Reaping and Sowing

Alanis Morrisette once said, “I’ve got one hand in my pocket, and the other one’s smoking a cigarette.” If she was a beer fan instead of a disgusting hippie, she have that other hand on a Gift of the Magi instead.

Alanis had her moments, like when she was in Curb, but she also had some WTF moments, like in Dogma (more like WTF was Kevin Smith thinking in that casting), and like when she played herself 4x in that idotic music video (which by the way, was copied by RCHP in Scar Tissue, double WTF).

Anyway I digress. The whole point I was trying to make was that drinking a Gift of the Magi is like smoking a cigarette; dangerous, addiciting, and full of tobacco flavor.

I first heard about The Lost Abbey/Port Brewing company on a Stone brewing company tour. They mentioned it was one of the best in the world but I never managed to fandangle one till a couple of weeks ago… Amazing stuff. This small brewery out of San Marcos, CA pumps out some of the most delicious stuff I have put to my lips. Totally unlike Alanis to my ears.

I had this particular beer at the Daily Pint in Santa Monica for $17, which seems a bit rich for a beer, but theres really 2 beers in there; $8.50 per beer is ok by LA standards.

It pours a purpley amber color with a ridiculous head. The head was pillowing and the retention was amazing. The head looked like a bunch of whipped cream on the top of my beer it was that thick. Lacing was great too with whole sections of head staying stuck to the side of my glass. Aroma was pretty yeasty. Flavor was complex and strange. Lots of earthiness and funkiness in there and lots of yeastyness. Tasted like I just took a drag from a cigarette. Seriously, this beer had a strong tobacco flavor, which was actually quite interesting and welcomed. It gave it a smokey, but not roasted, flavor. Decent body, with an ok finish.

9.5% alcohol was well masked here. I really warmed up to the flavor of the beer once I got over the initial taste. Overall a very interesting beer that I couldn’t drink all the time, but perfect for once in a great while.

Overall: A-

Beer Snob would rather drink: Hookah Water