#264: Bandwagon Brewery » Sour Blonde

Bandwagon Brewery » Sour Blonde (Aged - Wine Barrels, 4 Months)
ABV: 6.0% | Rating: 9.0

It's been... a while since I've posted about Bandwagon. Over the last year or so, I've personally found many of their draft offerings - their own and others - inconsistent, young, or even occasionally disappointing. I hate to hate on local, so I keep my blog mouth shut from time time to time. Their beers that are on, are really dead on, so I always keep a hopeful, open palate.

It was time for some post-birthday shenanigans with some very close friends who recently turned 21 and were up for exploring a bit of what downtown Ithaca had to offer for beer.

I snagged a flight of top notch brews from Cortland, Dogfish, Troegs, and the only flight that included this sour as I will always try a sour, from any brewer. I was glad I did this time around especially...

This fantastic sour kicks off with an earthy funk of Brett and backed up with firm, supportive malts. The funk really gets in there, in the nose, taste and exhale.

Notes of white peach, sour white grapes, and wet hay make for a killer tartness amongst heavy easters and a chalky dry finish. Way in the back there's even notes of sour dark cherries and red wine notes.

Once again, when Bandwagon is on, they are really on. A sour worth seeking out.

#263: Sierra Nevada Beer Camp » Chico King (3 Floyds Collaboration)

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp » Chico King (3 Floyds Collaboration)
ABV: 6.5% | IBUs: 45 | Rating 9.2 (Draft @ Ithaca Ale House)

Another birthday Beer Camp brew, down at Ale House, this time in collaboration with the lauded 3 Floyds. My only 3F experience so far has been a De Struise collaboration down in Philly. It was fantastic, but I'm still highly jealous of my mid-west pals with ample experience.

A hazy exterior and fluffy heads reels me in. This unreal pale is incredibly smooth, packing hoppy, cool, and spicy flavors. Backed by high carbonation and a big malt backbone, this King is rustic and dry. Lots of dry resin notes in fact, augmented by serious rind notes and amped up herbal and pine.

A solid hop heads dream...

In the bottle... the story is a bit different, as with the Yonder Bock. Still comes off a hazy amber (with a bit more bubble) and thick white head, but not nearly as complex and boisterous as it's draft counterpart. The big malt and huge hop notes are rolled way back and a bit lack luster.

Not sure if my palate wasn't into it this time around, but the story brewing here seems to be check these Beer Campers out on draft & bottle/can for the full experience.

#222: Westbrook Brewing Co. » Gose

Sour & salt in the afternoon...

The Brewery: Westbrook Brewing Co. (Mount Pleasant, SC)
The Brew: Gose
Availability: Cans & Draft (Seasonal, Limited)
ABV: 4.0%
Rating: 9.2/10
Location: Home
Found: Fingerlakes Beverage Center

It was unexpectedly nice that first warm day of April a few weeks back and perfect for relaxing with a beer out back, the vegitation still brown and yellow, but the promise of lush green in a few more weeks is delightful.

I was lucky enough to snag two glasses of  Westbrook's wonderful Gose on draft earlier in the month, in a rare post-work minute to relax before evening events. I stopped into Fingerlakes Beverage and though I was lucky enough to pick up their final can of the stuff, only to be even more enthralled they still had a six-pack in the fridge.

This Gose pours up with a fizzy, white head over a hazy, unfiltered straw body. Mild salty and sour notes punctuate a yeasty nose.

The taste is wonderfully astringent. Biting tartness, a quenching aspect, and drying salt all vie for its defining characteristic. Strong lemon and wheat notes are present amidst a slight earthiness, as well backed by a light body and bone dry finish. Further through, notes of unripe white stone fruits are apparent.

Overall, a fantastic Gose, perfect for a warm, relaxing afternoon.

#213: Sierra Nevada » Barrel Aged Bigfoot (Barleywine)

Bigfoot from Whiskey barrels...

The Brewery: Sierra Nevada (Chico, CA)
The Brew: Barrel Aged Bigfoot 2013 (Barleywine)
Availability: Draft and bottles (Limited)
ABV: 12.2%
Rating: 9.5/10
Location: The Westy

While I've enjoyed Barrel Aged Bigfoot from the bottle, this is the first time I've caught it on draft (rumor has it, Westy has an aged version hanging out as well...)

