July fourth rolls around again. There is no real need for celebration in Dublin but a number of theme events are held around the city. It seems only fair that a nod is given, what with the warm American embrace our very own St Patrick's Day enjoys across the pond. None of these events are related to beer sadly, but that must surely change in the near future because there is vast selection of excellent American beer available in the city. Most of it is in bottles but a willing publican would not find it difficult to muster all these bottles together and stage an American beer festival all of our own.American craft beer is excellent. No qualifications or caveats are required. American craft brewers are leading the way with a spirit of adventure without compromise, creating the best beer in the world. In celebration of this intrepid journey I opened a bottle of Flying Dog's Gonzo Imperial Porter. I sampled this beer in Copenhagen last year and was torn by it. A beer as black as that should not smell like an IPA. It just shouldn't! Thankfully I can say I have grown since then. Become more open minded, and had a whale of time in the process. From the bottle the hops are greatly subdued but still present. Luscious brown foam tops the ominous black lurking beneath. Treacle, tar and some smoke fill the mouth all rounded off with big body and warming alcohol. Unsurprisingly it is damn bitter, but perfectly balanced. A impressive beer that perfectly mirrors the no fear attitude of American craft brewers.
10 comments:
I've never had any of Fly Dog's beers. I'm too wrapped up in what's south and north of me.
If you can find it, try Firestone Double Barrel. I'm voting this the best English bottled beer in the US!
Moorhouse's Pendle Witches Brew comes a close second.
We make do with what we get here. Things are improving, but I had to ship the Gonzo in from England.
American craft beer is great. They're always doing something different and tasty.
I must get this beer if I see it. The husband is a big Hunter S Thompson fan. His nickname in college was Gonzo.
How rockin is a Hunter S Thompson beer? if it doesn't get you ripped to the tits just looking at it it is a mockery of a travesty of a sham.
I am off to drink some wild turkey and shoot stuff.
By the sounds of the last two comments I have a home for one of the Flying Dog posters I was given recently. It's a composite of different FD labels. Remind me about it some time.
I had been thinking about the lack of cashing in on the 4th of July this year and your post convinced me to rant about it on my own blog.
I attended California Wine Import's 4th July BBQ. Poor weather led to a bit of a dissapointing turn-out, but onward and upward for next year. Promisingly, the American Beer was being embraced by all. They also had Hilden's Belfast Blonde on draught which was great to see.
Would love to have made it to that, 9 Bean Row, but was out of the country. I'd have happily got into my raingear for softball and Speakeasy beer.
I didn't hear about the Cali Wine Imports bash but it doesn't surprise me they organised it.
I noted the cost of Speakeasy beer creeping up in the off licences recently. I'm not sure where the extra expense is getting in.
Yes, I've noticed that too, and it's a shame. Lilac Wines still had it sensibly priced last time I was in.
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