Friday, August 30, 2013

#053: Southern Tier Beer Co. » Plum Noir (Imperial Porter w/ Italian Plums)

Inaugural release of STB's new warm-weather Blackwater Series beer...


The Brewery: Southern Tier Brewing Co. (Lakewood, NY)
The Brew: Plum Noir (Imperial Porter with Italian Plum)
Availability: 22 oz. (Spring/Summer)
ABV: 8.0%
Rating: 8/10
Location: Home

The Story? Back in the spring, Southern Tier announced there'd be changes and additions to their lauded Blackwater Series. While morning the loss of their Mokah and Jah-va brews heading to retirement, it is exciting to see the series get a face-lift and add some new, innovative offerings. The first is Plum Noir. The second, called Warlock, is an Imperial Stout with Pumpkin slated for September.

My partner picked up this particular bottle in a stash for a tasting, but we never tapped into it and thus made for an excellent start for an unexpected night in (new babies are reasonable cause for canceling dinner plans).

The Beer? Rich, wet, fruity plum nose. Black color with a minimal off-white head. Refreshingly wet up front with subtle tastes of plum skin. The Chinook hops counter with a pleasantly dry and hoppy finish. A complex, but not overbearing beer.

There's a smooth, roasted earthiness present throughout along with a malt (not fruit) sweetness and a hint of tang in the middle. For a 22 oz. boasting 5 malts and plums, it's all a bit understated.

Overall, a unique take on a drinkable, summer porter. I have to say I was expected a bit more from this beer. The rest of the Blackwater series have been more on the intense side of things, so I was expecting a bit more "wow", so that's worth noting going into it. A solid first release though. I'm interested to see where this one goes.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

#052: Ithaca Beer Co. Multihead (Wild Hop Pale Ale) and Hoodoo Voodoo (Imperial Stout - cask & draft)

More unique creations from Ithaca Beer's 5-Barrel and Cask series...


The Brewery: Ithaca Beer Company (Ithaca, NY)
The Brew: Multihead (Wild Hop Pale Ale)
Availability: Draft Only (5-Barrel Series)
ABV: 5.9%
Rating: 8/10
Location: Ithaca Beer Taproom

The Story? Humulus Lupulus Neomexicanus is a newly discovered, wild hop from New Mexico, which is the star of Ithaca Beer's Multihead - one of their latest in their on-going 5-barrel series.  The beer gets its name from this hop's unusual tendency to develop two hop cones per varietal, unlike the usual one-per for all other varieties. I'm impressed by Ithaca Beer's level of adventure on this one as the hop is still so new it isn't yet widely available through usual mass distribution channels. The brewers had to keep ordering until they had enough to brew and experiment with. That's dedication!

The Beer? Light in color and mouthfeel as you'd expect from a primarily single-hopped pale ale. Right off the bat I can tell this isn't going to be your typical pale. Most notably, it's sweet. Mild fruits immediately come to mind like white peach and white nectarine. There's a touch of Magnum hops up front to provide some bitter counterpoint to the sweetness, but otherwise this new dual-hop is front and center.

The sweetness isn't sugary or thick, in fact it's quite refreshing, but on the dryer side. It's subtlety sweet with fresh and noteworthy hop spice and pine flavors from the use of whole cones, plus a filtered wheat presence. A very unique beer that I wouldn't have pegged it as a pale ale at first. Recommended for those with a broad pallet looking for a fresh flavor in the session realm. I have high hopes that Ithaca Beer will use this as a drawing board for future releases with this uniquely wild hop.



The Brewery: Ithaca Beer Company (Ithaca, NY)
The Brew: Hoodoo Voodoo Cask (Imperial Stout, Aged on Oak)
Availability: Cask Only (very limited)
ABV: 11%
Rating: 9.1/10
Location: Ithaca Beer Taproom

The Story? Wednesday is Cask Night and this beer is the reason I pushed to finish up rehearsal and bombed down to the taproom. Sometimes the casks kick before 8PM, but to my elation, there was still plenty of this go around.

Hoodoo Voodoo is Ithaca Beer's new Imperial Stout, another recent addition to their limited 5-Barrel series. Ithaca Beer doesn't have any dark beers in their year-round offerings and only a few seasonally, so I always jump at the chance to taste one - their 14th Anniversary Dark Ale and Gorges Smoked Porter are world-class. This cask version has been aged on oak and wields a higher ABV.

