Amazing IPA Night

I have not been doing very well with my most recent beer selections.  I've been so disappointed with my last few brews.  It must have all been leading up to tonights' amazing duo.  If you've read any of my other posts you should know that I am an IPA lover and the last two beers in the fridge are exactly why.  Let's get down to the goods.
I started tonight with an Avery Brewing Co IPA (www.averybrewing.com) and instantly wished I had more then one of it.  It had a generous amount of bitter balanced with bright citrus notes.  It was full and hoppy and down right fantastic.  Each sip made me want another.  With its clean dry finish I was totally sold on this wonderful beer.  I know with certainty that this beer will be coming home with me again.
Following my first hit of the night was a Back in Black black IPA from 21st Amendment Brewery (www.21st-amendment.com).  From the first sip I was in love with this rich and malty brew.  Notes of carmel and chocolate swirled merrily among the broad bitterness in a noteworthy balance.  There just wasn't enough in the can. I want more!  This is the second 21st Amendment offering I've tried and they are quickly moving up my favorite brewery list.  Simply great beer.
Tonights beers more then made up for the short comings of the last few days. I was sad to come to the bottom of the drawer in the fridge but that just means it's time for a B double E double R U N and more great beers to try.  Stay tuned! Cheers!

*Sorry for the written web addresses and lack of links to these great breweries.  Blogging from my smartphone which this evening is being less then smart.*

Carolina Brews

I have tried Duck Rabbit so these aren't my first ever North Carolina made brews, but they are the first ones I bought strictly because they were from brewers right here in the state I currently live in.  I'm gonna keep this one short and sweet so here we go.
First up was a Blowing Rock IPA which oddly enough isn't even listed on their website as a beer they make.  But I bought it and drank it so it's out there.  It was very mild on the bitter side with strong citrus tones.  It was light and crispy and made me think more of a summer ale then an IPA but it was overall drinkable.
Second was a Endo IPA.  It's label advises the website I linked here as where it comes from but there is no info there other then the fact that they took over another company recently.  I'm kinda ok with that since this beer was miserable.  I love IPAs of all kinds but this one had an almost chalky edge to it which was highly unpleasant.  There was a touch of bitterness to it and light citrus and maybe piney notes to it but I just couldn't get past that chalkiness that seemed to coat your tongue and drag you down.  I never waste beer but as I forced myself to finish this one to see if it improved I stared longingly at the kitchen sink wanting nothing but to get rid of it.  It did NOT improve as the bottle went on.
I refuse to believe this is the best NC has to offer.  The search continues.  More to come.
Cheers! (just not with an Endo)

Beer App-apalooza

It use to be when you liked a beer you would call your buddy and say get over here and try this beer, or grab some and take it to them.  Now you don't even have to speak to let the entire world know about a beer you've found or search for a place to find a beer near you.  Smartphone apps are indeed amazing and here is how they can increase your beer enjoyment.

There are lots of apps with a beer theme.  As a matter of fact if you just go to the Android marketplace and search "beer" you will get pages and pages and pages of responses.  Lots of them are things like virtual beer pong, or iBeer which is quite seriously an app that lets you virtually drink a beer (think I can like a long time without pretending to chug from my phone) but there are a number that offer services to the intrepid beer hunter and those are the ones I wanna talk about.

As I have mentioned in a previous post, I am a member of Untapped which is a sweet app that lets you "chick-in" when you enjoy a beer.  You can search by brewery or beer name and score the beer on a scale of 1-5 stars.  You can link up with your friends or make new ones in the pub feature.  This app is also Facebook friendly and will post all of your badges of beer honor for all your friends and family to see if you so desire.  I am pretty fond of this app so far.  Easy to use and so far I haven't had a brewery or beer that it didn't have in it's database.  It isn't gorgeous but it does give images of the labels on most brews to assist in identification.  I give it a thumbs up for a great free app.

