Welcome to Fall Seasonals: A closer look at Jolly Pumpkin Fuego del Otono

It is time to launch into fall seasonals. This is actually our first go at these, last year's contribution was posted before the schedule had really been thought out. Our kickoff candidate is Jolly Pumpkin Fuego del Otono, Autumn Fire. Interestingly enough this actual beer is older than JGF having been bottled on October 7, 2011, Batch 899/900.

Since Jolly Pumpkin does not distribute to Virginia, I picked this up on the way home from vacation from Florida in August at Hop City in Atlanta, and it has been sitting vertically in the cool, dark of the cellar ever since.

This poured a hazy, burnt orange color, very reminiscent of autumn and falling leaves. It looks quite pleasing in the glass. It had a decent carbonation to it, but it had faded a bit with time. It should be foamy on the pour, but this dissipated very quickly on my model.

Jolly Pumpkin labels are some of my favorites!

On the first taste this beer roars at you with it's big tangy, tart taste, which covers up a lot of the nuance that exists in this beer. That is a reoccurring characteristic I have noticed in several Jolly Pumpkin beers I have sampled over the last few months but not quite as forward as this particular example. Once you get passed that though you can pick out the spice and the citrus. The chestnut aspect is there but it was very faint. I expected it to be a bit more upfront. It is the tanginess that rides strong throughout pushing other flavors rudely aside, finishing with a dry, flat, bitterness.

I don't know how long it was on the shelf and if it has been diminished by time and light. I would sure like to try it fresh instead of a year old. Bottom line is I will be trying this again with a more recently bottled example when I get the chance. It comes in at 6.1% ABV and would be great with sharp cheese.

Here is the "party line" on Jolly Pumpkin Fuego del Otono, Autumn Fire:

To catch a bit of soft radiance in each bottle, we wait for fall colors to begin their bright and fleeting glow before brewing this wonderful ale under their autumn fire. Gentle amber malt blend smooth caramel notes, gently lapping against a shore of distant forgotten spice. A beer to sip, contemplate and enjoy.

Halloween Pumpkin Ale Tripleheader!

We are closing out October with a tripleheader of pumpkin beers. So strap in folks and let us dive in!

Saranac Pumpkin Ale was my backup, my second choice. At one point in my early craft beer career I only really drank Post Road Pumpkin Ale for my pumpkin beer of the season. Then came a time when I couldn't find it so I had to find an alternative. Saranac's version was the first one I stumbled upon so I picked it up. It was one of those moments that lead to me discovering there was a whole other world out there for pumpkin brews because while I enjoyed it, I wasn't quite satisfied with it. Now though it is time to approach it again and take a closer look at it. 

Saranac Pumpkin Ale also doesn't go for the dessert angle instead focusing on the fruit aspect, though some of those qualities are present. It poured a clear copper color with a small tannish head. Allspice and cloves standout on the spice side of things, but they aren't overpowering. It is decently hopped but they are in the background. It is light on the palette, and finishes fairly dry with minimal aftertaste. Overall it is an easy drinker and not a challenging pumpkin ale. It comes in at an ABV of 5.4%. All this adds up to make Saranac Pumpkin Ale a good candidate to introduce folks to the joys of the style. 

Here's the "party line" on Saranac Pumpkin Ale:

Saranac Pumpkin Ale is brewed with Pumpkin, Cinnamon, Allspice, Cloves, Ginger and Vanilla. Look for a full-body and amber color. We're sure you'll enjoy this special brew!

Our second beer is RJ Rockers Gruntled Pumpkin Ale out of South Carolina. It poured a clear, dark orange color with a small white head. It is moderately carbonated and has a noticeable spice up front attitude. There is a spiced, sweet nature to this brew and those characteristics mask the pumpkin on the front end of things holding back that flavor until it suddenly appears at the end of the drink.  The beer finishes fairly dry with a lingering hop bitter aftertaste. This is one of those beers that improves as it warms up with the flavors becoming more full and rich. It comes in at a full and well-hidden 7% ABV. It is a solid effort by RJ Rockers which is a pleasant surprise. This isn't a beer to use to introduce the style, too many disparate elements going on that could be a turn off for novices. 

There is no "party line" on RJ Rockers Gruntled Pumpkin Ale so here is a second opinion instead by It's a Blog about the Beer. 

Our third and final beer is Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale out of Pennsylvania. It poured a clear light brown color with a small off white head. This is a big pumpkin pie style beer and it is another beer that really comes into its own when it is just shy of room temperature. You notice the big spices right out the gate. The smell will get in the nose even before you take a drink with the nutmeg and cloves barging their way to the front and the cinnamon tagging along. The pumpkin flavor is there but it stays wrapped up with the spices, never quite breaking free to establish its independence. It finishes dry with a spiced aftertaste that remains present for several minutes after. It comes in at a noticeable 8% ABV. I would recommend this at room temperature so the flavors and scents can really bloom, but this is a one bottle beer. Eventually the spice profile of this proves overpowering and starts to tire out the palette. While it is a very good beer, it is not a beer I would recommend as a starting point, and I would also be hesitant to promote it to anyone who wasn't a big fan of spices. If you pass those two hurdles though this is well worth checking out. 

