Ommegang Game of Thrones Reserve Mother of Dragons

6.6% ABV Limited brew for 2018
Beer Advocate score - 3.93/5

34C. Experimental Beer

This is explicitly a catch-all category for any beer that does not fit into an existing style description. Overall impression varies, but should be a unique experience.

Beer found at The Bier Stein.

Back from a week hiatus (ran a half marathon and didn't feel like blogging, just drinking) I decided I wanted something unique... it was Thanksgiving weekend and it needed to be special. This particular brew I have been eyeing for several weeks now...I mean, who wouldn't want a smoked porter and Kriek ale blend (other than the missus). The hesitation being, would it actually live up to the name of Daenerys? Also, the price tag coming in at $15, it couldn't be consumed on any old weekend. This weekend also happened to be Civil War weekend for the Oregon Ducks. One could mistaken the game for semblance of a Stormborn led army running amok through Reser Stadium. The poor Beavers never stood a chance. It made for a brilliant weekend and the brew all the better. On to the review!

Aroma: Reminds me of a BBQ. A cherry laden BBQ.   7

Appearance: Really dark red, cloudy appearance. Nice cream colored head that last for a very long time.  8

Flavor: Tastes of tart cherry up front. Tapers to a slightly sweet, roasty character. Very little smoke but it balances out the flavors.  8.5

Mouthfeel: Really smooth with the right amount of carbonation. A surprisingly easy drinking beer.  8

Overall: I wasn't sure what I was expecting from this beer. I knew I liked smoked porters and I knew  I liked cherries. So, putting them together seemed like a good idea and maybe a taste sensation like no other. Well, I thought it was a solid offering of a specialty brew. I was really hoping for more of a smoky flavor profile (more akin to that of dragon's breath) but the smokiness did lend for a balance that I think was needed. Otherwise, the cherry would have overpowered the porter bill of the brew.  Ommegang did a nice job crafting a unique, drinkable brew. Not sure I would purchase again but I wouldn't say no if someone offered a pint to me. 7.8

Matt's mark: 3.93/5

Ancestry Brewing Irish Red Ale

21 IBU 5.4% ABV
Beer Advocate score - 3.65/5
Untappd score 3.66/5

15A. Irish Red Ale

An easy-drinking pint, often with subtle flavors. Slightly malty in the balance sometimes with an initial soft toffee/caramel sweetness, a slightly grainy-biscuity palate, and a touch of roasted dryness in the finish. Some versions can emphasize the caramel and sweetness more, while others will favor the grainy palate and roasted dryness.

Aroma: A sweet malt aroma with a little bit of caramel character. The tiniest bit of an earthy undertone.   7.4

Appearance: A deep, Ruby red color with the slightest amount of haze. Creamy oatmeal head with average dissipation. Low-medium to medium lacing.  7.2

Flavor: Nice malty flavor upfront that gives way mildly sweet caramel. A little bit of roasty/grainy bitterness on the back end.   7.5

Mouthfeel: Smooth and medium bodied with a nice amount of carbonation. Has a dry finish.   7

Overall: Ancestry does a solid job with this style. It is a fairly broad style and can have many different outcomes but this one tries to stay close to a traditional Irish Red while having an American flair (being just a tad more alcoholic). While the slightly sweet caramel character is not exactly traditional, it adds that extra something to make it more enjoyable. 7.3

Matt's mark: 3.64/5

It's not very often that I have a weekend to just putter around and relax. It was the perfect (well, almost perfect...the Ducks lost again) weekend to drink beer, watch football and break in a new purchase (bought City Skylines as an early birthday present to myself). On top of it all, my daughter came home for a visit (bless her heart) which meant the meal I had planned for Sunday was not going to be enough food. So the missus decided to let me off the hook for the night and do the cooking. This meant it was the perfect time to pull out the beer I selected for this weekend... a new brewery to me,  Ancestry Brewing out of Tualatin, Oregon. Ancestry brewing has beautiful branding. The

Finally took a picture of The Bier Stein

purchase was almost made entirely on the execution of the label, so simple and clean...but I was looking for an Irish Red as well which whittled my choices down as not many breweries actually have it on their respective beer lists. They should, but they don't. My marks for this beer, while not being out of this world, were solid and I would definitely try more of Ancestry's brews. It seems like my tastes are right on par with the general audience as well. Both Beer Advocate and Untappd were slightly higher than my marks. So, if you are in the market for a solid Irish Red, give Ancestry Brewing a try.

Viking Braggot Company Winter Squash Porter

8.4% ABV Released Oct. 25th, 2018
Beer Advocate score - 4.12/5

30C. Winter Seasonal Beer

A stronger, darker, spiced beer that often has a rich body and warming finish suggesting a good accompaniment for the cold winter season.

Aroma: A sweet maltiness on the forefront while hints of chocolate and vanilla dance in the background.   8.75

Appearance: An extra dark brown liquid with a nice mocha head. Head retention is long lasting with a decent amount of lacing when it dissipates.  9

Flavor: Strong coffee characteristics upfront with note of chocolate. A hint of caramelized squash on the back end. As the brew warms, the vanilla starts to mingle.  9.25

Mouthfeel: Really smooth and velvety with the right amount of carbonation. A nice sipping beer.  9

Overall: Wow! Just... wow! This is delicious! Viking Braggot Company has done a wonderful job with this seasonal brew. It is rich in flavor and they all seem to mingle with greater intensity the warmer the beer gets. I recommend leaving it out about half an hour before opening and beginning on your quest. I also recommend buying two bottles, you won't regret it.  9

Matt's mark: 4.5/5

Doctor who?

Early in the week, I knew what brew I was going to take home. Viking Braggot is my favorite Eugene, Oregon brewery. All their beers are well done. When I found out the date they were releasing this years version of the Winter Squash Porter, I readied myself for it. But life happens all the same. One cannot simply forget about fun to be had on Samhain (or Halloween). The local winery that my wife and I are members of (Saginaw Vineyards) have a annual party called "Hallowine" (I know, very clever). This year, we both decided to go as "The Doctor". I, of course, was the 10th Doctor (David Tennant) and the missus went as the 11th Doctor (Matt Smith). Later on that night, we both decided she looked more like Oswin from the same show, but Oswin doesn't have a cool sonic. We didn't win the costume contest because, well, hardly anybody at the party actually knew who The Doctor was... maybe a handful. We had fun none the less (wine was involved, duh). When the weekend arrived, the missus and I decided to go for a little nature walk on the outskirts of our small town. We started at a nature park near some ponds and the ventured out on a bike trail that used to be a train track. The tracks lead well out of town up to some defunct mines called the "Bohemia mines". During the summer, we even have a festival named after the mines. A pretty important part of our towns history. After a short hike (10.5 miles - no really, we hiked 10.5 miles in 3 hours) we were ready to call it a day. The missus went home to do whatever the hell she wanted and I went to the Village Green lounge to watch the Oregon Ducks homecoming game against UCLA. Today was all about relaxing. After 10.5 miles walking, your hips are quite sore and stiff and you don't want to do much of anything else. I did do some small stuff around the house but today was mainly about opening up a bottle (I bought two of course) of the Winter Squash Porter. This years version is so new that Untappd didn't even have a score. Beer Advocate did but I have it scored higher by quite a bit. I think this is the best beer I have ever had. That is saying a lot because I have had a lot of great beers... this is even counting my own beer... and I make good beer (at least I think so).

Part of the 10.5 miles of trail hiked this weekend.