Brews of Our Lives

First Tasting: Rum Raisin Oatmeal Stout

2012-01-15T16:00:00.000-08:00

I was stoked to make this beer from start to finish. I read about a clone of Lost Abbey's Judgement Day where the raisins were added for the entire boil. Judgment Day is a sweet beer to begin with so I wasn't sure how this one was going to work. I now feel like the silkiness that the oats tend to add are insignificant.

Of all the stouts that I made for the winter (Chocolate Stout, Chocolate Cherrywood Stout, and the Rum Raisin Stout, and even the Date and Molasses Porter), I tweaked each ingredient list here and there; Maris Otter base malts, 2 Row, Roasted Barley or Flaked Barley, Oats and Carafa 2 and 3, just to get a better understanding of the grains themselves. I used a half pound of raisins in the boil and then racked onto another half pound of raisins the were in a dark rum for 14 days. It has been great playing with different alcohols, woods and fruits this year. Peaches and Rum, Cherrywood/ Bourbon, Oak/ Bourbon Raisins and Dates even Plums and Bourbon. This year I hope to get into a few others.

I give this beer a solid B+. It is very sweet, but the rum added to that and I would rather see it come through on the heavy side rather than always wonder how much is enough. I can now start to scale back. The head on this dissipated very quickly, but from the picture above you wouldn't guess. I am thinking that the raisins are the culprit. I was away for a few weeks during all of these dark beers while they were racked so they all had plenty of time to be undisturbed or bottled too early. I am learning to be patient.

Yeast Starter Anatomy

2012-01-07T12:43:00.000-08:00

I only got into the fun and importance of making yeast starters in the fall last year. I made half batches for so long that one packet of yeast was plenty for 3 gallon high gravity beers. Last night while enjoying the last beer made last year, a Single Hop (Palisade) Pale Ale, a friend found something off about it. Out of no where he asked if I made a starter and I actually didn't. It was the first time I didn't out of 8 or so recipes. So here is my usual set up for making one. Yeast Nutrient optional.

First Tasting: Batch #20

2012-01-01T10:02:00.000-08:00

Molasses and Date Porter
This batch was a fun colaborations with Mi Esposa for the holidays. We decided that there is no greater gift than something handmade. In this case we wanted to be handmade, fermented and around 7% ABV. All gifts need an alcohol content.

I am lying when I said this was a first tasting. I sampled it a few times before I knew that it was significantly carbonated. At room temperature the sugars from the molasses and dates came through great. The aroma was pretty sweet, but the dark fruit had a way of making a bit of funk with the molasses.

After another week, chilled and ready to drink I was pretty pleased with it. Nice, warming alcohol notes smacked your lips leaving them a bit sticky. It is a jet black porter. I that we held back enough on that the black patent malt and it wasn't too bitter, but worked well with the fruit. Giving these up as gifts was a bit difficult. We labeled a few and waxed the caps for a presentable present for the "Feasts for the Dead." The wooden 4 pack holder was a fun gift to make as well. The idea was picked up from BYO magazine.

Cheers and Happy New Year

Final Tasting of Batch #17

2011-12-17T11:11:00.000-08:00

Batch #17 was brewed for my brother's wedding in late September. I used many tradional wedding spices to give it an, "oh so special" vibe. My main goal is to be as spot on with temperature during primary fermenation. I was pretty pleased with it overall. With some of the ingredients (mainly cloves), this beer is a great winter brew. Last night we thought might be the best night to share the last bottle saved. I am almost regreting giving the 2nd to last bottle to our new neighbors as a house warming gift.

Right out the gate the cloves are present and dance nicely with the Belgian Ardennes yeast. I used fresh lemon and orange zest but coupled with that yeast and fermented at 78 degrees it was pleasently more sweet than dry. I laid off the Belgian grains with this recipe for no good reason except doing something completely opposite from Batch #15, a Lemon Rosemary Saison. My second regret was the length of time that I oaked it for. 30 days was not enough, or maybe I need another ounce of oak. It was more than mildly present.

Batch #17. Clove and Spice Saison
US 2 Row, US White Wheat, Belgian Vienna, Belgian Cara 45, Flaked Maize and Carapils.
Mount Hood, Amarillo, and German Spalt Select Hops
Green Tea leaves, ground pepper, Rosemary, Parsley, Orange Zest, Lemon Zest, Cloves and Pinot Noir Oak Cubes
Wyeast Belgian Ardennes w/ starter.

Brewing Status:
Primary: Empty (first time in a long time)
Secondary: Single Hopped Pale Ale
Bottle Condioning: Rum Raisin Oatmeal Stout, Belgian Dubbel w/ Figs, Robust Porter w/ Molasses and Dates.
Up Next: Batch #18 (revised)- Imperial Chocolate Stout

Chicha Is On!

2011-12-11T09:48:00.001-08:00

For many beer geeks I am sure that you either knew about the Perivian Beer, Chicha, or honestly, like me, heard about it through the Brew Masters episode rightfully titled, Chicha. Without getting deep down into the history, Chicha was and is a traditional Inca fermented beverage/ beer made from corn. It is best to watch the above linked clip to understand what you are about to read. To back things up I just got back from Peru and as much as the Inca Trail and 15th Century ruins were the main focus, I have hard time telling anyone that for 5 days, Chicha finding was what Dooglas and I had our sites on.

Now we heard tales that Chicha is hard to find in the traditional method of the brewer still chewing the corn. I saw a couple corona grain mills at the Chicharias. I would like to think that one (we visited many) in particular was as authentic as they come. We spotted our first "red bag" in Pisac. Eager and hesitantly we made our way into the homestead, past the chickens and into a dark structure where Dooglas asked, "Ahh, con permiso. Es la Chicha?" Si. Si.

In a small room with just us, our Chicha brewer, one or two locals and a floor full of coy, we sat on a small wooden beach and were served in a 20 ounce glass room temperture Chicha straight out the pot. We tipped our glass and let Pachamama have to first sip. It was very earthy, grassy, tart and delicious. An ancient Beriler Weiss comes to mind. Delicious to say the least.

We went back and got more Chicha to go in our water bottles. We got Chicha in Ollantaytambo and we enjoyed a few even our our way up the Inca Trail (we were "those" people). Nothing compared to the experience of the taste. It was a craft beer personified and a greater spiritual awaking for me.

Salud!

*Picture is a glass poured from a "to go" bottle brought to dinner.

Tasting: Batch #18

2011-12-04T07:59:00.001-08:00

Chocolate Bourbon Cherry Wood Stout
Strong vanilla flavor. A bit overpowering. There is are subtle chocolate notes, the cinnamon comes through in aroma while the bourbon finishes. A slight woody taste from the cherry wood, jet black and a creamy tan head. A pleasant desert beer in the end.

With 8 ounces of cacao powder in the boil and another 3 ounces of dark chocolate in the fermentor I was thinking liquid cake. This batch's separated twin at birth (Chocolate Stout) has those characteristics. This will be a very tweakable recipe to say the least. It is a bit thinner and not as roasty as expected. I will up that portion of barley next time as well as maybe toast some oats and mash a bit higher and up the base malt a few more pounds. It only sits at 7.5% and it should probably have more warming alocohol notes. Come on...it's winter. I like the vanilla a lot though. It was a gift from Belize and probably the richest and most concentrated vanilla extract alive. I give this an overall B-.

Batch #20

2011-11-15T16:51:00.001-08:00

Date and Molasses Robust Porter
Maris Otter, Munich, Rye, Chocolate, Crystal, Carapils and Black Malts.
Northern Brewer and Cascade Hops
Northwest AleYeast
1lb Molasses 8oz Dates

I haven't used this yeast in about 8 months. It moves like molasses. It is either the tortoise of yeast strains or I have grown to be impatient. But none-the-less it is my 20th batch of the year with a month to go in the year. Batch #21 is fermenting now on the other side of Roxborough. It's not a secret batch, #20 and #21 are for the holidays and some readers that I consider my tasters need to have something to look forward to. With this beer only 6 days in the fermentor I haven't even sampled it. I am debating on almond extract at bottling.

Half of Batch #18 was bottled and sampled 3 days ago. Low carbonation for the first seven days. This tends to happen during the late fall, early winter months in this house. The heat isn't turn on yet and without insulation my number of constant temp. rooms has fallen shot. As for the Chocolate Stout it had a very pronounced chocolate flavor and vanilla finish. Very thin though. It's counterpart, Bourbon Cherry Wood Chocolate Stout was bottled today and tasted delicious. I can not wait to see what some carbonation brings to it.

Batch #19

2011-11-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

Rum Raisin Oatmeal Stout
Pale Malt (Maris Otter), Flaked Oats, Roasted and Flaked Barley, Chocolate Malt, Crystal Malt,
Special B, Organic Raisins, Dark Rum.
Northern Brewer and Fuggle Hops
American Ale II Yeast w/ starter.

I have never had such an active fermentation. The blow off tube was a krausen subway for 60 hours. Finally, a week in it is calming down. I was looking to make a big beer. Not a 10%er, but something to enjoy for the holidays. I used a half pound of raisins in the boil and have another 4 ozs sitting in 8 ozs of dark rum for a few weeks. I didn't quite hit my OG on this. My mash tun was filled to capacity and I needed a small amount of DME to get it on it's feet. "We're gonna need a bigger pot."

Tasting: Batch #17

2011-10-31T17:25:00.000-07:00

I wanted to make something "Fallish" without pumpkin, but still in the fruits and veggies category. Oddly, I am in recipe-mode for a pumpkin(ish) beer for the winter. For Batch #17, Plum Rye IPA, I found a new love affair.

It's fairly dark in color with a strong citrus aroma. It is very hop forward but the tartness from the plums finish nicely. I was hoping for a bit more rye, but if I had to sacrifice the plum overpowering it, then I am happy enough. It is overall what I was hoping for. It packs a nice 6.9% ABV and is great to finish the end of the night with.

Plum Rye IPA
2 Row, Rye, Munich, Carapils and Crystal malts.
Simcoe, Columbus, Palisade and Amarillo hops
Lots of Fresh Plums
Wyeast American Ale II

Batch #18

2011-10-17T20:03:00.000-07:00

Bourbon Cherry Wood Chocolate Stout
2 Row, Chocolate Malt, Crystal, Black Malt and Carafa Malts.
Cacao Powder, Dark Chocolate, Cherry-Wood, Vanilla Extract, Cinnamon
East Kent Goldings and Fuggle Hops
London Ale Yeast w/ starter.

After Primary Fermentation was complete I split this batch in two 3 gallon carboys. 2.5 gallons is from the recipe listed above. The second carboy is minus the cherry wood and vanilla. Bourbon has added a bit of vanilla flavor to my past batches, but I am hoping to have this one finish with it instead of it being more forward. The cherry wood for this batch was a gift given to me in a 5 foot plank that I have dried, sanded and cut into cubes. I have 2.5 ounces of cubes in 6 ounces of bourbon. This will age for a minimum of 4 weeks and if my will power servers me right, more like 8 weeks. The vanilla extract used is a gift from another friend and contributor, Doog in Belize. I added about a tablespoon (+/-).

A Road Trip

2011-01-29T13:11:00.000-08:00

Thursdays are usually a local night. We hike down the beautiful hills of Roxborough until we reach the corner of Terrace and Salaignac, Terrace Taproom. But this past week was a road trip. The Slingluff Gallery needed their monthly beer from the folks at Sly Fox. A Thursday night road trip. After a bit of a back up on the Schuylkill and meandering route through Conshy we were Royersford bound.

"The Fox In The Snow"

Fox in the snow, where do you go
To find something you can eat?
Cause the word out on the street is you are starving
Don't let yourself grow hungry now
Don't let yourself grow cold
Fox in the snow
Girl in the snow, where will you go
To find someone that will do?
To tell someone all the truth before it kills you
They listen to your crazy laugh
Before you hang a right
And disappear from sight
What do they know anyway?
You'll read it in a book
What do they know anyway?
You'll read it in a book tonight

Boy on the bike, what are you like
As you cycle round the town?
You're going up, you're going down
You're going nowhere
It's not as if they're paying you
It's not as if it's fun
At least not anymore
When your legs are black and blue
It's time to take a break
When your legs are black and blue
It's time to take a holiday

Kid in the snow, way to go
It only happens once a year
It only happens once a lifetime
Make the most of it
Second just to being born
Second to dying to
What else could you do?

