Holidaze in Hoboken

Hoboken Vine Holiday Party

My employer celebrated it's annual Holiday Party back on December 2nd at Cafe Michelina in Hoboken.  It is a BYOB so I won't review the experience but the food was delicious and prices very affordable.  Since it is a BYOB I decided to clean the cellar out a little and bring some goodies.  Below is the list:

Jack's Abbey Jabby Brau 90 on Beeradvocate 96 on Ratebeer(100 by style) #3 American Pale Lager
Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head Life & Limb 2 89 BA 98 RB (92)
Russian River Redemption 91 BA  99 RB (100) #5 Belgian Pale Ale
Cigar City Warmer Winter Winter Warmer 88 BA 97 RB (87) #26 Old Ale
Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA 88 BA 96 RB 95
Pretty Things Lovely Saint Winefride 88 BA 97 RB (100) #3 Euro Dark Lager
Schlafly Pumpkin 93 BA 96 RB (98) #2 Pumpkin Ale
Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout 98 BA 100 RB (99) #17 American Double/Imperial Stout #46 Overall
Deschutes The Abyss 2011 100 BA 100 RB (99) #6 American Double/Imperial Stout #20 Overall


Hitachino Nest 3 Days 86 BA 85 RB (64)  This beer had special meaning for the tasting.  Nest 3 Days was created when a massive earthquake struck off the coast of Japan March 11, 2011.  The earthquake's magnitude was measured at 9.03 making it the most powerful ever recorded in Japan and one of the 5 strongest earthquakes ever recorded anywhere.  The was in the mash process at the time of the quake and was left unattended for 3 days before power was restored.  Likewise Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New Jersey on October 29th and caused heavy wind damage and devastating flooding from storm surges along the entire Atlantic coast of New Jersey and along the banks of many rivers including the Hudson River.  Hoboken experienced massive flooding and our humble little wine shop was no stranger to said damage. (Picture above)  We were completely closed for roughly 3 days following the Hurricane and are still not at 100%.  This beer is a symbol that we as humans can not be kept down and will come back stronger each time we get hit.  Japan will recover.  The East Coast will recover.  Hoboken Vine will recover.

Aaron Hordych - Hoptical Allusions

Don't Call it a Comeback

Possibly going to the great beer state of Vermont twice between now and February for the sole purpose of beer.  I'll take good notes on all the places we visit and beers we drink and post it all on the blog as soon as I can.  Been busy with beer lately.  Crossed the 1000 mark on Untappd and hosted a highly successful cellar cleaning party with some amazing beers.  I'll see if I can post the list or what I can remember of the list.  Well that's all for today, but I'm back and here to stay.

Cheers,

Aaron

As always add me on Facebook here and keep drinking good beer.

McNeill's War Lord Imperial India Pale Ale

War Lord Imperial India Pale Ale
McNeill's Brewery
Brattleboro, VT
American Double/Imperial India Pale Ale
8.5% ABV
BA: B
RB: 90(39)
Tasted from 22oz bottle poured into Ikea 25oz snifter

     I'm back people and this time I'm going to post alot more often.  Today's beer is McNeill's War Lord Imperial India Pale Ale.  I have to be quite honest that I was surprisingly happy drinking this beer.  It poured a deep amber brown with a big 3-4 finger head(my pour was a little less than ideal) but in the big $1.99 Ikea 25oz snifter it looked formidable and awesome.  It gave the nice piney, citrus smell of a west coast IPA and the pleasant bitterness of a true East India Pale Ale.  At 8.5% its in the mid-range of a Double IPA but it was a little boozy to the taste.  The saving grace of this DIPA from a small Vermont brewery was the price.  At $6 retail for a bomber, it provided some nice bang for the buck.  Drink this a little on the cold side because at cellar temperature the booze really comes though.  Very little of the best Vermont has to offer is available outside Vermont but I'm glad it's starting to filter out.  War Lord is absolutely worth the $6 so go out there and give it a try.  I'm giving McNeill's War Lord a 3.5 pints so it's not worth running around the world to find but if you see it I'd give it a taste. 

Recent Acquisitions

Josh and I made a little early evening trip to Cable Beverages and DeCicco's(Ardsley) to check out their beer selection and hopefully find something rare.  Here's what we grabbed.

