#249: Jack's Abby Brewing » Session Rye IPL

Jack's Abby Brewing » Session Rye IPL | ABV: 3.8% | IBUs: 40 | Rating: 8.6%

My partner and I kicked off last Friday's at-home tasting with this new brew from Jack's Abby. Everything Jack's has been solid or impressive, so I was intrigued at the prospect of a quality, very low ABV beer from these MA lager innovators.

This Session Rye is a hazy, translucent amber with plenty of foamy, fluffy white head. The nose puffs up a soft plume of spicy citrus aromas. From first sip, it's a clean, refreshing, drinkable ride, but with ample character.

Having Centennial, Chinook, Columbus and Crystal hops at the very end of the boil, provides a distinctive, but subtle hop bitterness that never gets too biting. Rye heat and floral notes compliment nicely.

Overall, an excellent alternative to the session-IPA craze with a bit more character and subtle quality than most, though not the most hop-forward, if that's what you're seeking. Great body for such a low ABV. I'd encourage this to find its way to 6-packs.

#248: Flying Dog Brewery » Easy IPA

Flying Dog Brewery » Easy IPA | ABV: 4.8% | IBUs: 50 | Rating: 8.0%

Stemming from Flying Dog's Brewhouse Rarities series, Easy IPA has made it's way into year-round rotation and was second in our home tasting.

This session IPA pours up a transparent straw color crowed with a fluffy white head. Soft, mild hop aromas rise with a touch of pine and citrus. The flavor is quite mild with a minerally, mid-level bitterness in the finish.

Overall, there's really not that much going on here. I see this more as a brew that I'd grab while out at a bar when something other than beer is the focus. It's pleasant, well-balanced, but a bit too safe for this beer enthusiast's liking.

#247: Tröegs Brewing Company » LaGrave (Belgian-style Tripel)

Tröegs Brewing Company » LaGrave (Belgian-style Tripel)
ABV: 8% | Rating: 8.7/10

I've unfortunately only been privy to a couple of Tröegs batch brews, so I'm not as well versed on the full-caliber of their offerings, but Nugget Nectar, Flying Mouflan and others have always been impressive, so I've been looking forward to this LaGrave since it first caught my eye with it's classy, caged cork.

As the 3rd bottle in, during an in-home tasting session, LaGrave meets us with a hazy golden body and fluffy, staying white head whose lace clings for the full drink duration.

The nose is somewhat transparent, with mild notes of yeast, banana, and confection sugar. Lively carbonation follows onto the palate, presenting a firm, traditional Belgian-tripel body and mouthfeel. Firm flavors of savory spice and very slight chili give this strong brew a shot of complexity. Soft, sweet malts caress the palate the whole journey through.

Overall, a pleasant foray into Belgian-styles in bottles for Tröegs and worth a try for any Belgian fan, however it's a bit shy of much of what's going on across the pond and other Belgian-style American houses. Curious how this one would age and where Tröegs continues with this solid offering.

#246: Dark Horse Brewing Co. » Double Crooked Tree (IPA)

Dark Horse Brewing Co. » Double Crooked Tree (IPA)
ABV: 12% | Rating: 9.3

Aptly names, this DIPA is a double version of Dark Horse's Crooked Tree offering. Only my third Dark Horse, having nearly missed Smell Like A Safety Meeting, I've jumped on to make sure I get a bit broader view of their offerings.

Double Crooked Tree pours up with a deep, amber body and thick, staying, head of lace. The nose is impeccable - sweet raisin, cane sugar, caramel, coconut... a damn fine and potent collection of aromas.

Down the hatch it's barelywine characteristics up front quickly followed by a chili-hot DIPA - WOW. There's tons of hop heat on the finish here.

A sipper of a beer for sure. Rich, buttery mouthfeel, complex and huge the whole way through with charcoal notes in the finish; all wrapped up spicy and dry.

Overall, a heck of an IPA that holds its own amongst the big-ABV IPAs and recommended for the big-beer fans.

After some time between my first Dark Horse and these last two, I've surely discovered what all the buzz is about. I personally was a bit more struck with the unique palate of Smells Like A Safety Meeting, but my bet sees this DCT as a more widely-cheered brew.

#245: Dark Horse Brewing Co. » Smells Like A Safety Meeting (IPA)

Dark Horse Brewing Co. » Smells Like A Safety Meeting (IPA)
ABV: 8.5% | Rating: 9.3

I picked up a handful of single bottles from the newly expanded Fingerlakes Beverage Center that hadn't yet checked out this spring / summer that we'll run through this week, starting with Dark Horse's curiously monikered, 4/20 release.

