#016: Logsdon Farmhouse Ales - Seizoen Bretta

Full Sail's first brewer and Wyeast Labs founder Dave Logsdon crafts wonderful organic farmhouse ales...

The Brewery: Logsdon Farmhouse Ales (Hood River, OR)
The Brew: Seizoen Bretta
Availability: Draft and bottles
ABV: 8%
Rating: 9.5/10
Location: Home

The Story? Dave Logsdon has been a name familiar to many within the beer industry for his founding of Wyeast Labs (and consulting work with many breweries) and early work at Full Sail. Now, with those years of yeast experience under his belt, he's formed a new primary venture, Logsdon Farmhouse Ales, based out of Oregon, focused on handcrafted, organic, whole-coned hopped ales. This first one on our list is brewed with a special batch of Brettanomyces and bottle conditioned with pear juice for natural carbonation.

The Beer? The wonderfully aromatic nose of sweet citrus and mild funk topped with a lacy head is very welcoming.  The first taste is quite tart, but quickly settles in. Nice, high carbonation. I can already tell this is going to be a great sour farmhouse and it's very refreshing on a hot day like today. Robust kumquat notes and well-balanced must can be tasted throughout with a quick, dry, but sweet citrus rind finish.

A wonderfully unique and recommended ale. The special brett strain and the pear juice add subtle complexities throughout the experience which proudly stand out from other saisons and farmhouse ales. An excellent choice for any experienced pallet looking for new tastes without needing to be subjected to extremes.

#015: New Belgium Lips of Faith Series: Peach Porch Lounger

The final Baltimore Beer stop...

The Brewery: New Belgium
The Brew: Lips of Faith: Peach Porch Lounger
Availability: Draft and bottles (limited)
ABV: 9.4%
Rating: 8.5/10
Location: Leinenkugel's Beer Garden (Baltimore)

The Story? New Belgium is another brewery that unfortunately does not grace us here in NYS. Their ever-growing "Lips of Faith" series of sours taunts me with every news post. Well, that's why we travel, right? To get beer we can get here. This being our final night in Baltimore, I was very pleased to stumble upon this as an option for my pallet.

My first foray into the series is on of their latest - the Peach Porch Lounger. A result of a musical collaboration with G-Love of G-Love and the Special Sauce.

The Beer? This brew is brewed with peach juice, molasses, hominy grits, lemon peel, pale and biscuit malts, and some Brettanomyces and I cannot wait to put it in my mouth.

Fruity, sour nose. Minimal head. Pleasant, juicy peach flavor, but not sweet. Subtle funk and sour notes throughout. I noticed late in that it's listed at 9.4%, which is absurd. Tasted like a 4% or so. Great job hiding that. This is a very unique and accessible beer. Deep and complex, but goes down without thinking. A must try for any sour fan or those curious to enter. The brett effect is quite mild, so calling it a "sour" might be extensive, but the notes are there. The peach balances it all out wonderfully.

High-gravity summer sour saison? Better believe it and better give it a try.

#014: Stillwater Artisanal Ales - Debauched, Debutante, Jaded, & Hardly Barreto

Baltimore Beer stop #2...

Sunday we stopped in for brunch before preparing our bodies for Sleep, Converge, Margrudergrind, and more at Maryland Deathfest. With another long day ahead, good food and good beer were again in order.

The Story? Gypsy brewer Brian Strumke has been traveling the globe for the last 3 years, brewing conceptual beers at various breweries, similar to how Mikkeller and Evil Twin operate  Most of their ales fall somewhere on the saison/farmhouse/Belgian spectrum, but with innovative and creative experiments with herbs, wild yeasts, and a variety of aging techniques and barrels. The result is an ever-growing resume of complex, world-class creations with an expert hand for balance and nuance.

Since Brian doesn't have a physical brewery and Maryland laws restrict many aspects of being able to sell beer at breweries, the beautifully named Of Love & Regret is the home of many draught and rare bottles from Stillwater to be consumed on premise (some for take-away as well). A wonderful interior and fabulous staff with gourmet selections for foodies and beer lovers alike.

