A Little Monster Mash



A Little Traveling Music, If You Please

In a sort of everything-old-is-new-again twist, the growth of craft brewing has resulted in the return of the small, regional brewery - those breweries whose beers barely make it outside the borders of a few counties, much less across state lines. As we travel about the country, we make it a point to find brew pubs and micro-breweries along the way. Some of these bottle, some don't. The quality and style vary greatly, but it's always fun to try different beers.

I always try to jot down notes on the beers I try along the way. These notes get stashed in pockets, backpacks, and suitcases. I recently combed through all the nooks and crannies of our various travel gear and have culled some of these jottings. What follows, in no particular order, are my quick and dirty impressions of some of the beers I tried in a recent trip to the Midwest.

Points to remember:

1. I'm a hophead so I tend to be attracted to hoppier beers

2. However, I do like good, full-flavored Stouts and Porters

3. But I'm not really a fan of Belgians, wheats or fruit beers (or anything with the word "light" or "lite" in the title).

With that in mind, here are some beers you might, or might not, wish to try if you happen to find them.

Key:   **** = Keep 'em coming - great beer

           ***   = Very drinkable brew - I like it

           **     = Okay. If it were this or Bud/Miller/Coors etc. I'd get this.

           *       = Really?

MIDWEST

Wisconson

 

THE PLACE: Lakefront Brewery - Milkaukee, Wisconsin

THE BEER: Fixed Gear American Red Ale

THE BASICS: STYLE: Red Ale; ABV: 6.8%; IBUs: 54; MALTS: 2-Row Pale, Caramel; HOPS: Chinook, Cascade;
HOW SERVED: On tap

MY TAKE: Surprisingly hoppy red ale. Nice malty backbone with hints of caramel and coffee.

MY RATING: ***

THE PLACE: Rock Bottom Brewery - Milwaukee, Wisconsin 

THE BEER: Naughty Scot Scotch Ale

THE BASICS: STYLE: Scotch Ale; ABV: 7.2%; IBUs: 20;
HOW SERVED: On tap

MY TAKE: Malty with banana/clove taste and aroma. A hint of licorice.

MY RATING: **

 

THE PLACE: Rock Bottom Brewery - Milaukee, Wisconsin

THE BEER: Rock Bottom India Pale Ale

THE BASICS: STYLE: India Pale Ale; ABV: 6.5%; IBUs: 60; MALT: 2-Row Pale; HOPS: Yakima; HOW SERVED: On tap

MY TAKE: Cloudy, honey colored. Fuller bodied than most IPAs. Floral hops aroma, nice bitter finish. Not killer hoppy - but good. Very smooth

MY RATING: ***

THE PLACE: Rock Bottom Brewery - again!

THE BEER: Rocktoberfest

THE BASICS: STYLE: Oktoberfest; ABV: 5.7%; IBUs: 24
HOW SERVED: On tap

MY TAKE: Subtle hop, hint of banana. Classic Oktoberfest

MY RATING: **

By the way, we had dinner there and had the baby brats and the Rocktoberfest Mac & Cheese - very good.

Minnesota

THE PLACE: Herkimer Pub and Brewery - Minneapolis, Minnesota

THE BEER: Rye PA

THE BASICS: STYLE: Rye Pale Ale; ABV: 5.5%; IBUs: 43; HOPS: Junga; MALTS: Rye
HOW SERVED: On tap
        

MY TAKE: Unfiltered copper color. Medium body with a dry finish. Mild hop presence. Easy drinking.

MY RATING: **

-I have in my notes: "They are out of the Lutz IPA!!!!"-

THE PLACE: Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN
THE BEER: Masala Mama IPA
THE BASICS:  STYLE: India Pale Ale; ABV: 8.2%; IBUs: 86; MALTS: American malts; HOPS:Amarillo, Cascade, Centennial, Crystal, Mt. Hood, Warrior
HOW SERVED: On tap
MY TAKE: Delicious! Nice hop nose with lots of grapefruit/pine hop aroma and taste. Balanced with a strong malt backing makes it less bitter than one would expect at 86 IBUs.
MY RATING: ****

THE PLACE: Twin City Grill, Minneapolis, MN
THE BEER: Surly Furious
THE BASICS:  STYLE: American India Pale Ale; ABV: 6.2%; IBUs: 99; MALT: Pale malt, Golden Promise; Aromatic; Medium Crystal; Roasted Barely; HOPS: Warrior, Ahtanum, Simcoe, Amarillo;
HOW SERVED: On tap - later in pint cans
MY TAKE: Great beer. Nice hop finish. Caramel/toffee taste balances the hops. Nice, complex beer. Terrific. So good I bought a couple of four-packs to bring home.
MY RATING: ****

Daniel and I anticipate some good beers (okay, I do. Daniel's
hoping for some good chocolate milk)

THE PLACE: Obed And Isaac's Microbrewery and Eatery, Springfield Illinois

-Got to try 5 beers here-

Here's my Fast Five From Obed And Isaac's

Beer 1

THE BEER: Upside Brown Ale

THE BASICS: STYLE: Brown Ale; ABV: 5.5% (no other info available); HOW SERVED: On tap

MY TAKE: Molasses, toffee, hint of coffee, bread, yeast. Nice beer. Easy drinking.

MY RATING: ***

Beer 2

THE BEER: Silly Pants Stout

THE BASICS: STYLE: Stout; ABV: 4.7%
HOW SERVED: On tap

MY TAKE: Hint of chocolate, sour, a bit watery, fairly light bodied for a stout

MY RATING: **

Beer 3

THE BEER: Oarslayer

THE BASICS: STYLE: Roggenbier -German style Rye ; ABV: 4.7%; HOW SERVED: On tap

MY TAKE: Strong banana aroma and taste, very Bavarian vibe.

MY RATING: **

Beer 4

THE BEER: Mother Road APA

THE BASICS: STYLE: American Pale Ale; ABV: 5.6%
HOW SERVED: On tap

MY TAKE: Nice APA! Very hoppy. Aroma of pine. Good bitter/hop finish. Terrific.

MY RATING: ****

Beer 5

THE BEER: Long 9 Black IPA 

THE BASICS: STYLE: Black India Pale Ale; ABV: 6.8%
HOW SERVED: On tap

MY TAKE: Wonderful! Best-of-both-worlds beer. Pitch black in color, it would please both a Hophead and a Stout Heart. Dark chocolate, coffee taste with a solid hop bite. Fantastic beer. I wish I could get it around here. Next time in the area, I will bring multiple growlers!

