365 different beers from 365 different breweries in 365 days with random musings on beer, food, music, sports, dogs and anything else interesting along the way
Since we're experiencing a bit of Indian Summer with temperatures in the mid-80s today, I thought that the German style kolsch from Lancaster Brewing Company would be the perfect beer to review.
Nothing says summer like a creepy sun logo
The kolsch pours a deep golden color with a full
white head. It smells and tastes like summer. It has a sweet, grainy aroma that's also grassy and bright. The flavor has a good amount of hops, which prevents it from being too sweet or grainy. It's crisp and easy to drink and just what I needed.
Beer stats
Style: Kolsch
ABV: 4.8%
IBUs: 28
Rating: Great
As I started to write this post to commemorate Mr. Blog Named Brew's 38th 22nd birthday, I thought I might start with a trip down memory lane to see what we wrote about last May 1. He was thoughtfuland I went on a drug-addled ramble. That kind of sums us up.
Since I'm not sick or on drugs this year, here we go.
Happy, happy birthday to my best friend, my partner in crime, my drinking buddy, my lov-ah! There is no one I would rather spend today with--or any other day for that matter. You are my heart and soul. Thank you for being awesome.
And thank you for introducing me to all sorts of rap music...old school, new school, East Coast and West, gangsta and that with a conscious. So of course any time we visit Lancaster Brewing Companyand I abbreviate it in my notes as LBC, there goes Snoop Dogg on and on about his gin and juice in my head.
My segues astound you, don't they?
Lucky for us, this trip to the LBC was without drama. It wasn't without good beer though. I went with the Strawberry Wheat, which poured a slightly pink amber color with a thin white head. It smells of wheat and fruit and that carries through nicely to the flavor. It has a very natural strawberry flavor to it. Nothing unnatural or syrupy here.Overall I think this is a good fruit beer. It may not be up there with 21st Amendment's Hell or High Watermelon, but it holds its own.
Beer stats
Style: Fruit beer, wheat beer
ABV: 4.7%
IBUs: 16
Rating: Good
Hustle day today, as taking time off work the past two weeks has me a bit behind in the office, which means everything else in life is a bit behind as well. And, your life is probably busy these days as well, as today is last shopping day for you to get me a birthday gift. Hustle, people!
Tonight I'm washing down dinner with a can of Kolsch from Lancaster Brewing. In the glass, this beer has a clear, pale golden hue, with a thin but persistent white head. Your nose finds the aroma of bread and light floral notes, and when you drink it down you get a beer that brings bread, grass, and some tart lemon, with a nice, mild hop bitterness on the finish. Crisp and refreshing, this is a perfect beer for summertime. Plus, it comes in cans, so you can take these with you to a tailgate, on the boat, or while driving your lawnmower.
I like it in the can.
For those who don't know, kolsch is a style of beer originally brewed in Cologne, Germany.
Thing to Think About Today:
You faithful readers know that most days, I tie something to do with the brewery or the beer into our thing to think about. Today is not one of those days. Instead, you get one of the songs stuck in my head currently: the new Daft Punk and Pharrell collaboration, Get Lucky. If this doesn't go into your summer sex mix, you're doing something wrong. (note: video is only a snippet of the actual song; just do yourself a favor and go download this asap)
Day #503 Rumspringa / Lancaster Brewing Company, Lancaster, PA
Previously from this brewery: Hop Hog, Milk Stout, and Winter Warmer
Busy weekend on the books, as I'm headed to State College to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Phi Gamma Delta at Penn State. More commonly known as FIJI, we are the oldest fraternity at PSU, dating all the way back to 1888. We're not just the oldest fraternity, but also the best (note: I may be biased) as our house has been home to world record holders, Olympians, CEOs, professional athletes, and a Heisman Trophy winner. Will be great to see a great group of alums back on campus and spend time with the next generation of brothers carrying on our impressive legacy. Damn glad.
What, this isn't what your college apartment looked like?
To celebrate this event, you get a beer review (what, you were expecting something else?), and today's offering is Rumspringa from Lancaster Brewing Company. This beer is a clear amber with a white head, and gives off a light but sweet aroma. When you take a sip, you get flavors of bread and malt sweetness, with a warm bit of honey. Virtually no bitterness hiding out, and speaking of hiding this beer has a 6.9% ABV, which it hides very well. Smooth, easy drinking, and great for spring time. Find this one and enjoy soon, as this seasonal offering won't be around forever.
Does this beer look crooked?
For those who don't know, Rumspringa is a period of time where Amish teenagers leave their community to live a "normal" life of sin and vice (you know: booze, zippers, cars - that sort of thing) to see if they truly want to be baptized into their faith, or leave the community forever. So... like spring break, only more serious.
Thing to Think About Today:
Fraternities are incredibly polarizing; people either love them or hate them. They're an easy target in the media for the ills of society, even though the kids in the chess club are doing the same exact things - just not in a big fancy mansion. So, to honor fraternity life, let's peek in on the second greatest college movie of all time, Revenge of the Nerds. And, to clarify, it's only in second place because nothing will ever top Animal House, the greatest movie from any genre ever. Sit back and enjoy 80s college life in all its glory:
Beer #317 Hop Hog / Lancaster Brewing Company, Lancaster, PA
Hustle day today; need to get some things done before I can unwind for the evening. So let's get right down to business and keep the wheels turning on this beer adventure.
