New Brew Thursday: 'Bigger Peach' from Tree House Brewery

 Aside from walking their picturesque grounds and picking up my cans, one of my favorite things about visiting Tree House is their draft offerings. Not only because of how good Tree House is on draft but because they are constantly adding offerings that add variations to their classics. Whether it is adding guava or pineapple, adding oreo or marshmallow these are the things that make visiting Tree House all the better. Now, with them adding dried fruit to their IPAs and other additives you can take those rare delicacies home and there is no finer example of this than ‘Bigger Peach.’ A variation of ‘Very Hazy’ with you guessed it… Peach.  

‘Bigger Peach’ pours into the glass with a soft orange color and a nice white head. The sweet notes of peach hit you right away and hit you with wave after wave of their sugary sweetness with the slightest of hints of candied orange on the very back end. The taste? Exceptional. While I am a little biased as ‘Very Hazy’ is one of my absolute favorites ‘Bigger Peach’ takes the peach flavor of the Haze line-up and cranks it to 11. The sweetness of the peaches hits you right away but then gives way to a slight bitterness that lingers ever-so slightly on the middle of the tongue. With a thick mouthfeel it coats the entire palate with sweet peach and a soft bitterness. Clocking in at a dangerous 8.6% ABV you’ll be 90% though the glass before it you start to feel it.

‘Bigger Peach’ is a dangerously delicious beer, and you NEED to try it.

Rhode Trip: Grey Sail Brewing

(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) 

In my last post, I discussed venturing out of our immediate location to visit new/different breweries and that in visiting those breweries we can be greeted with something truly amazing. This past weekend I made the trip to Grey Sail Brewing down in Westerly and while I have been there before, it is a brewery that I love visiting and if you have not been there, you should.

         
                                    

Grey Sail Brewing is a two-building operation, one building hosts the brewery with can, bottle, growler, and merchandise sales and the other hosts the taproom. While the brewery is in a standard warehouse, the taproom is an old Westerly mansion with the beer garden in the side yard. I have always stated that the best breweries remind you of drinking at a friend’s house and I have to say that drinking at Grey Sail is like drinking at your rich friend’s house. The space inside the house is really quaint, it is where the service bar is along with a few rooms with tables for indoor drinking. However, it is the outdoor beer garden that is truly a thing of beauty. It has several tables under a tree providing ample shade, along with more picnic tables underneath a long overhang. Both areas over look a vibrant lawn and beautiful water fountain that convey a sense of peace and calm. Near the picnic tables is a wood-fired pizza oven that pumps out some of the best wood-fired pizza you have ever had.

The Beer? Fantastic! I first grabbed a flight of a few of their offerings along with one of my favorite Grey Sail beers and they were all great. ‘Hazy Ho’ was light with a nice juicy hop, ‘Hazy Day’ the unfiltered Belgian had a nice malty taste with a lingering finish, and ‘Adrift’ was hoppy with a lingering bitter finish but ‘Captain’s Daughter’ stole the show. ‘Captain’s Daughter’ has been a staple in the Rhode Island beer community for years and has been prominently featured on draft lists across the state and it has served as my ‘Go-To’ Double IPA for years. I know this beer, I love this beer, and it is awesome both on tap and from a can. However, having fresh ‘Captain’s Daughter’ from the brewery is a life changing experience. The juiciness from the mosaic hop plays beautifully with the citra hop and leads perfectly into the piney flavor from the chinook hop and has a nice long finish. If you like ‘Captain’s Daughter’ you owe it to yourself to visit the brewery and try it fresh. Additionally, for those who may not like craft beer, they have mixed cocktails and hard seltzers from the distillery next door that are also phenomenal.

While Westerly is well off the beaten path for many of us, it is an absolute must visit to thoroughly enjoy the Rhode Island craft beer scene.

Grey Sail Brewing is located at 63 Canal St. Westerly, RI 02891. For more information about their offerings and the brewery click HERE.

Part one: Long Live Beerworks

Part two: Buttonwoods Brewery

Part three: LineSider Brewing Company

Part four: Taproot Brewing Company

Part five: Community Bruin (CLOSED)

Part six: Shaidzon Beer Company

Part seven: Moniker Brewery

Part eight: Six Pack Brewing

Part nine: Lops Brewing

Rhode Trip: Lops Brewing

(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) 

Now I have written about my “Rhode Islander quirks” before, but one of the big ones is complaining about driving anywhere that is more than 15 minutes away. Now I have gotten better as the years have gone on and now it really only applies when traveling inside the state but it is still one of my, and many other peoples, quirks. This quirk exists because here in the Ocean State we are cursed with so many good options within five to ten minutes of our immediate location and it is often hard to venture out (insert TLC ‘Waterfalls’ joke here). However, it is when we venture out that we find new and equally amazing places. None more so than Lops Brewing. Located in Woonsocket it is more than 15 minutes from where I live but it was worth the trip.

Lops Brewing is located on the first floor of a multi-story building that might actually have some apartments above it. It also has an outdoor patio. While we went back in late March and were greeted by a small snow squall it was still very nice and dog friendly, so Mr. Bradley had fun as well. Inside is a slightly narrow tap room with several tables and a service bar with incredibly friendly staff. Classified as a Nano Brewery, a concept I am learning more and more about, it has that perfect feel of a small local bar with a nice warm feeling to it.

