Best Beers Sampled June - August

Since it is raining today and I am not on a bike, it is a great time to catch up on the blog and I have 3 months to write up.  The highlight was a family trip to Tennessee and two weeks off from work – very nice.  I was able to sample some of the offerings from the states we visited too.  During this time we also visited a few tap rooms with friends.  The following are the beers I enjoyed the most: 

Avery – 20^th Anniversary – Imperial IPA (9.7 ABV)

Funkwerks – Tropic King – Saison (8% ABV)

Odell – Celastrina – Saison (7.5% ABV)

Sierra Nevada – Hoptimum – Imperial IPA (10.4% ABV & 100 IBU)

Stone – RuinTEN 2013 – Imperial IPA (10.8% ABV & 110 IBU)

Stone – 17^th Anniversary Gotterdammerung – Imperial IPA (9.5% ABV & 102 IBU)

Stone – R&R Coconut IPA (7.7% ABV & 90 IBU)

Stone – Farking Wheaton Woot Stout – American Double / Imperial Stout (13% ABV)

Strange Brewing Co. – Cherry Kriek – Kriek (4.7% ABV & 15 IBU)

The list has a number of IPAs and Stone brewed some excellent beers in this time frame.  The Farking Wheaton Woot Stout was a collaboration with Will Wheaton and Fark creator Drew Curtis with Stone Brewing – it was not easy to find in stores and I tried it on tap at Parry’s Pizzeria and Pub in Highlands Ranch.  I would have loved to obtain a few bottles for aging - the one glass was excellent.  Many of these are limited releases and some have limited distribution.  Hoptimum should be available nation-wide.  

May Beers Sampled

Alaskan Brewing Co. is based in Juneau and I have toured the brewery a few years ago.  One of their new offerings is Freeride APA (5.3% ABV and 40 IBU) a very tasty American Pale Ale.

Backcountry Brewery is based in Frisco, CO and their Pale Ale (5.6% ABV and 60 IBU) is another good American Pale Ale.  This beer was formerly know as Telemark IPA and is a Gold medal winner at 2000 and 2009 GABF.

Crooked Stave is just brewing some fantastic beer and St. Bretta (5.5% ABV) is a sour Witbier and it is excellent.  I need to try it side-by-side with Surette to see which one I like best.  Very easy with Crooked Stave, if you see it on the shelf, but it.

Deschutes is based in Portland and is one of my favorite brewers.  I picked up a bottle of River Ale (4.2% ABV and 28 IBU) recently and enjoyed this American Blonde Ale.  It is one of the new session ales that many brewers are releasing and I think a session beer taste-off may be a great choice sometime this summer.

Goose Island out of Chicago brews a large selection of ales and I saw Honker’s Ale (4.3% ABV) recently at Buffalo Wild Wings and really enjoyed this English Bitter.

Hey Day (5.2% ABV) is a Witbier and a new release from Great Divide.  It is not great, but it is not bad – somewhat middle of the road.

Grimm Brothers is a relatively new brewer in Loveland, CO and Master Thief (6.7% ABV) is a German Porter.  I enjoyed the beer and I will try more from this brewery in the future.

Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-down Ale (9.75% ABV and 67 IBU) is an American Strong Ale and it is excellent.  It is very easy to drink and be careful - it packs a wallop at almost 10% ABV.  Lagunitas makes excellent products and you can pretty much pick anything they brew and it is good.  

I recently went to Parry’s Pizzeria and Pub and there was a tap of Sierra Nevada’s Southern Hemisphere Harvest Ale (6.7% ABV and 67 IBU) an Imperial IPA that was very tasty.  I will add Northern Harvest to my “to try” list.

Telluride Brewing Company is based in Telluride, CO and I picked up Face Down Brown Ale (5.7% ABV) that was a Gold medal winner at the 2012 World Beer Cup.  It was very good and I will try some more from Telluride.  

April Beers Sampled

Yesterday I attended The Big Ass Tap Takeover at Parry’s Pizza featuring beers from Avery Brewing Company and tried a few I had not tried before.    During the event I met Adam Avery and he toasted the event at 11:30 with a new release from Avery.

Samael’s 2008 (14.5% ABV and 41 IBU) is and oak-aged English strong ale and was from Mr. Avery’s personal stash.  It was excellent and the aging has only improved the beer.

Trogdor the Burninator (7.6% ABV) is a smoked doppelbock and I thought this was an excellent beer.  You could taste the smoke at just the right level.  Very well-balanced and it went well with the sweetness of the doppelbock.

3Point5 Pale Ale (3.5% ABV) is a session pale ale that is new from Avery and we had a complimentary serving with the event toast.  It was a highly hopped, bitter beer and one that could be consumed throughout the day with the low ABV. 

On a different trip to Parry’s Pizza, I enjoyed Elevation Brewing’s First Cast (6.5% ABV and 75 IBU) an IPA.  It was the first time I have tried something from this new Colorado brewer and I will try to sample more form them in the future.

