Lost in the Beer Aisle

Dogfish Head World Wide Stout

2010-03-08T21:59:00.003-05:00

I told ya...these beer brainstorms are catching like wildfire! I wish I could get a patent or trademark or something. :) Tonight a fellow twitter-er and craft beer fanatic Robert and I tried out the Dogfish Head World Wide Stout. $8.99 for a 12oz bottle...would it live up to the hype and is the price justified?

@threefrenchs: Ready anytime you are
@Lost_in_Beer: Ready to rock here
@Lost_in_Beer: About to start pouring
@threefrenchs: I'm right behind you
@Lost_in_Beer: Virtually no head here
@threefrenchs: I was thinking the same thing. Very flat in appearance
@Lost_in_Beer: Beers like this always scare me initially...
@threefrenchs: The beer has the appearance of a flat soda
@threefrenchs: The beer has a very Rich aroma. Smells very complex
@Lost_in_Beer: agreed...I can't place what I'm picking up in the smell
@Lost_in_Beer: It's probably chocolate with a hint of alcohol
@threefrenchs: I'm getting a little barrel aged feel, but I don't think it is
@Lost_in_Beer: Could be...like oaky?
@threefrenchs: Oak or even a little smoke
@Lost_in_Beer: So, what little head I had (not even a finger) was kinda caramel colored
@threefrenchs: caramel, or even a little darker
@Lost_in_Beer: I'm going in for the taste
@threefrenchs: Wow. huge flavor.
@Lost_in_Beer: MONSTER huge
@Lost_in_Beer: It's giving me "Dogfish Face": The face I often make when DFH blows my mind :)
@threefrenchs: That has to be one of the biggest stouts i have ever had
@threefrenchs: syrupy mouth feel
@Lost_in_Beer: minimal carbonation
@threefrenchs: and goes down way smooth!
@Lost_in_Beer: I'm getting that warming booziness afterward. Not so much in the taste though. In my belleeeahy!
@threefrenchs: Agreed, a very WARM beer. I would think letting it get to about 55 degrees might even bring out MORE!!!
@Lost_in_Beer: Good point. Did you let it warm at all before the pour? Only about 5 minutes here.
@threefrenchs: about 10 minutes.
@threefrenchs: It does have a sweet quality to the aftertaste. Are you getting that?
@Lost_in_Beer: oh yeah. Lots of sweet dark fruit I think. Raisins up front, then cherry in the aftertaste.
@threefrenchs: Raisin, that's it.
@threefrenchs: Maybe even a little fig
@Lost_in_Beer: *nod* Fig indeed!
@Lost_in_Beer: I gotta tell ya...this stuff is potent
@Lost_in_Beer: Someone on twitter earlier tonight said it was "dangerously drinkable"...I'm inclined to disagree
@threefrenchs: I think you need to be in the right setting to drink more than a few.
@threefrenchs: I can see sitting around a camp fire on a cool night, and I might find myself drinking a little more.
@Lost_in_Beer: To stay warm? :)
@threefrenchs: Toasty!
@Lost_in_Beer: I'd also point out that I'm not sure how they are calling this a stout. I'd MUCH sooner guess it is a barley wine
@threefrenchs: What is the ABV?
@Lost_in_Beer: HOLY MOTHER OF GOD - 18%
@threefrenchs: Well OK then....
@Lost_in_Beer: This is what I call a "nighty night" kinda beer
@Lost_in_Beer: I usually wake up on the couch after falling asleep watching TV and drinking something like this
@threefrenchs: in a puddle of drool :-)
@Lost_in_Beer: How'd you know?
@threefrenchs: Been there, done that!
@Lost_in_Beer: So summary thoughts on the beer?
@threefrenchs: I'm about an inch away from finishing, and I have to say the sweetness is starting to mellow
@threefrenchs: I'm glad I tried the beer, and will look forward to the next one that is sitting in the fridge.
@threefrenchs: This is ONE BIG BEER. Not a session beer and a think I could easily split a 12 oz bottle with a friend.
@threefrenchs: But I don"t think I would ever turn down a chance to drink it again.
@threefrenchs: How about you
@Lost_in_Beer: I'm a little confused
@Lost_in_Beer: #1: I love almost everything from Dogfish Head
@Lost_in_Beer: #2: I LOVE sweet beers
@Lost_in_Beer: #3: Barley wines and stouts are quickly becoming my favorite types of beer
@Lost_in_Beer: And despite all that, I'm just not that excited about this beer
@Lost_in_Beer: I honestly think it's too big for me
@Lost_in_Beer: 18% - Should be drank out of a shot glass, not a pint glass! :)
@threefrenchs: I agree. Pour out a 12oz bottle among friends after a big dinner. Life would be good
@threefrenchs: And don't think you will mow the lawn after drinking one of these....
@Lost_in_Beer: heh...
@Lost_in_Beer: not without hurting yourself
@threefrenchs: I'm out of beer!
@Lost_in_Beer: Good timing
@threefrenchs: And done for the night.
@threefrenchs: This was fun, hope to be able to do that again
@Lost_in_Beer: I hope so too! Thanks for joining me.

The Original Beer Cookie

2010-03-07T08:34:00.011-05:00

At last week's beer tweetup I met a ton of cool people. Some people I got to talk to for a long while, and others only a few minutes. I only got to talk to Matt Virzi for a few minutes, but in that short time I was captivated by the story he told about starting his own business: The Original Beer Cookie. I was so interested, that I asked Matt if he was willing to meet with me, have a beer, and talk more about his business. Last night my wife and I got together with Matt and his fiance Erica to do just that.

Matt invited us to join him at Armsby Abbey in Worcester. Armsby is a great restaurant and bar right on Main street. We like it because it has great vegetarian options. I personally love it because they have a sick beer selection and like 4 different cheese platters to choose from. A huge cheese selection and a monster beer list is pretty much how I picture heaven - I'm thinking God would make an awesome bar tender...great conversationalist I'm sure.

Matt has the heart of an entrepreneur. Before starting this business he held many different jobs. Most recently he worked as a financial advisory and then as a chef in a restaurant. He knew he wanted to work for himself, so all along he and Erica brainstormed business ideas. Then, in March of 2009 it all came together.

Matt got turned onto the craft beer scene in part due to some discussions he had with Matt Webster from DrinkaBetterBrew. He realized how quickly craft beer was growing in popularity, and got hooked himself.

So you might wonder how the idea for the beer cookie came about. Matt's grandmother made some traditional Italian cookies, which were made with wine. In the beginning, Matt switched from wine to domestic beer. In their discussions, Mr. Webber suggested to Mr. Virzi that he might swap-out the wine for craft beer. BLAMO! The Beer Cookie we know today was born.

Once Matt had it in his head to start the business, there was no stopping him. Erica told us a hilarious story about how she came home from work one day to find Matt all dressed nicely. When she walked in the door, he gave her the "we need to talk" line, sat her down, and told her that he was done with his job and they were starting a business.

Matt and Erica definitely had a leg-up on starting their business. Matt's parents built and ran a full-blown bakery in their basement for a number of years. The bakery closed-up shop a number of years back, and thus was prime for starting a new business. It took a few months to get the recipe right, but it all eventually came together. Beer Cookie launched and had three flavors: Original, Pepper, and Red Hot. Initially, sales of Red Hot and Pepper were lackluster, and the lines were dropped in favor of focusing on the best-selling original recipe.

Beer Cookies are made exclusively with Berkshire Traditional Pale Ale. Starting in May of this year, you can expect to see Beer Cookies made with more and more Berkshire brews; eventually there will be a Beer Cookie for each and every Berkshire brew. Beer Cookies are mainly sold in liquor stores, however a few grocery stores are now carrying them. They are also available for purchase via the Beer Cookie website. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Matt and Erica work their asses off for the business. Matt's full-time job is the business; Erica is a social worker and also manages the accounts for Matt. Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday are baking days. Wednesday is packaging day. Thursday through Saturday are promotion/tasting/distribution days. If there is a Massachusetts-area beer event, you can be certain to find Beer Cookie there. Most recently, Matt attended the Beer Advocate extreme beer festival.

