Black Velvet Toasted Caramel Flavored Whiskey

Tonight's glass is brought to you by our neighbors from the north. Canada's own Black Velvet Toasted Caramel Whiskey. Black Velvet is as traditional to Canada as maple syrup, and has been just as successful as an export to the US as well. Lets put this new variation to the test.

Glass. Ice. Pour Three Fingers High. 

This whiskey smells like someone dropped a bag of butterscotch candies in the barrel before aging. The taste has a bit more of the advertised caramel flavor. This got me wondering. What exactly is "toasted" caramel suppose to taste like? Is it even possible to toast caramel? Wouldn't it just melt? My wife has a Toasted Caramel candle, which ironically was the only other item to come up besides Black Velvet when I Googled "Toasted Caramel. Anyway....

This is pretty good, but the whiskey flavor does seemed to be masked by the butterscotch flavor, and at times it seems a bit too sweet as a result. In fact, it really tastes like Buttershots Schnapps mixed with Whiskey. Overall, its not a bad thing, but I think this would be better suited in hot apple cider or mixed with some maple syrup and drizzled over pecan covered waffles for a Sunday brunch. It could also make for a nice shot, but as for on the rocks, its a bit too sweet to tolerate for a long sipping session. 

Cheers!!!

Leinenkugel's Big Eddy Wee Scotch Ale

Scotch Ales are heavy ales that originated in Scotland. This style is brewed with a generous amount of malts, while only using a small amount of hops. Wee Heavy brews traditionally have a longer brewing/ boiling process, which caramelizing the wort. This produces a sweeter full bodied beer, and a higher alcohol content as a result. Hooray for nature!!!

Lienekugel’s Big Eddy series produces limited full bodied craft style brews. The name was inspired by the Big Eddy Spring, which has been the company’s water supply for over 140 years. 

Pours a cherry cola brown with a small amount of toasted biscuit colored head. The aroma is malty, with some toasted grain coming through. I'm also getting a hint of plums, and other dark fruits.

Right of the bat, you can tell this is pretty complex brew as several flavors entices the pallet. This ale is sweet with notes of chocolate and caramel. The eight varieties of malts makes this Wee Heavy a comforting experience. Think of a bearded Will Ferrel enjoying this brew with his lov-ah on the hearthside of the fireplace. The flavor notes continue as hints of toasted almonds and raisins also become apparent during enjoyment. Wee Heavy has a thick syrupy body and very little carbonation. This ale has a long bittersweet molasses finish with a thick malty ending. 

A very nice heavy style ale. The alcohol content is nicely masked and makes a subtle appearance during occasional pleasant *warming effects. With its big body, and plethora of distinguishable flavor notes, Lienenkugel’s Wee Heavy Scotch Ale would be a great brew to breakout and discuss with friends and beer enthusiast. 

*Warming effects  (as defined by Chin Chin) - that little enjoyable flush of warm comfort that happens when the alcohol your drinking decides to define itself. I’d imagine it’s similar to being gently hugged by a bear who’s been laying in the sun.  

Bird Dog Blackberry Whiskey

Whiskey Wednesday 

Bird Dog Blackberry Whiskey

While going up north this past summer I was introduced to two things: a board game called Dirty Marbles, and Bird Dog Blackberry Whiskey. I’ll admit, when I first heard the name “Bird Dog”, i didn’t immediately think of a quality whiskey. It reminded me of all the cheap booze that collects dust on party store shelves. After one look at the handsome cork stopped bottle, I became optimistic.  

Bird Dog Blackberry Whiskey

Served on the rocks, of course 

Immediately noticeable is how nice blackberry pairs with whiskey. The blackberry is refreshing and isn’t overly sweet. It also isn’t overpowering, allowing this white oak aged Kentucky bourbon to speak for itself. Bird Dog is advertised as naturally flavored, and it is very evident. It isn't artificial or fake tasting. It should also be noted how smooth this whiskey is. I’m talking Miles Davis - on vinyl - on a rainy sunday morning smooth. Overall this whiskey is very easy drinking and instantly became one of my favorites. If you’re having second thoughts on a “flavored” whiskey, let me assure you, Bird Dog is very natural, and the blackberry flavor is minor. The bourbon really is the star, so chillax my indecisive people and take a sip. 

If you're thinking about picking up a bottle, I’d recommend checking out birddogwhiskey.com and using their Find Bird Dog link. I searched for two weeks before coming up with the brilliant idea of using the link myself.

As for Dirty Marbles, it’s a board game similar to Aggravation and Sorry, but you use two decks of cards instead of dice to move your marbles. This gives the player a very strategic edge when playing, which makes the game very competitive as a result. 

Cheers.

Recommended Listening: “Whiskey” by Scott H. Biram 

Dragonmead's Final Absolution Trippel Ale

The Dragonmead is a medieval themed brewery that is located right around the corner in Warren, Michigan. It opened in 1997 and currently has 47 BEERS ON TAP!!! All brewed at the Dragonmead. The brewery stores 77 types of grain, from 7 different countries, giving them the freedom to brew of variety of popular styles. The first brew I plan to slay on this Nobel quest, is none other than the Dreagonmead's signature product, Final Absolution Belgian Style Trippel Ale.

