Beer Review – Southern Tier Old Man Winter Ale

A while ago, I had stopped at Roger Wilco to pick up a mixed six and grabbed a Southern Tier Old Man Winter Ale as one of the six. Sadly, over the ensuing months, the beer fridge has seen its fair share of Gogurts and yogurts and half pint water bottles tossed about , so the Old Man Winter much like the old man in the house had been cast aside and neglected. During a restock, I found the Old Man and rescued it. I had initially bought the Old Man as I enjoy winter ales and we have enjoyed the Harvest Ale, the Imperial Pumking and the 2XIPA. Now, that it is mid-Spring it may be a bit out of season but I find myself with a few minutes to myself and right now I don’t care.

Here is what Southern Tier has to say about their Old Man Winter Ale:

Our winter offering is here to quell your shivers and get you through the coldest of nights. A rich marriage of hops and barley to cast light upon the evening and melt your mind out of the snowdrifts. Old Man Winter’s earthy hue and thickness lace around the glass, inviting you to linger in its warmth and share the spirits of the season with your friends and family. A deceptively strong brew, its best to sit and ponder with this old man, sip by sip.

I found the Old Man to be…

• Appearance: A copper color with a nice tan foam.
• Aroma: A big blast of sweet malt followed with a fragrant hoppy and somewhat piney scent.
• Taste: Fizzy, a little chewy and somewhat doughy with a spicy middle and nice hit of hoppy finish.
• ABV: 7%

There is a lot going on with this one. Not bad but maybe a little out of balance. I found the flavors to follow one another rather than blend with one another. Malty upfront and then spicy (allspice, nutmeg) and then a hoppy finish. It was good but not great.

Beer Review – Flying Dog Wildeman Farmhouse IPA

I first heard about Flying Dog’s Wildeman Farmhouse IPA last May when reviews of it started popping up all over the blogosphere (click here to read one such review). Since I love Farmhouse Ales and IPAs, I figured this beer would totally be “in my wheelhouse”. While pulling together a mixed six pack a couple weeks ago, I saw this beer on the shelf and just had to pick up a bottle for a proper review.

Here is what Flying Dog Brewery has to say about their Wildeman Farmhouse Ale:

His axe is stained with the blood of a thousand adversaries. We fall in behind him as he leads up into darkness. He turns his gaze on us. “Tentanda via est!” The way must be tried. Wildeman has arrived. Legions of followers marched across Europe in his wake. But was most soon realized is that Wildeman is already inside of them, ready to be awakened. Will you fall in line or find the edge?

That didn’t tell us anything about this beer! Let’s see if this video from Flying Dog Brewery helps at all:

Hmm. That wasn’t very helpful either!

Let’s just jump to the review so that we can find out how wild this Wildeman really is…

• Appearance: Slightly cloudy, yellow orange color. About half an inch of thick, off-white foam that dissipates slowly. A bit of lacing too.
• Aroma: Smells like a lightly hopped Farmhouse Ale. Getting some clove, honey, orange and lemon zest, and some piney hops too.
• Taste: Lightly carbonated with a creamy texture. Citrus and a touch of honey to start things off. A bit of that piney hop bitterness kicks in towards the middle with a definite lemon zest kick in the background. All of the flavors come together at the finish, i.e. lemon zest, a touch of bitterness, and finally, some of those clove notes kick in as well.
• ABV: 7.5%

Flying Dog’s Wildeman Farmhouse IPA is a beer that became much more interesting as it came up to room temperature. While the IPA aspects of this beer weren’t very obvious when I took my first few sips, as it warmed up, the hops definitely let you know they were there and added a really tasty twist to the usual Farmhouse Ale flavor profile. I still get that mouth coating astringency in the finish, but this time with a mildly bitter kick that I really enjoyed. Well done Flying Dog!

Craft Beer News Flash: The Launch of Beerporium!

Click the pic to visit Beerporium.com!

Yesterday morning, we received an email from our Craft Beer blogging buddy Will Carlson of the Brew Trek blog. In his email, Will asked if we could share some information about his latest Craft Beer-centric business opportunity: the launch of his Beerporium website.

