Beer Review: Birra Etrusca Bronze

Dogfish Head has a long running Ancient Ale series. Sam digs up some ancient beer recipe from Egypt or Scandinavia or South America, visits the country or region to get a feel of it's history, native ingredients and culture and works with scientists and historians to try and best recreate what our ancient ancestors imbibed in their day. For me this is one of the coolest things going in the beer industry today, even if many dismiss it as a novelty. This is, at least at this point, by far the closest we will come to actually physically sharing a piece of history from thousands of years ago. Birra Etrusca Bronze is the resurrection of a recipe from Italy circa 800 BC! That's right, 1200 years old; how can this not make you excited to try it?

Dogfish Head Birra Etrusca Bronze - 8.5% ABV
Traditional Ale/Herbed/Spiced Beer
Limited Release
750 mL Dogfish Head Bomber poured into a tulip
Bottled 01/12

Appearance - Clear copper, almost honey-like color with a quickly diminishing nearly white head.

Aroma - Smells very sweet -- fruit, honey and almost a bit like candy hearts. Smells like Belgian yeast.

Taste - Similar base flavors to a Belgian style ale. Very sweet and mellow, lots of fruit flavors and LOTS of honey. Pomegranate, apples, lemon and honey. Really tasty.

Mouthfeel - Slightly thinner body and good carbonation. A slight dryness and effervescence similar to champagne.

Overall - I actually really like this. It's very different but really tasty. I'd definitely buy this again. If this is what they were drinking in Italy in 800 BC, they were some excellent brewers and a lucky group of consumers.
Overall 4/5 Style 4/5

Drink On,

Dan

Beer Review: '72 Imperial

Colorado is quickly becoming California's biggest competition for best beer state in the western US. Obviously Cali has size on its side, but Colorado is turning out some world class beer from a growing number of breweries. One of these breweries is Breckenridge Brewery. Some of their stuff is just ok but some is pretty great and this one came in a super cool painted bottle with a pretty cool name too.

Breckenridge '72 Imperial Chocolate Cream Stout - 7.2% ABV
Milk/Sweet Stout
Rotating Availability
12 oz bottle poured into a pub glass
Bottled 2013

Appearance - Black with a thick, creamy, beige head. Good retention, good lacing.

Aroma - Lots of coffee, chocolate and a bit of cola.

Taste - Chocolate, coffee and a bit of vanilla.

Mouthfeel - Super creamy, thick and rich, velvety, average carbonation.

Overall - This was a very pleasant surprise. I went in with zero expectations and came away very impressed. This was like a dessert in a bottle, absolutely decadent. Can't wait to have it again.
Overall 4/5 Style 4/5

Drink On,

Dan

Beer Review: Thrones!

It's finally back. After an uncomfortable long break, the hit HBO series "Game of Thrones" has returned for a third season. As if this wasn't great enough, HBO has come together with Brewery Ommegang to create a series of Game of Thrones inspired beers. The first of these beers, Iron Throne, was released a couple of weeks ago. Plenty of time to secure some for the season premiere.

Brewery Ommegang Iron Throne - 6.5% ABV
Belgian Ale
Special Release
750 mL bomber poured into a trappist glass
Bottled 02/15/13

Appearance - Pours a cloudy, dull yellow with a big, thick, fluffy white head. Very slowly dissipates to a tiny white film; just a bit of lacing.

Aroma - As expected, traditional Belgian characteristics -- spices and fruit.

Flavor - Starts out very predictable -- light, refreshing, spicey -- but then a strong lemon flavor comes in on the backend that is really excellent. This was a nice surprise and a wonderful compliment to the standard Belgian flavor profile.

Mouthfeel - Pretty full bodied, a bit unexpectedly so, lots of carbonation and pretty dry.

Overall - I'm normally not a big fan of the style; they remind me too much of Belgian tripels, of which I'm also not a big fan, but this one was a very pleasant surprise. An excellent companion for the series opener.

Drink On,

Dan

Unfortunate Update

Looks like I kind of jumped the gun with the whole Tröegs Triple Mango IPA news. Most of what I posted was true but I was blinded by excitement as it appears it may not be a regular or seasonal offering, just a second run of the fantastic brew. The verbiage was slightly ambiguous, but after reading it again it sounds like it will just be making a second appearance as a Scratch Series release. Hopefully it's at least a much bigger batch and I can grab a case or two of it.

On a more positive note, Tröegs is bringing back one of their most coveted beer series, Splinter. The Splinter Series is a top secret barrel aging program that has yielded some of the most sought after beers on the market. Splinter Gold, a Belgian tripel aged in white wine barrels with brettanomyces, undergoes a two year aging process to change this from a tripel to an American wild ale. Having never had any of the Splinter Series beers, I am anxiously awaiting Splinter Gold's release which should be sometime in the next few months. I'll post all the details here as soon as I learn them.

Drink On,

Dan

Beer Review: My Bloody Valentine

New school ambers and reds are some of the most overlooked beers on the market. They generally show great balance and explosive flavor. This one, from San Diego's AleSmith Brewing, is all of that and a bit more...fun. This is a beer for the broken hearted and lonely, those who have no one to spend Valentine's Day with and would rather drown themselves in a drink. The bottle art is pretty cool -- broken hearts, a quasi-realistic heart with cupid's arrow sticking through it while it is spurting blood and a really morbid looking "My Bloody Valentine" logo. Oh, and the ABV is 6.66%. If nothing else, for me, this one was worth it just for the novelty of it.

AleSmith My Bloody Valentine - 6.66% ABV
American Amber/Red Ale
Winter Seasonal
22oz bomber poured into a pub glass
Bottle date unknown

Appearance - Pours a deep garnet red with a thick, tan colored head with a hint of red in it. It's actually striking how red this is. Retention is nice, fades slowly into a soapy puddle. Excellent lacing.

Aroma - Smells very hoppy from the instant the bottle is opened. Aroma is great, bursting with citrus -- oranges and grapefruit -- pine, some grass and a bit of caramel.

Taste - Excellent flavor -- pine, candied oranges, slight grapefruit and a solid malt backbone.

Mouthfeel - Medium body, well carbonated and a bit sticky.

Overall - This is definitely one of my favorite styles and is becoming more and more prevalent. This one didn't disappoint. Excellent balance and a boatload of flavor; made even better by how cool and fun they made it. This was my first time having this one but certainly will not be my last.
Overall 4/5 Style 5/5

Drink On,

Dan

Beer Review: Do Dragons Actually Produce Milk?

Surprise, surprise -- another highly regarded brewery from Michigan. The amount of good beer pouring out of this state is staggering, and as such, hard to keep up with! New Holland Brewing, from Holland, Michigan, is one of those brewers that I haven't been able to experience yet. So on a cold March evening while building a pick-a-six, a bourbon barrel stout sounded just right -- what a perfect opportunity to give these guys a shot.

New Holland Dragons Milk - 10% ABV
Imperial Stout
Winter Seasonal
Bourbon Barrel Aged
12 oz bottle poured into a goblet
Bottled 01/08/13

Appearance - Extremely dark brown, not quite black, with a thick, creamy tan head. Nice retention and lacing throughout.

Aroma - All bourbon and chocolate, so nice.

Taste - Flavor is excellent; super rich, chocolate, bourbon, some sugary cola, vanilla, a bit of oak and some booze.

Mouthfeel - Thick and creamy, good carbonation and slightly warming.

Overall - This is one tasty brew. Super creamy and the flavors of the bourbon and the stout really play off of each other nicely, better than a lot of other bourbon barrel aged stouts I've had. This is a great one, I'm already looking forward to next winter so I can have more.
Overall 4/5 Style 4/5

Drink On,

Dan

Is Troegs Finally Answering My Prayers?

Troegs brewery exclusive "Scratch Series" of one-off beers has become an instant hit among beer drinkers. Different from a lot of other brewery exclusive lines, Troegs actually bottles these brews and has them available for purchase in their general store. Every so often one makes its way into normal rotation, ie Flying Mouflan and Perpetual IPA. Recently the brewer put it to its fans to choose the next Scratch Series beer to become a regular and so far it's sounding like good news for me. From their Facebook page:

 Voting for the “Scratch Redux” contest is now officially closed. While the clear winner of the Facebook poll was Scratch #58 – Triple Mango IPA, we also had a few ballot boxes set up throughout the brewery, so those votes will be tallied over the next few days. We will announce the winner in the near future. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for no hanging chads or General Store re-counts! Thanks to everyone who participated in our inaugural Scratch Beer election. Which beer will emerge as the winner?

Scratch #58, or Triple Mango IPA, absolutely blew my mind. This beer was absolutely incredible and I knew it could very quickly and easily become one of my favorites. Unfortunately for me, this was one Scratch Series beer that was not bottled. The recipe was the result of a homebrew contest in which the brewers picked their favorite to make as the newest Scratch Series beer. Unbeknownst to them, the incredible amount of hops and mango the recipe called for would create a tremendous amount of sludge therefore reducing the end volume of beer. Less beer = not bottling, not growler fills, only available on tap at the brewery.

I have been thinking of this beer ever since and even planning to homebrew a batch myself just to get another taste. Hopefully at some point in the next few months I'll be buying this one by the caseload. When an official announcement is made, I will definitely post an update.

Drink On,

Dan

Beer Review: Going Against The Grain

Firestone Walker is quickly becoming one of my favorite breweries. They seem to do everything well. I've been snatching up everything I see from them and keep coming away satisfied. When I found Velvet Merlin I was very excited; a highly regarded oatmeal stout from a brewery with a reputation of dominance? How could I possibly go wrong?

Firestone Walker Velvet Merlin - 5.5% ABV
Stout/Oatmeal Stout
Fall Seasonal
12oz bottle poured into a goblet
Bottled 01/08/13

Appearance - Black with a thick, super creamy tan head. Good retention and lacing.

Aroma - Smell is chocolate, tobacco, smoke and cola.

Taste - Cola, a lot of smoke and an unusual bitterness on the finish. As it warms up the flavors unfold a little more; chocolate, coffee and some nice hop flavors and a really smokey finish.

Mouthfeel - Medium body, well carbonated and an extremely dry finish.

Overall - I was so excited to have this one and so disappointed when I did. The smokiness was way over the top and distracted from the other flavors. It looked absolutely beautiful when I poured it and it just let me down from there. It did definitely get better as it warmed up but it still just wasn't for me.
Overall 2/5 Style 3/5

Drink On,

Dan

Beer Review: Double Platinum

Today we discuss another beer club brew -- Starr Hill Double Platinum. The Charlottesville, Va brewer just recently began distribution to PA so I have almost no experience with them. The only other beer I have had from them is their Jomo Lager which was pretty standard but almost expectedly so. That being said, I am always up for trying something new, especially in the IPA family.

Starr Hill Double Platinum - 8.5% ABV

Imperial IPA

Rotating Availability

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass

Bottled 10/11/12 (pretty cool, right?)

Appearance - Amber with a thin white head. Decent retention and great lacing.

Aroma - Lots of hops, very citrusy -- grapefruit, oranges

Taste - Flavor is nice. Lots of hops but with some balance. Oranges, grapefruit and a good bitterness that lingers beyond the finish.

Mouthfeel - Medium body, average carbonation and a bit of a tingle from the hops.

Overall - I'm not going to lie, my inner beer snob came out a bit and I was a little leery when I saw that it was a twist off cap, but I'm glad I reserved any true judgement until after tasting. This was a really nice beer, good hop flavors and a great hoppy nose. This is why beer club is so perfect, who knows when I would have had this otherwise? It's possible this could be even better a little closer to the bottling date, but I was very satisfied with this one. 

Overall 3.5/5 Style 3/5

Just a little additional anecdote, one thing that was tough for me about this one is it's classification as an Imperial IPA. With boundaries constantly being pushed and styles always evolving I think it may be time to expand the IPA and Stout categories specifically by creating a third tier. Meaning their should be IPA, Imperial IPA and Double Imperial IPA or something to that effect. I plan on doing a bit of research about this and putting up my argument sometime in the near future. Until then

Drink On,

Dan

Beer Review: A Truly Off-Centered Ale

Sam Calagione is as innovative and fearless as they come. He never stops looking for new techniques, new ingredients and new ways to update or improve old recipes and traditional styles. When I picked up a bottle of one of their barley wines -- Immort Ale -- I knew that any preconceived notions I had about what to expect should be immediately dismissed.

Dogfish Head Immort Ale - 11% ABV
Barley Wine
Rotating Availability
12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass
Bottled 01/13

Appearance - Clear, reddish brown with an off-white head that lingers.

Aroma - Smells sweet; oak, vanilla, maple and smoke.

Taste - Up front it's all smoke, almost overwhelmingly so. A lot of sweetness underneath -- vanilla and berries. As it warms the flavors balance out a little better and it's much more enjoyable. There is almost no alcohol in the flavor which is surprising since it's 11% and only 2 months from bottling.

Mouthfeel - Fuller body, well carbonated and slightly warming.

Overall - I am a bit torn on this one. I really enjoy a lot of the flavors here but the heavy smokiness is just a bit much for me. I do like a bit of peaty/smokey flavor but this was really extreme and I feel like it should have been more of a complimentary flavor than the standout. That being said it was still pretty cool and definitely unique. I certainly won't be buying this every time I see it, but I will go back to it again at some point and might age a few to see how it changes.
Overall 3/5 Style 2/5

Drink On,

Dan

The Next Big (Or Small) Thing

It looks as if the next big thing in craft beer is going to be small. Low ABV or "session" beers are looking to become the next major trend in the craft beer scene. For some time now I have been of the mindset that bigger is almost always better. Now I'm certainly not turning my back on big beers, but I have been becoming more and more seduced by the low ABV offerings with surprisingly high flavor that more and more breweries have been putting out.

Like everything else the definitions are a bit debatable, but generally big beers are over 8% and session beers are under 5%. One of the main reason I have leaned towards bigger beers is because of the immense flavor that they tend to have. In my experience, most beers that I've had that are under 6% don't pack that flavorful punch that their big brothers do but recently this theory has been turned on its ear.

Session beers are by no means a new style, but it seems that there is a new emphasis on these little guys that are so often overlooked. With the weather getting warmer for most of us, I give you the top 5 session beers I'm drinking right now that you should be too.

Brooklyn Dry Irish Stout - 3.9%
Dry Stout
Winter Seasonal

21st Amendment Bitter American - 4.4%
American Pale Ale
Year Round

Samuel Adams Double Agent IPL - 5%
Premium Lager
Year Round

Victory Swing Session Saison - 4.5%
Saison
Spring Seasonal

Founders All Day IPA - 4.7%
IPA
Year Round

If you see these beers, grab them. The flavor will make you do a double take at the tiny little number next to ABV and that tiny little number will make you feel better about putting down 3 or 4....or 7. Now if only I could find all of these in cans to sneak onto the golf course....

Drink On,

Dan

Beer Review: Drinking History

Jack McAuliffe is a name that most people don't recognize. He is the founder of New Albion Brewing, also not very well known, and one of the most important figures in the craft beer revolution. Unfortunately Jack's brewery lasted a very short time (1976-1982) but he is considered the first craft brewer and the man that paved the way for everyone else. His New Albion Ale is considered to be the first modern day American craft beer.

From what I can gather, it seems the story behind this is that in the early 90's Jim Koch -- Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams) -- purchased the New Albion trademark in an effort to keep it preserved. This next part might be a craft beer urban legend but it sounds great. With a commercial trademark, you have to use it commercially to maintain it -- essentially, if you don't use it, you lose it. So Jim Koch teamed with Jack McAuliffe to recreate the brew, using the original recipe, including the original New Albion yeast strain which has been preserved at UC-Davis. Showing even more proof that he's all about the beer, all profits from this beer are going to Jack McAuliffe. Without further ado, let's get into the beer.

Samuel Adams/New Albion Ale - 6% ABV
American Pale Ale
Special Release
12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass
Best before 07/13

Appearance - Bright yellow with a thick, fluffy white head. Good retention and nice lacing.

Aroma - Smells hoppy. Lemons, grass, grapefruit.

Taste - Malty, sweet, peppery, a touch of hops and a slightly bitter finish.

Mouthfeel - Medium body, slick and oily, average carbonation.

Overall - By today's standards this is a pretty basic, pretty standard American pale ale but I can see how this would have been an extreme beer in the mid to late 70's. While it is somewhat plain, it is very well done. If this was a new beer just coming on to the market today I wouldn't give it a second thought, that being said its pretty damn cool to drink a piece of craft beer history. Like so many others, when I thought of "the beginning" I primarily thought of Fritz Maytag. If nothing else, this beer has enlightened me, and for that, I thank you Jim Koch.
Overall 3/5 Style 3/5

Beer Review: Oak Horizontal

Victory Brewing Company has been growing so rapidly that they have had to put several of their seasonal releases on hiatus due to the size of their brewery and the demand for their flagship brews. They have opened a new brewery in Parkesburg, Pa to handle most of the regular stuff which has allowed them to bring back these old favorites and use the original brewery in Downingtown to experiment -- new beers and special releases.

The winter seasonal Old Horizontal, affectionately referred to as Old Ho, has made it's grand reappearance in the form of Oak Horizontal -- a bourbon barrel aged version of the fan favorite. This year Oak Horizontal is the only version we're getting, but look for the original Old Ho winter 2013.

Victory Oak Horizontal - 10.5% ABV
Barley Wine
Special Release
750 ml bottle poured into a tulip
Bottled 12/12

Appearance - Pours a deep, rich mahogany with a creamy off white head.

Aroma - Smell is raisins, bourbon, vanilla, oak, caramel.

Taste - Lots of bourbon, vanilla, oak, toffee. Sweet, boozy and delicious.

Mouthfeel - Thick, good carbonation, warming.

Overall - Wow this is a great beer, bourbon barrel aging at its finest. Victory took a fantastic beer and made it even better. I sincerely hope that they bring this back at some point, it's just so good.
Overall 5/5 Style 5/5

Drink On,

Dan

Beer Review: Double Barrel Ale

England's most popular beer style -- bitter -- seems to be anything but in the states. There are a few variants, bitter, premium bitter, special bitter and extra special bitter (esb). While not wildly popular this side of the pond, there are some really great examples from some American brewers, which is exactly what I was hoping to experience with Double Barrel Ale.

Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale - 5% ABV
Premium Bitter/ESB/British Pale Ale
12 oz bottle poured into a goblet
Bottled 11/27/2012

Appearance - Pours a clear amber with a fluffy, off white head that retains nicely.

Aroma - Smells sweet -- fruity malts, bananas, dough, caramel, a hint of oak.

Taste - Lighter than expected; sweet bread, light vanilla, slight hoppiness and a bitter finish.

Mouthfeel - Slightly fuller body, creamy, average carbonation.

Overall - Not having had a ton of different beers in this style it's a little hard to compare but this is a great beer. Very clean, very well done. I really expected this to be a bit heavier but it was extremely easy drinking and strangely refreshing. This is one I will definitely come back to.
Overall 4/5 Style 5/5

Drink On,

Dan

Beer Review: Finding Bigfoot

The biggest problem I have found with my love for all things beer is the incredibly vast selection from which to choose. Because of this, sometimes it takes a very long time to try even the most readily available beers. I can't tell you how many times I have passed by Sierra Nevada Bigfoot, always saying to myself, "I've got to try that." Recently it seems every website I look at, someone is talking about Bigfoot. I took this as a sign to finally bite the bullet and give it a go. All I can say is, it's about time.

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot - 9.6% ABV
Barley Wine
Winter Seasonal
12 oz bottle poured into a tulip
Bottled 12/01/2012

Appearance - Deep, rich, molasses color with a thick, frothy, cream colored head that retains well. Excellent lacing to the finish.

Aroma - Sweet, malty, some pungent hops and a bit of sweet oranges.

Taste - Rich and sweet up front. A good balance of malt and hops, good bitterness on the finish. Great hop flavors, piney, sugary oranges.

Mouthfeel - Thick and sticky, well carbonated.

Overall - Impressive. I've heard a lot of people describe it as more of an imperial ipa but I think it's a lot more complex than that. I'm a big fan of the barley wine style in general, but the hoppy ones are really great in my opinion. They normally show great balance and this is no exception. Excellent example of a hop forward barley wine.
Overall 4/5 Style 4/5

Drink On,

Dan

Issue #25: Yeah, Smitten Sounds About Right

Bell's Brewery is one of those brewers that seems to be can't miss. I always feel safe grabbing one of their brews and look forward to trying all of their new offerings. When I saw Smitten Golden Rye, and it's description as a light, refreshing, warm weather beer, I knew I had to give it a shot.

Bell's Smitten Golden Rye - 6% ABV
Specialty Grain/Rye Ale/American Pale Ale
Spring Seasonal
12 oz bottle poured into a pub glass
Bottled 01/24/13

Appearance - Hazy golden color with a thick, white, lasting head. Excellent lacing the whole way through

Aroma - Lemons, grass and a bit of orange.

Taste - Very light and refreshing. Bitter, lemon, grapefruit, some orange and slightly peppery from the rye.

Mouthfeel - Slightly fuller body, good carbonation and creamy.

Overall - Very easy drinking, light, refreshing, excellent flavor. Another perfect beer for spring and summer.
Overall 4/5 Style 4/5

Issue #24: My Beer Club Contribution

I was awarded the somewhat easy task of finding a quality craft beer that calls the west coast home. I say somewhat easy because while it isn't hard to find a good brew from the western US, it is hard to choose just one. After roaming the aisles for about 30 minutes, I settled on Bitter American from San Francisco's 21st Amendment Brewery.

21st Amendment Bitter American - 4.4% ABV
American Pale Ale
12 oz can poured into a pub glass
Can date unknown

Appearance - Slightly hazy, golden amber with a big, fluffy, slowly fading white head.

Aroma - Full of hop aroma. Lots of citrus -- oranges and grapefruit.

Taste - Much lighter than expected from the nose; very crisp and clean. Good bitterness throughout with underlying flavors of orange and grapefruit that linger through the finish.

Mouthfeel - Decent body and well carbonated. Kind of gives a zing from the hops the whole way through the finish, which is slightly dry.

Overall - This beer is really nice. Incredibly easy drinking yet full of flavor. At 4.4% this is a perfect summer beer and sessionable as hell.
Overall 4/5 Style 5/5

Drink On,

Dan

White Monkey

This past Saturday was the release of the newest of Victory's barrel aged beers, White Monkey. This time Victory chose their crowd pleasing Golden Monkey, an abbey tripel, then aged the brew in Chardonnay barrels for three months. I've never been a huge fan of the style, but special releases at Victory are always a good time.

We had a breakfast reservation at 9 am, and since no one in our group planned on taking home more than a bottle, we skipped the huge line for the retail store and went right to the brewpub. As I said earlier, Golden Monkey is a fan favorite and this was made very obvious by the hoard of people there to take it home by the caseload. The breakfast menu was the same as it was for the Thanksgiving release of Red Thunder, which was fine with me because the food was excellent. Once again I went with the cornflake crusted stuffed french toast (as did nearly everyone in our group). Everyone also got a sample (5 oz) pour of White Monkey and the Victory breakfast staple, a Prima Mosa. It may seem a strange combination, but Victory Prima Pils and orange juice is as good as it gets and the perfect accompaniment to any breakfast.

