Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Ale

I think Tupac and Dre were on to something when they wrote "California Love." As one of the biggest states in the country in one of the best hop-growing regions in the world, it's no surprise that California is home to some of the best breweries; namely, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. Sierra Nevada is based out of Chico in the northern part of the state and is well known for its hoppy brews produced year-round. Mike already tested and wrote about their seasonal winter release, the Celebration Ale, but I'm happy to be writing about a specialty brew that created a brewing trend throughout the US.

Image courtesy of grapesandgrainsnyc.com

Every fall in the Northern Hemisphere, hop farmers are harvesting their crops for various brewers to use in whatever way they see fit. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, in a hop-crazed frenzy, made a decision some time ago that fresh, wet hops are essential in creating a great beer. Much like some restaurants get the freshest foods and ingredients delivered on a daily basis, Sierra Nevada buys the freshest hops out of Washington state within 24 hours of being picked. These hops, full of the oils and resins that provide their unique flavors and aromas, are immediately tossed into the brewing process to create a unique beer aptly named the Northern Hemisphere Harvest ale. With Sierra Nevada's dedication to freshness comes an excellent brew.

Pouring this beer into my glass, I was astounded by the appearance of this beer. With a gigantic, white head, lacing that just won't quit, and a spectacular orange and copper haziness, this beer looked unlike any I've had before. I can't think of a better way to describe the head than to compare it to that of an ice cream soda; It's just think, frothy, and won't settle at all. At the last sip, I still had a complete white covering on top of the body and my empty glass has lacing all over it.

My camera doesn't do this
beer justice, but just look at that head!

Much like most other IPA-style beers, the aroma had a characteristic spiciness to it. With some citrus and floral tones and the faintest hint of caramel, this beer seemed pretty average. Once I tasted it, the story was totally different. In contrast to it's dark color, the taste was actually pretty light. There was an immediate bitterness from the hops with a faint spiciness and a definite floral aroma. Also apparent was a subdued lemon-orange taste and the lightest caramel taste. There was essentially no aftertaste, unlike most IPA-style beers.

Drinking with a thickness not usually seen outside of darker and heavier beers, Sierra Nevada's Northern Hemisphere Ale is not your regular Fall or Winter beer. I could easily see myself kicking back on a hot summer night drinking this brew with some friends. In trying to stay as fresh as possible, Sierra Nevada created a brew that confuses and excites the senses. I highly recommend you try this beer, no matter what time of year it is.

There Can Only Be One Highland Brewing Company

Having just finished my final fall semester of my undergraduate career, I felt it was time for a nice little vacation. A few friends of mine and I went down to Outer Banks, North Carolina for a few days since one of them has a house down there. Since I was far out of my usual area I decided it would be the perfect time to try and find some local beer that I couldn't find in the Northeast. We went out Sunday for lunch and football to a local bar/restaurant, which i expected to have a decent beer selection. Unfortunately, I was wrong, they had a very limited list of beers. Fortunately, they did have a few local options, so I went with the Highland Brewing Company's Gaelic Ale. Highland Brewing is located in Asheville, NC and while not within a short drive of where we were staying it was by far the closest option and one I have never seen any of back home. The waitress gave us our bottles as well as glasses to pour them into if we so chose to.

Courtesy of Highland Brewing Company

While I really wanted to drink straight from the bottle because I'm lazy, I felt it would be a great disservice to not pour it into a glass since it took me an extra 30 seconds.  As I expected it had a beautiful deep amber/brownish color. After pouring it into my glass I noticed very little head and even less lacing. What little head there was, was very light in color. There was a very nice slightly sweet aroma to it, which was rather surprising to me. Now for the most important aspect of the beer, the taste! On first sip I was very confused about what exactly I was tasting besides hops and malts.  After letting my taste buds adjust, I found it had a nice lightly sweet flavor similar to how it smelled when you first took a sip.  However, that was only how it opened and welcomed itself.  Once it hit your mouth for more than the initial moment the flavor changed. While not a dramatic or crazy change it does give a stronger hops and wheat taste.

All in all this is a solid beer. It may not be the best I've had, but it is far from the worst I've had.  I thoroughly enjoyed it while watching some decent football and would not mind having it again.

I'm beginning to drink a lot like Christmas.

"It's just nice to meet another human
that shares my affinity for elf culture."

With Christmas quickly approaching, I've been getting into the holiday spirit. After finally convincing Mike to watch Elf with me, I decided I wanted an equally “Christmas-y” beer for the night. I chose Lakefront Brewery’s 2012 Holiday Spice Lager, mainly because I chickened out of trying it for National Lager Day and I decided it’s time to stop being a beer baby and try new things (the Christmas theme was just an added bonus).

Cheers, Buddy.

Right off the bat I was excited to try this beer. It’s deep amber in color and smells of spices and a touch of oranges. The smells alone made me feel like I should be sitting by a fire listening to Christmas music. The taste was no different. I could pick out flavors of nutmeg and cinnamon, as well as a slight sweetness. The taste lingers long after you’re done drinking,and I was left smiling with a warming sensation that could definitely be blamed on the 11.0% ABV. Regardless of the high alcohol content, the Holiday Spice Lager is extremely smooth and easy to drink. It wasn't overly carbonated, so it didn't make me feel too full. The beer had a very thin, off-white head that dissipated quickly and hardly any lacing which I’m also pretty confident can be blamed on the high alcohol content.

Ratebeer.com gave Holiday Spice Lager an overall rating of 91. I absolutely agree with this high rating. I would make it a point to buy this beer again on a cold night (assuming I don’t need to drive any where afterwards).

Merry ChristmaHannaKwanza and Happy New Year everyone!

Kolsch-style is my style!

Last weekend, Nick and I took an adventure with some friends down to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Leaving our beloved tri-state area, we figured this would be a great opportunity to try some local brews that would otherwise be unavailable back home.

A closeup - how pretty!

