Josh's Beer Blog

Maine's next great brewpub

2012-01-08T18:44:00.000-05:00

It was another busy December at my real job. While I didn't get a chance to post on the blog, my family was hard at work reviewing the fare at Maine's newest brewpub, Mainely Brews Tavern in Waterville. Their review was more than enough to bump this pub up to the top of my to-do list. Hopefully, I will be adding my own, more beer-centric view shortly. Until then, bon appetit!

Good grub, Great pub . . . Who needs the post office?

The Travelin Maine(rs), George and Linda Smith of Mount Vernon, have spent their lifetimes enjoying all that Maine has to offer. Now they’ll tell you all about it — their favorite inns, restaurants, trips, activities, experiences, and travel books and websites — in their own personal style. They’ll be offering anecdotes, tips and all the details you need. So join them in exploring, experiencing and enjoying the great state of Maine.

If Luke Duplessis could turn every post office location that is closing into a Mainely Brews, people would happily forget about the mail.

After several friends and readers of this column told us how much they like Mainely Brews Tavern, in Waterville’s old post office, we scheduled a visit last week. This is a fun place with a great pub atmosphere, superb micro-brews, and a surprising (and enticing) menu.

Home for Christmas last week, our youngest daughter Hilary, who works at a high-end restaurant on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., joined us for our adventure at Mainely Brews.

Hilary

The atmosphere at Mainely Brews is what will bring you in — jovial, warm, and lively — but the food is what will keep bringing you back. Walking into the well-lit basement tavern with Mom and Dad just a few days before Christmas, I was surprised by how many families had chosen this place for a holiday dinner. This is not your average bar in central Maine.

The layout of Mainely Brews is great — something for everyone, with a horseshoe bar, large wooden tables fit for large groups, and cozy leather booths scattered around the oddly shaped historic basement. You can even have a private dinner or event in the old mail vault, a separate room adjacent to the tavern.

The history of the building makes for an authentic, charismatic restaurant with real Maine character.

The live music from a five-piece band was upbeat and a perfect accompaniment to the meal, without overwhelming the conversation.

The food (and beer) is what will keep you coming back for more. We were thrilled with the lobster stew and Southwest chicken rollups as appetizers, and blown away by the steak tips entrée and Mediterranean baked haddock entrée special.

These were all washed down with $3.50 pints of Maine microbrews that the tavern pours from taps.

My favorite was the Drop Dead red ale, high-alcohol amber that was both smoky and delicious. Dessert was not to be missed — the peanut butter pie is a real standout.

We were too full from all of the aforementioned food to try their burgers and pizzas. I was sorry to miss the London burger with black pepper and blue cheese. It would have been great with a Post Office Porter.

Incredibly delicious food, for surprisingly low prices, with some pretty spectacular locally brewed Maine beer. Mainely Brews is a long way from Washington, D.C., but I will be back.

Linda

The story behind Mainely Brews Tavern is a good one. Luke Duplessis bought this bar when he was 23 years old. I wonder if he could have even imagined how successful his restaurant would be now, eight years later.

The first thing you’re apt to notice is the beautiful old brick walls. Sconces and hanging lights give it a warm, welcoming feeling. One might think this is just a bar, but it actually is a restaurant serving great pub food — including burgers, appetizers and pizzas — and delicious entrees.

It was hard to choose from all those appetizers. The warm spinach dip included large pieces of artichoke, and was served with just-fried tortilla chips. Beware because those chips are addictive!

If you want something different, and enjoy a spicy sauce, order the Southwestern chicken rollups ($6.99). These are tiny burritos filled with corn, black beans and chicken, and then fried. It was the spicy ranch sauce that made these spectacular. Next time I go, they are likely to be my dinner! Luke told us these are very popular and I see why.

A friend was raving about the beef tips, so I knew we had to try this dish. A good portion of beef (perfectly cooked), mushrooms and onions, were served in a delicious, wild mushroom demi-glace.

Order their great mashed potatoes with this and you have comfort food at its best. The $13.99 price included a delicious Caesar salad. This entrée was incredible.

George

Hilary’s restaurant experience helped us evaluate some of the key ingredients for a good restaurant, and Mainely Brews had them all — from friendly, knowledgeable servers to appropriately timed delivery of food.

My perfectly cooked (flaky) haddock had a topping well-chopped so that you got all of the taste with each bite, and was served in a baking dish that kept the food hot (although I gobbled it up so fast it had little time to cool!)

After we’d finished our desserts, our very accommodating server (and also the front-of-the-house manager) Sandra gave me paper copies of all their menus — including the “Bear Skinny” health and fitness guilt-free menu. Much to my astonishment, my haddock dish was on that menu! I asked Lin if that meant I could order another dessert. You can guess the answer!

The micro-brews are provided by one of my favorite breweries, Black Bear in Orono, and both dark beers — the porter and the stout — are superb.

After a bit of begging, the girls allowed me to describe the desserts, a scrumptious peanut butter pie (the soft center was amazing) and a crème brule cheesecake that combined two of my favorite things into perhaps the tastiest cheesecake I’ve ever had. Hilary agreed.

Desserts are made by Luke’s friend at Carriage House Confections in Veazie (who makes desserts from some of our favorite restaurants including Fiddlehead in Bangor).

Conclusion

You’ll get real value here, where low prices are combined with good food served in a great pub atmosphere where everyone around us — including families with small kids — was obviously having a great time. Good grub. Great pub. Who needs the post office?

IF YOU GO . . .

MAINELY BREWS TAVERN
ADDRESS: 1 Post Office Square, Waterville
PHONE: 873-2457
ON THE WEB: www.mainelybrews.com
HOURS: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. every day, with food served until 11 p.m.
• Outside seating in summer. Nightly entertainment and daily species, including their popular $6 burgers on Tuesdays and 2-for-1 pizzas on Wednesdays.
• Reservations are taken, parking is in front of the building and at the nearby mall.

10 to add to the list

2011-11-27T20:36:00.002-05:00

Boulevard Double Wide I.P.A., Score: 7
this beer is everywhere you turn all of a sudden. sweet, strong, and flavorful. should be a good go-to option if it sticks in the market.

Fantome Magic Ghost, Score: 8
pours a crazy looking yellow-green. tart, sweet, sour, awesome. thanks, devon.

Fire Island Lighthouse Ale, Score: 4
malty and dull.

Grand Teton Lost Continent Double IPA, Score: 8
bursting with grapefruit hops. recommended.

Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold, Score: 8
very flavorful for a lager. sweet malt, fruity hops, and incredibly smooth.

Hoppin' Frog Barrel Aged B.O.R.I.S. Oatmeal Imperial Stout, Score: 8
over-priced as always but preferred added whiskey flavor to normal B.O.R.I.S.

Left Hand Fade to Black, Volume 2, Score: 6
a baltic porter. lots of smoke, wouldn't drink more than one.

Notch Saison, Score: 4
notch churns out another sessionable beer with this 3.8% saison. drinkable but watery.

Sixpoint Sehr Crisp Pilsner, Score: 8
german pilsner that is crisp, as promised. good session beer.

Sixpoint Bengali Tiger, Score: 6
solid ipa with a bit of a harsh bite at finish.

Great Pumpkin Ale Festival 2011

2011-10-31T20:10:00.000-04:00

Cambridge Brewing Company went ahead with their Great Pumpkin Ale Festival again this year, pouring rain and freezing temperatures and all. After an hour-and-a-half in line, we were definitely ready for some pumpkin beer!

CBC provided an especially inspired array of pumpkin beer options, highlighted by a mole infused, cask conditioned Irish Stout, El Mariachi (8), well-balanced tripel, Kraftwerk (9), and a 2008-vintage wild ale, The O.P.P. (8). Other solid new offerings included Friends with Benefits (6), Valley Ghoul (6), and Biere du Gourde (5). (The brewpub's pumpkin-inclusive food menu was solid as ever too -- I went for the hushpuppies, risoto with duck confit, and shared the whoopie pies and fried pumpkin pie.)

The beer I made a bee-line for upon entering though was New Belgium's Kick (10), a wonderfully drinkable sour. The last beer of the night, Allagash Ghoulschip (9), another sour, was almost equally impressive. The distinction as most unique beer of the night, however, goes to the dark and citrusy, Stone La Citrueille Celeste de Citricado (9).

There were traditional pumpkin's (Nogne Pumpkin (8), Iron Hill Ichabod Imperial Pumpkin Ale (7), Martha's Exchange Pumpkinweizen (6), and Sixpoint Autumnation (6)), pumpkin's with a twist (Stewart's Mischief Night (6), Elysian Hansel & Gretel (6), and Elysian Kurbitinus Pumpkin Dunkelhefeweizenbock (4)), and the pumpkin's that just didn't work (Elysian Coche de Medianoche (3) and Silver City Punk Rauchen (3)). We didn't even get to them all; next year I will be returning for Avery Rumpkin, The Bruery Autumn Maple, Watch City Pie-Eyed Pumpkin Ale, Wormtown Pumpkin Ale, and Zero Gravity's Cornucopia. Consider it yourself.

The rich get richer

2011-10-28T22:34:00.006-04:00

As if Cambridge/Somerville wasn't already the capital of good beer in Massachusetts, Davis Square recently opened another top notch beer bar. Five Horses Tavern is every bit the classy, polished bar you would expect, with lots of black leather, a copper bar, and stone fireplace. The menu was impressive and I absolutely loved the spicy, pork belly tacos with pickled red onion. With 36 rotating taps and another 80 bottles, Five Horses has all the credentials of a beer destination.

I started off with the Cape Ann Homeport Honey Pale (7). I am a sucker for any small batch made with local ingredients. Nice looking beer with balanced, subtle nose. Caramel malts and honey provide a sweetness that is pleasant, but not overbearing. Well done. Next up: Brewdog Zeitgeist Black Lager (5). Schwarzbier's are quickly climbing the rankings of my favorite styles, with that wonderful ability to provide the best of both worlds -- hoppy and dark. Once again, Brewdog fails to meet expectations but rather than going over the top, this one is a little watery. No regrets though.

Cyclone's brewin'

2011-10-15T20:22:00.000-04:00

Newport Storm Cyclone Series Ryan
special thanks once again to laura and company for getting this beer to me ahead of the release date! ryan is a rye beer brewed with amarillo hops. pours a translucent red with lacing that lasts well enough. hoppy citrusy nose with a little breadiness. flavor is definitely spicy, with healthy citrus hop bite. smooth and medium bodied. well hidden 8% abv. an inspired rye and nice summer beer.
Score: 8

Providence Craft Beer Week #2

2011-10-07T07:24:00.006-04:00

I am pleased to report that the second annual Providence Craft Beer Festival went off successfully this week! The ProJo had a good rundown of all the weeks events. While I missed out on most of the fun, I did at least make it down Thursday night -- thanks to some coaxing by friend and fellow-beer-enthusiast, Meredith.

The Avery hosted Pretty Things, brewers Dann and Martha Paquette, and gave away some pretty awesome free swag. I got a bottle of their flavorful, well-executed December 6th, 1855 EIP (8), or East India Porter. Julian's devoted several taps and a cask to Smuttynose. I started off with the always-exquisite Big A IPA, before moving to the cask-conditioned Winter Ale (8). An unusual dubbel, but refreshingly drinkable winter seasonal. The rest of my party discovered some pretty awesome beers as well: Smuttynose Really Old Brown Dog Ale (6), Smuttynose Homunculus (9), Smuttynose Imperial Stout (8), and Stone 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA (7). Now how can you beat that?

Beervana is coming!

2011-09-25T20:15:00.008-04:00

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

2011-09-20T08:05:00.000-04:00

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

2011-09-12T21:22:00.002-04:00

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.

Upcomming events

2011-08-27T08:37:00.012-04:00

Portland Brew Festival
Sat-Sun, Sept 3-4, 3 sessions
Portland Company Complex, Portland, Maine
portlandbrewfestival@gmail.com
25+ brewers in Portland's Old Port

Belgian Beer Fest
Sat, Sept 10, 2 sessions
The Cyclorama, Boston
http://beeradvocate.com/bbf/
200 Belgian beers, $50 tix

Blue Hills Brewery Oktoberfest
Sat, Sept 10, 12-6pm
Irish Cultural Center, Canton
http://bhboktoberfest.eventbrite.com/
Launch of Oktoberfest beer, $12/15 tix

Haverhill Riverfront Brewfest
Sat, Sept 24, 2 sessions
The Tap, Haverhill
http://haverhillbrewery.com/
15+ brewers, $25 tix

MY COMPLETE BEER RANKINGS

2011-08-10T22:16:00.002-04:00

My Complete Beer Rankings, updated for the first time since January 2nd. We are up to 1,408 total beers ranked. Bam.

Beer, Score (1-10)

10 Barrel ISA, 7
21st Amendment Back in Black IPA, 6
21st Amendment Fireside Chat, 4
21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon Wheat Beer, 1
21st Amendment IPA, 7

Abita Christmas Ale, 7
Abita Jockamo IPA, 4
Abita Purple Haze, 6
Abita Restoration Pale Ale, 2
Abita Save Our Shore, 5
Affligem Blond, 8
Alameda Bavarian Hefe, 8
Alameda East Village Amber, 6
Alameda Klickitat Pale Ale, 7
Alameda Irvington Juniper Porter, 7
Alameda El Torero Organic IPA, 8
Alameda Black Bear XX Stout CO2, 7
Alameda Black Bear XX Stout Nitro, 8
Alameda Wolf Imperial IPA, 7
Alameda Siskiyou Golden, 3
Alaskan Amber, 7
Alaskan Smoked Porter 2008, 9
Albany Pump Station Evans Extra Stout, 9
AleSmith Horny Devil, 9
Alesmith IPA, 10
Alesmith Old Numbskull, 7
Alesmith Speedway Stout, 10
Alexander Keith's IPA, 2
Allagash Black, 7
Allagash Burnham Road, 2
Allagash Confluence Ale, 7
Allagash Curieux, 9
Allagash Dubbel Reserve, 8
Allagash Fluxus, 9
Allagash FOUR, 6
Allagash Ghouleschip, 7
Allagash Grand Cru, 10
Allagash Hugh Malone, 8
Allagash Interlude, 7
Allagash Odyssey, 10
Allagash Tripel Reserve, 10
Allagash Victoria Ale, 9
Allagash White, 10
Allentown Beer Works Hop'solutely, 5
American Flatbread Bob White. 6
American Flatbread Cornucopia, 5
American Flatbread Extra Stout, 7
American Flatbread Farmhouse Ale, 7
American Flatbread Solstice Gruit, 8
American Flatbread Wassail, 8
Amnesia Blonde Beech, 6
Amnesia Copacetic IPA, 9
Amnesia Desolation IPA, 7
Amnesia Double Dry Hopped Desolation, 8
Amnesia Dusty Trail Pale, 7
Amnesia Slow Train Porter, 7
Amnesia The ESB, 7
Amstel Light, 2
Anchor Christmas Ale, 4
Anchor Liberty Ale, 6
Anchor Old Foghorn Ale, 5
Anchor Porter, 8
Anchor Steam Beer, 8
Anchor Summer Beer, 6
Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout, 9
Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale, 9
Anderson Valley Hop Ottin' IPA, 9
Anderson Valley Summer Solstice Cerveza Crema, 6
Anderson Valley Winter Solstice, 8
Andrew's English Pale Ale, 6
Andrew's St. Nick Porter, 8
Arcadia IPA, 5
Arcadia Scotch Ale, 4
Asahi Super Dry, 3
Atlantic Bar Harbor Summer Ale, 4
Atlantic Brother Adam's Bragget Ale, 5
Atlantic Coal Porter, 7
Atlantic MacFoochie's 7+ Scottish Ale, 7
Atlantic Mount Desert Isle Ginger, 7
Atwater Vanilla Java Porter, 7
Atwater Voodoovator, 6
Avec Les Bons Voeux, 7
Avery 14er ESB, 6
Avery Ale to the Chief , 9
Avery Anniversary Ale - Fifteen, 5
Avery Anniversary Ale - Seventeen, 9
Avery Collaboration Not Litigation, 7
Avery India Pale Ale, 8
Avery Karma Ale, 5
Avery Out of Bounds Stout, 9
Avery The Czar, 5
Avery The Maharaja Imperial IPA, 9
Avery The Reverend, 9
Avery White Rascal, 5
Ayinger Bräu Weisse, 5
Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen, 5

Baladin Elixir, 3
Ballast Point Big Eye IPA, 8
Ballast Point Black Marlin Porter, 8
Ballast Point Sculpin IPA, 8
Ballast Point Victory at Sea Coffee Vanilla Imperial Porter, 8
Baltika #4, 6
Bar Harbor Acadia Pale Ale, 9
Bar Harbor Cadillac Mountain Stout, 10
Bar Harbor Harbor Lighthouse Ale, 8
Bar Harbor Thunder Hole Ale, 9
Bass Pale Ale, 6
Bavik Petrus Aged Pale, 5
Baxter Pamola Extra Pale Ale, 6
Bayerischer Bahnhof Brau Berliner Style Weisse, 5
Beamish Irish Stout, 5
Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout, 10
Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye, 10
Bear Republic Racer 5 India Pale Ale, 8
Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale, 9
Bear Republic XP Pale Ale, 7
Beer Belly Ball and Chain IPA, 8
Beer Valley Pigskin Pale Ale, 6
Beer Valley Leafer Madness, 7
Beer Works Back Bay IPA, 7
Beer Works Bay State ESB, 8
Beer Works Black Bat Stout, 5
Beer Works Bunker Hill Blueberry, 7
Beer Works North Shore Light, 3
Beer Works Pumpkinhead Ale, 5
Beer Works Saison Nouveau, 8
Beer Works Salem American Pale Ale, 8
Beer Works Smoked Porter, 6
Beer Works Splendid Splinter, 6
Beer Works Tell Tale Lager, 7
Beer Works Terrier Scottish Ale, 5
Beer Works The Grinch, 6
Beer Works Triple A Amber, 7
Beer Works Winter Works, 7
Beer Works Witch City Red, 5
Belfast Bay Lobster Ale, 4
Belfast Bay McGovern's Oatmeal Stout, 5
Belhaven Scottish Ale / Export / 80 Shilling, 7
Bell’s Lager, 2
Bell's Java Stout, 5
Bell's Pale Ale, 6
Bell's Porter, 7
Bell's Two Hearted Ale, 10
Berkshire Cabin Fever Ale, 6
Berkshire Dean’s Beans Coffeehouse Porter, 10
Berkshire Draymens Porter, 8
Berkshire Lost Sailor IPA, 8
Berkshire Lost Sailor IPA Aged in Cab Barrels, 7
Berkshire Oktoberfest Lager, 7
Berkshire River Ale, 5
Berkshire Russian Imperial Stout, 9
Berkshire "Shabadoo" Black & Tan Ale, 6
Berkshire Sour / Imperial Stout Blend, 10
Berkshire Steel Rail Extra Pale Ale, 4
Berkshire Traditional Pale Ale, 7
Berkshire Springs Stock Ale, 4
Big Horse Russian Redneck, 8
Bison Organic Chocolate Stout, 5
Black Bear Stout, 7
Black Bear Pail Ale, 5
Black Sheep Monty Python's Holy Grail Ale, 7
Blue & Gray Stonewall Stout, 7
Blue Hills Black Hops Beer, 5
Blue Hills Extra Pale Ale, 6
Blue Hills India Pale Ale, 8
Blue Hills Red Baron Ale, 6
Blue Hills Wampatuk Wheat, 7
Blue Moon Belgian White Ale, 5
Blue Moon Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale, 6
Blue Point Honey Moon Summer Ale, 6
Blue Point Rastafar Rye Ale, 7
Blue Point Toasted Lager, 3
Blue Point Winter Ale, 3
Boddington Pub Ale, 5
Boulder Hazed and Infused, 7
Boulder Mojo IPA, 8
Boulder Pass Time Pale Ale, 3
Boulder Planet Porter, 6
Boulder Sundance Amber Ale, 4
Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale, 9
Boundary Bay German-tradition Double Dry Hopped Pale Ale, 9
Brahma, 2
Bray's Brewpub Brandy Pond Blonde Pale Ale, 4
Bray's Brewpub Causeway Cream, 6
Bray's Brewpub Mount Olympus Special Ale, 5
Bray's Brewpub Red Eye Pale Ale, 7
Bray's Brewpub Smokehouse Brown, 3
BrewDog Hardcore IPA, 7
BridgePort Black Strap Stout, 4
BridgePort Blue Heron Ale, 7
BridgePort ESB, 6
BridgePort Haymaker Extra Pale Ale, 7
BridgePort Hop Czar, 6
BridgePort IPA, 6
BridgePort Porter, 7
BridgePort Ropewalk Amber Ale, 6
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, 10
Brooklyn Brown Ale, 8
Brooklyn Cuvee de Cardoz, 8
Brooklyn East India Pale Ale, 5
Brooklyn Lager, 7
Brooklyn Local 1, 10
Brooklyn Local 1 (2006), 7
Brooklyn Local 2, 8
Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin Ale, 7
Brooklyn Sorachi Ace, 6
Brooklyn Winter Ale, 6
Brooklyn Brooklynator, 5
Brown's IPA, 2
Buckbean Original Orange Blossom Ale, 7
Budweiser, 2
Budweiser American Ale, 3
Budweiser Bud Light, 1
Budweiser Golden Wheat, 2
Budweiser Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale, 6
Budweiser Bud Light Lime, 1
Budweiser Shock Top Belgian White, 3
Budweiser Wild Blue, 2
Busch Light, 1
Butternuts Heinnieweisse Weissebier, 6
Butternuts Moo Thunder Stout, 4
Butternuts Porkslap Pale Ale, 4
Buzzards Bay Alt, 4
Buzzards Bay Black Lager, 5
Buzzards Bay Hefeweizen, 2
Buzzards Bay Pilsner, 6

Caldera Hibiscus Ginger Beer, 4
Caldera IPA, 10
Caldera Pils, 7
Caldera Rose, 5
Caledonian Organic Great Scot Pale Ale, 4
Cambridge Amber, 8
Cambridge Arquebus, 3
Cambridge Benevolence, 4
Cambridge Big Man Ale, 9
Cambridge Bitchin' Bitter, 8
Cambridge Black Magic (Cask), 9
Cambridge Blunderbuss Barley Wine, 7
Cambridge CaCow! Chocolate Milk Stout, 10
Cambridge Charles River Porter, 8
Cambridge Espresso Stout, 9
Cambridge Half Wit Belgian Style Wheat, 7
Cambridge Hefe-weizen, 9
Cambridge Ich Bin Ein Kurbisweisse, 10
Cambridge Imperial Skibsol Danish Smoked Dark Lager Beer, 7
Cambridge Never Mind the Bollekes!, 5
Cambridge Punjabi Pumpkin, 6
Cambridge Regatta Golden, 7
Cambridge Sgt. Pepper, 2
Cambridge Spring IPA, 8
Cambridge Spring Training IPA, 6
Cambridge Tall Tale Pale Ale, 7
Cambridge The Great Pumpkin Ale, 6
Cambridge The Great Pumpkin (Giant Pumpkin), 4
Cambridge The O.P.P., 6
Cambridge The Pumpeter!, 7
Cambridge Tripel, 6
Cambridge Tripel Threat, 7
Cambridge You Enjoy My Stout, 7
Cantillon Gueze 100% Lambic, 7
Cantillon St. Lamvinus, 6
Cape Ann Fisherman’s Brew, 8
Cape Ann Fisherman's Bavarian Wheat, 5
Cape Ann Fisherman's Brew IPA, 7
Cape Ann Fisherman's Imperial Pumpkin Stout, 7
Cape Ann Fisherman’s Pumpkin Stout, 9
Cape Ann Fisherman's Sunrise Saison, 6
Cape Cod Hot Blonde, 7
Cape Cod IPA, 6
Capital Blonde Doppelbock, 6
Captain Lawrence Captain's Reserve Imperial IPA, 10
Captain Lawrence Liquid Gold, 7
Carling Black Label, 3
Carlsberg Brown (Malawi), 4
Cascade Kriek Ale '09, 8
Cascade Sang Rouge, 8
Cascade Summer Gose, 9
Casco Bay Brown Ale, 4
Casco Bay Carrabassett Pale Ale, 5
Casco Bay Carrabassett Winter Ale, 4
Casco Bay Pale Ale, 7
Casco Bay Riptide Red Ale, 9
Casco Bay Summer Ale, 8
Castle Hill Windward Weiss, 6
Castle Lager, 1
Castle Milk Stout, 6
Central City Red Racer IPA, 10
Central City Red Racer Pale Ale, 6
Cerveja Super Bock, 2
Cervesera del Montseny Lupulus, 7
Chang Beer, 3
Chelsea Checker Cab Blonde Ale, 8
Chelsea Hand Pumped Cask Ale, 6
Chibuku Shake Shake, 0
Chili Head Lager, 5
Chimay Grand Reserve (Blue), 7
Chimay Premiere (Red), 10
Chimay Tripel (White), 7
Cigar City's Jai Alai, 9
Cigar City Maduro, 8
Cigar City Winter Warmer, 7
Cisco Captain Swain's Extra Stout, 7
Cisco Cherry Woods, 7
Cisco Gray Lady Hefeweizen, 6
Cisco Indie Pale Ale, 7
Cisco Lady of Woods, 8
Cisco Monomoy Kriek, 8
Cisco Moor Porter, 6
Cisco Pumple Drumkin Spiced Ale, 3
Cisco Whales Tale Pale Ale, 3
Clipper City Heavy Seas Loose Cannon Hop3, 8
Clipper City Heavy Seas Märzen, 5
Clipper City Heavy Seas Red Sky at Night, 7
Clipper City Heavy Seas Small Craft Warning, 9
Clipper City Heavy Seas The Great Pumpkin, 7
Clown Shoes Black I.P.A., 7
Clown Shoes Clementine Wit, 7
Colt 45 Malt Liquor, 2
Concord Junction Porter, 10
Concord North Woods Ale, 7
Concord Rapscallion Creation, 4
Coney Island Freaktoberfest, 5
Coney Island Sword Swallower, 6
Coniston Bluebird Bitter, 8
Cooperstown Back Yard IPA, 5
Cooperstown Benchwarmer, 8
Cooperstown Nine Man Ale, 4
Cooperstown Old Slugger, 3
Cooperstown Pride of Milford Special Ale, 7
Cooperstown Strike Out Stout, 5
Coors Killian’s Irish Red, 6
Coors, 2
Coors Light, 1
Corona Extra, 3
Corona Light, 2
Coronado Islander IPA, 7
Cottrell Old Yankee Ale, 8
Craigmill Fraoch Heather Ale, 9

Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA, 9
Dark Horse Perkulator Coffee Dopplebock, 6
Davidson Brother's Dacker Authentic Adirondack Ale, 8
Davidson Brother's IPA, 5
De Dolle Bos Keun, 9
De La Senne Stouterik, 9
De La Senne Taras Boulba, 5
De Proef Signature Les Deux Brasseurs Ale, 6
De Ranke XX Bitter, 7
Delirium Nocturnum, 7
Delirium Tremens, 8
Des Franches-Montagnes Tarry Suchong, 3
Deschutes Armory Extra Pale Ale, 6
Deschutes Bachelor ESB, 8
Deschutes Bachelor ESB (Cask conditioned), 9
Deschutes Big Mountain Bock, 5
Deschutes Black Butte Porter, 10
Deschutes Cascade Ale, 8
Deschutes Cinder Cone Red Ale, 9
Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA, 9
Deschutes Green Lake Organic Ale, 9
Deschutes Hop in the Dark Cascadian Dark Ale, 10
Deschutes Inversion IPA, 9
Deschutes Mirror Mirror, 8
Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale, 10
Deschutes Miss Spelt, 7
Deschutes Obsidian Stout, 9
Deschutes Pilsner 005, 5
Deschutes Red Chair IPA, 10
Deschutes Sagebrush Classic Pils, 8
Deschutes Streaking the Quad, 3
Deschutes The Greens IPA, 7
Deschutes Twilight Ale, 7
De Proef Reserve Signature Ale (w/ Tomme Arthur), 10
De Struise Black Albert, 9
Dick's Best Bitter, 6
Dieu Du Ciel Peche Mortel, 8
Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager, 5
Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, 9
Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA, 8
Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA, 5
Dogfish Head ApriHop, 9
Dogfish Head Black & Blue, 4
Dogfish Head Burton Baton, 9
Dogfish Head Chateau Jiahu, 6
Dogfish Head Chicory Stout, 7
Dogfish Head Festina Peche, 4
Dogfish Head Fort, 8
Dogfish Head Fort (2006), 3
Dogfish Head Fort (2008), 7
Dogfish Head Immort Ale, 9
Dogfish Head's Immort Ale (3-Years-Aged), 10
Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale, 8
Dogfish Head Midas Touch Golden Elixir, 8
Dogfish Head Namaste, 7
Dogfish Head Olde School, 4
Dogfish Head Olde School (2010), 6
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron, 10
Dogfish Head Pangaea, 7
Dogfish Head Pangaea (2010), 8
Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale, 9
Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre, 8
Dogfish Head Raison D'Extra, 5
Dogfish Head Raison D'Extra (2007), 6
Dogfish Head Red and White, 9
Dogfish Head Sah'tea, 9
Dogfish Head Sah'tea (2010), 9
Dogfish Head Shelter Pale Ale, 4
Dogfish Head Squall IPA, 6
Dogfish Head Theobroma, 9
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout, 6
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout (2009), 7
Dos Equis Amber Lager, 5
Dos Equis Special Lager, 3
Double Mountain The I.R.A., 9
Double Mountain The Vaporizer, 9
Dubuisson Peche Mel, 10
Dubuisson Scaldis Triple (Bush Ambree), 7
Duchesse De Bourgogne, 10
Duck-Rabbit Porter, 8
Dundee Original Honey Brown Lager, 5
Dundee Wheat Beer, 2
Dupont Foret, 7
Dupont Lambucha, 8
Dupont Saison, 8
Duvel, 10

Eel River Certified Organic Porter, 6
Eel River Climax Noel, 6
Element Dark Matter, 7
Elysian Hansel & Gretel, 6
Endurance Glacier Gold, 6
Eugene City Tracktown IPA, 7
Eulogy Busty Blonde, 8

Federal Jack's Taint Town Pale Ale, 2
Firestone Walker Reserve, 7
Firestone Walker Union Jack, 8
Fish Tale Organic India Pale Ale, 6
Flying Dog Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale, 6
Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter, 5
Flying Dog In-Heat Wheat, 2
Flying Dog Raging Bitch Belgian-Style IPA, 8
Flying Dog Road Dog Scottish Porter, 7
Flying Horse Royal Lager, 5
Fort Collins Kidd Lager, 8
Fort Collins Major Tom's Pomegranate Wheat, 4
Fort Collins Rocky Mountain IPA, 7
Fort Collins Z Lager, 5
Fort George Vortex, 6
Foster’s Lager, 2
Founders Breakfast Stout, 10
Founders Centennial IPA, 6
Founders Cerise, 6
Founders Curmudgeon, 9
Founders Devil Dancer Triple IPA, 6
Founders Dirty Bastard, 9
Founders Double Trouble, 8
Founders KBS, 10
Founders Porter, 8
Founders Reds Rye, 9
Franziskaner Hefe-weisse, 7
Freeport Black Gold Porter, 8
Fresh Catch Amber Ale, 2
Frosty Knuckle Ale, 4
Full Sail Amber Ale (USA), 9
Full Sail Bump in the Night, 6
Full Sail Chris's Summer D-Lite: Red, 6
Full Sail Chris's Summer D-Lite: Green, 7
Full Sail Grandsun of Spot, 6
Full Sail Hop Pursuit, 7
Full Sail IPA, 7
Full Sail Keelhauler Brewmasters Reserve 2009, 5
Full Sail LTD Series - Bottling 03, 5
Full Sail Pale Ale, 10
Full Sail Rip Curl, 8
Full Sail Saison A Pleine Voile, 4
Full Sail Session Lager, 9
Full Sail Wreck the Halls, 8
Fuller's 1845, 7
Fuller's ESB, 7
Fuller's London Porter, 8

Gaffel Kolsch, 5
Gale's Prize Old Ale (Vintage 2001), 4
Geary’s Autumn Ale, 9
Geary’s Hampshire Special Ale, 9
Geary's Imperial IPA, 6
Geary’s London Porter, 9
Geary’s Pale Ale, 9
Geary’s Summer Ale, 8
Geary’s Winter Ale, 6
Genesee Cream Ale, 4
Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat, 6
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout, 7
Goose Island Honker's Ale, 7
Goose Island IPA, 8
Goose Island Matilda, 7
Goose Island Sofie, 8
Gouden Carolous Noel, 5
Gouden Carolous Tripel, 10
Grado Plato Chocarrubica, 1
Grand Teton Pursuit of Hoppiness, 7
Great Divide Denver Pale Ale, 7
Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout, 8
Great Divide Hercules Double IPA, 9
Great Divide Hibernation Ale, 6
Great Divide Hoss, 4
Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout, 9
Great Divide St. Bridgets Porter (St. Brigids), 7
Great Divide Titan IPA, 7
Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, 9
Great Northern Wheatfish Wheat Lager, 5
Green Flash Hop Head Red, 8
Green Flash West Coast IPA, 9
Greene King Old Speckled Hen, 6
Greene King Olde Suffolk English Ale, 4
Gritty McDuff’s 21 IPA, 5
Gritty McDuff’s Best Bitter, 7
Gritty McDuff’s Black Fly Stout, 6
Gritty McDuff’s Christmas Ale, 8
Gritty McDuff’s Halloween Ale, 9
Gritty McDuff’s India Pale Ale, 9
Gritty McDuff’s Lions Pride Brown Ale, 5
Gritty McDuff’s Original Pub Style, 4
Gritty McDuff’s Raspberry Wheat, 5
Gritty McDuff's Red Claws Ale, 4
Gritty McDuff’s Scottish Ale, 7
Gritty McDuff's Sebago Light Ale, 2
Gritty McDuff’s Vacationland Summer Ale, 8
Guinness Draught, 4
Guinness Extra Stout (North America), 3

Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest, 7
Hacker-Pschorr's Weisse Natürtrub, 8
Haffenreffer Private Stock, 4
Hair of the Dog Adam, 9
Hair of the Dog Blue Dot Double IPA, 8
Hair of the Dog Fred, 9
Hair of the Dog Ruth, 6
Hale's Ale Kolsch, 6
Hansa Pilsener, 3
Harp Lager, 2
Harpoon Ale, 5
Harpoon Belgian Pale Ale, 5
Harpoon Brown, 6
Harpoon Celtic, 5
Harpoon Hibernian Ale, 5
Harpoon Imperial IPA (Leviathan Series), 3
Harpoon IPA, 6
Harpoon Island Creek Oyster Stout, 6
Harpoon Leviathan Saison Royale, 9
Harpoon Old Rusty's Red Rye Ale, 7
Harpoon Smoked Porter, 6
Harpoon Summer Beer, 3
Harpoon UFO Hefeweizen, 7
Harpoon UFO White, 3
Harpoon Winter Warmer, 3
Harpoon Wood Aged Belgian Pale Ale, 6
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special Reserve 30, 8
Heartland Big Belgian Blonde Ale, 6
Heartland Buffalo Bock, 5
Heartland Cornhusker Lager, 2
Heartland Farmer Jons Oatmeal Stout, 7
Heartland Harvest Wheat, 3
Heartland Indian River Light, 3
Heartland Indiana Pale Ale, 5
Heartland Red Rooster Ale, 5
Heater Allen Pils, 8
He'Brew Jewbelation Bar Mitzvah (13), 8
He'Brew Messiah Bold, 7
Heineken Lager Beer, 3
Heineken Premium Light Lager, 2
Henry Weinhard’s Blue Boar Pale Ale, 6
Henry Weinhard’s Private Reserve, 7
Het Anker Lucifer, 6
High & Mighty Home For The Holidays, 6
High & Mighty Two-Headed Beast, 4
Hitachino Nest Real Ginger Brew, 7
Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale, 7
Hitachino Nest White Ale, 4
Hoegaarden Original White Ale, 6
Hofbrau Maibock, 7
Hofbräu's Münchner Weisse, 9
Hofstetten Kubelbier, 9
Hook and Ladder Golden Ale, 3
Hook Norton Hooky Gold, 7
Hoppin’ Frog BORIS The Crusher, 9
Hoppin’ Frog Mean Manalishi, 10
Hopworks Anniversary Cream Ale, 8
Hopworks Crosstown Pale Ale, 9
Hopworks Deluxe Organic Ale, 10
Hopworks HUB Lager, 8
Hopworks IPA, 10
Hopworks Noggin Floggin, 6
Hopworks Rise Up Red, 9
Hopworks Secret Alt, 8
Hopworks Survival "Seven Grain" Stout, 9
Hopworks Terry Porter, 7
Hopworks Totally Raddler, 3
Hopworks Velvet ESB, 10
Hopworks Velvet Underground, 7
Hopworks What the Helles, 5
Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel, 7

Innis and Gunn Rum Cask Oak Aged Beer, 3
Ipswich Dark Ale, 9
Ipswich India Pale Ale, 7
Ipswich Oatmeal Stout, 10
Ipswich Original Ale, 10
Ipswich Summer Ale, 4
Ipswich Winter Ale, 3
Iron Hill Pumktoberfest, 6
Ithaca Brute, 8
Ithaca Flower Power IPA, 8

Jever Pilsener, 4
Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere, 6
Jolly Pumpkin La Parcella, 6
Jolly Pumpkin La Roja, 8
Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza, 7
Joseph James Red Fox, 6
Josh’s Homebrew’s Bia Kahawa Afrika, 8
Josh’s Homebrew’s Cherry (Hold-the-Chili) Christmas Dubbel, 7
Josh's Homebrew’s Crimes Against Humanity Bitter, 7
Josh’s Homebrew’s GoogleDoc Draft, 7
Josh’s Homebrew’s Hold-The-Lemon American Wheat, 6
Josh's Homebrew’s Hoppy Holidays! / Obama Beer!, 5
Josh's Homebrew’s It Must Be Wedding Saison, 8
Josh's Homebrew It Must Be Wedding Saison, Batch 2, 6
Josh’s Homebrew’s Mr. Jack Ale'Lantern, 6
Josh's Homebrew's Naughty or Nice, 4
Josh's Homebrew Pilgrimage Porter, 5
Josh's Homebrew’s Promised Land Porter, 7
Josh's Homebrew's Stash, 9
Josh's Homebrew’s The-Waiting-Is-The-Hardest-Part Pale Ale, 5
Josh's Homebrew's Wit and Wisdom, 7
Josh's Homebrew’s You're So Vain... You Probably Think This Stout is About You!, 1
Julius Echter Hefe-Weiss, 6
Just Beer Moby D, 5
J.W. Lees Harvest Ale (2007), 8

Karmeliet Tripel, 9
Kasteel Donker, 8
Kasteel Rouge, 10
Kasteel Tripel, 9
Kelso Nut Brown Lager, 7
Kennebec River Magic Hole IPA, 5
Kennebec River Penobscot Porter, 6
Kennebec River Summer Ale, 7
Keystone Light, 0
Kilimanjaro Premium Lager, 1
King Cobra Premium Malt Liquor, 1
Kingfisher Premium Lager, 2
Kirin Ichiban, 2
Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale, 6
Kona Wailua Wheat, 1
Konig Ludwig Weisse, 7
Koshihikari Echigo Beer, 4
Kronenbourg 1664, 7
Kuche Kuche, 1

La Chouffe, 7
Lagunitas A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale, 9
Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout, 9
Lagunitas Censored, 5
Lagunitas Dogtown Pale Ale, 6
Lagunitas Hop Stoopid, 7
Lagunitas Imperial Red Ale, 4
Lagunitas IPA, 7
Lagunitas Pils, 8
Lagunitas Sirius Ale, 9
Lake Placid 46'er Pale Ale, 7
Lake Placid IPA (Frostbite Ale), 9
Lake Placid Ubu, 6
Lakefront Cream City Pale Ale, 7
Lakefront Fuel Cafe, 3
Lakefront Pumpkin Lager Beer, 4
Laughing Dog Alpha Dog Imperial IPA, 8
Laughing Dog Dogzilla Black IPA, 8
Laurelwood Bottled Blonde, 4
Laurelwood Free Range Red (Organic), 8
Laurelwood Hooligan, 6
Laurelwood Hop Monkey IPA, 7
Laurelwood Mother Lode Golden Ale, 5
Laurelwood Deranger Imperial Red, 6
Laurelwood Organic Tree Hugger Porter, 7
Laurelwood Space Stout, 6
Laurelwood Workhorse IPA, 10
Leffe Blonde, 4
Left Hand Black Jack Porter, 4
Left Hand Milk Stout, 9
Left Hand Oktoberfest, 5
Legacy Hedonism Ale, 7
Legacy Midnight Wit, 7
Legacy Nor'easter, 7
Legend Brown Ale, 6
Legend Pale Ale, 6
Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest, 4
Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, 1
Leinenkugel’s Sunset Wheat, 3
Les Trois Mouquetaires Imperial Weizen, 5
Liberal Cup Alewife Ale, 8
Liberal Cup Backhouse Bitter, 8
Liberal Cup Bug Lager, 6
Liberal Cup For Richer or Porter, 7
Liberal Cup Tarbox Cream Stout, 8
Lindeman's Framboise Lambic, 7
Lindemans Kriek Lambic, 8
Lion Stout, 6
Loco Pilsner, 6
Lompoc Centennial IPA, 8
Lompoc C-Note Imperial Pale Ale, 7
Lompoc Condor Pale Ale, 4
Lompoc Fool’s Golden Ale, 4
Lompoc LSD (Lompoc Strong Draft), 7
Lompoc Proletariat Red, 4
Lompoc Sockeye Cream Stout, 6
Long Trail Ale, 7
Long Trail Belgian White, 4
Long Trail Blackbeary Wheat, 7
Long Trail Brewmaster Series Coffee Stout, 8
Long Trail Double Bag, 8
Long Trail Hefeweizen, 5
Long Trail Hibernator, 5
Long Trail Hit the Trail Ale, 6
Long Trail India Pale Ale, 5
Long Trail Winter White, 8
Lost Abbey Carnevale, 5
Lost Abbey Lost & Found Abbey Ale, 7
Lost Abbey Red Barn Ale, 7
Lucky Labrador Bavarian Crystal Hefeweizen, 6
Lucky Labrador Dog Day IPA, 8
Lucky Labrador Hawthornes Best Bitter, 7
Lucky Labrador Super Dog IPA, 6

Mackeson XXX Stout, 7
MacTarnahan’s Lipstinger Farmhouse, 3
Mad River Steelhead Extra Pale Ale, 7
Magic Hat #9, 4
Magic Hat Blind Faith, 7
Magic Hat Circus Boy, 5
Magic Hat Fat Angel, 6
Magic Hat Hi.P.A., 7
Magic Hat Hocus Pocus, 6
Magic Hat Irish Red Ale, 7
Magic Hat Jinx, 6
Magic Hat Lucky Kat, 5
Magic Hat Odd Notion American Pale Wheat, 6
Magic Hat Roxy Rolles, 8
Magic Hat Single Chair Ale, 7
Magic Hat Vinyl, 6
Magic Hat Y33, 3
Maine Beer Spring Peeper Ale, 9
Maine Beer Zoe, 8
Manchester Conspiracy Theory, 4
Manchester Emperor Norton's Peppermint Stout, 3
Marshall Wharf Tug Pale Ale, 3
Marston Wychwood Fiddler's Elbow, 5
Mash Tun Alberta Pale Ale, 2
Maui Coconut Porter, 7
Mayflower Autumn Wheat Ale, 7
Mayflower Golden Ale, 6
Mayflower IPA, 4
Mayflower Pale Ale, 7
Mayflower Porter, 7
Mayflower Summer Rye, 9
Mayflower Thanksgiving Ale, 7
Mayflower Winter Oatmeal Stout, 8
McMenamins Concordia Pale Ale, 5
McMenamins Hammerhead Ale, 5
McMenamins India Pale Ale, 5
McMenamins Nebraska Bitter, 7
McMenamins Ruby, 2
McMenamins Terminator Stout, 8
McNeill's Extra Special Bitter, 6
McNeill's Warlord IPA, 6
McSorley's Irish Black Lager, 4
Meantime IPA, 8
Meantime London Porter, 9
Mendocino Black Hawk Stout, 4
Mendocino Blue Heron Pale Ale, 3
Mendocino Red Tail Ale, 5
Mendocino Saratoga Lager, 8
Michelob Light, 1
Michelob Pale Ale, 3
Michelob Ultra, 1
Mickey's, 1
Middle Ages Beast Bitter, 7
Middle Ages ImPAled, 7
Middle Ages Kilt Tilter, 4
Middle Ages Wailing Wench, 8
Midnight Sun Sockeye Red IPA, 6
Miller Genuine Draft, 1
Miller High Life, 3
Miller Lite, 1
Millstream Colony Oatmeal Stout, 6
Millstream John's Generations White Ale, 8
Milwaukee’s Best, 1
Mikkheler Beer Geek Breakfast, 10
Mikkheler Red and White, 6
Mikkheler Texas Ranger, 7
Mississippi Mud, 4
Moat Mountain Hoffman Weiss, 8
Modelo Especial, 3
Molson XXX, 2
Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Red Ale, 9
Montana Brewing Whitetail Wheat, 8
Mosi Lager, 1
Moylan's Hopsickle Imperial IPA, 6
Murphy's Irish Red Beer, 5
Murphy’s Irish Stout, 5

Narragansett Cranberry, 2
Narragansett Lager, 5
Narragansett Porter, 5
Nashoba Valley Bolt 117 Lager, 4
Nashoba Valley Heron Ale, 5
Nashoba Valley Oaktoberfest, 4
Nashoba Valley Wattaquadoc Wheat, 6
Natian Destinatian, 5
Natural Light, 1
Nebraska Hop God Reserve Series, 9
Negra Modelo, 6
Neumarkter Lammsbrau Organic Pilsner, 8
New Belgium Abbey Style Belgian Ale, 9
New Belgium Fat Tire, 8
New Belgium Ranger IPA, 8
New Century MoonShot Beer, 1
New England Sea Hag IPA, 9
New Holland Kolsch, 7
New Holland Mad Hatter IPA, 7
Newcastle Brown Ale, 7
Newport Storm '10, 8
Newport Storm Chocolate Porter, 6
Newport Storm Cyclone Neo, 7
Newport Storm Cyclone Quinn, 9
Newport Storm Gloria, 6
Newport Storm Henry, 6
Newport Storm Hurricane Amber Ale, 4
Newport Storm Irish Red, 3
Newport Storm Peter, 6
Newport Storm Regenschauer Oktoberfest, 6
Newport Storm Rhode Island Blueberry, 7
Newport Storm Summer Ale, 7
Newport Storm Winter Ale, 7
Ndovu, 1
Nile Special Lager, 1
Ninkasi Total Domination IPA, 7
Ninkasi Tricerahops Double IPA, 10
Nodding Head Saison, 6
Nodding Head Saison, 4
Nogne Special Holiday Ale, 7
North Coast ACME California IPA, 8
North Coast Blue Star, 8
North Coast Brother Thelonious, 4
North Coast Le Merle, 5
North Coast Old No. 38 Stout, 8
North Coast Old Plowshare Stout, 8
North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout, 10
North Coast Old Stock Ale, 9
North Coast Pranqster, 7
North Coast Red Seal, 9
Northampton Black Cat Stout, 6
Northampton Maggies Wee Heavy, 8
Northampton Old Brown Dog, 6
Northampton Pale Ale, 8
Northampton Redheaded Stepchild, 6
Northampton Steamer, 7
Notch Session Pils, 6

Oak Pond Dooryard Ale, 5
Oak Pond Nut Brown Ale, 8
Oak Pond Oktoberfest, 6
Oak Pond Pale Ale, 4
Oak Pond Pilsner, 6
Oak Pond Somerset Lager, 7
Oak Pond White Fox Ale, 7
O’Doul’s, 2
Offshore Great Pumpkin, 5
Offshore Hop Goddess, 6
Offshore India Pale Ale, 7
O'Hara's Irish Red, 5
O'Hara's Irish Stout, 8
Okocim Beer, 3
Old Dominion Dominion Ale, 8
Olde Burnside Dirty Penny, 9
Olde Burnside Ten Penny Ale, 6
Olde Burnside Ten Penny Ale Reserve, 9
Olde English 800, 1
Ommegang (Abbey Ale), 8
Ommegang BPA (Belgian-style Pale Ale), 9
Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence Stout, 9
Ommegang Cup o Kyndnes, 5
Ommegang Hennepin (Farmhouse Saison), 9
Ommegang Rare Vos, 7
Ommegang Three Philosophers, 8
Ommegang Witte, 6
Opa-Opa IPA, 6
Opa-Opa Steakhouse Red Rock, 7
Orlio Organic Black Lager, 5
Orlio Organic Common Ale, 6
Orval Trappist Ale, 9
Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale, 10
Oskar Blues Gordon, 9
Oskar Blues GUBNA Imperial IPA, 5
Oskar Blues Mama's Little Yella Pils, 6
Oskar Blues Old Chub, 9
Oskar Blues Ten FIDY, 8
Otter Creek Copper Ale, 4
Otter Creek Helles Bock, 3
Otter Creek Otter San, 3
Otter Creek Pale Ale, 5
Otter Creek Raspberry Brown Winter Ale, 3
Otter Creek Stovepipe Porter, 5
Otter Creek White Sail, 4
Owen O'Leary's Black & Tan, 4
Owen O'Leary's Dave's Blueberry Ale, 4
Owen O'Leary's Golden Eagle Ale, 5
Owen O'Leary's I.P.A., 4
Owen O'Leary's Irish Sunsetter Red, 6
Owen O'Leary's Summertime Wheat, 3
Oxford Hefeweizen, 4

Pabst Blue Ribbon, 4
Pacifico, 3
Palm Amber, 6
Pannepot - Old Fisherman's Ale (2007 Version), 9
Paper City Batch 108, 8
Paper City Blonde Hop Monster, 8
Paper City Fogbuster Coffee House Ale, 8
Paper City One Eared Monkey, 2
Paper City PC Blue, 2
Paper City Riley's Mother's Milk Stout, 9
Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier Naturtrüb, 4
Paulaner Oktoberfest- Märzen, 6
Peak Organic Espresso Amber Ale, 8
Peak Organic IPA, 7
Peak Organic Nut Brown Ale, 3
Pearl Street Canal Street Stout, 9
Pearl Street Lake Effect Pale Ale, 7
Pearl Street Trainwreck, 4
Pelican Pub Kiwanda Cream Ale, 7
Pennichuck Bagpipers Scottish Ale, 5
Pennichuck Black Lager, 8
Pennichuck Engine No. 5 Firehouse Red Ale, 6
Pennichuck Halligan RyePA, 7
Pennichuck The Big O Octoberfest Lager, 6
Pennsylvania Brewing Fleur de Lehigh, 7
Pennsylvania Walt Wit, 5
Penobscot Bay Half Moon Stout, 7
Penobscot Bay Meadow Road Wheat Beer, 6
Penobscot Bay Old Factory Whistle Scottish Ale, 9
Penobscot Bay Red Flannel Ale, 7
Penobscot Bay Whig Street Blonde Ale, 8
Pete’s Wicked Strawberry Blonde, 5
Picaroon's Best Bitter, 6
Picaroon's Man's Best Friend, 4
Pinkus-Mueller Organic Ur Pils, 8
Piraat Ale, 7
Port Brewing High Tide Fresh Hop IPA, 7
Port Brewing Shark Attack Double Red Ale, 6
Port Brewing Wipeout IPA, 8
Portsmouth ALTernator, 9
Portsmouth Bottle Rocket IPA, 9
Portsmouth Dirty Blonde Ale, 7
Portsmouth Hefeweizen, 5
Portsmouth Oatmeal Stout, 8
Portsmouth Octoberfest, 7
Portsmouth Smoky Dunkelweizen, 5
Pretty Things American Darling, 7
Pretty Things Babayaga, 7
Pretty Things Baby Tree, 8
Pretty Things February 27th, 1832 Mild Ale, 7
Pretty Things Fluffy White Rabbits Hoppy Tripel, 8
Pretty Things Hedgerow Bitter, 6
Pretty Things Jack D'or, 9
Pretty Things November 15th, 1901 KK, 8
Pretty Things Our Finest Regards, 5
Pretty Things Saint Botolph's Town, 6
Primus, 1
Professor Fritz Briem 1809 Berliner Weisse, 7
Pyramid Haywire Hefeweizen, 5

Ram Barefoot Wit, 4
RedBones Chester Street Amber, 7
Redhook Blonde Ale, 4
Redhook CopperHook Spring Ale, 4
Redhook Double Black Stout (with Coffee), 9
Redhook ESB, 7
Redhook Long Hammer IPA, 3
Redhook Sunrye, 5
Ridgeway Seriously Bad Elf, 6
Ringwood Old Thumper (USA), 6
Rising Tide Ishmael, 6
Rising Tide Ursa Minor, 10
Riverhorse Tripel Horse, 6
RJ Rocker Patriot Ale, 3
Rock Art Imperial Spruce Pumpkin Stout, 7
Rock Art Magnumus Ete Tomahawkus ESB^2, 8
Rock Art Vermonster, 8
Rock Bottom American Dream IPA, 7
Rock Bottom Improper Hopper IPA, 5
Rock Bottom Lumpy Dog Light Lager, 1
Rock Bottom Mad Cow Milk Stout, 6
Rock Bottom Munich Gold, 4
Rock Bottom North Star Amber Ale, 2
Rock Bottom Off-Kilter Scotch Ale, 5
Rock Bottom Pumpkin Ale, 6
Rodenbach Classic, 8
Rodenbach Grand Cru, 8
Rogue American Amber, 6
Rogue Brutal Bitter, 5
Rogue Captain Sig's Deadliest Ale, 6
Rogue Chatoe First Growth Wet Hop Ale, 7
Rogue Chipotle Ale, 2
Rogue Chocolate Stout, 8
Rogue Dead Guy Ale, 9
Rogue Hazelnut Brown, 8
Rogue Mocha Porter, 7
Rogue Morimoto Soba, 7
Rogue Santa's Private Reserve Ale, 9
Rogue Shakespeare Stout, 7
Rogue Somer Orange Honey Ale, 2
Rogue Yellow Snow IPA, 8
Rolling Rock Extra Pale, 3
Roots Burghead Heather Ale, 6
Roots EXXXcalibur Imperial Stout, 9
Roots Island Red, 7
Roots Pale Ale, 7
Roots Pond Turtle Pale Ale, 8
Roots Woody Organic IPA, 8
Run of the Mill Bug Zapper Super Lager, 7
Run of the Mill State Budget Red Ale, 5
Run of the Mill What's Hoppenin' IPA, 6
Russian River Blind Pig IPA, 9
Russian River Pliny the Elder, 10
Russian River Redemption, 7

Safari Lager, 2
Sagres, 6
Saint Somewhere Lectio Divina, 6
Samuel Adams Black Lager, 9
Samuel Adams Blackberry Wit, 3
Samuel Adams Boston Ale, 7
Samuel Adams Boston Lager, 6
Samuel Adams Brick Red, 5
Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat, 4
Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock, 3
Samuel Adams Coastal Wheat, 3
Samuel Adams Cranberry Lambic, 1
Samuel Adams Cream Stout, 8
Samuel Adams Deconstructed: Ahtanum, 3
Samuel Adams Deconstructed: East Kent Goldings, 3
Samuel Adams Deconstructed: Hallertau Mittelfrueh, 2
Samuel Adams Deconstructed: Simcoe, 5
Samuel Adams Deconstructed: Zeus, 5
Samuel Adams Double Bock, 8
Samuel Adams Dunkel Weiss, 7
Samuel Adams Hefeweizen, 5
Samuel Adams Holiday Porter, 8
Samuel Adams Honey Porter, 2
Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner, 6
Samuel Adams Imperial Stout, 2
Samuel Adams Irish Red Ale, 6
Samuel Adams Latitude 48 IPA, 6
Samuel Adams Light, 5
Samuel Adams Longshot Blackened Hops, 6
Samuel Adams LongShot Grape Pale Ale, 3
Samuel Adams Longshot Honey B's Lavender Ale, 7
Samuel Adams LongShot Weizenbock, 9
Samuel Adam's Noble Pils, 7
Samuel Adams Octoberfest, 4
Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale, 5
Samuel Adams Pale Ale, 4
Samuel Adams Revolutionary Rye Ale, 3
Samuel Adams Scotch Ale, 7
Samuel Adams Summer Ale, 4
Samuel Adams Triple Bock, 1
Samuel Adams White Ale, 4
Samuel Adams Winter Lager, 6
Samuel Smiths Imperial Stout, 5
Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout, 10
Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery Pale Ale, 4
Samuel Smith’s Organic Raspberry Fruit Beer, 3
Samuel Smith’s Organically Produced Ale, 8
Samuel Smith’s Taddy Porter, 8
San Miguel Dark Lager, 4
Sapporo Premium Draft, 3
Saranac Adirondack Amber, 4
Saranac Black and Tan, 4
Saranac IPA, 4
Saranac Pale Ale, 5
Saranac Pumpkin Ale, 4
Schlafly Biere De Garde, 8
Schlitz, 5
Sea Dog Apricot Wheat Beer, 2
Sea Dog Blue Paw Wild Blueberry Wheat Ale, 3
Sea Dog Riverdriver Hazelnut Porter, 3
Sebago Barrel-aged Lake Trout Stout, 8
Sebago Fryes Leap IPA, 7
Sebago Full Throttle Double IPA, 9
Sebago Hefeweizen, 3
Sebago Lake Trout Stout, 9
Sebago Local Harvest Ale, 6
Sebago Runabout Red Ale, 5
Sebago Saddleback Ale, 3
Sebago Slick Nick Winter Ale, 5
Serengeti Premium Lager, 1
Sheepscot Valley Bold Coast Pemaquid Ale, 6
Sheepscot Valley Boothbay Special Bitter, 2
Sheepscot Valley Sheepscot River Pale Ale, 8
Sherwood Forest Archers Ale, 5
Sherwood Forest Sheriffs IPA, 8
Shipyard Light, 3
Shipyard Brewer's Choice Special Ale 2008 (Brown Ale), 7
Shipyard Brewer's Choice Special Ale 2009 (Royal IPA), 8
Shipyard Blue Fin Stout, 7
Shipyard Brown Ale, 3
Shipyard Chamberlain Pale Ale, 6
Shipyard Export Ale, 7
Shipyard Longfellow Winter Ale, 8
Shipyard Prelude Ale, 9
Shipyard Pugsley's Signature Series Barley Wine Style Ale, 7
Shipyard Pugsley's Signature Series Imperial Porter, 8
Shipyard Pugsley's Signature Series XXXX IPA, 8
Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale, 4
Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin, 8
Shipyard Summer Ale, 3
Shipyard Tremont Ale, 8
Shipyard Tremont IPA, 4
Shipyard Wheat Ale, 5
Sierra Nevada 12th Release Harvest, 6
Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary - Fritz and Ken's Ale, 8
Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale, 7
Sierra Nevada Beer Camp California Common, 9
Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Double IPA, 7
Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Juniper Black Ale, 7
Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Weizenbock, 8
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot, 9
Sierra Nevada Blackbird Black IPA, 8
Sierra Nevada Brown Ale, 8
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, 8
Sierra Nevada Early Spring Beer, 7
Sierra Nevada Estate, 9
Sierra Nevada Glissade Golden Bock, 5
Sierra Nevada India Pale Ale, 8
Sierra Nevada Kellerweiss Hefeweizen, 7
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, 8
Sierra Nevada Porter, 9
Sierra Nevada Stout, 8
Sierra Nevada Summerfest, 7
Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA, 8
Sierra Nevada Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale, 7
Sinebrychoff Porter, 9
Singha, 4
Sixpoint Brownstone Ale, 7
Sixpoint Righteous Ale, 8
Sixpoint Sweet Action, 10
Sly Fox Chester County Bitter, 8
Sly Fox Pikeland Pils, 8
Sly Fox Seamus, 5
Smithwicks Ale, 4
Smuttynose Belgian Stout, 6
Smuttynose Big A IPA, 10
Smuttynose Chai Porter, 6
Smuttynose Farmhouse Ale, 5
Smuttynose IPA “Finest Kind”, 6
Smuttynose Old Brown Dog, 6
Smuttynose Portsmouth Lager, 6
Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale, 7
Smuttynose Robust Porter, 10
Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale, 9
Smuttynose Summer Weizen Ale, 6
Smuttynose Wheat Wine Ale, 6
Smuttynose Winter Ale, 7
Snapperfish IPA, 4
Southampton Double White Ale, 9
Southampton ESB, 10
Southampton IPA, 4
Southampton Pumpkin Ale, 7
Southern Tier Back Burner, 7
Southern Tier Big Red, 7
Southern Tier Creme Brulee Milk Stout, 9
Southern Tier Cuvee Series 2 (Oak Aged Series), 6
Southern Tier Harvest Ale, 7
Southern Tier IPA, 8
Southern Tier Jahva, 6
Southern Tier Phin & Matts Extraordinary Ale, 6
Southern Tier Porter, 8
Southern Tier Raspberry Porter, 5
Southern Tier Raspberry Wheat Beer, 3
Southern Tier Unearthly, 9
Spanish Peaks Black Dog Ale, 5
Spanish Peaks Crystal Weiss, 4
Spaten Oktoberfestbier Ur- Märzen, 4
Speakeasy Prohibition Ale, 7
Sprecher Black Bavarian, 8
St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout, 9
St. Bernardus Abt 12, 10
St. Bernardus Witbier, 10
St. Feullien Saison, 8
St. Feuillien Tripel, 9
St. George Summer Ale, 6
St. Ides High Gravity Malt Liquor, 3
St. John Brewers Virgin Islands Pale Ale, 2
St. Louis Gueuze Fond Tradition, 9
St. Pauli Girl Lager, 3
St. Pauli Girl Special Dark, 3
St. Peter Cream Stout, 6
Steel Reserve 211, 5
Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout, 8
Stone 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA, 5
Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale, 9
Stone Cali-Belgique, 7
Stone Double Bastard Ale, 9
Stone India Pale Ale, 10
Stone Leviathan, 6
Stone Lukcy Basartd, 9
Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard, 9
Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale 2006, 8
Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale 2008, 7
Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale 2009, 7
Stone Pale Ale, 9
Stone Ruination IPA, 8
Stone Russian Imperial Stout 2006, 9
Stone Russian Imperial Stout 2009, 8
Stone Smoked Porter, 8
Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, 9
Stone 07.07.07 Vertical Epic Ale, 8
Stone 08.08.08 Vertical Epic Ale, 6
Stone Cat IPA, 7
Stone Coast 840 IPA, 8
Stone Coast Knuckleball Bock, 6
Stone Coast Sunsplash Golden Ale, 2
Stoudts American Pale Ale, 9
Stoudts Double IPA, 8
Stoudts Fat Dog, 8
Stoudts Gold Lager, 8
Stoudts Scarlet Lady ESB, 6
Strangford Lough Legbiter, 6
Strangford Lough St. Patrick's Best, 5
Sunday River Alt, 3
Sunday River Black Bear Porter, 6
Sunday River IPA, 5
Surly Bitter Brewer, 10
Switchback Pale Ale, 7

Taj Mahal Premium Lager, 3
Tallgrass IPA, 6
Tecate, 1
Terminal Gravity IPA, 7
Terrapin Rye Pale Ale, 7
The Alchemist Uncle Daddy, 9
The Bruery 7 Grain Saision, 5
The Bruery Mischief, 7
The Bruery Orchard White, 7
The Bruey Oud Tart, 6
The Bruery Saison Rue, 9
The People's Pint Pied pIPA, 4
The Shed National IPA, 8
The Shed Mountain Ale, 7
The Tap American Pale Ale, 7
The Tap Ascension, 8
The Tap Bock, 7
The Tap Chocolate Porter, 8
The Tap Dopplebock, 4
The Tap GestAlt, 5
The Tap Haverale Cream Ale, 6
The Tap Hewitt Brown, 6
The Tap Irish Stout, 7
The Tap Leatherlips IPA, 9
The Tap Nut Brown, 7
The Tap Smoked Pils , 8
The Tap Whittier White, 7
Thirsty Dog Old Leghumper, 6
Thirsty Dog Siberian Night, 10
Thomas Hooker Blonde Ale, 7
Thomas Hooker Hop Meadow IPA, 9
Thomas Hooker Liberator Doppelbock, 10
Thomas Hooker Octoberfest Lager, 6
Tiger Beer, 2
Tommyknocker Alpine Glacier Lager, 3
Trade Route Ginger Pale Ale, 4
Trappistes Rochefort 10, 8
Traquair House Ale, 7
Trinity Belgian Gold, 6
Trinity Belgian Wit, 4
Trinity Brown Ale, 6
Trinity Decadence IPA (Cask), 5
Trinity ESB, 7
Trinity Hefe Weizen, 5
Trinity Imperial IPA, 6
Trinity Larkens Irish Stout, 7
Trinity Rhode Island IPA, 8
Trinity Russian Imperial Stout, 9
Trinity Schwarzbier, 5
Trinity Special Kolsch, 8
Trinity The Kolsch, 6
Triumph Amber Ale, 7
Triumph Belgian Double Rye Pale Ale, 9
Triumph Belgian Dubbel, 8
Triumph Belgian Golden, 6
Triumph Gold IPA, 8
Triumph Hefe-Weizen, 6
Triumph Kinder Pilsner, 5
Triumph Munich Dunkel, 6
Troegs Dream Weaver Wheat, 6
Troegs Hopback Amber Ale, 8
Troegs Java Head Stout, 8
Troegs Pale Ale, 6
Troegs Sunshine Pils, 7
Troubadour Obscura, 6
Trout River Rainbow Red Ale, 5
Trumer Pils, 6
Tsingtao, 2
Tuckerman 6288 Stout, 7
Tuckerman Pale Ale, 8
Tusker Lager, 2
Two Brothers Domaine DuPage French Style Country Ale, 7
Two Brothers Heavy Handed IPA, 6
Two Brothers The Bitter End, 7

Uganda Breweries Pilsner Lager, 1
Uinta Angler's Pale Ale, 8
Unibroue Chambly Noire, 5
Unibroue La Fin Du Monde, 9
Unibroue Maudite, 8
Union Station Belgian Tripel, 4
Union Station Summer Blonde, 4
Union Station Golden Spike Ale, 6
Union Station Trip Hop, 5
Union Station Half Day IPA, 5
Union Station River Otter Ale, 3
Union Station Barleywine, 4
Upright Four, 7
Upright Reggae Junkie Gruit, 8

Val-Dieu Grand Cru, 10
Van Steenberge Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Red Ale, 5
Vermont Pub and Brewery Forbidden Fruit, 5
Vermont Pub and Brewery Dogbite Bitter, 7
Vermont Pub and Brewery Vermont Smoked Porter, 8
Victory 12, 4
Victory Bags Packed Porter, 7
Victory Baltic Thunder, 9
Victory Braumeister Harvest Pils, 6
Victory Festbier, 6
Victory Golden Monkey, 9
Victory Helios, 5
Victory HopDevil, 9
Victory Moonglow Weizenbock, 4
Victory Prima Pils, 8
Victory Saison Du Buff, 5
Victory Storm King Imperial Stout, 10
Victory Sunrise Weiss, 8
Victory V Lager, 6
Victory Whirlwind Witbier, 4
Victory Wild Devil, 7
Victory Yakima Glory, 7

Wachusett Blueberry, 5
Wachusett Green Monsta, 7
Wachusett IPA, 5
Wachusetts Larry, 8
Wachusett Octoberfest Ale, 3
Wachusett Summer Breeze, 4
Wachusett Winter Ale, 7
Warsteiner Premium Dunkel, 5
Watch City 38 Schilling Scottish Ale, 6
Watch City Biking Bob's Bohemian Pilsner, 4
Watch City Bombed Blondeshelle Belgian Strong Ale, 5
Watch City Dubbel Belgian Ale, 6
Watch City Hops Explosion IPA, 7
Watch City Kingpin Imperial Stout, 7
Watch City Moody Street Stout, 7
Watch City Pie Eyed Pumpkin Ale, 6
Watch City Shillelagh Irish Red Ale, 5
Watch City Spearmint Ale, 3
Watch City Titan Brown Ale, 9
Watch City Totem Pale Ale, 8
Watch City Uber-Okto-Lager, 6
Watch City Wheat IPA, 7
Weihenstephaner Festbier, 7
Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier, 6
Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier, 8
Well Banana Bread Beer, 2
Westmalle Trappist Tripel, 10
Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot, 8
Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA, 5
Weyerbacher Hops Infusion, 7
Weyerbacher Imperial Pumkin Ale, 7
Weyerbacher Insanity, 6
Weyerbacher Merry Monks' Ale, 7
Weyerbacher Winter Ale, 4
White Birch Tripel, 5
Widmer Brothers Collaborator Sunstone Pils, 7
Widmer Brothers Drifter Pale Ale, 6
Widmer Brothers Drop Top Amber Ale, 8
Widmer Brothers Hefeweizen, 6
Widmer Brothers Pitch Black IPA, 7
Widmer Brothers Snow Plow, 7
Widmer Brothers W06 NW Red Ale, 8
Wild Goose IPA, 5
Williams Brothers Alba Scots Pine Ale, 7
Williams Brothers Ebulum Elderberry Black Ale, 6
Williams Brothers Fraoch Heather Ale, 8
Williams Brothers Kelpie Seaweed Ale, 4
Williamsburg Alewerks Coffeehouse Stout, 7
Windhoek Lager, 3
Wolaver's Farmhouse Ale, 8
Wolavers India Pale Ale, 7
Wolaver's Oatmeal Stout, 4
Wolaver’s Will Stevens' Pumpkin Ale, 5
Woodstock Inn Pemi Pale Ale, 6
Woodstock Inn Pigs Ear Brown Ale, 5
Wormtown Pumpkin Ale, 7

Yards Alexander Hamilton's Federalist Ale, 5
Yards ESA (Handpump), 6
Yards George Washington's Tavern Porter, 7
Yards Philadelphia Pale Ale, 7
Yards Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce, 5
Yards Thomas Jefferson's 1774 Tavern Ale, 5
Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, 7
Young's Oatmeal Stout, 9
Yuengling Black and Tan, 5
Yuengling Traditional Lager, 8

Z Street Mocha Java Stout, 8

Phoenix beers

2011-08-06T13:13:00.002-04:00

My final column's for The Phoenix covered a number of new beers. Updated rankings to come.

