My blog n'at

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

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

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

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

Links
Beer Advocate
Brewery website

Didn’t think I’d get it in did ya? What do you expect when the Pens are playing in the Stanley Cup Finals? *SHEESH* They won tonight btw, 3-2

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

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

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

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

Great Lakes website: www.greatlakesbrewing.com

cheers!

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

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

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

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

cheers!

For the record I have had this beer before but never a WHOLE beer. The only time I’ve had this previously was at a beer festival so technically I’m still living up to trying something new. In fact the last time I had this was 2006 at the All American Beer Festival during the 2006 MLB All Star Weekend in Pittsburgh.

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

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

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

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

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

East End Brewing website

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

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

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

Bear Republic website

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

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

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

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

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

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

Links
Sam Adams website
Beer Advocate profile
Rate Beer profile

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

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

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

We’ll see about that…

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

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

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

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

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

Price I paid was $5 for a 120z bottle and $17-$18 for a 4 pack. That may seem pricey but for the Bud/Coors/Miler drinkers that would be equivalent to 12 of your beers… in 4 bottles. Crack one open and say hello to Wonderland, bitches!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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