The 6 pack we picked up to try was Mother Earth Brewing’s Endless River Kölsch-Style Ale. (Side note: I learned that the classification of “Kölsch” is strictly reserved for only 20 or so breweries in Germany surrounding the town of Cologne, and therefore anything else must be designated as Kölsch-Style. Most Kölsch-style ales are actually mistaken for light lagers, as noted here).  This brewery was about 180 miles inland of us…sounds far, but seemed close enough to be considered regional to us. I was drawn to this beer by the artwork on the 6-pack and the bottles…it was just too artistic to pass up. (Nick: I couldn't agree more, I'm a sucker for beautiful artwork on the bottles. I will definitely try a beer based off of its packaging.)

Kölsch beers are typically light and easily drinkable – probably my favorite style of lighter beers because they’re crisp and have a bit of a bite to them on the finish. To me, this one did not disappoint; Nick might tell you otherwise. (Nick: While I do agree that there is a certain crisp flavor to it, I'm not enamored with it. It was a little too light for me and just seemed to be missing a little something. While not a terrible beer by any means, I would prefer something with a little more flavor to it.) 

When poured from the bottle, it has a soft golden color with a decent but quickly dissipating head and next-to-no lacing. There was quite a bit of carbonation to it, so I probably should have drank it a bit more quickly than I did so it wouldn’t go flat – woops! Definitely very drinkable, you could take this sucker down in a few gulps and be on to your next. (Nick: I can attest to that. I may have not that with the second one I had.) Aroma gives off a slightly grainy malt smell, a bit corn-bready. It also had some fruity-ness to it, perhaps some lemon and apple. If you’re not into this on a regular basis, I’d say it’s still an absolutely great choice as a summer beer.  (Nick: I definitely got a hint of some sweeter fruit flavors, but no cornbread smell for me. I would certainly add this to the summer beer rotation.)

From the brewer:

Super artsy-fartsy.

"A clear, crisp beer, Kölsch offers a very slight fruity flavor and aroma. It is light gold in color, with a delicate head. This light-bodied beer appeals to nearly everyone who samples it. Expect to enjoy a slight tang in the finish.

Food Pairings: Leafy Green Salad with Creamy Dressing, Broiled Lobster, Grilled or Steamed shrimp, Fried Soft Shell Crab, Peach Cobbler" (Which sucked for the two of us, having bought this after our delicious seafood dinner at The Black Pelican). The packaging had a sweet QR code to scan that told you all of this, instead of cluttering up the 6-pack with words. 

Happy drinking!

-Maggie (& Nick)

Last minute holiday shopping? We've got you.

With less than a week to go until Christmas (and just under a day away from the end of the world), people are scrambling to find some last minute gifts. We here at Drink Like an Adult know this feeling all too well, so we're here to help you out. In the spirit of beer and giving, we present you with some unique gift ideas for your favorite beer-lover:

Handcrafted Glassware



This full set is available through Matthew Cumming's Etsy store



To truly appreciate a beer, you need to pour it into a glass. It becomes more aromatic, it improves the flavor, and it just looks nicer. Many people stick with standard pint glasses, but for the real beer aficionado, we'd suggest taking a look at these handcrafted beer glasses from Matthew Cummings. These glasses from his appropriately named store, PretentiousBeerGlass, are specially designed to enhance the drinking experience. Whether you're drinking a hoppy beer, a malty beer, or you suck at pouring a black and tan, he's got you covered. Be warned; however, as these glasses are not cheap. His coasters start at $8 and a full set of his special glasses will run you $180.

The Clink N Drink Bottle Opener

If that glassware is a little too much and you know your gift recipient would rather just drink out of the bottle, consider the Clink N Drink bottle opening system. It magnetically attaches to any surface allowing you to place a cool, customizable bottle opener on your fridge, workbench, or even your car. Best of all, below the bottle opener itself is a magnetic cap collector, allowing you to make a bit less of a mess along the way. At around $25 per Clink N Drink, these are affordable and definitely a nice addition to any beer drinker's collection.

 

 

Beer Brewing Kits & Supplies



Image courtesy of kegerator-review.com



Do you want to truly take some one's beer experience to the next level? Let them brew their own beer! Amazon.com sells a wide variety of beginner kits that provide you with the bare basics to make beer in your very own kitchen. If those are a little too basic for the brewer in your life, then checkout Northern Brewer Homebrew Supply or Midwest Supplies. Both of these reputable companies have been providing great service to homebrewers all over the world for many years and they'll be able to help you out too. They've got bottles, caps, carboys, fermenters, yeast, hops, malts, etc. - everything you'll need to make the beer and bottle it. While prices vary wildly, just be prepared for when the do-it-yourselfer turns into master craftsmen by next Christmas.

DIY 6-Pack Holders

Some people like to stay in with their beer and others like to take it with them. If you know somebody who loves to bring their beer out with them, take a stab at making your own 6-pack holders. They're infinitely customizable, super classy, and pretty damn useful too. If you've got the wood, metal, or plastic, make somebody a gift they'll never forget. Chris of The New Hobbyist provides instructions and templates for one such holder on his website and for the more technologically inclined, Thingiverse has CAD template files available for download to use with a laser cutter. If you use the cheapest Pine you have laying around or the fanciest Brazilian Rosewood you can get your hands on, you're guaranteed to make an unforgettable gift.

YETI Tarpon Beverage Entry Tool

With a name like the YETI Tarpon Beverage Entry Tool, you know you're in for a serious device. Forged from stainless steel, this monster of a drink opener will get you into any bottle or can life throws at you. It's less than $10 and ships within 1-3 days, so you know it will be there just in time for Christmas. This is my personal favorite on this list too!

The "Discount Liquor" Trap

We've all done it. Driven by naivete, idealism, or just sheer laziness, at some point we have all fallen into the "Discount Liquor" trap.

Today, it happened to me.

I was driving home from a school after a long day of studying (yes, when you are in law school you actually have to study for final exams), and decided to pick up some beer. I was on my way to my favorite liquor store near school and hit a fair amount of traffic. This was the last thing I needed. A line of cars was standing between me and a much needed beer. 

