New Year, new beer

Welcome to 2011 folks! To celebrate we've got some new badass goodies for you! Here's what's on deck:
+ North Coast Old Stock Ale Cellar Reserve 2009 (bourbon barrel-aged) 500mL
+ Paper City Brewing Ireland Parish Brand Golden Ale, Hop Monster Blonde, Dam Ale, India'n Pale Ale, Fogbuster Coffee House Stout & Christmas Balls
+ St. Feuillien Saison & Triple
+ Sunner Kolsch 500mL & 4 pks
+ Lonestar Beer 6pks
- Brooklyn Monster 2010 4pks

And back in stock:
- North Coast Acme IPA 6pks

And recently released from our cellar:
- (Bosteels) DeuS Brut des Flandres 2006 vintage

And of course new glassware for a new year:
+ Tripel Karmeliet stems (a personal favorite!)
+ DeuS flutes
+ Rodenbach Grand Cru tulips
+ Palm tulips

Happy New Beer!
Cheers,
Jeff

New Year's Eve is fast approaching!

So if you're like me, you're starting to ponder which bubbling beverage you're going to end the decade with and which would best pair with a shiny-clean pristine 2010. Champagne? An Imperial Russian Stout? Coors light and Andre?

Hopefully not Andre... ::shudder::

I've got a few interesting suggestions to make this NY'sE special.

- Bosteels "DeuS" Brut des Flanders 2006: This is arguably one of the world's most unique beers. The brew starts in Belgium where it undergoes both its primary fermentation and then a secondary "conditioning" fermentation. After this conditioning the beer is shipped to France to be transformed by going through the same process as Champagne. The beer is bottled with a small plug of yeast and a starter for the yeast known as the "dosage." After capping the bottle it is aged on its side so the yeast can produce those tiny little wonderful champagne bubbles. During this process the bottle is slowly turned to coax the yeast down into the neck and then the arduous task of "degorement" takes place where they expel the yeast but trap the bubbles. Truly a delightful combination of toasty Champagne and rich Belgian Tripel/Golden Ale.

- Duvel 2008 3 Liter: If you show up to a party with this, it will establish your reputation for another whole year! Duvel is perhaps the tastiest and most accessible Belgian golden ale available in the US. Crisp, light and highly effervescent, this is a fine champagne substitute for midnight toasts. AND you get to pour it from a HUGE bottle!

- Gulden Draak 1.5 Liter: Wanna go big, but not $$$ big? Wanna drink beer but don't like golden ales? Gulden Draak, affectionately known as a "brown Tripel" (i.e. a strong, darker Belgian ale), is super tasty and full of more "warm" flavors like toasted nuts, caramel and toffee. The texture is fantastic with nice frothy carbonation and somewhat "wooly" mouthfeel - don't be afraid, that's a good thing!

Whatever you choose to do NY'sE, remember to hook-up a designated driver with some dinner, cash or the promise of driving them around sometime soon (you have to follow through with that)! DD's rock and hardly get enough respect. Cheers to all those dedicated DD's who keep us out of jail/caskets.

Cheers and Happy New Year!
Jeff

Oh man! The Beer Gods have smiled on Vermont...

The flood gates opened today and lots of beautiful delicious beer poured into the Bevy! Tons of new things from all over Europe, Japan and the US. Some of these are among my favorites of all time:

Netherlands:
+ Koningshoeven "Le Trappe" (Trappist) Dubbel, Quad and Isid'or (special release)

Belgium:
+ De Dolle "Oerbier" (Love it!)
+ Bosteels "Deus" Brut des Flanders (methode champenoise Belgian ale)
+ Bosteels "Kwak"

Switzerland:
+ Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes (BFM) "Cuvée Alex le Rouge" 2008

Italy:
+ Birra del Borgo "Té"

England:
+ Meantime IPA, London Porter and Coffee Porter
+ Wye Valley "Dorothy Goodbody" Stout
+ J.W. Lee's "Moonraker"

Japan:
+ Hitachino Espresso Stout, Lacto Sweet Stout, "Japanese Classic Ale" (IPA aged in cedar casks), and "Real Ginger Brew"

USA:
+ Kennebec "Sledhead Red"
+ Iron City and IC Light
+ American and American Light
+ Augustiner

Oh man. Time to get to work!

Cheers and Viva la Vermonster!
Jeff