Now all of the positive aesthetics do not mean anything if the beer is not good. But here, the beer is fantastic. While I cannot remember specific tasting notes on all of them, all of the IPAs were fantastic with the session IPA being one of my favorites. However, the big standout and I mean BIG standout was ‘Breakroom Snack’ their peanut butter and jelly porter. While peanut butter stouts/porters are quickly rising up my power rankings I have always found that PB&J stouts and porters are a bit off, but not this one. With the perfect peanut butter taste up front that perfectly transitions into a nice sweetness that rounds things out and doesn’t linger too long it was an absolute treat.

While I do not get to Woonsocket often, I can now safely say that each time I go there I will be stopping at Lops.

Lops Brewing is located at 122 North Main St. Unit 1A Woonsocket, RI 02895. For more information about their offerings and the brewery click HERE

Part one: Long Live Beerworks

Part two: Buttonwoods Brewery

Part three: LineSider Brewing Company

Part four: Taproot Brewing Company

Part five: Community Bruin (CLOSED)

Part six: Shaidzon Beer Company

Part seven: Moniker Brewery

Part eight: Six Pack Brewing

Brewery Trip! Dorchester Brewing Company

Back in 2016 when I was doing bar prep and getting ready to move out of Boston I had heard of a new brewery opening in Dorchester. While I did not visit back then, I was able to back in April during our Boston trip and while I had always heard good things about the brewery they COMPLETELY blew away my expectations.

Dorchester Brewing Company sits near a busy intersection on Massachusetts Ave. in Dorchester. While I would not go strolling around too far past this area it is in a relatively good section of Dorchester. The taproom inside is quite nice but the two stars of the show are the outdoor patio and the rooftop deck. While I was not able to check out the roof deck the patio was awesome.

The draft list was exquisite. They had a variety of styles on their tap list which I am always a fan of, however, it was their IPAs that instantly called my name. My flight had three and while all were fantastic it was their imperial pilsner that won the day. It was crisp, clean, and would be the perfect beer on a hot summer day. Additionally, I was able to grab a sip of my girlfriend’s (now fiancée, not a big deal but sort of a big deal) Russian Imperial stout that was perfectly textbook and absolutely delicious. The food was also amazing. While we had other dinner plans and just split an order of loaded fries they were awesome as well.

Dorchester Brewing Company is one of the best breweries in the city bar none, and you had better believe that the next time we visit Boston we will be back.

New Brew Thursday: 'Lazarus' from Proclamation Ale Company

For as long as I have enjoyed craft beer I have always been a fan of “weird beer.” Meaning that, anytime I see a new style, or a style with odd/unique ingredients I generally have to give it a try.  Now I say “generally” because to me, not every brewery has earned the right to go rogue because I have been burned before and have had my fair share of drain pours. However, when I come across a brewery I trust, I am always down to try something weird. Proclamation in Warwick has ALWAYS been a brewery I trust and they are constantly pushing the boundaries. This was undoubtedly true when they brewed ‘Lazarus’ a bourbon barrel aged sour porter.

‘Lazarus’ pours into the glass a dark brown with a small and light brown head. It has notes of chocolate and sour cherries that both delight and confuse the nose. The taste is as awesome as it is confusing, as delightful as it is complex. ‘Lazarus’ has a light mouthfeel and an initial taste of dark chocolate that then fades and changes to a long and lingering sourness that sticks to the tongue long after the beer is gone. There is a subtle hint of the bourbon barrel which I am always a fan of as well. Despite clocking in at 9.5% ABV it is not overly boozy and with the long and lingering sourness it is the perfect nighttime sipping beer.

‘Lazarus’ is not something everyone will love but if you enjoy stouts, sours, and weird beer it is a must try.

New Brew Thursday: 'Black Cat Sees All' from Long Live Beerworks

Personally, I am a big fan whenever breweries amp up or combine two of their featured beers. Obvious examples are 25% of Tree House (King Julius, Gggreennn, Super Sap, Very Hazy, etc.) and my favorite beer, ‘HeavyMettle’. However, when I was finally able to get my hands on Long Live’s ‘Black Cat Sees All’, a combination of the amazing ‘The All Seeing Eye’ and ‘Black Cat’, my expectations were high. Not only did this live up to those expectations, it is my new favorite beer from Long Live.

‘Black Cat Sees All’ pours into the glass a hazy, almost fluorescent yellow with a thick and bright white head. It has soft notes of melon, pineapple, and tropical fruit that all build off one another to delight the nose. The taste is exceptional. With a rich and luxurious mouthfeel that coats the entire palate it has a big juicy flavor profile with a soft, but building, bitterness that lingers on the front of the tongue after each sip. That bitterness then compounds with each subsequent sip. Despite clocking in at 8.5% ABV it is not overly boozy and you’ll be nearly done with the glass before you’ll start to feel it. ‘Black Cat Sees All’ is the perfect Long Live beer in every sense of the word.

New Brew Thursday: 'Indigo Sunrise' from Dorchester Brewing Company

Last month when I visited Boston the first stop was to Dorchester Brewing Company. While I had never been I had always heard good things and I was not disappointed as the beer was absolutely fantastic. While I will go more into the visit in a future post (thanks Freddy Foreshadowing) when I was there, I saw this awesome looking light purple beer but was not able to try it. When I got my to go cans I saw that it was actually indigo and that it was called ‘Indigo Sunrise,’ and man do I wish I grabbed a pour of this when I was there.

