tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7322030941662208732024-02-18T21:26:42.059-05:00Hops & CircumstanceKylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-41242941579511614802014-04-07T19:48:00.002-04:002014-04-07T19:48:23.147-04:00Local Libations at the Philly Farm & Food Fest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-6fRLxARyWiQABrWTrihp5NXJZ-aOYU_GVDkc2GF9KUQnTWTaynS9AzNR2rAPyP2FWgw_LPwAJ_lxwmj-VDZXmGqd7Zy9rOwk_7lrMAK8OGoPpvT_16zgXp9LiDFjyRejMhRNr3VGMA/s1600/263776_469585753109357_2106370221_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-6fRLxARyWiQABrWTrihp5NXJZ-aOYU_GVDkc2GF9KUQnTWTaynS9AzNR2rAPyP2FWgw_LPwAJ_lxwmj-VDZXmGqd7Zy9rOwk_7lrMAK8OGoPpvT_16zgXp9LiDFjyRejMhRNr3VGMA/s1600/263776_469585753109357_2106370221_n.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The 3rd Annual <b>Philly Farm & Food Fest</b> is this </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1796914339" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;"><b>Sunday, April 13th</b> at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. This event is put on by your friends at <b>Fair Food </b>and <b>PASA </b>(Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculure) and while I've never been, seems like it should be a great time. The fest is a showcase for local, sustainable foods and businesses including some of my favorite breweries.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">If you plan on attending, be sure to check out the Local Libations Lounge where you'll be treated to guided tastings from <b>Dock Street</b>, <b>Sly Fox</b>, <b>Victory</b> and <b>Weyerbacher</b>. There will also be some other liquids (yes, they exist) from Dad's Hat Whiskey, Frecon Farm's Cidery, Paradocx Vineyard, Stonekeep Meadery and Philadelphia DIstilling, makers of Bluecoat American Dry Gin - a favorite of mine. This is one of those great opportunities to celebrate just how spoiled we are when it comes to local beer.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A seemingly exciting addition to the 2014 Fest is the Shellfish Salon where Sam Mink, owner of <b>Oyster House</b>, will lead a guided tasting of delicious East Coast oysters and clams. The Heritage Shellfish Cooperative will be shucking some briny beauties from Cape May Salts and Choptank Oyster Company and freshly cooked clams.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">If you're reading this, it's safe to assume that local food and local beer is of some importance to you. If you're anything like me then throwing shellfish into the mix only sweetens the deal. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">General Admission tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door on Sunday. A limited number of tickets are still available for the timed and guided tastings in the Local Libations Lounge and Shellfish Salon for $15 per person. More details and tickets are available at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://FoodShelter.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d%3c%2f50%3a%26JDG%3c%3a3%40%2f%3b7%3b%26SDG%3c90%3a.&RE=MC&RI=4227322&Preview=False&DistributionActionID=3767&Action=Follow+Link" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">phillyfarmfest.org</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe I'll see ya there on Sunday, cheers!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-62315768537540549132014-03-26T19:43:00.000-04:002014-03-26T19:43:00.778-04:00Cooking With Beer: Pale Ale Grilled Cheese<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ever since the wife and I (oh yeah, I got married - there was a lot of beer involved) bought a house last June, I've been doing a lot of cooking. Luckily, I also happen to have a lot of beer around the house so it has been making its way into many of the recipes. The latest attempt at culinary prowess was last night's <b>Brown Butter Grilled Beer Cheese</b>, a recipe a nabbed from <a href="http://thebeeroness.com/" target="_blank"><b>The Beeroness</b></a>. Her site has a vast collection of beer-infused recipes which include some fantastic photography as well. I've tried my hand at a few of her recipes and they've all been delicious so make sure you bookmark that site. This grilled cheese was such a success that I thought I'd try to get back into the habit of writing here and share the recipe. I swapped out the mozzarella for a heaping of pepper jack instead and used some of <b><a href="http://lagunitas.com/beers/dogtown-pale/#" target="_blank">Lagunitas' New DogTown Pale Ale</a></b> for the spread. The cheese is a bit runny but it all came together quite gloriously with a bowl of <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/garden-fresh-tomato-soup/" target="_blank">homemade tomato soup</a>. Check out the recipe below and thank me later.</div>
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Ingredients</div>
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">6 oz cream cheese</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">1/2 cup mozzarella cheese</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">1 tsp cornstarch</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">1/4 cup Pale Ale</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">4 oz cheddar</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">8 slices bread</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">4 tbs butter</span></li>
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<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-9" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></li>
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<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-11" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></li>
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<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-13" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></li>
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<div class="h-4 strong" id="zlrecipe-instructions" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Quattrocento Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Directions</div>
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">In a blender or food processor add the cream cheese, mozzarella, cornstarch and beer. Blend until smooth, about 3 minutes. Spread the beer cheese generously onto 4 slices of bread. Top with about 2 tbs of cheddar and then top with a clean slice of bread.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">In a skillet with a lid melt the butter over medium heat (don't allow the butter to get too hot or it will burn) until just starting to turn a golden brown. Carefully add the sandwiches, and replace the lid allowing the sandwiches to steam in the pan until the underside is golden brown, about 3 minutes. Flip the sandwiches, replace the lid and allow to cook until the other side is a light golden brown and the cheese is melted, about 3 additional minutes.</span></li>
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</span>Cheers!Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-61146621659238945882013-05-07T20:47:00.002-04:002013-05-07T20:48:17.315-04:00Shiner Makes Its Philadelphia Debut<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuz2rIR42-COd6v9kQiv7aV9afYKo2h4Dw_5jTiclvy1vMt2ZgkY4FoQJSfPKUw_sZRGDTqpSqur62M_cdKfWGtmYbm6ArcSqVbL6r30xmgUvg-fiJdooaDSEMAy6ae5cstdgZEgH-ntQ/s1600/neon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuz2rIR42-COd6v9kQiv7aV9afYKo2h4Dw_5jTiclvy1vMt2ZgkY4FoQJSfPKUw_sZRGDTqpSqur62M_cdKfWGtmYbm6ArcSqVbL6r30xmgUvg-fiJdooaDSEMAy6ae5cstdgZEgH-ntQ/s400/neon.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The beer landscape here in the Philadelphia area was radically changed today with the arrival of <b>Shiner Beers</b> out of The historic<b> Spoetzl Brewery</b> located in Shiner, Texas. I just got home from the official launch down at <b>Percy Street BBQ</b> where I had my first taste of Shiner. I'm still in a bit of a food coma so I'll keep this short with the press release that went out earlier today announcing Shiner's arrival to our humble beer market. These guys know what they're doing.<br />
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You'll start seeing these fine Lone Star brews on tap and on the shelf starting tomorrow.<br />
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Cheers!<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">May 7, 2013</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Philadelphia, PA</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">Shiner Makes its Philadelphia Debut;</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">All the way from Texas to you.</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDvvP7e1sroc0JiExjHtrthVxaHtGD2Jb__hjlzHw62M64p_3tZVEIfEK0vBYm1wt59qxEBVLKkMYT-BE_iXtI8ihhTrYVogdVrAYTua_EQZZijnPhZr43k58P6Mq09_ZxTOW8Vi2VcY/s1600/941030_463085337112966_311124554_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDvvP7e1sroc0JiExjHtrthVxaHtGD2Jb__hjlzHw62M64p_3tZVEIfEK0vBYm1wt59qxEBVLKkMYT-BE_iXtI8ihhTrYVogdVrAYTua_EQZZijnPhZr43k58P6Mq09_ZxTOW8Vi2VcY/s1600/941030_463085337112966_311124554_a.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">You've probably tasted </span><b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">Shiner Bock</b><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"> and the rest of the brewery's beers while traveling out west. It's practically the official state beer of Texas. You wished you could enjoy them at home in Philadelphia, and now you can.</span><b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">Origlio Beverage</b><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">, a wholesale distribution company of fine beers, ciders and malt based beverages located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, proudly announces its partnership with the </span><b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">Spoetzl Brewery</b><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"> for the distribution of the entire Shiner portfolio. The beers will be available in the metro Philadelphia marketplace on the 8th of May. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeUjGL2awPqZYtn3VZ0P60Vl508xOxue1qp-Cc3qcLz2UOhbOrX8gM1fXSHJq0eP0FvNooMvHEh9cXP9Icjw3Jx2t9DNHlTP8dntL-0yA_PowBwCMxNEcXD0TGKK14CqKWIJV96AKrAA/s1600/941680_463084807113019_1725486681_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeUjGL2awPqZYtn3VZ0P60Vl508xOxue1qp-Cc3qcLz2UOhbOrX8gM1fXSHJq0eP0FvNooMvHEh9cXP9Icjw3Jx2t9DNHlTP8dntL-0yA_PowBwCMxNEcXD0TGKK14CqKWIJV96AKrAA/s1600/941680_463084807113019_1725486681_a.jpg" /></a><span class="photo photo_right" style="clear: right; float: right; max-width: 180px; padding: 2px 0px 5px 10px;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Craft beer is all about genuine authenticity. And it doesn't get anymore authentic than the beers coming out of the Spoetzl Brewery of Shiner, Texas. The brewery celebrated its 100th anniversary about four years ago and it's the oldest independent brewery in the Lone Star State. The brewery's flagship brand, <b>Shiner Bock</b>, is a smooth-drinking dark lager with a fine malty backbone. Since the 1980s, this beer has developed a fan base all its own that has grown well beyond Texas. This beer and the others in the Spoetzl portfolio are brewed in the German-Czech tradition. One of the original brewmasters from the early 1900s, a German immigrant named Kosmos Spoetzl, was trained in Bavaria and he set the bar for craftsmanship very high. The brewery's beers have received many awards no doubt by sticking with Spoetzl's authentic brewing methods.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVkXfyLvVSD5o5Bniqn9IcV0gKxegI4JEAGDOcWYAY6xV3RnNu3GvAI6vGHGV3NpkNmrTWJqyx-6UofeUTTmEBdmlARPhRA75yE_s6QOzEyvl51EWiVMLcOH3oR5YFPcCemjqw7VOclg/s1600/942962_463085047112995_508551447_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVkXfyLvVSD5o5Bniqn9IcV0gKxegI4JEAGDOcWYAY6xV3RnNu3GvAI6vGHGV3NpkNmrTWJqyx-6UofeUTTmEBdmlARPhRA75yE_s6QOzEyvl51EWiVMLcOH3oR5YFPcCemjqw7VOclg/s1600/942962_463085047112995_508551447_a.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"><br />Origlio's Vice President of Sales and Marketing, </span><b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">Grant Barrett</b><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">, is excited about representing Shiner. "Philadelphia is an established craft brew town and our customers know a great beer when they taste it." Shiner offers an interesting variety pack called</span><b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"> Family Reunion</b><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">. This six-pack contains the</span><b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"> Bock</b><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">, </span><b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">Shiner Bohemian Black Lager</b><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">, </span><b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">Shiner Blonde</b><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">, </span><b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">Shiner Hefeweizen</b><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">, </span><b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">Shiner Brewer's Pride</b><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"> (a limited edition rotating selection) and </span><b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">Shiner Kosmos Reserve</b><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">, a hop-jacked lager that's a real tribute to the founding brewer. Two of the brands, Shiner Bock and Bohemian Black Lager, received </span><b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">gold medals</b><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"> at the </span><b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">2012 Great American Beer Festival</b><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">. Barrett added, "Shiner also has a summer seasonal called </span><b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">Ruby Redbird</b><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"> that blends craftsmanship with some Texas terroir. It's brewed with Texas Rio Red grapefruit which makes it refreshingly tart. And it gets a touch of heat from natural ginger. These brands are a really nice addition to our lineup."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Shiner's beers are a taste of Texas grounded in old-world, Bavarian tradition. The Spoetzl Brewery is passionate about beer and there's a taste of Lone Star independence in every drop.</span></div>
Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-92008563819330185662013-02-21T14:26:00.002-05:002013-02-21T19:57:03.932-05:00Adventures in Homebrewing: Red RyePA<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvbkBs6qtKll5v8IQei9_5s-OJZ-sxYyL57FKL9zW6Nh7FxluCk6PJLCfOS3pD1lwgf07sd8ql54TnNFqjmreSpFky-mrM8M7Y_G7iiBU8YZ4Zo8IE1ciYfO0SF3YNfJ9ainWrngb22o/s1600/DSC09377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvbkBs6qtKll5v8IQei9_5s-OJZ-sxYyL57FKL9zW6Nh7FxluCk6PJLCfOS3pD1lwgf07sd8ql54TnNFqjmreSpFky-mrM8M7Y_G7iiBU8YZ4Zo8IE1ciYfO0SF3YNfJ9ainWrngb22o/s400/DSC09377.JPG" width="400" /></a>Judging by the frequency of posts here, it would be reasonable to surmise that I had given up homebrewing and drinking all together but rest assured - that is most definitely not the case. Over the past few months I've brewed a coffee porter with the guys I started brewing with in college and started doing test batches for a beer that I'll be serving at my wedding in the fall. The first batch of that wedding beer actually nabbed second place in the<b> Belgian Pale Ale</b> category at the <b><a href="http://hopsandcircumstance.blogspot.com/2012/10/monk-melee-ii-second-coming.html" target="_blank">2012 Monk Melee</a></b>. All sorts of exciting beer things have been going on but I just haven't had the time to write any of it down.<br />
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Despite the lull in posts, I got an email from someone at <b><a href="http://www.midwestsupplies.com/" target="_blank">Midwest Supplies</a> </b>who had come across my blog and was interested in having me write up my thoughts on one of their brewing ingredients kits. I haven't used a kit since my first couple brews back in college, it's much more fun to put together your own recipe and see what happens. Having said that, a kit like the ones that Midwest Supplies sell offers some confidence to your brew. You can trust that the recipe is tried and true, if your beer comes out tasting like crap you'll know it was your fault basically.<br />