Bigfoot servies up with a fluffy, off-white head and opaque, cloudy brown body. The nose is full of sweet caramel, sugar, and golden raisin.

The flavor is smooth, but sharp and pure beer bliss. Beautiful oak notes, compliment soft boozy esters with a nice heat in the finish. There's a touch of raisin and plum on the front, drying out to some notes of lemon and grapefruit rind.

Overall, a wonderfully intense, yet highly drinkable, smooth brew that is a prime example of the true art of beer crafting.

#204: Vintage » Dogfish Head 120 (2007), Dogfish Head Midas Touch (2007), Stone Old Guardian (2008), Ithaca Beer Old Habit (2013)

This weekend ended up being inadvertently full of delicious, aged beer. From Fingerlakes Beverage Center taping Stone Brewing's 2008 Old Guardian, to two of our close friends sharing two bottles from their 2007 visit to Dogfish Head, and one of two bottles of Ithaca's Old Habit released last May.

Dogfish Head » Midas Touch - 2007 (Hybrid) | ABV: 9.0% | IBU: 12 |
Now a year-round offering, this classic Ancient Series offering is brewed with barley, white Muscat grapes, honey and saffron. After 8 years, it mellowed considerably. A calm, wine-like nose followed by flavors heading into the honey-liquor spectrum. Smooth, distinct honey sweetness coupled with notes of apple juice and fruit cocktail. I'm definitely going to age one of these myself... wonderful for a cold night in.

Dogfish Head » 120 Minute IPA - 2007 (Imperial IPA) | ABV: 15-20% | IBU: 120 |
Next up from the share box is DFH's top tier from their lauded, 'Minute' IPA series (denoting the length of the boil time of the wort in which the hops are continuously added). Normally an IPA is the last thing you're going to cellar, but with a monstrous ABV and IBU ranking, this one needs some time.

This 2007 120 pours up murky, with a huge super-boozed nose. The hops have lost most of their bitterness, but the strong hop heat remains. This is a strong ale in all sense of the word. Beautifully chewy, there's firm notes of raisin, burnt caramel, with a sweet spice to it, in the direction of cinnamon candy. Wow!

Stone Brewing » Old Guardian - 2007 (Barleywine) | ABV:  11.26% |
On Friday, I went in for a session beer and came out with the opposite. Fingerlakes Beverage Center has a handful of Barelywines aging, so I'm always intrigued as to what they'll pull out next.

This '08 is smooth at first. It's still decently carbonated for being 6 years old. The flavors build on eachother wonderfully, with a soft, rising heat without being as boozy as expected. Strong, bright citrus and tropical flavors blending with candi sugars with a big nose full of raisin auromas, which surprisingly don't make their way into the flavor spectrum. I could see this aging even longer.

Ithaca Beer Co. » Old Habit - 2013 (Rye Beer) | ABV: 9.0%
The youngest of the batch, Old Habit is brewed with four different rye malts and fresh centennial and crystal hops, then partly fermented in Rye Whiskey barrels.

It's by far the most pungent of the group, with sharp flavors, mildly reminding me of an Indian spice soda I once procured. Thick, chewy mouthfeel and a dark, ruby brown; this brew is packed with whiskey, oak, vanilla, and acrid fruits and nuts. A solid sipper, I'm looking forward to where the last bottle of this goes in the next few years.

#195: Uinta Brewing Company » Yard Sale (Winter Lager)

A light-on-its-feet Winter...

The Brewery: Uinta Brewing Co. (Salt Lake City, UT)
The Brew:  Yard Sale (Winter Lager )
Availability:  Bottles, draft (Seasonal)
ABV: 4.0% // IBUs: 22
Rating: 8/10
Location: The Westy

The Story?  Continuing, with Friday's Lager theme, it's onto Uinta's winter offering, Yard Sale. First time around with this seasonal from one of my favorite breweries from 2013.

The Beer? Yard Sale starts with a dark, transparent ruby-brown body and fluffy white head. The nose is transparent and doesn't allude much to what may be in store.

An amber at it's core, this lager is mild and clean, with just a touch of spice. Smooth malts allude to honey, caramel and the faintest thought of vanilla.

Overall, very sesh for a winter. Solid, as anything from Uinta is, but more of a beer-and-do-stuff that what I was in the mood for at the moment.