Black Sheep Monty Python's Holy Grail Ale, Score: 7
aroma is fruity, grassy, and sweet. flavor is just as balanced with a gentle herbal bitterness offsetting the bready malt profile. at first i thought this would be a gimmicky beer, but in truth it's a great, traditional english beer. i enjoyed this significantly more on tap versus a bottle.

Cisco Monomoy Kriek, Score: 8
a very good sour flanders red ale... just be prepared to pay $20+.

Dogfish Head's Immort Ale (3-Years-Aged), Score: 10
dark copper-ruby with thin beige head and pops when opened -- it's still carbonated! smell of raisins first, alcohol second, then dark fruit, sweet brown sugar, and stealthy hops working in the background. raisins lead again with maple, vanilla, and oak coming through. alcohol isn't forward at all, mellowed for sure. not lively, but far from flat. so smooth. somehow this managed to beat the high marks from the first time around. mellowing of alcohol and melding of flavors put this beer over the top.

Franziskaner's Hefe-Weisse, Score: 7
lemons and cloves rise above expected flavors of banana and wheat.

Fuller's 1845, Score: 7
nose of sweet malts, hops, and musty yeast. taste is more of the same, with some fruity esthers and buttery note too. medium bodied. an easy drinker.

Gale's Prize Old Ale (Vintage 2001), Score: 4
you expect to lose some carbonation in aged beers but this pours almost entirely flat. dark fruit flavor is closest to prunes, and rather medicinal. i suppose it probably mellowed out some but alcohol can still be chocking at times. at $10.50 for 9.3 oz, this was one of the biggest busts in some time.

Greene King Old Speckled Hen, Score: 6
nitro pour at british beer company. poured darker than i expected, with a creamy off-white head that lasts. smell is sweet while taste is almost entirely toasted malts. mouthfeel is textured, but smooth. has some oomph for a pale ale.

Greene King Olde Suffolk English Ale, Score: 4
this is a blend of an aged strong ale and fresh pale ale, making it a rather unique old ale. caramel and toffee malts are on display here, with some various dark fruit flavors peeking through.

Hacker-Pschorr's Weisse Natürtrub, Score: 8
very bready with a real juiciness from the banana, lemon, and bubblegum flavors. extremely lively carbonation. excellent.

Harpoon Island Creek Oyster Stout, Score: 6
from their 100 barrel series, would certainly go well with oysters, but i wouldn't have noticed their presence but for a hint of salt in the middle of the flavor.

Hofbräu's Münchner Weisse, Score: 9
strikes a great balance between flavor and drinkability. surprisingly clear with a big billowy head, the aroma is fresh and yeasty. fruit, grain, and a light bitterness adjoin in the flavor with a mouthfeel that is light and gulpable.

Julius Echter's Hefe-Weiss, Score: 6
this is malty enough to feel almost heavy, with very lively carbonation.

J.W. Lees Harvest Ale (2007), Score: 8 found this dusty bottle hidden away at luke's in rockland. four years of aging produced a wonderfully complex, creamy, and sweet barleywine that demands to be sipped.

König's Ludwig Weiss Ayinger's Bräu Weisse, Score: 5
this is dominated by cloves, both in the aroma and taste. with a cloudy golden color and thick lacing, this sure looked great in an oversized weizen glass!

Nebraska Hop God Reserve Series, Score: 9
aged for six months in french oak chardonnay barrels, this ipa has a decidedly belgian bend to it. flavor is hoppy, but time in barrel plus time on the shelf definitely allowed the hops mellow. instead, it is the wine barrels that really shine, imparting notes of tart white grapes and oak throughout. retails for $23 though...

Paulaner's Hefe-Weissbier Naturtrüb, Score: 4
distinctive wheat flavor with muted hops.

Samuel Adams Deconstructed: Ahtanum, Score: 3
odd potpourri on the nose but has a nice light, floral bitterness in the flavor. caramel malts again rise to the top, resulting in a sweet, simple ipa.

Samuel Adams Deconstructed: East Kent Goldings, Score: 3
unusual aroma that ranges from sweet and fruity (think apricot) to earthy and grassy. malty bend makes it feel a lot like an English IPA. bittering hop.

Samuel Adams Deconstructed: Hallertau Mittelfrueh, Score: 2
mild floral aroma amidst the healthy dose of breadiness. bitterness is of raw pine and lemon, joined by an unmistakable note of pepper. this is better as a bittering hop.

Samuel Adams Deconstructed: Simcoe, Score: 5
big grapefruit nose that is a little musty at the finish. taste is mainly of citrus zest with an earthy bitterness.

Samuel Adams Deconstructed: Zeus, Score: 5
powerful piney aroma and taste, so much so that the herbal bitterness bests biscuity malts.

Samuel Adams Latitude 48 IPA, Score: 6
copper in color, the beer has a nose balanced to the point of being muted. notes of citrus, grapefruit, and pine emerge, but hop bitterness is overpowered by sweet biscuity malts. balanced but slightly dulled ipa.

Samuel Adams Longshot Honey B's Lavender Ale, Score: 7
surprisingly nuanced. not bad.

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp California Common, Score: 9
brass-colored, this beer smells of floral hops and sweet bread. flavor follows with some alcohol at the finish and a lively carbonation and bitterness.

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Double IPA, Score: 7
slightly muted aroma and taste incorporating pine, citrus, and even a little of that 8.5% abv. bitter but far less intimidating than most imperial ipa's.

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Juniper Black Ale, Score: 7
a winter warmer in the vein of a robust porter or black ipa. flavor is mainly heavily roasted malts with a hint of juniper in the background, but only if you search for it. solid bitterness and enough potent flavors that i wouldn’t drink more than one in a sitting.

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Weizenbock, Score: 8
huge aroma and golden-orange appearance. tasted much more like a hefeweizen, with lots of fruity banana and cloves. tasty though.

St. Peter's Cream Stout, Score: 6
syrupy texture and molasses note falls a little flat. i prefer my cream stouts a little lighter.

Victory Sunrise Weiss, Score: 8
fresh nose and pale, effervescent appearance. Banana, wheat, and phenols make this one very tasty beer.

Weihenstephaner's Hefeweissbier, Score: 6
best known of the german hef's. has an aroma of spicy yeast and fresh grains, and an appearance that is more hazy than cloudy. taste is bready enough to keep the flavors of banana and clove in their place.

Well's Banana Bread Beer, Score: 2
goes beyond the flavor of banana conjured in some european styles to actually brewing with bananas. unfortunately, this tastes more like banana candy than real beer.

Williams Brothers Alba Scots Pine Ale, Score: 7
uses pine twigs and spruce buds for an herbal, even spicy brew.

Williams Brothers Fraoch Heather Ale, Score: 8
uses heather flower tips to play on the mouth like a hop, creating a fruity, light, and lovely balanced beer.

Williams Brothers Kelpie Seaweed Ale, Score: 4
a dark, earthy and, yes, salty beer that tastes a lot like a thin Porter.

Farewell, Phoenix

2011-08-05T06:56:00.008-04:00

As I wrote in the last post, after a year-and-a-half and 34 column's, I am calling it quits at The Providence Phoenix (and Boston and Portland Phoenix.) This was a wonderful experience, which allowed me to write about something I love -- beer! And while I am done with regular newspaper deadlines, I may periodically write for The Phoenix papers on a freelance basis... and the beer blog, of course!

In my time with The Phoenix I was able to travel to the world's number one beer bar, attend beer dinners and festivals, witness the creation of Providence's first annual craft beer week, all the while getting to better know organic, canned, session, aged, and just about any other kind of beer you can imagine. Here is the full run-down:

Article #1: Mix-the-ultimate-six (2/25 Issue)

Article #2: Irish ayes (3/12 Issue)

Article #3: Beer Heaven (3/26 Issue)

Article #4: Justified arrogance (4/9 Issue)

Article #5: Eco-friendly (4/23 Issue)

Article #6: Savor the flavor (5/7 Issue)

Article #7: Beer on a budget (5/21 Issue)

Article #8: Have beer, will travel (6/4 Issue)

Article #9: Savor the flavors of beer (6/18 Issue)

Article #10: Malt liquor madness (6/30 Issue)

Article #11: Oh! You Pretty Things (7/14 Issue)

Article #12: The beers of summer (7/28 Issue)

Article #13: Tips for tastings (8/11 Issue)

Article #14: Local flavors (8/25 Issue)

Article #15: Go global! (9/8 Issue)

Article #16: Get ready for Providence Craft Beer Week (10/1 Issue)

Article #17: The best of Oktoberfest beers (10/15 Issue)

Article #18: Excellent exbeeriments: The wonderful world of beer blends (11/5 Issue)

Article #19: Time for thanks (11/19 Issue)

Article #20: Beer: It's what's for breakfast (12/3 Issue)

Article #21: Ho-ho-hops! (12/17 Issue)

Article #22: On tap for 2011 (12/31 Issue)

Article #23: Beer and cheese unite! (2/4 Issue)

Article #24: Beer by the sea (2/18 Issue)

Article #25: Bring on the Bock (and more) (3/4 Issue)

Article #26: The Cascades come East (3/18 Issue)

Article #27: Health 'n' hops (4/1 Issue)

Article #28: Merry Olde Beer (4/15 Issue)

Article #29: Suds worth the splurge (4/29 Issue)

Article #30: Hefeweizen's: The ultimate warm-weather beer (5/13 Issue)

Article #31: Beer Geek Nirvana (5/27)
Article #32: Beers worth waiting for (6/10 Issue)

Article #33: Off the beaten tap (6/24 Issue)
Article #34: A six pack to go (7/22 Issue)

You can find all of these at providence.thephoenix.com or by clicking the Providence Phoenix label in the left column of my blog. A special thanks goes to my editor, Lou Papineau, who made all this possible... and was always there to help me find a snappy headline! And be sure to check-out Lou's new column, Bottles and Cans and Just Clap Your Hands, to keep up on the latest happenings in the still growing Providence craft beer scene.

ProPho: A six-pack to go

2011-08-02T06:34:00.002-04:00

A half-dozen bottles of happiness
By JOSH SMITH | July 19, 2011
http://providence.thephoenix.com/food/124077-six-pack-to-go/

A year and a half ago, I started writing this column by trying to assemble the ultimate mix-a-six pack. So it seemed fitting that for my final article for the Providence Phoenix, I finish the job by rounding out my list of must-try beers to an even dozen.

The initial six selections covered a range of brewers and styles: ALLAGASH WHITE, DOGFISH HEAD'S 90 MINUTE IPA, FOUNDERS BREAKFAST STOUT, SMUTTYNOSE ROBUST PORTER, THOMAS HOOKER'S HOP MEADOW IPA, and IPSWICH ORIGINAL ALE. You might notice that these are predominately local selections, in a nod to the fact that we can drink extremely well by drinking local. While the next half-dozen go a little further afield, the original moral remains and each still resides in the good ol' USA.

I'd like to start with a truly unique beer, not an easy accomplishment in the increasingly crowded craft beer marketplace. LAGUNITAS' A LITTLE SUMPIN' SUMPIN' ALE is an American Pale Wheat Ale that registers an unheard of 7.5% ABV. You would never know it, however, as this is a smooth, hoppy brew all the way through. And if you like this as much as I did, Lagunitas also releases A LITTLE SUMPIN' WILD ALE, a beer that loads up on wheat malts and uses a wild yeast strain to give it a decidedly Belgian bend.

Speaking of Belgian beers, OMMEGANG of Cooperstown, NY, is one of the best American brewers at attempting these difficult styles. HENNEPIN (FARMHOUSE SAISON) is one of my favorite beers for a sophisticated flavor that is alternately spicy, lemony, grassy, sweet, and earthy. Dry and easy drinking, this is another beer that hides its 7.7% ABV well. It isn't cheap at $10 for a four-pack, but this accessible beer is one of my most frequent recommendations to novice drinkers looking to give craft beer a chance.

Equally drinkable and much more sessionable is FULL SAIL'S PALE ALE. This Pale Ale out of Oregon has a very appealing fresh hop character in both the aroma and taste. There are also enough Pale and Crystal malts to make this a balanced, crisp brew. It's so delicious that I could never grow bored of it.

Another generously hopped beer that doesn't have to travel quite so far to get to your refrigerator is VICTORY'S HOPDEVIL ALE. HopDevil is orange in color with good head retention and a sweet, appealing aroma bursting with fruity hops. Caramel malts are robust enough to provide a medium body to the brew and balance the in-your-face citrusy hops. Here Victory manages to walk a fine line of pleasing hop heads with a delicious hop flavor, while still keeping it balanced enough for more mainstream drinkers — not an easy feat!

Closer still is Plymouth, Massachusetts' MAYFLOWER BREWING. Makers of several solid, very traditional English ales, my pick of the bunch would definitely be their PORTER. This pours a dark brown with roasted coffee and chocolate malts on the nose. In addition to roastiness, the taste has an unmistakably hoppy undercurrent and entirely appropriate 5.5% ABV. The mouthfeel is smooth, creamy, and full-bodied. With all of the extreme and adventurous brewers out there, it is refreshing to have a local brewer that is willing to stay true to style and put out the drinkable classics that you crave.

And let's round out the rack with one of this country's most celebrated beers: NORTH COAST'S OLD RASPUTIN RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT. If the creepy picture of Rasputin himself on the label doesn't intimidate you, the jet-black pour might. Chocolate takes center stage in aroma while burnt coffee steps up in flavor along with bitterness and alcohol. This is a sipper, no doubt. If Old Rasputin leaves you wanting more, the brewer's anniversary beer, OLD RASPUTIN XII, takes this already bold offering to the next level by aging it in bourbon barrels.

Of course, the beauty of craft beer is that there is a style and brewer out there for almost everyone. So the next time you are mixing-a-six (or 12), be adventurous and enjoy.

Happy drinking!

Travelin' Maine(rs)

2011-07-30T08:31:00.002-04:00

To no one's surprise, my parents also appreciate good beer. In fact, I am not sure my father has ever been prouder than the day I took up homebrewing. (Just keep the free beer coming, right, Dad?) The two of them also love to travel and eat and thus the Travelin' Maine(rs) were born. This column / blog allows the two of them to travel to some of Maine's best inns and restaurants and write up the experience. (And get some more free stuff...) Not a bad deal.

Their latest article highlighted the Maine Beer Trail and included a guest appearance by yours truly.

GET SOME EXERCISE: Take a hike on the Maine Beer and Wine Trails

Kennebec Journal, 7/25/11

The best hikes in Maine are on the Maine Beer Trail. And you don't need hiking boots!

Our state has gone from a wasteland to a wonderland of beer brewing. We've established an international reputation for finely crafted beers and many brew masters welcome you into their facilities for tours and tastings.

The Maine Brewers Guild provides maps and a list of brewery tours including days and hours. Some of the breweries include restaurants. Prizes are awarded if you visit 5, 10 or all 25 breweries on the trail. As if you needed any incentive.

Today's column includes a piece by our son Joshua Smith, who works for My Brothers Keeper, serving the poor in Brockton, Massachusetts. We're very proud of Josh, especially for his commitment to public service. He is also a home-brewer and writer with his own beer blog, and we're stealing a piece he wrote after visiting the Penobscot Bay Brewery in Winterport, also the site of the very fine Winterport Winery.

Joshua

During those cold winter months, many hunker down and put on a warm mug of cocoa. I decided to go the other way with it. Since 2008, I have rounded up a few friends, driven to northern Maine, and enjoyed a few cold beers.

Previous destinations included Ebenezer's Pub, Oak Pond Brewing, Bray's Brew Pub, Great Lost Bear, Sea Dog Brew Pub and Shipyard Brewing. The road less-traveled, I guess.

This year, on our way to a University of Maine hockey game in Orono, I arranged for a visit to Penobscot Bay Brewery in Winterport, operated by Mike and Joan Anderson who also own Winterport Winery.

They were kind enough to invite us for a tour despite being officially closed for the winter. It's a very nice facility with kitchen, tasting room, gift shop, winery and brewery -- all overlooking the Penobscot River.

This small brewery opened in 2009. Mike gave us a very entertaining tour, tracing each piece of brewing equipment back through its previous owners. While the room had the feel of a garage, I was impressed with how well-organized and clean the whole operation was.

Needless to say, Mike isn't haphazardly throwing handfuls of chipotle peppers into the brew pot like I do when home brewing.

The tasting room is simply beautiful, with shelves jammed with fruit wines, winery merchandise and local Maine products. They even sell Bay Brew Ice Cream, made with their own Half Moon Stout! My stout float was indescribable.

On tap were their Old Factory Whistle Scottish Ale, Stout and Wheat and Brown Ale. It made for a very enjoyable and tasty afternoon. Because you can only get Penobscot Bay's beers in Maine, this is a great stop on any beer trip.

George

Shipyard dominates Maine's microbrewing industry, so it's no surprise they their Portland facility offers the best tour, complete with a video, tour of the bottling process and tastings of my favorite Shipyard beers (be sure to try the Pugsley series). To get inside the huge brewery itself, reserve a space online for their Tuesday-night tour.

Bar Harbor Brewing Company produces one of my all-time favorites, Cadillac Mountain Stout, so Linda and I stopped by the brewery for a tour during our June visit to Bar Harbor. There's not a lot to see in a brewery, so a good tour guide is essential.

At Bar Harbor, our guide was a young guy named Ezra, nicely seasoned in his fourth year at the brewery. He was very humorous. He encouraged us to taste the ingredients that go into their beers, including barley, a chocolate malt that tasted like burned brownies and oats that Ezra claimed to eat out of the vat for breakfast.

He saved the worst for last, a hop he described as "bittery, sour candy with a hint of grass clippings." It was worse than described and stuck with me for a couple of hours.

Shipyard, as it does for a number of beer makers, brews some of Bar Harbor's beers, "but we send them our own yeast and recipe," Ezra was quick to point out.

The tasting went on for a while, helped by a tasty snack of pretzels dipped in Raye's mustard. I learned that another favorite brew, Coal Porter, is great in chili and beef stew. Who knew?

Last week up to the Forks, we enjoyed a visit at Northern Outdoors resort including a tour of their Kennebec River Brewery. Jim Yearwood and Mike McConnell spent a lot of time telling us about their brewing process. I really enjoy the smaller brewers that don't have established tours -- they just love to tell you about their beer, anytime you show up.

All but their IPA is consumed at the resort, so you'll need to get up there to see if you agree with me -- their smoky porter is superb. For the record, Lin liked the summer ale best.

Linda

Really good barbecue is hard to find. Once you've had great barbecue, you're always looking for a place close-by.

Lately, I've noticed more barbecue places popping up in Maine. Thank goodness. My theory is that restaurants specializing in good barbecue have figured out the perfect way to season and slowly smoke meats. Many have also created their own great barbecue sauce.

So when we noticed that one of Bar Harbor's two Mainely Meat BBQ restaurants was right next to the Bar Harbor brewery, we decided we had to try it. And we're soooo glad we did!

All of their sandwiches (chicken, hamburger, veggie burger, and pulled pork) come with choice of chips, potato salad or coleslaw for $7.71.

We ordered the pulled pork and it was absolutely delicious -- lots of tender pork with a choice of barbecue sauces. Dinner choices include ribs, chicken, hot Italian sausage and steak ($10 to $15) and a sampler plate.

We dined inside at a long high table with bar stools, but there's also a screened-in porch with lots of seats. The atmosphere is casual and friendly.

Conclusion

Join us this summer on the tastiest trail in the state: the Maine Beer Trail. And check out Josh's beer blog!

Out of the brewpot

2011-07-28T21:26:00.003-04:00

Time to rank the homebrews! Sadly, my last two were just good, not great. Expectations are high though for my upcoming Belgian Pale Ale and Black IPA!

Josh's Homebrew Pilgrimage Porter, Score: 5
a chocolate raspberry porter named for my annual winter trek up to maine for some beer and hockey. raspberry flavoring extract was used simply because pounds of fresh ones would have been ridiculously expensive. real unsweetened baker's chocolate was used however, to not entirely positive results. super sweet raspberries absolutely dominate the aroma and are fairly appealing. chocolate joins in flavor but the extreme dryness of texture gives distinct impression of cocoa powder. mouthfeel is still creamy but well-carbonated. ultimately, the excessive dryness imparted by chocolate proves to be fatal flaw for me. lot of potential but ends up being a sipper of a dessert beer.

Josh's Homebrew It Must Be Wedding Saison, Batch 2, Score: 6
the first recipe that i have brewed twice, this time in honor of dan and dena's wedding. sadly, this did not turn out quite as well as homebrew #7. much of the blame goes to the fact that i couldn't come up with the same yeast as the first time around... far more spiced and peppery than i was looking for. earthy yeast, light fruity bitterness, and balancing malts defined the beer once again. also dried out a little more and heavier in body, but still sessionable. good not great.

Nanobreweries on the rise

2011-07-23T18:00:00.002-04:00

The Boston Glo be ran a good article yesterday about the rise of nanobreweries in Massachusetts. New nanobreweries mentioned included Notch Brewing, Wormtown Brewery, Idle Hands Craft Ales, Jack’s Abby, Mystic Brewery, Night Shift, Trillium Brewing, and Wandering Star Brewing. Of these, I have only sampled the Notch Session Pils (which was pretty good.) Looks like there is some work to be done!

Where others see barroom taps crowded with beer options, Chris Lohring sees opportunity brewing.
Lohring is manufacturing and packaging two new beers, Notch Session Ale and Notch Session Pils, using equipment he leases from Ipswich Ale Brewery. Introduced this spring, those beers, which feature a lower-than-usual alcohol content, aim to capitalize on a growing thirst for locally made brews, following a trail blazed a generation ago by brands like Sam Adams and Harpoon and more recently by the likes of Dogfish Head and Stone Brewing Co., regional craft breweries that have built national followings.
Lohring has plenty of company these days. In Framingham, brothers Jack, Eric, and Sam Hendler just produced the first kegs of Jack’s Abby, a line of handcrafted lagers being brewed in a former welding shop. Boston will soon get another home brew of its own, too. Last week, Trillium Brewing Co. was granted a municipal license to begin production at its Congress Street facility, the first step in a process that could have it up and running by early next year.
“It’s almost like the recession caused a wave of Yankee ingenuity,’’ says Bryan Greenhagen, founder of Mystic Brewery in Chelsea, yet another start-up coming online soon. Adds Greenhagen, whose resume includes cofounding an industrial fermentation company: “Everyone is doing a different take on brewing. It’s exciting.’’
To beer specialist Andrew Crouch, author of “Great American Craft Beer,’’ New England is merely catching up with California and other parts of the country already experiencing their own craft beer boomlets. “These aren’t accountants looking for a second career,’’ Crouch says. “They’re social-media savvy, entrepreneurially minded people who are willing to take risks - and who tend to brew more eclectic, experimental beers’’ of limited appeal to mass-market tastes.
This new wave of niche breweries is the most noteworthy since the mid-1990s. Normally, between 100 and 200 breweries start up each year, according to the Colorado-based Brewers Association, an organization representing some 1,760 craft brewers nationally. (A craft brewer is defined as one with an annual production of 6 million barrels or less.) However, the number of craft brewers is up a noteworthy 8 percent since 2009 - and more than 60 percent in the past five years. Sales of existing breweries rose 12 percent in 2010, to $7.6 billion, from the previous year, another measure of these niche brews’ growing popularity.
In March, meanwhile, the association reported an additional 618 breweries in the planning stages. The association’s Massachusetts chapter, which currently lists 28 members, added at least eight new breweries in the past 18 months, with Wandering Star in Pittsfield and Jack’s Abby being among the latest of the marketplace entries.
How many will survive the long haul? No one knows. Greenhagen estimates it takes sales of 2,000 to 5,000 barrels a year to become profitable, a number Ipswich Brewery’s Rob Martin, who heads the Massachusetts Brewers Guild, questions. He says it’s more like 10,000 barrels annually before the necessary economies of scale are realized and profitability reliably flows...
Like the lagers and ales they lovingly produce, these new-generation breweries come in a variety of production models. At the lowest end are the so-called nanobreweries, beer-makers that produce fewer than 100 barrels annually, or roughly two to six kegs per batch. Like Notch, they often rely on bigger bricks-and-mortar breweries to make the beer they formulate, package, and sell. A six-pack of Notch - which keeps its alcohol content below 4.5 percent, while most craft beers run 6 percent and higher - normally retails for about $9, says Lohring.
Idle Hands Craft Ales and Night Shift, both of which will brew in Everett, are among the newest locally owned nanos. Idle Hands owner Christopher Tkach typifies the new breed of New England brewmeister. A 38-year-old software engineer, he is converting a passion for home-brewing into a business that’s focused, at least initially, on making Belgian-style beer, an Old World favorite.
Tkach has invested around $50,000 of his own money in the operation - for now, he wants to keep total control over product and distribution - while awaiting his state brewing license, so he can actually get started. “It will be a true nano, at least for now,’’ says Tkach.
Larger in both scale of operation and capital investment are the microbreweries (up to 1,000 barrels annually). Local start-ups Wormtown Brewery (Worcester), Cape Ann Brewing (Gloucester), Wandering Star, and Jack’s Abby, among others, fall into this category.

ProPho: Off the beaten tap

2011-07-08T21:03:00.002-04:00

Chili peppers, watermelon, and other oddities
By Josh Smith | June 21, 2011
http://providence.thephoenix.com/food/122690-off-the-beaten-tap/?page=1#TOPCONTENT

Once upon a time beer was made with just four ingredients: malts, hops, yeast, and water. Today there's seemingly no limit to what can be thrown into the brew pot. For experimentally-minded brewers, the world is their oyster . . . which coincidentally enough is an option too!

Exotic ingredients often take their roots in exotic styles, which is true for the ever-creative Sam Calagione and DOGFISH HEAD BREWERY. Most beers in their profile incorporate something unusual, whether it is raisins (RAISON D'ETRE), lemongrass (NAMASTE), ginger (PANGAEA), or Chrysanthemum flowers (CHATEAU JIAHU). My favorite is SAH'TEA, a take on the Finnish Sahti, a style using juniper berries, chai tea, and almost an entire spice rack! The chai thankfully plays only a supporting role in the flavor, resulting in a very drinkable, original beer.

Another ancient style requiring unusual ingredients is Scottish Gruits, popularized by the pioneering WILLIAMS BROTHERS BREWING. Gruits utilized several natural ingredients before hops were widely available. FRAOCH HEATHER ALE uses heather flower tips to play on the mouth like a hop, creating a fruity, light, and lovely balanced beer. Similarly, ALBA SCOTS PINE ALE uses pine twigs and spruce buds for an herbal, even spicy brew. Even more ambitious (but less successful) is their KELPIE SEAWEED ALE, a dark, earthy and, yes, salty beer that tastes a lot like a thin Porter.

At this point spices are routinely used when brewing so it takes something pretty unusual to make an impression. SAMUEL ADAMS did just that in their most recent Longshot pack with HONEY B'S LAVENDER ALE, a pretty decent beer with only a hint of lavender. Subtly is often the name of the game when dealing with spices, which is why SAISON DU BUFF — a collaborative brew from STONE, DOGFISH HEAD, and VICTORY — fell flat for me. Victory's version of this brew incorporating parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme was not only gimmicky, but a clash between hops and spices.

Fruit Beers also seem old hat by now. I can think of beers using apple, apricot, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, cranberry, orange, raspberry, and strawberry, off the top of my head. But some fruits still seem odd when you see them on the beer shelf. Take 21ST AMENDMENT'S HELL OR HIGH WATERMELON, essentially a watermelon Jolly Rancher in a bottle. MAUI'S COCONUT PORTER is an inspired idea that works pretty well for this dark, sweet beer. And WELLS BANANA BREAD BEER goes beyond the flavor of banana conjured in some European styles to actually brewing with bananas. Unfortunately, this tastes more like banana candy than real beer.

An ingredient that continues to capture my imagination is chili peppers. ROGUE'S CHIPOTLE ALE has a smoky flavor with the distinct taste of pepper (as in salt and pepper.) DOGFISH HEAD'S THEOBROMA took a more successful route with the heat of ancho chilis cut by taste of sweet honey and cocoa malt. I love how the spiciness of the chilis comes through but still fits into the beer, with the spice making your tongue tingle like a Double IPA might. That said I've avoided the infamous ORIGINAL C CAVE CREEK CHILI BEER, a beer with an entire Serrano pepper in the bottle.

But back to the oysters. Stouts and oysters have long been recognized as a natural pairing, so it was only a matter of time before brewers put them together for us. HARPOON ISLAND CREEK OYSTER STOUT, from their 100 Barrel Series, would certainly go well with oysters, but I wouldn't have noticed their presence but for a hint of salt in the middle of the flavor.

And if you think these beers sound odd, I still haven't gotten my hands on some of the most unusual creations. Like NECTAR ALES HUMBOLDT BROWN using toasted hemp, or PIZZA BEER COMPANY'S MAMMA MIA! PIZZA BEER that steeps an entire Margherita pizza in the brew! MIKKELLER takes the prize, however, for BEER GEEK BACON and BEER GEEK BRUNCH WEASEL, the latter using coffee beans made from the droppings of a civet cat — a Vietnamese weasel! Believe it or not, both are supposed to be excellent.

So don't be afraid. Beers that extend frontiers aren't only good for craft beer, they're often just plain good.

Beer + Food + Providence X 2...

2011-07-02T18:17:00.007-04:00

...is a winning equation. Or, to put it in common English, we had a couple of great beer dinners in Providence last week. Firstly, Kelly and I tried to duplicate one of our favorite beer experiences: a beer dinner at Julian's in Providence. The dinner with Stone last year was easily a Top 5 beer experience, so expectations were high for Dogfish Head this past Sunday.

Highlights from the six courses included Namaste and a Tarragon Peach Scallop Seviche -- I thought there was a little too much going on with the dish but it was one of Kelly's favorites. A 2010 Pangaea (8) with Spicy Asian Greens in Lavender-Honey Vinaigrette worked a little better for me, although the pepper encrusting the goat cheese was too spicy. The malt profile and 15% ABV in the 2010 Olde School (6) did a nice job cutting into the fat of the Chipotle-Pineapple Roasted Pork Loin.

Saffron Marinated Duck Skewers, a palate-cleansing Lemon Buttermilk Sherbert, and Rhubarb Raisin Tart were solid, but the beers theyand were paired with stole the show. Red & White (9), 2009 World Wide Stout (7), and 2007 Raison D'Extra (6) were all better than my first tasting. The 2010 Sah'tea (9) and 2008 Fort (7) weren't too shabby either. The narration was a highlight once again and made up for the slightly-too-slow pace for the evening. It was not cheap at $90 a pop, but not unreasonable either considering these were some of Julian's last kegs after Dogfish pulled out of the state.

La Laiterie at Farmstead on Providence's East Side has been highly recommended to me by several people. While they have only four taps, mini-kegs mean they are constantly rotating the selections. Of course, it is the ambiance and local artisinal menu that draws people in.

With good reason too. We started with a cheese board of cow and goat cheese. The soft, salty Cremont was one of the best we've ever tried. The grilled cheese was almost as good with more goat cheese, house-cured bacon, and braised fennel with a side of polenta fries and garlic aioli. To close the night we had a root beer float made with Maine Root soda, bourbon, and homespun vanilla ice cream.

McNeill's Warlord IPA (6), Southampton Double White, Mayflower Summer Rye (and a cider) were on tap, but oddly the bartender was unable and unwilling to tell me which brewer each beer was from. Amazingly, with only four taps La Laiterie could still vie for the title of top beer bar in town someday... if only they put a fraction of the effort involved in putting together a cheese board into formulating their tap list. Here's to hoping.

Emptying the notebook

2011-06-30T20:19:00.000-04:00

Allentown Beer Works Hop'solutely, Score: 5
at 11.5% you should know better than to come looking for well-polished hop flavor.

Anchor Summer Beer, Score: 6
your prototypical lawnmower beer as a sessionable american wheat.

Avery Anniversary Ale - Seventeen, Score: 9
a schwarzbier, and an excellent one at that. the rise of black ipa's has been fun but don't sleep on this classic style!

Avery India Pale Ale, Score: 8
a very good ipa if you can find it fresh.

Cape Ann Fisherman's Sunrise Saison, Score: 6
use of rhubarb and strawberries put this squarely in the fruit beer style, not farmhouse. unique.

Cisco Indie Pale Ale, Score: 7
smooth with big flavor.

Coronado Islander IPA, Score: 7
solid.

De Proef Signature Les Deux Brasseurs Ale, Score: 6
a splurge purchase ($25) that has been in my crosshairs for sometime. disappointing overall with an incongruent medicinal note. sour brett part grew on me though.

Great Divide Hoss, Score: 4

Great Divide Titan IPA, Score: 7
aggressively hoped with robust malt backbone. nice.

Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special Reserve 30, Score: 8
wanted this since the tap kicked early on at Beervana. whiskey barrel component is interesting, but i have to drop this a letter grade for overly steep pricetag.

Innis and Gunn Rum Cask Oak Aged Beer, Score: 3
skip.

Notch Session Pils, Score: 6
not bad, if no better options.

Pretty Things November 15th, 1901 KK, Score: 8
labeled an english strong ale by BeerAdvocate rather than black ipa. quality by any name.

Russian River Redemption, Score: 7
very pleasant beer, but definitely not worth the hefty price tag.

Samuel Adams Coastal Wheat, Score: 3
i did not enjoy this beer. very dull.

Samuel Adams Longshot Blackened Hops, Score: 6
better than expected.

Sea Dog Apricot Wheat Beer, Score: 2

Smuttynose Belgian Stout, Score: 6
belgian yeast didn't quite jive.

Watch City Tick Tock Golden Ale, Score: 2
let's assume i got a bad batch but this was really hard to drink.

White Birch Tripel, Score: 5

ProPho: Beers worth waiting for

2011-06-22T21:38:00.000-04:00

Patience, rewarded
By Josh Smith | June 7, 2011
http://providence.thephoenix.com/food/121744-beers-worth-waiting-for/?page=1#TOPCONTENT

Most people agree that fresh is better. The same is true in the world of craft beer. Except when it isn't.

Generally speaking, hops and malts are more flavorful, carbonation is spot-on, and beer just plain tastes better when fresh. Lighter beers in particular can begin to decline in quality after only three months, so consumers should always check the born-on date (and more brewers need to provide said date). Oxidation (where oxygen slowly seeps into the bottle), prolonged exposure to room temperature, or even direct sunlight can make your beer taste stale, flat, sour, or skunky.

