#293: Bell's Brewing » Venus: The Bringer of Peace (Blonde Ale)

Bell's Brewing » Venus (Blonde Ale w/ Honey, Apricot, Cardamom, & Vanilla) | ABV: 7.5%
Bell's second offering in their Planetary Series, Venus has been garnering some polarizing reviews. Somewhere in there there's a joke about what what humanity through the planet was like until we actually landed there, but it's a bit too early for that.

Curiously brewed with apricot, honey, over 60 lbs of hand cut vanilla beans and cardamom, it's a complex, adventurous, and atypical brew. At it's core, Peace Bringer is a Blonde Ale, but that's about as far as the thread of that style goes.

Unabashedly aromatic, Venus emits a big, sweet, nectar and juicy nose. Notes of elderberry, vanilla, stone fruit, and oranges swirl through the olfactory system.

Onto the palate, it's dry and puckering and far beyond just a beer at this point. Venus is dense and mildly astringent - tart, but not sour. Wielding a myriad of fruit (apricot nectar, blood orange, tangerine), herbal and spice flavors (the cardamom and vanilla gracefully dancing), this is a mouthful of a beer with a stacking mouthcoat.

Straight up, this is a fruit beer. A big bold fruit beer, akin to a younger sibling of Founders' Rübæus and Mango Magnifico. Not quite as refined as those brews, but highly enjoyable nonetheless.

A goddamn great beer aimed for those with a curious and adventurous palate. If you're looking for a strong ale or dimmur blonde, better look elsewhere, but for those looking to sip the fringe of craft brewing, grab this while you can.

#277: Allagash Brewing » Fluxus 2014 (Bier de Miel)

Allagash Brewing » Tribute Series: Fluxus 2014 (Bier de Miel)
ABV: 8.8% | Rating: 8.6/10

After a fun, productive day, which included picnicking, a walk along Cayuga lake, a stellar tasting at Myer Farm Distillers, was temporarily derailed by a slew of since resolved phone issues, it was time to get things back on track with a home cooked meal, finally watching Barton Fink, and cracking into this anniversary brew from Allagash.

Each year, Allagash, whom recently returned to Upstate NY distribution, brews a different, limited recipe under the Fluxus moniker, in celebration of the first beer they sold in 1995. This year, Fluxus is brewed with a blend of 2-row and vienna malts, spruce tips and honey.

Fluxus '14 starts off with an aptly honey colored body topped with lacy white head. A beautiful, soft nose of honey, mild spice, and almond follows with just a touch of sweet earthiness.

The taste is elegant, as par for many of Allagash's limited releases, held up by lovely, soft yet lively carbonation. Firm malts create the backdrop for the subtle sweetness from the honey and mild floral notes of the spruce tips to peak through. The nearly 9% ABV is expertly masked throughout.

For you honey buffs out there, the honey is less at the forefront than say, a Braggott, but still present.

Overall, Fluxus '14 may be a bit subtle for some in regards to the price tag, but for those looking for an elegant beer to slowly enjoy and relax into, this might be just your ticket.

#228: Ithaca Beer Co. » Cayuga Cruiser, Poster Child, Galileo Gambit, High Roller, Honey Love, Green Trail (Bravo), Ozzy, Chardonnay-Aged White Gold, 16 Lambic

Due to shows and two bouts of summer colds, I've had a bit of catching up to do. Much of which surrounding Ithaca Beer's seamlessly endless supply of new experiments.

From their new, Berliner-Weisse summer sixer, robust 5-Barrel brews, cask & aged versions of year-round hits, and even a couple ultra-limited special releases.

Cayuga Cruiser (Berliner Weisse-style) ABV: 4.3% | Rating: 8.5/10 Bottle (8.7/10 Draft)
After last summer's 5-Barrel Berliner Weisse, I've been very intrigued if Ithaca Beer would ever include the classic German style in a more general release. Wish granted.

As their new summer seasonal, Cayuga Cruiser is a very light brew. It's far less astringent than their 5-Barrel BW, but still quite tasty. Out of the bottle, it presents a light body, mildly quenching finish, with faint notes of lemon and just a touch of pucker.

On draft, it's a bit more up my alley, with a greater nod to tradition through higher sour, acidic notes and prominent lemon. Either way, an excellent recommendation for a low-gravity, refreshing, warm-weather brew.

Poster Child ABV: 5.8% | Rating: 8.6/10
Transparent, crystal-clear straw body, topped with lacy, soapy white head kicks of this 5-Barrel brew. A beautifully strong and sharp hoppy nose follows with crisp grapefruit aromas and a hint of lime & lemon.

