Finnegan's Milk Stout

Finnegan's Milk Stout.

6 % ABV, 38 IBU. Finnegans Brewery, Minneapolis, MN. 

Utterly ebony, complete opacity, slim cocoa-tinged head. 

In the nose: Chocolatey notes hit first, then the bittersweet and the roast. Just about perfect. Hits all the right spots. 

In the mouth: More chocolate. It's a cocoa bomb! But, balanced. Medium bodied. Creamy. Smooth and silky, so easy drinking. Semi-sweet and super supple. Flat out delicious. Great beer and you can most definitely drink it. 

This is the kind of beer I'd like to have on hand at all times. (Unfortunately, this was only available in a sampler pack, and this was can three of can, or a pack that is gone now. Alas.)

Notes of dark chocolate and roasted malt, with a creamy mouthfeel.

Pantown Dropforge Milk Stout

Pantown Dropforge Milk Stout.

5.1 % ABV, 24 IBU. Pantown Brewing, St. Cloud, MN.

Dark brown, just about black, fully opaque, with a toasted brown head that slowly, softly crumbles. 

In the nose: Sweet cocoa notes hit first, followed by espresso traces. Mainly malty, sleek, smooth. 

In the mouth: Boarding the palate, it's a well-balanced affair, roasted malt and cocoa sweetness. Medium-bodied, creamy, easily consumed. Sweetness lingers on in the finish. Tasty little milk stout, here. 

When the Pan Motor Company opened in 1917, it was home to the largest drop forge west of Chicago. This beer is made with British malts and various roasted and chocolate malts. These roasted and chocolate malts give this beer a glorious chocolate taste with a hint of caramel. The addition of lactose (milk sugar) which is not fermentable by brewer’s yeast gives this brew the classic sweet taste that milk stouts are known for.

Drekker Smooth or Die Peanut Butter Milk Stout

Drekker Smooth or Die Peanut Butter Milk Stout.

6.5 % ABV. Drekker Brewing, Fargo, ND.

Let it go on the record that I like a good peanut butter milk stout. I don't get obsessed about them or anything, but I'll try one out from time to time. And now Drekker has one and it's not a Braaaaainss or a Slang or a smoothie sundae, a Chonk, or any of those things. No marshmallows, no fudge. Just a straight up pbms. Let's drink one. 

Solid blackness, complete opacity, vast brown head. Looking amazing. 

In the nose: Aromatics scream out peanuts and chocolate. Go in for a deeper sniff. Sweet, rich, dark, nutty, ...cocoa and peanut butter. Yes, go on...

In the mouth: smooth and creamy, sweet milk stout goodness, mixed with peanut butter and chocolate. Delightful and delicious. Full body. Moderate bitterness, major malt, extra yum a dum dum. Very well balanced. Never too anything and just enough of the right stuff. 

This is a damned tasty beer. I brought it home because we sold it as single cans, at only $3.49 each. I wouldn't have bought it as a $17 4-pack. Also, what's wrong with chunky? I say Chunky all the way! Smooth be damned! 

Malt: Pale 2 Row, Oats, Chocolate malt, black patent, carafoam, caramel malt, Munich

Hops: Magnum

Yeast: House all yeast.

Gimmicks: Peanut Butter, Cacao nibs, lactose. 

Time to draw a line in the sand. We need to put this out there and we hope this doesn’t mean we can’t be friends anymore, but it needs to be known. We only like creamy peanut butter. We think the only peanut butter on the planet should be creamy and that crunchy peanut butter is an abomination before the gods that should be stricken from the earth. There, we said it. We feel better, how about you?⠀

So to declare this love for the creamy overlord of peanuts in butter form we’re dropping a brand new Peanut Butter Milk Stout called Smooth Or Die. It’s packed with chocolatey, peanut buttery flavor and aroma and it’s rich and unapologetically smooth, so smooth, like the Gods intended.

At least they're upfront about the "gimmicks" business...

Hardywood Gingerbread Stout

Get ready, folks, here comes the first beer in the Bitter Nib from the state of Virginia...

Hardywood Gingerbread Stout . Imperial Milk Stout with fresh local ginger and honey.
9.2 % ABV.  55 IBU.
Hardwood Park Craft Brewery, Richmond, VA.

Thorough blackness, outright opacity, rich, roasted brown head. Looking mighty fine.

