beerporn

Long trip for a summer ale!

2012-01-27T15:48:00.000-08:00

Traveling is a learning experience... or at least it should be!

When we travel I have two main objectives. First and foremost, I want to relax. But my style of relaxing is perhaps a bit different than some. Sure, I like to sit on the beach and do a whole lot of nothing. In fact I love it! But it usually doesn’t take long before I’m either in the water or exploring about. Which brings me to my second objective, and that is to experience what the local culture has to offer.

Read the rest of the story Here!

The Bottled Beer Year: Day 133, Beer 133 - Windsor & Eton's "Conqueror 10...

2012-01-08T04:32:00.000-08:00

The Bottled Beer Year: Day 133, Beer 133 - Windsor & Eton's "Conqueror 10...: Today's Beer Name – Conqueror 1075 Brewer – Windsor & Eton Classification – Black IPA Strength – 7.4% ABV Verdict - At A Glance ...

Cant Dance... Too Windy to stack BBs

2011-11-15T22:09:00.001-08:00

Well Hi There!
If you're reading this, You're either a hard core follower or just happened to stumble across it.
I am sad that BeerPorn didn't fly like a kite! The idea was spectacular! The institution was spotless. The bloggers... Overworked and under motivated.

I will still occasionally post here because I believe in what this site stands for, but I am re-focusing my attention to www.BigKahunaBrew.com

I hope you will all follow me there and I hope that the bloggers here at BeerPorn will kick back in some day and make this thing the bad ass blog it should have been!

Cheers!

~Big Kahuna

We are tech nerds

2011-09-26T07:29:00.001-07:00

With beer guys seemingly sharing all of yhe same interests and hobies, I feel it necessary to share my airpad experience with you all!
I am a low grade tech nerd. Not a code monkey or programing genious, but rather a consumer with a semi limited tech budget and unlimited gadgetitis. Every dollar I spend on electronics is a dollar I don't spend on travel and beer.
I recently putchased an AirPad from X10. Touted as the best (and only) android tablet under $200.
Well.... one of 2 claims is correct!
My first complaint: the service sucked! I have been an X10 fan for nearly 10 years, but this was stupid! I was ready to report them to paypal by the time this gadget showed up!
And gadget it is! Fun? Yeah. Durable? We'll see. Useful? Not really!
I am using it to type this report, and it seems to be working, but I am also thumb typing which is a bit slow.
The battery life is nill! It is dead in 7 hours standby with wifi on. I expect a considerable reduction from that while surfing the web! One or two hours maybe!
That isn't aweful, but by the time you download the Netflix app and find a movie you wont have enough battery to watch it!
The apps are just like what you get on Droid phones so there were no surprizes there. Well... almost.
SOME of the apps you use on a Droid phone are prrtty reliant on location data and internet. If you are like me, you don't really think about this stuff until it doesn't work. And with the Airpad... they don't work!
The twitter is fun on the air pad because the screen is so much bigger than a phone. But again, this requires wifi, so do not expect to tweet your day away unless you have a wall outlet handy!
Did I mention that you cannot order a car charger or extra wall charger? You are on your own to find one that will work.
I don't much care for the build quality either? The plastic feels thin and poorly made. Like a child's toy rather than a $200 piece of electronics.
Whatever you do, dont expect quick startup either. A full 2 minute wait fron the time you turn it on should be expected.
I am pretty unexcited by the droid platform for a 7" tablet, altho I love... LOVE my droid x phone.
In the intrest of full disclosure, I should mention that I am a full on fan of my iPad in the cockpit of an airplane! Other than that it is simply a handy way to surf part of the web (no flash) and read blogs. Without the in-flight capabilities of the iPad, i would have to call it an $800 trinket!
Overall, I am not disappointed in the airpad, other than battery life, but certainly am not impressed.
If I were in the market today, I would wait for the $250 gizmo from Amazon!

Charleston Beer Exchange News

2011-09-06T08:03:00.001-07:00

Hello all you fine beer people!We hope you all had a wonderful Holiday Weekend full of good food, good beer and good people!New Growler Sizes!Here at The Beer Exchange we like to keep things fresh, exciting and, above all, offer our customers a variety of choices. Thus we're absolutely thrilled to announce that we now have 2 new options for growler fills! From now on, in addition to the normal 64oz growlers that we all know and love, you'll have the option to buy and fill 32oz and 128oz growlers as well! See a picture of them here. So now we have a growler option for every potential drinking situation! Whether you are having a quiet evening, meeting friends or headed to a big party there is a perfect size growler for you! Get on down here to see them and fill one up!Thirsty Dog Bourbon Barrel-Aged Siberian Night for Rare Beer Tuesday (9/6)For our first Rare Beer Tuesday event with our new growler filling options we're going with Bourbon Barrel-Aged Siberian Night Imperial Stout from Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. out of Akron, Ohio. This is an extremely rare and sought-after, draft-only beer and this is one of the first tappings (if not the first) in SC! To create this gem, Thirsty Dog took their 100 point rated, 9.7% ABV Siberian Night Imperial Stout and aged it fine Bourbon barrels to impart even more amazing flavor into this super-star beer! Notes of vanilla, oak and Bourbon abound over a perfectly elegant and velvety smooth, roasty imperial stout. So come on down and get it in your choice of three growler sizes!New Arrivals/Back In Stock (bottles & cans)Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 2010Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien Grand Cru Double Wooded/Rhum BarrelBrockhouse DraupnirEstrella Damm DauraFarsons Lacto Milk StoutGale's Conquest Ale Masterbrewt Smisje BBBourgondierUrthel SaisonniereAecht Schlenkerla HellesAlvinne BalthazarAlvinne MelchiorAlvinne Podge StoutAyinger Oktober FestPaulaner Wiesn Bier 1L Can/Mug SetHighland Clawhammer OctoberfestDe Glazen Toren Saison D'Erpe MereEttaler Curator DoppelbockGrado Plato ChocarrubicaHacker-Pschorr OktoberfestHarpoon OctoberfestHarveys Elizabethan AleMontegioco Demon HunterSierra Nevada TumblerSmuttynose Big A IPASmuttynose Pumpkin AleThomas Creek Class Five IPAUnibroue La Fin du MondeWeyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin AlePlease follow us on facebook and Twitter for real time CBX updates! You can always see what's live on our growler station by visiting TheCharlestonBeerExchange.com and clicking the "News/Growlers" tab.To see our current bottle inventory, please click the "Inventory/Shipping" tab!Cheers!The Charleston Beer Exchange14 Exchange StreetCharleston, SC 29401843-577-5446

Vinegar, The final frontier… at least for alcohol.

2011-02-06T21:25:00.000-08:00

Just when you think you’ve done it all, something new pops up.

I’ve made beer… Lots and lots of beer. Some great, some terrible, but most somewhere in the middle.

I’ve made wine. Country wine from fresh fruits and vegetables, kit wine of grapes and bags of who knows what and I’ve made mead. Honey and water in every conceivable combination, with fruits and spices and flowers and even a batch with what amounted to lawn clippings.

With limited success, I’ve made clean beer, I’ve made funky beer, I’ve made sour beer and I’ve made Belgian beer. I consider myself an expert at nothing. But an adventurer none the less, and willing to try nearly anything that’s not illegal… and a few things that are. (Homemade whiskey is another post altogether).

So what to do once you’ve converted every known sugar source into alcohol? How about turning that alcohol into vinegar?

Apple cider seems like the obvious choice. It’s widely available, and really nice on salads and vegetables. Malt vinegar is a tried and true favorite, fish and chips and all. But how to make one MINE. Something you can’t get anywhere else.

Well, I began with some research on the interwebz… and promptly ignored about 90% of what I learned. Forget building up a starter mother, pitch it and see what happens.

So far, I’ve only used “Bragg” organic apple cider vinegar as a starter culture. It’s available at big grocery stores and on Amazon and at vitamin retailers. It’s good vinegar weather you’re making a salad or a batch of your own, so no big risk in shelling out $5 for a bottle.

The first batch I started was in a glass jug. I used about 1/3 gallon of Ed Worts Apfelwein (If you are unfamiliar, visit homebrewtalk.com and search for it) and a shot glass of Bragg’s vinegar.

By the time I’d started that little experiment, I’d ordered a 1 gallon oak barrel for the next batch. I can’t think of anything more unique than oaked apple cider vinegar!

But that wasn’t enough. I love salad dressing with a vinegar and fruit character, so why not peach wine vinegar?

I quickly modified the Apfelwein recipe to use White Grape Peach juice, and once fermented out, I’m pitching another shot glass of Bragg’s into it.

None of the batches are done, and I have no idea what I’ve created. All I know is that I’m very excited about trying all of my new concoctions, and I’ve found a new way to take my brewing another step further down the road.

Perhaps these batches will all fail, and I’ll have to go buy a “Mother” from “The Brew Hut” in town, or maybe they will be OK. The fact is, I won’t know for several weeks. But isn’t that the fun of brewing in the first place?

Expand your knowledge, explore new things. Build your skill set and make yourself happy!

Bottoms Up!

2010-12-30T07:26:00.001-08:00

Over Done!

2010-11-12T13:18:00.000-08:00

I have listened to SWMBO do a lot of complaining about how much beer I bring into the house.
I figure, your average BMC drinker takes in 2 six packs or as many as 3 cases of piss water yellow beer a week. That’s like 72 bottles… or cans as the case may be.

The 3 case guy is an exception and either has one hell of a social life, or is in need of some help, but I wanted to see what I had to offer.

A trip to the basement with a freshly labeled batch of homemade mead really got me thinking… What’s down here?

Homebrew and home vented wine and mead are out of the count… I’m just too lazy!

So I’ll just count what has a commercial label on it, and call that the count for today. Keep in mind that the basement is what I’m “Saving for a later date”. The drinking beer is in the fridge upstairs and in the Keezer in kegs.

I have 48 bombers, 14 corked Belgian bottles, 3 cases of Lindeman’s 750’s. 35 individual sour beers and 6 unopened 12 packs waiting for their day in a vertical tasting. There is also 4 cases of commercial mead and 3 cases of wine.

I don’t have a drinking problem! I have a buying problem! And it seems that SWMBO’s naggings are not unfounded.

I guess the end result will be one hell of a party with well aged, oxidized and over aged beer and wine…. Ya know… after I’m dead.

Anyway, it’s an enjoyable hobby, and it keeps me out of serious trouble. It gives my mind a place to go to rather that the awful realities of life, and it gives me hope for a bright future… or a very foggy end! (That’s a joke and if you’re not laughing you should be ashamed!)

Have a beer or 2, but don’t forget to save some for tomorrow!

Big Kahuna's Beer Based Migration to Denver

2010-10-01T07:55:00.000-07:00

With summer barely behind us and the hectic holiday season ahead, the Great American Beer Festival in Denver offed a welcome weekend of relaxation and the best beer you’ll find.

The Denver Convention Center hosted the 29th annual Great American Beer Festival, September 16 - 18. The Brewers Association puts this event together every year to showcase the nations shining stars in the brewing industry.

In addition to the 2,200 beers on tap at GABF, it’s also the world’s largest commercial beer competition. It took 151 judges two full days to make their way through the 3,523 entries.

Three years ago, the GABF was the first “Beer Based” weekend vacation that I had ever taken with my wife. Someone should have given me a sign that said WARNING!!! SHE MAY LIKE IT!

We look forward to this event all year long. There isn’t any discussion about whether or not we will be going the next year, it’s simply understood.

Leaving in time to check into our hotel, we ended up hitting some pretty heavy traffic on I-70. I should have known better than to be west bound on I-70 in Denver at 3:00 in the afternoon. That city heads out early every Friday and I’ve been stuck there before. No matter, we are GABF BOUND!

By the time we checked in, got the car parked, had the valet bring the car back so we could get a cell phone out of it, and walked the 5 or 6 blocks over to the convention center, the line was as huge as ever. People were lined down Stout Street nearly back out the N. Speer Boulevard side of the convention center. People at the GABF are surprisingly patient though.

We all know that beer people are good people, but this is a rare example. There is no pushing and no shoving. People hold the door for the ladies, and are well mannered. It is all a great showing of self-control, because there are 2,200 examples of the nation’s best beer on the other side of that door!

Once you are inside, you are given a commemorative tasting glass that is marked at 1 oz. You will not get more than one ounce of any beer at a time. The rules are very strict about that. All that is left is to pick a line and drink some beer!
There are maps of the tasting hall everywhere, and I did bring my brewery list that I had marked up with all of the things I wanted to see. Ya Right! Even with this being my third year at GABF, I immediately went into shock and spent a good portion of my time wandering from isle to isle. Every time we set a destination, we saw something along the way that called our names—distraction is the name of the game.

Distracting as all of the great beer is, there is one thing that you MUST do to survive. Hydrate! Drink as much water as you do beer. That is simple enough thanks to the fine folks at Deep Rock who had water stations set up at the end of every row.

Beyond the overwhelming selection at GABF, there is a month’s worth of things to see and do around town.
Some friends of ours from Phoenix recommended Euclid Hall on 14th near Larimer St. The place has an incredible menu, a great beer selection and atmosphere to spare. Our party of 9 was very well taken care of, and our drinks never went dry.

When faced with a menu item that I can see as a challenge, I go for it. Fried pig ears seemed like enough of a challenge for me while we were at Euclid. They are served on a wooden rack with plenty of hot sauce and ranch. The ears are cut thin and fried to a perfect golden brown. They paired wonderfully with Avery’s Reverend.

Freshcraft at 1530 Blake St. offers a nice selection of 20 beers on tap, and a solid selection of around 100 bottles. The food at Freshcraft looked great, however we were only there for beer. Odell’s brewing had a firkin of Imperial Barrel Aged Porter sitting on the bar. I’m a sucker for firkins and Odells is one of my favorite breweries. Despite the Odells, I couldn’t fight the temptation--I opted for Russian River’s Temptation Ale, aged in French Oak wine barrels. Thanks to one of our friends who saw the firkin, I did get to taste the Odells Imperial Porter, and it was magnificent.

A GABF standard stop for me (and seemingly every other beer traveler at GABF) is the Falling Rock Tap House. We were lucky enough to be there when a keg of beer from Naked City Beer and Taphouse in Seattle, WA was tapped. It’s quite a treat to drink a beer brewed by someone you know at an event such as the one that the Falling Rock puts on during GABF.
My final beers of the weekend were from New Belgium Brewing out of Ft. Collins. They hold up some special concoctions for the final night of GABF at the Falling Rock. We were treated to Blackberry Love, a 2007 keg of LaFolie, a Grand Cru, and Erics Ale. The god’s shined upon me as I approached the bar, with 100’s of people in line behind me, the owner of the Falling Rock made the announcement and these four phenomenal offerings began to flow.
Mornings at the GABF can be tough, but the fine service and great food at the Delectable Egg just off of the 16th Street Mall on Court helped us get the day started. Plenty of water and coffee helped to fuel me up for the drive home.
Knowing that some of the folks I’d met over the course of the last few days had to drive home as far away as Washington, I could hardly complain about the hundred and some miles to my house.

Next year, there is no question we will be in attendance; we already have the space blocked on the calendar. We will arrive early and stay late! We will be at GABF, and I suggest that you do the same!

You can also read this post at http://www.craftbeer.com/pages/stories/road-trips/show?title=charles-hoffmans-beer-based-migration-to-denver

Charleston Beer Exchange News

2010-09-06T18:39:00.000-07:00

Rare Beer Tuesday (9/7)
We are using this week's "Rare Beer Tuesday" time-slot to give everyone advanced notice of our tapping of Ballast Point Sculpin IPA for growler fills starting tomorrow (Tuesday) at 5pm! In the opinions of some, this is the greatest and most highly sought-after IPA that we get, and we rarely get enough of it to be able to announce its arrival, so here it is! Don't miss out this time!

Rare Bomber Thursday (9/9)
For "Rare Bomber Thursday" this week, we are very proud to announce the South Carolina debut of Hopfenstark Brewery, brought to you exclusively by The Charleston Beer Exchange! Hopfenstark hails from Quebec, Canada. All Hopfenstark beers brought into the USA are draft-only, and are unbelievably uncommon to find on-tap anywhere! This week's beer will be their amazingly rare "PostColonial IPA", which is a recreation of/homage to the beer that spawned the style "India Pale Ale"! It comes in at 6.5% ABV and is reddish/orange in color with a subtle, floral hop aroma and well-balanced hop/malt flavor profile. This will be available for sale in pre-filled 22oz bomber-style "growlers" starting Thursday, 9/9 at 5pm. Click HERE for a reminder of how Rare Bomber Thursday works.

New Arrivals/Back In Stock (Bottles)
Rogue Double Chocolate Stout
Rogue Maierfest Lager
Rogue XS Imperial IPA
Avery The Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest
Brooklyn Oktoberfest
Dogfish Head Punkin Ale
Stillwater Cellar Door
Stillwater of Love & Regret
Weyerbacher AutumnFest Ale
Southern Tier Harvest Ale
De La Senne Wadesda #1 (sour ale brewed with Cantillon)
HaandBryggeriet Haandbakk (amazing sour!)
HaandBryggeriet Odin's Tipple
Ayinger Oktober Fest-Marzen
Spaten Oktoberfest

Beer vs. Wine Dinner at Ted's Butcherblock (9/23)
Please join us September 23rd at Ted's Butcherblock for a unique twist on our monthly beer dinner! This time around we'll be pairing both a craft beer and a fine wine with each course. Which pairs better? You be the judge! Sure to be a great time for wine and beer enthusiasts alike! Reservations are required. Call Ted's at (843) 577-0094 or visit their website here.

Remember, you can always see what's live on our growler station by visiting our website at TheCharlestonBeerExchange.com and clicking "News/Growlers"!

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for real-time CBX news and updates!

Cheers,

The Charleston Beer Exchange
14 Exchange Street
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 577-5446
http://www.thecharlestonbeerexchange.com

Charleston Beer Exchange News

2010-08-30T14:24:00.000-07:00

OK boys and girls, this is a big one!