Here is the "party line" on Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale:

Like a pyramid for a pharaoh, we set out to make a bold monument for The King of the Pumpkins! This 8.0% ABV pumpkin ale is the mother of all pumpkin ales. It is heartier, spicier, and more “caramelly” and “pumpkiny” than its faint brethren! We have added lots of pumpkin along with cinnamon, nutmeg and a touch of cardamom and clove giving this beer a spicy, full-bodied flavor. This truly is an Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Perfect finisher on a cool autumn night, or match it up with a slice of pumpkin pie and fresh whipped cream.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Welcome to your weekend: Spooky Halloween Edition!



Brought to you by spooky plastic pumpkins with
special guest Saranac Pumpkin Ale.
Also remember to check in today for a special Untappd badge!

Beer Battles Breast Cancer: A Look at Pretty in Pink

A slight detour today with the review. Instead of looking at some more pumpkin ales we are going to look at a beer brewed for a good cause. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and many organizations and events have been taking place to raise awareness of this insidious and perfidous disease. I'm proud to say that the Viriginia and DC brewing community is doing their part too.

Four brewsters, Becky Jordan of Lost Rhino, Megan Parisi of Bluejacket, Kristi Mathews-Griner of Vintage 50, and Rachael Cardwell of Hardywood Park, put their minds together and came up with a beer to represent the brewing community's efforts to support breast cancer research. The end result of their collaboration is Pretty in Pink: Awareness Ferments Hope, a saison style beer amplified by pomegranate and hibiscus.

The brilliant brains behind a beautiful beer.
(L-R: Becky Jordan, Kristi Mathews-Griner, Rachael Cardwell, and Megan Parisi)

Pink!

I stopped in at the Churchkey in DC earlier this week for one of the tappings. The beer filled the tulip glass with a hazy pink hue, an appropriate color for its cause. On the drink the pomegranate and hibiscus blend exceptionally well with the tangy flavors found in most saisons. It finishes dry with a bitter tartness retained in the mouth. This actually works in the beer's favor, amplifying the fruity nature on the next drink. Overall this went down smoothly and way too quickly. This is a wonderful fruity, refreshing, and drinkable beer that should appeal to a wide audience. It has an understated ABV of 5.8%. 

Part of the proceeds of the sales of Pretty in Pink will be donated to the Massey Cancer Center in Richmond to continue their mission of research and treatment of all types of cancer. 

The initial 80 barrels have sold out quickly to the drinking establishments in the region. Another batch is in the works and will be making its way to shelves in 22 ounce bottles during the holiday season. 

Pretty in Pink is a well-crafted beer for a notable cause. Keep your eyes open for this and pick up a bottle or two when you get the chance. 

10 Beer links for the latter part of October

We haven't done the beer news lately so let's dive in!

In the News!

(Original found here)

Imagine the Drunken Emails You’ll Send With a Beer Can Keyboard (gizmodo.com)
This could be a case where you could become to drunk to type.

Pink saison and hot beer (Washington Post)
The release for this is at the Church Key Wednesday evening. I'll be there.

Latino Beer Sales Hint At Economic Recovery Among Hispanics (Huffington Post)
Beer consumption and purchase is a fascinating economic indicator. One day we will have to explore it.

Craft Brewers Global – Salone del Gusto (examiner.com)
Now this would be an awesome event to talk my way into.

A little beer is there in the Brahms, says Grand Rapids Symphony’s guest pianist (mlive.com)
Time for a bit of culture. Also I bet Brahms like a pint or two.

Tacoma dispensary busted for marijuana beer (Seattle Times)
I wonder what the flavor profile is on this.

County parks plan would use beer garden money for maintenance projects (Business Journal)
Beer in service of government. This could be a Parks and Rec storyline.

More Filipino women beer drinkers than men, says Radio Veritas study (Inquirer News)
Some interesting statistics in this.

Brown’s beer: Dodgy pints are the Achilles heel of the craft beer revival (London Loves Business)
Quality control of the product is important. Bad pints are bad business!

Brooks on Beer: The 10 most common beer defects (San Jose Mercury News)
But if you do get a bad pint this primer will help guide on why it sucks.

In site news!