MY RATING: ****+  

Next month, Ron and I give our takes on some Southeastern brews.





We Had Some Monster Mash

Yes, we had some Monster Mash, and darned if it wasn't a graveyard smash that indeed caught on in a flash - but first we sampled and rated some Monster beers. After having spent the first couple of falls trying Oktoberfests and Pumpkin Ales, we thought we'd like to do something else at this time of year. Well, Halloween is in October so how about "Monster" beers? We kept the definition of what constituted a monster beer pretty loose: a name evocative of Halloween and monsters, monstrously high alcohol or just monstrously good. You get the idea. As per our custom, we did the tastings in an order dependent upon the alcohol content of the beer - least to most.

BEAST BITTER 

Middle Ages Brewing, Syracuse, NY

The Beer Facts: Style: ESB (Extra Special Bitter); ABV: 5.3; IBUs: NA; Delivery System: Keg

What the Brewer Says: "This special bitter displays the subtle coppery hue of "old gold." It's depth of lingering hop flavor awakens the palate."

Color: Unfiltered honey gold

Pour: Decent off-white head

Aroma: Malty/grassy

Body: Medium

Taste: Initially well balanced sliding toward a bitter-ish finish. There are notes of bread, toffee/caramel, and a hint of banana.

Overall Impression: Well toward "Can't get enough"

Comments: "Not bad; I could drink this; Nice finish; Just enough hops; I could drink it all day - and still be standing; Another great beer from Middle Ages; Solid flavor; I usually go for the 'bigger' offerings of Middle Ages, but this is a mighty fine beer; It is nice and clean."

HOPDEVIL

Victory Brewing Company, Downington, PA

The Beer Facts: Style: American India Pale Ale; ABV: 6.7%; IBU: NA; MALT: Imported 2-row German malts; HOPS: Whole flower American hops; Delivery System: 12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

What the Brewer Says: "The mythical HopDevil resides in the lore of farmers. Our HopDevil is the real deal. Bold, spicy and menacingly delicious. He's the product of distinctive American hops and meticulous craftsmanship. Arising from the heady wilds of our hopback and gently tamed with time, this Devil makes a great companion."

Color: Dark honey/amber

Pour: A bit less than a decent head

Aroma: Pine/hoppy

Body: Medium

Taste: Nice solid grapefruit hop punch balanced with notes of toffee and caramel. It also had a hops finish.

Overall Impression: Midway between "I could drink this" and " Can't get enough."

Comments: "Fills the mouth; It has a clean finish; Victory makes good beer; It hits the whole palate spectrum; It's well balanced malt to hops; Man, I like that beer; Victory is ours - and we are glad; It has a good malt backbone."

CASCAZILLA

Ithaca Brewing Company, Ithaca, NY

Beer note: We reviewed this beer previously, but it fit the bill and we like it so what the hell. The comments are new.

The Beer Facts: STYLE: Red IPA; ABV: 7.0%; IBUs: NA; MALTS: 2-row Pale, Crystal, Chocolate; HOPS: Cascade, Chinook, Amarillo - dry hopped with Cascade and Amarillo; DELIVERY SYSTEM: 12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

What the Brewer Says: "The name Cascazilla is a play on both the name of a gorge in Ithaca called Cascadilla and the monster amounts of Cascade Hops we use to make the beer. The predominant flavor
and aroma of this beer comes from fresh American hops. Cascazilla gets its distinctive red color from a healthy portion of caramel malt, which also lends to the beer a heary body and sweetness. It is a hoppy red ale!"

Color: Unfiltered copper (almost amber)

Pour: Decent head

Aroma: Flowery hops aroma

Body: Between Medium and Full

Taste: Bitter hop finish balanced with caramel malt sweetness

Overall Impression: Can't get enough!

Comments: "It's a beautiful color; It's not overly hoppy, but still a great-tasting beer; This is real drinkable; Not an over-the-top hop; There's more hops in the nose than the palate; Still much hoppier than your average red ale; Makes for a real nice beer."

LOOSE CANNON HOP3 IPA

Heavy Seas Brewing, Halethorpe, MD

Beer Note: Ditto above beer note! (Fit the bill because it's "monstrously good")

The Beer Facts: STYLE: American India Pale Ale; ABV: 7.5%; IBUs: 45; MALTS: 2-Row, Caramalt, Munich; HOPS: Warrior, Simcoe, Palisade, Centennial, Cascade, Citra; DELIVERY SYSTEM: 12 oz can poured into a pint glass.

What the Brewer Says: "Our flagship beer, Loose Cannon wins people over at first smell. The carefully cultivated interplay of (hops) creates a most fragrant IPA - its nose bursts with notes of grapefruit, herbs, and pine. Bitterness is somewhat subdued by the floral quality that pervades the taste...It won a second place CAMRA award ath the 2010 Great British Beer Festival."

Color: Wheat

Pour: Decent head with nice lacing

Aroma: Hoppy - grapefruit/pine and other hop notes

Body: Medium

Taste: Leans to the hoppy, with notes of caramel and slight grapefruit - though not as much as the aroma would lead you to believe

Overall Impression: Can't get enough!

Comments: "It's hoppy with a bitter finish; It really hits you between the eyes; It just keeps getting better and better; Since it was 'hopped three times' Tony Orlando must drink this before Dawn; It's another one with that nice hop to caramel malt balance that makes it easy to like."

LAKE ERIE MONSTER

Great Lakes Brewing, Cleveland, OH

The Beer Facts: STYLE: Imperial IPA; ABV: 9.1; IBUs: 80; MALT: Harrington 2-row Base Malt, Caramel 30; HOPS: Simcoe, Willamette

What the Brewer Says: "Lake Erie Monster stories are like fish stories. Drink a few of these handcrafted Imperial IPAs and you're bound to start boasting and weaving wild tales of mythic proportions. Drink more and you might even have visions of South Bay Bessie, the freshwater cryptid for which our Lake Erie Monster is named, lifting her scaly head avove the surface of Lake Erie. Or
 the Cuyahoga River. Or a kiddie pool. Actually, if you see Bessie in a kiddie pool, take it easy. You've probably had too many."

