BBB Reviews & What's On Tap? posts will return soon!

[working through a few things this month...]

What's On Tap? (Ithaca: 4/7/2015)

Lots of new & seasonal brews on tap this week from Hopshire, Ithaca Beer, Bandwagon, and more!

Ithaca Beer Taproom this Wednesday hosts is the return of Cayuga Cruiser - Ithaca's Berliner Weisse style summer brew - along side a cask of Cruiser aged on raspberry puree on Wednesday (whoa!).

• Beersebub (Helles)
• SaScotch (Nitro Scotch Ale) 
• 'Nother Day IPA
• Daydreamer 
• Imperial Saison 
• 17!

Northstar: 

• 21st Amendment Bitter American 
• Catskills Freaktractor Wild Ale
• Dogfish Head Raison D'Extra
• Founders KBS 
• Founders Black Rye
• Ithaca Beer Java Power
• Ithaca Superstout
• Ommegang Hop House
• Ommegang La Chouffe
• Southern Tier Sonnet
• Southern Tier Tier De Garde
• Troges Nugget Nectar 2013

Bandwagon Brew Pub: 

• Hidden Rabbit Hefeweizen
• Ezra Red Ale
• Pucker Up
• Svante's Legislative Session IPA
• No Kettle No Cry (Massively dry-hopped ale)
• Humble  (American Wheat)
• High Step Weizenbock
• Pirate Eye IPA
• Sully's Irish Stout
• Tuesday Night Circus (3xIPA)
• Pucker Up (Sour Rye)
• Doc Rocker Porter
• Doc Blocker Smoked Porter (Coming soon...)
• Slime IPA (Coming soon...)
• Catskills Freaktractor Wild Ale
• Three Heads Brewing The Kind
• Smuttynose Findest Kind IPA
• Break & Skiff 1911
• Bell's Oberon
• Cortland Brewery Black Widow Russian Imperial Stout

Ithaca Coffee Company:
Triphammer:

• Upstate Honey Porter
• Ommegang Glimmer Glass
• Sam Adams Rebel IPA
• Dogfish Head Chateau Jiahu
• Ritterguts Gose
• Ithaca Java Power
• Green Flash Soul Style IPA
• Rogue Dead Guy Ale
• Rogue Brutal IPA
• 3 Heads Double Skunk
• Angry Orchard Crisp Apple
• Rogue Irish Style Lager

Gateway:

• Cortland Black Widow Stout
• 3 Heads Buffalo Soul Jah
• Wagner Valley Coffee Porter
• Shiner FM966
• Wagner Valley Sled Dog
• Sackets Harbor War of 1812 Ale
• Wagner Valley Maple Porter
• Harpoon UFO Gingerland
• Wagner Valley Hop Tropic
• Ithaca Beer Excelsior! 17

Hopshire Farm & Brewery 

• Beehave
• Brambles (Raspberry Wheat Ale)
• Shire Ale
• Sympathy (Belgian strong golden)
• Near Varna 
• Hop Onyx 
• Hopscene Gesture (new Double IPA)

Ithaca Ale House

• Abandon Brewing Black Currant Amber
• Dogfish Head Raison D'Extra
• Galaxy NY Attitude (Belgian Pale)
• Harpoon UFO White
• Beak & Skiff Cidery - Hopped Cider
• Stella Artois
• Ithaca Daydreamer
• Leinenkugel Summer Shandy
• Wachusetts Blueberry Ale
• Alpine Beer Company Duet IPA
• Bell's Two Hearted
• Cortland Beer Industrial IPA
• Saranac Prism
• Stone Enjoy By 4.20.15 IPA
• Founders KBS
• Guinness
• Stone Arrogant Bastard
• Southern Tier Goat Boy
• Ithaca White Gold
• Schneider Porter Weisse

Finger Lakes Beverage Center

• Great Lakes Christmas
• Anderson Valley Blood Orange Gose
• Saranac Tramonay Rouge
• Abandon Porter
• Horseheads Orion Belgian IPA
• Cortland Industrial IPA
• Ithaca Red Rye IPA
• Southern Tier 2Xmas
• Smuttynose/Stone Clusters Last Stand IPA (new!)
• Sam Adams Helles Bock
• Angry Orchard Crisp Hard Cider
• W E Salle Birch Beer Soda

#317: Ithaca Beer Co. » Beersebub (Helles), Imperial Saison, SaScotch (Nitro Scotch Ale)

BBB is back after a week off, starting up a prosperous new day job. A surprise birthday party for a friend I haven't seen in far too long was a good spark to get back in the review game at Ithaca Beer, where the were offering up four new 5 BBL offerings ('Nother Day session IPA not reviewed).