Me
Southern Tier Cuvee Series Two(Cable)
Southern Tier Cuvee Series Three(Cable)
Dogfish Head Squall IPA(Cable)
Stone/Green Flash/Pizza Port "Highway 78" Scotch Ale(Cable)
Southampton Altbier(it tastes like honey nut cheerios, Cable)
Captain Lawrence 5 Years Later(16oz growler DeCicco's)
Cigar City Jai Alai IPA(split 6 with Josh, DeCicco's)

Josh
Harpoon Single Hop ESB(Cable)
Lagunitas A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale(Cable)
Green Flash Hop Head Red(Cable)
Cigar City Jai Alai IPA(split 6, DeCicco's)

Also last week we put together a case share group for Shangy's out in Emmaus, PA.  PA law requires you to buy a case of beer from distributors.  Recently they have bottle shops where you can buy singles but the prices are very high comparatively.  The prices for a case at Shangy's and other distributors are incredible.  Usually even beating the wholesale prices of a case in New Jersey.  Also PA has much better distribution.  So we put together 8 guys and grabbed 4 cases as a test run and split them up giving us 3 beers each.  It went great and I look forward to doing it again as soon as I deplete the reserves in my fridge.  Here's what we picked up on the trip.

Avery Ellie's Brown Ale(cans)
Brew Works Hop'solutely
Bell's Two Hearted Ale
Bell's Kalamazoo Stout

Through a trade I acquired 3 Bell's Hoplams and thanks to a member of the share group I also received 2 more.  Also picked up, in the last few weeks, Sierra Nevada Hoptimum(Whole Foods Paramus) and Southern Tier Cuvee Series One(Whole Foods Paramus),   We'll hopefully review just about every one of these beers.

Bolero Snort Round 3 Oak-Aged Longhop

Oak-Aged Longhop
Bolero Snort Brewery
Bergen County, New Jersey
IPA aged in Grand Marnier barrels
6.6% ABV
Tasted in my new IKEA brandy snifter

     I won't start this review by rehashing my comments of the original Bolero Snort Longhop.  You can read that review here.  What I will do is compare the two. 
     First, this is not just an oak-aged version of a beer that took on a little oak flavor.  This is an oak-aged version of a beer that morphed into an entirely unique beast.  In the adult fridge of OJ, some purple stuff, and Sunny D, this is what Sunny D wishes it could be.  This beer has a strong citrus flavor, which is not unique to beers.  Most West Coast IPA's are loaded with citrus.  The uniqueness of this beer comes from the citrus being overwhelmingly oranges.  Grand Marnier as we all know is an orange liqueur.  And if you didn't know that, you would after your first sip of Oak-Aged Longhop.  My nice big glass allowed all the hoppy orange aroma to swirl around and float right up my nostrils down the nasal cavity and right into my brain.  My sweet and bitter taste buds soon followed to confirm, "yes indeed the orange flavor is there and its here to stay." 
     The beer poured a slightly deeper, browner orange than the original and had a bit less head.  The aroma slapped me in the face as it was coming out and hasn't gone anywhere in the 10 minutes I've been savoring this beer.  Bob and Mel have done it again.  I can't wait for Oak-Aged Longhop to be a once yearly brew that is snatched off the shelves with such ferocity as Nugget Nectar or Kentucky Breakfast Stout.  Bolero Snort has swung for the fences and knocked this one well into the parking lot.  An emphatic 5 out of 5 for this beer and I can't wait to see Bolero Snort wedged in between Stone and Rogue on our shelves in the not too distant future. 

Copper Mine Pub 12x12 Month 2

Copper Mine Pub 12x12 Beer Club
Month 2 - April 2010
1) Stoudt's Karnival Kolsch
2) Smuttynose Old Brown Dog
3) Nogne ø IPA
4) Cape Anne Fisherman's Brew
5) Terrapin Big Hoppy Monster
6) Left Hand Fade to Black
7) Victory Altbier
8) Victory Pursuit Pale Ale
9) Stone IPA
10) Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Fritz and Ken's Ale
11) Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar
12) Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager

Bolero Snort Brewery (Round 2)

Thanks to my association with Aaron and his connection to the Bolero Snort Brewery, I was given the opportunity to sample a pair of their home brewed beers. The two beers I was given were a Summer Saison and what they called an Oatmeal Craisin Cookie Stout called Bull-aisin Saddles Stout.