Rare Beer Tuesday (8/31)
We are thrilled to announce that tomorrow for "Rare Beer Tuesday" we will be filling growlers of the Stone / 21st Amendment / Firestone Walker collaboration beer called "El Camino (Un)Real Black Ale" starting at 5pm! This is the one and only keg of this beer in the entire Southeast! Check out the reviews for it on BeerAdvocate and RateBeer! Scott Sheridan from Stone Brewing will be on hand to answer questions about this beer and all things Stone! We don't know how long this will last, so please get here at 5pm so you don't miss out!

Rare Bomber Thursday (9/2)
Our "Rare Bomber Thursday" beer this week is the very delicious and draft-only Bell's Poolside Cherry Wheat Ale! This was carefully counter-pressure filled and capped by us a few days ago and is ready to accompany you at your favorite poolside location while the heat is still with us!
Click HERE for a reminder of how Rare Bomber Thursday works.

New Arrivals/Back In Stock (Bottles/Cans)
Allagash 2010 Fluxus
Abita Save Our Shore (SOS)
Bell's Octoberfest
Highland Clawhammer Oktoberfest
Hoppin' Frog Frog's Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale
New Holland Ichabod Pumpkin Ale
Oskar Blues Gordon (Super Fresh)

Remember, you can always see what's live on our growler station by visiting our website at TheCharlestonBeerExchange.com and clicking "News/Growlers"!

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for real-time CBX news and updates!

Cheers,

The Charleston Beer Exchange
14 Exchange Street
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 577-5446
http://www.thecharlestonbeerexchange.com

Odell Brewing Company - Cutthroat Porter

2010-08-17T21:03:00.000-07:00

Whenever I head out of town... I like to effort some new beer purchases for the Beer Report Cellars. Inevitably I end up with far more than we can drink on shows! So, its ideal that we have this new forum to share some of the other beers we drink off the air!

Tonight, after driving home from Denver... I am happy to try some Odell Brewing beer. They are from Fort Collins Colorado. I can get a ton of Colorado Beers here. But have not seen Odell on the local racks yet.

Wow... Smooth! It seems like most of the American Porters I have been getting lately have been gung ho on roast, bitterness or smoke. This beer, even not very chilled, is smooth like milk! I love that. The extreme beer drinkier might say that is some kind of flavor weakness... But I would say that balance has a much greater value for good beers. This beer is balanced... It is warm and inviting. Flavorful. Fresh and clean tasting. A little thick like a porter should be.

Overall a great drinker. Cheers to Odell Brewing.

Rating... Using CHUD's new scale 3.5 IBU's.

The Coldest Beer Dinner Ever

2010-08-10T10:08:00.000-07:00

Rare Beer Tuesday with at Charleston Beer Exchange!

2010-08-09T16:48:00.001-07:00

Hey Everybody!

We have an exciting week ahead at The Charleston Beer Exchange! Check out all the latest, refreshing happenings:

Rare Beer Tuesday - Sour Power! (8/10)
Tuesdays at 5pm we tap something super-extra-special on our growler station. This week we're calling all you sour-heads because we'll be bringing you a fantastic and unique sour beer that has never before been released on draft: Petrus Aged Pale Ale! A long time favorite, this beer has been bottle only in the past and will continue to be so in the future. This is a one time only release the brewery decided to offer to celebrate their 30th anniversary with style. In our opinion, this special release draft version is remarkably more sour than the traditional bottled version which is unbelievably exciting! This beer comes in at 7.3% ABV and is aged for over two years in oak allowing wild yeast and friends to produce striking tart notes with citrusy nuances that bring a crisp refreshing finish to this amazing beer. More information on the beer here.

Highland Brewing Specials - Wednesday (8/11)
This Wednesday starting at 4pm, the boys from Highland Brewing will have Cattail Peak Organic Wheat Beer on our growler station along with some free Highland keychain-bottle openers and stickers with each growler fill purchase while supplies last! They're also offering the very, very last of the extremely popular Cold Mountain 12 packs until winter! Don't miss out!

Rare Bomber Thursday - Big Hops from The Bruery (8/12)
If you are not yet familiar with our new "Rare Bomber Thursday" program, please see our previous newsletter here. This Thursday at 5pm we'll be offering pre-filled 22oz bomber-style "growlers" of The Bruery's Humulus Lager! This highly limited, draft only beer is absolutely loaded with big, hoppy character and has rarely been seen in these parts! Weighing in at 7.2%ABV, The Bruery calls this an India Pale Lager and says the lager yeast allows the hops to be in the forefront. If you are a big IPA lover, do not miss this beer as it will amaze you!

New Arrivals/Back in Stock (Bottles)
Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary "Jack & Ken's Ale" Black Barleywine
Sierra Nevada Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale
Hoppin' Frog Hop Master's Abbey Belgian-Style Double IPA
Ballast Point Sculpin IPA
Pyramid Haywire Hefeweizen
Lagunitas Lucky 13
Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin
Weihenstephaner Festbier
De Dolle Bos Keun
De Dochter Van De Korenaar Finesse Triple
Brouwkot Manten
Brouwkot Netebuk

Check out our newest CBX merchandise including new t-shirts & growler caddies and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for real-time CBX news and updates!

Cheers,

The Charleston Beer Exchange
14 Exchange Street
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 577-5446
http://www.thecharlestonbeerexchange.com

Rare Beer Tuesday with Foothills Brewing!

2010-08-02T18:45:00.001-07:00

Rare Beer Tuesday with Foothills Brewing! (8/3)
Tomorrow at 5pm, as we do every Tuesday, we are tapping a ridiculously amazing keg on our growler station! This week we're fired up to have Foothills Bourbon Barrel-Aged People's Porter! This is an absolutely delicious roasty & creamy porter to start and then it is aged in select, wet Kentucky Bourbon barrels to add beautiful notes of oak and vanilla. This extremely limited, draft only beer is rarely available so don't miss out!

Upcoming Special Release 22oz "Growler" Program (aka "Rare Bomber Thursday")
The Charleston Beer Exchange has decided to once again up the ante and launch a new program we are affectionately calling "Rare Bomber Thursday"! As some of you may recall, we have periodically released some our most limited quantity beers in 22oz bomber-style "growlers" to ensure the beer love spreads to as many people as possible. We only do this when the beer meets a strict criteria of being very limited in quantity and only available on draft. These limited small growlers are counter-pressure filled, just the same as many breweries do, to ensure maximum shelf life. "Rare Bomber Thursday" will bring this program to a regular weekly time slot of Thursdays at 5pm. Yes, this is all in addition to our regular "Rare Beer Tuesday" traditional 64oz growler program. At the start of each week, we will announce our "Rare Beer Tuesday" and our "Rare Bomber Thursday" releases in the same email you currently receive as well as on Facebook and Twitter. Nothing else is changing, we're just bringing you even more beer treasure on a regular basis!

A few answers to frequently asked questions:

-Quantities will still be limited, just less limited. From a small keg, we'll get 25-30 bomber-style growlers instead 9-10 traditional 64oz growlers. Sometimes there may be a per person limit, sometimes not. Depends on the beer.
-Bottles are counter-pressure filled to ensure a more stable shelf life but we still encourage you to keep them cold and drink them sooner than later.
-We take sanitization and filling technique extremely seriously and strive to provide you with the highest quality product possible. The brewers worked hard to make the beer and it is our job to see that you get to enjoy it unhindered by any poor treatment.
-This program will be in the trial stage for a while. We don't promise it will last indefinitely the way "Rare Beer Tuesday" has turned out but we have high hopes!

Rare Bomber Thursday (8/5)
Still reading? Thanks! Our inaugural "Rare Bomber Thursday" growler release this Thursday at 5pm will be Ommegang Grand Cru Rouge! In our opinion, this is one of the greatest sour beers ever made. This authentic Flemish Red Ale was aged 18 months in French Oak at Brewery Bockor in Belgium. Sadly, Ommegang's partnership with Bockor dissolved and this beer has not been made in nearly 2 years. For all intents and purposes, Rouge no longer exists....so come get it while you can!

Remember, you can always see what's live on our growler station by visiting our website at TheCharlestonBeerExchange.com and clicking "News/Growlers"!

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for real-time CBX news and updates!

Cheers,

The Charleston Beer Exchange
14 Exchange Street
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 577-5446
http://www.thecharlestonbeerexchange.com

Charleston Beer Exchange Memorial Day Weekend

2010-05-28T16:38:00.001-07:00

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! To help keep your weekend fun, The Charleston Beer Exchange will be open for normal hours everyday: Monday through Saturday from 11am to 9pm and Sundays from Noon to 6pm. We also have some great stuff going, check it out:

Dogfish Head ApriHop Growler Special
Starting at opening time Saturday (5/29) and running until it's all gone, we'll be offering special Memorial Weekend growlers of Dogfish Head ApriHop for only $9.99! In addition, you'll get a free Dogfish Head pint glass with an ApriHop growler fill while supplies last! There is no limit on growler fills, first come first serve. Glasses are in limited supply and will be one per person only. This is always one of Dogfish Head's most popular beers and this will be the very last chance to get this delicious apricot enhanced IPA for the year, don't miss it!

New Arrivals/Back in Stock (Bottles)
North Coast Le Merle Saison
North Coast Pranqster Belgian Style Golden
North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
Stoudts Heifer-in-Wheat Hefeweizen
New Holland Imperial Hatter IPA
Southern Tier Mokah (coffee/chocolate stout!!)
Montegioco Bran Reserva
Hitachino Nest Nipponia
BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien Grand Cru '09

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for real time updates and you can always see what's on tap live on our growler station by clicking "News/Growlers" tab on our website.

Cheers,

The Charleston Beer Exchange
14 Exchange Street
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 577-5446
http://www.thecharlestonbeerexchange.com

Charleston Beer Exchange News

2010-04-27T10:46:00.001-07:00

This Tuesday at 5pm Charleston Beer Exchange will be tapping a very special Bourbon-Oak-Aged CASK (firkin) of Terrapin Side Project 10: Capt'n Krunkles Black IPA for growler fills!

There is no other mention of this beer on any of the beer websites, so it is obviously extremely rare and possibly a one-off cask! Come on down and get a growler of it!

If you are not familiar, real cask ale is beer in its purest form: keg conditioned without force carbonation, filtering or processing. We tap it with a spigot and let gravity do its work.

The flavors, aromas and texture are especially beautiful and unique. It is highly perishable and must be consumed the same day so plan accordingly!

These growlers will be limited, first come-first serve so don't miss out!

Charleston Beer Exchange News

2010-04-16T07:38:00.001-07:00

We have two huge events coming up at The Charleston Beer Exchange to tell you about!

New Belgium Ranger IPA Growler Special Offer (4/17)
This Saturday (4/17), we'll be running a special offer on growler fills of the delicious New Belgium Ranger IPA! Growler fills will be only $8.99 and each fill will come with a New Belgium specialty globe glass, one of our all time favorite beer glasses! We'll be starting at opening (11am) and running the deal until it's all gone. There is no limit on this deal so come early and load up! Chris Winn from New Belgium Brewing will be on hand early in the day to giveaway some assorted extra New Belgium swag!

Dogfish Head's Sam Calagione Book Signing/Meet & Greet (4/22)
On Thursday April 22nd, from 4:30 to 6pm, one of the biggest rock stars of the craft beer world will be hanging out at CBX to meet beer enthusiasts and sign bottles/growlers along with his book "Brewing Up A Business" which will be available at CBX for a discounted price! Sam Calagione is the Founder and President of Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales as well as a highly acclaimed craft beer author and media presence. Our growler station will be loaded with Dogfish Head beers for Sam to offer up his unique specialties and talk shop about his creations. We'll have some Dogfish goodies to giveaway too! See you there!

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for up to the minute CBX news!

Cheers,

The Charleston Beer Exchange
14 Exchange St
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 577-5446
http://www.thecharlestonbeerexchange.com

Yellow Tail Fail Whale

2010-02-05T09:52:00.000-08:00

We are about beer here at BeerPorn, but other libations are topics of interest to many of us as well. I am not as much of a wine aficionado as I would like to be, but I do like to be informed about who makes what I drink. This is my take on one winery that I'll not be buying from any more.
Yellow tail wine out of Australia has long been a "Go-To" wine for my wife and I. Their wines are reasonably priced and very tasty. I will however, not be purchasing any more of their products.
Yellow tail is now touting that on "February 4, 2010 – [yellow tail] wine announced a collaboration with The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) in support of the organization's mission to celebrate animals. As part of their "[tails] for tails" campaign, [yellow tail] will make use of social media and in-store advertising to spread the message that consumers can "pick up a bottle of [yellow tail] and help a tail-wagging friend."
The fact is, Yellow Tail wine has decided to support an extremest activist group that deceives it's supporters. The HSUS, (Humane Society of The United States) markets themselves as protecting animals. The fact is, they only support lobbyists and politicians. The HSUS has a huge budget and only aims to put animal agriculture out of business. They do close to NOTHING to help local animal shelters.
The Sportsman's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance has even asked the IRS to evaluate the Non Profit status of the HSUS. They believe that the organization has outgrown it's stated purpose of helping animals and taken on a bigger role in putting animal agriculture out of business.
There are plenty of other reasons NOT to support the HSUS. One example is the recent earthquake in Haiti. We all feel a responsibility to try and help. The HSUS has collected money to help with animal rescue there.The Center for Consumer Freedom has asked the HSUS to return all donations it received for Haiti relief. There are no animal rescue issues in Haiti they claim.
All of this to say that the HSUS has either fooled the folks at Yellow Tail into thinking that they actually help rescue animals, or the people at Yellow Tail did their research and decided to give $100,000 to support the destruction of Agriculture in America.
Either way, I'm not interested in being a part of that.
Further proof that Yellow Tail is not a company I can support, is on their facebook page. They received a barrage of negative comments about their donation to the HSUS, but initially deleted many of the comments. What kind of nonsense is that? They wanted publicity out of this thing...they got it. Twitter was blazing with comments about Yellow Tail wine and their donation on Thursday.
I encourage everyone to take steps to support animal rescue, but do it locally. Go to your local animal shelter and ask them how you can help. Your donation there will actually help an animal, not a radical activist group with a $100 million per year plus budget.
I for one will be concentrating my wine purchases on American wines from California and Colorado. I guess I should have known to Buy American anyway.

Chimay & Cheese at the Charleston Beer Exchange

2010-01-22T17:38:00.000-08:00

Please join them in the shop tomorrow (Saturday January 23rd, 2010) from 5pm -7pm for a rare meet and greet with Chimay Brewery from Belgium! They will be offering free samples of their own special Chimay cheese, filling growlers of Cinq Cents (Chimay White) and giving away tons of free Chimay goodies! Beautiful Chimay goblets will be given out with any purchase of a Chimay growler fill or 3 Chimay bottles! Free cheese and glassware! Don't miss out on this special opportunity!

Cheers!

The Charleston Beer Exchange

14 Exchange Street

Charleston, SC 29401

(843) 577-5446

www.thecharlestonbeerexchange.com

Building yourself a "Christmas Present"

2009-12-05T20:03:00.000-08:00

Patience isn't normally my strong point, but when it comes to waiting on fermented items...I'm in for the long haul. Mead is my favorite of all libations, and it takes a ton of time! So when I realized that I was too late to make a Christmas Ale for 2008, I figured I'd go for 2009!

This beer has had a bit of a story to tell before it ever made it to Christmas.
I entered it into the competition at the Colorado State Fair where both judges said it was very good but "Should be entered into the wood aged category". There is no oak...I swear!
It is as dark as night with a rocky head that fades to a nice thin layer of foam that lasts till the end. Initially, it strikes you as a strong coffee stout with a medium heavy mouthfeel. Then you start realizing that there is a spiciness behind the roasty malts and all of that coffee. There is something I just couldn't put my finger on...till I remembered the coffee I used. It was a Christmas Blend coffee. Those spices are nutmeg and a touch of cinnamon. They are just so far in the background that I didn't realize what they were.
The pound of lactose tames the tannins that managed their way in from the coffee! I cold brewed the coffee before addition to the beer, but it still managed to bring an acidic character that I actually think works very nicely against the subtle chocolaty character of the malts and adds to the lack of hop bitterness.
I'm not a good critic of beer. I figure I can almost always find something to enjoy about a beer. When judging other beer, I try to look for the good as much as the bad.
Judging your own beer is a tough thing to do! I normally pick my own beer apart to a point where you'd think it was undrinkable, but this one...I just really love. There are not really any faults, and I personally have had a great time watching it age and change. It hasn't really mellowed, but the coffee character and spices have changed a bit over the last year, and I'll wax a few bottles and see how they are for a few years to come.
So basically what I'm getting at here, is weather you are a home brewer or not, you can find a big 'ol beer to stash away for tasting this time next year. Think of it like you are building your own Christmas Present!

Charleston Beer Exchange News

2009-11-24T09:18:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

We've got some exciting updates from The Charleston Beer Exchange! Please note: We will be open for normal hours all days before and after Thanksgiving Day and open from 10am to 1pm on Thanksgiving Day!

Rare Beer Tuesday (11/24)
As we do every Tuesday at 5pm, we'll be tapping an extra, extra special keg on the growler station for growler fills! This week our feature is the perfect kickoff to the holiday season: Sweetwater Festive Ale! This highly limited winter brew from Atlanta is only brewed one day a year. At 8.6% ABV and brewed with cinnamon and mace this one is true to its Winter Warmer style. This is one of the lowest priced "Rare Beer Tuesday" features yet so come get some- its perfect for Thanksgiving!

Holiday/Seasonal Beers
We have lots of great beers in stock for Thanksgiving pairings and the rest of the coming holidays! Popular picks are available like HighlandColdMountain (on the growler station now and in bottles) and Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale (growlers) as well as many more esoteric delights from around the world. Stop by for a tour! Also, please keep The Charleston Beer Exchange in mind for your holiday gifts. Growlers, gift cards and we can even ship to many locations! Give us a call or stop by for more information.