Beersebub (Helles sytle) | ABV: 5.5%
A great start to the meal after waiting to order until seated. An easy drinking, dry, bittersweet brew with a brief, clean finish. Nice session weight to start things off.

Imperial Saison | ABV: 8.7%
This one peaked my interest as soon as I walked in - Grains of Paradise, ginger, & orange peal in a weighty Saison? Yes, please. It's smoothly spiced, backed by soft carbonation, and faint threads of earthiness. Wonderfully blooming white fruit esters follow with well-balanced notes of ginger, rind, and pith peak through. There's a mildly sharp creaminess to it too.

SaScotch (Nitro Scotch Ale) | ABV: 8.3%
Here's another highly enjoyable, limited brew from IB's new Manhattan Project. An excellent choice for Nitro, this scotch ale is deftly smooth with soft, nutty undertones threaded with mild butterscotch, caramel, and a faint hint of rye.

What's On Tap? (Ithaca: 3/25/2015)

What's on Tap in Ithaca? Tons of new seasonals with a few rarities...

Ithaca Beer Taproom just launched their 5BBL Imperial Saison, brewed with Grains of Paradise, ginger and orange peel, clocking in at 8.7%.  This week on cask it's Flower Power dry hopped with Galaxy.

Northstar: 

• Anderson Valley The Kimmie The Yink (Gose)
• Bacchus Red Rye
• Bacchus Oatmeal Stout
• Beak & Skiff Cidery - Hopped Cider
• Brasserie D'Achouffe - Mc Chouffe
• Founders KBS 2014 (2015 on deck)
• Founders Black Rye
• Ithaca Beer Java Power
• Ithaca Superstout
• Ommegang Rare Vos
• Ommegang Game of Thrones Valar
• Troegs Nugget Nectar

Bandwagon Brew Pub: 

• NYS Traditional Pilsner
• Humble  (American Wheat)
• High Step Weizenbock
• Pirate Eye IPA
• Sully's Irish Stout
• Parallaxium (Golden Session)
• Tuesday Night Circus (3xIPA)
• Pucker Up (Sour Rye)
• Doc Rocker Porter
• Robust Brown Ale
• Three Heads Brewing The Kind
• Oskar Blues G'Night
• Cortland Brewery Black Widow Russian Imperial Stout

Ithaca Coffee Company:
Triphammer:

• Upstate Honey Porter
• Ommegang Glimmer Glass
• Sam Adams Rebel IPA
• Dogfish Head Chateau Jiahu
• Ritterguts Gose
• Ithaca Java Power
• Green Flash Soul Style IPA
• Rogue Dead Guy Ale
• Rogue Brutal IPA
• 3 Heads Double Skunk
• Angry Orchard Crisp Apple
• Rogue Irish Style Lager

Gateway:

• Cortland Black Widow Stout
• 3 Heads The Kind
• Wagner Valley Coffee Porter
• Shiner White Wing
• Troegs Cultivator
• Troegs Nugget Nectar
• Harpoon UFO Gingerland
• Sierra Nevada Hop Hunter
• Ithaca Beer Creeker

Ithaca Ale House

• Abandon Brewing Black Currant Amber
• Great Lakes Conways Irish Ale
• Smithwick's Irish Red Ale
• Dogfish Head Raison D'Extra
• Harpoon UFO White
• Beak & Skiff Cidery - Hopped Cider
• Stella Artois
• Ithaca Daydreamer
• Saranac Tramonay Rouge
• Wachusetts Blueberry Ale
• Alpine Beer Company Duet IPA
• Bell's Hopslam
• Bell's Two Hearted
• Southern Tier Right O' Way IPA
• Goose Island Ten Hills Pale
• Ithaca Super Stout
• Guinness
• Stone Arrogant Bastard
• Southern Tier Goat Boy
• Ithaca White Gold

Hopshire Farm & Brewery 

• Beehave
• Brambles (Raspberry Wheat Ale)
• Fiddlers Grain (Irish Red)
• Shire Ale
• Sympathy (Belgian strong golden)
• Near Varna 
• Hop Onyx 

The Westy

• Crispin
• Troegs Hop Back
• Allagash White
• Bells Two Hearted
• Ithaca Flower Power
• Brooklyn Lager
• Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA
• Three Heads The Kind
• Lagunitas Pils
• Keuka Hoppy Lager
• Bacchus Floras Fate
• (on deck: Great Lakes Chillwave, Upstate XPA, Victory Prima Pils, & more)

Finger Lakes Beverage Center

• Great Lakes Christmas
• Anderson Valley Blood Orange Gose
• Saranac Tramonay Rouge
• Abandon Porter
• Horseheads Orion Belgian IPA
• Cortland Industrial IPA
• Ithaca Red Rye IPA
• Southern Tier 2Xmas
• Smuttynose/Stone Clusters Last Stand IPA (new!)
• Sam Adams Helles Bock
• Angry Orchard Crisp Hard Cider
• W E Salle Birch Beer Soda

What's On Tap? (Ithaca: 3/19/2015)

Let's have a look at What's on Tap? in Ithaca this week!