Debauched (Brunello): Scandinavian Farmhouse Ale | 6.7% ABV
I jumped right in while waiting for my Roast Ribeye French Dip (which was as amazing as it sounds), with a 375 mL bottle of Stillwater's Debauched - a Scandinavian Farmhouse ale brewed with whole Juniper bushes, aged for months in Spanish Brunello barrels, then re-fermented with multiple strains of Brettanomyces. I couldn't pass this one up and glad I didn't...

Huge sour nose of funk and tart right off the bat. Nice fluffy head. Low carbonation. Cool and smooth. Not over powering and a great, high-quality sour to start with.

Wet up front with a sneaky dry finish. Several sips in, the tart blurs into funk. Incredibly complex without being overwhelming, like a low-carbonation Champagne. Hints of lemon throughout with a big wet mouthfeel that is easy down.

Towards the end of the bottle we're met with a string of earthy funk flavors and a long musty finish. Beautiful.

Débutante: Farmhouse Ale | 6.4% ABV
My first draught of brunch. I ordered this in part as my partner's twin sisters were having a débutante-themed 16th birthday party the following day, which we'd be missing because of the trip. The other reason is it sounded wonderful and I am going to make my way through everything this man brews at some point.

To start, there's a light air of honey on the nose. Dry, prickly carbonation on the tongue. Very delicately spiced and incredibly well-balanced taste. Subtle is the name of the game with this one.  Almost bitter. Mild funk and fruit rind with honey comb - not honey sweet. Tart wheat finish.

Jaded: Wheat Saison | 9% ABV
Brewed in collaboration with Urbain Coutteau of De Struise Brouwers, this chestnut colored wheat saison is finished with rose hips, violets and jasmine.

An herbal wake-up beer! Much more in-your-face than my previous two glasses. Bright for a second, then it darkens up with some big malts. The jasmine, violet, and rose hips are superbly blended and balanced. Floral coating of the tongue with a dry finish. Complex pepper and nutty elements throughout. For an experienced pallet.

Hardly Barreto: Farmhouse Ale with Brett. | (unknown ABV)
This one was a special surprise. Brewed for Max's Taphouse owner Casey Hart's wedding, this brew is the aforementioned Débutante plus Brettanomyces. Twist my arm.

Immediate tangy brett on the nose. Bright taste and lively carbonation. Light mouthfeel with a mild funk. A pleasantly light sour for a special occasion. Not released to the public.


Overall a top-notch experience. Knowledgeable, approachable staff. Quick service. Robust tap selection of Stillwater and other local brews and similarly minded imports. One of the best gastropubs I've been to and will undoubtedly be visiting again.

#013: Heavy Seas Alehouse (Visit & Tasting)

While in Baltimore for Maryland Deathfest, stopping in to Heavy Seas was a must...

Heavy Seas is generally available up here in Central, NY and plenty of six-packs, half-cases, and bombers have graced our refrigerators, but there's nothing quite like getting it from the source - especially when cask options and barrel aged brews are available.

We stopped in for lunch before our first day at Deathfest looking for a good meal and good ales before a weekend of festival food and drink and HS delivered. We drink 'em down right to left.

Powder Monkey: Pale Ale | 4.75% ABV
Very different on cask. Mild, roasted flavor. Bitter and a bit nutty, with a dry finish. Excellent with salty food like their house made chips.

Loose Cannon: American IPA | 7.25% ABV
Also on cask. Hoppy and smooth, while still being piney and bitter. One of the hoppier IPAs I've had on cask. Much of the hop characteristics are usually muted with the warm, almost uncarbonated style, but this still punches through. The finish is much earthier than in bottles. Great variation.

Riptide: White IPA | 7.25% ABV
Excellent. Bright and citrusy with a wonderful, prickly mouthfeel. A bit tart and tangy. Looking forward to picking this one up in bottles. No cask option on this one this time around.

