Smuttynose Big Beer Series; Homunculus: Freeing the Little Beer Lover In All of Us

A Homunculus traditionally refers to a smaller person. In the theory of preformationism, a homunculus is believed to refer to a fully developed yet smaller human that exists within the sperm. There is also the argument that a homunculus refers to a smaller version of ourselves that exists behind the cortex of our brain and views our world on a "screen" and basically implements all of our physical and mental reactions based on the rules we have been given as humans.

However, while I'm busy waxing poetic on my obsession with human psychology and alchemy, there's beer you folks want to read about. The definition of a homunculus is important though when it comes to the newest big beer release from our beloved Portsmouth based Smuttynose brewery. Originally named The Gnome in honor of Brasserie d'Achouffe, a Belgium based brewery known for it's iconic Gnome mascot that graces the labels of their bottles.

A Belgian golden ale, Homunculus delivers more of a full grown beer than most.
Pours a hazy orange, yellow with a thick bright white head and seems to cloud up more as it rests. Brilliant amber seems to age throughout.

The aroma is spicy, citrusy and rustic. Strong notes of sweet clove and banana, subtle warm orange liqueur aromas linger in the background.

The taste is a wild ride of spicy Belgian yeast and fruit. A classic Belgian golden flavor lingers on the palate while a spicy hop character lingers in the back. Definitely a sipping beer and not a big gulp beer by any means. Would go excellent with any sort of Indian food, antipasto, lighter fare Italian or charcuterie, artisan cheeses.

This beer is a life form all its own and one can taste the time and passion that went into brewing it. So grab a bottle and let that little person watching from the inside enjoy as well!

Oskar Blues Brewing: Mama's Little Yella Pils: Pilsner Re-issue; the B-sides.

At about 7 years old I finally became curious about the red tinged can that I always saw my grandmother's boyfriend drinking. I didn't know what beer was necessarily but I knew I saw a lot of it and that meant it must be good. I also saw a lot of pina coladas, daiquiri's and margaritas but those are for a different story.

Then came the day I popped the question; 

"What's that taste like Fred?" 

He, being the obliging, yet trouble making old man he was and still is figured why the hell not. That red tinged can was the king of beers, Budweiser, Bud diesels, Bud heavy, whatever you want to call them; I called it terrible. Not because it was Budweiser mind you but I bet if he gave me a sip of a  Belgian Trippel  at 7 years old I would have thought the same thing. 

Beer is something you embrace and learn to love, you have to keep trying. Keep tasting, keep re-visiting and be constantly willing to take a dive. It took me over a year to discover the the beauty of a barleywine, even longer for an IPA and this is by far my favorite style of beer. I never gave up and eventually the flavors made sense, in some odd way. What did it for me was Magic Hat #9, and I never looked back...ok that's a lie, you always look back.

What makes me comfortable, what brings me back to reality, is a basic beer with a strong flavor. I am an avid supporter and fan of the High Life or the PBR's and to deny that these two beers lack anything worthwhile is to deny American beer itself. One thing craft beer and it's followers have done more often or not is just that. These beers have their place and we should respect that but what gives me hope for the craft beer world is when breweries realize this and throw us a curve ball or two but there's a few change-ups involved.

Colorado based Oskar Blues Brewery has unlocked the Pandora's box on the subject and as a result have given us something truly special. It's not your average pilsner, it's your Mama's little yella pils and it's big.
The pilsner style has unfortunately become locked into the category of your average joe's beer as far as the public is concerned. When the word comes up all that is brought to mind are stale, flavorless, bitter beers that don't cost much and everyone enjoys them. Only one part of this is true when it comes to pilsners done right.
Mama's Little Yella Pils follows the Czech tradition of a light yet flavorful beer that focuses on that classic beer flavor rather than trying to change the game, hence why everyone can like it. Pilsners are a basic, floral, bitter beer, but how each one differentiates itself from the rest is in how basic it remains. Sometimes a brewery will try and advance the pilsner, and this is where they fail.
Little Yella Pils does no such thing and this drinker couldn't be happier. They created a big, floral, hoppy and basic beer that has enough flavor to remind me that I am drinking a craft beer rather than a mass produced statistic.
Not enough good can be said about not only this particular beer but all of the small craft breweries paying serious homage to the style. It shows respect for beer in its most basic and celebrated form and it also shows life within the craft beer scene because when a small brewery can take a celebrated style so basic and with such an expected outcome and make it their own, then something must be going right.
I love basic beer. It's comforting, refreshing and simple. There are no frills attached, no high expectations, no strong tasting notes, just straight beer and sometimes, that's all we can ask for and should expect.
So don't forget, even if you're in the school of thought that craft beer is beyond your taste buds, or that the rest might be below yours, there is always a good middle ground in the pilsner. 