A great thing about Sly Fox is that they usually have 12 drafts on and at least 3 that are seasonal or one-offs. Most of the table drank O'Reilly's Stout, and although their were a few on hand that I have either had in cans or their 22ozs, I opted for a style that I find myself drinking more and more these days, the Smoked Porter. I've enjoying Left Hand's Fade to Black a lot recently. As far as any of Sly Fox's smoked beers go, well, they lay heavy on the smoke. But heavy or not, it was a delight. Spring is now here and it is time to put away the Belle and Sebastian albums (Well, at least, If You're Feeling Sinister) and cellar your cold weather brews either for a Spring cold patch or until December finds us.
If you find yourself in the Phoenixville area, head over to Sly Fox's annual Bock Fest and Goat Race.

Owl Spotting: Hitachino

2011-01-26T12:35:00.000-08:00

As much as I have enjoyed listing all the delicious beers that I am fortunate enough to drink in Philadelphia, I must say, that it is time for something different. Surely when I find myself in the mist of a rare or great beer week, I will document it. And of course, any Beercation, will have a pad and pen along at every stop. I'd like to spend a wee bit more time talking about individual beers, brewing companies, homebrewing, taprooms and bottle shops. So keep reading and enjoy the poems.

The Owls
Charles Baudelaire

Under the overhanging yews,
the dark owls sit in solemn state
like stranger gods: in twos and twos
their red eyes gleam. They meditate.

Motionless thus they sit and dream
until that melancholy hour
when, with the suns last fading gleam,
the nightly shades assume their power.

From their still attitude the wise
will learn with terror and despise
all tumult, movement, and unrest:

For he who follows every shade,
carries the memory in his breast,
of each unhappy journey made.

This poem was sparked by my new love, Hitachino Nest. During the Summer Beercation in Philly, Dooglas pointed out a white ale that I never tried. I saw the name and then I saw the state, no, the country: Japan. A Japanese microbrew. Awesome. Hitachino Nest is a product of Kiuchi Brewery. It was established in the early 1800s and from I was able to round up, Sake was their seller.They have quite a few beers available, but their Real Ginger, Red Rice, White and Classic Ale were all that I have had.

The Classic was a great IPA. I love breweries that use cedar to age with. At first taste it reminded me of a Furthermore beer. "Pepper," I thought. But the bartender assured us that it was cedar. (Think more on the Cigar City lines). It has a nice nose, a bit maltly and pleasantly hopped. It seems to be easier to find Hitachino on draft, but I am a major fan of finding them at bottle shops. Their logo is a sweet piece of art. They use pudgy little pink and orange owls that remind me of something from Urban Outfitters. That sounds like it might be a bad thing, but I am a fan of owl art no matter where it comes from.

Cheers for now.

Winter Beercation 2010. Hello 2011.

2011-01-04T12:47:00.000-08:00

Port Brewing Co. Santa's Little Helper (D)- Memphis Taproom
Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale (D)- Memphis Taproom
Jolly Pumpkin Noel De Calabazza (D)- Monks
St. Feuillien Saison (D)- Monks
Southhampton Saison Deluxe (D)- Monks
Leifmanns Cuvee Brut (D)- Fork and Barrel
Gina (Dogfish Head, Del Borgo, Baladina) (Cask)-Fork and Barrel
Birrificio Pausa Cafe Chicca (D)- Fork and Barrel
North Coast Acme California IPA (D)- Terrace Taproom
Manayunk Brewing Co. Iron Curtain Imperial Stout (D)- Union Jacks
Petrus Aged Pale (D)- Union Jacks
Bells Two Hearted (D)- Union Jacks
Philadelphia Brewing Co. Shackamaxium (B)- House Beer

Bells Kalamazoo Stout (B)- House Beer

Troubadour Magma IPA (D)- Fork and Barrel

Beer Here Morke Pumpernickel Porter (D)- Fork and Barrel

Dogfish Head Palo Santo (D)- Terrace Taproom

Troegs Java Head Stout (D)- Terrace Taproom

Yards Tavern Spruce (D)- Terrace Taproom

Coronado Islander IPA (B)- House Beer
Spring House Seven Gates Pale Ale (B)- House Beer
Saison des Trois Enfants (D)-Earth Bread and Brewery
Romulous on Handpump (D)- Earth Bread and Brewery
Second Degree (D)-Earth Bread and Brewery
Iron Hill Russian Imperial Stout (B)- House Beer

The Sipping List -Jules Holiday Party (All Bottles)
Anderson Valley Winter Solstice
Petrus Winter Ale
Gouden Calrolus Noel
Vichtenaar Flemish Ale
Uinta Brewing Co. Labyrinth Black Ale
Brooklyn Local 2
Hitachino Nest Owl
Harviestoun Ola Dubh
Lost Abbey The Angels Share
Ichtegem's Grand Cru
Stillwater Artisanal Ales Saison/ Farmhouse
Brewdog/ Mikkeller Divine Rebel
Brasserie des Rocs Triple Imperial
Lindemans Faro Lambec
Dogfish Head 120 Minute
Otter Creek Quercus Vitis Humulus
Monks Sour Flemish
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout
Rogue 2x Chocolate Stout

Homebrews
Kevin's "Fear of a Black IPA"
Kevin's "Under the Boardwalk Brown Ale"
Tim's Dry Stout
Ben's Imperial Stout
Ben's IPA
Ben's Bitter

I couldn't have been any happier with the few select bars we were able to make it to over the holiday week. Memphis reigns as one of my favorites, but Fork and Barrel is just pure bliss. All I can say about the F and B experiences is that we were able to have Gina. And from what I know, it was 1 of 5 kegs/casks in the country. Gina is an herb garden. It reminded me of Saison du Buff, with more parsley, sage and thyme, a lot of oregano, and less hops. I also had the Pausa Cafe Chicca. This seems like another rare one. Again, from what I read, I had 1 of the 8 kegs in the country. It's an Italian coffee beer made by inmates of an Italian prison. Read more about it here. When I read that prisoners made the beer I had mixed feelings about it. I needed more info on what Pausa Cafe is all about and then found this.

With a title like The Sipping List, there better be a story. Let me just say that I probably missed a few bottles on the list mentioned above. It was a crazy night.

What seems to be an annual party at the best house in Manayunk, we had a theme this year. Bring a great bottle and wear an ugly sweater or dress up fancy. There were about 30 amazing bottles, 4 ugly sweaters, 1 suit and few in a fancy wear. Obviously, beer was the all important factor. With 30 or more bottles and 20 or so people, our only choice was to sample each. Let me tell you that 3 ounces here and 5 ounces there surely does catch up with you. There is no way to talk complexity on any of these beers, but as for some to seek out: Vichtenaar Flemish Ale, Uinta Brewing Co. Labyrinth Black Ale, Hitachino Nest Owl, Harviestoun Ola Dubh and Ichtegem's Grand Cru. Sours are a holiday all their own in my book.

We are going to start to talk about homebrews a lot more on this site in 2011, so stay tuned. There are a number of homebrewers in the Brews of our Lives crew. Hopefully all of them will contribute a few words over the next year.

Thanks to all the readers of this blog for a great year.
Cheers.

Do Hops Gather On a Rolling Barrel?

2010-12-17T07:41:00.000-08:00

Terrapin Brewing So Fresh, So Green Green
Dogfish Head Sahtea
Russian River Pliny the Elder
Green Flash Brewing Co. Imperial IPA
Port Brewing Hop 15
Great Divide Fresh Hop Ale
21st Amendment Hop Crisis!
Einbecker Winter Bock
Emelisse Black and Tan
Mikkeller Red/White Christmas
Porterhouse Wrasslers XXXX Stout
Weihenstephan Doemens 1809 Berliner Style Weisse

Hops
-Boris Pasternak (1890-1960)-Moscow/Russia

Beneath the willow wound round with ivy
we take cover from the worst
of the storm, with greatcoat round
our shoulders and my hands around your waist.

I've got it wrong. That isn't ivy
entwined in the bushes round
the woods, but hops. You intoxicate me!
Lets spread the greatcoat on the ground.

On November 27th, we diverted our path from the usual Union Jacks on the Mantawny for new territory 23 miles west in Barto, PA. I live in Philly, but I find myself in the sticks once a week so that a few of us can talk shop, eat real potato fries and enjoy a mighty tasty elixir. This week we had an agenda. A trip with a special purpose. It was Hopsgiving.

Let's back up a few days before Hopsgiving. On Thanksgiving we polished off a few bottles of my favorite beer of the year, Terrapin's Side Project #13: So Fresh, So Green Green. If you love Outkast, then I'm sure that you love the name of this one. It's a wet/fresh hopped IPA that is amber in color, super clear, piney, citrusy and an overall mess of Amarillo hop greatness.

Okay, back to Hopsgiving. The tap list included:
Port High Tide
Green Flash Imperial
Stone Ruination
Port Hop 15
Dogfish Head 90 Min
Nogne O IPA
Russian River Pliny the Elder
Southern Tier Unearthly
Rogue XS IPA
Great Divide Fresh Hop Ale
Bear Republic Racer X
Avery Maharajah
Victory Hop Wallop

That is a pretty nice list. How to choose. How...to...choose. RR Blind Pig was supposed to be on as well, but 21st Amendment Hop Crisis! took its place. I've written about nearly all of these beers before. I did learn a lesson though when there is a hop menu like this. Drink Pliny last. Your palate will thank you.

By Candlelight
-Sylvia Plath

This is winter, this is night, small love --
A sort of black horsehair,
A rough, dumb country stuff
Steeled with the sheen
Of what green stars can make it to our gate.
I hold you on my arm.
It is very late.
The dull bells tongue the hour.
The mirror floats us at one candle power.

This is the fluid in which we meet each other,
This haloey radiance that seems to breathe
And lets our shadows wither
Only to blow
Them huge again, violent giants on the wall.
One match scratch makes you real.

At first the candle will not bloom at all --
It snuffs its bud
To almost nothing, to a dull blue dud.

I hold my breath until you creak to life,
Balled hedgehog,
Small and cross. The yellow knife
Grows tall. You clutch your bars.
My singing makes you roar.
I rock you like a boat
Across the Indian carpet, the cold floor,
While the brass man
Kneels, back bent, as best he can

Hefting his white pillar with the light
That keeps the sky at bay,
The sack of black! It is everywhere, tight, tight!
He is yours, the little brassy Atlas --
Poor heirloom, all you have,
At his heels a pile of five brass cannonballs,
No child, no wife.
Five balls! Five bright brass balls!
To juggle with, my love, when the sky falls.

Part 2 of this post takes place at the most impressive bar that I may have ever been to. Who would think that would be in East Falls, Philadelphia. Fork and Barrel opened up months ago. I knew that the beer list was entirely European. I love all beer, but there are so many American Craft Brewers out there constantly brewing new madness that I let this place slide off my radar. Mistake, mistake.

Let's start with the atmosphere of F&B, inside and out. The actually building used to be home to The Pour House. It was your regular neighborhood bar, with a basic draft list that you were able to find something on, but nothing exciting and certainly nothing to go out of your way for. The outside is now painted dark two-toned, almost black on black with nothing but a cask hanging near the window. Very simple and snazzy. Inside you are engulfed in flames. Literally. There are hundreds of candles that provide the only light and warmth. Mason jars housing tea lights hang from the ceiling and candles are placed everywhere. It is quite beautiful, intimate and the most different experience that I have ever had. The draft list was a bit of a new language to me. I need to brush up on my beer knowledge from across the Atlantic. Beer styles, however, were plentiful. There were plenty of imperial stouts, bocks, doublebocks, interesting IPAs, all providing an ABV teetering at 10% +/-. If you put your back to the bar, you can gaze at a beer bottle wall that is something of a mosaic of colors and sizes. Their bottled beer list is a novel. I don't remember how many beers they have, but the staff was great at providing a bit of help once they saw a perplexed look on my face. It was so hard to choose. A few of us shared a flight, and chose a bottle. It was a great way to introduce myself to this place. I look forward to checking out the upstairs. There is an American Style Cask pub that has a few handpumps and some nice looking bottles that are all American. And for the All Americans there is a huge flag taking over the window.

I look forward to writing one more post before 2011 strikes. With the holidays approaching, that should be no problem.