Then I saw it. The neon lights and promises of low prices drew me in. Even the name, "Liquor Warehouse," screamed "great selection!" I was sold. I diverted from my original path and stepped into the warehouse. Much to my dismay, this "warehouse" was little more than a closet filled with Natural Light and Traveler's Club vodka. I found myself eye to eye once again with the very products which once lay hidden under my bed from my parents in high school. Overcome with disappointment, frustration, and anger, a mere 20 seconds later I stormed out the front door and back to my car.

Thus, I continued on my journey. Inching through traffic, closer and closer by the second, I thought to myself, maybe I should have just sucked it up at the other store. This moment of weakness quickly subsided, however, when I finally arrived. Like a kid in a candy store, no, like I just walked through the gates of heaven - I could have sworn I saw a bright light surrounding the sign that read, "Micro-Brews."

Finally.

Thirty dollars later, I was was walking out the door with a pack of Dogfish Head's 90 Minute IPA, and two of Dogfish's larger bottles that I had never tried before - Theobroma and Namaste. Well, this night just got interesting.

Dogfish Head beers never disappoint. Everyone that I've tried so far has been flavorful, complex, and most importantly - strong. Each of these brews has an ABV of around 9% (except for Namaste, which was a mere 5%). I'll post a full review of each of these beers at some point in the future, but that is not my goal here.

No, here I attempt to impart one simple message. The passion, quality ingredients, and dedication that go into a quality craft beer all go to waste if you don't know where to look.

Like most of you, in college I reveled in the ability to walk to the corner liquor store and grab a 30 of [insert generic cheap beer here]. And now, living in a city on a graduate student's budget, I won't deny that the allure of this convenience has not completely escaped me. But for those nights when you just feel like sitting on the couch and enjoying, actually enjoying, the beer you're drinking, do me and yourself a favor: put your big boy (or girl) pants on and drive to a real liquor store.

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

I love a good seasonal beer and Sierra Nevada’s Celebration Ale is no different. Pat’s overall summation of winter seasonal beers found here is something I couldn’t have put much better myself (well done Patrick).

This beer pours a nice amber/copper color with a very thick head. This ale has a bit of cloudiness in it, and leaves a substantial amount of lacing on the glass.

An interesting aroma of citrus is present upfront with a pine fragrance at the end.  You also get a bit of hops coming in later with the pine.

The taste is piney, and very hoppy when it hits the tongue but mellows out with malt sweetness that keeps you intrigued. The interesting blend of flavors, and overall smoothness makes this IPA very drinkable. The medium body leaves an average mouth feel, and it is not overly carbonated.

All and all, this beer is great for cold winter nights. The pine flavor is great for the season, but the hops and citrus aspects remind you that spring is on its way. It is a very tasty offering from a brewery that seems to always have a pretty good seasonal variety. 

What the hell are we talking about?

Starting a blog with my friends has been a whirlwind of new experiences. The technology, the beer, and even the vernacular are all new to me. I decided that the best way to keep up with my friends would be to do some research into some of the new terminology that I keep hearing from them.

www.brewersassociation.org

It occurred to me, that perhaps our readers are also learning some of these things for the first time as well. So, why not share what I’ve learned? Here are a few things that I hope can help my fellow beer newbies become more knowledgeable beer drinkers:

First, what separates a craft beer from other beers? According to Brewers Association “an American Craft brewer is small, independent, and traditional.” See the chart from Brewers Association for more information on what this means. In relation to craft beer production, a microbrewery is a brewery that produces less than 15,000 barrels of beer each year, 75% or more of which is sold (definition from craftbeer.com)

There are also different types of beer. The first is ale, which is brewed by rapid fermentation (merriam-webster.com). According to realbeer.com, ales are made using top-fermenting yeast and are best served cool (around 50 degrees F) producing a robust and complex taste. Examples of ales are stouts, porters, whitbier, hefeweizen, Indian Pale Ale (IPA), etc. Lagers are brewed by slow fermentation (merriam-webster.com), are made using bottom-fermenting yeast, are best served cold (38-49 degrees F), and are less fruity than ales (realbeer.com). Examples are red lagers, pilsner, schwarzbier, etc.

There are a few standard ingredients of beer. Hops are flowers from a perennial vine used to flavor beer. It also prevents the growth of bacteria in beer. Malt is processed barley that has been steeped in water and yeast converts the malt sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. (craftbeer.com)

Pat and me, reviewing our beers.
Photo courtesy of our IT guy, Mark.

When evaluating a beer, there are 5 standard categories – appearance, smell, taste, mouthfeel, and overall (beeradvocate.com): 

appearance – color, carbonation, head
smell – malts (sweet, smoky, nutty, chocolaty, etc), hops (herbal, spicy, floral, piney, citrusy, etc), yeast (fruity, flowery ales or clean lagers)
taste -  flavors or interpretations of flavors, will be similar to smell
mouthfeel – how the beer feels (light, heavy, watery, smooth, flat, carbonated)
overall – your overall impression

When reading a review there are a few words other words that you may come across frequently. Alcohol by Volume (ABV) is the alcohol content (volume of alcohol per volume of beer) measured as a percentage. Lace is the pattern of the foam sticking to the side of the glass as you’re drinking your beer. Head is the foam of the beer, and head retention is how long the head lasts (craftbeer.com)

I hope this has been helpful. Please comment and let me know if there is anything else you would like defined or explained in more detail. Happy reading and reviewing!

Business and Beer

Surrounded by friends with the superb 12/12/12 concert playing in the background, I'm happy to say that the first meeting of the Drink Like an Adult contributors (well, most of us at least) was an enlightening and exciting experience. We talked strategy and writing and we drank beer - three things that don't often go hand-in-hand outside of Mad Men era business meetings, but what kind of beer blog would we be without all of that?

