Posts Tagged ‘Domestic’
Saturday, October 8th, 2011
Dogfish Head's try at my seasonal favorite - pumpkin ale.
Dogfish Head’s Pumpkin Ale Just Won’t Cut It For This Frustrated American
File Date: 10.8.2011
File Name: The struggles of being underwater.
The Beer: Pumpkin Ale
Type: Pumpkin Ale
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 7.0% ABV
Brewer: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Web Site: www.dogfish.com
State/Country of Origin: DE, USA
Brewer Info: The story of Dogfish Head began in June of 1995 when we opened Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, the first state’s first brewpub opened in the resort beach community of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The plan was to bring original beer, original food, and original music to the area. With the popularity of the pub growing, it was quickly apparent that the 12–gallon brewery would not keep up with demand. We built a new brewery and underwent a thirty-fold expansion of the brew house! We outgrew our distributing brewery in a couple years and in the summer of 2002; we moved our entire production brewery up the road to Milton, Delaware into a 100,000 square foot converted cannery. Around the same time (just to keep thing interesting), we built a distillery on the second floor of our Rehoboth Beach brewpub, so we could make vodka, rum and gin.
Brewer Brand Hype: A full-bodied brown ale with smooth hints of pumpkin and brown sugar. We brew our Punkin Ale with pumpkin meat, organic brown sugar and spices. This is the perfect beer to warm-up with, as the season cools. Punkin Ale is named after a locally-famous and seriously off-centered event here in southern Delaware - Punkin Chunkin (check out some of these Discovery Channel videos of Punkin Chunkin, you gotta see it to believe it!). In fact, Punkin Ale made it’s debut as it claimed First Prize in the 1994 Punkin Chunkin Recipe Conest - yes, that was a full 6 months before we even opened our doors for business. Punkin Chunkin has grown in size and scale with pumpkins now being hurled more than 4,000 feet through the air! If you come down to see if for yourself - come by and visit us. Since then, we’ve brewed Punkin Ale each and every fall. It is released right around September first each year. When you find it, grab some extra because it’s usually gone by Thanksgiving.
Label: A full bodied brown ale brewed with real pumpkin, brown suger, allspice, cinnamon & nutmeg.
The Brewski Review: I’m not ranking this pumpkin ale high on my list of favorite pumpkin ales. It has a gorgeous copper color and pours with a sumptuous head but it doesn’t have that pumpkin pie flavor I’m looking for. Others may not care for the pumpkin pie flavor but, to me, that’s what these beers are all about. This one just didn’t do it for me. The allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg weren’t as bold as I would have liked them to be. But then, of course, there are many things that aren’t as good as I’d want them to be. Take, for example, my finances: I don’t have nearly as much as I’d like. In reality, it’s less than ‘nearly as much’ and closer to ‘I drive a 15 year old car and can’t afford to upgrade because I’m under water on my mortgage’. But wait, it’s even worse than that! This taxpayer could save thousands if we refinanced our house, which we can’t do, because as you may have guessed, we’re under water on our mortgage! So, like so many of you out there, we struggle to get buy each and every day. Drinking an occasional beer is just a small reward that keeps me hanging on - day in and day out. And, by golly, if I want pumpkin pie flavor, dang it, I won’t settle for anything less!
Drinkability: Probably not. Would seek out another pumpkin ale.
Appearance: Visually appealing.
The Buds: Not very pumpkin pie-ish.
TBR Cap Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
Tags: 3.5 Rating, 7.0% ABV, Allspice, Bottle, Cinnamon, Copper, DE, Dogfish Head, Dogfish Head Brewery, Domestic, Mortgage, Nutmeg, Pumpkin Ale, Pumpkin Pie, Refinance, Struggles, Taxpayer, Underwater, Underwater Mortgage, Vehicle
Posted in Dogfish Head Craft Brew | No Comments »
Monday, September 26th, 2011
The Dark Goodness of Wolaver's Oatmeal Stout
Tommy Brewski Knocks Back An Oatmeal Stout
File Date: 9.26.2011
File Name: Tommy’s First Oatmeal Stout.