Will is incredibly passionate about his beer, and his Brew Trek blog is all about his Craft Beer journey, i.e. “ever since his first visit to Wynkoop Brewing back in 1988, he has been hooked on craft beer and it’s culture, seeking out breweries and brew pubs wherever he travels”. Beerporium is Will’s way of helping others maximize THEIR Craft Beer journey.

Without further ado, below is Will’s press release which does a fantastic job of explaining what Beerporium is all about. Many thanks to Will for taking the time to share this information with us. Cheers!

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Beer Blogger Creates Products for Craft Beer Lovers

Denver, CO – May 10, 2013 – William (Will) Carlson II, writer/creator of the craft brewery travel blog Brew Trek, is proud to announce the launch of Beerporium, a company specializing in products for craft beer lovers and travelers.

Beerporium’s  flagship product, the Brewery Passport and Journal, provides the perfect way for craft beer drinkers to document their visits to breweries. The Passport was developed through insights gained in nearly 25 years of visiting craft breweries. Will noticed that, just like him, many craft beer fans were documenting their visits and beers using blank, off-the-shelf pocket notebooks, filling in the details as the mood struck them. With preprinted spaces for all of the relevant information about a brewery, including thoughts on beers savored there, the Passport gives craft beer lovers a way to take home a memento from their visit, and at some locations, to enjoy free beer!

A number of participating Colorado breweries will stamp the Passports, and at select breweries, offer the Passport bearer a free flight of three beer tasters. 12 Colorado craft breweries have already signed on to offer free flights or just stamp the Passports; they include Asher Brewing, Black Bottle Brewery, Bootstrap Brewing, Brewery Rickoli, Equinox Brewing, Grand Lake Brewing, Lone Tree Brewing, New Belgium Brewing, Odell Brewing, Pateros Creek Brewing, Very Nice Brewing, and Wit’s End Brewing. Brewers from across the nation are welcome to participate, details can be found at Beerporium.com.

The Brewery Passport and Journal retails for $15.00 and can be purchased online at the Beerporium website, through breweries that carry them, or retail outlets like Hugo’s Beer in Denver. Special events where the Passport can be purchased are being planned also. With most breweries charging $1.00 to $3.00 per beer taster, the value of the Passport can be appreciated in just two or three brewery visits.

A second product, the Colorado Craft Breweries poster, has just been released, showcasing all of the current craft breweries in the ‘Napa Valley of Beer.’ Artfully integrated into perhaps the coolest state flag in the nation, the names of the state’s breweries comprise the graphical elements of the Colorado state flag. Since the brewing landscape in the state is changing on a monthly, and almost weekly basis, different editions will be issued with the newest breweries worked into the design. The posters retail for $13.00, with $1.00 of each poster sold donated to the Colorado Brewers Guild as a way to show our support for craft brewing in Colorado.

Additional products are currently in the planning stages, including craft brewery posters for all of the major brewing states in the nation. T-shirts derived from the poster designs are also being considered.

For more information contact
William Carlson II: 720.323.1556, admin@beerporium.com, @beerporium, facebook.com/beerporium, Beerporium on Google+

About William Carlson II

William Carlson II is an avid craft beer fan, homebrewer, blogger, and traveler. Since 2010 he has written the craft brewery travel blog, Brew Trek (brew-trek.com), documenting the sights, sounds, and experiences of a life obsessed with craft beer. He has visited close to 100 breweries in the past 25 years since his first visit to Wynkoop Brewing in 1988. With nearly 30 years of graphic design, advertising, marketing, and creative direction experience, he applies that knowledge to the development of new products for Beerporium.

Beer Review – Uncommon Brewers Siamese Twin Ale

It was a crisp, clear Saturday afternoon. The wife was away at a conference in San Francisco, the kids were playing in the back yard, and I was attempting to read Stephen King’s 11/22/63 on my Nexus 7 tablet as I sat on my patio. I was about two pages into a new chapter when I heard someone whistling off to my left. When I turned my head, I was greeted by a grinning Wookie that was poking his head out of his sliding patio door and waving a bottle of Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye in my general direction. He asked if I wanted one, but since it was only 2PM, I summoned up some willpower and resisted his generous offer.