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot (Barelywine Ale)

It's a balmy 23 degrees in Ithaca tonight & The Westy have Sierra Nevada's Bigfoot on tap. On the bitter side of the barelywine word backed by plenty of toast malts with a touch of grapefruit and mineral notes in there. A slow warmer that hides it's 10% well at the start, slowly peaking through. 

#189: Hopshire Farm & Brewery » 'Round Yon Virgil (Holiday), St. Bernard's (Belgian Dubble), Hop Onyx (Cascadian), Abbey Normal (Abbey Ale)

After a successful show with Kayo Dot and wishing the band off well on a blustery Saturday morning, I hopped online and saw that  Hopshire Farm & Brewery (Freeville, NY) had just released a Belgian Dubble, aptly named "St. Bernard". Mel & I decided it had been far too long since we'd been to tastings at the brewery itself and slated a visit for that afternoon.

After highly enjoying their Amber Glass offering late last year, I felt Hopshire were really starting to next-level and hit their stride. Upon arrival, this through was immediately confirmed. Their Beehive Honey Blonde Ale (initially reviewed at the Hopshire opening) has matured to a smooth, deliciously rich beer without the initial mineral aspects that were notable the first time around. Granted, Hopshire rotates through what local honey they use, but this latest batch is noteworthy regardless. On the note of the benefits of local-sourced ingredients, it turns out, the secret to Amber Glass incredible flavor, was the fresh hops that arrived the day they were brewing.

In addition to great beer, we were graced with good news as well. Hopshire will be bottling in 2014 and a portion of their just-released St. Bernard is heading to Port barrels for at least six (6) months. I'm hotly anticipating that release for the second half of the year. But, enough chatter, let's dig in.
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'Round Yon Virgil (Holiday Ale) | ABV: 6.2% |  IBUs: 25 | Rating: 8.5/10
The nose is full of all-spice and clove - full holiday aromas are abound in this dark, reddish-brown ale. Prickly carbonation coupled by smooth flavors of clove, mild ginger, and a sweet brown sugar finish. Well-balanced, especially for a holiday ale. Sweet, with a pleasantly dry finish.

St. Bernard's (Belgian Dubbel) | ABV: 8.2% |  IBUs: 30 | Rating: 9.2/10
This Belgian-style is transparent caramel with a fading ivory head to the eyes and sweet and malty to the nose with a stong hop-citrus presence. Bursting flavors of tangerine follow with a hint of grape and a wonderfully dry finish. Soft carbonation balances the brew perfectly.

I have to say, this one is incredibly juicy, far more than expected. Further in there's even a touch of earthy complexity in the background. A wonderful beer. Check it out where you can.

Hop Onyx (Cascadian Ale) | ABV: 8.0% |  IBUs: 20 | Rating: 9.0/10
This is some deep madness right here. The head is a dark khaki atop an almost opaque brown beauty of a beer. The nose is mild and a little unassuming, fairly transparent with some faint hop notes. The taste counters, yielding bold, dark, and bitter flavors of mild espresso and big citrus. If a beer can be bright and dark at the same time, this is it. A hint of molasses sneaks in further through and there's a nice mouthcoat that builds on the sides of the tongue.

The interplay between the slight grapefruit/citrus tartness and roasted coffee notes is quite interesting and enjoyable; I'm not sure I've ever had something quite like it, especially one where it worked well. A solid Cascadian Ale.  I used to be hot on Black IPAs and the like, but in recent times they've failed to keep my interest. Hello renewed interest.

Abbey Normal (Abbey Ale) | ABV: 8.0% |  IBUs: 20 | Rating: 9.5/10
A thick, creamy head adorns this dark, deep amber-red surprise beer. The nose is full of inviting yeast aromas with a touch of dark fruit. Down the hatch, it's incredible. For a beer to stand out this far after seven tastings preceding it is an impressive feat in itself, but it doesn't stop there.

This Abbey is expertly brewed with peppercorn, anise, and orange peel. If Randy hadn't repeatedly stated that no fruit was used in the brew process, I would have figured they'd forgotten to put it on the label. Silky, rich flavors of plums, raisin, fig, candied syrup, and caramel burst across the palate in a sticky, sweet (but not too sweet) jubilation of brewing dedication.

Highly recommended and I will be picking up a bottle immediately upon it's release.

#184: Dogfish Head Brewery » Kvasir (Grog / Fruit Beer)

Scandinavian inspired ancient hybrid ale...

