tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73569850651004130812024-03-05T15:43:16.742-07:00macs beer worldA Blog about Mac's worldly adventures in the era of drinking and brewing Craft Beer.machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16031392914907722301noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356985065100413081.post-37292057749870098082011-08-22T21:15:00.010-06:002011-08-22T22:09:47.988-06:00The Best Beer Weekend I have Ever HadTwo weekends ago I got the amazing opportunity to volunteer at the Craft Lager Fest in Manitou Springs. As a volunteer I was rewarded with a free ticket to use either of the days I chose to go. Through this volunteering I had one of the best beer experiences since I got into craft beer. Rebecca and I chose to volunteer on Sunday and attend as a drinker on Saturday. <br />
DAY ONE<br />
We met our friends the Cornells about eleven in the morning to find that their daughter Amy and her Husband had driven up from Vegas the night before to join us at the Lager Fest. We entered the fest at noon and had the place all to ourselves and the other VIPs for about an hour. I t really pays to go to these early so that you can enjoy the beer before it really gets busy. We got to hit every tent before the big rush came in. By about 2:00 there were about 200 people, by 400 there were about 700. Get there early.<br />
Even though it was a "lager" fest the beer selection was pretty damn good. They had a good representation form around Colorado. During my first round, when I was keeping track, I tasted:<br />
<br />
Sam Adams-East West Kolsch, Carvers-Raspberry Wheat and X-Rock Bock and La Platte Pilsner, Bierworks-Munich Dunkel and Helles, Colorado Mountain-Unibrau Hefeweisen, Odell-Kolsch and St Lupelin, Rock Bottom-Warning Sign Eisbock and Goat Toppler, Schmaltz-Blockhead and Albino Python and Lager, Annheiser Bush-Wild Blue and Alexander Keith's, Firestone-Double Barrel IPA and Summer Solace, Lost Rhino-Chaser Pilsner, Pikes Peak-Mild Porter, New Belgium-1554 and Lips of Faith, Trinity-Kinky Reggae and Sunna Wit, Dillon Dam-Montezuma Marzen, Pug Ryans-Morningwood Wheat and Pali Pilsner, New Planet-Pale Ale, Full Sail-Session Ales Black Lager, Avery-Joe Pilsner, Rocky Mountain-Pilsner, Durango-Dark Lager and Blackberry Wheat....<br />
<br />
The best beers of the day came from of course Odell, which has always been a favorite but I am now getting a new found thrill from their beer, Firestone Double Barrel was phenomenal, maybe the best beer of the day, and Blockhead form Schmaltz. I only had one or tow beers that I would never try again but for the most part it was a top notch selection.We spent the rest of the day eating and drinking and have a great time together. Good Friends, Good Food, and Great beer makes a great day. <br />
<br />
DAY TWO:<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Nest morning we were volunteers. We volunteered for the Brew Crew. This entailed helping the brewers setup, pouring and manning tents, and helping out in any way we could. The morning was neat cause we just walked around and talked to the brewers with not a lot to do. Then Rebecca and I were stationed at the Avery tent for the day. It was a freaking blast. I thought that it was even better than Saturday. I was able to talk to all the patrons and talk about beer all day. I was able to taste beers all day. It was just all around cool. Some highlights of the day included pouring for Schmalts brewery for a while and trying their new release Oak Aged Blockhead. They did not have it the day before and it was un-real. It was so good. Dillon Dam also brought in a specialty DoppelBock that they hid behind the tent and Chris and I only got to taste because we had helped them move their stuff in that morning. I had about three glasses and it was AWESOME!. It is all about who you know. Just those two beers made the day worth it. At the end of the day we got our real treat. We poured and drank beer all day and just had a fantastic time. Then came the pivotal moment of our beer journey. As Chris and I were helping shut down the brewers we started to get offered their left over beers. And got offered more beers. And got offered more beers. We left with nearly two hundred beers. Yes two hundred beers. It was a great end to one of the greatest beer days EVER. I will now volunteer at every beer festival I can. Huzzah!!</div></div><embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F112952602233739886806%2Falbumid%2F5643886208812985681%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed>machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16031392914907722301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356985065100413081.post-86105502530291351242011-08-07T19:56:00.000-06:002011-08-07T19:56:36.405-06:00DunkelweizenWhat great night I had last night. I went to my fellow craft beer enthusiast, Chis Connell's house and ate some great ribs and enjoyed some great beer. I love getting together with Chris cause we can sit and discuss the finer points of craft beer and enjoy some good old fashion family time as well. Before dinner we imbibed in a few amber wheat beers Chris had picked up at Trader Joe's while he was in Albuquerque. It was a decent sipping beer that went well with the cool weather we had last night. I would recommend trying other Dunkels before making this your go to dark wheat, but it was a nice beer that went well with the weather and company.<br />
