Craft Beer in Tucson, AZ

I had the pleasure of testing bikes in sunny Tuscon for five days recently. Naturally, every great ride is followed by great beer, so here are a few of my favorites from the trip. One highlight in particular was SanTan's Devil's Ale. I'm not easily impressed by pale ales, but this was thoroughly satisfying and hoppy without coming off too heavy. An easy summary is that's it's a more drinkable Dale's Pale Ale.

Devil's Ale
SanTan Brewing Co.
American Pale Ale (APA) | 5.50% ABV

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

Poured a tall, white head over an orange body. I'm reminded of Dale's Pale Ale, but this is a bit more drinkable—not as thick. The aroma has a subtle floral touch and then there's still a big rich grapefruit citrus flavor with a grassy edge. The hops don't have a super sharp dry-hop edge, the the flavor rolls nicely through the bitter fruit character with a mild dry, bready toffee malt note in the finish. This is a great pale ale for a hot day, check it out.

Barrio Tucson Blonde
Barrio Brewing Company
American Blonde Ale | 4.53% ABV

3.55/5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Noble Hops in Tucson. It's a clean blonde, but I was hoping this would be closer to Chelsea's Checker Cab Blonde, which has a nice clean bready character. Tucson Blonde was clean, no flaws, but the barley and citrus hops were very mild. Yes, the beer was refreshing and not too light, but I'd have wanted more flavor.

Kilt Lifter Scottish Style Ale
Four Peaks Brewing
Scottish Ale | 6.00% ABV

3.68/5
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Kilt Lifter is just a nice, clean Scottish ale with mild caramel and a touch of roast. The aroma, like the flavor, is all malt, but with more of a bready bent to it. The softer caramel taste rolls over your tongue with a lighter carbonation and a very slight herbal, earthy edge. I wouldn't call it peaty, but it's close. Worth a try.

HopShock IPA
SanTan Brewing Co.
American IPA | 7.10% ABV

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

HopShock poured a hazy orange with a white head and lacing as I drank it down. The aroma has a mix of citrus melon and light floral hops with a very slight earthy note. The flavor is balanced by dry toffee malts that provide a quiet backbone to the biting citrus rind flavor and dry finish. The bitterness could be bigger and the hops could be deeper, but it's a very solid IPA. Certainly a great canned option.

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

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

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.

Bike Ride Beer

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

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

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

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.

2009 Beer in Review

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.

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

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

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.

It's still summer to me.

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.

Writing about beer for real

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.

Beer Reviews: Triple your pleasure

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

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.

Good Belgian Beer: Eerwaarde Pater

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.

And again: The Lost Abbey's Judgment Day

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

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.

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

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.

New to me: Paper City Brewing

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.