My Coors Light Experience

BudMillerCoors sucks! How many craft beer drinkers have uttered those words without thinking twice? I know that I've said it too many times to count. Then I thought about it, when was the last time I actually had one? Is it fair for me to trash talk a product when I haven't tasted that product in years? My most recent macro experience was at a cookout in the city over a year ago when I sucked down a few bottles of Miller Lite. The group I was with loved it in college and many still love it today. As for a Bud or Coors Light it's been so long I can't remember. Since I seldom have nice words for the fizzy yellow, unimaginative, tasteless macro sludge, except to say they brew a damn consistent beer, I figured I'd have one before I spoke another unkind word. Then maybe I'd understand what possess soooo many beer drinkers to reach into the cooler to pull out a silver can wrapped in light blue mountains.

I had no plans on buying a six or even a single of Coors Light even for my little tasteless, oops, taste test. Luckily we recently had a birthday party for my mother-in-law and Kelleigh purchased a case of 10oz cans for the ladies. I am embarrassed to say that there is still a partial case in the basement and a few cold one's in the fridge.

I won't waste many words on the experience. One look in the glass confirms it's a light beer. An unmistakable ultra pale yellow pour. The odd, soapy adjunct aroma is unpleasing. A mildly sweet grain taste dominates and you would swear that no hops were harmed in the making of this beer. Overall it's barely more interesting than seltzer water. How is this considered beer?

I drank this along with other macros in college when taste wasn't important and I didn't know better. Why do people still love the Silver Bullet? Credit tons of cash pushed towards in-your-face marketing and advertising, unknowledgeable beer consumers, low cost and product familiarity. I don't think we all need to drink a mega hopped Imperial Sour Spiced Smoked Triplenator aged 4 months in bourbon barrels but for someone who is looking to just have a simple lager there are so many better choices. Yes, I know I am preaching to the choir. After I finished my little 10oz pour I fully understood why Coors makes it a point to go overboard pushing the ultra cold concept. No one wants to drink warm water.

Catchin' Some Dark Horse

Aaron Morse is in the middle of an invasion of Philladelphia. Aaron is the Owner and Head Brewer of Dark Horse Brewing out of Marshall Michigan and since distribution has started in PA, DH events are full speed ahead at good beer spots in the area. The P.O.P.E and Capone's have had theirs and today TJ's has a serious selection of Dark Horse brews all day.

Crooked Tree IPA

Boffo Brown

Sapient Triple

One Oatmeal Stout

Raspberry Ale

Rod

Special Reserve Black

Scotty Karate

Need more opportunities to taste what Dark Horse is Brewing?

DH @ The Kyber

9/1

5-7pm

Enjoy discounts on one of Michigan's finest breweries!!

DH @ Devil's Den

9/2

7-9pm

Draft specials & Flight Specials available. On Draft: Scotty Karate, Raspberry Ale, One Oatmeal Stout & Crooked Tree IPA.

To Great Friends & Great Beer, Sláinte!

As I checked the pictures on my SD cards I realized that over the past few weeks I've had some good times with some great friends. Nothing too crazy: a few beers, dinner, conversation and singing a Doors tune or two (more on that later). It's all standard practice for a weekend night in the burbs. What also seems to be standard practice is to take a few photos then never have them see the light of day. Sorry guys for the major delay on getting these up. If I said that a million things stood between me and creating this post I'd only be glorifying a lame excuse.

The pictures were taken a few weeks ago on a hop heavy night at The Drafting Room in Spring House with Mike (hope all is well in the UK), Lauren (see ya soon in NYC) and the mysterious Kelleigh (luv ya dear).

The ladies kicked off the evening with a sweet offering of Fruli Strawberry. Think fizzy, sweet, jammy strawberry juice and a touch of beer essence. The mysterious Kelleigh loves the oh too sweet beers from Belgium. I started with the Drafting Room's 15th Anniv. Ale and Mike dove into a Troeg's Hopback Amber. From that point the evening steam rolled even more into a hop fanatics roll call: Arrogant Bastard, 21st Amendment Brew Free or Die IPA, Thirsty Dog Hoppus Maximus and Green Flash West Coast IPA. A very nice recipe for a tongue thrashing. However, the true danger of those pours was only revealed when the opportunity to pick up a mic during Karaoke night presented itself. Now don't worry I'm not here to critique any one's late night singing ability. Maybe sometime in the future I'll reveal the video of my inner Morrison. Finally to put a cap on the evening and to honor Mike's Emerald Isle heritage it all came to a close with clanking pints of Beamish Irish Stout.

