Why we picked it: It got a decent rating, it sounded interesting, and oh yeah...it's a 19.2 oz can of beer. Let's start this 24 DoB off with a big guy!
About 21st Amendment's Toaster Pastry: Our first beer out of our new brewery is an homage to its former life as a toaster pastry factory. Biscuit malts give the beer a slightly nutty, crust-like flavor, while pale and dark Crystal malts create the mouthfeel and flavors reminiscent of strawberry jam. Calypso and other experimental hops give this ruby ale a welcome bite, plus a few more in the hop back for a toasty-sweet aroma. Toaster Pastry won a Silver medal in the Double Red Ale Category at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival
Beer Advocate Score: 89
Color: Deep Amber
Flavor Hops: Centennial, Ahtanum, Amarillo, Mosaic
Malts: Two Row, Baird 70-80 Dark Crystal, Weyermann Munich 2, Weyermann Carafa III, Castle Biscuit
Bittering Hops: Warrior
Yeast: American Ale
ABV: 7.6%
IBU: 74
Case Cost: $106 (usually sold as singles for about $5 each)
*website: http://21st-amendment.com/beers/toaster-pastry/
Welcome everyone to the 5th incarnation of the 24 DOB. We have assembled a fantastic list of brews this year, including some rare and unusual selections.
ReplyDeleteTony...thank you for putting together this awesome blog site for us!
I look forward to drinking with you all for the next 24 days.
Thanks for all your help in securing nearly half the beer! got to work on your repackaging though, we had too many cases where we had to go back and figure out an error...guess that was Tony's doing...
DeleteYup...tony ruins everything!
DeleteHappy to be in the presence of such fine people. Being selected for this group is akin to being selected to the NCAA football playoff.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea why this is called a toaster pastry but it tastes pretty fantastic to me. It's a nice cross between red and IPA. I didn't think it would work but it did. The big can certainly does not hurt its chances either. Great start in my opinion!
Congrats on being the first one to enjoy the beer and post...your prize is in the mail !
DeleteYEAHHHHHH!!!!!!! That time of year again! Special thanks to Tony, Mark, Todd, & TommyD and all others who financed, lifted, assembled, organized, stored, and distributed the brews!
ReplyDeleteSo I read the label last night and got excited over the tales of biscuity malts with nutty crust like flavor and hints of strawberry jam lurking in the mix. Left work early to experience said taste sensations for myself and.....yeah its a regular Red Ale. That's not a bad thing because I like Red Ales but man this was underwhelming. Out of about 20 sips I tasted strawberry in exactly 1, and nutty crust in a different sip, the remaining 18 were typical Red Ale. At 5 dollars for a kinda Tall-Boy this is overpriced and underdelivers. Not a bad beer but due to the price and wildly exaggerated marketing this gets a C+
Well here we go! Right out of the gates we have 19.2 oz of 7.6% ABV! That should be a good start!
ReplyDeleteSo let me let all of you know how I set up the order of beers. We are going to drink the beers by category and within the category the beers are ordered from worst rated to best rated. Though none of these should be terrible (fingers crossed). The order is Red Ale, Black Ale, Doppelbock, Altbier, Schwarzbier, American IPA, Winter warmer, American Strong Ale, Belgian Strong Pale Ale, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Quadrupel, English Porter, Russian Imperial Stout, Oatmeal Stout, American Stout, American Barleywine, English Brown Ale, and ending with a Sweet Milk Stout. Hopefully that works out well!
Now on to tonight's beer. I'm not picking up the flavors as described above. However I do get the malts. I like it, but there are not a lot of beers I don't like. But I don't think there is anything special going on here. So at $5+ a can, even if it is 19.2oz, I think it's a little too much. I'm glad I tried it, I like it, but I wouldn't pay that much for this beer again. Much better selections out there at this price point. We shall see how tomorrows Red Ale compares. Rating 7 out of 10, C+
I love that progression and keeping category types near each other. Well done!
DeleteThere are 19 categories and 24 beers?...this sounds like the bowl game situation. Which categories will be having a throw down beer off? FYI - crushing this blogging thing while pouring a little out for KW!