The Beer: Oatmeal Stout
Type: Oatmeal Stout
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 5.9% ABV
Brewer: Otter Creek Brewing/Wolaver’s
Web Site: www.wolavers.com
State/Country of Origin: VT, USA
Brewer Info: Located in beautiful Middlebury, Vermont, we shipped our first keg of Copper Ale in March of 1991. Four years later, after quickly outgrowing our original site, we moved into a new state-of-the-art brewery just down the street. In 1998, we began producing Wolaver’s Certified Organic Ales in partnership with Panorama Brewing Company. Both brands have flourished as beer drinkers throughout the northeast have enjoyed craft ales, and as the focus on sustainable farming and living has blossomed. In May of 2002, the Wolaver family purchased Otter Creek Brewing. Otter Creek remains a family owned Vermont company and produces all Otter Creek and Wolaver’s brands for distribution throughout the country. We brew and bottle all of our beers in small batches to ensure freshness and consistent quality. We use natural Vermont water, the best domestic malt and hops available, and our own top-fermenting yeast. All Wolaver’s beers are made with no less than 98% certified organic ingredients. Our brewery and our Wolaver’s brands are certified organic by Vermont Organic Farmers. Otter Creek ales enjoy a complexity of flavor, natural carbonation, and a creamy texture that is favored by beer enthusiasts at pubs and restaurants throughout the United States.
Brewer Brand Hype: Minimal brand marketing on the web.
Label: Certified Organic by Vermont Organic Farmers. Since 1997 Robert and Morgan Wolaver have combined their passion for exceptional ales with their belief in the benefits of organic farming to create Wolaver’s supurb handcrafted ales brewed with only the finest organic barley and hops grown by small independent farms.
The Brewski Review: Very tasty and mild. I was expecting something a little more bitter but was pleasantly surprised. It looked like molasses on the pour and finished with very little mud colored head. It was a little on the creamy side but not too much. By the looks I would have expected more. This happened to be my first Oatmeal Stout so I rank it high on my list of types. I’m definitely gravitating toward the more malty beverages than the hoppy variety.
Drinkability: Definitely.
Appearance: One word: Molasses.
The Buds: Nice and malty. Very mild.
TBR Cap Rating: 4.25 out of 5 caps.
Tags: 5.9% ABV, Black, Bottle, Creamy, Dark, Dark Beer, Domestic, Malty, Molasses, Otter Creek, Otter Creek Brewing, VT, Wolaver's, Wolaver's Oatmeal Stout
Posted in Otter Creek | No Comments »
Sunday, September 11th, 2011
'Certified Organic' so says the brewer.
TBR Reviews Eel River’s Organic Amber Ale any My Recycling Habits
File Date: 09.11.2011
File Name: A Greenie’s Beer Delight
The Beer: Organic Amber Ale
Type: American Amber/Red Ale
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 4.8% ABV
Brewer: Eel River Brewing Co.
Web Site: www.eelriverbrewing.com/index.html
State/Country of Origin: CA, USA
Brewer Info: “When you’re cookin’ up 5 gallons of beer at home and screw it up, oh well. But when you’re brewing 50 gallons at a time you better know exactly what you’re doing.” That was Eel River Brewing Company co-owner Ted Vivatson back in 1996 explaining why they hired a top notch professional brew-master when they first opened. As avid home-brewers, Ted and partner Margaret Frigon had a vision of excellent hand crafted beer and great food in historic surroundings. The vision came to fruition in 1995 and the beer begin to flow at the former site of the Clay Brown Redwood lumber mill in Fortuna, California. Remnants of the old mill can still be seen in Eel River Brewing Company’s Beer Garden, one of the best places in the world to enjoy some of the best beer in the world on a sunny day. Inside the Taproom you’ll see historic photographs of the mill and various other Humboldt County scenes from days gone by.
Brewer Brand Hype: Eel River Brewing Company, brewers of California’s first Certified Organic Ale, proudly brings you our Organic Amber Ale. Unique in flavor and purity, this medium bodied beer has a hoppy bouquet and a distinctive rich taste with a caramel-like sweetness that is balanced with a liberal dose of certified organic Pacific Gems and Hallertau hops, imported from New Zealand. Pure taste, pure ingredients, pure good.
