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). 

Harpoon: Leviathan Imperial IPA

As a hardcore New Englander, Harpoon brewery is about as much a part of my routine as Dunkin's and the Bruins. With their landmark IPA and Summer Ale, they helped launch yours truly into the world of craft beer. So when they launched the Leviathan series back in 2008 I was elated as my palate had become a playground. So why did it take me till 2011 to try any of the series? There is no excuse, only regrets but better late than never right?

Being known for an IPA can be tough for a brewery. IPA drinkers are a finicky bunch, and when a brewery has made their flagship beer an IPA, building on that can bring with it a pedestal and a fine toothed comb of scrutiny. Luckily for Harpoon and it's fans, the fact that this brewery not only produces a damn fine IPA along with a solid line up of regularly released beers, seasonals, and occasional releases, gives it a serious leg up on the trust factor when it comes to big beers and their supporters.

So it's no surprise that I have decided to start going down the line with the Imperial IPA. This beer boasts a 10% ABV so a 12oz bottle is sufficient. The aroma packs a big, pine induced hop punch but is mellowed out by a barrel full of rich, sweet malt. Caramel notes are picked up.

This beer packs some flavor, similar to their regular IPA the hops lean more towards the bitter citrus side but is smoothed out with caramel malts that give the bite a little bit of a playful side. Sweet, crisp and bitter. Finishes clean and dry with a lingering flavor. Great mouth feel and maintains the same dynamic when it reaches room temperature.

I kick myself in the ass for not getting to work on the Leviathan series earlier. There are breweries that are simply known for brewing nothing but unusual and or big beers. Harpoon has always been the opposite. True to traditional flavors, styles with near flawless execution. For these breweries who are known for the latter, to branch out to brewing styles lesser known by the general population, is a bridge building tactic. The person picking up a regular Harpoon IPA or UFO may opt to put their trust into a more bold attempt by the company and in turn, they will find the world of craft beer goes beyond any walls they may have imagined. This beer would be a good introduction for anyone who enjoys the Harpoon IPA.

Rogue: Brutal IPA

I find it surprising that so far this month with my focus being IPA's, that I have not even mentioned anything from Rogue. On tap now is their Brutal IPA, and as a fan of extremes I expect great things from anything with the word brutal in it's title. As a hop head, few beers frighten me when they claim to be so hoppy that your taste buds will not recover for hours and so, I continuously find myself in search of the one that will shake me to the bones. I did not find it here but I sure as hell found a damn good IPA. 

Like about 95% of their other beers this one is brewed with their very own revolution hops as well as some crystal hops and their own dare and risk malts. Light orange and hazy in color, with a thick rustic head and huge lacing. 

There is more citrus in the aroma than a lot of other IPA's that I have enjoyed and the hop presence comes through as being sweet, strong and well balanced by a malt undertone. Hints of grapefruit, and sweet pine.

Uh, yeah, not Brutal by any means. Sure, this beer is hoppy, and maybe my palate has just been desensitized by years of abuse but I know brutal and this beer is more sweet and smooth with a serious dash of bitterness to it. Flavors of grapefruit, toffee, and pine. At 59 IBU's however, any serious IPA drinker will know that they aren't in for a death star of a beer, but I assure you, you are in for a treat. 

This is a clean, dry IPA full of citrus, subtle pine and malt. Don't let the name fool you and don't be such a baby. 

What I have found with a lot of beers that claim to be a vicious assault on the taste buds is that it may just be all relative. Sure, if all you've had up till the point when you discover such a beer is Bud Light, you may be a bit turned off but as a hop head, I know that we rely on one masochistic notion; the bitter the better. Rogue created a great IPA with a unique flavor and even though there is nothing brutal about it, you still won't like it if you like a beer without a backbone. 

Black Market Beer

The first time I was given a black IPA, the transaction seemed more like a drug deal or a rite of passage into the Free Mason's society than a legal, open purchase.

I was at one of my local craft beer outlets creating a mixed six pack. With all but one spot empty, I was stuck at a dead end, staring at the singles cooler, mouth open, eyes glazed, potentially drooling on myself like a zombie on tranquilizers trying to make the million dollar decision. Then, out of nowhere I hear from behind me, "Hey man, I have the new Magic Hat variety packs out back. We can't put them out yet but they have this new black IPA you gotta try."
"Black IPA? What?!"
"Yeah man, I'll go grab you one. I was going to open it to get one for myself anyway."
I felt as though I should have walked out of there with the beer in a brown paper bag, or have him leave it by the back door. I felt like I was doing something wrong, not just because I was given a beer that he realistically should not have given me, but because he called it a black IPA.

Skeptical and curious, I saved it for last. For a week it stared at me from the back of the fridge, taunting me and challenging everything I thought I knew about beer. Finally I caved and gave it a try. Looking more like a dark brown ale than an IPA, and being a big sensory person when it comes to any beer I'm surprised my brain didn't shut down completely. The taste was that of a subdued IPA, not what I have come to associate with Magic Hat. I walked away from the experience pretty neutral. Unsure of how I felt, and positive that this seemingly black market purchase was the only one of it's kind, I went on with my life as though I had seen a UFO, like I would never see it again...or so I thought.

Cut to present day two months later: after making the decision to blaze my own trail amongst the vast jungle of beer bloggers and craft beer enthusiasts I had no real expectations. Of course I was aware the beer world I knew would open itself up to me much more so than it already had, yet I was unaware that once the flood gates were opened that this style of beer would somehow track me down yet again.

The style, as I have been told, was developed around 20 years ago by the late Greg Noonan, who is credited with opening the first brewpub in Vermont in 1988 after spending three years lobbying to legalize brewpubs in the state. He was an innovator and introduced many uncommon styles to the northeast at the time, the black IPA being one of them as well as the "Wee Heavy" strong scotch ale, which no one was brewing at the time in the area.

