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
I have a great post rattling around in my head and I cannot get it out to save my life. I've started three different intros. I attempted to jump in the middle and sneak up on it. I sat here and flipped through a bunch of photos from this football season. Ok that last one wasn't even supposed to help, but I mean, come on! Who doesn't want to look at Michael Mauti?
Instead I'm just going to sit here with this song rolling through my brain...courtesy of KFOG radio...
So in lieu of a long rambling, nostalgic and perhaps a bit maudlin post, I'll tell you about a beer from The Church Brew Works. It's their Pipe Organ pale ale -- an American pale ale made in Pittsburgh. Thanks to our friends Casey and Mike for getting this one for us!
It pours a clear golden color with very little to no head. It has a soapy hop aroma. For a beer with an ABV of only 4.3%, the alcohol is very noticeable. The flavor has lots of cracker and bitter, earthy, piney hops. Thinking back on some of the other American pale ales I've had this year, I can only rate this one average.
Holy hangover, batman. Yesterday was the final tailgate of the season and we went big. So much so that I'll be paying for the celebration for the next two days. Funny thing about getting older...I can still party like I'm in my college years but I recover like I'm in my retirement years.
I started out drinking out of the bottle and that's when I took this photo.
Then I decided that a glass was necessary but never retook the photo. Oh well. It poured an golden orange color with a thick white head. It had an amazing and strong grapefruit aroma. It tasted of sweet grapefruit, lots of hops, and a tiny bit of malt. There was a great deal of general fruity hops, some of which leant a nice pineapple flavor. I think this is a great example of a big, bold IPA. Cheers.
Interesting fact about me? I horde recipes. What makes this even more interesting is that I don't cook. Now you know.
I learned this little tidbit about myself as I was putting away my cranberry pie recipe because I do bake. I can whip up dessert like nobody's business. There's a precision to making dessert that I find incredibly comforting. I've written about it before...way back at Beer 21.
That was 326 beers ago. 326. Wow. But I digress. As I was putting my recipe binder away, I found a stack of paper beneath it and realized it was about twenty or so things I intended to have Gary make for dinner. Having a bit of free time on my hands today, I figured no time like the present to get organized. And now I have dinner figured out for the next six months. I wish I was kidding.
I also started writing holiday cards today. Hopefully I make it through my entire planned list, but if I don't, please don't get mad at me if you didn't make the cut. I thought about sending you a card. I really did.
It poured a beautiful, crystal clear amber and this photograph doesn't do it justice. The head was slightly off white and disappeared quickly. Old Speckled Hen is an English pale ale with a ABV of 5.2% that's brewed in England. It smells of rich, caramel malt with hints of brewed tea.
The flavor repeats that rich malt but it's balanced by a hint of hops. It's also buttery and earthy -- very easy to drink and well balanced. This is a great beer. Cheers!
Beer #315 Geary's Pale Ale / D.L. Geary Brewing Company, Portland, ME
Good Saturday to you all! It's another gorgeous fall day here in our 'hood, which we took advantage of by getting the dogs out the dog park to run around. All went swimmingly until Picasso joined a cabal which was trying to eviscerate another dog. In his defense, it's a bad call for a dog owner to try and bring a puppy to a dog park, particularly one that has issues with socialization. Thankfully, everyone escaped unscathed, and a beautiful afternoon was not ruined. Special added Saturday bonus? After not carrying kirby cucumbers all year, my grocery store magically had some available today. Rather late in the season (I guess I should thank global warming?) for homemade pickles, but I have one more batch underway right now. Damn good day.
Good days require good beer, and today I'm going with a Geary's Pale Ale, from D.L. Geary Brewing. In the glass, this beer shows off a clear copper color and a lingering white head. Your nose picks up a floral aroma, with grass and malt, and when you take a sip you find lemon, sweet malt, and tea, with a nice, dry mild bitterness on the finish. Thin and easy (hey, just like me!), this beer is a keeper. If you see it, drink it.
I should talk to them about calling it "GARY'S".
D.L. Geary has been a long time contributor to the craft beer scene, having opened their doors all the way back 1983, which was without a doubt the infancy of the U.S. craft beer movement. David Geary spent time learning the trade in England and Scotland, and I think that shines through in this beer.