New In Stock
RJ Rockers Black Perle
Highland Cold Mountain
Bells Two Hearted IPA

Cheers!

The Charleston Beer Exchange
14 Exchange St.
Charleston, SC 29401
843.577.5446
www.thecharlestonbeerexchange.com

Bottled Beers At The Charleston Beer Exchange

2009-11-14T12:41:00.000-08:00

COAST Now Bottling!

That's right! COAST is now starting to release bottles of their beer! The 32/50 Kölsch, HopArt IPA, and Rye Knot Brown are available now at The Charleston Beer Exchange in 22oz bottles! Come and get 'em!

New in Bottles/Back In Stock!

U.S.A.

Bell's Christmas Ale

Bell's Third Coast Old Ale

Bell's Expedition Stout

COAST 32/50 Kölsch

COAST HopArt IPA

COAST Rye Knot Brown

Dogfish Head Chicory Stout

Southampton Cuvée des Fleurs

Smuttynose Big A IPA

Stone Double Bastard 3L (with lock and key!)

Sugar Hill Golden Ale

Sweetwater Dank Tank Wet Dream Ale

Japan

Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout

Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale

Belgium

St. Feuillien Cuvée De Noël 1.5L

St. Feuillien Triple 6L bottle!!!!!

Kwak Gift Pack w/ Glass

Chimay Gift Pack w/ Glass

Koningshoeven (La Trappe) Quadrupel

Koningshoeven (La Trappe) Isid'or

De Glazen Toren Ondineke (Belgian Tripel)

De Glazen Toren Jan De Lichte (Belgian Imperial Wit Beer)

Vapeur Saison de Pipaix (Vintage 1995!)

Germany

Klosterbrauerei Ettal Curator

U.K.

J.W. Lees Harvest Ale Matured in Lagavulin Whisky Casks 2008

Italy

Birrificio Montegioco Quarta Runa (Italian ale brewed with fresh peaches)

Birrificio Montegioco Draco (Italian ale brewed with fresh blueberries)

Birrificio Montegioco Demon Hunter (Italian dark ale)

Birrificio Montegioco Bran (Italian strong brown ale)

Birrificio Baladin Nora "Sour Edition" 2005

Pausa Cafe Chicca (Italian amber colored ale brewed with coffee from Guatemala!)

Pausa Cafe Taquamari (Italian ale brewed with Tapioca, Quinoa, Amaranth, and Basmati Rice!)

Pausa Cafe Tosta (Italian ale brewed with cacao from Costa Rica!)

Birrificio Del Borgo Genziana (Italian saison brewed with gentian)

Birrificio Del Ducato (Italian imperial stout brewed with hot chili!)

Birrificio Italiano Scires (Italian sour brewed with black sweet cherries!)

Denmark

Thisted Bryghus Thisted Bryghus Limfjords Porter (Danish porter brewed with English licorice!)

And don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for up to the minute CBX news!

Cheers!

The Charleston Beer Exchange
14 Exchange St.
Charleston, SC 29401
843.577.5446
www.thecharlestonbeerexchange.com

Posted via web from Boozemania

Rock Stars Among Us

2009-10-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

The complex simplicity of beer is something that can be enjoyed by almost anyone. Unfortunately, most of the people I know think "Good Beer" is Coors Banquet Beer.My Wife and I were that way onece, but good fortune has caused us both to grow and expand our pallets. You can imagine my excitement when SWMBO (@Kahunaschick) decided that the GABF was one of those things that we should do EVERY YEAR! She went last year, and put up with me and the other homebrewers that we met there, but I figured it was just her putting up with me. Come to find out...She really liked it. This year, she has found a taste for a few different kinds of beer, and is getting over the BMC that ruled our younger lives together. She is leaning toward Belgian and sour beers, with or without fruit.
We attended 2 of the sessions at the GABF in Denver this year. We were at the Friday night and Saturday Members sessions.
We had the privilege of being the first 2 people to get the PRO-AM entry from olllllo and Papago Brewing...Ladies First!

This thing was damn good! I hate farmhouse saison ales like I hate warm diet pepsi, so I had low expectations. The pear nose was phenomenal, and the clean crisp flavor really cleaned up my perception of a French Farmhouse! With ollllo being someone I know from Homebrewtalk.com and also follow on twitter (He is a blogger here too) It was cool as hell to be drinking his Pro-Am Beer...and to be the first 2 glasses poured, I was happy with that.
Awards and famous people are as abundant at the GABF as the beer flowing from 1200 taps. Successful brewers are adorned with attention and praise becoming of a rock star. The cool part, is most of them are still just beer guys at heart. There are a few that have a holier than though personality, but most of them will brew you a beer, pour you a beer, then drink one with you while you hang out. Most of the rock star brewers we met definitely remember when they were just like us, and are appreciative of our support for their beer.
So when I got a chance to get a picture of SWMBO at a tweetup at the GABF with Mr. Charlie Papazian, I took it. What an opportunity! I was actually star struck when we met Charlie...and that just doesn't happen to me! But this is the man that started it all! He is the reason we have a GABF to go to. And he is just as normal as can be.

We got a chance to spend some quiet time with a few friends (It still seems odd to me to call people I meet on the Internet and see once a year friends, but it's true!) we met with IronOrr and his wife for dinner with one of their friends and his wife. Then we met up with olllllo and his wife, and Don from Naked City Beer in Seattle. So here we are, having dinner and drinks with friends that are so close to the rock star brewer status that you about can't stand it...and they are just as cool as anyone you'll ever meet.
IronOrr, Brewtopia and I got our picture together while hanging out at the GABF after we all tried the samplings from Cascade Brewing. They had a total of 5 bottled sour ales available including a sour brewed with fresh pressed wine grapes and a Kirek that was perhaps the best tasting example I've ever had. The one picture that I missed, and will kick myself for a year for not taking...is the picture of our wives!
I did get a picture of my SWMBO with Blogger ChipperDave, olllllo, and Blogger Raiseyourpints at the tweetup.

So as I think back on the GABF and all of our friends we have met and talked with, I have to wonder which ones will be on stage next year! These people are truly Rock Stars Among Us!

Stone's Vertical Epic 09.09.09

2009-09-17T15:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the tasting notes of Stone's head brewer Mitch Steele, the word on the street was that this was going to be more of a Belgian Porter than anything else. I love Belgian beer, I love Porter. On paper it seems like a no-brainer that I'll like it.

Leave it to Stone to challenge our taste buds every single time. It certain pours like a Porter, and smells uniquely like a Belgian Dubbel. But that's the end of normalcy for this beer. Once it's in your mouth, it's a whole new ball game.

It's sharp to the taste, and after about 10-15 small sips, and trying my absolute damnedest to analyze it in every Craft Beer Radio way I know how, all I can attribute the sharpness to is the hops. There's a slight coffee/burnt chocolate flavor there, but the bittering hops are definitely giving this thing an acrid punch that simply won't go away, no matter how long I let the beer sit and get up to (nearly) room temperature.

It seems to be playing every bit of it's nearly 9% ABV too, because the presence of alcohol did not leave me after I swallowed it. I swore after those first few sips that the alcohol on my breath was heavy enough to pull a Gene Simmons in my living room if I wanted to.

As I normally do with these Vertical Epics, I'm going to let this one cellar for a while - maybe until next year - before I try it again. It's definitely built to last, and will be interesting to see how this thing works it's way into the vertical tasting marathon session we'll have in 2012.

Are you a beer snob?

2009-07-08T06:44:00.000-07:00

Over the past three years, since the inception of shouldidrinkthat.com, I have been faced with the comments from folks that we are beer snobs.

Lately I have been thinking about this stereotypical term that is laid upon any and all craft beer lovers from their peers. While part of me is quite proud to own this label, there is a part of me who despises this terminology.

I have learned over time that this term can be quite damaging to the craft beer industry as a whole. We at SIDT are proud to introduce average folks to great craft beer. And from experience I can tell you that these same folks are very turned off by the stereotypical beer snob who talks over their heads, and spits out beer terminology like a scientist.

So if you consider yourself a “beer snob” and want to spread the good word of craft beer, please keep in mind the next time you chastise someone for drinking one of the “BMC” (Bud, Miller & Coors) beers that these folks are new to the industry as a whole. If they are willing to listen, offer them a gateway beer and explain the blood, sweat and tears that these brewers experience to share their favorite recipes and styles with the masses.

Explain the different styles and recommend that they keep trying until they find their favorite. If they are not willing to listen and simply insult your beverage of choice, move on to someone who will listen.

Even as an experienced craft beer fan, I feel that there is a fine line between beer snob and asshole at times. If you love craft beer and want to see the industry grow, I implore you to not cross that line and simply be respectful and have patience with your new craft beer prospects.

Brooklyn Local 2

2009-05-25T10:01:00.000-07:00

This was a hard beer to review because I wanted it to be a whole lot more than it was. I even tried this twice on two separate occasions and the results were the same. The Brooklyn Local 1 is a very good beer. The Local 2 is a drinkable beer but nothing to get excited over. It was not very flavorful. Even when it warmed up it didn't bring out anything. A clear dark brown color. Layer of yeasty goodness on the bottom of the bottle from it being 100% fermented in the bottle (like champagne). According to the label it was brewed with honey and citrus peel, though I could not taste or smell either. The body seemed thin. Nice pillowy head that was a little sticky. I was expecting more from Brooklyn Brewery and Local 2 didn't deliver. I may get another bottle and let it age to see if it changes in a year or so. Cheers!

Ommegang Hennepin Saison

2009-04-16T16:25:00.001-07:00

It’s bright and alive in your mouth, and with citrus overtones. Yet, this beer is also sweeter than I would have expected – but not in anyway oversweet. IT comes in at 7.7% ABV, but it’s a light bodied beer, so quite good for summer drinking, yet with enough ‘kick’ to be warming in the winter.

A gorgeous golden hue when poured. Quite well carbonated, like sparkling wine on the tongue. A clean finish.

Hennepin was a Belgian missionary who ‘discovered’ the Niagara Falls.

I recommend it, as a very drinkable brew. Complex, but yet not challenging.

I got a growler full of this from The Charleston Beer Exchange

Brabant American Wild Ale from Avery Brewing

2009-04-15T18:34:00.000-07:00

I received a bottle of this limited-edition wild ale from Rick at Big Foamy Head. It's been in the back of my beer fridge since it arrived here in February. My intent was to allow it to age for a year or two, but then a cloud of WTF came over me recently. You know the drill. So I decided to break it out and pair it with something I thought it might compliment, or vice versa.

Brabant is a barrel-aged wild ale from Avery Brewing, and was extremely limited in production (only 624 cases produced). It was brewed using the infamous Brettanomyces yeast, which gives wild ales their sour flavors. After fermentation was complete, Brabant was aged for 8 months in used Zinfandel barrels.

The result is a beer that, while definitely sour, retains a complexity and depth of flavor that required several sips for me to wrap my head around. The oddest thing I've found about wild ales is that they tend to smell a lot like they taste. That is, at least to me.

The first sniffs of this beer didn't smell sour at all. So I expected that the beer would not approach flavors as sour as I initially figured it would. I guessed wrong. Very wrong, in fact. This thing was deep with flavors of tart currants and unripe cherries. There was way more going on than I'd anticipated.

It wasn't until I allowed the beer to rise in temperature a little that the aromas I was looking for started to lift off of the beer, and began to match the flavor almost exactly. In fact, the warmer this beer became, the deeper those flavors of bitter fruit began to come through. And I love that about this style.

In addition, Brabant was the perfect compliment to what I'd decided to pair it with. Left on my own for dinner, I tend to eat things my wife would rather not. Tonight, it was Boudin Noir, or blood sausage. Earthy, mealy, laden with spices, and protein rich -- Boudin Noir got along quite nicely with Brabant. It was Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman all over again.

At the Great American Beer Festival two years ago, I ran into this couple who'd been to Belgium on several occasions. They said that one of the most common things they saw wild ales paired with was horse meat. I'm not 100% sure I'm ready to pair a beer named after an actual horse, that has horse blanket aromas, with meat from an actual horse. But for this meal, it more than sufficed.

Thanks again to Rick for an excellent experience with an American Wild Ale not many people get a chance to explore. It was truly art in a bottle.

8.6% ABV
Limited Production
Avery Brewing's Brabant

Lost Abbey Gift of the Magi 2008

2009-04-09T21:26:00.000-07:00

Since this is my first review I thought I'd start off with some caveats. My sense of smell isn't that great and my palette isn't as educated as my fellow writers so from me you'll get discussions about the really special beers I have been fortunate enough to get in my hometown of San Diego and elsewhere, in terms far simpler than the hardcore beer geeks can put it. With that out of the way, to the beer!

My home away from home, O'Brien's pub, had some Lost Abbey beers on tap around the holidays. I've got a 2007 bottle aging at home but I took the opportunity to finally drink it since it was on tap that day. Semi-related, I got to meet Tomme Arthur, a very nice guy for being such a genius, a couple weeks later at a special Lost Abbey night at the same place. I told him I really enjoyed his beers and his reply was "yeah, you look like you do"...I'm still not quite sure how to take that.

This year's Gift of the Magi is a deep amber color (Tending towards golden to compliment the frankincense and myrrh) with very little carbonation; there's almost no head on it. The smell was very sweet, reminiscent of apple juice. As for the taste...wow, I now know what myrrh tastes like. Bitter, but not packing anywhere near the punch of a lot of our other local brews. It's also a little resiny, which is to be expected given the ingredients. This beer, if it were a book, would be like Pynchon or Faulkner as opposed to Dan Brown or John Grisham. It's not something you grab for fun, like a Red Trolley or a Leine. You pick it up, sit back and take it in slowly while trying to not let the complexity overwhelm you. When you're finished, you're left with the feeling that you've been challenged and you've bettered yourself for having gone through the experience but you're not whooping it up and looking around for another to chug. It's a very contemplative beer that I respect and is definitely a great special occasion beer, I'm very much looking forward to finding out how time changes the bottle I've got on reserve for a special occasion.

Visit to Russian River

2009-04-02T12:21:00.000-07:00

Last month I had the opportunity to travel to the Napa area to run a marathon, visit some wineries and of course check out the beer scene.

I'll start out with a mile-by-mile course description

Ok cutting to the chase, the gem of our trip was a visit to the Russian River Brewery and here is what I think you need to know.

Russian River Brewery is located in the heart of downtown Santa Rosa. If you are from the Midwest, you will be struck by the facade that screams, "I was once an AMF Bowling Alley." Perhaps someone can confirm my suspicions as I couldn't corroborate that with google. Once inside, you'll see vintage beer signs from the heartland and yes, the bar and pub tables are fashioned from bowling lanes. The famous chalk boards display the available taps, American styles on the left and Belgian styles on the right.

Russian River doesn't offer official tours. I'm told that they may accommodate you if there is staff available. We elected to focus on the tasting and didn't bother to ask. Fortunately the pub affords views of the Barrel Aging room as well as the main brewery.

I started out with a Consecration: A strong dark ale aged for 6 months inside used cabernet sauvignon barrels with currants added. It's powerfully sour due to the Lacto, Pedio, Brett dosing. At 10.5%, it's not to be trifled with. My companions elected to jump right to the Pliney and commented on the balance despite the expectation of hop overload

We kept our sever busy ordering Beatification (a 100% brett beer), appetizers, Blind Pig and pizza, swapping glasses with each other. At one point someone made the mistake of ordering a half pint of Pliney. It was ceremonious placed on the table and announce to everyone in the bar as a “Tiny Pliney”

One of the most impressive things to me, and I have not seen very much written about it, was the beer sampler. If most places offer you a drag race of 4-5 getting you from A to B to know that brewery, RR gives you an F1 course where you are encouraged to cut across the track. I know of no other sampler which covers so much of the Belgian styles as well as a primer on American Pales from 20 to 90 IBUs. Weighing in at 16 beers, our table looked as though we were playing a 4 man chess game with each sampler piece carefully debated upon, each person careful not to let go of the sampler until they were sure it was the correct move.

Caption: The sampler looks to be what one might envision the dance of Sac, Pedio, Lacto, and Brett under a microscope.

In the event you are traveling with wine people, RR offers a decent selection of wines. Foodies will appreciate the antipasto, focaccia and pizza. Solidly made crust and mozzarella cheese signal that the craft in craft beer also extends to the kitchen

If you have an opportunity to bring beer back home with you I strongly suggest you check out the Bottle Barn http://bottlebarn.com. Russian River sells a number of their beers at the brewery, however, it's quite common that the Bottle Barn will have offerings that the brewery does not. Give them a call beforehand to find out what's available. We found Supplication and Beatification at the Bottle Barn and these were not available at the brewery. I was also happy to find New Belgium Dark Kriek.

Consider picking up a 2 bottle shipper or a 15 bottle checked bag box for much cheaper than one of the many wine shipping services. Bottle Barn has the best selection that is close to the brewery. Note that Bottle Barn closes at 5pm on Sunday and 6:30 on other days.

A couple of other notes:

We did visit the Silverado Brewing Company in St Helena and the Calistoga Inn in Calistoga. We found both places had clean, tasty ales, but they were not very challenging. Check them out if you have time, but press on if your beer itinerary has bigger goals.
If you are in Calistoga and need a lunch or dinner with a quality beer, then head on over to the Hydro Grill. Hydro Grill provides quality food at affordable prices. The bar features 20 taps representing area breweries such as Russian River, Lagunitas, Bear Republic and Anderson Valley.
Anyone remember Primo? It's back and is now becoming available on draft and in bottles. It's not craft quality but it is distinctive and nostalgic for many.
If you elect to ship beer in a wine shipper, tell them that you are shipping olive oil or place that box in a larger box. If the shipper believes it to be wine (or beer) they will have to use a third party shipper and that will compound the charges and the shipping time.
If you must do wineries (and chances are you probably will) visit some of the smaller wineries on the Silverado Trail in Sonoma County. These are much more low key than Napa and won't turn their noses up at brewers. My top recommendation is Vincent Arroyo.