It took me a little while in the liquor store yesterday to select two beers to introduce to everybody else. I wanted to find something unique and interesting for everybody to enjoy, but nothing overly exotic. I picked up a four-pack of Bethlehem Brew Works's Rude Elf Reserve and a bomber of Brooklyn Brewery's Sorachi Ace for our tasting and I happened to find myself a bottle of Dogfish Head's 75 Minute IPA as well. Unfortunately, we didn't get around to tasting the Sorachi Ace and I plan on saving the 75 Minute IPA for another day, but the Rude Elf's Reserve and the S'muttonator I grabbed the other day made it out of the fridge. Today's review will focus on the Rude Elf's Reserve, a beer with a one-of-a-kind flavor from a brewery near and dear to me.
 

A sampler of six beers from Fegley's Brew Works



Fegley's Brew Works, located right on the corner of Main and Broad Streets in downtown Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is a brewery and restaurant that has served Lehigh Valley locals for just over a decade now. I met my girlfriend while studying just outside of the Bethlehem area and she, knowing the area as well as she does, treated me to my first beers as an of-age adult at the Brew Works. You could say that is is the birthplace of my love for craft beer. I'm thrilled that I now have the opportunity to review one of their brews after having enjoyed so many different beers they produce year-round at their restaurant.

Seasonal beers are funny in that creating them, brewers are essentially telling drinkers what the flavors of the season are. Spring beers are light and floral, summer beers are refreshing and hoppy, fall beers are darker and spiced (also, the beer industry is not unique in that they pumpkin spice everything too that time of year), and winter beers are often dark, spiced, and heavy. Fegley's Brew Works made a decision some time ago that they weren't about to make a typical winter beer when they set out to create Rude Elf's Reserve. This spiced and fruity beer is a welcomed sight in any liquor store compared to the dozens of typical winter beers available. With a 10.5% ABV, this beer packs enough alcohol to make even the biggest of us feel warm and jolly after a single bottle. It really does put the "strong" in Belgian Strong Dark Ale



One of the first things I noticed about Rude Elf's Reserve is its striking appearance in the glass. While I didn't consider it the most aesthetically pleasing with my initial cursory glance (I thought it looked sort of muddy), its color really stood out when I held it up to the light. There was a deep ruby color to the beer that seemed to fluctuate between red and brown as the finger-width head settled in. Although it wasn't particularly excting to look at, the white head sitting on the deep red body gave the appearance of Santa's red coat with its white trim - an all too fitting look for this Christmas-themed brew.

Fruity and spicy, the smell of this beer is different from anything I've ever smelled before. The first smells to hit your nose are cherries and berries - somewhat unfamiliar territory for a winter beer. Following the fruitiness, the more familiar wintry aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg roll in with a noticeable, but not overwhelming alcohol smell. The taste isn't very different from the aroma. You're immediately greeted with a spiced cherry flavor. The cinnamon and nutmeg roll around on the tongue with a clove flavor as well. Without any sort of bitter hop flavor, this beer actually tastes a bit more sweet; it makes for an excellent dessert drink. Rounding off the spices and fruit is a warmth provided by the alcohol that makes this beer almost seem like a wine.

As a holiday-themed beer, Rude Elf's Reserve does well in what it sets out to do - invoke the spirit of Christmas and the winter season by taking classic winter brewing spices and adding a fruity kick. It's innovation like what you get in this beer that I believe makes Fegley's Brew Works an up and coming force in the craft beer world. It's definitely not my favorite beer (read: I love a super bitter brew), but it's worth a try if you can find it.

Lady Love for Leinenkugel's

Leinenkugel’s is currently my favorite brewing company (please take note of my ability to persuade mike into getting Leinenkugel’s Lager for National Lager Day). I find their beers to be approachable, yet it has a name that makes my other friends who aren’t big craft beer drinkers say “oh Leinenkugel’s, that sounds fancy”. Last night, while on a girl date with Maggie, I decided Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss would be appropriate for a girls’ night out and my first beer review. With a 4.9% ABV, it’s light, crisp, and refreshing with a touch of sweetness from real Wisconsin honey. I’ve been informed that next time I should try adding a lemon wedge to balance some of the sweetness. Since this is my very first time reviewing a beer I wanted to take it seriously, so, rather than drinking it out of the bottle like I normally do, I asked for a glass. Of course it was just my luck that the only real glasses this place had was wine glasses. The Honey Weiss had a nice pale golden hue that reminded me of a nice chardonnay in the wine glass. Maggie advised me that I should be paying attention to the head and lacing of the beer (which thankfully she explained to me before I had to secretly Google it), both of which seemed average to me. Hopefully I’ll be able to have more educated opinions on the subject as I grow as a beer drinker/reviewer. The aroma was earthy with notes of honey (for obvious reasons). It wasn’t too thick or carbonated, which made it easy to sit back, relax, and enjoy. All in all, I know that that Honey Weiss won’t be the popular pick for the more experienced craft beer drinker, but I find it to be a great beer to start with for someone who is trying to expand their beer drinking horizons.

While I’m on the subject of Leinenkugel’s, I also want to recommend Berry Weiss to my fellow girly beer drinkers. I’ve found that most “berry” beers I’ve tried have tasted like beer, with a touch of berry. In my opinion, Berry Weiss tastes like berry with a touch of beer. It is extremely sweet, which makes it the perfect option for someone who normally drinks cider, wine coolers, or other fruity malt beverages. It also has a 4.7% ABV, which is nice for new beer drinkers who don’t like/can’t handle a craft beer with a much higher alcohol content. My favorite thing about Berry Weiss is that it’s purple in color, which I learned while being forced to pour it into a clear plastic cup by the New York City Police in the parking lot at Citi Field. (Side note, Leinenkugel’s is also fun to try to spell to the cops while they write you a drinking in public ticket.)

I hope that beer rookies and experienced craft beer drinkers alike will give Leinenkugel’s Brewing Company a shot. It’s not the fanciest beer you’ll ever try, but I think you may just enjoy it as a nice, easy, everyday beer option.

Lager... I Hardly Knew Her

In the spirit of National Lager Day, Marissa and I went to the liquor store to pick out a nice 'merican lager. Nothing really caught my eye at first until I noticed they had a beer I've had before and certainly enjoyed; Creamy Dark by the Leinenkugel's Brewing Company. With Leinenkugel's being a brewery in Marissa's comfort zone we both knew this was going to be the beer for us that evening. (Marissa's Note - Translation: I chickened out of trying anything I hadn't heard of before.)