Peak Organic: Weiss Principal

From the first moment I tasted a Belgian or German beer, my saying has been that these two regions are the direct link between God and beer. From the Trappist and Abbey ales created by Belgian monks to the centuries old recipes handed down from one Germanic generation to another, this region has been the mountain top of perfection that every brewer attempts to reach and if not they are content living just shy of it. What warms my heart is when an American brewery makes magic and either identifies themselves with this style of brewing or creates one or two beers that remind the drinker that what they're used to drinking, has no match on what Europeans are drinking. 

What happens when an American brewery tries to bring the two worlds together? American craft brewing and classic German style perfection? Peak Organic has done just that and quite successfully I should add with their newest release, Weiss Princial. This 22oz beer combines a classic, unfiltered and hazy German style Hefeweizen with an American Imperial IPA. 

What put me off at first about this style wasn't the possibilities, but the idea. These are two styles that have garnered different amounts of popularity in the beer world. Hefeweizens are more renowned by the modern drinker for their drinkable tasting notes, orange, coriander, banana and clove which have made them a hit with the bar scene. Imperial IPA's on the other hand, have to play to a smaller crowd as the hop bitterness of this style leaves a lot of people wondering just what the appeal is. However, there is a slight chance that this could work and dammit, it does. 

The initial pour is hazy and golden with a rich bright white foam head. I pour this bad boy into a tall Weisse glass to allow for maximum experience. As it settles I swirl and pour the rest to get all of the delicious unfiltered goodness and what I get is a thick, cloudy, yeasty beer that has no problem punching me in the face with flavor and aroma.

There are the usual suspects in the aroma. Orange, banana, clove and fruity esters from the yeast, however there is a strong presence of citrus and pine from the hop addition of the IPA influence. The aroma is strong and complex, deep and rich and I can't wait to finish it.

The taste is even more complex. There is the obvious unfiltered wheat characteristics of the Hefeweizen. Light, crisp and rich in flavor, there are notes of orange, pine, clove and grapefruits. The hop presence doesn't overwhelm the beer by any measure and in fact gives it a stronger backbone. As the beer settles more, it becomes cloudier and thicker tasting than it was in the beginning. There are stronger tasting notes coming from both sides of the spectrum at this point but I'm not complaining. Give me more!

Overall, a great choice. The idea that two styles that attract two completely different drinkers could work in tandem to create a beautiful blend is a refreshing concept. This beer almost has it all, the taste is there, the price is there at $4.99 a bottle and of course the experience is there. This is a special beer and like all of the other offerings from Peak Organic, you'll feel good about what you're drinking. 

I Like Big Cans and I Can Not Lie: Iron Mike-Moat Mountain Brewing

The scenario: You're out of work in time to get some beer, the night has no destination but you know you want some sudsy relief. Alas, your wallet seems light and that 6 pack of craft beer is a bit too pricey and you don't really want a 6 pack of the yellow fizz stuff. There is another option, and along with the 40 oz, it's a classic brown bagger; nothing says budget drinking like the 24 oz pounder can.

However, the options in the pounder can are limited and sparse at best. Labatt Blue, High Gravity, Keystone Light etc...either way, not really an all star cast. That is until now. Introducing Iron Mike Pale Ale from Moat Mountain Brewing Co.

The Bruins were playing a critical game against Philadelphia, game 4 to be exact and with a limited amount of cash on my person, I needed to fulfill my pre-game drinking obligations. Now I had seen this big can option before, yet I wrote it off as nothing special...boy was I wrong!

As I mentioned in my previous blog, Nice Cans Baby the can to me is a nostalgic drinking vessel. Bringing one back to the days when you drank whatever your friends older brother bought for you in a pinch. Enter college, when a few pounders of some rust tasting High Gravity, not only took up less space in a backpack but also got you just that much drunker.

