Beer of the Week

The beer: Damnation

The brewery: Russian River Brewing Company, Santa Rosa, California

Description (from the website): "Damnation, the first in our long line-up of Belgian-inspired beers, is a medium-bodied golden ale. We ferment Damnation with a Belgian yeast strain that gives it notes of fruit and spice. Damnation is refermented in the bottle to create its fine carbonation. Pour slowly, allowing the natural yeast sediment to remain."

Would I buy it again? Russian River is a big name in the beer world. It has the fifth-highest rating of all the breweries on Untappd, with their Pliny the Elder IPA leading the way in terms of their offerings. I didn't figure I'd ever have a Russian River beer, seeing as the brewery is on the far side of the country, but lo and behold, there's a beer shop within walking distance that sells all sorts of interesting and rare beers. 

So, was Damnation worth the $10 price tag? Uh, no. Don't get me wrong, it was pretty good. I was initially put off because the beer is surprisingly bitter, but I quickly grew to appreciate the depth of flavor. It's really pretty good, and the bitterness gives way to a more traditional Belgian beer flavor. But it's still not worth $10. No way. Half the price, maybe, but since that probably won't ever happen, I do not see myself buying this beer again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Nordic Jam

The brewery: Two Pitchers Brewing Company, Oakland, California

Description (from the website): "We’ve packed this tasty lager with cherries, elderberries, and strawberries - all staples of a viking warrior’s diet - to create a refreshing, tart, and downright delicious party in a can. Jam on, friends. Skol!"

Would I buy it again? This is kind of a moot question, since I already have, but yes, I would. It's an extremely good beer. So often these days, fruity beers are sours, which automatically puts them on my "not interested" list. Fruity lagers are even more uncommon. And that's a shame, because this is a great beer. Pleasant to drink, especially in colder weather. My girlfriend and I will likely buy much more in the months to come.

Beer of the Week

The beer: So Happens It's Tuesday (2021)

The brewery: The Bruery, Placentia, California

Description (from the can): "Namesake aside, this bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout is worthy of pouring every day of the week. Both elegant and complex, it exemplifies over 10 years of experience in barrel-aging technique. Notes of dark chocolate and vanilla are rounded out with hints of freshly picked cherries, dried figs, and molasses."

Would I buy it again? This isn't exactly a beer one would drink on the threshold of summer, being a thick stout, but since May has been a never-ending cavalcade of miserably rainy days, I figured there was no better time. 

My feelings on this beer are mixed. Obviously, it's very, very good. Despite being 15% alcohol and a bourbon barrel-aged stout, it's surprisingly easy to drink. On the other hand, there's more than a hint of cherry here. I won't say it tastes like cough medicine, but it's more on that end that I would like. I feel like the honey Troegs adds to Mad Elf does a lot to balance out the cherry, and I'm honestly missing that here. I know this is a good beer, but it isn't for me.

Beer of the Week

The beer: White Oak

The brewery: The Bruery, Placentia, California

Description (from Untappd): White Oak is an equal blend of two beers. A wheat-wine aged in Bourbon barrels (we call it "White Oak Sap") and our Belgian-style Golden Strong Ale (Mischief) join each other in a delicate dance of flavor and character before we package the final product. White Oak showcases vivid caramel, coconut and vanilla flavors blanketed in a crisp yet robust wheat ale. A true exercise of balance."

Would I buy it again? This beer has apparently been discontinued, which makes buying more a moot point, apparently. Which is a shame, because I really like this beer. It's strong and has plenty of vanilla flavor, but because the base beer is a wheat ale, it's not that heavy. Not an easy-drinker by any means at all, but this doesn't feel like a meal all on its own. If I could buy it again, I would.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Cold Brew

Brewed by: Barrelhouse Brewing Company, Paso Robles, California

Description (from the website): "Toss that boring old pumpkin whatever out the window and pick up one of this season's most anticipated specialties - Cold Brew - Coffee Blonde Stout. Crafted with a generous amount of locally roasted cold press espresso, infused with vanilla, lactose, and oats creating a mind-altering experience. Did we mention this beer contains caffeine? Cheers!"

