Good to Be Home

Well, after a few hours on the road, it is nice to be able to post on my own couch and enjoy one of the best brews that Georgia has to offer. Today we're headed to Athens to have a Terrapin Rye Pale Ale. Well, just me. And I'm not physically going anywhere.

This american pale ale has so many thing that I like about it. Not too overpowering with any of the flavors and characteristics. It's almost like Goldilocks: not too bitter, not too sweet, not too hoppy, not too malty. And it has a rich golden color. When you take a sip of this beer you are able to really enjoy it, and the aftertaste doesn't linger so that you want to go in for another sip. A few of these around a tailgate with some spicy food or burgers, and you'd be set.

Terrapin has a really intriguing line up of beers; of which many I will feature throughout the year. They are a recent addition to the craft beer world [started in 2002] but from the start they were brewing excellent beer. In fact, with only one beer to their name, they took a Gold Medal home from the Great American Beer Festival. Now that's how you turn some heads. For more info on the GABF you can visit the site [here]. But really the only thing you need to know is that it is "listed as one of the top 1,000 places in the US to visit before you die."

Anyone want to split a hotel?

As you can probably gather, this beer is awesome. And it is really easy to find. If you are in Georgia, Florida, and most of the Southeast you can get this at the large grocery stores like Publix or Kroger. Do yourself a favor and pick up a 6-pack of this one.

Terrapin Beer
Rye Pale Ale
American Pale Ale
5.5%
"In tune with your taste."

Notes From the Road

Today I am writing from my phone in the great city of Nashville. Been here since last night and have been loving every moment so far. And I've got the rest of tonight to get into some trouble.

Because I am walking down Broadway St as I write this, I am going to have a slightly different format for today's post. The Crew and I made a stop at the Yazoo Brewery over in The Gulch and sampled a number of their beers from the Tap Room. I took some notes on each of them and will be copying below. Overall they had really delicious brews, and if you have the chance to stop in Nashville I definitely recommend stopping in for a visit. I know I will be again.

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend as much as I am!

Here are my notes:

Amarillo Pale Ale
- citrusy, nice hop finish with good balance of bitterness. Golden with thick foamy white head, very smooth and crisp.

Dos Perros
- malty and sweet, roasty flavors with a good amount of hops notes. Dark amber color and very clear.

Onward Stout
- rich with coffee flavor that looks like a cup of espresso when poured into the glass. Finishes very clean and the use nitrogen instead of co2 gives it an almost creamy texture.

Hop Project #54
- tons of floral aromas at first, and a burst of what I think is cascade hops in the taste and finish. Orange/gold color with a bitterness that is bold and delicious.

Hefeweizen
- fruity and tart, very similar to what a typical hefeweizen should be. Hefe = cloudy/yeasty; weizen = wheat. Very delicious for a summer beer.

GERST
- amber style ale, kind of reminds me of an Oktoberfest beer. Mellow flavor and very smooth to drink. The hops and malt play off each other very well.

Paycheck Friday

Who doesn't want a good cerveza on Friday after work? I know I sure do. And before I get judged for the fact that it's not 5 o'clock yet, I direct your responses [here.] Today my desk chair has been transformed into a beach chair, and my work space is a beach on the island of Hispañola. [The better half.] 


Right now I'm enjoying a Presidente, from the Dominican Republic. Technically it is imported by MillerCoors, but it is brewed by Cervecería Nacionál Dominicana. Learn something new every day. This beer is similar to what you'd imagine a 'mexican beer' to be even though it's not from Mexico. That is the easiest way to describe it. What I like about this beer is the way it finishes smooth and sweet. The first part of the taste is a lot like a Corona but it doesn't need a lime to be all-day-drinkable. If I had a cooler full of this, and a good view of the ocean, then I would be all set.


When I do these posts, I actually put in a little bit of research on the interwebs before I start writing. I always visit the brewer's website to learn about what I am drinking, who made it, etc. Well I definitely got a laugh when I came across the website for Presidente. [http://www.presidente.com.do] As you can see, the entire site is in Spanish. There are pictures of hot people in bathing suits, the beach, and a refrigerator/speaker-system full of Presidentes. The best part of the site is actually at the bottom

Anyways, since I am on my way to Nashville, TN in a couple hours, and since I got paid today, I feel that it is appropriate to reference a couple country music songs. You should have picked up on the first already, and the second is as follows., where it says "El consumo de alcohol perjudica la salud." Which translates to "Consumption of alcohol harms health." I guess I missed that memo...


All week long we're some real nobodies,
But we just punched out and its paycheck Friday,
Weekends here, good God almighty,
People lets get drunk and be somebody

Enjoy your weekend everybody! Be sure to check back tomorrow as I will be updating from the road in Nashville!