Hey guys we are looking forward to doing this again real soon.

Sláinte!

Sly Fox @ Local 44

Can't wait for the huge Cask Ale events happening in September then go local. Tonight Local 44 has 4 special firkins from Sly Fox Brewery.

Stop by on Tuesday, August 25, after 6pm for your taste of Real Ales from our friends in Royersford! The Robbie Burns Scottish Export and Phoenix Pale Ale will pour off the edge of the bar for just $3 and Palisades Pale Ale and Rt 113 on the engines for just $4!

Fantasy Week for Cask Ale Heads

Last Thursday towards the end of my evening I ran into Kevin Rowe, aka Mr. Philadelphia Area's Cask Ales/Cask Ale Kevin and had a chance to talk a little before heading home. Of course the subject of cask ale came up and he let me know about the Rattle 'N' Hum Cask Ale Festival. Some quick research revealed that the Rattle and Hum event is part of the Gotham Cask Ale Festival which also involves two other NYC bars (Jimmy's No. 43 and Swift Hibernian Lounge). The three bars will serve over 60 different cask ales between September 11-13. Turns out that this cask fantasy is the huge kick off to NYC Craft Beer Week Sept 11-20.

SIXTY unique cask ales will be available simultaneously with twenty firkins at each of the three bars. With a collection ranging from rare, limited release specialty brews to some of the best and most sessionable beers available, there will be delights for any and all fans of real ale.

Please join us as a cask of NY3, the official beer of NY Craft Beer Week 2009, is tapped at 6pm at all three bars to officially open the Week. Servings of this beer will be limited to Passport holders only, who will each be presented with a complimentary 8 oz pour. Servings are first come, first serve and available as long as the firkin lasts. Prices will be reasonable at all locations with NO ENTRY FEE. Both 10oz and 16oz pours will be served, but once each firkin is kicked, that's it. When they're gone, they're gone, so come early and stay late. A full list of casks available will be posted here soon specifying where each cask will be served and updated frequently as delivery is confirmed at each bar.

To add to the cask ale fun of that week DuClaw Brewing Company in Baltimore is doing a Real Ale Festival on Sept 12, 12-4pm. It will feature real ale from 13 breweries, plus free buffet, music and other surprises. So whether you head north or south your real ale fantasies are sure to come true.

Everything is Irie @ Sidecar Bar & Grille

No chance to hop down to the islands, craving spicy Jamaican cuisine or simply looking to channel your inner Rastafarian? What do you do? Point yourself in the direction of Christian and 22nd and head to the Sidecar Bar and Grille for tonight’s Funky Reggae Party with special guest Blue Point Brewing Company. The beer isn’t Jamaican but the atmosphere, food and music are. At least for tonight every little thing is going to be alright. Sorry had to go there.
5pm-???. PAYG

Blue Point Beer List
Rastafa Rye,
10th Anniversary IPA
Oatmeal Stout
Pale Ale
Toasted Lager

Imperial Pilsner
Blueberry Ale
Hoptical Illusion IPA (firkin)

Dark Horse @ Capone's

Dark Horse Brewing Company first caught my eye during Philly Beer Week 09. Scoates tapped a cask of Double Crooked Tree IPA for a Dark Horse and Voodoo meet the brewer event at Grey Lodge. Even with a huge wow factor I only managed one small pour before having to rush off to meet friends for another event in the city. Since then I've had visions of crooked trees dancing in my hop soaked mind. A craving is an ugly thing. Relief comes today at Capone's. Dark Horse Brewing arrives in a big, big way with six of their best. Sorry, no Double Crooked Tree, the single version will have to satisfy those cravings. Taps open at 11am.

Dark Horse Beer List

Crooked Tree IPA

Amber

Raspberry Ale

Sapient Tripel

Boffo Brown

Reserve Special Black Bier Ale

Quick Pours: Serious Ale?

Another torrid tale from my nightly suburban adventures. Last Thursday's tour de bar had me heading from Capone's to Craft Ale House for a visit with team G. Fry. I slid in an hour before closing and there was still a good size crowd around the bar. Wow who knew people drank on a weekday! After having one of my favorites, New Holland's Dragon's Milk (can't get enough of the barrel aging), I went straight for an unknown (to me); Serious Ale from Royersford Brewing Co. The handy beer list described it as a "unique-styled American ESB". The beer slides the line between an amber and a brown ale. Not overly bitter with nice hints of caramel and chocolate. I only had one but at 5% it's easy to envision settling into an evening with several more. I've already made sure to included this on my ever growing session list.