DeleteEven though I am not participating this year, I am still policing the comments! Bolter, thanks for the entertainment for Tony and I tonight - you win the prize for best commenter.
Delete50 comments on the first night Katy, good start. What's the chances that Bolter keeps up his new found blogging enthusiasm throughout the 24 days.
DeleteTerrible chance of that...
DeleteYou got that right Tom
DeleteDam it's good to be kicking off the 24 days of beer again. I love the tall boy for the first selection, I thought this one was pretty good. I agree that they pulled this blend of red ale and IPA off well when typically an IPA just takes over. This was a nice first only to be topped by the rare first place spot held by the redskins in the toilet bowl division and the caps 1st on top of the NHL. Cheers
ReplyDeleteBets on where the skins are when the 24 DoB is over? I say they're 6-8 and still somehow tied for first.
DeleteI was excited to get started and then read the description and the idea of strawberry jam completely turned me off. I am halfway through and surprisingly I like it. Probably because I have yet to pick up anything close to a strawberry jam taste. I agree that it tastes like a typical red ale. Thought it had a good color and the size is working in its favor. I would give it a 6.5 out of ten.
ReplyDeleteIf you didn't like the notion of strawberry jam you would've murdered someone during the infamous 24 DoB - Summer Edition. The legend grows....
DeleteThis is my first year in the club and am really looking forward to the next 23 days. Thanks to Chad and Dani Molnar for the birthday present.
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of IPAs and red ales so this beer was a treat for me. The wife took a taste and tried to bogart the rest of the beer. Great first choice to start out the month.
New guy eehhhhh? Welcome aboard ! You've already scored big with a blog post. Pace yourself on the witty banter...many a participant have come out strong and faded by mid month ... This is a marathon, the only kind I'll ever entertain. Running is stupid.
DeleteDecember 1st! Yes! Thanks to everyone who put this together. This is my third year and am ready to go. My favorite part of being in this is that I get exposure to excellent beers that I might otherwise pass by. And tonight is no exception.
ReplyDeleteSo we start out with a bang. Big flavor in a big can. Based on the name, I had fears that 21st had tried to cross an IPA with a pop tart. But my fears were unfounded and once again they prove that they know what they are doing. Great start!
After I finished my big can, I was inspired to finished of a 24 ounce ICEHOUSE that tony once gave to me...long story, but could explain my writing replies to nearly every blog entry tonight.
DeleteNot a huge IPA guy but it is growing on me as I getter dun. Pairs tastefully well with Bonchon Chicken Wings. After a full tasting of the 7.8% I can positively tell you that Mary, Mother of Jesus, was NOT a virgin. I'm Grown.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - sigh.
DeleteAnonymous: my arch nemesis.
DeleteHappy December 1st everyone! The first of 24 surprises at the end of the day. Thanks again to the team who puts this on each year, what a great tradition!
ReplyDeleteI love this beer! I'm a big red fan (both literally, Go Big Red! and in ale speak) in general, but this one is a super sized, super tasty brew. What else would you expect when you combine a former toaster pastry factory and biscuit malts!
Great start, I'm adding it to my list of beers to have on the fridge shelf.
Nebraska? Congrats on the bowl berth.
DeleteNebraska? Congrats on the bowl berth
DeleteI don't taste the strawberry jam but it's a great tasting beer.
ReplyDeleteThanks for everyone that took the time putting this together. I am looking forward the the rest of the great beers
Katy would so not approve of this post
DeleteKaty is the only strawberry I like
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteicle
DeleteTest
DeleteSo excited to be back this year - maybe too happy, to be honest. Thanks to Tony and Co. for their time and effort.
ReplyDeleteAs for Toaster Pastry, I'm happy to report that what they describe on the back of the can doesn't match what they give you on the front of it: Extra ounces of extra ABV and extra IBU on the front deliver a pleasant, drinkable, straightforward Red IPA essentially unrelated from the strawberry blah blah on the back. Like last year's The Tradition from DC Brau, the marketing and the substance don't match - but Toaster Pastry gives you something you might choose to drink on an average evening. And like The Tradition, I wouldn't pay full price for it, but I wouldn't turn it down, either.
A good start to our holiday!
