Brew Bits

Random Notes from Arizona

2008-11-20T20:57:00.003-05:00

The lovely wife and I just got back from a work/vacation trip to AZ. For the work portion we stayed at the JW Marriott Starr Pass. I was shocked to see so many craft beers on tap. Every restaurant we ate at in the resort (I think we ate at all of them) had some type of craft brew on tap. Lots of New Belgium beers (Fat Tire, 1554, and at least one other), Alaskan Amber, a Four Peaks (I think), and Nimbus Pale Ale served at all of our social functions (in bottles). I didn't really have a chance to take notes on anything (too busy), but I rememember liking the Sierra Nevada slightly better than the Nimbus (I had them back to back), but I drank more Nimubs, just to support a local brewer. Really the only glitch was one night at dinner (after just ordering a bottle of wine for the table, so I was locked into wine for a bit), I found out that the resturant had an IPA on tap (the server didn't know there was more than one type of IPA). After repeately (gently) inquiring about the IPA the server reported back that it wasn't an IPA, but an unmarked keg that no one knew what it was. He brought a sample of it and it was pretty good - definetly not an IPA - maybe an amber, but more brown ale flavor than most ambers. It was an interesting experience and a great resort for craft beer.

After the work portion of the trip was finished we went to spend a couple of days in Phoenix. I was able to try Oskar Blues Gordon - what a great beer! I only had a couple of them, but I really enjoyed them (maybe more so just because we can't get it here?). Again, didn't really take any notes on it, but really enjoyed it. The next night I had a bomber of Alesmith IPA - it was pretty good, but not as good as some of the IPAs I've had recently.

I've noticed that I've got quite a few IPAs in the fridge, and I'm thinking about having a blind tasting/sampling event with a small group of my friends. Any suggestions on a format - I'm thinking we'll maybe try 8-10 IPAs and blind rank them from best to worst. I am a bit concerned about how much we'll need to drink to really get a good taste, and how much of some of the random beers I have (or don't have, as the case may be).

Also, anyone know the law regrading having beer shipped in from another state or how shipping works when visiting another state? I was tempted to try to put some beer in my luggage, but didn't want all my stuff getting ruined if there were an accident, and I thougth about trying to carry some on the plane, but wasn't sure how that would work with a briefcase and laptop. Any suggestions on how to bring beer back home when visiting another state, but not driving?

Thoughts?

ps - to Hoosier Beer Geek - I really like the green shirt!

Southern Tier - Imperial Cherry Saison

2008-11-20T20:45:00.003-05:00

What: Southern Tier Imperial Cherry Saison
Style: Saison
Vessel: Tulip Glass
Price: Don't remember
Where: Home
When: November 20, 2008
Rating: 4
Comments: This is another purchase from Chi-town. Not sure what made me pick this one up, other than not being able to get it around here (I think). It's not a bad beer, but not a great beer. As it warms, it improves (quite a bit). It has a traditional saison flavor (earthy, fruity), but it's also has quite a touch of alcohol in the finish. I'm not a huge fruit or saison fan, so I'm not really sure why I picked it up, but if you like either type of beer you're probably going to like this one.
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/southern-tier-cherry-saison/88358/

Random Notes

2008-11-04T20:19:00.003-05:00

Before Sunday's Colt's game, a good friend (and the guy I get season tix with) and I tailgated. We took the opportunity to drink some fresh hop beers and one stood about above the rest - Three Floyd's Broodoo. Man that was a great beer! More to come on that, and the other beers we sampled.

Also, I ran to Kahn's (or is Big City Liquors - the store on 52nd and Keystone) on Friday to pick up some wine that I couldn't find most other places and while I was there I decided to check out their beer selection. Despite a pledge not to purchase any more beer until we're in our new home (our coat closet is full of boxes, full of beer, that I need/want to drink), I decided to buy some fresh hop beer. As I was wandering the aisle, Andy (I think that was his name), the beer manager and I struck up a conversation. What a great experience - he gave me a lot of very good guidance, we talked quite a bit about the beers we like and he even cracked open a Founder's for a sample. I would say their prices are average, but the helpful attitude, selection and overall experience were tremendous! One thing I didn't realize - to buy a sixer of Bud, or other macro (in bottles) is about $6 now! That's amazing - makes me feel a little better about spending $8-$11 for a sixer of craft beer (a little, but not a lot).

Haven't had a chance to go back to Pikk's recently, but I'd be interested to hear anyone's experience with it. A bunch of buddies and I went to Scotty's Brewhouse the same night they were having their Octobrew fest - it was interesting - a big tent in the parking lot, with a $5 entry fee. We didn't choose to go to the tent party (why pay $5 to get basically the same beer as they had inside the resturant)? It didn't appear to be a rousing success for them - I'd be intersted to see if they hold it again next year. If so, I think they need to tweak their approach.

One last note - the folks from Newcastle's PR agency were kind enough to send a sixer of Newcastle (thanks!), and some promo notes about their holiday MAN-ual. The MAN-ual pages I got were interesting. One was a recipie for a beer-nog shooter - Newcastle and egg nog in a shot glass (a kind of black and tan idea - Newcastle on the bottom, egg nog on the top). Can't say that I'll be trying that one out, but I will enjoy the beer - Newcastle is one of my defaults at restruants that don't have much of a craft beer selection. Evidently the recipies from the MAN-ual come from TV personality "Sam the cooking guy". Interesting idea with average execution - if they keep this tradition going and build on it, I think they might have a winner (think of the point of sale displays they could have - a LOT of potential there).

Avery Anniversary Ale 14

2008-11-04T19:55:00.003-05:00

What: Avery Brewing Company - 14th Anniversary Ale
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Vessel: Tulip Glass
Price: $4.99 (22 oz)
Where: Home
When: November 4, 2008
Rating: 3
Comments: Wow! This beer has a ton of stuff going on! A lot of malt and a lot of tart fruit (not a tart apple, but maybe cherry?). It's a little boozy (although as it warms, it surprisingly is less apparent), but not too bad. This is super carbonated also - when I first poured it, there was a huge foam head, but it quickly disappeared. Also, this is a dark beer - darker than I expected - stout like dark. This is my first Avery beer and I'm glad I bought some others. It's a departure from the IPA, hop bomb stuff I normally drink, but I like it (especially for the price).
Ratebeer Link: yeah - you probably know about the problems at ratebeer - they're struggling a bit right now.

Jolly Pumkin Artisan Ales - ES Bam Hoppy Farmhouse Ale

2008-10-21T20:42:00.003-04:00

What: Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales - ES Bam Hoppy Farmhouse Ale
Style: Saison
Vessel: Tulip Glass
Price: $9.99 (750 ml)
Where: Home
When: October 21, 2008
Rating: 4
Comments: Yet another pick up in Chi-town. I poured this beer a little aggressively and man did it foam up. There is a lot of head to this beer and a lot of lacing on the glass. It's a very aromatic beer - musty, a little funky and yeasty. The flavor seems to start very leathery and then ends with quite a bit of sour apple. It is a little thin tasting. I'm finding that I'm not the biggest fan of Saison style beers. It's a well crafted beer, but not one of my favorites. Having said that, I'd happily try other Jolly Pumpkin beers.
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/jolly-pumpkin-es-bam/84761/

Southern Tier Brewing Company - Tripel

2008-10-20T21:05:00.003-04:00

What: Southern Tier Brewing Company - Tripel
Style: Tripel
Vessel: Tulip Glass
Price: $6.99 (22 0z.)
Where: Home
When: October 20, 2008
Rating: 4
Comments: Another beer picked up on the Chicago trip. For a 9% beer, this was amazingly alcohol free in the taste department. It has a strong malt flavor at the beginning, smoothed out by a little crispy hoppiness at the end. Not a bad beer, but not anywhere near my favorite tripel. Seems like a pretty basic beer.
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/southern-tier-tripel/40410/

Bear Republic Brewing Co. - XP Pale Ale

2008-10-19T19:09:00.003-04:00

What: Bear Republic Brewing Co. - XP Pale Ale
Style: American Pale Ale
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $6.99 (22 oz bottle)
Where: Home
When: October 19, 2008
Rating: 2
Comments: This is a great beer! I picked this up in Chicago and decided to crack one open while watching the Colts game (disappointing loss). What a smooth carmel-y beer. A great carmel flavor with just enough hop to make it a little bitter (and tasty). When I first pulled it out of the fridge I thought it was a bit over carbonated, but I let it sit for a bit and it really opened up and the carbonation dissipated. There was a bit of sedimet in the bottom of my glass when I had finished it, but it wasn't enough to deter me. Other than the Colts loss, this was a great drinking experience!
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/bear-republic-xp-pale-ale/7710/

Pikk's Tavern & Hot Shotz Update

2008-10-15T20:27:00.004-04:00

Well, I've been to Pikk's about four times since they've opened and I'm a big fan. The first several times they didn't have their taps installed and they were running two taps out of a cooler set up. We went back with some friends and sat in the dining room (not at the bar for the first time) last Friday and they had their full tap list available (word of warning - their tap list on their website wasn't current as of mid week last week).

The chef came out and chatted with us once while we were sitting at the bar and I was very impressed. He hails from a steakhouse background but wanted to do more creative cooking. In this all from scratch kitchen he gets that opportunity. I'd say the menu is a bit random (seems like they're trying to please everyone by offering a little bit of everything), but I haven't had anything that I didn't like. The mufaletta sandwich was awesome and the pork chops were the best I've had in Indy. That, along with a killer beer selection, will make Pikk's a top destination for me. They also have great specials during the week. I don't remember all of them, but I know on Monday they have $1 canned beers (nothing exotic - PBR, Old Style and one other I can't remember - Schlitz, maybe?) and $0.50 mini-burgers (which are awesome). I'd say if you're in the area you should check it out.

On the other hand I went into Hot Shotz last night to check out the new scene. If you're looking for a beer mecca, I'm not sure this is it. The tap list was good, but the bartender was clueless about beer. I was happy to see they had quite a few people in the place (and a lot of employees working to get up to speed). I don't know that I'll be going to Hot Shotz very much - while the food was OK, they seem to have moved away from their gastropub offerings and are going with more standard bar fare. Not necessarily a bad thing, but they've lost some of the magic they had in their old space.

Anyone else been to either place? I'd love to hear your thoughts

Moylan's Brewing Company IPA

2008-10-15T20:14:00.004-04:00

What: Moylan's Brewing Company IPA
Style: India Pale Ale
Vessel: Tulip Glass
Price: $3.99 (22 oz. bottle)
Where: Home
When: October 15, 2008
Rating: 3
Comments: On a recent trip to Chicago to cheer on a friend running his first marathon (way to go Joe!), we stopped by Sam's on our way out of town to pick up some beers I didn't think I could find in Indy. As a fan of IPA's, I grabbed quite a few bombers of different IPA's at different price points. This one was the cheapest. For a beer at this price point, it was really good. If it were readily available in Indy, I'd add it to the rotation (although it doesn't seem like I have a regular rotation).

I was drawn to this beer because it was an IPA, and because of the awards it's won. It's won various medals in the CA state fair and several WBC medals. It's a good IPA, but not with overwhelming citrus hop flavor - it's more pine-y than citrus-y. It's crisp and smooth with a fairly strong hop finish. If you can get your hands on some, I'd give it a whirl.

Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/moylans-ipa/1577/

2008-09-28T20:15:00.004-04:00

What: Three Floyd's Brewing Co. - Gorch Fock German Style Helles Lager
Style: Munich Helles Lager
Vessel: Tulip Glass
Price: $10.00 (22 oz) - purchased at Goose the Market
Where: Home
When: September 28, 2008
Rating: 3
Comments: This was my first adventure with a Three Floyds beer that wasn't a hop bomb. It might have even been my first experience with a Munich Hellles Lager (I don't remember having any others). Overall the beer was pretty good. It's nice to see Three Floyds can craft such a subtle beer. It had a smooth mouthfeel - almost a little buttery (in a good way). It had a touch of citrus to it and it was a little grassy with a bit of malt mixed in for good measure. It wasn't what I expected out of Three Floyds, but I'd drink it again.
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/three-floyds-gorch-fock-helles/45534/

Quick Beer Notes - Recent Tastings

2008-09-16T19:09:00.004-04:00

Well, I haven't been as diligent on posting as I hoped to be after Labor Day, but once we get our whole housing situation figured out I hope to be better. Anyway, onto the beer "reviews":

Miller Lite Brewer's Collection Blond Ale - 5 rating.