The Prima Mosa and the french toast were as expected, fantastic. White Monkey was also as expected. There was a lot of white wine flavor, as this beer style really lends itself to that flavor profile. It was less sweet than the original but still held true to its abbey tripel roots. The beer was done really well and fans of the style will most likely really enjoy it, that being said, it just wasn't for me. I also tried a new brewery exclusive imperial ipa, K-Bomb, and unfortunately this one didn't do it for me either. It certainly wasn't bad, but just wasn't really anything special.

I refused to leave empty handed however. Victory had yet another new beer, this one released one day earlier -- Swing Session Saison. They have also brought back St. Victorious Doppelbock, which hasn't been brewed for several years due to capacity constraints. These turned out to be the two best beers of the day by far (reviews coming soon!).

All in all it was a great day and I can't wait to see what they do next. A barrel aged V 12 would be excellent but I trust the brewmasters to give us something great no matter what they choose.

Drink On,

Dan

Miscellaneous Updates

So as I'm sure you've noticed, I took a good part of the week off last week. I was a little under the weather so I wasn't drinking and just wasn't really feeling up to posting, but I'm back. I'll have several reviews for you this week as well as a rundown of the release of White Monkey at Victory this past Saturday. At some point this week I will probably give you some more beers to look for as well.

Drink On,

Dan

Issue #23: Christmas Leftovers

I find it's normally nearly impossible to grab every seasonal release each year and this year Goose Island Christmas Ale was one of those misses. Luckily in my latest pick-a-six creation I was able to snag one of these and finally give it a shot.

Goose Island Christmas Ale - 7.5% ABV
Brown Ale
Winter Seasonal
12 oz bottle poured into a goblet
Bottled 10/04/12

Appearance - Mahogany with a thick, creamy, cork colored head.

Aroma - Smells sweet, dark ripe fruits, cherries.

Taste - Sweet up front with some bitterness and a strong tea-like flavor.

Mouthfeel - Full body and well carbonated with a slightly dry finish.

Overall - It's a little different than other Christmas ales but in a good way. It doesn't overwhelm you with spices; they are there but in a much more subtle way. It has a tea-like quality to it that reminded me of Anchor's Our Special Ale but much more understated. This is one I will definitely be drinking during the Christmas season this year.
Overall 3/5 Style 4/5

Drink On,

Dan

Issue #22: Mean Old Tom

Maine Beer Company doesn't have a roster the size of most craft breweries, but what they lack in quantity, they more than make up for in quality. You feel like you can taste the care that went into each beer; the recipes have been absolutely perfected. I don't always see them on the shelf and I normally don't find the same one very often, but every time I find one I make sure to grab it. When I saw a stout aged on vanilla beans I knew that this was no time to make an exception.

Maine Beer Company Mean Old Tom - 6.5% ABV
Stout
Special Release
500 ml bottle poured into a pub glass
Bottled 01/27/13

Appearance - Pours black with a thick, creamy tan head that retains nicely.

Aroma - Nice and strong, chocolate, coffee, vanilla, cola.

Taste - Very smooth, coffee, cola, vanilla. Vanilla flavor lasts through the finish and in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - Fuller body, very smooth and creamy, nice carbonation, very pleasant.

Overall - This is an excellent stout; the flavor of the vanilla beans is incredible. Most beers with vanilla flavor taste very artificial but this one is authentic and amazing. Another fine offering from Maine Beer Company.
Overall 5/5 Style 5/5

Drink On,

Dan

Miscellaneous Updates

As you may have noticed from the last beer review the rating system is changing slightly. Previously there was one rating, out of five, that was based on an overall impression and how the beer holds up based on its style. Going forward it will be split into two ratings, overall rating and style rating.

Saturday is the release of Victory White Monkey. We'll be there for breakfast, which should be excellent, and to try their newest barrel aged beer. I'll give you all the details and a review of the new brew and maybe even the food too. Hope to see you there.

Drink On,

Dan

Beer Club 03/13

Beer Club is a monthly event between myself and friends that is kind of like bottle share plus. It is a minimum of 4 people with basically an open max. Everyone buys a case of beer from a different region of the US. We each pour one of our own divided amongst everyone to sample and then split the cases between everyone. It's always a good time and an excellent way to try new beers. Sometimes you end up with a beer or two that you've already had but more often than not you get new beers from new breweries. If you're not currently in a beer club/bottle share club, start one or join ours! We got some great beers tonight and I'll be reviewing them throughout the week.

Drink On,

Dan

Issue #21: Johnny Cask

Dogfish Head has pretty much mastered the India Pale Ale. Their most popular are what I refer to as the minute series. It consists of their flagships, 60 Minute IPA and 90 Minute IPA and the more limited 120 Minute IPA. The names come from the manner in which they are made, continually hopped for 60, 90 and 120 minutes respectively. A recent addition to this family is 75 Minute IPA. This is new to most of us as it was first bottled last year but was available on tap at Dogfish Head brewpubs and select other locations previously. This latest offering is a blend of 60 and 90 Minute IPA's, then dry-hopped and conditioned with fresh yeast and maple syrup. Needless to say, I was very anxious to see what this one was all about.

Dogfish Head 75 Minute IPA - 7.5% ABV
IPA
Limited Release (Jan/Feb and Jul/Aug)
750 ml Dogfish Head bomber poured into a goblet
Bottled 2012H (Aug)

Appearance - Pours a hazy, honey-like color with a thick, frothy, nearly white head that lingers and slowly fades into a soapy puddle. Excellent lacing the whole way through.

Aroma - Very prominent through the pour. Floral and strong smell of sweet fruits. In the glass it's bursting with the scent of candied oranges, some booze and maybe a hint of oak in there too.

Taste - Not as sweet as I was expecting but very nice. More grapefruit than oranges but the two flavors mesh together very well here.

Mouthfeel - Nice carbonation and body, slightly sticky, very pleasant.

Overall - My expectations for this beer went back and forth. When I had it I was expecting good but not great. This one didn't meet my expectations, it completely obliterated them. Unfortunately I only bought one of these but would be more than happy to have a whole case. This beer was absolutely fantastic in every way. This is a must have and one that I cannot wait to have again.
Overall 5/5 Style 5/5

Drink On,

Dan

Issue #20: Another Pick-A-Six Gem

It's always such a pleasure to find a good beer via the pick-a-six method. It's relatively inexpensive and it's normally made up of beers that you wouldn't otherwise buy. When you get a beer that's not great, it's no big deal, but when you get a beer that you'd go back to, it's pretty awesome. One such beer is Brooklyn Dry Irish Stout. It always helps when you have no expectations, but this one delivered.

Brooklyn Dry Irish Stout - 3.9% ABV
Dry Stout
Winter Seasonal
12 oz bottle poured into a pub glass
Bottle date: Best Before 06/13

Appearance - Black with a medium, creamy, tan colored head that fades slowly.

Aroma - Smells sweet; cola, chocolate, coffee.

Taste - Flavor is very nice. Sweet, cola, chocolate, coffee, a little vanilla and a slightly bitter finish.

Mouthfeel - Good carbonation, a little thin but not bad, nice and creamy.

Overall - I was definitely expecting something super thin and bland but that is not even close to what I got. This beer has tremendous flavor, great presentation and a nice silky body. At less than 4% you can drink them all day too. Grab this one before its gone. 3.5/5

Drink On,

Dan

Issue #19 Life & Limb

Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada have once again joined forces to give us Rhizing Bines. Their last collaboration gave us the excellent strong ale, Life & Limb. Interestingly enough this one was branded as Life & Limb. What does this mean? Hopefully it means there is plenty more to come in the future.