<br />
Joseph's Brau Brewing Co<br />
San Jose, CA<br />
Dunkelweizen<br />
Amber Unfiltered Wheat Beer<br />
12flo. oz Bottle<br />
5.2 % ABV<br />
18 IBU<br />
<br />
Color-------------Deep dark amber brown<br />
Head------------Fluffy head with little to no lacing<br />
Boutique-----7--Faint peach esters with the yeast strong and very present, Citrusy<br />
Body--------7---Good Carbonation with a decent mouth feel, not as heavy as I would have liked<br />
Bite---------7----A good balance of flavors, not overpowering but a little airy<br />
Hops-------7----Very mild hop character, not very balanced, needs a hop infusion to balance out the citrusy wheat flavors<br />
Taste------7----good flavor, not overpowering but lacking the flavors that make a great dark wheat<br />
Aftertaste---7---Not to dry, refreshing, but I wasn't clamouring to get to my next sip.<br />
<br />
Tasted 8/6/11 42 out of 60 points A fare beer.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span id="goog_1612691724"></span><span id="goog_1612691725"></span></div>machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16031392914907722301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356985065100413081.post-52142266682628945172011-08-04T10:29:00.000-06:002011-08-04T10:29:53.451-06:00The Manitou Springs Craft Lager FestAugust 13th and 14th. Calling all beer drinkers, the craft lager fest is coming to downtown Manitou Springs. <br />
I will be volunteering on the 14th. I am really looking forward to learning more about lagers and talking to brewers from all over. There are going to be brewers and vendors from all over. I have been told that there will even be a distiller on premise. <br />
I have found that the best way to join beer fests is to volunteer. I am receiving a free ticket for the Saturday event and all I have to do is help setup and pour beer on Sunday. <br />
So get some rest and come drink some beer. Huzzah!!! <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><cite>www.<b>craftlagerfestival</b>.com</cite></div>machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16031392914907722301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356985065100413081.post-54968717926591823032011-07-28T09:47:00.001-06:002011-07-28T09:48:56.400-06:00Volunteering is Awesome: You get to drink beer and look a pretty ladies<u><b>The Colorado Springs Beer Fest</b></u><br />
<br />
What a fantastic day I had yesterday. I got the opportunity to volunteer at the Colorado Springs Beer Festival and get free entry to the days events. It was a real neat day.<br />
I started the day off at 10:00 schlepping beer vendors material into the event site. I spent most of the morning with the rep from Boston Beer Company, hauling his beer to the very back of the park. He was a real stand up guy and I got a free six pack of the Blackberry Witbier for my troubles. It was a pretty good start to the day. As a volunteer we were expected to help out in any way we could and they would take care of us throughout the day. They started by giving us all shirts, lunch, and water all day. A pretty good bargain seeing as how I was just there to learn about beer and try to get in the festival for free.<br />
My duty for the morning was to pour beer at the Newcastle table. They have a summer seasonal out called Newcastle Summer Ale, which is not bad, and I poured that all morning. It was a top beer. I was pouring non stop while my partner pouring the Brown Ale did not get many takers. After a couple of hours of flirting with pretty women, doing most of the work and just having a plain good ol time, I was given my reprieve.<br />
<br />
I headed out into the heart of the beer festival. I hit every tent that served good craft beer. It was great fun and some great beer. The only issue I had with the fest is that it seemed to have mostly distributors and not actual brewers manning the tents. As I said earlier I was serving Newcastle and I certainly dont work for them. They had a tent serving Stone Ruination IPA but no-one from stone beer. If you were there just to taste it would have been great, but those of us who are hop heads and love talking beer it was a bit of a let down when you asked "So tell me about the hops or malts you use," and the guy pouring says "man I just drive the stuff around." Maybe next year they can get some more brewery participation. <br />
But overall it was a great tasting experience. I tasted:<br />
Sierra Nevada--Juniper Ale, Barley Wine, and SUmmer camp series Beers--They were awesome, see below<br />
TommyKnocker--Black IPA--- It was great<br />
Del Norte--Amber Lager---Ehh<br />
Bristol Brewing--Beehive Honey-wheat---Nothing Special<br />
Stone Brewing---Ruination IPA--Amazing<br />
Biwerworks---Wiesbier--Incredible--The brewer was present and they talked a good game<br />
Lefthand Brewing--Stranger Pale ALe-- Not bad<br />
Odell---IPA--Always a good beer<br />
Boulder Beer--Buffalo GOld--Take it or Leave it Nothing Special<br />
Colorado Mountain Brewing--Panther IPA--A decently hopped IPA<br />