We had a killer time hanging out with Matt and Erica and we're hoping we've made some new friends!

IPAs a-plenty - Silvio Saturday

2010-03-06T12:00:00.000-05:00

In this fourth installment of Silvio Saturday, Silvio reviews three different IPAs. Seeing as I am not a huge fan of the IPA, Silvio's love of IPAs should bring an excellent change of pace to LostintheBeerAisle. His review of the Aprihop is a great reminder to go out and buy some of this stuff. When I reviewed it, I recall really liking it (despite the lackluster effort of my review). So without further delay...take it away Silvio!

For this week’s review, I’ve decided to try something new – reviewing multiple versions of the same beer at once. Inspired by Josh’s famed trips to the beer store, I ventured out determined to fill my queue with as many options as I could carry. My taste buds led me to a tried and true favorite, the IPA.

In my experience, IPAs are like pizza and sex: even when bad, it’s still pretty good. Fortunately, all three turned out to be really, really good. Which, if you think about it, is still kind of like pizza and sex.

First up was Sierra Nevada’s Torpedo Extra IPA. I’m a big fan of Sierra Nevada, but I’ve never seen this brew before, so the bottle pretty much leapt off the shelf. My pour turned into a ridiculously tall head, almost three fingers of foam that took forever to dissipate, with a pungent hops smell. A rich, clear amber-colored brew awaited me, and I dove right in. This beer has a very hoppy, thick taste, and a bit of a mineral undertone. On subsequent draughts, I got a slightly bitter pine and herbal flavor aftertaste, but didn’t get the citrus taste the label promised. This was a very good beer – not incredible, but I loved the aftertaste, and its 7.2% ABV was the strongest of the bunch.

Next up is the Dogfish Head Aprihop IPA. I enjoy Dogfish’s 60-, 90-, and 120-minute IPAs, so the thought of an apricot-flavored IPA caught my eye and destined this brew for my gullet. The pour resulted in a nice foam head, which dissipated much quicker than the Torpedo, but had a distinct apricot scent and hue. The beer’s color is coppery and dark, and it tasted outstanding – light, tangy, and fruity, with a distinct apricot pull through. The aftertaste is bittersweet, but does not linger for long. The ABV checks in at a reasonable 7.0%. One item of note, this is a seasonal brew available from March through May, so I was a little surprised to find it in late February.

Two down, one to go: Green Flash Brewery’s West Coast IPA, highly recommended by my wife. This was the best pour of the three, with a very thick foam head that refused to dissipate – I literally scooped a spoonful off the top of the glass before I could partake. Its aroma was fruity but faint, with an amber, extremely cloudy color. My first taste was quite bitter, with a strong piney aftertaste. While the fruity aroma didn’t pull through into the taste, it was extremely hoppy – one of the most distinct IPAs I’ve ever tasted – and had a manageable 7.0% ABV.

So, three IPAs down, with three very different results. The Torpedo was overall the easiest to drink, but indistinct in any one regard. The Aprihop was very fruity, quite tasty but not hoppy, while the West Coast was nothing but big bold hops. I enjoyed all three, and would highly recommend them all.

Latest Poll Results

2010-03-04T14:02:00.006-05:00

Results are in from the latest poll I've had up. When asked how often you drink craft beer straight from the bottle, we got the following results:

Always: 7 (or 7% of the vote)
Sometimes: 46 (or 48% of the vote)
Never: 44 (or 45% of the vote)

I'm definitely in the "sometimes" bucket. I'm glad to see "sometimes" winning, because I think it reflects upon the audience I have targeted...people who like beer but aren't stuck-up about it. And before the 44 of you who voted "never" get all in a tizzy, I'm not unilaterally saying that not drinking from the bottle makes you a beer-douche. You know me better than that. :) I'm just saying that if no one voted for "always" or "sometimes" I'd have serious questions about who was reading my blog!

And for you 7 who voted "always", good for you for being honest.

Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar

2010-03-03T20:08:00.006-05:00

These beer brainstorms are really catching on. I love doing them. People love participating in them. People love reading them. I really feel like I'm on to something. Tonight Stevie joins me as we review Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar. Stevie has a blog of her own, and just recently started reviewing beer. Although she only has a couple of beer reviews under her belt, she already sounds like an expert! Many thanks for reviewing with me tonight!!!

@BasicallyRed: ready for this thing?
@Lost_in_beer: yup
@Lost_in_beer: Just took it out of the fridge, snapped some pictures
@Lost_in_beer: haven't opened it
@BasicallyRed: mine's super chilly, about to be opened
@Lost_in_beer: I'm 90% sure I probably should have taken it out 10 minutes ago
@Lost_in_beer: But we'll see how the flavor changes as it warms I guess
@BasicallyRed: this one's been sitting for about ten. I like darker brews pretty chilly, though
@BasicallyRed: Pouring...
@Lost_in_beer: Already poured here :)
@BasicallyRed: Wow, hold it up to the light! What a pretty red-amber
@Lost_in_beer: Borderline mahogany
@BasicallyRed: I was going to say cherry wood :)
@Lost_in_beer: Sure...even closer
@Lost_in_beer: Couple fingers of head
@BasicallyRed: Really? I have almost none
@BasicallyRed: Just opened, too - I hope I didn't get a dud!
@Lost_in_beer: Freaky
@Lost_in_beer: Aroma is definitely nutty
@BasicallyRed: Yeah, the hazelnut is super strong
@Lost_in_beer: And I have a confession....I actually dislike hazelnut
@BasicallyRed: Really?! Then why go for the HAZELNUT Brown Nectar?
@Lost_in_beer: It sounded really unique
@Lost_in_beer: When you review 3-4 beers a week, you gotta have excitement
@BasicallyRed: I love me some Nutella, not gonna lie...
@BasicallyRed: but that's the Italian in me coming out :)
@BasicallyRed: it's true, switch it up a bit- go out of the ordinary
@BasicallyRed: I'm trying to determine what other smells are in there, but the nut is so strong
@Lost_in_beer: That's what she said?
@BasicallyRed: HA
@BasicallyRed: Maybe some citrus?
@Lost_in_beer: maybe
@Lost_in_beer: I'm ready for a taste
@BasicallyRed: Going in for the kill
@Lost_in_beer: Innnnnterrresting
@BasicallyRed: Not quite what I expected
@Lost_in_beer: If you blind taste-tested me I would have guessed a light coffee porter
@BasicallyRed: It does have that slight creaminess to it
@Lost_in_beer: And it's sweet, which I love
@BasicallyRed: It is sweet, but almost tastes a bit salty to me, too
@Lost_in_beer: Salty?
@BasicallyRed: Yeah, I think it's the aftertaste that's doing that for me
@Lost_in_beer: I'm racking my brain / tastebuds to figure out what flavors are making it sweet
@BasicallyRed: I am a big fan of hazelnut coffee, and this definitely does have the flavors
@BasicallyRed: There's a bit of chocolate in there
@Lost_in_beer: yeah, maybe chocolate
@Lost_in_beer: vanilla? brown sugar?
@Lost_in_beer: Those come to mind, but not quite right
@BasicallyRed: I'm not getting any vanilla
@BasicallyRed: Hazelnut itself is a pretty sweet flavoring
@Lost_in_beer: You could be right...dunno how they get hazelnut flavor in there, but if it's extract, it could be sweet
@Lost_in_beer: AHHH! Label - "Hazelnut extract"
@BasicallyRed: Right on, it's extract.
@Lost_in_beer: And chocolate malts!
@Lost_in_beer: You nailed it
@BasicallyRed: HA I just did the same thing!
@BasicallyRed: Chocolate is such a common thread in darker brews, though, you think?
@Lost_in_beer: agreed
@Lost_in_beer: Noticing that this label gives a bunch of numbers that I don't know what they mean, but doesn't give the ABV?
@BasicallyRed: Yeah, I actually noticed that when I tried the Chatoe Rogue Dirtoir last night
@Lost_in_beer: To the Google!
@Lost_in_beer: 6.2% ABV
@Lost_in_beer: Sounds about right. I would have been surprised if it was higher
@BasicallyRed: Yeah, I'm not detecting the alcohol at all
@Lost_in_beer: Nah...nothing
@BasicallyRed: Smell or taste
@Lost_in_beer: The nuttiness totally overwhelms it
@BasicallyRed: There's still carbonation in the beer itself
@Lost_in_beer: Oh yeah...plenty. More than average I'd say
@Lost_in_beer: Oh...and I'm seriously concerned about your lack of head
@Lost_in_beer: I've got awesome lacing
@BasicallyRed: Ungh, I've got nothing
@Lost_in_beer: Did you shake the bottle first?
@BasicallyRed: No, should I have?
@Lost_in_beer: Yes...vigorously shake every bottle of beer before you open it
@Lost_in_beer: I'm messing with you :)
@BasicallyRed: HA, could you imagine? What a waste of delicious beer!
@BasicallyRed: Although I bet I'd look hysterical
@Lost_in_beer: hehe
@BasicallyRed: Second pour and the head appeared!
@Lost_in_beer: *clap*
@BasicallyRed: About a fingers worth, maybe it was too cold at first
@BasicallyRed: Seriously, is there anything else in here besides Hazelnut?
@Lost_in_beer: Just the chocolate
@Lost_in_beer: Overall I'm really digging it
@Lost_in_beer: you?
@BasicallyRed: It's quite good. Not my favorite, but I'd definitely get it again.
@Lost_in_beer: So summary thoughts...
@BasicallyRed: This is one of the more plain ales that I've had in awhile
@BasicallyRed: And I'm actually digging that fact- the simplicity of the single flavoring lets you focus on it, but it's not overwhelming
@Lost_in_beer: For being super hazelnutty (and not being a fan of hazelnut) I'm pleasantly surprised
@Lost_in_beer: Looks really pretty, and it quite drinkable
@BasicallyRed: The chocolate helps cut it a little bit (mmm Nutella)
@BasicallyRed: Hey, maybe you can get a Nutella endorsement from this one!
@Lost_in_beer: It could get really old quick
@BasicallyRed: I'm on my second half of a glass and ready to move on to something else
@Lost_in_beer: Well I gotta get going. Thanks for doing this!
@BasicallyRed: Hey, thanks for having me! You are a gentleman and a scholar!

