Session # 200
Pelican | The Perfect Storm
English Barleywine | Pacific City, OR | 13.5% ABV
One year ago: Hoppin’ Frog Barrel-aged B.O.R.I.S.
There were some days I never thought I’d make it to 100 reviews, let alone getting to 200 reviews. But alas, today I have made it and Tim Pratt joins me once again to share a beer I’ve been staring at on my shelves for a long time. The Perfect Storm! It’s a beer I wanted to try so badly that I actually reached out to the brewer of Pelican Pub & Brewery. I was lucky enough to get one sent to me and I’ve been hanging on to it for a special occasion. Today is that day. As Tim and I poured this monstrous beer in our glasses, we noticed a couple things. First, was that the room instantly smelled like a bourbon barrel explosion. Second, was the fact that this beer didn’t pour as gooey and big as we thought it would. It had a nice dark mahogany color with a fair amount of head resting on top, but we could see the bottoms of our glasses. We thought this was a bit odd. The nose was of dark fruits, burnt caramel, brown sugar, and TONS of booze. One sip set us back further than planned because the amount of heat coming off this beer was numbing. Once this burn subsided, toffee, oak, and vanilla laid on our tongues for a few minutes. But at the end of the day, the annihilation of that booze was too much to take. Was their good flavor? Yes. Was it drinkable? Ummm…no. I can tell you that our score was collaborative but mine was much lower than Tim’s. I was pretty disappointed for a beer I’ve been waiting ages to drink. Firestone Walker’s Abacus eats this beer’s lunch all day long… So get it instead.
Check out all sessions of The Hopry here.
This beer has been retired.
Listening To: Joy Division “Atmosphere”
Let us know your thoughts by rating and commenting on this video.
Posted by Brent on September 9, 2011 at 7:58 AM
congrats on 200! and here’s to 200 more …
Posted by thehopry on September 9, 2011 at 9:46 AM
Thank you!
Posted by Tim Pratt on September 9, 2011 at 9:43 AM
It’s been a long strange trip, Mr. Starr. Oh, and do you have any more of these? I have a comb i need to disinfect and i’m out of barbasol.
Posted by thehopry on September 9, 2011 at 9:46 AM
LOL…seriously. OUCH!
Posted by Jamison Moeckel on September 9, 2011 at 11:22 AM
Sounds like they just mashed in at too low of a temp and then the ferment was at too high of a temp. It could be the quality of barrel used. There are so many variables.
Congrats on 200!
Posted by thehopry on September 10, 2011 at 11:51 AM
That’s too fancy for me. But I’ll take your word for it…LOL. Cheers Jamison!
Posted by Cara & Louie (@beerpaintings) on September 9, 2011 at 12:55 PM
I’ve only had it once (when it was fairly fresh), but the 2010 version of this beer was very chewy, somewhat reminiscent of Bourbon County Stout in mouthfeel, which I feel is a good thing. I love this beer…but I love Abacus and Arctic Devil, too… and I’m not sure which one I love most. It is an interesting thing aging these massive beers, as Arctic Devil is the only one I’m positive ages well.
Congratulations on 200! Loved the commentary at the very end – - dunk like a motherfucker, indeed.
Posted by thehopry on September 10, 2011 at 11:50 AM
I think Abacus is light years ahead of this one. At least for my palate. And I would have thought that three years would have made this one cool off. Nope! I feel like we got the bottle of the barrel (literally) with this beer. I could have made a Sazerac with it because of the burn… Cheers Louie! And as always…thank you!!!
Posted by Jon on September 9, 2011 at 1:49 PM
I just wanted to say congrats on 200. I also want to add that thanks to the recent review I had the 2010 Nemesis in the fridge which I really enjoyed sitting outside with candles and neighbors during our night without power here in San Diego. I also drank the bottle of Pliny in the fridge so it wouldn’t go bad in the 24 hours without refrigeration. (At least that was my excuse for opening a 2nd bottle.)
Posted by Jon on September 9, 2011 at 2:26 PM
Oh and great song.
Posted by thehopry on September 10, 2011 at 11:49 AM
One of my favorites ever. Glad you enjoyed it… And what a way to spend a power outage…hahaha…
Posted by Big Mike on September 9, 2011 at 3:15 PM
Excellent review! I like that fact that even though you had high expectations for this beer. And the fact that the brewery themselves sent it to you. You still were honest with your review and didn’t try to make the beer something that it wasn’t.
Congrats on 200! The sessions keep getting better and better. I’m glad i hopped on board The Hopry train close to the begining so i’ve been able to come along for the ride with you. Hopefully you keep this thing going for a while longer. It’s a really cool thing you’ve got going on here. It’s really a lot of fun.
I’ll bust something good open tonight in celebration of 200.
Congrats and thanks!!!
Cheers!
Big Mike
Posted by thehopry on September 10, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Thanks Mike. Can’t thank you enough for your presence on this site, too. Hope you drank something that made you happy. And yes, if I’m not honest with my reviews, people will know.
Posted by Jonathan on September 9, 2011 at 5:31 PM
Congrats on 200!! Here’s to 200 more!!
Posted by thehopry on September 10, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Thank you! Cheers!
Posted by KevSal on September 10, 2011 at 3:39 AM
i had a feeling this would be the one. but wow surprising turn of events and a fantastic review for 200!
the last tidbit debate is the best part, fantastic. what was tim doing? sounds like he was pacing the room.
congrats man, youve come a long way, and im glad ive been able to join you this past year.
cheers to you!
Posted by thehopry on September 10, 2011 at 11:48 AM
I love that dialogue at the end, too. We didn’t know the camera was rolling, and I thought it was cool to share with you guys how we further discuss our reviews together once the camera…well…is supposed to have stopped. Cheers!
Posted by Don on September 12, 2011 at 10:41 PM
Hmmm … bottle variation?
I am a HUGE Abacus fan, and I DO like it better than MOAS, BUT I have seen a lot a variance bottle to bottle from both offerings. I absolutely love MOAS.
Cheers
Don
Posted by Mark Allard on September 22, 2011 at 10:10 PM
Even though the beer didnt meet your expectations I thought the review that you and Tim did on this beer was one of the most insightful reviews ever done, it proves that sometimes a something that disappoints can you create and interesting and insightful discussion, I can see why you chose this to be the last Hoprys last beer review. How do you top this especailly with some many beers out there and I can name them yet to be reviewed. Great Grand Finale, Great Swan Song.
Until we meet again, Cheers I hope to see you in a future beer review