Weekend Rewind

The new craft beer store I checked out this week has already impressed me with the first recommendation that I got. Saturday night I started things off with what was described as "the Peach Beer to end all Peach Beers". Pretty lofty claim, right?

This one is a foreign beer [from Belgium] so I don't really have good intel on what the brewer has going on, or additional insight into the brew, but I can tell you that it is a big of a peach beer as you can get. It's called Scaldis Peche Mel. Honestly it tasted  like the beer equivalent of eating a peach. Very sweet, almost 'nectary' tasting. I think that you have to be a fan of peaches in order to really like this beer. Lucky for me, I love 'em. I was kind of worried that this brew would be way too overbearing with the fruit flavor but that wasn't the case. They balanced a belgian style beer with the maximum amount of peachyness. I can wholeheartedly agree that it should be endgame when it comes to peach beer.

Today I returned to the local roots and went with a Terrapin Hop Karma Brown IPA. I'm actually doing a little 'research' for a brew that is going to be concocted very soon, and I am looking to try an assortment of Brown Ales. This guy, however, is technically a Black IPA [yes, I know the name says brown, not black] and comes with a heavy dosage of hops flavors that you wouldn't normally find in a brown. As with most hybrid style beers the best way to describe it is by saying it combines the two components. In this case it's a West Coast IPA with Brown Ale. They did a really good job in creating an IPA that has a different flavor profile than you're used to. I definitely give it a thumbs up. Also because this one is available year round.

On a side note, I really want to know how this blog is getting so many hits in Russia. Very random. But Cheers none the less!

Scaldis
Peche Mel
Fruit Beer
8.5% abv

Terrapin
Hop Karma Brown IPA
Black IPA


6.9% abv

Mich-again

So I'm sure you loyal followers [haha] know by now that I live in Atlanta. Not sure if you realize that I used to live in Michigan, and was ingrained with love for nearly all things Mitten State. Sports and Beer are two areas that I've got a whole lot of love. Honestly this whole beer craze started when I got hooked on Bell's line up of brews. But my affinity for things from the land of America's High Five doesn't stop there.

Last night, after getting home way too late from the daily grind, I sat down with a Bell's Oarsman Ale. It's technically a wheat, so I learned, but I would categorize this beer as a 'sour'. It has an unmistakable tartness that you don't find in most beers out there. A while back I had this beer after picking up a 6pk of it randomly from the store. Without any expectations I was not a fan after the first couple. And rightfully so, it is a different type of beer than what I am used to. As with almost all new styles there is an acclimation period in order to develop a taste for a certain beer.

I gave the Oarsman a second try yesterday and came away with a much more positive view. It was slightly citrusy, and definitely tart. However it wasn't as overbearing as I remembered it. The alcohol was low enough to categorize it as a Session beer, and you could tell that it was tailored to be an easy drinking beer that still has flavor. Crisp and clean. Also seemed to cleanse my palette [remember, I hate talking like that unless it's true] after each sip. The Bell's site says that it pairs well with food because of this, and I have to agree. In general I'd say that I will be likely to pick it up again from the LHBS, but mostly because it's a Bell's beer, and less because of it being a favorite beer of mine. I'll put it right in the middle of the spectrum in that regard.

Today I continued the mini-streak of Michigan brews, with a beer I have been waiting to try for quite a while. If you didn't know already Michigan has a huge agricultural side of it's economy. One thing that Michigan is known for (aside from great beer) is it's cherries. Traverse City, MI is actually the self-proclaimed 'Cherry Capital of the World'. [If you look at the palm of your right hand, and pretend it is Michigan, then Traverse City would be by the tip of your pinky finger.] They are specifically known for their tart cherries, and you can find the beer equivalent in Founder's Cerise.

Honestly this beer is awesome. I happen to love cherry pie and that is the best taste descriptor I can come up with to tell you what the Cerise tastes like. The malts give you a slight taste of the pie crust, and the sweetness and tartness from the Michigan cherries used in the fermentation process give you the pie filling. I love how they went local with a brew like this -- it really speaks to the spirit of craft beer, in my opinion.

Can't say I was disappointed in the least with the way the beer-week ended. Got the chance to visit a new craft beer store, meet a new beer guru, and was recommended some awesome beers for the next week or so. Great change of pace and a slightly different opinion on some beers was welcomed! I'm very excited for the upcoming beers. Hopefully you'll come back to read about them? Yes? Ok then.

Bell's
Oarsman Ale
Sour Ale
4.0% abv

Founders Brewery
Cerise
Fruit Beer
6.5% abv

Why does work always get in the way?

Last night I didn't get my post in because I had to travel for work, didn't get back until 11:30pm... which is less than ideal. How did I remedy my situation? I'm sure you guessed, "with a delicious local brew" -- right? If so you'd be correct.

I had the Wild Heaven Invocation when I finally made it back home, and it really helped to ease out the day. This is the [other half of Wild Heaven's current line up], seeings that they are a very new brewery in the Atlanta area. Word on the street is that they are getting ready to release their third brew...