Next time I visit I won't be distracted by any 2600 calorie deficit activities and can more fully focus on the other brewery gems in the area, namely Lagunitas and Bear Republic.

One Fine Show

2009-03-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

The other day I sat down with some friends and recorded a new Good Beer Show. We celebrated Bonus Beer Bob's birthday. Bob is renowned for hunting down and sharing some killer brews and this night was no exception. We had Brooklyn Black Ops, Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel, Alesmith Speedway Stout, Alesmith Speedway Stout barrel-aged and Lost Abbey Angel Share of the brandy barrel variety. The show will be number 171 and for some reason my favorites of the night did not match up with everybody else.

Foothills Hoppium IPA

2009-03-02T17:23:00.000-08:00

Foothills Hoppium IPA

A nice refreshing brew. As the name implies it’s certainly hoppy, but if you like a hoppy brew, this is certainly just right for a good session beer.

It’s a bright coppery color, and a good head that lingers, and sticks to the side of the glass. I detected a citrus tone, which gave it that refreshing quality. Although it’s hoppy, it’s well balanced with the sweetness of the malt, and it has quite a sweet finish. Not overly carbonated.

I could certainly, and will definitely look out for this beer in the future, and buy it again. It’s been a real pleasure to drink this evening!

Check out Charleston Beer Exchange for a whole lot of excellent brews.

Rocky Mountain IPA - Fort Collin's Brewery

2009-02-24T19:38:00.000-08:00

I have not posted a review in a few weeks... So, I thought... If I am going to do this, I should make it special. The nice thing about the winter months is the great selection of fall beers and winter specialty brews that are out. I spent many minutes browsing the beer cellar before deciding to say "screw it" to all that fancy stuff!

I'm an IPA guy! I can drink an IPA for any occasion! Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall... It always fits! And, just like there are a thousand podcasts about beer... There's a thousand varieties of IPA on the shelf at Friar Tuck. Enjoy them now and pray for these breweries... Because this economy could take us down to 500 next year!

Now, on to the beer!

Rocky Mountain IPA from Fort Collins brewery! This one was picked up by the Hoopmaster. I had drank a large quantity of this over the past weekend while playing cards... And to be sure, this beer was a great drinker... Especially in mass.

But, whats really great about this beer... Its the way it can come to life when you are just enjoying one. Lots of hop tinge and tang on the sides of the tongue. A smack of bitterness. And a nice malty roundness at the end of the taste. Your mouth is watering for another drink after a minute of enjoying all flavors that have washed down your throat. (Maybe that's just my Pavlovian reaction to IPA's... Hard to say!)

Valentine's Party

2009-02-03T09:47:00.000-08:00

Sierra Bigfoot

2009-01-28T16:33:00.000-08:00

Dropped into The Charleston Beer Exchange last evening for one of their free tastings.

I think I go there too often, as we're on first name terms...

Anyway, the tasting was Some of Flying Dog's excellent beers, but on the growler was Sierra's Bigfoot.

The name is apt. This beer has big flavor, aroma, and at 9.6%abv, strength.

It's a dark red/brown beer, and very hoppy. I very much like hoppy beers, in fact a local brew, Palmetto Pale Ale, is one of my favorite session beers, if I can find it on tap.

This beer has a sweeter finish, and as well as being hoppy, is malty too. A nice balance in my opinion.

I don't think I could make this a session beer, as it's a little too strong to swaff a gallon down and remain upright, but I could easily be persuaded to try and prove myself wrong....

Get down to 14, Exchange Street and get a jugful while it's on.

Cheers!

Charleston SC, Beer Exchange News

2009-01-26T15:46:00.000-08:00

Charleston Beer Exchange, 14 Exchange Street, Charleston, SC

Tuesday Jan. 27 5pm to 7pm
Adam Mundy of Flying Dog Brewery will be presenting several of their extraordinary beers including Horn Dog Barleywine, Double Dog Double Pale, Gonzo Imperial Porter and Kerberos Tripel.

Wednesday Jan. 28 5pm to 7pm
Liz Volz of Aleph Distributing will be showcasing some of her most exciting beers from their eclectic international portfolio.

Friday Jan. 30 5pm to 7pm
Matthew Lipton of Millenium Beverage will be sampling us on some very unique Belgian ales: Gulden Draak, Piraat and Leute Bok.

Other News:

Rare Beer Tuesday (Jan. 27)
Their special five o'clock tapping this Tuesday will be Smuttynose Really Old Brown Dog Ale. They are one of the only places in the Southeast to receive this special product on draft. This will be going on at the same time as their Flying Dog tasting so go on down and kill two birds with one stone.

Drinking Some Good Beer | 12seconds.tv (beta)

2009-01-24T14:38:00.001-08:00

Drinking Some Good Beer | 12seconds.tv (beta)

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Belgoo Magus

2009-01-12T18:20:00.000-08:00

Selected this beer at our local beer store and I must admit, the name intrigued me. With a name like Belgoo and the fancy font, it peaked my curiousity.

Described as a "top fermented 4 grains craft beer", the ingredients in this non-filtered beer are barley malt, wheat malt, oats, German wheat and Saaz hops. Pours a white golden color and a respectable amount of head while the flavor is quite sweet but not overpowering.

For some this may not be a session beer at 6.6% ABV but I found it to be quite drinkable and would revisit this Artisanal Belgian Ale again.

Coffee in Beer

2009-01-08T19:41:00.000-08:00

I can honestly say I haven't had many coffee beers, only three that I can think of. Kona Pipeline Porter, Redhook Double Black, and a homebrewed AG batch which was the only beer I ever dumped a portion of.

Both the commercial beers have been good in their own way. The Pipeline Porter has a more prounouced and sweeter coffee flavor, whereas the Double Black is definately more bitter and reminiscent of an espresso shot. I think the Pipeline Porter would be a coffee beer that would appeal to the majority, but in my opinion the Double Black is outstanding as well. For a larger brewery like Redhook, they did an excellent job on this one.

What other coffee beers are out there, and what did you think of them?

Kasteel Triple

2009-01-08T14:42:00.000-08:00

From the Van Honsebrouck brewery, the beer is a dark blonde in color.

It retains it's head very well, and is big and bubbly when pouring.

It reminds me of pears to drink, but this beer is no slouch on the alcohol content at 11% abv, and it very quickly reminds you of that fact. It might be a little too strong for some, in that the alcohol grabs you almost quicker than the flavor. There's a sugary taste there too, and perhaps cloves.
Some like it hot, some don't. If you like it hot, you may like this.

For all that, it's not a heavy beer. It has good carbonation, and is smooth to drink.

Here, in SC, I got a four-pack for $17.60

Coast HopArt IPA

2009-01-07T01:12:00.000-08:00

HopArt IPA from Coast Brewing, who are situated in North Charleston, SC
is a fine brew indeed.

Walking a fine line of sweet malt and assertive hop character. A hop presence so enticing it truly is a work of art. (7.7% abv).

It is brewed year-round.

Ingredients: Two-barley*, Munich* and Caramel 20* malts, Nugget, Amarillo and Cascade hops, ale yeast and filtered water.

I sampled this at Sesame Burgers and Beers, in Spurril Avenue, North Charleston last weekend, and a really fine brew it is too.

It's unpasteurized too, which means it's had nothing taken away, and it's full of flavor, with jsut the right amount of bitterness balanced by the maltiness.

Heck, I'm getting thirsty just talking about it here!

Mash House

2009-01-06T17:55:00.000-08:00

Being the Good Beer Show's resident funny guy and full-time stand-up comedian, I get the opportunity to drink a lot of beer in a lot of different places... Last night it was at the Mash House, a local brewpoub in Fayetteville, NC.

The Mash House took a silver with their IPA in 2001 at the GABF, and it's a hop bomb. Not quite the punch of a Gumballhead or a Stone's Arrogant Bastard, but a fresh tasting palate-wrecker in its own right, and more than worth drinking.

There were a few other beers of note: their Hefeweisen, Blueberry Blonde, Stout, and "M"perial Stout.

The Hefeweisen was cloudy and damn near looked like orange juice in the glass. It had a floral nose, and a very spicy and slightly floral flavor. The tart spiciness reminded me a little of a saison. This was definitely the standout beer in the bunch, though not a session beer (at least not for me.)

The Blueberry Blonde would have rocked ass with a slice of cheesecake. The blueberry flavor was very strong and inordinately sweet. I'd bet it was done with a syrup rather than with the actual fruit, though I didn't get to talk with the brewer. I wouldn't drink a whole pint of it, at least not if there was something else around, but my wife would dig it.

The Stout was creamy and slightly sweet, with a thick, tan head that laced well and a definite dark fruit flavor. Very drinkable, if you fall on the sweeter side of stout fandom.

The "M"perial was a stout on a different level, though. Also thick and creamy, it wasn't as sweet and didn't have nearly the same dark fruit presence, but had a rich, satisfying chocolate flavor. It had nearly twice the ABV, and warmed the belly, but no obvious alcohol burn.

The food was good, too, but I really have to comment on the asparagus (I have become a fan of asparagus in the last couple of years.) My portion came with 6 or 7 spears, each about 5 inches long and about as thick as my thumb. Buttery, but not overly so, and seasoned simply but perfectly, they were wonderfully al dente, not woody or mushy.

The rest of the beers on offer (Irish Red, Blonde, Porter, and Nut Brown--which was their seasonal offering) weren't bad, but didn't really stand out to me. The bummer about this place is that, while the brewer owns the recipes, he works on a salary and doesn't share in the profits of the beers, so he has little reason--outside of festivals-- to innovate or market the beer beyond the restaurant. I wonder what North Carolina (and maybe the rest of the country) is missing out on...

Sierra Nevada 2008 12th Release Harvest Wet Hop Ale

2009-01-03T12:23:00.000-08:00

This post will be short and sweet. The Sierra Nevada 12th Release Harvest Wet Hop Ale is an excellent beer. I drank one last night and it hit the "spot". I have had this one back in October and my initial thoughts were this is going to taste and smell like wet grass. I could not have been further from the truth. When poured the aroma is an explosion of hop goodness that gets up in the sinus' tickles the reptilian brain of all that is good in this world. This beer has a nice hint of malt sweetness that complements the serious thick hop "layers" that come through as you drink it. It finishes with a trailing bitterness that is very pleasant. If you can find this beer definitely give it a go.

Cheers!

Click, then select All Sizes:

Click, then select All Sizes::

My First Beer

2009-01-01T17:35:00.000-08:00

January 1st has traditionally been the stepping stone for a new beginning. New year, new start and dreams of making life better. Before you can move forward you have to look back at what got you where you are. I thought it would only be fitting that my initial post on this site, also first of the new year, is the first beer I ever drank. I'm not kidding, that's the bottle I swiped from dad's stash 17 years ago.

I don't know why I saved it. Honestly, I think it was to impress some girl. I've moved many times since I first drank that glorious bottle of Golden Anniversary and always displayed it with pride through college and then in my 20's as a conversation piece. Now into my 30's it serves as a reminder of where I came from. It's a symbol of my birth into beer which has grown into a passion and obsession for the craft beer industry.

Next time you see a person partaking in beverages of a lower quality keep in mind that was once you and someone opened your eyes to a world beyond cheesy commercials, ads and hype. In 2009 I ask that you become the flavor savior and educators. It's time to show people the light.

cheers!

Great Divide Fresh Hop Pale Ale

2008-12-31T22:37:00.000-08:00

This was my "treat beer" while cooking dinner for New Years Eve. It was a really nice pale ale with good "fresh" or "wet" hopped characteristics. Nice and grassy and aromatic. Amber to copper in color. A thick persistent head persisted for the entire bottle and had to be rinsed out later. It was a well balanced beer and could be consumed as a session beer. I wasn't overwhelmed, but I wasn't disappointed either. It just left me wanting more.

Happy New Years hosers!

New Holland Dragon's Milk

2008-12-29T10:12:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it can be difficult to review a beer, especially one that receives a good amount of hype. The first thing that goes through my mind is how can I, who have only been brewing and drinking craft beer regularly for only the last 2.5 years even begin to have the credentials to critique the product of someone who has been producing a commercial product or homebrew for years. Obviously they know what they are doing and someone likes what they are brewing, because they are marketing it. I'm relatively limited in my knowledge of brewing and still have a long way to go before I'll consider myself any sort of expert. Regardless of my lack of experience, I try to judge every beer fairly and if for some reason I totally despise it I typically won't review it. If I think it has potential I'll usually do a write-up.

The first issue I have with Dragon's Milk is that I can't find any real definitive answer on what style it is supposed to be. While I'm not a style nazi by any means, I still haven't gotten into the subjective part of reviewing yet (but I'm trying) and I like to base my impressions on some sort of standard. Even if a beer doesn't fit a style, sometimes the name will clear it up as in Black IPA. In that case I would expect a dark, hoppy beer. The closest thing I could find was references to it being an American or English Strong Ale on BA and ratebeer.

I can tell you that Dragon's Milk pours looking like a stout/imperial stout. Dark brown with a tan, quickly dissipating head with minimal lacing. The aroma is strong with bourbon with chocolate, caramel, vanilla, and floral hops having a battle with eachother in the background. The bourbon dissipates some and the battling scents acheive parity with the whiskey. Based on what my nose is telling me, I am expecting something strong and stouty and the first few sips seem to hold true as I drink a chocolate vanilla espresso infused with Tennessee whiskey. A prounced hop bitterness numbs the rear roof of the mouth.

The issue I have is that as the beer warms more, the bourbon masks out everything. It goes from being a semi-enjoyable experience to a night of doing shots. I'm not a big whiskey drinker, and after a shot or so I am done, unless it is mixed. This beer lacks a strong malt backbone to stand up to the whiskey, which is probably why most bourbon beers are strong stouts or porters. It lacks any sort of balance whatsoever and quickly becomes a real dissapointment. I poured the second half of the bottle out and it's a very rare occasion when I pour a beer out.

A year or two in the bottle might make this beer a bit more enjoyable, but therein lies another issue I have with certain beers. It's one thing if it gets better with age, but if it needs to age before it can be drank, I'd like to know beforehand. In my opinion though, this beer with age will still be a watered down version of whiskey and not much else.

This beer didn't get rave reviews on BA either, but even so it has a B overall even with some of those reviews saying that it wasn't good. If I were going to assign it a letter score, I'd give it somewhere between a D and a low C.

Schell's stout

2008-12-26T20:26:00.000-08:00

I love my bitter beers. In fact the more bitter a beer is, the better. But it comes with a risk. A really bitter beer can leave a bitter aftertaste. And nobody wants that.

Enter Schell's Stout. It's my first foray into the world of the August Schell Brewing Company, but it won't be my last. This is one of the best stouts I've had in a long time.

First of all, I have to talk about its color. I love beers that I can't see through. And this beer was as dark as anything I've had in a while. The head was a beautiful dark tan and looked great as it was poured.

Then there's the taste. This is a bitter one, folks. I could detect a bit of coffee, both in the smell and in the taste. There was also a hint of very dark (bordering on bittersweet) chocolate. The aftertaste was like a very dark roast coffee; it actually reminded me of my favorite Ethiopian blend. But it wasn't bitter. It was actually slightly sweet and very pleasant - and it lasted a while.

Texture-wise, this is a very smooth beer. It actually warmed me up a bit after drinking it. Not like an alcohol burn, but more like that feeling you get after taking a sip of rich hot chocolate.

Don't try this beer straight out of your fridge. I tried a sip when it was still ice cold and it didn't taste right. I let it sit in the glass for a minute or so and it was perfect.

Long story short - this is a very good winter beer. And the price can't be beat. My local liquor store stocked it at just about $8 for a six-pack. Perfect if you have a crowd of discerning beer drinkers coming over, but you don't want to break the bank.

Leading a Horse to Water

2008-12-25T07:05:00.000-08:00

This Christmas Eve may mark a milestone in my evolution as a craft beer lover: the night I stopped bringing good beer to family gatherings.

When you attend the Great American Beer Festival, inevitably, one of the longest lines is at the booth for New Glarus Brewing Company of Wisconsin. Their fruit beers are especially sought after, because they are not sold outside their native state lines. Their Raspberry Tart and Wisconsin Belgian Red beers are raspberry and cherry pies in a bottle, essentially.

The Raspberry Tart is the more tangy of the two. While its tart and sweet fruit flavors smack your taste buds up front, the beer backbone provides a malty hint of the crust that surrounds the liquid pie. The Belgian Red is sweeter, with its cherry essence accentuated by notes of spice.

A good friend of ours and his wife had to travel to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, a few months ago. Nothing serious, thank goodness. When I heard they were going, I asked casually if they were passing through any part of Wisconsin on the way. Maybe they could drop by a liquor store and pick up a couple of things.

To make a long story short, my request resulted in my friend and his wife browsing liquor stores over the state line from the clinic while he dangled a tube from his nose. After finding four liquor stores and getting guidance from me on the cell phone, they purchased six packs of Fat Squirrel and Spotted Cow along with four each of the raspberry and cherry beers.

Needless to say, I was very happy and grateful.

Cut to the present time, when my friend is back from the clinic and healthy. Since they were so nice to go to the effort of bringing these wonderful beers, I thought it was only right that I share them at holiday time. In attendance at a Christmas Eve gathering at my friends' house were their family along with members of my wife's family, including my mother-in-law.

I explained the significance of these beers. I told of the long lines at the GABF, the beers' rarity, and the fact that craft beer lovers across the country and around the world would love to have the opportunity to share these beers.

Maybe I laid it on a little too thick.

The reception to the beers was underwhelming. The Raspberry Tart was up first. My mother-in-law, who makes no bones about saying what she thinks, made a puckery face and scowled at me. I overheard my brother-in-law say that he had had that beer before, and "it wasn't any good."

Keep in mind, this was the same brother-in-law who frowned and asked after tasting a Dale's Pale Ale, "Ooh. What's that taste?"

I responded, "It's taste."

