Category: * Beer

                                                              All About Cider

 

Cider  is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of apples. Cider is popular in the United Kingdom, especially in the West Country, and widely available. … The juice of any variety of apple can be used to make cider, but cider apples are best.

In the recent years, Cider has developed a huge following of younger people in the Unite States.   A change from beer, something different than wine,  not as strong as many high proof alcohols,  cider is now so popular.

There a several iconic brands from Europe, mostly England and Ireland, but here in the United States, the Angry Orchard  line of cider basically revolutionized the world of cider.

In 2011,  Angry Orchard came on the scene with an innovative interpretation of hard cider.  They started with the basic Apple cider and over time, introduced dozens of different flavors (Honey,Rose,Ginger,etc)  Why Angry Orchard?   Its about the apples that are used in fermenting.   The French bittersweet apples, which were used for centuries in Europe.  These apples are tiny, homely, high in tannins, and low in acidity.  On their own, they are very angry apples – Hence the name.   However, these apples are very important since they balance the sweetness of the culinary apple.

How is Cider made?

As with wine, cider is produced using fruit and a fermentation process.
Fermentation means that apples— are squashed until the juice can be drained, after this very sugary juice is extracted it’s fermented with yeast to produce alcohol.

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts about Cider

The Apples Matter   Fine heritage cider is made with cider-specific apples. Not the apples you found in your lunchbox.

Like Champagne  Some people make ciders like champagne. Really. When you use this fermentation process with a cider, it’s called methode champenoise.

 

Lots of Apples  It takes about 36 apples  to produce one gallon of hard cider.

 

 

 

Drink of the Pilgrims  Cider was the drink of the pilgrims, since ground water was potentially dangerous. So the early colonists had just a little more fun than you think.

 

 

 

Range of Flavors Cider doesn’t just taste like apples. In fact, that’s a little like saying that great wine tastes like grapes. It has an aroma and unique set of notes that evoke all sorts of difference tastes – from herbs to grapefruit to caramel.

 

Spitters  is a term of praise. Some great apples that are perfect for cider making taste just awful if you take a bite. These cider apples are nicknamed after what you will probably do after a bite. Raw, they can taste like a teabag. But they create incredible, sophisticated ciders…

 

Hard Cider  Only Americans feel the need to call it “hard” cider. Everywhere else in the world cider is just cider. Alcoholic cider is the result of a natural fermentation process.

 

Cider Terroirs   Climate, rainfall, soil and temperature all impact the characteristics of fruit. Cider makers are discovering how a single variety can make a different cider when it is grown in different places.

 

 

 

Ancient Roman Technique  The first apple presses were re-worked olive presses.

Holy Cider  Some say that in the middle ages, babies were baptized in cider because water could be unsanitary.

Gluten Free Cider is naturally gluten-free

 

Major Brands of Cider

 

United States  ( 2 types)

The Sweet

American Hard Dry Cider  Golden in the glass, with aromas of fermented fruit, this cider’s rich nose and full body belie its sharp, tannic finish. Complex and delicious—just right for pairing with autumn’s braised meats.

 

 

England  CIders here are lively but not aggressive carbonation, rounded and soft fruit notes but with a trace of dryness and a long finish make this an accessible but mature cider for beginning to venture away from sweeter styles.  One exception is Strongbow.  They used to be made on the very dry side, but the American consumer was looking for sweeter versions.  Now, most of the Strongbow ciders, I consider sweet.

 

 

 

 

Ireland    Semi-sweet to semi-dry.  Medium bodied.  Low tartness and acidity.  Hints of bitterness and tannins.  No sourness or funk.  The notes didn’t go too beyond apple, with a touch of caramel.  Quick finish.  Moderate to high apple flavor.  High sessionability.  Low flavor intensity.  Low complexity.   Personally, I’ve tried Magners about 4 different times.  Each time, I thought I had a bad bottle of their cider.  One time,  a customer came in the store, who bought Magners.  I ask her if I could try one of the bottles from her 4-pack, and in return I gave her a 4-pack on the house.   I tasted it, and yep, still didnt like it.
I had her taste it and she said, yep, thats the way it is suppose to taste!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beer Facts

 

Interesting Info

https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/beer-facts-beer-facts-to-make-you-sound-smarter-at-parties

 

The first modern American IPA was Anchor Liberty Ale

Beer cans debuted way back in 1933

Schlitz invented the brown bottle + tall boys in 1911

North Dakota drinks more beer than anyone

The Belgian dubbel beer is named that because people were illiterate

Narragansett was advertising beer on TV way back in 1944

The world’s best-selling beer is… Snow? (from China)

During Prohibition, people were prescribed “medical beer”

A 15ft high tidal wave of beer killed eight people in London in 1814

America’s largest craft brewery is Yuengling

People were drinking beer 5,000 years ago

Abraham Lincoln taxed beer to help pay for the Civil War

 

 

Beer,  according to a pure definition in Germany is brewed according to the Reinheitsgebot, which permits only water, hops, and malt as ingredients

 

TERMS

IBU is an abbreviation for the International Bitterness Units scale, a gauge of beer’s bitterness.  What IBU’s measure are the parts per million of isohumuone found in a beer.   A what? isohumuone??  It’s the the acid found in hops that gives beer its bitter bite.

https://www.brewersfriend.com/2009/01/24/beer-styles-ibu-chart-graph-bitterness-range/

BUs of some common styles[13]
Beer style	IBUs
Lambic	0-10
Wheat beer	8-18
American lager	8-26
Kölsch	20-30
Pilsner	24-44
Porter	18-50
Bitter	24-50
Pale ale	30-50
Stout	30-90
Barleywine	34-120
India pale ale	40-120

 

 

SRM  The number was originally, and still is, defined by “Beer color intensity on a sample free of turbidity and having the spectral characteristics of an average beer is 10 times the absorbance of the beer measured in a 1/2-inch cell with monochromatic light at 430 nanometers.”