So why is this style of beer so damn important? Why should the black IPA be in every craft beer enthusiast's radar more so than any other style right now? One word my friends: evolution. It is no secret that our world is continually evolving and there are people out there who are always pushing the envelope, testing the waters and disassembling our liquid muse to discover it's hidden potentialities. Yet, while these advances in beer science are profound and refreshing, they are typically playing with well established styles just executing them differently.

The Black IPA on the other hand, is a style that every craft brewer can and should get behind as it seems to be the current standard of keeping up with the times. After being created 20 some odd years ago, it went into hibernation, existing like some beer sasquatch that few had seen but even fewer had tried. Now in 2011, we are seeing a rebirth of the style that gives a new meaning to true beer evolution. Combining the floral, citrus bitterness of centennial or cascade hops with roasted and black malts, the style delivers a deep, thick porter on sight but will surprise you with its complex aromas and hop flavors. The malt characteristics of this brew will also appeal to any dark beer lover as they will typically compliment the bitterness nicely with a huge mouthfeel and roasted coffee and chocolate notes.

In my research, I've found that what works for some might not work for others. Some breweries are leaning more towards the roasted malt side, focusing on creating more of a hoppy porter than a dark IPA while some I've found focus less on the malts and merely create a more complex IPA with a more deep brown appearance rather than black, as I found with the Yakima from Victory Brewing.

These various shades however are what make this beer so exciting. Rarely are we given the chance as enthusiasts to witness the growth of new styles of beer. We may try some new offerings that push a certain established style but we have been given a chance, in our life time to create history and to watch that history play out in front of our eyes. The black IPA is that history and it will continue to evolve and grow and what we will most certainly find years down the road, as we can assume from the continuing evolution of any other beer style, is that what the black IPA is now, is not what it will be.

I may still not quite get it, but with beer it is always better to throw caution to the wind and jump into the deep end head first because you never know what you might like. All I know is that I like it and I feel as though that initial introduction to the black IPA was in some ways, my rite of passage into a secret society of historians who will document the path of our liquid muse for future generations of beer lovers.

So I'd like to raise a toast to the memory of Greg Noonan, whom without I would not feel so compelled to be a part of history as I am right now. Beer may be our creation, we have destroyed it and built it up again. It may be something we can mold and shape into whatever we want, but it is our duty as beer lovers and brewers alike to unite around these new styles such as the black IPA because it is OUR history.

Review: Hop Noir Black IPA: Peak Organic Brewing Co. 8.2% ABV

There is a spy in our midst! There are forces out there which seek to shake the very foundation of what every IPA drinker out there has built their adoration for hopped up beers on. These dark forces have become a sheep in wolves clothing if you will. An IPA that looks more like a porter?! Surely you can't be serious. I am serious, and don't call me Shirley. I'm calling a full on investigation of this impostor and I want answers dammit! We're calling to the stand witness #1. Hop Noir from Peak Organic Brewing Company. Just what do you think you're doing conning everyone into thinking you're an IPA, one of the most beloved styles of beer in the world. What's the meaning of this?!
This beer is officially Public Enemy #1 and I'm going to make sure it goes away for a long, long time. After some more investigation of course...

Appearance: Pours a deep silky brown with a thick beige head. Dark black, deep strong porter resemblance. Beautiful lacing.

Aroma: Light toffee with a hint of roasted coffee. Bitter and piney overtones from the centennial hops used.  Malty and thick smelling.

Taste: Malted, bitter roasted black espresso. Hints of fruit and a woody after taste. The hop presence is very dominant despite the deep black malt flavors. Well balanced like an over-hopped porter with a lingering resin like bitterness. Excellent smooth mouthfeel that is reminiscent of a strong American IPA. There is a coffee like presence that due to the style, lasts on the palate long after each sip.

Overall: What the F***?! I have confessed to being an IPA fanatic. Golden, light, crisp, palate destroying IPA's. Roasted malts in an IPA just doesn't seem right. But if this is wrong, then I'm about to swallow my pride. A solid 7.5-8/10. Somehow beer has managed to pull off the greatest con ever. I won't be pressing any charges.

Black IPA you say? What's next, you going to tell me your alibi is a black pilsner? Wait, Stone did a Black Pilsner collaboration you say? Well, ok that may check out but I'll have to bring him in for some questioning as well. We can't hold you for any longer since we can't officially charge you with anything but hear me, watch yourself Black IPA because wherever you are, Bergie will be there, waiting for you to slip up.

Review: Lagunitas: Hop Stoopid Ale/8% ABV

We're starting our Ode to Hops month with Hop Stoopid. An Imperial IPA/American ale from Lagunitas.

Aroma: A forest of pine, pine resin and citrus notes. A hit of tropical, west coast flare with exotic flowers.

Appearance: Deceiving! Golden, almost burnt orange. Going into this, one might think it may not be all that stoopid...but you might be for underestimating it.

Taste: Let's just say, if you plan on drinking anything else, either make sure you have something edible to battle for control of your palate or just...don't. Right at the swing of the bat and you're hit in the head with hops, but in some sick masochistic way it's all pleasure. Flavors of rich grapefruit, tart citrus and smooth, deep woody, pine resin notes. Lasts on the palate for quite some time and as the beer warms, the malts become more present making for a much deeper, earthy flavor. Tastes like a rich hop harvest might smell. At 102 I.B.U. one would imagine they were in for a swift kick to the head but upon further investigation, one would be pleasantly surprised. Sure, an IPA with the name Hop Stoopid might appear to to be nothing but bitter, palate destroying taste but this beer should be a mainstay or a bucket lister of every hop head out there.

