After being out of the country for a few weeks I was happy to come home to a package of beer from out in California. This was the final leg of "The Great Beanie BIF" that I organized via BeerAdvocate.com. The requirements included not only beers but also a nice beer glass and a beanie. 

From left to right:

Russian River glass

Pliny the Elder - Russian River Brewing Company (CA)

Supplication - Russian River Brewing Company (CA)

Consecration (Batch 001) - Russian River Brewing Company (CA)

Imperial Eclipse Stout Elijah Craig '09 - Fifty-Fifty Brewing Co. (CA)

The Abyss 2009 - Deschutes Brewing Company (OR)

Hoppy Holidaze - Marin Brewing Company (CA)

Old Inventory Barley Wine - Valley Brewing Company (CA)

Fifty-Fifty Brewing Co. beanie

For more on this beer trading circle go HERE

Labels: Beer Hauls

If you've ever travelled through Latin America you've more than likely noticed that the variety of beer doesn't really stray from two main varieties; cold and ice cold. For the most part, beers like Imperial in Costa Rica, Polar in Venezuela, Cristal in Chile and Quilmes in Argentina are all pretty much the same light bland lager but have gained the same sort of national recognition as Bud or Coors. Things are however changing and I'd have to say that Chile is definitely the country that is leading the way when it comes to craft, or artisanal, beers in this region of the world.. 

Take a quick look in any Chilean grocery store or bottelaria and you'll likely find at 4-5 different types of craft beer if not more. Breweries like Kunstmann and Austral are fairly large but make some great beers. Szot is a small brewery located in Santiago and was founded by American Kevin Szot, a native Californian. Valdivia in Region X has a handful of little breweries and is definitely worth the trek southward if you love beer! More and more this country is becoming a mecca for beer south of the equator! Chile may be known for its wine but the beer is definitely worth seeking out as well! Salud!

From left to right:

Austral Lager - Cervecería Austal (Punta Arenas)

Torobayo Pale Ale - Cervecera Kunstmann (Valdivia/Torobayo)

Kross Golden Ale - Kross Microbrew Beers (Valdivia)

Kross Stout - Kross Microbrew Beers (Valdivia)

Szot Amber Ale - Szot Microcervecería (Santiago)

Del Puerto Rubia (Pale Ale) - Cervecera Del Puerto (Valparaiso)

Kunstmann Bock - Cervecera Kunstmann (Valdivia/Torobayo)

Valbier Black Ale - Cervecería Valbier (Valdivia)

Valbier Red Ale - Cervecería Valbier (Valdivia)

Capital Amber Ale - Cervecería Capital (Santiago)

Not Pictured:

Calafate Ale - Cervecería Austal (Punta Arenas)

Volcanes del Sur Premium Bock Artesenal Chocolate - Cervecera Latinoamericana (Osorno)

Kunstmann Honig Ale - Cervecería Austal (Punta Arenas)

 

 

Labels: Beer Hauls

Some hoppy goodness from Pennsylvania and the Midwest. If you've yet to try and of these, and you're a fan of hops, be sure to hunt them down if you can. These four differ quite a bit in intensity and alcohol by volume but all offer something special when it comes to homage paid to the almighty hop.

From left to right:

Hopslam Ale - Bell's Brewery (Kalamazoo, MI)

India - Weyerbacher Brewing Company (Easton, PA)

Nugget Nectar - Tröegs Brewing Company (Harrisburg, PA)

Hop Hearty - New Glarus Brewing Company (New Glarus, WI)

Labels: Beer Hauls

Dark Horse Brewing Company's beers have just become available here in Massachusetts. To be honest, I am sort of amazed that such a small brewery from the rather tiny town of Marsall, Michigan (pop. @ 8000) is distributing their beers here in New England but I'll take it! These guys make some great beer so if you ever see it on the shelves or on tap make sure to give it a try.

From left to right:

Perkulator Coffee Dopplebock - the only coffee dopplebock I know!

Reserve Special Black Bier Ale - the name says it all

Scotty Karate Scotch Ale - one of the best Scotch Ales I've ever had.

Tres Blueberry Stout - that is correct. A blueberry stout!

