Yards and La Colombe shaking things up at the Shack

(Tom Kehoe, Yards and Todd Carmichael, La Colombe)
I was invited to join the media preview of a limited-time beer this past Friday. My decision to attend turned out to be a good one and I pass this information along for you to put to good use in the coming days.

Philadelphia-based Yards Brewing Company and La Colombe Coffee Roasters teamed up with Shake Shack (three locations in the Philly area) on a beer that will be available for a very brief time. The collaborative Coffee Stout was unveiled later on Friday to the public and is currently available in Yards' tasting room, La Colombe's cafe in Fishtown, and Shake Shack's three area locations (Center City, University City, and King of Prussia).

I found the beer to be extremely drinkable — a term, by the way, that I plan to bring clarity to and use a lot in 2016. This coffee beer meets the criteria by exhibiting bold coffee flavor in a smooth stout (5.5% ABV) but in a not-so-overwhelming way as to prevent wanting two or more glassfuls in a session. As part of a bigger picture study, I'm believing more strongly than ever that the survival, post-so-called-"bubble", of breweries will be based significantly on their ability to consistently make predictably well-balanced and drinkable beers.

In addition to be a flavorful and drinkable, the Coffee Stout is also a charitable drink from which $2 per glass is being donated to the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. Reportedly, only 16 kegs are available (no bottles) so get some — and a ShackBurger — while you can.

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21st Amendment and Elysian score a double knockout

Put up your dukes, let's get down to it

A pumpkin beer face-off

Much of the beer I receive does not find its way into these pages. Suffice to say that when something moves me to feature a beer, it often comes from a point of a) having time to do so; b) feeling it's worthwhile for a broader audience to know about; and c) flipping a coin.

Okay, that last one is a simple joke but points out that I've been rather random in my approach to talking about specific beers. Whenever I do, though, those of you that know me know that my reviews are absolutely never influenced even slightly by their complimentary or reduced price nature.

But that's only some fine print as I am here with a fun package from the good people at 21st Amendment in San Francisco and Elysian Brewing in Seattle. The 21A has been close to me over the years because of my many trips to the Bay Area and my encounters with their beer, their place, and their people. Even enjoying the beer on board numerous Virgin America flights around the country. And they're readying for a massive world tap takeover. Elysian? I wish I found myself in Seattle more often and I settle for their beer "abroad" when I spot it.

Quite coincidentally, during my beach vacation in August, I polished off the last two of each He Said collaboration beer that I still had remaining from 2013. Now, the 2014 has descended upon us and my verdict is in: These may be the best pumpkin beers on the market for those that don't want to be assaulted with over-the-top so-called pumpkin pie spice flavors and aromas.

The package I received included a set of Rock 'Em Sock 'Em robots, which seemed to point to the fun 'n' games that Shaun O'Sullivan (21A), Dick Cantwell (Elysian), and their respective brewing staffs have when they get together for planning and executing a brew day. As the story goes, they each wanted to collaborate on a pumpkin beer; O'Sullivan wanted to do a light-colored beer in a dark can and Cantwell wanted to do a dark-colored beer in a light can. Put up your dukes gentlemen.

The version of He Said coming from San Francisco is a Belgian-style Tripel and the Seattle-based version from Elysian is a Baltic Porter. Both weigh in at 8.2% ABV and couldn't be more different — in color, flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel.

Somewhere in each beer is a dose of pumpkin puree and pumpkin juice and a uniquely simple dash of spices that does not overwhelm either beer. In other words, through and at the end of the twelve ounces, you leave knowing that you drank a Belgian Tripel and a Baltic Porter. The tripel does a better job at primarily showcasing one of its spices — ginger — and the porter gives off a bit more of the roasted and sweet pumpkin meat flavor in addition to the caraway seed. If you've been a past naysayer of pumpkin beers, give these a try and let me know if you agree that the deft balancing of flavors works to these beers' favors.

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Dock Street and Four Seasons Hotel are en fuego with Caliente Golden Ale

Now I shouldn't suggest that the latest in the series of collaborative brewing between the hotel's kitchen and the West Philly brewhouse is overly spicy.

Layered right through the beer, though, is a noticeable pepper spice kick that catches you ever-so-pleasantly in the finish. A bit more noticeable, in my opinion, than the last beer they did together, the Truffled Old Ale, which was a delight all of its own but a bit more subtle.

And that has been the common thread between the first two beers in this seasonal collaboration series, a deft balance of potentially strong flavors that still allows the beer to first and foremost be a beer.

Last night, the hotel at Logan Square hosted Dock Street to unveil the new Caliente Golden Ale. Rosemarie Certo (owner), Scott Morrison (brewer), and Marilyn Candeloro (sales, marketing, and public relations) were all on hand to share the new beer and its background.

The beer, at roughly 7.5%, gets some of its ABV kick from the highly fermentable blue agave nectar which leaves barely any hint of sweetness. The pepper heat comes from Guajillo and Ancho chiles on which the beer "rested" for a few weeks.

For the release event last night, the kitchen whipped up some perfect accompaniments in the form of a citrusy shrimp ceviche and adobo chicken soft tacos.

Fifteen cases are available at the hotel where I suggest you stop by for a try. At $14 per 750mL bottle, it is quite the reasonable offer and you get to experience one of the city's finest hotel restaurants/bars.

More of this second beer made it through production than the first, so if you care to try it on draft, Dock Street will have a limited amount of it as well at its 50th/Baltimore location.

You'll want to get this one while you can, because the third in the series — the summer seasonal — is just around the corner.

They're not ready to talk publicly about the brew yet, which gets underway this week. But, I've got some inside scoop where I'm safe to say that it should turn out to be a refreshingly flavorful beer (and, dare I say the word "session" without giving too much away?) perfect for a hot summer June 8 release during Philly Beer Week at one of the planned Four Seasons beer garden/brewery promo events.

The next two nights at Blind Tiger

I haven't said much about NYC's Blind Tiger Ale House since my numerous visits back in August.

But, they've got a set of events this week that sure to get any beer geek's heart pumping a little faster. If you're around the city this week, you should probably like to check this out.

Tomorrow, beginning at sundown (y'know, 3 p.m.) is the (at least) annual VSK -- Very Special Keg. And they've got a whole bunch of special kegs, very special that is.

Check out the list: Aventinus Eisbock ['06]; Brooklyn Intensified Coffee Stout; Bruery Orchard White; Cantillon Lou Pepe; Cigar City Marshall Zhukov; Dieu Du Ciel Pinot Noir ['09]; Founders Harvest; Great Divide 17th Anniversary; Hill Farmstead Everett ['10]; Jolly Pumpkin Madrugada; Kuhnhenn Equibock; Nebraska Little Betty; Ommegang BID; Rogue Creamery 75th Anniversary Collaboration; Sierra Nevada Jack and Ken’s 30th Anniversary; Smuttynose Iced Barleywine; Stillwater Artisanal/Mikkeller 2 Gypsies; Weyerbacher Decadence ['05]; and "something delicious from Stone".

Did you catch that '05 Decadence snuck in there at the end?

Then, on Thursday, west coasters Shaun O'Sullivan (21st Amendment) and Jamie Floyd (Ninkasi) are in town to showcase their recently-released collaboration beer called Allies Win The War! along with a bunch of other great beer, no doubt. Should be a great night of beer and debauchery.

Life's circumstances will keep me from trekking in to check this out, but if you can, you should.

Beer on the "Radio"

Beer has made its rounds lately on the web....radio....or whatever....Let's just call it my car speakers. NPR recently hit up two themes. Most recently it featured the respected Dr. Charles Bamforth whose book, Beer is Proof that God Loves Us, had just been released. The show focused on some of the basics of brewing beer in an interview with Bamforth. Just recently before his appearance on NPR's Science Friday, he appeared for a much longer segment on The Brewing Network's Sunday Session. Back in NPR-land, a week earlier on All Things Considered, the show covered the Samuel Adams and Weihenstephan collaboration beer, Infinium.