8/10: everything I look for in a solid IPA and more, just not nearly as ground breaking as I had anticipated. Still, very tasty. So take some time and get stoopid.

This brewery may be a hot name on the west coast, but for a New Hampshire boy, Lagunitas has just become another beacon of hope for the craft beer enthusiast who still wants just a damn good beer. Don't misinterpret, what this company is doing is far from average and from what I've gathered in my extensive research, they too are testing the boundaries of beer and while I have yet to dive into their selection too much (due to a lack of a huge presence on the east coast) it would appear that they prefer to work in the realm of less is more. No frills, made with few ingredients, with a lot of passion makes for a quality, fresh tasting beer.

Ode to Hops.

When someone asks me what I look for from an IPA, my initial response is always the same; how much it challenges my notion of what a beer can accomplish. Just how far can it bring my senses, how close to the edge can it take me without going over, and if we go over the edge, how comfortable am I going over with it. Sound extreme? It is. That's because that's exactly what this style of beer is all about, extremity in the form of sensual overload. Beer itself can challenge your senses to a no holds barred duel with how strong it might be or what obscure flavors the brewer chose to infuse it with. The IPA however challenges the drinker with one ingredient and one ingredient only; hops. The IPA doesn't need to add a plethora of outside influences to stand out, it doesn't even need to boost the alcohol content through the roof to make its presence known, though this is almost always an added bonus. The allure of the IPA works off of the four main ingredients that make up a basic beer; water, malt, hops and yeast and what makes it work, what makes each IPA find it's own character is the complexity found in the proper combination of hops.

Why do I say 'proper'? When as merely an enthusiast I know nothing about making a beer and should just keep my mouth shut? However as a beer enthusiast, I know what makes me tingle when it comes to an IPA is just how much hops a beer can pack into it's recipe and still maintain a sense of integrity where taste is concerned. So many attempts succumb to the expectation that this beer needs to be a haymaker of hops and butterness, so much so that the rest of the beer suffers and the malt characters are hidden beneath the haze. Now if you enjoy the bitter kick to the junk some IPA's deliver then that's your deal, but what you're truly missing out on is the true balance between the two that can be achieved while still bringing the hops to the forefront. I like to know that somewhere within the murky slap exists a beer, not beneath it.

I can't really remember my first IPA experience. It seems to be a distant blur of chance after chance that I had given to this severely acquired style but it was either around the time I tried the 60 minute IPA from Dogfish Head or maybe it just happened by chance, a natural evolution as a beer drinker perhaps, but I do know this, once the love affair began, the key was to take the adventure as far as I could.

Each IPA has a personality all it's own, each one that succeeds in pleasing the palate of a true IPA fan finds that balance of malt to hops, sweet to bitter. Each one accomplishes this in different ways but one thing remains true; the regular Budweiser drinker is not going to enjoy it. True, hardcore, intense IPA's are a beacon of hope for the craft beer world. They stand as our inside joke amongst each other because what the IPA doesn't try to do, is appeal to the masses.

Every beer drinker knows, or should at least, that hops are a main component of what makes up the final product, but what stands out about this style is it's ability to find the potential that this little flower holds and utilize it as a weapon for good and prosperity in the beer world. So this month we are raising our glasses to the shining, powerful spirit of beer. Cheers, to hops!

Rogue: Mocha Porter

Again I find myself with a Rogue beer that has been on my "must try" list for quite some time now. This brewery has so many enticing, elusive and interesting beers that I always find myself browsing whatever selection they have out at the time before I really look elsewhere. On my quest to find more enlightenment in the world of stouts and porters, I thought a porter from this company was a long overdue tryst.

Look: Earthy, deep and dark almost blackish brown.

Aroma: earthy, molasses, hot chocolate like with the coffee coming through noticeably at the end.

Taste: Deep and solid. Roasted coffee right up front, chocolate in the back, sweet and enticing. Mocha is a flavor that nearly almost always comes through with a porter and this one is almost straight espresso, and oh so delicious. It has a bitterness to it that I enjoy and reminds me so much of a cup of joe that I wonder what it would taste like with a smoke but it's been a year since I've quit so this urge is silenced quickly. A solid 7 out of 10.

A delicious beer once again. This company has yet to disappoint me as a beer enthusiast and I can't imagine that ever happening. A basic porter with a deep, dark secret. I look forward to trying their Double Mocha Porter in the near future.

Breckenridge Brewery: Vanilla Porter

My first impression of this beer came in the form of a good friend picking it up in a mix-a-six at a local craft beer store. Sitting around watching TV one lazy night, he grabbed it, took a sip and paused. I felt him stare at me, holding the bottle in his hand. I glanced over at a bug-eyed man, with a speechless demeanor.
"Duuude. You need to try this!" Was all he could muster. So, when a fellow beer drinker makes this statement, one must indulge. It was a brief encounter straight from the bottle but everything about this first impression gave me great expectations for this beer and the company as a whole.

Appearane/pour: deep brown and silky with an off white head. Decent lacing and the head retains a good presence throughout.

Aroma: As one would imagine by the name, the aroma is sweet and malty. Smells like a flat cream soda with a hint of chocolate. Deep, earthy and slightly nutty, though the obvious aroma present is coming from the vanilla bean used in the brew.

Taste: The initial flavor is that of malted vanilla, sweet like a cream soda and woody. Medium carbonation and the lingering flavor is light and sweet. There is a slight chocolate and vanilla ice cream twist flavor to it but it does not in any way take away from the deep, dark, and malty flavors one looks forward to when drinking a porter.

Overall this beer can be something to everyone but not everything to someone. Traditional porter drinkers who have trouble looking beyond the old school will not enjoy it for it's sweeter flavors but will enjoy it for it's attention to traditional detail when making a porter. This would be a good introduction to not only the porter but the darker world of beers as a whole for someone who has remained in the Bud lime/blue moon world for so long.