In the nose: Sweetness and spice, mixed with dark malts.  Ginger is way ahead. It's definitely a ginger snap cookie beer. Honey's on point, too. Nice.

In the mouth: Spice and honey are right on top of this one, other flavors far below. Holds it's command for a very long time. Rich and full bodied, fully flavored, with alcohol not hidden in the least. Buzzes with heat and spice. Doesn't calm down for quite a while.

Needless to say, I enjoyed this big, bad boy. Thanks, Julie!

Brewed with baby ginger from Casselmonte Farm and wildflower honey from Bearer Farms, Hardywood Gingerbread Stout captures the terroir of central Virginia in a rich, creamy libation with a velvety mouthfeel and an intriguing evolution of flavors from milk chocolate and vanilla to honeycomb and cinnamon to a snap of ginger in the finish.
Deep, dark chocolate in color with a mahogany tint and a frothy, caramel colored head, Hardywood Gingerbread Stout offers aromatics of holiday spice originating from the ginger, and balanced with a generous dose of whole Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans and Vietnamese cinnamon. Milk sugar (lactose) contributes to the full body of this stout and tames its roasty character, while oats lend a silky quality. Enjoy fresh, or cellar for a special occasion. We hope Hardywood Gingerbread Stout contributes to your merriment this season.

Fulton Chocolate Oatmeal Milk Stout

Fulton Chocolate Oatmeal Milk Stout.
5.5 % ABV. 25 IBU.
Fulton Beer, Minneapolis, MN.

Final bottle from the Fulton sampler pack.

Pitch black, fully opaque, slim brown head.

In the nose: cocoa and cream, semi-sweet, very inviting.

In the mouth: Slight bitterness, very smooth, light roast. Medium bodied, easy-drinking. Long lasting cocoa flavors. Delightful stuff. Good oatmeal chocolate milk stout, and you can certainly drink it.

Built on a backbone of Pilsner and Marris Otter, this stout showcases the flavor and complexity of 9 different varieties of malted barley and oats.  We used oats for over a quarter of the malt bill and added a touch of lactose to the kettle to create a full bodied, smooth stout while still coming in at just 5.5% ABV for easy drinkability. Northern Brewer hops were used with restraint in order to allow the malts shine through. After fermentation, we "dry-hopped" this beer with cacao nibs from Ghana. These particular cacao nibs were selected because they impart a milk chocolate/nutty/coconut flavor. Our Nitro Chocolate Oatmeal Milk Stout is an exceptionally smooth, chocolatey, malty milk stout that's exclusive in this form to our taproom.

Town Hall Double Barreled Xtra Milk Stout

Town Hall Double Barreled Xtra Milk Stout. 9.8 % ABV.
Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN

Alas, the last of the Barrel-aged Week growlers from Town Hall. This one barely made it to two months in the fridge. Can't wait to crack it open.

Thoroughly black, ultimately opaque, slim brownish head, soon disappearing.

In the nose: dense, rich, chocolatey. Whiskey comes in, oak, vanilla, cocoa, coffee.

In the mouth: More rich, more dense, thick and viscous. Immense malt. Sweetness, with a touch of bitter. Whiskey comes barreling in, mixing up with the cocoa and cream. Great balance between sweet milk stout and the barrel-aging effects. Big powerful beer in all respects. Whiskey flavors grow and grow, as does the alcohol warmth.

A tasty beverage that's getting better and better the further in we go.

Double Milk Stout Aged Twice in Two Different Bourbon Barrels

Toppling Goliath Mornin' Latte Imperial Coffee Milk Stout

Toppling Goliath Mornin' Latte Imperial Coffee Milk Stout.
8.9 % ABV. 20 IBU.
Toppling Goliath Brewing, Decorah, IA.

Deep black, full opacity, slim brownish head.

In the nose: Earthy, rich, espresso, sweet and creamy malt flavors. A little nutty, bit of cocoa. Quite a lot happening.

In the mouth: Large malt presence, bursting with flavor, Creamy and smooth, while also outsized and expressive. Yum, I am forced to say, a dum dum. Milk, chocolate, coffee, booze, and not necessarily in that order. Damned delicious. Great balance in this one, too, as there's never too much of any element.

Imperial Coffee Milk Stout brewed with lactose and a careful blend of cacao nibs giving it a dark chocolate, toasty and toasty sweet coffee taste

Town Hall Kentucky Truffle

Town Hall Kentucky Truffle. 2020.
Barrel-aged Imperial Milk Stout.
9.8 % ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Deep ebony appearance, powerfully opaque, slim head, soon gone.