Color: Unfiltered copper

Pour: Better than decent off-white head

Aroma: Malty/grassy

Body: Medium to Full

Taste: Initially sweet then works toward hoppy/alcohol finish. It has notes of toffee.

Overall Impression: Between "I could drink this" and "Can't get enough"

Comments: "It's a light barley wine; After-taste sticks with you; It has a horehound taste to it; There's a heavy alcohol taste on the back end of the swallow; A couple of these and you'll need to be sitting down; I'd drink it while watching a football game in my living room; I didn't really care for it - it's a little too alcohol-y; I feel there are many more Great Lake beers that are better." 

WAKE UP DEAD

Left Hand Brewing Company, Longmont, CO

The Beer Facts: STYLE: Imperial Russian Stout; ABV: 10.2%; IBUs: 45; MALTS: 2-Row, Munich, Crystal, Chocolate, Roasted Barley, Black Barley, Flaked Oats; HOPS: Magnum, US Goldings; DELIVERY SYSTEM: 22 oz bomber

What the Brewer Says: "Good morning. You've woken up dead. You're in ruins. But don't be discouraged. Here's a black ale to brighten your day.  Wake Up Dead lurks in our cellars for over 4

months before being unleashed. Hints of raisins, black licorice, coffee and dark chocolate are followed by earthy, herbal hop notes. Any apprehensions about the rest of your day are quickly forgotten, for whatever the mind expects, it finds. Sometimes you're not in the mood for what everyone else is having."

Color: Black

Pour: Slightly less than decent tan head

Aroma: Sorghum or Aunt Jemimah syrup

Body: Full

Taste: Sweet with notes of sweet coffee, chocolate, licorice, caramel, molasses.

Overall Impression: I could drink this

Comments: "I could put this on my pancakes; Kudos to the name; WOW!; Should be served in a goblet; A definite dessert beer; Maybe an after dinner sipper; It's kind of like iced coffee with booze; It's definitely full-bodied; Would be great on pancakes or maybe vanilla ice cream; It has a very boozy quality; I think it well represents the style; It's truly a sipper."

DOUBLE DOG DOUBLE INDIA PALE ALE

Flying Dog Brewing, Frederick, MD

The Beer Facts: STYLE: Double IPA; ABV: 11.5%; IBUs: 85; MALTS: Light Crystal; HOPS: Columbus, Warrior, Cascade; DELIVERY SYSTEM: 12 oz bottle

What the Brewer Says: "This is a big beer that calls for equally big foods. Flavor notes: Citrus hops with sweet malt and subtle alcohol burn (like a kiss on th cheek)."

Color: Copper

Pour: Decent off-white head

Aroma: Sweet with alcohol

Body: Full

Taste: Initially sweet then straight to alcohol. There are notes of caramel.

Overall Impression: I could drink this.

Comments: "WOW - this is really warming; This is a winter-break-the-goblet-in-the-fireplace beer; Billy Fuccillo might even say this is HUGE; They don't disguise the alcohol at all; It's a good pirate beer; It's a rummy beer; I think it's a crude beer - bang! It's there; You could drop an ice cube in it and make it a cordial; It's a bit over the top for me; It tastes like a barley wine to me."

How'd this battle shake out? Most of the big beer we would enjoy in small amounts. The others fared very well with us. In the end the order of finish is this:

The first four were very close and universally enjoyed by The Guys

1. Loose Cannon Hop3 IPA by Heavy Seas - Not the hoppiest IPA out there but a real tasty, balanced beer.

2. Cascazilla by Ithaca Brewing - A terrific Red Ale

3. Beast Bitter by Middle Ages Brewing - A solid hop bite for an English style ESB makes this a very enjoyable beer - one likely to please both hopheads those who lean toward the maltier side.

4. HopDevil by Victory Brewing - A regular guest in my fridge - though it rarely stays there long.

The next bunch had us somewhat split, with some feeling they would "leave it on the shelf." 

5. Lake Erie Monster - Great Lakes Brewing - The strong alcohol presence was a turn-off for some. Others felt they would enjoy it as a sipper.

6. Wake Up Dead - Left Hand Brewing - No overtly negative comments on this one. The consensus was that it was good in small amounts. Sweeter than most of the GUYS go for.

7. Double Dog Double IPA - Flying Dog Brewing - Another sipping beer but, again, some felt the alcohol presence was overly dominant.

HOPS INFUSERS 

Mike brought a new twist to this month's meeting - a hops infuser. This is a device (pictured above) which can be filled with hops and placed in your beer glass to add a nice hop kick to the beer. We tried it out on one of Mike's own brews. It gives the beer an interesting green color (great for St. Patrick's Day - use it instead of the green food coloring). It definitely ups the hoppiness of the beer. Of course, Mike's brews are generally pretty hoppy to begin with. It would be interesting to see if it improved one of the mega beers. It'd be a great little thing to have if you're stuck in a restaurant that serves only the megas. Might actually make them palatable. What would it do to a light/lite? 

CRAFT SPOTTING

Another nod to craft beers in one of the hot TV shows. This time "The Walking Dead." While scouting for supplies in an abandoned supermarket, the survivors are set upon by a wave of zombies. As the survivors battle for their lives, the fight spills over into the store's beer section whereupon we see cases of Sweetwater IPA, Terrapin Rye Pale Ale, Terrapin Hopsecutioner, and Sweetwater Pale Ale. Very appropriate since the story takes place around Atlanta, GA and these are Atlanta beers. Check out the screen shots below. 

And, again, let us know about any craft beers you spot in films and TV.

Next month -
East Coast Beers.

Sláinte,
The BOTB Guys

American Pale Ales

New to the blog? I suggest you click on "June" of 2013 in the table of contents to the right. There you will find a section called "Beer Talk" (with a nice little "Pearls Before Swine" lead-in) which rather succinctly tells you what we're all about here.

SARANAC BONUS

Throughout the summer Saranac Brewery has been celebrating Saranac's 125th anniversary. Originally the West End Brewery (then Matt Brewing), the Utica, New York company was one of the relatively few independent breweries to survive Prohibition. They did this in part with marketplace savvy and the ability to carve out and hold on to a regional niche for themselves. During Prohibition the company switched to root beer. Afterwards, their Utica Club lager was a low cost alternative to the mega brew lagers. They experimented with Matts Premium and Maximus Super when beer drinkers began looking for something a little different. And when the craft beer revolution got rolling, they became a regional player with their Saranac brand in 1985. Now, as part of their anniversary celebration, Saranac has been including in selected 12-packs a bonus 13th beer: a pint can of Legacy IPA. The recipe is "inspired" by a recipe handed down by the founder. It's brewed with 2-row and Munich malts as well as "a blend of historic, traditional and innovative hops." It's a 6.5% ABV beer clocking in at 60 IBUs.