Deja Brew - Red Rock Bock

2010-03-01T19:25:00.003-05:00

Tonight the wife is at yoga. I'm watching the last installment of The Lord of the Rings. Over the last few weeks I watched all three movies for the first time. The initial movie is a snoozer, the second much better. So far, so good on the third. We need some action though. While I sit here I figured I should review a beer. I have plenty of the beer I brought home from Deja Brew, so I'm gonna crack open a bottle of this Red Rock Bock.

We had tacos for lunch, and my stupid fingers smell like onions...can't wash it off and it is driving me nuts. I've gotta do the no-hands-beer-sniff. I'm surprised at how little aroma this brew has.

I popped the top and the bottle gushed everywhere. Based on what I saw when we were bottling, I'm not surprised at all. We were true amateurs...over carbonating, under carbonating, over filling, under filling, and so on.

This beer is pretty bland to be completely honest. This particularly sucks because my threesome was responsible for the Red Rock. It's ever so slightly bitter from beginning to end. Bubbly. Watered down tasting. A little sweet after warming (chocolate). It does seem like we got the color right...it's dark red/mahogany.

Boston Craft Beer Tweetup - The Long Version

2010-02-28T13:20:00.020-05:00

Yesterday's Boston Craft Beer Tweetup ended up being everything I could have asked for (and more). From beginning to end, everything went great. The venue was awesome, the attendance was high both in quantity and quality, and we had some great door prizes to give away.

We held the event at the Cambridge Brewing Company in Cambridge, MA. I cannot say enough about how great our hosts were. I met Phil, owner of the CBC, about six weeks before the event. After meeting and sealing the deal to hold the event at the CBC, Phil and I exchanged numerous emails in the coming weeks. He's a very laid back and all around good guy.

The staff that were "on-duty" for the tweetup were great. Travis helped set up the space for us, and was our bartender for much of the afternoon. The acting manager Laura was friendly and provided me the door-prizes that Phil had offered up previously. The CBC was uber-generous, providing us a $50 gift certificate, a t-shirt, and a pint glass.

Travis served up the libations...

While Andy performed beer tricks

My praises of the CBC don't end there though. The food is great, and the beer is phenomenal. They have 4 year-round beers on tap and any where between 6-9 seasonal brews. Yesterday they had a total of 9 beers on tap. I personally tried four of them, and each was as good as the previous one. My personal favorite was the biere de miel - a super-sweet 8.3% ABV honey ale.

The list wasn't huge, but the quality was amazing

I wasn't alone in my praises of CBC. I heard all kinds of positive feedback from the guests. Many folks were not familiar with the CBC, and were excited to have found out about it. Others were familiar, and were very happy that we ended up having the event there. Every person that I talked to raved about the beer. As I made the rounds talking to the guests, at least every single beer received an unsolicited recommendation. It seemed like the Scotch Ale and Express Porter were the most popular. The bar sold out of growlers of the Porter, and the group kicked the last keg of the Scotch Ale.

OH....and the beer prices are insane. I think the pints were around $3-4 and the growlers go for $10-$12!!!

$12 growlers? Get the F out of here...

The first hour of the tweetup was a furious scramble for me. I was trying to catch every person as they came in so I could introduce myself and make sure they got their name tag, entered the door prize raffle, and we're settled in. If I could have only cloned myself! My wife Melissa was a huge lifesaver throughout the event...constantly helping me out.

Baby's first tweetup! (Our nephew Hunter and daddy Dave)

After the first hour was up, it was time for door prizes. Thank God I have to give a lot of presentations at work, or I would have been very nervous standing up in front of so many people. No worries though...I just jumped up on a chair and did my thing. We had some truly excellent door prizes to give away.

The audience is COMPLETELY captivated and under my power

Mike showing off his winnings courtesy the CBC

Matt from The Original Beer Cookie donated packages of Beer Cookies. Four lucky winners walked away with a bag of the goodies. Because I had never tried them, I made sure to steal a bite from one of the winners. The Beer Cookie is sort of a cookie/cracker hybrid. Spicy and dry. Someone (and I'm sorry I don't remember who) nailed it on the head when they said it was like beer Biscotti! Anyhow, I was grateful that Matt not only donated to the door prizes, but also showed up. On a side note, Matt's story about starting his own business around The Original Beer Cookie is so intriguing. I'll be interviewing him sometime in the next couple of weeks and posting about it here.

Andy walked away with some beer cookies

She had never won anything in her life...until now.

We were also lucky enough to have the guys from Downtown Wine and Spirits not only stop in, but also donate a 22oz bottle of beer, two pint glasses, and two bags of beer cookies. I heard about DTWS via twitter; when I asked my followers which Boston-area liquor store had the best craft beer selection, multiple people mentioned DTWS. I knew that I had to get these guys hooked into the event. Many thanks to Joe, Dan, Dave!

Joe, Dan, and Dave from DTWS just chilling

Joe wins the loot from DTWS

Jon, the head Brewer from Haverhill Brewery also attended the event and provided a $25 gift certificate to the Haverhill Brewery brewpub/restaurant. I had been looking forward to meeting Jon and somehow in all the hub-bub we completely missed each other. We'll definitely meet-up next time bud! Thank you for the donation.