I was lucky enough to have some of this sent to me from the kind folks at Miller's PR firm (interestingly enough the guy who sent them married a girl who went to the same HS in Indy that I went to). I wanted to like it, I really did. Unfortunately, I didn't really care for it. It tasted a bit flat and it left a slimy mouth feel. It wouldn't have been too bad except for the whole slimy mouth thing.

Bell's Third Coast Old Ale - 3 rating.

I had this one left from our trip to the Bell's Brewery this summer. Just like most of the beers I ended up bringing home from the brewery it was very solid. Nothing too amazing, but just a rock solid beer.

Sierra Nevada Wheat Beer - 4 rating.

I saw this at Trader Joe's (available as a single bottle), and decided to give it a whirl. It was OK, but not remarkable. I thought it was a little watery and lagery. I normally don't mind wheat beers, but for some reason this one didn't really do it for me.

Brewbits Red - 6 rating.

This is an OLD homebrew I had in the fridge (I'm still working through my old homebrews). I haven't had one of my homebrews in a long time. Now I remember why I quit brewing - not very good beer. It had no head or carbonation to it, it was VERY dark, and very watery. It was a little better than I remember it being, but with all the great stuff out there why drink bad beer?

Clipper City Brewery Heavy Seas Red Sky at Night Saison Ale - 2 rating.

This came courtsey of the Beer of the Month club. I've been holding off drinking any of the BOM club beers until I could do a "proper" review. I couldn't hold off any longer. This is a good beer. A really good beer.

I didn't really look too much at the label until after I poured the beer. I was expecting a red (yeah, I should have read the label), but it's a Saison. Have I mentioned that I liked this beer? It's extremley smooth. It tastes a bit more like a traditional Belgian beer with flavors like banana, a little clove, citrus flavor, wheat, yeast, etc. It's very good. I hope this is an indicator of the other Clipper City beers that came in the BOM box.

HotShotz and Scotty's Update

2008-09-16T18:45:00.004-04:00

Well, hat tip to Generik , it looks like I was wrong about HotShotz. They're not done - they're just done at their old location. I drove by the old Bennigan's site at 1-69 and 96th (very close to Fry's), and sure enough there was a now hiring sign out front, HotShotz logo'ed notes on the door and workers inside. Not sure what an open date will be, but it looks like they're trying to make a go of it in a new location. They'll need to wrap some serious PR around that location. The good thing is that there are a few hotels right in the area that will feed them some business and if they do some lunch specials there are quite a few businesses that can help drive their daytime revenue.

Also, I was at Scotty's this weekend and my memory wasn't quite correct (see previous post). No Rogue beers on tap (hopeful thinking on my part). They did have Magic Hat #9 (mmm...good stuff), Three Floyds Alpha King (tap was dry, and had been for a few days....that means they're selling more than anticipated, hopefully. That also means they'll be willing to try more unique beers that you can't find elsewhere). They had a few other new ones, including Abita Turbodog and Shiner Bock. Good food and an increasingly good selection of craft beer? Count me in!

Is it offically over for HotShotz?

2008-09-11T21:28:00.004-04:00

Well, it looks like it might be over for HotShotz. Earlier this week I was hopeful - there as a box truck on site and it looked like work was being done. Well, I think work is being done, but not by the owners. Coming home from work the sign was no longer up and my wife reported that there were crews inside cleaning out the inside.

Can anyone provide additional details?

Also, on a different note - while at Scotty's Brewhouse last week the server told us they were going to be getting quite a few new beers on tap. If I remember correctly they're adding some Rouge beers, some Three Floyd's and a few others that I can't think of right now. I'm looking forward to the expanded selection (especially considering the fact that I've lost hope for HotShotz).

Went to Brugge last night and it was surprisingly easy to get a table. Enjoyed a sample of the Brown (good, but potent - 11+%), had a pint of the German beer (for some reason the name escapes me...it's been a long week, I must be tired), and a pint of the Triple (always a favorite of mine).

One last note - drove past the Granite City build site at 96th and Meridian this evening. Looks like they're making good progress (frame is up and wrapped), and they've added a banner out front letting folks know they're coming soon.

Brass Monkey Brewpub

2008-08-26T23:11:00.009-04:00

We had a chance to stop by the Brass Monkey Brewpub on our way up for a long lake weekend. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. What might have surprised me the most was the size of the samplers - wow - about 6 oz. for each glass - I don't remember exactly how much it was, but I'm thinking $9-$10. Here's a pic of the sampler I enjoyed on their alley porch:Here's a photo of each side of their beer descriptions:

Here's a picture of their (impressive) tap board and their taps (most of them made it into the pic):

I decided to sample only the Brass Monkey beers because I knew I couldn't get them in Indy. Overall they were more polished than I expected - I enjoyed them quite a bit.

Here are my notes:

White Flag Wit - 3 rating - Fruity, clovey (or maybe a little rubbery?) and appley. It was very smooth with thick mouth feel. I really enjoyed it except for small off flavor I couldn't identify, but by no means was it not worth trying.

Green Tea Pale Ale - 3 rating - Hmmm...tastes like green tea. Interesting. I don't have strong feelings one way or another about green tea, but I do like a good pale ale. This fits in the good pale ale category. It's a good change of pace.

Tenacious Apple Triple - 2 rating - This was my favorite beer of the outing. I had the lowest expectations for this one (just due to my personal tastes), but this was a good beer. Extremley smooth, especially for a beer with 10% abv. I would have had another one of these if we didn't have an hour and a half drive ahead of us.

Speak No Evil Belgian IPA- 3 rating - Solid. Nothing remarkable, but a very well done IPA.

See No Evil IPA- 4 rating - I think it's a matter of personal preference and not brewing ability. This beer was well done, but I don't think I enjoy dry hopped beers.

I tried to sample the Silver Back, but they were out of it when we happened to stop by.

As far as the food is concerned, I tried their tenderloin and it was definetly home made (and good). The food was cheap (we ordered two sandwiches, an order of sweet potato fries, regular fries, an iced tea and a beer sampler and got out of there for under $30), and the service was attentive (and helpful). I was a little leery about our server's knowledge (when I asked about their beers she told me the Wit was kinda like a Coors Light - I don't think the brewer would have appreciated that), but she ended up steering me in the right direction on which beers to include in the sampler. She also was very interested in how we like everything, but not in an annoying way.

One interesting note from the wife - how in the world does a place that brews their own beer not brew their own iced tea (the wife will only drink brewed iced tea - she's doesn't drink beer, but she knows good (and bad) tea when she sees it).

If you're in Kokomo, or passing through Kokomo, it's definetly worth a stop. I know we'll probably make it a must stop every trip to (or from) the lake.

A partial list of beers I've had since my last review

2008-08-19T18:51:00.004-04:00

Well, I'm still slacking on my posts, but that doesn't mean I'm not sampling beer. Here's a list of the beers I've had since I last "reviewed". Also, I hope to post a summary of the Bells Brewery (really just the cafe & general store, as they don't do brewery tours) and an outing at BJ's in Greenwood. Unfortunately I'll be out of town for the beer gathering at Scotty's this weekend, and I wasn't able to make it to the HBG anniversary party at Brugge (regrettably - it looked like a blast).

Here's the rough list, with ratings, and any brief notes I might have taken:

Bell’s – Special Double Cream Stout 3

Founder’s – Dry Hopped Pale Ale 3

Stone – IPA 3

Boulder Beer – Buffalo Gold Golden Ale 3 or 2
Very good for an ale – a little buttery

Boulder Beer – Single Track Copper Ale 3

Mishawaka Brewing Company – Hop Head Ale 4
Musty, but it improved as I drank it

Goose Island – Pere Jacques 2

Smuttynose Brewing – Robust Porter 3

Dark Horse Brewing Co. – Too Cream Stout 2

Bell’s – Sparking Ale 2

Bell’s – 3^rd Coast Old Ale 3

Harpoon – IPA 3 or 4
Watery

Mad Anthony – IPA 3

Vieille Provision – Saison Dupont – Brasserie Dupont – Belgian Farmhouse Ale 4

Smuttynose – Portsmouth Lager 3

Bell’s – Big Porch Ale 2008 3
Sedimenty

Lake Placid – Ubu Ale 3

Shock Top Belgian White 5

Black Sheep Brewery - Monty Python Holy Ail Ale 4 or 5

Bell’s – Consecrator Doppelbock 3

Bluegrass Brewing Company – American Pale Ale 3

Bell’s – Lager of the Lakes 5

Mikkeller – Struise Mikkeller (Rate Beer) 2

Bell’s – Kalamazoo Stout 4

Goose Island – Demolition 3

Chimay Ale Peres Trappister Tripel White 3

Broad Ripple Brew Pub – Amarillo Lager 3

Broad Ripple Brew Pub – IPA 3

Piraat Ale – Br. Van Steenberge 3

Bell’s – Bourbon Barrel Aged Cherry Stout 4
An assault of cherry and bourbon (improved as I drank it)

Sam Adams – Cherry Wheat 4

Sam Adams – Light 5

Lexington Brewing Company - Kentucky Ale 3

Most, if not all of these beers were in the beer fridge at the old house and had to be quickly consumed, as we didn't have room for them along with everything else in our "regular" fridge when we moved into the apartment. I still have a bounty of beer (much to the dismay of the movers who had to move everything up three flights of stairs) in our closet that I will drink at a slower pace, hopefully allowing for better reviews. We've still got the two produce drawers full of beer that I need to drink before I can re-stock with any new beers, so any new beer reviews might have to wait until I've worked through those. Ahh, such a rough life.

We'll be out of town for a little bit, but after Labor Day I expect to have more regular posts, along with a weekly (or more frequent) beer news roundup.

Where the hell have I been?!

2008-07-25T15:56:00.004-04:00

After way too long of a hiatus, I'm back. Sorry about all that not posting, and stuff. I forgot how busy summer is. This summer has been especially busy - we bought a new town home (construction starts next week!), we got our house ready to sell, sold our house in 2 days, found an apartment, went on vacation, packed all of our stuff up and I launched a major project at work.

Anyway, you're not here to hear about all that. You're here to read about one of my favorite subjects - beer. Unfortunately I was out of town for every beer fest that has happened this summer (talk about poor planning on my part). Needless to say, I haven't been in the local beer loop lately, but I've been getting my fix from some of the local blogs (congrats to all the NKOTB(R) at HBG).

I've been drinking a lot of beer lately (trying to work through all the beer that was in my beer fridge at the old place - unfortunately there's no dedicated beer fridge at the apartment), and I'll post about that, but to catch up I'm just going to post a list of beers and ratings. If anything stood out, I'll list it, but otherwise it will be a fairly straightforward list. Once I'm caught up, I'll return to a "normal" review process. Also, during vacation we had a rainy day and decided to run up to Bell's - I'll post on that experience as well.

So, changing subjects, does anyone have an update on HotShotz? Our apartment is within walking distance to them and we tried to go to the cookout they were going to have on Monday night. We stopped by around 7 pm and there were no signs of life. I emailed them to see what the story was and didn't hear back. I'm hoping they get up and running soon - I've never been this close to such a great beer place.

Alright, that's all for now - sorry for the long absence, but I hope to post every few days.

Oh yeah, one more thing - a very good friend of mine and I will have a guys night on the town to take in some of the great beer that's being served locally - anyone had anything worth our time and effort? We're not sure what we'll be doing yet, but I'll open it up to your suggestions.

News May 8 - 20

2008-05-20T22:07:00.000-04:00

Alright, after a longer hiatus than expected, here are some links I found interesting. Hopefully I'll get some beer "reviews" up in the next few days. I've got quite a few to post.