About 30 or 40 minutes later, Limpd steps out his back door and starts walking across his lawn with three bottles of Lithuanian swill beer and two bottles of the fantastic Great Lakes Alchemy Hour Double IPA in his hands. As Limpd was making his way to my patio, The Wookie let out a wicked laugh and immediately walked back to his house to get some tasting glasses. It was at this point that I knew my willpower had been shattered (truth be told, I never had much willpower to begin with).

During this mini tasting session, I pretty much avoided the Lithuanian swill (just a wee sip of each) and limited myself to a couple small pours of the Alchemy Hour Double IPA (I was on duty afterall!). Once the first bottle of Alchemy Hour was finished, I decided to take advantage of the situation, i.e. a relatively quiet Saturday afternoon with no more errands to run, and ran into my kitchen to grab the can of Uncommon Brewers Siamese Twin Ale that you see in the above photo. We then proceeded to give this beer a try.

I have seen this beer on the shelf at WineWorks in Marlton, NJ on several occasions, but never bothered to pick up a can until two weeks ago. I purchased this beer because I was intrigued by the exotic ingredients and because I liked the look of the art work on the shiny silver can.

Before we get to the review, here is what Uncommon Brewers has to say about their Siamese Twin Ale:

There’s a long tradition in Belgian brewing of using exotic spices to enhance a beer’s flavor. Although many have been tried, coriander is undoubtedly the king. In tribute to this heritage we present to you our Siamese Twin Ale.

It is a traditional Belgian-style Double seasoned with coriander and entirely uncommon Thai spices. At first surprising, the floral notes of lemongrass and sharper bite of kaffir lime blend with the deep malt of this double to produce a dangerously drinkable beer.

Served alongside a fiery curry or enjoyed on its own, the Twin brings a taste of the tropics to every occasion. And who doesn’t need a taste of the tropics every now and then?

Let’s find out if this beer is any good…

• Appearance: Murky, burnished copper color. Zero head or lacing.
• Aroma: Caramel flavored malt with perhaps a hint of lime off in the distance. Given that this beer is brewed with kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, and coriander, I was expecting so much more from the nose.
• Taste: Very lightly carbonated. Though it tasted better than I expected given what little I got from the nose, it was far from great. Lots of caramel malt and a touch of lime. Also quite boozy! And I’m not sure if it’s a good thing or a bad thing, but I did get a bit of an Indian Curry note in the aftertaste. Or maybe I didn’t taste that at all and it was simply the power of suggestion after reading what was written on the side of the can. I’m not really sure.
• ABV: 8.5%

When I read all of the exotic ingredients that were used in the brewing of this beer, my first thought was Ballast Point’s Indra Kunindra, which is a beer that I really enjoyed. There is nothing subtle about that Ballast Point beer! The flavors are huge, and you can pick out each and every ingredient that went into the making of that beer.

Unfortunately, the Siamese Twin Ale is no match for the Indra Kunindra. While this beer was far from dreadful (that’s how The Wookie described it), it wasn’t anything special either. Basically, it was just ok, which is a pity given all of the interesting stuff that went into the making of this beer.

Beer Review – Victory Swing Session Saison

This is my second experience with Victory Brewing Company’s Swing Session Saison. I first had this beer at the 2013 Brewer’s Plate event, but to be completely honest, I was so overwhelmed by all of the food and Craft Beer offerings that I don’t remember all that much about it. I remember enjoying my wee sample, but I don’t recall any of the details with regards to aroma and taste.

During a recent beer run to Wine Works in Marlton, NJ, I saw the Swing Session Saison on the shelf and immediately purchased two bottles so that I could spend some quality time with it. But before we get to the review, here is a bit of information about the Swing Session Saison from the good people at Victory Brewing Company:

Swing. It’s a lively jazz rhythm, a vigorous sway, a change of view or even a roll in the proverbial hay. Now, it also means the welcome jolt of joy you’ll experience upon your first sip of this session saison. Swing into spring with taste!

