January 24, 2024 • 24 mins
On today's American Beer Review LIVE! review, we finally completed the questline "Hey, we should totally review next year's version!" with Black Raven Brewing Co.'s Festivus Infused Pale Ale.
Black Raven Brewing Co.
Festivus Infused Pale Ale
16oz 4-Pack
7.3% ABV
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Oh, is it just, I don't know.
Solar review.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Yep.
This is the this year'sFestivus.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Okay, what's going on here?
Um, I took the time To go Ishto look at the Discord to see
(00:36):
what was going on.
Okay, I don't remember why orwhere it was bored Maybe it was
Chet's text messages yesterday,I'm good, um.
And so I was looking through itand I was like the reviews of
all the things, like, okay,that's cool, alright, why didn't
we already do Festivus?
(00:57):
Hmm, like, didn't we?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
already review that.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Welcome to another episode of the American Beer
Review Podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Good times, but good friends requires good beer.
Lucky for us, we know how topick all three.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
We're a group of friends who grew up in the
Pacific Northwest, giving us ajump start on our craft beer
journey.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Join us today.
While Brian that prides myselfon not getting to know other
people, so do not put that on me.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Alec.
So the bananas up until likethe 60s weren't entirely
different species of banana.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
And Chet Hit me like a bacon bar.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
Review some beer, talk about beer topics and
whatever else comes up.
We invite you to pour yourselfa drink and hang out with us.
And then I actually read thelike stuff on it and I was like
there you go.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Ooh, which one's that the seasonal IPA?
Hmm, there's one in the beerfridge.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
There's still this one in my sister's that I
haven't finished because it's anIPA.
Keep that on the list of.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
I'll send it there and whatever you just flag me
for just taking.
That's fine.
I like it way up there.
I can't see it at all.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
I don't want to deal with it.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
All right, so this is a repeat.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
So this is like the Like I wrote in the Discord.
We finally are going to followup on a.
Hey, let's try this beer nextyear.
I don't think we activelylooked for the Trader Joe's this
year.
I sure should.
I sure should did it.
But as we did last year withlast year's- artwork.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
I'd say the artwork's different right yeah?
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yes, so it's more in line with, like that new refresh
they did.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Oh, that's right, I forgot about that.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
But they change it every year because this is a
seasonal and this one called apale ale.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
It's a Black Raven Brewing's Festivus Infused Pale
Ale this year, so it wasn'tinfused.
I mean nothing, it wasn't.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
but they didn't follow it out.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
It's not on the artwork from last year, so I'll
pass these around.
These are In order.
Yours, brian's fine.
So I cleaned the glasses.
But in case there's well, looklate in Corona.
Well, live on them, yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
I am.
I am fully enough vaccinated.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
I have a cove it.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
No, no, no, no, that's yours, chad.
He literally just pointed gaveyou instruction the same it was
the same order you were handingthem out last time I told yeah,
30 seconds, my brain was off,sorry I am a little worried, uh,
that I got to start doing likea tracker of, like my brain and
some of the things that I likeforget and don't do.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
I started doing some of those brain games, yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Get myself on some of that crossword puzzle praying
for some dementia Easiest way togo.
Okay so.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Festivus, pale ale Festivus, it's the same one as
last time.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
Yes, but there's a 2023 version to check in on
untapped there you go, so therewe go.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Read it almost a year ago when we did our black raven
.
Yeah, review.
Festivus easy drinking or easyto drink.
Brilliant copper holiday paleale brewed with orange peels,
northwest cranberries, galengalroot and the melange of festive
spices that should wrap you inwarmth of a snow in winter heart
.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
I think similar, so we have to hear galengal root.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
So I did listen to last year's podcast, because
that's what Chad called out like.
We talked about reviewing thisand what did we actually say
about it, and we spent probablyfive minutes on Galengal root
and I'm like I don't know whatthis word is, and Brian's like
spice.
You don't know how.
It's no melange melange.
You know what that word is.
I'm like, I know that one.
What's this?
(04:51):
Galangal, oh, galangal root allof us rated as Excellent season
, will be your last year.
Something that we would searchfor and Potentially grab and
take to a party was, I think,our collective consensus spice.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Like it's, the spice is there.
It's definitely Putting itselfinto a season, a time of year
and we missed it again Because alittle bit festivus is oh yeah,
december 23rd.
So we're, but we're.
It's Christmas, adam, that'sfestive us.
I'm sorry about this before Eveis Adam, so the day before
(05:36):
Christmas Eve, oh boy howdy.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
I'm out of my depth here, it's just untrend water.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
It's a joke that my family used to do because we
would We'd have so much familystuff that we'd have to push
stuff into a different day.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
So you just start making a Paul days.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
So you.
So, if going in reverse order,you have Christmas, christmas
Eve, christmas Adam.
Oh, okay, got it now, yeah, soit is, but I didn't know it's so
.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
It was on the podcast last year.
Probably Is the only reason.
Yeah, we had this exact samediscussion.
