The Brew Lounge: Best Beers

Showing posts with label Best Beers. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 04, 2017

1 favorite beers from September 25 - October 1

Was it a light week? In some ways, yes, but in many ways just the same beer-drinking week as any other week. But, there was just one that stood out, way out.

(A little age works for some beers, like this one.)
~ ExPortation (6.3%), by Sierra Nevada (Chico, Calif.)
    Brewed by some of Philadelphia's finest retailers of Sierra Nevada beers in 2010 at the brewery's Beer Camp in Chico, the base beer (ExPorter) was aged in Pinot Noir barrels for nearly a year at famed Russian River Brewing Company and revealed as ExPortation in 2011 in time for Philly Beer Week.

    Thanks to a heads-up from Matt Guyer (Beer Yard) and Gary Fry (Craft Ale House), there was a bit of a reunion for a handful of folks that were in on the brew day with me as an interloper. All agreed that the beer has held up quite well and the tasting crew that came out for it put a decent dent in the 1/2 keg. Cheers, guys, you can certainly be proud of this one!

    While I haven't checked for certain, since this was tapped nearly a week ago, I'd be surprised if it was still on tap. So, given that, this may be just about the most useless beer review that I've shared thus far. Unless, of course, there's yet one more keg hiding in some great beer bar's cellar. You know how those cellars can get.

Click back here for an index of all beers that I've covered in the past.

© Bryan J. Kolesar and The Brew Lounge, 2017. All content is owned and uniquely created by Bryan J. Kolesar. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from Kolesar is strictly prohibited. Excerpts, images, and links may be used with advance permission granted and only provided that full and clear credit is given to Bryan J. Kolesar and The Brew Lounge with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Contact Kolesar at TheBrewLounge@gmail.com

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

6 favorite beers from September 18 - September 24

Vacation always brings out the best in my beer drinking ways. A chance to get caught up on bottles/cans brought from home and a chance to discover new ones. Last week was our annual trip to the remote island of Ocracoke, NC in the state's Outer Banks. The destination truly epitomizes remote and relaxing. Now, for the beers.

(1718 Ocracoke on display at many bars on Ocracoke Island and select other bars across the Outer Banks of NC.)
~ Brunch Coffee Kolsch (5%), by 1718 Ocracoke Brewing (Ocracoke, NC)
The brewery's physical location may not yet be open to the public, but beginning this past June, owner/brewer Garrick Kalna's beers began showing up around the island on tap at a handful of accounts. The approach is rather genius in putting different styles on tap at different locations. My records show that I had the Brunch Coffee Kölsch and Pepperberry Saison at Zillie's, an absolute island must-visit. At SmacNally's dockside bar, it was the Summer Session IPA that hit the spot. When hanging out with a great crowd over brick oven pizza and Ring Toss, a couple pints of East Most West Coast IPA found their way to me. And over at Gaffer's, with its excellent sports pub and live music atmosphere, 1718's take on a NE IPA, Good Bones IPA, showed itself quite nicely. For me, the best of the bunch was the Brunch Coffee Kölsch. Big coffee aroma that was rather mellow and nicely balanced in the delicate beer. Can't wait to visit when the long-waited brewery and tasting room opens it doors. If quality and likability is measured in whether you'd order a second, let's just say I lost count after three of 'em!

(Mike, Tasty, McDole and his Tasty IPA from 21st Amendment — an American Beauty for sure!)
~ Tasty IPA (6.8%), by 21st Amendment (San Leandro & San Francisco, Calif.)
Very happy to see good guy, friend, and former winner of Samuel Adams' Longshot homebrew competition, Mike "Tasty" McDole, now partnered with 21st Amendment where his beer and his image have wound up on the cans and in the marketing material. He's even out on "tour" promoting the the beer at events. They made a 700-barrel batch, so it shouldn't be too difficult to find across the 21A entire distribution footprint in the coming weeks. Oh, and this IPA will remind you what a very good IPA should look and taste like.

(Fruit. Sour. Brooklyn Brewery. Three elements that make a great beer.)
~ Kiwi's Playhouse (8.1%), by Brooklyn Brewery (New York, NY)
If you follow this series of my "best beers" closely enough, you might call me out for featuring this beer from the brewery's "Brooklyn Quarterly Experiment" a couple of months ago when its Beer Mansion traveling event tour was in Philly. True enough. But that was draft and now some bottles made their way to my fridge and I can confirm it's just as darn good as the draft. Sweet kiwi, slightly sour profile. Infinitely drinkable if you like those sorts of things.

(Black Label like a black belt.)
~ Oude Geuze Boon Black Label (7%), by Brouwerij Boon (Lambeek, Belgium)
Very nice and dry, crisp, grapefruit citrus, refreshing, and almost poundable. Very wow. So much so, I need to find my way into another few bottles or cases of this. Very glad this came along on vacation and...did I say "very"?