The Brewery: Dogfish Head (Milton, DE)
The Brew: Kvasir (Grog / Fruit Beer)
Availability: Bottles & Draft (limited)
ABV:  10.0% | IBUs: 13
Rating: 9.1/10
Location: Ithaca Ale House

The Story? After the riveting and moving performance from Neutral Milk Hotel's first tour date in 15 years and catching the final set of the Ithaca Underground harsh-noise show that was being run in my absence, it was time for my partner and I to grab a few pints with our friends from Holly, NY who had made the trek down for the night.

On paper, I'd be hard pressed to think there'd be something that would catch my draft-list eye than Ithaca's new Anniversary Sixteen and Brooklyn's Black Chocolate, but a shot at Dogfish Head's latest Ancient Ale, Kvasir on draft was an easy choice.

This this unique concoction takes inspiration from a 3,500‐year‐old Danish drinking vessel. Wheat, lingonberries, cranberries, myrica gale, yarrow, honey and birch syrup combine for an undoubtedly unique experience.

The Beer? Kvasir serves up in a 10 oz. glass, dressed in hazy orange body and ivory head, which quickly fades to a ring of lace. The nose is spiced with a faint hint of hop citrus and dominated by exotic fruit and herb notes.

The taste is delicious - dry, tart, and sweet. I'm so glad I picked this up. Hints of apple, soft wood and nut notes, and incredible spice and fruit flavors. Berries, cherries, slight pepper, and other, more exotic flavors that I've never run across in a beer or wine. Kvasir's 10% begins to show, but Dogfish Head does a great job masking it in this smooth grog.

Recommended for anyone looking for something easy and unique. Complex, new, and drinkable? Absolutely. Big thanks to the Ale House for having this one on tap.

#161: Ellicottville Brewing Co. » Pantius Droppus (Imperial IPA)

The panty dropper...

The Brewery: Ellicottville Brewing Co. (Ellicottville, NY)
The Brew: Pantius Droppus (Imperial IPA)
Availability: Bottles / Draft (Year-Round)
ABV: 10.0%
Rating: 8.9/10
Location: The Westy

The Story? Big Day In is past and after a lazy afternoon, I figured I should at least venture out of the house once. After a 13 hour day on Saturday, it was going to take some motivation to stop watching old episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

It dawned on me that it was Sunday, draft night down at The Westy. I recalled earlier in the week hearing that Ellicottville's Pantius Droppus would be on tap. Wasn't sure if it was still up, but I knew New England's Sea Hag was, which would be a fine consolation prize. Happily enough, Pantius Droppus was on and was ample recompense for leaving the house.

The Beer? Pantius Droppus serves up deep, transparent amber topped with fluffy, ivory head followed by an unassuming nose of sweet, soft hops, malt, and fruit.

Despite it's humble appearance and aroma, this IIPA is bursting with sweet, dank hops. Creamy and full bodied, it's boozy, but not so much estery. It's almost barleywine smooth with plenty of sweet honey and caramel swimming among soft lemon, pepper, and grapefruit notes. Delicious and distractedly easy to drink, I put back three of these easily while caught up in conversation. Impressive.

Overall, this sits high in the ranks of dangerously drinkable Imperial IPAs.

#146: Dark Horse » Crooked Tree IPA

My first Dark Horse...

The Brewery: Dark Horse Brewing Co. (Marshall, MI)
The Brew: Crooked Tree IPA
Availability: 6-pack, draft
ABV: 6%
Rating: 9/10
Location: The Westy

The Story? I popped down to The Westy for Draft Night after round two of Man vs. Boiler was a favorable success. I'm usually excited for Draft Night regardless (New England's Galaxy was still on too), but a shot at a Rate Beer Bros 100 beer from a brewery I haven't sampled anything from yet, is even more cause for commotion.

The Beer? Crooked Tree kicks off with a thick, lacy white head over a hazy, amber-orange body. Plenty inviting with swirling grapefruit, pine, and floral nose.

First sip yields smooth carbonation and a big staying bitterness. Rich, drying hop flavors of grapefruit pith and rind dominate with a chewy mouthfeel. Hints of tangerine join the cast as well with a solid earthiness that keeps the fruit flavors in check.

Despite the burly, West-Coast bitterness and initial chewiness of the mouthfeel, this one drinks far faster than expected. There's a bit of a juicy nature to it halfway through as it hits stride, while never loosing it's pine and resin fueled lengthy finish.