Label: Certified Organic. Product of Northern California. Eel River Brewing Co., Scotia, CA
The Brewski Review: The brewers web site notes this as a rich copper color. I liken it more to a dark amber than a copper. Maybe you would call that close enough. But ‘Certified Organic’? I’m not much of a greenie other than doing my fair share of recycling, but this is good beer. I like it’s mild taste. The hoppy bitterness is present but it’s not in your face. Just the way I like it. I endorse the owners efforts to go green by using biomass to power the plant, but I don’t think that adds to the taste. To me, it’s more of a marketing gimmick and personal choice than a method to turn out an excellent tasting beverage. But, I’ll cut them some slack if they keep turning out good tasting beers such as their Certified Organic Amber Ale. And, just because I feel like doin’ some good, I’ll recycle this container for others to enjoy - minus the beer of course.
Drinkability: Would drink again.
Appearance: Dark amber color.
The Buds: Nice mild tasting amber ale.
TBR Cap Rating: 4.0 caps out of 5.
Tags: 4.0 Rating, 4.8% ABV, Amber Ale, Bottle, CA, Certified Organic, Domestic, Eel River, Eel River Brewing, Green, Marketing, Marketing Gimmick, Organic, Recycle, Recyling, Red Ale
Posted in Eel River Brewing | No Comments »
Saturday, September 10th, 2011
Siren Amber Ale for the devil in all of us.
TBR Reviews North Peak’s Siren Amber Ale (or, Devil Girl Beer)
File Date: 9.10.2011
File Name: Sirens and Devil Girls Go Head To Head.
The Beer: Siren Amber Ale
Type: American Amber/Red Ale
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 5.0% ABV
Brewer: North Peak Brewing Co.
Web Site: www.northpeakbeer.com/
State/Country of Origin: MI, USA
Brewer Info: Legends of the north woods all start with a simple story at a single point in time. Our yarn began when the entrepreneurial Carlson, Lobdell and Czaplicka families signed the deed to a deserted candy factory in downtown Traverse City, MI. Within its cavernous brick walls the North Peak Brewing Company was established in 1997, where brews and food of uncommon quality were the focus. As the days passed into years, their passion for brewing grew and led them down paths travelled by other like-minded individuals. The result of this rendezvous of North Peak Brewing Company’s Jon Carlson and Greg Lobdell, and Ron Jeffries of Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales was the spawning of Northern United Brewing Company in 2008. Headquartered in their secret forest hideaway on Old Mission Peninsula, these brewing elders recruited the final full-time member of their clandestine council in August 2009 — brewmaster Mike Hall (who had consulted on numerous other endeavors). Their mission was simple: take the well-respected name of North Peak and build upon it with craft beers of the finest, hand-made quality using ingredients borne of the northern Michigan landscape. This is why North Peak brews whenever possible with Michigan malted-grain, hops and water. Over the next three months, Mike and Ron collaborated on recipes that drew from their nearly 50 years of combined brewing experience. In late 2009, at their new, secluded state-of-the art brewing facility on Old Mission Peninsula, the first bottles of Siren Amber Ale, Diabolical IPA and Majestic American Wheat rolled off the bottling line.
Brewer Brand Hype: Its call is intoxicating. An aroma that beckons you to pull up a stool and linger over it’s toasted malt character. Next, a deep kiss of liquid lust that will caress you tongue, thanks to an array of toasty Pale, Crystal (30 and 75) wheat, Carapils and roasted barley malts balanced by the subtle bite of Willamette and Fuggle hops. It’s a brew that will seduce your heart, mind and palette.
