Scottish Black Oil in a Bottle

Lately I have been on the search for the ultimate ale experience. I have tried some not so great beers and ales, some great ones, and a select few that are outstanding. Yes, I have new favorites, but that is always evolving with every tasting. This past tasting (tasting being the entire bottle) I found a gem from Scotland that is superb. Scotland you say? Don't they have beers with funk? Yes, they do. But here is one that goes beyond funk and creates what maybe the best beer in the world. This thing is other-worldly.

So, after looking at the 12 year, 16 year (which I already tried) and the special edition 30 year ales, I decided to spend the extra cash and go for the gold, the 30 that is. Harviestoun Ola Dubh 30yr ale. This is an incredible ale that is aged in Highland Park 30 year single malt Scotch casks. Ola Dubh translates as "black oil". That it is-viscous and dark. Wow! This ale truly evolves with every sip. Not only is it well integrated and smooth, but it boasts an incredible nose that evaporates into your brain. Like I said, it's not of this world. It has a nose of peat, chocolate, coffee and slightly sweet and bitter hops. It tastes the same, but more etherial. There is a long lasting finish of peat and hops. This maybe the best ale in the world.

Tremendous Truffle Tremor Cheese

Cypress Grove Chevre Truffle Tremor is spectacular. End of blog. Go get the cheese.

Well, maybe not so fast.

For those who love a great goat cheese and those who love truffles, this is a fantastic marriage of the two. It has a nice creamy outer layer and a flakey inner layer that is speckled with bits of black truffle. It adds a perfect amount of earthiness and smokiness to the already earthy and sweet goat flavor of the cheese. This is definitely one of the better cheeses Cypress Grove makes.

I can see this cheese on a cheese platter, used in a beet salad, or with rack of lamb. It has power and delicacy. 

You can find this cheese at Whole Foods, your local cheese shop or any other fine food shop. Cypress Grove has a great reputation and most everyone in the world who knows anything about cheese will carry one or two, maybe this one. 

One Minty Brownie Bomb

How many times have you walked into Whole Foods and seen all those deserts in the display case? They look good, but there are so many. I have tried a few, and like a few, but most are too creamy and sweet for me. I received a recommendation on a brownie they make, and boy, it is damn good. Next time you walk in, take a look and see if you can find the Peppermint Brownie. 

The brownie has a nice thin layer of potent peppermint near the top, just under a rich and dense layer of frosting. The brownie itself is superbly dense and not crappy and cakey at all like most brownies. I am usually disappointed with brownies, as they are made by people who like crappy cupcakes and puffy pastries. There is a difference here, and the bakers don't get it. This is a brownie, so make it a brownie. It's not cake.

Anyways, off my rant…, inside the superbly dense chocolate brownie are small crunchy flakes of even more chocolate. Yep. What more can you ask for besides having the entire brownie dipped in single source dark chocolate? 

These are good. Don't even think of buying one. Listen to the little devil and buy two.