The Northwoods Beer Guy Podcast
We love craft beer! Each week we will taste a number of beers from around the country and give you our thoughts, not only will we talk about the flavor, but also the artwork and anything else that comes to mind.
We will also go on location and visit breweries and try a number of their offerings and give you our thoughts as well.
Come sit around the campfire and join in on the fun!
The Northwoods Beer Guy Podcast
Ep 161 - Blueberries Rum Barrels And One Bat Problem
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Six Russian Imperial stouts. Double-digit ABV across the board. And one simple question: can a huge, dark beer still feel balanced instead of boozy, bitter, or flat? We put that to the test with a Minneapolis-heavy lineup, including multiple Surly Darkness variants and a final curveball stout that looked so much like a Surly box we accidentally grabbed it.
We start with the Surly Darkness “base model” and use it to talk through what makes a Russian Imperial Stout taste like a Russian Imperial Stout: deep roast, hop bitterness, warming alcohol, and that lingering dryness that can either hook you or chase you off. Then the fun begins. Blueberry Crumble aged in rum barrels brings a real blueberry aroma that actually follows through on the sip. Raspberry Chocolate Torte in rye whiskey barrels sparks a balance debate around sweetness, cacao, and how fruit can overpower everything else. Lumberjack Breakfast stacks maple, coffee, cinnamon, and vanilla into a surprisingly drinkable pour that has us rethinking what “breakfast stout” should taste like.
The top pour of the night is the Surly Darkness special edition matured in Elijah Craig 12-year bourbon barrels, and the named barrel makes a difference. We dig into bourbon character, why barrel details matter, and how three different palates can pull three different “first flavors” from the same glass. To close it out, we review Lost Moon from Pryes Brewing and talk about packaging, marketing, and why some barrel-aged stouts land loud while others feel muted. Subscribe, share the episode with your stout-loving friend, and leave a review, then tell us which Darkness variant you’d hunt down first.
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Welcome And Heavy Stout Lineup
SPEAKER_01I think I might like the direction this is going. I think we finally might have the music and the beer aligned this episode. We possibly could. More so than we've had this last few interesting. We had a few swings and misses. We had a few swings and misses. Well, hey, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome back to the Northwoods Beer Guy podcast. This is Mike, the Northwoods Beer Guy. And as always, I'm joined by Jim. Hey, buddy, how are you doing? Doing good. And we were fortunate enough to invite Matt back.
unknownYes.
SPEAKER_01Hey guys, how you doing? Doing good. Did you brush up on your international languages? Yeah, but I won't share it. Okay. All right. Well, you won't need him this week. Well, you can say anything. We would still understand what you said. So you're still good. Perfect. He could make up his own language. We're like, oh, really? Did you learn that in college? Oh, yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. Awesome. Majored in business in any language I wanted. There you go.
SPEAKER_01Nice. So what are we drinking this way? We uh we've been taking it easy the last few episodes. So we decided we're gonna ramp her up a little bit. And we thought, who better to join us than Mr. Heavy Dark Beer himself, Matt? So uh we uh we're going with six Russian Imperial Stouts. Oh, so we're we're not even like ramping into it. We're like going no, we're we're going like Artemis Rocket into it.
SPEAKER_00We're just yeah well I don't want to call you guys out right away. If they're all Imperial Stouts, you were just bragging about how you haven't missed on your intro music. Why didn't we play Imperial March this time?
SPEAKER_01Is he he's getting judgy, Jim? Wow. Did you notice that? Man, he you know he does our point. We have feelings, and actually we should have, and we played it before. I respect not wanting to repeat, and you know how Jim is about repeat. So we that was probably on our fault. Yes, that was totally our fault. It would have been perfect, and you are correct, and you get a point for that. Yep. Jim gets minus 5,000.
SPEAKER_00Oh man, I didn't know you had the authority to oh yeah, take points.
SPEAKER_01Oh, sure. Wow, we just like stuck them right in here. I'm doing it this week. All right, this is weird. This power thing, it's awesome. I like it.
unknownWow.
SPEAKER_01I feel so uh so violated. Welcome to our world, Jim. All right, so what do we it looks dark? It looked from here, it looks dark. Yes, yes, it's well, I think Matt he brought these, he said that it's just like bush light.
SPEAKER_00Oh, they're great. Don't quote me, but no, it kind of
Surly Darkness Base Model Review
SPEAKER_00looks like it.
SPEAKER_01We are visiting the Minneapolis area on this uh this week's podcast. All right, and we do have five from the same brewery and then one other one from another brewery. So the first ones that we have are from Surly. Okay. And this is their darkness. Darkness. Now, I'm the first person to say these ones have been sitting around for a little while in my beer fridge. They're still good, but they're they've been in my beer fridge for a while. All right. So the first one that we have is their Surly Darkness from 2022, and this one is a measly 12% ABV. Now, their description is our massive Russian Imperial stout contains waves of chocolate, coffee, cherry, and toffee, plus a non-traditional dose of aromatic hops. That's a lot for a dark beer. That's a lot for a dark beer. Very dark, very dark. Do you see through this one? No, I don't see you across the table.
SPEAKER_00This is more of the potent aroma that I'm used to. This is this is like on here.
SPEAKER_01This is like a boozy, yeah. Yeah, you've been confused in the last couple of going. Wait a minute, they're going soft on me. Yeah, all right. Well, I don't smell a lot. There's I don't have a big aroma. That's darkness. This is now this is the like the the base model, right? You know, and then they do have a number of variants, and we do have a few of those here. This is one of those that those first couple tastes are a little tough, and then then you get back into it. I'm not so sure it's an aromatic hop. I mean, I actually taste, I mean, my mouth is dry. There's a hoppiness. Yeah, there's my mouth is dry, and I don't I'm not picking up the unless it that's the chocolate too, but the coffee or the cherry that's coffee, I don't I don't get those flavors. No, I'm not tasting cherry really. The coffee might be part of that bitterness, is what I'm guessing. I do get a hoppiness. And we've always had that with darkness. And I should have said this at the beginning, but just for Matt or listeners, when they say uh Russian Imperial stout, that means two different things, right? If you somebody said Imperial Stout, it means it's probably higher ABV correction. Oh, sure. Yeah, and then when they say Russian, what does that do to the to tell the the drinker about the beer? From Russia? Well, I think it has a there's I think there's a beer meeting. I thought we'd figured it out once. It's like, gosh, I wish I had a photogenic memory. I know. So basically, here's here's kind of a definition of what that is. Russian Imperial Stout is a strong, dark, full-bodied ale known for its rich, complex flavors of dark chocolate, cough, coffee, and dried fruit with high alcohol content between 8 and 12 percent. Okay, and significant bitterness from hops. Oh, originally brewed in England for Russian royalty. Oh, it's characterized by its deep black color, robust maltiness, and often a warming finish with many modern versions featuring barrel aging for added complexity.
SPEAKER_00I agree, it's got a complex flavor.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and it has that bitterness for sure. Oh, the bitterness is, I mean, and unfortunately for me, I'm I mean, like I think the listeners know I'm not a hop guy, and that hop dryness and that bitterness is I'm just not a fan of that. I'm sure there's a lot of listeners out there that like that flavor. I'm just not not into it that much. So, I mean, for me, I think you could still make a good beer, just not have as much hoppiness for me. That's just my opinion. But I do think it it does fall in line with what the Russian Imperial start the the definition of it is. They they went spot on with that. Yeah, yeah. So so that they what they say in the can is in the can, so you've got to give them credit, and it's a double digit. Yeah, it does have a strong flavor. I I I can't really say that somebody new wouldn't think that it was really strong. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, where sometimes they say, Oh, yeah, for 12%, that drinks real smooth. I'm not saying that really. This I mean this one's got a strong flavor. Yeah, for the introductory craft beer drinker, this is probably not their first beer. Yeah, I would not recommend. Right. This this might is a little bit more advanced. Seasoned. There you go. Seasoned, yeah. Seasoned craft beer drinker. Man, are you okay over there?
