This dark ale can totally "hang 10" with the rest. What stands out right up front is the distinct flavor of toasted coconut. That rich full flavor is followed by tones of a creamy mocha. Please don't let that scare you off however. Maui Brewing made sure that this brew stayed true to the robust flavor that a porter should have. If you're a fan of dark ales, this should definitely be a staple in your beer fridge, if available. Not to mention it pairs fantastically with homemade chocolate chip cookies.

 (Thanks honey..)

Taylor gives this Hawaiian native a 3.5 out of 5.

Bosnian Beer?

When anyone goes on a vacation and ask me if I want a souvenir, I always request a local craft brew. This time, I got to experience a treat to a beer from the land of Bosnia.

My great friend, and cousin, just returned from a month long trip to Bosnia, and surrounding European countries. What better souvenir than a local beer that I would never be able to have otherwise! So here it is...

Niksicko Dark Beer

Pronounced: Neek-Shesh-Co. It reins from the country of Montenegro, just south of Bosnia to be exact. This beer is quite delicious, given its mysteriously vague title of "dark beer". It is dark....and full of complexities. It had a reminiscent "bitter hop" flavor more common to an IPA, and a smooth nuttiness likened to a porter or even a stout, but without the feeling of having to chew it before swallowing. The finish was dry from whatever hops were used. It made me feel like it was a hybrid between an IPA and a Porter, then it hit me... BLACK IPA! Eureka! 

What is a Black IPA you may ask? Well, a Black IPA, or Cascadian Dark Ale, is an ale that ranges from dark brown to pitch black and showcases malty and light to moderate roasty notes and are often quite hoppy generally with the use of American hops.

Anyway, if you ever find yourself in Bosnia, or heck, if you live there and are reading this now, hunt down this brew. Its a delightful beer to have, and quite frankly, if you're in the beautiful country of Bosnia, you have to enjoy it with a beer.

Taylor rates this experience a 4 out of 5.

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