https://www.twobeerdudes.com/beer/srm

Beer Style SRM Color Ranges
Style	SRM Range
Pilsner	2 – 7
Witbier, Berliner Weisse	2 – 4
Belgian Strong Ale	4 – 7
Maibock	4 – 10
Vienna Lager	7 – 14
Oktoberfest	4 – 12
American Pale Ale	6 – 14
Pale Ale	5 – 14
English Golden Ale	4 – 8
Bavarian Weizen	4 – 10
Bitter, ESB	8 – 14
Märzen	7 – 15
Imperial Pale Ale	5 – 11
Bière de Garde	6 – 13
Dunkel Weizen	9 – 13
Amber Ale	11 – 18
English Brown Ale	12 – 22
Bock	15 – 30
Porter	20 – 40
Oatmeal Stout	25 – 40
Baltic Porter	17 – 40
Foreign Stout	30 – 65
Imperial Stout	50 – 80

 

HOPS  The plant part used in brewing beer is the hop flower, a delicate, pale green, papery cone full of perishable resins. They give a beer bitterness when used early in the brewing process, and aroma when added at the end. As a bonus, hops are a preservative, and extend the life of beer.

http://allaboutbeer.com/learn/beer/hops/

Hop Name	Hop Alpha Acid %	Common Beer Styles	Possible Hop Substitutions	Hop Characteristics
Admiral (U.K.)	13.5% to 16%	Ale	U.K. Target, U.K. Northdown, U.K. Challenger	Known for its bittering potential.
Ahtanum	4% to 6.3%	–	–	Floral, citrus, sharp, and piney.
Amarillo	8% to 9%	Ale, IPA	Cascade, Centennial	Citrusy, flowery.
Bramling Cross (U.K.)	5% to 7%	ESB, bitter, pale ale	U.K. Kent Golding, U.K. Progress, Whitbread Golding Variety	Quite mild, fruity currant aroma.
Brewer’s Gold	7% to 8.5%	English ale	Bullion	Bittering hop with neutral aroma character.
Brewer’s Gold (German)	6% to 7%	Ale, heavier German-style lagers	Northdown, Northern Brewer, Galena, Bullion	Black currant, fruity, spicy.
Bullion	6.5% to 9%	IPA, ESB, stout	Columbus, Northern Brewer, German Brewer’s Gold	A rich hop primarily used for bittering. Intense blackcurrant aroma.
Cascade	4.5% to 7%	Pale ale, IPA, porter, barleywine	Centennial, Amarillo, possibly Columbus	Pleasant, flowery, spicy, and citrusy. Can have a grapefruit flavor.
Centennial	8% to 11.5%	All ale styles, has been used with wheat beer	Cascade, possibly Columbus	Medium with floral and citrus tones.
Challenger (U.K.)	6.5% to 8.5%	English-style ales, porter, stout, ESB, bitter	U.S. or German Perle, Northern Brewer	Mild to moderate, quite spicy.
Chinook	10% to 14%	Pale ale, IPA, stout, porter, lager	Nugget, Columbus, Northern Brewer, U.K. Target	Mild to medium-heavy, spicy, piney, and grapefruity.
Cluster	5.5% to 8.5%	Ale and lager (good aroma for ale, good bittering for lager)	Galena	Medium and quite spicy.
Columbus	11% to 16%	IPA, pale ale, stout	Nugget, Chinook, U.K. Target, Northern Brewer	Pleasant, with pungent aroma.
Crystal	2% to 4.5%	Lager, pilsner, ESB	Mt. Hood, Hersbrucker, French Strisslespalt, Liberty, Hallertauer	Mild and pleasant, spicy and flowery.
Eroica	9% to 12%	Wheat	Galena, Nugget, Chinook	Strong but pleasant aroma.
First Gold (U.K.)	6.5% to 8.5%	Ale, ESB	U.K. Kent Golding, maybe Crystal	A little like Golding family; spicy.
Fuggle (U.S.)	4% to 5.5%	Any English-style beer or American ale	U.K. Fuggle, Willamette, Styrian Golding, U.S. Tettnanger	Mild and pleasant, earthy and fruity.
Fuggle (U.K.)	4% to 5.5%	All English-style ales, ESB, bitter, lager	U.S. Fuggle, Willamette, Styrian Golding	Mild, pleasant, hoppy, and robust.
Galena	10% to 14%	Ale, porter, stout, ESB, bitter	Nugget, Pride of Ringwood, Chinook	Medium but pleasant hoppiness, citrusy.
Golding (U.S.)	4% to 6%	Pale ale, ESB, all English-style beer	U.K. Golding, Whitbread Golding Variety, U.K. Progress, and possibly the Fuggle family	Mild, extremely pleasant, and gently hoppy.
Hallertauer (U.S.)	3.5% to 5.5%	Lager, pilsner, bock, wheat	Liberty, Ultra, Hallertauer Tradition	Very mild, pleasant, and slightly flowery, some spicy.
Hallertauer Gold	6% to 6.5%	–	Crystal, Mt. Hood	Known for its aromatic properties similar to Hallertauer.
Hallertauer Mittelfrüh	3% to 5.5%	Lager, bock, wheat, maybe pilsner	Liberty, German Tradition, Ultra	Mild and pleasant.
Hallertauer Tradition (Ger.)	3.5% to 5.5%	Mild-flavored beers	Crystal, Liberty	Known for its aromatic properties. A replacement for Hallertauer Mittelfrüh.
Hallertau Hersbrucker (German)	3% to 5.5%	Lager, pilsner, bock, wheat	Mt. Hood, French Strisslespalt	Mild to semi-strong, pleasant, hoppy.
Horizon	11% to 14%	Ale, lager	Magnum or a high-alpha hop	Pleasantly hoppy.
Kent Golding (U.K.)	4% to 5.5%	All English-style ales, ESB, bitter	U.S. Golding, Whitbread Golding Variety, U.K. Progress	Gentle, fragrant, and pleasant.
Liberty	3% to 6%	Lager, pilsner, bock, wheat	Hallertauer Tradition, Hallertauer, Mt. Hood	Mild and clean aroma, slightly spicy character.