Label: Brewed Up North. Traverse City, Michigan, USA
The Brewski Review: Pleasantly suprised by the mild taste. Most of the amber ales that I’ve tried have been higher on the bitterness scale. This is more subdued and for me that means it more appealing to my taste buds. So, it’s well balanced between the malt and hops. Good for those that don’t care for the bitter aftertaste of some brews. On the marketing side, I have to add that I like the label: simple and eye catching with the red and white. The name stems from Greek mythology, the Sirens (Greek singular: Seiren; Greek plural: Seirenes) were three dangerous bird-women, portrayed as seductresses who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island. But, for me, the little logo represents more of a little devil girl. Perhaps the beverage should have been named Devil Girl. And, they should have hooked up with the artist COOP (at coopstuff.com) who draws some mighty awsome designs - many of which involve devil girls. If I was still in my single dude-man bachelor days, my house would be decorated in Coop designs. I’m not paid to plug his work, but if you like simple retro looking graphics about girls, cars, robots, etc., check out his Coopstuff website.
Drinkability: Most definitely.
Appearance: Deep amber color.
The Buds: Refreshingly mild.
TBR Cap Rating: 4.0 caps out of 5.
One of Coop's Devil Girl poster designs.
Tags: 5.0% ABV, American Amber, Bachelor, Bottle, Coop, Coop Designs, Coopstuff, Devil Girl, Domestic, Graphics, Greek, Label, MI, North Peak, North Peak Brewing, Red, Red Ale, Retro, Seductresses, Shipwreck, Siren, Siren Amber Ale, Tire, Wheel, White
Posted in Beer Girls, North Peak Brewing | No Comments »
Friday, September 9th, 2011
Is that a great looking beer or what?
The Brewski Report Reviews Red Rocket Ale and Road Warrior Funk.
File Date: 9.09.2011
File Name: An Unfortunate Snap Back To Reality
The Beer: Red Rocket Ale
Type: American Amber/Red Ale
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 6.8% ABV
Brewer: Bear Republic Brewing Co.
Web Site: www.bearrepublic.com
State/Country of Origin: CA, USA
Brewer Info: Bear Republic Brewing Company (Bear Republic) was founded by third and fourth generation Sonoma County residents. From the humble beginning of home brewing to the demanding process of commercial brewing, came the realization that to produce the distinctive flavors and aroma we found appealing required the founding of our own Brew Pub. Through this process owners Richard R Norgrove, and wife Sandy, Richard G Norgrove, (Brew Master) and wife Tami, developed the style and mark of Bear Republic’s award winning, hand-crafted lagers and ales. Located in historic Healdsburg, California, where hop kilns from another era are still visible, our products are brewed and aged using the traditional “art” of the masters. Bear Republic’s family business is unique, from the mother who greets you at the door, to the son who brews the ales, the father who pulls tap and the daughter-in-law who keeps the books. The Norgroves invite you inside for healthy food and drink for the enjoyment of the whole family. Our goal is to create and cultivate a Brew Pub and Restaurant that the locals can call their own and that makes visitors feel at home. We work hard at fostering a sense of loyalty and tradition from eras gone by.
Brewer Brand Hype: Red Rocket Ale is a bastardized Scottish style red ale that traces it’s origins to our homebrew roots. This full bodied and hoppy brew finishes on the palate with sweet, caramel malt flavors.
Label: Red Rocket Ale is a bastardized Scottish style red ale packed with distinctive flavors and an aggressive hop character rivaled by none. This unfiltered, bottle-conditioned, amber colored ale, breaks all style molds. Keep refrigerated, beer is perishable, real ale is alive, yeast is good, serve at 45 - 50 F.
The Brewski Review: Whoa! Heavy on the hops bitterness scale for this ale. Bear Republic wasn’t affraid to go all out here on the hops. I pulled this one out of the fridge after a weary and long return trip home from our favorite vacation spot. I’ll have to admit, the hoppy taste snapped me back to reality pretty quickly. You know how you get in that long, road warrior funk? Your bum aches, your legs get numb and you start to drift off in your head about how much you hate work and if you could only win the lottery you’d buy that vacation house that only millionaires can afford. This, punctuated by listening to a mind numbing marathon of childrens animated videos started to make me lightheaded. But, as I noted earlier, this beer is the antidote. Very hearty and warming. Great for a nice cool, damp and overcast day. Oh yeah, the vacation? Great. I only wish we could have stayed longer. The upside was a free hotel room. Cashed in all those reward points I’ve been stacking up. Cha-Ching! More money for beer.
