Giving It A Chance

Years ago, my dad told me that every few years your tastebuds change and you begin to like things that you once did not. While I am not sure how scientifically accurate that might be it does bring me to today’s main subject about trying beers that you once hated.

Those who know me, know the styles of beer I hate, those being overly malty. Specifically, Bocks, Red Ales, Pumpkin Beers, Winter Warmers/spiced beer, Black IPAs or any overly malty IPA. However, the other day I was at a liquor store (shout out Nikki’s Liquors on Branch Ave.) and saw something too interesting to pass up. ‘Touch O’ Crunch’ from Artisanal Brew Works.

Right off the bat this beer had two strikes against it as it is a spiced Red Ale a style and description I typically do not like but, I was intrigued as it was a beer in the style of Cinnamon Toast Crunch one of my favorite cereals growing up. After looking at it and mulling my options I figured it was worth a shot and bought it. In trying it, I was pleasantly surprised. It is not overly malty like most Red Ales and the spice is not overpowering both of which I contribute to the lactose which gives the beer a nice sweetness. It doesn’t really taste like Cinnamon Toast Crunch as it isn’t heavy on the cinnamon or grain flavor but it is a pretty nice beer.

While I will be the first to admit that those who typically like Red Ales and Spiced Beer may not like it as the Red Ale malt profile and Spiced nature of the beer are mild and after checking Untappd it is definitely not for everyone. However, it has definitely worked its way to the front of my refrigerator and I am pretty happy with it. Now while I may not go out of my way to try Red Ales or Spiced Beer I am definitely going to be more open to them on tap lists or when I am looking to shake things up a bit.

How about you? What kinds of styles are you willing to get another chance? Let me know below.

New Brew Thursday: 'Wish I Could Turn You Back Into A Stranger' from Proclamation Ale Company

The other day I was able to get back to one of my favorite breweries in the state, Proclamation. Not only do they have some of the best beers, but they also have some of the best beer names. From ‘Breathing Life Into A Dead Ghost’ to ‘The Unyielding Wrath of the Alpaca Magi’ they are always good for a great beer with an even better name. This week’s New Brew Thursday is a perfect example.

‘Wish I Could Turn You Back Into A Stranger’ is an oak aged Brett IPA. It pours a very cloudy yellow-orange into the glass with a nice white head. The funk of the Brett and the oak is very prevalent on the nose with some light citrus on the back end. The flavor is fantastic. An initial lemon-lime tartness gives way to a subtle hop, that then gives way to a soft, but lingering tartness on the back of your tongue. With a light and surprisingly crisp mouthfeel and just boozy enough at 7.2 ABV this is worth the trip over to Proclamation and Oakville.

Bourbon County Day

While there are many holidays on the craft beer calendar, you would be hard pressed to find a bigger one than ‘Bourbon County Day.’ For the uninitiated, every year around Black Friday Goose Island Brewery releases this series of bourbon barrel aged beers. The Bourbon County series has been around for the last ten years and started with just a stout, but each year Goose Island adds a few new variants to the line-up. This year I was able to secure the ‘Brand Stout’, ‘Brand Special #4’, and “Brand Carmella Ale’. All of which have taken a prime place in my cellar. I am still on the lookout for (or ISO for those in the know) for the other variants so I will be keeping my fingers crossed that I will find them soon.

The Bourbon County beers are fantastic and highly recommended. However, for you to unlock their full potential they should be cellared for at least two years. Cellaring, for those who do not know, is when beer is aged for a prolonged period of time. These beers respond extremely well to being cellared and are a great introduction into the world of cellaring. For the last few years, I try to buy two of each variant in order to cellar them for different periods of time. I used to cellar them for a minimum of one year but now, after trying some of my older beers I will be cellaring them for a minimum of three years.

While I have been growing my beer cellar over the last four years, I am still very much a novice at this process and will be dedicating a post to this in the future.

New Brew Thursday: 'DDH Green City' from Other Half

There are moments in history when time stops and you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing. Japan surrendering World War II, man landing on the moon, and when it was announced that Other Half would start distributing beer in Rhode Island. Jokes aside, I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and saw that several local liquor stores would start stocking this titan of craft beer and I was ecstatic. I was lucky enough to trade for some Other Half last year and it lived up to the ridiculously high expectations that I had. Now that I have a steady supply of Other Half I am filled with joy as tonight’s entry ‘DDH Green City’ has been on the wish list for a LONG time.

‘DDH Green City’ pours into the glass a hazy light yellow with a small white head. It has subtle sweet notes of orange with a small hint of pine that perfectly showcases its hop profile. This IPA with Centennial, Citra, and Simcoe hops is incredibly well balanced both on the nose and on the tongue. The flavor is fantastic. The sweetness of the Simcoe gives way to the piney bitterness of the Centennial with the Citra bridging the gap in between. Clocking in at 7% ABV it is very crushable up front but just boozy enough on the back end to remind you to slow down a bit. However, with that initial sweetness from the Simcoe, you won’t want to. This is a highly recommended beer from one of the best breweries in the country. Definitely pick some up if you are able to.