Cheers for now.

May Your Glass Always Be Half Full

2010-12-05T06:39:00.000-08:00

Prohibition ended today (Dec 5) in 1933. And I thought last week was Thanksgiving!

Look for a new post soon on my Hopsgiving at Union Jacks and local night at Fork and Barrel.

Cheers

Thankful for Dessert Beers

2010-11-25T07:19:00.000-08:00

Dogfish Head Bitches Brew (B)

Cigar City Maduro Brown Ale (B)

North Coast Brewery Brother Thelonious (D)

Ballast Point Black Marlin Porter (D)

Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock (D)

Bells Brewery Double Cream Stout (D)
Rogue Brewing Dead Guy (D)
Yards Brewing Co. ESA (D)
Bells Brewing Co. Kalamazzo Stout (D)
Terrapin Moo Hoo Chocolate Milk Stout (D)
Copper Crow Chocolate Thunder Porter-Cask(D)
Yards Brewing Co. Love Stout (D)
Dogfish Head Chicory Stout (D)

The Son of a Gambolier

-Charles Ives (1895)

I'm a rambling rake of poverty
from Tippery town I came.
'Twas poverty compelled me first
to go out in the rain.
In all sorts of weather,
be it wet or be it dry,
I'm bound to get my livelihood
or lay me down to die.

Then combine your humble ditties
as from inn to tavern we steer
Like every honest fellow
I drinks my lager beer.
Like every jolly fellow
I takes my whiskey clear.
For I'm a rambling rake of poverty
And the son of a gambolier.

I was was tall and handsome,
and was so very neat.
They thought I was too good to live,
most good enough to eat.
But now I'm old, my coat is torn
and poverty holds me fast.
And every girl turns up her nose
as I go wandering past.

Not a Pale Ale of any sorts was in sight of making this list. My palate had malts-a-callin'. It had stouts as dark and sweet as can be making decisions for my normally hopped out appetite. These brews kind of made me feel like the song I chose to include. It sounds a bit dark, but when I hear the lyrics I think about the Dan Zane's children's version where a bunch of kids belt away the words away. Maybe they were drinking chocolate milk (stouts). When this time of year comes around I get a hankering for stouts. Some would say that I have a love interest (Yards). There is nothing like choppin' some chicory while listening to Miles Davis (DFH) to help someone forget that winter is on its way.

Most of us in Philadelphia know that The General Lafayette is no more. The beautiful historic inn off Church Rd and Germantown Ave lays empty of thirsty folk. For a while they were hosting Prism Brewing while they were getting their beehive brewhouse finished up. If you happened to find yourself at The General over the past year, even as a fair weather patron, you could feel something in the works. In a nut shell, the restaurant side of the biz was in decline. The brewing side just so happened to operate under a different name. And although I am not hip to what is going on with the food, Copper Crow Brewing Co. is what we will find ourselves drinking. The website isn't up and running yet, but stay tuned. I was at The London in Fairmount the other night and what I heard was 2011 is the year of The Crow. And by the way, The London has their chocolate porter on cask right now.

Crow Goes Hunting

-From Crow by Ted Hughes

Crow
Decided to try words.

He imagined some words for the job, a lovely pack-
Clear-eyed, resounding, well-trained,
With strong teeth.
You could not find a better bred lot.
He pointed out the hare and away went the words
Resounding.
Crow was Crow without fail, but what is a hare?
It converted itself to a concrete bunker.
The words circled protesting, resounding.
Crow turned the words into bombs-they blasted the bunker.
The bits of bunker flew up-a flock of starlings.
Crow turned the words into shotguns, they shot down the starlings.
The falling starlings turned to a cloudburst.
Crow turned the words into a reservoir, collecting the water.
The water turned into an earthquake, swallowing the reservoir.
The earthquake turned into a hare and leaped for the hill
Having eaten Crow's words.
Crow gazed after the bounding hare
Speechless with admiration.

Cheers until December.

Beercation 2010: Part 2-Philly Meets Florida

2010-11-18T17:13:00.000-08:00

We took a month off here at Brews of Our Lives to prepare for the long awaited Florida Beercation 2010. Although it was a short visit, we stopped by some of Tampa Bay's best beer spots. When possible, I tried to drink as many brews that Philadelphians do not often get on tap or will even see without a travel to the Sunshine State. Highlights included Pegs Cantina and Brewpub, Dunedin Brewery and, of course, Cigar City Brewery. I also had some amazing homebrews from The Greenbriar that I had been dying to try. Enjoy the list.

Highland Brewing St. Terese's Pale Ale (D)- The Refinery
Great Divide Hibernation (D)-The Refinery
Lost Coast Brewery Indica IPA (D)-Independent (St. Pete)
Lost Coast Brewery 8 Ball Stout (D)-Independent (St. Pete)
Bells Oberon (D)-Red Mesa Cantina
Terrapen Beer Hopsecutioner (D)- Rex
Pegs GOOD Day (D)-Pegs Cantina and Brew Pub
Pegs Square Dancing DIPA (D)-Pegs Cantina and Brew Pub
Cigar City Brewing Humidor Jai Alai (G)-House Beer
Greeenbriar Artisan Brews Monkey In The Night (B)-House Beer
Unibrou Ephemere Apple (D)- Old Northeast Tavern
Terrapin Beer So Fresh So Green-House Beer
Lagunitas Maximus Ale (B)- House Beer
Red Brick Pale Ale (B)- House Beer
Great Divide Titan IPA (D)- Rex
Cigar City Brewing Cubano Espresso (G)-House Beer
Greenbriar Artisan Brews Oatmeal Cookie Brown Ale (B)- House Beer
Sierra Nevada Brewing Estate 2010 (D)- Dunedin House of Beer
Florida Beer Co. Swamp Ape DIPA (D)- Dunedin House of Beer
Dunedin Brewery The Rock DIPA (D)- Dunedin Brewery
Swamp Head 10-10-10 Barrel Aged (D)- Dunedin Brewery
Blue Point Brewing Toxic Sludge (D)- World of Beer
Starr Hill Brewery Northern Lights (D)- World of Beer
Reissdorf Kolsch (D)- The Independent (Tampa)
Cigar City Brewing Ether (DF)- Cigar City Tasting Room
Cigar City Brewing Or (DF)- Cigar City Tasting Room
Cigar City Brewing Oatmeal Raisin Cookie (DF)- Cigar City Tasting Room
Cigar City Brewing Seabass (DF)- Cigar City Tasting Room

Coffee with Christ

2010-10-12T17:11:00.000-07:00

1. Lagunitas Brewing Co. Lucky 13 (D)

2. Oskar Blues Brewery Gordon (D)

3. Avery Brewing Co. Maharaja (D)

4. Monks Ale Abbey of the Christ in the Desert (D)

5. The Bruery Orchard White (D)

6. Southern Tier Brewing Co. Pumking (D)

7. Victory Brewing Co. Hop Wallop (Handpump)

8. Belfast Bay Brewing Co. McGovern's Oatmeal Stout (B)

9. Victory Brewing Co. Victory Village (D)

10. Pauwel Kwak (D)

Five Little Pumpkins

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate,

The first one said,

"Oh my, it's getting late."

The second one said,

"But we don't care."

The third one said,

"I see witches in the air."

The fourth one said,

"Let's run, and run and run."

The fifth one said,

"Get ready for some fun."

Then whoosh went the wind,

and out went the lights,

And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight!

There is no better way to start writing an autumn beer list than with a children's poem. I love October in Philadelphia. I have never seen beer lists change so fast in any other month than when witches can roam freely. This list in particular, I was all over the place. But there were a few with which we can sit around the campfire to talk about.

Monks Ale Abbey of the Christ in the Desert. I heard about this brew on beernews.org and was quite intrigued. The article stated that Monks Ale are the only Benedictine Monastery to brew beer in the U.S., and it is the first time that it will be available out of state of New Mexico. Once I saw that it was on draft down the street at the Olde Eagle, I was at least pretty stoked to see what it was all about. This isn't a knock-your-socks-off beer. I think that I liked their tag line more.. "Made with Care and Prayer." I found it to be a pretty mild Belgian Ale if that is what you want to call it. Easy on the hops and an overall sweet mouth on it. A very noticeable honey flavor that clings to your lips. I found this article a few weeks after. It's worth a gander and worth a taste if you are able to find it.

As for a widely accessible beer to find in past 2 months, Victory Village was all over the city and suburbs. Whether you wanted a growler from Whole Foods or a 12oz glass, this beer was on every beer bar draft list. Coffee beers generally catch my attention. I'm a coffee lover. Some say that that they don't like to mix the two together; I say that there is no reason not to carry a love affair from morning to night. Victory Village is probably the best coffee beer that I laid my lips on as of recent. 150 lbs of coffee are added into the fermenter late in the game. It definitely comes out superbly in a brown ale. Village One Coffee is a roaster right outta PA. And they make damn fine coffee. Victory and Village put out a few videos for everyone to see what they were up to just before the beer hit the bars. Check one out here.

Cheers until next time.

When Two Rivers Collide: Consecration and Damnation

2010-09-23T13:03:00.000-07:00

1. Lancaster Brewing Co. Milk Stout (D)

2. McNeill's Brewing Warlord Imperial IPA (D)
3. Russian River Consecration (D)

4. Lagunitas Brewing Co. IPA (D)

5. Southern Tier Harvest Ale (D)

6. Northcoast Brewing Co. Scrimshaw Pilsner (D)

7. Russian River Damnation (B)

"With impetuous recoil and jarring sound

Th' infernal doors, and on their hinges grate

Harsh thunder, that the lowest bottom shook

Of Erebus. She opened, but to shut

Excelled her power; the gates wide open stood.

-John Milton: Paradise Lost

Very rarely does both heaven and hell find their way into the same post for me. Surely I have been explicit enough describing the most beautiful brews served in a snifter, but to have the most damned ones served also, well, there must be a story behind that. If there was such a story, I would happily title it, "When Two Rivers Collide."

Let's talk about P.O.P.E. first. The Pub on Passayunk East has to be the darkest beer bar that I have ever been to. The only light that lit the menu came from the room next to where we were sitting. But there must have been a torch somewhere, because low and behold, what was written in pink chalk on the draft board? Russian River Consecration. It was the priciest beer on the list, but I thought back to a few months ago when I was able to indulge in RR's Pliny the Elder and Supplication, both on draft. So when the sour beast is in your face, reach your hand out and make a new friend. There is nothing but fantastic things to note about this brew. It was plum red. It had absolutely no head. It was tart in every sense of the word. There was a bit of vinegar behind it, but mostly I was just pounded by the currants.

This seems like a great place for an except from one of my favorite poems.

MORNING and evening
Maids heard the goblins cry:
"Come buy our orchard fruits,
Come buy, come buy:
Apples and quinces,
Lemons and oranges,
Plump unpecked cherries-
Melons and raspberries,
Bloom-down-cheeked peaches,
Swart-headed mulberries,
Wild free-born cranberries,
Crab-apples, dewberries,
Pine-apples, blackberries,
Apricots, strawberries--
All ripe together
In summer weather--
Morns that pass by,
Fair eves that fly;
Come buy, come buy;
Our grapes fresh from the vine,
Pomegranates full and fine,
Dates and sharp bullaces,
Rare pears and greengages,
Damsons and bilberries,
Taste them and try:
Currants and gooseberries,
Bright-fire-like barberries,
Figs to fill your mouth,
Citrons from the South,
Sweet to tongue and sound to eye,
Come buy, come buy."

-"The Goblin Market" by Christina Rossetti

Now onto how "Paradise Lost" found its way into this post and into our other river's channel. Damnation. RR Damnation is a pretty sweet Belgian Strong Ale. Lots of fruity notes, very light in color. I was able to get full view of this brew at the well lit Terrace Taproom. Served out of RR's (tion) cage-corked 375 ml bottles, they also provide you with a novel written down the side. It is a smooth operator with a dry finish.

Cheers for now friends. Happy Fall.

A Poem, A Story, Another Season upon us.