Onto the news:

Beer for dogs - even man's best friend needs a good beer every now and then.
Looks like Miller has announced price increases for the next two years. I'm sure this is a sign of things to come from other brewers as well - raising input prices = more expensive beer.
Here's an article out of Cleveland regarding the popularity of bock beers this time of year. Anyone have any favorites they'd like to recommend?
Looks like the folks to the north, in Canada, are getting pretty excited about American craft beer. When they can't get their fix, they travel to Buffalo to buy hundreds of dollars worth of beer.
Will Three Floyds follow the lead of other craft brewers and start distilling liquor? Has anyone had the Rouge Gin?
Will PA finally end their sales by the case law? Here's an editorial regarding the lawsuit.
Anyone in Chicago enough of an insider to get invited to the Glunz Global Beer Expo? Sounds like a pretty interesting event.
Looks like Diaego won't close the Guinness brewery after all - here's an update.
A former head brewer at Great Lakes Brewery is now heading up brewing operations at a new brewpub in Akron, OH.
Even Wired magazine is reporting on the increase in prices related to brewing beer. They talk a bit about how folks are changing their recipes to cope with the price spikes.
Here's a great article about the history of beer in Cincinnati and the reintroduction of Morelein beer. Looks like it will hit Indy soon - I'm interested in trying the "discovery" pack. Anyone see it on the shelves?
Memorial Day weekend is the 2nd biggest weekend for beer sales - an estimated 21 million cases will be sold. Who knew that 50% of all beer sold during the summer is "premium" beer. I'd be interested in finding out the definition of premium, as Nielsen defines it.
Miller says their cheaper beers are seeing a growth in sales at the expense of their middle of the road, flagship products.
Is vintage beer the next big thing? Looks like Newsweek tried a few at Gramercy Tavern in NYC.
Another Newsweek article about craft beer - this time about it's growth and the influence they're getting in DC.
Coors is having significant growth, especially compared to the other macros. Is it all about the brand?

Beer News & Blog Roundup - May 5-8

2008-05-08T18:30:00.000-04:00

Any good Cinco de Mayo stories out there? Last year we were on a cruise at this time and we were Cozumel for 5/5 - I shouldn't have been too surprised that no one in Cozumel seemed to care that it was 5/5 other than one bar that was right by the port for the cruise ship. In fact I had forgotten about it until as we were getting ready to get back on the ship and we passed a group of folks (fellow cruise ship passengers) with about 20 empty Corona bottles on the ground and one of them was shouting something like "Cinco de Mayo - whoooo!!!!" Ahhh, good times, good times.

I'll be out of town on a fishing trip until next weekend, so this will probably be my last post until 5/17.

Here's some news from the last few days:

Looks like one of the drivers behind the Pyramid - Magic Hat merger was the costs associated with being a public company.
Here's an article about rising hop prices (yes, another one) and some brewers tweaking their recipes.
Looks like most of the original Guinness brewery will be sold (except, of course, the store that attracts all the tourists).
"Obama Beer" in Kenya, isn't quite the same as Kennedy milk, in a lot of ways.
Here's a referendum I can get behind - one to repeal taxes in Maine on beer, wine and soda.
Is beer the new wine? They think so in NC. I say it's better and more complex than wine, but that's just me.
Will we start seeing more organic beer in the marketplace? If Bison's IPA was any indicator, I wouldn't mind.
Will Australia raise wine and beer taxes 300%?
Now this guy has one helluva beer can collection - over 2600 empty cans.
Anyone had a "black velvet"? Here's a NYT article on the drink (a mix of Guinness and champagne. I might need to try one. Thanks to Joey P for the head's up on this.

Here's a roundup of blog posts I've enjoyed this week:

The stale beer ethanol home pump is now available for only $10,000. You know, for those of you who have more $$ than sense.
Generik has a post about a beer brand I'm not familiar with (but would like to be) - Long Trail.
Another post from Generik about new brew pubs in and around Indy. I couldn't agree more about his west side comment (as a north-west sider).
Brookston Beer Bulletin has posted a list of the 10 worst beers in the world (from the Tampa Bay Times) - clever. I've only had the Beast (#9) .
Brew Blog has a roundup of earnings reports and beer releases and some other tidbits about some of the macros.
Looks like the folks at HBG have mixed feelings about the Three Floyds beer dinner at R Bistro. Here's the first post. Here's the second.
Looks like Flying Dog is growing their own hops, partly to offset the hop shortage?
DIG-B has some local tap updates.
Might AB be acquired? Via the Brew Blog.
Anyone been to Fireside on the south side yet? In addition to hearing about it on Matt's Beer Blog, my barber was telling me about it (she kinda, sorta knows the owner). All indications point to it being a pretty nice place.

Alright, that's it for now. See you after 5/17.

Left Hand Brewing Company - Warrior IPA

2008-05-06T21:30:00.001-04:00

What: Left Hand Brewing Company - Warrior IPA
Style: American IPA
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $5.99 (22 oz. bottle)
Where: Home
When: May 6, 2008
Rating: 2
Comments: Before I started this blog I received two beers from Left Hand Brewing Company (Deep Cover and Sawtooth ESB) as part of the Beer of the Month club. I remembered them being pretty good and saw this IPA offering on a stock up trip to the store. This one is what I like out of an IPA - smooth, bitter, and not very sweet. The hop profile isn't very citrus-y, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I do tend to prefer more of a citrus hop flavor (i.e. Hopslam). I'll be adding this one to the rotation (assuming I can find six packs). I didn't notice this on the bottle, but evidently this is a wet hopped beer - probably the best one I've had (not that I've had all that many).
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/left-hand-warrior-ipa/18691/

Blog Roundup

2008-05-04T22:09:00.002-04:00

Alright, I've been negligent in posting the last few weeks. In lieu of another News post, here's a post of some blog entries I've enjoyed (now that I've actually had the chance to read them):

DIG-B has a good update on Bada Boomz downtown.
Looks like the Big Car event the Beer Geeks had was a good time.
Beers of my Life has a review of Schlitz original recipe.
Generik has a great post about what sounds like a hell of a place to have a beer.

Goose Island Beer Co. - Imperial IPA

2008-05-04T21:22:00.000-04:00

What: Goose Island Beer Co. - Imperial IPA
Style: Imperial IPA
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $5.29
Where: Home
When: May 4, 2008
Rating: 3
Comments: Just got back from a great Sunday dinner of Hollyhock Hill. Best damn fried chicken in the city, if you ask me. What better than a comfort food Sunday dinner with some family from out of town and getting to meet a new addition to the family? Anyway, decided to have a beer and cracked this one open. It's malty, but not overly sweet. It has a very nice hop finish to it. I'm a fan.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/goose-island-imperial-ipa/21329/

Beer News - May 4

2008-05-04T16:30:00.001-04:00

Here's the news from the weekend:

Stanford students are enjoying home brew.
Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, here's a Chicago Trib article on Mexican beers.
Looks like wine makers are waking up to transport conditions (temperatures). Will craft beer makers follow their lead?
Looks like the older folks in TN don't like the "card everyone" law, and it will probably be changed.
Seattle is jealous of the BeerMenu website that just launched in NY. Is this a sign of the times - when will Indy get one (I'm guessing 2014 or so).
You know craft beer is gaining momentum when the LA Times starts a beer of the month feature.
Are these the next big things in brewing?
The National Restruant Association has listed craft beer as one of the top 10 "hot" items of 2008. Hopefully this will translate to more craft beer available, and more beer dinners.
Anyone know anything about Brass Monkey Brewing? Looks like they're getting ready to open up shop in Kokomo, IN.
Here's another article from TX about craft beers and their popularity.
Anyone been to any of these beer festivals?
Vermont has passed a law allowing for the sale of higher alcohol beer. Another victory for craft beer.
Will we soon be seeing a Granite City Food and Brewery here in Indy?

Three Floyd's Brewing Company - Behemoth Barley Wine

2008-05-04T15:37:00.004-04:00

What: Three Floyd's Brewing Company - Behemoth Barley Wine
Style: American Barley Wine
Vessel: Tulip Glass
Price: $4.50 (ish - I didn't see a detailed receipt)
Where: Hot Shotz Gastropub
When: May 3, 2008
Rating: 2
Comments: I had time to grab a quick lunch, and decided I was close to Hot Shotz, so why not get a good beer with lunch. I had a great burger, and a great beer. I'm normally not a huge barley wine kind of guy, but I enjoyed this one. It didn't have an overpowering alcohol flavor and it was nice. I'd say give it a try. I wasn't going to until Chris, one of the owners, offered me a free taster of it (and a couple of other beers). That's the benefit of getting there before any crowd starts arriving. I really need to add this place into the rotation. They've got great food, beer and service.
Ratebeer Link:http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/three-floyds-behemoth-barleywine/6055/

Three Floyd's Brewing Company - Dreadnaught Imperial IPA

2008-05-04T15:28:00.002-04:00

What: Three Floyd's Brewing Company - Dreadnaught Imperial IPA
Style: Imperial IPA
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $13.00 (22 oz. bottle)
Where: Bada Boomz Restaurant (Downtown)
When: April 25, 2008
Rating: 3
Comments: I split this bottle with Brewer McDuff, and I'm not finding many notes on it. I do remember liking it quite a bit. It's defenitely not a session beer, and a little goes a long way. I think I need to give it a whirl again to be able to comment on it more intelligently.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/three-floyds-dreadnaught-imperial-ipa/8933/

Bada Boomz Downtown - Samplers

2008-05-04T15:06:00.004-04:00

What: Bada Boomz Sampler
Vessel: Sampler Glasses
Price: $9.00
Where: Bada Boomz Downtown
When: April 25, 2008
Comments: Here's a continuation from the guy's night I had with Brewer McDuff. After dinner at Rock Bottom, we hit Bada Boomz for some good craft beer. We had a great time, with an entertaining bartender (Christopher). There was also a group of folks who stopped in on their way from Atlanta to DarkLord day (it was the next day). For an update on Bada Boomz, check out DIG-B. These are my comments.

Founder's Dry Hopped Pale Ale:

This was an OK beer. Didn't love it, didn't hate it. It had a bit of a smoky flavor, compared to some of the others we sampled. I also gave it another shot at Hot Shotz on 5/3 during lunch. My opinion hasn't changed.

Rating = 4

Mad Anthony IPA:

This seemed more like a pale ale than an IPA. Having said that, it was nice and hoppy. I'd order it again (and again).

Rating = 3

Bell's Hopslam:

Yeah, I really like this beer. The hand pull adds another dimension to it.

Rating = 1

Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA:

It seemed to have a smoky aftertaste, similar to the Founder's. It also seemed to have a nutty flavor. I was enjoying it until the aftertaste kicked in. I really didn't like how it finished.

Rating = 4

Stone IPA:

I enjoyed this one quite a bit. It was smooth and hoppy. It really seemed to smooth out at the end also. A very nice finish.

Bell's Oberon:

As the bartender, Chris, said - this is just like Blue Moon, but everyone loves it just because it's Bells. I wasn't crazy about this year's offering. There just wasn't too much to it. It tasted a bit like a lager to me. (For the record we sampled all the IPAs after all the non-IPAs).

Rating = 5

Red Hook CopperHook:

The mouth feel on this was a bit slimy, but not necessarily in a bad way. It seems a bit like Budweiser, but more "funky" (in a weird way). I don't think I'd get this again.

Rating = 5

Abita Turbo Dog:

I didn't write down too many notes 0n this one. I might need to give it another chance. My notes say "nutty, watery, but smooth".

Rating = 4 (with a 3 scratched out)

Brugge's Triple De Riple:

I really like this beer. It was pretty solid, but not as good as I remembered it being. Having said that, it was still one of the best of the night.

Rating = 2

3 Floyd's Gumball Head:

This had a nice floral hop profile for a wheat beer. It also had a nice hoppy flavor. Pretty good.

Rating = 3

Founder's Devil Dancer Triple IPA:

Christopher, the bartender, was nice enough to let us sample this one. He was raving about it. It was pretty good. It's an extremely complex beer. It had a nice hop profile, but it was also scotchy, warm and buttery. Evidently the only places this is on tap is at Founder's and at Bada Boomz (although they were almost out of it at Bada Boomz).

Rating = 3

Bison Brewing Company - Organic IPA (Columbus Hop)

2008-05-04T14:57:00.005-04:00

What: Bison Brewing Company - Organic IPA (Columbus Hop)
Style: American IPA
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $4.50 (22 oz)
Where: Home
When: May 3, 2008
Rating: 3
Comments: I found this beer at Goose the Market and decided to give it a whirl. I didn't have very high hopes for it, being an organic beer from Berkeley, CA, but I enjoyed it. It is part of a single hop series, featuring the Columbus hop. If had a nice hop profile and was crisp and clean. I'd recommend it.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/bison-ipa-single-hop-series---columbus/64943/

Introducing a new author

2008-05-04T14:45:00.003-04:00

Sorry it's been such a drought on the posts - work was kicking my butt last week. Anyway, we will now have a guest poster who will post beer related reviews at his leisure. He's a good friend of mine who I've shared many a beer with.