Rock Bottom--Malt Liqour-Silver Bullet--Ehh<br />
Newcastle- Brown Ale, SUmmer Ale- Both were very Tasty<br />
<br />
I tried a few more but they got lost in the shuffle.<br />
<br />
My best experience of the day was talking to the people at Sierra Nevada. They of course make Torpedo, which is the McDowell House beer. I love it. We got to talking about home brew and thier beer, what htye are coming out with soon, the summer camop series, we just sat and talked for a couple of minutes and it was awesome. This is what craft beer is all about. I even got to leave with one of thier brewery signs. They were great spokemen and great beer people. They made the day for me.<br />
<br />
It was a great day of beer and I cant wait for the next one. The Manitou Springs Lager Fest is just around the corner and I hope to Volunteer again. I think volunteering to drink beer all day is not a bad career move. Huzzah!!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9Xm7qALeXYyfPyX6jDVYMoCfWnfpK1kly6EgNgIqGabDDzcJPKF-xhNwx4fXeyrxIuk_BXPRlyBBdBA6-k8wESmstNm1jxVUN7VU-3LtXeGDhoHFYrRHLMrIkRI7-OP_1_e6HcBe8ZDO/s1600/Rebecca+Pictures+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9Xm7qALeXYyfPyX6jDVYMoCfWnfpK1kly6EgNgIqGabDDzcJPKF-xhNwx4fXeyrxIuk_BXPRlyBBdBA6-k8wESmstNm1jxVUN7VU-3LtXeGDhoHFYrRHLMrIkRI7-OP_1_e6HcBe8ZDO/s320/Rebecca+Pictures+020.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some Schwag I got from the Beer Fest</td></tr>
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</div>machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16031392914907722301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356985065100413081.post-30660727990417908612011-07-17T21:38:00.000-06:002011-07-17T21:38:54.637-06:00God Damn I love IPA--Widmers Bros Nelson Imperial IPAI know that there is a God because we have IPA's. I never get tired of a good IPA. I am rarely surprised by them as well. It is a special day when I find an IPA that I have not tatsted and then it blows my freakin mind. This is what happened when I tried the Nelson Imperial. I almost fell off my stool when it hit my lips. I tasted this beer the night of my 1 year anniversary. Besdies the my nightcap with my wife, wink-wink, this was the most memorable part of my night. It was powerful. It was hoppy. It was IMPERIAL. I love this beer. Oh yeah by the way I had it at the Yard House, my Denver beer Mecca. Thank you Yard House!! Huzzah!<br />
<br />
Widmer Brothers Brewing Co.<br />
Portland Oregon<br />
Nelson Imperial IPA<br />
Draft Beer<br />
8.6% ABV<br />
<br />
Color-----------------Deep Deep Copper. A great dark IPA color<br />
Head------------------Heavy but fluffy. Great lacing all the way through the beer.<br />
Boutique------10------Super floral and hoppy esters. A very earthy tone. It smelled amazing.<br />
Body----------9-------Heavy. Mouthfeel was great. Notes of bourbon.<br />
Bite-----------9-------Puckering hoppiness and bite. Very dry.<br />
Hops---------10------Massive HOPS. New Zealand Nelson Sauvin hops. Berry flaovors.AWESOME!!<br />
Taste---------10-------One of the best IPA's Ive Ever had. Delicious.<br />
Aftertaste-----9--------Dry and refreshing. Lingered for a long while. Went back to the beer immediately.<br />
<br />
Score-: 57 of 60 points An<u> iconic</u> beer.<br />
Tasted 7-10-11<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TXXJPcyHTt2DtVDmDNe9piny5NCNxvu4ZMk-k8DhU3yDdl-fcyJMGHMvv_y4qXTgyQLXrqkQpaK21i6CrHQYvc-tAvq6Oagc5oarRURw9D8tPS3HJ37cRzR503IDtMwiUxoyNe5x3WKf/s1600/Anniversary+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TXXJPcyHTt2DtVDmDNe9piny5NCNxvu4ZMk-k8DhU3yDdl-fcyJMGHMvv_y4qXTgyQLXrqkQpaK21i6CrHQYvc-tAvq6Oagc5oarRURw9D8tPS3HJ37cRzR503IDtMwiUxoyNe5x3WKf/s320/Anniversary+015.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div>machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16031392914907722301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356985065100413081.post-39616135015461761332011-07-17T20:06:00.003-06:002011-07-17T20:07:32.698-06:00I'm not a Nitwit but I like drinking them!Since my foray into Belgian beers last week I have been dreaming about trying another style. I got my chance this week at BJ's Brewhouse and Restaurant. I was there for my friend, and brew partner, Adam's rehearsal dinner. When ordering drinks I was told that they had just tapped a keg of their Belgian wheat a few days prior. I was sold in a second. The beer is named Nitwit Belgian Wheat. It was a really good wheat beer with the Belgian esters from their special Belgian yeast. It was a good showing.<br />
<br />
BJ's Brewhouse and Restaurant<br />
Colorado Springs, CO<br />
Nit Wit Belgian Wheat<br />
<br />
Color---------------------Golden <br />
Head---------------------soft with good lacing throughout the beer<br />
Boutique-----8-----------Floral esters with major hints of Belgian yeast<br />
Body-----------8--------Good mouth feel. Puckery with a dry finish<br />
Bite------------8---------A good balanced tangy bite<br />
Hops----------8---------Balanced flavoring. Good use of hops for a wheat.<br />
Taste----------8---------A great wheaty taste. The Belgian yeast makes this stand out form other wheats.<br />
