The following are my thoughts from the Founders “tap takeover” at the Moerlein Lager house. I say “tap takeover” since only the All Day & Red’s Rye were on tap, everything else was poured out of bottles. Also these aren’t as in depth as my usual reviews due to the nature of the sampling process and the possible alterations the Moerlein pretzels could have on my palate (by the way, if you haven’t had the pretzels at the lager house you must! They are fantastical).
Lastly before we get to the reviews, if you missed out on the lager house action last night don’t fret. Next Thursday at the Burgers and beer event at the Party Source they’ll have KBS on draft + growler fills. If you’re reading this it’s safe to say you like good beer and so I must enthusiastically tell you to get to the Party Source and try the KBS, I may be there just trying to get a growler fill of it.
Beer: All Day IPA
Style: India Pale Ale
Alcohol by volume: 4.7%
Hazy golden straw color with no head, likely due to the sample glass.
Smell is light balance of hop and malt flavors.
Taste is also light and smooth. Prsenta flavors of citrus fruits and sweet malts.
This is definitely an awesome session beer, though how much of an IPA it is would be debatable. In my Zombie Dust review I mentioned that I’d had IPAs that weren’t as hoppy as the “pale ale” Zombie Dust claims to be. The All Day IPA is a great example of that, still an excellent beer that I’d love to session on one afternoon.
Beer: Devil Dancer
Style: Imperial IPA
Alcohol by volume: 12%
IBUs: 112
Great reddish brown rust like color with very slight head
Not picking up a significant smell off of this, just hints of maltiness and a wee bit of alcohol.
The flavor packs an alcohol punch with brass knuckles of caramel malt. Little to no hop flavors or bitter.
Mouth feel is very smooth with a medium body.
Great powerful beer that packs a nice punch and wonderful flavor.
Bitterness drastically (in a good way) increases as it warms.
Beer: KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)
Style: Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume: 11.2%
Pitch black color with no head.
Woo reeks of coffee aroma with plenty of chocolate mixed in as well. The smell also gives a hint of the alcohol strength.
Nice smooth flavor with no hop bitterness or flavor at all but plenty of coffee and chocolate all over the place. Excellent contributions from the bourbon barrels as well.
Creamy heavy bodied mouth feel.
Lives up to and beyond the hype.
Beer: Red’s Rye Pale Ale
Style: Rye Beer
Alcohol by volume: 6.6%
Color is red, well orange-brown. No head in the sample I was given.
Intense grapefruit aroma.
Taste has mass hop flavors with the grapefruit topical fruit action. No real hop bitterness. Plenty of malt back bone presenting a caramel Flavor.
BrewMinds 
Sometimes I dream of KBS. I can’t believe you’ll be able to get a growler of it. Incredible.
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No Backwoods Bastard for you? I actually like that one over KBS. I wish I could have been there last night!
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I did end up having the backwoods and the frangelic, but was fairly intoxicated and eating pretzels (I can never stress enough my unending love of the Moerlein Lager house pretzels) at the time so I didn’t think I could produce a fair review.
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Haha, fair enough.
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Great job by Gregg Wilson, Founders and the MLH staff. The tastings have been fun events. Great opportunity to try new beers and work your way through the dinner menu. The Smoked stack BBQ sandwich was excellent. I liked all the beers but enjoyed the Rye the most.
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