Well, if you reside in Central PA, you may want to inquire, because the Blue Bird Inn is perhaps Lebanon County's best-kept beer hideaway.
Boasting one of the most impressive decks in the area, the Blue Bird recently did a complete make-over of its bar and inside dining area, complete with high beamed ceilings, exposed brick, hardwood floors, ample bar seating, and an awesome fireplace that is inviting during the winter months. The ceiling fans are also quite unique and work in conveyer-belt-like fashion as they keep the bar area cool during warmer months.
What's even better about the Blue Bird is its newely beefed-up tap selection, which jumped from eight handles to TWENTY, and the recent addition of a beer engine means an additional selection on cask. Brewslut and I typically frequent on a Tuesday night, when all draught craft beer pints are only $3.00 (up slightly from $2.75, which they promoted for a looooong time). Still, $3.00 for a pint of Nugget Nectar or Smuttynose IPA? On our recent visit this past Tuesday evening, I was pleased to see the tap list expanding beyond the standard offerings. While they still keep a few light offerings and imports on regular rotation, they consistently update at least twelve of the taps with good local, regional and national craft selections. In addition to the two aforementioned beers, I was delighted to see Southern Tier IPA, ABC Espresso Stout, Victory Prima Pils and Hop Devil (the latter on cask), Stoudt's Carnival Kolsch, Bell's Oberon, St. Bonafice ESB, Otter Creek Spring Bock, and a few others. Not a bad line-up, indeed!
With daily food and drink specials (including house-infused vodkas and cocktails) and a varied menu, we'll keep coming back. Hopefully they will keep getting more and more adventurous with the tap line-up, which certainly won't scare us away!
For more information and photos, check out http://www.bluebirdinn.com/.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
A weekend even Zappa would be proud of!
The weekend of March 23 proved to be the perfect time to get away for a trip to one of the best beer cities in the nation - Philadelphia. Lucky for us, Philly is only but a short hour-and-a-half drive from Annville (pending any unforeseen nightmarish traffic patterns on the Schuylkill Expressway - definitely not a rare occurrence, especially on a Friday evening). Equally lucky for us, we made it into the city unscathed by perils of urban traffic. This bodes well for us and the upcoming weekend activities. A good omen, indeed!
The reason for our visit was two-fold. First, one of my best and oldest friends, Matt, is finally taking the plunge and getting married later this month, and this was the weekend of his bachelor party. Secondly, since I had no gigs, Brewslut tagged along, and we made it a long weekend filled with beer, including visits to some of our most loved beer destinations as well as some new favorites that I'm sure we will visit again sooner than later. To quote one of my favorite musicians of all time, Frank Zappa: "I'm only interested in two things, and that's Titties and Beer."
You know what I mean?
We arrived at Matt's apartment at 8:30pm, and Brewslut dropped me off for an evening of debauchery, and she headed back to the hotel to enjoy some TV and a bottle of Kasteel Rogue. I was surprised to find that my good buddy Chu, who was in charge of the beer for the evening, used his better judgement and selected a keg of Yards Philadelphia Pale Ale. Additionally, I had a growler of the brand spankin' new Troegs Scratch 60 in tow, a Spring Fest Lager that was pretty tasty. Actually, I found myself drinking more of the Yards, although I almost single-handedly polished off the growler solo. Hey, its a session beer! All drinking aside, it would be ungentlemanly of me to go into more detail as to what went on at the aforementioned bachelor party. Let's just say that a good time was had by all, especially the groom-to-be!
After an impromptu lunch at a great local Thai restaurant, day two of the bachelor party extravaganza continued. Wait a minute! When did this become a multi-day event? When I got married back in 1999, I had one lone evening of drunken shenanigans. At any rate, we needed to fill up before our hour-long workout with Matt's personal trainer, Sgt. Nate, a retired Army drill sergeant. This was actually a pleasant deviation from the typical weekend beer jaunt, as both Brewslut and I are avid gym-goers and also work with our own personal trainer. Needless to say, we got our asses kicked over the next hour. All I can say is this: If I ever do another burpee again, it will be too soon for me!
After a quick shower back at the hotel, we were ready to begin the "beer" portion of the trip (although I probably drank enough beer for an entire weekend on Friday night alone)! Our first stop was the much-anticipated Barcade, which recently opened in the Fishtown section of the city. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a deep and profound love of classic 80's video games. When I first heard of this amazing concept (craft beer and video games), I thought, "Man, if they just played Rush songs all the time, I'd never leave!" I definitely could have spent many hours here, as they had a veritable cornucopia of games from my childhood that I loved and pumped full of quarters in my younger days: Spy Hunter, Paperboy, Gauntlet II, Track & Field, Frogger, Golden Axe and many more. Best of all, the games are still only a quarter! The beer selection was extremely heavy on Victory selections, as they had a tap takeover event the previous night. So unfortunately they didn't have the selection I was hoping for. Still, I was able to try a new Victory beer - a chocolate lager on nitro! I must admit it sounded weird at first, but it was delicious. I also had a Headwaters Pale Ale, which has recently become one of my favorite go-to session beers. It's got a nice citrusy hop bite for a straight-up pale ale. Brewslut was a good sport while she read her kindle and enjoyed her beer while the 10-year-old in me took over for an hour or so.
Our next stop was another Fishtown favorite - Memphis Taproom. Unfortunately, it was almost elbow to asshole when we entered, but we quickly snagged a corner table in the bar area. Since we'd eaten there on a previous visit, we knew the food was stellar, so we made plans to get dinner here. I opted for a vegan Shepherd's Pie (something I miss since becoming red meat-free), while Brewslut chose an apple salad. Beer-wise, I chose another session beer, this time a cask conditioned bitter from England called Bluebird bitter. It was fine, but didn't wow me. Brewslut went for the delicious Lost Abbey Deliverance, a blend of Brandy Barrel Angel's Share and Bourbon Barrel Serpent's Stout. Hot damn! This was one amazing beer!
