Oaked Bastard

Found this gem at The Bier Stein a couple weeks ago and have been saving a couple in my fridge ever since, as you can see from the "In Alan's Kitchen" list on the left. I had read the rave reviews of Oaked Arrogant Bastard but never came across it. The trademark gargoyle on the bottle tells us that this is a beer from Stone Brewery in San Diego.

If you've had Arrogant Bastard Ale, for the most part you know what Oaked Bastard brings to the table. First off, the cool bottle with the patronizing message to unworthy beer drinkers on the side. More importantly, though, the flavor. Complex and alcoholic. Malt sweetness is a combination of fruit, chocolate, brown sugar and something herbal. The hops are big, piney and balanced. Oaked Bastard of course is aged in oak barrels which adds a dose of bourbon like woodsy sweetness in the nose, adding even more complexity to this beer.

This one is a winner. If you can find it, buy a few of them. My picture doesn't do this beer justice, typically the beer is a bit more foamy and held up to the light it has a sexy ruby/amber color. If you have one available, try pouring it into a goblet, snifter, or oversized wine glass to fully experience the aroma and also project the maximum level of arrogance during consumption.

Beer on the Beach

My apologies for not updating for such a long time. I wasn't feeling great over the holidays, but as usual, good food and drinks pulled me through. Here's another Oregon Coast beer experience, my other being Brewers on the Bay.

I spent this last weekend in Lincoln City, OR and got to visit Pelican Brewery for my third time. This has to be one of my favorite places. This is partially due to the great memories I have there, but also it's great location at Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City and tasty beer. Every time I have visited the weather has been terrible and I completely enjoy the atmosphere and the view. I mean it's the Oregon coast, part of me wants to see a stormy ocean when I look out the window.

On to the beer. My favorite is Doryman's Dark Ale. This is an award winning brown ale, including the Gold at the 2007 Great American Beer Festival. Without being too technical, because I'm not especially good at it, Doryman's is a very balanced brown ale. Sweet roasted malts and cascade hops, medium bodied and smooth carbonation. This is the kind of beer I could drink all day, all season.

We also split a pitcher of Kiwanda Cream Ale, another award-winning brew. Cream ales are similar to American lagers, so if you're looking for a lighter bodied beer, this is for you. Needless to say, it destroys any American lager you could generally find at the store.

The food is pretty tasty, but the prices make the value a little questionable. I personally think sticking to the basics, i.e. burger and fries, is the best option.

This is a must see if you're in the area!