Parabola: the Darkness in the Glass

IN THE DARKNESS

In the darkness of my doubts

I know not what to say.

In the darkness of my jealousies

I know not what to feel.

In the darkness of my insecurities

I know not what to become.

-Sri Chinmoy

In the darkness of my glass I know not what I'll taste. The darkness in the glass is 2011 Firestone Walker Parabola. It's a high octane (13% abv) bourbon barrel aged imperial stout.  I had debated on whether or not to pull this from my cellar or to let it sit on the shelf, get dusty and age.  Originally I had only one bottle.  A HUGE thanks to Rich Isaacs (richonbeer.blogspot.com) who stepped up when I thought I missed my chance to find it in store. Then, not too long after, during a trip through South Jersey I got lucky and came across two bottles. Score! So quickly none turned to three. Now the best of both worlds: drink one and age two.

On the first pour of Parabola the bourbon shows big in the aroma. There is no denying its bourbon aged. Chocolate, hints of cherry/dark fruit, coffee and caramel all fall in line. The taste is sweet bourbon mixed with chocolate, vanilla and roasted malt flavors. With small sips it's perfectly smooth at first. However, the booziness catches up in the end and it becomes hot. Not horrible, but age should do good things to this beer. Even now it's still a pretty amazing.

If you're lucky enough to have a bottle or find it on draft two things are a must.  First, enjoy it in the proper glass. Get your nose into a snifter and have fun with the aroma while you drink. Yes it makes a difference! Second, taste it cool but wait to really enjoy it once it warms up. Well worth it.

I put it up there with The Abyss, Bourbon County Brand Stout and Black Magick. The curiosity of how this is going to taste in a year or two is the only thing that stops me from opening the remaining bottles and enjoying them now.

Thanks Big Dan for Bringing Us Beersgiving

Mr. Dan Bengel, aka Big Dan, has officially made the announcement of BEERSGIVING.  A grand beerfest to be held at Sunnybrook in Pottstown on Sat November 19th.  Yes, that's the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Hence the name of the fest.  Those of you who know Dan are probably aware that his first attempt at a beerfest unfortunately fizzled fast.  That's why this announcement is even sweeter.  I've known about it for awhile but was sworn to secrecy. A wise man, especially a beerwise man, knows it's best to follow Big Dan's wishes. You know he hangs with those TNSC hooligans. Anyway I kept quiet and now that the news is out we can all cheer for the big day.  If you haven't done so already click on the above link for more information and start counting the days until our first BEERSGIVING.

Traveling for Burgers and Beer



Craft Ale House Burger
w/ fried onions & blue cheese

Some of my recent posts have focused on food along with beer options around Philly.  This started me thinking about my favorite beer and food combo. What do I tend to order more than anything else?  Either locally or out on the road the burger is king.  For great beer and burgers around Philly Standard Tap, Craft Ale House , Monk's and Capone's get my nod.  Since my grand traveling days are on hold for awhile (little Miss. Iambeerwise is arriving soon) I'm depending on these local favorites for my fix. However, when I dream of sizzling ground beef away from Philly there are two places that satisfy my beer and burger fantasies. One is a plane ride west and the other is a simple day trip down 95.
 

Duffy's Cherry Cricket Burger
w/green chilies & cream cheese



First up is Duffy's Cherry Cricket in Denver Colorado. Their mouth watering Cricket Burger topped with mild Green Chilies and Cream Cheese is outrageously good. It may sound odd but it's an incredible mix of flavors that really work well together. The beer list is heavy on Colorodo breweries which should be no surprise. I wrote more about it here in my ramblings on last year's GABF.

RFD  Breakfast Burger



However as good as that burger and beer choices were at Cherry Cricket top spot goes to RFD in Washington D.C. This beer utopia is home to the appropriately named  Breakfast Burger. I discovered this miracle on a plate last year during D.C. Beer Week. It's a 1/2lb of ground beef marinated in Kostritzer Black Lager, cooked to order, topped with a fried egg, bacon, American cheese and a choice of toppings.  It's all served with a side of fries.  As good as that was what pushed it to number one was the accompanying glass of Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout.   A damn a finer meal has not been had in all the land! Although I enjoyed it for dinner it's easy to picture putting this away on a weekend morning or better yet after a night out with the clock striking 3am. All that breakfast goodness between two buns washed down with the maple, coffee, bourbon flavors of the palate bashing CBS. The bonus is RFD is one of the best beer bars anywhere. If a monstrous Imperial Stout doesn't work something from the impressive bottle selection or 35 taps is sure to please. The perfect gluttonous burger along with a bevy of beer choices is the reason RFD has my top spot.

 

TJ's "The Scraps"

The notion of getting scraps isn't typically anything to write home about.  That's unless those scraps come from Philly Beer Week 2011. Today (7/16) TJ Restaurant and Drinkery breaks out a full lineup the good stuff for a PBW flashback.  Sure it wasn't that long ago but I'm sure no one will complain about an early nod to this years mondo event.  The official start time is 4pm PAYG.

TheScraps on Tap

Ballast Point Navigator

Ballast Point Tongue Buckler

Ballast Point Sculpin

Boulder Bourbon Barrel Aged Mojo Risin

Bruery Mischief

Cigar City Hillsborough Dry Stout

Central Waters Illumination DIPA

Coronado Hoppy Lager

Coronado Black Pearle

Dark Horse Raspberry Black Ice

Dark Horse Shake Mocha Porter

Evil Twin Yang

Hill Farmstead Double Citra

Hill Farmstead Abner

Hill Farmstead Edward

Sixpoint Bill's Burger Bar Beer

Stillwater/Brewer's Art Debutante

Stillwater Existent

Stillwater Jaded

St. Somewhere Lectio Davina

Sprecher Black IPA

't Gaverhopke Extra

Voodoo Bitchin' Camaro

Voodoo Pilzilla

Voodoo Black Strap (FIRKIN)

Williamsburg Bourbon Barrel Porter

Get Your Saison On @ Capone's

Need a lesson on Saisons/Farmhouse ale?  Then Capone's is the place to go and get schooled.  Matt has gathered 14 Saisons and is making this a three day event 7/14-7/16. For those who need more styles no worries the other taps are always flowing.