Stuart's going to Haverhill Brewery!

Lastly, Lost in the Beer Aisle donated a four-pack of Bosteel's Brewery Tripel Karmeliet which also included a sexy looking glass. I was seriously close to just keeping this door prize for myself, so the winner was extra lucky. :)

I'd like to thank myself for donating to my own cause

I have to give endless appreciation to our photographer Margaret from Kinniska Designs. All of the pictures you're seeing in the post, as well as the 88 pictures in the slideshow are all courtesy of Margaret. You can also view all of the pictures individually on flickr. I found her via a relatively last-minute plea in Twitter to find a photographer. Not only is she a great photographer, she is also an avid beer fan! Thank you a hundred times over!!

Paul and Joe (2/3rds of TheBestBeerBlog) doing what they do best - entertain

In total, we had 40 people show-up to the Boston Craft Beer Tweetup. Among them, a number of twitter-folk. I'm going to try to list everyone. I'm sure I missed some folks. Please let me know if I missed you!

Our Host
@Cambridgebrewer

Our Photographer
@Kinniska

Door Prize Donors
@dtws
@BeerCookie
@HaverhillBrew

Everyone Else!
@beeraday
@BCarder
@bconrick
@CalebHutchings
@chadoconnor
@cnoel42
@healthyandsane
@DJTusk
@Thebestbeerblog
@kcasasanto
@missleah26
@ThoseBeerSnobs
@belchingmonkey
@stephaniekays
@genexerjv
@phooley
@tdphillipsjr
@limatime
@AdamThirsk
@barnable
and everyone from @CraftBeerCrew.

Alicia and some of the folks from CraftBeerCrew

I was truly moved by not only how many people came out, but how cool you all were. There wasn't a beer-douche in the house! You were each awesome in your own way. This event was successful for one reason - you. You helped promote it, you came out, you made a great tweetup. I feel like I made 40 new friends yesterday. I'm still on cloud-9. I can't wait for the next tweetup.

Speaking of the next tweetup, I have it tentatively planned for June. I'm open to hearing suggestions for the location.

In the meantime, if anyone wants to throw their own tweetup, I'm more than happy to sit down and chat about how I pulled mine together, how I worked with donors to get the door prizes, what worked well, and what I would have changed. Just let me know and we'll have a beer and chat!

Boston Craft Beer Tweetup - The Short Version

2010-02-27T21:52:00.005-05:00

Today was the big day for the tweetup. It was a complete and utter success. In the next day or two I'll post much more detail and TONS of pictures, but for tonight I just wanted to make a quick post to say thanks to everyone who came out and made the event so awesome, to the businesses who donated to our door prizes, and to the Cambridge Brewing Company for hosting us. You all rock!

Breckenridge Brewery Remarkable Vanilla Porter

2010-02-27T12:00:00.000-05:00

As we speak, I'm preparing for the Boston Craft Beer Tweetup. It's finally here! In 45 minutes I'll be out the door on my way. Another Saturday is upon us, and with it comes another episode of "Silvio Saturday". If case you missed the first two sessions: Silvio Saturday #1, Silvio Saturday #2. This week he reviews Breckenridge Brewery Remarkable Vanilla Porter.

I must admit that I was quite psyched to try this beer. Vanilla is my all-time favorite flavor, and I’ve recently developed a taste for porters. So of course, a “remarkable” vanilla porter jumped off the shelf. Unfortunately I was a little let down overall, but perhaps it was because my expectations were so high.

To start, there was hardly any foam from the pour. In fact, because my camera wasn’t ready right away, I missed the chance to capture it on film – that’s how quickly it dissipated. But, all was not lost. The beer had a deep, dark color, just what you’d expect from a good porter. It also had a strong coffee smell, which stoked my excitement once again.

I dove right in with a big first sip and was rewarded with a great taste. The vanilla flavor lived up to its hype, and was really smooth but not overbearing. In fact, it transitioned into a bold solid porter flavor and combined, the two reminded me of a good cup of French Vanilla coffee.

Because this beer was pretty tasty and had hardly any carbonation, it didn’t last long. On subsequent sips, I also detected a nutty flavor, but not any one nut in particular. I checked the Breckenridge web site to determine the ABV, and it checked in at a light 4.7%. I wouldn’t recommend planning to put down a full sixer of this beer unless you’re really into porters, but it’s a good overall brew, especially if you love coffee.

Deja Brew - Blueberry

2010-02-25T20:46:00.003-05:00

A couple of weeks ago some coworkers and I brewed four batches of beer at a place called Deja Brew. Tonight was our night to go back and bottle. Once again, it was a ton of fun. Took WAY longer than I imagined. Must have been 3 and a half hours. We were darned lucky that there were a dozen of us other wise I'd still be there right now. The best part of brewing with such a large groups was that we got to brew four different beers, but each person got to pick how much they wanted to bring home. Given the amount I have on hand at any given point, I knew the wife would kill me if I brought home 2-3 cases of 22oz bottles from this brewing deal, so I brought home 12. A perfect number as far as I am concerned.

So I get home and I feel like I have no choice but to review one of these fine brews. I'd love to review all four in one post...drink four 22oz bottles in one sitting? Hmmm....probably not a good idea.

The blueberry is a very light beer. I don't have ABV details on any of the beers we brewed, but this one must be less than 5%. It pours a sexy golden color with a couple of fingers worth of bubbley.

The brew is malty sweet. When thinking of other blueberry beers, two come to mind: Wachusett and Sea Dog. Between those two, our creation is much closer to the Sea Dog because it is so sweet and lacks any real bitter/sour flavor.

I'm Lost in the Beer Aisle, and I approve of this beer.

Allagash Dubbel

2010-02-24T20:40:00.006-05:00

I feel like it's been awhile since I had a "regular" review. I guess it's been less than a week, but still. Tonight I'm cracking a bottle of Allagash Dubbel while we watch American Idol. Tonight has been a quite non-healthy night already. We were feeling lazy and were craving junk food, so we ordered Chinese. We deserve it though. In the last 6 days I've worked out 4 times. That's more than I've worked out in the last 6 months! The first couple of days were awful. I made it 15 minutes in and I was ready to spew barf. I'm good now though!

When I poured this Dubbel I was unimpressed at first. The head looked weak...that kinda beer foam that fizzles away in 2 minutes leaving the beer looking flat. This beer proved me wrong though. It's many minutes later and there is still a solid finger of the fluffy stuff.

Beer smells of cloves, honey, and spice. The flavor is quite malty...I'm pleasantly surprised. There is a little bit of bitterness too. For me, the flavor pulses: SWEET SWEET bitter (and repeat). I'm thinking that the cloves are actually coriander.

The Allagash website says I should taste chocolate and nut flavors. Checking out other reviews online I don't see references to honey or coriander. So either this is a really dynamic beer, or I fucked this review up hard core. :)

Regardless of how much of a beer-newb I'm being tonight, this is a good beer. Definitely worth trying.

Rogue Double Dead Guy

2010-02-22T21:12:00.003-05:00

Tonight I participated in another online beer brainstorm (my third to date). These are SO much fun. Drinking with someone, even if they are hundred or thousands of miles away totally beats drinking and reviewing alone. Many thanks to my recent guest-reviewer, fellow beer-blogger, and twitter bud Mike for doing the beer brainstorm with me tonight...I had a great time! So without further ado...