‘Indigo Sunrise’ pours into the glass a cloudy indigo color with a light pink head. It has strong fruit notes of blueberries and plums with a soft tangerine note at the end which adds a slight sweetness. The taste is awesome and textbook kettle sour. The blueberries and plums are heavily featured with each sip with just a hint of tangerine, it finishes with the perfect amount of mid-tongue tartness that lingers ever-so-slightly after each sip. Often times, kettle sours are not very tart but ‘Indigo Sunrise’ nails it with the perfect amount of tartness for those who really enjoy sours. With a light mouthfeel and ABV of only 5% you will be nearly done with the glass before you realize it, but you will not be feeling it.

New Brew Thursday: 'Inner Crazy (Strata)' from Electric Brewing Company

Since starting the Instagram account that goes with this blog (follow The Drinking Lawyer on Instagram) I have entered dozens of giveaways. I had never won one until last week when I won a giveaway from @IPAlot. Not only did I get a new glass and t-shirt but a sweet four pack of two Triple IPAs that he collaborated with Electric Brewing Company with. I was told that these beers were awesome and tonight’s #NewBrewThursday did not disappoint. Especially because it features a hop that I am really starting to love, Strata.

‘Inner Crazy (Strata)’ pours into the glass a hazy yellow with a nice white head. As far as I know, I have never had a triple dry hopped IPA and I have to say that I am a BIG fan. It has heavy notes of sweet melon from the Strata hops that linger ever-so-slightly. The taste is fantastic. With a thick, yet soft, mouthfeel that coats the entire palate before delivering a big juicy punch of Strata. The other hops play nicely to support the Strata and it is just delightful with a slight bitterness that lingers just so on the tongue. Despite being a Triple IPA with an ABV of 10% it is not overly heavy and boozy. But be warned, it is super drinkable and you’ll be three-quarters done with the glass before you know it.

In all, the only downside to this beer is that I only have one more left.

New Brew Thursday: 'I See You' from Finback

Way back when, in mid-March, when I received my New York City Brewer’s Guild beer week case I was filled with happiness. Due to my hectic schedule I knew there would have been NO way for me to attend in person and when I first heard about the case (shout out to IPA.fan on Instagram) I new I had to have it. Now that I am down to my last beer I only have one thought. I cannot believe this case lasted so long and that I left this absolute beauty from Finback for the end.

‘I See You’ pours into the glass a hazy yellow with a thick white head. It has soft notes of melon that do not overpower the nose, just subtly whispering into the nostrils (that might be one of the most pretentious sentences I have ever written). The taste is phenomenal. The label promises cantaloupe and boy does it deliver on that promise. While I have never had an IPA with Belma or Blanc hops they definitely play a supporting role to both introduce and round out the Mosaic, as the beer has the juicy and thick mouthfeel of a classic hazy Double IPA. A slight bitterness lingers on the back of the tongue to punctuate each sip. Despite having an ABV of 8% it is not overly boozy and you will be three-quarters through the glass before you start to feel it.

In all, when it comes to this beer, this case, and the New York City Brewer’s Guild Beer Week I go with an old standby quote: Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.

Cooking With Beer: Allagash Jerk Chicken

North meets south in this is a recipe I have been working on for some time. Tinkering with it to get something truly special and while I will continue to play with it, mostly because that is just how I cook, I feel that this is something truly special and is absolutely delicious.

When it comes to the beer, I used Allagash ‘White.’ Not only because it is my favorite Wit but in my humble opinion it is one of the best Belgian Wits on the market. While you can use another Wit, I do not see why you would do so as ‘White’ is just fantastic. However, if you must, just make sure it has coriander and citrus in it as they help bring out those ingredients in the brine and marinate.

Brine:

6 cups water

1 habanero pepper

1 bay leaf

1 knob ginger

½ lemon (plus its juice)

1 clove of garlic

¼ cup dark brown sugar

¼ cup kosher salt

1 tablespoon Black Peppercorns

1 tablespoon Allspice berries

1 teaspoon Coriander seeds

24 oz Allagash White

1 tray of ice cubes

 

Marinate:

1 knob ginger

4 cloves of garlic

2 fresh bay leaves

¼ of a medium size onion

3 scallions

½ cup cilantro

2 habanero peppers (3 if you like it spicy)

2 tablespoons fresh thyme

1 tablespoon allspice

1 tablespoon dark brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon coriander

½ teaspoon clove

½ cup low sodium soy sauce

½ cup Allagash White

¼ cup Worchester sauce

¼ cup lemon juice

 

Method:

Bring the water up to boil and then add all of the ingredients for the brine except the Allagash and Ice. Let boil for five minutes before taking off the heat and then add to your brining bucket and then add ice and Allagash. Once the brine is cold then place your chicken into the brine and let sit for 24-48 hours.

Next, take the chicken out of the brine and pat dry with paper towels. Place the chicken on a tray and put back into the refrigerator for 12 hours to allow the skin to tack up.

