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Beer Reviews

Buffalo Jump Stout

Copper Canyon Brewery
Southfield, MI
USA
http://www.coppercanyonbrewery.com

Style: Stout
ABV: 6.8%

Rings’s Rating:
   (Drinkable, but flawed)


Comments:
To review from my initial coverage of the brewery, Copper Canyon is located in Southfield, Michigan, near the intersection of M-10 and I-696, although one has to drive over the river and through the woods upon finding an exit from the highway to find the front door.

Southfield is more or less a business district, full of office buildings, strip malls, shopping centers, and tons of traffic. And this little brewpub fits right in, with a bright urban and slightly upscale atmosphere to accompany a hearty menu featuring all the “American” fare you’d expect from an Applebee’s or a Chili’s, but with a little local twist and a couple extra bucks tacked on the prices.

Their only “dark” offering on my visit was the Buffalo Jump Stout—I have no idea what the name is supposed to mean—made with real coffee beans. No kidding? No shit. No chance I’m going to like this.

To be fair, I hate coffee. I’ve tried it several times over the years. I’ve tried the cheap ones, the fancy ones, tried it with creamer, sugar and black. I tried it several times while young, in college, and again while living in Europe, where coffee was virtually a must-have for breakfast or if one wanted caffeine aside from Red Bull or Coke—neither of which I also care for.

Bias admitted, this one is still a little overwhelming. It smells like coffee, looks like coffee and tastes like coffee. Dark brown, it has a bit of glass cling, albeit with a thinner body.

This would be a one mugger in my personal notebook, but that’s not fair as it is what it claims to be. That said, it is unbalanced and extreme … and tastes like coffee, except it’s colder.


Reviewed by Rings on November 3, 2010.

Drinkin’ And Thinkin’

Beer Dorks News

The aptly named Tenacity Brewing seeks to emerge from the disaster that was the water crisis in Flint, MI. Chicagoans hopeful a recent announcement from Three Floyds will bring a much-desired brewpub to the city. Sam Calagione's brilliant response to the news that an AB/InBev subsidiary is now a part-owner of RateBeer. Wisconsin's Gestapo, the Tavern League, looks to tighten rules that will hurt small brewers. One of the original craft beer stalwarts of the Upper Midwest, Summit, ceases distribution in 6 more states, leaving only 5 from their peak of 17. How much does psychology play into perceptions of craft beer? An incredibly interesting case study by this Estonian brewery indicates it's a major factor. AB-InBev controls South African hop market, not allowing craft brewers access. Sounds like the actions of a company that "advocates for craft brewers". Dirty fucking liars. Denmark brewer creates "Pisner", brewed with human urine. As opposed to Bud/Miller/Coors, which is just straight up urine, human or otherwise. On the heels of the Wicked Weed sellout, Lagunitas announces it's sold the remaining 50% to Heineken. We've said it before... this is not going to end well. Just when it seemed the Big Beer acquisition train was slowing a bit, this bomb dropped. And it's a BIG one. Sad.