In the nose: Ridiculously rich. Vast. Dark malts fully in charge, with cocoa, espresso, and cream riding hight on top. Vanilla and coconut, with an undercurrent of currants and other dark fruits.

In the mouth: Sweet and creamy, dark and decadent, decidedly delicious. Full body, enormous malt presence, slight hoppiness, barrel delivers hard. Dark fruit, deep and delectable cocoa. Purrs on the palate and lays down deliciousness. Alcoholic warmth washes over and everything is groovy. Aw, man. This is some right-on stuff, here. So big, fierce, full and so very tasty. Incredible.

While in Kentucky, we enjoyed some truffles made with three primary ingredients: chocolate, cream, and bourbon. Just so happens that we like htese treats so we decided to make our own in barrels for you, hope you enjoy! We made a strong stout with milk sugar that is rich in dark chocolate and fruit character, and aged it in a barrel chosen for caramel and vanilla notes, and finally finished with chocolate.

Boulevard Steep Drop! Nitro Coffee Milk Stout

Boulevard Steep Drop! Nitro Coffee Milk Stout. "Dark. Velvet. Roast."
Brewed with Fair Trade, Small Batch Coffee. 5.2 % ABV. 23 IBU.
Brewed and packaged by Boulevard Brewing, Kansas City, MO.

Dark brown color, slim beige head. Lookin' okay.

In the nose: Light roast. Earth, coffee flavors shine through, but not too loudly.

In the mouth: Coffee and cream at the top. And then it falls flat. Nothing going on. Far too light-bodied, not enough flavors to keep me interested. Woefully thin. Slight sweetness, continual coffee. But overall, ...eh. I definitely don't recommend it.

I'm not enjoying this one. Not usually the case with Boulevard beers. Aw, well.

Although, once again, I forgot to 'hard pour" this can. I doubt it would have improved the experience that much.

Crafted to showcase custom-roasted beans from Kansas City's Second Best Coffee, this smooth, creamy nitro milk stout blooms with notes of honey, molasses, citrus and cocoa powder. A mild nuttiness is accentuated by caramel and chocolate malts, with a touch of flaked oats.

Eastlake Almond Milk Stout

Eastlake Almond Milk Stout.
4.5 % ABV. 19 IBU.
Eastlake Craft Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Here we have again, thanks to the sample man, another serving of one of Eastlake's flagship beers that I first tasted when they first released it over four years ago, but I'm taking notes on for the first time now.

Full-on ebony, roasted tan head on top, utter opacity. Looking good.

In the nose: Creamy, nutty, malty. Small amount of bitterness, good dose of roast.

In the mouth: Roasted/toasted malt, minor hops, slightly nutty flavor. Veers toward the sweet, but ends on a dry note. Medium-bodied, goes down nice and smooth, crowler finished in practically no time.

I didn't have much else to say about this one. 'Tis what 'tis.

This entirely vegan brew is a sweet UK-style stout. Almonds, flaked oats, midnight wheat, Willamette hops.

Belching Beaver Peanut Butter Milk Stout

Belching Beaver Peanut Butter Milk Stout.
5.3 % ABV. 30 IBU.
Belching Beaver Brewery, Oceanside, CA.

Thoroughly black, rich brown head on top.

In the nose: peanut butter, cream, cocoa, dark malt.

In the mouth: Sweetness starts it off, nuts, peanut butter, rich, dark malt, cocoa. Tasty stuff, indeed. Medium bodied, expertly drinkable. Smooth and creamy. Goes down nice and easy. Pretty okay peanut butter stout.

Hey, you know what? Why don't we try the nitro version?

Just as black, with a creamier brown head.
Maltier nose, peanut butterier, if a touch.
Smoother, more mellifluous mouthfeel. Mmm, hmm, mmm.

Even more pretty okay peanut butter milk stout.

Our Peanut Butter Milk Stout is simply irresistible. It’s like dark chocolate Reese’s in a glass! Rolled oats and Lactose add to the creamy body of this beer while heavenly aromas of roasted buttery peanuts and chocolate greet you with every sip. Try this out with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a real treat!
Silver Medal – World Beer Championships 2014

Badger Hill Badger Snack Peanut Butter Milk Stout

Badger Hill Badger Snack Peanut Butter Milk Stout. 6.3 % ABV. 13 IBU. Badger Hill Brewing, Shakopee, MN.