@mikebiewer: im going to pull mine out.
@Lost_in_beer: TMI :)
@Lost_in_beer: not that kinda chat
@mikebiewer: lol
@Lost_in_beer: Pictures of the bottle have been taken...about to crack and pour
@Lost_in_beer: Ready to rock and roll when you are
@mikebiewer: Right on. Let's do eet!
@Lost_in_beer: This puppy has a crazy head on it
@mikebiewer: 3 finger!
@Lost_in_beer: heck yeah...I had to pull the emergency brake on my pour
@mikebiewer: I love this kind of head too. The fluffy stable kind
@Lost_in_beer: yeah...like whipped egg whites
@mikebiewer: Less hoppy than I thought it was going to smell.
@Lost_in_beer: Agreed...more sweet citrus smell
@mikebiewer: little caramel smell as well
@Lost_in_beer: sippy time?
@mikebiewer: Yes sir, lets drink this shit up
@mikebiewer: Wow
@Lost_in_beer: Double WOW
@Lost_in_beer: does NOT taste like 72 IBU
@mikebiewer: It starts off super sweet and ends super bitter
@Lost_in_beer: I'm getting very little bitter actually
@Lost_in_beer: (relatively)
@mikebiewer: Interesting
@Lost_in_beer: I did have some spicy food 30 mins ago
@Lost_in_beer: think it affects the taste for me?
@mikebiewer: maybe. I had chicken and asapragus
@Lost_in_beer: mmmmm asparagus. Love the stuff...makes my pee smell bad.
@mikebiewer: lol me to!
@mikebiewer: For 9% ABV I don't taste or smell the alcohol.
@Lost_in_beer: nope...completely masked
@mikebiewer: Which is good and bad for me. I love a little alcohol burn.
@mikebiewer: The more I drink the more I can taste a little more caramel.
@Lost_in_beer: Citrus + caramel
@mikebiewer: that bitterness goes away that I was referring to as well.
@mikebiewer: or I'm getting used to it.
@Lost_in_beer: Prolly your tongue getting used to it
@Lost_in_beer: *nod*
@Lost_in_beer: I'm still blown away. This just doesn't taste that hoppy to me.
@mikebiewer: Not at all
@mikebiewer: My wife would love this shit.
@mikebiewer: I was just reading on rogues site, they have tasting notes for this. "Apricot"
@Lost_in_beer: Apricot eh? Yeahhhhh....about that. Not getting it.
@mikebiewer: yea, I don't taste it either, but I haven't had apricots in a long time.
@Lost_in_beer: Ever tried Dogfish Head Aprihop? EXCELLENT apricot flavored brew
@mikebiewer: I have not. I saw they were bottling that today to get ready for March 1st release
@Lost_in_beer: Getting back to the Dead Guy...
@Lost_in_beer: Thoughts on mouthfeel?
@mikebiewer: Medium bodied. Not very carbonated.
@mikebiewer: like a very light syrup
@Lost_in_beer: I'd classify it similarly. Very moderate carbonation and smooth
@Lost_in_beer: "light syrup" covers it...although there is some bubbly
@mikebiewer: it is definitely smooth, good point!
@mikebiewer: How bout that color?
@mikebiewer: Perfect ale color. I love this color when it comes to beer
@Lost_in_beer: Yup, amber
@mikebiewer: Its not scary to look at like a dark as a well diggers ass in the klondike at midnight. Which can be intimidating to some lol
@Lost_in_beer: wait wait wait
@Lost_in_beer: what is this about well-digger's ass?
@mikebiewer: lol. Referring to the stouts and porters that can be dark as night
@mikebiewer: its just an expression my dad likes to use
@mikebiewer: My dad is a real character
@Lost_in_beer: I guess so :)
@Lost_in_beer: You onto the second pint yet?
@mikebiewer: yes, onto the next pint
@mikebiewer: is it just me or is this beer getting sweeter as we go?
@Lost_in_beer: Yeah...sweeter as it warms
@Lost_in_beer: One thing I'm loving about this beer - It's a citrusy bitter beer that doesn't taste like you're eating 100 grapefruits
@Lost_in_beer: I'm SO OVER that taste
@mikebiewer: yea. The wheat beers are notorious for it
@Lost_in_beer: I'm guessing it's due to that apricot they mention. Probably offsetting grapefruity flavors
@mikebiewer: I think the citrus is more in the head and as you drink you smell it
@mikebiewer: I don't really taste it.
@mikebiewer: let me try pluggin my nose!
@Lost_in_beer: LOL
@Lost_in_beer: Don't choke
@mikebiewer: So after drinking almost this whole bottle, what do you think about drinkability?
@Lost_in_beer: TOTALLY drinkable
@Lost_in_beer: I could drink another 1pt 10oz
@mikebiewer: I think I could do another bottle and be done
@Lost_in_beer: I'd need to eat something first though!
@mikebiewer: I'm glad we agree!
@Lost_in_beer: Overall summary of the beer?
@mikebiewer: I think it is unexpected, but in a good way.
@mikebiewer: I wasn't expecting that rush of sweet to bitter I got at the front
@mikebiewer: But it has warmed up to be a very balanced brew, with great head ^_^
@Lost_in_beer: *nod* You hit it on the head.
@Lost_in_beer: CRAZY how well balanced a 72 IBU brew can be. Sexy head. Great color. Caramel plus citrus plus bitterness.
@Lost_in_beer: Let's call it a wrap?
@mikebiewer: I appreciate this to man. It is a lot of fun
@Lost_in_beer: ditto.
@mikebiewer: Have a good one!
@Lost_in_beer: you too! Talk to ya soon

Brooklyn East India Pale Ale

2010-02-20T12:00:00.000-05:00

Silvio Saturday continues today with a review of Brooklyn East India Pale Ale. Well done once again.

Brooklyn was one of my favorite college beers. Not one of the ubiquitous party beers you chug from a can, but it was approachable and easy to drink – probably the first “real” beer I ever enjoyed. I’ve gotten away from drinking them regularly with age and distance from the Northeast U.S., but when I saw the Brooklyn East India Pale Ale I knew I had to give it a shot.
I was happy with my choice from the very start. The pour translated into a frothy but relatively uninspired crown which dissipated quickly. Even though I wouldn’t get a beer mustache this tasting, it was okay with me because once gone, the foam left a deep copper color that reminded me of bourbon.

East India Pale Ales were first brewed with extra malt and hops to prevent spoiling during transport to British troops serving in India during the 1800s, and that legacy means lots of extra flavor to enjoy. My first sip came across tangy and a little bitter, but in a very enjoyable way. Under the initial taste, however, is a flowery mix of hops and citrus. I even got a little hint of iron when I swished it around – but far from being weird, it fit perfectly. The flavor is definitely heavy but it’s got a light and smooth aftertaste.
I really enjoyed Brooklyn’s East India Pale Ale – it reminded me of good memories and would make an excellent backyard barbecue beer. With a 6.8% ABV, it packs a punch, but not enough to worry about getting hammered off a few bottles. I’ll definitely make sure to enjoy it again sometime soon.

Haverhill Brewery Joshua Norton Imperial Stout

2010-02-18T20:15:00.004-05:00

Tonight we went to a wine and cheese party that our landlord/rental agency held. Pretty good times. Shitty turnout for a community of hundreds. There were like 10 people there. Whatever...more wine for the rest of us. It started at 5:30 so we skipped dinner and went there first. Empty stomach plus wine = excellence. We both got fairly tipsy. Unfortunately this culminated in brief marital argumentation (I just made that word up) upon arrival at the homestead. The normal stuff. I did something, I'm a jerk. I get defensive and pissy. Put in a movie (Year One) and forget how the argument started. Typical married life stuff, right?

I'm skipping the whole food thing and making this Haverhill Brewery Joshua Norton Imperial Stout my dinner. This should go wonderfully on top of all that wine. :) I'm not jumping right into it though...it has to cool down first. Perfect timing to digress...

I recently stopped storing my beer in the fridge crisper. I was getting freaked out about "cap contamination" from storing the bottles sideways. So now all the beer is stored in the bottom of the China cabinet until it's time to cool and drink. Note to beer douches: I don't have a cellar for appropriate storage, so the cabinet will have to do.