Thing to Think About Today:
College football rivals Cal and Stanford squared off today, and I'm sure there were plenty of highlights and great plays. In the world of sports, spectacular plays happen every single day, without fail. However, once in a blue moon, the planets and stars align just so to give us a highlight beyond comprehension, a play that transcends sports and becomes bigger than the game itself. Thirty years ago, one such play happened in the college football universe, and is so well known for it's chaotic and miraculous ending it is simply referred to as The Play.
Oddly, they're both wearing helmets
Back in 1982, future Hall of Famer John Elway marched his Stanford squad down the field for a last second field goal to take the lead over Cal and lock up bragging rights for a year. Well, not exactly last second - four seconds remained. All Stanford had to do was kick off, tackle the kick returner, and then head to the locker room to celebrate. Only problem?
Only problem was no one told Cal the game was over. In a play that needs to be watched multiple times to be believed, their kick return squad morphed into a rugby team, using five backward laterals to keep the ball alive and moving down the field. While this was going on, the Stanford Band started wandering onto the field for their post-game concert, only to find themselves as part of the madness of the final play.
Keep in mind this was before the era of instant replay - to this day, there are questions about whether certain runners were down and whether certain laterals were legal. Both sides thought they won, and when the refs gave the final nod to Cal, a legend was immediately created. I recall seeing this highlight as a kid and being completely mesmerized. I still am thirty years later.
Beer #263 Guineu Riner, Ca l'Arenys, Valles de Torrella, Spain
Tonight was the last concert in Valley Forge Park for the summer, so a picnic dinner and some beer helped close out the season. Added in a late night stop at TJ's for some additional blog beers. Need to keep feeding the beast that is this project!
The beer for the night is one I actually had last week at TJ's, the Guineu Riner, a pale ale from Ca l'Arenys in Spain. This beer has a light, hazy gold color with a fluffy white head. The aroma has notes of grapefruit and grass, and the taste has a nice amount of hop bitterness, with some citrus in there as well. It's very thin and easy drinking, and I think this would be a great, thirst quenching beer on a warm summer day.
Shiny!
One of the things that grabs you about this beer is that it's very flavorful, yet it has a very tiny 2.8% ABV. You could literally drink this beer all day. This is what infuriates me about macro brews - people say they want something light, yet don't realize or care they can drink something that doesn't taste like wet cardboard. People just need to try harder!
Plus, this beer has a fun sleeping fox on their label. Who doesn't want that?
It's a fox, not a cat.
Thing to Think About Today:
So, clearly my favorite movies about college tend to revolve around some legendary party guy doing epic party things in some absurdly glorious fashion. This being said, it's also quite possible those are the only movies about college being made, but I guess there could be others. I wouldn't know.
An underrated selection in this genre (in my opinion) happens to be Van Wilder. To no one's surprise, this movie is the tale of a college veteran who only remains enrolled so he can... wait for it... throw parties and live the lifestyle. All well and good during his seven years as an undergrad, until his father pulls the plug on his tuition payment, causing Wilder a bit of a problem. A reporter from the school newspaper writes an article on Wilder (played by Ryan Reynolds) and his antics, during which our hero tries to woo the reporter (played by Tara Reid back when she was pretty) and steal her away from her boyfriend. Hilarity ensues, but not before Wilder gets his act together and finally gets himself that diploma in the process. Hooray!
In an awesome bit of casting, Tim Matheson plays Van Wilder's father - this is important because as you all know, Matheson also played the role of Eric Stratton in Animal House. Another movie we just might be checking in on in this space.....
So we have a new roof and new siding. We finally replaced the old, beat up bathroom window. And yet every time I come home, I want to barf on my front door. Partly because it couldn't look any worse than it does now but mostly because it looks like hell compared to all the shiny and new stuff. Where are those goddamn house fairies? This front door isn't going to paint itself! And now it's football season and I really need those fairies to come take care of things because my schedule is about to get hectic. Word to the wise...condo association!
Although if I were to get my act together and paint that door myself, I would definitely want a D.L. Geary's pale ale while I'm doing it. This is another one of those beers for that other Portland...Portland, Maine.