2010-09-02T06:54:00.000-07:00

1. Sly Fox Brewing Standard Porter (D)-Handpump
2. Weyerbacher Brewing Co. Double Simco IPA (D)
3. Coronado Brewing Co. Mermaids Red (D)
4. Sixpoint Brewing Co. Righteous Ale (D)
5. Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven B.V. La Trappe Quadruple (D)
6. Brasserie Lefebvre Blanche de Bruxelles (D)

7. Avery Brewing Co. IPA (D)

8. Lost Abbey Brewery Avant Garde (D)

9. Ithica Beer Co. Flower Power IPA (D)

10. Victory Brewing Co. Wild Devil Ave (B)

11. Elysian Brewing Co. Avatar Jasmine IPA (B)

12. Founders Brewing Co. Dirty Bastard (B)

13. Cigar City Jai Alai

14. Green Flash Hop Head Red

"Smoke hangs like haze over harvested fields,

the gold of stubble, the brown of turned earth

and you walk under the red light of fall

The scent of fallen apples, the dust of threshed grain

The sharp, gentile chill of fall.

Here as we move into the shadows of autumn

The night that brings the morning of spring

Come to us, Lord of Harvest

Teach us to be thankful for the gifts you bring us..."

**Autumn Equinox Ritual

I love the change of seasons, but losing the summer's heat and the hours of light into the 9 o'clock hour becomes harder to do without. Whether it is through the autumn imagery that is ignited by the prose that started this blog post, or just knowing that a pumpkin ale has just been tapped, I guess that you can find bits of love any time of year.

These past two weeks had me sampling some great styles of beer. I often devote entire posts to IPAs and stouts, but, fortunately, family and friendly places offered me their harvest. Porters, Double IPAs, Reds, Ryes, Belgians and Scotch Ales all, thankfully, fell into this list.

Here's the tale of La Trappe. It's big. It's a quad and it's way too drinkable. Jules and I were at Terrace Taproom a few weeks back when this beer was on. It was a Wednesday night. We were only looking to enjoy a beer or two. But there it was. I put down my finished pint of Mermaid's Red, and through the lacing across the glass, the Trappist tap actually smiled at me. I said to myself, "No." And as I was about to order another, and the bartender says, "La Trappe is a bad motherfucker," Jules says, "I'll have one." And that was it. It poured a beautiful dark amber into a pretty sweet chalice. Toasty malts laced with sweet fruits. I figured 10%, I'll sip it for an hour. It's a ten minute walk home and it's early. It was a nice end of the night drink.

There were no dragons slayed that night. Nor were any moats to crossed.

Cheers for now.

Friendship Brew

2010-08-23T06:38:00.000-07:00

1. Weyerbacher Brewing Co. Blanche (D)

2. Brasserie St. Feullien/ Green Flash Collaboration: Biere De L'Amite (D)
3. Brasserie St. Feullien Brune (D)
4. Brasserie St. Feullien Triple (D)
5. Green Flash Brewing Co. Triple (D)
6. Lancaster Brewing Co. Cream Ale (D)
7. Furthermore Knot Stock (B)

8. Lagunitas A Little Sumtin' Sumtin' (D)

9. Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA (D)
10.Dock Street Espresso Satellite Stout (D)

11. Sly Fox Brewing Co. Ichor (D)

12. Bells Cherry Stout (B)

How does one recover after a Beercation? Well for starters you can start small. You can start with a flight. I was out in the Oley Valley at the Manatawny Inn and what to my wondering eye should appear...a list full of St. Feullian and Green Flash beer. Yes, it was a night of two brewers who just made an excellent collaboration, Biere de L'Amite. Belgian brewers St. Feullien had three delightful treats as did the U.S's Great Flash. But there was also a fourth and that was their collaborative effort of a Blond Belgian Strong Ale. Spicy, malty and heavily hopped, it was a blend of rye and wheat with St. Feullien's tradional yeast. Delicious.

On the local circuit, I was super impressed with Philadelphia's Dock Street Brewery this past week. We popped by Johnny Brenda's with The Slingluff Gallery owners the other night to one of the best local beer spots in the city. Dock Street's Espresso Satellite Stout is down-right ridiculously rich. Now it didn't say Espresso on the list, but as I raised my glass toward my nose the roasty sensation perked me out of my seat.

Let's interrupt this with a quote: "I have measured out my life with coffee spoons."

The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock-T.S. Eliot

Okay, back to the beer. Jet black with a tan head it was nice and nutty. It was a bit too easy to drink, although I'm not sure if that is a negative thing. It was nothing like the Bell's Cherry Stout that I picked up from one of the greatest bottle shops west of the Schuylkill, Pinocchio's Beer Garden. If the Satellite Stout was black, then this cherry stout was motor oil. Well, there was a hint of red. Very tart, but enough malt to back it up. Think of cherry chocolate cake, rich chocolate cake that leaves your lips smacking. So let's end with a poem about this.

Cherry-Ripe

BY THOMAS CAMPION

There is a garden in her face

Where roses and white lilies blow;

A heavenly paradise is that place,

Wherein all pleasant fruits do flow:

There cherries grow which none may buy

Till “Cherry-ripe” themselves do cry.

Those cherries fairly do enclose

Of orient pearls a double row,

Which when her lovely laughter shows,

They look like rose-buds filled with snow;

Yet them no peer nor prince can buy

Till “Cherry-ripe” themselves do cry.

Her eyes like angels watch them still;

Her brows like bended bows do stand,

Threatening with piercing frowns to kill

All that attempt with eye or hand

Those sacred cherries to come nigh,

Till “Cherry-ripe” themselves do cry.

Cheers for now.

Philly Beercation 2010: the Other Tippler

2010-08-13T11:11:00.000-07:00

So I have had the pleasure of enjoying the first two Beercations put on by our group of friends. The first, in Tampa, FL, had highlights that included an all-day craft beer festival and a visit to Cigar City Brewing, along with a number of excellent beer-pub stops. The second incarnation, this time in Philly, set the bar a little higher. There was no festival this time around, and the brewery visits (Noddinghead and Earth Bread and Brewery) don't quite match up to Cigar City, but we hit some of the best beer houses around, including Monk's Cafe (twice!), Capone's, Eulogy, and Union Jack's on the Manatawny along with many more. This beercation varied too, in that we had friends from out of state (Florida, Texas and New Jersey) join us for various segments. I was lucky enough to stumble through nearly two weeks of this beercation, and I can't wait for our next one!

Here's what I managed to get down as far as the wonderful variety of beers I was able to sample. This covers nearly all of the draught beers I had, but is missing a number of bottles. It makes for a pretty impressive list - one that would be tough to match anywhere else in the world:

Philly Beercation, Summer 2010 (July 22 – August 10)

1. Sargasso IPA (Hand Pump) (D) – Earth Bread and Brewery (7/28)

2. Hill Farmstead Edward Pale Ale (D) - Earth Bread and Brewery (7/28)

3. Chouffe Houblon (D) - Monk’s Café (7/30)

4. Russian River Concecration (D) - Monk’s Café (7/30)

5. Ommegang Zuur (D) - Monk’s Café (7/30)

6. Weihenstephaner Vitus (D) – Brauhaus Schmitz (7/30)

7. Weihenstephaner 1809 Berliner Weiss w/ Shot of Berry Syrup (B) - Brauhaus Schmitz (7/30)

8. Founder’s Cerise (D) – Old Eagle Tavern (7/30)

9. Sixpoint Otis Oatmeal Stout on Nitro (D) - Old Eagle Tavern (7/30)

10. Stillwater Artisan Stateside Saison American Farmhouse Ale (B) - Old Eagle Tavern (7/30)

11. Yard’s Brewing Co ESA (Hand Pump) (D) – Dawson Street Pub (7/30)

12. Dogfish Head Theobroma (D) – Capone’s (7/31)

13. East End Kvass Sour (D) – Capone’s (7/31)

14. Saison du Buff brewed by Stone (B) – the River (7/31)

15. Unibroue Quelque Chose (B) - the River (7/31)

16. Founder’s Red Rye IPA (B) - the River (7/31)

17. Monstre Rouge Imperial Flanders Red Ale (Terrepin/de Proef Brouwerij Collaboration) (B) - the River (7/31)

18. Haandbryggeriet Haandbakk Sour Ale (B) - the River (7/31)

19. Dogfish Head Theobroma (D) – Union Jack’s on the Manatawny (8/1)

20. Stone Imperial Russian Stout (D) - Union Jack’s on the Manatawny (8/1)

21. Lost Abbey Avante Garde Farmhouse Saison (D) – Craft Ale House (8/2)

22. Founder’s Centenial IPA (D) - Craft Ale House (8/2)

23. Southern Tier Mokah (D) - Craft Ale House (8/2)

24. Darkhorse Double Crooked Tree IPA (D) – Old Eagle Tavern (8/4)

25. Sargasso IPA (D) – Earth Bread and Brewery (8/4)

26. Gluteous Minimus Beer Juice - Earth Bread and Brewery (8/4)

27. Russian River Damnation (D) - Earth Bread and Brewery (8/4)

28. Pliny the Elder (D) – Monk’s Café (8/5)

29. Monk’s Café Flemish Sour (D) - Monk’s Café (8/5)

30. La Rulles Estivale (D) - Monk’s Café (8/5)

31. Jandrain Jandreoville IV Saison (D) - Monk’s Café (8/5)

32. Vichtenaar Flemish Ale (D) – Beneluxx (8/5)

33. Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca (D) – Eulogy (8/5)

34. Rodenbach Grand Cru (D) – Eulogy (8/5)

35. Dock Street Rye IPA (D) – Johnny Brenda’s (8/5)

36. Twin Lakes Pale Ale (D) – Johnny Brenda’s (8/5)

37. Philadelphia Brewing Company Rowhouse Red – Johnny Brenda’s (8/5)

38. Victory Hop Devil (Hand Pump) (D) – Dawson Street Pub (8/6)

39. Yard’s Brewing Co Thomas Jefferson Ale (Hand Pump) (D) – Dawson Street Pub (8/6)

40. Flying Dog Raging Bitch Belgian IPA (D) - Manayunk Tavern (8/6)

41. Yard’s Brewing Co. Brawler Strong Ale (D) – Grape Street Pub (8/6)

42. Prism Tea Party Pale Ale (D) – Old Eagle Tavern (8/6)

43. Ich bin ein Berliner Weiss (D) – Noddinghead Brewery (8/7)

44. Grog: Cask Conditioned English Style Brown Ale (D) – Noddinghead Brewery (8/7)

45. Long Trail Double IPA (D) – the Irish Pole (8/7)

46. Yard’s Brewing Co. Saison (D) – Standard Tap (8/7)

47. Stout’s Brewing Co. Double IPA (D) – Standard Tap (8/7)

48. Victory Brewing Co. Bitter (D) – the 700 Club (8/7)

49. Torrey Pines IPA (D) – the 700 Club (8/7)

50. Furthermore Fatty Boombalatty (D) – City Tap House (8/8)

51. Rogue John John Juniper Pale Ale (D) – City Tap House (8/8)

52. Iron Hill Nut Brown Ale (D) – Iron Hill Brewery Phoenixville (8/9)

53. Dogfish Head India Brown Ale (D) – Farmacia (8/10)

House Beers Drank Throughout the Week (Bottles)

1. Heavy Seas Big DIPA

2. Founder’s Porter

3. Southern Tier Crème Brulee Stout

4. Dogfish Head Namaste

5. Dogfish Head Festina Peche

6. Jolly Pumpkin ES Bam Hoppy Farmhouse Ale (bad bottle)

7. Port Brewing Wipe Out IPA

8. Three Floyd’s Alpha King Pale Ale

9. Green Flash Brewing West Coast IPA

10. Saison du Buff brewed at Dogfish Head

11. Furthermore ThermoRefur – ale brewed with pepper and beets

12. Dogfish Head Wrath of Pecant

Homebrews from Fellow Beer Nuts (Draft and Bottles)

From Jules: Pale Ale (D)

Belgian Blonde (D)

Imperial Stout (D)

Rye Ale (D)

From Kevin: High Five IPA (B)

From Tim: WheatPA (B)

From Ben: Pale Ale (B)

IPA (B)

Wheat Ale (B)

Can you tell that we all love our beer?!?! Thanks to everyone who made it out for this one, and may we all enjoy many more Beercations in the future!