After our visit at Memphis Taproom, we decided to swing by a place we hadn't visited before. Kraftwork is a modern beer bar also in the Fishtown district that may very well be my favorite beer bar in the city... and that's only after one visit! We grabbed two seats at the bar, which was actually a slightly lower than usual bar in the shape of a squared off letter "U". The decor at Kraftwork is modern with an industrial flair. Exposed brick walls, hardwood floors and metal tools posed as artwork decorated the establishment. The tap selection was varied and well thought out, with just about every style of American craft beer represented. The beer menu was laid out well and easy to read, with name, style, ABV, prices, etc. listed. The service was superb. Both of the bartenders on duty were extremely friendly and attentive.
For our first beer, we both opted for Russian River Pliny the Elder, a favorite DIPA amongst all hopheads. Afterwards, we selected a flight of 5-oz. pours that included North Coast Old Rasputin on nitro, Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout, Darkhorse Blackbier and the Three Floyds/Mikkeller collaboration Boogoop. I can't give this place enough praise. This will be a must-visit on all future trips to Philly.
A quick stop to The Foodery was up next, and I picked up a mixed six-pack from a well-stocked selection at this fantastic but extremely cramped bottle shop. I was happy to find a bomber of Great Divide's excellent Espresso Oak Aged Yeti, as well as Maine Beer Company's Peeper Ale (a favorite pale ale of mine) and a few other 12oz. bottles that I haven't tried yet.
Our final stop of the evening was Dock Street, one of our favorite brewpubs in the city, not only for their fine beer, but also for their amazing wood fired pizzas. Brewslut and I shared a small vegan pie, topped with an assortment of veggies and tofu. For our beer selections, I went for my old Dock Street standby, Rye IPA and Brewslut chose the Prince Myshkin's Russian Imperial Stout. The vegan pie really hit the spot, and it was a good way to end a long day of imbibing!
After a good night's sleep, we awoke on Sunday morning and checked out of the hotel. First on the agenda was to hit up Cafe Lift for breakfast. We first visited Cafe Lift with Matt and Morgan during a recent visit to Philly, and we liked it so much that we wanted to go back. With a flair for fresh, unique specials and a varied menu that includes several vegetarian options, Cafe Lift is worth a stop just for the coffee and turkey bacon! Plus, they've got a hip European vibe and an ample waiting area (the latter of which is nice because they tend to get quite busy on the weekends).
First up on the drinking activities for the day was to hit up The Farmer's Cabinet in Center City. With a penchant for rare beers from Europe and pre-Prohibition cocktails, as well as a gourmet menu, The Farmer's Cabinet is also new home of Terry Hawbaker's beers. While the atmosphere is indeed quite awesome, its Terry's beers that keep me coming back. This is a must-stop for us when we visit Philly. On this particular occasion, we enjoyed a line-up of beers inspired by Joy Division songs. I must admit that I never got into any of the pre-Goth 80's alternative bands (such as Joy Division, The Cure, The Smiths, etc.), so I don't know much about the songs after which there beers were named. Brewslut and I each sampled 5-oz. pours of all four beers. First up was Exercise One, a Grisette brewed with peppercorns and Citra hops. This was pretty damn tasty, but the peppercorns were overshadowed by the citrus character of the hops...no complaints here, though. Second on the bill was New Dawn Fades, a dark Saison with lemongrass and peppercorns. This was quite a diverse and complex brew. Terry is know for brewing some exceptional Saisons, and this one is no exception. Up next was Heart and Soul, a Farmhouse pale ale brewed with chamomile and citrus peel. Think orange tea. The fourth and final beer was No Love Lost, a Farmhouse IPA (yeah... that's what I said) brewed with a Saison yeast. I must admit that this was a pretty damn delicious beer with an assertive piney, citrusy hop character and plenty of dark roast, not to mention the earthiness of the yeast. Another complex gem from Terry's brain. Next time, we'll be sure to hit up the new American craft beer-focused establishment owned by the same folks called The Boiler Maker. And its just around the corner from The Farmer's Cabinet.
Afterwards, we took a short walk to Nodding Head Brewing Co. for lunch and a beer before our trip back home. We both opted for the interesting-sounding Tasman, a low ABV pale ale brewed with organic Pacific Gem hops from New Zealand. I have enjoyed many beers brewed with Nelson Sauvin hops (most notable Alpine's Nelson), a hop variety indigenous to New Zealand, so I was anxious to try this beer. The hops imparted a berry-like sweetness that was odd at first but eventually grew on me. Unfortunately, Brewslut didn't respond favorably and therefore took a while for her to deplete the contents of her glass. Difference of opinions aside, we both enjoyed our lunch selections: her, the Moroccan Mussels and Frites, and me an interesting take on Huevos Rancheros, a brunch special that was not a regular menu item. We also shared the hummus of the day, which was an olive Tapenade. The first time we ever had hummus was at Nodding Head, so we always try to squeeze in a portion when we visit. Our meals were tasty and quite filling, leaving no more room for beer, unfortunately. Which brings us to the end of another trek to Philadelphia.
All in all, this was a perfect weekend for me: beer, food, video games, nudity and a little bit of fitness on the side!
The reason for our visit was two-fold. First, one of my best and oldest friends, Matt, is finally taking the plunge and getting married later this month, and this was the weekend of his bachelor party. Secondly, since I had no gigs, Brewslut tagged along, and we made it a long weekend filled with beer, including visits to some of our most loved beer destinations as well as some new favorites that I'm sure we will visit again sooner than later. To quote one of my favorite musicians of all time, Frank Zappa: "I'm only interested in two things, and that's Titties and Beer."
You know what I mean?
