[Originally published 20 September 2014]
Today, I went on my first trip to the Craft Beer Cellar in Clayton. Not only did it meet my expectations, it exceeded them and really raised the bar for what I want to see when I go out to purchase craft beer. I was lucky enough to wander in during a 2nd Shift tasting, and while I didn’t sample the offerings, I was very impressed at the number of people in attendance, the decor, and the ample seating!
One of the things that makes Craft Beer Cellar unique is the ability to mix any beer or can. After months of being worried I would buy an entire 6-pack of something only to truly dislike it, as well as disappointment with the variety present in the “mix-a-six” sections at other stores, I was so excited to be able to wander freely through the shop and pick out 6 beers I’ve been missing out on or that just plain looked cool. And at an average of $1.75/bottle, I didn’t feel too bad about indulging in multiple beers! CBC Clayton has definitely earned my loyalty.
And now, on to the important question… What did I purchase? As you may have noticed, I got a bottle of Old Rasputin Imperial Stout, and that’s what I tried tonight! An infamous beer named for one of the most infamous and mysterious figures in history… what could possibly be bad about that?
I’ll be honest with you- this beer lives up to the hype. I’ve been enjoying craft beer for the better part of the past 5 years, and this is a solid stout. Pours thick and sweet, clinging to the sides of the glass like some mythical, sinister substance. Thick, velvety head. And the taste! My gosh. I’ve sampled a few stouts boasting notes of chocolate, but nothing like this. This is pure dark chocolate on your tongue, bitter and rich and delicious. I’ll definitely be buying this again, and in greater numbers.
I’ll be honest with you- this beer lives up to the hype. I’ve been enjoying craft beer for the better part of the past 5 years, and this is a solid stout. Pours thick and sweet, clinging to the sides of the glass like some mythical, sinister substance. Thick, velvety head. And the taste! My gosh. I’ve sampled a few stouts boasting notes of chocolate, but nothing like this. This is pure dark chocolate on your tongue, bitter and rich and delicious. I’ll definitely be buying this again, and in greater numbers.
Now, this wouldn’t be a SipStory post without a story to read while you sip, so let’s talk about the man. Yes, Grigori Rasputin himself. I’m sure plenty of you know the basics, that he was a mystic healer and a womanizer, and that the details surrounding his murder have been wildly embellished. He has become legend. He gained a substantial amount of notoriety after being invited by Tsarina Alexandra to treat her son Alexei’s hemophilia. After advising her a few times, Rasputin became favored by the royal family to the point that those who publicly spoke against him were shunned or even exiled. To this day, the tales of his exploits continue to fascinate many, myself included. His presence in pop culture is fairly significant; the basement where he died is now a tourist attraction, he was depicted as the antagonist of 1997’s animated (and historically erroneous) Anastasia, and Crack the Skye, a concept album released in 2009 by metal heavy-hitters Mastodon, is heavily influenced by Russian mysticism and includes a track featuring Rasputin as a character.
Russian history is just one of many niche topics that interest me. What are some lesser-known fields that pique your interest, readers?
No comments:
Post a Comment