2013 ~ The Yeer of Beer

What a year.

I have tried more disparate varieties of beer this year than in any other year of my life on this planet. Perhaps I will outdo myself one day as a member of the Mars One crew, but until then, this year will have to stand as the greatest annum of potations in my tender, young lifetime.

Firstly, let’s have a fun, little, statistical rundown of the beers my liver processed this past year.

In all, I tasted 207 different brews in 2013. That’s an average of a little more than 1 new beer every other day.

My most-tried style, and also the most-popular style in San Diego was India Pale Ales ~ 51 kinds

My second-most tried style was all manner of Stouts ~ 45 kinds

My third-most tried style was various types of Belgians ~ 19 kinds

Not a single beer was below 4% and 64 of them were above 10%, including one that was 15% (!) ~ the highest percent ABV beer I have ever had.

In no particular order, these were my absolute favorite beers of 2013:

Stone Imperial Russian Stout (2009 Release) – 10%
Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale (American Strong Ale) – 9.6%
The Bruery Bois (Old Ale) – 15%
Firestone Walker 17th Anniversary Ale (American Strong Ale) – 13.3%
Stone / Farking / Wheaton w00tstout (American Double / Imperial Stout) – 13%
Lost Abbey Deliverance (American Strong Ale) – 14+%
Great Divide 19th Anniversary Ale (Wood-Aged American Strong Ale) – 10.2%
10 Barrel / Stone / Bluejacket Suede Imperial Porter – 9.6%
Modern Times Fortunate Islands with Grapefruit Zest (India Pale Ale) – 4.8%
AleSmith Decadence 2012 Anniversary Ale (Quadrupel) – 12%
Kiuchi Brewery Hitachino Nest Commemorative Ale (Spiced Eisbock) – 9%
Modern Times Neverwhere (Belgian IPA) – 7%
Haandbryggeriet Norwegian Porter Aged in Akevitt Barrels -10%
2012 Ballast Point Victory at Sea Imperial Porter aged in Ballast Point 3 Sheets Rum Barrels – 10%
Goose Island Bourbon County Barleywine (English Barleywine) – 12.1%

There are plenty more beers listed further down the page, I have emboldened the names of all of my other favorites.

So, here is the detailed breakdown, kind-of sorted by style and in the order I tried them, as the year progressed:

AMBERS – 7

Brick Wall Brewing Amber Ale (12 oz bottle)
Karl Strauss Amber – ABV 4.5% (12 oz bottle)
Port Brewing Carlsbad Chronic (American Amber / Red Ale) – ABV 5.8% (on tap at PizzaPort Bressi Ranch)
Modern Times Blazing World Randalized with Mosaic Hops – ABV 6.8% (on tap at Modern Times tap room grand opening – 9/7/13)
Modern Times Rorima (100% Brett Amber) – ABV 6.5% (on tap at Modern Times tap room grand opening – 9/7/13)
Ninkasi Believer Double Red (American Amber / Red Ale) – ABV 6.9% 60 IBUs (on tap at Slater’s 50/50 Liberty Station 9/26/13)
AleSmith Evil Dead Red Ale (American Amber / Red Ale) – ABV 6.66% (22 oz bottle)

AMERICAN STRONG ALES – 8

Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale (American Strong Ale) – ABV 9.6% 66.6 IBUs (12 oz bottle)
Lost Abbey Deliverance (American Strong Ale) – ABV 14+% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 8/13/13)
Great Divide 19th Anniversary Wood-Aged American Strong Ale – 10.2% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 8/28/13)
Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale (American Strong Ale aged with American oak wood chips) – 7.2% (12 oz bottle)
Lagunitas Brown Shugga’ (American Strong Ale) – 9.9% 51.1 IBUs O.G. 1.100 (12 oz bottle)
Stone Double Bastard 2013 (American Strong Ale) – 11.2% (22 oz bottle)
Firestone Walker 17th Anniversary Ale (Blended Barrel Aged Beer – Blended from 8/200+ Barrels: 30% Bravo Barrel-Aged Imperial Brown Ale
25% Stickee Monkey Barrel-Aged English Barley Wine
15% Velvet Merkin Barrel-Aged Oatmeal Stout
15% Parabola Barrel-Aged Imperial Russian Oatmeal Stout
8% Double Double Barrel Ale
4% Helldorado Barrel-Aged Blonde Barley Wine
3% Wookey Jack Black Rye India Pale Ale) – 13.3% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 12/4/13)
Weins Crowded Anniversary Ale (American Strong Ale) – 10.8% (on tap at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens 12/9/13)

BARLEY WINES – 3

Rogue Old Crustacean (Barley Wine) – ABV 11.5% 110 IBUs (tapped keg at Beer-Con 2013)
Uinta Cockeyed Cooper (Barrel-Aged Barleywine) – 11.1% (on tap for Sublime Ale House’s 3rd Anniversary 10/25/13)
Goose Island Bourbon County Barleywine (English Barleywine) – 12.1% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 12/18/13 & 12/26/13)