Another app that I've found that bears great similarity to Untapped is called Pintley.  I haven't had this app as long as the other yet but it quite honestly seems to do very similar things but with several notable expansions.  When you first sign up it goes through a good sized list of different beers and asks you for a quick rating so the app can learn your preferences and make better suggestions for you. Ok that's cool.  You can still track and rate your beer, but the true beer snob can go in and make "beer notes" on their drink with everything from appearance and aroma to texture and value.  The devil is in the details.  Last major difference is the addition of points which are earned by adding beers to your favorites or wishlist or by following certain brewers.  They say these points will lead to prizes. . .we shall see about that.  Over all a very well put together app. Visually lovely and from my poking around it seems to cover a wide range of beers and breweries.  Add to my opinion so far that it is a free app and you have a winner in my book.  

After those two I found something just a little bit different.  Beer Cloud is a beer app with a higher purpose.  Here you can search by the regular old typing for beer or brewery or you can take a snapshot of the barcode, do a voice search, or search by map for nearby beers (only in some areas - not mine, booo).  To try out the voice search I said Terrapin and was treated to a list of all the beers Terrapin offers as well as a few beers with terrapin in their title all with little snapshots of the labels to aid identification.  Selecting a beer brings up a little description and options for view tasting notes, find that beer, or go to the brewer's general page.  Brewer's pages have great little write ups on the company and its history as well as pictures (they didn't always work on my phone) and a tab that shows a complete list of their beer offerings but without the nice label images.  Back at the home page for this app there is another neat offering the previous apps haven't even attempted to touch - the Sommelier.  Yes you tell them what your chowing on and they tell you what types of beers would best pair with it.  And it is detailed! Not just I'm having pasta, ok have a pale ale - under pasta i can tell them im having anything from couscous to thai noodles and get a range of suggested beer types.  Those types then turn into lists of beers in that type and back to the earlier beer and brewery listings.  It also has a personalized section which after registering for I am still unable to get into (and I swear I'm putting in the right info) so I guess it's up to you on that part.  Overall another really killer free beer app.  

If you are only gonna take up phone memory with one I would lean towards Beer Cloud simply for the variety of information offered.  Me personally, I love my Untapped and won't be letting it go anytime soon.  There are oodles of other beer apps, many location specific, so if you find one that is note worthy let me know.  Until then, cheers!

Build me up Butternuts

Work with me folks while my computer makes things difficult.
Tonight I'm gonna tell ya about a couple offerings from Butternuts Beer and Ale.  I had checked out there extremely cute website www.butternutsbeerandale.com and checked availability only to find that my area was not listed.  I made a mental note to put it on my road trip beer list.  Imagine my surprise when my local supplier suddenly had cans of not all but two of their beers.  Of course I bought both so here we go.
First up is the Porkslap pale ale.  I love the imagery of the pigs flying towards each other preparing to do a giant belly buck on the can front.  Popping the top I found more to love.  It is a bright crisp bitter beer with a dash of citrus flavor.  I found it clean and refreshing and overall quite enjoyable.  I'm not ready to chest bump swine over it but I could see myself cracking another on a hot summer night.
Second selection is the Snapperhead IPA.  I normally love a good IPA so I was ready to be pleased.  I found it moderately bitter and heavyhanded on the citrus flavor.  It was a strong flavor not muddied or questionable but somehow I just wasn't a big fan.  I wouldn't turn one down if offered but I won't be putting it in my pick-a-six anytime soon. 
Hopefully I will get my hands on their Thunder Moo sometime and see how their dark beer holds up. Until then. . .Cheers!

