This post is a part of the 2015 New Beer Every Day Beer Diary Challenge, #ottbeerdiary. Over the course of 2015, I will be trying a new beer every day. Please read the background in the link above, and enjoy reading about the most recently tasted beers below. If you’d like to join the challenge as well, let me know in the comments below, and be sure to check out Grown-up Travel Guide and his #grownupbeerdiary, where Andy Higgs came up with the diary format in use below. You can catch up on all of our posts as part of the challenge under the tag ottbeerdiary.
Day 60: March 1, 2015
Diary entry:
This morning, it was pouring rain here in San Diego, so I was happy to know I was going to be heading up north to Placentia to pick up my 2014 allocations from The Bruery and to spend some time with Erin’s parents. I was worried about the drive, since California drivers are notoriously bad in anything but the normal sunny weather conditions…
Nothing to worry about though. While it was pouring inland, once I reached the coast and started to head north on I-5, the rain slowed to a drizzle and then stopped entirely. I’m not complaining about that!
Made it to The Bruery a few minutes early for the noon opening, so managed to pick up my allocations as soon as they opened and still made it into the tasting room before it got too crowded. Their offerings today were definitely leaning more towards the complex, with only one beer out of the 25 they had on offer being below 8%, and only seven below 10% ABV!
Managed to try a few very nice beers, including some of their Smoking Wood and Bois variations, and also managed to finagle a taster of Mocha Wednesday as well, then a quick bite from the PorkoRico BBQ food truck that was on hand today before heading over to Torrance. A nice visit with Erin’s parents, picked up some of the beers I left there in April as well as a few bottles of wine, then back down to San Diego, where thankfully the rain had let up from this morning.
The Beer:
Name: Chocolate Rain
Style: American Imperial / Double Stout
Producer: The Bruery
Alcohol content: 19.5%
Bottle size: 0.75l
Purchased from: The Bruery
Chocolate Rain is one of those special beers you just have to savor any chance you get to try it. Black Tuesday in itself is outstanding, but add in the vanilla bean cocoa nibs, and you have chocolaty goodness that doesn’t quit! SO delicious, even with the 19.5% ABV.
Commercial Description: Black Tuesday W/ Vanilla Bean Cocoa Nibs – One barrel, one day