Stone Brewing has created some new Imperial IPAs that are entitled “Enjoy by Month.Day.Year” that have limited distribution and are meant to be consumed fresh and by the date listed on the bottle.  I was able to find one at the local store and it is a very good IPA.  If you are lucky enough to find one I recommend purchasing some, as these are very good IPAs.  The one I had was Enjoy by 04.20.13 (9.4% ABV and 88 IBU).

Tasting - Crooked Stave, Magic Hat, Empyrean, Lagunitas, Odell and Russian River

Time to catch up on a few weeks of tasting different beers.  These are from Colorado, Vermont, California, and Nebraska.

Crooked Stave is based in Denver and the focus is on barrel-aged beers and the use of brettanomyces.  Chad Yacobson, the owner and brewer, of Crooked Stave wrote his Master’s on the topic and I have been wanting to try his beers for some time.  He offers a subscription program that is sold out and when I saw a couple of bottles at the store, I promptly purchased them.

Surette (6.2% ABV) is a wood-aged Farmhouse Ale and it is one of the best, if not the best beer I have tasted this year.  The sourness is perfectly balanced and this is a fantastic beer.

Vieille (4.2% ABV) is another Farmhouse Ale and I could not find much information on it.  It is a very good beer – I liked Surette best.  However, Vieille is an excellent beer too.

Magic Hat is based out of South Burlington, Vermont and I picked up a mixed 12 that contained the following beers.  They offer many different varieties and are now in Colorado.

Wooly (4.5% ABV and 20 IBU) an English Special Bitter brewed with spruce tips that is OK.  I am not a big fan of spruce tips in beer.

# 9 (5.1% ABV and 9 IBU) a Fruit beer that is OK – I am not a fan of fruit beers.

Encore (6.4% ABV and 35 IBU) an American IPA that is very good.

Heart of Darkness (5.7% ABV and 30 IBU) is an excellent Stout.

Empyrean Brewing Co. is based in Lincoln, Nebraska and I had not tried anything from them before.  Their packaging was very good and I thought their branding on the package and labels was excellent.

Fallen Angel (5.5% ABV and 17 IBU) is an easy drinking Sweet Stout and is very good.  I will try other products from Empyrean.

Lagunitas is based in Petaluma, CA and they are opening another brewery in the Chicago area.  Lagunitas is one of my favorite brewers and they consistently make excellent beer in many different styles.  They have a very robust seasonal list and when I saw WTF, I picked it up.

Wilco Tango Foxtrot or WTF (7.83% ABV) is a Double / Imperial Brown Ale and is just fantastic.  Brown Ales are easy drinking and some consider them “ho-hum”.  I like a good Brown Ale and WTF is an excellent one.

Finally, my family took me to Parry’s Pizzeria and Pub a couple of weekends ago for my birthday and I had two very tasty beers.

Russian River’s Damnation (7% ABV) is a Belgian / Golden Ale that is incredible.  Russian River makes some very good beer and it is on rare occasion that I find one in Colorado.  When I do, I purchase it.

Odell’s Amuste (9.3% ABV) is an Imperial / Double Porter and is very good.

8 Tasty Beers to Sample

Time to catch up as I have not had the time to keep up with the blog.  There are a number of great beers out there and I very pleased with the increased volume that is available from craft brewers, an increasing number of craft brewers, the quality of the products offered and the brewer’s interpretation and creative license on classic beers styles. 

Sierra Nevada – Ruthless Rye (6.6 ABV and 55 IBU) – American IPA - this is a seasonal release and rye is part of the malt bill.  Highly recommended - excellent beer.

New Belgium – Springboard – (6.2% ABV) – Belgian-style Pale Ale – gogi berries and Schisandra were added to this beer.  It is OK, not bad, but not great.

New Belgium – Rampant (8.5% ABV and 85 IBU) – Imperial IPA – Unlike any IPA I have tasted before and featuring Mosaic, Calypso, and Centennial hops.  Highly recommended – excellent.

Dry Dock – Paragon Apricot Blonde Ale (5.3% ABV) – Fruit / Vegetable Beer – I am not a big fan of fruit beers and I think I found an exception – Paragon is very tasty and the apricots make this beer special.

Dry Dock – Tripel (8.75% ABV) – Belgian-style Tripel – If you see something from Dry Dock, just buy it – they won “Small Brewery of the Year” for a reason.

Port Brewing Co. – Santa’s Little Helper (10.5% ABV) – Russian Imperial Stout – Port is based in SoCal and this one was on tap at Parry’s Pizzeria in Highlands Ranch.  Santa would be very pleased with this one – in a word – Fantastic.

Brewery Ommegang – BPA - Belgian-Style Pale Ale (6.2% ABV).  This was on tap at Parry’s Pizzeria and it was my first taste from Ommegang that is essentially a Belgian Brewery in Cooperstown, NY.  I look forward to sampling more from Brewery Ommegang.

