Deschutes Black Butte XXIII (Black Juju)

 "Welcome to crazy. Get it while you can."

Black Butte XXIII
(23rd Birthday Reserve )

2011
 Porter

10.8% ABV. 55 IBU
25% Aged in Bourbon Barrels

 Brewed with (Spanish) Seville Oranges,
Cocoa Nibs, from Theo Chocolate in Seattle,

 and some Pasilla Negra chilis (pasilla negro chili w/ancho and guajillo makes mole)

Chocolate, Chocolate Wheat, Crystal 75, Wheat,  & Pale Malt.

Millennium, Cascade, & Tettnang hops.
(475 Barrels produced. 275 Bottled)

I am cellaring a couple of these, but wanted to try one now,

even though I knew it was too early.

At least now I have something to compare with.

The bottle actually has a date on it: Best After 6/15/12.
I look forward to more but until then...

Very tasty. Too hot since I opened too early,
but I am really looking forward to next bottle opening, in about six months.
Strong flavors of rich dark chocolate,
coffee, molasses, and roasted chocolate malt. 
as well as underlying caramel and vanilla from the barrel aging.
Strong and full flavored.
Perhaps the heat that I assumed was from high alcohol is from the chilis?
Will be interesting to see later when I open the next bottle.

Deschutes makes one of the best beers on Earth: The Abyss.

So far, nothing I have had from Deschutes is as good as The Abyss.

The regular version of Black Butte Porter is a bit too low ABV for my taste and sort of thin, so I am really glad they release these alternate annual versions.

Also great that they experiment each year and have some fun with it.

Also enjoyed a glass on tap at Maui Brewing Co.

Bend, Oregon

Black Juju X III...

[see what I did there?]

Chimay Grande Reserve

Chimay Grande Reserve

Strong Dark Ale

9% ABV

Belgium

The monastery was founded in 1850.

It was the first monastery to sell beer commercially.

  The first to use the term Trappist Beer.

First Trappist Brewery to use "Wine Bottles" with Corks.

I  have seen this listed as being from various areas, sometimes called Chimay.

I did not know if that was the name of a town or what, 

so I consulted the highest authority possible...

Michael Jackson;

Produced at the Abbey of Notre Dame, on a hillside called Scourmont.

Near a place called Forges, close to a town callled Chimay,

in the province of Hainaut.

Generally referred to as "Blue." Or Blue Label/Blue Cap.
The large bottles say Grande Reserve. The small bottles do not.
(Color of bottle labels differ according to strength.)

with Chimay Cheese and Spanish Almonds.

Pours a beautiful deep, dark nutty brown color.
Smells like sweet bread and dark fruit; figs, raisins, plums, dates.
Tastes like dark fruit, caramel, roasted malts, and brown sugar.
Slight chocolate backdrop flavor. Mostly dark bread and sweet, spicy yeast.
Quite tasty and affordable.
Since it is so readily available, highly recommended.
I buy it at my local grocery store.
It sort of tends to get overlooked somewhat.
Since most people can get it anywhere, anytime.

Served in it's own etched goblet.
Yes it tastes better when served in it's own personally etched goblet.
Monastery advises two years cellar storage.
Michael Jackson advises longer.

Pairs well with food. Shown here with a homemade Paella,
and Caesar Salad.
Goes well with strong cheeses,
and would compliment any meal that would typically go with red wine.