Back to the party. Most were polite and went back to the margarita punch after trying the beer. However, there were a couple of guests who made the good beer face and asked for more. Needless to say, they were first in line when the cherry beer was opened.

The good news is that I was left with most of the beer to enjoy myself. My wife loves both beers, but she's the smart one of the family and had the car keys in her pocket.

What's the lesson? From now on, I'm only going to share really good beers with those who approach me and express an interest - especially the rare beers. I know I have a responsibility to spread the word about good beers, but bad beer drinkers have to have an open mind to be eligible for conversion.

You can lead a bad beer drinker to good beer, but unless they ask for it, they're not going to get to drink.

Happy holidays.

Not Quite Snowbound in Central Indiana

2008-12-21T11:06:00.000-08:00

This week has been a little rough. First off, the weather: Cold and icy early early this week - and roads slick enough that I spun my car into a mailbox, then a day where the temperature mysteriously touched the low fifties before plummeting back to the teens, but worst of all, a canceled roundtable with my Hoosier Beer Geek co-conspirators (all for fear of weather that never happened). So the current temperature, a balmy ten degrees, is not what really what I was hoping for. At least it's not snowing.

I've made the best of what I've been given, though - I made a big pot of chickpea curry, and now I'm enjoying it with a Left Hand Snow Bound Winter Ale. Believe it or not, this is a beer I had a small part in creating - while on a trip out west for GABF this year, we stopped in at Left Hand and helped produce the orange zest used in the beer.

This is a darker beer, with a color that's only slightly darker than the brown of your typical beer bottle. A really thin head leaves a nice lacing on the glass. A strong ginger nose won't be a huge surprises to anyone that's had Left Hand's Juju Ginger, but for those of you who haven't had a ginger beer, it's not what you might call a typical beer element. The front is all ginger, with a hint of honey and orange, and is followed up with a creamy mouthfeel and a nice alcohol zing on the back. This is an 8.6% ABV beer, and it leaves a nice warming feeling in the throat and stomach - the perfect kind of antidote to a gusty winter's day.

Beer Ink Number 1

2008-12-20T13:34:00.001-08:00

Meet Andy. He is the manager of "The Heorot", a damn fine place to find craft beer in Muncie. Tattoos are all the rage and this one caught my eye being a lover of all things Three Floyds. I asked Andy why he decided to get a Gorch Fock Helles tattoo on his arm. He said it was the artwork. Gumballhead is his favorite Three Floyds beer. He also enjoyed the Moloko milk stout when it was available. Andy is also a fan of Stone RIS and Left Hand Milk Stout.

We love our craft beer in Muncie Indiana and some people show it on their skin. I will follow this post up with another bartender from the same place who has a Dark Horse Scotty Karate tattoo on her thigh. I just wanted to share this.

JeffreyT (Alpha King)

Beercasting and Double Dead Guy

2008-12-18T19:12:00.001-08:00

In vino veritas, right? For you non-latin speaking folk, that means that in wine, there speaks truth. But what about beer? Beer is surely the voice of the common man, and nobody gets more common than the fine folk at Big Foamy Head. In an attempt to bring our version of class and culture to the great unwashed masses (that be's you folks) we bring you a glimpse into the makings of a podcast. Although our great friend Jeffrey T. hosts this blog, and is a world-renowned podcaster himself, he's rather selfish and prefers to be pimpin' rather than providin'.
So we're providing a peek at our great after show beer, the Rogue Double Dead Guy Ale! Beautiful beer, amber in color, but you gotta understand that we're three beers in with an average of 10% ABV. The Double Dead Guy comes in at 9% alcohol, so we really have to study this beer because we aren't suffering under the weight of the crushing alcohol burden - not that we don't like that sort of thing.
Mike: My first impression is that the two skulls on the bottom - skulls and crossbones - and the bold red color of the bottle is very impressive. Pours a beautiful amber and golden color, clear with no chill haze, nice lacing on the glass and the first taste is bitter hops, clean finish, little malt.
Dick: I've been a fan of Dead Guy for a long time, having actually purchased an entire keg. Almost over did it, but obviously not. The Double is a subtle double - it doesn't smack my bitch up, but instead gives her a good workout. It's a clean finish and the hop and malt balance is perfect. A nice double. Personally, I think it should always be double. Beats the regular Dead Guy hands down.
Rick: The regular Dead Guy, it's a fake German-Mexican beer. I'm sitting in Colorado, so I'm screwed at tasting this.
Mike: The Rogue website calls this a strong Doppelbock, tan head, with a vigorous poor, some spiciness, resinous, quite bitter.
Rick: We drank an entire keg one weekend. Supposed to be a Maibock, but it's an ale.
Mike: As a dopplebock, the flavor is out of character but the flavor seems more acceptable.
Dick: Okay, let's agree to disagree. It's not a lager but has the lager characteristics of a clean finish, and will pound you over a good barbecue.
Mike: And I think it's enjoyable and a surprisingly hoppy and bitter, enjoyable drink.
Rick: Got the Rogue's Pacman yeast and free range coastal water.

More after-show drunken beer reviews coming your way soon!

Leinenkugel's Fireside Nut Brown Ale

2008-12-18T09:59:00.000-08:00

Leinenkugel's has always walked that line between micros and macros. Many refer to their beers as gateway beer, an introduction to more flavorful, full bodied beers that while not as good as microbrews, offer an alternative to Miller and Budweiser products (though it should be noted that Leinenkugels is owned by MillerCoors). Lately they have eschewed more traditional beers, dumping the Northwoods Lager and the Big Butt Dopplebock for these gimmicky sweet beers aimed at non-beer drinkers like the Summer Shandy (beer & lemonade taste..bleech), Sunset Wheat (often compared to Fruity Pebbles), and the Apple Spice (a bad attempt at cider). The Fireside Nut Brown (and the beer that follows it, the 1888 Bock) hopefully signals a return to what made Leinenkugel's one of the most popular breweries in Wisconsin; medium bodied, easy drinking beers.

The Fireside Nut Brown beer has far more flavor than I expected, its malty and sweet, almost to the point where you could call it sticky. There is a lingering pleasant caramel/maple syrup aftertaste that really appealed to me. However, there still was something about this beer that almost tasted fake, much like the Sunset Wheat, but I still kind of enjoyed it. The carbonation seems excessive for this style of beer, kind of like that Budweiser American Ale. Had it had a little less effervescence it would have been better. Nonetheless, its one the better Leinenkugel's offerings in a long time. After two of these I grew tired of the sweetness and had to change to something else, which is par for the course for many of Leinenkugel's offerings.

Food Pairing Suggestions:

I think it would pair well with autumn fare like butternut squash or something with some acidity to balance out the sweetness like a roasted beet salad with a tangy vinaigrette. One could probably argue that it would be great on pancakes.

Because she's as sweet as tupelo honey...

2008-12-16T17:04:00.000-08:00

Now that I have a Van Morrison song stuck in your head...

The Terrapin Sunray Wheat beer is a 4.5% Hefeweizen and pours a thin light golden color with a decent amount of head and lacing. This beer provides a favorable aroma of wheat and citrus. Flavor is a crisp wheat and honey combination and a provides a sweet aftertaste.

An impressive beer brewed with tupelo honey from the Savannah Bee Company.

This is an exceptional session beer and although I'm not a huge fan of the style this one is somewhat different. This may be due to the addition of the honey, regardless I'm a fan.

Just in time for winter, a homegrown Baltic beauty

2008-12-15T16:18:00.000-08:00

Had this, the newest entry into Alaskan Brewing's celebrated coterie of craft offerings, arrived on my doorstep a mere month ago, any mention of it would have warranted inevitable, innumerable references to the visible proximity of Alaska to our neighbor country, Russia. But that was then, and this is December, a cold December to be sure, one when dark and roasty beers hovering around the 10% alcohol level make themselves quite at home. With a nearly luminescent label depicting an onion dome set afront a star-filled winter's sky, this ale, like their takes on alt and kölsch, is a decidedly stateside iteration of the Baltic Porter style. Like their barley wine and smoked porter, too, it's a reminder that this is a brewery that can do great things when free to take a big and bold approach. Without an overly heavy feel, this beer doles out dry fig and licorice in spades, with a compliment of hop and roast bitterness that doesn't dominate the taste as has become increasingly common like burnt coffee in American strong dark ales, Imperial stouts and the like.

Brewed with Madagascar vanilla beans and black cherries, and aged on toasted French oak, it respectfully doesn't punish the taster with these novel touches, marrying the effects of each quite well into the fabric of the malts. A textbook fireside ale, it demands to be paired carefully, deliberately. Good thing my two-year old daughter had just helped make a batch of gingerbread cookies. Between the molasses and the vanilla, you couldn't ask for a more perfect fit. Don't believe me? Try it:

1 cup shortening
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup dark molasses
2 tbsp vinegar
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup hot water
6 cups flour, sifted
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tbsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves

Cream the sugar and shortening together. Add molasses, vinegar and vanilla. In a mixing bowl, sift together the dry ingredients. Mix in wet ingredients, alternating between the hot water and creamed mixture. Chill the dough for one hour before rolling out to 1/8" thick. Cut into awesome shapes. Bake 10-15 minutes at 350º F. Let cool on rack (or not) and enjoy.

Falling into The Abyss.

2008-12-14T18:53:00.000-08:00

Slowly sipping the remaining portion of Descheutes The Abyss. A Russian Imperial Stout that is on the edge of extreme. Pours a midnight coal black with a medium brown, thick creamy head. Aroma is strong with burnt roast coffee, bitter chocolate, heavy cream and hints of floral hops. The coffee dominates as the beer reaches room temperature.

For an 11% ABV beer, the alcohol is a ninja that slowly creeps up and then attacks with a vengeance halfway through the second glass. The flavor matches that of the aroma, heavy on burnt espresso and chocolate, with hints of cream. Bitterness is a product of the roast grains, hop bitterness is in the background. As the beer warms the bitter espresso dominates, with hints of vanilla sweetness. This beer is thick, oily and very quickly numbing.

While fully within the style guidelines, I personally would like to see more sweetness associated with this beer to balance out the roasty burnt flavors. I have another bottle and will probably acquire some more to see how a year of aging affects the end product.

While I'll probably go to hell for saying this, I don't necessarily think this beer is anymore worthy of it's price than a more common RIS like Old Rasputin. It's a great beer, but nothing uniquely spectacular makes it stand out from anything unless you factor in the awesome bottle with the thick black wax around the neck. While I would never turn this beer down, If I happened to miss a release I would not be devestated either.

Lowcountry Beer Drinkers Gem

2008-12-14T11:37:00.001-08:00

The Charleston Beer Exchange

Some friends came by yesterday, and we headed downtown to play tourist with them. I thought I pretty much knew all the places I wanted to know already - except some restaurants I've yet to try.

As we needed to buy some liquor for another upcoming event, we dropped into The Tavern Liquor Store on East Bay Street.

We got talking to Gary, the owner, and a guy came in with a container of beer. Turns out it came from The Charleston Beer Exchange which is right nearby on Exchange Street.

We took a walk in, and found a wonderful stock of beers from around the world. Many top-class Belgian ales, and some local craft beers, including those from The Coast Brewery in North Charleston.

The way it works is quite simple. Initially you buy a container for $5, and then you have it filled with the draft beer of your choice. I chose the excellent Coast ESB. That cost $12. When you've drunk the beer, you bring it back, and get it refilled with more draft beer of your choice.

They are currently open from 11am -9pm Monday thru Saturday, and from Noon - 6pm on Sundays.

The Charleston Beer Exchange has been open only around a month, but I'm sure it will prove popular with visitors and residents alike. I know for certain that I'll be back there again!

Track Town 200 Meter

2008-12-13T15:40:00.000-08:00

Oh how I miss Oregon. I have vacationed there for the last two years. I have spent quite a bit of time in Eugene since a friend and former cast member of my show lives there. KB lives right across the street from the Ducks stadium. On to the beer. This Eugene offering is produced by Rogue. I have been to Newport twice and enjoyed the hell out of the food and beer there. Rogue on the other hand, is usually scoffed by myself here in Indiana. They are a good brewery but when I am out or canvassing a liquor store, Rogue never seems to make it in my glass or shopping cart. Blame it on Three Floyds, Founders or Bells I guess.

This little beauty showed up on the chalkboard of my neighborhood pub which I have had 1054 different beers at. It sucks to live near the biggest selection of beer in Indiana at a bar. Well this Eugene Track Town 200 Meter showed up for $2.75 a bomber and I dived in. Man was it good. Being a IPA guy I noticed the fade. Probably been sitting down in the cellar for a while before they brought it up. Other than that it was a great IPA. Picked out some Amarillo which was later confirmed with my Ipod touch. Funny thing about this beer was that I tried to order it at the Concordia Ale House in Portland since they had it on special. I was denied. I wish I wasn't because I would like to try this fresher. I highly recommend this beer to any Amarillo fans out there and I am going to look for it at a carry-out tonight hoping for something younger.

Finding the right beer.

2008-12-11T01:21:00.000-08:00

I was at a bar with some friends a few weeks back. One of my companions, Whitney, asked me why I like beer. It tastes bad, she said. It smells bad, she said. It's too filling, she said.

Of course, I (with some help of a couple other beer-swilling comerades) was able to counter all of those reasons. Beers come in an almost infinite number of flavors, tastes and aromas, we said. And if she thought it was too filling, there are plenty of beers that taste great but don't leave you feeling stuffed.

Whitney scoffed, as I knew she would. And I and my beer-loving buddies said eventually she'd find the right beer for her and dropped the subject as she consumed a hard liquor-based concoction with an unnatural color and that seemed to contain a lot of very dessert-like ingredients.

I was once like Whitney. I remember the first time I really tried beer in earnest. I was at a bar in Urbana, Illinois. I was visiting my now-ex-girlfriend Olga at college (I was still in high school in Chicago) and she and I met up with some of her friends and a couple of my cousins at a bar called Murphy's. At that time, my underaged alcohol consumption was limited to mostly vodka-based beverages - often vodka with cranberry juice - and some silly concoctions only underage drinkers trying to put together the most potent drinks for the least money could enjoy.

But my cousin David - a rabid consumer of good beer - decided I needed to drink beer. And Olga, born and raised in Poland and in possession of a very fine beer palette, agreed. So David, being over 21, went to the bar and got me (as well as himself and Olga) a beer. It was a Leinenkugel Red. He placed it in front of me and I looked at it. I smelled it. I took a small sip. I didn't care for it one bit. I managed to get it finished, but I didn't enjoy it at all.

At that point, if you told me I'd be posting to a blog about beer, I would have called you nuts. But Olga was determined that I'd like beer somehow. And so she kept introducing me to different beers - dark beers, light beers, ales, lagers, lambics, porters, stouts, IPAs, and everything in between.

And lo and behold, after trying a host of different beers, I found some that I began to like. And as I started to like more beers, I started trying more beers and finding more I liked.

To this day, I still don't like Leinenkugel Red. But I came back to beer because despite a bad first experience, I kept my mind open to the idea the beer could be a wonderful thing. And like Olga and David told me, I now tell people who say they don't like beer they simply haven't found the right beer yet.

If there's a moral here, it's that finding the right beer can be a daunting task, especially with all the crappy beer out there. But with a little help, I think even the most rabid beer opponent can find a beer they enjoy.

Spitfire!

2008-12-06T11:52:00.001-08:00

Spitfire! on 12seconds.tv

Backwoods Bastard

2008-12-06T10:53:00.000-08:00

I live in the middle of no-where. Muncie Indiana actually. Believe it or not, being a huge craft beer cheerleader, I could eliminate all the breweries we can get sitting in the "Crossroads of America" down to three and still be satisfied. The mythical breweries I am talking about are Bell's, Three Floyds and Founders. I bellied up to the bar today and noticed on the chalkboard was "Founders Backwoods Bastard". I ordered one and was not disappointed. I loved this last year and this year's is love too. I am not a big Scotch ale fan, sorry "Dirty Bastard" and "Robert the Bruce" but Backwoods is killer. It chimes in at 10.5 percent and you taste 0 percent. It is 50 ibu on the hops but all you taste is a perfect balance cutting the sweetness. Many Founders beer in bottle have this huge washing machine head but this one pours nicely like the Breakfast Stout and the Kentucky. I am not a big bourbon-aged fan either. I have always hated whiskey for the most part. Don't get me wrong, there are some fine bourbon-aged stuff out there and Backwoods is one of them. I do not know the rarity of this offering this year but it was very limited last year. The label has changed this year for some reason. If you find it, buy it. It would make a great present for anybody that appreciates good beer or good trading material for yourself.

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

2008-12-06T09:55:00.000-08:00

I thought I’d introduce myself since this is my first post, but then I realized your probably don’t care, so let’s get right to the beer!

This is a review of Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale from the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico, California.

Though it is only available seasonally, and marketed “especially for the holidays,” this beer is used by the Beer Judge Certification Program as an example of an American IPA and not a spiced or specialty beer. At 6.8% alcohol by volume this beer will give you a nice warm feeling of cheer on a cold winter’s night.

Sierra Nevada lists the ingredients as two-row pale and english caramel malts with chinook hops for bittering, cascade and centennial to finish and dry hop. They just say they use a “top-fermenting ale yeast,” but it’s probably the Chico yeast. If you look at some of the more popular clone recipes, you'll see that's really all there is to it.

The beer pours a clear copper color with a thick, creamy off-white head. The aroma is hoppy with hints of flowers, spice, citrus, and pine with a faint malt sweetness. The beer feels smooth on the tongue with the right carbonation for an American IPA and a crisp finish that leaves you wanting another. It has a good hop bitterness with a nice malt backbone, with hints of unsweetened chocolate and cherry, like biting into a Godiva cherry cordial.

Overall I really like this beer. The wife an I stock up on it every year between Thanksgiving and New Years.

Finally on the boat...

