Beer and Life, Life and Beer

Midnight ELF Black Ale (AKA Black IPA, Cascadian Dark Ale)

2012-01-18T22:15:00.004-05:00

Inspired by the Summit Black Ale I enjoyed over the holidays, I put together my own black ale recipe with Summit's key ingredient, Briess Midnight Wheat, and a couple of my favorite American hop varieties. Tonight I transferred to secondary and got my first taste.

As intended, the Midnight Wheat bring the color and flavor of roasted barley, but without the bitter edge. I thought initially my 6 ounces of high-alpha hops would be enough, but if I get a chance I may swing by Keystone Homebrew for a couple more ounces to dry hop.

I should also mention the 95 IBU number seems ridiculous. The beer tasted and felt more like a ~65 IBU ale.

Size: 5.5 gallons
Color: ~29 SRM
Bitterness: 95 IBU
OG: 1.056
FG: 1.010

Alcohol: 5.9% v/v (4.7% w/w)

Grains:
6 lb. Light dry malt extract
1 lb. American crystal 40L
4 oz. American chocolate
8 oz. Roasted barley

Hops:
1 oz. Simcoe (12.2% AA, 60 min.)
1 oz. Chinook (11.8% AA, 30 min.)
1 oz. Simcoe (12.2% AA, 15 min.)
1 oz. Chinook (11.8% AA, 5 min.)
1 oz. Chinook (flame out)
1 oz. Simcoe (flame out)

Yeast: Wyeast 1056 American Ale

Worst Beers of 2011

2012-01-16T21:01:00.004-05:00

Brewers make better beer when customers demand it. So in the interest of constructive criticism, I present the five worst beers I had the pleasure of reviewing last year. You can see my top beers of 2011 here, but here are the most offensive brews I encountered in '11.

Palma Louca Pale Pilsner
Cervejaria Kaiser
German Pilsener | 4.50% ABV

1.95/5
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I hope nobody is seriously calling this mess a German pilsner. I don't usually walk away from a beer, but I left nearly half of this at the bar. This tasted like well water with lemon cookie ground up and mixed in. Yes, the body was watery. No, it wasn't refreshing or pleasant. Steer clear.

Lvivske 1715
Lvivska Pivovarnya (BBH)
Euro Pale Lager | 4.00% ABV

2.17/5
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

I dont think is headed anywhere but the drain. It smells like a very light lager with a soft pale malt aroma, but the flavor is dominated by a sweet white grape juice taste. What the hell happened here? The Ukraine can have this one back.

I mean, if you're really into grape juice, this is your beer. If you're looking for a decent lawnmower lager, run.

Riserva
Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
American Wild Ale | 11.40% ABV

2.28/5
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

2010 Batch. I went to Abe's Cold Beer looking for a sour and this seemed like a good option. However upon opening, it was clear this beer wasn't going to stand up to previous reviews. There was a strongly acidic earthy garden tang. Not quite of rotting produce or horseblanket, but very unpleasant. The raspberry element was quite good and nicely balanced against the level of the funk. The sour character needs work, or at least a lot more time. I didn't bother to finish the bottle. It's not the pleasant, zesty flavors and aromas you'd expect in a framboise or lambic sour ale.

Alexander Keith's Nova Scotia Style Pale Ale
Alexander Keith's
American Pale Ale (APA) | 5.40% ABV

2.5/5
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

I have to assume this beer is no way shape or form represents the pale ales of Nova Scotia. Otherwise, it implies the island has never heard of hops. For a cheap amber ale, the beer isn't bad - with only a hint of macro character. There's a basic caramel malt and bread crust taste and maybe, just maybe the slightest touch of earthy hops.

Terrapin So Fresh & So Green Green
Terrapin Beer Company
American IPA | 6.60% ABV

2.63/5
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Had a pint at Liberty St. Tavern and didn't bother finishing the glass. It wasn't very hoppy and there was a strong, vaguely cheesy off flavor. Has this been sitting out too long, maybe with an infection run a muck? There was a little smooth ester character and a touch of grapefruit, but not much. Watch out for this landmine.

Best Beer in Burlington VT

2012-01-16T20:44:00.005-05:00

I joined friends in Burlington over the MLK weekend for a few days of skiing, ice cream, cheese, and craft beer. The full day at Stowe was a treat, but the real highlight was easy access to Heady Topper, Hill Farmstead, and Lawson's Finest Liquids. I also swung by the Vermont Pub & Brewery and the Zero Gravity Brewery, which are both must-drink brewpubs. I had few complaints about the Vermont craft beer scene, so I'll just share my favorites:

Twilight Of The Idols
Hill Farmstead Brewery
American Porter | 7.50% ABV

4.33/5
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had a glass at the Farmhouse in Burlington VT. Damn, that's a porter. The coffee and vanilla are wonderfully blended into the beer. So many coffee porters and stouts go too heavy on the java, and even get a stale taste. This beer takes a great cup of joe, adds a dash of subtle vanilla, and still brings a great porter. The malt brough a dark, chocolate character with a sharp roasted edge that's balanced by the sweet vanilla. The beer is formidable, but never too heavy. Find this porter.

Everett Robust Porter
Hill Farmstead Brewery
American Porter | 7.50% ABV

4.33/5
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Reservoir in Waterbury, VT. This is a hell of a porter. The body is thick, like a robust porter should be, but is a pleasure to sip (though you don't have to). In addition to a big mix of cocoa and mocha grains, there are clear notes of maple syrup, molasses, and smoke. Damn, this is good. It goes above and beyond what a good porter tastes like.

Double Sunshine IPA
Lawson's Finest Liquids
American Double / Imperial IPA | 8.00% ABV

4.28/5
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Reservoir in Waterbury, VT. Stopped by with friends for dinner on the way back from Stowe, and damn this hit the spot. The body is on the lighter side for the style, which I prefer, and the hop character is heavy on floral citrus, with an earthy undertone. The hops vary between fruity and juicy to a more herbal lemon, with a hit of spice. Damn tasty overall. Very hoppy, but I could enjoy a few glasses. You should.

Trapp Golden Helles Lager
The Brewery at Trapp Family Lodge
Munich Helles Lager | 4.80% ABV

4.2/5
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had a pint at the Farm House in Burlington VT. Damn, it's hard to ask for much more from a helles. There's a crisp dry Brady malt character in the aroma with a little balance of spicy hops. There's mild lager fruit over the malt, but it's not sweet. Otherwise it's clean and super drinkable. Find this beer.

Heady Topper
The Alchemist
American Double / Imperial IPA | 8.00% ABV

4.47/5
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Picked up a couple six-pack at the cannery. I'm told they were packaged just a week ago.

I wasn't sure what to make of this beer at first, which says a lot because DIPAs aren't usually a surprising style with a lot of leeway. It's most easily described as "hop juice," not an IPA. The balance of hops is unique in that the flavor is huge, but it's never over the top, where overly-hoppy beers become perfumey messes (I'm thinking of Weyerbacher's Hop Explosion).

The aroma has a clean and clear floral grapefruit character with an earthy, citrus seed edge—think about when you're eating an orange and you get a seed on your tongue. The flavor is intense but manageable. In addition to the vivid grapefruit and orange peel citrus, there's a vague grassiness, tropical notes, and an odd (and thoroughly unexpected) touch of barbeque sauce that fades as the beer warms.

I approached this beer as a skeptic, but it's easily one of the most complex beers I've tried, and one of the most drinkable at that. I should have bought a case.

Steel Toe Brewing Beer Reviewed

2012-01-08T14:39:00.006-05:00

Steel Toe Brewing was a major highlight while I was back in Minneapolis over the holidays. I'd first found their Size 7 IPA on tap at Muddy Waters and immediately wanted to find the rest of their new offerings. Luckily, the fine folks at the Four Firkins had bombers of all four ales. Thanks Alvey.

Provider
American Blonde Ale | 5.00% ABV

4.1/5
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a bomber at the Four Firkins for $5. I should have bought another. It's a simple, but very tasty and well-made blonde ale that borders on the lighter side of a pale ale. The aroma is a mix of lightly toasted pale malt and mild, floral tangerine hops. These carry through to the flavor, where the gentle, floral hops character picks up, reminding me of a for subtle Surly Bitter Brewer. It's smooth, very drinkable and finished with a little kick of pale malt grain instead of hops. Wow, this is a great session beer.

Rainmaker
American Amber / Red Ale | 6.50% ABV

4.15/5
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Off the bat, it reminds me a bit of Furious, as a big, red, and tasty beer with a huge hops character. Of course, it's plenty different when you get down to the details. Foremost, the Rainmaker has a strong floral component. You could also say it's a touch darker, though both are more red than your average IPA, or close to a double IPA or red ale. The aroma has a piney, pungent kick over the floral undertones. The flavor balances fruity citrus tangerine and grapefruit on top of mild spice, pine and the floral. The body is more drinkable for a double red, but that's fine by me. I'll take another.

Dissent
Foreign / Export Stout | 7.00% ABV

4.1/5
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Cracked open a bottle for dessert. Poured pitch black with a short tan head from my bomber. Mmm, nice chocolate aroma with a fresh coffee background. The flavor has a tasty, clean dry cocoa roast with a bready malt undertone. Hops come in for a big dry bitter finish that's a little more American stout/double stout. This is an awesome stout, just don't expect something on the sweet side like Lion or Dragon stouts.

Size 7
American IPA | 7.00% ABV

4/5
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had a pint at Muddy Waters on Lyndale. This is a classic American IPA like you'd expect to find in Denver, Boston, or of course, Minneapolis. I liked that it wasn't too thick, there was just enough clean malt to let the hops stand up and shine. The character was rich with floral fruit, lots of citrus, but nothing too biting. It was a big, but smooth bitterness in the finish. I'd like to try this side-by-side with Masala Mama, this is an IPA I'll be happy to see around town.

Best Craft Beers of 2011

2012-01-01T19:36:00.006-05:00

2011, a fine year for beer indeed. My top picks came from a mix of collaborations, veteren craft brewers, younger, old styles, and new. Most notable was Summit's Black Ale, which is the best I've tried in the emerging Black Ale/Black IPA/Cascadian Dark Ale style. Unfortunately, it's a one-off by the St. Paul brewers, but at least I got another six-pack from my loving family for Christmas.

Summit Black Ale
Summit Brewing Company
American Black Ale | 6.50% ABV

4.47/5
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A little research shows this is the same brewer that made up the very very tasty India Rye Ale last year. This beer does what many dark ales fail, or at least fail to master, the balancing the lighter upfront hoppy notes with the rich dark malts. This beer smells like fresh grapefruit and citrus fruit sitting on top of toasty cocoa barley. Yum. The flavor follows up with a bigger malt kick and hint of wheat and caramel sneaking in as the pine and orange peel build on the chocolate malt throughout the finish. This is one of the best black IPAs I've had, right up with, maybe above, Deschutes' Hop in the Dark.

Biere De L'Amitie
Brasserie St. Feuillien
Belgian Strong Pale Ale | 9.50% ABV

4.38/5
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a Duvel tulip, it was a hazy gold with a tall white head. There was a big grassy aroma that reminded me of Saison Dupont. After that big herbal hops hit, it immediately mellowed into a fruity yeast spice with fresh pale barley. It's a damn delicious mix and I wish I could find more of this beer. It's light on your tongue, really too drinkable for the alcohol, and holds a great complex mix of Belgian flavors.

Red Poppy Ale
The Lost Abbey
Flanders Red Ale | 5.50% ABV

4.38/5
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I'm not always a fan of the Flanders sours, but this tones down the creamy sweetness of a Duchess into a mellow cherry and strawberry character over biting citrus and sour tang. I'm most impressed by the balance of the different flavors, rolling from one to the other instead of just covering each other up. Find this beer.

(512) Pecan Porter
(512) Brewing Company
American Porter | 6.80% ABV

4.33/5
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Upfront I got a blast of sweetened coffee with chocolate liqueur and caramel underneath. It was both satisfying to have after dinner, but didn't fill me up. After the Live Oak Hefe, this is the next must-try beer in Austin.

32/50
COAST Brewing Company
Kölsch | 4.80% ABV

4.33/5
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

It poured a hazy yellow with a tall white head. Wow, this has every nuanced flavor you'd expect from a kolsch, but dialed to 11. I'm not saying this is over the top, or too rich, or even unbalanced. It's like the brewery has just found a better way to make a kolsch, one that surpasses any German original I've tried.

Anyways, the beer opens with a light sulfur and mineral-rich water in the aroma and flavor.That's quickly followed up by dry, toasty grains and a light touch of a caramel and honey. A mild hit of earthy hops kicks in with a little lemon citrus, but then the beer returns to the clean, place barley.

Before I know it, I've nearly finished off the bomber. This is a hell of a session beer, but also something you could slowly sip and pick apart. Hell of a beer.

Malheur 12
Brouwerij De Landtsheer NV
Quadrupel (Quad) | 12.00% ABV

4.33/5
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a stemmed Malheur glass, it appeared a hazy red with a short tan head. While this beer was a bit of a sipper, I was impressed by how smooth it was for the strength and that it was relatively drinkable compared to other 12% beers. The flavor was dominated by sweet vanilla and plum, with berry fruits and typical subtle Belgian spicing in the background. The hops were there mostly for balance and contributed little to the taste. Heck of a quad, one of the best I've had.

Drinking & Reviewing Olvalde Farm & Brewing

2011-12-22T12:48:00.006-05:00

I'm back in Minnesota for the holidays and have a lot of catching up to do on 2011's new breweries in the state. On the way back from the airport, I swung by St. Paul's Wine Thief and Ale Jail, which has a great craft beer boutique section that will Minneapolis beer lovers of the Four Firkins. Among other fancy beers, I picked up both offerings from Rollingstone, MN's Olvalde Farm & Brewing Company: Ode To A Russian Shipwright and The Auroch's Horn.

Not many breweries brew beers honoring Peter the Great, and even few name Belgian ales after extinct wild cattle (wiki auroch), but Olvalde is far from your average midwestern brewery.

The Auroch's Horn
Olvalde Farm & Brewing Company
Belgian Strong Pale Ale | 10.00% ABV

3.95/5
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The beer doesn't quite jump out of the glass, but it's an impressive US-made Belgian. For the strength, it seems a touch muted, but there's a wonderful mix of soft pale malt and spicy Belgian yeast. Hops add a mild citrus undertone and balance to sweet, toasty grains. Check this out, it's a great example of a subtle Belgian ale.

Ode To A Russian Shipwright
Olvalde Farm & Brewing Company
American Porter

4.15/5
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

An imperial stout porter? Well it certainly doesn't taste like your average imperial stout. For a strong, dark beer, it's a little lighter in body and dials back the big roast. Instead, there's a more interesting mix of cocoa and mild mocha with the spicy rye and herbal spruce. Nothing's overpowering, and nothing's normal - I like that. My only complaint is that I'm pulling a little rubber phenol out of the beer, but it's a minor knock on an otherwise awesome beer. Go find this and enjoy.

Oktoberfest Beer Guide

2011-10-22T17:09:00.002-04:00

The actual Oktoberfest in Munich has wrapped up, but most beer aisles are still flush with the tasty amber lagers. I was able to share my love for the style with the guys at Men's Health. You can check out the six best oktoberfests I've been enjoying lately on their The Regulars blog here.

Drinking Craft Beer in New Orleans

2011-10-08T14:03:00.005-04:00

Last week I spent an extended long weekend in New Orleans with a good group of friends. In addition to seeing some gators and binging on fried shrimp po-boys, I had to check out the local craft beer scene. Now the Big Easy is certainly no beer mecca, but there was more than enough tasty beer to complement the seafood and live music.

Smoky Mary
New Orleans Lager & Ale Brewing Company (NOLA)

5.90% ABV | B+ / 3.95
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had a pint a NY Pizza on Magazine St. in New Orleans. I had the odd urge to eat this beer, the mix of spice and smoke with toasty malt and caramel reminds me of food. Or at least it'd make a great pairing with anything spicy. This is surprisingly complex for an amber, or smoked ale, with a great balance between the smoke and malt. Find this beer.

LA-31 Bière Pâle
Bayou Teche Brewery

B / 3.63
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a 6-pack from Roushes in New Orleans. It poured a clear amber with a short head, but left sticky lacing. The aroma is a bread crust and light toffee mix with a touch of honey, but little hops character. There's a pleasant piney, lemon hop finish that balances out the sweet malts. This is certainly on the hoppy end of the style's spectrum, but it's a good beer. Drinkable and malty with a respectable hops component. Worth a try.

Hopitoulas IPA
New Orleans Lager & Ale Brewing Company (NOLA)

B+ / 4 | 6.50% ABV
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had a few pints around New Orleans, easily one of the best beers in town. I loved the contrast of fruity, floral hops up front, with a rich, deep grapefruit and pine finish. Mixed in for balance was a healthy share of bready, toffee malt to balance out the bitterness. Overall, a damned tasty IPA.

Something Different: Cidre de Bretagne Brut

2011-08-18T22:00:00.006-04:00

While most of my gastronomic attention was focused on raw-milk cheeses as I was following the Tour de France (highlights included fresh chevre and a small-town brebis), I happened to grab of a bottle of Cidre de Breatagne during a layover in Rennes.

I wrote a chapter on traditional ciders in the Brewer's Apprentice that included Normand ciders, but this was a different beast. While a Cidre Dupont from Normandy would be rich and wild like a lambic, my Briton cider is much more subtle and drinkable.

It opened with the nose of a Belgian pale ale, with touches of vanilla, coriander, and then of course, apple. The flavor is moderately tart, but not overpowering, with a little lemon rind to complete the soft juicy apple flavor and little champagne-esqe bite. I wish I'd snuck more home.

ELF Gardens Belgian IPA

2011-08-14T16:19:00.002-04:00

With the summers hot temperatures and the hops in the garden looking ready, I figured a Belgian IPA would be appropriate for my next batch.

I went into Keystone Homebrew with a Centennial-heavy recipe, but they were out. So after a good 20 minutes of smelling about a dozen hops I settled on a mix of Simcoe, Sorachi Ace, and Sterling simply because they smelled awesome.

10# Maris Otter
1# 20L
1# American wheat
1# table sugar

1 oz Northern Brewer 9% AA @ 80min
.5 oz Simcoe 12.2% @ 30min
.5 oz Sorachi Ace 14.9% @ 30min
4 oz home-grown Tettnang & Mt Hood wet hops @ 15min
2 oz Sterling 5% @ 5min
.5 oz Simcoe 12.2% @ 5min
.5 oz Sorachi Ace 14.9% @ 5min
1 oz Sorachi Ace 14.9% dry hop

Wyeast Ardennes (the Chouffe strain)

OG: 1.079
FG: 1.008
IBU: 74
Mash efficiency: 78%
ABV: 9.1%

Interesting Beer: Sour Porter and Rye Session Ale

2011-06-20T22:33:00.003-04:00

I had a good run of beer in NYC's East Village over the weekend. While there was no shortage of tasty ales, here are a couple of the more memorable ones I recommend looking out for.

Dark Humor
Ithaca Beer Company
American Porter | 7.00% ABV

A- / 4.05
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had a 10 oz. pour at Good Beer in the East Village. I like the balanced Brett character. I wouldn't have guessed the strength, but maybe the wild yeast has helped dry this one out a bit, the mild tang certainly seems to lift the body. Otherwise there's a wonderful, clear chocolate roast with a little bit of candy sweetness. The Brett pops in for a sharp, slightly acidic citrus note, but not much else. Heck of a beer.

Ryely Summer Rye Ale
Davidson Brothers Restaurant & Brewery

B / 3.58
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had an imperial pint at Drop Off Service in the East Village. It was billed as a summer rye ale, and I believe it. This is just a nice, satisfying session beer in the same vein as an American wheat ale in that it's simple and clean, showing off a non-barley specialty malt. Instead of the sweet, bready wheat taste, this has the spicier rye character. Very drinkable and though it wasn't the most complex rye beer I've had by a long shot, I'd happily have a couple more pints.

Homebrew: Tavern Tan Rye Pale Ale

2011-06-01T22:37:00.004-04:00

Over the weekend I fired up the turkey fryer with Erin and Dan (stirring the hot break) to brew up a batch of Tavern Tan Rye Extra Pale Ale. At the end of the day, we had a higher gravity than intended, so I'm just considering it a pale ale.

One change that likely bumped up the sugar is that I did a more watery grist (for me at least) with 1.3 liters water/1 lb grain.

I also made a couple modifications due to ingredient availability and, well, just because I felt like it. The homebrew shop was low on malted rye, so I subbed in a pound of flaked rye, which will add a little thicker mouthfeel.

Then I swapped the Mt. Hood hops for Cascade and Liberty (since this beer will be ready around the 4th of July). I'll also toss in an ounce of my favorite all-purpose hop variety, Centennial, to dry hop.

For 5 gallons:

6.5# Maris Otter
1.5# Victory Malt
1# Malted Rye
1# Flaked rye

1 oz. Cascade @ 60 min (5% AA)
1 oz. Liberty @ 15 min (3% AA)
1 oz. Liberty @ 0 min
1 oz. Centennial Dry Hop

Wyeast 1272 American Ale II

IBU: 22
SRM: 8
SG: 1.060
FG: 1.010
ABV: 6.6%

UPDATE: This came in stronger than expected, and fermented a bit hotter (up to 80F), so it needs an extra week or so to work off a slight fusel alcohol note.

Good Beer, Disappointing Beer

2011-05-25T23:29:00.003-04:00

It's been a mixed bag of beer this past week or so. While I'm always excited to try new breweries, after trying two mediocre brews from Uncommon Brewers, I can't say I'm looking forward to the third in my fridge. I'm sure I'll get to it soon enough, you know, in the name of science. Or thirst.

The Good:

Pacemaker Porter
Flyers Restaurant And Brewery
American Porter | 5.50% ABV

A- / 4.05
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Dave for the bomber. This porter opens with a big dark chocolate (lighter, like 35% cacao) character with a dry citrus pepper finish. As it warms, the hops build for sort of a chocolate orange rind character. This is an interesting porter, and that's tough to find. Give this a try.

Summer Of Lager
Cisco Brewers Inc
Munich Helles Lager | 6.25% ABV

B+ / 3.95
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had a pint at Liberty St Tavern. I assumed this was a pilsner, based on the strong, spicy hop character. It's not overpowering, but provide a tasty balance to the mild toasty grains. The beer didn't have soft bready feel of a classic helles, but that doesn't really matter, this is a fine lager worth enjoying over the summer.

The Disappointing, Should Be Better. Man I Was Hoping It'd Be Good:

Siamese Twin Ale
Uncommon Brewers
Dubbel | 8.50% ABV

C- / 2.73
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Picked up a 16 oz. can for $2.75, no canning date on the bottom. I wasn't terribly impressed by their Golden State Ale, but this is worse. Frankly it reminds me of failed homebrew.

I dont know, maybe this beer was kept in a hot warehouse for a month, or something went wrong between Santa Cruz and Pennsylvania, but I don't enjoy it. There's an odd grassy (not like hops) caramel taste. There's a hint of the kaffir lime that's added I can pull out of the aftertaste, but that's one of the few bright spots. Frankly this smells a bit like an Indian buffet with the coriander and lemongrass additions. I'm not sure what to make of this beer, but I don't want another can.

Sneaky Pete Imperial IPA
Laughing Dog Brewing
American Double / Imperial IPA | 10.00% ABV

C+ / 3.15
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had a bottle for $8 at the Trapp Door (formerly Tap & Table). The beer was a bit disappointing. It might just need a little time to mellow, but there was a sharp alcohol note with resiny oil without enough hops flavor. There was some nice, floral fruit punch, but the good stuff was too light.

My score might look harsh for a beer that isn't too bad, but there are so many great examples of the style, it'd be a shame to get stuck on this one.

Back With Beer

2011-05-15T22:02:00.003-04:00

I just wrapped up writing a homebrew book with Stone Brewing's Greg Koch. Needless to say, it sapped all my good beer writing energy (as it should have). Anyways, here's some freakin' awesome beer I drank recently:

Mongo
Port Brewing Company
American Double / Imperial IPA | 8.50% ABV

A- / 4.2
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had a couple pints from a friend's home kegerator, Wow, he poured a pitcher and you could smell the hops from across the room.

The hops are super juicy upfront with big pineapple and citrus fruit punch. As the hops roll on, the beer actually reminds Victory's Hop Devil in the finish for the spicy, citrus resin finish. So there's a massive fruity aroma and initial flavor and more spicy grapefruit rind and pine finish. That makes for an interesting and freakin' delicious hop bomb.

Fuller's Vintage Ale
Fuller Smith & Turner
Old Ale | 8.50% ABV

A- / 4.22
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2010 Vintage. Bottle No 123619

Poured clear orange-red with a soft off-white head. This beer is surprisingly hoppy and relatively light bodied. Maybe a legitimate beer to be called an English DIPA.

The light cherry and malt aroma doesn't do much for me, but I really like how the flavor develops here. At first it seemed acidic with a mix of berry and citrus fruit. But then it rolls into a richer candied orange rind and herbal spice. The finish is dry with floral caramel candy note from the malt. The barley plays a subtle background for the spicy hops, with gentle, dry fruit esters and hints of bread crust and toffee.

Homebrew: Tavern Tan Rye Extra Pale Ale

2010-10-27T09:50:00.006-04:00

My friend Dave plays drums for the local band Tavern Tan and recently asked me to brew up something tasty and sessionable for an upcoming show. I came up with what I call a rye extra pale ale. Not only does the rye taste great, but these guys are also no stranger to rye whiskey.

The "extra pale ale" part comes from the lowered bitterness. And, I wouldn't want to call this beer a blond ale, because frankly, American blond ales usually suck. But I also kept the pale ale name because this should have a great hoppy character from the late hop additions despite the low IBUs.

For 5 gallons:

7# Maris Otter
2# Malted Rye
1# Victory Malt

1.33 oz. Mt. Hood @ First Wort Hop
1 oz. Mt. Hood @ 5 min
.67 oz. Mt Hood @ 0 min

Wyeast 1056 American Ale

IBU: 26
SRM: 7
SG: 1.051 (after I poured a quart of water in)
FG: 1.008
ABV: 5.6%

Tasting notes after a week in the fermentor: Big bready flavor with rye and toast followed by mild citrus spice and respectable bitterness (on par for a pale ale). A bit yeasty though.

Someone at the FDA needs a reality check

2010-10-26T14:26:00.005-04:00

Nine students at Central Washington University were recently hospitalized and Four Loko is to blame. For anyone unfamiliar with Four Loko, it's a 12% fruit-flavored malt beverage with an undisclosed amount of caffeine (it's more than enough). It's about $2 for a 24-ounce can and widely available and convenience stores like 7-Eleven. It's basically like combining a 6-pack of light beer with a couple cups of coffee in one convenient can. Sounds like an awful idea right?

Frankly I think it's a bad enough idea that if adults want to imbibe, that's their choice/problem. Four Loko isn't the only drink like this. If the Blue Raspberry flavor isn't to your liking, you can pick up a can of Watermelon-flavored Joose (only 10% ABV), or make a vodka-tonic with some 3 A.M. Vodka.

My only problem is that the FDA has included a craft-brewed coffee stout on their list of caffeinated alcoholic beverages. I don't know who thought singling this beer out was a good idea, or would even warn of the potential pitfalls of a delicious stout, but I'm disappointed that nobody can recognize the difference between a "$2 blackout in a can" and a spendy, well-made beer. I'd hate to see legit coffee beers with negligible amounts of caffeine getting dragged into this mess.

One of these things is not like the other:

List of Manufacturers of Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages

Charge Beverages Corporation
Products: Liquid Charge, Liquid Core, High Gravity Core

United Brands Company, Inc
Products: Joose, Max Vibe, Max Fury, Max Live, 3Sum

Phusion Projects LLC
Products: Four, Four Loko, Four Maxed

Point Blank Beverages Co.
Products: Torque

Hard Wired Brewing Company, LLC
Products: Hard Wired

Mix Master Beverage Co
Products: 24/7

Catalyst Beverage Company
Products: Catalyst

New Century Brewing Company
Products: Moonshot

Melanie Brewing Co
Products: Evil Eye

Thomas Creek Brewery, LLC
Products: Mobius Lager

Diageo North America, Inc
Products: Smirnoff Raw Tea Malt Beverage

Constellation Brands
Products: Wide Eye

The P.I.N.K. Spirits Company/Prohibition Beverage Inc
Products: P.I.N.K. Vodka, P.I.N.K. Tequila, P.I.N.K. Rum, P.I.N.K. Gin, P.I.N.K. White Whiskey, P.I.N.K. Sake

Delicious Brands Inc.
Products: Lotus Vodka

Sovereign Brands
Products: 3AM Vodka

Moet Hennessey/Millennium Import LLC
Products: Belevedere IX

Shotpak Vodka
Products: Gravity Vodka

Wingard USA (Importer)
Products: V2 Vodka with Caffeine, Everglo Vodka

LeVecke Corporation
Products: Vicious Vodka with Caffeine

Rocktail Drinks/Liquid Manufacturing LLC
Products: Slingshot Party Gel

Cold Spring Brewing Company/Atomic Brands
Products: A:M Carpe Noctern

808 Spirits Co.
Products: 808 Mango Beat

Gaamm Imports Inc.
Products: Booya Espresso Silver Tequila with Caffeine

Ithaca Beer Co.
Products: Ithaca Eleven Malt Beverage with Coffee

Gluek Brewing Company
Products: Gruv Malt Beverage with Guarana

MHW, Ltd and Niche Import Company
Products: Agwa De Bolivia

Rizer Spirits Inc
Products: XZO Vodka with Caffeine, Taurine, and Guarana

ELF Gardens Pumpkin Ale

2010-10-03T21:39:00.008-04:00

I spent Sunday afternoon at a friend's place that we like to call ELF Gardens brewing up a pumpkin ale for Halloween. While sparge was slow and I was shooting to mash a few degrees hotter, all went well. Here's the recipe, it's based off an ESB, a favorite style of mine. I figure I'll add a tsp pumpkin pie spice at bottling and pull off a plain growler for myself.

10# Marris Otter Pale Malt
1.5# CaraMunich 10L
.5# 120L
7 lb pumpkin, cubed and baked at 375F for 60 min, added to mash
4 lb acorn squash, cubed and baked at 375F for 60 min, added to mash

Mash for 60 min at 151F
Efficiency 80% (not including converted starch from the pumpkin/squash)

1 oz. Liberty Hops at 60 min
1 oz. Liberty Hops at 30 min
1 oz. Liberty Hops at 1 min

Wyeast London Ale Yeast

SRM Color: 12 (medium amber)
IBU: 29
OG: 1.066
FG: 1.008
ABV: 7.6

Good Beer from Good People: Ithaca Brute, Trout Hop, and People's Pint

2010-09-17T10:06:00.005-04:00

I've had a good streak this week of amazing beer and it's largely been at the hands of fellow beer friends. Usually I'll seek out brews that are new to me, interesting (but not always good), or stuff that isn't overly expensive.

Maybe it's karma, maybe I've just found the right people, but I'm going to be sure to pay back all the good brews that have come my way lately.

Brute
Ithaca Beer Company
American Wild Ale | 6.50% ABV

A- / 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

A big thanks to my friend Keith for sharing a bottle from Ithaca. This was a fantastic sour that reminded me of the best gueuzes I'm sampled. The main difference between this and its Belgian counterparts was the lack of the barnyard character that make a lambic extra funky. This, instead a had a lightly sweet, but mostly sour herbal lemon tang. The oak aging adding a subtle candy vanilla while the champagne yeast helps with a dry finish to round the beer out. If you like sours, you need to find this.

The People's Pint Imperial Stout
The People's Pint
Russian Imperial Stout | 9.20% ABV

A- / 4.1
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

Label reads: 2008, Bottle #879. Thanks to Speakorspasm for this one.

Yum. I'm not a huge fan of the style, but this is a tasty beer. I like the mild fruity, juice character in the middle of this beer. It's surrounded by smoke, roast, chocolate, and espresso, but the sweet cherry and strawberry make a tasty contrast. The aroma a bit like red wine for the subtle esters, however, there's still alcohol in the nose. The body isn't overly thick like some of the bigger RIS's, making this reasonable a dessert beer, but also decent for any time you want a big stout in your glass.

Trout Hop Black IPA
Grand Teton Brewing Co.
Black IPA / Cascadian Dark Ale | 8.50% ABV

A- / 4.15
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 5

Oh wow, I didn't realize this was stronger than a normal IPA. I've had a fair number of black IPAs lately and this is one of my favorites. The balance of bitter grains and hops leans toward to fruity citrus. Still there's a light and tasty creamy cocoa, mild espresso, and black grains. The hops are a touch juicy with a little apple and white grape before the orange rind and grape fruit kick. The finish is dry and roasty with a bitter tang. I'd have another pint. Good luck finding this one. It's at the top of the style.

Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen
Paulaner Salvator Thomasbraeu AG
Märzen / Oktoberfest | 5.80% ABV

B+ / 3.95
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Ah, I love the original Oktoberfests. I wish I'd had this earlier in the season because these put everything in perspective. The aroma and flavor are a smooth caramel flavor that finish with light roasted flavors and a hint of hops. The flavor is fairly clean and there's nothing remotely off. Basically it's tasty and very drinkable. I'd drink a stein-full anytime.

New England Beer Follow Up

2010-09-08T21:37:00.006-04:00

I didn't drink everything on my list while in Providence and Boston a couple weeks ago, but damn I had some good beer. Over the course of the day, I hit up Cambridge Brewing Co, Deep Ellum, and American Craft with friends and here are a few of my favorites from the trip.

Clown Shoes Black I.P.A.
Clown Shoes
American IPA | 7.00% ABV

B+ / 3.9
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

Had a glass at Deep Ellum along with some tasty Parmesan fries. This is a pretty decent take on the style. The malt background is a bit more like a Irish dry stout than anything with its dry and bitter roasted character. The hops are predominantly citrusy and amplifies the dry character. Unfortunately, the hops and malt blend instead layering flavor.

Session In The Rye
Lawson's Finest Liquids
Saison / Farmhouse Ale | 4.50% ABV

A- / 4.15
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 5

Rare Batch #142, Bottle #51.

I think this is a great session beer and Belgian ale. The yeast spices are subtle like a true Belgian and there are mellow layers of barley and rye backed by balanced floral citrus hops. The aroma has a mix of spicy rye bread and vanilla coriander. The bread carries over into the taste with a slight cocoa note and crust.

For the strength, this is a complex beer that's also quite drinkable. It's a shame this is a small-batch brew.

Pied PIPA
The People's Pint
American IPA | 5.20% ABV

B / 3.65
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 4

I picked up a bomber for $5 while in Boston and think this is better than a B-. Sure, the beer is undercarbonation and has no head, but it's pretty tasty overall. The hops bring a big, smooth mix of floral and citrus rind flavors and aromas. There's a hint of a nutty malt backbone and a dry bitter finish (though the finish does fall a bit flat. It's not the biggest or most bitter IPA, but it's a fine beer to drink a bomber of solo. It's a little juicy, a little earthy, and all good. Sort of reminds me of a lighter version of Victory Hop Devil.

"The Wind Cried Mari..." Scottish Heather Ale
Cambridge Brewing Company
Scottish Gruit / Ancient Herbed Ale | 4.40% ABV

A- / 4.05
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4

Had a glass with Sunday beerunch at the CBC and it was a great beer for my eggs benedict. I'll often say a beer tastes like bread, but none have matched the fresh whole-grain taste of this brew. The herbal additions match the seeds and spice of a craft-baked loaf (if that makes sense) and the light lavender with wildflower honey. This is one of the most interesting beers I've had in a while. Check it out.

New England Beer Hit List

2010-08-15T14:45:00.002-04:00

Next weekend I'll be driving up to Providence, RI and Boston to first visit friends, and then second, drink all their (good) beer. It's been a about 4 years or so since I pulled up a stool in this neck of the woods, so there's plenty of work to be done. Here's a few of the brews that'll be on my radar.

Berkshire Brewing Co. Lost Sailor IPA
Frankly I'll be trying to get my hands on anything and everything from BBC. And luckily, it appears most craft beer bars are ready to help me out. This English IPA has actually been on my want-to-try list for years, as I love this seldom-brewed (in the US) style.

The People's Pint Extra Special Bitter (ESB)
While I can't decide if the brewery name is more socialist, populist, or democratic, I'm pretty certain this beer will eb mighty tasty. This is also another favorite style of mine that I find particularly pleasant if I'm having a couple beers. In fact, I'll be having an ESB tonight with dinner.

Element Brewing Co. Dark Matter
Being classified as an "American strong ale" means this beer could be just about anything except boring. I can be fairly certain it will be good, but hope to be surprised by how the beer does it.

Mayflower Porter
Mayflower Brewing opened back in 2008 and I've heard nothing but praise for this traditional American craft brewery. That, and I love a good porter.

Haverhill Leatherlips IPA
I really only know two things about Haverhill. One, all their labels have pinup girls on them. And two, they only make tasty, tasty brews. I'll start by looking for their flagship beer and work my way through the rest of the lineup if possible.

Clown Shoes Black IPA
Any brewers with balls big enough to name their brewery "Clown Shoes" had better know what they're doing. My research indicates they do, and that this beer rocks.

Bike Ride Beer

2010-08-09T15:04:00.002-04:00

I've had a few good rides lately with either a beer stop, or with cold brew waiting at the end. When you're sweating bullets in the summer heat, even a well-rounded drinker like myself, will grab for the lighter, drinkable beers. Here's a few of the fine ales I've been sipping when I get out of the saddle.

Namaste
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Witbier | 5.00% ABV

B+ / 4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

I split a large bottle at Little Ortino's in Schwencksville, PA. The beer poured a hazy light gold with a soft white head. The mix of subtle spice dominates the flavor (not in a bad way) while there's a smooth Belgian wheat background. The individual spices don't stand out so much as just melt together from the orange peel, to the coriander, then lemongrass. All in all a tasty beer, near the top of the style.

Stegmaier Summer Stock Lager
Lion Brewery, Inc.
American Pale Lager | 5.00% ABV

B / 3.65
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 4

Picked up a case (under the name Summer Stock Pils) while visiting friends in Scranton. Not a bad beer at all. The label has some nonsense about being a German style pils, but I think the flavor is plainly American. The malt is smoother, bready, and with just a hint of inoffensive corn. This is followed up by a grassy hop kick with a share of orange rind. The lager finishes with a mild, spicy bitterness. All in all, it seems like a tasty and somewhat traditional American take on the pilsner.

Devotion Ale
The Lost Abbey
Belgian Pale Ale | 6.25% ABV

B+ / 4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 4.5
rDev: +2.7%

On-tap from a friend's kegerator. I know it's a touch strong, but this comes off like a Belgian session ale. It's light, tasty, and I could drink it all day.

The Tettanger hops had a slightly sharp and interesting herbal flavor in addition to the spicy citrus background. There's a smooth grain and bread flavor with hint of subtle Belgian fruit esters. My only complaint is that the flavor can seem a touch muted at times. I suppose this is on the hoppy side of a Belgian pale ale, but it's still very drinkable. Check this beer out.

Drinking Minnesota Again

2010-07-21T14:26:00.002-04:00

As summer rolls on, it's getting harder to keep track of all the great beer we're surrounded by - or at least write at length about it. So to keep things concise, here's what's up: I'm back in MN for a couple weeks enjoying the fine weather, bike lanes, new Twins stadium, and lovely local beers. Here's a bit of what I've been sipping lately.

Saaz Pilsner
Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery
Czech Pilsener | 5.70% ABV

B+ / 3.95
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Had a pint at the brewpub. I'm a fan of pilsners and single-hop beers, so this was exciting to find on the seasonals menu. This has the look and body of a classic Czech pils, but the hops dominated the beer. Aside from a hint of grainy, biscuit malt, richly floral and spicy hops that are a touch fruity without being sweet. The bitter finish is a bit soft, but still sizeable. This is tasty, but fairly drinkable beer. Check is out if you can.

Lonely Blonde
Fulton Beer
American Blonde Ale | 4.80% ABV

C+ / 3.15
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | drink: 3.5

On-tap at Acadia Cafe. I'd enjoyed Fulton's Child of Vine and hoped this would prove tasty as well. But frankly I was let down with Lonely Blonde. It's just another clean, grainy blonde ale. I already know what 2-row barley tastes like and there's nothing new here. Plenty of other breweries have made this same beer for years, there isn't much reason to single this one out.

MN Tan
Lift Bridge Brewery
Tripel | 8.50% ABV

B / 3.7
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

I heard this was supposed to be more red or pinkish, but it was just a clear amber. The lingonberries impart a pleasant tart tang, but overall, this beer could use a little more Belgian character - it's a bit too clean. I'd say the same of Lift Bridge's Farm Girl (not enough yeast character), but this is still a respectable Belgian with a earthy and lightly fruity character. Worth checking out for something different.

Good Drinking: Sam Adams Latitude 48

2010-06-14T13:10:00.001-04:00

I try to blog weekly, but lately I've been too busy drinking beer to post here. Tonight, though, I'm taking a break to look back on a few of the gems from the last few weeks. Nothing rocked my world, well nothing new did. (I had a 2005 Cantillon Lou Pepe Gueuze that was amazing, but I've already written about that.) But so far if things keep up, this is going to be a good beer-filled summer.

Samuel Adams Latitude 48
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
American IPA | 5.80% ABV

A- / 4.05
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

I'm a fan. This beer has a wonderful mix of malt and hop flavor, but with dominating hops. The aroma is a mix of cornbread with melon, strawberries, and orange peel - nice and interesting. A sweet tangerine flavor opens the flavor and its quickly followed by dry, cracked wheat and pepper. Hops quickly rush in with bitter orange peel and pine. I love that this is an unusual beer that's plenty bitter and still very drinkable. I'll look forward to this coming out in 6-packs. Thank you Boston Beer.

Bell's Oarsman
Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Berliner Weissbier | 4.80% ABV

B+ / 4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 4.5

Had a pint with brunch at the Sidecar in Philly. This turned out to be a tasty replacement for a mimosa and made a nice compliment to my huevos rancheros. The beer appeared an opaque yellow with a slice of lemon. The beer, while not very tasty, had a wonderful mix of creamy bread with toast and wheat cracker flavors. There were mild hints of citrus, but on the whole it was a bit clean for the style. Still, a very tasty beer and worth checking out.

Buffalo Belgian Bitter
Brouwerij Van den Bossche
Belgian IPA | 8.50% ABV

B+ / 3.95
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Split a friend's bottle from a case he picked up at Shangy's. Poured from a 750ml into a chalice is appears a slightly hazy yellow. It reminded me a bit of a wit beer, making for a subtle and delicate pale Belgian. It begins with a sweet, pastry-like malt and yeast character and finishes with a light floral and earthy hop flavor. It is hoppy for a Belgian, and it tastes and drinks beautifully, but it's along the lines of Hommelbier, not approaching the bitter sensation of even your average American pale ale.

Poperings Hommel Bier
Brouwerij Van Eecke N.V.
Belgian IPA | 7.50% ABV

B+ / 3.95
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 4

On-tap at Monk's in Philly, served in a tulip. Went great with my bowl of mussels. I would have liked a bit more hop flavor and bitterness, but this was still a great Belgian ale. There's a mellow spicy flavor that never overwhelms the character, but certainly defines the beer with subtle pepper, dry herb, and lemon peel. For the strength, the body is still easy to drink (like it should be for the style). Overall, this is really a classic worth picking up.

195 Bottles? I'm 2,000 Beers In

2010-05-19T17:46:00.000-04:00

I recently recorded my 2,000th beer review, which isn't much by some standards, but I think it's a pretty background to talk knowledgeably about beer. I try to actually remember what I tasted about every beer and will drink something again (instead of something new) if I can't remember what to expect.

Anyways, here's my 2,000th review. It was a German Helles lager, which is smoother drinking than a pilsner, with low hop levels and minimal bitterness. It's still full of bready malt and yeast character, and makes a great session beer. Imperial stouts and double IPA's are delicious, don't get me wrong, but I'm more impressed by lower-alcohol beers like this that are just as complex as beers twice their strength.

Mahr's Hell
Mahrs Bräu
Munich Helles Lager | 4.90% ABV

B+ / 3.95
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Ordered a bottle at Tap and Table. Served with a tall Mahrs glass stein, the beer was a beautiful clear gold with a tall white head - we're off to a good start. There's the appropriate hint of sulfur in the aroma with light bread crust. This is a true German lager. It doesn't have the most unique or compelling flavor, but it's super drinkable and tasty. The subtle bread and grain flavors are complimented by a small spicy hop kick in the finish.

RYEmenocerous

2010-05-09T19:20:00.000-04:00

New beer's a brewin'. I thought long and hard about what beer I'd like to make for the Ryemenocerous after brewing the Hiphopopatamus. And the Hiphopopatamus was so deliciously hoppy, I decided to go in the opposite direction. This beer will be an English-style bitter/pale ale brewed with a big share of rye. Instead of being big nd bitter, it will be immanently drinkable. It's currently bubbling away and should be ready by the end of May.

RYEmenocerous
Size: 5 gallons
Color: 9 HCU (~7 SRM)
Bitterness: 30 IBU
OG: 1.036
FG: 1.008
Alcohol: 3.6%

Grain:
6 lb. Maris Otter pale
1.5 lb. Rye
.5 lb. British crystal 60L

Mash: 60% efficiency

Hops:
1 oz. Kent Goldings (5% AA, 60 min.)
1 oz. Kent Goldings (5% AA, 15 min.)
1 oz. Kent Goldings (aroma)

Yeast: Wyeast London ESB Ale 1968

Oh and for anyone that doesn't know why I'm using this ridiculous names. Here's the original Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros from Flight of the Conchords:

Yeah, Portland Kicked Ass

2010-05-04T17:51:00.000-04:00

My week in Portland, OR flew by, and try as I might, I was not able to wipe out the city's beer supply. Still, I had tons of amazing beers, met a lot of great brewers, and got well-acquainted with a couple relatively new styles: the single-malt ale and Cascadian dark ale (black IPA). Here are a few of my favorites that I took notes on below.

The picture to your right is from my visit to Wyeast Labs as part of a tour put on by the Oregon Craft Brewers Guild. We trying several beers that differed only in yeast strain - very cool. The day also had a visit to Full Sail Brewing where brewmaster Jamie Emmerson pulled bottles of Session off the line for us to drink. I may never have a fresher beer.

Thomas Fawcett Single Malt Bitter
New Old Lompoc Brewery
English Bitter | 3.40% ABV

A- / 4.1
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

On cask at the brewpub. This beer blew me away. I've never had a great low-alcohol bitter on cask in the US before, let alone that the beer is US-brewed. The flavor is a little spicier than the Baird Maris Otter, with jasmine and cake frosting notes mixed with the bread crust and biscuit malt notes. Man, I wish there were more beers like this. I mean, it has so little alcohol that it actually helps hydrate you, but it has all the complexity of a beer twice its size.

HUB Lager
Hopworks Urban Brewery
Czech Pilsener | 5.10% ABV

A / 4.3
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Had a pint at the Horse Brass with friends. Man this is a heck of a beer. I certainly wouldn't mind having a liter-stein of it. There's a soft, bready malt character with very mild hints of spice and vanilla. There's also a note or toast and a little citrus. The beer is dry and super drinkable, and frankly, I'm glad I have the self-control to move along.

Black Bear XX Stout
Alameda Brewhouse
Foreign / Export Stout | 6.80% ABV

A- / 4.1
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Split a bomber with friends. Nothing surprising about the appearance, big and black with a tan head. I really enjoyed this stout because it wasn't the usual thick, chewy stout. Instead it was a touch lighter, like an export stout should be, with two dominant characteristics: dry roasted black malts and sweet cocoa chocolate. Heck of a beer, check this out.

India Pelican Ale
Pelican Pub & Brewery
American IPA | 7.50% ABV

A- / 4.2
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

I split a bomber at Bailey's Taproom... but ended up enjoying most of it. Despite the extra strength, it hardly felt like a heavier IPA. In fact, I had no problem finishing my pint. What I really loved about this beer was that it covered a lot of different hop flavors - floral to earthy to citrus - and balance them all well to make a slightly juicy, and wholly delicious IPA. Yum.

Portland Hit List

2010-04-18T16:50:00.000-04:00

Monday afternoon I'm flying out to Portland, OR, also know as Beervana (don't tell Belgium), for the International Association of Culinary Professionals annual meeting. Yes indeed, I am a culinary professional thanks to my work with beer. In fact, I'll be presenting a 90-minute talk on Oregon beer and Oregon-grown ingredients with Full Sail Brewing and Rogue Ales.

I certainly hope to meet a lot of other drink-oriented professionals and make some new friends, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I was most excited about the beer. Portland earned its Beervana moniker from the fact that the city is home to 32 (or is it 33 now?) breweries. That's more than any other city in the world. The state itself has more than 100 breweries and while the national average for craft beer consumption is at 5% of the beer market, Oregon's craft beer share is about 30% of the market and I'm told it approaches 50% in Portland. I mean shit, these guys are serious about their beer.

I'll only have a six nights to make my way through the hundreds of great beers this city and state offer, but I'm going to try my hardest to sip their best-of-the-best. When in doubt, or lost, I'll be ordering whatever is local, unavailable back home, new, and fresh.

Pre-Trip Top 10 Beers to Try in Portland

1) India Pelican Ale - Pelican Pub & Brewery - I've been reading about this top-rated IPA for years. No more will I have to drool over my keyboard.

2) Flora Rustica - Upright Brewing - I got to savor a bottle of Upright's Five and now I want more. This, apparently, is Upright's finest.

3) Dunkel - Heater Allen - I love a well-made German lager and you're hard pressed to find better brews of classic styles.

4) Oatis - Ninkasi - An allegedly divine oatmeal stout. I look forward to being the judge of that.

5) HUB Lager - Hopworks - Having tried their big, hoppy beers, my mouth is watering for their session beer.

6) Sang Rouge - Cascade Brewing - These guys make the best sours in the Pacific NW.

7) Workhorse IPA - Larelwood - Oregon loves its hops and I'd love to taste this prime example of that.

8) Black Bear XX Stout - Alameda - Mmmm. Foreign stout. This will make a great dessert beer.

9) Copacetic IPA - Amnesia Brewing - Yes, I'm going to be drinking lots of fantastically bitter IPAs.

10) Kölsch - Double Mountain - Another great session-weight beer from an award-winning brewery.

For more on how awesome these folks are, you can read my IACP article here.

New Beer: Urthel Saisonnière

2010-04-12T21:03:00.000-04:00

I'm lucky enough to live in a one of the country's leading Belgian beer markets* but it was still a nice surprise to walk into Abe's Cold Beer and find one of Belgium's newest brews. It comes from Urthel, which also makes the monumentally tasty Urthel Hop-It and Hibernus Quentum. The Flemish outfit is young by European standards - only brewing since 2000 - but they know how to cook up a tasty beverage. Check this out:

Urthel Saisonnière
De Leyerth Brouwerijen (Urthel)
Saison / Farmhouse Ale | 6.00% ABV

A- / 4.25
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

This beer is gorgeous. It poured a brilliant clear gold with a big, tall head. As I drink it down, there's a perfect web of thick lacing. Thankfully, the beer character delivers as well. The flavors holds a floral and spicy mix of coriander, pepper, lemon, while there's a mild toasty note from the malt. This saison is complex enough that you could sip it for hours, yet light and lively enough that you can easily enjoy a few. Check this fine Belgian out.

*According to me.

I'll only say it once: I miss Belgium.

2010-04-10T23:23:00.001-04:00

A year ago I was in Belgium. I'm not saying I haven't had a lovely weekend, I'm just not in Belgium.

Drinking really, really old beer: La Trappe Enkel

2010-03-29T13:00:00.000-04:00

While picking up a case at Shangy's over the weekend, I took a quick look at their small shelf of single (and mostly expensive) bottles. To my surprise, there was something new-to-me, a couple large bottles of La Trappe Enkel - the table beer from the Koningshoeven monks of the Netherlands. Even more surprising was the best by date on the back of the label: November, 1996.

I've tried low-alcohol (under 6% ABV) ales before, and they're typically only worth pouring down your drain. In this case, though, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to try a roughly 16-year old trappist beer. I wouldn't exactly say I was rewarded for taking this chance and forking over cash for a beer that was probably forgotten about in some corner for at least decade. But it wasn't too bad. I dare say, somewhat enjoyable.

La Trappe Enkel
Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven B.V.
Belgian Pale Ale | 5.50% ABV

B / 3.55
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 3.5

Found at 750ml bottle at Shangy's in Emmaus PA for $11. The label read BEST BY END: NOV96, so take this review with that in mind. The cork looked a little soaked when I opened the bottle and the carbonation was a little low, but not too bad. The body didn't have any protein blobs like some old Belgians. However, like many well-aged beers, this has a strong leather character and I wonder if the cork didn't add the beer's earthy character. Aside from tasting a bit like a new recliner smells, there was just a light liquid caramel note, though the beer was exceedingly smooth. Buying a low-ABV beer this old is a gamble, but I'm glad I took it.

Oregon IPA

2010-03-13T10:52:00.000-05:00

It's business time. In conjunction with a project on Oregon beers with Oregon-grown ingredients I'm working on for the International Association of Culinary Profesionals, I've made my own Oregon-centric beer. I couldn't get my hands on Oregon barley, but Jim at Indie Hops send me a pound of Centennial hops. I also used Oregon-cultivated yeast with Wyeast Labs' American Ale II yeast, a relative of the famous Sierra Nevada yeast strain.

I've haven't been this excited about a homebrew in a while. It's going to be f'ing awesome. Having the pound of hops sit out in my kitchen (see below) smelled amazing - I had a room full of hoppy goodness.

Hiphopapotamus
5 Gal Batch
Est ABV: 8%
IBU: 100+

10# Marris Otter Pale Malt
2# Vienna Malt
.5# American crystal 20L
.5# Cara-Pils
Wyeast American Ale II

Mash @ 152, OG: 1.073

2 oz. Centennial (10.5% AA, First Wort Hop)
1 oz. Centennial (10.5% AA, 45 min.)
1 oz. Centennial (10.5% AA, 15 min.)
1 oz. Centennial (10.5% AA, 10 min.)
1 oz. Centennial (10.5% AA, 5 min.)
1 oz. Centennial (10.5% AA, 0 min.)
2 oz. Centennial (10.5% AA, dry hop)

UPDATE 3/23/10: Transferred to secondary and added the dry hops. Tastes amazing with huge blend of spicy citrus flavors but need more aroma. There's even a little hint of the malt in there. Current gravity is 1.013 to put the beer at 7.8%.

Hops Before:

Hops After:

Interesting, Very Interesting: Atomium Grand Cru

2010-03-12T09:53:00.000-05:00

Right after really, really ridiculously good-tasting beer, I also enjoy interesting beer. Last night at the Farmhouse, as usual, I opted for the new-to-me beers on tap over the known good stuff. Often, trying new beers when surrounded by sure-winners, there's a let down when the new brew is mediocre, boring, or just plain bad. Thankfully, Brouwerij Van Steenberge's Atomium Grand Cru didn't suck at all. In fact, it had one of the most interesting aromas (there was peppermint, wtf?) I've smelled in a long time. Check it out:

Atomium Grand Cru
Brouwerij Van Steenberge
Belgian Strong Pale Ale | 8.00% ABV

B+ / 4
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

On-tap at The Farmhouse in Emmaus, PA. Served in a red wine glass, it appears slighty hazy and amber with a tall, fluffy white head. It's funny, I'm used to finding beers that have great flavor but are a little dull in the aroma department. This was the opposite. It was bursting with coriander, cinnamon, and peppermint (unusual, but interesting). The flavor follows the coriander with a hint of orange peel - sort of like a wit, but without wheat character - and then a subtle but delicious candied apple malt flavor slides in before the beer finishes. Still, the beer's taste is too mild for a beer of this strength. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised to find a fresh take on this style.

Beer Reviews: Sexual Chocolate (Stout)

2010-02-21T21:45:00.000-05:00

Yeah, it's still cold and the days are too short. The whimsy of winter warmers has petered out and and we're left with beers as black as night. It's time for stouts. Usually I stick with lighter dry Irish stouts - Beamish, Murphy's, and Guinness - but lately I had the chance to try a couple standouts in other stout sub-styles.

The first was Sexual Chocolate (incidentally also the name of a red-headed cricketer Ryan Sidebottom) from Foothills Brewing in North Carolina. I was lucky enough to be have a friend who found himself with a bottle of this rare and highly rated (#68 in the world on BeerAdvocate.com) brew.

The second beer was Otis, an oatmeal stout from Brooklyn's Six Point Craft Ales. I discovered Otis while making a mid-bike ride pit stop at the Spinnerstown Hotel. Otis is a strong session beer at 6.1% ABV, but damn I could have drained the keg all afternoon if I didn't have self-control.

Sexual Chocolate
Foothills Brewing Company
Russian Imperial Stout | 10.00% ABV

A- / 4.2
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

I have to thank my friend Paul for sharing a bottle of this with me. While the legend is greater than the beer itself, this was still a top-notch RIS. The cocoa nibs impart a deep, dark chocolate flavor that's also earthy like a cocoa bean. The malts provide an array of chocolate cookie, graham cracker, toffee, bread crust, and plum notes. The body is thick like most, but there's enough bitterness to keep this from getting too sweet. The hops also add a pleasant, mild citrus taste, which aid drinkability, though this is a tough beer to do anything with but slowly sip... but I suppose that's ok.

Sixpoint Otis
Sixpoint Craft Ales
Oatmeal Stout | 6.10% ABV

A- / 4.05
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4

On-tap at the Spinnerstown Hotel. Served in a tulip glass, this beer appeared pitch black with a very short head. I really thought this was a great, albeit aggressive, take on the style. The flavor and aroma are full of big chocolate flavors up front with roasted barley around the edge. The malts are followed by a powerful citrus hops kick that provides a great bitter contrast to the cocoa notes. This is easily one of the best oatmeal stouts I've ever had.

Strong Lagers: Not just malt liquor

2010-02-09T16:41:00.000-05:00

For the last week I'd been bumping into Sierra Nevada's new pale bock, Glissade, around town. On Saturday I finally got a chance to try it and it reminded me of the odd strong lager family of beers. Strong lagers can fit into styles like maibock or malt liquor, but on a whole they're lightly colored, lightly hopped, and fairly alcoholic.

Below I've pasted in reviews of some of the strong lagers I've had, and which oddly enough connect Sierra Nevada's new beer to Colt 45. Terrifying? Heart-warming? Meh? You decide.

Sierra Nevada Glissade Golden Bock
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Maibock / Helles Bock | 6.40% ABV

B- / 3.5
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | drink: 3

Ordered a bottle for $3.50 at Liberty St. Tavern and poured it into a pint glass. I read SierraNevadaBill's description of Glissade and it makes more sense when he calls it a "strong lager," because it really does remind of the European (and Russian) strong lagers I've had - but better. There's cool bready malts up front and in the nose. The barley is followed by a lot dry herbal hop character. The hops, frankly, are a bit thin and border on astringently bitter. Still, this brew is worth a try.

Stary Melnik Krepkoye
Pivovariya Moskva-Efes ZAO
Euro Pale Lager | 6.50% ABV

C+ / 3.1
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 3.5

AKA Stary Melnik Strong. Ordered a bottle at the Brickskeller... after they were out of the first nine beers I asked for. Anyways.

The flavor reminds me of peppermint and sweet bread. The appearance is a clear gold with a white head and there are no brewing flaws in the aroma or flavors. It was an interesting beer to try but I wouldn't order it again. The odd yeast character and malts are "ok" but not entirely pleasant. It's certainly worth a try for something different and not a bad beer.

Elephant Beer
Carlsberg Danmark A/S
Euro Strong Lager | 7.20% ABV

C / 3
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 3.5

Got a bottle from a friend, poured into a pint glass. Appears a clear gold with a short white head.

First things first, there's nothing patently offensive about this beer-bravo. That's not an easy accomplishment for a high-alcohol macro lager in green glass. The aroma is pretty non-existent however, I got a hint of strange scented candle-like spice I wouldn't expect in beer. The flavor opens with smooth bready malts and finishes with a big lager tang. In most beer this tang is unpleasant and astringent, but here it comes off more like a mix of strong perfume and fruit punch. Still not something you usually demand in a fine beer, but this could be worse.

Colt 45 Malt Liquor
Pabst Brewing Company / G. Heileman Brewing Co.
American Malt Liquor | 6.10% ABV

F / 1.55
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | drink: 1

It doesnt look horrible, just your typical mass-produced rotgut. The smell is at best, unpleasant. The mouth feel isn't bad, but the taste will make up for that.

I can only describe Colt 45 like this: Someone took a light-bodied beer, squated over the bottle, and farted. Beer + Fart = No fun for anyone.

I should also mention that if its your first time with a 40 of this, be prepared to get your ass kicked.

Rediscovering Modern Classics

2010-01-26T16:01:00.001-05:00

I haven't completely run out of new beers around the Lehigh Valley to try, but new brews are generally getting more expensive and harder to find. The hunt is fun sometimes, but lately I've been revisiting great beers that I tried years ago and then forgot about in my quest to try, well, everything.

Honker's Ale
Goose Island
English Bitter | 4.20% ABV

B+ / 3.95
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Heck of a beer - the 6-pack didn't last too long in my fridge. While this beer is crisp and rich in flavor like a good American Pale Ale, it has the low alcohol and balanced taste of a classic English Bitter. I'd consider this a well-made hybrid of the styles. On one end there's a tasty mix of barley grain, dark bread, and wholegrain crackers, while the Styrian Golding hops present both earthy spice notes and fruity citrus rind. This brew covers a lot of different and complimentary flavors, all while keeping a light, drinkable body. This is a fantastic session beer.

Two Hearted Ale
Bell's Brewery, Inc.
American IPA | 7.10% ABV

A- / 4.05
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Ok, this might be the best looking IPA I've ever had, but not the best. The appearance has a short creamy head with thick lacing. The aroma is just a general citrus punch, a little weak. The flavor picks things up a bit, but it's not as bitter as I expected. It's a smooth bitter that puts it on par with a hearty pale ale. Still, the taste is of wonderfully fruity hop juice. Not overly powerful, but nice. I'd like a little more kick, but it's still a great beer.

Pikeland Pils
Sly Fox Brewing
German Pilsener | 4.90% ABV

A- / 4.2
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

This beer looks amazing, it has a white head that won't stop and reminds me of Duvel. Smells of sweet, light malts. The flavor is bland at first but then the hops kick in. Overall tastes of long-lasting grassy, earthy hops with added grapefruit and a bit of fruity malt. A little hoppier than the imports I've had, more like Prima Pils. Actually it's a lot like Prima Pils, but I think I like this better. My can was a touch over carbonated, but it was still very drinkable.

Rare Vos (Amber Ale)
Brewery Ommegang
Belgian Dark Ale

B+ / 3.8
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

Had a bottle with seafood enchiladas at The Mission Restaurant in Syracuse, a great pairing. Rare Vos reminds me a bit of an amber Duvel, though not quite as the complex. The malts are sweet and mild with an apple, cherry, and berry taste. Very drinkable and tasty, but it might be overpriced if you're a budget beer shopper or think Rogue is too expensive.
I've heard people recommend this to beer noobs, but I dont think I'd do the same. The flavor is really all in the bitterness, so if you're not into that, tough.

Belgian Nightmares

2010-01-24T23:48:00.000-05:00

With the local cyclocross scene finished for the year, talk among my cycling friends has turned to the Spring Classics, which begin in a little less than two months. For some of the lucky few of us who visited Belgium for the week of De Ronde, Gent-Wevelgem, and Paris-Roubaix, the thrill of the upcoming races is cut by the ache of being on the wrong side of the Atlantic. Still, there's enough memories and evidence to keep me happy for a few years before I'll really need to return.

One afternoon still haunts me through all the great beer I drank and happy miles I cycled. On the Tuesday before Gent-Wevelgem, I rode out to Wevelgem with Bill and Pryor on a mission to visit the Westvleteren monastery cafe - literally holy ground for beer and the home of the world's best beer.

I'd checked the website for hours and dates they were closed, but I missed that before Easter they were closed an entire week. Not only was my pilgrimage met with locked doors (see picture, right), but they were closed for the extent on my time in Belgium.

The grim discovery of my malted and hopped holy grail being closed stung, the beer gods soon smiled upon me. Later that week while overtaking our friendly tour guide Jan's home town of Retie - a town only described to us as, "you are in Retie, you must drink beer" - I told my sad-sack story to an sympathetic bar owner. With a slight smile he nodded and simply told me to return later that evening.

The owner talked to his bartender, who called his brother-in-law, who then brought in a bottle of Westvleteren 10, the best beer in the world. I was floored by the generosity as much as I was by beer's sweet taste. It was, without trying to pump up the hyperbole, heavenly nectar from godly people.

Yes, I'll never forget that those monks took a week off for Easter (so selfish, really). But like just about every beer or bike-related story I know from Belgium, there was eventually a very happy ending.

Drinking Minnesota

2010-01-07T03:39:00.001-05:00

Yes, family and friends are the best part of coming home for the holidays, but diving into the local beer scene also ranks pretty highly. With nearly a dozen local breweries or brewpubs and countless good beer bars, a new local pint is never hard to find.

Here are a few highlights of my visit and beers to watch out for if you ever find yourself in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Festivus 2009
Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery
American Stout | 5.80% ABV

A- / 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

I ordered a pint at the bar and it appeared pitch black with a short tan head. This beer seems simple, but it's damn good. Upfront, there's a big and tasty coffee character followed by an amazing milk chocolate taste. These make for the best mocha beer I think I've ever had. The chocolate comes off creamy, like a milk stout. Drinkable and delicious, this is a great beer to celebrate the holidays and Festivus.

Summit Extra Pale Ale
Summit Brewing Company
English Pale Ale | 5.30% ABV

B+ / 3.95
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4

I see this beer around Minnesota so much, its easy to forget that its a quality brew. It's got a fairly unique (and its hard to find something unique these days) blend of malt sweetness with rich, roasted caramel that's complimented by a balanced bitterness of grassy hops. It's a great session beer and readily available around town. Thank you Summit.

Snowstorm 2009
August Schell Brewing Co., Inc.
Baltic Porter | 5.80% ABV

B / 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 4

On-tap at Three Squares in Maple Grove. I'm impressed that Schell's took on the style and didn't just try to make a strong porter like some other American-brewed Baltic's I've tried. This has the sweet light candy, or wine-like, chocolate note under the roasted malts. My only complaint is that the middle sweetness turns to more of an old-shoe note (like oxidation) that builds as the beer warms, but it's very light. Otherwise, this is tasty and to-style take on the Baltic porter.

Bender
Surly Brewing Company
American Brown Ale | 5.10% ABV

A / 4.3
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

A brown ale with balls. So much so, I dont even know if its really a brown ale. Dark brown, the color of a porter, with great tan lacing. Slightly roasted and sweet malty aroma. Taste is complex with roasted and chocolate malts, american hops, and maybe even oatmeal. I think I tasted oatmeal. Very smooth beer, kind of thick, but very smooth. Give me another.

2009 Beer in Review

2009-12-28T16:57:00.000-05:00

2009 may have sucked for a lot of people and a lot of reasons, but it was another good year for beer. Really though, how could beer have a bad year? It's beer after all. No negative sides to it, right?

Anyways, here's my Top 5 Beers of the Year list. Some are brand new, newly imported, or just new to me. What they all have in common is that they're freakin' delicious.

Cantillon Lou Pepe - Gueuze
Brasserie Cantillon
Gueuze | 5.00% ABV

A / 4.45
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Label reads 2006 (year brewed), corks says bottled in 2008. Aside from dates, the bottle is entirely in French and Dutch as it was brought back from the Netherlands.

I'd been having a fair number of amazing oude gueuzes lately, and this hits all the marks, but goes just a little deeper. Yes, there's the sharp lemon-lime juice sour/acidic tang that pulls at the back of your jaw. There's the toasted oak, but also with a hint of ash and pepper. And then I also taste a not inappropriately cheesey funk like you'd get from a nice, fatty blue cheese. What else? Mmmmm, there's a light fresh garden herb and celery note, dry white grape, and wheat cracker. God damn this beer is amazing.

Achel Trappist Extra
Brouwerij der St. Benedictusabdij de Achelse
Belgian Strong Dark Ale | 9.50% ABV

A / 4.35
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 5

Split a bottle at Tap and Table in Emmaus, PA after it recently became more widely available in the states. Why, why, why does this beer have to cost nearly $29? It's easily the best the legal (not Westvleteren) Trappist beer I've had. Damn. The flavor is soft and malt-heavy with an earthy background. The barley brings a complex mix of typical but delicious candy flavors: figs, toffee, caramel, and cocoa. They're subtle flavors that develop as you sip though, not like some big beer that knocks your palate out. This is an experience, not just a drink. Find this beer.

Sculpin India Pale Ale
Ballast Point Brewing Company
American IPA | 7.00% ABV

A / 4.35
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Shared a bomber at Tap and Table in Emmaus, PA for $14. Totally worth it. This is easily one of the best IPA's I've had in sometime. Reminds me in terms of quality of the pint of Town Hall Masala Mama I had last week. The hops jump out of the glass once the beer is poured - I love when that happens. The hops are a mix of spicy citrus that are juicy, but dry and drinkable. There are also tasty notes of apricot, white grape, and orange peel.The aftertaste just doesn't go away. I had to go out of my way to find an even bigger beer to follow this up, otherwise this beer would have still been hanging on my palate.

Beer Geek Brunch Weasel
Mikkeller
American Double / Imperial Stout | 10.90% ABV

Notes: Imperial oatmeal stout brewed with coffee. Ingredients: Water, malts, hops, yeast and Vietnamese ca phe chon coffee.

A / 4.3
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Found a bottle hiding on one of the bottom shelves at Abe's Cold Beer for $11.25. I'm not usually impressed with big stouts, but this beer was fantastic. My first issue with imperial stouts is drinkability, but I split the bottle with a friend and could have easily split a second or drank it myself. My other typical concern with the style is that they all have the same heavy roast and cocoa flavors without much deviation. This beer started with a very unique, earthy coffee flavor that rolled off into chocolate liquor, cherries, and then a punch of citrus finishing hops. There was an incredibly long aftertaste that wouldn't seem to quit, though when it finally did, I wished I had more beer.

Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Hefeweizen | 4.80% ABV

A- / 4.2
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Picked up a case from Shangy's in Emmaus for about $28. Man, this beer is for real. Pours a hazy light amber with a tall white head a good lacing. The aroma is a spicy mix of vanilla, banana bread, and clove. The flavor follows that up with a dry, mineral undertone with sweet cracked wheat malts, banana, and a touch of white pepper. Very tasty and very drinkable. It reminds me of a cross between Paulaner and Schnieder. Heck of a beer from the folks in Chico.

Winter Warmers and Christmas Beer

2009-12-16T16:14:00.000-05:00

I have to admit the that winter warmer style isn't my favorite. Most winterized beers are just a smooth dark red or brown ale with a bunch of dessert spices thrown in. Frankly, I tire of cinnamon and vanilla brews because in most cases the spices talk over the beer's character and leave you with something more like an alcoholic Christmas tea (festive at first, then boring, and later you're just drunk).

Still, I figured the style is all over the beer shelves right now, so I searched through my database in search of some winter warmers I can recommend for a little Christmas cheer. I found one:

Old Jubilation
Avery Brewing Company
Winter Warmer | 8.00% ABV

A- / 4.15
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

This is a great looking beer with nice head and retention - a light tan head on ruby and brown body. Smells almost smokey with a mix of herbs and caramel malt. The taste expands with a strong malt flavor of fruit and candy. This is followed unexpectedly (for the style) by citrus hops and decent bitterness. That sure is different, but also welsome. It drinks just a bit hot, but still fairly smooth considering the bitterness. Call it a winter warmer for the hops lover.

Comic Relief: The Oatmeal

2009-12-01T17:34:00.000-05:00

I have to thank Alisa over at Project Happily Ever After (a blog that's not about how beer makes you happy) for this one. It's not the first comic to cover good beer, but it's certainly the most inventive. Anyone unfamiliar with The Oatmeal should know than addition to making a damn funny infographic about beer, it's also published 'toons like "6 Reasons Bacon is Better Than True Love," "7 Reasons to Keep Your Tyrannosaur Off Crack Cocaine," and "Things Bears Love."

And while I'm plugging other people's work, I also recommend checking out BearsAreGreat. Rawr.

Best Beers for the Holidays

2009-11-28T16:45:00.000-05:00

Whether you're looking for a tasty brew to pair with your Festivus feast or just want to get merry with your fam, I've got a beer for you:

Festivus Feast - Before you open up the Airing of Grievances, I recommend opening a bottle of Hibernus Quentum. The Belgian Tripel is my favorite style for holiday meals. They're effervescent, lifting fat and flavors off your tongue to clear your palate. The spice matches up with holidays seasoning. And they're complex enough to beat or match any wine most of us could afford.

Urthel Hibernus Quentum
De Leyerth Brouwerijen (Urthel)
Tripel | 9.00% ABV

A- / 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Poured from a skinny 330ml bottle, there's a tall white head with loud (relatively speaking) bubbles. On my tongue the beer is a little flatter than many Belgian, but that, I think, brings out more flavor instead of simply stinging my tongue. The flavor starts with a wonderful mixture of fresh baked white bread and earthy honey and ends with a hint of spicy hops for balance. In the aftertaste, a slight orange and cream flavor develops that's quite nice. The aroma has a slightly simpler profile with a mild perfume of Belgian candy and fresh (mild) herbs, like I've got one nostrel in a candy store and another in a garden.

This is a very well made Belgian tripel, though the complexity comes from its subtleties, so be prepared to stop and ponder the depths of this beer to enjoy to its fullest.

Get Merry - Look no further for liquid cheer - or just a great beer to sip by a fire. Bourbon-barrel beers are all over the board, some too thick and syrupy, some are thin and don't really resemble any sort of whiskey. Goose Island's BCS balances big mocha stout with smooth vanilla bourbon while providing a hell of a punch.

Bourbon County Stout
Goose Island
American Double / Imperial Stout | 13.00% ABV

A / 4.4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | drink: 5

Vintage 2007, 13% abv.

Easily the smoothest, tastiest ~13% beer I've ever had. Yes, it's a bit thick, but no more so than weaker double or imperial stouts. The aroma is rich with the bourbon which once on the palate, doesn't dominate, but compliments the strong, dark chocolate ad espresso flavors. Throw in a dash of oak and vanilla and you've got a hell of a beer. More please.

Party Like it's 1999 - If you're looking to party through this year and into the next, you'll need a session beer that won't knock you on your ass to fast. Pikeland Pils is Sly Fox's hoppy take on this classic German will satisfy your palate from first beer to the last.

Pikeland Pils
Sly Fox Brewing Company
German Pilsener | 4.90% ABV

A- / 4.2
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

This beer looks amazing, it has a white head that won't stop and reminds me of Duvel. Smells of sweet, light malts. The flavor is bland at first but then the hops kick in. Overall tastes of long-lasting grassy, earthy hops with added grapefruit and a bit of fruity malt. A little hoppier than the imports I've had, more like Prima Pils. Actually it's a lot like Prima Pils, but I think I like this better. My can was a touch over carbonated, but it was still very drinkable.

I've heard people recommend this to beer noobs, but I dont think I'd do the same. The flavor is really all in the bitterness, so if you're not into that, tough.

The Problem With Big Beer

2009-11-23T09:08:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend I tried and discussed a number of big (8%+ abv) beers. It's been a growing trend for a while to brew massive beers and sometimes age them in bourbon or some other sort of barrel. There are some fine world class big beers, like Westvleteren 12 and Russian River's Pliny the Younger, but I take issue with a lot of these brews because whether or not they taste good, they're often too damn thick to actually enjoy. Finish a bomber of some and sure, you'll be drunk, but you'll also feel like you just finished a turkey dinner.

From my homebrewing experience, I know that the more ingredients you throw at a beer and the more sugar you leave in (this sweetens and thickens), the easier it is to make a tasty beer. Drinkability be damned. Who needs a sessionable beer when beer geeks respond to sludge? Twenty-one of BeerAdvocate's top 25 beers are at least 8% abv, after all. Yeah there are some great beers on that list, most just wouldn't make it into my person top 25 brews.

Ranting aside, there's a right way and wrong way to make strong beers. Here's a recent barleywine I thought nailed the style, and a couple local Pennsylvania ales that succumbed to the trend toward being unnecessarily thick and strong.

Landmark Barleywine
Landmark Beer Company
English Barleywine | 9.00% ABV

A- / 4.05
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4

On-tap at Clarks Ale House in Syracuse for $6/pint. The light is a little low in here, but it appears a clear orange-red with with a short off-white head leaving lacing. For 9&, as the bartender tells me, this is a very drinkable barleywine - I like that. So many strong beer are too thick and sweet to really enjoy beyond a small pour. The aroma has a sweet caramel candy apple character.The flavor and feel are very smooth with chocolate biscuit and cookie malt undertones behind bittersweet orange peel hops. I'm reminded of a Terry's Chocolate Orange for the delicate mix of hops and mild grains. After some time to ponder the beer, I'm also finding toffee, grapefruit, and dried cherry notes. This is my favorite Landmark beer I've had, a real winner. Cheers to Kiernan!

Hop'solutely
Allentown Brew Works
American Double / Imperial IPA | 11.50% ABV

B / 3.65
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | drink: 3.5

Split a 750ml bottle with friends at the Steelgaarden. Like most 11%+ IPAs, there's a lot of malty sweetness that takes away from the hops and makes it thicker than it needs to be. It drinks a bit like DFH 90 Minute in relation to the sticky sweetness. The hops are still pretty tasty with the chinook and centennial hops standing out at first with bitter grapefruit and pine, smooth flowery hops kick in and the finish is a mix of light caramel and citrus rind.

Blasphemy
Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Quadrupel (Quad) | 11.80% ABV

C+ / 3.25
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | drink: 3.5

Picked up a single in a mixed case from the brewery.

Whoa, put this one back, it ain't ready yet. I'm not saying it's a bad beer, but it feels like it needs some time. The nose has some great vanilla and oak notes, but they're overwhelmed by alcohol there and in the flavor. There's a background sweetness in the taste, but again the booze prevails. I recommend this beer because it seems like there's some great stuff going on, but let it sit for at least 6 months before consuming.

The Bookstore Speakeasy

2009-11-10T20:27:00.000-05:00

The fine folks behind Emmaus, PA's Tap and Table just opened a new bar on Bethlehem's south side, The Bookstore Speakeasy. The Bookstore takes over the space previously occupied by Element, which lasted less than two years. Judging by their MySpace page, I honestly have no idea why that could have been.

The Bookstore, a 20's-style pub could come off gimmicky, but it's the real deal (save for the lack of mob beer and prohibition). The basement-level entrance is a plain, gray door with "BOOKSTORE" painted on, and leads to a small room packed with books on everything from "Sex Without Fear" to a 1955 anthology of US wetlands.

Pushing past a double curtain, the speakeasy is a small but plush barroom with dark wood furnishing and gas lamps on each table. The menu is pasted into the front pages of weathered hardcovers and a small chalkboard behind the bar lists their six taps.

When my group stumbled in, a three-piece band was playing hot jazz while the singer channeled Louis Armstrong through an antique microphone. A few couples danced in the limited floor space and soon enough our waitress was bring beer and slabs of cheese.

The atmosphere is smart, yet comfortable and the beer list covers enough ground to keep snobs and their unenlightened friends (approachable beers but nothing trashy) happy. Personally, this is the sort of bar I could stay in until sunrise.

Fruit and Spice Beer: The thin line between delicious and disgusting

2009-10-24T17:08:00.000-04:00

Pumpkin beer is sadly coming to close before we actually hit Halloween, so be warned. Go out and get some before it's all gone. In the style of Fruit and Spice Beers, it's not the best thing you can add to beer, but I'll never turn a good pumpkin beer down.

Some types of fruit beers don't fair so well. Last weekend I had the honor of trying an Austrian Radler (which has nothing to do with snakes). Radler is a half-beer half-lemonade mixture popularized in Germany and Austria by thirsty cyclists apparently more concerned about hydration than most of the ones I know.

Typically, this sort of drink is mixed at a bar, but Austrian brewery Stiegl, who generally makes respectable beer, released a bottled radler. If there was any lemonade - or even a lemon derivative - used in this beer, it'd be news to me. It's the product of light beer and lemon-flavored syrup. I've really only tried one other Radler, which I've pasted my review in below, but lemons and beer are a dubious at best combination.

Stiegl Gaudi Radler Shandy (Lemon)
Stieglbrauerei zu Salzburg GmbH
Fruit Beer | 2.50% ABV

C+ / 3.05
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | drink: 3
rDev: +2%

Thanks to Sue and Meg for sharing their case of Shandy. This is an old sub-style (lemonade+beer) I've wanted to try for a while. This one however, is more just an ultra-light lager with lemon syrup added. Instead of juice, the lemon tastes more like Lemon Drops and candy. The light lager is pleasant and clean, but this beer is too sweet. However, if you dig the thicker, sweeter fruit lambics, this might be up your alley.

Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
Fruit Beer | 4.20% ABV

C+ / 3.2
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 3.5

I think this one should be filed under fruit beer. There's a big, tart lemonade flavor up front with a bit of wheat flavor following. The aroma has a bit of lemon. It's kind of like they took a very pale wheat beer and dumped Country Time lemonade mix into it. If you love lemons and NEED them in beer, go for this otherwise, its not much more than lawnmower beer.

A drink for Frank Vandenbroucke

2009-10-16T13:05:00.000-04:00

The insanely talented and just plain insane Frank Vandenbroucke passed away this week. For anyone unfamiliar with Frank VDB, he was supposed to be the next great Belgian cyclist. In the late 90's he amassed an impressive list of wins, but between outside pressure and doping allegations, he imploded in a mess of performance dehancing drugs, drunk driving, and depression (to name a few of his issues).

Demons aside, the world has lost one of its most passionate cyclists and a strong drink is in order. For Frank, I dug deep into my cellar and pulled out an 2-year-old Rochefort 10. Not only is Rochefort 10 a Belgian quad, the king of Belgian beers, it's also the strongest of the Trappist brews.

Frank, here's to you.

Trappistes Rochefort 10
Brasserie de Rochefort (Abbaye de Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy)
Quadrupel (Quad) | 11.30% ABV

A- / 4.15
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 5

The appearance was a typical Trappist quad, muddy brown with a red tint. The aroma held hints of citrus and was almost milky and cola-like. The flavor was very mellow, almost like a sweet old ale. It feels creamier than the Bernardus, though I unfortunately can't compare it to the Westlveteren yet. There's a little banana with the subtle fruit malt flavors. Like the other quads, this isn't the boldest beer. But despite the alcohol, it's oh-so drinkable if you can afford it.

Oktoberfest in in October (It's mostly in September)

2009-10-11T18:14:00.000-04:00

The actual Oktoberfest in Munich ended a week ago. And while the 'fest beers showed up in stores long before that, I've been too busy drinking them to write about my favorites. Still, they should be hanging around your local beer store at least until the end of the month, so here are a few I've enjoyed and recommend.

Weissenohe Monk's Fest
Klosterbrauerei Weissenohe
Märzen / Oktoberfest | 5.00% ABV

A- / 4.1
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

On-tap at the Farmhouse. Served in a standard pint glass, it appears a clear amber-orange with a short white head. Wow this beer is fresh. Right off the bat, it's an expertly balanced, and seemingly flawless Oktoberfest. The aroma and flavor a filled with a seemingly simple bready and light caramel malt profile that's countered by a subtle hop note. I imagine this is what O-fest's from the big German brewers, especially Spaten, would taste like if they fresh and untainted by travel. Overall, this beer is incredibly drinkable and it's a shame this beer isn't everywhere.

Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen
Paulaner Salvator Thomasbraeu AG
Märzen / Oktoberfest | 5.80% ABV

B+ / 3.95
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Picked up a single as part of a mixed sixer of seasonal beers at Liberty St. Tavern. Pours a clear amber with a short off-white head. Ah, I love the original Oktoberfests. I wish I'd had this earlier in the season because these put everything in perspective. The aroma and flavor are a smooth caramel flavor that finish with light roasted flavors and a hint of hops. The flavor is fairly clean and there's nothing remotely off. Basically it's tasty and very drinkable. I'd drink a stein-full anytime.

Sly Fox Oktoberfest
Sly Fox Brewing Company
Märzen / Oktoberfest | 5.80% ABV

B+ / 3.85
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4

On-tap at the Royersford brewery. The beer appeared a clear golden orange in my pint glass with two fingers of head. The aroma was rich with caramel, bread crust, and a mild fruity lager tang. The flavor followed up on the same notes, but was a touch subtle for the style. Still, the overall character was very true to the style and I enjoyed catching this beer on the tail end of the Oktoberfest season. Worth trying for anyone that loves traditional German O-fest beer.

Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen
Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer KG / Brauerei Aying
Märzen / Oktoberfest | 5.80% ABV

B+ / 4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

Picked up a 500ml from Byerly's in Maple Grove. Pours a clear amber-gold with a white head. Man I wish Ayinger beer were more readily available/cheaper. This is a great O-fest, rich with bready caramel malts with a smooth, oh-so drinkable body. It is a touch thicker than other in the style, Spaten comes to mind as a thinner beer, but man it's good. The flavor has subtle layers of malt with a touch of crisp light toffee, with an aroma to match. I'll be looking forward to having this again next fall.

Pumpkin Time - Beer that is, though the pie's good too

2009-09-28T20:09:00.000-04:00

With Fall upon us, Pumpkin beer is in full-effect. Most folks may only see Anheuser-Busch's Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale (not bad) at their local bar, or maybe Shipyard's Pumpkinhead (bad) and Dogfish Head's Punkin' Ale (very good) if they frequent decent beer bars. Either way, here are a few of the good, bad, and "meh" you might encounter this season. Cheers.

Punkin' Ale
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Pumpkin Ale | 7.00% ABV

B+ / 3.8
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

I'm not sure where this appeared from in January, but I'm not complaining. I had a pint (low-head) with my soup and pizza at Liberty St. Tavern. The hops have died down a bit since October, but this is still about the hoppiest pumpkin ale you can find. It starts with big, pulpy pumpkin meat in the aroma and flavor which is followed by a bitter burst of citrus. This isn't the most complexx pumpkin beer, the malts never really came out. But I'd say it's the most balanced and certainly one of the more pleasant to drink.

Imperial Pumpkin Ale
Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Pumpkin Ale | 8.00% ABV

B+ / 3.9
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 3.5

Had a bottle, poured into a Weyerbacker pint glass.

Big strong, aroma to start, full of pumpkin meat and crust garnished with cinnamon and nutmeg. The flavor is good, but comes off too spice-heavy, taking away from the nice malts and pumpkin in the aroma. Overall, it feels like a bigger beer, but still hides the 8% well. One of the best pumpkin beers I've tried and tastier than the other imperial I've tried, Pumking.

Pumpkinhead Ale
Shipyard Brewing Co.
Pumpkin Ale | 4.50% ABV

C- / 2.7
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | drink: 2

Wow, this is a far cry from the very fine Blue Fin Stout I recently had from Shipyard. This beer tastes like pumpkin pie juice. Seriously, if someone threw a pie into a juicer and strained the remains, this is what you'd get. It feels thin and watery while the cinnamon and pumpkin pie spices are overwhelming. Pass on this unfortunate dud.

Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale
Anheuser-Busch
Pumpkin Ale | 5.50% ABV

B- / 3.45
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | drink: 3.5

On-tap at Mach's Gute in Bethlehem PA at $4 a pint. It appeared clear amber with a short white head. For an A-B beer this isn't bad. It's clean and there aren't trademark bad beer flavors like corn or any rough bites. Really, this is a lot like a Yuengling but with a big smattering of Thanksgiving spices - cinnamon, pumpkin spice, clove. It's pretty thin for the style, but not a bad beer.

There's good beer in Florida - Cigar City Brewing

2009-09-14T22:21:00.000-04:00

The name is long, but the beer is damn good. I was in Orlando over the weekend for a wedding and made a stop the first night at Knightly Spirits for a few provisions (local beer). While there really isn't a lot of good beer that's unique to Orlando, I did find a couple bottle from Tampa's tiny Cigar City Brewing. The good news, according to their blog, is that they're started to ship bottles to NY. So next time you're in NYC, you might be able to find a bottle. Best of luck.

Jai Alai Cedar Aged IPA - Humidor Series
Cigar City Brewing
American IPA | 7.50% ABV

A- / 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4

Picked up a 750 ml bottle from Knightly Spirits in Orlando. Poured a hazy orange with a tall white head. The aroma has a syrupy mix of sweetened grapefruit, toasted cedar plank, and ash, but with more of the focus on the citrus hops. The flavor hits off with the hops - big pine and juniper (almost like gin), and then biting orange peel. Dry, wood flavors kick in to finish with cocoa and toasted crust. Overall, a very well-made and interesting IPA. I hope this beer gets around, it's damn good.

It's still summer to me.

2009-09-08T13:40:00.000-04:00

I've been hearing a lot of whining lately about the end of summer and frankly, I think it's pretty lame. It's still hot out. I'm still sweating far more than is comfortable. And despite the appearance of Oktoberfest beers, I'm still drinking summer beers like hefeweizens and pilsners.

You're welcome to give up on summer and start hibernating, but not me. There's still plenty of time until the leaves fall and snow flies. Here's the warm-weather beers I've been loving lately.

Hopfenweizen
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
American Pale Wheat Ale

B+ / 4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

On-tap at the Newark brewpub. Served in a pint glass, the beer was a clear amber with a short white head. The flavor kicked off with typical Bavarian wheat beer spices: clove and banana. And after the initial wheat malt and yeast character, the American hops jumped in with bitter grapefruit and pine flavors. Very tasty and a great blending of IPA and hefe styles. If you've tried and enjoyed the Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse, this is like a lighter-alcohol version. A great beer for anyone that loves wheat beers and hops.

Voodoo Love Child
Voodoo Brewing Company
Tripel

Brewer's Notes: This is our Belgian Style Tippel aged on intimate fruits of Passion Fruit, Raspberry and Cherry. Lightly spiced with corriander and curqua orange peel and other spices of passion. Light Reddish hue and with a alcohol strength of 10.5% and nicely carbonated in the bottle.

B+ / 4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

Split a bomber at The Farmhouse for $13. This beer is worth checking out for the bizarre label alone. Wow. The beer appears a hazy light amber with a short white head. The aroma and flavor are big on fresh berry fruit and seeds. I'm reminded of the sensation of biting into a raspberry and chewing on the seeds. In the aroma, however, this smell comes off eerily similar to roasted turkey. Go figure. The label says it has cherries, passion fruit, and raspberries, and the former two play a big part of the taste, while the actual tripel malt just provides a pleasant backbone. Check this beer out. Definitely interesting and tasty.

La Trappe Isid'or
Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven B.V.
Belgian Pale Ale | 7.50% ABV

A- / 4.2
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

Ordered a bottle at Tap and Table in Emmaus, PA for $7. Served in a chalice it appears light amber with a slight haze. Man, this is a delicious beer. The flavor is a subtle mix of lemon peel, vanilla, white pepper, sweet candy bread, and white grape. The spices are very mellow, but the flavors are deep. The body is very drinkable and if it weren't a little expensive I'd order another.

Beer for cyclocross

2009-08-23T00:00:00.000-04:00

Cyclocross season is coming and I need some homebrew for it. Why? Well if you don't know much about cyclocross, it's basically a marriage of bike racing and beer. Normally, that could be dangerous, but 'cross takes place on grassy fields and in parks, so nobody's going to get hurt. And if they do, it's not the beer's fault.

Name: TBD
Belgian Blonde Ale
Original Gravity: 1.062
Final Gravity: 1.000
ABV: 7.9%
IBU: 33

Malt Bill:
9.5# Belgian Pilsner
1# Wheat
.5# Caravienne
1# Belgian Candi Sugar

Hops:
1 oz. Northern Brewer @ 60 min
1 oz. Hallertau @ 30 min

Wyeast French Saison Yeast
Mashed @ 152 for 60 min

Light beers don't have to suck, but Keystone Light does.

2009-08-15T14:15:00.000-04:00

I can deal with hot summer days, but the hot summer nights lead me to do crazy things like drink awful, awful beer (provided it's real cold). A couple Fridays ago, the always-generous Kuklickx was hosting a party with free beer. I can't knock him for serving Keystone, because hey, I'm not paying for it. In fact, I'm greatful to Kuklickx for providing me with some drink-for-thought. Only by trying to worst beers, can we understand the best. Also, once my six-pack of Kellerweis was empty, I was at the mercy of his kegerator. So Kuklickx, this post is dedicated to you. Assuming you ever read it.