The first one tried was the Saison. The bottle told me that it was bottled back in July and upon pouring, unfortunately, it looked like it. It had an orangey color but with tons of sediment, more than I had ever seen before. I was a little worried about drinking it, but I wanted to confirm that it was not supposed to look like that so I texted Aaron a picture and he instructed me not to drink it. I did at least give it a perfunctory sniff so that it wasn't a wasted experience and came away with a bright citrus aroma. Lots of orange and fruity sweetness in the nose that I expected from a saison. I'm more than willing to try this one again when it's brewed because I want to give it a chance. It's too bad this particular style goes south pretty quick, since this was bottled only 6 months ago.

But my first Bolero Snort experience was not a total loss. As a matter of fact, the Bull-aisin Saddles Stout (great name!) more than made up for the spoiled saison. Before I offer my review, I want it to be known that I'm going to want this one again as soon as possible! It poured a very dark, opaque black color with minimal head. I described it as beautifully dark as night. The aroma was like nothing I've ever experienced before. The side of the bottle claims it was "aged for a few weeks on organic cranberries and whole vanilla beans" and it really shows. It's not oppressive or by any means too much but the cranberry aroma is very prevalent. The vanilla is also noticeable but takes a backseat to the cranberries. Just before sipping, I noticed the slightest reddish tinge around the very top of the liquid where the head normally is. Very nice touch. The first taste consisted of a big hit of cranberry. It had a tartness that was unexpected while still being enjoyable. Totally different from any other beer I've tasted. Mouthfeel is medium to full in body, no real dryness but the cranberries just keep on coming. The vanilla and oatmeal are clearly there as the supporting cast but they are not forgotten or missed. The finish was long but the tartness faded before it became too cloying. This is really one hell of a brew! Without a shadow of a doubt, this one gets 5 pints out of 5!

Copper Mine 12 x 12

     So in my mini-bio section of this site I mentioned that I completed the Andy's Corner Bar 100 Beer Club in 2007.  The premise of the club is drink 100 different beers over the course of the year and get your name on a plaque and some free swag.  It was more difficult than it sounds because Andy's only had 8 taps(10 if both beer engines are in use).  There were alot of bottles though so it helped.  In the past year I started the Copper Mine 12 x 12 Beer Club.  In order to succeed here you have to drink 12 different beers over the course of a month for 12 months.  The thing that helps with this challenge is that every month its basically a reset.  If you like a beer you can have it count towards your goal again as long as its in a different month.  So in theory you could drink 144 different beers(there's 20+ taps here so it's slightly easier) or you could drink the same 12 different beers each month for 12 months(just hypothetical because there's only 1 or 2 beers that Vito keeps in stock year round).  So I began my quest in March 2010 and as of today I'm 1 beer short of my 7th month.  The months don't have to be consecutive.  In this post I'm going to list the first month of my quest and each beer will be hyper-linked to its BeerAdvocate description.  I'll try to post a month each night.  And as I complete a new month I will also post that(I'm at 11 for January so I'll easily finish that at the Smuttynose event on 1/27.  Make sure you attend that).  And please comment on the site and on facebook.  I see the hit counter go up but I want to know who's actually reading. 

Copper Mine Pub 12x12 Beer Club
Month 1 - March 2010
1) Flying Fish Exit 16 Wild Rice Double IPA
2) River Horse Hop-a-lot-amus
3) Boulder Hazed & Infused
4) Smuttynose Old Brown Dog
5) Troegs Nugget Nectar
6) Avery/Russian River Collaboration Not Litigation Ale
7) Defiant Muddy Creek Lager
8) Ithaca Cascazilla
9) Ithaca White Gold
10) Ithaca Ground Break
11) Victory Prima Pils
12) Stone IPA

Bolero Snort Brewery

     I am pleased to have finally tasted 2 offerings from the Bolero Snort Brewery.  Bolero Snort is the homebrew label of Bob and Mel.  I went to school with Mel's sister and I frequent the same craft beer bar as the hoppy couple.  So with the disclaimer behind us let's talk about the beer.  Bob left 4 different beers for me at the Copper Mine and since this site has 2 contributors, I decided I would take 2 and give 2 to Josh.  So being the hophead I am, I chose the Longhop naturally and decided to give the Wee-Heifer's Fruitcake a try.  Since these beers aren't for sale I won't go into too much detail.

     The Longhop, at 6%ABV, is on the lighter side for an IPA.  There was an excellent hop aroma and flavor but it didn't blow out my taste-buds like some IPAs will.  It poured a dark orange/light brown, sorry the picture isn't too great, and it had a nice frothy head and laced on the glass beautifully.  The best beer I can compare it to is Smuttynose Shoal's Pale Ale.  If you want to taste a nice crisp, clean, smooth, easy to drink beer that still has a nice hop bite then that is the beer that will give you the same experience.  If they do become a production brewery, I think Longhop needs to be their frontline beer.

