Two Guys On Beer

Episode 166 - Dark Lord (2010 vintage)

Mon, 23 May 2011 18:05:59 +0000

The Darklord Russian Imperial Stout, from the Three Floyds Brewing company in Munster, Indiana, is by many considered to be one of (if not the) best beer in the world. It's a big one, at 15% ABV, and is storied - available only one day a year, it's a treat for sure. This episode is a little long, but worth the explanation about the flavor, nose, and profile that makes this one of Dave's all-time favorite beers, and impresses Johnny a whole lot too.

Bohemia

Wed, 11 May 2011 16:30:21 +0000

Paola Garcia from Forumla PR, Inc., was kind enough to send us a sixer of Bohemia from the CuauhtÃ©moc Moctezuma Brewery... like... in February. We filmed the shows, but life gets in the way sometimes, and we are JUST getting this episode out. So our apologies to Paola, and thanks for her patience! That said, this is a great German pilsner from Mexico, probably one of the best in the entire Heineken portfolio. Have a watch, go find some and give it a try, and let us know what you think in the comments below!

Episode 164 - Orange Blossom Cream Ale

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:10:27 +0000

From Buffalo Bill's Brewery in Hayward, CA, this "fruit beer" is a light beer infused with orange blossoms, orange peel, and honey. We haven't had too much luck with fruit beers on Two Guys on Beer, and unfortunately, this isn't an exception. The beer base is a super-light - and super-thin - lager or pale ale that provides almost no flavor. The mix of orange, honey, and carbonation lends this beer a bit of an orange-soda flavor. It's not the worst beer in the world, and we can definitely see where some people would love this beer - especially during the summer months where this may bring up thoughts of a shandy of sorts... but as for us, we're left wanting more.

Episode 163 - Santa's Little Helper

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:06:49 +0000

Yeah, we know, it's way past Christmas! But there are still random bottles of the heavy winter stuff floating around, so we're tossing this review in to the ring. From the Port Brewing Company in San Marco, CA., the Santa's Little Helper is a 10% ABV Russian Imperial Stout! We didn't talk about a lot of Russian Imperials this winter so we wanted to share. Russian Imperials top Dave's list of favorite styles (even if not Johnny's) and we hope you like them too! This is real heavy on the bitter chocolate, the espresso coffee, but hides the alcohol pretty well. If you can find it, give it a try (and let us know what you think!).

Episode 162 - Gale's Prize Old Ale

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:57:04 +0000

From George Gale & Company Ltd in the United Kingdom, this is a 9% ABV Old Ale. Traditionally, Old Ales are filled with dextrins which are meant to provide huge amounts of body to a beer. This means at 9% ABV, a balancing act has to be played between the ABV and the body of the beer. The nose of this beer was amazing - chocolate covered cherries, warmth, simply wonderful. The taste, however... well... we've never been quite so - surprised - on Two Guys on Beer before. Take a watch.

Episode 161 - Noel de Calabaza

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 23:39:52 +0000

We end our "Noel" beer roundup with an American entry from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales. Brent, our esteemed director and editor, decided to have a little fun with the editing, being the end of a rather heavy ABV day of shooting. This is yet another 9% ABV Belgian Strong Dark Ale. The label is misleading - there's no pumpkin in it! - but that isn't the worst thing in the world. We get sour on this puppy, often caused by the Brettanomyces yeast (which Dave totally mispronounces), but we're not sure if it's on purpose, or what this beer is trying to be. The almost Flemish Sour characteristics of this beer throws us, but we really want to know what happens if it's aged for a year. Go give it a try, let us know what you think!

Episode 160 - Scaldis (Bush De) Noel

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 15:46:21 +0000

The Scaldis Noel, from the Brasserie Dubuisson Freres in Leuze-Pipaix, a French speaking region of Belgium, is the American alias for their Bush De Noel. In either case, it's a big 12% ABV Belgian Strong Dark Ale that is a Christmas seasonal ale. Unfortunately, this beer is as disappointing as it is high in alcohol. All you get is the alcohol on both the nose and in the flavor, and it seems as if the alcohol is actually burning off any flavor the beer might have had. We don't mind a high ABV beer for the winter, even those that don't hide the alcohol burn - as long as there is flavor as well. This beer, however, fails to deliver on all accounts. Maybe some aging would help?

Episode 159 - Noël Des Géants

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 17:05:10 +0000

From the Brasserie Des Géants in Belgium (who gave us Episode 128 – Gouyasse Triple) enters their Christmas seasonal, the Noel Des Géants. A Belgian Strong Ale, this one weighs in at 8.5% ABV. Unlike several Christmas beers, this one has a hop nose, masks the ABV well, but the flavor is slightly off for us. This beer has a hop profile that basically sucks the moisture out of your mouth, and has nothing in the flavor to indicate "Christmas." But you know when beers are described in a certain way, we expect them to hold up to the style, and that affects our ratings. The conclusion? We wouldn't put "Noel" on the label, but it's still worth a try!

Episode 158 - Gouden Carolus Noël

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 20:05:14 +0000

We're back with what we're going to call a new season - it's been a while since we've been shooting and releasing regularly, and that's exactly what we're doing now! Since it 'tis the season, we're going to start out with a series of "Noel" beers - seasonals that represent Dave's favorite beer time of year, and rank pretty high for Johnny as well. We've discussed beer from the Het Anker brewery in Belgium before, and this, their Christmas offering, is a Belgian Strong Dark Ale coming in at a healthy 10.5% ABV. Luckily, we get to start the season with a VERY strong contender, and we both land in the mid 90's on this beer. An absolutely fantastic beer to come back to.

A TGOB Tribute to Bruce Nichols

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:19:43 +0000

Bruce Nichols, a fixture of the Philadelphia beer scene for decades and one of the people instrumental in bringing Philly Beer Week to fruition passed away recently. Carolyn Smagalski, long time beer lover and writer in the Philly area has a nice write-up on Bruce, as does the Philly Beer Week website: http://phillybeerweek.org/ http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art69722.asp Further, Tom Peters, one of Bruce's long-time friends left a beautiful message about Bruce. It has since been removed from the Monk's Cafe website, but was captured by Bryan Kolesar over at The Brew Lounge: http://www.brewlounge.com/2010/11/bruce-nichols-rip.html We tip our glasses to Bruce Nichols - a champion of beer, especially in Philadelphia. His legacy will long be felt throughout Philadelphia and the world. http://bit.ly/BruceNicholsPBW

Episode 157 - Bell's Consecrator Doppelbock

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 03:35:26 +0000

From the archives comes another beer from Bell's - this time it's their doppelbock entry, a big spring beer that comes with expectations of high alcohol and high profile. The flavor divides us, but the basics are that we're left wanting a little. However, final scores are in no way bad, and this is a beer you should try yourself to decide where it lands.