We arrived at Matt's apartment at 8:30pm, and Brewslut dropped me off for an evening of debauchery, and she headed back to the hotel to enjoy some TV and a bottle of Kasteel Rogue. I was surprised to find that my good buddy Chu, who was in charge of the beer for the evening, used his better judgement and selected a keg of Yards Philadelphia Pale Ale. Additionally, I had a growler of the brand spankin' new Troegs Scratch 60 in tow, a Spring Fest Lager that was pretty tasty. Actually, I found myself drinking more of the Yards, although I almost single-handedly polished off the growler solo. Hey, its a session beer! All drinking aside, it would be ungentlemanly of me to go into more detail as to what went on at the aforementioned bachelor party. Let's just say that a good time was had by all, especially the groom-to-be!
 |
| The Last Soupie |
 |
| The guys (and Brewslut) with Sgt. Nate |
Our next stop was another Fishtown favorite - Memphis Taproom. Unfortunately, it was almost elbow to asshole when we entered, but we quickly snagged a corner table in the bar area. Since we'd eaten there on a previous visit, we knew the food was stellar, so we made plans to get dinner here. I opted for a vegan Shepherd's Pie (something I miss since becoming red meat-free), while Brewslut chose an apple salad. Beer-wise, I chose another session beer, this time a cask conditioned bitter from England called Bluebird bitter. It was fine, but didn't wow me. Brewslut went for the delicious Lost Abbey Deliverance, a blend of Brandy Barrel Angel's Share and Bourbon Barrel Serpent's Stout. Hot damn! This was one amazing beer!
After our visit at Memphis Taproom, we decided to swing by a place we hadn't visited before. Kraftwork is a modern beer bar also in the Fishtown district that may very well be my favorite beer bar in the city... and that's only after one visit! We grabbed two seats at the bar, which was actually a slightly lower than usual bar in the shape of a squared off letter "U". The decor at Kraftwork is modern with an industrial flair. Exposed brick walls, hardwood floors and metal tools posed as artwork decorated the establishment. The tap selection was varied and well thought out, with just about every style of American craft beer represented. The beer menu was laid out well and easy to read, with name, style, ABV, prices, etc. listed. The service was superb. Both of the bartenders on duty were extremely friendly and attentive.
For our first beer, we both opted for Russian River Pliny the Elder, a favorite DIPA amongst all hopheads. Afterwards, we selected a flight of 5-oz. pours that included North Coast Old Rasputin on nitro, Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout, Darkhorse Blackbier and the Three Floyds/Mikkeller collaboration Boogoop. I can't give this place enough praise. This will be a must-visit on all future trips to Philly.
A quick stop to The Foodery was up next, and I picked up a mixed six-pack from a well-stocked selection at this fantastic but extremely cramped bottle shop. I was happy to find a bomber of Great Divide's excellent Espresso Oak Aged Yeti, as well as Maine Beer Company's Peeper Ale (a favorite pale ale of mine) and a few other 12oz. bottles that I haven't tried yet.
Our final stop of the evening was Dock Street, one of our favorite brewpubs in the city, not only for their fine beer, but also for their amazing wood fired pizzas. Brewslut and I shared a small vegan pie, topped with an assortment of veggies and tofu. For our beer selections, I went for my old Dock Street standby, Rye IPA and Brewslut chose the Prince Myshkin's Russian Imperial Stout. The vegan pie really hit the spot, and it was a good way to end a long day of imbibing!
After a good night's sleep, we awoke on Sunday morning and checked out of the hotel. First on the agenda was to hit up Cafe Lift for breakfast. We first visited Cafe Lift with Matt and Morgan during a recent visit to Philly, and we liked it so much that we wanted to go back. With a flair for fresh, unique specials and a varied menu that includes several vegetarian options, Cafe Lift is worth a stop just for the coffee and turkey bacon! Plus, they've got a hip European vibe and an ample waiting area (the latter of which is nice because they tend to get quite busy on the weekends).
First up on the drinking activities for the day was to hit up The Farmer's Cabinet in Center City. With a penchant for rare beers from Europe and pre-Prohibition cocktails, as well as a gourmet menu, The Farmer's Cabinet is also new home of Terry Hawbaker's beers. While the atmosphere is indeed quite awesome, its Terry's beers that keep me coming back. This is a must-stop for us when we visit Philly. On this particular occasion, we enjoyed a line-up of beers inspired by Joy Division songs. I must admit that I never got into any of the pre-Goth 80's alternative bands (such as Joy Division, The Cure, The Smiths, etc.), so I don't know much about the songs after which there beers were named. Brewslut and I each sampled 5-oz. pours of all four beers. First up was Exercise One, a Grisette brewed with peppercorns and Citra hops. This was pretty damn tasty, but the peppercorns were overshadowed by the citrus character of the hops...no complaints here, though. Second on the bill was New Dawn Fades, a dark Saison with lemongrass and peppercorns. This was quite a diverse and complex brew. Terry is know for brewing some exceptional Saisons, and this one is no exception. Up next was Heart and Soul, a Farmhouse pale ale brewed with chamomile and citrus peel. Think orange tea. The fourth and final beer was No Love Lost, a Farmhouse IPA (yeah... that's what I said) brewed with a Saison yeast. I must admit that this was a pretty damn delicious beer with an assertive piney, citrusy hop character and plenty of dark roast, not to mention the earthiness of the yeast. Another complex gem from Terry's brain. Next time, we'll be sure to hit up the new American craft beer-focused establishment owned by the same folks called The Boiler Maker. And its just around the corner from The Farmer's Cabinet.
Afterwards, we took a short walk to Nodding Head Brewing Co. for lunch and a beer before our trip back home. We both opted for the interesting-sounding Tasman, a low ABV pale ale brewed with organic Pacific Gem hops from New Zealand. I have enjoyed many beers brewed with Nelson Sauvin hops (most notable Alpine's Nelson), a hop variety indigenous to New Zealand, so I was anxious to try this beer. The hops imparted a berry-like sweetness that was odd at first but eventually grew on me. Unfortunately, Brewslut didn't respond favorably and therefore took a while for her to deplete the contents of her glass. Difference of opinions aside, we both enjoyed our lunch selections: her, the Moroccan Mussels and Frites, and me an interesting take on Huevos Rancheros, a brunch special that was not a regular menu item. We also shared the hummus of the day, which was an olive Tapenade. The first time we ever had hummus was at Nodding Head, so we always try to squeeze in a portion when we visit. Our meals were tasty and quite filling, leaving no more room for beer, unfortunately. Which brings us to the end of another trek to Philadelphia.
