So after sitting on my desk all day begging to be opened, it finally got it's chance. I was debating whether it should be drunk warm or cold, since it was aged in barrels I settled on warm. Opening the bottle was a bit of an adventure as it nearly exploded all over the room, which was surprising for such a small bottle. Although any beer, opened while warm, can have that tendency. Luckily the cap was equipped with a sealing bottle cap, so some quick pressure of the cap back on the bottle got the situation back under control.

But how did it taste? That's a tough one, I had high hopes for this brew, and the only description that comes to mind is that it tastes like sour vitamins. Although having been raised on health food most of my childhood, I can't say it's an entirely foreign flavor to me, nor is it particularly unpleasant. It did unsettle me though, so I got a second opinion. My girlfriend hesitated for a second and then described it as, "chewy dense champagne".

So there you have it, Dolii Raptor; 13 bucks of chewy vitamins dissolved in champagne. You only live once, and what the hell, you might just love the stuff.

——-

Country: Italy

% Alc: 8.5%

Size: 12.7 oz.

Price: $12.99

I stopped in there with a few friends and had a blast, I recommend and hope you get a chance to do check it out. We started of the night with one of each of the 3 draft brews and finished with a few of their more odd bottle selections. One was described as having hints of rubber flavor, yum! The mustard seed infused beer was also a kick to the palette, in a very good way.

The owners Justin and Tricia Philips, a late twenty something couple with a shared interest in the fine art of beer making and the enjoyment that ensues, are both very friendly and will be glad to guide you through their complex selections. The amount of knowledge they have about the beers they select is both impressive and inspiring. 

I don't want to say too much, the place is cool, you should go. 

The Beer Table

Famed beer hunter dies – CNN.com

The 25 Best Beers in America – [MensJournal.com]

Apparently a visitor to the Beijing Zoo got an overwhelming urge to pet a panda bear, so he decided to hop the fence and give it a shot. The startled panda did the most logical thing a panda could do and bit him on the leg. The man, clearly shaken by the panda's defensive demeanor did the least logical thing a man could do… he bit the panda back. 

The man, Zhang Xinyan had consumed an estimated 4 jugs of beer (not sure how big a jug is) at the zoo's restaurant before the incident. He also described the panda's skin as "quite thick"… I bet it was.

Panda bites man, man retaliates and bites back – [wayodd.com]

UPDATE: This and other market forces have since led to higher beer prices for everyone. Although it's a terrible thing in the short term, it's a wonderful thing in my opinion in the long run. When demand is high suppliers take notice. I don't think it will be long before hop farmers kick up supply to meet the rising demand that the craft beer boom has placed on the market. No pain no gain… pass me a pint!

Beer drinkers beware: 4 percent of U.S. hops crop burns » [CNN.com]

When Dave found out, he decided to go out and treat the dudes to some beers on him. Good work Dave, may the rest of the world follow with your example.

Grohl to buy beer for once-trapped miners » [MSNBC.com]

The style is an American Double IPA, and it lives up to it's name. Take any strong and hoppy IPA you can think of and multiply the taste by two and you'll get an idea of what the brewmasters at Shmaltz brewery have in store for you. So a word to the wary, if you don't like strong hoppy beers (but who doesn't!) then this may not be the brew for you. But if you're one of the few beerist masters who crave that smack in the mouth that only a true craft brew can muster up, go out and pick yourself up a bottle. It truely is made with an obscene amount of hops and malt. Mmmm writing about it makes me thirsty.

Beer Makers Honor Lenny Bruce With Pale Ale » [All Headline News]

"At that time, brave men were equipped with tasty, strong beer as part of their supplies, as a reward for their bravery and daringness." [Nunatsiaq News]

The explorers took a 3 year trip by boat through the arctic ocean… drifting North through the sea ice. When the boat could go no further they walked. Although they didn't make it to the North Pole they made it pretty darn close and still further than any explorer had made it at the time.

If I were heading to the arctic with a boat load of beer I would probably take three years myself. 

"Nunavut" beer quenches Norway's thirst » Nunatsiaq News

So apparently holidays are a wonderful time for dentists, as it's a time when many adventurous beerists attempt to crack open their beers with their pearly whites. So a word of warning… you should only attempt to open a beer bottle with someone elses teeth… preferably someone sleeping and smaller than you. 

Or you can try one of these methods…