Episode 156 - Magic Hat Vinyl Lager

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 22:30:08 +0000

Our first Magic Hat review (yeah, our first!) is a great American Amber / Red Lager known as the Vinyl Lager. It's got a nice malt tone, dark hues, and decent roasted malt nose. This beer is in no way over-hopped, which it could have been. It's smooth, although the flavor dissipates a bit at the end. This is a fantastic session beer we both enjoyed.

Episode 155 - Dale's Pale Ale

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:57:08 +0000

Canned beers are finding themselves a niche in the craft beer world for a variety of reasons - cans are cheaper to produce, easier to recycle, better for the environment, and cheaper to ship (less fuel). Not to mention, zero light can reach beer in a can. Plus, with new water-based liners, aluminum will never touch beer. All that said, Oskar Blues in Colorado deals almost exclusively in canned beer, and Dale's Pale Ale constantly tops the charts - not for best canned pale ale, but for best pale ale, period. We love this beer, and with it being fall and tailgating season, put down the cheap canned beer and pick up some craft-brewed canned beer! Dale's Pale Ale = winner, in every way.

Episode 154 - Voodoo PILZILLA

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:52:08 +0000

The PILZILLA - Voodoo Brewing Company's "Keller Bier" - is a pretty rare, unique, unfiltered and unpasteurized style of lager that originated in Germany. Voodoo's distribution is not huge and they're still a relatively small organization, but they're growing. Interestingly, the PILZILLA continues to grow with the company - each year they've brewed the PILZILLA, they've added one more hop, and bumped the ABV. Will that trend continue?? We'll have to wait and see :) That said, this scores high marks from us. Fantastic lager, hands down.

Episode 153 - Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 02:22:32 +0000

We once again find ourselves in beer courtesy of Chris Quinn, and this time he brought us another brew from Goose Island in Chicago, IL. The Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout is billed as being one of the best beers in the world, and it certainly is up there. If you love big, sticky, 13% imperial stouts mixed with the highest quality coffee, this beer may be for you. It scored high with both of us (higher with Dave) but we both agreed that this is probably one for the cellar, and will age insanely well.

Episode 152 - Dogfish Head Burton Baton

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:52:26 +0000

Although officially considered an Imperial IPA, a style that owes its existence to the American west coast, the Burton Baton is actually a mix of an Imperial IPA and an English Old Ale. Called "threads," the two beers are then "threaded" together in to a 10,000 gallon oak tank where it ages. Around one pound of hops PER BARREL are added to this brew to make it nice and hoppy hoppy. It turns out that this beer is bold, flavorful, and really tells a story as you drink it, as there are separate flavor profiles during different stages of the drinking process! At 10% ABV, this is a big, yummy beer, and another win from Dogfish Head - but really, who's surprised?

Episode 151 - Stoudts Heifer-In-Wheat

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:18:32 +0000

On a warm Thursday during the World Cup, with vuvuzelas humming away in the background, we take to sipping on some of Stoudts Brewery's hefeweisen beer - their "Heifer-In-Wheat." For those that love a wheat beer, this one does pretty well - true to the style, flavorful, and perfect for a hot summer day.

Episode 150 - Mystic Brewery "Boston Cognac" - Rare Preview!

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:40:02 +0000

It's our 150th episode and we wanted to bring you something special. So this episode, we're previewing a beer, still unnamed and unreleased, that will make some serious waves in the beer world. The boys over at Mystic Brewery (the Ph.D. having, MIT-graduating, high-gravity-brewing, fermentation-geek "boys"), an upstart brewery in the Boston, MA area have started brewing some big, BIG beers. We were able to convince Dr. Bryan Greenhagen, founder and brewer, to send us some of what they're working on. They sent us a bottle of their to-be-renamed "Entropy" (there was a naming conflict with another beer), a four-times fermented 18% whopper of a beer that without any real competition or precedent, has no real formal style. Bryan was kind enough to categorize it for us - a "Boston Cognac," jokingly concocted, but it's now in a TGOB video, so it's real! :) ;Here's the thing - this eventual seasonal release (once each fall) is so beautifully crafted, it's hard to find fault with it. What an incredibly awesome surprise this beer is, and if you like what we have to say about it and want to get some this fall - get in line, we'll see you there.

Episode 149 - The I-SITE American vs. British Pale Ale Taste-Off!

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:50:50 +0000

As a nod to the England vs. USA game in the World Cup 2010 on Saturday, July 12, Ian Cross, co-founder of I-SITE in Philadelphia, PA invited us to co-host an awesome event - a taste-off between an American Pale Ale and a British Pale Ale. The players? On the British side, Fuller's London Pride, and for the USA, Stoudt's American Pale Ale. Come taste along with us, and enjoy the audience reaction when we ask them what their favorite of the night was.

Episode 148 - Seven Gates Pale Ale

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:00:01 +0000

Spring House Brewing Company, a very small brewery (like, a barn) out of Conestoga, PA, is making a splash with their Seven Gates Pale Ale – an American Pale Ale style beer. Named after a local ghost story, the beer seems to almost dance on your palette. Although we disagree on the after-taste, we do agree that there are good things to be had from this brewery.

Episode 147 - Hopus Ale

Mon, 17 May 2010 05:15:23 +0000

We dig back in to the archives a bit to bring you a few episodes from this winter that never aired. This beer, the Lefèbvre Brewery's Hopus Ale (from Belgium) is a Belgian IPA - a still-emerging style from Belgium that promises some awesome flavors. Mainly American hops mixed with classic Belgian yeasts make for whole new classes of flavors in beer - and the Hopus Ale gives us great hope for this very young style of beer.