I picked up a few of these 12-packs over the summer: White IPA and their summer mix, both of which had the bonus pint. Legacy is a very tasty, balanced IPA. It's not overly hoppy, but enough to make it an enjoyable brew for this hophead. If this is an example of a beer produced before Prohibition, it makes you wonder what other tasty brews were lost to posterity thanks to that bizarre, unfortunate period of American history.

...AND SPEAKING OF HISTORY
A LITTLE APA HISTORY, IF YOU PLEASE

Perhaps more than any other style of beer, American Pale Ale has been the driving force behind the rebirth of American brewing and the impetus that created the craft beer revolution we now enjoy. But what distinguishes an American Pale Ale from, say, a British Pale Ale? Well, first of all, it's brewed in the US. But more importantly, American Pale Ales are generally brewed using American two-row malt and American hops such as Cascade. The yeast used can also play a role. Many European yeasts will impart a distinctive taste reminiscent of banana or cloves. American yeast tends to produce a cleaner finish, allowing the malt and hops to take center stage. And it is the choice of hops that really distinguishes a pale ale as British (or European) vs. American. To some extent hops are to beer what grapes are to wine. As is true with grapes, the aroma and flavor of a hop flower is dependent on where it is grown. British pales are generally brewed with variations of Noble Hops - Fuggles, Goldings - which tend to be low in bitterness and high in aroma. American pales use any of a number of North American hops - Cascade, Amarillo, Columbus, to name a few - which have higher alpha-acid levels than their European counterparts and are therefore more bitter, often imparting a grapefruit/citrus or pine aroma and taste.



Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, brewed in 1980, was the first modern American Pale Ale, and is often credited as being the beer that started the craft beer movement. Although the first modern American ale, Liberty Ale, was brewed by Anchor Brewing in 1975 as a bicentennial tribute to Paul Revere's ride. It was a local favorite but didn't become a regular brew for the company until 1983.  Until these ground-breakers came along, American brewers had gone almost exclusively to brewing lagers. Lagers are cheaper and faster to brew. Anything resembling a pale ale had long since faded from the American brewing landscape as beers became lighter and increasingly more tasteless. And with that abomination known as "light" or "lite" beer, American beers had fallen into an abyss of watery torpor. The reintroduction of the pale ale by S-N began to reverse this trend.

So what should you expect from an American Pale Ale (APA)? First of all, pale ales and IPAs are kissing cousins, and the line between the two styles gets blurred. We have had IPAs that are closer to pale ales and pales ales that could pass for an IPA. We've also had a few pseudo-IPAs that wouldn't pass as a pale ale (I'm talking to you, Alexander Keith IPA!).  But as a general rule, APAs should have a solid malt base with varying degrees of hop bitterness. If it's an APA, the hops will usually give it that grapefruit/hop taste. But the hops will take a backseat to the malt, which can impart a bready or biscuit-like taste often with hints of caramel. The aroma can range from pine to floral to grassy to earthy, depending on the hops. 

Whereas we hadn't specifically reviewed pale ales our first three and a half years, we took on APAs for the second time this year. There seems an endless supply of really good pale ales, and our pursuit was to check out another group of them. With a full contingent of tasters this month, we took a look at six American Pale Ales and, at the end, a powerhouse Imperial Pale Ale.

Our APAs this month included:

Dirty Blonde Pale Ale from Adirondack Pub and Brewery, Lake George, NY
Stranger Pale Ale from Left Hand Brewing Co., Longmont, CO
Headwater Pale Ale from Victory Brewing Co., Downington, PA
Live Pale Ale from Southern Tier Brewing Co., Lakewood, NY
Doggie Style Pale Ale Flying Dog Brewing Co., Fredrick, MD
Burning River Pale Ale from Great Lakes Brewery, Cleveland, OH
Imperial Pale Ale from Middle Ages Brewing Co., Syracuse, NY

Once again, we sampled the beers in order based on their respective ABVs. We have found that we can more honestly rate the beer on its own merits this way, rather than comparing it to a "bigger" beer we might have had just before it.

DIRTY BLONDE PALE ALE

Adirondack Pub and Brewery, Lake George, NY

The Beer Facts: STYLE: American Pale Ale; ABV: 4.60%; IBU: 25

What The Brewer Says: "An unfiltered American wheat ale."

Color: Cloudy straw

Pour: A very ample, near guinness class head. It was very carbonated, and after a short time left a "fish net lace."

Aroma: Grassy and piney

Body: Light/thin

Taste: Grassy early on, then finishes with more flavor - resinous and of pine. It has notes of pine, citrus/grapefruit.

Overall Impression: "I could drink this"

Comments: "I've had lots worse pale ales; This is a great session beer; It has a pilsner/champagne-y taste; It's better after a couple of drinks; It's an ale; A solid summer drink; Nice for a wheat - they put some hops in it."

STRANGER PALE ALE

Left Hand Brewing Co., Longmont, CO

 ~ Left Hand Brewing has fairly recently come onto the national scene, at least in these parts (the Northeast). At least three of their brews have shown up on the local shelves: 400 Pound Monkey, Nitro Milk Stout, and  Stranger Pale Ale.  We had a couple of Nitros for sampling but not rating. It is a unique, fun stout. Unique in that you are instructed to tip the bottle straight down and pour it into the glass, allowing the beer to splash fully on the bottom of the glass, as opposed to pouring it down the side. I had one again the other day and thoroughly  enjoyed it. It tastes like you think Guinness should taste - rich with strong hints of dark chocolate, coffee and and bread. I enjoyed it even more when I had time to linger over a full glass. ~

The Beer Facts: STYLE: American Pale Ale; ABV: 5.0%; IBUs: 36; MALT: 2-Row, Rye Malt, Munich, Crystal; HOPS: Centennial, Willamette, Cascade

What the Brewer Says: "Friend or foe? Sane or senseless? Harmless or harmful? Sometimes it takes awhile to get to know a stranger. Initial impressions are not always reality, so you must delve deeper. Beyond the initial floral hop aromas, malt sweetness is revealed, yet with a spicy undertone that exposes a very rye sense of humor. Take your time to get to know the Stranger. It's strangely
satisfying."