Beercation 2010-The Philadelphia Experience

2010-08-09T09:26:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year a group of friends met in Florida and had what they referred to as a "Beercation." At that time I had not been introduced to that term, but knew if anything that I too would go on one. It turned out that most of them were able to meet up again this past week, but this time in Philadelphia and this time I would be included. From the rare Belgians and Sours at Monks Cafe to the big IPAs at the Manatawny Inn we made our way to everywhere in between. Capones, City Tap House, Johnny Brendas, Eulogy, The Irish Pol, The Standard Tap, Olde Eagle, Beneluxx, Dawson Street, Nodding Heads, Earth Bread and Brewery and an assortment of small spots throughout the City of Brotherly Beer Drinking Love were on our list, and we hit them all.

So here is the great list from the past 13 days, a list from an amazing Beercation and giant "Cheers" to everyone that was part of it.

Earth Bread and Brewery Sargasso (D)
Hills Farmstead Edmond Pale Ale (D)
Southern Tier IPA (B)
West Coast Green Flash IPA (B)
Prism Tea Party Pale Ale (D)
Stone Brewing 14^th Anniversary (B)
Southern Tier 2X IPA (D)
Dogfish Head, Stone, Victory Saison DU BUFF (Stone Version) (B)
Founders Cerise (D)
Sixpoint Otis (on Nitro) (D)
Moylan’s Hopsickle (D)
Cigar City Mudaro Brown (D)
Petrus Pale Ale (D)
De Proef-Terrapin Collaboration Monster Rogue (B)
Bells Two Hearted (B and D)
Unibroue Quelque Chose (B)
Russian River Pliney the Elder (B and D)
Russian River Consecration (D)
Stillwater Artisinal Farmhouse Ale (B and D)
Ommegang Zuur (D)
Riverhorse Hop Hazard (B)
Dogfish Head 90 Minute (B)
Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree IPA (D)
Victory Summer of Love (D)
Earth Bread And Brewery Sweet Charlotte (D)
Victory Baltic Porter (D)
Verhaeghe Vichtenaar (B)
Brouwerij Smisje Vuuve (B)
Twin Lakes Pale Ale (D)
Dock St. Rye Pale Ale (D)
Philadelphia Brewing Co. Newbold (Handpump) (D)
Founders Reds Rye PA (D)
Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca (D)
Victory Hopdevil (D)
Southern Tier Crème Brule Stout (B)
Caldera IPA (C)
Nodding Head Ich bin ein Berliner Weise (D)
Nodding Head Rufus (D)
Boulder Brewing Co. Hop Cold (D)
Sly Fox Brewing Saison Vos (D)
Weyerbacher Brewing Merry Monks (D)
Heavy Seas Big DIPA (B)
Hitachino Nest Classic (D)
Stone, Dogfish Head, Victory Saison DU BUFF (Dogfish Version) (B)
Furthermore Thermo Refur (B)
Dogfish Head Wrath of Pecant (B)
Left Coast Brewing Co. Torrey Pines IPA (D)
Iron Hill Brewing Belgian Wit (D)
Port Brewing Wipeout IPA (B)
Jolly Pumpkin ES Bam (B)
Three Floyds Alpha King Pale Ale (B)

Week 23: What do a bear, a tiger, and a monster have in common?

2010-07-18T07:27:00.000-07:00

1. Bear Republic Racer 5

2. Cigar City Jai Alai

3. Sixpoint Bengali Tiger IPA

4. Voodoo Pilzilla

5. Weyerbacher Fireside Ale

6. Arcadia Hopmouth (Hand Pump)

7. Troegs Sunshine Pils

8. Great Lakes Brewing Lake Erie Monster

9. Troegs Hopback Amber

"Each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor."

I wanted an eerie quote. Something campfire(ish) for the monsters on the loose this past week. Somehow, and I don't know how, there was a theme brewing with the names of some of these beers.

The Philadelphia area is finally getting their hands on some Cigar City brews again. A few months back a tale was spun that Tampa brewers couldn't keep up with our drinking. Well they have let their Jai Alai slide up our way. It looks just like a Florida Orange. It's piney and grapefruity with just the right amount of hops throughout. It was not as fresh as from a Florida tap. I need a vacation.

Like most monsters, we shouldn't flee from them, but just make friends. Great Lakes Brewing Lake Eerie Monster should be a very good friend to you. He is a fantastic IPA or Double IPA with a pretty thick head...minus the scales. He must wallow in the fruit groves, because he stank of citrus hops. I also saw some mangoes between his toes, but that might have been my imagination. Once I got to know him I found him to be a just a sweet fellow that could talk you to sleep.

I am in the midst of what some call a Beercation.

Cheers for now.

Week 21-22: "I think it is in collaboration that the nature of art is revealed. "

2010-07-11T12:30:00.000-07:00

1. Stone Cali-Belqique IPA

2. Terrapin Rye Pale Ale

3. Lagunitas Hop Stoopid

4. Flying Fish Abbey Double

5. Southhampton Double White

6. Sly Fox Brotherly Suds #1

8. Philadelphia Brewing Co. Pennsylvania Ale

9. Lancaster Brewing Co. Hop Hog

"The dandelions and buttercups gild all the lawn: the drowsy bee stumbles among the clover tops,
and summer sweetens all to me."- James Russell Lowell

How sweet is summer. Wheats and Whites are always available. Decadent Belgians and floral hopped masterpieces are never out of season. And nowadays, there is always a collaboration beer to be had. That basically sums up the past two weeks of beer tasting.

Most of these brews are good old friends that I have known for years, but like any summer, you are bound to make some new acquaintances. Philadelphia Brewing Co. recently took a crack a Pale Ale of their own, and like their IPA, they like them malty. Pennsylvania Pale Ale or PPA (yes, a nice shout out to the most hated group of city officials). This beer has a huge hop presence at the nose with a toasted malt mouth on it. It's kind-of spicy and bready. They are now bottling it, for now, so I am hoping to hold on to 1 or 2 for summers end. It's a good beer and probably great on cask.

Sly Fox threw a party and invited some of my favorite people.That is basically what it looks like when you see the brewers behind Brotherly Suds #1. This brew was readily available during Philly Beer Week, and with what appears to have some public demand, it has popped up throughout the summer at some great area bar. I spotted this brew at Johnny Brendas in Fishtown and was pretty eager to have it for the first time. A brainchild of Yards, Sly Fox, Victory, Stouts and Troegs. this is a delicious ESB. It's super smooth, fruity and caramely, and very little hopped and will undoubtedly be gone soon.

Other than drinking beer I finally took a shot at brewing too. So many of my good friends have started brewing or have brewed for years. Tasting what they have been mashing has been a huge inspiration. I've started off on an easy extract recipe. I will write about this experience pretty soon. Like most homebrewers, I assume this is going to become an obsession.

The title quote in this post is by the late Jazz Great, Steve Lacy.

Cigar City Hunahpu Imperial Stout

2010-06-28T23:11:00.000-07:00

oh my, my hunahpu...

I couldn't resist sharing this week, as I was lucky enough to hit up one of my local favorites, Peg's Cantina, and discover that they had an old keg of Cigar City's Hunahpu Stout on draught. Ratebeer.com has it as the 13th best beer in the U.S., and 17th best in the world. Brewed once a year, this is a bit out of season right now, but I still can't imagine a better way to end an evening with friends. Deep and dark, this beer seems to stain the glass (and I think the 1/2 glass I spilled re-stained the wood floors!). Cigar City calls it a Mayan Chocolate Imperial Stout, and that works - it's got heaps of Peruvian chocolate (although maybe it should be Mexican, Guatemalan, or Belizean - where the Maya live and lived), pasilla chiles, cinnamon and vanilla beans. They say it's "a nod to the frothy cacao drink consumed by the ancient Mayans." If this is what the Mayans were drinking, they sure as heck knew what they were doing! At 11%, this is a hefty brew, and a unique one too. The base stout is certainly yummy, and it does so well with the chocolate and vanilla. Then the chiles come in and leave a slight chocolatey hot-spice at the back of the palate. Oh my, my hunahpu...

This once a year brew seems to be an attempt to rival Three Floyds Dark Lord event, and based on the huge crowds and quick sell-out, Cigar City might be up for the challenge. I just feel lucky to be here for the first couple years of this fabulous brewery. With plans in the works to expand production, more people on the East Coast should be seeing their beers. If you ever see a Hunahpu, grab it! Then stash it away for awhile, because you have one of the best beers in the world in your hands.

cheers!

Week 20: A Novel Pilsner

2010-06-27T06:09:00.000-07:00

1. Lagunitas Undercover Investigator Shutdown

2. Furthermore Oscura

3. Stone Arrogant Bastard

4. Southern Tier 2X IPA

5. Dogfish Head My Antonia

"There seemed to be nothing to see; no fences, no creeks or tress, no hills or fields. If there was a road, I could not make it out in the faint starlight. There was nothing but land: not a country at all, but the material out of which countries are made."

It's book quotations like this that make craft beer so beautifully delectable. I haven't read Willa Cather's My Antonia in many years, but, nonetheless, maybe my affinity with Dogfish Head is so strong because both Sam Calagione and I hold English degrees, or maybe it's because he makes one amazing Imperial Pilsner.

Just like enjoying sours over the winter, I am now trying to adjust my palate to Pilsners. There was probably no real good reason why I never gravitated toward them. I thought they just "seemed" weak, kind-of bland, and oh yeah, they are lagers. Lagers just have never done it for me. If I delve a bit deeper into how a lager is made I might find that missing essence that IPAs or even Imperial Stouts are made up of.

So is it all in the hops? Probably. My Antonia is sweet and hazy on the palate and eyes. And if you close your eyes, the beautiful floral hops can make you feel something that the passage above makes me feel, something simple and handmade, something where images in your head manifest before you, something euphoric. And all along you were just drinking a pilsner.

Week 18 and 19: A Carnival Ride for the Palate

2010-06-12T06:21:00.000-07:00

1. Dogfish Head Festina Peche

2. Dogfish Head Immort Ale

3. Victory Brewing Co. Pursuit of Pale Ale (Hand Pump)

4. Lagunitas A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale

5. Ommegang Hennepin

6. Bear Republic Hop Hod Rye

7. Ballast Point Sculpin IPA

8. Ithaca Apricot Wheat
9. Lagunitas Pale Ale
10. Dogfish Head/ Stone Brewing/ Victory Brewing

Saison du Buff

11. Furthermore Fatty Boombalaty

12. Coronado Idiot IPA
13. Stone Ruination

14. Sly Fox Pikeland Pils

15. Philadelphia Brewing Co. Newbold IPA

16. Coronado Islander IPA

17. Youngs Double Chocolate Stout

Philly Beer Week came and went. It's over. I have realized one thing about beer week and that being that next year I need a budget. I need a well thought out plan for what events I will attend, and I need to buy some beer dinners and reservation spots ahead of time so that I don't end up saying, "Awww I missed that." Or, "Yeah, I am totally going to go there." This is what happened the majority of the week. I blew it this past week. I tipped over the pint on the bar. I shoud be fired from this blog.

The list above has a lot of favorites. And with it being a scorcher outside, I even put a wheat in the mix. I don't even think I can find it in me to write about half of these brews. There are a few amazing Dogfish Heads mentioned. With it being summer you should try to develop a taste for Festina Peche. It's more like a sour to me, but incredibly refreshing. It's peach flavored and that can turn most beer lovers' flavor switch off. I find the best complement to Festina to be the collaboration beer, Saison Du Buff. This is probably the most unique and best beer that I have had all year. Three great brewers are all part of this one. You can find a Stone Brewing or Victory beer on my lists, just as often as a Dogfish. Saison Du Buff is brewed with parsley, thyme, sage and rosemary. It is totally earthy, fruity and of course herby. It is pretty amzing that the ingrediants compliment each other throughout. A summer saison for the earthworm in all of us.

Coronado is quickly becoming one of my favorite breweries this summer. Their Idiot and Islander IPAs are both super clean, well balanced. Coronado made their way to Manayunk during Philly Beer Week and some of my haunts still have it available on tap.

Cheers until next week.

Week 17: Spicing it up this week

2010-06-06T07:34:00.000-07:00

1. Port Brewing Co. Wipeout IPA

2. Founders Spite Pepper Pale Ale

3. Terrapin Brewing Co. Side Project 2010 Capt'n Kruncles

4. Dock Street Brewing Co. Saison

5. Manayunk Brewing Co. Krooks Mill APA

6. Yards Brewing Co. Philadelphia Pale Ale

7. Lake Placid Brewing Honey Wheat

Philly Beer Week 2010 has begun. Granted, all the beers listed above are from last week, but most of them put my taste buds in high gear. This beer week arrived at an amazing time of the year in Philadelphia. There is, of course, amazing beer events going on all around the city and suburbs, the Manayunk Bike Race has thousands of people a few blocks down from my house right now and the Flyers are on another crazy comeback in the Stanley Cup. Mix all of these things together and you are looking at smiles and stumbles from Philadelphia to Phoenixville.

