UPDATE: Thirsty Fest is still on, though the Sexual Chocolate and the Kentucky Breakfast Stout have been drunk dry. Thanks, y’all, for reading (and ruining my day). Seriously, though, the word is they’ll be tapping some rare Oskar Blues kegs tonight. Check it.
OK, y’all. Thirsty Fest at The Thirsty Monk in Asheville may just be the most brilliant idea for a beer festival ever. Repeat after me: 36 interesting and rare craft kegs, three unique and obscure casks. Every day this week from 4 p.m. til closing until the beer’s gone. Flights of four with tasting note cards.
We dragged the kids over there because I just couldn’t wait–plus, it’s part of my job, right? I need beer news for both Mountain Xpress and Local Edge Radio. It’s tough job, but hey. The kids took their books and ate a pizza (thank you Monk Pub for making a cheese za, even though it’s not on the menu).
Because the natives got restless pretty darn fast, we tried only one flight, which was just dandy because I immediately went for the high gravity brews, concentrating, as I often do, on the Imperials.
Here’s what I quaffed tonight:
Foothills Sexual Chocolate 2010: a 10 percent Russian Imperial Stout. Smooth and chocolaty and typically one of my favorites.
The Sex Choc is delicious, but it’s overshadowed by the Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout: an 11.2 percent Imperial Stout. My brewgasm of the night. Holy hell. Huge coffee and chocolate flavors finishing with that fiery bourbon kick. I could bathe in the nectar.
Also amazing is the Olde Hickory Barrel-Aged Scottish Ale. An 8 percenter, aged in Old Weller barrels. Less than 100 gallons made of this beautifully balanced, perfectly flavored brew.
Least but not last, you must try the special Highland Brewing Sour Seven Sisters: our local brewers added some extra Lactobacillus (and other yeasties) to their new Belgian Dubbel, and voila: a fruity sour. Only two casks made of this baby.
So I’ll be back to the Monk Pub one of these nights (or two), cause I still need to taste the Duck Rabbit Barrel-Aged Milk Stout, the Brewdog Hardcore IPA, the Rogue 21, the Stone 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA, and the Sweetwater Dank Tank Magnum Imperial Pils–just to name a few.
See y’all there. Don’t drink it all before I can taste it. Thanks.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Those sound amazing, and the fact that you get to even try a Milk Stout is making me envious! Haven’t been able to find this rather rare style anywhere around here in Texas.
Anyway though….
You’ll love the BrewDog Hardcore IPA the Rouge 21 lives up to the hype…at least I personally think so. I would love to hear your thoughts about the Stone 14th annv. IPA. Even if you don’t post about it, Twitter me or email me. I’ve been discussing the 14th Annv. IPA with a lot of beer folks recently and it seems we’re all split…it’s great…but just a bit too overhyped?
Curious what you think!
P.S. Enjoy that Milk Stout!
Ilya