Thor’s Equinox
Socrabees: Less offensive than a stout or porter. If I as a Norse god, this is the Belgian I would drink.
Bee Arthur: Surprising and smoky. Not for amateurs. And if I were dating a Norse god, this is the Belgian I would serve him.
Serve to people that need serious hair on their chests or consider Thor their personal hero. Not for casual beer drinkers or lightweights.
Lips of Faith series: Biere de Mars
Socrabees: For a sour beer, it was really mild, which made it pleasantly otherworldly without being overpoweringly weird. While skeptical of the style, it was eminently drinkable and I would buy it again.
Bee Arthur: Love the beginning, middle, and end. Love the unidentified flying brettanomyces and the citrus notes a-clashing. Even the bottle is freaking cool.
This would be a fun beer to serve alongside a hearty breakfast while on vacation. Girls would probably like it, too. Might be too sour for someone accustomed to pales, Hefes, or PBRs. A fun gift would be the whole series, thanks to the creative packaging design.
Aloha Series Koko Brown
Socrabees: It’s just…so…coconut. Too sweet, too simple, too overpowering. Deceptive due to the darker color. I enjoy their pale ale and lager, but this one’s trying to hard.
Bee Arthur: Unique but too brown sugary. Might be good as a reduction or sweet sauce, but it doesn’t taste like “beer.” Not totally unpleasant, just heavy on the toasted coconut and not very complex. Smooth.
Serve, as previously mentioned, as a sweet sauce over vanilla bean ice cream, or or maybe ladyfingers. Try this on girls who say they hate beer because it’s too bitter.
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout
Bee Arthur: The top-shelf port of high-end beers. This one’s a sipper; sip, sip, sip. Blooming mouthfeel; a slow burn. Not exactly sour, but a powerful traveling twang that lingers behind and then vanishes. Not for the faint of heart.
Socrabees: INTENSE.
Serve for/as dessert, maybe with strawberries, or cocoa nibs. Give as a gift, like a pricey bottle of wine, with a couple of snifters (the preferred glass). Sip the damn thing, seriously. It’s 18% and will rock your bobby socks right off those hideous man-feet.
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Lips of Faith Cocoa Mole
Socrabees: Interesting…curious. Hmm! Hmmmm.
Bee Arthur: So exotic. Insane mouthfeel. Challenging. Complex chocolate-cinnamon layers with some heat. A definite stand-out; never had anything like it before. Children might like this one (it would be lovely as a cake).
Gorgeous label, great housewarming gift in the fall. Serve to beer snobs and beer newbs: they’ll love it for different reasons. Pair with homemade graham crackers or shortbread for dessert. Sip and savor, it’s freaking expensive.
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Odin’s Gift
Socrabees: Rich smooth ruby. Lovely color and notes of Christmas (the juniper berries, I guess). Surprisingly smooth. Fond memories included.
Bee Arthur: Long sour aftertaste that is not unwelcome. Tastes like red and brown ales had a juniper-ale baby, even though it’s a pale. Love the color and mouthfeel and overall effect. Delicious.
If you want Odin’s Gift on tap, we found it at Artusi on Capitol Hill. Serve to people who say pale ales are boring and without flavor. Serve around Christmas in fancy glasses.
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Bitter Sweet Symphony
Bee Arthur: Caramel-colored surprise. Amazing in flavor; distinct and strong. Hints of citrus make it sour-ish but lovely. A great cross-pollination, hilarious label. Would definitely get again.
Socrabees: Fruity weirdness of a Belgian beer combined with excessive hops of an IPA = wonderful harmony. Almost like an apple cider with a bitter aftertaste, but they cancel each other out. Surprisingly good.
Serve with salty stuff to balance out the sweet/sour/hoppy, and to people who love Belgians or IPAs or experimenting. Not for people who like warm beer in a can.
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Fremont Harvest Ale
Socrabees: Tasty harvest ale. Fruity and bready and not too spicy. Flavorful seasonal alternative to pumpkin.
Bee Arthur: A little on the sour side and yet highly drinkable. I liked the ZING! and overall flexibility.
Beautiful color. Good during a seasonal tasting. Try in the fall with toasted nuts and handmade sweaters.
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Harmon Mt. Takhoma Blonde
Bee Arthur: “You could pair this with tacos….” was the nicest thing I had to say about this. Hints of grass and banana, but it never lands on a flavor. Too light and yet complex. Just not the beer for me.
Socrabees: Too light, though not in a tasteless way. Oddly sweet and sour. Will not repeat this one.
Serve to people who like grass-covered bananas. Not for dark beer drinkers.
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Dumb Luck Pale Ale
Socrabees: Ample flavor, very clean finish. Almost no aftertaste. Full-bodied but not bitter. Delicious.
Bee Arthur: Surprisingly full-flavored with a light melon — or maybe pine — and bitter orange aftertaste. Really liked this one. Amber colored. Straightforward.
This is a good middle-of-the-road American Pale Ale. Great for throwing in the mix at gatherings. A fun gift for St. Paddy’s Day or a stag party. Don’t serve to infants unless they’re part-Leprechaun.
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