tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78960455891443930042024-03-06T01:56:52.282-05:00Spreading the Craft Beer Gospel!Bringing Craft Beer to the masses, one (or more) convert at a time! In clear, non-geek speak where taste is more important than style. Both Male and Female views of the beers. We're here to help you with that difficult question-should I drink this or that or what? Find us on Facebook, too! Links below!James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-80442814503025674022012-09-06T12:47:00.000-04:002012-09-06T12:47:17.191-04:00A Beer Chat with Simon Thorpe<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“It’s a
beautiful mess!” said Simon Thorpe, CEO of Brewery Ommegang, as he wrestled his
way through the crowds at “Belgium Comes to Cooperstown”. BCTC is a three day
camping beer festival held at Brewery Ommegang in upstate New York every
August. The enthusiasm for this festival is evident when the $200.00 VIP
tickets sold out in a mere 46 seconds. As with most beer fests, a non-VIP
ticket holder would find over 50 breweries to drink from and numerous bands
playing music throughout the event. What makes this festival unique is the
juxtaposition of having high-end venues next to… well… typical beer fest
venues. From fine dining Belgian beer dinners and Hop Chef gourmet pairing
competitions to hundreds of patrons camped in tents around the brewery, BCTC
looks like a mesh of a beautiful Sonoma vineyard with a large camping beer
party. The brewery itself is designed to capture the grace and beauty of a
Belgian style farmhouse on what used to be a hop farm. It is a romantic setting
with fun, excitement, and high quality Belgian beer that makes actual Belgian
brewers proud. In fact, the Knighthood of the Brewers’ Mash staff really are
proud and have inducted Simon Thorpe to be knighted. We sat with Simon at BCTC
to learn more about this honor, his background, and his vision for the future
of Brewery Ommegang.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> So tell us about the Knighthood of Belgian
Brewers Induction:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’m really quite
humbled by it because I never expect these things. For me, I’ve got the dream
job that every boy would ever want anyway and I get to run a beautiful brewery
in upstate New York, in America, and it’s taken me 30 years to find my way here
and for me to just be here is really special. To get on the b… well it’s
totally unexpected you know. I mean I really didn’t… <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">So you didn’t
lobby for it or there’s no application process?</span></b><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Honestly, I was
truly very humbled and I’d rather talk about my people, brewers, and I’d rather
do that and in all honesty I am really humbled by it, it’s a beautiful thing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Congratulations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks, yeah,
Phil Lienart is the master brewer and he said the most important thing is on
that day you get to wear the sash with the medal on it that allows you to get
free beer at any bar in Brussels. So we’re planning to test out whether that
really works. But it’s very serious, the academic ceremony goes back for
hundreds of years to the mutual guild of brewers in Brussels and from that
point of view it’s a great honor. There’s the academic installation in the
morning where you meet and then go to the church for the blessing then you
process through in robes and it’s fantastic, a great honor. Very wonderful.
When you hear of a brewer and what kind of recognition could you have and well…
the guild of brewers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well I’m
curious, I know you don’t want to talk about yourself, but how does one go from
InBev to getting knighted by the Belgians? I know that is a long winded
question but…<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s a very fair
question. I’ve been very very fortunate to be in the right place at the right
time in my career and, to me, my own career has been default rather than by
design. It’s rare that I actually think more than about a week ahead. Some of
the things that I’ve been fortunate to be a part of, in what was then Interbrew
and became InBev and then became ABI they were… I was in the right place at the
right time. In developing Stella Artois in Belgium I was fortunate to be a part
of that. As the brewing industry had this cathartic heave and consolidation
that happened over the 10 year period I happened to be in the right places. As
we were here in North America and as China was exploding for international
brewers I was lucky to be running an acquisition for InBev at that point. So I
got involved in the acquiring of Chinese – big, big, BIG- Chinese breweries in
developing and as well in Asia. As Eastern Europe developed the same thing
applied and I was lucky to be, initially, developing some of the global brands
like Becks and Stella. As InBev was looking at taking what had been a lot of
regional brands and making them global power house brands so I’ve been very
lucky, very lucky. And then when I left there and went into projects in Europe,
went on to meet the Moortgat family. I tried to buy the Duvel market twice in
my career and Duvel has always been my brand. For seven years I tried to buy
the business and Michel would say ‘oh that’s interesting’ and ‘No we don’t need
to do that, thank you’ and ‘oh that’s interesting evaluation of the company,
I’ll make a note of that’. (When I was working for InBev, they would always
come and say to me ‘well what breweries do you want us to buy in America’ and I
would say ‘go back home to Belgium, buy Duvel Moortgat, and bring it back here
to America’.) Finally, I managed to find myself at the door of Michel Moortgat’s
office and he said ‘come around this US business’ and I jumped at it. So I say
it was 30 years finding my road here and I am the least likely English boy to
be in love with Cooperstown in upstate New York but it’s a dream.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what’s the
relationship with Duvel? Is it a situation where they allow Ommegang total
freedom to experiment or are you somewhat restricted?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">That’s a great
question because if you look at the relationship in companies, it doesn’t
matter if they are brewing companies or sub manufacturers. The relationship
between the investors, the share holders, and the management is often one of
the most critical things to a success or a failure of a business. We are,
obviously, a family driven business. 25% of the stock is public, 75% is in the
hands of the family. We are, I think, extraordinarily fortunate to have the
type of family share holders that we do. They take a very very long term view.
There are people that talk that, but very few people that walk that. So
decisions about investments are very long term 50-100 year investment decisions,
thinking long term on how to develop the brand. Michel is extraordinary. He is
the younger of the three brothers. He is remarkably talented. As a family share
holding they are more supportive than any other share holder group that I have
ever worked with. Twice a year we have board meetings here in the US and every
time they come they ask one question: “What can we do to help?” And that is
pretty amazing. And sure, you have to be running a business properly for the
share holders, developing brands in the right terms, maintaining top of the
pyramid quality, that’s the philosophy that the Moortgat family has about all
that. It’s a very simple recipe and it works if we stay on top of the quality
pyramid for a long period of time and when we develop that reputation you are
insulated from a lot of the ups and downs businesses have at times and it’s a remarkable
relationship the way they choose to manage their legacy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Did you always
envision Ommegang being what it is now? <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve always
believed that Duvel had the potential to be the next big high quality
breakthrough in America. That’s the foundation. I’ve only been here three years
and I think we’ve done really good things to develop it. The business here has
doubled in three years. We’re on track to doubling it again in the next three.
