Carl's Beer of the Week project

Next time you head to the Beer Room, check out Carl's new project, the "Beer of the Week" display. Carl and I put it together to highlight an epic beer every week with a full-length review and description. It's right in the center isle to the right - big chalk board, can't miss it.

Right now being featured: Trappiste Rochefort "10".

Cheers,
Jeff

Another "First," a new "Steal" and new adds

I don't mean to make you jealous, but as I write this I'm sipping a Saison Rue from The Bruery. No, it's not available in Vermont, sorry. Picked it up at Julio's (see previous post). Super tasty, A+ really. Read my review on BeerAdvocate.com.

So we're first in the state AGAIN with a new brew:
+ Ass-Kisser "Kick Ass Ale" Double IPA 22oz (brewed at Rarh Brewing in Texas)

Other adds this weekend:
+ Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Pott's Landbier 22oz
- Achouffe Houblon Chouffe 11.2oz bottles
- more Ommegang/Liefmans "Zuur" collaboration

And the newest "Steal" and/or "Deal"
- Otter Creek Pale Ale 6 packs $3.99 + deposit!!!!

And as Tracy Morgan once said, "Stay word."
Cheers,
Jeff

ABITA hits Vermont!

I'm proud to say that we are the first store in the state of Vermont to stock Abita Beers (Louisiana)! You can find their fine products on our shelves and in our coolers, ready to go today!

Here's what we got:
+ Turbodog 6 packs (American-style strong brown ale)
+ Purple Haze 6 packs (Raspberry Wheat beer)
+ Jockamo IPA 6 packs
+ Party Pack Sampler 12pk (2 bottles each of the above and 2 bottles of their Amber, Wheat and Pale Ale)
+ Abbey Ale 22oz
+ Andygator 22oz (Helles Dopplebock)

Come one, come all! It's already cold!
Cheers,
Jeff

Limited Releases from Stone and Sierra

Got in some super limited releases from two of California's best breweries:
+ Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary (#2) "Charlie, Fred & Ken's Bock" 750mL's (WAY limited!)
+ Stone / Dogfish Head / Victory Saison du BUFF (brewed with Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme) 12 oz bottles

Also back in stock:
- Stone Cali-Belgie(-Belgique) 22oz

Cheers,
Jeff

Badass Beer Run!

For the past few weeks I've been itchin' to take a short trip and had decided either to go to Montreal or head South to Boston with the intent of stocking up on some hard-to-get brews. I had to weigh out the pros and cons - Montreal is full of beers I've never even heard of (pro) but every time I make a beer run across the border I get SUPER searched and detained...apparently they don't like the answer "Making a beer run" when they ask what your business in Canada is (con). Boston is twice as far (con) but I don't need a passport and I know people who live down there with extra couches (major pro)!

So Boston it was. I enlisted the company of Carl and the plan was to burn down after work on Sunday, crash in Boston, get up wicked early and fight morning commute traffic out to Westboro, hit up Julio's Liquors, and speed like hell to get Carl to work at the Bevy by 3pm. Plans for couches collapsed right before we left and we resolved to go ahead with the plan and just sleep in the Julio's parking lot (sleeping bags and all).

And here's were "Linchpin" Petey comes in - he overhears our falling apart plan and exclaims "My folks live right in Westboro!" So with Petey on board, we pack up my rig and started the trek...with a quick stop at the Three Penny Taproom in Montpelier, of course!

Couch surfing, homebrews and Highland Park 18yr and all the sudden it was morning and time to get rolling. We pulled in right as Julio's opened their doors and started off with a shopping cart.

Now I'm gonna start a new paragraph so this sinks in - This is the beer mecca of the Northeast! Three solid beer enthusiasts lost, wondering aimlessly through isle after isle of beautiful shiny beer bottles from all over this planet. Long story short, we needed a second cart and a lot of cash was deposited in Mr. Julio's bank account. Highlights included two custom-made brews designed specifically for Julio's, one by Smuttynose and one brewed at De Proef; Mikkeller Black Hole (Rum barrel-aged stout with coffee, vanilla and honey), a Famille Dupont 1998 Pommeau (blend of calvados and unfermented apple juice), a few 2008 Avery Samael's oak-aged ale, Oskar Blues Gubna Imperial IPA and He'Brew's R.I.P.A. on Rye (Lenny Bruce aged on Sazerac 6 barrels)!

The moral of the story is this: if you go anywhere within a few hours drive of Westboro, MA, you need to hit up Julio's Liquors! And tell Tom I sent ya!

Cheers,
Jeff

Accidental Ageing

I'm sitting here late night watching the replay of the UK vs US in the World Cup and I'm digging through my fridge looking for something lower in alcohol to drink when I discovered a gem that George set me up with - a bottle of High & Mighty Sono Distrutto Espresso Stout (4.5%) bottled July 30th 2008!

Now, normally I would never have aged this on purpose. It breaks two of my cardinal rules for cellaring beers: First, it's lower than 8% ABV, and Secondly it's a coffee beer. I've never had much luck ageing coffee-infused beers. I feel like the acidity from the coffee winds up breaking down the hops and making the beers loose and messy.

All that being said, this accidentally-aged brew isn't half bad! It has very little carbonation and smells like cherry-infused coffee. The palate is surprisingly bright and crisp, with very little bitterness. Lots of coffee flavor, but very little mouthfeel and light bodied at best. I'm impressed with its ability to hold up for almost 2 years, but do not think that it's better for the journey. I'm just surprised that it hasn't fallen completely apart. Well done, Will Shelton!

Cheers,
Jeff

New OREgasmic brews and news!

Well, if that didn't get your attention, I don't know what will! New adds this weekend:
+ Chatoe Rogue "OREgasmic Ale" 22oz (Limited Release)
+ Victory Sunrise Weissbier 6 pack (Seasonal)
+ Peak Organic Summer Session Ale 6 pack
+ Molson "X" 8.2oz cans 8 pack
- Anchor Summer 6 packs
- Cisco Brewers Summer of Lager 22oz

Back from MIA status:
- Gritty McDuff's Brown and Pub Style 22oz bombers

A few updates about some other brews:
- Manchester Brewing, the people who brought you the Peppermint Stout and others, has closed up shop and will no longer be available. And I'm sorry to say that we do not have access to any remaining inventory. **UPDATE** I reached out to the brewers at Manchester and he says they did close for a few months, but have re-opened on a "slow schedule" but did not elaborate further. My guess is that we won't be seeing the beers in VT any more either way.
- Koningshoeven (Trappist) is changing their labels to be inline with their European offerings. These beers will soon (2 weeks) be available under the brewery's true name "La Trappe" - not to be confused with Trapp Lager of Vermont. We do still have some of the remaining Koningshoeven bottles on our shelves, but these won't last long and have become instant collector's items. Don't hesitate to stash some in your cellar as these beers will all improve with a few (maybe 10) years!
- Heavy Seas and Oxford Organics, both sub-labels of Clipper City Brewing, will no longer be available for sale in Vermont. We still have a little of each left in-house but will not be able to re-order any more.
- And finally - some GOOD NEWS: We got the official word today that Abita Brewing Co. will soon be available in Vermont! These are the fine folk from New Orleans that brew such tasty numbers as Turbodog, Purple Haze Raspberry Wheat and Jockamo IPA! We can't wait!

Cheers!
Jeff

New Beer and New (Again) beer guy

So this weeks "adds" involve the return of my main-hombre Carl to our beer department as well as some nice beverages. Carl is "wise beyond his beers," impressively knowledgeable about rare, exotic and ridiculously hard-to-come by brews and I'm glad to welcome him back to the team for the Summer months! You can't miss him - dude's super tall!

As for new beer adds:
+ Rogue Imperial Younger's Special Bitter 7 ounce bottles (OR)
- Harpoon Big Bohemian Pilsner (MA & VT)
- Kriek de Ranke (Very Limited, Belgium)
- Duvel 4 packs with a Duvel tulip glass! (Belgium)
- Stoudt's Heifer-in-Wheat (PA)

And back from MIA:
- Negra Modelo 6 packs (Mexico)
- Heather Ales Historic Ales Variety 4 pack (Scotland)

Stop by and say "Hi!" to Carl this weekend! He doesn't know I'm writing this about him, so maybe it'll confuse him if everyone just suddenly knows his name!....

Cheers,
Jeff