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Quick update:

Just added:
+ Long Trail Brewmaster's Series Double IPA 22oz
+ McNeill's "War Lord" Imperial IPA 22oz
+ Heather Ales "Grozet" Gooseberry & Wheat ale 12oz
+ Michelob Irish Red Ale 6 packs

And thanks to all who turned out to the Stone Brewing tasting! It was EPIC as promised.

Cheers,
Jeff

Oh sweet oaking...

The beer world is not exempt from trendy behaviors. You remember how acid washed jeans eventually turned into (artificially) dirty-knee jeans and now it's skinny jeans? Well, I've noticed that the brewing world has gone from Session ales to Imperial beers to Extreme beers and has most recently decided that Oaking any style of beer makes it better. The mantra has been "Add more hops, add more malt, add more everything," and that's still true. Our local brewers are jumping on that wagon - Rock Art's "Extreme Series," Long Trail Imperial Coffee Stout, Otter Creek Imperial Russian Stout, etc. But the national trend is now headed towards adding oak to everything. As I'm sitting here typing, I'm sipping on an Oak-Aged IPA! Who in their right mind would have guessed this two years ago? Oak has been applied to many beers, and of course, it's a historical brewing vessel, sure. We oak-age stouts to round out the edges and add vanilla notes without actually adding vanilla. Oak smooths over the rough edges of any poorly constructed product as well (read "cheap chardonnay"). But why are we oaking IPA's? Are we trying to smooth out the rough edges given by the huge over-addition of hops? It seems rediculous: Add lots of malt, add lots of hops to make a sweet but really really bitter beer, and ok, now put it into an oak barrel to smooth out all that bitterness that we added with all the extra hops.....

I'm not saying that experimentation is bad, though. I would never get to drink a Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron or a Schmaltz Lenny Bruce R.I.P.A. (Rye-IPA) if brewers didn't push the limits and use unusual methods or ingredients. All I'm saying is this: brewers should beware of following any brewing trend blindly to the extreme! Some things just make the beer more expensive, not better. There's a complimentary phrase in the wine world when a vintner uses oak in the right way: "judicious use of oak." Brewers, please take note.

I can't wait to see the world's first Imperial Oak-Aged Hefeweizen!
Cheers,
Jeff

Harpoon, Long Trail, Smuttynose and Sierra Nevada

As I'm sitting here sipping my freshest-of-fresh Harpoon Leviathan "Quad," I'm updating all my online accounts. I just did a review on BeerAdvocate and RateBeer for said "Quad" (a solid "B" score), and was browsing the News sections on BA to find a press release for Sierra Nevada. I guess they didn't give themselves enough of a headache by releasing a new year-round beer (Torpedo) which instantly went out of stock and is backordered virtually nationwide that they went ahead and announced another year-rounder! This one is going to be called "Kellerweis," an open-top fermentation Bavarian-style hefeweizen! I'm not sure if this means it's 86 for the current Wheat beer, but I would assume so. It's going to be released from the brewery in the summer of 2009. Not sure yet when we can expect to see it here in VT, but I'll let you know what I hear. Oh, and Torpedo left CA today headed to VT...should be back in our store next Friday. Reserve yours now, because the order coming is about half the size of the order the distributor placed with Sierra...a.k.a. it's going to run out again soon.

Smuttynose: Tomorrow (Friday, 3/20) we'll be getting the next Big Beer, their legendary "Imperial Stout." This is historically tied for my favorite stout of all time with Stone's Imperial Russian. I am so exicted, I can hardly wait!

Long Trail will launch it's new Brewmaster's Series Double IPA in the coming week or two. I can't wait. I've "heard" really good things about it...yes...heard.

Cheers,
Jeff

Unibroue and Otter Creek Updates

I spent some time chatting with our Unibroue rep. today and got a lot of answers for a lot of you. Here's what I found out from Richard:
- Quelque Chose is only brewed once every four years. The last time was in 2006, so if all goes according to tradition, the next batch will be released in 2010 sometime.
- Seigneuriale is being discontinued (at least in VT - couldn't tell if he meant completely). I've got two cases on order for tomorrow, so stock up if this is a big beer for you.
- Raftman is only available in the "Light Taster Pack," a limited release, and they do not have any plans to launch the 750's or 4 packs any time soon in the US.
- The 6 packs and 12 packs of "U" beers found in Canada will not be launched in the US any time soon either. Still have to take the treck up North for those goodies.
- Unibroue "18" will be released in Sept./Oct. this year. The Anniversary beer is usually launched earlier, but due to construction at the brewery and tight brew schedules, they needed to push it till later this year. The style is yet to be announced/decided.

As for my conversation with Rob of Otter Creek:
- The next Imperial beer to be released will be an Imperial IPA. It should come out either later this month or early April. They plan to keep the RIS going for a little while next to it.
- The "World Tour" series is on hold right now. The little Otter needed a break to spend some time at home and rest from his relentless tour around the world. He plans to hit the road again later this summer.

Cheers,
Jeff

New and Updates

Hello all. One new brew for you:
+ Southern Tier Gemini 22oz: A blend of 50% Unfiltered Hoppe and 50% UnEarthly Imperial IPA. This blend is more "balanced" than either on their own. Hoppe is really light in the body and malt content while UnEarthly has a lot of sweetness underlying the 153 IBUs. Put 'em together, and it's a great blend.

I just got back from Boston yesterday and I'm exhausted! I went down to a tasting hosted by Tigris beverage, the MA brokers for B. United, Artisanal Imports, Left Hand, Otter Creek and VanBerg & Dewulf (Dupont). I tried a good 70% of the near hundred beers being poured and found lots and lots of goodies. Very excited about Meantime IPA (England), De Ducato Verdi Imperial Stout (Italy), Alvinne Melchior (mustard ale, Belgium) and DeGlazen Toren Jan de Lichte (imperial white, Belgium). Hopefully we'll see some of these and many more in the near future!

Afterward, we hit a few places to sample some local fare and more IPA's...well, the IPA thing was my mission anyway. We had a few pints and some delicious fried pickles at Roadhouse (Brookline, MA) which was started by the same guys as The Publick House a few doors down. I gotta say, it was my first experience with a fried pickle, but man, it's weird, but freakin' good! Had a wonderful pour of Weyerbacher Double Simcoe Imperial IPA and a Victory Hop Wallop IPA. We left there, grabbed a cab out to Allston, and sat down in the oddly small Deep Ellum beer bar. People at the bar were drinking Miller High Life, but I ordered an Anderson Valley 21st Anniv IPA and was quite content. I had a long train ride back to where I was staying and I'll tell you, 7am came way, WAY too early the next morning. I had to get up and get back to good ol' VT.

If you're headed down to Boston, let me know, and I'd be happy to suggest some killer beer places, both shops and bars.
Good to be back. Cheers,
Jeff

Wow...new beers are serious!

It's been a really good day for Vermont in the beer department. I stayed late last night making room for all the new goodies that were coming in today, and I was still late leaving today. Man...there's a lot of new goodies. So here's the skinny, ya:

+ De Struise (Belgium): "Black Albert" Royal Belgian Stout 11.2oz (The only 24 bottles available for retail sale in the state.) SOLD OUT! (Sorry...)
+ Dieu du Ciel! (Montreal): Péché Mortel, Denière Volenté, Route des Épices, Rosée d'Hibiscus, Corne du Diable (single 12oz)
+ Southern Tier (NY): Unearthly Imperial IPA 22oz, Hoppe Imperial Extra Pale Ale 22oz, IPA 6 packs, Phin & Matt 6 packs, Hop Sun Wheat Ale 6 packs, Variety 12 pack
+ Isle of Skye "Black Cuillin"
+ Weihenstephaner (Germany): Original lager 500mL and 6pk, Hefeweissbier 500mL and 6pk, Kristallweissbier 500mL, Hefeweissbier dunkel 500mL
+ Greene King/Morland Brewery (England): Ruddle's County 16.9oz, Abbot Ale 4pk cans, Wexford Irish Cream-stlye Ale 4pk cans, The Tanner's Jack 6 packs, Old Speckled Hen 4pk cans and 16.9oz
+ Pennichuck (NH): Saint Florian Dopplebock Lager 1 liter, Engine No. 5 Irish Red Ale 6 packs

Back in stock:
+ Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout 6 packs (Limited number, reserve some soon.)
+ Flying Dog Garde Dog 6 packs
+ North Coast Old Rasputin 4 packs
+ Pennichuck Backdraft Chocolate Porter 22oz
+ Hook & Ladder Golden and Brown Ale 6 packs

And we received a shipment of Arran Blonde and Dark from Scotland, but unfortunately they were past their code (out of date) so they had to go back. Bummer. Hopefully we'll get some fresh beer from them soon.

Ok, I think I got them all. Come and get it!

Cheers,
Jeff