Widmer – SXNW: South by Northwest (9.3% ABV and 40 IBU) – American Strong Ale.  A dark beer brewed with chilies, cinnamon, chocolate, and pecans.  I was not sure what to expect and this was very good – if you see it buy it, number 7 in the Brother’s Reserve Series.

These were all tasty beers from a wide range of brewers.  Some were just the basic style and some were very different and interesting variations from the brewer.  Bottom line – there are a number of fantastic selections and there is no need to stick with the macro brewers – get out and sample some craft brew.

Two from Dry Dock Brewing Co.

The Dry Dock Brewing Co. is located in Aurora, CO and the brewers have won a number of awards for their beers over the years including Small Brewery of the Year.  Dry Dock is expanding and they are starting to offer their beers in cans.  I recently picked up Hop Abomination (6.5% ABV and ? IBU) an IPA and Amber Ale (5.8% ABV and 49 IBU ) a British-style ESB that is also known as HMS Victory ESB.  There are other varieties available in cans and distribution of Dry Dock beers should increase as the larger brewery comes online.

American IPA - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/116 - BeerAdvocate

Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB) - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/66 - Beer Advocate

These beers are excellent to try because each is highlighting a different ingredient.  Hop Abomination focuses on bitterness from the hops used in the brewing process, while the Amber focuses on malts bread notes with more subdued bitterness.  I liked both beers and I favored the Amber over Hop Abomination.  I like hoppy beers and was somewhat surprised by my choice, as the Amber is not hoppy.  The Amber is just stunning with sweetness of honey and caramel with bread and biscuit.  I can see why it took a gold medal at the 2006 World Beer Cup.    

Dry Dock Brewing Co. – http://www.drydockbrewing.com/

Lagunitas Sucks – Brown Shugga’ Substitute

One thing I have learned in life is I learn my most memorable lessons when I experience a failure or a defeat.  It has taken me some time and some gray hair to not only learn this lesson, but also to take it in stride.  Mistakes also occur at companies and Lagunitas Brewing Co. serves as a shining example of learning from a mistake and taking it in stride.  Brown Shugga’ is a seasonal release from Lagunitas that could not be brewed one year due to “construction-induced capacity issues”, and Lagunitas decided to brew another beer and make fun of themselves in the naming of Lagunitas Sucks (7.85% ABV and 63 IBU), an Imperial IPA.  This year, I had the opportunity to sample both Brown Shugga’ and Lagunitas Sucks – both are excellent.  Learn from the example of Lagunitas - learn from your mistake, take it in stride and figure out a way to improve.  

American Double / Imperial IPA – http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/140 - BeerAdvocate

Appearance – Copper, like a bright new penny, with a two-finger head that takes some time to recede and with nice lacing.

Aroma – Hoppy and you know you are in for a hop trip – tropical fruit and citrus are the main aromas.

Taste – A bit of sweetness – think a touch of honey - and then citrus (lemon / orange / grapefruit) and tropical fruit (mango / papaya) with a piney / resin finish.

Overall – A – This beer is fantastic and I am really glad that Lagunitas needed to make this substitute – it is available for only a short time and if you are a fan of IPAs – buy it.  I plan to pick up another 6er on the next trip to the store, if any are remaining.

Website description – “E. K. Ross would have enjoyed our suffering in 2010 when he saw we couldn’t brew our Brown Shugga.  But in that time of deepest despair, as is common to artist everywhere… broke, hungover, abandoned by the muse and prepared to take a job at Arby’s, we found that in that darkness the  spark of inspiration that would yield up this nearly sanctified recipe!”

Lagunitas Sucks – http://lagunitas.com/beers/sucks/

Holiday Beers – The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

There are a number of very tasty holiday / seasonal beers available to the craft beer drinker and from my perspective it is “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”.  Some of the selections are quite hoppy, taking advantage of the recent fall hop harvest; some are quite malty focusing more on the sweet side, and some use holiday spices to make things interesting.  I usually pick up a number of these to enjoy over the holidays and are part of an annual purchase and some of these are new.  There are some very tasty winter / holiday / seasonal beers and go out and pick up something new.  Below are some that I have recently sampled.

Sierra Nevada – Celebration 2012 (6.8% ABV and 65 IBU), is an American IPA and fresh hops are used in the brewing process.  I am currently reading Mitch Steele’s IPA book and he describes Celebration as one of the first IPAs that was brewed by craft brewers.  It is a fantastic beer and one that is on my “buy list” each year.  This is one for the hopheads. 

URL - http://www.sierranevada.com/beers/celebrationale.html

Left Hand – Fade to Black Vol. 4 (6.5% ABV and 64 IBU), is a Black IPA or a Rocky Mountain Black Ale as described on the label.  Each year, Left Hand releases a different volume of Fade to Black and this year’s version if for the hop lover.  This one was not too hoppy and I really enjoyed it and yes this is on my “buy list”.  