Aftertaste-----6----------Dry. But really no lingering aftertaste. Did not keep me craving for more.<br />
<br />
46 out of 60 A good beer<br />
Tasted 7-14-11machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16031392914907722301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356985065100413081.post-14404978901717779072011-07-17T19:49:00.002-06:002011-07-17T19:51:31.284-06:00Skyline Brewing- Hoppily Ever After IPA--Thats My Boy Blue!A pretty damn good beer. This is a beer from my good friend Adam Jefferies home brew stash. He brewed the beer for his wedding and I got a bottle. I pays to know people. Adam has been brewing for the last year and has quickly become quite a brewer. I have yet to taste a bad beer from his kitchen. <br />
This was his first foray into the hoppyland of IPA's. As you know this is my favorite style and I was looking forward to give this one a try. The beer wa great. It got a really high score for a homebrew. It was hoppy and delicous. I always want more hops though. Very goo showing. I'm proud to say that I have tasted this beer of all his beers. I'm a hoppy man. Kudos Adam to the land of IPA and congrats on the nuptials. Huzzah!<br />
<br />
Skyline Brewing <br />
Pueblo West, CO<br />
Hoppily Ever After IPA- Skyla and Adam Wedding Beer<br />
12oz Bottle<br />
7.5% ABV<br />
<br />
Color----------------------Burnt Copper. A good solid dark IPA color.<br />
Head----------------------Fluffy head that quickly breaks into choppy peaks. No lacing as you drink.<br />
Boutique--------8---------Piney floral esters. Homebrew yeast esters come through.<br />
Body------------8--------Balanced mouth feel. Good carbonation with warm alcohol body.<br />
Bite-------------8---------Alcohol bite with great bittering. <br />
Hops-----------7---------Good use of hops. Very balanced hoppiness throughout. <br />
Taste-----------9---------Well done IPA with taste of the hombrew yeast. A great IPA<br />
Aftertaste------7----------A good finish but need to be a little dryer to keep you coming back. <br />
<br />
47 out of 60 A good beer<br />
Tasted 7-15-11<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wtvZTzI4cFiU7lxGx013Nt9un_QnLAly6PkeLeLuzYIKshhyVAbEjnuk7QYuDNnLmF-u7hGeaZa04VqCnHFXSbD-aG_X7WdKyr6FB7IUfuLSRoY4Skv1iaQWhyur24ZR_lqT-tx7bl2-/s1600/TAH+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wtvZTzI4cFiU7lxGx013Nt9un_QnLAly6PkeLeLuzYIKshhyVAbEjnuk7QYuDNnLmF-u7hGeaZa04VqCnHFXSbD-aG_X7WdKyr6FB7IUfuLSRoY4Skv1iaQWhyur24ZR_lqT-tx7bl2-/s320/TAH+003.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16031392914907722301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356985065100413081.post-34898653624273422002011-07-17T19:29:00.001-06:002011-07-17T19:29:06.044-06:00A Wonderful Lambic SurpriseI tasted this beer at the amazing Yardhouse in Denver. I walked in the bar and asked Jim the barkeep to surprise me with his most unusual beer. This is what he brought me. I have had this beer years ago but had never journaled it. It was absolutely delicious. I don't drink lambics very often at all but will probably pick one of these up again in a couple of weeks. If you have never had a lambic, this is a great one to start with.<br />
<br />
Lindemans Framboise<br />
Lindemans Brewery<br />
Vlezenbeek Belgium<br />
Style-Raspberry Lambic<br />
Made with airborne yeast and raspberries<br />
<br />
Color------------------------Rose<br />
Head------------------------A fluffy full head that has hints of the rose color that is just amazing<br />
Boutique-------9-------------A startling mixture of yeast and raspberries that knocks you out of your seat<br />
Body-----------8------------A Great Mouth feel that is heavy but very carbonated<br />
Bite------------8------------A strong raspberry taste but well balanced against the flavor<br />
Hops----------7------------Very little sense of hops in the beer b/c of the raspberries but well balanced<br />
Taste----------9------------The raspberries are so tasty. A great taste. Very sweet.<br />
Aftertaste------9-----------Very dry aftertaste that makes you want to constantly drink this beer. I drank it very quickly<br />
<br />
Points 50 of 60 A great beer<br />
Tasted 7-10-11<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SxYcD8gY3yGK-KvFHKoxhaKQvhwoi0yNw4NdKAW-5wItgFa-VsmUdBAzDWc1ed8Yxg9wCZ3URvhmLkXqsbRZBcYI5m_p-igt-mV1rGOtx7CWLF_rBl_d1nQ6LhDf30ONzEI0aQtWmuRS/s1600/Anniversary+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SxYcD8gY3yGK-KvFHKoxhaKQvhwoi0yNw4NdKAW-5wItgFa-VsmUdBAzDWc1ed8Yxg9wCZ3URvhmLkXqsbRZBcYI5m_p-igt-mV1rGOtx7CWLF_rBl_d1nQ6LhDf30ONzEI0aQtWmuRS/s320/Anniversary+012.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div>machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16031392914907722301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356985065100413081.post-63075127633098731992011-07-12T14:27:00.001-06:002011-07-12T14:29:30.668-06:00I have been to Heaven and its called The Yard HouseI have gone to heaven and I did not see St. Peter and the Pearly gates, but a bar with 136 tap handles. For my one year anniversary I went to Denver and walked around downtown Denver window shopping and enjoying beer at several places all around the LODO area. Then I found my Mecca. We turned a corner on 16th street and found The Yard House. This is an amazing bar. They pride themselves as having as many craft beers on tap as they can. And boy do they. The night that we went they had 136 beers on tap. Of which I had tried 56 of in the past. That left me 80 brand new beers to choose from. It almost could not decide.<br />