Back to the beer. Port Brewing! Their Wipeout IPA is a fantastic treat any time. A beautiful head sits nice and pretty giving way to some lovely lacing throughout. A big hoppy nose pulls you in to each citrus sip. Fruit and hops are what this beer is all about. Pick one up, go find it and its friend Hop 15, and have a great night.

After ordering the Founders Spite Pepper Pale Ale, I was instructed to drink it with food. I don't think a salad was what my server had in mind. There was such an overpowering nose that it was locked in my senses until the next day. It was a bit reminiscent of Rogue's Chipotle Ale. The taste was hot. It had a warming feeling down your throat that lingered on your palate. I'm not even sure what peppers I could taste, but a habanera was one of them. There was nothing hoppy about this one. It was down right just a spicy beer that you should totally try with a big meal.

I will try to get something else posted pretty quick. It is quite impossible to get to lots of beer events this week. I will probably only make it to a handful. And you will hear all about it.

Cheers until next time.

Week 16: Listen Here Punk

2010-05-29T04:40:00.000-07:00

1. Bells Two Hearted Ale

2. Ballast Point Big Eye IPA

3. Boxcar Brewing Co. Original Ale

4. Brew Dog Punk IPA

5. Allentown Brew Works Hop Explosion

6. Anderson Valley Hop Ottin' IPA

7. 3 Floyds Brewing Co. Gumballhead

These bad boys were a pretty nice mix of hops and malts this week. After a couple of days I thought all the brewing companies that I drank were going to start with the letter B, but I regressed back to A and then numbers.

Well, out of this whole list the only beer that I have ever had was, of course, Bells Two Hearted. It's a top 5 favorite for me, and when I see it on draft it's a no brainer. And I don't know if it's top 5 worthy, but the Anderson Valley was pretty amazing as well. This California brew is exactly what you would expect from a delicious west coast IPA, a flowery/ grapefruit nose with a blast of fresh hops. It reminds me of a Green Flash West Coast, but a bit more balanced.

Brew Dog Brewing has been getting some press lately for their Tactical Nuclear Penguin (yes, the world's strongest beer with an ABV of 32%). Until hearing about that beer, I never knew too much about them. They are Scottish, which means something different than all american hops for once. The description on the bottle was reason enough to give it a whirl, "A Postmodern Classic Pale Ale." I had no idea what that can mean in terms of beer, and I think that I wanted to leave my Literary Theory class out of the tavern that night. It was simply to me a lighter IPA, more like an actual pale, with some interesting hops (Ahtanum, Nelson Sauvin and Chinook and Simcoe). It was shared and poured from a 22oz bottle at Olde Eagle Tavern in Manayunk. It was very drinkable with a nice medium body. It's something to drink if you are looking for an end of the night IPA, especially one to talk about to see if you can pick up all the subtle notes lingering throughout.

Lastly, I want to talk about 3 Floyds Gumballhead. I have been seeking out their Dreadnaught and my search has ended. A reliable source mentioned that it is not distributed in PA and whether it makes it out of Indiana is another story that I have to check on. My Gumballhead was a gift. Fortunately, it was around 90 degrees in Philadelphia that night. Appropriately, Lana drank a Boulder Sweaty Betty, and when we arrived back a home, a hoppy wheat was perfect to cure my sweats. It had a nose of an IPA with a mouth of subtle hops, but not the wheat that you thought you were going to have. It was pretty unique with its lemony/ grassy taste with just enough hop. All in all, refreshing.

Cheers for now. The countdown has begun for Beer Week. Six more days and counting.

Week 15: Time to Celebrate

2010-05-19T16:45:00.000-07:00

1. 21st Amendment Brew Free or Die

2. Victory Helos

3. Union Barrel Works Bruges Baastard

4. Springhouse Brewing Robot Bastard Belgian IPA

5. Victory Donnybrook Stout

6. Caldera Brewing Co. IPA

7. Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Fritz and Ken's Ale

With a post very delayed and tired of not documenting what I have been drinking, I am now going to do my very best to deliver these weekly posts like I did all winter.

Where to even begin. The current motley crew listed above is more like 2 weeks of brews that made their way into my belly. It was very exciting to revisit the beautiful Oley Valley and hit up Union Jacks on the Manatawny this weekend. They have a nice selection of rotating drafts and this week the roulette wheel landed on two bastards. Yes, coincidentally, they had two brews with the name bastard in the title (one with two a's). I'm a big fan of Springhouse Brewing Co. They are out in Conestoga, PA, and I have never once been disappointed with what they have put out. Belgian IPAs are always a bit iffy for me. But they tempt me. The Robot Bastard was a bit more floral than hoppy with a pretty unusual taste that I still can't put my finger on. Very sweet to say the least though. It would have been worth a second tulip glass to be able to match the taste.

A couple canning breweries are in this list as well. 21st Amendment was pretty decent, textbook IPA. It is nothing to seek out. I'm hoping for some improvements in the future. I must say though that Caldera Brewing is right on the money. Their IPA was citrusy, piney and well balanced with a full-bodied mouth.

I was fortunate enough to get one of Sierra's 30th anniversary ales last month for my, yes, 3oth birthday. It was sitting for almost a month waiting to be uncorked. It made its way from California to Trenton, NJ, to my refrigerator in Philadelphia. Titled Fritz and Ken's ale, this brew is a collaboration with Fritz of Anchor Brewing. The 22 oz. stout poured a beautiful black color. Very rich and malty. A lip smacker to say the least with its carmel undertones. There are still a few more of these beers left in the series. Seek them out and share.

Cheers for now. Philly Beer Week is only two weeks away!

Week 14: Simcoe and Cascade and Centennial, Oh My!

2010-05-06T04:32:00.000-07:00

After a long hiatus of home renovation I think that we are officially back in business here at Brews of Our Lives. I wish that I can say that over the past month I was able to indulge in some amazing beer, but it was nearly impossible. I never made it to a tavern, and the long days of ripping out old flooring and pipes ended each night with whatever I tucked away in the fridge.

I did have a surprise birthday party thrown for me though. A nice theme of bring a delicious six pack. I wish I got to enjoy one of each, but I also wish that I was able to see what everyone brought. All that I remember was that it was the best birthday that I could have had.

But back to the beer. Here are some that I can remember.

Manayunk Brewing Co. California Dreamin IPA
Philadelphia Brewing Co. Fleur de Lehigh
Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA
Greenbriar Artisan Ales Fear Not the Big Hop (Three Floyds Dreadnaught cloan)
Great Divide Hercules Double IPA
Sly Fox Rt. 113 IPA (finally part of their canning line)

As usual the IPAs were my choice brew style. Each of these (minus Fleur de Lehigh) were so incredibly different. I am not a huge fan of Manayunk Brewing Co., but California Dreamin is quite perfect. It doesn’t taste like an Imperial IPA, and maybe that is where this beer succeeds. It has an amazing hop/malt balance, but probably not on purpose. It pours a delectable hazy orange with an aroma that will make any hophead swoon.

Dark Horse Brewing finally made it to Pennsylvania this past year and lucky for us they have an IPA worth waiting for. Citrusy smooth is all I have to say for these Michigan brewers. Think clementines and hops with a sweet malt backbone and you will find your balance on this crooked tree limb. This also comes in a double.

This week I will attempt to seek out a Three Floyds Dreadnaught and see how The Greenbriar measures up.

Cheers for now. Drink up..summertime is almost here.

Hiatus

2010-04-19T06:07:00.000-07:00

We will be resume our weekly beer drinking the first week of May. Well, we will resume our beer writing in May.

Cheers for now.

The Antithesis of Unearthly

2010-04-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

Down here in the Tampa Bay area, our beer selection has improved dramatically in the last few years. We've gone from a relative beer backwater to the home of one of the most exciting new breweries in the country - Cigar City. Besides our own regional brews, we have also seen a huge increase in the selection of small batch brews from all around the country. As an apt example, I offer Iniquity - an imperial black ale from Southern Tier Brewing out of Lakewood, NY.

Per the writing on the bottle, Iniquity "is contrary to what one may expect from an IPA; this is an ale as black as night." However, I have to think they're referring mostly to the appearance of this black as night brew. Loaded with chinook, cascade, williamette, and centennial hops, this is clearly an IPA - even at first taste. But while the hops dominate and define this tasty brew, there is an underlying malt character that you might not find in other IPAs - I think the hop bitterness is evident, but the "debittered black malt" balances that bitterness out, making for a very pleasant 9% black IPA bomb.

Find one and drink it!

***For all the PA readers, I was at Cigar City Brewery the other night (and had some great beers), and I heard some bad news for fans from the north. Due to high demand, they're planning to stop supplying the PA market until later this year, after they get a couple new fermenters up and running. If you like the beers and see them around, snatch them up, as they won't be restocked for a while!

Week 13: Ancient Ales, Broken Batteries and Cunning Creatures

2010-04-03T07:15:00.000-07:00

You can never predict where your car is going to break down. Ironically and lucky enough for me, I broke down the other night at Sly Fox Brewery in Royersford, PA. The downside to this story, other than the fact that the Camry was rushed to the emergency room, is the speed that its ambulance came to rescue. I think it was 20 minutes…tops. I know, I know…pretty boring beer story.

I began this post with a tale because I am in need of some good ol' fashioned filler. No beer list this week. Sure I tossed a few back, but my lady and I are in the process of home renovation right now. That pretty much means having over the best friends possible, spackle in one hand and a crowbar in the other, and tossing a few back at the day's end. In case you really want to know, we are drinking with our comrades Kenzinger, 60 Minute and Clipper City so far.

What I will do this week is deliver on a much promised review of Dogfish Head’s Theobroma. I picked up two last year upon its release in August. I saved one for the special occasion of the first day in the new home.

So what lies in this beautiful 22oz bottle?

Cocoa Nibs
Cocoa Powder
Ancho Chilies
Honey
Annatto

It’s got a great funky fruity smell. I know that there is cocoa on the menu, but that is picked up in the mouth, at least for me anyway. But keep sipping and smacking your lips together and the beehive will come alive. More malts than hops on the backbone, and you get a nice chili taste on the finish. Next time I gotta pick up 3 or 4.

Science backs up the facts on this one that it may be the earliest known alcoholic drink, based on a chemical found in pottery in Honduras.

Hopefully next week I have a couple different brews to talk about. Cheers until then.

Week 12: Man's Best Friend

2010-03-27T06:43:00.000-07:00

1. Victory Storm King

2. Green Flash West Coast IPA

3. Southern Tier Unearthly Imperial IPA

4. Flying Dog Raging Bitch

5. Philadelphia Brewing Co. Kenzinger

6. Dogfish Head Burton Baton

7. Flying Dog Snake Bite IPA

8. Dogfish Head Theobroma.

How did that Storm King make it into this week's list?

Oh yes, this was basically an IPA week, but a couple of homebrews and cloans coupled a few elixirs from the list. Out in what is known as the "hillier" side of Philadelphia, I enjoyed a clone Imperial Stout, a la Storm King, from a good friend, great brewer and now neighbor. Consensus was that it might not have had the hops like The King, but it still commanded authority. Boozy in the nose, malty at the mouth. Basically just rich and roasty. There was also a homebrew Kolsch tapped. I have only had a couple of Kolsches, ever. I am not even sure if I can compare it with, say, a Philadelphia Kenzinger, but there was a crispness to it followed by a dry bitterness. I think some people feel the same way about Philly.

If you look at this list closely, then you notice the recurring word, dog. Swimming dogs and flying dogs: these can be your best friends. I was pretty stoked to see Dogfish Head's Burton Baton on the shelf at my local beer spot. Burton Baton is a unique brew. It's an oak aged English Strong Ale, blended with their 90 Minute IPA. It's a big beer, with big hop flavor and big on the malt to back(bone) it up. It goes down as smooth as silk though, but with a 11% ABV, it can be dangerous.