Anyways the Invocation is a belgian style Strong Golden Ale that really takes it to the next level. For the most part I am not a fan of belgians [the beers, not waffles]. But when you drink this one you can really tell that it is an excellent beer. So well rounded from start to finish. It has that unmistakable taste associated with the style; fruity, citrusy, and spicy. However the malts really mellow it out to the point that you end up with a rather clean taste. I like it. Higher up on the alcohol content so you wouldn't want to down a 6er... which, now that I think about it, is probably why they sell them in 4 packs.

I try to follow what these guys are up to as much as I can because they make really great beer. Also because they are doing exactly what I want to be doing. But mostly because of the beer. I'm very much looking forward to getting some of their beer #3 in the near future. You can be assured that it will show up here when I do.

Wild Heaven

Invocation

Belgian (Golden)

8.5% abv

Today I got to have the Harvest Ale from Weyerbacher. With it being the end of hops harvest (late August through September) there have been a bunch of 'harvest' brews hitting the shelves. What this means is that the brewers are using the freshest hops possible in the beer, by a process called 'wet hopping'. I don't know too much about this, but what little I know is that you need to use significantly more hops when you brew in order to get the flavor. However this gives you amazing floral notes and crisp clean flavor. Every part of the hops profile is magnified in a good way.

This version of Harvest Ale is very good. Yet it's not the best one that I've had so I can't give it the A+ rating. It is at no fault to Weyerbacher, because I really enjoyed the freshness that this beer has. I'll be featuring the other beer in the coming weeks so be sure to check back for it. Harvest Ale is a great IPA that has amazing balance and freshness, so if you see it (or any other 'harvest' brew) over the next few weeks, definitely grab it.

Weyerbacher

Harvest Ale

India Pale Ale

6.2% abv

One last Summertime brew

Today I decided to go with a random purchase brew. Only real reason I picked it up was because it stood out from the rest of the assorted beers on the shelf. It seems like most of the time when I use this tactic for picking beers it is really hit or miss. With the Flying Dog Tire Bite Golden Ale I believe I found one that is right in the middle.

This golden ale was very much a 'you can drink me and not dislike me' type of beer. Simple in the flavors: somewhat crisp, not too bitter and not too malty. Although I can't say that I didn't enjoy it. Tonight I was looking to just have a beer that wasn't going to go overboard with flavors. That is exactly what I got. Honestly though I was surprised to see how low this beer was rated on some of the beer rating sites. But hey-- to each their own.

Flying Dog Brewery appears to be centered around the idea that "it is amazing what you can achieve if nobody tells you what you can't." This actually stems from how they got their name, Flying Dog. One of the owners/founders became infatuated with a picture of this dog that had wings. Everyone knows a dog can't fly. But nobody told that dog, who had wings, that it was impossible. Thus the philosophy.

I've seen quite a number of Flying Dog beers on the shelves, and will undoubtedly be having more in the future. They're available at most large chain grocery stores too, so I'm sure you can find some wherever you may be. Except for you crazies over in Russia. I don't think they have it over there. [Yes, there are people from Russia who have been reading this blog on a regular basis. And it's hilarious/weird.]

Flying Dog Ales
Tire Bite
Golden Ale
5.1%
"Good people drink good beer."

How did I get so backed up on the beers that I needed to post on here?! I've got a week's worth of beer to tell you about and all I can bring myself to do is watch a combination of the Science channel and football, and continue to devour this trail mix I bought. [Seriously addicted to it right now]

Instead of digressing and talking about randomness, I'll just jump into this week's beers.

Monday:
Started off with a tried and true favorite brewery, Southern Tier. This time I picked up their Harvest Ale to accompany the changing of the seasons. [It's finally cool outside here in Atlanta] This one is an ESB (Extra Special Bitter) that is a common English style brew. It was very well balanced, and very very good. Dark amber in color. The hops character played off the malt profile in an awesome way that really makes this brew enjoyable. Harvest Ale is one of those brews that you will love to have during the next couple of months. It came in at 6.7% abv.

Tuesday:
Next was the most disappointing brew of the week, by far. It was the Shiner Black Lager. It is a 4.9% abv, 'schwarzbier' styled brew, and the second of which I've tried so far. The first one didn't fare too well, and neither did this one. As a matter of fact I stopped drinking it about 1/4 the way through. Yuck. Shiner is 0 for 2 so far... although I have yet to have their flagship, Shiner Bock. Forgive me if I'm not racing to try it...

Wednesday:
Reverted back to the friendly confines of the india pale ale world with the Smuttynose IPA. Until then I had never had a beer from these guys but I see them all over the place. All the mainstay styles available, and they have a unique graphics theme which make's their brews easy to pick out from the shelves. I'll have to get into more detail later, as this is a 'get caught up post'. This IPA was citrusy, light, and crisp. I enjoyed it mostly because it was a slightly different style than most of the other IPA's that I've been having recently. 6.6% abv for this one.