Drinkability: Yes. Would drink again.
Appearance: Deep amber - almost brown. Min. head.
The Buds: Super hoppy brew with a high ABV content.
TBR Cap Rating: 4 out of 5 caps.
Vintage Red Rocket Racer Tin Toy Car.
Tags: 6.8% ABV, American Amber, Bear Republic Brewing, Bottle, Bum, CA, Childrens Animated Video, Collector Item, Domestic, Driving, Free, Hotel, Lottery, Money, Points, Red, Red Ale, Red Rocket, Red Rocket Ale, Red Rocket Toy, Road Warrior, Tin Car, Vacation, Vehicle, Vintage
Posted in Bear Republic Brewing Co., Toys, Vehicles | No Comments »
Saturday, September 3rd, 2011
The draft was excellent. Now I'll have to try it the bottle.
The Brewski Report Reviews Sam’s Cherry Wheat and Our Vacation Dinner
File Date: 9.6.2011
File Name: Dinner With A Cherry On Top
The Beer: Cherry Wheat
Type: Fruit/Vegetable Beer
Serving: Draft
Stats: 5.3% ABV
Brewer: Boston Beer Co. (Sam Adams)
Web Site: www.samueladams.com
State/Country of Origin: MA, USA
Brewer Info: Jim Koch founded The Boston Beer Company in 1984 because he believed that Americans deserved better beer. Today, we’re a team of about 350 people, and we all share a common passion for bringing great Samuel Adams® beers to beer lovers everywhere. We’ve worked hard for the many successes we’ve enjoyed over the years. The Boston Beer Company has been cited as one of the best companies to work for by Boston Magazine, one of the Best Entry-Level Jobs by The Princeton Review, and our beers have won more awards than any beer in history.
Brewer Brand Hype: Ale brewed with cherries. Crisp and fruity with a hint of honey. Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat® follows the centuries old American tradition of brewing beer with native ingredients, in this case Michigan cherries. The sweet, fruitiness of the cherries is balanced against the crisp, cereal note from the malted wheat and the subtle citrus flavor from the Noble hops. A touch of honey is also added for sweetness. The end result is a sweet, refreshing beer that is light on the palate but long on complexity.
Label: Draft - No label to review.
The Brewski Review: Aside from the fact that I love cherries, I couldn’t think of a better combination. And, Sam Adams brewed this beer up right. There is plenty of cherry flavor for those that love this delectable fruit. If this tells you anything, I was the kid that drank the maraschino cherry juice from the jar (My dad was not pleased) so you know I’m hard core. Anyway, when my family and I stopped into a local eatery while out of town on vacation I immediately scanned the beverage menu. One that stood out was this Sam Adams brew - which, by the way, you would think is seasonal due to the harvesting period but is, in fact, brewed year ’round. I requested a bottle but they only had it on tap. Oh well. If the only way to go native was to drink draft, so be it. My wife, who says she loves cherries, didn’t want to taste it. Good. More for me. I paired it up with a nice dinner salad, onion rings and boneless chicken chunks with accompanying dipping sauces. About the only thing detracting from a fabulous meal was my rowdy kids. This usually forces us to drink and eat faster than we’d wish. If we didn’t, we’d be chasing our kids around the restaurant and would be forced to take our food home in a doggie bag (which, would sit in the fridge until it was no longer edible - one day max in our family). Of course, I had to finish the beer. Full of cherry flavor and slightly hoppy - but not too overbearing. Nicely balanced flavors. Cold and crisp of course. If you like cherries, you ought to put this one on your list.
Drinkability: Yes. Love the cherry.
Appearance: Cloudy, deep golden color.
The Buds: Tasty cherry flavor.
TBR Cap Rating: 4.25 caps out of 5.
Yum. Michigan Cherries. Is there any better?