I heretofore request that I not be considered part of Tony & Co. We don't need Tony's head getting any bigger even if he did do most of the work.
DeleteGreat to kick things of again... looking forward to a month of drinking everyday! I don't know why we stop at 24 days??
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this beer. I enjoy IPAS much more than red's, but thug was an excellent mix of the two. I didn't really think the description fit the beer, but who cares? 21st is a great brewery... There back in black is awesome.
...Looking forward to a month of drinking everyday? How do you handle the other months? They sound awful.
Delete...'looking forward to a month of drinking everyday'. What do you do for the other months? They sound awful.
DeleteGreat to kick things of again... looking forward to a month of drinking everyday! I don't know why we stop at 24 days??
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this beer. I enjoy IPAS much more than red's, but thug was an excellent mix of the two. I didn't really think the description fit the beer, but who cares? 21st is a great brewery... There back in black is awesome.
Double post...can't coach effort
DeleteDelicious.... Great start to the month!
ReplyDeleteLet's try to be more concise tomorrow.
DeleteI didn't get the strawberry jam the can boasted about but that might have been for the best (i.e. see the failed 24 beers of summer). That said it was a good start to one of my favorite new Christmas traditions. Tasted like a Killian's to me but that's not bad and the Tall Boy can was a nice added benefit.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tony and Mark for putting all this together.
Nice to see if took all of about 4 hours for the 24 DoB Summer Version to get thrown under the bus. Stupid fruits crushed my good name.
DeleteVery happy that the 24 days have begun. The happiest time of the year! Love the tall can. Tasty IPA but I guess a bit of malt keeping it from going overboard. Great start!
ReplyDeleteOK – let’s see what’s up with this tall hop-tart beer. I love kicking off the 24 DoB with a 19.2 ouncer. I like the package – a taller tall boy can that’s fun to hold, has decent colors, with a nice description right on the can – all good. This beer fit perfectly into one of my oversize pilsner glasses that I rarely get to use. I’m getting a pretty “normal” red ale malt profile, but with that nice biscuit thing coming through. I’ve had reds before that have too much of a sticky/thick/malty thing going on, but I think the hops on this one are cutting through that and trying hard to balance it out. I love hops as much as the next guy, but I’m not into bitter for sake of bitterness. This beer is nicely balanced and I have a feeling that based on the description, it turned out pretty much the way brewers intended. For my personal taste, it has just a tiny bit too much bitterness, but overall I think they did a great job putting it all together. I’m on my last mouthful and if I use my imagination, I swear there’s a crust and strawberry jam thing happening. That could be all in my head, but it’s still a win.
ReplyDeleteFirst I would like to thank everyone who had a hand in putting this together. And thanks for letting me be a part of the 5th annual DOB. Secondly, I am disappointed that no one posted at 12:01 this morning. Is this a sign we are all old?
ReplyDeleteOn to the review... I really wasn't feeling this beer at first, but I think the 7.8% ABV started catching up with me. By the time the glass was empty I started liking it and probably would have had a second. Overall I will give it a C +.
Happy 24 Beers of Christmas!
Started liking it...would have another = C+. Poor Phil
DeleteDecember is truly the best month of the year!
ReplyDeleteOf all the beers in the case, I was most wary of this one. Fruit and beer do not (generally) go together...kinda like a monkey fucking a duck.
Biscuit and strawberry beer...hmmmm cracked this can with a bit of trepidation.
First sip...malty, hoppy, ok maybe I can work with this beer.
I get the yeasty hints of strawberry, but the nice hop and malt makes this one super drinkable anyway.
Never would I have purchased this beer...glad I got to give it a try
I'll never buy this beer again...value not there at all. Sure am glad I can get drunk on it tonight tho. Always great to taste and mostly enjoy something I wouldn't have ever tried otherwise. Nice pick for this 24DOB
Fruit and beer do not (generally)....so you're saying there's a chance? Is that a subtle way of asking me to prep for the 2nd annual 24 days of beer - Summer edition?
DeleteI'm in for summer.
DeleteAs long as Bolts doesn't choose the beer for the summer edition...I'm in!
DeleteAnd yes the door must always remain open for fruit and beer...thus "generally".