Today's beer is the Hop Hog, an IPA from Lancaster Brewing Company. Sure, when you think of Lancaster County, you think of Amish Farms, but you also need to keep this brewery in mind as well. The Hop Hog pours with a bright amber color and lingering white head. You find a nice citrus and hop aroma, and the taste has an even balance of malt and hops, with notes of lemon and hints of tea, with a nice dry, bitter finish. Great beer to pair with a pizza, which is what I did when drinking it post-basketball last week. Score. If you're looking for a nice, well balanced IPA that doesn't overdo the hops, grab a Hop Hog.
High on the Hog
If you're ever in the space between Harrisburg and Philadelphia, you definitely need to visit this brewery, which has been in business since 1995. One of the best sampler pours I've ever seen - on par with the expansive sampler at Tommyknocker Brewing, although still trailing behind Russian River, which is the Holy Grail of huge sampler pours. Good food, too!
Thing To Think About Today:
Let's keep the music of the 90's humming along, and connect a little Hop Hog with a dose of Spacehog. It's time for In the Meantime:
I'm looking at 2012 as the year that I try new things and really force myself out of my comfort zone. I promised myself I would say yes more and take more chances. With that in mind, I bought tickets to a dance party / photography exhibit opening which is happening this weekend. I like photography but I don't dance. Ok, I dance after enough drinks to make me forget I have no rhythm. I cannot imagine what that looks like other than AWESOME. My dance party / exhibit opening has a surprise guest DJ and because I live in a very fun world in my head, that guest DJ is ?uestlove from The Roots. I'll let you know on Sunday how that all plays out.
I've also been harboring a desire to start a little event planning business on the side. Well, today I had a truly unbelievable opportunity drop into my lap. On one hand it could kick my event planning gig into high gear; on the other, it is going to involve a hell of a lot of work and a giant leap of faith in myself. So do I have what it takes to say yes to a new adventure? I like to think yes. Yes, I do.
***
Lancaster Brewing Co.'s Milk Stout
Tonight's beer is from Lancaster Brewing and it is their foray into the world of milk stouts. Like the other stouts I've sampled this week, it pours dark as night. It has a light tan head that quickly disappears. The smell is sweet caramel and roasted. The flavor is strong on chocolate, coffee and milk flavors. The roasted flavor is upfront and is balanced by the sweet coffee and milk flavors. It is incredibly tasty.
When visiting the Lancaster Brewing Company establishment this past June, I ordered their beer sampler. Above and beyond the insane number of samples provided, there was an opportunity to mix the milk stout with their strawberry wheat beer to create what I can only describe as a super beer. It was true awesomeness in my teeny tiny sample glass. God bless you, Lancaster Brewing Company. God bless.
OK. So this is the second time in 30-odd days that I've managed to forget that I've already drank a brewery. &^$*@(&!!! I even wrote about the goddamned sampler in my other post. So much for the beer doesn't kill brain cells theory.
New brewery. Tonight's real beer is from Norway. It's Haand Bryggeriet's Nissefar. Bryggeriet = Brewery. Nissefar = Father Christmas. This beer is for happy gnomes. Whatever. I've had a bunch of beer tonight.
Anyway this isn't a stout so my milk stout series has gone completely awry. This one is an "old ale" but presents like a stout (at least to me). It is almost opaque in my glass and dark, dark brown. I get lots of roasted malts and a hint of coffee...maybe some caramel. It is surprisingly smooth and light given it's appearance. It finishes dry and almost reminds me of rye bread.
Cheers, folks! It's the weekend and I'm going to watch a scary movie and try to figure out when exactly my memory gave out.
I suppose I'm starting to compile a bunch of resolutions for New Year's Eve already because I've been spending A LOT of time recently noting that I am freakishly picky about things. I've stressed myself out over having the appropriate holiday or winter themed beer to review for this weekend. I have a very strong opinion on twist-style pens versus a pen with a cap. The correct answer is a pen with a cap and yes, my ridiculously sweet and thoughtful husband and I will be trading in the really beautiful but twist-style pen he bought for me tomorrow. The man is a saint. Seriously.
Maybe in 2012 I'll learn to relax a little. Who knows...
What I do know is that I picked a winner for today's beer: Lancaster Brewing Company's Winter Warmer. I'm learning that I like BIG beers with big ABVs. Maybe it's an efficiency thing...one or two and I'm feeling fine? Maybe it's an "I drank light, water-like swill in college and am making up for lost time" thing. Whatever the answer, I like this beer.
It's deep dark brown in my glass. It's sweet and roasted in my nose. I taste caramel, malt and it finishes with just a bit of bite.
Gary and I visited Lancaster Brewing Company this summer. If you are anywhere remotely nearby, please visit. The beer is amazing and the food did not disappoint. And the brewery has quite an interesting history that you can read here. When visiting places like Lancaster Brewing, I love to order the beer sampler. Great way to get to taste their wares. Let's just say it was a very good thing that I wasn't driving after experiencing their sampler:
