Beer Run for the President!

Beer run for President Obama!

According to one of the many news articles on the subject, Obama "kiddingly" asked for BEER during a visit to Maine.

Kiddingly?!?! We think not!

From the podium, while addressing a large crowd, President Obama mentioned Bill Milliken, a small business owner -- that business being Maine Beer and Beverage -- and said that he hoped he'd get some free samples in exchange for the publicity!

Way to use your position of power, Obama! Mugsy and Jugsy approve!!!

El Camino (Un)Real Black Ale

Beer: El Camino (Un)Real Black Ale
Brewed by: Stone Brewing/ 21st Amendment Brewery/Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Style: Dark Ale
ABV: 9.5%
Bottle: 12 fluid oz.
Served in: Tulip glass
Place of purchase: Stone Brewery, Escondido, CA
Price: $5.00 (or so - we weren't counting at this point....)

Figs and Fennel and Chia - oh my! Just some of the ingredients in the latest Stone Brewery collaboration. This time it's Stone Brewing meeting up with 21st Amendment Brewery, in San Francisco, CA, and Firestone Walker Brewing Co. in Paso Robles, CA.

Jugsy and I tried this one on tap when we were at the Stone Brewery. However, we decided to just enjoy Jugsy's birthday and not concentrate on reviews. We purchased bottles of this collaboration and reviewed them at home, once we were sober!!!! As mentioned on the bottle, "(We) tried to capture some of the historic flavors of the old El Camino Real by brewing this beer with fennel, chia, peppercorns and mission figs. It was a fun beer to brew, and in some ways took us back to the 4th grade, when our schoolteachers first introduced us to the history of California and its Missions.

Jugsy and I are both very proud NATIVE Californians. You don't find much of our kind around these parts. Let us review the kind of beer that famous Brother and Monk Junipero Serra may have enjoyed (at least we hope they let him drink beer!)

In every proper review, your trusted husband & wife team of Beeraucrats will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouthfeel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.

El Camino (Un)Real Black Ale

APPEARANCE:

Mugsy: Black, as the name would imply. Completely opaque, even when held to the light. Medium sized, beige colored head that dissipates somewhat quickly, leaving a thinner but lasting small head. Very little lacing left behind on glass.
Jugsy: Brown/Black with a hint of dark red. Medium tan/pink head dissipates relatively quickly, leaving lacing behind. Dark and completely opaque in appearance.

AROMA:

Mugsy: Strong nose of piny hops mixed with coffee. Smells woodsy. Ever so slight scent of anise or licorice. Begins to smell fruity as it warms.
Jugsy: Initial aromas are of multi-layered hops, coffee and roasted malts. Sweet black licorice comes through as the beer warms a bit. Overall smell is fresh (slightly piny) with rich coffee, chocolate and herb sweetness.

TASTE:

Mugsy: Hops and roasted malt come first. Next on the palate is light taste of chocolate and then fruit. The fruit flavor intensifies as the beer gets warmer. Fruits like prunes or sugary dates. Very complex. Definitely becomes sweeter and less bitter as it warms.
Jugsy: Bitter hops and roasted malt hit the tongue first, then quickly give way to a bittersweet chocolate flavor. Definite taste of licorice and something herbal - lavender, perhaps? Complex flavors reveal something different in each sip. Aftertaste is of bitter hops, coffee and licorice.

MOUTHFEEL:

Mugsy: Very light on the tongue. I wouldn't describe it as watery, due to the sweetness, but definitely not heavy like a stout or porter. Quite refreshing, actually.
Jugsy: The flavors make for a bold mouthfeel, neither heavy nor light. Carbonation is significant and the bitter, numbing hops only add to the sensation.

DRINKABILITY:

Mugsy: Very easy to throw back, especially when on the colder side. As it warms, the sugary taste of the beer may become a little off-putting. Also, at 9.5% ABV, this is one that you would want to sip and not slug.
Jugsy: While the El Camino (Un)Real is a very enjoyable and drinkable beer, both the complexity in palate and high ABV (9.5%) make this a specialty rather than a session beer. It's clearly meant to be savored and sipped to be properly appreciated.