     The next beer I sampled was the Wee Heifer's Fruitcake.  I should have read the label before choosing because there's one ingredient in this beer that I've never enjoyed in beers.  CHERRIES.  It's really a personal preference.  I think they hit the flavor right on the head.  I'm sure the beer is excellent and I'm sure I'm the only one that didn't like it, but the disclaimer is I don't like beers with cherries or any overly sweet fruit flavor.  Troegs Mad Elf is a beloved beer to many, but I won't touch the stuff.  Ommegang Three Philosophers elicits the same feelings.  For Bob and Mel this is not a negative review.  Consider it an abstention due to a conflict of interest.  And don't hold it against me when Scotty Goes Bullnanas is ready for distribution because I really do like bananas.  So if any of you know Bob and Mel, please support their ambition and raise a pint to many more excellent brews in their future.  Longhop gets a solid 4.5 pints(that can easily become a 5 if some Oak-aged Longhop finds its way into my belly) and Wee Heifer's Fruitcake gets an abstention due to my personal preferences, but if you have a chance and you like cherries I do recommend the beer.

Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout

Kentucky Breakfast Stout

Founders Brewing Company

Grand Rapids, Michigan

American Imperial Stout

10.2% ABV

BA: A+

RB: 100(99)

Tasted in a Chimay goblet at The Copper Mine Pub

     Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout is one of the hardest to find annually produced beers in the country, and after finally tasting it I know why.  This was absolutely one of the best beers I've ever had.  I don't want to rank it against beers of any other style because thats comparing apples to oranges and that's just not fair.  It is one of the best ever and so far the best stout I've had(Dogfish Head Bitches Brew was also excellent).  The Copper Mine featured this beer as a special tap for their annual Christmas party, which was delayed by a few days due to our massive snowstorm.  It was only fair to give everyone a chance to come down and try it.  So on a chilly Thursday evening in December, Vito and Matt began pouring just before 7pm and as soon as 7 came they began serving.  KBS poured a very dark, deep, creamy brown with very little head, and even less by the time it was passed out to the ravenous patrons.  It has a strong bourbon/coffee/chocolate smell with a little vanilla in there just for fun and the wood was also evident.  This beer is aged in a cave in bourbon oak barrels and that is quite noticeable.  The taste is almost indescribable.  I wanted to drink it and then pour in a lake and freeze it for the winter then take it out in huge blocks and thaw it in the spring and drink it again.  But seriously there was so much coffee and chocolate that I could swear I was drinking a cocktail of Kahlua and Bailey's mixed with a little beer and a dash of oak aged bourbon.  This beer is a rock solid 5 out of 5 pints with a shot of bourbon to just show that its too good to be rated.  If you see this on a shelf at a store, BUY IT.  If you see it on tap at a bar, DRINK IT!!!!!!!!

13 Beers of Festivus Day 7 New Holland The Poet Oatmeal Stout

New Holland The Poet Oatmeal Stout is a beer I have been meaning to try for a while now. What better time than now to review it for the blog! It pours a very nice dark brown and is very dense, impossible for any light to pass through. Very small tan-white head dissipated extremely quickly leaving just a thin line resting on top around the edge of the glass. Other than that, there was practically no lacing due to the fact that there was almost no carbonation. The aroma, I thought, was beautiful. The oats dominate the nose but it's not overwhelming or in any way a bad thing. It is not astringent at all, very pleasant, soothing even. Oats naturally are at the forefront on the first taste and each subsequent one. It feels soft and warming in the mouth, has some body but it's very drinkable. The Poet is very tasty, not too filling and smooth since there's no carbonation. There are practically no hops to speak of but has a nice malt backbone that supports the oat flavor rather than suppressing it. I could sit around and enjoy a few of these in one sitting without it affecting my taste buds. And at 5.2% it is a true session beer. I rate New Holland The Poet Oatmeal Stout 4 pints out of 5, the lack of carbonation and dynamic mouth feel preventing it from inching closer to a perfect score. I highly recommend seeking this one out, especially during the winter months.