BELGIANS – 19

AleSmith Grand Cru (Belgian Strong Dark Ale) – ABV 10.5% (750 ml bottle)
AleSmith Decadence 2012 Anniversary Ale – Belgian-Style Quadruple Ale – ABV 12% (750 ml bottle)
AleSmith Horny Devil Belgian-Style Ale with Coriander – ABV 10% (750 ml bottle)
Straffe Hendrik Bruges Quadruple Ale – ABV 11% (750 ml bottle) De Halve Maan Brewery – Bruges, Belgium – Anno 1856
Chimay Tripel – ABV 8% (on tap at The Yardhouse)
New Belgium Trippel Ale Brewed with Coriander – ABV 7.8% (12 oz bottle)
North Coast Grand Cru Aged in Oak Bourbon Barrels – ABV 12.5% (beer judging session at Beer Con 2013)
North Coast Brother Thelonious Belgian Style Abbey Ale – ABV 9.4% 32 IBUs (tapped keg at Beer-Con 2013)
Craftsman French Toast (Belgian Strong Dark Ale) – ABV 10.1% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 8/7/13)
North Coast Pranqster Belgian Style Gold Ale – ABV 7.6% 20 IBUs (on tap at Granville Cafe in Glendale, CA)
Allagash Victor Belgian Strong Ale Brewed with Cabernet Franc Grapes – ABV 9% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 9/18/13)
The Bruery Mischief Belgian-Style Golden Ale – ABV 8.5% (750 ml bottle)
Cigar City / De Proefbrouwerij (bvba Andelot) Tropical Tripel – 9.5% (on tap for Sublime Ale House’s 3rd Anniversary 10/25/13)
Scaldis Noel (Belgian Strong Dark Ale) – 12% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 10/30/13)
St. Bernardus Christmas Ale (Belgian Quadrupel) – 10% (on tap at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens 12/9/13)
Mad River 24th Anniversary Belgian-style Quadrupel – 11.4% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 12/18/13)
Brasserie d’Achouffe N’Ice Chouffe (Beglian Dark w/ Thyme & Curaco) – 10% (on tap at Blind Lady Ale House on 12/31/13)
Brouwerij Het Anker Lucifer (Belgian Golden Strong Ale) – 8% (on tap at Blind Lady Ale House on 12/31/13)
The Bruery 6 Geese A-Laying (Belgian Dark Strong Ale) – 11.5% (750 ml bottle)

BLONDES – 2

Saint Archer Blonde – ABV 4.8% 22 IBUs (on tap at Hubcap)
Brick Wall Brewing Centennial Blonde (12 oz bottle)

HARD CIDER (not technically Beer, I know…) – 1

Red Branch Cider Company Hard Black Cherry – ABV 6.9% (22 oz bottle)

HEFEWEIZENS – 2

Black Market Brewing Company Bavarian-Style Hefeweizen Wheat Ale – ABV 5% (22oz bottle)
Lightning Thunderweizen Ale – ABV 5.5% (tapped keg at Beer-Con 2013)

