A Different IPA

That's right Onions, it's an Irish Pale Ale and you will do it justice only in a mug.  This beer has a great head and comes out a beautiful amber. Good Lacing and a fairly full body.  Better than most of the Irish Red's I've had this beer has a slight caramel taste and a small bit of bitter.  Beer Advocate didn't rate this one very high.  ABV is 5.5 and I'm really not seeing much of a pale ale here.  Nevertheless, it is quite enjoyable, especially with cheesy turkey dogs, making our culinary skill above reproach.  Whether it's an Irish Pale Ale or a more traditional Irish Red, I like it.  I like the Irish, I like beer, not too fond of New York, but I've never been there.  I'll give this beer 3.5 Irish Monks.  Brother  Red has spoken.  What say you.

Yeti Imperial Stout by Great Divide Brewing Co.

Yeti Imperial Stout is hoppy and toffee all in one.  Pouring it is kind of like watching a yeti make syrup. It poured thick and very, very dark.  Nice roasty malts with a little bit of caramel.  Better than the Samual Adams Imperial Stout.  Kind of like an explosion of hoppy sweetness.  75 IBU's and a high 9.5% abv it is quite an impressive beverage.  I insist on any Onions in the area to come over and partake.  Brother Red gives this one a clean 5 monks.

Lamentations, & Wogh

Brother Red is missing his old monastery friends.  3 remain,  two have moved to greener pastures.  Hopefully we will unite here on this plain of existence, but if we don't see each other here I'm sure we will share a Stout Drought together in the here after.  Hopefully we'll get together before that.

Black Chocolate Stout 10% ABV

Simply the best High Content Beer I have had yet!

Sam Adams Old Ben Ale 9%ABV

The Best of the Sam Adams Homebrew winners.

Sam Adams Lemon Pepper Saison 6.something% ABV

Another of the Sam Adams Homebrew Winners. This one sucks though!

Sam Adams Mile High Barley Wine 9.8% ABV

One of the Homebrew contest winners from Sam Adams. Just came out yesterday!

Old Stock Ale

 Wow, I feel like I'm drinking Brandy or something.  This feels more like hard liquor than a beer.  I know that the Beer Advocate has given this an A- but I'm just not feeling it.  I read where one guy let one sit up for like 3 years and then drank it and it was awesome.  Maybe I need to forget about it for the next few years and leave it in my cupboard.  It is 11.5% ABV and way sweet.  I guess that all this double fermentation to get the ABV up so high really pushes these "beers" into a whole other category.  Like Bine, or Weer.  It seems that the more natural way to brew a beer is the best way.  The caramel is way over the top.  Not a big fan of the North Coast Brewery Co.  I think I liked Old Rasputin better than this.
Leaving it with a small 2 monks.

Brother Red has Spoken

End of Winter

Well guys it's finally the end of winter. Not because I just got done mowing the yard for the second time this year, or the fact that all the trees and flowers are in bloom. The real reason for my saying that it is finally the end of winter is because I just cracked open my last Sam Adams Winter Lager. Sorry to see winter go with it's nice dark, flavorful beers. Not looking forward to a spring and summers worth of lemon this, and summer ale that......Yak in a bottle if you ask me. Give me a heavy fall or winter beer all year long and I would be happy! On a sadder note, it is the end of an era here at the brotherhood. The Wrenster is leaving us for the land of the Fins! To be honest, I was really hoping his house wouldn't sell so he would never have to leave us. Just a bit selfish on my part, I going to miss you brother. You have been an awesome friend, mentor and brother. May god bless you and your family over there, I hope you are abuntantly rewarded over there for the time you have put into all of us over here.

Haven't been around much lately

With the new job and all, trying to get all of my ducks in a row. Well the dust is finally starting to settle so I should be able to blog again. Added the google voice widget at the bottom of the page. So if your feeling up to it, give me a holler. If it gets out of control, I will take it off, but it's an easy way for everyone to get in touch with me.

Athanasius Contra Mundum

Athanasius is one of my favorite heroes.  I know it's kind of strange in our day and age to say that someone as "boring" as a saint of old could possible be anybodies hero.   But being the old fashioned Christian that I am, I see something that we should emulate in Athanasius of Alexandria.  He was the first person that we know of to name all 52 books of the bible in a letter ( He also rejected the popular "Apocryphal" books of the time).  He was banished 5 times and eventually died in exile.  Part of the original "Council of Nicaea" he is largely considered the father of orthodox Christianity.  After Emperor Constantine died two of his sons split up the kingdom and the one that had Arian sympathies banished Athanasius and it began to look bleak for the Orthodox Christians of the day.  He never gave up, even against insurmountable odds.  Contra Mundum means "against the World" in latin and i think that this title fits him very well.  There is one story of him evading assassins (no doubt Arian heretics) in a boat.  As he was traveling in secret, two men came up and asked him if they had seen Athanasius from Alexandria.  Without missing a beat he said "He is not very far away. You may catch him if you hurry" and presumably pointed down river in the opposite direction he was heading.  As I said he was subsequently accepted back to Alexandria only to be banished later by several other Emperors, Julian the Apostate to name only one.  Yet this pillar of faith never lost sight of the true calling in Jesus Christ and continued to uphold and defend a long tradition of orthodox Christianity.  One thing I love about him is how everyone tries to claim him as there own.  Eastern Orthodox, Catholics, Reformed and the like all want to claim him as their own.  Since he lived way before the reformation I guess we can all lay claim to him.  That is the Orthodox Christians who stand along side of the great and rich tradition of Apostolic teaching dating back to Jesus of Nazareth, who is called the Christ.