Color: Light Amber

Pour: Decent to slightly less than decent pour

Aroma: A bit spicy

Body: Light to Medium

Taste: Initially tastes blanced, then has a nice finish with an aftertaste bite to it. Notes of bread and nuts. 

Overall Impression: "I could drink this"

Comments: "This is a good beer; A little hoppier than the Blonde; A nice easy-drinking beer; It needs to be cold; There is not a strong hops presence; It tastes like a pale ale, not an IPA; The packaging asks 'Friend or Foe?' - I'd embrace the 'Left Handed' Stranger."

HEADWATER PALE ALE

Victory Brewing Co., Downington, PA

The Beer Facts: STYLE: American Pale Ale; ABV: 5.1%; MALTS: Imported 2-Row malts; HOPS: Whole flower American hops

What the Brewer Says: "This firmly crisp and aromatically arousing pale ale integrates a softly supportive malt base which underlies streams of herbal hop complexity. Shifting impressions of lemon aroma and flavor interemingle with leafy, tea-like earthiness as the flowing appeal of American hops unfolds in Headwaters."

Color: Deep amber/orange

Pour: A thin head with tight bubbles. Nice lacing.

Aroma: Pine, grapefruit, and spice

Body: Fairly thin

Taste: Initially tastes balanced, then finishes with a hoppy pine. There were notes of pine, malt and nut.

Overall Impression: Between "I could drink this" and "Can't get enough"

Comments: "There was some malt added to the blend; There is more malt presence than with the others; This is an IPA disguised as a Pale Ale; This is really smooth; It's well-made; It tastes like a bigger beer than it is; This brewery rarely disappoints; This is a nice full-flavored pale ale; In Canada, this would be a big hoppy IPA."

LIVE BOTTLE CONDITIONED PALE ALE

Southern Tier Brewing Company, Lakewood, NY

The Beer Facts: STYLE: Bottle Conditioned Pale Ale; ABV: 5.5%; IBUs: NA; MALTS: Four varieties; HOPS: Four varieties; 

What the Brewer Says: "Beer is made by creating a liquid rich with fermentable material. this 'wort' is moved to a fermentation vessel where yeast, a living organism, is added. (While the yeast is active) the beer is literally alive. Just prior to packaging we add a little yeast to the clear beer for a secondary fermentation. This helps to add carbonation, remove oxygen and prolong shelf life."

Color: Cloudy honey 

Pour: More than a decent head, a little more carbonated than the average beer.

Aroma: Hoppy floral

Body: Medium

Taste: Nice hoppy taste and finish. There were notes of grass/hay with spicy under-tastes.

Overall Impression: Nearly up to "Can't get enough"

Comments: "This has a beautiful hop taste; Southern Tier comes through again; This and Victory (Headwater) had big noses today; It's tasty - I like that; I don't know where Southern Tier is, but I'd move there; Delightful taste - it tastes like another; It's complex: it has more and better flavors; This hits the whole mouth; It's the whole package; A lot of beers don't go to the trouble."

DOGGIE STYLE PALE ALE

Flying Dog Brewery, Frederick, MD

~ An interesting note on this particular tasting. When we do our tastings and ratings, we customarily pour two or three partial glasses from the same bottle and open only two or three from the six-pack. We started off just fine with color and pour. When we got to aroma, taste notes, and overall impression, we couldn't have been farther apart. While a few of us complained of a 'skunky' aroma to the beer, others looked at them as if they were crazy. As it turned out, one of the beers had 'skunked' on us. Once the complainants opened a different bottle they noticed a world of difference. We rated the beer on the 'good' bottles. We've all had the unfortunate experience of a 'skunky' beer, so nothing more needs to be said about that except that it was a good thing we had opened more than one bottle! ~

The Beer Facts: STYLE: American Pale Ale; ABV: 5.5%; IBUs: 35; MALTS: 120 L Crystal; HOPS: Northern Brewer, Cascade, Simcoe, Citra

What the Brewer Says: "The alpha of the pack, Doggie Style complements a wide range of foods. Flavor notes: grassy, citrus and slight perfume hop aromas with subtle sweet malt body."

Color: Orange-amber

Pour: Decent creamy or almond head

Aroma: Floral hops

Body: Medium

Taste: Toward the bitter side of balanced, with a nice bitter finish, with malty, bready yeast notes.

Overall Impression: Very close to "Can't get enough"

Comments: "Easy drinking; No lingering after-taste; Very tasty - similar to Live; Delicious; Perhaps they should can their beers to avoid the skunk; I'm so glad I had the second beer; Quite balanced; A nice, very drinkable pale ale."

BURNING RIVER PALE ALE

Great Lakes Brewing Co., Cleveland, OH

The Beer Facts: STYLE: American Pale Ale; ABV: 6.0%; IBUs: 45; MALT: 2-Row malt; HOPS: Cascade

What the Brewer Says: "An assertively hopped American pale ale with citrusy and piney Cascade hops."

Color: Copper

Pour: Decent, off-white head

Aroma: Grassy

Body: Medium

Taste: Complex, somewhat unbalanced, toward hoppy. It had notes of malt and floral, piney hops, as well as caramel/toffee to the finish, with hints of yeast.

Overall Impression: Very close to "Can't get enough"

Comments: "This is a classic American Pale Ale; It has a great color; Well balanced; Widely distributed; Nicely hopped; A nice beer - I like this a lot; It's a pleasant pale ale; It is a complex beer; It hits a lot of notes."

IMPERIAL PALE ALE

Middle Ages Brewery, Syracuse, NY

~Okay, so this is a bit of cheat, in a way. Middle Ages prides itself on "Producing British inspired ales in Syracuse, New York since 1995." So this is an American Pale Ale only in that it was brewed in America. But we couldn't pass it up! It was a single time brew. And it's a big beer. And Middle Ages is kind of our home team. We wanted to end the tastings with a bang, so to speak, and this fit the bill. ~

The Beer Facts: STYLE: Imperial Pale Ale; ABV: 9.0%; IBUs: NA (as well as the malts and hops used)

What the Brewer Says: "Single time brew. Producing British inspired ales in Syracuse, New York since 1995."