Holy Sheet: Abbey Ale | 9% ABV
Brandy barrel aged "Uber Abbey Ale" from the Uncharted Waters series. Mmm... taste the barrels. Mildly boozy and nice oak notes. Sweet, but not too sweet - caramelly with hints of tropical fruit. Wonderful mouthfeel. Not heavy or sticky. Hints of vanilla extract in the finish.

Overall a wonderful ale house. I would have liked to see a few more local-only brew options on draft (or more tap options in general), but the food was great and the service was ultra friendly, accommodating, and knowledgeable. We were even graced with a "Apple Jack Sparrow" - a beer cocktail of their Imperial Stout with Fireball liquor and Green Apple Pucker, which was marvelous.

#012: Sierra Nevada - Hoptimum (Whole Cone Imperial IPA)

The hop arms race continues...

The Brewery: Sierra Nevada (Chico, CA)
The Brew: Imperial IPA
Availability: Draft and bottles
ABV: 10.4% // IBU: 100
Rating: 8.5/10
Location: Home

The Story? Sierra Nevada's lauded Beer Camp were tasked with the challenge of pushing the extremes of whole-cone hopping. The result is a dank, bitter, but compellingly dignified monster of an Imperial IPA.

The Beer? Sweet with a VERY dry finish. Almost cotton mouth dry.  Glowing copper color, punctuated by a fluffy, staying head. Bitter citrus and some tropical fruits are present, but not in a juicy way. Citrus rind is more like it. The intensity of the whole-cone, dry, torpedoed hop experience completely masks the over 10% ABV, which I was not aware of before popping into this, (whoops!).

As exceptional as this brew is, I often wonder where all this over-hopping is taking us. I've been a hop fan since day one of beer loving, as it was my gateway, but as I continue to diversify my pallet and am presented with these 90+ IBUs brews, event the best of the best become somewhere one-denominational by the end of the bottle.

#011: The Bruery - Saison Rue (Farmhouse Ale w/ Rye & Brettanomyces)

Continuing on our Rye journey...

The Brewery: The Bruery (Placentia, CA)
The Brew: Saison Rue (Belgian/French-style farmhouse ale brewed with rye & brett)
Availability: Draft and bottles
ABV: 8.5%
Rating: 9/10
Location: Home

The Story? Earlier in the spring, I trekked out to Chicago to visit a good friend and play a gig. Not wanting to let an opportunity pass by to sample numerous brews, I packed in as many bottles as would fit amongst our gear and my bandmates in my very compact car (in addition to stopping by to sample many of Goose Island's rye barrel-aged and cask selections).

Space and budget were limited, so I had to be picky, and choosing one bottle from The Bruery to bring back was quite a challenge. I was on a particularly high Farmhouse / brettanomyces kick at the time, so this one had to come along.

The Beer?  Out of the gate, we start with a nice Belgian head - but not overwhelming - and an inviting sourness on the nose. First sip is sweeter than expected. This one is a far more delicate rye than most, with biscuit qualities and plentiful carbonation. Dry mouth and a bit of alcohol on the breath out. Creamy and a bit earthy towards the end of the first glass... the bitter of the rye is beginning to build.

Second Glass. Bitter dry and alcohol are becoming much more present. A musty citrus is emerging as well. This beer is getting bigger and funkier with a residual tang on the tongue as we dive deeper into the bottle, all while continuing it's delicate balance of bitter, funky, and delicate. Even with the last quarter glass, the final dredges are well balanced and wonderful.

Overall, a delicious, warm venture of a subtle, but new blend of several styles. Excellent delivery.

#010: Ithaca Beer Co. - Excelsior! Anniversary Fifteen (Dark Rye Ale)

Ithaca Beer's Excelsior! series returns... couldn't wait a day to break into this one.

