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| Carolyn and the JBB |
Of course, with an event advertised as “Frothy Friday”, there was no way the Jax Brew Bitch was not going to attend. Carolyn Graham of Brown Distributors was hosting a tasting at Riverside Liquors on Friday, March 16. She was featuring concoctions prepared by Left Hand Brewing Company, Cigar City Brewing, Ruckus Brewing and Coronado Brewing Company.
I sampled (and purchased) Coronado Brewing Company's Saison By The Sea and Ruckus Brewing's Hoptimus Prime Double IPA. They were exceptional!
The Coronado Saison by the Sea is noted on the label as being a “Belgian-Style Ale Brewed with Spices” - blindfolded, I would have said something like “Orangey-Gingery-Spicy” - and something I never would have thought I would like. However, my horizons have expanded and there are a number of Saisons I now like – including this one.
Ruckus Brewing's Hoptimus Prime is described on their website: “Aggressively formulated with five different hop varieties, Hoptimus Prime is then dry hopped for two weeks, ensuring a MASSIVE hop flavor and aroma. Perfectly balanced with three types of malt, Hoptimus Prime is truly the pinnacle of hop flavor.
This Double IPA pairs fantastically with spicy Thai food, Mexican cuisine, or a big ol' bowl of chili.”
With a reported ABV of 9.0% and 92 IBUs, I believe the best pairing would be me with an open bottle of this delicious brew. I'll see your Chicken Satay and Shredded Pork Enchilada and raise you one bowl of my famous Chili Robert (pronounced Roebair).
With eye-blitzing hop flavor, this Double IPA delivers as advertised. Thank you, Ruckus Brewing!
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Rogue Dead Guy Whiskey
and Pink Gin |
So, was Carolyn through tempting me and other patrons with fine alcohol-laden offerings? … certainly you jest … Carolyn floored me with a couple of whiskey samples … yes, whiskey! … something I have yet to acquire a taste for – but “demure I ain't” … so, gimme a two-fingers, barkeep …
First up was Rogue's Dead Guy Whiskey (80 Proof) and it is described on Rogue's website:
“Delicately sweet with a rich malt complexity, opens up to a warm peppery finish. Dead Guy Whiskey is made with the same 4 grains that are used to make Dead Guy Ale since 1991. Northwest Harrington, Maier Munich, Klages, and Carastan malts; Free Range Coastal Water & Distiller's yeast.”
Steeling myself for a harsh “Whiskey Trip” (nod to Gary Stewart - RIP), I was surprised it was a lot more pleasant than expected on the back end – both of the taste and my own since I didn't end up falling on it!
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| Palm Ridge Reserve |
Following up the Rogue offering was a whiskey from a small town not quite two hours from here – Umatilla, Florida. Palm Ridge Reserve Whiskey (90 Proof) is described on their website:
“Florida Farm Distillers is a micro-distillery located on a small cattle farm near Umatilla, Florida. Owners Marti and Dick Waters believe that their personal and detailed attention makes Palm Ridge Reserve™ stand out from other mass produced liquors. The boutique operation produces a 90 proof, young Florida Bourbon-style whiskey. This limited quantity, select whiskey (only 500 cases per year), is non-chill filtered, mellowed with toasted orange and oak woods, and left to finish in small charred oak barrels.”
WooHoo! … flavorful, the definite oak “hint” is apparent and this whiskey is indeed smooth. FYI - Carolyn suggested adding a little bit of water to release the oils when enjoying this whiskey at home.
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Siesta Key Silver
and Siesta Key Gold |
When Carolyn learned I like rum, she further led me down Distillery Road by providing samples of two different Siesta Key Rums from Sarasota, Florida. I'm rather picky about my rum, having lived in the Caribbean a few years and consistently prefer Cruzan Rum from St. Croix. These two rums, a light and a dark, from Drum Circle Distillery, are named Siesta Key Silver Rum and Siesta Key Gold Rum.
Drum Circle's website describes the Silver Rum: “Our silver rum is made with molasses from Florida-grown sugar cane, triple-filtered water, and a secret set of yeasts. We have a unique distillation and filtration process that results in a pure, flavorful and incredibly smooth rum that you are sure to enjoy straight or mixed.