Here's his self penned (typed) introduction:

Hello Brew Bits readers, I am Brewer McDuff and as Brew Bits alluded to on the 29^th, I am going to be posing a guest blog every now and again. I, like Brew Bits, enjoy beer a lot and I especially enjoy trying new beers whenever possible. I am not a man of many words, and I am still trying to figure out how Brew Bits talked me into this, but I think that I might enjoy it.

Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery - Sampler

2008-05-03T14:55:00.002-04:00

What: Rock Bottom Brewery's Sampler
Vessel: Shot Glasses
Price: $6.79
Where: Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery
When: April 25, 2008
Comments: A good friend and I had a guy's night on the town and decided to hit the downtown Rock Bottom for dinner. Of course, for blogging purposes, we had to get the sampler plus a sample of the cask conditioned beer. Below are our thoughts - My comments are the Brew Bits comments (easy enough). His comments are the ones under Brewer McDuff.

Hefeweizen - Bavarian Wheat

Brew Bits says - This was a darn good beer. It didn't have too much floral or citrus aroma or flavor, but it was very nicely balanced

Rating = 2

Brewer McDuff says - There are two types of beer that I am especially partial to - wheat and IPA. Apparently the Hefeweisen beer was the seasonal beer and I'm glad it was. This was a very good hefe with a nice tart surprise at the end.

Rating = 4

Brickway Brown

Brew Bits says - Man this beer tastes like coffee. That's not a good thing in this case. I agree with A-dog - very much like a porter or a mocha latte with hoppy booze.

Rating = 5

Brewer McDuff says - I enjoy a good brown ale every now and again, but I wouldn't classify this beer as a brown. The beer board said that this beer was like a mocha latte with hops. This is a very apt descripton - much more like a porter than a brown.

Rating = 5

Circle City Light

Brew Bits says - This is what you would expect for a light beer from a micro brewer. It wasn't bad - true to the style, but with more flavor than the macro lights. A good intro to flavorful beer for those who aren't used to it.

Rating = 4

Brewer McDuff says - Not much to say about this beer. It tastes a lot like other light lagers, with a little more flavor, as Brew Bits stated. It's probably on the menu just for those who like to debate whether Bud Light or Miller Lite is the best tasting beer you can buy.

Rating = 5

Sugar Creek American Pale Ale

Brew Bits says - I'm a fan of Pale Ales. This is a pretty average pale ale. Not bad, not great.

Rating = 4

Brewer McDuff says - This is a pretty fair beer and I would drink a full glass of it, but only if they were out of the Hefe, or another cast ale.

Rating = 4

Racoon Red

Brew Bits says - I wasn't really sure what to think of this beer. It had the malt flavor of a darker beer - maybe a brown? It started off feeling and tasting like a red, but mid-sip it morphed into a brown. Not bad, just a mind fuck.

Rating = 4

Brewer McDuff says - Ditto, but I didn't like it as much.

Rating = 5

Hoosier Ma Stout Dry Irish Stout

Brew Bits says - For a stout this had a very light mouth feel. I'm used to (and enjoy) thicker stouts. It was pretty good and had a nice hop flavor in the middle.

Rating = 3

Brewer McDuff says - An average stout, but I agree, it could be thicker.

Rating = 4

Catcher in Rye - American IPA with Rye

Brew Bits says - This was my first rye beer. I'm not sure what I expected, but I enjoyed this. I'm sure the fact that it was an IPA helped my satisfaction level. It had a nice hop profile. Unfortunately it was a bit too carbonated for me, and the carbonation overwhelmed the flavor.

Rating = 4

Brewer McDuff says - This was my first rye beer as well. For some reason, I had always imagined that a rye beer would be very heavy with a bourbon taste to it, but this beer surprised me. If it's still there next time I hit the Bottom, I would order a pint.

Rating = 4

Altbier North German Ale

Brew Bits says - Another new experience for me. I had never had an Altbier before. I enjoyed this one much more than my friend did. It was lighter than a brown and it had a light coffee / caramel finish. It had a decent hop flavor and it was a little buttery. Every sip I had I thought of being on the deck grilling up some good BBQ. A good summer beer.

Rating = 3

Brewer McDuff says - I am not an altbier fan, so I won't bias your opinion by rating this beer.

Red Ale Dry Hopped with Simcoes - Cask Conditioned

Brew Bits says - This beer and the Bavarian wheat were my two favorite beers at Rock Bottom. I wasn't sure which to order a full mug of, and I decided on the Red Ale. It was smooth with a nice floral, hoppy flavor. It seemed to be very well balanced. A very good beer.

Rating = 2

Brewer McDuff says - This was the best beer of the evening. Of course, I'm a sucker for anything cask conditioned. The British have got it right by serving their beer "luke cold". This had plenty of flavor, but it wasn't overpowering. You could definitely have it with a meal, which I did.

Rating = 2

Rock Bottom Brewery and Restaurant - Northside

2008-04-29T22:21:00.002-04:00

What: Double Barrel Pale Ale
Style: American Pale Ale
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $4.20
Where: Rock Bottom Brewery and Restaurant - College Park
When: April 22, 2008
Rating: 3
Comments: This used to be a place we would go just about every week. After too much inconsistency between the food and service quality we stopped going there so frequently. Unfortunately, this was another "miss" for RB. The beer was good - better than the downtown pale ale. It's my default beer at this location, and it's always solid. Unfortuantely, you can't claim to be "serious about your beer" if your server NEVER knows what's on cask. No more than 10% of the time does the server know what beer is on cask when we ask. Disappointing. What's also disappointing is when your friend's car gets broken into in the parking lot - right in front of the entrance (he met us there mid-meal - his car was in the parking lot less than an hour). Not RB's fault, but not a good sign. I don't think we'll be back anytime soon.

Beer News - April 26 - April 29

2008-04-29T21:29:00.003-04:00

Sorry for no posts in a while - it's been a busy few days. Friday was a fun filled evening (posts will detail the eve), and the weekend was a lot of house/yard work and helping a friend move. Monday Mario Kart for the Wii arrived - what would you have done - post or play?

Here's a too long round up of the news:

Courtesy of the Brew Blog - sales of craft beers (in supermarkets) are still growing, but at a slower pace. A good sign is supermarkets are carrying more types of craft beers.
Student republicans in CA protested the proposed beer tax increase.
Courtesy of sevenpack.net - an interesting experiment with different types of glasses and Sam Adams. Of course one of the glasses was the newly released Sam Adams glass.
Applebee's is struggling. Here's a USA Today article on some of what they're trying to do to turn things around. Unfortunately they're not taking Ruby Tuesday's lead by having more craft beers. Nope, they want to focus on "the coldest beer in town". Oh, yeah and Black and Tans. Not a coherent beer/bar strategy, if you ask me. Maybe they'll get Heineken on tap.
For our friends in TX (or those soon visiting), here's a quick summary of the local craft beer situation.
A great profile on The Covey in TX and how they grew, in two years, into a gold winner at the World Beer Cup.
Looks like InBev will raise prices in May.
Some good news about enjoying a beer or two an evening - it can be healthy for you!
Looks like HBG is planning another event!
Barley Island is looking to add an outdoor seating area. As a side note - the wife and I tried to go there for a post dinner beer (can you believe Dom DiCarlos doesn't serve beer!). We walked in and got no acknowledgment from anyone (after standing around the front entry for at least 4-5 min), and then we walked out.
Magic Hat and Pyramid are looking to merge (courtesy of Brew Blog).
Can stale or cheap (very basic) beer be used to run cars? Gizmodo says maybe.
Looks like Washington Nationals fans might have more beer selections (as well as craft beers from visiting teams areas).
Sierra Nevada is introducing two new fresh hop beers. Courtesy Brookston Beer Blog.
Here's an interesting map showing a US map and the annual consumption of beer (by state).

OK...that's enough news for now. Stay tuned for some beer reviews, including some from a guest poster.

Beer News - April 25

2008-04-25T08:50:00.000-04:00

Looking forward to a fun evening of beer at the downtown Rock Bottom, BadaBoomz and then maybe the Rathskeller. See you downtown!

Today's news:

Despite rising input prices, Oregon craft brewers are breaking volume records for the state. A great sign for craft beers.
Next time I'm in NY, I'm using this site to navigate me to good beer.
Here's a follow up on the NCAA basketball tourney and beer advertising. NCAA is saying they were within their guidelines. The folks complaining counted time during pre and post game, which isn't subject to the limitation.
Now thestreet.com has an article about rising beer prices (and how to avoid drinking cheap beer while still trying to save a few pennies).

Beer News - April 24

2008-04-24T11:00:00.000-04:00

Still behind on posts, and it won't get better until the weekend. In the meantime, here's today's news:

Is beer and cheese pairing the next big thing?
FredFest in OR sounds pretty fun - 15 rare beers on tap - I'm in!
For the true beer geek (unfortunately, not me) - last chance to get your resume in to be a beer intern.
An article from Gary about DarkLord day.
Miller's Brew Blog broke the story about Bud's new American Ale. Here's a WSJ article about the rivalry. The first few paragraphs are free, then you'll need a subscription or trial account to read the balance of the article (which I haven't, but plan on reading).

Beer News - April 23

2008-04-23T07:28:00.000-04:00

Sorry no beer posts lately - I've got four I need to get done (hopefully tonight). Anyway, here's today's news:

Here is an EXCELLENT round up of 2008 award winning beers available in Indy. Hoosier Beer Geek knocked it out of the park on this one.
For those interested in politics (are we sick of the primary process yet) - here's a look at some former presidents drinking habits, and a commentary on the Hilary shot and a beer thing.
Is anyone surprised that Molson will be the official beer of the 2010 winter Olympics (held in Vancouver)?
Do you like bourbon barrel beers? Or other beers that have a bit of wood flavor (in a good way)? Here's an article that talks a bit about that segment.
A brewer in Weed, CA (who knew) is running into problems with the ATF because of their slogan "Try Legal Weed".
Despite rising prices, there might be a price war between the Macros.

Beer News - April 22

2008-04-22T08:28:00.000-04:00

Today's News:

Looks like VT is considering revising it's laws to allow craft beers above 8% alcohol (spurred along by Harpoon's Barleywine).
For those interested - here's a Wikipedia entry regarding state alcohol laws (including when & what they can sell).
Here's an interesting commentary that includes an email from AB's head brewmaster regarding Bud vs. craft beers.
Who knew the Department of Labor tracked beer costs? Here's an article about rising beer costs. Bottom line - the average 16 oz beer has seen a price increase of 4% over the last 12 months.
This falls under the - We thought this would be hilarious - until we got charged with felonies. If you're going to steal beer, don't steal bad beer.
I promise - when I make my trip to Cincy, I won't do what this guy did. He must of been gearing up for one hell of a party.

Beer News - April 21

2008-04-21T19:35:00.000-04:00

Here's today's news:

Here's a great story on the evolution of the beer fight in AL.
Looks like Budweiser is the only alcohol/beer brand that made the "top 100 brand list" (at # 70, as measured by their dollar value) put out by a brand measurement firm. For the curious, Google, GE and Microsoft were the top 3, respectively.
Brew Blog (the Miller beer blog), is giddy with excitement over Corona's situation (at least that's how I interpret this post). Corona is making a big Cinco de Mayo ad push. A-B is also getting in the Miller Chill game by creating Bud Light Lime. Miller is awfully proud of Miller Chill (although I'm not sure why - it's not very good). BTW, anyone doing anything fun, or know of anything going on for 5/5?
Look for an A-B green week push, featuring some folks from their Ft. Collins, CO operations.