But let's face facts, those beers tasted horrible beginning to end and now that you know what you like, the choice is yours and while it may be about $4 a can, as opposed to the 99 cents the other pounders cost, the end result is worth it. Upon the first sip of Iron Mike, you may feel compelled to pour it into a glass, well I'm here to tell you that in order to get the full experience of any canned craft beer, keep it canned up. There's an aesthetic appeal to drinking out of a can, it brings you back to normalcy, back to the days when taste didn't matter. With Iron Mike though, you can get the best of it all.

At 6.5% ABV, it's a beast of a beer. Nice and malty with a huge dosage of hop addition that lasts throughout the beer. It has a drinkability that I find common with a lot of pale ales, but the other guy drinking a pounder may not appreciate the complexity of this beer.

I know it sounds like I'm trashing on the guy buying the Labatt pounder, but I'm not. These beers have their place and time, but their time is coming to an end. With Iron Mike, we may be able to convert the uninitiated into our world. Next time your friend asks you to pick him up a pounder, get his usual, but spend the couple dollars more to get him an Iron Mike too and let the good times roll.

Oh and Go Bruins!

Brew Dog: Dogma; an uprising of sorts.

As I sauntered back and forth along the beer cooler, looking for something to brighten up the rainy day and bring me back to life, it dawned on me that once again I had been caught in the dilemma. What to choose?

Scotland based Brew Dog has yet to let me down so when I glanced back across their assigned position in the cooler, I stopped, surveyed their selection of 22's and set my eyes on Dogma. An ale that claims to not be cool yet it is brewed with Scottish Heather Honey, kola nut, poppy seed and guarana. This sweet sounding, caffeine driven brew is not quiet by any means.

The aroma is a straight shot of 100% pure clover honey, spicy notes linger in the back but the honey remains dominant. Sweet and slightly boozy, the spicy hop notes come through on the end. The taste is sweet and spicy, complex and exotic and at the same time, welcome enough to please the finicky palate.

The honey aromas brighten a little as the beer warms and has an almost green tea like appeal to it. It finishes malty, sweet and bubbly. Not sure where the poppy seed comes in on either of the profiles but as a reckless practitioner of this world, I trust it has an important role.

An overall clean and sweet beer that packs a little buzz of energy and exotic fruits. Brew Dog may not be preaching to the choir on this one but they sure as hell could start a cult uprising.

Nice Cans Baby!

Somewhere along the way to where craft beer stands now in the world, we all forgot where we came from as beer enthusiasts. It seems that once we discovered the bountiful world of delicious bottled beer that we could afford and indulge in to our hearts delight, we pushed the idea of the canned beers that we so thoroughly enjoyed during our formative years to the curb like a lover who wore out their welcome. We packed them up and sent them on their way, never to be seen again, that is until they changed what was on the inside, and that's what truly counts.

Slowly but surely, canned beers have begun to make an appearance in the craft beer world in what I'm assuming is an effort to satiate the purely nostalgic and aesthetic desires that we as beer drinkers have repressed like a bad memory. Though I'm sure the reasons are more financial since it's far cheaper to can than it is to bottle, but for the sake of this piece, we won't make money the pressing issue.

When most people think of canned beers, what comes to mind are sloppy drunk-fests, marred with the smell of stale, piss warm bud light or (enter generic swill beer name here). In fact, the classiest it seems to get with canned beers is Pabst Blue Ribbon, which while this particular beer blogger thoroughly enjoys from time to time, is not saying much about the stigma involved with canned beers within the craft beer world.

While I'm not sure when the can revolution started, however I can say without a doubt that the biggest name in the scene has to be that of the Oskar Blues brewery out of Colorado who started canning beer back in 2002. Known for their Dales Pale Ale and my new favorite, Old Chub, which somehow makes scotch ale out of a can taste amazing! This brewery also makes an Imperial Stout, an Imperial Red and an Imperial IPA, and while I have yet to try anything besides their Pale Ale and Scotch ale, I can say that if these two beers speak for the rest of them, the fact that Oskars is canning beers exclusively, does not make them any less dominant in the craft beer world. In fact, it might make them more so.

Another brewery making serious waves in the canned revolution is the Butternuts Brewery out of New York. Their Porkslap Pale Ale has a smooth drinkability and complex hop to malt balance and flavor that almost makes you want to pour it into a glass. Their straight up approach to brewing quality beer will serve them well in the years to come as the revolution moves forward. They're currently canning four different beers.

So why cans and why now? Canning beer is less expensive, it causes for less light degradation, it takes less energy to make and ship a can than a bottle, therefore limiting it's impact on the environment, it's more portable, less likely to break and hell, we craft beer drinkers can finally bring our beverages onto the beach! The craft beer world has been isolated as a universe that exists to dump on anything that isn't what we deem good, and that's a shame because not only do we come off as pretentious, people may be less likely to party with us.

Some already established craft breweries have even jumped on board. Magic Hat is now offering #9 in cans, Harpoon is canning it's IPA and summer ale and even Blue Moon has begun canning it's signature Belgian white ale. So with all these breweries adopting the can as its new medium, what does this mean for the craft beer world? Absolutely nothing! Well nothing detrimental anyway. It means that now we can have really good beer in a can no matter where we are. The days of tasteless, light beer swill monopolizing the canned beer industry are over. Now you too can bring your favorite beer on your next outing without worrying about space. Simple as that!

So next time you're out looking for a good new beer, don't overlook the lonely looking six packs at the bottom of the cooler because you think you're too good for a can...because it might just be the other way around this time.

Big Beer Takeover

As far as I was concerned, Sam Adams had cornered the market on the most anticipated limited release beers with their seasonal offerings. That is until I discovered the world of Big Beers from Smuttynose.

I believe it all started when I chose to, on a whim, pick up a Wheat Wine Ale during one of my regular trips to my local craft beer vendor. It sounded interesting enough and I was feeling risky so no harm, no foul. What I found was a beer that challenged my conception of what could be accomplished in the world of craft brewing. Not only because of its play on two very different styles of beer but because of this particular beer's ability to gently welcome a newbie into the world of barleywine style ales, which were a new concept to me at the time.

What Smuttynose has managed to do is somehow create a sub-genre of beer fanatics within their own ranks. What do I mean by this? Well, there is no doubt that Smuttynose has become one of America's favorite craft breweries. With a line up like Old Brown Dog, Finestkind IPA and their Robust Porter (my personal favorite), the craft beer curious have begun to migrate and the converted preach the gospel. However, within this world exists the people for whom these offerings are not enough and they demand something more adventurous, something the other folks just couldn't handle. Enter; the big beer series.

The series has become so popular in fact that they even offer a program that will ship each person who signs up for it a case or half a case (depending on your subscription) of all nine consecutive beers in the series. Each few months or so a new one is released and the truly loyal drop some big money down on all of the perks involved.

Thing is, Smuttynose isn't the only craft brewery that you may have heard of doing these big beers. Shipyard, a New England favorite has made a splash in the beer world with their Pugsley's Signature Series which includes the famed Smashed Pumpkin Ale and soon to be big hit Smashed Blueberry. Harpoon as I mentioned in my last review has dove into this movement with their 100 barrel series, which includes a wet hop ale that is out of this world tasty. Long Trail, which has been a name in the New England beer scene for quite some time as an "every man's" brewery has begun diving into the big beer scene with no apologies. Even Sam Adams, which has been for years, with the popularity of it's summer ale and flagship Boston lager, a craft brewery with a household name like popularity, has realized the importance of the time and place for big beers.

Every one of these breweries and countless others have had for years, at its disposal, the mindset and determination to introduce the general public to beer that distances itself from the generic taste and yellow fizz that Bud Light, Coors Light and the like have given them. To introduce people to REAL beer with big flavor. Many of them have taken a great approach by creating summer seasonals that offer more citrus and wheat flavors, which are both tasty and refreshing as well as being great session ales.

Now with the general masses in the palm of their hands, it's time for the American craft breweries to strike. The economy may be in shambles but craft beer sales are at an all time high and it is because of these small, local breweries who have crafted real, basic and delicious ales that the public is clamoring for more. To many, craft beer is what their hippy friend brings to a party. It's the beer that they believe people pay far too much for but they are the ones missing out.

Now with the growing popularity of big beers, breweries are able to introduce people to old world styles and a taste of history with a modern spin. So do yourself a favor and head to a tasting whenever you see one, get out to the brewery and try a few or just take a risk and buy a bottle of something new. You never know what the world of craft beer has in store for you.

Recommended Big Beers:
Smuttynose: Imperial Stout, Barleywine ale, Farmhouse Ale.
Shipyard: xxx IPA, Barleywine, Smashed Pumpkin
Harpoon: Wet Hop Ale, Oak Aged Dunkel
Long Trail: Coffee Stout, Centennial Red
Sierra Nevada: Ovila Belgian Trappist Series (Dubbel is available now).