Magnum	13% to 15%	All beers, particularly lager, pilsner, stout	Northern Brewer	Known for bittering value and quality.
Mt. Hood	3% to 8%	Lager, pilsner, bock, wheat	Crystal, French Strisslespalt, Hersbrucker	Mild, pleasant, and clean, somewhat pungent and resiny.
Northdown (U.K.)	7.5% to 9.5%	All ales, porter	–	Fruity with some spiciness.
Northern Brewer (U.S.)	6% to 10%	ESB, bitter, English pale ale, porter, California (steam) beer	Nugget, Chinook	Medium-strong with some wild tones.
Northern Brewer (German)	7% to 10%	ESB, bitter, English pale ale, porter	Chinook, U.S. Northern Brewer	Medium-strong with some wild tones.
Northwest Golding	4% to 5%	Ale, porter, stout, ESB, bitter	–	Known for aromatic properties.
Nugget	11% to 14.5%	Light lager	Columbus, Chinook, U.K. Target, Galena	Quite heavy and herbal.
Olympic	11% to 13%	–	Chinook	Mild to medium, citrusy aroma, spicy.
Perle (U.S.)	6% to 9.5%	Pale ale, porter, German styles	Northern Brewer, Cluster, Galena, Chinook	Known for its aromatic and bittering properties, pleasant and slightly spicy.
Perle (German)	6% to 8.5%	Pale ale, porter, lager	U.S. Perle, Northern Brewer	Moderately intense, good and hoppy, fruity and a little spicy.
Phoenix (U.K.)	4.2% to 5.5%	All ales	U.K. Northdown, U.K. Kent Golding, U.K. Challenger	Similar to U.K. Challenger.
Pioneer (U.K.)	8% to 10%	Ale, ESB	U.K. Kent Golding	A mild, typical English aroma.
Polish Lublin	3% to 4.5%	Pilsner	U.S. Saaz, Czech Saaz, U.S. Tettnanger	Mild and typical of noble aroma types, spicy, herbal.
Pride of Ringwood (Australia)	7% to 10%	Australian lager	Galena, Cluster	Quite pronounced, woody, earthy, herbal.
Progress (U.K.)	5% to 7.5%	Ale, bitter, ESB, porter	U.K. Kent Golding, Fuggle	Moderately strong, good aroma.
Saaz (Czech)	3% to 4.5%	Pilsner	U.S. Saaz, Polish Lublin	Very mild with pleasant hoppy notes, earthy, spicy, and herbal.
Saaz (U.S.)	3% to 5%	Pilsner, lager, wheat	Czech Saaz, Polish Lublin	Mild and pleasant, earthy and spicy.
Santiam	5% to 7.9%	Lager, American ale, pilsner	German Tettnanger, German Spalt, German Spalt Select	Noble characteristics.
Satus	12.5% to 14%	–	Galena	Known for its bittering and aromatic properties.
Simcoe	12% to 14%	–	–	A bittering and aromatic hop.
Spalt (German)	4% to 5.5%	Lager	U.S. Saaz, U.S. Tettnanger, German Spalt Select	Mild and pleasant, slightly spicy.
Spalt Select (German)	4% to 6%	Lager, and any beer where noble aroma is wanted	U.S. Saaz, U.S. Tettnanger, German Spalt	Very fine Spalter-type aroma.
Spalt Select (U.S.)	3% to 5%	German lagers	Tettnanger, Saaz	Medium intensity and pleasant hoppy qualities. Medium-strong aroma with wild American tones.
Sterling	6% to 9%	Lager, ale, pilsner	Saaz, Polish Lublin	Herbal, spicy, pleasant aroma, hint of floral and citrus.
Strisslespalt (France)	3% to 5%	Pilsner, lager, wheat	Mt. Hood, Crystal, Hersbrucker	Medium intensity, pleasant, hoppy.
Styrian Golding (Slovenia)	4.5% to 6%	All English-style ales, ESB, bitter, lager	U.S. Fuggle, U.K. Fuggle, Willamette	Delicate, slightly spicy.
Summit	17.5% to 19.5%	IPAs, Imperial IPAs	Simcoe	Orange, tangerine, citrus notes.
Target (U.K.)	9.5% to 12.5%	All ale and lager	Fuggle, Willamette	Pleasant English hop aroma, quite intense.
Tettnanger (U.S.)	3.4% to 5.2%	German ales and lagers, American lagers, wheat	German Spalt, Czech Saaz Santiam	An aromatic hop, mild and slightly spicy.
Tettnanger (German)	3.5% to 5.5%	Lager, ale	German Spalt, German Spalt Select, U.S. Tettnanger, Saaz	Mild and pleasant, slightly spicy, herbal.
Tomahawk	15% to 17%	Ale	Columbus	Primarily a bittering hop.
Tradition (German)	5% to 7%	Lager, pilsner	Hersbrucker, Hallertauer Mittelfrüh	Very fine and similar to Hallertauer Mittelfrüh.
Ultra	2% to 4.1%	Lager, pilsner, wheat, finish hop in ales	Liberty, Hallertauer Tradition, Saaz	Very good to outstanding, some Saaz-like qualities. Aromatic properties similar to Hallertauer.
Vanguard	4% to 5.67%	–	Saaz, Hallertauer Mittelfrüh	Aroma similar to continental European types.
Warrior	15% to 17%	Ale, stout	Nugget	A bittering and aromatic hop.
WGV (Whitbread Golding Variety) (U.K.)	5% to 7%	Ale	U.K. Kent Golding, U.K. Progress	Quite pleasant and hoppy, moderately intense.
Willamette	3.5% to 6%	Pale ale, ESB, bitter, English-style ale, porter, stout	U.S. Fuggle, U.S. Tettnanger, Styrian Golding	Mild and pleasant, slightly spicy, fruity, floral, a little earthy.
Yakima Cluster	6% to 8.5%	–	–	Used as a kettle hop for bittering.
Zeus	13% to 17%	–	Columbus	Aromatic and pleasant.