The first beer out of the 6 pack gave me this incredible head (not pictured) that remained through the entire beer. Every other beer I've poured has had a much smaller head that has dissipated rather quickly. The aroma of this beer is incredibly strong once you pop the cap, and stays true for the initial sips. As you can see this beer in very dark, and has almost no transparency. For being such a dark beer you figure it would leave that Guinness-like heavy feeling in your mouth but the beer is incredibly smooth. It leaves a creamy (Creamy Dark... makes sense) feeling that falls somewhere between a light beer and a Guinness. (Marissa's note: While I normally steer clear of thick, dark beers, I surprisingly appreciated this one. It gave me that overall fullness feeling I expected, but was still smooth and satisfying enough to enjoyed without feeling like I'm going to end up with a giant beer belly.)

This beer is brewed with a blend of 7 malts, and 3 different hops. This produces a crisp nutty taste, with notes of coffee and caramel. It is a very drinkable beer that is good for a cold winter night.

All and all I'm not a huge Leinenkugel's person but this beer is probably my favorite from their line. Try it out if you're into dark lagers. (Marissa's note: Then go read my post about how much I DO enjoy Leinenkugel's and try them all.)



... Also if you hate on the Jets pint glass, you can suck it.

It's That New Bitches Brew

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery always has and most likely always will be my favorite craft brewery.  The things that Sam Calagione and his staff do down in Milton, DE are nothing short of awesome and amazing.  I have yet to try a bad beer from them, ranging from their quintessential 60 Minute IPA all the way to their Midas Touch and oh so famous Punkin Ale.

I have finally gotten my hands on one of their beers that I have not been able to find since its creation in 2010, Bitches Brew.  It was a beer created for the 40th anniversary of the original release of Miles Davis' album with the same name.  The beer was created as a fusion of imperial stouts and tej, which after doing some research is a traditional ethiopian drink considered a mead or honey wine made with honey and roots from the gesho plant.  It is made up of much more imperial stout than tej as the tej is just added for some sweeting and contrast in flavor if you ask me.  Sam stated that the reason he created the beer this way is because it goes along with the album, which was a fusion of jazz, funk and rock, the first of its kind.  The label is absolutely beautiful and contains the artwork from the album created by Mati Klarwein.

Image courtesy of www.dogfish.com

So enough boring stuff and onto the good stuff, the beer itself.  It comes in an a larger 1 pint 9.4 oz bottle, which is obviously much larger than the typical 12 oz bottle or can.  As such I had to share this drink with someone else and that lucky person was my old man.  Good thing we split it too because it would have been difficult to finish the whole thing with dinner otherwise.

So we poured it into our glasses and that was the beginning of a very lovely journey.  It comes out extremely dark and almost creamy with a very nice coffee colored head.  It is opaque or damn close to it when held up to the light.  Next came a nice waft to see how delicious it smelled.  While it had a very typical imperial stout scent at first with a delicious roasted barley and malt smell, there was a hint of something I could not initially put my nose on.  It then came to me when reading the label, it's the sweet smell of raw honey!  Not something you deal with on a daily basis, but certainly has a distinct and delicious smell.  There was nothing overwhelming about the scent, it seemed to hit all the right notes at all the right places.

It tasted like something I had never had before, yet felt very comfortable to drink and not to crazy of flavors.  It certainly tastes very strong of an imperial stout and has a certain creaminess to it.  However, it doesn't have lingering bitter notes like other imperial stouts I've had.  Instead it has a delicious sweet and creamy finish to it that leaves you wanting more, almost similar to a chocolate milk or chocolate truffles.  It weighs in at 9%ABV which is on the higher end of beers, but falls directly in the average range for Dogfish Head and may actually be on the light side, especially when compared to the likes of their 120 Minute IPA, which weighs in at 15%-20%ABV.  However, this is certainly not a beer you will drink more than one of as it is rather filling and would undoubtedly sit on you if you had too much of it.

According to ratebeer and beeradvocate it got an average score of 99 and 92 out of 100 from each site respectively.  If you can get your hands on this beer, I highly suggest you grab as many as you can as this is a limited release beer.  I myself bought 4 of them total as I have fallen in love with them.  While it may not seem like a wise decision on a college budget when you consider that they ring in at around $12 a pop.  It isn't the worst idea when you think that a single bottle may last you a lot longer than you'd expect throughout the night.

Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. Thanks for taking the time to read this!

In The Nick Of Time

Hi, My name is Nick, and I like beer. Now that that's out of the way, I guess I should tell you a little about myself.  I'm the only contributor of this blog that is still an undergrad, and will only be one for 6 more months. So I guess in a way I hope this will help me prepare for post-college life somewhat. I am also one of the few contributors that brews my own beer as well.

Before I get to that though, I feel I should give my history of beer fascination. My father has always been a big fan of good beers especially Sam Adams as that was the most common craft beer 10-15 years ago. As such, I have always hated the crappy college basement party beers like Natty, Keystone, and Coors just to name a few. Anyone writing on this blog can attest to that statement that, only when we started trying unique, craft beers that cost more than 30 cents a can did I start showing an affinity for liquid bread. After turning 21, my dad and I both delved deeper into the craft brewery world. In doing so I found my favorite brewery, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.

We decided to venture down to Milton, Delaware to visit the Dogfish Head Brewery itself and then headed over to Rehoboth Beach, DE to finish up the full tour and visit the Alehouse to try some special brews. After finding out first-hand the process in which to make beer, I went out and found a local home-brew store where I go to school in Philadelphia. I found the absolutely amazing Home Sweet Homebrew down on 2008 Sansom Street - they provide you with all the necessities to brew for a beginner as well as loose ingredients for the more advanced and experienced brewers. With their help, I have brewed a Brown Ale and a Brown Porter and plan to brew some type of fruit-infused Ale next. Since entering the craft beer world, I have tried to drink as many different craft brews as possible, from as many different breweries as possible.