13 Beers of Festivus Day 6: Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard

Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale
Stone Brewing Co., Escondido, CA
American Strong Ale
7.2% ABV
IBU: Classified
BA: A-
RB: 99(96 style)
Consumed at home, purchased at Buy Rite, Jersey City(I think it was like $4 for a single)

    So let me again apologize for lateness, but we're going to catch up and be on track tonight.  Second I have to tell you that you're not worthy of drinking this beer.  The label clearly tells you so.  So if you can get past that fact then you'll have the pleasure of tasting a really good beer.  Arrogant Bastard is a very hoppy bitter ale brewed by Stone.  Oaked Arrogant Bastard is that same beer aged with oak chips floating in it.  If you're not sure what oak tastes like then go lick a tree because the oak flavor is clear in this beer.  The same spicy chinook hops flavor comes through as dominant in the oaked variety, but there's a little something extra in the flavor.  OAK.  The thick creamy head dissipates a little but stays around through the entire drinking process.  The smell is that of unfinished wood furniture.  This is a man's beer.  This beer is not for rookies and I recommend tasting Arrogant Bastard prior to Oaked Arrogant Bastard.  There are also two more Bastard varieties; Double Bastard and Lukcy Bastard(spelled correctly), which is a blend of the previous three Bastards( and another beer in my cellar).  That having been said, when you're ready for the bitterness and the cost of this beer, I highly recommend Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale.  This is a clear 5 out of 5 pints and I hope you all have the chance to taste it one day.  It is a year-round permanent brew so no need to wait for the right season.  If you're an advanced craft beer drinker, then go track one of these down and give it a try.  Happy Festivus to all and check back shortly for Josh's review to catch us back up to where we should be.

13 Beers of Festivus Day 5 Victory Yakima Glory

Okay, I know I already reviewed a Victory beer, but I've had this one laying around and had to try it. But unlike the year-round Storm King, Yakima Glory is a winter seasonal and in the style of Black IPA. Black would not be a word that I would describe it, however. It's actually more brownish-reddish and not very dense. I can't quite see through it but it's not totally opaque either. There was actually no head to speak of, just a very small section of bubbles for the tiny amount of carbonation (can kind of see it in the picture at the front of the glass). The aroma reminds me of a typical IPA, hoppy but not overwhelmingly so. It smells piney, floral and gets my taste buds ready for something gloriously more bitter than your garden-variety macro brew. The first taste is as expected - nice hop character and a pleasant bitterness. But before long, it gives way and shares the spotlight with a nice malt profile that makes it taste darker than it looks. The malt sweetness, if I can call it that, blends beautifully with the bitter hops to give a nice, rounded taste that doesn't leave a bad taste in the mouth. The finish is relatively long with some sweetness melded nicely with some bitterness, the bitterness showing a little bit more. The alcohol seems quite hidden despite coming in at 8.7% but as I continue to drink it and write on the fly, there is some alcohol in the aftertaste but it isn't all that unpleasant. It's actually rather warming, which is kind of expected for a winter style brew. In my opinion, it is a very nice beer with some great characteristics but falls a little short for the style compared to a few other Black IPAs that I have sampled. Regardless, it still earned a respectable 3.5 pints out of 5, the lighter color playing tricks on me when I expected something a lot darker. Definitely worth a try, though, and definitely one that I will try again in the future.

13 Beers of Festivus Day 4: Flying Fish Exit 13 Imperial Chocolate Stout

Exit 13 Chocolate Stout

Flying Fish Brewing Co., Cherry Hill, NJ

Foreign Stout

7.5% ABV

BA: A-

RB: NR

Consumed at friend's house in snifter, available at Beekman's Wine for $9.11

     First I'll apologize for not taking a picture while I was drinking this beer.  If I have another one at some point I'll edit the post and add a picture.  The beer poured out the darkest black I've ever seen from a beer.  It was also thick like syrup and as I consumed the beer, it left a film on the glass like chocolate syrup.  There was a large fluffy, foamy head that barely dissipated as I drank this.  It really had a light chocolate smell and even lighter chocolate taste.  As it warmed up slightly more chocolate came through but it was mostly in the aftertaste.  I tasted more of the roasted malt and caramel flavors that are usually associated with a stout but I was left disappointed with the lack of real chocolate flavor.  I'm happy I tasted this before I taste any of the renowned chocolate beers, such as Southern Tier Choklat.  Reviews of those beers have praised the overall chocolatey flavor and therefore I'm glad I didn't have those first, otherwise this beer might get a 1 pint rating.  