 

            ITS PUMPKIN BEER TIME  

                             

I always get real excited in September, because I know that in a couple of weeks, or even know, many of the pumpkin beers are hitting the market.  I’ve tried so many different brands, but the following set are the ones that I have enjoyed the most over the years.

I’ve noticed that I am more critical in my rating of Pumpkin beers than I am with many other beers.   I think its because I am looking for that almost perfect blend of Pumpkin, Spice, Malt and Alcohol

 

 

                                                                                   Pumpkin Beers/Ales

 Pugsley Smashed Pumpkin
Shipyard Pumpkin
Dogfishhead Punkin  
Southern Tier Pumpkin Imperial Ale
Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale
Rogue Pumpkin Patch

 

Pugsley Smashed Pumpkin 

(BA: 4.47) I always get excited this time of year when the Pumpkin beers arrive. Two years ago, I loved Shipyard Pumpkins, however last year I thought it was a bit too light and not enough pumpkin and spice flavor.  Now THIS YEAR! The pour was fine, nothing to get excited about. But the moment I put the glass up to my nose, the excitement began! The pumpkin and spices almost jumped out of the glass right into my nose.
That first taste. If I had closed my eyes, I would think someone had just cut a fresh piece of pumpkin pie and put it in my mouth. This year, this Smashed Pumpkin had it all. Bouquet and Aroma
Pumpkin and Spices Right amount of Malt and gentle but present hops
This beer was totally balanced. The first sip was a total joy, with all the right flavors exploding all over my tongue and mouth. Then the end was just as good as the start. And to me, that means balance and it means GOOD to me

Every year I have the first couple of these,  I always have it with Pumpkin Pie and Whipped Cream!!

 

 

Shipyard Pumpkin  

(BA: 4.0) Wow, two years ago, I loved the Shipyard Pumpkin , then last year, it was down on my list of any pumpkin ale. This year, its back up on top.
I was a bit shocked when I looked at some of the reviews regarding this beer. Well, everyone has their own tastes and likes.  When I poured this one, the first thing I detected was a good amount of pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg along with some other fall spices. Nothing hit you right in the face, but all of it was there just waiting for you to taste it and enjoy it.  There was a good amount of carbonation, which I do like in a pumpkin ale.  So far, this year, with all the pumpkin ales I’ve tasted this one ranks at the top (Though their SMASHED PUMPKIN is above everything). I think the best thing to notice is that each year, the various brewery that put out Pumpkin ales, change the style that they make. What was at the top of my favorites this year, dropped down and what was at the bottom came up. You know what! Who really cares! Its all about the enjoyment of a beverage that someone has taken the time to make it their best

 

Dogfishhead Punkin  

 

Still one of my favorites.
(BA:  4.25)  Another nice one fro Dogfish Head!
I always love the beginning of the fall when the Pumpkin beers start to come out. Each you I never know what to expect from each brewery.
One year they may have lots of pumpkin and spices and the next year hardly anything.
This one was just perfect. The nose and aroma after opening the bottle gave you a pleasant pumpkin feel. You could almost taste the spices that were in the air. The pour was not exceptional, but once you had the glass to your nose, you knew it was going to be good. The taste was big, smooth, full, just a perfect blend of pumpkin, spices, malt, and hops. Nothing overpowered . The finish was just as nice as the start. Loved it.

 

Southern Tier Pumpkin Imperial Ale

 

The first time I tried this one, I found it to be a little thin on the pumpkin, but higher on the alcohol flavor.  But it did grow on me after a while

(BA: 3.5)

 

 

 

 

Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale

(BA: 3.18)  Always looking forward to the Pumpkin Beers.  Did not pour this one , just drank from the bottle. So the nose was somewhat diminished. But still, there was no question about the amount of pumpkin spices in here. The taste followed the nose completely… Lots of fall spices, perhaps more than I like. This is what I have seen so far with most of the other pumpkin beers. This one did have the body to go along with the spices. It was not that carbonated and I was able to enjoy some real pumpkin.

 

Rogue Pumpkin Patch

(BA: 3.2) This has not be the year of the pumpkin, at least for me. This Rogue

Pumpkin did have more of the real pumpkin flavor that I enjoyed so much in different pumpkins last year.  There wasn’t much of any nose on this one, sure, the typical pumpkin spices, but nothing alarming. Now, onto my tasting:
Initial Sip, I was hit with the cinnamon, clove, allspice and all the other pumpkin spices. Perhaps a bit too much. Then slowly the pumpkin started to come out. It was richer than some of the other pumpkins I’ve tried this year.
Now on the back end, I felt there was too much carbonation in this ale.
I would have enjoyed this one much better, if the spices were tamed a bit and take a notch or two out of the carbonation

 

Stout   

 

Inspired from English & Irish Stouts, the American Stout is the ingenuous creation from that. Thankfully with lots of innovation and originality American brewers have taken this style to a new level. Whether it is highly hopping the brew or adding coffee or chocolate to complement the roasted flavors associated with this style. Some are even barrel aged in Bourbon or whiskey barrels. The hop bitterness range is quite wide but most are balanced. Many are just easy drinking session stouts as well.