The Saisons are on
Voodoo Bitchin' Camaro Saison

Bullfrog Saison Nouveau
Bullfrog Somnus Viduata Saison
Southampton Cuvee Des Fleurs "Brewed at The Publick House"
De Proef Sly Fox Collaboration Broederlijke Liefde ( Brotherly Love) "Sour"
KleinBrouwerij De Glazen Toren Saison D'Erpe-Mere
Stillwater Stateside Saison
Cigar City Table Saison
Victory CBC Saison
Lost Abbey Carnevale Saison
Dock Street Erbe Saison
Dock Street Brun Saison
New Holland Golden Cap Saison
McKenzie's Saison Vatour-Gold Medal Winner at The Great American Beer Fest

The other stuff
Jolly Pumpkin Luciernaga w/Brett

Firestone Walker Double Jack Double IPA
East End Firkin of Obsticle Delusion FIRKIN
Port Brewing Mongo DIPA
Great Lakes Erie Monster DIPA
Ithaca Flower Power IPA
Weyerbacher Steel IPA Project #4 A West Coast Style IPA
Bear Republic APEX DOUBLE IPA
Ithaca Dark Humor Sour Porter
Lagunitas LUCKY 13
Fruli Strawberry
North Coast Old Rasputin on Nitrogen
Geants Goliath Tripel
Urban Chestnut Winged Nut
Koning Ludwig Weissbier

Night of the Hatters @ Craft Ale House

The ever wise Dr. Joel (New Holland Beer Ambassador and Grain Bill blogger) slows his traveling ways for an evening close to home at the Craft Ale House. Never one to show empty handed he brings along 5 special Mad Hatters surely to bring joy and wonderment to all those in attendance. Start time is 5pm. Let the madness ensue.

All the Hatter Goodness

Black Hatter

Farmhouse Hatter

Oak Aged Hatter

Rye Hatter

Plus a special Hatter firkin??????

Blue Route Tacos: Love for Tacos and Beer

Recently after exploring the chilly beer room at Cold Point Pub in the Plymouth Meeting Whole Foods I trekked up to the rooftop of  for some south of the boarder grub.  If you're unfamiliar with Whole Foods the roof is home to the Blue Route Taco Truck. Yes a revamped food truck sits on the roof and it's putting out some serious soft shell tacos for the lunch and dinner crowd.

The concept is simple, fill out an order form, pay, wait for your name to be called, pick-up your meal and munch. There's a choice of 5 tacos: Carne Asada w/Quesso Fresco, Tecate Fish (fried) w/Chipotle Mayo, Spiced Chicken w/Pico de Gallo, Grilled Veggie w/Black Beans and Jicama and Pork Carnits w/Tomatillo. A single taco is $2.50 or 3 for $6.00. Out of the three tacos I ordered: pork, carne asada and chicken, the pork was the most flavorful and spicy. Chips and  drinks are also available including a selection of canned beer.  Since I stopped in for lunch I opted for a water but the craft selection fit well with the food offered.

At the time six, beers all in cans, were available: Breckenridge Avalanche, Avery White Rascal, Lancaster Rumspringa, Caldera IPA, Dave's Brewfarm Select and Sly Fox Phoenix Plae Ale. At only $2.99 each not a bad way to counter the spicy ride.  With creative taco options and an affordable menu the Blue Route Taco Truck gives Whole Foods patrons yet another great choice when it comes to finding a quick bite to eat.

PYT ASAP with PBR & Lobster

The down fall of living in the land beyond the Blue Route is that quick trips to the city seem to come around less often. Thus it takes me forever to get to a new restuarant or bar in Philly.  Thats why when I managed to score a recent Friday off I picked up the mysterious Kelleigh and headed to Northern Liberties for lunch at PYT.

Located at The Piazza PYT has become the go to place for burgers.  A quick look at the menu and you realize everything isn't just mayo, ketchup, lettuce, pickle and tomato.  Yes, the basics are available but there is some serious food creativity happening here.

As much as I wanted to follow my adventerous side and take on the Krispy Kreme Sliders (a mini glazed KK donut for a bun, cheese and chocolate covered bacon perched on a ground beef pattie) I opted for the Truffle Lobster Burger.  The surf n turf treat came out with lobster piled high on a thick ground beef pattie, all covered with a truffle aioli and served with Old Bay fries. So as not to seem too pretentious I paired the highend burger with a humble Pabst Blue Ribbon.  Surprise, surprise the PBR and lobster got along quite well. The slight macro sweetness played off the sweetness in the lobster and worked as a good refresher. The PBR drank far better than I remembered and the burger was a juicy masterpiece. For those who don't flow with the Pabst old school vibe there were a few craft beer options, as well as other alcoholic goodies from the bar

PYT has everything you want in a cool hangout. A fantastic location on the Piazza, hip atmosphere, solid food choices and good selections from the bar. A couple years ago Kelleigh and I may have hung around to have a couple adult milkshakes or take in happy hour. Instead this old head followed lunch with a little shoppping on the Piazza and a drive back to the burbs on a full stomach. I'll make it a point not to wait too long before venturing back. The Krispy Kreme burger is still calling me. PYT definitely knows how to put togther a tasty, creative burger.