Monday, September 29, 2008
90 Minute IPA on draft
Just a quick heads-up that Monkey Bar in Winooski has Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA on draft, $5 a pint. Yum! I've also been told that American Flatbread in Burlington is running it for about the same price.
Friday, September 26, 2008
More things to come
As we peer into the carbonated crystal beer ball, I foretell the following fortunes:
-Southern Tier will appear before the first of the New Year
-Magic Hat will be releasing a new version of their "Braggot" aged on wood chips at the brewery soon
-Uinta Brewing and Four+ Brewing will be arriving within the first two weeks of October
Keep drinking!
Cheers,
Jeff
-Southern Tier will appear before the first of the New Year
-Magic Hat will be releasing a new version of their "Braggot" aged on wood chips at the brewery soon
-Uinta Brewing and Four+ Brewing will be arriving within the first two weeks of October
Keep drinking!
Cheers,
Jeff
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Beverages of the Gods
Unexpected new things have graced our boisterous beer shelves from Delaware this week. The widely anticipated release of Dogfish Head's Theobroma (750mL) was under my radar, and I was surprised to get a photo-text of the new beer from co-owner, George, late Tuesday evening. Theobroma is an attempt to recreate some of the ancient South and Central American beverages that incorporated cocoa, honey, and alcohol. From the official D.H. website:
"This beer is based on chemical analysis of pottery fragments found in Honduras which revealed the earliest known alcoholic chocolate drink used by early civilizations to toast special occasions. The discovery of this beverage pushed back the earliest use of cocoa for human consumption more than 500 years to 1200 BC. As per the analysis, Dogfish Head’s Theobroma (translated into 'food of the gods') is brewed with Aztec cocoa powder and cocoa nibs (from our friends at Askinosie Chocolate), honey, chilies, and annatto (fragrant tree seeds)."
I cracked a bottle last night and let me tell you, that is one flavorful beer! It's a pale amber color, with a stiff white head, that leaves a slight lacing. The body is rather light, but the flavor of the cocoa and the chilies really come across. I was amazed at the drinkability - light body, huge flavor makes for an enjoyable experience.
+Also from Dogfish Head, Palo Santo Marron, a "brown ale" aged in palo santo wood casks. Calling this beer a brown ale is like calling Stone's Imperial Russian Stout a brown ale. This beer is dark and lush. Perhaps one of the most complex beers I've ever had! Check out my BeerAdvocate.com review for more (my handle is SFLpunk).
+90 minute IPA is back!
New Michelob beers are in (Pale Ale & Dunkelweiss), part of AB's push to break into the "craft beer" profits. And the widely advertised Budweiser American Ale is also out on the shelves.
Other news:
+Otter Creek has announced that they will be adding an IPA to their line-up, and the next stops on the World Tour Series will be a Belgian Double White (their first step into the high alcohol world), an Imperial Stout, and then an Imperial Pilsner. No release dates yet.
+Belgian brewery Bavik's "Petrus Golden Tripel" 750mL will be in for this weekend.
+Delirium Tremens will return this Friday (hopefully)
+We're in talks with Farnum Hill Cidery to plan a cider tasting in the near future. We'll also be picking up their whole line of sparkling and still ciders this week.
+BLOWOUTS: Stone Coast Knuckleball 6 packs & 420 IPA 12 packs, Labatt Heritage Classic 6 packs ($2.99+), Mike's Light Hard Tea 6 packs ($1.99+).
"This beer is based on chemical analysis of pottery fragments found in Honduras which revealed the earliest known alcoholic chocolate drink used by early civilizations to toast special occasions. The discovery of this beverage pushed back the earliest use of cocoa for human consumption more than 500 years to 1200 BC. As per the analysis, Dogfish Head’s Theobroma (translated into 'food of the gods') is brewed with Aztec cocoa powder and cocoa nibs (from our friends at Askinosie Chocolate), honey, chilies, and annatto (fragrant tree seeds)."
I cracked a bottle last night and let me tell you, that is one flavorful beer! It's a pale amber color, with a stiff white head, that leaves a slight lacing. The body is rather light, but the flavor of the cocoa and the chilies really come across. I was amazed at the drinkability - light body, huge flavor makes for an enjoyable experience.
+Also from Dogfish Head, Palo Santo Marron, a "brown ale" aged in palo santo wood casks. Calling this beer a brown ale is like calling Stone's Imperial Russian Stout a brown ale. This beer is dark and lush. Perhaps one of the most complex beers I've ever had! Check out my BeerAdvocate.com review for more (my handle is SFLpunk).
+90 minute IPA is back!
New Michelob beers are in (Pale Ale & Dunkelweiss), part of AB's push to break into the "craft beer" profits. And the widely advertised Budweiser American Ale is also out on the shelves.
Other news:
+Otter Creek has announced that they will be adding an IPA to their line-up, and the next stops on the World Tour Series will be a Belgian Double White (their first step into the high alcohol world), an Imperial Stout, and then an Imperial Pilsner. No release dates yet.