SPEAKER_00They I think they got a name for a seasoned drinker.
SPEAKER_01Cool. Okay, gotcha. Okay. All right. So, Mike, do you want to go first? Yeah, I can go first. This is, you know, it definitely tastes like what I remember from darkness. It's the the the base model darkness. Again, I wouldn't recommend it to a new person just getting into craft beer by any means. I do like it, but I'm gonna go like a 2.7 just because I mean it does have that bitterness. It does, it falls in line with, like I said, what the definition of a Russian Imperial Stout is. And like I said, this is from 2022, so it has aged for a little bit, but it's still, I mean, it the flavor's still there. But again, I the only reason I knocked it down a little bit is just because I think for a new person, they would really be they would really be taken aback by it, you know, and drinking a pint can of it, even for me, might be a little bit it'll it'd take a while. It would definitely take a while. So slow pour. There you go. Yeah, I think you got a good score. I'm like, I'm gonna say the same thing. So and I'm actually giving it a boost because it is a double-digit ABV, and they didn't over-sweeten it. So for me, I do like that aspect because I know you you and I could both probably agree that once the the not amateur, but the the newer brewers that are trying to do a higher one, they sweeten it and oversweeten it to try to knock that alcohol flavor. Yeah, but they're not doing that here. No, it's just there is a there is a bitterness, there is a dryness that lingers. It's it's it's the ease with you. I mean, it's it's it's not going away. It's it's staying right there. I think it got attached to my tongue and it is not letting go. It's going, no, I'm staying. So, I mean, so kudos to them. They what they said was on the can is in the can. I'm just not a huge fan of it. That's I guess I'll leave it at that. Okay. Hey, Matt. Uh you okay over there? Yeah.
SPEAKER_00You I'll start with what I like about it.
SPEAKER_01Okay, perfect. This might be short.
SPEAKER_00It is. It'd be the 12% part, is what I like.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_00I I barely get any cherry out of it. Yep. And that's pretty much the only added thing that I like in their lineup here. I don't I'm not a fan of chocolate and beer. I'm not a fan of coffee and beer, and I'm not a fan of toffee and beer. And that's three of them.
unknownMan.
SPEAKER_00The same one. I not not my favorite. Okay. By far. I I'll go with a a two-two on it. Um, Matt. This is the first one.
SPEAKER_01He's he's already he's like, yeah, this might be the top one. You already remind me of your first one. So you know, Jim, when you were talking about companies that sweeten their beer, you know, we always talk about Avery. Did you see tomorrow at Between the Bluffs, Avery is gonna be there? Oh, really? No, I did I did not catch that. Yeah, I they on the website. They're from Minnesota, right? Are they I don't I'd have to look, I don't remember, dude. Okay, I apologize. I don't remember, but they're gonna be there. And I was like kind of blown away because I don't see their beer hardly anywhere. Correct. I mean, you know, I'm sure it's gonna be weaker. I was just gonna say that we won't see the rumkin or any of that kind of stuff, I'm sure. I was just gonna say that I'm sure because whenever we look for we're always going into a liquor store looking for higher ABV, which that's where we find the Avery. Yes, we haven't looked in the lower test section for Avery beer. So, but you're you're probably right. So, I mean, but hey, I'll buy you one though. Okay, you're on. And it bet you want one of those Avery beers, I'll even get you one. If it's during the week, I'll be at work. Okay, well, all right. All right, well, all right. Well, minus on that note, Mr. Party Pooper, we're gonna go to
Blueberry Crumble Rum Barrel Surprise
SPEAKER_01the next beer. I smell something though. I can I do smell it like it. Don't you guys smell that blueberry aroma? I can smell it. Well, I'm maybe I don't know. Oh, yeah. I mean, without even holding the glass, I can smell it. I can suppose, yeah. I can smell it, yeah. Okay, so I'm not I didn't want to tip your hand, but nope, no, this is another surleb. Okay, another darkness, but this one actually is from 2021. All right, that I still had. This is their very important, yes, their blueberry crumble Russian Imperial Stout, aged in rum barrels. And who likes rum barrels? I do, I do. All right, so vitamin R. With blueberries, vanilla, and lemon peel. And this is again 12%. All right. I'm hoping it's not so much on the lemon peel, but we'll see. Uh, let's see. They said pairing one upper Midwest institution with another, blueberry crumble darkness adds blueberries, vanilla, and lemon peel to our Russian imperial stout before aging in rum barrels. Just like grandma used to make if grandma had access to barrels, mash tons, etc. Now, my question is this yeah, what was the other institution? Oh, I suppose blueberry crumble is what they're saying is the other Midwest. Yes. Okay, I'm with it. Well, but I can the aroma is blueberry. We haven't had a beer in uh quite a few episodes where you can actually smell the aroma right from the can. When he poured it, and I give you credit because you nailed that. I mean, and when you smell it now, it is definitely blueberry. Wow. So, and I you know, the hard part, we've had a couple beers in the past where there's a big aroma, but then the flavor's not there. So my fingers are crossed.
SPEAKER_00It's there.
SPEAKER_01Oh, it's there. Wow. Oh, wow. I it's I actually don't I don't mind that. It's there. It is like it's like like standing right on the top of the table and like here. That is that is pretty good. Wow. Wow. And I'm I'm happy. I'm yeah, you may get a faint lemon peel, but it's very faint. Faint, but I think there's a little more of a rum taste to it. Yeah, I do get the rum. I think the lemon and the rum kind of act together, don't they? Yeah, I think so. And it I think it does bring because sometimes we've had those blueberry beers where it's too blueberry, right? You know, where I think that helps to kind of bring it down just a little bit. Wow, that's interesting. I'm honestly gonna say, I think that might have the best flavor of the surly darkness that we've had. Yeah, I mean, not this this episode, but I mean in general. I'm gonna say we I know you and I had done another episode with darkness with different variants. Yes, and yeah, this is pretty darn good. And we've had, I can't say a lot, but I mean several blueberry beers. Yeah, and a lot of them just they either have the aroma and not the flavor, or the flavor, not the aroma, or not a lot of flavor. Right. This one seems to have a pretty good balance. Yeah. I'm impressed. Well, I'm you go first. All right, so and again, I'm nitpicking only to nitpick, not not because it's a bad beer. So the only like so it says blueberries, vanilla and lemon peel. I don't taste any vanilla. I mean, because we've had some good beers, I've had just a touch of vanilla, which really adds a lot of smoothness to it, which I think would be perfect for this because it does the rum and the lemon peel, I think it needs that vanilla to balance a little bit. So, other than that, I think it's a very good beer, very good Russian Imperial stout rum barrel. I mean, I know that we've had a few rum barrel aged beers, but that one's always like seems like a crapshoot, too. I'm getting a good flavor. So this one has got a the good rum barrel, the good lemon peel. I I like this one. I'm gonna say a 4.0. Whoa.
SPEAKER_00I thought he was knocking it down and nitpicking, and he's still in the yeah, that was involved. I like it. Yeah, yeah. I before I get into it, do we know what kind of rum barrels it was aged? It did not say okay, it just said rum barrels.
SPEAKER_01That is the one thing that's kind of a bummer, right? But they don't they didn't say on that one.