<br />
The staff at the bar was phenomenal. It had a great atmosphere. Great music. A clean restaurant and courteous staff that was there to serve you. I was served by two great barkeeps, yes I went back another time later that night, Jim and R.J. These two guys were so comfortable talking about craft beer that it was as if we were friends for years. They walked me through each beer i tasted and made several suggestions of tastings. As I sat and took notes on each beer, which usually gets funny looks from non-beer geeks, these two guys knew what I was doing and gave me some background information to add to my journal. It is a real treat to have two barkeeps as enthusiastic about beer as I am. It made my experience all the more better.<br />
<br />
Overall this was one of the best beer experiences that I have had. It was an 11 out of 10. If you are in the neighborhood you have to stop by. Ask for Jim or RJ. <br />
<br />
I will post the notes from each of my tastings overt the next several days including a terrific IPA, an off the charts good raspberry Lambic and a Belgian beer tour I did in which I tasted six of the finest Belgian beers I have ever had, and they were all on tap. Huzzah!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small amount of the taps at the Yard House!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Infamous Yard House! I want my ashes spread here.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center"></div>machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16031392914907722301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356985065100413081.post-87625029931832860912011-07-06T14:54:00.000-06:002011-07-06T14:54:01.001-06:00Pale Ale in a Can- And it was greatOskar Blues Brewery, LLC Longmont Colorado<br />
Dale's Pale Ale- A Rocky Mountain Pale Ale<br />
<br />
Color--------------------------Light Copper, Great Pale color<br />
Head--------------------------Little to no head from a good pour from the can, had to shake the glass, no lacing whatsoever<br />
Boutique----------------------Sweet floral, piney scents hoppy flavors 4<br />
Body-------------------------Good Mouth feel, light on the tongue but very present 6<br />
Bite---------------------------Beer had a good strong kick to it. 7<br />
Hops-------------------------A good balance of hops. Perfect for this pale ale. Good show 7<br />
Taste-------------------------Very balanced all around. The hops and body were a perfect compliment 8<br />
Aftertaste---------------------Lingering taste, but refreshing, kept me coming back for more 8<br />
<br />
Overall Score 40/60 A good Beer<br />
<br />
I am a pale Ale man to the max. This was my first style into the foray with craft beer. It is a very easy style to get involved in when experimenting with new beer styles. This is a very good Plae ale. The head was muted do to the pouring from a can. I had to rotate the glass to get the head to rise and the boutique to flow through. In later pours I poured straight down the glass to get the carbonation going ans get the flavors to move around the beer. A much better glass of beer. The boutique was very floral with piney undertones. A good Pale Ale boutique. The hops helped to balance out the crisp mouth feel and help add a dry finish. The taste was great and compared to other pale ales was a good finisher. The dry finish of the hops kept the aftertaste alive and kept me coming back for more. Overall a pleasant experience and a good beer. <br />
<br />
Tasted 7-3-11machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16031392914907722301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356985065100413081.post-87225785675549042052011-07-06T14:37:00.000-06:002011-07-06T14:37:21.439-06:00Some Unique and Iconic Beers: Give them a shotCraftsman Triple White Sage: Craftsman Brewing Company, Pasadena California- A seasonal beer only on tap, it could also be counted as rare. This is a Belgian Style Tripel brewed with sage hand picked by the brewer. 9% ABV<br />
<br />
Chipotle Ale: Rogue Ales Brewery/Brewers on the Bay, Newport Oregon- A dark hued ale brewed with chipotle peppers. Smoky and spicy and drinkable. 5.5%ABV<br />
I had this beer early on in my craft beer life and this one really turned me into the beer drinker I am today. It was so impressive and unique. The beer was actually hot and got hotter as I drank it. I was caught unaware and was duly impressed that beer could actually do this. This is a must try and if you find it drop me a line so that I can go grab one. <br />
<br />
Pangaea: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Delaware- A beer brewed with an ingredient from every continent. For example crystallized ginger from Australia, water from Antarctica, and Basmati rice from Asia. 7% ABV<br />
I have not tried this beer but if you are looking to buy me a birthday present it is in about two weeks. <br />
<br />