For the marinate, combine all of the solid ingredients and spices into a high-powered blender (rough chop the ginger, scallion, and onion) and pulse five times. Next, add the liquid ingredients and blitz until it is chunky-smooth. Once the chicken is ready, place into a plastic bag with the marinate and let sit for 24-36 hours.

When you are ready to cook, take the chicken out of the refrigerator and let sit for 15 minutes. Bring your smoker up to 275 degrees Fahrenheit, I used a combination of hickory and cherry pellets, and then place the chicken skin side up for 30 minutes and then flip so it is skin side down. Cook to an internal temperature of 160 degrees and then let sit for at least 15 minutes (the carryover heat will cook to completion).* and then enjoy.

*NOTE: my smoker has a very high deflector plate that acts almost like a broiler. If your smoker doesn’t have one, then you may want to put it under a broiler to crisp up the skin. If you are using a grill, you will definitely want to introduce some smoke through wood chips.

While this recipe is very time consuming it is most assuredly worth it. Proper Jerk Chicken is a labor of love using the brine, marinate, and smoke to make something that is warm, spicy, and smokey all at once. Even if you cannot brine the chicken and just want a nice chicken marinate for the grill this is perfect for you.

"New" Brew Thursday: 'Dusk Trill Dawn' from Trillium and Evil Twin

The year is 2016, after months of studying and three days in hell I finally finished taking the bar exam. I have about one more month living in Boston and now with ample free time, I do not know what to do with it. While going for Pokemon Go walks, hitting the gym, sleeping, and just generally relaxing were my day-to-day musts, it was hitting up some of my favorite spots that really made me happy. One of those spots was Trillium. In their old space there was no room for on-site pours, so it was a strict to-go operation. It was there, in the dead of the August heat, I visited to pick up two imperial stouts. A bottle of ‘Outside The Lines’ and a howler of ‘Dusk Trill Dawn’ because that was the only way it was being offered. I remember it being one of the best stouts I had ever had and always wanted to try it again. Nearly five years later… I got my wish.

‘Dusk Trill Dawn’ pours into the glass a dark, almost obsidian black with a brown head. It has extraordinarily strong notes of coffee, chocolate, and malt that all blend and play off one another as well. The taste is just how I remembered, amazing. A thick and luxurious mouthfeel that coats the entire palate with an initial hit of chocolate that then gives way to an overpowering coffee flavor that lingers on the tongue well after it is gone. Despite being 12.6% ABV it is not overly boozy and hits just right.

In all, ‘Dusk Trill Dawn’ was just the thing I needed to satisfy my Boston nostalgia. Reminding me of one of my favorite stouts from one of my favorite breweries.

Weekend Getway: Boston Edition

When I went to Law School back in 2012 I never expected to have such a connection to the City of Boston. Living in Rhode Island I had been to the city a few times for Red Sox games and day trips but nothing more than that. But after living in the city for four years I was genuinely sad to leave and move back to RI. I had not been back to Boston since 2018 so when my girlfriend pitched a weekend in Boston as a birthday present, I was very happy.

We visited a few breweries, Dorchester Brewing was absolutely amazing and deserves (and will be getting) its own post. We also visited Cheeky Monkey Brewing and Brato Brewhouse which were both very good as well. Saturday we spent walking around Beacon Hill and stopped at Beantown Pub, a bar I became VERY familiar with during my time at Suffolk to get lunch. While Beantown does not have an extensive tap list, they do have an old reliable go to, and my gateway beer, Harpoon IPA. They also have great food with awesome service. However, the highlight of the trip was our dinner at The Publick House on Saturday night.

Now, I have had a long love affair with this Brookline institution. Easily one of the top craft beer bars in the area with an awe-inspiring tap list and some of the best food you will ever have. I started the night with a trappist beer from Chimnay and ended with a kettle sour from Banded Brewing. Both were amazing and with dinner being a short rib sandwich I was in absolute heaven. Also, for the first time since the pandemic started, I was able to sit at a bar and have a beer which was something I did not think I would miss as much as I did.

We left on Sunday but not before stopping at Anna’s for lunch, I always go with the super quesadilla and it never disappoints. Overall, we had a amazing weekend and I really cannot wait to get back to Boston… Mainly just so I can get back to Publick House.

New Brew Thursday: ‘It Was His Birthday And They Didn’t Even Care’ from Evil Twin Brewing

The birthday theme continues with tonight’s #NewBrewThursday. When I got my case from the New York City Brewers Guild this beer definitely caught my attention. Evil Twin is always good for not only great beer but some of the best names in the community and ‘It Was His Birthday And They Didn’t Even Care’ is an all time name. While my birthday was this past weekend and many people did care I did think to save this one for a #NewBrewThursday review and it lived up to my expectations.

‘It Was His Birthday And They Didn’t Even Care’ pours into the glass a cloudy greenish-blue with a small light blue head that disappears almost instantaneously. It has strong sugary-sweet notes of blue raspberry similar to a blue raspberry jolly rancher. However, it does have a slight hint of chocolate at the very end. It tastes great. With a light mouthfeel, the sugary-sweet blue raspberry taste dominates the pallet with a slight tartness that then gives way to a slight chocolate flavor before disappearing back into the sweetness of the blue raspberry. While characterized as a Sour IPA I was unable to detect any hop so if IPAs are not your thing, you’ll be sure to like it. Coming in with a dangerous ABV at 7% you’ll be nearly finished before you start to feel it. This beer is akin to sour alcoholic, blue raspberry cotton candy. Definitely making for a great birthday.

