Fermentation Nation

MBG Winter Beer Fest - Creepin' on the Creep On

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 04:40:00 +0000

Rumblings abound that the MBG Winter Beer Fest is coursing toward a sellout in record time, possibly before February 1st. Don't procrastinate on scoring your tickets! I have mine, and plan to thoroughly overindulge in 2 of my favorite pastimes, craft beer and people watching.

Holla if you spot yourself in any of these photos from past MBG beer festivals.

Where is the Good Beer @ JLA?

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 07:56:00 +0000

This is a picture of Red Wings fans excitedly converging upon the storied hall of JLA.

Little do they know that they are entering a parched, desolate, craft beer wasteland.

The Leinie Lodge is between sections 115 /116, and has the best selection of beer in the building. You can pick from Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat (sweet, unnatural tasting), Creamy Dark (thin, generic), Amber (grainy, vapid) and Fireside Nut Brown (not nutty, nor worthy of drinking fireside). These beers are passable in a pinch, but I wouldn't go so far as to call them craft. Even more gag inducing than the $8.75 price tag is the fact that Miller Coors profits as the financial engine behind the Leinenkugel brand.

Of course, that is just my opinion. You may love Leinenkugel, and that's cool. In fact, I went through the rest of the building and noted all of the other places where you can score a refill.

Chelli's between sections 109/110 - Sunset and Amber
Hockeytown Cafe between sections 104/105 - Amber
The Olympia Club - Private - Amber

Hockeytown Cafe's concession had the only Michigan made beer at the Joe, and it was Kid Rock's Badass Beer made by Michigan Brewing Company. Much like it's name might suggest, it tastes Bad, like Ass. I hate thinking about this stuff soiling the very tanks which ferment my beloved High Seas IPA.

The lack of decent beer choices in the Olympia Club was most surprising. Dudes are wearing power suits, brokering blockbuster mega deals, and pillaging corporate expense accounts! The best that they have available to toast with is Miller Lite or Leinie Amber? Lame. Hopefully when the new stadium is being planned, Mike Illitch will follow the lead of Cobo Hall, and their recently announced commitment to providing local food and craft beer for visitors.

There are plenty of great destinations in the downtown area for pre and post game rounds. For a list, check out the end of my previous blog about searching out good beer @ Comerica Park.

From the Cellar - Bells Batch 7000

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 07:25:00 +0000

It's been maturing quietly in the dark recesses of my hallway linen closet since November, 2005.
Now it is time for this bottle of Bell's Batch 7000 to fulfill it's divine destiny.
How has 5 years of slumber amongst the towels and pillow cases affected this once grand imperial stout?

It certainly has held it's carbonation, and that beautiful beige froth is exactly as I remember.
The nose however, has changed dramatically. My 2005 notes say "huge coffee, burnt malt". Those aromas have yielded to dark dried fruits, molasses and anise as well as some very barrel-like vanilla and wood notes.

Creamy, chewy, big bodied, concentrated, muscular, and beautifully focused.
Medium dry. Roasted barley and some black patent malt astringency.
The hops in the finish have been tamed, but their flavor remains the same.
No sign of the 12% ABV once responsible for a fiery finish.
Kind of like a liquid 70% cocoa dark chocolate bar mixed with a shot of fine espresso, and hops.

Drink or Hold?
Both. It's excellent drinking right now and would be a great bottle to share over the holidays. If you have another, let it continue to rest. Despite many opinions that this beer has peaked, I can easily see it improving over the next 1 - 2 years.

The Park Bar - Craft Beer and Detroit Soul

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:26:00 +0000

After a fierce set by Ravi Coltrane at Symphony Hall, my date and I dropped into the after-party hosted by the Centaur Bar. Being aware of their reputation for artfully prepared cocktails, I requested a drink menu from our spry, hipsterish bartender.
"No menu. But I can tell you what beers are on," she offered.
"Did I hear correctly that the first round is free with our ticket stubs?" I mumbled while grappling with my tie.
The bartender glanced incredulously, then proceeded to mix a Sapphire and tonic for my lovely and much more decisive companion.
"Is the band playing upstairs? Is there another bar up there?" I asked with mounting impatience. Now I was feeling anxious; like when you suddenly realize you're sitting in the wrong class on the first day of school.
Before she could answer, I blurted "This IS the Centaur Bar, right?".
"No," with a wiseass smirk,"but I can tell you how to get there. Or I can tell you what beers are on." Like many of my favorite things in life, I stumbled upon Detroit's Park Bar purely by mishap.

There is no sign outside to let you know that you have arrived at Park Bar. To me it's a great reminder that a lot of the really good stuff lies below the surface and does not have flashing neon to invite you in.

The interior is modern and minimal, but also manages to be quite unpretentious and warm. Large atmospheric paintings live on one wall, and the others consist of floor to ceiling windows. In the daytime it can be quite bright. Thus, the Park is the only bar where I will wear sunglasses inside and not feel like a douchebag. The soundtrack is always Detroit-centric with plenty Iggy Pop, Yusef Lateef, MC5, and Johnny Lee Hooker in the mix. Good music is not overrated at all.

There are 20+ taps and most are pouring Michigan craft beer. Motor City Brew Works entire line is a staple. The other taps rotate between thoughtfully chosen seasonals and one off's from Arcadia, New Holland, Founders, and Shorts as well as smaller producers like The Livery and Frankenmuth. Bells is curiously unrepresented, but with this kind of selection who would miss them?

The Park does not serve food, but they have a symbiotic relationship with their neighbors, Bucharest Grill. I have learned that after a few drinks there is nothing more satiating than the hearty street style fare of Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Like hummus and baba? Then prepare to be rocked out by the savory eggplant dip topped with tomato and onion, scooped up in a piece of soft warm pita. Or the fried cheese which is 2 slabs of muenster that have had each side browned on the griddle. Crack open the crisp outer layer and drool on yourself a little as cheese oozes out onto the plate. The Chicken Shwarma rivals any on earth and you should order it slathered in their pungent garlic sauce with extra pickles on board. I also hear that the skinless sausage and stuffed peppers are both top notch. I would venture to guess that everything on the menu is great.

A great time to be at the Park Bar is before a Tigers day game. Try their bloody mary which has pickled green beans and a splash of stout in it. It's also a chill place to read quietly by candlelight on a weeknight. If on the other hand you are feeling social, there is no better place to shoot the shit. A steady parade of characters pass through, and the regulars are a spirited lot of urban survivalists, pioneers, and homesteaders.

For a pure Detroit beer experience, try happy hour at Roast followed by a walk around the corner to Foran's, then finish things off at the Park Bar. Just in case you are still able to walk, Cliff Bells is next door and the Town Pump can fill the Bell's void. Skip the Centaur Bar, the beer selection sucks.

Fermentation Nation Picture of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 08:12:00 +0000

What did you think the mug club members would be drinking from at a place called Right Brain?

Picture of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 09:20:00 +0000

This is a picture from my favorite night of the Summer. It was taken while camping on Lake Superior inside of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. After a 10 mile hike through the beautiful and rugged Chapel Loop, The Princess of Ales and I took a sunset swim in the cool shallow water at Sandy Point. Once back at camp I made a crackling hardwood fire which we used to cook potatoes and corn for part of our meal. After dinner we settled into our camp chairs, popped open a Bells Pale Ale, and watched hundreds of meteors streak the blackness with silver and red during the 2 hour long peak of the Perseid meteor shower.