Puttin on my Clown Shoes

Tonight, unlike most nights, I am only speaking on one beer. Clown Shoes Blaecorn Unidragon.  The bottle says the name is the created name of the ultimate mythical creature born of the cross between a black unicorn and a soul dragon.  Whatever it means I am in love. This russian imperial stout is a magnificently robust and hearty malt explosion. Threads of dark chocolate and coffee run through making it a bouquet of amazing aromas and tastes.  Yes at 12.5% alcohol it is a pungent brew (and if u read my last post means I will be entering an upcoming marathon) but I'm willing to make it my only drink of the night to sip its warm rich balanced nectar.  I was already a Clown Shoes fan from Lubrication and Muffin Top, but Baelcorn Unicorn has taken me to a whole new plain of beer utopia.  I'm done talkin. Go get one. Cheers!

Beer Belly Blues

So I love my beer.  All kinds of beer.  However I am finding it difficult to maintain my svelte physique while enjoying my seemingly endless stream of lovely craft beers.  I am unwilling to go to something as nasty as Bud Light or (I almost throw up just thinking about it) Michelob Ultra for the sake of my waistline.  I'd rather just spread out the good beer nights.  But I wondered if there was another alternative.  Is there such a thing as a light craft beer?  And so the research began.  I delved through blogs, diet pages, and just about anything Google could come up with trying to find that illusive diet friendly taste sensation.  It was a very long night.  I did find this website which gives a list with some ideas on calories in beer.  The list is more about mainstream beer offerings but if you consider the alcohol content listed it will give you an idea of what your more quality beer selection may indeed contain caloricly.  Basically what the list boils down to is, with some exceptions, the higher the alcohol content the higher the caloric content.  This little factoid was rather tragic for me as I am a serious fan of the high alcohol content brews.  I continued digging for some other glimmer of hope, some other answer out there for my skinny jean dreams.  While no holy grail of diet beer appeared, I did find some opinions on what the fit minded beer swiller could consider.
Of course the most repeated suggestions include eating right and getting plenty of exercise.  Lets delve into this exercise thought for a moment.  Now I don't have the most excited of metabolisms so I have to stay active just to keep my already healthy vegetarian food eating habits from taking over my jean size.  This means I really have to burn off the extra calories of whatever I drink on top of whatever else I may already do to stay fit.  So what does burning off a good beer entail you may ask.  Lets take one of my recently reviewed beers from our previously mentioned website's list.  A Sierra Nevada Stout has 225 calories.  (It's only a 5.8% alcohol beer so I don't even wanna think about some of my favorite beers' caloric content)  In order to burn off 200 calories this website advises I would have to spend 18 minutes running at 10 miles per hour.  First, I am notorious for saying I don't run unless I'm being chased.  Secondly, 10 miles per hour?? Even the kids in The Long Walk only had to go 4 miles an hour to avoid death!  I just wanna fit in my favorite jeans!!  Of course that 18 minute run for my life wouldn't even burn off the whole beer either.  Let's see what else we can come up with.
If we do indeed come up with a lower calorie beer that has at least an acceptable taste, the second part of the problem arises.  That problem is the fact that the lower calorie beers have less alcohol (for the most part) and therefore you drink more to get that happy beer buzz which then in turn ruins the whole point of drinking this less caloric beer. Might as well drink the one you really want.  The solution I found for this is the chaser system.  Looking strictly to get more alcohol in your system, compare that 225 calorie stout to a 1.5 ounce shot of rum or whiskey which has about 125 calories.  The idea is you can drink a beer, take a shot, lather, rinse, repeat until blood alcohol level is officially up and caloric intake is reduced.  Just don't let yourself start adding coke or other mixers to your whiskey or you're blowing your caloric savings.
Basically there is no magic answer. Good beer isn't created to be healthy.  It's created to be good beer.  And just like the Ben and Jerry's in the freezer or the Doritos in the pantry it has to be enjoyed in moderation to keep your body from paying the price.  I have no intention to quit drinking good beer, but when I plan a whole night of beer enjoyment I may just have to eat extra healthy for the rest of the day and maybe hit the stairs instead of the elevator at work.  It's so worth it.  Cheers!