We focus very much on selective distribution. Frankly, I don’t care about being
in the big volume beer bars. I want to be in high end hotels and restaurants. I
want to be in the chi-chi bars of Los Angeles where the environment, the
experience, the romance around what you are drinking is very exciting. We ask
ourselves very often, how big is special? We will cap this business off at a
certain quantity level if we thought that we were losing the specialness, the
cache, of the brands. And again, there are a lot of people that talk that talk,
it is very difficult to walk it. We’ve gone from basically 35,000 barrels to
75,000 barrels. Today, if you asked me how big is this going to be? That is
about as big as it’s going to be. I think a lot of people are seduced by the
notion of bigger is better. For us, special is better. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It sounds like
that is the European influence since overseas everything is about quality vs.
quantity?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">It’s the Moortgat
family. That is what they believe. We look at our margin pool of what we take,
what our wholesalers take, what our retailers take. And part of our philosophy
is we want everyone to make money. Some people put a lot of pressure on the
wholeseller margin and the relationship falls apart. I want our wholesellers to
be very happy with the money that they make on distributing our brands and
similarly for retail. If everyone has been successful with our brands they will
grow. We try to be the #1 or #2 most profitable brewery in their portfolio, if
we do that then we’ll grow 30% a year – they will always take our calls.</span></i><i> <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We couldn’t
agree more! Congratulations Simon and everyone at Brewery Ommegang!</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> James Hartle, Simon Thorpe, Aimee
Hartle </span></b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Check out our Facebook Page at </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/SpreadingtheCraftBeerGospel">www.facebook.com/SpreadingtheCraftBeerGospel</a> for more fun pictures of BCTC.</div>
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Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10490987727714123519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-63757468608448923292011-08-24T19:01:00.000-04:002011-08-24T19:01:44.786-04:002011 Raleigh Beer Week<div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 17pt;">The 2<sup>nd</sup> Annual Raleigh Beer Week<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 17pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 17pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;">RALEIGH BEER WEEK 2011: A CELEBRATION OF ALL THINGS BEER!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;">RALEIGH,NC</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;"> – With 7 leaders of the craft beer scene in NC all located Downtown Raleigh NC , it makes sense for the collaboration to celebrate all things craft brewed. From the ceremonial tapping of the first cask by Mayor Charles Meeker to the arrival of more than 20 breweries from 8 states and as far away as Belgium & Germany the 6-day event will prove that Raleigh is “America’s Smartest Beer Drinking City”.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #343434; font-size: 13pt;">The Busy Bee Cafe kicks the week off this year's festival with ticketed "cellar clearing" beer festival of epic proportions with over 20 breweries being represented.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;"> The festival will include the Brewers Forum; a fan favorite event from 2010, brings barrel aging master Eric Salazar for a tasting of super-rare Felix Love & an informal round-table discussion on sour beers & barrel aging; and many other types of beer events, food and beer pairings, cask events, prix fixe beer dinners as well as taste appreciation events with nationally recognized writers. We have worked with Breweri</span><span style="color: #343434; font-size: 13pt;">es and Distributors to arrange for dozens of rare and special beers to be kegged and casked for service during Raleigh Beer Week. Allagash Brewing Company have sent Belgian Blonde, Curieux & this year's Fluxus. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;">The folks at Foundation will reinforce your love for NC beer by breaking out Sexual Chocolate and some barrel aged brews from their private stash as well as offering some of the most inventive & delicious beer cocktails in the South. We will be celebrating the launch of Beer Prophet the smartphone app for beer novices and pros alike with Tir Na Nog & Lonerider Brewings' Local Beer Local Band event. And <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;"> Check out raleighbeerweek.com for the full schedule.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;">About Raleigh Beer Week<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;">Raleigh Beer Week is a 6 day celebration of the “Smartest and Best Beer-Drinking City in America”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;">Established in 2010, it hopes to become the largest and best beer week in the Southeast. Celebrating the collaborative efforts of local businesses to put better beer into the hands of our diverse clientele. Born out of conversations over dozens of pints of handcrafted beer, produced through the efforts of friends collaborating to bring separate businesses together through a passion great beer. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;">Raleigh Beer Week highlights the region’s diverse beer scene – its world-class breweries, neighborhood taverns, trend-setting restaurants and growing beer culture and history. Raleigh Beer Week will draw thirsty beer fans from throughout the region and beyond, making it one of Raleigh’s key annual tourist events.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;">Raleigh Beer Week is organized and operated by a board of friends, restaurant owners and others, to promote Raleigh’s beer and hospitality industries.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;">For more information, visit <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><u><span style="color: #485565; font-size: 13pt;">raleighbeerweek.com <o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><u><span style="color: #485565; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;">or email us @raleighbeerweek@gmail.com</span><u><span style="color: #485565; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-72218474555169677232011-05-18T15:12:00.000-04:002011-05-18T15:12:04.042-04:00For What It's Worth Beer Dinner Calendar<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">For What Its Worth Beer Dinner Calendar</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">(Actual dates through August are 100% confirmed)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">May 21, 2011 – RJ Rockers $25</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">June 25, 2011 – Wetten Importers – Het Anker (Gouden Carolous), Eggenberg, Castle Brewery Van Honsebrouck, L.Huyghe (Delirium) and Lucifer $30</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">July 16, 2011 – Westbrook Brewing $35</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">August 20, 2011 – Stone Brewing $40</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">September 17, 2011 – <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bell</st1:place></st1:city>’s Brewery $35</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">October 15, 2011 – Foothills Brewing $35</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">November 