Fermentation Nation Picture of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 18:32:00 +0000

The party isn't live until Middle-Aged Hippie Dude grabs the keg and tops off the Mayor's stein.

Rochester Mills Oktoberfest Lager release party 9-23-10

Michigan Brings Home the Bling from Denver's GABF

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:37:00 +0000

Congratulations to all of our Michigan breweries that won well deserved medals at the 2010 Great American Beer Festival in Denver. What an incredible showing! I highly suggest trying every one of these world class beers.

Old Ale or Strong Ale - 38 Entries

Gold: Fourth Dementia Olde Ale, Kuhnhenn Brewing Co., Warren, MI
Silver: Curmudgeon, Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, MI

Belgian-Style Abbey Ale - 76 Entries

Gold: Nectar Des Dieux, Bastone Brewery, Royal Oak, MI

American-Style Brown Ale - 47 Entries Bronze: American Brown Ale, Big Rock Chop House & Brewery, Birmingham, MI

American-Style India Black Ale - 53 Entries Silver: Go Figure, Big Rock Chop House & Brewery, Birmingham, MI

Aged Beer - 30 Entries Bronze: Bell’s Expedition Stout, 1995, Bell’s Brewery, Inc., Galesburg, MI

Specialty Beer - 23 Entries Gold: Belipago, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, Dexter, MI

Session Beer - 30 Entries Silver: Endurance IPA Jr., Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, MI

Experimental Beer - 43 Entries Gold: Key Lime Pie, Short’s Brewing Co., Bellaire, MI

American-Belgo-Style Ale - 47 Entries Silver: Simcoe Silly, Kuhnhenn Brewing Co., Warren, MI

CONTEST! SWEEPSTAKES! HUGE PRIZES! YOU GOTTA PLAY TO WIN!

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:38:00 +0000

Look at the sweet photograph, be the first to comment on where in MI I was + what MI beer is in the glass, and win a killer prize from Fermentation Nation!

In the event that we have an excessive amount of Fail, I will post a hint at 1 PM Thursday.

Good luck!

Update: We have a winner! Congrats to Nikki for identifying the beer in the photo from a recent Twitter post. It was taken at the Grand Trunk Pub in Detroit where I enjoyed a glass of New Holland BC's Rye Hatter IPA. Thanks to everyone who participated!

For those who emailed asking about what the prize was ...

Due to federal and state laws I cannot reveal exactly what the prize is at this time, but I will say that it is liquid, and it is thoroughly kick ass.

Fine Print

1. You must be 21 or older.

2. You must guess both the precise bar / brewery etc, and the exact beer that is in the glass. Both are Michigan made.

2. You must be on either the Fermentation Nation subscriber list or following us on Twitter to qualify.

3. Your answer must be be submitted publicly in the posts comment section.

4. If you were there when I took the picture, or frequent the locale with me, you are somewhat unregretfully disqualified. Your prize is the gift of my fine acquaintance.

From The Cellar - Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree 2007

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 04:25:00 +0000

This is the first installment of my new "From the Cellar" series. I will be breaking out some vintage Michigan beers and, if possible, comparing them to a fresh batch. The goal is to see how they've aged; to determine when the beer will peak and when it has started the downhill journey towards the end of its tasty life. One of the most tragic moments for a Beer Nerd is when years of time are invested in cellaring a bottle, only to have our hopes and dreams crushed by a beer that has gone awry. If I can save just one person from that kind of heartache, then I have made my contribution to the Greater Good.

Double Crooked Tree is a beer that I have always assumed was made specifically for aging. Fresh, it is a syrupy malt bomb with a devastating 98 IBU dose of pine sap hops, and a potent boozy finish that flushes the cheeks. To be frank, the shit is downright gnarly (in a good way of course), and resembles an American Barleywine more than a Double IPA. Regardless, it's a mighty fine concoction that just needs a cool dark place to rest, and some patience to polish the rough edges and coax the complexities from their slumber.

The first thing that I noticed about the 2007 vintage of DCT is the nose. As expected, the pine and grapefruit aromas have faded into the background allowing the massive malt bill to show us what it's workin' with. The flavor follows suit with sweet caramel, figs, yeasty glazed bread and bourbon soaked stone fruit dominating. The once abrasive hop flavor has taken on the role of providing balance instead of contrast. The body has thinned out slightly, which is a plus for drinkability. The alcohol in the finish is still a little fiery, but I hope that further conditioning will help it chill out.

How has this vintage changed over time?

Less carbonated and thinner in body than the 2010. Hops have faded and the malt has come to the forefront.

Has the quality of this vintage improved or deteriorated?

The bitterness has smoothed out significantly. No discernible oxidation or off flavors.

Will the beer continue to improve, and approximately when will it peak?

2007 Double Crooked Tree should evolve nicely over the next 2 or 3 years. I think that the flavor will become more balanced and round, and the alcohol will mellow.

Where is the Good Beer @ Comerica Park?

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Tue, 11 May 2010 20:34:00 +0000

Summer is just about here, and our Detroit Tigers are already in a heated battle for 1st place in the AL Central. Life is good down at the ballpark, and the only thing that could make it better is washing down the peanuts and nachos with a pint of cold craft beer, preferably made in Michigan. Unfortunately, in most pro sports stadiums it can be a challenge to find anything beyond the typical BudMillerCoorsLightSwill. Comerica Park is no different, so Fermentation Nation spent a few innings combing over the grounds in search of better beer.

Atwater Block Taps - Lower Level Behind the Left Field Foul Pole - Section 145

Illitch Holdings Inc. was kind enough to let one Detroit company sell it's draft beer at Comerica park. They gave them a whopping one booth with 2 whole taps to serve a capacity crowd of 42,000 fans! Way to support the local economy that made you a billionaire Mike! As you can see from the picture, the taps have been closed for the 3 day games that I have made it to, but I hear that it has been open for night and weekend games.
This is always my first stop as I prefer draft beer to bottles. The Michigan Lager is light in color, has a soft pale malt flavor and a surprisingly nice dose of hops. Dirty Blonde is light and refreshing take on the Belgian Wit style, spiced with coriander and orange peel. Both beers pair particularly well with sunny afternoons in the bleachers, and salty snacks.

Tiger Den Beer Stand - Lower Level Behind Sections 123 / 124 on the 1st Base Line

The Tiger Den stand has all bottled 12 ounce beers, including some Michigan brands like Atwater Block Dirty Blonde, Atwater Block Michigan Lager, Bells Oberon and sometimes Bells Amber. They also have other craft and import selections available such as Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Guinness, Amstel Light, Corona, and Heineken.