Enough of all that jazz. Let's drink some Joshua.

The smell of this one is oatmealish. I also detect some toffee. Black in color and maybe a finger or two of head. I had to pour it incredibly aggressively to get what head there is. That all said, the head does look deliciously fluffy (see picture).

Upon first taste I'm reminded of recent stouts I've tried. Coffee and toffee flavors come blasting at me. Absolutely, definitely more bitter than sweet. Not killer bitter, but enough to be sure you know it. It really reminds me of some bitter-ass oatmeal stouts I've had in the past. I'd love to hit-up the Haverhill brewery's website to get more information about the beer, but it's clearly an amateur deal. The website is a shell with virtually no information, and multiple empty pages. A work in progress? Regardless, I refuse to even link to it.

I'm actually surprised that it dials-in at 9.3% ABV. The booze is well masked. And although I've really developed a penchant for sweet brews, I'm digging this Joshua Norton.

And I'll finish where I started off: Empty stomach + wine + 22 ounces of 9.3ABV brew = a happy man.

21st Amendment Monk's Blood

2010-02-17T21:12:00.005-05:00

Just getting back from church this evening (Ash Wednesday). I've got the Olympics on the tube and the Monk's blood in the glass warming. I have to be honest...I really hate this timezone delay with the Olympics. Spoilers left and right. I'm also completely unimpressed with NBC.com's video coverage options. Sure, I can watch every second of most events, but much of the video doesn't have any of the voice-over you hear on TV. /rant-off

I've gotta tell you, this Monk's Blood smells great from about two feet away. Sticking my nose right in the glass is less pleasant and smells ever so slightly sour.

I have a hunch that this beer is going to rock me. Part of Ash Wednesday involves fasting. I haven't eaten in a number of hours. Normally a single beer (even at 8.3 ABV) wouldn't mess with me.

The can reads "Belgian Style Dark Ale Brewed With Cinnamon, Vanilla, Oak Chips, and Dried Figs". I wonder if the sour that I thought I was smelling was more of a dark fruit smell (fig). And fig is the dominant flavor for me.

And my laptop just crashed. Stupid POS. Thank God I just got it replaced recently. Also, thank God for auto-save on Blogger.

I'm going to be honest and say that the vanilla and cinnamon really don't come through for me. I believe that I can pick up the oak, although if the label didn't tell me, I would have never known that's what I'm tasting. Chalk it up to to my amateurish tongue. This beer is definitely complex and above me. Excellent beer though.

Southern Tier Choklat

2010-02-15T20:28:00.003-05:00

Saturday we celebrated my little brother Nick's 17th birthday. It's hard to believe I've been doing the big-brother program since he was 10! We spent the day in Providence to celebrate. It was his first time ever in Rhode Island. At this point in his life, 90% of the places he has visited and the things he has done have been at my side. This is mostly due to the fact that he's a city kid and his family has limited resources. I'll take this chance to promote the Big Brother Big Sister program. Devoting only a few hours a week can totally change a kid's life. I personally can attest to that as both a former "little" and now a "big".

For lunch we took Nick to Julian's. Julian's is a hip little joint that serves awesome food (vegan/veggie as well as carnist). They also happen to have a phenomenal beer selection: 14 beers on tap and a really good bottled selection as well.

To go with my vegan Eggs Benedict and home fries I ordered a glass of Southern Tier Choklat. I know...it's a funky combination. And yes, I'm a lush and drank beer with my breakfast. :)

This brew is a dark brown color with a tan head. I expected lacing, but was not rewarded. It was served in a tulip glass, and for the record...I don't see how the glass enhanced the beer at all. On the other hand, the fact that the glass had a Southern Tier label definitely made the beer taste better.

The beer is overall sweet. Even stone cold, Choklat isn't bitter. I identified toffee, coffee, and milk chocolate as the main flavors. I'm guessing the ABV was pretty high: 8% maybe? *google* OK, 9.1%...I was close. Overall Southern Tier Choklat is an excellent beer.

The birthday celebration went on from there. To the Providence Place Mall first for a movie and then Dave and Busters. We saw The Lightening Thief, which was a good flick. This was my first trip to Dave and Busters. Cool? Yes. Unique? No. We have a couple of places like this near me. In my opinion, the game selection at Dave and Busters stinks in comparison. But I digress...

We finished the day off with dinner at a local Chinese food restaurant. Overall, an excellent day.

Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen

2010-02-13T12:00:00.001-05:00

Today I'm starting a new series titled "Silvo Saturday". Silvio is an everyday kinda guy that I met on Twitter. Although he has no prior beer reviewing experience, he's really gotten into it since I invited him to do guest reviews here. His previous reviews include Clay Pipe Hopocalypse and Kona Pipeline Porter. I like his down-to-earth writing style, as it resembles my own! So starting today, each Saturday Silvio is going to bring us a new review.
A good hefeweizen always reminds me of summer – possibly the best way to end a long, hot day outside. So, because I (and much of the Mid-Atlantic region) am currently snowed in by the blizzard of 2010, I figured the best way to cure my cabin fever would be to crank up the heat, crack open a Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen, and pretend I was in the grip a 90-degree July day.

While my summertime delusion didn’t last long, at least the Kellerweis lived up to its end of the deal. From the first pour, I knew I was going to like this beer. A thick foamy head graced the top few inches of my pilsner glass, with the hazy rich yellow brew below it like a lemon meringue pie.

My first sip resulted in a foam mustache, and one of the best hefeweizen tastes I’ve ever come across. Sierra Nevada touts the “nutty, spicy flavor” and they’re dead on. The first flavor I recognized was bananas, subtly but distinctly, followed by a smoky nutmeg aftertaste. I quickly took a few more draughts and detected hints of lemon and cloves.

Hefeweizens often inspire heated debates over whether or not to include a slice of citrus fruit, and if so, whether lemon or orange is a better accent taste. I myself am an orange-slice kind of guy, but so as not to offend readers in another camp I didn’t use any fruit for this review. However, I think any variation of the theme will work well – this beer will easily adapt to any accent taste you choose.

Unfortunately, as often happens with good hefeweizens and me, my glass was soon empty. The light and refreshing taste went down quickly, and only carried a 4.8% ABV. I know that come summer, I’m going to enjoy putting away a few cold six packs of the Kellerweis without worrying about the side effects of a high alcohol content.

The bottom line is if you like hefeweizens, Sierra Nevada’s Kellerweis is a must try.

Deja Brew

2010-02-12T08:46:00.008-05:00

Last night a bunch of us from work took a trip down to Deja Brew in Shrewsbury, MA. Deja Brew is one of those joints that provides the recipes, the ingredients, the brewing equipment...all you do is show up and brew. 13 of us pitched in and are splitting up the beer. Because there were so many of us, we were able to make four different batches:

* Red Rock Bock: A deep, red medium bodied Bock with a sweet and hoppy flavor.
* Jealous White: A wonderful example of a Belgian White ale.
* Blueberry Ale: A delicious ale. It smells good, tastes good and finishes clean.
* Express Porter: The addition of crushed espresso beans give this a unique flavor.

I had never brewed beer before, so it was quite an interesting experience. As I regularly tell people, I'm far too busy drinking a variety of beers to brew my own beer. After spending months of drinking 4-5 different beers each week, I'm not sure I could deal with having gallons of one beer to drink.

Thus, I'm only taking home a single mixed-12 pack of 22oz bottles from the batches we are brewing.

Besides the nifty experience of making beer, we also got to drink quite a bit of it! The store had two kegs on tap that we could help ourselves to. In addition, they had a cooler full of bottles to try. Each person/group that brews is kindly asked to leave one bottle per batch behind for the next guy to try. We took advantage of this and opened 3-4 bottles.

The whole process took roughly 2.5 hours. I think we all had a great time and had limited screw-ups. The folks at Deja Brew were nice and did a good job of giving instructions and explaining what was going on at each step of the process.