12, 2011 – Steven’s Point Brewery $25</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">December 10, 2011 – <st1:place w:st="on">Brooklyn</st1:place> Brewery $25</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">January 21, 2012 – New South Brewing $25</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">February 18, 2012 – <st1:place w:st="on">Sierra Nevada</st1:place> Brewing $30</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">March 17, 2012 – Left Hand Brewing $35</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">April 14, 2012 – Dogfish Head Brewing (waiting on confirmation)</div>James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-31856467735652238642011-03-27T19:56:00.000-04:002011-03-27T19:56:09.983-04:00Shae Dannemiller at the Landmark Resort, Myrtle Beach, South CarolinaWe just made it back from the third annual Myrtle Beach Beer Fest and we have to tell you about one of the up and coming beer bars located inside the Landmark Resort (<a href="http://www.landmarkresort.com/">www.landmarkresort.com</a>). More specifically, about the determination of Shae Dannemiller (the Food and Beverage Manager) to transform the Landmark's bar, The Pub, into a world class beer bar. We met Shae during the second day of the Fest. He and his wife, Jill, stopped by our Beer Connoisseur Magazine table and introduced themselves. Later, he stopped by with some of the best pretzels we've ever had with an amazing honey butter made from scratch. One of the first steps in his plan was to transform the Pub kitchen from standard hotel fare to a scratch kitchen and we can attest to the results. We stopped by after the Fest and were greeted by Shae himself, a consummate host eager to please and share his knowledge of craft beer and food pairings (he's a certified Cicerone) and make sure that we had a wonderful dinner. Normally, when we think of hotel food, we're thinking over-priced under-sized portions with the usual beer suspects. Forget all of that. After dropping off 4 of the afore mentioned pretzels as table bread, out came our two sandwiches, the Club for Aimee and Chicken Parmesan for me. The prices and portion sizes were amazing. More importantly, the beer menu has over 250 craft beers to choose from. Shae went all out for us and picked a bottle from his cellar to share. A 2007 vintage Rogue XS Old Crustacean! Needless to say, we waddled out of there with very happy faces and still had some to take with us.<br />
<br />
Gearing up for a full scale renovation that will see 3 taps grow to 30, a new bar and a new moniker by Easter, we wanted to assure you that you don't need to wait, as the beer list and food now are already way ahead of the curve. Fortunately for the budding craft beer scene in Myrtle Beach, Shae is just warming up. He held an Allagash pairing this past Friday night and has plans to continue with a veritable who's who in brewery names coming soon. Next up will be Highland Brewing and we'll be sure to post all of the upcoming events as soon as we hear of them. He's also teamed up with Myrtle Beach's own New South Brewing for a unique twist on the standard brewery tour...folks had the opportunity to learn and brew a batch at the Pub before heading to New South to tour the brewery then returned to the Pub for complimentary appetizers and to meet other local home brewers. Shae is committed to bringing craft beer to Myrtle Beach in grand style. Do yourself a favor and stop by the soon to be re-named Pub and any other event that has Shae's name attached. With Myrtle Beach's craft beer man of vision at the helm, you can rest assured it will exceed all of your expectations.James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-31336711434238544162011-03-24T11:17:00.000-04:002011-03-24T11:17:12.797-04:00Allagash Tasting @ the Landmark Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dauphin","serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Landmark Resort<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dauphin","serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.landmarkresort.com/">www.landmarkresort.com</a></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dauphin","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Allagash Tasting<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dauphin","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Friday, March 25, 2011 8pm-10pm<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dauphin","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cheltenhm BT"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Allagash White<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dauphin","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">House Pretzels<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dauphin","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Our house pretzel served with a unique goat cheese spread<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dauphin","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Allagash Tripel<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dauphin","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Crab & Shrimp Cakes<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dauphin","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Our house cakes made with jumbo lump crab, petite shrimp, roasted peppers, seasonings and fresh bread crumbs<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dauphin","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Allagash Curieux<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dauphin","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cheltenhm BT"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">BBQ Tri-Tip Steak Sandwich<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dauphin","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cheltenhm BT"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">4oz Stock Yards Angus sirloin tri tip smoked with hickory chips and sliced thin tossed with BBQ sauce topped with bacon and cheddar cheese on a mini toasted Filone hoagie.</span><span style="font-family: "Cheltenhm BT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cheltenhm BT"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dauphin","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Allagash Black<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dauphin","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Beef en Croute<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dauphin","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Buttery puff pastry wrapped around Stock Yards Angus beef tenderloin, mushrooms, garlic and liver pate<o:p></o:p></span></div>James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-49907236562286911222011-02-18T19:16:00.000-05:002011-02-18T19:16:12.721-05:00Bison BrewingWe have some great info about this organic brewery from Berkeley, California and all of their efforts to create the most sustainable and green brews out there. We applaud their work and congratulate them on winning a Good Food award for their Gingerbread Ale...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nULQ5KBMH-Oje3XjhTSzBazYZG7W8NGGgVCrFVxA5kgc_qXqu-4vbE0yCjd2baUKlKl4T4B5Xg8bmhhtGzndtj13JMMmVYYK5pfj0jJbIJC_mKAgC2R5tVTiS58Zzfd-LJaoVY-0aJ0/s1600/gingerbread-and-fruit2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nULQ5KBMH-Oje3XjhTSzBazYZG7W8NGGgVCrFVxA5kgc_qXqu-4vbE0yCjd2baUKlKl4T4B5Xg8bmhhtGzndtj13JMMmVYYK5pfj0jJbIJC_mKAgC2R5tVTiS58Zzfd-LJaoVY-0aJ0/s320/gingerbread-and-fruit2.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bisonbrew.com/#">http://bisonbrew.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;">Bison was recently the first brewery welcomed into the B Corporation line-up of businesses that are dedicated to operating under the highest social and environmental standards. The certification process measures a company’s impact on its employees, suppliers, community, and the environment. Beyond Bison’s organic commitment, the company’s socially responsible behaviors include:</span><br />