With its citrus swagger and spicy refreshment, Swing Session Saison offers you a jazzy jolt of joy. This Belgian-style ale is bracing but benign and enlivens any experience.

And now for my impressions of this beer…

• Appearance: Clear, golden yellow color with lots of small, fast rising bubbles. Half an inch of fluffy white foam that dissipates slowly. A bit of lacing too.
• Aroma: Definitely smells like a Saison with oodles of lemon zest, coriander, and cloves.
• Taste: Very light mouthfeel that leans a bit on the watery side. Light and somewhat creamy feeling carbonation. Very lemony at first with a good bit of those spices to back it up. The spices intensify a bit at mid-palate. Becomes quite dry and astringent at the finish, with a slightly bitter, lemon pith aftertaste.
• ABV: 4.5%

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, then you already know that I’m a sucker for a well crafted Saison (aka Farmhouse Ale). While Brasserie Dupont is my Saison gold standard, there are quite a few American versions that put up a really good fight. Boulevard Tank 7, Green Flash Summer Saison (now called Saison Diego), and Goose Island Sofie are just a few of my favorites.

So how does the Victory Swing Session Saison stack up? While it leans a bit too heavily on the lemon zest for my taste, I still enjoyed this beer. I especially like that it’s a bit lower in alcohol content when compared to the other Saisons that I mentioned, which is most welcome when you consider the fast approaching Dog Days of Summer (think light, refreshing, and not at all boozy). My only complaint is with the bitter, lemon pith aftertaste. Fifteen minutes after taking my last sip, and it’s still lingering. The final verdict: good, but not great.

Beer Review – Anchor Brewing Porter

As I am drinking this bottle of Anchor Brewing’s Porter and writing up this review, Mrs. G-LO is fast asleep in the room above me. Tomorrow morning at 8:30, she will be flying to San Francisco for the American Educational Research Association’s annual meeting (sounds like fun right?). It would have been great to join her in San Francisco for part of the trip (I’ve never been there), but due to work obligations (it’s budget season!), I wasn’t able to take any time off.

In honor of her journey, I decided that I would review this beer from San Francisco’s very own Anchor Brewing. I figured that if I couldn’t try this beer in its natural habitat, I may as well try it at home.

Here is some information about this Porter from Anchor Brewing:

With deep black color, a thick, creamy head, rich chocolate, toffee and coffee flavors, and full-bodied smoothness, Anchor Porter® is the epitome of a handcrafted dark beer.

A blend of specially roasted pale, caramel, chocolate, and black malts, along with our top-fermenting yeast, creates complexity without bitterness. The brew is hopped at a high rate, and naturally carbonated. The result is dark in the glass, but surprisingly light on the palate.

Anchor Porter® became the first modern American porter when it was introduced in 1972. As we celebrate its 40th anniversary, our porter continues to reward those who look beyond its intimidating appearance to discover its smooth, full-bodied drinkability. Anchor Porter® is the definitive American Porter.

Let’s find out if this beer is an American classic or simply just another beer…

• Appearance: Deep, dark mahogany color with a bit of light brown coming through at the edges when held up to the light. Thick, one inch tan head that dissipates slowly. Good bit of sticky lacing.
• Aroma: The nose is not nearly as robust as I would have expected when I first poured it, so I decided to douche it up with the camera while this beer warmed up a bit. Letting it sit was a good move! The classic Porter coffee and chocolate notes are front and center. The coffee is of the American roast variety, i.e. it reminds me of the Ellis or Lacas brand coffees that I have had on numerous occasions at one of the many Diners in the Philly/South Jersey area, and the chocolate is of the semi-sweet variety. Also getting hints of raisins and dried apricots.
• Taste: Medium bodied, i.e. not too watery and not too thick. Lightly carbonated with a somewhat creamy mouthfeel. A good bit of dried fruit sweetness at the onset followed immediately by a small dose of hoppy bitterness. From the middle to the finish, the roasted coffee and semi-sweet chocolate take over. Leaves you with a soothing coffee aftertaste that lingers for a few minutes.
• ABV: 5.6%

