Beer Journal #51: Dank, Aprihop, Slow Ride, Dark Penance, yumyum, Velveteen Habit & More

Lakemaid Beer: Miss Catfish
The Fisherman's Lager
Brewed and bottle in Stevens Point, WI

I sampled this lager on 2/20/15.

As you can see, this label has a photo of a lovely mermaid. I went to the Lakemaid Beer website and discovered that this beer is bottled with several different labels featuring the fish caught in Wisconsin with a different mermaid on each label. Cute!!

I found this individual bottle of beer at Woodman's in Janesville, WI at the low price of $1.05. That's the lowest price I've paid for a beer since I began my beer drinking hobby.  

Kalamazoo Stout
Stout Brewed with Brewers Licorice
Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Comstock, MI

On 2/21/15, a sweet Saturday, I savored this beer.

On the Bell's Brewery website, I learned that the drawing on the label front was created by a local artist.

Straight off the label:
"Here's where we tell you about this full-bodied stout's delicious roast flavor. But really, you've already got the bottle in your hand so why not find out for yourself?"

My thoughts: As the label promised, Kalamazoo Stout is delicious.

Velveteen Habit
India Pale Ale
Ale Asylum
Madison, WI

I enjoyed this beer at Grand Avenue Pub in Beloit on 2/21/15.

Right off the label:
ALC. 7.5% BY VOL.
"Bursting with Citra and Cascade hops, this IPA has a juicy hop presence with a rich malt spine. Heavy-handed dry hopping lend a rapturous floral aroma that will linger on your palate as well as your mind."

My input: I contacted Ale Asylum to find the thinking behind the beer name and labeling. They responded with this: "Thanks for the feedback! Our concept for this branding was inspired by the Velveteen Rabbit, a children's book. Our Co-Founder Otto Dilba rendered "Little Bugger" (the character depicted in the logo) himself and we're not quite sure what was going on in his brain while doing so but it worked out great."

I was thrilled to get their response and can't wait to visit their brewery.

Black Butte
Porter
Deschutes Brewery
Bend, OR

I filled my glass with this porter on 2/22/15 and loved sipping it during the afternoon hours.

On the label, I found:
5.2% ALC. BY VOL.
Crafted for explorers everywhere since 1988.
An opening volley, this pioneering dark ale signaled Deschutes' renegade intentions. Its creamy mouthfeel, complex layers, hop edge and chocolate finish personify passion-forward brewing.
Bottle conditioned to keep your beer fresh and enhance the flavors our brewers intended. This may leave a fine layer of yeast in the bottom of the bottle.

My thoughts:
I like this colorful and uplifting label. 

yumyum
American Session Ale
Three Floyds Brewing LLC
Munster, IN

Twas 2/23/15 when I filled my beer glass with yumyum ale.

Borrowed from the label:
Welcome to flavor country. This pale ale has just the right malt backbone to support an explosive juicy hop profile derived from a new blend of proprietary hops. We hope you enjoy it.

My input:
The character on the label front seems to be in his own weird world with his scepters in his many hands and his two pink cats. I must add that he's entirely welcome to do his own thing while I do mine.

Dark Penance
Imperial Black India Pale Ale
Founders Brewing Company
Grand Rapids, MI

On a Tuesday afternoon, 2/24/15, I selected this beer from my stock in the refrigerator.

The label info includes:
8.9% ALC. BY VOL.
100 IBUs

My thoughts: To counterbalance the dark mood invoked by the image on the label front and the beer name, I included one of my whimsical friends in the photo. I've noticed that many beers tend to promote darkness and craziness. Don't get me wrong, I find some amusement in all of those labels. For unknown reasons, today, I needed to lift the mood. 

Slow Ride
Session IPA
New Belgium Brewing
Fort Collins, CO

My second beer on 2/24/15 (my afternoon off) was Slow Ride.

The label reported the following:
ALC 4.5% BY VOL
Enjoy by: 03May15 (I love a fresh beer)
Geared for sessioning, SLOW RIDE is cushioned with tropical aromas and fruit-forward hops. Ready, set, go slow.

My input:
I found a funny video on the New Belgium Brewing Co. website which I shared on Facebook. In it, a sofa on wheels really exists with people riding it!

CHEERS to riding bikes and other things!  

Pils
Czech Style Pilsner
Lagunitas Brewing Company
Petaluma, CA

After working an eight hour day on 2/25/15, I grabbed this beer when I arrived home. After going through my ritual of recording the beer name on my calendar, opening the bottle and pouring it into my glass, entering the beer name on my computer list, photographing the bottle, the glass of beer and an item of interest, applying the label lifter sheet to the label, I got down to the serious business of savoring my beer.

Label offerings:
Alc. by Vol. 6%
Like Adam and Eve, Isaac and Ishmael, Mao and Confuscious, Good and Evil, Day and Night, Hittites and Visigoths, John and Lorena, or Groucho and Moe, Ales and Lagers are as different as can be. Still, we must love each for who they are, separately but equally with liberty and justice for all. Cheers!

My input:
I love the unique statement that every Lagunitas beer label has along the edge of the square enclosing the beer name. I always find them to be especially entertaining.
  

Aprihop
IPA brewed with apricot juice
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Inc.
Milton, DE

After another eight hour work day on 2/26/15, I took ahold of this beer and wouldn't let go. I resembled the crazed rabbit pictured on the label, biting into an apricot. Work often does that to me.

The label told me:
7% Alc. by Vol.
2014 6th Annual Dogfish Seasonal Art Series, Jermaine Rogers, LTD Edition

My input:
The apricot flavor was subtle and appropriate. I enjoyed this IPA more than some.

Dank
Imperial Red Ale
O'So Brewing Company
Plover, WI

Today, 2/27/15, another half day of work for me, I selected this beer from my refrigerator shelf.

The label is close-mouthed. Finding no help there for the beer name choic, I checked on my computer for the definition of dank. Besides the one I knew, I found one in the Urban Dictionary. It states: dank is an expression frequently used by stoners and hippies for something of high quality.
Consequently, I declare, right alongside the stoners and hippies of the world, that DANK is a dang good beer of the highest quality.

CHEERS to everything in the world that's brewed.  .