Ithaca Beer Taproom offer up Beerzebub, Helles beer. It's a golden pale lager on the slightly maltier side with a mild hoppy essence.

• 17!
• Collaboratus (w/ Abandon Brewing)
• Dorian grain
• Cask: Grapefruited Flower Power

Bandwagon Brew Pub: 

• Parallaxium (Golden Session)
• Belgian Brown
• Ezra Red Ale
• Rauchbier
• Slime IPA
• Doc Rocker Porter
• Sesch Ale (Kolsch)
• Azedo (Sour Mash Ale)
• Tuesday Night Circus (3xIPA)
• Robust Brown Ale
• Belgian Brown
• British Envasion
• TB3 (American Pale)
• Stone Enjoy By 
• Three Heads Brewing The Kind
• Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout
• Smuttynose Brewing - Durty Mudd
• Oskar Blues - G'Knight (Imperial Red)
• Dogfish Head - Aprihop 
• 1911 Cider

Ithaca Coffee Company:
Triphammer:

• Upstate Honey Porter
• Ommegang Glimmer Glass
• Wagner Valley Hop Tropic
• Ballast Point Victory at Sea
• Ritterguts Gose
• Ithaca Java Power
• Ballast Point Sculpin
• Rogue Dead Guy Ale
• Rogue Brutal IPA
• 3 Heads Rochestafarian
• Hopshire Near Varna
• Rogue Irish Style Lager

Gateway:

• Cortland Black Widow Stout
• 3 Heads The Kind
• Wagner Valley Coffee Porter
• Shiner White Wing
• Troegs Cultivator
• Troegs Nugget Nectar
• Harpoon UFO Gingerland
• Sierra Nevada Hop Hunter
• Ithaca Beer Creeker

Ithaca Ale House

• Abandon Brewing Black Currant Amber
• Great Lakes Conways Irish Ale
• Smithwick's Irish Red Ale
• Dogfish Head Raison D'Extra
• Harpoon UFO White
• Stella Artois
• Saranac Tramonay Rouge
• Wachusetts Blueberry Ale
• Bell's Hopslam
• Bell's Two Hearted
• Sierra Nevada Hop Hunter
• Upstate IPA
• Harp Lager
• Pilsner Urquell
• Goose Island Ten Hills Pale
• Horseheads Chocolate Porter
• Ithaca Super Stout
• Guinness
• Ithaca Super Stout 
• Stone Arrogant Bastard
• Ithaca White Gold

Hopshire Farm & Brewery 

• Beehave
• Fiddlers Grain (Irish red)
• Shire Ale
• Barley Stone (Irish stout)
• Shire Ale
• Sympathy (Belgian strong golden)
• Near Varna 
• Hop Onyx 

Finger Lakes Beverage Center

• Great Lakes Christmas 
• Southern Tier 2Xmas
• Smuttynose/Stone Clusters Last Stand IPA (new!)
• Lake Placid Black Tie Porter
• Saranac Clouded Dream
• Horseheads Black IPA
• Sam Adams Helles Bock
• Upstate XPA IPA
• Angry Orchard Crisp Hard Cider
• W E Salle Birch Beer Soda 

The Westy

• Troegs Hop Back
• Uinta Baba 
• Ithaca Green Trail
• Six Point Cream Ale
• Lagunitas Pils
• Bells Kalamazoo
• Bells Two Hearted
• Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA
• Original Sin Cider
• PBR
• Bacchus Floras Fate
• Allagash White

(If you would like your bar or brewery featured in these weekly posts, contact bubbablogs (at) gmail.com)

What's On Tap? (Ithaca: March 11th, 2015)

Let's have a look at What's on Tap? in Ithaca this week!

Ithaca Beer Taproom launch their 100th 5BBL brew, 'Dorian Grain' an Irish Red in honor of the Irish author, Oscar Wilde in addition to...