Milk + Stout = Yum

If stout is a beautiful beer then milk stout must be the prom queen of beers.  It is still a rich malty stout but with an added layer of sweetness.  There are a good number of milk stouts available across the world of craft beer but I just wanna talk about the two most memorable that I've wrapped my mitts around as of late.

I'm gonna start off with Left Hand Brewing's milk stout.  It has a terrific full malty base with just the right amount of the sweetness on top.  The chocolate and creamy tones blend together in a delightful way.  It is superbly balanced making it a smooth and easy drinking beer.  As always it is a solid showing from Left Hand Brewing which is high on my list of favorite breweries.  Their most recent beer release has been of their Milk Stout Nitro which has the nitrogen carbonation instead of traditional carbonation.  Previously only available on tap, they spent more then two years and tons of money on research to develop their unique Nitro bottle.  Alas, I am not in an area which has been blessed with the Nitro yet, but rest assured when I can get my hands on one you will hear about it.

The second milk stout I want to talk about is actually a chocolate milk stout and easily the biggest surprise win of my recent purchases.  Terrapin Beer Company out of Atlanta, Georgia offers their Moo-Hoo chocolate milk stout as a seasonal offering.  I am going to have to stock up before it leaves again because I am in love.  Most chocolate stouts have a deep dark chocolate tone underneath the strong malty curtain.  Moo-Hoo has a bright chocolate pop that comes up and grabs you on the very first sip.  It starts off like a sip of straight chocolate milk but is quickly followed up with a smokey malt richness.  It is definitely on the sweetest end of the stout scale but it has a remarkable balance between the milk chocolate brightness and the rich back end.  I have had a lot of stouts of all kind but none are anything like what this one offers.  It was a memorable and lovable brew.

I love talking about all the beers I try and I'm by no means the only one who enjoys sharing their love of beer.  I, like many people, am addicted to my smart phone so I was thrilled to find out about a app called Untappd.  It's a free app that lets you create a profile complete, with picture if you so choose, and then tell the world what you're drinking and where you are.  You can connect with current friends or make new ones through the "pub" screen.  I am relatively new to the app but have already made a local friend simply based on what he drinks and his profile description which simply says "Ditka. . .sausage. . .beers".  How could I resist?  The app gives badge rewards based on when, where, and what you drink and you can link it to your Facebook so all your friends can see that you drink before ten in the morning or can't stick with one beer and have to try them all (like me).  It also allows users to rate the beers they imbibe with a 1-5 star rating which may help you decide what to try next.  All in all a fun app.  If you join be sure to  friend me - I'm Babs with the picture of a zombie lawn gnome on the profile.  Time to check in with another beer. Cheers!

Stout Brownie Heaven

These brownies are so rediculously good I can't even think of anything funny to say about them.  I found this recipe online and thought it was a delightful experiment in celebration of stout month.  I'd try something new and have something yummy to take in to the guys at work. . .they may not even get to smell them on my breath if I can't summon more self control.  They use three kinds of chocolate, almost an entire bottle of stout, and just about every tool in my meager kitchen.  The recipe called for Guinness (as most stout recipes do) but I chose to use a Victory  Storm King imperial stout.  The Storm King is a rich full bodied stout with delightfully bold chocolate and malt flavors. These brownies turned out fudgy and rich and sinfully decadent without being overly sweet.  An amazingly successful use of an outstanding stout.
I paired these gooey treats with a Bell's cherry stout.  I had never had a cherry stout and wasn't sure what to expect.  I was amazed at how crisp and fresh it was.  It hits you with a tart cherry zing at first then follows up with rich malt tones. The balance is awesome.   It is like no other stout I know.  The bright tartness paired brilliantly with the deep chocolate wonder of the stout brownies and I was ever so sad when I reached the bottom of my Bell's cherry stout. I will most certainly be buying that again and again.
Stout month exploration continues tomorrow as we find our way through some milk stouts and another oatmeal and whatever else I still have hiding in what use to be the meat drawer of the refrigerator (what good does a meat drawer do a vegetarian anyways?) Until then - Cheers!

