I guess you could say that I got BOO-zed and Cigared for Halloween! I got home late last night because I’ve been working on project that is due on Friday, and we are in our typical crunch time when we have a hard and fast deadline. When I got home I was tired and hungry, and it was about 10:00pm. I just wanted to have a bowl of chili and plop down in front of the TV for a 1/2 hour or so before I turned in for the night, but when I got there I noticed a rather large package sitting on the Dining Room table. I went to investigate, because I thought it might be a sample of something that made its way to me.
I was right, it was for me but when I saw whose name was on the packing label I knew immediately that this was a Halloween package. It was from my friend in Coeur d’Alene Rob, and Rob and his business partner Jeff are opening Idaho’s first all Belgian style craft brewery Selkirk Abbey. Rob and I had discussed Boo-ze packages a couple weeks prior and he said he had some “friends” he wanted to send some stuff to. I was completely blown away when a package arrived for me from Rob.
So what was inside? Well you can see the important contents in the picture. What you can’t see is the mountain of bubble wrap that it came packed in! The first thing I noticed was a package that wasn’t shaped like a beer bottle. It was a travel humidor with three cigars inside. Good cigars too, there was an Ashton, which I had one last time I went up to Coeur d’Alene, and it smoked great, mild with a big buttery smoke. There was also a My Father Jaime Garcia, which I’m really interested to try, and finally a Aroma de Cuba. I don’t know anything about that brand, but if Rob sent it I can assure you it is good! These were all sent in a very nice travel humidor which I think is built to withstand a nuclear blast and keep your cigars at optimal humidification! This thing will be great for traveling and making sure my smokes get there safe and in good condition.
Then I began to unwrap the beer. First thing I noticed was that one bomber was from Left Handed Brewing Company. You can tell from the red hand shape on the cap of the bottle. It is their 2009 Oak aged Imperial Stout. With 25% of the beer aged in used Brandy barrels and blended with Licorice and Maple Syrup. This sounds really interesting and very tasty. Next was another bomber, this one from Midnight Sun Brewing up in Alaska. These guys make great beer, so I am really jacked about this one. It is the newest beer in their lineup this year called Berserker Imperial Stout. It is a 12.7% ABV Imperial stout that is aged in oak and uses Brewers Licorice as well. Finally there is the ungettable, a Bell’s Batch 9000. This was a limited release and celebrated their 9000th batch of beer. There is no information on the label about this beer, so I went to their web site and this is what they say:
The latest in Bell’s series of milestone releases, Batch 9000 Ale offers up aromas ranging from the sweet caramel & molasses of dark rum to fruits such as raisins and plums. Brewed with the idea of pushing boundaries in mind, Batch 9000 Ale is a unique, one-time-only recipe. Well suited for vintage aging, this limited release will continue to develop in flavor & complexity over the years.
Alcohol by Volume: 12.5%
Original Gravity: 1.116
Shelf Life: Unlimited
Dates Available: Special Release
Available Packages: Bottle and draft
So there you have it, the contents of my BOO-ze package. I’d say I did pretty damn well! I’d also say Thank You, Thank You, Thank You to Rob at Selkirk Abbey, you made me very happy with the unexpected ray of sunshine to an otherwise long hard day/week.
So what do you think? Should I drink these beers or age them as the package suggests? Give me some feedback in the comments. I wasn’t even at the house for the trick or treaters, and I came away with the best haul in the family!
-Don
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
9,000 is fantastic…enjoy. I would drink everything but the midnight sun, but save them for a special occasion.
nice looking package 😉
I was thinking that myself. Maybe hold the 9000 in particular for a special occasion. You can’t get that stuff out here without going to a lot of trouble. You can look all you like, but you keep your hands OFF my package, King!
Age ’em!
Probably will for a little while at least. The Left had was bottled in 2009, so it might be ready to enjoy right away! 🙂
i agree with massugu…age’em…unless, in a moment of weakness, you just have to crack one open…then, all’s i can say is…enjoy’em…
Sage advise. I have some brews that are over 2 years old. All these should do very well in the bunker. But the Left Hand might be ready. It was bottled in 2009, so I might have to get into that one soon!
The 9000 might be aged enough, but more time won’t hurt it. I like it so much more than the 10000 for sure.
What year was the 9000 bottled Zac?
Awesome! Your Berserker is semi ungettable by the way. It made an appearance here in Idaho 3 years ago or so. Hasn’t been back since. And I haven’t heard anything about it appearing in Boise this year either. Quite jealous of that one, it’s a fabulous beer, Don. At least when I had it a few years ago, it was. Nice haul!
Thanks Chad. I had heard that they were coming out with this again this year, so I don’t know whether it is aged or not. I’ll have to ask Rob.
Jealous 😦
I knew you would be! 😀
Don,
All of your bottles are from my personal cellar. Drink’em all, I’ve got more. I’m certain the Berserker is a ’10.
Jim,
Jealousy doesn’t become you. And the beer fairy is scheduled to visit you this afternoon anyway. 🙂 your package contains a true one-of-a-kind…
Correction, that should say “almost” certain. It might be a ’09.
Yay!!!
Rob, your generosity overwhelms me! Thank you my friend.
BTW, nice how you bitch about the tardiness of this awesome gift in the title. How did the gifthorse’s teeth look?
That wasn’t a complaint! It was simply and observation. I would think a hotshot advertising guy like yourself would be able to tell the difference! They were good too…no cavities.
Very jealous…imperial stouts are my jam…I need to find friends like these…I’d start my own blog with reviews and such…as I am a capable writer…but my sense of smell is essentially non-existent…woe is me…etc.