SPEAKER_00Okay, because props to them. I taste everything that they say. I I get a little vanilla, very faint, but I get a little vanilla hint in there. What I don't like, it almost seems like the lemon peel and the rum are like they're fighting to show up one another. But other than that, I like that you can taste what they say is in there. It's it's a little not my cup of tea, for lack of a better word. I'm still gonna give it a 3-0. It for these kind of beers, which are not my in your wheelhouse, they're not in my wheelhouse. Like a I'm a I'm a light beer guy. It's pretty good. I I like it. So a 3-0. Nice.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's good. The thing I really like is the that the blueberry isn't overpowering, right? You but you can still taste it. Yes. And I do, like I said, I do agree I'd maybe get a faintness, very faint, but a little bit of a vanilla, but not a whole lot. But I'd I'm also glad that I don't get a real huge amount of that lemon peel. Right. You know, because I was afraid that was really gonna put a bitterness in there, but it it really works. And I think you're probably you're both right that it the lemon peel and the rum, they either work together or fighting, whichever way, you know. I don't get we've had some rum barrel beers that are just way too almost stronger than rum. Yes, you know, for the flavor. And this isn't really that, but you do get that flavor as well. I'm gonna go like a 3-7. Oh, I do like this. I think I thought you were gonna step up because you like the rum. I thought you were well, yeah, I thought I was gonna be the low score on this one. No, but wow, I do like it. I mean, I I I think it's good, and especially for a blueberry beer, it's probably one of the better flavors that we've had. Because we've had some, we've had a few that have been very good, and then there's other ones that are not all that good.
Spring Flooding And Farm Damage
SPEAKER_01So I know that we're in the the springtime and the weather's just been up and down and backwards and forwards and stuff. You know, April showers bring May flowers, they say. I'm not sure about April monsoons, but yeah, we've had enough flooding, we've had enough rain, I think, to last us through the entire planting season for me. Oh, yeah. So I I'm done with now. You had told me before, now a few weeks ago, we had some pretty big rain, and now you said at the farm it did a little bit of damage again as far as like the crick and such, didn't you? So it seems like, and I think the heartbreak because I don't have a rain gauge, and I looked at the I think the National Weather Service is supposed to have like accurate readings, and around the farm, they were saying between like three and four inches. Okay. But then people closer to the farm were saying we got between five and six inches. That's a lot of rain. Which would then lead me to believe that the damage that I they have at the farm is because of there was a lot more rain. I mean, it is not catastrophic, but I mean they're the crick really has got some damage. Well, too, is oh got a pretty deep trench now, doesn't it? Again. So I'm I'm fighting with multiple different layers of things, and the you know, at this time of year when everything is already wet, you can't get in the field, you're leaving ruts. So now it's just like you just gotta look at all the damage before everything dries out. You see, because you can't go out there and make it worse. Yeah. So it's kind of I'm I'm ready for actual spring to get here. Right. So I've actually had the the county just came out and they're looking at you know, possibly doing some stream bank restoration to try to help me out. Yeah, because I mean it's beyond the level of what I can do with a with a tractor and a bucket. Right, yeah. I mean, because I mean I've got some banks from the water level to the top of the stream bank are eight feet just vertical. Wow, that's crazy. I mean, just vertical straight drop-offs. And each time it floods now, it's just making more undercut. Yeah. So it's it's gonna get worse before it gets better. So right. Well, that that'll be good then if he the county help comes in and helps. Right, because they you know, they there's always like a split, they never do everything for free. Right. But if I can just get some help, exactly. It's just you know, overwhelming to say the least. You know what I think would help you with that? Yes, wouldn't that help me? Another beer. All right, what do you got? What's what's the all right? What's the what's
Raspberry Chocolate Torte In Rye Barrels
SPEAKER_01your poison? So we're back with Surly. This is from 2022. Okay, and this one is their raspberry chocolate torte aged in rye whiskey barrels. Oh now, again, it did not say what the barrel or what the the brand. And and rye, again, remind me, that's kind of like a big thing. Usually it has a peppery kind of flavor to it. At least in you know, when you have a rye whiskey whiskey, rye bourbon type like on the rocks, yeah. Okay, yep, it has kind of a peppery again, 12%. All right, and this is an enticing blend of raspberry, cacao, cacao, and vanilla. Joins darkness in rye whiskey barrels for aging. Decadence defined. Wow.
SPEAKER_00I do want to throw in. Not throw up. Correct. I'm not there, I'm not there yet. All right, just want to clarify not there yet. All right, it's a thick beer. When I was pouring, uh you I know you said I got a little excited, but no, it is it thicker than oil. It was thick, I I would turn it over and it went right down the can.
SPEAKER_01Okay. So almost like bold royal. Almost. Yeah, we you cannot see through the dark. Don't get a whole lot of aroma. No, not like that blueberry one. Like the blueberry one. No. No, we're supposed to get raspberry and chocolate, right? That's the two main flavors. Oh, I taste raspberry. Hopefully, less chocolate. I taste raspberry. Oh, wow. There's raspberry. There's raspberry. Yeah, there is. There's definitely raspberry in there. But it's not an offensive amount of raspberry either. No, it's letting you know it's there. Yeah, you know it's there, but it's not. We've had some where you're like, whoa, you know. Again, I always bring up the oh, what was that raspberry? And now I'm drawing a blank, of course. We had a raspberry one, remember that was like super strong raspberry, and we're just like, whoa, you can to the point where you almost didn't want to drink it, it was so strong of a flavor. Yeah, I I I remember the one I don't remember when I'm talking about, yeah, yes, because we're just like, what? So did not to backtrack it all, but have we talked about the artwork on Surly Consumer? No, no, yeah. I mean, because I mean it's it's hard to describe because I mean I'm not a artist by any stretch, but I mean each one is very, very unique. Yeah, and then each year it's a different theme. And I believe the typical BK would be able to because he lived in the cities, but I think they I can't remember if it's one guy or they they have a Contest or something each year, but it's like tattoo artists that draw up, and it's typically like like a dragon. Dragon, you know what I mean? It's like the fantasy type, you know what I mean? Right critter or something.
SPEAKER_00Because these are not real, these are not real people on here. I will say the artwork on these cans, my I would say this is more of a tattoo artist kind of thing.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's definitely a tattoo artist. So that's why I'm always giving an extra tenth of a point just for the artwork because for for Brian. Yep. Because he always wants to give extra for artwork. Yep. These I think are in that category. We've seen, remember Jim, when we went beer shopping, and they'll have because normally these are all pint cans, and they're usually in a cardboard box. Usually, you know, and they'll have three of them sitting together, and they'll have two turned so the entire like mural kind of thing goes across all three. Remember, and they turn it because it wraps around the box. And they'll have you know this side in the middle, and the other side, and it's a really a cool display. I give them credit for that because they they know what they were doing there. But yeah, it's it's pretty cool. It's definitely when you see those, you know it's darkness, you know. Absolutely. I I'll agree with that. Yeah, yeah. Yep. So the only thing that so my knocks kind of are I'm not picking up a lot of the rye whiskey, but no, my my teeth are hurting, though, because like the sweetness.
SPEAKER_00There's there, I don't I don't know if it's a chocolate, but I mean, I'm like, ooh, boy, this is like I'm interested to hear your score on it because every time you hear I hear my teeth are hurting, I feel like it's a bad thing.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and then he goes, four four. Exactly. Yeah. And and I and I don't get the chocolate or vanilla much. The raspberry seems to overpower a lot of the other flavors. I do agree with you. I would look, I was looking for a little bit more of the other ones to kind of balance it out. I think that flavor would have really made it. Yep. I think they had the right types of flavors, maybe just not the right percentages. Tweak it just a little bit. Okay. So we can't start first. Do you need to see your scores?
SPEAKER_00No, I'm good. Okay. Um I'm in the middle. It's in the middle of the the first two. On the higher end, it I'm gonna give this one a two eight. Wow. I like the cherry. I mean, what I really like. Or yeah, sorry, raspberry. It's okay. I got excited. Yeah, I got excited. It's okay. I like the raspberry. Yep. What I really like is I don't get a lot of chocolate from it. I there's a little bit, but not a lot and overpowering. Not a whole lot of vanilla to it, but it it doesn't punch when when you take a sip, and I like that. Yep. So it for me, it's a good blend of the flavors.