Scream 'n Stout

Oh yes, hopheads, it is glorious Stout Month!  I couldn't let it slip away
without a few good stout reviews.  There are a wide array of stouts available from the basic and imperial stouts to chocolate, oatmeal, and even cherry stouts. I am a stout lover regardless of the month so this week I am gonna do my best to touch on a few of what is out there. . .I just love all this research.
I started off my stout exploration with a basic Sierra Nevada stout.  It was a well balanced brew with clean earthy flavor.  I found this stout to feel light as it went in making it easy to enjoy without having given up the strong proud malty flavor a stout should have.  Overall it was a wonderful example of what a stout should be.  I can be certain that it will follow me home again and I will definitely make mom let me keep it.
Second beer up tonight is New Holland The Poet oatmeal stout.   The first thing that struck me was how low key the scent was. The scent of a good beer is a big part of overall effect and that was where my thoughts about this beer began to roll downhill.  I kept taking sips trying to put my finger on what was going on inside and never really grabbed it.  It was a muddy blend of malty tones with a kind of woody finish that lingered.  This is the first New Holland beer I've had where I felt let down. They are a normally strong brewery and I won't give up on them but as for The Poet. . .quoth the Beerzilla, nevermore.
Rounding out my first round of stout goodness is the Samuel Adams  Imperial Stout.  The aroma is enticing and the flavor lives up to its promise.  This rich full bodied masterpiece is worth every penny.  Chocolate and coffee tones run through the deep malty flavor with just the right touch of sweetness.   An absolute keeper.  As a matter of fact, I'm gonna keep drinking it.  More stouts coming soon including milk and cherry stouts.  Until then - Cheers!

Yes We Can

I admit that for a long time I turned my nose up at any beer in a can.  I'd been told that cans made the beer taste metallic which I had never noticed myself but why take a chance, right?  My reason for turning my back on cans was as simple as for a long time there was nothing worth drinking that came in a can.  Even when I was out at a bar with a less then stellar beer selection I got bottles because I felt like I was totally slumming it with a can in my hand.  But times have changed.  The idea that a can changes the taste? Total garbage.  The liner technology of today makes it an absolute untruth.  As a matter of fact many breweries, like 21st Amendment, will tell you that cans keep their beer fresher.  The idea is that air and light are your enemy and a can keeps them out more completely.  I can believe that.  Another good argument for cans is that they store more easily and are more portable without the concerns of breakage.  The portability fact leads us to the environmental plus.  Cans may take more energy to create in the beginning, but they weigh a lot less and can be packed to utilize the available space better which means more beer going out using less fuel.  In addition to the fuel savings, there is no limit to the number of times a can may be recycled and in most areas a can will find its way from the recycling bin back to the supermarket shelf in as little as sixty days (and the recycling uses a mere fraction of the energy creating a new can requires).  I am liking this can idea more and more.    The last and possibly the best reason to give cans a chance is that they get colder faster which minimizes that pesky waiting period between store and refreshment. Need I say more?
Cans have come to craft beer and I believe they are here to stay.  Take a look at CraftCans.com.  It is a website all in celebration of the mighty can.  They aren't affiliated with any brewery in specific and try to remain impartial as they give news and reviews from across the canned craft beer world.  Others are celebrating the can with the first ever Canny Awards to reward the best visual designs on craft beer cans.  There is even a totally amazing travelling canning service called The Can Van based in the San Francisco area that has state of the art equipment and crew available for even small batch services to craft breweries ensuring everyone has the option to can.  Just look at all that can love.
I have definitely had a turn around in my opinion on cans recently.  No I won't turn my bottle collection into a can collection anytime soon, but I won't turn away from a frosty can either.  That reminds me, I need to get to the store.  Stout reviews coming coon.  Cheers!

