Saturday, March 02, 2013

Broadening Our Horizons LIV

I shouldn't have.  But I did, which is to say I paid an exorbitant price (12 Yankee Dollars!) for a six-pack of a beer that's only "Meh."  That would be this...


That's an Indian Wells Brewery Lobotomy Doppel Bock.  The average BA score on this brew is 71, which puts it in the mid-pack of all beers reviewed at Beer Advocate.  You wouldn't guess the beer is rated that high by reading the first six or eight reviews which, to be honest, are piss-poor.  The beer is OK, if you look at it simply as a beer.  Where I fall down is considering the brew as it's advertised and labeled: a doppel bock.  And that it is NOT... with not near enough malty goodness and not near enough taste.  The beer supposedly has a 10.8% ABV but you can't discern the alcohol at all in the taste.  Some people might consider that to be a good thing, as for me?  Not so much.  If I'm gonna drink a strong beer I wanna be reminded that I'm drinking a strong beer.  Don't be sneakin' up on me.

This beer is gonna be a "one and done."  I'll finish the sixer, but that's it.  There are better bocks out there and I'll drink 'em.

And now... out to the verandah, for it's a beautiful, sunshiny, and warmish (61 degrees) day out there.  No wind, either!

10 comments:

  1. I remember back in the day when just about any bock had a rams head on the label.

    And 'lobotomy' probably shoulda been a clue that not everything is there. [Grins]

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    Replies
    1. I was thinkin' Lobotomy described the effects of drinkin' two or more of these things. I DID read the label before I put my money down.

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  2. Someone should do a painting of your standard beer photo as depicted. I love it. The Rocky glass, the bottle opener, the ash tray, it just sings to me. Kind of a Buck still life kinda thang.

    I also like the casual positioning of the bottle cap. It actually looks like you put some thought into the composition of the photograph.

    And I'm not really being all that snarky. There IS something cool about that photo.

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  3. It actually looks like you put some thought into the composition of the photograph.

    Truth be told... you're right. I put a LOT o' thought into the composition of these photographs. I'll take two or three... sometimes more... shots of these things (after moving things around) and then select the best of the bunch. It's nice to know someone recognizes the work I put into this stuff. ;-)

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  4. Any beer has got to taste good in a "Rocky" glass!

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    Replies
    1. Most of 'em do, and this one was no exception. I prolly was too hard on this beer, but it is what it is.

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  5. Buck - I recognize the work! Always loved these Still Life's ala Pennington. At least you had a good day with no wind, even if you did have to suck back a crappy beer.

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  6. Too bad about the sub-par brew, Buck. Has a dynamite label and regional name (the Uof N.M teams are called the Lobos, after all..) that had the potential to be a "locals" "hipster" beer in the same way Dixie was for New Orleans when it was still good pre-Katrina and was still brewed at the old original historical facility on Tulane Ave.

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    Replies
    1. Except this stuff is brewed in California... which MIGHT explain some things.

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Just be polite... that's all I ask.