Day 454: Bear Republic and Bad Ideas

I'm at an event last week and I walk over to a table to hear, "This is the one with the beer blog." Definitely not the average introduction and I like to be different. It turns out that I was about to make friends with fellow beer geeks. It also turns out that one of the said beer geeks had a mixed case of beer in his car and I was offered a chance to rifle though it for new-to-me beers. 

Chit chat ensues. Beers are drank. We revisit the notion of that mixed case of beer. I'm fairly certain that if she were still alive, my mother would be horrified that I ventured into a parking garage at night with two men that I just met twenty minutes earlier. And yet after a hearty, "Are we doing this?" from Kelli, I threw caution to the wind, grabbed my keys and headed off. Typically beer exchanges aren't one so one-sided and I'll admit a certain level of discomfort without having any beer to offer in return. 

Trippy evidence of me caught in the act
courtesy of Kelli!

But I did score three new-to-me beers and provided a certain level of entertainment when I had a six pack holder at the ready in the trunk of my car. Thank yous were shared and I headed back to the event although I'll admit the entire time I was debating what to take, I felt like the new girl at a swingers party. I wasn't quite sure what to do.

One of the beers from that night is the Red Rocket from Bear Republic, a bastardized scottish ale per the label. It poured a deep amber color with a thin off-white head. It smells of malt, bread and hops. The flavor is rich, with caramel and fruit, and lots of fruity hops. It left lots of lacing behind and also had a hoppy after taste. 

Beer stats

Style: Scottish ale

ABV: 6.8%

IBUs: 67

Rating: Great

Previously reviewed from Bear Republic

Gary shares a wealth of bear photos and puns in his review of Wet Hopped Wild Racer 5

My review of Peter Brown Ale

Day 430: ABCs of Beer (Appalachian Brewing Company, that is)

Is it weird that at age 37, I just want to spend tonight playing with my new iPhone? No? Excellent.

While I enjoy my new toy...er...I mean smart phone, you can read about my visit to Appalachian Brewing Company's outpost in Collegeville (Pennsylvania).  It was actually the first stop on my Chester County Beer Tour a few weekends ago.  I wrote about the second and third stops on the tour last week. I guess this review falls in the better late than never category.

Appalachian Brewing Company was started in Harrisburg and has locations in Gettysburg, Lititz and Camp Hill in addition to Collegeville. If you're visiting the Collegeville location, be warned it's not the easiest place to find, but it's worth it.  I started out with a sampler.

They came from here...

I didn't take notes on the entire sampler. I can tell you that I like most everything. What I didn't like was the IPA, which Mr. Blog Named Brew seemed to enjoy. After I finished the sampler, I ordered a full size Jolly Scot Scottish ale. It was my favorite of the beers in the sampler.

It poured a bright mahogany color with a wispy light tan head. I couldn't get a good read on the smell. Definitely malts...but I couldn't figure out the rest. The flavor was nutty, warm and reminiscent of biscuits. It had an almost bourbon-like flavor to it with hints of woodiness.  Good stuff.

Beer stats
Style: Scottish ale
ABV: 5.5%
IBUs: 18
Rating: Good

Previously reviewed from Appalachian
This beer is the first out the limo!

Unicorns, Princes, and Beer

Beer #334 Traquair Jacobite / Traquair House Brewery, Peeblesshire, Scotland

For the past week or two, I've noticed a very unusual sign on my way to work.  It's shaped like a campaign sign, and has the phrase "LET GO" arching across a rainbow, with what appears to be a full moon in the background.  Now, I admit I don't care for politics or politicians, but I can't imagine this is a campaign sign.  Unless of course, a unicorn was running for State Representative, which completely sucks, because I probably should have voted for that unicorn.

Safety first; I pulled over to snap this shot

Interesting.... but let's move in for a closer look....

As if this wasn't strange enough?

There appears to be a line of dogs, or maybe wolves standing on the rainbow, with the last one howling at the moon.  What the hell?  If you want my professional medical opinion, someone needs to consider the effects of acid on their brain.  If anyone has any idea what this ridiculous sign is supposed to mean, PLEASE let me know as soon as possible.  I'm curious.

Anyway, enough unicorn politics, let's get down to business.  Today's beer is the Traquair Jacobite, a Scotch ale flavored with coriander from Traquair House Brewery.  In the glass, you see a dark chestnut color, with a wispy off white head.  The aroma is of stone fruits, and the taste brings you hints of molasses, plums, raisins, and a lightly toasted malt, with a bit of citrus and a bit of spice. Definitely an interesting beer, and if you see this on the shelf, certainly go ahead and pick one up. Good fall or winter beer.

Unicorn free since the 1700's

You guys know that for as much as I appreciate the newer breweries furthering the craft beer industry, I really love the history behind some of the old world breweries.  This one qualifies, as the Traquair House is the oldest inhabited house in Scotland, built back in 1107 as a hunting lodge for royalty.  Now, the brewery only started up in the 18th century, mainly providing beer for the family and workers on the estate.  It stopped production some time in the 1800's, and the equipment sat unused until 1965, when it was rediscovered. If you're a history geek, please take a moment and read the detailed history of this house (and brewery) on their website.  You won't be disappointed.

Thing to Think About Today:
Like magic, I heard a song today and immediately realized I had a connection with this beer.  Somebody follow me, I'm about to wander:  One of the royal visitors to Traquair House was Prince Charles Edward Stuart.  He was better known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, or simply the Bonnie Prince.  He was also part of the family that owned the property, and upon his leaving, the Earl of Traquair vowed that a giant gate to the property (adorned with bears) would remained closed until a Stuart again sat on the throne of England.  That was back in 1738, and those gates remain closed to this day.  Now THAT is how you hold a grudge, folks.

Still with me?  Okay, let's keep the connection going.  Today I heard the song Can't Tell Me Nothing by Kanye West pop up on the iPod.  What does he have to do with anything?  In this version of the video, the hilarious Zach Galifinakis plays the role of Kanye, spitting game and....well, working on the farm.  His sidekick in the video (and I have no idea why) is none other than folk-indie rocker Will Oldham, better known on stage as... wait for it.... Bonnie Prince Billy.  Bonnie Prince Charles, meet Bonnie Prince Billy.

THERE.  I've tied a prince from the 1700's to a contemporary musician via a Kanye West video which (quite frankly) inexplicably stars comedy giant Zach Galifinakis and some clog dancing farm girls.  People, my work here is done!  Like the sign says, it's time to LET GO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2bCc0EGP6U

Beer 212: Ballast Point Samplers for Everyone!

There was so much beer consumed during the great beer-cation of 2012. It is a full two weeks since my return and I'm still writing about the beers consumed on that trip.  I'm so glad that Gary agrees to my hare-brained schemes!

Ballast Point Brewing Company was one of the first breweries we visited and it was definitely among the highlights of this trip.  Honestly for some reason I had decided I didn't like Ballast Point because they were big and hoppy.  I don't know what is wrong with me sometimes.  Seriously.  Look how happy I am drinking their beer!

Sadly not all were mine.

I had three sample pours:

Mmm...mmm...good!

On the left is the Barmy Ale.  Lovely golden ale with a fluffy head that disappeared quickly.  It smelled of apricots and drank with a honey tinged smoothness.  The ABV is 10% on this bad boy...but you would never know it from the taste.  Delicious!  

In the middle is the barrel aged Piper Down Scotch Ale.  This one was aged in bourbon barrels and you can smell it right away...oak, vanilla and bourbon.  The flavor is oaked with lots of malt and vanilla.  There was also some underlying fruit in the flavor.  Another great beer.  

I finished with the Black Marlin Porter.  It looked like cola with a thick tan head.  It smells of roasted malt and coffee.  There's an almost smokiness to the flavor along with chocolate, roast coffee, some licorice even.  Very complex.

Gary's sampler...I totally should have drank
 it when he was in the men's room!

Ballast Point is going in my top 25 list although I'm at a loss as to which specific beer makes it.  Cheers!

Beer 77: Belhaven Wee Heavy Scottish Ale

It is utterly amazing how much one can accomplish when not bothered by co-workers, phones and email.  I was reminded of that today after spending a few hours in the office.  I’m heading into the upcoming week feeling prepared for a change.   That’s a nice feeling.

So nice that I picked up Gary on the way home and we hit TJ’s Everyday in Paoli for a beer and a snack.  I went with the Belhaven Wee Heavy Scottish ale.  It poured with very little head that very quickly disappeared and left behind a beer that looked somewhere between a very dark iced tea or light cola.  If the light hit it right, there were ruby highlights in there as well  It had very little carbonation.  It smelled of roasted malts, a bit sweet and somewhat earthy.  The taste was caramel, malt smoothness and no hop bite whatsoever.  It drank with a viscous mouth feel.  This is a very good beer.  The label suggests that I sip and savor it and respect it fully.  At 6.5% ABV and with all that flavor, you would be out of your mind to show it disrespect by gulping it!

The Wee Heavy come to us from Belhaven Brewery, which dates to 1719 in Scotland with some of the cellars and wells dating to the 12th century.  Nothing like a little history to go with your beer!  And, of course, it goes without saying that for the rest of the night, I’ll be dropping a “If it’s not Scottish, it’s crap” at every possible opportunity.

Cheers!