The Beer? It starts off with a strong, dark, woody nose that is quite earthy. Going into my mouth, I already agree cask is the perfect delivery for this brew. A bit boozy up front, notable roasted marshmallow flavors, with a mildly dry finish. A distinct roasted coffee flavor hangs out even after the initial finish dies out. The cask temperature and carbonation mellows the bite of the ABV, instead allowing it to be the support for the rest of the dark, roasted, warming flavors. This would be absolutely superb on a winters day. Woody, earthy, dry, booze, roasted goodness.

I decided to aerate this one in my mouth like you would a wine, which immediately pulled the booze and some dark red fruits to the forefront giving it subtle Cab Sauv-esq notes. Very tasty and another hit for IB's limited series.




The Brewery: Ithaca Beer Company (Ithaca, NY)
The Brew: Hoodoo Voodoo (Imperial Stout)
Availability: Draft Only (5-Barrel Series)
ABV: 9.8%
Rating: 9.0/10
Location: Ithaca Beer Taproom

The Story? It took me three questions to indeed verify that I wasn't crazy and that they had on not only a cask version of Hoodoo Voodoo, but a regular draft version as well. No oak age on this one and a slightly lower ABV, bust still no joke at 9.8%. Three ultra limited beers in one night... I'm in heaven.

The Beer? Cappuccino colored head a top deep, dark brown brew. Medium body.

The taste is much different than the cask version. A prominent nuttiness dominates the flavor with a semi-sweet, English-style feel. Pleasant mouthfeel, reminiscent of a Guiness (in that way only though). Not as earthy and lacking the marshmallow aspects of the cask version, but instead has more malt & chocolate characteristics. Still has some wine-esq qualities on the finish as they booze builds further through the glass.

A great example on how a beer differs based on finish and delivery. An easy choice to try again.

___

Overall a great night of beer. Ithaca Beer Co. has really caught their stride with these one-offs and experiments. I'm eagerly await the next batch...

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

#051: Southern Tier Brewing Co. - Iniquity (Imperial Black Ale)

The anti-hero of IPAs...


The Brewery: Southern Tier Brewing Co. (Lakewood, NY)
The Brew: Iniquity (Imperial Black Ale)
Availability: 22 oz., 12 oz (Superpack only) & draft (year-round)
ABV: 9.0% // IBUs: 50
Rating: 10/10
Location: Home

The Story?  If memory serves, Iniquity was my gateway to dark beers. Southern Tier's Unearthly and Gemini (RIP) were heavy favorites of mine at the time and the promise of another girthy brew from STB, this one touted as the "antithesis of Unearthly", was too much to keep my curiosity at bay.

Launched not too far back in 2009, Southern Tier describes Iniquity as "contrary to what one would expect from an IPA. A dark, malty ale with a huge hop profile seeping forward" and an "unapologetic black ale". Indeed.

The Beer? Big, dark nose with nods to the booze to come. Dark, dark brown color, but not quite black, topped with a small amount of off-white head.

The taste? There's nothing quite like this one. It's like some dark, dank IPA / Barleywine hybrid with scorched, earthy coffee on the finish. It's quite wet and boozy up font, but changes character nicely through to a dry finish. Medium-heavy body with balanced contribution of piney, sticky hops.

Steadied by a sweet, malty backbone and threaded with thick, herbal characteristics and hop spice, while hints of citrus, coffee, and burnt toast sneak in the back door; Iniquity is a dark-beer-lover's IPA - the anti-IPA if you will - and highly recommended for any adventurous beer enthusiast.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

#050: Founders Porter

Another black beauty from Founders...



The Brewery: Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, MI)
The Brew: Porter
Availability: Draft and bottles (Year-Round)
ABV: 6.5% | 45 IBUs
Rating: 9/10

The Story? There's usually a few unopened cans or bottles hanging around after hosting a bit of a gathering. Usually a session beer or two. That said, what I didn't expect the morning after birthday shindiggery #2 was a bottle of Founders' world-class Porter casually hanging out in the back of my fridge. Well, don't mind if I do...

The Beer? A foamy, moacha-colored and very lacy head rises quickly after a semi-gentile pour - a bit too quickly this time. Minor clean up needed, so watch out for that. Silky, jet-black coloring. A deep, malty nose with wonderful roasted flavors. Smooth mouthfeel up front followed by a sharp, sudden dryness in the finish. Very drinkable, with breaks.
I like it.