Rhode Trip: Six Pack Brewing

 (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 past weekend was my birthday (Happy Belated Birthday to me) and while I am not much of a birthday person I did want to visit a brewery, but it had to meet two requirements. First, it had to be one of the few I had not been to on the passport, and next, it had to allow dogs. Six Pack Brewing in Bristol met both requirements so my girlfriend, Bradley, and I all got into the car and made the trek out there and let me tell you, we were not disappointed.

While located in a plaza with other businesses there are tables out front on the patio for a nice little outdoor area. The inside is quite spacious with ample tables and a couch more towards the back. However, what really makes the vibe of Six Pack are the owners and their professional greeter, Sheldon. Sheldon is an eleven-year-old Beagle/Italian Greyhound mix who is the first thing you see when pulling up. He and Bradley became great friends although the older Sheldon did not want of play non-stop with the one-and-a-half-year-old pup and would come over to us for extra pets. The owners are two of the nicest people you will ever meet and will not only spend extra time talking with you but your dog as well. The best word to sum up Six Pack? Cozy. Like going back to your parent’s house and having a beer, but in the best way possible.

Now this is not a blog about aesthetics or kindness, it is a blog about beer and let me tell you their beer is great. I was able to try a few of their offerings and I was very happy. The New England IPA had a hop blend that I had never encountered before that had a nice bitterness up front with a lingering funkiness to its finish. The West Coast IPA was textbook, with a big hop flavor and a long and lingering bitterness. Their cherry sour was light, flavorful, and perfectly tart. However, the peanut butter milk stout ‘Penny’ was the big standout. A rich peanut butter taste upfront that gives way to a rich and creamy finish, plus it was on nitro which is always a personal favorite.

While they are one of our newer breweries I am excited to see what they do next and will definitely be back. Plus, Bradley will want to see his newest friends again.

Six Pack Brewing is located at 87 Gooding Ave. Bristol, RI 02809. For more information about the brewery please click HERE

Part one: Long Live Beerworks

Part two: Buttonwoods Brewery

Part three: LineSider Brewing Company

Part four: Taproot Brewing Company

Part five: Community Bruin (CLOSED)

Part six: Shaidzon Beer Company

Part seven: Moniker Brewery

New Brew Thursday: 'Bad Dudes 3000' from Long Live Beerworks and Buttonwoods Brewery

Where were you approximately one year ago? A loaded question for sure. For me, I was one of the lucky ones, I was not laid off and my commute was reduced to simply walking across the hallway from my bedroom to my home office. In those tumultuous times two arose, two “bad dudes” and now they have returned. Jokes aside, the amazing team up last year between two of Rhode Island’s best breweries, Buttonwoods and Long Live to create one of the best collaborations that lived up to their hype is nothing short of amazing. When they released the sequel months later it was even better and now that they are returning for round three with ‘Bad Dudes 3000’ the bar is even higher. Do they live up to the hype? Yes, yes they do.

‘Bad Dudes 3000’ pours into the glass a hazy, deep yellow. It has overpowering notes of fresh fruit with melon being the most predominate. The taste? Exceptional. The Strata hop really steals the show with a big melon flavor that gives way to a slight bitterness that lingers just so on the middle of your tongue. The Galaxy, Citra, and Ekuanot hops all play nicely with one another as supporting actors to the Strata. It is super smooth and has a surprisingly soft mouthfeel and coming it 8.5% ABV you’ll be halfway through the glass before you start to feel it. However, in the interest of full disclosure. You can synthesize this entire review down to just one word: Dank. The pour? Dank. The smell? Fruity, but dank. The taste? Very dank. Get yourself to Long Live and buy this beer.

New Brew Thursday: 'Nitro Rover' from Big Alice Brewing

Happy *belated* St. Patrick’s Day everyone! While I have been trying to cut back on the beer so that I can get back into some old clothes, #EarnYourBeer I decided to open one beer to celebrate both New Brew Thursday and St. Patrick’s Day. Luckily, my purchase of the last case from the New York City Brewers Guild arrived over the weekend and had the perfect answer for me. While I had never heard of Big Alice Brewing I was pumped when I saw that they contributed an oatmeal stout and A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y thrilled when I saw it was a nitro stout.

‘Nitro Rover’ is best enjoyed by a hard pour that allows for the activation of the nitrogen and allows for the bubbles to run up the glass. Once the bubbles give way, you are left with a dark and rich black color with a thick, bright white head. It has notes of oats and roasted malt with just a subtle hint of dark chocolate. The taste is fantastic. With big flavors of roasted malt and oats with an almost shockingly light mouthfeel, it is perfectly creamy due to both the oats and nitrogen. With a deceptively clean finish that then gives way to a lingering back-of-tongue bitterness that begs for another sip you’ll be halfway done with the pint before you even know it. Much like its contemporaries, the head clings to the side of the glass with each sip and clocking in at 5% ABV you won’t feel it at the end of the glass. Definitely a great St. Patrick’s Day Stout for next year and a reason to try more offerings from Big Alice Brewing.

Rhode Trip: Moniker 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)

While I have never done it, I think my assumption that opening a brewery in your own dedicated space is no easy task. Obtaining the licenses, equipment, and décor along with fine-tuning your recipes, hiring staff, and the hundreds of other things that I cannot even comprehend. I can also make the assumption that doing it during a global pandemic is even harder. But this is exactly what Moniker Brewery did and I for one am glad they did it.

Moniker has a great location right off West Fountain St. in Providence and is located across the street from Beer On Earth and just down the road from Bayberry Beer Hall making this one of the places to be come summertime. Along with a quaint taproom it has two patios, one in the front and the other on its side. The back bar has about a dozen or so taps which makes me excited for their future.

While we were there I was able to get two flights and try all of their offerings and I was quite impressed. The IPAs were nice and hoppy, their pale ale ‘Modern Chemistry’ has a nice hop but a crisp finish, and their lager was crisp, clean, and very refreshing. However the big standout was their coffee porter ‘Hypercaffium Spazzinate’ which was exceptional. It had strong roasty notes of coffee and a rich, but light, mouthfeel and a big coffee finish that lingers and builds with each sip. It was so good I had to get a four-pack to go. While Moniker is one of our newest breweries I am very excited to get back to there and see how they use their space, location, and try more of their beer.

Moniker Brewery is located at 432 West Fountain St. Providence, RI 02903. For more information about their offerings and to make a reservation click HERE

Part one: Long Live Beerworks

Part two: Buttonwoods Brewery

Part three: LineSider Brewing Company

Part four: Taproot Brewing Company

Part five: Community Bruin (CLOSED)

Part six: Shaidzon Beer Company

New Brew Thursday: 'The Mystical Resurrection of the Alpaca Magi' from Proclamation Ale Company

About four and a half years ago I was lucky enough to attend the Second Annual Ocean State Beer Festival that was held at Foolproof Brewery in Pawtucket. I consider this one of the best beer events I have ever been too and the day that I truly fell in love with Rhode Island Craft Beer. While I had been drinking craft beer for many years prior and had tried many Rhode Island Breweries it was this event where I truly realized just how big the beer scene was in the smallest state. This is when I first tried “The Chosen One” from Tilted Barn and experienced one of the best sour lines in the state, Alpaca Magi from Proclamation Ale Company.

Those who know me, know that while sours are one of my favorite styles I didn’t really start to love them until around this time. When I walked up to the Proclamation table, I tried their fantastic Pale Ale ‘Derivative’ and while I am not sure which one I had, as it was a very fun festival, I remember loving it (still do) and being asked if I liked sours. Answering in the affirmative I was told to come back in a few minutes as they were going to open their award-winning sour, ‘The Unyielding wrath of the Alpaca Magi.’ Now, I LOVE A GOOD BEER NAME, and was curious to try it and it was everything I love about sours. A Light mouthfeel with a lingering and palate coating sourness. I was then told that this was a series and that there were others in this line. Thusly, I made it my mission to try as many as I could. The last release, ‘The Tropical Excursion of the Alpaca Magi’ was released around the fall of 2018 so it had been awhile since their last new release… until last night. I was scrolling through Instagram when I saw it and it was glorious. Proclamation announced ‘The Mythical Resurrection of the Alpaca Magi’ and about five minutes later I had placed my order.

“Mystical Resurrection” pours into the glass a rich but cloudy purple with an off-white head that disappears just seconds after the pour. The notes show off the beers funk as the barrels round out the raspberries, blackberries, and merlot grapes. The taste is fantastic. With an impossibly light mouthfeel you get an initial tartness from the raspberries and merlot grapes in the front of your mouth that then builds to a slight sweetness. The sweetness does not last long though as you get a rich and complex sour that coats the entire palate from the back of your tongue to the front of your mouth. The Woodford Reserve barrel acts as a kind of amplifier for the foeder which adds to a slight oak finish and lingering sour that builds ever-so-slightly with each sip. Coming in at a dangerous 8% ABV there is no warning halfway through the bottle when it hits. “Mystical Resurrection” is just another in the Alpaca Magi family that delivers every, single, time!

New Brew Thursday: 'Mega Treat' from Tree House Brewery

Early last week Tree House had both ‘King Julius’ and ‘King Jjjuliuss’ in cans so I knew that I had to try and get up to Charlton. I have not been able to get to Tree House in a few months so I was eager to get up there but due to work and the weather I was not sure I would be able to. However, when they announced ‘Mega Treat’ I knew I had to get up there as it had been on my must try list since it was first brewed last year. I got a few other cans as well, but I was most excited to try ‘Mega Treat’ and it did not disappoint.

‘Mega Treat’ pours into the glass a hazy dark yellow with a thick white head. It has strong sweet notes of candied tropical fruit with a heavy emphasis on the sweetness that gives way to the softer fruit. The taste is amazing. While ‘Treat’ and ‘Super Treat’ have an initial bitterness ‘Mega Treat’ is an absolute juice bomb from start to finish. It has a thick and luxurious mouthfeel that coats the palate and tongue and is an impossible combination of soft and juicy with a slight lingering front-of-the-mouth bitterness. Coming in at 8.7% ABV it is just boozy enough to stop you from crushing it. ‘Mega Treat’ is a definite must try for all those who love their hazy boys.