Chimay Tripel: Bieres de Chimay, Baileux, Belgium- The largest Trappist Belgian brewery and the most popular. This is a staple in most craft beer bars and a must have for drinkers new to the scene of craft brewing. Everyone should try this beer. 8% ABV<br />
<br />
Sierra Nevada Torpedo: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, California- The brewers of the most popular West Coast Pale Ale, have kicked this extra IPA up a notch. For years Sierra Nevada Pale Ale was my house brew, always on standby, until I stumbled across Torpedo. It is a very refreshing IPA that is loaded to the max with hops. Plus every bottle has the same great quality. I base my IPA home brew on this recipe. A must try. 6.6 ABV<br />
<br />
Guinness Original: Guinness LTD, Dublin, Ireland- When I think of good beer I think of Guinness, More people in the world love Guinness than any other beer. If you have tried it before and don't like it, keep trying it till you do. It will grow on you. There is nothing like ending a long hard day at work with a slightly chilled Guinness in a glass. 6% ABV<br />
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Samiclaus Bier: Brewery Castle Eggenberg, Eggenberg, Austria- This is a dopplebock that is brewed only once a year and aged for several months. Rum flavor, deep molasses, and dark fruit. Rebecca bought this for me a couple of years ago as a Christmas present. get it Santa Claus-Samiclaus) we laughed then I drank and it was unbelievable. A rare treat. Almost approaching a brandy type drink. It truly made me feel the Christmas Spirit. a Whopping 14% ABV<br />
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Send me any of your Unique and Iconic finds. machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16031392914907722301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356985065100413081.post-15767452209800445862011-07-02T15:43:00.002-06:002011-07-03T13:54:26.886-06:00John Harvard is a Jerk-But jerks still make beer<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">West Coast IPA</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">West Coast style IPA </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brewed by John Harvard Brew House in Cambridge, Massachusetts</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Color ----------------------- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Copper, a good IPA color</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Head-------------------------<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flat and smooth, a good pour<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Boutique-------------------- 5<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flowery with a hint of pine</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Body-------------------------6<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>light and airy mouth feel</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bite-------------------------<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>light bite that could use a heavier finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hops -----------------------5<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Light hoppiness unaware of precise hops<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Taste------------------------- 6<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall the taste was decent but nothing special</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aftertaste------------------7<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Decent lingering and savory</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overall Score<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>35/60<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A poor to fair beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The beer was served at John Harvard’s Brew House right across the street from Harvard University.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My experience did not start out as a pleasant one with very little help from the bar keep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I sat down I was asked for a drink order which prompted my usual response, “What IPA’s do you have on tap?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This question received a curt West Coast IPA, which I ordered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then asked the bar keep to come back and tell me a little bit about the beer when he had a chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He responded with the beers name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then asked for a pen and paper and more information in which he told me the beers name again while rolling his eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then decided I would have my meal and beer with another server.