Episode 146 - Goose Island Pere Jacques

Sun, 09 May 2010 20:11:17 +0000

Our recent supplier of great beers - Chris Quinn out of Chicago - sent us this Belgian Dubbel (double) a little while back. The Goose Island Beer Co., out of Chicago, IL, makes this "Pere Jacques" - a spicy beer that could definitely take to aging very well. We both loved it, but saw even more potential a year or two in to the cellar, where it would soften up a little and allow the underlying vanilla notes to really come out. Our love again to Chris, thanks for another great beer!

Episode 145 - O'Hara's Irish Red, Irish Stout with Seamus O'Hara

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 19:26:48 +0000

We sit down with Seamus O'Hara again at the Irish Pub to talk to him about a couple of his beers - in particular, his Irish Red, and his Irish Stout. Both are brewed in a very traditional sense with a nod to the Irish market, and the beers end up being very good. The best part - we get to talk to the man himself about his craft - and his craft beers.

Episode 144 - Pacifico

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:23:53 +0000

Pacifico, sometimes called Pacifico Clara, is from the Grupo Modelo, the large beverage conglomerate in Mexico City responsible for a large swath of Mexican beers including Corona. Pacifico claims to be the 15th largest selling imported beer in the US, but is yet another representation of an American Adjunct Lager focused on the portion of the US market that drinks under-flavored, watered-down pilsners in mass quantities. Yet again we're disappointed with a beer coming from south of the border, and really hope to beat the odds next time.

Episode 142 - Sam Adams Boston Lager

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:49:46 +0000

Although we sat down with Jim Koch over a year ago for a lengthy (and awesome) interview, we never took a close look at their flagship beer, Sam Adams Boston Lager. Once you do, you'll find that any misconceptions about Sam Adams disappear - this is a fine example of a Vienna style Lager. We love it, we think you will too.

Episode 141 - Hue Beer from Vietnam

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:59:22 +0000

Hue Beer, from the Hue province in Vietnam, is the first export beer to come out of Vietnam after the trade embargo was lifted by the Clinton administration. Unfortunately, this was a rush-to-production American Adjunct Lager style beer, tailored especially for the US market, so it's not an authentic Vietnamese beer - well, not one they drink over in Vietnam, anyway. It is, unfortunately, a horrible beer with a weird nose and almost no flavor. Surprise surprise.

Episode 140 - Breckenridge Pandora's Bock

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 04:48:47 +0000

It's spring time again, and we're talking about Bocks! Heavy, warming beers that help kick off the last bits of winter and welcome in spring (which can itself be cold and wet). Breckenridge Brewery has their seasonal Pandora's Bock, a solid, smooth entry (with a dangerously hidden 7.5% ABV) that makes a perfect beer for those who have yet to venture in to bocks.

Episode 139 - Half Acre Daisy Cutter IPA

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 23:17:27 +0000

Sent to us by the awesome Chris Quinn, the Half Acre Beer Company in Chicacgo, IL, has a hop-head's dream in their Daisy Cutter IPA. While there's not much malt balance, the hopping lends to an almost unbelievably life-like white-grapefruit flavor that delights us both. (For those wondering who Johnny throws the beer cap at, some friends decided to join us for taping and make fun of Johnny :) ).

Episode 138 - Newcastle Brown

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:36:51 +0000

We visit (or, revisit, but this time with you) Newcastle Brown Ale, a well known beer with a massive distribution area. For a brown ale, it's not bad. Nothing to write home about, but much better than other beers that adorn some of the cooler shelves at local beer stores.

Episode 137 - Kasteel Donker (Kasteel Bruin)

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:02:30 +0000

From the Van Honsebrouck Brewery, this Belgian Strong Dark ale comes in at a whopping 11% ABV. While not outside the range of a Belgian Strong Dark, it's certainly a hearty beer. We find this to be a fantastic desert beer, with a wonderfully complex, multi-stage flavor profile. The Kasteel Donker (also known as the Kasteel Bruin) earns high marks and high praises from both of us. Luckily, this is a pretty widely distributed beer, so go pick up a bottle and let us know what you think!

Episode 136 - Bell's Winter White

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:23:33 +0000

Sent to us by the awesome Chris Quinn, Bell's Winter White is Bell's answer to the normally heavy beers that define the winter season. However, there doesn't seem to be anything that separates this from a normal, summer-time wheat beer, and the taste, while clean, is minimal. For a winter beer, we feel this fails the test, but maybe you should try it and let us know what you think.

Episode 135 - Boddingtons Pub Ale

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:12:11 +0000

Boddingtons, originally started in 1778 by two grain traders was purchased by Boddington, a traveling brewer, in the 1850s. It continued to be family owned until 1989, at which point it started its conglomerate journey to where it now exists as an AB InBev beer. That said, this is a nitrogen-infused English Pale Ale that isn't ground-breaking in flavor, but is crazy smooth and quite a session beer.

Episode 134 - Great Lakes Barrel Aged Blackout Stout

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:06:38 +0000

We're back at McGillin's Old Ale House, celebrating their 150th anniversary! To make things sweeter, we're bringing you one of our all-time favorite beers. Pat Conway from Great Lakes Brewing Company was once again incredibly kind, and found and sent us a big bottle of their Barrel Aged Blackout Stout. 9% ABV, brewed and then aged in Jim Beam barrels, it's an incredibly complex Russian Imperial Stout that's very hard to get - but VERY worth the hunt. If you've had it, leave us a comment and let us know what you thought.

Episode 133 - Stone Pale Ale

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:06:24 +0000

These next few episodes were filmed at McGillin's Old Ale House, now celebrating their 150th anniversary. Today we look at Stone Brewing Company's Pale Ale, their flagship beer, first released in June of 1996. It turns out their pale ale is not a hop-bomb, (something we often accuse Stone of being, especially being a west coast brewery) but is instead a nice, well balanced beer. It's still west-coast style (so yes, hoppy), but it has a nice intro and a great finish, and you should definitely try it out.

Episode 132 - Belzebuth Blonde Ale

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:31:39 +0000

The Belzebuth Blonde Ale wraps up our taping at the second Two Guys On Beer Happy Hour at National Mechanics, and what a way to end. This Belgian Strong Pale Ale by the Grain d' Orge Brewery in France is a whopping 13% ABV. This doesn't hide the alcohol. Unfortunately, this beer is just WAY too sweet, and seems to have a ton of alcohol just because, not as a supporting factor. But tell us what you think!

