Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Great Lakes Oats MacDonald Pale Ale | Craft Beer Review

Oats MacDonald Pale Ale is one more offering from the Great Lakes Brewing Company, and I recently had a chance to check this one out as part of their fridge filler variety offering. This Pale Ale poured out a brilliant and vibrant golden color with a good amount of foaminess for the head. The aromas did provide some of the qualities of your usual pale ale, although this one was a little more malty than expected. Carrying a 5.7% ABV and 35 IBU, even the non-hop beer lover may be able to slide into this one as a transition to hoppier beers. If you have had Lake Erie Monster or Chillwave then I would consider this almost a lighter version of those. The beer was a solid one for me as I gave it a rating of a 4 on Untappd. You can see more of my opinion on this one by checking out my video below.

Brewer Notes:

E-I, E-I-O! With creamy oats here and citrus notes there, this smooth golden Pale Ale recalls the grain silos and rolling acres that line our Midwestern highways and byways.

FLAVOR: Fruity hop aromas roam free-range through a bountiful field of oats and golden malt

PACKAGING: Fridge Filler Variety Pack

ABV: 5.7%

IBU: 35

PAIRS WITH: Roast Chicken, English cheeses, and fields of gold

BEER AVAILABILITY: March

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Great Lakes Lightkeeper | Craft Beer Review

The Lightkeeper from Great Lakes Brewing was one of their offerings of their fridge filler pack recently which I was able to pick up on a beer run. This was one of the four beers included and it is a Blonde Ale that carries an ABV of 6.6% along with an IBU of 30. The beer did pour a nice color and did have some good substance to it, but overall it didn’t do as much to really stand out and kind of sat as an average one for me. The flavors were okay but not very long lasting, and the aromas tended to also be faint. A bad beer by no means, but there was just not as much to it in my opinion which is why it may have been a part of a variety pack. My Untappd rating on this one was 3.25, and check out my video here to see the rest of my opinion on this beer.

Brewer Notes:

Inspired by Marblehead Lighthouse (the oldest operating on the Great Lakes) our Blonde Ale's effervescence is guided home by a shimmering beacon of dry and fruity hop flavors.

FLAVOR

Aglow with crisp hop aromas, an incandescent golden hue, and a smooth, navigable malt finish

PACKAGING: 12-pack cans

ABV: 6.6%

IBU: 30

PAIRS WITH: Salads, Sushi, and clear skies

BEER AVAILABILITY: March

Beer Run and Unboxing Video: To Indiana And Back

Did someone say beer run? Oh yeah, I did. Deciding it was a nice day for one; I jumped into the cat and decided to venture over to Indiana in search of a certain beer. Unable to find the one for which the venture was created, I turned my efforts to others and was able to find fine substitutes. But why only stop there, on the way back I decided to hit one more spot in Kentucky and was also able to discover some pleasant surprises. Check out my video here to see what I found!

Monday, May 29, 2017

Bell's Winter White Ale | Craft Beer Review

The Winter White Ale is an offering from Bell’s Brewery out of Michigan and the subject of this beerventure. This 5% ABV Witbier pours a nice golden hazy colored beer due to the bottle fermentation that takes place. The beer itself provides a good reminiscence of Belgian-style white ales with the aromas and taste that are often desired. Smooth overall, this beer makes a good offering in winter or spring in my opinion. My Untappd rating on this one is a solid 4 and well worth a try for anyone who enjoys this style. Check out my video review here to see more of my thoughts on this one.

Brewery Notes:

An alternative to dark and heavy winter warmers and stouts, Winter White is a stylish and refreshing Wheat Ale.

Fermented with a Belgian ale yeast, this blend of barley and wheat malts yields a mixture of clove and fruity aromas, all without the use of any spices. Deliberately brewed to retain a cloudy appearance, Winter White is a beer for embracing winter.

Alcohol By Volume: 5.00%

Original Gravity: 1.05

Shelf Life: 6 Months

FOOD PAIRINGS:

Winter White Ale pairs well with delicate fish, seafood, pork or salads. It also works well with spicy foods, bacon, Peking duck, eggs, eggs Benedict, octopus, omelets and sushi.