SPEAKER_01Okay. For me, Jim, I think I'm gonna go a 3.5. I do like it. I like the blueberry one a little better. I think that flavor was just a little more kind of worked together a little bit. Yeah. I I like Rome. I and I like Rome. But I do think that you are right that maybe a little bit more of the the cacao flavor might have been a little better. Raspberry, but like you know, like Matt said, the raspberry is not overpowering. I think it works in here, but I I do think, like you said, if they'd have tweaked it just a little bit, it might have improved it more. It could have totally ruined it too. Who knows? But I think between the blueberry and raspberry, I did like the raspberry, just a or the blueberry, I'm sorry, a little bit better. But I drink both of them. So yep. I I think that that was the exact score. I was going with 3.5. The raspberry, I think we've had a lot of different raspberry beers, and people struggle with getting that flavor through. This is not the case with this beer. They they got the raspberry, but then I think it kind of overpowered the chocolate and the vanilla. I just think they would have balanced it out a little bit. That's my score is not low. I I'm just I guess I'm just nitpicking that beer. It's not a not bad in any stretch. It's just hopefully if certainly's out there listening, that I think would make a very, very good beer. Interesting. Yeah, Matt, you still doing okay? I'm doing all right. Good. Good. The first one, that one. Now your taste buds are all gone. Correct. Now they taste great.
The Bat Removal Pitch
SPEAKER_01So speaking of that, I do have a request though. Oh boy. I need two volunteers. I'm sure you could find a couple guys.
SPEAKER_00Is there anybody else in the room? I'm sure you could find a couple guys in town. Yeah, I think you might give you a couple phone numbers.
SPEAKER_01Do I get a confirmation up front or do I have to tell the story first? Maybe you should tell the story first. All right. But yeah, see, we didn't, I'm not don't blind agree when people talking.
SPEAKER_00No, I said yes, and like you could take it took it either way. Just start saying it, I might say yes or no. Midway. We'll we'll see. Good thinking.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I don't know if I don't know if everybody has access to my Instagram or if you've put it on your post before, but I have had an issue with some flying animals in our shed. Oh, yeah. I'm sure the listeners remember what you're talking about. So that vampire bats you have. Right. So I have had a couple of them. Okay. So this past maybe from deer hunting, I've had a couple of friends in the shop. A couple of flying friends or they they've been staying there like pretty just like staying there. I walk in the door and they look at me, I look at them, and do you want business? And I walk out. So I was waiting because I was trying to be humane and not put them outside when it was cold out, because I don't think they like the cold. I think they like the warmer weather. So now it's since it's springtime and I think it's getting warmer. If you guys could come help me, I'll video if you guys go out there and grab them and then we'll put them outside, we'll set them down and we'll take some pictures. How's that?
SPEAKER_00I feel like we have a real opportunity here to reenact the scene from the great outdoors.
SPEAKER_01I was gonna say, I'm gonna be really excited to film you two guys with baskets on your heads and a tennis rack and a tarpoil. Or what we could do is give Jim the name, the numbers of those two guys you were talking about. No, I got the perfect.
SPEAKER_00You know why they're the perfect guys? Why is that? They're not us.
SPEAKER_01They're perfect. Wow. So you I thought you guys were bats in the one in the shop and then one in the tech room. I have a feeling there's a few more. Yeah, yeah. If there's yeah, yeah, you you're right. But this is how it sucks you in. Oh, you just help me this or just one, and then you're you're for the rest of your life, you're out there trying to get that battery. But see, they don't look that bad though, do they? But I mean the pictures don't dude. They're like six pounders.
SPEAKER_00Their teeth are on their big th they're like the size of like, you know, they are the ones that'll turn you into Dracula.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. So it but I think you guys could help out, and I think we could do it. We will watch through the window of the shop. No, we get we gotta come through the door to get them out, though. Well, we're gonna watch from uh the outside as you're in there catching them. Oh, and then you can take them out and let them go. But remember, I have done this before with several, so I know how to do it. I just want to pass that knowledge on to you guys so you are experienced bat catchers. Oh, he's all about us, spreading the wealth. Yes, okay, imparting the wisdom and knowledge upon the younger generation. Yes, we appreciate that. See, thank you. That's what I'm all about. Helping you guys up. I don't think he's catching what we're putting down. Are you guys not? Are you guys sniffing what I'm what I'm putting? Oh, we're sniffing what you're gonna. Yeah, we got it. We'll get back to you on our answer, though. So all
Lumberjack Breakfast Maple Coffee Mix
SPEAKER_01right. Well, what beer do we have then? Well, hey, since we could let's find a better topic. Okay, this one is interesting. I'm hoping it's what it, you know. This is Surly Darkness 2022. This is their lumberjack breakfast. Oh, yep.
SPEAKER_00I was intrigued by the lumberjack.
SPEAKER_01I did uh and I made a mistake on it, so you saw that I skipped one there. So this is the lumberjack breakfast Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels. Ooh, 12%. And again, we don't know we don't know what brand you know barrels are, as far as I can tell. No. Okay. It's a lumberjack, and it's more than okay. Ooh. This 2022 darkness variant ages in bourbon barrels with maple, coffee, cinnamon, and vanilla beans. Again. Flannel not included. Again, vanilla. I mean, that seems like a big trend, too. I mean, that's how many times have they said vanilla? There's been vanilla in all of them, I think. I think so. And it's just, yeah, it's just kind of been how much can you put in there? Put or you know, how much do we taste right now? Yes, yes. Oh, I smell I smell I smell lumberjack armpit. All right, I'm out. You smell those awesome. How do you know what a lumberjack's armpit smells like, Jim? I'm all cut in wood. Okay, I'll give you that. Good save. I was gonna say, what's his name? Oh, wow. There's there's flavors there, boy. I definitely can get maple. Maple. I do get a coffee element, a little bit of cinnamon, a little bit of cinnamon, vanilla possibly on the finish, but but the rest of it is like wow, that's interesting.
SPEAKER_00I'd say it's all there.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I I think you're right, man. I I'm wow. Pleasantly surprised. I mean, that's that is pretty good. And I don't get like a strong bourbon flavor, you know what I mean? Where when it's aging and bourbon barrels, some of them, well, you know, some of them we've had have been very strong.
SPEAKER_00You'd think it's bourbon, right? With the flavored bourbon.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I mean, this one I don't really get the bourbon flavor, but I'm not that's not a bad no, it's just we don't know how long it was aged. Right. We don't know what type of barrel was aged. And and I think those from what we learned from Central Waters, because they they've got it down to a pretty good science. Specifically lay it out, yeah. And I think they got it spot on. So if certainly I think they would help uh the drinker out by letting us know it because there are I I think different bourbons have different flavors which come through the beers in in a different way. Yep, you're 100% right, Jim. Good, yeah, that's a good way to say it, yeah. Because they and they they do come, it does help the beer. All right, so who's doing it? I'm being honest.
SPEAKER_00I wasn't listening.
SPEAKER_01Was it a good point? Are you okay? Yeah, it was a good point. All right, then I agree. I totally know why you tuned him out on that. You just saw this and went, I'm out of here. Well, I was I was confused.
SPEAKER_00I was thinking at the can.