Episode 131 - Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:31:10 +0000

This beer is not for the faint of heart - 18% ABV, and hopped from the second the boil begins to the moment it is bottled - over the course of at least 30 days. The 120 minute IPA (an imperial IPA) is one of Dogfish Head's attempts at pushing beer to its limits. It's certainly crafted with love and care, but its flavor is seriously intense. High scores from the two of us, but with the warning that this 12 oz bottle is meant to be shared, not consumed alone.

Episode 130 - Grimbergen Double Ale

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:50:31 +0000

The Grimbergen Double Ale is named after the Grimbergen Abbey not too far from Brussels. The Abbey used to brew beer, but after shutting down production during conflict in the region, they restarted by contract-brewing with the Carlsberg group. It seems the beer never reached its former glory - although a "double", at 6.5% the alcohol is much to noticeable, and it's incredibly sweet. It doesn't find a fan in Johnny, and Dave's not overly impressed either. (Filmed during the first Two Guys On Beer Happy Hour hosted by National Mechanics.)

Episode 129 - X-Mas Zinnebir

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:07:23 +0000

We're back at the first ever Two Guys On Beer Happy Hour with National Mechanics. The Brasserie De La Senne - or, De Zenne Brouwerij - puts out a spiced Belgian Pale Ale for the winter season called the X-Mas Zinnebir. The brewery goes by two names because it straddles the region in Belgium considered the language border between French and Flemish. We both struggled with this beer because of an almost time-released flavor profile that seems to have nothing to do with the aroma, and an extremely dry quality that is somewhat overreaching. Give it a try and let us know what you think!

Episode 128 - Gouyasse Triple (Goliath)

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:49:57 +0000

Filmed during the first ever "Two Guys On Beer Happy Hour" at National Mechanics, The Gouyasse Triple, also known as Goliath, is from the Brasserie Des Géants in Belgium. It's a Triple style beer coming in at a healthy 9.0% ABV. We talk briefly about the differences between Doubles and Triples and how hops really help this Triple. Johnny loves this beer, and Dave likes it a lot, too. Fun flavors play all over this beer, and you should add it to your "must try" list.

Episode 127 - Coopers Vintage Ale (2008)

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:26:27 +0000

This is a heavy, 7.5% ABV ale - officially classified as an English Strong Ale. That classification is given to anything above a pale ale and below a barley wine. Coopers is a huge brewery that is public, but still almost completely family owned. Johnny and Dave differ on the ratings, but agree it might age well. Either way, be sure to give this a try and tell us what you think!

Episode 126 - Estrella Damm Inedit

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 01:10:34 +0000

We end out 2009 year with the Estrella Damm group from Barcelona, Spain. We try their Inedit, a much-hyped, pinky-in-the-air wheat beer. The marketing message and website push this beer as a white-wine drop-in replacement - served in a wine bottle, recommended with a white wine glass, and even said to have been developed with wine sommeliers. They also claim this is the first beer to be "specifically created to accompany food" (which is laughable). Unfortunately, snobbery will get you nowhere, and the flavor of this beer falls far short. While clean and refreshing, this brings nothing unique to the table, and there are better beers to have with food. Still, a good clean beer (and beautiful bottle) to say goodbye to 2009 with, and we hope everyone has a safe, happy, and amazing new year!

Episode 125 - Chapeau Banana Lambic

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:00:12 +0000

Browerij De Troch, family owned for five generations, only makes fruit lambics. Open-air fermented with whole-fruit, this lambic is banana through and through. Unfortunately, it's incredibly sweet. It feels like it could have fermented or aged for a lot longer. So it was not to our taste, although some of the people we shared it with had a different affinity - so this is definitely something you have to try for yourself!

Episode 124 - Saxo Belgian Ale

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:30:48 +0000

From the Brasserie Caracole - almost literally "The Snail Brewery" - this Belgian Strong Pale Ale, labeled a Belgian Blonde, packs a 8% wallop. Despite that, it turns out to be very crisp, light tasting, and almost pilsner-esque. A good showing by the Caracole Brewery from Belgium.

Episode 123 - EKU Pils

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:32:56 +0000

This German pilsner from the Kulmbacher brewery, owned by the Kulmbacher Group. They weren't a "group" 20 years ago, but they began buying up other breweries, bottled water companies, etc. The usual assumption is that a large group conglomerate would put out a standard macro-brew beer, but this turns out to be one of the best pure pilsners we've had the pleasure of trying.

Episode 122 - Dark Horse Amber Ale

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:51:44 +0000

Dark Horse Brewing Company, a tiny little brewery from Marshall, Michigan pushes out a decent amber ale - enough to intrigue us to want to try more of their offerings. What's interesting about this particular beer is that they use what they called "Belgian-inspired" yeast, which does lend this amber ale a somewhat sweeter, Belgian-like quality, which is not lost on us.

Episode 121 - St. Feuillien's Tripel

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:28:55 +0000

We dug back in to the archive just a bit to bring you an episodes we thought highlighted a worthy beer. Although BeerCamp has come and gone, the winter is here, and 'tis the season for Triples! This particular Triple, from the Brasserie St. Feuillien in Belgium is the second beer from St. Feuillien we've had on the show. It's complex, staying, and warming, and we both loved it.

Episode 120 - Peak Organic Maple Oat Ale

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:28:29 +0000

The Peak Organic company brews their beer with 100% certified organic ingredients. This beer is their Maple Oat Ale, which which uses organic oats from a company in Maine, organic maple syrup from a company in Vermont. This beer doesn't super-highilght any one ingredient, but does strike a tasty, clean balance, and is one you should try.

Episode 119 - Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:47:47 +0000

We end our journey with Great Lakes Brewing Company with their original - and flagship - brew. Once called "The Heisman" and now lovingly referred to as Dortmunder Gold, this is a unique lager style beer from the Dortmund region of Germany. Since 1990, this beer has won 14 Gold and 1 Silver medal from the Great American Beer Fest and World Beer Championships. Is it worth the gold it's been receiving? Oh, oh my yes.