From a Delaware brew we soar down to Maryland's Flying Dog. Their Snake Bite IPA had less bite than I expected, but their Raging Bitch...well, the name speaks for itself. A Belgian-Style IPA that is well balanced to boot. Sweet, flowery and citrusy. If you love these two styles then you are in for a real treat to say the least.

There is another special beer on this list that deserves a special post. I have had more on my plate this week than in my glass, so look for another post in a few days.

Cheers for now.

Week 11: Smoked Fruit

2010-03-20T06:50:00.000-07:00

1. Jolly Pumpkin Bam Bier

2. Port Brewing Co. Hop 15

3. Dogfish Head Aprihop

4. Clipper City Heavy Seas Loose Cannon

5. Springhouse Smoked Porter

6. Stone Smoked Porter

7. Roy Pitz Ludwigs Revenge

8. Iron Hill Roggenbier

Like a sunrise to sunset, these beers seemed to fall naturally in appearance from light to dark. For months upon months I have been trading in my IPAs for the deep dark pools of temptation, but finally...my taste buds are riding up the hop vine.

In terms of the porters this week, I must say that it seemed like barbeque season. Springhouse Smoked Porter was like liquid bacon. This may sound gross unless you like rauch biers or smokier beers in general. I, for one, have a weird fondness for them even though I'm of the vegetarian persuasion. I have indulged in my fair share of them lately, and I must say that the Springhouse had the most fire underneath it. It is everything that you would expect from a quality smoked porter, dark in color, spicy on the nose, very smokey with a bit of a bitter backbone. I look forward to trying this again in the fall next to a campfire or quoit pit.

Let's now move to the fruit and vegetable aisle. Yes, Aprihop is back. I was a bit unimpressed with this beer last year, and I never feel that way when it comes to Dogfish Head. It seemed a bit weak for fairly big IPA. The hops weren't quite there and the apricots weren't noticable. Well...that is not the story this year. Basically this was like one of those flower arrangments made of fruit and dosed with alcohol. Are you with me? The apricots sail into your senses immediatly. And like any DFH IPA, the hops are perfectly well-balanced, never too sweet. A nice hazy orange appearance, piney, fruity and pleasant throughout. If you were disappointed last year, try and try again.

Cheers for now.

Victory is near.

2010-03-16T15:34:00.001-07:00

While searching the blogosphere, I happened to come across a nice tidbit of information about out great friends at Victory Brewing. This isn't even a tidbit -- it is great news in the form of 3 new beers. I was just mentioning a few posts ago about the lack of Belgian Style beer from PA locals. Low and behold Victory is putting out a Belgian style triple (a la Golden Monkey), a Belgian Pale Ale and a Bavarian Pale Ale. All I can say is Mmmm Mmmm.

Read the full article here.

Cheers till next time and find yourself some Spring Seasonals. Warmer weather is here.

Week 10: Swear to tell the truth

2010-03-13T07:12:00.000-08:00

1. Lancaster Brewing Hop Hog

2. Sly Fox Gang Aft Agley

3. Steamworks Brewing Conductor Imperial IPA

4. Magic Hat Vinyl

5. HeBrew Bittersweet Lenny's RIPA

6. Yards General Washington Porter

7. Philadelphia Brewing Co. Newbold IPA

8. Yards Thomas Jefferson Tavern Ale

This week's selection of beer was divided between a few that I haven't had in awhile and a couple of others that I have had sitting patiently for a few months/weeks. Or was it me that has been sitting patiently?

Before I get down to business I will just mention that the Yards Ales of the Revolution will have their own blog post dedicated to them in a few days. Also, I had a mini beer tasting/dinner the other night with a few friends where we raided the fridge and enjoyed 3oz tasters of a Southhampton Porter and a Yards Porter, IPAs from Smuttynose and HeBrew, and stouts from Founders and Brooklyn. A couple random Pale Ales and Wits were in there too. It was a good night.

OK, so HeBrew's Bittersweet Lenny's Rye IPA was a delicious Imperial IPA dedicated to the man of controversy, Mr. Lenny Bruce. Just like Mr. Bruce, this beer had a lot to say. A cloudy beer for a warm night, its abundance of rye was evident when I dipped my nose toward the rim of my glass. A bit grapefruity, like all my favorite IPAs, this hopped giant also had a few more fruits circling around it. There was a very attractive floral finish to this overall pretty well-balanced beer. At 10% ABV, it never really hit you over the head.

I also enjoyed Steamworks Conductor Imperial IPA. Orange in color with a citrusy taste to follow, it was an incredibly easy to drink Imperial. However, I can't say there was a whole lot of complexity to it. It was maybe missing a few hop varieties to get its engine moving, though it was still a treat for the mild hop-heads out there.

Cheers to the weekend ahead. It is Philly Beer Weekend, so there is a whole lot going on throughout the city, including an IPA weekend at Side Car at 22nd & Christian (there will be a firken of Bell's 2 Hearted) and a Stout Brunch at J.B's in Fishtown.

Week 9: Feeling a bit Boozy

2010-03-06T07:10:00.000-08:00

1. Philadelphia Brewing Co.

Rowhouse Red

2. Weyerbacher Hops Infusion

3. Flying Fish Abbey Dubbel

4. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot 2010

5. Dock Street Illuminator

6. Dock Street Rye IPA

7. Smuttynose Finestkind IPA

8. Iron Hill Bourbon Porter (on nitro)

9. Iron Hill American IPA (on cask)

I'm jumping the gun and declaring that Spring has arrived. Philadelphia has 50˚temperatures in the forecast all weekend and into next week. I am sure that the crowds are going to be buzzing throughout the streets in search of good times, good eats, and good brews.

I sought out a wildebeest this week and sure enough found the mighty Bigfoot stronger than the year before. This gigantic Barleywine from the craft brew veterans in Chico, CA, lifted me off my feet and wreaked havoc on my senses. Its sweet piney hops, citrus finish and malty backbone were a bit stronger than in '09, but also more complex. A sweet caramel and maple syrupy taste midway through gave way to almost a booze-like floral finish at the last few sips. Very tasty indeed.

I like a good Barleywine, but I love a great Porter. Iron Hill Brew Pubs have popped up in every county around Philadelphia. Part of me started to think that they were beginning to taste a bit formulaic with their seasonals, but I was happy to be proven wrong last night. They had roughly six or seven seasonals on tap, one hand pump and one nitro included. The Bourbon Porter was a velvety treat. Very heavy on the bourbon, it took their flagship Pig Iron Porter to a new level. Poured a very dark brown, it had a nice smooth malt taste throughout that was laced with vanilla, chocolate and coffee. The beer was creamy as can be and way too drinkable for being aged in bourbon barrels. I would steer clear of Iron Hills on the weekend unless you love an hour long wait, but worth it...of course.

Cheers for now.

Buy Fresh, Buy Local

2010-03-01T18:15:00.000-08:00

If you read this blog often, like I hope that you do, then you frequently see names like Yards, Sly Fox and Victory. If you keep this blog bookmarked, then you are sure to read about other gems like Nodding Head, Manayunk Brewing Co., Iron Hill and Earth, Bread and Brewery. Lucky for us, buying local never tasted so good.

Over the weekend, I indulged in a few other favorite local brews from our neighbors to the north in Easton, PA, Weyerbacher; our friends across the river to the east in Cherry Hill, NJ, Flying Fish; and the much closer brewery, from the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia Brewing Company

For a small craft brewery, Weyerbacher will always reign as Pennsylvania’s Big Beer Brewery. They have a year round line of beers that all pack in close to or above 10% ABV. With fun brew names like Blithering Idiot or more “to the point” names like Double Simcoe IPA, it is apparent they are out to hit you with a tremendous amount of ingredients.

With some warmer weather in the forecast and a weekend nearing its end, I enjoyed a nice pint of Weyerbacher’s Hops Infusion IPA. Not as big as their other beers, Hops Infusion is a complex IPA with seven different hop varieties. The head on her dissipates quickly; however, the fruity nose lasts throughout. Orange in color and grapefruit in taste, she is a bit a hazy and a wonderful treat. A definite session beer, she boasts a nice 6% ABV.

There are not a lot of area breweries that make an Abbey Dubbel in year round rotation, but Flying Fish have it covered pretty well. This Belgian style brew pours a nice, dark amber with a pretty little head. Very evident of dark fruits and very sweet yeast, these New Jersey folks do it right. With a 7% ABV, this beer should be taken slow and enjoyed over a long conversation with friends.

For a fairly new brewery, Philly Brewing Co. has pumped out an extensive lineup over the past three years. They keep their beer names local and kitschy like Kenzinger, Walt Wit, Newbold, Fleur de Lehigh, Shackamaxon, Biberry and plenty more. With winter coming to a close, I enjoyed a few pints of their Rowhouse Red. Rowhouse is a ruby farmhouse ale, some say an Irish Red, but I say possibly a bit of both with some rye on the side. This is just a great beer to enjoy all winter long before Fleur de Lehigh hits the pubs.

And to let you all know just how local this blog is, we have been picked up and sponsored by a local, suburban Philadelphia newspaper, The Delaware County Daily Times. With an online newspaper that keeps you up-to-the-minute on what’s happening just west of the city, they will now let their readers know what is happening with the local beer scene. Check us out at delcotimes.com/blogs.

Week 8: Like a Kid in a Candy Store

2010-02-27T06:47:00.000-08:00

1. Weyerbacher Fireside Ale

2. Manayunk Brewing Co. Yunker's Nocturnum

3. Founders Breakfast Stout

4. Russian River Pliney the Elder

5. Sly Fox Phoenix Pale Ale

6. Rogue Mogul Madness

7. Stone Arrogant Bastard

8. Earth, Bread and Brewery St. Arthur Stout

9. Pretty Things St. Botolphs Town

10. Duck-Rabbit Brown Ale

Where do I start? Since there really is no way to tell you what I enjoyed most this week, here are a couple words about each.

The Weyerbacher was downright fantastic. Smokey and malty, dark and sweet and very smooth throughout, this Dark Ale was perfect for a cold night. I believe that the Yunker's Nocturnum is done for the season. She was a Strong Belgian, definitely a bit fruity with some added spice.

OK, OK...Founders Breakfast Stout is a Double Chocolate Coffee Oatmeal Stout. This is just flat out decadent. For a treat for the nose and palate, enjoy this in a snifter so that you can take in all the balanced abundance. I bought this in a four pack so that I can enjoy a few more before warmer weather starts to surface here.

Those three would have made a great week by themselves, BUT I just happened to pop into the Kyber and see that Pliney The Elder was on tap. Just three times this winter did I happen to come across what I feel is the best Imperial IPA. A woody aroma where the hops jump out at you. The grapefruit taste lingered on my palate while that piney taste resurfaced again and again. Amazingly well-balanced for any IPA lover.

The Sly Fox Pale Ale is a perfect Pale Ale from our canning friends from Royersford, PA. I would like to talk a bit more about the Rogue and Stone Ales from this week, but you already know how truly great these breweries are.

The last three brews on this list all tried to top each other. Earth, Bread and Brewery makes damn fine beers. St. Arthur was a chocolaty dry stout, light on the cocoa but big on taste. Pretty Things Brown Ale was just plain nutty. Probably more complex than I was able to notice -- there were hints of brown sugar, mild on the hops -- but something to reach for when you see it. That is my way of telling you to seek it out. Lastly, is the great dark beer brewers from Duck-Rabbit. A ruby dark ale, sweet and citrusy for a brown ale, I wasn't sure if she was loaded with fruit or caramel.

I truly felt like a kid in a candy store this week.

Cheers for now.

Week 7: I Never Met a Chocolate That I Didn't Like

2010-02-20T05:56:00.000-08:00

1. Rogue Chocolate Stout
2. Triumph Love Potion
3. Yards Brawler
4. Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball
5. Victory Fest Bier
6. Dock Street Man Full of Troubles Porter
7. Dock Street Sexy Beast Chocolate Stout
8. Southampton Imperial Porter

Cupid's decadent treats were served as usual in the form of chocolate this week. I found no better way on Valentine's Day/Week to show my love than with a few dark brews and one "love elixir." With the white blanket covering the streets of Philadelphia, last weekend was filled with train rides from West Philly to Old City and up to where No Libs and Fishtown collide.

