Beer Blog Discussing All Things Craft Beer

It’s only been about a week, but it feels forever since my last published review. Good thing I have plenty in the hopper to get caught up with.

The first is a doppelbock from Victory Brewing that I happened across on a recent trip to Cork & Fork in Gainesville, VA. This dark lager was perfect for one of the first truly warms days we’ve had in quite some time. It’s rich, malty character hit the spot nicely while playing with the kid and dogs in the back yard.

Appearance

The brew pours clear and copper in color with a quickly fading, off-white head.

Aroma

The dark, toasted malts layer deep on the nose with hints of caramel and a slight roast. There’s a fruity tanginess in the mix that I can’t quite place. It could be part of the hop profile, but I didn’t really get any overly hoppy notes. For 7.6% ABV the alcohol only makes a subtle appearance.

Taste

There’s something within the deep, rich malt backbone that gives this beer a slightly lighter, fruity character. I still can’t place my finger on it, but it’s a nice twist on the style. The sweet caramel and bready nature of the malts dominate the palate for the most part, but don’t completely mask the hop and fruity elements to this beer. The caramel lingers nicely in the finish after the warming alcohol has subsided. It’s not overly potent its ABV, but the alcohol is fairly apparent in the mix.

Overall

Perhaps it was the timing of this beer that made it so enjoyable, but I have a feeling it’s just a damned fine beer to begin with. It’s a sweet, rich beer that never leans too far in any one direction, but is well balanced on the palate. I wish I had purchased more of it.

Rating: 3.5/5

First off, I just wanted to thank all of you who participated in last week’s poll, “What’s the Highest ABV Beer You’ve Had?“

The results were pretty much where I expected them to be, but the number of you that had higher and 25% ABV in your beer was a surprise — not a huge surprise, mind you, but one nonetheless. No one had topped out their ABV at 5%, which is what I expected.

The Results

The results are in.

After reviewing the results, I quickly came to the conclusion that I had a couple of shortcomings in the poll itself. The final numbers are great, but I think I should have asked a couple of more questions. For instance, a geographic location or, at the very least, the name/brand of your highest ABV beer would have been quite interesting. I realized the name/brand issue almost immediately upon publishing the poll, but I couldn’t amend it as some of you are quick on the draw and I already had a couple of submissions within minutes of launching it.

Perhaps, I’ll run the poll again at a later date and include the omitted questions, as well. At any rate, thanks again for participating.

Not only has Dundee just recently relaunched their flagship Honey Brown, but they’re also introducing a few new products over the course of 2010. The first, Irish Red Lager, will be available just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.

The other brews for the year include:

• Summer Wheat: Summer Seasonal. American-style Hefeweizen (available May – July)
• Oktoberfest: Fall Seasonal. Traditional Märzen-style lager (available August – October)
• Festive Ale: Winter Seasonal. Hearty ale with spices (available Noveber – January).

Be on the look out.

Seattle, WA. March 5, 2010 – Batemans Brewery of Wainfleet, Lincolnshire, England and SBS Imports of Seattle, Washington are pleased to announce the premiere arrival of Batemans Mr. George’s Ruby Porter to United States market. Mr. George’s joins regularly available items Triple XB (XXXB) Classic Pale Ale, Combined Harvest Multigrain Beer, and the seasonal Rosey Nosey Holiday Ale.

Founded in 1874, Batemans is one of the few remaining multi-generational family brewers in England. Now under the guidance of fourth-generation of family management, the Brewery has prospered not only on the strength of its flagship Triple XB (XXXB) but also by an imaginative expansion of the range of bottled ales.

Mr. George’s is identical to the beer sold in England known as Batemans Dark Lord, but re-named for the U.S. market due to a trademark conflict. Dark Lord has been one of Batemans most awarded beers. In both 2007 & 2008 it was named among “The World’s Fifty Best Beers” at the Drinks International Beer Challenge.

Dark Lord has a deep black color with reddish hints and is capped by rich creamy foam. The aroma features roasted grain notes with spicy-citrus hop notes. The palate is roasty with hints of coffee and licorice and an underlying fruit accent and long finish. It will be sold in cases of 12/16.9 ounce bottles, with a suggested retail price of $4.99. 5% alcohol by volume.

“Our Father (known at the Brewery as Mr. George) was keenly interested in having our brand return to the USA after a lengthy absence. We’re pleased to name the beer in his honor to celebrate our second year back in America,” noted Marketing Director Jaclyn Bateman.

“Ruby Porter is a rare style that I believe is very well-suited to the American specialty beer consumer’s palate,” commented SBS Founder and President, Alan Shapiro. “I am thrilled to add this beer to the SBS portfolio.”

SBS-Imports was created in 2003 by specialty beer industry veteran Alan Shapiro. In addition to Batemans, SBS represents Aspall English Cyders from Suffolk, England and the De Proef Brewmaster’s Collection from Lochristi, Belgium. SBS also is a partner in Reunion – A Beer for Hope, which raises funds for the Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research. More information is available at www.sbs-imports.com.

This month’s Session is brought to us by The Ferm. The topic: “The Display Shelf: When to Drink the Good Stuff.”

I’m still relatively new to cellaring, having only started my meager collection in the winter of 2006/2007. I’ve got a variety of stuff tucked away in the back corner, the oldest of which is from 2007 (although, I have had the rare 2006 vintage).

I’m excited to have a couple of bottles of each year since from the Stone Vertical Epic series. I’ve got a few Belgians (Chouffe, Chimay, Orval) dating from early 2007. Mostly, though, a majority of the bottles that I’ve got are from the 2008-2009 time frame with more of a leaning toward stouts and barley wines.

It’s messy, but it’s mine.

Storing away beer isn’t easy for me. Sure, I know what to look for in a potential brew to put away for a few years, but when it comes to actually waiting, maintaining patience through that time has been rough. It also doesn’t help that I keep those bottles that don’t fit in the fridge — and are meant to be consumed that week — in the same area as my older bottles. So every time I go in to get a beer, I’m tempted and teased by those older goodies. Listen… you can hear them calling me even now.

Some Chouffee Noel, Gouden Carolous, Chimay and more…

So, shortly after this post, I’m going to come up with a plan to better protect and preserve the cellar selection. I will definitely start by isolating the older stuff from the spill over from the fridge.

I’m also going to reorganize the selection for easier management. I’m not sure if I should do this by date, brand or specific bottle, but I do know that the haphazard method I am currently using isn’t the best.

I guess I’m taking this opportunity with The Session to ask for some advice on my current cellaring situation — letting those bottles sit still for longer than I have. I’m certainly open to suggestions and ideas. Please, think of the beer, won’t you.

I actually bought this bottle on a whim while visiting a new-to-me establishment a short drive from the house. I had never heard of Brasserie des Géants, but does that really matter when it comes to Belgian holiday seasonals? I’m pretty much a sucker for anything from that area of the world with “noël” on the label.

After getting the stash of bottles safely home, a little research revealed that Brasserie des Géants was only recently established around 2000 at the site of a castle dating back to the 13th century. There wasn’t any description on the brewery’s website of what I may find in this particular beer, but I can say that whatever is in there has produced one of the best winter seasonals I’ve had.

Appearance

Be careful when pouring this beer. The amount of head it produced on each pour was impressive and showcased some impressive retention. The liquid in the glass was a hazy, rusty brown in color.

Aroma

There is a boat load of spices in the nose of this one. There’s a tangy, fruity presence that complements the Belgian yeast perfectly. As far as the spices go, I picked up some clove, but for the most part the collective smell of the herbs was too deep and layered for me to really pick out anything else.

Taste

Noël Des Géants turned out maltier than I expected, leading with a lightly toasted, bisquity malt that’s quickly followed the slightly sweet candied sugar of the Belgian yeast and a pile of herbs/spices. Overall, it’s a wonderfully balanced beer with a crisp, medium body and a warming, semi-dry finish.

Overall

I hadn’t really expected much from this beer having picked it up randomly at the store, but I’ll be damned if I can come up with but a handful of winter/holiday seasonals that are better than this one. It’s right up there at the top. The herbs, malts and Belgian candy all come together nicely into a complex, yet completely drinkable beer. I hope the store has more when I head back that way this weekend.

Rating: 4.5/5

Coney Island Craft Lagers® (Shmaltz Brewing Co.) is thrilled to celebrate the announcement of Zamperla USA as the official operator of Luna Park, the new amusement park opening in Coney Island this Memorial Day Weekend. Special for this historic moment, Shmaltz Brewing is cooking up the summer release of their own newest attraction: Coney Island Luna Lager™.

Based on the original Luna Park (1903 – 1946), one of Coney Island’s four historic amusement parks, Zamperla USA puts the city’s Coney Island redevelopment plan into motion, and Shmaltz Brewing is very excited to be an ongoing reveller in this ambitious effort. Luna Lager™ commemorates the launch of the new Luna Park 2010, and brings to life a delicious newcomer to their award-winning craft lager lineup for the community to enjoy this summer at America’s Playground. Mayor Michael Bloomberg made the official announcement regarding Luna Park on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at the New York Aquarium (Surf Avenue & W. 8th Street).

Proceeds from Coney Island Craft Lagers® also continue to help Coney Island USA, a 501(c)(3) Arts Non-Profit fulfill its mission to defend the honor of lost forms of American popular culture in Brooklyn’s historic Coney Island neighborhood. Coney Island Luna Lager™ will be available this summer throughout New York City in 22 oz. bottles and a very limited supply of kegs at specialty shops and select bars.

After a slump in sales and a disastrous repackaging in the late ’90s, the makers of Duneed Original Honey Brown Lager are poised for a comeback. The company has returned to the original label artwork and a lower price — this lager brewed with honey is hitting the shelves once again.

I can distinctly remember passing this beer quickly by on the shelves in my formative drinking years in college. I mean why the hell would I want to drink honey — and if the beer wasn’t a pale yellow in color it was too thick for me. Oh, look how far I’ve come. My tastes have certainly matured. I wonder if my past assumptions of this beer were justified.

Luckily a couple of samples arrived on the front steps just the other day for me to finally try this beer out.

Appearance

Pouring a medium amber in color with a decent frothy head, Honey Brown Lager certainly looks the part.

Aroma

The initial couple of whiffs of the beer only revealed your standard lager aroma. But diving in deeper the sweet honey does come into play complementing the bisquity malts.

Taste

there’s really nothing outstandingly good or bad about this beer. The lighter mouthfeel and slightly sweet malt/honey combination make this one an easy drinker — and at about 4.5% ABV an enjoyable session beer. The beer has a lingering finish that reveals more of the honey aspect to the beers name.

Overall

The label artwork for the brew is definitely a misnomer. Sure there’s honey in there, but it’s certainly not brown. Perhaps that adds to some of the confusion when folks like myself are perusing the shelves of their local store. At any rate, it’s an easily drinkable brew that is smooth and clean. It would serve nicely as a stepping stone into more full flavored beers within the craft beer realm.

Rating: 3/5

With all the talk and news lately regarding the high ABV battle between Brewdog and Schorschbräu, I started thinking… and that can get dangerous. I asked myself a pretty simple question, “What’s the strongest beer I’ve had? Turns out the highest, most potent beers I’ve had are both from Dogfish Head: 120 Minute IPA and World Wide Stout. I’ve had many above 10% ABV, but it looks like I’ve peeked at 18% with those two.

Now, it’s your turn.

I’ll report the results next week.

Man, talk about an eye catching design. The label artwork for Left Hand Brewing’s relatively new seasonal release, Fade to Black Vol 1, is as mesmerizing as it is creative. The swirling lines and stark monochromatic design jumped off the shelf of my local shop, begging me to buy a six pack or two.

The only problem with artwork like this is that sometimes the tasty liquid contained in the bottle it adorns sometimes doesn’t live up to the creative license the brewery has taken. Well, this foreign export stout exceeds expectations nicely with a deep, roasted flavor and a warming 8.5% ABV.

Appearance

Fade to Black pours a near black with a ruby edge. A large, pillowy mocha colored head faded slowly after the initial pour.

Aroma

Big roasted malt dominate the nose almost immediately upon pouring the beer. There’s a subtle touch of chocolate in there, but not much. I love the smell of stouts like this.

Taste

The roast is definitely in there, but it’s not overly smokey. The medium bodies brew is smooth and well balanced, leading off with the roasted malt and finishing with a slightly bitter finish with a touch of hops in there. It’s not overly sweet, but there’s enough in there to go along with subtle licorice and chocolate notes. I didn’t find too much of the alcohol in the taste which made this one a bit too drinkable the other night.

Overall

I enjoyed the hell out of this beer. The roasted character, medium body and slight sweetness are balanced to near perfection. I will definitely be buying more of this before it gets too warm out. Ah, hell, who am I kidding. I could drink this on a 90 degree summer day.

Rating: 4/5

CHERRY HILL, NJ – Flying Fish Brewing Company (1940 Olney Avenue, 856-489-0061), is excited to announce the debut of their new Exit 16 Wild Rice Double IPA, the latest entry in their “Exit Series” of big-bottle beers honoring their home state of New Jersey. Exit 16 bottles will be available by mid-March and will also on be on draft in limited quantities throughout the region.

“Exit 16 is a fun, flavorful tribute to one of the Meadowlands’ indigenous food sources: wild rice,” says Flying Fish founder Gene Muller. “Even though the area is better known these days as home to pipelines, landfills, and some so-called ‘New York’ sports teams, we see the beauty in the marsh landscape and wanted to celebrate its past and express our hope that it will be restored and preserved in the future.”

On Monday, March 8 from 6 to 8 pm, Flying Fish will hold an Exit 16 launch event in center city Philadelphia at McGillian’s Olde Ale House (310 Drury Street), on the second floor, with Muller and Head Brewer Casey Hughes tapping the first keg. Event will be pay-as-you-go.

Exit 16 Wild Rice Double IPA is named for the exit that leads travelers across the salt-marsh of the Meadowlands to the Sportsplex and Lincoln Tunnel. The beer was brewed with over 1,200 pounds of wild, organic brown and white rice, which helps the beer ferment dry to better showcase the five varieties of hops that are brewed in. It is later dry-hopped with generous additions of Chinook and Citra hops, creating a complex nose with hints of tangerine, mango, papaya and pine. The Exit 16 label includes a Web site, www.hackensackriverkeepers.org, with more information on preservation and restoration projects in the Meadowlands.

The Exit Series will continue with three or four beers a year to eventually encompass all turnpike exits; other entries have included Exit 4 American Trippel, Exit 11 Hoppy American Wheat and Exit 1 Bayshore Oyster Stout. Recently, in response to the overwhelming popularity of series starter Exit 4, the brewery re-released it in six-packs.

Flying Fish was the world’s first ‘virtual’ microbrewery, establishing an Internet presence as early as 1995. That presence helped to generate press interest and woo investors to the fledgling brewery, which would not open for business until late 1996. Today, Muller and his team oversee four full-time styles, as well as a variety of seasonal beers. Their brews have been featured at the Great British Beer Festival, Oregon Brewers Festival and Canada’s Biere de Mondial Festival. They have won medals at the Great American Beer Festival, Real Ale Festival and the World Beer Championships, and are the only New Jersey brewery featured in Best American Beers. Flying Fish was also named “Local Hero: Beverage Artisan of 2009” by Edible Jersey magazine.