The Brewery: Ithaca Beer, Co. (Ithaca, NY)
The Brew: Excelsior! Anniversary 15 (Dark Rye Ale)
Availability: Draft and bottles
ABV: 8.4%
Rating: 8/10
Location: Home

The Story? Back in 2008, Ithaca Beer Company celebrated their Tenth anniversary with the release of TEN, the first in a new series under the moniker of Excelsior!. Since then, the series has been home to the brewery's best brews, including the legendary Le Bleu. The anniversary releases from the series are always enjoyable - their 14 Hoppy Black Ale frequented my pallet last year (one bottle remains) and was part of the best black & tan I've ever had (with Excelsior! White Gold).

Next up is Fifteen, the first anniversary ale from their new brewery / taproom which is co-released with the latest batch of Old Habit as the first two Excelsior! releases since the new build/move. Inspired by the Rye Ales of southern Germany.

The Beer? Robust, creamy head with plenty of legs as can be seen from the pick. The beer itself is very smooth and silky on first sip... dry and hoppy through the next few pulls. Some ryes hold to the bitter, hard hoppy side of things, but this has a very pleasant mouthfeel and easy down.

A bit of booze on the finish starts to appear after several gulps along with malt and clove. A very sturdy rye ale. The spice really begins to build the further we trek through this dark-copper ale. Dry clove coats the tongue, while booze and fruit begin to build, reminiscent of some of old ales and barelywines. A slow, deep brew.

Nickname:

New Release: Ithaca Beer Co. - Excelsior! Anniversary Fifteen and Old Habit (Dark Rye Ale and Strong Rye Ale)

Ithaca Beer Co. is excited to announce the release of highly anticipated Excelsior! Anniversary Fifteen & the long-awaited return of Excelsior! Old Habit on Thursday, May 16, 2013 (starting at noon).

Official Press Release:
Excelsior! Anniversary Fifteen- Dark Rye Ale | ABV 8.4% | Bottle / Draft
Inspired by the rye beers of southern Germany, we created this mischievously potent brew using an intriguing combination of pale and rye malts, a traditional German ale yeast, and New Zealand hops.

The result is an assertive dark copper-brown ale with a full-bodied malt backbone and elegant notes of clove and spice. The finish is bracing with a sharp spiciness that parallels a gentle hint of tropical fruit.


Excelsior! Old Habit – Strong Rye Ale | ABV 9.0% | Bottles only
A robust American ale brewed with four different rye malts and fresh centennial and crystal hops. It is partly fermented in Kentucky Rye Whiskey barrels then carefully blended. Enjoy the gorgeous ruby color, strong aromas of vanilla and black cherry, earthy flavors of nuts, oak and the warm, spicy finish.

Click for more information...

#009: Victory Brewing Company (Flights & Visit)

Last weekend my partner and I finally crossed one of our long-time favorite breweries off out "must visit" list - Victory Brewing Co. in Downington, PA. 

Strong, hoppy beer was the first thing that pulled me into a beer lover and I've consumed far more of Victory's Hop Devil than I could really keep track of. Storm King was my gateway into stouts. I'm missing time from several gatherings thanks to one too many delicious Golden Monkeys. While I've worked through just about every beer which they bottle, the only non-bottle brew I've tried is their wonderful Ranch Double IPA. 

All that changed as Victory had well over a dozen draft-only selections, including several one-offs for the recent Craft Brewers Conference. Lets jump in... 

#008: Hopshire Farms and Brewery (Flight & Visit)

1771 Dryden Rd, Freeville, NY - 13068

The Story? Here in Central NY, we're lucky to be graced with a plethora of quality craft breweries - Ithaca Beer, Empire Brewing, Bacchus Brewing, Horseheads Brewery, and dozens of others.

As of Friday, May 10th, you can add one more to that list - Hopshire Farm & Brewery. Excellent visuals and associations come to mind from that great name. Last week, my partner and I lined up for their opening night tasting.

Hopshire's claim to fame, in addition to quality beer, will be their eco/sustainability-friendly farm, brewery, and overall processes and ethos. The beer is brewed with as many local ingredients as possible (presuming many of which will eventually be grown on site), a sand bed under the tasting room stores waste heat from the brewing process to heat the main building. Tubing buried in a spring behind the building circulates water for cooling their fermentors and aging room.  Plans are in the works for a biomass boiler, solar water heating, and other energy generation to become climate neutral. Great to have such 21st century minds involved with one of the world's most ancient of traditions.