I like to think I fit in very well with the Dogfish Head motto of "off-centered ales for off-centered people". I also strongly believe that the statement made by one of our founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, sums up this wonderful world of craft and micro breweries, "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy". I think I've rambled on enough at this point - I hope you all enjoy this.

Mike T's Favorite Places to Grab a Cold One

Instead of the typical introductory "Hi, I like Beer" post I figured it would be fun to name a few places that I like to drink at, and why I like them so much as sort of an introduction to myself. But in case that doesn't work... Hi my name's Mike and I like beer.

One of my favorite places to get a brew in the area will most likely have its own separate write up at some point since it is so close to all of us, and is so delicious. Harvest Moon in New Brunswick, New Jersey has more of an "adult" feel from the typical New Brunswick bar scene. If you're lucky enough to get in on a crowded night you will enjoy their craft beers brewed in-house. Walking through the door you can see the equipment that these fine beverages are conceived and created in, and you can smell the hoppy aroma at all times. The tap selection is always changing, but I have never had a beer I didn't like there. The beers range from IPA's, to a "Firehouse Red" to commemorate a local hero, to seasonal pumpkin or winter ales. They have a sampler option where you can try out a couple of their brews, but if you go there on a slow night the bartenders are usually willing to shell out a sample of each. You can also buy growlers of their beers to take home at a very fair price. This bar has a full restaurant upstairs that is very tasty and very reasonably priced. This is not meant to be a full review, so go check this place out. I could be writing here for hours about it.

Next on the list is The Grove in Miltown, New Jersey. This townie/dive/sports bar mixture works so well on so many levels. They have a very friendly wait staff, a bunch of tv's to catch a game, live music on the weekends, and an awesome tap selection. On tap they have the usual domestics - Blue Moon as well as the Blue Moon seasonal (currently the Winter Abbey Ale), Guinness, the Long Trail Brewing Company Seasonal (Hibernator, currently - review to follow since I love that beer), Brooklyn Lager, Victory Hop Devil, Stella, Guinness, Saranac seasonals, and for the hipsters (and Jon) they have PBR. All of their tap beers are phenomenal.

Moving onto the corporate side of things, to get a good beer, Buffalo Wild Wings is always a great choice. Awesome wing specials mixed in with sports and a great tap selection make this one of the best chain places. I've had a couple Saranac seasonals there that I haven't seen anywhere else, and they always have some of my go-to favorites like Hoegaarden, Smithwicks, and Newcastle on tap.

Another corporate joint to get a good brew is Tilted Kilt in East Brunswick. The atmosphere in the restaurant is a little risque, but outside of the uniforms, the decor of the place is really neat. Two huge projection screens, accompanied by a bunch of tv's means you'll never miss a game or fight. Moving on to the beer... they have the typical domestics with Bud Light as a special, as well as some of my go-to's. I got a Shipyard Pumpkin Ale that had a cinnamon sugar rim one night that was amazing. They also have a house Tilted Kilt Lager which I have not had the chance to try since I normally go with the special or something a bit darker, but I will certainly get around to trying it and I will let you know when I do.

I know this is an "After-College Guide" to drinking, but I drank awesome beer in college. Going to school in Oneonta, New York, I was within driving distance to three or four breweries, the biggest one being Ommegang. The Black Oak in Oneonta, NY had three delicious Ommegang beers; Rare Vos being my favorite along with Hennepin and Witte. Spending the extra cash on a Rare Vos as a broke college student was no problem for myself and most of the people frequenting the bar. The Oak has live music almost every night of the week (drawing local and regionally touring bands), pool tables in the back with free pool on Sundays, and a great crowd of down-to-earth people. I miss this bar so much since I relate a lot of my college experience to it.

I hope this has given you some insight into my beer drinking habits and gives you a little taste of what's to come from my point of view. Comment and let me know where you like to get a good beer so I can check them out!

Beers of Bermuda

So...I'm a bit of a cheater. The first beer I'll bereviewing isn't even available in this country (sorry!). Whilst on vacation inBermuda in early August, I made sure we got the chance to not only make it tothe only brewpub on the island, but take advantage of their free tasting aswell! The man running the tasting had a finger missing on his serving hand - it was pretty sweet.

Dockyard Brewing Company at the Frog and Onion Pub brews 5different beers - "A Whale of a Wheat", "St. David'sLight", "Somer's Amber Ale", "Trunk Island Pale Ale",and the "Black Anchor Porter".

After trying the bunch, I decided to have the Amber Ale withmy lunch - described as "The flagship ale of Dockyard Brewing, this coppercoloured ale is a traditional English Bitter.  Created using the finestNoble hops this brew is an all round crowd pleaser to be enjoyed with allfoods!" Needless to say it went fantastic with my burger. And now I'm hungry.

Just looking at it, you can see the great color it has (pardon my sister in the background) - this shot was with natural light coming in through the doorway. The head on it was slight, but pure white.The smell on it was quite bread-y, with a bit of caramel sweetness. Not verybitter, but slightly "off" in that mineral way.

Tasting it, there was not a whole lot of carbonation whichhelped it go down smooth. It's crisp and sweet, with a slightly bitter butclean finish to it. I wouldn't say that it was a "traditional"English Bitter as described, but closer to an American Amber. At best,it probably averages around 5%ABV, but to go along with food, this is a greatcompanion. This was by far my favorite of the 5!

Honorable mentions of this "collection" go to:

A Whale of a Wheat
"A typical GermanHefeweizen, this light and refreshing ale is made using a combination of wheatand barley malts from Europe. Brewed using only German hops this summer thirstquencher is served with a traditional slice of lemon." And the lemonREALLY stood out. Almost looked like a frothy lemonade in the pitcher full oflemon slices. Quite refreshing with a bit of spice.

Black Anchor Porter
"A classic London Porter, this rich dark ale has its' roots in the earlybrewing history of England. The full bodied, medium hopped beer is a greatpartner for our Pub pies and meats." After a long morning ofwalking around in the blistering heat of August, this wasn't the kind of beer Iwas looking to refresh me. However, since it was kept on ice at the tasting, Iwas able to enjoy its' coffee, mocha, and oatmeal notes. It was your typicalable-bodied stout, just not ideal to have with lunch. This was the favorite ofthe man serving us.