SPEAKER_01I'm just gonna go. If it was a good point, I agree. It's a good point. All right, all right, so I guess I go first. I like this. I think, like I said, the flavors are really good. I'm going a 4.0 on this one. I really do like this. You get that maple, it's not over the top maple. And the same with coffee. You get the coffee, but it's not none of it is over the top, but it all really works well together, I think. So again, I wouldn't say a new person should grab this for their first craft beer. Not by any means, but I I do like it. I think this has less of that bitterness that darkness was kind of known for than than the other ones do. What's interesting, you know, is that correct me if I'm wrong, Mike, but it they use the same base across the board. Correct. As far as I know, yes. So to me, what's weird is that very first one we had was bitter, but it hasn't translated into any of the other ones we've had so far after that. You're correct, yeah. So whatever they're doing after that to that based model, I don't know if they're just adding more, you know, fruit or aging it longer in a barrel. I don't know, but I mean the last other than that first one, which kind of took me off a little bit, but the next three have been really good. I mean, like I would have to say that these are even better than that previous episode we had. Oh, yeah. Or there wasn't a lot of flavor. And I don't know if it's because of the aging or or what, but I mean, I pleasantly surprised and appreciated. Yeah. So for me, the the lumberjack, the maple is like, I think it's got the right amount because sometimes you get we've had, I don't know, is it KBS? KBS. There's a breakfast bastard, or there's a no, they've got the the KBS, Kentucky breakfast stout, and then they have the CBS. The CBS is the Canadian breakfast. That's the one that has the maple in it. So, and then sometimes a little bit over the top, you know, a little bit too much, but this has got the right amount, I think. Me personally would like to have a little bit more bourbon flavor. Yeah, not saying it's a bad thing, I would just like it a little bit more. But I'm now I'm like struggling between the blueberry and this one because I think their flavors are very good. I I like I'm very pleasantly surprised, but I'm gonna say that I'm gonna give the lumberjack a nod. I'm gonna go with 4.1. I like it. I like it. Is this like hovering around a possibility or no? So it might be in the it could be. It could be in the discussion.
SPEAKER_00Do you need some time to think about it? Probably.
SPEAKER_01So I'll pour a little star on it and I'll talk about it at the end of the store. Okay. I'll give it our so I don't take over your time.
SPEAKER_00No, no, I'm just saying maybe, maybe just an idea. We could pour you another one at the end.
SPEAKER_01Just his thinker's kind of slow. So we can the bats are like in my belt freaking. You know, man, what do you think of it?
SPEAKER_00I so for me, I'm not a chocolate guy. I get chocolate, or sorry, it's coffee, not chocolate. Either way, don't like coffee. Not great for me. I will give it a extra tenth. Everything that they said is in it, I taste it. Nice. I that's impressive for me. For me, I'm not gonna go look this out. For whatever whatever it is, I'm maybe it's for my taste buds, the all these ingredients aren't blending well. With with the extra tenth, I'm gonna give it a two-six. I'd say I can drink it. It's just it's not not what what what I'd like in a beer.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. So can I just ask one clarifying question? So can you taste the maple?
SPEAKER_00I mean, is that so and yeah, I get I so I get so the flavor, what's the best flavor that you taste out of this? The strongest flavor? Right. I I get more bourbon out of this. Oh, okay. Wow, okay. I get so if it's so one, two, three, four, however many ingredients. For me, I get the bourbon first, then coffee. And it's almost like you put a little maple syrup in the coffee, and then with the just a little flake of cinnamon in it. Okay.
SPEAKER_01But I it's still there, so I can that's what I wanted to ask because I don't I think Mike and I are probably we almost say the same things all the time. So it's good to that's why I want to ask what your what flavors come up for you. Okay. Well, you know, and and I think that that's a great point, Jim, because like I said, we've had so many. We've had uh almost every s area of the spectrum when it comes to bourbon barrel beers. So for us, there's not much bourbon flavor, right? But you know, it's good to hear that you think that there's a lot of bourbon flavor, you know, because that just shows how people's palates are different, and and our palates have been burned out for years for all of the season. There you go. Yeah. Yes. But that yeah, that's a great point, you know, because it's yeah, same beer, but it's you know, like I said, I hardly tasted bourbon and you tasted a lot of bourbon, so it's kind of wild. So can I hit the nail on the head? Yeah, so then I guess that just comes back that you guys are in to help with the that removal process. We're gonna save our answers talking about it.
SPEAKER_00I don't know how when we'd decide yes or no.
SPEAKER_01We said we would be there, but we're outside the room. No, I thought it was like a positive that you guys would be Yes, we will be there. So outside the room. But I think this could have some good content. Are we gonna drink a bunch of high octane beers first and then go do it? No, no, we want to be stone cold sober when we do this. Why? Okay, I'm out because there's there there is a slight chance that one could escape my hand. Oh it could go flying towards other people in the room. Ergo us is what he's hoping. So see, I just think it'd be more fun if we weren't all there. Yeah. But who's in the film? Because Julie said she's out. Well she's maybe maybe if we uh do have a GoPro, you could wear it on his forehead. I don't, but I know a guy that doesn't. You know a guy? You can film it yourself, and then we'll just watch it. I think that you guys would be the perfect candidates to help me. You know, I feel like when he says candidates, I think he means guinea pigs. I was gonna say, I think that means you and I are in there and he's outside filming. So I will actually do the hard work. I'll do the heavy lifting. Well opening the door or what I'll actually grab onto the animal, jam it by the tail.
SPEAKER_00Here's what I'm gonna round my head and let's throw it throw it at you. I thought we were waiting because you wanted to be humane. Oh, he forgot about that. Oh, yeah. All right, all right, gotcha.
SPEAKER_01You had me until the swing it around and throw it at me part. I was gonna say, Jim, for the the the trustiness of the four years that we've been doing this, I will be there, but now that you're gonna whip it around and throw it at me, I'm probably back out. So dang it. Well, I thought you guys I thought you guys were like really big studdly guys that like nothing. Nothing intimidated you. You're never scared or afraid of anything. We don't want the bat to get in our hair, you know. I wasn't doing it in your hair, I just throw it in your face.
SPEAKER_00It looked like aliens, like wrapped up. I will say I did I I've been through that shop, and with the way they were sitting on the wall, you could just walk up and grab it.
SPEAKER_01Couldn't you just take the picture off and take it outside? And well, no, it's more fun if you grab it and you like show it. So you get some video of this. Oh, yeah. Well, yeah, anything for for views. Right. So good thinking, Jim. So can I help out this the the podcast? I think you what you should do is So if you here's my deal.
SPEAKER_00If you want to help the podcast, it's gotta be, it's got you gotta have beer involved. So we could have beers after.
SPEAKER_01I just don't know the you you don't want to have a slow reaction time. I think what he needs to do is chug a beer, grab the bat, chug a beer, then throw it outside. Yeah, that's what Jim should do. Or where are you at? I just wonder where you're at. Well, we're filming. Are you within the filmer guys have to be steady? But if you're not in the same state, that throws the whole thing out of battle. You've got to be within like two or three feet. Well, we'll be in two or three feet. So I can like oh no, no, no, that's not no. Yeah, the seat. Now you're talking crazy again. Oh, but you guys be right at the door. Wait, I'll like chunk it. See, that's where you work.
SPEAKER_00We're getting way too many ideas here. I think I think the best content is just drunk bat handling. The best content is when it's drunk. But we can't state that we're drunk because then it might get taken down. Correct. See, now you're being silly, Jim.
SPEAKER_01So, but I think you guys always right before you guys are the ones that can help me out. Oh, we'll help you. We'll film it from a safe ethical distance. Oh my god, a safe, humane, humane distance. These are not killer bees, they're bats. No, they're vampire bats. We've seen the teeth on them. They're like an inch and a half long. I know. The the teeth are, yeah. No, the bullet, that's pretty long. The intent bats. Come on, guys. Well, let's have a beer and think about this. Apparently, we need another beer to think about before we agreed to this. All
Elijah Craig Barrel Aged Darkness Hits
SPEAKER_01right, so what do we got? All right, so boys, we're Are we stepping up our game? Well, a little bit, but it's the same 12%. All right. Again, it's from Surly. This is their 2022 Darkness Russian Imperial stout, and this is aged in bourbon barrels. And again, we don't know. Yes, we do. Oh, we do, GM. I didn't know. You jumped around the line research. I did so I mistakenly, that's it. He's getting the bass by himself now. There's your part. All right, so here we go. Here's the description. Darkness is a beer of fable and legend, malty and intense, yet velvety smooth. This special edition of our massive Russian Imperial snout matured in Elijah Craig 12-year bourbon barrels. Nice. And brings waves of chocolate, vanilla, dried fruit, and cherry enhanced by the oaky spice of the barrel and its previous occupant. Now we like Elijah Craig. Yes.
SPEAKER_00I do want to state, just out of the description, there's really only one thing that I might not like in this, and it's the chocolate. Okay, I was gonna say, yeah. So you're not a big chocolate fan. In general or just in beer? I I do eat chocolate. It's not my favorite. Sure. But if you put it in beer, I'm out.
SPEAKER_01Have you ever now this is not like on this level, but remember last week when we had that Samuel Smith, the imported beer? Right. Remember that? Organic. Organic, yeah. Yeah. But we did talk about, and we should find a get a can of it again. They have an organic chocolate stout, I believe, doesn't it? Or porter, one of them. They do sell it at the same place. Very, very good chocolate flavor. Like chocolate chocolate, not like dark chocolate or it's actually really good. But you I I totally get what you're saying, too.
SPEAKER_00With an open mind, I would try it. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01You know, but it's super good flavor, very like a chocolate stuff. Just overpowering. Right. Yep. All right. So this is kind of light. Yeah. Like like it's like 1135 instead of midnight.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, exactly. Yeah. This is it's moonlight.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, this is coal black. There is a little bit of aroma. Well, you can taste. There's bourbon. There's bourbon. There's bourbon in this one, which to me then is a big check mark. I like that. And again, so when it says dried fruit. Right. I was I was that's what I was looking at.
SPEAKER_00I'm kind of like, what is dried fruit and cherry. So is the cherry not dried? That's a good question.
SPEAKER_01That's a pretty good question. And what are the dried fruit types? Fruit. Fruit, that's your dry ones.
SPEAKER_00And probably not cherry.
SPEAKER_01I didn't, I can't believe you didn't know that. Yeah. So so that's the hard part, I guess, to explain to the listeners. I mean, I I think there's I I can taste fruit. I just don't know what type of fruit. Maybe is that a good thing.
SPEAKER_00So maybe that that's what they that's what it is.
SPEAKER_01They just threw a bunch of them in there and just like this is the one of the first ones that I really on the aftertaste. I get kind of a sweetness, more so than you know what I mean. There's to me, there's a sweetness on the floor. I can agree with that.
SPEAKER_00Like a fruity sweetness to it. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. But I for me, I think now this is probably the smoothest finish.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. I mean, I I don't know if it's the bourbon. For me, it doesn't sit on the tongue, too. So yeah, I I agree.
SPEAKER_01I mean the the finish, I mean the flavors are there, I can taste them, but the it's it doesn't have like the uh the raspberry and the uh blueberry. They had like a a flavor that was right there. Yes. These all more balance out to me. I don't know if that's I agree with you. Yeah. I don't know. I mean, it's good. I mean, but like Matt said, there is I don't know, maybe the chocolate has done it, but I I don't taste the chocolate or the vanilla. I don't know what type of fruit is there. And I don't even know. There could be a cherry, but I can't really sure. It's just it just to me it's just smoother. All the way in a higher ABV. It just and I guess we purposely did move this one to the end because it was we wanted to see the other variants against itself. Yep. So that's kind of the yeah, we had talked about putting it right after the original the base model. And I'm glad we didn't now. Oh, right. You know, so yeah, that was a good call, Jim. But yeah, this is I like this. So we're calling this the uh barrel age. The barrel age darkness, darkness. Yep. So again, I'm first you are first on this one. All right, so I like it. I do like it. I mean, there's no there's no doubt in my mind. I'm trying to nitpick again to try to let the listeners know. So I guess the hard part is I can't explain the fruit. I wish I could. I know there's I can taste dried fruit. I know it's say I just don't know what type of dried fruit. Vanilla, I think, I think I can taste it, but it's not it's not overpowering. The chocolate, I think, is there, but I think what I think is happening is whatever the all the flavors they have, whatever the ingredients, they've balanced themselves out very well, and they almost they're not competing, but they've really mellowed and sm it kind of made a smooth flavor, which I like. I'm going 4.2, and this is a beer of the year nominee. I'm gonna say it's I'm not even gonna think about it. I this is the first one today that's been that smooth. Okay, man.
SPEAKER_00What do you think? I is so uh I agree with Jim. It's very smooth. I did know it, I didn't think of it right away. For me, I taste all of them. I taste all what they stated, other than the I don't know which dried fruits they put in. Yep, I get a little cherry, dried fruit. For me, knocks it back, is the chocolate and vanilla are almost competing. Yep. Again, different palette. I'm a newbie to this. Well, I guess I shouldn't say newbie. I think uh I think the majority of the podcasts I'm on are all these uh you might be like getting to be an apprentice level now.
SPEAKER_01Oh, see, you moved up, you moved up from newbie, now you're an apprentice. Oh, okay. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. So when you're with your buddies, so what kind of beer do you like? What like bushlight? And then barrel is Russian Imperial Spouth.
SPEAKER_00Apparently it's a a thicker thinner, you know, whichever.
SPEAKER_01It's not a big step, it's just a small, very small step, very small step.
SPEAKER_00Right. I do want to give it a the extra tenth for I do taste every everything they stated. Uh you get the and I forgot to mention I do taste bourbon. It's a good bourbon. Um I will state this too. Uh I I'm kind of picky with my bourbons, but I like this bourbon flavor. I like Elijah Craig. They make good bourbon. I guess my score with the I'm fighting on this one. Because I like it and I don't like it, with just with the chocolate flavor. Oh, really? Wow. Yeah, that's the only thing that's drawing me back, but I'll I'll I'll think positively about this. We'll put it this way. All right. I'll I'll go a three-two. All right. So nice. Just you know that's your best one today. Yep. Okay, nice.
SPEAKER_01So for me, Jim, I agree with what you had said. I agree with Matt as well. I totally can get that Elijah Craig flavor. Very smooth. It's it honestly, it works. It really works. Jim, I agree. I'm going to four two and I'm nominating it as well. Awesome. I think this this is it. Could be that it's aged for four years. You know, I don't know. It's been in my beer fridge for that long. Because we've been to get back to these. Good job keeping it in there. Yes, yes. But it it really works, and it has that the little bit of a sweetness on the finish that's been kind of different from the other ones. But I like again, would I recommend it to a new person? No. None of these I would, but it really works. And and Matt, like you said, I mean, the other ones that it, you know, there was the other one that it said it was Agent and Bourbon barrels. You really couldn't tell. This one, I mean, I can definitely tell that this was Elijah Craig. Right. You know, it's got that kind of that flavor to it. Where like the the was it the raspberry one that was in the rum barrels with the right? Yeah, that you could tell there was rum. Right. Competing with a lemon. Correct. But but this one, boy, it's this is good. I very much enjoy it. So before my next part on the phone. No, we're not doing the bats. So we're just getting let's think of something else to talk about.
SPEAKER_00So do you want to we'll talk off the podcast.
SPEAKER_01Is there money involved with this bat thing? So let me ask you. So I do have some, I get some more questions about the bat.
Ranking The Surly Standouts
SPEAKER_01Yeah. But do you want to rate these five or do you want to rate all six together? That's a good question. I should have answered that earlier. What do you think? We can do that. Honestly, I honestly don't know what the last beer, how it's gonna take. Correct. So I don't know. I think we should thoughts on these first. Just because so I agree with you. So Matt, do you want to go first? Sure. Just because I don't know that size of one of these. Yeah, that's a good point. Especially being that the first five are from the same brewery. Right. And the last one's a different one. Yeah, I agree with you.
SPEAKER_00So the two standouts would be the our last one, the the bourbon barrel. The bourbon barrel uh with the Elijah Craig. And I like that they state what's very helpful. Very helpful. I like very good. And then the blueberry crumble, that was my other top beer today. Yep. I know they got a a point difference, but to me, they're both right there. Yep. The I don't want to put a number one on either of them. Sure. Because I think sure the Elijah Craig had a two-point bonus on the other one, but I I like that there wasn't as much chocolate in the I think it was chocolate in the blueberry crumble. Right, correct.
SPEAKER_01Yep.