2008-12-04T14:58:00.000-08:00

Sorry all, and by the way, Hi, this is spAceFFF. I offered to put in my two cents on beerporn, so hey, gotta start sometime right? Well, my first attempt @ a blog/review/my 2 cents will be a Keweenaw Brewing Co. offering, Lift bridge brown ale. This beer is probably pretty hard to come by, unless for those in the upper midwest, but it caught my eye because Keweenaw cans their beers, which has taken my attention over bottles the past year or so. This is a decent brown ale, I wouldnt cross the country to find it, but if it grabs your eyes or you are near the brewery in the U.P. of Michigan, check it out, its a good brown.

Beer pours with a nice, dark head that sticks to the sides of the glass, and dissipates after a few sips. Beautiful brown color, nice and clear but the lights sneaks through. Very smooth, creamy maltiness with little hints of sweetness & a mild hop bite. Nothing really stands out or jumps at your palate, which isnt a bad thing, but it could have a little more maltiness for my palate to be an above average brown...maybe more body. Again not an awesome brown ale but a very drinkable, tasty session beer. (And its canned). Many argue for or against bottles and cans, which one is better for the beer, environment, storage, cooling down, etc... Working in a brewery has shown the advantages of each package...and I would love to someday see more cans in the craft industry. The largest issue with canning may be the cost; a new, basic, 60 cpm (cans per minute) filler runs about 250,000 dollars, not including rinsers, packaging machines & labelers. So, gotta dip in the pockets for this type of packaging.

Well, Keweenaw makes a good brown ale, and I know they have many other offerings (only 3 in cans), the rest I assume on tap at the brewpub. Next time I am in the U.P. I will definitely be hitting up the brewery for a tour and perhaps one of their many styles of beer. Currently this brewery is producing about 3000 bbls. of goodness per year, so maybe someday they will expand further then MI & WI. Cheers.

Fake Larry Bell

2008-12-03T08:40:00.000-08:00

Well it all started when my beloved Vicki and I were having coffee. I glanced across the coffee shop and commented to her, "That guy looks like Larry Bell". She agreed and also noted that his hair even looks the same. I knew it wasn't the real Larry Bell but the similarity was striking. He came close to the counter where we always sit and being the shy guy that I am, I let him know that he has a famous twin in Kalamazoo. "I feel sorry for him." the man said. "Don't be. He is a millionaire and a famous brewer." I replied. I quickly jumped aboard the internet with my Ipod and showed him this picture. Come to find out, he is Pastor and his name is Matt. He doesn't like beer and Vicki stated to him, "You have not had any good beer yet." They struck up a conversation and I posed in a picture with this impostor. She even gave him some beer suggestions.

Breakfast Stout: Not just for breakfast anymore

2008-12-02T17:54:00.000-08:00

I don't care what the calendar says: Autumn is so over. Unless you're one of those lucky people living somewhere that escapes a real winter, you're either feeling the cold start to creep into your bones, or you will soon. It's that time of the year, time to clear out your stash of fall favorites (you aren't still drinking Oktoberfest, are you?) and pick up some beers that will do a better job at warming you up.

A good imperial stout is hard to beat. I had to bring this one back from Massachusetts, but I'm drinking Founders Breakfast Stout. This 8.3% ABV oatmeal stout is one of the best comfort beers out there, with a luscious oatmeal texture rounding out its considerable bitterness. With only 25 IBUs, it needs more than just hops to balance out the big malt load. The heavy doses of two kinds of coffee and two kinds of chocolate complete the package, especially in the aroma. This is a bold beer. That said, it isn't scary. Every element of this beer is in balance, including the alcohol, which is present but not overwhelming. The scariest part about it might be its appearance. This beer is jet black and completely opaque, even when I briefly held my glass right up to a light bulb. The head is brown. The beer looks intimidating. But again, this is not an imperial stout designed to shock you. It is designed to comfort you.

Most imperial stouts don't have oatmeal, but even without the silky texture that oatmeal provides, good imperial stouts shouldn't be overpowering with alcohol. They should be balanced, warming you gently from the inside after you swallow. No beer should ever taste "hot" in the mouth. This one, like the best imperial stouts, tastes hugely roasty and bittersweet, with many layers of flavor to tease out. Enjoy it.

The imperial stout is one of my favorite styles, especially this time of year. Like Founders Breakfast Stout, many are only brewed once a year, so grab them before someone else does. Try cellaring a few, if you're into that, and you'll find some of the bitterness drop, the alcohol flavor mellow, and some sherry-like flavors might even develop. It's my understanding that darker beers age better than lighter beers. If you don't want to bother cellaring, don't. Brewers work hard to make their products drinkable as soon as they leave the brewery. As for me, I'll be enjoying the rest of my Founders Breakfast Stout over the next few weeks. I'll also try making my own version, complete with coffee and chocolate, very soon.

Stay warm.

Tis the Season!

2008-12-02T17:47:00.000-08:00

A Scottish Christmas? Traditionally the Scottish people celebrate on New Year's Day (named Hogmanay). Since the church of Scotland is the Presbyterian Church, they do not celebrate as others do as the church does not think much of the festivities of Christmas. Those who follow the Church of England keep it low key as their church does not approve of loud, unruly behavior.

Also according to my research, the Scottish folks have an odd tradition. If the fire goes out on Christmas Eve, the family will have bad luck in the coming year. According to custom, mischievous elves climb down the chimney and cause troubles in the family, however a fire in the hearth or bonfire will scare them away (dirty little elves!)

Why am I telling you about customs of a Scottish Christmas you ask? It is because I'm about to embark on a review of a Scottish Christmas Ale. I give you....

Bell's Christmas Ale

This particular beer did not produce much head in my Abbaye De Floreffe goblet which is to be expected in this particular choice of glassware and my pouring method. As I let the beer sit a moment a small head of froth appeared at the top of the glass.

This beer poured a ruby to dark red color with a cloudy appearance. The aroma is of faint spices and plum notes, almost herbal with a hint of malts and hops detected.

The taste is malty and medium bodied and although a great beer, it is a bit unremarkable for a Scottish ale in my opinion. With that said I think this is a great beer to share with family and friends around the upcoming Christmas holiday.

Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA

2008-12-01T19:45:00.000-08:00

I wont lie... I love this beer... So, if unbiased reviews are your thing... Skip ahead.

I always feel at home with a bottle of Crooked Tree. If you could take the comfort of warm milk... And make it an overhopped Midwestern IPA... Well, this would be a fine example.

It pours with the consistency of milk... Nice and smooth... The head bubbles nice and thick like pancakes on the griddle! Man... The only other beer that has a better mouth-feel might be the Tres Blueberry Stout from the same brewery. Once you get a feel for those bitter hops wrapped in that smooth package... You start to feel like you are eating a rich desert. You begin to savor each sip.

I read or heard somewhere that these guys have a retro roadhouse style brewpub... The brewer is an artist who draws all the labels... And he is known to grow totally unkempt beards. These kind of nuggets of info only add to the character that is the Dark Horse brand. Not that this beer needs any help with character!

Seek out Dark Horse beers!

FFF BrooDoo Harvest Ale

2008-12-01T19:19:00.000-08:00

According to the bottle... "BrooDoo Harvest Ale is a seasonal ale that glorifies American hops. BrooDoo is brewed using fresh green "wet" hops picked right from the vine and put into our beer vats, from vine to brewhouse in one day! BrooDoo also uses the best American malt money can but. Enjoy."

Broodoo is an awesome harvest ale... To be quite honest its probably hoppier than most IPA's. The hop aroma, the hop flavor, and the hop residuals are very powerful but not over whelming...

It pours a nice amber almost orange color with a nice head (don't let the pics deter you... I was slow to the camera) With a very strong citrus (grapefruit) and pine hop aroma it hints at what is to come...

The flavor is a great balance between biscuit maltiness and fresh wet hop bitterness... With the hops coming back after the swallow... This is a great everyday beer... but maybe its just me... I mean its only 5.5% and lets not forget about the label...

With a label like that the beer had better be top notch to back it up... And this one succeeds!

Overall review...

Exceptional!!!

Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence

2008-11-30T20:17:00.000-08:00

My loyal readers (ok basically me) know that Im not a big fan of Belgian beers... But I decided to give this "Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence" a shot on the recommendations of many very well respected beer snobs... Mainly Bubby, JH and the crew from SIDT.

The bottle is a classic Belgian style large bomber with cork and safety wire... There is a slight pop with removal of the cork that leads some anticipation into the process. Upon the initial pour, the "onyx black" stout pours fills my snifter with a great presence and nice dark brown head that stands tall and proud. I am able to pick up a very slight but dense dark chocolate aroma mixed with a large malt backbone. Upon initial taste I don't feel any of the 7% ABV, nor do I taste ANY chocolate!! Uh Oh... I recheck the bottle... yes it is indeed called "Chocolate Indulgence Stout" but there is no initial chocolate flavor. As the beer begins to warm I do pick up a very, and I mean very (in all honesty it might be all mental) slight actual dark chocolate flavor. Now, I DO taste a TON of chocolate malt... in fact this is a very malty beer... with only a slight bitterness added from the perle hops. this is a very nice malty beer... Again with my lack of knowledge of "true Belgian" beer styles I would say that this being characterized as a "stout" would be a stretch... I would lean more twords a dubbel than a stout.

So overall a very nice malty Belgian that unfortunately falls short of the "chocolate" moniker. If you are looking for real chocolate flavor may I suggest this stout...

In review... Very balanced malt flavor, with little chocolate flavor or aroma... So it gets a rating of...

"Decent representation of the style"

A giant among IPA?

2008-11-30T18:40:00.001-08:00

As I was paroling the shelves in the basement to find a beer to settle down and finish the holiday weekend with, I couldn't help but wonder what was hiding behind that Waxed Red Bottle Cap!
The Skeleton holding a hop bush in it's mouth gives me a pretty fair idea, but all the same, I do love imperial IPA!
Ska Brewing out of Durango Colorado is close enough to be considered a "Local Brew" for me, and I think that this Decadence Imperial IPA will fit the bill for the evening. With some of the other beers that come from Colorado, I've got high hopes. We don't make no junk!
The bottle opens with a citrus note, and a nice hiss. The bottle is just a tad larger than my "Big Beer" glass, at 22 oz. This leaves me room to make a nice aggressive pour and still have a swig from the bottle.
The Citrus nose has given way to a solid hop aroma, but not over powering, and not nearly what I'd expected judging by the label (I feel an old cliche here. There is a nice creamy head that is NOT what I expected from an IPA....It is an IMPERIAL IPA however, and the head is much appreciated. There is no over powering hop nose as has become trendy, it's just a solid aroma and a solidly bitter hop character with a perfectly balanced, almost creamy malt background. You would never guess by the flavor that this is a 10% ABV beer! It is as nice as a big IPA gets, and is totally not overbearing. This would be lost in the realms of Ruination, or Pliny the Elder, but is a nicely balanced, very drinkable Imperial IPA, and will be on my "TO BUY AGAIN" list!

Red Hook Double Black Stout

2008-11-29T22:35:00.000-08:00

When I first started to get into good beers I was visiting a buddy out in Seattle... I came across Double Black Stout from Red Hook ... Awesome!!! Amazing!!! I came back home to Illinois or Michigan (where the hell I lived at the time) And was able to find it.... Scott was happy...

Then a few months passed and poof.... its gone... never to return... (they stopped making it in 2000)

Scott was unhappy...

Scott was unhappy for many years...

So on a recent visit to my local beer shop I stumbled upon it again...

Once again... Scott is happy...

It pours jet black with a nice warm tan head... good strong lacing... awesome roasted coffee aroma with a hint of alcohol... Warm roasty flavors... with a nice, not over powering nor "subtle hint" of coffee... No alcohol finish... but as it warms up you can catch just a hint of booze... Its very very roasty... that really is the best way to describe it.

Over all great stout... Its in limited release so if you find it... grab one or 12... Exceptional!!!

7.0% ABV

Flying Dog Double Dog Double Pale Ale

2008-11-29T13:50:00.000-08:00

Part of the Flying Dog Canis Major series, Double Dog Double Pale Ale pours a yellow redish honey color with a puffy white head. The head thins down relatively quickly and a nice sharp hop aroma really comes out.

12 Seconds of Double Dog pour goodness. on 12seconds.tv

As I imbibe the thin head sticks quite nicely to the glass. Not overly carbonated the beer has an excellent mouth feel and thick quality to it. The 11.5% ABV is masked nicely by the 85 IBU of the hops along with the malt. I cannot taste the alcohol but definitely feel a pleasurable mild warming in the belly. This is a nicely bitter beer and at the end of the taste the interaction of the strong hops presence melds very well with a malty sweetness making the Double Dog Double Pale Ale a very well balanced beer.

If you haven't tasted the Double Dog I highly recommend giving it a try. Look for the Ralph Steadman artwork of an acid trippy dog in tighty whiteys lunging at two glasses of beer.

For a good Black and Tan, I suggest the Double Dog with the Gonzo Imperial Porter (another of my favorites - review coming soon).

Cheers!

Autumn Maple

2008-11-28T22:25:00.000-08:00

I first tried this beer at the 2008 GABF… Going on a few recommendations to seek out The Bruery and give them a shot. Ill be the first one to admit that Im not a fan of most Belgian beers… Although I do LOVE sour beers… But anyway, I found these guys at the GABF and was blown away by all of their beers … Their Orchard White and Black Orchard were awesome… but hands down my favorite beer from them was their Autumn Maple… (one of my favorite beers in the whole place along with Coffee Bender from Surly Brewing

From their site:
Autumn Maple: Brewed with 17 lbs. of yams per barrel (in other words, a lot of yams!), this autumn seasonal is a different take on the “pumpkin” beer style. Brewed with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, vanilla, molasses, and maple syrup, and fermented with our traditional Belgian yeast strain, this bold and spicy beer is perfect on a cold autumn evening.

ABV: 10%, IBU: 25, SRM: 15, Release: Fall

The beer poured with little to no head… right away in the aroma you could pick up the yams… and yes, you could tell that is was NOT pumpkin… as the beer continued to warm up you could taste more and more of the spices I was able to pick up the molasses, vanilla, and nutmeg the most… It was not heavy like a stout… more like a light porter or strong ale… At 10% it was quite warming although I never felt like the alcohol EVER overpowered any flavor… This would of been a great beer to share… but lucky for me there were no other beer fans close… so more for me!!!

So if you’re even in So. Cal go check out The Bruery… This beer definitely gets an “Exceptional” rating…

Sam Adams Chocolate Bock

2008-11-28T17:53:00.001-08:00

I am not a huge fan of ole Sam Adams. I do appreciate their beers when I am traveling since they more available. There is one exception though. It is called Chocolate Bock. I had the pleasure today to drink this beer on draft with my beloved. She loves it too. Chocolate dominates the flavor since they actually put chocolate in it. I crave dark lagers usually during Oktoberfest but this hoppy ale guy will always reach for this Sam Adams. It is a treat. The price was nice too at $5.75 a pint.

Cuvee Series One (Oak Aged Series)

2008-11-26T19:40:00.001-08:00

The term Cuvee is taken from cuve, meaning vat or tank. The term can also be applied to wine or champagne to refer to a batch that is blended or pressed a certain way. With that little educational tidbit out of the way I give you my review of Southern Tier’s Cuvee Series One (Oak Aged Ale).

Southern Tier Brewing is located out of Lakewood, NY and offers some great beers in several styles that some would label as non-traditional, this one is no different.
This beer pours a copper color with not much head retention and little aroma to speak of, with the oak aroma being the most relevant. There is also a slight buttery to almost vanilla smell to this offering.

The taste is a buttery, sweet flavor with a hint of bourbon and vanilla.

For an 11% American Strong Ale this beer is smooth. Although a bit pricey ($17 a bottle in the Pittsburgh area) I would recommend this beer for at least a one-time tasting.

Pizza and Beer, New Orleans Style

2008-11-26T15:38:00.000-08:00

Does beer taste better depending on where you sit? In some cases it does. Abita isn't really known for their superior beverages, mainly just as the beer you drink on Bourbon Street. That's okay, better than being known for sucking. Their offerings are all similar in taste and character, not a lot of difference between their Abita Amber, Turbo Dog or Pecan Harvest. The Abita Purple Haze has a little juice in it, but they all have that underlying sameness, which makes them popular in restaurants in the South. Abita Jockamo is different. For one, it's their only IPA and adventure into hops. That sameness found in all of their other beers isn't present here. It's not much of a nose, but a great taste and a super clean finish. Or does it?
I did pose the question of where you sit. Some beers carry themselves on flavor alone, especially when we're talking about IPAs. But others are the weaker sisters and if their sibling beers are somewhat boring and obvious, they can appear even lesser in quality. But put yourself in the right ambiance and serve the right food and you have a much higher degree of satisfaction. I can testify that there is only one way to drink an Abita Jockamo IPA: in a pint glass, sitting in a bar in New Orleans, enjoying a po' boy or other NOLA cuisine. There's nothing like it. The flavor of the city, the flavor of the food, and the flavor of the beer all meld into a drinking experience that has to be experienced. In this case, I was sitting in a little pizza joint on Decatur that I know that makes a unique pizza - a Central Grocery Muffaletta Pizza. New Orleans jazz is playing on the stereo, and I'm chowing down on a hand-tossed pizza with salami, pepperoni, prosciutto and the original muffalleta olive spread. The Jockamo's light, citrusy notes work well with the pizza sauce, the spices in the salami, the sharp prosciutto tastes, and the richness from the olive spread and oils. The finish of the beer is quicker than most IPAs and leaves you with a clean taste that doesn't fight with your food. A perfect pairing that can only be found in one city in the world, and that really kicks off the Cajun theme, laissez les bon temps roulez.

