A Gift To Myself

For my birthday I received a nice amount of money to spend on beer at BevMo. Sunday, before the weather got too nasty, I decided to spend a little of it. I didn’t want to spend too much, thirty or forty dollars. Enough to stock the fridge and maybe add a beer or two t the closet. Let’s see how I did.

Well, let’s just say I did not show restraint. First I wanted to dip my toe into some European beers. Then I saw some seasonals. Then I grabbed a few brews I had read about in a column. Oh, and the wife had wanted to try one last night, but it wasn’t available. Best to share the wealth, I always say.

So I get to the register. The total comes to over $60. I take back most of the European brews, I can get these anytime. I had a six pack of Czechvar, but I really only wanted one, so why buy 6? Put it back! “Hey, you know we just got a case of abyss. Only 24 of them.” I only needed to know one thing, where was it?

On the way I saw an impressive site. I nearly had to avert my eyes. I felt unworthy, but new better. This wasn’t fizzy yellow beer. It was a Stone endcap, and front and center, Old Gaurdian 2008. Damn you strong beer month. I had no choice. Jigsaw had presented me with a set of options, and I had to take the beer.

So here are my choices.

We’ll start on the left and move right.

• I’ve mentioned the Abyss in a previous post.  A barrel-aged imperial stout from Deschutes Brewing. This one will find a place in the closet.
• Next is stone’s Old Guardian 2008. Considering the 2006 just took second at Toronado, this one as well will wait in the closet for some time.
• Unibroue’s Terrible was reviewed by William Brand a couple weeks ago. He sold me on it. For now, this will also go in the closet, but I am sure I will open it shortly.
• Firestone Walker’s 11th Anniversary Ale is the star of the show. Blended and barrel-aged, this one will be opened far down the road. I’m guessing for a child birth or something equally momentous.
• Anderson Valley is one of my favorite breweries. When I heard they were releasing a 20th Anniversary Imperial IPA, I knew I wanted some. I didn’t think twice about grabbing this bottle. I have actually already drank this one, but will be telling you all more about that later.
• Marin’s Stinson Beach Peach was the first thing on Marin’s menu my wife wanted to try. Unfortunately, they only had a raspberry and blueberry ale that evening. We opened this once we got home. My wife loved it and is still talking about it. Well balanced for a fruit beer, I actually enjoyed it as well. Try it some time.
• Finally, Schneider Weiss. This was one of the first beers I read about in my new beer book. I feel I don’t give the European beers enough attention and this was my first step into appreciating the old breweries. This one is chilling in the fridge, sure to be consumed in the next few days.

So I spent nearly $60 on 7 beers. To think, a 6 pack of tall boys would have cost me less than $10.