INDIA PALE ALES – 51

Coronado Brewing Company Islander IPA – ABV 7% 75 IBUs (22 oz bottle)
Port Brewing Wipeout IPA – ABV 7% (22 oz bottle)
Stone Brewery Enjoy By 02.15.13 IPA – ABV 9.4% (22 oz bottle)
Avery Brewing Company Dugana India Pale Ale – ABV 8.5% 93 IBUs (22 oz bottle)
Aleman / Stone / Two Brothers Dayman Coffee IPA – ABV 8.7% (12 oz bottle)
Stone Brewing Cali-Belgique IPA – ABV 6.9% (22 oz bottle)
Green Flash Hop Head Red (Red IPA) – ABV 7% (on tap at The Yardhouse)
Sierra Nevada 2013 Ruthless Rye IPA – ABV 6.6% (12 oz bottle)
Mother Earth Brewing Company Hop Diggity Double IPA – ABV 8.1% 90 IBUs (22 oz bottle)
Saint Archer IPA – ABV 6.8% 66 IBUs (12 oz bottle)
Avery 20th Anniversary Imperial IPA – ABV 9.7% (on tap at The Linkery 6/5/13)
Aztec Brewing Company Chipotle IPA – ABV 6.6% (22 oz bottle)
Maui Brewing Company Big Swell IPA – ABV 6.8% (12 oz can)
Coronado Idiot IPA – ABV 8.5% 90 IBUs
Manzanita Brewing Chaotic Double IPA – ABV 10.1% 93 IBUs
Lagunitas Hop Stoopid Ale (Imperial IPA) – ABV 8% 102 IBUs (22 oz bottle)
Coronado Brewing Company Frog’s Breath India Pale Ale Brewed with Spices – ABV 6.6% (22oz bottle)
Stone Brewing RuinTen (Imperial IPA) – ABV 10.8% (22oz bottle)
AleSmith Brewing IPA (on tap at PizzaPort Bressi Ranch)
Green Flash West Coast IPA – 7.3% (on tap at The Old Spaghetti Factory 7/21/13 after Comic-Con)
New Belgium Rampant Imperial IPA – ABV 8.5% (12 oz bottle)
Firestone Walker Wookey Jack (Proprietor’s Reserve Series) Black Rye IPA – 8.3% (22oz bottle)
Robert & Ryan / Stone / Rip Current R&R Coconut IPA – ABV 7.7% (22oz bottle)
Iron Fist Uprising Belgian Style Trippel IPA – ABV 12% (tapped keg at Beer-Con 2013)
Lightning Double Strike (American Double / Imperial IPA) – ABV 9% (tapped keg at Beer-Con 2013)
Ballast Point Habañero Sculpin (IPA) – ABV 7+% (tapped keg at Beer-Con 2013)
Stone Brewing 17th Anniversary Götterdämmerung IPA – ABV 9.5% 102 IBUs (22oz bottle)
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA – ABV 9% 90 IBUs (on tap at Slater’s 50/50 Pasadena 8/17/13)
Stone Brewing 15th Anniversary Escondidan Black IPA Aged in Scotch Whiskey Barrels – ABV 12+% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 8/21/13)
Flying Dog Pumpernickel IPA – ABV 7% (on tap at Pizza Port Bressi Ranch 8/23/13)
Modern Times Neverwhere (Belgian IPA) – ABV 7% (on tap at Pizza Port Bressi Ranch 8/23/13)
Uinta Brewing Hop Notch IPA – ABV 7.3% (12 oz bottle)
Ballast Point Dorado Double IPA – ABV 9.6% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 8/28/13)
Great Divide Rumble Oak Aged IPA – ABV 7.1% (12 oz bottle)
Modern Times City of the Sun IPA (draft, not cask) – ABV 7.5% (on tap at Modern Times tap room grand opening – 9/7/13)
Modern Times Neverwhere Double Dry Hopped with Citra Hops – ABV 7% (on tap at Modern Times tap room grand opening – 9/7/13)
Modern Times Homebrew Winner – Andy’s IPA – ABV 7% (on tap at Modern Times tap room grand opening – 9/7/13)
Modern Times Neverwhere 100% Brett IPA – ABV 7% (on tap at Modern Times tap room grand opening – 9/7/13)
New Belgium Ranger IPA – ABV 6.5% (12 oz bottle)
Hess Deceptio Cascadian Dark Ale (Black IPA) – ABV 8.8% 85 IBUs (on tap at Slater’s 50/50 Liberty Station 9/26/13)
Allagash Hugh Malone (Belgian IPA) – ABV 10% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 10/9/13)
Lagunitas A Little Sumpin’ Wild Ale (Belgian IPA) – ABV 8.8% 72.5 IBUs O.G. 1.079 (12 oz bottle)
Coronado Idiot (Imperial IPA) – 8.5% (on tap for Sublime Ale House’s 3rd Anniversary 10/25/13)
Buffalo Bill’s Brewery Alimony Ale (IPA) – 6.8% (12 oz bottle)
Sierra Nevada Celebration Fresh Hop Ale (American IPA) – 6.8% (12 oz bottle)
Samuel Adams Juniper IPA – 5.8% (12 oz bottle)
Port Brewing High Tide Fresh Hop IPA – 6.5% (22oz bottle)
BJ’s Brewer’s Reserve Double IPA – (on tap at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse)
Societe The Apprentice (IPA) – 7.5% (on tap at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens 12/9/13)
Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V. Piraat Ale (Belgian IPA) – 10.5% (on tap at Blind Lady Ale House on 12/31/13)
Knee-Deep Brewing Co. Simtra Triple IPA (American Double / Imperial IPA) – 11.3% 131 IBUs (22 oz bottle)

OLD ALES – 3

Hair of the Dog Brewing Company Adam Hearty Old World Ale – ABV 10% (330 ml bottle)
The Bruery Bois (Old Ale) – 15% (on tap for Sublime Ale House’s 3rd Anniversary 10/25/13)
North Coast Old Stock Ale (Old Ale / Barleywine) – 11.9% (on tap at Sublime 11/13/13)