Tags: 4., 4.25 Rating, 5.3% ABV, Boston Beer Co, Cherry Wheat, Chicken, Dinner, Domestic, Draft, Food, Fruit, Fruit Beer, Kids, MA, Maraschino Cherries, Michigan, Michigan Cherries, Onion Rings, Red, Rowdy, Salad, Sam Adams, Sam Adams Cherry Wheat, Tap, Vacation
Posted in Sam Adams | No Comments »
Sunday, July 24th, 2011
Nude Beach the beer - not the venue.
The Brewski Report Reviews Nude Beach Summer Wheat Ale and Adds His Two Cents on Nude Beaches.
File Date: 7.24.2011
File Name: The Thing About Nude Beach…
The Beer: Nude Beach
Type: American Pale Wheat Ale
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 5.2% ABV
Brewer: Stevens Point Brewery
Web Site: www.pointbeer.com
State/Country of Origin: WI, USA
Brewer Info: Steven’s Point Brewery HistoryThe Stevens Point Brewery is steeped in a history that has transcended the trials of the Civil War, the Great Depression and Prohibition. More than 150 years later, the Stevens Point Brewery continues to successfully brew quality beer, just as the brewery’s founders, Frank Wahle and George Ruder, did in 1857. This undeniable endurance is a testament of why the Stevens Point Brewery, in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, is the 5th oldest continuously operating brewery remaining in the United States. Today, the Stevens Point Brewery is proud to be Wisconsin-owned and independently operated. We take great pride in our history. And, we continue to work hard, as our founders did, to continue to provide our customers today with quality award-winning beer.
Brewer Brand Hype: Point Nude Beach is the perfect summer pleasure. Available only during the warm months of summer, this lively and unfiltered wheat ale is well balanced using “au naturel” raw and red wheat, then delicately finished with Yakima hops. With a refreshing light flavor, Point Nude Beach is perfect while enjoying summer activities or just hanging out with friends. Clothing optional.
Label: Hand Crafted
The Brewski Review: Nice, creamy summer brew. Cloudy, citrusy and cold. Just the way to drink it. I wanted to add a slice of orange but drank it down before I could pull myself off the chair to slice one up as garnishment. Don’t blame me, it’s the intense summer heat that pulling the energy out of me. And if the beer’s name makes you think about a day of clothing optional leisure at the beach, just be sure to google ‘nude beach images’ before you go. I have a tendency to believe that the Europeans are much more tolerent of public nudity and unsensored and unabashed sex than the puritan values of Americans. I think this is a good thing. There are way too many people out there that I don’t want to see in the buff. And, I’m sure there are those that don’t want to see me. But, if you think your missing out on something….have at it. Just be sure to take a cooler of Nude Beach. It may be the ice breaker you need.
Drinkability: Good summer brew.
Appearance: Cloudy medium gold color.
The Buds: Citrusy and creamy.
TBR Cap Rating: 3.75 out of 5.
Your nudity isn't a problem, but the dog is.
Tags: 3.75 Rating, 5.2% ABV, American, American Pale Wheat Ale, Bottle, Buff, Clothing Optional, Domestic, Europeans, Heat, Naked, Nude Beach, Nude Beaches, Puritan, Skin, Stevens Point, Stevens Point Brewery, Summer, Values, Weather, WI
Posted in Stevens Point Brewery | No Comments »
Saturday, July 23rd, 2011
Karnival Kolsch by Stoudt's Brewing Co.
The Brewski Report Reviews Stoudt’s Karnival Kölsch and a Very Man-ly Trick Question.
File Date: 7.23.2011
File Name: What does a Ferrari 250GT Spyder California and a Garage Beer Fridge Have in Common?
The Beer: Karnival Kölsch
Type: Kölsch
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 4.8% ABV
Brewer: Stoudt’s Brewing Co.
Web Site: www.stoudtsbeer.com
State/Country of Origin: PA, USA
Brewer Info: Whether you’re a beer novice or afficionado, Stoudt’s Brewing Company is a great destination for all beer lovers out there. As one of the pioneering craft breweries in America, Stoudt’s offers a variety of amazing Lagers and Ales. Enjoy the cozy atmosphere of our Brew Pub next door, where you can sample all of our seasonal and specialty beers. Check out a free tour at the brewery and pick up some beer to go at the bar!
Brewer Brand Hype: This refreshing German-style ale was brewed using 2-row malt, a small amount of red wheat malt and all German hops for bittering and aroma. This straw colored ale is smooth like a lager due to the colder fermentation temperature and an extended cellering time. It is dry and crisp with a slight fruitiness which compliments the mild hop bitternes and aroma.
Label: Kölsch style beer.
The Brewski Review: Quite similar to Goose Island’s Summertime Kolsch beer. Light, crisp with just the right amount of malt and hoppy bitterness. Nice warm weather beverage to quench your thirst. And, if your summertime has been as hot as my summertime, it would be good to stock up on quite a few cold ones. One of the best things I ever did was put an old, used fridge in my garage. Now, while I’m working outside in the hot weather or enjoying a dip in the kids pool, I can walk over to the garage and pull out a nice chilled brewski. Life is good. ‘If you have the means…’, as Ferris Bueller would say, ‘I highly recommend picking one up.’ Just don’t rub it with a diaper. It’ll make you that much less of a man. Oh yeah, the answer to the eternal question? They’re both cool but most of us can only afford the spare beer fridge. That’s okay because you can’t drink and drive right? That’s what I keep telling myself. Oh yeah, by the way, when I did a short career stint in SoCal I knew the fella who built the Ferris Bueller 250GT replica. When he drove it around town people would ask him why he was driving such an expensive car. He loved playing the Richie-Rich role.
Drinkability: Yes.
Appearance: Golden straw colored.
The Buds: Crisp and hoppy.
TBR Cap Rating: 4.25 out of 5.
Ferris, Sloan and Cameron out for a joy ride.
Tags: 4.8% ABV, Afford, Bitterness, Black Horse, Bottle, Cameron, Career Stint, Classic Movie, Diaper, Domestic, Emblem, Ferrari 250GT Spyder California, Ferrari Emblem, Ferrari Logo, Ferris Bueller, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Garage Beer Fridge, Goose Island, If you have the means.., Karnival Kölsch, Kölsch, Life is good, Logo, Movie Quote, PA, Red, Replica, Richie-Rich, Sloan, SoCal, Stoudt's, Stoudt's Brewing Co., Summertime, Summertime Kolsch, Vehicles, Vintage Car, Yellow
Posted in Movies, Stoudt's Brewing Co., Vehicles | No Comments »
Sunday, June 26th, 2011
Northcoast's Red Seal Ale with spillage.
The Brewski Report Reviews North Coast’s Red Seal Ale
File Date: 6.26.2011
File Name: Red Seal Beer or Notes, You Choose.
The Beer: Ruedrich’s Red Seal Ale
Type: American Amber/Red Ale
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 5.5% ABV
Brewer: North Coast Brewing Co.
Web Site: www.northcoastbrewing.com
State/Country of Origin: CA, USA
Brewer Info: A pioneer in the craft beer movement, North Coast Brewing Company opened in 1988 as a local brewpub in the historic town of Fort Bragg, located on California’s Mendocino Coast. Under the leadership of Brewmaster Mark Ruedrich, the brewery has developed a strong reputation for quality having won more than 70 awards in national and international competitions. In addition to Red Seal Ale, Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout, Scrimshaw Pilsner, and other fine North Coast brands, the brewery has resurrected the old Acme label with a heritage dating back to the San Francisco of the 1860’s. These exceptional beers are available in 47 states now and also are exported to Europe and the Pacific Rim.
Brewer Brand Hype: Malt and hops are beautifully married in this full-bodied, copper-red Pale Ale. Red Seal is generously hopped for a long, spicy finish. An excellent accompaniment to grilled meats and rich sauces.
Label: Brewed in Mendocino County, California. Water, Malted Barley, Hops, Yeast & That’s all. Malt & hops are beautifully married in this copper-red pale ale. Generously hopped for a long spicy denouement.
The Brewski Review: Nice tasting American Amber/Red ale. Hoppy and slightly bitter but not too overwhelming. Nice blend of malts and hops. Very foamy head on the pour. I give it a Brewski thumbs up. Of course, given the chance, I’d rather have another type of red seal as pictured below. Alot of those would set me up pretty well.
