It is a question often reserved for men and roses that can equally apply to beer. I mention this because this past week saw the release of one of my favorite line of sours from Proclamation Brewery, the 'Alpaca Magi' series. Now a few years ago I did not like sours but over time I began to acquire the taste and now sours are one of my favorite styles and the beer that really jump-started my love of sours was 'The Unyielding Wrath of the Alpaca Magi' an American Wild Ale. I first tried it when I was at the Second Annual Ocean State Beer Fest. I was at the Proclamation table trying their beers and after striking up a conversation with one of the brewers he had asked if I liked sours and when I replied that I did they mentioned that they had a bottle of their sour that they were going to open and that I should try it if I were interested... I was. Then I asked what the name of the beer was and once I heard it I just had to try it. The beer was the perfect American Wild Ale, a devastatingly sour beer with a great light mouthfeel.
This year's 'Alpaca' is called 'The Tropical Excursion of the Alpaca Magi' and it is quite good. While I do like the other ones better it is still a very good sour. Proclamation has an amazing sour program and an even better job with their names for their sours. The other night I had split a bottle of another one of their sours 'Breathing Life into a Dead Ghost' a name so interesting, so awe inspiring, that upon hearing it you have to know what a beer with that name would taste like. This beer is much more crisp and lighters than an 'Alpaca' beer but it was still well worth it.
This lead me to a more philosophical question about the name making the beer or the beer making the name. If you're a brewer and you brew an amazing beer with a somewhat lackluster name will the beer live up to its full potential? Or if you are a brewer and brew a somewhat lackluster beer but give it a stunning name will it make the beer better? I tend to think that a good beer will always shine regardless of the name but with that being said though, you name your beer something weird/funny and it is a guarantee I will try it.
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Saturday, September 15, 2018
Lager Kick
I have briefly touched on the fact that my favorite style are IPAs, it's been that way ever since I first started to get into craft beer when I was *cough* 21 *cough* with Harpoon's flagship IPA. However every so often I will go on a 'kick' and only seek out beers of a certain style and recently that style has been lagers. Lagers have always had a special place in my heart simply because for a period of time you would only seem them in the domestic macro breweries and imports. Craft lagers are few and far between and typically even before this kick, whenever I see a new craft lager either on tap or in the liquor store I like to reward the brewer and try it out. But now I find myself seeking this style out more.
Recently I was at Narragansett Cafe in Jamestown and they had a lager on tap from Ragged Island Brewery called Black Hog* and it was awesome. Very crisp with a good light mouthfeel and a clean finish. It was exactly what I wanted as soon as I heard it listed as a draft offering. The funny part about ordering the beer was the reaction from the bartender. She actually recommended one of the IPA offerings they had then offered me a sample it and then was surprised when I commented on how much I liked the beer. It was exactly what I wanted.
Then, a few nights later I was at Square Peg in Warren. Not only was the food quite good but as luck would have it they had a house lager on tap. This amber lager was light and crisp with a more of a heavier mouthfeel but on a night where it was hot and humid it was the perfect choice.
So the next time you're in the mood for something light and refreshing and you see a craft lager, give it a chance. I hope you're not disappointed.
*The bartender called the beer from Ragged Island 'Black Hog' but I cannot find it on their website and I created the posting on untappd. Either way it was a damned good lager.
Recently I was at Narragansett Cafe in Jamestown and they had a lager on tap from Ragged Island Brewery called Black Hog* and it was awesome. Very crisp with a good light mouthfeel and a clean finish. It was exactly what I wanted as soon as I heard it listed as a draft offering. The funny part about ordering the beer was the reaction from the bartender. She actually recommended one of the IPA offerings they had then offered me a sample it and then was surprised when I commented on how much I liked the beer. It was exactly what I wanted.
Then, a few nights later I was at Square Peg in Warren. Not only was the food quite good but as luck would have it they had a house lager on tap. This amber lager was light and crisp with a more of a heavier mouthfeel but on a night where it was hot and humid it was the perfect choice.
So the next time you're in the mood for something light and refreshing and you see a craft lager, give it a chance. I hope you're not disappointed.
*The bartender called the beer from Ragged Island 'Black Hog' but I cannot find it on their website and I created the posting on untappd. Either way it was a damned good lager.
Monday, September 10, 2018
Ocean State Beer Fest
Yesterday was the Fourth Annual Ocean State Beer Fest and it was an absolutely amazing. I was lucky enough to attend two years ago and this year's was just as good. You can see my full samplings on Untappd but let me give you the highlights:
Best Beer: Inside Job, Buttonwoods Brewery. This was one of the first beers I wanted to try because 1. I love Buttonwoods and 2. it was listed as a creamsicle sour IPA. It was exceptional. Just the right amount of tart and hoppy that tasted like a creamsicle ice cream bar and my judgment was pretty spot on because of how fast it ran out. I was told that it was only brewed for this event but I hope they do this one again.