PALE ALES – 14

Saint Archer Pale Ale – ABV 5.2% 40 IBUs (22 oz bottle)
Oskar Blues Brewery Dale’s Pale Ale (Rocky Mountain Pale Ale) – ABV 6.5% (12 oz can)
Brick Wall Brewing Pale Ale (12 oz bottle)
AleSmith Brewing X (Extra Pale Ale) – 5.5% (on tap at Hubcap 7/20/13 during Comic-Con)
Modern Times Fortunate Islands (American Pale Wheat Ale) – ABV 4.8% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 8/13/13)
Modern Times Fortunate Islands with Grapefruit Zest – ABV 4.8% (on tap at Modern Times tap room grand opening – 9/7/13)
Modern Times Oneida Dry Hopped Pale Ale – ABV 5.2% (on tap at Modern Times tap room grand opening – 9/7/13)
Cerveseria Cuahtemoc Moctezuma Carta Blanca (12 oz bottle)
Stone Pale Ale with Spanish Cedar Spirals and Szechuan Peppercorns – ABV 5.4% (on special Brewer’s cask at Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens on 9/27/13)
Sierra Nevada Flipside Red IPA – ABV 6.2% (12 oz bottle)
Modern Times Fortunate Islands – 4.8% (pint can)
Uinta Wyld Extra Pale Ale (American Pale Ale – APA) – 4% (12 oz can)
BJ’s Piranha Pale Ale (APA) – 5.7% (on tap at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse)
Green Flash Rayon Vert (Belgian Pale Ale) – 7% (12 oz bottle)

PILSNER – 3

Oskar Blues Mama’s Little Yella Pils (Czech Pilsener) – ABV 5.3% (12 oz can)
Firestone Walker Pivo Hoppy Pils – ABV 5.3% 40 IBUs
North Coast Scrimshaw (German Pilsener) – 4.4% (12 oz bottle)

PORTERS – 11

Haandbryggeriet Norwegian Porter Aged in Akevitt Barrels – ABV 10% 32 IBUs (330 ml bottle)
Deschutes Brewery Black Butte Porter – ABV 5.2% (12 oz bottle)
Port Brewing Deez Nutz Coconut Porter – 6.5% (on tap at PizzaPort Bressi Ranch)
Latitude 33° Vanilla’s Porter on nitro – 32 IBUs, ABV 6.5% (on nitro at Sublime Ale House 9/18/13)
10 Barrel / Stone / Bluejacket Suede Imperial Porter – ABV 9.6% (22 oz bottle)
2013 Ballast Point Victory at Sea Imperial Porter w/Devil’s Share Whiskey Oak on Cask – 10% (cask at Urge Gastropub on 11/2/13)
2011 Ballast Point Victory at Sea Imperial Porter w/Mole – 10% (on tap at Urge Gastropub on 11/2/13)
2012 Ballast Point Victory at Sea Imperial Porter aged in Ballast Point 3 Sheets Rum Barrels – 10% (on tap at Urge Gastropub on 11/2/13)
Aztec Cacao Chocolate Porter – 6.4% (22oz bottle)
Uinta Crooked Line Sea Legs Baltic Porter – 8% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 12/12/13)
Stone Smoked Porter with Vanilla Bean (Limited Winter 2013 Release) – 5.9% (22 oz bottle)

SAISONS / FARMHOUSE ALES – 3

Green Flash Saison Diego – 4.2% 20 IBUs
Lost Abbey Red Barn (Saison / Farmhouse Ale) – 6.7% (on tap at Hubcap 7/20/13 during Comic-Con)
Modern Times Pilot Batch #2 Dark Saison – ABV 5% (on tap at Modern Times tap room grand opening – 9/7/13)

SCOTCH ALES – 1

Port Brewing Way Heavy Scotch Ale – ABV 8.6% (on tap at PizzaPort Bressi Ranch)

SPECIALITY ALES / ETC – 17

Mother Earth Brewing Company Cali Creamin’ (Cream Ale) – ABV 5.2% (22 oz bottle)
Brick Wall Brewing Honey Ale (12 oz bottle)
New Belgium Rolle Bolle Ale (Fruit / Vegetable Beer) – ABV 5.5% (12 oz bottle)
AleSmith Brewing Nautical Nut Brown (English Brown Ale) – ABV 5% (22oz bottle)
Hess Grazias (Cream Ale) – 5.5% (on tap at The Local 7/21/13 during Comic-Con)
Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ (American Pale Wheat Ale) – ABV 7.5% 64.20 IBUs OG 1.076 (12 oz bottle)
Port Brewing Board Meeting (American Brown Ale) – ABV 8.5% (22oz bottle)
Sam Adam’s Imperial Series Double Bock (Doppelbock) – ABV 9.5% (12 oz bottle)
New Belgium Pumpkick (Pumpkin Ale) – ABV 6% (12 oz bottle)
Iron Fist Dubbel-Fisted w/Coffee Liqueur-soaked Cocoa Nibs (Dubbel) – ABV 8.1% (on CASK at Sublime Ale House 10/2/13)
The Bruery White Oak (Barrel-Aged Wheat Wine) – 11.5% (on tap for Sublime Ale House’s 3rd Anniversary 10/25/13)
Stone 11.11.11 Vertical Epic Ale aged in Cabernet Barrels (Chile Beer) – 10% (on tap at Sublime 11/6/13)
Haandbryggeriet Bestefar Norwegian Winter Ale (Winter Warmer) – 9% (500 ml bottle)
BJ’s Nutty Brewnette (American Brown Ale) – 5.9% (on tap at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse)
Kiuchi Brewery Hitachino Nest Commemorative Ale (Spiced Eisbock) – 9% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 12/18/13)
Samuel Adams Winter Lager (Bock) – 5.6% (12 oz bottle)
Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale (Winter Warmer) – 5.9% (12 oz bottle)