Brugge Brasserie - Blonde

2008-04-20T17:05:00.002-04:00

What: Brugge Brasserie - Blonde
Style: Belgian Pale Ale
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $4.25
Where: Brugge Brasserie
When: April 20, 2008
Rating: 2
Comments: I wrapped up the evening by finishing off a Brugge Blonde. It was also a great beer. Our dining companion had recently been to Brugge for work and hadn't been to the restaurant in Broad Ripple, but after our experience last night, I'm sure we'll be going back for some mussels and beer sometime soon. He's also inspired us to add Brugge to the list of places to visit. I wasn't too sure after seeing the movie, In Bruges, but after his commentary on the city, it's on the list! The movie, by the way, was pretty darn good - a little more disturbing than I expected, but there are some great lines in the movie.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/brugge-brasserie-gentlemans-preferred-blonde/51781/

Brugge Brasserie - Black

2008-04-20T16:53:00.003-04:00

What: Brugge Brasserie - Black
Style: Belgian Dark Ale
Vessel: Tulip Glass
Price: $4.25
Where: Brugge Brasserie
When: April 20, 2008
Rating: 2
Comments: After enjoying a great cigar, we decided to move on to Brugge, in hopes of having a beer and a desert crepe. Unfortunately, we were too late for the crepe, but we were able to fit a few beers in. After starting with the Triple de Ripple (still quite enjoyable), I moved onto the Black. It was pretty solid. I remember it being a bit better the other times I've had it, but it is still worth seeking out and sampling. I would NOT recommend trying to make a "black and tan" with the Black and the Blonde - it's amazing what sounds like a good idea after a few drinks, vs. the reality of what a good idea is. Good thing we only poured about a shot of each into the glass, and not more!
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/brugge-brasserie-the-black/55500/

Guinness Ltd.- Guinness Draught

2008-04-20T16:40:00.005-04:00

What: Guinness Ltd. - Guinness Draught
Style: Irish Dry Stout
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $5.00 (I think, I don't remember exactly how much)
Where: Ambrosia Restaurant
When: April 19, 2008
Rating: 1
Comments: I've always been a big fan of Guinness and this experience was no exception. The only way to drink it is if it's on tap (like it was at Ambrosia). No need bothering with the can or the bottle (although the technology they've created for both serving styles is amazing). If you're reading this blog, you've probably already had Guinness. What is there to say about it - it's creamy, smooth and damn good.

As a side note we had a great evening, despite a few hiccups with the service at Ambrosia. I was very surprised by their selection of beers on tap. They had Goose Island IPA on tap, which was the first time I've seen it on tap anywhere. As much as I like the IPA from a bottle, the draft version was even better. Yum.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/guinness-draught/1267/

Beer News - April 20

2008-04-20T16:27:00.004-04:00

Now, here's today's news:

Looks like Shiner is entering the light beer segment (at least for the summer). I had the Shiner bock last year when I was out west. It was pretty good. Despite it being the "4th largest craft brewer", I don't remember seeing it 'round these parts.
Looks like the evil AB (or at least the distributor in AL) is trying to prevent craft beers from being sold in Alabama.
Looks like another brewery is jumping on the canning bandwagon.
Looks like Upland won a medal and Three Floyds won two, at the World Beer Championships. I haven't had any of the award winners, but I'm going to try to track them down. This link will get you to the complete award winners list.
Looks like the relaunched Schlitz's isn't selling as well as hoped. Is it overpriced at $9.99 for a 12 pack or $5.99 per six? Doesn't sound like it to me, but that's what the critics are saying.

Goose Island Beer Company - Weber Grill Backyard Brew

2008-04-19T15:39:00.004-04:00

What: Goose Island Beer Company - Weber Grill Backyard Brew
Style: American Pale Wheat Ale (?)
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $5.50
Where: Weber Grill
When: April 18, 2008
Rating: 4
Comments: Our annoying server was a little helpful (but I'm not sure if I believe him) when I asked about the Backyard Brew. He told us it was basically Goose Island's 312 Urban Wheat Ale. I'm not sure I believe him. It's been a LONG time since I've had the 312, but when this beer arrived it didn't seem to have the body of a wheat ale. Who am I to quibble with crazy (aka our server), though. If I were ever forced to go back to Weber, I'd get this beer. Otherwise I wouldn't seek it out.

Upland Brewing Company - Dragonfly IPA

2008-04-19T15:23:00.005-04:00

What: Upland Brewing Company - Dragonfly IPA
Style: American IPA
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $5.50
Where: Weber Grill Restaurant
When: April 18, 2008
Rating: 4
Comments: We went to dinner with some friends we haven't seen in a while. They suggested Weber. We had only been there once and didn't think too highly of it, but thought we would give it another try. We won't be back. Mediocre, overpriced food. I was impressed that they had the Dragonfly on tap (and some other fairly unique beers for a chain), but that's not enough to go back. Our server was annoying and slow and a bit of a pest every time he visited the table.

Regardless, how was the beer? Well, I have had Dragonfly in a bottle before, but never from a tap. My impression of it hasn't changed. It was nice and smooth, but not nearly hoppy enough for an IPA. I have a special place in my heart for Upland (being an IU grad and wishing they were there when I was in school), but I just can't get behind this beer.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/upland-dragonfly-ipa/7942/

Beer News - April 18 & 19

2008-04-19T15:00:00.000-04:00

No news yesterday - was a bit busy at work and then went straight to dinner. Here are some links from yesterday and today (and I'm looking forward to some posts about DarkLord Day):

I wonder if Lucas Oil will be selling this 3.2 beer instead of the regular macro beers (and not tell anyone)? This is another reason to drink craft beers, regardless of the event.
An interesting round up of seven Chicago area brew pubs.
I wonder if this will have much of an impact on Tsingtao sales here in the states.
Anyone read any books by Lucy Saunders? Here's an interview with her. I'm a little intrigued by the grilling with beer book (wonder if there are any good brine recipes using beer)?
Will we be seeing more German hops in beers due to the price spike? Here's a brewer that is experimenting with them (via Yours for Good Fementables blog) .
Are some states looking at lowering the drinking age (because they want to allow under 21 Iraqi war vets to drink)? I'm thinking it probably won't happen because of the potential to lose 10% of federal highway funds (when most projects are 80% fed and 20% locally funded).

Possible Jungle Jim's Trip

2008-04-17T19:10:00.002-04:00

A while back I thought I might need to take a day trip, for work, to Cincinnati. That got me thinking about stopping by Jungle Jim's (motivated by DIG-B's post about his trip). Now I'm not sure if the work trip is going to happen, but I can't shake the idea of heading down there to pick up some beer (especially beer we can't get here in Indy).

Frequent commenter Rodney also suggested The Party Source in Cincinnati, so I will probably try to stop there, also.

If I go, I'm going to pick up some Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye and some Victory Brewing Storm King Stout (thanks for the tip Matt). Any other suggestions?

Stone Brewing Co. - 06.06.06 Vertical Epic Ale

2008-04-17T19:04:00.002-04:00

What: Stone Brewing Co. - 06.06.06 Vertical Epic Ale
Type: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $7.99 (23 oz.)
Where: Home
When: April 16, 2008
Rating: 3
Comments: After trying the 2005 Epic Ale, I decided I might as well open this one up and give it a whirl. I enjoyed this one much more than the 2005 version. the 2006 was much darker than the 2005. It was maltier, smoother and I didn't notice any alcohol flavor like I did in the 2005. Now I feel obligated to track down the 2007 and give it a try. Any suggestions on where I might find it. I didn't really look for it at the Crown in Fishers, but I don't remember seeing it.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/stone-060606-vertical-epic-ale/60065/

Beer News - April 17

2008-04-17T09:00:00.002-04:00

Today's News:

Beck's is releasing a colorless beer in Germany. As I've said before, just because you can do something, it doesn't mean you should. The same article talks about a beverage for kids that looks like beer being released in Japan.
For those of you who read "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell", looks like they're now making it a movie. Again, just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Although I really enjoyed the dissertation on the McGriddle.
Coors is ending their guided tours at the brewery, but you can still self guide through.
Fat Tire is going to start canning their beers. Wonder if this will lead to more folks going this route (and if that will mean lower prices).

Stone Brewing Co. - 05.05.05 Vertical Epic Ale

2008-04-16T20:10:00.001-04:00

What: Stone Brewing Co. - 05.05.05 Vertical Epic Ale
Type: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $8.49 (23 oz.)
Where: Home
When: April 14, 2008
Rating: 4
Comments: I stumbled upon this beer at Crown Liquors up in Fishers (great store, by the way). I wasn't paying very close attention and just assumed this was the most current version of the Anniversary brew. Well, after I opened it I realized, nope - its from 2005. I decided to crack it open while doing some work (ya know, for the real job). Once it warmed up a bit, the flavors really developed. Unfortunately what also developed was a pretty strong alcohol flavor. It has the flavor of something that's been in a bourbon barrel. I'm normally not a fan of this type of beer, but this one is pretty decent.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/stone-050505-vertical-epic-ale/46629/

Beer News - April 16

2008-04-16T09:00:00.001-04:00

Now, here's the news from today (sorry for the late post):

Here's another article about the Goose Island situation. This one is from the Chicago Tribune. Some interesting tidbits about ownership of the brewery and Sam Adams, also.
For the greenies out there - looks like Long Tail Brewing is going to start using methane from cows to power part of their production.
Anyone seen these beers from Labatt's or Yuengling? I know we can't get Yuengling here, but just wondering if anyone has any experience with these.
Looks like that CA tax increase faces long odds.
A lighthearted article about craft brewers starting to can beer. Has a list of canned craft beer. Matt's Beer Blog recently reviewed a beer from Oskar (I think it's the same one mentioned in the article).
For those ice cream lovers out there - an article about beer floats. In the 5 years I worked at Ben & Jerry's I never thought of, or had anyone ever mention, a beer float.
This article geared towards convenience store owners doesn't bode well for non-national craft brewers.
Remember the Time article touting Denver as the best place for beer in the US. Looks like that ruffled some feathers in Portland (an awesome town - other than Indy, about the only other place I would consider living). Not an article, but a link to beernavana (a Portland blog I just found).
Not an article about beer, but about a place that serves great beer - Brugge's frites get a mention in the Indy Star.

Beer News - April 15

2008-04-15T09:00:00.001-04:00

It's a busy day, and not much news. Only one story today, dedicated to our Chi-town following.

For our Chicago friends - you probably already know this, but Goose Island is closing their pub in Clybourn. Looks like they couldn't come to terms with the landlord.

Beer News - April 14

2008-04-14T09:00:00.001-04:00

Here's today's news:

Looks like AB is losing market share.
It also looks like they're pretty worried (take it with a grain of salt - it is from Miller's blog).
Will they be acquired?
Anyone out there in training for the Beer Pong Championships in Vegas?
Now here's a real Scotsman. I hope I'm able to walk a marathon when I'm 101, let alone run one. I love that he stopped for a smoke, a beer and some homemade sandwiches along the way!

Upland Beer Tasting at BadaBoomz (via Hoosier Beer Geek)

2008-04-13T23:11:00.005-04:00

Hoosier Beer Geek has a post about an Upland tasting at BadaBoomz.

Check it out by following this link.

Also, DIG-B has information about a beer diner at BadaBoomz.

Check it out by following this link.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery - 60 Minute IPA

2008-04-13T22:53:00.005-04:00

What: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery - 60 Minute IPA
Style: American IPA
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: Gift
Where: Home
When: April 13, 2008
Rating: 3
Comments: This was a gift from my wife. She's got it figured out - women like flowers, men like beer (aka "guy flowers"). On traditional "flower" holidays, sometimes I get beer (thankfully, I never get flowers). We recently had one of those occasions, and I got a sixer of this and Hopslam. I wouldn't recommend drinking a Hopslam and then trying one of these. They don't compliment each other. In fact after having a Hopslam, this tastes pretty funny. Standing alone, this is a solid beer. Nice and hoppy. Not too sweet. Clean and balanced (you know, if your idea of balance is a crapload of hops - that's my idea of balanced). It's not outrageously priced (I don't think - I've never purchased it), and it's solid.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/dogfish-head-60-minute-ipa/7431/

Brasserie d'Achouffe - Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Triple

2008-04-13T22:35:00.003-04:00

What: Brasserie d'Achouffe - Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Triple
Style: Belgian IPA
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $8.99 (1 Pint, 9.4 ozs)
Where: Friend's house
When: April 11, 2008
Rating: 4
Comments: Now that's a damn mouth full. Not the beer, the name of the beer. The picture doesn't exactly match the beer. From what I could gather on their website, it's all about the gnome. Anyway, the beer was interesting. As my friend said "It's an acquired taste - one I haven't yet acquired." I think I might have liked it a bit more than he did (he gave it a 5), but I didn't love it. It goes back to the American IPA vs. English IPA (as frequent readers were kind enough to open my eyes to). Although this was a "Belgian IPA", it seemed very much like an English IPA. It had a very earthy/grassy hop flavor (which was quite a change from the two previous beers we had). My intel on this says pass based on the price and taste, unless you really like English IPAs.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/Ratings/Beer/Beer-Ratings.asp?BeerID=56757