The Beer Hall - Lower Level Behind Sections 123 / 124 - Between the Visitor's Dugout and Home Plate - Behind the Brushfire Grill, by the Kids Ferris Wheel

Large bar and lots of table space to get respite from the sun and snag a cold brew. It is also usually a fairly short wait as there is no organized line. Just pick a spot at the bar and flag down a bartender. Plenty of rotating draft selections including, Sam Adams Boston Lager, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat, Leinenkugel Shandy, and a "Beer of the Month" which was Goose Island Honkers Ale in April. There are also plenty of bottles like Oberon, as well as some not available elsewhere in the park like Newcastle and Leinenkugle Amber.

The Tigers Den Club - Located Behind 123 / 124 - Right Next Door to the Above Mentioned Beer Hall

Let me start off by saying that this is a private club reserved for season ticket holders and those in the premium level seats. When you enter, there is someone there who asks to see your ticket. They are checking to see that the ticket is priced at $50 or above.The reason that I am including this is because they have good beer, and also because it is easy enough to get in without paying $50 for a ticket. More on that later.

The Tigers Den has Goose Island Honkers Ale, SN Pale Ale, Sam Adams Lager and a few Leinenkugel's selections, as well as the typical import bottle list that the other locations have.There is also a full food menu of items not available throughout the park. The best reason to go in is the lack of wait time. You can use the private, clean, air conditioned bathroom, and have a beer in your hand within 5 minutes. The picture at left was taken during a day game with 23,000 people at the park, and as you can see it was empty. This is especially nice for sellouts and weekend games. They also have leather furniture and big flat panel TV's if you want to take a break from the Summer heat and chill for a minute.

So back to getting in. There are a few ways. One of course is to have a ticket that is priced $50 or over. Maybe you are a high roller and didn't know that you were allowed access to this club? They do not tell you about it when you purchase tickets. Thank me later. Another way to get in, and my preferred method, is to quickly flash the security person the $15 lower level outfield seat that you printed out from stubhub.com, say "just grabbing a beer real quick" and make a beeline for the bar. 9 times out of 10, they do not care enough to question you. Yes this is fraudulent, and yes I am an impostor, but this is really as devious as I get in life, so I will unashamedly admit to it here on my blog. I do this in the name of providing my readers with the tools to acquire good beer in an efficient manner at the game. The final way to get in is to buy a legitimate "Access Pass" from a season ticket holder on Ebay which will get you and 10 guests into the Tigers Den Club as well as the private Cigar Bar and Tiger Club in the 300 level, regardless of what price level your ticket is. They usually run around $5 - $9 a piece, and in my opinion is certainly worth it during crowded games.

Sitting in the 200 - 300 Level and Looking for Good Beer?

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your seats are located in a barren wasteland of macro beer mediocrity. I recommend taking the escalator down to the lower level for your beer runs.

Looking for pre or post game options near Comerica Park?
Here are a few of my favorites:

Foran's Grand Trunk Pub - Located on Woodward - One of the best selections of Michigan craft beer in the entire state.
The Park Bar - About a block from the stadium's front entrance, this place has around 20 taps with 9 or 10 always being from Michigan. Founders Reds Rye, Short's Pandemonium, Dark Horse Crooked Tree and Motor City Brew Works whole line are draft staples here. The Park is also connected to the Bucharest Grill which serves some really tasty Eastern European and Middle Eastern influenced food. Nothing like a Chicken Shwarma sandwich with a cold pint after the game!
Detroit Beer Co - On Broadway by the Opera House only a few blocks from the stadium - plenty of good house made beers and decent food.
Town Pump Tavern - A Detroit landmark on Montcalm. Always has good food and a good selection of Michigan made beer.
Motor City Brewing Works - Worth the trip up Woodward before or after the game for their incredible pizza's and world class brown ale.
Atwater Block BC - 10+ taps of house made beer and decent food.Limited hours.

Honorable Mention

Andrews on the Corner - Located just a few doors down from Atwater Block BC. The only craft beer that you will find here is Anchor Steam on draft. I decided to include this place because it is old school, has good bar food, is full of true Detroit sports fans, has an incredibly friendly and fun staff, and has a free shuttle bus going to and from Comerica Park. Have a few MI beers at Atwater then eat at Andrews and take the shuttle to the game!

GO TIGERS!!

Motor City Brewing Works Hard Cider

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Mon, 03 May 2010 03:35:00 +0000

I am fast becoming a big fan of hard cider. It offers a different flavor profile that pairs well with food, but is equally rewarding when enjoyed on its own. Michigan has the 2nd largest apple harvest in the US, just behind Washington, making cider one of our great state's most indigenous beverages. Locavores, this is where it's at!

As cider's resurgence gains momentum, both breweries and wineries are experimenting with different mixes of apples, resulting in products ranging from sweet to bone dry. Detroit gem Motor City Brew Works has recently started to bottle it's 6.9 % ABV six apple blend for limited local distribution. MCBW Hard Cider is the first installment in the brewery's Cass Farm Series, inspired by the French settlers who established "ribbon farms" stretching from the riverfront up into what is now the city's cultural district.

The cider pours a hazy straw color with little to no head, and low visible carbonation. The nose is of green apples, with a little bit of mustiness. Mouthfeel is suprisingly full with some small prickly bubbles adding dimension. The flavor is tart, refreshing, and extremely dry. If you are used to drinking commerical ciders like Woodpecker, Strongbow, or Woodchuck, this will be a totally different experience for you. There is little residual sugar left, making for an almost vinous dry white wine-like mineral character and mild acidity that resembles a Sauvignon Blanc more than fermented apple juice. The finish is where the crisp apple comes through, followed by a wisp of alchohol.

Overall, one of the most complex and interesting ciders that I have tasted. I am looking forward to seeing what other creations come out of the Cass Farm Series.

My Totally Subjective Unsubstantiated Personal Opinion Rating - 8 (Excellent)

Michigan Brewers Score 11 Medals at 2010 World Beer Cup!

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:55:00 +0000

The results are in from this past weekend's World Beer Cup competition held in Chicago. Overall there were 642 breweries from 44 different countries that entered a total of 3,330 beers to be judged. Of course our Michigan brewers represented, and are coming home with the hardware!
Congratulations to all of our incredible breweries who won medals!

Category 6: Herb and Spice Beer or Chocolate Beer, 109 entries
Bronze: Black Licorice Lager, Short’s Brewing Co., Bellaire, MI

Category 42: Belgian- and French-Style Ale, 57 entries
Silver: Saison du Bastone, Bastone Brewery, Royal Oak, MI

Category 61: Robust Porter, 64 entries
Silver: Founders Porter, Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, MI

Category 62: Sweet Stout, 25 entries
Silver: Cream Stout, Redwood Brewing Co., Flint, MI

Category 66: Old Ale, 15 entries
Gold: Fourth Dementia Olde Ale, Kuhnhenn Brewing Co., Warren, MI

Category 67: Strong Ale, 26 entries
Silver: Dirty Bastard, Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, MI

Category 70: German-Style Brown Ale/Düsseldorf, 26 entries
Silver: The Detroit Dwarf, The Detroit Beer Co., Detroit, MI

Category 82: American-Style India Pale Ale, 104 entries
Gold: Norm’s Raggedy-Ass IPA, Big Rock Chop House & Brewery, Birmingham, M
Silver: Centennial IPA, Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, MI

Category 83: Imperial India Pale Ale, 69 entries
Silver: Bonnie’s Raggedy-Ass Imperial IPA, Big Rock Chop House & Brewery, Birmingham, MI

Category 89: American-Style Imperial Stout, 37 entries
Bronze: Imperial Stout, Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, MI

Jolly Pumpkin to Release Biere De Mars Grand Reserve

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:09:00 +0000

Jolly Pumpkin will release the Grand Reserve version of their Biere De Mars French Style Stock Ale on Monday April 12th at the cafe in Ann Arbor. The beer was aged on oak for 18 months, and will be available in 330 ml bottles complete with a new label signifying it as Grand Reserve. Total production was around 800 bottles. Information on price and purchase limits are TBD, but should be available soon.