Thursday:
Ok Thursday's beer I am most excited about. The brewery is called Duck-Rabbit, which I always found odd and never understood where it came from. So I picked up one of their brews, this time the Milk Stout. If you look at the label, it looks like a Duck. But then when you look at it sideways, your mind gets blown. And that is pretty much the best beer logo I've yet to see. Anyways-- the beer. YUM. I'm beginning to think that Milk Stouts are among my favorites in the beer world. DR's was very creamy/smooth, chocolatey, and had the perfect amount of roasted notes. Basically a good brewer cannot go wrong by making a Milk Stout. DR's came in at 5.7% abv.

Friday:
In addition to beer, I cannot function without coffee. Because of which it was an easy decision to try a beer that is called Fuel Cafe by Lakefront Brewery, and has a bunch of coffee beans featured on the label. This was a Sweet Stout styled beer that is brewed with coffee beans during the process. Taste test gave it an alright review, but far from terrible. It was sweet, malty, roasty... pretty run of the mill for this style. Worth giving a try but I probably won't pick it up again unless, because there are a ton of other options. Only 4.4% abv, which I was surprised about.

Saturday:
One of my favorite brands/themes for a brewery is Heavy Seas. Everything pirate themed, and awesome. The graphic design and creative nerd inside of me loves it. This brew, the Small Craft Warning, however, wasn't one of my favorites. It is an imperial pilsener style, or a strong pale lager, and was too bitter for my liking. What I can say is that you like beers similar to Stella Artois then you would like this one. Just not my cup of tea. Or beer. 7.0% abv

Not gonna lie...

This post is gonna have to wait. I've been sucked in by baseball. Go Tigers. Top of the 9th -- lets close 'em out!

Continuing the recap

So today I want to talk about some of the beers that I had while I was in Chicago. Each day I was there had a very different experiences with the brews.

When I first arrived, pretty much right away I headed to a German Brauhaus. This place was as authentic as they come. As it was so aptly put that day, "We got sour with some krauts." If this were a foodie blog I could tell you about the german potatoes, sauerkraut, knockwurst and brats that I had. But it's not. I'm more concerned with the other carbs I consumed that night.

Staying true to the locale, we started off with 1L sized mugs of German brew. The one I had was called 'BBK' by the server. I had no idea what that was.... so I ordered it. Turns out the official name is Binding Romer Pils. I think the best way to describe it is that of a typical German style pilsner. I really enjoyed it, but honestly don't remember too much detail of the way it tastes. Probably due to...

... the Das Boot that we ordered afterwards. I think that it was a Steigl, although it might have been a Spaten Oktoberfest. Either way, we downed that bad boy in no time because it was quite good. This place was serious with their Boots and took a credit card for deposit in case we broke it. [We didn't] I gotta say that was my first time drinking out of a boot that I ordered and it was quite a feat. I'll definitely have to do this again sometime. Especially if there is a yodeling competition going on at the same time.

The next day, being a Saturday, we had to find some place to watch college football. [Obviously] So after finding a place within walking distance of our hotel, we got right to it and ordered up some local brew. Goose Island is the Chicago based craft brewery that you can find every where. I was somewhat skeptical to dive into this brew because of their recent acquisition by A-B InBev. Essentially now they are just a brand owned by one of the Big 3. But alas, I wasn't gonna travel to a city and not try their hometown stuff.

I had two at this place, and wasn't overly impressed by them. First was the G.I. 312 Urban Wheat Ale. That's pronounced 'Three One Two' by the way. Don't make the mistake and call it 'three twelve'. There wasn't much in terms of flavor. Too watered down for my liking. Next was the Summertime seasonal brew. Again, very disappointed. I've been lucky enough to have a good number of summer seasonals that bring something refreshing to the table. This one did not.

Finally on Sunday, before the wedding, a group of us decided to head over to the Goose Island brewpub to see what else they have to dial up. We were short on time and decided to all get the Flights so we could sample 4 different brews. They had a wide assortment of styles, [that you can see here.] I took the descriptions of each that I had (except one that isn't listed) and copied them below. Overall I gotta say I was way more pleased with this selection, over the flagship brews they put out.

Uncle Dunkel - European Syle Dunkelbier - 4% abv
Rich mahogany color, biscuit aroma, milk chocolate flavor, light body

Daywalker IPA - India Pale Ale - 6.4% abv
Caramel color, mango aroma, Bulgarian pepper flavors, medium body
*Brewed with Bulgarian peppers from Leaning Shed Farms, Berrien Springs, IL

Peach Pundit - German Style Hefeweizen - 5.5% abv
Pale amber color, peach aroma, banana flavor, medium body

The last was called 'Weizenbock'. One of my favorites of the bunch, but I have no additional info on it.

Well that concludes the brews I had during my trip to Chicago. I'm gonna be heading back up in a couple weeks, so it's quite possible you'll see some other local brews here on CDR. Tomorrow I'll get caught up to speed on the beers I've had over the past 2-3 days. As always, stay tuned...

I'm back!