Episode 118 - Great Lakes Eliot Ness

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:31:56 +0000

The Eliot Ness is a Vienna style lager - a lager that maintains crispness while at the same time allowing some darker malts to make their way in to the beer. (Sam Adams Boston Lager is the most widely known Vienna style lager in the US.) This particular lager is named after Eliot Ness, the famous leader of The Untouchables, and it is both ironic and fitting. While Ness spent much of his career enforcing prohibition, he was also well known to appreciate a libation or two. As if that weren't enough of a reason to put him on a bottle, the mother of the owners of Great Lakes was Eliot Ness's stenographer! What's that? How's the beer? It would make Eliot Ness proud, we think.

Episode 117 - Great Lakes Commodore Perry

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:15:04 +0000

One of our "Great Lakes Brewing" series, we examine the Commodore Perry IPA. The beer celebrates an epic battle fought by Commodore Perry and his men on Lake Erie during the war of 1812. This IPA actually presents a nice malt nose, which doesn't necessarily accompany all IPAs, and that helps this beer along its journey to becoming an incredible beer. Wonderfully complex and balanced, yet still ending with a traditional IPA bitter, this beer scores quite high with both of us.

Episode 116 - Great Lakes Burning River

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:41:17 +0000

We're starting a series of four episodes dedicated to the wonderful liquid coming out of the Great Lakes Brewing Company, in Cleveland, Ohio. Mark Weinmann from Great Lakes was kind enough to drop a bunch of beer on us to try, so we're going to bring it to you. Today, we have their Burning River Pale Ale, a good beer to start with. Certainly high in the hops - almost to an IPA level - it still remains decently balanced. Check it out.

Episode 115 - Birra del Borgo Genziana

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:37:17 +0000

We're both pizanos, so we're always excited to try a beer out of Italy. The Genziana from Birra del Borgo is made with Gentain, a bitter root. Even though it only spends 2 minutes in the boil, it makes a big impact on the flavor. The bottle conditioning is huge here. The best thing we can say is, you HAVE to go try this beer! It's surprising, new, different, and will put a smile on your face!

Episode 114 - Arcadia Jaw-Jacker

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:17:49 +0000

We've loved just about everything we've tried from Arcadia Brewing Company in Battle Creek, Michigan. Turns out, the Jaw-Jacker is no exception. Although this steps slightly to the side of an actual "Pumpkin Ale" (because it has no pumpkin, a mistake many people make) it does use the spices you would expect, and is in fact a Spiced Beer. Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice - it's all there in a fantastic tribute to Pumpkin Pie. A 95 from Johnny and a 92 from Dave means you have to go try this!

Episode 113 - Bateman's Combined Harvest Ale

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:50:22 +0000

Although the fall season is dominated by Marzen and Oktoberfest style beers, the sleeper seasonal is the Harvest Ale. A fantastic style, it celebrates the final harvest of the season. The Bateman's Combined Harvest Ale, from the George Bateman & Sons company and the Salem Bridge Brewery, really goes after the grain, including barley, oats, wheat, and rye! We often only get a single grain, let alone four! Despite that, it's only 4.7% ABV. Brewed in the Burton-Upon-Trent style, using hard water to enhance flavor, this impressed Dave and really impressed Johnny.

Episode 112 - Slaghmuylder Witkap Pater Tripel

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:08:38 +0000

Family owned since 1860, this beer was rated the #8 best beer in the world by the New York Times, and is often called a "gourmet beer." An abbey style triple, this beer has specific pouring instructions, where you are supposed to pour gently so as to NOT get any sendiment in your glass. It's triple-fermented, although it only ends up at 7.5% ABV. Do we agree with the NY Times that this is one of the top ten beers in the world? You'll have to watch to find out ;)

Episode 111 - Sam Adams Imperial White

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:23:00 +0000

Sam Adams launched their Imperial line of beers this year. The Imperial White is a Whitbier (wheat beer), but this one boasts a 10.3% ABV, which is enormous for a wheat. Brewed with ale yeasts, the beer can be brewed at higher temperatures. While maintaining some of the hints of a traditional wheat - smooth, banana like flavors and hints of citrus, this one reminds us of a Belgian double or triple with its amber color and noticeable caramel notes and high-level heat. The resulting mixed-style of this beer is actually fantastic, and we are fans. Go find and try this beer!

Episode 110 - Flying Fish Exit 1 Oyster Stout - Pre-release!

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:08:10 +0000

Casey Hughs, the brewmaster at Flying Fish in New Jersey, invited us to the bottling of their new NJ Turnpike Series "Exit 1" beer, an Oyster Stout. We got to taste the beer fresh out of the tank, and Casey was kind enough to send us home with a bottle of the Exit 1 Oyster Stout. Although we were certainly excited to visit the brewery, we can say without bias that this is a fantastic beer. The Exit 1 will be officially released October 28th, so look for it!

Episode 109 - Koningshoven Trappist Tripel

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:44:46 +0000

From the only beer producing Trappist monastery in the Netherlands, Koningshoven Trappist Tripel is their entry in to the ever popular Belgian Tripel market. It's a good attempt, with some nice flavors. We put it in the high 80s. It doesn't rank among the best, but it's no slacker either.

Episode 108 - Estrella Damm Lager

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:45:16 +0000

From the Damm Group in Barcelona, Spain, Estrella Damm is their flagship beer - the first they ever produced, and still the most popular today. This is brewed in the American Adjunct Lager style, which means the barley is cut with something, in this case, rice. This combination of rice and barley gives the macro-brewed light lager beer its character. Unfortunately, despite a decent head and a floral scent, the flavor falls off as is typical with adjunct lagers.

Episode 107 - Dundee Oktoberfest

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:15:41 +0000

From Dundee Ales and Lagers, part of Dundee Brewing Co. (used to be the J.W. Dundee brand), from Genesse Brewing Co., from High Falls Brewing Co., the company that is now the owner of the incredibly popular Honey Brown Lager from the 90s, has an Oktoberfest from their Dundee line of beers. Unfortunately, the brewery seems to have a bit of an identity crisis, and this beer just doesn't hold up to other fest beers from this season.

Episode 106 - Sunner Kolsch

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:13:40 +0000

From Cologne (Koln), Germany, the Sunner Kolsch by Gebr Sunner, the Sunner Kolsch is a traditional, German Kolsch style beer. Founded in the 1830s, it's the oldest family-run brewery in Cologne. This Kolsch uses Hallertau hops for a unique, earthy, bread-like flavor. We loved this Kolsch.