Look forward to a final wrap up of GABF and what it all means, more reviews on pumpkin ales, and a look at some ciders. Also part 1 of the Mother Earth Brewing Company interview will be up at the end of the week. This coming Saturday I'll be at the Annapolis Craft Beer and Music Festival, if you see me say hi. Stay tuned and thanks for stopping in!

It's a Pumpkin Ale Doubleheader!

Pumpkins are a big deal in America at this time of year, you would be hard pressed to go anywhere without seeing them or some reference to them. That ubiquitous nature is what made pumpkin ale a viable entity for the colonists in the 18th century. Pumpkins offered a cheap alternative for brewers to add different flavor to their beer. This time we are going to look at two firsts. The first candidate is Post Road Pumpkin Ale by Brooklyn Brewery. This was the beer that introduced me to the joys of pumpkin ale. Ever since then I try to enjoy at least of bottle of it every year around this time. I freely admit it is a favorite of mine so this first review will be a bit biased. 

It poured clear copper color with a small white head that dwindled down to a thin sheet across the top of the glass. It has a decent nose with the nutmeg standing up, waving its hands around to be noticed. It has above average carbonation and the effervescence helps promote the spices of the beer. The most notable thing about this beer is unlike other pumpkin ales this one is not going for the pumpkin pie effect but rather more raw pumpkin taste. On the drink the spices flash up front on the swallow. The pumpkin rides along throughout the whole drink, a constant companion from start to finish. Another element of this beer that differs it from the pumpkin pie crowd is that it is not very sweet. It finishes dry with only a mild hop bitterness with the spices slowly fading out. This is a pumpkin ale that can be sessioned, it comes in at a drinkable 5% ABV and it is not overwhelming with its presence.

Here is the "party line" on Post Road Pumpkin Ale:

Early American colonialists, seeking natural ingredients for brewing ales, turned to pumpkins, which were plentiful, flavorful and nutritious. Blended with barley malt, pumpkins became a commonly used beer ingredient. Post Road Pumpkin Ale brings back this tasty tradition. Hundreds of pounds of pumpkins are blended into the mash of each batch, creating a beer with an orange amber color, warm pumpkin aroma, biscuity malt center, and crisp finish.

While Post Road was my first pumpkin ale, our other candidate tonight was the first publicly available pumpkin ale back when craft brewing was still in its infancy in the 1980s. Part of the story line on this beer was that it used a version of George Washington's pumpkin ale recipe. This beer may have started out as a novelty but it has hung around for almost three decades and helped usher in a thriving category of beer.

Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale poured a slightly hazy dark orange color with a rapidly dissipating white head. On the drink the pumpkin pushes to the front followed by a slightly sour taste. The spices in this beer are not overt, instead hanging out on the edges flashing up for a cameo on the swallow. It finishes very dry with a quickly vanishing raw pumpkin aftertaste. That said once you start on this beer it quickly becomes an easy drinker. Each drink builds on the previous one. This beer also does not subscribe to the pumpkin pie variety but stays focused on the pumpkin itself, even more so than the Post Road. If you want a pumpkin beer with little spice presence then this is the beer to choose. It comes in at 5.5% ABV.

Right now it looks like Buffalo Bill's Brewery's website is currently under construction so here is a second opinion instead.

Virginia craft brewing has arrived! A recap of the Great American Beer Festival Awards Ceremony

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper
toasts the assembled craft brewers.

This past Saturday I attended the Great American Beer Festival Awards ceremony held in the Wells Fargo Theater in downtown Denver where the Brewers Association handed out the medals and awards for the judging portion of the festival. Charlie Papazian, the godfather of American homebrewing, and president of the Brewers Association greeted and awarded each brewer or brewing team that was privileged to be called up to the stage.

One of the cool stories of the awards ceremony was watching the east coast beer scene really come into its own. Devils Backbone Brewing, by any definition, kicked ass and stole the show taking home 8 medals (2 golds) and small brewpub and brewpub brewer of the year award. With their strong showing at the Virginia Beer Cup and now here, I think we can safely crown them heir-apparent to the brewing crown of Virginia. While they may sit on the throne now there are still usurpers waiting in the wings to seize it. My local, Port City Brewing, took a bronze with Monumental IPA and Blue Mountain Barrel House (Devils Backbone's neighbor up the road) bronze medaled with Local Species, Mad Fox Brewing  and Rock Bottom - Arlington also grabbed some nice shiny hardware.  Half the Virginia breweries that entered the competition took home at least a medal. While Virginia made a strong showing so to did other breweries in the region. DuClaw from Maryland medaled and so too did the District's own DC Brau. To the south, Mother Earth Brewing in North Carolina grabbed a bronze and to the north, Troegs of Pennsylvania ran away with a few medals and the mid-sized brewery and brewer of the year award. A bit closer to my heart was the showing by Wisconsin breweries. Old favorites of mine such as New Glarus, Stevens Point Brewery, and Central Waters also took home medals. 