It poured amber with a light tan head of medium consistency that left significant lacing behind. The smell was sweet and floral with some caramel. It has a slight piney and floral hop flavor. There's also just a little wheat.
The pale ale would make a great summertime or picnic beer. Or even outside project beer! Perhaps it's just their marketing but I could totally taste this going well with lobster. I could picture it now...a little seafood shack on the coast of Maine...perfect bread, buttery delicious fresh lobster and a Geary's pale ale.
Confession time: I hate promoted tweets on Twitter. For whatever reason...mostly because I'm a child...I started replying to them with a quote from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. It's inappropriate and immature and eventually I imagine someone will get wise to me and I'll get banned from Twitter. Can that happen?
Anyway imagine my delight when I got this reply earlier today:
Holy hell, someone has a sense of humor! So as I sit here giggling, I also do so with the knowledge that there are other lunatics out there with access to Twitter. Thanks Ring Central Care. I needed that laugh!
***
Today's beer comes to me via Barcelona, Spain and TJ's in Paoli (PA). Brewed by Ca L'Arenys, the Guineu Riner is a pale ale weighing in at a very respectable 2.8% ABV. Yes, that ABV is correct. Despite the very low alcohol content, this beer packs a lot of flavor. It pours a bright gold color with a full white head. It has a very hop forward aroma. The flavor is very perfumed, very strong on hops. There are citrus pith notes along with bitter grass. I also noticed some white grape underlying it all.
The brewers calls it a half pale ale. I call it delicious. It has a distinct tartness but is also incredibly smooth. Like TJ's tweeted today, get it before it's gone!
I'm harkening back to the great beer-cation of 2012 and going all hoppy with tonight's beer. It is the Twisted Pine Hoppy Boy IPA.
It poured a hazy orange-tinged copper color with an off white head. It smells like a sweet orange. The flavor is very interesting...some malt and orange layered with hop bite. It's dry with some earthy notes. If you're into solidly hoppy beers, then I think you will definitely like this one.
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!
Ever have one of those days where your body is just all I've had enough and everything feels like the hardest task on earth? Yeah, that's me today. Not hungover. Not sick. Just beat. This afternoon's 13 mile bike ride was a terrible slow slog that has rendered my legs useless. I may fall asleep on my iPad as I sit here and type. First world problems indeed.
Today I'm drinking a Dig by New Belgium Brewing out of Fort Collins (Colorado). I'm a big fan of New Belgium's brews and they've been a staple of our beer consumption on our last two Colorado vacations. Dig is a new release for 2012. My go to beers from New Belgium are the Fat Tire and Somersault.
Dig poured a bright amber color with an off white head that's leaving behind some lacing. It has a strong scent...lots of malt and hops, some lemon and a bit of fruit. It has a medium mouthfeel, full but not thick. The flavor has lots of hops, some lemon and a nice amount of malt. The lemon is thanks to the Sorachi hops. Good to know.
This is an American pale ale that I can absolutely dig. Ha! Cheers!
Beer #230 Steelhead Extra Pale Ale / Mad River Brewing Company, Blue Lake, CA
As I write this, we're one hour away from the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Well, we're one hour away from it being televised, as it's already happened. However, I've been on twitter and internet lock down, as I'm trying to not learn about what's in store for this awesome spectacle. For those who don't know me, or for those who do know me but forget this key fact, I LOVE the Olympics. Something about the best athletes from around the globe coming together every four years to put all their hopes, dreams, hard work, training, sweat, and fears on the line for one shot at glory is astounding to me. I love the history, the legends, the personal stories, the pageantry, the random countries who didn't exist a few years ago competing.... I love it all. And tonight it starts!
So, let's get today's beer done with - the Steelhead Extra Pale Ale from Mad River Brewing. It pours an effervescent pale gold, with a lingering white head. There's a light, earthy aroma, and the taste gives you nice flavors of malt, sweet caramel, and bread, with a mild hop bitterness. Nice balance of hops and malt, and I'll definitely put this on the list to drink again post-365 adventure.
Tasty.