    Overall I found the beer very drinkable for 7.5% ABV.  Had I not been a collector of the bottles, I probably would not have bough this beer.  The previous exits have been fairly good, but this one leaves me with the same feeling I have when I drive down the Turnpike on a summer weekend, anticipation and frustration.  If you're with a friend who has a bottle then by all means drink up, but its not worth the $9-10 if you're just curious.  I will remind you that taste is a personal thing and everyone's taste buds are different.  The Exit Series is a fun little novelty that gained the brewery a nice little bit of press when it started, but this one just isn't worth the hype.  I'm going to have to give this 2.5 pints out of 5 with a possibly half point boost only because I wasn't the one that paid for this and my friend let me keep the empty for my collection.  

13 Days of Festivus: Day 3 Southern Tier Creme Brulee

My sincerest apologies. I know I'm a day late on this, but I was enjoying a particular dark, wintry beer at the Copper Mine Pub on Ridge Road in North Arlington for this post and had not gotten a chance to share my opinion until now. Better late than never!

Southern Tier Creme Brulee was as it sounds, a dessert-like beer. It is described on Beer Advocate as an American Double / Imperial Stout and weighs in at a whopping 10% alcohol. It poured very dark and dense with a nice creamy white head that actually dissipated rather quickly. Despite the quickness that the head disappeared, it left rather nice lacing on the sides of the glass. The aroma was very sweet, a promise of what was to come. I caught hints of caramel and chocolate as typical for a stout, particularly one appropriate for dessert such as this one. Upon tasting, it reminded me of the dessert for which the beer is named. It was sweet with a quick hit of caramel with some bitter chocolate notes hiding behind the sweetness. Creme Brulee was very enjoyable, though the high alcohol content catches up quickly and the sweetness attained a cloying aspect further into the session. Just like any good stout, it was on the thicker side while still remaining drinkable. The sweetness is prevalent without being overpowering though be wary that it may become too much after the first glass. I am a big fan of a lot of Southern Tier beers and this one did not disappoint. I rate their Creme Brulee 3.75 pints out of 5, the cloying nature later in the session preventing it from getting a full 4. I highly recommend buying a 750ml where available and splitting with a friend or significant other over dessert.

13 Beers of Festivus: Day 2 Full Sail Session Black Lager

Full Sail Session Black Lager
Full Sail Brewing Co., Hood River, OR
Schwarzbier
5.4% ABV
18 IBU
BA: Not Rated
Ratebeer: 85(92 style)
Gary's Wine (consumed at home)
12/15/10
$1.49 in Ommegang Witte glass
       Full Sail Session Black Lager is a beer from Oregon that has only been available in the New Jersey market for about a month.  It poured a dark, think, deep black color.  There was a thick, bubbly head of about one finger in size that dissipated slowly.  Upon pouring it seemed highly carbonated as if it were a soda, but as I learned upon tasting, this beer was not to be judged on its looks alone.  At just 5.4% ABV and 18 IBU the Session Black is just that, a session beer.  A session beer is a beer of which several can be consumed over a drinking session without getting the drinker drunk.  There is absolutely no alcohol burn while drinking and it goes down deceptively smooth.  It drinks like a fairly light lager with a little extra malty flavor with some caramel and really light hints of chocolate.  This beer probably won't offend or impress anyone.  The biggest draw of this beer is the cool short, fat bottle that it comes in.  I picked up a single bottle at Gary's Wine in Wayne, NJ for $1.49 and it was also available in 12-packs.  They also sold the Full Sail Session Lager.  I would imagine that it tastes much the same with less caramel.  I wouldn't really recommend this for our more advanced followers, but if you're just starting your craft beer journey, this is a nice way to dip your toes in the deep end.  Its nothing wild, but the color will play tricks on you.  I'll give the Full Sail Session Black Lager 3.5 pints but only because of its quirkiness and price.  For a few more dollars than the big boys but less than most craft brands, pick up a 12-pack for you and a friend if you don't really want to get drunk, but want some flavor. 

13 Beers of Festivus: Victory Storm King Stout

I am honored to be kicking off the First Annual 13 Beers of Festivus Reviewathon! Every night starting tonight through Christmas, Aaron and I will alternate reviewing a different beer for your enjoyment. To get this party started, I sampled an impeccable beer for the frigid winter months, Victory Storm King Stout.