I know you all have been antsy, wondering "Where did that guy who writes about beer (and sometimes about his daily life) go? I miss his 'only alright' ability to write creatively, and I am finding out about so many less beers now!" Well, I've been on quite a journey the past week and I've had a great assortment of brews. You didn't think I'd break the streak, would ya?

To give a little recap, I was in Chicago for the weekend at two long-time friends' wedding, and more than a couple GnT's at the open bar. It was a beautiful scene, and I gotta give a nod to them. Tyler & Michelle, if you read this, congratulations again! Love you guys.

Leading up to that trip I pretty much was in chaos-mode for work, trying to tie up all the lose ends so I could take time off. That's the reason I didn't get posts up on Weds & Thurs of last week. I can't remember exactly which days I drank each of the following, but in the end its not that serious.

What I am going to do, though, is break up the beers in chunks -- because I want you to actually read these posts. And if they are super long, I wouldn't even want to read them. So here we go.

First up will be the Orange Blossom Pilsner Squared (OBP2). Was very eager to try this guy since the OBP (not squared) is labeled as ['Florida's Honey Beer']. I am kind of confused as to who actually brews this beer, since the site says it's Unique Beers (based in Orlando, FL), but that it's brewed for them by Thomas Creek Brewery (based in South Carolina). Anyways I kind of liked this brew, but it was really intense. Very strong with honey flavor and you could definitely taste it's high alcohol content. Chugging this beer is ill advised. I enjoyed one glass of this, but not sure if that would continue with more than that. Also of note was how clear this beer was. Not sure which was more transparent: the beer or the pint glass.

Unique Beers
Orange Blossom Pilsner Squared
Strong Pale Lager
11% abv

Next will be the [Peak Organic] Pomegranate Wheat Ale. This one is pretty much the exact opposite of the OBP2. Super light, very easy-drinking flavor, and very crisp. The best comparison I could come up with is that of the Sweetwater Blue. It's a wheat ale, but there is zero haze in this brew. Pretty refreshing, and ends with a notable pomegranate flavor that doesn't steal the show. After checking out Peak Organic Brewing I came away very impressed with how they aim to have their beers paired with food. Check out the link above to see what I'm talking about. Every picture of their brew actually features food. Apparently the Pom. Wheat  goes well with 'chevre goat cheese' whatever the hell that is.

Peak Organic Brewery
Pomegranate Wheat Ale
Wheat Ale
5.9% abv

The last of my pre-Chicago beers was the Thomas Hooker American Pale Ale. Not going to lie, I picked up this beer because it prominently said 'HOOKER' across the front of the bottle. I don't have a ton to say about this one, except that it is simply a really good APA. It had malty aspects that paired well with the hop's floral and bitter tastes. It almost tasted like a West Coast IPA, but didn't have the hop profile to get there. If you're looking for an all-around enjoyable beer, this will definitely fit the bill.

Thomas Hooker Brewing Company
American Pale Ale
American Pale Ale
5.2% abv

Another Day, Another Brew

Having trouble getting this post together today. As was the case with many things throughout this Tuesday, everything seems like a chore.

Was hoping that the beer for today, the Southern Tier Phin & Matt's Extraordinary Ale, would serve as the pick-me-up I needed. While it was good, it simply extra ordinary. It had a medium body and was very drinkable. I think on a different day I would have enjoyed this a whole lot more so I won't hold that against this brew.

By the way: Phin and Matt are two of the founding brewers.

Something I did pick out about P&M was that it had somewhat of a 'doughy' taste. Had to have come from the grains that they used. This flavor helped to make this brew very smooth, but if there were just a slight bit more bitterness from the hops I would say the beer would have been more balanced. But hey, like I said, it was still good.

Southern Tier has quickly become one of my favorite brewers, and I actually have two others that I will be featuring over the next week or so. One of which is one of my all time favorites, and the other is a seasonal that I've yet to try. Very much looking forward to both!

Southern Tier
Phin & Matt's Extraordinary Ale
American Pale Ale
5.7% abv

Thrilla in Vanilla

If you know anything about me, you know how I feel about barbeque. Far and away it is my favorite food. In all honesty I tend to think of it as it's own food group. Grains, Fruits, Veggies, Dairy, Meat, Protien, BBQ. If you have ever visited me in ATL, then I have probably taken you to this little place called [Fox Bros Bar-B-Q], or as I like to call it, 'Heaven.'

So if you were me, and you found a local craft brewer that made a brew aged in whiskey barrels, along with smoked vanilla beans provided by said barbeque joint.... what would you do? You would absolutely buy it without even thinking for half a second about it. And that is exactly what I did with the Red Brick Vanilla Gorilla.


I've talked a little bit about Red Brick way back when I started this blog, but haven't featured them since. Biggest reason why is that I am not the biggest fan of their brews. They've got potential. And recently they started to capitalize on that potential with their 'Brick Mason' series. A little while back I had the [Red Brick Double IPA] and was pretty impressed. The Vanilla Gorilla is the second of three in this series. Just like the DIPA, this one delivers.