Even Hippies Can Love Beer

Everyone knows how much the people who own and work in craft beer breweries love their beer, but did you know that many of them also love their planet?  There has been an incredible movement toward sustainability and eco-mindedness among breweries.  As a self professed hippie I find it incredibly groovy and had to pass on the information so all of you out there can drink with consciousness if the spirit moves you.  This is by no means a comprehensive list of all the things great breweries are doing to make a difference. These are just the tip of the iceberg and a few tidbits of information to think about.

Lets start with Great Lakes Brewing.  With their home being a mere two miles from Lake Erie and their product relying heavily on water, they have made a great commitment to water conservation including hosting a music festival for over ten years which raises money for the cause.  Beyond the water, they sustainably farm all their produce and specialty hops locally in their home town which ensures freshness and saves on freight costs.  They haven't left out their buildings which have great eco-features like radiant heat flooring in their beer garden as well as the city's first commercial straw bale wall and solar panels help to power their facility.  Waste doesn't exist at Great Lakes as they make a point to use their spent grain in the soil at their farm or to feed the livestock which provide the meat used in their brewpub.  Even the used vegetable oil from their pub gets new life being filtered and reused in their "Fatty Wagon" which provides a shuttle service between their pub and a nearby sporting venue.  All in all an outstanding work in sustainability, especially if you consider that they made their home in the urban sprawl of Cleveland, Ohio.

Another awesome eco-friend is Left Hand Brewing.  In May of 2009 they formed a group within their employees called Left Hand Green who work together to help improve the breweries energy use and waste streams.  They are continuing to make changes and improvements through this group but lets take a look at what they've done so far.  Almost all of the lighting in their facility has been converted to compact fluorescent  bulbs and those that haven't been are set to be replaced as they burn out.  But that is just a drop in the pan of energy savings compared to their flash steam recovery system which according to their website recaptures 356,805 BTU of would-be lost energy which is in turn used to heat water for brewing and cleaning.  Their tasting room, offices, and one of the air compressors are powered by their solar panel system, and the things not running on solar are monitored so that their efficiency can be maximized.  Spent grains from their brewery bypass the landfill to become feed for livestock and as many things as are possible, including everything from cardboard to malt and other ingredient bags, are being recycled.  Definitely a bright star in Colorado's broad group of brewers.

Not to be left out of this list of great earth friendlies is Brooklyn Brewery.  They have the distinction of being the first company in New York City to use 100% wind generated energy.  No, they don't have a giant windmill on top of their building.  They purchase their wind power from a wind farm in upstate NY.  Along with their wind use, they recycle all their paper, plastics, and bottles as well as the hot water from the brewhouse.  Their grain, like the others I've mentioned, becomes feed for livestock in two different locations.  They have upgraded a lot of their equipment to insure its maximum efficiency and added lots of high tech insulation on their pipes.  They also claim to have a vapor collection system for their kettles but they don't go into a lot of specific details on it or really any of these upgrades on their website.  I guess if you want to know more you can always take a tour of their Brooklyn facility which is available on weekends and free!

Many other breweries have made great strides in giving back to the planet which gives us the things needed to make the beer we love.  I couldn't possibly cover them all but just a few more shouldn't be completely left out.  Sierra Nevada has one of the largest private solar installations in the country and was the first brewery to install hydrogen fuel cells.  New Belgium has Team Wonderbike which is a collective of their fans pledging to use their bikes and other alternate transportation to reduce their carbon footprint among other sustainable choice made in their facility.  So many people working to make a change while they work to make great beer.  I don't know about you but this hippie is thirsty. Cheers!