In two weeks we go back to bottle. Stay tuned for my reviews of the four beers.

The pictures in this post come from my coworker Al. This represents only a small sample of the pictures that were taken at the event. If you want to look at the whole set, check out Al's album here. Note the particularly hilarious before and after mug-shots of the two guys who ate some hops.

Left Hand Fade to Black

2010-02-11T20:18:00.006-05:00

Tonight I'm posting my second ever chat-based beer brainstorm. Tonight my co-reviewer is Helene, which you may recall runs PhillyBeerGirl.blogspot.com. Doing this kind of review is 100 times more fun that drinking and reviewing alone! Many thanks to Helene!!!

@PhillyBeerGirl: hey
@Lost_in_Beer: Howdy
@Lost_in_Beer: Have you warmed the beer at all?
@PhillyBeerGirl: I didn't really - I grabbed it out of the fridge just about 5 minutes or so ago
@PhillyBeerGirl: how about you?
@Lost_in_Beer: only a few minutes more...maybe 10-15
@Lost_in_Beer: I've never had this before...have you?
@PhillyBeerGirl: Nope - I'm excited though, because people seem to really love it
@PhillyBeerGirl: What do you get when you smell it?
@PhillyBeerGirl: I'm getting coffee, toffee, maybe some caramel
@Lost_in_Beer: I've got a crazy confession about the aroma
@Lost_in_Beer: The last two beers I've had were toffee flavored. Both times (this one included) I smell olives
@Lost_in_Beer: It's creepy
@Lost_in_Beer: I'm 99% sure that my nose interprets toffee oddly
@PhillyBeerGirl: Are you smelling the burnt smell, too?
@Lost_in_Beer: Nope, none of that action
@Lost_in_Beer: i think I'm picking up the coffee aroma you mentioned though
@Lost_in_Beer: Much head on your pour?
@PhillyBeerGirl: No, not really
@PhillyBeerGirl: Yours?
@Lost_in_Beer: Ditto
@Lost_in_Beer: Not even 1 finger
@Lost_in_Beer: The pour was a little syrupy looking
@PhillyBeerGirl: I completely agree - was thinking the same thing when I poured it
@PhillyBeerGirl: Although now that it's been sitting in my glass for a few minutes, it doesn't look as thick as I'd originally thought
@Lost_in_Beer: I just tasted this puppy though
@PhillyBeerGirl: Okay, I'm going in for the taste now
@Lost_in_Beer: Totally coffee
@PhillyBeerGirl: Oh yeah, but some sweetness, too
@PhillyBeerGirl: And definitely bitter
@Lost_in_Beer: yeah, interesting mix of bitter & sweet. Initially I think it's fairly well balanced
@PhillyBeerGirl: I think so, too
@Lost_in_Beer: And although I didn't get burnt smell, I do think it's definitely smokey tasting
@PhillyBeerGirl: It's a pretty strong beer - 8.5% - and I think you can taste some of that
@PhillyBeerGirl: Not overwhelmingly - but maybe just a hint of it like a little alcohol at the end
@Lost_in_Beer: Thus far, you think it meets the hype you heard?
@PhillyBeerGirl: I do think it lives up to the hype
@PhillyBeerGirl: It's really drinkable and like you said nicely balanced between bitter and sweet
@PhillyBeerGirl: Getting anything more as the beer warms a bit?
@Lost_in_Beer: I was about to say that the character isn't changing much
@Lost_in_Beer: Which honestly surprises me with a beer this dark
@Lost_in_Beer: not complaining....
@PhillyBeerGirl: I feel like I'm getting some fruit flavors - maybe plum?
@Lost_in_Beer: Could be some dark fruit in there. If anything the beer gets slightly sweeter as it warms.
@Lost_in_Beer: Your opinion on carbonation / mouth feel?
@PhillyBeerGirl: Yeah, maybe a little less bitter
@PhillyBeerGirl: Not too heavily carbonated
@Lost_in_Beer: agreed
@PhillyBeerGirl: But definitely not flat
@Lost_in_Beer: Yeah...not as syrupy as the pour appeared
@PhillyBeerGirl: Yes! Like I said, when I first started to pour I thought it was going to be very syrupy
@PhillyBeerGirl: And then seeing it in the glass and tasting it - it doesn't really go with what I thought I'd get from that first pour
@Lost_in_Beer: Have you ever had a super flat, thick beer?
@PhillyBeerGirl: Um, I don't think I have
@PhillyBeerGirl: I don't know that I'd really like that
@Lost_in_Beer: I had one once. I think it was Sam Adams Triple Bock.
@Lost_in_Beer: Straight down the drain
@PhillyBeerGirl: It was that good, huh?
@Lost_in_Beer: hehe
@Lost_in_Beer: Tasted like it looked: black sludge
@Lost_in_Beer: Nothing like this beer :)
@PhillyBeerGirl: Do you like beers that are bourbon-barrel aged?
@Lost_in_Beer: HELL YES
@PhillyBeerGirl: You should try Port Brewing Older Viscosity
@PhillyBeerGirl: Or Lost Abbey Angel Share
@PhillyBeerGirl: You'd probably love them both
@Lost_in_Beer: I'll add them to my shopping list on the site
@Lost_in_Beer: See if I can get them here
@Lost_in_Beer: Any final thoughts on the Fade to Black?
@PhillyBeerGirl: I would definitely buy it again and recommend it
@PhillyBeerGirl: I think it's a solid brew
@Lost_in_Beer: Ditto
@Lost_in_Beer: Dark roasted malts and coffee deliciousness
@Lost_in_Beer: Perfectly balanced
@Lost_in_Beer: That's how I would sum it up
@PhillyBeerGirl: We're in agreement then
@PhillyBeerGirl: This was really fun!
@Lost_in_Beer: I love doing these
@Lost_in_Beer: So much more fun then drinking alone
@PhillyBeerGirl: Totally agreed on that, too!
@Lost_in_Beer: Tonight I would have been stuck watching Oprah with the wife while reviewing :)
@PhillyBeerGirl: haha - I'm glad I could save you from that (although I do love me some Oprah!)
@Lost_in_Beer: I'll be honest...it isn't that bad
@Lost_in_Beer: Unless it's one of those sappy-make-you-cry shows
@Lost_in_Beer: Then I tap out...
@Lost_in_Beer: (mostly because I'm a sap and I cry b/c of that stuff)
@Lost_in_Beer: LOL
@PhillyBeerGirl: make sure you leave that in when you post this
@Lost_in_Beer: hehe...maybe
@Lost_in_Beer: Anyhow...I should eat before I end up in a booze coma on the couch
@Lost_in_Beer: Thanks again for doing this
@PhillyBeerGirl: Have a great night! And thanks!
@Lost_in_Beer: Have a good evening Helene

Great Divide Yeti

2010-02-08T19:36:00.004-05:00

For the Superbowl we went over to our friend's Sean & Kerry's place. They had some new beers for me to try. Generally speaking, when I'm out or with friends I'm "off duty" and don't review beers. Sean had picked up a bottle of Great Divide Yeti and wanted to co-review it, so I obviously couldn't say no.

You need to be careful when pouring this one. Pour it down the side of the glass from beginning to end or you'll risk an overflow. Even if you end up with a ton of head, you'll at least get to appreciate how pretty it is - fluffy brown head that makes the beer look like a milkshake. Super thick head as well. One other person at the party said the beer looked fake because when you tilted the glass the head didn't budge.

The aroma was quite strange for me. Smelled like olives. Yes, olives. A slight turn off for me since I'm not particularly down with olives. Sean really only picked up a boozy smell, so maybe my nose was just on the fritz yesterday.