As soon as you just set theangle, root.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
It just popped in my head.
Oh yeah, because I was gonna dothe same thing and listen to it
.
But then I Startedphotoshopping.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
No, it's way more productive doing that and it's
not one of our better.
It was, it was, it was fine, itwas episode 14.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
So it was only like our second or third one back.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Wouldn't matter.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Sixth that's like our fourth or fifth session back.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
I was looking to see what I.
I gave it a 4.0 last year too.
January 8th.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
That's what we say.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
We're almost a month exactly that's why, when I was
over, when I was in Costco lastweekend and I saw this, I pulled
up the website and I was likewhen did we review this?
I was like, oh, it's so damnclose.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
I've been a little disappointed with the Costco
beer selection lately.
They just have less.
The only upside I've said it, Iat least know this Alec.
I know I've said it on thepodcast before, but just about
any time I go to Costco andthere is a four pack of Irish
Death Tallboys for like 640, I'mgonna buy them.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Throw them right there next to your Kirkland
light, like I didn't even haveit anymore.
I know it lasted for like ayear.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
I can't remember the price on this, but when I saw
the price I went oh, yes, oh,because it was on the grocery
store shelf too and I saw theprice and I was like Black Raven
is competitive.
They're not an overpriced.
That was in whatever it was inCostco.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
You might be able to say a little more.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
I wanna say we're like a two or three bucks a pint
, oh that's, I mean probablythree at least.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Yeah, there's probably state taxes on the
receipt, but all I care about iswhat the labels, what the
little three by five says I'malways intrigued by when I go to
the grocery store and some,like I don't pay enough
attention to see, like ifconsistently there's always the
six pack beer prices or the fourpack beer prices are always
(08:21):
10.99, but mostly like 11.99,12.99.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Or they're 14.99, but then two or four bucks off if
you have your card.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
14.99 are usually the four pack of tall boys.
Those are 13 or 14, but there'salways one or two that are like
the dollar off.
And I am the sucker that thedollar difference sways by
purchasing If one is 12.99 andthe other's 11.99.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
They paid the tax, like that's what I'm wondering.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
It's like are they just?
Am I getting suffered in?
Is this like an old?
Speaker 2 (09:00):
like hey, this has been on the shelf for like you,
would be shocked at howeffective it is.
Six weeks, let's make sure weEntirely like entirely, how
effective it is.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
This is delightful.
Yes, it just like I forget, Iforgot, I forget I didn't listen
to the podcast.
But like this is a perfect timeand place, beer, this is a
great one that I wish I wouldhave paid attention to.
We really need to look and seewhen we don't need to.
I'm gonna say this, don't makeme follow up on it.
I would have loved to have hadsome packs of this in December.
(09:35):
That would have been great forgoing to certain parties and
things and like we had bonfireyesterday.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
last night, this would have been a perfect four
pack.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
while we're burning old furniture, Hannah is that
the only time you guys dobonfires?
Speaker 3 (09:53):
I feel like that's what we did last time, yep.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
This would be perfect .
Get some utility out of it.
Send it to the Bajala.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
In your Stanley cup, your insulated cup outside.
Oh yeah, this would be a great.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
It was cold enough, you wouldn't need it to be
insulated.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
I meant for your hand .
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Oh, a koozie would have sufficed.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
I think this is it.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Sorry, I'm gonna take some more.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Whoa finishing it off already.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Or whatever, top off.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
I think this would I'll talk in the microphone.
I think this would even warm upAppreciate this, oh yeah.
I wanna say last year's hadmore.
The volume knob on the spicewas turned up a little more.
Maybe this year a little moresubdued, but I'm getting the
angle root and a little bit ofthat orange peel kind of in the
(10:44):
very back.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
It also could have been the fact that it was our
fourth or fifth episode back andso the spices were hitting.
Maybe the two of us made it alittle bit harder versus now.
We've had a year of drinking,Of drinking current beer.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Is this also when we were drinking entire like cups
or cans by ourselves?
Speaker 3 (11:04):
No, no, no no, no, no , we figured that out by then
Cause we did four beers for thisepisode, but that's what we
Tasters.
I think this was the switch toTasters.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Did you say Buddha hand earlier?
No, ale brewed with Galingalroot and Buddha hand.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Oh.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
I read off their website, not off the can.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
So maybe old, although it says infused on
their website.
So it's part of their blackfeather series, which I don't
know if we mentioned last year.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
It says last year.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
And so the black feather.
It looks like they'reseasonal-ish.
Cause, you know it's not calledseasonal, but Festivus.
A fruit wizard, grapefruit witSounds good, so we're gonna go
to the tropical IPA and thenfeather weather coffee stout,
which sounds delightful, I wantsome of that.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
And it's outside of the other seasonal.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Which is the IPA one.
Yeah, yeah, cause they have abest of the nest seasonal.
So I don't know what the blackfeather is versus, cause I feel
like this was best of the nestlast time around, so maybe the
black feather.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
What's in the best of the nest?
