Sickpuppy and myself made a trip to Bocktown in the Robinson/North Fayette area of Pittsburgh for a Monday afternoon delight. OK that just sounded bad. We are actually going to be part of the Beer Dependence Day event on July 3rd and wanted to go scope out the area and see what we will be doing. The trip quickly turned from business to OMFG look at this sweet beer selection! MANY beers we have been unable to get were all in one place.

Southern Tier Oak Aged Unearthly IPA
brewery: Southern Tier – southerntierbrewing.com
style: Imperial IPA
abv: 11%
serving size: 22oz
glass used: snifter
price: $15

Overview
At the Southern Tier Brewing Company, vigorously hopped beer is our standard and inspiration. We continue a commitment to innovation with an aggressive offering. Oak Aged Unearthly is a manifestation of the brewer’s craft; skillfully balancing art and the forces of nature to produce a divine liquid. Delicately pour a taste of this oak aged brew into a fluted glass. Smell the enchanting aromas of the hops waft forward as your first sip divulges this beer’s fervent soul. To underestimate Oak Aged Unearthly is to trifle with the mysteries of the universe, so please consume wisely. Consider it an immoral act to blacken an ale. We suggest they don’t rely on conventional standards. Allow the darkness to consume you. Cheers!

What I think
My eyes bugged out of my head when I saw this available. Not just a couple bottles but CASES. I haven’t been able to find this in stock anywhere else in Pittsburgh. I put my personal excitement aside since that has brought me to failure before. I admit that I think the original Unearthly is OK but I’ve had better IPAs. The bartender Kris poured the beverages for us and I had to compliment her skills as she managed to get the perfect head in a snifter. Right away from the aroma and first taste this reminded me of the mind blowing experience of the first time I had Southern Tier’s Gemini. Citrus and balanced hops with a smooth finish.

The hops were not as overpowering as I was expecting but this was a treat in oak aged goodness. I did get a hint from the oak aged but the smoothness just amazed me. To me I was damn close to reaching beervana again.

Buy this beer. Age this beer. Whatever you have to do, get some.

Spoon’s rating: A+

Last week there was no update. Penguins won game 6 the night before in the Stanley Cup Playoffs leaving me dead to the world on Wednesday. Friday they would win the Stanley Cup 2-1 in game 7 and it was time to celebrate. I had every intention on keeping BlackOps in the cellar but this is what craft beer is about. Celebration. I had every desire of releasing this yesterday but Mother Nature tried to wipe Pittsburgh off the map with tornadoes, floods and everything else up her sleeve. The spoon residence has been dealt the flood hand before and its never easy. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you whom suffered loss.

Brooklyn Black Ops
brewery: Brooklyn Brewing – www.brooklynbrewery.com
style: Russian Imperial Stout
abv: 10.7%
serving size: 750ml
glass used: snifter
price: $27

Overview
Brooklyn Black Ops (2008 commercially available version) was aged for four months in bourbon barrels, bottled flat, and re-fermented in the bottle with Champagne yeast. 940 cases produced.

What I think
I admit that spending $27 on a single bottle of beer is steep but when it’s a reputable brewery sometimes it’s worth taking a risk. This one is such a beverage. The head poured a perfect 2 finger giving the sweet aroma of vanilla with slight coffee and bourbon. The taste was a mouthful of excellence. Started with coffee and slight chocolate then moved to a mild bourbon and finishes malty smooth. Honestly it felt like the ultimate milkshake. A 5 dollar milkshake . under the circumstances this was the best way to celebrate the Pens winning the Stanley Cup. Honestly, if you have a bottle of this I say sit on it a year because time aging will make this one of the greatest RIS ever!

Spoon’s rating: A+

Victory Hop Devil is one of my favorite IPA’s of all time. Victory decided to take it one step further by messing with a good thing. The story behind this is a riot and I wish I had a recorder when, by chance, I met up with a sales rep. I’ve had it on tap but he insisted that the bottle was better. Time to find out.

Victory Wild Devil
brewery: Victory Brewing – www.victorybeer.com
style: India Pale Ale
abv: 6.7%
serving size: 22oz
glass used: tulip
price: $10

Overview
Bold, spicy, menacingly delicious HopDevil takes on an entirely new dimension when subjected to a wild yeast fermentation. A sharp, sourish edge has been added by this fermentations that plays into the caramel sweet malt deliciously and creates complex interplay with citrus accented hops. American IPA w/ Brettanomyces.

What I think
Sickpuppy bought this to share and tried to kill me with the cork (I will get you back) so I missed the initial pour and head. The appearance was slightly lighter than a HopDevil with a fruity, hoppy and funky aroma. Seriously, funky is the best word I can come up with. It truly was something haven’t come across before and the taste left me perplexed. It had more character than the draft and was smooth with a bit sour. I took a second drink and started to get citrus upfront that would start to mellow out. There was very little bite and then I would pucker. See what I mean, it was all over the palate road with a smooth and mellow finish. It felt like an extreme ride from Cedar Point.

Spoon’s rating: B+

I have 2 6-packs of this aging in my basement. This time I had it fresh from the tap at Mad Mex in Cranberry.

Great Lakes Blackout Stout
brewery: Great Lakes – greatlakesbrewing.com
beer webpage: http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/beerProfile.php?beer_id=00000010
style: Russian Imperial Stout
abv: 9%
glass used: snifter
awards: Gold Medal, 2008 World Beer Cup | Gold Medal, 2006 World Beer Championships | Gold Medal, 2006 World Beer Cup | Gold Medal, 2003 World Beer Championships | Gold Medal, 2003 World Beer Championships (as Emmett’s Imperial Stout) | Silver Medal, 1996 World Beer Championships (as Emmett’s Imperial Stout)
price: $6

Overview
Named after the infamous “Blackout of 2003″ that left the northeastern United States in complete darkness, but resulted in old-fashioned neighborhood porch parties and down-home fun.

What I think
Since I wasn’t the one who poured this I can’t tell you what that was like but when it arrived there was beer porn in my presence.  Aroma was slight chocolate, stronger on the coffee and that first drink was deep, thick, and rich deliciousness in the form of chocolate with a hint of vanilla. This was velvety on the palate and finished smoother than Billy Dee Williams.

Spoon’s rating: A

Either you love it or hate it when Dogfish Head experiments with flavors. Me, I love it. Correction, I luuuuuurve it. They won’t release a beer for the sake of saying they brewed something new if it didn’t pass a rigorous tasting first. My palate rests in their brewing.

Dogfish Head Burton Baton
brewery: Dogfish Head – dogfish.com
beer webpage: http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/occassional-rarities/burton-baton.htm
style: Imperial IPA
abv: 10%
serving size: 22oz
glass used: snifter
price: $5

Overview
A blend of oak-aged English strong ale and our 90 Minute I.P.A.. Citrus notes from Northwestern hops meld with vanilla notes from the oak.

What I think
I was blessed with a perfect night to cook on the grill some dead cows so it was only fitting I hit my collection of IPA’s. I’ve eyed up this bottle for awhile and finally bit the bullet when I was at the store last week. The pour could only be best described as beer porn. Creamy 2 finger head and crisp amber body glistening in the sun. The aroma was mild floral and faint citrus. The taste was… OK here I was worried because many Imperial IPA’s I’ve had lately would punch me in the palate with strong alcohol flavor. For a 10% ABV beer it was extremely balanced. I picked up mediocre maltiness which was a huge plus because it didn’t overpower the hops nor succumb to high alcohol. The finish was smooth and malty. Savor this one, don’t slam it.

If you’re a fan of the Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA there is a 99.9% chance you’ll love this. If you don’t like the 90, shut up and drink it anyways

Spoon’s rating: A-

As you can see from the picture above I had some fun with this week’s selection. I’m always up for cooking with beer and since this past Sunday was Mother’s Day I figured it was my best chance to show mom the versatility of beer. Thanks to Tim at The Size of Life for sending me this bottle. It’s not available in PA so I let out an extra “squeeee”. Yes, you read that correctly.

The photo gallery of Mother’s Day Dinner I made with Stone can be found here.

Stone Brewing Cali-Belgique IPA
brewery: Stone Brewing - stonebrew.com
beer webpage: http://www.stonebrew.com/cali/index.php
style: Belgian IPA
abv: 6.9%
serving size: 22oz
glass used: snifter
price: n/a

Overview
When reading the name “Stone Cali-Belgique IPA”, “Cali” hints that it is a California style IPA, and this brew has an undeniable Belgian influence, indicated by the word “Belgique” (which is how Belgium’s French-speaking population says the word “Belgian”; the Dutch speaking Belgians say “Belgie”). We carefully selected a Belgian yeast strain that illuminates a fascinating new aspect of the beer that is otherwise quite simply Stone IPA.

The result is both completely new and different, while still being recognizable as a Stone Brew – and Stone IPA in particular. Think of it as an otherwise identical twin to Stone IPA that was raised in a Belgian culture. Literally.

What I think
Based on looks alone this poured like a typical Belgian instead of an IPA. The hue was hazy yellow but a creamy beaut of a head. The aroma was strong with hops, floral and spices. At this point IPA wasn’t even on the radar for me which was starting to be a concern knowing Stone’s history for brewing a muscular IPA. The taste caught me off guard.  Piny, fruity, sweet then hoppy and finished not as bitter as I was anticipating. To say it was complex is putting it lightly and why I stress that you can’t appreciate a beer in a 6oz sample.

Spoon’s rating: B

I’m sharing the spotlight this week. Please welcome to the stage fellow Yinz Team softball all star, Uncle Crappy. Crappy stood out at Podcamp Pittsburgh 2 during our SIDT/WMS session on grassroots podcasting as the only person to applaud and cheer as if the Stanley Cup was brought into the room. We broke his heart shortly afterward when he found out there wasn’t any free beer.