Dessert: Fruit pies or dishes like blueberry trifle, cranberry-apple cobbler or banana orange crepes.

Cheese: Butterkase, Mascarpone, Edam, Gouda and anything with herbs, cheddar, EMMI Le Gruyere, Blue Costello, Cambanzola, Gorgonzola, 3-year-old Grafton, Trader Joe's Goat Milk Brie (with the rind) or Cotswold with herbs.

Sunday, May 28, 2017

New Belgium Dayblazer | Craft Beer Review

Dayblazer, the easygoing ale from New Belgium is one of their more recent releases and I found this blonde ale to pretty much be just that. The beer for me proved to be light to medium in body and was able to be consumed rather easily. The ABV of this ale is 4.8% and with an IBU of 13, the beer was balanced well and pretty smooth. I found some of the tones in aroma and taste to be that of a citrus nature with this golden straw color beer, making it a nice one for spring and summer for sure. My Untappd rating for Dayblazer was a 3.5 and check out my video to see my other comments about this one from New Belgium.

Brewer Notes:

A deliciously refreshing golden ale, at 4.8% ABV, brewed with the finest malts and hops giving a sweet, crisp citrus finish with just a hint of honey. Available in 12-oz. and 24-oz. cans.

VISUAL Blond color with uniform medium haze. White foam and light lacing.

AROMA Low overall aroma built on malt in the form of corn chips, cereal, vanilla and honey; balanced with some flinty sulfitic, isoamyl acetate, and herbal grassy hop aroma.

FLAVOR Light initial sweetness followed by a subtle hop bitterness; neither overpower.

MOUTHFEEL Light body.

BODY Effervescent, with a clean fast finish.

ABV 4.8%

IBU 13

YEAST Ale yeast

CALORIES 141

HOPS Nugget, Cascade

MALTS Pale, Munich

Victory Golden Monkey | Craft Beer Review

The Golden Monkey from Victory Brewing is a Belgian-Style Tripel and my latest beerventure. This Tripel has an ABV of 9.5% and IBU of 25, and carries the characteristics that we have come to know and love about Belgian ales. It poured a great golden color and the aromas jumped out of the glass highly reminiscent of what was expected. The taste proved to be smooth as the sweetness of the malts and was in good balance against the hops and the yeast, and had the little spice kick that is also common among this style of beer. This one was definitely a treat now as it was my past experiences. My Untappd rating on this one was a 4.25 and check out my video below to see more of my thoughts about this ale.

Brewer Notes:

Experience the sweet, sensual aromas and flavors of our famous Belgian-style tripel. Immerse yourself in rich notes of fruit and spice and savor its dry finish.

Composition

Malt: Pilsner, Dextrose
Hops: Tettnang Tettnang, Tettnang Mittelfrueh
ABV: 9.5%

Flavor

Nose is loaded with Belgian yeast character. Banana, clove, isoamyl. Body is equally fruity with light earthy hop character. Boozy with a dry finish.

Food Pairings

Sheeps' milk cheeses and seafood

Serving Suggestion

Serve at 45° F. Tilt bottle slowly into glass making certain that pour is sufficiently vigorous to raise a foamy head. Try to avoid pouring the last dregs as the yeast sediment is not the most favorable part of this beer. Savor the experience slowly as the ale warms.

Availability

Available year-round in 12 oz. bottles, 12 oz. cans, and 750 ml caged-and-corked bottles as well as on draft.

Saturday, May 27, 2017

Victory Prima Pils | Craft Beer Review

The Prima Pils from Victory Brewing is a 5.3% ABV German Pilsner that I found to have nice crisp and refreshing quality. It poured out a nice golden color, although the head was a little lacking and thinner than expected. Aromas were decent and the hops balanced well as they were also able to be noted in the taste as well. My Untappd rating on this lager was a 3.5 and check out my video below if you would like to see more notes on this one.

Brewer Notes:

Prima! It’s a German exclamation of joy. It’s a recognition of accomplishment. It’s what escaped from our lips the first time we sampled this mighty pilsner recipe. With heaps of whole flower European hops and fine German malts, we achieved the bracing herbal bite and smooth malt flavor that we sought. Prima… an exclamation of Victory! Prost!