We are also pleased to highlight that Siesta Key Silver Rum took the Best in Class Gold medal at the largest rum festival/competition in the western hemisphere, the RumXP International Tasting Competition, beating out several large well known brands in a blind taste test. Earlier batches also won a Silver Medal at the 2010 International Rum Festival, a Silver Medal at the highly competitive New York International Spirits Competition and a Silver Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.”
And of the Gold Rum, they state: “Siesta Key Gold Rum is hand-crafted in small batches in Sarasota, Florida at our small, artisan distillery. We make our rums from start to finish, using local 100% Florida grown sugar cane, triple-filtered water, and distillation in a true copper pot still.
Our Gold Rum is additionally aged in new, charred American oak barrels to bring out it's wonderful color and vanilla and caramel notes. The result is a high-quality, smooth and flavorful rum that can be enjoyed sipped neat or over ice, or used as the base for your favorite rum cocktails.”
Quality of both rums is superb and neither possess that painful “jet-fuel” aftertaste common in most commercial rums … and guess what? … Spiced Rum is coming soon! … Ah, meson!
Endeavoring to come full circle, I was bound and determined to get back on the beer track, so I ordered a Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale – now, THAT'S a mouthful. I enjoyed this robust brew, described on Sierra Nevada's website: “Our award-winning barleywine boasts a dense, fruity bouquet, an intense flavor palate and a deep reddish-brown color. Its big maltiness is superbly balanced by a wonderfully bittersweet hoppiness.”
Scooby to the Hops, Bigfoot! … Scooby to the Hops! … so delicious … and did I mention 9.6% ABV and 90 IBUs? … Such a great eye-poppin' way to end this tasting experience.
Thanks to Riverside Liquors and Carolyn with Brown Distributors for providing such a unique event for what was for me, part of a very exciting Jax Brew Bitch Prowl!
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| Guest of the Mad Hatter |
The growling heard throughout Riverside was emanating from my stomach. To quiet the deafening roar, I search quickly for a nearby purveyor of food and realized one of my favorites, Hovan, was a short walk away. I love this place – the appetizers are delicious, made even more so by the follow-up California Dreaming Hookah. Best of all? … Sierra Nevada Stout for $2 … yes, $2 – all their beers are $2 … a great value.
Rejuvenated by the food, there was more prowling to come. The group then decided karaoke was in order so we headed over to Mc B's Lounge and Karaoke Bar at 6211 St. Augustine Rd. (University).
Our bartender was Theresa, who served us well that evening. This is a smoking establishment offering bottled beer and hard liquor only – no food, of course. Strong cigarette odor exists, so be aware. If you like Line Dancing and Karaoke, this is the place for you! ... The bathrooms were very clean and the friendly eclectic crowd was obviously “regulars”. This local establishment might be considered by some as a “dive” or “hole in the wall” - but it is a cool one, even so.
One negative is how they threw out my friend's daughter when they learned of her being only 20. Now, I certainly understand the law and the concern by the establishment; however, to put a beautiful young woman out on the street alone? … POOR decision in this day and time … and doing so without checking IDs as people enter? … probably incurs substantial liability.
This lapse of clear-thinking will not keep me from visiting in the future, though – it is a neat venue to try, if you have not already.
After most of our group (not me) had their turn at the microphone, we headed over to Mavericks at The Landing to end the evening. Admission was $5 and they have a minimum set for credit/debit transactions at $10. There is an ATM machine in case you're under the $10 minimum but mind the ATM fees. This combination will make it a little more difficult to make this a regular stop on prowls, but the atmosphere was nice. Looks like being in an “iffy” location anyway (The Landing), they would want to do more to make it easier to spend your money there – but like I said, the atmosphere was nice.
My drink of choice was a margarita – which was tasty and prepared properly.
Spotting a mechanical bull, I was dissuaded from trying by some in the group since companion was out of town and no one wanted to deal with an injured inebriate. Maybe when companion returns, he can show me how they do it Texas …
There was a live DJ and dancing – full liquor bar and beer both bottled and on tap.
I was glad to be back at Mavericks again – the last time, we were there to see David Allan Coe perform, a rather uninspired appearance for him, an obvious surprise for the staff, as well. This visit was a bit more satisfying and served well as the last stop on a wonderful Jax Brew Bitch evening.