Cervecería Nacionál Dominicana
Presidente
Pale Lager
5% abv
"El consumo de alcohol perjudica la salud."

Cheers/Drink/Repeat No Evil

After yesterday's rather disappointing beer, I was really hoping to try something better today. When I reached in the fridge I went for the beer that seemed like it had the most potential to be great, and that happened to be Victory's Golden Monkey.


This beer is categorized as a Tripel Ale. And no, I did not spell that wrong. A tripel is a Belgian beer, also referred to as an Abbey Tripel, that is of the style of beers that monks would brew in monasteries way back in the day. There is also a grouping of beers known as 'dubbels', but they are much darker, and of lower gravity, than tripels. I'll surly be tasting one of those soon enough.

But I digress. Today's focus is the clear golden beer I have before me. This one is not for your average beer drinker as it is kind of intense. It tastes very much like the German & Czech beers that my Dad likes to drink; and since he reads this occasionally, I have to say that it's not a bad thing! What sets this beer apart is the strong taste it has. You can really distinguish the alcohol in this beer, and it almost tastes like a white wine with more carbonation and bite. Definitely a change of pace!

If I could ask for any changes in this beer it would be to not be as dry as it is. The lingering bitterness could be complemented that left a more enjoyable flavor, but I am struggling to figure out exactly what that could be. I definitely suggest this beer to someone who is having something spicy for dinner and doesn't want to fill up on low alcohol beers. As a reference, there is almost twice the alcohol content in this beer as one can of bud heavy.

[Update:] I just had a slice of cold pizza to tag along with the rest of this beer, and it tastes delicious. So all you college kids out there, take note.

Victory Brewing
Golden Monkey
Abbey Tripel Ale
9.5% abv
"For Your Taste"

Double What?

The beer I'm sippin' on today was created to celebrate the anniversary of Spoetzl Brewery. Spoetzl, which if you are unaware (like I was until 5 minutes ago) is the brewer of Shiner beers. And today we will be having a little chat about Shiner's 102 Double Wheat.

The 102 is for the number of years the brewery has been in business. 102? Yea. The internet tells me that they've been making 'anniversary brews' annually since their 96th year. That's cool, I guess. I would have waited until the century mark, but then again I don't own a brewery. [yet]. It seems as though Shiner has a quirky way of thinking and it unfortunately shows in this beer.

When I saw this bottle on the shelf I was quite intrigued. I thought to myself, "Self, you like a good wheat beer. This should surly be doubly good! Why don't you be a good chap and give it the old college try?" Then I tried it, and now I wish I could kick my own as twice. Once for this beer, and once for pretending that I talk to myself like that.

The 102 pours to a golden straw color, and kind of smells like an unfinished Bud Light that gets left out in the sun, and then chilled in the refrigerator again. There is a real lack of anything I'd consider 'wheat' in the flavor profile, or even how it looks. Practically no bitterness (14 IBUs [lower number, less bitter]), non-existent hop notes, and the malt taste just leaves you wishing for more.

Needless to say this is going into the won't drink again category. Mostly because I don't want to waste my time and tastebuds on something like this when the world is full of countless other amazing beverages.

Shiner Beers (Spoetzl Brewery)
102 Double Wheat
Wheat ale
6.2% abv
"Prosit!"

[insert epic guitar riff]

"Section 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed."

December 5, 1933 was a glorious day; And on this day America rejoiced. For roughly 14 years the United States, for some strange reason, decided that it was prudent to deem the sales of alcohol [and thus our beloved beer] to be illegal. I'm sure they had their reasons... but c'mon! Although there are a few good things that came from the period of Prohibition -- (right now NASCAR is the only thing that comes to mind) -- there are even greater things that came in the time after the Repeal of Prohibition. Such is the case with 21st Amendment's Back in Black.


I love what the team at 21st is doing for craft beer. They are American in every sense of the word. Revolutionaries in the canning of craft brews; innovators in the usage of freedom of ingredients [see: Hell or High Watermelon]; and downright proud of where they come from. They hail from San Francisco, btw.


This Back in Black is what as known as a 'black IPA'. Essentially it takes your standard IPA, and incorporates all those sweet, roasty, chocolatey, and dark malty flavors you get from a stout. Bascially the best of both worlds. In this beer you can smell and taste the hops, start to finish, but intertwined in it all are the smooth and mellow flavors too. This style of beer is so intriguing to me that I actually brewed up a batch last weekend. It will be ready in a couple weeks, and I'll get back to you on how it turns out.