Color: Unfiltered honey

Pour: Better than decent head

Aroma:  spicy hops

Body: Well toward Full

Taste: Notes of bread, nuts and yeast with sharp bitter finish.

Overall Impression: "Can't get enough"

Comments: "It's a glory in the mouth; WOW! That is nice!; It's like comparing men to boys; Happy Anniversary, Middle Ages; This isn't exactly a lawn mower beer, is it?; You can definitely taste the alcohol presence - in a good way; It has a great, warm after-taste."

SO, WHO WON?

As is normally the case, we did. There really wasn't a loser in the bunch if you discount the skunked bottle. But that's kind of a cop-out so I'll give your the general consensus below.

1. Middle Ages Imperial Pale Ale - The only one that came up a unanimous "Can't get enough" - even though, at 9.0%, you probably could. We loved this brew from Middle Ages and hope they'll bring it back.

~The next three were neck and neck and neck (a bit of a bottleneck, if you will) but roughly fell out like this:

2. Burning River Pale Ale from Great Lakes - a terrific, full-flavored pale.

3. Live Bottle Conditioned Pale Ale from Southern Tier - A neat concept that pays off in a tasty brew.

4. Doggie Style Pale Ale  from Flying Dog - One bad bottle don't spoil the whole pack - to paraphrase The Jackson Five

5. Headwater Pale Ale  from Victory - A nicely hopped pale - Victory is always a winner

6. Stranger American Pale Ale from Left Hand - Not as hoppy as the others, but good. Really liked their Nitro Milk Stout - tastes like you think a Guinness should.

7. Dirty Blonde Pale Ale - Adirondack Brewing - A nice session beer - more taste than one would expect from a wheat.

FOLLOWERS MEETING: FUN, FOOD, MUSIC AND, YES, BEER

Back in June we had our annual "followers" meeting. This is basically an excuse for a good time where we send out an open invitation to all who may read this blog and are close enough to come. We had a nice turnout this year. Played a round of "Captain and Mate" golf on a pleasant Saturday followed by some great food at Herb and Pat's place in Port Ontario. Lots of good music from the BC3 and, as you might guess, some terrific beer. 

Besides a firkin of Middle Ages Old Marcus Ale (which was pretty firkin good), we had numerous craft beers from a wide range of breweries. A good time was had by all. 

Join us next year.

CRAFT BEER SPOTTING

Product placement has been around for years, and Budweiser has been one of the most prominent purveyors of this type of sneaky advertising. For those of you unfamiliar with the concept, product placement is when a company pays a movie or TV show producer to prominently feature their product in the production. Consider over the years how many times you've seen a character sipping a Bud in a movie or TV show. It's a nice bit of extra revenue for the producers in exchange for exposure for the product without the cost of producing an ad. Budweiser has so dominated the beer product placement over the years that I like to see it when some other beer (particularly a craft beer) gains exposure in this manner. Here's my latest. Check out the clip below from True Blood.

Previously in the episode, Terry, an ex-marine recently back from Iraq and suffering from PTSD, is asked by his cousin, Andy Bellefleur, what beer he could bring him. Terry responds, "Raging Bitch IPA. It's the only American beer European soldiers could stand to drink over there." 

According to Flying Dog Brewery this was not a paid product placement. The writers (many of whom are craft beer fans) worked the beer in organically to the script. 

As a fan of True Blood I've noticed that the bar, Merlotte's has a number of craft beers on tap, especially Abita, which makes sense since it takes place in New Orleans.

Let us know of any Craft Beer Spottings in movies and TV. We'll throw them on the blog and try to get clips as well.

Up next: Monster Beers - beers with beastly, ghostly or otherwise eerie names. It's our Halloween special.

Sláinte,

The BOTB Guys

Beer in Cans

Can a Brewery "Jump the shark"?

On September 20, 1977, the TV show Happy Days presented it's fifth season premier with an episode entitled Hollywood: Part 3. In it, the wildly popular character known as The Fonz, played by Henry Winkler, on water skis and wearing swim trunks and his iconic leather jacket, jumped over a captive shark. This bizarre episode, for many, marked the point at which the Happy Days writers had gone over the top and run out of fresh ideas that adhered to the show's core concept of a tongue-in-cheek nostalgic take on '50's era teen and family life. To some, The Fonze, initially a secondary (or even tertiary) character, had officially hijacked the show (something that,
let's face it, happened long before that episode). Since then, the term "jumping the shark" has come to refer to the point in any series where the writers have seemed to run out of new ideas and over reach with over-the-top situations.

So I got thinking (always a dangerous proposition) can a brewery jump the shark?  Can a brewery, in an attempt to constantly come up with new and different styles of beer move too far from what makes beer beer? Consider all the various additives cropping up in craft beers; blueberry, raspberry, cherry, apricot, chicory, ginger, maple, juniper, tea, grapes, orange, lemon, lime, coriander, honey, chamomile, doum-palm fruit, raisins, currents, vanilla, pumpkin, nutmeg, chocolate, coffee - to name a few. So is there a point at which the brew is no longer a beer? I have tried a number of these strange brews because I tend to have an adventurous palate. The results have been varied, ranging from "surprisingly good" to "noble effort" to "really?" I had a raspberry beer once that tasted more like a soft drink than a beer. I do not want a brew that has lost its basic "beer-ness." If the flavor enhances the beer, plays delicately in the background, teasing the tongue tantalizingly, as it were, in support of the main characters, Hops and Malt, then I generally can enjoy the beer. But if the additives overpower the beer, I'm one-and-done with that brew.

So can a brewer "jump the shark"? Nah! Let's face it, the guys that go into craft brewing are risk takers and rule breakers. We wouldn't want them any other way.

Yes You Can Can

In an earlier post, I speculated about sometime doing a "craft beer in cans" BOTB tasting. At the time there were not a lot of craft beers in cans out there so we would have been limited to Oscar Blues' lineup (albeit a very tasty lineup) and a few scattered lagers and pales. While there were some other fine breweries out there that were can-only productions, availability was an issue. Then suddenly craft brewers around the country began to can - at least their flagship beers if not their entire lineup. As I mentioned in that earlier post, cans keep out beer's age-old enemies, light and air,

far better than bottles. Cans are lighter, therefore easier to transport, and their shape and size make them much easier to store. Cans are almost universally recyclable. And the old fear that beer in cans takes on a metallic taste from the cans has long been conquered with the introduction of a polymer lining that coats the inside of all beer cans. Metal never comes in contact with beer. But bottles hold a certain elan. There is a kind of primal satisfaction to opening a bottle of beer (with an opener, not twist-off) that's not quite there with a can. But putting that aside, just how tasty is that beer in that can? We intended to find out.