STOUTS

DogfishHead World Wide Stout
Founders KBS   (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)   
Founders Breakfast Stout  
Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout 
Oskar Blues Ten Fiddy   
Brooklyn Chocolate Stout 
Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break

 

 

DogFish Head World Wide Stout    This is a totally amazing stout.   But leave it up to DogFish Head to come up with interesting beers.   This is almost more like a port than a stout.  It comes in around 17% abv and improves with age.
I purchase a case about 8 years ago (24 bottles @ $8.99) and made a habit of tasting one every couple of months.  I still have 4 remaining.  It is amazing how this mellows out over time.    This stout was very rich and bold.  It also provides a heavy alcohol taste.   This I notice more with the fresher ones.  As I aged them, they become much more enjoyable.   I treat this beer, as I would a nice glass of port.  A perfect glass and only sipping!  (BA: 4.5) We all hope that everyone gets a second chance. I remember the first time I tasted World Wide Stout, I was amazed, so much I purchased a half a case. Over the next several weeks, I was enjoying them. But then, I started to notice, that the alcohol strong taste was not something I really enjoyed. In fact, I stopped drinking them for a while, because I just thought they were a bit over the top.
So, now for my second chance. We recently brought in 2 cases of the stout. I picked up a 4 pack, tasted one and once again I was in stout heaven. But this time, perhaps from educating myself on so many different beers, I picked up on all of its excellent points and tried to hone in on any negatives. My negative at this time would only be that I want this stout to age a couple of more years. I am fortunate, I do have one from 2011…. So over time, I will get to experience the wonderful world of World Wide Stout

 

Founders KBS   (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)    

This was my first introduction to bourbon barreled age stouts.  Similar to the DogFish World Wide Stout, my first couple of KBS’s, I found a bit harsh for my likely.  I started to purchase two from each year they released this beer.  After a year or so of aging, the stout mellowed out and was very enjoyable  (BA: 4.2)

 

 

 

 

Founders Breakfast Stout  

(BA:  5.0) It didnt take much more than holding the bottle. Right then I knew I was in for a total great experience. Once the cap was taken off, the chocolate, the coffee, the mocha, everything just filled the room.
The pour was this jet black magic OIL…. Sliding down the glass with just enough of a white creamy head.
Once my nose was into the glass, all of my senses started to kick in. The aroma, the hops, the malt, everything you can possible think as being good or better was there!
Then the TASTE. Better than the smell or look. It was rich, it was full, it was balanced, it had chocolate, it had enough hops, it had enough carbonation, it held up to the very end.
The finish was almost as GREAT as the Start.

 

 

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout  

(BA:  5.0)   It poured like any good stout should, dark, dark and darker with a off color creamy head.
The difference with this one came with the aroma. So many stouts, I was always getting those perfect aromas of coffee and chocolate and the follow on taste would back up what my noise felt.
With this one, I could not detect any chocolate or coffee. For a second or so, I could pick up a “Tawny Port” type of nose. The alcohol is there, but there is also so much more going on.
My first sip! Soft and Round, really no alcohol taste to it considering how high the ABV is. But as this one was finishing, what I could pick up was a strong but not over bearing taste of molasses. It was if I was transported to Tennessee, on the farms where buckets of molasses are so present. So needless to say, I enjoyed this stout.   Very unique, something I have never tasted before, but am  looking to tasting it again.

 

 

Oskar Blues Ten Fiddy    

(BA: 4.84)  Ok, imagine running your c ar for 3 years, never changing the oil. Then one day, you decide to change it.
JET BLACK, JET BLACK and almost poured in slow motion. Glug Glug Glug into my glass. Then a nice foamy dark brown head. I almost stopped right there, because I couldnt believe anything would like so great.
Now, the aroma/bouquet , honestly there was not that much here. But thats ok, at the first sip I went to stout heaven! My mouth exploded with a deep rich creamy stout. The finish, did I finish it, was so bold and long.  No question, out of the top 15 stouts in the world, this one is right up there. Today, this is my favorite oil can and by far my favorite Stout

 

 

Brooklyn Chocolate Stout 

(BA: 4.15) WOW…. Thats one word to describe this stout. It is dark, it has a great aroma. Hints of chocolate and coffee with a touch of cinnamon.  Then the pour…. Dark dark dark through and through. Then slowly the white creamy head rises to the top. Not a lot, just enough to separate the dark from the cream.
The first sip. Its smooth, its delicious, you can taste the coffee more than the chocolate and it is smooth The beer in your mouth is very full and the after taste lingers for a long time.  For a beer that is 10% ABV, you would never realize it because it is so easy to drink.  I gotta run out and buy several more 4packs.

 

 

Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break  We did not carry this stout  at our store  , but as I’ve mentioned in one of my wine stories, I have a hobby of visiting different package stores.   I got to know the beer person at DeCicco in Brewster NY and he suggested trying this one.  (BA: 4.6)  WOW!!!  I’ve been somewhat  disappointed by EvilTwin beers so far, so I wasnt sure what to make of this one.
The pour was perfect for a dark jet black stock. The creamy glistening feel as the beer is poured into the glass. Then the light chocolate fluff of a head that stays enough to let you know there is more coming.  The first sip! No chocolate, no coffee, no biscotti flavor, but bursting with deep rich malt that is so perfectly balanced.  Then the second and the third sips, slowly the chocolate and coffee begin to unveil themselves. There was also a fuller sense of alcohol as you drank more of this.
Sticks to your ribs, warms your stomach just making you feel good all over!

 

 

 

 

 

 

IPA (India Pale Ale)  are one of my favorite type of beers.     Before I go into the list of my favorite IPAs,
there is some history that you should know about.

IPA is a beefed-up version of pale ale, made using more hops and with a higher alcohol content. Created in England, the name is a result of its popularity with British troops stationed in India in the 19th century, when the subcontinent was still a British colon and these beers were necessary to make the long            journey from England to India.

 

 

BEERS

Alchemist Heady Topper
Evil Twin Better Half
Grey Sail Captains Daughter|
Six Point Resin
Ithaca Flower Power
Stone Ruination
Cigar City JaiAlai
Lagunitas Hop Stoopid
Dogfishhead 120 IPA
Dogfishhead 90 IPA
Dogfishhead 60 IPA
Founders All Day
Founders Centennial
Green Flash Palate Wrecker
Grey Sail GreatKetch
Stony Creek Crankenstein
New England Brewing Co  SeaHag
Elysian Space Dust IPA
Grey Sail Little Sister

 

 

 

I’ve included my original reviews directly from my Beer Advocate Account
(BA:  x.xx ) along with my rating

Alchemist Heady Topper     My all time favorite IPA, but it is really a DIPA (Double IPA).