Now, while we're at it, we havesome yeah, sure why not
Grandfather Raven Imperial Stout.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
Cryo Fresh Hop IPA.
Flocktoberfest Fresh Hop.
West Coast IPA.
Splinter Scotch Ale, the FlatStick Players.
Club Pills that we had lastyear in a Wisdom Seeker double
IPA Interesting.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
It's just different series that obviously I know
they did a refresh of thebranding.
Yes.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
This one.
It's still the stock can with asticker on it.
Yes, it is.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
They went a little more cartoony with this one, but
I kind of like it.
Yes, yes, with like Kept thefun and the best.
The bird holding the ornament,like the little snowflakes
floating around.
So the old one I keep lookingat it is a very more traditional
stately aspect to it, but Ikind of dig this one as well,
(13:07):
yeah, and that was what theyused on those when we did the
blueberry essence of beers.
They had the hops, the water,the malt.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
They used that same art style on that the kitty cat
blues.
No, there was a different one,that was the one where they did
the celebration of the fourparts of beer.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
We didn't try those.
We just talked about them,didn't we?
I?
Speaker 2 (13:32):
think we ripped the blueberry, which was the
celebration of water, I think.
I think that was around a pointof time Is correct.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
I want some of their alternate dimensions.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Oh, that series, yeah , oh, I've seen it in the-.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
The watermelon mint sour.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Yes, that one I've seen in the store.
Oh, oh, oh.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Oh man, we just turned this into a double.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Yeah, we might have.
I was just trying to look andsee, because kitty cat blues is
different than the one that Chadwas talking about for that
elements thing, but I can'tremember.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Oh yeah, he was drinking a frickin' block rave
in the other night too, if therewas only some program that I
could use to track when I wasdrinking beers so I could go
back and see if I've had itbefore or when I've had it.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
It would be super handy, and if you already had an
account created that you justhad to figure out how to
reactivate.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
No, I use it to lurk.
I can see what you're drinkingand I'll use it as
cross-reference when I do myresearch.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
I can't remember the name of that beer, so I can't
find it.
And they have two intros.
Oh, this might be a fail, oh,nope gone May have been consumed
unwittingly it seems, in myrage I consumed it all there,
you go.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
So this, okay, we're not moving on, but my son caught
me lying Uh-oh, and this beerreminded me of it.
Okay, the last time I had tobring him not had to, but
brought him here.
Oh yeah, I usually listen toour last podcast on the way here
just to get in a headspace andbe able to.
You can get the juices flowingWell, and just see what segue
(15:22):
and carry over like theconversation.
So I'm listening to it.
Show prep Great, I know justhow it works.
So I'm listening to it in thecar with him and he's like Dad,
you keep saying you're gonna putthis in your beer fridge or the
main fridge, but I don't seeany of these beers ever show up
in our fridge.
Well, it's more of a ratingscale.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
It's kind of a thing, it's a bit it's a gimmick If we
did do that one chat, I neverchecked it in.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
I know we talked about it, but I don't know if it
ever showed up it might havebeen a backup beer, it could be,
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Oh well, well, hey, guess what Next time it shows up
?
Maybe we grab all four and doall four in a little special.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Maybe We'll see.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
The year is young.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
The year is.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
It's very young at this point, barely weekend.
No excuse everyone.
The national championship yetTomorrow.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
As we record, put it on tape.
Rip the parley, baby.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
I take it back.
I take it back because I saidthe Mariners were definitely
making the playoffs last year.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Don't do it to me.
Don't do it to me, Guys.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
I hey, we're.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
We're under $135 million in payroll baby.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Come on, but a smile on your face.
Hey baby, here's a question.
We're profitable.
Who makes more money?
The Mariners players, theUniversity of Washington
football players.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Oh this, who's made the playoffs for in the last?
What do we have?
20 years, oh no.
I mean the playoffs haven'tbeen around for 20 years, but
Mariners Football but they stillmade it more.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Yeah, they've been twice in eight years.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Now I'm sad again, I mean because they went in 2016
and now 20.
I don't never know how to likecategorize it.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
I'm just gonna stare into this light until I go blind
Talking about the Mariners.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
If the because this is really the 22 football season
.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
What no?
23 football season 23.
Yeah, so are you.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Are you the 2024 national champions or are?
Speaker 2 (17:40):
you the 2023?
Speaker 1 (17:42):
No, it's the 2023 season.
It's 2023.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
National champions?
I don't know, because the NFLis the same way.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
We're crossing here.
The season started in 2023.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
But.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
I think it's about when the game was played, but
then it makes me wonder.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
No, it's their reason Was there a year, because it
doesn't matter when there wasshorter seasons, it's Super Bowl
, whatever Stick with college,just to streamline.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Was there a year ever that there were two national
champions from that same year?
But it is that one happened.
Oh no, I guess it would havebeen a year where it doesn't
matter.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
The New Year six is always New Year six but they
weren't always.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
No, no, you're right, they were they have always yeah
, it's always been.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
There's always a game on that one because it's
whatever and it's whatever, theonly.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Was there ever when there weren't ball games and it
was just the regular season?