Devils Backbone Brewing of Virgina stole the show. 

The competition had 84 categories with a total of 4338 entries by 666 breweries (This is the real reason why Devils Backbone won! It's a conspiracy) and was judged by 185 beer industry professionals from 11 countries over three days. Take a moment to think about that because that is a lot of beer and a good portion of it has only recently emerged on the scene in the last ten years or less. As for the beer itself, IPAs still dominate with the American-Style India Pale Ale category having over 200 entries submitted and the Imperial IPA category had over 100 entries. As one brewer said sarcastically while receiving his medal, "These IPAs are just a fad."  Other categories that were deep with entries were Herb and Spice beer, American Pale Ales, American-Style Strong Pale Ales, and surprisingly the Wood and Barrel Aged category.

The big picture is this. There is no better place in the world right now for beer. Time and again it was said that America is brewing the best beer in the world. American craft beer can go toe to toe, pound for pound against any country in the world not only in beer quality but also for sheer diversity. It is hard to refute that when you look at the strong showings by breweries across the country in all the categories.  

On a side note, one of the things that was interesting to note was audience reaction to several of the winners.  Of particular interest was how former crafts who had been bought up by macro companies were treated. Both Goose Island and Leinenkugels appeared to get the cold shoulder with only perfunctory applause from the audience when their medals were announced. Meanwhile Pabst got a rousing applause from the crowd for its gold medal in American-Style Lager. Make what you will about that. 

Final results can be found here.

The Greatest Beer Show on Earth! Part 1

Overwhelming, loud, relentless. These are the thoughts that cross my mind as I walk through the throngs of crowds crisscrossing in front of me from one beer station to another. Cries go up everytime someone drops their plastic tasting glass. All I can think is this is a bit insane, but absolutely wonderful at the same time. 

Hours later I started writing this while down in the media room on the floor below the convention hall. Even here behind closed doors the dull roar of the crowd above can still be heard, pulsating and droning on. Plainly put, the Great American Beer Festival is simply, "Beer as Spectacle."

 Merriam-Webster defines spectacle as:

"something exhibited to view as unusual, notable, or entertaining; especially : an eye-catching or dramatic public display"

This is what GABF is for craft beer, a dramatic public display on what craft beer is, was, and what it can be. The love of beer here both by brewers and participants is infectious. The mad scramble from one station to another, the deep conversations, and the celebration of a good thing. 

This year there were 570 plus breweries and brewpubs on the floor with over 2700 beers being poured. For shear size alone this is intimidating. My original plan was quickly dashed to pieces and I just rambled through the lanes tasting known entities in my first session. Big hits of the Friday evening session were Stone, Cigar City, Russian River, Dogfish Head, and Bear Republic. The lines for them were long but moving quickly. A majority of the stations I passed had minimal or no wait though and an attendee could quickly bounce among them tasting what they liked. With a one ounce taster you could easily try a lot of things without losing your senses.



I wouldn't go so far to say fortunes are won or lost here, but medaling here will make a difference. Fortune is won by almost every brewery or brewpub who is participating. The exposure to tens of thousands craft beer fanatics is priceless for these breweries, putting unknowns on the radar, and reconfirming the stature of others. For many of the attendees here this may be the greatest beer experience they have ever had. It is very cool to be part of this. 

Stay tuned for more updates!

It's pumpkin time! An intro and a review.

We have reached that time of the year where finally the temperature appears to be cooling down. Autumn is here not only date wise but weather-wise also. That means it is time for an all around original American style brew, pumpkin ale. The first recorded recipe of pumpkin ale dates from 1771, but with beer being such a big part of colonial life it is easy to argue that resourceful colonists had being brewing with this plentiful fall fruit many decades earlier.

Pumpkin ales today take more of their influence from pumpkin pie than just the fruit itself, using a variety of spices found in the dessert to inform the brew. No worries though, the pumpkin itself is still the leading actor. Pumpkin ales vary quite a bit, the only real constant is the pumpkin itself, but even how or when it is applied to the brew kettle can be different from brewer to brewer.

Our first on the docket is Pumking by Southern Tier Brewing. This is a beer I have been wanting to try now for a few years and now I finally get the chance. Let's dive in.

For starters, the aroma of this beer is fantastic especially if you love pumpkin pie. On the first whiff it smells like the dessert and that aroma stays with the ale through the entire glass. It is very pleasing. In appearance this beer has a clear orange, copper color with small, quickly disappearing light tan head. On the drink it starts off smooth but quickly balloons into a big bundle of spice and flavors in the mouth. It has a light sweetness that eventually gives way to a dry, mildly bitter finish. This beer is a good study on putting all the pieces together, it has the right aroma, the right look, and the right appearance. All these add up to a unified and enjoyable drinking session.