Initially I was very taken aback by Triumph's Love Potion. This Abbey Triple was a fruity and complex high alcohol treat whose sugars and yeast strain were indeed a potion.

However, "If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable" (Seneca). A beautiful quote that describes why Dock Street's Sexy Beast Chocolate Stout lured me in from a snowy sea. I enjoyed this brew one year ago when I believe it was known as "Sexual Chocolate." Possibly having gained some strength with a few more pounds of chocolate, she was indeed a beast. An Imperial Stout that is smooth and malty, nutty and decadent. Apparently boiled with 22 pounds of chocolate and no sugars, I say enjoy this as a dessert after a long week or grab a growler and enjoy the following week.

Cheers for now.

Week 6: Saintly Snow Days

2010-02-13T06:53:00.000-08:00

1. Victory Hop Devil Ale
2. Victory Bottom’s Up Brown Ale
3. Victory St. Victorious Dobblebock
4. RJ Rockers Bell Ringer
5. Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
6. Unibroue Trois Pistoles
7. Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale

Welcome to another Saturday morning. For those of you in warmer climates, this week was Philly Blizzard Week, or Blizzard of 2010, or Snowzilla, Snowmagedan and Snowverkill. What that means for me and this blog is what to drink during a snow storm. I wish that I would've had some Victory Storm King, and I will be sure to keep it in stock from here on out. If anyone knows of any other fitting beer titles for such an event (not Winter Warmers), let me know.

The week began with 28.5 inches of snow over two days. What that means for me is getting out of the house to enjoy a bit of winter blowing in my face. So for two days it was Victory Hop Devil as that was all that was served at the one tavern in walking distance. But once cleared and a few days passed, still jonesing for some Victory, I found myself in Downingtown, PA, home to Victory for some dinner and a drink. Of all the choices I went for their Bottoms Up Brown Ale, as I have never seen it before. And although it was a tasty Brown, it was still only average.

So once arriving home, knowing well that there was a Victory St. Victorious hiding in the fridge, I began to indulge. St. Victorious is a Dobblebock. Poured a nice dark brown, it had a decent head that wafted beautiful notes of smokey caramel and cocoa, with subtle fruit and appeared in its taste. Gravitating towards these smokey beers this winter, it was just what I was looking for to contend with "The Devils" hops from earlier in the week. It was a malty treat for those waiting for Spring.

Beers of Tampa Bay - Introduction

2010-02-08T18:20:00.000-08:00

When I first moved down here to the Tampa Bay area in 2005, I was shocked and disappointed. I had moved here from the very fine beer environment of Philadelphia, only to find that my options for beer were basically Yuengling, Guiness, and a handful of random European beers. The beer scene was not only barren, it was non-existent. Well five years later, a number of great beer haunts have opened and/or expanded. Some of my favorites include: Mr Dunderbak's, New World Brewery, Datz Deli, Cigar City Brewery, the Independent, and Peg's Cantina. This area went from practically no beer, to having a bunch of great beers from around the country, as well as one of the best new breweries in the country in Cigar City.
I won't go into a specific beer review in this post, but I will share with you an idea of the kind of great brews I've had in the last couple weeks at a few of the above haunts.
New World Brewery: Victory Hop Devil on draught from up in my home-town area!
Cigar City Brewery: Winter Warmer Warmer Winter aged in Apple Brandy Casks (sweet, but yummy); Oatmeal Raisin Cookie - a brown ale that actually tastes like a fresh-baked cookie; Blueberry Maduro - light on the blueberry, but the Maduro is such a yummy brown ale that it doesn't matter. It's so great to be able to have a few one-off pints in the brewery.
Peg's Cantina: Gulfport Original On Draft (GOOD Beer) brewed by Doug, the assistant brewer at Cigar City in small stove-top batches. Berliner Witbier - a light abv sour wheat that got great reactions and sold out quick; Nut Brown Porter - smooth, nutty, and nice; Imperial Stout - it's definitely an imperial, and a highly drinkable one at that!
Datz Deli: the Bruery (out of California) Rugbrod - a really tasty rye brown ale; Left Hand Fade to Black - one of my favorite porters of the year, super smooth, with just a hint of that porter smoke at the back end; Dogfish Head 90 Minute - an old favorite from one of the best breweries in the country, and always nice to find on draught.
Mr Dunderbak's - a great German deli that has a ton of beers on tap. One night right after new years, I enjoyed an Avery Collaboration not Litigation, a Bell's Two Hearted Ale, a Clipper City Heavy Seas Winter Storm Imperial, and a Cigar City Jai Alai IPA. I love this place.

So there you have it - a little idea of what we're drinking down here. Besides the great beers and places I mentioned above, our bottled beer availability has grown tremendously as well, so I'll be sharing both what I drink in the bars as well as what I drink at home. I'll try to share some of my thoughts on the beers I'm drinking as well. Hopefully that will entice some of you to go find these beers out in your neck of the woods. I'll also conform to Kevin's format after this post so that there's some consistency here.

Keep drinkin....!

Week 5: It's a Rogue Nation My Friends

2010-02-06T06:15:00.000-08:00

1. Troegs Mad Elf
2. Yards Philadelphia Pale Ale
3. Rogue Dead Guy
4. Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
5. North Coast Old Rasputin
6. Rogue Chipotle Ale
7. River Horse Triple Horse

I went for 7 different brew styles this week. Troegs Mad Elf is the only beer that we have to wait until the winter for. Poured a beautiful red, she was a bit spicy, as well as sweet. For a strong belgian dark ale, I think it took having a second one to feel the winter warmth of that 11%, but the complexity to her taste kept me sipping and discovering new flavors. But hold up...I was about to talk about something else.

Rogue Chipotle Ale. I have never had this. I think that with such an extensive lineup that Rogue offers, I constantly reach for Shakespeare, Juniper, Mocca and Dead Guy. Chipotle is exactly what I expected. Malty and spicy. The peppers are quite evident in the aroma and each sip. It's got some smokey-breadiness to it and all the flavors plaster themselves to your palate. It's a sipping beer, very reminiscent to a Rauch. Kind of like a movie that you are not sure if you want to finish, I kept with it and found many nuances that I liked in the end.

Week 4: WOW

2010-01-30T06:13:00.000-08:00

1. Bells Hopslam

2. Weyerbacher Hotel
3. Sierra Nevada 13^th Release
Harvest Wet Hop Ale
4. Sly Fox Ichor (Quad)
5. Troegs Nugget Nector
6. Sly Fox Odyssey
7. Sly Fox Rauchbier
8. Sly Fox Oatmeal Stout
9. Arcadia Ales IPA
10. Arcadia Ales Hopmouth
11. Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA

You gotta love the weeks where the average night of going out to dinner results in some great beer tastings. This past week was an almost entire Pennsylvania beer week. It is kind-of hard for that not to happen. These are not by any means "default brews." Weyerbacher, Troeggs and Sly Fox have quite a selection, and Sly Fox is coming up with some mighty tasty big bottles as of late.

The week started off at a great little spot in Philly, Varga Bar, where the food and beer pairings were outstanding. The days then rolled into a a quick snack and drink at Johnny Brenda's in Fishtown, a night at Sly Fox Brewing Company with our comrads at The Slingluff Gallery, and a week ending usual dinner in Manatawny (apparently reservations are now very required).

We are never out this much.

Ok, so how did this week pan out. Well....the Bells are ringing. Yes, Bells Hopslam was superb. If you are a lover of their 2 Hearted (I know you are), then you will be taken aback by this. I was fortunate enough to have this served extremely fresh at Varga Bar and then my distributor threw in a bottle for me the other day.

Poured a beautiful hazy gold and a bubbly head, Bells slammed you with honey, pear, maybe peach and few other citrus flavors that I wasn't ready for. Although this sounds as if the aroma and taste were super sweet, it is well balanced with a killer amount of hops. My palate was in awe. If you didn't read that it had an ABV of 10%, you would never believe it. Super clean finish to boot.

I plan on writing about these Sly Fox brews pretty soon. They are well known as a cannery, but their tapped and big bottle beers have a lot going on. I do recommend their IPA, Odyssey.

Cheers until next week.

Week 3: A Strong Finish

2010-01-23T06:43:00.000-08:00

1. Victory Hop Devil Ale
2. Yards ESA
3. Southern Tier Porter Dark
4. Guinness Draught
5. Victory Old Horizontal
6. Lagunitas IPA

This reads like it was an off week, but come on, six different breweries is a great week. Philadelphia makes in incredibly easy to find and drink what you want, crave or happen to stumble upon. I am trying not to repeat any brews from weeks before. So although a few Dogfish Head's and Terripen's made it in to the mix, there was also a fair amount of Merlot.

This was flat out an easy week. I have been craving Victory Old Horizontal for a few weeks now. It's everything that you would expect from an American Barleywine. Standing tall at 11% ABV, this Strong well balanced brew has all the hops, malts and fruits in the right places. Starting off a bit bitter, it finishes with a citrus/caramel that lasts with each sip throughout. Again, it is well balanced, not overwhelming, and more than enjoyable. As promised from its title, it will leave you flat out your back in a deep sleep all night.

Cheers for now and next week I should have an overwhelming list.

Week 2: The Coast to Coast Battle

2010-01-16T05:43:00.000-08:00

1. Lancaster Brewing Shoo-Fly Porter
2. Yards Brewing Poor Richard’s Tavern Spruce
3. Troegs Brewing Company Hop Back Amber (on cask)
4. Terripen Hopsecutioner
5. Rogue Juniper Pale Ale
6. Dogfish Head Sahtea
7. Hewbrew Jewbelation Bar Mitzvah 13 Anniversary
8. Issaquah Frog Rye IPA
9. Green Flash West Coast IPA
10. Bells Two Hearted Ale

I wasn't even sure how to start to rate this weeks selection. I tend to want to gravitate towards the more unique brews instead of some of the usual suspects. This week the suspects were outnumbered. Dogfish Head's Sahtea was a bit more than I imagined. The recipe alone is an eye opener. Hebrew Jewbelation...I mean 13 malts, 13 hop varieties, and 13 percent. Yes it was overwhelming, packed with a nose that had you guessing and and nice smack in the face strength that you didn't feel for an hour later.

But I said that this was a coast to coast battle. So I will depart from our east coast brews and move straight to the west. It was really hard to say that Bells Two Hearted wasn't my icing on the cake this week. She is amazing to say the least. But it was a long week and I finished it off with the freshest tapped brews of Rogue Ales: Issaquah Frog Rye IPA and my favorite of the week...Green Flash's West Coast IPA.

Last week Philadelphia was down right ridiculous in terms of temperature (see week 1 post). But the sun god was out and graced us with a partially sunny 45 degree day. It was a night to kick back in the valley of Oley (see a map), with great friends (minus 1) and enjoy a great IPA. I've enjoyed Green Flash many a time, but the last time I can not remember. This American IPA has a beautiful orange color and a flowery-citrus taste to match. Four amazing hops (Simcoe, Columbus, Cascade and Centennial) provided some intense flavor and let me remember that the week was over. So cheers until next week and look for a guest Floridian blogger that I hope will be a regular.

On another note, on this day, January 16th, 1920 Prohibition began. So drink up.

Week 1 Goes to Peg

2010-01-09T07:38:00.000-08:00

1. Voodoo Child Wynonna’s Big Brown Ale
2. Lindeman’s Frambroise
3. Terripen Rye Pale Ale
4. Dogfish Head 90 Minute
5 .Philadelphia Brewing Company Kenzinger
6. Terripin Brown IPA
7. Bear Republic Racer 5
8. Sly Fox Phoenix Pale Ale
9. Philadelphia Brewing Company Row House Red
10. Earth, Bread and Brewery Alt Falt
11. Earth, Bread and Brewery Oh, Peg!

Earth, Bread and Brewery is my "Philadelphia Gem." Not only is the atmosphere perfect, and great for sharing and tasting a few different brews, but their selection is usually just what you were looking for.

Last night's temperature was in the high 20's. We started the day off here in Philly with about an inch of snow blanketed over the sidewalks. It was beautiful. So I found no better way or better brew to enjoy my night with than Mt. Airy's own Earth, Bread and Brewery's, Oh, Peg! Peg is a delicious Belgian Porter. A rich dark brown, nutty-berry beer. A beautiful aroma and a great finish not only made this beer the highlight of my week, but also made chilly-Philly wind pretty bearable.

Cheers until next week.