Fore Smoked Stout - a big, bold smokey stout. Good stuff.

 

Labels: Beer Hauls

Recently I packed up a 12-pack of beers from the Northeast and sent them to a beer lover in Illinois. He, in turn, sent me an awesome selection of beers from New Glarus in Wisconsin. New Glarus only distributes their beers in Wisconsin so they are pretty sought after by those of us not lucky enough to live there. Cheers Scot!

From left to right:

Cabin Fever - a Maibock/Helles Bock

Coffee Stout - a stout brewed with local free trade coffee

Totally Naked - an American Pale Lager

Organic Revolution - an Organic American Pale Ale

Crack'd Wheat - a Hefeweizen

R & D  Golden Ale - a limited series release ale fermented with Brett Yeast and made with Maris Otter Malt and Styrian Golding Hops

Road Slush - an Oatmeal Stout

Fat Squirrel Ale - an English Brown Ale

Yokel - a Keller/Zwickel Bier

Hop Hearty - an American IPA

Spotted Cow - a Cream Ale

Unplugged Imperial Saison - strong Saison-style beer

Unplugged Cherry Stout - an oak-aged stout w/cherries

 

Other New Glarus beer reviews:

Stone Soup - a Belgian-style Pale Ale

 

 

Labels: Beer Hauls

I was pretty stoked to get a package in the mail today containing some Cigar City beers that I've been longing to try (and try again). Thanks goes out to Todd down in Tampa for sending these along. In return he'll be getting some hop bombs from the Northeast. Cheers!

From the left to right:

"Humidor Series" Jai Alai IPA - Jai Alai is a great IPA on its own but this release, which won a gold at the Great American Beer Festival in the Wood and Barrel Aged category, was aged on cedar that was used in cigar humidors. It picks up some absolutely incredible flavors that can only truly be appreciated by having a glass. 

Bolita Brown Double Nut Brown Ale - a Double Northern English-style brown ale that has a complex malt forward character with notes of chocolate, toffee and hints of roasted nuts in the finish.

Warmer Winter Winter Warmer - not actually a Winter Warmer per se but better yet its a 10% alcohol Old Ale with "American hop varietals that has a complex citrus and caramelized toffee aroma and underlying notes of chocolate."

Note: The two quart bottles were hand-filled at the brewery. I can't wait to crack these open and taste all that Cigar City goodness! Cheers Todd and to all the good folks at CCB!

Labels: Beer Hauls

I love good coffee and I love dark, rich, flavorful beers. Put those two things together and I am in heaven. I will never forget the first time I saw a bottle of Redhook Double Black Stout (brewed with Starbucks coffee and released in 1995). What a combination, I was hooked the first time I tried it. Nowadays you've got a lot to choose from and a ton of breweries have formed partnerships with local independent coffee houses and have come up with some amazing beers. These are good times to be both a coffee lover and a beer lover!

From left to right:

Breakfast Stout - Founders Brewing Company (Grand Rapids, MI)

Fuel Cafe - Lakefront Brewing Company (Milwaukee, WI)

Imperial Espresso Porter - Flying Fish Brewing Co. (Cherry Hill, NJ)

Mokah - Southern Tier Brewing Company (Lakewood, NY)

Red Eye - Two Brothers Brewing Company (Warrenville, IL)

Coffee Stout - Long Trail Brewing Company (Bridgewater Corners, VT)

Speedway Stout - AleSmith Brewing Company (San Diego, CA)

Coffeehaus Porter - Berkshire Brewing Company (South Deerfield, MA)

Java Head - Tröegs Brewing Company (Harrisburg, PA)

Arctic Rhino - Midnight Sun Brewing Company (Anchorage, AK)

Java Stout - Bell's Brewery (Kalamazoo, MI)

Coffee Stout - New Glarus Brewing Company (New Glarus, WI)

Coffee Stout - Schlafly Brewing Company (St. Louis, MO)

Perkulator Coffee Dopplebock - Dark Horse Brewing Co. (Marshall, MI)

Coffee Porter - Meantime Brewing Company (London, UK)

Labels: Coffee Beers, Beer Hauls

My "beer friend" Bob out in Iowa hooked me up with some great stuff on this trade. I owe Bob a huge thanks and big props when it comes to generosity. Thanks man, I owe you! I am looking forward to trying both the '08 and '09 Surly Darkness during a tasting with some other beer loving friends in January.