URL - http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/beers/fade-to-black

Magic Hat – Heart of Darkness (5.7% ABV and 30 IBU), is a Stout and is a very tasty one.  Heart of Darkness is malt forward with notes of chocolate / cocoa, and it is very easy to drink.  This was the first beer I tried from Magic Hat and it made the “buy list”.  I will look for additional offerings from Magic Hat in 2013. 

URL - http://www.magichat.net/heart_of_darkness

Others on the “buy list” – these are just a few and all have been previously reviewed.

Avery – Old Jubilation (8.3% ABV and 45 IBU), is an English Old Ale that is malty and warming – a very tasty beer that is to be savored. 

URL- http://averybrewing.com/our-ales/old-jubilation-ale/

Deschutes – Jubelale (6.7% ABV and 60 IBU), is a Strong Ale that is a mix of malty and hoppy.  One first gets malty sweetness and then the hop bitterness kicks in.  URL - http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/brew/jubelale

Firestone Walker – Velvet Merlin (5.5% ABV and 27 IBU), is a wonderful Oatmeal Stout with a creamy mouth feel and focuses on malts with hints of coffee and chocolate.  URL - http://www.firestonebeer.com/beers/products/velvet-merlin-fall-and-winter

Did not make the list

Goose Island – Christmas Ale (7.3% ABV and ?? IBU), is a Brown Ale that I did not like at all, it is better than macro-beer.  I was really expecting a tasty beer from the Goose as I enjoy some of their other offerings and this beer did not meet expectations.

Left Hand - Warrior

Left Hand Brewing Co. is based in Longmont, CO and I visited the tasting room in August.  Warrior (7.6% ABV and 69 IBU) a fresh-hopped IPA was not on the menu yet and this is a seasonal release, just after the hop harvest.  Fresh-hop beers use unprocessed or fresh hops in the brewing process and these are only available in the fall.  Warrior also features locally grown Cascade and Warrior hops and I really enjoy something made with fresh local ingredients.

American IPA – http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/418/9182 - BeerAdvocate

Appearance – Perfectly clear and pale gold with a one-finger frothy head.

Aroma –  Caramel and grain from the malts and grass, fruit and citrus from the hops.  Very subtle and nuanced aromas.  I could tell this would not be a “throat-ripper” IPA and would focus more on balance.

Taste – Tastes very similar to smell with good caramel / grain and then fruit, citrus and a touch of grass / herb.  This is an easy drinker and very balanced.

Overall – B+  Warrior is a tasty IPA and I really like the use of local ingredients.  Left Hand focuses on taste and balanced beers and Warrior is a very good example of how Left Hand brews beer.  Very approachable, well-balanced, and easy to drink.

Website description – “FULL OF FRESH HOP FLAVORS, this fresh-hopped IPA has become an annual cult classic. Brewed only once a year using fresh whole flower Colorado grown hops flown in from Rising Sun Farms in Paonia by Schwall and Spears Hop Freight Service. A strong malt foundation complements the bright floral hoppiness, allowing for a well-balanced, drinkable IPA.”

URL – http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/beers/warrior-ipa

Deschutes – Chashin’ Freshies – Fresh Hop IPA

Deschutes is based in Bend, OR and they are one of my favorite brewers.  They brew a number of seasonal brews and a new one this year is Chasin’ Freshies (7.4% ABV and 60 IBU) is a fresh hop IPA.  Fresh or Wet Hop beer is made at hop harvest time and the hops are as fresh as possible when used in the brewing of fresh hop beers.  The term wet hopped is also used because the hops are not dried, and again, are fresh.  The vast majority of hops are dried and palletized for easy storage, shipping and use by the brewer.  Chasin Freshies is brewed with Pilsner malt, flaked oats, Bravo hops and “Fresh Heirloom Cascade Hops”.  This beer is available October to December in most states west of the Mississippi River – I picked up a 22 oz. bomber for $5.99.  Deschutes is slowly expanding east with much anticipation from Deschutes fans.

American IPA - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/116 – BeerAdvocate

Appearance – Perfectly clear and a bright pale yellow with about a two-inch head.  The beer is nicely carbonated producing a steady stream of small bubbles in the glass. 

Aroma – Very subdued malt profile and the emphasis is on the hops.  I noticed citrus, herbal/mint, hint of grass, and a hint of tobacco (? – something else that I could not quite identify – not unpleasant at all – I just could not describe it).  

Taste – Many beers with a hop focus are hammers and slam you with bitterness – this is not bad, when you want one like that.  Chasin’ Freshies is more subtle and delicate.  The malt base provides a great canvas to use the Bravo and Heirloom Cascade hops to show their colors.  There is a nice sweetness and a touch of honey from the malts and citrus (lemon and orange/tangerine/grapefruit) with a touch of grass and herb.

Overall – A – The bottle cap states “Bravely Done” and this is a very good fresh hop beer.  I am glad this is not a palate wrecker and showcased a more restrained version of the hops.  This is a great beer to fine and savor.  It will be another add to the “pick up when it is brewed” list of seasonal beers.