What I especially like about this beer is the fact that I can see myself enjoying this on a cold winter night as well as a crisp summer night around a fire. Being a big seasonal beer drinker, this is a deal breaker for me. The sweetness overwhelms most of the taste which is a bit much for me but oddly enough I enjoy it. When I look for sweetness in a beer, I like it to come naturally as a result of the alcohol rather than added flavor but this combination works much like a lot of chocolate stouts or porters I've enjoyed.

This beer gets an 8 out of 10. The beer is solid, delicious and true to the style. Craft beer is as much about experimentation as it is retaining a true beer flavor as well as paying homage to the dedication that went into perfecting what has worked for centuries. I feel like a lot of commercial beer drinkers turn their nose up at flavored ales but if it weren't for taking chances, the original styles may not even exist. Look for more from this brewery as I will be keeping up with them often.

Shipyard Pugsley's Signature Series: Imperial Porter

 Imperial (adj): of superior or unusual size or excellence.

I feel as though from my perspective, that stouts were like the younger sibling of the porter and garnered all of the attention, even that of yours truly. I was a stout fan before I even knew the porter existed so that goes to show you just how much of a stranglehold the stout has had on the beer world. The porter has taken somewhat of a back seat to the stout because there is no doubt that Guinness has made the stout a household name and no company has yet to do that with a porter, even though almost every brewery across America makes them and many of them are delicious. I however, in the past couple years as a beer drinker, have begun to appreciate the subtle differences between the two similar styles and have found myself torn when it comes to picking my favorite. When it comes down to it though, it all has to do with which brewery is doing it and what they're trying to accomplish. 

We start off this porter filled weekend with a release from the Shipyard family of ales out of Portland, Maine. Their Imperial Porter from the Pugsley Signature Series which includes a delicious IPA, a Barleywine and their famed Smashed Pumpkin seems like a good way to kick off the weekend as this has been one of my favorite breweries since the words 'craft beer' entered my vocabulary. 

Appearance/look: Black with a thick off white head that dissipates after a short period of time though remains in some form throughout the beer. Dark coffee look to it that allows for absolutely no light to penetrate (I'm not kidding here).

Aroma: Subtle yet sweet and fruity, subtle being the key word here. Most porters seem to have that low key aroma to them such as light toffee, and a hint of chocolate, no real alcohol smell comes through which I find surprising considering it's an imperial but at 7.1% ABV it is lower on the totem pole of imperials. There is however a slight hint of hazelnut at the end but I feel as though the carbonation of this beer takes over the the smell a bit.

Taste: Malty and full of carbonation. Most of the flavor notes come through during the after taste which consists of the aforementioned hazelnut and chocolate but again, the carbonation seems to take over on this beer. The flavor is there as a porter and the mouth feel is chocolaty, malty and very tasty but not what I've experienced with porters in the past. It is slightly sweet at the beginning and finishes dry and clean.

Overall, not a bad beer by any means. The flavor was there, the subtle aromas were there; for a regular porter. I expected more from an imperial; big flavor, big aroma, big punch and yet this beer delivered a more basic flavor, basic aroma and a basic punch. I have enjoyed regular porters that have packed more distinct flavor and aromas into them. I find this particular fact surprising considering that Shipyard has been known for being at the top of their game when it comes to replicating true English style ales.

The word imperial, as stated at the start of this review implies that the beer will stand above the rest, that it will offer something that you would not find in a regular beer of whatever style it is building upon. Unfortunately with this Imperial Porter, the style is there, but is not enhanced. I give this beer a 5 out of 10. It met its mark as a porter, there is no doubting that, but the amount of carbonation and lack of solid flavor and aroma does not put it into the realm of imperials in my book.

Beer reviews are just like any other form of media; full of opinion with many of them being wrong or just plain silly. I am not a licensed professional and there are no titles given out to best beer reviewer. Reviewing a beer is like listening to a song; each person finds a certain meaning from it and whatever meaning they find; isn't wrong, it's just a feeling.

I Drink Craft Beer, Therefore I Am.

Just Another Manic Monday

When I began my initial push to become a beer blogger I wasn't surprised when many of my peers jokingly accused me of putting a pseudo professional title on what seemed to them as just an excuse to drink good beer.
First of all, no one needs an excuse to drink good beer. I drink craft beer, therefore I am. Many of them hadn't realized that deep within the recesses of the online community existed this large network of geeks and enthusiasts who devoted a good portion of their time to attending craft beer events, talking to brewers, sampling various brews and writing about it later. What they also didn't realize was that there was a huge demographic of people who actually care about this stuff. That people actually wanted to read about other people enjoying good beer sounded pretty odd to them.

Now here's where I drop the bomb, what I like to call the "Travel Channel Complex." The inherent desire to vicariously live through other people's travels and subsequent experiences so that we can feel as though we went along for the ride from our couch or computer chair. The reason these food shows and travel networks have become so successful is due to the fact that humans like a good time and we like to watch or read about other people having a good time. The only difference with my sub-genre is that we write about beer and beer culture; which is always a good time.

For years, I have been labeled a beer snob, a beer geek, a beer connoisseur etc. Many of these labels I wear proudly because I know that unlike many of my peers, I always had the ability to get a six pack of really good beer and have just as good of a time as the guy who bought a 30 rack of Keystone Lights. The snob label always got me though, because I have also been known to go the Miller High Life or PBR route when out to party. It just seems to be my regular drinking habits that get me that title, which is fine by me.

My friend Nick posed a question during our adventure with Kate the Great on Monday that while easy to answer, got me thinking. He asked our table, "How many alcoholics do you think are here?"
I answered his question with an almost immediate question which got me thinking about what I along with the hundreds of other people were doing there, "How many alcoholics do you think would wait in line for hours in the cold just to get a few beers?"

Hundreds and hundreds of people lined up to get a taste of this beer, on a Monday morning, when much of the state was working. So sure, on the surface, this may seem like a convention of booze hounds who all took the day off to drink, hell, we were even called losers by some of the garbage men driving by at one point. But as I said, alcoholics wouldn't wait in line for beer, and most of the people in the craft beer scene swear by moderation and of course enjoyment of their chosen beverage rather than the outcome; though the latter part is always an added bonus.

Craft beer isn't about getting messed up, it isn't about seeing how many you can pound or how blacked out you can get so that when you wake up, your buddies are telling you about how you pulled your pants down on main street and started a fight with a guy twice your size. Craft beer is about savoring the fruits of one's labor and enjoying it with some close friends and having a good time. What I have found so far is that the scene is full of people who realize that life can be stressful and if you don't stop to smell the hops once in a while, it's going to bring you down with it.

The goal of my blog, of my ramblings, of my reviews is to help true beer lovers realize that if they truly love beer, that they should get out there and take in the culture surrounding it. Learn the process and learn what goes into that beer they enjoy so much. If you're not a beer fan and you're just reading my blog due to the complex I mentioned earlier, I want you to realize that there is enough time in your day, in your week and in your life to enjoy the fruits of it all.

Get out with some friends, travel and make a few new ones and seek out good beer wherever you can find it. You never know what surprises lie ahead.

Cheers!

Beer Enlightenment Chapter One: Misty Seacoast Hops

The alarm goes off at a crisp 6 in the morning, I am lost in my own body and have trouble remembering why I set it so early on my day off. Then it dawns on me, "oh yeah beer...right." Not just any beer, I remind myself, the apparent mecca of brews for beer geeks and beer lovers not only all over New England but apparently as far as Maryland and Florida. I am talking of course about Kate the Great. A strong Russian Imperial Stout brewed once a year at the Portsmouth Brewery in Portsmouth, NH. A new discovery for me in my first real week as a beer blogger, talk about timing.

What makes American craft beer so great? Is it the people surrounding it and the people within it's culture? It is a mission of discovery, curiosity, and pleasure in the most primal of ways. When we imbibe we most certainly always want something that not only is full of surprises but seduces the palate and leaves us grinning ear to ear. So what makes craft beer so especially great in New England? That is an entirely different story in itself and this my friends, is only a chapter in that story of which there is no end in sight.

When I made the final ambitious move two weeks ago on a career path that has been brewing (pun definitely intended), one way or another throughout college and in recent years to make beer my muse once and for all, I had no clue that I would become enlightened so soon. Seems far too deep when regarding beer right? Yeah, I'm pretty poetic but this is truth, simple and plain.

Where does someone find inspiration when writing about despair? Women mostly, but what happens when the writer opts to write about joy? He finds comfort in simplicity and this breeds happiness, true pleasure. Joy so great, people will wait almost twelve hours in line for a taste of it...literally.

The truth is, New Englanders love their beer. With every season giving us the perfect opportunity to gather and celebrate, it is our given privilege to do so. So when we're told that a locally crafted beer that has been ranked as the second best beer in America is available only one day a year and when it's gone it's gone till the next, oh we will gather and we're sure as hell going to celebrate rain or shine.

Waking up for beer isn't as easy as one might think. It requires dedication, fortitude and an ability to put your pants on correctly before you head out the door. I could have shut the alarm off and slept, and the thought crossed my mind, but passion breeds unguarded enthusiasm and I rose like a...well let's just say I made it out of bed intact.

No time for coffee, I'll stop at a Dunkin's on the way. How else would a small town New Hampshire guy get going before drinking at noon? I arrive at my good friend and trusty photographer Nick's house where he appears to be as bright and chipper as one can possibly be at 8 am. Beer is exciting after all and how often is it that one of your friends invites you along to sample some of the best with him for professional purposes. Yeah, I'd want to hang out with me too if I didn't already do it 24/7.

All ego aside, It is nice to have him along. He is my wandering eyes when I merely listen and observe, so we make quite the team in our Boondock Saints-esque nearly matching pea coats (not planned just overall good style) and minimalist equipment. After a few hairy trips to the seacoast on 95, I opt for the more scenic path instead and hop bomb down route 4. There is a heavy fog lifting off of Northwood Lake and the surrounding hills, giving us an eerie backdrop to the cinema about to unravel.

Portsmouth seems slow driving in, not much activity on the damp, foggy streets. That is until we approach the golden frothy mug, which is far better than golden arches and see the patient rain soaked masses stretched around the block and then some, eagerly waiting for their open sesame on Market Street. After we find a parking spot along a side street a few blocks away with a two hour limit, we make our way to the brewery, which is much easier to find in the sunlight compared to our last excursion here. 'Only two hours till the tapping? I'm getting a ticket for sure,' I think to myself.

Upon approaching the brewery, the crowd seems quite larger than it had from the car. It's almost as though the beer is a celebrity in itself, and people seem to be keeping busy with conversation, football, breakfast and cigars from a nearby shop. After getting a few shots of the early morning abiders, we take our spot in line as we are not well known enough to push our way inside with press badges. Yet being amongst the crowd reminds me why we're here...beer.

We are not here for recognition, though we receive some small notice from familiar faces once inside. We are here for the beer, we are here to immerse ourselves in the culture surrounding it, and the culture is the people who wait as early as midnight to be the first in line and the culture is the people who walk up and take the last spot in line with no idea how long they will be there but they wait anyway. The culture is the people who take this day off just to be there, just for a taste of something they know they'll have to wait another year for when it's over. Is that the power of craft beer? I'll let you know when I figure that out but I'd be hard pressed to say it isn't a huge part of it.

After almost two hours in line, I see a sudden urge of movement ahead, much like a herd of sheep we slowly trample our way to the door. The crowd begins becoming more lively and colorful and new friends begin popping out of nowhere as jokes are told and a few smart ass remarks bring us closer together as the anticipation builds. Confusion sets in as we approach the door, will they be able to take us before the group behind us, they can seat a 5 and a 4 top (business lingo for a party of aforementioned numbers) but not a 2 and a 7. Quite the dilemma but as I mentioned, the people are what make the scene, so we choose to group up with 3 of our fellow beer companions while the rest of their party is sat elsewhere. Sacrifices will be made in the name of beer.

Our new line friends, Brian, Greg and Chris mirror our excitement for Kate and after we blow through the introductions we get down to beer. These are some seasoned Kate the Great veterans and they drop a little history on us about their rendezvous with Kate's of the past. I've been told that she changes every year, that she's never the same even though the recipe itself stays the same and I begin wondering if I may have missed out on something years prior. Oh well I am here now and there is "research" to be done.

Our adorably witty waitress rightfully assumes we want a round of Kate's, as if we were here for the free toast points and butter, which are pretty fantastic by the way. After a mere five minutes of listening to everyone around us enjoy their stouts, our round arrives. Like giddy school children we jump to attention like Christmas morning and smile at one another as if to say 'our time has come.'

The details of my tryst with Kate can be found in my review but on a more philosophical note I will delve into where good, special craft beer brings me and the rest of the hopped up population of beer freaks mentally, and how we may have reached enlightenment at some point in our travels...beer nirvana if you will. Any beer will make you drunk if you have enough, but you will rarely reach an inner, peaceful understanding of who you are and what your role is in the scheme of things by downing a few Schlitz. Most likely you'll end up where we've all been at some point; stumbling around making pizza bites at 2 am and watching Family Guy.

No, beer enlightenment is reached when one beer, one specially made craft beer can make you sit back for a moment, take it in and let it seduce your thoughts. You forget about the clutter surrounding you, and reach deep within yourself to commit to the enjoyment and the experience. Have I reached this point with other beers? Of course I have. It is what keeps me coming back, it is what keeps me taking risks and submerging myself into it's world and jumping out of mine. But the Portsmouth Brewery is onto something when they offer this annual brew because when you're in the presence of a beer that, unless you won a bottle, won't be available until the following year, you take extra care to let it control you. Kate the Great, as it's name implies, has the allure and personality of a beautiful woman and I enjoy her as such.

I pick up on the subtle nuances, the specialty flavors, the care and dedication a few people took to make this one experience for me enjoyable. When you can taste all of these things; the people, the area, the craftsmanship, the passion, the dedication and the excitement all in one sip of a beer, that my friends is beer enlightenment.

My enlightenment was not only found in this special beer, but in coming to peace with the fact that this moment in time sums up perfectly what I choose to do as a profession even if the pay is slim to none. It defines why we beer lovers travel, why we anticipate special releases and most importantly, why we choose craft beer over the rest. Craft beer isn't just something you should buy at a store at the recommendation of a friend, it's something you should seek out, take in the area from which it was born, get to know it's people, it's creators and I guarantee you will never look at beer the same way again.

Have I reached the mountain top yet? There is no doubt that I have not, but I know this; I have a lifetime of catching up to do and I look forward to taking you all along with me in my travels to find peace within beer. It is my hope, that you too will seek out your own beer enlightenment and never look back...(to be continued, but never finished).

Be sure to check out my review of Kate the Great here...Official Review.

Review- Kate the Great (Russian Imperial Stout) 2011: The Portsmouth Brewery.

After roughly 2 hours in line, standing in the cold, yet with child like exuberance for a beer that has existed merely as legend in my experience, I had high expectations. Kate was my muse and she was on her pedestal awaiting my arrival, at least that's how I felt anyway. Wait, she's seeing hundreds of other people? Men and women? What have I gotten myself into? Stouts warm the bones, they seduce the passionate side of beer lovers in that they exist as the fine chocolates in our world and we will flock to them with unadulterated determination to search out the one that challenges us, that makes our taste buds sing and our soul happy to be where we are with whoever we're there with.

Once Kate was placed in front of me, I felt like I was in for something special upon first sight. Slightly cool to the touch, she had a warm deep brown almost black color with a decent sized head, good light brown color and excellent lacing. Looked almost like a large shot of chocolate espresso.

We each take our time breathing in her vapors. Thick with rich chocolate overtones, earthy roasted malt aromas with a back drop of sweet fruit. Fine wine, with a deep woody smell. Complex.

After a toast we dive in, taking in every moment till it touches our lips and we close our eyes to let the real judge do the work. It's a silky smooth ride of rich coffee, molasses and malt. There are rich flavors of raisin, plum and port wine. The alcohol is present but even at 12%ABV, you still know you have a stout in your hands. There is a chocolate lacing that covers the tongue and it feels as though we are drinking a dessert. As the beer warms a little, it takes on a much more pronounced sweetness, like that of chocolate covered raisins, only worlds away from the store bought kind. It has a smooth and dry finish and you feel like you could easily pound down one after another but this beer is too special to rush. However when I'm done the first, I instinctively say yes when asked if I want another round. A decision I do not regret in the least and it's just as good as the first.

Kate showing her gratitude.

Now you may be asking yourself (though if you're a fellow beer snob you aren't), was it worth all of the hype? Was it worth waiting in line in the cold for two hours just for two beers? Well along with the experience of being a part of something so huge (which I will talk about in my next blog) the answer is yes! This beer was big and it was everything I could have imagined it to be. I guess it would be like one of those crazies finding Bigfoot for the first time and playing a game of basketball with him. I found Kate the Great and danced with her for a little while.