All in all, this was a perfect weekend for me: beer, food, video games, nudity and a little bit of fitness on the side!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Pullin' out a few rarities... NO BULL!!!
On the eve of Imminent Liquidation, the Annville, Lebanon and Harrisburg chapters of Team D(r)INK convened at our house to share some limited bottles from one of our favorite collective PA brewpubs - Billtown's own Bullfrog Brewery. Brewslut had procured a bottle of the coveted Blue Cheer from brewing deity Terry Hawbaker just prior to him parting ways with Bullfrog, so we were saving it for a special occasions. She was also successful in obtaining a rarity via raffle at the Bullfrog Christmas party - the first-ever bottled release of a Bullfrog elixir, named Diabolique. Deuane and I rounded out the evening's selections with Houblonium P-38, French Kiss, Black Cherry Bomb, Magic Beans, Undead Ed and The Jaspers. Even the most jaded of beer enthusiasts would agree that this was an impressive line-up indeed!
First up was French Kiss, a Biere de Garde, or a French farmhouse ale. While this was a solid representation of the style, it was forgettable in the grand scheme of things and I honestly don't remember much about drinking it. After all, it WAS the first beer of the evening. And with everything else we had in store for us, it was a good way to kick off the tasting.
Up next was Houblonium P-38, a Belgian IPA named after a reference to a Bugs Bunny cartoon featuring Marvin the Martian (one of my favorites)! This one was sitting in the DBF (Dedicated Beer Fridge) for quite some time, and unfortunately the hops had subsided quite substantially over the course of time. Still, it drank like a very good pale ale despite the hops having dropped off quite a bit.
We followed this up with the bottle Brewslut had won in the Bullfrog Christmas Party raffle - Diabolique. It is my understanding that this was the first-ever bottle release from Bullfrog, and according to Terry, this was from the first batch (evident from the dust that had accumulated on the bottle over time). So we're talking circa 2007 or maybe 2008, judging by reviews on BeerAdvocate.com. This Belgian Strong Ale was still pleasant enough to drink, but it was definitely past its prime and quite under-carbonated. Still, it possessed lots of dark fruit character and was quite tasty despite the flatness of its texture.
Undead Ed, a sour version of Bullfrog's fantastic Edgar IPA. I had sampled this beer before (courtesy of Dan) and remember digging it. But this particular bottle from Deuane's "Cellar of Doom" definitely benefited from a bit of age under its belt. The heavy Brett character settled down a bit, giving the beer a more approachable drinkability. However, the hops were still surprisingly quite bright. This was definitely one of the highlights of the evening for most (sans Kristen, who is even more sour on sours than myself).
By this time, we hit the halfway point, and it was time to pull out Magic Beans, an interesting experiment concocted by Terry that can be described as a barrel-aged dark Saison infused with Belgian Callebaut chocolate and vanilla beans. I remember having had a sample of this beer a while back, and I was definitely underwhelmed. However, I'd heard that there were a few bottles that were infected. On one occasion, Deuane equated its flavor to that of old cabbage... not exactly a note one would care to find present in a beer! However, I was pleasantly surprised with this sample. It definitely improved over time. The chocolate and earthy tones were nicely displayed, while the sour tang took a backseat. While I still find Magic Beans to be an odd beer, age has been rather kind to it.
We were now coming down the home stretch, and up next was the 2010 GABF Bronze medal-winning The Jaspers, a Flanders Red Ale. Dan and Kristen were lucky enough to attend the 2010 GABF as representatives for Bullfrog Brewery, and Dan even got to accept the medal for Terry, who was not able to attend! Honestly, I can't remember much about this beer, as I decided to give a more hearty pour to Brewslut, who loves her some sour beer! But it was nice to finally try this beer for the first time.
For our final two beers, we really pulled out the rarities - Blue Cheer and Black Cherry Bomb. As I stated earlier in this blog, Brewslut was able to secure a bottle of the former from Terry (and it only cost her a bottle of Short's Imperial Soft Parade). Deuane and Carolyn provided the Black Cherry Bomb. Now, most of my beer friends know that I am usually on the fence when it comes to sours. Sometimes I love them, and sometimes not so much. Well, Blue Cheer is definitely one of the finest American Wild Ales I've had to date. I had the pleasure of sampling this once before at one of Deuane's tastings, and I am happy to report that it is holding up quite nicely. However, the star of the show (at least to me), was the final beer of the evening - Black Cherry Bomb. Wow! This beer was amazing! The texture was all stout but the cherry added a depth of tartness without becoming too obtrusive. I definitely think this beer improved with age, as the sourness subsided a bit, leaving room for the stout to really shine. I wish we had more of this beer, but alas it was Deuane's final bottle (or so he says... there's probably a case hidden somewhere in the Cellar of Doom)!
All in all, it was a fine tasting of rare beers from one of our favorite breweries in PA and provided some good pre-gaming for the next day: Imminent Liquidation. But more on that later.
First up was French Kiss, a Biere de Garde, or a French farmhouse ale. While this was a solid representation of the style, it was forgettable in the grand scheme of things and I honestly don't remember much about drinking it. After all, it WAS the first beer of the evening. And with everything else we had in store for us, it was a good way to kick off the tasting.
Up next was Houblonium P-38, a Belgian IPA named after a reference to a Bugs Bunny cartoon featuring Marvin the Martian (one of my favorites)! This one was sitting in the DBF (Dedicated Beer Fridge) for quite some time, and unfortunately the hops had subsided quite substantially over the course of time. Still, it drank like a very good pale ale despite the hops having dropped off quite a bit.