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I moved and enjoyed a decent chicken finger meal (I was in a hurry to go see Harvard) with my IPA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beer lived up to the service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that Harvard students aren’t drinking these weak IPA’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have my score up above and not much more needs to be said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was weak and not very hoppy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A beer that I will not have again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Better luck elsewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tasted 6-28-2011</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrC1eWRLTyEJ0hziVdvkrLFJBKjKgWRccr_8JmCpVPniv-AkwgwL-Xh8xmRxuxmhdR5qo0BwBdZ9oJY7i7qpzS6iu7xipQ2kishKw-y8xBeAslWfeA28uNQx8YB49rVyD-6lYb_eyqdYAF/s1600/TAH+119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrC1eWRLTyEJ0hziVdvkrLFJBKjKgWRccr_8JmCpVPniv-AkwgwL-Xh8xmRxuxmhdR5qo0BwBdZ9oJY7i7qpzS6iu7xipQ2kishKw-y8xBeAslWfeA28uNQx8YB49rVyD-6lYb_eyqdYAF/s320/TAH+119.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center"></div>machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16031392914907722301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356985065100413081.post-75785636099732515502011-07-02T15:38:00.002-06:002011-07-03T13:54:49.825-06:00Loose Cannon IPA<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Loose Cannon IPA</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">American IPA</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Clipper City Brewing Co./Heavy Seas Beer<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Baltimore, </span>Maryland</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.25% ABV </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Color -----------------------<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Golden Amber, Good deep color</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Head-------------------------<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fluffy and heavy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good pour<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Boutique-------------------- 7<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Floral, and earthy</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Body-------------------------6<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Light mouth feel<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bite-------------------------<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good balance but needed not a crisp taste<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hops -----------------------7<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good selection of hops but not overpowering the ale</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Taste------------------------- 7<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall a good balance of flavors, refreshing and not too light</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aftertaste------------------5<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Left quickly and needed to linger but did not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking for a bit more.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overall Score<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>38/60<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A fair Beer</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I drank this beer at Tavern on the Square in downtown Salem, Massachusetts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had a great atmosphere and terrific service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was eating with a party of difficult women who ordered difficult dishes and our server Kelsey was outstanding throughout the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus good looking. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had the chicken malinase which was absolutely fantastic but not a good pairing with the IPA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beer was good as a starter but not through the dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did have a sample of their blueberry ale which was served with a ripened blueberry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was decent but not worth buying a pint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do recommend giving it a try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall the beer was a middle of the road IPA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing to write home about or blog about but I will anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a hophead I could have used quite a few more hops during the finishing process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a decent balance of flavors did left me asking for more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did in fact get more and ordered another after dinner but would try something else on a return visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A notable mention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tasted 6-26-2011</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXqgfZiRqkDD0D3NujM0-JsURuCVw_u1JkoF5_sHfDE-Aci5JBxcB7kTNXW_G1WnQv7IdmuRRJKQ5izCz3cbUWJclZTnpKsOp8MUvnHWREBpza-l5VZb6SdNyYhSCKWQFcAN3roT5xVdT/s1600/TAH+123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXqgfZiRqkDD0D3NujM0-JsURuCVw_u1JkoF5_sHfDE-Aci5JBxcB7kTNXW_G1WnQv7IdmuRRJKQ5izCz3cbUWJclZTnpKsOp8MUvnHWREBpza-l5VZb6SdNyYhSCKWQFcAN3roT5xVdT/s320/TAH+123.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div>machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16031392914907722301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356985065100413081.post-10435197490175960012011-07-02T15:23:00.009-06:002011-07-03T13:56:18.591-06:00Meet Larry<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wachusett Larry Imperial IPA</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brewed by Wachusett Brewery in Wachusett, Massachusetts</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Color ----------------------- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Copper, a good IPA color</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Head-------------------------<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flat and smooth, a good pour<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Boutique-------------------- 6<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flowery with a hint of pine</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Body-------------------------7<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>good mouth feel</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bite-------------------------<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A strong bite that could use a kick in the hops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hops -----------------------6<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Medium hoppiness, Amarillo, Chinook, Simcoe and Centennial Hops</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Taste------------------------- 7<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall the taste was pleasant but expected more</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aftertaste------------------7</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Notes: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">American Two Row, Crystal and Munich Malts.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overall Score<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>39/60<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A fair beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The beer was served at Oula Oula café in a very cozy atmosphere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With nearly 15 beers on tap and over forty in the bottle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A wide selection of both New England breweries and west coast breweries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A very balanced selection that pairs well with the food selection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The service was great and food was delicious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>However they were out of most of the tap beers the day we arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We made several selections then were told they could not pour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A real disappointment.</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beer was nicely paired with a hot capicola, red peeper, and mozzarella Panini.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Imperial was a deep rusty copper in color, a very nice IPA color.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a draft, with a well poured head, very smooth and flat in a regular pint glass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very flowery and piney boutique with earthy notes in which the hops show through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A very full bodied IPA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heavy on the tongue and a great mouth feel. A strong bite that shows a kick in the hops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Medium hoppiness in which I am unaware of precise hops but was nicely hopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was expecting a much stronger and deeper hoppiness in an Imperial IPA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was a little let down by the hop profile and needed more finishing hops to pull the balance of the beer together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall the beer had a decent taste to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However when calling itself an Imperial IPA the taste should knock me over and it did not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It was flavorful and refreshing but lacking in the finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The aftertaste was pleasant and hoppy and completed the experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would definitely try the beer again and enjoyed the experience.</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tasted 6-26-2011</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWy2v1bXYoWw5VpUvZKIsKR7bBQzFHFiqSR-e2l65l8nZgyrKrntWZ-U8U1DjZqje8U1JtfIQsFG5AB2ZmURLXkbzSQnieDDySn1fpGEiNKS_DGpjT4At6cY4V3KmpANXm-ADLtqlUH2Y/s1600/TAH+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWy2v1bXYoWw5VpUvZKIsKR7bBQzFHFiqSR-e2l65l8nZgyrKrntWZ-U8U1DjZqje8U1JtfIQsFG5AB2ZmURLXkbzSQnieDDySn1fpGEiNKS_DGpjT4At6cY4V3KmpANXm-ADLtqlUH2Y/s320/TAH+026.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
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