The Beer? "What does all this mean for the beer they brew?", you ask. Well, the first few words and phrases I read are - "Honey", "Cherry", "Ginger", "Fuggle hops", "6 different barley malts", and "laced with hops". My dear readers, we are in for an excellent ride.

Beehave: Honey Blond Ale | 4.2% ABV | 10 IBUs
VERY light. A great start for a flight. The honey in this brew quickly brings out mead-like qualities a few sips in. Clean, dry, with a very quick finish. Solid summer beer or a gateway for dry wine or mead fans. Not sweet as you may expect from anything including honey in its ingredients.

Bloosom: Cherry Wheat | 4.5% ABV | 20 IBUs
We've got another light, dry one here!  Not too wheaty, which is great for me. Puckered hints of cherry with prickly carbonation. Quite a nice, fresh taste and not minerally at all. A subtle, different ale.

Zingabeer: Belgian Pale with Ginger | 5.5% ABV | 18 IBUs
Two ginger brews in one week! This one presents itself with a much spicier nose than Left Hand's Juju (#007 review). Nice spice up front on the taste as well. The Belgian style really lends itself to this concept. As with the Beehave, there's a quick finish, so the ginger doesn't linger far on your tongue, though it is still noticeable on the noise-breath out. Rooty brew for any ginger lover.

Daddy-O: English Pale Ale | 6.2% ABV | 41 IBUs
Mmmm... a pleasant change of pace here. Malty, like an English ale should be. Bitter, but not hoppy. Lots of roasted flavor and deep character without trying to reinvent anything. Easy drinking... but not too easy. This is a real beer, boy, take it slow!  Solid.

Shire Ale: Scottish Ale | 6.3 ABV | 30 IBUs
Whoa, now they're switching it up.... there's a lot going on in this one. Malty, malt, malts - there are hops in there, but I'm far too distracted by all the lovely, sweet, oaty goodness going on in this one. I'm going to need a few more tastes to pull everything out of this one (oh woe). Overall a rich, complex take on a brown ale - a sentence which doesn't spring from these lips much. Recommended.

Near Varna: India Pale Ale | 7.5% ABV | 74 IBUs
Laced with hops indeed!  Bitter citrus with a wet finish (which is great considering the IBU's on this one). Longest finish of the batch for sure - adding hops five times during the boil and in the serving tank will do it. If you're looking for a big, bold American IPA that you can still put back several pints and not fret about your tongue turning to sandpaper - rock this one.

Overall, a solid first batch of brews with a little something for everyone - sessions, hop and malt-centric, and a few unique variations. All Hopshire beer at the brewery is tasting or growlers only at the moment - no pints - but they will fill half growlers in addition to your traditional American 1/2 gallon or your German 2 liter. Very much looking forward to how this new brewery progresses, especially considering their next three in the line up are called Sneaky Weasel, Shenanigans, and Dragon's Milk - with those names and their record so far, I'm sure more good, creative things are on the way.

#007: Left Hand Brewing Co. - Good Juju (Ginger Ale)

Left Hand returns to Upstate NY...

The Brewery: Left Hand Brewing Co. (Longmount, CO)
The Brew: Good Juju
Availability: Draft & Bottles (12oz.)
ABV: 4.5%
Rating: 8
Location: Home

The Story? Several years back, my partner's sister brought over a 12-pack from a brewery I hadn't run across yet. The artwork was fantastic and the brews were even better. That beer was from Left Hand - Sawtooth Ale, 400 Pound Monkey IPA, Milk Stout, and Stranger Pale Ale graced my pallet. But then, just like that, they were nowhere to be found in town. I was able to snag one or two on draft while out of state, but otherwise hadn't run into them since and they slipped into the back of my mind.

