Abita is probably the best known of the Louisiana breweries but their Christmas Ale is not usually seen here in California. So it gets the nod for the Bayou beer.
Defense against the Dark Beers – Baltic Thunder
Since I am not the best dark beer critic, I delegate to someone who really digs the dark side. Here is another quick review…
Surprising aroma of citrus…Medium head, beautiful mahogany color. Complex flavor profile, full caramel roastiness finishing in a medium bitter. Definitely bitter on the back end.
Paired with a meatball sandwich. Probably not the best choice for this beer. Would have been better with pastrami or pot roast.
Lift Bridge
I have had quite a few “grape-fruity” IPA’s of late. But here is a beer that actually has grapefruit in it. I’m surprised I have never seen this before from some other brewery.
Check out this new Minnesota brewery HERE
Review – Batemans Combined Harvest
Grow the Revolution
The Chatoe line keeps rolling along with the OREgasmic. Truly local beer this is. This is part of what the RogueNation is saying about it…”2010 Chatoe Rogue products will use Rogue Micro Farms’ Independence, Revolution, Liberty, Freedom, Newport, Rebel and Alluvial hops from the Wigrich Appellation and Dare, Risk and Dream malts from the Tygh Valley Appellation. Chatoe products will include Pinot Envy Ale, Dirtoir Ale, Single Malt Ale, and OREgasmic Ale.”
Improved glassware from New Belgium
New Belgium Globe Glass
*A narrow opening that benefits foam and enhances the beer’s bouquet.
*A globe shape that captures and directs the beer’s aromas toward your nose.
*New etchings inside create a continuous stream of bubbles to release and refresh flavors.
*A stem that keeps your hand from warming the beer and allows unobstructed viewing pleasure.
*Decidedly thicker, our new glass is more durable from the beaded lip down to the reinforced stem.
East meets West meets Italy
“This may well be the craziest and amazing brewery in the world” – Leonardo Di Vincenzo, Brewmaster, Birra del Borgo
Truer words may never have been spoken. Four breweries collaborating on one project! Two Italian craft brewers – Teo Musso, Brewmaster of Birrificio Le Baladan and Leonardo Di Vincenzo of Birra del Borgo, and two Italian-American craft brewers – Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and Vinnie Cilurzo of the Russian River Brewing.
The first beer will be an English Mild with a dash of chestnut.
Review – Alpine Beer Co. Duet
IPA. How I love those initials. When it is done right, there is nothing better. This one is right up there in the top 20.
Cookie Jar Porter
The brewers at Brooklyn have had some wacky ideas in the past but now they are going back to an old style, the oatmeal stout. Here is what the Brooklyners say…”Of course, oatmeal in beer isn’t a new idea. For centuries brewers have added oats to the mash, giving the resulting beers – usually stouts – silky smooth textures. But how best to create the flavors we had in mind? Out in Jersey City (NYC’s 6th borough), Tom’s friends at Feed Your Soul Bakery make some of the tastiest oatmeal cookies we’ve ever had. After talking to the bakers (and eating a lot of cookies), we brewed a beer from floor-malted barley malt, golden oats, raisins, brown sugar, honey, vanilla beans and a subtle dash of spice.
Brooklyn Cookie Jar Porter brings all these flavors together with light chocolate, coffee and caramel flavors to create a beer that will warm up the coldest nights, even if you don’t have a peat fire. It’s very nice by itself, but perhaps even better with roasted pork, barbecue, or traditional Mexican mole dishes. Or, of course, some oatmeal cookies and ice cream.”
Marin Brewing + Chinese herbs
Marin Brewing has created a new and unusual beer, an herbal beer made in collaboration with San Anselmo herbalist Dr. Yen-Wei Choong. Yen-Wei runs the Yellow Emperor Natural Healing Center and Zen Garden.
from Jay Brooks
“Marin Brewmaster Arne Johnson started with his E.S.B. as the base beer. To that, he added 38 pounds of the proprietary mix of Chinese herbs that Dr. Choong created.”