Full ebony color, absolutely impenetrable, under a rich, thick cocoa, tan head. Looking good.

In the nose: Peanut butter notes explode. Other flavors seem fairly muted in it's wake. No complaints here, though. If PB's what you want, PB's what you get.

In the mouth: Full bodied, smooth, and just sweet enough, never too. Well balanced. Beautiful texture. Abundant peanut butter flavor, but again, never too much. Chocolate and dark malt flavors lie just below, with a small dose of espresso dipping on the palate. Stays on the semi-sweet side, ends on a dry note. Swift finish, not cloying in the least.

I like this peanut butter stout, and chances are you will, too. This one is available in a mixed pack, if I'm not mistaken. Go out there and get it.

It's a well-known fact that badgers love peanut butter... so we're sure you'll go nuts for this Badger Hill beer, too!

And yes - pun VERY intended.

A blend of roasted malts, flaked oats, flaked barley and milk sugar make for creamy chocolaty base to this peanut butter powered snack. A treat for badgers and beer drinkers alike.

AVAILABLE: Draft and 6-Packs

Badger Hill Vanilla Machiatto Stout

Badger Hill Vanilla Machiatto Stout. Brewer's Batch. A limited small batch run crafted by our brewers. 6.5 % ABV. 30 IBU. Badger Hill Brewery, Shakopee, MN.

Full-on blackness, with a rich, toasted tan head. Looking great.

In the nose: Vanilla, cocoa, coffee. Sweet, earthy, nutty. Lush & lovely. Creamy. Gorgeous.

In the mouth: Full bodied. Rich and delicious. Smooth and creamy. Hints of vanilla and coffee continue. All the notes from the nose appear on the palate. Just delicious. Nothing but. I like this a lot. Can't remember the last time I liked a Badger Hill beer this much. So very good.

This one's available as part of a current mix pack, I believe. It's worth getting it just to get this.

Espresso roast coffee beans and real vanilla beans add an extra layer of decadence to the rich and creamy milk stout. 

Junkyard / Modist The Bar Side Episode Two: Betsy's Dark Secret

Junkyard / Modist The Bar Side Episode Two: Betsy's Dark Secret. 6 % ABV. Stout with coffee, chocolate, lactose, and natural peanut flavor.

So, this is part two of a collaboration between Junkyard Brewing of Moorhead, Minnesota, and Modist of Minneapolis. I haven't seen part one, the Modist version, yet. Is it sold out? Only at the taproom? Sold out of only the taproom?

Utter darkness (if I were a punning person, I'd say "udder"), deepest blackness, under a roasty tanned head. Looking very nice.

In the nose: Ah! Chocolate, coffee, peanuts! Who put their chocolate in my peanut butter? Scrump-diddly-uptious.

In the mouth: Roasty/toasty. Dry. Cocoa and espresso. Creamy-smooth. Delightful. Dreamy. Medium bodied, long-lasting flavors. Robust and relishable. (My new word, trying it out.) Flat out tasty.

I say, Go Drink It!

A Milk Stout brewed with coffee, chocolate, lactose, and natural peanut flavor. The flavor is reminiscent of chocolate covered coffee beans and peanut butter cups. 

This beer is one of a two-part collaborative series of beers that we brewed with Modist Brewing Co. of Minneapolis. Betsy's Dark Secret was brewed in Moorhead at Junkyard Brewing, and we brewed another "blonde stout" version called "Betsy's Bright Idea" at Modist. Both beers are being released during the same week, starting 1/29/19 on tap and in cans, so check them both out!

Destihl Moonjumper Milk Stout

Destihl Moonjumper Milk Stout. 6.1 % ABV, 30 IBU.
Destihl Brewery, Normal, Illinois.

Deep black, nearly opaque, creamy tan head.

In the nose: Light roasted malt offsets the sweetness. Cocoa reigns supreme, with the slightest hint of coffee. Little to no hop bitterness.

In the mouth: Creamy and smooth, from the start. Soft, mostly malty, sweet cocoa tones in command. Well-balanced and likable. Medium bodied, easy drinking, a sessional milk stout, for certain. I like it. If I find myself in a milk stout mood, I'll pack the fridge with more of this.