We followed this up with the bottle Brewslut had won in the Bullfrog Christmas Party raffle - Diabolique. It is my understanding that this was the first-ever bottle release from Bullfrog, and according to Terry, this was from the first batch (evident from the dust that had accumulated on the bottle over time). So we're talking circa 2007 or maybe 2008, judging by reviews on BeerAdvocate.com. This Belgian Strong Ale was still pleasant enough to drink, but it was definitely past its prime and quite under-carbonated. Still, it possessed lots of dark fruit character and was quite tasty despite the flatness of its texture.
Undead Ed, a sour version of Bullfrog's fantastic Edgar IPA. I had sampled this beer before (courtesy of Dan) and remember digging it. But this particular bottle from Deuane's "Cellar of Doom" definitely benefited from a bit of age under its belt. The heavy Brett character settled down a bit, giving the beer a more approachable drinkability. However, the hops were still surprisingly quite bright. This was definitely one of the highlights of the evening for most (sans Kristen, who is even more sour on sours than myself).
By this time, we hit the halfway point, and it was time to pull out Magic Beans, an interesting experiment concocted by Terry that can be described as a barrel-aged dark Saison infused with Belgian Callebaut chocolate and vanilla beans. I remember having had a sample of this beer a while back, and I was definitely underwhelmed. However, I'd heard that there were a few bottles that were infected. On one occasion, Deuane equated its flavor to that of old cabbage... not exactly a note one would care to find present in a beer! However, I was pleasantly surprised with this sample. It definitely improved over time. The chocolate and earthy tones were nicely displayed, while the sour tang took a backseat. While I still find Magic Beans to be an odd beer, age has been rather kind to it.
We were now coming down the home stretch, and up next was the 2010 GABF Bronze medal-winning The Jaspers, a Flanders Red Ale. Dan and Kristen were lucky enough to attend the 2010 GABF as representatives for Bullfrog Brewery, and Dan even got to accept the medal for Terry, who was not able to attend! Honestly, I can't remember much about this beer, as I decided to give a more hearty pour to Brewslut, who loves her some sour beer! But it was nice to finally try this beer for the first time.
For our final two beers, we really pulled out the rarities - Blue Cheer and Black Cherry Bomb. As I stated earlier in this blog, Brewslut was able to secure a bottle of the former from Terry (and it only cost her a bottle of Short's Imperial Soft Parade). Deuane and Carolyn provided the Black Cherry Bomb. Now, most of my beer friends know that I am usually on the fence when it comes to sours. Sometimes I love them, and sometimes not so much. Well, Blue Cheer is definitely one of the finest American Wild Ales I've had to date. I had the pleasure of sampling this once before at one of Deuane's tastings, and I am happy to report that it is holding up quite nicely. However, the star of the show (at least to me), was the final beer of the evening - Black Cherry Bomb. Wow! This beer was amazing! The texture was all stout but the cherry added a depth of tartness without becoming too obtrusive. I definitely think this beer improved with age, as the sourness subsided a bit, leaving room for the stout to really shine. I wish we had more of this beer, but alas it was Deuane's final bottle (or so he says... there's probably a case hidden somewhere in the Cellar of Doom)!
All in all, it was a fine tasting of rare beers from one of our favorite breweries in PA and provided some good pre-gaming for the next day: Imminent Liquidation. But more on that later.
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| The hand-labeled bottle is The Jaspers, given to Deuane from Terry for his birthday. |
Monday, March 5, 2012
Growlin' at the Moon - Phase 2
My growler for the second cycle of the 2012 Growlin' at the Moon growler exchange BIF (Beer It Forward) landed on the same day as "Imminent Liquidation," so the box ended up sitting on my front porch all day and overnight until I decided to check on Sunday to see if it had arrived. Alas, it did... from The Lone Star State of Texas. I quickly opened the box to discover a growler from a brewery with which I was unfamiliar - Freetail Brewing Co. Named after a species of bat common in the southwestern states and Mexico know as the Free-tailed Bat, Freetail Brewing Co. opened its doors over Thanksgiving weekend in November 2008 in San Antonio, TX. I discovered that the liquid occupying my brown glass jug was a newly brewed IPA named Velocihoptor, named after a type of dinosaur known as a Velociraptor. I did some reconnaissance via Google, because I was unable to find a listing for the beer on BeerAdvocate.com. A quick check on Ratebeer.com informed me that this was indeed a new either seasonal or one-off IPA, because there were only two reviews. What I read in the two succinct reviews was that this was a dank, hemp-like IPA with plenty of tropical fruit flavor. I weighed my options and realized that I would have no time to drink this growler until the following weekend, so I conferred with Brewslut and we decided to crack it open on Sunday night. Glad we did, because it was damn delicious! Check out my formal review below. Thanks to BA jamescain for sending it my way, along with a cool Lagunitas mason jar glass, cans of Maui Big Swell IPA and Coconut Porter, and a bomber of Oatmeal Pale Ale from Ranger Creek Brewing Co. (a first for me). Cheers!
Appearance - Extremely hazy caramel-dipped orange liquid with ample carbonation and almost a finger's width of off-white foam that reduced to a thin cap but left plenty of elaborate shavings of lace allover the glass. This sucker is so hazy that my fingers appear to be mere shadows on the other side when peering through the glass!
Smell - Tropical and dank with a pleasant smack of ripe island fruit (mango, papaya, pineapple) and fairly pungent ganga. Smells like something a stoned surfer would enjoy on the beaches of Hawaii. A hint of alcohol rounds out the aroma profile.
Taste - Juicy and undeniably hoppy with plenty of citrus and tropical notes, but with an amazing balance of lightly toasted grains and barley as well as sweet caramel. Finishes with moderate lingering bitterness on the palate.
Mouthfeel - Texture is fairly creamy but with plenty of prickly carbonation on the tongue. Alcohol heat is minimal but provides a bit of tingle. Bitterness envelopes the palate during the finish.
Overall - Fantastic first impression of this brewery from the Lone Star state! Velocihoptor is one fresh, tasty-ass IPA with plenty of citrus and hemp-like dankness to please any hophead for sure.