Dogfish Head/Sierra Nevada Rhizing Bines - ABV 8%
Imperial IPA
750 ml Dogfish Head bomber poured into a tulip
Bottled 01/25/13

Appearance - Clear amber color with a big fluffy white head with great retention.

Aroma - Malty and sweet with a little bit of floral hops on the backend. Some bananas and apples also.

Taste - Sweet malts, yeast, wheat, fruity, faint hops. As it warms up you get more hop flavors but they still don't dominate. A bit of citrus, some oranges.

Mouthfeel - Good body, slightly oily, well carbonated.

Overall - Not at all what I was expecting in a double IPA from these two breweries. Very little hop flavor or aroma, it's almost as if they've tried to make it so balanced that they tipped the scales the other way. That being said, it's still a delicious brew, and at 8% it's so drinkable you'd swear it was a session beer.

Drink On,

Dan

Issue #18: Total Hop Bomb

This Green Flash brew is definitely on my short list of coolest names ever. Palate Wrecker will draw your attention with its excellent name and have you begging for more from the first sip. Green Flash's spring seasonal is only around a few months a year so grab it while you can.

Green Flash Palate Wrecker - 9.5% ABV
Imperial IPA
Spring Seasonal
12 oz bottle poured into a tulip
Bottled 01/29/13

Appearance - A rich amber color with a big, fluffy, nearly white head that slowly dissipates.

Aroma - All hops; very citrusy, lots of orange and grapefruit.

Taste - Follows the nose. Lots of citrus, juicy grapefruit, extremely bitter. Some nice orange flavors towards the end and a strong bitter finish that lingers.

Mouthfeel - Good carbonation, a bit sticky, medium body.

Overall - This is the kind of beer I dream of, absolutely delicious. Explosive flavor, highly drinkable, excellent aroma and beautiful presentation. Admittedly, you need to be a hop person to like this one, it's intense. The type of beer that's so hoppy you feel like it's pulling the enamel off of your teeth, but I like that. This is one of my favorites. 5/5

Drink On,

Dan

Beers To Look For

     Tonight I bring you a list of beers to add to your rotation. I've broken them down into a few different categories: Winter Seasonals, Spring Seasonals and everything else. Additional details and comments will be provided where necessary. Without further ado

Winter Seasonals:
Bell's Expedition Stout - Imperial Stout
Bell's Hopslam - Imperial IPA
Dogfish Head Hellhound On My Ale - Imperial IPA, brewed with lemons.
Dogfish Head Worldwide Stout - Imperial Stout, total beast, normally clocking in around 18% ABV.
Founders Imperial Stout
Founders Double Trouble - Imperial IPA
Oskar Blues Ten Fidy - Imperial Stout
Sierra Nevada Celebration - IPA
Troegs Nugget Nectar - Imperial Amber/IPA
Victory Hop Wallop - Imperial IPA

Spring Seasonals:
Bell's Smitten Golden Rye - Specialty Grain/American Pale Ale, this is a new seasonal and I cannot wait to give it a try.
Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA - Imperial IPA, another beast from DFH 18%+, released a few times a year, February is the first batch of 2013.
Dogfish Head 75 Minute IPA - IPA, a blend of 60 and 90 Minute IPA with maple syrup, bottled for the first time last year, another excellent offering added to the DFH arsenal.
Founders All Day IPA - IPA, this will be a new one for me (should I be able to find it) but looks like the perfect session IPA, can't wait to try it.
Green Flash Palate Wrecker - Imperial IPA, the name says it all, this is an absolute must have.
Lost Abbey 10 Commandments - Belgian Strong Ale
Southern Tier Eurotrash Pilz - Pilsener, just had it for the first time and I'm hooked.
Stone Imperial Russian Stout (IRS) - Imperial Stout

Special Releases, Coming Soon and Everything Else:
Bell's Black Note Stout - Imperial Stout, blend of Expedition Stout and Double Cream Stout then aged in bourbon barrels. This is an absolute whale and one I continue to chase, unfortunately I've never even seen it in person. Not sure if this will be the year but I will have this beer.
Brooklyn Black Ops - Imperial Stout, not sure if there is an actual release schedule for this beer, it seems like they try to keep it under wraps for the most part feeding into the whole black ops theme. It's really good and truly unique, grab it if you see it.
Firestone Walker XVI - American Strong Ale, this one nearly left me speechless. Incredibly limited and produced only once. Eight barrel aged beers are blended together to create something that words cannot do justice. I think this is probably the best beer I have ever had. If you come across this one buy every single bottle you can.
Founders Doom - Imperial IPA, this is Double Trouble aged in bourbon barrels. Really interested to see if an IPA works this way.
Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS) - Imperial Stout, another white whale that I continue to chase.
Maine Beer Mean Old Tom - Stout, aged on vanilla beans. This one made the list because it is the most recent offering I've had from Maine Beer Company. If you see any of their beers, snatch them up. This one was as expected, perfect.
Samuel Adams Double Agent IPL - Premium Lager, here's something I've been waiting for, an India Pale Lager. Was very excited to stumble across this guy, a cool idea that turned out very nice.
Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head Rhizing Bines - Imperial IPA, two great brewers and another fine collaborative brew.
Victory Red Thunder, Oak Horizontal and White Monkey - three new barrel aged beers by Victory, Baltic porter, barely wine and Belgian trippel respectively. The first two are currently available with White Monkey being released March 2, 2013.
Yards Trubbel De Yards - Belgian Strong Ale, I've been seeing this one popping up all over the place, its a seasonal release that is only released every other year. Hoping to get my hands on it before it's gone.

     Some of these beers are hard to find, some are readily available, but they are all worth picking up. These are all beers that are currently living in my mind, there are many more that could definitely make this list and for that reason I will be posting some sort of watch list every 2-4 weeks. Happy hunting!

Drink On,

Dan

Issue #17: Revolutionary Ale Series

For years now I've been meaning to try Yards Brewing's Ales of the Revolution. The Philadelphia brewer has recreated four different brews from the historical recipes of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin. Unfortunately I was only able to grab the Thomas Jefferson, but at least it's a start.

Yards - Thomas Jefferson Tavern Ale - 8% ABV
American Strong Ale/English Strong Ale
12 oz bottle poured into a pub glass
Bottled 12/17/12

Appearance - Slightly hazy amber, with a medium, fluffy, lasting white head.

Aroma - Smells malty and bready, slightly sweet.

Taste - Taste follows the nose; bready, very sweet, almost a honey flavor, a lot of flavor from the yeast, slightly bitter finish.

Mouthfeel - Good body, mild carbonation.

Overall - I'm certainly glad I tried it, the whole idea is really cool in my opinion. That being said, it really wasn't anything special but it wasn't bad. 3/5

Tomorrow I'm going to bring you something new, beers to seek out. I'll give you current seasonals, seasonals that are nearing the end of their run, new beers and beers that are coming soon. Until then

Drink On,

Dan

Issue #16: Eurotrash

Pilseners are often overlooked, probably because the most well known pilseners come from the big boys. Bud, Miller, Coors, Heineken, Stella Artois, etc, etc, etc. The market has been flooded with pilseners, unfortunately, most of these beers are watered down and bland leaving the style with a bad reputation. As it turns out, high quality pilseners are actually very flavorful and may cause you to reevaluate how you feel about the style entirely.

Southern Tier - Eurotrash Pilz - 5.2% ABV
Pilsener
Spring Seasonal
12 oz bottle poured into a pub glass
Bottled 01/04/2013

Appearance - Pours a bright golden color, crystal clear, with a medium fluffy white head.

Aroma - Slight hoppiness, grassy and sweet malts.

Taste - Taste follows the nose, sweet and malty with a very subtle hop flavor. Smooth, crisp and clean. Very nice.

Mouthfeel - Pretty standard, average carbonation, slightly fuller body.