Avery Brewing Company - A Decade of Hog Heaven

2008-11-26T13:28:00.000-08:00

I was recently fortunate enough to be at the Avery “A Decade of Hog Heaven Barleywine Style Ale: 1998 to 2008“. Adam Avery was hosting the evening and the cellared beer came from his personal supplies. We wiped out his 1999 inventory. It was a remarkable beer tasting - not many US craft breweries can offer a 10 year vertical of their product.
The evening started with an open bar. I didn’t take detailed notes on these, but the special taps I remember included a brett IPA, an oaked Samael, and a dry hopped Ale to the Chief (out of this world good!) The food was exceptional. Heavy hors d’oeuvres - olives, many hard and soft cheeses, caprese salad, salami, roast beef, a cheese sauce drizzle on fresh veggies, crackers, etc. It was a very nice spread.

The Avery staff were hustling! I felt like offering to help - Adam, CV, Peter, Ted and Clarice were busy setting up the flights. CV provided us with a really nifty hand out “What happened to my bottle of Hog?”. It goes into depth regarding the science of what happens as beer ages… heat/alcohol decreasing due to ethanol conversion to acetaldehyde, hop aroma and bitterness decreasing, sweetness and toffee flavors increasing.

The flights, with my tasting notes, is as follows:
August 2008 - Dank, Herbal. A real hop bomb. 122 IBU, fresh hop aroma. All columbus hops - bittering, midboil, finish and dry hopping. 1.082 OG, 1.016 FG.
January 2007 - Bottled with new bottling line, reducing oxygen levels. Still very hoppy. Malts more prevalent. Starting to develop dried fruit character.
March 2006 - Hops starting to fade. Smoother, not as aggressive.
June 2005 - Sweetness starting to develop. Some oxidation characteristics noted (low levels of cardboard.)
June 2004 - Approaching english style barleywine. I noticed more heat, or a higher alcohol presence. Creamy mouthfeel. Smooth character.
March 2003 - Caramel flavors approaching molasses. This was a favorite for some at our table. Less nose then previous, increasing creaminess in the mouthfeel. Increasing oxidation characteristics.
June 2002 - “real sweet”. Okay, my notes are starting to fall off here.
February 2001 - Fruit prevalent. Some smokiness coming through. Darkest in color of all the samples. Hoppier then ‘02.
June 2000 - Soft. Sweet. Oxidation increasing - noticeable cardboard. Malt forward. Fruitiness including plum and raisin.
November 1999 - “Dry” according to my notes, but it had a higher finishing gravity then todays standards (1.098 OG, 1.030 FG.) Sherry taste prevalent.

My favorite of the evening was the fresh hog - I love the hop bombs and Adam admitted that if they were naming the beer now, they would call it an Imperial IPA. Ten years ago that wasn’t a common beer style though.

There was some news regarding Avery’s release of Brubant - this is a Baltic Porter that has Orval Brett and the house Brett (same as was used in the 15th Anniversary Ale) which is aged in Norman Vineyard Zinfandel barrels. 600 cases will be released in January or February.

Avery brews 17,000 BBLs annually. They make 8000 cases of Hog which is brewed every 3 months. To quote Adam “without hog, we’re out of business.”

Jubelale 2008

2008-11-25T20:25:00.000-08:00

According to Deschutes website, Jubelale was the first beer the brewery bottled. Each year, a different artist creates a unique and seasonal label. This year Sister's resident, Pam Jersey Bird was chosen for her seasonal painting which depicts a river running across the bottle. Visitors to the Bend brewery can view each year's unique label.

The 2008 Jubelale is a dark coffee like brew with a bouquet of dried fruit and an ABV of 6.7%. Don't let the dark color scare you off. It is a friendly tasty beer with a malty aftertaste that is pretty pleasant. It's only available from October to December so you better act fast.

Coffee Bender (In A Growler)

2008-11-24T19:48:00.000-08:00

It was a lucky day last Saturday when I was standing in line for the some of the last growlers to be sold at Surly. I had a great plan of two furious, two bender. When I got near the front I discovered they had Coffee Bender for sale, in a growler... How cool is this! Plan derailed but I now have a more better new plan.
I've had coffee bender before at the brewery and some bars around town. I don't think its hard to find if you live in the area ( Twin Cities, check the Muddy Pig and Happy Gnome, I believe I've had it both places). It pours with a good sized head, tan. The beer itself is a deep brown maybe slightly reddish, I have a hard time telling in my lighting situation. The smell is coffee for sure. Very strong coffee, a nice dark roast, like the kind my grandpa used to make on the stove when I was a kid, but without the grounds getting stuck in your teeth. You get a little bitterness at the front of your nose, and then it smooths out as I breathe deeper. I can smell a lot of chocolate in this one too. Then the taste. A nice malty sweetness hits the front of my tongue, followed by the bitterness of the coffee near the back of my mouth. The coffee isn't over powering, and its backed by a nice hop flavor. For me I notice the coffee more in the back of my mouth and the aftertaste. To my taste the hops are not as forward as other Surly beers, but its hard to compete with the coffee. There is good balance between the malty taste and the coffee. Its very tasty. I hear it's coming to cans soon so hopefully it will show up in your neighborhood soon.

The six-pack conundrum

2008-11-24T19:16:00.000-08:00

It's a shame to waste beer. I think that's something we can all agree on. But is there ever an occasion when it's ok?

Here's the scenario. I don't keep a ton of beer in my apartment. I have enough for me to enjoy one with dinner on most nights and some in reserve in case I have a couple friends over. But when I drink beer with larger groups, it's usually at a bar because neither my apartment nor my fridge are large enough to accomodate the supply of beer needed for a large, thirsty crowd.

As a result, the beer in my apartment is generally limited to the six-pack (or however much of it is left) in my fridge and another in reserve waiting for that other six-pack to be finished off.

As the picture shows, I've got three bottles of beer in my refrigerator. Those with a keen eye will recognize it as a beer I'm not terribly excited about, though it's not bad. Not in my fridge is a pack of a much tastier beer that I definitely get excited to drink.

Here's where the conundrum comes in. I'm hesitant to put another full pack of beer in my fridge before I finish this one off. I feel like I should get through this one before moving on. I started it, so I should see it through to the end. It's kind of like my justification for still watching ER - I've been watching it since the beginning, so I should finish watching through the last season. My other thought is that if I don't finish this beer, I'll never get it out of my fridge.

But, as with the show (especially over the last couple seasons), that's not easy when you're dealing with a mediocre product. So I'm contemplating just leaving those bottles in there and moving on and trying to push them on other people when they come over - or just getting rid of them.

But as I said, I hate to waste beer, even of the mediocre variety. So what do I do? Do I try and pawn it off on others? Do I just leave it there and when I eventually move out of this apartment, leave it as a gift for the new tenant? Do I dump it? Or is there another option I'm not considering?

My quest for the perfect pumpkin beer - part 1

2008-11-22T19:29:00.000-08:00

One of the best parts about the fall and winter is seasonal beers. Winter for me is all about stouts and porters. They're heavy and wonderful and they warm you up on a cold night.

As far as I'm concerned, fall is about one thing: pumpkin beer. The best ones taste like an alcoholic pumpkin pie, but a bit less sweet and definitely not bitter (not that I don't love a good bitter beer, but bitter and pumpkin do not play well together). They're heavier than the wheats I enjoy during the summer, but not quite as heavy as my stouts and porters.

Every year, I go on a quest for the perfect pumpkin beer. This year, the quest began with America's Original Pumpkin Ale, by Buffalo Bill's Brewery. Alas, though I'd read some decent reviews of it, the quest did not end with this beer. Not to say it was bad. It was solid, but not great. My biggest complaint was that there was not enough pumpkin or spice flavor. It was there, but it should have been stronger.

I think this particular pumpkin ale should go in the category of "go-to" beers. That is, if I need a reliably decent pumpkin beer, I'll go with this. It's the same category I put Blue Moon's Harvest Moon in. It will do when I'm in a pinch and nobody will be disappointed by it.

But for now, the quest continues. Anyone who really wants to help me on my journey, please comment. I'll happily try all sorts of pumpkin beers.

Cheers.

Blue Frog - Liberation Ale

2008-11-18T10:44:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure of spending a day in Fairfield, CA this past weekend with the wife. She had an appointment at the salon, so I did what any good husband would do. I went to BevMo, bought some beer, then headed to the nearest Brewery for a pint to pass the time. Lucky for me, both BevMo AND a brewery were within a couple miles of the salon.

Fairfield's only microbrewery is Blue Frog Grog & Grill. They are a recent operation, probably less then 10 years old. The ambiance of the place is really quite nice. I sat down at the bar, which had glass windows behind it looking into all of the brewing equipment. Recently, they have started to distribute a couple of their beers throughout the Bay Area. Being as that is, I wanted to try something unique that I couldn't get at my local beer store. Written on a chalkboard behind the bar was "Levitation Ale, 6%". That's all the convincing I needed, so I ordered one up.

Right off the bat I was impressed. I have no idea what type of beer it was and didn't ask because I was more intrigued with the Cal/OSU game on the LCD tv's. However, it had a very deep amber color, almost reminding me of an old dirty penny from the 40's or 50's. Holding it up to the light coming through the brewing equipment, you can pretty much see anything through the beer, it was that clear. I took my first sip and it was just WAY too cold to taste anything. After letting it warm up a bit, it turned out to be a very good beer. Nice balance between malt and hops without having the heat of a high ABV value, with a nice medium bodied finish. I really wish they sold this in stores.

As of right now, you can only get the Blonde Ale, Red Ale, IPA, and Double IPA. However they also sell a hefeweizen they sell at the brewery. I picked one up and realized why they probably don't sell it in stores. The label is screen printed upside down and urges you to store it as such. There is a description of the beer stating that doing so will re-activate the yeast upon opening to give the beer a more complex flavor.

Overall it is a very promising brewery. They brought in Nick Campbell, a new brewer, in 2004 and it appears that he is making some quality stuff. I expect them to start distributing in more places soon, so keep an eye out fellas.

Cheers to more beers!

The Relative Amateur speaks!

2008-11-18T03:15:00.000-08:00

Compared to probably just about everyone else participating on this terrific blog site, I am definitely a relative amateur when it comes to the world of craft beers. I hate to admit it, but before I met BuBBy (my main partner in the Brain Gravy podcast, as well as a home brewer extraordinaire, and a contributor on this blog site) a few years ago, I was drinking Rolling Rock and thought Guinness was the height of beer existence. Now, thanks to BuBBy and all the amazing podcasts on The Beer Safari like SIDT, The Good Beer Show and The Beer Report, I've developed a pretty darned good appreciation, as well as a palate, for a good craft beer. Hell, I've come so far that when I was forced to drink a Corona a few weeks ago, and it was like drinking seltzer!!!
My beer drinking life began, probably like everyone else, as an underaged teenager. Back then, it was whatever we could get our hand on to drink. In college, my roommates and I successfully managed to drink a different brand of beer every week for a year. Of course, being poor college students, the brands consisted of the usual like Budweiser, Miller, but also beers like Gablinger extra light, which came in a bright orange aluminum can and Stoney's (which bragged about having "no sugar added"). So, yes, I have been a long time expert in drinking the kind of beers that have made Sickpuppy and Father Spoon famous! As time went by, my taste has improved, and, as mentioned above, its only during the past few years that I have discovered the wonderful world of craft beer. So, with that preamble, I will attempt my first beer review for Beerporn!
Being winter time here on the East Coast, I've been recently exploring winter ales. One of my favorite breweries is St. Bernardus, which is located in Belgium. They make wonderful beers like the Abt 12 and Tripel, and, although their beers are a bit pricey, I would highly recommend giving them a try. In any case, I was excited to find their Christmas Ale at my beer store, and quickly grabbed one to try. It came in a very handsome 750 ml corked bomber bottle. Its classified as a Belgian strong dark ale, and is a very healthy 10.0% ABV. It poured a nice dark brown color with a tan-colored head that was about a finger thick with nice lacing. I have learned to take a few moments to take in the aroma of a beer before rushing to a first taste. There was definitely the aroma of spices, along with a hint of cherries, plum and malts. Then the best part: the first taste! It has a fairly sweet taste. I can taste the flavors of malts, along with cherries, plums, and a sort of peppery cinnamon. The yeast flavor is there, but not overwhelming to my palate. It most definitely reminds me of Christmas; I can see myself drinking this beer instead of spiced eggnog around the Christmas tree! The carbonation is just right, and the flavor is light enough that the 10% ABV is well hidden. Overall, it is, so far, my favorite Christmas ale. It goes down maybe a bit too easily, but I would highly recommend this beer. In terms of a relative amateur, this beer is darned good!
Ok, my first post is done. My goal is to try and bring things here from the perspective of a relative newbie to the world of craft beer, and I hope my posts are worthy of this great blog site. Until next post, happy drinking!!!

Beer Runner Profile: Tom Held

2008-11-17T18:29:00.000-08:00

Tim Cigelske writes about beer and fitness -- yes, they can go together -- at The Beer Runner on DRAFT magazine's website. Below is an excerpt of the latest post.

Tom Held’s Off The Couch blog is a big inspiration for me.

Tom is a wealth of knowledge on Wisconsin cross country skiing, running, cycling, outdoor sports advocacy and, yes, good beer.

“This may be a bit sappy,” he told me, “but I think there’s a real community or bonding element to beer.”

A seasoned reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, he of course has a source to back up such a claim. Specifically, the camaraderie of Valley Spur, one of his favorite XC ski spots.

“I’ve had people offer me beer, soup, sandwiches and plenty of good stories,” he says. “It’s really part of the joy of the outdoors and physical activity.”

Lucky for me, our paths have crossed before in the newsroom, on the race course and at the finish line beer table. And now on the Beer Runner.

What’s your favorite beer when you’re On the Couch?

Click here for the rest of the column...

Southern Tier Unearthly Imperial India Pale Ale

2008-11-17T10:40:00.000-08:00

The Southern Tier Unearthly Imperial IPA is an unbelievable beverage. From the first crack of the bottle cap to the last sip, this beer engulfs the drinker in an invisible green cloud of some crazy insane hop aroma. The beer pours a darkish honey color with a thick sticky white head. The beer balances this insane hoppyness with the malt to give it an incredible flavor and mouthfeel. It is like hop Koolaide (OH YEAH!) without any hop harshness. It is a very drinkable beer. The 11% ABV is undetectable in the flavor and sneaks up on you. My dream is to one day make a pilgrimage to the brewery in Lakewood, New York and drink this on tap.

CHEERS!

Southern Tier Brewing Website

Tap and Bottle Label

Build That Cellar!

2008-11-17T10:11:00.000-08:00

Well I've decided to actually put some thought and effort (read Money) into my beer cellar. I've always stashed a 6 pack of any beer I make, just for good measure, but it's time to start building a cellar stock of commercial beers to go along side of the Home Brew.
Step Number 1 is to clean up this mess!
I began by dragging all of my bottles and boxes out into the open where I can get a good look at them. I will be moving all of this into a closed off room where I can get a better handle on the temperature. This will also double as the equipment storage and carboy ageing space for the wine and beer that I have Bulk Ageing.
I will put away what I can. If it's a $24 12 pack of Sierra Nevada Celebration, I may put 24 bottles down, if it's a $12 bottle of Chimay, I may only get one or 2 per year, but I will keep up with what I can at the time.
As this project progresses, I will keep as detailed of records as I can force my ADD brain to keep. I will keep purchase date and Retailer information, price info.(I hope SWMBO doesn't see!) and any other seemingly relevant information.
I will not expect all of the beer to get better with time, and in fact some will degrade significantly, but I will expect it to change either way. I will be able to offer up some radical vertical tastings of different lines of beer.
With the intent of just having something well aged to sip...I've already got a series of Lindimens and other lambics, the home brews, several Arrogant Bastard bottles,and a few different stouts, including Left Hand Brewery Milk Stout.
With the intent of building vertical tastings, I'm going for the Sierra Nevada Celebration, Breckenridge Christmas Ale, Rogue Dead Guy, Double Bastard, and even Ruination.
You know that IPA is going down hill as we speak, but the fact is, it will provide some reference and insight as to the effects of time on beer. Not only will this project be supremely educational, but will be victoriously tasty, and I look forward to every single step along the way.

Holiday Ale

2008-11-16T18:00:00.000-08:00

Holiday ale's are usually described as 'big' and 'rich' and usually pack a lot more flavor than their summertime counterparts. These beers are often higher in Alcohol by Volume (ABV) than other special beers and it's been my experience that they are darker and sweeter in nature. Supposedly the holiday beer tradition goes back to medieval times when monks were the primary brewers and strong spicy ales were brewed to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Often times these beers have a subtle but nice spice bouquet added to the recipe blending nicely to the malty/hoppy flavor of the brew.

Brrr is the first winter ale from Widmer in four years and is amber in color with a herby aroma. Brrr packs in a 7.2% ABV which makes it the strongest beer in Widmer's arsenal. It's a nice beer although on the sweet side which is an odd thing for me to say considering I prefer more sweet beers like ambers. It has a nice hoppy aroma and taste that plays well against the dark malty undertones. I bought a 12 ounce bottle of the Brrr at Belmont Station and wonder how it taste at their Gausthaus .I would drink this beer again but wouldn't run through traffic for one.

Not Your Mother's Oatmeal

2008-11-15T14:12:00.000-08:00

We're inching toward Winter here in Indianapolis and nothing helps to bolster you in the cold like a good stout. This oatmeal stout from Breckenridge pours a very dark brown with a tan head. Has a nose of oatmeal with some sweet chocolate notes. The taste is smooth with a roasted malt flavor that gives way to a finish of moderate coffee tones. It strikes a decent balance between some of the more mellow stouts and the Russian Imperial Stouts. In all I wouldn't call it exceptional, but a very good beer that is very tasty and drinkable.

Breckenridge makes a host of very good beer, including some small batch varieties. If your local specialty brew shop carries any I highly recommend giving them a try. You will not be disappointed.

Blondes Are More Fun

2008-11-15T12:06:00.001-08:00

This beer brings back many fond memories. Randy and I ventured to France on vacation for 17 days in the year 2000. We were there visiting his family. I already had a taste for fine beer for quite a few years. This beer, Leffe Blonde was everywhere in the south of France. We had countless bottles of this. This is the first time I has seen Leffe for sale in Muncie, Indiana.

