Or more aptly titled, a nice whiskey served neat alongside a fine beer.
I Am The Beer Whisperer, Beervangelist, Prolific Beer Drinker, Purveyor Of Wisdom and … All Around Good Guy!
However, I’m also the Whiskey Whisperer. Sometimes my alter egos duke it out, but sometimes they’re simpatico and hold hands around the campfire singing, “Kumbaya”, this is one of those times.
The Pairing: KC Style
As I write this, it’s the day before the AFC Championship game between the KC Chiefs and the New England Patriots. I should also point out that I’m writing this from Springfield Mo.
As it so happens, I have a Boulevard Whiskey Barrel Stout and J Riegers Kansas City Whiskey, so it just seemed appropriate the pair the two.
The Beer
Boulevard Brewing(KC Mo) Whiskey Barrel Stout. She’s 11.8% 32 IBU’s, no kidding! The nose alone is intoxicating! Chocolate, caramel, vanilla, and the slightest notion of coffee highlight the nose.
The roasted barley shines with flavors of deep, dark malted chocolate, caramel, molasses, creamy vanilla with toasted oak and a slightly warming finish, letting you know that yes, yes there was a whiskey barrel involved.
The Whiskey
Oh yes, the whiskey! J Riegers Kansas City Whiskey, a 92 proof whiskey that they say uses their signature blend of corn, malt & rye.
The nose is warming with an even mix of caramel, vanilla & cinnamon. You may also feel hints of dark fruit and I also detected just a touch of apple.
Although the nose was caramel, the flavors are rich, nutty toffee with hazelnut accents. The spicy rye is exquisite, heading to the finish with toasted oak and cinnamon spice.
The 92 proof is warming, but it never quite gets too hot, it’s one of my personal favorites.
Two Great Tastes That Taste Great Together!
I know not everyone digs the beer/whiskey pairing, but I think those of us that do, just get it!
You may have noticed similar aromas and flavors from the beer to the whiskey. That’s part of why these two work together, but the other part is the slight differences in the two are what brings them together.
Like chocolate and peanut butter, the right beer paired with the right whiskey just works, they not only taste great together, it’s libation for the soul. To borrow from the legendary Duke Robillard, Are You Soulful Baby? If you’ve got the stones, grab your beer du jour with a like-minded whiskey and