Overall - This is a prime example of a true quality pilsener. It's light and refreshing but full of flavor. Extremely drinkable and a perfect beer for the start of spring. 4/5

Drink On,

Dan

Postponed!

Unfortunately, due to illness our trip to Troëgs scheduled for today will be postponed, date to be determined. My next planned event will be breakfast at Victory 3/2/13 for the unveiling of White Monkey. White Monkey is what you get when Golden Monkey takes a nap for a few months in white wine barrels. Should be excellent

Drink On,

Dan

Issue #15: Not So Big Moose

In my latest pick-a-six from my local Wegman's, I thought I would be a bit more random about it. Just grab six beers that I've never, not worried about style or brewer or really anything, only requirement was that it was new to me. One of these beers was Saranac Big Moose Ale. From the label I was expecting maybe a brown ale or some type of winter warmer, but it actually turned out to be an American Pale Ale. I find this style to be a little hit or miss; sometimes they are full flavored and bordering on being an IPA but sometimes they fall short and are a bit too bland. After some careful research, my findings are as follows:

Saranac - Big Moose Ale - 5.3% ABV
American Pale Ale
Winter Seasonal
12 oz bottle poured into a pub glass
Bottled 2012

Appearance - Pours a light amber with a tiny, quickly vanishing white head.

Aroma - Actually very nice, lots of hops and slightly spicy.

Taste - Light and refreshing; mildly hoppy and grassy, some sweetness towards the back end with a slightly bitter finish.

Mouthfeel - Medium body, average carbonation, slick and oily.

Overall - Not bad, but nothing too special and not quite what I look for in a winter seasonal. Not enough flavor and just a bit too light all around, I think it would actually fare better as a spring seasonal. 3/5

Drink On,

Dan

Issue #14: Playing Both Sides

As an IPA lover I've often wondered why I never see any India Pale Lagers. Why don't I see hopped up lager versions of the popular ale style? I'm sure there have been attempts, but nothing I've ever come across. Until today. Samuel Adams has granted my wish and delivered me Double Agent IPL.

Samuel Adams - Double Agent IPL - 5% ABV
Premium Lager
12 oz bottle poured into a Samuel Adams Boston Lager glass
Bottled 2013

Appearance - Pours very clear, slightly darker than a golden lager with a big, fluffy white head that lingers forever.

Aroma - Lots of hops, similar to a west coast IPA; fruity, citrusy, grassy and piney.

Taste - Very interesting. At first it's just like a crisp hoppy lager but finishes a bit hoppier and more like an IPA.

Mouthfeel - Average carbonation, medium body, pretty standard.

Overall - Very nice. Great hop character, light and refreshing, really tasty. This is a great session beer and will be a perfect thirst quencher in warm weather. 4/5

Drink On,

Dan

Issue #13: And Now For Something A Bit Different

Traditionally, when pairing beer and food, one of the most common combinations have been oysters and stouts. For this reason many brewers have called their stout beers oyster stouts, and some have even gone as far as to incorporate the shellfish in the actual brew. The San Francisco brewery 21st Amendment joined forces with nearby Hog Island Oyster Company to create their take on this style.

21st Amendment - Marooned On Hog Island - 7.9% ABV
Foreign Stout/English Stout
Special Release
12 oz can poured into a pint glass
Canned 2012

Appearance - Black with a creamy, lasting, off-white head.

Aroma - Smells sweet; cola and coffee.

Taste - Up front the flavor is salty and briny. Coffee and a hint of cola with a nice bitter finish.

Mouthfeel - Average carbonation, smooth and oily but finishes a bit dry.

Overall - This is a really cool beer and something that I haven't experienced yet. The brininess is delicious, they used 450 pounds of oyster shells in the brew and the flavors come through very nicely and match up so well with the more common flavors of the rest of this stout. I really like this beer and would be more than happy to enjoy a few more. 4/5

Drink On,

Dan

Issue #12: Doubly Delicious

Bock beers are big, rich lagers and doublebocks or doppelbocks are just about as big and rich as they get. Bavarian monastic brewers chose doppelbocks to supplement their nutritional needs during periods of fasting. Think of bock beers as the German cousin to the Belgian abbey ale. Historically bocks have generally been reserved for religious festivals and special occasions such as Christmas, Easter and Lent, so how fitting that on this first day of Lent I'm drinking a Troegenator.

Troëgs - Troegenator - 8.2% ABV
Doppelbock
Winter Seasonal
12 oz bottle poured into a goblet
Bottled 2013

Appearance - Pours a deep, dark, brownish ruby red with a creamy yellowish off-white head.

Aroma - All malt, ripe dark fruits, cherries.

Taste - Sweet, malty, figs, cherries, slight breadiness, some peat smoke, dry oak finish.

Mouthfeel - Thick, well carbonated, dry finish.

Overall - Awesome brew. Rich and complex, like a smokey Belgian dubbel. For some reason this style reminds me of the end of winter and the start of spring; one last big, substantial offering before the warm weather. I will definitely come back to this beer every year. 4/5

Drink On,

Dan

Coming Soon!

In an effort to expand our knowledge, and palates, my friends and I will be journeying to different breweries and beer events throughout the year. This Saturday (2/16/13) my brother in-law and I will be visiting Troëgs. We will be sure to enjoy whatever brewery only selections they have on hand as well as our favorite regulars while trying to get the scoop on what to expect from the brewer in the coming year.

There is also a barrel-aged stout event at The Drafting Room in Exton, Pa. We are going to stop on our way to get our first taste of some hard to find whales. They will be tapping a lot of great beers, but what we're after is the legendary Goose Island Bourbon County Stout, which many consider the king of all barrel aged beers, and Firestone Walker Parabola. We expect it to be a crowded house so we plan on getting in early, grabbing one of these beasts and then moving on to Troëgs.

I will of course be reviewing the beers we drink and letting you know what's good and what's better. Other stops we are trying to line up for this year include Dogfish Head, Weyerbacher and the Midwest Goliath, Three Floyds. I look forward to the journey and to sharing it with all of you.

Drink On,

Dan

Issue #11: Gonzo

Flying Dog Brewery draws a lot of inspiration from the late Hunter S. Thompson. From their slogan (a Thompson quote, "Good people like good beer.") to the artwork on their bottles; so what better name for one of their beers than Gonzo, after the king of gonzo journalism. I'm drinking the barrel aged version that takes a three month nap in Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey barrels.

Flying Dog Brewery - Wild Dog Barrel-Aged Gonzo - 9.5% ABV
Imperial/Strong Porter
12 oz bottle poured into a pub glass
Bottled 2012

Appearance - Pours black with a fizzy tan head with decent retention.

Aroma - Whiskey, cola and chocolate. Lots of cola. Reminds me of a whiskey and Coke or even that old Coke energy drink, Coke BlāK.

Taste - As expected from the nose, lots of cola and whiskey with some chocolate and coffee, roasty and sweet.

Mouthfeel - Thinner than expected but smooth and silky, good carbonation.

Overall - Wonderful beer. I normally prefer bourbon barrel over whiskey barrel, as strange as that may sound since the two spirits are so similar, but I think bourbon has a richer, sweeter flavor. I think it tends to lend itself better to enrich the flavor of beer but this one knocked it out of the park. A definite must -- 5/5

Drink On,

Dan

Issue #10: A Trip To The Third Coast

Bell's Brewery is an absolute powerhouse. Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, they have hit the mark time and time again. I don't think I have ever come away from one of their brews and not been satisfied. When my brother in-law and I stumbled across a case of their barley wine, Third Coast Old Ale, we knew we had to give it a go. We split the case and after blowing through my first six pack I decided to sit the rest in the cellar to see how they would develop over time. At almost 15 months from bottling I knew it was either now or never for this one and hoped I hadn't waited too long.

Bell's - Third Coast Old Ale - 10.2% ABV
Barley Wine
Winter Seasonal
12 oz bottle poured into goblet
Bottled 11/28/2011

Appearance - Pours a dark almost molasses like color with a creamy off white head with nice retention.

