Gomers and a Cuvée

I was over in Lees Summit yesterday and decided I'd stop by Gomers since it is the only place that I've heard has the Olfabrikken Porter around Kansas City. I had been to almost every good beer store in KC except for this Gomers. I picked up a La Trappe Tripel, Rochefort 10 and a Mikkeller Black and then realized I'm going to need a shopping cart and knew I was in for a large bill. I rounded out with (you ready for this?) Sierra Nevada Big Foot, Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast, Oflabrikken Porter, Péché Mortel, Nogne #100, Southern Tier's Oak Aged Cuvée Series 1 and Boulevard Nutcracker that I got to help dry hop which was fun. Oops, that's a large bill. I signed up for their savings program and got 5% off, but still going to have to delay my next beer run. This store has a great selection of beer and wine.

Tonight I'm drinking Southern Tier's Cuvée at 11% abv. The other night I had the Series 2 and tonight Series 1. There is a Series 3 to come out at some point and I believe that is it for the Cuvée's. All 3 Series are American Strong Ales. American Strong is an interesting category which is beers that don't really fall into any category that are higher than 7% abv or so. Typically these are experimental brews that can go as high as alcohol can go in beer; however, most taste like a cross between a farmhouse and a barleywine. This particular beer tastes like sugar bomb. Tons of residual sugars and maltiness. You can taste a bit of the French Oak but not much, like a ligther Gread Divide 15th Anniv. IPA. A fair amount of bitterness and somewhat of a sour taste. Smells of apples and apricots with a sipping drinkability. Pretty good, but I'm not rushing out to get another. Have you tried Ska Decadent IPA or a DFH 120 min IPA? It's kind of like that. Love/hate beer.

Lacing

No not that kind of lace. I'm talking beer lace (or lacing). Not familiar? See the picture above. Lacing is the beer head (or beer muff as Jake doesn't want to be sexist) that sticks to the glass. Originally it was noted by the sheet of lace but has developed into lines of lace left after drinking. You're not cool if you don't have lace! It is suppose to show how fresh the hop oils are in your drink. Worthog, friends and myself were at Flying Saucer last night for the rare New Holland Brother Jacob Dubbel. After a few I ordered Southern Tier Iniquity and had to capture the lacing on the glass with my handy camera phone. About the same time someone pointed out some guy who had passed out right after ordering a full beer (notice the daylight). I couldn't resist so I went up and talked to his buddies who were having a casual conversation while this guy was snoring in the middle of the bar. They say that he does this all the time and he is just power napping, but he was out for a while. Can someone say narcoleptic?