Brouwerij Huyghe - Delirium Tremens

2008-04-13T22:32:00.000-04:00

What: Brouwerij Huyghe - Delirium Tremens
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $8.99 (25.4 fl. oz.)
Where: Friend's house
When: April 11, 2008
Rating: 2
Comments: After hearing this was the "Best Beer in the World", I had to add it to the list. It was a pretty darn good beer. It had a nice citrus and floral aroma and it really had a nice mouth feel to it. I'd say it's just a step below Triple de Ripple, both because of the flavor and because Triple de Ripple is a local. It's worth a go.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/delirium-tremens/1039/

Brewery Ommegang - Three Philosophers

2008-04-13T22:28:00.000-04:00

What: Brewery Ommegang - Three Philosophers
Style: Quadrupel
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $7.99 (25.4 fl. oz.)
Where: Friend's house
When: April 11, 2008
Rating: 3
Comments: We were able to meet up with some friends on Friday for a lovely evening. We walked, from their place, to the Goose and got some great lamb brats to grill. I brought over three beers for us to sample, and we did some planning for a lake vacation we'll take later this summer. Not too bad of a night! Onto the beer - I made the mistake of trying to drink this right after we poured it (right after it came out of the fridge). This is a beer that really needs to be served a little warmer (as they advise on the label). Once it "opened up" a bit, it really was a good beer. It was a bit too carbonated for my taste, but you could taste a subtle cherry flavor that added a bit of complexity to the beer. A solid beer by my standards.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/ommegang-three-philosophers/13667/

BrewDog - Punk IPA

2008-04-13T22:25:00.000-04:00

What: BrewDog - Punk IPA
Style: American IPA
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $13.99 (22.4 ozs.)
Where: Home
When: April 12
Rating: 3
Comments: This is a pricey beer. I wasn't going to pick it up, because of the price (and because of what I already had in the basket), but the lovely wife really liked the label. I thought - what the hell, it's an IPA and really if your wife is telling you that you should buy it, why wouldn't you. This beer was hoptastic. It definitely satisfied my hop fix. It wasn't overly sweet or malty, which is a good thing in my book. If it were a bit more reasonably priced, I'd buy it fairly often, but the price is a big factor. In fact after having this beer and reading Generik's review of JW Dundee's IPA, I'm inspired to look at some less expensive beers and do a "blind" taste test. Should make for an interesting evening.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/brewdog-punk-ipa/72423/

Beer News - April 12 -13

2008-04-13T21:58:00.005-04:00

Sorry for the delay - it's been a busy weekend.

Now, here's the news from the weekend:

Not really news, but here's an interesting site that will let you know how much a pint costs in over 145 countries.
Here's a pretty neat article from St. Louis that talks about brewers challenging themselves to brew "extreme" beers. Stone, AB, Schlafly, and Dogfish Head (what I happen to be drinking right now) are just some of those mentioned.
This wasn't reported nearly as much as the initial complaint from the Center for Folks who want to tell you what to do, but here's the Beer Institute's response to the complaint about beer advertising during the NCAA games.
Who knew Hillary is a Blue Moon fan?
Uh-oh, another is state eyeballing the beer tax. Even though Indiana raised ours a few years ago (I think it was about two years ago), we need to be vigilant to make sure we don't suffer the same fate.

Beer News - April 11

2008-04-11T08:20:00.001-04:00

Here are today's news listings:

Brooklyn Brewery - East India Pale Ale

2008-04-10T22:06:00.001-04:00

What: Brooklyn Brewery - East India Pale Ale
Style: English IPA
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $1.79
Where: Home
When: April 10, 2008
Rating: 5
Comments: I really wanted to like this beer. I'm not sure why I wanted to like it - maybe because I remember hearing some good things about this brewery. I can't say this was a great introduction for me. For an IPA, it's a bit different than I expected. It has a malty smell, but a hop taste (kind of). The hop flavor isn't the hop flavor I'm used to - it's more earthy (less pine or crisp than what I expect). I wouldn't buy it again, but I will try some of their other offerings.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/brooklyn-east-india-pale-ale/530/

Coors Brewing Company - Blue Moon Belgian White

2008-04-10T21:09:00.006-04:00

What: Coors Brewing Company - Blue Moon Belgian White
Style: Witbier
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $3.50
Where: Chili's (Trader's Point)
When: April 10, 2008
Rating: 5
Comments: Yeah, we went to Chili's again. I'm still not proud. I think I've been to Chili's more in the past month than I have in the past two years. The wife was having a boneless buffalo wing craving (pretty random, especially for her) and we were having dinner with the neighbor. Anyway, it was between Coors Light and Blue Moon (on tap - for beers I haven't "reviewed"). Which one would have you chosen? Yeah, I thought so. It's been a long time since I've dipped my toes in the Blue Moon waters. It was a better experience than I expected. It's not really a great beer that I'd seek out, but it's OK. Given the situation, I'm happy with my choice of beers (between the two). I did learn that Coors brews this - who knew? Not me.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/blue-moon-belgian-white-ale/2228/

Pennsylvania Brewing Company - Penn Weizen

2008-04-10T21:05:00.000-04:00

What: Pennsylvania Brewing Company - Penn Weizen
Style: Hefeweizen
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: Gift
Where: Home
When: April 10, 2008
Rating: 4
Comments: It's from the BOM! It has a nice taste to it. It's a bit more carbonated than I would prefer, but it's pretty decent. I'd say it's similar to the other offering from Pennsylvania Brewing Company - good, and a nice change of pace, but I'm not positive I would seek it out. If you happen to see one and the price is right, I'd say go for it.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/penn-weizen/3200/

Beer News - April 10

2008-04-10T08:26:00.003-04:00

Here are today's news listings:

Pennsylvania Brewing Company - Penn Dark

2008-04-09T22:25:00.000-04:00

What: Pennsylvania Brewing Company - Penn Dark
Style: Munich Dunkel Lager
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: Gift
Where: Home
When: April 9, 2008
Rating: 4
Comments: Another BOM club selection. If you're a fan of lagers, and dark lagers, in particular, I think you'll like this beer. It's pretty well done, but I'm not really loving this style of beer right now. I thought I'd give it a try since I hadn't yet written about either of the offerings from Pennsylvania Brewing Company. I recommend it if you like lagers. If you're more into hops, I'd say it's not worth seeking out.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/penn-dark-lager-beer/3202/

Lake Placid Craft Brewing Company - Ubu Ale

2008-04-09T21:06:00.001-04:00

What: Lake Placid Craft Brewing Company - Ubu Ale
Style: American Strong Ale
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: Gift
Where: Home
When: April 9, 2008
Rating: 2
Comments: This is another BOM selection from my awesome wife. I am really surprised at how much I like this beer. It's a little watery, but it's extremely smooth and not overly sweet. It's dark - darker than Newcastle. I can't believe how easy this is to drink. It's not at all what I expected, but I'm very happy with it. If you can get your hands on it give it a whirl, you won't regret it. I don't know why I'm surprised, but this beer, from Lake Placid, along with their IPA have made a pretty darn good impression on me. I think I might be up in that region for a business trip this year. If so, I'll be visiting the brewery.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/lake-placid-ubu-ale/15484/

Beer MBA (Master of Beer Apperciation)

2008-04-09T20:32:00.003-04:00

So I just finished reading the Nuvo article that was linked to from Hoosier Beer Geek. There's a quick mention of a local class on beer. It looks like you can get a "Masters of Beer Appreciation". It sounds like a pretty interesting way to taste a wide variety of beers in a nice, structured way.

The first class is this Saturday, and I don't think I'll be able to make it, but the other two dates might work. I'm going to do a bit more research on it (i.e. actually read the http://www.beermba.com site).

What say you - interesting or cheesy?

I'm placing myself in the "interested" camp.

Anyone been to Loon Lake Lodge?

2008-04-09T20:05:00.003-04:00

So, I'm at work yesterday and end up going to lunch with a customer/business partner. There's a group of several of us going, and is typical of a group we have a hard time deciding where to go. An out of towner suggested that we go to Loon Lake Lodge (it's close to my office). I've only been there once or twice before, always for lunch in a business setting.

The food is pretty decent (and not horribly overpriced), but the setting is too kitschy for me - I mean, really mechanical animals that "roar" on a loop?

We left via the bar, and I don't think I'd ever been through it. Taking a quick look at the handles on the taps, it looked like they had 8 - 10 beers, and only 2 or 3 of them were macros (in the traditional sense). I saw at least 2 Bells taps. I haven't had a chance to stop by again to confirm what I saw, but does anyone out there have any experience with beer at this place?

I can get over the atmosphere if the beer list and prices are good. An added bonus was that it's non-smoking.

Beer News of the Day (new feature)

2008-04-09T18:51:00.007-04:00

Not sure if there's much interest in this type of a thing, but I saw some interesting articles yesterday and thought I would post them, and start a new "feature".

Hat tip to DIG-B and his post about the Brewer's Association Top Brewer's List. It was one of the articles I was wanting to post. If that wasn't enough Generik Tap has a great post about Schlitz's comeback (hopefully we'll see it reach Indy). A third great article is posted at HBG - The first annual craft beer round table seems like a success.

Here's my contribution to the news:

I'd love to hear your comments on the idea of this "feature" and your thoughts on any of the articles.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company - Early Spring Beer (ESB)

2008-04-08T22:35:00.000-04:00

What: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company - Early Spring Beer (ESB)
Style: ESB
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $9.49 (6 pack)
Where: Home
When: April 8, 2008
Rating: 4
Comments: Alright, I know I've been saying I've wanted a good, hop drenched IPA. I thought I was looking for something bitter. Boy did I find it. This ESB is a good, bitter beer. After a few sips it mellowed out a bit and really was quite enjoyable. A great beer to have with some grilled (finally the weather has gotten better) jerk chicken. A good beer for a great day.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/sierra-nevada-early-spring-beer-esb/82791/

Great Divide Brewing Company - Hercules Double IPA

2008-04-08T22:32:00.000-04:00

What: Great Divide Brewing Company - Hercules Double IPA
Style: Imperial IPA
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $7.99 (22 fl. oz.)
Where: Home
When: April 8, 2008
Rating: 4
Comments: After a disappointing DIPA, I thought it was time to try another new one. The Hercules DIPA hung in pretty well. It was much less sweet (which, in my book, is a good thing) than Hop Juice, but it still didn't have the strong hop profile I'm looking for. Maybe I'm misguided here, but I really haven't had a DIPA that knocked my socks off. I'd say it's worth trying, and that I enjoyed it. Just go in with proper expectations.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/great-divide-hercules-double-ipa/32751/

Founders Brewing Co. - Devil Dancer

2008-04-08T22:31:00.003-04:00

What: Founders Brewing Co. - Devil Dancer
Style: Imperial IPA
Vessel: Sampler Glass
Price: $9.00 for a sampler of 5
Where: BadaBoomz (downtown)
When: April 7, 2008
Rating: 3
Comments: Wow - interesting. This is a pretty good beer - for the amount of hops, it's not too sweet. It's got a bit of a malty sweetness to it, but it's pretty enjoyable. I don't think I would run out and buy it, but if I saw it on tap again, I'd order it as part of a sampler. A full pint might be a bit much.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/founders-devil-dancer-triple-ipa/34518/

Brugge Brasserie - Triple de Ripple

2008-04-08T22:21:00.003-04:00

What: Brugge Brasserie - Triple de Ripple
Style: Triple
Vessel: Sampler Glass
Price: $9.00 for a sampler of 5
Where: BadaBoomz (downtown)
When: April 7, 2008
Rating: 1
Comments: Yeah. This is the stuff. This might be my favorite beer. It's tied with, or maybe just surpassing Hopslam. It's incredibly smooth and complex. Wow. Now this is what I'm talking about! Go find some. Now. Really - stop reading this and go find some. It's that good.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/brugge-brasserie-tripel-de-ripple/46931/

Rogue Ales - Dead Guy Ale

2008-04-08T22:02:00.002-04:00

What: Rogue Ales - Dead Guy Ale
Style: Maibock
Vessel: Sampler Glass
Price: $9.00 for a sampler of 5
Where: BadaBoomz (downtown)
When: April 7, 2008
Rating: 3
Comments: After two beers, I wanted to maximize my sampling opportunities, and I had a great DD to drive me to the north side to watch the game. I decided that a sampler would be the way to go. I enlisted the lovely wife's help in deciding on which beers to sample and we settled on Hopslam (only because I love it), Brugge's Triple de Ripple (again, because I love it, and I hadn't "reviewed" it), Founder's Devil Dancer, Rogue Dead Guy Ale, and a 5th beer which I inexplicably wrote down as "Rogue Dead Guy" (as opposed to the "Dead Guy - Rogue" listed just above it on my list). We have now decided that the wife might be in charge of documenting beer names (the tasting notes are solid, just not the titles....evidently, I'm not too much of a "detail" guy).

