Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
These are the beers that I wish I could taste for the first time.
“Petit Obscura is a new sour ‘wild ale’ made with the second runnings of a batch of the Rhinoceros Rye Wine… it’s a small beer with a twist, available in 750-ml bottles only, starting in February.”
Good to see this Santa Barbara brewery expanding the line-up.
“Made in collaboration with fellow brew masters at Republic of Tea, Peach Pit ale is a truly unique beer. It is a light rosy-gold color and has a satiny malt background which works to display rich flavors and aromas of bright spices and fruit from the use of whole-leaf Ginger Peach tea in the brew. The natural sweetness of the malt and peach is balanced by a light dry spiciness from the ginger and black tea.”
For all of you session beer fans or flavored beer category judges this may be one of those beers that you will either have to determinedly seek out or luck into. And if you are one of the imperial porter crowd then this beer is probably not going to be for you. I have had a chamomille beer from Rogue (Many years ago) and was surprised by how well it worked. Tea and beer should work as well together as coffee and beer in my mind so let’s hope more examples head our way.
Expect to see it under the name Sierra Nevada Tea Ale and not Peach Pit.
…or your expanded brewery!
The brewery explains…”The first beer out of our new brewhouse is Brooklyn Main Engine Start, a burnished gold ale in the rare “Abbey Singel” style, reminiscent of the un-filtered beers that Trappist monks make for themselves. It’s dry and biscuity on the palate, with a lilt of spicy Belgian yeast character and a snappy hop bite. Judicious dry hopping with Slovenian Aurora hops lends an appetizing herbal note. It’s tasty enough to stick with for the whole evening, and at about 6% ABV, it won’t have you tripping over snow banks after just one.”
….Two new hoppy offerings!
First up from Drakes is….
“Large amounts of American two-row malt and English pale malt are combined with Vienna, Rye & Crystal malts, then balanced with German magnum, Simcoe and Chinook hops. Then, of course, more hops! — as we dry hop it with additional Simcoe and Chinook. Finally, this deep orange monster is loosely filtered to keep the integrity of the malt and hops in tact. Enjoy the massive aromatic revelation and prophetic hop flavor of this beer, now and forever after.”
Second is….Hop Salad
“Hop Salad is an aggressively hopped Double IPA that is fruit forward with a salad of pine, citrus, and floral aromas and bitterness. Medium carbonation levels with a slightly yellow head. Don’t expect to get by putting a small amount on your plate (…your palate), this one’s an all-you-can-eat buffet of liquid alpha goodness (we used loads of Magnum, Simcoe, & Summit hops). Loads of two-row barley and a small amount of Caramalt make up the grain bill. I’ll keep you updated on when this beer will be out and ready for a lunch date!”
UPDATE: I recently sampled the 2010 Jolly Rodger from Drake’s and it is really good. Even better than Denoggizer in my humble opionion. Big hop burst at the outset, followed by a large dose of malt that really balances things out.
“This delectable blonde ale is a co-creation of two famed farmstead breweries: Brewery Ommegang and Brasserie d’Achouffe. It employs five fine malts, two noble hops, and both of the distinctive Chouffe and Ommegang yeasts. You’ll enjoy the smooth drinkability, fruity aromas and flavors, and warming finish.”
Good to see that the cross pollination of Duvel, d’Achoufee and Ommegang is continuing. It will only make for better beer. And who doesn’t like that little red-nosed gnome?
One heck of a strange collaboration!
Actually it is simply a repackaging of the still great and still uncopied Hazelnut Brown with the famous Portland sign and the IFC logo attached.
If you are a fan of the Portlandia show or a fan of that distinctive Rogue packaging than this might be a nice collectible. I might spend my Rogue money on the John-John hazelnut aged in rum barrels instead.
Cigar City. Critical darlings of the craft beer world have a new beer available for those lucky enough to be in Florida.
Cigar City Brewing joined forces with Denmark based Grassroots Brewing and Hill Farmstead of Vermont on four beers. Half of the bounty is now close to seeing the light of day. Either and Or, which the labels describe as a high gravity black ale brewed with special honey, hops and aged on toasted Spanish Cedar.
Thanks to a major expansion Fort George has 16 oz. cans upcoming!
1811 Pre-Prohibition Lager & Vortex IPA are the first two to show up.
The Lager is being brewed for Astoria’s Bicentennial next month. That is how you celebrate history.
One of the great surprises of 2010 were Firestone Walker bombers made for Trader Joesunder the Mission Street Label. The Hefeweizen was solid and even better was the brown ale that had just the right balance of malt and thickness with a spice kick.
Now they have produced a new beer, Mission Street 2011 Anniversary Ale. The copy on the label explains: “This year’s Mission St. Anniversary Ale showcases complex malt flavors with roasty notes layered in and medium hop character. It is a blend of three incredible brews carefully blended for maxiumum aroma and flavor. We affectionately call this brew an Imperial Brown Ale. 8.5% ABV.”.
I am a big Blazer fan. I know it’s been rough injury wise for what seems like forever. But I will never root for another team (except whoever is playing the Lakers) That is why it was a great treat to have Terry’s Porter at Migration in December and now this b-ball brew
….. “Saraveza and Amnesia Brewers, Chris Spollen and Sean Thommen, will tip off a dedicated handle (during games) of Amnesia’s Trail Hazer! This dry hopped unfiltered version of the Dusty Trail Pale will be on special every time the Blazers are on the court. It is the perfect beer for a game watching session with friends.”