STOUTS – 45

Haandbryggeriet Dark Force Imperial Double Wheat Stout – 9% ABV (330 ml bottle)
The Lost Abbey Serpent’s Stout (January 2013 Release) – ABV 11% (22 oz bottle)
MOA Brewing Company New Zealand Imperial Stout Aged in Pinot Noir Barrels – ABV 10.2% (500 ml bottle)
Stone Brewing Imperial Russian Stout – 2013 Release – ABV 10.6% (22 oz bottle)
Stone Brewing Espresso Imperial Russian Stout – 2013 Odd Year Release – ABV 11% (22 oz bottle)
Maui Brewing Company Aloha B’ak’tun Belgian Stout brewed with Chocolate and Spices – ABV 7% (12oz aluminum can)
Victory Storm King Imperial Stout – ABV 9.1% (12 oz bottle)
Port Brewing Old Viscosity Ale Aged in Oak Barrels – ABV 10% (22 oz bottle)
Mad River Brewing Steelhead Stout – ABV 6.5% (12oz bottle)
Brouwerij De Molen Kopi Loewak – ABV 11.2% 23.7° Plato EBC 266 85 EBU (330 ml bottle)
Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout – Ale Brewed with Pecans, Wheat & Rye, With One Quarter Aged in Bourbon Barrels – ABV 13% (22oz bottle)
Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout – 13% (on tap at The Local 7/21/13 during Comic-Con)
North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels 12 years – ABV 12+% (beer judging at Beer Con 2013)
Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels – ABV 10% (beer judging session at Beer Con 2013)
North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels 10 years – ABV 12+% (beer judging session at Beer Con 2013)
Eel River Raven’s Eye Imperial Stout – ABV 9.5% (22oz bottle)
Samuel Smith’s Organic Chocolate Stout – ABV 5% (550 ml bottle)
Modern Times Black House Coffee Stout – ABV 5.8% (on tap at Modern Times tap room grand opening – 9/7/13)
Iron Fist Rubus Vigoratus – Stout Brewed with Cardamom & Raspberries – ABV 8% (750 ml bottle)
Hess Ex Umbris Rye Imperial Stout – 22.5° Plato, 75 IBUs, ABV 10.2% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 9/18/13)
Aztec Brewing Company Noche de los Muertos Imperial Stout – ABV 10.2% (22 oz bottle)
Sierra Nevada Narwhal Imperial Stout 2013 Release – ABV 10% (12 oz bottle)
Port Brewing Older Viscosity Wood-Aged Beer (American Double / Imperial Stout) – 12.1% (on tap for Sublime Ale House’s 3rd Anniversary 10/25/13)
Clown Shoes Porcine Unidragon (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout) – 12.5% (on tap for Sublime Ale House’s 3rd Anniversary 10/25/13)
Oskar Blues Ten Fidy Whiskey Barrel Aged – 10.5% (on tap for Sublime Ale House’s 3rd Anniversary 10/25/13)
Firestone Walker Parabola (Russian Imperial Stout) – 13% (on tap for Sublime Ale House’s 3rd Anniversary 10/25/13)
Port Brewing Barrel-Aged Santa’s Lil’ Helper – 10% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 10/30/13)
Brewery Ommegang Game of Thrones Take the Black Stout – 7% (750 ml bottle)
Hess Cucurbita (Pumpkin Stout) – 8% (on tap at Sublime 11/13/13)
Mendocino Imperial Stout – 10% (12 oz bottle)
Stone Imperial Russian Stout (2009 Release) – 10% (22 oz bottle)
Avery Czar Imperial Russian Stout – 10.5% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 12/4/13)
Latitude 33° Murder By Death Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout – 13% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 12/6/13)
Belching Beaver Ol’ Dirty Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout – 10.5% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 12/6/13)
BJ’s Tatonka Stout (Russian Imperial Stout) – 8.5% (on tap at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse)
Lagunitas Imperial Stout – 9.9% 72.45 IBUs O.G. 1.092 (22 oz bottle)
AleSmith Speedway Stout (Imperial Stout) – 12% (on tap at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens 12/9/13)
Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti 2012 (Russian Imperial Stout) – 9.5% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 12/12/13)
Coronado Blue Bridge Coffee Stout with Vanilla Beans on CASK – 6.2% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 12/18/13)
Uinta Labrynth Imperial Stout – 13.2% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 12/18/13)
Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Imperial Stout (2013 Release) – 14.2% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 12/18/13)
Belching Beaver Peanut Butter Milk Stout – 5.3% (22 oz bottle)
Nectar Ales Black Xantus (Russian Imperial Stout) – 11% (on tap at Sublime Ale House 12/26/13)
Mother Earth Sin Tax Imperial Stout – 8.1% (22 oz bottle)
Karl Strauss Wreck Alley Imperial Stout 2013 – 9.5% (growler)

SOURS – 4

Brouwerij Bockor Cuvée des Jacobins Rouge Aged in Oak Foudres (Flanders Red Ale) – ABV 5.5% (beer judging session at Beer Con 2013)
Brouwerij Bavik Petrus Aged Pale Ale (Flanders Oud Bruin) – 7.3% (on tap at Blind Lady Ale House on 12/31/13)
Brouwerij Bockor Cuvée des Jacobins Rouge (Flanders Red Ale) – ABV 5.5% (on tap at Blind Lady Ale House on 12/31/13)
Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck St. Louis Gueuze Fond Tradition (Gueuze) – 5% (on tap at Blind Lady Ale House on 12/31/13)

WITBIER – 4

Dogfish Head Red & White (Witbier) – ABV 10% 35 IBUs (on tap at Slater’s 50/50 Pasadena 8/17/13)
Sam Adam’s Imperial White (Witbier) – ABV 10.3% (12 oz bottle)
Ian’s Homebrew Belgian Wit (Witbier) – ABV 3-4% (22 oz bottle)
Samuel Adams White Christmas Ale (Witbier) – 5.8% (12 oz bottle)

It was indeed, THE YEER OF BEER.

2013 – The Year’s Best Eats – Burger Edition

We are all aware of the fact that it is no great secret: my inner Epicurean blossomed with great fanfare and rampant hedonism in 2013.

Or, wait – maybe that was supposed to be a secret. Ehhh…

I was introduced to a bevy of fascinating foodstuffs in my new home in San Diego, California. I also was blessed to do a bit of traveling for work – to Las Vegas, NV, Monterey, CA, Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Vegas was a whirlwind, Monterey afforded me a few, different opportunities to sample the local grub hubs- though i weighed a record-low 138 lbs at the time- and Canada didn’t really have much to offer, although I did visit a trendy, natural foods grocer that was attached to an Italian-style cafe and quaint, farm-to-table restaurant.

I have broken this post into two sections – one is simply a list of my favorite restaurant experiences of 2013, and the other is dedicated to the finest burgers I had in 2013. Because, for whatever reason, San Diegans are SERIOUS about their love of burgers. And surfing and skating and fish tacos and California burritos, and beer and coffee and art and love and peace and the sunshine, etc. etc.

But BURGERS. Burgers are an art form, and subject to a very high standard of excellence in America’s Finest City.

Hubcap Burger - Diagram — Hubcap Burger – Diagram

Not only is a burger a serious work of art, it is a punishing enterprise to try and sell said work of art in San Diego, CA. This was part of the challenge faced by Hubcap, the source of my #1 favorite burger in 2013. I ate it there during Comic-Con, and was blown away. Sadly, the restaurant never quite took off in such a way that maintained profitability, and they closed doors after only 4 months of service. The quality of ingredients and artisanal care that was poured into making Hubcap’s transcendent burger fare necessitated a much higher sticker price in a market where you could literally walk from any one point to a burger joint in 5 minutes flat.

Hubcap Burger - Detail — Hubcap Burger – Detail

I took photos of many of the other burgers I enjoyed in 2013. I was particularly happy to be able to go to Hodad’s on my 30th birthday, a local standby that has been cooking fabulous burgers in Ocean Beach for 44 years.

Hodad's Bacon Cheeseburger — Hodad’s Bacon Cheeseburger

My #2 favorite burger of the year was an inspired mash-up of nachos supreme with a Slater’s 1/3 lb burger patty, mixed with taco seasonings. Based on a request from a Make-A-Wish child, this burger was a dream come true for me – deep fried, coated in a thick layer of nacho cheese, topped with a dollop of sour cream and pickled jalapeños. Heaven.

Slater's 50/50 Supreme Nacho Burger — Slater’s 50/50 Supreme Nacho Burger

Behold, a few more photos of burgers:

Slater's 50/50 Peanut Butter & Jeallousy Burger — Slater’s 50/50 Peanut Butter & Jeallousy Burger

Sublime Alehouse - Southwest Burger — Sublime Alehouse – Southwest Burger

Slater's 50/50 - The Henry Winkler — Slater’s 50/50 – The Henry Winkler

Sea & Smoke - Niman Ranch Grass-Fed Burger — Sea & Smoke – Niman Ranch Grass-Fed Burger

And here is my ranked list of the top ten burgers that went into my body, nourishing it and strengthening it, in 2013:

Herbed Boursin Burger @ Hubcap
Nacho Supreme Burger @ Slater’s 50/50
Hubcap Burger @ Hubcap
Single Bacon Cheeseburger @ Hodad’s
The Compass Burger @ The Compass
The Southwest Burger @ Sublime Ale House
The Garbage Burger @ Urge Gastropub
Niman Ranch Grass-Fed Burger @ Sea & Smoke
Peanut Butter & Jeallousy Burger @ Slater’s 50/50
Farmhouse Burger @ Karl Strauss

And there you have it. Believe it or not, I actually ate more salad than anything else this year. For some reason, I couldn’t find very many photos of those…

2013 – The Year in iPhone Photos

If the photographic evidence dumped off my iPhone and stamped with a date that puts its time of origin somewhere in the year 2013 is to believed… I did a lot of eating and drinking this last year. Like, probably at least three meals a day, I bet. Shoo, that’s a lot of food photos, people. I did my best to weed out all the duds and leave you with only the finest, heavily-edited, shared-on-social-media pictures of edible items. Enjoy!

Salmon from some lake in the Canadian Rockies

Marriott Marquis downtown San Diego

Careful when you let girls shop together

Iron Mountain trail

Game of Thrones geographical trolley signs at Comic Con

Impossible Breakfast Glory at Brian’s 24

Behind the scenes at MM 2013

Point Loma and Cabrillo Monument with the fam

Lighthouse with the fam

Man Up 2

Hiking Daley Ranch at dawn during Man Up 2

Halloween pano

Ran into a few celebrities at The Waffle in Hollywood

French Quarter pano

Moonlight Beach pano

With bro and company at Chargers game

Company Christmas party behind the scenes with coworker Danny

2013 – The Year’s Best Music – Songs

In my mind, it seems like I was just sitting down to write this very same list from last year. Time flies when you’re wearing tank tops. This year marks the first time listening to music in my car eclipsed listening to it in any other setting. Also, I blew through a few zillion podcasts in the Honda. Podcasts are awesome.

I present, without further comment, the songs I most enjoyed listening to in Anno 2013:

Grammy by Purity Ring
Free At Dawn by Small Black
The Possessed by Glass Candy
Livin’ It Up by Ciara
Beloved by Say Lou Lou
In Real Life by The Ruby Suns
Graceless by The National
Golden Wake by Mutual Benefit
Line of Fire by Junip
Blue Crystal Fire (Originally released in 1978) by Robbie Basho
Beta Love by Ra Ra Riot
Sonsick (Magic Man Remix) by San Fermin
Born at 5:00 by Bombadil
One Half by Julianna Barwick
Childhood’s End by Majical Cloudz
Something About You by Dornik
Fool of Me (feat. Chet Faker) by Say Lou Lou
Recollection by Keep Shelly In Athens
Without You My Life Would Be Boring by The Knife
Sea of Love by The National
Mute by Youth Lagoon
God’s Children (The Kinks cover) by Woods
Boring Country Song by Bombadil
Demon To Lean On by Wavves
Tonight We Fall by ADULT.
No Stranger by Small Black
Stone Cold Coup d’Etat by They Might Be Giants
I Take Comfort In Your Ignorance (Tycho Remix) by Ulrich Schnauss
I Am a [REDACTED] by Kanye West
WIIW by Kirin J Callinan
Drive by Beacon
Let’s Kiss by Mirage
Science/Visions by Chvrches
A Violent Sky by Apparat
One More Ring by Bombadil
Branches by Chrome Canyons
Hurricane (Chvrches Remix) by MS MR
Madmen Love by Keep Shelly In Athens
Into Eternity by Farah
Just Desserts by Marina & The Diamonds & Charli XCX
I Take Comfort In Your Ignorance by Ulrich Schnauss
Youth by Daughter
Compliment Your Soul by Dan Croll
Varsity by Smith Westerns
Street of Dreams by Frankie Rose
Wanderlust by Polly Scattergood
Atlantis by Postiljonen
Menswear by The 1975
Oostende by Keep Shelly in Athens
Unbreakable (feat. Baaba Maal and The Very Best) (Baio Vocal Mix) by Yadi

Feel free to stream most of them here:

2012 ~ The Year in Scrobbling

2012 ~ The Artists Graph — Click to embiggen.

Here, one the ultimate day of Anno Domini 2012, I used LastGraph to compose a chart of my listening habits (the ones that have been recorded by audio scrobbling service Last.fm since 2005) for the year.

2012 ~ The Year in Film

Admittedly, I didn’t see a great many “films” theatrically in 2012. I spent a decent portion of 2011 ingesting a glut of films for free at a theater that still used the actual medium of film, but in 2012, I daresay I saw perhaps only one legitimate “film.”

That film, was The Master. By no means an endearing experience, it is nonetheless an unshakeable one. This film springs from a dusty, high, forgotten shelf of cinema where a few peers may reside. Perhaps Aguirre: The Wrath of God? Perhaps The Thin Red Line? I don’t know what else to compare it to. It’s just… extant. Great performances all around, but the connection between the film’s titular character and Scientology-founder L. Ron Hubbard is tenuous and oblique. P.T. Anderson seems to have something to say about the apparent futility of soul-searching in a world replete with charlatans who employ technology as a means of enlightenment, but I’ll be darned if I know what it is.

