Tag: Pennsylvania

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A Podcast & A Beer – Seen Through a Glass

Seen Through a Glass is hosted by bourbon and beer writer Lew Bryson who many already know and may have heard on other podcasts. Now he has his own show….

…and I think it is really good. It takes a small section of Pennsylvania and blows it up for everyone listening to hear. Plus you have to love Bryson’s big laugh that drops quite frequently during each show. It has a bit of that Rick Steves travel feel to it.

Los Angeles does not get much Penn beer especially not the small producers that Lew has talked about so far but a good substitute would be find your nearest food cart hub like Steelcraft here in Los Angeles so that you can have a food and beer experience since Bryson weaves food into each episode. Plus those trips will get you back into travel mode.

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Review – Odyssey from Sly Fox

90 IBUs!

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According to the back of the can, Sly Fox has made “well over” 40 pales and IPAs using different hop combinations and varietals and Odyssey is the capstone to that project. An 8.4% ABV Imperial IPA.

It pours a dark orange color with fast swirling bubbles that quickly recede along with the head. I get a strong dried orange smell alongside some dankness.

It does taste Imperial. The slightly metallic bitterness is sharp at first then really sticks to the roof of the mouth. And it stays there. There is a touch of spice (maybe pepper) in the mix but that dried fruit aroma is mirrored in the taste too. Along with a tiny hint of lemon.

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This is certainly one of the happier East Coast IPAs that I have encountered.

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A Yuengling History

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You may have noticed this line / brand of historical books in bookstores. They usually document local history. This Yuengling book is the first that I have seen devoted to a brewery.

Firstly, this is a picture book. Lots of great photographs and ad reproductions. Not a history per se. I was most struck by the roadside billboards. Both the early ones and then more current ones where their signage is next to that of the “national” brands.

You also get a little history of the clan behind the beer. Though I could have used more backstory in that department.

Other additions that would have proved useful to me would have been a timeline of the brewery and a floor plan. Maybe comparing different iterations of the brewery layout through the years.

Minor quibbles aside, if you like beer history and rooting for an underdog then this book is for you.

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D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc., is on sale for $21.99 from Arcadia Publishing and is available at local retailers, online or through Arcadia Publishing HERE.

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Where Santa might Stop – Bethlehem Brew Works


Since Santa shares this holiday with a certain other fellow, he might want to stop and raise a glass in Bethlehem. Pennsylvania of course and the Bethlehem Brew Works home of Rude Elf’s Reserve.

The story behind this beer is quite fascinating. Check it out HERE

Here’s to a merry and beer filled Christmas and let’s hope Santa Claus (Kris Kringle, Sinter Klass, St. Nick) has a fun and safe journey around the world!

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Mike

I will be honest. The main reason I am highlighting this beer is the name. It is my late dad’s name and it’s my middle name. Thankfully, Weyerbacher is a respected brewery so the name won’t be spoiled by bad beer. I may have to buy a few of these

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Supermarkets with pubs

With the proliferation of supermarkets that do double duty as restaurants, I should have guessed that adding beer should have been a no brainer. You can raise a pint at the Whole Foods in Pasadena so why not in one of the original beery colonies, Pennsylvania?

Click HERE to read about the latest Wegman’s and Whole Foods pub concepts.

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Victory Summer Love

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We here on the west coast are lucky to get some of the offerings from Pennsylvania’s Victory Brewing. I have enjoyed Yakima Twilight, Hop Wallop and Baltic Thunder in the past and considering the hearty response to this Philly Beer Week creation, I am sure I would enjoy Summer Love as well.

Here are the specs: “Brewed locally at the Victory Brewery in Chester County, the Summer Love Ale is a golden ale made with pale malts, German hops and Brandywine River water. This specific style of beer was chosen because it has a broad appeal and will be accessible for casual beer drinkers, but will still retain exciting hop notes.

The brew has a vibrant and refreshing pale color derived from its lean and refreshing malt body. And the initially floral aroma of hops segues into a well integrated, refreshing hop dryness of European heritage.”

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Sly Fox IPA

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Loyal readers are now probably sick of my chirpy introductions to beers that I want to try. How I only seem to really love special reserve beers or canned IPA’s. Sorry folks! Here is another one from one of the canning pioneers Sly Fox…
“Available only in 22oz bottles at present, Rt. 113 was the beer customers most requested be added to the brewery’s canned releases.

Rt. 113 will join Pikeland Pilsner and Phoenix Pale Ale as year-round releases and also still be packaged in the 22oz size.”

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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.
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Paired with a meatball sandwich. Probably not the best choice for this beer. Would have been better with pastrami or pot roast.