New Brew Thursday: 'Saison D'Erpe-Mere' from Brouwerij De Glazen Toren

The other day, I was at the liquor store (shout out High Spirits on North Main in Providence) getting a late birthday present for my dad. While I was there, I wanted to get something a little different for myself. Don’t get me wrong, I love my local breweries and New England IPAs but the craft beer world is big and beautiful and you will do yourself a disservice if you have a narrow view. Ignore the advice of TLC and chase those craft beer waterfalls. Sorry, got a little away from the story.

Anyways, in looking for something a little different I found a beer from a Belgian micro-brewery that caught my attention. ‘Saison D’Erpe-Mere’ from Brouwerij De Glazen Toren, a brewery I have never tried before with a style I thoroughly enjoy.

‘Saison D’Erpe-Mere’ pours into the glass a light orange with a thick white head. The head is so thick (probably should be spelled thicccc) you can float the bottle cap on top of it. It has very strong citrus notes of orange and lemon that give way to wheat and yeast. The flavor is fantastic. This classic saison in every sense of the word has a soft, yet sweet taste that gives way to a wheat finish that lingers on the tongue just long enough for you to really want that next sip.

Those who know me, know that my dream is to travel to Belgium and tour all the Trappist Breweries there. However, after this beer I will definitely have to make a stop off at Browerij De Glazen.

New Brew Thursday: 'Barrel Aged Color & Grain' from Trillium Brewing

It is that magical time of year again folks. The days are getting a little shorter and colder with that unmistakable crispness in the air. We all know what that means, we have officially entered into Stout Season (or Szn as the kids say). While I have always been an avid supporter of not letting the season dictate the style of beer you drink, I would be hard pressed to say that I do not enjoy stouts just a bit more this time of year. I recently went back to my parents house where I keep a small box of cellared bottles (more on that in a future post) and picked out one of the perfect bottles to kick off Stout Season, ‘Barrel Aged Color & Grain’ from Trillium. To be completely honest, I forgot exactly when I bought the beer, but I think it was in the cellar for about a year and a half. While I might have let it go just a bit too long, it is still an awesome beer.

‘Barrel Aged Color & Grain’ pours into the glass pitch-black with a darkish brown head. Its notes are mostly just boozy chocolate with a slight hint of vanilla and toffee on the back end. I expect the chocolate, vanilla, and toffee notes would have been more pronounced when first purchased. However, after over a year in the cellar they have been slightly muted. The flavor is purely decadent. A soft, velvety mouthfeel with a rich chocolate and toffee taste that lingers just long enough on the front of the tongue. While the listed ABV is 13.9% after over a year in the cellar it is probably close to 15%. This gives the beer a boozy, but not overpowering kick that is just enough to remind you that you are drinking a barrel aged, imperial stout. While no longer in production, if you’ve got one in the cellar now is the perfect time to open it up.

New Brew Thursday: 'Small Victories' from Origin Beer Project

The phrase “when God closes a door, he opens a window” often applies to difficult times in one’s life. However, in this context, it applies to Rhode Island Breweries. On Monday I wrote about my trip to Community Bruin and its unfortunate closing. However, last Saturday was the grand opening of the state’s newest brewery, Origin Beer Project. Operating out of Buttonwoods Brewery and only offering cans to go (for now) they debuted with three beers and while they are all worth trying, ‘Small Victories’ is my standout.

‘Small Victories’ is a Czech Pale lager that is absolutely fantastic. While I do love my IPAs this beauty is the perfect change-of-pace beer or for those who just want something light. It pours into the glass a very pale yellow and almost nearly, perfectly clear with a small off-white head. Its notes are extremely crisp and clean with a taste to match. It has a slightly oaky aftertaste that lingers just long enough to make the flavor slightly more complex and clocking in a 3.5% ABV it is INSANELY crushable. I highly recommend getting out to Origin Beer Project to get your hands on this beauty before they run out.

Rhode Trip: Community Bruin

 (The next part in a multi-part series as we complete the Rhode Island Brewer’s Guild Passport. To learn more about the passport and download the app click HERE)

A melancholy entry on our #RhodeTrip as a couple of weeks ago I made the trip down to Community Bruin. Melancholy because due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic they are closing their doors permanently.

Owned by a husband and wife duo, this nano brewery operating out of an old Tim Hortons down in West Greenwich is truly a diamond in the rough. Currently, they are only offering bottles to go and homebrew equipment. Both can be ordered and picked up but only by appointment and can be made by e-mail with more information on their website. They offer a wide variety of styles and they are going fast so make sure you place your order as soon as possible. My favorite, and it is still available, is ‘Closing Time (AKA Covid Casualty)’ a light a crisp affair with just a subtle fruity sweetness.

Community Bruin is located at 74 Nooseneck Hill Rd. West Greenwich, RI. For more information regarding the brewery and how to order their beer click HERE

Part one: Long Live Beerworks

Part two: Buttonwoods Brewery

Part three: LineSider Brewing Company

Part four: Taproot Brewing Company

New Bew Thursday: 'The Daze Between' from Shaidzon Beer Company

 A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to get a table at Shaidzon Beer Company down in West Greenwich and while I will touch more upon that visit in an upcoming #RhodeTrip entry soon enough (thanks Freddy Foreshadower), tonight I stumbled onto my last beer from that trip… ‘The Daze Between.’ Now I routinely grab this guy out of my refrigerator but each time I say to myself “no not yet,” in an attempt to save it for a time when I can sip it slowly, enjoy it, and write about it because quite frankly… it deserves it.

