The End. Or...?

Beer/Brewery #366 Lava / Ölvisholt Brugghús, Selfoss, Iceland
Beers to go: 0

There you have it folks, we have officially come to the end of this journey.  During the past 366 days, Marci and I have each drank 366 different beers from 366 different craft breweries.  Bazinga!

Please, hold your applause.

Before we wrap things up, I'd like to thank a few people who have helped in ways great and small.  First, the great restaurants, bars, and bottle shops in my area who make it their mission to make fantastic beers readily available to the public.  Without these fine businesses, there is NO way our blog would have made it this far.  Looking at you, Teresa's Next Door in Wayne, TJ's Everyday in Paoli, Wegmans in Malvern, Whole Foods in Devon, and The Beer Shoppe in Ardmore.  I'd also like to thank our friends who either donated or traded some really interesting beers, so a tip of the hat to Pat C., Mike T., Dr. Liz T., Mike B. and Casey E., and Nathan A., along with anyone else I might be missing here.  Couldn't have done it without you.  It certainly goes without saying that I would like to thank Marci, as I just couldn't imagine how this would have worked without her being along for the ride.  It's nice to have a partner in crime!

Lastly, I'd like to thank you, the readers of this website.  Mostly you're my friends, but there have been an increasing number of people reading this site who I'll never meet in "real life."  We've had hits to this website from around the globe, which always makes me wonder how you found us - although I'm always thankful that you did.  You guys are the best.

Quite frankly, writing this blog has been a tremendously enjoyable activity for me.  I originally went into this endeavor thinking that we'd turn the blog into a best selling book, which would then get turned into a blockbuster movie.  Yeah, so.... about that.  Fame and fortune hasn't happened (yet!), but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.  It wasn't all seashells and balloons, as there were some days where I felt like I had nothing to say, some days where I couldn't quite find the right way to say what I was thinking, and some days where I thought my post was going to be amazing, only to look back and realize it was a small scale dumpster fire.  I guess I'm saying that I've learned I'm not exactly Hemingway when it comes to writing.  Regardless, through it all I've had fun.  Therefore, as Marci has mentioned in her wrap-up post, this blog will continue in the future!!!!  NO, we are NOT doing any further 365 day challenges, but we will continue to use this space to write about craft beer, travel, restaurants, music, sports, dogs, the highs and lows of life, and whatever else seems relevant each day.  One of the challenges of this blog was that in focusing on a new beer from a new brewery each day, we missed many great beers along the way.  Therefore, we'll be going back to try some of the beers we didn't get to, while still searching for new breweries as well.  I hope you continue reading as time goes on, because I'll be terribly sad if you don't.

Today isn't officially in the books until we review beer #366, so let's get on with the show.  We're both closing things out tonight with a bottle of Lava, an imperial stout from Ölvisholt Brugghús, a brewery in Iceland.  Iceland?  Yeah, that's how I roll.  I drink beers from Iceland.   In the glass, this beer dark black color with a sparse tan head.  You get an aroma filled with smoked, toasted malt, and when you take a sip you find a smoky, malt heavy beer.  Sort of a smoked meat kind of flavor happening.  There's some cocoa in there as well, and it has a clean, dry finish.  Not the style I typically choose, but definitely a decent beer.  If you see one on the shelves, pick one up.

Ice(land), Ice(land), baby....

This brewery was founded in 2007, and they currently ship beer to most of Scandinavia, along with the U.S. and Canada.  You may be wondering why this beer is called Lava.  Of course you are.  It's because from the brewery, you can see Hekla, an active volcano, which has erupted as recently as 2000.  Europeans in the Middle Ages called this volcano, "Gateway to Hell."  Not exactly a tourist friendly moniker, I suppose, although the volcano does figure prominently in literature and art, as it has been referenced by writers such as William Blake and Herman Melville.

Thing to Think About Today:
Lots of people have done '365 beers in 365 days' challenges.  Hit Google and you'll find countless variations, some successful, many not.  However, I don't know of any doing 365 beers from 365 different breweries, and I certainly don't know of any married couples out there trying to each accomplish this goal.  Therefore, I can think no better way to close out this phase of the journey than to let Queen wrap up tonight in style with We Are the Champions.  Because we are!

Good night friends, thank you for coming, and please do come back in the future.  Free hugs and cookies if you do!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSTivVclQQ0

"No time for losers, 'cause we are the champions.... of the (craft beer blogging) world"

Beer 242: Peak Organic Spring Ale

Today's beer hails from the other Portland...Portland, Maine. It's the Simcoe Spring Ale from Peak Organic Brewing Company.


I poured it like a crazy person and had to slurp the overflowing beer leaving behind this lovely photo. The head was quite thick and as it's disappearing, it's leaving behind craggy foam and plenty of lacing. The color is a slight hazy apricot shade. Nowhere on the bottle did it read pale ale other than the hint in the name -- Simcoe Spring Ale.

Plus Gary said it was the closest thing that Whole Foods had to the light summer beer or kolsch that I requested for dinner. Evidently we were both duped. That being said, this isn't a bad beer. The Simcoe hops were intended to lend a piney, floral flavor and they do just that. This beer is crisp and flavorful and bracing. It does remind me of spring interestingly enough. There's a little grass in the flavor to go with the other green tastes. Overall I give it a thumbs up. Cheers!

My Dream Team

Beer #235 RyePA / Fifty Fifty Brewing Company, Truckee, CA

As we approach the two thirds point on our beer journey, I figured it might be time to recap where my version of the Top 25 currently stands.  As always, you can use the tags on the right hand side to navigate to this list, in addition to specific styles, breweries, states, and a whole mess of other topics.  In no particular order:

- Brouwerij van Steenberge / Tripel van de Garre
- Brouwerij Rodenbach / Grand Cru
- Anchorage Brewing Company / Bitter Monk
- Brasserie Fantome / Fantome Saison
- Oskar Blues Brewery / Dale's Pale Ale
- Brouwerij Verhaeghe / Duchesse du Bourgogne
- New Holland Brewing Company / Blue Sunday Sour
- Brouwerij Huyghe / Delirium Tremens
- Wells and Young's Brewing Company / Wells Bombadier
- Bell's Brewery / Oberon Ale
- Leelanau Brewing Company / Good Golden Harbor
- Brouwerij Oud Beersel / Oud Gueuze
- Brouwerij Saint Bernardus / Tripel
- Gueuzerie Tilquin / Oud Gueuze Tilquin
- Firestone Walker Brewing Company / Fourteenth Anniversary Ale
- Bear Republic Brewing Company / Barrel 45 Wet Hop Wild Racer 5
- Anchor Brewing / Anchor Steam
- Cascade Brewing Barrel House / Sang Noir
- Russian River Brewing Company / Supplication
- Hill Farmstead Brewery / Harlan

There you have it, twenty brewery/beer combinations so far... hard to say what I'd remove from this list if I find six or more top beers, but I'll cross that bridge when necessary.  Heavily weighted in the sours, but I'm on board with that, as they can be incredibly complex and enjoyable all at once.

With that recap out of the way, it's time to keep the wheels turning.  Tonight's beer is the RyePA from Fifty Fifty Brewing, which is on draft at Whole Foods.  It pours a hazy amber color with a persistent white head.  You're greeted by aromas of rye, malt, and citrus.  There are flavors of lemon, grapefruit, and spice, with some malt sweetness and a dry, bitter finish.  Really nice beer, very well done. While this beer won't be joining the Top 25 today, it's definitely an outstanding beer that you should drink if and when you can.

Thanks, Whole Foods!