Ska Me All Night Long

You know life is good when you set your Pandora to the Reel Big Fish channel and pop the top on a cold Modus Hoperandi from Ska Brewing.  Everything seems that much better as you take that first sip and get not just hit with flavor but full on assaulted with a hop cannon filled with light citrus notes and a fantastic bitter bite.  It's earthy and full and oh so drinkable.  As a matter of fact, my only complaint about this amazing brew is that I can't find it in a bottle to add to my collection.  
Ska Brewery has a great offering of other beers as well.  I've managed to get my hands on the Ten Pin Porter, Steel Toe Stout, Pinstripe Red Ale and Nefarious Ten Pin Porter in recent beer buys and they are all memorable and outstanding beers.  I am eager to try their other tasty offerings if my local store ever gets off their duff and stocks them.  Along with great beer they have great style.  The bottles and cans are well designed and the ones I have are some of my favorite artwork in my bottle collection.  Just as stylish as their beer bottles is their website.  Presented in comic book styling with great graphics and super sense of humor, it offers a great breakdown of all the beers they offer as well as a blog of their sales force on the road and a page of fantastic merch to sport and show your Ska love to the world (yet a few more things I need to ask Santa for this year).  Rounding out their fabulousness is their plethora of fantastic events and their connection with their community.  I follow them on Facebook and they are always out and about and having a good time which is what we should all be doing. . .especially when enjoying a great beer.  I'd never given Colorado much thought as a place to live until I heard about Happy Hour Yoga. . .Colorado is definitely top three now.  If you aren't thirsty after reading this there is nothing more I can do for you.  Go get a beer already.  Cheers!

IPA madness

I just love a good IPA. I love the hoppiness, the bright flavors, and the fact that there are several variations on the theme to keep my mouth guessing and my palate pleased. Tonight I've got three IPAs to talk about. They are all totally unique yet found on the same shelf in the store.  Let's waste no more time and get to it.
My first beer of the evening is 21st Amendment's Brew Free or Die IPA. This had just found its way to the store near me for the first time and I was eager to give it a shot.  I was thrilled with the brightness of the beer and how refreshing it was. It had the delightfully mild bitterness that any good IPA should have and was flavorful without being heavy.  I have a tendency to second guess any beer in a can but this was awesome.  Not only do the say on their website that they can their brews to help keep it fresh longer and to be more eco-minded (which I love) but they have also won awards for their can designs which are pretty awesome. This was my first beer from 21st Amendment but I have a feeling I will be rejoicing in our freedom to enjoy beer with them many more times in the future.
Beer number two tonight had a hard act to follow. Perhaps that is why I was so unimpressed with the West Coast IPA from Green Flash Brewing Co.  Maybe I put too much stock in the labels claim to be "extravagantly hopped".  It had a soft touch of bitterness and was drinkable but the overall flavor just felt muddy to me.  I really wanted to like it but just kind of felt ok about it.
Tonight's IPA-fest finished strong with a beer from one of my favorite breweries Left Hand Brewing.  400 Pound Monkey is a well rounded full flavored delight of an english style IPA.  A wonderful balance of bitter and sweet flourishes.  When you have a great beer you don't need fancy packaging but they still have great art on their labels which just adds to the experience.  Top the flavor and exterior appeal off with the fact that they brew with solar power and you have one happy hippie hophead.
I have truly loved IPA night at my house. What ever shall I go to from here? Whatever it is I will be sure to bring you all along. Cheers!

When Dogs Fly

Tonight I have been enjoying a trio of fantastic beers by Flying Dog Brewery. I hit my favorite craft beer supplier thinking I was gonna make it an IPA night. I always have a hard time picking but when I saw that Flying Dog offered 3 choices all on their own choosing became much easier.  I've always found Flying Dog to be a maker of excellent beer which are also widely available and therefore easier to enjoy by all.  These 3 were no exception.
The first of the evening was a SnakeDog IPA. It is a light and crisp beer with pronounced hoppy bitterness while remaining smooth and easy to drink. It struck me as a great beer for a picnic or other warm weather outing. Full of flavor but not heavy. I would definitely drink it again.
The second of the evening was a Raging B*tch Belgian style IPA. This was a much richer and more full bodied brew. It still had the hoppiness I love but more subtly and with fruity notes alongside. A well rounded beer and definitely worth a try.
The third of the evening, and the one I swig as I type, is the Double Dog Double Pale Ale.  Its label boasts unrelenting hop bitterness and totally delivers.  It is wonderfully rich and has a touch of sweet at the back which makes it ever so drinkable.  This beer is definitely on my short list of repeat offenders in my fridge.
Overall my opinion of Flying Dog is high with their amazing bottle art and witty descriptions as well as their amazing brews and wide distribution insuring every hophead can enjoy a Flying Dog.  Can't argue with their tagline - "Good people drink good beer" by Hunter S Thompson.  So so true. Cheers!