While I have had the Anchor Steam Beer on a few occasions over the years, for whatever reason, it wasn’t until recently that I started to dig deeper into the rest of Anchor Brewing’s line-up, and boy am I glad I did! In the past five months, I have grown to really appreciate their Christmas and Liberty Ales, and I am happy to report that their Porter is also supremely delicious. It has everything you look for in a dark beer but without the high octane punch of a Russian Imperial Stout or a Baltic Porter. Don’t get me wrong, I have grown to love those big beers, but they’re not something that I would want to drink on a daily basis. For those times when I crave a dark beer, but don’t want to go overboard, Anchor Porter is definitely worth considering. The verdict: a true American classic!

Philly Craft Beer and Food News for April 26, 2013

Philly Beer Week is Almost Here! Get Opening Tap Tickets, Hotel Rooms and New Apps!

PHILADELPHIA, PA – It’s almost time for Philly Beer Week (PBW) 2013, the nation’s largest celebration of beer held Friday, May 31 through Sunday, June 9.  The countdown has begun to the official kick-off event, Opening Tap and tickets are now available online.  Philly Beer Week has also announced hotel packages and the new 2013 PBW apps are available  for iPhone and Android devices.

“First-time attendees and PBW veterans alike are encouraged to attend Opening Tap, to get a feel for what PBW is really all about,” says PBW Executive Director Don Russell.  “It’s a lively start to the party, featuring great local brewers and restaurants, and it sets the tone for 10 days worth of beer and beer drinking.”

Opening Tap

On Friday, May 31, Opening Tap ceremonies will commence at 7 p.m. with the traditional ‘first tap’ by Mayor Michael Nutter, held outside, on Independence Mall, adjacent to the Independence Visitor Center (1 North Independence Mall West.)   The ceremony is free and those waiting to enter the main affair will be in prime position towatch the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Brew-vitational awards as well as see Mayor Nutter slinging the PBW keg mallet (affectionately known as the Hammer of Glory, or HOG) to release PBW’s first drops of Brotherly Suds 4, the local collaborative beer of PBW 2013.

Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. for a strolling beer tasting of more than 30 regional breweries on two levels.  General admission costs $45 per person and will include a souvenir tasting glass.  VIP tickets costs $90 per person and will include some of the region’s most unique beers from its very best breweries, a tasty food buffet and other surprises.  Both tickets can be purchased online (click to buy).  The event sold out last year, and tickets will not be available at the door. 

Confirmed breweries include the following:

Appalachian, Box Car Brewing, The Brew Works, Dogfish Head, Dock Street, Evil Genius, Flying Fish, Free Will, Full Pint, Home Sweet Homebrew, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Keystone Homebrew, Lancaster Brewing Company, Manayunk Brewery & Restaurant, Nodding Head, Penn Brewery, Philadelphia Brewing Company, Prism, River Horse, Round Guys Brewing, Samuel Adams, Shawnee Craft Brewing, Sly Fox, Spring House, Stoudts Brewing Company, Straub Brewery, Triumph , Troegs, Twin Lakes, Victory, Weyerbacher, Yards, and Yuengling. 

Beer drinkers will get a first taste of Brotherly Suds 4, an English summer ale with a zesty citrus hop.  The collaboration beer will be brewed this year at Yards by Tom Kehoe, Bill Covaleski of Victory, Gordon Grubb of Nodding Head, Mark Edelson of Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant and Gene Muller of Flying Fish.

Beer friendly food will be available for purchase on site from Max & Me Catering.  There will also be live music by The Flathead Gang.  Attendees must be at least 21 years of age, and no children will be admitted.  Those who will be acting as designated drivers can attend the Opening Tap for $15 per person, including complimentary soft drinks and a PBW DD t-shirt.

Book a Hotel

Guests who will be traveling into Philadelphia – or locals wishing to enjoy a PBW staycation – can access special deals and discounts through PBW’s website.  Rooms are available for guests at the Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing (click to book), the official hotel of PBW 2013, located just two blocks from the Philly Beer Week Garden at Headhouse Square and a short walk to Old City and South Street, plus convenient access to public transportation.  Rooms are also available with PBW rate discounts at theEmbassy Suites Philadelphia – Center City (click to book).

