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.