Appearance - Extremely hazy caramel-dipped orange liquid with ample carbonation and almost a finger's width of off-white foam that reduced to a thin cap but left plenty of elaborate shavings of lace allover the glass. This sucker is so hazy that my fingers appear to be mere shadows on the other side when peering through the glass!
Smell - Tropical and dank with a pleasant smack of ripe island fruit (mango, papaya, pineapple) and fairly pungent ganga. Smells like something a stoned surfer would enjoy on the beaches of Hawaii. A hint of alcohol rounds out the aroma profile.
Taste - Juicy and undeniably hoppy with plenty of citrus and tropical notes, but with an amazing balance of lightly toasted grains and barley as well as sweet caramel. Finishes with moderate lingering bitterness on the palate.
Mouthfeel - Texture is fairly creamy but with plenty of prickly carbonation on the tongue. Alcohol heat is minimal but provides a bit of tingle. Bitterness envelopes the palate during the finish.
Overall - Fantastic first impression of this brewery from the Lone Star state! Velocihoptor is one fresh, tasty-ass IPA with plenty of citrus and hemp-like dankness to please any hophead for sure.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Centre of the (PA) universe
January 2012 proved to be a slow time for my band-related endeavors, so we made a few weekend getaways, the first being a trip up north to good old Mehoopany, PA to visit our friends Bruce and Carrie. Two weeks after that (or a fortnight for our British readers), we made another trip to the chalet in Millmont, PA, which seemed a fine time to hit some of our favorite brewpubs (Selin's Grove and Elk Creek), make a stop at a rarely visited place (Otto's) and try a new one on for size (Gamble Mill). (Editor's Note: If you are new to The Pour Travelers, you might want to check out last year's "Weekend at the chalet" blog.)
Anyone who knows me knows that I preach the gospel of Captain Selin. Selin's Grove may very well be the best place in PA (if not the entire USA!) to drink beer... at least for this beer enthusiast! A quick stop on Friday evening for dinner and beers proved to be fine and dandy, just like any other stop at this goldmine. I was pleased to see that the new Galaxy IPA was still flowing, and was surprised to find that a Whiskey Barrel-aged Wee Heavy was on one of the beer engines! I had one of each, and both were top notch, especially the Wee Heavy. Steve has been experimenting with barrel aging for about two years now, and this is definitely his masterpiece thus far. Smooth and exceptionally drinkable for such a big beer (I'd imaging this sucker weight in at no less than 9%), it only got more enjoyable with each passing sip. The Galaxy IPA (a single hopped IPA utilizing a relatively new hop varietal known as "Galaxy" hops) also proved an enjoyable quaff. Brewslut opted for... big surprise... the Framboise, a tart raspberry beer that has attained legendary status amongst local beer aficionados. After dinner and drinks, we made our way to the chalet, which was a quick thirty minute drive from Selin's Grove.
After breakfast on Saturday morning, we made a brief stop at the Union County Sportsmen's Club, a place I'd absolutely loved visiting when I was a kid. You can stroll around the grounds and enjoy an abundance of PA wildlife, including black bear (in hibernation this time of year, unfortunately), bobcats, deer, and a variety of birds such as peacocks, grouse, turkeys and more. You can even feed the huge trout by purchasing fish food for a quarter at one of the vending machines. This was just as fun to do at age thirty-seven as it was at age six! After a fun half an hour or so, we got back in the car and made our way to Millheim for lunch at Elk Creek Aleworks.
Elk Creek is definitely near the top of my list for favorite brewpubs in PA, not only for the fine beer but also for the fantastic food. We try to make it a point to stop in during lunch, when they typically have a nice selection of specials, including soups, salads and sandwiches. I opted for a pint of the Anniversary Ale, brewed in celebration of Elk Creek's fourth anniversary. Brewslut returned to her perennial favorite - the Poe Paddy Porter. We recalled our first visit to the brewpub, only weeks after Elk Creek opened its doors. After that initial visit, I knew the place had tons of potential. For lunch, we both enjoyed one of the specials - a delicious black bean burrito with guacamole, cheese and tomatillo salsa and a side of their house-made chips. It is always a treat to visit Elk Creek, and I look forward to each visit with much enthusiasm because unfortunately we don't get there as often as we'd like.
Gamble Mill was a place that had eluded us in our travels thus far, despite us having been a stone's throw away numerous times in the past. Located in the quaint Centre County town of Bellefonte, Gamble Mill had been a fairly renowned restaurant for decades, but they didn't begin brewing craft beer until October 2010. (In talking to Tim, owner of Elk Creek Aleworks, I found that his first job in the restaurant business was at Gamble Mill, some twenty years prior.) They had been on my radar for quite some time, though I never seemed to have the opportunity to visit. That changed on this particular weekend, however, when I made an executive decision to swing by after our visit to Elk Creek.
We arrived a little after 5pm, which proved a good omen, because they are closed between 2:30pm and 5pm between lunch and dinner. The greeter was just unlocking the door when we arrived. Needless to say, we obtained seating at the bar with ease, as only two other people were waiting to get in when we arrived. Overall, the pub section has a very colonial feel, with lots of exposed brick and stone, small tables and earthy decor. The bar was broken into two separate sections, and we chose to sit near the back of the establishment. After a half hour or so, the place started to fill up, and we actually had a great conversation with a young, relatively new craft beer convert who was new to the Bellefonte area, and also visiting Gamble Mill for the first time. We talked about our beer travels and our mutual love for West Coast IPAs. Our bartender was friendly and chatty as well. All in all, it was a pleasant inaugural visit to Gamble Mill.