Here's what they say about their brew: "A smoked porter aged in Tennessee Whiskey Barrels with Smoked Vanilla Beans, courtesy of Fox Bros. BBQ in Atlanta. This porter was brewed with Cherry Wood Smoked malt." What's not to love about that? It is an intense beer, with a lot going on, but it is quite good. One of those brews that you can only really have one of, but you won't want more than that. Practically a meal on it's own.

I kind of messed up with this one because I didn't actually pour it into a glass. So I don't officially know what it looks like. The smell was great as this is where you get most of the vanilla. But as far as the color, I'll defer to what Red Brick says -- "Color: Nearly Black"


Red Brick Brewing
Vanilla Gorilla
Porter
7.8% abv

Change of Pace

I've decided to change things up slightly for the blog, in regards to when I post my updates. In an attempt to find my social life again I'm going to continue my normal posts on Monday through Thursday. Then on Sunday night I will recap the weekend that just past. I pretty much exclusively post in the evening, or later, and on Fridays and Saturdays it can be difficult to find a time to dedicate to the page. Plus, on most weekends I try more than one new brew so it will give me the chance to do multiple features in one post.

This weekend I had three different brews that could be categorized as 'every day beers'. They were good beers, but didn't go overboard in any way. It actually was a pleasant change of pace from the higher gravity, flavor intensive brews that I frequently have. Also to note -- I had each of these straight from the bottle so I don't really know what color they were, or how they looked in the glass.

The first brew was one out of Colorado, known as the Great Divide Denver Pale Ale. Very much enjoyed this one. Easy to drink, nice caramel malty flavor with a little bit of hops to balance. I could drink a 6er of these no problem, and enjoy every bit of it. It is labeled as an 'English Style' and you can definitely get that from the flavor profile. More malty than hoppy. This was the first brew I've had from Great Divide but it definitely won't be the last. Something that I admire about them is that they were established in 1997. 14 years ago may seem like a lot, but in reality I know that Colorado has a ton of craft breweries popping up and the fact that I see Great Divide all over the place in Atlanta, GA says something about the presence they have in the craft beer world. I even saw their brews at the large chain grocery store today.

Great Divide
Denver Pale Ale
English Pale Ale
5.4% abv

Next up was one I've seen a bunch of times and always wanted to try -- the Boulder Beer Hazed and Infused. The first smell I got from this reminded me a lot of the IPA's that we've been brewing up at home. Definitely could tell they dry-hopped the brew... besides the fact that they say so on the bottle. Dry-hopping is when you add hops to the beer, after the boil, as it ferments. What you get is all of the amazing aromas from the hops and almost none of the bitterness. If you smell a beer [like Hazed and Infused for example] and you smell citrus and flowers, that is the hops. And it's glorious. Overall I enjoyed this brew. Very crisp and clean with great aromatics.

Boulder Beer
Hazed and Infused
American Pale Ale
4.85% abv

Lastly I got to kind of go back in the day to right after I turned 21. I would every now and then get random 6ers from the grocery store, and one beer that I got was from Harpoon Brewery. I picked it up purely because I thought the name and label and were cool. It was the UFO Hefeweizen. From what I remember I really enjoyed this one back then. In a time when all I ever knew in the world of beer was whatever the keg was pouring that night, this beer that actually had 'flavor' would have been pretty amazing. This time around I was actually kind of disappointed. In a way this one kind of tasted a little more sour than I would have liked, instead of getting the yeasty and citrus taste I expected. However this could definitely be a good beer to try if you are looking to expand your horizon because it doesn't taste bad. If you see it, give 'er a go. But know that things can only get better from there.

Harpoon
UFO Hefeweizen
Hefeweizen
5% abv

"I gotta say, today was a good day"

There are some days that are just all around good days, much in the same way that there are some beers that are just all around good beers. Got to chalk one up for both of those things today. Finished out a better than average work day with a Rogue Mocha Porter.

This is another beer that is bringing me to the dark side. I really am surprised at how simple and well rounded this beer is. Wasn't sure what to expect when I opened it, maybe that it was going to be sweet but have that burnt/roasted flavor. Or maybe that it would be very heavy. That is not the case here.

I've talked about Rogue brews before and I'm starting to realize why they are everywhere when I find craft beers. Hell they've got 48 different brews listed on their site, which is pretty impressive. They've got practically every style covered, and I'm sure that nearly every single one is quality in a bottle.

The Mocha Porter has a bunch of stuff going on but in a really good way. You can taste the hops. You can taste the roasted malt. You can get a slight hint of creaminess at the very end. It's a very smooth beer that doesn't sit heavy. Wouldn't go as far as to say it's refreshing (like a light summer beer would be) but it is perfect for end of the day drinking. Also think this would be a really good brew to have with dinner. The Rogue site says to pair it with beef or desserts. I'd agree with that assessment.