UC is a die hard Ohio State fan, fellow craft beer enthusiast, a great friend and helluva model American. If you see one of us at a craft beer festival there is a good chance the other isn’t far behind. You can follow Uncle Crappy on his blog at unclecrappy.com

Guinness 250th Anniversary Stout
brewery: St. James Gate - guinness.com
style: Irish Dry Stout
abv: 5%
serving size: 12oz
glass used: Spoon said “I used a Guinness pint glass that mysteriously appeared one night after a trip to Mad Mex.” Uncle Crappy sighed “I don’t know what the hell it’s called; Mrs. Crappy picked it up at Penn when we thought the place was closing down. It’s a pretty good approximation of an imperial pint glass, though.”
price: Spoon paid $3.25 at 3 Sons Dogs and Suds in Wexford, PA. Uncle Crappy paid $10 for the six. God bless the State of Ohio. Purchased at the Andersons general store, Dublin, Ohio. If you’re in Columbus and you’re thirsty, this is the first place you should stop.

What Uncle Crappy thinks

I’m a Guinness fan. Yeah, I know — it’s sort of like the Irish Budweiser, but it’s always a reliable choice when the pickings are slim. And you can’t beat the history; I mean, it’s been around for, like, 250 years or something.
Oh. Right. The name.

I knew I wanted to bring some home from our last trip to Columbus, and I was pleased to see it was pretty easy to find. I sat down with a couple bottles the other night; here’s what I came up with.

You see a difference right away. The 250 is carbonated differently than the nitrogen carbonation Guinness uses for the draught bottles or cans we have here, and it shows. You don’t see that beautiful cascade; you get something closer to a traditional beer pour with this one, setting up a half-inch head that dissipated pretty quickly. The aroma is also a bit different; the roasted malts are more prominent than in the Guinness I’m accustomed to.

That carries over to the taste, as well. Roasted coffee is right up front, followed by a hints of bread and, uh, not much else. My biggest gripe, though, is the mouthfeel; the more traditional carbonation naturally leads to a more traditional kind of feel; it’s not bad, but I really missed the silky Guinness texture.

Don’t get me wrong — this isn’t a bad beer. But if you’ve had a bottle of Guinness Extra Stout, you already have a pretty good idea of what the 250 is all about, and I was hoping for a little more.

Uncle Crappy’s rating: C+

What spoon thinks

This isn’t your typical Guinness so before you open it remember that not all are created equal. The pour was disappointing as the head was weak and vanished fast. I looked at it for a second and though “this looks like really cheap root beer from Aldi.” The aroma and taste, it turned out, was better than the appearance. I could smell a roasted coffee in the glass and the taste followed suit with a dry finish. I found it kinda light and watery as it seriously lacked body. That was it? That was what Guinness wasted a 250th anniversary on? Serious let down but better than some I’ve had.

This is a dry stout and lives up to the style but isn’t anything special besides a name.

Spoon’s rating: C-

I’m doing a crossover post with my personal blog since it suits both places. This is the Easter Beer Ham that Lushie and I worked on this year. Its been a couple of weeks since we’ve made it and the taste of deliciousness is still present.

It was difficult to decide on the right beer that would compliment the ham. That was until I opened a Coney Island Lager ( www.shmaltz.com/CONEY/cil.html ) from Shmaltz brewing ( www.shmaltz.com ) while prepping the side dishes. The beer has a mild malt flavor and some bite from hops which will balance the sweetness of the brown sugar we’re going to use.

Go see the beer ham goodness over at Flickr and follow the steps below in making this beer food porn gem.

What we used:

• 7 pound ham
• 2 cups of Coney Island Lager from Shmaltz Brewing
• casserole dish
• 1 cup of brown sugar

What to do:

1. Place ham in center of casserrole dish
2. 1 inch deep cuts made around the top so the beer bath will be able to soak in
3. Put 1 cup of packed brown sugar into a large bowl
4. Add 2 cups of Coney Island Lager to the brown sugar and whisk together
   
5. Pour  the mix over the ham where you made the cuts so it runs down covering the ham
6. Let the ham sit for a few minutes while you prep your side dishes
7. Bake 15 minutes per pound. Since ours was 7lbs we baked for 105minutes or 1hr 45minutes
8. Baste your ham with the beer bath every 15 minutes. For smaller hams than 4lbs I’d suggest every 10. Judgment call really, just don’t let it burn
9. The beer bath that you were basting it in will put a sweetness to the outside that you’re going to be temped to lick. Err I mean wait to enjoy at dinner
10. Let the ham sit for 5-10 minutes. It will finish cooking itself while resting and locking in the juice
11. Slice to size you prefer. I like it .5 – 1 inch
12. Use the leftover bath as a gravy. Plate, serve and enjoy!

We weren’t worried about presentation at this point. The aroma of beer and ham was intoxicating (no pun intended).

Let me know how it works out for you!

cheers!

I wasn’t aware that this was available in PA until I stopped by 3 Sons today with Teaspoon. Oskar Blues is the only craft beer company that, in my opinion, have been able to master the can. Time to see if this lives up to the name.

Oskar Blues Mama’s Little Yella Pils
brewery: Oskar Blues - oskarblues.com
style: pilsner
abv: 5.3%
serving size: 12oz
glass used: pilsner
price: $2.75

Overview
Our new canned good is a delicious, small-batch version of the beer that made Pilsen, Czechoslovakia famous. Mama’s is made with hearty amounts of pale malt, German specialty malts, and traditional (Saaz) and 21st century Bavarian hops. It’s the perfect antidote for the watered-down, cornfed versions of pilsner clogging America’s shelves. Our first canned lager, it’s also fermented at cool temperatures with a German yeast. While it’s rich with Czeched-out flavor, Mama’s gentle hopping (about 35 IBUs) and low ABV (just 5.3%) makes it a luxurious but low-dose beer. Look for our Gold Metal Winner on US shelves in March. Sadly, the Feds rejected our “Take Two and Call Us in the Morning” line on the can.

What I think

First thought that came to mind was Miller Lite’s more experienced brother. The aroma and initial taste was that of ML (which if I’m going macro, I drink) which is grassy/hay-like but the flavor is much more mature.  The pour was bubbly white head and the body was the color of gold we think of as kids and in cartoons. Crayola needs to work on this. If you’re staring out on pilsners this is the way to go. The taste was sharp, malty and like the aroma, slight hay, but in a good way. The finish is a tad bitter and hoppy.

I think I found my new summer session beer while watching some baseball or sitting on my back porch.

Spoon’s rating: B

When I started drinking craft beers on a regular basis for our show Shipwreck Porter was my first ever “WOW” beer. In fact their owner Tim Suprise was the first major brewery owner I had ever met back in 06.  This is the 2007 vintage that was aged when I picked it up at Fat Heads. Rumors of Arcadia’s demise in the Pittsburgh area has been great exaggerated.

Arcadia Brewing Shipwreck Porter
brewery: Arcadia Brewing Company – arcadiaales.com
style: Baltic Porter
abv: 12%
serving size: 22oz
glass used: Sam Adams Perfect Beer glass
awards: 2007 Winner, 1st Place, Chicago Beer Society
price: $10

Overview
Nothing like a 10-year-old Bourbon to add dimension to a beer!  This Baltic-style Porter has a robust, roasted malt emphasis that is nicely balanced by a slightly herbal hop bitterness.  Aged for 6 months in 10-year-old Kentucky Bourbon barrels, Shipwreck Porter is a tasty and tasteful combination of  brilliant flavors.  Bourbon adds notes of earth, vanilla, brown sugar and spice, while the barrels contribute mild, oaky tones.  Cocoa and coffee notes co-mingle with toasty, malty flavors and a lingering alcohol warmth.

This is a BIG beer.  Lots of alcohol and lots of flavor mean this brew can cellar for years.  Our Shipwreck Porter is delicious on its own or with a nice cigar, but also brilliant with many foods or as a digestif.

Recommended Foods:  Earthy Cheese such as Camembert, BBQ, Chocolate-Bourbon Cake

What I think
Aging a beer in my house is a rare thing and I only started recently. Mostly due to the fact beer never lasts that long in my house but with Teaspoon my beverage time is next to none. When I stopped at Fat Head’s and found a bottle of 07 I knew I was in for a treat.

My main concern was that the already present bourbon would be strong enough to take lead paint off my 1970’s Matchbox cars and probably run a truck. I’m glad to report I was wrong. In fact it mellowed enough over the 18 months that I was taken to a new land of craft beer bliss.  The head still poured a caramel tone and hung around for a few minutes. The aroma was bourbon, oak and malty. Shipwreck carried a medium body and finished with a malty bourbon slide. Unfortunately Fat Heads had the bottles in the cooler only so I’m hesitant to pick one up and store it in the beer cellar. Anyone have advice on this?

Spoon’s rating: A

Live from Los Angeles, an evening dedicated to celebrating the world of craft beer and the American entrepreneurial spirit.

With over 95 million beer drinkers, beer is an American icon and is interwoven into our culture, yet the real story of these independent brewers has never been told. Beer Wars introduces the who’s who in beer while following the journey of small, independent brewers who are challenging the corporate behemoths. The evening will feature the world premiere of the groundbreaking documentary Beer Wars, followed by a spirited LIVE discussion with brewers and experts from the film. Using clips and never before seen footage to spice things up, this inspirational event will cap a movement 25 years in the making at a time when everyone is looking for proof that the American Dream is alive and well.

Panelists include:

• Sam Calagione – Dogfish Head Craft Brewery founder
• Rhonda Kallman – Founder of New Century Brewing Company and co-founder of Boston Beer Company (Sam Adams)
• Greg Koch – Stone Brewing Company founder
• Charlie Papazian – Brewers Association president
• Maureen Ogle – Beer historian and author of “Ambitious Brew: The Story of American Beer”
• Todd Alstrom – Beer Advocate founder

Playing in 440 movie theaters nationwide on Thursday, April 16th, Beer Wars LIVE will begin a conversation about the future of beer in America.

Purchase tickets for the LIVE event on April 16th at 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/8pm PT (tape delayed) at www.fathomevents.com/upcoming/details/Beer_Wars.html

For more information, visit www.beerwarsmovie.com

***ATTENTION PITTSBURGH RESIDENTS***
Beer Wars will be showing at 2 local theaters.

The SIDT crew will be at the Pittsburgh Mills showing. Stop out and join us!

cheers!
Spoon

I picked up this bottle also at D’s 6pk Shop in Regent Square. Unfortunately there was no price on the bottle or shelf (that’s common in the beer cave) and was part of a special on mixed 6packs.