Website description – “Like fresh powder, it’s a seize-the-moment thing. At harvest, we rush Goschie Farms' Cascade hops fresh from vine to kettle. Not any Cascades, mind you, but an heirloom strain, from a single field, restored from the original rhizome. Hope you’re as hopped up as we are.“

Chasin’ Freshies – http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/brew/chasin-freshies

Sierra Nevada – Beer Camp 2012

Sierra Nevada hosts a Beer Camp each year and the lucky participants work with the brewer to try some recipes and create something new for Sierra Nevada.  Sierra Nevada releases a Best of Beer Camp 12 pack that contains 3 bottles of four different selections.  When I see this offered up each year, I just pick up a twelve pack as the selections are always tasty and there is a good mix of different styles.  This year’s selection included a Pilsner, an Imperial Red Ale, an IPA, and an Oatmeal Stout.  I had tasted Red-Oric, the Imperial Red, at Parry’s earlier this year and I thought it was very good.  The Oatmeal Stout was excellent and my favorite of the selections, followed closely by Red-Oric, the Floral IPA, and finally the Pilsner.  All of these selections are very good and these are only in stores for a limited time – get them while they are still available.

Beer Camp #43 – Imperial Pilsner or Sticke Pilsner (5.7 ABV and 35 IBU)

Beer Camp #45 – Oatmeal Stout or Snowed in Stout (9.4 ABV and 51 IBU)

Beer Camp #53 – Floral IPA or Long-stem IPA (5.6 ABV and 54 IBU)

Beer Camp #65 – Imperial Red Ale or Red-Oric (8.5 ABV and 65 IBU)

Beer Camp - http://www.sierrabeercamp.com/#/camp-beers

Two Anniversary IPAs

I had a couple of anniversary IPAs in my fridge and IPAs are best consumed fresh.  I had a Great Divide 18th Anniversary Wood Aged Double India Pale Ale (10% ABV) in the fridge for some time now and it had a bottle on date of March 20.  The Stone 16th Anniversary IPA (10% ABV and 85 IBU) had an August 2012 date and I knew this one was very fresh.  The difference besides age was the wood aged via the use of oak chips and an IPA brewed with lemon verbena and lemon oil.  I did not try these side-by-side as one of these is enough for anyone at 10% ABV, and I wanted to get in a mountain bike ride the next morning.  I enjoyed both of these beers and they are fantastic.  

I had a very fresh version of Great Divide 17th Anniversary last year and the beer was almost too “oaky” for my liking.  With a little age on the 18th Anniversary, I found that the oak had calmed down a bit and from my perspective, this beer tastes better with a little age.  I understand that the hop bitterness and aroma with fall out and the beer will be closer to a barley wine - I am fine with this for 18th and I very much enjoyed it.  

The Stone 16th Anniversary IPA is unique and I have never had anything like it before.  Stone uses Amarillo and Calypso hops with the addition of lemon verbena and lemon oil and you can tasted the ctirusy, lemony focus of this beer.  It is very good and Stone has been producing some very good double / imperial IPAs.  The Ruination 10th Anniversary IPA was fantastic and one of the best of the year.  

Both of these beers were very good and I would drink them again.  I think the a brewery’s anniversary ale should be something special and Stone and Great Divide provide excellent examples of some special with these beers.

Double / Imperial IPA - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/140 - BeerAdvocate
Great Divide - http://greatdivide.com/beer/seasonal/18th-anniversary-wood-aged-double-ipa/
Stone - http://www.stonebrew.com/anniv/ale/

Deschutes - Chainbreaker

Deschutes is based in Bend, Oregon and is one of my favorite brewers.  If you open my beer fridge, you can bet on finding choices from select brewers and Deschutes is one of them.  I had seen and read advertisement on a new offering from Deschutes called Chainbreaker (5.6 ABV and 55 IBU), a white IPA, in the spring and added it to my mental list of beers to pick up when it made it to Colorado.  I spoke with the local Deschutes representative a couple of months ago and she said that Chainbreaker should be in Colorado in August and I picked some up on my last visit to my local craft beer supplier.  I also appreciate the mountain bike references with the name and label.  Mountain biking is very big in Bend and the name also pays tribute to the Cascade Chainbreaker Mountain Bike Race.  Mountain biking and beer are a perfect combination and a nice Chainbreaker after a mountain bike ride would be very tasty.

Belgian IPA - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/174 - BeerAdvocate

Appearance - Cloudy yellow with a fluffy white head.
Aroma -Belgian yeast - banana / bubblegum, and citrus - orange / tangerine / lemon and perhaps a bit of pine / resin.
Taste - The taste is very good and I would describe Chainbreaker as a more hoppy (bitter) wit beer.  The citrus hops are a very good and complimentary addition that enhance the sweet orange ingredient.   
Overall - B+ - Chainbreaker is an easy to drink beer and I think it is a great beer for the summer.  I think Deschutes does a very good job of adding hops with strong citrus characteristics (Bravo, Citra, Centennial, and Cascade) to Chainbreaker.  I have used all but Bravo in various homebrews and these are excellent hop selections (IMHO).