Rogue
Mocha Porter
Porter
5.1% abv
"Dedicated to the Rogue in each of us"

Got the chance to have a very simple, delicious beer today. Have had it a few times before... always enjoying it. In fact when I went to the LHBS the guy said "Allagash doesn't do anything bad." Very true for today's beer, the Allagash White.

The last time I had this brew was right around the time I started this beer blog, and I paired this brew up against a reuben sandwich. It was fantastic. The sandwich, the beer, and the combo of the two. The best way to describe this beer is to call it a Blue Moon but wayyyy better. Its a Belgian White style brew that is very easy drinking.

I haven't had very many beers from this style before, but I can say that I've never really been disappointed. Another brew in this style that you might be familiar with is Hoegaarden, which I happen to find awesome. I don't really have much else to say about this one because its just simply good.

One thing to note, beer-wise, is that Belgian Whites are also known as 'witbiers'. I think terms like that are cool. Witbier. And the best part is that the W is actually pronounced like a V. So, vit-beer. It's fun to say.... try it. Just not out loud because people might look at you funny.

Allagash
White
Belgian White (Witbier)
5.0% abv
"Beer brewed with spices"

Work/Life Balance

There are some days when going offline early are necessary. Today is one of those days... and it was worth it. Biggest reason why? Wii Golf and brewskis.

To round out the weekend that just past, I gotta tell you about the two brews I had first. The one I had never heard of before, actually was recommended to my at the LHBS, and it was the Brew Dog Hardcore IPA; An imperial IPA from these guys over in the UK. After checking out what they were all about, I realized they were exactly what I want to be. Two guys, 24 years old starting out, and in 3-4 short years later they are leading the way of on the edge brews. They actually made a 32% brew called Tactical Nuclear Penguin. Ridiculous, I know. Anyways this Hardcore IPA had a ton of fruity flavors, as well as a syrupy/alcohol flavor to go along with it. Definitely not a beer you can drink a 6-er of, but still great tasting.

Next up was the beer-before-I-passed-out Founder's Pale Ale. Listed as a dry hopped pale ale and "a testament to Cascade hops in a bottle." I'd be disappointed if I didn't get that Cascade hops flavor that was promised to me... and luckily I wasn't. Cascade hops are used in most of the homebrews that get cooked up in my place so I've gotten a pretty good handle on how it tastes and effects the beer. I think that this brew is an excellent choice for an everyday drinking beer. A go-to at the end of the day, that you can find on shelves every day of the year. Not too aggressive with its flavor or bitterness.... most people should like this one.

Now that I've gotten those two out of the way, I can mention the beer for today: the Left Hand 400 Pound Monkey. It's an English Style IPA and has a much more malty flavor than the American counterpart. The hops are there but not as prominent, as the caramel malt takes up the majority of the taste profile. I want to say that "I think I like this beer." It's definitely different, but I'm not sold that I will enjoy the sweet maltiness on a regular basis. I would order this up at a restaurant again, yet only have one most likely.

In general I've come to realize that Founder's is one of my preferred breweries. Hailing from Michigan, just like Bell's, is making me believe that if a beer comes from the Mitten State I am pretty much going to like it. Maybe its the water up there?

Left Hand Brewing Co.
400 Pound Monkey
India Pale Ale
7.0% abv
"Brewed on the banks of the mighty St. Vrain"

Back to the Daily Grind

I am so close to things going back to 'normal' that I can practically taste it. Somehow I survived my trip home to Tallahassee. Now if I can only survive the pile of work I have to deal with this week then I will be home free.

The regular schedule of beverage drinking kind of got out of whack this weekend, thanks to a late night high-profile football game and the tailgate associated with it. I did, however, maintain my beer drinking ways all the way through tonight.

On Friday I briefly posted about the beer that I was going to drink later, the Southern Tier Pumking -- holy moly was it good. Perfect balance of spices, pumpkin, and yum. I actually had a 22 oz bomber of it so I shared with a few people. Unanimous consensus of deliciousness. I'm actually going to pick up another one, or two, to keep around for the holidays. It will be absolutely perfect with Thanksgiving dinner.

Saturday finally showed up, and if this were a blog about my personal life I would go on and on about everything Seminole football, but its not. Its about beer. With it being a special day I figured it would be a great day to dedicate to some of the homebrews that have been cooked up in my house for the past few months. Actually had 4 different brews that I enjoyed and shared with friends and random people throughout the day.

First up was the Black IPA that has been dubbed the Notorious I.P.A. First of two out of the 'hip hop series' that we've brewed, this is one that honestly could go places. First time brewing it and easily is the best one so far. Roasty, hint of chocolate, and finishes nice and hoppy like the IPA it is. Surprisingly this one came out very crisp and clean, with tons of flavor. Even though it is very dark (a little darker than a brown beer bottle), you can still see how clear it is. For sure we will be tinkering with this recipe and letting as many people as possible try it.

Next was the second track of the series; a west coast IPA that is aptly named 2Hop. Took a slightly different route when making this brew by only using two types of hops, and adding both of them for each hop addition during the brew. Overall I think it is a great starting point and is prototypical to the west coast style. It has a big finish of hop flavor that is both floral/aromatic and bitter. But definitely in a good way. The color came out great, and is the orange/brown/gold you'd expect to see. Great for tailgating  because it will pair well against spicy or aggressive flavored food.