We also hear that there will be a "very special" tap pouring that day, so plan on sticking around the cafe for a pint.

Dark Horse Brewing Courted by Canadian Boy Band

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 03:26:00 +0000

Our outlaw brewer friends at Dark Horse had a big dilemma on their hands over the past week, and reached out to the beer geek community for advice. An incredibly popular rock band with platinum level sales is making a video for their new single, and wants to feature Dark Horse's beer. The product placement would focus on a Dark Horse truck pulling up to a raging fraternity party and offloading all of its beer. I imagine that zany "Animal House" style hi-jinks like Double Crooked Tree beer pong and Tres Blueberry Stout keg stands would ensue.
Sign the contract, watch sales skyrocket, and everything would be cool right?

Not so.

Dark Horse had a few objections, one being that they are not fans of the band. Did I mention their name? Oh yeah, it's Nickelback, whose current CD release is titled Dark Horse. I've never actually met anyone who admitted to liking Nickelback. That, coupled with the fact that they are sometimes forced off stage by people hurling rocks, makes me think that their massive success is some kind of hoax. I know I'm not alone as Brewer Aaron Morse was quoted saying "Why can't it be some cool band like Slayer?".

I have rated Nickelback on the Fermentation Nation scale:

My Totally Subjective Unsubstantiated Personal Opinion Rating - 2 (Slightly Better Than a Chemical Burn Covering 80 % of Your Body)

The brewery posted their decision along with their main reason in this message on Beeradvocate.com just a few hours ago:

"I just wanted to let everyone know that we did not accept the video offer. At one point I was really on the fence. But after about 22 of your posts we knew for sure it wasn't gonna happen.I just wanted to wait until today for my own selfish reasons of seeing everyone bash that band. We kinda like "flying under the radar" and that would be the wrong way for us keep flying low.thanks for all the input and all the nice things you say about us. Pints up!"

Gotta respect Dark Horse for having the forward vision to stick to their game plan and not go for the overnight sensation route to success. These guys brew what they believe in, practice what they preach, and let the integrity of the product win people over one at a time.
Slow and steady wins the race!

West Coast vs 3rd Coast - A Double IPA Blind Tasting

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:09:00 +0000

This is the first in a series of tastings where I will be matching up Michigan products against beers in their style category from other regions of the world. All the tastings are done blind as to minimize bias. Participants rank the beers based on their personal taste, and then we assign point value averages to each beer. We do this for fun, and expect that some will disagree, nitpick our methods etc, but please don't get your panties in a bunch. It's only beer!

Onward to the results of our tasting.....

Double IPA is one of my favorite kinds of beer. Michigan has some great examples, but California is widely regarded as both the creator and master of the style. When choosing the entries for the tasting, I decided to go only with beers that had top tier ratings on Beeradvocate and Ratebeer. Both sites assigned overall higher rankings to the CA beers, but that was expected given their reputation as pioneers of all things hops and malt. I have provided links to their ratings so you can see what other people say about our choices.

California
Stone Brewing Company - Ruination - San Diego
Russian River Brewing Company - Pliny The Elder - Santa Rosa
Lagunitas Brewing Company - Hop Stoopid - Petaluma

Michigan
Shorts Brewing Company - The Liberator - Big Rapids
Bells Brewery - Hopslam - Kalamazoo
Dark Horse Brewing - Double Crooked Tree - Marshall

For the most part, Double IPA's are huge hoppy beers that can wreck the palate. To cut back on fatigue we spaced the samples with water and about 20 - 30 minutes of down time between.

The Results

#6 Pliny The Elder
My first time trying Pliny, and I will admit that this being revealed as a solid 6th place was one of the biggest disappointments of my beer drinking life. People out west talk about this beer like kittens and unicorns dancing on a rainbow will explode out of the bottle when the cap is pried off. I was positive that it was going to rock my world. Not so. I dank BeerAdvocate.com's #6 beer in the world, and thought it was rather unremarkable. If it was a regular IPA tasting, it might have scored higher, but nothing about this beer said DIPA. Looking at my friend's tasting notes I saw things like "mild bitterness" and "light in color and flavor". Wow....just, Wow.
I will admit that most people who love PTE use the word "fresh" as if it is part of the beers name - "Fresh Pliny The Elder". I do not know exactly what they consider fresh, but our sample was bottled on 1/10/2010 and was refrigerated throughout its short lifespan. I understand that hoppy beers lose their volatiles over time, but a 2 month old beer does not seem old to me. Sorry Russian River, if your product deteriorates that quickly, you are doing something wrong in my opinion.

#5 Hop Stoopid
Floral orange blossom nose, clear dark gold color, nice mouthfeel, firm but not abrasive bitterness, hop flavor was fairly light, some sweet malt. Nicely balanced and drinkable for a beer prominently displaying it's triple digit IBU's on the label. Was ranked 5th in the tasting, but I would easily rate this a 7.5 out of 10.

#4 Ruination
Hazy gold, mouth watering fruity nose, intense bitterness, great combo of peach, tropical fruits and some resinous pine. Slightly warming. Longest finish of all the beers. I would rate this an 8 out of 10.

#3 Double Crooked Tree
Dark amber color, malty sweet nose, low carbonation, syrupy, awesome melding of deep caramel flavors mixed with grapefruit. Perceived bitterness is low, but hop flavor is high.. Massive, but harmonious. Really tasty and a complete departure from every other beer in this tasting. I would rate this an 8.5 out of 10.

#2 The Liberator
Hazy orange, lots of suspended yeast, biscuity malt, huge blast of citrus. Bitterness creeps up on you and is almost tongue numbing. Unrefined, but powerful and totally unique. A hophead's dream. I would rate this a 9 out of 10.

#1 Hopslam
I am not going to go into all the reasons why Hopslam is the best DIPA in the world, because I already covered that in this article. I will freely admit to knowing that I was drinking Hopslam, but it is honestly a step above anything else.

So, in summary it looks like the 3rd Coast rules, and the West coast drools! Tough luck, bitches!

No, I don't really mean that. I have lots of love for Cali. I just wanted to do a little trash talking.
All of the beers were really quite excellent, and it was a task to rank them.

What style and regions would you like to see in our next blind tasting?
Looking forward to hearing your comments!

Kuhnhenn's Breakfast of Champions - Just Say No to Green Beer!