Chainbreaker description - “Deschutes is taking you into the next beer frontier. Brewed with wheat and pilsner malt; this IPA displays beautiful citrus aromas from Cascade and Citra hops that meld with the esters of Belgian yeast. Think thirst quenching hopped-up wit beer with enough IBUs to warrant the IPA name.”  http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/brew/chainbreaker-white-ipa

Dogfish Head Tap Takeover at Parry’s

A few weeks ago, we met up with friends for a couple of pints at Parry’s during the Dogfish Head tap takeover.  Dogfish Head had 16 taps and it was a very good selection from the Delaware brewer with the slogan of “Off-centered beer for off-centered people”.  I sampled two IPAs that I had not tried before and bother were very good.  First up was Burton Baton (10% ABV and 70 IBU) an Imperial IPA that is a blend of English-style Old Ale and Imperial IPA and then aged in oak tanks for ~ one month.  This is a very tasty beer with oaky notes from the tanks and citrus notes from the hops.  Next up was 120 Minute IPA (18% ABV and 120 IBU) an Imperial IPA that has to be the highest ABV beers I have tried.  I have had 60 Minute and 90 Minute and it is a rare treat to have 120 Minute on tap.  120 minute lives up to the expectations and is one to be savored – it is for the hop lover and with the ABV one is all you need.  I really like Dogfish Head because they push the boundaries with their beers and are constantly trying new things and new ingredients.  They also have very high standards and will dump a batch if the quality is not at their expectations.  Try something for Dogfish Head if you are looking for something different – they make very good “off-centered” beer.

Burton Baton website description – “This oak-aged gentle giant has been gaining popularity over the past few years and is now available year-round.  For Burton Baton, we brew two "threads," or batches, of beer: an English-style old ale and an imperial IPA.  After fementating the beers separately in our stainless tanks, they're transferred and blended together in one of our large oak tanks. Burton Baton sits on the wood for about a month.  When enjoying the Burton Baton, you'll find an awesome blend of the citrus notes from Northwestern hops melding with woody, vanilla notes from the oak. The wood also tends to mellow the 10% ABV of Burton, so tread cautiously!”

120 Minute website description – “Too extreme to be called beer? 120 Minute IPA is brewed to a colossal 45-degree plato, boiled for a full two hours while being continuously hopped with high-alpha American hops, then dry-hopped daily in the fermenter for a month and aged for another month on whole-leaf hops!  Clocking in at 15-20% ABV and 120 IBUs, 120 Minute is by far the biggest IPA ever brewed! It's easy to see why we call this beer THE HOLY GRAIL for hopheads!  We brew 120 Minute IPA a few times a year, but it goes fast. If you find some grab a few bottles -- some to enjoy and some to age.”

Dogfish Head - http://www.dogfish.com/
Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar - http://www.parryspizza.com/parrysbar/

July Beer Dinner - Oskar Blues

Dennis and Gayle hosted the July Beer dinner and we focused on the beers from Oskar Blues. Gayle made some family favorites and the food was excellent – sausage that has specially prepared from a family recipe, cheese grit casserole, corn on the cob, carrot salad and strawberry rhubarb pie. Lori made guacamole and her salsa that is just fantastic for appetizers. Nicole and Tibor brought over chocolate chip cookies and a cherry cheesecake. Everything was excellent and all of the beers were fantastic. Tibor brought over some of his home made wine – a Gewürztraminer that was very good. I had picked up beer earlier and Tibor picked up beer too – we had all that is currently canned by Oskar Blues. Oskar Blues is based in Lyons, CO and there are 7 different styles available in cans. Ten Fidy is brewed in the fall and luckily, I had some stashed away in the beer fridge. I wanted to age some and taste it as time passes.

We started off with Mama’s Little Yella Pils (5.2% ABV and 35 IBU) a Traditional Pilsner and Silver medal winner for Bohemian Style Pilsener at the 2011 GABF - Great American Beer Festival.

Next up was Dale’s Pale Ale (6.5% ABV and 65 IBU) an American Pale Ale.

Followed by Old Chub (8% ABV), a Scottish Ale and winner of the Bronze medal at the 2011 GABF - Great American Beer Festival.

G’Knight (8.7% ABV and 60 IBU) was formerly called Gordon Knight and is an Imperial Red / Double IPA.

Deviant Dale’s (8% ABV and 85 IBU), an IPA that took a sliver medal at the 2011 GABF – Great American Beer Festival.

Gubna (10% ABV and 100 IBU) an Imperial IPA

We ended the evening with Ten Fidy (10,5% ABV and 98 IBU), an Imperial Stout. I think the beer improved with aging and I was amazed with the balance and smoothness enhanced by a little aging.