Now the interesting thing about light beer is that while most suck, they don't have to. Over the last week, I tried a great beer at Emmaus's Tap and Table that was far lighter than Keystone (only 2.8%), but still tasted like good beer. Anyways, here the reviews to compare and contrast two vastly different light, low-alcohol brews.

Keystone Light
Coors Brewing Company
Light Lager | 4.20% ABV

D / 2.1 (this is an above-average score)
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | drink: 2.5

A friend had this on-tap in his kegerator and I couldn't resist giving this a try. I was also out of Kellerweise. Last time I drank this it was in an unfinished basement in college. This experience, frankly (and thanks to Kuklickx), wasn't terribly different. I found the key to this beer was to taste it as little as possible. Letting sit on my tongue for a split second before gulping left just a cream soda and white bread taste. When I let it linger, it tasted like a chemical spill. It was sharp and acrid with a dirty water background. Stick to chugging, you don't want to taste this.

Mirage
General Lafayette Inn & Brewery
Belgian Pale Ale | 2.70% ABV

B / 3.6
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

On-tap at Tap and Table in Emmaus, PA for $3/pint. An impressive beer for the strength. Good job General Lafayette. It drinks like a typical session beer of greater strength and reminds me of a milder Squatters Full Suspension. The malt is mellow with a little toasted barley followed by kicks of apricot and lemon peel hops, very tasty. Give this beer a try if you're into session beers.

Summer is delicious: Hot weather beer

2009-08-03T09:07:00.000-04:00

For me, the summer is (a little) less about trying new beers as it is simply about enjoying great beer. It's a balance, really, because some new beer just sucks. Still, I've picked up a couple new favorites when it comes to flavorful, yet light and drinkable, session beers.

B.B. Bürgerbräu (Budweiser Bier)
Budějovický Měšťanský Pivovar
Czech Pilsener | 5.00% ABV

B+ / 3.9
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

On-tap at Tap and Table for $5/pint. Thanks to Tudor for the recommendation. This is a tasty and fresh Czech pilsener - something that's hard to some by. A lot of alleged Czech pils are really just bland macro lagers. There's a smooth, dry bready malt taste and the pils finishes with a mildly bitter spicy hop taste. Very nice and very refreshing. Pils-lovers should seek this out.

Sculpin India Pale Ale
Ballast Point Brewing Company
American IPA | 7.00% ABV

A / 4.35
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Shared a bomber at Tap and Table in Emmaus, PA for $14. Totally worth it. This is easily one of the best IPA's I've had in sometime. Reminds me in terms of quality of the pint of Town Hall Masala Mama I had last week. The hops jump out of the glass once the beer is poured - I love when that happens. The hops are a mix of spicy citrus that are juicy, but dry and drinkable. There are also tasty notes of apricot, white grape, and orange peel.The aftertaste just doesn't go away. I had to go out of my way to find an even bigger beer to follow this up, otherwise this beer would have still been hanging on my palate.

Those beers kicked ass. Now, for posterity, here's one of the new beers that landed closer to the other end of the awesome-suck beer continuum.

Dirty Blonde
Atwater Block Brewery
American Pale Wheat Ale | 4.50% ABV

C+ / 3.05
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | drink: 2.5

On-tap at Liberty St. Tavern in Allentown, PA. Appears hazy dark blonde. There's nothing very remarkable about this beer. It was a slightly sweet wheat malt flavor so it kind of just tastes like sugary liquid bread. No hops to speak of and while it's easy-drinking and balanced, it's not really a pleasure to drink. It just does nothing for me.

2009-07-24T08:10:00.000-04:00

Alberto Contador may be suspiciously good, but this has been a clean Tour de France this year. So instead of making fun of stupid dopers (Bert is clearly stupid, but only possibly a doper), I thought I'd make a pubic-service post. Here's a list of all the TdF team and what types of companies actually sponsor them. Who knew Quick-Step was in the flooring business?

The teams are also listed in order of their team classification (combined time of their top 3 riders). That means that Borat & Co (Kazakhstan governement and a conglomeration of Kazakh companies) is beating the crap out of the likes of an Italian sheet metal company and a Dutch bank. Yeah, it's just weird like that. And next year we'll get to see Radio Shack in the mix.

ASTANA: Borat & Co.
GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM: GPS devices and a guy with huge sideburns
AG2R LA MONDIALE: French interprofessional insurance and supplementary retirement fund group, and a French-based group for supplementary pension and estate planning insurance.
TEAM SAXO BANK: Online trading and investment company
LIQUIGAS: Italian liquid gas provider
COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE: Money lender
EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI: Basque telecom company with Basque government funding (like Borat & Co.)
FRANCAISE DES JEUX: French national lottery
TEAM KATUSHA: Russian natural gas and holding companies (Russian mob)
TEAM MILRAM: German milk (hence why they look like cows)
AGRITUBEL: Metal tubes for farming
CAISSE D’EPARGNE: French banking group (for a Spanish team)
BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM: French mobile phone company
SILENCE - LOTTO: Belgian national lottery and a Belgian pharma company.
CERVELO TEST TEAM: Canadian bike company with a fake Italian name.
TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC: Winter jackets and mobile phones
RABOBANK: Dutch financial services provider
QUICK STEP: Laminate & Parquet flooring
LAMPRE - N.G.C: Italian sheet metal
SKIL-SHIMANO: small power tools, cycling components and fishing tackle

Minnesota is delicious

2009-07-17T17:52:00.000-04:00

Minnesota is delicious. And not just because we're next to Wisconsin (which we all know is made of cheese). I've been here a week visiting the fam and it's almost time to head back to PA. As always, there's never enough time with family and friends, and there's never enough time to drink all the new-to-me beers. Alas. I do my best.

Here's a quick write-up of a kick-ass, one-off beer I had this week at Town Hall Brewery. This brewpub is easily one of the best in the world and does amazing things with hops.

Golden Leaf Pale Ale
Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery
American Pale Ale

A / 4.3
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

On-tap at Town Hall. $3.75 for a late night happy hour pint. Damn these guys know their hops. This Columbus dry-hopped pale ale kicks ass. It's got big biting hops, nice and rough, while the body is still very drinkable. The flavor is a mix of earthy and grapefruit hops and they pair perfectly. It's part garden, part citrus punch. There's also a slightly fruity, trademark Town Hall note that I only taste in their beers. House flavor I suppose. I could ask for a little more flavor from this beer, but it's still one of the best pale ales I've had in a long time.

Blogging another blog, and the Brewer's Art Green Peppercorn Tripel

2009-07-07T18:02:00.000-04:00

The last two days I've done the liveblog Tour de France coverage for Bicycling.com. Both times I wrote about 2500 words over 3 hours, which is pretty good for me, but pales in comparison to the usual contributor, Joe Lindsey.

Today's Tour coverage garnered 55 comments. I don't think I've ever had a post here get 5, but that's fine. This is the place for me to write about beer and cycling stuff nobody is paying me to write about. If 200 people see the page, 20 read it and 2 think about commenting but don't, that's enough of an audience for me.

To celebrate my blogging with a larger audience, I split of bottle of the Brewer's Art Green Peppercorn Tripel with a friend. This richly-flavored take on a classic Belgian style was perfect for the humid summer evening we were having. If you're ever in Maryland, look this beer up.

Brewer's Art Green Peppercorn Tripel
Brewer's Art
Tripel | 9.20% ABV

A- / 4.1
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Picked up a bottle at State Line in Maryland and split it with a friend. Poured a hazy gold with a tall white head that left lacing. Throughout the aroma and flavor, the peppercorn is obvious, but it never dominates the beer. Instead it does a great job of adding something a little different. This beer is otherwise a very smooth and subtle triple that reminds me of La fin du Monde for the gentle spices and occasional burst of sweet bread a light fruit flavors. Definitely try this beer if you can find it.

(The picture is good enough that I feel compelled to remind any readers that it's not mine, I'm just borrowing it from shyzaboy)

Riding like a Belgian

2009-07-03T08:51:00.001-04:00

I took a vacation day recently to spend 8 hours on my bike, or at least near it and enjoying a beer.

I went out with local mechanic extraordinaire, Taylor, and stopped for lunch at the Phoenixville Iron Hill Brewery. Before my Belgian meatballs came out, we had an order of frites with spicy mayo and a round of the house witbier. Later on, I enjoyed an even tastier tripel.

Witbier
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
Witbier

B+ / 3.85
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 4

I biked into town on a hot day and ordered the wit first thing. Came out in a tall pilsner sort of glass with an orange slice which I quickly removed. While the beer was very drinkable, like a good wit, the flavor felt a little fuller and lacked the small subtle spice flavors of a great wit. Instead it was a simpler sweet vanilla wheat with pepper and orange spice. Certainly not bad, but not my favorite wit.

Belgian Tripel
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
Tripel
A- / 4.1
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

I ordered a goblet with my meal of Belgian meatballs and though the meatballs were lackluster, this beer kicked ass. It appeared a clear gold with a short head. I suppose I really liked it because it so closely mimicked Maredsous 10 (a fav of mine). It's not the driest tripel, but there's a delicious orange and spice yeast profile with hint of pepper, vanilla, and apricot. Very tasty. Try this beer.

Writing about beer for real

2009-06-24T20:36:00.000-04:00

Whenever possible I write about beer and actually get paid for it. Of course, a lot of people like to get paid to write about beer (not to mention get samples), so the gigs are limited. Still, I had an article go up recently on Bicycling.com. Among athletes, I like to believe that cyclists are a particularly good beer drinkers. And I mean that both in their level of taste and overall zeal.

Check it out.

It's hard to pick a favorite out of the bunch, though the Squatter's Full-Suspension Pale Ale, Oskar Blues Gordon, and La Rulles Estivale stood out in my mind. I held a tasting of the 11 beers with about as many tasters and nobody could agree on a favorite. Seeing that just backed up my long-held (well at least the last few years) belief that in life there's no need to worry, because there's always more good beer.

Real Beer Judging

2009-06-16T17:56:00.000-04:00

To my 225 semi-regular readers (at least according to May counter statistics), I apologize for my recent lapse of posting. Shit happens.

June has been a good beer month thus far. Two weeks ago, I judged my second competition at the 2009 BUZZ OFF. I'll point out right here that any homebrew club worth its yeast has some silly beer-related acronym for a name. In this case we have the Brewers United for Zany Zymurgy - Zymurgy being the science of fermentation.

For a tangential bit of entertainment, here are a few of the best club names:

The Houston United Group of Zymurgists (THUGZ)
Wichita`s Only Real Tasty Suds (WORTS)
Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)
KROC (Keg Ran Out Club)

I judged and enjoyed Belgian Specialty (doesn't fit in any normal Belgian category) and Pilsners, with a Trappist-inspired barleywine being my favorite beer. The closest thing I can liken it to is Maredsous 10, which also happens to be a favorite of mine.

Also for the second time after judging a competition, I felt awful. It was like having a hangover without ever getting drunk or even catch a buzz. Over the 6 hours of judging, I sipped a total of about four beers while trying 22 different entries. Why did I do this again?

Anyways, on the topic of Belgian Specialty beers, I recently tried Captain Lawrence's Xtra Gold tripel. The beer was a delicious blend of American and Belgian brewing practices and ingredients.

Xtra Gold Tripel
Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.
Tripel | 10.00% ABV

A- / 4.1
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Picked up a 750 capped bottle at New Beer Distributors in the Bowery. I like it when labels tell the truth and this really does taste like an American-style tripel. It's more crisp (and fresh) with juicy citrus hops rounding out a more traditional spice and pepper malt and yeast flavor. Sometimes US brewers try to put their own American spin on a Belgian, but the beer just comes out too plain, this beer doesn't do any of that. It takes the best of both worlds making for a delicious and satisfying beer. I'll also note that fans of hoppy Belgian's should look to this beer.

Beer Reviews: Triple your pleasure

2009-06-02T18:48:00.000-04:00

OK, that's a lame title, but I've had a good run of Belgian tripels lately. For anyone that doesn't know, a Belgian tripel is a strong, deliciously spicy golden ale that'll knock you on your ass if you're not careful. BeerAdvocate.com also has a description:

Description:
The name "Tripel" actually stems from part of the brewing process, in which brewers use up to three times the amount of malt than a standard Trappist "Simple." Traditionally, Tripels are bright yellow to gold in color, which is a shade or two darker than the average Pilsener. Head should be big, dense and creamy. Aroma and flavor runs along complex, spicy phenolic, powdery yeast, fruity/estery with a sweet finish. Sweetness comes from both the pale malts and the higher alcohol. Bitterness is up there for a beer with such a light body for its strength, but at times is barely perceived amongst the even balance of malts and hops. The lighter body comes from the use of Belgian candy sugar (up to 25% sucrose), which not only lightens the body, but also adds complex alcoholic aromas and flavors. Small amounts of spices are sometimes added as well.

Tripels are actually notoriously alcoholic, yet the best crafted ones hide this character quite evil-like and deceivingly, making them sipping beers.

Average alcohol by volume (abv) range: 8.0-12.0%

Right, what they said. Anyways, here's what I've been enjoying.

Incubus
Sly Fox Brewing Company
Tripel | 10.30% ABV

B+ / 4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

Picked up a bottle from the Bowery Whole Foods for $9. Why have I not drank this beer before? It's a well-made Belgian that's delightfully fresh thanks to being brewed so nearby. The beer is properly light and drinkable, and also dry and spicy. The malts also provide a gentle golden raisin and mild berry punch taste before more dry biscuit malt and a peppery finish. Definitely worth a try.

Merry Monks' Ale
Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Tripel | 9.30% ABV

B / 3.6
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 4.5

Had a bottle with a spicy BBQ chicken dinner.

It's nice and sweet, a little too sweet like most American takes on Belgian styles, but for the price it's not bad. The flavor starts with light fruit syrup taste followed an almost hot spice flavor with some pale grains mixed in. It lacks the complexity of the great Belgians, but I still enjoyed it.

La Fin Du Monde
Unibroue
Tripel | 9.00% ABV

A- / 4.2
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

This is a pretty nice beer, stands right up with some of my favorite Belgians like Duvel. It smelled sweet and spicy (corriander) with a similar flavor that was rich, yet drinkable and kept coming at my tongue. The spicy hops, white pepper, and dry biscuit malts don't stop. This is a great beer and probably benefits from having a shorter trip down from Canada to help keep it fresh.

Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel
Brasserie d'Achouffe
Belgian IPA | 9.00% ABV

A- / 4.05
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4

Very interesting. In short, I'd have liked a touch more from the malt, but there's a lot of awesome hops flavors here. They're big and rough, yet sweet at times, and always tasty. I'm talking citrus fruit punch with grassy and herbal elements. The richness of flavor is on par with any good DIPA, but the body is more drinkable than most 9% beers. There was a mild bready malt flavor with a hint of vanilla and spice that reminds me a touch more of a wit.

Overall, this is a pretty cool combination of a Belgian ale with big hops. Definitely worth trying.

Biking like a gentleman

2009-05-25T13:51:00.000-04:00

It's been a busy week but this weekend I got to take part in the 120-mile Rapha Gentlemen's Race in and around the Catskills of Upstate NY. There was about 5000 vertical feet of climbing and cold beer from Kelso Brewing at the finish line (a delicious pilsner).

Here are a few images from my crappy camera of my Fifth St. Cross team rolling up Sugar Loaf, the day's big climb.

Taylor ripping it up.

Pryor, Plunkett, and Christine bringing the pain.

It was a long, sweaty day and thankfully Pryor had a few special brews waiting for the team. I had a nice, cool bottle of Tripel Karmeliet. Delicious. Here's a review from the achrives on the tasty Belgian.

Tripel Karmeliet
Brouwerij Bosteels
Tripel

A- / 4.2
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | drink: 5

Poured from a 750ml green bottle. A little overflow after it was uncorked, this bottle might have been sitting around a while. No matter, its still tasty.

Looks a hazy straw yellow, and smells of apples and green grapes with a touch of spice. The spice expands on taste, as does the fruit here. This is one of those beers that amazes you at what a beer can taste like. Not overly sweet. I'd say its perfectly balanced. Give me more.

Surprise: Tap and Table is Open

2009-05-14T20:19:00.000-04:00

I was sitting at South Mountain Cycles and Coffee Bar this morning when suddenly Bowman emerged from the bathroom with an announcement. While doing whatever it was he was doing, he noticed an ad deep in the local newspaper proclaiming the opening of Emmaus's Tap and Table gastro pub. Hot damn, it opened early.

I went over for lunch to check the place out. Unfortunately, I only had my camera phone with me, so I apologize for the crappy images. I had the mussels and clams, cooked in a garlic beer (La Chouffe) sauce, and a bottle of Taras Boulba, a light, hoppy Belgian pale ale.

Good Belgian Beer: Eerwaarde Pater

2009-05-13T09:54:00.000-04:00

I'm typically a pretty intentional drinker. When I'm trying a new beer, I like to know what it is and whether it's worth a damn, because, well, there's a lot of shitty beer in this world. Recently my favorite bottle shop, Abe's Cold Beer, filled a few shelves with new-to-the-US Belgian imports. Incidentally since most of the beer geek websites I use are US-based there was little to no info on the new brews. For posterity's sake, however, I swallowed hard a picked a few bottles that seemed to come from reputable brewers. So far so good...

Eerwaarde Pater
Brouwerij Het Alternatief
Belgian Strong Dark Ale

B+ / 4
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Picked up a single at Abe's Cold Beer for $5. Poured a clear brown with little head and no retention. This is certainly a unique beer and is sort of a hybrid of an American brown ale and dark strong Belgian. I'm sure that wasn't the brewer's intention, but the malts come out very clean and crisp with roast caramel, not at all hidden by yeast-driven flavors like fruit and spice. The oak aging (at least according to the label) adds a mildly acid sour tang that's an not-so-natural, but interesting pairing with the robust dark malt flavor. The aroma is a smoother, inviting caramel and chocolate candy smell. And in the sour aftertaste there's a hint of farmhouse funk. This beer would likely be greatly improved with a year or two of cellaring to let the wild critters grow and develop, you know, if you're into that sort of thing. Overall, a different take on the style and very drinkable. Try this beer.

New Lehigh Valley Gastropub: Tap and Table.

2009-05-06T16:27:00.000-04:00

UPDATE: NOW OPEN SEE THURSDAY'S POST

Hell to the yes. I got word earlier this week that a new gastropub, called Tap and Table, will be opening in the Lehigh Valley. Here's an email I got from the folks in charge:

Thanks a lot for your interest; we are VERY excited to serve the valley with an incredible beer experience. The goal is to open by the end of May, but there hasn't been an exact date set yet. We will have 6 drafts, 3 casks, and about 50 bottles; all rotating selections. We will NOT carry any light commercial beer, yuengling lager, sam adams, etc...only the FINEST. We guarantee our selection will be blow you away! The food consists of 5/6 appetizers and 5/6 plates. Beer is used as an ingredient in a number of the dishes. The food is pub fare with a very unique twist. The atmosphere is an old world pub feel/gothic church, and the space is completely illuminated by candles!

They'll be located just outside Emmaus on 4226 Chestnut St (AKA Rte 29). That's just down the road from The Farmhouse and not too far from Shangy's.

Some day I might get tired of drinking Belgian beer. Maybe:

2009-05-03T20:45:00.000-04:00

Saturday night I had dinner at Louie's in Allentown (they have some good beer) with a group that included a several runners who'd signed up for today's Lehigh Valley Half-Marathon. One guy, however, was injured but still came to town from Binghamton to pick up his race t-shirt and cheer on his girlfriend.

Now I like bad, stupid ideas. So the second I learned there was a race number up for grabs, I had to have it despite maybe running for a total of seven miles a week the last couple months. Twelve hours later I was lined up and running in support of my friend Meg (she kicked ass and ran a 1:50, I kicked far less ass and ran 1:50). Surprisingly, I felt pretty good. After eleven years of on and off competitive I guess I've built up what Bill Strickland eloquently describes as "deep legs". Today also went a lot better than my bad idea to run/walk the Marine Corps Marathon last fall, so I celebrated with the best Belgian beer I had on hand.

't Gaverhopke Den Twaalf (Bruin 12°)/ Extra
Brouwerij 't Gaverhopke
Quadrupel (Quad)

A- / 4.05
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Picked up a single at Abe's Cold Beer for $5.25. The label read "EXTRA" and that's just the exported name. Very interesting. This doesn't just follow the typical quad lines of smooth caramel malts. Instead it starts with a mix of dry lemon with tart raspberries, then cocoa and toffee with a very mild earthy mustiness. The aroma is a little cleaner than the flavor with dry, earthy cocoa and a grape juice note. Finishes with a tart juicy feel, sort of like drinking cranberry juice, and no hint of alcohol. I'd like the flavors here to be richer, but this is still tasty and very easy to drink Belgian.

Thanks Keith: ReaperAle Deathly Pale Ale

2009-05-03T16:17:00.000-04:00

My favorite neighborhood bar Liberty St. Tavern reopened this weekend after suffering damage from an electrical fire in the upstairs apartment. I met up with a few friends and shared a few large bottles of delicious craft beer. Keith, who's always generous with beer, set down a new round on our table and proceeded to leave me and Kuklix to finish them. He simply asked to let him know what the Deathly Pale Ale tasted like, so here you go.

Deathly Pale Ale
ReaperAle
American Pale Ale (APA)

B+ / 3.85
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 4

It poured a light copper with white head. The hops dominate this beer, but not beer a quick shot of bready malt pops in the. The hops are almost sweet with smooth, sappy pine followed by apricot and grapefruit. Very drinkable and very tasty.

And again: The Lost Abbey's Judgment Day

2009-04-30T11:03:00.000-04:00

While this is from California, it certainly captures the spirit of Belgium.

Judgment Day
The Lost Abbey
Quadrupel (Quad)

B+ / 4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

On-tap at the Farmhouse in Emmaus, PA. Served in a wine glass it appears a very dark brown with a tan head. Quite dark for a quad, but there are faint red highlight when held up to the light. At first I get a candy plum note, but that quickly fades leaving to big dark chocolate flavors along with raisin and very mild peppermint notes. The aroma also sticks with the chocolate, but it reminds me of a creamier, fine milk chocolate. Finishes with a roasted orange bitterness from the mix of hops and malt. Thick, but reasonable for a 10.5% beer. Certainly not your average quad, but a great dessert beer.

More Good Beer: It's Belgian - Gaverhopke Singing Blonde

2009-04-28T12:01:00.001-04:00

To combat Monday's heat, I popped open a bottle I'd recently snagged at Abe's Cold Beer while grilling some BBQ chicken. While the chicken was pretty good (probably from the Wegman's sauce, not my grilling skills), the beer was great. Apparently this beer in particular is almost untried in the U.S., but Abe's has it. Thank you Abe.

't Gaverhopke Zingende Blondine
Brouwerij 't Gaverhopke
Belgian Strong Pale Ale

A- / 4.2
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Poured a clear gold with an aggressive head and only turned hazy because I let a little sediment in. The aroma is an interesting mix wine vinegar, cider, and scented burning candles - in the sense that it reminds me of spiced wax if that makes any sense. The flavor has bit of orange peel, lemon juice, mild pepper. The finish if fairly balanced with subtle bitterness with light sour tang. Complex and easy to drink for the 9.8% strength. Heck of a beer.

Sometimes beer is disappointing.

2009-04-26T21:05:00.000-04:00

There's a good chance that being inundated with world-class beer in Belgium has made me more critical of other beer. This new cherry beer from Founders was particularly mediocre considering how delicious the rest of their beers are.

Founders Cerise
Founders Brewing Company
Fruit / Vegetable Beer

C+ / 3.1
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | drink: 3.5

Had a pint at Pearly Baker's in Easton, PA. This beer was a disappointment. It came out a clear cherry red with no head. The aroma and flavor are basically of cherry juice while there's also a vaguely nutty malt flavor in the background of the taste. Juicy but flat and not satisfying as a beer.

Post-Belgium: Man it was delicious

2009-04-23T21:13:00.000-04:00

Anyways, here are a few of my favorite beers from the trip.

Saison De L'Epeautre
Brasserie de Blaugies
Saison / Farmhouse Ale

A- / 4.1
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Picked up a 375 cl at the Hopduvel in Ghent. The cashier asked me where I found this beer. I guess its not a popular option, but it should be. My first reaction was that it was like Saison Dupont, but thin I realized it also have creamy vanilla flavors and notes like Duvel. Damn, this beer is good. It was a bit of a foamer when I took the cork out, but once settled it has an appropriate carbonation level and is easy drinking. This is a perfect example of a lower alcohol saison. Drink this if you can find it.

Bracia
Thornbridge Hall Country House Brewing Company
American Double / Imperial Stout

A- / 4.2
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

The honey and hazelnuts are obvious in the aroma and flavor. While chocolate roast and cocoa dominate the flavor. Yum Appears pitch black with a milk chocolate head. There's a long, espresso aftertaste. Hot damn, this is good beer. There's a paler malt notes that pop up in the aftertaste, but there's a whole lot of roasted malt going on that dives into roast chestnuts, honey, and spicy British hops. Delicious.

Oude Gueuze
Hanssens Artisanaal bvba
Gueuze

A- / 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4

Had a bottle in Ghent and was quite pleased. Poured a hazy amber gold and thick white head. The big character here is the toasted oak barrel flavor. After that is more of typical (of great oude guezes) ripping sour tang that hits the back of your cheekbones with lemon, lime, and earthy spice. Delicious. I'll have another.

Oude Kriek De Cam
De Cam Geuzestekerij
Lambic - Fruit

A / 4.3
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Ordered a bottle at the Waterhuis in Ghent. Damn, this might be the best kriek I've ever had. Not overly funky, but interesting and with a long, dry sour cherry flavor. It's a pleasant mustiness, that for whatever reason reminds me of cobwebs and cellars before the tangy cherries kick in. Definitely find this beer if you're in Belgium.

Sussex Best Bitter
Harvey & Son Ltd.
English Bitter

A- / 4.1
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Had a half pint on cask at The Harp near Trafalgar Square. This was one of my favorite real ales while in London for a week. It was a mixture of floral hops and oak with a fruit punch aroma at first. Then I started to pull cherry juice flavor with dry wheat cracker in the background and a note of blueberry in the aroma. Delicious.

Epilogue: London

2009-04-19T10:06:00.000-04:00

After Belgium I flew to London to visit my sister for a few days.

Look kids - Big Ben, Parliament.

This sums up Katie's tour.

Nothing like British real ale and pork skin/fat.

One of my favorite pubs, The Bree Louise, and it's 11 gravity casks.

Another pretty pub.

Sittimg down for lunch.

Dessert - bread pudding and beer.

Day Ten: The End (And Paris-Roubaix... Go Tommeke!)

2009-04-12T20:13:00.000-04:00

Tailgating Paris-Roubaix starts at breakfast.

I want to kiss the cobbles. We were at sector 3.

Ready for the riders.

The second place finisher, Potazzo, and a fan. They were so f'ing fast.

Watching the finish with the Tom Boonen fan club.

Boonen's grandparenters were there to toast his victory.

Pryor gets the official last beer (for now) of the trip.

Day Nine: Rocking Retie

2009-04-11T21:42:00.000-04:00

"You are in Retie. You must drink beer."
Retie is our tour guide Jan's hometown, and near Tom "Beans" Boonen's.

Before leaving Ghent I finally went in the cathedral across the street. It was big and stuff.

Jan from Ridley took us for a ride in his hood.

Kuklix took a nap while the band played on.

Pomosomething2 won't be fooled by any card tricks.

Day Eight: A Beautiful Day in Hell

2009-04-10T19:31:00.000-04:00

Ready to ride with the Russian pro team Katusha. Moments before, Danilo Napolitano did a wheelie for us.

We rode half of Paris-Roubaixs (Hell of the North) and started at Arenberg.

Hanging on with Katusha after a few sections of cobbles.

And then the Italian pro team Liquigas rode by.

A perfect day to ride Roubaix. We left it all on the cobbles.

Pryor takes an amazing win at the Roubaix velodrome.

Day Seven: Belgium Talks Back

2009-04-09T20:02:00.000-04:00

Local cheese shop. I got the local special, the Gentse Blue, a creamy blue cheese. Yum.

Street band rocking out with TWO accordions.

Afternoon ride along the canal south of Ghent.

The best store in the world.

You tell 'em, Belgium.

Working on life's tough decisions.

Day Six: Belgium Gets Weird

2009-04-08T19:41:00.000-04:00

Amanda's Leffe while we watch Gent-Wevelgem in a cycling pub.

Ryan doing his thing with the frites during a rain break.

Belgium likes to rock out with it's cock out in parks.

This is a bar. We had two rounds here. Try to guess where we sat.

The cathedral next to our hotel.

Day Five: In Our Wheelhouse

2009-04-08T05:41:00.000-04:00

Our for a morning ride. Look closely and you can see Ryan's tri-color "Belgian neck spoiler."

The monks at St. Sixtus were closed for the Easter holiday already, but the nearby town of Watou offering plenty of amazing local beers.

Mario Cipollini decided to join us tonight.

Taylor and our new friend outside the, how do you say... "dude bar."

Yeah. Kuklix.

Day Four: Ridley Bikes Factory Tour

2009-04-06T20:40:00.000-04:00

Awesome Ridley Noah in the Italian colors.

Taylor at Dulle Griet, standing below Jesus.

Last stop of the night. This place looked like it was 500 years old, and probably was.

Day Three: Tour of Flanders

2009-04-05T13:44:00.000-04:00

Hanging out at the VIP area before the start. We were all over the team buses.

Bar stop before the second cobbled section of the race. That's the publican's dining room in the room behind the bar.

Our boy, Big George Hincapie, going over the Koppenberg.

Champagne outside the Katyusha bus. Their man, Filippo Pozzato, took 5th.

Day Two: Tour of Flanders Ride

2009-04-04T15:48:00.000-04:00

Setting up for the day between a couple farms.

Entering one of the first cobbled sections.

Boxes of waffles at the rest stops.

Day One: Not sleeping and exploring Ghent

2009-04-03T18:54:00.001-04:00

No place in particular today. Every cafe we stopped by had some good beer. I was pleased.

Ghent at night.

Welcome to Belgium

2009-04-03T07:23:00.000-04:00

I had a beer before I left the airport. The staff at the train station insisted we drink. God bless Belgium. And thanks to Beth for the can of Hoegaarden.

Belgium: It's go time

2009-04-01T22:32:00.000-04:00

I get a my plane to Belgium today and in preparation for the trip I've been drinking about as much Belgian beer as I can afford to. You know, for research purposes. Recently I tried a few from the little-known Belgian stout substyle. Oddly enough, they were all listed under different styles on BeerAdvocate.com. I suppose that's one of the problems with having a largely unrecognized style. Here are my thoughts.

Allagash Black
Allagash Brewing Company
Belgian Strong Dark Ale

B / 3.65
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 3.5

On-tap at Pearly Baker's in Easton, PA. I've been making the rounds with Belgian stouts and this one stands out, for better or worse. It was not my favorite so far. It's not as drinkable as, say, the 9% De Dolle Extra Stout, but it's also more flavorful. There's a strong grape/plum fruit flavor that's too strong for my liking. Aside from that, there are pleasant roasted grains, dry cocoa, and a hint of espresso, maybe. Worth a try, but not my favorite.

De Dolle Extra Export Stout
Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers
Foreign / Export Stout

B+ / 4
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Had a bottle with dessert at the Farmhouse in Emmaus, PA - made a great pairing with their molten chocolate cake. Like other big Belgian stouts, this is a subtle beer. The aroma reminds me of cooled hot chocolate and the flavor has a slight sour tang with a dry cocoa powder finish. It certainly doesn't drink like a 9% beer, and unlike most export stouts, it has a subtle Belgian flair from a dried fruit flavor undercurrent. I'd say it's worth a try.

Hercule Stout
Brasserie Ellezelloise
Russian Imperial Stout

A- / 4.15
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Picked up a swing-top at Abe's Cold Beer. This certainly is an interesting beer. From the get-go there's a big, sweetish borubon aroma that's intoxicating with an edge of charred grains to it. The flavor is subtle and dangerously drinkable. There's a very Irish-styled mellow mixture of roasted chocolate and dark toast with light prune notes. This beer reminds me of a fine baltic porter for its smooth, dark flavors and mixture of fruit with black barley. I don't know if I've ever come across a stout this strong and this drinkable. There's no hint of the 9% alcohol whatsoever. It's probably a good thing this beer is only sold by the single bottle.

Yes, there is good beer in Miami - Zeke's.

2009-03-23T10:03:00.001-04:00

Trendy places rarely have decent beer prices. I expected as much of South Beach, Miami, but Zeke's was there to prove that somebody in southern Florida cares about drinking good beer. This little bar boasted about 180 beers (so the menu said), at for $4. If you know your beer, there are some good deals to be had at that price, such as Stone IPA and Leffe Blonde. I also appreciated the food menu, which in its entirety read like this:

Hot Dog - $3
Chips - $1
Popcorn - $1

Beer in Miami: Imperial

2009-03-21T18:07:00.001-04:00

A big thanks to Chan and Tim for hosting us in Miami for the weekend. The area isn't exactly known for it's beer. In fact, many beer lovers know it for its lack of beer. Still, I persevered and found the local flavor - beer from Latin America.

On the way to the beach Friday we picked up a cold sixer of Imperial, a simple adjunct-lager from Costa Rica. Just like I say about PBR, this beer is excellent for what it is. In this case, a refreshing beach beer.

C+ / 3.1
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 3.5

Picked up a six-pack for $7 from Publix in Miami and brought it down to South Beach. This was a great beach beer, sure it didn't taste like much, but it was refreshing and clean. Really, it's just a plain, light bready water taste with very light touch of hops in the aftertaste. Really, this beer is the ideal adjunct lager - no flavor flavor, with absolutely no off-flavors. I'd take this over Miller Lite or Budweiser any day.

South Mountain Porter Update

2009-03-15T17:06:00.000-04:00

Watch out for this beer. When it's good and done, it'll be taking names and kicking asses. I just siphoned it into the secondary fermentor and it tastes amazing pre-coffee with a mixture of bitter chocolate, burnt/roasted grains (already coffee-like flavors), and a little kiss of citrus hops from the Willamette I threw in.

I also now weighs in at 6.7% ABV. Apparently I underestimated my brewing efficiency and this baby is becoming a bit of monster. Damn this beer is going to rock.

For anyone that's not familiar with common beer ABV's, here are a few generally accepted approximations of popular beers for reference.

Guinness Draught - 4.0% (though many claim it's only 3.8)
Bud Light - 4.2%
Sam Adams Boston Lager - 4.8%
Pabst Blue Ribbon - 5.0%
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale - 5.2%
Anchor Porter - 5.6%
Olde English 800 - 5.9%
Colt 45 - 6.0%
Schlitz Malt Liquor - 6.2%
Redhook IPA 6.5%

Hombrewing: South Mountain Porter

2009-03-09T09:38:00.001-04:00

I finally got a new batch of homebrew rolling last night. South Mountain Porter will be a coffee porter with either beans or espresso from South Mountain Cycles & Coffee Bar added during secondary fermentation. Here are the stats:

Recipe:

8 lbs Marris Otter (pale malt)
1 lb American Munich
1 lb 140L Crystal Malt
8 oz. Chocolate Malt
4 oz. Carafa II
1 oz. Willamette hops @ 90 min
1 oz Willamette hops @ 30 min
Wyeast 1056 American Ale Yeast (Sierra Nevada's yeast)

4 oz. crushed espresso beans in secondary

Mash 153 F for 60 minutes, 2 liters/1 lb grain, 75% efficiency (pictured)
Original Gravity: 1.061
Final Gravity: 1.009
ABV: 6.7% ABV
IBU: 30

Beer Review: Drinking Shit

2009-03-05T14:50:00.000-05:00

There's nothing I could add to this description:

This imperial Oatmeal stout is brewed with one of the world’s most expensive coffees, made from droppings of weasel-like civet cats. The fussy Southeast Asian animals only eat the best and ripest coffee berries. Enzymes in their digestive system help to break down the bean. Workers collect the bean-containing droppings for Civet or Weasel Coffee. The exceedingly rare Civet Coffee has a strong taste and an even stronger aroma.

So just to summarize, I drank beer brewed with poop-coffee. And I liked it. In fact, it might be the best beer I've had this year.

Beer Geek Brunch (Weasel)
Mikkeller
American Double / Imperial Stout

A / 4.3
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Found a bottle hiding on one of the bottom shelves at Abe's Cold Beer for $11.25. I'm not usually impressed with big stouts, but this beer was fantastic. My first issue with imperial stouts is drinkability, but I split the bottle with a friend and could have easily split a second or drank it myself. My other typical concern with the style is that they all have the same heavy roast and cocoa flavors without much deviation. This beer started with a very unique, earthy coffee flavor that rolled off into chocolate liquor, cherries, and then a punch of citrus finishing hops. There was an incredibly long aftertaste that wouldn't seem to quit, though when it finally did, I wished I had more beer.