Episode 105 - Brasserie Dieu du Ciel - Rosee D'Hibiscus

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:44:24 +0000

The Brasserie Dieu du Ciel, located in Montreal, Quebec, in Canada, is one of our favorite breweries. They put out amazing flavors in spice beers, or "gruit" beers. This beer, the Rosee D'Hibiscus, is a wheat beer. It is blood orange in color and is brewed with hibiscus flowers. The combination of the citrus from the wheat and the hibiscus flower makes for an amazing flavor.

Episode 104 - Georg Schneider's Wiesen Edel Weisse

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:06:24 +0000

The weizen, or Weissbier variety of beers were originally served at Oktoberfest - when the festival was still in October. A little higher in ABV than the Marzen, they were meant to warm the drinkers. The Wiesen Edel Weisse from Georg Schneider is a Certified Organic weissenbeir. Georg Schneider suffered losses during WWII, but came back to continue the tradition of brewing Weissbier, and are credited with saving the style. This particular wheat beer scores nice and high.

Episode 103 - Einbecker Mai-Urbock

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:14:32 +0000

Einbeck, Germany, its citizen brewers, and the resulting Einbecker Brewery are responsible for the creation of the Bock style of beers. This beer, the Einbecker Mai-Urbock, is insanely good. Martin Luther himself, in 1521, said "The best drink known to man in called Einbeck beer," and we're close to agreeing with him. Watch the episode - or don't - but you must try this beer.

Episode 102 - Cantillon Classic Gueuze Lambic

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:05:08 +0000

Welcome to one of Johnny's favorite beers - a Cantillon Gueuze. A Gueuze is a blended aged Lambic beer, particularly noteworthy for its fruit notes and intense sour flavor. Tom Peters of Monk's Cafe gave us a proper education on lambic beers a while back, and ever since, Johnny has been in pure love. This one scores wickedly high - and deservedly so.

Episode 101 - Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:41:27 +0000

We're back after our big 100th party, and we're bringing you a big beer. The Hop Rod Rye, a rye-infused beer from Bear Republic from Healdsburg, CA - the home of other big hitter beers - is made with 20% rye grain and is very hoppy. Rye beers have a very long history, and was an important ingredient in beer up until the 5th century AD. Also called a Roggenbier, Rye Ales are still new to the American public, but something worth some serious consideration.

Episode 100 - Awesome party with Flying Dog's Dogtoberfest!

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:48:30 +0000

We filmed the 100th episode live during the TGOB 100th episode/IndyHall 2 year anniversary party! It was a rocking good time, and Flying Dog was kind enough to sponsor the event by providing us with some awesome Dogtoberfest. We reviewed the Dogtoberfest during the party, and it's a really decent American version of the veritable Oktoberfest favorite, Marzen beer. Check out the vid, check out Flying Dog, and try the Dogtoberfest and let us know what you think!

TGOB Special ? An Interview with Sam Calagione from Dogfish Head

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:46:15 +0000

Since our 100th episode is up next, we thought we would dip in to our bag of awesome and release our long-awaited interview with Sam Calagione, the founder of Dogfish Head. Filmed during Philly Beer Week 2009, Sam is the man Jim Koch told us - on camera, no less - was the #1 brewing rockstar in the country. Check out our brief time with Sam, hear a new twist to a beer story legend, and find out why he REALLY started a brewery.

Episode 099 - Orval Trappist Ale

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:33:35 +0000

Founded by Italian monks in the year 1070, the Orval monastary in Belgium has probably produced beer their entire history. For the past several hundred years, the Orval monastary made their money making and selling cheese and bread. The modern brewery, started in 1931 and employing all lay-people, still takes all procedes to pay their employees, upkeep of the monastary itself, or charitable causes. To be called a Trappist beer, a monastary cannot make a profit on the sale of their beer, and therefore charitable organizations benefit. Orval, using dry hopping and infusion brewing, is a lot of fun to drink.

Episode 098 - Jever Original Friesland Pils

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:23:57 +0000

Diedrich Konig founded the Jever brewery, or the "Friesisches Brauhaus zu Jever" over 160 years ago, in 1848. Fast forward to 2009, and they are perhaps the most modern brewery on the planet. The Jever pilsner has extra hops added to it to increase the bitter profile, and its flavor gets two slightly different opinions from the two of us. Watch to see how this one plays out!

Episode 097 - Hitachino XH

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:46:04 +0000

The Hitachino Nest line of beers from the Kiuchi Brewery in Japan has yet to disapoint either of us and the Hitachino XH, an American style Strong Ale (XH stands for "Xtra High") keeps up the reputation. Matured in "shochu" casks, a distilled alcohol common in Japan (slightly higher in ABV and character than sake) this brew is earthy and wonderful, and scores high - especially from Johnny.

Episode 096 - Kelpie Seaweed Ale

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:53:38 +0000

400 plus years ago, cereal crops in parts of Scotland were grown in Bladderwrack seaweed beds, which lent grains like barley a unique flavor. Now Strathaven Ales and the Craighill Brewery are trying to recapture that uniqueness in their Kelpie Seaweed Ale. They add seaweed and organic barley to the mash tun, and create a Scottish gruit beer. It turns out the beer is very good and easy to drink, but any unique flavor from the seaweed is just a bit too subdued.

Episode 095 - Stone Levitation Ale

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 13:58:13 +0000

Stone, founded in 1996, is pretty well known for their hoppy beers. Their Levitation Ale - technically an American Red/Amber Ale - has some nice floral overtones, which are eventually subdued by the "big hoppy characteristic..." A good overall hopped American Amber, great for the summer, Stone has another winner on their hands.

Episode 094 - Anchor Summer Beer

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:59:22 +0000

Claiming to be the first American wheat beer ever produced, the Anchor Summer Beer is 50% wheat malt, yet oddly, completely filtered. We know that Anchor is one of the oldest craft breweries in the US, dating back to at least 1896. Unfortunately, that alone is not enough to make a beer awesome, and this one falls just a little short in our eyes. Anchor remains one of our favorite breweries, but this beer is not, in our opinions, their biggest win.

Episode 093 - Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:52:33 +0000

The Raison D'Etre - or, "reason for being" - from Dogfish Head is a Belgian Strong Dark ale made with beet sugar, green raisins, and Belgian yeasts. While not either of our favorites from Dogfish Head, it impresses Johnny more. Either way, we love the experimentation that continues to come out of Dogfish Head.