After visiting Gamble Mill, we made the short drive over to State College to swing by Otto's for a quick one. I was hoping that they still had the Bourbon Barrel-aged Jolly Roger RIS on hand pump, but alas it was not in the cards for this evening (although Brewslut was lucky enough to try it on a recent visit to her cousin's new home in State College). However, the standard Jolly Roger was on cask, and believe it or not, I'd never had it before. So this was another first for me. It was a Saturday evening, so it was quite busy, but we managed to seize two seats at the bar. We ended up having a fun conversation with a couple who apparently had a rare night away from their two young children. The guy was already about four deep into the Double D DIPA, and was finishing a Slab Cabin afterwards (though he most likely couldn't taste the Slab Cabin after the shellacking of his palate at the hands of the Double D). We had an enjoyable conversation about beer, heavy metal music, and even one of my favorite things to talk about - Rush! After enjoying our goblet of Jolly Roger, we departed Happy Valley and headed back to the chalet. Well, not exactly. We make a quick stop by our friend (and uber beer freak) Kramer's new summer home - Penn's Creek Campground. Yup, he bought an entire 12-acre campground right across the creek from the familiar Camp Karoondinha, where my brother and cousins used to frequent for Boy Scout outings. So, after hanging out for about an hour or so, we headed back to the chalet after a fairly long day of imbibing.
On Sunday after an experimental pancake breakfast, we lounged around at the chalet for a bit, then headed back for a second visit to Selin's Grove, making a weekend Selin's Grove sandwich, I suppose. Brewslut and I enjoyed a good old-fashioned game of Scrabble over a few beers. I had to go with the Barrel-aged Wee Heavy again, because it was just so damn good on Friday night. In addition, I also had a Priestley Pale Ale on cask, which was delicious.
While there isn't much deviation from visit to visit, we enjoy getting away for the weekend at the chalet, where the fireplace is warm and there is always good beer nearby.
After breakfast on Saturday morning, we made a brief stop at the Union County Sportsmen's Club, a place I'd absolutely loved visiting when I was a kid. You can stroll around the grounds and enjoy an abundance of PA wildlife, including black bear (in hibernation this time of year, unfortunately), bobcats, deer, and a variety of birds such as peacocks, grouse, turkeys and more. You can even feed the huge trout by purchasing fish food for a quarter at one of the vending machines. This was just as fun to do at age thirty-seven as it was at age six! After a fun half an hour or so, we got back in the car and made our way to Millheim for lunch at Elk Creek Aleworks.
Elk Creek is definitely near the top of my list for favorite brewpubs in PA, not only for the fine beer but also for the fantastic food. We try to make it a point to stop in during lunch, when they typically have a nice selection of specials, including soups, salads and sandwiches. I opted for a pint of the Anniversary Ale, brewed in celebration of Elk Creek's fourth anniversary. Brewslut returned to her perennial favorite - the Poe Paddy Porter. We recalled our first visit to the brewpub, only weeks after Elk Creek opened its doors. After that initial visit, I knew the place had tons of potential. For lunch, we both enjoyed one of the specials - a delicious black bean burrito with guacamole, cheese and tomatillo salsa and a side of their house-made chips. It is always a treat to visit Elk Creek, and I look forward to each visit with much enthusiasm because unfortunately we don't get there as often as we'd like.
 |
| I'm hungry looking at this! |
We arrived a little after 5pm, which proved a good omen, because they are closed between 2:30pm and 5pm between lunch and dinner. The greeter was just unlocking the door when we arrived. Needless to say, we obtained seating at the bar with ease, as only two other people were waiting to get in when we arrived. Overall, the pub section has a very colonial feel, with lots of exposed brick and stone, small tables and earthy decor. The bar was broken into two separate sections, and we chose to sit near the back of the establishment. After a half hour or so, the place started to fill up, and we actually had a great conversation with a young, relatively new craft beer convert who was new to the Bellefonte area, and also visiting Gamble Mill for the first time. We talked about our beer travels and our mutual love for West Coast IPAs. Our bartender was friendly and chatty as well. All in all, it was a pleasant inaugural visit to Gamble Mill.
 |
| Inside Gamble Mill's dining room. |
On Sunday after an experimental pancake breakfast, we lounged around at the chalet for a bit, then headed back for a second visit to Selin's Grove, making a weekend Selin's Grove sandwich, I suppose. Brewslut and I enjoyed a good old-fashioned game of Scrabble over a few beers. I had to go with the Barrel-aged Wee Heavy again, because it was just so damn good on Friday night. In addition, I also had a Priestley Pale Ale on cask, which was delicious.
While there isn't much deviation from visit to visit, we enjoy getting away for the weekend at the chalet, where the fireplace is warm and there is always good beer nearby.
Growlin' at the Moon!
A few years ago (probably at the zenith of my BA activity), I got involved in a growler exchange BIF (Beer It Forward) called "Growlin' at the Moon." The premise of this particular BIF was to gather a geographically diverse group of fellow BAs and have each participant send a growler of fresh beer to another participant from a different state. The ultimate goal is to share fresh beer with someone who wouldn't otherwise be able to acquire said beer unless he or she drove to the state (or in many cases, the actual brewery!) in which the beer was brewed. Pretty cool idea, eh?
The other cool thing about this growler exchange is that each cycle follows the phases of the moon. The cycle begins at the start of the moon cycle, and each participant has until the end of that cycle (or the beginning of the next moon cycle) to purchase, package and ship the growler to his or her "target". It really is a lot of fun, and you never know when your growler will land on your doorstep, or where from where it will be traveling.
So I recently decided to re-enlist in Growlin' at the Moon after a short hiatus in "beer trading," and I was pleased to find a box from Illinois sitting on my doorstep last Thursday afternoon! I shared the growler (Bear Claw Wheat Wine from Flossmoor Station, brewed with maple syrup and Weihenstephan yeast) with Brewslut, Dan and Kristen on Super Bowl Sunday, and it was quite delicious. I won't bore you with the details of the beer, but if you are interested, you can check out my BA review by clicking here.