Ants Blow My Mind

"It is certain that there may be extraordinary activity with an extremely small absolute mass of nervous matter; thus the wonderfully diversified instincts, mental powers, and affections of ants are notorious, yet their cerebral ganglia are not so large as the quarter of a small pin's head. Under this point of view, the brain of an ant is one of the most marvelous atoms of matter in the world, perhaps more so than the brain of man;" -Charles Darwin, " The Descent of Man."

Charley, I tend to agree with you. We both have ant brains, you and I.

Albert Collins Tribute

Left cheek is inching towards the door as I post this. Headed to Memphis for a long weekend of blues and brews. Just wanted to post this tidbit of music hilarity before I leave. Anyways, enjoy!

Samuel Adams Cream Stout

Samuel Adams-Cream Stout-ABV 4.69@

4 Solid Monks

This is the kind of beer that I love to have lingering in my mustache. I just want it to hang in my flavor savor like a star in the sky. Shining and glistening, always ready for another night. This has got to be one of my favorite stouts. Rich and creamy with not quite enough chocolate hints. I do wish it was just a tad stronger, with a more aggressive bite. This is my only complaint. It's a delicious beer that will keep me coming back for more. I'd waste a 6 pack of this no problem. Mustachio has spoken.

P.S.

I found our notes from a secret meeting of our brotherhood and we sampled this beer. Here is what we said.

Simple Sauce Make you wanna slap yo' mamma! The quintesential cream stout. 5 Monks

C. Dyno-mite(early iteration of Flying J?) The high priest of the church of Samuel Adams. Creamy roasted redemption. 4 monks

Dunkelstien Scrumdidlyuptious. 4 monks

Count Dante Did I just drink six of these? (He left no monks, flabergasted by the shear deliciousness of the great cream stout.)

Mustachio was strangely silent upon this beer.

Lazy Magnolia Message

History of Brewing 101 from Lazy Magnolia on Vimeo.

Samuel Adams Boston Ale

Brother Red says 'OL' Samuel Adams makes a jolly good ale. Pick one up and slurp it down. This is no beer for some silly clown. Brother Red has spoken.

Michelob Pale Ale

Tell us how it is with this Michelob Pale Ale. Which one of you onions tried this one?

Michelob Bavarian Wheat

We certainly are glad to see Michelob jumping in to micro brewery style beers. Dunkelstein found this twelve pack with 2 specialty beers a piece. Mustachio didn't get a chance to try this one, or he doesn't remember trying it. Any way they have been a surprisingly tasty treat so far.

Samuel Adams Scotch Ale

Mustachio gave this one to Count Dante in a 12 pack "Brewmasters Sampler Pack". The Mustach can't wait to dip his whiskers into what can only be a truly tasty beverage. It's hard to go wrong with Samuel Adams.

Michelob Porter All Malt Beverage

Another Great leap in the area of commercial beers from our friends at Michelob. Keep up the good work.

Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan

The Lazy Magnolia Brewery is based out of Mississippi. This Southern Pecan is everything I would expect from a Southern Bell who loves beer and has decided to base her operations here in the south. It is a truly excellent beer. Check out the website and demand more of these great beers from your local grocer.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE WRENSTER

Man, your like old and stuff!!!!

In Honor of Count Dante. John Prine Rocks!!!

Peroni and Ferrari

A Ferrari it is not.

The Blue Ribbon of Italy! Peroni Nastro Azzurro @ 5.1% abv

Yes, that's right.  "Nastro Azzurro" means Blue Ribbon in Italian.  This is the most consumed beer in Italy according to the sources I've read.  It's the Budweiser of Italy, and it's basically what I would expect out of the most drank beer of Italy.  Like the Alfa Romeo, everyone should have one of these once in there life, but there are certainly faster and fuller bodied cars out there.  So it goes with Peroni.  Brother Red has spoken.  Birra Superiore it is not.  But decent and fun, I'll give it that.

Michelob Rye Pale Ale 5.9% ABV

Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout

A beautifully complex and hearty beer.  A taste that ends as well as it begins.  Certainly a winter weather beer with its dark color, earthy aroma, and a lingering after taste that's suited for enjoying next to a crackling fire.

Evolution: Rationality vs. Randomness an article by Gerald Schroeder

Chimay Blue 9% ABV

Chimay Ale White 8%

The official Apologist of Brother Red & 1st non-alchoholic post

Brother Red would like to invite all of the BRO's to listen to the profound and deeply intuitive words of the most holy and Reverend William Lane Craig.  If ever there was a mere mortal that Brother Red could look up to (if William Lane Craig is a mere mortal) then it would be the most beloved and esteemed Bill.

May the Lord Bless Bill. Red has spoken.

Duvel ABV 8.10%

Effervescent Spanish doubloon gold beneath a massive alabaster head of frothily creamy foam

-- Said the Beer Advocates top reviewer

Becks Oktoberfest 5.0% ABV

Another Big Thanks goes out to our Odious Dunklestien who was kind enough to strong arm the local grocery store into carrying this for the month of October. They still have it so I'm assuming that Mr. Dunkle is still holding there dog for ransom. Or was that the sausage we ate?

Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier 5.4% ABV

The Great and Odious Dunklestein has given Mustachio and Count Dante this fine looking Kristall Weissbier. We here at B.R.O. can only hope that it stands up to the high marks that Dunklestien has set for it. Many Thanks Mr. Dunkel.

Heineken 5% ABV

Hofbrau Dunkel 5.5% ABV

Old Rasputin - Russian Imperial Stout 9% ABV

Chimay Ale - Red 7% ABV

Red Label Chimay Ale and the Red Onion Brothers First Blog post.