This double IPA pours into the glass with a dark yellow, almost orange, color with a nice white head. While having a nice haze, it is not overly cloudy but do not get me wrong, you cannot see through it. Additionally, it has exceptionally soft notes of pineapple and pear.  The taste is fantastic. The initial bitterness gives way to a lingering soft sweetness that slightly lingers on the back of the tongue for only a few seconds. With quick sips, the bitterness and sweetness build but with casual slow sips, it resets each time. Clocking in at a VERY dangerous 8% ABV it packs a punch about three quarters through as it can be quite crushable.

While I would strongly recommend getting to Shaidzon and trying this beauty, it is not currently being offered. You should still go because their other offerings are fantastic, my personal favorite is ‘Sea & Sand.’ This perfect combination of Simcoe and Mosaic hops is phenomenal and to quote Tom Haveford from Parks and Recreation, “it tastes as delicious as Beyonce smells… I’m guessing.”

New Brew Thursday: 'Thank You (2020)' from Maine Beery Company

 

As many of you know, a few months ago I went to Maine and visited a few breweries and brough back a bunch of beer. Unfortunately, this is my last beer from that trip. While a trip back is likely in the cards for next year, I can think of no better send off than a beer that thanks me for the trip.

With a name that at this point of the year can only be read sarcastically, with an eye roll, ‘Thank You (2020)’ is an annual release from Maine Beer Company with a new twist each year. Brewed as a Thank You for customers, nonprofit partners, employees, wholesalers, retailers, and so on, this beer is a love letter from one of my favorite breweries that highlights everything they do right.

Get it? It’s their… moving on.

Pouring a slightly hazy golden yellow in the glass with a white head this standard American IPA is nothing but standard. There are subtle notes of pine and mango that remind you of freshly cut grass. The taste is classic Maine Beer Company. A light mouthfeel with a bright, crisp hop and slight lingering bitterness that builds ever-so-slightly with each sip. Clocking in at a respectable 6.2% ABV which gives the beer just the perfect amount of booziness, this is the perfect way to say thanks.

In short. Maine Beer Company, You’re Welcome.

Cooking With Beer: Beer Brined and Smoked, Spicy Chicken Wings

 This past weekend we celebrated our dog Bradley’s first birthday. We had a few friends over for a fun, and socially distant party that included good times with great food and beer. Now those who know me, know that I love to cook, and I have been adding beer to recipes for a long time. A recipe that I have been perfecting for roughly a year now is my smoked beer brined chicken wings. They are sweet, spicy, and smokey and if you have the patience, they are delicious. Here is what you will need for approximately three pounds of wings (this would also work for drumsticks or thighs as well):

For the Brine:

6 cups of water

¼ cup kosher salt

¼ cup dark brown sugar

1 tablespoon black peppercorns

2 cloves of garlic

1 small knob of ginger

24 ounces of brown ale

One tray of ice

 

For the wings:

3 tablespoons kosher salt

3 tablespoons black pepper

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 tablespoon sweet paprika

1 teaspoon white pepper

1 teaspoon chili powder

3 tablespoons olive oil

 

Steps:

Bring the water to a boil and add the sugar, salt, and peppercorns. Next peel and crush the garlic and roughly chop the ginger and add them to the boiling water. Let the water boil for about five minutes and then take it off the heat. Next, add the mixture to your brining container of choice then add the ice and beer*. Once the mixture is cold then add the chicken wings and brine for approximately 12-24 hours.

*For the beer, I used ‘Old Brown Dog’ a brown ale from Smuttynose. A very good brown ale with nice malty notes and flavors that nicely complements the brown sugar to give the meat a little extra sweetness and juiciness. This will allow you to turn up the heat when you sauce your wings.

Next, take the wings out of the brine and then pat them dry and place them on a tray lined with paper towels and let them sit, uncovered in the refrigerator for another 6-12 hours.  

Before you take the wings out of the refrigerator, in a bowl combine the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, white pepper, and chili powder. Then place the spice rub into a shaker.  Next, place the wings in a large bowl and add the olive oil and toss to coat. Place the wings on a tray and then coat each side of the wings in the spice mixture and let sit for 15 minutes.

Now I smoked these wings on my pellet smoker, you could roast or fry them but these wings on the smoker are nearly perfect. I smoked them with hickory and cherry pellets at 275 degrees Fahrenheit for roughly two hours, flipping the wings every 30 minutes.  I typically have a small water pan in my smoker as well. 

After the wings have been on the smoker for 90 minutes, take the wings off the smoker and place them in a large bowl and toss them in your hot sauce of choice. I made a sweet and spicy Thai style hot sauce (that recipe to come) and then put them back on the smoker for the last 30 minutes of cooking for the sauce to get tacky. If you like a saucier wing, you can toss the wings in sauce after they have completed cooking.