Without a doubt this brew is being placed in the 'definitely drink again' category because it brings so much to the table. Like most beer drinkers I was not a fan of dark beers at first. However, I could drink this beer all day. And if I do that it is only going to be a matter of time before I am enjoying every last drop of dark beer that gets poured in my glass.


Need another reason to try this beer? If you can't tell, that is Paul Revere riding a Harley on the side of the can.


21st Amendment Brewery
Back in Black
Black IPA
6.8% abv
"Our Black IPA is a Declaration of Independence from the tyranny of the expected."

This one Left me speechless

I might have just found a cure for a case of the Monday [Night]s. Today's beer might just be the 'Morning cup of coffee' of Happy Hour. Without giving too much away, I will definitely be having Left Hand Milk Stout again. And you should too.

For the past 15 minutes I have been sitting here trying to figure out what to write about for this post, because there is so much that I like about the drink in my glass. I don't really know where to start. This stout pours to a rich dark brown (as a stout should) and is layered with a ton of delectable flavors. You can smell fresh coffee, milk chocolate, toffee, and roasty malt. And then you can taste each of those separately, yet harmoniously. And I promise that I won't use the word 'harmoniously' again. This case just calls for it.

Left Hand has taken what most people would think should be a really heavy, dark, roasted toasted stout, and turned it into a subtly sweet brew that tastes almost like a glass of iced coffee. Except smoother. The only thing that might make this any better is if it were to be served from the tap of a nitrogen gas keg. For those who don't know what I'm talking about, think of a Guinness. It isn't carbonated... it is nitrogen-ated. Nitrogen has much smaller bubbles than carbon dioxide; and as a result create a very smooth beer that has a different level of flavors that you can't get from CO2. Left Hand has been a leader in the movement of using nitrogen in their beers, and it is common to find places that serve it that way on draft.

For the sake of repeating myself, and dragging on this post, I'm going to tell you to go out and try this beer. If you don't like dark beer, this is a great one to open your horizons. If you do like dark beer, then this is an awesome change of pace. Like coffee with cream and sugar? This is that in a pint glass. Like chocolate, go indulge.

Ok, enough of that.

Left Hand Brewing

Milk Stout

Sweet stout

5.3% abv

"Sometimes you're not in the mood for what everyone else is having."

Summer Squeeze

Sundays during the Summer call for sunshine and something fresh in your cup. Today my glass is filled with BridgePort's Summer Squeeze, which hails from the state of Oregon.

I had some high hopes for this beer, that I had never heard of before, when I picked it out. BridgePort has a few brews that I've seen on the shelf that I look forward to trying, but this one seems to fall a bit short on expectation. This blonde ale might be appealing to those craft beer drinkers out there who enjoy a light, crisp drink that is choc full of lemon zest and citrus. I on the other hand think it is a little more than I prefer. In the glass it looks just like a typical american lager, with a golden yellow color and pours very clear.

Something that I was unaware of, was the amount of craft beer coming out of Oregon. A little research from a highly credible source [wikipedia] turned up this neat little map:

As you can see, Oregon is at the top of the list of Craft Breweries per Capita. Granted, Oregon doesn't have one of the larger state populations (3.8 mil in 2010), but that still shows the fact that there is a huge movement of brewers in this northwestern state. I am quite sure that over the course of this year I will be enjoying many delicious beers from here. It's a shame that my first had to be this unsatisfying. Oregon, you're going to get a do-over.

BridgePort Brewing
Summer Squeeze
Blonde Ale
4.5% abv
"Oregon's Oldest Craft Brewery"

Beer From Around Here

I'm rounding out the three biggest Atlanta with a limited release from Red Brick Brewing; their take on the Double IPA.


I must admit that there was some strategery with this beer being my first Saturday morning beverage -- I've had it before and I specifically saved one for this purpose. I'll cut right to the chase and tell you that this beer is incredible. Although I have other favorites from this category, this one is up there on my list. We will have to see how it stands up over the course of many Double IPAs (DIPA) that I plan to have throughout the year.


FYI - A Double IPA, or an Imperial IPA, is a beer that is higher in alcohol content, has more hops profiles, and is a more intense version of an India Pale Ale... which happens to be a more intense version of a Pale Ale. [Basically the 'regular', 'large', and 'super size' extra value meals of beer.]


A unique characteristic of this beer is that it has hops sediment floating around in the beer. I had to ask the experts at my LHBS if there was something wrong with it... they assured me it was meant to be. And to be fair, I think it a) looks weird, but b) is not gross at all, and c) really gives you a great citrusy hops flavor. You can smell some piney notes in this copper/orange colored brew, and the taste has some biscuit taste that isn't too bitter because of the blast of citrusy hops that take over. In general I'd say it has a middle of the road malt profile.


I want to drink this beer with some good barbeque, or some sipcy chicken wings. You don't need to drink a bunch of these to get toasted (9.0% abv!) but this will definitely help reset your palate with the bold and intense flavors of those two food items. Which, by the way, happen to be my favorite.


Red Brick Brewing Company, formerly known as Atlanta Brewing Company, is actually the oldest craft brewing company in Georgia. They opened in 1993 and in 2007 moved to their current location. Because they have recently grown in popularity, and expanded their distribution network to beyond Georgia, they changed their name to Red Brick Brewing [after their flagship brew, Red Brick Ale] in 2010. They too, like SweetWater, have brewery tours on a weekly basis, and are a must-visit if you come through Atlanta. [Remember, hit me up and I will join you!]


I like what Red Brick is doing, and they will continue to be a staple here in Atlanta if they keep it up. Not only are the people here awesome to talk to and all around great, they have good beer and are proud of their heritage as brewers. To quote: 

"We are proud of our Southern roots, the heritage of great Southern beer, and our position as the oldest craft brewery in Georgia."

 That's what I'm talking about. I'll tell you what, Red Brick, if you keep making good beers, I'll keep drinking them. And I invite all readers to do the same. If you can't find it in your city then come visit me.


Red Brick Brewing
Double IPA
9.0% abv
"Beer From Around Here"

A Face Full of Pleasure

Decided to keep it local again with today's beer du jour, and went with the SweetWa, ter Motor Boat. This is a seasonal brew that only comes around during the end of the Summer, and into the Fall --- WAIT, the summer is almost over?! wtf, when did that happen??

Well after being hit with that realization, I'm lucky enough to have a face full of this English Style Bitter (ESB) to sip on and keep me in the mindset of the best season of the year. [Side benefit: it's great for combating the ridiculous heat/humidity we have in Atlanta right now.] Honestly this beer is delicious.


It pours to an orange-brown, has a caramel malty flavor with a nice dose of floral hops smell and taste when you finish chugging enjoying it. When you hear that it is an ESB, one might think that you'll end up looking like this guy while you drink it.... However, that is not the case here. You do get a well-defined bitter taste but it only complements everything else that is going on with this beer. I love the way everything tastes, and this unquestionably has to go in the 'definitely drink again' category.


The SweetWater Brewing Company is a really strong brand here in the Southeast, with it's base being good ol' ATL. The brewery tours are a regular spot for me and my crew, as well as hundreds of other people during Happy Hour. When you [yes, you] come through here it would be my pleasure to accompany you to their place over on Ottley Dr.


SW has done their fair share of work in the craft beer movement over the past 10-15 yrs. I haven't been here for to terribly long, but it is quite evident to me that they are leading the way to Atlanta being a hub for craft brewing. Joining the good fight with them is Red Brick [hint: come back tomorrow] and the new guys over at Wild Heaven [did you read this?]. In addition there are a few others getting into the game and all of the above have really great tasting beers. And I am looking very much forward to having more of them. Soon.


If you get the chance to grab a SW Motor Boat before the seasons change again, please do yourself a favor and get one. As the label reads: "These babies are built for speed and comfort. Hit the throttle and dive in with your eyes wide open, you old sailor you!"


SweetWater Brewing Company
Motor Boat
English Style Bitter (ESB)
5.6% abv
"Don't Float The Mainstream"

Old Curmudgeon

Definition of curmudgeon: a crusty, ill-tempered, and usually old man.


As far as descriptions go of Founder's Curmudgeon Old Ale, this one is pretty spot on. Well, minus the 'crusty' part. Or the part about it having a temper. But it definitely makes me think that old men drink it. Sounds tasty-- right?

It's actually pretty decent. If you could imagine smelling a bottle of wine that has been opened for too long, and then taking a sip and tasting a malty-molasses flavor, then you can get an idea of what this tastes like. I'm a big fan of the deep amber/reddish color but that doesn't go very far when it comes to taste. Because who really cares what it looks like if you don't ever want to drink it.


Honestly I decided on this beer because, as you can see on the label, I thought it read "Old Curmudgeon Ale", and that it was going to be some kind of Amber Ale that just is named after a crusty and ill-tempered old man. Instead, I ended up with an Old Ale that is leaving me ill-tempered... and crusty? Ok not crusty.


After doing some research on what I was drinking, I found this little blurb about Founder's Brewery:

The Founders Family, a group of passionate beer enthusiasts, has grown around this simple philosophy: “We don’t brew beer for the masses. Instead, our beers are crafted for a chosen few, a small cadre of renegades and rebels who enjoy a beer that pushes the limits of what is commonly accepted as taste. In short, we make beer for people like us.”

