Sunday [Late] Night Dinner (Discretion Brewing - Uncle Dave's Rye IPA)

As I left Aptos/Santa Cruz with a load of possessions on the truck back to Oakland, I brought with me 2 bombers of beer from Discretion Brewing, a small brewing company off 41st in (Capitola, I believe?)  Somehow, I'd passed by nigh every day for a year and never seen the sign, so when I randomly caught sight I knew I had to try it out.

Went in... and... saw the beers on the wall.  Bombers by the counter.

Naturally, I grabbed the aged stout, but I also grabbed this IPA, "Uncle Dave's Rye IPA".

funny how most all my pictures are very similar...

So here I am on Sunday night.  I made some Eggplant, Bean, and Yam Soup (Damn right I capitalize it!) so I'm eating some of that and drinking some Uncle Dave's Rye IPA.

At 6.5%, this is no Denogginizer.  But what does that matter?  Most every beer tastes different, and I can't understand the people trying to just get as much alcohol as possible, unless of course that's your main goal and you're sipping 99 cent Crazy Stallion Malt Liquor from a paper bag on Troutman and Knickerbocker in Bushwick, Brooklyn.  Shout out to that homeless guy that always stared very intently at me from across the street.

Yeah.

So at first sip, I realize that this is indeed delicious soup and Uncle Dave's is very mellow.  I'm getting a bit of hops up in my face but that's not necessarily a bad thing.  I'm strongly reminded of Deschutes' Armory XPA, actually.  This tastes a little bitter on the tail end, which means that you don't feel thirsty or overcome by dat burr (a good thing).  Also, pine trees.

Very easy drinking.

Oh, and nice label, come to think of it.  I haven't gone camping since I was a lot younger, but one day I'll backpack out with some beer and burn stuff and sleep in a tent.  And go fishing.  Can't forget the fishing.

Damn, I'm enjoying this soup.  Errm.  Back to the beer.  Hella refreshing.  Light, but not LIGHT.

Funny thing about beer is that you kinda learn about what you like and what you enjoy drinking as you drink more diverse types and styles from different places; Last time I had a rye IPA I think I discounted it as just "meh, beer".  And I think I might be able to lightly taste it now.

Trainer Tip!

Drink Hella Beer


Et... to end this.  It's a fun beer.  Not my favorite, but a breath of fresh uh... well, beer.  Easy drinking yet different enough to distinguish it from the rest of the pack.  I recommend this.  I'll throw something up on here again when I drink the other beer from Discretion.

Good one, Uncle Dave.


Peace.

It grows cold outside. Dark beers are required.

So what with everyone getting hype about oktoberfest and pumpkin-y beers, I decided to buck the trend.  I decided that beer wasn't enough for me anymore.  I had to go deeper.  I had to drink used engine oil.

Harveiestoun's Old Engine Oil.  I've heard of this one prior to seeing it in San Jose (shout out to Boynton Liquors for having an amazing variety of beer despite outwardly looking like a standard liquor store) so when I noticed it on the shelf, I had to grab one.

First off, it says "Black Ale" but tastes like a stout or porter.  So there's that.  It says 6% alcohol, but tastes like more than that.

This is one of those beers that goes down pretty quick, has a decently harsh aftertaste, but finishes dry.  You can actually taste a little bit of roast grain in there somehow... Everyone says it tastes chocolatey, but  I'm catching hella harsh dark dark dark chocolate.  This isn't the kind of beer you can drink quick.  Or rather, you probly shouldn't.

It has interesting flavor and aftertaste, and it really reminds me of some of the red wines I've drank because it's making me salivate as I write this.  (Or is that a personal problem...).  I can also taste the alcohol, which is a bit of a turn off for me.  Hmmm... if I close my eyes and drink it, I can almost envision a stout being squeezed out of a ball of asphalt with added burnt grains.  Heh.

Would I get it again?  for a 11.2 oz bottle that's over 5 bucks, probably not.  I get that it's a small batch beer from Scotland and that it has flavor, but I can think of way cheaper beers that come in larger quantities and are better in other ways.  BUT I LIKE THE MOUSE ON THE BOTTLE!  ...damn smug rodent.