These wings are a big hit, the perfect combination of sweetness from the brine and spice from the rub and the sauce. Give these a try at your end of summer BBQ.

Every so often I will post a recipe but if you are looking for a great blog with beer recipes, check out The Beeroness. Every so often I will look to her for inspiration when I try to add beer to a recipe. Definitely give her a view

New Brew Thursday: 'Brandy Land' from Boulevard Brewing Company

 

Did you know that there are breweries outside of New England? Shocking I know. While my blog is littered with breweries from the neighboring area, I do have a love for all breweries across the country and the world. One of these breweries is Boulevard Brewing Company located in Kansas City, Missouri. After I took the bar exam in 2016, I took a trip across the country to visit breweries and ballparks and Boulevard was one of the breweries I was able to visit. I have always been a fan of them and try to get their beer whenever I see it. Awhile back I came across ‘Brandy Land’ a spiced imperial stout aged in apple brandy barrels. My curiosity was instantly peaked upon reading this description and knew I had to try it.  

Clocking in at 12.4% ABV the main notes and flavor come from the booziness. The notes are strong with sweetness, apple brandy, chocolate and are incredibly boozy. The flavor is exceptional. The initial taste is big and boozy with chocolate and a slight spice that gives way to a slight apple brandy flavor and then a lingering roast flavor with a great, albeit lighter than expected mouthfeel. The booziness of this stout ties all the flavors together in a beautiful way as well. This stout is perfectly balanced. Boozy but not too boozy, rich but not too rich, decadent but not overly sweet. While summer is still going strong, this stout is perfect year-round.

Rhode Trip: Taproot Brewing Company

 (The next part in a multi-part series as we complete the Rhode Island Brewer’s Guild Passport. To learn more about the passport and download the app click HERE)

To those who know me, I am a very stereotypical Rhode Islander. When I am home in Rhode Island, I will openly complain about having to drive more than fifteen minutes to go anywhere. So for me to venture out to Aquidneck it has to be for something good, and a few weeks ago it was for the most underrated brewery in Rhode Island, Taproot Brewing Company.

Founded in 2018 they are one of the newer breweries in the state and since they are attached to both the Newport Vineyards and Brix they have a lot going on. They have a beautiful space to operate out of with an open dining room and large windows that provide a beautiful view of the vineyards. While it does not feel like drinking at a friend’s house it is still an aesthetically beautiful and spacious restaurant/tap room.

I was able to get a flight while I was there and sample a few Taproot beers I never had before. There was the super juicy New England IPA ‘F-bomb’ was everything you look for in an IPA, a little sweetness from the Simcoe hops and a nice bitterness from the Amarillo. ‘Comet’ was a very nice Blonde Ale with a little bitterness, ‘Amigo’ a Mexican lager with just a slight hint of lime, and finally ‘Summertime’ a wheat beer that is super refreshing and perfect on a nice hot day.  

Additionally, since they are attached to Brix they do have another advantage too as they have a full menu and the food is amazing. I got the burger and it was fantastic. While it is a “long” drive for yours truly to get out there, whenever I am in the Middletown area Taproot is a definite stop.

Taproot Brewing Company is located at 909 East Main Rd. Middletown, RI 02842. For more information about the brewery, vineyard, and restaurant click HERE.

Part one: Long Live Beerwords

Part two: Buttonwoods Brewery

Part three: LineSider Brewing Company

"New" Brew Thursday: 'Max Headroom' (2020) from Trillium

 Happy *belated*Headroom Day everyone! This year, Headroom Day was this past Saturday. For the uninitiated, Headroom Day is Trillium’s annual release of ‘Headroom,’ which is an insanely hopped double IPA that evolves each year as Trillium tries to push the boundaries and create something special. Typically, we get about a day or two of advanced notice of this beautiful occasion, however those sneaks over at Trillium pulled a fast one announcing it at 12:01am the day of on social media. Waking up on Saturday morning with that announcement was just like waking up on Christmas Morning as a child, but even better since it was completely out of the blue. What made this even better was the return of ‘Max Headroom.’ First introduced last year ‘Max Headroom’ is an even more amped up version of ‘Headroom’ that pushes those boundaries even further. Typically, Headroom Day involves getting to Trillium a couple hours before opening to ensure your can purchase. However, due to COVID-19 and online ordering I just purchased the beer online and drove up to the brewery to pick it up. It does take the fun out of Headroom Day as making friends in the can line is a rite of passage, but I will take a five-minute wait for cans on Headroom Day eleven times out of ten.

‘Max Headroom’ pours a hazy and almost florescent yellow into the glass with a bright white head. It has strong notes of fresh pineapple and citrus with subtle tropical notes. The duality of ‘Max Headroom’ is that its appearance is very much attributed to the Galaxy hops while its aromas are more attributed to the Mosaic. Both working together where the drinker looks at the beer, smells it, and then looks at it again in almost disbelief. It has a rich tropical and citrus flavor with a thick and luxurious mouthfeel that coats the entire palate and a slight lingering bitterness with all the hops working together in perfect harmony. With an ABV of 9.1% it is not overly boozy and just a phenomenal beer.  I hope this means that ‘Max Headroom’ will be a permanent fixture for next year and many years to come.    

Rhode Trip: LineSider Brewing Company

 (The next part in a multi-part series as we complete the Rhode Island Brewer’s Guild Passport. To learn more about the passport and download the app click HERE).

This weekend we were able to get to one of THE hidden gems in the Rhode Island Craft Beer community, LineSider Brewing Company. Founded in 2018 they are one of the new kids on the block, however many of their offerings can go toe to toe with the top tier Rhode Island Breweries. Located a little off the beaten path in East Greenwich with a small outdoor patio as well as multiple indoor tables as well. Moreover, they are also pouring flights and allowing dogs in their outdoor area.

The outdoor area is reminiscent of drinking on your friend’s backyard porch complete with two cornhole sets, while the indoor area is more similar to his man cave, complete with televisions and Patriots gear (for those who do not know, LineSider is owned in part by former Patriots’ Guard Dan Koppen). The indoor area also has ample tables and a great view of the brewery as well.

My flight consisted of ‘The Craft’, ‘Shelter In Place’, ‘Only In Darkness Can You See The Stars’, and ‘Wicked Taht’. While all were great the two standouts were ‘The Craft’ and ‘Only In Darkness Can You See The Stars’. ‘The Craft’ which is named after a phenomenal documentary about Rhode Island Craft Beer is a hazy double IPA with a great mouthfeel and amazing flavor. While ‘Only In Darkness Can You See The Stars’ is a rye IPA with a nice crispness and a great bite from the rye. If you have not been to LineSider then you need to make a trip there, if you have not been recently, get back.

LineSider Brewing Company is located at 1485 South County Trail, Suite #201. East Greenwich, RI 02818. For more information about the brewery and their beer please click HERE.

Part one: Long Live Beerworks

Part two: Buttonwoods Brewery

New Brew Thursday: 'Curiosity Ninety Seven' From Tree House Brewery

Happy IPA Day everyone! I hope that everyone was able to celebrate with their IPA of choice. I was able to celebrate with ‘Curiosity Ninety Seven’ from Tree House Brewery. Now my love for Tree House has been clear in the past  as the beauty and warmth of their brewery is only surpassed by their incredible beer and ‘Curiosity Ninety Seven’ knocks it out of the park.

Tree House’s curiosity series is a thing of beauty. One of the top breweries in the world, constantly experimenting and innovating by testing out new brewing tips and techniques. It is fantastic. ‘Curiosity Ninety Seven’ pours a rich and hazy orange into the glass and has a similar appearance to orange juice. It has heavy citrus and subtle notes of melon. The flavor is heavy on the citrus while having a nice pillowy softness as well. A juicy IPA with a great mouthfeel and soft, but lingering, bitterness on the back end. While any Tree House beer is a great selection for IPA day, this one was perfect for yours truly. Let me know in the comments what your IPA Day beer of choice was.

Rhode Trip: Buttonwoods Brewery

(The next part in a multi-part series as we complete the Rhode Island Brewer’s Guild Passport. To learn more about the passport and download the app click HERE)

 

This weekend I was able to get back to one of my favorite breweries, Buttonwoods Brewery. Due to COVID-19 they are open for online sales during the week and onsite outdoor pours Saturday and Sunday. The outdoor seating is quite nice and while it is in the back of the brewery it has a very nice feel to it.

I find that the hallmark of a great brewery is asking if drinking there feels like you are drinking at your friend’s house. When you drink at Buttonwoods it feels like you are drinking in your buddy’s basement. I was lucky enough to discover Buttonwoods very early and while their beer was awesome in the beginning it has gotten even better as they continue to push the boundaries of Rhode Island craft beer.

I was able to try both ‘Big Echo’ and ‘GOMB’ this weekend. ‘Big Echo’ is a newer beer with Centennial and Chinook hops that give this New England IPA a slightly west coast feel. The beer has a nice hop while being very refreshing. ‘GOMB’ has a big fruit flavor with a subtle, but lingering, sourness that comes in at the end. Both beers are fantastic and are a must try at your next visit.

Buttonwoods Brewery is located at 530 Wellington Ave. Cranston, RI 20910. For more information about the brewery and their beer please click HERE.

Part one: Long Live Beerworks

New Brew Thursday: 'Holy Donut' from Lone Pine Brewing

While it has been about a month since I returned from Maine, I still have a few beers from the trip. One of these beers is ‘Holy Donut’ from Lone Pine. As I was looking at breweries in the Portland area, I came across Lone Pine. Upon learning they had this beer that was not only a collaboration with The Holy Donut, one of the best donut shops around, but was also described as an Imperial Double Sour Ale with Donuts, blueberries, vanilla, and lactose I knew it was something I had to try.