<div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;"><span>·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">sourcing only recycled paperboard 6-packs</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;"><span>·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">studying its carbon footprint</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;"><span>·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">paying a living wage</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;"><span>·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">a significant amount of charitable giving</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Along with the B Corp certification, owner Daniel Del Grande also recently accepted a “Good Food” award for his Gingerbread Ale, and award sponsored by Whole Foods & San Francisco Magazine, which recognizes and praises some of the same practices the B Corp certification does.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bison also offers a quick and easy way for their customers to get involved in the environmental cause through a program on their website. The program, called <a href="http://bisonbrew.com/carbon-offset" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank">“Drink Neutral”,</a> compliments Bison’s commitment to making a sustainable everyday product to help people implement being “green” into their regular habits by helping to off-set their carbon footprints.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bison proves that one need not sacrifice the pleasures of everyday living to be green. Bison is currently distributed in 16 states across the US, including California, Oregon, both Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Colorado, Arizona, Hawaii, and Indiana.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Below is the official press release for Bison and Del Grande’s recent award wins and how he’s working to make a small craft brewery make a big difference in the way businesses are ran and the way products are produced."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;"><b>Bison Organic Beer joins B Corporation sustainability leaders</b></div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;"><b>Berkeley’s award-winning brewer recognized for organic practices<br />
and social responsibility</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">BERKELEY, CALIF. (January <span style="color: #da251a;">21,</span> 2011) — Bison Organic Beer Owner Daniel Del Grande believes that a beer company can make a far-reaching and profound positive impact in the world. That belief runs through every facet of the way Del Grande operates his Berkeley-based brewing company — from choices of beer packaging and brewing location to selection of ingredients and hiring practices — and has resulted in Bison Organic Beer being recognized as a model of sustainability by being certified as a B Corporation.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">B Corporation companies are a group of 369 businesses with over $1.8 billion in revenue that are committed to solving social and environmental problems. Through environmental best practices and socially responsible ethics, B Corporation members make a difference by the way they operate their business. Companies who have been B Corporation-certified include Numi Organic Tea and Method Products Inc.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bison Organic Brewing’s recognition as a B Corporation company is a testament to the brewer’s long-standing belief that brewing world-class beer and building a better world can go hand in hand. Every aspect of the company has been refined, not with the bottom line in mind, but with the goal of enhancing the health of the surrounding society and environment. For example, a recent detailed examination of Bison’s business identified the two single biggest contributors to the brewery’s carbon footprint — agriculture and glass bottle production — reaffirming Del Grande’s commitment to organic agriculture and selling bottled beer only where there is extensive glass recycling. The brewery recently hired three Welfare-to-Work employees and pays a living wage. He brews this organic beer in existing breweries with excess capacity.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Each sustainable practice Bison Brewing adopts has a ripple effect felt far beyond the walls of the beer company — fewer pesticides are sprayed on crops, farmland erosion is minimized, government unemployment and Welfare costs drop, and the local community is strengthened by quality jobs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">“When you look at what Bison Brewing is doing just on the organic side, there are hundreds and hundreds of acres of agriculture that have been converted from non-organic to organic farmland just because of Bison Organic Beer,” said Del Grande. “The same can be said of other portions of our business — the way we operate impacts the community and world in a way that we are very proud of.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><h3><span style="font-size: 11pt;">‘Buycotting’</span></h3><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bison Brewing has been organic since 2003, long before the B Corporation designation existed. But a growing awareness of social responsibility in the business world has recently earned Bison formal recognition and award for its environmental efforts.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Meanwhile U.S. consumers are becoming more aware of the role they play in the social responsibility equation. “Buycotting” turns the idea of boycotting on its head by encouraging discerning consumers to seek out food and beverages that are produced responsibly and ethically. With a wider range of products to choose from than perhaps any other point in U.S. history, a growing number of today’s consumers are voting with their dollars and endorsing businesses that not only produce delicious food and beverages, but also improve the society and environment that consumers and corporations share.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">A <i>Time Magazine</i> article named the growing consumer consciousness the “Responsibility Revolution,” and an accompanying poll found that found that 82 percent of those polled consciously supported a local or neighborhood business, while nearly 40 percent said they purchased a product in 2009 because they liked the social or political values of the company that produced it. More than 60 percent of Americans bought organic products, the poll found.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Consumers know that if they choose organic beer that they too are supporting organic agriculture,” said Del Grande. “When consumers buy Bison Organic Beer, they are also supporting a living wage, and a company committed to minimizing its carbon footprint.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">The praise that Bison Organic Beer has received for its social and environmental practices, however, should not overshadow what made the Berkeley brewer popular in the first place — its expertly brewed, palate-pleasing array of unique craft beers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Del Grande accepted a “Good Food Award” — a recognition sponsored by Whole Foods and San Francisco Magazine among others — in January for his Gingerbread Ale. The award<span style="color: #6d6e70;"> </span>“celebrates the kind of food we all want to eat: tasty, authentic and responsibly produced,” and is only the most recent in a consistent stream of praise that Bison Organic Beer has collected from prestigious beer festivals across the country.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">From smooth Chocolate Stouts to a unique Honey Basil Ale and the complex Barleywine Ale, Bison’s ability to expertly balance creative ingredients into smooth, delicate and flavorful beer has earned it medals from top beer reviewers, including judges at the Great American Beer Festival.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">For more information on B Corporation visit: <a href="http://www.bcorporation.net/" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank">http://www.bcorporation.net/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">For more information on the Good Food Award visit: <a href="http://www.goodfoodawards.org/" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank">http://www.goodfoodawards.org/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</span></div>James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-35580832915472112012011-01-16T13:55:00.001-05:002011-01-17T17:21:30.361-05:00MINI-REVIEW--De Struise Pannepot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KHnLbpJteCjvR4ascuw4EssbRqjPBEWOo5GCJ7ujhTDLLH-3SYDXDOE5EHcuD-ERt29lbBkgOYrq82J8iafk-bLYvR-3rdvNamU7-I8lSjxY332qAsThGYTbVQSQVfvTH6jQrrLHyi0/s1600/De+Struise+Pannepot-4-23-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KHnLbpJteCjvR4ascuw4EssbRqjPBEWOo5GCJ7ujhTDLLH-3SYDXDOE5EHcuD-ERt29lbBkgOYrq82J8iafk-bLYvR-3rdvNamU7-I8lSjxY332qAsThGYTbVQSQVfvTH6jQrrLHyi0/s320/De+Struise+Pannepot-4-23-10.JPG" width="275" /></a></div>From Vleteren, Belgium comes this Quadrupel at 10% ABV. This is a 2008 bottle we had shipped to us straight from the source. Pours dark with a foamy tan head. The aroma has a bit of alcohol to it and a faint scent of chocolate and bananas. Bubbly on the tongue with a flavor of smoked/roasted dark fruits and surprisingly, no alcohol bite.<br />
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This was an easy 4 out 5 stars. One of the best quads we've had with meticulous attention paid to the flavors and appearance. If you can't locate this, you can purchase them direct at the link below. Fantastic beer!<br />
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<a href="http://www.beerinvest.eu/">http://www.beerinvest.eu/</a>James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-35339957253593477002011-01-16T13:45:00.000-05:002011-01-16T13:45:20.505-05:00MINI-REVIEW--De Dolle Extra Export Stout<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXlrEGc1GgzCDYsgKr1ej7L9Igh00WLX9hibB503zp0ZUR4Lgdfeu6PdYNO1vpuL2i7pl00PGbL_F4kQUJFqmS_ufaWuR0mE762tIK019drCakvVmfDNXz6GKmQ07F3PdI5knlYRfIy8/s1600/De+Dolle+Extra+Export+Stout-8-28-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXlrEGc1GgzCDYsgKr1ej7L9Igh00WLX9hibB503zp0ZUR4Lgdfeu6PdYNO1vpuL2i7pl00PGbL_F4kQUJFqmS_ufaWuR0mE762tIK019drCakvVmfDNXz6GKmQ07F3PdI5knlYRfIy8/s320/De+Dolle+Extra+Export+Stout-8-28-10.JPG" width="261" /></a></div>From Esen, Belgium's De Dolle comes this Stout at 9% ABV. This is actually a bottle we found from 2004! Pours black with a tan head. Not much aroma. However, what the aroma was lacking the taste more than made up for! A sweet roasted coffee flavor that is out of this world. Really expected to be disappointed with this but we're happy to report that this ages beautifully!<br />
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4 out of 5 stars. Haven't had this fresh but if it's anything like the aged bottle, we're in for a treat!James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-28109726095951558622011-01-16T13:37:00.000-05:002011-01-16T13:37:17.712-05:00MINI-REVIEW--Heavy Seas Below Decks Barleywine aged in Cabernet barrels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQ8nlBe8Q5UFzkHZiblf1QiAvobZu3avETTyYDw29vDVrdKt63acVyoYhhtO01W-aD0BoKRiv2UwMUgejpg4wgQ3I8WF_0hV1mqLYteKFfjUQFGIe6oJ7tjkkYMa7Iz5MD0HbDOPUT0c/s1600/Heavy+Seas+Below+Decks-11-5-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQ8nlBe8Q5UFzkHZiblf1QiAvobZu3avETTyYDw29vDVrdKt63acVyoYhhtO01W-aD0BoKRiv2UwMUgejpg4wgQ3I8WF_0hV1mqLYteKFfjUQFGIe6oJ7tjkkYMa7Iz5MD0HbDOPUT0c/s320/Heavy+Seas+Below+Decks-11-5-10.JPG" width="202" /></a></div>From Heavy Seas out of Baltimore, Maryland comes this barleywine at 10% ABV. The twist is that this particular batch has been aged in Cabernet barrels. Pours brown with a cream colored head. The aroma is of red wine mixed with malted barley. The taste is wonderful with a dry red wine alcohol flavor at first that changes to a buttery sweet caramel malt flavor that balances it out. Bubbly on the tongue with a good balance between the caramel and wine flavors with dark fruit tossed in the mix as well.<br />
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Complex and really tasty even fresh (we usually like our barleywines with a good year on them), we can't wait to see how this one ages. 4 out of 5 stars! Get some to warm you in the dead of winter...James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-7461521180890114432011-01-16T13:28:00.000-05:002011-01-16T13:28:15.650-05:00MINI-REVIEW--Cigar City White Oak Aged Jai Alai IPA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaDCORyBb7H_kS5FPNT1GSPOrRsVclZ8DK7PZ9zVfttN0ES-PYkl9gdZZgjN7hxvBKL0zX_HQhnHxzQFkgoUjp1I7_N_Lb6K1fWDP-DhIANSnBj0wgBeyFLPMiRACj2hLcKzFJ9jAIfE/s1600/Cigar+City+Jai+Alai+White+Oak-12-19-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaDCORyBb7H_kS5FPNT1GSPOrRsVclZ8DK7PZ9zVfttN0ES-PYkl9gdZZgjN7hxvBKL0zX_HQhnHxzQFkgoUjp1I7_N_Lb6K1fWDP-DhIANSnBj0wgBeyFLPMiRACj2hLcKzFJ9jAIfE/s320/Cigar+City+Jai+Alai+White+Oak-12-19-10.JPG" width="248" /></a></div>From Cigar City in Tampa, Florida comes this IPA at 7.5% ABV aged on American White Oak. Pours with a cream head and a medium amber color. The head is fluffy like clouds as it dissipates. Beautiful in the glass. The aroma is of citrus, oak and pineapple. Tastes phenomenal! Tasting exactly how it smells with loads of tropical fruit. Sweet but a hop bitterness at the end prevents it from becoming cloying, yet the oak balances out the bitterness so it finishes clean. Amazing IPA!<br />
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As you can probably tell, we like this one. A lot. However, James likes it more than Aimee does, so we're going to keep it at 4 out of 5 stars. If you find this...buy it!!James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-60689169670295090392011-01-16T13:20:00.001-05:002011-01-17T16:38:59.621-05:00MINI-REVIEW--Cigar City Humidor Series Cedar Aged IPA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiu9WqcTWlWa76Z3ItsAp8qH9-sukVv_0XN2DvHAYsHcRG5YT9ZSIQ8yPpo7CXVkRqyvvs01kVVZDjSQvz8Hd4pTY9ffOVHFf2-ixUwURar8IaUB3eqLuJnl5qbDNs3ZiXQ1H9sa8Z9M/s1600/Cigar+City+Jai+Alai+Cedar+Aged+IPA-8-9-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiu9WqcTWlWa76Z3ItsAp8qH9-sukVv_0XN2DvHAYsHcRG5YT9ZSIQ8yPpo7CXVkRqyvvs01kVVZDjSQvz8Hd4pTY9ffOVHFf2-ixUwURar8IaUB3eqLuJnl5qbDNs3ZiXQ1H9sa8Z9M/s320/Cigar+City+Jai+Alai+Cedar+Aged+IPA-8-9-10.JPG" width="232" /></a></div>Cigar City Brewing in Tampa, Florida created this version of their Jai Alai IPA which comes in at 7.5% ABV. Pours copper with a white frothy head. The aroma is of citrus and spicy cedar. Refreshing and crisp with a wonderful balance between the cedar and citrus flavors.<br />
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This very tasty beverage won was the Gold Medal winner at the 2009 GABF in the Wood and Barrel Aged Category. It's easy to see and taste why! We give this 4 out of 5 stars. Now go get some!James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-6611563015065252012011-01-12T15:58:00.000-05:002011-01-12T15:58:50.355-05:00MINI-REVIEW--AleSmith Wee Heavy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6rFXKwH7GKDGM-2U_UnprQ30uiVLi0B_Af5Bak_K6jZIZlxPmlh6sBUBbvq3Ma1EosvJxwvb5NZ-VUxFSqcL2ehvk9zua_0e6so4XgFjrs3j_K4sE0xJK3uCSnFL8NrETpR3l5M9J7U/s1600/AleSmith+Wee+Heavy-8-4-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6rFXKwH7GKDGM-2U_UnprQ30uiVLi0B_Af5Bak_K6jZIZlxPmlh6sBUBbvq3Ma1EosvJxwvb5NZ-VUxFSqcL2ehvk9zua_0e6so4XgFjrs3j_K4sE0xJK3uCSnFL8NrETpR3l5M9J7U/s320/AleSmith+Wee+Heavy-8-4-10.JPG" width="236" /></a></div>From AleSmith out of San Diego, California comes this Wee Heavy at 10% ABV. Pours dark brown with a malty tan head. Our sniff gives us fleeting caramel and alcohol. The taste is of malts with a strong alcohol bite yet it still manages to finish sweet with a complex flavor that most Scotch ale's we've had are lacking. A silky/buttery texture just adds to the appeal.<br />
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4 out of 5 for this brew which is one of the best Scotch ales or wee heavy's we've had. You can't go wrong with this one, a present from our brother-in-law Russ in Cali. Thanks for the shipment!<br />
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P.S. You'll also notice the wonderful electric wall outlet in the background. Thankfully, our photog friend Amanda helped us out with a bit more of a professional look for our photos. Thanks, Amanda!James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-77458004010938730182011-01-12T15:47:00.000-05:002011-01-12T15:47:48.430-05:00MINI-REVIEW--Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXJxOx8QLKnpQibnUwkGS_XQGUVTr3-efosYbG9T7000pUluAbtcej9fk_P7IXUxglD3cvzzLm3cqjheHASX0K1BoRUDwqJ_4mEyIhKZbc1xhh0dbJisStTncE1_eS0Cql_7mgu7xFXs/s1600/Weyerbacher+Blithering+Idiot-12-9-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXJxOx8QLKnpQibnUwkGS_XQGUVTr3-efosYbG9T7000pUluAbtcej9fk_P7IXUxglD3cvzzLm3cqjheHASX0K1BoRUDwqJ_4mEyIhKZbc1xhh0dbJisStTncE1_eS0Cql_7mgu7xFXs/s320/Weyerbacher+Blithering+Idiot-12-9-10.JPG" width="255" /></a></div>From Weyerbacher out of Easton, Pennsylvania comes this Barleywine at 11.1% ABV. Pours brown with a frothy tan head. Ahhhh, the aroma is delicious with dark fruits, caramel, malts, and black licorice. Just amazingly complex! The flavor doesn't let us down either. Very sweet and tasty with the taste mirroring the scent. Just a wee bit of an alcohol kick, especially with this ABV. A dangerous drink but perfect for snowed in winter days like these!<br />
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We give this an easy 4 out of 5 stars as it's one of the better barleywines we've had. Do yourself a favor and pick some of these up to help get rid of that chill in your bones!James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-51626113239861976282011-01-12T15:31:00.000-05:002011-01-12T15:31:19.372-05:00MINI-REVIEW--Sweetwater Happy Ending<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ric9RD5WIHSV4ZeWtC_YaCUkZoWDJG62WZE3SJxznLSJyUM9jAXGa2vGDsSM2b52zB89Dnv5Om5tPDgTysTkan-Svy566vAGlnGPlmmyMQ-PB5xEj1vsivsyPjG3sZNPTMoi-e-hxyA/s1600/Sweetwater+Happy+Ending.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ric9RD5WIHSV4ZeWtC_YaCUkZoWDJG62WZE3SJxznLSJyUM9jAXGa2vGDsSM2b52zB89Dnv5Om5tPDgTysTkan-Svy566vAGlnGPlmmyMQ-PB5xEj1vsivsyPjG3sZNPTMoi-e-hxyA/s320/Sweetwater+Happy+Ending.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>From Sweetwater out of Atlanta, Georgia comes this Imperial Stout with a 9% ABV that was actually bottled in 2009. Pours black with a mocha head that is bubbly and sea foam. The scent is promising with chocolate, whoppers and bacon? The taste doesn't quite live up to the promise of the aroma. While there's plenty of roasted malts, we didn't really get the chocolate or smoke in the taste. The mouth-feel was a bit too thin for us, too.<br />
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We'll give this 3.5 out of 5 stars. While our reviews may seem a bit harsh sometimes, this really is a passable Imperial Stout, we've just had better.James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-14018505368519901212011-01-12T15:25:00.000-05:002011-01-12T15:25:21.670-05:00MINI-REVIEW--Heavy Seas Smoke on the Water<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9sYhQziEoesWmWajbGgW-f_HCkNVITQ3zI4lWABv-eL5fhFmk1Jolv4sMnR3PRfrwKVBqFsl_eSKu88-NPfLoOSyiilPp6uDDHRzjvan45GUHkxdfzNNe6B7wVUbdt-qm4wLkuhx3b0/s1600/Heavy+Seas+Smoke+on+the+Water.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9sYhQziEoesWmWajbGgW-f_HCkNVITQ3zI4lWABv-eL5fhFmk1Jolv4sMnR3PRfrwKVBqFsl_eSKu88-NPfLoOSyiilPp6uDDHRzjvan45GUHkxdfzNNe6B7wVUbdt-qm4wLkuhx3b0/s320/Heavy+Seas+Smoke+on+the+Water.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>From Heavy Seas out of Baltimore, Maryland comes this smoked porter at 8% ABV. Pours black with a mocha head. The scent is very light but we picked up some roasted malts. The roasted malts carried over in the flavor but surprisingly no smoke flavor at all. What the??<br />
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Probably the most disappointing Heavy Seas brew we've had, we'll give this 3 out of 5 stars. Not a bad porter but not even the slightest hint of the smoke.James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-82097089019141376422011-01-12T15:20:00.000-05:002011-01-12T15:20:47.025-05:00MINI-REVIEW--Cigar City Sea Bass<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0Yxp6rVqLJKyTc63r6VRqKnCHiolxoTN_vF9pOR1fpayVooKNJrZhi-BLEcPYaLTt-1Ng-497QiEV8R2zVXbJUcKkJZ084g7ZO6KmNUFkxucXyL5jM10brhQhd6smNpzrmviYBum1kk/s1600/Cigar+City+Sea+Bass-12-5-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0Yxp6rVqLJKyTc63r6VRqKnCHiolxoTN_vF9pOR1fpayVooKNJrZhi-BLEcPYaLTt-1Ng-497QiEV8R2zVXbJUcKkJZ084g7ZO6KmNUFkxucXyL5jM10brhQhd6smNpzrmviYBum1kk/s320/Cigar+City+Sea+Bass-12-5-10.JPG" width="226" /></a></div>From Cigar City in Tampa, Florida comes this Farmhouse-style ale with an unknown ABV. Pours extremely carbonated with a 4 finger tan head and dark brown in color. An aroma of balsamic vinegar crossed with barnyard. The taste is incredibly dry with a sour aftertaste. The more we drank this the more sour it got.<br />
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We're going to give this 3.5 out of 5 stars. We weren't prepared for a straight sour but that's what we got. We'll sum it up as "interesting".James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-84371288954890615002011-01-10T19:33:00.000-05:002011-01-10T19:33:47.006-05:00MINI-REVIEW--North Coast Old Stock Ale (2008)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONKapIYP5AWU6lKEI-ih-Te-4PMJTIBDVDAO3JojkJJw5T54r0McxChbZvNmcuZluV9llDl86nhbXumj2zsBFjiWD3-YMAB1EeI2hAV-QB6Fq3EFoWRO-Twau3BNY-93MtPb619mnJmE/s1600/North+Coast+Old+Stock+Ale+%25282008%2529-12-9-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONKapIYP5AWU6lKEI-ih-Te-4PMJTIBDVDAO3JojkJJw5T54r0McxChbZvNmcuZluV9llDl86nhbXumj2zsBFjiWD3-YMAB1EeI2hAV-QB6Fq3EFoWRO-Twau3BNY-93MtPb619mnJmE/s320/North+Coast+Old+Stock+Ale+%25282008%2529-12-9-10.JPG" width="293" /></a></div>From North Coast Brewing Company out of Fort Bragg, California. This Old Ale comes in at a whopping 12.5% ABV. We're hoping the age has cooled it off a bit! Pours brown with a minimal tan colored head. The scent is straight malt. Very sticky sweet fruit flavor with a huge amount of malt and a serious alcohol bite even after a couple of years in the cellar!<br />
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Very tasty but still a bit too hot, we'll give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars. We found a few bottles of this vintage, so we'll revisit this in another year.James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-7431118308188294352011-01-10T19:26:00.001-05:002011-01-11T19:42:42.805-05:00MINI-REVIEW--Samuel Adams Infinium<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBhONGxrAN0VsP7VLNwZd3FI4Hb66pHs0-JdcVF6VpTWCBttZyVhwuwFl7X0E5hyF49dqVDyEyuQhpgcOY8vOjjs58ErigLX_UnQuRlH_ECUHEngHlvNb8vw8bHQ1qzzMN-s_wnXn1CQ/s1600/Samuel+Adams+Infinium-1-1-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBhONGxrAN0VsP7VLNwZd3FI4Hb66pHs0-JdcVF6VpTWCBttZyVhwuwFl7X0E5hyF49dqVDyEyuQhpgcOY8vOjjs58ErigLX_UnQuRlH_ECUHEngHlvNb8vw8bHQ1qzzMN-s_wnXn1CQ/s320/Samuel+Adams+Infinium-1-1-11.JPG" width="230" /></a></div>A collaboration between the Boston Beer Company and Weihenstephaner Brewery from Bavaria, Germany. This is an attempt to make a champagne like beer and comes in at 10.3% ABV. Pours with a serious off-white head and a deep gold with a huge amount of carbonation. They certainly got the looks right! The aroma is at turns fruity, buttery and spicy. Tastes exactly how it smells with a honey sweetness in the aftertaste. This reminds Aimee of a buttery cracker with marmalade on it. This reminds James of something he'd rather not visit again!<br />
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The packaging is absolutely gorgeous but the contents just don't live up to the promise. We'll give this a 3 out of 5 stars for the attempt. In our opinion, save your hard earned cash and pick up a bottle of the Duvel Tripel Hop instead!James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-38319200161506062732011-01-10T19:15:00.000-05:002011-01-10T19:15:49.973-05:00MINI-REVIEW--Duvel Tripel Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbPS7ffN4eNSEsP9YqKKulb7uOzXEWmINXVB7Al8ROfbwzwuUD9sZ4KhbsMqsWCCSeE8jCdQLlU5kgXnlo9g6lW5Wt4xCgkDtSSzTLKJy5dcKCAZaNX58GzrQjxrG1wCgPT44wfzjMMA/s1600/Duvel+Tripel+Hop-12-31-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbPS7ffN4eNSEsP9YqKKulb7uOzXEWmINXVB7Al8ROfbwzwuUD9sZ4KhbsMqsWCCSeE8jCdQLlU5kgXnlo9g6lW5Wt4xCgkDtSSzTLKJy5dcKCAZaNX58GzrQjxrG1wCgPT44wfzjMMA/s320/Duvel+Tripel+Hop-12-31-10.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This Belgian IPA is from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;">Duvel Moortgat Brewery in Breendonk, Belgium and comes in at 9.5%. Pours a cloudy gold color with a thick and fluffy white head. The aroma is very floral and piney. The taste is out of this world goodness! Floral, peppery, earthy, slight honeysuckle. Very unique and unlike any other beer we've ever had!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;">Absolutely delicious and deserving of 4 out of 5 stars. Run out and grab a bottle before this limited release disappears!</span></span>James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-87011819418111830852011-01-10T19:02:00.000-05:002011-01-10T19:02:57.757-05:00MINI-REVIEW--Russian River Supplication<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xZKDWssP_fppGktn3b9vtDRBlcDLPf76YGWgbmlhmEsrR9T-VZ3H9jyQB5FoJBLmpHHhFRJaYnjnRImu30Ty8ZcDmyxI7WxfQ4NLnXkgPv2YXF__V56QPASwryn2x9MMRiz7NvpK4Wk/s1600/Russian+River+Supplication-1-2-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xZKDWssP_fppGktn3b9vtDRBlcDLPf76YGWgbmlhmEsrR9T-VZ3H9jyQB5FoJBLmpHHhFRJaYnjnRImu30Ty8ZcDmyxI7WxfQ4NLnXkgPv2YXF__V56QPASwryn2x9MMRiz7NvpK4Wk/s320/Russian+River+Supplication-1-2-11.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>This "wild American ale" or sour beer comes from Russian River in Santa Rosa, California and is 7% ABV. Pours an amber brown with an off-white thin head. The smell is barnyard or "horse blanket" with a bit of a spiciness to it. First sip causes the mouth to pucker as somehow this beer is both tart and sour at the same time! <br />
<br />
Although quite tasty, we've had better so we'll give this 3.5 out of 5 stars.James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-74271305983895159052011-01-10T18:55:00.000-05:002011-01-10T18:55:59.026-05:00MINI-REVIEW--Heavy Seas Thank You, Thank You Very Much<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPILHE407Saa2VPcc2ABMLawjZ_-0Rmmt3rhHxnoZ5n_L09Y-wPar6QpqIeutDep9oNMarxud8TPpTu4gd_1FQLdP1ASx_xf7l54FTw3wzZBwC3UZ2V_OghU2zG_FdSjzIvKCJ9v8Gm8/s1600/Heavy+Seas+Thank+You%252C+Thank+You+Very+Much-1-8-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPILHE407Saa2VPcc2ABMLawjZ_-0Rmmt3rhHxnoZ5n_L09Y-wPar6QpqIeutDep9oNMarxud8TPpTu4gd_1FQLdP1ASx_xf7l54FTw3wzZBwC3UZ2V_OghU2zG_FdSjzIvKCJ9v8Gm8/s320/Heavy+Seas+Thank+You%252C+Thank+You+Very+Much-1-8-10.JPG" width="220" /></a></div>In honor of Elvis' birthday this past Saturday, we decided to open our bottle of Heavy Seas 15th Anniversary Double IPA. This ale comes out of Baltimore, MD and is 8% ABV. Pours a pale amber into the glass with a cream colored head. An aroma of citrus and piney hops which leads directly into the taste. Starts off piney/citrusy/floral and ends with a sweet, pleasant, bready malt backbone that finishes just slightly bitter. Very well balanced.<br />
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We'll give this 3.5 out of 5 stars and while not as tasty as their Loose Cannon this is well worth a try!James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-4241527347066972452011-01-02T11:50:00.001-05:002011-01-02T12:08:01.042-05:00Beer Trip #2-Stop #7-Sam's Quik Shop<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWph044H14xtenKFXz73jJETIpviHQcaVlcDE2LDegQAvkvFuaOOlYOahh9DYDDv_yU-TLASSV1yRRLLo_KZ65FAcumFbvoRvvxTsiv0CZ8IaLxALzoTUPDwE-KnTM6aXXhW9TtKy8k8/s1600/Sams+Quick+Shop+Durham+NC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWph044H14xtenKFXz73jJETIpviHQcaVlcDE2LDegQAvkvFuaOOlYOahh9DYDDv_yU-TLASSV1yRRLLo_KZ65FAcumFbvoRvvxTsiv0CZ8IaLxALzoTUPDwE-KnTM6aXXhW9TtKy8k8/s320/Sams+Quick+Shop+Durham+NC.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.samsquikshop.com/">http://www.samsquikshop.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>The last stop on our trip as we headed back to GA was Sam's Quik Shop located at 1605 Erwin Road in Durham, NC. We'd heard great things about this place and had to stop by. We weren't disappointed! Mild mannered convenience store on the outside, super powered craft beer store inside! Literally everywhere we looked there were shelves and coolers overflowing with some of the rarest craft beers we've seen. We were shocked that this little place could put mega-stores like Total Wine to shame. It is now officially a must visit anytime we make the trek from GA to VA. A huge selection, you have to stop by and be shocked if you're in the area, just make sure you have plenty of room in your trunk!James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-32359834912955051562011-01-02T11:38:00.000-05:002011-01-02T11:38:13.674-05:00Beer Trip #2-Stop #6-Commercial Taphouse and Grill<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-e7ETgIsRu6HbWzT5w0cRs7nnyN-cAN5b7nfeea8y-je8XGi1a9amKBLqH-fTf7FdhSTwTV9jFaxgVg48cI5BrKgSyzcgKCj1eWoDijBppWwBL9-8S4756umnwfKufIUkxXdZeyHKjk/s1600/Commercial+Taphouse+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-e7ETgIsRu6HbWzT5w0cRs7nnyN-cAN5b7nfeea8y-je8XGi1a9amKBLqH-fTf7FdhSTwTV9jFaxgVg48cI5BrKgSyzcgKCj1eWoDijBppWwBL9-8S4756umnwfKufIUkxXdZeyHKjk/s320/Commercial+Taphouse+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Commercial-Taphouse-Grill/98173184766?v=wall">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Commercial-Taphouse-Grill/98173184766?v=wall</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>A snowy Christmas night in Richmond, VA found us at the Commercial Taphouse. Located at 111 North Robinson Street, the Taphouse was Richmond's first taphouse and a big part of the budding craft beer scene there. We sat down at the bar and met with Sean O'Hern, the bartender. We chatted about the Richmond beer scene as we enjoyed an aged Victory Old Horizontal and others from their 15 taps. Sean is an avid home brewer as well and was very quick to answer any questions we had about what was on tap. The place was hopping but somehow Sean and the cook were able to keep up and we had a delicious meal from the grill. We got to know a few of the other patrons and had a wonderful Christmas night at the bar. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect setting for our craft beer Christmas. Snow, the bar, the people and the beer made this a night to remember! When you're in the area, make sure you stop by the Commercial Taphouse and Grill in the Fan and experience the Richmond craft beer revolution first hand!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODwn7bynrwyE9jjqOgW34PrJ8x7e_YC0n5FGg9w_a52_-3RryCHT5E9Oj7GKFvXTkjueQJhnfWfkpXrSt_P1uifBswrAVHmCo_8u1IstFvwAhuefOsQ7rM96PLDtL8laKq1dCa72T2rU/s1600/Commercial+Taphouse+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODwn7bynrwyE9jjqOgW34PrJ8x7e_YC0n5FGg9w_a52_-3RryCHT5E9Oj7GKFvXTkjueQJhnfWfkpXrSt_P1uifBswrAVHmCo_8u1IstFvwAhuefOsQ7rM96PLDtL8laKq1dCa72T2rU/s320/Commercial+Taphouse+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2006 Victory Old Horizontal and Starr Hill Pale from the cask</td></tr>
</tbody></table>James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-76991594766566393842011-01-01T19:48:00.000-05:002011-01-01T19:48:00.503-05:00Beer Trip #2-Stop #5-Legend Brewing Company<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpF8BIJLEWH9jFY_tQHCtVvaaYrInluNUBNx7lbDlQvY6qYSfpbdEmR6V0uVHgxiZrGCm_VOo05euRFLVB1VijzrvBuHrURsiLNx-IHkrePN-mB-BQ9Tt7s0jga0-QKIsM3CPJ6TM-Ays/s1600/Legend+Outside+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpF8BIJLEWH9jFY_tQHCtVvaaYrInluNUBNx7lbDlQvY6qYSfpbdEmR6V0uVHgxiZrGCm_VOo05euRFLVB1VijzrvBuHrURsiLNx-IHkrePN-mB-BQ9Tt7s0jga0-QKIsM3CPJ6TM-Ays/s320/Legend+Outside+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.legendbrewing.com/index.asp">http://www.legendbrewing.com/index.asp</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviBP5uPKKr6v22Cw-pRdYGg9Jc-tapICu3oCFRS8FGBHd3-yZx6MHnHiQsSIahS2AvW52vWt5j8KUgCzHoFyTwwC4Swrn9fyliS4bCzP9dskz9h9YtmaQFNvfQUQ8OnPIpwq_9CQz2eg/s1600/Legend+View+of+Richmond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviBP5uPKKr6v22Cw-pRdYGg9Jc-tapICu3oCFRS8FGBHd3-yZx6MHnHiQsSIahS2AvW52vWt5j8KUgCzHoFyTwwC4Swrn9fyliS4bCzP9dskz9h9YtmaQFNvfQUQ8OnPIpwq_9CQz2eg/s320/Legend+View+of+Richmond.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view of Richmond from the deck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>When we arrived in Richmond, Virginia, one of our first stops was Legend Brewing Company located at 321 West 7th Street, just south of the James River and downtown. Legend has a special place in James' heart, as Richmond is his hometown and he actually had a taste of their first cask way back in 1994 at the Commercial Taphouse (which we'll review later). Fifteen years after the brewery officially opened they've grown from a tiny hole-in-the-wall tasting room to a full-scale restaurant with a rooftop deck and a view of Richmond that has to be seen to be believed. We tried in advance to set up a tour, but being Christmas Eve, the brewers and management were off and they were running with a skeleton crew. James' daughter joined us (she lives in Richmond) and we sat down and ordered a flight. We were very impressed by the consistency and quality of the beers with the most love being shown for the Barleywine, Tripel, Chocolate Porter and their flagship Brown Ale. Our waiter, Wil (we're going by our receipt), was very attentive and chatted with us about the brewery and beers. We had a fantastic dinner and dessert as we opened presents. This was a wonderful start to a perfect Christmas weekend! Of course we couldn't leave without purchasing a 4-pack of the delicious Barleywine since Legend is not distributed in GA. Richmond's only brewery is certainly living up to it's namesake. If you're in the Richmond area, you must plan on a visit to Legend and if it's warm weather, check out the phenomenal view from their rooftop deck!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsukZbuKNZJBLLl6vwfo1zYNEvCpHYXjvSW2u60z67lTscbzN1hINrwMl_5W8OYs4b_vWnm-Pzx2qXmBYd-rSsNGrM-dz2_jC1aQDiBBCRnwNNwrnDteLXFInY4WUPi7ZbtgNbnz38lKc/s1600/Legend+Inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsukZbuKNZJBLLl6vwfo1zYNEvCpHYXjvSW2u60z67lTscbzN1hINrwMl_5W8OYs4b_vWnm-Pzx2qXmBYd-rSsNGrM-dz2_jC1aQDiBBCRnwNNwrnDteLXFInY4WUPi7ZbtgNbnz38lKc/s320/Legend+Inside.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bar/restaurant</td></tr>
</tbody></table>James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896045589144393004.post-52962536778688218272010-12-30T17:36:00.002-05:002010-12-31T11:57:50.273-05:00Beer Trip #2-Stop #4-Shenandoah Pizza and Hops<table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoxa8w6OhvOnMkrO-Q2ScpvLS253V7p12tnLWpIWoIq8_VXBrI6O6no_aQaATIyuhMxUc_cirt3QaACLHECRn4OKLEhTnLV5Aq_yK_ExoYKv03I5_XdIlNnmLe_-c4BdOj6bltrrcxng/s1600/Shenandoah+Hops+Outside+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoxa8w6OhvOnMkrO-Q2ScpvLS253V7p12tnLWpIWoIq8_VXBrI6O6no_aQaATIyuhMxUc_cirt3QaACLHECRn4OKLEhTnLV5Aq_yK_ExoYKv03I5_XdIlNnmLe_-c4BdOj6bltrrcxng/s320/Shenandoah+Hops+Outside+2.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.shenandoahpizza.com/ShenHops/index.html">http://www.shenandoahpizza.com/ShenHops/index.html</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We made a quick stop to see a friend and have lunch in Staunton, Virginia. Not really expecting to find a whole lot of craft beer in this small town in the mountains of VA, we were pleasantly surprised to find Shenandoah Pizza at 19 East Beverley Street in the heart of downtown. Not only do they have over 20 fabulous gourmet pizzas (we had a combo with 1/2 Virginia Vineyard a white pizza made with locally grown grapes and the Swoope with artichoke hearts and alfredo sauce), they also have a list of 200 beers! We then found out that they have a new shop around the corner at 9 North New Street called Shenandoah Hops which sells local crafts and products as well as working on a starting a great craft beer selection. We picked up a bomber from Bear Republic as well as a six pack of our Terrapin Moo-Hoo! We chatted with co-owner Cheryl Huggins and discussed their attempts to get world class beer into Staunton. We highly recommend both places as a destination whenever you're near Staunton, VA which is at the crossroads of I-64 and I-81.<br /><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53LE7klBDjwUdREJd_G2SivufchVnnmnMSGgROjhQTL7Zz_7qtLFuFsRqnqRq0G50TkTgnhn156B6hqnOqT1sylOx4KtKLtopyaJABT6veR3KcBN7B2x7Sq1x6yjEhyphenhyphennNjkK5Ss6iykk/s1600/Shenandoah+Hops+with+Kathy.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53LE7klBDjwUdREJd_G2SivufchVnnmnMSGgROjhQTL7Zz_7qtLFuFsRqnqRq0G50TkTgnhn156B6hqnOqT1sylOx4KtKLtopyaJABT6veR3KcBN7B2x7Sq1x6yjEhyphenhyphennNjkK5Ss6iykk/s320/Shenandoah+Hops+with+Kathy.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">Spreading the Craft Beer Gospel with our friend Kathy Wine</td></tr></tbody></table>James and Aimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381080146771939474noreply@blogger.com0