Balin & Dwalin — Dwarf Lords from Under the Mountain

Now I am brought to my top 10 list of movies from 2012. The #1 spot is taken by The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, unsurprisingly. I have been a Tolkien fan since my youth, and originally read The Hobbit from an illustrated version that my mother bought for my cousin. Gollum’s cave is etched deeply into my remembered childhood imagination. Peter Jackson’s return to Middle Earth is at once triumphant, cataclysmic, and like the arrival of a dear, old friend on your doorstep.

My second favorite film came as something of a surprise. I had known of Richard Linklater’s new(er) film, Bernie, for a while. Strictly speaking, the film was completed back in 2011, but it didn’t see the light of day as far as a distributor until 2012. Why on earth it took me so long to finally watch it, I cannot say. I do know I will NOT miss out on Linklater’s next project, a third entry in the Before Sunrise series, with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. I digress. Jack Black does something amazing, here. He inhabits the entire length, breadth, and width of his idiosyncratic, real-life character’s personality traits and proclivities, delivering a performance that is so bizarre and true, it could not have ever been invented. Read that last sentence aloud, without taking any breaths. Sorry about that.

And the list goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Bernie
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Moonrise Kingdom
Kari-gurashi no Arietti (The Secret World of Arrietty)
Looper
The Avengers
Les Misérables
The Master
The Dark Knight Rises

Here is a list of ALL 2012 releases which I have seen, specifically. An all-time low: total number equaling 18. I aim to do a little better in 2013.

Brave – theatrical
Les Misérables – theatrical
The Master – theatrical (film!)
Kari-gurashi no Arietti (The Secret World of Arrietty) – theatrical
The Avengers – theatrical
The Dark Knight Rises – theatrical
The Hunger Games – theatrical
Skyfall – theatrical
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – theatrical
Prometheus – theatrical
John Carter – theatrical
Looper – theatrical
Chronicle – theatrical
Moonrise Kingdom – RedBox
Bernie – Netflix
Jiro Dreams of Sushi – Netflix
Take This Waltz – On-demand
The Innkeepers – DVD

2012 ~ The Year in Music

2012 was a “thinner” year for me, as I maintained a fairly strong connection to the channels through which I received my music-culture input, while at the same time withdrawing to a place where I spent less time seeking to find, and more time learning to redirect my own creative energies towards building stability for my family. Does this make sense?

There was a time when I bent the majority of my intellectual energy toward the uncovering of new artists and songs. It was hard work, long hours spent deeply absorbed in a world of sounds. I invested inordinate amounts of time just hearing things I never would have had the patience for if I hadn’t believed that there was some value to be discovered within the cacophony of the potentially-sublime creative output of some kids in a bedroom half a world away.

Upon moving to California, I adopted something of a passive attitude about such things. I was determined to remain in the dark about all of the shows I was now missing out on, mere miles away. I did go to a few, mind you, but nowhere near the number I would have gone to, had I not been so committed to pinching every penny we had. I locked up my input streams, and let the music flow to me, and flow it did. In pleasantly manageable quantities, too.

I won a spot on the guest list for Damien Jurado’s show in San Diego, and later I was able to tag along to a VIP hangout with Mutemath. Those were my concert-going activities for 2012. Will 2013 be more eventful? I fully expect it to be so.

Here is my list of top albums from 2012. Someday, an expansion on why Maraqopa was chosen will be due. I chose it very early in the year. Nothing has eclipsed my decision since.

Damien Jurado – Maraqopa
Grimes – Visions
Chromatics – Kill for Love
Bat For Lashes – The Haunted Man
elite gymnastics – ruin
Japandroids – Celebration Rock
Beach House – Bloom
Sharon Van Etten – Tramp
Kent – Jag är inte rädd for mörkret

And a couple of honorable mentions. Why are these two honorables mentioned? Well, for one, Silver & Gold is a compilation of Soof’s past 5 Christmas albums. Also, it is a masterwork of staggering genius. Small Black’s Moon Killer Mixtape was released on 11/11/11 and was missed by yours truly (as a whole). I wound up digging on the title track a heck of a lot in 2012, so, I place this mixtape here as an honorable mention.

I'm a Christmas Unicorn. You're a Christmas Unicorn, too. — I’m a Christmas Unicorn. You’re a Christmas Unicorn, too.

Sufjan Stevens – Silver & Gold
Small Black – Moon Killer Mixtape

I don’t know what to expect from Sufjan, anymore. I just don’t.

Best un-owned (not unheard) albums from 2012. These are albums which I listened to- in this age of Rdio, Spotify, Grooveshark, and Soundcloud- and was highly impressed with, but hitherto have not been so moved as to purchase them. I would like to, though.