Overall, hop-head - put this one on your radar for sure. Anyone else, proceed with caution.

#127: Deschutes Brewery » Chainbreaker (White IPA)

My first visit to Philly's lauded, historic Monk's Cafe...

The Brewery: Deschutes Brewery (Bend, OR)
The Brew: Chainbreaker (White IPA)
Availability: Draft, Bottle (year-round)
ABV: 5.6% | IBUs: 55
Rating: 9/10
Location: Monk's Cafe (Philadelphia, PA)

The Story? Before my road trips and vacations were beer-driven, they were concert driven. This trek down to one of my favorite U.S. metropolitan areas initiated from the desire to finally see one of my favorite experimental hardcore bands, Circle Takes The Square. I've also had my eye on getting down there to Monk's Cafe, for their extensive and oft-changing list of world-class beers. Two birds and so on... I was traveling on my own for a change and thus on my own time for beers and bands.

Despite my morning starting off with a minor flood of water from a broken shower which reached all the way to the basement, a brief white-out on the road, and typical inbound Philly traffic jams, my determined self arrived within standard deviation of my goal time.

Monk's Cafe was easy to find, just a block over from bustling 15th Street. Dark and cozy, there's a front bar and back bar, and thankfully you can order brews from either at either. With a table for one in the back bar and I order up a burger with ardennes-style ham & a nutty, Belgian cheese along with Deschutes Brewery's Chainbreaker White IPA.

Deschutes beers are only available in a few speckled locations east of the Mississippi, besides Illinois, so I usually jump at the chance to give one a try. My last bid on Deschutes yielded a glass of one of my new favorite beers.


The Beer? Chainbreaker is an American-Belgian hybrid, brewed with Belgian yeast and Cascade and Citra hops. My glass arrives, filled with the translucent, yellow brew with a finger of lacy head.

The alluring citrus nose invites me to dive right into this one and it's beautiful with the perfect level op hops. Mild, bitterness threaded with orange and sweet grapefruit augmented by a perfectly prickly Belgian-style carbonation, but not too much to be distracting.

Sweet, bready malts provide a wonderful backbone while modest, but highly complimentary herbal and floral flavors nod in. This is pretty much the perfect start to what should be a thrilling and stress-reducing escape.

#124: Jack's Abby Brewing » Hoponius Union (IPL)

Jack's distinguished India Pale Lager...

The Brewery: Jack's Abby (Farmington, MA)
The Brew: Hoponius Union (IPL)
Availability: Bottles/Draft
ABV: 6.7% | IBUs: 65
Rating: 9.5/10
Location: The Westy

The Story? Occasionally, there are those available beers that just seem to evade me. When The Westy received their first batch of kegs from Jack's Abby, the line began with JA's Oktoberfest, but they gave me a sneak peak and what was to come with Hoponius Union. Event with just a few sips, it was one of the best, non-Imperial/Double, hoppy beers I've had.

I proceeded to miss Hoponius Union on tap at least once, if not twice while being out of Ithaca. When I heard it was going back up, I made immediate plans to not miss it again, but almost did when my body proceeded to turn on me. A variety of prescription drugs later and despite a late start to the evening, we made it just in time to realize I'd forgotten my phone, which is my notepad and camera for this blog since I can't read my own handwritting. Well, at least this one is worth the extra work!

For those new to Jack's Abby, their entire line is lager-based, rejuvenating a major of beer family that has been tarnished by American adjuncts and the like, providing a new palate of flavorful, clean-tasting brews. Hoponius Union itself is like a traditional IPA but with a twist - it’s fermented cold and aged for extended periods.

The Beer? Hoponius Union starts with a palpable, inviting nose of citrus & tropical fruits. The appearance is a glimmering, completely translucent amber body with touch of mid-level lacy head.

The taste is a true hop gem. Supported incredibly smooth mouthfeel, Hop Union is clean and refreshing with robust, piney, and bitter hops. There are some hints of orange and mango and a touch of floral, but never comes of as fruity or dipping in to west-coast overzealousness. Balance is the name of the game here, with nutty and biscuit malt notes amidst the hop oils and resin. All that is wrapped up with a mildly drying finish.

Overall, a must-try for a quality, drinkable and hoppy beer.