Never heard of it but they carried the full series so I figured why not.

Left Coast Brewing Black Magic Stout
brewery: Left Coast Brewing Company – leftcoastbrewing.com
style: American Stout
abv: 6.7%
serving size: 22oz
glass used: pint
awards: Silver Medal Winner 2007 San Diego County Fair | Gold medal Winner 2007 LA County Fair | Gold Medal Winner 2007 California State Fair.
price: no idea, price tags are apparently tough to come by these days

Overview
Simply a stronger version of a traditional Dry Irish Stout. It is a full bodied, dark brew that is rich and malty with plenty of roasted barley character. This hearty stout is layered with flavors of roasted barley, chocolate, and coffee.

What I think
I don’t normally go for non-imperial bottles that have collected dust but something spoke to me about this bottle. Basically I was thirsty and needed something to complete the 6pk.

The pour was average and the head was a light tan but astonishingly the nose was that of stale chocolate or old coffee beans. To my surprise this would be a  palatable adventure. Malty in the front and coffee in the back but yet for a thin bodied stout this was resting quite peacefully on my palate. I started to pick up notes of dark roasted beans and a Hershey’s syrup favored chocolate. I really want to give this beer an “A” but the aroma was a huge turnoff for me.

Spoon’s rating: B+

I missed posting last week since Teaspoon is officially home with us now and as you can expect things have been hectic. I picked up this bottle at D’s 6pk Shop in Regent Square. Unfortunately there was no price on the bottle or shelf (that’s common in the beer cave) and was part of a special on mixed 6packs.

Founders have finally arrived in Pennsylvania and have made a huge splash as one of the most sought after brewers of the year now available in the commonwealth.

Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout
brewery: Founders Brewing Company – foundersbrewing.com
style: Imperial American Stout
abv: 10%
serving size: 12oz
glass used: pint (snifter ran away. please come home)
price: $6.00

Overview
A bit of backwoods pleasure without the banjo. This stout is brewed with a hint of coffee and vanilla then aged in oak bourbon barrels. Our process ensures that strong bourbon undertones come through in the finish in every batch we brew. We recommend decanting at room temperature and best enjoyed in a brandy snifter.

What I think
I can say that since the start of this blog I’ve now reached beervana twice. KBS is in my top 5 of best beers ever. I was able to get KBS to appropriate room temp but my snifter is missing so I had to settle on a pint glass. Even with different glassware this was a fantastic experience. There was about a medium sized head on the pour but that was my fault. Instantly I was picking up strong coffee. I’m not a coffee drinker but I love the smell. The pour wasn’t as thick and dark as motor oil but a coffeehouse dark blend.

Now the taste. Oh sweet Jesus the taste. Someone new to craft beers would never believe this is a beer. A delightful balance of coffee, chocolate, vanilla and malt that took me back to my coffeehouse days of the early-mid 90’s while sporting my grunge swag. The mouth feel smooth and creamy but not overpowering. Each savor you pick up something new. It’s like the chewing gum from Willy Wonka without the need for de-juicing. Started with coffee, picked up some vanilla, then a bit chocolate and finished with malty goodness. Have I mentioned this is aged in bourbon barrels?  Oh yeah. the final treat is the grand finale of bourbon wood.

If you’re going to win over the beer downers in your circle of friends this is what you want to serve them. Although, you give them the best off the bat and they’ll expect it from every brewery. Give them a sample and taunt them forever.

Spoon’s rating: A+

My first review back after teaspoon’s arrival so I thought that since non-Irish people are wrapping up pretending to be a nationality that I would actually celebrate part of mine, the Polish side.

Okocim Beer
brewery: Browar Okocim S.A. - www.okocim.pl
style: Pilsner
abv: 5.5%
serving size: 500ml (16.9oz)
glass used: pilsner
price: $3.50

Overview
Purchased at 3 Sons Dogs n Suds. Since I can’t translate Polish that’s about all you’re getting.

What I think
I’m slowly converting over to a Pilsner fan and this reinforces it. The head poured robust but disappeared rather quickly. The aroma was a typical pils where those unfamiliar would think it was stale beer. The taste was smoother than Billy Dee Williams’ moves on some fine ladies. One thing that really impressed me was the potential for beer porn if I had a better camera. Pristine golden hue and ivory white head makes this a photographers ideal candidate.

Spoon’s rating: B+

I’m taking a little bit of a break. As you can see from the picture above, my son decided to come a little early. About 8 weeks early. Teaspoon here deserves some extra attention so Lushie and I are doing just that.  I’ll be back in a week or so when things calm down a bit.

cheers!

When Bar Louie in Cranberry opened I avoided it like the plague. Figured it was like the other locations around town and was nothing more than an overpriced martini bar. One night I broke down and gave it a shot since I was parched. With that came the discovery of…

Troubadour Obscura
brewery: Brouwerij De Musketiers – troubadourbieren.be
style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
abv: 8.5%
serving size: 10 oz draft
glass used: goblet
price: $3.00 (Happy Hour price)

Overview
Troubadour Obscura is a dark red beer with 8,5 % alc. and refermentation in the bottle. Poured in the special glass, Troubadour has a nice creamy foam head and a malty character with a nice little roasty flavor. Troubadour Obscura has a mild bitterness, which is a bit stronger in the aftertaste and a mainly malty aroma. The smell of roasted, burned wood is completed by a light chocolate touch. Troubadour is produced with 4 different types of malt, hops, yeast and water.

What I think
Happy Hour is always the best time to try new beers and if you’re in Cranberry Township, Bar Louie is a must. My history shows that I haven’t had good experiences with Belgian Strong Dark Ale’s but honestly I couldn’t read the tap handle and figured wtf, why not.

The bartender pouring didn’t give the pour much head but thankfully the glass wasn’t frosted so I could see the nice dark amber body. The aroma was tempting with a mild mix of fruits and spices. The taste was interesting. The second glass I had was a bit stronger. There was more malt with chocolate tones to it and I was loving it. The body was about medium with very little carbonation and a 100% smooth finish. This that night Troubadour is all I drink there now.

Spoon’s rating: A

I know that Groundhog Day was 16 days ago but the shipment of this traditional lager was delayed getting to my area. The first time I had this was in roughly 2001 and was hands down the worst beer I ever drank. 8 years later it’s time for a revisit.

Ground Hog Brew
brewery: Straub Brewing – straubbeer.com
style: Lite American Lager
abv: 3.16%
serving size: 12oz
glass used: pint
price: $2.75

Overview
Distributed once a year in honor of Punxsutawney Phil, beloved groundhog of Pennsylvania, and Groundhog Day. Straub Brewery is a short 60 minute drive north east-ish of Punxy.

What I think
I admit, I went into this expecting the worse and came out pleasantly surprised. I say this because the last time I drank one of these it tasted like… OK grab a handful of old pennies.Not shiny ones but the pennies you find in your junk drawer and turning green. Now shove them in your mouth.  That is what the original Ground Hog Brew tasted like.

Truth is, this is Straub Light with a special label and honestly it’s not THAT bad. Straub gets a lot of slack around my area for being “your dad’s beer”. Light body, tasteless and fizzy. Kinda like Miller Lite and Bud but without the hookers in bikinis. Sometimes in life you need that. I actually enjoyed this beer knowing the style. Granted the head dissipated within 15 seconds and the aroma could be classified as stale beer but the taste had improved.

Everyone has a “go to” beer that takes them back to their roots. If a beer snob denies this, they’re lying. There’s always one and for me it’s Beast Ice. Locally it’s Iron City or IC Light. You need that beer as a reminder of where you came from. You could go out and buy a Straub Light but honestly,  this is for the novelty. I would like to get a collection of each year but would I ever drink them? Oh hell no. Try opening a can of any macro that’s been sitting for more than 120 days.  Bottle does look cool though

Spoon’s rating: C-

I was in Studio A (notice the official bottle opener) to visit sickpuppy when he busted out a bottle of this with a snicker. You’re going to find out why.

Rogue Yellow Snow
brewery: Rogue Brewing – rogue.com
style: India Pale Ale
abv: 6% (that’s loosely based on Plato being 15. Thanks sickpuppy & Phil)
serving size: 22oz
glass used: Dogfish Head
price: $12.00

Overview
Pale golden in color with a hoppy fruity aroma. Big hop flavor up front complemented by medium body and hoppiness mid-pallet. Finishes with a characteristic lingering bitterness.

Yellow Snow IPA was originally introduced for the 2000 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Yellow Snow is Rogue’s tribute to winter sports everywhere—downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross country, ice hockey, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and even curling.

What I think
I was always boastful that there wasn’t a Rogue beer that I didn’t like. Recently I had the Juniper Pale Ale and loved it. When sickpuppy had give me this bottle to try and not hoard it for himself I knew something was up.

It poured like a typical IPA. Copper color to the body and a frothy head accented with a delicious aroma of hops. How could this possibly be bad? Yeah, take a drink sport and get ready for grapefruit overload and hops. Quite possibly one of the worst combination since I chugged the Chelada. My mouth puckered and started to punch me from the inside out to finish it. I couldn’t tell you the body feel on it because my palate was screaming unfair punishment. The torture ended with a hoppy finish.

Watch out where the Rogue goes, don’t you drink that yellow snow.

Spoon’s rating: D-

This is a 50/50 blend of unfiltered Hoppe and Unearthly Imperial IPA. Grab on to something tight and hold on.

Southern Tier Imperial Gemini Blended Unfiltered Ale
brewery: Southern Tier - southerntierbrewing.com
style: Imperial Ale
abv: 10.5%
serving size: 22oz
glass used: sniffer
price: $12.00

Overview
High in the winter sky, two parallel stick figures are visible & known as “the twins,” or the constellation Gemini. The astronauts of the 1960s flew as teams of two in a program named after the celestial pairing. At Southern Tier, we have our own fraternal twins, Hoppe & Unearthly. Blended together & placed in this vessel, the mission of our Gemini is to travel high & take passengers on a journey far into the heavens.