‘Holy Donut’ pours into the glass as a cloudy bluish, purplish beer with a light pink head and smells exactly like a blueberry-vanilla donut. With strong notes of both blueberry and vanilla, with a subtle note of a freshly baked and glazed donut it is a sweet and fruity smelling beer. The flavor is awesome. The initial tartness of the blueberry gives way to the sweetness of the vanilla and the lactose before returning at the end for a lingering tartness that stays on the middle of your tongue. The lactose also gives the beer extra body as well, giving it a slightly thicker mouthfeel than your typical sour. Even though it is labeled as an ‘Imperial Sour’ and has an ABV of 7.5% it is extremely refreshing and quite crushable.

While I will not be coming back to Maine anytime soon, you bet that one of my first stops will be to visit Lone Pine.

Rhode Trip: Long Live Beerworks

(The first part in a multi-part series as we complete the Rhode Island Brewer’s Guild Passport to learn more about the passport and download the app click HERE)

A few weeks ago, I was able to get to Long Live Beerworks in order to get my passport stamped. While I have been to Long Live multiple times and they are one of my favorite Rhode Island Breweries, this was one of the first breweries I was able to attend as the Rhode Island COVID-19 restrictions began to loosen. While they are only open for outdoor seating it was still an amazing time.

The old location of Long Live was nice albeit a little small, however, their new location is a thing of beauty. To me, the hallmark of a great brewery is simple: “Does it feel like you are drinking at your friend’s house?” Long Live passes that test. While this visit I was outside I have been inside on multiple occasions and drinking at Long Live always feels like you are drinking at your friend’s upscale loft, especially when you are upstairs. The outside has a similar feeling of drinking on your friend’s patio, but each part has this amazing warm/friendly feeling. But enough about the aesthetics, let’s talk about the beer.

When I went, and unfortunately these offerings are no longer available, I was able to try ‘Neon Nightmare’ a sour explosion of tropical fruit. Raspberries, pineapple, tangerine, and vanilla are all present and it was absolutely exceptional. I was also able to try ‘Through These Eyes’ a double IPA that was crazy juicy, hazy, and very hoppy. The Lupin powder with the Galaxy hops gave the beer its distinct flavor with a subtle hint from the Rakau. Another awesome beer from an awesome brewery. I will definitely be back but here’s to one stamp down!  

Long Live Beerworks is located at 40R Sprague St. Providence, RI 02907. For more information about the brewery and their beer click HERE.

New Brew Thursday: 'Traitorade' Smug Brewing

While I am an avid Patriots fan, most know that my love for Tom Brady knows no bounds and his leaving for Tampa Bay was hard. However, after nearly 20 years of championship caliber football I wished him well and would be cheering for the Buccaneers this season… if there is one. Despite this, when Smug brewed ‘Traitorade’ it was too interesting to pass up, although it did hurt to say this beer’s name out loud.

‘Traitorade’ pours a super cloudy yellow into the glass with a small white head. The notes are not overly powerful, and it has a faint lemon-lime smell with a distinct sourness. However, where this beer really shines is in the flavor. It has a very pronounced lemon-lime flavor with an incredible tartness that stays in the front of your mouth. The sea salt is not overpowering and just helps to amplify the underlying flavor and the tartness. It has a light mouthfeel and finishes surprisingly clean with just a slight tartness. It reminds me of lemon-lime Gatorade which makes this not only an amazingly delicious beer but a very unique beer as well. Additionally, it is dangerously crushable at 7% ABV. Smug just brewed another batch of this so if you missed out the first time you need to get there and try this beer.

New Brew Thursday: 'Luxurious Tiles' from Trillium and Bissell Brothers

Two of my favorite breweries are Trillium and Bissell Brothers. so when they collaborated for ‘Luxurious Tiles’ I knew I had to have it. It is well documented that I love collaboration beers and both ‘Lux’ and ‘Cutting Tiles’ are two fantastic beers in their own right. With ‘Lux’ having a great lightness and taste from the mosaic hops with a soft bite from the rye and ‘Cutting Tiles’ having an amazing sweetness from the raw wildflower honey right from the start my hopes were high.

‘Luxurious Tiles’ pours a very hazy and deep yellow into the glass with a light white head. It has incredibly sweet notes that to me smell like candied oranges. This is really where the ‘Cutting Tiles’ portion of the beer shines and the taste is fantastic. A rich mouthfeel with great balance between sweetness and bitterness. The combination between the mosaic hops and the wildflower honey gives the beer an awesome juiciness and sweetness. It finishes with a soft bitterness that slightly builds. ‘Luxurious Tiles’ is definitely more ‘Cutting Tiles’ than ‘Lux’ but it is absolutely amazing

"New" Brew Thursday: 'Spruced (2020)' from Tilted Barn

It's that magical time of year again people. Days are getting a little shorter, nights a little cooler, and there's a twinkle in the air... well, two of the three are true. Around this time every year one of my favorite RI breweries Tilted Barn brews 'Spruced' one of the most unique beers you will ever have. For those who do not know, Tilted Barn is on the owner's actual family farm and they will incorporate hops and other things from their farm into their beers. For 'Spruced' Tilted Barn incorporates spruce tips from their spruce trees. Each year 'Spruced' changes depending on the spruce tips and the brewing, this is the third year I have had 'Spruced' and I have to say this is my favorite. 