SPEAKER_00So they both had their high points for me. And then the raspberry, that's my third one. I don't know what else to say about it. That'd be my third. Yeah, I like raspberry. That's that'd be my third one. So yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, for me, Jim, the I think the the I wouldn't say clear winner, but the winner is that the last one, the bourbon barrel edge one, the Elijah Craig one. Personally, I did really like the the lumberjack, the maple one as well. Honestly, the blueberry and the blueberry was probably my third, I think. But I I hate to say it, but I kind of like the variants better than the original. I'll agree with that. You know what I mean? The original had that bitterness to it, and these other these four variants don't. Yep. And they're very good.
SPEAKER_00Just off of that, I do think it's cool that so all of these were based off of our first one, correct? I think it's very cool that they were able to make so many different flavors off of one beer.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yep, and they do it every year. Right, right. And that's the thing that's crazy, you know. But yeah, I again, these are more advanced beers, you know. And I'm I'm always thankful that Matt is a willing participant. Because, you know, I mean, it's not that long ago that you were not. I remember the first time I think we talked to him about, hey, you want to be on the podcast? No, no, I'm good. You know, so I give him credit. He's you've come a long way, kind of like Jim with you know, solvers and IPAs.
SPEAKER_00I suppose, yeah, I don't rag on it like I used to.
SPEAKER_01Right. When we poured it, you hadn't already got a score in your head on this one. So yeah, it's yeah. I I I think they were all very good. I the variants were better than the original, in my opinion. So, Mike, thank you for bringing these Stirly beers. Yeah, I was very apprehensive only because we had done this, not this exact make model type for these beers, but a different surly variation by year. And they did not, I don't know, I don't want to say the word did not taste good, but there wasn't a lot of flavor. And for whatever reason, these have exceeded my expectation for flavor. So thank you for bringing them and letting us enjoy them because these I mean, across the board, our scores were like way up there. Even Matt, for the one that does not like this type, actually had some like higher scores to me, which then leads us to believe our palettes are not. We may be jaded, but we're not if Matt is like here to like tasting some of the flavors, right? I like that. So I'm I'm very appreciative. So my number one beer is the bear leagues, the darkest, and I will nominate for beer of the year. Yeah, I'll second that. Yep. And the lumberjack, I really like that. I mean, it just it was so smooth. I mean, I can't remember, well, especially from 2026 to this year, a beer tasting that smooth, right? We I don't know if we've had one that ABV that's that smooth, even though it is a 2022. Boy, it that's good. The other ones were good, but those two really stood out for me. So the other ones were good, but I do like those two. I'll turn it so I can be do you want to nominate the lumberjack for beer year or not? I'll throw it in, I'll throw it in the ring. I'll throw it ahead. All right, because if you do, I will second that as well. I will do that. You want I thought it was very good as well. So we'll add those two to our possible list. So all right. So can I roll into the next beer? Yeah, I was gonna say so. That wraps up the surly portion. Now you brought
Lost Moon Packaging Confusion And Review
SPEAKER_01another beer. Now I would like you to kind of give your backstory on it. So I think everybody knows that all the Surly cans are 16-ounce cans, they're all black, black top, black everything, and they're packaged in a square cardboard box the exact size. 16 ounce, I mean, so the can fits right in. Yep, and the artworks on the box and all that. Yep. So when I go to our local liquor store, I always keep an eye out for that, because that style of box is it because it's not in a four-pack, it's not in a six-pack, it's not a case. You always see it very clearly. You can always recognize a surly can right away. I mean, correct. Yes, yes. So I saw this black box, grabbed it, and it said lost moon, which to me, then I thought, all right, well, this is a surly lost moon. That that was what I thought. I sure I did not take the time because you I mean, when you're in a beer store, you're looking, you're trying to like look for targets of opportunity. You and I want to spend more time, but we're usually on a crunch time because our wives are like, get in there, find what you want, and get out.
SPEAKER_00So this usually when I walk in, I just got it. You go down by now, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Good point, good point. Similar but different. Yeah. So this box looked the same as the surly. I reached down, grabbed it, it said lost moon. All right, I'm assuming it's surly. I put it in. I think there was another surly. I picked it up, put it in. I did not know until today when I was doing the research that this was not a surly. So I thought maybe we could incorporate it with today's beer tasting because we just talked about uh a couple weeks ago or recently about the marketing and and beers are not copying, but this one seems to be. I don't know, it's I I'm not saying it's copyright and freezer. I'm not I'm not saying that. Right. It looks very similar. They're doing a lot of things that's that Surly is doing with darkness. And it's from the same city, yes, and the beer, the can looks the same except for the artwork. And and the top is silver or aluminum color instead of black. But yes, the box. Yeah, so I'll I'll turn it back to you. That's that's what I did. I did not do it on purpose. I thought it was a I thought it was a uh Surly. Yep, nope, not a problem. I can totally see because uh, like you said, Surly normally comes in a box like this, right? And so yeah, that is rather interesting. So is there anything about this type of beer on the box? Yes, there is a there's a description on here. Now, this is Lost Moon Russian Imperial Stout, and this is from Pyers Brewing in Minneapolis. Okay, yep. And this one is 12.4 percent. So this is our if you were wondering, we did bump it up almost half a percent again. So this is our yeah, just letting you know. So this is our strongest. This is our strongest of the day, okay, and it has 40 IBUs in it, I should say. Now, so this is the lost moon and it's bourbon barrel-aged, and on the box it says another year, another rotation around the sun, introducing the 2023 bourbon barrel-aged lost moon. This delightfully dark and smooth beer creates its own gravity. Oh, are you are you prepared? Wow, man. I just stopped there just to make sure you heard that its own gravity. So, does that mean we go like you may be getting pulled down further? I'll let you know if the the gravity's working. Okay, all right. Uh, let's see. It's own gravity, showcasing flavors of rich cacao, cacao, cacao, vanilla, and toffee from aging in the dark recesses of bourbon barrels for many months. Is many months, two months, 72 months, we don't know. Grab a glimpse while you can. The night of the lost moon is fleeting. Wow. Yeah, that is interesting.
SPEAKER_00That is so this is again, this is not necessarily this. I was on, there was another beer around the moon theme titled.
SPEAKER_01Oh, yeah, and I think it was from the same company, but it was a different year. But there is one from three sheep that you have. Oh, yes. You do have those. I do have those too. And it had that name. There is a moon. Yeah, there's yeah.
SPEAKER_00Was it moon goggles? Oh, there I think that was. I'd have to look back. Yeah, we'd have to look back. I think that that name is what's coming up in my my brain.
