Bigscotty Drinks

Stillwater Stateside Saison
By the time you read this, it will be too late. It will be gone from Barista with no known date on which it will return. It may never return. I had taken a break from my run on saisons when I stumbled across this, and there’s quite a bit going on with this beauty. It’s light and crisp, but with a funkiness. There are citrus notes (maybe grapefruit) and a little bitterness and a big white head. I’m just glad it was a late Friday afternoon when I found it and that I’m close enough to Barista to walk home. Track it down if you can, and keep an eye open for more from Stillwater.
ABV: 6.8%

Honeyrun Mead’s Ragnar’s Dry Mead
I knew I would have this issue when I bought this offering from Honeyrun…I think I’m just not a fan of fermented honey. I’ve never really found a mead that was dialed in to my palate. I’ve never spent an afternoon pillaging and laying waste to coastal villages then settled by a fire with mutton. Perhaps that’s a requirement for me to enjoy mead. This had a promising aroma that reminded me of cheese, specifically Epoisses or Pont-L’eveque, but that’s where the magic just kind of ends for me. It just has a musty taste. Sorry vikings.

Starbucks Casi Cielo Beans
The Danish Ambassador and I were in a pickle. We both needed to be heads down cranking out some work, we both wanted coffee, and we work in a pocket of town where a forty minute round trip walk is required to get good beans. We gambled, and came up short. I’ve been drinking quite a few Rwandan coffees, and this Guatemalan falls a bit short in several areas. I find it smooth, but lighter bodied than what Starbucks would like you to believe with an acidity that’s…well, maybe it’s there. At $15.95 a pound, it’s way overpriced. I was a little shocked at how many beans were splintered and broken when later compared to beans from Extracto and Ristretto. It’s a coffee experience, not coffee.

Helles Pilsner
Breakside Brewery keeps doing things I like. I believe Extra Special KDB and I have walked there on three consecutive Saturdays for happy hour these last few weekends. The Helles is a simple, straightforward pilsner that I like whether it’s cold outside or pretending that it’s spring. Grab the mussels (go Mediterranean) and the slider trio for a cheap, filling lunch. I’m cleaning my growler out to take some of this home.
ABV: 4.9%

Another short list of things I’ve been drinking…

Logsdon Farmhouse Ales Seizoen Bretta
I have to admit, I’m not well versed in the saison beers¹, but I think the folks at Logsdon Farmhouse Ales are brewing a gateway saison. Put another way, I drank one, and now want to explore them more. I suspect you will too, and you can get it at New Seasons Market. The beeswax seals are a nice touch.
ABV: 8%

Allies Win the War
Hey, it was Veteran’s Day, so I tried this amber that’s a collaboration between 21st Amendment Brewing and Ninkasi. Good stuff, but where’s the The Axis Starts the War beer?
ABV: 8.5%

Upright Brewing Engelberg Pilsner
I found the Engleberg Pilsner to be the perfect finish to a quick two mile run. Currently on tap at Concordia Ale House.
ABV: 4.75%

Heavy Sugars Cherry Braggot
This Beer Valley Brewing offering isn’t quite a mead and it isn’t quite a beer. It might be a nice balance for some, but others might find it lacking a real identity…whatever that means.
ABV: 7%