Notable exceptions:
Ommegang has orange peel and coriander in every beer. Anderson Valley blood orange gose. Ballast point grapefruit sculpin...
Tis a magical time of year, and we are off to a good start. I got a little nervous when I saw references to a pop-tart beer online, but those fears were unfounded. It's more malty with a nice little hop finish. I didn't get much strawberry, and that's fine by me.
ReplyDeleteI'd also like to express my gratitude to our intrepid leaders/organizers. I always look forward to not just every beer, but every comment and beer-inspired anecdote. Thank you!
Excited to kick this off and even more so since I'm not traveling this year. Last year I made a strong effort initially to actually find the appropriate day's beer wherever I was, but that quickly faded and I think I finished the beers by the Super Bowl. Anyhow, i think I've stumbled onto the fact that I like red ales...including this one. I'll put on my skirt (sexist comment) - but is it really if you call yourself out? And say that the I like the decor of the can. For a near 8% ABV, very tasty and dangerous. Someone used to post.."I'll have another" and that's my sentiment. In other speak, check +. I eagerly await the McNary's detailed breakdown of this beer and those that follow. Here's to blogging and a magical month of December!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you drank the Icehouse too.
DeleteAs soon as I popped the can I was met by the aroma signature that could only belong to a DIPA. The hops are surprisingly well balanced and allow for much of the fruity malt flavours to take the spotlight. I get some strawberries and even a light raspberry in there mixed with that hop-forward, yet smooth, bread crust like body.
ReplyDeleteOverall enjoyable, I feel like this is smooth and light enough despite its elevated IBUs to be comfortable in a 19.2 can. It's nice to actually have a complex and welcoming hop-forward beer rather than a generic west-coast emulated hop-bomb participating in a "who can get the highest IBU at the cost of all other flavours!?" pissing contest.
Good choice. Enjoyable.
First of all it's great to once again be in December. All things considered, this would be a pretty depressing month without beer and the 24 days of beer but this makes it the happiest month of the year. Not going to lie to you, I feared this beer. I mean a beer called Toaster Pastry advertising biscuits and strawberry jam from the folks that brought us Hell or High Watermelon. What could possibly go right? I prepared myself by having 5 appetizer beers since it's Tuesday and all. But I was pleasantly surprised. Just a nice IPA in a nice big can. Solid, solid beer. And zero connection to poptarts or strawberries or anything else I don't want in my beer. Game on!
ReplyDeleteI applaud this event starting with a 24 oz can! I typically like my IPAs as just IPAs, and when its a red IPA, dark IPA, etc. IPA - I prefer the IPA to be a lower case ipa. So, I wished this was a little more red than IPA. nonetheless I did enjoy it, though I couldn't taste the flavors advertised on the can.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone,
Tallman
This beer was a good way to start off the month. I had a late HOA meeting and didn't get a good night sleep the night prior, so I was not really in the mood for a beer at around 9:30 p.m. However I'm glad I forced myself to have it. I thought it was a good hybrid, best of both.... Good IPA hops with a tasty red malt front end. I give it a A-. (Cost not entering into the equation)
ReplyDeleteIn Short: "Would accept another"
ReplyDeleteVery nice start to the season - this classic American IPA was nice and 'hoppy' sweet to start, good hop bitterness throughout with a pleasant aftertaste!
cwt
I would never think to buy this beer given the discription but I really dig it!
ReplyDeleteB-
Very excited for the next 23 beers!
Hey everyone, excited about year two! Thanks Tony and crew for all your hard work in keeping the tradition going!
ReplyDeleteMust say I was excited for a tall boy to start out with. Without reading the title, I thought it was a great start. I haven't had many red ales but I would try this one again. After reading the title I was slightly disappointed. I completely missed the strawberry and the title is reaching slightly. In any case, I give it a B-.
Hey everyone, excited about year two! Thanks Tony and crew for all your hard work in keeping the tradition going!
ReplyDeleteMust say I was excited for a tall boy to start out with. Without reading the title, I thought it was a great start. I haven't had many red ales but I would try this one again. After reading the title I was slightly disappointed. I completely missed the strawberry and the title is reaching slightly. In any case, I give it a B-.