CHARLIE MURPHY! DARKNESS!!!
Absolute legend from Chappelle’s Show, and oh how I truly miss thee…for Charlie Murphy was in your face, but one loved every minute of it…how couldn’t they…even Rick James, beeyatch!
I’m guessing this is the exact same sentiment the good peeps of The Loftus Party have had these past 2 weeks, wondering where that insufferably talented beer reviewer, A Boy Named Sue, was to be…nowhere to be found…just…DARKNESS!
(RELATED: Pliny the Elder – Beer of the Week from a Boy Named Sue)
Well, do not despair my good party people, because DARKNESS has returned…not in the greatness of Rick James exhorting what the 5 fingers say to the face: “SLAP”–but equally as triumphant, the legendary tastebud stylings of A Boy Named Sue’s all-time favorite beer!
THE BELLY-UP GUIDE TO BEER: Chapter 3 – by A Boy Named Sue
(Talking barley pop the way ya do when ya belly-up on a barstool.)
BARLEY POP #3: FUNDAMENTAL OBSERVATION BBA Imperial Stout (Bottle Logic Brewing – Anaheim, CA)
FUNDAMENTAL OBSERVATION (F.O.) is a highly sought out prize many of the loyal subjects of the beer-geekdom covet all across the lands–and these guys beer trade it (for rare/scarce brews from other breweries across the country) or resell the difficult to find 500mL bottles for upwards of $200-300.
F.O. is just so damn good. It’s a little over 14%, bourbon-barrel aged stout whose signature ingredient is fresh Madagascar vanilla beans, resulting in a beer that has become affectionately referred to as “liquid brownie batter.” And it is DARKNESS! It’s a thick, rich, viscous-y BBA Imperial stout that balances vanilla and chocolate and booziness in just the oh-so-right-way. When you first try it, almost without fail, people have two reactions: 1) holy schnikeys, that is SO good! and 2) this is 14%?? Frankly, it’s so good it’s dangerous…and that’s why you’ll enjoy one in a dainty and shapely stem glass.
I always recommend on the initial pour of an F.O. to try a small sample sip…so as to experience the delightful smell and beyond-expectations taste, BUT also to impose some self-discipline (as hard as it is) and let this badboy sit for about 20 minutes before fully taking it down. By doing that, the beer opens up and the taste magnifies as this BBA Imperial stout comes to room temperature. And it is oh-so-worth-it!
Bourbon barrel-aged Imperial stouts are A Boy Named Sue’s weakness, and I, without hesitation, will order one every time I come across them. Stouts came from their cousin “porters,” as they started out as “stout” (meaning strong) porters–which were dark, just not as DARK as stouts became and are today. The “Imperial” beauties denote big ABV% and brewers figured out that these higher alcohol brewed stouts (great as they are) were even more delicious as they picked up additional taste qualities from the used bourbon barrels the distilleries were finished aging their whiskey in. Bonus feature: the stouts will not only pick up the extra bourbon flavor while aging, but will also often increase in ABV% depending on the amount of the residual bourbon soaked into the wood that seeps into the aging stout. The result: rich, “bourbon-y” and boozy perfection.
The Bottle Logic Brewing guys (in my not so humble opinion) do BBA Imperial stouts better than any other brewery I’ve had the pleasure of lavishing my blessed gullet in. And I’ve tried A LOT of ’em…because I LOVE TO DRINK ’em! From the story I’ve heard, the Bottle Logic guys were truly scientists (nerds) that were passionate about beer and home-brewing and who approached styles-of-beer with a scientific, elemental preciseness. If ya ask me, for as scientific as these dudes are, they equally compliment their brewing brilliance with artistic flare–as the uniqueness, complexity and variety of flavors of their numerous BBA Imperial stouts (especially the Stasis Project beers which celebrate barreling as the “5th element”) are utterly epic–no better exemplified than in their flagship and most famous BBA Imperial stout: Fundamental Observation (F.O.)!
Can we FINALLY have a “Prost” or “Skol” or “Cheers” this time, you ask? From the wisdom of ye ol’ tender-of-bars, he extolls: Drink up! Round 4 time!