OVERALL:

Mugsy: Complex, especially when it's colder (mind you, not right out of the fridge cold - ales should be enjoyed between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the ale). The sweetness becomes dominant as the ale warms which is unfortunate, as I really liked the original mix of hops, malt and fruity, chocolaty sweetness. Whatever the case, would I drink this beer again? Absolutely. I would just drink it quicker! Is this my favorite Stone collaboration? No, but that's not my point here. It's obvious that the guys at Stone, Firestone Walker and 21st Amendment had a blast coming up with this fabulous concoction that includes mission figs, fennel and chia (ch-ch-ch-chia!) seeds. This is a great example of the kind of fun, out-of-the-box ideas about brewing that we get from Stone (and their collaborators) that make their beers stand out above so many others. Nice work, folks! This would pair well, with rich foods like roasts, stews, or saucy dishes.
Jugsy: El Camino (Un)Real? Named so perhaps because the flavors take you on a journey that's familiar yet mysterious at the same time. The taste can best be described as kaleidoscopic, as new flavors jump out unexpectedly and dance for a moment on your tongue. I can't imagine what food would be able to hold its own against this beer. I say, drink it on its own (but on a full belly!) and allow yourself to explore the dark.

SCORE:
Mugsy: 7.65
Jugsy: 7.77

Just a little something...

Just a little something to keep you entertained until we put up our next post... which will either be a review of the new Stone collaboration "El Camino (Un)Real Black Ale" or the "Sawyer's Triple Ale" (whose proceeds go completely to charity - more on that later) or, we were toying with the idea of reviewing a He'Brew beer in honor of Passover. Any thoughts?

It's true what they say, "So many beers, so little time!"

We know that we review a lot of Stone brews and some of our followers on the East Coast get frustrated from time to time, but you're likely to see even more in the near future, since that's where we went to celebrate Jugsy's birthday this past week! The folks at Stone are as lovely and welcoming as their brews.... Stay tuned for our interview with Dan, the Tour Master at Stone (at least, that's what we call him!) There's a lot of typing involved for us on that one, so it might take a while ;-)

In the meantime, we thought we'd offer up an "appetizer" of sorts. Since so much is often said about the pairing of wine and cheese, we thought it would be a good idea to celebrate the heavenly combination of beer and cheese! It's not entirely new, as a commentator on the AOL article this morning said, "Beer and cheese have always been a matching pair in my book. Forget the fancy stuff... any kind of beer goes with any kind of cheese. At the high end: Guinness and brie. At the low end: Bud Light and Cheetos. The flavors just seem to compliment each other in a way that wine does not."

There's also a pretty cool pairing on the Kegerators blog. Mmmm. Wonder what would pair well with vegan cheese???

Smithwick's Irish Ale

Beer: Smithwick's Irish Ale
Brewed by: Guinness & Co., Dublin, Ireland (originally brewed by Smithwick's, Kilkenny, Ireland)
Style: Irish Red Ale
ABV: 4.5%
IBUs: Unknown
Bottle: 12 fluid oz.
Served in: English pint glass
Place of purchase: Trader Joe's
Price: $6.99 per 6 pack

So, here we are, the middle of March. The 17th, to be exact. Why do I have a strange inclination to eat boiled potatoes and soda bread while listening to The Pogues and drinking beer? OK, I always have an inclination to listen to The Pogues and drink beer, but all of it combined speaks quite strongly of - - Saint Patrick's Day! The celebration (at least here in the U.S.) of all things Irish: wearing o' the green and tons of other Irish stuff, most importantly, drinking. Yes, drinking. Drinking beer. And drinking whiskey (notice the spelling, boyo?) Wait, that's a whole different blog!

OK, back to drinking beer. Jugsy & I, having been to the British Isles (including Ireland) many, many times, did some very serious searching for a beer to review at this specific time. Of course, we could have chosen Guinness Stout or Harp Lager (both fine beers!) but we decided on a brew that is not as readily available, or at least, is not as well known, here in the U.S.

Smithwick's Irish Ale is celebrating it's 300th anniversary this year, having started its brewing operation at the St. Francis Abbey brewery in Kilkenney, Ireland in 1710. A family tradition of brewing resulted over the next 300 years and gives us the beer we have for review today.

In passing, here are a couple of famous Irish sayings - ones that we love; just to get you in to the St. Patty's Day spirit:

"There are many good reasons for drinking,
One has just entered my head.
If a man doesn't drink when he's living,
How in the hell can he drink when he's dead?"

"Here's to a long life and a merry one
A quick death and an easy one
A pretty girl and an honest one
A cold beer and another one!"

In every proper review, your trusted husband & wife team of Beeraucrats will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouthfeel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.