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They were kind enough to let me pick any kit that they sold and I had been wanting to do some sort of rye beer for a while now so I opted for their<b><a href="http://www.midwestsupplies.com/red-ryepa.html" target="_blank"> Red RyePA</a></b>. I was even able to pick my own yeast type so I chose the <b><a href="http://www.wyeastlab.com/" target="_blank">Wyeast</a> </b>smack-pack which ended up being their <a href="http://www.midwestsupplies.com/headwaters-ale-wyeast-act1000-4-25-oz.html" target="_blank"><b>Headwaters Ale</b></a> strain. The kit arrived quickly and safely on my doorstep which was great to come home from work to.<br />
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<b><u>Specialty Grains:</u></b></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 oz Chocolate Rye</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3 oz Crystal Rye</span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUWziz9kRW4vLJrgoCqo4L0QEci2sfl2oCNypWT1CtaZB6-aBlgXYo7LYhBlBjMa7mPLCbh0uNwWbYOVREH9GM1OWj1nJX0t-a3ZCm5IuoF15w4LDKkn9retLjxjav20JzboaUUWVHSM/s1600/DSC09389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUWziz9kRW4vLJrgoCqo4L0QEci2sfl2oCNypWT1CtaZB6-aBlgXYo7LYhBlBjMa7mPLCbh0uNwWbYOVREH9GM1OWj1nJX0t-a3ZCm5IuoF15w4LDKkn9retLjxjav20JzboaUUWVHSM/s400/DSC09389.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3 oz Crystal 50-60</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4 oz Rye malt</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4 oz Flaked Rye</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>Fermentables:</u></b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; line-height: 18px;">6 lb Gold Liquid Malt Extract</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; line-height: 18px;"><b><u>Hops:</u></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; line-height: 18px;">1/2 oz Columbus (60 min)</span><br />
1/2 oz Columbus (20 min)<br />
1/2 oz Centennial (20 min)<br />
1/2 oz Columbus (10 min)<br />
1/2 oz Centennial (10 min)<br />
1/2 oz Columbus (5 min)<br />
1/2 oz Centennial (5 min)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7JSushXCORPHl9-N5mitCIvuJSwd8LHVEuklFez-wCExB1VClZ67On3OsYBgx7uDZDSIIL7VPn-B504mo7lDlOAK59Do-_B8NbsLskO43-lhoxwDJzNygeZIItD7k5ZSS7oIkIuEVVo/s1600/DSC09386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7JSushXCORPHl9-N5mitCIvuJSwd8LHVEuklFez-wCExB1VClZ67On3OsYBgx7uDZDSIIL7VPn-B504mo7lDlOAK59Do-_B8NbsLskO43-lhoxwDJzNygeZIItD7k5ZSS7oIkIuEVVo/s320/DSC09386.JPG" width="320" /></a>Included, of course, were very thorough instructions that walked you through their recommended process in relatively simple terms. I followed them closely and imagine they would be pretty easy to stick to even if you were a first time brewer. The brew went smoothly without incident, no boiling over or anything of that sort. My OG reading was a bit lower than I would've hoped (or that they projected) but I've had that issue with a couple of my past brews as well, something to work on. There was some very aggressive fermentation going on in less than 24 hours which is always reassuring to see no matter how often you brew.<br />
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I'm pretty anxious to see how this one turns out because if I really like it I might end up basing another wedding beer off of this kit. I'm also just excited to have a rye beer under my belt and most importantly, in my fridge. Look out for a follow up post in a few weeks.<br />
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Cheers!<br />
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Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-23884688876036739882012-10-16T20:08:00.004-04:002012-10-16T20:08:57.845-04:00Vault Brewing Co. Unlocks in Yardley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After more than a year's wortth of trials and tribulations, James and John Cain have finally opened <b>Vault Brewing Company</b> in Yardley, PA. Last Thursday's soft opening spawned a flurry of excitement throughout Bucks County where thirsty throngs have been waiting for the small brewpub's doors to swing open. I for one have been anxiously awaiting Vault's opening because quite frankly, Yardley doesn't have much else to offer. Meridith and I stopped by on Saturday afternoon only to be greeted by a locked door, the damn place didn't open til 5.<br />
Oh well...we would return.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SOmcl0jA7jMDdtELtLNvGumXk5EgRcKnpEfLv0m4Gc1Xy2S3otq5FCTUXYUW0muHZ0W040g47VBfe_y2SEplDC3s0fGFwkqgLwZTvsmJyi3WqsP8onsFShKJIYTmFdKy852IH9s_U0s/s1600/DSC09324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SOmcl0jA7jMDdtELtLNvGumXk5EgRcKnpEfLv0m4Gc1Xy2S3otq5FCTUXYUW0muHZ0W040g47VBfe_y2SEplDC3s0fGFwkqgLwZTvsmJyi3WqsP8onsFShKJIYTmFdKy852IH9s_U0s/s400/DSC09324.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgpfAGkqxse0zyB6vm35sUrCZQw2_m97g9ifmIDEU-ip02mzNRhsoLvkvjJpfyuKP21M4XMPmWeqStu2Erc2kPdGyET0uADA_01o2JuWB4s3SkO2aK0bFmJl9pwFj0uh4HLF2qCyTXNY/s1600/DSC09329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgpfAGkqxse0zyB6vm35sUrCZQw2_m97g9ifmIDEU-ip02mzNRhsoLvkvjJpfyuKP21M4XMPmWeqStu2Erc2kPdGyET0uADA_01o2JuWB4s3SkO2aK0bFmJl9pwFj0uh4HLF2qCyTXNY/s320/DSC09329.JPG" width="214" /></a>Being opening weekend and all, we knew it would be packed but the place was actually filled to capacity. We ended up having to wait a couple minutes at the door for people to leave before we could head inside. It's no fun to watch other people drink. Once we were allowed in we bellied up to the bar for a couple beers to enjoy while we waited. I won't get into the specifics but their whole table waiting system needs a bit of an overhaul, if you were there this weekend you'll know what I'm talking about.<br />
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I went for their <b>Cask IPA</b> which I had a sip of at the Washington Crossing Beer Fest earlier this year, freshly pulled by James himself this one went down very quickly. Solid offering here but not my favorite style to have on cask and could have been bit more balanced out. Went with their <b>ESB </b>next which was also on cask and should have been my first choice, really liked this one's slightly toasted and creamy body. Mer stuck with their <b>Dry Stout</b> which was on nitro, she loved it and I reaaaally liked it myself...may have snuck an extra couple sips while she went to the bathroom.<br />
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As for the grub, we started with the hot abruzzese sausage and French feta platter was delicious and just the thing you want to pick on between sips. Vault has a beautiful copper wood-fired pizza oven which is their only real kitchen implement but they aren't your everyday pizza pies. They have a selection of savory as well as sweet pizzas. I couldn't resist the brown sugar buffalo pie which also had some prosciutto. This thing was out of this world and I'm going to have a hard time branching out when I return. The dough is all made in house with some of the beer if I'm not mistaken. The last beer of the evening was their <b>Belgian Blonde</b> which was really bright, zesty and just a little sweet. With that, I left pretty satisfied with the latest addition to the Bucks County beer scene.<br />
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We actually enjoyed ourselves so much that we found ourselves back the next day for some lunch, few things are more enjoyable than some Sunday afternoon brews. The beautiful weather had me hankering for their <b>Bavarian Hefeweizen</b> which didn't quite do it for me but was by no means unpleasant. Their hummus plate and butternut squash pizza were much more memorable, I didn't think I would enjoy any of the sweet pizza options but this proved me wrong. I also snagged a pint of their <b>IPA </b>before we headed out and found it to be a whole lot more impressive than the cask offering, could have sat there for a couple more of this one. We sat in the upper room on Sunday in which they use two of the banks old vaults, one for their wine rack stocked with bottles from Crossing Vineyards and the other locked up with kegs. Nice touch.<br />
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I'll be the first to admit that I was a bit skeptical walking into Vault but was very impressed with the whole operation. The whole look and feel of the place is spot on, sleek but laid back while playing up the old bank features. They had great music playing both visits including the band that came in (live jazz is a big selling point for these guys). I was especially impressed with the staff who really couldn't have been nicer or more helpful despite the madhouse crowd. Once the initial excitement wears off and the crowds die down, I can't wait to head to the Vault more often to see how brewer Mark Thomas really comes into his own. Don't let the crowds keep you away though, I say you head right over and see what you think for yourself.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.vaultbrewing.com/" target="_blank">Vault Brewing Company</a></b></div>
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10 South Main Street</div>
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Yardley, PA</div>
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Cheers!</div>
Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-27781530361554981462012-10-10T22:06:00.001-04:002012-10-11T13:55:42.247-04:00Monk Melee II: The Second Coming<span style="font-family: inherit;">So my homebrew club of choice, <b><a href="http://www.aleiens.com/" target="_blank">The ALEiens</a></b>, is hosting their <b><a href="http://www.aleiens.com/page/monk-melee" target="_blank">2nd Annual Monk Melee Belgian-Style Homebrew Competition</a></b> on Saturday, December 1st at the good ole <b><a href="http://hulmevilleinn.com/" target="_blank">Hulmeville Inn</a></b>. I'm doing my part in organizing the whole shebang again so while we don't have all the details worked out I can tell you I know so far.</span><br />
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This is a BJCP sanctioned competition restricted to the following categories:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">BJCP Category 16: Belgian and French Ales</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"> 16A) Witbier</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 16B) Belgian Pale Ale</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 16C) Saison</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 16D) Biere de Garde</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">BJCP Category 17: Sour Ales</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 17A) Berliner Weiss</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 17B) Flanders Red Ale</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 17C) Oud Bruin/Flanders Brown</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 17D) Straight Lambic</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 17E) Gueuze</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 17F) Fruit Lambic</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: inherit;">BJCP Category 18: Belgian Strong Ale</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 18A) Belgian Blonde</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 18B) Belgian Dubbel</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 18C) Belgian Tripel</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 18D) Belgian Golden Strong Ale</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 18E) Belgian Dark Strong Ale</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">If you've got any beers that fall into these categories, feel free to submit them. We realize that we're not giving you a whole lot of time so that's why I wanted to get some info out ASAP. Drop-off locations are not yet finalized but you can expect the standard local homebrew shops and the like, the guys at <a href="http://neshaminycreekbrewing.com/" target="_blank"><b>Neshaminy Creek</b></a> will also be accepting submissions. Anyone can submit, you do not need to be an ALEien or part of any homebrew club but you should definitely join one anyway. There will be a fee of $6 for the first entry and $5 for any entries after that, go ahead and submit as many as you want. Bottle specifics and entry forms will be worked out soon. We're looking at the last weekend in November as a likely deadline but I will send out an update once everything is finalized.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">Just like last year, the Hulmeville will likely tap a bunch of delicious Belgian beers the day of judging which means you get to come hang out, drink some great beer and await your homebrew's fate. All of the prizes are TBD but you'll be able to grab any winnings that evening after the awards ceremony. Stay tuned for more details as they come out but until then, <i>spread the word and get to brewing</i>!</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">We are definitely looking for some more sponsors to donate prizes so if you're willing to contribute something please let me know. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-align: center;">If you'd like to volunteer to judge or stewart, please contact Jeremy Myers at </span><a href="mailto:fishtownhxc@yahoo.com" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-align: center;" target="_blank">fishtownhxc@yahoo.com</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-align: center;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-align: center;">Cheers!</span></div>
Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-71585781193850068572012-10-04T21:06:00.000-04:002012-10-04T21:06:12.159-04:00DFH IBA BBQAnother<b> <a href="http://hopsandcircumstance.blogspot.com/search/label/bacon" target="_blank">Mancation</a></b> has come and gone. This biannual camping trip is the stuff that legends are made of involving a lot of smoked meats and beer. Last year I took it upon myself to combine these two great things in my<b> <a href="http://hopsandcircumstance.blogspot.com/2011/09/adventures-in-homebrewing-dry-hogging.html" target="_blank">Mancation Maple Bacon Porter</a></b><a href="http://hopsandcircumstance.blogspot.com/2011/09/adventures-in-homebrewing-dry-hogging.html" target="_blank"> </a>but the 2012 trip saw yet another coming together of smoked meats and beer this time in the form of my dad's famous BBQ sauce. Every year this sauce is lathered upon racks of ribs, steaks, chicken and even pasta. For some reason I never recommended that he add some beer to the recipe but I got my act together this year and suggested that <b>Dogfish Head</b>'s hybrid<b> <a href="http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/64/1161" target="_blank">Indian Brown Ale</a> </b>make its way into the mix. As always the sauce was a finger lickin' hit and was made only better by this latest addition so if you're a fan of the 'cue (is that a thing people say?) then I would highly recommend giving this recipe a shot the next time you fire up the smoker or are planning a big BBQ spread. This is a very rare glimpse into the inner workings of Mancation.<div>
You're welcome.<div>
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<b><u>Mancation Meat Sauce</u>:</b></div>
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2 cups ketchup</div>
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<a href="http://www.bruguru.com/indianbrown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://www.bruguru.com/indianbrown.jpg" width="400" /></a>1/4 cup cider vinegar</div>
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1/4 cup brown sugar</div>
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1 tbsp molasses</div>
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1/2 tsp black pepper</div>
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2 finely chopped chipotle peppers</div>
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2 tbsp tomato paste</div>
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1/4 cup worcestershire sauce</div>
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2 tbsp mustard</div>
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1 tbsp tabasco sauce</div>
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2 tsp liquid smoke</div>
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4 cloves finely minced garlic</div>
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2 bottles of Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale</div>
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1 tbsp of Mancation Rub</div>
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Combine all ingredients in a nonreactive saucepan and bring slowly to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and gently simmer the sauce until dark, thick and delicious.</div>
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<b><u>Mancation Rub</u>:</b></div>
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1 tsp whole cumin seed</div>
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1 tsp whole fennel seed</div>
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1 tbsp chili powder</div>