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 22:17:00 +0000

Hate to say it, but I've never been a big fan of St. Patrick's Day. Being in an overcrowded bar full of amateur drinkers power slamming pitchers of green Miller Lite doesn't sound like a good time to me. Chilling with a glass of dry Irish Stout, listening to some Van Morrison, reading James Joyce, and maybe eating a boxty - that's more my idea of a great way to celebrate Irish culture. Call me old, boring, a snob, or all of the above but that's how I roll.

When I saw that Kuhnhenn Brewing in Warren was serving some one-off beers at it's Breakfast of Champions party, it was enough to bring me out of SPD retirement.

Kuhnhenn is my kind of brewery. They are small, highly skilled, endlessly creative, and their approach to brewing is fearless. Style guidelines are merely a suggestion, and making big flavorful beers is the law. They are also one of the only breweries that I know that serves small batch beers made especially for the day, and a free breakfast buffet from 8 am - noon. The Kuhnhenn's really went all out, which shows not only how much fun they're having but also how much they care about creating something special for their patrons. Very cool.

I arrived around 11:00 and the place was moderately busy. My friend Joe from The Full Beer Belly had already been there for a while, and saved a seat at the bar for me. On my way in I scoped out the free food which consisted of a spread of scrambled eggs, breakfast quesadillas, biscuits and gravy, and blueberry pancakes. Nice, but show me the beer. I took my seat and to my total delight, there were *3* beautiful casks of gravity fed ale sitting right in front of me, all filled with beers not listed in the lineup. Surprise casks full of traditional British beer such as Ordinary Bitter, Special Bitter and Porter! Luck O' the Irish be with me, what a glorious day to stop being a Saint Paddy's Curmudgeon!

Thanks to lots of spirited sharing, and a friendly staff pouring generous samples, we were able to make it through the entire tap list.

The Good

Ordinary Bitter - Hazy straw color, low carbonation, spicy bready aroma, nice soft biscuity malt flavor with spicy hops and mild bitterness.
Special Bitter - Similar to the Ordinary but with a little more assertive yeasty flavor, and more firm bitterness.
Porter - Dark brown, almost still, creamy, some licorice and brown sugar in both the smell and taste.
Sticky Bun Old Ale - This was being pulled from the cask in 8 ounce pours. Huge cinnamon dominated smell, sweet malt with a pungent vanilla icing and cinnamon flavor. Little hot in the finish which made me think that this was in the 12% ABV range.
Blueberry Pancake Ale - Pretty much tasted like a stack of blueberry pancakes with maple syrup. Freaky, but good.
Banana Bourbon French Toast Mead - 3 ounce pour. Sweet, sticky, honeyed bourbon soaked banana juice. This one went quick and was sold out by noon.
Imperial Creme Brulee Java Stout - I believe that this was made for the Solstice party back in December, but it was good to see it on the menu again. Thick, creamy, jet black, surprisingly dry, nice vanilla, roasted malt and deep coffee flavors.
Oud Brune - This has been on the menu since Valentines Day, but the supply has to be on it's last leg so we had one more. Nice balance of sweet and sour, some woodiness, tart cherries, totally drinkable for a Flemish style. Need to be careful as the 11% ABV is so well hidden that it drinks like 5%.
Grapefruit Wit - Very big and spicy for the style, almost like the White Devil Imperial Wit that they made a few months ago. The Grapefruit was subtle, but there.

The Bad

Kaptain Krunch Koco Berry Ale - This tasted like strawberry Kool-Aid with too much sugar in it to me.

The Ugly

Breakfast Sausage Stout - So intensely smokey that I had to gargle with Special Bitter for 10 minutes to get the sage and fennel seed campfire taste out of my mouth. A guy sitting next to me drank a full pint of this and loved it which I thought was cool. To each their own!

I had a great time trying all the different beers. I decided to include The Bad and The Ugly because even though I didn't enjoy them, I really appreciate the opportunity to try 2 beers that nobody has ever attempted to make. Sometimes you hit and sometimes you miss, but obviously Kuhnhenn's hit rate is pretty high, even when stretching people's perception of what beer can be. As I have heard snowboarders and skaters say, "If your not bailin', then your not wailin!'". Gotta love a brewery that embraces risk!

Founders Breakfast Stout Chocolate Cake w/ Ganache Icing - Cooking w/ Beer #2

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:01:00 +0000

This week there were a constant stream of St. Patrick's Day cooking segments on the tube. Inevitably, every single one included some kind of stew or baked good containing the Mother of all Irish export beers, Guinness. They went on about how just 3/4 of a cup of this elixir would add an incredible deep richness to pretty much any food that you combined it with.

At risk of being burned at the Blarney Stone, I need to be completely honest about something here.
Guinness isn't adding shit to your brownies.

Commercial Guinness sold in the US is thin in body, and very mild on the palate with subtle roast, a hint of sourness, and a clean dry finish. It's light, easy drinking, and has a nice creamy head. It's a decent beer, but by no stretch of the imagination is it the decadent extract of chocolate and coffee that TV chefs speak of. Founders Breakfast Stout on the other hand, is. The Double Stout is brewed with flaked oats, Kona coffee, Sumatra coffee, and bitter chocolate making it exactly the kind of beer that you want to dump into your cake batter.

So, with that thought I set out on the internet to find a killer chocolate cake recipe. Smitten Kitchen is my go-to source for recipes, and usually the first place that I search. There I found directions on how to make this Chocolate Stout Cake that looked so good it inspired me to immediately go out to buy a friggin' bundt cake pan. I don't know if I will ever use the pan again, but even if for just this one occasion, it was well worth the 15 bones.

This cake is no joke.
It's moist, chocolaty, and best when still slightly warm from the oven. Paired with a cellar temperature snifter of FBS, it borders on a spiritual experience.

I want to mention that this was baked this with the guidance of my girlfriend, The Princess of Ales. Without her supervision and encouragemnt I would have forgotten to set the timer and lube up the bundt pan, as well as drank all the FBS before it was time to add it to the recipe. Thanks darling!

Here is the recipe taken directly from SmittenKitchen.com, with my personal notes in italics.

1 cup of Founders Breakfast Stout
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Green and Black's Organic which I got at Whole Foods)
2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
2/3 cup sour cream
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips (don't skimp on quality here, the ganache will thank you)
6 tablespoons heavy cream
3/4 teaspoon instant coffee granules (I left this out of my recipe)

Cake prep:
-Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter or spray a bundt pan well; make sure you get in all of the nooks and crannies. (I used Pam for Baking and it worked like a charm)
-Bring 1 cup stout and 1 cup butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.
( I cooled mine for about 10 minutes. Don't be freaked out if a skin forms. Princess of Ales says that this is perfectly normal)
-Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and 3/4 teaspoon salt in large bowl to blend.
-Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sour cream in another large bowl to blend.
-Add stout-chocolate mixture to egg mixture and beat just to combine.
(Per POW, add it slowly at first in case it the liquid mixture is still hot. You don't want it to scramble the eggs)
-Add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed. Using rubber spatula, fold batter until completely combined.
-Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes.
(Mine went about 43 minutes. Oven temps vary)
-Transfer cake to rack; cool completely in the pan, then turn cake out onto rack for drizzling ganache.
(I cooled mine for about 30 minutes and it slid right out of the pan)
Ganache:
For the ganache, melt the chocolate, heavy cream, and coffee in the top of a double boiler over simmering water until smooth and warm, stirring occasionally. Drizzle over the top of cooled cake.
(I don't know what a double boiler is. A stainless steel pot over low heat worked just fine)

If I ever make this again, I might serve it with some whipped heavy cream on top to add a little fresh contrast.
Enjoy!