The taste? Smooth hop love in a glass. Strong, but soft, rolled-over flavors of pine, yellow grapefruit and a touch of tropical fruit in the bone-dry finish. An enjoyable, light-bodied, fully-flavored beer. It also pairs well with Flower Power to create 'Flower Child'.

Galileo Gambit (Porter) ABV: 5.8% | Rating: 8.7/10
Fluffy, lacy ivory head crowns an opaque, but not hazy, dark brown body with a glimmer of ruby. Aromas of dark, roasted malts invite the nose with a pinch of spice.

The flavor is a fully-bodied porter witha touch of spice heat. Wet up front with a pleasant, dry finish. The addition orange and cardamon are subtle, but exquisit, meandering their way through the traditional dark malt flavors. A uniquely drinkable porter, without the milky, earthy notes of many in the style.

High Roller (Wheat Saison) 5.3% | Rating: 8.5/10
This 5-Barrel starts with an unabashed yeasty nose with a touch of citrus. A rustic brew, with big wheat flavors, and a touch of earthiness, and mildly dry finish. (Left-most pic)

Honey Love (Barrel-Fermented Saison w/ Oats, Honey) ABV: 6.0% | Rating: 8.9/10
A beautiful, orange citrus nose blooms into a wonderful flavor bouquet of wine-like complexity having been fermented in Chardonnay Barrels, all backed by prickly carbonation. Soft, semi-sweet and breathy earth flavors of local wildflower honey peak through, firmly supported by the addition of oats. (Third-in pic)

Green Trail Cask (Session IPA dry-hopped with Bravo) ABV: 6.0% | Rating 8.8/10
Smooth, hoppy goodness in a glass. Where many cask IPAs can loose their hop-forward nature, IB has packed this one with Bravo hops for a breath of additional acidity and distinct orange and tropical fruit flavors. It's core Columbus and Cascade hop bitterness take a momentary back seat to allow it's soft malt backbone to shine through, sitting well with the aforementioned Bravo cones.

Ozzy (Belgian-style) ABV: 4.7% Rating
A highly tasty, heavily aromatic, Belgian-hybrid brew. Belgian yeasts, dance will Ella hops - an excellent choice to calm the heavy yeast flavors with mild floral and spice alongside distinct tropical and grapefruit flavors. (No pic)

Chardonnay-Aged White Gold (Oak-Barrel Belgian Wheat) ABV:  Rating: 9.5/10
In special release for their Luminous Wild Ale, Ithaca Beer concocted a handful of what I would argue as some of their finest releases to date.

This aged edition of one of my Ithaca favorites, presents a cloudy, pale straw-yellow body topped with pure white head. A beautifully fruity brew that is light on it's feet, threaded with pleasant Chardonnay notes. It's rounded off, elegant, and a touch less rustic than the original White Gold, wonderfully smoother and buttery.

The dance of white stone fruit, soft hops and white wine flavors vied to top of my already top Ithaca brews. Kudos.

16! Lambic (Lambic) 9.4/10
Last but not least. After a worthwhile half-hour wait for my two bottles of Luminous, I parked my seat at the Taproom bar for a look over their special, release-day brews. Most would only be there for the day and after a quick look, I knew there was no way I could pass on a local limited lambic.

16! Lambic bursts out with a pungently tart and funky nose. Fluffy ivory and auburn-flecked head crowns the murky, opaque, dark-caramel body.

In a word? Intense. Funky barnyard and wet hay notes meet sharp, fermented berries with spicy esters. By far the most intense Ithaca Beer I've enjoyed yet - a completely unhinged experimental success. Further in, sweet dark fruits, like past-ripe cherries, peak through the wild funk, but just barely. It's all wrapped up in a dry funk finish, that wets with each new sip. On the final sips, fine, raw Brettanomyces notes shine through. Superb.

#202: Off Color Brewing » Troublesome (Gose) & Scurry (Dark Honey Ale)

Former respective Goose Island (Bourbon County, Sisters Belgians) and Two Brothers brewers, John Laffler and Dave Bleitner left their respective organizations, to combine their lauded talents into a joint, independent venture.

Off Color Brewing (Chicago, IL), already gathering acclaim for their first two bottled beers below, is the result of that partnership.

Troublesome (Gose) ABV: 4.5% | IBU: 10 | 9.3/10
This brew is a blend of two beers, a plain old wheat beer and overly acidic & funky beer fermented solely with lactobacillus, finished with coriander and salt towards the end of fermentation.

In person, it starts of a transparant, pale yellow with minimal cap of white head that is plenty lacy. Bringing Troublesome to my nose, heavenly, wild aromas bloom - yeasty, juciy notes of white wine, lemon, and citrus.

The flavor is incredible and refreshing. Soft carbonation and perfect restraint of coriander matched with a deft hand of faint sweetness and delicate tartness. A gifted brew. Recommended.