Fasten your space helmet because this stout will quickly have you orbiting the moon. Notes of roasted and chocolate malts round out our milk stout's sweet side, creating a well-balanced beer with a smooth mouthfeel and creamy tan head. One sip of this medium-bodied stout will have you jumping over the moon for another. Cheers!

Surly Grindcore Espresso Milk Stout

Surly Grindcore Espresso Milk Stout. 6 % ABV. Stout brewed with espresso and lactose. Brewed and canned by Surly Brewing Company, Brooklyn Center, MN. "The original brewery-where it all started."

Previously only available on tap, in nitro kegs, now in cans, it's the re-imagining of Surly Four. That was an iced espresso milk stout, at around 10%.

Total blackness, gorgeous creamy brown head, completely opaque. Looks fantastic.

In the nose: Beautifully complex. Rich and deep, earthy and sweet. Wafts out coffee and cocoa in the warmest way. Vividly expressive.

In the mouth: Full body. Chocolate and coffee flavors flood the palate and make themselves home in the mouth. Delicious malty character continues and spreads and delights. Little bit of dark fruit and cherries pops out with a touch of vanilla, too.

I'm really enjoying this one. Two more left in the 4-pack. Gonna make them last, and go back for more.

WAKE UP. An aggressive, unapologetic barrage of deep coffee flavor defines GRINDCORE. Fusing a rich, slightly sweet stout body with toasty, complex espresso notes, Grindcore thrashes with fervent, uncommon purpose.

ESPRESSO MILK STOUT
COLOR
Black

HOPS
Warrior
MALT
2 Row Pale Malt
Roasted Barley
Chocolate Malt
OG
15.4° Plato
YEAST
House Ale
IBU
Moderate
ABV
6%

SURLY MN USA

Giesenbrau Bier Co. Spaceballs the Milk Stout (& more)

Giesenbrau Bier Co. Spaceballs the Milk Stout. 5 % ABV.

Just about black coloring, rich & creamy brown head above. Looking nice.

In the nose: roasted malt, slightly sweet & gentle. Right on the nose for the milk stout style.

In the mouth: Semi-sweet, lightly bitter, mellow roasted malt. Medium-bodied, and fully flavored. Smooth and silky. Chocolate notes dominate the malt profile. Creamy mouthfeel. Tasty stuff, and I don't mind saying it: Good beer, and you can drink it.

If Planet Spaceball had run out of bier and not air, this is the bier they would have stolen from Planet Druidia. This is a dark, malty, roasty, chocolaty ale brewed with lactose, oats, and flaked barley to give it a nice body and smooth drinkability. At only 5% this is a very sessionable and approachable stout even for those of you who aren't sure about dark biers. May the Schwarz be with you!

So there's my review of the third crowler I purchased at Giesenbrau (pronounced Gee-sehn-broy, for reasons I don't totally comprehend) Brewery in New Praque, MN, back in September of last year. It was the second brewery visit of the day with Jason, after Roet's in Jordan, and before Imminent in Northfield, both of which we'd seen before.

I took in 3 beers on my visit, this one above, named for the Mel Brooks "Star Wars" spoof, a German-style IPA that I enjoyed called "Take Off, You Hoser" (Hmmm, there's a Rick Moranis trend, now.), and a double IPA that didn't quite thrill me called "Frickin Ugly"....and, wait, according to my Untappd check-in, I had another, called 31 Hour Pale Ale that met my palate more satisfactorily.

I took in the atmosphere and took down my beers, without taking notes, while my companions were engrossed in a football game. The German decor was an endearing touch. There was a special kids corner, with toys and games, as the local brewery taproom is becoming a family destination, and alternative to bars and pubs. As you'd guess from the name, New Prague, a town of 7,000 in South Central, MN, was founded by Czech immigrants, although eventually they started letting in some Germans. The mission
statement of the brewery tells us that they are intent on emphasizing this heritage: Giesenbräu Bier Co. (pronounced "GHEE-sen-broy") is a family owned and operated brewery whose goal is to serve the local community with fresh, locally crafted lagers and ales with an emphasis on German and Czech tradition.

As I told you above, I eschewed taking notes on the pints had on premise and took three crowlers home. I like the Bavarian Gangsta IPA, but wasn't especially keen on the Hefe Weizen. As reported above, the English-style milk stout was as fine as when enjoyed on tap. I was let down that the

German-style hefe weizen wasn't as accomplished as I'd hoped. Now, I haven't had everything from them, so trying out six beers, and being pleased with four of them isn't such a bad record. I'm just a bit disappointed that the one true German style among them (German IPA isn't really a true German style) wasn't quite on point. I would not hesitate, however, to return and try them out again.