Declared a national champion?
I wasn't alive.
No, none of us were so.
Well and that's like I havefriends who are going to this
game Flying to Houston.
A bunch of them left.
A couple of them left lastnight, the rest of them left
today.
By this time they are hopefullyat a bar.
(18:48):
They found maybe some fans andare watching the Seahawks play,
but they I forgot where I wasgoing with that.
They're down there for the Oncein a lifetime thing because
literally the last time you'dhave played theoretically for a
national championship 97, 91, 91.
(19:11):
No, that's when we won our lastnational championship.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
I thought there were co-nationals in 91.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
Both of ours are co-nationals, because that's how
it got done, because it wasbefore pitting the top teams
together.
It was just yeah, you won yourconference, you play the big 10
and you still won.
So you are the same as that guy.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
You're as good as that other guy.
So it's only when the bull sowhat you're telling me is even
though it is Gross and grittyand nobody hates it or at least
have progress in this currentiteration of the college
football.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
A little bit in that, like People can argue it less
like this.
This, the two top teamsactually are going to play each
other, so literally, thisbecomes the first.
If the UW wins, this becomestheir first, undisputed national
championship, because thatmakes more sense to me.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
So you should get a belt.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Yeah, we'll see.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
I think these, the big, stuffy NFL what not?
Should learn from everyone'smaking like the turn over.
I get it, it's jump the shark.
No, no way, I love it.
I want you stepping up on likea throne of helmets.
I watched and put on yourturnover chain.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
I love it.
I watched the game where,whenever the defense got a
turnover, they had to get thefootball.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
And oh yeah, the Trident.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
No, just on their sword.
So they had a football stabbedinto a sword.
Who was that?
Was it?
Speaker 2 (20:42):
I don't know Some air .
Speaker 1 (20:45):
They ended up with seven turnovers or something.
Yeah, it was one point.
I don't think they can fit morefootballs on the sword for the
gimmick if this keeps going.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
I liked more the person who there was, a
dedicated person who had to holdthe sword.
Oh yeah, so the turnoverhappened and I saw the
trepidation in their eyes everytime they had to get it to the
player.
It's like you are too jazzed upright now.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
Do not hurt yourself.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
You might murder somebody doing it, but I'm going
to do this and hand you thefootball anyways, and I'm
running the fuck away.
Anyways, I'm putting thiswonderful seasonal beer from
Black Raven Brewing Seasonalbeer fridge, obviously duh.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
But here's the problem we did it.
When I see it, butmetaphorically, you did, though
he did.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
I think it's still in season now and he bought it.
He saw it.
I think it's still in seasonnow.
Yes.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Would it be?
Speaker 2 (21:39):
great to grab it between November Thanksgiving
and Christmas.
Yes, it'd be great.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
I haven't seen it so I can feel better about it, and
I think he wasted so much timeon his jam's trial or Alex
Child's defense.
I did not put it in a seasonalbeer fridge, which I probably
said I would do last year,because the season came and went
.
I don't have the beer.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
What I did do over this last year is I did have
several more black ravens than Ihad in years previous.
Oh you, 100%.
So it put them back on my radar.
So, Zestivis, I did notnecessarily grab this year like
I said I would, but I did goafter like a second site.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
We did.
Second, I got the like IPAseries.
I had one before we evenreviewed it.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
So I didn't walk past it in the grocery aisle like I
had been.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
And then it's one of those that I talked about, where
it's like it became the onethat I just kind of like okay,
you're around, but like Iactually did, yes, I give them
more and it's not my style, butI saw those alternate dimensions
many times and it never fitwhat I wanted at the time.
So yeah, but I at least gavethem a lot more of a look and
(22:48):
then bought a few more that Iwould have Well yeah, I got
freaked out when I was doing theresearch for this because they
have like a 50th anniversaryright.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
Same reaction I had and I'm going that's not correct
.
Your Lord, I must spit my waterout.
They made the 50th anniversary,for I think it was some concert
hall or cinema switch switch uhcinema, which I didn't do any
more research.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
I thought you were also then saying it was Taylor
Swift.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
No, no, no, no, like SWIFF, I think, or SWFF.
I think, SIF, SIF, there you go.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Seattle International Film Festival.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
There you go, so 50th anniversary they made a beer
for this, but they're like 50thanniversary and I'm like what
happened?
Have I been in a coma andnobody told me?
Speaker 1 (23:36):
No.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
I have something to tell you.
All right, yeah, we'll try totrack it down earlier next year,
but our glasses are.
Did you guys fridge this?
I think we were all on the samepage.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Okay cool, we're looking forward to earlier next
year.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
30 seconds baby God, we gotta get that looked at.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
All right, our glasses are empty.
Hopefully yours are too.
We'll catch you next time.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
If you've enjoyed what you just heard, make sure
you subscribe to get newepisodes when they drop, and
don't forget to leave us areview.