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1 tbsp paprika</div>
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1 tbsp kosher salt</div>
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1 tsp cumin seed</div>
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1 tsp whole coriander</div>
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1 tbsp onion powder</div>
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1 tbsp garlic powder</div>
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Place cumin seed, fennel seed and coriander in coffee grinder and grind fine. Transfer to a small jar and add the rest of the spice then shake. BOOM...you have your rub. If you brine your meat, forget the salt. Oh and don't use the same grinder you use for your coffee.</div>
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Cheers!</div>
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Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-5644025719253778092012-05-21T20:20:00.000-04:002012-05-21T20:20:33.606-04:00Philly Beer Week 2012: What's On TapLast week, <b>The Four Seasons Philadelphia</b> hosted a<b> Philly Beer Week</b> press conference for the local media, assorted beer bloggers and a handful of industry folks. With less than two weeks to go it is time to start getting both excited and prepared for this year's festivities because, as Beer Week veterans know, <b>PBW</b> is no joke.<br />
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Philly Beer Week Executive Director <b>Don Russel</b>, aka<b> Joe Sixpack</b>, gave us all a preview of what we can expect for this 5th annual affair, the first and largest Beer Week in the country. Seeing how the event was held in the <b>With Love Beer Garden</b>, they were the main focus of discussion. I never made it down to the Four Seasons last year but wouldn't rule it out this year. Given all the hustle and bustle that Beer Week brings this could provide some much needed refuge...and of course beer, a different area brewery will be featured each night with the brewers making appearances as well. It seems like a good spot to meet up with people or even to end your day of Beer Week activities, get all the details over <a href="http://phillybeerweek.org/bio_page.cfm?venue_code=22" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty certain that Sommelier Scott Turnbull got sick of posing.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The highlight of the event, for me, was getting the first sips of this year's Philly Beer Week collaboration beer, <b>Dupont </b></span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; line-height: 15px;"><b>Spéciale Belge</b>. A group of lucky Philadelphians including <b>Tom Peters</b> of <b>Monk's</b> and <b>Chris LapPierre</b> from <b>Iron Hill Maple Shade</b> ventured over to Belgium to brew this exclusive ale at the almighty </em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 15px;"><b>Brasserie Dupont</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px;">The amber ale really hit the spot standing around under the sun, some great fruitiness mixed with earthy malt flavors and a refreshingly dry finish, I might even venture to say tart but don't want to get you thinking this is sour by any means. There was a lot of discussion of the addition of smoked malts but I couldn't find any trace of them in there. </span></span><em style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; line-height: 15px;">Spéciale Belge will make its official debut at <b><a href="http://phillybeerweek.org/opening_tap.cfm" target="_blank">Opening Tap</a></b> and will be featured throughout the area during the week. </em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 15px;">A bit of Philly, a bit of Belgium, a whole lot of goodness.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proud brewer, Chris LaPierre</td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 15px;">Despite the fact that Philly Beer Week has become a daunting part of my job at work, I'm still pretty excited. I'm quickly learning just how much work and effort goes into the whole thing, it is quite impressive. Let's all be thankful that we have a city that takes beer so seriously and has such an impressive community of publicans, wholesalers, retailers, publicans and drinkers. </span><br />
<span style="line-height: 15px;">There a ton of great events lined up with still more being added so get your schedule in order!</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 15px;"><b><a href="http://www.phillybeerweek.org/" target="_blank">Philly Beer Week 2012</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 15px;">June 1 - 10</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 15px;">Also, I have the great pleasure of having a birthday during Beer Week so if happen to run into me, forget the cards...you can just get the tab.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 15px;">Cheers!</span></div>
</div>Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-6093519795609281402012-05-14T21:51:00.000-04:002012-08-30T12:56:54.082-04:00Dogfish Head - An Off-Centered Jaunt<br />
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For many craft beer enthusiasts, heading to Delaware to visit those crazy kids at<b> Dogfish Head</b> is quite similar to a pilgrimage to Mecca. Given their growing popularity they are often one of the first breweries embraced by people just entering the wonderful world of real beer. Of course that kind of popularity, i.e. success, has brought some backlash from those who consider themselves to be real "hardcore" and what not. These are the types of people who turn against something they once loved only because too many people now share that same affection.<br />
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This happens with music, movies and sports but what the hell is this attitude doing in our fun-loving craft beer world? No matter how over-saturated, popular or gimmicky the disenchanted folks find Dogfish Head, they are still innovating, still brewing stellar beers and still know how to show a beer lover a damn good time.<br />
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I had been down to the brewery once before with college friends but more recently I headed down to Rehoboth Beach with the girlfriend for the weekend. Actually, we first stopped in Milton to tour the actual brewery which is undergoing some renovation and expansion. As expected, the tasting room was packed this Saturday morning with fellow beer geeks and of course some people who just wanted something free to do.<br />
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We milled about the extensive gift shop while waiting for the tour and I quickly realized that I have no will power when it comes to badass brewery merch, sue me. The tour group gathered to get our first of four samples the first of which was <b>Sah'tea</b>, one of the most unique beers out there in my opinion. We got a sample of <b>My Antonia</b> before going into the brewery and I got that same "Willy Wonka" feeling that I did the first time I visited. The tours have gotten a bit bigger and the guides use a mobile speaker but they still manage to keep the intimate and off-centered charm that makes Dogfish so appealing.</div>
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We ended up in their large cellar where there are pallets of fresh beer awaiting their departure but the real intriguing part of the room is locked up in a massive cage which houses founder/president/mad-man <b>Sam Calagione</b>'s stash of vintage Dogfish Head bottles. They have quite a collection here and I was drooling at the thought of what treasures might be sitting patiently in there. I asked our guide what the most interesting vintage he had tasted, he said that a 2-3 year old Sah'tea really surprised him and was definitely his most memorable. The tour wrapped up and we all wandered back to the gift shop where the samples continued with the brand spanking new <b>Urkontinent</b>. Meridith was most fond of this one and I was equally impressed with its complex individuality. While I debated what I would take home with me the samples ended with some good old <b>Indian Brown</b> which finished things up quite nicely.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPhzgBPsGUM9-e3cPZqME1kPRFBpNKpNgPLQNZse9CgAl9pVcFnu3uvylcBh8B_sku4di96NS6rLHBFKb3fB2KWjR3Bdy6_wnxCfOENyqKPotVP9Z2wLX-5qRTWSh8FDhbH3aQxDDWkw/s1600/IMG_20120429_151714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPhzgBPsGUM9-e3cPZqME1kPRFBpNKpNgPLQNZse9CgAl9pVcFnu3uvylcBh8B_sku4di96NS6rLHBFKb3fB2KWjR3Bdy6_wnxCfOENyqKPotVP9Z2wLX-5qRTWSh8FDhbH3aQxDDWkw/s200/IMG_20120429_151714.jpg" width="200" /></a>The brewery is truly something to see for those of us who enjoy looking at shiny steel or get a little thrill at the sight of barrels sitting in a room. The east coast doesn't have too many of these destination-type breweries so it's just cool to see something on this scale. The creative environment that they've established there seems genuinely ingrained in the people that work there and the laid-back yet passionate attitude is infectious.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjpBiFG9x1y6QYrmod9ZNS28W8o3MFbuHh-lnF35a0X5HwgyBTKXG7UFlSlxFNezNvnI3YEsciA1SYoSET23Xge8AdmGQzVM5MwYIoR91qPoLbu9pqDgDZjYX4lkY9abDNsyMDxKwF9g/s1600/IMG_20120428_175226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjpBiFG9x1y6QYrmod9ZNS28W8o3MFbuHh-lnF35a0X5HwgyBTKXG7UFlSlxFNezNvnI3YEsciA1SYoSET23Xge8AdmGQzVM5MwYIoR91qPoLbu9pqDgDZjYX4lkY9abDNsyMDxKwF9g/s200/IMG_20120428_175226.jpg" width="200" /></a>For those of you just getting into craft beer Dogfish Head lives up to the reputation that you've built up in your mind. For those of you that have lost that loving feeling I would give them a visit, forget about how pissed you were that you couldn't get a bottle of <b>120</b> last year, give the guys another chance to court your tastebuds and focus on the thing that brought you there in the first place...the damn beer.<br />
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The weekend continued at the brewpub a short drive away but you're not interested in that, are you?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXB0Jv_RCAs5faDrmCOYSG8Izy0ROp0fa-Vk8mlo349c8HkQuMrW_0A9WfqJm7bnXimcTDnc9SINcdhrvJ0K1oBnRAMLI8MILqxRGq1SQTuAddE6eomnour5iwiBA3pWUSpnCeJTgC0BI/s1600/7925f6aa915a11e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXB0Jv_RCAs5faDrmCOYSG8Izy0ROp0fa-Vk8mlo349c8HkQuMrW_0A9WfqJm7bnXimcTDnc9SINcdhrvJ0K1oBnRAMLI8MILqxRGq1SQTuAddE6eomnour5iwiBA3pWUSpnCeJTgC0BI/s320/7925f6aa915a11e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.dogfish.com/" target="_blank">Dogfish Head Craft Brewery</a></b><br />
6 Cannery Village Blvd.<br />
Milton, DE 19968<br />
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Cheers!</div>
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</span></span>Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-33550649301582905652012-04-25T10:09:00.000-04:002012-04-25T10:09:09.732-04:00Back to Baltimore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlMAUjAkIAtzbaadedu2Y_r3rpwy3a6D_s0wOCOsAXoZ6Oaw-CB9C7I4NJD3VSOAeXRyyFaD3r8Z1DCQZq-iLewt0-5a1MK76hKwXdfFks4ViBNNsosSf9q_ZJFa7REJfS9SR75WxwMw/s1600/IMG_20120423_210648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlMAUjAkIAtzbaadedu2Y_r3rpwy3a6D_s0wOCOsAXoZ6Oaw-CB9C7I4NJD3VSOAeXRyyFaD3r8Z1DCQZq-iLewt0-5a1MK76hKwXdfFks4ViBNNsosSf9q_ZJFa7REJfS9SR75WxwMw/s320/IMG_20120423_210648.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I just got back from <b>Baltimore</b> where I spent the last few days sitting through some oh so thrilling training sessions for work. Luckily I had some time to myself so I could check out a couple spots that I missed out on <a href="http://hopsandcircumstance.blogspot.com/2011/11/beer-in-land-of-pleasant-living.html" target="_blank">the last time</a> I was in the Land of Pleasant Living.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUHx4lvws8qDsfnC8Wf_tZS3QiDA-shNogeFXP3peHUiFLOQZDJHawOpzSkepZhyphenhyphengEQtG2C5XkqbbT6T8uxAhVxWLS2JHcPjBFcQ9cvyLsLejt8dycFGEkl0LTSrN6YYZ54QQE-uGTJ8/s1600/IMG_20120422_183059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUHx4lvws8qDsfnC8Wf_tZS3QiDA-shNogeFXP3peHUiFLOQZDJHawOpzSkepZhyphenhyphengEQtG2C5XkqbbT6T8uxAhVxWLS2JHcPjBFcQ9cvyLsLejt8dycFGEkl0LTSrN6YYZ54QQE-uGTJ8/s320/IMG_20120422_183059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As it rained the entire day and traffic built up, Sunday's drive was pretty miserable but was made a little more enjoyable thanks to a stop at <b><a href="http://www.statelineliquors.com/beer/beer.htm" target="_blank">State Line Liquors</a></b> in Elkton, MD. I would highly recommend stopping in there if you're ever in the area, they have a wide selection of fine American and Imported beers that aren't available in the Philly area. I could have spent a lot more time and money in there but used some restraint, only grabbing some Maui brews for a friend and a few others that caught my eye. I also snagged a sweet Hoptimum poster and since I am pretty easy to please, that made my day.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UH9b7BYzK-3esDtM0tKbn1GcL1kY3zBdwReNGAeaiVRia_LWH557TjhyphenhyphenoUwB8GqBSF9CorXgJqrqebrrxdNmkKnyiruNDfZCVIuN3UA5fGapt6Hb5mQGsBdIBur0XLvpvGrV3FJdoqM/s1600/IMG_20120424_131358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UH9b7BYzK-3esDtM0tKbn1GcL1kY3zBdwReNGAeaiVRia_LWH557TjhyphenhyphenoUwB8GqBSF9CorXgJqrqebrrxdNmkKnyiruNDfZCVIuN3UA5fGapt6Hb5mQGsBdIBur0XLvpvGrV3FJdoqM/s320/IMG_20120424_131358.jpg" width="320" /></a>After checking in and taking in my luxurious view, I hopped back in my car and headed over to <b><a href="http://www.thebrewersart.com/" target="_blank">The Brewer's Art</a></b>, a storied brewpub in the Mt. Vernon section of the city. After a brief moment of not realizing how to get into the damn place, I found myself in the underground bar that was surprisingly packed for a Sunday night. There is an upstairs that seemed to be a more formal setting for a sit-down meal but I figured the dark cavernous bar would do just fine. After a quick glance at the all house brewed draft list I went right for the <b>Charm City Sour Cherry Ale</b>. This was a welcome treat after the long trip down, it had a wonderful fresh cherry taste with a subtly tart accompaniment that balanced out the sweetness. For no real reason, I was expecting/hoping that this was going be much more sour but it had a much more reserved approach. I made quick work of this one with a very light body and 4.5% ABV and dug into the house cheeseburger which came with some amazing rosemary garlic fries...get them! For my second beer I went with <b>Ozzy</b>, their very very impressive Belgian golden ale. Whiffs of yeast, some lemon zest, and a bit of barnyard hay. The flavor profile fell in line with the style, a bit fruity with lots of spice rounded out by a light caramel sweetness. Now I understand why everyone told me to go to Brewer's Art, a really great atmosphere with some solid beers and delicious food. The fact that all of their house beers were $5 was also a nice surprise. I wish I had been able to try some more of their brews but it was time to get back to the hotel, Game of Thrones was coming on damn't!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfYlyGd1wzxzfeJ-1_1qbc8qk7KlRWrXhVM-mcUjX7dKyG-E9hwY9jq5UmAFrMcWbI86wNfJEAcCBo_8-jv4z7K8xx4dcOk8M8hwwEzrqjLXzl1JrphmtDfUiP70RY_QRCzlfl4bWxII/s1600/IMG_20120423_211050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfYlyGd1wzxzfeJ-1_1qbc8qk7KlRWrXhVM-mcUjX7dKyG-E9hwY9jq5UmAFrMcWbI86wNfJEAcCBo_8-jv4z7K8xx4dcOk8M8hwwEzrqjLXzl1JrphmtDfUiP70RY_QRCzlfl4bWxII/s320/IMG_20120423_211050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I headed to the Inner Harbor Monday evening after a day of training, strolled around a bit and then made my over to Fell's Point to check out the fairly new <b><a href="http://heavyseasalehouse.com/" target="_blank">Heavy Seas Alehouse</a></b>. First thing I noticed upon entering was the plethora of exposed brick, a nearly fool-proof way of ensuring I enjoy myself. The bartender was one of the friendliest and attentive I've come across, he went through what they had on tap and told me that he had just tapped two casks about an hour ago one of which was a dry-hopped<b> Dubbel Cannon </b>which was enticing enough for me. I still haven't found a "Belgian IPA" that I really love but am still willing to give them a shot now and again. I ordered up some mussels which are half-off on Mondays (score for me) and while I was waiting for them to come out I noticed none other than Heavy Seas owner<b> Hugh Sisson </b>hanging out with some brewery staff at the end of the bar. Obviously I had to step up, introduce myself, and let him know what I thought of the place. He also brought over their Sales Manager who I had emailed back and forth with through work on a couple occasions, always strange but a pleasure to meet someone you've only ever had online interactions with. He was really glowing with pride as he took me on a tour of the surprisingly spacious alehouse. What he seemed most excited about was the soon-to-be-open beer garden that they are currently working on. Picnic tables, barrels for high tops, and a grille are already set up so it shouldn't be too long before they actually open the doors. Hugh seems like a great guy who enjoys a good time, he was really welcoming and appreciative as well. I was quite glad to have the chance to meet him and would recommend saying hi if you happen to run into him.