Summit Dark Infusion Coffee Milk Stout

I have a confession to make. I received samples of this many weeks ago, but I gave one away to a friend, and I drank one without taking notes thinking that I'd written about it when it was an Unchained Series beer, so why do it again? Why? Why not? It's a new name, it's a new label, it's a new can, it's all new, even if it's the same beer. Seems like it is. Read my notes here.

So I asked my Summit man to get me more so that I can post about it again, and that's what I'm doing now, okay? Everyone cool with that?

Summit Dark Infusion Coffee Milk Stout. Our smoothest, boldest brew, back by popular demand. 8.5 % ABV, 40 IBU. Summit Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Solid blackness, utter darkness, terrifically opaque, with a creamy brown head on top, leaving lace.

In the nose: Cream. Cola. Nuts aplenty. Toffee, coffee, malty goodness. A little toasty-toasty, and oh, my goodness, such a lot of nice-ness. Delightful.

In the mouth: Such sweetness, much malt, with abundant roast. Plentiful coffee, and massive malt, mixed with cream and such substantial smooth. Many layer of deliciousness. No fooling. Treats upon treats. Delish, upon delish. I would turn to this again and again.

A rich, full-bodied imperial milk stout with sweet, roasted notes from six different specialty malts, Dark Infusion features kettle additions of lactose for additional sweetness and body. Balanced by Pilgrim and Fuggle hops from the U.K., Dark Infusion is made even bolder and more complex with the infusion of smooth, cold-brewed coffee. Complemented by coffee rather than overpowered, traces of caramel, graham cracker and dark chocolate round out this highly anticipated and limited beer.

Barrel Theory Black Lotus Milk Stout w/ Coconut

Barrel Theory Black Lotus Milk Stout w/ Coconut. 6.9 % ABV. 15 IBU. Barrel Theory Brewing Company, St. Paul, MN.

Dark, black, impenetrable, with a rich brown ring of foam, leaving lace. Nice.

In the nose: Coconut spills out from the start. Sweet. Lush. Lovely. Malty all the way. Lovely stuff.

In the mouth: Pow! Coconut! Mmm. If you like that stuff. Sweet and creamy and smooth. Never quits. Nice all the way. Not much from hops or roast in this one. But it gives you what it set out to give. If that's what you're into, go for it. Not what I would want on a regular basis. A tasty treat from time to time, sure. A one and done for me. Quite nice. Even delicious. But, I don't need another.

You want another? You go for it. I recommend this highly to those inclined towards it.

Milk stout with toasted coconut

Town Hall Six Hour Tour

Town Hall Six Hour Tour. Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Coconut Milk Stout. 8.6 % ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Solid blackness, utter opacity, slim brownish head.

In the nose: Coconut pops out first, creamy, rich, malty. Sweet and delectable. Not picking up anything from bourbon barrel yet, though.

In the mouth: Bam! Impressive entry from the coconut flavor at the start,  then it snowballs, getting bigger and bigger, deeper, richer, maltier. Bourbon makes the scene, grows and grows on the palate, vanilla, cherry, oak, booze. This is flat out delicious. More delicious than all the delicious that came before. Yu-u-um. So tasty, and the whiskey elements creep up from below, coat the throat and linger on all over the tongue and in the roof of the mouth. Dangerous stuff.

I was a little late to buy the growlers that night that they were released. A friend nearly let me buy his, until Chris revealed that someone who won one in a trivia contest didn't want it, so it could be mine. That person is one gigantic idiot. Just think. Merely bringing this to a party could have made him the life of such an event. A hero. A beer-o. Passing it along to a friend would make him greater in said friend's esteem. Donating it to a charity silent auction would make him seem like a saint in some eyes. Whether he wanted to drink it or not, merely having this growler and giving it up in a myriad of ways (giving it to someone in a hospital who is near death, pour some for someone who is suicidal and give them a reason to go on living!) would have enriched his regard by many, ensuring his legacy for decades to come.

But, it became mine and I am selfless and merely take my notes to tell the world of it's majesty and now you know to seek this out and enjoy it's wonder on your own. Aren't you glad you know me?