If you want to see what we'redrinking and we're not on the
pod, you can follow us on socialmedia at abeerreview.
Feel free to send us any beersuggestions that we can make
Chad go buy.
Office of War.
Oh, is it just, I don't know.
Solar review.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Yep.
This is the this year'sFestivus.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Okay, what's going on here?
Um, I took the time To go Ishto look at the Discord to see
(00:36):
what was going on.
Okay, I don't remember why orwhere it was bored Maybe it was
Chet's text messages yesterday,I'm good, um.
And so I was looking through itand I was like the reviews of
all the things, like, okay,that's cool, alright, why didn't
we already do Festivus?
(00:57):
Hmm, like, didn't we?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
already review that.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Welcome to another episode of the American Beer
Review Podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Good times, but good friends requires good beer.
Lucky for us, we know how topick all three.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
We're a group of friends who grew up in the
Pacific Northwest, giving us ajump start on our craft beer
journey.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Join us today.
While Brian that prides myselfon not getting to know other
people, so do not put that on me.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Alec.
So the bananas up until likethe 60s weren't entirely
different species of banana.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
And Chet Hit me like a bacon bar.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
Review some beer, talk about beer topics and
whatever else comes up.
We invite you to pour yourselfa drink and hang out with us.
And then I actually read thelike stuff on it and I was like
there you go.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Ooh, which one's that the seasonal IPA?
Hmm, there's one in the beerfridge.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
There's still this one in my sister's that I
haven't finished because it's anIPA.
Keep that on the list of.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
I'll send it there and whatever you just flag me
for just taking.
That's fine.
I like it way up there.
I can't see it at all.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
I don't want to deal with it.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
All right, so this is a repeat.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
So this is like the Like I wrote in the Discord.
We finally are going to followup on a.
Hey, let's try this beer nextyear.
I don't think we activelylooked for the Trader Joe's this
year.
I sure should.
I sure should did it.
But as we did last year withlast year's- artwork.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
I'd say the artwork's different right yeah?
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yes, so it's more in line with, like that new refresh
they did.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Oh, that's right, I forgot about that.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
But they change it every year because this is a
seasonal and this one called apale ale.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
It's a Black Raven Brewing's Festivus Infused Pale
Ale this year, so it wasn'tinfused.
I mean nothing, it wasn't.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
but they didn't follow it out.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
It's not on the artwork from last year, so I'll
pass these around.
These are In order.
Yours, brian's fine.
So I cleaned the glasses.
But in case there's well, looklate in Corona.
Well, live on them, yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
I am.
I am fully enough vaccinated.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
I have a cove it.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
No, no, no, no, that's yours, chad.
He literally just pointed gaveyou instruction the same it was
the same order you were handingthem out last time I told yeah,
30 seconds, my brain was off,sorry I am a little worried, uh,
that I got to start doing likea tracker of, like my brain and
some of the things that I likeforget and don't do.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
I started doing some of those brain games, yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Get myself on some of that crossword puzzle praying
for some dementia Easiest way togo.
Okay so.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Festivus, pale ale Festivus, it's the same one as
last time.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
Yes, but there's a 2023 version to check in on
untapped there you go, so therewe go.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Read it almost a year ago when we did our black raven
.
Yeah, review.
Festivus easy drinking or easyto drink.
Brilliant copper holiday paleale brewed with orange peels,
northwest cranberries, galengalroot and the melange of festive
spices that should wrap you inwarmth of a snow in winter heart
.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
I think similar, so we have to hear galengal root.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
So I did listen to last year's podcast, because
that's what Chad called out like.
We talked about reviewing thisand what did we actually say
about it, and we spent probablyfive minutes on Galengal root
and I'm like I don't know whatthis word is, and Brian's like
spice.
You don't know how.
It's no melange melange.
You know what that word is.
I'm like, I know that one.
What's this?
(04:51):
Galangal, oh, galangal root allof us rated as Excellent season
, will be your last year.
Something that we would searchfor and Potentially grab and
take to a party was, I think,our collective consensus spice.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Like it's, the spice is there.
It's definitely Putting itselfinto a season, a time of year
and we missed it again Because alittle bit festivus is oh yeah,
december 23rd.
So we're, but we're.
It's Christmas, adam, that'sfestive us.
I'm sorry about this before Eveis Adam, so the day before
(05:36):
Christmas Eve, oh boy howdy.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
I'm out of my depth here, it's just untrend water.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
It's a joke that my family used to do because we
would We'd have so much familystuff that we'd have to push
stuff into a different day.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
So you just start making a Paul days.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
So you.
So, if going in reverse order,you have Christmas, christmas
Eve, christmas Adam.
Oh, okay, got it now, yeah, soit is, but I didn't know it's so
.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
It was on the podcast last year.
Probably Is the only reason.
Yeah, we had this exact samediscussion.
As soon as you just set theangle, root.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
It just popped in my head.
Oh yeah, because I was gonna dothe same thing and listen to it
.
But then I Startedphotoshopping.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
No, it's way more productive doing that and it's
not one of our better.