Make sure that all the things you enjoy, like baking, continue on without interruption. If you have an issue with alcohol, Michigan alcohol rehab programs can get you back to all your favorite pastimes.

Learn More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Fermentation Nation's Chuck V!

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:12:00 +0000

I want to recommend that everyone check out http://www.drinkwiththewench.com/ because it is one of the best beer blogs out there. Ashley has a nicely put together site, writes interesting and entertaining content, and of course has killer taste in beer.

She also has killer taste in beer bloggers.
Yours truly is being featured right now complete with pictures, an interview, and complete directions for stalking me, sending me job offers, and what not to do on a blind date.
Cheers!

Bells Lager of the Lakes - Fizzy Yellow Beer can be Good!

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:48:00 +0000

The weather has warmed, and the sun has come out in Michigan! For early March this is a rare and welcome occurrence. I'm trying not to get my hopes up for an early Spring, but my mind is filled with images of warm days at the ballpark, scarfing nachos and drinking a cold $8.00 beer.

Baseball games are the only place that I drink mass produced lager. On a hot day, it's hard to refuse when a vendor taunts me with a glistening 16 ounce can pulled from a tub of ice. My preferred Canadian brand is slightly more flavorful and refreshing than it's domestic brethren, but at best I would describe it as neutral and inoffensive (at least until it gets warm, in which case I would describe it as foul). I think of microbrews as something to savor, and macrobrews as something to wash down a bag of salty peanuts.

Obviously, I am not a a big fan of fizzy pale yellow lager. Recently it has dawned on me that my bias carries over into the craft beer segment. Even at the best breweries, I ignore anything labeled Blonde, Lager, Light, Gold etc, which are styles that I associate with bland. As a friend pointed out to me, there are hundreds of high quality, tasty pale lagers, but I have been conditioned to believe that they are not worthy of my love.

Sadly what my friend said is true. I am a yellow beer bigot. With this realization I have resolved to lay off the Haterade, and participate, not discriminate. I'm going to open my mind to lager, and tell you about the good ones here on Fermentation Nation. Given it's recent bronze medal at the GABF, Bells' Lager of the Lakes seems like a good place to start.

From Bells -
"As refreshingly crisp as a morning swim in a Great Lake, this brew is crafted with Pils and Munich malts. The pronounced hop character of this golden lager sparks thoughts of sandy beaches and rocky islands."

Upon pouring, the first thing that I noticed was how beautiful the color is. It's incredible to think that this brilliant glowing gold was once dormant in the dull husk of grain, then birthed into existence by a soak in hot water. Brewers are not only artisans, but facilitators of nature's artistry.

The smell is restrained but very fresh, with some faint hops and a little bit of fruity ester. The flavor is crisp and clean with a nice spicy hop punch. It's fairly dry with some biscuity malt, bright lemon notes, and lively carbonation that really makes the beer pop. Straightforward, but perfectly quenching and highly drinkable.

I also want to give a shout out to my friend Ron who hooked me up with this awesome vintage pils glass that he got at the Bitburger brewery in Germany. What an awesome gift!

My Totally Subjective Unsubstantiated Personal Opinion Rating - 7 (Pretty Damn Good)

Cooking with MI Beer - Bam Steamed Bivalves w/ Blue Cheese

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:13:00 +0000

If it were my last meal, steamed mussels served with a glass of sour beer or Gueuze would no doubt be my first course. I love the the way the savory, earthy flavors of the broth contrast the briny freshness of plump fleshy mussels. A dry farmhouse ale is the perfect compliment, and luckily we have one of the most incredible examples of the style in Bam Biere, made by Michigan's own Jolly Pumpkin.

Making this meal at home is really easy.
Ingredients:
2 LBs Mussels (PEI and Canadian Blue are readily available)
3 shallots and 1/2 rib celery
1 bay leaf and 1 sprig of Thyme
1 cup Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons crumbled Blue cheese
sea salt and ground pepper
Italian flat leaf parsley

1. Scrub down the mussels and remove any of those freaky beards that they sometimes sport. If any shells are broken or opened, toss them. Soak in cool water for about 15 minutes.

2.) Rough chop the shallots and celery and saute in 1 tablespoon butter for about 2 minutes. Add the bay leaf and thyme and saute on medium-low until veggies are starting to get soft but not brown, about another 3 - 4 minutes.

3.) Add 1/4 cup water and bring to a boil. Drop in the mussels and cover the pot. At the first sign that the shells are beginning to open, dump in the Bam Bier a pinch of salt and a few turns from the pepper mill. Cover and steam until shells are fully open. Total cooking time should be somewhere around 8 minutes.

4.) Remove from heat, throw in the other tablespoon of butter, add the blue cheese and give the pot a stir. Transfer mussels to a bowl, ladle broth over the top and garnish with chopped parsley.
Serve with crusty bread and the rest of the bottle of Bam Bier. I guarantee your happiness!

I don't feel like Bam Biere needs a lengthy review. It's yeasty, bone dry, lemony, tart, a little spicy, and incredibly quenching with lively carbonation. Simply put, it's damn near perfect. One of my "desert island" beers, and in my opinion rivals any traditional Belgian or French farmhouse ale ever made.

My Totally Subjective Unsubstantiated Personal Opinion Rating - 10 (Liquid Gold)

Best of the Michigan Brewers Guild Festival 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:04:00 +0000

As expected, the MBG Winter Festival was a raging good time for the 4,500 or so people lucky enough to get in. The beer selection was Epic, and Fermentation Nation labored mightily on the frozen tundra of Fifth Third Field to find the best.

Top 10's are played out, so here is Fermentation Nation's 13 favorite things about the festival, in no particular order.

13.) Funny Hats - Sporting wacky headgear and accessorizing with a pretzel necklace is apparently the norm at the Winter Beer Fest these days. The folks at KalamaBrew did a great job capturing some of the getup's.

12.) Vintage Barleywine and Strong Ale - More than a few breweries were nice enough to break out their private stash of cellared beers. Redwood Lodge BW 05, Rochester Mills BW 08, New Holland Dragon's Milk 08, and Copper Canyon's BW 07 were especially tasty.

11.) The Michigan Beer Fight Song - Yes we now have a fight song, complete with this lyric about our state's suds; ""It's local and delicious / Any styles that you wishes." I can easily see this tune becoming an anthem the caliber of University of Michigan's "Hail to the Victors". If you want to hear for yourself, click here to see the news clip from Fox news.

10.) Bonfires - Beer and fire are a match made in heaven, unless you are wasted and set your pants on fire. Thankfully everyone was able to warm up and thoroughly smoke their clothing without incident. Definitely a nice festive touch for an outdoor festival in the middle of Winter.

9.) Wimmins - Let's be honest, the craft brew scene is pretty much a big old burping, butt scratching sausage-fest, which is why it was great to see so many ladies in attendance, enjoying Michigan beer. Note to brewers : Women buy craft beer. Maybe it's time to start marketing to them?