Honorable mentions: Fermented 4, Tilted Barn; Barrel Aged Wild Ale - Saison w/ Cherries, Grey Sail; Pineapple Vango, Foolproof
Best Brewery: Grey Sail. Always near the top of my list when I start talking about RI breweries. They really stepped up because they brought six different beers, two of which were at the top of my list and one was a cask (always a BIG fan of cask ales). I was able to try all of their offerings and neither myself nor my friends were disappointed. Already planning my day trip out to Westerly.
Honorable mentions: Tilted Barn, Buttonwoods, Foolproof, Taproot
Biggest Surprise: Taproot. Before yesterday I had never heard of this brewery before as they are not listed on the official Rhode Island Brewers Guild passport. I walked by and saw that they had a porter and was instantly curious. I struck up a conversation with their brewer Kevin and instantly heard his passion for brewing and while I was enjoying just how good the beer was. They also had a New England IPA that was brewed with Hefeweizen yeast that gave the beer this amazing banana taste that blended perfectly with the hops. I will definitely be making the trek out there as soon as possible.
Honorable mentions: Apponaug Brewing, Providence Brewing Company, Ragged Island
Most Unique Beer: Cereza Amarga, Providence Brewing Co. Listed as a MexiCali Light Lager this beer was described to me as a lager infused with tequila. It was actually brewed with cherries, guavas, and lemons that were sitting in Anejo Blanco for a couple of months but that drove the point home. This was a crisp, clean lager that finishes with a slight bite of agave. Definitely worth a trip to try it out.
Honorable mentions: 2 legit to frit, Proclamation; Fruits of Labor, Taproot; Kingston's finest, Shaidzon Beer Co.; Crimson Ghost, Long Live Beerworks
Most Disappointing: Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.. This one hurts to write as an avid fan/supporter. Newport Storm was the brewery that first got me excited about Rhode Island beer but their offerings at the festival just did not do it for me. Rhode Rage is far too malty for me, Comfortably Unaware did not have the same flair as the other New England IPA offerings and 1639 was pretty good but not great. I expected them to pull out all of the stops and bring something truly unique but alas, I was disappointed.
So that was the fourth annual Ocean State Beer Fest. I cannot wait for next year to see what new things the brewing community will bring. Did you attend? If you did how would you fill out your list of best beer, brewery, biggest surprise, most unique, and most disappointing? Comment below.
Best Beer: Inside Job, Buttonwoods Brewery. This was one of the first beers I wanted to try because 1. I love Buttonwoods and 2. it was listed as a creamsicle sour IPA. It was exceptional. Just the right amount of tart and hoppy that tasted like a creamsicle ice cream bar and my judgment was pretty spot on because of how fast it ran out. I was told that it was only brewed for this event but I hope they do this one again.
Honorable mentions: Fermented 4, Tilted Barn; Barrel Aged Wild Ale - Saison w/ Cherries, Grey Sail; Pineapple Vango, Foolproof
Best Brewery: Grey Sail. Always near the top of my list when I start talking about RI breweries. They really stepped up because they brought six different beers, two of which were at the top of my list and one was a cask (always a BIG fan of cask ales). I was able to try all of their offerings and neither myself nor my friends were disappointed. Already planning my day trip out to Westerly.
Honorable mentions: Tilted Barn, Buttonwoods, Foolproof, Taproot
Biggest Surprise: Taproot. Before yesterday I had never heard of this brewery before as they are not listed on the official Rhode Island Brewers Guild passport. I walked by and saw that they had a porter and was instantly curious. I struck up a conversation with their brewer Kevin and instantly heard his passion for brewing and while I was enjoying just how good the beer was. They also had a New England IPA that was brewed with Hefeweizen yeast that gave the beer this amazing banana taste that blended perfectly with the hops. I will definitely be making the trek out there as soon as possible.
Honorable mentions: Apponaug Brewing, Providence Brewing Company, Ragged Island
Most Unique Beer: Cereza Amarga, Providence Brewing Co. Listed as a MexiCali Light Lager this beer was described to me as a lager infused with tequila. It was actually brewed with cherries, guavas, and lemons that were sitting in Anejo Blanco for a couple of months but that drove the point home. This was a crisp, clean lager that finishes with a slight bite of agave. Definitely worth a trip to try it out.
Honorable mentions: 2 legit to frit, Proclamation; Fruits of Labor, Taproot; Kingston's finest, Shaidzon Beer Co.; Crimson Ghost, Long Live Beerworks
Most Disappointing: Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.. This one hurts to write as an avid fan/supporter. Newport Storm was the brewery that first got me excited about Rhode Island beer but their offerings at the festival just did not do it for me. Rhode Rage is far too malty for me, Comfortably Unaware did not have the same flair as the other New England IPA offerings and 1639 was pretty good but not great. I expected them to pull out all of the stops and bring something truly unique but alas, I was disappointed.
So that was the fourth annual Ocean State Beer Fest. I cannot wait for next year to see what new things the brewing community will bring. Did you attend? If you did how would you fill out your list of best beer, brewery, biggest surprise, most unique, and most disappointing? Comment below.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)