• Collaboratus (Amber Saison : Abandon Brewing)
• Green Trail dry hopped w/ experimental hop 07270 (Thurs Cask Night)
• Anniversary 17! -  (Wheat, DIPA w Brettanomyces)
• Daydreamer -  (Kolsch)
• Cranbretty - (100% Brett. fruit beer)
• Embrr (Rye Porter)

Bandwagon Brew Pub: 

• Parallaxium (Golden Session)
• Belgian Brown
• Ezra Red Ale
• Rauchbier
• Pirate Eye IPA
• Sully Irish Stout
• Sesch Ale (Kolsch)
• Azedo (Sour Mash Ale)
• Tuesday Night Circus (3xIPA)
• Robust Brown Ale
• Too Haves, Hole Porter
• British Envasion
• Doc Rocker Porter
• Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout
• Smuttynose Brewing - Durty Mudd
• Oskar Blues - G'Knight (Imperial Red)
• Dogfish Head - Aprihop 
• 1911 Cider

Ithaca Coffee Company:
Triphammer:

• 21st Amendment Back in Black
• Shiner FM966 Farmhouse Ale
• Hopshire The Barley Stone
• Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout
• Stone Matt's Burning Rosids
• Ithaca Excelsior! 17
• Hopshire Sympathy
• Stone Enjoy By 3.14.15
• Saranac Chocolate Orange Porter
• Southern Tier Bier De Garde
• Hopshire Near Varna
• Hopshire Hop Onyx

Gateway:

• City Steam Naughty Nurse
• Ithaca Java Power
• Shiner White Wing
• Ithaca Daydreamer
• Ithaca SuperStout
• North Coast Brother Thelonious
• Southern Tier 2XPRESSO
• Southern Tier Nitro IPA
• Sierra Nevada Hop Hunter
• Southern Tier  Goat Boy Weizen Bock

Northstar: 

• Anderson Valley The Kimmie The Yink (Gose)
• Bell's Hopslam
• Boulder Beer Dragon Hosen (Imperial Marzen)
• Brasserie Kronenbourg - Kronenboug (Euro Pale Ale)
• Catskill Ball Lightning (Pilsner)
• Dogfish Head BEER Thousand (Imperial Lager)
• Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
• Ommegang Glimmerglass (Saison/Farmhouse)
• Ithaca Superstout
• Abandon Brewing Farmhouse IPA
• Sierra Nevada Hop Hunter
• South Hill Cider

Ithaca Ale House

• Founders Black Rye
• Smithwick's Irish Red Ale
• Harpoon UFO White
• Stella Artois
• Ommegang Glimmerglass
• Saranac Tramonay Rouge
• Wachusetts Blueberry Ale
• Bell's Hopslam
• Bell's Two Hearted
• Sierra Nevada Hop Hunter
• Stone Enjoy By 3.14.15
• Upstate IPA
• Pilsner Urquell
• Goose Island Ten Hills Pale
• Bacchus Oatmeal Stout
• Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
• Ithaca Super Stout
• Guinness
• Ithaca Super Stout 
• Stone Arrogant Bastard
• Ithaca White Gold

Hopshire Farm & Brewery 

• Beehave
• Fiddlers Grain (Irish red)
• Shire Ale
• Barley Stone (Irish stout)
• Shire Ale
• Sympathy (Belgian strong golden)
• Near Varna 
• Hop Onyx 

Finger Lakes Beverage Center

• Great Lakes Christmas 
• Southern Tier 2Xmas
• Smuttynose/Stone Clusters Last Stand IPA (new!)
• Lake Placid Black Tie Porter
• Saranac Clouded Dream
• Horseheads Black IPA
• Sam Adams Helles Bock
• Upstate XPA IPA
• Angry Orchard Crisp Hard Cider
• W E Salle Birch Beer Soda 

The Westy

• Lagunitas IPA
• Troegs Hop Back
• Uinta Baba 
• Ithaca Green Trail
• Six Point Cream Ale
• Lagunitas Pils
• Bells Kalamazoo

(If you would like your bar or brewery featured in these weekly posts, contact bubbablogs (at) gmail.com)

#318: The Lost Abbey » Red Poppy Ale 2012 (Flanders Red Ale)

The Lost Abbey » Red Poppy Ale 2012 (Flanders Red Ale) | ABV: 5.5%

I finally found the right evening to crack into this wonderful sour from The Lost Abbey -- the brew that truly launched my feverish interest in sour and wild beers.

Red Poppy starts life at Pizza Port's Dawn Patrol Dark session Brown Ale. After fermentation and during barrel transfer, it's blended with Port Brewing's Amigo Lager. Cherries are added and put through a second fermentation, than aged six months.

The result is a vibrant nose, blooming with bright sour cherry flavor and subtler notes of grape and apple, supported by a transparent nuttiness and soft, earthy funk.

Red Poppy hits the palate with a chewy, decedent, and full-bodied mouthfeel that remains elegant, never dipping into weighted tubbiness. It's puckering, with an expert balance of sour cherry and chocolate.

Further through, a venerable cornucopia of flavors peak through at every turn - lemon pith, grape skin, mineral characteristics, all with a touch of funk, rummy finish, and an afterglow that is sweeter than most sours.

Absolutely a superb beer.