The Beer Retard - May 7th, 2008

While my Seattle Beer Examiner blog is starting to hit its stride, this one is suffering. I've had a lot of stuff going on and plenty more is coming. On the way home last night, I was excited to find that we now have Racer 5 in six packs in Seattle. It took awhile (supposedly because Bear Republic has lousy distribution up here), but now I can walk three blocks down the hill to a grocery store and get a six whenever I want. I also tried what is reputed to be the most bitter Belgian beer around, the De Ranke XX Bitter (on tap at the Stumbling Monk right now). It lived up to its billing. I think I need another glass or two to know how I really feel about it, so I won't say much for now other than it finishes dry and bitter and the bitterness stays with you for awhile.

Some other stuff I've been doing includes: brewing my first batch of homebrew, trying a pretty good chili beer at the Pike and getting geared up for Brouwer's Sour Ale Festival this weekend.