In addition to sending a growler, it is also customary to include a few "extras," such as bottles, glassware or other brewery swag. I was delighted to find two 22oz. bombers from Half Acre Brewing - Big Hug Imperial Stout and Double Dare IPA, both of which I've never had before. Additionally, there was a 12oz. bottle of Three Floyd's Zombie Dust (an amazing Pale Ale that Brewslut brought back after her last trek to Great Taste of the Midwest), a tiny bottle of a homebrewed Barrel-aged Stout (hysterically named "Cupping the Bals") and a Flossmoor Station pint glass. Wow! A very nice haul, indeed!
As for my target, I sent a growler of Selin's Grove's Stealth Tripel as well as a bottle of Troegenator and Philadelphia Brewing Co. Joe Coffee Porter. I'm looking forward to the next cycle, and will report on what I send as well as what I receive. Cheers!
The other cool thing about this growler exchange is that each cycle follows the phases of the moon. The cycle begins at the start of the moon cycle, and each participant has until the end of that cycle (or the beginning of the next moon cycle) to purchase, package and ship the growler to his or her "target". It really is a lot of fun, and you never know when your growler will land on your doorstep, or where from where it will be traveling.
So I recently decided to re-enlist in Growlin' at the Moon after a short hiatus in "beer trading," and I was pleased to find a box from Illinois sitting on my doorstep last Thursday afternoon! I shared the growler (Bear Claw Wheat Wine from Flossmoor Station, brewed with maple syrup and Weihenstephan yeast) with Brewslut, Dan and Kristen on Super Bowl Sunday, and it was quite delicious. I won't bore you with the details of the beer, but if you are interested, you can check out my BA review by clicking here.
In addition to sending a growler, it is also customary to include a few "extras," such as bottles, glassware or other brewery swag. I was delighted to find two 22oz. bombers from Half Acre Brewing - Big Hug Imperial Stout and Double Dare IPA, both of which I've never had before. Additionally, there was a 12oz. bottle of Three Floyd's Zombie Dust (an amazing Pale Ale that Brewslut brought back after her last trek to Great Taste of the Midwest), a tiny bottle of a homebrewed Barrel-aged Stout (hysterically named "Cupping the Bals") and a Flossmoor Station pint glass. Wow! A very nice haul, indeed!
As for my target, I sent a growler of Selin's Grove's Stealth Tripel as well as a bottle of Troegenator and Philadelphia Brewing Co. Joe Coffee Porter. I'm looking forward to the next cycle, and will report on what I send as well as what I receive. Cheers!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Imminent Liquidation - The Second Coming!
The second annual "Imminent Liquidation" Bottle Share Event will take place at The Central PA Hotel & Conference Center (aka Best Western Premier) in Harrisburg, PA on Saturday, March 3, 2012 between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM.
The event will allow craft beer enthusiasts to dust off and share rarities from their cellars with fellow BAs. If you don't have any rare beers, feel free to bring a favorite from your fridge to share. It doesn't have to be a white whale or an uber-expensive corked and caged, hand numbered, limited edition, once-and-done batch. Just bring some good beer to share with everyone!
There is no admission cost to enter the event, although you are required to bring beer (typically a few bombers, a growler, or some 12oz. bottles, or any combination of the above). Food will be available via the standard O'Reilly's Taproom menu, and will be pay as you go. You are not required to buy food at the event, however.
All participants will be required to wear nametags, which will be available at the greeting table upon entry to the event. Participants will also receive one FREE raffle ticket upon entry at no additional charge. Later in the afternoon, we will raffle off a few beer-related items donated from fellow BAs and area businesses. Please note that raffle tickets will NOT be available for purchase, and each participant will receive only one raffle ticket. ALSO, PLEASE PLAN ON BRINGING YOUR OWN TASTING GLASS. Please try to bring a small 4oz. to half pint glass rather than a full pint glass, if possible.
The hotel has plenty of rooms available to accommodate those who plan to attend the event but must travel from afar.
Imminent Liquidation is sponsored by The Central PA Conference Center & Hotel in conjunction with The Pour Travelers beer blog (www.ffejherb.blogspot.com).
For more information about Imminent Liquidation, please beer email Ffej at ffejherb@gmail.com. Please do not contact the hotel directly for details about the event.
The Central PA Conference Center & Hotel is located at 800 East Park Drive, Harrisburg PA, easily accessible from I-83, exit 48 (Union Deposit Road). For location information, directions or room reservations, please visit http://www.thecentralhotelharrisburg.com/ or call (717) 561-2800.
The event will allow craft beer enthusiasts to dust off and share rarities from their cellars with fellow BAs. If you don't have any rare beers, feel free to bring a favorite from your fridge to share. It doesn't have to be a white whale or an uber-expensive corked and caged, hand numbered, limited edition, once-and-done batch. Just bring some good beer to share with everyone!
There is no admission cost to enter the event, although you are required to bring beer (typically a few bombers, a growler, or some 12oz. bottles, or any combination of the above). Food will be available via the standard O'Reilly's Taproom menu, and will be pay as you go. You are not required to buy food at the event, however.
All participants will be required to wear nametags, which will be available at the greeting table upon entry to the event. Participants will also receive one FREE raffle ticket upon entry at no additional charge. Later in the afternoon, we will raffle off a few beer-related items donated from fellow BAs and area businesses. Please note that raffle tickets will NOT be available for purchase, and each participant will receive only one raffle ticket. ALSO, PLEASE PLAN ON BRINGING YOUR OWN TASTING GLASS. Please try to bring a small 4oz. to half pint glass rather than a full pint glass, if possible.
The hotel has plenty of rooms available to accommodate those who plan to attend the event but must travel from afar.
Imminent Liquidation is sponsored by The Central PA Conference Center & Hotel in conjunction with The Pour Travelers beer blog (www.ffejherb.blogspot.com).
For more information about Imminent Liquidation, please beer email Ffej at ffejherb@gmail.com. Please do not contact the hotel directly for details about the event.
The Central PA Conference Center & Hotel is located at 800 East Park Drive, Harrisburg PA, easily accessible from I-83, exit 48 (Union Deposit Road). For location information, directions or room reservations, please visit http://www.thecentralhotelharrisburg.com/ or call (717) 561-2800.
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