OMGeddon

There are very few things I enjoy more than sitting on the porch with my pup at my feet and a new beer in my hand. The only thing that could make such a moment more enjoyable is … PIZZA! I enjoyed the following beer with a Mediterranean style pizza that was topped with an aged Provolone AND feta. It was an incredible pairing. The cork was inches from my eyes as it popped, but pain is a small price we have to pay to enjoy good beer.

OMMEGEDDON – Brewery Ommegang
 8.00%ABV
 March 2008 batch. Enjoyed in a tulip. 

A: the cork here just exploded immediately, and I should have guessed that the four fingers of white frothy head was imminent. Cloudy deep golden hues. Great puffy retention and some spots of lacing. 
S: and here come the fruit flies! Farmhouse funk to boot. Sour, and it’s all about wet horse blanket on the nose. There’s a really great earthiness serving as the backbone here. Lots of sour fruits, too. 
T: a really mellow funk greets my tongue. Not as sour in the flavors as I experienced on the nose, which is too bad because that’s really what I was looking forward to! Earth, with mostly dirt and grass. Again, mellow and subtle are the names of the game!
M: light body and medium carbonation. I’d almost like it to feel fizzier on my tongue. 
D: I imagine this is a good intro to wild ales. It’s mellow on the sour but still funky. Pair it with a smelly cheese, or some feta. Mmmmm.
Ommegeddon – B
 

Moylan’s

Check out some of these beers from Moylan’s in nearby Novato. A lineup of brews can be found on tap at the Grad (as there was a recent tasting), and bottles of Kilt Lifter are at the co-op for a reasonable price.

CELTS GOLDEN ALE
5.00%ABV
Serving: on-tap, in a classy Miller Lite glass
A: Transparent dark golden and copper. Zero head retention to speak of.
S: Sweet malts, caramel. Not the most complex nose.
T: Honey malt sweetness. Slight metallic notes with hoppy bitterness left behind. There’s definitely a skunky issue here that the beer would do well without.
M: Slick and light.
D: Not awful for a warm day, but also not the first brew I’d reach for. With that said, also not the last. Make sense of that! 
Celts - C 

where's the head?!

KILT LIFTER SCOTCH ALE
8.00%ABV 
Serving: bomber to tulip
A: Very dark amber to light brown. Despite an aggressive pour, a small white head has barely arrived before it dissipates and leaves a small bubbly ring.
S: Roasted to burnt aromas. Deeper pulls reveal sweet caramel and fruit. There’s an interesting (and heavy) sugary sweetness on the nose.
T: Super sweet kick immediately, more specifically caramel. Each sip ends in a fruity ester followed by sweet liqueur and ethanol. Flavors are overwhelmed by a pretty boozy taste.
M: Light carbonation and light body, leaving very little residue (which was welcome at the time).
D: I wasn’t really in the mood for an boozy and sweet combination. A syrup-like flavor really takes over as the beer warms. I’m dying for a bit more balance in this beer!
Kilt Lifter - B-
 

Cucapá Honey and Salvator Doppelbock

I enjoyed a bottle of Cucapá Honey at Tres Hermanas in Sacramento. This moment marks the first Mexican microbrew I’ve had.

CUCAPÁ HONEY - Cucapá Brewing Company; Mexicali (Baja California), Mexico
4.50%ABV
Serving: 120z to pint

A and quick note: Light brown with less than a finger of off-white head. Though right away I need to mention that the bartender slammed the beer down on the counter, which may have slightly muffed up the experience.
S: Basic sweet malty aromas but nothing overwhelming.
T: Honey and hop flavors–I imagined chomping on bees while drinking this beer. I was really surprised by the hops, but I shouldn’t have been considering the description right on the bottle.
M and D: Medium carbonation and light bodied. Overall an enjoyable brew that I would be more than delighted to enjoy as a session. Liz, who was sick, pointed out that this beer was good for a sore throat, which seems like an added bonus, no?
Cucapá - B
 

SALVATOR DOPPEL BOCK - Paulaner Salvator Thomasbraeu AG; Germany
7.90%ABV
Serving: 120z to pils

A: Clear body, deep amber hues; small tan/red head that dissipates quickly, leaving minimal lacing.
S: Pleasant fruits, sweet apples
T: Malts and a fruity/apple hop finish with a hint of alcohol
M: Balanced carbonation but terribly thin and watery, which is what bothered me about this beer. 
D: Though light-bodied, I still found this brew pleasant to drink. I would likely recommend a few other DBs before this one. I’d also recommend this brewery’s hefe-weizen over the doppelbock!
Salvator Doppelbock - B