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyEVyhF30YGdDBNHS4I7iAE2RYMAgOZ1xaQy7GOM8QCSUiPk6VFWvI6hCCifNppRXHRIqnusj3X3f58l8GPZZPJ3LHLrvv7F-fAyahRA0QrUM-4GKajrkfvLIl5DyCq5a9W6U84H7wAw/s1600/IMG_20120423_212304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyEVyhF30YGdDBNHS4I7iAE2RYMAgOZ1xaQy7GOM8QCSUiPk6VFWvI6hCCifNppRXHRIqnusj3X3f58l8GPZZPJ3LHLrvv7F-fAyahRA0QrUM-4GKajrkfvLIl5DyCq5a9W6U84H7wAw/s320/IMG_20120423_212304.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I got going on my mussels and then ordered a pint of <b>Peg Leg</b> which was also on cask and the perfect beer for such a dreary day. This was my first time having this particular beer and really enjoyed it, it was really something with strong chocolate and roasted coffee notes throughout with an appropriately thick, dare I say, luscious body. The bartender slid a small snifter of something in front of me to try which ended up being a chocolate liqueur that is made in house with some Peg Leg which was just delectable. While that sort of thing isn't really my bag, I could see it working wonders with a slice of cheesecake. I fell into a conversation with a guy from Bethlehem who was also in town for some business training, we got to talking about beer and therefore I ended up sticking around for a couple more pints than expected. Nothing else different sounded too appealing so my new found friend and I finished out the night with a couple<b> Loose Cannons</b>. I walked away a big fan of Heavy Sea's new venture into the bar and restaurant business. With so many other great options in that area I was a little worried about what would set them apart but my fears were promptly squashed so add it to the list of must-stops in Baltimore. I also have to say that the entire staff was some of the friendliest and attentive I've had the pleasure of dealing with. Now I realize that all sounds very nice and cuddly but I really did enjoy myself that much there.</div>
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Another successful trip to Baltimore for me and there still a couple other spots that I'd like to check out so I guess I'll have to go back.</div>
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Cheers!</div>Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-40332073195588151262012-02-09T19:12:00.000-05:002012-02-09T22:32:53.126-05:00Organize Your Bottle Collection With CellarHQ<br />
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<a href="http://www.thebeerjournal.com/files/images/TBJ-glasses.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" sda="true" src="http://www.thebeerjournal.com/files/images/TBJ-glasses.png" width="640" /></a></div>
There seems to be an ever growing number of websites devoted to beer out there in cyberspace. I stumbled across a relatively new one the other day that seems like it is actually going to be useful for those of us with a surplus of bottles stashed away.<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1016207315" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" sda="true" src="http://www.cellarhq.com/images/beer-placeholder.png" width="132" /></a><strong><a href="http://www.cellarhq.com/" target="_blank">CellarHQ</a> </strong>is a site that allows users to create an account and set up a database of their own personal hoard of bottles. Already the site's pool of breweries and beers that you can add to your cellar is quite impressive but if you can't find the beer you're looking for, adding any new or unlisted beers is quick and simple. For those of us that seek an even more thorough listing, you can input specific details such as bottle size, quantity, and bottling date. There is also a section for notes and soon users will be able to upload accompanying pictures. You can browse other users' cellars as well with fresh updates coming out pretty frequently.</div>
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While I haven't ventured into the world of trading, I can imagine a site like this would prove even more useful. I recently took complete inventory of my cellar for the site and found some forgotten gems in the process. The ability to add bottling dates and the like will make this a great resource for aging certain beers and determining what you've got lying around that needs drinking. I for one came to the conclusion that I need to find more time to drink all this beer I've been accumulating.</div>
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Signing up is free and easy so if you're in need of some beer organization assistance head on over to <a href="http://www.cellarhq.com/"><strong>http://www.cellarhq.com/</strong></a> to get started.<br />
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Cheers!Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-43040942952505982822012-01-17T20:09:00.000-05:002012-01-17T20:17:55.719-05:00The 2012 Happening List<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thehappeninglist.buckshappening.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="307" kba="true" src="http://thehappeninglist.buckshappening.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/happening-list-vote-badge.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Apparently someone out there is actually reading this!</div>
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It was quite a pleasant surprise to find out that someone had gone and nominated me for <strong><a href="http://thehappeninglist.buckshappening.com/" target="_blank">Bucks Happening's 2012 Happening List</a></strong>. This is a comprehensive 'Best Of' type of list for just about everything going on in Bucks County. Hops & Circumstance is nominated in both the <a href="http://thehappeninglist.buckshappening.com/blogger/" target="_blank"><strong>'Blogger'</strong></a> and <a href="http://thehappeninglist.buckshappening.com/twitter-personality/" target="_blank"><strong>'Twitter'</strong></a> categories...because one outlet for my beer-soaked musings just isn't enough. If you want to throw me a bone in either category just take a second to vote in either category, <a href="http://thehappeninglist.buckshappening.com/blogger/" target="_blank"><strong>'Blogger'</strong></a> or <a href="http://thehappeninglist.buckshappening.com/twitter-personality/" target="_blank"><strong>'Twitter'</strong></a>. Voting is open until February 29th.</div>
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I know it's annoying when people say that it's an honor just to be nominated but in this case it's true, I really appreciate whoever went out of their way to do that in the first place.</div>
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There's also a solid looking <a href="http://thehappeninglist.buckshappening.com/beer-bar/" target="_blank"><strong>'Beer Bar'</strong></a> category with a few of my favorite hangouts like the <strong>Hulmeville Inn</strong> and<strong> Isaac Newton's</strong> so be sure to send some love their way as well.</div>
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Thanks for all the support, cheers!</div>Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-75939374786166707392012-01-10T21:15:00.000-05:002012-01-10T21:15:00.247-05:00Adventures in Homebrewing: Monastic Misery<br />
You may have noticed a real lack of homebrewing posts here as of late and I'm here to tell you why.<br />
I screwed up my last batch something awful.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOAKz2jeaLHfCW0vD-hfM4s_GGyXV2sBte4pUnRChOCrHVUd38xFeZOnw5wbMwCknsL-X84mKAn9XZbADCXfdAPoo0QYS5246sz1WUa5rl3_LS5osl0dU5TSJqtiP8CS-fpuG5Ve6V30/s1600/IMG234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOAKz2jeaLHfCW0vD-hfM4s_GGyXV2sBte4pUnRChOCrHVUd38xFeZOnw5wbMwCknsL-X84mKAn9XZbADCXfdAPoo0QYS5246sz1WUa5rl3_LS5osl0dU5TSJqtiP8CS-fpuG5Ve6V30/s320/IMG234.jpg" width="240" /></a>Back in August I brewed what I was expecting to be a <b>Belgian Golden Strong Ale</b> for my homebrew club's <b>Monk Melee</b> competition. This was my first crack at the style but I was confident that I had done enough research to put together something that would satisfy my own tastes and hell, maybe even win something at the competition I helped organize. As you may have surmised from the title of this post, that did not happen.<br />
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This batch turned out totally undrinkable and a good chunk of the bottles never even carbonated. I gave it plenty of time to condition just hoping that something would come of it but it was all for naught. Unlike many fellow homebrewers, my first batches came out quite well and I even won some competitions with very few brews under my belt. It took me more than a year to concoct this travesty but hopefully I've learned something here. I received my scorecards from the competition judges (who I'd to apologize to for subjecting them to such misery) and they left me plenty of comments, here is the jist:<br />
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<b>Aroma:</b><br />
-scorched malt<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1qaUO0CT9e9-xwX4LVHbJbtGCE7VftEcYXvf-x1iU0TQ30YsHfSMkqqXrfgqCGREStVYQauFx_C6AmDZ8B2gBbG1TBaE7vSO4ZjtR_TrVwPTZU70B4xhYtxb2yPSuaXWK87ms477C90/s1600/IMG233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1qaUO0CT9e9-xwX4LVHbJbtGCE7VftEcYXvf-x1iU0TQ30YsHfSMkqqXrfgqCGREStVYQauFx_C6AmDZ8B2gBbG1TBaE7vSO4ZjtR_TrVwPTZU70B4xhYtxb2yPSuaXWK87ms477C90/s640/IMG233.jpg" width="480" /></a>-muddled<br />
-oxidized<br />
-only a little fruitiness<br />
-burnt rubber and cereal<br />
<b>Appearance:</b><br />
-no carbonation<br />
-a bit hazy and dark for style<br />
-no head<br />
<b>Flavor:</b><br />
-sour cider vinegar<br />
-under-attenuated<br />
-not balanced with hop bitterness<br />
-no peppery spice flavors at all<br />
-very sweet like honey<br />
<b>Mouthfeel:</b><br />
-full body<br />
-flat<br />
-acidic and thin<br />
<b>Overall:</b><br />
-very problematic<br />
-not to this style at all<br />
-sanitize everything<br />
-pitch plenty of yeast<br />
-this is not a Belgian golden strong<br />
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<a href="http://covers.openlibrary.org/w/id/521625-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://covers.openlibrary.org/w/id/521625-L.jpg" width="158" /></a>Who the hell knows what happened here? Obviously the batch was dumped down the drain one very sad winter's eve. I'm fairly confident with my sanitation but you can never be sure, I'm thinking that the real problem was with my yeast and fermentation. I was really surprised just how off the appearance was though, I was not expecting this to turn out nearly as dark as it did.<br />
I've finally gotten around to getting another brew together for (hopefully) this weekend and I'll be sure to be much more aware this time around. I figured I would share just how much can go wrong with a well intended brew if you're not careful.<br />
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Anyone else have some sad tales to tell with a failed batch out there? I'm sure there are plenty.<br />
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Cheers!<br />Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-67364151155574668972011-12-12T14:09:00.002-05:002011-12-13T13:24:55.510-05:00Mad Mex Willow Grove: Now Open For Your Drinking Pleasure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There a few things that I can't get enough of. Obviously a tasty brew is one of those things but Mexican food also makes that prestigious list. Naturally with an affinity for such things I was a happy to hear that <strong>Mad Mex</strong> would be opening a new restaurant in Willow Grove which is much closer to my house than University City, their next closest location.<br />
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The only Mad Mex I had ever been to was the one in State College while visiting Mer but I knew that they all prided themselves in having an extensive draft list. It seems a bit strange but I can even remember being shocked and excited by seeing <strong>Great Lakes Nosferatu</strong> on special the first time I had been there for dinner, not something I had expected from any sort of chain-type restaurant.<br />
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The lady and I had the opportunity to check out the new spot over the weekend while we got some Christmas shopping done. Much like the State College location, the decor and atmosphere have a great 'Day of the Dead' theme. The place seemed busy but we were seated right away without a wait, wasn't expecting that from a new restaurant on a Saturday during the holiday shopping season. Once we got seated in our really-excessively-large-for-two-people-but-I'm-not-complaining booth I grabbed the beer menu which featured a great deal, $5 <strong>Sierra Nevada Celebration</strong> 22 oz drafts! Not something I would normally pass up but when there are 23 other beers beers on tap I can't in good conscious go with something so familiar.<br />
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The rest of the 'Mad Draftos' consisted of a variety of microbrews, primarily of the hoppier variety, including a few surprises like <strong>Avery</strong>'s 16.8% Belgian Strong Dark Ale, <strong>The Beast</strong>. I wasn't feeling <em>that</em> ambitious so I went with <strong>Stone's 11.11.11 Vertical Epic Ale</strong> which was a Belgian Strong Ale brewed with chilies and cinnamon which seemed fitting given the food. This was supposed come in a smaller 12 oz glass but I was pleased to see our waiter bring me out a full shaker full, nice move guy. There was unique dichotomy between the Belgian yeast esters and the pepper flavors but somehow they worked together in what I thought was a fine beer. I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did and it paired quite nicely with my meal.<br />
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With such an impressive draft list I had a hard time choosing a follow up but the lure of <b>Firestone Walker's Double Jack</b> proved once again unavoidable. I hope everyone out there understands my adoration for this beer, it is one of if not THE best Imperial IPA around if you ask me. The beer is a thing of beauty for hop-heads but it is incredibly well balanced and smooth considering. Get it, drink it, love it.<br />
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While the beer selection is what really made the evening stand out for me, our meal didn't disappoint either. I'm no foodie and usually end up sounding like even more of an idiot when I start talking about food so I'll spare you. I do have to say that if you like your queso super spicy than this is the place to get it, lot's of heat in there. The whole experience was really quite pleasant, our waiter was great, the food came out at just the right time, and the music was fantastic...what more can you ask for? Thanks to Monica and Jordan for setting the whole thing up, I really appreciate it and will definitely be back for some more!<br />
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Mad Mex is one of the few chains that have full embraced the world of craft beer and offers something for every kind of drinker. Options for a good beer for suburbanites like myself can sometimes be quite hard to find so I'm going to go out to a restaurant like this I want there to be some interesting beers on tap and not just your typical macro choices. I can't always have my way and go to a real beer bar for dinner so alternatives like this are a must. In this day and age I think it is just embarrassing when a restaurant has a lazy beer selection but luckily, more and more are grasping the fact that we want some variety. Mad Mex Willow Grove is just the latest to do so, here's to many more.<br />