8.) Peace Out Extreme Beer! - While there was no shortage of high gravity offerings, noticeably missing were the bloated "19 % ABV 130 IBU Triple Spiced Imperial Double Saison From Hell" types of publicity scheme beers. Instead we saw a return to finely crafted traditional styles, innovative new styles, and the use of alternate or underused ingredients and brewing methods. It was really interesting sampling beers made with lavender, key lime, pistachios, plums, cinnamon, nutmeg, peppercorns, vanilla beans, apples, blackberries, blueberries, habanero peppers, cherries, ginger, chocolate, espresso, apricots, maple syrup, sage, cranberries, molasses, honey, etc. The fabulous freaks at Dark Horse even made a batch of beer with 250 friggin' DONUTS! (Which I totally missed out on. How was it??)

7.) Spontaneous Beeruptions - This is the name that I gave to the deafening roars of euphoric beer geeks that randomly erupted, then spread throughout the festival grounds about every 30 minutes or so. Joyful aimless screaming is quite cathartic, and a lot more fun than saying "Cheers!".

6.) Foreigners - I talked to people who traveled from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, all to worship at the altar of The Great Beer State. Listening to them gush about how incredible Michigan breweries are reminded me of how lucky we are all to have this happening in our backyard. Yes indeed, we got it good!

5.) Live Music - Great bands playing just my style of music all day! Bonus is that watching drunk white people dance is endlessly entertaining.

4.) Cask Conditioned Ale - Why bring a draft system when you could do it Old World style and serve via gravity pour from a cask? Props to Jolly Pumpkin and Grizzly Peak in particular for having 3+ offerings, and to all the other breweries who recognized the growing interest in the complexities of living "real ale".

3.) Grand Rapids - Excellent idea hosting this massive party in a city that I consider the Beer Mecca of the Midwest. Plenty of people stayed the entire weekend, soaking in the the western MI beer culture that is anchored by world class establishments such as Founders and Hopcat. Shout out to Maggie's Kitchen for killer post fest Mexican food, and Wolfgang's for a life saving morning-after breakfast.

2.) Barrell Aged Beers - They are expensive to make, unpredictable, and test the brewers patience, but when they come out well there is nothing in the world like them. The Livery's Umami and Malliot Jaune, Bell's Hell Hath No Fury, Arcadia Cereal Killer and Founders Black Biscuit were amoung the best examples that I have ever tasted.

1.) Good Vibes - The fun, camaraderie, and enthusiasm that permeated the festival made for a great atmosphere of celebration and beer revelry. The weather cooporated, the spacious layout never felt cramped, we were treated well by everyone involved, and of course the beer was ridiculous. What else could the Fermentation Nation ask for?

I'm thinking that we need a Spring beer festival to break up the wait between Winter and Summer.
Who is with me on this?

MBG Winter Beer Fest = Sellout! Follow us Live on Twitter Saturday!

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:25:00 +0000

The MBG Winter Festival has sold all of it's 4,500 tickets. It's great to see this kind of support for Michigan Craft Beer!

If you cannot make it out to Grand Rapids this year, feel free to live vicariously through Fermentation Nation. We will be Tweeting live Friday night at Founders, throughout the festival Saturday, and (if still conscious) from the afterparty at Hopcat. You can follow us here on the blog sidebar Twitter app, or @MichBeer. The URL is http://twitter.com/MichBeer to view the updates without a Twitter account. If you are Tweeting from the festival, include the hashtag #mwbf to cluster yor posts with ours.

I also know of at least 1 brewer that will be announcing "secret" beer tappings via Twitter during the festival. Might be a good time to login and add all those MI breweries, don't you think?

Founders Introduces New Annual Series - Nemesis

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:37:00 +0000

2010 has already been a great year for limited release beers in Michigan, and they jusy keep coming! The first release from Founders new Nemesis series is starting to pop up across SE Michigan. The beer is a 12 % ABV wheat wine that was aged for 9 months in oak barrels that have housed both Kentucky bourbon and northern Michigan maple syrup in their former lives. The quantities are very limited, with retailers telling me that they are being allocated one case or less. Most have buy limits of 1 or 2 bottles per person.

Unfortunately, I did not move quickly enough to score a few bottles of my own. Luckily for me, I have a generous friend who offered to share his stash! The label reads "You never knok what your gonna get, but you can be sure it'll be damn tasty!" Founders does not tell a lie!

Nemesis glows a brilliant rich honey color and has a suprisingly fluffy eggshell head. The nose is bourbony with some white flowers and wood. Each sticky, lightly carbonated sip is full of maple tinged sweetness upfront that mixes with some nice vanilla notes. The Oak is there but does not overpower. The amount of barell in this beer is right on. There are also some fruity bannana esters that often characterize wheat based beers. A deep hop bitterness makes it's way in, followed up by a somewhat boozy bourbon finish. This is the liquid equivelant of bananna pecan pancakes smeared with unsalted European butter, then drizzled with maple syrup that had been curing with vanilla bean pods, followed by a quarter ounce chaser of single batch bourbon.

Nemesis is big, concentrated and potent; which is exactly what I expect from anything brewed byFounders. What suprised me was huge flavors accented by so many subtleties. This is a good beer now, but I think it will be a great beer after it has aged a little. I can envision cracking one in 2 years and discovering a richer, more developed beer with a smoother finish. And having to make up a new level for my rating scale, 11 (Epic!).

My Totally Subjective Unsubstantiated Personal Opinion Rating - 8 (Excellent)

Beer List for MBG Winter Beer Festival!

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck V) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:01:00 +0000

It's an exciting day for MI beer geeks! We finally get to see a partial list of what will be pouring at the Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Beer Festival in Grand Rapids on February 27th. Looks like an incredible lineup so far! Not all breweries have submitted what they will be pouring, so I will be updating this list as new information comes in. You can also check The Mash for more information on the festival, buying tickets and charter busses running from Metro Detroit to Grand Rapids.

Arbor Brewing Co.
Abby Normal Huxell Best Bitter   CryeBaby
Pleasuring the Pirate Imperial Porter    Honey Lavender

Atwater Block Brewery
Vanilla Java Porter Voodoovator Doppelbock Teufel Bock    Double Down Imperial Amber Ale           Dirty Blonde    Atwater Pale   Michigan Lager    Mai Bock

Bastone Brewery
Dubbel Vision    Cru de Grace

Black Lotus Brewing Co.
Detroit Hip Hops IPA Funkin’ A Apricot Wheat   The Gift Belgian Strong Ale
Black Bottom Bourbon Stout Columbian Ski Team Extra Coffee Stout

Bell’s Brewery

Best Brown     Two-Hearted Ale     Amber Ale     Batch 9000      Hopslam      Sparkling Ale
Java Stout     Rye Stout     Third Coast Old Ale     Winter White     Consecrator Doppelbock     Pale Ale
Special Double Cream Stout     Black Note Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout                                           Bourbon Barrel Aged Hell Hath No Fury

B.O.B.’s Brewery

Tiramisu Stout     Robert the 4th Barrel Aged Brown     Scotch Ale Wee Heavy     Bier de Garde Belgian Wheat

Copper Canyon Brewery
Northwestern Gold     Devil’s Peak IPA     Blueberry Vanilla Cream Ale (11-2:30)
Rocktoberfest (11-2:30)     Ginger Kids Revenge Imperial Red (11-2:30)
Elzar’s Spice Weasel Explosion (11-2:30)     Apple Streudel Tripel (2:30-5)     India Pale Lager (2:30-5)
The Beer Wench Belgian IPA (2:30-5)     Heidrun Finnish Sahti (2:30-5)
Corner Brewery
Jackhammer Old Ale    Espresso Love Breakfast Stout    Phat Abbott Dubbel    Ypsi Gypsi Pale Ale
Michael Faricy’s Irish Stout

Dark Horse Brewing Co.