Episode 092 - Cave Creek Chili Beer

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:48:42 +0000

The Cave Creek Chili Beer is easily one of the worst beers we've reviewed, infused with pepper oils and a chili pepper in the bottle. Pepper by itself does not a bad beer make - in fact, we've reviewed some peppered beer that we've loved. However, this self-proclaimed Arizona favorite is not close to our favorite. It's not a wonder that the founding brewery in Arizona closed - what is a wonder is that a brewery in Tecate, Mexico, is still making it.

Episode 091 - Almaza Pilsner Beer

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:26:25 +0000

From the Brasserie Almaza in Lebanon, this German style pilsner dates back to 1933. Since 1995, the Brasserie Almaza can claim to be the only brewer in all of Lebanon. Although many mass-produced lagers are pilsners and they can get a bad name, the Almaza Pilsner turns out to be decent.

Episode 090 - Browerij De Ranke XX Bitter

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:55:41 +0000

The self-proclaimed "hoppiest beer in Belgium" is in fact a Belgium IPA - a new variety of beer that's making some waves. With the potential for a magnificent mix of Belgian malts and American hops, Belgian IPAs are still a work in progress. The XX Bitter from Browerij De Ranke impresses Dave more than Johnny - what do you think?

Episode 089 - Nakhon Premium Beer

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:00:43 +0000

Supposedly from Thailand, but unfortunately an "Export Only" beer, the San Miguel company in Sakhon, Nakhon puts out a traditional American Style Adjunct Lager, as is supposed to come from just about every massive multi-national beverage conglomerate. Not only is this beer basically a lie - it's not available in Thailand, so it shouldn't be called a Thai beer - but it also resembles beer-colored, sour water. The ratings reflect the quality of this beer, for sure.

Episode 088 - North Coast Brewing Company Brother Thelonious

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:17:43 +0000

Named after - and a tribute to - the game-changing jazz musician Thelonious Monk, North Coast Brewing Company in Fort Brag, CA, puts out the Brother Thelonious Belgian Style Abbey Ale. This beer wins in multiple ways. Every bottle sold puts money towards the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, to help young Jazz musicians get a proper music education, and the beer itself wins in character as well. Both Johnny and Dave put this in the 90s - a great flavor, if not slightly deceptive at 9.4% ABV.

Episode 087 - Efes Pilsner

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:42:29 +0000

Our first beer from Turkey! Efes is the largest beer brand in Turkey, with about an 82% market share. Although originally a national brand, Efes is now owned by the international Efes Beverage Group, who are responsible for distributing Coke in Turkey, and contract-brewing other brands, such as Warsteiner, for the region. Efes Pilsner, an "American Adjunct Lager" style beer made partially with rice (which usually elicits low ratings from both of us) scores in the mid-80s - not bad for a mass-produced adjunct lager.

Episode 086 - Allagash Dubbel Ale

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:52:55 +0000

Brewed in Portland, Maine, the Allagash brewery has been known to put out some decent beers. Plus, being 100% wind energy driven, they're also excellent corporate citizens. We look at their Belgian style Double, the "Dubbel Ale," which has a 7.6% ABV kick along side a huge apricot fruit profile. As far as doubles go, this scored an 87 from both Johnny and Dave - a good score and a beer you should try!

Episode 085 - Quilmes Cerveza

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:34:23 +0000

An adjunct, mass produced lager from Argentina, Quilmes began with a German immigrant in 1888, and is now the largest and most popular beer in Argentina, even supporting the national football (soccer) team. Even though they're now internationally owned - 91% by AB-InBev - and it's a mass-produced "American Adjunct Lager," based on the style, this beer does ok.

Episode 084 - Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:19:28 +0000

The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery in Farmville, NC, named for the founder's love for philosophy and visual tricks, turns out a Milk Stout - one in a line of their self-proclaimed speciality, dark beers. To an odd contrary, their Milk Stout is actually lighter in color than most stouts, but still turns in a great flavor - roasted, coffee, slightly dry, and smooth!

TGOB Special - An Interview with Jim Koch from Sam Adams

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:51:49 +0000

During Philly Beer Week 2009, we got to sit down with Jim Koch, the founder of the Boston Beer Company, otherwise known as Sam Adams. We talk about everything from the early days of Sam Adams to how brewing a great beer is his ultimate goal - and how Sam Adams Boston Lager is his favorite beer.

Jim talks to us about his French knighthood in the Order of the Hops, how research continues to make his beer better, and the struggle that Sam Adams faces - even though they are the largest American-owned brewery in the world.

We couldn't be more excited to bring you this extended interview with Jim Koch, and couldn't have done it without the support of the Boston Beer Company, Philly Beer Week and Jennie Hatton, and of course the man himself, Jim Koch. Enjoy!

Episode 083 - Beer Chips, Yebisu Beer Jelly

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:02:26 +0000

After what seems like 82+ shows talking about beer, we hop off the beaten trail for just a minute to talk about some food made with beer. We're not talking about home-cooked, however. We're talking about processed food containing beer - and man is it interesting! We take a look at Beer Chips - potato chips made with beer, that really don't impress that much. But it's the Yebisu Beer Jelly - basically beer Jello - that really shocks us, because, well, it's REALLY good!

TGOB Special - Philly Beer Scene Magazine Launch Party

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:00:50 +0000

Philly Beer Scene magazine just took Philadelphia by storm, and turns out to be a really, really great magazine dedicated to the craft! Serving the Delaware Valley in a 30 mile radius from City Hall in Philadelphia, or available by subscription to anywhere in the country - Johnny and Dave got to sit down with the four founders at their launch party and find out why they started the magazine, what they feel it means for Philadelphia and the surrounding areas, and what really drives them. It turns out Mat, Scott, Neil, and John are great guys, and that can only lead to good things. Check out the website at BeerSceneMag.com and definitely give the video a watch!