Would I buy it again? This was a pleasant surprise. While it's a coffee stout, it's also a blonde stout, which means it's a bit less heavy than most beers with coffee flavoring. And of course, it doesn't taste like black coffee, but something filled with sugar and actual good taste. It's not overly sweet either, it's a pleasant, fairly drinkable beer, and I'd definitely buy it again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Summa Vitis

Brewed by: The Bruery Terreux, Anaheim, California

Description (from Untappd): "Here’s a beer that sums up summer in a sip. Summa Vitis is a refreshing combination of our tart wheat beer with the crisp, delicate character from white wine, imparted from brewing with Gewürztraminer grapes. This special recipe showcases both the spritzy, mineralic side of white wine and the funky, fruity notes of a racy Berliner Weisse-style beer, further accentuated from aging in oak foeders. We’re passionate about wine and beer. This is the total experience."

Would I buy it again?: No, I would not. It's a lot more sour than I was expecting, and I'm not a fan of sour beers. So I'm kind of disappointed, because I do generally like white wine, and I thought this would be a good combination.

Golf's Rarest Score Achieved

Most golfers have made a birdie. Quite a few have made an eagle, and quite a few have made hole in ones. The albatross (or double eagle) is rare, but when a few hundred million rounds are played every year a few are bound to happen. But then you've got the condor, or a score of four under par on a single hole. For 99.9% of golf courses, the only way to do that is to make a hole in one on a par 5, something which clearly doesn't happen every day. Or every year. In fact, it's only happened four times in recorded history.

There is, however, more than one way to make a condor. They aren't common, but some golf courses do have par 6s (like Fore Sisters, though I don't think anyone's getting to that one in two). Lake Chabot in California is one such course, as it finishes with a 675-yard par 6 that, crucially, plays dramatically downhill in a similar fashion to the final hole at Kapalua. You can get some long drives there, but the 540 yard drive that Kevin Pon hit is something else. Some cart path assistance was assured. From there, it was a simple wedge into the hole for the only recorded condor on a par 6. Man, it's tough enough making a two on a par 3, and this guy goes and makes one on a par 6. I'm very jealous.

"Beer" of the Week

The "beer": ACE Pumpkin

Brewed by: Ace Cider, Sebastopol, California

Description (from the website): "First produced in the fall of 2010, our Ace Pumpkin cider is a seasonal favorite. Its unique orange color and full rich flavor will leave you craving more. This seasonal Cider is released after Labor Day and available throughout fall. Ace Pumpkin is perfect for the pumpkin lover that just can’t get enough. Ideal for Halloween and Thanksgiving this cider pairs well with beef. Our pumpkin cider also makes a great snakebite when mixed with a heavy lager."

Would I buy it again?: I'm cheating a little bit here, reviewing a hard cider, but I saw a pumpkin cider and I thought that would be appropriate for my last beer review before Halloween. And you know what? I liked this quite a bit. It had the right amount of pumpkin flavor mixed in with the cider taste, and I'd definitely buy it again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Coconut Merlin Milk Stout

Brewed by: Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Paso Robles, California

Description (from the website): "With an infusion of freshly toasted coconuts and a touch of seasonal sorcery, Brewmaster Matt 'Merlin' Brynildson conjures up Coconut Merlin - a uniquely flavored brew for fall and winter. The fresh coconut addition perfectly accentuates the beer’s roasty, nutty character. The lactose gives a rounded mouthfeel & suggestion of sweetness resulting in the perfect combination of flavors in this first-time release from Firestone Walker."

Would I buy it again?: Coconut-flavored beers are pretty hit or miss with me, and unfortunately, this one was on the miss side. Which is too bad, because I'm usually a fan of milk stout. But this one had a weird bitter aftertaste that I did not care for. Not something I plan on getting again.