Older Viscocity
January 18, 2008
STL Hops’ recent package of West Coast beers reminds me of last night’s tasting: Port Brewing Older Viscosity. In such a short time, Port/Lost Abbey produce intense hoppy IPAs and complex blends that make me feel like a hitchhiker given a ride by Hunter Thompson in Fear and Loving in Las Vegas, only I don’t want to get out of the car. I want to ride this beast again.   Summer of Beer speaks of a recent Old Viscosity tasting, but “older” – as Port proudly declares – is the declaration of vintage, age, mileage. This is, indeed, an older taste. The bottle, a small 375 ml, doesn’t let on to what you are about to let drip down your throat and into your belly. A dark pour. A creamy head. A rich, haunting smell of bourbon comes up. And the taste? I have one word: Holy money. What the hell is that? Chocolate. Stout. Cocoa. Raspberry. Barley wine. Blend after blend. Amazing. Each taste left me thinking: oh man. Did I just taste that?
Beer as sensory pleasure. As sensual. As fucked up good. That’s Older Viscosity. I polished the little bottle off – telling myself over and over that the wife wouldn’t like it (the guilt kicks in that I haven’t shared) – and then I leaned back into the couch. The tastes kept lingering. And lingering. Damn. That was good.
Posted in beer
January 19th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
I wish you would have gone to Jay’s International. It is right across the street from Lemongrass…very interesting…much more so than Whole Paycheck. There sister store Global Market on Kirkwood Rd has a very interesting smash up of beers. Different every week and you don’t know what you will get until you see what they have. I remember I was out there stocking up for a party and they had big ol bottles (20 oz or so) for 99 cents each. hey…when you are feeding gobs of drunk irishmen, they don’t mind St. Pauli Girl after all the Guinness is gone…and I especially didn’t mind it for 99 cents a pop. Got a great bottle of Maudite out there as well.
January 19th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
I saw that place, and thought we should go in. Now I know we should have. Next time for sure we’ll go to Jay’s. Thanks for the heads up!
January 22nd, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Jeff,
tried the Bell’s Winter Ale, and loved it. I am also enjoying a growler of the Honey porter from Motorcity. Plus, I think I just got the guys up at the local grocery to start carrying some more interesting beer. I’m also just starting to understand what is meant by 120 W 60, though I’m a long way off.