Down a man, we've carried on before - because we are a dedicated group, and mostly because we are beer lovers and a social group. for this club meeting,we were down two members, which made for completely uncharted territory. We soldiered on (sans the input of Hal and Gerry). We were on a mission. Yes, beer stays fresher longer in cans. But are there some really good beers out there in cans? If so, let's try them and rate them.

To begin, we got a little gift from the good folks at the Boston Beer Company: several 2-can packs of Samuel Adams Boston Lager for us to sample. Sam Adams has been very generous to us in the past and we're always happy to review their products. Each 2- pack had a new Sam Can of Samuel Adams Lager and a can of Samuel Adams Lager in a traditional beer can. We didn't review the beer itself, just the new Sam Can vs. the traditional can. Here are the key differences between the two according to the company:

     -The wider lid allows for more air flow into your mouth

     -The can opening is slightly further from the edge of the lid, closer to your nose

     -The extended lip places beer at the front of your tongue

The can was in two years of development. Just eyeballing it, the modifications are so subtle that it's difficult to see any difference. Most noticeable is the flare at the top when viewed from the side. But, as you can see in the photo below, the distance from opening to edge is noticeably further with the Sam Can on the left.

Anyhow, here are our observations and random musings:

     ~ It is much better than drinking from a bottle

     ~They made changes that weren't earth-shaking but were worthwhile for drinking from a can

     ~You take a swig from one then from the other, you do get a little more of a full flavor. I think.

     ~Nice design (the graphics)

     ~Wow! You know you are dealing with some real beer nerds (and I mean that as a compliment) when they take two years of research and development to design a can as subtly different as this.

     ~Difference between a craft brewer and a mega brewer: the mega brew designs cans and bottles to let you know when the beer is cold enough so that you can't taste anything, Sam Adams designs cans to deliver as much flavor as possible.

     ~How about having the whole inner top come off to reveal a metal "glass"?

We were glad to see Sam in a can; like the design. Would really like to Latitude 48 in a can next. Thanks Sam.

Irish Beer Discovery Pack

While Guinness is a far cry from a craft brewery, our focus was on beer in cans and Guinness has broken a packaging paradigm as well with an innovative 8-pack which contains a mix of their most popular brews - Smithwick's Irish Ale, Guinness Black Lager and Guinness Draught - along with their newest beer, Smithwick's Pale Ale. The box contains two each of the four brews. Each can is 14.9 oz. We liked the 8-pack idea. I mean, really, what's not to like about more beer? We decided to include the newest member of the Guinness family, the pale ale, in our taste test.

Smithwick's Pale Ale

Smithwick's, St. Francis Abbey Brewery, Kilkenny, Ireland

The Beer Facts: Smithwick's is owned by Guinness; STYLE: English Pale Ale; ABV: 4.5%; MALT: Pale Ale Malt; HOPS: Amarillo: YEAST: Smithwick's Yeast

What the Brewer Says: "The newest addition to the Smithwick's range, Smithwick's Pale Ale is a quality beer with a fuller taste, craft brewed with the finest ingredients."

Color: Pale yellow

Pour: Decent head - though not Guinness porportions

Aroma: British yeast aroma, hint of banana

Body: Medium

Taste: Fairly balanced, more malty than hoppy, as you might expect - a good Irish beer, with notes of malt and nuts.

Overall Impression: "I could drink this"

Comments: "It's a nice pale ale; Surprised at the low ABV, makes a good session beer; It has a little hop kick to it; I like it better than regular Smithwick's; Tastes smooth and clean; It's a pale ale - it's not bad; 8-packs, a great idea; I like the can design."

Green Monsta IPA

Wachusetts Brewing Co., Westminster, MA

The Beer Facts: STYLE: India Pale Ale; ABV: 6.0%; IBUs: 55; MALT: Caramel 40, Caramel 80, Bondlander Munich, Rye and American two-row; HOPS: Cascade, Amarillo, Centennial.

What the Brewer Says: "An All-American yeast teams up with Cascade, Amarillo and Centennial for a homerun of hops in every sip."

Color: Unfiltered honey / apricot

Pour: Little better than decent head

Aroma: Between neutral and hoppy. There is a bit of a hops nose to it

Body: Medium

Taste: Towards the bitter / hoppy side of balanced. There are notes of pine and grapefruit.

Overall Impression: Enthusiastic "Can't get enough!"

Comments: "Even a non-Red Sox fan can't help falling in love with this beer!; It has a nice, bitter bite; A great beer for sitting back to watch a baseball game; Quite drinkable; I'd never had it before, but won't hesitate to have it again; Decent malt backbone."

Snapperhead IPA

Butternuts Beer and Ale, Garrattsville, NY

The Beer Facts: STYLE: India Pale Ale; ABV: 6.8%; IBUs: NA; MALT: 2-row barley, cara-malt; HOPS: Whole leaf

What the Brewer Says: "Our India Pale Ale packs typical IPA balls but strikes a better balance between dryness and drinkability. It's every bit as rich but a little less bitter than other American interpretations of the breed, and here's why. We are smarter, better-looking brew masters."

SIDE NOTE: Their web site is one of the more entertaining ones out there. Worth a visit: www.butternutsbeerandale.com It's got a kind of Monty Python vibe to it.

Color: Unfiltered honey / apricot

Pour: Decent light tan head

Aroma: Neutral

Body: Medium

Taste: Balanced, particularly for an IPA. Not a strong hops presence, but there are notes of malt and caramel.

Overall Impression: "I could drink this."

Comments: "This is a far cry from what they used to produce - much better; I like it; They keep the price down on this as well; It would make a good session beer; It's a real easy-to-drink beer; It tastes more like a pale ale than an IPA; It's a bit water for an IPA; It reminds me of Founder's All Day IPA."

Brew Free or Die IPA

21st Amendment Brewery, San Francisco, CA

The Beer Facts: STYLE: India Pale Ale; ABV: 7.0%; IBUs: 70; MALT: Two-Row and imported Munich; HOPS: Columbus, Cascade, Warrior; YEAST: Top Fermenting Ale Yeast.