SPEAKER_01All right. Well, you could be right. You could be, yes. Well, so this is I can smell so. How do we pronounce the the name? I believe it's uh is it prize prize P-R-Y-E-S. Prize, I believe, is what it is. Okay, yeah, we're not 100%. And this is where Susie and I have been to that brewery and they have like an indoor so this like a bocce ball court type thing. So do this it's a cool brewery. Okay, not and a surly. You've been to both. Yes, okay, yes, definitely has lower bourbon flavor. Yeah, I would have to say it a step down from the surleys that we've had today. Now, yeah, yeah. When you'd ask about the breweries, surly is a much bigger brewery than what this is. Okay. You know what I mean? So this is a smaller brewery, but uh again, the one thing that on the box when it was aged for several months, well, how many months? Right? You know, and and what type of every time when a company doesn't this is just my thoughts. And when a company doesn't listen uh list the what kind of bourbon it is, it makes me wonder is it not a big name? You know what I mean? It's more of just a something local, maybe local, regional, something they could get their hands on. Right, or the barrels are maybe cheaper. I don't know, you know, but I mean it's it's smooth for I mean this is the highest ABV, it's it's very smooth. But I would definitely for me a step down from those other ones. I don't get a the flavors are there, but they're not as they're more muted, yeah. They're not they don't come out as strongly as the other ones for 12.4 it it's smooth. I give them that. I agree with you there. Yeah, you know, uh and it's smooth, but the flavors are not right the same, you know. I mean, are they on the right track? I think they're in the right direction, but based on what would you taste with surly, I don't think they're in that same category right now. No, not right now. I I agree with you. They do it's a good job, yeah. But surly is again one of those where it's another level, yes, you know, and yeah, I yeah, I'd drink it, but right, you know, I think there's a couple other ones that we can get before that I drink it before. So all right, so who is first? I'll go first. Um, I think it's very smooth for 12.4. I'm I'm not sure that I'm just looking at the box again for I don't feel any extra gravity. Yeah, no, I haven't fallen over yet. Yeah, I was looking at the flavors. I can't get up. I can't get up cacao and vanilla. I think they're kind of muted a little bit. It's still good. I'm gonna go like a 3.4. I would drink it if somebody offered it to me, but it I don't think that again. I'm glad, Jim, that you made the the decision that we should kind of do our wrap up of the surly first because I think that that is a step up. Yeah, I mean, based on what we know now. Yeah, Jim, what do you think? So I'm struggling. This is not an easy question. Do I think it's good? I think it's okay. And for me, good and okay are not the same. I think okay is more like in the middle. Would I recommend this to a new craft beer drinker? No, I'm not picking up a lot of the flavors. Um I think I'm getting more of the sweetness, I think, from like an Avery style where they're over like putting some of the sugars in. I would like to taste the rich cocoa, the smooth vanilla, the toffee. To me, I think that would make it even better. I like and I like your score. I'm gonna go with 3.4. I wish I could taste the other flavors to bump it up, but it's just I don't think it's there yet. Okay, Matthew. 2.0. Ooh.
SPEAKER_00I will explain. Okay, no, I surrounded up. Oh, pretty farmal. I will explain. The listed ingredients are not my cup of tea. With that, I don't know if you want to say this with a a bonus or a or a knock to it. It's very bland. Very bland. Uh a bonus to it is it's smooth, being a 12.4 smooth. Not my favorite flavors, and it's just I don't know. To me, it didn't mix well either. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Oh, I do wish there was more vanilla or whatever, you know, something, something that was a distinct flavor.
SPEAKER_00Not my beer. Will not recommend and will not go looking for it. Okay.
SPEAKER_01So let me so based on like that one that we thought was really blended good and was smooth, you can can you tell a difference between for being as like mellow and bland, in that I it almost seems like they're all fighting each other.
SPEAKER_00And uh you can't pick each one out, and it's just without knowing how to properly describe it, it's just not good. Sure.
SPEAKER_01Yep. Right. But I mean, we saw some good representations of beers that were really very well blended, very well bringing together flavors.
SPEAKER_00So I guess to add that into it, is it's not what we tasted before. Right. Yeah. I agree.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I mean that's let's do one final wrap-up, just maybe our top beer or yeah. My go first. My top beer was the the barrel-aged darkness. That was right off the top right off the top. My second was the lumber. I like the lumberjack. Okay. I thought those two were head and shoulders up on the other one's prize. I hope I'm saying that right. I think for a small brewery, it this is a pr it's a pretty good attempt. Right. You know, I think in a few years we may be impressed if they keep going around along this. They do have some work to do, so to speak, because there are a number of companies, you know, and Jim, you you know as well as I do, we've got a number of beers from three sheeps that we're gonna be doing eventually, and we know that's another level again. Yep, but uh I'm not saying that these guys can't get there. I think if they keep doing this, it's only gonna improve. So yeah. It's a dovetail what you said. So the only thing that I have to caveat is we're drinking beers that are four, three or four years old. Right. And I hope, I sincerely hope, that they were already doing some of these testing, tastings, test tastings, whatever back then. Back then, so they've already modified it. So this year's beers are better, smoother. You know, that's what I'm hoping. So pie the pre's priority uh prize, yeah. They were they were good. It and it just was for this episode, the beers I tasted today, surly was way above. I mean, I couldn't say this when we did our last episode. Right. I I mean we we were even struggling to find flavor, to find other things. I could not be more happy with what I've tasted from Surly. Well, good. I'm glad. Yeah, I mean, it thank you for bringing them. I mean, I was very impressed. I liked them. I mean, I just wish every Surly was like that. Right, right. I mean, I thank you for bringing them up.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I guess my final wrap-up, it it'll reflect reflect my scores. The barrel age darkness with the Elijah Craig. That score-wise, I was number one. It's competing with the blueberry crumble. Those are those would be top two. I we'll just stick with the scores. Barrel age would be that'll be my number one blueberry crumble. That's a very close number two, and then the raspberry chocolate, that'd be the three. The lost moon did not change my opinion at all. That was not for me. All right, may and like you guys, maybe they'll change some things, maybe they'll learn, figure out how to bring more flavors out, maybe they'll put different flavors in. Yep, exactly.
SPEAKER_01And you know what's weird is I don't think I've seen another that brewery since that box came out. No, because remember the other lost moons that I have were in bomber panels. They're not the same, so no, so it doesn't match what certainly's done. So I don't know why I I'm not there. So yeah, so unless maybe there's somebody out in the audience that might know. Yep, let send us a DM or whatever they call that. Whatever, email, tweet. All right, but yes, so thank you very much, Mike, for letting us bring in those. I think these are all yours except for the my except my stinker. My stinker. It wasn't a stinker, it was you know varying degrees of goodness. It was an experiment. There you go. I'll say that. Yeah, but I'm glad. Thanks for inviting me.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, appreciate you guys having me.
SPEAKER_01It was I'm I'm kind of fun. I'm impressed that he's still hey, you want to be in there? Yeah, okay. Free beer is my favorite beer. And and the I'll live by that. So the best part of this was since you guys like signed off on that that non-disclosure, now you guys can help me with the bats. So that's even another bonus. Well, see, I'm thinking that if we can get Jim to finish a couple of these surleys, we can we'll be out on the outside as well. I don't remember. Yeah, we need no. We never signed anything. It would happen. Yeah, it didn't happen. Trust me. Okay. Well, yeah, we'll trust him. All right. Hey guys, thank you so much for being a part of this.
Festivals And Where To Find Us
SPEAKER_01Ladies and gentlemen, well, Jim, when the ladies and gentlemen are listening to this, we are probably on our way or getting ready to go to Taster's Eve. Oh, and then tomorrow at the Saturday, the 25th, we are saying we are at the beverages and bites. They used to be between the bluffs. And make sure you use my name to get a free drink. Yep. Jim will buy every single person that comes up and says, Hey, I heard this on the podcast. He will buy you a free taster glass of beer at the festival. Every single any of them you want. If you want 20 of them, he'll buy you 20 of them. And and I will not hesitate whatsoever. Exactly. Because that's how you roll. I'm there. I'm there for you guys. They know, right? That they're free. Okay, yeah. They don't need to know. They don't need to know that. Perfect. Good thinking. Awesome. Well, hey guys, thank you so much for being a part of this. Ladies and gentlemen, thanks for listening. Like Jim said, if you see us at between the bluffs, stop by, say hi. You'll recognize us. We've got we have new hats, Jim. Oh, we got short hairs. We can cover that up. Yeah, yeah. You won't see us. They won't see the short hair. We won't see Matt. He has long locks. He's got this flowing mane. Unlike us.
SPEAKER_00You know, it happens with age.
SPEAKER_01If you see a guy that looks like he's a bush light drinker, it could be Matt. Yes.
SPEAKER_00Thank you. I take that as a compliment.
SPEAKER_01Anyway, ladies and gentlemen, thanks for listening. And like we always say, we hope your campfire's always warm and your beers are always cold. Thank you for listening to the Northwoods Beer Guy podcast. If you have a question, a comment, or a beer you'd like us to review, please feel free to send us a message at Northwoodsbeerguy at gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you're on Untapped, look up Northwoods Beer Guy and send a friend request. Until next week, I hope all your campfires are warm and all your beer is cold.