The taste COMPLETELY made up for any shortcomings of the smell. Although the boldest flavors are malt-based, the beer is surprisingly balanced...in fact, if it were on either side of the bitter/sweet scale, I would say it slightly tips to the bitter side. Although Great Divide Yeti isn't a chocolate stout, I thought that the aftertaste the beer provided was the most genuine dark chocolate taste I've had in a beer. I'm a serious dark chocolate guy (80-90% cacao is my fav). I also thought that I was getting some coffee flavor coming through, but after reading the bottle I realized that it is TOFFEE with a T. I don't remember the last time I had toffee, so I suppose that's why I couldn't identify the flavor.

Long story short, this is a very good beer. Let it warm up a bit and you'll be rewarded.

Where to buy beer in Massachusetts

2010-02-08T08:25:00.004-05:00

Although I have repeatedly mentioned my favorite liquor store (Julio's Liquors - Westborough, MA), I've never actually made a post devoted to the topic. What inspired me to write about it today is an excellent post over at BoroughsReview.com. And yes, I'm biased because they gave LostintheBeerAisle a huge shout out. :) The videos they put together are pretty well done and give a lot of detail about what Julio's provides.

Here are some Julio's beer highlights:
* They stock over 1000 different kinds of beer.
* They get new beers in weekly.
* They have limited edition Julio's-only brews from time to time.
* They have regular beer festivals.
* They have weekly beer tastings (although I find them intimidating and I don't go).

On a related note, I'm pursuing obtaining some Julio's loot for door prizes at the Boston Craft Beer Tweetup.

Impromptu Beer Run!

2010-02-07T12:38:00.004-05:00

Tonight we are going to a super bowl party and I needed to pick up some beer for said event. Of course, I got distracted at the liquor store and ended up buying as much reviewing beer as I did party beer! Below is the full list. Not a bad haul if I do say so myself.

Allagash Dubbel
Troeg's Rugged Trail Nut Brown Ale
Troeg's Hop Back Amber Ale
Haverhill Brewery Joshua Norton Imperial Stout
Dogfish Head Sah'Tea
Harpoon Leviathan Big Bohemian Pilsner
Harpoon Leviathan Saison Royal
Heavy Seas Mutiny Fleet Yule Tide

I'm now off to update the "What's in my Fridge - Queued Up" section of the website...

Clay Pipe Hopocalypse

2010-02-06T20:54:00.000-05:00

Although I love every guest review that comes my way, the ones closest to my heart are the ones that come from people who don't have beer blogs and don't regularly review beer. Today I'm posting another review from Silvio. I believe this is his second published review. He has promised me more reviews, so I expect we will get to know him well. Many thanks to Silvio for his review of Clay Pipe Hopocalypse!!!

Considering that my favorite genre of movies has always been post-apocalyptic movies where landscapes are reduced to ashes and characters decimated, there was no way I could pass up trying this beer. With a picture of a mushroom cloud on the label, I expected to be blown away by hoppy goodness. Unfortunately for my taste buds, the product doesn’t live up to the promise.

Don’t get me wrong, this is an okay beer. It’s just not an outstanding IPA. Hop-Ocalypse looks visually appealing – I poured it into a pilsner glass and was rewarded with a tall foamy crown and a nice copper color. So far so good. But after my first sip, I wondered when the flavor would show up. It was hoppy, but not overwhelming. In fact, I’d say it was a little underwhelming.

After I got a few sips into the glass, it got a little better. This is a complex beer, and by that I mean you need to really try and taste its intricacies. It does have a heavy hops aftertaste, recognizable after swallowing – definitely more so than upon sipping. In fact, it reminds me a bit of another beer, Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale. The hops are tangy, if they reach the back of your palate. The beer isn’t too strong either, with a 5.8 percent ABV.

So there you go – if you’re in a pinch and looking for an IPA that will get the job done, look no further. However, if you’re looking to take a sip and be blown away by a nuclear blast of hops, you’ll be pretty disappointed.

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

2010-02-05T20:30:00.003-05:00

Pretty psyched to have the week done with. I'm finding the new job a little more stressful than I expected, and the weekend downtime is much needed. Tonight we went out for dinner (Chinese). Now we're chilling and watching the movie Funny People. I skipped dessert and instead I'm having a Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, which I have been told is pretty awesome.

The aroma is of boozy chocolate and vanilla. At 10% ABV, I'm not surprised that I can smell the alcohol. The beer is a thick dark black. The head is more brown than white. Some lacing, but not a ton.

I didn't have to wait a long time for this to warm because I had it in storage rather than in the fridge. I chilled it for 90 minutes or so before opening it. The taste isn't too far from the aroma. Dark chocolate is the main flavor. Vanilla accompanies it. Strong flavor of liquor. It's well balanced though...not particularly sweet or bitter.

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout is super smooth. Basically no carbonation.

Some folks said that this beer was lights-out awesome. I'd have to slightly disagree. It's definitely really good, but not the best I've had.

Chimay Red, Chimay Trippel, Chimay Blue

2010-02-04T18:51:00.004-05:00

I have recently made threats of doing a Chimay trifecta review: Chimay Red, Chimay Trippel, Chimay Blue. And before anyone gives me shit, I know...a correct trifecta would be Red, White, Blue. Oh...and also while I'm at it, no one give me guff about my drink-ware. Once again, I'm well aware that Chimay is "supposed" to be served in a tulip glass. Beer-douches may keep their comments to themselves. Oh, and one last thing, I stored these bottles sideways in the fridge, not standing up like the label insists I do. I'm a loner Dotty, a rebel.

The Red has an aroma of cloves and banana. Quite yummy. Knowing that this beer gets better as it warms, I let this sucker sit in the glass for probably 20 minutes. I've go the Trippel queued up, sitting on the kitchen table warming (in the bottle).
Chimay Red
Chimay Red is an incredibly interesting looking brew. Tons of sediment which appears to hang in suspended animation. It's an orangish red color. 2-3 fingers of head, but surprisingly little lacing. Slightly bitter at first. Ends spicy. Hints of cinnamon. Not as bready as I expected it to be. Super thick and smooth going down. 7% ABV.

Moving on to the Tripel...

Much different in appearance. It is lighter in color: an orangish yellow. Similar amount of sediment. The pour went bonkers on me. Not 1, 2, or 3 fingers of head...more like an entire fist of it. I only poured half of the bottle and had to stop. My bad. In my defense, I would have had to pour the thing ridiculously slow. Once again, little lacing.

Smells bready and banana-ey. Orange zest is the first flavor I get. I also get some booziness, which isn't terribly surprising at 8% ABV. Definitely getting coriander flavors as well. Pretty well balanced. The Trippel is definitely less complex than the red. Both are really good brews.

And to finish the evening off...the Blue!

Just one look and one sniff and I can tell the blue is going to be be different. It's the darkest of the three, a deep mahogany. Similar head to the red. Still no lacing (I'm detecting a theme). The smell is significantly boozy, although at 9% ABV the Blue weighs in as the heavyweight of the evening.

The flavor is a little on the mysterious side. Dark fruits are swimming around in there, however they aren't as dominant as other dark-fruitish brews. As I keep on sipping I'm more and more inclined to say the flavor is grape. There's a hint of spice, but nothing like the Chimay Red.

All three beers were good if not great. For those of you wondering, yes, I'm a little tipsy. I did take my time with each beer...almost exactly 45 minutes per bottle. I also gargles with water and ate bread in between each beer. I felt like I needed to do so in order to give each one a fair shake.

Chimay makes some ridiculously good brews for sure. All three were relatively complex, especially the the Red. All three were slow drinking, but on the the other hand, I don't feel bloated or sick after drinking all three. I was particularly impressed by the vast difference between the Red and the Blue. I expected these to be much closer in flavor, but they were vastly different beers. All-in-all I don't know if I could even pick a favorite out of these three beers...all great in their own rite.

On a final note, I want to thank you if you're still reading my ramblings. You get a gold star for patience. :)