That said, this is a one bottle beer. It is big, complex, and tasty, but I wouldn't want to drink multiples of this in row. First it comes in at a very deceptive 8.6% ABV. All the spice and flavors mask the alcohol very well but it does pack a bit of a punch. Second, it is a bit of a spice bomb and after awhile all those flavors start becoming a bit of a drag. Break out a bottle or two of these for a fall dinner party and use it as an aperitif in four ounce tasters and you have yourself a sure fire winner. One recommendation, I enjoyed this beer more as it warmed up and more character developed.

Here is the "party line" on Southern Tier Pumking:

All Hallows Eve is a time of the year when spirits can make contact with the physical world, and when magic is most potent. It is thought that we harness this magic to brew our powerful pumpkin ale. Not so, but it is with great respect of the magic of their trade that our brewers produce this fine beer. Take a whiff of this complex ale and your journey has just begun. At first sip, a magical spell will bewitch your taste buds, yet another victim enraptured by the Pumking.

Beer links to start off October right!

And now back to your regular scheduled programming.

(Original here)

In the News!

SD tribe’s lawsuit against beer stores dismissed (CBS News)
This will move to state courts and it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

The 5 Best Beer Cities in America (GQ)
No Portland, San Diego, or even Asheville? I think the fix is in! Discuss in the comments.

Drink a Beer, Save an Endangered Species (Washington Beer Blog)
I always enjoy supporting good causes while drinking a good brew.

N.Y. beer, wine ‘summit’ could boost several industries (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)
Both areas have scene a lot of growth over the years. Promoting them makes sense.

America’s Best Beer Gardens (Food & Wine)
I now have a couple of new places to check out!

Craft beer blossoming as an economic development driver (Kalamazoo Gazette)
Over and over I keep seeing articles of craft beer survivability during the recession. It makes me happy.

Beer and Metal: Bourbon Barrel Aged La Petite Mort by Central Waters and Local Option (Chicago Reader)  Central Waters Brewery continues to expand and keep their creative edge. The label on this beer is pretty cool.

U.S. Beer Consumption Continues Decline (CSP Daily News)
The above is a slightly misleading title, another take is craft beer consumption continues to rise.

Heineken Triumphs in Asia Beer Deal (Wall Street Journal)
It was a long drawn out fight to get Tiger, it may have been more costly than they realize.

Taplister Cracks Open Craft Beer Discovery With New Online Social Online Social Platform (MarketWire) This is a pretty cool.

What Your Beer Says About Your Politics (National Journal)
Graphs and charts! Expect more on this later this week.

Belleville woman arrested after calling 911 to report boyfriend drank her beer (stltoday.com)
Sometimes I weep for my country. Quick PSA announcement: Don't abuse the 911 system!

In Press Releases!

As the site continues to grow we have started to be contacted from various vendors. Every so often I will be posting things if I think they are entertaining or useful. The below blurb is from Mark of the RankPop Marketing Team in support of their client Kegerators

...I have a client with an awesome (and rather funny) Keg Calculator that calulates how much beer you should purchase for a party based on the number of people and how much each of the people are likely to drink. Here's the link. I was hoping that if you liked it, you wouldn't mind sharing it with your readers by mentioning it.

I may need to use this to help plan my 20 year high school reunion in Wisconsin this next summer! 

In Site News!

Oktoberfest marches on to its inevitable conclusion and we are riding it out. Expect a few more Oktoberfest related articles and then get ready to shift into pumpkin brews. As always thanks for stopping by!

Beer Links for Oktoberfest!

Beer and pretzels, two things that
are even better together!
(Original found here.)

Oktoberfest is in full swing and Autumn is here. The next two months are my favorites in the year. Let’s take a look at a few headlines.

In the News!

Photos: Oktoberfest – world’s biggest beer festival going strong (Denver Post)

Has Oktoberfest Become A Tourist Trap (Photos) (Huffington Post)
Over 6 million people on 64 acres at tourist prices? I think the safe answer is yes, it's a tourist trap. I still want to go.

Raise a glass (or beer mug) to the Oktoberfest tradition (NBC News)
Can’t make it to the big one? Here are some American alternatives.

Oktoberfest Alternatives: German Beer Destinations Beyond Munich (Conde Nast Traveler)
Want to get away from the big one? Here are some other Deutsch alternatives!

Daughter won’t get beer, so man calls 911 (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Oh stupid beer crime, I do miss you.

10 Most Expensive NFL Stadium Beers (The Street)
Drink before you go in the stadium...it will save you money.

Drunkenomics 101: Playing a Beer Market (Wired)
Not much in the way of beer, but it could make for an entertaining evening.

When it Comes to Beer, Variety Rules in USA (Voice of America)
This right here is why America is currently the best beer country in the world. Not only are we brewing more styles, we are even bringing them back from the dead.

