TWIB – Dead Presidents, Wedding Drinks and Delicious Beer

This Week in Beer (TWIB) is a feature where I’ll highlight some craft beers I had during this past week mixed with some related (and unrelated) thoughts. Yes, it’s a play on the name of the show This Week in Baseball which I grew up on and loved.

It is wedding season. Still. I attended my second wedding in less than a month (Here’s a recap of the first wedding). This time I went north to Philadelphia. Traveling, especially out of state, gives you a chance to really branch out when it comes to beer choices.

I wandered the streets of Philly and ended up where?

What do I love most about weddings? People from all around gather to celebrate the love of a common family member or friend. Meaning that if you don’t know someone attending the wedding, you have a better chance of getting along with him or her than a random person. I met another bridemaid’s significant other and hit it off with him. We had the whole day to ourselves while our ladies were doing whatever bridemaids do the day of the wedding so we hit the streets of Philly in search of cheesesteaks and beer.

TWIB – Six-packs, Monsters and Friends

This Week in Beer (TWIB) is a feature where I’ll highlight some craft beers I had during this past week mixed with some related (and unrelated) thoughts. Yes, it’s a play on the name of the show This Week in Baseball which I grew up on and loved.

You know how many beers I had this week? One. Yep. No, don’t look out your window, pigs are not flying yet. Just because my week in beer was uneventful doesn’t mean everyone’s was.

Here’s a few topics that fascinated me this week and think you should be interested in:

The Six-Pack Project: Beers from Around the Country

Bryan from the This Is Why I’m Drunk blog created The Six-Pack Project. He explains what the project is:

“It’s a new, collaborative effort between beer bloggers from around the country to highlight a six-pack of our state’s native brews that we believe best represent what the beer culture of our respective states offer. If someone is coming to visit, what bottles or cans would we want to share?”

I’ve had three of the six he choose but will make it a point the complete Bryan’s six-pack next time I’m in North Carolina.

Surprisingly I’ve only had two of Scott’s Virginia/DC six-pack which include DC Brau On the Wings of Armageddon, DC Brau El Hefe Speaks, Port City Porter, Bluejacket and Lost Rhino Pretty in Pink, Dark Hollow Chocolate and Coffee BBA Imperial Stout and Port City Downright Pilsner.

What do you think? Do these six represent Virginia? What about your state?

No more Monsters in Brooklyn

Brooklyn Brewery announced they will be discontinuing their Monster Ale barley wine. I had it a few years ago before I could appreciate it. I’ll be disappointed if I can’t find it on the shelf one last time.

If you do see it, pick one up. Brooklyn Brewery’s blog says it will age for a number of years.

Note: Find a dark place where the temperature doesn’t fluctuate much and store it upright, not sideways like wine.

What’s there to do now that Friends isn’t on Thursdays anymore?

Okay, that headline might be a few years out of date.

TWIB – Anniversary in Annapolis

This Week in Beer (TWIB) is a feature where I’ll highlight some craft beers I had during this past week mixed with some related (and unrelated) thoughts. Yes, it’s a play on the name of the show This Week in Baseball which I grew up on and loved.

This was a special weekend for me. My wife and I celebrated our first anniversary. We took a trip Annapolis, MD, a place we’ve never been to before.

Fordham Brewing Company

Well I was in charge of planning the trip and right off the bat when we arrived Sunday afternoon I took us to get lunch at a restaurant that doesn’t open until 5:00pm. Nice work. So plan B kicked in and I walked us around until we found the most crowded spot which ended up being Rams Head Tavern.

I ordered the Fordham Brewing Company sampler. It consisted of 6 of their beers:

• Rams Head IPA
• Rosie Parks Oyster Stout
• Copperhead Ale
• Helles Lager
• Tavern Ale
• Wisteria Wheat

The Copperhead Ale was my favorite by far. It was complex and flavorful. However, it was the only one I’ll ever get again besides maybe the Oyster Stout. The rest were average at best.

Boulevard Brewing Company Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale

Even though I struck out with lunch I hit a homerun with dinner. We went out to Severn Inn and feasted on seafood while sitting on the water.

I’ve had Tank 7 before and knew it was a winner. This beer is one of the few Saisons I enjoy. It’s dangerous at 8.5% ABV so I only had one while my wife took down a delicious white wine sangria.

Boulevard is relatively new to being distributed to where I am in Virginia so I’m just beginning to have their beers and hear about the company. From what I’ve seen these guys “get it” and are doing things right. I mentioned them in a post last week Why a Brewery Needs an Online Video Presence.

April Dirty Thirty Day 25 – Sixpoint Bengali Tiger

Soooo I’ve been bad. I broke the post streak and I won’t lie to you, I missed a day of not trying a new beer. I could make excuses and I should (since I actually have an awesome excuse for once) but I won’t. I will just pick up where I left off.

Tonight’s April Dirty Thirty beer is…

Sixpoint Bengali Tiger

Sixpoint Bengali Tiger Ale

Critical Information:

• 6.4% ABV
• 62 IBUs
• 13 SRM

My Experience:

– POUR

Poured from can into pint glass. It has an orange color and is mostly transparent. It has a large, puffy white head that clings to the glass.

– SMELL

It has an aroma of fresh hops and is citrus-y.

– TASTE

It’s bitter, then hoppy, then bitter again. It’s straw-like (is that something??) and has a hint of grapefruit.

– FOOD PAIRING

Gouda cheese or Peruvian chicken. Fried yuca anyone?

April Dirty Thirty Day 16 – Lagunitas Brewing Undercover Investigation Shut-down Ale

Last night’s April Dirty Thirty beer was…

Lagunitas Brewing Undercover Investigation Shut-down Ale

Lagunitas Brewing Undercover Investigation Shut-down Ale

Critical Information:

• 9.6% ABV
• American Strong Ale

My Experience:

– POUR

Poured from bottle into tulip glass. It has an amber transparent color with a large, off-white head that sticks to the glass.

– SMELL

It gives off a super hoppy and fruity aroma. There’s some pomegranate and berries.

– TASTE

I get mostly hops, honey and fruitiness. This beer will crush your palate so don’t plan on enjoying the subtleties of a Saison after this one. It’s more dense than it appears. I enjoyed it more just after the pour when the carbonation and bubbles were still working. After a few minutes it became somewhat labor-intensive to get it down.

– FOOD PAIRING

You’ll need a strong cheese to keep up with the intense flavors of this beer. Something in the Bleu or Gorgonzola family would work.