Dad had the St. David's Light - Your average lager, but great lacing on it. As he drank it I couldn't stop staring at the glass!

Sorry for the lack of pictures on the others - I didn't getthe chance. All of these beers are draft only - No bottles or anything to take home - BOO!

For more information on the rest of Dockyard BrewingCompany's refreshments, check out their website HERE!

-Maggie

There's ANOTHER girl on this blog?

My name is Maggie, and I'm here to provide some more female insight to the world of craft beverages. I typically enjoy reds and ambers, but can also go for fruit and dessert beers, including yummy chocolatey stouts. Be prepared for some cider collaborations from Marissa and I. :)

There's not much else to tell about me, except for the fact that I enjoy refreshing beverages with good friends and good food. I plan to use this blog as a way to share what I know, but also to learn and explore the relationships between what we eat and what we drink.

I look forward to this alcoholic adventure, and hope you guys enjoy the ride with all of us!

-Maggie

Blue Moon Winter Abbey Ale

Seasonal beers are my favorite. Well crafted seasonals do precisely what their names suggest, they embody the spirit of the season for which they were made to represent. Blue Moon's Winter Abbey Ale is no exception. It takes a very unique beer to make you feel like you're sitting next a warm fire even when it's served ice cold.

Image from The Beer Taster

Full disclosure, this warm feeling might have less to do with the Winter Abbey and more to do with the five more that followed it. Regardless, this is one tasty brew.

My expectations for this beer were colored by past Blue Moon experiences. When I say colored, I mean that literally. All of the other Blue Moon brews that I've tried are lighter, wheat-ier beers. To say that I was surprised when the bar tender handed me a beer almost the color of Guinness is an understatement.


In actuality, it is not quite as dark as a stout. Blue Moon describes the beer as  a "chestnut brown-colored ale," and I think this is a fairly accurate representation. It has a great mix off coffee, chocolate and caramel flavorings, with just a mild bitterness. But you didn't really come here expecting me to regurgitate information from Blue Moon's website. All that "important" stuff (aroma, mouth feel, taste, finish) is described in other places by people (slightly) more qualified that me. No, I would like to use this post to talk about Blue Moon's Winter Abbey Ale in the context of this blog's goals: drink like an adult.

The real take away here is that after college, it's OK to spend more than $2.00 on you beer!

I know, pretty radical stuff. Don't get me wrong, I've got as much student debt as the next guy, so I keeping my bar tab manageable is certainly in the back of my mind (somewhere, way back). But, unless you're willing to shell out an extra few bucks, you might miss out on gems like this one.

(It also helps when you're seeing your Dad's band play that night, so he offers to pay for your drinks!)

Hi, I'm Ian.

These things are always hard. 

Sorry, that was a terrible joke. But seriously, I never know what to say in these things. I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to visit this page. There is a lot of really important stuff on the internet that you could be looking at instead. I suppose I should start by introducing myself. 

Hi, I'm Ian. 

If you read any of my posts, you'll notice that I am a well blended mix of sarcasm, condescension, and endearment. I will attempt to lead you on the path of beer righteousness. My friends (and fellow contributors) know, and you will learn fairly quickly that there is a two step process to loving me: 

1. Never take me seriously
2. Recognize that I am always right

Now that I've officially turned you off from me completely, I would like to thank you once again for visiting. Like I always tell girls after a first date, "I'm really not as bad as you think."

Breakfast for Dinner for Breakfast

I'm back again and I'm absolutely delighted to be writing about a very special beer today. Given the horrible wet weather we've been suffering through the past few days, I needed a good pick-me-up and it came in the form of breakfast. I'm sure you've noticed the my befuddling title for this morning's post, but don't be alarmed. Everything will make sense shortly.

I work the graveyard shift. It's long, it's dark, and it's tough to stay awake, but I deal with it. Tons of people do it, but everybody knows that when you work the night shift, you never really get used to your changed schedule. When I come home from work around 6 am, I'm going to reach for a beer and some food. After a dull night waiting for something exciting happen, it's nice to sit back and unwind. It's also 6 am, so my body is still convinced it's time for breakfast. In short, I'm looking to have dinner for breakfast.

"But that's two pieces of the puzzle, Pat! What about the other breakfast?"


That's where the beer comes in. This morning, I present Founders Brewing Company's Founders Breakfast Stout. Defined as a Double Chocolate Coffee Oatmeal Stout, it is not to be mistaken for an actual breakfast, although I certainly think it could give those canned breakfast shakes a run for their money. Weighing in at an impressive 8.3% alcohol by volume, this Stout is meant to be enjoyed slowly and deliberately.

On first pour, you could easily confuse this thick and black brew with motor oil. It sits still in the glass with an absolutely spectacular deep tan head that lasts until the final mouthful. Again, I blame poor head retention and lacing in the glass I used on my dishwasher, but the Stout managed to power through and put on its Sunday best. With an opaque black appearance, Founders Breakfast Stout is truly a beautiful beer.

I swirled the glass and let the beer talk to my nose and my goodness, what a story it had to tell. Cocoa and coffee blended for a heavenly aroma unlike any beer I've smelled before. Between that and the roasted malty smell, you would think you were about to drink a fancy espresso. On first sip, I knew this beer was something special. Yes, I've had it before (on tap too), but a beer this good makes you feel like every glass is your first glass. Coffee, chocolate, and roasted malt flavors were immediately apparent with the slightest bitterness appearing as well, but an overall creaminess lends to the breakfast-like feeling evoked by the flavors. A full-bodied beer, this Stout drinks smoother than most other beers, despite its nearly double digit alcohol content.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. If my writing wasn't enough to convince you, do your best to go out and find Founders Breakfast Stout. It exists as a rare breed of beer that truly speaks for itself. Yes, it has a 99 out of 100 on beeradvocate.com and a perfect 100 on ratebeer.com, but don't let the words of myself and others convince you that this beer is special. Try it yourself and see why it considered one of the best in the world.