+Belgian brewery Bavik's "Petrus Golden Tripel" 750mL will be in for this weekend.
+Delirium Tremens will return this Friday (hopefully)
+We're in talks with Farnum Hill Cidery to plan a cider tasting in the near future. We'll also be picking up their whole line of sparkling and still ciders this week.
+BLOWOUTS: Stone Coast Knuckleball 6 packs & 420 IPA 12 packs, Labatt Heritage Classic 6 packs ($2.99+), Mike's Light Hard Tea 6 packs ($1.99+).
Friday, September 19, 2008
Rapscallions and Rogues abound!
As some of you know, I've been MIA for a week recovering from a back injury...but I'm back, baby! No pun intended.
The major news is with Rogue Ales. They just switched VT distributors and the new one is rolling out with all the beer that Rogue will send them/us. Fresh in for this weekend:
-BRAND NEW: Double Dead Guy Ale in painted red bombers!
-XS: Imperial India Pale Ale 750mL swing-top ceramic bottle*(Keep reading for a review)
-XS: Old Crustacean Barley Wine Ale 750mL swing-top ceramic bottle
-Dry Hopped St. Rogue Red 6 packs
-Also, Juniper Pale Ale bombers and Hazelnut Brown Nectar bombers are back in stock
Other NEW BEERS and whatnot this weekend include:
-Harpoon Leviathan Imperial IPA 4 packs
-Anchor Old Foghorn Barley Wine Ale 6 packs*(Keep reading for a Factoid)
-Budweiser American Ale 6 packs
-Stone Vertical Epic 08/08/08 makes it's return!
-Stone Imperial Russian Stout is in, but very limited and might not always be on the shelf. If you don't see it, ask me for it.
Still have yet to see Erdinger Oktoberfest 6 packs for sale yet, but I got to try an advance and it's great! It's a Weizen Oktoberfest, something different, but it maintains that nice crisp, lager-like mouthfeel that we've come to expect from classic Oktoberfest biers. I hope it's in soon. Most of the domestic and other German Okt's are already in-house.
All in all, a good week for beer!
*Rogue XS: Imperial IPA - Rich, creamy white head. Nosings of tangerine, sweet light malt and a suggestion of Dulce de Leche. Deceaving because the palate is blasted with dry hoppy-goodness. Here comes the pine needles (yellow pine), the blood orange bitters, and a damn fine finish. Great IPA, diverging slightly from "West Coast," just enough to be unique, but well within the style. FFO Stone Ruination IPA.
*Anchor Brewing's "Small Beer" is the product of sparging, or re-steeping, the mash used to make Old Foghorn, creating a lighter and more delicate wort and thus a lighter ale. This is an homage to traditional English brewing techniques and a way to "recycle" resources in the brewery, creating a higher ratio of delicious products for us to drink to a lower amount of resources needed. Try 'em both in a flight and see if you can tell they're akin with one another!
The major news is with Rogue Ales. They just switched VT distributors and the new one is rolling out with all the beer that Rogue will send them/us. Fresh in for this weekend:
-BRAND NEW: Double Dead Guy Ale in painted red bombers!
-XS: Imperial India Pale Ale 750mL swing-top ceramic bottle*(Keep reading for a review)
-XS: Old Crustacean Barley Wine Ale 750mL swing-top ceramic bottle
-Dry Hopped St. Rogue Red 6 packs
-Also, Juniper Pale Ale bombers and Hazelnut Brown Nectar bombers are back in stock
Other NEW BEERS and whatnot this weekend include:
-Harpoon Leviathan Imperial IPA 4 packs
-Anchor Old Foghorn Barley Wine Ale 6 packs*(Keep reading for a Factoid)
-Budweiser American Ale 6 packs
-Stone Vertical Epic 08/08/08 makes it's return!
-Stone Imperial Russian Stout is in, but very limited and might not always be on the shelf. If you don't see it, ask me for it.
Still have yet to see Erdinger Oktoberfest 6 packs for sale yet, but I got to try an advance and it's great! It's a Weizen Oktoberfest, something different, but it maintains that nice crisp, lager-like mouthfeel that we've come to expect from classic Oktoberfest biers. I hope it's in soon. Most of the domestic and other German Okt's are already in-house.
All in all, a good week for beer!
*Rogue XS: Imperial IPA - Rich, creamy white head. Nosings of tangerine, sweet light malt and a suggestion of Dulce de Leche. Deceaving because the palate is blasted with dry hoppy-goodness. Here comes the pine needles (yellow pine), the blood orange bitters, and a damn fine finish. Great IPA, diverging slightly from "West Coast," just enough to be unique, but well within the style. FFO Stone Ruination IPA.
*Anchor Brewing's "Small Beer" is the product of sparging, or re-steeping, the mash used to make Old Foghorn, creating a lighter and more delicate wort and thus a lighter ale. This is an homage to traditional English brewing techniques and a way to "recycle" resources in the brewery, creating a higher ratio of delicious products for us to drink to a lower amount of resources needed. Try 'em both in a flight and see if you can tell they're akin with one another!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Things to Come and Things That Came
I spoke with the head beer buying honcho at G-Housen (Scott) today about all things to come and I have some updates for you. Bullet-point style, of course!