(I enjoyed the beer so much and too quickly that I forgot to take a picture for myself. photo: duckrabbitbrewery.com)
~ Märzen (4.6%), by Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery (Farmville, NC)
Duck-Rabbit is nearing its 15th anniversary, but it feels like its excellent beers have been around and winning awards for much longer. This one, in fact, accounts for several including GABF Bronze in 2015 and GABF Silver in 2014. Happy to report this excellent malt-forward fest beer worked very well as an interlude between a couple coffee Kölschs (see above).

(America's Team. Maybe in Dallas. Everywhere else, I'm sure, can get on board with this beer.)
~ Dallas Sucks Pale Ale (4.5%), by Weyerbacher Brewing Company (Easton, Pa.)
If you know anything about the Pistola's family of bars, their staffs, and particularly their POS terminals, you know they have a special disdain for Dallas. Maybe not necessarily for Dallas, the city, (or maybe so) but more specifically for the Cowboys of how-'bout-them-Cowboys NFL fame. Now they've got a partner in Weyerbacher which is helping them express this disdain with a very good pale ale. At 4.5% and nicely balanced and not overdone with hops, you should easily be able to session away a six-pack of this during a three-hour football game.

Click back here for an index of all beers that I've covered in the past.

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

2 favorite beers from September 4 - September 17

What can I say? It's not for lack of drinking beers these last two weeks. Just lack of finding ones that *really* jumped out at me. Here are a couple just from the last few days.

(Wonderful to have this beauty in 15-pack cans.)
~ Mosaic Promise (5.5%), by Founders Brewing Company (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Focused on Mosaic hops and Golden Promise malt. Such a simple approach, such an easy beer to enjoy. Depending upon your dogmatism (or lack of it), this could certainly be thrown around in the session ballpark. Being available in the 15-pack "suitcase" is another appealing aspect.

(Fun bottle label, delicious beer.)
~ Impromptu Dance Party, Vol.1 (6.7%), by Free Will Brewing Company (Perkasie, Pa.)
Not sure what "Volume 1" implies, but I can guess. This is an exquisitely refreshing and delicious blend of cranberries, cherries, peaches, and grapefruit. Which, in my book, makes this a very nice breakfast beer. Not that I advocate or have tested this concept myself. Or have I?

Click back here for an index of all beers that I've covered in the past.

Tuesday, September 05, 2017

2 favorite beers from August 28 - September 3

All honors from this past week go to Dock Street, a Philly original still doing it and doing it well more than 25 years since first opening on 18th Street.

(Rosemarie Certo, owner, surrounded by the Dock Street team celebrating their 10th anniversary on 50th Street.)
~ Common Sense Lager (4.9%), by Dock Street Brewing Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Where has this California Common Lager been? Or maybe where have I been? This toasted malt lager starts strong and cleans up nicely, making it one heckuva easy drinker. Very well done, this one deserves to make a regular return to the draft list at Dock Street.

(A winner both on tap and in the 16 oz. can. Hope to see this one-off somewhere down the road again.)
~ nicethings IPA (6.4%), by Dock Street Brewing Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
It wasn't until I was told that this was a collaboration beer that I recalled being introduced to the local rap star behind this beer, Chill Moody, by Dock Street's Marilyn Candeloro during Philly Beer Week. Thing about this IPA is that it is, indeed, very nice. Straight ahead IPA that 1) proves IPAs don't need to be (overly) hazy to be very good and 2) the Mosaic hop is a mighty tasty hop. Had it on tap with a Flammenkuche (because, well, you know) and then thanks to Certo for sending a can home with me for further inspection.

Click back here for an index of all beers that I've covered in the past.

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

3 favorite beers from August 21 - August 27

Gonna make things easy on you this week and put just three very good beers out there for you to consider.

(I like the branded glassware almost as much as I like the beer.)
~ Apex Special IPA (8.25%), by Bear Republic Brewing Company (Cloverdale, Calif.)
Call it a special IPA, an imperial IPA, a strong IPA, a double IPA, or whatever you like. In my case, I call it one of the best examples of a strong, clean, and very well-balanced hop forward beer. Melon fruit, assertive but palatable bitterness, with a solid bready malt base. I've never visited them in person in all my visits to the brewery's home state. I may change that in October.

(Live music, pig roast, bottle release, beautiful weather made a perfect Saturday in Berwyn.)
~ Hipster Catnip (7.2%), by La Cabra Brewing (Berwyn, Pa.)
Even if I was a hipster before the word was invented (and, hopefully, I wasn't), I don't believe I'd drink a beer that called attention to my hipsterdom. But, here and now, not drinking Hipster Catnip would indeed be dumb. Citra hops. Mosaic hops. Package this up in a cat toy and I'd chase it around all afternoon. They did a very nice job opening their parking lot to an afternoon festival last Saturday and I hope to see many more such events in the future (Something about Oktoberfest was mentioned; watch the calendar.)

Also catching my attention at La Cabra during the event was Zettle. I'm not typically attracted to many a Hefeweizen, but this one's a refreshing balance of clean, not muddied, hallmark spices and its easy finish made this a winner.

Click back here for an index of all beers that I've covered in the past.

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Six favorite beers from August 7-August 20

Since my track record is getting a bit spotty with being able to keep this on a weekly schedule, I've gone and removed "of the week" from the title of this recurring post. Another week spent in Winston-Salem last week afforded me the opportunity to finally check out Natty Greene's in person. Only previously have enjoyed many of their beers off-premises. They'd just recently opened their third location, Kitchen + Market, so the timing worked out well. Read on below for more about beers in both my travels and at home.

(Allagash White great by itself, even better with dinner.)
~ White (5.1%), by Allagash Brewing Company (Portland, Maine)
I've been very fond of , and as loyal as possible to, the Kimpton family of hotels. They usually feature very good food and beverage as well. On the last night of my trip to Winston-Salem last week, dinner was at The Kimpton Cardinal. It's inside the former RJ Reynolds building, which interesting to note was the building that served as inspiration for NYC's Empire State Building. Inside it is a French-themed restaurant where I had an excellent Rockfish that sat on top of a sweet carrot emulsion and went perfectly with an Allagash White.

(Samichlaus - Still a smooth classic from Austria.)
~ Samichlaus (14%), by Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg (Graz, Austria)
Virtually no carbonation but it's from 2005, so what did you expect? Still, very tasty with surprisingly minimal notes of oxidation and a pleasant booziness that, on the other hand, is not surprising given it's 14% ABV!

(Fun play on words, the name, and great tasting beer.)
~ Kiwi's Playhouse (8.1%), by Brooklyn Brewery (New York, NY)
Had this sour ale that was aged on fresh kiwis in red wine barrels during the Beer Mansion event in Philadelphia on August 11. It's a truly remarkable event and this beer in particular, for my palate, stole the show.

(Couple of years on this beer have not hurt it.)
~ Bloody Butcher Appalachian Grisette (5.2%), by Fonta Flora Brewery (Morganton, NC)
Finally got around to this; why it took so long is a mystery. But I couldn't detect any suffering from the passing of time. They made it with local corn and local malt. It was a refreshing and mildly tart easy-drinker. This brewery, halfway between Charlotte and Asheville, routinely gets high marks.

(Desperate times in hotel room call for plastic beer drinking vessel.)
~ Hitchpost Gueuze (6.5%), by Natty Greene's Brewing Company (Greensboro, NC)
The brewery says that they make "sessionable ales and sours". I'd say that this one, aged 18 months in French Oak barrels, falls into both categories. If 6.5% can be considered sessionable. Go ahead, give it to me.

(Proper glassware at Natty Greene's impressive and comfortable new Kitchen + Market location.)
~ Center Cut Robust Porter (5.9%), by Natty Greene's Brewing Company (Greensboro, NC)
Solid roasty and lightly smoky porter. Excellent way to enjoy the comfy environs of the upstairs lounge at Natty Greene's new Kitchen + Market north of downtown Greensboro.

Click back here for an index of all beers that I've covered in the past.

Wednesday, August 09, 2017

5 favorite beers of last week (July 31-August 6)

Contrary to my notes below, I did get out of the house last week. But, there was plenty to do around the house and yard, therefore the kegerator's taps were flowing freely. And I wouldn't have these three on tap if they weren't solid. And how about that homebrew from 2010? Still surprising.

(My homebrew in its early development stages.)
~ Chocolate Cherry Imperial Stout (~11%), by The Brew Lounge (in the western suburbs of Philadelphia, Pa.)
Who knew 53 twelve-ounce bottles could last so long? For starters, it didn't lose its harsh sour cherry edge and show off its rich chocolate characteristic until nearly a year post-bottling. Then, consider it's a roughly 11% ABV beer, bursting with cherry and chocolate flavors; it's more of a sipping sharer than a chugger. This was my second-to-last bottle and I was so impressed by how decently it had held up that I selfishly figured it warranted a place on this list. I don't have a lengthy homebrewing resume, even to the point where I would say it's not fair to other homebrewers to call me a homebrewer, but with results like this one (and the one remaining bottle) I have a decent track record. Now...when will I drink the last bottle?

(Answer to a Jeopardy clue: What are three stellar local beers on tap in my house right now?)
~ Puddlers Row ESB (5.4%), by Conshohocken Brewing Company (Conshohocken, Pa.)
    This sixtel has been on tap at The Brew Lounge twice before. Been a favorite of mine since they opened in 2014 and they've won national recognition for it in competition. A very well-made beer perfect for the segue between the end of a hot summer day and dinnertime.

~ Saison Vos (6.5%), by Sly Fox Brewing Company (Pottstown, Pa.)
    A favorite of mine for longer than the ESB if only for that it's been brewed that much longer than Conshohocken's beers. They're both well-made in their own right. This sixtel has shown up at least a half dozen times, maybe eight or nine times since the kegerator went live on the sunporch. My go-to local Saison, though to be fair, quite a few others are encroaching on that list.

~ Pynk (5.5%), by Yards Brewing Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
    Not too many fruit beers make my best-of lists. Even fewer would ever qualify for a full 5.16 gallons inventory at Chez Kolesar. This one from Yards is a slightly, but refreshingly, tart one and chock full of raspberries and cherries and is also a significant annual fundraiser for the Tyanna Foundation. Time and thirst permitting, there could be a second sixtel on tap before summer's end.

("Levante at The Stables" in Chester Springs, Pa. -- Photo courtesy of Levante Brewing Company)
~ Clean Living Saison (5.5%), by Levante Brewing Company (West Chester, Pa.)
Did someone say refreshing? That's what this Saison from Levante is serving up, with a nice, but not overwhelming, dose of lemongrass and ginger flavors. Had this at their new outpost for Levante beers, called Levante at The Stables, which is also home to at least two food trucks and a side food operation from Split Rail Tavern. The thing is a bit of a joint venture, one of which details I need to, admittedly, learn more about. Quite a suburban/rural undertaking on this striking, nearly 200-year-old, farm property with plenty of parking, entertainment, and room for the kiddies to roam.

Click back here for an index of all beers that I've covered in the past.

Tuesday, August 01, 2017

10 favorite beers of last week (July 10-July 30)

If Beer Weeks can define a week as ten days (or eleven this past year in Philly?), then I'm going to take the liberty of defining my last week of favorite beers as covering 21 days! What can I say? Have I been slacking? Not at all.

Been busy on many fronts, including two weeks of travel to Winston-Salem, NC — you'll see below how that turned out to be such a worthy destination. The first week of this three week period did not have much to write home (or to you) about. But the last ten-plus days certainly made up for it. Read on and let me know if you agree.

(Rich, full, and balanced flavors in a big bottle.)
~ Uísque Fumaça (7%), by 2SP Brewing Company (Aston, Pa.)
The brewery's website lists this under "Special Beers" and it certainly earns that right. Head Brewer Bob Barrar finished this smoked porter in both Cabernet Sauvignon barrels and Rye Whiskey barrels. My personal preference says the quality and the depth of flavor wins with the super smooth and perfectly balanced whiskey version.

(One of the most distinctive looking beers I've had in some time. The color gives this one away.)
~ Ghost Station Berliner Weisse w/ Raspberries (4%), by Crime & Punishment Brewing Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
It's all berry, all tart, and all refreshing. Perfect for summertime and perfect at 4% ABV. Had this during the brewery's 2nd anniversary party. It's the only beer I ordered twice. I love the inspiration behind C&P's beers and naming. With Ghost Station, on their website they describe it as being "Named in honor of the secret trains that ran between East and West Germany during the Cold War. Brewed with 126 pounds of red raspberry puree..."

(A work of art, both on paper and in the glass.)
~ Sofiya (6.1%), by Crime & Punishment Brewing Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Lot of very good things happening (or shall I say, brewing) at Crime & Punishment on Girard Avenue. The brewery's first foray into bottling coincided with the anniversary and upon bringing a bottle home with me and later diving headfirst into it, I can report that the barrel-aged Saison (in Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc) turned out very, very well.

(Comfy and inviting environs in which to enjoy a Dark Mild, ESB, or Dry Stout.)
~ Dark Mild (3.7%), by Hoots Beer Co. (Winston-Salem, NC)
Once you find Hoots in Winston-Salem's historic West End neighborhood, I challenge you to make it only a short visit. There's no food at the brewery, but the adjacent family-friendly Mexican restaurant - The Porch Kitchen & Cantina - has that covered with ease and you should not miss that either. At Hoots, brewer Dave McClure's (of award-winning brewing history at Foothills and Red Brick) Irish Dry Stout and the ESB are phenomenal, but if I was sessioning the evening away (or the day, for that matter, why not?) the Dark Mild is what you'd find in my hand. Guaranteed, and that's a challenge that I'm willing to take.

(Photogenic bar for a picture perfect beer.)
~ Sorachi Grace Saison (4.8%), by La Cabra Brewing Company (Berwyn, Pa.)
Been a couple few too many weeks since I'd last been to La Cabra. That was thankfully rectified and I was justly rewarded with a nice herbal and citrus balance in this farmhouse ale.

(A lot to like about this airy brewpub outside of Lancaster.)
~ Frican Saison (6.2%), by Mad Chef Craft Brewing (East Petersburg, Pa.)
Rounding out my three 2-year anniversary parties in three weekends as Mad Chef in the middle on July 22. Their food, as much as their beer, continues to really impress me. So, do I put up the American IPA (6.3%), the Frican Saison (6.2%), or the F-18 IPA (6.3%) up as my favorite of the week? Tough call, but Saison is unmistakably my favorite year-round go-to style. At Mad Chef, brewer Sean Raney has nailed it. If you're anywhere near Lancaster, Mad Chef should be on your list of three breweries to visit.

(Just your run-of-the-mill Monday draft board at TJ's.)
~ Supplication (7%), by Russian River Brewing Company (Santa Rosa, Ca.)
We're fortunate in the Philly area to have access to a near year-round supply of beers from the vaunted Russian River from California. When this sour cherry ale, aged in Pinot Noir barrels, can show up on a random Monday at TJ's in the suburban town of Paoli, yeah, you know were fortunate. This, btw, is likely my favorite from the brewery's sour side of the menu, as it sports the trifecta of brettanomyces, lactobacillus, and pediococcus while spending a year in the barrels.

(Solid summer beer to enjoy all day long.)
~ SRT Ale (4.6%), by Sly Fox Brewing Company (Pottstown & Phoenixville, Pa.)
I recently picked up a sixtel of Saison Vos, the beer that has appeared in my home kegerator more than any other in the seven years of proud kegerator ownership, and while at the brewery also was fortuitous to come home with some canned Hop Project 002 and SRT Ale. The SRT makes an annual appearance in the spring and draws its inspiration from the SRT (Schuylkill River Trail), to which proceeds from this beer's sales are donated. It's a low-alcohol, hop-forward ale that I'm sorry I did get to sooner than mid-summer. The Hop Project is packaged in 16 oz. cans with the removable lid. This version in the series/project is sporting Centennial, Simcoe, and Denali hops and goes down all too easily.

(Two Old Hos hanging out together, one from '05 and the other from '06.)
~ Old Horizontal [2005] (11%), by Victory Brewing Company (Downingtown, Parkesburg, & Kennett Square, Pa.)
If you follow me closely on social media (and, duh, why wouldn't you?! I use social media much more responsibly than some people. **handy FB link and Twitter link**), you may have noticed I've been working my way through a whole bunch of vintage beers. Many of which have very little business still being around 10+ years after bottling, much less five. This "Old Ho" from Victory has actually held up rather well after nearly 12 years. Not too much sherry or oxidation notes. Poured carefully to leave behind the sludge (though, surprisingly not too much), this is still a nice rather rich drinking barleywine that has held up similarly to certain Brooklyn Monster and Sierra Nevada Bigfoot barleywines.

(Plenty of both indoor and outdoor space to enjoy excellent beers from Wise Man.)
~ Week's Work English Mild (3.3%), by Wise Man Brewing Company (Winston-Salem, NC)
Unlike Hoots, Wise Man is very easy to find. Just off the edge of downtown W-S, the 7-month-old brewery is making a strong impression with beers that wander into the extreme. Rebel Funk Brett Saison (6.3%) and Table of Brotherhood Tart Wheat IPA (5.5%) are two such examples. But, similar to Hoots, they really, really (did I say "really"?) caught my attention with their low alcohol offerings -- Week's Work English Mild, Scoop Dogg Cream Ale (5.6%), and Open Confession Scottish Ale (3.6%). The brewery is very kid friendly, very dog friendly, food truck friendly, and well good independent beer-friendly.

Click back here for an index of all beers that I've covered in the past.

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

2 favorite beers of last week (July 3-July 9)

Looking back, I really didn't get out much last week. And much of July appears to be shaping up the same. Could be a good thing, or not. I considered holding off but figured it's supposed to be a weekly series and I did, in fact, have two really enjoyable beers last week. One just so happened to be around 12 years old and the other one around 6 weeks.

(Patience, they say, is a virtue and sometimes even pays off.)
~ Monster Ale [2005] (10.1%), by Brooklyn Brewery (Brooklyn, NY)
A few nights later, I had a bottle dated 2009 and it came across as lighter and lacking the depth of flavor in the 2005 version. A richness, a slight sweetness, and just a slight sherry-like presence made this a great post-lawn mowing, pre-dinner beer on the back deck. I have one left of each bottle and look forward to performing this test once more.

(Crowlers make both an excellent transportation and storing package.)
~ Rye Bread (7.7%), by Urban Village Brewing Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
It wasn't intentional to hold on to this crowler for so long, but the avalanche and aftermath of Philly Beer Week delayed my consumption. No matter. Crowlers are proven to keep out the light, the air, and when kept cold can still be very good weeks later. If this very good IPA was a percent or percent-and-a-half lower in ABV, I'd drink this all night long. I don't have an Urban Village piece of glassware (do they exist?), so hopefully I get a point for keeping it local in my choice of Yards glassware instead.

Click back here for an index of all beers that I've covered in the past.

Wednesday, July 05, 2017

3 favorite beers of last week (June 26-July 2)

It wasn't for lack of trying last week. Yet, only three rose to the top of my tasting list during the last seven days. Check 'em out, because they were truly worthy.

Also worthy is the list of eight beers that was passed along to me by the Brewers of PA organization, asking if I could find a way to share. I figured here, in this case of a shorter-than-usual list, I could find fit to pass along their recommendations for your summer consumption decision-making.

(Great hop profile in this San Francisco treat from one the newest breweries there.)
~ Galaxy Dust IPA (6.4%), by Barebottle Brewing Company (San Francisco, Calif.)
My buddy Kevin quickly dispelled any thinking I had that there may be no bottles of local beer making their way back east with me from my most recent trip to the Bay Area. He and I stopped at City Beer Store (when in SF, there's no reason you shouldn't find yourself here, either for the bottle selection, the draft selection, or the fact they're a mere block from Cellarmaker) and he enthusiastically pointed out one of the city's newest — Barebottle located in the city's Bernal Heights neighborhood. Good move on my part; though, I probably should've grabbed more than one. Wonderful Galaxy hop profile in this "northeast" IPA and for bonus points, the label includes the beer's recipe scaled down to a homebrewer's five-gallon version. Pretty cool.

(Continued German goodness from this western PA stalwart.)
~ Oktoberfest Elchland (5.7%), by Straub Brewery (St. Marys, Pa.)
In the most recent Peter Straub Signature Brews Adventure Series sampler pack, you'll find some solid beers, none more so for my liking than this enjoyable Märzen. Nice nod to the brewery's founder, now six generations removed. If you miss it now, there'll be more coming in the late summer, early fall.

(Tastes just like the name suggests, but fortunately not in an overdone way.)
~ Key Lime Pie Gose (4%), by Westbrook Brewing Company (Mount Pleasant, SC)
This made its way north courtesy of my step-brother. He was bragging on it quite a bit and now I know why. Perfect summer beer with exactly the flavors you'd expect in a beer named Key Lime Pie Gose. But they didn't overdo it and it turned out to be one that I wouldn't have minded having a few more of.

Click back here for an index of all beers that I've covered in the past.

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

4 favorite beers of last week (June 19-25)

The much-anticipated Root Down is now open in Phoenixville and things are looking (and tasting) so good that they landed two beers on last week's best-of list. Here's an index of all beers that I've covered in the past on these weekly hit lists.

(While I know absolutely nothing about HBO series, Game Of Thrones, I know this beer well enough now to know it deserves a place on this list.)
~ Game of Thrones Bend The Knee Golden Ale (9%), by Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, NY)
I've no shame that I don't know one single thing about Game of Thrones (no hater, though). What I do know is that from my recall, this may be the best (or at least my personal favorite) in the series of GoT-themed beers put out by Brewery Ommegang since Take The Black Stout. This one is a fine sipper that drinks like a Belgian Tripel (sweet and a touch of hop bitterness) and, at 9%, is probably better suited for easy-chair drinking rather than walking around Eastern State Penitentiary. That's where the picture above was taken during the wildly-popular, and smartly conceived and located, event in Philadelphia to mark the release of the new beer. The prison is a magnificent backdrop for many such events, and it played particularly well here for the brewery and the show.

(You'll be hard-pressed to find a bad beer on this list at Root Down; 3LR rises to the top.)
~ 3LR-Three-legged Rabbit Altbier (5.2%), by Root Down Brewing Company (Phoenixville, Pa.)
This is an unapologetically beer low on hops. So much so that they named it Three-legged Rabbit. Why, you ask? Well, what does a three-legged rabbit not do? Hop, duh. This is a beautiful showcase of a wonderful style indigenous to Düsseldorf, Germany and how a malt-forward beer should drink and one that I hope to see on Root Down's menu more often than not — and, hopefully, on an increasing number of other brewery lists as well.

(Stay Gold tastes just as good a couple days later from the crowler as it does on tap at the source.)
~ Stay Gold Saison (5.2%), by Root Down Brewing Company (Phoenixville, Pa.)
My second visit to Root Down was after a three-hour lawn mowing session and I made a nice little session out of this refreshing Saison at the brewery. Crisp, dry, spicy and just a tick over 5% makes this another beer that I hope to see more often than not at this new Phoenixville brewery and its ultra-comfortable taproom.

(HopBack a rock star in the year-round lineup at Tröegs.)
~ HopBack Amber Ale (6%), by Tröegs Independent Brewing (Hershey, Pa.)
I went to the Pour House in Exton last week when the Tröegs team was debuting its Nimble Giant DIPA. Know where I got detoured along the way? It was the first Tröegs beer on the draft list and one that I'm fearing is losing space on the shelf with absolutely no just cause. Such a perfect and tasty balance of malt (yeah, some Crystal, what's wrong with that?) and enough Cascade, Nugget, Willamette hops to get your attention. Don't take this beer for granted.

Click back here for an index of all beers that I've covered in the past.

Monday, June 26, 2017

Some of the best beers opened at The Brew Lounge

It's turned out to be a Tuesday thing. So tomorrow morning I'll again share a weekly review of the beers I enjoyed most in the previous week. Looks like roughly 4-5 get the nod each week thus far. I'm enjoying it as a way to look back on just how productive (and enjoyable) was the prior week. Also, a peek in to where I'd been and what I found along the way.

Hopefully, you're getting something out of them as well. Because I guarantee you will not be finding these anywhere on Untappd...or Untapped...or however you misspell it.

I'll keep a running index here of all beers that have made my honor roll (if this continues to go well, maybe I should come with an official name for it). Maybe it's my own Brew Lounge Taps. I'm not terribly creative, so that aspect may take some time.

September 25-October 1, 2017
    ExPortation by Sierra Nevada (Chico, Calif.)

September 18-September 24, 2017
    Brunch Coffee Kolsch by 1718 Ocracoke Brewing (Ocracoke, NC)
    Tasty IPA by 21st Amendment (San Leandro & San Francisco, Calif.)
    Kiwi's Playhouse by Brooklyn Brewery (New York, NY)
    Oude Geuze Boon Black Label by Brouwerij Boon (Lambeek, Belgium)
    Märzen by Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery (Farmville, NC)
    Dallas Sucks Pale Ale by Weyerbacher Brewing Company (Easton, Pa.)

September 4-September 17, 2017
    Mosaic Promise by Founders Brewing Company (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
    Impromptu Dance Party, Vol.1 by Free Will Brewing Company (Perkasie, Pa.)

August 28-September 3, 2017
    Common Sense Lager by Dock Street Brewing Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
    nicethings IPA by Dock Street Brewing Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)

August 21-August 27, 2017
    Apex Special IPA by Bear Republic Brewing Company (Cloverdale, Calif.)
    Hipster Catnip by La Cabra Brewing (Berwyn, Pa.)
    Zettle Hefeweizen by La Cabra Brewing (Berwyn, Pa.)

August 7-August 20, 2017
    White by Allagash Brewing Company (Portland, Maine)
    Samichlaus by Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg (Graz, Austria)
    Kiwi's Playhouse by Brooklyn Brewery (New York, NY)
    Bloody Butcher Appalachian Grisette by Fonta Flora Brewery (Morganton, NC)
    Hitchpost Gueuze by Natty Greene's Brewing Company (Greensboro, NC)
    Center Cut Robust Porter by Natty Greene's Brewing Company (Greensboro, NC)

July 31-August 6, 2017
    Chocolate Cherry Imperial Stout by The Brew Lounge (in the western suburbs of Philadelphia, Pa.)
    Puddlers Row ESB by Conshohocken Brewing Company (Conshohocken, Pa.)
    Saison Vos by Sly Fox Brewing Company (Pottstown, Pa.)
    Pynk by Yards Brewing Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
    Clean Living Saison by Levante Brewing Company (West Chester, Pa.)

July 10-July 30, 2017
    Uísque Fumaça by 2SP Brewing Company (Aston, Pa.)
    Ghost Station Berliner Weisse w/ Raspberries by Crime & Punishment Brewing Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
    Sofiya by Crime & Punishment Brewing Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
    Dark Mild by Hoots Beer Co. (Winston-Salem, NC)
    Sorachi Grace Saison by La Cabra Brewing Company (Berwyn, Pa.)
    Frican Saison by Mad Chef Craft Brewing (East Petersburg, Pa.)
    Supplication by Russian River Brewing Company (Santa Rosa, Ca.)
    SRT Ale by Sly Fox Brewing Company (Pottstown & Phoenixville, Pa.)
    Old Horizontal [2005] by Victory Brewing Company (Downingtown, Parkesburg, & Kennett Square, Pa.)
    Week's Work English Mild by Wise Man Brewing Company (Winston-Salem, NC)

July 3-July 9, 2017
    Monster Ale [2005], by Brooklyn Brewery (Brooklyn, NY)
    Rye Bread, by Urban Village Brewing Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)

June 26-July 2, 2017
    Galaxy Dust IPA, by Barebottle Brewing Company (San Francisco, Calif.)
    Oktoberfest Elchland, by Straub Brewery (St. Marys, Pa.)
    Key Lime Pie Gose, by Westbrook Brewing Company (Mount Pleasant, SC)

June 19-25, 2017
    Game of Thrones Bend The Knee Golden Ale, by Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, NY)
    3LR-Three-legged Rabbit Altbier, by Root Down Brewing Company (Phoenixville, Pa.)
    Stay Gold Saison, by Root Down Brewing Company (Phoenixville, Pa.)
    HopBack Amber Ale, by Tröegs Independent Brewing (Hershey, Pa.)

June 5-18, 2017
    Baby Bob, by 2SP Brewing Company (Aston, Pa.)
    Windfall, by Allagash Brewing Company (Portland, Maine)
    Golden IPA, by Dock Street Brewing Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
    Cuvée de Yunk, by Manayunk Brewing Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
    Trauger Pilsner, by Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company (Croydon, Pa.)

May 29-June 4, 2017
    Pick Your Own, by Allagash Brewing Company (Portland, Maine)
    Simplex, by Brouwerij De Ranke (Dottignies, Belgium)
    Lot 215 IPA, by Evolution Craft Brewing Company (Salisbury, Md.)
    Northern Liberties Lager, by Sly Fox Brewing Company (Pottstown, Pa.)

May 22-28, 2017
    Cecilia Saison, by La Cabra Brewing Company (Berwyn, Pa.)
    Grisette Farmhouse Ale, by Manor Hill Brewing Company (Ellicott City, Md.)
    Dussel Duck Altbier, by Ruddy Duck Brewery (Solomons, Md.)

May 15-21, 2017
    SeaQuench Ale, by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Del.)
    Community Kölsch, by Free Will Brewing Company (Perkasie, PA)
    Wit Or Wit Out, by St. Benjamin Brewing Company (Philadelphia)
    Meta Shepherd, by Second District Brewing Company (Philadelphia)
    Cold Drip Doppio (Wigle Whiskey barrel-aged), by Spoonwood Brewing Company (Bethel Park, PA)

May 8-14, 2017
    Hell or High Watermelon Wheat, by 21st Amendment Brewing (San Francisco/San Leandro)
    Imperial Coffee & Cigarettes, by Cellarmaker Brewing (San Francisco)
    Citraison, by Faction Brewing (Alameda)
    Hitachino Nest Ancient Nipponia aged in Red Wine Barrels, by Kiuchi Brewery (Japan)
    Ashbury Alt, by Magnolia Brewing (San Francisco)
    The 49er, by Thirsty Bear Brewing (San Francisco)

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

5 favorite beers of last two weeks (June 5-18)

Had a bit of a post-PBW hangover (plus a day job conference) last week, so I never quite got around to sharing with you the best beers I encountered in the previous week. Three were encountered during Philly Beer Week. The other two were featured samplings that I included at my book signing appearance at the Antietam Farmers Market in Reading, Pa. this past weekend.

(Dark as night, drinks easily during the day.)
~ Baby Bob (6%), by 2SP Brewing Company (Aston, Pa.)
At my book signing in Reading, of the seven beers I took for sampling (perhaps with the exception of the 17.1% Avery Mephistopheles), none other was as captivating as the Baby Bob. People seemed as curious about the name as they were the liquid itself. As an acknowledgement to brewer Bob Barrar's award-winning ways with his Russian Imperial Stout, this smaller Baby Bob is a roasty, easy-drinking American Stout.

(Delivers a Windfall of flavorful enjoyment.)
~ Windfall (6.1%), by Allagash Brewing Company (Portland, Maine)
Peaches. Tart. Brett. That's perfect enough description. Encountered during a visit to Tria Taproom from Allagash's owner Rob Tod, this is the second beer of theirs that went overboard in impressing Philly Beer Week-goers earlier this month.

(Can they can the IPA at Dock Street? Golden idea.)
~ Golden IPA, by Dock Street Brewing Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
The last day of Philly Beer Week has several usual suspects. Fergie's. Local 44. And Dock Street. In past years at Dock Street, you could count on my Beer Runs. The brewery's Music Festival. This year, they only recently opened the new "Cannery + Lounge" in an adjacent property behind the brewery on 50th Street. They took a quieter route to ending PBW this year. With two canned releases. Summer in Berlin and Golden IPA, both in 16-ounce cans. The IPA hit all the right notes for me. Then again, with the Mosaic, Citra, Simcoe, and Amarillo all-star hops with just a touch of haze (not cloudiness, mind you), I wouldn't have expected anything less out of Mark Russell's brewhouse.

(Solid sour from one of Philly's oldest craft/micro brewers.)
~ Cuvée de Yunk (5%), by Manayunk Brewing Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
In a Facebook post during Philly Beer Week, I'd mentioned something about "...being honest...should be paying more attention...." To Manayunk Brewery, that is. And, it took this spectacular apricot sour at Strangelove's during a cross-town walk on a 94-degree last day of PBW to remind of that.

(One of the region's best and most consistent pilsners.)
~ Trauger Pilsner (4.8%), by Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company (Croydon, Pa.)
No doubt it's the Hallertau and Tettnanger noble hops in this German-style Pilsner from one of Bucks County's finest that made this another fan favorite at my book signing event....and also after the power-washing project later in the day. In case you wonder how much a favorite this is of my own, as well, look no further than my home kegerator which has seen more than one of these sixtels pushing up beer through the taps.