Beervana is coming!

When: Friday October 07, 6:30-10:00PM.

Where: Rhodes On The Pawtuxet. 60 Rhodes Place Cranston, RI

Cost: Tickets $45 in advance or $50 at the door. Only 1,000 tickets sold.

Included: Ticket includes 1 tasting glass, 2 oz pours of 150+ World Class Beers, educational seminars (by Carol Stoudt from Stoudt's Brewing Company and David Yarrington Executive Brewer at Smuttynose Brewing Company), fest guide, and bottle of water.

Last years Beervana was the best Beer Festival I have ever been to. Highlights included the Berkshire Lost Sailor IPA Aged in Cab Barrel, Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout 2007 Vintage, Dubuisson Peche Mel, Goose Island Bourbon County Stout, Portsmouth Bottle Rocket IPA, and Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary - Fritz and Ken's Ale.

This year's headliners include the debut of Newport Storm '11, Firestone Walker's Parabola RIS, 2005 Smuttynose S'muttonator, 2008 Gulden Draak, and two new beers from Allagash. Check out this years complete tap list here!

The evolving Maine beer scene

The Maine beer scene has always been known for its solid takes on traditional English Ales. However, within the past few years, the styles have become much more varied. As much as I love English styles, this is a good thing. For proof, look no further than these four new beers I have tried in the past month.

Baxter Brewing Stowaway IPA, Score: 9
baxter's first beer, pamola xtra pale ale, was good not great. in the ipa however, fresh, juicy citrus flavor makes this very enjoyable. this will be a campside staple.

Oxbow Farmhouse Pale Ale, Score: 5
a new brewer in newcastle who starts with a farmhouse? sadly, expectations did not pan out. far too bitter for a saison.

Maine Beer Lunch, Score: 10
i should probably write more about this beer but the verdict is simple: the best east coast ipa i have tried. period. find it, and when you do, buy out the store.

Shipyard Smashed Blueberry, Score: 6
searched this one out hoping it would be in the vein of their smashed imperial pumpkin. blueberry works in the background though and this feels a lot more like a porter than fruit beer.

The Half Pint, NYC

This past weekend Kelly and I were in New York City for a friends wedding. Best part is, the wedding was in a bar... a good beer bar. The location was The Half Pint at 76 West Third Street. The wedding took place in the function room to the side, replete with a large, classy bar and chalk board with tap list. Food was good, service excellent, and beer list extensive (if weighted on the lighter side of the spectrum.)

There were a lot of good beers on that night, including several that were new to me. Sixpoint Righteous Ale (9) is one of the best Rye Beers I have ever had. This beer made clear that I need more Sixpoint in my life. Duvel Single (6), better known as Duvel Green because of the color of the label, is Duvel's table beer. Too watery to get excited about though. Goose Island Pere Jacques (6) is a solid dubbel if a little bit much at 8% ABV.