Aroma - Sweet and fruity but unique. Almost between sweet and dried fruit, somewhere in between grapes and raisins. Some vanilla and maybe a hint of peach.

Taste - Flavor is all malt. Fruity, sweet, almost bourbonesque.

Mouthfeel - Slightly thick, mild carbonation, incredibly smooth.

Overall - This is a great beer and was when I had it fresh. I loved it this time around too but I don't know that it got any better, it certainly didn't get worse however. The aroma and flavor were still excellent and very prominent. I could have definitely downed all of these when we bought them, but I'm glad I was able to save some and enjoy them now. 4/5

Drink On,

Dan

Issue #9: Slip On Some Clown Shoes

Clown Shoes has only been making beer for about three years now, but in that short time they have really churned out some phenomenal offerings. Hoppy Feet 1.5 was a special release for their first anniversary and my first experience with the Ipswich, Massachusetts brewer. It's an amped up version of their black IPA, Hoppy Feet, and it was enough to get me coming back for more.

Clown Shoes Hoppy Feet 1.5 - 10.00% ABV
Double Black IPA/American Black Ale
22oz Bomber
Bottled 2012

Appearance - Pours black with a thick, creamy beige head that fades to a soapy layer of froth.

Aroma - Smell is sweet. Chocolate and raisins but lots of hops too, grassy and citrusy, some grapefruit.

Taste - Sweet and hoppy, great balance but LOTS of both. Roasty, chocolatey, resinous, a bit of citrus and a touch of alcohol. Tastes like a Black and Tan using an imperial stout and an imperial IPA.

Mouthfeel - Good carbonation and fairly thick, sticky and a bit abrasive from the hops.

Overall - Wow, this is a fantastic beer and sets the bar for the style. This is my all time favorite black IPA. Such a perfect balance and done in a way that others have been unable to replicate. The amount of flavor is almost overwhelming. A truly remarkable brew. 5/5

Issue #8: My Friend Burton Baton

As I've said before, I have a serious bias for Dogfish Head, but that's only because they make excellent beers. One such beer is 90 Minute IPA, which is basically where Burton Baton starts. It's described as an ale flavored with oak staves, which are basically oak sticks, that are added to the brew as it ferments to add oak character.

Dogfish Head - Burton Baton
Imperial/Double IPA
12 oz bottle
Bottled 2012

Appearance - Pours a rusty orange with a fluffy white head that slowly fades into a thin layer of soapy bubbles.

Aroma - Very prominent right out of the bottle. Very hoppy and citrusy but offset by the sweetness of the malt and oak with a bit of alcohol too. Creates kind of a candied oranges effect.

Taste - Very balanced. Lots of hops but evened out by the malt. A bit boozy too but delightfully so. Some nice lingering oak flavors on the finish.

Mouthfeel - Nice carbonation and body and some dryness on the back end, I'd imagine from the oak.

Overall - This is a great beer and a perfect example of a well balanced IPA. If given the choice, I'd probably choose 90 minute, but this is almost equally delicious and I will definitely buy time and time again. 4/5

Drink On,

Dan

Issue #7: Dogfight

Tonight we have a collaboration between Brewdog (Scotland) and Flying Dog (Maryland) entitled, International Arms Race: Zero IBU IPA. It's actually not an IPA at all in fact, it's classified as a Scottish Gruit. This is an ancient beer style that's brewed with herbs and spices and probably representative of what beers throughout Europe would have tasted like during the Middle Ages. This was my first go at a gruit and that combined with the name left me very unsure of what to expect.

Flying Dog/Brewdog - International Arms Race: Zero IBU IPA
Scottish Gruit/Ancient Herbed Ale
12oz bottle
Bottled 2012

Appearance - Pours a murky orangish color. Thick and cloudy and full of sediment, actually resembles iced tea. Has a thin white head that disappears almost instantly.

Aroma - Smells spicy with a hint of mint, herbal and almost like patchouli.

Taste - Some initial bitterness that quickly fades into spices and herbs, maybe rosemary. Unlike any beer I've ever tasted, kind of strange actually. Almost tastes more like an unsweetened herbal tea.

Mouthfeel - Thin and slightly less than average carbonation and a dryness comparable to tea.

Overal - Kind of cool and nice to try something really different but not something I'd buy again given the chance - 2.5/5

Drink On,

Dan

Issue #6: Beer Wars

I watched a very interesting documentary today entitled, "Beer Wars." It was about the beer industry and the challenges faced by microbreweries in a market dominated by 3 brands, Bud, Miller and Coors. It really felt like the woman that did the documentary, Anat Baron, had an axe to grind but nonetheless it was entertaining and pretty informative.

A lot of it was focused on bashing the big boys and making them out to be bullies. Miller and Coors were pretty much exactly how I pictured them. A strong focus on profit and gaining market share; but they actually seem to really enjoy the beer industry and looked like pretty cool companies to work for. Anheuser-Busch was a completely different animal.

They had one focus, and that was becoming a flat out monopoly and garnering a 100% market share. Their plan to do this was simple, anyone who had achieved any level of success and built a recognizable brand, acquire them. Those that hadn't gotten that far, put them out of business. They even showed an internal sales video that looked more like a nazi propaganda film. A smooth talking sales rep is trying to get more shelf space with a customer. When he's informed that there just isn't anymore room, he cuts a hole in the floor and pushes a competitors product into it and says, "how about this big empty space here?" Funny? Yes, but wow. You also see how they've been able to control distribution through a "three tier" program that was put in place after prohibition but manipulated by big beer through their political connections.

The point when my feelings truly changed about Anheuser-Busch were when Sam Calagione, founder of Dogfish Head, shows a letter notifying him that AB is suing him to stop using the names, "Chicory Stout" and "Punkin Ale", beers he's been brewing for over a decade. Their claim is that the names are too generic and confusing to customers. Surprisingly they don't mention that AB is one of three companies to call their beer Budweiser, and they're not even the original.

There was a decent portion centered on Sam Calagione and Dogfish Head brewery and the strides he's taken and the risks he continues to take to do so. Being a huge fan of Dogfish Head and Sam Calagione it was really nice to see him get some exposure and credit as one of the faces of the craft movement.

In the end I don't think things are as dire as the filmmaker would lead you to believe. More and more people everyday are choosing flavor over advertising and retailers are noticing. Most distributors I go to are nearing a 50/50 split between craft and mass produced beer. Wegman's, the only grocery store in PA that carries beer (way too long of a story to get into right now) is about 80% craft, 12% import and 8% macro. The tide is definitely turning.

I liken it to McDonald's vs a locally owned restaurant. McDonald's is always going to make a lot more money but that doesn't mean they can't both be successful or that people can't eat at both. People should drink what they like and if what they like is Bud Light, good for them, that leaves more of the good stuff for me.


Drink On,

Dan

Issue #5 Part 2: Winners and Losers

There were plenty of winners and very few losers when it comes to the 2013 RateBeer Best but here's the handful that really stuck out for me.

The Winners:

Hill Farmstead - Greensboro, VT: These guys took care of business this year. #1 overall brewery in the world, 4 beers in the top 50 overall, 14 of the top 50 newly released beers including a whopping 8 of the top 10 (WOW!), and they had 31 different beers medal in 8 different style categories. No one else was anywhere close to these guys this year, bravo.

Tired Hands - Ardmore, PA: The #2 new brewery, selected from more than 1900 new breweries. They had 2 beers medal and 3 in the top 50 newly released. They were also ranked the #51 brewery overall. To put this into a little better perspective, the top 100 represents less than 1% of all active breweries, which means in their first year of operation Tired Hands is considered to be in the top 0.5%. Not too shabby.

Craft Beer Drinkers - Planet Earth: The craft beer revolution continues to explode; even the newest breweries are making exceptional, world class beer. Seasoned breweries are keeping the pace and continuing to push the limits of what beer can be; delivering us a steady stream of unique, hand crafted offerings to satisfy our cravings and keep us coming back for more. Thank you.

The Losers:

Troëgs - Hershey, PA: No medal winners, not even Nugget Nectar. My all time favorite was a top 5 IPA last year and this year didn't even crack the top 15. They were also ranked #50 overall last year and this year fell completely out of the top 100. A pretty poor showing for a brewery that has an excellent year round lineup, some nice seasonals and a brewery exclusive series that churns out a ton of new beers every year that could easily make their way into regular rotation. Then again, I have a hardcore bias for these guys. Better luck next year boys.

Pennsylvania: A bit depressing really. Being my home state I carry an unavoidable prejudice, that being said, I still know what great beer taste like and there is a plethora of it here. We still landed 3 breweries in the top 100, Tired Hands had a fabulous rookie season and Victory had several medal winners but PA is top 5 in these here United States. You can argue we could be as high as 2 (unfortunately California is an absolute power house). Sorry if I sound whiney but I just wasn't feeling the love this year.

In the end there are no real losers but you always want to see your favorites do well. Now it's time to spend another year seeking out as many of these whales as possible!

Drink On,

Dan

Issue #5: Best Of The Best

Ratebeer.com has released it's annual list of the best of the best in the world of craft beer, aptly titled, RateBeer Best. It's a year long competition to be named one of the world's top 50 beers, top 100 brewers, top beer by style category (IPA, stout, etc) and top 5 new brewers. This year the awards expanded a bit to include categories for best beer retailers and the top 50 new releases from last year. The website goes into far more detail about how the awards are decided, but when you're talking about 180,000 different beers from 13,000 breweries, it's safe to say you're making some quality brews if you land on any of these lists.

There was no change in the top spot for #1 overall beer, that honor once again went to Westvleteren XII, which seems to be a given at this point. Russian River's Pliny the Elder however made a big jump to the 2 spot from #16 last year, past his highly touted brother Pliny the Younger. The biggest surprise was Hill Farmstead who seemed to win just about everything this year. You couldn't make it very far on any of these lists without running into them.

If you like craft beer you're definitely going to want to spend some time checking out the complete awards on Ratebeer.com to see where all your favorites landed. Later, I'll bring you my winners and losers from the 2013 RateBeer Best.

Drink On,
Dan

Issue #4: A Little Celebration

Seasonal beers are some of the best out there. Those absolute gems that we wait an entire year to be released and then ration to try and make it last as long as possible. Unfortunately, IPA's have a shorter shelf life and must be consumed not long after bottling to ensure optimal flavor. Refrigeration will prolong their life and it's been my experience that depending on the brew, you're probably going to be ok for about 3-6 months. But enough of the technical stuff and on to the beer!

Tonight we're drinking Sierra Nevada Celebration, the brewery's annual Christmas seasonal. Celebration is an IPA that is released in November and December and has become a yearly (and much appreciated!) Christmas gift for this beer drinker. I've been trying to make it last but am down to my final six pack.

Appearance: Pours a deep, dark, hazy amber with a fluffy white head. The head retention is incredible, very frothy and lasts to the final sip. Excellent lacing the whole way through as well.

Aroma: Aroma is all hops. Lots of pine and citrus, primarily grapefruit and oranges.

Taste: Exactly what you'd expect from the nose. Bursting with hop flavor. Pine, grapefruit, peppery spiciness and lots of hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Medium body and decent carbonation but it's almost lost because of the wonderfully intense flavor.

Overall: This continues to be one of my favorite beers each and every year. This is one of those beers that always reminds me of why I started drinking craft beer. A fantastic example of the style and will satisfy any hophead out there. This brew will be in my home every Christmas 5/5

Drink On,

Dan

A Beer Drinker's Life: Issue 3

Tonight we're drinking Brooklyn Black Ops. Credit to Tom for snagging this bottle for me, thanks man. Black Ops is an Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels and is considered a special release. That basically means its produced in limited quantities, is not all year round and has no particular season. Pours black with a creamy tan head. Aroma is strong right out of the bottle, bourbon, lots of cola and in a surprise twist, bananas. Flavor is almost completely unexpected. Bourbon, faint cola, ripe dark fruits and a hint of some champagne flavors coming through. At first I was unsure if I was really tasting this or if the fact that they used champagne yeast had just burned the thought in my head, but the more I drink the more obvious it is. The champagne qualities come through most in the mouthfeel. Dry and effervescent but with a fair thickness to it. It's strange, this tastes more like a Belgian quad than a stout, I imagine due to the yeast. It has a spice and fruitiness more common to this style. This beer definitely feeds into my barrel aged beer obsession, as well as my craving for unique offerings. This truly original brew comes in at a solid 4/5 and a strong recommendation for anyone who likes barrel aged beers, stouts, Belgians and originality in brewing. Until next time...

Drink On,

Dan

A Beer Drinker's Life: Super Bowl Edition Part 2

     The second half begins with Firestone Walker XVI (Sixteenth Anniversary). From the moment I saw this beer I was basically obsessed. I worried that I wouldn't be able to get it as it is a limited release from a west coast brewery and I live on the other side of the country. Imagine my delight when I stumbled across this whale. A blend of 8 different barrel aged beers. Stouts, barleywines, strong ales, a black IPA and a brown ale aged in brandy, bourbon, oak and tequila barrels and blended to perfection. Pours extremely dark brown but not quite black with a beige head that slowly disappears. Smells like chocolate, bourbon, butterscotch and slight alcohol. Tastes like bourbon candy. Bourbon, chocolate and butterscotch exploding onto the palate. So much flavor it's almost overwhelming. There aren't enough adjectives to describe how wonderful this beer tastes. Nice carbonation and thickness. Flash forward to the second glass; as this beer warms up the butterscotch in the nose and taste becomes far more prominent. I feel like I'm having dessert, especially because you can really feel how chewy this beer is now. It has been aged perfectly. At 13%, it's still relatively young at almost 4 months from bottling but it as smooth as anything I've ever had. The alcohol is non existent. Good thing I don't have more because this beer is dangerously drinkable, although as good as it is, I'd be willing to risk it.

     How it ended: Baltimore ran back the opening kickoff and NFL record 109 yards to go up 28-6. San Francisco scored 17 unanswered to bring it to 28-23. Super intense to the end, Baltimore wins 34-31. Congrats Baltimore, drink some Flying Dog and Stillwater Artisinal tonight to celebrate!

    I'll be with you all week reviewing beers, discussing styles and I'll go through the 2013 RateBeer awards. They expanded a lot this year and sparked some controversy, at least with me.

Drink On,

Dan

A Beer Drinker's Life: Super Bowl Edition

     A late start to my first beer, running around getting dinner ready, but still got it cracked open by the coin toss. Nugget Nectar, my absolute favorite, and it's delicious as always. Described by Troegs as an Imperial Amber but generally classified as an IPA. It pours a beautiful, clear burnt orange with a nice white head that casually fades to almost nothing. Aroma is tons of pine and sweet oranges. Taste is perfect. Piney, resiny, bursting with oranges, lots of bitterness from the hops but perfectly balanced by a sweet malt backbone. Truly world class; this is a beer that will satisfy many types of beer drinkers. Looking forward to drinking several more of these throughout the game!

     Quick first half breakdown: looking forward to seeing Kaepernick do something special but he gets limited opportunity through the first quarter. Meanwhile Flacco is pretty elusive and makes some good throws including the game's first touchdown. Baltimore leads 7-3 through the first quarter. Second quarter is dominated by Baltimore. San Francisco turns the ball over twice and goes into halftime down 21-6.

   I'll see you after the game with what hopes to be a more competitive showing from the Niners and another outstanding beer.

Drink On,

Dan