What I think
This was one of those moments where I went to the bomber cooler and said “oh! shiny label! BUY! BUY! BUY!” and I’m thankful I did. Since I do live in Pittsburgh and it is football season I will dub this the  Immaculate Consumption.

As soon as I popped off the cap I could detect the hops fighting to get into my glass. The pour was close to heaven as it finished with a heavenly body and an unblemished head. Aroma was all hops which means to me good times ahead. I was anticipating a firm body and fell in love with a malty flavor dressed in hoppy goodness. The finish was the taste I wish to have as I meet St. Peter at the pearly brewery gates. Friends, I reached beer nirvana.

The flavor, aroma and overall experience has made this a crowning point of my beer tasting career. I’m not kidding when I say, for the flavor profile I have, this is the best beer I have ever tasted and I hope the next one is just as good.

Spoon’s rating: A+

This is the second of the 2 imperial stouts that are new to the area from VooDoo Brewing. If you ever get the chance to try Matt’s line of beers I highly suggest it.

Big Black VooDoo Daddy
brewery: VooDoo Brewing – voodoobrewery.com
style: Imperial Stout
abv: 12.5%
serving size: 22oz
glass used: pint
price: $9.00

Overview
This Is our Imperial Stout that we age in conditioning tanks with oak staves. This adds a classic character of old world aging with out the Bourbon tones. This black ale is about 12% alc. and very rich in roasted and chocolate malt tones. Velvety smooth and able to be aged for years.

What I think
After last week’s slight disappointment I was really looking for a saving grace and with the results in, I found it. The body was very similar to that of the Black Magick but instead of a nose full of alcohol there was slight chocolate and a medium amount of coffee and bourbon. With each drink take a deep breath and capture the goodness of the aroma. I’m finding a nice coffee taste lingering on my palate without the nasty film that comes with drinking coffee (I get my jabs in when I can). Each drink I’m getting a smooth up front flavor and a mild chocolate coffee finish. Oh yeah, redemption has been found. In fact it’s safe to say this is my new fav imperial stout. Matt, you nailed it on this one.

Spoon’s rating: A

VooDoo Black Magick
brewery: VooDoo Brewing – voodoobrewery.com
style: Imperial Stout
abv: 15.5%
serving size: 12oz
glass used: pint
price: $11.00

Overview
This is an Imperial Stout that is of great strength and complexity. We then gently age that beer in Elaigh Craig 13 1/2 year old Bourbon Barrels for 6 months to 1 yr. and then primed and bottled to bottle condition for continued aging and cellar life. Black Magick should be able to be aged up to about 5 years, to heighten the complexity and smooth nature of this beer.

What I think
Right off the bat all I could smell was alcohol and not in a good way. It poured the blackest I’ve seen a beer in quite some time. This would be a rare case where my family is right saying a dark beer is strong. In fact I think this has more aroma kick than the Weyerbacher XIII. There was a thin cocoa colored head on the pour as I kept staring at it wondering if I’d be sucked into my beloved Foundry Ale Works pint glass.

The bourbon taste I expected was actually stronger than anticipated. Reminded me of the first time I had a Shipwreck Porter. It was a punch in the teeth of bourbon.  Once I got past the strong alcohol tones I my palate went into spaz mode of the delicious chocolate malt back end. Unfortunately the alcohol came back and I had a hard time getting this out of my mouth.

This would have been a B+ or A- easy if it wasn’t for strong alcohol taste I kept getting. Tone it down a bit and I think it would be one of the best imperial stouts ever made. At $11 a bottle I would only suggest it once though I may have to buy one to age for a year or 2.

Spoon’s rating: C+

This beer is going to confuse the hell out of people who think that all beers are yellow and fizzy because the word “Ale” is at the end. You know that Genny is what comes to mind.  Time for an education.

Stoudts Winter Ale
brewery: Stoudts – www.stoudtsbeer.com
beer website: Winter Ale
style: American Porter
abv: 5.5%
serving size: 12oz
glass used: plastic
price: $2.50

Overview
The website doesn’t have jack about this. Boo on brewery websites who have next to nothing about their beers. I threw out the bottle thinking I could get it off the website. After some digging around on the interwebz I found “ This medium to full bodied ale is a deep brown color with notes of chocolate and nut flavors. It has a subtle hop bitterness and chocolaty aroma. This is the perfect holiday beer for the season.”

What I think
The only thing that could have possibly saved this beer would be to have drank it from the Sam Adams ultimate beer glass which seems to save the soul of many beers. No need for how the head was or it’s body because come on, it was a plastic cup. I really need to get my own glass at 3 Sons for moments like this.

I had very little nose on this but did eventually get a slight aroma of coffee and sweetness of some malt. I’m not a coffee drinker so I can’t tell you any type of coffee besides black greasy spoon diner coffee. The initial taste was minimal on coffee and a bit chocolate but after that went downhill dull faster than an OJ trial. It felt flat on the palate and was making for a rough time to finish but alas I’m a trooper for you. I’ve had dry porters before and this wasn’t it. Overall a bad experience but not worthy of a “D”. I’ll need to revisit sometime soon because something just wasn’t right.

Spoon’s rating: C-

Victory St. Victorious
brewery: Victory Brewing – www.victorybeer.com
beer website: St Victorious
style: Doppelbock
abv: 7.6%
serving size: 16oz
glass used: pint
price: $2.50

Overview
From the tradition started by the monks of St. Francis of Paula in 1634 comes this warming beer of rich heritage. A dark, rich lager of sublime complexity and character, St. Victorious is created from multiple German malts. Laborious decoction mashing yields the choicest elements of the malt. Long, cold aging mellows the strong temperament of this subtle beer. Celebrate the end of winter with a warming draft of St. Victorious Doppelbock!

What I think
I would go on record as saying that the best dopplebock/double bock I have ever had is the Troegenator from Troegs Brewing. That is until tonight. I didn’t pour this so I can’t fairly judge the head but coming from the tap in front of me it poured like heaven. Mad Mex is a dimly lit Mexican restaurant (with a kickass beer menu) so I can’t say how the body looked but I can tell you how it tasted. Sweet Jesus malt but not overly sweet. Sweetness did hang around slightly for an aftertaste but didn’t leave me smacking my lips and trying to get a film off my tongue. For the alcohol in this it’s balanced perfectly and in fact, after 3 I was feeling good and wanted more. I may have found a replacement for the Troegenator. Once again a beer from Pennsylvania that rocks my palate!

Spoon’s rating: A

I love December 31st every year. The wife and I usually treat ourselves to things we won’t normally have during the year. As you can see above, I’m going to have a good night drinking martinis. I know, there is no craft beer but I have been known to fancy myself a lover of the juniper delight. As my good friend Griff would say, we’re gonna party like rockstars. With Tea Spoon coming to this world in April I need to get it in while I can

Thank you for supporting this site and making it a reality after years of dragging my feet. Without you I wouldn’t have been able to make this site come to life. I appreciate your patience as I continue to toy with a format that I think will be most beneficial to you as a reader and myself as a writer.

prost and have a safe NYE!

I decided to be a nice beer guy and share this with my family last night when we celebrated the holiday at my brother’s house. I come from a family of “if it’s dark, it’s strong” and “why cant you drink normal beer like Bud”. I was on a mission to expand some minds and educate.

Southern Tier Choklat
brewery: Southern Tier – southerntierbrewing.com
style: Imperial Chocolate Stout
abv: 11%
serving size: 22oz
glass used: pint
price: $12

Overview
The Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the Maya, unfolds a complex web of mystery around a beverage known as xocoatl (ch-co-atle). At Southern Tier, we’re not surprised that hieroglyphs of the ancient Maya depict chocolate being poured for rulers and gods. Even through the many voyages of Columbus, the mystical bean remained nothing more than a strange currency of the native peoples.

Moving through centuries, the circular journey of cacao has been realized in our brewing house, encompassing the complexity of the darkest, bitter-sweet candy together with the original frothy cold beverage of the ancient Maya to bring to you our Blackwater Series Choklat Stout. We have combined the finest ingredients to tempt your senses & renew the power & interrelation of history in every bottle.

What I think
This is “liquid brownie in a bottle” as I like to call it. The aroma is incredible. Bountiful amount of chocolate, chocolate and oh yeah chocolate. Remember the scratch-n-sniff stickers from the 80’s of the Hot Chocolate or walking through Hershey, PA? See where I’m going with it? Even my family said “Is that chocolate? This can’t be beer!”

My brother was the one who poured so there wasn’t much head (I need to teach him the art). It pours darker than a black hole and will suck you in with it’s medium body and chocolate blanket that blankets your palate. This is heaven in a glass.

I’m not a fan of sweets and very rarely eat anything along the lines of candy but Choklat is fantastic. This is the best chocolate beer you will ever drink. You know that feeling when everything in the world seems perfect at that moment? This will take you there and give a beergasm.

Spoon’s rating: A+

Click here to view the embedded video.

It’s Friday and you’re at work looking to kill some time before the holiday. Why not do it with beer! Once again the shows at Beer Safari have gotten together for a mega beer exchange. As a member of Should I Drink That, I joined sickpuppy in unwrapping a very delicious gift from Big Foamy Head. Video is about an hour long so kickback with a 6 pack and enjoy! We may release the SIDT one as a separate download. We’ll see it motivation moves me this weekend

In order of appearance:

• Big Foamy Head
• The Good Beer Show
• The Beer Report
• Speaking of Beer
• Craft Beer Radio
• My Life as a Foodie
• Should I Drink That?
• Brain Gravy
• Davis on Draft

Don’t forget to check out my craft beer podcasting brothers at Beer Safari and the writings of Beer Porn!

It’s 8 days before Christmas so you deserve something to kick it up over the holiday. We all have whack jobs in our families and craft beer is what you need to drown them out. I wanted to do more Christmas themed beers this year but most I have had before and quite frankly are foul. The picture above is from a night at 3 Sons since the batteries in my camera died at the time of review. Eh, it happens.