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<b>Mad Mex Willow Grove</b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="street-address" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">2862 W Moreland Rd</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span class="locality" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Willow Grove</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">, </span><span class="region" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">PA</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> </span><span class="postal-code" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">19090</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">¡Salud!</span></span></div>Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-67747676703893894822011-12-01T19:44:00.001-05:002011-12-02T10:03:39.695-05:00Victory Brewing Co.'s Dark Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sure Thanksgiving was last week but the real holiday came the day before on <strong>Dark Wednesday</strong> in Downingtown, PA where I joined hundreds of other thirsty folks for the 2nd (and possibly final) release of <strong>Victory Brewing Company's Dark Intrigue </strong>which is the bourbon barrel aged incarnation of their already delectable <strong>Storm King Stout</strong>. The first batch was released last year and having thoroughly enjoyed the two bottles I was lucky to grab there was no way I was going to miss the event so I could grab myself a case.<br />
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The brewery's retail shop would not open until 11:30 am but Mer and I set out alarm clock a bit earlier so we could get in line around 9 am. Obviously I have the greatest girlfriend in the world, she came along even under the threat of thunderstorms. The parking lot was nearly filled when we arrived and as we walked up to the brewery we saw a pretty substantial line that had already formed. We wound up being numbers 132 and 133 in line, a comfortable spot with 300 cases to be sold.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8g85tRq6KsorGRQsj47oLuanhW97CqBqv8BAku51WUV-C80ESp4Fb9b0zko3h8lsXr1YMfAixYNXK9EpheWFM4jJ17PxAxrKCiVk6f_MWPQWkqFw0y-hQXD_IpoxKhpaLrIT5jWWAaE/s1600/DSC06975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8g85tRq6KsorGRQsj47oLuanhW97CqBqv8BAku51WUV-C80ESp4Fb9b0zko3h8lsXr1YMfAixYNXK9EpheWFM4jJ17PxAxrKCiVk6f_MWPQWkqFw0y-hQXD_IpoxKhpaLrIT5jWWAaE/s640/DSC06975.JPG" width="640" /></a>I have to say that Victory handled the event magnificently. A few minutes after arriving we received wristbands with our numbers on them which would hold our place in line as well as serve as our tickets for the raffle prizes which were handed out every 10 minutes. If there is one way to keep hundreds of bored beer geeks happy, other than beer, it would have to be beer swag. <a href="http://onevillagecoffee.com/"><b>One Village Coffee</b></a> was also on site providing free coffee and snacks to the masses. These are the same awesome people that Victory teamed up with to brew their <b>Victory Village</b>, an equally awesome coffee-brown ale that actually inspired my own<b> <a href="http://hopsandcircumstance.blogspot.com/2010/11/adventures-in-homebrewing-coffee-cold.html">Ugly Mug</a></b>.<br />
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The sense of comradery and enthusiasm amidst the crowd was not unlike that of a line for a midnight movie premiere. Luckily, the kind of douchery that can taint such events was totally absent. We made friends with the guy in front of us who left his New York home at 5 am to be there. I figured he had fallen in love with it last year but was pretty shocked to hear that he hadn't ever had it but heard such good things that he needed to make the trip. Not only was he getting a whole case but once he realized that Mer was just along for the ride he asked if she would grab him a case as well. So he went home with two cases without even knowing if he would enjoy it. Quite a leap of faith and quite the commitment, cheers sir.<br />
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A few sporadic showers soaked the crowd but by the skies had cleared by 11:30 when the doors opened and the first people in line (who arrived at 4:30 am...yes...4:30 am) got their hands on their beloved cases. We didn't reach the door until 12:30 or so. Seeing the receipt for $190 was a little staggering, I never thought I'd drop that kind of money on a case of beer but it just felt like the right thing to do. Needless to say I was a little excited. I picked up my case and made the very very careful trip back to car to lock it away. We headed back inside for some much needed nourishment and beer.<br />
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<b>Dark Intrigue</b> was also available on tap so my first choice was a no brainer since no bottles were allowed to be opened. After one sip I was quickly reminded why I had just waited in line for nearly 4 hours for some beer, it is just delicious. Not only do you get the roasty chocolate character of the <b>Storm King</b> but there is that umph of bourbon and vanilla that make it oh so delectable. You'll definitely get a boozy burn on the finish but it is full bodied enough to back it up and deliver a rich, creamy, and still pretty hoppy stout. I'm obviously a big fan of this one and can't wait to stow a few bottles away to see what happens.<br />
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After another 45 minute wait we were more than ready to sit down for lunch. My smoked BBQ pork sandwich hit the spot like none other while Mer enjoyed her mighty cheesesteak, the leftovers were lovingly offered to me so I can assure you that it was in fact mighty. Our booth was at the end of the bar where the line for growler fills was positioned, this was the main focus of our meal. I could not believe how long people were waiting to fill their growlers. People were coming in with 3 or 4 growlers and were waiting at least 45 minutes to get them filled. They weren't doing Dark Intrigue fills so I'm not sure what all the fuss was about but it was impressive and/or crazy.<br />
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This was my first big beer release event, us East Coasters don't seem to get the chance to line up for this stuff all that often. I have to give it up to Victory for handling it so well, with that many anxious people milling about it could have gone either way but the whole event went quite smoothly. Some of my bottles are reserved for friends but I look forward to enjoying some over the holidays and of course stashing a some away for a few years. If this is distributed in your area it should just be hitting the shelves so I would definitely recommend seeking out a bottle or two and "discover the dark intrigue" for yourself.<br />
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<a href="http://victorybeer.com/"><b>Victory Brewing Company</b></a><br />
420 Acorn Lane<br />
Downingtown, PA 19335<br />
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Cheers!</div>
</div>Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-1795294604680940462011-11-28T21:28:00.001-05:002011-11-28T22:34:59.285-05:00Brewery Tour: Brooklyn Brewery<br />
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My college buddy and favorite drinking partner, Doug, recently moved into an apartment in Park Slope with his girlfriend Sarah and while I’d be much happier with them residing in Philly, that’s not going to stop me from paying them a visit. We had a packed schedule for our Saturday so after a brief neighborhood tour we shot over to <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Williamsburg</place></city> to check out the <b>Brooklyn Brewery</b>.<br />
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The bar is situated in a large drinking hall where they welcome you to bring in your own food and hang out for the afternoon. While I love having a full-blown restaurant attached to a brewery, this idea is equally appealing to me. Every table was filled with people who had brought in pizzas and what not, I spotted one couple who was simply enjoying a box a Triscuits with their beers. If I was a local I could definitely see myself hanging out there quite often. Not wanting to sacrifice the three tokens it would cost to get a glass of The Companion, I filled up with their <strong>IPA</strong> before the tour got underway.</div>
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Somehow, our massive tour group got organized as we were lead through the original brewhouse and into a much larger space which housed many a fermenter and their bottling line. Our tour guide explained that this was all part of a recent expansion. The original brewhouse is really too small to fit any sizable group so guides have a handy-dandy diagram illustrating all of the equipment and brewing process. Our guide decided to go rogue and basically skipped that whole part that can become a bit tiresome when you've been on a few brewery tours.</div>
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Instead he delved into the history of Brooklyn Brewery, something I realized I didn't know much about. The brewery was founded in 1987 by former Associated Press correspondent <strong>Steve Hindy</strong> who spent a lot of time in Middle Eastern countries where alcohol production, possession, and consumption was essentially forbidden. Steve found that these restrictions led many people to homebrewing and he learned the basics from this underground scene which he had sort of fallen in love with. Once he returned home he realized that Brooklyn was deprived of a local brewery so he, along with his friend Tom Potter, quit his job put together Brooklyn Brewery. One of the cooler brewery origin stories if you ask me.</div>
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The lively discussion carried on with a number of other amusing anecdotes like how graphic designer, Milton Glaser (who created the <em>I Love New York</em> campaign) was hired to develop the brewery's logo and branding but wanted to be paid in beer. Or how the local mafia was a little miffed at Hindy and Potter who weren't paying their dues when the opened the brewery.<br />
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I also hadn't realized that Brooklyn contracts out the brewing for their 12 oz bottle packaging, that all takes place in Utica. And while there are a number of states that don't get any Brooklyn beers, you'd be able to get yourself some Brooklyn Lager over in Europe and Asia. Perhaps I'm just ignorant but this was all news to me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlI_vzwdAOEKmp3LNw43eKa7pgUPr1sAfwsCGPq5IxWCyWRy9Mr-ORHXyqA_-9QQXuoWO3msvAvmpYjnVmjvhlXaqMTaj_rdrWCcQkDnXtcdSBmK3lZig9VuPChuXUAjzfvE3sLgGjH0/s1600/DSC06944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlI_vzwdAOEKmp3LNw43eKa7pgUPr1sAfwsCGPq5IxWCyWRy9Mr-ORHXyqA_-9QQXuoWO3msvAvmpYjnVmjvhlXaqMTaj_rdrWCcQkDnXtcdSBmK3lZig9VuPChuXUAjzfvE3sLgGjH0/s320/DSC06944.JPG" width="320" /></a>I don't think I've been on another tour that offered so much insight into the brewery's history, the stuff I usually find the most interesting. The word "tour" can be a bit misleading here though, our entire time in the brewery was spent surrounding our guide who stood atop a rickety step ladder. The brewery didn't seem to be laid out in a tourable manner and like I said, there were quite a few of us to corral so I don't blame them. Despite the lack of movement, I'd still say this is one of the more unique and informative tours being offered. Just don't expect to learn that much about the brewing process.</div>
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The ladies wanted to head across the street to some over-priced thrift store after the tour which was something I just couldn't handle after being filled with that bit of brewery joy so Doug and I headed over to nearby <strong>Mugs Alehouse</strong>. Browsing the typical tap list I caught one gem at the last minute, <strong>Dogfish Head's 120 Minute</strong> which had escaped me this year back home was just sitting there waiting for me to order. I knew we had a long day of drinking ahead of us but we couldn't resist the lure of such a brew especially since you would rarely see it on tap down here without any fanfare.</div>
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I could definitely fill another post with the rest of the weekends adventures which included a mini Brooklyn bar tour and a few liquid surprises (2007 <strong>Weyerbacher Blasphemy</strong> anyone?). I'm always thrown off in NYC when the bars don't close at 2 am which always makes for an interesting morning after, nothing that a little brunch can't take care of though.<br />
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<a href="http://www.brooklynbrewery.com/index.php/landing/"><strong>Brooklyn Brewery</strong></a></div>
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79 North Eleventh Street<br />
Brooklyn, NY 11211</div>
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Cheers!</div>
</div>Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-16691609249181107942011-11-22T10:23:00.001-05:002011-11-22T10:27:45.862-05:00It is coming...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://victorybeer.com/blog/dark-intrigue-release/"><b>Dark Wednesday</b></a> is upon us!</div>
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Will you be there?</div>
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Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Victory Brewing Company</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">420 Acorn Lane Downingtown, PA 19335</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">11:30 am</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Cheers!</span></span></div>Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-14397124917448201402011-11-15T22:21:00.000-05:002011-11-15T22:21:36.750-05:00Beer in the Land of Pleasant Living<a href="http://junks.tv/wp-content/forum-avatars/1275009204natty_boh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://junks.tv/wp-content/forum-avatars/1275009204natty_boh.jpg" width="200" /></a>Feeling like we don't seem to get that much time together these days, the girlfriend and I took a long weekend in <strong>Baltimore</strong> to relax, do some sightseeing, and check out the beer scene in <strong>Land of Pleasant Living</strong>. The last time either of us had been down there was for a field trip during our senior year of high school so we though it was a good choice, far away enough from home for it to be a trip but close enough to get there quickly.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RkqFt85e6dHmGpLeJqaldCC3_NSDF4pbJMtuUWe59j-tpmaoTgFDM5WxyWpqpj7ZodphW4-jtpdAxjZ2EKAr7plvFU33gaVo0RSlemxqnGAG-YEOS_-q95L_rVyiLye_91CvcEwmrIA/s1600/DSC06856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RkqFt85e6dHmGpLeJqaldCC3_NSDF4pbJMtuUWe59j-tpmaoTgFDM5WxyWpqpj7ZodphW4-jtpdAxjZ2EKAr7plvFU33gaVo0RSlemxqnGAG-YEOS_-q95L_rVyiLye_91CvcEwmrIA/s400/DSC06856.JPG" width="400" /></a>We checked into our Inner Harbor hotel early Friday afternoon and immediately made our way down the National Aquarium because that's what you do when you're doing the whole tourist-thing in Baltimore. After a couple hours of wandering around in the dark, checking out the creatures of the sea, and trying to block out the hoards of hyper-active children running around the place a beer was simply necessary. We decided to just grab quick bite to eat on our way back to the hotel at a small and unasuming place called <strong>Peter's Pour House</strong> which was one of a few bars we found on Water Street. The place had the dive vibe going for it with a few rowdy regulars who seemed to have gotten their weekend started even earlier than us. I was quite excited to see <strong>Natty Boh</strong> on tap everywhere down there, we used to get cases of the stuff for $8.99 at Temple so it has a special place in my heart. The rest of the taps were your standard domestics except for a Flying Dog and <strong>New Belgium Fat Tire</strong>, the legendary amber ale out of Colorado that I had never had before. After years of build up and hype the beer was bound to fall flat for me the way it did. It was by no means a bad beer, lots of sweet caramel malts with a sublte citrus hop finish to round things out, but it's not something would really stand out to me if it weren't for its reputation. I was still excited to check this one off my beer-bucket list so I ordered another before we headed out.<br />
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Walking back to our hotel we made the miraculous discovery that our hotel was located directly next to the <strong>Pratt Street Ale House</strong> which happened to be home of <strong>Oliver Breweries</strong>, Baltimore's oldest running brewpub. You can imagine my delight. The weather was perfect for walking around but once we sat down the chilly wind picked up and it quickly became clear that this was going to be a one-and-done since we grabbed a table outside. With the chill in their, big dark beers were in order. I went with the <strong>S.O.B.</strong>, a smoked Belgian porter brewed with <strong>Stillwater</strong> and <strong>The Brewer's Art</strong>. Despite the reptuation of brewers involved I wasn't all that thrilled with this unique brew. I just didn't find the Belgian yeast character to go well with the porter body at all, lot's of conflicting flavors that ended up being pretty sweet with little to no noticeable smoke. Meridith ordered herself <strong>The Bishop's Indulgence</strong>, a Russian imperial stout brewed with cocoa nibs and vanilla beans. This was beer I was looking for, lot's of sweet milky chocolate notes and bit of roasted coffee flavors to mix things up. The vanilla bean smoothed things out and made for a phenomenal stout that was definitely BIG without being overbearing, there was a whole lot going on but remained well balanced. Needless to say I snuck a few sips out of her glass before we finished up.<br />