It was a good day: The Corner Brewery

2009-02-26T11:27:00.000-05:00

The late-Feb weather in PA is starting to bum me out a little. What was supposed to be a sunny, mid-40's, perfect-for-riding day turned in a cold, icy/wet, gray day. A special thanks goes out to the assholes at AccuWeather.com for crushing my hopes.

In an effort to lift my spirits (if yours are at all lifted, good for you too), here's picture from a summer bike ride near Ann Arbor, MI. I was attending a friend's wedding and the day after took a look spin around the area. Much to my surprise I found a brewery along the path with a bar, beer garden, and cookies. It was a good day.

Dave Zabriskie Needs a Beer

2009-02-25T08:05:00.000-05:00

Dave Zabriskie! You just took second at the Amgen Tour of California! What are you going to do next?

Well, I'm going to drive home, get a speeding ticket and then find out that thieves cleared out my house.

Sure they took his cars, computers, and home stereo. That junk is replaceable with an afternoon shopping in the suburbs. What's awful to hear is that they took his 14 bikes and race medals. Ouch. Even the overpriced comic book statues can probably get replaced with a little works (maybe he could get a life-size bust of the Creature from the Black Lagoon this time around). Regardless, now is likely one of the very few times ever that I can say it sucks to be Dave Zabriskie.

Dave, this beer's for you - in the metaphysical sense, of course.

Bourbon County Stout
Goose Island
American Double / Imperial Stout

A / 4.4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | drink: 5

Vintage 2007, 13% abv.

Easily the smoothest, tastiest ~13% beer I've ever had. Yes, it's a bit thick, but no more so than weaker double or imperial stouts. The aroma is rich with the bourbon which once on the palate, doesn't dominate, but compliments the strong, dark chocolate ad espresso flavors. Throw in a dash of oak and vanilla and you've got a hell of a beer. More please.

New to me: Paper City Brewing

2009-02-19T09:58:00.000-05:00

I picked up a couple Massachusetts brews on a recent trip to Syracuse. Both were nice, though the Holyoke Ale has a bit of an identity problem.

Riley's Stout
Paper City Brewery Co.
Irish Dry Stout

A- / 4.05
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Picked up a single from Party Source in Syracuse. This is a good, rippingly dry Irish stout. It makes a touch in complexity, but the almost sour black roasted malts are big and bad (delicious). The appearance is pitch black with a tan head. I could drink more of these. Comes off very traditional - in the best way. A little heavier than the true Irish stout (Beamish, etc), but hardly less sessionable.

Holyoke Dam Ale
Paper City Brewery Co.
American Pale Ale (APA)

B / 3.55
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 4

Picked up a bottle from the Party Source in Syracuse. This beer seems more like an amber to me. First, it's a red-amber color. Second, the beer is very malt-centered with a sweet, cherry flavor. It's fairly drinkable, but the hops only seem to provide a mild spice in the aftertaste.

Just OK Belgian Beer: De Koninck

2009-02-10T17:08:00.000-05:00

Not all Belgian is good. Most of it (looking at options, not gallons) certainly is, and some is just acceptable. De Koninck is one such acceptable beer. It provides a drinker with something to ponder, but it's overly flavorful, aromatic, or complex. All I might add to my review is that if you're really a fan of apple juice and lemons, this beer is for you.

De Koninck
Brouwerij De Koninck NV
Belgian Pale Ale

B / 3.65
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 4

Picked up a single at Syracuse's the Party Source. Appears a clear amber, no sediment, with a short white head. The aroma is surprisingly plain, with a just a hint of Belgian-spiced vanilla. The flavor does better, with a tart lemon undercurrent that builds as you drink. There's also a hit of apple juice, mild caramel and finishing peppery hops. The flavor is respectable, while the aroma leaves much to be desired. Worth a try for a sessionable Belgian.

New Beer: Odell Red Ale

2009-02-05T18:42:00.000-05:00

The kind folks at Odell Brewing sent me a few bottles of their new red ale, Odell Red Ale, this week. Here's their description:

The Rocky Mountain Goat is no ordinary goat. Just like Odell Red is no ordinary red.

We took the American-style red to a whole new level by adding a variety of aggressive American hops—giving this ale a distinctive fresh hop aroma and flavor.

We think you'll agree this red has some serious kick.

Available February – May of '09
6.5% Alcohol By Volume

The hops are indeed aggressive for the style, but not along the lines of Ithaca's Cascazilla or Troeg's Nuggest Nectar - that's not a bad thing. Still, the juicy, citrus hops are strong enough you could consider this an "Indian Red Ale." It's almost like an American version of the British Extra Special Bitter, as it's both full of smooth malt and biting hops, while still maintaining a good degree of drinkability. I say keep an eye for this baby, it's worth a try for anyone that likes their hops, but doesn't demand the bitterness be over the top.

Not all Belgian Beer is Awesome: Tripel Abdijbier Dendermonde

2009-02-03T13:42:00.000-05:00

I usually look up most new-to-me beers before I buy, but every once in a while I throw caution to the wind. Sometimes I'm delightfully surprised, but most of the time - like this time - I just get a mediocre beer. Dendermonde is further proof that research pays off and that Belgian beer is far from infallible.

In hindsight, this low-scoring brew is no surprise. The De Block brewery makes Satan, a Duvel-knockoff that pales in comparison to the original, and little else worth noting.

Tripel Abdijbier Dendermonde
Brouwerij De Block bvba
Tripel

C+ / 3.2
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 3.5

Picked up a single at Abe's Cold Beer for $3.25. I figured that was a fair price for a random triple. This beer however, wasn't terribly impressive. Sure, it was smooth and drinkable, but the flavor fell flat. There was a sweet bready malt profile with a hit of vanilla spice, but that's really it. No spicy hops or significant fruit. Not really worth trying for the price.

Belgian Beer Reviews: Cantillon Kriek, Binchoise, and XXX (obviously Canadian)

2009-01-28T22:37:00.000-05:00

Jesus I love (good) Belgians. I also threw in a beer that kinda sucks for balance. I do still drink the occasional crap--for science, you know.

Cantillon Kriek 100% Lambic
Brasserie Cantillon
Lambic - Fruit

B+ / 3.9
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

Had a bottle at the Farmhouse in Emmaus, PA. Poured a beautiful almost clear red with a short pink head. The aroma had a subtle musk with a tart cherry note that also permeated the flavor. This beer tastes like a mellow-flavored, though no less tangy, lambic with a drop of tart cherry juice in every sip. The farmhouse elements are more subdued than usual and frankly I dont think this beer is as rich and tasty as a straight up oude geuze. But I will say, this is a gorgeous looking beer.

La Binchoise Reserve Special
Brasserie La Binchoise (Malterie des Remparts)
Belgian Strong Pale Ale

A- / 4.05
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4

Picked up a bottle for about $3 from Abe's. Poured a hazy dark amber with an off-white head. The aroma has a rich, spiced plum element to it, while the flavor has a fruity apple-caramel melt profile with a hint of dry, minerals (sort of like a German pils). Digging a little deeper I get slight cranberry and raspberry notes in the taste and smooth candi sugar caramel in the aroma. The beer is a bit sweet, and too much so for some people, but I'm a fan and would drink this again. Reminds me of a little of St. Bernardus. Tasty.

Molson XXX
Molson
American Malt Liquor

C- / 2.65
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | drink: 2.5
rDev: +2.6%

Thanks to a friend for sharing. Poured a clear gold with a slight had. This is a pretty corny beer. The DMS is all over this suck in the aroma and flavor. It certainly doesn't improve as it warms and while at first it seems to be the next best true malt liquor to Mickeys, the additional "character" here (cheap chardonnay, cooked corn). There's worse out there, but there's no real reason to drink it, save for just trying it once.

More Belgian Dreaming: Cantillon Iris

2009-01-20T21:41:00.000-05:00

I've been pouring over Tim Webb's Good Beer Guide to Belgium and while it's a well-written and engrossing read (for a beer geek like myself at least), the damn book makes me thirsty. So to quench my thirst tonight, and celebrate the inauguration, I picked up a few classy Belgians from Abe's Cold Beer that included the following.

For a little background, the lambic style is a sour, wild-fermented (basically a controlled spoiling process). Wikipedia sez, "Unblended lambic is a cloudy, uncarbonated, bracingly sour beverage available on tap in only a few locations. Generally three years old."

Cantillon Iris
Brasserie Cantillon
Lambic - Unblended

A- / 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4

2005 Vintage.
Bottled 2007.

Picked up a short green bottle for about $8. This lambic is a bit unusual for it hop character and all-malt grain bill, but it's a nice change of pace. The aroma begins the drink with a mix of musty leather and orange blossom, and the flavor is dominated by a pleasant lemon-lime juice. Tangy sour candy notes dot the edges of the palate, while orange rind and grapefruit hops provide a mild bitterness. This is an excellent lambic and a bit wine-like for white-wine lovers. Highly recommended and worth the money every once and a while.

I Dream of Belgium: Achel Brune

2009-01-14T20:51:00.000-05:00

I'm fortunate enough to heading to Belgium in April, and for the last few weeks I've been ready CamRA's Good Beer Guide to Belgium. It's a nice little book, but whenever I page through I start jonesing real bad for a Belgian ale. Oh man.

Here's a recent Trappist ale I had the pleasure of drinking:

Trappist Achel 8° Brune
Brouwerij der St.Benedictusabdij de Achelse
Dubbel

B+ / 3.9
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Picked up a single at Abe's for $5.25. Not a bad monk-made beer. This is a fine abbey ale. Very smooth flavors and very drinkable. I would have liked a little more pop from the taste, but the caramel and spice are quite pleasing to the senses. I might like to see what a couple years of cellaring could do. If it weren't cost-prohibitive (at least for me), this would be a dangerous beer.

The last year-in-review blog you'll read: Best Beers of 2008

2009-01-12T10:53:00.000-05:00

Although I drink, sample, and review hundreds of beers in a given year, I come nowhere close to encompassing the spectrum of beer available in any given year. The following are simply the five best beers I sat down to write about in 2008. That's not to say they aren't world-class or fucking delicious, because they are. I'm just saying there's always the chance of better beer being out there.

#1 - Trappist Westvleteren 12
Brouwerij Westvleteren (Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren)
Quadrupel

A / 4.45
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 5

A year after trading with Leftmindedrighty, I finally decided to crack this baby open.

It's pours a dark, slightly hazy brown with a thin tan head. The aroma has a hint of cardboard, but otherwise its smooth, Belgian chocolate with a hint of fruit. The flavors going on in the beer are nuts. I'm blown away by the complexity. Just running down the list of flavors in my notes I got: chocolate (lots of it), grassy/herbal hops, caramel, candi sugar, medjool dates (really sweet dates), and cola. Everything is very smooth and one flavor melts into the next.

I tried to be skeptical, but this truly is divine beer. I had this back to back with the St. Bernardus 12, but there's not much comparison. The Bernardus is lighter in color and thus has more fruity flavors than chocolate. I love Bernardus, but if Westy 12's were just as available, it'd be my go-to.

Reviewed on: 04-19-2008

#2 - 16 Grit Ale

Surly Brewing Company
American Double / Imperial IPA

A / 4.4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | drink: 5

Cool, I get to be the 10th review. Thanks to kroggdawg for sharing his growler. Frankly, I've gotten tired of imperial this and double that lately, but this beer rocked. It was complex in flavor, yet drinkable for the average hophead and still something different. It seems like most brewer just throw the C-hops (cascade, chinook, centennial, etc) at their DIPAs and let er' rip. This can make a good DIPA, but I've have enough of those.

Right off the bat this beer reminds me of Orange rum and then once I ponder the flavors, I realize it's similar to Surly's delicious Bitter Brewer. Orange citrus hops are the big flavor and aroma note for me in what is a surprisingly appropriately balanced DIPA. There are more pine and grapefruit in the background with subtle cinnamon spices and a very slight vanilla note. Jesus, this is good. I know I'm not the first or last person to say this, but I wish there was more of this beer. Easily one of my favorite DIPAs, better than Pliny the Elder even. If you can ever find this baby, drink it before someone else does.

Reviewed on: 12-31-2008

#3 - St. Bernardus Abt 12

Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV
Quadrupel

A / 4.4
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | drink: 4
rDev: -0.5%

You know, the last couple times I've had this beer it was on tap and I found it sweet and fruity, but unimpressive. The bottle I had, however, was damn good.

Poured into a red wine glass, its a slightly hazy brown and light tan head. Rich smell of dark fruit malts that gives way to the cherries and blackberries in the flavors that roll over your tongue with a mellow caramel. It finishes with a grassy hops note that stands up to the big malts and adds a wonderful balance. This bottle ran out too quickly.

Reviewed on: 01-13-2008

#4 - Bell's Batch 8000

Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Witbier

A / 4.35
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5
rDev: +10.1%

Witbier, what? This tastes more like a big fruity and spicy saison or Belgian strong pale ale. It feels crisp on my tongue with a lot going on. There's the mild, bitter orange peel hops undertone that reminds me a touch of Saison Dupont. The yeast character has ligher fruit flavors, like candied blueberries and cherries, along with gentle-feeling spices like coriander and white pepper that especially come out in the aroma. The malt and wheat play the part of a sweet background for the fruit and spices to play on and overall this beer reminds me of Brooklyn's Local 1.

I think this might be my favorite Bell's beer to date. Don't get me wrong, Two Hearted rocks, but this beer is on another level for me.

Reviewed on: 02-05-2008

#5 - Creme Brulee (Imperial Milk Stout)

Southern Tier Brewing Company
American Double / Imperial Stout

A / 4.35
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 5

Picked up a bomber at Abe's and shared it with some friends on a Friday afternoon. The general first taste response was something along the lines of, "holy sh-t!"

It smells pretty spot on like vanilla custard and creme brulee. Damn. There's a slight bite to this beer that hints at the 10% strength and the flavor pales a bit compared to the deep and rich aroma. Still, more custard comes out on the palate with a mocha edge. The flavors here so vividly recall cream and vanilla desserts that it's easy to forget this is a stout. The balanced body and relatively thin (for a 10% stout) body also make this as drinkable as any sessionable stout.

This beer is, simply put, nuts. It's a great example of extreme beer and American brewers pushing the boundaries of what beer can beer. Bravo Southern Tier.

Reviewed on: 08-01-2008

My only Christmas card was from a brewery... and beer reviews

2008-12-23T18:27:00.000-05:00

OK, that's a lie, but I liked the sound of it. In truth, I actually got two Christmas cards. One was from Boulevard Brewing Co, the other from a great Runner's World editor who I wrote this recent article on training during your lunch break. And lest you think I'm unloved (if you cared), most cards still go to my family.

In the spirit of the holiday season, here are a couple Christmas surprises I've had in the form of surprisingly good beer. I included my score's deviation from the mean. Mickey's and Kirin both normall average a C- score on BeerAdvocate.com.

Mickey's
SABMiller
American Malt Liquor

C+ / 3.05
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | drink: 3.5
rDev: +15.1%

Drank straight from the wide-mouth, green stubby bottle - as it was meant to be. This beer is surprisingly not bad. I think there's some truth to the bottle's "Fine Malt Liquor" label. Because as far as malt liquor goes, this isn't that far behind Rogue fancy-pants Dad's Little Helper. In terms of flavor, this beer reminds me of a dull PBR. It just has gentle bready malts behind a vague sweetness. Completely drinkable and inoffensive. Worth a try, just because it's Mickey's.

Kirin Ichiban
Kirin Brewery Company
Japanese Rice Lager

B- / 3.4
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 3.5
rDev: +23.8%

Ordered a bottle with sushi and soup at the Japanese place at DTW airport. This beer masters the style just like Bud Light and the American light lager. This isn't a delicious beer in the grand scheme of thing, but for a Japanese rice lager, it's quite nice. Unfortunately, right off the bat this beer has an odd rubber aroma, but that quickly fades to leave a very clean beer. The malt has a subtle toasted bread flavor and there's a hint of spicy hops. Very drinkable and worth a try next time you sit down for sushi.

Beer Reviews: Fall = Dark Beer = Yum

2008-12-17T00:54:00.000-05:00

It's still the holidays. Which means we're all busy buying stuff, training for holiday parties, and trying to wrap up our work. Work hard, play hard, yes? Well here are a couple fine beers for when it's time to play.

High Tide Fresh Hop IPA
Port Brewing Company / Pizza Port
American IPA

A- / 4.1
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Appeared a hazy gold with a short head and lacing. This was a great, bright, and drinkable IPA. Not quite as complex as some of the great fresh hop beers I've had, like Sierra Nevada, but a little more sessionable. The aroma and flavor focused on fruity citrus with a few hits of earth spice and pine. But for the most part this beer was all about the orange, lime, and grapefruit hops. Delicious. Drink it if you can find it.

Batemans XXXB
Batemans Brewery
Extra Special Bitter

B+ / 4
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Grabbed a bottle at Abe's Cold Beer for $5. A little pricey, but worth trying if you're into the style. It poured a mostly clear amber-red with a short white head and lacing. The aroma and flavor are very true to style with slightly creamy and fruity yeast character or subtle toasted bread malts. It finished with a herbal and peppercorn hops bite that provides more balance than bitterness. All in all a tasty and very sessionable beer. It's a shame the damn stuff is so expensive.

Stupid ideas and beer: The 24 Hour Cyclocross Race

2008-12-09T10:30:00.000-05:00

This has been a big fall. I've gone through with not one, but two really stupid athletic feats and lived report back on how stupid it was. Last Thursday and Friday I rode around in circles on a friend's backyard cyclocross course with 15 other oddballs. Thanks to recent rain, most the course was simply a long 2-inch-deep track of sticky peanut butter mud.

No, the mud wasn't nutritious and delicious. It felt like peanut butter that's just been pulled from a fridge. It's both incredibly had to move while still sticking to everything. I had a nice system down when ever time I carried my bike I'd rip the gobs of mud and leaves out from behind the brakes. Yes, this was fun.

Dan K was kind enough to put together a video of the event. You can check it out on his blog. All in all, this was actually a lot more fun that my 6-hour half-walking marathon that went off under blue skies and far more comfortable level. Maybe it's because riding along side friends at an unsanctioned backyard 24-hour race is simply a lot more fun that being lost in a crowd of 10,000 rando's.

I ended up 3rd on the day and figure I probably spent somewhere between 14 and 16 hours on the course. Only 8 of the 16 competitors made it to the end and among the non-finishers were an Olympic track racer, national masters mountain bike champ, and one of the top 10 24-hour racers in the country. Maybe they just had too much sense to continue. When I look at the finishers, we've got a couple guys that drank more than a case of beer a piece (one beer per lap), an Army vet that rolled cigarettes between laps, and a guy that tends to pee himself when he's having a good time. You tell me who the winners are.

See more of Douglas Benedict's race photo's here.