This brew has an excellent, dark bitterness to it. A full-flavored Porter with robust hops and roasted malts, followed by hints of chocolate, caramel, and mocha; without ever getting sweet or resorting to additives. An impressive display of Founder's year-round prowess and one of the best porters available, especially in 12 oz, 6-pack form. Highly recommended to any dark beer lover.

#049: Brouwerij Van Steenberge - Monk's Café Flemish Sour Ale

It's sour time in Ithaca from Philly by way of Belgium...


The Brewery: Brouwerij Van Steenberge (Belgium)
The Brew: Monk's Café Flemish Sour Ale (Flanders Oud Bruin)
Availability: Bottles (4-pack), Draft, Cask
ABV: 5.50%
Rating: 8/10
Location: Home

The Story? A left-over from my tasting-themed birthday gathering (always buy more than you need and enjoy whatever's left in the days following), this is my first time with this particular beer.

This Flemish Sour Ale is brewed by Brouwerij Van Steenberge in Belgium for Philadelphia's Monk's Cafe - the Belgian beer Mecca of the east coast and, if memory serves from hazy conversations with several Philly-brew experts, a launching point for Belgian-brew love in the U.S.

The Beer? Even with a very gentile pour, the head is VERY lively and took several pours to get the image above. Deep cherry notes with mild funk on the nose. The head itself is quite sweet with long, lacy legs.

Very sweet and tart taste while being light on the tongue. Subtle, earthy mix of red and black fruits complimented by mellow nuttiness and sweet malts. Mildly acetic with some funky must in the background with a ghostly, lingering finish. Much lower carbonation in the mouthfeel than expected after all of that head.

Not as juicy as some of my favorite sour browns and isn't aiming for eye-widening tartness, but this is a great starting point for anyone looking to get into sour Belgians ales - without breaking the bank.

Subtle & smooth all the way around with a growing dryness as you reach the end of the glass. Looking forward to trying this one of draft down at Monk's one of these days!

Monday, August 26, 2013

#048: Bacchus Brewing Co. - Flora's Fate Pale Ale

The first beer release from Bacchus' new brewer...


The Brewery: Bacchus (Dryden, NY)
The Brew: Flora's Fate Pale Ale
Availability: draft only
ABV: 5.0% // IBUs: 51.22
Rating: 8.5/10
Location: The Westy

The Story? Thanks to frequent visits to The Westy, I've been able to explore almost all of Bacchus Brewery's line. Their brewer, Richie works down at The Westy which, while an obvious reason why they're such a proponent of Bacchus, is pretty cool the whole way around. A quality, consistent, draft-only brewery worth checking out amongst a plethora of Finger Lakes breweries.

The Beer? BIG hops with a light body. Staying, fluffy, mustache-giving head. Plenty of strong, bitter citrus flavors with a very dry, lingering finish. Nice amber coloring too. Very piney, but never sticky or dank. A robust blend of lots of Chinook and Ahtanum hops and Vienna, German Carapils, and Acidulated malts, then dry-hopped with and Falconer's Flight.

Overall, a very pale ale with modest gravity. Looking forward to more beers from Bacchus as they continue to climb the ranks of CNY breweries. Flora's Fate has been one of my new go-tos down at The Westy.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Quicky!: Southern Tier Sonnet (aka 215)


Originally known as "215", Sonnet is Southern Tier's Beer-Week contribution to Philadelphia. A subtle, wheaty saison with subtle sweet, floral, and lemongrass notes and Sonnet hops. An understated, but creative session ale. Draft only.

Thanks to Tony for this belated-birthday brew down at The Westy!

Birthday Beers!

Birthday's call for good beer...


(from left to right...)
1809 Berliner Wisse
Bandwaggon Hidden Rabbit Hefeweizen
The Bruery Tradewinds Tripel (brewed with rice & basil)
Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout Imperial Stout with pecans, wheat, and rye with one quater bourbon barrel ages.
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine aged in whiskey barrels
Unity Vibration Ginger Kombucha Beer

Lots more posts coming soon!

Saturday, August 24, 2013

#047: Evil Twin - Femme Fatale Brett (IPA)

Birthday beer on draft...


The Brewery: Evil Twin (København, Denmark)
The Brew: Femme Fatale Brett
Availability: bottles and draft
ABV: 6.0%
Rating: 9/10
Location: Ithaca Coffee Co. (Triphammer)

The Story? My birthday was last weekend and amidst a flurry of shows, rehearsals, a myriad of bands and people coming by, through and sleeping at the house. On my actual birthday, I decided to take a 15 minute break alone and reflect on the last year with a quality drink before things got too crazy. Ithaca Coffee Co.'s Triphammer location has one of the more unique draft selections (while only 12 taps) in town. I'm usually there for a quick drink after work when there's something especially intriguing on tap as I'm rarely in that area during usual evening hours. So, with a day off and 15 minutes to kill and need to be in that area anyways, I figured there'd be something available to wet my whistle.