Composition

Malt: Pilsner
Hops: Hallertau, Tettnang, Saaz, Spalt Select
ABV: 5.3%

Flavor

Loads of earthy, herbal noble hop character with subtle malt complexity in the aroma. Flavor is very hop forward with ample bitterness. Balanced malt and clean fermentation.

Food Pairings

Seafood, burgers and pizza

Serving Suggestion

Serve at 42 F pouring carefully. Drink quickly not allowing the beer to warm very much.

Availability

Available year-round in 12 oz. bottles, 12 oz. cans and on draft.

Friday, May 26, 2017

Blue Point Toasted Lager | Crafty Beer Review

Another beer and another beerventure as this time, I took a look at Blue Point Brewing’s Toasted Lager. This American amber red lager comes in at a decent 5.5% ABV and 28 IBU. Malt forward? Yes indeed it is, and the 6 malts used blend nicely forming a good malt backbone in balance with the hops. Refreshing and tasty for sure…in fact, toasted fits nicely in its name. The beer itself while not considered craft now based on the definition applied, is still a pretty good one in my opinion. Of course, we will see if this changes over time, but as for now I would say give it a try. My Untappd rating on this one was a 4.5 as it does well hitting the style for which it is aimed. Check out my video below if you would like to see more.

Brewer Notes:

Toasted Lager was originally named for the “toasted” characteristic of our original direct-fire brick kettle. Our World Beer Cup gold medal winning flagship brew is brewed with a blend of six specialty malts for a flavor as rich and unique as the town it’s from. Toasted Lager’s balanced flavor of malt and hops makes for easy drinking and our special proprietary lager yeast produces an exceptional, long-lasting smooth finish.

ABV: 5.5 IBU: 28 OG: 1.054 Availability: Year-Round

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Victory Cream Ale With Cold Brew Coffee | Craft Beer Review

From Victory Brewing and the Blackboard Series comes their Cream Ale With Cold Brew Coffee (No. 5), cream ale infused with coffee. This coffee blonde brew comes in at an ABV of 6.5% along with 18 IBU, and the coffee aroma does dazzle nicely and the taste and flavor follows right along. This proved to a pretty solid beer overall for me and also poured nicely on the appearance. My Untappd rating on this one was 4.25 and it is one that I would definitely drink again. Check out my video here to see other characteristics that I liked about this one.

Brewer Notes:

Blackboard #5 – Cream Ale With Cold Brew Coffee. Fragrant coffee aromas surface from this smooth cream ale. Cold-Brewed coffee adds rich, roasty notes to this medium-bodied and effervescent brew.

Composition

Malt: Pilsner, CaraFoam
Hops: Tettnang Tettnang
ABV: 6.5%

Flavor

Clean blonde brew, unassuming. Coffee aromatics surprises the nose. Smooth roasted flavor all derived from the addition of cold brewed coffee on a lightly bready base.

Availability

Available in 12 oz. bottles and on draft from February through May.

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Great Lakes Grandes Lagos | Craft Beer Review

The Grandes Lagos from Great Lakes Brewing is a North American Adjunct Lager that is described by the brewery as a Mexican style lager that uses Hibiscus flowers in its brewing. The beer does pour out a brilliant color that I would best describe as pink or blush, and pretty wine like. Clarity is very nice on this one but as far as I know, all of the beers are at Great Lakes as they filter them all before going to bottle. Not too heavy at all, this 5.5% ABV beer is one definitely well suited for spring or summer as it doses deliver a nice refreshing quality. The head proved to be a little thinner than I expected but what wasn’t thin was the texture which was nice. While this one didn’t knock me back as much, it definitely has a spot to be enjoyed. My Untappd rating on this one for those that may be counting was a 3. Find out more of my thoughts on this beer by checking out the video here as well. Cheers!

Brewer Notes:

Colorful hibiscus flowers bloom against a picturesque malt backdrop in this refreshing cerveza from south of the border (of Canada, that is).