( BA:  5.00)  Once I opened the can, the room came alive with citrus, grapefruit, banana and so many other perfect hoppy aromas. It was grassy and so alive. It was at a point that I was more than satisfied with the bouquet, I need not take it any further. The first sip (from a glass) was fullness in my mouth of hops, cream, grapefruit and lots of smooth body. The after taste was just as pleasant. From that point on, I drank it from the can. I was really surprised at just how smooth it was considering the IBU count (120)

 

Evil Twin Better Half   A steal, not all that well known

(BA: 4.81)  I had given two of my co-workers each a can of Better Half. Both of them LOVED it. I went back and purchased 4 more 4 packs. Then I tried it again, this time in a glass.
That beautiful orange hue with resin, pine tar , grapefruit and orange noise was so very present.
The first taste again so very big and full, crisp, but not too crisp, malty, but not too malty, hoppy, but yes hoppy.
The aftertaste was even better than the start. This beer is slowly moving up on my best list

 

Grey Sail Captains Daughter  I first had this about 6 years ago.  I purchased it on a whim.   I can not tell you how many cases I drank of that in the beginning.  Now it is so difficult to get in CT.

(BA: 5.00 ) Totally surprised and so very enjoyable…..
Love it.
Nice crisp good amount of pine, resin and grapefruit.
Aftertaste was even more enjoyable than the start. I’ve tasted this beer a number of times and each time it gets better and better. Right from the time the can is opened, the aroma and bouquet of a super IPA comes through.
That resin, grapefruit, citrus aroma is unmistakable. A true sign of an IPA. Then the taste… Crisp, light, dry and hoppy. Since an enjoyable taste. The aftertaste was even better than the start.
The bitterness from the hops is noticeable right from the start. But it did not overpower the beer. There was enough malt here to keep the bitterness from being over the top.
There was also a distinct taste of salt. Which tome added so much to the beer.

 

SixPoint Resin   I always loved the cans of Resin beers.  Tall and thin, hard to believe they held 12 oz.

(BA: 4.75) Pours a beautiful golden apple color. Nice head, not over powering. The 102 IBU sure comes through at the first sniff of the aroma. Hops were strong and upfront, but was balanced so well.  The first taste filled my mouth with a outstanding crisp dry and full taste, full of citrus, grapefruit and pine.  The finish was just as nice as the start. And to me that is what makes any beverage stand out. Cant wait for my second snip and then the second can and then on.  One thing that really excited me about this beer is that is was so crisp. I would have expected a Double IPA to be somewhat softer, duller, etc.. But this was excitement from the first pull of the key ring

 

Ithaca Flower Power IPA 

  I picked up a six point first because I love trying different IPAs , second because it was from New York and third, I just loved the name Flower Power.   Sort of brought be me back to the 60’s and 70’s.
(BA:  4.63) Wow, that is my initial impression. The pour was a light golden tone with a small head that disappeared rather quickly.  But I didnt have to bring the glass to my nose to realize that this was going to be a good hoppy beer.
Nothing disappointment me with this beer. I love my stouts this time of year, but I always love a good hoppy IPA.  The typical grassy, citrus grapefruit aroma and taste came through full, rich, noticeable, but still very easy.  The taste was even better than the aroma. The first sip was nice, the second sip better, then third even better and better. This was an easy beer to drink, but each sip let you know you were drinking a quality brew….   One thing I noticed with this IPA more so than many others, timing is so important.  Even 3 months after canning, the crispness was slowly disappearing from this IPA.  After 6 months, it was just an average beer!

 

Ruination  This was my very first Stone beer.    That was over 8 years ago and I still love almost everything Stone puts out.  I used to be a big fan of their
Enjoy by Day series, but after the first year I found many of them to be somewhat disappointing.

 (BA: 4.69)    Probably , oh well, I cant even remember how many Ruinations I have had over the years. But what I can say is that after tasting so many craft beers in the past 3 or 4 years, this one from Stone still is near the top.  Perfectly balanced, the ABV, the IBU, the Malt, everything. Crisp but full, chug gable yet slow sipped.  Without a doubt my favorite beer from Stone  Oh, another great one from STONE. I read more about this ALE before I tasted it. My expectations were so high.  I popped the cap. Immediately, my senses were filled with HOP, HOPS and MORE HOPS. I loved IT.
I poured it into a tulip wine glass. The aroma and bouquets were even stronger now. I put my nose into the glass and I was in HOP heaven.
The ALE was brilliant and clear, with a small head, but a strong head. I detected some tropical fruits. Maybe some pineapple, and also some citrus like a New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs Marlborough grapefruit full wines.
Then the taste and it all began. Almost like bells going off in my head, ringing in a new year. The bitterness from the hops and yeast were so in your face, but at the same time not slapping you around.
STONE says, once you have had Ruination, you are ruined! Well, to me, now that I’ve had it, I’m somewhat addicted to it. Its not for everyone. People that say that like hoppy beer, ok, there are many others to build up to. This one, just like better wines, you have to get your palate ready for it.
I am a happy Ruination Camper!

 

Cigar City Jai Alai  First time 

I tried this was in 2015 while vacationing in Siesta Key, Sarasota, Florida.  Boy was I every happy and surprised!   My biggest disappointment is that I can not find this one up here in the Danbury, CT area. Have to do a bit more searching.
(BA:  4.54)  First time trying this beer, I was totally happy. It had that ever so appealing grapefruit, resin pine aroma.  The taste did not disappoint, Right from the copper Amber color with a good lasting dirty white head, I enjoyed this. The first sip was bold and crisp. This is one of the beer types I call chuggable. The second and third sips satisfied,until I just “downed” the rest. Not as much of a dry finish.

 

Lagunitas Hop Stoopid  My very first hoppy IPA.   I really didnt know what to expect, but I enjoyed it so much, that I am a fanatic about IPAs today.
(BA:  4.59)   I love a hoppy IPA.  Once opening the bottle, I immediately could smell the Hops. This was a crisp, clean beer with a strong but balanced bitterness from the Hops. It poured light and golden with a small head. The first sip was what I would expect from a highly hopped beer. The bitterness was the first to hit my tongue, but the fullness of the beer made it quite enjoyable. As with most IPAs with their IBU’s over 70, the after taste stays for a good while.  Next time I have this, I want to compare it to some of the high IBU IPAs that I have tried.