It was, it was, it was fine, itwas episode 14.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
So it was only like our second or third one back.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Wouldn't matter.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Sixth that's like our fourth or fifth session back.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
I was looking to see what I.
I gave it a 4.0 last year too.
January 8th.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
That's what we say.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
We're almost a month exactly that's why, when I was
over, when I was in Costco lastweekend and I saw this, I pulled
up the website and I was likewhen did we review this?
I was like, oh, it's so damnclose.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
I've been a little disappointed with the Costco
beer selection lately.
They just have less.
The only upside I've said it, Iat least know this Alec.
I know I've said it on thepodcast before, but just about
any time I go to Costco andthere is a four pack of Irish
Death Tallboys for like 640, I'mgonna buy them.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Throw them right there next to your Kirkland
light, like I didn't even haveit anymore.
I know it lasted for like ayear.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
I can't remember the price on this, but when I saw
the price I went oh, yes, oh,because it was on the grocery
store shelf too and I saw theprice and I was like Black Raven
is competitive.
They're not an overpriced.
That was in whatever it was inCostco.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
You might be able to say a little more.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
I wanna say we're like a two or three bucks a pint
, oh that's, I mean probablythree at least.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Yeah, there's probably state taxes on the
receipt, but all I care about iswhat the labels, what the
little three by five says I'malways intrigued by when I go to
the grocery store and some,like I don't pay enough
attention to see, like ifconsistently there's always the
six pack beer prices or the fourpack beer prices are always
(08:21):
10.99, but mostly like 11.99,12.99.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Or they're 14.99, but then two or four bucks off if
you have your card.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
14.99 are usually the four pack of tall boys.
Those are 13 or 14, but there'salways one or two that are like
the dollar off.
And I am the sucker that thedollar difference sways by
purchasing If one is 12.99 andthe other's 11.99.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
They paid the tax, like that's what I'm wondering.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
It's like are they just?
Am I getting suffered in?
Is this like an old?
Speaker 2 (09:00):
like hey, this has been on the shelf for like you,
would be shocked at howeffective it is.
Six weeks, let's make sure weEntirely like entirely, how
effective it is.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
This is delightful.
Yes, it just like I forget, Iforgot, I forget I didn't listen
to the podcast.
But like this is a perfect timeand place, beer, this is a
great one that I wish I wouldhave paid attention to.
We really need to look and seewhen we don't need to.
I'm gonna say this, don't makeme follow up on it.
I would have loved to have hadsome packs of this in December.
(09:35):
That would have been great forgoing to certain parties and
things and like we had bonfireyesterday.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
last night, this would have been a perfect four
pack.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
while we're burning old furniture, Hannah is that
the only time you guys dobonfires?
Speaker 3 (09:53):
I feel like that's what we did last time, yep.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
This would be perfect .
Get some utility out of it.
Send it to the Bajala.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
In your Stanley cup, your insulated cup outside.
Oh yeah, this would be a great.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
It was cold enough, you wouldn't need it to be
insulated.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
I meant for your hand .
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Oh, a koozie would have sufficed.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
I think this is it.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Sorry, I'm gonna take some more.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Whoa finishing it off already.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Or whatever, top off.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
I think this would I'll talk in the microphone.
I think this would even warm upAppreciate this, oh yeah.
I wanna say last year's hadmore.
The volume knob on the spicewas turned up a little more.
Maybe this year a little moresubdued, but I'm getting the
angle root and a little bit ofthat orange peel kind of in the
(10:44):
very back.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
It also could have been the fact that it was our
fourth or fifth episode back andso the spices were hitting.
Maybe the two of us made it alittle bit harder versus now.
We've had a year of drinking,Of drinking current beer.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Is this also when we were drinking entire like cups
or cans by ourselves?
Speaker 3 (11:04):
No, no, no no, no, no , we figured that out by then
Cause we did four beers for thisepisode, but that's what we
Tasters.
I think this was the switch toTasters.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Did you say Buddha hand earlier?
No, ale brewed with Galingalroot and Buddha hand.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Oh.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
I read off their website, not off the can.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
So maybe old, although it says infused on
their website.
So it's part of their blackfeather series, which I don't
know if we mentioned last year.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
It says last year.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
And so the black feather.
It looks like they'reseasonal-ish.
Cause, you know it's not calledseasonal, but Festivus.
A fruit wizard, grapefruit witSounds good, so we're gonna go
to the tropical IPA and thenfeather weather coffee stout,
which sounds delightful, I wantsome of that.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
And it's outside of the other seasonal.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Which is the IPA one.
Yeah, yeah, cause they have abest of the nest seasonal.
So I don't know what the blackfeather is versus, cause I feel
like this was best of the nestlast time around, so maybe the
black feather.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
What's in the best of the nest?
Now, while we're at it, we havesome yeah, sure why not
Grandfather Raven Imperial Stout.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
Cryo Fresh Hop IPA.
Flocktoberfest Fresh Hop.