FLAVOR: A breezy getaway accented by beams of golden malt and a tart, pink-tinged hibiscus sunset

PACKAGING: 6-pack, 12-pack bottles, Draft

ABV: 5.4%

IBU: 20

PAIRS WITH: Shellfish, fruit desserts, and spring break

BEER AVAILABILITY: March

Saturday, May 20, 2017

Victory Headwaters Pale Ale | Craft Beer Review


The Victory Headwaters Pale Ale from Victory Brewing out of Pennsylvania offers a decent American Pale Ale experience. My experience with this 5.2% ABV Pale Ale is that it poured out a nice golden straw amber color that while slightly hazy, did have somewhat of a brilliance about it. Through this veil of haze, I was able to notice the carbonation that was somewhat lively and lead up to a well-produced head that over time left some lacing behind as I consumed it. The aroma kicked out easily and well, providing those common notes of tropical and citrus. These were also able to be picked up in the taste as well, which also lead to a pleasurable mouthfeel.

This one definitely provided a full taste and although it was around sessionable level, there was no thinness about it. Carbonation worked well on my palate despite the liveliness seen in its appearance, and the bitterness was at a good level providing a nice smoothness. Taking this all into account and then matched with its nice duration, it was easy for me to score this as a 4 on Untappd and is definitely one that I would drink again. Check out me video below if you would like to see my full review. Cheers!

Brewer Notes:

Crisp and aromatic, this boldly-hopped American ale balances notes of citrus and tea-like earthiness from American hops with a subtle German malt base.

Composition

Malt: Vienna, Pilsner, Light Caramel Malt
Hops: Simcoe, Citra
ABV: 5.2%

Flavor

Citrus and catty hop character from the Citra and Simcoe blend. Aromatic but not over the top. Flavor is similar but has a dry toasty finish.

Food Pairings

Burgers and English cheeses

Serving Suggestion

Serve at 48 F pouring gentle to keep the head at bay until the last bit of the bottle which can be poured with vigor.

Availability

Year-round in 12 oz. bottles, cans and on draft.

Friday, May 19, 2017

Beer Run Video: A Look Inside D.E.P.'s

So I decided to make a beer run on my lunch break and thought once again, it would be fun to bring you guys along for the ride. So, here we go. D.E.P.’s in Fort Thomas, Kentucky is another one of the stores in my beer rotation and this one has proved to be more of a standout as it pertains to large close-out deals. There always seems to be some good choices and deals around, and it’s always fun to find them. Come along inside as I take a look! And if you are in the Cincinnati area then here is their website if you decide that you may want to visit: http://depsfinewine.com/.

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Samuel Adams Irish Red | Craft Beer Review

The Samuel Adams Irish Red from Boston Beer Company was up next for my latest beerventure, and this Irish Red Ale comes in with a 5.8% ABV and 25 IBU. Out of the bottle it poured a great vibrant red color with great clarity. The aroma provided a nice sweetness along with some breadiness from the malts. But when it came time for the taste, it provide for me a slight medicine feel at points. It was very easy drinking though, but that aftertaste did linger at points. The texture was semi-dry with a slight watery effect on the back end in my opinion. This one while it wasn’t all bad, it didn’t really stand out in anyway. Even on the appearance and having the great color, the head seemed to be just way too thin for this one. Considering its appearance, aroma, flavor, palate and overall characteristics, I ended up scoring this one a 3.25 on Untappd. Have you had it yet? If so then tell me what you thought about as well and check out my video if you would like to see the video review of this one.

Brewer Notes:

This hearty brew is full of rich malty character inspired by the red ales of Ireland. We use caramel malts for a deep, smooth malt backbone and balance them with earthy English hops for a comforting and satisfying brew.

STYLE: Red Ale
AVAILABILITY: Year Round
HOP VARIETIES: Hallertau Mittelfrueh Noble hops, East Kent Goldings, and Fuggles
MALT VARIETIES: Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend and Caramel 60
COLOR: Deep red, SRM: 30
ALC. BY VOL/WT: 5.8%ABV - 4.5% ABW
IBUs: 25
CALORIES: 190

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Shiner Cold Brew Coffee Ale | Craft Beer Review

From Spoetzl Brewery and the Shiner label comes the Cold Brew Coffee Ale, a 5% ABV and 15 IBU brew that is collaboration with one of the local coffee shops in Austin, Texas. Noticing this and my fondness of coffee, I decided to pick it up and give it a taste to see how well it was done. Check out my video here to see what I thought.