Storm King pours an extremely dark and dense color, impossible to see through and absolutely as dark as night. It is topped by a tan head that is thick and sticky and has amazingly good retention - it hung around for the duration of the session! The lacing on the side of the glass was thick and tan and also lasted long into the session. Bringing it to my nose, I immediately smelled chocolate and coffee, which was expected. Caramel also found it's way into the aroma, giving off a subtle sweetness, but, from experience, I knew that I would find almost no sweetness when tasting. And I was not disappointed. At first, I was hit the enormous mouth feel due in part by the carbonation. I had not taken a large sip but it felt like a lot. Texturally, it was thick and chewy and a literal mouthful, like a meal in a glass. Then the bitterness hit, but not the over-the-top-hop kind of bitterness. This bitterness came from the chocolate and coffee notes that dominate the palate; no sweetness to be found. Further into the session, the brew turned out to be quite smooth despite the thick, big mouth feel. It lingered nicely on the tongue, on the bitter side, but for this hop-head, it's not unwelcome. It even felt somewhat chewy after it was gone but that didn't last as long as the warming taste it leaves behind. Throughout, however, the astringent taste of alcohol is prevalent, which isn't surprising considering it weighs in at 9.1%! Overall, it is quite an amazing brew, very tasty, though chewy, good notes of chocolate and coffee and the more subtle caramel, but the alcohol kind of gets in the way. I still rate Victory Storm King Stout 3.5 out of 5 pints and recommend to those who like dark beers that are high in alcohol. It is a tried and true beer for the cold months that will warm you all winter long!

Pumpkin Beer Matchup

Happy Thanksgiving (for those of you who read this)! Okay, I admit this is a little late in the season for this, but it will be good for future reference. My brother, my uncle and I compared two pumpkin beers on Thanksgiving that have been recommended to me as the best. Both beers have been recommended to me as the best of the pumpkin style so I had to try them side by side and decide which one is actually the best (at least in my opinion). Feel free to do the same, if you can find any, or wait until they come back around next year.

Pumpkin Beer Championship Match:
Southern Tier Pumking vs. Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale

In one corner, the Southern Tier Pumking. Bottled in a 750mL, it poured a vibrant, clear orange color with very minimal head that dissipated quickly. The first sniff gives off an aroma of sweet pumpkin while leaning more towards pumpkin pie than an actual pumpkin. Nutmeg was the prevalent spice with maybe a little cinnamon hiding behind. Upon tasting, it was medium to full body and a lot sweeter than I expected. I've had a few other pumpkin beers in the past that was nowhere as sweet as this. The sweetness gave way halfway through, though, surrendering to strong notes of nutmeg and cinnamon. The finish was slightly bitter and really lasted long after swallowing. The lingering bitterness and spiciness was enjoyable and really added to the flavor. Pumking was smooth, easy to drink and very enjoyable.

In the other corner, the Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Bottled in 12oz bottles that come in a 4-pack, it poured a lot darker than it's competitor. Instead of a clear orange, it poured a dark brown that wasn't all that dense with a small head that didn't stick around. The pumpkin aroma was strong and smelled more like a pumpkin than like a pie. It was powerful enough to overwhelm the underlying spices. I had a difficult time finding the cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and clove that the bottle claimed was in there. The beer had a fuller body, definitely strong, more bitter taste of pumpkin with very little spice to counteract. It wasn't like taking a bite out of a pumpkin but it was all I could detect and it wasn't nearly as sweet as Southern Tier's version. It finished dry and bitter (in a good way) but it faded relatively quickly. No lingering spices or bitterness on this one.

And the winner is.....

Southern Tier Pumking! If I were to crave a pumpkin beer next year, this would be the one I would look. There was just enough sweetness without being cloying and boasted a much nicer blend of all of the ingredients. No one spice or flavor overpowered the others as the Weyerbacher tasted more like pumpkin than anything else. The Pumking was smoother, easier to drink and a lot more flavorful and enjoyable. I don't want to come off as anti-Weyerbacher's pumpkin ale. I just prefer the one from Southern Tier. Weyerbacher's had its own positives and is definitely worth picking up and trying for yourself. But personally, next year, I'm going with Southern Tier.

Once again, I apologize for doing this taste test this late into November since it's unlikely that you will find any left in stores. (For the record, last I checked, there were still two 4-packs of Weyerbacher left in the Shop Rite Wines & Spirits in Emerson, so make haste if you want to try it!). Hopefully when next August/September comes around, you can pick up both and do your own taste test!

