Treasured Valley

You know what is awesome? It seems like each week we have access to a growing number of outstanding beers in the Boise area. That is awesome.

Brewforia has been on a hot streak lately, they’ve got Hell or High Water Watermelon Wheat, Brew Free or Die IPA and Monk’s Blood Belgian Strong Dark Ale all from 21st Amendment Brewery and the bonus is that they are all in cans. Also in are some Southern Tier Choklat, Krampus and Jahva, some new vintages from Pike Brewing and 3767 Belgian IPA from Midnight Sun that you have to try, it is outstanding. They also just got in 2 cases of Stone Cali-Belgique which is one of my new favorite beers, but you might want to get some quick, it’s moving very quickly.

Click below for an update from Beerguy Matt at the Boise Co-op.

Howdy all,

I spent the better portion of the morning re-organizing and surveying the cellar in preparation for February’s Barleywine tastings @ the Wine Shop – I happened upon some Danish gems that are now available for sale:

• Bogedal No. 125 – Light amber with a very white head and small bubbles that leave a fine embroidery on the glass. A scent of acacia honey and fresh spring flowers. The taste is full of sweetness with notes of citrus turning into dried apricots, and finishing slightly bitter and perky. Hangs languorously on the pallet, and goes well with all types of cheese, café foods and lunches.
• Bogedal No. 130 – Amber-colored, with a café latte-colored head. A sweet smell of Danish Spruce, milk chocolate and brown sugar. A hearty beer, with a real nice creamy taste, and a good balance between the bitter and the sweet. Enjoyable as an after-dinner cap, or a relaxer after a busy week. Goes just as well with a light lunch, or mild cheeses.

For more information on the brewery, please visit their website.

Additional releases include:

• Fish Brewing Old Woody ’08 – @ 10%ABV, it’s holding up quite well, though the hops have died down a bit and the booze has integrated
• Grand Teton Bitch Creek XX – no tasting notes yet
• Alaskan Barleywine ’09 – no tasting notes yet
• Hale’s 25th Anniversary Belgian Dubbel – holding up nicely, with a spicy/yeasty nose, some dark fruit flavors through the malt, and a surprisingly clean finish – good example of the style
• Anderson Valley 25th Anniversary IPA has returned
• New Belgium Ranger IPA – last of the heavy hitters to enter the IPA, but a nice entry – big, buddy, green hops on the nose with an intense citrus burst atop an ample malt sweetness, good bitter with a relatively dry finish - try it, see if you like it, it pleasantly surprised me
• Leinenkugel’s 1888 Bock – 3 American Bocks in the store at once, the world may end – no tasting notes yet
• Hale’s Pale Ale – a classic, sessionable NW APA
• Mendocino Eye of the Hawk returns in 6pks
• De Ranke Guldenberg XX Bitter returns – claim to fame as the hoppiest beer in Belgium
• Uerige Alt Doppelsticke returns – a world classic according to Michael Jackson, rich and full with toffee notes from kettle caramelization
• Spire Cider Bombers return
• Aspall Ciders return

Events-wise, couple of things on the horizon (remember, for more information, please contact the venue):

• Tonight @ the Front Door, First Thursday Beer and Cheese Pairing featuring Gouden Carolus ales
• Tonight @ the Nut Shop (on Bannock between 8th and 9th), Rick from Brewforia will pour some tasty ales
• Tomorrow @ TableRock, Friday Nitro finds Black Magic IPA on tap, dry-hopped with whole leaf Idaho-grown Zeus hops
• Friday, 2/12, @ the Front Door, Barleywine Week kicks off with a vintage Bigfoot launch and Sierra Nevada Brewers Night featuring 3-course paired small plate menu, price TBD
• Thursday, 2/18, @ the Front Door, Sockeye Brewers Night with Josh and Lance perhaps introducing an updated Devil’s Tooth to close BW week?  Fingers crossed on that one.
• Friday – Sunday, 2/19 – 2/21 – 3rd Annual BW Festival @ the Co-op Wine Shop featuring a different vertical vintage tasting each day, culminating in Sunday’s 4-yr-4-pk North Coast Old Stock Ale sale (quantities extremely limited, limit one per person on a first-come-first-served basis until they’re gone)
• Finally, in conjunction with a Sessions Stubbies sale for the Super Bowl, we’re registering people to win one of four (4) $25 gift certificates to Full Sail Brewing.  These certificates are good at either FS location, Hood River or Portland.  No purchase necessary.  Must be 21+ with valid ID to enter.  Further restrictions may apply.

Hope y’all have a good weekend.  As always, feel free to contact me with your beer questions or concerns, or direct me to anything of beery interest that perhaps I have overlooked.  Cheers, ~m

4-yr-4-pk North Coast Old Stock Ale?! Um, yeah.