Brewer Notes:

For our 108th birthday, we’ve brewed up something special. Our first coffee ale, crafted in collaboration with Austin’s own Chameleon Cold-Brew, made with dark-roasted specialty malt and Chameleon’s beloved cold-brewed coffee, it’s sure to wake up your tastebuds. But it won’t be here forever, so pour yourself a fresh cup while you can.

Monday, May 15, 2017

Kentucky Vanilla Barrel Cream Ale | Craft Beer Review


Alltech Lexington Brewing out of Lexington, Kentucky had recently introduced their Kentucky Vanilla Barrel Cream Ale and I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised as I sat down to get a taste. This 5.5% ABV cream ale has a nice smoothness to it and caused me to be reminded of the flavors from drinking cream sodas when younger; they really did do a good job on the style. And at 22 IBU it has a nice sweetness to it from the malts and it all tended to come together nicely in my opinion. The vanilla and bourbon come through nicely and for one that is not usually a cream ale fan, I would have no problem drinking more of these. In fact I did, but check out my video here to see my other thoughts on this beer that surprised me.

Brewer Notes:

A perfect blend of vanilla and bourbon notes make this cream ale irresistible.

Kentucky Vanilla Barrel Cream Ale is our take on a classic American style of beer. We took a cold-conditioned cream ale, brewed with a hint of flaked corn and bourbon vanilla beans, and aged it in freshly decanted bourbon barrels for a minimum of two months. Kentucky Vanilla Barrel Cream Ale's medium body and 5.5% ABV make it the perfect barrel-aged beer for an all day event.

Press Release: Victory Brewing Cage Radler Release

Victory Brewing’s Cage Radler will make its 2017 debut this week and I wanted to give you some facts on this refreshing summer drink!

·       Similar in flavor to the more commonly known British shandy, a radler consists of a 50/50 blend of beer (often helles lager) and sparkling lemon soda or lemonade, to be served in beer gardens during the summertime.

·       The style of beer comes from the German word for cyclist: radler.

·       Our Cage Radler –so named for the water bottle “cages” attached to most bike frames– is actually formulated quite simply. In keeping with tradition we mix our own Victory Helles lager with sparkling lemon soda. The result is a light and crisp, malty drink with an abundance of zesty lemon flavor, enjoyed perfectly at home, on the trail in a can, or in a summer beer garden by the litremas.

·       We taste tested many different blending proportions around the brewery to find the perfect blend of lemon and lager, but ultimately we all together decided on the traditional 50/50 split as the best tasting.




Sunday, May 14, 2017

Beer Run Video: A Look Inside PartyTown

So I decided to make a beer run and thought it would be fun to bring you guys along for the ride. Party Town in Florence, Kentucky is one of the stores in my beer rotation and often proves to be a nice store for finding many beers, and especially beers from other countries. There always seems to be some good choices and deals around, and it’s always fun to find them. Come along inside as I take a look! And if you are in the Cincinnati area then here is their website if you decide that you may want to visit: https://partytownky.com/.

Friday, May 12, 2017

Samuel Adams Ella Blanc IPL: Some Hops With That Lager

I do like a hoppy lager and happened to stumble across this one on a past beer run. The Ella Blanc IPL from Samuel Adams is an India Pale Lager that comes in at 6% ABV and 65 IBU, so yeah, hops were standing by. A nice color of a beer, this one ended up being a pleasant surprise for me. In all 5 hops are used as well as 3 malts, and a decent balance is definitely achieved. But enough with my rambling check out my video here to see all of my thoughts on this seasonal brew.

Brewer Notes:

The hoppiness of an IPA and the crispness of a lager collide in this IPL. Australian Ella hops add notes of orange peel, pine, and tropical fruit while German Hallertau Blanc create hints of floral, grassy, and herbal basil. Together, their playful and inventive hop character makes for a complex, unique flavor.

