Each time we welcome our pal Brian Boak into the studio, we have more fun than the last time, and each time we get to sample some pretty special beers. Brian makes the ride up each year to share his beers and to celebrate his anniversary with us, and as he has done over the last two years, he’s also celebrating it with you (**More below).
2013 signals Boaks Beer’s 5th anniversary, and of course we wanted to do something special to commemorate the occasion. Today we decided to sample Boaks Monster Mash…but wait…it’s more than just that. Brian was kind enough to celebrate his 5th anniversary by bringing us a vertical tasting of 5 different Monster Mash vintages. Today we sampled Monster Mash 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2013, side-by-side and back-to-back.
A vertical tasting allows you to compare (and enjoy) different years or vintages of the same beer to see how the beer has aged and gained complexity over the years…and Monster Mash is perhaps one of the best styles suited to this sort of aging and tasting. Monster Mash is a big 10% ABV Russian Imperial Stout, so right out of the brewhouse, it’s rich and complex and loaded with flavors of dark chocolate and notes of coffee. Add a few years and the flavors mellow and blend together in an even more pleasant way. Rather than try to describe each year, let me just say that they got better and better and if you’re lucky enough to be sitting on a properly aged Boaks Monster Mash, you are in for a treat.
It was fun talking beer with Brian today so Brian has decided to stay and celebrate with all of you. **Tonight (2/8) from 5-7 PM @ Krugel’s Georgetown Deli & Beer, Brian Boak will be pouring samples, signing autographs and talking beer…so mark your calendar. Come say Hi to Brian and YES I’ll be there to help Brian pour (ahem…drink) some samples. See you there.
T
hank you to Brian Boak from Boaks Beer, Nancy, John & Joe for yet another
fun Friday.
The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together. As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE.
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We don't get the chance to do a vertical tasting often and certainly not one of this magnitude as we celebrated the 5th anniversary of Boaks Beer with Brian Boak and his Monster Mash '07 thru '13 this morning.
ReplyDeleteBrian makes great beers and as we went in reverse order, from '13 to '07, we discovered they only improve as they age!
A pleasure welcoming him back to the WILK FBB studio today. Continued success Brian and thanks!
Thanks too to Bill from MyBeerBuzz.com, to Jake who filled in for The Joe Thomas today, thanks to Karel Zubris for her videographic talent AND the peanuts! lol
And thanks to you for listening!
Best,
John
webster@wilknewsradio.com
OMG ! 5 years of Monster Mash. I would be happy with just one! I'll be there tonight to say drink up to Brian. Ryan W
ReplyDeleteI love this beer!
ReplyDeleteEric
Hi guys. I do not like stouts. But when you said 100 IBU you peeked my interest. I'll stop by tonight to try some of this Monster Mash. Amy
ReplyDeleteI traded to get Monster Mash back in 2012. I am in Florida and I do listen to your beer show. In fact I think it is one of the best. I really like Monster Mash and I would brave your snow to sample some more. Rock on Brian!
ReplyDeleteJenn Kl
If its not bad out tonight I'll be down to try some of Brian's stuff. Cheers Brian.
ReplyDeleteJason
Can I buy Monster Mash to take home tonight?
ReplyDeleteJT
Yes JT. Krugels will have it for sale as well. I'm not positive, but they may have it on draft for growlers as well.
ReplyDeleteIf you have any snow doubts let me just tell you how good this Russian Imperial Stout is! I like in Clarkes Summit and I will be there tonight. I missed Brian last year but not this year. Save me a glass Brian!
ReplyDeleteThom
Hi Brian. I'm amazed this beer hasn't seen further distribution. I'm a listener of the Friday beer buzz from Connecticut and I too have to trade for it. Any chance it's coming to CT?
ReplyDeleteJazz
Excellent show and guest today. I only wish I lived closer. Ken L
ReplyDeleteI would not miss free Monster Mash for anything! See you there Brian!
ReplyDeleteMarcus
We will have ALL 5 Boaks Beers available for sampling tonight at Krugel's Georgetown Deli...including Monster Mash. Stop by and try them all!
ReplyDeleteSpectacular Beer! Maybe one of my all time favorites. See you at 5PM promptly. Jim
ReplyDeleteI buy this beer a case at a time. Which reminds me that I'm out of Monster Mash. I think a road trip to Stockertown may be in order. Kelly
ReplyDeleteBoaks Monster Mash has more hops than most IPA's but it drinks sweet. Emma
ReplyDeleteAll true Emma. @ 100 IBU the hops are there, but the malt backs it up nicely and balances the flavors. I get a little chocolate and graham cracker with some late hops and a but of boozy bourbon too.
ReplyDeleteOK count me in for the beer tonight.
ReplyDeleteEmma
2PM and no snow. I'll make the ride down. I can;t resist the Monster. Jake
ReplyDeleteWhat is the status of the bus trip?
ReplyDeleteEric
Eric...stay tuned. We're closing in on the final details and date. We should have news very soon.
ReplyDeleteThe video credits are great as always. See you at the Big COW! Martin
ReplyDeleteI'm walking distance from Krugels so I plan to be there. It looks like we're not getting much anyway. Cheers Brian!
ReplyDeleteRon