Josh's Bachelor Party - 8/6/10

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Josh's Bachelor Party - 8/6/10
We only had a few beers this night - the rest of it was liquor... but this place, "The Breslin" had cask beer. I HAD to try them. 

"The Breslin" http://thebreslin.com/ is an awesome Bar & Restaurant in NYC between Broadway & 5th Ave. They just received their first Michelin Star. I highly recommend you eat (and drink!) there if you get a chance.

8 of us sat at the Chef's table (right next to the kitchen) and we were served a glorious roast suckling pig with all of the trimmings. From the Breslin Menu:

SUCKLING PIG DINNER
FIRST
Caesar Salad
with Anchovy Dressing
MAIN
Whole Roasted Suckling Pig with Salsa Rossa & Salsa Verde
SIDES
Duck Fat Roasted Potatoes
Roasted Fennel
Broccoli Rabe
DESSERT 
Bittersweet Chocolate Tart

It was an amazing night, one of my favorite meals ever. Great time, great food, great drinks, great friends. You can't ask for more.

So what is "Cask Beer"? From their website - it is a nice simple explination:

Cask Beer:
Cask-conditioned ale is the traditional beer of Britain. It is pulled up to the bar by a hand pump, just as it is in England's Pubs. Cask ales are best enjoyed at a gently chilled cellar temperature. The Spotted Pig Bitter is made exclusively for The Breslin.

On to the Beer!!!

"The Breslin" (Abv. ?)

Aberdeen

Red Hook, NY

Cask Beer. Sweet. Bitter finish. Slightly coldern then room temp. Seems like a heavy hitter. Slight alcohol at the end.

9.2

"The Spotted Pig" (Abv. ?)

Bitter

Brooklyn, NY

Cask Beer. Very smooth. Nutty. Not a bitter, but very nice. Lighter color then I expected.

9.4 Qualified (Not a bitter)

This is the first time I ever Qualified a grade. This just did NOT seem like a bitter to me. It was more of a nut brown ale, but I really liked it.

Man, I want to go back to The Breslin!!!

7/22/10 to 8/1/10

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So here we are, getting close to the end of the Montana trip. Without any fanfare, let's get it going:

Left- A drawing I did of the growler of Trout Slayer I bought at Big Sky Brewing. Did I mention how much I love Big Sky Brewing?

Right -
7/22/10
Deschutes Brewery
Bend, Oregon

Mirror Pond Pale Ale (Abv. 5%)

It's a Pale Ale. Nice Aroma. Malt balances Hops. Good beer.

9.2

Wow, I wasn't too descriptive in that one. I rule.

Onwards...



(Click to make big) heh

Left- (This is my "Final Thoughts" on Montana...)

Ok - Montana 2010 trip summary:

33 different beers in 15 days. Pretty much 2 different beers a day.

Montana is a beautiful (and tasty) state. From what I remember, I think I hit every brewery I could find. On the last night I found 3 breweries I never got to hit.

Next time, Montana.

Next time.

-PL

Right-

8/1/10

HOME

Florida Beer Company

Melborne, FL

Key West Southernmost Wheat (Avb. ?)

Belgian-style Wheat Ale

brewed with spices and key lime

They suggest I drink it w/oranges lime or both. I had it w/o fruit. Nice beer. I like the lime in a Belgian White but it was bitter at the end and that bitterness lingered.

8+

Then there are some little sketches...

What a weak-ass beer to come home too after the awesomeness that was Montana. But wait until you see Chicago. That's a kick in the teeth. yeesh!