The Trappist Kerstbier Fest 2012

It's the most wonderful time for a beer!

The Trappist in Oakland is hosting another Belgian Christmas beer festival. This is one of my favorite events of the year. Lots of great beers on tap as well as in bottles. A couple of my favorite beers from last years festival was St. Bernardus Christmas, Mikkeller From Via To, Struise Tsjeeses, Mikkeller Santa's Little Helper and many more.

This year's Kerstbier Festival will take place on December 14th and 15th at The Trappist in Oakland, CA.

The Trappist
460 8th St.
Oakland, CA 94607
http://www.thetrappist.com/

Green Flash Double Stout

Brewery: Green Flash

Name: Double Stout

Style: American / Double Stout

Available: 

ABV: 8.8%

IBU: 45

Recommended Glassware: Snifter, Tulip, Pint Glass

"Golden naked oats mashed with dark crystal and robust roasted malts create a luscious black brew with satin smooth finish. An old-world style, done the Green Flash way. Big, bold, flavorful and complex." - via Green Flash


Appearance: Very dark, black really.  Nice dark tan head. Great lacing.

Aroma: Roasted malts, coffee, bitter dark chocolate.

Taste: Mostly bitter chocolate. Roasted flavors and coffee.

Wow, this was a really good beer. Basically tasted like an iced coffee to me. Great flavor and taste when cold but really opens up when it warms up a little bit. Hides the alchol really well. One of my top 10 stouts for sure.

Bear Republic Racer X

Brewery: Bear Republic

Name: Racer X (Vintage 2012)

Style: Double IPA

Available: October

ABV: 8.3%

IBU: 100+


Recommended Glassware: Tulip, Snifter

"Racer X™ is an uncommon Double India Pale Ale which puts a California twist on English brewing traditions by adding an assertive hop aroma and bitterness that compliments the firm malt backbone.
Like its little brother Racer 5, Racer X™ is balance in a bottle." - via Bear Republic

Appearance: Pours a clear amber red color. Not much head, off white and short lasting.

Aroma: Peppery, orange citrus, floral hops.

Taste: Taste follows the aroma, mostly orange at the start. Sweet but not overpowering. Bitterness and piney at the finish. 

I love this beer. One of my favorite DIPAs. Great balance for the style. The maltiness of the beer hides the ABV very well and leaves a nice hoppy finish. I recommended this beer to anyone that loves IPAs and it can't be beat at the price point. I don't know why they call this Vintage because I honestly don't think it will be good aged.

Serving Type: Bottle 

Anheuser Busch Water

Anheuser Busch stopped brewing beer at their Cartersville, Georgia factory. They will be canning water instead. Anheuser Busch will be sending 1,056,000 cans of water to the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

They also sent a $100,000 donation to the Red Cross.

I'm not a fan of AB InBev or the beer they make but I have to give them a lot of respect for doing this.

ISO: AB Water

Here is a link to the story from Anheuser Busch.

Novemberfest