Smells Like A Safety Meeting arrives with an amber-coffee colored body topped with a tuft of lacy, ivory head. Huge hop aromas permeate even before the pour is finished. Sticky fumes of resin, raisin, toffee, tangerine, and honey follow upon a closer whiff.

A strong, unique burst of flavors drops onto the palate - like a barelywine-meets-IPA. Dank notes of pine and sap with a curious flavor that follows all the way to the throat... we'll find it.

It's herbal, sticky up front and devilishly dry on the finish. Upon further discussion, grilled rum-pineapple is the flavor we pull out further out which seeps through slightly charred and burnt sugar notes.

Overall, a unique, high-power, hop-tastic brew that's a few clicks shy of sane. Recommended.

#244: Victory Brewing Co. » White Monkey (Barrel-Aged Tripel)

(bright days sometimes = grainy pics!)

Victory Brewing Co. »  White Monkey (Tripel aged in Oak White Wine Barrles)
ABV: 9.5% | Rating: 8.8/10

This barrel-aged version of Golden Monkey has been on my wish-again list since catching it at a tasting in 2012.

It starts off with a sweet nose that's elegant and soft, fueled by savory spices and sweet coconut. Lively carbonation rushes onto the palate with flavors of smooth stone fruits like white peach and apricot, threaded with distinct notes of vanilla and a breath of oak. There's even a touch of hot, mineral notes that peak through later on.

Overall, a great variation on a popular favorite and a great value from a barrel-aged brew for the price.

News: Fingerlakes Beverage Center expands!

Our good friends at Fingerlakes Beverage Center are expanding!!

(just a short walk down the end of their East Coast isle...)

(welcome to their bigger, beautifully brighter cold case!)

(West Coast...)

(...to East Coast!)

More info & better picks coming soon. 

Coming Soon...

#243: Galaxy Brewing Company visit » Phil's Pils, White Dwarf Wit, Whiskey Saison, Big Bock Theory, Maibock, Sage-i-tarious, Omega Dubble, Silk, Pulsar Porter, Mint Chocolate Stout, Dark Star

My partner and I were introduced to Galaxy Brewing out of Binghamton, NY at The Westy here in Ithaca through their Andromeda IPA - one of the best IPAs I've run across in recent years. It's slammed right in the middle of rich, well-balanced English-style and American, citrus-forward hop power.

Visit #1 didn't go quite as planned, as we headed down to the brewery for my partner's birthday, while I was almost completely layed-out, battling some sort of nasty virus. I slept for 6 hours after we got back mid-afternoon.

I'd been looking for an excuse for visit #2 and when we realized we had less than a week before one of our newest close friends was leaving town, who also was a big fan of Andromeda, a trek down to Bingo was in order. There were three of us, 12 beers on tap, and a flight came with any four beers. So, we just got all of them!

Phil's Pils (Pilsner) ABV: 5% | Rating: 8.8/10
Biting Saaz hops shine through with a slightly dry finish in this bold presentation of the Czech classic. An excellent example of Galaxy's blend of Euro tradition and American bold craft flavor.

White Dwarf Wit (Wheat Ale) ABV: 4.0% | Rating: 8.5/10
Light and understated with pleasant notes of mild banana and coriander backed by prickly carbonation. Refreshing.

Whiskey Saison (Saison aged in Whisky Barrles w Brett.) ABV: 7.6% | Rating: 9.2/10
Now we're talking! Bursting with peach & apricot notes, augmented by a slight funk in the exhale, and sliding in with a big, dry finish, this hazy, amber-hued Saison is fantastic. Excellent blend of Saison fruitiness and wispy thread of whiskey. I ended up ordering a full order of this to cap off the night later on.

Galaxy Maibock (Maibock) ABV: 7.4% | Rating: 9/10
Smooth, malty goodness is the showcase for another classic style with robust American enhancements. A refreshing, drinkable spring lager with pleasant caramel notes, firm hops, and healthy esters and alcohol content.

Big Bock Theory (Dobble Bock) ABV: 7.1% | Rating: 9/10
Beautiful malt flavors dance with apricot, spices, and bright esters with a velvety dry finish.

Sage-i-tarious (Belgian-Style) ABV: 7.8% | Rating: 9.2/10
Savory epicness in this fantastic marriage of Belgian tradition with a twist of experimentation. Perfectly soft carbonation and mouthfeel is followed up by mild notes of orange, all wrapped up in a velvety dry finish.

Omega Dubble (Belgian Dubble) ABV: 8.0% | Rating: 9.4/10
This is an insanely tasty double and a damn tasty beer overall. It's a malt lovers draem, stacked with blooming esters and threaded with mild notes of banana.