Anyway, this Rouge was a knock you back a bit type beer. It was incredibly smooth, rich and butterscotch-ey. It was very well balanced and a rock solid beer. If it weren't for my IPA kick I'd be buying some right now. If you like this type of a beer I'd highly recommend it.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/rogue-dead-guy-ale/589/

Mad Anthony Brewing Co. - Mad Anthony IPA

2008-04-08T21:43:00.000-04:00

What: Mad Anthony Brewing Co. - Mad Anthony IPA
Style: American IPA
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $1.75 (Thanks BadaBoomz!)
Where: BadaBoomz (downtown)
When: April 7, 2008
Rating: 3
Comments: I was so happy with the first beer of the night - the Mad Anthony Pale Ale, I decided to go for another Mad Anthony brew. I wasn't disappointed. I thought the IPA was even better than the Pale Ale. It had some great hops and wasn't as sweet. I'm now a big fan of Mad Anthony. Only if they could get some information about their beers on their website.....
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/mad-anthony-india-pale-ale/47516/

Mad Anthony Brewing Co. - Mad Anthony Pale Ale

2008-04-08T21:42:00.000-04:00

What: Mad Anthony Brewing Co. - Mad Anthony Pale Ale
Style: American Pale Ale
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $1.75 (Thanks BadaBoomz!)
Where: BadaBoomz (downtown)
When: April 7, 2008
Rating: 3
Comments: After seeing posts on DIG-B and the related comments about the absolutely incredible $1.75 you call it pints at BadaBoomz yesterday, the ever supportive wife and I decided to make a go of it, before heading to a friend's house to watch the "big game" (calling it the big game won't get me in trouble with Myles Brand and the evil empire I like to call the NCAA, will it? Now, because I had the nerve to mention the game, on a non-commercial blog, that they are getting hundreds of millions of $, as a not for profit, I'll probably need to send them a check).

This was, incredibly, our first visit to BadaBoomz since they changed from BW-3's. We had been to the north side location (can anyone out there tell me the relationship between the two locations - they seem to share a philosophy, but the food options are slightly different and the experience is quite different), but not the downtown location. It got off to just a bit of a rough start as we weren't sure if we were supposed to seat ourselves and we had a couple of workers walk by and ignore us. We decided to venture in and choose our own seat and we were promptly greeted and the service was excellent from that point on.

Sorry about the detour...back to the evening and the beer. After much hand wringing and indecisiveness, I decided to start off with the Mad Anthony Pale Ale. I was pretty happy with my selection. It had a good hop undertone with a mild sweetness. This was the first time I experienced anything from Mad Anthony & I liked it. I liked it enough to try another.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/mad-anthony-ol-woody-pale-ale/4172/

Saint Louis Brewery - Schlafly Pale Ale

2008-04-08T21:01:00.001-04:00

What: Saint Louis Brewery - Schlafly Pale Ale
Style: English Pale Ale
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $1.59
Where: Home
When: April 6, 2008
Rating: 2
Comments: I vaguely remembered tasting this at AleFest Indy not too long ago, and I remembered it being pretty solid. What I didn't remember was how solid it was. After a disappointing first beer of the evening I decided to go with something I knew. It was a good choice. Nice and smooth, and not overly sweet. Mmmm....this is what beer should be like.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/schlafly-pale-ale/7100/

Two Brothers Brewing Co. - Hop Juice

2008-04-08T21:00:00.000-04:00

What: Two Brothers Brewing Co. - Hop Juice
Style: Imperial IPA
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $7.99 (22 fl. oz.)
Where: Home
When: April 6, 2008
Rating: 5
Comments: Wow. I was surprised by this, but not necessarily in a good way. After a long week of mediocre lagers and other uninspired beers, I was thinking this might just be the one I needed to get me back on track with great craft beers. Well, the reality was that this DIPA just didn't stack up. It had a nice hop aroma, but when it came to tasting time it was just a little sweet for me. The malt kicked in a bit too early and I don't think I would make a huge effort to track this beer down again. It was a nice adventure to a new brewery and beer, but next time I'm looking for something with some kickin' hops, I know this won't be the one. You'd think with a great name like "Hop Juice" it'd be all about the hops, but it had just a bit too much malt for me. Now having said all that, I did enjoy the change of pace from lagers.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/two-brothers-hop-juice/44597/

Kona Brewing Company - Longboard Lager

2008-04-04T23:33:00.003-04:00

What: Kona Brewing Company - Longboard Lager
Style: American All Malt Lager
Vessel: Plastic Pint Glass
Price: $6.00 (!)
Where: Omni Championsgate - Orlando
When: April 4, 2008
Rating: 3
Comments: After our sessions wrapped up for the day, I headed down to the poolside bar with my old boss. They only had three selections on tap (which, actually isn't bad for a poolside bar) - this Kona, the Key West Sunset Ale, and one of the large domestics (can't remember exactly which one it was). Since I hadn't had the Kona, I thought I'd give it a try. Of all the beers I've had this trip, this is the one I probably liked the most. It's a bit smoother than the Key West, and a little more tasty. Enough with the lagers, already. I'm ready for a nice, hoppy IPA or DIPA. I'm also ready to be home!
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/kona-longboard-lager/2533/

R Bistro & Three Floyds Beer Dinner

2008-04-04T23:18:00.002-04:00

Here's some beer dinner news that was forwarded from a friend. I'm not sure yet if I'll be attending, but thought there might be some interest out there. It sounds pretty darn good (how about courses 3 & 4?!).

Here's the text of the email:

Greetings R bistro Patrons!

At long last! It's time for the much anticipated R bistro Three Floyds Beer Dinner! (I've anticipated it, at any rate) The dinner will pair the culinary stylings of R bistro with the World Class brews of Indiana's own Three Floyds Brewery. (Brewmaster Nick Floyd has earned worldwide acclaim for his work) The evening promises to be an interesting one, offering up creative pairings for some truly unique beers. Matt Clapesattle from World Class Beverages will lead us through the tasting, and I expect a compelling argument for the worth of beer as a truly versatile, food-friendly beverage.

Make your reservations today for what should be an enjoyable evening!

Bryan Jackson
R bistro

For reservations:
Call (317)423-0312
or log on to Rbistro.com

R bistro's Three Floyds Beer Dinner
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
6:30 pm

$65/person
(tax & gratuity included)
--Menu--
Aperitif
'Gumball Head' Red Wheat

First Course
Beer-battered shrimp with radish slaw
'Dreadnaught' IPA

Second Course
Porchetta with giardiniera
'Pride and Joy' Mild Ale

Third Course
Chickpea and vegetable curry
'Alpha King' Pale Ale

Fourth Course
IN lamb sausage, mustard mash & onion confiture
'Gorch Fock' Munich Helles

Fifth Course
Cheese (TBA)
'Behemoth' American Barleywine

Fin
Malt beer float
with house-made vanilla bean ice cream & banana cake
'Robert the Bruce' Scottish Ale

Grupo Modelo - Corona Extra

2008-04-03T22:30:00.012-04:00

What: Grupo Modelo - Corona Extra
Style: American Macro Lager
Vessel: Bottle (no glass offered)
Price: Free
Where: Omni Championsgate - Orlando
When: April 3, 2008
Rating: 7
Comments: Yeah, I'm not a fan. This beer was free (thank goodness). I was hoping to avoid this one, but I had exhausted (so I thought), all of my beer options on site and I had to take one for the team. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. Ever. Having said that, I happened across this article in the WSJ yesterday at dinner (after I sampled this beer) that some of you might find interesting. Also, after reading the article I was driven to the http://www.beerinsights.com - lots of good info about the business side of the industry there.
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/corona-extra/742/

Anheuser-Busch, Inc. - Budweiser

2008-04-03T22:30:00.011-04:00

What: Anheuser-Busch, Inc. - Budweiser
Style: American Macro Lager
Vessel: Bottle (no glass offered)
Price: Free
Where: Omni Championsgate - Orlando
When: April 3, 2008
Rating: 4
Comments: So a lot of folks buy this beer. It is the King of Beers, and all. For a long time I didn't have much of an appreciation for Bud. I've tried to be more objective, and not dismiss it, just because it's a macro. I bet if macro haters (myself included) tried this blind, they'd think it was pretty good. This was the perfect setting to give it a whirl - it was free, there weren't many selections offered at the cocktail hour, and I hadn't "reviewed" it. It's a pretty decent beer. I can understand why so many folks buy it - an almost unlimited marketing budget, it's cheap, and it's pretty good.
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/budweiser/473/

Kirin Brewing Company - Ichiban

2008-04-03T22:29:00.006-04:00

What: Kirin Brewing Company - Ichiban
Style: Japanese Rice Lager
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $6.00 (!)
Where: Omni Championsgate - Orlando
When: April 3, 2008
Rating: 5
Comments: I know, I know - I just said I would quit ordering beers from foreign countries, just because I was eating food from that country. Well, I lied. I decided to unwind by reading the paper, getting a beer and a sushi roll after I was done with all the activities for the day. I thought I was going to go to bed, but I decided I wasn't quite tired yet, and didn't want to be cooped up in my room. So the Japanese restaurant in the hotel is excellent. I remember being here three years ago with my wife and we had the "Zen Experience" and we really enjoyed it. I thought it would be a shame to be back and not stop by the place at least once.

Anyway, back to the beer. Having had all the options offered, except the Ichiban, I knew I had to breakdown and order it - you know, for the sake of having another blog entry. I'd say the beer was OK, but nothing I would recommend. Because it was on tap, it was better than it probably would have been out of a stale can or bottle. Have I said I'm over lagers yet?
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/kirin-ichiban/268/

Florida Beer Co. - Key West Sunset Ale

2008-04-02T23:18:00.005-04:00

What: Florida Beer Co. - Key West Sunset Ale
Style: American Amber
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $6.00 (!)
Where: Omni Championsgate - Orlando
When: April 2, 2008
Rating: 3
Comments: I decided to enjoy the beautiful FL weather and a cigar after our conference activities and dinner. I headed down to the sports bar in the hotel, and much to my surprise they had 8 - 10 beers on tap. One of them was the Key West Sunset Ale (although the bartender told me it was a pale ale). When I tried it, I thought there was no way it was a pale ale, but it was enjoyable. Now that I'm back in my room, researching the beer I find that it was most probably the Sunset Ale. Much to my surprise it was another offering from the Florida Beer Co. It was really quite enjoyable. If I could find distribution in Indy, I'd probably pick up a six pack every now and then to mix it up. What better than a good cigar, a good beer and beautiful weather?
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/key-west-sunset-ale/2828/

Blog Header - Your thoughts?

2008-04-02T15:30:00.004-04:00

Well, what do you think of the new header? We tried to outline a bit of the Indy skyline and and put that next to an outline of some beer bottles and glasses. Can you tell what it's supposed to be? I'd love to hear what you think.