It lived up to every reason beer lovers flock to where they can find a good beer. To me it was a mythical beer, one I had always heard about but never found. That's right, I had found my 10. This beer was perfect in every way a beer could be, at least for a stout and it is impossible to find any criticism for it even in my cynical brain. I have heard that every year she changes her make up even with the same recipe and everyone has their opinions on her, so all we can do its wait with bated breath till next year.

Official Declaration: March is Stout Awareness Month!

March: a month almost always associated with the one holiday that promotes drinking a few pints of Guinness at 9 in the morning. I am talking of course about St. Patrick's Day (as if you needed a hint) and in honor of the end of winter and this sacred catholic holiday turned American green beer fest as well as the release of Kate the Great tomorrow at the Portsmouth Brewery, I have opted to focus on one of my favorite styles of beer and declare March Stout Awareness Month!

For the remainder of the month, I will be featuring reviews on various stouts from some of my favorite breweries as well as some untapped territory. I will do my best to focus on various styles within this realm including some porters as well. 

Every month has it's cause, why not give the stout it's due. As if you needed another reason to enjoy this delicious style of beer, why not make it official. So tell your friends and spread the stout!

Rogue: Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout

Rogue is one of those breweries that I am not afraid to admit I am very biased with. I have had so few bad experiences (almost none) with their beer that I now always go into every new experience with them with the full belief that I will enjoy it. After making the decision to officially declare the month of March, Stout awareness month here at A Beer With Bergie, choosing their Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout was an obvious choice.

Appearance: Pours a deep brown and once settled becomes a rich black with a light brown head that remains throughout. Not only typical of oatmeal stouts but with Rogue beers in general, the head retains a solid presence throughout the entire beer...delicious looking.

Aroma: Roasted nuts with a hint of coffee. Hearty but pretty subtle as well. Some chocolate near the end. Dense aroma throughout but also hard to pick up due to the deepness of the brew.

Flavor: The initial flavor notes are bitter roasted coffee, earthy and hearty. Sits on the tongue like chocolate during the after taste. A bit more bitter than most oatmeal stouts that I've enjoyed which isn't bad, just surprising. Many of Rogues beers tend to have that stronger hop flavor to them anyway so it is still very enjoyable since they obviously know what they're doing.

The Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout from Rogue Ales has everything one could want from this style of beer. It is dark, rich and full of flavor. Though this particular oatmeal stout is a bit more bitter than I am used to, that does not take away the fact that this is yet another delicious offering from this great brewery. It would be perfect as a night cap or as a good companion to a steak dinner. The earthiness of this beer makes it a good addition to a cold winter night. An 8 out of 10 for this 6.8% ABV beer.

What I dig about Rogue is how DIY they have been throughout the years. From growing their own hops and barley, using local fresh water and minimal ingredients without preservatives or any additives, they are at the forefront of the craft beer revolution. Choosing to take matters into their own hands, they are ensuring the quality of their beer is consistent and it shows. They are not afraid to take risks when it comes to flavor profiles but they also know when to keep it simple and make a good beer. Be on the look out for more reviews on Rogue Ales in the near future.

Smuttynose Big Beer Series: Barleywine Style Ale

Barleywines are a tricky bunch when it comes to my taste buds. As you may have been able to tell up to this point, I am a big dark, strong beer fan. Beers with more fruity tasting notes are typically not my thing and I have had some bad experiences with barley wines. That being said, as a skeptic I dive into a barleywine by what is admittedly one of my favorite breweries; Smuttynose. I take this big boy out of the fridge for a good 10-15 minutes to let it settle to a decently cool, yet still room temperature. Enough to give it some more life.

Initial pour: The beer is a deep mahogany, with hints of rich red and orange. Once the head forms, it is a rich, blinding white that disappears completely near finishing. This beer is curious as it has many different personalities even on first sight. Once it settles the bottom layer remains a brilliant, dark orange. Then right above a deep brownish red forms and this menage e' trois is polished off by a light to medium bourbon style brown. The mahogany comes once the beer has been sipped and is allowed to mix correctly. There is a fine sediment of yeast at the bottom of the pour that gives the style a much more earthy, natural look. 

Aroma: Confusing. Well no really but in a good way. As a beer reviewer I guess this issue creates a problem in that I have a hard time figuring out what arena it lies more in. The fruity or the boozy? Don't take that term the wrong way. I am whiskey and scotch drinker so that aroma never deters me but I am legitimately confused. There are orange, spice, banana, peach and alcohol. It is almost whiskey like in that the alcohol present in the brew gives it that sweet almost smokey presence. The warmer the beer gets the more it takes on hints of toffee and caramel. Towards the end it becomes a straight sweet, bright, fruity alcohol smell.

Taste: As the name implies, many barelywines have a typical wine like flavor as far as the alcohol goes. This one is more booze like than what I have read, which I like as a skeptic. It is citrusy like a fine orange cognac and mellow like a brown ale. It rushes nice across the palate with a smooth finish and has a raisin like sweetness to the end. 

All around an enjoyable beer. At roughly 11-11.5% ABV this is best enjoyed with a friend as I am most certainly a bit fuzzy at the end of this bottle. Beers such as this are the reason wine people are beginning to take notice of the scene as there is no need to continue drinking once done a barleywine and Smuttynose's offering stands no different. My only complaint with this beer would have to be my biggest compliment as well in that the aroma is hard to develop. It means the beer has taken on it's own identity and does not focus on just one flavor or aroma profile. I followed the suggestion of the bottle and paired this beer with a sharp cheddar cheese and roasted tomato cracker which added a mellow and sweet complexity to the beer when sipped afterwards. 