Third in line was also the darkest one we've brewed up so far. It was an Oatmeal Stout that has yet to be named. Remember back when I wasn't the biggest fan of dark beers? That is rapidly changing. The stout still needs some time to get better with age, but it is still quite good. Very smooth and chocolately, not as burned-roasted that you can find sometimes. I think that using oatmeal helped to balance out some of that, and even give it a different type of sweetness you can't find with other grains. Not the best dark beer ever, but certainly a respectable first attempt.


Lastly was the tailgate brew: an amber ale we named the Gold'n Garnet Ale. A 3.8% abv brew that is easy to drink and still has flavor to it. I happen to really like this one, but did get some constructive feedback on how to make it better. The thing about this brew is that because it is low in alcohol you can have many of them over the course of the day and still be standing by the time kickoff rolls around. Because as you should know, the 12th man never sits.

Now that brings us to Sunday and Today. The two beers for these spots are the Brew Dog Hardcore IPA and the Founder's Dry Hopped Pale Ale. I want to do these two beers justice and give them a little more of an in depth post. Since I've already written a small novel I will defer until tomorrow. Both of these were really good beers, and the Founder's you can find almost anywhere on the eastern half of the US.

I sure know how to build the drama and make you come back for more, don't I?

Gameday Eve

Day 2 in Tallahassee. So far it's been like the quiet before the storm.

Only have a brief moment to post right now, and I haven't had my brew yet today. But its picked out and waiting for me in the fridge. Went to the LHBS here and simply asked the guy "Make a suggestion." He went with a seasonal beer form Southern Tier [one of my favorite breweries] and said that this particular brew is a highly prized one. It's the Imperial Pumking.


Another pumpkin brew to add to the list, but the season calls for it! In tomorrow's post I will let you know how this one turned out. Right now I'm headed to visit some long lost Seminoles!

Southern Tier
Imperial Pumking
Pumpkin Beer
9.0% abv

It's good to be back

Gotta do a quick update for today, because tonight will most likely be filled with celebrations and poor decisions. Mainly because I have arrived in my Home before my current Home: Tallahassee, FL.

First stop on the journey was to THE local spot for craft beer near campus, a place called Proof. If you happen to take a look at [ratebeer's Best Beer Bars 2011] you'll find that it is rated the #31 Beer Bar in the world. This place is chill as hell and a great escape from the hustle and bustle of frat parties and clubbing in Talla-nasty. 28 beers on tap, many many more in bottle, and full liquor bar. No Bud Light.

The beer I got to taste for today is Stone's 15th Anniversary brew, which is an Imperial Black IPA. Having just brewed up a beer of the same style I am rather critical of this one. Honestly, I think I made a better one.... but the Stone version is still quite delicious. The hop flavor from the 'ipa part' of the beer is spot on, but there is something left to be desired from the 'darker beer part'. I would prefer it to be more chocolately, instead of more burnt/roasted.

I can go on and on about this beer, but the Stone site has listed a really great write up about this brew since it is a part of their [Anniversary series.] Give it a read if you have the time. You'll have to find a specialty craft beer store to pick this one up, unless you can find it at a beer bar like Proof.


Also to note --- if you ever travel to Tallahassee, visit this bar.

Stone Brewing
15th Anniversary
Imperial Black IPA
10.5% abv

It's good to be back

Gotta do a quick update for today, because tonight will most likely be filled with celebrations and poor decisions. Mainly because I have arrived in my Home before my current Home: Tallahassee, FL.


First stop on the journey was to THE local spot for craft beer near campus, a place called Proof. If you happen to take a look at [ratebeer's Best Beer Bars 2011] you'll find that it is rated the #31 Beer Bar in the world. This place is chill as hell and a great escape from the hustle and bustle of frat parties and clubbing in Talla-nasty. 28 beers on tap, many many more in bottle, and full liquor bar. No Bud Light.

The beer I got to taste for today is Stone's 15th Anniversary brew, which is an Imperial Black IPA. Having just brewed up a beer of the same style I am rather critical of this one. Honestly, I think I made a better one.... but the Stone version is still quite delicious. The hop flavor from the 'ipa part' of the beer is spot on, but there is something left to be desired from the 'darker beer part'. I would prefer it to be more chocolately, instead of more burnt/roasted.

I can go on and on about this beer, but the Stone site has listed a really great write up about this brew since it is a part of their [Anniversary series.] Give it a read if you have the time. You'll have to find a specialty craft beer store to pick this one up, unless you can find it at a beer bar like

Who's that guy with dashing good looks?

Been super busy today on a day-travel-trip for work, and gotta be up early again for the same trip once more.

Had a Bell's Oberon today for lunch to keep the streak alive, and want to put in a more in depth post for it later because it is my downright favorite summertime brew. Going to be really sorry to see it go until next season!

