Week of 3.23.2009 - Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine and more...

I know I have been slacking on this blog... but that's what happens when training ramps up. I have also been sticking with some favorites... Green Flash West Coast IPA, Lagunitas IPA, and Stone Ruination IPA. But last week I did get into some new stuff thanks to some sale items a Jimbo's.

I headed into Jimbo's before our wednesday night lululemon run to pick some dinner and they had a bunch of single beers on sale so I picked up a couple of those and also a 22oz of the Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine. I have never had a Barley Wine before this and because Stone is probably one of the best breweries around I decided to give it a shot and make the purchase.

I cracked the Old Guardian open on Thursday night just wanting to try. For some reason I was convinced I was not going to like. Well let's just say that I was way off. I loved and proceeded to kill the entire 22oz and with it being 11.3% ALC I was definitely feeling it! Stone doesn't disappoint... and I will never write-off another one of their beers without trying it first. Here's the review from Beer Advocate:
Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine

The other beers I tried:
Flying Dog IPA - very good. i will definitely be buying more of this. the single i picked up from Jimbo's wasn't enough!
Firehouse IPA - ok... at 5.9% for an IPA I thought it was kind of week and doesn't even come close to the other San Diego brewed IPA's.
New Begium Might Arrow Pale Ale - very good pale ale. I really like this. Meredith both Beth and I six pack for letting her borrow my race wheels. I would loan out my race wheels to anybody willing to buy me a sixer of this stuff.

Week of 3.2.2009 - Lagunitas The Hairy Eyeball

I am stoked on this beer. So far everything I have had from Lagunitas is solid.

I rolled to Ryan's house late friday night before Counting Coup and he had The Hairy Eyeball waiting in his fridge for our pre-race brew. To me it was almost like a hoppy'er amber... and really good. That's all I really have to say... and I will be picking up a sixer of this at BevMo this week.

Week of 2.23.2009 - Port Brewing Shark Attack Double Red Ale

After a long day and a hard race on Sunday I was ready for a cold beer when I got home. i picked up this 22oz of Port Brewing Shark Attack Double Red Ale a couple of weeks and go and it's been chillen in the fridge.

This was the first time I have had this beer. I really like the Port's Shark Bite red ale so I was pretty sure I would like this double red ale. Shark bite is 5.5% alc and the Shark Attack is 9%.... sweet!

It definitely didn't disappoint. Even though it's a pretty strong beer it doesn't really taste like it. Way more mellow than the strong IPA's I have been drinking lately. I will be picking up a couple of these next time I go to BevMo. Since it's only a seasonal release I want to make sure I get some more before it's all gone.

here are some more reviews from Beer Advocate:

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/13839/41421