Santa’s Private Reserve
brewery: Rogue Brewing – rogue.com
beer website: Santa’s Private Reserve
style: Red Ale
abv: 6%
serving size: 12oz
glass used: pint glass
price: $41/case, $3.75 bottle

Overview
Rogue’s annual holiday offering, Santa’s Private Reserve, is a variation of the classic Saint Rogue Red, but with double the hops–including Chinook, and Centennial, and a mystery hop called Rudolph by head brewer John “more hops” Maier!

What I think
The issue I have with a lot of winter offerings, as I see in pumpkin beers also, is a spice bomb and for me that is a huge turnoff. I’m more for balance in when it comes to a spice, bitter or sweetness. If this is your concern also, you’ve come to the right beer.

Pours a medium copper/amber with an astonishing head. Yeah, beer porn once again. The taste on this is hoppy like an IPA but with a sweetness of a red which, as I said above, gives balance. Oh sweet Jesus did it balance well and follows with a tad of fruit and spice. If you’re worried about the hops on the finish you can get that thought out of your mind. It has a mild body on it which doesn’t stick around long. This is my go to beer now in the winter season. Rogue you have saved me from a winter of misery when I want a beverage under 10% ABV to chill with.

Spoon’s rating: A

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a fan of the Pilsner style. I’ve had some extremely bad beer in this style and it probably goes back to swill I drank as a lad. Wait, that was Golden Anniversary from my parents basement. If I’m going to review the style I might as well go for the best.

• Details Magazine – One of Ten Best Summer Beers (June/July 2006)
• Men’s Journal – Top Lager Worldwide (July 2005)
• Grand Champion Pilsner: United States Beer Tasting Championships 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

Prima Pils
brewery: Victory Brewing – www.victory.com
beer website: Prima Pils
style: Pilsner
abv: 5.3%
serving size: 12oz
glass used: pilsner
price: $32/case, $3.00 bottle

Overview
Heaps of hops give this pale lager a bracing, herbal bite over layers of soft and smooth malt flavor. This refreshing combination of tastes makes Prima a classy quencher in the tradition of the great pilsners of Europe. Dry and delightful, this is an elegant beer.

What I think
If you’re new to craft beer you will see this and think “hey, that looks like my Bud/Coors/Miller”. Unlike those, this has character and doesn’t need to be served ice cold to hide its flavor. Pours a gorgeous golden body with a robust white head. If you’re trying a pilsner for the first time you may think it’s a tad stale tasting. After consulting the world renown beer filmmaker, foodie rockstar and home brewing expert Phil, this is from the character of the German and Czech whole flowers hops. Prima Pils has a medium body and a crips clean finish. New to Pilsners? Start here.

If you’re looking to start out shooting beer porn, this is a must for your list. Very photogenic.

Spoon’s rating: A-

This week we feature a seasonal beer from a brewery back in my hometown of Erie, PA. I know it’s early in the site to repeat a beer already but after reading the original review here I felt it needed a worthy review. Plus I thought I reviewed the older, less ABV version which was retired.

Ol Red Cease and Desist
brewery: Erie Brewing – www.eriebrewingco.com
style: Wee Heavy Scottish Ale
abv: 10.1%
serving size: 12oz
glass used: sniffer
price: $31/case, $3.50 bottle

Overview
Erie Brewing presents the Beer formally known as Red Ryder BIG BEER – A beer dubiously awarded two cease and desist letters for its name. Ol’ Red Cease and Desist brings more to the table than just a big malty flavor and climaxing warming sensation…a legal record! This beer so recognized and loved by many deserves a unique name to match its unique history. What better name than Ol’ Red Cease and Desist – a name inspired by the long arm of the law!

What I think
Every winter I look forward to this beverage. The pour brings a crisp amber hue and a modest head. Lacing vanishes rather fast but that isn’t always a bad thing. You will get a gracious amount of malt on your palate that will do a great job of covering the 10.1% ABV. I purchased a few of these and noticed the body was heavier on one bottle over the other but didn’t result in much flavor variety but very very smooth. You’re going to be able to drink many of these before that ABV kicks you in the head. Treat it like NyQuil, plan a long slumber in Scottish ale bliss after consuming.

Spoon’s rating: B

Two weeks in a row with Southern Tier! I have a hard time justifying a bottle of beer priced at $17 so after some research I decided to pick it up. The results were, well, read on…

Southern Tier Curvee Series One
brewery: Southern Tier – southerntierbrewing.com
style: American Strong Ale
abv: 11%
serving size: 22oz
glass used: sniffer
price: $17

Overview
This is the first part in a limited series from Southern Tier Brewing. Series One was released this month with Two following in February 09 and finally Three in June 09. For more information check out the beers page of the Southern Tier website.

What I think
When I put money into a beer I have a certain level of expectations. In this case it came in a cardboard box with simple yet effective artwork and the bottle itself was impressive. Unfortunately the beer wasn’t. Not a fan of it. It tasted like the brewers were standing in front of the boil and said “Reginald, go open your lunch from mommy and lets see what we can use! Scurry! Scurry!”. It did pour a delightful copper color but had little aroma to be desired. The taste was a bland strong ale and got me to wondering if I had a bad bottle. Slights hops, little malt and quite frankly just a boring beer. Utterly disappointed but willing to revisit down the road. It was still an average strong ale which is why I give it the following grade.

Spoon’s rating: C-

When this arrived at 3 Sons Dogs & Suds I swear that every regular that I talk to told/emailed me that this was a must buy. Gotta love communication like that! I love most Southern Tier products so I was really excited to see something new on the shelf. Wait till you read the story behind the name!

Southern Tier Krampus
brewery: Southern Tier – southerntierbrewing.com
style: Munich Helles Lager
abv: 9%
serving size: 22oz
glass used: sniffer

Overview
Here’s the story from the Southern Tier website
St. Nicholas, aka Santa Claus, is a magical figure, the bringer of gifts and an icon of holiday spirit. Forgotten by most is his evil side kick and enforcer of ‘the list’. European tradition says while St. Nick is busy delivering presents to good little boys and girls, Krampus hands out punishments to the bad. A fanged, goat-horned bully, the Christmas Devil uses sticks and chains to beat the naughty children.

That has to be one of the best stories ever for inspiring a craft beer. Just wait till I have kids and share this one!

What I think
Before I dove into craft beers I never thought much about glassware. Using a sniffer is key in this one because the nose you’ll get will make a hop head moan. After the initial pour there was an ivory white head resting on top of an amazing copper body. This is pure beer porn and the first drink was just as amazing. The hops are settling on my palate like a mild blanket meanwhile the malts coat the roof of my mouth making me crave for more. If you’re a lacing junkie make sure you take your time to savor the beer before geeking out at the drapes of goodness.

This is a great way to bring in the holiday season on a cold snowy tonight kinda like what I have right now. I’m feeling all warm inside.

Spoon’s rating: A-

Thanks to all who voted for  Should I Drink That?” in the food & drink category! Unfortunately we didn’t win this year and while rumors started to surface of us having a fate like Susan Lucci I can assure you that… aw screw it. Have a craft beer and keep on supporting Should I Drink That?, this site Humpday Happiness and our friends at Beer Safari!

cheers!

So like an idiot I thought I was over the flu and guess what, I wasn’t. No review today because I need to get ready this weekend for the greatest thing to ever grace the shores of Station Square.

The 2008 Pittsburgh Brufest will be Friday, November 14, 2008 at Bar Room & Saddle Ridge in Station Square from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and can be purchased here! A portion of the proceeds from this event benefit The PLEA Agency and entertainment will be provided by SeeMusicLive.org

Oh did I forget to mention that yours truly along with sickpuppy from Should I Drink That, Zeke from Y108, Ron Man from B94 and a surprise local celebrity will be the official beer judges.

Stop out, get your drink on and help support a good cause.

cheers!
spoon

When you’re done reading this I want you to go check out the official website for this line of beer. Knightshead is one of the most appealing sites I’ve seen this year. Only thing missing is the ABV for the beers and they never answered emails asking for it. That aside I LOVE the website – knightsheadbrewing.com

Knight’s Head Pale Ale
brewery: Round Table – lionbrewery.com
beer website: knightsheadbrewing.com
style: English Pale Ale
abv: N/A
serving size: 12oz
glass used: pint glass

Overview
Sickpuppy had picked up a case of this when he was at Save on Beer because it was $10.  I’m not kidding, TEN DOLLARS! It’s a new brew from the makers of Lionshead (Best Head in Town!) and Butt Monkey in the fine Pennsylvania town of Wilkes-Barre. When I went to SoB I was told that the price will go up to $20-$25 some time in November so buy it now if you can.

What I think
This is a perfect gateway beverage when you’re starting out in craft beers. Poured a copper/amber body with very little head but provided a balance of hops and malt. The hop profile is very noticeable but doesn’t overpower the palate and leaves a moderate malt finish. This is your session beer, meaning it’s a beer that you can chill with and have more than a few. You can appreciate the flavor profile without having to put much thought into it. It’s just good. Plus for the price you can’t beat it.

Spoon’s rating: B

Voting ends November 6th at 23:59:59 so keep on voting for Should I Drink That?” (that would be my podcast) in the food & drink category! Finalists for the 2nd year, we want to come home with the hardware and can only do it with help from you!

You can vote every 24 hours so write yourself a reminder!

You can thank that flu thing going around that knocked me out last week for a lack of updates. Still fighting the bugger but at least I can enjoy a beverage now!

Le Freak
brewery: Green Flash – greenflashbrew.com
style: Belgian IPA
abv: 9.2
serving size: 22oz
glass used: wine glass

A purpose of this site is not only to inform you about different views of craft beers out there but also motivate me to try different styles and find the appreciation that others have. I have no problem saying I’m not a fan of Belgian beer.  I know, it’s a sin. I’ve never been a fan of sweet, citrus or anything of that nature. It is because of this that I had to try the Green Flash Le Freak Belgian IPA.  A Belgian IPA? Yeah that’s what I said also.

At first I enjoyed a nose full of citrus and spices which lead to a punch in the nose of hops which really appealed to me. At first drink I wasn’t thrilled at all. In fact, I was disappointed. A few more sips and i started to taste the complexity of this beer and pick out different flavors. By the time I was finished I was craving more. Never has a beer started out with me ready to discard it and pull a comeback mirroring that of 3 goal rally late in the third to win 3-2 in regulation. That would be hockey, not soccer.

I always believed that if you truly want to sample a beer you need to have a pint, not a sampler glass. This beer re-enforced that belief for me. While sample glasses are nice, some beers need some space to knock your socks off. The head was a good 2 inches full and thick. The golden orange body was medium as it resembled a Belgian and also a light IPA. It had the flavor of an IPA but with a Belgian twang to it.

At $11.50 I would pick this up for a special occasion otherwise I’ll wait for my next one and savor that moment.

Spoon’s rating: A

Subscribe to the RSS feed and join me each Wednesday as I review beverages to get you over the hump of the workweek and ready for the weekend.

prost!

Last year I had the first ever pumpkin beer that I enjoyed every drink of. Since then I swore it was the Southampton Pumpkin Ale and guess what, I was way off. When I drink a pumpkin beer I like the taste of pumpkin roll. Pumpkin beers are made of either real pumpkins or pumpkin spices. Very noticeable difference if you put the 2 side by side. Trying to keep in the spirit of the season my next few reviews will be pumpkin beers. This is also the last HDH on this domain. I opened my trap about the new HDH domain and now it’s coming up on a local distribution list.  Basically I have to get the site done. Motivation baby! You will see my new format for reviewing also.  Excited eh?

The Beer
Past on past experiences with pumpkin beer I can usually count on one thing. Over spiced. Southampton while having a noticeable amount of nutmeg upfront and cinnamon in the back, it wasn’t an overkill mount. The nose on it was a little rough as it sparked memories of a spice bomb. I was actually pleased with the selection this year but as a bomber bottle (22oz) you really need to make a commitment to drinking once you open it. It was average but very drinkable. The head didn’t hang out very long as about 2 fingers worth was gone from the time I placed it down and picked up my camera.

Spoon’s rating: C+

Since word first broke of this special brew from Dogfish Head was coming out earlier this year I knew it would be a must buy at any price. Apparently I spoke too soon. This champagne size rarity came in at $15 a bottle which for a 10% ABV beer is a bit steep but this is Pennsylvania after all and we’re use to our wallets feeling a bit light after a purchase

From the Dogfish Head 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 wasn’t sure what to expect from this. Samples I saw poured at 3 Sons last week made me think they were mistaken but sure enough when I poured at home it indeed had a golden hue as you see in the picture above. No way this was going to be a chocolate. As always DFH teaches us to expect the unexpected and the Theobroma lives up to it.

Using my always trustworthy Dogfish Head glass the Theo poured a hazy orange with a solid white head which didn’t stay around for long so thankfully I snapped the picture in time. I was expecting more chocolate/cocoa  *umph* to the taste but found it boring for a DFH beer. Someone had to say it, I thought it was boring, dull, the opposite of thought provoking… you get the idea. I thought this was mediocre at best. I had a faint hint of cocoa on the nose so I’m thinking that after my overall experience this needs to be aged more and that’s exactly what’s happening. Sickpuppy is saving a bottle in the SIDT Beer Cellar for us to drink at a future date.

Spoon’s rating: C- (that’s only because it has potential)

This is one of the gems I brought back from my trip to Oswego for Silent Bob’s wedding (i know I still haven’t posted pictures) When I select beers for HDH I try to make it something that I haven’t already had on the show. I have drank Avery products before but being a huge fan of the IPA style it was a dream to see the wide availability of this in NY state (since it’s NEVER in Pittsburgh).

First off, I hate foil. It serves no purpose to me on beer besides to get into my beer and mess with my fillings. Yeah you know the feeling!  Fortunately for this beverage i was able to look past that as the label is one of the most well designed ones I’ve seen. The nose is that of a citrus/grapefruit with a hint of pine and hops. My first thought for an Imperial was high alcohol aroma but that wasn’t the case.

The head was fantastic. Fluffy cloud or pillow would be the best explanation. If serving at a bar, a hop leaf would be a killer addition. The whole way down it left beautiful lacing on my glass. The taste… well, OHMY FREAKINGLORD.  Yeah, that’s right. It had a full body of balanced heavy malt and hops and didn’t make me pucker. The finish was smooth and no lingering aftertaste which is always a concern for me when drinking Imperial IPA’s. Oh yeah, this gem is an A in my book.

Official spoon rating: A

On a final note, due to a considerable amount of time recording audio and video for SIDT I have been unable to keep up with HDH. Never fear as we have wrapped up recordings for now and you should see this back as a weekly feature. Plus I’m making a run to 3 Sons to see what all i can do for the fall/Oktoberfest season.

prost!

PodCamp Pittsburgh is a FREE community UnConference, run by and for people who create, enjoy or are interested in learning more about:

* blogs
* vlogs (video podcasts)
* audio podcasts
* web video
* social and content networks
* new media monetization
* more!

PodCamp Pittsburgh 3 will take place on October 18 and 19, 2008, with a meet-and-greet the evening of October 17.  SIDT will be providing and serving the craft beer   Make sure you attend the after party Saturday Night. It’s where legends are made!

Register today!

See the PodCamp Pittsburgh 3 schedule. Add a session you’d like to give, or request one you’d like to attend.

I really can’t stand Talk Like a Pirate Day. I think it’s cheesy and annoying as all hell. I say the hell with it and if you have to deal with people speaking like pirates you might as well drink like one! Here are my suggestions on how you too can Drink Like A Pirate Today!

Rum
Sailor Jerry – Step away from the commercialism of bottle shelf quality Captain Morgan’s and get yourself a quality rum. Sailor Jerry will not only make a man out of guys but a wench out of you ladies. Trust me, it’s a state of bliss that can only be compared to liquid love.

Beer (you’re only getting overviews this time kids)

1. Anything from the Heavy Seas collection at Clipper City. 2 of my favorites are:
   • Peg Leg Imperial Stout – 8% ABV. Dark, medium body and tastes like coffee and chocolate.
   • Loose Cannon IPA – 7.5% ABV and my session IPA. Perfect blend of hops, decent head and that perfect little twang to make you remember who’s boss
2. Piraat Blonde – 9% ABV Belgian Strong Ale from Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V. Great head with a golden body and flavors of citrus and banana. Also causes you illusions of pimp appeal to the opposite sex.
3. Shipwreck Porter – 7.8% ABV from Arcadia Brewing. Punch you in the face and steal everything you have craft beer. For the last 3 years this has been in my top 5 of favorite all time beers. It ferments in whiskey barrels so the character will absorb some of that flavor. Like beer? Like Whiskey? Try them both together and find out why you can only drink 2.

There is your list. Go out and drink like a pirate today but remember, even modern medicine can’t cure everything. Be responsible.

prost!

From the Brewing up a Cure website:
The members of the Three Rivers Underground Brewers Club (TRUB) invite you to their Second Annual “Brewing Up a Cure” to raise money and awareness for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on Saturday, October 18th from 7 – 10pm at Mr. Small’s Funhouse in Millvale, PA.  Tickets are now available online for $30.

Join us for a wonderful evening where you can taste the home brewed beers brewed by the local TRUB members, enjoy excellent food from several local restaurants, live music performed by Highway 13 (http://www.myspace.com/hwy13) and The Beagle Brothers (http://www.beaglebrothers.com/) as well as great auction items. In addition, all attendees will receive a souvenir tasting glass. This is a 21+ event.  Checks may be made payable to the “Cystic Fibrosis Foundation”.  All proceeds benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Should I Drink That is giving away 2 tickets to the event. Listen to EP43 for details.  There will be additional goodies you can purchase at the festival so bring your wallet!

I’m doing this to show that not everything I review is good. This is no fluff piece. This is a horrible beer. The great thing about having a place like 3 Sons Dogs and Suds close by is that I can try single bottles of beer before dumping my wallet on something foul.

If you asked me at a bar I’d say to avoid it like the plague.  I know this style well enough to say with confidence this is a Mike’s Lemonade project gone bad.  It’s yellow colored water with a slight hint of peach and disgustingness. Seriously, I can’t say anything good.  I’ll have to redeem myself in HDH 21.

Beer Advocate readers have this as a B rating. There is a chance this was a bad bottle but I don’t know if I want to find out again. And no, there will be NO chugging challenge on this one.

cheers!

Yeah, go ahead and make the jokes. It’s inevitable at this point. I did it myself. Old Chub holds a place near and dear to my heart. Back when SIDT started we did a show about a favorite drinking game of ours called Beer Hunter (click here for details). I know, I know, it’s supposed to be played with junk beer but hey, we’re the craft beer guys. Why WOULDN’T we use a good beer?

Last week while at 3 Sons I picked up a 6 pack for home since it’s been awhile. I’ve had my share of Scottish ales and wanted to revisit the first one I ever had. If you’re unfamiliar with a Scottish Ale there is usually a higher malt flavor which is the shining star of this style while carrying a low hop profile. If you want to know why, this is caused by the wort carmelizing after a long boil. Hey, you asked. The ABV in Old Chub is 8% but in other Scottish Ales can reach as low as 4. Most of the ones I drink are a high 6 to a low 7.

The can I had poured a dark copper hue and finished with a solid 2 finger head which stuck around until midway through the drinking. There was a fair balance of malt in it but not to the point that it made my mouth fill with sweetness. I did have some lingering malt aftertaste but not enough that it bothered me.

Old Chub is made by the Oskar Blues Brewery in Colorado who have become famous for successfully distributing craft beer in a can. Previously this was unheard of but these guys got the system down without the use of that bullshit “venting” system that Coors has.

Overall this is an A from me. When I get a grading system down I’ll have to figure out what that is. Maybe the Fonz.

Oh and for the record, you college kids or jagoffs who shotgun beer cans, don’t try it with any of the Oskar products. You’ll fail miserably. We tried for the sake of science once… ONCE!

cheers!

This past weekend my cohort in craft beer went to Baltimore for the 2nd annual Gravy Fest. Since I was stuck here in Pittsburgh finishing my last final he was nice enough (I bugged the hell out of him) to pick up a growler from DuClaw for me.

Apparently the bartender mucked up the order and instead fo me getting an imperial pils I lucked out with a delicious chocolate raspberry stout. I’ve had quite a few of these from other breweries but none pleased me as much as this one. The aroma on this one was a noseful of raspberry and chocolate bliss. The raspberry in taste though once wasn’t in your face dominate. The chocolate was barely noticeable but the characteristics of a stout were dead on.

Overall it’s a good stout but after having other beers from DuClaw it’s not worth driving to Baltimore for. Now if I’m already there that’s another story. i could drink a lot of it.

Website: www.duclaw.com
Style: Chocolate Rasberry Stout
Color: Black
Hop Variety: Goldings
Grains: Pale malt, Roasted barley, Caramunich malt, Chocolate malt
Bitterness: 30 BU’s
Gravity: 12 plato
Alcohol Content: 4.6% abv

Pens pre-game (Pens lost 3-2 and the cup 4-2) tonight was at Mad Mex in Cranberry once again and to keep the pattern going it was another IPA. Gordon IPA is from the Oskar Blues brewing company in Colorado. The thing you need to know is that they are the pioneers of successfully putting craft beer in a can. That’s right, in a can.

It was difficult to judge the color of the pour due to the dim lighting in Mad Mex but the head was about 2 fingers. The aroma on the beer was generous of hops but what got me was the taste. you’ll notice the hops right away but it’s not overpowering. There was malt but not too much sweetness and amazingly the finish I had on it reminded me of chocolate raspberry candy. I know, weird eh?

I have had this from the can before (this was on draft) and honestly it’s a world of difference. No doubt that I will take the draft over the can but the canned product is still delicious. I will have to try this one on tap elsewhere just to make sure the taste wasn’t a residual from a previous beer that the restaurant had in stock.

Buy it if you can but try to find it on tap.

Links
Beer Advocate
Brewery website

Great Lakes has always been a favorite brewery of mine since I started into craft beer. Yeah i know, it’s close to where I’m from but that’s not why I enjoy them. Trust me there has been plenty of junk beer brewed in the Great Lakes area of PA/OH/NY. Honestly I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad beer from them.

My first experience with the IPA came a couple weeks ago when I went Cornholing. Since we had some  leftovers I decided to throw a couple in my fridge for later so I could revisit when my taste wasn’t tainted with Yuengling.

The Commodore Perry pours a light to medium golden body (which is uniquie for IPA’s I usually drink) with a healthy head. For the lacing addicts I’m currently half way done with my glass and it’s keeping a hold with strength and grace. The nose on this threw me off. Under a blind smell test I would have sworn this was a Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA. A floral of hops and malt. The taste was very interesting which kept me investigating. Most of the time I have a lingering taste of hops in my mouth but this one has a nice malt finish to take away from the bite of the hops.

final verdict: If you’re a fan of IPA’s and you like the mild sweetness of malt then you should waste no time in picking up a 6 pack.

Great Lakes website: www.greatlakesbrewing.com

cheers!

It’s been a few weeks so what do I do on my first day back… happy hour of course! Lushie and I actually went to dinner at Mad Mex tonight and since it was during happy hour I had to take advantage of the specials. Honestly the $7 for a pint (16oz) seems VERY high since I can buy a bomber bottle (22oz) from 3 Sons Dogs and Suds for $8 but this WAS happy hour so I partaked in 32oz for $7.

Moylan’s is the most hyped beer in recent memory to come into the Commonwealth of PA. A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to get the hopsickle on cask at Fat Heads. A day later 3 Sons announced they had a well stocked supply of all available in PA. I was geeked and when I arrived last Thursday found myself engulfed in the Pens game plus many bottles of Shipwrecked Porter.

The scottish ale comes in at 8% which is around average for a scottish ale/wee heavy. Since this was brought from the server the head had pretty much dissipated. This craft beverage could very well be the best draft I have ever had at a Mad Mex. The perfect mix of hints of malt, hops and fruit with a creamy finish ranks this as a gold medal winner in my book. No lingering overkill taste on the palate makes this a must buy on tap. I’ve been told that this is a must buy also in the bomber bottle so that may be this week.

My opinion, go buy it NOW! Seriously… stop now and buy it. I have a feeling that after a few of these you could live up to it’s aptly titled name.

cheers!

East End is not only Pittsburgh’s best kept secret but also PA’s. Brewmaster/owner/washer/buyer/marketer/label guy/pimp/anything else for the brewery is Scott Smith. That’s right, it’s a one man show with many volunteers. What holds dear to me is that his brewing system is from the once home of myself, Foundry Ale Works. If you ever get the chance to say hi to Scott I highly suggest you do so. He’s a great guy who loves great beer. Or as his slogan says “Buy a good friend a good beer.”

Big Hop IPA is a super hopped up beer and is the first that came down the lines at East End. This time I’m drinking from a growler (1/2 gallon or 64oz) that was filled during Growler Hours this past weekend so it’s pretty fresh. If you’re following along, I was in Erie last weekend so sickpuppy from Should I Brew That (and my co-host from SIDT) picked one up for me.

The IPA pours a slightly hazy amber hue with little head (remember this is from a growler). After my 2nd and 3rd though I had a nice 2 finger head which died rather fast. Unlike most IPA’s I’ve had before this one has a faint aroma of hops which didn’t bode well with me at first since I like a balance of both aroma and flavor but this beer was packed with hop goodness. You’ll have a nice linger of hops on the back of your tongue so even when you finish a pint you’ll still have the taste to remind you of why this is a quality brew.

All good things said, the only downfall I found was that it seemed to be too carbonated. Not soda drink bubbly but noticeable but it won’t take away from the overall enjoyment of the IPA. When you’re in the area or see East End Brewing at a  beer festival it is a must that you check them, err him, out. Thumbs up Scott!

ABV: 5.4%
IUB: 70
Hops: Centennial, Cascade

East End Brewing website

Ever since I started into craft beers I’ve heard nothing but good hype about Bear Republic and as of a few weeks ago PA finally made it to the distribution list. I did some research and found this listed as a strong ale, red ale and a Scottish ale soooooooo we’re gonna see what I think.

It has a hint of tea that’s close to a red and but is super hopped up. Your mouth is left with a nice pucker and hoppy aftertaste while sits a tad heavy on the tongue. It pours as a dark amber and leaves a new pillow fluffy tan head. The aroma is pretty tight as it’s packed with hops and a faint hint of citrus. If you’re a lacing nut you’re gonna LOVE the beer porn lace this leaves behind.

Overall it’s a delicious red ale but I’m not sold that it’s the cream of the crop as you’d read on Rate Beer or Beer Advocate. It ranks in my top 10 but not numero uno. If you’d like to pick one of these up I was able to purchase this for $6.50 at 3 Sons in a bomber bottle.

Bear Republic website

Don’t rub your eyes, it’s not a mirage. That right there is the holy grail of beer. The rarest of rare (IMO at least). I present to you the 2002 Sam Adams Utopias. Currently on ebay this is going for $400 a bottle. Yeah, 1 bottle. This limited edition beverage was supposed to be a one time deal and each bottle is numbered.

I need to thank Drew for this one. He bought it when it was first released and while on his way here to visit me last week said “there’s no one else I’d rather drink it with who would appreciate it.” Imagine my amazement. Drew and I lived across the hall from each other at Pitt so we have a long history of beverages together.

from samueladams.com
“Truly the epitome of brewing’s two thousand year evolution, Samuel Adams Utopias® offers a flavor not just unlike any other beer but unlike any other beverage in the world. Its warm, sweet flavor is richly highlighted with hints of vanilla, oak and caramel. With an alcohol content of 27% by volume, its complexity and sweet, malty flavor is reminiscent of a deep, rich vintage Port, fine Cognac or aged sherry while being surprisingly light on the palate. And like the world’s finest after-dinner drinks, Samuel Adams Utopias is not carbonated and should be served at room temperature.”

Normally i’d type my review but guess what? Oh we’re not done, there’s VIDEO!

This is posted on the You Tube page for the SIDT podcast since we’re releasing it through the show. It’s almost 10 minutes long so crack open a beverage and enjoy!

OH! Also check out Episode 33 – Kiss our Blarney Stones which was just released also!

Links
Sam Adams website
Beer Advocate profile
Rate Beer profile

from dogfish.com
“An unfiltered, unfettered, unprecedented brown ale aged in handmade wooden brewing vessels. The caramel and vanilla complexity unique to this beer comes from the exotic Paraguayan Palo Santo wood from which these tanks were crafted. Palo Santo means “holy tree” and it’s wood has been used in South American wine-making communities.

This beer is a 12% abv, highly roasty, and malty brown ale aged on the Palo Santo wood. It was a huge hit at our Rehoboth Beach brewpub when first released in November of 2006, so it’s coming back… into full production.

At 10,000 gallons each, these are the largest wooden brewing vessels built in America since before Prohibition. It’s all very exciting. We have wood. Now you do too.”

We’ll see about that…

When a new DFH is available in my area, I try it. It’s like a new style of Pepsi, gotta try at least once. I got word from the weekly 3 Sons mailing list that the Palo Santo Marron was in. The what? I’ve never heard of this one? I have been lax on my DFH 2008 Release calendar so eh, my bad.

The pour was exciting. As soon as I finished emptying the last drop into my pint glass, the head on this beer went from a stagnant tan line and exploded into a nice 2 finger head. Didn’t last very long but it was cool to watch. Props for effects.

The aroma caught me off guard. Vanilla? *sniff* Banana? *sniff* fruity? wtf is going on here? According to the bottle and website this is an American Brown style beer. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a brown ale and I must say that I have NEVER had one like this. I like that, a style that surprises me.