New Brew Thursday: 'Sunrise Over Sea' from Tilted Barn

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about my trip to Tilted Barn on my Rhode Trip (click HERE). While I was there I had a few of their offerings but only a small sip of today’s #NewBrewThursday from my girlfriend’s glass, ‘Sunrise Over Sea.’ Now, I have had some of Tilted Barn’s sours in the past (BIG fan of ‘Seek The Wild’) so I was excited to get some cans and have a full taste for myself, and let me tell you, it doesn’t disappoint.

‘Sunrise Over Sea’ pours into the glass a cloudy pink with a small white head. The notes feature an abundance of fruit (I smell orange and raspberry, but I am not sure those are featured in the beer) with additional sweetness. It has a light mouthfeel and slight tartness that stays in the front of the mouth that lingers ever so slightly. It has a big fruit flavor and while being tart, that tartness is not overwhelming and ‘Sunrise Over Sea’ is quite refreshing as well. Coming in at 5% ABV it is crazy crushable and perfect for a hot day or a change-of-pace beer.

While Tilted Barn is very well known for the IPAs I am LOVING their forays into sours and other lighter style beers and I for one hope they keep it up.

Cooking With Beer: Chili

While the Super Bowl this past Sunday saw Tom Brady win number seven (not a Buccaneers fan but happy for my guy) I was able to make chili. Now, whenever I make chili, I do tend to experiment a little with my spice paste and with the beer.

Finished Product

When it comes to beer in chili I have seen people use Mexican style lagers and saisons but I have always had great success with stouts and porters. Typically, I stay away from pastry stouts as I think their sweetness would have an adverse effect with the meat. I also stay away from stouts and porters with certain flavors like peanut butter, marshmallow, coconut, and vanilla. I look for stouts and porters that feature chocolate, coffee, and oatmeal. I did recently experiment with a milk stout that produced an exceptional batch of chili, my theory is that the lactose in the stout acted similar to the milk/cream that is added when making a Bolognese sauce to make it creamier. It did produce a richer chili. I also try to go with imperial stouts as the flavors are more intense. This time I used an oatmeal stout from Beer On Earth called ‘Stout’s Meal’ that produced a slightly lighter chili that was still quite delicious. Here is the recipe so you can try it for yourself.

Spice Paste:

2 dried ancho chilis

3 dried pasilla chilis

5-6 dried arbol chilis (these are for spice, add/reduce to increase/decrease spiciness)

¼ cup dried Dominican Oregano (Mexican or Italian is fine)

2 tablespoons black peppercorns

1 tablespoon cumin seeds

1 teaspoon thyme

1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder (optional)

1 tablespoon cornmeal (optional)

 

Chili

3lbs chuck roast (or 1lb chuck roast/1lb of 80/20 ground beef)

2 medium sized onions (I prefer vedalia)

1 jalapeno pepper

1 tablespoon canola oil

3 large cloves of garlic

1 16 oz beer

2 cans crushed tomatoes

1 can red kidney beans

1 bay leaf

Salt and Black Pepper to taste 

Method:

For the chili paste, cut/tear the chilis into small pieces and remove the seeds. Place them into a dry pan and lightly toast them until they are warm and fragrant. Then add about two cups or enough water to cover them. Bring to a boil and let go for about two minutes. Kill the heat and then let them steep for at least ten minutes. In another pan toast the cumin seeds and black peppercorns until they are fragrant. Next place them into a spice grinder and grind into a fine powder. Combine the chilis, water, black pepper, cumin, oregano, thyme, cocoa powder, and cornmeal into a blender and blend into a smooth paste.

For the meat, I typically take a three-pound chuck roast and cut it in half and grind the fatty portion into ground beef and cut the leaner half into half-inch pieces. If you do not have a meatgrinder get 80/20 ground beef and a 1lb chuck roast and cut that into half-inch pieces. Next, roughly chop the onions and jalapeno pepper and set aside. In a very hot dutch oven or pot add the oil and pieces of the chuck roast to sear adding salt and black pepper and once seared, remove from the pot and let sit. Next, add the ground beef pressing hard to the bottom of the pot to get a hard sear. Add salt and black pepper and once well browned remove from the pot. Then, reduce the heat to medium and add the onions and jalapeno and sauté until they are slightly translucent and grate the garlic into the pot and cook for roughly one minute. Now add the meat back to the pot and thoroughly combine with the spice paste and cook for another minute or so. Next add the beer to the chili and bring to a boil stirring so it does not burn. Scrape the bottom of the pot to release all of the fond and reduce until only about four ounces are left. Now add in the tomatoes, one can of water, and the beans with the bay leaf and stir thoroughly. Bring to a simmer and reduce the heat to low and let simmer for about two to three hours stirring occasionally. If you like a thicker chili then let it reduce further or if it gets too thick then add some more water.

Garnish with cheddar cheese, green onion, and sour cream to enjoy. Feel free to experiment with your choice of beer and let me know what works for you.

Rhode Trip: Shaidzon Beer 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)

As we continue our Rhode Trip let me take you back to last weekend. Right after leaving Tilted Barn we decided to head down the road to Shaidzon Beer Company. A little off the beaten path in West Kingston and located in a complex with other businesses, they are where Proclamation use to be (a very Rhode Island phrase/occurrence). Currently, they are only serving in their outdoor space due to COVID-19 and this seating area is located towards the back of the building with multiple picnic tables and chairs around propane fireplaces, it has the feel of drinking in a friend’s backyard.