Fast forward until a week back when I stroll into one of my usual pick-up places (Finger Lakes Beverage) and voilà! - they're back in our area. Into my basket go a sixer of Juju and Nitro Stout. Neither of which I'd tried yet.

Juju's story starts way back (ha) in 1994 as part of Left Hand's first 5 production beers, beginning life as Juju Ginger. 2010 the brew was rebranded as Good Juju with fantastic updated artwork.

The Beer? A full mouth of pleasant ginger satiates me in the first big swig. As well it should - they juice 20kg of ginger for each 60 barrel brewery batch, plus using the rinds in quite an innovative manor.

A smooth, wet, mild pale ale finishes the job. The ginger is ever present, but not in a spicy ginger-beer way... this is a far more subtle nature. A bit sultry, thirst-quenching and satisfying. A great alternative to skunky summer beers and boring, phoned-in fruit wheat beers. I'm peaked to try this with some good Indian or Thai food as well.

This isn't a beard-scratching, philosophizing ale; but that's not what it's aiming. Perfect for those of us looking for a high quality session ale as the temperature rises with quite it's own personality.

#006: Rogue Farms Dirtoir Black Lager

This one has been on the wishlist for a while...

The Brewery: Rogue Farms (Newport, OR)
The Brew: Dirtoir Black Lager
Availability: Draft & Bottles (22oz. Bombers)
ABV: 6.0% // IBU: 35
Rating: 9/10
Location: The Westy, Ithaca, NY

The Story? I'm always on the look out for robust variations on lagers and pilsners and this one is an award winner.  Part of Rogue Farms series (organic, no chemicals or preservatives), this black brew has won several US Beer Tasting and World Beer awards. I must have stopped, stared, and nearly picked this one up a dozen times, but for some reason it wasn't the right moment. Glad I waited and had my first glass on tap at my favorite local spot. 

The Beer?  WOW! Roasted bliss. This gives half the common stouts and porters I've had a run for their money.  An opaque, jet black lager that is totally scorched (in a great way) with a tan / brown head. First taste is full bodied and full of roasted malt goodness. Earthy espresso and dark chocolate fills my pallet continuously through the glass. Rogue are big hop fans, but with perfect restraint, the hops are present but not "hoppy" and hold the malt from hitting the sweet side of things.

There's no running away from this beer. The taste sticks to your tongue like flypaper. I'm a big fan of blackening / roasting / smoking beers which are traditionally light in taste and body. Rogue nailed it on the head with this one.

BeerAdvocate calls it a Schwartzbier, but that'd be like calling Hoptimum a pale ale.

Nickname: Recommended Roasted Adventure

Wishlist!: Sierra Nevada & Boulevard Brewing - Terra Incognito (Sour/Wild Ale)

Heavily hopped brown ale with 45% aged in old wine foudres and 30% in whiskey barrels. If that weren't enough, the real kicker is after blending, it's bottled with Brettanomyces. YUM.

The 2013 batch (coming soon) will be distributed by Boulevard Brewing, so unfortunately, I may have to wait until 2014 when that version goes out through Sierra Nevada's distro. If any one within Boulevard's distro region wants to trade... let's chat.

Thanks to the wonderful Beer Street Journal for putting this beauty on my radar.

#005: Heavy Seas 'Uncharted Waters': Siren Noire (Imperial Chocolate Stout)

My first taste at Heavy Seas revamped 'Uncharted Waters' series.

The Brewery: Heavy Seas (Halethorpe, MD)
The Brew: Siren Noire (Imperial Chocolate Stout)
Availability: Bottles (Bomber)
ABV: 9.5% // IBU: 18.5
Rating: 8.5
Location: Home

The Story? For 2013, Heavy Seas rebooted their 'Mutiny Fleet' series to the 'Uncharted Waters' series. Vastly improved artwork (I've always been a fan of their 12 oz. branding) over 'Mutiny', plus upgrades with the brews themselves. This first release in the series sees their Imperial Chocolate Stout tossed into bourbon barrels (which always draws me in...) and tripled the amount of chocolate nibs and added vanilla bean.