Originally when I saw this brewery, it made me think of cheeseburgers.  As in Slaters 50/50 burger (famous for their 50% ground meat 50% ground bacon burger mix), which isn't just a Top 25 choice; it was the greatest cheeseburger I've ever eaten in my life.  Ever.  However, no relation between the brewery and the burger.  Although, if they wanted to ship me a 50/50 burger and throw in some Fifty Fifty beer, I'd be in heaven.

Thing to Think About Today:
We ended last night on a downer, with a terrible bit of sportsmanship.  For those who want even more poor sportsmanship, check the highlights from yesterday's badminton "scandal", where teams tried to outdo each other in losing so they would get an easier draw.  Honestly, watching them hit the shuttlecock into the net in that video is like watching your drunk relatives try to play at a family picnic.  It's at once comical, sad, embarrassing, and devoid of any talent.

Instead, let's think about the greatest Olympic basketball moment ever, the 1992 Dream Team.  A group brought together to absolutely destroy the competition, this team featured eleven future Hall of Fame members (um, and Christian Laettner!) and showed the world what truly elite athletes can do when they come together as a team.  Sure, the 2012 team seems primed to win the gold medal, but it's the 1992 team that helped elevate basketball to it's position as a global sport.  For an excellent read on the topic, check this recent GQ article.  To watch the greatest team ever go to town.... just click the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMxUWmgm6wY

Beer 235: FiftyFifty RyePA

Tonight's beer of choice is the RyePA from FiftyFifty Brewing Company. It's a west coast style IPA. Despite that fact, Gary sold me on it by saying it was a very malty IPA. When will I learn? I drank just enough for the review and he's in the couch possibly making love to this beer. (sigh)


Since it came in a Whole Foods growler, I didn't bother to include anything other than the glass of beer in the photo. It poured a hazy apricot color with a full off white head. It smells of citrus hops and very faintly of caramel. The flavor is bitter and strong hops first, then hints of rye and some malt smoothness. It also finished very hoppy. West coast indeed. I did notice that as it warmed up a bit, the rye was more noticeable in the aroma.

While the RyePA wasn't my kind of beer, there are a number of other offerings from FiftyFifty that I would love to try. Cheers!

Pronounce This, and Win a Prize

Beer #182 Mestreechs Aajt / Gulpener Bierbrouwerij, Gulpen, Netherlands

I bought a pair of orange shorts today.  It's summer time, and I'm very excited about this development.  Pictures will eventually be available, I assure you.

Tonight, we end the very much fun Philly Beer Week with the Mestreechs Aajt, a Flanders Oud Bruin from Gulpener Bierbrouwerij in the Netherlands.  Had this on tap at Whole Foods in Devon, a small but very well stocked beer bar.  Yes, it's in a grocery store, which is a bit odd.  But really, their thin margins means great pours at very low prices, and when it comes to people watching (which I love), there are quite a large number of people to watch in a grocery store.  Check it out some time.

The beer itself poured a chestnut color, with a fluffy off-white head.  The aroma wasn't very well pronounced, but you do get a sour aroma.  The flavor is much more pronounced; a mix of sour, cherry, and vinegar.  Very good all around, very tasty.  Nice balance of sweet and sour on this beer, and I'll definitely be on the lookout for it again, even if I can't necessarily pronounce the beer.  Neither could anyone there, so I don't feel too bad about it.

Yes, we drank beer and watched people carry groceries to their car. FUN!

Gulpener has been in business since 1825, in case you were wondering.  And if you needed another reason to drink beer in Whole Foods: tonight, they were selling personal cherry pies, made with Rodenbach Grand Cru as part of their sour beer day.  Delicious, just delicious.

Thing to Think About Today:
We currently don't have cable, so we use Netflix or Hulu or Redbox to keep on top of things.  Currently working through all episodes of How I Met Your Mother.  Anything with Neil Patrick Harris is worth a look, and he's outstanding in the role of Barney Stinson.  Legen- (wait for it) -dary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV-NhfgoA7A