Crooked Stave Barrel Cellar ordered to stop selling draft beer (Westword.com)
I'll be a bit put out if I can't get a few bottles for some reason when I go to Denver in a few weeks.

New Beer Bar Makes Stolovayas Trendy Again (The Moscow Times)
I just want to know what beer they have!

National Drink Beer Day: Cheers to free (and reduced) beer across America (Video) (examiner.com)
I don't need an excuse to drink beer but if one is available then why not use it!

Budweiser Will Launch 3 Limited Edition ‘Zip Code’ Beers Next Month (Business Insider)
I think this will be the perfect opportunity for a big ol' beer roundtable with the JGF crew.

In Site News!

Oktoberfest month drives on so we will have some more Oktoberfest reviews and commentary coming your way so stay tuned. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Beer links for a vacation hangover

I’m back from vacation. All and all a good time was had; I lounged on the beach, floated in the ocean, drank some new beer from Florida and tried my hand at not doing much of anything. Now it is time to turn back to the grind.

In the News!
Heineken Is Twice Bitten, Not Yet Shy (Wall Street Journal)
A lot of money is going to be spent to grab a Tiger's tail.

The right beer can make all
the difference.

Brewing up love: Weddings tap craft beer craze (Appleton Post Crescent) Why not? There is plenty of great biere de Champagne out there.

Kiss Cam Guy Chooses Beer Over Girlfriend (Huffington Post)
If it were me, I’d be pissed for being passed over for such a shitty beer.

Majority in U.S. Drink Alcohol, Averaging Four Drinks a Week (Gallup)
A cool study on American drinking habits.

The Yardley Inn’s sour beer dinner (Washington Times)
Sours are "in"; look for more of them to be making it to shelves near you real soon.

Oskar Blues now shakes its can in Chicago (chicagonow.com)
Great news for the Second City!

Gose with crabs: Spread the word (Washington Post)
It is always exciting when forgotten styles get rejuvenated!

Revealed: The president brews his own beer, and brings it with him on the road (Des Moines Register)
I think my next big mission needs to be interviewing the White House brewmaster and scoring a bottle or two of these brews.

Beer drinkers say cheers to methane (Stock and Land)
That's a lot of gas.

Beer industry raises a glass towards cutting water consumption (GreenBiz.com)
That's a lot of water!

Yorkshire Benedictine beer proves a hit around the world (The Press)
This is going on the list of beers to track down.

Hunt for exotic beers goes beyond the pale (Kansas City Star)
Want to know we live in great beer times? This is happening in the heartland of America.

Highland Games inflatable beer tent bursts during event (Scottish Daily Record)
First time the event isn't dry in ages and the beer tent collapses...these two events are not related.

In Site News!

So I have been a bit delinquent on some macrobrewing commentary, I’ll try to rectify that this week. Expect a closer look at Miller Lite and Miller Genuine Draft, and finally you will be able to find us at the Virginia Craft Brewers Festival this weekend. Make sure to say “Hi” if you see us! (I'll be wearing a JGF shirt.)

As always you can follow us on a variety of social media sites, just click on the widgets in the top right corner. Thanks for stopping by!

Beer links for vacation!

I'm on vacation this week so here is a half dozen beer links to see you through. 

In the News!

Czech blasphemy!
(Original found here)

Czech brewers commit beer "blasphemy" to buoy sales (Reuters)

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

 
A Mexican Beer Rides a Social Media Wave (New York Times)

Pacifico is one of my favorite cervezas. 

Maryland farmers try beer production (Baltimore Sun)

Hop farming is the new cash crop.

Thoughts on Beer Cans vs. Beer Bottles (BostInno.com)

Beer cans continue to march on. 

 

Craft beer sales up 12 percent so far in 2012 (stltoday.com)

The craft march continues, I just hope we are prepared for the backlash.

 
Beer wars coming to a head in battle for Asian brewery (Irish Times)

It will be interesting to see if Heineken wins out. 

In Site News

Like I said earlier, I'm on vacation this week, but you can still expect a review of Miller Genuine Draft and Miller Lite on Wednesday and some scintillating commentary on the macro beer scene. Stay tuned!

Flying Fish in the Shipyard! A look at two northeastern summer seasonals.

We are still battling the heat out here, though a respite comes tomorrow. I have to admit I really don't like the heat, once it gets above 85 degrees I would prefer to shut down and do a whole lot of nothing. There is an exception to this, if I am on a nice sandy beach, breeze blowing off the ocean, resting in a chair with an umbrella, a beer in one hand, and a gin and tonic chaser in the other then it can be 90, 100, 105 degrees, I'll be just fine, otherwise give me cold day any day. That said, the real reason we are here tonight is to continue looking at a few summer seasonals. 

Our first candidate is Farmhouse Summer Ale by Flying Fish Brewery out of Cherry Hill, New Jersey. It poured a hazy golden color with a big, fluffy, white head that slowly settled. There was a lot of particulate swirling about, finally coming to rest at the bottom of the glass. This had a nice crisp bite up front with good carbonation. It was effervescent, fruity, and light on the tongue with some mild bitterness and faint grassiness in the aftertaste wrapping up with a dry finish. Overall it reminded me of a lighter version of a comes of as a lighter version of a saison, which isn't a bad thing particularly on a hot day. This beer is a decent summer drinker that I would use for a more "formal" summer party. I think this has the potential to be a really good cheese beer. It comes in at a refreshing 4.6% ABV. For my first Flying Fish experience it sets a pretty solid standard. I'm pretty happy with the result.

Here is the "party line" on Farmhouse Summer Ale:

A tribute to the highly drinkable "every day" beers from French-speaking Belgium. Contains Belgian two-row pale malt and 7% wheat. This beer is lightly filtered with an earthy, spicy hop character from imported Styrian Goldings hops and a beautiful rich creamy head from the wheat.

Our other candidate for the night is Shipyard Brewery's Summer Ale from Portland, Maine. This is a pale wheat ale, the American craft brewers' go to style when brewing up a summer seasonal. This poured a clear dark golden color with little head that quickly disappeared.

This is bigger in taste than other summer seasonals I have had. It reminds me almost of a lager in the way that it has a larger body. It clearly is punching above its weight class here. There is some faint fruitiness and a flat taste of wheat, fair carbonation, with a lingering but small bitterness in the aftertaste which hovers in the background for a good while after then drink. It is an all right brew but doesn't really do anything to standout from the crowd other than be more filling and bigger bodied than other summer seasonals. That isn't necessarily a good thing on a hot summer day. It comes in at a smooth 5.1% ABV.

Here is the party line on Shipyard's Summer Ale:

Shipyard Summer Ale is a traditional American wheat beer. With its inviting golden color, mellow malted wheat flavor and less hoppy characteristics, it’s sure to please those looking for a clean, cool taste sensation on long, hot summer days.

The anatomy of a well run festival: NoVa Summer Brewfest photo catalog

A few weekends ago the 5th Annual Northern Virginia Summer Brewfest had a craft beer celebration out at Morvern Park in Leesburg. Most of the festivals I've attended over the last few years have done a great job with the beer so now I have started to look at other factors, the intangibles that make a festival a great experience or a fiasco. We have all been to festivals that are too crowded, no parking, beer ran out early, and frankly just annoying. My intent is to use the NoVa Summer Brewfest as a case study of how to run a festival.

There was only one real hiccup and that was actually finding it which was entirely my fault for not reading thoroughly on the website.  I know a little due diligence on my part would have prevented me from running all over northern Virginia. I do know I was not the only one that had issues with directions. Now that we have gotten my stupidity out of the way,  let's take a closer look at the Brewfest itself and what they did well.To do this we are going to break it down with a photo collection. 

The location was excellent, on the outskirts of Leesburg adjacent to Morvern Park. Parking was plentiful and free and to keep things interesting Civil War re-enactors had encamped nearby. Musketry occasionally rang out throughout the summer day.

Safety first! This was actually a reoccurring theme throughout the event. Here is a prime example, the festival had organized a shuttle service of several coach busses that could transport people to and fro from the Vienna metro. You paid a little more for your tickets but didn't have to worry about all the hassle.

Another example of safety first. Local law enforcement was on the scene, very courteous, and making the rounds.

Kids had an area all for themselves with not just two bouncy houses...

...but also other fun activities including balloon animals...and seriously, who doesn't love balloon animals. Seriously, this was a nice inclusion and promoted a family friendly atmosphere.

The designated driver tent was manned and providing complimentary beverages for those responsible heroes.

Law enforcement officers made the rounds throughout the festival grounds.

Organized and plentiful spaces for people to relax, talk, and eat their foods. In the background, a decent amount of facilities for people to relieve themselves also.

Speaking of foods, there were a wide variety of foods for peoples enjoyment. Not only the usual assortment of beer festival food like sausages and pretzels, but also Thai, paninis, and other various sundries.

Plenty of open space between the tents...Brewvival take note. I can't stress how important this element is. Nobody likes to be packed in like sardines. In the center row were a variety of vendors and artisans adding to the festival atmosphere.

There was live music, always a nice addition to any festival. Rebelicious entertains the crowd during their set. Overall there were 8 bands throughout the two day event.

All these above elements form a nice solid foundation so people can enjoy their time at the festival, but they came here for a reason. So let's actually take a look at the beer. Before we dive to far in though...

...a word of thanks to the volunteers. They did a great job. All the tasting booths were manned by a motivated and fun volunteer corps that was friendly, courteous, and hard-working. This allowed the brewers a chance to talk with folks.

As for beer, a majority served up by the breweries were refreshing summer seasonals which was to be expected. As we have discussed earlier, summer seasonals can be defined in all sorts away so the diversity of beer meant there was something for everyone.

Local up and comers were represented. Port City Brewing brought their summer seasonal Downright Pilsner. They were joined...

by their colleagues across the river, DC Brau...

....and the fine folks from Lost Rhino along with others.

Your regional breweries are represented. Here is Starr Hill out of Charlottesville, but DuClaw, Weyerbacher, Williamsburg Alewerks, and others had turned out.

Big names in the craft world were present too! Oskar Blues represents here but other big craft brewers included Bell's, Abita, St. Louis Brewing (Schlafly), and Great Lakes to name a few.

New kids are encouraged to share their hard work for the enjoyment of the masses. Three Heads Brewing came down from Rochester, New York. Other new breweries to the event included Blue Mountain and Climax Brewing.

Your major sponsor, Vintage 50, is present and serving up their own quality brews...

...with head brewster Kristi Griner showing off her hard working kicks.

So to wrap this up. What makes a good beer festival? I think you can break it down to these seven basic points: (in no particular order)

• Entertainment for all ages
• A diverse selection of quality brews
• Ample food selection!
• Space and plenty of parking/ accessibility.
• Safety!
• Motivated staff and volunteers.
• A proper amount of facilities for folks to relieve themselves.

I'm sure there are other things I have missed, but all in all the NoVa Summer Brewfest hit all those marks and then some. I applaud their efforts on pulling off a great festival and I look forward to the NoVa Fall Brewfest this October.

Cherry and Ginger: Two summer brews

Last week we looked and ranked seven non-alcoholic brews. One of our slight changes of pace. Some of you may have felt shortchanged, since these weren't particularly summer seasonals. This week we get back on track but make another slight deviation,  getting away from the standard pale wheat ales that make up a majority of summer brews and instead look at two other options.


Our first candidate is Sour Cherry Ale by Flying Dog Brewery. This is a Berliner Weisse, a style of beer that we really haven't looked at too closely yet here on JGF. The style is acidic, effervescent and tart. Reminiscent to champagne in some ways. Back at the height of their popularity in the 19th century they were often drank mixed with syrups like woodruff or raspberry. 


With that in mind the Sour Cherry Ale comes well prepared and hits the right marks. It pours a clear red color with a pinkish head that vanishes almost as soon as it sets up. It does have a big sour cherry smell. On the drink it has decent acidity, a pleasant tartness, and nice carbonation. It is light on the tongue finishing off fairly dry. No need for a syrup with this one, the sour cherry flavor holds strong throughout the drink into the aftertaste but doesn't overstay its welcome. It comes in at a sessionable 4.6% ABV.


This was a good cheese beer. I enjoyed it with gruyere, aged gouda, and some sharp English cheddar. Decent brew overall that can punch above its weight in a variety of summer social settings.


Here is the "party line" on the Sour Cherry Ale:

Brewed in the traditional style of a Berliner Weisse, this beer has a delicate malt base that is enhanced through natural acidification in the brewhouse*. The result is a distinctive tartness complemented by the sweetness of real cherries added during fermentation. 

The other candidate for tonight is Good Juju by Left Hand Brewing. 
I have a confession to make, ginger as a flavoring makes me nervous. It can be overwhelming when not used prudently and ruin perfectly good food and drinks. I have had a few bad experiences in my time. Suffice it to say, I approached this beer with some caution. 

There is a faint ginger smell on the pour, and it sets up in the glass with a clear golden amber color with a minimal head that left right after it arrived. The ginger is there in the drink but as a whole it was rather uneventful. There is no real character to speak of on the drink, a faint teasing a ginger at best and the carbonation was a bit low. The aftertaste is a flat bitterness mixed with a hint of ginger. Other than the novelty of the ginger in the beer there was nothing that stood out about this brew. Remove the ginger and you are left with a meh beer. 


I expected a bit more zing to this and I'm left wondering what this beer is trying to accomplish. I would argue that here is a case where the brewer never figured out what the speciality ingredient, in this case ginger, is supposed to do. Is it a subtle, nuanced background item amplifying a good beer, or is it up front on center stage with the beer enhancing it? In this case it doesn't do either of these with any sure-footedness. It comes in at 4.5% ABV.


I applaud the effort by Left Hand but in this case I wouldn't recommend this brew other than as a one off novelty. 


Here is the "party line" on Good Juju:

Fresh ginger kisses the lithe malty body, copulating with the hop in this pale ale ancestor.