West Coast IPA.
Splinter Scotch Ale, the FlatStick Players.
Club Pills that we had lastyear in a Wisdom Seeker double
IPA Interesting.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
It's just different series that obviously I know
they did a refresh of thebranding.
Yes.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
This one.
It's still the stock can with asticker on it.
Yes, it is.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
They went a little more cartoony with this one, but
I kind of like it.
Yes, yes, with like Kept thefun and the best.
The bird holding the ornament,like the little snowflakes
floating around.
So the old one I keep lookingat it is a very more traditional
stately aspect to it, but Ikind of dig this one as well,
(13:07):
yeah, and that was what theyused on those when we did the
blueberry essence of beers.
They had the hops, the water,the malt.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
They used that same art style on that the kitty cat
blues.
No, there was a different one,that was the one where they did
the celebration of the fourparts of beer.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
We didn't try those.
We just talked about them,didn't we?
I?
Speaker 2 (13:32):
think we ripped the blueberry, which was the
celebration of water, I think.
I think that was around a pointof time Is correct.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
I want some of their alternate dimensions.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Oh, that series, yeah , oh, I've seen it in the-.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
The watermelon mint sour.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Yes, that one I've seen in the store.
Oh, oh, oh.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Oh man, we just turned this into a double.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Yeah, we might have.
I was just trying to look andsee, because kitty cat blues is
different than the one that Chadwas talking about for that
elements thing, but I can'tremember.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Oh yeah, he was drinking a frickin' block rave
in the other night too, if therewas only some program that I
could use to track when I wasdrinking beers so I could go
back and see if I've had itbefore or when I've had it.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
It would be super handy, and if you already had an
account created that you justhad to figure out how to
reactivate.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
No, I use it to lurk.
I can see what you're drinkingand I'll use it as
cross-reference when I do myresearch.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
I can't remember the name of that beer, so I can't
find it.
And they have two intros.
Oh, this might be a fail, oh,nope gone May have been consumed
unwittingly it seems, in myrage I consumed it all there,
you go.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
So this, okay, we're not moving on, but my son caught
me lying Uh-oh, and this beerreminded me of it.
Okay, the last time I had tobring him not had to, but
brought him here.
Oh yeah, I usually listen toour last podcast on the way here
just to get in a headspace andbe able to.
You can get the juices flowingWell, and just see what segue
(15:22):
and carry over like theconversation.
So I'm listening to it.
Show prep Great, I know justhow it works.
So I'm listening to it in thecar with him and he's like Dad,
you keep saying you're gonna putthis in your beer fridge or the
main fridge, but I don't seeany of these beers ever show up
in our fridge.
Well, it's more of a ratingscale.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
It's kind of a thing, it's a bit it's a gimmick If we
did do that one chat, I neverchecked it in.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
I know we talked about it, but I don't know if it
ever showed up it might havebeen a backup beer, it could be,
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Oh well, well, hey, guess what Next time it shows up
?
Maybe we grab all four and doall four in a little special.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Maybe We'll see.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
The year is young.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
The year is.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
It's very young at this point, barely weekend.
No excuse everyone.
The national championship yetTomorrow.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
As we record, put it on tape.
Rip the parley, baby.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
I take it back.
I take it back because I saidthe Mariners were definitely
making the playoffs last year.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Don't do it to me.
Don't do it to me, Guys.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
I hey, we're.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
We're under $135 million in payroll baby.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Come on, but a smile on your face.
Hey baby, here's a question.
We're profitable.
Who makes more money?
The Mariners players, theUniversity of Washington
football players.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Oh this, who's made the playoffs for in the last?
What do we have?
20 years, oh no.
I mean the playoffs haven'tbeen around for 20 years, but
Mariners Football but they stillmade it more.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Yeah, they've been twice in eight years.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Now I'm sad again, I mean because they went in 2016
and now 20.
I don't never know how to likecategorize it.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
I'm just gonna stare into this light until I go blind
Talking about the Mariners.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
If the because this is really the 22 football season
.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
What no?
23 football season 23.
Yeah, so are you.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Are you the 2024 national champions or are?
Speaker 2 (17:40):
you the 2023?
Speaker 1 (17:42):
No, it's the 2023 season.
It's 2023.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
National champions?
I don't know, because the NFLis the same way.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
We're crossing here.
The season started in 2023.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
But.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
I think it's about when the game was played, but
then it makes me wonder.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
No, it's their reason Was there a year, because it
doesn't matter when there wasshorter seasons, it's Super Bowl
, whatever Stick with college,just to streamline.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Was there a year ever that there were two national
champions from that same year?
But it is that one happened.
Oh no, I guess it would havebeen a year where it doesn't
matter.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
The New Year six is always New Year six but they
weren't always.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
No, no, you're right, they were they have always yeah
, it's always been.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
There's always a game on that one because it's
whatever and it's whatever, theonly.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Was there ever when there weren't ball games and it
was just the regular season?
Declared a national champion?
I wasn't alive.
No, none of us were so.