To quote: "Bell's Oberon is a wheat ale fermented with Bell's signature house ale yeast, mixing a spicy hop character with mildly fruity aromas. The addition of wheat malt lends a smooth mouthfeel, making it a classic summer beer."

If you happen to see it at your local grocer grab a six/twelve pack of it and reminisce in the memories from this past Summer!

Bell's
Oberon
Wheat Ale
5.8% abv

Gotta get back to Wii Golf...

"Ummm. Welp, it's heavy. It's gotta heavy weight to it. It has an interesting top note flavor... I'm trying to get that first taste thing you're talking about. Now that I heard that 'barnyard' flavor I can kind of see that. Period. But I'm going to pretend I didn't hear the barnyard flavor description because I want to enjoy this beer.


Surprisingly this beer is smooth with the carbonation effect. It's not thin, but it's not watery, or light and stupid. It's got a pretty even mass or balance or whatever you would call that. It's got a wonderful color... a deep, lovely... oh what would you call this, AMBER! Amber color. Uhh...

Brooklyn should be proud."

Guest post via ~HCK

Brooklyn Beer
Oktoberfest
Marzen
5.5% abv

Back from Hiatus

I know I know, I've gotten very lax with timely and daily posts. But don't think that doesn't mean I've been beer-less the past few days. In all honesty I needed a couple of mental vacation days. [Don't we all?]

It's actually been a weekend of really good brews. Since Friday I have had a beer with dinner, brewed beer, got a recommendation for a beer, had an unknown beer, and tried a second attempt of a new beer style. It was pretty awesome. Oh yea, and I drank beer while watching a lot of football.... kind of like I am doing right now.

First up was the Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard. Had this one at a Atlanta landmark, famously known as "The Vortex." Legendary for their off-the-wall-amazing burgers, they offer up a great selection of craft beers. I had to pick a brew that would be able to stand up to the 'Elvis Burger' that I got, and the Oaked Arrogant Bastard did just that. It was aggressive, but still smooth. Very hoppy in the beginning but the sweetness really helped to mellow it out. Full of flavor. And it really needed to be in order to combat a burger with peanut butter, fried bananas, and bacon....


Stone Brewing Co.
Oaked Arrogant Bastard
American Strong Ale
7.2% abv


Saturday was [obviously] a day of football. Had a few people over later to sample some of the homebrews we've got, as well as some other random craft brews. One of which I had picked up earlier at the LHBS. It came in a ceramic bottle with a grolsch style top... just like an old school milk bottle. Which is fitting because it was a brew from Rogue that commemorated 75 years of the Rouge Creamery. [They make cheese.] As best I can tell the cheesemongers are separate from the brewers, but share the name. This brew was a cream/milk stout and was incredibly smooth. Definitive chocolate flavors, and subtle smokiness. It poured with almost no head and everyone really really enjoyed it. Even those who aren't big fans of dark beers. Pretty sure I remember someone saying they "could tell this is a good beer." Good meaning 'quality'.

Rogue
Rogue Creamery
Milk Stout
7.6% abv
(ratebeer.com listed this as an American Strong Ale, but I call BS)

Sunday finally showed up, and was nothing more than an R&R day. Weather finally started to feel like the Fall and I accompanied it with a a beer specifically for the season. Attempt #2 for the pumpkin beers went to the Terrapin Pumpkinfest. It was much more subdued than the double-pumpkin brew I had a little while back, and I very much appreciated it. I love pumpkin. Especially pumpkin pie. Terrapin's version was mild enough, yet very definitive in the taste of the season. After tasting this one I will for sure be venturing deeper into the world of pumpkin brews over the next few months. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and a pumpkin beer? Sounds like heaven to me.

Terrapin Beer Company
Pumpkinfest
Spice/Vegetable Ale
6.1% abv

Finally we end up with the actual beer du jour. Last week I had this beer from a Danish(?) brewer [from Denmark]. It was a collab from ToOl and Mikkeller. The beer for today is again a collaboration from Mikkeller, and this time it is with Brew Dog, from Scotland. It is called I Beat yoU, an obvious play on the term 'IBU' -- or International Bitterness Units. It's basically a measure for beer and how much bitterness it has. The bitter flavor comes from the acids in the hops during the boil. Different hops have different acids [alpha and beta acids] and depending on which type they have, and how long they're boiled for, will greatly effect the bitterness and aroma in your beer. With my second taste of a beer that Mikkeller had their hands on I am yet again impressed. Smooth, citrusy, crisp and balanced. The I Beat yoU is an Imperial IPA that comes out at a whopping 9.75% abv. Normally you can really taste the alcohol the higher level brews, but this one isn't overpowering. I could have like 3 of these and be toasted, and satisfied.

Mikkeller
I Beat yoU
Imperial IPA
9.75% abv

Overall I'm very happy with the brews I got to have over the past few days. And now that I've somewhat recharged I will hopefully be able to get back into the groove of daily posts. Need to reset my daily rhythm and I'll be good to go.