Out of 10 points, 1 being about as tasty as a Bud Select and a 10 being yet to be determined ;) I'd say the Barleywine from Smuttynose hits about a 7.5-8. I was not disappointed in the least. Thoroughly enjoyed the appearance, aroma and overall taste of the beer, but I guess barleywines are still not my top thing. I enjoy big beers I can drink alone at times and still feel functional, yet at the end of this beer I feel a bit too buzzed to really move around. This is a beer to have with a significant other or friend around a fire, or watching a movie and enjoying conversation. Plan on making a night out of drinking this and only this. Great beer, great execution, much respect and tasty after tones, both physically and mentally. 

Rock Out With Your Stout Out

It's cold, and I mean damn cold. Even for a night in New Hampshire along the seacoast it's cold. We've parked the car in what I'm assuming is a safe and welcome spot in the center of downtown Portsmouth and now the only issue is; where the hell is the bar?! 'Thank god my good friend Lee has a gps on his phone' I think to myself. It should take us there in no time right? How could modern technology let a few beer lovers down?

Well, by leading them down a dark alley way and random back road in the wrong direction for starters. After ten minutes or so of arguing with a computer, we opt for the more journalistic approach (irony is a funny thing) and go the route of human communication to find our destination. Unfortunately for us, three dudes walking the lonely, late night streets of a cold and dark Portsmouth with video equipment approaching a lone female doesn't get the best reception. Beers Gone Wild maybe? Once the adorably perturbed girl realizes we're just cold and thirsty and not looking to take her down the aforementioned alley she points us in the right direction. "It's the building with a giant beer mug on top of it." Makes too much sense.

We're at the Portsmouth Brewery for one thing, beer and not just any beer, we're here for stouts. So after some milling around the front of the building, doing a couple takes of what I hope to be a decent introduction to my vicarious Anthony Bourdainesque vision of a life we head inside to warm our bones.

For those not in the know let me drop some knowledge on you to begin. A stout is a darker beer made from roasted malts such as chocolate malts. They typically have a dryer taste but are smooth with hints of coffee, chocolate and sugar. Stouts date back to the 1700's when English and Irish brewers began making porters, darker beers with the same ingredients that many port workers would enjoy at the pub after a hard day's work. A stout, as the name implies, is a stronger porter, typically higher in alcohol and with a bit more substance. So the lesson of the day is...every stout is a porter but not every porter is a stout. Good job class!

We saunter in, camera equipment in tow. We look important, but the art of illusion is everything and the key is to get the attention and lure the audience in with something they didn't know they needed. Yeah, I paid attention in marketing class. I find Todd Mott, head brewer at the Portsmouth Brewery and he has already been awaiting our arrival which gets me about as giddy as a kid at Disney Land. I make small talk with him for a bit and let him know that I need to get one beer in me before we begin, which of course he understands.

I'm in Portsmouth this whole weekend for one thing and one thing only (well maybe a few other treats along the way, as I'll discuss in another blog) but that one thing is stouts. On tap this particular night is a cask conditioned Imperial Stout from Smuttynose. Cask conditioned is basically referring to the fact that this beer is not having any additional nitrogen or carbon dioxide added to the pour. This has often been referred to as "real ale" and it is not chilled. I find it funny that this has to be put in quotations considering that this was the way everyone drank beer before pasteurization and draught beer.

As I said we're here for stouts and stouts we had. After enjoying a delicious oatmeal stout (review available soon after this), I realize that it is time to get on this Imperial and after getting the official recommendation (and permission in my opinion) from Todd himself, I add a quick top off of the oatmeal stout to the Imperial just to add a bit more complexity and carbonation to the beer. The top off is not much, as if it would matter because the Imperial is a blissful punch in the face of stoutness. At what I was told was an estimated 9-10% ABV, this beer was not something to take lightly.

The beer poured a deep, dark black that you could not see through even with a flashlight; my kind of beer! The initial aroma was that of a dark, chocolate licorice, hints of coffee and hearty. The oatmeal stout from Portsmouth Brewery complimented the over all bouquet of the imperial in that it added a more dessert like quality to it. The initial sip brought on a wide range of flavor profiles and tasting notes such as a sweet molasses, creamy chocolate and espresso. The texture was velvet like and at the end of the sip a small but noticeable presence of hops makes itself known. The after taste is that of having just sipped a french roast coffee with a touch of cream, no sugar. This is definitely a sipper's beer as it took me about 15-20 minutes to finish and I do recommend making this a one or two glass beer.

I know what you're thinking, "But Bergie, where can I get some Imperial Stout for myself? That sounds really exclusive and I hate that you write about trying awesome things after they're gone." First of all, hate is a strong word so watch it, and second, this cask conditioned imperial was merely a cask version of an imperial that is just another part of Smuttynose's Big Beer Series. Right now you can still find their Barleywine ale in stores (review up this weekend) but shortly, as I have yet to see it on the shelves at my local store shelf and can not say for certain, their regular Imperial stout will be available to the public.  I recommend Barb's Beer Emporium in Concord or Bert's Better Beers in Hooksett. As for people outside of my local radar, any craft beer store or even some Hannaford's have been known to sell some Smuttynose Big Beers.

Look for reviews up this weekend on the Smuttynose Barleywine Style Ale and Portsmouth Brewery's Oatmeal Stout. I will also have some exclusive reviews of a couple rare beers from Smuttynose such as an oak whiskey barrel aged Farmhouse ale and a Utopia barrel aged Baltic Porter that I enjoyed tonight at The Press Room. I will also be posting an exclusive interview with Charlie Ireland from Smuttynose where we will discuss the natural science of barrel aged beers, renegade wild yeast and how sweet his mustache is.

Be sure to check back frequently throughout this weekend into Monday when I will be on location at the tapping of Kate the Great along with the rest of the seacoast. IT WILL BE HUGE!

Cheers from your fearless and always thirsty guide,
Bergie