Well and that's like I havefriends who are going to this
game Flying to Houston.
A bunch of them left.
A couple of them left lastnight, the rest of them left
today.
By this time they are hopefullyat a bar.
(18:48):
They found maybe some fans andare watching the Seahawks play,
but they I forgot where I wasgoing with that.
They're down there for the Oncein a lifetime thing because
literally the last time you'dhave played theoretically for a
national championship 97, 91, 91.
(19:11):
No, that's when we won our lastnational championship.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
I thought there were co-nationals in 91.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
Both of ours are co-nationals, because that's how
it got done, because it wasbefore pitting the top teams
together.
It was just yeah, you won yourconference, you play the big 10
and you still won.
So you are the same as that guy.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
You're as good as that other guy.
So it's only when the bull sowhat you're telling me is even
though it is Gross and grittyand nobody hates it or at least
have progress in this currentiteration of the college
football.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
A little bit in that, like People can argue it less
like this.
This, the two top teamsactually are going to play each
other, so literally, thisbecomes the first.
If the UW wins, this becomestheir first, undisputed national
championship, because thatmakes more sense to me.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
So you should get a belt.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Yeah, we'll see.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
I think these, the big, stuffy NFL what not?
Should learn from everyone'smaking like the turn over.
I get it, it's jump the shark.
No, no way, I love it.
I want you stepping up on likea throne of helmets.
I watched and put on yourturnover chain.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
I love it.
I watched the game where,whenever the defense got a
turnover, they had to get thefootball.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
And oh yeah, the Trident.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
No, just on their sword.
So they had a football stabbedinto a sword.
Who was that?
Was it?
Speaker 2 (20:42):
I don't know Some air .
Speaker 1 (20:45):
They ended up with seven turnovers or something.
Yeah, it was one point.
I don't think they can fit morefootballs on the sword for the
gimmick if this keeps going.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
I liked more the person who there was, a
dedicated person who had to holdthe sword.
Oh yeah, so the turnoverhappened and I saw the
trepidation in their eyes everytime they had to get it to the
player.
It's like you are too jazzed upright now.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
Do not hurt yourself.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
You might murder somebody doing it, but I'm going
to do this and hand you thefootball anyways, and I'm
running the fuck away.
Anyways, I'm putting thiswonderful seasonal beer from
Black Raven Brewing Seasonalbeer fridge, obviously duh.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
But here's the problem we did it.
When I see it, butmetaphorically, you did, though
he did.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
I think it's still in season now and he bought it.
He saw it.
I think it's still in seasonnow.
Yes.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Would it be?
Speaker 2 (21:39):
great to grab it between November Thanksgiving
and Christmas.
Yes, it'd be great.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
I haven't seen it so I can feel better about it, and
I think he wasted so much timeon his jam's trial or Alex
Child's defense.
I did not put it in a seasonalbeer fridge, which I probably
said I would do last year,because the season came and went
.
I don't have the beer.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
What I did do over this last year is I did have
several more black ravens than Ihad in years previous.
Oh you, 100%.
So it put them back on my radar.
So, Zestivis, I did notnecessarily grab this year like
I said I would, but I did goafter like a second site.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
We did.
Second, I got the like IPAseries.
I had one before we evenreviewed it.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
So I didn't walk past it in the grocery aisle like I
had been.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
And then it's one of those that I talked about, where
it's like it became the onethat I just kind of like okay,
you're around, but like Iactually did, yes, I give them
more and it's not my style, butI saw those alternate dimensions
many times and it never fitwhat I wanted at the time.
So yeah, but I at least gavethem a lot more of a look and
(22:48):
then bought a few more that Iwould have Well yeah, I got
freaked out when I was doing theresearch for this because they
have like a 50th anniversaryright.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
Same reaction I had and I'm going that's not correct
.
Your Lord, I must spit my waterout.
They made the 50th anniversary,for I think it was some concert
hall or cinema switch switch uhcinema, which I didn't do any
more research.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
I thought you were also then saying it was Taylor
Swift.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
No, no, no, no, like SWIFF, I think, or SWFF.
I think, SIF, SIF, there you go.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Seattle International Film Festival.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
There you go, so 50th anniversary they made a beer
for this, but they're like 50thanniversary and I'm like what
happened?
Have I been in a coma andnobody told me?
Speaker 1 (23:36):
No.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
I have something to tell you.
All right, yeah, we'll try totrack it down earlier next year,
but our glasses are.
Did you guys fridge this?
I think we were all on the samepage.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Okay cool, we're looking forward to earlier next
year.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
30 seconds baby God, we gotta get that looked at.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
All right, our glasses are empty.
Hopefully yours are too.
We'll catch you next time.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
If you've enjoyed what you just heard, make sure
you subscribe to get newepisodes when they drop, and
don't forget to leave us areview.
If you want to see what we'redrinking and we're not on the
pod, you can follow us on socialmedia at abeerreview.
Feel free to send us any beersuggestions that we can make
Chad go buy.
Office of War.
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