The food and the beers were excellent. All of these beers are really good and I highly recommend anything made by Oskar Blues. We were split on the favorites for the evening. Gayle liked Mama’s Little Yella Pils, Dennis picked G’Knight, Tibor picked Deviant Dale’s, and I picked Ten Fidy. I always have something in my fridge that is brewed by Oskar Blues. We are planning to go tour the brewery in August and eat at the Tasty Weasel. Next beer dinner will be in September – just in time for Oktoberfest.

Oskar Blues - http://www.oskarblues.com/

Wookey Jack & Hop 15

We went to Parry’s the other day for dinner and I tried a couple of new beers. I am a “fan” of Firestone Walker and I had not tried Wookey Jack (8.5% ABV and 60 IBU) that is an unfiltered Black Rye IPA. I also tried Port Brewing’s Hop 15 (9.7% ABV and ?? IBU) that is a Double IPA. So, two beers with the IPA as the base or foundational style and I liked Wookey Jack the best. I thought Wookey Jack was very well-balanced and I liked the combination of Citra and Amarillo hops. I have used both these in home brews and they add great aroma and flavor to the beer. Hop 15 was a good beer and really focused on the hop bitterness, Wookey Jack was just preferable to my palate. I would have either of these again. 

Wookey Jack website description  – “Wookey Jack is our first foray into the dark outer world of black IPAs. Rich dark malts and spicy rye careen into bold citrus laden hops creating a new dimension in IPA flavor. This brew has been left unfiltered and unfined to retain all of its texture and character. At 60 IBUs, Wookey Jack is gnarly on the outside yet complex and refined on the inside.” 

Hop 15  website description – “Welcome to San Diego- Home to Hop Heads on every corner and THE best place in the world to live if you enjoy Humulus Lupulus and the smell of a well hopped beer. This is Southern California, it’s the place where Blind Pig started the Imperial IPA revolution and San Diego Brewers have continued to be at the forefront of its evolution. Today, fans of Double IPA come from every corner of the globe in search of many of the world’s best and most incredibly well hopped beers. It’s no secret that you can find many of them at Port Brewing as well. Like you, we love these beers and mostly we enjoy the happiness they bring us. First brewed in 2002 to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Pizza Port in Solana Beach, Hop 15 was imagined and designed by Tomme Arthur and Jeff Bagby as a celebration of 15 years of “Good Beer Brings Good Cheer.” Hop 15 has 15 different hop varieties added to the beer every 15 minutes. Over the years, Hop 15 has racked up numerous accolades. It has won two silver medals at the Great American Beer Festival. It also was named Alpha King in 2004 and 2008, and received a first place award at the Bistro Double IPA beer festival in Hayward, CA. Hop 15 remains won of the stickiest most resinous beers we have ever tasted and for that, we are thankful it is on tap at our brewery each and every day.”

Firestone Walker - http://www.firestonebeer.com/beers/products/wookey-jack-April-2012-
Port Brewing - http://www.portbrewing.com/our-beers/hop-15/ 

Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar - http://www.parryspizza.com/parrysbar/

Denver Beer Company

A couple of weeks ago, I needed to stop by my bike shop, Salvagetti, and was also able to get in a stop at the Denver Beer Company for a quick sampler. Denver Beer Company has been open for just under one year and they took a medal at the 2011 GABF for their Graham Cracker Porter. They were out of Graham Cracker Porter, but I tried a sampler of 4 different beers and they were really tasty.

Sample 1 – American IPA – an American India Pale Ale
Sample 2 – Belgo IPA – A Belgian India Pale Ale
Sample 3 – The Wilderness – Russian Imperial Stout
Sample 4 – The Wilderness aged in Wild Turkey Barrels

The Wilderness aged in Wild Turkey Barrels was my favorite and captured nice oaky and vanilla flavors from the barrel. The other beers were very good too and Denver Beer Co. has a great “vibe” to the place. The facility is in an old garage and the beer is brewed on site and then served at bar in the same facility. There was a large crowd and the garage doors were open to an outdoor sitting area. I will try more beers from Denver Beer Co., probably on my next trip to the bike shop.

Denver Beer Company - http://denverbeerco.com/
Salvagetti - http://www.salvagetti.com/

Stone – Ruination 10th Anniversary IPA

I watched a recent podcast review of Stone Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA (10.8% ABV and 110) that was very positive and I just had to locate it and try it.  Whenever I see something new or a special release from Stone, I try to obtain some.  I picked up a couple of bottles at a local shop and promptly sampled one.

American Double / Imperial IPA - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/140 – BeerAdvocate

Appearance – Copper and perfectly clear with great carbonation that poured with a three-finger head that stayed around for some time.

Aroma – Hops and glorious hops – citrus, grapefruit, pine, and perhaps a touch of tropical fruit (mango / orange).