Smithwick's Irish Ale

Appearance:

Mugsy: Deep bronze color. Dark amber when held to light. Creamy looking head that dissipates quite quickly. Slight bit of carbonation visible. Very little lacing left on glass.
Jugsy: Clear, copper/red in color with a thick, frothy head that dissipates to a thin, white head. Very little carbonation can be seen. No lacing left behind.

Aroma:

Mugsy: Slight bit of yeast. Some malt comes through also. Not a strong aroma at all.
Jugsy: Delicate scent of mild yeast and hops. Smells slightly sweet and fresh, a hint of peppermint candy and pine cones.

Taste:

Mugsy: First and foremost is a "cheesy" taste. I can only assume that this is attributable to the yeast. Slightly sweet malt is present, as well. While the hops couldn't be detected with scent, they do come through here, if only very slightly. Slight toasted nut after taste and very slight chocolate, caramel and coffee become present as the beer warms.
Jugsy: Unusual combination of yeast (Irish soda bread?) and roasted coffee/malts. There's a skunky bitterness from the hops that becomes a very pronounced middle-note before the yeast and coffee re-appear. Aftertaste is bitter sourdough. As the beer warms, a distinctly nutty and pleasant taste (and aftertaste) emerges.

Mouthfeel:

Mugsy: Quite a nice feel. Very creamy. Slightly bitter bite on the tongue. Goes down without any "soupiness" but with just enough substance to make sure you know that this has some weight to it. As beer warms just past its perfect temperature, it does get a little watery feeling, though.
Jugsy: The initial expectation is of creaminess, but this beer actually ends up being a little on the thin side.

Drinkability:

Mugsy: At 4.5% ABV, it would obviously be no problem for a serious beer drinker (who me?) to throw back many of these, however, the watery finish as the beer warms past its point of perfection is a slight turn-off for me and makes me think twice. Guess I'll just have to drink the next several Smithwick's much more quickly!
Jugsy: At 4.5% ABV, this is a classic "session" beer and I'm pretty sure Mugsy would have to drink a gallon of it just to feel a buzz! The beer needs to warm somewhat in order for it to reveal its full character. Quite drinkable!

Overall:

Mugsy: Quite well balanced. Not overdone on any aspect, making this an obvious choice for the first pint at the pub on the way home from work. It all comes down to, as mentioned so many times before, "would I drink this beer again?" And the answer is "Yes - but I wouldn't necessarily seek it out." Not a bad beer by any means (and believe me, I've had some pretty bland beers in the British Isles), I just feel that there are so many better, more interesting beers out there on which I would rather spend my money. Let's put it this way - the next time I go shopping for a great beer, am I going to head straight for the Smithwick's? If it's St. Patty's Day, then it would certainly be one of the two or three Irish beers I would select. Otherwise, no. However, the next time I find myself in Ireland or anywhere in the British Isles (as Jugsy and I often do, believe it or not) then Smithwick's would definitely be one of the beers on rotation at the pub. Would pair very well with rich St. Patty's day foods and equally well with rich, creamy desserts.
Jugsy: I'd love to be in Ireland, drinking this ale alongside a talkative, old pub-regular, nestled in the supernaturally green and misty countryside. There's something in this beer that I can't put my finger on, but when I taste it, I know I'm drinking either an Irish or a Scottish ale. Yeast strain, perhaps? Peaty water? I don't know, but it makes me a bit nostalgic.

Score:
Mugsy: 5.0
Jugsy: 6.0

From both of us at Beeraucracy, we wish you a very happy Saint Patrick's Day!!

Belgian Beer Tasting - 10 Brews

Belgian Beer Tasting! (a.k.a. 10 Beers for $5!)

We know it’s been a little longer than usual since we’ve posted a review, but rather than give you a long story about pipes bursting and flooding our home, we figured we’d just give you more bang for your buck! (We realize it’s free to read our blog, so really… you’re getting a heck of a lot of “bang” for nothing!)

Last Thursday, one of Mugsy & Jugsy’s favorite purveyors of fine beers (and other spirits), Wades Wines, hosted a Belgian Beer Tasting. Jason, or “the beer guy” as Jugsy refers to him, selected 10 Belgian brews for the tasting and provided lots of cool information to all the curious tasters in tow. (Did we mention it was only $5?!?!)

Beers were presented in a specific order according to the complexity of taste and alcohol by volume, in general, lowest to highest. We struggled over whether or not it was fair to assign a point-value as we would normally do, simply because the environment and amount served was not conducive to the proper attention and appreciation that beer usually requires. So, bear that in mind before taking our ratings too seriously on these!

Without further ado, we present our mini-review of 10 beers!

Belgian Beer Tasting – 10 Beers for $5!

Beer #1 – Bavik Belgian Pilsner

Mugsy: Hoppy, clean – 4.5

Jugsy: I didn’t even bother to take notes on this one. It tasted watery and weak. – 4.25

Beer #2 – Poperings Hommel Ale

Mugsy: Funky, citrusy, very yeasty, piney – 6.7

Jugsy: Amber/murky, funky yeast, mild piney hops, citrus, bitter, barnyard funk, aftertaste of yeast & hops – 6.4

Beer #3 – Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel

Mugsy: Funky, quite hoppy, quite citrusy & sweet. Not like standard American IPAs – 6.0

Jugsy: Clear/amber, frothy head, sweet, fruity yeast and floral hops, creamy, smooth & balanced flavors, yeast & hops blend beautifully. Drinks light & slightly sweet – 7.25

Beer #4 – Petrus Oud Bruin

Mugsy: Slightly sour, some malt, a little hops; maybe a little too sour for me – 5.75

Jugsy: Clear brown, some head, roasted malt & yeast smell, very funky sour yeast and malt flavor; not pleasant to drink – 4.5

Beer #5 – Malheur 10 (Tripel)

Mugsy: Super murky & super funky, very citrusy – like orange, smooth, sweet and creamy. Can definitely taste the ABV. Quite balanced between sweetness & hops. Fruity – 7.5

Jugsy: Amber/opaque (murky), lots of fruity yeast, smell of fresh citrus; smooth, creamy, fruity with a nice hop balance. Delicate, sophisticated flavor, and I’m feeling the ABV. Sweet and light. Love it! -- 9.0

Beer #6 – Grimbergen Dubbel

Mugsy: Malty, sweet, hoppy – 6.5

Jugsy: Clear brown/copper, malty/hoppy, initial taste is dusty/smoky; nice hops middle, fresh piney/yeasty finish – 6.7

Beer #7 – Brasserie des Rocs Gran Cru (Belgian Special Brown Ale)

Mugsy: Smells sweet, malty. Slightly sweet, definitely brown sugar – 7.0

Jugsy: Slightly murky/brown, coffee, malt, yeast scents. Wow! Coffee and sweet barnyard funk! Brown sugar, coffee, rotten fruit – good brew but not for my taste – 7.0

Beer #8 – Tappistes Rochefort 10 (Quadrupel)

Mugsy: Malty, sweet, fruity & slightly hoppy, sugary finish – 7.6

Jugsy: Dark brown, slightly murky, roasted malt & candy sweet scent, roasted malts and bitter hops, coffee and piney hops. Very complex, piney aftertaste with coffee grounds – 8.5

Beer #9 – Malheur 12 (Quadrupel)

Mugsy: Sweet, funky smell; lots of barnyard funk, sweet, sugary -- brown sugar, coffee can be tasted and roasted malts. May be a bit sweet for me – 6.9

Jugsy: Clear, reddish brown, sweet, malty, brown sugar smell, licorice. Very sweet taste with funky yeast, slight roasted malt flavor. Nice aged brandy feel – 8.25

Beer #10 – St. Louis Kriek Lambic

Mugsy: Cough syrup.– 2.5

Jugsy: Sweet, funky, sour smell & taste. Not very pleasant. Like dessert wine that’s gone “off” – 4.0

Maui Brewing Co. CoCoNut PorTeR

Beer: CoCoNut PorTeR
Brewed by: Maui Brewing Co.
Style: Porter
ABV: 5.7%
IBUs: 30
Can: (Yep, you read that right!) 12 Fluid Oz.
Served in: Pint glass
Place of purchase: Beverages and More! (BevMo)
Price: $9.99 / 4-pack

There's no denying that our prejudice against beer that comes in cans prevented us from trying the Coconut Porter sooner, but as soon as we took a look at their reasoning, we couldn't argue against it. As it says right on their can, "Cans are lighter, chill quicker... eliminate light damage and reduce the risk of oxidation, keeping our beer fresher than in bottles!" And "Aluminum is the most recycled and most eco-friendly material." It struck a chord in both the environmentalist and the beer lover within us!

Personally, I don't think Mugsy was too excited about drinking Coconut flavored beer of any kind, but I couldn't wait to try it! After all, not only has the Coconut Porter won several awards; not only is it brewed with six varieties of malted barley, hops and hand-toasted coconut, but it's brewed with Aloha! How many beers can say that?!?!

In every proper review, your trusted husband & wife team of Beeraucrats will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, MouthFeel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from
1 to 10.

CoCoNut PorTeR

APPEARANCE:

Mugsy: Extremely dark brown. Completely opaque and unable to be seen through, even when held to light. Light tan colored head that dissipates to practically nothing. No lacing left on glass whatsoever.
Jugsy: Very dark brown -- almost black. Thick and dark, even when held up to light. Tan, frothy head dissipates quickly down to nothing.

AROMA:

Mugsy: Strong smell of roasted malt is first to hit the nose. Very sweet. Lots of dark chocolate aroma mixed with toffee, as well. Slight hint of coffee is in there also.
Jugsy: Sweet chocolate, toffee and sugary coconut scents are right at the forefront. Spicy aromas are also present: vanilla, nutmeg and allspice blend in with a slightly funky yeast. Roasted malt/coffee marries nicely with toasted coconut for a candy-scented harmony throughout.

TASTE:

Mugsy: Strong taste of chocolate and roasted malt. The toasted coconut is prominent. Very nice balance between hops and malt here. While the malt is dominant, the hops are quite obviously present, unlike what is found in some porters.
Aftertaste is slightly of coffee and definitely of toffee and caramel. The sweetness and bitterness do a lovely little dance with each other.
Jugsy: Bitter roasted malts and hops are among the first flavors to hit your tongue, followed immediately by sweeter toffee and coconut taste. The coffee, spices and sweet coconut combine to deliver a complex flavor palate with the distinct
aftertaste of toasted coconut and coffee grounds.

MOUTHFEEL:

Mugsy: The coating left on the tongue, as if one has just eaten dark chocolate is the dominant factor here. Slight sting from the roasted malt and hops. Goes down nicely, if not just a tiny bit watery.
Jugsy: Creamy and bold with a fair amount of carbonation. Leaves a roasted malt and bitter hops coating on the tongue.

DRINKABILITY:

Mugsy: The aforementioned watery finish (really, very slight) actually makes this somewhat of a refreshing beer, if one can imagine saying that about a porter. At 5.7% ABV, I'd have no problem throwing back several of these before feeling like I'd had enough. However, the sweetness, which is not overbearing after only one, might become an issue after two or three. Also, the heavy tongue coating might become an annoyance after a while.
Jugsy: Very nice beer. Only the price-tag would keep this from being a session beer. It's rich in flavor, but not heavy feeling and I could certainly enjoy drinking this brew all evening.

OVERALL:

Mugsy: Nicely done! Overall, quite a nice balance between the sweet and the bitter, even if the sweet does take over a little. While some porters become more complex in flavor as they warm, this one most certainly does not. The flavors become far less distinct and the finish becomes even more watery. This is definitely meant to drunk cold. Still a nice job and I would be happy to drink again. Would go well with sweet chocolately desserts and would go extremely well with rich, hearty stews on one of those cold winter nights. Ahhhh, cold porter, warm stew and a hot wife! Tonight, I think I'll take all three!
Jugsy: I had to overcome the idea that quality beers only come in bottles. After looking at Maui Brewing Co.'s reasons for choosing cans (both environmental and to protect the flavor of beer) I was convinced that they really cared about what they were doing and became very curious about what the CocoNut PorTeR actually tasted like! The smell and taste of this porter is truly unique, rich and extremely pleasant. I became an instant fan the first time I tried it. (The colder, the better on this one!) It doesn't taste like it comes from a can, but it does taste like it costs $9.99 for a four-pack! You'll forget all about the price-tag once you taste its greatness!

SCORE:
Mugsy: 7.65
Jugsy: 8.95

Stone / BrewDog / Cambridge - Juxtaposition Black Pilsner

Beer: Juxtaposition Black Pilsner
Brewed by: Stone Brewing Co.,
Escondido, CA / BrewDog Brewery, Fraserburgh, Scotland, UK, /
Cambridge Brewing Co., Cambridge, MA
Style: Pilsner (That's what they say, but even they know it's tenuous. We'd call it an Imperial Stout. You be the judge!)
ABV: 10%
IBUs: 100
Bottle: 12 fluid oz.
Served in: Pint glass
Place of purchase: BottleRock, Los Angeles, CA
Price: $6.99

As followers of our blog may know, we are big fans of Stone Brewing in Escondido, CA. So, what might a collaboration of Stone Brewing along with two other world class craft brewers be able to produce? Well, in this case a true beer anomaly: a black pilsner!

You read that correctly, a black pilsner!!! (If you're keeping track, the Juxtaposition is the first lager ever brewed by Stone!)

Stone, BrewDog and Cambridge collaborators decided to use lager yeast, and a longer, colder storage / fermentation time. So, naturally, one would think they were making a pilsner, which would mean the beer would be super crisp and hoppy, possibly a low
alcohol type of brew, right? Think again. You've never tasted anything like this before.

The folks at Stone, Brewdog and Cambridge set out to push the envelope and succeeded in pushing said envelope to its limit! This is definitely a unique hybrid beer and the three brewers certainly had a lot of fun making it. Three cheers!

In every proper review, your trusted husband & wife team of Beeraucrats will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouthfeel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.

Juxtaposition Black Pilsner

APPEARANCE:

Mugsy: Well, it's black. That's right. Just as the name would imply - black. As Nigel Tufnel of Spinal Tap put it so profoundly, "It's like, how much more black could this be?' And the answer is... None. None more black.'" You can't see through it at all, even when put up to the light. Slightly off-white colored head that dissipates somewhat quickly. Some lacing left on the glass.
Jugsy: The blackest beer I've ever seen! Completely opaque and seemingly impenetrable to light. Medium tan head dissipates, but thin head remains.

AROMA:

Mugsy: Malt comes to the nose first followed closely by woodsy hops. A tiny bit of funky yeast is present, as well. Little bits of chocolate and toffee are in there, too.
Jugsy: Coffee grounds and an immense fruity funk hit the nose immediately! Rotten Banana peels, pineapple, and dried apricots comprise the funky scent, followed by a touch of yeast. It smells a bit like sweet garbage. Possibly some piny hops mixed in with the roasted malts, but the funk is overwhelming.

TASTE:

Mugsy: Bold taste of semi-sweet chocolate hits the tongue, closely followed by slightly bitter roasted malt. Hops are really only an aftertaste here. There's another sweetness in there, as well, quite possibly from the yeast. Very complex.
Jugsy: Bitter hops and burnt malt taste right off the top, but there's also a sweetness I can't quite identify. The bitterness is actually heightened by a very sour (yeast?) flavor. Very complex palate - I can taste different components in every swig. The yeasty funk is in there, too, tying all the flavors together.

MOUTHFEEL:

Mugsy: This one is chewy and very creamy. The creaminess is almost like drinking chocolate milk. Going on that same path, the coating left on the tongue is quite similar to what one might have after eating cacao or a dark chocolate bar.
Jugsy: This is a creamy pilsner with a moderate amount of carbonation. Bitter, yeasty coating on tongue that lasts for a while.

DRINKABILITY:

Mugsy: I can already feel this one. At a whopping 10%, one could only throw back a few of these before getting into serious trouble. And let me tell you, I'm looking for trouble.
Jugsy: The beer is a little on the heavy side. At 10% ABV, I feel confident saying it isn't a session beer -- even for Mugsy! If you can tolerate the bold punch of flavors - or if your taste buds just like a challenge - this may be your beer.

OVERALL:

Mugsy: OK, I know this is considered to be a pilsner. It has lager yeast and is stored for a longer period of time, like a lager. But I mean, seriously. If I described a beer as black, smelling and tasting of chocolate and being extremely creamy, wouldn't you figure I was talking about a stout? Nonetheless, pilsner, stout, apples, oranges, who cares - this beer is fantastic. Extremely complex in flavor and aroma. I would drink this again within a beat of my black heart. I only wish the $6.99 price tag for a 12 fluid ounce bottle didn't leave a black hole in my wallet! Oh well. Guess I'll just have to savor this one. Hey! Looks like Jugsy drank the last of it. Black is black. I want my Juxtaposition back....
Jugsy: I'm having a love/hate relationship with the Juxtaposition. Now I see why they decided to call it that! So many opposing, clashing even, flavors, yet there is an undeniable harmony - a beauty to the madness. Stone, BrewDog and Cambridge set out to push the envelope and they definitely succeeded in doing so. On one hand, I feel like I've been tricked into drinking alcoholic garbage water, but on the other hand, I kind of like it! Definitely a unique brew. Try one for yourself and see!

SCORE:
Mugsy: 8.80
Jugsy: 6.75