The Beer? At first pour I know I'm going to like this one - dark black and about a millimeter of head with chocolate and raisin on the nose. Open the hatch... not as thick as I was expecting, but it hangs on the front of the tongue (moreso than on the back).

Creamy, nice dark chocolate flavor with the bourbon well balanced and not boozy. Beautiful malts (2-Row, Crystal, Chocolate, plus Roasted Barley) dance around my mouth as a dryness begins to build - a pleasant, dry bitterness begins to build, like eating a whole dark chocolate bar. Oddly enough, the mouthfeel lingers more than the taste.

Overall, a solid stab at the bourbon barrel imperial stout. If you've never had one, this is a great place to start. I give respect to house well balanced the bourbon is with this. It's obviously affected the stout in all the ways it should, but it doesn't come off as a sipping, potent concoction (not that those who do don't have a place in my top ranks). A wonderful beer for the price. Not much from Heavy Seas has ever disappointing.


Nickname: The Apprentice

#004: Bandwagon Brewery: Tartan 80 (Scottish Ale)

I picked up a half growler of Tartan 80 while stopping down for Bandwagon's Old Stud Leroy.

(Apologies for the lackluster pic. I was too busy enjoying this beer before realizing it was too late!)

The Brewery: Bandwagon Brewery (Ithaca, NY)
The Brew: Tartan 80 (Scottish Ale)
Availability: Draft Only
ABV: 4.5% // IBU: 17
Rating: 7/10
Location: Bandwagon Brewpub, Ithaca, NY

The Story? Taran 80 uses a blend of Aromatic, Honey, and Crystal malts for color and malty favor, but much more of the beer's flavor comes from vigorously boiling the first 20 gallons of wort which they pull from the mash. This caramelizes the sugars in the wort. Kent Golding hops balance out the body.

The Beer? An session Scotch Ale? Off the bat it's a very drinkable, earthy brew with a malty nose and hints of caramel. There's something about the first few sips that reminds me of Yuengling that I can't put my finger on. Just for a moment. Not comparing it at all. Must be one of the malts.

Continuing through the half growler, the beer hits it's stride - lightly roasted and semi-sweet with a great, lingering finish for such a low ABV.  Zero hops on the pallet, but almost a hint of vanilla by the third glass... the end of this really opened up.

All in all, a great brew for malt lovers as the heat starts to hit.

Nickname: "Anytime Scotch Ale"

#003: Ithaca Beer "Groundzilla" & "Flowercot Power" (Beer Blend!)

I like to keep things interesting when it comes to drinking beer. Like many of my beer enthusiasts comrades, such as yourself, I'm always searching for new style variations, fresh hop & yeast ideas, herbal experiments, aged versions of old favorites, and over the last six months, beer blends have been on my mind.

When my partner Mel & I just missed Ithaca Beer's latest cask creation, we decided to get creative. We were already there. What were we to do, go home?

The Brewery: Ithaca Beer, Co. (Ithaca, NY)
The Brew: Apricot Wheat Ale blended with Flower Power IPA
Availability: Mix it yourself! (draft & bottles respectively)
ABV: ~6.0
Rating: 6/10
Location: Ithaca Beer Taproom, Ithaca, NY

The Story? Admittedly, fruit wheat ales have never been high on my favorite list. Ithaca's Apricot Wheat is one of the better ones, but usually only finds it's way to my pallet towards the end of a session.  However, I am a big fan of Ithaca's Flower Power and a proponent of citrusy IPA's.  This blend seemed like a logical choice at the time.

The Beer? On first drag, the wheat cuts right through, which was a bit of a surprise considering Flower Powers robust nature. The apricot appears in a far more natural setting, which I always hope for when faced with a fruit wheat, but seldom get. The wonderful Simcoe, Chinook, Citra, Ahtanum, and Centennial hops from Flower Power are still determinable, but in a more balanced, lazy way than FP's usual full-frontal approach.