Taste – Excellent – if you like hops you will like Ruination 10^th Anniversary.  You get just a touch of sweetness, but the hops are focus.  You get tastes similar to the aroma.

Overall – A+ - Ruination is called Ruination because your palate is “ruined” after trying it and this is a good thing.  Ruination is a very good beer and Stone made it even better with the special 10^th anniversary edition.  If you like hops and IPAs, try to find Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA – it is a real treat. Hopefully, you are worthy – to borrow a phrase from Stone. 

Website description – "Stone Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA was created as an homage to the almighty hop. As the celebrated Stone Ruination IPA approached its 10th birthday this June, we knew we had to do something special, so we cranked it up from 7.7% to 10.8% and used twice as much hops–a whopping 5 pounds per barrel, including a pound each of Citra and Centennial in the dry hop. The results were GLORIOUS, but don't take our word for it. The only people more bitter than those who don't get any... will be those who do."

URL – http://www.stonebrew.com/ruintenth/

Russian River – Pliny the Elder

I have wanted to try Pliny the Elder (8% ABV and HIGH IBU) for sometime now because Pliny is regarded as the best Double IPA produced today.  When I saw a bottle of Pliny at the local store, I immediately grabbed a bottle.  I had only seen it once before and regretted not purchasing a bottle then.  Vinnie Cilurzro and his wife Natalie bought the NorCal brewery when Korbel offered to sell it to them.  Vinnie Cilurzo is considered one of the best brewers in the country and there is limited distribution of Russian River to the West Coast, Colorado and Philadelphia. Pliny the Elder is distributed in 500 ml bottles.  Note - this beer and this style is not to be stored / aged.  It should be consumed soon after bottling the bottle I purchased had a bottled on date of 31 May.

American Double / Imperial IPA - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/140 – BeerAdvocate

Appearance – A straw / copper color that is clear with a fluffy two – three finger head poured into a New Belgium globe glass.

Aroma – This is a very aromatic beer with floral, citrus, and perhaps a hint of pine.

Taste – Wow – I was expecting a hop bomb, but this is not the case.  The hops are present, but the beer is very nicely balanced and this is one smooth beer for the amount of hops and the ABV.

Overall – A+ - Pliny the Elder is a really great Double IPA.  I can understand why it is touted as being the best of style.  It is the highest rated Double IPA on the Beer Advocate site.  I paid $5.49 for the 500 ml bottle and it is worth every penny.  I will purchase it again, the next time I see it.  Try it, if you get the opportunity.  Try other Russian River beers too - I will.

Website description –  “Pliny the Elder is brewed with Amarillo, Centennial, CTZ, and Simcoe hops. It is well-balanced with malt, hops, and alcohol, slightly bitter with a fresh hop aroma of floral, citrus, and pine. Best enjoyed FRESH! That is why we make it in such limited supply. Actual bottling date is printed on each bottle!

Where did we come up with this name? Back in the year 2000, our friend, Vic Kralj, who owns the Bistro in Hayward, California, decided to have his first ever Double IPA festival. Vic invited 10 breweries, 6 of whom (including us) had to brew something special for him since we had nothing that would fall under this style category. Vinnie had made a Double IPA at Blind Pig in 1994, but was not brewing one at Russian River Brewing at the time. He had an idea for the recipe, but not a name. After much research in beer books, brainstorming, and deliberation, we came up with "Pliny the Elder". Pliny, the man, lived in the first century- 23 to 79 A.D. According to our brewing references, he and his contemporaries either created the botanical name or at least wrote about Lupus Salictarius, or hops, currently known as Humulus Lupulus. That was a very early reference to an important part of any Double IPA! Pliny the beer has now become one of our flagship brews!

Pliny the Elder was immortalized by his nephew, Pliny the Younger, who wrote about his uncle succumbing to ash and smoke during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. while rescuing people. Cheers to the scholar, historian, officer, writer, and Roman Naturalist- Pliny the Elder!”

Russian River – http://russianriverbrewing.com/

Stone at Parry's Pizzeria

Stone is currently conducting a contest called “The Most Bitter Bars – 2012 Challenge” and Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar is hosting a number of Stone beers on tap.  I have tried a number of Stone beers and I have enjoyed everyone they brew.  I decided to try Cali-Belgique (6.9% ABV and 77 IBU), a Belgian IPA and Double Dry Hopped Ruination IPA (7.7% ABV and 100+ IBU), an Imperial IPA.  Both of these beers were just fantastic and I think I liked the Cali-Belgique the best.  They went great with the NY Cheese steak Sandwich.  The contest is running through Father’s day and I think I will need to try a couple of more tomorrow.  I have tried all the other before and I will have to select one of my favs – Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale (8.7% ABV and 90 IBU) and probably Stone Ruination IPA (6.9% ABV and 100+ IBU).  If you have one of these events in your area, attend it and try some really good beer from Stone.

Stone Brewing – http://www.stonebrew.com/home.asp

Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar - http://www.parryspizza.com/parrysbar/