A triple ale usually refers to an ale that has a 9% ABV rating or higher. This wonderful accomplishment of nature is the result of a brewer using extra hops, or "three" times the usual amount, and thus the Triple Ale became the adopted title for this style of brew.

This ale pours a clear rusty orange with a thin short lived cap of white head. It doesn't have the most impressive appearance, but mamma said, triple ales are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get. Final Absolution has a very fruity aroma with a hint of spice. The flavor is malty with notes of bananas, grapes, and cloves. It has a thick syrupy body, with a nice bitter element that helps balance this brew out. The surprise is the carbonation. Despite the lack of a frothy head, this ale is nicely carbonated, apparent both in taste, and in the ring of froth that flares after every sip. The finish is snappy with a sticky sweet ending. 

A very nice brew to fill thy cup, yet never allow thee to overflow. Sadly I have yet to visit the Dragonmead. Perhaps a mighty quest is in order, followed through with great chivalry. A pilgrimage to conquer the 47 headed tap monster with nothing but my own thirst and a mug. 

To help aid in this quest, the Dragonmead has a Passport Club. Read on young squire to learn more

The Passport Club is an exciting and enjoyable way to try the different style brews we craft here at Dragonmead. You receive two signature-logo pint glasses, two free pint gift certificates, and your own passport to our brews. In it we stamp visas for the beers of the world you have tried and it is an excellent way to record your personal tasting notes.  $25.00 + tax.  Available through the pub.

Cheers!!!

Innis & Gunn Rum Cask

I've tried several brews that have been aged in oak bourbon barrels. The results have always been delicious. It certainly enhances the flavors and provides a certain sophisticated body that I find very enjoyable. Todays review shares many of these qualities, yet tackles a different barrel altogether. Rum. When I think of Rum I usually think of the Caribbean, but this hand crafted beer comes from Scotland.

Innis & Gunn Rum Cask pours a dark brown with a couple of fingers of off white froth. The head recedes quickly to a slick on beer’s surface. The aroma is sweet, with notes of wood and spice. The flavor has some nice caramel notes with some subtle rum sweetness, along with hints of malt, vanilla, and fruit. It's has a thin body which makes it very refreshing. It finishes warm on the pallet with pleasant sweet notes.

I love my bourbons, but I'm biased to rum in the summer. Innis & Gunn Rum Cask is a welcome addition as a beer lovers alternative to umbrella drink. It's light, easy drinking, and has a unique juicy quality to it. The sweetness to me is what makes this brew so special. It's just subtle enough to know it's there, and it maintains it's subtle consistency from start to finish without becoming overbearing. I really enjoyed this brew. Of course I still love my rum drinks too, but sometimes it's just nice to skip the mixing, pouring, measuring, stirring, and shaking, and just grab a cold one out of the cooler.

Chin Chin

Wells Banana Bread Beer

Well’s and Young Brewing is the largest private brewing company in the UK and makes some of the UK’s most loved cask beers and speciality lager brands.

Pours clear with a rusty gold color and has a lively white head with great retention. This ale has a faint aroma with notes of... wait for it... Bananas!!! Complimented with notes of caramel and a hint of spice. Clean sweet body with banana flavor. The banana isn't too dominant, which I like. Aside from citrus fruits, I have a hard time getting into fruity beers, so the mild banana flavor made this ale easy to get into. Light carbonated mouth feel and easy drinking.

Pairings/ Recommendations

What I really would of went bananas over... hehe... is if this ale would have also had a nutty flavor as well. This would have really gave this brew more of the banana bread flavor. Without it this ale has more of a tropical feel in my opinion, and tropical isn't a bad thing. This brew would be great with spicy Caribbean style food, or as the beer drinkers alternative to Hawaiian style drinks. Aloha.

Cheers!!!

One more thing...

Bananaramma-bobanna-fe-fi-foe-nana.... Banana!!!!

Founders All Day IPA

Pours a pale bronze with a lively white head. Carbonated bubbles constantly rise to the surface during entire enjoyment. Sweet blood orange and floral aroma. Wonderful refreshing flavor. Notes of orange, honey, pine, and a subtle hint of herbs. Great hops, bitterness, and carbonation. The finish is crisp and dry. Very drinkable, this brew goes down easy.

If Punxsutawney Phil ever popped out of his Gobbler's Knob burrow with a cold one in his winter tired paw, it would be Founders All Day IPA. Like Groundhog's Day, this brew popped up the first week of February and reminded us all that spring is not that far away. It speaks of days where the sun rises early and takes forever to set. Where the scent of fresh cut grass and BBQ fills the air. Founders All Day IPA has a refreshing quality to quench an all day thirst, and the taste to keep the good times going long after the sun sets. While we endure the last few weeks of winter, All Day IPA is here to help provoke the spring thaw.

Hey... Is that an Orange Breasted Robin?

Cheers!!!