The Beer? Served on draft with a pinky finger of fluffy white head topping the liquid gold. Anyone venturing in to Coffee Co. will be blessed with James' deft pouring skills. Beautiful aesthetics are followed by a wonderful mouthfeel and incredible citrus hop and brett flavors.

Silky smooth and refreshing. Just enough Brett without overpowering the delicate balance of hops and mild malts while build the backbone of this mildly wild one.

Draft makes quite the difference on this one, having had the bottle version early in the year. Very fresh hop taste on tap. Through the glass a dry funk begins to emerge. An musty complexity, slowly rising amongst the fresh, citrusy hops.

The "brett" tag may leave some looking for an extreme, puckered, or heavily funked ale, but that's not what Evil Twin's aiming for on this one. Firm citrus notes, fresh hop bitterness, with mild sweetness and breadiness; all with a subtle lace of funk woven in. Not for those looking for an "extreme" brew, but for those seeking a unique, quality variation.


Friday, August 16, 2013

#046: Brooklyn Brewery - Black Chocolate Stout (Imperial Stout)

For a bit of winter this summer...


The Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery (Brooklyn, NY)
The Brew: Black Chocolate Stout (Imperial Stout)
Availability: 12 oz 4-packs & draft (seasonal)
ABV: 10.0%
Rating: 9.3/10
Location: Home

The Story? There's always that beer. The one you haven't tried from a brewery you've literally tried everything that they bottle. You'll get to it and it'll be great, no doubt. Most of your friends who care about beer have had it. It's no secret or rarity - even if its a seasonal, you still see it around

Enter Brooklyn's Black Chocolate Stout. I've known about this dark passenger since before I would touch anything that wasn't an IPA or at least a strong Pale Ale. Their Monster (RIP) is one of my favorite barelywines, their Sorachi Ace was delectable, their Local 1 was part of one of my favorite cold camping adventures, and their year-round offerings have frequented our fridge and parties.

While picking up singles for the Pumpkin Ale series, a few beers that keep calling to me made their way into the basket - including this shadowed one. Technically available Oct-March, at 10%, sipping on this in August is going to be a real treat.

The Beer? The pour releases a beautiful obsidian liquid with a rich, deep, mocha colored head. Thick and resilient, the head itself tastes of bitter, burnt cocoa. Lots of chocolate and espresso on the nose.

Pleasant mouthfeel to start - refreshing, dark, and bit oily with a long dry finish. Not nearly as sweet as the chocolate on the noise may imply. A pleasing equilibrium of chocolate sweetness and roasted malt. The 51 IBUs are very apparent and quite welcomed. That stated bitterness really rises about halfway through the glass, especially in the finish, but begins to take center stage.

Two-thirds of the way through and we're into a dark, earthy monolith of a beer. It's ABV fully unleashed, into an oily, sipper of a brew. An excellent transition.

Overall, a sneaky, relatively drinkable and complex stout masking a sinister sipper. A wonderful departure for a cool, summer evening.

#045: Ballast Point Brewing Co. - Sculpin IPA

An IPA of hop legend...


The Brewery: Ballast Point Brewing Co. (San Diego, CA)
The Brew: Sculpin IPA
Availability: 6-packs, 22 oz. & draft
ABV: 7% // IBUs: 70
Rating: 10/10
Location: Home

The Story? My first introduction to Ballast Point was through my friend Maciej - a real hop head who, at the time, was working his way through the best American IPAs before heading back to Poland. The order of operations is a bit fuzzy, but I was obliged to assist in his search, offering to trade a can of The Alchemist's Heady Topper for some of his delicious, hoppy session homebrews.

As most beer exchanges go, he invited me in and offered to split a few bottles he'd been lining up to try out. At the time I had my head buried, focusing on the wild/sour/farmhouse side of things and had backburnered my love of IPAs. As soon as he popped open his bottle of Sculpin, fresh, aromatic hops filled the air as we sat sipping, gazing off the hill-top apartment across the fastness that surrounds Ithaca. With my friend back in Poland and my love of IPA back in full swing, would it be the same fantastic experience as that hot, early summer day?

The Beer? A very fragrant pour with blooming, lacy head. Minerally nose with lots of fresh hops and notes of citrus and apple. Color is on the verge or opaque.

Majestic seems to be a good word to first describe the pure IPA bliss that hits your tongue. Uncontrolled statements like "Oh, my god..." and shivers may also be involved as deep, rich hops fill the palate, swirling with flavors of pine, grass, rock, and a variety of citrus and tropical fruits. The moutfeel is superb - slippery and refreshing with a staying dry, tart/bitter hop finish. Despite the massive gathering of hops, Ballast Point are wise to keep this one down to 70 IBUs, issuing a full bouquet of hops which never becomes overbearing or numbing.

Unique, dynamic, pale, fresh, and tart. Amazing and pretty much perfect.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

#044: Southern Tier Brewing Co. - Pumking (Imperial Pumpkin Ale)

The return of the King...


The Brewery: Southern Tier Brewing Co. (Lakewood, NY)
The Brew: Pumking (Imperial Pumpkin Ale)
Availability: 22 oz. bottle & draft (seasonal)
ABV: 8.6%
Rating: 9/10
Location: Home

The Story? Southern Tier's Pumking always generates quite a bit of fanfair around this time of year, being only one of a handful of bottled pumpkin ales to carry the title of "Imperial". If you live anywhere close to the northeast, you've likely already heard of this one, so let's jump right in.

The Beer? Even with a firm pour, the head isn't particularly prominent and quickly fades. We're left with just the glowing, translucent copper liquid with a fine ring of head.

In the process of bringing the glass to my nose, this one is radiating straight-up nutmeg. Strong pumpkin pie aroma. Malty, sweet taste with lots of cinnamon. A strong departure from Ithaca's Country Pumpkin mild nature and Captain Lawrence's dry, all-spice and clove earthiness discussed earlier this week.

Lightly carbonated with a very long pumpkin pie finish. Almost too long. But, the carbonation keeps it light on its feet and the beer overall packs a great deal of flavor. Creamy notes of caramel begin to move in around the strong cinnamon, nutmeg, and sweet pumpkin flavors. The 8.6% never really peaks through the plethora of spices. Big body and creamy, but never heavy or thick.

Pumking has become legend among fall seasonal lovers and is a must try for anyone looking for the extreme end of the Pumpkin Ale spectrum. So far, out of the three pumpkin ales reviewed so far this fall, I'll personally be picking up the Captain Lawrence on a more frequent basis, but for a fall gathering or tasting, Pumpkin is an easy choice to make a big impact with a crowd.


Wednesday, August 14, 2013

#043: Captain Lawrence Brewing Co. - Pumpkin Ale

The Captiain's Pumpkin...


The Brewery: Captain Lawrence Brewing Co. (Elmsford, NY)
The Brew: Pumpkin Ale
Availability: 6-packs & draft (seasonal)
ABV: 5.5%
Rating: 8.5/10
Location: Home

The Story? I stopped in to Fingerlakes Beverage Center to pick up some of 21st Amendment's Bitter American for a house show and to pick up a mix of single bottles for the blog. One of the knowledgeable wizards at FLBC saw me selecting a few Pumpkin beers and inquired whether I'd checked out Captain Lawrence's seasonal offering, stating that he considered in the ranks with Southern Tier's Pumpking... OK, you have my attention. Into the basket it goes. For the price, even if it's in the ballpark it'll be worth it.

The Beer? Starts with nice, lacy head that hangs around. Lots of spice on the nose - almost on the level of a winter warmer. Deep, rich amber color.

Taste... a big pack of spiced flavor fills the palate around a dry mouthfeel. It's like they stuffed a fully-bundled late autumn day into a bottle. Cool, smooth malty goodness, dried with all spice, clove, and earth. Lively carbonation on the tongue too.

Captain Lawrence hasn't disappointed yet and this one's no exception. Glad I took up that recommendation.


Tuesday, August 13, 2013

#042: Ithaca Beer Co. - Country Pumpkin

Pumpkin beer invasion begins...


The Brewery: Ithaca Beer Company (Ithaca, NY)
The Brew: Country Pumpkin
Availability: 6-packs & draft (seasonal)
ABV: 6.3%
Rating: 7/10
Location: Home

The Story? Truth be told, in the past I steered clear of pumpkin beers because.. well, I don't like pumpkin. By itself that is. I needed to remind myself, I'm not about to throw back a slurry of pumpkin juice. If I can put aside my aversion of peanut butter to have PB stouts become one of my favorite styles, I can easily enjoy a series of pumpkin beers.

For such a series, what better place to start than with a beer brewed right here in Ithaca, NY. Let the fall seasonals begin! Wait... isn't it still August? Hm...

The Beer? Transparent, orange-amber appearance with a quickly fading head. Very clean and light on the nose with a hint of spice. Light mouthfeel as well with a medium body. Refreshing.

This beer feels like a transition from summer to fall. Crisp and drinkable, but with a semi-dry finish. Subtle nuttiness with mild sweet pumpkin and hints of nutmeg and all spice. As with many Ithaca 12 oz. brews, the finish is a bit minerally.

Overall, a subtle, straightforward take on the popular fall style. What are your favorite pumpkin beers?

Monday, August 12, 2013

#041: AleSmith Brewing Co. - YuleSmith Summer Holiday Ale (DIPA)

In celebration of summer...!



The Brewery: AleSmith Brewing Co. (San Diego, CA)
The Brew: YuleSmith Summer Holiday Ale (DIPA)
Availability: 22 oz. Bottles
ABV: 9.5%
Rating: 8.5/10
Location: Home

The Story? AleSmith, oddly enough, is one of those breweries whose offerings are readily available to me and I've heard great things about, but every time I go to pick up my next haul it's "OK, next time, I just need to pick up one of everything they have." But it just doesn't happen.

Passing through Fingerlakes Beverage Center (as usual) for some sessions on a night in, I saw one lonely bottle of YuleSmith Summer on sale. Now is the time.

I'd heard about this summer offering by name alone. It's rare that I go into a tasting totally blind without researching the beer first (BA score, history, etc), but I did for this one and it really added to the experience.

For those keeping score at home, YuleSmith comes in two varieties - a winter holiday which is an Imperial/Double Red Ale and this summer variety, a Double IPA.

The Beer? Hazy, golden color with a couple fingers of fluffy, white head. Let's dive in.

Wonderfully boozy for a brew with the word "summer" on it. Tart, hoppy, strong, and nicely bitter. Robust, sticky hops with sweet, sturdy, bready malts. Raisin, pineapple, pine, resin, and hints of spices I can't quite put my finger on. Smooth and refreshing with w a far lighter mouthfeel than 8.5% or the word "holiday" might infer.

One of my new favorite DIPAs, especially for the price. Looking forward to finally exploring the rest of the AleSmith line.






Thursday, August 8, 2013

#040: Victory Brewing Co. - Donnybrook Stout (Dry Irish Stout)

To The Westy..!

(background was not planned nor known until I improved the lighting on the pic)

The Brewery: Victory Brewing Co. (Downington, PA)
The Brew: Donnybrook Stout (Dry Irish Stout)
Availability: Nitro Draft only
ABV: 3.7%
Rating: 8/10
Location: The Westy 

The Story? The birthday gathering which started at Ithaca Beer Taproom moved to The Westy after it was made known the birthday gal had never been. No time like the present. The timing was great as I'd already planned on meeting up with a friend and noise artist who'd just returned from tour and just moved to Ithaca.

Donnybrook itself is one of Victory's staggering, draft-only offerings and one of a handful that didn't make my 10 sample tasting when we visited the brewery earlier this year. Irish Stouts can be a bit hit or miss with me. This one? Direct hit.

The Beer? Dry, light mouthfeel and a nice bitter taste right out of the gate. Minimal light-brown head. Dark flavor with mild roast and mild chocolate flavors tip-toeing around the palate. Great job with the nitro - very prickly carbonation is lively and quenching - something not found in many stouts. Light hops and English malt approach.

Overall a solid, night-out, dark session brew at a place I absolutely love visiting. Victory packed an impressive amount of flavor into this one for only 3.7%.

#039: Ithaca Beer Co. - Cascazilla (Red Ale aged on bourbon soaked oak)

Cask night at Ithaca Beer Taproom!



The Brewery: Ithaca Beer Company (Ithaca, NY)
The Brew: Cascazilla (Red Ale aged on bourbon soaked oak)
Availability: Cask only (limited)
ABV: 7.3%
Rating: 8.5/10
Location: Ithaca Beer Taproom

The Story? On Monday, I received a note that a friend I hadn't seen in two years was going to be celebrating her birthday with a small crew at Ithaca Beer Taproom on Wednesday. Short notice... but, to hit IB on cask night? Twist my arm.

As with any short-run series and experimentation, Ithaca Beer's cask & 5-barrel series have had some real winners (see Black Mamba) and some less-memorable attempts, but they're always worth keeping up on. This weeks' phrase "Cascazilla aged on bourbon soaked oak" immediately caught my attention.

The Beer? For starters, we've got a fresh hop nose. It's dialed back from Cascazilla's usual ferocity, but as is to be expected from the cask and the oak. Now for the taste - nice smooth hops and very drinkable. Bourbon and oak we're an excellent experiment for one of my staple Ithaca brews.

A bit sweet at first, but then Cascazilla's dryness kicks in with noticeably (in perspective) more carbonation than in some of the other cask offerings, though nowhere near usual draft levels. The bourbon is mellow and eludes to vanilla extract, dancing around in the background.

This one really retains the hop beauty of Cascazilla in a subtler frame with mellowing of oak and semi-sweetening effects of the bourbon complexity.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

#038: The Bruery - Hottenroth (Berliner Weisse)

Summer continues with this classic German style...



The Brewery: The Bruery (Placentia, CA)
The Brew: Hottenroth (Berliner Weisse)
Availability: Draft and bottles (Spring & Summer)
ABV: 3.1%
Rating: 9/10 // IBUs: 2
Location: Home

The Story? After catching a hilarious movie and a beautiful walk around Myers Point on Cayuga Lake, my partner and our friend Kendra popped back to the house for some tasty home-made burritos. Afterward they began work on customizing some old t-shirts. "A good time to review this Hottenroth" I thought to myself...

Hottenroth itself is named after Fred & Sarah Hottenroth, Bruery founded Patrick Rue's grandparents. The low gravity seasonal is brewed with lactobacillus yeast and a hint of Brettanomyces and, unlike many of the other American Berliner Weisse releases, no sweetener is added, sticking to the traditional German tartness.

The Beer? Fluffy, quickly fading head with a champagne-esq nose. The sparkling grape and apple notes on the nose are very inviting.

Much less effervescent than the Festina Peche reviewed earlier this summer. Nice, firm tartness with a bit of wheat. Very clean mouthfeel. Apple, pear, and lemon tastes throughout. A bit acidic with mild dryness.

Not as tart up front as initially expected, considering this one is unsweetened, though that mid-level tartness begins to build, continuing through the bottle. On the second pour, sour grape and lime tastes appear in the head, with more funk in the nose and a wheaty must taste hangs in the background. Solid.

Most interesting, was my friend Kendra (not a beer fan, but a big Kombucha fan and also know to partake in the occasional glass of cider, wine, or champagne) thoroughly enjoyed a small glass of the brew.

Overall, a solid, enjoyable homage of a classic. Likely will become one of my top go-tos for a quality, low-gravity beer with a lot of character. Highly recommended for your friends who "don't like beer".

Friday, August 2, 2013

#037: Sierra Nevada - Southern Hemisphere Harvest (American IPA)

Fresh hops for #IPAday...


The Brewery: Sierra Nevada (Chico, CA)
The Brew: Southern Hemisphere Harvest (American IPA)
Availability: Draft and bottles
ABV: 6.7% // IBU: 67
Rating: 8.5/10
Location: Northstar (publick) House

The Story? #IPAday! A very good friend of mine was in town from Boston, on the eve of her new Masters program. So, she, my partner, another close mutual friend, and I grabbed a table for four at Northstar in Ithaca, ready to catch up - but first, a bit of refreshing, conversation lubrication is needed. My eye's b-line it to the IPAs (though I quickly bookmarked Dogfish Head's Festina Pêche on draft for my with-meal beer).

Sierra Nevada's Southern Hemisphere Harvest "Fresh Hop Ale" is the counterpart to their Northern Hemisphere offering. Fresh Southern Cross, Pacifica and Motueka hops are flown in from New Zealand just for this brew. Initially, a tough choice with Hoptimum on draft too, but I do want to taste my meal, but very satisfied with the result.

The Beer? Fresh is the name of the game here. Medium-light bodied, fresh hop up front and a pleasantly dry hop finish. Not particularly wet up front and not heavy at all.

Hints of lemon, grass; light, breezy citrus fruits. A great way to celebrate IPA Day. Smooth and satisfying. Bitterness is dialed way back without sacrificing flavor.

BeerAdvocate lists this as an American Style IPA, but the fresh Southern Cross hops from New Zealand give it a different character and the nose and finish of the Pacifica, Motueka, and Southern Cross hops is mildly remarkable. One of those "less is more" beers.

I've really lost count how many times I've had this beer - draft or bottled. The supreme freshness, medium gravity, and light, dry nature is a wonderful no-brainer anytime it's on the menu. Not the most epic beer, but that's not what it's aiming for. A consistently delicious beer for quality craft beer lovers.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

#035: Green Flash Brewing Co. - Palate Wrecker (Double IPA) #IPAday

In honer of IPA Day, time to wreck some palates...

(amazing how photo editing on a different comp can change pic settings...)


The Brewery: Green Flash Brewing Co. (San Diego, CA)
The Brew: Palate Wrecker (Double IPA)
Availability: 12 oz. & 650 mL Bottles
ABV:  9.5% | IBUs: 100+
Rating: 9.5/10
Location: Home

The Story? It's IPA Day! Let's play with some heavy hitters.

The Beer? I can already smell the hops from a foot away taking the picture on this one! Pours translucent copper with a bit of lacy head. Do they make air fresheners of this?

Beautiful, refreshing hop goodness. Hints of sweet on the first sip, but bitters quickly.

A hop lovers dream in a bottle right here. Puckery grapefruit, with a solid malt spine, providing robust support. Definitey on the brighter, acidic side of things and it works in its favor.

A bit of boozy tang in the background which grows throughout the glass... not sticky sweet like a barelywine, but does become more and more prevalent. Nice.

Funny thing is, I like this one better in the bottle. I've had it on draft twice of late and cold, out of the bottle I'm able to pull a far broader spectrum of flavor.

I've seen some remarks that this beer is overwhelming and unbalanced (even taking in the nature and purpose of it), but I find it, while still Palate Wrecking, to still be well crafted, balanced, while packing a huge hop punch and letting it shine.

It's never abrasive. Dry, bright, and bold, but I can still sit and hang out with it knowing it's a beer and not some while liquor or herbal disastor.


#036: Six Point Brewery - Resin (Double IPA) #IPAday

IPA day calls for one of my double favorites...


The Brewery: Six Point Brewery (Brooklyn, NY)
The Brew: RESIN (Double IPA)
Availability: 12 oz can - 4-packs & draft (year-round)
ABV: 9.1% | 103 IBUs
Rating: 9.5/10
Location: Home

The Story? A celebration of the essence of a hop cone - the resin. I hotly anticipated this beer last spring when it was released, first picking up a 4-pack at Nathaniel Square Corner Store in Rochester, just before it landed in Ithaca. I picked up this can from Finger Lakes Beverage Center earlier this summer to share with a hop-head friend who was moving to Poland, but we didn't quite get around to it. My gain!

For more background on the concept behind the beer itself, check out more info here and this wonderful video.

The Beer? Nice, staying head and shimmering caramel color. Lighter than some Double IPAs.

Delicious and resiny, as the name would suggest. Packs a bitter punch in celebration of the glorious hop. Strong pine, citrus rind, and even a bit of toasted flavors sneak in the back door along with herbal elements. Resin starts of on the creamier side of a beer this intense, followed by a strong, lingering hop finish. The ABV never comes off as boozy as you may expect. At first guest, I would not have put this one just over 9% in my first taste last year. Excellent carbonation staying power for a high ABV beer too.

There's a dark, dank nature creeping around the thunderous IBUs that really helps take the cake with this one for me. Happy IPA Day!

#035: Lagunitas - Little Sumpin' Wild (Belgian IPA) #IPAday

Put a lil somthin' wild in ya...


The Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Co. (Petaluma, CA)
The Brew: Little Sumpin' Wild (Belgian IPA)
Availability: 6-packs (seasonal)
ABV: 8.8% | 72.5 IBUs
Rating: 8.5/10
Location: Home

The Story? I've made it through all of Lagunitas year-round offerings (they were one of the first west-coast breweries I latched onto in the early days) and most of their seasonals, though despite my love of wilds, I found myself realizing I'd never tried Little Sumpin' Wild.

My partner and I were in need of a serious relaxing hang-out night in and I was on the look for sixer of something robust and unique to split.

The Beer? Fluffy, off-white head and medium hop nose. Creamy, full mouthfeel. Very well-balanced blend of the Westmalle yeasts, robust malt, and that Lagunitas hop bite. The warming, creaminess of this beer is the real highlight. The perfectly strong, but not over-powering, Belgo-American ale.