While there are available heaters, last weekend when we went it was absolutely frigid with a blustery wind that whipped right through the beer garden. Despite the less-than-ideal conditions the beer was top notch. I ordered ‘Rachard’ which is a Peach IPA brewed in honor of Rachard Nash, a member of the staff that tragically passed away. It was a super juicy and hazy IPA that was almost too crushable. My girlfriend ordered ‘Winter Nightz’ a rich and robust stout that was perfect for such a cold day.

While spirits were high as we sat there bundled up near our propane fireplace we had to leave early because of the cold. I definitely wanted another pour but settled for some To-Go cans instead. Shaidzon continues to be one of the great breweries in the state and a place you need to make an effort to go to… Just make sure you are wearing the right clothes

Shaidzon Beer Company is located at 141 Fairgrounds Rd. West Kingston, RI 02892. For more information about the brewery please click HERE

Part one: Long Live Beerworks

Part two: Buttonwoods Brewery

Part three: LineSider Brewing Company

Part four: Taproot Brewing Company

Part five: Community Bruin (CLOSED)

New Brew Thursday: 'Creatures of Magic' from Burlington Beer Company

Christmas this year was pretty good for yours truly. Aside from spending time with my family, after quarantining of course, I got some pretty solid gifts. Two of which were beers from Burlington Beer Company, a brewery that I had not tried before. I had seen their cans in the liquor store and always put them on the “maybe next time” list, but I was very happy that I finally had a chance to try them and they didn’t disappoint because opening ‘Creatures of Magic’ tonight was a great choice. With a  funky can that prominently unicorns, sphinxes, yetis, and Cthulhu I was already happy even before I had my first sip.  

‘Creatures of Magic’ pours into the glass a devastatingly hazy yellow with a small white head. It has strong notes of melon and citrus with a slight note of pine. it has a great and juicy mouthfeel and a fantastic taste. A little research on my part states that the hops used are Mosaic, Simcoe, and Ekuanot. While I have never had Ekuanot hops and cannot find them in the beer the Mosaic and Simcoe hops play really well with one another. The Mosaic provides that initial juiciness with the Simcoe coming in at the end to give a slight lingering sweetness. The oats help to coat the mouth with a thicker mouthfeel. Coming in at a perfectly balanced 6.5% ABV it is a great beer for sitting and sipping.

Rhode Trip: Tilted Barn 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)

While it has been a while since the last #RhodeTrip entry I can assure you that I have been frequenting many of our fine breweries but more on that in future posts. Those who know me know that I have been preaching the good word of Tilted Barn since I first tried ‘The Chosen One’ back in 2016 and my love of this brewery has only grown since then. I had made multiple trips to the old barn and with them only doing to-go cans during the pandemic I eagerly awaited the opening of the new barn, plus seeing it take shape with each trip down only heightened this anticipation. When it opened and the pictures were posted online my expectations grew even higher.

Now, I have a history of being let down due to having unrealistically high expectations. I had been trying to lower these expectations as the pictures gave Tilted Barn a “Tree House” type vibe, which is an INSANELY high bar but with each picture I just could not help myself. Let me be the one to tell you though, Tilted Barn’s new location is one of the most beautiful breweries I have ever been to.

Located on top of a hill that overlooks the farm, the outdoor patio area has a breath-taking view of the entire farm. Inside there is a picture-perfect wooden bar with a dozen taps and refrigerators full of cans. The front facing windows let in the sunlight that showcases the white tile floors, light brown wood, and open atrium for an absolutely gorgeous entryway. I was seated on the second floor that has artwork of their cans and a view of the actual brewery. 

The woodwork on the second floor is stunning. While my knowledge of the subject is very limited it looks like the various joints are fitted with pegs and not screws which really fits into the rustic feel of the barn. Even more exciting are all of the tanks on the lower level which filled my head with joy for the beers that are about to come down the line… and speaking of beer.

While they are not doing flights they are doing six ounce pours of all offerings and I was allowed to order two at once. I was able to try a few offerings as my girlfriend ordered something different than I did. However, my two standouts were ‘DDH Cactus’ which was juicy, hoppy, and full of flavor. There was also ‘Lawn Boy’ which was the first Tilted Barn Lager I have had. It was crisp, clean, and perfect for a hot day… or in this case a supremely cold one. I hope it is brewed again once the weather turns. Also there was 'Tupelo' an Imperial Stout named after one of the brewery dogs. It had great notes of both chocolate and coffee and is a perfect cold weather beer. 

In all, the new barn is amazing. It is sad losing the old barn as it was a cozy and intimate setting, but this new location really raises the stakes and will certainly allow for more experimentation and collaboration from one of Rhode Island best breweries. Plus, I’m pretty sure Matt is happy to have everyone off his front lawn.

Tilted Barn is located at 1 Hemsley Place. Exeter, RI 02822. For more information about the brewery, their beer, and to book a reservation please click HERE

Part one: Long Live Beerworks

Part two: Buttonwoods Brewery

Part three: LineSider Brewing Company

Part four: Taproot Brewing Company

Part five: Community Bruin (CLOSED)