Download the Official PBW App

Once again, PBW teamed up with Xomo Digital, Inc. to build an all-new app for this year’s celebration.  New features include:  New Layout and graphics;  Event Listings searchable by brewery and participating breweries listed for each event;  Improved Favorites;  Social Media Links;  and iPhone 5 compatibility.  Apps are available for both iPhone and Android, and can be downloaded here (click to download).

Philly Beer Week 2013 will be held from Friday, May 31 until Sunday, June 9.  PBW is a 10-day celebration of “America’s Best Beer-Drinking City.”  Established in 2008, it’s the largest beer celebration of its kind in the United States, featuring hundreds of festivals, dinners, tours, pub crawls, tastings and meet-the-brewer nights throughout greater Philadelphia.  PBW highlights the region’s diverse beer scene – its world-class breweries, neighborhood taverns, trend-setting restaurants and rich beer culture and history.

For more information about Philly Beer Week, including the ever-expanding schedule of events both during PBW and throughout the year, a list of participants and other details, please visit www.phillybeerweek.org and follow them on Twitter and Instagram (@PhillyBeerWeek) (#PBW2013) and like them on Facebook.

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2013 Vendy Awards!

Beautiful, Historic Site to Host Third Annual Philadelphia Vendy Awards

Philadelphia, PA – April 22, 2013 – In recognition of Philly’s thriving food truck scene, concrete culinary experts will bring the best of their best to Penn Treaty Park for the third annual Philadelphia Vendy Awards on Saturday, June 8th. The event will begin at 2:00 p.m. through 6:00 p.m., when the Vendy Cup will be awarded.

Due to the popularity of the event, a limited number of early bird tickets for the special price of $45 will be offered online at http://phillyvendys2013.eventbrite.com?s=14039667 . Ticket price entitles one to day-of judging rights, all you can eat from each participating truck (inclusive of beer) and an unforgettable day in Philadelphia food history as the Vendy Cup is bestowed on the lucky champion.

“Philadelphia continues to be one of our stronger, competitive cities,” said Helena Tubis, Managing Director of the event. “From the faithful, daily food truck advocates to the growing pool of culinary talent, we’re excited to see who makes the nominations and to sample the tasty, creative items served up by the City of Brotherly Love.”

The Vendy Awards are an annual event organized by The Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center, a membership-based organization of more than 1,300 vendors. SVP’s famed Vendy Awards have determined New York City’s top street chef for eight years, becoming one of the most beloved and widely anticipated food events in New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Philadelphia. In Philadelphia, the Vendy Awards will serve as a fundraiser for The Food Trust, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization that strives to make healthy food available to all.

“We’re thrilled to continue this celebration of street cuisine and vendors in Philadelphia,” said Sean Basinski, Director of the Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center. “From authentic, straightforward Philly fare to the exotic and unusual, it’s a pleasure to showcase the spirit of Philadelphia, now in its third Vendy Awards.”

Follow the Vendy Awards on Twitter for the latest news and announcements and like them on Facebook at Vendy Awards.

ABOUT THE STREET VENDOR PROJECT AT THE URBAN JUSTICE CENTER: The Vendy Awards are an annual benefit event for the non-profit The Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center. The Street Vendor Project is a membership-based project with more than 1,300 active vendor members who are working together to create a vendors’ movement for permanent change. The Street Vendor Project is part of the Urban Justice Center, a non-profit organization that provides legal representation and advocacy to various marginalized groups of New Yorkers.

Beer Review – Great Lakes Alchemy Hour Double IPA

There’s no real story behind the purchase of this beer. I saw it on the shelf, was instantly intrigued, and since I really enjoy most of what Great Lakes Brewing Co. makes, decided to pick up a bottle for an eventual review. It’s as simple as that!