Celebrate V-Day with Chocolate and Beer Together!

Its a day to show how much you care about your sweetie. Some people like flowers. Some go for chocolates or fancy dinners out. I lean towards chocolate but the best of chocolate for me is a good chocolate beer.  There are actually quite a few chocolate brews out there but the one I have found to tickle my tastebuds is the Double Chocolate Stout from Fort Collins Brewery.  It is a rich beer with subtle sweetness and yummy chocolate and malty notes.  It is truly a fantastic treat to celebrate your love for your friendly neighborhood hophead.

Now that we've taken a minute to talk about the required holiday of the day, I'd like to suggest a few upcoming holidays and my choice for a gift beer pairing.

Feb 16th - Do a Grouch a Favor Day - Northern Ales The Grouch Lager

Feb 23rd - Banana Bread Day - Well's and Young's Banana Bread Beer

March 3rd - National I Want You to be Happy Day - Clown Shoes Hoppy Feet 1.5

This just goes to show there is always a reason to have a good beer.  Find these and many more days to celebrate with beer at The Ultimate Holiday Site.  Of course I find that making it through another day is reason enough for a good beer.  Cheers!

Let the Drooling Begin

My excitement overfloweth as I review the page with information on the upcoming Charlotte Craft Beer Week.  Surely I should take the week off work. . . or at the very least find a local friend or two to join me in sampling some of the fine local beers North Carolina has to offer.  I am probably most excited to check out NoDa Brewing which is a local brewery not even a year old yet.  They offer a nice variety of brews and have a tap room at their brewery where you can enjoy a glass or buy a growler to take home as well as check out a tour of their digs.  Check them out at NoDa Brewing Company and get your mouth watering.  I have high hopes for a delightful week in mid March full of good beer and equally good times.  Hope to see you all there. Cheers!

Welcome Beer Buddies

Everyone remembers that first time they were at a party or out with friends and someone gave them a beer.  Generally its one of big mainstream beers like a Bud, Coors, or maybe even a Corona.  I know my first beer was a Bud and I vividly remember that the fern in the corner drank more of it then I did.  Lots of people go forward from that first beer thinking that all beer is watery tasteless death and will tell you that they don't like beer. The problem isn't that they don't like beer. The problem is that they have never had any REAL beer.  My first job upon moving to Cincinnati about a dozen years ago is partially to blame for the hophead I've become.  We often shared a six pack of good beer at the end of a long day and I quickly came to realize how good a beer could be.  I am now addicted to the places that let you "pick-a-six" in my seemingly endless search for the perfect beer.  I do enjoy many types of beer from IPA to stout to porter as well as fruity brews.  As I explore all the beers I can get my hands on in lovely Charlotte, NC I will share my findings with you.  I would love to hear from all of you too. If you know a brew I should check out let me know.  (I need all the excuses I can get to buy more beer.)  For this, my first hello to the world as I build my blog, I am including rather then a review, a link to a lady who makes very cool things from six pack holders and bottle caps.  Check her out at Mindy's Designs.  Oh how i would rock her Ska headband. . .maybe if I am good all year and ask Santa.  So to all of you I say thanks for stopping by, I look forward to seeing you again, and most of all. . .Cheers :)