Scurry (Dark Honey Ale) ABV: 5.3% | IBU: 18 | 9/10
Brewed with honey and molasses, Scurry pours out a dark, opaque brown with a touch of ruby and almost no head. Strong coffee nose is prevalent with soft notes of wood and honey and packed with molasses aromas.

It's dark and roasted on the palate, but not too heavy. Smooth and perfectly carbonated. Mild, sweet, but not sticky. Roasty, toasty, with just a flicker of earthy notes. Solid.

#197: Bell's Brewery » Hopslam Ale (Imperial IPA)

Hop legend hits Ithaca for the first time..

The Brewery: Bell's Brewing (Kalamazoo, MI)
The Brew: Hopslam Ale (Imperial IPA)
Availability: Draft & Bottles (Seasonal)
ABV: 10.0%%
Rating: 9.6/10
Location: Home
Found: Fingerlakes Beverage Center

The Story? After jumping the gun on the release announcement (though the info was on good authority), Hopslam finally made it's way to Ithaca, NY for the first time. The lauded hop-forward, winter seasonal from Bell's is highly sought after, typically selling out in the week or two following release in most areas, occasionally tempting some to spark some controversy, attempting to by, say 400 bottles worth. Expedition Stout defied all expectations, would Bell's hoppy heavy-hitter do the same?

The Beer? Bubbly, transparent amber liquid pours out, forming a fizzy head with mild lacing. Strong tangerine and grapefruit aromas burst from the glass backed by bright, almost gin-like herbal notes, further complimented by soft wafts of vanilla and honey.

On first sip, it's immediately apparent this is an easy-down IPA, surprising, especially for what a big beer this is.

Bitter and biting flavors kick things off with a dry finish packed with potent grapefruit flavors and a mild hop heat. As with any big-hop Bell's, they haven't forgotten the malts. A sweet backbone, expertly balances the west-coast madness, while the whole package keeps the mouthfeel clean and delicious.

The flavor is quite pithy against the most juicy nose. Honey and biscuit appear on the front of each sip and then quickly vanish. It's a nice touch amidst the floral and beastly citrus flavors. There's even mild hibiscus & elderberry notes far in. The body get's a little chewy towards the end, reveling some of it's 10% girth, but never ceases to be bring and highly drinkable.

Overall, a recommended, well-balanced hop-head's dream that lives up to the hype, with some elegant flourishes, without getting uppity. 

#158: B. Nektar Meadery » Necromangocon

Defend your soul...

The Brewery: B. Nektar Meadery (Ferndale, MI)
The Brew: Necromangocon
Availability: Bottles / Draft
ABV: 6.0%
Rating: 9/10
Location: Home
Found: Ithaca Coffee Co.

The Story?  B. Nektar Meadery has been on my radar for a while now and was stoked to receive their Evil Genius IPA-style mead as a gift earlier this year. While it wasn't be best thing I've ever had, B. Nektar hadn't made it to Ithaca yet and it was still quite enjoyable. Oddly enough, literally days after posting about Evil Genius, B. Nektar started popping up all over Ithaca, including their Necromangocon which put them on my map. This adventurous mead is crafted with mango juice and pepper.

The Beer? Necromangocon starts with an enticing, fragrant nose of mango and white pepper, complimented by notes of lychee, grape, and honey. This offering is touch darker than Evil Genius, but still a pale, clear yellow as expected from a mead.

The taste is pure bliss and incredibly smooth. It's pleasantly sweet, never syrupy or sugary, showcasing the skilled subtlety of B. Nektar Meadery. Mango and white fruit flavors are abound. The wonderful pepper spice is like the best spice tones of red or white wines, with a much lighter body.

This mead is impressively tasty, with all that flavor packed in, it's still moderately clean, with great legs, and finishes up with a mellow, lingering spice. Recommended for those seeking something different.

#116: Brooklyn Brewery » Cuvée La Boîte (Spiced Grand Cru)

My first visit to Victoire Belgian beer bar...

The Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery (Brooklyn, NY)
The Brew:  Cuvée La Boîte (Spiced Grand Cru)
Availability:  Bottles, draft (limited)
ABV: 7.9%
Rating: 9.3/10
Location: Victoire

The Story? Over the summer, while on tour, the owner of Ithaca's The Westy asked if I'd had a chance to swing by Victoire during our stop in Rochester. I hadn't. In fact, I hadn't even heard of it yet. A Belgian beer bar on East Ave?  I vowed not to miss that opportunity again. Having returned to my old stomping grounds this past weekend, I kept up that promise to myself. It's good to promise yourself good beer.

