Wolf This One Down

Day #714 Werewolf / Caledonian Brewing Company, Edinburgh, Scotland
Previously from this brewery: two reviews of John Smith's Extra Smooth Ale

Game Day!

Today's review is a beer that was in the fridge for seemingly an eternity.  No clue where it came from or when it arrived.  I guess a beer from Newcastle isn't that cool and kept getting pushed to the back of the pack when I've had some of the rarest and most magnificent beers in the world over the past two years. That being said, Newcastle Brown Ale was one of the first "good" beers I started drinking when I realized there was more to beer than just "cold" or "less filling".

The Werewolf is a special edition red ale (blood red ale, according to the bottle) that has a dark amber hue, and a quickly dissipating white head.  Your nose finds aromas of toffee and malt, and there are flavors of bread, berries, and toffee, with a dry bitterness on the finish.  This beer isn't exactly outstanding, but is certainly drinkable if you're looking for something in the blood red ale genre.  And who isn't?

I'll call my wolf guy....

Thing to Think About Today:
I've already used the song Werewolves of London and the movie Teen Wolf in this space, thus using up two of my three favorite wolf motifs.  The third?  Duran Duran and Hungry Like the Wolf.  Ah, the 80s. Never not awesome.  Have a good Saturday, my friends..... go Penn State!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOg5VxrRTi0

"I'm on the hunt I'm after you...."

Day 372: Mikkeller Red White Christmas

Today's beer is the Red White Christmas from Mikkeller, a gypsy brewer based in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Red White Christmas was billed as an American strong dark ale at Teresa's Next Door, but further research lists it as an herbed or spiced beer and a hybrid red ale/wit bier. I'm going with the latter as it makes the most sense given the name of the beer.


The Red White pours a hazy chestnut color with a loose cream color head. It smells of citrus hops with a light caramel undertone.

It is hop forward and backward with interesting buttery notes. It has a rich mouth feel. There's a breadlines to it along with savory, not quite pepper spice. Overall quite interesting and very enjoyable.

Mikkeller makes some amazing beer. As a gypsy brewer, he's free to experiment and also to collaborate on a whim and has done so with some great results. The challenge is to find repeats once you like something or simply to get your grubby paws on one. Especially if you live in the very backward state of Pennsylvania.

Beer stats
Style: Hybrid red ale and wit bier
ABV: 8%
IBUs: Unknown
Rating: Great

Previously reviewed from Mikkeller
Mikkeller / Stillwater collaboration, Our Side from Gary
And one from Marci
Mikkeller / de Struisse collaboration, Elliot Brew

Day 370: The Bruery Oude Tart

Everything I wanted to write about feels so utterly frivolous today. As I sit here staring at a blank screen, an unknown number of families are dealing with the aftermath of a senseless act of violence. Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown (Connecticut) is the latest scene of a mass murder committed by an armed gunman. It comes on the heels of the mall shooting in Portland. And that came on the heels of another shooting. And that came on the heels of yet another shooting. See a pattern here?

What the fuck, America?

Seriously. What is wrong with people? My twitter feed has exploded with numerous people extolling their views on gun controls. Guns for everyone. Guns for no one. Bigger guns. Smaller guns. Knives. Nunchucks. Trebuchets! While I certainly find value in a challenging and honest conversation about gun control, perhaps there are other conversations that need to be had. Mental healthcare, anyone?

And for everyone who opts to stick their head in the ground and declare now not the appropriate time to talk gun control, maybe they should watch CNN's video of a 3rd grader who was in class at the time of the shooting. Then tell her that despite how scared she was and how being in that situation made her classmates' bellies hurt that we have to wait for a better time to talk about how to prevent it from happening to other little kids. Because honestly anyone who takes that angle is a spineless, soulless coward. Also CNN should be ashamed of themselves for INTERVIEWING A 3RD GRADER WHO WAS JUST PART OF A NATIONAL TRAGEDY. But I digress. 