First off this is 12% ABV. I’m not kidding, 12%! The max you would normally see is 8% so really it shouldn’t shock me that DFH kicked it up. I’d wager to say that most browns I’ve tasted have been pretty much the same. A little nutty, malty and slightly hoppy. The Palo Santo(Holy Tree) Marron was de-friggin-licious. Here’s why…

First off, I can’t taste the alcohol. When you see 12% ABV you face the risk of a strong alcohol taste. Must be the holy wood that fools you. Vanilla! Vanilla! Vanilla! Oh sweet Jesus it’s not overpowering but you know it’s there. *taste* mmm That would be a little fruit and nuts. Anyone who’s a freak about lacing though won’t like that it’s non-existent. Should you care? I really don’t. It doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a fine beverage.

Price I paid was $5 for a 12 oz bottle and $17-$18 for a 4 pack. That may seem pricey but for the Bud/Coors/Miler drinkers that would be equivalent to 12 of your beers… in 4 bottles. Crack one open and say hello to Wonderland, bitches!

This is a birthday beer from my bro which he picked up from one of my absolute favorite mecas in Pittsburgh. Fat Heads Ale is specially brewed and bottled by Rogue Brewing and sold exclusively in their upstairs 6 pack shop. If you can’t make it to Fat Head’s but do have access to Rogue’s, pick up a few bottles of Younger’s Special Bitter. Same beverage, different bottle.

This particular selection is and English Bitter so you’re going to experience a moderate malt tone along with mid to high levels of hops. Don’t expect much of an alcohol kick as this comes in low around 4-5% ABV.

The pour on this was amazing. Dare I say it was beer porn? There was a feathery pillow of head on top that was inviting to lay a hop leaf in it (that’s for you PodCampPgh 2 pre-post dinner partiers). The body had a light amber but the flavor was anything but that. Full taste that wasn’t heavy on the palate. I found a medium level of malt and hops which were a pleasant treat plus the lacing left on the glass was very impressive (again, beer porn).

If you haven’t been able to tell yet, this one gets a thumbs up. Besides the great tasting beverage I have to give props to the bottle art. The front decor is the Fat Heads logo, which I think looks good on anything, while the side lists the ingredients (lets see fizzy yellow beer do that) and the Fat Heads way of life… chill out man. have a beer!

IBU – 35
Lovibond – 317
A.A. – 75
Plato – 12

Fat Head’s website – https://www.fatheads.com/

Clipper City Brewery in Baltimore MD brings this week’s craft beer from their Heavy Seas series in the form of Holy Sheet Uber Abbey Ale (9%ABV).

Right off the bat I thought this to be a find as it was part of the Heavy Seas variety case I picked up from Save on Beer in Cranberry TWP. Holy Sheet comes out in February as a seasonal and not one I usually see around these parts.

The aroma reminds me of the banana bread my gram used to make back in the day. You know the kind, the same one the old ladies in the parish make for the church bake sale and that you wash down with a glass of milk. That’s the bread I’m talkin about!

There was little head on it which was a letdown since the aroma when I poured it was so delicious. It does carry a deep amber color which was visually appealing but had absolutely no lacing on the glass and in fact it runs down quick like soapy water.

The taste… *oye* Remember how I said I don’t care for barleywines? Well guess what, this one should be added to that category. It’s drinkable but leaves a strong barleywine bitterness in my mouth. In fact, imagine a civil war between hops and the malt. Gettysburg is your mouth. Well minus the 3 days of killing (i hope).

Would I buy this again? Not a chance. Would I drink if someone bought it for me? eh, maybe but only if I have to drink one. This is the first bad beer I’ve had from this brewery so I can say that this one surprised me. I’m hoping that tomorrow morning my stomach doesn’t have me screaming this beer’s name literally. Then we have problems.

Tröegs is one of my favorite breweries. Their Troegenator Doublebock is in my top 5 of best beers ever.  It came no surprise to me when I poured this Nugget Nectar that a shift in my standings was due.

The Nugget Nectar is listed as a red ale so don’t let the intense hops aroma fool you. Before that may scare you away the aroma isn’t overpowering. It poured a good head that was slightly fluffy. Unfortunately it was gone very fast. Nectar has a medium amber color to it instead of a darker red (the picture doesn’t do the hue justice). The body? Ohhhhhhh sweet jesus was it sinful. I’m going as far as to say that I would take this over my beloved Dogfish Head 90 minute.  The finish was smooth and didn’t hang around for awhile.

Buy it now.  Seriously. Stop what you’re doing and buy a 6pack.

Last week I brought you the Brother David’s Belgian-style Double Ale. This week we meet his bigger and older brother, the Triple Abbey Style Ale.

A Triple basically means that it uses three times the malt than that a Trappist. Alcohol level is generally from 8% to 12% and the lighter body comes from the use of Belgian candy sugar. At 10% ABV this Triple surprised me at first as it poured and carried the aroma of an IPA and little to no head. Initial taste was that of a Granny Smith apple but after a few more I was in a hoppy grape world. Hoppy grape? Yeah, hoppy grape. I know, odd eh?

Unlike the double, this one didn’t overpower my palate and left me with a floral vibe like that of a Stone Vertical Epic. There was wax on this one also(but gold) so I had to break out the foil cutter once again. No special design on the cap so feel free to tear it apart.

Brother David, you have balanced out your score with me as I give this a thumbs up.

mmm 10% is making me feel a little warm inside. I think it’s time for my favorite chair.

I usually catch hell for this but I’m not a huge Belgian fan. Some purists say it’s a sin while I say I’d rather have a double IPA any day. BUT I am trying to broaden my horizons with this blog so no style is ever off limits. I’m naming my reviews Hump Day Happiness. I checked back and saw that I have done 5 overall reviews so this is 6. I’ll make a page to index these later.

What exactly is a Belgian Dubbel? Double? wtf?
It’s a high malt beer with a bit of spice and mild hops that you’ll find anywhere from 7-9% ABV. This wouldn’t be a bad starter for someone getting into Belgians who don’t care for a intense sweet taste.

Brother David’s is brewed by Anderson Valley Brewing Company in Boonville, CA and is celebrating their 20th Anniversary this year. What impressed me before I sampled their beers was that they boast to be a Solar Powered Brewery on their website. I’ve had a few of their other beverages at 3 sons and quite honestly wasn’t all that impressed. But hey, I’m all for revisiting for my readers. The following is not something I have had before so let’s get our drink on!

The Review
Brother David’s Belgian-style Double Ale (9% ABV 220z) poured a reddish brown and the head was quick to dissipate to a creamy crown. The aroma seemed like stale malt which is the nicest way I can put it. It was able to maintain a medium body on the tongue and the overall taste reminds me of an outdated toffee bar or a handful of dried fruit. It will consume your palate so unless you’re drinking something else I suggest cleaning it asap.

I usually don’t bother to address the bottle caps. This one… the dreaded wax covering. Well by chance I had my foil cutter from Lushie’s wine collection close to me so I used that to cut away the mess. Kudos to Anderson for putting an effort into interesting cap design. Once the wax was gone, not only did I find out it was Solar Powered but if you scrape off the inside cap liner it read “One a day is all we ask” and then the company website. Thumbs up for nebby people like me.

It’s decent for $6.25 a bomber bottle but would I order this again? Not unless you were buying.

I’ve decided that Wednesday will be my beer review day for 3 reasons:

1. It’s hump day
2. If you like it, you have plenty of time to stock up for the weekend
3. A lot of 6pk shops restock on Tuesday/Wednesday’s so if it’s in you’ll get first crack at it.

That said…  Most of my friends know that I absolutely hate Barleywine. You can almost say with a passion so you can see why even the bartender did a double take when I ordered this. Now to be fair this is a Wheatwine. Difference between the 2? Well a Wheatwine is similar to a Barleywine in kick but because of a larger amount of wheat malt it has a softer mouth when you taste it.

That’s what made the difference for me.  New Holland Pilgrim’s Dole is 10% ABV and  poured as a very dark red with a creamy head. This is on tap at Mad Mex so right off the bat I’m spoiled. I was getting a buttery aroma to it which really threw me off but the drinkability of it was a sipper. Keep in mind that it IS 10% so it will kick your ass if you don’t respect it. I haven’t seen this around the Pittsburgh area besides at Mad Mex so you may have to go there but don’t cheat yourself with a sample. Step up and enjoy the goodness.

I picked up a case of this year’s version of Ol’ Red from Erie Brewing. For years this has been one of the few beers that I wait to hit the Pittsburgh market since it is a limited brew. This year is 1%  higher in alcohol to push it to 10.1% and has another new name. From what I learned via email from Erie Brewing that they were served a “Cease and Desist” letter (hence the name)  because the old logo was a kid with an eye patch and b.b. gun ala A Christmas Story.

Ok, now the beer. I broke my rule and bought a case of something I never tasted. Usually I try a bottle at 3 Sons Dogs n Suds first. At $30 a case at Save on Beer I figured wtf, why not. First off it’s 10.1% so that right there makes it a buy. It’s a scottish style ale with a hint of alcohol taste. Not like Ole Heathen but it’s noticeable. It has great head retention with a perfect 2 finger pour and a nice malt finish.

I give it a thumbs up. Overall I think this is one of my favorite Erie beers. I did get a sample of the Misery Bay IPA while at the Great International Beer Fest last weekend. You will be in for a GREAT surprise once it’s available.

6.2% ABV – Fall Release

Poured a light amber color with a fluffy head. Aroma of fresh tea leaves and nice hop flavor that wasn’t overpowering… and damn was it tasty

I was lucky enough to partake in some fine beverage this weekend as we celebrated Emerson’s bachelor party. For fans of a typical Pilsner, don’t even think about this purchase. Coming in at 110 IBUs this bad boy will punch you in the face with hops. Honestly my mouth puckered after 3 and I had to switch beverages.

Being a fan of hops, this was heaven. It had the strong hop flavor but it still wasn’t overpowering so you couldn’t drink it. Other guys were drinking Miller Lite and talking about women while I’m holding my glass up to inspect color of the beer, sticking my nose in to get that hoppy good aroma and taking my time savoring the work put into this. Thankfully I know when to turn off the beer snob and get into the conversation. In this town just say “How about dem <insert pens or steelers>!” and you’re golden.

Griff told me it ran about $62 for a case so I may need to stock the beer cellar. Though at 24 bottles that may be sitting for awhile. I’ll have to stop at 3 sons instead and get a 4pk.

cheers!