Victoire itself is tucked into the lower level, on a corner on East Ave's vibrant strip. One boastful parallel-park job later and I'm on my way in, noting the outdoor patio for when warm weather returns to Rochester. I was greeted by friendly staff and an elderly couple kindly scooched over to allow me ample access to the bar and a seat while a jazz band started up. A quick glance at the beer menu showed numerous familiar flagship and seasonal offerings from Belgian and Belgian-style staples such as Chimay, Duvel, Ommegang, Stillwater, Unibroue, Leffe, and DuPont, even Kwak and Rodenbach. For me, the Brooklyn Cuvee La Boite and Duchesse de Bourgogne were immediate stand-outs that I hadn't experienced yet.

Cuvee La Boite is part of Brooklyn Brewery's Brewmaster's Reserve series and is brewed in the Grand Cru tradition with Wildflower Honey, Lior’s unique blend of Mishmish N.33 (lemon, saffron, crystalized honey), fresh kaffir lime leaves, and rare Espe- lette peppers from the French Pyrénées. Wow.


The Beer? Cuvee La Boite serves up with a thick, white head of foam perched on cloudy, golden liquid. The nose is a complex menagerie of spices with subtle notes of lemon, honey, and yeast. Every scent and spice appears interwoven, relying on the others and is all about the bouquet sum rather than it's individual pieces.

I take a long first sip and immediately take note how incredibly smooth this is. At first the flavor is straightforward and typically Belgian, but in an instant, it blooms with all sorts of interesting characteristics.

The silky smooth mouthfeel is complemented by an amazing array of flavors - pepper, crème brûlée, mild banana, honey, honey comb, vanilla, wheat, with a slight touch of ester far off on the finish which coats the tongue nicely with all that spice.

Overall this is probably the smoothest beers I've ever enjoyed. The whole experience is elegant and sublime. A recommended reserve for the discerning enthusiast that won't break the bank.

#071: Steadfast Beer Co. » Golden Blond Ale & Sorghum Pale Ale (Gluten Free)

There's a new gluten-free brewery on the block...

The Brewery: Steadfast Beer Co. (Albany, NY)
The Brew: Golden Blond Ale
Availability: Bottles, Draft
ABV: 5.5%
Rating: 8.0/10
Location: Home

The Story? It's a tricky time for those seeking, or who require, a gluten-free beer experience. Taste can be an issue, as some market offerings aren't quite up to par with the rest of the craft movement. Some just attempt to provide a lack-luster substitute without taking into consideration the full potential of non-wheat ingredients. Others still aren't truly gluten-free, having removed the gluten from wheat, which in sever cases of gluten intolerance is just not enough...

Thanks to our friends at The Westy, a new upstate brewery - Steadfast Beer Company - is on our radar.  My partner is gluten intolerant and while she's lucky enough to be able to still enjoy beer if the rest of her diet is gluten-free, we have other friends with full-blown Celiac disease who are not so lucky. So, we're always on the lookout for the latest, true, quality gluten-free offerings, and boy did we find it this time.

The Beer? Hazy, yellow body with a very quickly fading head. The nose is quite interesting, with full, Riesling-esq notes of sweet white grape and subtle notes of the coriander and orange peel it's brewed with.

On the mouth,we're met with very bubbly carbonation coupled with lemon and yeast flavors. I'd easily use the word "sparkling" on this one. Notes of citrus and vanilla appear early on and lead way to a pleasantly dry finish.  The honey provides some subtle sweet notes, but is never overly present on it's own, more balanced to support the rest of the cast.

This brew is notably self-aware (no, not sentient) in-so-far as it's not trying to just be a beer. Steadfast has taken the strengths of sorghum, coupled it with complimentary ingredients, and produced an elegant blond that is somewhere between a champagne and a beer.  On to the next one...
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The Brewery: Steadfast Beer Co. (Albany, NY)
The Brew: Sorghum Pale Ale (brewed w/ Molasses)
Availability: Bottles, Draft
ABV: 5.5%
Rating: 9.0/10
Location: Home

The Beer? Wonderful caramel-amber body, again with a quickly fading head. The nose is reminiscent of the Blond with that Riesling aroma, but the sweet white grape notes are much brighter, coupled with jammy hint of strawberry.

Great mouthfeel right from the first sip. The carbonation is much subtler than with the bubbly blond. Unlike some other gluten-free offerings, this Sorghum Pale Ale is packed with plentiful hops along with sweet mild strawberry notes that were found in the nose. Fantastic balance of the bitter hops and sweet malt & sorghum. There's mild floral notes to the hops as well (perhaps rose?) along with a slight nuttiness and robust body from the molasses.

My partner and I both agreed that this one is an easy 9/10.  A great pale ale whether you need gluten-free or not. Look for Steadfast to be one of the best options on the gluten-free market.