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For dinner we headed over to Fell's Point which seems to be the "super-hip" part of town with too many bars to count. After many a recommendation, I knew I wanted to hit up Max's Taphouse but by the time we got there it was already packed with the Friday night crowd so we grabbed some food around the corner at <strong>Sláinte</strong>. The place had a really welcoming atmosphere and I enjoyed myself thoroughly but their draft list left something to be desired. After a surprisingly great dinner for an Irish place we found ourself back at <strong>Max's Taphouse</strong>, a place that just has to be seen to be believed.<br />
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Boasting a ludicrous 102 beers on tap, 5 of which offered on the hand pump, Max's could be a bit intimidating to someone unprepared. By the time we got back the crowd had grown even more but I bellied my way to the bar to retrieve a draft list, this was going to take a minute to decide. My eyes wandered immediately to the list of New Belgium brews available and decided on their <strong>Clutch </strong>Dark Sour Ale. Mer really had no choice once she saw <strong>DuClaw's H.E.R.O.</strong> Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter. Clutch turned out to be all sorts of interesting, a strange blend of rich mocha flavors with a sneakingly sour finish. I didn't quite know what to make of the roasty/sour combo but it didn't turn me off completely and I was glad I ordered it. Next up was <strong>Liefmans' Oud Bruin</strong>, the true sour I was craving after being teased with the Clutch. Pleasant tart cherries and sweet brown sugar flavors but with a wonderfully oaky body that rocked my world, went down real easy so the 5% ABV was quite welcome. Mer went with another sour, the <span style="color: black;"><strong>Hopfenstark Berlin Alexanderplatz Epilogue </strong>which was a mouth puckering raspberry berliner weisse. I tried to order <strong>Dupont</strong>'s holiday saison, <strong>Les Bons Voeux</strong>, but ended up kicking the keg half-way through the pour. Luckily the bartender let me have the glass for free but I hadn't though far enough ahead to know what I what I wanted as a replacement.</span><br />
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After brief consideration I couldn't help but order another undeniably unique sour from New Belgium, this time going with <strong>Kick</strong> which is brewed with cranberries and pumpkin. Quite acidic and funky, the cranberries definitely stood out the most along with some subtle holiday spice. The pumpkin was pretty mild, I don't know if I would have noticed if I hadn't been looking for it. I remember being surprised that it wasn't too sweet despite how much fruitiness was going on. I'd call this experiment a success. Of course there were countless other beers that I wanted to try but it had been a long day and I was feeling pretty good at that point. For some reason, the girlfriend let me go up to the bar alone to get out tab but left to my own devices I was powerless to resist the lure of New Belgium's <strong>Ranger IPA</strong> and snuck that one in before closing out. I don't know if it was just because my tongue wasn't ready for the shock of hops that night but I thought this beer was somewhat to fairly awesome! I in no way needed that last pint but I'm glad I went with my instincts despite having a rude awakening the next day.<br />
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Going against vacation protocol, I set an alarm to wake my sure-to-be-hungover-sorry-ass up in the morning because we did have a schedule to keep, <b>Heavy Seas</b> was expecting us for the 11 am tour which you can read all about right <a href="http://hopsandcircumstance.blogspot.com/2011/11/brewery-tour-heavy-seas-beer.html">here</a>. Before driving off to the tour we did get some breakfast at the hotel bar/restaurant and I normally wouldn't comment on it but it was the worst meal in recent memory. They didn't have any grapefruit which I woke up hankering for so I was immediately pissy about that. That breakfast held the title for the worst meal until later in the day when we made the rookie-tourist mistake of having lunch at the "historic" Lexington Market. Bad idea.<br />
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The rest of the day consisted of a whole lot of walking, wandering in and out of the shops and bars that make up the more...errr...civilized downtown areas. We found ourselves back in Fell's Point for dinner at <b>Riptides By The Bay</b> where I experienced two firsts, some Atlantic oysters and a pint of <b>Goose Island's IPA</b>. I was more enthused about the idea of having my first Goose Island beer than the beer itself but the food made up for that. We thought about heading back to Max's for a good nighter but I was not about to pay the cover for just one beer so we decided to minimize risk and stick to something we knew, Sláinte. Mer saw their Guinness Chocolate Creme Brulee on the menu the night before so she had her dessert with an appropriate pint of Guinness while, in a strange move by myself, ordered some whiskey. Who knows.<br />
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Not quite ready to call it a night, we got our cab to drop us off at Pratt Street Ale House before going back to our room for a real good nighter...or two. The lady went with The Bishop's Indulgence once again while I tried out their <b>Smoke Break Porter</b> on cask which was apparently quite tasty, it disappeared from my glass far too quickly. Seeing how Mer was still working on her's I really had no choice but to order something else so I asked for a pint of their <b>Draft Punk </b>which I believe was a wet hopped IPA of sorts. At this point in the night I wasn't exactly keeping notes.<br />
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Before heading home on Sunday we were planning on having lunch at <b>The Brewer's Art</b> but failed to realize that they open late and thus we missed on of the Baltimore landmarks that I had heard so much about. This just gives me another reason to plan a trip back down though. On our way home we stopped at <b>State Line Liquors</b> to pick up a hefty selection of bottles that don't make their way to Pennsylvania including some <b><a href="http://hopsandcircumstance.blogspot.com/2011/11/taste-test-maui-brewing-company-brewed.html">Maui Brewing Company</a></b> cans!<br />
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I know this has been an obnoxiously long winded post but that is just a testament to Baltimore and their surprising (to me at least) beer scene. We never encountered any of the sort of snobbiness that often plagues this sort of travel and that alone made it a success. If you find yourself down in Baltimore be sure to look past all the great beers that come into the city and make certain that you partake in some of the fantastic beers that are being made right there.<br />
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I'll shut up now.<br />
Cheers!Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-44054611202717902652011-11-08T21:21:00.001-05:002011-11-08T21:21:55.632-05:00Brewery Tour: Heavy Seas Beer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A good vacation can always be made better with a visit to the local brewery.<br />
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The girlfriend and I just spent a long weekend in Baltimore which us the chance to check out <b>Clipper City Brewing Company </b>in nearby Halethrope, better known as <b><a href="http://www.hsbeer.com/">Heavy Seas Beer</a></b>.<br />
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Like many other midsize breweries, the Heavy Seas brewery can be found in an oh so picturesque industrial park. If you're not careful you might miss it. I was grateful to be on the 11 am tour because if there's anything learned over the years it is that a little bit of morning beer goes a long way in helping fight off an ominous hangover like the one I was harboring. I started off with their <b>Red Sky At Night</b>, a very fine saison that really hit the spot.<br />
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For $5 you get yourself the tour, a Heavy Seas "Brewery Tour" shaker, and five tokens, each good for a very generous sample. The tasting room/gift shop is pretty spacious and was staffed by some rather friendly folks who were more than happy to over-pour for us. The awkward gathering of people before a brewery tour is something I get a kick out of and we had a real winning group with us on Saturday. There was however a baby on board for our tour and while I forsee myself getting my own kid into a brewery at as young an age as possible, this one just wasn't cutting it as far as I was concerned. The mom thought it was real amusing...I do not believe anyone else did. I filled up with their <strong>Märzen </strong>before the tour got started, who's multiple GABF awards adorn the tasting room wall.<br />
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Anyways, the brewery had just undergone a big expansion, knocking a hole in the tasting room way and taking over a large warehouse space where they're storing all of their packaging and some barrels. When I saw some barrels I mean a lot. These wooden wonders hold their <strong><a href="http://www.hsbeer.com/beers/mutiny-fleet">Mutiny Fleet</a></strong> beers that are always a bit on the stronger side and much more complex than the rest of their lineup. I'm a sucker for looking at barrels so I was quite pleased to see them all stacked up here, ranging from bourbon to chardonnay.<br />
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Our guide, throwing us a curve ball, started the tour here where most other breweries would end theirs. One of the more impressive aspects of Heavy Seas in their involvement with an organizations called <a href="http://www.chimes.org/index.php"><b>Chimes</b></a>. Chimes is an international agency that seems to do some great work, providing people with various disabilities employment where they otherwise would be without. In the case of Heavy Seas, Chimes members work on their packaging by organizing the empty bottles into their designated six-packs and separating their different beers in the Heavy Seas <b>Sunken Sampler</b>. This is just one way the brewery gives back to their local community.<br />
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Our guide emphasized the hard work that goes into kegging, something that seems to be skimmed over during a lot of other tours. Employees at Heavy Seas get promoted from the bottling line to the kegging line where they apparently bulk up in the upper arm region quite quickly. I forget the exact figure but the number of kegs they move through their cleaning and filling station was staggering and made me appreciate having their beers on draft even more.<br />
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We also got to check out the large horizontal fermenters that are reserved just for <strong>Loose Cannon</strong>, their flagship IPA. I hadn't realized before just how hopped up this beer is getting the normal hops in the kettle, a little more in through their hopback, and then finally being dry-hopped with 60 lbs per batch in the ferementers. It was obvious that they love this beer and are proud of having a stand-out east coast IPA.<br />
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Even with the strange chronology, this was one of the more engaging tours I've been on. I didn't know all that much about Heavy Seas going in but have much more appreciation for their work now. After a couple more samples and schmoozing we were ready to get back into the city for some more sightseeing and of course a little more imbibing. This was a vacation afterall. I'll have a full post on the rest of Baltimore's impressive beer scene soon. If you find yourself in Charm City on a Saturday with some free time, take a drive to visit the crew at Heavy Seas for a <a href="http://www.hsbeer.com/events/brewery-tours">tour</a>. Despite their whole pirate brand, they're actually rather friendly...but they'll give you plenty beer so I guess that's still on theme.<br />
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<a href="http://www.hsbeer.com/"><strong>Heavy Seas Beer</strong></a></div>
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4615 Hollins Ferry Rd., Suite B<br />
Halethrope, MD 21227</div>
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Cheers!<br />
</div>Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-75919947845392301732011-10-18T21:48:00.000-04:002011-10-18T21:52:15.258-04:00Storm PumpKing Jack-O-Lantern<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://victorybeer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/bulb-e1310659365911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://victorybeer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/bulb-e1310659365911.jpg" /></a></div>
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Nothing gets me in the Autumnal spirit like spending a couple hours carving a pumpkin.</div>
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I recently entered <b>Victory Brewing Company</b>'s <i><a href="http://victorybeer.com/inspired/fall-pumpkin-carving-contest/">"Inspired By Victory Pumpkin Carving Contest"</a></i> with my own Storm King/Dark Intrigue jack-o-lantern. And while it is already starting to rot on the front porch, initially I think it looked pretty sweet. Victory has their own panel of judges who will be picking the winners but are encouraging everyone to comment on their favorite entry. There are eleven entries up on the site now so head over to the <a href="http://victorybeer.com/inspired/fall-pumpkin-carving-contest/">gallery</a> to check them all out, some are pretty impressive. The judges will be taking the comments into consideration. The commenting period will end on Monday October 24th with the winners announced on Halloween. Mine is Entry #6 which they've called "Storm PumpKing" and if you think it is worthy of the prize, I would appreciate any and all comments. You can check it out <a href="http://victorybeer.com/inspired/fall-pumpkin-carving-contest/entry-6-storm-pumpking/#comments"><b>right here</b></a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0E_W5FhdZt3CINvDk6mTX_UiaK9RZVDZEWmTjpx_-na2PQjRbNTNRgJF8wkJDYvFy20F50HJDa6_rR9oI_o3aqHctQj-996O5A3vUt_YpwWLkkv_0yejMP8y1oqWkIkOqF4bG4u4atY/s1600/DSC06629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0E_W5FhdZt3CINvDk6mTX_UiaK9RZVDZEWmTjpx_-na2PQjRbNTNRgJF8wkJDYvFy20F50HJDa6_rR9oI_o3aqHctQj-996O5A3vUt_YpwWLkkv_0yejMP8y1oqWkIkOqF4bG4u4atY/s400/DSC06629.JPG" width="391" /></a></div>
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Cheers!</div>
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</div>Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-34272593484168327042011-10-18T08:45:00.000-04:002011-10-18T08:45:01.070-04:00Brews For Boobies 2011 Recap<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.phillybeerscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/b4b-pbs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://www.phillybeerscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/b4b-pbs.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I wouldn't normally consider myself a pub crawl kinda guy unless it was one of my own making. But when the crawl is hosted by<span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><strong><b><a href="http://beerscenemag.com/">Philly Beer Scene</a></b></strong><span class="Apple-style-span">, makes stops at some of the city's best bars, and is for a good cause...well I suppose that's a horse of a different color.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For the second year in a row now I ventured into Center City for the <strong><b><a href="http://www.brewsforboobies.com/">Brews For Boobies</a></b></strong> crawl for breast cancer with a big group of friends from all over the area, we even had two drinkers join us from Connecticut. Our own group, about 25 people, was probably half of the entire Center City crawl. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Everyone met up at the first bar, <strong><b>Cavanaugh's Rittenhouse</b></strong>, where the oh so tasteful t-shirts were distributed and $3 pints were flowing. A lot of us hadn't seen each other in a while and this was a great way to start the day. The first stop on last year's crawl was at <strong><b>Monk's</b></strong> which we were all a bit upset to see absent from this year's itinerary but not to worry, we were able to sneak in a few beers there the next day.<u></u><u></u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Arguably Philly's best brewpub,<strong><b> Nodding Head</b></strong>, was our next stop. Nearly everyone we were with was anxious to get some of their Ich Bin Ein Berliner Weisse since it would soon be gone until next Spring and like great beacons of light, multiple pitchers were brought out and quickly disposed of. I was going to say that that stuff goes down way too easily but that would make it sound like I was complaining. They also had wet hopped Chinook DIPA on tap, I only had a couple sips from someone else's glass but I'll be damned if that wasn't one of the freshest-tasting beers I've ever had. I also enjoyed a plate of their Thai wings which were equally delicious, they know what they're doing in all aspects. And I can't forget that I got to talk to my best friend Fae who is currently in Senegal in the Peace Corps, she was on last year's crawl and couldn't pass up at least being there this year even if it was only on the phone.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">After being impressed with our own ability to successfully split the check for so many people we trampsed over to <strong><b>Misconduct Tavern</b></strong> where I took advantage of the $3 <strong><b>Sly Fox</b></strong> Saison Vos drafts. The bar was already packed without the crawl coming in so we commandeered the outdoor seating for some good old fashioned people watching. Luckily the weather was perfect for a 12 hour tour through the city and sidewalk drinking, sunny and warm. Once we snapped a group shot it was time to move on to <strong><b>Jose Pistola's</b></strong>, one of my favorite spots for dinner downtown. I was trying to be smart about my beer choices not wanting to be totally out of it before sundown but couldn't resist <strong><b>Port</b></strong> Mongo on tap. If you are a lover of hops and haven't had yourself a glass of this you should stop reading right now and seek out a bottle.</span><br />
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I was excited for the next stop, the relatively young <strong><b>Perch Pub</b></strong> on Broad, because I had heard great things but hadn't been there yet myself. Heading up the stairs to the bar I was surprised by how big the place was, I just wasn't expecting that much space up there. The hostess led us to the back room with the pool table which was suspiciously vacant, I'm not sure why everyone else decided to cram around the crowded bar. They have a pretty varied tap list and most of them were half off for the crawl, I went with <strong><b>Victory</b></strong>'s Braumeister Harvest Pils and was thoroughly impressed. Big hoppy presence, probably too much for traditionalists, sweet pale malts, grapefruit, and lemon grass flavors with strong carbonation made for one awesome pilsner. Their Prima Pils is untouchable as far as I'm concerned but this is a great addition to the Victory family and offers some stiff competion. I do believe I snuck in a <strong><b>Dogfish</b></strong> 90 Minute while playing some pool but that can't be confirmed. I fully plan on getting back to Perch Pub, seems like a fun place to enjoy some very reasonably priced drinks and food right in the heart of the city.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><u></u><br />
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<a href="http://thefullpint.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/mcgillins-ale-house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://thefullpint.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/mcgillins-ale-house.jpg" /></a>While an hour and a half may sound like a long time it really started to fly and before we knew it we had to move on. The next scheduled stop was <strong><b>Farmer's Cabinet</b></strong> but the group consensus was that we wanted to get a little rowdier than that would allow so we made a detour for<strong><b> McGillin's</b></strong>. I had been excited to try some of Terry Hawbaker's house-made beers but just wasn't in the mood, the appeal of taking over a jukebox and taking a couple shots was too strong. While I never think of McGillin's as one of my go to bars I always end up having a great time upstairs, if you're in the right mood it can be the perfect spot for a big group. There are usually some less than desirable patrons milling about and of course last year I did get kicked out of the place during Brews For Boobies but besides that...I can't really complain.<u></u><u></u><br />
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I'm pretty sure that the whole bar was grateful for our jukebox choices and we ended up having so much fun with everyone that we totally missed our stop at <strong><b>Varga Bar</b></strong> which I wasn't too thrilled about but we caught up with the rest of the crawl at <strong><b>Fergie's</b></strong>. At this point the size of the crawl had withered down substantially but our group was determined to make it to the end. Things got a little fuzzy this late in the day so the easy going <b>Stoudt's</b> Oktoberfest I had was probably a smart choice. There was some blues band playing about 3 feet from our table and we couldn't hear anything anyone was saying, looking back we probably should have just stayed at McGillin's because people started to check out here. I guess this is to be expected after 12 hours of drinking though.<br />
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We all made it through another great Brews For Boobies and are already looking forward to the 2012 crawl which is already set for October 6th! They are planning on expanding to even more cities next year, Doylestown is already confirmed and more may be added along the way so keep an out for your city. I think we will switch it up next year and probably hop on the Old City crawl which was tempting this year.<br />
If you couldn't make it to this year's crawl but still want to support the cause, I encourage you to head over to the <a href="http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/"><b>National Breast Cancer Foundation</b>'s website</a> to make a donation of your own. While we had a blast on the crawl, no one can forget that the point of it all is to raise some money to help find a cure.<br />
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Cheers!</span></span>Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-12332302338148781312011-10-06T20:12:00.001-04:002011-10-07T09:00:51.998-04:00The Institute's 3rd Annual Great Pumpkin Beer Festival Recap<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeC7HHmgkdcW5LhO1v51LTdsuRlNZLt7hJtMJFKAc03293D-vSAaZtN3-dlazIWM0xxlEGytnlZlSuNlDHwLdXC4luVsBTlGxlVeR1GVAHrnPD_PLYGlEKoxmR-kX37zFlgMYV_a8pqI2/s400/GreatPumpkin-771480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeC7HHmgkdcW5LhO1v51LTdsuRlNZLt7hJtMJFKAc03293D-vSAaZtN3-dlazIWM0xxlEGytnlZlSuNlDHwLdXC4luVsBTlGxlVeR1GVAHrnPD_PLYGlEKoxmR-kX37zFlgMYV_a8pqI2/s400/GreatPumpkin-771480.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've made my love of pumpkin beers known before on </span><a href="http://hopsandcircumstance.blogspot.com/2010/10/case-for-pumpkin-beers.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">this blog</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. The hatred that some people have for the style is beyond me because despite whatever hype may surround certain pumpkins there are some that are just good beers. Period.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is why I made sure to hit up </span><a href="http://www.institutebar.com/default.html"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Institute's</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong> 3rd Annual Great Pumpkin Beer Festival</strong> this past Saturday. I was at the first event a couple years with some friends from Temple and we had a great time sampling all sorts of different pumpkin brews. I missed last year's but since my girlfriend and I both had a free afternoon we headed down to check it out. Little did we know that the place was going to be mobbed, not at all the experience I had two years ago. We pulled up to the bar to find the street blocked off to accomodate a block's worth of outdoor seating and a line out the door. Not ideal for the relaxed afternoon of imbibement I had in mind.</span><br />
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<a href="http://static3.wine-searcher.net/images/labels/59/61/fegley-s-brew-works-devious-imperial-pumpkin-ale-usa-10235961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="http://static3.wine-searcher.net/images/labels/59/61/fegley-s-brew-works-devious-imperial-pumpkin-ale-usa-10235961.jpg" width="242" /></a>After finally making my way to the bar I got the lady, who wasn't in the mood to experiment, a glass of <strong>Weyerbacher's Imperial Pumpkin Ale</strong> (both of ours favorite pumpkin beer) and myself a <strong>bourbon-barrel aged</strong> version of <strong>Fegley's Devious Pumpkin Ale</strong>. I had never before seen a barrel aged pumpkin beer and knew I likely wouldn't again soon so that was a pretty easy decision despite the other 18 options that were on tap. This was a good looking brew, a deep and cloudy copper orange color with a thin tan head. You definitely got the bourbon on the nose with a bit of fall spices in there. I quickly realized this was a sipper as well, real boozey character but not totally consumed by the whiskey flavors. The pumpkin still had a presence with a mellow vanilla flavor that helped undercut the alcohol that became stronger as it warmed up. I could see loving this one on a cold Autumn night on the porch if only they would bottle this sucker, definitely something to seek out but I'm not sure how much is available since the only other place I've seen it on tap is at the <strong>Allentown Brew Works</strong> brewpub.</div>
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Seeing how the downstairs bar was unbearably crowded we headed upstairs and were shocked to find two spots at the bar. After about 10 seconds we realized why no one had taken the stools, there was a constant leak from the roof dripping water right at the corner of the bar. Oh well, I took one for the team and got a light shower while we enjoyed our beers. I took precaution though and kept a coaster on my glass in between sips.</div>
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Next up was <strong>Bavarian Barbarian's Grumpy Pumpkin Imperial Porter</strong> out of Williamsport, PA. I have to admit that this is not the most appetizing looking pour, it basically looked like muddy pond sludge with little to no head.. Luckily it smelled like heaven, deep roasted malts, coffee, cinnamon, and sweet pumpkin pie. The beer was full bodied and tasted like a rich pumpkin coffee. The pumpkin worked wonders with the darker malts and didn't lend too much of sweetness that often turns me off of some pumpkin beers. I loved this beer and was not satisfied with my small pout but what are you gonna do? This was definitely the most surprising and my favorite of the afternoon.</div>
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Despite the tasty brews, the crowd and the leaking roof made for an uncomfortable visit so we decided to get somewhere a little more relaxed. I felt really bad for our incredibly patient bartender who was dealing with some outlandish hipster characters all day long but managed to stay relatively friendly. I couldn't believe how many people came up to him after waiting in line and had no idea what they wanted. I did regret missing the crew from <strong>Yards</strong> who was going to be filling a giant pumpkin with their <strong>General Washington's Tavern Porter</strong> but I managed to live without it.</div>
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I gotta say that I think the event is pretty cool in theory but needs work on the execution now that it has gotten so popular. Setting up a couple jockey boxes outside to cut back on the lines inside would help a lot. It also wouldn't be a bad idea to buy tickets for beers outside so people aren't fumbling around at the bar. These are just my grumpy old man suggestions for what was an otherwise enjoyable event.<br />
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We skipped over Broad Street and posted up at the <strong>Kite & Key</strong> for some dinner and yes, a few more beers. This is one of my favorite spots in the city but for some reason I had never ordered the pulled pork sandwich, I will never make that mistake again. The aged provolone and roasted long hot peppers made for quite possibly the greatest pulled pork sandwich I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. With <strong>Bell's Two Hearted</strong> AND <strong>Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour</strong> both on tap I could have stayed there all night but all things must pass and it was time to head home.</div>
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Now that I'm living back home in the burbs it's even more of a treat to hit up two underrated bars down in the city love the fact that there are so many options for the thirsty masses in the City of Brotherly Love.</div>
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<a href="http://www.institutebar.com/">The Institute</a></div>
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549 North 12th Street<br />
Philadelphia, PA 19123</div>
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<a href="http://thekiteandkey.com/">Kite & Key</a></div>
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1836 Callowhill Street<br />
Philadelphia, PA 19130</div>
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Cheers!</div>
Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-1795259423243505962011-10-04T09:31:00.000-04:002011-10-04T09:39:54.374-04:00Mancation 2011 Recap: Part 2<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We awoke Sunday morning in great distress with the realization that we aren’t in college anymore, this weekend’s sort of behavior isn’t as regular anymore and our bodies were in revolt. I knew we had some plans for the rest of the day but I was ready to cancel everything but after a bit of rallying, food, and a glass of my <b><a href="http://hopsandcircumstance.blogspot.com/2011/08/adventures-in-homebrewing-maple-bacon_17.html">Mancation Maple Bacon Porter</a></b> I felt relatively good considering the circumstances. I always find a beer to be a sure fire way to beat an intimidating hangover.</span></span><br />
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After taking down our tent and cleaning up our site it was decided that we needed to stop at a bar or even better, a brewery. Luckily <b><a href="http://www.stoudtsbeer.com/index.html">Stoudt's</a></b> was on our way back to to the Turnpike and the obvious choice. I'm sort of proud to say that this wasn't the first time I had arrived at a brewery only to find that they weren't yet open as was the case this day so we wandered around the grounds and the <b><a href="http://www.stoudtsbeer.com/bread.html">Wonderful Good Market</a></b> to grab some food. My breakfast sandwich was just what I needed, eggs and Stoudt's own three cheese blend on fresh beer bread. I was content. I totally bypassed the market on <a href="http://hopsandcircumstance.blogspot.com/2010/09/brewery-tour-stoudts-brewing-company.html">my previous visits</a> but will be sure to check back in to sample more of their rather tempting cheeses. After a bit of stalling, the <a href="http://www.stoudtsbeer.com/restaurant-pub.html">bar</a> finally opened at 11:30...about time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUK_wlJkLMFHfH-jFutn8mQSqcDN8RajPKh7C7DINqbiR6laMcGkJ0u0zo2U88uC3b_xm7O4Ye-0VDp6i2umZ118EuUVWcnysFqfmwb5p7gKCINlTET0yi2Hp3lq_B-Kozi6b_zqD0jo/s1600/DSC05526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUK_wlJkLMFHfH-jFutn8mQSqcDN8RajPKh7C7DINqbiR6laMcGkJ0u0zo2U88uC3b_xm7O4Ye-0VDp6i2umZ118EuUVWcnysFqfmwb5p7gKCINlTET0yi2Hp3lq_B-Kozi6b_zqD0jo/s400/DSC05526.JPG" width="400" /></a>Being familiar with Stoudt's regular lineup I knew I would order any limited batches they had to offer. The first was the <b>Smoked Helles Lager</b>, it was a weekend of all things smoked so why stop now. Served in a tall tulip, this one was a clear golden straw color with a bright white head that faded quickly. A strong grainy aroma was accompanied by a strong smoke presence but nothing too obnoxious. The toasted biscuit malts and smoke flavors lingered on the tongue but didn't have that "shoveling hot coals into your mouth" thing going on. This was a slightly sweet and light bodied smoked beer, just well balanced and well made.<br />
