Beer-a-Day #315

I was at my favorite retailer recently and I was able to score seven craft beers in cans. It’s time for “Can Week”!

Today: Pale Ale from Caldera Brewing a small microbrewer in Ashland Oregon and the first in Oregon to can their beer.

A West Coast-style pale ale balancing plenty of hops with a malty backbone.

Straw colored with a white head. Fruity aroma; reminds me a bit of pineapple. The bitterness from the hops sneak up on you. This is good. I’d gladly have this again.

I found a hidden gem in an offbeat section of Troy NY, DeFazio’s Pizza.

I had stumbled upon the place using Yelp, or some other such app on my iPhone. I was very skeptical at first having never heard of it before but yet it had great reviews online. It also noted it as a BYOB. So, I gave them a call to check them out and they were very nice, suggested reserving us a table and said that we could bring our own booze. Perfect! I was ready for an adventure and I wanted to try the Rogue’s Morimoto Imperial Pilsner Al gave to me.

It was a bit hard to find on a rainy Saturday evening, but I am sought it out. The place was small, very small. The décor was… scant. My wife said the parking was scary. But, they were very nice, gave us personalized service, and the pizza was high quality gourmet. We were going to the theater that evening and there were a few other people we suspected had the same agenda. Others brought several bottles of wine and looked like they were going to make it their entire evening.

My biggest complaint would be that they didn’t provide glasses, so I had to have my pilsner in a plastic cup. But that didn’t ruin it for me, nor the beer. This pilsner was in-your-face hoppy. This is basically an IPA brewed as a lager. But it also had good depth, meaning it wasn’t just hops, but a strong body of malted barley to back it up. Excellent all around; thanks Al.

Beer-a-Day #314

I was at my favorite retailer recently and I was able to score seven craft beers in cans. Can you say “Can Week”?

Today: Ashland Amber from Caldera Brewing a small microbrewer in Ashland Oregon and the first in Oregon to can their beer.

A crisp, well-balanced, refreshing amber. Simplicity is the key to this recipe.

Clear amber with a cream-colored head. Aroma has a bit of vanilla and piney hops. Flavor is crisp and light without being too light. This is a quaffable beer. I’ll have this again.

From Tiger Beer in Malaysia, by Saatchi & Saatchi.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfZta3CBppU

Beer-a-Day #313

I was at my favorite retailer recently and I was able to score seven craft beers in cans. Why not “Can Week”?

Today: Old Chub from Oskar Blues.

Old Chub is a Scottish strong ale brewed with hearty amounts of seven different malts, including crystal and chocolate malts, and a smidge of US and UK hops. Old Chub also gets a dash of beechwood-smoked grains imported from Bamburg, Germany, home of the world’s greatest smoked beers. Old Chub is 8% alcohol by volume.

While Dale’s satisfies our hop addiction, Old Chub takes care of our deep affections for malt.

The cola-colored beer (almost black) features a tan head, a creamy, skim-milk mouthfeel, and rich, semi-sweet flavors of caramel and chocolate throughout. The addition of smoked grains gives Old Chub a delicate kiss of smoke on the finish.

Old Chub is the beer equivalent of a lightly smoked single malt scotch, or your favorite dark chocolate. We call it Rocky Mountain Mutha’s Milk. People who tell us defiantly, “I don’t drink dark beer,” often fall deeply in love with Old Chub. We can’t blame them.

Dark coppery color. Warm, almost smoky aroma. Big, malty flavor with a good bit of complexity. That’s pretty good, although I don’t think I’d want it more than occasionally.

We had a party to go to this weekend where we were to bring an appetizer and a dessert. My wife made some cranberry and white chocolate chip cookies from a recipe on the back of the Ocean Spray package of dried cranberries. I wanted to do something a little more sophisticated and fun and so I turned to a recipe for beer bread that I saw Alton Brown make the other night on his "Fermentation Nation" episode of Good Eats.

The main flavors for this bread come from some dill, cheddar cheese and, of course, beer. AB recommended a good pale ale as opposed to a stout, or lager, that I see called for in many recipes. I decided to go with Ithaca’s Cascazilla, a monstrously hoppy brew. Here’s a picture of it…

Unfortunately, this bread was close to awful. I found it way too salty to begin with, but even beyond that it just didn’t have a good taste to it. I followed the recipe exactly including weighing my ingredients. The texture of the bread was perfect, so I am pretty sure I didn’t make any mistakes. I’m not going to even give you the recipe (though the link is above). The unofficial Hop Talk rating for this is a 1. So sad.

But the cookies were awesome!

Beer-a-Day #312

I was at my favorite retailer recently and I was able to score seven craft beers in cans. A perfect excuse to make this “Can Week”.

Next up: Ten Fidy Imperial Stout from Oskar Blues.

It’s the beer equivalent of decadently rich milkshake made with malted-milk balls and Heaven’s best chocolate ice cream. Ten FIDY is about 10% ABV and is made with enormous amounts of two-row malts, chocolate malts, roasted barley, flaked oats and hops. Its huge-but-comforting flavors hide a whopping 98 IBUs that are deftly tucked underneath the beer’s mountains of malty goodness.

Deep, opaque brown, with a head that looks like chocolate mousse. Lots of chocolate roastiness in the aroma. Boy, that smells good. The taste doesn’t disappoint. It’s big and malty and the bitterness, if anything, seems understated. That is really good.

Beer-a-Day #311

I was at my favorite retailer recently and I was able to score seven craft beers in cans. So, I’m declaring this “Can Week”.

First up: Dale’s Pale Ale from Oskar Blues.

Dale’s Pale Ale is our flagship beer and America’s first hand-canned craft beer. It’s an assertive but deftly balanced beer (somewhere between an American pale ale and an India Pale Ale) brewed with hefty amounts of European malts and American hops.

It features a merengue-like head, a copper color, and a hoppy nose, thanks to a big post-boil addition of Centennial hops. To complement its hoppy first impression, Dale’s also sports a rich middle of malts and hops, and a bracing finish. Dale’s is 6.5% alcohol by volume, and features 65 International Bittering Units.

We think of it as the perfect, everyday beer for hopheads like us. Dale’s Pale Ale’s rich flavor has helped us make many new fans, and its numerous honors have helped us kick huge holes in the misconceptions regarding cans.

Muddy amber with a little haze; off-white head with lots of lacing. Nice big piney and resiny aroma from the hops. Nice “backbone” and plenty of bitterness in the finish. A glorious beer for my fellow hop-heads.

Beer-a-Day #310

Old Brown Dog has been cited as a classic example of the “American Brown Ale” style of beer. Compared to a typical English Brown Ale, Old Brown Dog is fuller-bodied and more strongly hopped.

It’s the color of a strong tea, with an off-white head. Smells very “bready”. Malty, with a bit of roastiness and a bit of hop bitterness. I’d gladly have this again.

Smuttynose Old Brown Dog

Beer-a-Day #309

A special top-fermenting ale yeast is used during fermentation and is responsible for many of Liberty Ale’s subtle flavors and characteristics. Carbonation is produced by an entirely natural process called “bunging,” which produces champagne-like bubbles. Dry-hopping (adding fresh hops to the brew during aging), imparts a unique aroma to the ale. It is a process rarely used in this country today.

Dry-hopping is rare? I don’t know about that.

Pale yellow with a creamy white head. I smell some fruitiness (apples perhaps) and some spice. Maltiness in the beginning but plenty of hops in the finish. That’s darn good.

Anchor Steam – Liberty Ale

Beer-a-Day #308

It’s the color of weak coffee and clear. I get a little caramel aroma and maybe a little chocolate. Balanced sweetness with no bitterness in the finish. In spite of being imported in a clear bottle this is fresh and delicious (unlike the one I tried for O-fest 2009). This is really good, and I wish I had more than the one.

Newcastle Brown Ale (UK)
Newcastle Brown Ale (US)

Beer-a-Day #307

A very pale beer brewed as a lager and which has a crisp, assertive Czechoslovakian Saaz hop character. This beer took 6 weeks to produce because the strain of yeast we used has a slow and cold fermentation, which results in a very smooth beer. 4.3% alcohol by volume.

This was the first Brewer’s Alley beer I ever saw in a bottle. (They’ve recently changed the label to match their other bottles so I don’t have a picture.)

Pale straw with a white, fizzy head. A slight nuttiness and fruitiness in the aroma. Pleasant malty sweetness with nice bitterness. One of my favorite beers to have after a rough day of yardwork.

Brewer’s Alley

Beer-a-Day #306

Visitors to Smuttynose Island, peering across the dark waters of Gosport Harbor towards the ragged rocks of neighboring Star Island, are sometimes startled by the fleeting sight of mysterious, alluring creatures swept up from the Atlantic’s cold, inky depths. Or so they tell us.

Our Star Island Single is an eminently sessionable, abbey-style ale offering a beguiling mix of flavor and refreshment. This medium-bodied golden ale features a slight residual sweetness from Honey Malt and hints of citrus and tropical fruits from the unique Belgian yeast it is fermented with, leaving a crisp dry finish. Enjoy it sociably while you savor good times, tall tales, friendly company & life’s unexpected pleasures.

Sounds really interesting, plus both my girls are fascinated by mermaids.

Light yellow with a little chill haze. Aroma is light and vaguely reminiscent of soap. (Uh-oh.) Taste is fruity and dry. I’m not liking it much, though.

Smuttynose Star Island Single

Beer-a-Day #305

Our Kölsch is pale gold with light body and a slightly dry palate. It has a mild bitterness and delicate hop aroma. This beer is a clean and pleasant thirst quencher, which earned a Bronze Medal at the 1998 Great American Beer Festival. 4.6 – 5.0% alcohol, by volume.

Brewer’s Alley Head Brewer Tom Flores calls this (which happens to be their most popular brew) a “gateway” beer.

Pale gold with a fizzy head. Aroma is slightly floral. Light without being too light, with just enough bitterness. I like it.

Brewer’s Alley

Only. Two. Months. To. Go.

274. Blue Point Oktoberfest
275. Atwater Block Vanilla Java Porter
276. Atwater Block Dirty Blonde
277. Kona Brewing Longboard Island Lager
278. Victory HopDevil
279. Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest
280. Victory Storm King Stout
281. Boont Extra Special Beer
282. Trois Pistoles
283. Captain Lawrence Smoke From The Oak – Apple Brandy Barrel Aged
284. Southern Tier Crème Brûlée Imperial Milk Stout
285. Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse
286. Clipper City MärzHon
287. Stone Brewing Levitation Ale
288. Goose Island Honker’s Ale
289. Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA
290. Flying Fish Imperial Espresso Porter
291. Sierra Nevada Kellerweis
292. Ithaca Cascazilla
293. New Holland Brewing The Poet Oatmeal Stout
294. Oskar Blues Mama’s Little Yella Pils
295. Barley and Hops Annapolis Rocks Pale Ale
296. Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen
297. New Holland Ichabod
298. Flying Dog Horn Dog Barley Wine
299. Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti
300. Tröegs JavaHead Stout
301. Smuttynose Robust Porter
302. Wild Goose XPA
303. Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale
304. Stoudt’s Double IPA

Previously:

• January recap
• February recap
• March recap
• April recap
• May recap
• June recap
• July recap
• August recap
• September recap

Beer-a-Day #304

Our IPA is a strong, full bodied ale with intense hop character and deep golden color. Multiple kettle hop additions and generous dry hopping contribute to the powerful yet smooth and fragrant hop character of this beer.

Pale gold in color. Hop aroma is soft and floral, but the hops really come through in the taste. Big and fragrant but not overpowering. This does not taste like it is 10% ABV.

Stoudt’s Brewing

Beer-a-Day #303

Deep, nearly opaque amber color with a good inch of creamy-looking head. Piney and resiny aromas, with a bit of vanilla I think. Nice, big hoppy flavor with a little bit of sweetness in the finish.

Oh, I’m worthy brother.

Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale

Beer-a-Day #302

The Extra Pale Ale is a new addition to the Wild Goose family of English-inspired ales. The XPA’s nose has herbal-like undertones of citrus and pine. A refreshing light to medium-bodied ale with a balanced malt sweetness and spicy, citrus hop character. A clean, crisp finish makes for a great session ale for people who prefer maltier styles.

Five percent may be a bit high for a session beer, but I am glad that Flying Dog kept around the Wild Goose line.

Pretty light amber and clear; head is fizzy and drops fairly quickly. I get some floral and earthy aromas. Flavor is light with a pleasant bitterness without being a tongue-stripper. I could see having a bunch of this, especially at a barbecue.

Wild Goose XPA: Extra Pale Ale

Beer-a-Day #301

This hearty, mahogany colored ale is brewed to evoke the dark, full-bodied ales that were a favorite of dockworkers and warehousemen (hence the name “Porter”) in 19th century London. It is a good bet that when Dickens’ Mr. Pickwick sat down for a pint, he would have been drinking an ale much like our Robust Porter. This is a smooth and very drinkable beer, characterized by its well-balanced malt and hops, plus subtle notes of coffee and chocolate.

It’s the color of coffee with a chocolate head. Nice roasty coffee aroma with a bit of chocolate, as promised. Body is lighter than I expected, but it’s still darn good.

Smuttynose Robust Porter

Beer-a-Day #300

JavaHead Stout contains a blend of locally roasted espresso and Kenyan coffee beans by St. Thomas Roasters in Linglestown, PA.

JavaHead’s recipe is based off of our original oatmeal stout. After the boil, the hot wort passes through our hopback vessel on it’s way to fermentation. Packed full of whole leaf hops and a bed of ground coffee beans, the hopback vessel is similar to using a huge French press, intensifying the coffee nose and releasing subtle hints of coffee flavor. The result is a lush oatmeal mouthfeel balanced with cocoa, roast and subtle coffee flavors.

Three. Hundred. Beers.

Wow.

I honestly wasn’t sure I’d get this far. And, frankly, I’m glad to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I need something special to celebrate with. I probably should be having a beer made with coffee this late in the evening, but what the hell.

Dark and dark, with a thick, creamy head. Coffee and resiny hops in the aroma. Nice and smooth with that nice coffee bitterness. Boy, that’s good.

Yay me.

Tröegs JavaHead Stout