There are giant, terrifying problems facing our country. I don't know how to begin thinking about it. I feel overwhelmed and helpless. How do you fix a system and a country that is so broken? Our country is broken.  The answer lies in better education. Willingness to compromise. Reducing big business in government. Healthcare that is not privilege. Basic human kindness.

I want everyone reading this -- yes, all three of you -- to be kind to those you encounter. Maybe those people will be kind to the next people they encounter. I am a firm believer that you get out of the universe exactly what you put into it. This morning was a startling reminder that we need to put more good out there. Get on that!

And because at the end of the day this is a beer blog, I'm now going to write about beer albeit with a heavy heart. 


My hand is enormous!

For starters, excuse that ridiculous photograph. This was taken at TJ's 9th anniversary party last weekend and there were like 4,000 people crammed in the bar, which made for difficult picture taking.  It's the Oude Tart from The Bruery in California.  It looked like a brown ale with ruby highlights. It had a thin head that was slightly off-white.  The aroma was light balsamic vinegar but the flavor was a much stronger. Lots of dark fruit and tart vinegar with hints of malt.  It was thin but immensely flavorful.

The Oude Tart is aged in wine barrels for 18 months, proving that good things come to those who wait. Is this why my mother always told me that patience is a virtue?

Beer stats

Style: Flemish-style red ale

ABV: 7.5%

IBUs:  15

Rating: Excellent

Previous reviews of The Bruery

Gary's review of the Tart of Darkness

My review of Hottenroth

Beer 324: A Beer for Yinzers from Penn Brewery

I'm hunkering down in hurricane watch mode and cranking out a few blog posts while I'm still on the grid.


The Army of Dachshunds is packed and ready to flee the scene if we start taking on water. If there's one thing a dachshund doesn't like, it's rain.

I'm drinking a Rooney's Old Irish Style ale from the Pennsylvania Brewing Company. It's in honor of my friends in Pittsburgh who may see one heck of a nor'easter while we get swept out to sea thanks to Hurricane Sandy.

Sidebar: Has anyone else become irritated with the reporting of a 50-year storm every year? Isn't the definition of a 50-year storm one of such intensity that it's experienced only once every 50 years? At this rate, we're good for a couple of centuries.



The Rooney's poured a hazy dark brown with a light beige and thin head. It had a light nuttiness in the nose. That light nuttiness carried through to the flavor and accompanied a healthy dose of delicious malt. It was very easy to drink and had a nice, crisp finish. This is a good beer.

Cheers!

Beer 318: Fox Barrel Ciders, No, 4 Hands and Beer-cation Part Deux

I have developed a serious case of wanderlust. The idea of traveling and seeing a new part of this country is like a drug lately. Next up is Austin, Texas for four days. Flights are booked. Hotel is confirmed. An itinerary is in development. Of course the trip will be beer-centric. So if you have any Texas-based recommendations for can't miss breweries or Austin-based dining or culture experiences, share them.

My first two orders of business on this trip is a visit to Jester King and cowboy boots. I'm not sure which one is more exciting!

Now keeping with my very autumnal beer selections this week, tonight's drink of choice is the Fox Barrel blackberry pear cider. And this is where I curse. Turns out that Fox Barrel Ciders is the pear cider making operation that is directly related to Crispin Ciders. And guess what? I reviewed Crispin on September 16. I haven't done that to myself in a good long time.


If you care, here are my notes from Fox Barrel. 5% ABV. Based in California. Very still. Bright rosy red color. Smells of blackberries and very ripe fruit. Tart and semi dry. Fruity but not sweet. Great.

And now I'm out of autumnal options. Let's talk 4 Hands Brewery and their Reprise Centennial red ale. It is an American red ale with an ABV of 6% that's brewed in Missouri. If I'm interpreting the description on their website, the Reprise is brewed with just the centennial hop. If that's true, that centennial hop is one potent mother.


The Reprise was billed as a hoppy red ale and it delivered. It poured a reddish brown ale with a loose but thick off white head. The scent reminded me of citrus pith. The flavor was fruity esters. This is a big, bold flavorful beer and I'll rate it a great.

One final thought. Is it odd that every review I currently have stockpiled is of beer I found at TJ's? Perhaps I'm going to start forwarding my mail there. Cheers!

Beer from State College (But Good Beer)

Beer #278 Red Mo / Otto's Pub and Brewery, State College, PA

Yet another day with not enough time to accomplish any of the things I need to do today.  I'm interviewing students for full-time and intern positions, but I'm tempted to just email them all and tell them they have the job so I can go sit outside and enjoy the this amazing weather.  It's like heaven outside right now.

The beer for today is a local product, the Red Mo, which is a red ale from Otto's in State College.  State College is a town well known for beer consumption, but this one is a craft beer to appeal to drinkers who operate with a focus on quality, rather than volume.  This beer pours with a dark amber color and a lingering white head.  There's a faint aroma of malt, and the flavor gives you biscuit with some toffee sweetness, malt, and some dry hop bitterness on the finish.  This one is a keeper, and I'm looking forward to visiting them in person in the near future.

Big Mo.

Otto's has been brewing since 2002, but they moved into a much larger location in 2010.  No, they're not downtown, but they're close enough to campus to make them a popular spot in town.  Their website has a really cool section on brewing history in Pennsylvania, which should appeal to all the beer nerds out there.

Thing to Think About Today:
Let's switch gears from the college football scene and focus on the NFL for a moment with a delightful little film called The Replacements.  In this one, the NFL goes on strike, so the Washington Sentinels call on a former coach who was fired previously to come in and put together a team of fill-in players to finish the season.  Keanu Reeves stars as the former Ohio State quarterback who always choked in the limelight, Gene Hackman as the old coach with something to prove, and Jon Favreau and Orlando Jones highlight a cast of weirdos trying to get their moment in the sun before the real players come back.  Plus, they bring in strippers to serve as replacement cheerleaders, so you know this movie has to be good!  Check it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fan97hHZcM

Beer 272: Otto's and Bluetooth Fails

Does bluetooth go bad? Or do they just become possessed by the devil and randomly place calls depending on the moon's cycle? I spent my entire evening commute at the mercy of my self-dialing phone. For a dozen calls. Calls in which the ID didn't come up on my in-dash display. Oh and this is my work phone so the person on the other end of the phone could have been any one of our trustees or donors. Best part is that my phone was safely in the backseat of my car and the bluetooth controls didn't work so I was completely at the mercy of the devil phone.

Evidently good fortune was still somewhat on my side because all the calls went to Gary. But it was still awkward asking him to hang up on me repeatedly. Good times.

I'm going to soothe my slightly rattled self with a Red Mo from Otto's Pub and Brewery in State College, Pennsylvania. I've spent how many years of drinking age in State College and never set foot in the place. How does that happen? Trust me...we'll be rectifying that situation this season!


The Red Mo an American red ale. It poured a really nice chestnut color with a tan head that left a bit of lacing in the glass. The smell was malt and light roast. The flavor is spicy with a slight fruitiness. There's a good amount of biscuit along with a nice hop bite at the finish. This is a good beer.

Cheers!

Beer 270: Fort Collins Red Banshee

On the drive home today, I encountered an ambulance not quite pulled off the road into a local parking lot. It's lights were whirling their warning. The rear doors were ajar and the stretcher was clearly en route to someone who needed it. And all I could think is that people should know better than to eat at a chain restaurant. The local parking lot was at a Bertucci's. I'm going to hell, aren't I?



Tonight's beer is the Red Banshee red ale from Fort Collins Brewery in Colorado. Somehow in all of my trips to Colorado, I haven't managed to get myself to Fort Collins. Perhaps I'll remedy that situation next year!

The Red Banshee poured a dense red tinged brown ale with a tan head that is leaving nice lacing in the glass. The aroma is toasted malt sweetness with earl grey tea undertones. The flavor is light and surprisingly sweet and the tea is much more noticeable when drinking it versus smelling it. I'm noticing dark bread flavors as well as a nice balance between malts and hops.

I'd say this is a good beer. Cheers!

Tales from The Other Side

Beer #269 Red Banshee / The Fort Collins Brewery, Fort Collins, CO

I really wish I had more to talk about today, but for some reason my brain is fried.  Wait, I know why - because everyone and their brother returned back to work today, and all of the things which have been on hold came roaring to life with the return of the masses.  I love the fall, but enjoy the relative quiet late summer brings to the office.

We'll unwind with a beer; the Red Banshee from The Fort Collins Brewery.  This red ale has a dark amber color, with a lingering off-white head.  The aroma is very malty, and when you drink it you get flavors of stone fruits, lightly toasted malt, and hints of cocoa - not overly sweet, however.  Good fall beer, even though I imagine summer temperatures will be hanging around for a few more weeks.  Fall can hurry up and arrive, and then post up and stay here for quite some time.

She looks mean.

I've been to Fort Collins twice, but unfortunately both trips happened before I switched into full on beer geek mode.  Hope to get back there again soon to pay these guys and their seven year old brewery a visit.

Thing to Think About Today:
In Irish folklore, a banshee is a spirit in the form of a woman, whose appearance and wailing is taken as a sign someone is going to DIE.  Wow, that's seriously depressing.  To cheer you up, let's call on another member of the spirit world to brighten things up - Ghostface Killah!  To make sure one of my favorite members of the Wu (just kidding, they're all my favorite) is more accessible to the delicate sensibilities of this beer blog audience, I'll go with a mash-up here.  That's right, we close tonight's show with Ghostface and indie music darlings Beirut putting their heads together for Save Me Concubine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcXke4I6Hhc

You want a live performance of this?  You got it!  Not sure Beirut and Ghostface will ever be in the same place at the same time, but here's someone covering this mash-up.  Rather interesting version, actually:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3pQ3MJTaFI

Beer 208: Scuttlebutt Amber Ale

I was going to begin this post by writing about my love of the word scuttlebutt, but decided nothing I could write would compare to this definition from the Scuttlebutt Brewing Company's website.  I'm also not feeling very motivated today.  Work is work and I would much rather be retired right now.  So there's that...

Anyway I found the Scuttlebutt Amber Ale at The Brooklyn Oyster House in Seattle.  It accompanied a few dozen oysters quite well. 

It was a lovely and deep shade of amber with a thin head.  It smelled of caramel malts and the taste was full and round.  The caramel rings through and there is just a hint of earthy hop at the finish. 

Cheers!

Beer 207: Eugene City Fake Out...and Ninkasi Double Red

You get two reviews for the price of one today. I got the fake out from Eugene City Brewing. It's part of Rogue's family, which I reviewed last week but I really liked the beer and feel compelled to tell you about it.

But first I'm going to wax poetic about the Ninkasi Believer Double Red Ale.. It poured a deep red-tinged amber in the glass with a thick tan head.


I couldn't smell anything...I think my allergies had finally found me in Portland after a day hiking outdoors. Rats. I think this one is best described as a slightly hopped up Irish red. It drank nice and smooth...tasted of caramel malts and finished hoppy. Very good.

I didn't get the toffee and figs that Ninkasi mentions in its description. I do, however, agree that it is incredibly drinkable and full flavored.

***



And just because I really enjoyed it, here is what I thought of Eugene City Brewery's Honey Orange Wheat Ale. . It poured a hazy, dark straw color with no head and was served with a totally superfluous orange wedge. 

Smelling it reminded me of orange blossom honey. The taste had orange undertones...wheat...and a smoothness and light sweetness from the honey. It was awesome!




p.s. This is how hot it is right now....








...Totally necessary for survival.

Cheers!