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The only beer on tap that wasn't one of their usual suspects was a <b>Vanilla Almond Porter</b>, not exactly what I was in the mood for but not something I was about it pass up since these limited Stoudt's batches aren't too plentiful here around home. This porter had a lighter brown body and cream colored head with a rich aroma of vanilla coffee. There were some dark chocolate flavors but mainly a roasty coffee profile accented by and dose of vanilla bean to smooth things out. The almond came through only (luckily) slightly, offering a nutty and earthier profile. Medium bodied and real smooth, I definitely thought this a good beer but just not something I'd go for again, for whatever reason it's just not my bag. We wrapped things up, settled up with our oh so patient waitress, and hit the road for home.<br />
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Or the <b><a href="http://hulmevilleinn.com/">Hulmeville Inn</a></b>. I'm always happy to take out-of-towners to my favorite local bar and they were more than happy to take me up on the offer. Sunday afternoons at the Hulmeville is one of my favorite times to stop by because of the <b>$3 cheesesteaks</b> but also because it's just so damn laid back. I spotted <b>Sierra Nevada's 30th Anniversary Grand Cru</b> on the bottle list and immediately knew that that's what I would be drinking. I had this blend once before on tap and enjoyed it just as much this time around. The combination of oak-aged <b>Bigfoot</b>, <b>Celebration</b>, and the good old <b>Pale Ale</b> sounds a little wacky to me but it really works wonderfully. Citrus hops, rich toffee, spicy, bitter, smooth vanilla/oak, and a pleasant bit of booze make for one awesome beer. I just might have to grab a couple to take home and stow away for a while. This was a one and done visit though, the Mancation had finally come to an end.<br />
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Sort of. I had to rush home to clean myself and get ready to head to a fundraising event for my friend Jeff's brother who passed earlier this year which was being held at <b><a href="http://www.yardsbrewing.com/">Yards</a></b>. Not only was it great to be able to support the <a href="http://www.nami.org/"><b>National Alliance on Mental Illness</b></a> but it was also a chance to catch up with some friends that I haven't seen in a while. It was a private event but the Yards <a href="http://www.yardsbrewing.com/tours.asp">tasting room</a> was packed with friends and family, the brewery was a perfect setting for the night. Yards' <b>Smoke Em If You Got Em</b> event was just a couple days before so they still had one of the beers they brewed for it on tap, their <b>McDouglas Scotch Ale</b>. I have strained relationship with this style, I rarely find one that I really love, but will give anything Yards brews a shot. This was one of the tamer interpretations I've had but not in a bad way, it was just a more balanced and approachable version. Sweet and caramel maltiness followed up by a subtle smoke flavor that lingered. I've had some scotch ales that are cloying and over the top which made them unenjoyable but this was definitely a nice change of pace. They offered a couple tours throughout the night and even though I had been on the Yards tour too many times to count I took advantage which I'm glad for because it was one of the best brewery tours I had ever had. It's always nice to actually learn something new despite having heard the same old lines countless times on other tours. Our guide doesn't normally give the tours so I think he was trying extra hard but I hope he starts getting to do some because it was really engaging. Eventually it was time to go but there was no way we were all ready to part so we all met up at the<b> <a href="http://www.standardtap.com/about.html">Standard Tap</a></b> for a night cap.<br />
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At this point I was just ready to get my hops on, not really in the mood to commit to something new I went right for a <b>Weyerbacher Harvest Ale</b>. After picking the hops for that beer I feel obligated to get it whenever I see it. I followed that with <b>Manayunk Brewing's California Dreamin Double IPA</b>, a delectable West Coast Style DIPA that never fails to please. They also had <b>Dogfish Head's Black & Red</b> on tap which I had heard was so undrinkable that many bars were returning their kegs to wholesalers, I had to get a sample. This a confusing beer, it pours a deep and dark ruby red color and smells of roasted mint...and it's a stout. I nervously sipped at the sample, a minty bitterness along with a strange raspberry tartness and a bit of an alcohol burn. What the hell was that? It reminded me of carbonated Robitussin, not something I would ever want in my glass. I could definitely why see why bars would be returning this, I bet it's still on tap down at the Standard Tap because I can't really see anyone drinking a whole glass. You can't win em all I guess.<br />
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Finally after a very long and exhausting weekend I got back home to retreat into my bed. I do believe that hitting four breweries in one weekend is a personal record so I was quite pleased with that accomplishment as I prepared to enter back into the real world the next morning. The weekend reaffirmed what we all already know which is that beer can be much more than just a drink but instead something much more important. Over the course of 2 days it brought so many different people together and was the catalyst for a slew of great conversations and new memories that won't fade quickly.<br />
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Now that I got all deep there I will finally stop typing and move on.<br />
Cheers!Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-18300992153124154342011-09-29T20:04:00.001-04:002011-10-05T19:54:43.174-04:00Mancation 2011 Recap: Part 1<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://api.ning.com/files/MuKLt7YJz4ye1bw2NNjZv11oiqI6iGMfoHfcZTI1-VpyRlwl2PKyZL48lln3ScXsTF0qbTse1gPwQE2IAuzuGU08ayw1cZcY/manactionbacon.jpg?width=269&height=353" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" kca="true" src="http://api.ning.com/files/MuKLt7YJz4ye1bw2NNjZv11oiqI6iGMfoHfcZTI1-VpyRlwl2PKyZL48lln3ScXsTF0qbTse1gPwQE2IAuzuGU08ayw1cZcY/manactionbacon.jpg?width=269&height=353" width="303" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past weekend was the <strong>5<sup>th</sup> Annual Mancation</strong>, a camping trip that my male family members started and has now spread to include some friends as well. It’s no surprise that beer is a crucial part of a weekend where a bunch of guys spend majority of the time sitting around a campfire and playing ladder golf. While my Uncles are usually content with their Yuengling and Moosehead bottles my friends and I have always taken advantage of the Lancaster area’s eclectic beer scene but of course are not above grabbing a case of Schaefer and Smithwick’s, the two beers we brought on the first Mancation when we were poor college students without a clue. It’s a tradition that lives on but we now make sure to bring along some more…errr…respectable beers.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My <strong>Maple Bacon Smoked Porter</strong> was brewed specially for this weekend and was a big hit, especially with the mountain man breakfast that my Dad cooked up Saturday morning. I am more than pleased with how this batch came out given the great chance for failure. The maple is a bit stronger than I had hoped and I would have liked a little less sweetness to come through but that’s a small nitpick. If I were to brew it again I would try and get it a bit smokier with more smoked malts and maybe even a little more bacon. The smoke is really subtle on the finish but comes out much more noticeably as it warms up which doesn’t take long in front of a roaring fire. It’s nothing too offensive which was the point since I knew some of the guys wouldn’t be used to smoked beers and it ended up being pretty well balanced with a great mouthfeel. It even has some decent enough head which proves that you can put a fatty meat into your homebrew and still keep some head so take that homebrewtalk.com!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few Mancations ago we were given a tip at <strong>Lancaster Brewing Company</strong> that there was a small start-up brewery nearby in Conestoga in a guy’s barn which had a small tasting room in the loft. We obviously had to check the place out so we put the address into the GPS and forty minutes or so later we found ourselves at <strong>Spring House Brewing Company</strong>. We spent the whole afternoon talking with the owner, Matt, who offered up endless samples of his beer and walked us through his whole story. That visit was one of my favorite brewery memories, there were no other visitors and Matt was more than willing to just hang out for the day. The barn/brewery is literally a stone’s throw from his house and you definitely got the feeling that the brewery was Matt’s baby. Every following year we made sure to stop by to see what new brews the barn was churning out and every year the place got a little busier with locals coming in to fill their growlers. That all stopped this year though, the barn is no longer open to the public because they have a much more hospitable spot in downtown <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Lancaster</city></place>, the relatively new <strong>Springhouse Tap Room</strong>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We stopped by for lunch on Saturday, the bar was packed and majority of the tables were filled. Oh how they’ve grown. The beer list had some intriguing choices like the Mango IPA but I was quickly disappointed when I was told that it had actually kicked. My second choice was their <strong>Peanut Butter Chocolate Stout</strong>, something that wouldn’t normally be up my alley since it sounds awfully gimmicky but I’m glad I went with it anyways because it ended up being one of the most memorable beers I’ve probably ever had. With a nitro pour it is a deep and dark brown with a chocolate milk looking head that just oozed over the sides of the glass (which should be noted are nonic pint glasses, one of my favorites). On aroma alone, this beer delivered, it smelled like some sort of Reese’s milkshake with a bit of a roasted kick, just pure decadence. It was just as impressive to taste, milk chocolate and slightly roasted peanuts coat the palate with a sweetness that never became too overbearing. A more bitter dark chocolate flavor started to take over towards the end but it was still creamy and smooth to the last drop. It was really a very unique beer but it never became too much for me despite being so rich in all aspects. Following up this behemoth was virtually impossible so I went with the <strong>Imperial Ray Gun</strong>, their red ale, to go along the BBQ chicken wings and we hurried out of there before our parking meter expired.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://padutchgolfpackages.yolasite.com/resources/front-of-lancaster-brewing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" kca="true" src="http://padutchgolfpackages.yolasite.com/resources/front-of-lancaster-brewing.jpg" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next up was the <strong>Lancaster Brew Pub</strong> just a short drive away. Now I rarely ever go for a <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Lancaster</place></city> beer when I see them at home but I always find myself appreciating them more and more with each visit. The bar itself is a really low-key and charming spot with a very friendly staff ready to pour you a beer or two. I went straight for their <strong>Gold Star Pils</strong> which they don’t bottle, I’ve seen some pretty harsh reviews of but they must have changed the recipe because I really enjoyed it. Clean and crisp, a little more caramel and sweeter notes than most pilsners but still a solid beer. We all ordered a round of their <strong>Oktoberfest </strong>which is nothing spectacular but decent enough when you’re in the middle of a weekend like this. It’s got a bit of spice and roasted malts, real smooth finish with no hop presence to speak of, just the kind of beer I was in the mood for. Knowing we had a long night ahead of us, we removed ourselves from the copper plated bar and headed back to the campsite.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://thefullpint.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Stone-15th-Anniversary-Bottle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" kca="true" src="http://thefullpint.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Stone-15th-Anniversary-Bottle.jpg" width="113" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rest of the evening faded into a bit of a blur as plenty of different beers were poured and shared. The most notable beer of the night was most definitely <strong>Stone’s 15<sup>th</sup> Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA</strong> which I enjoyed the large spread of impeccably smoked BBQ that we devoured for dinner. This one is absolutely pitch black with a frothy head and an incredibly inviting hop aroma, some earthy spice and heavy dose of Citra. The taste followed suit with some sweeter and fruitier flavors coming out as well. There was much in the way of roasted malts, the hops are obviously the main attraction. It’s velvety smooth mouthfeel and warm alcohol finish hit the spot as we feasted like kings in front of the fire.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Later in the night, after what some people would call one too many beers, I popped open my bottle of <strong>Elysian Night Owl</strong> because I couldn’t go through a whole weekend of camping without at least one pumpkin beer. This beer may have been the one to encourage us to go out and “borrow” a couple of paddleboats around 1 am or so but I’m guessing that would have happened anyways. Somehow we got back to our tent without incident and rested for what would surely be a painful Sunday morning. More on Sunday in the next post.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheers!</span></span></div>
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Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732203094166220873.post-64862218456936590622011-09-15T21:57:00.000-04:002011-09-16T13:01:14.016-04:00Adventures In Homebrewing: Front Porch Pale Ale<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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I'm not one to boast but my <a href="http://hopsandcircumstance.blogspot.com/2011/07/adventures-in-homebrewing-front-porch.html"><b>Front Porch Pale Ale</b></a> ended up having a really fantastic aroma thanks to those <b>Amarillo</b> and <b>Cascade</b> hops. I was a little nervous about trying out the technique and I'm not sure why. It's really quite simple and can improve your beer by leaps and bounds. I would be very interested to know what this beer would be like if I hadn't dry-hopped, I suspect I would be much less pleased.</div>
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If I were to give this one another shot I would try to get it a bit lighter in color. Maybe doing a late addition of the DME could have helped this because it turned out a bit more burnt orange while I was expecting/hoping for something a little more golden. This however is inconsequential to the taste. It's not anything mind-blowing but it achieved what I was hoping for, a fully flavored and hoppy pale ale with a more reserved ABV. It would have been much easier to brew a balls-to-the-wall IPA but I enjoyed the challenge of trying to find the balance here. That's not to say I'm opposed to a hop-monster but every beer has it's proper time and place.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZb09NUa7NClJPTaOpbUo1E3m15VWfESI5Y8sVQ8PpnB8SlPK1DBerjgCoH8cFtdr7KlAK9RPITe02uUIrCdPHZbazrBlAzVILR9cf2VfzZbKzZcn5yQSlDUhynnYQuuRGaPs27i2Whs/s1600/DSC06420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZb09NUa7NClJPTaOpbUo1E3m15VWfESI5Y8sVQ8PpnB8SlPK1DBerjgCoH8cFtdr7KlAK9RPITe02uUIrCdPHZbazrBlAzVILR9cf2VfzZbKzZcn5yQSlDUhynnYQuuRGaPs27i2Whs/s320/DSC06420.JPG" width="214" /></a>I drew up this little label which represents exactly what I wanted to get out of this beer, something you can knock a few back while you rock back. Sometimes things are that simple.</div>
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Cheers!</div>
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Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254666797613510766noreply@blogger.com0