PORTLAND, MAINE – (February 25, 2010) – Shipyard Brewing Company announced the release of two of its popular Pugsley’s Signature Series beers in four-packs of 12-ounce bottles.

In early April, XXXX IPA and Imperial Porter will both be available in four-packs. Until now, these award-winning beers have been available solely in 22-ounce bottles and on draft.

XXXX IPA is a non-traditional American IPA with a brilliant copper color and the classic citrus nose of Cascade Hops. This beer demonstrates a unique balance of malt-inspired, delicate red grapefruit sweetness and lingering hop dryness. In 2009, XXXX IPA won Silver Awards at the United States Open Beer Championships and Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival. This beer pairs well with Cajun dishes, blackened fish, and BBQ.

Malt: Malted Wheat, Pale Ale, Crystal, and Caramalt
Hops: Cascade, Warrior, Summit and Glacier
70 IBUs
OG: 1.092
ABV: 9.25%

Imperial Porter is a full bodied, very dark, malty beer with a good roasted character. The beer has an OG of 1.070, rounding out after fermentation with just a slight residual sweetness and cutting dry at the finish. In 2009, Imperial Porter took home a 2nd place Porter award at the West Coast Brewers Festival. This beer pairs well with meat dishes, shepherd’s pie, and stews.

Malt: Crystal, Chocolate and Black Patent
Hops: Warrior, English Fuggles, and East Kent Goldings
OG: 1.070
ABV: 7.1%

The new XXXX IPA and Imperial Porter four-packs will be available for a suggested retail price of $9.99 at specialty beer stores in New England, Florida and California. Retailers include Kappy’s Fine Wine & Spirits in Massachusetts, Total Wine & More in Florida, and BevMo! in California. Distribution is expected to expand to other markets in 2010.

Pugsley’s Signature Series is named after Shipyard’s master brewer, Alan Pugsley. Pugsley’s career began in England where he worked under the tutelage of renowned brewer Peter Austin at the world-famous Ringwood Brewery in Hampshire. Pugsley moved to the United States in 1986 to consult on the construction of dozens of North American breweries before partnering with Fred Forsley at the Shipyard Brewing Company in 1992.

To fully enjoy all the flavors, Pugsley’s Signature Series ales are best drunk at 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Other beers in this series include Smashed Pumpkin and Barley Wine Style Ale. Two new beers are planned for 2010.

Just recently released in four packs, Shmaltz Brewing’s Bittersweet Lenny’s R.I.P.A. has already received a good amount of acclaim since it’s original launch in the Summer of 2006. It’s also been impossible to find any where near home.

So when the opportunity to get a couple of samples of this highly rated brew came along, I was more than a little excited. “…[B]rewed with an obscene amount of malts and hops,” this rye-based double IPA is pretty damned complex and full flavored — and completely worth the wait.

Appearance

The copper colored brew poured into a tulip glass producing a massive light tan head that was dense with excellent retention.

Aroma

Bittersweet Lenny’s has got a rich and deep nose. It’s got quite a malty sweetness with touches of caramel, light toast and rye. The hops within the nose packs a citrus and piny punch that balanced out the the large malt presence. The 10% ABV makes a light appearance as the beer warms.

Taste

First off, this brew is pretty damned viscous for an IPA, let along a double IPA. It thoroughly coats the mouth with this bold and rich brew. The next thing you notice it the bitterness. It packs a wallop! The malty sweetness is certainly there and commands your attention, but the hope bitterness lasts a good while in the semi-dry finish. The higher ABV makes its presence known more and more often as the beer settles and warms to room temperature.

Overall

Sipping this one slowly last night after dinner, this brew proved to hit the spot wonderfully. It’s full bodied, rich and bold flavored. I can certainly see why it’s garnered such acclaim since its launch. In the past, I’ve always greedily wished that I had additional samples for cellaring. Luckily, a couple of bottles arrived in the mail so I can revisit this big beer for comparison at a later date.

Rating: 4/5