STYLE - Indian Pale Lager

AVAILABILITY - Seasonal

HOP VARIETIES - CTZ (Columbus Tomahawk Zeus), Cascade, Centennial, Ella, Hallertau Blanc

MALT VARIETIES - Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, Caramel 60, and Flaked Oats

COLOR - Deep amber, SRM: 12

ALC. BY VOL/WT - 6.0% ABV - 4.8% ABW

IBUs – 65

CALORIES - 194

CBP #C19 - Saddle Mountain's Aviation & White Claw's Black Cherry Hard Seltzer, Rod J Beerventures, Wicked Weed Buyout - Cold Brew Podcast | podcast garden



CBP #C19 - Saddle Mountain's Aviation & White Claw's Black Cherry Hard Seltzer, Rod J Beerventures, Wicked Weed Buyout - Cold Brew Podcast | podcast garden
This past week I had the opportunity to speak with the Cold Brew Podcast and discuss all things beer. You can hear what was discussed by checking out the link below which of course I encourage, but also take time to listen to many of the other topics as well as they put on one great show.

CBP #C19 - Saddle Mountain's Aviation & White Claw's Black Cherry Hard Seltzer, Rod J Beerventures, Wicked Weed Buyout - Cold Brew Podcast | podcast garden



Monday, May 8, 2017

Malt Liquor Monday: Natty Daddy

A recent hangout with my buddy Eric from EricALionsFan talking Natty Daddy and some other beer oriented topics. Yeah we may have chosen a brown bag beer for this one, but we had a blast and covered other topics affecting the craft beer market. Check out the video here!

Beer Review: Flying Dog Bee Beer 7% ABV

What’s the buzz all about? Well in this case it is about the Bee Beer from Flying Dog Brewery. This beer was a part of the Brewhouse Rarities series, and was designed to bring a voice to the bees and the how their collapse poses a threat to our ecosystem. This Golden Ale comes in at a nice 7% AVBV and 35 IBU, and is brewed with honey and bee pollen. Check out my video here to see my thoughts and if this one leaves a nice sting. Unfortunately though as a rarity, it is no longer in production.

Brewer Notes:

Our Brewhouse Rarities series gives everyone in the brewery a voice. Our Flying Dog University Professor, Justin, wanted his to be heard not just for a new beer concept, but the critical threat bee colony collapse poses to our ecosystem. At least one Brewhouse Rarities release every year is an agricultural collaboration, and his pitch to craft a bee beer brewed with local bee pollen and honey immediately appealed to our powers that bee.


The beer incorporates Dutch Gold Buckwheat Honey and local bee pollen from Lord Byron’s Honey Apiary into an American Saison base. The golden color shows off the honey sweetness, which is present yet balanced. Justin chose buckwheat honey for its strong flavor. Strength is important because a lot of honey character ferments out during the process. The choice to use bee pollen was easy once he learned about its health benefits. (It’s high in protein and can be metabolized quickly.) A lot of breweries brew with honey, but few use bee pollen, as well, and Justin found that it adds a unique floral sweetness. Elevate your experience by drinking it alongside fresh chèvre with dried apricot and honey. (If you don’t understand what half of that meant, try pairing it with a non-factory cheesecake.)

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Beer Review: Redhook Long Hammer IPA 6.2% ABV

The Long Hammer IPA from Red Hook Brewery is an offering that comes in at 6.2% ABV and 44 IBU, so there will be some of that bitterness in play so one should expect it. However, it is not an exceeding amount of bitterness and during my drinking of it; I found the beer to be well balanced against the malts used. Now yes, by definition it is not a craft beer due to the ownership level but the beer itself delivered good flavor, so I will just slide it into that “crafty” area. But check out my video here to gather my other thoughts on this ale, and other impressions.

Brewer Notes:

Redhook Long Hammer IPA is a West Coast classic. The generous addition of hops during the brewing and fermentation process gives our India Pale Ale its characteristic bitterness and piney citrus aroma and flavor. Tracing its heritage from another Redhook classic beer, Ballard Bitter, Long Hammer IPA is one of America’s favorite IPAs and Seattle’s #1 local IPA.

