Isn’t that what mama said when you received your first red rider? Isn’t that what grandma said when you lit off your first bottle rocket? Well, Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head nearly cost me my own eye this evening. I sat down and in my hand had a wonderful example of a bomber (adequately named come to find out). Life and Limb. Now, the label of this bottle has a calm tree, daisies, birds, et cetera. All items that would conceal a violent nature hidden behind the glass. Well, ladies and gentlemen… let me forewarn you… THIS BEER CAN BE DANGEROUS! No, it is not the 10.8% ABV, or the 22oz of collaborated goodness from east and west coasts, or even the two types of syrup used in the brewing process (Maple, and Birch). It is the very “life and limb” of the beer, the cork, harvested from well, a tree that seeks to exact its revenge upon your face… it will happily settle for your mates face, or an unlucky cat (ala Boondock Saints). This cork has been harvested against its will and it will LET YOU KNOW IT! There is a lot of anger and unresolved angst contained in this cork. It may not have been hugged as a child for all I know. Anyways, I digress.

Now, in opening the beer, please point the cork away from all animate objects, at least ones that you care about (that goes for grandpas remains in the vase over the fireplace). The twisted copper wiring comes off easy enough, but start loosing the cork and at the moment of no return…. be ready for the fireworks. Mine sailed a solid 23.78 yards at over 87mph. Pretty dang impressive in my mind. Unfortunately, it began spewing sweet nectar all over my recently steam cleaned carpets and polished wooden floors. It made for some happy dogs as they lapped up what they could off the tile in the kitchen.

Now, with the beer open, allow the flavors to meld as they so meticulously do in a sifter. The flavors of this beer are complex, but light. I was honestly expecting a heavier feel on the palate, not that this is bad, it just caught me off guard. Excellent molasses flavor, some toffee and vanilla, and a perhaps central mexican coffee touch. Honestly, describing any other flavoring would be a disgrace from me to you. This beer is excellent through and through. Certainly not a beer to drink if you are in a hurry however.

As a coordinated effort to send thanks to their supporters, Sierra Nevada, and Dogfish Head have done a wonderful thing. If this beer wasn’t quite so cost prohibitive ($11 a bottle) I would have certainly bought multiples to age. I would be willing to bet another six months and this beer would be spot on perfect.

Prosit!

P.S. Point the cork WELL AWAY from you and all others when opening, I am dead serious, you will be seriously injured if you do not.

On an unrelated note, the label on this beer made me think of Monty Python, so I decided to once, and for all find a definitive source for the wingspeed velocity of a European swallow. Well, I found a gentleman who did the work for me, so here, enjoy!

Bonus: Monty Python