That said, some beers don't need to be consumed right away, and could even be better if aged. Barley Wines, Old Ales, Imperial Stouts, Bocks, many Belgian styles, and other beers with high alcohol content can mellow and gain character when aged. Highly hopped beers can also be aged since hops are a natural preservative, but personally I don't want that delicious hop flavor to fade and prefer them fresh. More and more brewers are experimenting with specialty barrel aging (NEWPORT STORM just debuted their CYCLONE SERIES QUINN, a porter aged in rum barrels), but aging is something any beer lover can attempt.

The first step after identifying a beer that should age well is to buy two, drinking and taking notes on the first with which to compare later. Ideally the beer should be stored in cellar-like conditions — consistently cool without contact to direct sunlight. Obviously, waiting is the hardest part; to enjoy the benefits of aging, you'll have to exercise the willpower not to drink the beer for a year or more.

I caught my first glimpse at the potential of vintage beers last year at a STONE BREWING beer dinner at Julian's in Providence. They brought several big beers that aged well, but my favorite was the 2006 IMPERIAL RUSSIAN STOUT. By drinking this alongside the 2009 version, you could see how three years had made it mellower, with a balanced flavor, and very drinkable. Similarly, a highlight from last fall's Beervana Fest in Cranston was BROOKLYN BREWERY's delicate and flavorful 2006 LOCAL 1, a Belgian Strong Pale Ale.

Now a believer in the power of aging, I tracked down a bottle of 2001 GALE'S PRIZE OLD ALE at the British Beer Company restaurant in Walpole, Massachusetts. Sadly, time wasn't kind to the carbonation since it poured almost entirely flat, with an alcohol that was still chocking. I had much greater success with a dusty bottle of 2007 J.W. LEES HARVEST ALE that I found tucked away at my local package store. Four years of aging produced a wonderfully complex, creamy, and sweet Barleywine that demands to be sipped.

Of course, if you want to age beers right, do it yourself. My own ex-beeriment started three years ago when I purchased a pack of DOGFISH HEAD'S IMMORT ALE, an American Strong Ale. I drank the first two immediately, discovering a beer that is copper-ruby in color with a minor head and aroma dominated by raisins, hops, and alcohol. Notes of maple and vanilla join dark fruit and alcohol in the flavor. Mouthfeel was smooth and considerably livelier than I expected.

Skip forward three long years. The final bottle had that same thin beige head, but the "pop!" on opening told me that the beer was still carbonated. Hooray! Hops took on a reduced presence in the aroma, with a brown sugar sweetness taking its place. The maple seemed to be a pillar of the flavor this time around, with a note of oak mixed in. Most amazingly, the alcohol was barely detectable! Supernatural smoothness was still present with hops finally emerging from the background to tickle the tongue.

The mellowing of the alcohol and melding of different flavors allowed the Immort Ale to exceed the initial round of high marks. Three years was just right for this beer while others might peak at 20 years — not knowing what you're going to get is half the fun. So if you'll excuse me, it's time to pick up a few more beers — I'm thinking ALESMITH OLD NUMBSKULL, NORTH COAST OLD RASPUTIN, and TRAPPISTES ROCHEFORT 10 — and throw them in the time capsule. It'll just require a little patience.

ProPho: Beer Geek Nirvana

2011-06-09T19:43:00.001-04:00

Deconstructing Latitude 48 + Best of Beer Camp
By JOSH SMITH | May 25, 2011
http://providence.thephoenix.com/food/121108-beer-geek-nirvana/

While it's been said you can't teach an old dog new tricks, two pioneers of the craft beer movement have just released new and exciting mix packs.

SAMUEL ADAMS, or Boston Beer Company, has enjoyed a meteoric rise from Jim Koch's kitchen in 1984 to the distinction of being the largest craft brewer in America. Their success is due to lots of good ideas like this one: take the LATITUDE 48 IPA and release it along with five other versions of the IPA, each using only one of the original hops throughout the brewing process. By "deconstructing" this IPA and showcasing a single hop in the aroma, flavor, and bittering, Sam Adams is providing a tutorial in hops that would make any beer geek proud.

The Latitude 48 IPA uses German, English, and American hops all grown around, you guessed it, the 48th latitude. Copper in color, the beer has a nose balanced to the point of being muted. Notes of citrus, grapefruit, and pine emerge, but hop bitterness is overpowered by sweet biscuity malts. The result is a smooth and well-balanced beer, but a slightly dulled IPA.

From this starting point, five other IPAs were born. I started with the HALLERTAU MITTELFRUEH, which uses a German Noble hop that produces a mild floral aroma amidst the healthy dose of breadiness. The bitterness is of raw pine and lemon, joined by an unmistakable note of pepper. England's EAST KENT GOLDINGS provides an unusual aroma that ranges from sweet and fruity (think apricot) to earthy and grassy. Given the malty bend, this feels a lot like an English IPA. In the end, both of these hops seem better suited to bittering than flavoring.

Fortunately, things improve once you get to the real IPA hops from the Pacific Northwest. AHTANUM starts with an odd potpourri on the nose but has a nice light, floral bitterness in the flavor. Caramel malts again rise to the top, resulting in a sweet, simple IPA. ZEUS has a powerful piney aroma and taste, so much so that the herbal bitterness bests biscuity malts. SIMCOE too has a big grapefruit nose that is a little musty at the finish. Taste is mainly of citrus zest with an earthy bitterness. As the most bitter and tasty hops, I thought Zeus and Simcoe really stole the show. And while these may not be the most polished IPAs ever, this is an exbeeriment every beer lover should try (the 12-pack costs about $16 in most stores).

Our country’s second largest brewer, SIERRA NEVADA, is also making a splash related to its annual contest for several lucky fans to go to Beer Camp in Chico, California. Participants tour the brewhouse and fields, learn the secrets to brewing some of their favorite Sierra Nevada beers, and get to create their own boundary-busting batches (if you’d like to apply for this year’s events, go to sierrabeercamp.com). The release of the BEST OF BEER CAMP VARIETY PACK gives everyone the chance to try four of their greatest creations.

I jumped right to the CALIFORNIA COMMON, an obscure style better known as Steam Beer. Brass-colored, this beer smells of floral hops and sweet bread. The flavor follows with some alcohol at the finish and a lively carbonation and bitterness. The WEIZENBOCK is just as attractive with a huge aroma and golden-orange appearance. It tasted much more like a Hefeweizen, with lots of fruity banana and cloves. Very tasty though.

JUNIPER BLACK ALE is a Winter Warmer in the vein of a robust porter or Black IPA. The flavor is mainly heavily roasted malts with a hint of juniper in the background, but only if you search for it. There is also a solid bitterness and enough potent flavors that I probably wouldn’t drink more than one in a sitting. The DOUBLE IPA has a slightly muted aroma and taste incorporating pine, citrus, and even a little of that 8.5% ABV. It is bitter but far less intimidating than most Imperial IPAs. With four unique and expertly brewed beers, this is the best mix pack I have ever purchased (and it’s a relative bargain at $20 for a limited release). Get one (or more) before it’s gone.

Special delivery

2011-06-01T21:38:00.001-04:00

I was looking forward to tonight since it was the Bruins Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. And then I received a package in the mail from Laura and the crew at Newport Storm of their two newest beers! So yeah, it is going to be a pretty good night.

The first bottle I unwrapped was their Summer Ale. Ho hum, another light and fruity summer brew. And then I realized that this was no ordinary summer ale, but an IPA! Fantastic! I knew what was coming next too: the Cyclone Series Quinn, a rum-barrel aged porter! Bourbon and whisky barrel aging is becoming fairly common, but I can't think of any other breweries with a rum distillery in their midst! There are no words for my excitement.

Newport Storm Summer Ale
pours a light copper with patchy white head. aroma is as citrusy as promised, but a little bready too. roles are reversed in the flavor where the floral hops come in second to the bready malts. bitterness does work stealthily in the background though. the result is a very balanced IPA. smooth, dry, and medium-bodied, this summer ale is not for the timid... but it is for me.
Score: 7

Newport Storm Cyclone Series Quinn
for some reason, i don't think i have ever encountered a rum-barrel aged porter before. why hasn't anyone else thought of this yet?! dark brown in color and murky with a thin mocha-like head. the aroma is very complex, and takes some serious unpacking. caramel, burnt malts, and sweet... what is it, what is it... maple! one of the best smells i have encountered in a while. taste of burnt coffee comes first, followed by rich lactose, some bitterness on the tongue, with rum coming at finish. interestingly, aging seems to have produced a beer most closely resembling a fine milk stout (think southern tiers creme brulee...) smooth but with very lively carbonation. a unique, fascinating beer. let's hope this is one storm that rages on.
Score: 9

ProPho: Hefeweizens: The Ultimate Warm-Weather Beer

2011-05-31T21:44:00.008-04:00

Summer sippers
By JOSH SMITH | May 12, 2011
http://providence.thephoenix.com/food/120505-hefeweizens-the-ultimate-warm-weather-beer/

Too often, summertime beers mean watery, flavorless brews. But there is one style native to southern Germany, which guarantees you don't have to sacrifice flavor for drinkability — Hefeweizens, the ultimate summer beer.

The style is defined by in its name: "Weissbier" is wheat beer in German, and "Hefe" means with yeast. This traditional method of not filtering the yeast produces a beer that is cloudy in appearance and characterized by flavors of banana and cloves. Hefeweizens also typically have minimal bitterness, moderate alcohol, and healthy carbonation. Most commonly these beers are served in an oversized, vase-like Weizen glass and (all too often) with a slice of lemon.

Of course, true Hefeweizens are flavorful enough that they do not need a lemon. This is true of all three of Germany's most popular Hefs. WEIHENSTEPHANER'S HEFEWEISSBIER is the best known. It has an aroma of spicy yeast and fresh grains, and an appearance that is more hazy than cloudy. The taste is bready enough to keep the flavors of banana and clove in their place. Similarly, PAULANER'S HEFE-WEISSBIER NATURTRÜB has a distinctive wheat flavor with noticeably muted hops. FRANZISKANER'S HEFE-WEISSE is the most unique of the three with lemons and cloves rising above the expected flavors of banana and wheat.

The list of quality German Hefeweizens doesn't end there. KÖNIG'S LUDWIG WEISS is dominated by cloves, both in the aroma and taste. With a cloudy golden color and thick lacing, this sure looks great in an oversized Weizen glass! AYINGER'S BRÄU WEISSE, on the other hand, is dominated by a ripe banana flavor, with cloves and tart apples following. JULIUS ECHTER'S HEFE-WEISS is malty enough to feel almost heavy, with very lively carbonation.

But I've been saving my two favorite German Hefeweizen's for last. The extremely lively carbonation of HACKER-PSCHORR'S WEISSE NATÜRTRUB is the first thing you notice, with the second being the bready flavor of the 60% wheat malts. You also get a real juiciness from the banana, lemon, and bubblegum flavors. HOFBRÄU'S MÜNCHNER WEISSE strikes a great balance between flavor and drinkability. Surprisingly clear with a big billowy head, the aroma is fresh and yeasty. Fruit, grain, and a light bitterness adjoin in the flavor with a mouthfeel that is light and gulpable.

In contrast, the conventional wisdom on American Hefeweizen's is that they're rarely true to style. Indeed, with so many subtle flavors working throughout, Hefs are one of the most difficult styles of beer to brew. According to the good people at BeerAdvocate.com, some high-profile beers — HARPOON'S UFO HEFEWEIZEN, WIDMER'S HEFEWEIZEN, and SMUTTYNOSE'S SUMMER WEIZEN to name a few — aren't Hefeweizen's at all, but rather American Pale Wheat Ales. Other offerings from the States may technically be categorized as Hefs, but still have an unorthodox, Americanized take on the style.

That list starts with FLYING DOG'S IN-HEAT WHEAT, a highly-drinkable beer with a strong wheat flavor but decidedly low carbonation. CLIPPER CITY'S OXFORD HEFEWEIZEN calls itself a Bavarian-style unfiltered Hefeweizen, but is noticeably lacking in the big banana flavor you'd expect. BUTTERNUTS' HENNIEWEISSE has a pleasant enough flavor but is lighter in body and more watery than normal. Since it comes in a can, this is especially well-suited for summer-time trips.

Some of my favorite American examples come from the country's larger craft brewers. VICTORY'S SUNRISE WEISSBIER has a fresh nose and pale, effervescent appearance. Banana, wheat, and phenols make this one very tasty beer. Another Pennsylvania-produced Hefeweizen, TROEGS' DREAMWEAVER WHEAT is equally flavorful and sessionable in the true sense of the word with only 4.8% ABV. SIERRA NEVADA'S KELLERWEIS HEFEWEIZEN weighs in at the same percentage and has a taste that hits all the key points: banana, wheat, lemon, spice, and, above all else, cloves. Both flavorful and well put together.

And for what it's worth, three of the best American Hefeweizen's that I've drank were at area brewpubs. So if you are near Portsmouth Brewery or Moat Mountain Smoke House and Brewing in New Hampshire, or Cambridge Brewing in Boston, stop in for a pint. But wherever you find yourself this summer, this easy drinking and flavorful style is worth a try.

What I've Been Drinking

2011-05-26T21:55:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I posted what I've been drinking so here we go. Here are 10 beers that traveled some distance from their birthplace to my refrigerator.

Abita Save Our Shore, Score: 5
a german pilsner whose proceeds go to charity. now how can you beat that? just a sweet, bland pils though. no regrets.

Founders KBS, Score: 10
one of those rare beers where the first sip makes you go "wow!" a no-doubter perfect 10. beautiful capuccino head. rich complex nose. flavor is mainly coffee with hint of vanilla but there is a lot of other things going on too. simply amazing.

Full Sail Bump in the Night, Score: 6
not as dark as you would think with nice piney aroma. taste is mostly bitter with note of smokey charcoal that didn't quite jive.

Kasteel Donker, Score: 8
a quad so sweet you had no choice but to sip it. smooth though, and well put together. while my friends didn't like it, i found it fairly enjoyable.

Professor Fritz Briem 1809 Berliner Weisse, Score: 7
one of my favorite styles but unfortunately it can rarely be found in a bottle. here the lemon zest and tartness dominates. little raw for my taste though. still worth trying.

Schlafly Biere De Garde, Score: 8
a brewer from st. louis, missouri that i have been looking for. even better, this is a style that i rarely get to try. light, fruity, yeasty, with some wine-like qualities, and a splash of alcohol at the end. pretty good, i thought.

Stone Cali-Belgique, Score: 7
not the bombastic, over-the-top, take-no-prisoner ipa i was expecting. but not bad either.

Tallgrass IPA, Score: 6
an ipa from kansas in a tall boy. i found this down in pennsylvania, so it may be a little while longer before it gets to us. little watery, but good.

Widmer Pitch Black IPA, Score: 7
a spring seasonal. a little thin and delicate for a black ipa, but still enjoyable.

Williamsburg Alewerks Coffeehouse Stout, Score: 7
using "coffeehouse" in the title is misleading, this is a milk stout... and a simple one at that. still enjoyable though.

ProPho: Suds worth the splurge

2011-05-24T19:46:00.001-04:00

Indulge!

By JOSH SMITH | April 27, 2011
http://providence.thephoenix.com/food/119709-suds-worth-the-splurge/?page=1#TOPCONTENT

The proliferation of the age of craft beer means that there is now a beer for every occasion, including very special ones. While it will cost you, these four splurge beers are worth every penny.

NEBRASKA BREWING'S HOP GOD RESERVE SERIES is a beer that has been creating quite a buzz in the craft beer community. This little brewer has succeeded by selling limited quantities across the country at exclusive prices (a 750 ml bottle retails for $23). Having been aged for six months in French Oak Chardonnay Barrels, this IPA has a decidedly Belgian bend to it. Hop God colored my oversized wine glass a glowing orange and coated it with sticky lacing. Aroma is spicy and offers up a smorgasbord of fruity hops: citrus, grapefruit, pineapple, and peach all cross the nose.

Flavor is hoppy, but six months in the barrel plus time on the shelf definitely allowed the hops mellow. Instead, it is the wine barrels that really shine, imparting notes of tart white grapes and oak throughout. I wouldn't have guessed anywhere near the 10.0% ABV on this one. Mouthfeel is both textured and smooth, dry and acidic. A fascinatingly complex beer — Double IPA meets white wine.

SIERRA NEVADA'S FRITZ & KEN'S ALE is an Imperial Stout that was collaboratively brewed with Fritz Maytag of Anchor Brewing for Sierra Nevada's 30th Anniversary Series. Jet black pour and bold smell of coffee and burnt malt impress senses first. Malts in flavor are thankfully more roasted than charred and accompanied by notes of espresso, molasses, and chocolate. There is also a bitter current running throughout with predominantly piney hops. For a full-bodied beer, it has a nice silky mouthfeel and is very easy to drink. While it's no pushover at 9.2% ABV, this is the rare imperial stout that resists going over the top.

CISCO'S MONOMOY KRIEK comes from this Nantucket brewer's Woods Series. All of these Wild Ales are aged on wood, with the Kriek sitting for two years before being aged for ten more months on sour cherries. While alcohol is only 6.7% ABV, most of these Flanders-style Red Ales are sipping beers so I broke out the flute glass. Pours a dark, hazy red while a heavy dose of cherries in the aroma hints at what is awaiting you.

Extremely tart cherries and an unmistakable oakiness dominate the flavor. This is a pretty straight-forward beer with sourness strong enough to border on puckering. Drinkability is surprisingly good as I had no trouble drinking the lion's share of this 22-ounce bottle. I've seen these bottles go for as much as $25, so it almost felt like a bargain for $19 at Nikki's Liquors. I hesitated to endorse this beer since this is an acquired taste that some will hate. However, if you appreciate sour beers, this is one of America's finest.

ALLAGASH'S ODYSSEY is a barrel-aged Belgian-style Dark Wheat Ale that isn't even one of the brewer's most expensive beers at around $17. Odyssey has a deep brown color and sweet, awesomely complex aroma. The body is almost heavy, but still silky smooth. Flavors are so intricately enmeshed that it's hard to know what you're tasting at first. A pleasant sourness registers on the palate but leaves room for sweetness and bitterness too. Figs and plums, vanilla and cloves, oak and bourbon all make an appearance. And at a whopping 10.3% ABV, the alcohol is exceptionally well-hidden. In other words, this beer is perfect from the very first sip forward. It's one of the 10 best beers I've ever tasted.

That this lineup is filled with specialty series releases, barrel aging, and has a Belgian accent should be no surprise. Inevitably it's the most unique and complex styles that demand top dollar in the craft beer marketplace. But let's keep it in perspective here: these beers range from $12 to $25, still short of the average cost of a decent bottle of wine. So treat yourself the next time you see one of these splurge-worthy beers in the liquor store.

ProPho: Merry olde beer

2011-04-28T18:10:00.002-04:00

A new look at some English styles
By JOSH SMITH April 13, 2011
http://providence.thephoenix.com/food/118576-merry-olde-beer/

In the increasingly specialized craft beer marketplace, fresh and edgy tends to trump tradition. The headlines are dominated by new brewers, unusual methods, and unique ingredients (I saw a beer made using hemp seeds last week!). So it shouldn't be a surprise that we don't hear much from England's beer scene these days.

This is a shame. Like many from Maine, I gained an appreciation for these beers from local brewers, such as Shipyard, Geary's, and Gritty McDuff's, that make English-style ales. But there's much worth emulating. English pubs are famed for selling beer at proper serving temperature — just below room temperature, closest to that of a cellar. England is also the birthplace of my two favorite beer styles, IPA and Porter, and the Campaign for Real Ale. CAMRA seeks to protect traditional cask-conditioned ales and, with more than 100,000 members, has been called the most successful consumer group in Europe. So yeah, the Brits take their beer pretty seriously.

The best place to start when talking about English beers is with a style you can drink by the frothy mug full: English Pale Ales. Indeed, some of these (BASS PALE ALE, BODDINGTONS PUB ALE) have been very successful in the US. I prefer SAMUEL SMITH'S OLD BREWERY PALE ALE for its deft incorporation of the two most esteemed English hops: Fuggle and Golding. However, I still have to give the nod to their supremely balanced ORGANICALLY PRODUCED ALE, one of the finest organic beers on planet Earth.

But the list of noteworthy English Pales rolls on. MARSTON'S WYCHWOOD FIDDLER'S ELBOW features citric hops and crisp wheat (with perhaps an off-note mixed in at the end), while GREENE KING'S OLD SPECKLED HEN is an unusual Pale Ale for its dark pour and enough toasted malts to give it a hefty medium body. And while I was tempted to dismiss BLACK SHEEP'S MONTY PYTHON'S HOLY GRAIL ALE as another gimmicky beer, it actually has a nice herbal bitterness that is balanced by its bready malt profile.

England knows how to do bitterness too. I've always loved the sessionability of English Bitters and find them to be one of the most under-brewed styles. CONISTON'S BLUEBIRD BITTER is the best known example, with a biscuity malt backbone and fruity citrus overtones. MEANTIME'S INDIA PALE ALE ups the ante with lots of fresh hops on the nose, a silky smooth mouthfeel, and a hint of the 7.5% ABV. That said, there is no mistaking it for an American IPA: bitterness is relegated to the background and the hops mainly just play on your tongue.

English Porters started as a blend of several styles, taking their name from London's street and river porters with whom the style was so popular. SAMUEL SMITH'S THE FAMOUS TADDY PORTER is a good example for its big flavor of roasted malts and dry chocolate. FULLER'S LONDON PORTER also has an unmistakable chocolate aroma and delightfully creamy texture. But my favorite might be MEANTIME'S LONDON PORTER, with a multifaceted flavor ranging from bitter to smoky.

FULLER'S 1845 is a dark beer with some kick to it at 6.3% ABV. An English Strong Ale, 1845 is extremely well-constructed with grainy malts, fruity hops, musty yeast, and buttery diacetyl all playing nice together. GREENE KING'S OLDE SUFFOLK ENGLISH ALE is a blend of an aged Strong Ale and fresh Pale Ale, making it a rather unique Old Ale. Caramel and toffee malts are on display here, with some various dark fruit flavors peeking through.

England has contributed much to the stout style as well. ST. PETER'S CREAM STOUT is heavier than most sweet stouts, with a syrupy texture and healthy dose of molasses. It's hard for any beer to measure up to YOUNG'S DOUBLE CHOCOLATE STOUT, with its velvety texture and enough chocolate to conjure up images of Baileys Irish Cream. Both Young's and Samuel Smith also brew an excellent OATMEAL STOUT, with unparalleled flavor and complexity. And don't forget the formidable SAMUEL SMITH IMPERIAL STOUT! Clearly, there are more than enough reasons to give some of these old styles a try once again.

Philadelphia Review

2011-04-27T21:42:00.003-04:00

In lieu of Christmas gifts, my wife and I usually take a trip together each spring. Last year we spent a few days in Burlington, VT. This year: Philadelphia, City of Brotherly Love. What do they have in common? Craft beer.

Now, Philadelphia still has a mixed reputation despite making tremendous strides over the past decade. We spent time walking up-and-coming neighborhoods, taking in some history, imitating Rocky, eating cheesesteaks, and, of course, drinking craft beer.

Philly's beer scene surprised me, both for its depth and quality. Honestly, after Portland, Oregon, this is probably the best beer scene I have experienced (Denver, San Diego, and Asheville, NC remain on my to-do list...) I definitely recommend visiting and would like to make it back myself during the famous Philly Beer Week. Here are the places we got a chance to visit, starting with the stops you cannot miss.

Monk's Cafe (Center City)
This world famous bar is deserving of its billing. We were lucky to snag seats at the very cool, darkly-lit back bar. Kelly was excited for Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Red Ale (9), which may be my favorite sour beer. Firestone Walker Reserve (7) was a nice beer, but slightly dulled after being served to cold. And, of course, I couldn't pass up the freshly tapped Russian River Pliny the Elder (10), one of the my favorite beers of all-time. In retrospect, I wish I had stuck around for the highly-billed mussels. A beer destination.

Kraftwork (Fishtown)
Very hip industrial vibe going on, with lots of metal and wood inside. Clearly they go through a lot of kegs here, with a list of beers on deck for every one of the 25 tap lines. Our sampler consisted of: Pennsylvania Brewing Fleur de Lehigh (7), Sly Fox Seamus on cask (5), Cigar City Maduro (8), and Cantillon St. Lamvinus (6).

Eulogy Belgian Tavern (Old City)
Sister bar of Monk's, and it shows. Well put-together menu and very cool decor. The upstairs bar was packed but we were lucky to snag a table near the bar downstairs. Kelly went for the tasty sour Rodenbach Grand Cru (8) while I started with the yeasty Eulogy Busty Blonde (8). Cigar City's Jai Alai (9) was an IPA with a very pleasant herbal bitterness. This is a great Belgian bar, about which I would have a lot more great things to say if I hadn't already visited the real thing at Monk's...

Tria (Center City)
This is a trendy restaurant focused on upscale cheeses and the like. One of two locations in the city. Dim, fashionable lighting and pretty crowded, especially around the bar. The food was fantastic, especially the La Tur whipped goat, sheep, and cow cheese from Italy. The beer list was very good, but one major complaint was that there was no way to distinguish between what was available on tap and in a bottle. A cardinal sin. I tried my first beer from Great Lakes Brewing, the Edmund Fitzgerald Porter (9). Coarse, heavy roast that was both lively and smooth. Excellent. Kelly enjoyed Dogfish Head's Namaste (7). Better still was Allagash's Odyssey (10) a fascinatingly complex Wild Ale. A no doubter perfect beer and probably one of the ten best beers I have ever tasted. Find this beer.

Triumph Brewing (Old City)
My favorite of the two brewpubs we visited in the city. Big, open, classy place with a lot of metal and wood. We went to the bar upstairs and split a monstrous sampler. In order of preference, we had the well-balanced Belgian Double Rye Pale Ale (9), aromatic Gold IPA (8), flavorful Belgian Dubbel (8), surprisingly hoppy Amber Ale (7), heavily spiced Belgian Golden (6), slick Munich Dunkel (6), slightly watery Hefe-Weizen (6), and grainy Kinder Pilsner (5).

Standard Tap (Northern Liberties)
This is one of the few bars I have seen with with twenty plus taps, all of them from with 90 miles. An outstanding achievement. We had the gulpable, hand-pumped Sly Fox Chester County Bitter (8) and the-awesomely-named-but-less-than-delicate Pennsylvania Brewing Walt Wit (5). It's worth noting that they get great scores for their food but I didn't see anything too appealing on the menu...

Khyber Pass Pub (Old City)
As the last bar of a long weekend of drinking my notes here are sketchy at best. Dark, divey sort of ambiance with quirky movies showing above the bar. The tap list was inspired and kept up-to-date with chalkboards above the bar. Made for a great closer on a Eulogy, Triumph, mini-pub crawl.

Brauhaus Schmitz (South Street)
A traditional-looking German beer bar smack in the middle of touristy South Street. The array of glassware alone is worth a trip. I went for the Spectrum flight: Gaffel Kolsch (5), Jever Pilsener (4), Hofbrau Maibock (7), Spaten Oktoberfest (4), and Warsteiner Premium Dunkel (5). Kelly's Konig Ludwig Weisse (7) was a good, heavily cloved Hef.

The Abbaye (Northern Liberties)
Another Belgian-leaning bar, albeit with a smallish bottle list. The Chimay-marinated cheesesteak topped with Gruyere cheese and served with Belgian fries was actually one of my best meals of the trip. Yards ESA (6) was a great first beer of the weekend, served by handpump at cellar temp. New Holland Kolsch (7) was nice and sessionable.

City Tavern (Old City)
Was a tourist trap, as you would expect, with overpriced beer and food. That said, how many times do you get a chance to hoist the same brew that our founding fathers drank hundreds of years ago. The old furniture and rooms were cool, and historically-based beers brewed by Yards Brewing were very interesting. In order of preference, we sampled the George Washington's Tavern Porter (7), Thomas Jefferson's 1774 Tavern Ale (5), Alexander Hamilton's Federalist Ale (5), and Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce (5). The sort of place every beer lover should go, once.

Nodding Head Brewery (Center City)
The second of the two breweries we got to check out while in Philly. Very crowded by the time we arrived, so hung out in front of a massive display of bobble-heads. We tried the Saison (6) and IPA (4), neither of which were anything to write home about. Shouldn't be a priority unless you have extra time.

Jose Pistolas (Center City)
A well-regarded Mexican restaurant that didn't quite do it for me. The food was fine, but the beer list short and the crowd a little too frat-like. Bell's Pale Ale (6) was good. The fact this was the last bar on my list is amazing.

ProPho: Health 'n' hops

2011-04-22T22:15:00.004-04:00

Is beer good for you?
By JOSH SMITH March 29, 2011
http://providence.thephoenix.com/food/117882-health-n-hops/

Thomas Jefferson once asserted that beer, when drank in moderation, "promotes health." Trappist monks in Belgium and the Netherlands referred to it as "liquid bread." And opponents of the Temperance Movement used to ask: "Why should mother go without her nourishing glass of ale or stout on washing day?" It turns out all of these people may have been right.

All too often, beer is associated with adverse health effects — an assumption not without merit. Abuse of any kind of alcohol can lead to addiction, liver disease, or an alcohol-related accident. But what about for those craft beer drinkers who consume in moderation — say, a beer or two at a time? Could beer actually be healthy?

Many people already accept the assertion that a glass of wine per day can be good for you. Red wine has been credited by some for the "French Paradox," the fact the French suffer a relatively low rate of heart disease despite a diet high in saturated fat. Indeed, numerous studies have indicated wine to be heart-healthy, among other possible benefits. Increasingly, though, studies are revealing superior health benefits for people who drink beer over wine.

Let's start with the four main ingredients in beer: grains, hops, yeast, and water. Malted barley — and other malted cereal grains like wheat and rye — provide much of your daily dose of fiber. Yeast is an excellent source of protein, minerals, and Vitamin B. Water, of course, contains no calories or fat, and more than a dozen health-supportive minerals. And hops are a flower! How bad could this stuff possibly be?

According to the US Department of Agriculture, when combined these natural ingredients bring with them: carbohydrates, protein, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, sodium, niacin, Vitamin B, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, zinc, thiamin, and polyphenol antioxidants. All of these nutrients provide health benefits, such as improved bone density. Unfiltered craft beers are even better since the yeast and its many nutrients are not removed.

The alcohol present in beer can raise good cholesterol, line blood vessels to reduce clotting, protect against diabetes, and reduce the risk of a heart attack by as much as 35 percent. The fact that alcohol can decrease the risk of heart disease makes it particularly beneficial to middle-aged drinkers who are overweight or have high blood pressure. In other words, a beer or two a day could help your heart and let you live longer.

However, nearly all health risks posed by drinking beer can also be traced back to alcohol (meaning beers with low or no alcohol provide many of the same benefits and few of the risks.) Heavy consumption is especially worrisome since too much alcohol in a person's system puts them at increased risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, cirrhosis of the liver, obesity, osteoporosis, pancreatic diseases, and stroke. Sadly, while one beer may be good, more probably isn't better.

Let's consider another supposed side effect of drinking beer: the dreaded beer belly. Many so-called beer experts swear beer guts are a myth. The argument goes that a beer belly is caused by calories of any kind, not necessarily just beer. Now consider that alcohol makes you hungry and that you're often snacking on fried pub grub while drinking, and there's the source of your problem.

It's a convincing argument, but remember we are dealing with liquid calories. At an average of 153 calories for each 12-ounce beer, these add up quickly, often quicker than your stomach can tell your brain that it's full. I was always one of those annoying people who couldn't put on weight . . . until I started drinking craft beer. As with most things, the truth about beer bellies probably lies somewhere in between.

Most people understand beer is not medicine. No doctor is going to recommend that abstainers take up drinking for the health benefits. But along with a balanced diet and exercise, drinking beer regularly in moderate amounts is definitely not in opposition to a healthy lifestyle. So next time you crack open a hearty stout after a long day, don't feel guilty — enjoy!

To every season, turn, turn, turn

2011-04-10T21:49:00.002-04:00

With shelves growing increasingly crowded with every passing year, it has become especially difficult to keep up with the constant deluge of new seasonal beers. Not a bad problem to have mind you. Here are a few that I have run across lately: 21st Amendment Fireside Chat, Score: 4 a winter warmer. far too much spice for my taste. as ambitious a beer as i have come across in a can though. Cigar City Winter Warmer, Score: 7 i've been searching for something from these guys for a long time. gotta say though, part of me thinks that this was complex for complexities sake. good overall, though. Dark Horse Perkulator Coffee Dopplebock, Score: 6 a fall beer. surprisingly light in color and body. i'd bet money they cold-pressed this coffee -- it tasted just like a homebrew i made by the same process. interesting. Mayflower Winter Oatmeal Stout, Score: 8 a winter, go figure. nice enough flavor, but pretty thin for an oatmeal stout. Narragansett Porter, Score:5 i was surprised to see that narragansett only makes this available in the winter. had far more roasted goodness than expected. pretty good. Pretty Things Fluffy White Rabbits Hoppy Tripel, Score: 8 nice looking and nice tasting beer. more delicate than most tripel's you will come across. Samuel Adams Revolutionary Rye Ale, Score: 3 another dumbed down take on a good style. the name made me laugh out loud too. Southampton Pumpkin Ale, Score: 7 your standard pumpkin. they were clearly going for a pumpkin pie-like flavor. Watch City Spearmint Ale, Score: 3 tough to drink. my fault for ordering a beer with spearmint in the first place though. (P.S. I tried to format this properly several times but apparently Blogger has given up trying to run a proper website...)

The Cascades Come East

2011-04-07T20:48:00.003-04:00

Diving into the "Black IPA's"
By JOSH SMITH March 16, 2011
http://providence.thephoenix.com/movies/117177-cascades-come-east/

According to the latest Beer Style Guidelines released by the Brewers Associations, there are 73 styles of ales and 64 lagers in existence. That's 137 different styles of beer! Despite this plethora of options, the world's newest style of beer has created quite a stir.

While the style has been well-received by the craft beer community, there has been considerable controversy surrounding what to call this unique style. If you ask me (or more importantly the Pacific Northwest brewers who popularized the style), it is called Cascadian Dark Ale (CDA). Others prefer the more universal Black IPA (ignoring the fact that you can't really have a black pale ale . . .). And the official name designated by the Brewers Association is American-style Black Ale. At the very least I think everyone can agree that saying, "Hey, can I have an American-style Black Ale?" is a rather awkward drink order.

Even the style's origins are contentious. The term Cascadian Dark Ale was coined by Oregon home brewers Abram Goldman-Armstrong and Bill Wood. However, brewers from Oregon to Colorado to Vermont have claimed to be the first to brew the style. Though others have brewed black, IPA-like beers before, Goldman-Armstrong and Wood have the strongest claim of ownership by bringing together experts to define the style in 2010.

What is agreed is that CDAs are characterized by aromatic, citrusy hops like Cascade, Amarillo, Centennial, Chinook, and Simcoe. The malts used should be dark and roasty, but not heavy or burnt as in a stout. This unique pairing of malts and hops can result in some unusual flavors like rosemary, mint, or ginger, as well as healthy levels of bitterness and alcohol. Medium-bodied and easy to drink, CDAs are the perfect beer to challenge that friend who "doesn't drink dark beers."

Unfortunately, some of the style's best examples are out of our reach in the Pacific Northwest. DESCHUTES HOP IN THE DARK CASCADIAN DARK ALE is my favorite for the way the citrus hops and roasted coffee harmonize rather than contrast. The good news is that now plenty of other top-notch CDAs can be found in this area. In no particular order, here are eight Cascadian Dark Ales worth looking for:

• STONE'S SUBLIMELY SELF-RIGHTEOUS ALE started as Special Release until a cult-like following demanded it be brewed year-round. One of the hoppiest CDAs I have encountered, it is exactly what you would expect from this extreme San Diego brewer.

• SIERRA NEVADA'S BLACKBIRD BLACK IPA has a considerably lower profile for some reason — I've only seen it on tap once. Not exactly sessionable at 8.7% ABV, it's still considerably smoother than its rivals.

• And you know CDAs are here to stay when they start showing up in a can! 21ST AMENDMENT'S BACK IN BLACK is a little thin for my taste, but would still be an enjoyable companion for that springtime picnic.

• Out east, VICTORY'S YAKIMA GLORY is a winter seasonal that deftly meshes the opposing flavors together. The body is almost creamy, making it easy to drink a couple in a sitting.

• Some of the smaller breweries from Massachusetts have also taken a swing at the style. CLOWN SHOES HOPPY FEET 1.5 DOUBLE BLACK IPA is enjoyable as long as you don't mind some aggressive hoppiness.

• BLUE HILLS' BLACK HOPS, on the other hand, falls on the maltier side of the spectrum. Still an easy drinker though.

• ELEMENT BREWING, a nanobrewery out of western Massachusetts, interestingly refers to their CDA as a cross between a Schwarzbier and IPA. DARK ELEMENT is dark and complex, with both sweetness and bitterness emerging throughout. Best to take your time with this one; you can drink it near-room temperature.

• NEWPORT STORM'S '10 special release would also have to be considered a Cascadian Dark Ale. As mentioned in this column a few weeks ago, this big beer is definitely worth seeking out.

Beer Dinner Review

2011-04-01T20:53:00.014-04:00

My birthday beer dinner last weekend was an unqualified success. If the pictures make you jealous, that is not the intention. Instead, this is meant to demonstrate that you don't have to drop $75-100 on a beer dinner... host one of your own! Course 1: The simplest course was one of the best received of the night. Goat, smoked gouda, blue cheese -- they all matched well with the Duvel for different reasons. Personally, the goat was my favorite. A delicate cheese for a delicate beer. Course 2: The idea here was that the earthiness of the mushrooms would mesh well with the earthiness of the farmhouse's yeast. More importantly, you needed a beer with a big flavor to hold its own with the mushrooms. It worked well.
Course 3: Here are the remains of our spectacular main course. The Allagash Dubbel was a little heavy for all of this food, but I thought the malty backbone was just what the pork needed. Not to brag but my Cherry Dubbel homebrew that followed held up well against this formidable opponent. Course 4: These chocolate truffle tarts served with whipped cream and raspberries were a huge hit, go figure. I was a little disappointed with the Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence, however. It tasted a little sour to me, but you still did get that chocolatey taste. This was a fantastic beer dinner, through and through.

Beer Dinner Menu

2011-03-27T13:03:00.006-04:00

Today Kelly and I are hosting our first ever beer dinner as a birthday party of sorts for myself. There will be four courses paired with Belgian and Belgian-inspired beers (including two homebrews). It is all pretty exciting. Check this menu out. I will report back with results.

Beer Dinner Menu

Course 1:

DUVEL Belgium – Belgian Strong Pale Ale – 8.5% ABV with

ARTISINAL CHEESES (SMOKED GOUDA, GOAT, OREGON BLUE)

WITH WHEAT AND FLATBREAD CRACKERS

Course 2:

SAISON DUPONT

Belgium – Farmhouse Ale – 6.5% ABV

with

BABY BELLA MUSHROOM AND ROMANO CHEESE

PUFF PASTRY TURNOVERS

Course 3:

ALLAGASH DUBBEL ALE

Maine, USA – Dubbel – 7.0% ABV

and

JOSH’S CHERRY (HOLD-THE-CHILI)

CHRISTMAS DUBBEL

Massachusetts, USA – Dubbel – 6.5% ABV

with

PORK LOIN ROAST WITH APPLE STUFFING

SERVED WITH GARLIC MASH, ROASTED

ASPARAGUS, AND APPLESAUCE

Course 4:

OMMEGANG CHOCOLATE INDULGENCE STOUT

New York, USA – Belgian Dark Ale – 7.0% ABV

and

JOSH’S PILGRIMAGE PORTER

Massachusetts, USA – American Porter – 5.5% ABV

with

MINIATURE TRUFFLE TARTS WITH

FRESH RASPBERRIES AND WHIPPED CREAM

Hopping into spring

2011-03-23T21:25:00.007-04:00

As mentioned, hoppy beers are too commonplace to be a seasonal, but, boy, they just seem to taste better in the spring, don't they! Here are a few of the beers I've been drinking lately for all of you hop heads out there.

BrewDog Hardcore IPA, Score: 7
hard to believe this is my first beer fromt these guys, considering they are in the news so much. i expected the brew to be thoroughly undrinkable and while the alcohol comes on pretty strong it wasn't bad.

Flying Dog Raging Bitch Belgian-Style IPA, Score: 8
head and shoulders the best beer i have had from these guys. it would be nice to see more american brewers use the belgian yeast for their ipa's...

Middle Ages ImPAled, Score: 7
nice. hops aren't too sharp. does have an english bend to it.

Victory Yakima Glory, Score: 7
a cascadian dark ale / black IPA. pretty good take i thought. body isn't too heavy and flavor isn't too dark. could drink a couple of these.

Watch City Hop Explosion IPA, Score: 7
solid. tasted great compared to other lackluster offerings on tap (spearamint ale, tick tock golden ale...) hard to beat a load of hops.

Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA, Score: 5
way too sweet for my taste. everything i dislike in barleywines.

Widmer Drifter Pale Ale, Score:6
a solid pale ale. balanced malts and hops, as most of their beers are.

Bring on the Bock (and more)

2011-03-18T18:51:00.000-04:00

Springing forward
By JOSH SMITH March 2, 2011
http://providence.thephoenix.com/movies/116533-bring-on-the-bock-and-more/Authors/JOSH-SMITH/?page=1#TOPCONTENT

For New Englanders, the four seasons are an inescapable reality. The good news is that each season brings its own beer with it. Light, sessionable brews for summer, Oktoberfest beers in the fall, winter warmers, and in the spring . . . . Wait, what exactly is the style for spring seasonals?

Honestly, there really isn't one. The closest to an official spring seasonal would have to be Bock beers, which were traditionally brewed in springtime by German monks for sustenance during Lent. Bocks — along with the closely related Dopplebocks and Maibocks — are very strong, decidedly malty beers. ANCHOR BOCK BEER, VICTORY ST. VICTORIOUS, and SIERRA NEVADA GLISSADE GOLDEN BOCK are the most prominent seasonal examples. The latter is my pick for its lighter color, nice balance, and good drinkability (though I still prefer their previous spring seasonal, an ESB cleverly named EARLY SPRING BEER). And NARRAGANSETT has revived its Bock brew, which is hitting stores now in green 16-ounce tallboy cans.

The list of beer styles associated with spring doesn't end there. Wheat Beers, Fruit Beers, and more hoppy offerings all represented in the ranks of spring seasonals. Consider two of my other favorites: DOGFISH HEAD'S APRIHOP is an IPA flavored with apricots, the fruitiness both checking the hop bitterness and providing supreme drinkability. And SAMUEL ADAMS NOBLE PILS has a surprisingly assertive herbal hoppiness without scaring away those crossover drinkers that Boston Beer Company always appeals to.

So while they may be an eclectic bunch, many spring seasonals are worthwhile.But the very title spring seasonal is a bit of a misnomer. In a couple of weeks when the first day of spring rolls around (March 20), these specialty releases will have already been available for months!

In the uber-competitive craft beer marketplace, it's hardly surprising that an arms race of sorts takes place between brewers competing to debut their next seasonal offering. After all, there is only so much shelf space to go around. And to be fair, I've spoken with several liquor store representatives who swear they get calls inquiring about the release date of popular seasonals weeks in advance. So it makes sense that most spring beers debut in the dead of winter.

What really puzzles me is why the season itself is so short. Consider craft beer goliath Samuel Adams, from which many of their competitors take a cue. I saw their previously discussed spring seasonal, the Noble Pils, on shelves in January. If history is any guide, its run will be complete before the end of March. Compare that to the blockbuster SUMMER ALE which will run for five months, from April all the way to August.

Of course, brewers are looking forward to stretching out that summertime drinking as long as possible. But I would argue that people want a good flavorful beer during the spring months just as much. After all, nothing cures the winter blues like an easy-drinking beer outside on the patio! I cannot help but wonder if spring beers might hang on a little longer if there was a little more cohesion and character to the release.

Which begs the question: what style would taste best during the springtime? As a card-carrying hop head, an IPA with some grassy hops sounds awfully tempting. Ultimately, though, release as a seasonal might be redundant since most brewers make some shade of IPA as a year-round offering. Lighter, darker, and maltier seasonals are already in place, so my choice for a spring seasonal is simple — yeasty, Belgian-styled beers.

Outside of a handful of Belgian-inspired brewers like ALLAGASH and OMMEGANG, these extraordinary styles are underrepresented in the American craft marketplace. Yeast, for its part, is often overlooked despite being the catalyst for beer and imparting much of its aroma and flavor. Saisons are one of my very favorite styles for their earthy yeast, fruity flavor, and dry nature. And Witbiers (like SAMUEL ADAMS' WHITE ALE, their former spring seasonal) are cloudy, spiced, and can be enhanced with a lemon. So come on, brewers! Next spring, bring on the yeast!

Further thoughts from Newport

2011-03-07T20:32:00.000-05:00

While my article's word count didn't have the room to rate these beers, they deserve a few words. Included is the Castle Hill Windward Weiss, a beer brewed by Coastal Extreme for several restaurants in Newport. We found it at Pour Judgement in Newport.

Newport Storm '10, Score: 8
description fits that of a black ipa. fuggles hops dominates both aroma and taste. i think another hop choice might have blended a little better with the burnt malt flavor but still very good. definitely the best i have had from the series. (special thanks to the flicker user for this cool pic...)

Newport Storm Peter, Score: 6
pours a translucent reddish -- a refreshing change from dark, muddled winter warmers. chai spice in aroma and piney / sprucey taste come on strong.

Newport Storm Winter Ale, Score: 7
taste is defined by smokey molasses. thinness of body actually worked well for me. one of my favorite beers of theirs yet.

Castle Hill Windward Weiss, Score: 6
i thought this hit a good balance between traditional and drinkable for a hefeweizen. my wife agreed, high praise.

Beer by the sea

2011-03-04T21:01:00.000-05:00

Sipping at Newport Storm
By JOSH SMITH February 16, 2011
http://providence.thephoenix.com/food/115819-beer-by-the-sea/

Ever since Narragansett closed its Cranston brewery 30 years ago, Rhode Island's brewing history has been sporadic at best. Contract brewers Hope Brewing and the Great Providence Brewing Company never successfully built a brewery, while Emerald Isle Brew Works' keg-only facility lasted just a few years. Fortunately, with a new brewery up and running and 100-year lease in-hand, Newport Storm appears here to stay.

Coastal Extreme Brewing Company, makers of Newport Storm, was founded in 1999 by a group of four friends from Maine's Colby College. Upon graduation, Brent Ryan, Derek Luke, Mark Sinclair, and Will Rafferty decided that brewing beer all day sounded like a pretty good way to make a living. Equally importantly, they decided that Rhode Island needed a microbrewery.

For their first decade of existence the guys operated out of three small garage bays in Middletown. They had had always dreamed of building a brewery of their own and, after five years of various delays, they finally moved into their new building in Newport last year. So one recent Saturday afternoon I rounded up my wife and a few friends to take a tour of the new facility . . . and maybe taste a couple of their beers too.

While the building itself is a fairly nondescript warehouse, the silo out front indicates that something special is happening inside. The visitor's center is a bright, open room housing both the gift shop and a classy bar setup for tastings. Laura Blackwell, head of public relations, filled our glasses here and then took our tour up to the observation deck overlooking the whole process.

Laura explained that it all begins with the silo out front and the grains stored within. On brewing day, the malts are piped into the building and crushed with Newport Storm's original green mill, before going into the mashtun along with water and hops. A heat exchanger then cools the hot wort enough so that the yeast can work its magic in the fermenter. From there it's into kegs, bottles, and cans and on to your refrigerator.

While the process hasn't changed much with the move, the guys did take the opportunity to implement a long overdue laundry list of changes. A new system that injects carbon dioxide into the bottle ensures that oxygen doesn't degrade the beer over time. Malts can be bulk-ordered from the same batch thanks to the new silo. And where Newport Storm formerly brewed some of its beers at a larger facility in Connecticut, now they're able to control the entire process from start to finish. Add it all together and you have more stable, longer-lasting, and just-plain-better beer. I've been drinking Newport Storm for quite a whole and I can already taste the difference!

But what about the beer? The tasting flight started with Newport Storm's flagship HURRICANE AMBER, a sweet, medium-bodied ale that is a good starter beer for those uninitiated to the world of craft. Next up is a walk on the dark side with their flavorful WINTER ALE Porter and the big, bold NEWPORT STORM '10 Black IPA (my favorite beer of the day). And their RHODE ISLAND BLUEBERRY is hands-down one of my very favorite fruit beers, no doubt thanks to the fresh, local blueberries used.

And if, heaven forbid, you don't like beer, Coastal Extreme also produces its own line of rum, named after the 17th-century Rhode Island pirate Thomas Tew. And the distillery is really making a name for itself after being featured on a recent episode of the Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs.

If you're interested in either the rum or beer, Newport Storm is located at 293 J.T. Connell Road in Newport. The tasting room and gift shop are open Monday through Sunday from 12 to 5 pm. A tour and tasting flight costs $7 for beer and $9 for rum . . . you even get to keep the glass!

With a beer and cheese tasting with Narragansett Creamery on February 19, the release of a collaboration brew, and a St. Patrick's Day Parade Lager in the works, there are plenty of reasons to take a trip to Newport. Go to support Rhode Island's only microbrewery but, even better, go to enjoy some great beer!

The Beers of 2010, Revisited

2011-02-26T22:39:00.004-05:00

As noted previously, I was sufficiently shamed over how few of 2010's top beers I had actually tried. Here are the targets that I've been able to track down to this point. The others have been warned... I'm coming for you next.

21st Amendment Back in Black IPA, Score: 6
you know the cascadian dark ale style is here to stay when they start arriving in a can. good, if somewhat watery -- like many of 21sts beers.

Brooklyn Sorachi Ace, Score: 6
there was a note of liquorice here that i couldn't get into... i suppose it was coming from the yeast. a good beer but certainly not worth the $16.50 i paid for it...

Pretty Things Babayaga, Score: 7
description from dann and martha says it all: "Our winter seasonal beer, Babayaga is a 7% export-strength woodland stout. The mash contained over 4000lb of malt (the biggest beer we've done) and there were also rye, oats and wheat in the grist. Fermented with a mix of English and Belgian yeast strains." a little thinner than hoped, but tasty.

Pretty Things Our Finest Regards, Score: 5
first barleywine i have had since i swore them off, so take this rating with a grain of salt. while i thought it was a well constructed beer, at 13.5% it was a chore to drink the whole bottle.

Sierra Nevada Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale, Score: 7
a good, hearty brown. not that i would expect anything else from sierra nevada.

Drinking in the dead of winter

2011-02-20T21:49:00.001-05:00

During those cold winter months, many hunker down and put on a warm mug of cocoa. I decided to go the other way with it. Since 2008, I have rounded up a few friends, drove to northern Maine, and drank a few cold beers. Previous destinations have included Ebenezer's Pub, Oak Pond Brewing, Bray's Brewpub, Great Lost Bear, Sea Dog Brewpub, and Shipyard Brewing. The road less traveled I guess.

Guy's Weekend started at Gritty McDuff's in Portland's Old Port. With solid food, comfortable atmopshere and communal tables, and reasonable prices, Gritty's has never let me down. While it would be nice to see a little more variety in their largely static menu of beers, their seasonals are very strong and there really isn't a bad beer in the lineup. Pitchers of their 21 IPA, Best Bitter, and Black Fly Stout all went down nicely.

Stop two for the evening was one of my new favorite bars: Mama's Crowbar. Not everyone in the group was grooving on the atmosphere as much as I was, but after spending so much time in trendy brewpubs, I've really become a sucker for a dive / townie bar with good beer. Crowbar definitely meets this criteria with Allagash and Stone on tap, and bottles ranging from Smuttynose IPA to North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner. After a game of trivial persuit and marathon round of cricket, it was closing time before we knew it.

Our destination for Day 2 was a University of Maine hockey game up in Orono. On the way, I had arranged for a visit to Penobscot Bay Brewery. Operated by Mike and Joan Anderson, also owners of Winterport Winery, were kind enough to invite us in for a tour despite being officially closed for the season. It was a very nice facility with kitchen, tasting room, gift shop, the winery and brewery, all overlooking the Penobscot River.

This small brewery is pretty new, only started in 2009. Mike gave us a very entertaining tour, tracing each piece of brewing equipment back through its previous owners. While the room had the feel of a garage, I was impressed with how well organized and clean the whole operation was. Needless to say, Mike isn't haphazardly throwing handfulls of chipotle pepper's into the brewpot like I do when homebrewing.

The tasting room is simply beautiful, with shelves jammed with fruit wines, winery merchandise, and local Maine products. They even sell Bay Brew Ice Cream, made with their own Half Moon Stout! (My stout float later that night was indescribable.) On tap was their Old Factory Whistle Scottish Ale, Stout, and Wheat and Brown Ale described below. It all made for a very enjoyable taster and afternoon. Seeing as you can only get Penobscot Bay's beers in Maine, this is a great stop on any beer road trip. Highly recommended.

The last beer destination of the weekend was Black Bear Brewpub in Orono. Two years ago we stopped here only to discover they were out of all of their beer! We decided to give them one last chance and we are glad we did. My pulled pork sandwich was phenomenal and prices were downright cheap. Only three basic beers were available (pale ale, red ale, and stout) but I thought the stout was excellent. As good as you are going to do in Orono, Maine, that is for sure.

The weekend allowed me to revisit a lot of old favorites, with a few newbies as well. Suddenly a road trip to Maine in February doesn't sound quite as crazy, huh?

Penobscot Bay Meadow Road Wheat Beer, Score: 6
most of the traditional banana / clove characteristics come out in the aroma. wheat dominates flavor but there was a medicinal off-note present too. pretty drinkable, but i prefer their whig street blonde ale as a sessionable brew.

Penobscot Bay Red Flannel Ale, Score: 7
brown ale meets winter warmer. sweet malt and fruity hops combine in aroma. i recall some minor spices in the taste, but flavor is ultimately more of the same. the half moon stout was the group's favorite beer of the day, with this as a close second.

Black Bear Microbrewery Stout, Score: 7
a seasonal beer from this small microbrewery. nice looking beer on pour with great lacing. chocolate malt is oh so tasty. so smooth you have to watch that 6.3% abv. i'm already looking forward to drinking it once again next february.

Beer and cheese unite!

2011-02-18T19:12:00.003-05:00

A super pairing for the big game
By JOSH SMITH February 2, 2011
http://providence.thephoenix.com/food/115239-beer-and-cheese-unite/

As disappointed Patriots fans, we're definitely going to need some quality beer and snacks to get through the Super Bowl this year. While chicken wings, pizza, or chips and dip will be served at most houses come kickoff, I'm opting for what I consider to be the ultimate Super Bowl snack: beer and cheese.

Of course, many of us have been taught that it's wine and cheese that go together best. Don't believe it. Truth be told, wine and cheese is a very unnatural marriage. The characteristics of each are such that rather than complement, you are reduced to creating pairings that contrast flavors. This is especially true for dry and red wines.

If you ask a cheese expert, they will grant that beer is a better match for several simple reasons. Historically, both beer and cheese were made on the farm, and even today the two craft industries bear a striking resemblance. Grain is the core ingredient in beer (malted barley) and cheese (via the cow's diet). And the two share many of the same characteristics. Think about some of the words used to describe both beer and cheese: earthy, nutty, grassy, toasty, musty, floral, and rich.

Thanks to this common ground, you have the ability to seek either contrasting or complementing pairings for beer and cheese. There are so many different pairings that can work, it seems at times as if you can't go wrong (though particularly intense beers and cheeses can clash). These are the general rules that I use:

• Fresh cheeses (like Mozzarella) should be paired with lighter beers (Pilsner, for example).

• Nutty and buttery cheeses (Gouda, Brie) should be paired with malty beers (Amber).

• Sharp cheeses (Cheddar) should be paired with bitter beers (IPA).

• Blue, pungent cheeses (Stilton, Gorgonzola) should be paired with strong, sweet beers (Barleywine).

Again, these are meant as suggestions rather than hard and fast rules. Given that this snack is going to be enjoyed alongside the Super Bowl, we'll pair our cheese with more sessionable beers. (Warning: while these beers aren't sessionable by the strict definition of containing no more than 5% Alcohol By Volume [ABV], they're all very easy drinking.) Here are some ideas:

FULL SAIL PALE ALE and Extra Sharp Cheddar: The sharpness of the Cheddar allows it to stand up well to the assertive, even brash bitterness of this hoppy Pale Ale. Full Sail fits especially well here as a flavorful, yet drinkable new arrival from the state of Oregon. As the one type of cheese I always have in the house, I've found that Sharp Cheddar tastes great with almost any kind of beer.

SOUTHAMPTON PUBLICK HOUSE DOUBLE WHITE and Dill Havarti: This is one of my favorite semi-soft cheeses for its rich, buttery flavor. The dill herbs have a tendency to upstage most beers, which is why I chose to pair it with this well-spiced, lemony Witbier. This is one of those beers that drink so smoothly you have to be careful or the 6.7% ABV can sneak up on you.

SHIPYARD OLD THUMPER ESA and Aged Asiago: As an aged cheese, Asiago is very aromatic and dry. The distinct nuttiness of the cheese allows it to complement a range of beers, especially those on the maltier side of the spectrum. And while porters and stouts work with certain cheeses, I think beers that are malty but not dark, like Old Thumper and other Extra Strong Bitters (ESB), ensure the cheese isn't lost amidst other flavors.

THOMAS HOOKER BLONDE ALE and Monterey Pepper Jack: As a beer connoisseur I'm required to tell you that spicy foods are not an ideal pairing for its tendency to dull one's palate. However, the spiciness of the pepper and the creaminess of the cheese is just too delicious to pass up. Instead, save it for the end of the night and pair it with a quenching lawnmower beer like Thomas Hooker. With snacks like this, you're going to feel like a winner no matter who prevails in the big game.

Homebrew Retrospective

2011-02-09T22:38:00.003-05:00

With Homebrew #15 hot-off-the-press, it felt like a good opportunity to look back at my accomplishments in 2 1/2 years of brewing. There is no question in my mind that the quality has improved steadily and it's worth noting that all but one (my only all-grain recipie, an oatmeal stout) were thoroughly drinkable. It has been a lot of fun to use new ingredients and brew exactly what I have been hankering for!

For the occassion, Dan has put together his ranking of my first 14 homebrews. He did a pretty good job, but if you are looking for the answer key, I included it below.

(Note: Homebrews in picture to the side are in chronological order from left to right, and front to back. #1 Waiting Pale Ale, #2 Promised Porter, #3 Vain Stout, #4 Hoppy IPA, #5 Crimes Bitter, #6 Kahawa Porter, #7 Wedding Saison, #8 American Wheat, #9 Mr. Jack Pumpkin, #10 Naughty Stout, #11 Wit, #12 Stash IPA, #13 Google Pale, #14 Cherry Dubbel, and the soon-to-be-reviewed #15 Pilgrimage Porter!)

Dan's Rankings
1. It Must Be Wedding Saison
2. Stash
3. Bia Kahawa Afrika
4. Cherry (Hold-the-Chili) Christmas Dubbel
5. Hoppy Holidays!/Obama Beer!
6. Promised Land Porter
7. The-Waiting-Is-The-Hardest-Part Pale Ale
8. GoogleDoc Draft
9. Crimes Against Humanity Bitter
10. Wit and Wisdom
11. Hold-The-Lemon American Wheat
12. Mr. Jack Ale'Lantern
13. You're So Vain... You Probably Think This Stout is About You!
14. Naughty or Nice

Josh's Rankings
1. Stash
2. It Must Be Wedding Saison
3. Bia Kahawa Afrika
4. Crimes Against Humanity Bitter
5. Cherry (Hold-the-Chili) Christmas Dubbel
6. Promised Land Porter
7. Wit and Wisdom
8. GoogleDoc Draft
9. Hold-The-Lemon American Wheat
10. Hoppy Holidays!/Obama Beer!
11. Mr. Jack Ale'Lantern
12. The-Waiting-Is-The-Hardest-Part Pale Ale
13. Naughty or Nice
14. You're So Vain... You Probably Think This Stout is About You!

Buzzworthy beers

2011-01-31T20:13:00.005-05:00

I spent this past weekend up in Maine and while there encountered two exciting new beers. I found both of these beers at The Lighthouse Wine & Seafood in Manchester, ME, now my go-to bottle store in the state. You will find bigger selections, but everything is quality, fresh, and well-marked. And they are always the first to stock that new, buzzworthy beer.

Rising Tide Ursa Minor, Score: 10
i thought rising tide's ishmael was an ambitious, if not quite spectacular, debut. a little pricey as a starting price point, but i definitely wanted to give them another try.

as a "weizen stout" this beer drew on mostly german ingredients... which concerned me, quite honestly. german wheat often has a skunkiness i can't get into. but all of this worry was for naught. this was amazing!

nearly black pour with attractive tan head... i get both weizen and stout characteristics in the aroma... a cacophany of flavors hit your tongue: chocolate, banana, vanilla, hazelnut, roastiness and bitterness. and yet, it isn't cluttered in the least... medium bodied, spot on carbonation, and very clean. wow.

simply put, this one shocked me. i thought it came together just perfectly. the best beer i have had for a couple of months. not cheap at $7 bombers, but worth it. try it.

Baxter Brewing Pamola Extra Pale Ale, Score: 6
a new brewer moving into the bates mill complex in lewiston, maine? they are naming it for baxter state park? their logo is pamola, a flying moose? and they are going to be the first all-can brewery in new england? seems too good to be true, i know.

first beer off the line is an american pale ale. the word extra gives you an idea of what you are in for... their flagship appears determined to compete with maine's ultimate session beer -- shipyard export. although at $9.99 for six cans it appears that baxter, much like rising tide, is pricing themselves as an elite craft brewer.

pale color with quickly dissipating head... hint of floral hops in aroma but that is all... light, sweet malt profile leads, followed by very light hoppiness. hops are fruity, not bitter though. balanced, for sure... extremely crisp, light-bodied, and clean.

hard to get excited by a beer this light but i thought this was a great first effort. at 4.9% this is a session beer in the truest sense of the word. this could be a huge summer beer. that said i am really hoping their next beer, the stowaway ipa, brings a bolder flavor.

Homebrew Update

2011-01-23T16:23:00.003-05:00

Time for a homebrew update! My last couple of brews have been a hoppy pale ale for my fantasy football draft and a cherry dubbel ale for the Christmas season. Both turned out pretty well.

GoogleDoc Draft
brewed for our fantasy football draft last fall but it wasn't carbonated in time. it turned out i used lactose, a non-fermentable sugar to prime the batch. fortunately, it ended up being a correctable mistake. fairly cloudy amber pour with thick head. huge grassy, citrusy nose. definite earthiness to it, not necessarily in a bad way. good amount of hoppiness in taste, not too much, just right. light to medium body and fairly textured. lively. very quaffable. i liked this better than my first pale ale.
Score: 7

Cherry (Hold-the-Chili) Christmas Dubbel
as the name suggests, my second winter seasonal beer involving cherries. instead of real fruit i went for flavored extract this time -- a good choice. fairly translucent amber on pour with neat head. you do catch a wiff of cherry in the aroma but i detect alcohol more than anything. (i am not good about keeping track of my gravity readings, but i would peg this as my first homebrew of over 6% abv...) clean, medium-bodied mouthfeel. astringent bitterness up front, which was a bit of a surprise to me. layers of malts are present, however -- this has to be the most complex brew i have made, as well. this could stand to mellow a little, so we will have to see what some age will do. overall, i thought the cherry flavor was well-placed. good stuff.
Score: 7

Next up? A Chocolate Raspberry Porter. When I bottled the wort last week it smelled absolutely amazing. Two more weeks to go!

On tap for 2011

2011-01-14T19:40:00.001-05:00

The New Year in beer
By JOSH SMITH December 29, 2010
http://providence.thephoenix.com/movies/113490-on-tap-for-2011/?page=1#TOPCONTENT

Unquestionably, 2010 was another banner year for craft beer. Personal highlights include the release of barrel-aged and specialty beers such as Sierra Nevada's 30th Anniversary Series, and the recognition of Cascadian Dark Ales (or Black IPAs) as a style. Here are seven other trends we can expect to see in 2011.

THE BIRTH OF MACRO-CRAFT BREWERIES. Quick, who is the largest American owned brewery? Give up? It's the Boston Beer Company, aka Samuel Adams. Twenty-five years after Jim Koch decided to take on the establishment and brew a flavorful beer, he now stands alone atop the mountain.

All of which begs the question: when does craft beer stop becoming craft beer? Craft breweries are defined as those that produce less than 2 million barrels of beer annually, but Sam Adams is pushing up against that threshold with 1.84 million barrels sold last year. The birth of nanobreweries makes the contrast between the big and little guys even more stark.

THE DECLINE OF EXTREME BEERS. One undeniable trend in the past decade has been the rise of extremism among craft brewers. New territory has been chartered by brewers such as Scotland's BrewDog and its beer with a staggering 55% Alcohol By Volume! More disconcerting is the quiet creeping up of alcohol levels in styles such as Pale and Brown Ales that at one time consisted mainly of sessionable beers. As craft beer goes mainstream, look for a return to sanity and tradition by pragmatic brewers.

CONTINUED RISE OF SOUR BEERS. I'm tempted to tab 2010 the Year of the Sour Beer for the style's meteoric rise to relevance. This was all pretty remarkable for such a brash, distinctly flavored beer. While I do not buy that this is the second coming of the IPA, I think that there is still room for the style to grow.

TWITTERING ABOUT BEER. Like every-thing in this world, craft beer is being shaped by the new social media. As a man from Maine, I'm not sure I'm ready for all of this new technology. But I've got to say, updates on what is now pouring at my favorite beer bar sounds like a pretty fantastic idea!

LET THERE BE CANS! The creation of micro-canning technology has allowed craft brewers of all stripes to put their product out in aluminum. Easy to transport, good for the environment, and just plain cool, this is one trend that isn't going anywhere. 2011 may just be the year that your own favorite local brew shows up in a can!

BORN-ON DATE FOR PACKAGING. Okay, this one may be more wishful thinking than anything else, but can someone explain to me why most beers do not have a born on date on the label? Fresh beer is better and consumers deserve to know exactly what they're buying.

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SMALL BREWERIES. It's easy to get caught up in the euphoria of craft beer's growth — after all, boutique brews earned a larger segment of the market yet again this year. However, this rate of growth hasn't kept up with the number of new players entering the market. While it is fun to rail against the macrobrewers and pretend we are all on the same team, at the end of the day this is a business. And there simply isn't enough for everyone.

So who is going to get squeezed out? Sadly, I think it is going to be some of our longtime favorite breweries. Look no further than nearby Westport, Massachusetts, and the decline of Buzzards Bay Brewing. The brewer did fine for years when they were the only show in town. But increased (and superior) competition in the past few years made Buzzards Bay the odd man out.

We've had much to be thankful for in 2010 and even more new beers to look forward to in 2011. Just don't forget to support your local favorites while you are at it!

Cambridge beer bar reviews

2011-01-12T20:19:00.002-05:00

Lord Hobo
92 Hampshire St, Cambridge
One of the few highly acclaimed beer bars in Boston that had alluded my grasp, up to now. Not much to distinguish it from the outside, but you are met with a classy, polished bar, and bright red walls adorned with bright canvas paintings. Comfortable atmosphere and good spacing. Service was good, if slow for a Saturday afternoon. We are started with water, receive proper glassware, and are treated with a perfect beer menu. This is a real beer bar. There are bigger selections out there but everything was of top-notch quality. I had the cheese platter made up of three of the chef's choices: cow, goat, and sheep cheese with honey, blueberry sauce, and crostini bread alongside. It was exceptional. I did think my wife's calamari was undercooked, but she enjoyed it nevertheless. Lord Hobo immediately joins my list of the elite beer bars of Boston.
Score: A

Green Street
280 Green St, Cambridge
I had sought out this bar once before during a pub crawl, but couldn't find it tucked down a quiet alleyway. It didn't help that this looks like a total dive bar from the outside, replete with giant Budweiser billboard. Fortunately, that was no indication of what would be on tap. I wasn't overly excited with any of the selections and was definitely hoping for a larger number of options. Quality was good though. We were there at dinner-time, but it definitely seemed more upscale with an older, more well-heeled clientele. Very nice interior, but quite crowded and lacking in character. Makes for a nice stop on a Cambridge pub crawl, but I wouldn't consider it a beer-destination.
Score: B+

Ballast Point Black Marlin Porter, Score: 8
chocolatey and smooth. downing a bomber of this would be no problem.

De La Senne Stouterik, Score: 9
it's refreshing to find a stout with the appropriate 4.5% abv. flavorful and lovely to drink.

Lost Abbey Red Barn Ale, Score: 7
a little spicy for my taste in saisons.

Mikkheler Red and White, Score: 6
described as a blend of their english red and wit. to my surprise it turned out far more like a hopped-up red IPA.

Stone Lukcy Basartd, Score: 9
one of the new beers of 2010 i wanted to seek out. huge piney hops that you have come to expect from the bastard's.

The Beers of 2010

2011-01-07T17:12:00.001-05:00

You might not believe it based on the list of 1200-some beers that I just posted, but I actually cut back on my beer consumption in 2010. Writing for The Providence Phoenix led to less time spent with the blog, and consequentially, less new beers drank than in previous years. It's a hard knock life, for sure.

Even so, reading this article looking back on the year in beer I was a little surprised at just how many of the most buzzworthy beers of 2010 evaded my grasp. I mean, of these 25 I only tried four (Oskar Blues Gubna, Dogfish Head Saison du Buff, Victory Yakima Glory, and Jolly Pupkin La Parcella!) While it may now be 2011, I am determined redeem myself -- I am not done with these beers just yet! Here are my top targets:

1) Ithaca Super-Friends IPA: good buzz on this collaborative brew.
2) Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout: loved the regular stout, so do want to try the vanilla.
3) Lagunitas A Little Sumpin' Wild Ale: again, the little sumpin' wheat was great so curious what some wild yeast did to the beer.
4) Brooklyn Sorachi Ale: a new saison!
5) Allagash & New Belgium Lips of Faith Vrienden: two good brewers should mean one great beer!
6) Stone Lukcy Basartd Ale: this isn't a typo so i imagine this strong ale has a kick to it.
7) Ommegang Zuur: i am sure they are going to get this flanders right.
8) Dogfish Head Miles Davis' Bitches Brew: this beer seems older than just one year, but i still haven't tried it.
9) 21st Amendment Back in Black IPA: a black ipa in a can -- nice.
10) Pretty Things Babayaga: i added this last one to round out the list. their first stout!

Ho-ho-hops!

2011-01-03T20:15:00.000-05:00

We wish you a beery Christmas
By JOSH SMITH December 15, 2010
http://providence.thephoenix.com/food/112954-ho-ho-hops/?page=1#TOPCONTENT

Beer is the world's most popular alcoholic drink. Living during this current renaissance of craft beer has allowed a wide spectrum of styles and flavors to become available, making the beverage even more accessible than ever. So whether your loved one has a budding interest in or full-blown obsession with craft beer, there are plenty of beer-related gifts that belong under the tree this year.

TICKETS TO A BEER FESTIVAL OR DINNER. I find that many of those on my Christmas list have more than everything they need in life, making the gift of an experience much preferable to giving more material things. An evening at a beer festival or beer dinner, especially for the uninitiated, is one of the most fun gifts you can give.

BEER OF THE MONTH CLUB. This is one gift I haven't had the chance to try out yet (hint, hint, for any family and friends reading!). Check out DrinkCraftBeer.com, where my friend Devon has put together a great comparison of some of the most popular clubs out there. This isn't a cheap gift at $35-45 per month, but having a case of new beers arrive every month on your doorstep is pricless!

GEAR FROM LOCAL BREWPUB. Odds are that if you are considering a beer-centric gift for your loved one, they probably already have a favorite local brewpub. These community institutions both deserve and need our support, so pick-up a T-shirt, sweatshirt, hat, or glassware emblazoned with the brewpub's logo. If you are making your purchase close enough to Christmas, growlers to-go may also be an option.

READING MATERIAL. There are a number of craft beer publications to help you keep up to date on all beer-related happenings. I subscribe to Beer Advocate magazine, an incredibly informative source of all news beer.

PROPER GLASSWARE. This is not the first time that I have sung the praises of proper glassware in this column, and it probably won't be the last. Beer glasses are cool and exponentially improve the experience of drinking beer. Put another way, proper glassware makes good beer better.

Survey what glassware (if any) that this individual already owns. If he or she doesn't have proper glassware for their favorite style, than move this suggestion to the top of the list! Every respectable beer drinker should have at least two pint glasses, mugs, snifters, tulips, and pilsner glasses. Crate & Barrel is one of the best places to start.

HOME BREW EQUIPMENT. For the past two years I've brewed my own beer. After an initial investment of $100 for equipment, each batch costs approximately $40 for 50 bottles. And it's so easy! Boil malts and hops for an hour, put in a carboy with yeast, bottle, wait three weeks, and — voila! — you have beer! This gift is certainly intended for hardcore craft beer enthusiasts, but if committed, this is a great opportunity to learn a lot about beer and be creative. Most any home brew book will tell you what equipment is necessary, but a gift certificate to your local home brew shop works too. I've heard kits, such as Mr. Beer, work fine, but if the beer lover on your list is serious about brewing, I recommend getting higher quality equipment.

BEER. You knew this was going to make the list at some point. Honestly, this is generally what I am hoping to see under the Christmas tree. Nøgne Special Holiday Ale, Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, Rogue Santa's Private Reserve, and Full Sail Wassail are all great winter seasonals if you want to go that route. This is also a good opportunity to pick up that more expensive "splurge" beer they may have been putting off, perhaps Allagash's Confluence Ale or Dogfish Head Fort. Who knows, maybe they will open the bottle and share a glass with you on Christmas Day!

MY COMPLETE BEER RANKINGS

2011-01-02T10:31:00.003-05:00

1,264 beers to follow. It's worth noting that for the first time I have added some macrobrews to the list. When I share my printed rankings with friends they are always curious to know what I rated Natty Light. Well, now they can see for themselves. (It's a "1", go figure...)

Beer, Score (1-10)

10 Barrel ISA, 7
21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon Wheat Beer, 1
21st Amendment IPA, 7

Abita Christmas Ale, 7
Abita Jockamo IPA, 4
Abita Purple Haze, 6
Abita Restoration Pale Ale, 2
Affligem Blond, 8
Alameda Bavarian Hefe, 8
Alameda East Village Amber, 6
Alameda Klickitat Pale Ale, 7
Alameda Irvington Juniper Porter, 7
Alameda El Torero Organic IPA, 8
Alameda Black Bear XX Stout CO2, 7
Alameda Black Bear XX Stout Nitro, 8
Alameda Wolf Imperial IPA, 7
Alameda Siskiyou Golden, 3
Alaskan Amber, 7
Alaskan Smoked Porter 2008, 9
Albany Pump Station Evans Extra Stout, 9
AleSmith Horny Devil, 9
Alesmith IPA, 10
Alesmith Old Numbskull, 7
Alesmith Speedway Stout, 10
Alexander Keith's IPA, 2
Allagash Black, 7
Allagash Burnham Road, 2
Allagash Confluence Ale, 7
Allagash Curieux, 9
Allagash Dubbel Reserve, 8
Allagash Fluxus, 9
Allagash FOUR, 6
Allagash Ghouleschip, 7
Allagash Grand Cru, 10
Allagash Hugh Malone, 8
Allagash Interlude, 7
Allagash Tripel Reserve, 10
Allagash Victoria Ale, 9
Allagash White, 10
American Flatbread Bob White. 6
American Flatbread Cornucopia, 5
American Flatbread Extra Stout, 7
American Flatbread Farmhouse Ale, 7
American Flatbread Solstice Gruit, 8
American Flatbread Wassail, 8
Amnesia Blonde Beech, 6
Amnesia Copacetic IPA, 9
Amnesia Desolation IPA, 7
Amnesia Double Dry Hopped Desolation, 8
Amnesia Dusty Trail Pale, 7
Amnesia Slow Train Porter, 7
Amnesia The ESB, 7
Amstel Light, 2
Anchor Christmas Ale, 4
Anchor Liberty Ale, 6
Anchor Old Foghorn Ale, 5
Anchor Porter, 8
Anchor Steam Beer, 8
Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout, 9
Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale, 9
Anderson Valley Hop Ottin' IPA, 9
Anderson Valley Summer Solstice Cerveza Crema, 6
Anderson Valley Winter Solstice, 8
Andrew's English Pale Ale, 6
Andrew's St. Nick Porter, 8
Arcadia IPA, 5
Arcadia Scotch Ale, 4
Asahi Super Dry, 3
Atlantic Bar Harbor Summer Ale, 4
Atlantic Brother Adam's Bragget Ale, 5
Atlantic Coal Porter, 7
Atlantic MacFoochie's 7+ Scottish Ale, 7
Atlantic Mount Desert Isle Ginger, 7
Atwater Vanilla Java Porter, 7
Atwater Voodoovator, 6
Avec Les Bons Voeux, 7
Avery 14er ESB, 6
Avery Ale to the Chief , 9
Avery Anniversary Ale - Fifteen, 5
Avery Collaboration Not Litigation, 7
Avery Karma Ale, 5
Avery Out of Bounds Stout, 9
Avery The Czar, 5
Avery The Maharaja Imperial IPA, 9
Avery The Reverend, 9
Avery White Rascal, 5
Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen, 5

Baladin Elixir, 3
Ballast Point Big Eye IPA, 8
Ballast Point Sculpin IPA, 8
Ballast Point Victory at Sea Coffee Vanilla Imperial Porter, 8
Baltika #4, 6
Bar Harbor Acadia Pale Ale, 9
Bar Harbor Cadillac Mountain Stout, 10
Bar Harbor Harbor Lighthouse Ale, 8
Bar Harbor Thunder Hole Ale, 9
Bass Pale Ale, 6
Bavik Petrus Aged Pale, 5
Bayerischer Bahnhof Brau Berliner Style Weisse, 5
Beamish Irish Stout, 5
Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout, 10
Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye, 10
Bear Republic Racer 5 India Pale Ale, 8
Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale, 9
Bear Republic XP Pale Ale, 7
Beer Belly Ball and Chain IPA, 8
Beer Valley Pigskin Pale Ale, 6
Beer Valley Leafer Madness, 7
Beer Works Back Bay IPA, 7
Beer Works Bay State ESB, 8
Beer Works Black Bat Stout, 5
Beer Works Bunker Hill Blueberry, 7
Beer Works North Shore Light, 3
Beer Works Pumpkinhead Ale, 5
Beer Works Saison Nouveau, 8
Beer Works Salem American Pale Ale, 8
Beer Works Smoked Porter, 6
Beer Works Splendid Splinter, 6
Beer Works Tell Tale Lager, 7
Beer Works Terrier Scottish Ale, 5
Beer Works The Grinch, 6
Beer Works Triple A Amber, 7
Beer Works Winter Works, 7
Beer Works Witch City Red, 5
Belfast Bay Lobster Ale, 4
Belfast Bay McGovern's Oatmeal Stout, 5
Belhaven Scottish Ale / Export / 80 Shilling, 7
Bell’s Lager, 2
Bell's Java Stout, 5
Bell's Pale Ale, 5
Bell's Porter, 7
Bell's Two Hearted Ale, 10
Berkshire Cabin Fever Ale, 6
Berkshire Dean’s Beans Coffeehouse Porter, 10
Berkshire Draymens Porter, 8
Berkshire Imperial Stout, 9
Berkshire Lost Sailor IPA, 8
Berkshire Lost Sailor IPA Aged in Cab Barrels, 7
Berkshire Oktoberfest Lager, 7
Berkshire River Ale, 5
Berkshire "Shabadoo" Black & Tan Ale, 6
Berkshire Sour / Imperial Stout Blend, 10
Berkshire Steel Rail Extra Pale Ale, 4
Berkshire Traditional Pale Ale, 7
Berkshire Springs Stock Ale, 4
Big Horse Russian Redneck, 8
Bison Organic Chocolate Stout, 5
Black Bear Pail Ale, 5
Blue & Gray Stonewall Stout, 7
Blue Hills Black Hops Beer, 5
Blue Hills Extra Pale Ale, 6
Blue Hills India Pale Ale, 8
Blue Hills Red Baron Ale, 6
Blue Hills Wampatuk Wheat, 7
Blue Moon Belgian White Ale, 5
Blue Moon Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale, 6
Blue Point Honey Moon Summer Ale, 6
Blue Point Rastafar Rye Ale, 7
Blue Point Toasted Lager, 3
Blue Point Winter Ale, 3
Boddington Pub Ale, 5
Boulder Hazed and Infused, 7
Boulder Mojo IPA, 8
Boulder Pass Time Pale Ale, 3
Boulder Planet Porter, 6
Boulder Sundance Amber Ale, 4
Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale, 9
Boundary Bay German-tradition Double Dry Hopped Pale Ale, 9
Brahma, 2
Bray's Brewpub Brandy Pond Blonde Pale Ale, 4
Bray's Brewpub Causeway Cream, 6
Bray's Brewpub Mount Olympus Special Ale, 5
Bray's Brewpub Red Eye Pale Ale, 7
Bray's Brewpub Smokehouse Brown, 3
BridgePort Black Strap Stout, 4
BridgePort Blue Heron Ale, 7
BridgePort ESB, 6
BridgePort Haymaker Extra Pale Ale, 7
BridgePort Hop Czar, 6
BridgePort IPA, 6
BridgePort Porter, 7
BridgePort Ropewalk Amber Ale, 6
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, 10
Brooklyn Brown Ale, 8
Brooklyn Cuvee de Cardoz, 8
Brooklyn East India Pale Ale, 5
Brooklyn Lager, 7
Brooklyn Local 1, 10
Brooklyn Local 1 (2006), 7
Brooklyn Local 2, 8
Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin Ale, 7
Brooklyn Winter Ale, 6
Brooklyn Brooklynator, 5
Brown's IPA, 2
Buckbean Original Orange Blossom Ale, 7
Budweiser, 2
Budweiser American Ale, 3
Budweiser Bud Light, 1
Budweiser Golden Wheat, 2
Budweiser Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale, 6
Budweiser Bud Light Lime, 1
Budweiser Shock Top Belgian White, 3
Budweiser Wild Blue, 2
Busch Light, 1
Butternuts Heinnieweisse Weissebier, 6
Butternuts Moo Thunder Stout, 4
Butternuts Porkslap Pale Ale, 4
Buzzards Bay Alt, 4
Buzzards Bay Black Lager, 5
Buzzards Bay Hefeweizen, 2
Buzzards Bay Pilsner, 6

Caldera Hibiscus Ginger Beer, 4
Caldera IPA, 10
Caldera Pils, 7
Caldera Rose, 5
Caledonian Organic Great Scot Pale Ale, 4
Cambridge Amber, 8
Cambridge Arquebus, 3
Cambridge Benevolence, 4
Cambridge Big Man Ale, 9
Cambridge Bitchin' Bitter, 8
Cambridge Black Magic (Cask), 9
Cambridge Blunderbuss Barley Wine, 7
Cambridge CaCow! Chocolate Milk Stout, 10
Cambridge Charles River Porter, 8
Cambridge Espresso Stout, 9
Cambridge Half Wit Belgian Style Wheat, 7
Cambridge Hefe-weizen, 9
Cambridge Ich Bin Ein Kurbisweisse, 10
Cambridge Imperial Skibsol Danish Smoked Dark Lager Beer, 7
Cambridge Never Mind the Bollekes!, 5
Cambridge Punjabi Pumpkin, 6
Cambridge Regatta Golden, 7
Cambridge Sgt. Pepper, 2
Cambridge Spring IPA, 8
Cambridge Spring Training IPA, 6
Cambridge Tall Tale Pale Ale, 7
Cambridge The Great Pumpkin Ale, 6
Cambridge The Great Pumpkin (Giant Pumpkin), 4
Cambridge The O.P.P., 6
Cambridge The Pumpeter!, 7
Cambridge Tripel, 6
Cambridge Tripel Threat, 7
Cambridge You Enjoy My Stout, 7
Cantillon Gueze 100% Lambic, 7
Cape Ann Fisherman’s Brew, 8
Cape Ann Fisherman's Bavarian Wheat, 5
Cape Ann Fisherman's Brew IPA, 7
Cape Ann Fisherman's Imperial Pumpkin Stout, 7
Cape Ann Fisherman’s Pumpkin Stout, 9
Cape Cod Hot Blonde, 7
Cape Cod IPA, 6
Capital Blonde Doppelbock, 6
Captain Lawrence Captain's Reserve Imperial IPA, 10
Captain Lawrence Liquid Gold, 7
Carling Black Label, 3
Carlsberg Brown (Malawi), 4
Cascade Kriek Ale '09, 8
Cascade Sang Rouge, 8
Cascade Summer Gose, 9
Casco Bay Brown Ale, 4
Casco Bay Carrabassett Pale Ale, 5
Casco Bay Carrabassett Winter Ale, 4
Casco Bay Pale Ale, 7
Casco Bay Riptide Red Ale, 9
Casco Bay Summer Ale, 8
Castle Lager, 1
Castle Milk Stout, 6
Central City Red Racer IPA, 10
Central City Red Racer Pale Ale, 6
Cerveja Super Bock, 2
Cervesera del Montseny Lupulus, 7
Chang Beer, 3
Chelsea Checker Cab Blonde Ale, 8
Chelsea Hand Pumped Cask Ale, 6
Chibuku Shake Shake, 0
Chili Head Lager, 5
Chimay Grand Reserve (Blue), 7
Chimay Premiere (Red), 10
Chimay Tripel (White), 7
Cisco Captain Swain's Extra Stout, 7
Cisco Cherry Woods, 7
Cisco Gray Lady Hefeweizen, 6
Cisco Lady of Woods, 8
Cisco Moor Porter, 6
Cisco Pumple Drumkin Spiced Ale, 3
Cisco Whales Tale Pale Ale, 3
Clipper City Heavy Seas Loose Cannon Hop3, 8
Clipper City Heavy Seas Märzen, 5
Clipper City Heavy Seas Red Sky at Night, 7
Clipper City Heavy Seas Small Craft Warning, 9
Clipper City Heavy Seas The Great Pumpkin, 7
Clown Shoes Black I.P.A., 7
Clown Shoes Clementine Wit, 7
Colt 45 Malt Liquor, 2
Concord Junction Porter, 10
Concord North Woods Ale, 7
Concord Rapscallion Creation, 4
Coney Island Freaktoberfest, 5
Coney Island Sword Swallower, 6
Coniston Bluebird Bitter, 8
Cooperstown Back Yard IPA, 5
Cooperstown Benchwarmer, 8
Cooperstown Nine Man Ale, 4
Cooperstown Old Slugger, 3
Cooperstown Pride of Milford Special Ale, 7
Cooperstown Strike Out Stout, 5
Coors Killian’s Irish Red, 6
Coors, 2
Coors Light, 1
Corona Extra, 3
Corona Light, 2
Cottrell Old Yankee Ale, 8
Craigmill Fraoch Heather Ale, 9

Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA, 9
Davidson Brother's Dacker Authentic Adirondack Ale, 8
Davidson Brother's IPA, 5
De Dolle Bos Keun, 9
De La Senna Taras Boulba, 5
De Ranke XX Bitter, 7
Delirium Nocturnum, 7
Delirium Tremens, 8
Des Franches-Montagnes Tarry Suchong, 3
Deschutes Armory Extra Pale Ale, 6
Deschutes Bachelor ESB, 8
Deschutes Bachelor ESB (Cask conditioned), 9
Deschutes Big Mountain Bock, 5
Deschutes Black Butte Porter, 10
Deschutes Cascade Ale, 8
Deschutes Cinder Cone Red Ale, 9
Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA, 9
Deschutes Green Lake Organic Ale, 9
Deschutes Hop in the Dark Cascadian Dark Ale, 10
Deschutes Inversion IPA, 9
Deschutes Mirror Mirror, 8
Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale, 10
Deschutes Miss Spelt, 7
Deschutes Obsidian Stout, 9
Deschutes Pilsner 005, 5
Deschutes Red Chair IPA, 10
Deschutes Sagebrush Classic Pils, 8
Deschutes Streaking the Quad, 3
Deschutes The Greens IPA, 7
Deschutes Twilight Ale, 7
De Proef Reserve Signature Ale (w/ Tomme Arthur), 10
De Struise Black Albert, 9
Dick's Best Bitter, 6
Dieu Du Ciel Peche Mortel, 8
Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager, 5
Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, 9
Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA, 8
Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA, 5
Dogfish Head ApriHop, 9
Dogfish Head Black & Blue, 4
Dogfish Head Burton Baton, 9
Dogfish Head Chateau Jiahu, 6
Dogfish Head Chicory Stout, 7
Dogfish Head Festina Peche, 4
Dogfish Head Fort, 8
Dogfish Head Fort (2006), 3
Dogfish Head Immort Ale, 9
Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale, 8
Dogfish Head Midas Touch Golden Elixir, 8
Dogfish Head Old School, 4
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron, 10
Dogfish Head Pangaea, 7
Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale, 9
Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre, 8
Dogfish Head Raison D'Extra, 5
Dogfish Head Red and White, 8
Dogfish Head Sah'tea, 9
Dogfish Head Shelter Pale Ale, 4
Dogfish Head Squall IPA, 6
Dogfish Head Theobroma, 9
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout, 6
Dos Equis Amber Lager, 5
Dos Equis Special Lager, 3
Double Mountain The I.R.A., 9
Double Mountain The Vaporizer, 9
Dubuisson Peche Mel, 10
Dubuisson Scaldis Triple (Bush Ambree), 7
Duchesse De Bourgogne, 10
Duck-Rabbit Porter, 8
Dundee Original Honey Brown Lager, 5
Dundee Wheat Beer, 2
Dupont Foret, 7
Dupont Lambucha, 8
Dupont Saison, 8
Duvel, 10

Ebulum Elderberry Black Ale, 6
Eel River Certified Organic Porter, 6
Eel River Climax Noel, 6
Element Dark Matter, 7
Elysian Hansel & Gretel, 6
Endurance Glacier Gold, 6
Eugene City Tracktown IPA, 7

Federal Jack's Taint Town Pale Ale, 2
Firestone Walker Union Jack, 8
Fish Tale Organic India Pale Ale, 6
Flying Dog Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale, 6
Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter, 5
Flying Dog In-Heat Wheat, 2
Flying Dog Road Dog Scottish Porter, 7
Flying Horse Royal Lager, 5
Fort Collins Kidd Lager, 8
Fort Collins Major Tom's Pomegranate Wheat, 4
Fort Collins Rocky Mountain IPA, 7
Fort Collins Z Lager, 5
Fort George Vortex, 6
Foster’s Lager, 2
Founders Breakfast Stout, 10
Founders Centennial IPA, 6
Founders Cerise, 6
Founders Curmudgeon, 9
Founders Devil Dancer Triple IPA, 6
Founders Dirty Bastard, 9
Founders Double Trouble, 8
Founders Porter, 8
Founders Reds Rye, 9
Franziskaner Hefe-weisse, 4
Freeport Black Gold Porter, 8
Fresh Catch Amber Ale, 2
Frosty Knuckle Ale, 4
Full Sail Amber Ale (USA), 9
Full Sail Chris's Summer D-Lite: Red, 6
Full Sail Chris's Summer D-Lite: Green, 7
Full Sail Grandsun of Spot, 6
Full Sail Hop Pursuit, 7
Full Sail IPA, 7
Full Sail Keelhauler Brewmasters Reserve 2009, 5
Full Sail LTD Series - Bottling 03, 5
Full Sail Pale Ale, 10
Full Sail Rip Curl, 8
Full Sail Saison A Pleine Voile, 4
Full Sail Session Lager, 9
Full Sail Wreck the Halls, 8
Fuller's ESB, 7
Fuller's London Porter, 8

Geary’s Autumn Ale, 9
Geary’s Hampshire Special Ale, 9
Geary's Imperial IPA, 6
Geary’s London Porter, 9
Geary’s Pale Ale, 9
Geary’s Summer Ale, 8
Geary’s Winter Ale, 6
Genesee Cream Ale, 4
Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat, 6
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout, 7
Goose Island Honker's Ale, 7
Goose Island IPA, 8
Goose Island Matilda, 7
Goose Island Sofie, 8
Gouden Carolous Noel, 5
Gouden Carolous Tripel, 10
Grado Plato Chocarrubica, 1
Grand Teton Pursuit of Hoppiness, 7
Great Divide Denver Pale Ale, 7
Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout, 8
Great Divide Hercules Double IPA, 9
Great Divide Hibernation Ale, 6
Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout, 9
Great Divide St. Bridgets Porter (St. Brigids), 7
Great Northern Wheatfish Wheat Lager, 5
Green Flash Hop Head Red, 8
Green Flash West Coast IPA, 9
Gritty McDuff’s 21 IPA, 5
Gritty McDuff’s Best Bitter, 7
Gritty McDuff’s Black Fly Stout, 6
Gritty McDuff’s Christmas Ale, 8
Gritty McDuff’s Halloween Ale, 9
Gritty McDuff’s India Pale Ale, 9
Gritty McDuff’s Lions Pride Brown Ale, 5
Gritty McDuff’s Original Pub Style, 4
Gritty McDuff’s Raspberry Wheat, 5
Gritty McDuff's Red Claws Ale, 4
Gritty McDuff’s Scottish Ale, 7
Gritty McDuff's Sebago Light Ale, 2
Gritty McDuff’s Vacationland Summer Ale, 8
Guinness Draught, 4
Guinness Extra Stout (North America), 3

Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest, 7
Haffenreffer Private Stock, 4
Hair of the Dog Adam, 9
Hair of the Dog Blue Dot Double IPA, 8
Hair of the Dog Fred, 9
Hair of the Dog Ruth, 6
Hale's Ale Kolsch, 6
Hansa Pilsener, 3
Harp Lager, 2
Harpoon Ale, 5
Harpoon Belgian Pale Ale, 5
Harpoon Brown, 6
Harpoon Celtic, 5
Harpoon Hibernian Ale, 5
Harpoon Imperial IPA (Leviathan Series), 3
Harpoon IPA, 6
Harpoon Leviathan Saison Royale, 9
Harpoon Old Rusty's Red Rye Ale, 7
Harpoon Smoked Porter, 6
Harpoon Summer Beer, 3
Harpoon UFO Hefeweizen, 7
Harpoon UFO White, 3
Harpoon Winter Warmer, 3
Harpoon Wood Aged Belgian Pale Ale, 6
Heartland Big Belgian Blonde Ale, 6
Heartland Buffalo Bock, 5
Heartland Cornhusker Lager, 2
Heartland Farmer Jons Oatmeal Stout, 7
Heartland Harvest Wheat, 3
Heartland Indian River Light, 3
Heartland Indiana Pale Ale, 5
Heartland Red Rooster Ale, 5
Heater Allen Pils, 8
He'Brew Jewbelation Bar Mitzvah (13), 8
He'Brew Messiah Bold, 7
Heineken Lager Beer, 3
Heineken Premium Light Lager, 2
Henry Weinhard’s Blue Boar Pale Ale, 6
Henry Weinhard’s Private Reserve, 7
Het Anker Lucifer, 6
High & Mighty Home For The Holidays, 6
High & Mighty Two-Headed Beast, 4
Hitachino Nest Real Ginger Brew, 7
Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale, 7
Hitachino Nest White Ale, 4
Hoegaarden Original White Ale, 6
Hofstetten Kubelbier, 9
Hook and Ladder Golden Ale, 3
Hook Norton Hooky Gold, 7
Hoppin’ Frog BORIS The Crusher, 9
Hoppin’ Frog Mean Manalishi, 10
Hopworks Anniversary Cream Ale, 8
Hopworks Crosstown Pale Ale, 9
Hopworks Deluxe Organic Ale, 10
Hopworks HUB Lager, 8
Hopworks IPA, 10
Hopworks Noggin Floggin, 6
Hopworks Rise Up Red, 9
Hopworks Secret Alt, 8
Hopworks Survival "Seven Grain" Stout, 9
Hopworks Terry Porter, 7
Hopworks Totally Raddler, 3
Hopworks Velvet ESB, 10
Hopworks Velvet Underground, 7
Hopworks What the Helles, 5
Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel, 7

Ipswich Dark Ale, 9
Ipswich India Pale Ale, 7
Ipswich Oatmeal Stout, 10
Ipswich Original Ale, 10
Ipswich Summer Ale, 4
Ipswich Winter Ale, 3
Iron Hill Pumktoberfest, 6
Ithaca Brute, 8
Ithaca Flower Power IPA, 8

Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere, 6
Jolly Pumpkin La Parcella, 6
Jolly Pumpkin La Roja, 8
Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza, 7
Joseph James Red Fox, 6
Josh’s Homebrew’s Bia Kahawa Afrika, 8
Josh's Homebrew’s Crimes Against Humanity Bitter, 7
Josh’s Homebrew’s Hold-The-Lemon American Wheat, 6
Josh's Homebrew’s Hoppy Holidays! / Obama Beer!, 5
Josh's Homebrew’s It Must Be Wedding Saison, 8
Josh’s Homebrew’s Mr. Jack Ale'Lantern, 6
Josh's Homebrew's Naughty or Nice, 4
Josh's Homebrew’s Promised Land Porter, 7
Josh's Homebrew's Stash, 9
Josh's Homebrew’s The-Waiting-Is-The-Hardest-Part Pale Ale, 5
Josh's Homebrew's Wit and Wisdom, 7
Josh's Homebrew’s You're So Vain... You Probably Think This Stout is About You!, 1
Just Beer Moby D, 5

Karmeliet Tripel, 9
Kasteel Rouge, 10
Kasteel Tripel, 9
Kelso Nut Brown Lager, 7
Kennebec River Magic Hole IPA, 5
Kennebec River Penobscot Porter, 6
Kennebec River Summer Ale, 7
Keystone Light, 0
Kilimanjaro Premium Lager, 1
King Cobra Premium Malt Liquor, 1
Kingfisher Premium Lager, 2
Kirin Ichiban, 2
Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale, 6
Kona Wailua Wheat, 1
Koshihikari Echigo Beer, 4
Kronenbourg 1664, 7
Kuche Kuche, 1

La Chouffe, 7
Lagunitas A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale, 9
Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout, 9
Lagunitas Censored, 5
Lagunitas Dogtown Pale Ale, 6
Lagunitas Hop Stoopid, 7
Lagunitas Imperial Red Ale, 4
Lagunitas IPA, 7
Lagunitas Pils, 8
Lagunitas Sirius Ale, 9
Lake Placid 46'er Pale Ale, 7
Lake Placid IPA (Frostbite Ale), 9
Lake Placid Ubu, 6
Lakefront Cream City Pale Ale, 7
Lakefront Fuel Cafe, 3
Lakefront Pumpkin Lager Beer, 4
Laughing Dog Alpha Dog Imperial IPA, 8
Laughing Dog Dogzilla Black IPA, 8
Laurelwood Bottled Blonde, 4
Laurelwood Free Range Red (Organic), 8
Laurelwood Hooligan, 6
Laurelwood Hop Monkey IPA, 7
Laurelwood Mother Lode Golden Ale, 5
Laurelwood Deranger Imperial Red, 6
Laurelwood Organic Tree Hugger Porter, 7
Laurelwood Space Stout, 6
Laurelwood Workhorse IPA, 10
Leffe Blonde, 4
Left Hand Black Jack Porter, 4
Left Hand Milk Stout, 9
Left Hand Oktoberfest, 5
Legacy Hedonism Ale, 7
Legacy Midnight Wit, 7
Legacy Nor'easter, 7
Legend Brown Ale, 6
Legend Pale Ale, 6
Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest, 4
Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, 1
Leinenkugel’s Sunset Wheat, 3
Les Trois Mouquetaires Imperial Weizen, 5
Liberal Cup Alewife Ale, 8
Liberal Cup Backhouse Bitter, 8
Liberal Cup Bug Lager, 6
Liberal Cup For Richer or Porter, 7
Liberal Cup Tarbox Cream Stout, 8
Lindeman's Framboise Lambic, 7
Lindemans Kriek Lambic, 8
Lion Stout, 6
Loco Pilsner, 6
Lompoc Centennial IPA, 8
Lompoc C-Note Imperial Pale Ale, 7
Lompoc Condor Pale Ale, 4
Lompoc Fool’s Golden Ale, 4
Lompoc LSD (Lompoc Strong Draft), 7
Lompoc Proletariat Red, 4
Lompoc Sockeye Cream Stout, 6
Long Trail Ale, 7
Long Trail Belgian White, 4
Long Trail Blackbeary Wheat, 7
Long Trail Brewmaster Series Coffee Stout, 8
Long Trail Double Bag, 8
Long Trail Hefeweizen, 5
Long Trail Hibernator, 5
Long Trail Hit the Trail Ale, 6
Long Trail India Pale Ale, 5
Long Trail Winter White, 8
Lost Abbey Lost & Found Abbey Ale, 7
Lost Abbey Carnevale, 5
Lucky Labrador Bavarian Crystal Hefeweizen, 6
Lucky Labrador Dog Day IPA, 8
Lucky Labrador Hawthornes Best Bitter, 7
Lucky Labrador Super Dog IPA, 6

Mackeson XXX Stout, 7
MacTarnahan’s Lipstinger Farmhouse, 3
Mad River Steelhead Extra Pale Ale, 7
Magic Hat #9, 4
Magic Hat Blind Faith, 7
Magic Hat Circus Boy, 5
Magic Hat Fat Angel, 6
Magic Hat Hi.P.A., 7
Magic Hat Hocus Pocus, 6
Magic Hat Irish Red Ale, 7
Magic Hat Jinx, 6
Magic Hat Lucky Kat, 5
Magic Hat Odd Notion American Pale Wheat, 6
Magic Hat Roxy Rolles, 8
Magic Hat Single Chair Ale, 7
Magic Hat Vinyl, 6
Magic Hat Y33, 3
Maine Beer Spring Peeper Ale, 9
Maine Beer Zoe, 8
Manchester Conspiracy Theory, 4
Manchester Emperor Norton's Peppermint Stout, 3
Marshall Wharf Tug Pale Ale, 3
Mash Tun Alberta Pale Ale, 2
Maui Coconut Porter, 7
Mayflower Autumn Wheat Ale, 7
Mayflower Golden Ale, 6
Mayflower IPA, 4
Mayflower Pale Ale, 7
Mayflower Porter, 7
Mayflower Summer Rye, 9
Mayflower Thanksgiving Ale, 7
McMenamins Concordia Pale Ale, 5
McMenamins Hammerhead Ale, 5
McMenamins India Pale Ale, 5
McMenamins Nebraska Bitter, 7
McMenamins Ruby, 2
McMenamins Terminator Stout, 8
McNeill's Extra Special Bitter, 6
McSorley's Irish Black Lager, 4
Meantime IPA, 8
Meantime London Porter, 9
Mendocino Black Hawk Stout, 4
Mendocino Blue Heron Pale Ale, 3
Mendocino Red Tail Ale, 5
Mendocino Saratoga Lager, 8
Michelob Light, 1
Michelob Pale Ale, 3
Michelob Ultra, 1
Mickey's, 1
Middle Ages Beast Bitter, 7
Middle Ages Kilt Tilter, 4
Middle Ages Wailing Wench, 8
Midnight Sun Sockeye Red IPA, 6
Miller Genuine Draft, 1
Miller High Life, 3
Miller Lite, 1
Millstream Colony Oatmeal Stout, 6
Millstream John's Generations White Ale, 8
Milwaukee’s Best, 1
Mikkheler Beer Geek Breakfast, 10
Mikkheler Texas Ranger, 7
Mississippi Mud, 4
Moat Mountain Hoffman Weiss, 8
Modelo Especial, 3
Molson XXX, 2
Montana Brewing Whitetail Wheat, 8
Mosi Lager, 1
Moylan's Hopsickle Imperial IPA, 6
Murphy's Irish Red Beer, 5
Murphy’s Irish Stout, 5

Narragansett Cranberry, 2
Narragansett Lager, 5
Nashoba Valley Bolt 117 Lager, 4
Nashoba Valley Heron Ale, 5
Nashoba Valley Oaktoberfest, 4
Nashoba Valley Wattaquadoc Wheat, 6
Natian Destinatian, 5
Natural Light, 1
Negra Modelo, 6
Neumarkter Lammsbrau Organic Pilsner, 8
New Belgium Abbey Style Belgian Ale, 9
New Belgium Fat Tire, 8
New Belgium Ranger IPA, 8
New Century MoonShot Beer, 1
New England Sea Hag IPA, 9
New Holland Mad Hatter IPA, 7
Newcastle Brown Ale, 7
Newport Storm Chocolate Porter, 6
Newport Storm Cyclone Neo, 7
Newport Storm Gloria, 6
Newport Storm Henry, 6
Newport Storm Hurricane Amber Ale, 4
Newport Storm Irish Red, 3
Newport Storm Regenschauer Oktoberfest, 6
Newport Storm Rhode Island Blueberry, 7
Ndovu, 1
Nile Special Lager, 1
Ninkasi Total Domination IPA, 7
Ninkasi Tricerahops Double IPA, 10
Nogne Special Holiday Ale, 7
North Coast ACME California IPA, 8
North Coast Blue Star, 8
North Coast Brother Thelonious, 4
North Coast Le Merle, 5
North Coast Old No. 38 Stout, 8
North Coast Old Plowshare Stout, 8
North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout, 10
North Coast Old Stock Ale, 9
North Coast Pranqster, 7
North Coast Red Seal, 9
Northampton Black Cat Stout, 6
Northampton Maggies Wee Heavy, 8
Northampton Old Brown Dog, 6
Northampton Pale Ale, 8
Northampton Redheaded Stepchild, 6
Northampton Steamer, 7

Oak Pond Dooryard Ale, 5
Oak Pond Nut Brown Ale, 8
Oak Pond Oktoberfest, 6
Oak Pond Pale Ale, 4
Oak Pond Pilsner, 6
Oak Pond Somerset Lager, 7
Oak Pond White Fox Ale, 7
O’Doul’s, 2
Offshore Great Pumpkin, 5
Offshore Hop Goddess, 6
Offshore India Pale Ale, 7
O'Hara's Irish Red, 5
O'Hara's Irish Stout, 8
Okocim Beer, 3
Old Dominion Dominion Ale, 8
Olde Burnside Dirty Penny, 9
Olde Burnside Ten Penny Ale, 6
Olde Burnside Ten Penny Ale Reserve, 9
Olde English 800, 1
Ommegang (Abbey Ale), 8
Ommegang BPA (Belgian-style Pale Ale), 9
Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence Stout, 9
Ommegang Cup o Kyndnes, 5
Ommegang Hennepin (Farmhouse Saison), 9
Ommegang Rare Vos, 7
Ommegang Three Philosophers, 8
Ommegang Witte, 6
Opa-Opa IPA, 6
Opa-Opa Steakhouse Red Rock, 7
Orlio Organic Black Lager, 5
Orlio Organic Common Ale, 6
Orval Trappist Ale, 9
Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale, 10
Oskar Blues Gordon, 9
Oskar Blues GUBNA Imperial IPA, 5
Oskar Blues Mama's Little Yella Pils, 6
Oskar Blues Old Chub, 9
Oskar Blues Ten FIDY, 8
Otter Creek Copper Ale, 4
Otter Creek Helles Bock, 3
Otter Creek Otter San, 3
Otter Creek Pale Ale, 5
Otter Creek Raspberry Brown Winter Ale, 3
Otter Creek Stovepipe Porter, 5
Otter Creek White Sail, 4
Owen O'Leary's Black & Tan, 4
Owen O'Leary's Dave's Blueberry Ale, 4
Owen O'Leary's Golden Eagle Ale, 5
Owen O'Leary's I.P.A., 4
Owen O'Leary's Irish Sunsetter Red, 6
Owen O'Leary's Summertime Wheat, 3
Oxford Hefeweizen, 4

Pabst Blue Ribbon, 4
Pacifico, 3
Palm Amber, 6
Pannepot - Old Fisherman's Ale (2007 Version), 9
Paper City Batch 108, 8
Paper City Blonde Hop Monster, 8
Paper City Fogbuster Coffee House Ale, 8
Paper City One Eared Monkey, 2
Paper City PC Blue, 2
Paper City Riley's Mother's Milk Stout, 9
Paulaner Oktoberfest- Märzen, 6
Peak Organic Espresso Amber Ale, 8
Peak Organic IPA, 7
Peak Organic Nut Brown Ale, 3
Pearl Street Canal Street Stout, 9
Pearl Street Lake Effect Pale Ale, 7
Pearl Street Trainwreck, 4
Pelican Pub Kiwanda Cream Ale, 7
Pennichuck Bagpipers Scottish Ale, 5
Pennichuck Black Lager, 8
Pennichuck Engine No. 5 Firehouse Red Ale, 6
Pennichuck Halligan RyePA, 7
Pennichuck The Big O Octoberfest Lager, 6
Penobscot Bay Half Moon Stout, 7
Penobscot Bay Old Factory Whistle Scottish Ale, 9
Penobscot Bay Whig Street Blonde Ale, 8
Pete’s Wicked Strawberry Blonde, 5
Picaroon's Best Bitter, 6
Picaroon's Man's Best Friend, 4
Pinkus-Mueller Organic Ur Pils, 8
Piraat Ale, 7
Port Brewing High Tide Fresh Hop IPA, 7
Port Brewing Shark Attack Double Red Ale, 6
Port Brewing Wipeout IPA, 8
Portsmouth ALTernator, 9
Portsmouth Bottle Rocket IPA, 9
Portsmouth Dirty Blonde Ale, 7
Portsmouth Hefeweizen, 5
Portsmouth Oatmeal Stout, 8
Portsmouth Octoberfest, 7
Portsmouth Smoky Dunkelweizen, 5
Pretty Things American Darling, 7
Pretty Things Baby Tree, 8
Pretty Things February 27th, 1832 Mild Ale, 7
Pretty Things Hedgerow Bitter, 6
Pretty Things Jack D'or, 9
Pretty Things Saint Botolph's Town, 6
Primus, 1
Pyramid Haywire Hefeweizen, 5

Ram Barefoot Wit, 4
RedBones Chester Street Amber, 7
Redhook Blonde Ale, 4
Redhook CopperHook Spring Ale, 4
Redhook Double Black Stout (with Coffee), 9
Redhook ESB, 7
Redhook Long Hammer IPA, 3
Redhook Sunrye, 5
Ridgeway Seriously Bad Elf, 6
Ringwood Old Thumper (USA), 6
Rising Tide Ishmael, 6
Riverhorse Tripel Horse, 6
RJ Rocker Patriot Ale, 3
Rock Art Imperial Spruce Pumpkin Stout, 7
Rock Art Magnumus Ete Tomahawkus ESB^2, 8
Rock Art Vermonster, 8
Rock Bottom American Dream IPA, 7
Rock Bottom Improper Hopper IPA, 5
Rock Bottom Lumpy Dog Light Lager, 1
Rock Bottom Mad Cow Milk Stout, 6
Rock Bottom Munich Gold, 4
Rock Bottom North Star Amber Ale, 2
Rock Bottom Off-Kilter Scotch Ale, 5
Rock Bottom Pumpkin Ale, 6
Rodenbach Classic, 8
Rogue American Amber, 6
Rogue Brutal Bitter, 5
Rogue Captain Sig's Deadliest Ale, 6
Rogue Chatoe First Growth Wet Hop Ale, 7
Rogue Chipotle Ale, 2
Rogue Chocolate Stout, 8
Rogue Dead Guy Ale, 9
Rogue Hazelnut Brown, 8
Rogue Mocha Porter, 7
Rogue Morimoto Soba, 7
Rogue Santa's Private Reserve Ale, 9
Rogue Shakespeare Stout, 7
Rogue Somer Orange Honey Ale, 2
Rogue Yellow Snow IPA, 8
Rolling Rock Extra Pale, 3
Roots Burghead Heather Ale, 6
Roots EXXXcalibur Imperial Stout, 9
Roots Island Red, 7
Roots Pale Ale, 7
Roots Pond Turtle Pale Ale, 8
Roots Woody Organic IPA, 8
Run of the Mill Bug Zapper Super Lager, 7
Run of the Mill State Budget Red Ale, 5
Run of the Mill What's Hoppenin' IPA, 6
Russian River Blind Pig IPA, 9
Russian River Pliny the Elder, 10

Safari Lager, 2
Sagres, 6
Saint Somewhere Lectio Divina, 6
Samuel Adams Black Lager, 9
Samuel Adams Blackberry Wit, 3
Samuel Adams Boston Ale, 7
Samuel Adams Boston Lager, 6
Samuel Adams Brick Red, 5
Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat, 4
Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock, 3
Samuel Adams Cranberry Lambic, 1
Samuel Adams Cream Stout, 8
Samuel Adams Double Bock, 8
Samuel Adams Dunkel Weiss, 7
Samuel Adams Hefeweizen, 5
Samuel Adams Holiday Porter, 8
Samuel Adams Honey Porter, 2
Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner, 6
Samuel Adams Imperial Stout, 2
Samuel Adams Irish Red Ale, 6
Samuel Adams Light, 5
Samuel Adams LongShot Grape Pale Ale, 3
Samuel Adams LongShot Weizenbock, 9
Samuel Adam's Noble Pils, 7
Samuel Adams Octoberfest, 4
Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale, 5
Samuel Adams Pale Ale, 4
Samuel Adams Scotch Ale, 7
Samuel Adams Summer Ale, 4
Samuel Adams Triple Bock, 1
Samuel Adams White Ale, 4
Samuel Adams Winter Lager, 6
Samuel Smiths Imperial Stout, 5
Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout, 10
Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery Pale Ale, 4
Samuel Smith’s Organic Raspberry Fruit Beer, 3
Samuel Smith’s Organically Produced Ale, 8
Samuel Smith’s Taddy Porter, 8
San Miguel Dark Lager, 4
Sapporo Premium Draft, 3
Saranac Adirondack Amber, 4
Saranac Black and Tan, 4
Saranac IPA, 4
Saranac Pale Ale, 5
Saranac Pumpkin Ale, 4
Schlitz, 5
Sea Dog Blue Paw Wild Blueberry Wheat Ale, 3
Sea Dog Riverdriver Hazelnut Porter, 3
Sebago Barrel-aged Lake Trout Stout, 8
Sebago Fryes Leap IPA, 7
Sebago Full Throttle Double IPA, 9
Sebago Hefeweizen, 3
Sebago Lake Trout Stout, 9
Sebago Local Harvest Ale, 6
Sebago Runabout Red Ale, 5
Sebago Saddleback Ale, 3
Sebago Slick Nick Winter Ale, 5
Serengeti Premium Lager, 1
Sheepscot Valley Bold Coast Pemaquid Ale, 6
Sheepscot Valley Boothbay Special Bitter, 2
Sheepscot Valley Sheepscot River Pale Ale, 8
Sherwood Forest Archers Ale, 5
Sherwood Forest Sheriffs IPA, 8
Shipyard Light, 3
Shipyard Brewer's Choice Special Ale 2008 (Brown Ale), 7
Shipyard Brewer's Choice Special Ale 2009 (Royal IPA), 8
Shipyard Blue Fin Stout, 7
Shipyard Brown Ale, 3
Shipyard Chamberlain Pale Ale, 6
Shipyard Export Ale, 7
Shipyard Longfellow Winter Ale, 8
Shipyard Prelude Ale, 9
Shipyard Pugsley's Signature Series Barley Wine Style Ale, 7
Shipyard Pugsley's Signature Series Imperial Porter, 8
Shipyard Pugsley's Signature Series XXXX IPA, 8
Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale, 4
Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin, 8
Shipyard Summer Ale, 3
Shipyard Tremont Ale, 8
Shipyard Tremont IPA, 4
Shipyard Wheat Ale, 5
Sierra Nevada 12th Release Harvest, 6
Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary - Fritz and Ken's Ale, 8
Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale, 7
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot, 9
Sierra Nevada Blackbird Black IPA, 8
Sierra Nevada Brown Ale, 8
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, 8
Sierra Nevada Early Spring Beer, 7
Sierra Nevada Estate, 9
Sierra Nevada Glissade Golden Bock, 5
Sierra Nevada India Pale Ale, 8
Sierra Nevada Kellerweiss Hefeweizen, 7
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, 8
Sierra Nevada Porter, 9
Sierra Nevada Stout, 8
Sierra Nevada Summerfest, 7
Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA, 8
Sinebrychoff Porter, 9
Singha, 4
Sixpoint Brownstone Ale, 7
Sixpoint Righteous Ale, 8
Sixpoint Sweet Action, 10
Sly Fox Pikeland Pils, 8
Smithwicks Ale, 4
Smuttynose Big A IPA, 10
Smuttynose Chai Porter, 6
Smuttynose Farmhouse Ale, 5
Smuttynose IPA “Finest Kind”, 6
Smuttynose Old Brown Dog, 6
Smuttynose Portsmouth Lager, 6
Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale, 7
Smuttynose Robust Porter, 10
Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale, 9
Smuttynose Summer Weizen Ale, 6
Smuttynose Wheat Wine Ale, 6
Smuttynose Winter Ale, 7
Snapperfish IPA, 4
Southampton Double White Ale, 9
Southampton ESB, 10
Southampton IPA, 4
Southern Tier Back Burner, 7
Southern Tier Big Red, 7
Southern Tier Creme Brulee Milk Stout, 9
Southern Tier Cuvee Series 2 (Oak Aged Series), 6
Southern Tier Harvest Ale, 7
Southern Tier IPA, 8
Southern Tier Jahva, 6
Southern Tier Phin & Matts Extraordinary Ale, 6
Southern Tier Porter, 8
Southern Tier Raspberry Porter, 5
Southern Tier Raspberry Wheat Beer, 3
Southern Tier Unearthly, 9
Spanish Peaks Black Dog Ale, 5
Spanish Peaks Crystal Weiss, 4
Spaten Oktoberfestbier Ur- Märzen, 4
Speakeasy Prohibition Ale, 9
Sprecher Black Bavarian, 8
St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout, 9
St. Bernardus Abt 12, 10
St. Bernardus Witbier, 10
St. Feullien Saison, 8
St. Feuillien Tripel, 9
St. George Summer Ale, 6
St. Ides High Gravity Malt Liquor, 3
St. John Brewers Virgin Islands Pale Ale, 2
St. Louis Gueuze Fond Tradition, 9
St. Pauli Girl Lager, 3
St. Pauli Girl Special Dark, 3
Steel Reserve 211, 5
Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout, 8
Stone 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA, 5
Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale, 9
Stone Double Bastard Ale, 9
Stone India Pale Ale, 10
Stone Leviathan, 6
Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard, 9
Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale 2006, 8
Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale 2008, 7
Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale 2009, 7
Stone Pale Ale, 9
Stone Ruination IPA, 8
Stone Russian Imperial Stout 2006, 9
Stone Russian Imperial Stout 2009, 8
Stone Smoked Porter, 8
Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, 9
Stone 07.07.07 Vertical Epic Ale, 8
Stone 08.08.08 Vertical Epic Ale, 6
Stone Cat IPA, 7
Stone Coast 840 IPA, 8
Stone Coast Knuckleball Bock, 6
Stone Coast Sunsplash Golden Ale, 2
Stoudts American Pale Ale, 9
Stoudts Double IPA, 8
Stoudts Fat Dog, 8
Stoudts Gold Lager, 8
Stoudts Scarlet Lady ESB, 6
Strangford Lough Legbiter, 6
Strangford Lough St. Patrick's Best, 5
Sunday River Alt, 3
Sunday River Black Bear Porter, 6
Sunday River IPA, 5
Surly Bitter Brewer, 10
Switchback Pale Ale, 7

Taj Mahal Premium Lager, 3
Tecate, 1
Terminal Gravity IPA, 7
Terrapin Rye Pale Ale, 7
The Alchemist Uncle Daddy, 9
The Bruery 7 Grain Saision, 5
The Bruery Mischief, 7
The Bruery Orchard White, 7
The Bruey Oud Tart, 6
The Bruery Saison Rue, 9
The People's Pint Pied pIPA, 4
The Shed National IPA, 8
The Shed Mountain Ale, 7
The Tap American Pale Ale, 7
The Tap Ascension, 8
The Tap Bock, 7
The Tap Chocolate Porter, 8
The Tap Dopplebock, 4
The Tap GestAlt, 5
The Tap Haverale Cream Ale, 6
The Tap Hewitt Brown, 6
The Tap Irish Stout, 7
The Tap Leatherlips IPA, 9
The Tap Nut Brown, 7
The Tap Smoked Pils , 8
The Tap Whittier White, 7
Thirsty Dog Old Leghumper, 6
Thirsty Dog Siberian Night, 10
Thomas Hooker Blonde Ale, 7
Thomas Hooker Hop Meadow IPA, 9
Thomas Hooker Liberator Doppelbock, 10
Thomas Hooker Octoberfest Lager, 6
Tiger Beer, 2
Tommyknocker Alpine Glacier Lager, 3
Trade Route Ginger Pale Ale, 4
Trappistes Rochefort 10, 8
Traquair House Ale, 7
Trinity Belgian Gold, 6
Trinity Belgian Wit, 4
Trinity Brown Ale, 6
Trinity Decadence IPA (Cask), 5
Trinity ESB, 7
Trinity Hefe Weizen, 5
Trinity Imperial IPA, 6
Trinity Larkens Irish Stout, 7
Trinity Rhode Island IPA, 8
Trinity Russian Imperial Stout, 9
Trinity Schwarzbier, 5
Trinity Special Kolsch, 8
Trinity The Kolsch, 6
Troegs Dream Weaver Wheat, 6
Troegs Hopback Amber Ale, 8
Troegs Java Head Stout, 8
Troegs Pale Ale, 6
Troegs Sunshine Pils, 7
Troubadour Obscura, 6
Trout River Rainbow Red Ale, 5
Trumer Pils, 6
Tsingtao, 2
Tuckerman 6288 Stout, 7
Tuckerman Pale Ale, 8
Tusker Lager, 2
Two Brothers Domaine DuPage French Style Country Ale, 7
Two Brothers Heavy Handed IPA, 6
Two Brothers The Bitter End, 7

Uganda Breweries Pilsner Lager, 1
Uinta Angler's Pale Ale, 8
Unibroue Chambly Noire, 5
Unibroue La Fin Du Monde, 9
Unibroue Maudite, 8
Union Station Belgian Tripel, 4
Union Station Summer Blonde, 4
Union Station Golden Spike Ale, 6
Union Station Trip Hop, 5
Union Station Half Day IPA, 5
Union Station River Otter Ale, 3
Union Station Barleywine, 4
Upright Four, 7
Upright Reggae Junkie Gruit, 8

Val-Dieu Grand Cru, 10
Van Steenberge Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Red Ale, 5
Vermont Pub and Brewery Forbidden Fruit, 5
Vermont Pub and Brewery Dogbite Bitter, 7
Vermont Pub and Brewery Vermont Smoked Porter, 8
Victory 12, 4
Victory Bags Packed Porter, 7
Victory Baltic Thunder, 9
Victory Braumeister Harvest Pils, 6
Victory Festbier, 6
Victory Golden Monkey, 9
Victory Helios, 5
Victory HopDevil, 9
Victory Moonglow Weizenbock, 4
Victory Prima Pils, 8
Victory Saison Du Buff, 5
Victory Storm King Imperial Stout, 10
Victory V Lager, 6
Victory Whirlwind Witbier, 4
Victory Wild Devil, 7
Victory Yakima Glory, 8

Wachusett Blueberry, 5
Wachusett Green Monsta, 7
Wachusett IPA, 5
Wachusetts Larry, 8
Wachusett Octoberfest Ale, 3
Wachusett Summer Breeze, 4
Wachusett Winter Ale, 7
Watch City 38 Schilling Scottish Ale, 6
Watch City Biking Bob's Bohemian Pilsner, 4
Watch City Bombed Blondeshelle Belgian Strong Ale, 5
Watch City Dubbel Belgian Ale, 6
Watch City Hops Explosion IPA, 9
Watch City Kingpin Imperial Stout, 7
Watch City Moody Street Stout, 7
Watch City Pie Eyed Pumpkin Ale, 6
Watch City Shillelagh Irish Red Ale, 5
Watch City Titan Brown Ale, 9
Watch City Totem Pale Ale, 8
Watch City Uber-Okto-Lager, 6
Watch City Wheat IPA, 7
Weihenstephaner Festbier, 7
Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier, 8
Westmalle Trappist Tripel, 10
Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot, 8
Weyerbacher Hops Infusion, 7
Weyerbacher Imperial Pumkin Ale, 7
Weyerbacher Insanity, 6
Weyerbacher Merry Monks' Ale, 7
Weyerbacher Winter Ale, 4
Widmer Brothers Collaborator Sunstone Pils, 7
Widmer Brothers Drop Top Amber Ale, 8
Widmer Brothers Hefeweizen, 6
Widmer Brothers Snow Plow, 7
Widmer Brothers W06 NW Red Ale, 8
Wild Goose IPA, 5
Windhoek Lager, 3
Wolaver's Farmhouse Ale, 8
Wolavers India Pale Ale, 7
Wolaver's Oatmeal Stout, 4
Wolaver’s Will Stevens' Pumpkin Ale, 5
Woodstock Inn Pemi Pale Ale, 6
Woodstock Inn Pigs Ear Brown Ale, 5
Wormtown Pumpkin Ale, 7
Wynchwood Fiddler's Elbow, 5

Yards Philadelphia Pale Ale, 7
Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, 7
Young's Oatmeal Stout, 9
Yuengling Black and Tan, 5
Yuengling Traditional Lager, 8

Z Street Mocha Java Stout, 8

Stock watch

2011-01-01T21:39:00.000-05:00

Entering year four of this blog, my taste in beer has definitely evolved and grown more sophisticated. These are some of the risers and fallers that stick out most in my mind:

Berkshire Dean's Beans Coffeehouse Porter
love everything about this beer. so smooth, delicious flavor. a perfect 10.
Original Score: 9, Score: 10

Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
sweetness has become rather cloying to me.
Original Score: 10, Score: 8

La Chouffe
more watery than i remembered, but still very good.
Original Score: 9, Score: 7

Liberal Cup Backhouse Bitter
as smooth and creamy a beer as you will find. definitely bitter, but i love it. a great english beer. Original Score: 7, Score: 8

Ommegang Hennepin
while i prefer allagash, the price point for ommegang is definitely better and results in my drinking it more often.
Original Score: 10, Score: 9

Samuel Adams Boston Lager
my ranking of sam adams' beers tend to be too high across the board, which is understandable since this was my introduction to craft beer. i still end up drinking the boston lager all the time as it is often the best beer available at dive bars and functions. the bitterness and drinkability make this a solid beer but hard to get excited about.
Original Score: 9, Score: 6

Samuel Adams Summer Ale
not unpleasant but not a good beer by any stretch of the imagination.
Original Score: 7, Score: 4

Shipyard Export Ale
same deal as with sam adams. this is one of my favorite session beers, but 7 is a more accuarate scoring.
Original Score: 9, Score: 7

Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale
too spiced for my tastes now.
Original Score: 8, Score: 4

Stone IPA
for around $4 for a bomber this has become one of my favorite buys.
Original Score: 9, Score: 10

Widmer Brothers Hefeweizen
tasty, if slightly watery. it's nice to have access to some portland beers out east.
Original Score: 9, Score: 6

Last call!

2010-12-28T20:27:00.000-05:00

My decision to scale back the release of Complete Updated Rankings to every six months has not been a popular one. The thing is, they are a lot of work. Although I do have to admit, they are pretty out of date right now. Regardless, it is almost time for new rankings. Here is what I've been drinking lately. Last call!

Blue Hills Black Hops Beer, Score: 5
i love that they are tackling the Cascadian Dark Ale style. unfortunately there is an odd sourness that really doesn't belong.

Blue Hills Red Baron Ale, Score: 6

Brasserie Dupont Foret, Score: 7
a good saision, but i've had better for cheaper...

Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin Ale, Score: 7

Full Sail Wreck the Halls, Score: 8
sold as a west coast ipa meets a winter warmer. certainly the hops play a bigger role than any malts or spices -- a good thing mind you. i liked it.

Great Divide Hibernation Ale, Score: 6

Lakefront Pumpkin Lager Beer, Score: 4

Rising Tide Ishmael, Score: 6
a new maine brewer! got to say though, i thought it was a little overpriced ($6 for a bomber) being a new beer and all. i didn't like the initial aroma, which one beeradvocate user accurately identified as closest to tobacco. i warmed too this beer as i drank though and am looking forward to their next offering.

Rogue Chatoe First Growth Wet Hop Ale, Score: 7

Sierra Nevada Estate, Score: 9

Stone 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA, Score: 5
the "e" in emperial should give it away, but this is a Double IPA in the English style. points for uniqueness, but the hops tasted almost stale to me.

Drinking on the Phoenix

2010-12-27T17:42:00.009-05:00

While the blog may have been quiet for the past couple of months, the articles for The Providence Phoenix have kept coming. Here are some of the new beers that I've reviewed for these articles:

Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen, Score: 5

Berkshire Oktoberfest Lager, Score: 7
an oktoberfest that pushes the limits in terms of alcohol and style, but i like it.

Berkshire "Shabadoo" Black and Tan Ale, Score: 6
my favorite bottled Black & Tan.

Berkshire Sour / Imperial Stout Blend, Score: 10
one of the most creative, most exciting beers i have had in some time.

Clipper City Heavy Seas Märzen, Score: 5

Coney Island Freaktoberfest, Score: 5
a brash beer with a clever name... we wouldn't expect anything else from the makers of He'Brew Jewbelation!

Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest, Score: 7
probably my favorite german oktoberfest.

Left Hand Oktoberfest, Score: 5

Mississippi Mud, Score: 4
not the finest beer ever made, but its a lot of fun to drink out of this pseudo-moonshine jug.

Paulaner Oktoberfest- Märzen, Score: 6

Portsmouth Octoberfest, Score: 7

Saranac Black and Tan, Score: 4
watery, dull.

Southern Tier Unearthly, Score: 9

Spaten Oktoberfestbier Ur- Märzen, Score: 4

Thomas Hooker Octoberfest Lager, Score: 6
another unusual oktoberfest with 6.1% abv, medium bodied, and decent hopping.

Weihenstephaner Festbier, Score: 7
very bitter for an oktoberfest... and not in a bad way.

Yuengling Black and Tan, Score: 5

ProPho: Beer: It's what's for breakfast

2010-12-15T22:03:00.002-05:00

Good morning!
By JOSH SMITH December 1, 2010
http://providence.thephoenix.com/food/112086-beer-its-whats-for-breakfast/

Breakfast beers aren't for everyone. People will think you have a problem. But we aren't talking about a hair-of-the-dog here — we're drinking beer because it goes great with breakfast!

Beer belongs at the breakfast table for several reasons. For starters, whenever talking about food and beer pairings, you should start by seeking out complementary flavors. Indeed, many of beer's flavors are also present at breakfast; the most prominent being coffee, grains, and fruit.

Furthermore, the malted barley in beer makes for a hearty, carbo-loaded beverage to get your day off on the right foot. Of course, you don't want too much alcohol to start the day, so reasonable Alcohol By Volume (ABV) levels or small quantities are a must when trying to find the perfect breakfast beer.

As with anything, breakfast beer is ultimately a matter of individual taste. That said, certainly some styles of beer work better in this situation than others. I've always thought the dark, heavy, coffee-flavored breakfast stouts and porters fit best. These darker styles substitute perfectly for coffee alongside eggs, breakfast meats, pancakes, French toast, oatmeal, or, my personal favorite, biscuits and gravy.

That said, lambics, fruit beers, and wheat beers can also work. If opting for a lighter breakfast of fruit, yogurt, bagels, or pastries, you're better off going with a lighter beer as well. Each of these styles offers some sweetness and liveliness that are sure to brighten your day.

I am not advocating for my readers to start boozing it up before work each day. But on a weekend (especially as temperatures drop), one of these 10 breakfast beers can really add something to your morning.

10) BALLAST POINT'S VICTORY AT SEA COFFEE VANILLA IMPERIAL PORTER is one of the beers on the list that I've already tried out as a breakfast beer. Moving a friend one cool, fall morning, the vanilla flavor in this imperial porter really stood out . . . and paired nicely with a stack of pancakes.

9) NEWPORT STORM'S RHODE ISLAND BLUEBERRY is a solid fruit beer, and a nod to the fact that the style — while not my favorite — can go well with certain breakfasts.

8) GREAT DIVIDE ESPRESSO OAK AGED YETI IMPERIAL STOUT is the most ambitious beer on this list. With 9.5% ABV and intimidatingly dark pour that most closely resembles motor oil, this is a beer best shared.

7) GOOSE ISLAND 312 URBAN WHEAT worked nicely one morning at a bar outside of Fenway Park while waiting for the game. This wheat beer has a floral hoppiness, light lemony taste, and is exceptionally easy to drink.

6) DOGFISH HEAD FESTINA PÊCHE isn't my favorite Berliner Weiss, but is the only widely available version of a style that demands a seat at the breakfast table. Both sour and sweet, Berliner Weiss is a fun style that would nicely wash down most any breakfast.

5) REDHOOK DOUBLE BLACK STOUT (WITH COFFEE) is easily the best beer I've had from this regional brewer. Coffee flavor is joined by a sweet nuttiness and hint of vanilla.

4) LINDEMANS KRIEK LAMBIC adds black cherries to create a pleasantly sour brew. Most of you are probably most familiar with Lindemans for their FRAMBOISE, but this is a far more refined, drinkable beer.

3) MIKKELLER BEER GEEK BREAKFAST is an awesomely named Imperial Stout from Denmark. Dark roasted flavor is offset by a lively bitterness. It's worth noting that there's also a smoked version of this beer called BEER GEEK BACON! Pretty awesome idea.

2) BRASSERIE DIEU DU CIEL PECHE MORTEL deserves consideration as the ultimate breakfast beer. Plenty of coffee here, from a rich java smell to a sharp, burnt coffee flavor. Complex and balanced, this is a joy to drink any hour of the day.

1) FOUNDERS BREAKFAST STOUT ultimately is too good to pass up for the top spot. Coffee is present from start to finish, plus other breakfast-friendly ingredients like molasses and flaked oats. It's the velvety creaminess that makes this such a great fit with breakfast. So summon up some self-confidence and pour yourself a beer with breakfast!

ProPho: Time for thanks

2010-12-03T20:20:00.000-05:00

Giving beer a place at the table
By JOSH SMITH November 17, 2010
http://providence.thephoenix.com/movies/111674-time-for-thanks/

The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock nearly 400 years ago, shortly after running out of beer. Certainly beer was consumed the following year at the first Thanksgiving. So surely beer belongs at your own table this Thanksgiving!

But which one . . . or ones? Anyone who has walked into a package store lately understands this won't be an easy decision — the past few years the market has been absolutely flooded with quality craft beer from all over the world! (It's one of those good kind of problems.) The feast that is Thanksgiving isn't an especially easy meal to choose pairings for either. With so many different flavors present, you could go in a lot of different directions. Fortunately, beer is incredibly versatile and really quite easy to pair with food.

The general rule of thumb is that lighter foods require lighter beers, and heavier foods need something a little darker. (That said, sometimes it may be more appropriate to contrast flavors, highlighting the opposing characteristics in each.) Hoppy beers are more appropriate with bold or spicy dishes, so don't really work with the sweet and earthy nature of most Thanksgiving staples.

Now if your family is anything like my own, there is going to be so much fantastic food that you won't want to fill up on beer. For that reason, I recommend shying away from malty amber's and those few remaining Oktoberfest's. Also, I'm looking for beers that are fairly accessible since family gatherings are the perfect opportunity to win over new craft beer converts! While SIERRA NEVADA'S BIGFOOT BARLEYWINE STYLE ALE might go well with dessert, its intense nature is sure to scare away whoever you are sharing the bottle with. Beer is a great thing to socialize with and bond over, so be sure to bring enough to share.

So let's get to it. Personally, I'm planning on bringing three different beers with me to Thanksgiving, one for each segment of the meal. For starters, you'll want a light but flavorful beer to go with appetizers. A Belgian Pale Ale like DUVEL fits this description perfectly. Easily one of my five all-time favorite beers, Duvel is crisp, fruity, yeasty, and has a depth few can rival. This is certain to be a crowd pleaser. If Duvel's hefty price tag makes you hesitate, a hoppy pilsner like VICTORY'S PRIMA PILS makes a very suitable (and very sessionable) replacement.

Far more difficult is selecting a beer that goes with turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes (both regular and sweet), cranberry sauce, and all those other family favorite dishes. Conventional wisdom says to play it safe and complement the subtle nature of these dishes with a beer of the malty persuasion. I would recommend, rather fittingly, MAYFLOWER'S THANKSGIVING ALE. Now when I first saw this beer on the shelves it seemed a little gimmicky, but it does earn its title! With caramel and nutty malts and a hint of vanilla there is a delicateness and depth to this beer that complements the meal very nicely.

Ultimately though, Belgian beers work best given their high alcohol levels and renowned complexity. Alcohol does a good job cutting through fatty meats and starchy vegetables, and the beers ranging flavors are able to find a companion somewhere in the Thanksgiving smorgasbord. Take OMMEGANG'S ABBEY ALE. This superb Dubbel boasts a sweet, malty backbone, a robust 8.5% ABV, and flavors ranging from toffee to dried fruit to cinnamon. Slightly more approachable for the novice beer drinker might be a fruity and refreshing Farmhouse Ale, like SAISON DUPONT. And Duvel would be perfectly suitable here as well. When it comes to Belgian beer, you can't go wrong!

Dessert again presents a number of options: Stout, Porter, Fruit Beer, Lambic, Barleywine, or Winter Warmer come to mind. Dark beers go over well in my family, so I am probably going to bring the tasty YOUNG'S DOUBLE CHOCOLATE STOUT or STONE's bold IMPERIAL RUSSIAN STOUT. On the other hand, it's hard to beat pairing your pumpkin pie with SOUTHERN TIER's perfectly spiced PUMKING. There are some hard decisions to be made this Thanksgiving, but as long as you choose beer it should be an enjoyable holiday.

ProPho: Excellent exbeeriments: The wonderful world of beer blends

2010-12-01T21:14:00.003-05:00

Black and Tan and you
By JOSH SMITH November 3, 2010
http://providence.thephoenix.com/movies/110961-excellent-exbeeriments-the-wonderful-world-of-bee/

It is possible go into virtually any bar and order a Black and Tan. And if recent growth continues, soon it may not be the only blended beer available.

In the ever-expanding universe of craft beer, the practice of blending two or more beers together is currently experiencing a renaissance. Of course, bartenders and brewers have been blending beer for centuries. In Belgium, Gueuze style beers have always been created by combining and refermenting old and young Lambics. The first Black and Tans popped up as early as the 18th century, with pub goers ordering a mix of dark and light beers.

Contrary to popular belief, Black and Tans did not originate in Ireland, but in England. (In fact, the term Black and Tan has a very negative connotation in Ireland since that was the same name of a British force that once terrorized the country.) Typically, 50 percent of stout or porter is mixed with 50 percent of bitter, pale ale, or pale lager, producing a flavorful, yet easy-drinking session beer. By far the most common version involves GUINNESS DRAUGHT and BASS PALE ALE.

While most countries simply mix the beers together, in the United States Black and Tans are carefully separated. You start by vigorously pouring half of the Bass into a pint glass (producing a sizeable head will help to separate the beers.) Next, hold a spoon over the glass and flip it upside-down, pouring half of the Guinness slowly over the bottom-side of the spoon. If you are careful not to disturb the "tan" on the bottom, the "black" should layer distinctly on top, giving you a beautiful Black and Tan!

Obviously, some science is at work here. Although it may not look like it, Bass and most other Pale Ales actually have a higher specific gravity (or in non-home-brewing-terms, weight) than Guinness. Guinness' low gravity makes countless other layered blends possible, including "Half and Half" (Guinness and Harp), "Black Castle" (Guinness and Newcastle), "Black Smith" (Guinness and Smithwick's), and "Black and Blue" (Guinness and Blue Moon).

If a bartender can dream up these beers, so can you! I have conducted several exbeeriments (thank you, thank you) with varying success with several of my favorite Stouts and IPAs. Instead of Blue Moon, I've also tried a "Black and Blue" that substituted SEA DOG BLUE PAW WHEAT ALE. That didn't work for me. What did work was a "Black and Red:" Guinness and LINDEMAN'S FRAMBOISE, a raspberry lambic; 20 percent Framboise is more than enough to give this old favorite a sweet new twist.

Not surprisingly, several brewers have attempted to capitalize on the popularity of Black and Tans with bottled versions. YUENGLING BLACK AND TAN is the most visible example, a mixture of their porter and traditional lager. Like many of the bottled Black and Tans, the darker beer dominates and this ends up feeling like a watery porter. MISSISSIPPI MUD is also porter and pilsner, but the most interesting part of this beer is the gimmicky moonshine jug that it comes in. In fact, the only decent bottled Black and Tan that I've had was BERKSHIRE'S "SHABADOO" BLACK AND TAN ALE. Roasted malts, an edge of bitter hops, 6.3% ABV, creamy mouthfeel, drinkability — this beer has it all!

Another favorite bottled beer blend is OLDE BURNSIDE'S DIRTY PENNY, 60 percent Scottish Ale and 40 percent Stout. The result is a unique, sweet brew that is shockingly sessionable. OMMEGANG'S THREE PHILOSOPHERS mixes their quadruple with Lindeman's Kriek to create an unusually strong, dark beer with an exceptionally sour finish. Add in the launch of new blended beers from several elite California brewers — Russian River, Lagunitas, and Firestone Walker included — and a trend is clearly at hand.

Some more traditional beer geeks may cringe at this seeming disregard for the integrity of a brewer's creation. But remember, craft beer is supposed to be fun and innovative! As craft beer grows more sophisticated, enthusiasts must constantly be on guard against the snobbery that plagues some wine drinking circles. So grab a couple your favorite beers and give blending a whirl tonight. You never know what your exbeeriment might produce!

Ebenezer's sister

2010-11-29T22:50:00.008-05:00

My experience at the world's number one beer bar - Ebenezer's in Lovell, ME - has been well-documented on this blog. Not surprisingly then, the recently opened sister bar of Ebenezer's, The Lion's Pride in Brunswick, has ranked high on my to-do list. Last week on our way home for Thanksgiving, Kelly and I got the chance.

For starters, this was a sizeable place with a pretty big bar and even bigger eating area. Much like at Ebenezer's, beer paraphanalia lines the walls, albeit with more representation from American brewers. But what really caught my eye were the apparently hand-blown, illuminated, glass tap handles. I've never seen that before!

The tap list was as great as expected. Lots of great Belgian beers that I have never seen on tap anywhere else. I will say, however, it wasn't close to the quality of the taps in Lovell - I didn't see anything vintage on tap. My biggest problem with this place is the fact they don't have a single written list of their abundant supply of bottles. Get your act together guys!

The food was good and reasonably priced. I got a lobster roll and Belgian frites for $14. The beers are substantially more pricey, but worth it. I ordered the Sinebrychoff Porter (9) from Sweden. Much like the menu promised, this is one of the best porter's I've had with tasty charred coffee making up the backbone of this beer. My wife went for the BFM Tarry Suchong (3) sold to us as a sour beer with tea as an ingredient, but labeled as a smoked beer by BeerAdvocate. I didn't enjoy this beer for the note of antisceptic within.

This was a quick trip but there will definitely be a return visit. Of particular interest, other beers on tap included: Cuvee Des Jacobins Rouge a Flanders Red Ale, Jan de Lichte a 7% Witbier, De Glazen Toren Onkineke Oilsjtersen Tripel, Van Steenberge Biere du Boucanier Golden a Belgian Strong Pale Ale, and De La Senne Stouterik an Irish Dry Stout. Talk about a to-do list!

Weekend in Portland

2010-11-21T10:54:00.005-05:00

A weekend in Portland saw a lot of the normal haunts: Novare Res, Great Lost Bear, and Sebago Brewing. What was new was Mama's Crowbar, an awesome neighborhood bar on Munjoy Hill that I discovered thanks to Beer Advocate. Only four taps, but the bottle selection was stellar and it had a great relaxed vibe that many brewpubs lack. Add it to your list of must-stops in this craft beer destination.

Bavik Petrus Aged Pale, 5
all sour white grapes, not exactly delicately balanced.

Maine Beer Company Zoe, 8
my second offering from maine beer company and it was a fascinating amber. very hoppy, but with a heavy caramel malt backbone. try this beer.

North Coast Brother Thelonious, 4
a belgian strong dark ale. very dense with lots of dark fruit. reminded me of a red wine, or port even.

Run of the Mill What's Hoppenin' IPA, 6
bitter, with a slightly raw note.

Sebago Saddleback Ale, 3
i was expecting a simple light lager, but for some reason there was a fair amount of spice. not for me.

Sierra Nevada Blackbird Black IPA, 8
surely the style of cascadian dark ale (or black ipa) has arrived when sierra nevada's version makes it to the east coast. true to style with a sharp bitterness.

Recent ratings

2010-11-10T10:31:00.000-05:00

Ratings dump! A lot of these are coming from the Beervana Fest in Cranston back in October. It was a great festival with a lot of new beers. So some good stuff in here, check it out!

Berkshire Lost Sailor IPA Aged in Cab Barrels, Score: 7
aging in wine barrels is hardly unusual at this point, but haven't tried an ipa like this. sour grapes take over the beer. fascinating.

Brahma, Score: 2

Brooklyn Local 1 (2006), Score: 7

Cisco Cherry Woods, Score: 7

Cisco Lady of Woods, Score: 8

Cisco Pumple Drumkin Spiced Ale, Score: 3

Clown Shoes Clementine Wit, Score: 7

Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA, Score: 9
my first beer from this michigan brewer -- i would love to see more midwest brewers make it this way in the future. great aroma and a very clean ipa.

Dogfish Head Fort (2006), Score: 3

Dogfish Head Old School, Score: 4

Dubuisson Peche Mel, Score: 10
all peach flavor with a fluffy mouthfeel. a great digestief.

Dupont Lambucha, Score: 8
green tea and spearimint make this feel fresh and quenching. worked pretty well.

Founders Porter, Score: 8

Frosty Knuckle Ale, Score: 4

Goose Island Bourbon City Stout, Score: 7

Harpoon Wood Aged Belgian Pale Ale, Score: 6

Heavy Seas The Great Pumpkin, Score: 7

Hitachino Nest Real Ginger Brew, Score: 7
most ginger beers are all spice, but a forward hop presence and a lot of darker belgian qualities makes this a must try.

Ithaca Brute, Score: 8
a wild ale that is very lively, lemony.

Kasteel Rouge, Score: 10
all cherry, all the time. smooth and delicious.

Meantime London Porter, Score: 9

Newport Cyclone Neo, Score: 7
fresh hops, sticky sweet -- this felt more like a double ipa than an american pale ale.

Offshore Great Pumpkin, Score: 5

Ommegang BPA (Belgian-style Pale Ale), Score: 9

Ommegang Cup o Kyndnes, Score: 5

Portsmouth Bottle Rocket IPA, Score: 9

Portsmouth Hefeweizen, Score: 5

Portsmouth Octoberfest, Score: 8

Rogue Hazelnut Brown, Score: 8

Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary - Fritz and Ken's Ale, Score: 8

Smuttynose Chai Porter, Score: 6
kelly and i were excited to try this. the chai gave it a very coarse, cloroseptic-like feel. enjoyable but i wouldn't drink much of it.

Southern Tier Creme Brulee Milk Stout, Score: 9

St. Feullien Saison, Score: 8

Traquair House Ale, Score: 7

Trinity Decadence IPA in a Cask, Score: 5

Upright Four, Score: 7
a new brewer across from the rose garden in portland, or. as their "table beer," this saison is very light in body, with a refreshing grassy nature.

Breaking news: Full Sail in Massachusetts!

2010-11-09T21:40:00.004-05:00

I had a hunch this was coming and today I found out for sure: Full Sail brewery of Hood River, Oregon is now available in Massachusetts!

This is a big deal. I have been clamoring for years to get some of those fine Oregon brews (beyond Rogue and Widmer) out to New England, and now it has happened! All we have to do now is get Deschutes and Hopworks...

Full Sail is an excellent brewer. Their Session, Amber, and Pale Ale are all top-notch, balanced, drinkable beers. The IPA is nice and flavorful, if not quite a full tilt West Coast IPA. Their Chris's Summer D-Lite is still the best Berliner Weisse I have ever had (but I don't expect to see it out this way any time soon...) Regardless, Full Sail has a great track record and really knows what they are doing.

For more details, check out the writeup from one of my favorite Massachusetts beer bloggers, Beer Nut: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/features/x893358815/The-Beer-Nut-Full-Sail-ahead-in-Massachusetts

So keep an eye out for Full Sail so you can enjoy a Pale Ale along with me!

CBC Great Pumpkin Festival 2010

2010-10-31T14:22:00.006-04:00

Cambridge Brewing Company had one serious Halloween party last night! 30 pumpkin beers from CBC and other guest brewers were on tap, along with a menu full of creative dishes using pumpkin in some fashion. It didn't end there either, the whole restaurant and courtyard were decorated, many came decked out in costume, and at 10 pm they tapped a giant pumpkin full of beer! There was a $10 cover, it cost $1.25 for most samples, and we had to wait 1 1/2 hours in line to get in, but it was well worth it. A highly recommended event for next year -- just come early.

Allagash Ghouleschip, Score: 7
probably had the biggest buzz going.

American Flatbread Cornucopia, Score: 5
overly spiced and muddled.

Cape Ann Fisherman's Imperial Pumpkin Stout, Score: 7
a more alcoholic version of one of my favorite beers.

CBC Black Magic (Cask), Score: 9
espresso and chipotle, two of my favorite flavors in beer!

CBC Ich Bin Ein Kurbisweisse, Score: 10
simply fantastic. one of my favorite styles and the just nailed the pumpkin syrup you add in. sour and sweet -- kelly and i could drink this by the pitcher full.

CBC Punjabi Pumpkin, Score: 6
curry used barely registers... probably a good thing.

CBC The Great Pumpkin Ale, Score: 6
seemed like CBC's version of pumpkin Bud Light.

CBC The Great Pumpkin (Giant Pumpkin), Score: 4
flat and real earthiness to it. nice to see i wasn't the only one that struggled with the whole pumpkin keg concept. very fun though.

CBC The O.P.P., Score: 6
a sour porter with a little spice. odd but not bad.

CBC The Pumpeter!, Score: 7
a black and tan with their porter and great pumpkin. pretty good.

Elysian Hansel & Gretel, Score: 6
certainly do taste the ginger.

Iron Hill Pumktoberfest, Score: 6
one of the most over-the-top spiced beers of the night.

Jolly Pumpkin La Parcella, Score: 6
a sour that didn't quite mesh.

Rock Art Imperial Spruce Pumpkin Stout, Score: 7
a very textured imperial stout. good.

Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale, Score: 7
solid, if a little unexciting.

The Alchemist Uncle Daddy, Score: 9
this was very good. a saison without spices, and none were needed.

Wormtown Pumpkin Ale, Score: 7
my first from this worcester brewer. light and sessionable.

ProPho: The best of Oktoberfest beer

2010-10-29T18:59:00.005-04:00

Falling for an old style
By JOSH SMITH October 13, 2010

The Oktoberfest style of beer actually predates the first Oktoberfest celebration of 200 years ago. The other name by which this ancient style is known gives us a hint of its true roots: Märzen.

In the days before refrigeration, it was nearly impossible to brew quality beer during the hot summer months. Instead, Germans brewed beer for the summer in March (or Märzen) and then stored the beer in cellars and caves filled with ice. The last of these batches were typically consumed in October, in time for the barrels to be reused for fall brewing. Eventually, inclusion of the style in Oktoberfest festivities became a natural fit.

The characteristics of the Oktoberfest/Märzen style were also shaped by history. Beers with higher alcohol levels preserve better and, as a result, Oktoberfest beers typically register a healthy 5-7% alcohol by volume. While a decent amount of hops are also used to help preserve the beer, after aging for three or four months the beer will mellow to have a decidedly malty tilt.

For the best representatives of the style we'll start, of course, in Germany, with a brewery that traces its roots back to Munich in 1417. HACKER-PSCHORR'S ORIGINAL OKTOBERFEST is deep red in color with a husky malt aroma that is distinctly German. The flavor is of nutty and caramel malts, but has a light, silky mouthfeel that allows one to drink another. Another personal flavor is PAULANER'S OKTOBERFEST- MÄRZEN. The toasted malts have a little more heft to them, but a balanced flavor also provides drinkability.

SPATEN OKTOBERFESTBIER UR- MÄRZEN is another widely available German Oktoberfest, albeit a fairly one-dimensional one with a building sweetness. AYINGER'S OKTOBER FEST- MÄRZEN is a little better with malts that taste fresh and crisp, a lighter body, and cleaner mouthfeel. WEIHENSTEPHANER FESTBIER is unquestionably the most unusual Oktoberfest I've had from Germany, with far more bitterness than a typical Oktoberfest. Still an enjoyable beer, but hardly true to style.

But what about the proliferation of American-brewed Oktoberfest beers? Now-adays it seems nearly every craft brewer makes an Oktoberfest, with a great deal of variation across the style. I think PORTSMOUTH'S OCTOBERFEST best follows the spirit of its German brethren with its ability to check the bready malts with some light herbal hops. This helps to create the lightness and drinkability you need in an Oktoberfest. My other favorite is BERKSHIRE'S OKTOBERFEST LAGER with its sweet, slightly spiced nose. Indeed, this seems to aspire to be a pumpkin beer, and a robust one at that with 6.8% ABV! Berkshire is certainly pushing the limits, but I love this beer.

Other options worth picking up include the strong but balanced THOMAS HOOKER OCTOBERFEST LAGER. LEFT HAND'S OKTOBERFEST has a more traditional maltiness, but stops short of being overly sweet. While a step below any of these four, SAMUEL ADAMS OCTOBERFEST, HEAVY SEAS MÄRZEN, and VICTORY FESTBIER are undoubtedly all readily available at your local package store. Move quickly if you haven't gotten your fix of Oktoberfest beers yet — winter warmers are right around the corner.

I would be amiss not to check in about the other exciting fall happening: the first annual Providence Craft Beer Week. Feedback seemed overwhelmingly positive, with events taking place throughout the city the first week of October. I got a chance to try BERKSHIRE'S SOUR/IMPERIAL STOUT BLEND on tap at the Avery, SOUTHERN TIER'S UNEARTHLY DOUBLE IPA at Julian's, and DOGFISH HEAD'S THEOBROMA chili beer at Brown's Graduate Center Bar. Throw in some freebies from the brewers and these were some fun events.

Capping it off was Beervana Fest in Cranston, the most extreme festival I've ever been to. Seemingly every brewer brought their Double IPA or Imperial Stout, many times after having been aged in wine or bourbon barrels. Highlights included BROOKLYN'S '07 BLACK CHOCOLATE STOUT, DUBUISSON'S PÊCHE MEL, and OMMEGANG'S BELGIAN PALE ALE. With speakers and entertainment throughout the night, gourmet food from Julian's on hand, and a pretty respectful crowd, this festival was a joy to attend. Kudos to all the organizers of what we hope will be many more Providence Craft Beer Weeks.

ProPho: Get ready for Providence Craft Beer Week!

2010-10-19T21:19:00.002-04:00

By JOSH SMITH | September 29, 2010
http://portland.thephoenix.com/food/109267-get-ready-for-providence-craft-beer-week/

With the weather cooling down and the Oktoberfest 200th anniversary celebration in full swing in Munich, October just feels like beer drinking season. So it's only fitting that the first annual Providence Craft Beer Week will take place October 1-8.

The festivities are patterned on the massive Philly Beer Week that originated in 2008 and now draws visitors from across the country to the Greater Philadelphia area over the course of 10 days in June. More than two dozen cities have hopped on board with their own local beer celebration. And now Providence is going to join in on the party.

Each night bars and restaurants across the city will host different craft breweries, Oktoberfest celebrations, beer dinners, and neighborhood pub crawls. To cap it all off, on Friday, October 8, the Beervana Fest will take place in Cranston, showcasing more than 200 of the world's best craft beers. With events being added by the day, it seems there will be something for everyone during the course of the week.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that Julian's is up front beating the drum for Providence Craft Beer Week. Together with the Avery and E&O Tap, the neighborhood bars are teaming up to create the "Beermuda Triangle." Fourteen different brewers will host special events each weeknight. And since none of the bars is more than a three-block walk from each other, this is one Triangle you should be able to navigate your way around.

While each bar will have their own approach to these special brewery nights, Julian's events are a good example. Four tap lines will be dedicated to the guest brewery, while a representative will be on hand from 9 to 11 pm to give away some freebies. For any craft beer enthusiast, the chance to talk beer with knowledgeable people from inside the industry is a pretty exciting opportunity.

It's an all-star lineup too. Monday is arguably the best craft brewer for the canning category, Oskar Blues of Colorado. On Tuesday, the always creative Dogfish Head Brewery is bringing beers using such eclectic ingredients as rice, pumpkin, and blackberries. On Wednesday Julian's will welcome western New York's Southern Tier and my absolute favorite pumpkin beer: Pumking. And on Thursday, New Hampshire's Smuttynose Brewing is coming to town with its executive brewer, David Yarrington, two vintage beers, and two special series beers.

Dan Henry, a field manager for Smuttynose, summed up the excitement around these events: "The people at Julian's treat beer in a way a lot of people don't." So when Smuttynose offered to bring a couple of rare vintage beers to the event, Julian's jumped at the opportunity. "Our vintage beers have done a spectacular job aging," Henry said. "Many taste like a totally different beer. They have mellowed with a different body to it, going the way of a fine sherry." I'm sure he is right, but want to find out for myself.

As if this isn't reason enough to venture to the West Side, the other points of the Beermuda triangle have some pretty amazing brewers lined up. The Avery is will have Providence's own Trinity Brewhouse on Sunday, Heavy Seas on Monday, Harpoon Tuesday, Smuttynose Wednesday, and Wachusett on Thursday. Over the same five nights, E&O Tap will welcome Redhook, Blue Point, Cisco, Abita (of Louisiana), and Ithaca. It's especially encouraging to see local businesses engage in collaborative efforts such as these for the sake of the Craft Beer Week.

The Beermuda triangle is just the beginning. Consider:

• On the other side of town, the Wild Colonial Tavern has lined up four evening events of its own: Harpoon (Monday), Cisco (Tuesday), Dogfish (Wednesday), and hometown favorite Narragansett (Thursday). Narragansett will be bringing Fest, their new Oktoberfest beer, among others.

• English Cellar Alehouse is a fitting place for Maine's Shipyard Brewing and its traditional, English-styled beers on Monday night. Next come Cisco, Victory, and Wetten Importers.

• If you are lucky enough to have access to Brown's Graduate Center Bar, Cisco (Saturday the 1st) and Dogfish Head (Wednesday) will make an appearance.

• New York craft brewer Blue Point will be dropping in at Harry's Bar and Burger on Wednesday.

• Union Station Brewery will be throwing an Oktoberfest celebration on Friday, while Loie Fuller will have Oktoberfest beers on tap and German food available all week long. Bring your best authentic German costume, if possible.

• The Apartment will welcome Long Trail, Shipyard, and Pennsylvania's excellent Victory Brewing on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, respectively.

• Snookers will see Shipyard, Long Trail, and Wetten Importers (of such notable beers as Delirium Tremens and Kasteel Rouge) Tuesday through Thursday.

• Vermont's Long Trail will also be at Scurvy Dog on Thursday.

• And Pawtucket is getting into the act with Doherty's East Ave Irish Pub hosting events each weeknight, including what promises to be a fantastic beer dinner with Peak Organic of Maine on Wednesday.

The week culminates with a massive beer festival on Friday at the historic Rhodes-On-the-Pawtuxet in Cranston, Beervana Fest promises to be a seriously good time. From 6:30 to 10 pm, the ballrooms of the Rhodes will be transformed with 1000 beer enthusiasts in attendance.

Tickets are $40 in advance or $45 at the door and entitle you to a tasting glass, festival guide, bottle of water, entrance into educational seminars and, of course, 2-ounce pours of some of the world's best craft beers. By my count more than 200 beers will be available from the 30 domestic brewers and even more international brands present.

I caught up with Dan Keating of C&C Distributing Services, one of the organizers of Providence Craft Beer Week. "What sets the Beervana Fest apart is the adventurous beers that brewers are bringing" Dan said. "Some of these beers, Cisco's Woods Beers, for example, are interesting beers of which only a handful have ever been made. It is rare to see any one of these beers on tap, but here you will have the opportunity to try a few side by side."

I couldn't agree more; the beer list for Beervana is chock-full of rare styles and vintage brews. A few of the beers I'll seek out include: Berkshire Sour Imperial Stout blend, Brooklyn Local 1 from 2005, De Dolle Stille Nacht Special Reserve from 2000, Hariestoun Ola Dubh 40 (as in years aged in a whiskey barrel), and Trinity Decadence Imperial IPA in a cask. I could go on but, with my word limit quickly approaching, you'll have to do some searching of your own.

Two educational seminars will also take place during the festival. Tod Mott, head brewer for Portsmouth Brewery of New Hampshire, will speak about his lengthy brewing career that includes creating the renowned Kate the Great Russian Imperial Stout. The other slot will feature Don Feinberg, founder of Ommegang Brewery and Vanberg & Dewulf Importers, a beer distributor that has helped bring illustrious Belgian beers such as Saison Dupont and Scaldis Noel to Rhode Island.

So if all of this sounds like a good time to you, tickets are being sold at Nikki's Liquors, Julian's, and Brown's GCB in Providence, and Track 84 in Warwick. I hope to see you there!

Providence Craft Beer Week is a pretty big deal for the city. The variety of craft beers available in Rhode Island has grown in recent years alongside demand and hasn't shown any sign of slowing. Given its reputation as the Creative Capital and the city's great culinary history, Providence is well-suited to continue to swell the ranks of craft beer converts. Craft Beer Week will only help.

Again, Dan Henry of Smuttynose: "This could be a good catalyst for the city. In the last few years I have seen craft beer grow by leaps and bounds. This week could be a great education for people and a chance to see craft beer is not going away."

Dan Keating agrees: "In my time working in beer distribution, I have seen the sophistication of the Providence beer scene grow tremendously. The city has gotten engaged in craft beer so that there is now a critical mass interested in events like this."

These are exciting times; Providence is preparing to join the class of elite New England craft beer cities and needs our support to do so. Turning out for one or more of these events is a great place to start.

ProPho: Go Global!

2010-10-02T00:59:00.004-04:00

Become a worldly beer drinker
By JOSH SMITH September 7, 2010
http://providence.thephoenix.com/food/107966-go-global/

Talk of international beer typically conjures up images of German beer gardens, Belgian monasteries, and pints of Guinness. But where is the rest of the world in this Eurocentric fantasy?

Indeed, with all but a couple of shelves in the international beer aisle devoted to European offerings, you can be forgiven for this limited world view. However, in the age of globalization, beers from exotic locations are enjoying ever greater circulation, including in your local package store and ethnic restaurant.

Leading the way is Asia, where a rise in disposable income has precipitated a meteoric growth in the beer industry. But with only the weak and watery TSINGTAO enjoying any shelf presence in the US, this is one market where China still places second to its neighbors.

At the forefront is Japan, with Rice Lagers as the dominant style. Not as interesting as you might imagine, rice plays the role of cost-cutting adjunct, much like corn for US macro-lagers. KIRIN ICHIBAN, ASAHI SUPER DRY, and SAPPORO PREMIUM BEER are the most commonly seen brands, of which I prefer Sapporo. But if you are looking for more out of a beer than just its ability to wash down wasabi, KOSHIHIKARI ECHIGO BEER is the way to go. Crisp and clean, the light hops pair nicely with the more delicate nature of Japanese food.

Where Japan stands out, though, is the fact that some of its craft beers are available in the US, and not only its most popular lagers. Legendary sake maker HITACHINO NEST is the most recognized with its highly-acclaimed and very unique Witbier, WHITE ALE. While interesting, I personally liked both their tart and yeasty RED RICE ALE, and lively REAL GINGER BREW better.

There are other Asian options beyond the Land of the Rising Sun. Thailand’s SINGHA has a smoothness and balance that makes it ideal to pair with a meal. The Philippines’ SAN MIGUEL DARK LAGER is a similarly well-constructed but maltier brew. And Singapore’s TIGER BEER and Thailand’s CHANG BEER are other easy drinking alternatives. LION of Sri Lanka puts out a macro-lager of its own, but its STOUT has made a name for itself in the craft beer community. A flavorful Irish Dry Stout, this is a beer that can stand on its own merits without being paired with food.

While most of these beers will do the job, when washing down the spice of Indian food I prefer an authentic experience with a couple of good, clean Indian beers. United Breweries out of Bangalore steps up by offering three different beers: KINGFISHER PREMIUM LAGER, TAJ MAHAL PREMIUM LAGER, and FLYING HORSE ROYAL LAGER. Kingfisher and Taj Mahal have some off-notes mixed in, so Flying Horse is my pick. Clearly trying to stand out with a classy bottle replete with tasting notes on the beer, Flying Horse has a more pleasant, multi-dimensional malty backbone.

Now I love Mexican food almost as much as Indian and have worked my way through the Mexican beer scene. I prefer the darker NEGRA MODELO and DOS EQUIS AMBER LAGER for their crisp, dry, refreshing nature. The lighter and more watery MODELO ESPECIAL, PACIFICO, and TECATE come in a distant third through fifth. It should go without saying that you shouldn’t let anyone put a lime in any one of these beers.

As you might expect, African and South American beers are severely underrepresented in the international aisle. The surprisingly good TUSKER PREMIUM LAGER of Kenya is the only African beer that I have been able to find. South Africa, in particular, has some excellent beers to offer the world, such as the sweet and roasty CASTLE MILK STOUT. Someday soon, perhaps!

Similarly, the underwhelming BRAHMA out of Brazil is the only South American beer that I’ve been able to track down. This is a shame since other countries like Argentina are supposed to have solid craft brewing traditions. So whether you are traveling abroad or just down the international aisle of your favorite beer store, take a chance and bring a worldly new beer home with you.

Providence Craft Beer Week

2010-09-25T22:34:00.003-04:00

I am currently writing an article for the Providence Phoenix about the first annual Providence Craft Beer Week. Taking place Saturday, October 1st through Friday, October 8th a number of local bars and restaurants are hosting representatives from different breweries. Add in a couple of Oktoberfest celebrations, a beer dinner, and beer festival, and it is shaping up to be a pretty awesome week in The Biggest Little.

Julian's:
- Oskar Blues, Mon
- Dogfish Head, Tues
- Southern Tier, Weds
- Smuttynose, Thurs

The Avery:
- Trinity Brewhouse, Sun
- Heavy Seas, Mon
- Harpoon, Tues
- Smuttynose, Weds
- Wachusett, Thurs

E & O Tap:
- RedHook, Sun
- Blue Point, Mon
- Cisco, Tues
- Abita, Weds
- Ithaca, Thurs

Wild Colonial Tavern:
- Harpoon, Mon
- Cisco, Tues
- Dogfish, Weds
- Narragansett, Thurs

English Cellar Alehouse:
- Shipyard, Mon
- Cisco, Tues
- Victory, Weds
- Wetten Importers, Thurs

Brown’s Graduate Center Bar:
- Cisco, Sat
- Dogfish Head, Weds

The Apartment:
- Long Trail, Tues
- Shipyard, Weds
- Victory, Thurs

Snooker’s Billiards:
- Shipyard, Tues
- Long Trail, Weds
- Wetten Importers, Thurs

Harry’s Bar and Burger:
- Blue Point, Weds

Scurvy Dog:
- Long Trail, Thurs

East Ave:
- Merchant du Vin, Thurs

Union Station:
- Oktoberfest celebration, Fri

Loie Fuller:
- Oktoberfest beers on tap and authentic German food available, all week
- Oktoberfest costume celebration, Sun 10th

Doherty’s East Ave Irish Pub (Pawtucket):
- Dogfish, Mon
- Heavy Seas, Tues
- Peak Organic beer dinner, Weds
- Lindemans & Rocheforte, Thurs

And last but not least...

Beervana Beer Festival:
- Friday night, 6:30-10:00pm
- $40 in advance, $45 at door
- 2 oz samples of 200 beers
- Tickets available at Nikki's, Julian's, Brown's GCB, and Track 84

Suitcase survivors

2010-09-18T21:26:00.004-04:00

Another skill I have honed in the process of destroying my liver has been that of successfully packing a ridiculous number of beer bottles in a single suitcase. My last trip to Portland was especially productive. These three beers I enjoyed while on vacation at my cabin in Maine... and alone were worth the effort.

Cascade Kriek Ale '09, Score: 8
i feel like i am arriving a little late to the sour party (although i am quite certain this isn't the second coming of ipa's as some predict.) tartness comes on strong at first but mellows slightly. certainly an enjoyable beer.

Midnight Sun Sockeye Red IPA, Score: 6
midnight sun is a well respected alaskan brewer that i was eager to try. bitterness is quite brash, making this an over-the-top ipa in my opinion. i still enjoyed it though.

Best in show:
Alesmith Speedway Stout, Score: 10
the hype is justified. coffee shines through while booze is held at arms length. silky smooth only begins to describe. i savored this over the course of two nights with hardly any decrease in quality. put this one on your bucket list.

Homebrew #11 & #12

2010-09-15T07:57:00.000-04:00

With a hoppy pale ale almost finished (a Mirror Pond Pale Ale clone), I realized that I never briefed you on my last two homebrews. Both were tribute beers, the most recent going down as my favorite homebrew to date...

Josh's Homebrew's Wit and Wisdom
Bottle -- Brockton
named for the recently departed howard zinn, a former brewer himself. to call this a gusher doesn't begin to describe. this is the first time i have had a bottle explode... and a growler too! what a mess. cloudiness you hope for in a wit. aroma is primarily citrus and some biscuity malts. again, a very fruity flavor. sweet and slightly tart. wheat lends a textured, dryish mouthfeel. overall, very easy to drink. an enjoyable summer beer.
Score: 7

Josh's Homebrew's Stash
Bottle -- Brockton
first off, you may be wondering about the name. it's a tribute to phish, who i was preparing to see at mansfield. (a phenomenal show, but i know that is not why you are here to read about...) this was my second ipa, and while the first one was pretty good, i wanted a hoppier, cleaner ipa this time around. in pursuit of this goal i used 5 ounces of cascade, fuggle, and columbus hops and was overly cautious in straining the beer. the results were fantastic. generally i am slow to render judgement on a homebrew but this time i declared it a winner after the first taste. very piney nose, and the flavor follows. very tasty. while the bitterness is fairly robust, it is easy to put away a few at a time (i am going to have to ration this liquid gold...) orange in color and good clarity. add it all up and you clearly get the greatest beer i have ever made.
Score: 9

ProPho: Local Flavors

2010-09-09T22:00:00.003-04:00

Treat yourself to a sampler tray
By JOSH SMITH August 25, 2010
http://providence.thephoenix.com/food/107426-local-flavors/

Sampler trays were invented for the adventurous, the inquisitive, and the indecisive. Whether you fall easily into one of these categories or not, now is the perfect time to try a sampler.

Beer Advocate — the craft-beer loving magazine and website — is promoting the last full week of August as Local Beer Week. This is a great idea and great opportunity to explore the variety of offerings from your local brewer.

Drinking local beer has many good effects: it's green, it's fresh, and it supports small businesses in your community. So when you're out at the local package store, bar, or restaurant this week, order from a brewer in your state, or city if possible. And if they don't have any to choose from, ask why not!

This shouldn't be much of a sacrifice for residents of the Biggest Little. Providence features several excellent beer bars, an elite beer store, and two well-established, centrally located brewpubs — TRINITY BREWHOUSE and UNION STATION BREWERY. With a number of regularly rotating taps, the sampler tray (also called a taster tray) is recommended for all but the most frequent of customers.

Taster trays are an opportunity to learn what a brewer is all about, as well as try some new styles of beer. When tasters are not pre-selected for you, do be sure to order a mix of different styles. This is the perfect time to test the limits of your comfort zone and try your first Smoked Porter or Berliner Weisse! At a slightly more than the cost of a pint, the investment is minimal . . . and you may just discover your new favorite beer!

Generally coming in 4-ounce pours, samplers allow one to peruse the standard six plus taps in one sitting and still walk out under one's own volition. I have had samplers come in countless different sized paddles, place mats and, at YESTERDAY'S ALE HOUSE in Newport, a model schooner ship! Whatever the format, samplers are fun and social, a great chance to hang out with friends and compare thoughts on craft beer.

Most brewpubs will sort your selections into a logical drinking order. Unfortunately, their logic may be incorrect. There is a very pervasive myth that when sampling you should drink beer from lightest to darkest. While the color will give you some clues about the beer you are about to drink, it does not tell the whole story.

Instead, it's more important that you know your ABVs and IBUs. The percentage of Alcohol By Volume and number of International Bitterness Units are far more indicative judges of what you are in for. By starting with less alcoholic and only mildly bitter beers and then working your way up the spectrum, you preserve your palate for the beers at the end of the tray. Think about it: if you start off with a monster Barleywine, that Blonde Ale is only going to taste like water in comparison.

Take for example my taster from Union Station. I started with their SUMMER BLONDE and GOLDEN SPIKE ALE since these two had the lowest amount of alcohol. My more bitter beers — the TRIP HOP and HALF DAY IPA — came next. I closed with the beers over 5% ABV, the RIVER OTTER PORTER and BARLEYWINE. My taster at Trinity followed a similar pattern: BELGIAN WIT, SCHWARZBIER, THE KOLSCH, ESB, IMPERIAL IPA, and RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT.

To be clear, I'm not telling you that there is only one correct way to drink a sampler. But to properly appreciate each and every beer you are sampling, some attention must be paid to not utterly destroying your finely tuned palate. Cleansing your palate with a sip of water between samples is another effective trick to this end. Rating each sample adds to the fun, though you shouldn't put too much faith in your rating of a few ounces. Beers do change between the start and end of a pint. Overall though, I think tasters provide an adequate sample to make some judgments about a beer. So go out this week, and support Local Beer Week by building a taster tray of your own!