The seeds for this brewery were planted in the late 70's, when their Bob Smith, the founder, bought home brew supplies from the person who ended up starting Sierra Nevada. When Sierra Nevada outgrew their first brewery and were building a larger one, Smith bought their old equipment, and the rest is history.
Thing to Think About Today;
I intend to use this space to highlight some of the triumphs and tragedies the Olympics have provided through the years, but to start it all off (and because I'm in a hurry), I'll pay homage to London, home of the 2012 Olympics, via the Clash's London Calling:
Happy Birthday, America! Hopefully everyone will get the chance to relax with family and friends and enjoy a mid-week break from work. The beer blog, however, keeps on truckin'.
Today's beer was going to be the Eugene City Brewery's Honey Orange Wheat, one of their Track Town series of beers. This would have been appropriate, as the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials just wrapped up last week and I'm a little bit of a track and field geek. However, Eugene City is a division of Rogue, so instead you get the Rogue review I was planning on writing next week. Oh well, one more brewery I need to drink somewhere else down the road.
Rogue has a number of outposts throughout the greater Portland area, and we hit up the Rogue Distillery and Public House, which resides in the Pearl District. The bartender started us off with a sample of their Chatoe Rogue Single Malt Ale, which was a blonde ale, with malt aromas and an earthy yeast flavor. Light and easy drinking. My official pour was the Juniper Ale, which poured a hazy golden color with a wispy white head. There are aromas of hops and light citrus fruit, and when you take a sip you get subtle hop bitterness and the piney flavor of juniper. I mean, it definitely doesn't taste like gin (also made with juniper berries), but you can see the flavor connection. The hops aren't overbearing, and this is actually a very mellow, enjoyable beer. Well done, Rogue.
Looks delicious. Is delicious.
While I drank the Honey Orange Wheat elsewhere (on draft at Henry's), I might as well give you the write up - it shows off a hazy orange hue, and your nose instantly picks up the orange aroma. Honestly, if I closed my eyes the aroma reminded me of Tang (in a good way, of course). You can pick up flavors of orange and a light sweetness from the honey, with a bit of spice thrown in as well. Very enjoyable summer beer.
Rogue's Eugene City brew
My only regret? Rogue has collaborated with Voodoo Doughnut to brew a bacon maple ale. It wasn't on draft, and I didn't think I needed my own 22oz bottle of beer at the time. However, they don't ship this one (yet), so I'll have to wait until I return to Portland to sample one. Mistake on my part, I know.
Thing to Think About Today:
We'll leave you with this to close out the Fourth of July. If it's your birthday, America, let's sing you a birthday song. Bruce, the floor is yours:
Beer #181 Ipswich Original Ale / Mercury Brewing Company, Ipswich, MA
Last Friday before we embark on a two week tour of the West Coast. Many things to do this weekend to get ready to leave, but I'll love every one of them.
For no reason at all, here's a picture of what appears to be a road construction project gone wrong. Or, some kids playing "King of the hill" gone wrong. Or, something gone wrong. Didn't seem like anyone was in a hurry to clean up this giant pile of rocks in the middle of a busy road. Hey... free rocks, everyone!
Rock it.
Tonight's beer is the Ipswich Ale from Mercury Brewing, out of Massachusetts. It pours a hazy orange in the glass, with a lingering fluffy white head. Your nose finds aromas of bread and orange, and when you drink it you get flavors such as biscuit, bitter hops, and fruit flavors. There's a dry finish in there, too. Not a bad choice, try one if you find it in a store/bar near you.
Ahoy!
This brewery stretches back to 1991, when it was known as the Ipswich Brewery. They sold out to someone who sold out to someone who sold it to someone in 1999 who renamed it the Mercury Brewing Company, and now we're all caught up.
Thing to Think About Today:
Based on the label, and based on the name of the town, this beer sort of makes me think of Moby Dick. One of the all-time classics, this Herman Melville book tells the tale of the mostly unhinged Captain Ahab and his whaling vessel crew hunting at all costs for a deadly and rare white whale. You probably read this somewhere in your early high school career, and you probably didn't like it, because it used unusual phrases and metaphors and made you think. If you haven't read it as an adult, you're missing out on one of the legendary pieces of literature in our time.
NOMZ NOMZ!
Marci and I often joke about our personal "white whales," the things which keep us up at night, the seemingly unreachable goals, the things which keep us fighting for another day. Here's hoping you'll all catch your white whale some day.
Super bonus trivia: If you drink coffee from Starbucks, you're drinking coffee from a franchise named after a character in this book. Knowledge is Power!
Beer #152 Whale's Tale Pale Ale / Cisco Brewers, Nantucket, MA
Keeping it brief tonight, as I spent the evening at the opening of the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the Franklin Institute. If you're in or near the City of Brotherly Love, make it a point to stop by and check it out, particularly if you're a history or religion geek. Really interesting look back in time, and fascinating that these documents important to both Christianity and Judaism were hiding out in jars in a cave for 2,000 years.
Tonight's beer is the Whale's Tale from Cisco Brewers, which I had during last weekend's day drinking with friends. It comes in a can, and pours a rich amber, with a think white head. It gives off aromas of malt and fruit, and the taste gives you flavors of apple, lemon, tea and malt. For a pale ale, there wasn't as much hop bitterness as I might expect - this almost drinks more like an ESB than a pale ale. Makes sense, as when you read their website, it's promoted as an English pale ale, which is typically less bitter than other pale ale offerings. All good, as this was a refreshing, enjoyable beer. Will definitely look for this beer again soon, maybe even for a tailgate this summer.
Shiny can, fun whale - what's not to love?
This brewery has been selling beer since 1997, although their roots in the beverage business are a tad bit longer, as they also are the people behind Nantucket Winery.
Thing to Think About Today:
In the spirit of the Dead Sea Scrolls, I hereby propose we spend some time and think about... I don't know...it's late...how about the Dead Milkmen. What do they have to do with anything? Nothing, really, except for the band has "dead" in their name. See the connection now? Oh, and they're from Philadelphia, just like the Franklin Institute, so that probably counts for something too.
Anyway, a trip back in the time machine to the late 80's for some quasi-obscure punk music with their hit (?) Punk Rock Girl:
Beer #148 Citra Pale Ale / Free Will Brewing Company, Perkasie, Pennsylvania
Spent some time at a Strawberry Festival today, which is odd for two reasons. One, is that it seems very early for strawberries in our neck of the woods, and two, I don't like strawberries. Well, that's not entirely true. I like strawberry Quik, and strawberry Chief Crunchie ice cream bars. I'm sure someone told the Chief Crunchie folks that their name is sort of racist, as they're now "strawberry shortcake". Whatever, I'm old school. Sadly, I couldn't find a picture of this delicious strawberry-esque treat on line, but I did find it's chocolate cousin. Yeah, I can see why they changed their branding....
Insensitive, but delicious!
More importantly, the Strawberry Festival gave me an opportunity to do two of my favorite things - eat brunch with friends, and drink outside with friends. One of the brunch highlights was seeing some great local craft brews on the menu. I opted for the Citra Pale Ale from Free Will Brewing Company, a small and relatively new outfit not too, too far from our home. It poured a light amber color in the glass, and gave off aromas of citrus and pine. At the first sip, you get earthy notes of grapefruit, grass, and bitter hops, and it finishes dry and clean. Quite tasty, especially for those who don't wish to be clobbered over the head by the hops in their pale ales. Very drinkable at 5.7% ABV, too. Well done, new brewery.
Not racist
Per their website, they finally have some licensing issues solved, and have been selling beer to the public since January of this year. You're seeing the circle of (beer) life today - Marci samples a brewery that is going out of business, and I sample a brewery selling beer for less than four months.
Thing to Think About Today:
So I'm not a big fan of strawberries. Instead, what about raspberries? They're perfectly fine, and loaned their name to the title of a most fantastic song, Raspberry Beret. Let's let artist occasionally known as Prince to finish things up today in style:
I regret to report that I spent this sunny, warm afternoon working on the one thing I hate more than anything else in the world: yard work. Yes, instead of sipping a beer, reading a book, getting started on some writing, going for a run, taking the dogs for a walk, or seven billion other things, I was cutting the grass. I know some people enjoy it, although for the life of me I don't understand why. I end up filthy and covered in bug bites, my allergies start raging, and for what? Two weeks later, you have to do it all over again. Seems pointless. Anyone have a goat they can lend me? If you think I'm kidding, I'm not. Goats are the answer.
Washing away the dirt from today's yard work will be the Contessa, a pale ale from Birra Amiata. This one came on draft at Teresa's Next Door, and showed off a copper color in the glass. My first reaction was that it if you closed your eyes, it tasted exactly like a pale ale you'd get from a California brewery. There are aromas of citrus and pine, and the taste brings you a floral, piney hop bitterness. Not too bitter though, this one definitely doesn't overpower. Very tasty beer, nice and mellow. There's obviously an interesting story behind the name on this beer, and quite frankly it's probably easier for you to just read it here.
Who has two thumbs and loves crappy photos from my phone? THIS GUY!
Thing to Think About Today:
Clearly, getting out the weed whacker put me into a bit of a bad mood earlier today. No worries, a little beer and some evening entertainment will fix that. And tonight, we're watching Jason Segel's 2011 reboot of the Muppets franchise. Yes, it's a kids movie. No, I don't care. Back in the day,the Muppet Show had great music and famous comedians, and was an absolute cornerstone of my childhood. I mean, I still hear the Swedish Chef in my head every time I read words from European languages. Therefore, I'll let Statler and Waldorf have the last word today:
Beer #69 Golden State Ale / Uncommon Brewers, Santa Cruz, CA
And so we come to another Friday. Courtesy of many folks kicking off a long weekend (big shout out to the Presidents!), it was a quiet day which enabled me to get some work done. Some, not all, and now we head into a weekend filled with beer, food, wine, beer, Fellini's, and apparently some snow on Sunday. Note to self: buy all the bread in Chester County, and attempt to corner the market on milk.
Tonight's beer comes courtesy of the ever changing and increasingly impressive take out selection from Whole Foods. Well, Whole Foods and Uncommon Brewers. The beer comes in a 16oz can, and it pours a clear, effervescent gold with a thick head. According to the can, it's organic.... so I have that going for me, which is nice. There's a pleasing citrus nose, and the taste brings a combination of mild hops and a light citrus of lemon and orange. There's a bit of sweetness in there, and it ends up with a nice, clean finish. Could definitely see this as a tailgate beer, especially with the nice 6.4% ABV you don't really notice. That, and the 16oz can makes a nice statement. Well done, Uncommon.
Hooray for crappy camera phone pics! And beer!
Per their website, they have something in the works called "Bacon Brown Ale." For their sake, that better have some real bacon in it, otherwise I'll be very sad.
Thing to Think About Today:
Uncommon, you say? I suggest you think about something truly and completely uncommon. This came up on the iPod today on my way home, and for some reason kicked the weekend off just right.
Beer #54 Dale's Pale Ale / Oskar Blues Brewery, Longmont, CO
Here's how my day went: I left the office, got outside, and realized I forgot my car keys on my desk. Back inside, back to my desk.. Left the office again, realized I forgot my phone. Back inside, back to my desk. Stopped caring what else I forgot, went home.
Thankfully, beer fixes everything, and today I'm making things ALL BETTER by drinking one of my favorite beers ever, Dale's Pale Ale from Oskar Blues. It pours a gorgeous copper color with a foamy head and a welcoming floral and hoppy aroma. The taste is heavenly - an aggressive hop flavor balanced by some malt and pine notes and an earthy finish. Crisp and dry and awesome. Dale's brings a hearty 6.5% ABV and 65 IBUs to the party.
With matching pint glass. We're getting serious here people.
This pale ale has been a favorite of mine for a few years, and I was lucky enough to visit the brewery with some friends last summer. Oskar Blues led the charge to can craft brews, a trend that has grown as people realize the benefits of beer in a can, instead of a bottle. For the uninitiated, cans protect beer from oxygen and sunlight, two things that make delicious beer turn and taste awful. They still have their original canning equipment displayed, which sealed cans one at a time. By hand.
Pro tip: if you visit the brewery and grab some beers at Tasty Weasel, the brewery's in-house pub, make sure to sign up for the free tour. You'll learn something about beer, and walk away with a free pint glass (or $5 credit for other merchandise) for your effort. Plus, they have pinball. Great beer, great people, and pinball? You're welcome.
And now, some pics to enjoy:
In the middle of the action at Tasty Weasel. Free peanuts!
All of the empty cans I drank. I'm kidding no I'm not.
Really, what good is being in the wilderness if you can't chill your beer in a glacier-fed stream?
Thing to Think About Today:
Sure, it's Groundhog Day, and we've all probably been hearing references to the awesome movie of the same name. Too easy. Instead, today it's time to say goodbye to one of the all time greats, Mr. Don Cornelius. Heaven now has a host for its dance party.
Beer # 49 Old Court Ale / 16 Mile Brewing Company, Georgetown, DE
A beautiful day in the neighborhood! Slept in, did some chores, went for a run,
did some shopping, and stopped by Total Wine to stock the beer shelf. This store has always been a mecca for wine, but they've stepped up their beer game
tremendously in the past year or so. Formerly just a home for domestics and
some macro brewed imports, their beer aisle now lets you buy single bottles of
some really unique and interesting craft brews. And buy we did.
We ate dinner at Ulysses
Gastropub in Wilmington tonight (great meal, by the way), so I decided to keep it local and sample a
draft from 16 Mile Brewery. The Old Court Ale is named for the original historic
courthouse in Sussex County, where the brewery is located. In fact, all of their beer names have a tie to something significant in the state of Delaware.
The website for
16 Mile calls this beer a dark pale ale, and the draft was definitely a dark amber color in
the glass. Good hop and malt flavors up front, but not much bitterness. A hint
of sweetness and some very mild earthy flavor in the finish. A nice, drinkable
yet flavorful beer. If you find yourself in or near Delaware, this one is worth
your time.
Thing to Think About Today:
If we're talking the First State and historic buildings dating back to the 1700's, we're clearly talking about a place steeped in American history. I'm a fan of history - I'm always curious to know the story behind the places I visit and I always love learning about the past. Whenever we go somewhere with a historical marker, Marci knows that I'm guaranteed to stop and read. I was also a big fan of wrestling when I was a kid. Let's combine the two, and celebrate American history with a Real American:
Beer #38 Pork Slap Ale / Butternuts Beer & Ale, Garrattsville, NY
Yes, it's a short week, but I absolutely positively could not get myself in gear today. My only accomplishment was adding things to my to-do list; nothing was crossed off. Maybe it was the rain this morning. I did get compliments from three different people on the new beard, which was nice. The people who think I look like an idiot were also kind enough to keep their opinions private. There you have it, the highlight of my day: not being insulted.
One of the beers from yesterday's trip to Shangy's was a variety pack from Butternuts Beer & Ale. Case came with a stout, an IPA, a hefeweizen, and a pale ale. Porkslap Pale Ale, to be specific. This amber hued beer has a floral aroma, with a bread taste and some malt flavor. Maybe a slight chalk aftertaste, too. Per the website, it's brewed with a touch of ginger.
In all, a pretty average offering. I'd drink it again, and I think the rest of the beers in the variety pack sound decent too. But the highlight? How can you not love a brewery that doesn't take itself too seriously? I mean, if you needed proof of this beyond the website, check the can to see this lighthearted approach in action - two pigs gearing up for a chest bump. In a world rapidly filling with new craft beers, I defy you to walk past this can on a shelf and not stop to look twice.
In a world where I'm paying closer to $25 for a 750ml bottle of some rare find, it's refreshing to get 24 12oz beers for $25. Was this the best beer in the world? Not really. But for $1 per can, I can support what they do at Butternuts. Stop by some time and I'll offer you one. At $1 each, I can afford it.
Ah, the bare belly stomach slap. Classic.
Thing to Think About Today:
Before you ask, there's no bacon in this beer. But, if we're talking about pork products, I'll turn it over to some guys who take cooking to a whole new and potentially dangerous place. Epic Food is an online cooking show that takes your average meal and multiplies it (or at least the calories) by 1,000. Looking for some ideas on how to infuse booze, bacon, and brunch together? Look no further:
