I've had a couple of beers the past week I have been meaning to post about so here goes.
At TJ's in Paoli I had (from a firkin) a Black Strap from Voodoo Brewing Company in Meadville, PA. This was a nice, dark American Strong Ale...not overdone.
I went to the place that used to be the Tap and Table in Emmaus. It is now called The Trapp Door. I started with a Mönchshof Kellerbier from Kulmbacher Brauerie in Germany. This is a good Keller Bier. More malty than I normally like but very enjoyable. To make up for the lack of hops, I had a cask-conditioned Snake Dog IPA from Flying Dog Brewery. It was very good. I ended with a Sublimely Self Righteous from Stone. This is an excellent Black Ale. The hops come through all that darkness with ease. I never complain about beer prices because I am happy to pay a premium for the fine beers that I enjoy but...my general feeling is that the beers at The Trapp Door were all priced about $2 more than they should have been. I mean, $7 for a cask conditioned Sly Fox Chester County Bitter? Come on!
I made it back to Appalachian Brewing Company in Collegeville and had a cask-conditioned Hoppy Trails IPA along with my reuben sandwich. Both were excellent. Then I had the Outta Focus DIPA. I'm not a big fan of this one. There was just something in the taste that I just didn't care for and I normally love my DIPA's.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Sly Fox for Dinner
We went to the Sly Fox in Phoenixville for dinner tonight. I started with an Oysterfest Red Ale. This is a new one and it was OK. Nothing extraordinary but OK. I had it with a pulled pork BBQ sandwich which I enjoyed the heck out of but I was jealous of the meatloaf sandwich my wife had. It looked really good. I followed the red with a Saison Vos which was great as usual. On the way out I picked up a keg of Royal Weisse to take home with me.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Another Fine Weekend
So here's the run down on last weekend.
Friday, I started at the Flying Pig with a pizza steak and a Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA...both were awesome. Then I had a Sneaky Pete Imperial IPA. I asked who the brewer was and they didn't seem to know. If I could ever figure out the internet I'd do a search and find out but so far all I can do is guess that it is Laughing Dog (possibly in collaboration with another brewer I never heard of). The alcohol was right there, right up front. No attempt to hide the 10% abv. Otherwise, it was a nice enough beer.
Later at the Drafting Room I had a Ryevalry Belgian IPA from Bear Republic Brewing Company. My first Ryevalry a couple of weeks ago was fantastic. This one not so much. It was still very good but I had built it up in my head and my expectations were quite high. This time I got the Belgian taste but it came off as kind of perfumey for my taste. Next up was a Sierra Nevada Exportation "barrel aged" beer camp beer. Apparently the owner of Exton Beverage attended beer camp and this was the result. It smelled like wine and was quite sour (in a good way). I would love to have this again but will probably never get the chance. I believe this is a one-off. Only time for one more so I have to make it a good one. It's Angel's Share Brandy Barrel-Aged from The Lost Abbey. This 12% abv behemoth was the perfect end to the night. It smelled like wine (not surprisingly) and tasted like caramel and at the end had a fruity (prune) taste. Very nice and complex.
On Saturday it was a quick trip into Union Jack's Inn on the Manatawny. I had another Lost Abbey beer. This time it was Devotion Belgian-style Ale. This is a nice enough ale, especially for a hot day like it was. But, it was not extraordinary.
On Sunday I had dinner at Appalachian Brewing Company in Collegeville. I started with a Purist Pale Ale and a grilled Caesar salad with blackened tuna. The pale ale was nice enough but the salad was interesting. They actually grille the lettuce quickly, thus the "grilled Caesar". It was very good and the tuna was rare, just as ordered. I followed with a cask-conditioned Hoppy Trails IPA. As compared to the draft version, this one had a big floral aroma and a creamier mouthfeel. It was a very good beer indeed. I had a sample of the draft IPA for comparison and they were like two different beers. The draft version is a good IPA but that cask-conditioned version...NICE.
Friday, I started at the Flying Pig with a pizza steak and a Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA...both were awesome. Then I had a Sneaky Pete Imperial IPA. I asked who the brewer was and they didn't seem to know. If I could ever figure out the internet I'd do a search and find out but so far all I can do is guess that it is Laughing Dog (possibly in collaboration with another brewer I never heard of). The alcohol was right there, right up front. No attempt to hide the 10% abv. Otherwise, it was a nice enough beer.
Later at the Drafting Room I had a Ryevalry Belgian IPA from Bear Republic Brewing Company. My first Ryevalry a couple of weeks ago was fantastic. This one not so much. It was still very good but I had built it up in my head and my expectations were quite high. This time I got the Belgian taste but it came off as kind of perfumey for my taste. Next up was a Sierra Nevada Exportation "barrel aged" beer camp beer. Apparently the owner of Exton Beverage attended beer camp and this was the result. It smelled like wine and was quite sour (in a good way). I would love to have this again but will probably never get the chance. I believe this is a one-off. Only time for one more so I have to make it a good one. It's Angel's Share Brandy Barrel-Aged from The Lost Abbey. This 12% abv behemoth was the perfect end to the night. It smelled like wine (not surprisingly) and tasted like caramel and at the end had a fruity (prune) taste. Very nice and complex.
On Saturday it was a quick trip into Union Jack's Inn on the Manatawny. I had another Lost Abbey beer. This time it was Devotion Belgian-style Ale. This is a nice enough ale, especially for a hot day like it was. But, it was not extraordinary.
On Sunday I had dinner at Appalachian Brewing Company in Collegeville. I started with a Purist Pale Ale and a grilled Caesar salad with blackened tuna. The pale ale was nice enough but the salad was interesting. They actually grille the lettuce quickly, thus the "grilled Caesar". It was very good and the tuna was rare, just as ordered. I followed with a cask-conditioned Hoppy Trails IPA. As compared to the draft version, this one had a big floral aroma and a creamier mouthfeel. It was a very good beer indeed. I had a sample of the draft IPA for comparison and they were like two different beers. The draft version is a good IPA but that cask-conditioned version...NICE.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Saint's Come Marching In
I was in Ephrata, PA on business today. I knew there was a brewery in town that I was just becoming aware of. It is St. Boniface. I have had one of their beers, Libation and thought it was a very good DIPA. So I decided to see if I could find the brewery. My co-worker was kind enough to oblige. We saw a sign that directed us to a parking lot in an industrial section. Then another sign on the wall and we knew we were close. Unable to find the brewery, we asked a passer-by on the parking lot. As luck would have it, that passer-by was the brewer and co-owner Jon Northup. He invited us in for a look. They have a nice little set-up there. John asked Dan to pour us some samples and Jon went back to doing what brewers/owners must do to pay the bills. Dan is the kind of guy you just want to hang out with. He knows good beer and he knows the places that serve it even if they are a good distance from Ephrata. He was familiar with all of my hangouts. Dan started us off with a Wheat beer. It was clean and true to the style. Then we moved on to the ESB. Another fine beer. After that was a Tattoo's Ink Black Currant Stout. Very nice. Then it was the Hegemony Imperial Stout. I'm not sure why they have two very nice stouts on at the same time but I'm not complaining. Finally, after those big stouts, we had the Libation DIPA. Some DIPA's would have had a problem following those stouts but not Libation. This is a very nice tasting, well balanced DIPA. I could drink it all day long if not for the alcohol. I was sad to leave but I will look for and drink St. Boniface beers at every chance.
On the way home we stopped for lunch at Union Barrel Works in Reamstown. Some things never change. The food is very good. The beers are well made but there is this aversion to using hops aggressively. Hey, it's your brewery. Anyway, I had a nice Buffalo Chicken Wrap with a clean pilsner. I also sampled the Hefe Weizen which was actually kind of good.
On the way home we stopped for lunch at Union Barrel Works in Reamstown. Some things never change. The food is very good. The beers are well made but there is this aversion to using hops aggressively. Hey, it's your brewery. Anyway, I had a nice Buffalo Chicken Wrap with a clean pilsner. I also sampled the Hefe Weizen which was actually kind of good.
About Last Weekend
Last Friday I stopped at the Flying Pig in Malvern for lunch. I had a great cheesesteak and started with a Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA. Yeah, this is a really good IPA. Then I had a Hop Crisis DIPA from 21st Ammendment. They call this an Imperial IPA? To me it was more like a Barleywine. It was good though.
On Saturday I made the trip to Union Jack's Inn on the Manatawny and enjoyed a Lucky 13 from Lagunitas Brewing Company. This is a big Red Ale with plenty of hops. Very enjoyable. Then I had a Gatlin Damnosis Bourbon Barrel Aged Sour Barleywine from Anderson Valley Brewing Company. It was only mildly sour, not overdone. What a fantastic beer. I was tasting wild cherries and prunes.
Later in the day we stopped in to Appalachian Brewing Company in Collegeville. I started with a Mad Cameron Belgian Wit. I thought this was a pretty good Wit. Definitely refreshing on a 90 degree day like Saturday was. Then I ordered a rack of ribs and a Hinterland Hefe Weizen. This is another refreshing beer. Very nice. The best part...my first beer was free thanks to my newly minted membership in ABC's Mug Club. Like is good.
On Saturday I made the trip to Union Jack's Inn on the Manatawny and enjoyed a Lucky 13 from Lagunitas Brewing Company. This is a big Red Ale with plenty of hops. Very enjoyable. Then I had a Gatlin Damnosis Bourbon Barrel Aged Sour Barleywine from Anderson Valley Brewing Company. It was only mildly sour, not overdone. What a fantastic beer. I was tasting wild cherries and prunes.
Later in the day we stopped in to Appalachian Brewing Company in Collegeville. I started with a Mad Cameron Belgian Wit. I thought this was a pretty good Wit. Definitely refreshing on a 90 degree day like Saturday was. Then I ordered a rack of ribs and a Hinterland Hefe Weizen. This is another refreshing beer. Very nice. The best part...my first beer was free thanks to my newly minted membership in ABC's Mug Club. Like is good.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
I Said it Was a Long Holiday Weekend
Over the course of the last weekend or so I made it to the following:
TJ's in Paoli for a Laughing Dog Rocket Dog Rye PA. This is a pretty good beer but not quite as good as the Wipeout IPA from Port Brewing that followed it.
The Flying Pig in Malvern for a couple of beers starting with an Inversion IPA from Deschutes Brewery. This was a very good IPA. Next up was a Seven Giraffes Scottish Ale cask-conditioned. This was OK but not as good as I expected partly because it is not my style of beer. After that was a Cuvee Des Jacobins Rouge from Brouwerij Bockor N.V. This is a very good Flanders red sour. Maybe a little too tart for my taste but I'd get it again. Finally I had an Extra Sour Quad from Gaverhopke. This is a dark, big alcohol sour. Very nice but you wouldn't want a second one in the same sitting.
Later in the weekend it was up to Union Jack's Inn on the Manatawny for a Sculpin IPA from Ballast Point which was excellent as usual. I also finally opened a bomber of Black Jack Stout from DuClaw Brewing Company. This is a nice Russian Imperial Stout although I suspect it is even better on draught.
Yet again, later in the weekend (after all it was a long holiday weekend) I was back at TJ's for a Saison Erbe from Dock Street. I love my Saisons and if I had to complain it was maybe a little spicy for my taste. Then I had another Saison. This was a Sly Fox - DeProef collaboration Broederlijke Liefde. This is a very nice Saison. You definitely taste the Brett. For some odd reason I followed this with a Love and Hoppiness from Rogue. Bad choice on my part. I didn't care for the beer but again, probably because of the order I drank them. I followed that with a Firestone Walker Union Jack which is a nice, grassy IPA and then finally another Port Wipeout. That Wipeout may be the perfect IPA.
Next I went to McKenzie's in Malvern for dinner. To my great surprise they still had the Houblonette on. This is my favorite Saison of all time. I had a couple with dinner not even considering trying something else at McKenzie's. Come on guy's...make this a year-round offering!
TJ's in Paoli for a Laughing Dog Rocket Dog Rye PA. This is a pretty good beer but not quite as good as the Wipeout IPA from Port Brewing that followed it.
The Flying Pig in Malvern for a couple of beers starting with an Inversion IPA from Deschutes Brewery. This was a very good IPA. Next up was a Seven Giraffes Scottish Ale cask-conditioned. This was OK but not as good as I expected partly because it is not my style of beer. After that was a Cuvee Des Jacobins Rouge from Brouwerij Bockor N.V. This is a very good Flanders red sour. Maybe a little too tart for my taste but I'd get it again. Finally I had an Extra Sour Quad from Gaverhopke. This is a dark, big alcohol sour. Very nice but you wouldn't want a second one in the same sitting.
Later in the weekend it was up to Union Jack's Inn on the Manatawny for a Sculpin IPA from Ballast Point which was excellent as usual. I also finally opened a bomber of Black Jack Stout from DuClaw Brewing Company. This is a nice Russian Imperial Stout although I suspect it is even better on draught.
Yet again, later in the weekend (after all it was a long holiday weekend) I was back at TJ's for a Saison Erbe from Dock Street. I love my Saisons and if I had to complain it was maybe a little spicy for my taste. Then I had another Saison. This was a Sly Fox - DeProef collaboration Broederlijke Liefde. This is a very nice Saison. You definitely taste the Brett. For some odd reason I followed this with a Love and Hoppiness from Rogue. Bad choice on my part. I didn't care for the beer but again, probably because of the order I drank them. I followed that with a Firestone Walker Union Jack which is a nice, grassy IPA and then finally another Port Wipeout. That Wipeout may be the perfect IPA.
Next I went to McKenzie's in Malvern for dinner. To my great surprise they still had the Houblonette on. This is my favorite Saison of all time. I had a couple with dinner not even considering trying something else at McKenzie's. Come on guy's...make this a year-round offering!
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