Galaxy Silk (Amber Ale on Nitro) ABV: 9.2
Silky smooth and beautiful, this Nitro take on Omega is quite tasty and highly drinkable. The esters are rolled off a touch with a touch of pleasant mineral notes and a dryer finish.. Great complimentary brew to have on the line.

Pulsar Porter (Nitro Porter) ABV: 5.5% | 8.8/10
Jet black with a glimmer of ruby, Pulsar offers up creamy, coffee flavors with a extended, dry finish of dark chocolate, more coffee, and a touch of bitterness

Mint Chocolate Stout (Stout) ABV: 6.8% | Rating: 9/10
Wow! This brew packs a punch of bursting fresh mint. An innovative brew, in my opinion and perfect execution of an odd-ball additive. Smooth chocolate nose are slammed with vegital, grassy, herbal mint that cuts right through.

Dark Star (Black Hopped Ale) ABV: 7.2 | Rating: 9.4/10
This is a damn good black IPA - this was the most memorable from Visit #1, having been one of the few things that broke through the wall of my inability to taste anything while I was sick for so long in the spring.

It's stacked with citrusy hops and plenty of grapefruit and rind notes, but cut with the dark side of bitterness and roasted malts. Big, bold, jet-black hop goodness. Recommended and a standout brew for sure.

Overall, a great beer & food visit and a must for anyone in CNY.

#242: Westbrook Brewing Co. » Mexican Cake (Imperial Stout)

Westbrook Brewing Co. » Mexican Cake (Imperial Stout)
ABV: 10.5% | IBUs: 50 | Rating: 9.7/10

This is my first go-around with Westbrook's lauded anniversary ale, Mexican Cake. A beast of a brew, this American Imperial Stout is packed with cocoa nibs, vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, and fresh habanero peppers, and unlike many big stouts, it's recommended to drink fresh. A bit of a bumpy start to the week rebooted with great beer, A/C, and cartoons? Sign me up.

As with many well-hyped beers stuffed with a plethora of additives, I approached this one with a touch of skepticism, but also a great deal of excitement. While I haven't been wowed by every Westbrook, the ones that do, really knock it out of the park for me. Mexican Cake delivered on the latter.

This double stout pours up jet black with a thick, reddish, dark-mocha head. Smooth, sweet cinnamon & cocoa nib aromas rise up from the glass backed by mild notes of roasted coffee and vanilla.

The first sip is transcendental. This isn't even beer, it's a thick, beautiful desert cocktail. A smooth and silky mouthfeel, supported by lively carbonation makes for a pleasant, sippable canvas for a plethora of flavors.

The chocolate / pepper combo here is crucial and one of the most well-balanced habanero beers, or any hot-pepper beer, I've had yet. Big flavors smooth, cake-like chocolate and an ever-building pepper fire is rolled off with sweet vanilla and lovely hints of sweet, spicy cinnamon.

Overall, Mexican Cake is elegant for the over-the-top recipe, storming in unabashed, but never overbearing. Highly recommended and damn fantastic.

#241: Goose Island Beer Co. » Madame Rose 2012 (Flanders Oud Bruin)

Madame Rose 2012 (Flanders Oud Bruin) ABV: 7.1% | Rating: 9.3/10

At the end of June, I received a call from the IRS that was truly cause for celebration - Ithaca Underground, the organization I've been building for the last 6 years, had finally received 501(c)3 not-for-profit status. However, since it was just a verbal at the time, I needed to keep my lid shut for just a few more days, so it was time for some in-house celebration.

This Madame Rose is one of the first I picked up for aging while I was out in Buffalo a couple years back, so this seemed like the perfect choice to crack into and toast to. It's a Brown Ale, aged in French oak Cabernet Sauvignon barrels with Michigan cherries and Brettanomyces. I'm so ready...

Madame Rose  kicks off with a beautiful, velvety nose of tart cherries, oak, and red wine. There's a few slightly funky aromas of sour red grape and ripe red fruits peaking through with a sliver of brown sugar.

The body is a wonderful, ruby-brown with a quickly fading off-white head.

The taste is incredible and quite reminiscent of red wine, including a velvety dry finish. It's elegant, well-carbonated and full of tart fruits like dark cherries, with a hint of mild red apples. There's a touch of sweetness and the start of each sip with is a nice detail. The carbonation level is ideal to release the beautiful oak and red wine notes.

Overall, a wonderful effort. It's not the sourest, fruitiest Flanders out there, instead Madame Rose delivers a lively, lavish beer experience with a healthy dose of wild complexity.