#117: Brouwerij Verhaeghe » Duchesse De Bourgogne (Flanders Red Ale)

The Brewery: Brouwerij Verhaeghe (Belgium)
The Brew:  Duchesse De Bourgogne (Flanders Red Ale)
Availability:  Bottles, draft
ABV: 6.0%
Rating: 9.4/10
Location: Victoire

The Story? Second Belgian down at Victoire! On first glance, I initially thought I read "Deschutes" Flanders Red Ale, which would have been fantastic. However, I haven't run across Duchesse De Bourgogne from Brouwerij Verhaeghe on draft before, so that was equally exciting. This Flanders blends 8 and 18 month old beers, matured in oak casks.

The Beer? The fizzy head quickly dispersed, too fast for my camera in fact, but left a leggy ring and thin remnants atop the deep, translucent brown liquid. Sweet and sour notes on the nose are compelling, but subtle and the rest of the nose is otherwise transparent.

The taste is beautifully tart and effortlessly smooth. Flavors of cherry, passion fruit, mild apple, and hint of chocolate rise, meld, and settle. Duchesse De Bourgogne's shining point comes in the superb balance of sour and sweet. There's a distinct dark, sweet malt element to the beer along with sweet fruit notes that softens the sourness, but is never sugary. An oaky dryness builds further through the glass, claiming some of the aforementioned sweet aspects.

Overall a wonderful, complex ride through an excellent sour blend.

#115: Bacchus Brewing » IPA

A big, local IPA to cap off a great night...

The Brewery: Bacchus (Dryden, NY)

The Brew: IPA

Availability: draft only

ABV: 6.5% // IBUs: 65

Rating: 8.5/10

Location: Felicia's Atomic Lounge

The Story? After taking two carloads of friends through Inuat Hauntings production, I met up with my partner and her sister at Felicia's for a couple rounds to close out the enjoyably cooling evening.

#1 on the list for the night was Bell's Two-Hearted on tap, however I was pleasantly pleased to see they'd just tapped a keg of Bacchus' IPA. I shared my thoughts on Bacchus' new Flora's Fate Pale, but hadn't had a chance to do so with their IPA. Additionally, this brewery is only 20 mins from where I work, so a stop in will be warranted in the near future.

The Beer? This one is dank, bitter, and prominently floral right out of the gate. There's a touch of grapefruit and other citrus notes threaded through this IPA, but floral flavors and dark bitterness is the star of this show.

The firm bitterness retains throughout, but smooths a bit to let some malt characteristics and allows you to take note of the admirably full mouthfeel supported by mid-level carbonation. A solid suggestion to any IPA fan in the region.

#111: Smuttynose Brewing Co » Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale

A friend's last week at Felicia's is call for some fall celebration...

The Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Co. (Portsmouth, NH)
The Brew: Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale
Availability: Bottles/Draft
ABV: 5.84% | IBUs: 35
Rating: 8/10
Location: Felicia's Atomic Lounge

The Story? With the cold northeast weather and end of October fast approaching - and presumably the onslaught of Winter Warmers and other holiday beers on their way, I've been looking to pack on the pumpkin brews this week.

My partner and I hauled down to Felicia's to say farewell to one of our bartender friends who is moving on to other cool things. Sandwiched between two drafts of Bronx Pale, I grabbed this Pumpkin Ale from a northeast brewery I admittedly don't give enough attention to - Smuttynose Brewing.

The Beer? This full-flavored seasonal is packed with tons of nutmeg and cinnamon. The mouth feel is in the mid-light range with a mid-high level of carbonation and is quite tasty - this immediately hits in my top 5 pumpkin beers.

I love how simple and refreshing this one is. There's plenty of spicy complexity supported by toasted malts and sweet, real pumpkin and never gets over the top or gimmicky. An easy, quality pumpkin brew.

#096: Scheldebrouwerij » Hop Ruiter (Belgian Strong Pale Ale)

A new Belgo-American classic on the rise...

The Brewery: Scheldebrouwerij  (Belgium)
The Brew:  Hop Ruiter (Belgian Strong Pale Ale)
Availability: Bottles, draft
ABV: 8.0%
Rating: 9.6/10
Location: The Avenue Pub (New Orleans, LA)

The Story? I had never heard of Scheldebrouwerij or Hop Ruiter before walking through the doors of The Avenue Pub. I had generated a pretty good road map of what I planned to enjoy this particular evening in NOLA, but the description completely sold me.

The Beer? Hop Ruiter starts with an inviting, slightly hazy golden color with a finger of fluffy head. The nose is even more enticing with huge nose of orange and other citrus fruit.