And lastly, I'd like to announce officially that we've started a beer cellar and will be aging various vintage-dated gems to be re-released at later points in time. I know this doesn't do anyone much good right now, but you'll be thanking us in a year or so!
Cheers,
Jeff
- Stone is releasing more Vertical Epic 2008 fairly soon.
- Erdinger Oktoberfest Weizen is coming in later this week, but a 6pk, not a 5oomL as previously announced.
- Rogue Double Dead Guy, Old Crustacean Barley Wine Ale and Imperial IPA are all due in this week.
- Stoudts (PA) and Victory (PA) are both finishing up the final paper work and delivery will be within three weeks or so.
- Pennichuck Brewing (NH) is going through it's final label approval with the state.
- Stone Double Bastard will probably be released closer to Thanksgiving.
- Specialty glassware will be made available to us (and therefore you) within the next couple of weeks. (I'm personally really excited about this!)
- G-Housen is wrapping up talks with B-United Imports and will be bringing in Japanese craft beers, more European offerings and possibly sakés in the near future. No ETA yet though.
- More Smuttynose (NH) bombers are coming! Very, very soon.
- Bear Republic (CA) is on the horizon. As is Southern Tier (NY).
And lastly, I'd like to announce officially that we've started a beer cellar and will be aging various vintage-dated gems to be re-released at later points in time. I know this doesn't do anyone much good right now, but you'll be thanking us in a year or so!
Cheers,
Jeff
Thursday, September 4, 2008
High and Mighty
So, I'm just getting back from another late night trip to ye olde Switchback Brewery, and I figure it's time to write about beer. Tonight we got to check out what their wort tastes like...I know what you're thinking, "Eww, gross! Worts!" But this is basically the beer before they add the yeast. Let me tell you - Delicious. It's pleasantly sweet but immediately bitter from the Simcoe and Sterling hops that they add during the boil. My buddy Chris Galbraith took off on the culinary applications for such a raucous ingredient for braising meats and fish and etc. etc. Good times.
In other brew news, I've been exploring our new beer offerings and have been posting reviews on BeerAdvocate.com. If you're a member, check it out, my handle is SFLpunk. If you're not signed up, you should be - it's free.
One new line that I've been particularly fond of is the High & Mighty Beer Co. We've pulled in four bombers from them and I've sampled 3 of them thus far:
"Beer of the Gods" - A solid American blond ale. Very bitter and refreshing, while maintaining an amber hue and full mid-palate. Flavorful is probably the word I'm looking for, yet easy to drink. A session ale for the midnight rockers.
"Purity of Essence" - A lager of hopped proportions! Although technically a 'malt liquor,' this ain't your Daddy's 40! Medium tawny on the eye, unfiltered, and raging with dry-hoppiness. Clean and drinkable.
"Sono Distrutto" - An American stout, this beer is chock-full-o-nuts...meaning that it's an Espresso Stout. A nice bitterness from the beans and a full lush and somewhat sweet quality from the beer. Light in alcohol for the style, it's medium- to full-bodied and will acompany any fine bourbon or perhaps a hearty stew.
Keep drinking, and I will too! Hope to see you in the store soon.
Cheers,
Jeff
PS> Erdinger Oktoberfest .5L's should be in tomorrow (9/5/08). And, I know it's not beer, but it is carbonated, REAL Lambrusco is back in VT. Check out our offerings from Villa de Corlo.
In other brew news, I've been exploring our new beer offerings and have been posting reviews on BeerAdvocate.com. If you're a member, check it out, my handle is SFLpunk. If you're not signed up, you should be - it's free.
One new line that I've been particularly fond of is the High & Mighty Beer Co. We've pulled in four bombers from them and I've sampled 3 of them thus far:
"Beer of the Gods" - A solid American blond ale. Very bitter and refreshing, while maintaining an amber hue and full mid-palate. Flavorful is probably the word I'm looking for, yet easy to drink. A session ale for the midnight rockers.
"Purity of Essence" - A lager of hopped proportions! Although technically a 'malt liquor,' this ain't your Daddy's 40! Medium tawny on the eye, unfiltered, and raging with dry-hoppiness. Clean and drinkable.
"Sono Distrutto" - An American stout, this beer is chock-full-o-nuts...meaning that it's an Espresso Stout. A nice bitterness from the beans and a full lush and somewhat sweet quality from the beer. Light in alcohol for the style, it's medium- to full-bodied and will acompany any fine bourbon or perhaps a hearty stew.
Keep drinking, and I will too! Hope to see you in the store soon.
Cheers,
Jeff
PS> Erdinger Oktoberfest .5L's should be in tomorrow (9/5/08). And, I know it's not beer, but it is carbonated, REAL Lambrusco is back in VT. Check out our offerings from Villa de Corlo.
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