Episode 081 - Uinta Anglers Pale Ale, Stoudt's Fat Dog Stout

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:59:07 +0000

NOTE: Be sure to stick around after the credits for some blooper fun! Yet again, we find ourselves somehow intertwined with Uinta Brewing Company out of Utah, who have yet to disappoint us. This time we try out their Anglers Pale Ale, a gentle ale that's not too hoppy. Once again, it gets good scores. Next we tackle Stoudt's Fat Dog from one of Johnny's favorite breweries. The Fat Dog is an American Imperial Stout, or an Imperial Oatmeal Stout, etc. The big bottle with the champagne cork definitely caused us some issues, but after we got passed that, we got to try a fantastic beer that also scored nice and high! Be sure to stick around after the credits to watch us struggle with the cork :)

Episode 080 - Thomas Hardy's Ale, J.W. Lees 1999 Vintage Barley Wine - UNCUT

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:48:16 +0000

WARNING: Adult Language!! We start out totally stoked to review two really cool beers - the Thomas Hardy's Ale (an old ale), and the J.W. Lee's 1998 Vintage barley wine! Both are aged and we love aged - if done right, of course ;) However, right in the middle of taping, we're interrupted - twice - by people in the bar! It's never happened before, but it was graduation week in Philadelphia, so bar crawls were happening in force! We left the interruptions in the video because of the total randomness of it - enjoy :) Back to the beers though, they both score big, and are intense beers. After you're done watching the show, definitely go out and try these beers!

Episode 079 - Tommyknocker Oaked Butt Head Bock, Het Kapittel Prior

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:00:40 +0000

We take a look at Tommyknocker's Oacked Butt Head Bock, which totally throws us for a loop and gets really low scores. We have higher hopes for the Het Kapittel Prior ale, which is brewed in the tradition of Trappist breweries (although is not a Trappist brewery itself) but it falls a little short too.

Episode 078 - Cricket Hill East Coast Lager, Sarnac Summer Brew

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:44:19 +0000

We take a look at a VERY small brewery near the Jersey Shore, Cricket Hill, which totally wows us with their East Coast Lager. Anyone who likes a good lager should check them out - if you can get your hands on it ;) Next we move to the Matt Brewing Company's Sarnac line and their Summer Brew. Half lager, half lemonade, it's really a "Shandy." It gets some decent marks from Johnny, but Dave is less enthusiastic on this particular take of one of his favorite summer beverages.

Episode 077 - Mendocino Brewing IPA and Stout with Chad9976 of Chad'z Beer Reviews!

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:05:28 +0000

Our first guest host! Chad, also known as "Chad9976" on YouTube, has been reviewing beers on YouTube for about a year, and came down to IndyHall to do a joint-review with yours truly and truly-er! Chad was kind enough to bring down a Mendocino Brewing Company variety pack, and we talk about their White Hawk IPA and Black Hawk Stout. They like hawks :) Be sure to check out Chad's YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/Chad9976

Episode 076 - Maredsous Abbaye Abdij, 'T Gaverhopke

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:36:22 +0000

We take a look at two blondes from Belgium - well, both claim to be blondes, but both are actually a little something different. The first, the interestingly named 'T Gaverhopke from the Flanders region of Belgium and is actually an Abbey Tripple, and underwhelms us. The second, from the Browerij Duvel Moortgat, however, (a Belgian Pale Ale disguising itself as a blonde) turns out to be something really nice.

Episode 075 - Kirin Ichiban, Sapporo Reserve

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:11:47 +0000

A freshly-shaven Johnny and an always shaven Dave head east to try a couple of mass-production lagers from Japan. The two beers have an odd, intertwining past, and dealings with other well-known brewing conglomerates to create a bizarre web of ownership, contract brewing, and shared pasts. That said, they turn out to be exactly what you would expect - light on flavor and profile, sitting nicely in the mass-production-lager niche that Bud and Miller have come to define.

Episode 074 - Clipper City Brewery Red Sky At Night, Bos-Keum Speciaal Paasbier

Tue, 26 May 2009 17:13:12 +0000

Not everything in this world can be perfect, and the Bos Keum Speciaal Paasbier from Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers, an "Easter Beer", is far from it. Luckily, the show was more than saved by Clipper City Brewery's Heavy Seas series Red Sky At Night, an "Imperial Saison" - a new category of beers by any measure - that turns out to be spectacular.

Episode 073 - Guinness 250 Anniversary Stout, Heather Ale, Ltd. Ebulum Elderberry Black Ale

Tue, 19 May 2009 14:58:17 +0000

We start off the show by trying out the recently released 250th Anniversary Stout from Guinness. 250 years ago, the lease was signed for the St. Jame Gate brewery location, and Guinness has been brewed there ever since. However, the real gem of the show is another incredibly strong showing by Heather Ale, Ltd., who brings us yet another traditional Scottish Gruit beer which is simply outstanding. The Ebulum Elderberry Black Ale is a stunning success.

Episode 072 - Atwater Vanilla Java Porter, Hofbrau Dunkel

Fri, 15 May 2009 17:34:12 +0000

With the promise of real vanilla beans and coffee in a porter, the Vanilla Java Porter from Atwater Brewery falls desperately short of decent. Then we head over to Germany for some Hofbrau Dunkel, a favorite of Johnny's and a decent example of a Munich Dunkel Lager, a darker and smoother version of a pilsner. With a brewery dating back to 1589, the tradition definitely shows through.

Episode 071 - Dogfish Head Black and Blue, Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel

Wed, 13 May 2009 15:54:29 +0000

It's a big episode, with some big beers - Dogfish Head always turns in the big beers, and this time we check out their attempt at a fruit beer - their Black and Blue, made with pureed blackberries and blueberries. Hence the name. Although actually a Belgian Strong Ale, it wins decent points. We finish with the Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel - which both has a curious story, as well as the highest ratings ever handed out on Two Guys On Beer.

Episode 070 - Erie Golden Fleece Maibock, Konings Hoeven Bock Trappist Ales

Mon, 11 May 2009 18:25:52 +0000

It's Spring, which means it's Bock season. We try one on for size, and then try out a Trappist Ale that is an interpretation on a bock. The Maibock comes in decent, but the Trappist kind of disappoints.

Episode 069 - Great Divide Brewing Claymore Scotch Ale, Orkney Skull Splitter

Wed, 06 May 2009 19:26:54 +0000

We love Scotch Ale, and we have two of them for you - starting with Great Divide Brewing Company in Colorado and their Claymore Scotch Ale, and then over to Scotland itself, to Orkney, to speak of their Viking inspired Skull Splitter Scottish Ale.