Expectations are more than met with an effortlessly smooth mouthfeel and a metric ton of hop oil and resin and bright citrus orange flavor. There's a wonderful spice in here from the hops and the booze. Supported all around by a mid-level of carbonation that is perfect and allows its full flavor to ploom - apricot, hint of yeast, a bit juciy, modest zesty pepper... another awesome brew. I never want to leave this pub. A new Belgo-American classic indeed. Cheers!

#089: New England Brewing » Sea Hag (IPA)

More brews roll in from New England...

The Brewery: New England Brewing (Woodbridge, CT)
The Brew:  Sea Hag (IPA)
Availability: Cans, bottles, draft, cask
ABV: 6.2% // IBUs: 65
Rating: 8.4/10
Location: The Westy

The Story? I hadn't even been back from NOLA (tons of posts coming) for 24 hours, when I saw our friends at The Westy post that they'd tapped  New England's Sea Hag and it was ready for consumption. I'd told myself I'd stay in and be productive, but after a four-day conference, a flight, and a long day back... why not?

The Beer? Very much the little brother of Gandhi-Bot. Semi-translucent gold with a blip of fluffy head and a nice sweet citrus hop & floral nose.

Down the hatch, this IPA has a very smooth mouthfeel, followed by a hop bitterness that cuts sharp, but fades before the finish. Sea Hag is quite clean for the IBU level.

Plentiful, deliciously strong pine notes are ever present with some woody & botanical elements to the flavor. A dryness builds in the finish, but never overpowers the flavors while the head laces down the sides of the glass. A solid IPA worth going back for!

#085: Bronx » Pale Ale

My first taste of Bronx...

The Brewery: The Bronx Brewery (Bronx, NY)
The Brew: Pale Ale
Availability: Cans & draft
ABV: 6.3% | IBUs: 50
Rating: 8.5/10
Location: Felicia's Atomic Lounge 

The Story? I found myself with an unexpected night free on Wednesday and hopped down to Felicia's after work to meet up with my partner and her sister. My partner recently started working at Felicia's, so I've been down there far more frequently then before. They have a solid bottle beer selection for a cocktail-oriented (make that delicious cocktail-oriented) bar - Dogfish Head, Oskar Blues, Liemand's, etc - and they typically have a half-dozen or so draft options with a rotating regional selection. Last time down they had Pumking on tap, so I was excited to see what lay in store this time.

Probably the last thing I expected to see was big, bold letters spelling "BRONX". Their flagship Pale Ale cans only recently made it into distribution in our area and I certainly hadn't seen it on bar draft in Ithaca yet. Easy choice. Sold.

The Beer? As seen above, Bronx presents a completely transparent, deep-amber pale with just a tip of head. The nose is dark and hoppy with a touch of citrus and muted floral notes.

Onto the tongue, it has a compelling, intriguing flavor for a pale ale - nutty, dry, and bitter. Not your typical pale, in regards to many more recent releases heavy on the citrus, rind, and bright hop flavor. There are caramel and biscuit notes I equate more with English-styles. This is solid.

All of that is finished and delivered with a smooth mouthfeel, med-high carbonation, and nice hop and slight booze heat in the finish that stays with you. I'm looking forward to doing a comparison to how the can may differ... and eventually getting my hands on any of their barrel age series.

#082: Sierra Nevada » Flipside Red IPA

New seasonal from Sierra Nevada...

The Brewery: Sierra Nevada (Chico, CA)
The Brew: Flipside Red IPA
Availability: Draft and bottles
ABV: 6.2%
Rating: 8.4/10
Location: The Westy

The Story?  This is actually the second time I've had this beer this season. The first, was while running a show, not exactly the best time to log a beer and the second was down here at The Westy, but they'd just tapped it and I was halfway through a pint of Gandhi-Bot... hardly a clean palate to take notes. Third time's a charm, right?

The Beer? When I think of a "Red IPA", my mind usually defers to Ithaca Beer's Cascazilla - a big, mean hop-warrior. Not the case with this, more understated brew.

Flipside starts with a nice, fluffy head atop deep amber/red color. This beer is quite smooth with subtle hops and a presently dry finish. Plenty of crisp malt flavor complimenting the mellow hops. Tastey, mild toasted flavors, and very clean. A less aggressive edition to Sierra Nevada's growing list of IPAs.