Drinkability: Yes. Tasty.
Appearance: Nice copper color. Large head
The Buds: Good balance of hops and malts.
TBR Cap Rating: 4.0 out of 5 caps.
A red seal of another kind and not to be confused with the Northcoast variety.
Tags: 4.0 Rating, 5.5% ABV, American Amber, Bottle, CA, Domestic, North Coast, North Coast Brewing Co., Red Ale, Red Seal, Ruedrich's Red Seal Ale
Posted in North Coast Brewing Co. | No Comments »
Thursday, June 16th, 2011
Blue Heron Pale Ale by Mendocino Brewing.
The Brewski Report Reviews Mendocino’s Blue Heron APA File Date: 6.16.2011
File Name: Retro Beers and Daisy Dukes.
The Beer: Blue Heron Pale Ale
Type: American Pale Ale (APA)
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 6.1% ABV
Brewer: Mendocino Brewing Company
Web Site: www.mendobrew.com
State/Country of Origin: CA, USA
Brewer Info: In December ’83, the brewery rolled out the “World’s Largest 6-Pack” featuring 6 magnums of Red Tail…an OSHA nightmare tipping the scale at a brutal 42 pounds (the original magnum bottles have become a collectors’ item, some even becoming lamps). Within 5 years of that first batch of Red Tail, distribution had increased to 300 outlets in Northern California. Red Tail, Blue Heron, and Black Hawk had extended their habitats to 14 states nationally. By 1989, the demand of distributors made plain the need for 12oz bottles. By the 1990’s, the need for a dramatic expansion became evident. Land was acquired in Ukiah, CA, the facility remaining near the scenic California 101, just 12 miles north of the Hopland Brewery. It was in 1997 that Dr. Vijay Mallya, a global entrepreneur, took interest in Mendocino Brewing Company. Dr. Mallya, the head of “The UB Group”, a worldwide manufacturer of spirits and beer, believed that given the capital, Mendocino Brewing could remain in a position of strength for years to come. The addition of Olde Saratoga Brewing in New York State vaulted Mendocino Brewing into the sphere of East-Coast/West-Coast distribution, fostering the delivery of fresher product through dramatically shortened supply lines.
Brewer Brand Hype: Blue Heron Pale Ale is a delightful, medium bodied smooth ale, with a distinctive crisp mouth-feel and a fresh hoppy finish. It is brewed using premium two-row Pale malted barley, generous amounts of both Cluster bittering hops and Cascade finishing hops and our own special proprietary yeast strain.
Label: This award winning brew is Handcrafted to perfection. A Premium American Classic from a Pioneer Brewing Legend.
The Brewski Review: Good hoppy flavor. Again, tasting the same as all the other APA’s I’ve tried. I don’t think this one distinguishes itself any more that the others other than the fact that it may have a less hoppy taste. Was there ever a beer called Hopmeister? That would be a great name for a full-on hoppy beer like an IPA or an APA. Sounds like a brand from the 70’s though so the marketing schtick would need to have dude’s with polyester bellbottoms and ladies with daisy dukes. Then label it as ‘retro’ so all the beer snobs will have to drink it since it’ll be the new cool thing.
Drinkability: Alright. Would drink again.
Appearance: Med to darker gold color.
The Buds: Hoppy flavor.
TBR Cap Rating: 3.5 out of 5 caps.
Dig these 70's fashions. I was born too late for the ladies to see me in these hot poly styles.
The Orginal Daisy Dukes as worn by Daisy Duke herself.
Daisy Dukes updated by Britney Spears.
Tags: 3.5 Rating, 6.1% ABV, 70's Dudes, 70's Fashion, American Pale Ale, APA, Bellbottoms, Blue Heron, Bottle, Britney Spears, CA, Catherine Bock, Daisy Dukes, Domestic, Dukes of Hazard, Hopmeister Beer, Mendocino Brewing, Pale Ale, Polyester Clothes, Retro, Retro Marketing
Posted in Mendocino Brewing Co. | No Comments »