 

Dogfishhead 120 IPA To me, the top  of the line in terms of DogFishHead IPAs.  In many ways, this IPA was not like your typical IPA/Beer.  It was more like a Port or fortified wine.   Very powerful and potent, abv around 18%.  I purchased 12 back in 2010 and have one, once a year to see how they are aging and developing.  Each year they are getting better and better
(BA 4.02) To start with I am a big fan of Dogfish Head brews. I have tasted some of their more unique beers, some which I loved, some which I didnt like at all. This 120. First time I had it was about 2 years ago. I remember back then that it was ‘over the top’ for me. Too much, the bitter hops really didnt come across. But instead, all I picked up was the alcohol.  Now, I tasted it again and came away with the same conclusion.  We make it a deal that at the end of the night, when the store closes up, we taste one or two brews. Lately, I’ve been working with this young fellow (Joe) who has recently gotten into the premium crafted beers. I select the beer, we taste them and he always enjoys them. He may say that this one has too much or, that it wasnt until the second sip, etc….

 

Dogfishhead 90 IPA  Now this is one fine beer.  It is full bodied, good amount of hoppy flavor , but not that strong resin/grapefruit approach.
 (BA: 4.5)  Just popped the cap and I was in hop heaven. Slight golden color with a new creamy head.. The taste was even better than I thought. It filled my entire mouth and the finish was even better than the start. Cant say I detected any fruits, malt or other characteristics… To me is was HOP HOP HOP
(2nd tasting)
As I have tasted more and more IPA type beers, I’ve come to realize what I like, what I am looking for and what I do not like. After tasting many beers in the > 100 IBU , I feel this one is more balanced than when I first tasted it.
The hops are there, no question about it, but the aroma is more grapefruit and citrus I also picked up pleasant barley aroma.   the taste was so smooth. Hops, Barley came across very balanced with citrus overtones. Each sip was “rich’ and full. Nothing holding back with the taste on this one.  I do get a bit of full roundness that I experienced with their 120 brow. There was a common ground of flavors here.  Made me think about all my wine tasting experiences. With Italaian wines, there is always an ‘earthy’ aroma and taste. With French wines, its the slight mineral flavor from the slate and soils, and the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc that are rich in taste with a full grapefruit taste.
Dogfish Head beers, specifically their IPA types, all have a distinct aroma, feel and flavor the I am beginning to feel I could detect without seeing the bottle.

 

Dogfishhead 60 IPA Ah, the easiest of the minute IPAs  by DogFish.  This is the beer on a hot summer afternoon, when you want something real good but not a lot of it.
(BA:  4.3)   Havent had this one in quite some time.. After opening, I realized how much I did miss it. I love hops and this one has it but not overloaded.
It pours a nice golden tone with little head. But from the glass you can smell the hops. It had a perfect balance between bitterness and hoppines.
This has been and will probably continue to be my summer beer.

 

 

 

Founders All Day  Talking about something to drink a lot of on a hot summer day, fall day, or just about any day!   This IPA has everything you want in a super IPA, just without the high abv (4.7%)
(BA: 3.96)   Another Founders!  I’ve read about this one and was waiting to taste it. Poured a clean crisp yellowish type typical American lager. At 50IBU, I wasnt expected much in terms of hop and bitterness.. But at the first smell, I was amazed just how hoppy this bouquet was. Your typical grassy, grapefruity, citrus nose. I thought I was about to dive into a 100IBU Beer.
Then the first taste!. AGAIN! WOW for a 50IBU beer, this had plenty of HOPS without a lot of the bitterness. This beer drank so easily and so enjoyable. I could have this one over and over.. It could easily be my spring and summer beer.   The only slight fault I had, was that the finish left me somewhat hanging. This beer started slowly, that went on full charge, then as I was finishing, it started to finish just right and WHAM, my legs were taken under me. The beer just dropped off. The citrus which should finish nicely, just left me with an unsettled citrus flavor.

 

Founders Centennial  Now, this IPA is my staple IPA. Summer, Winter, Fall or Spring, doesnt matter if I want a good tasting IPA with lots of flavor and never dissapoints me, I go with the Centennial!
(BA:  4.41)   Centennial has become more ‘everyday’ beer, For me, it has all the necessary traits to make a super beer.  The color is so inviting! That nice orange glow, somewhat hazy light the morning sunshine with moisture in the air. The aroma still excites with a refreshing scent of orange, pineapple, and grapefruit. That pleasant and enjoyable aroma you get from a powerful hoppy beer. And all of that was not over done. The aroma was just right and now for the taste. It is soft, it is round, it fulls your mouth. There is nothing but per enjoyment with this beer. The first sip is so rewarding and every taste after that just gives you more and more pleasure. The final aftertaste leaves with that excellent dry pucker, realizing. that you just had a near perfect beer. Finally, the finish, perfectly balance between hops and malt. Neither one outdoing the other. And now the best part of any review, I WANT ANOTHER ONE!!

 

 

Green Flash Palate Wrecker  The name alone made me have to try this IPA.  I had heard so much about it from our salesman, so when we got our first shipment, you bet I picked up a 4 pack to try.  (BA:  4.52) This pours a nice golden amber hue with a full creamy white beige head. From a distance, you could mistake this brew to be one of many golden ales from the mass produced breweries.   But here is where that stops. All you need to be is within a few feet of the opened bottle and you can pick up the aroma of fresh strong hops. As I put my nose into the glass, the hops seemed to get stronger and stronger.   As with many high hopped brews, I could pick up scents of grapefruit along with other citrus. The initial taste was a bit over the top, at least at first. However, the mouthful and the finish was satisfying and lingering.   The second and third sips were the same, the initial taste on the tongue, went quickly to the top of the lounge without hitting some of the other sense spots.  The finish was perfect. I think the only thing that kept me from rating this even higher was that each sip was a bit much.  But the rest was as good as it gets for full hoppy beer
I looked at the Green Flash website and was amazed, no I guess not really to see that the IBU was over 149 for this one!