Here is what Great Lakes has to say about their Alchemy Hour Double IPA:

On the West Coast, surfers have a term for that perfect time of day, when the waves are breaking just right and it feels like you can ride forever. They call it Alchemy Hour. In Cleveland, our surfers have to work a little harder to find a perfect swell. Dressed in wetsuits, up at dawn, they camp out on the shores of Lake Erie in near-freezing temperatures, waiting for the ultimate wave. Crazy? Yes. Extreme? Definitely. Alchemy Hour Double IPA pays tribute to the North Coast’s unlikely surf bums and the ancient quest for liquid gold, wherever it may live: on the ocean, in a lake, in a bottle.

Let’s get on with my review…

• Appearance: Cloudy red-orange color. Not much in the way of foam, i.e. it dissipated pretty quickly. A bit of lacing, but nothing over the top.
• Aroma: Oodles of citrusy hops with a good bit of sweetness to back it up. Think honey tangerine and pink grapefruit with a drizzle of honey.
• Taste: Medium bodied with a healthy dose of fizzy carbonation. Much less aggressive than I was expecting. The citrusy hops and honey sweetness play very nicely together. There’s never too much bitterness, and it’s never overly sweet. And by the time you get to the finish, the hops don’t build up like they do in other double IPAs that I’ve had. Quite crisp and refreshing given the high alcohol content.
• ABV: 9.4%

While I’ve had an IPA or two from Great Lakes Brewing Co. (Commodore Perry IPA and Lake Erie Monster), I didn’t really love them (they were good, but not great). For whatever reason, the Alchemy Hour Double IPA has definitely won me over. This beer is beautifully balanced, and given it’s high ABV, it’s also supremely drinkable. Well done Great Lakes!

Booze News Flash: A WhiskyCast Virtual Tasting, a Bit of Beertography, and a Blogging Birthday!

This week’s news post is all about us…

The WhiskyLIVE NYC WhiskyCast Virtual Tasting Is Online!

Last Wednesday I posted my review of the 2013 WhiskyLIVE NYC. If you managed to make it to the end of my review, then you already know that I took part in a WhiskyCast Virtual Tasting along with our good friend Miracle Max, Susannah Skiver Barton of the What Tastes Good blog, Ian Chang of Taiwan’s King Car Distillery (makers of Kavalan whisky), Hana Choi of the Style Fare blog, and Hana’s husband Olaf Asprink. Five of us were incredibly eloquent, and one of us was a slurring and babbling mess. If you want to figure out which panelist had a bit too much to drink (hint: they suggested fruiting up a whisky), click here to listen to the podcast on the WhiskyCast website. Please let us know your findings in the comments below.

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Beertographer of the Week

As some of you already know, I’m a bit of an Instagram addict, and two of my favorite things to photograph are Craft Beer and Whisky. Our buddy John Kleinchester runs the Beertography blog and has featured several of my Instagram photos on his website over the past year and a half.

Two weeks ago, John sent me an email and asked if I would like to be featured as his next “Beertographer of the Week”. Since I was incredibly flattered by his offer, I of course said yes! Click here to visit John’s blog, and to find out why I enjoy Beertography so much.

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“It’s just the booze dancing…” Turns Three!

Much like year two of “It’s just the booze dancing…”, year three has been booze infused and action packed! In addition to the usual beer and whiskey reviews, here is a list of some of the other things that we’ve experienced and shared with you over the past twelve months…

• Found out that there’s a bigger and bolder Guinness out there
• Discussed the merits of the Dogfish Head Randall Jr.
• Attended our first NYC whisky event
• Helped recover the Philly Beer Week Hammer of Glory.
• Celebrated Ardbeg Day
• Discovered that Old Engine Oil does NOT come out of a car or a locomotive
• Learned the fine art of trading whisky samples
• Spent some time with the family in Maine and even got to do a bit of beer hunting
• Acquired a much sought after Craft Beer through the magic of Twitter
• We were interviewed by our good friend The Whisky Woman
• Were paid a visit by The Green Fairy
• Paid tribute to The Whisky Dog
• Visited the Emerald Isle with the family
• Attended a Philly Whisky event
• Purchased a very special Christmas present
• Built a bar
• Crafted some crafts, ate a lot of food, drank a lot of booze, and spent some quality time with friends
• Created the Pamplemousse Maltées
• Prepared for Armageddon
• Made friends with Canadia via a whisky trade
• Discovered a great way to “get your drink on” at work without getting caught
• Took the Weekly Photo Challenge
• Determined that the Department of Justice likes Craft Beer
• Reluctantly reviewed a restaurant
• Met some local celebrities and tried some delicious cocktails
• Learned the secrets of a great bar tour
• Earned a spot on the Mexican Cartels “Most Wanted” list
• Took part in the first ever #FlashMobBlog Whisky Review
• FINALLY made it to a WhiskyLIVE event

