#303: Hopshire Farm & Brewery » Figgy Puddin' (Cask Brown Ale)

Figgy Puddin' (Cask Brown Ale) | ABV: 6.2%
Between the day-job and a Friday evening meeting, I scampered over Hopshire Brewing for a taste of their limited cask offering, Figgy Pudding. This brew is a variation of Round Yon Virgil (an enjoyable spiced brown ale in it's own right), cask conditioned with dates, figs and vanilla beans, which all sounded like a warming pause to a blustery and busy evening.

Figgy Puddin' introduces itself with a deep nose of red fruits with notes of sticky figs, plum, and mild red table wine peak through as well. The aromas are bright and juicy with a dab of sour cherry.

It's smooth, with a low level of carbonation. Layering notes of clove are well received against flavors of overripe red fruits and a touch of bourbon. Firm flavors of fig, cassis dance alongside smooth vanilla and punctuating vanilla extract notes rise quickly after the first few sips.

As for mouthfeel,it's not too sticky for a sweeter beer. It's wet, with a subtle spice mouthcoat that ends with a relatively clean finish for a fruit & spice brew.

Further through, a touch of sour cherry peaks through, which is a pleasant complexity balanced against the sweet fruits. All-in-all, a solid, warming brew.

#296: Hopshire Farm & Brewery » Frisky Imp (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout) & Boggled (Cranberry Saison)

Hopshire Farm & Brewery » Frisky Imp (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout) ABV: 9.5% | IBUs: 55
Twas the eve before Xmas Eve and my partner, her sister and I decided to take a break from holiday stressers and head up the hill to Hopshire for one of their latest creations - an Imperial Stout brewed with all NYS hops and aged in local McKenzie Rye Whiskey barrels from Finger Lakes Distilling, aptly named Frisky Imp.

Upon arrival, Diane immediately served the three of us up tastings of the aphotic brew, emitting cozy whiskey aromas with a brief note of sweet candy. Onto the palate, it's instantly satisfying. The body is silky with a drying finish. Smooth whiskey flavors and heat are held in balance with lively carbonation. As big as this brew is at 9.5%, it's a touch juicy and jammy with notes of cherry, threaded with soft coffee and smooth spice that gradually achieving a dry, earthy finish.

Frisky Imp is surprisingly refreshing and drinkable, an Imperial Stout that's easy on the palate, never becoming too sticky or sharp.


Hopshire Farm & Brewery » Boggled (Cranberry Saison) | ABV: 8.0% | IBUs: 9
Following Frisky Imp, Diane served us up a round of Boggled, a Belgian-style Saison, packed with fresh Cranberries and a dash of orange peel.

Boggled kicks off with a pleasant, sweet & tart nose with a touch of yeast. It's a smooth marriage of tangy cranberry and sweet orange with a hint of vanilla. It's a zesty, fruity brew with a dry, earthy finish that's delightfully light on its feet for 8% and though it's a fruit beer, it doesn't venture into juicy or syrupy territory. Clocking in an just 9 IBUs, Boggled is a solid seasonal for those who avoid bitter in their beer.

What's On Tap? (Ithaca: Jan 7th, 2015)

Welcome to the first installment of 'What's On Tap?' where BBB will be relaying highlights of what's on tap in Ithaca, NY. Soon enough we'll expand out to notable offerings across Upstate NY, but let's taking things one step at a time, shall we?

Ithaca Beer Taproom is debuting their latest in 5-Barrel series, a Milk Stout, aptly called Milkstash! Thursday is cask night, featuring Creeker, aged on maple wood.

Ithaca Coffee Company will feature a Brooklyn Beer tasting on Wednesday at Triphammer, including Brooklyn Blast! and Black Chocolate on draft.

Other notable offerings include (@ Triphammer) Galaxy's The Void, Stone Matt's Burning Rosids, Founders Big Luscious, Dogfish Festina Peche and Saison Du Buff, Wagner Valley Hop Tropic, Ithaca Rustic Havest.

(@Gateway) Ithaca Embrrr & Seventeen, Founders Dirty Bastard, Rogue 7 Hop IPA, Great Lakes Nosferatu, 21st Amendment Blah Blah Blah and more.