Brooklyn Brewery

   Well I'm back on the blog saddle and my first post in a long time is about my wonderful trip to an industry party at the Brooklyn Brewery.  The tap list for the night included all of the delicious beers in Brooklyn's year-round line, as well as, three brewmasters reserve beers, Detonation Ale, little brother Blast, and the newest beer of the line, Cuveé Noire.  Also included were Brooklyn's large bottle offerings.  The brewery itself is tucked into an industrial area, but is more than worth the treasure hunt.  When you arrive you open a large barn door to reveal a scaled down version of a brewing and bottling setup(most Brooklyn beers are produced upstate, but Brewmaster's Reserve beers are brewed and bottled in house).  As you walk past the brewing equipment you walk into a small but adequate tasting room with 8 taps.  There are a few benches and a few communal picnic table, true beer hall style, and on this night there was a small food spread set up on the side of the room.  
    The first beer I tried on the night was the newly-released Brooklyn Cuveé Noire.  Every description I read about this beer defined it as undefinable.  And they were all 100% correct.  This beer pours out a deep dark black with a nice creamy, foamy head.  To a casual observer the first thing that comes to mind is stout.  There is a nice roasted malt smell, but also a good hoppy smell that confuses you.  Upon the first sip you're completely dumbfounded.  It has a rich hop profile of the best imperial IPA, the roasted malty flavor of a nut brown ale, the sweetness of a belgian, and the creamy smoothness of a stout.  This beer is incredibly complex and dangerously drinkable at 8.7% ABV.  This beer is an absolute 5 Pints out of 5 along with the brewery itself.  
     Also try the Detonation Ale and the Blast if you have the chance.  The Detonation is an imperial English style IPA and the Blast is a flowery west coast style Imperial IPA.  The Detonation can currently be found on tap at The Shepherd and the Knucklehead so none of you, my readers, have an excuse to not try it.  Blast is produced in small batches every year so keep an eye out for it.  
       I want to give special thanks for making this night possible to my new colleague Sean from Beekman's Wine in Glen Rock(look for much better beer selection there soon) and Mike from Brooklyn Brewery.  I'd also like to thank Garrett Oliver, brewmaster for Brooklyn Brewery for hosting an amazing evening of beer.  I will certainly be returning to Brooklyn Brewery soon.

Harpoon India Pale Ale

Name: Harpoon IPA

Brewery: Harpoon Brewery, Boston, MA

Style: India Pale Ale

ABV: 5.9%

IBU: 42

Date: October 11

Price: $8.99 for a 6 pack at Shop Rite Wines & Spirits of Emerson (shameless plug, I manage the beer in that particular store)

So, I'm Josh, co-writer on this here blog for hopheads. As mentioned above, I work with beer all day every day and, with Aaron's help, have experienced and love microbrews, the hoppier the better! But enough introductions...on to my first review!

So Aaron started off this blog with a palate-destroying Triple IPA, so whaddya say we back up a few steps and delve into something more of a crowd-pleaser? Allow me to introduce you to, Harpoon Brewery's flagship beer, their India Pale Ale. Now don't let the name 'India Pale Ale' scare you away and think this is a super hopped up unapproachable brew for the serious hopheads only. Quite the contrary. Harpoon's IPA is definitely a "beginner's IPA".

Into a generic pint glass, it pours a very nice orange-amber and is relatively transparent. There is a very thin line of pasty-white head that hovers and lingers at the edges of the glass with sticky lacing. The hops reach the nose quickly but they aren't very strong. No cringing in fear from overt bitterness. The aroma is both floral and has hints of pine with a subtle sweetness hiding just below the surface. It smells as light as it is, particularly light for an IPA.

The first sip grants a fantastic hop-forward, pine-like taste that quickly fades behind the malt sweetness. The hops return to linger and dance softly on the tongue in a long, dry finish but is actually quite refreshing. Gloriously non-existent is any hint of alcohol even though it pushes 6%; it's hidden very well underneath the malt and hops. A crazy hop-head might feel cheated due to the beer's thinness and easy drinkability but it's not a bad choice for a regular macro-drinker wanting to try something different without going overboard. As previously mentioned, it's a crowd-pleaser. It's not a bad beer to kick back with while watching some football on a Sunday or BBQing with friends. So drinkable for an IPA, you could put down two or three without leaving your tongue decimated or your head too woozy.

My rating: 3.75 pints out of 5. I, myself, do like a hoppier beer, but this is a very nice, smooth, easy to drink IPA that is sure to keep people coming back (like me!) or help newbies get started on the road to some of the crazier brews out there (i.e. the Devil Dancer that Aaron reviewed in July). Affordable, approachable...it's no wonder it's Harpoon's number one selling beer.