FLAVOR PROFILE
AROMA: Tangerine, Grapefruit, and Pine
FLAVOR: Mild Bitterness, Citrus and Pine Character
FINISH: Clean Finish and Slight Citrus Linger

INGREDIENTS AND SPECIFICATIONS
MALT: Pale, Crystal
HOPS: Cascade
ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 13.7º
FINISHING GRAVITY: 2.1º
ABV: 6.2%
IBU: 44

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
Per 12oz serving
CALORIES: 188
CARBS: 14.9g
PROTEIN: 2.1g
FAT: 0g

Saturday, May 6, 2017

Beer Review: Providential Belgian-Style Golden Ale 7.5% ABV

A visit to Trader Joe’s had me come across the little offering. Well, not so little I guess considering the size of the bottle but nonetheless, the Providential Belgian-Style Golden Ale crafted exclusively by Unibroue for Trader Joe’s is one pleasant surprise. It’s almost amazing the value that you can find on some of the beers at Trader Joe’s, and how well some can stand up versus other craft beers without the additional costs.

This Golden Ale comes in at 7.5% ABV and petty much has everything that you would expect for this style of beer from the aroma through the taste and finish. And if you are not familiar with Unibroue then may I suggest you check them out because you should be. As for this beer here, check out my video to hear and see my thoughts.

Brewer Notes:

Crafted exclusively for Trader Joe’s this delicious beer is made in Quebec, Canada, and brewed according to the time honored traditions of classic Belgian Ales. It strikes the perfect balance between spices, hop, and malt profiles. With champagne-like effervescence and aromatic notes of citrus peel and ginger, this beer is malty, mildly sweet and hoppy with a subtle, spicy finish. It is sure to please the most finicky beer drinkers.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

It's Back And It's Ready For Your Summer Love - Time For Victory

Press Release:

VICTORY’S SUMMER LOVE, a summer staple, is back in stock and looking to make its way to your shelves and draft lines. This easy to drink summer beer is always a crowd favorite.

The recipe for this golden ale is something of a treasure of ours, perfectly exemplifying our focus on German tradition and American ingenuity.  German two-row malt makes up the majority of the grain-bill while a blend of German noble and American aroma hops balance the graham cracker-y base with pleasing bitterness and loads of citrusy aromas. American Ale yeast blends everything together, finishing the drink with an effortlessly refreshing crispness that begs for a second sip. 



Beer Review: Victory 21st Birthday IPA 6.1% ABV

Victory Brewing Company and their 21st IPA, an American IPA that comes in at a nice 6.1% ABV and an IBU level of 80. This one does well with offering the dry and crisp finish often expected from an IPA and as far as the hoppiness and bitterness that is often sought, there is no lack of that here. Oh, it’s your birthday with this one, check out my video here to see my other thoughts and if is indeed a celebration.

Brewer Notes:

We were so impressed with this year’s harvest in Yakima we decided to brew 2017’s anniversary brew with our favorite hops from the trip: Roy Farms Chinook, Roy Farms Centennial, and Black Star Ranch Mosaic.

Composition

Malt: Pilsner, Carapils

Hops: Chinook, Centennial, Mosaic - all 2016 fresh harvested

ABV: 6.10%

Flavor: Aggressive kettle and dry-hopping will showcase notes of pine, resinous hop character, and tropical fruit. Slight haze.

Monday, May 1, 2017

Look Here Columbus, Ohio, Six One Festival Gets Your Beer On


Press Release

Six One Pour Festival Caps Off Columbus Craft Beer Week


Third annual event to feature 60 Ohio craft breweries

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Six One Pour: The Ohio Craft Beer Fest returns to Huntington Park in the Columbus Arena District on Saturday, May 20th from 5-9 p.m. The festival serves as the culminating event of the 2017 Columbus Craft Beer Week celebration and will count 60 Ohio craft breweries as participants.

Craft beer enthusiasts can look forward to two highly anticipated collaboration beers among the approximately 150 brews offered at the event. DysfunctionAle, a hoppy pale ale collaboration among 20 Central Ohio breweries, was brewed specifically for Columbus Craft Beer Week and Six One Pour. General Sherman, a rye pale ale from Fat Head’s Brewery and MadTree Brewing, will also get its Central Ohio release in conjunction with Columbus Craft Beer Week.