Birra Peroni Industriale - Peroni Premium Lager

2008-04-01T18:25:00.007-04:00

What: Birra Peroni Industriale - Peroni Premium Lager
Style: Euro Pale Lager
Vessel: Bottle - no glass offered
Price: Not sure - I didn't pay
Where: Cafe D'Antonio's - Celebration, FL
When: April 1, 2008
Rating: 6
Comments: What a disappointing dining and beer experience. We had a new server who didn't know the menu, didn't deliver our appetizer, didn't refill water, or ask if we wanted a second round of drinks. Enough about the meal - let's get to the beer. When we asked the waitress what their beer selection was, she responded "we've got a lot of them". When asked to elaborate, she said she didn't know what they had. We assumed they had Peroni and ordered a round. It's like the other "themed" beers I've been having lately. I need to stop ordering beer that matches the country of origin of my meal. The beers have been decent, but nothing I would have ordered had I not been enjoying food from the country.
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/peroni/2917/

Yuengling Brewery - Yuengling Traditional Lager

2008-03-31T22:10:00.001-04:00

What: Yuengling Brewery - Yuengling Traditional Lager
Style: American Amber
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: Not Sure (I didn't pay)
Where: Hooters Restaurant - Channelside (Tampa, FL)
When: March 31, 2008
Rating: 4
Comments: After the TB Lightning game, we decided to go get some food and one of the first places we ran into was this Hooters. I'm NOT a fan of the chain (overpriced, mediocre food) or the wings, but I wasn't in charge. I was pleasantly surprised to hear they had Yuengling on tap. I was first exposed to this beer when we were in Philadelphia for a wedding, last year. It's really a pretty good beer. I don't know that we can get it in Indy, but I'd mix in a six pack every now and then.
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/yuengling-traditional-lager/884/

Molson Breweries of Canada - Molson Canadian Lager

2008-03-31T22:00:00.001-04:00

What: Molson Breweries of Canada - Molson Canadian Lager
Style: American Macro Lager
Vessel: Tall plastic cup (24 oz.)
Price: $9.00
Where: Tampa Bay Lightning Game
When: March 31, 2008
Rating: 5
Comments: I felt obligated to have a Molson at the hockey game. The game was between two teams based in the US, but I really thought we should give some respect to our neighbors to the North for introducing hockey to us. The beer was pretty good. Next time we're celebrating anything Canadian, this will be a must have beer.
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/molson-canadian/237/

Heineken Nederland BV - Heineken Lager Beer

2008-03-31T21:58:00.001-04:00

What: Heineken Nederland BV - Heineken Lager Beer
Style: Euro Pale Lager
Vessel: Plastic Cup
Price: $10 for a small plastic cup
Where: Tampa Bay Lightning Game
When: March 31, 2008
Rating: 6
Comments: Funny, just a few days ago I was talking smack about Heineken, and at the game it magically arrived in my hand. Well, my impression of it hasn't changed. I'm not a big fan.
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/heineken/37/

Anheuser-Busch - Bud Light

2008-03-31T21:53:00.000-04:00

What: Anheuser-Busch - Bud Light
Style: Light Lager
Vessel: Plastic cup
Price: Free
Where: Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Game
When: March 31, 2008
Rating: 6
Comments: I was in Tampa visiting some folks for work. They're a corporate sponsor for the Tampa Bay Lightning and we went to the game. In the corporate hospitality area they only had Bud Light on tap (and it was the only beer offered). Well, It's not a great beer, but what could I do?
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/bud-light/474/

Florida Beer Company - Ybor Gold Amber Lager

2008-03-31T21:51:00.001-04:00

What: Florida Beer Company - Ybor Gold Amber Lager
Style: Vienna Lager
Vessel: Bottle
Price: Free (as part of hotel loyalty program)
Where: Westin Tampa Harbour Island
When: March 31, 2008
Rating: 4
Comments: I checked into to the hotel and we had a quick drink at the bar before heading to the hockey game. While they didn't have any beers on tap, they did have quite a few bottled beer. This was the only unique beer they had. It was really pretty good. Very smooth and easy to drink. Had we stuck around, I would have ordered another. It was much better than most of the other beers we had that night.
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/ybor-gold-amber-lager/2836/

Desnoes and Geddes - Red Stripe

2008-03-30T18:32:00.004-04:00

What: Desnoes and Geddes - Red Stripe
Style: American Macro Lager
Vessel: Plastic cup
Price: Free, but I'll return the favor
Where: Friend's house
When: March 29, 2008
Rating: 6
Comments: Yeah, it's not bad. It's not really great. If you're having an island themed dinner or something like that, it's worth a go. I wouldn't say there is much to distinguish this beer vs. the other macro beers out there.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/red-stripe/748/

InBev Belgium - Stella Artois

2008-03-30T18:18:00.003-04:00

What: InBev Belgium - Stella Artois
Style: Euro Pale Lager
Vessel: Plastic cup
Price: Free, but I'll return the favor
Where: Friend's house
When: March 29, 2008
Rating: 6
Comments: Is it me, or did this beer come out of nowhere in the last 12 months? They've landed here in Indy with a huge marketing campaign and they've been successful in getting on tap in several restaurants. Really, it's not a bad beer, but it's not something I would seek out. For the premium price (over the macro domestics), I'd rather pay just a bit more and try a new micro, or a micro I've had in the past and enjoyed. It's better than Heineken, but is that really saying that much?
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/stella-artois/1478/

Heineken Nederlaned BV - Heineken Premium Light

2008-03-30T18:09:00.005-04:00

What: Heineken Nederland BV - Heineken Premium Light
Style: Light Lager
Vessel: Plastic Cup
Price: Free, but I'll return the favor
Where: Friend's House
When: March 29, 2008
Rating: 6
Comments: The only reason I decided to try this was because I hadn't had it, it was in my friend's fridge, and I've got this newfangled beer blog. I've never been a huge fan of Heineken - it always seemed like something people who knew nothing about beer would buy to look like they knew about beer (not true of my friend who had this beer, but generally). I'll drink Miller Lite over this any day.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/heineken-premium-light-lager/48076/

Miller Brewing Co. - Miller Lite

2008-03-30T17:58:00.007-04:00

What: Miller Brewing Co. - Miller Lite
Style: Light Lager
Vessel: Bottle
Price: Free, but I'll return the favor
Where: Friend's house
When: March 29, 2008
Rating: 6
Comments: After a great dinner with some great friends, we headed over to some other friend's house. It was a very late night for us, but a blast. We were able to catch up with some old friends we haven't seen in a while and talk about some upcoming summer trips we have planned.

What can I say about Miller Lite? It's the beer that's always been around my social circuit. When there's a group of people getting together, we tend to lean towards Lite, especially if it's going to be a full day or evening session. While I really enjoy micro brews, I can also enjoy some of the macro beers. It's all about the company and experience. Miller Lite wouldn't be one of the best selling beers in the world if it wasn't a decent beer. There's not much to it - just rock solid consistency. If nothing else, it's a good default beer.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/miller-lite/403/

Newcastle Breweries - Newcastle Brown Ale

2008-03-30T17:50:00.002-04:00

What: Newcastle Breweries - Newcastle Brown Ale
Style: English Brown Ale
Vessel: Bottle - no glass offered
Price: $3.64
Where: Bub's Burgers and Ice Cream
When: March 29, 2008
Rating: 4
Comments: We met up with some old friends for a very nice dinner in the Carmel Arts District. I'm a native north-sider, and am generally a fan of what they're doing in Carmel. Our friends knew we were fans of the area and wanted to check it out, so we met them up north. After strolling around a bit we decided to grab dinner at Bub's (btw, it looks like Bub's let their domain name purchase lapse, and now a p0rn site might be running it). This is a pretty family focused place, with a tightly focused menu. The food is great, but the beer selection is lacking. Their list is similar to a lot of restaurants - the major domestics with a few major imports. Newcastle is always a pretty solid choice. It's MUCH better on tap than in a bottle, but when you don't have many choices, it does the job.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/newcastle-brown-ale/132/

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery - ApriHop

2008-03-30T17:45:00.003-04:00

What: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery - ApriHop
Style: Fruit Beer
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $2.59
Where: Home
When: March 28, 2008
Rating: 6
Comments: It had all the signs of a gimmicky beer. I should have picked up on it. I didn't. I'm impressed that you can brew beer with apricot juice - really, I am. Just because you can, that doesn't mean you should. I expected more hops. It's an awfully tart beer, but not in a good way. I'll pass next time.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/dogfish-head-aprihop/13926/

Kiuchi Brewery - Hitachino Nest White Ale

2008-03-30T17:41:00.001-04:00

What: Kiuchi Brewery - Hitachino Nest White Ale
Style: Witbier
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $4.69 (11.2 fl. oz.)
Where: Home
When: March 21, 2008
Rating: 3
Comments: Wow. I'm really surprised. I really didn't think this beer would do much for me. After a disappointing first beer of the night this beer was a welcome addition. I'm not sure it's something I would want all the time, but this is a really good, complex beer. It had an aroma I couldn't quite figure out - I asked the lovely wife, what she thought it smelled like - her response "beer" (she's not a beer drinker). Something about this beer reminds me of Thanksgiving and Christmas - is it the orange, floral, coriander smell (similar to what I use to brine turkeys with)? Is that smell bananas? Man, I'm stumped on the smell (any ideas, readers?) but I really like the beer. Now if it just had a price I could like - $4.29 for a bottle that's not even 12 oz? That's aggressive.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/hitachino-nest-white-ale/10526/

Coopers Brewery - Original Pale Ale

2008-03-30T17:40:00.000-04:00

What: Coopers Brewery - Original Pale Ale
Style: English Pale Ale
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $1.99 (12 fl. oz.)
Where: Home
When: March 28, 2008
Rating: 6
Comments: My wife and decided we would stay in on this Friday evening. What a good choice. It wasn't a good choice because I was finally able to try this beer. No, this beer wasn't good. In fact, had this been the only beer, it might have been a somewhat disappointing night. This beer tasted..hmmm...skunky. Me no likey.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/coopers-original-pale-ale/4060/

Boon Rawd Brewery Co. - Singha Light

2008-03-28T19:04:00.005-04:00

What: Boon Rawd Brewery Co. - Singha Light
Style: Light Lager
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $3.75
Where: Sawasdee Restaurant
When: March 27, 2008
Rating: 6
Comments: This was my second beer at dinner with the wife and neighbor. I enjoyed the "regular" lager quite a bit more than I enjoyed the light version. There just wasn't much to it. Again, I enjoyed having the Thai beer with the Thai food, but I definitely wouldn't seek this beer out, either.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/singha-light/59057/

Boon Rawd Brewery Co. - Singha

2008-03-28T18:48:00.006-04:00

What: Boon Rawd Brewery Co. - Singha
Style: American Macro Lager
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $3.75
Where: Sawasdee Restaurant
When: March 27, 2008
Rating: 5
Comments: Had a lovely dinner with my wife and our neighbor. Sawasdee never disappoints on the food front. It's our favorite Thai joint in Indy. Unfortunately they only have the major domestic beers, and a couple of Thai beers (Singha lager and light). I had never had either of them, so I decided I better try both. The lager wasn't too bad for the style of beer. It was better than some of the American macro brews, but not as good as what I consider the standard - Budweiser. I enjoyed having the Thai beer with the Thai food, but I wouldn't seek this beer out. I think next time we're at Sawasdee, I'll stick with Miller Lite, or Bud (if I don't want a light beer).
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/singha/1092/

Three Floyds Brewing Co. - Pride & Joy Mild Ale

2008-03-27T19:32:00.003-04:00

What: Three Floyds Brewing Co. - Pride & Joy Mild Ale
Style: American Pale Ale
Vessel: Bottle (no glass offered)
Price: Included in cost of cooking class
Where: Grillmaster's Garden
When: March 25, 2008
Rating: 4
Comments: While at Grillmaster's Garden, I also sampled this Three Floyd's beer. I thought this was a pretty good beer. I wouldn't say that it was very distinctive. A little hoppier than I expected (which is always a good thing), so it had that going for it. By no means is this a bad beer, just nothing too out of the ordinary.
Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/three-floyds-pride-&-joy-mild-ale/6223/

Buffalo Bill's Brewery - Orange Blossom Cream Ale

2008-03-27T19:03:00.003-04:00

What: Buffalo Bill's Brewery - Orange Blossom Cream Ale
Style: Fruit Beer
Vessel: Bottle (no glass offered)
Price: Included in cost of cooking class
Where: Grillmaster's Garden
When: March 25, 2008
Rating: 6
Comments: Went to Grillmaster's Garden for a grilling class. My wonderful wife (have I mentioned that she rocks?) was kind enough to treat me to two classes as part of our Christmas gift exchange (I told her I didn't need anything for Christmas, but I really do enjoy beer and meat - she did an awesome job taking that vague info and running with it). I went to the class with a friend who is also interested in grilling and beer. The theme of the class was slow cooking and the Big Green Egg. I'm sold - I want one and I can't wait to get one. Maybe next Christmas, if we save our nickels (lots and lots of nickels)? This was my 4th or 5th event with Cheff JJ. He does a great job of keeping things informational and informal. He even sent me an unsolicited follow up email to a discussion we had during the class - now that's service!

There were two beer choices - this one, and a Three Floyd's Pride and Joy. I knew I'd have time for 2 - 3 beers, so I thought, what the hell, might as well try the orange beer. I took my first sip - wow. Interesting. Not really a good interesting. Is this really beer? What's that taste like? Yup, Sunkist Soda. I'm not really into fruit beers, but if I were this one might make it into the rotation. It's true to the name - Orange Blossom, but that's not really my speed when it comes to beer. I'd call this a gateway beer. If you like orange soda, but you don't like beer, this will turn you into an alcoholic.

Ratebeer Link: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/buffalo-bills-orange-blossom-cream-ale/29160/