Overall, smooth down with plenty of fruit on the nose. Bring citrus with a mellow bite on the tongue. Fans of Founder's All Day IPA should take note. A solid experiment, though the beauty of Flower Power is masked a bit. Next time around I'll likely aim for 2/3 FP and 1/3 Apricot Wheat.

Nickname: "Flowercot Power" Summer Session IPA

The Brewery: Ithaca Beer, Co. (Ithaca, NY)
The Brew: Cascazilla (Red IPA) & Ground Break (American Saison)
Availability: Mix it yourself! (draft & bottles respectively)
ABV: ~6.5
Rating: 7.5/10
Location: Ithaca Beer Taproom, Ithaca, NY

The Story? This one was Mel's idea and a great one at that. Ithaca's Cascazilla with it's monster amount of Cascade hops is an old favorite and Ground Break hoppy, american take is nice variation on the saison - one of my favorite styles.

The Beer? Very dry with a wonderful, lingering hop finish and beautiful amber color. Root & pepper on the nose. This idea is a true blend. Both beers get lost within each other and turn into something refreshingly new, yet very accessible. I could put back a growler of this easily.

Overall an excellent, easy beer. Nothing barrier breaking, but a recommended and very drinkable experiment.

Nickname: "Groundzilla" Ameri-Belgian IPA

Wishlist: Heavy Seas - Holy Sheet

Heavy Seas third installment of their Uncharted Waters Series is Holy Sheet - a 9.0% ABV Belgian style abbey ale spent time in a brandy barrel. Their Siren Noire is hanging out at the house now. Looking forward to giving it a friend later this month (May 2013).

#002: Ithaca Beer - Excelsior! White Gold (Rustic Pale Wheat Ale)

Fresh batched just released!

The Brewery: Ithaca Beer, Co. (Ithaca, NY)
The Brew: Excelsior! White Gold (Rustic Pale Wheat Ale)
Availability: Draft and bottles
ABV: 8.0
Rating: 8.5/10
Location: Ithaca Beer Taproom, Ithaca, NY

The Story? A long running part of Ithaca's Excelsior! series, White Gold is fermented with Belgian, English and Wild yeasts which makes it one of the brewery's best beers for aging.

The Beer? I've had several batches of White Gold, but this is the youngest I've tasted it so far. Too new to have evolved into the complex, juicy citrus of the last batch - which was one of my favorite beers of 2012.

Instead, the brew boasts it's more rustic features with a healthy amount of yeast up front, subtle tang on the finish (foreshadowing what that wild yeast is up to), and wonderful unfiltered mouthfeel of a quality craft wheat. Opaque color and voluminous head as is par for the course.

I'm looking forward to how this batch ages and evolves. When mature, it's always one of my top rated beers.

Nickname: The King of Wheats

#001: Bandwagon Brewery: Old Stud Leroy (Barleywine)

A beer which was supposed to an IPA, but a measuring mistake turned it into a Barleywine seems to be a good spot to start a beer blog.

The Brewery: Bandwagon Brewery (Ithaca, NY)
The Brew: Old Stud Leroy (Barleywine)
Availability: Draft Only
ABV: 12.2 // IBU: 85
Rating: 9/10
Location: Bandwagon Brewpub, Ithaca, NY

The story? A Bandwagon brewer accidentally measured out his ingredients for an IPA in kilos instead of pounds (whoops!). Two years in hiding, we're blessed with this.

The beer? A beastly barleywine drenched in booze and malt. Robust taste, smooth on the way in and slight tang on the finish. Great sweet / dry / wet balance. The Centennial and Cascade hops become more apparent halfway through the glass and your tongue begins to dry. Solid brew for a moderate or experienced barleywine fan.

Nickname: Delicious Mistake.

Welcome to Bubba's Beer Blog!

Greetings! I'm Bubba and welcome to my beer blog.

I've been an active beer enthusiast for several years now and was recently encouraged to start a blog. Why not?

We'll be exploring world-class brews to home-brews in a casual setting. From international sensations to hometown gems, I hope you enjoy enjoying beer with me.