From left to right:

Bourbon Barrel Stout - Central Waters Brewing Co. (Amherst, WI)

Darkness '09 - Surly Brewing Co. (Brooklyn Center, MN)

Darkness '08 - Surly Brewing Co. (Brooklyn Center, MN)

Farm Girl Saison - Lift Bridge Brewery (Stillwater, MN)

Unplugged Imperial Saison - New Glarus Brewing Co. (New Glarus, WI)

Labels: Beer Trades, Beer Hauls

I came home earlier this week to find a nice box of beer on my doorstep. This time I was the lucky recipient of the next leg of the "Dee Snider and the Twisted 6s BIF" that I am taking part in over on BeerAdvocate. The premise was to send 6 bottles of beer that fit into certain categories (1 local, 1 macro, 1 foreign, 1 vintage, 1 with a female oriented logo and 1 that you had never had before).

From left to right:

Tecate 

From Sweetwater Brewing Company in Atlanta, GA

Sweetwater IPA

Dank Tank Wet Dream 

Dank Tank Big Ol' Belgian Blue Balls

Terrapin Brewing Pint Glass

J.W. Lees Harvest Ale 2002 Vintage

Rosee D'Hibiscus - Brasserie Dieu du Ciel (Montreal, QC)

Wee Heavy - Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery (Farmville, NC)

Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel - La Chouffe (Belgium)

To read more about this particular beer trading circle you can go HERE

Labels: Beer Trades, Beer Hauls

 

I am just back from a few days up in Vermont for work and was able to get my hands on some pretty limited release beers. While up there I went to the Alchemist and met up with Sean Lawson of Lawson's Finest Liquids, Vermont's newest and smallest brewery. I brought him some Pretty Things beers and he in turn gave me some bottles of his own beers. He also mentioned that Rock Art was brewing a crazy pumpkin spruce beer and I was lucky enough to come across some bottles of that as well. I am very excited to try all of these as I don't have a clue as to when I'll see them again.

 

From left to right:

 

Stony Hill Fresh Hop Harvest - Lawson's Finest Liquids (Warren, VT)

 

Maple Nipple - Lawson's Finest Liquids (Warren, VT)

 

Hopzilla Double IPA - Lawson's Finest Liquids (Warren, VT)

 

Pumpkin Imperial Spruce Stout - Rock Art Brewery (Morrisville, VT)

 

Labels: Beer Porn, Beer Hauls

I'm finally home after a week of work in upstate New York. It was an exhausting week but I managed to do some beer related things in my free time. I finally visited Ommegang in Cooperstown, had a chance to meet Kim from Beer Lens at The Tap & Mallet in Rochester (awesome beer bar!), had a beer and some food at the legendary Blue Tusk in Syracuse, visited the two brewpubs in Lake Placid and of course I stocked up at Beers of the World (also in Rochester). Above are a few "souvenirs" from my trip.

From left to right:

Edmund Fitzgerald Porter - Great Lakes Brewing Co. (Cleveland, OH)

Oktoberfest - Great Lakes Brewing Co. (Cleveland, OH) 

Commodore Perry IPA- Great Lakes Brewing Co. (Cleveland, OH)

Glockenspiel Weizenbock- Great Lakes Brewing Co. (Cleveland, OH)

"Cave-Aged" Abbey Ale - Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, NY)

Double Dark Cream Porter - Custom Brewcrafters (Honeoye Falls, NY)

Oatmeal Stout - Goose Island Brewing Co. (Chicago, IL)

Harvest Ale - Goose Island Brewing Co. (Chicago, IL)

Pipers Scotch Ale - Sprecher Brewing Co. (Glendale, WI)

...and an Ommegang re-usable cork that will keep those big strong beers fresh for 1-2 days so I don't have to drink them all in one night (but I probably will anyways).

Labels: Beer Porn, Beer Hauls