Meet Marissa - The Beer Rookie

I’ve never been much of a “beer connoisseur”. To be honest I generally head straight for the wines or the Woodchuck Hard Cider when I enter a liquor store. It’s just easier that way because I already know what I like in wine or cider. It’s not that I don’t like beer; I just get overwhelmed by the variety because I’m not sure what I should be looking for. I’m an adult now, so 30s of Keystone or Natty light won’t really cut it for a nice, fun “friends night-in”.

When asked to create an introductory post I thought to myself “perfect, this is finally my chance to prove that hard ciders are beer too!” So after some brief Google research I’ve found (drum roll please) that I’m absolutely incorrect. Woodchuck’s website says something about fermented apples and the yeast being different. I don’t know what that really means other than that my friends are right and will continue to make fun of me for drinking Woodchuck Cider and calling it beer.

So where does this leave me now? I guess step one would be to stop calling cider a beer if I don’t want to be ridiculed. Step two is just to learn as much as I can about beer so that I don’t make an idiot out of myself. Then step three is to try as many new beers as I can to gain a better sense of what I like and don’t like so I can actually be a useful addition to this blog. Wish me luck.

- Marissa

Lager Bloggin'

While I did write the introductory post, I really failed in introducing myself. My name is Patrick and I love beer. No really, I love it. Ever since I was 21, I knew the normal party beers weren't for me. While my friends were chugging Coors Light and pounding Lionsheads, I was looking at the beers kept in the coolers in the dark corner of the bar. I didn't care about getting drunk on less than ten bucks. I just wanted to see what the world had to offer. I've never been a regular guy. Some people dance to the beat of their own drums; I want to know why the drum makes noise. To say that the same applies to my love for beer is an understatement. I'm just glad I found the opportunity to create this blog with a great group of friends who love beer too. With that out of they way...

Happy National Lager Day, everybody! If you're in the US (or elsewhere - we won't judge), go ahead and grab your favorite lager. Be it a Pilsner, Bock, Dunkel, Helles, Marzen, or American it's a great day to relax with a beer as storied as a lager.

In the spirit of the holiday, I ventured out to the beer store to restock my supply. Besides finding a beer I've been looking for for a few years now (Dogfish Head's Bitches Brew) and picking up a pack of what is arguably one of the best beers I've ever had (Founder's Breakfast Stout), I also purchased a bottle of Smuttynose Brewing Company's S'Muttonator Doppelbock and a six pack of Brooklyn Brewery's Brooklyn Lager. While I've been waiting for the S'Muttonator to cool down in the fridge, I went ahead and tore into the Brooklyn Lager.

 Having taken a tour of Brooklyn Brewery only a few short months ago, I've already had the pleasure of enjoying their Lager. While it's not my favorite beer they've ever produced (that distinction belongs to their Mary's Maple Porter), it's a solid brew nonetheless.

I went ahead and poured this into a snifter-like glass I had laying around. If you take their brewery tour, they give you a really nice laser-engraved tulip glass to take home with you; I couldn't find mine, but I digress. After the pour, you're left with a short head (less than one centimeter) that dissipates in a rather short period of time. Swirling the beer around leaves a little bit of lacing that just faded almost immediately. I don't know if this is because my glasses aren't as clean as they can be or because of the beer itself, but it's no big deal for me. As far as appearances go, Brooklyn Lager is nothing special. It has a nice golden amber color, but as far beer goes, it's a run-of-the-mill look. If Brooklyn Lager was a t-shirt, it would be a white v-neck T-shirt - not quite as dull as a crew neck, but not wild enough to truly set itself apart from others.

On the olfactory front, I found the aroma of this beer to be quite pleasing. It had a fruity smell with definite floral tones and surprisingly, it persisted. Many beers have the tendency to smell strong on the first sniff and then that's it, but I was pleased to find that the Brooklyn Lager's aroma had some real sticking power. Subsequently, the taste exhibited the same characteristic. Brooklyn describes their Lager as having a "floral hop character" and they were dead on with that. Much like the aroma, there is a fruity and floral mix that's immediately evident, but what I found especially pleasing was a slight bitterness provided by the hops. I'm a hopaholic, so any bitterness is greatly welcomed. While nowhere near IPA or other similar Pale Ale levels, the bitterness in the Brooklyn Lager was strong enough to properly complement the floral tones in the beer.

On the whole, Brooklyn Lager is a solid beer. It's not the greatest beer I've ever had, but it's certainly far from the worst. The guys and gals at the Brooklyn Brewery are a dedicated bunch with a real knack for brewing and their Brooklyn Lager is testament to that. On National Lager Day, I say go out and try the Brooklyn Lager if you can. It's affordable, local (well, a short ride away for me), and best of all, it's an all-around good beer.

Welcome!

We all know that feeling. It's three in the afternoon, the sun is shining, and you're stuck in a stuffy lecture hall listening to some poorly dressed, more-hungover-than-you-are professor try to relate advanced fluid dynamics to pouring a beer in a last ditch effort to earn his tenure with one more passing D. You don't care though; you're just thinking about making it out alive.

Compared to adult life, college life is a breeze. The bills get bigger and the same tired conversations with the same tired coworkers barely make the days passable, but there's one constant that you've had since college that has yet to let you down. Among all the crappy relationships, long hours partying, late hours studying, and the times you just need to have a drink, beer's been by your side. That most excellent of brewed beverages has been the source of many stories from colleges everywhere, but you're in the real world now. You've got a real job and real responsibility. There's no reason to drink like you're in college.

That's where we come in. We're a group of friends who've been drinking beer for as long as I can remember and we'd like to help you. Although we practically all grew up together, we have unique experiences, opinions, and tastes that make for a dynamic beer experience. Some of us try every single beer we can get our hands on and some of us stick with our regular favorites. A few of us have even forayed in the beer-making process. Whether we're drinking it, brewing it, or talking about it, beer has played a bigger part of our adult lives than any of us truly realize. We're adults now, and we're going to drink like it. Why don't you?