What the Brewer Says: "Brew Free or Die IPA is brewed with some serious West Coast attitude. This aromatic golden IPA starts with a sucker punch of six different hops to the nose, quickly balanced by a solid malt backbone. Our top selling beer at the pub, this IPA starts big and finished clean leaving you wanting more."

Color: Cloudy honey

Pour: Decent head

Aroma: Nice hops nose

Body: Between Medium and Full

Taste: Towards the bitter (and a nice bitter finish), with notes of nuts, grapefruit and pine.

Overall Impressions: "Can't Get Enough!"

Comments: "It's good - very good; Nice finish; It's an interesting label, busy and political; Nice after-taste; When I buy an IPA, this is what I want to taste; A fabulous beer; If someone twisted my arm and said this is what I have to buy, I wouldn't feel bad; A nice West Coast IPA."

Snake Dog IPA

Flying Dog Brewery, Frederick, MD

The Beer Facts: STYLE: India Pale Ale; ABV: 7.1%; IBUs: 60; MALTS: 60L Crystal; HOPS: Warrior, Columbus; YEAST: American Ale

What the Brewer Says: "Big citrus (notably grapefruit) hop aroma and flavor with caramel malt notes."

Color: Buckwheat honey colored

Pour: A near Guinness head

Aroma: Pretty neutral. Slight hops and malt nose.

Body: Medium

Taste: Fairly balanced, with notes of nuts, grapefruit and caramel

Overall Impression: Just shy of "Can't get enough."

Comments: "A good East Coast IPA; Really interesting and busy can design; This has a nice malt backbone; It's a dangerous beer - it doesn't taste as big as it is; A 'nice' big beer; It's a relatively big beer without being over-the-top."

Loose CANnon

Heavy Seas Beer, Halethorpe, MD

The Beer Facts: STYLE: American India Pale Ale; ABV: 7.25%; IBUs: 45; MALT: 2-Row, Munich, Caramalt; HOPS: Warrior, Simcoe, Palisade, Centennial, Cascade, Citra; HOPS NOTE: Referred to in the packaging as "Hop3." There are 3 pounds of hops per barrel. Also the hops are introduced in three ways: kettle, the hop back, then dry hopped. We reviewed this beer in 2011 when we looked at "boat beers." It was not in a can then.

What the Brewer Says: "Our flagship beer, Loose CANnon is finally available in cans! It is a most fragrant IPA - its nose bursts with notes of grapefruit, herbs and pine. A floral quality that pervades the taste. The color is burnished gold, and the mouth-feel is creamy."

Color: Wheat

Pour: Decent head with nice lacing

Aroma: Hoppy - grapefruit and other fruity hop n otes

Body: Medium

Taste: Leans to the hoppy, with notes of caramel and slight grapefruit - though not as much as the aroma would lead you to believe.

Overall Impression: "Can't Get Enough!"

Comments: "There's a spiciness to this; It's not the IBUs, but when they're introduced; Simcoe gives a real nice spicy taste that separates it from some of the others; It's a nice summer IPA - tasty and drinkable."

3 Beans

Six Point Brewery, Brooklyn, NY

The Beer Facts: STYLE: Unspecified; ABV: 10%; IBUs: 85; SRM: 31; MALT and HOPS: Information unavailable; EXTRAS: Romano Beans, Cacao Beans, Coffee Beans.

What the Brewer Says: "As the culture of beer spread around the globe, diverse new brewing styles emerged. When the brewers of old Baltic Europe riffed on a popular foreign style, they formulated new recipes by harnessing familiar techniques and locally available ingredients. 3 Bean is Sixpoint's tribute to those bygone brewers: a rich, oak-aged brew with our own additions of chocolate and coffee."

Color: Black coffee

Pour: Decent off-white or almond head.

Aroma: Coffee

Body: Full

Taste: Sweet, with notes of malt, nuts, toffee, heavily of coffee, a little chocolate and caramel with a dark chocolate bitter bite.

Overall Impression: "Can't Get Enough!"

Comments: "WOW - that is a beer!; It tastes like a good dessert beer; Maybe of brandy; Sweet but with a bitter bite; It slaps you up side the head; A great after dinner drink; It's a well designed beer; It's a 'huge' beer; It's sweet, but deceptive; This is amazing."

Newcastle Brown Ale - 5 liter can

Owned by Heineken, brewed at John Smith's Brewery

Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, England

Just as we were about to call it a day, having diligently tasted and rated no less than eight beers, Dan came up with one more canning variation - a 5 liter can of Newcastle Brown Ale The apparent influence of owner Heineken can be seen as the 5 liter can is similar to the ones Heineken has been using for the last few years. The beer inside, however, is far superior.

The Beer Facts: STYLE: Brown Ale; ABV: 4.70%

What the Brewer Says: "Newcastle - no bollocks."

Color: Dark copper

Pour: Better than decent head with good lacing

Aroma: Banana (British yeast)

Body: Between medium and full

Taste: Sweet, with notes of bread, nuts and yeast

Overall Impression: "I could drink this."

Comments: "This 5-liter can is so much better than their clear glass bottles; Those clear bottles are their biggest problem - I've had some that has that skunky aroma and taste - there's none of that here; It has a nice draft taste; It's a good value for the price; It's a good draft; Before the craft beer movement, I used to always look for this at a bar."

And we were all still standing! More or less.

Who won the battle of the cans?
-Pretty close call between Green Monsta IPA and Brew Free of Die IPA, with Loose CANnon right in the mix.
-We found 3 Bean an outstanding beer, but at 10% ABV it's not exactly the one beer to have when you're having more than one (a reference for those of you old enough to remember Schaefer beer ads). But what a terrific sippin' beer.
-Snake Dog fared well.
-Snapperhead is a nice session beer, though we felt it more of a pale ale than an IPA.
-Smithwick's Pale Ale makes a nice addition to the Guinness family.
-Newcastle Brown Ale is far superior when canned vs. the clear glass bottles and the 5 liter can is a neat idea.
-We liked the Sam Cans and the way Samuel Adams continues to find ways to bring out the flavor of their beers vs. trying to hide a lack of flavor ala the mega-brews. Would still love to see that Latitude 48 in a Sam Can.

Next month - American Pale Ales

Sláinte,
The BOTB Guys