As you can see, it’s been a very busy year, and the fact that our livers still function (as far as we know) is a complete miracle!

Thanks to all of you for tolerating yet another year of our booze infused nonsense, and for making this whole blogging adventure an incredibly good time. And please let us know in the comments below what you’d like to see more of over the next twelve months.We’d love to hear your ideas!

Cheers!

Beer Review – Maine Beer Company King Titus Porter

After reading The Alemonger’s latest post titled “The Idiots’s Guide to Holy Ales”, I made the following comment:

I see where you’re going with these rules. While I don’t really follow the whole limited release madness that consumes many a Beer Geek (I’m looking at you Philly Beer Peeps that stand in line for hours to get their annual helping of Pliny the Younger/Elder!), there are a few seasonals/hard to finds that I would love to try, and since we live in Craft Beer Central, with a bit of creativity or simply reaching out to our friendly Philly Beer connections, I think we can get what we want in most cases.

That being said, I really need to try some Three Floyds and more from Boulevard. I also want more from Cigar City. A couple years ago, Maine Beer Company would have been on the list for just about anything, but now that we can get them in NJ, the only beer of theirs that is on my list would be King Titus.

The very next day, I took a ride to Wine Works in Marlton, NJ to buy a mixed six pack of “For Research Purposes Only” Craft Beer. As luck would have it, they had several bottles of Maine Beer Company’s King Titus Porter on the shelves. I’m not sure if this would count as a serendipity moment, or whether I was just plain lucky, but since I was JUST talking about this beer, I couldn’t resist picking up a bottle.

Here is what Maine Beer Company has to say about their King Titus Porter:

Our take on an American robust porter. Dark, thick, chewy, chocolaty, and of course, generously hopped.

• ABV – 7.5%
• Malt – American 2-Row, Caramel 40L, Caramel 80L, Munich 10L, Chocolate, Roasted Wheat, Flaked Oats
• Hops – Centennial, Columbus

Without further ado, below are our impressions of the King Titus Porter…

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Limpd’s Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Mahogany color with a thick, long lasting, mocha foam.
• Aroma: Citrus fruits, Baker’s chocolate cocoa, hops, hints of light roast coffee.
• Taste: Creamy, sweet, and chocolatey with a mild bitter finish.Right out of the fridge, the aromas and flavors are a little muted. As it warms up, it becomes much more vibrant and a little bit more bitter in the finish. Slight switch from roasted to burnt sweetness, like a well done marshmallow.

Nice blend of flavors from front to back. Also very well balanced. A very nice Porter!

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G-LO’s Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Mahogany color. Thick and creamy tan head that tops off at about an inch and dissipates slowly. Settles down to a thin layer of foam. Moderate lacing.
• Aroma: Rich chocolatey aroma with just a hint of espresso and a bit of piney hops off in the distance.
• Taste: Not overly carbonated with a smooth and creamy mouthfeel. Bittersweet chocolate at the onset. Some mild hop bitterness kicks in towards mid-palate. The flavors come together in the end and the aftertaste reminds me of a well done, dark chocolate cookie that’s burnt around the edges.

King Titus is one seriously delicious beer! The taste is rich and flavorful, and it hides it’s alcohol content so well that you would never know that this beer clocks in at 7.5% ABV. This has a high drinkability factor and I may like this a tiny bit more than their Mean Old Tom. Once again, well done Maine Beer Company!