General admission tickets are available in advance for $50, which includes a souvenir glass and tasting tickets for 20 four-ounce samples. VIP tickets are also available for $75 and include early admission at 4 p.m. and access to a private section with complimentary food and beer (while supplies last). Designated driver admission is available for $15 and includes a food voucher and complimentary non-alcoholic beverage. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.beerfesttickets.com/sixonepour2017

Six One Pour: The Ohio Craft Beer Fest is a fundraiser for the Ohio Craft Brewers Association
 
This year’s participating breweries include:
Barley’s Brewing Company
Black Cloister Brewing Company
The Brew Brothers at Scioto Downs
The Brew Kettle
Buckeye Lake Brewery
Christian Moerlein Brewing Company
Columbus Brewing Company
Commonhouse Ales
Crooked Handle Brewing Company
Elevator Brewing Company
Fat Head’s Brewery
Fifth Street Brewpub
Four String Brewing Company
Gordon Biersch Brewing Company
Granville Brewing Company
Great Lakes Brewing Company
Grove City Brewing Company
Homestead Beer Company
Ill Mannered Brewing Company
Jackie O’s Brewery
Kindred Beer
Land-Grant Brewing Company
Lineage Brewing
Little Fish Brewing Company
MadTree Brewing
Maize Valley Brewery
Millersburg Brewing Company
Mt. Carmel Brewing Company
North High Brewing
Ohio Brewing Company
Paladin Brewing
The Phoenix Brewing Company
Pigskin Brewing Company
Portsmouth Brewing Company
Railroad Brewing Company
The Ram Restaurant & Brewery
Rhinegeist
Rockmill Brewery
Royal Docks Brewing Company
Samuel Adams
Seventh Son Brewing
Sideswipe Brewing
Smokehouse Brewing Company
Thirsty Dog Brewing Company
Urban Artifact
Warped Wing Brewing Company
Willoughby Brewing Company
Yellow Springs Brewery
Zauber Brewing Company
 

The event will also feature live music by The LovebendersTerry Davidson & Blues Boy Mike, as well as an appearance by the CD102.5 Scene Team. Select concession stands inside Huntington Park will be serving food throughout the event. All tickets include a Reserved Seat voucher for a Columbus Clippers baseball game that will be honored May 23rd through May 29th.

Schedule for Six One Pour: The Ohio Craft Beer Fest
  • 4:00 p.m. – VIP and Enthusiast Member early entry and beer sampling begins
  • 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. – Live music by Terry Davidson & Blues Boy Mike (VIP stage)
  • 5:00 p.m. – General Admission entry
  • 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Live music by The Lovebenders
  • 9:00 p.m. – Six One Pour ends
Six One Pour is sponsored by (614) ColumbusBoelter BeverageBrewers Professional AllianceCD102.5COTADrink Up ColumbusFrantz WardReminger Attorneys at Law, The Team and these Ohio Craft Brewers Association member breweries: The Brew Brothers at Scioto DownsMadTree Brewing CompanyRoyal Docks Brewing CompanyBarley’s Brewing CompanyThe Brew KettleColumbus Brewing CompanyThe Phoenix Brewing CompanyRhinegeistSeventh Son BrewingYellow Springs BreweryZauber Brewing CompanyChristian Moerlein Brewing CompanyCrooked Handle Brewing Co.Elevator Brewing CompanyFat Head’s BreweryFour String Brewing CompanyGreat Lakes Brewing CompanyGrove City Brewing CompanyHomestead Beer CompanyJackie O’s BreweryMaize Valley BreweryPigskin Brewing CompanyRailroad Brewing CompanyThe Ram Restaurant & Brewery, and Warped Wing Brewing Company


Founded in 2007, the Ohio Craft Brewers Association is a nonprofit guild that exists to promote and preserve Ohio’s unified craft brewing industry. We aspire to be recognized as the industry leader at both state and national levels for preserving the art of making high-quality, unique craft beer; to serve as the unified voice for craft brewers across the state; to advocate on behalf of the Ohio craft beer industry; to contribute to systemic, local community development by driving economic and job growth, while creating experiences that bring people together; and to serve as a beacon for local production and manufacturing through craft beer, resulting in diverse choices for consumers.

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For more information, please contact:
Justin Hemminger, Communications Manager
Ohio Craft Brewers Association
justin@ohiocraftbeer.org
614-560-1948

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