Bandwagon Brew Pub will debut a new West Coast IPA and a Copper Lager brewed with candi sugar and bitter orange peel. Both clock in at 7.0% with monikers tba later this week.

Ithaca Ale House boasts Empire Cream Ale, Abandon Saison, 21st Amendment Fireside Chat, He’Brew Hanukkah, Chanukah: Pass the Beer, Bell's Two Hearted, Victory Moving Parts 02, Wagner Valley Hop Tropic, Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, Ithaca Embrrr, and more including regular offerings Ithaca White Gold, Arrogant Bastard and others.

Hopshire Farms & Brewery has Abbey Normale (Dark Belgian Ale) is back on the lines.

The Westy have been holding steady with Southern Tier 2XOne, Founders Pale, Abandon Nut Brown, Horseheads Brickyard Red, Bell's Two Hearted, plus year-rounds from Yuengling, Stella, Jever, and Great Lakes.

FInger Lakes Beverage Center has Southern Tier Pumpking & 2XMAS, Jack's Abby Kiwi Rising, Abandon Belgian Golden, Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break, Sierra Nevada / Allagash Myron's Walk, 21st Amendment Blah Blah Blah, plus others from Sierra Nevada, Sam Adams, and Saranac ready for growler fills.

Thanks for joining this first week of 'What's On Tap?' in Ithaca, NY. Check in next week as we grow the list!

#227: Hopshire Farm & Brewery » Sympathy (Belgian Strong), Hamlet of Varna (Session IPA), Zingabeer (Belgian Pale w/ Ginger)

This past Saturday afternoon was particularly perfect weather-wise. A great day for a mid-paced flyer postering stroll around The Commons downtown, then palling up to Hopshire Farm & Brewery, having heard about their new Belgian Strong Golden Ale.

As usual, the place was hopping. We ran into several friends at the brewery, one of which had just finished up a run. His routines is a run to Hopshire to meet up with his sister for a glass. I have to say, if beer was at the finish line, I might run more.

Sympathy (Belgian Strong Golden Ale) ABV: 7.9% | IBUs: 25 | Rating: 9/10
This Belgian-style Golden kicks off with a fantastic aroma of banana, mild golden raisin, and smooth yeasts emitting from a hazy, golden body.

Down the hatch, intriguing flavors burst across the palate. An excellent use of Saaz hops for striking subtleties of herbal and spice notes, expertly balanced against always stunning Trappist yeasts.

Firm, pleasant booze notes and heat and strong esters charge out of the gate, followed by soft malt sweetness, mild mineralness, and event faint notes of pineapple; all wrapped up with a mild dry finish and plentiful Belgian spice.

Overall, a wonderful showcase of fruit flavor, Belgian yeast, and bold flavor.

Hamlet of Varna (Session IPA) ABV: 5.0% | IBUs: 45 | Rating: 8.7/10
In the surge of session IPAs over the last year, many have fallen short in the flavor spectrum, appearing as a merely mild, afterthought of a Pale Ale and a dull shadow of a true IPA.

But not here. Hopshire's Hamlet of Varna (a play on their Near Varna IPA) packs in west-coast Mosaic and Cascade hops and only light grains, Vienna & Pilsner malts for a burst of grassy hop and smooth grapefruit aromas, followed up by lively carbonation; deep, bitter hop flavors including dry pith, sharp grass and grapefruit notes, with a touch of minerals in the finish.

Overall a standout session IPA, which doesn't hold back on hop strength, instead holding the malt, and therefore gravity, in check, resulting in a drinkable, full-flavored brew.

Zingabeer (Belgian Pale Ale w/ Ginger) ABV: 8.0% | IBUs: 18 | Rating: 9.1/10
Again we're met with Vienna and Pilsner malts, but this time around it's a healthy dose of Belgian malts and Abbey yeast, alongside freshly grated local ginger from Good Life Farm which take center stage. Sign me up.

Mild, spicey aromas with wisps of malt introduce Hopshire's Zingabeer which breathe up from it's transparent, deep amber body.

This brew is particularly tasty, to put it simply. A perfect balance of the aforementioned showcased ingredients along with a touch of coriander.