 

 

Grey Sail Great Ketch  (BA: 3.31)  Have to admit, I am a Captains Daughter fanatic, so I guess it wasnt really fair to rate this, because I keep thinking of the Captain!
The addition of Pilsner malt made this a bit more interesting, sort of funky. It didnt have that real typical grapefruit , pine tar resion aroma and taste, it was a bit of a different type of bitterness and dryness

 

 

 

Stony Creek Crankenstein  (BA: 388) Poured a slightly hazy orange, not a much as many other IPAs. This one is relatively low in IBU (50), but the overall nose was full of resin and grapefruit. The initial taste was not as bitter as other hoppier IPAs Hardly notice the >7% abv. The mouthful was one the fuller softer side and ended with that typical dry bitterness.
The second and third sips demonstrated a bigger and fuller overall taste.
Enjoyable, but not something I would see

 

 

 

 

New England Brewing Company:  SeaHag  (BA: 3.96)  I didnt know what to expect with this one. It was a beer that one of our customers recommended, so we brought it in.
I love an IPA, so why not, I never heard of this brewery before, but since we have been on a path to showcase local beers from Connecticut, we went for it

My initial impression, was that this beer poured, looked, smelled and tasted a lot like Hop S….
but to a lesser degree.

I enjoyed the bouquet of hops, the inevitable citrus and grapefruit taste. It was all there, and this one was very drinkable. Sometimes I talk about a beer being chuggable, this fits that category. I did enjoy this beer and am hoping to taste more from their brewery

 

 

Elysian Space Dust IPA  (BA 3.75)  A light burnt orange hue while poured. Very quick disappearing head
Not a lot of up front aromas. Initial taste was definitely IPA, pine resin, grapefruit and DRY

Grey Sail Brewery:  Little Sister (BA 4.5)

Ive loved Capt Daughter for years now. I just found Little Sister and I was pleasantly surprised. The initial aroma was almost like Capt Daughter. The color was a lot paler and the mouthful crispier. Great long aftertaste. Very happy I ran across this one.   Right now, this is becoming my favorite IPA.

 

 

       Belgium Beers (Ales)  

Here are some important facts about Belgium Ales

Trappist beer is actually made by Trappist monks , dating back to 530ad
Dubbel  Rich malty beer with some spicy  characteristics
Tripel  Three times the amount of malt than a standard Belgium beer
Quadrupel   Great strength with bolder flavor,  Full bodied, rich and malty
Others  include Lambics, Witbier, Saison and Gueuze to name a few styles

The Trappist monks at The Abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren, Belgium, aren’t in the business of brewing beer for the riches or glory — they brew only enough to support themselves and their abbey.  In the mid 2000’s, the made a Westvleteren  XII, a dark, quadrupel-style belguim ale. This  was rated the best beer in the world.   I’ve tasted it a couple of times and quite frankly, I wasnt all that impressed.  But then again, I am not a big fan of Belgium style beers.  I do have one more that I am cellar aging to try in perhaps another year.   This brewery is relatively small, producing  about  126,000 gallons a year, as compared to Chimay, which produces about 3.2 million gallons a year.  There was so much hyped when this was first released, people stood on lines to get this ale.   Some people were willing to spend $50 a bottle just to get one!

 

 

 

As much as I love and enjoy wine, I also have a special liking to

craft beers.

 

 

 

 

When I was in high school and in college, (late 1960’s, early 1970’s) the beer of choice generally was Shaffer, Pabst,Miller and then a special beer came along,  Coors!, the original in the golden can and needed to be refrigerated since it was not pasteurized. 

Fast forward to about the 1980’s and it was boating time, playing time, softball and more.  The beer?  Coors in the Silver can.   

In the 1980’s and 1990’s, I started to take up home brewing.   I brewed about 50 or more beers.  First starting with the can kit, so basically nothing could go wrong.  As time went on and I became a bit more experienced and adventurous, I started selected the grains, the yeast, the hops and the real homebrewing process began for me.

This was so much fun and I quickly realized that even as a beginner, I could brew some excellent beers.  I had tried my hand a making wine,  first from a kit, then from grapes, but I soon discovered that there was so much involved in making wine.   My attempts basically produce jug like quality wines.  I soon gave up on that.

 

But beer making was a different story.   I started to read various books on home brewing, checking on different recipes to make. The sound of the beer fermenting and that ball cock gurgling was really neat.

I started making my own labels for my beers.  I was using the bomber bottles (24oz).  I loved the process of moving the fermented beer from one carboy to the next one until it was time to bottle.    Bottling was fun, capping each bottle and then putting on the labels.    However, after a while, this became a chore.  Not the actual beer making, but the clean up afterwards and the sanitizing of all the equipment, especially the bottles.

In 2009, after I retired from IBM, I started working as the Wine Manager at a local retail store.   There is where I started to really learn about craft beer.   The beer person at the store did a great job in bringing in all those craft and hard to find beers.   We started a ritual , that every night when we closed, we would select 2 or 3 beers and tasted them.   Over several years, this allowed me to try so many great beers and to record my experiences with each.  I started using Beer Advocate, since that was a great way to rate and record your beer tasting experiences.

I had my favorites over the years,  but I basically was/am a IPA lover (Heady Topper)  and a fanatic about Stouts. (Dog Fish Head World Wide Stout)

 

 

 

 

 

 

So after all these years, I have probably tasted and rating about 300 beers.   Some I have loved and some that I would like to forget about.   It is so interesting to see how many  new breweries are establishing themselves in making some great craft beers.

Today, I still love my beers, but if I am going to drink a beer, it will be a craft beer.   Everyone once in a while, at parties or outdoor events, the only beers are the standard Bud or Coors.   While I used to love those in the past, they now seem so bland and tasteless to me.   (Though they are still fine while chugging them down after working hard in the heat!)   About the only non craft beer I still enjoy is PBR