First NIght @ The Oak

After 23 hours of travel to get home to Riverview, Michigan, I strode wearily into my "home bar," the Oak Cafe at around 11pm. I had been eagerly anticipating this visit as it had been quite a long while since I'd been able to drink some delicious Michigan Beers. Given the lateness of the hour (4am Irish time) and my fatigued state, any inaccuracies in my recollections are forgiven by me.

My first selection was what is probably my favourite stout of all time the Founder's Breakfast Stout. This stout, clocking in at 8.3% ABV, was a fantastic welcome home from the limpid 4-5% beers that dominate the Irish beer market. It is perfectly-crafted and the additions of the coffee and chocolate are perfectly balanced and are not overdone in any way. The flaked oats give the beer a delicious, weighty mouthfeel compounded by the alcohol. Overall, I cannot imagine a more perfect beer.

After a 22oz. glass of this, I switched to a small 16oz serving for my first ever taste of the Founder's Double Trouble IPA. This beer was delicious indeed. As it is an Imperial IPA, it is 9.4%ABV. This beer had a beautiful, light gold colour and strong hop aroma. On the palate the hops really shone through with an acidity that did a great job of balancing out the sweet-tasting alcohol. I detected a pronounced fruitiness on the palate that had a kind of apricot/peach component. I don't like giving beers and wine scores, but if I did, it would definately warrant a high one.

Although I was really beginning to fade at about 1am, I couldn't bring myself to leave without having a glass of the delicious Bell's Hopslam, another Imperial IPA, this one at 10%ABV. Although the Founders Double Trouble was quite delicious, it was trumped in the end by the Hopslam. I won't write any tasting note for this beer as I was so tired that I couldn't really focus on it. I'll just have to have some more before going back to Ireland! I will say that it made a delicious pairing with the Spicy Black Bean Deep-Fried Quesadillas!

I must also mention that all of these beers were in draught form, a first for me in every case. In all, it was a fantastic way to cap off what was an extremely long day.