Crooked Tree IPA     Raspberry Ale      Double Crooked Tree IPA      4 Elf Winter Ale
Scotty Karate Scotch Ale     Boffo Brown Ale     Perkulator Doppelbock
Beat Your Wheat Toasted Wheat IPA      Busterhighmen Cherry Ale      Donut Beer
Smells Like Weed IPA     One Oatmeal Stout      Too Cream Stout      Tres Blueberry Stout
Fore Smoked Stout      Plead the Fifth Imperial Stout
Detroit Beer Co.
Russian Imperial Stout   Chocolate Lager People Mover Porter

Detroit Brewing Co.
Detroit Lager    Detroit Dwarf

Dragonmead Microbrewery

Final Absolution Tripel     GT’s Dortmunder      Juggernaut Double Red      Full Fathom Baltic Porter
St. Nicole’s Weizenbock

Frankenmuth Brewing Co.

Munich Style Dunkel     Pilsener      Easy Brown Ale      Hefeweizen
Grizzly Peak Brewing Co.
Verloene Hosen Uber-Marzen    Sheerwater IPA    Edwyn’s Warm-Up Ale    Fouch Hill Dark Ale
Final Repose Ale Barley Wine

Hideout Brewing Co.
Smuggler’s Hazelnut Stout    Bootleg IPA    Scotch Ale    Hemp Amber    Sumatra Imperial Stout      Belgian Triple

Hopcat
Hopwork Orange    Black Scratch Fever Double Black IPA    Oil Rigger Imperial Stout
Sage Against The Machine American Pale    Step Child American Red

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Madrugada Obscura    Bog Beast    Oro Guarjillito    Baniper

Jamesport Brewing Co.

Scottish Strong Ale     Weizenbock     Alt Bier
Keweenaw Brewing Co.
Pick Axe Blonde    Redjacket Amber Ale    Liftbridge Brown Ale    Widowmaker Black Ale

Kuhnhenn Brewing Co.
Loonie Kuhnie Pale Ale    Winter Wonder Eisbock    Fourth Dementia Olde Ale
Olde Bruin Flemish Brown with Cherry    Double Rice IPA

Livery
Telewhacker Winter Brown Ale    McGilligans IPA    Carvana Belgian IPA    1/10th of a Mountain Pilsener
Maillot Jaune barrel-aged Farmhouse Ale    Double Paw IPA    Umami barrel-aged Wheat Wine
Rye Barrel Jak Imperial Pale Ale    Karhu IPA

Michigan Brewing Co.

High Seas IPA     Winter Warmer     Celis Grand Cru     Russian Imperial Stout

New Holland Brewing Co.
Dragon’s Milk barrel-aged Stout    2008 Dragon’s Milk    Existential Hopwine
Charkoota Rye Smoked Doppelbock    The Poet Oatmeal Stout    2009 Night Tripper Imperial Stout
Sundog Amber    Full Circle Kolsch    Mad Hatter IPA    2009 Pilgrim’s Dole Wheatwine
Black Tulip Trippel    2009 Brother Jacob Belgian Dubbel    Cabin Fever Brown Ale    Envious Sour Ale
Imperial Mad Hatter

North Peak Brewing Co.
Wired Pig Stout    J.C.’s Happy Juice Smoked Scotch Ale    More Cow Bell IPA
She Will Strong Belgian Dark

Old Boys’ Brewhouse
Cerberus Belgian Strong Ale    Les Chiens de Mars    Kennel King IPA    Old Boys’ Brown Ale
Magnum Breakfast Stout    Dog’s Bane Chocolate Stout

Old Hat Brewery & Grill
Peche Peach Lager    Bees Knees Honey Ale    Tommy Stubbin’s Oatmeal Stout    Scotch Ale
Dirty Red Milf

Olde Peninsula Brewpub
Forest Street IPA    Stout Chocula    Dark Day IPA    Downtown Brown

Original Gravity Brewing Co.
Southpaw IPA    Belgian Training Wheels    County Seat Amber    Primordial Porter
440 Pepper Smoker    Bellywasher Scotch Ale

Redwood Brewing Co.
Dopple Sticke Alt English Barleywine 2005 Wheat Wine Ordinary Bitter Oud Bruin
Right Brain Brewery
My North Passion Brew Winter Warmer    Hearthside Stout    Stuck Truck Stout
Theodore Belgian Trippel    Magnum Hospitality XXIPA    Alter of Heaven Ginger Beer

Rochester Mills Beer Co.
Cornerstone IPA    Imperial Stout    Brown Ale    2009 Barley Wine    Double IPA
Wit’s Organic    Milkshake Stout

Round Barn Brewery

Cocoa Stout     Mother Pucker Dark Sour Ale      The Swartz Coffee Stout
Tri-City Brewing Co.
Hell’s Half Mile Helles    Brownhoist Nut Brown    Fortunato Belgian Trappist
Giant Slayer Russian Imperial

Saugatuck Brewing Co.

Singapore IPA     Oval Beach Blonde      Pier Cove Porter      Harbor ESB      Bamberg Rauchbier
Vanilla Nutmeg Oatmeal Stout

Schmohz Brewing Co.
Zingiberene Ale      Mad Tom’s Porter      Hopknocker      Barleywine      Miracle off 28th Street Old Ale
Kiss My Scottish Arse Scotch Ale

Short’s Brewing Co.

Key Lime Pie     Mystery Stout      The Curl Imperial Pilsner      Caramel Apple
Black Cherry Porter     Plum Rye     Pistachio Cream Ale      Chinook Pale Ale      Turtle Stout
Cup A Joe Coffee Stout
Walldorff Brewpub
Hopnoxious IPA    Bee Sting Honey Rye    State Street Stout    Chocolate Baltic Porter
Barrel Aged Bee Sting    State Grounds Java Brown    Teresa’s Ceremonial Braggot
Blackberry Belgian Triple

Woodward Avenue Brewers

JiLfeWeizen     Raspberry Blonde     Custom Pale Ale     Vanilla Porter
Beer lists coming soon from these participating breweries -
Arcadia Brewing Co.             Big Buck Brewery                    Big Rock Chop and Brewhouse
Blue Tractor Brewery          Founders Brewing Co.              Grand Rapids Brewing Co.
Liberty Street Brewing Co.    Motor City Brewing Works       Mount Pleasant Brewing Co
Royal Oak Brewery               Sherwood Brewing Co.