If I tasted this not knowing its name I would say it is a little too sweet and too Hefe-like for a Belgium ale. It definitely smells of banana. I have had better. Knowing I am drinking Leffe Blonde puts me back in Montpellier France. Good times.

Why Homebrew?

2008-11-15T07:23:00.000-08:00

My start in home brewing began years ago as a young man simply because it was legal to brew at age 18 but legal consumption did not start until the age of 21. I found it odd that it was legal to make but illegal to drink the beverage made by my own hand. That dream turned into an obsession for me over the years as I began to realize the art that is brewing and all its wonders. I started out with the canned kits and slowly graduated to the partial mashes and all grain batches that I do today.

As I started to learn more I slowly added additional equipment to my home brewing arsenal. From wort chillers to auto-siphons and any other cool home brewing gadget I could find. From making my own mash tun from a cooler and parts from Home Depot to building my own stir plate from hard drive parts, a computer fan and a cigar box. Homebrewing brought out the creative side in me in many ways.

I like to think of myself now as an experienced home brewer but there is always so much to learn. I cannot tell you how thankful I am to the home brewing community and friends that have taught me so much over the years. You all have inspired me to try new things and teach others the art. I’ve started blogging about my homebrew experiences (shouldibrewthat.com) so that others can learn from my experiences and mistakes.

So I say to all of you with that one question in the back of your mind “should I start home brewing?” I say yes! From learning the craft to sharing your own handcrafted beers with your friends and family there is no better hobby in my opinion. You will learn so much not only about good beer but about yourself. So go to your local homebrew shop today and pick up that beer kit, what are you waiting for?

Ø come, all ye faithful...

2008-11-13T20:24:00.000-08:00

In the north of the country of Norway, by this time of the year, the sun makes an appearance for approximately four hours a day. It's not surprising, then, to find that Norwegians place a bit of attention on distracting themselves with wintertime holidays and seasonally appropriate libations, with the Norwegian brewery Nøgne Ø involved in making (at least) two holiday-themed beers. Beating back the potential doldrums of a long, dark winter, along with it the doldrums of tiresome, schmaltzy Christmas brews, they not only produce a Winter Ale ("God Jul") but also this one, the Peculiar Yule ("Underlig Jul"), a distinctively Norwegian take on the theme of winter warmers.

Gløgg, the Nordic take on mulled wine, is a comforting, bone-warming concoction spiked with cinnamon, vanilla, cloves, citrus, and sometimes even almonds and raisins. The Nogne folks have captured this spirit in a beer meant to be enjoyed with holiday cookies, like fattigmann and goro, by fusing the above spice bill with a 6.5% dark ale. It crackles with strangeness, as unlike most holiday ales, the hops are present enough to provide a bitterness that bounces off the spices without allowing for the pervasive sticky sweetness brewers sometimes feel the need to allow, as if the cookies had already been blended into the glass. Not here, an adult beverage worthy of being enjoyed with or without the accompaniment of sweets, perfectly suited to fend off the polar night. Dry, vinuous, and peculiarly pleasant.

Bell's Pale Ale

2008-11-13T19:26:00.000-08:00

For those who are "not in the know"... Bell's had pulled all of their beers out of Illinois over a year ago after a distribution dispute. All of us Bell's drinkers in Illinois had been relegated to border runs to Indiana for any of those great Bell's beers!

And they are always worth it!

So, when I was headed back from Indiana a few months ago... I picked up some six packs of Bell's 2 Hearted and Oberon. I saw the Pale Ale sitting their... And realized that I have never had this beer. Now, I did not have to go to a resource book, website or ask for advice on whether or not to buy this beer... No... This is a Bell's beer... And with that in mind... I was fully confident that I would be buying a quality beer.

In hindsight... How many brewers do we really say that about? Most of us have a trusted few.

This beer is everything advertised. A great American style pale ale. Lots of hop flavor... But smooth and easy to drink. I would probably call it a session beer solely on the fact that it does not knock you around with hard edges and extreme taste. Don't take that as a bad thing. A balanced beer that is easy to drink is really what I am looking for most of the time.

Sure, there are more glamorous beers out their... But at the end of the day... A tasty, quality and reliable brew from Bell's will never let you down!

Oaked Arrogant Bastard

2008-11-13T10:23:00.000-08:00

For the last couple of days I have been drawn to Stone's. Here locally, the big beer bars here in Muncie are in a "Most Arrogant Bar" contest. They have Arrogant Bastard, Oaked Arrogant Bastard, and Double Arrogant Bastard on tap. I normally drink 2 pints a day at lunch and for the last couple of days I have been loving the Oaked. I am totally a fan of Stone's for the simple reason they have gotten out there on the shelves all over the US. I normally do not purchase their products in bottle but cannot help myself when it comes to draft.
Arrogant Bastard in the stock form is a beer thats want you to know it is there. Always begging for attention, it flicks you in the nose with its trademark bitterness and roughness. In the Oaked form it is very mellow and well-balanced. It is unbelievable that there is so much difference between them. I am a very happy man while Oaked Arrogant Bastard is on draft. When it comes to the regular, I will visit it from time to time. "I am worthy".

What are you doing with all that beer?

2008-11-12T21:18:00.000-08:00

Rule: A good brewer should have more refrigerators than televisions.

This is one of many rules I will be throwing in your direction as I contribute to this blog. It will make things easier on both of us if you accept that these rules are non-debatable, as I have often put little thought into them and thus have no real basis to defend them.

Still, if you are a brewer, you'd certainly want to have more refrigeration in your life and less Dancing with the Idols, right? Right!

On to the point of this post. What's in all those fridges?

What are you doing with all that beer?

Well, it's not all that much really; all of it is there for a reason. The reason is: If there was no reason, all that beer would already have been consumed. And that is why it is still here.

In order to continue this circular delusion, I took a quick inventory and I mean quick. Even this photo is strategically under representative of what I have. I mean if I was to go bottle-by-bottle then you'd see a whole array of reason why it's still there and not gone and that would be wordy and dull.

Rule: A good brewer has hand-crafted beer.

5 kegs of delicious homebrew- Apfelwein, Honey Wheat, APA featuring Simcoe and Amarillo, Mild, Irish Stout. These are all being consumed. NO Problems here!
Oops. Got some beer of other homebrewers that I am supposed to review. I make sure that I give them my full attention and so there is a bit of a backlog here. Manangable.

Rule: A good brewer is a good beer host and has beer on hand for non-beer folks.

Because clearly these folks have no concept of anything good and so you have to trick them into drinking some good beer. Among these:

Deus for when there is a special occasion with someone that is not a beer person.
La Folie, NG Rasberry Tart, Lindemans Pomme, which are among my wife's favorites. She is a beer person, so these could serve double duty, but nah. These are beers for us and those beers... well... they need to be savored... as romance beers (Implied Rule).
One or two ciders, perry.
moving on- some other stuff. Save. Save. Save.

Rule: A good brewer has research beers and beers to enjoy with other aficionados.

And realistically these aficionados aren't here every day. I'm just not on the aficionado circuit, but you have to be prepared. Research takes time. It demands your full attention. Among these:

Armageddon with Brett, LaChouffe Dobbelen IPA, Sprecher Tripel, a couple of Cantillons, Fantome, a 2004 Three Philosophers, Damnation, Brooklyn Local One, Allagash Black, Rodenbach Grand Cru... clearly meant to be shared with another beer aficionado or used as style examples for future brews.
5 Bud American Ales as a curiosity (everyone wants to try, but not buy), 2 or 3 gluten free beers in case I want to brew it and it also qualifies under the good beer host rule.
A number of Stouts that were to be part of my SOS- Summer of Stout concept. Drinking stout on the hottest Phoenix Day possible. Avery Czar, Rogue Imperial, Sprecher Imperial... oh that was going to be some day. Better save them for the coldest day in Phoenix and a new acronym.
moving on- some other stuff. Save. Save. Save.

I am taking positive steps. I have 2 RR Plineys and 2 Blind Pigs in the Civilian Fridge (the one with food) because the label says, "Age Your Cheese, Not Your Pliney," and how am I to argue that?

Oh and the closet. I think there's 3/4 of a case of 2007 Alaskan Smoked Porter... and shh... a good brewer breaks the rules.

Beer on Guam

2008-11-12T18:29:00.000-08:00

Hafa Adai from Guam!

This is literally "Where America's Day Begins." Before the 1980s it was not even shown on most globes, but is an integral part of American history nonetheless.

We are one of the 4 US Territoies, which basically means we are US Citizens who do NOT get to vote for President and do NOT have actual voting representation in Congress, but rather a delegate figure head who tries to lobby on our behalf.

You can find much more about Guam by doing a Wiki search--no not Waikiki as that is in Hawai'i, a series of islands which actually enjoys the benefits of statehood.

Because Guam has a rather large Asian influence owing to its position in the Pacific (just three hours south of Japan by plane) the beer landscape is quite dismal, but has improved marginally since I moved here nearly two years ago.

Budweiser and Miller products rule this island unfortunately. Heineken is a popular import, as are Singha, Asahi, Tsing Tao, and to some extent Foster's. Guinness, though available, is different from mainland US, and comes in at an ABV of 7.0. Nice!, except for the price. We're talking about $12.50 for a six pack, or basically what you'd pay at cost in a tavern back in Muncie, Indiana my former hometown for instance.

I am celebrating the recent increased availability of Hoegaarden in selected gas stations on island as we do not have many of your typical "liquor" stores or "Beer Stores" for those of you playing along in Pennslyvania.

What "top-shelf" beer we do get on island tends to be sort of name-brand like Lindeman's Krieg for instance or Schneider Weiss.

Guam is blessed with one microbrewery--a charming little establishment called The Mermaid Tavern, named after the John Keats poem, an excerpt of which you can find on their homepage at http://www.greatdeepbrewing.com/.

The owner/operator is a chemistry professor at University of Guam and his establishment has been featured on The Good Beer Show hosted by Jeffrey T--a program I co-hosted and miss very much after contributing to winning two Podcast Awards in 2005 & 2006.

To be honest, I've scaled back my beer consumption immensely, and in large part due to lack of variety. As a general rule, I'm prone to drink the aforementioned Guinness or Peroni (owing to my Italian girlfriend), and the occasional Fat Tire when available. I've been also been ordering the recent acquisition of Carlsberg at a few restaurants. If you haven't figured it out by now, lager is the chief choice on island. Since we don't really have more than one season, you can understand why we don't stack up on Oatmeal Stout and then go out with a light sweater and play in the snow drifts.

Recently I consumed Bud Light for the first time since college (circa 1990) at a poker match as I did not want to offend those who offered. Needless to say, I don't think I ever got over the legal limit to drive no matter how many I consumed.

That's about it for my first beerblog. I'm not sure how much I'll have to contribute in the future, but I welcome anyone who is willing to mail me good brews...bubble-wrapped for protection during shipping of course :).

Take care fellow beer enthusiasts, and happy drinking!

The State of Beer as I See It

2008-11-12T18:03:00.000-08:00

Lochness, aliens, bigfoot (not the barleywine). Some of the greatest hoaxes of all time? Perhaps, but none of these conspiracy lovers' fetishes can hold a candle to the mental reprogamming that America's major beer manufacturers have managed to pull off. Within the past century, a country of mainly immigrants have been brainwashed to forget their drinking roots and embrace this sham of a beverage referred to as the "American Lager" and even more shamefully the "American Lite Lager". What's wrong with a lager? Nothing if it's brewed with quality practices and ingredients, not to mention the enjoyment of the drinker in mind. Hey, Germans do it all the time (most of them do, I've had Spaten). Alright so let's say you like cheaply made domestic lagers...fine, but why are so many people paying the same price for a lite beer as they are full flavor? Lite beers that are 1/2 the alcohol literally take 1/2 the ingredients to produce. Are Bud/Miller/Coors passing these savings on to you? Hell no, they charge the same and act like you should be thankfull that they're saving you the carbs. Personnally, I'd rather buy a Budweiser and water it down myself. That's a lie, I'd rather buy some Bell's. To all the people who currently make it their ritual to repeatedly drink this swill, I don't want to sound like your mom, but try something different you might like it! Shit, odds are you'll like it even better! And the more you're willing to explore some of the incredible beers that we have at our disposal, the more you'll shake that marketing induced mindset that all of these hot babe-laiden commercials have brainwashed you with. Then you, like I and so many others, can say, "My beer can drink your beer for breakfast and still operate heavey machinary" (not that I condone that type of thing).

Andrew Lewis

Owner/Brewer

Brass Monkey Brewing Co.

Kokomo, IN

Of Love and Beer.

2008-11-12T09:03:00.000-08:00

I should introduce myself as The BigKahuna! I am a beer lover, Home Brewer, and aficionado of all of life's "Extras". I have a wife and 2 kids that I love with all my heart.
I began home brewing the day after I turned 21....that was 9 years ago. After limited success and lack of interest by friends and family, my hobby took a few years off. Now I'm BACK! I brew All Grain with a Home made 5 gallon Mash Tun, and boil on a turkey fryer. I have recently completed the conversion of a beer keg into a boil pot, and intend on boiling my next batch in that. My wife is pretty supportive of my often insane hobbies...She let me build a Keezer!

Let us talk about having beer on tap in your home.
This is one of those things that I always envisioned was for a "Hard Core Drunk" or College Dorm Residents.
I am neither, but currently have 4 different beers on tap in my living room. I often have a pint before dinner, or after dinner or with dinner. One way or the other, I do try and have a beer every day.
A 5 gallon keg seemed like a HUGE amount of beer when I first began looking at it, but then I quickly realized that is only 2 pints per night for less than a month. I have 4 taps, so I could turn a keg every month or so, but I often have one beer on tap for a LONG time, and others turn very quickly.
I decided to build a "Keezer" or Converted Freezer, on a whim just like many of the things I do. I had been reading about other people doing it, and naturally, I wanted one too!
There have been several write ups in publications lately about building a Kegerator or a Keezer. Basic Brewing Radio has released their podcast on the subject today, and it inspired me to tell about my keezer.
I am admittedly a gadget freak, and will often go to extreme lengths to attain the newest latest and greatest of whatever it is that I'm interested in. Because of that, I decided to go with a Brand New Freezer from Lowes. It cost just under $300, including the 2x10 that I used to build the collar. These can be found on Graig's list for next to nothing, but really, patience is NOT one of my gifts. I ordered the taps and shanks, and all of the related hoses and a Co2 Regulator and a Temp Controller from Austin Home Brew Supply.
The Temperature controller is a vital component of this system. A freezer is meant to FREEZE! The Temp controller simply controls the temp by shutting off power to the compressor when a pre-set temperature is reached.
The build was very simple. I cut and screwing the 2x10 together, and I painted it in One afternoon. I did paint before I attached it to the freezer, and recommend that you do the same. I used white tub and Tile Caulk to attach the collar to the freezer, and I have the lid and hinges mounted to the collar. Everything is nice and secure, and looks good to boot. Part of the reason for the collar is because with the modern freezer design, you don't' want to go drilling holes in the side of the freezer. The Temp Controller simply plugs into the wall, the freezer plugs into the temp control, and it has a probe that goes inside the freezer.
As a Home Brewer, I use the old Soda Style kegs with ball lock fittings. They are very easy to use, conveniently hold 5 gallons, and are relatively easy to take care of. I used the 2x10 because it allows me to fit 6 kegs in my 7.? Cu Ft Whirlpool freezer. I can fit one keg on the compressor hump. If this is not a concern for you, I would use a 2x6 or a 2x4. If you are looking to have beer on tap, but you are not a home brewer, fear not. The commercial connections are readily available, and work just as easily. Many brew pubs sell their beer in kegs, and for a quite reasonable price.
I can not explain the convenience and joy of pulling a pint of cold home brew from a tap on a keezer that you built! I would recommend that anyone thinking about this project to give it a try. Your friends will thank you, as will your wife. Bottles on the counter....BE GONE!

Manneken Pis

2008-11-12T05:51:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am drinking an ancient bottle of Manneken Pis. GBS Studio A has an unbelievable cellar and I ordered up this 10 year old or so white beer. The label of current versions of this beer dropped the "Manneken Pis" and sport "Blanche de Bruxelles". The little peeing boy is still the mascot.
Lots of Belgian beers cellar extremely well and this one is no exception. Instead of "going to sherry" as most do, this one changed in taste to resemble a well-known triple. During the consumption of this all I could think of was Triple Karmeliet. A subdued green apple taste dominated the flavor. Fresh versions of this beer are very cloudy white in color and have the orange peel and clove thing going on. This old one poured a clear beautiful golden hue and tasted like apples. Screwing around with the bottle near the end, I dislodged the sediment into my glass. I gladly swilled it.

Samuel Smith: Oatmeal Stout

2008-11-11T20:13:00.000-08:00

Since Josh brought up the topic of dark beers, I thought I'd continue the thread with a quick write-up on Samual Smith's Oatmeal Stout. In short, I just discovered this beer a month ago or so, and I'm not entirely sure how I managed to go this long without having this beer as a regular contributor to my (incredibly well balanced) diet.

This Oatmeal Stout pours quite dark (though not nearly as dark as Darkness does), with a medium-tan head. The aroma is of dark roasted coffee, malted grains, and raisins. The taste is a perfect balance between bitter and sweet, with a bit of, may I say smokiness? As I work my way through the glass, and as the beer warms slightly, I'm delighted more and more by the complex flavors that reveal themselves. The mouthfeel is surprisingly light for this style, which I very much appreciate. In the past, I've been put off by a few oatmeal stouts that were overly heavy. After finishing the glass, the dark, rich flavors linger for quite a long time, as you'd expect for an Oatmeal Stout.

If you haven't given yourself a chance to try this beer, I'd recommend you pick it up during your next run to the store. I can get it here in Minneapolis for around $9 for a four-pack of 12oz. bottles - it's well worth it.

Just Becks

2008-11-11T20:05:00.001-08:00

Just Becks on 12seconds.tv