'Spruced' pours a very hazy yellow into the glass with a nice white head. It has strong piney notes with a subtle note of oranges. It looks heavy but has a surprisingly light mouthfeel and clocking in at 5% ABV is surprisingly light. This years 'Spruced' has a very distinct and pronounced spruce flavor with a big piney flavor being the first and last thing that you taste. The spruce flavor lingers nicely on the tongue and builds slightly with each sip. The orange flavor is very subtle in between the spruce and fills out the palate nicely. This year's 'Spruced' is fantastic and definitely worth the trip to Exeter. 

Maine Trip

We have been back from Maine for about a week now and it was an awesome trip. While we only went to two breweries, Maine Beer Company and Rising Tide we were able to get cans from Bissell Brothers, Liquid Riot, and Lone Pine. We also visited a bunch of restaurants and walked all around the Old Port. It was a bit surreal at times as it was empty due to various social distancing restrictions but it was still fantastic. Here are some highlights:

- It stunk not being able to get pours at Bissell which is always one of my stops in Portland. But I was able to pick up one of my favorite beers 'The Nuclear Whim With The Fuse Of A Mile.' It is an exceptional beer with an even better name. As I've written before I am always a sucker for a good name.

- We were not able to get to Allagash but had a few of their offerings at some of the nearby restaurants. I was a little disappointed they didn't have 'Sixteen Counties' but it has been distributed nearby so I will be on the lookout.

- The food was incredible, we did not have a bad meal the entire time we were there.

- There were a lot of good summer beers around. Very good lagers, pilsners, and sessions as well. However, one of the best beers from the weekend was 'Totally Tubular' from Orono Brewing. This double IPA was super juicy and really nice.

- While it was an awesome trip there were lots of breweries that were not open for pours that we couldn't get cans at: Sebago, Shipyard, and Austin Street just to name a few. We will definitely be back next year.

Fourth of Brew-ly

Happy Fourth of July! I hope everyone is enjoying the day and has already started their festivities. Yours truly has already prepped his wings, made his hot sauce (more on that in a future post), and has the pork shoulder on the smoker. But today is not just about food, or celebrating this country's birthday... it is about the beer. But since certain beers do not play well with this hot weather and you'll want to make it to the fireworks it's all about finding the right beer(s) to take you through the day while not sacrificing the taste. Here are some styles and beers to fill your cooler with today. 

Pilsner: Pilsners are definitely one of the best styles for a hot day. With a mid-tier ABV and a light mouthfeel and a crisp finish you'll be able to have a few as stay upright and still enjoy what you're drinking and eating as well. This would be one of the first I would reach for.
Good selections: 'Pils' from Lagunitas and 'Buffalo Czech' from Shaidzon

Kolsch: Kolsches have a similar crispness as pilsners but since the kolsch style uses ale yeast the taste lingers a bit longer. They are still very crisp but are slightly more complex on the back end. This is the style I am currently enjoying and would definitely recommend.
Good selections: 'Outlier' from Treehouse and 'Handline Kolsch' from Devil's Purse

Witbier: Wits have a nice and citrusy taste that can linger. Light mouthfeel with a subtle complexity and a lingering wheat taste these are more common than the other two so you may be able to find them more easily. Always a good selection in a pinch.
Good Selections: 'Bottom Up Wit' from Revolution and 'White' from Allagash

Hefeweizen: Unfiltered with big fruit flavors that vary from beer to beer. Nice complexity with a good mouthfeel and a lingering fruit flavor.
Good Selections: 'Hefeweissbier' from Weihenstephaner and 'Hefe-Weibier' from Paulaner Munchen

Those are the some of the best styles with good and readily available options to fill out your cooler. If you are feeling extra adventurous some other styles to look for: Wild Ale, Berliner Weisse, Gose, Lagers, and Session IPAs.

Have a great Fourth and please comment below on what you're going to be enjoying today.

New Brew Thursday: 'Sugar Shack' from Liquid Riot

As I have stated, on our trip to Maine we were able to visit several breweries but unfortunately most of them were only open for curbside can pick-up. One of these breweries was Liquid Riot and I was able to grab two four packs from them, one of which was 'Sugar Shack'. Now in the interest of full disclosure I was not sure I was going to like this beer. While it is described as a '100% Sap Lager' it is also categorized as a 'Maple Helles Bock' and I typically do not like the Bock style as I think it is too malty but I bought it because I was crazy intrigued. A Helles Bock made with 100% pure Maine Maple Syrup? I knew I had to give it a shot, and I am glad it did because this beer is awesome.

'Sugar Shack' pours a cloudy lightish brown with a nice white head with notes of maple and a subtle note of caramel. It has an impossibly light mouthfeel with an equally impossible combination of sweetness and crispness that I have never experienced before. Sometimes beers that feature maple syrup have a problem where the sweetness can be overwhelming, especially as you get towards the end of the glass... not here. With 'Sugar Shack' the sweetness does not build due to its crispness. Moreover, clocking in at 7% ABV it is D-A-N-G-E-R-O-U-S-L-Y crushable. The only drawbacks to this beer are that I only have three more left and since Liquid Riot opening for pours on July 9th I cannot be there to try more of their offerings.

If you are in the Portland area you have got to try this beer.

Brewery Trip! Rising Tide Brewery

We are back home in Rhode Island after an amazing trip and it was a lot of fun and very relaxing. While there were a lot of places that were closed or had limited seating there were many others that took the proper precautions to allow for us, and others, to feel safe. One of these places was Rising Tide Brewery.

Rising Tide is not in the Old Port but slightly off the beaten path. It is right next to Austin Street Brewery and is very close to a few other breweries. When things return to normal it should be an awesome area to visit and we will be making the trip. Unfortunately, Austin Street was only open for cans when we visited.

The outdoor area was large but I am not sure if it was just a temporary situation or their usual seating arrangement. I was able to see the inside part of the brewery and it looks like it was a commercial garage of some kind. Definitely a really funky set up when things were normal.

I was surprised to see that they were offering flights as most breweries have stopped this during COVID-19. This was awesome as I was able to try a few of their beers and they were pretty good. The stand outs were 'Hesperus' a super complex barleywine with a heavy malty profile, rich with caramel and bourbon. There was also 'Maine Island Trail Ale' a session IPA with a light and crisp flavor profile and a nice and simple hop.  They also have wood fired pizza, oysters, and other food and while we did not get anything since we already ate beforehand but it looked and smelled amazing.

Rising Tide is a very good brewery in an really awesome area definitely worth the trip. 

Brewery Trip! Maine Beer Company

Greetings from Portland, ME. My girlfriend and I booked this trip a few weeks ago needing a bit of a getaway and Portland is just the best but more on that later. While things still feel very different than the last time I was up here, it is nice to see all of the businesses, restaurants, bars, and breweries adapting to the restrictions and social distancing guidelines. While there are a lot of breweries that have not been able to open yet, Maine Beer Company has been able to.

The last time I visited the brewery was a couple years ago. The new addition to the tap room is absolutely beautiful as is the new outdoor seating. Inside the tap room is a fountain along with a second retail shop for bottles, glasses, and other merchandise. The back wall it a showcase to the kindness and generosity of the brewery, outlining their business practices and charitable donations.

While they are not doing flights of beer, I was able to get two smaller pours and my girlfriend was able to get one as well. I was able to try 'Bicentennial' and 'Wolfe's Neck' which were both awesome. 'Bicentennial' had a very nice hoppy flavor with a surprisingly crisp finish while 'Wolfe's Neck' had a really nice haze to it. Additionally, my girlfriend tried 'Prince Percy' which was one of the best pilsners I have ever had. It was incredibly light, crisp, and citrusy with a refreshingly clean finish. Moreover, they have some of the best wood fired pizza around.

'Bicentennial'

If you're in the area HERE. There is a ninety minute seating limit so plan accordingly you can book your reservation.

New Brew Thursday: 'Mood Shift' from Buttonwoods Brewery

You can read more about the origins of "New Brew Thursday" HERE but we are going to jump right into today's beer. Over the weekend I saw that Buttonwoods had a new sour and that it was going fast so I knew I had to try it.

'Mood Shift' is a mixed media sour from Buttonwoods Brewery, which is one of my favorite Rhode Island Breweries. It pours bright purple into the glass with a nice pinkish head. There are distinct notes of blueberry and vanilla with a small hint of graham cracker and it is DANGEROUSLY crushable at 6.8%. There is a prominent flavor of blueberry with a second wave of vanilla and a subtle hint of cinnamon that stacks up with each sip. While not overly sour it does have a lingering tartness that stays in the front of your mouth. 

Overall 'Mood Shift' is a fantastic beer and perfect for those hot summer days, just make sure you keep an eye on it as everyone is trying to get their hands (or paws) on it. 

All Together

It has been awhile now hasn't it. Much like my last break sometimes the "lawyer" part of the blog title GREATLY overtakes the other part. Now, though with working from home there is some extra time to write  so not only will this serve as the re-relaunch of the blog things will be slightly different now. There will be weekly posts, more interesting content, and visits/discussions about more breweries. However, these things will require collaboration which lead me to one of the coolest things going on in the craft beer community right now.

'All Together' is a worldwide collaboration started by Other Half Brewing in Brooklyn where brewers are encouraged to donate the proceeds to hospitality workers affected by COVID-19. It is an IPA brewed with Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe, and Cascade hops that is intentionally kept simple so that the other breweries around the country can take the recipe and put their own spin on it. Here in Rhode Island a few breweries brewed "All Together" and I was lucky enough to try the offerings from Buttonwoods Brewery, Tilted Barn, and Providence Brewing Company. This post is about the Providence Brewing version.





















'All Together' by Providence Brewing pours a very hazy yellow with an impossibly white head. It features floral and somewhat piney notes. The flavors are distinctly citrus and tropical with a lingering bitterness that coats the tongue from back to front. It is a distinct offering from Providence Brewing that showcases their brewing process of the Other Half recipe which is the best part of this concept. The offerings I have had from the other breweries are distinctly their beers which allows all of the participating to shine in their own way and here, Providence Brewing shines. 

Click here to read more about the 'All Together' program and what it means. I'll see everyone soon.