In conjunction with my 50 Beers from 50 States challenge, I will highlight little known breweries from across the country. Here is some information from….KANSAS!
“The Free State Brewing Co. opened in 1989 as the first legal brewery in Kansas in over 100 years. Located in a renovated inter-urban trolly station in historic downtown Lawrence, the Brewery was an early participant in the rejuvenation of the north end of the downtown business district. Led by the renovation and refurbishment of neighboring Liberty Hall and the Eldridge Hotel, the result has been a rebirth of the 600 block of Massachusetts Street”
And this is the brew that most caught might eye…OLD STORMY!
“A distinctive quality of Old Ales is that they undergo an aging process (often for years) on their yeast, contributing to a rich and often sweet oxidation character. Back in August of 2009 we aged a batch of Stormwatch Ale without it’s usual dry-hop addition and without carbonation. We then transferred the beer to various oak barrels, some originally used for wine, some for bourbon. Rather than blend the barrel-aged beer back together, we’ve chosen to keep each keg of old ale separate and allow the full expression of each individual barrel to shine through. The resulting beer is unique and complex, with notes of caramel, cherries, plums, coffee, vanilla, bourbon, and wine. Medium bodied and deep mahogany in color, Old Stormy has matured into a beer that only hints at its previous incarnation, Stormwatch; with decidedly less hop character and a greater emphasis on sweet, malty flavors. Old Stormy is a great ale to weather the winter storm season. Served at cellar temperature on the back bar. Bottom Line: A slightly sweet, malty, medium bodied, deep mahogany ale aged for no less than three months on a variety of barrels.”
50 from 50 – Maryland & New Hampshire
Clipper City has a great special series of beers under the moniker, Heavy Seas. Here is my review of the imperial pilsner.
Then I travel via the highway of beer to New Hampshire for a first taste of Smuttynose. Since I am an IPA freak, I selected their regular version. Hopefully, I will build on this with more beers from the Smuttynose folks.
50 from 50 – Louisiana
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.
Beer Haul from Halftime
In my quest to have a beer from each state, I have been buying beer from new sources. First was Bruisin’ Ales from North Carolina. Now it is Half Time Beverages from New York.
Here is what I got!
Millstream Brewing
Since 1985, Millstream Brewing has been serving beer to Iowa.
The beer that got my attention was an Oatmeal stout. Here is what the brewers say about it…”Colony Oatmeal Stout Colony Oatmeal Stout used to be just a winter seasonal brew when it first was introduced back in 1996. But since then popular demand has made it into an all year affair. The ‘oatmeal’ in the name is due the 10% oatmeal in the the grist of this brew. Oats give beer a real thick mouthfeel, something definitely desirable in a stout! But the real secret is in our lager yeast. Most stouts are made using ale yeast, but we wanted ours to be a smooth as our lagers! Black malt and roasted barley give the beer its color, and coffee-like flavors. If you like thick full-bodied stout, this beer is for you! We now only make the Stout in the colder months, because that is when it is the most popular. In the winter, you’ll find it in stores in its own ‘stout’ packaging.”
50 from 50 – Pennsylvania
Tell William Penn that his namesake has been taken from the list thanks to a triple from the famous Stoudt’s Brewery!
50 from 50 – Massachusetts
It is only fitting that Sam Adams is the beer for Massachusetts. I went for their latest creation on the market.
Help me reach my goal
The 50 Beers from 50 States challenge is now 1 month old. As you can see from the stats, the progress is good. But due to a combination of the arcane and sometimes bizarre liquor laws in some states and the limited distribution scope of some breweries, I forsee some states falling into the cracks. This is where YOU come into the picture.
If you have access to a beer from a state that I have not crossed off my list and you are willing to ship (1) bottle or can to California then I will make a donation of $15.00 to a food bank in your area of the country. You will also earn my gratitude and a shout-out on the website.
If you have a question or want to make sure that I don’t have something in my ‘fridge already then e-mail me at beersearchparty@gmail.com.
50 from 50 – Texas
Texas is scratched off the list! I get the feeling from beer afficionados that Shiner and the Spoetzel Brewery is somewhat unloved. As is most Texas beer, unless you are in Austin. Same theory holds for music and culture. This black lager was not as good as Full Sail’s Session Black, I must say. It’s OK, just a little thin for my taste.
50 from 50 – Alaska
Alaskan Brewing’s Smoked Porter has always been a beer that I avoided mostly because I am not terribly fond of smoke mixed with beer. I have had a couple rauchbiers that did not hit my palate right. This one is probably the best but I still am not fond of the style…