Expertly balanced spicy ginger, smooth caramel, and crisp malts grace the palate. The 8% ABV is completely hidden behind beautiful Abbey yeast notes, and there's even a sweet, savory notes of cashew in there. All of that wrapped up with a dry finish and mouthfeel, that also presents a mild creaminess halfway through.

A dangerously drinkable, highly enjoyable, upper ABV summer brew.

#207: Hopshire Farm & Brewery » Fiddler's Grain (Irish Red) & The Barley Stone (Stout)

Hopshire Farm & Brewery got their hands on some Irish yeast this new year and whipped up two new, session gravity brews - Fiddler's Grain, an Irish Red Ale brewed with malted barley and hops from New York and England and their The Barley Stone dry stout, packed with 40 lbs of unmalted, roasted barley.

Fiddler's Grain (Irish Red) ABV: 4.3% | IBU: 20
Toasted, semisweet aromas peak out in the nose, with soft notes of earth, chocolate, and caramel. Fiddler's is easy drinking with robust flavors. Rustic and malty with a long, roasted finish.

The Barley Stone (Dry Stout) ABV: 4.5% | IBU: 32
Packed with semi-dry flavors and smooth, chocolaty characteristics throughout.

#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.

#168: Hopshire Farm & Brewery » Amber Glass (American Amber Ale)

Malty harvest ale from Hopshire... 

The Brewery: Hopshire Farm & Brewery (Freeville, NY)
The Brew:  Amber Glass ((Amber Ale)
Availability: Draft
ABV: 5.0% | IBUs: 35
Rating: 8.9/10
Location: Ithaca Coffee Company (Triphammer)

The Story? After a long day of last minute holiday and paint shopping, my partner and I headed over to Ithaca Coffee Company for a pick-me-up. We planned on two rounds to rejuvenate with, so I eyed Triphammer's typically hefty offerings for a starter that would still allow me to accomplish our remaining errands. 

Earlier in the season, Hopshire issued two new offerings, 'Round Yon Virgil (spiced Brown Ale) and Amber Glass - an American style Amber brewed with whole, local Willamette and Cascade hops and New York barley malt and British amber. Granted, Amber Ale's aren't my favorite, but getting a disappointing brew from Hopshire seemed unlikely. 

The Beer? Bringing my beer to the table, I'm met with a firm malt nose that is roasted with a distinct coolness. 

Right off the bat, this is a very tasty beer. It's creaming, warming and quenching with just a hint of spice. Far more complex than most 5.0% Ambers I've run across. Notes of rosehips, pepper, orange zest, rosemary abound amidst smooth malts and toasty caramel finish. 

Overall, this is undoubtedly in the Top 5 Ambers I've ever enjoyed, if not one of the best singles. Kudos to Hopshire for taking an unassuming style to new heights. 

#125: Hopshire Farm & Brewery » CoHOPeration (Fresh Hop Ale)

Catching up on Hopshires latest offerings...

The Brewery: Hopshire Farm & Brewery (Freeville, NY)
The Brew:  CoHOPeration (Fresh Hop Ale)
Availability: Draft
ABV: 6.8% | IBUs: 60+
Rating: 8.6/10
Location: The Westy

The Story? It's been far too long (post #008) since I've talked about Hopshire Farm & Brewery, one of Central NY's latest craft breweries. As the name suggests, Hopshire is a family owned brewery dedicated to the use of locally grown ingredients in the creation of delicious beer.

CoHOPeration boasts hops from 30 local growers, dominated by Cascade with support from Centennial, Nugget, Williamette, Chinook, Cluster, Newport and some mystery hops (not joking). 40 pounds of hops were added to the boil, then Cascade and Centennial returned for dry-hopping.

The Beer? CoHOPeration presents itself clad in translucent amber, topped with a foamy, lacy white head. The expectantly hoppy, floral and grapefruit nose sews in an unexpected sweetness with mild notes of bubblegum and honey.

Nutty, bitter hop flavors burst with citrus and grapefruit coupled by roasted malt notes and a wonderful mouthfeel. There's a growing dryness in the finish as well that provides a pleasantly bitter mouthcoat.

Another great beer from this innovative local brewery, which embrace the old and new from their 19th century-stile New York hop kiln to their sand-insulated, water-cooled environmentally friendly brewery.

#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.