I can definitely agree that this "pushes the limits" of taste. For some people this might be a quite delicious beer that is working on the fringe of what We as beer drinkers expect beer to taste like. However I'm going to have to put this in the "Probably Won't Drink Again" category. A little harsh for a Brewery that I really enjoy, but I can't like every beer.


[I certainly can drink them all though.]

Founders Brewing Company
Curmudgeon Old Ale
9.8% abv
"Think classic sea fairing ports, local pubs, and weathered old fishermen."

Getting Wild

Beer #2 is in the books, and today's tasty beverage is Wild Heaven's Ode To Mercy.


This Imperial Brown Ale poured to a deep caramelly/amber/brown, with a nice frothy head that gave off some delicious smells. Yes, smells. I'm no connoisseur (yet) so I am refraining from big words. For now.

At first taste you get a very smooth, complex set of flavors that are nutty, malty, oak barrelly... even a hint of fruitiness and coffee as well. I can't really put my finger on what it exactly is but my taste buds are having a mini-party during every sip.

Being on a different part of the spectrum from yesterday's IPA, I think that this beer will definitely be up the alley of someone who likes a full bodied red wine with their dinner. It doesn't taste anything like red wine, but it has so much complexity to it that I think the correlation is there. For all you Vino's out there that want to explore craft beer, I'd give this a shot the next time you are having a hearty meal (such as grilled steaks, or bbq chicken).

The reasoning behind my choice of this as my #2 beer is the fact they are local to Atlanta [Decatur], and they are brand new to the shelves of our LHBS around town. They've got two beers on the market, the other of which I will be posting at a later date, and I am a big fan of both of them.

They have a motto of "Serve Your Neighbor" which I think has multiple meanings that are both sound, and speak to the nature of why they brew beer. And I appreciate this. They want to create world class beers but these Georgians don't want to forget where they came from or who helps them get to where they are going.

Wild Heaven Craft Beers
Ode To Mercy
Imperial Brown Ale
8.2% abv
"Serve Your Neighbor"

1/365

Ok so I had some technical difficulties in getting this posted on time, however it is as to be expected with the fact it's my birthday. I'm allowed some leeway.

Anyways here is beer post number one:

The first drink of the year was Lagunitas' Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale, because, you know, everyone needs a little something something on their birthday.

Needless to say it was quite enjoyable. The amount of floral hops, compared to the bitterness, was really delicious. When you first sip it you can smell all the amazing aromatic qualities. But then as the taste develops there is a clean finish with enough body to leave little to be desired.

This one for sure goes in the "Definitely Would Drink Again" category, and I recommend this West Coast IPA to everyone who likes their beers a little on the edgy-er side. It was a golden-orange color and I think could go great with a fish sandwich, ocean scenery, and a bunch of good friends.

Well done, Lagunitas. Well done. Keep up the good work, and keep making beers that I'd like to drink.

Lagunitas

Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale

India Pale Ale

7.5% abv

"Life is Uncertain. Don't Sip."

It's not a sprint, it's a marathon

So, I am all set to go for my first week of brews, and to say that I am excited would be an understatement.

After a trip to my LHBS (local homebrew store) I picked up 5 beers I've never had, 1 I've had once, and there was an additional 1 in my fridge that is a limited release. I'm still debating and coming up with ideas for what I want to do with this beer-journal/blog, so it's quite possible that from post to post I will change things up.

What I have decided is this:
- Each beer doesn't have to be in the "Never tried before" category
- For the most part I will aim to try beers that are less common and not necessarily the flagship brew
- Both bottles and drafts are fair game; I'll be having quite a few at restaurants/bars/pubs in addition to at home
- I will occasionally post my homebrews (but only if they are really good)
- Instead of letter grades I am going to scale the beers based on how likely I am to buy/drink each one again
- There will be a photo, video, or both of each one I try
- I'll post as many pertinent details (ABV%, style, background, etc.) as I deem necessary

Don't want to commit to too much, but I think that is a decent set of guidelines.

Be sure to come back tomorrow evening for the first post! (and, of course, every day afterwards) And post comments, too. I'm all about getting some love.

Cheers!

First!

So I turn 25 in exactly one week. Since this is somewhat of a milestone I've decided to attempt a year long goal, and log my daily 'journey'.

I will be having at least one different beer, every single day, from birthday to birthday. I'll post pictures, videos, and reviews of each of them; as well as an occasional off topic post.

Stay tuned to see what ends up in my pint glass!