Some of the Royersford crew were in house promoting their creation, tossing out schwag and adding to the general mayhem of the night. I had the chance to chat it up with Levi Peiffer, Dave Shafer and Matt Shafer who filled me in on the company's short history and future plans. Serious Ale is Royersford's inaugural beer and it's contract brewed at Sly Fox by Brian O'Reilly who also helped with it's development. Better notes and a brain that actually retained information would of yielded a little more information in this post. Hey guys it looks like all your secrets are safe. This draft only brew is currently available at ten locations and it's well worth seeking out. For more information on Royersford Brewing Co. check out their website.

Tis the Season for Smashing Pumpkins

Ahhh, a chill in the air, the vivid colors of fall and watching the kids run from house to house with overflowing bags of sweet treats. The only problem is it's the middle of August, 90 degrees, with rain forest like conditions that have nothing in common with a crisp fall day. So why did I have my first pumpkin beer of the season? It's just like buying Christmas items well before any of us have thoughts of sugar plum fairies dancing in our heads. Some may even say that I am late for my inaugural pumpkin beer tasting since these beers started hitting shelves in July. Brewers who do the pumpkin/fall/harvest beer thing are wise and look to stretch the season to make the extra buck. I'm not sure if Southern Tier Pumking was the first to hit shelves here in Philly. It's the first I noticed and the first pumpkin draft to fill my pint glass.




I am guilty of using the term pumkin pie in a glass all too often but it's very fitting for Pumking. When we think of pumpkin we're usually thinking pumpkin pie. When was the last time you actually tasted real pumpkin without all the pie spices? I'm sure the taste and aroma of pumpkin was in the glass, however the nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, graham cracker, spice blast is what came out on the first sip. The spice hit sharp and only smoothed a little toward the end. As much as I love pumpkin pie and enjoyed this beer, by the time I got to the bottom of the pint my pumpkin love was done. This beer is nice as a treat or to celebrate fall festivities, but you better LOVE, LOVE, LOVE pumpkin pie if plan on drinking several in an evening.

You knew this was coming!

Bear Republic Throwdown at UJ's on the Manatawny

If you are in the mood for a classic throwdown then tonight (08/13) Union Jack's on the Manatawny is your place. The beer bash pits five beers from the West Coast's Bear Republic Brewery against five beers of the same style from a mix of East Coast breweries. Drink the beer and cast your vote to determine the overall winner. 5pm PAYG

The Fight Card

RACER X VS. DOGFISH HEAD 90 MINUTE IPA

NOR' CAL VS. SLY FOX PHOENIX PALE ALE

HOP ROD RYE VS. DOCK ST. RYE IPA

RACER 5 VS. SMUTTYNOSE IPA

BIG BEAR STOUT VS. DUCK RABBIT RABID DUCK IMPERIAL STOUT

Drinkin' with the Animals

Drinking with a bunch of animals is apparently very popular. I'm not talking about your fraternity/sorority days of standing around the cheap keg of the week with plastic cup in hand. I'm referring to the popularity of Brew at the Zoo and in some cases wine too, events. Just doing a quick search brings up a variety of towns that promote wandering the zoo pathways while sampling a variety of beers. It's a chance to feel good (not from the abv%) while you consume. In most cases your dollars go to support the zoo or to a charitable cause.

Baltimore: Maryland Zoo, Brew at the Zoo and Wine Too, May 23-24.

Denver: Denver Zoo, Brew at the Zoo, Sept 11, 7-10pm.

Washington D.C.: Smithsonian National Zooalogical Park, Brew at the Zoo, Aug 20, 6-9pm.

Louisville: Louisville Zoo, Brew at the Zoo and Wine Too, Aug 29, 4-9pm.

Minnesota: Minnesota Zoo, Brew at the Zoo, Aug 14, 7-9pm.

Syracuse: Rosamond Gifford Zoo, Brew at the Zoo, Aug 7, 5:30-8pm.

Portland: Portland Zoo, Brew at the Zoo, May 29.

Atlanta: Zoo Atlanta, Brew at the Zoo and Wine too, June 13.

Philadelphia: Philadelphia Zoo, Summer Ale Festival, July 25

This Saturday to add to the Perfect Beer Storm Weekend Pittsburgh jumps into the brew zoo game with their third annual Brew at the Zoo event at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. The event supports the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation.

Rain or Shine

Saturday Aug 15, 7-9:00pm

General Admission $40, Driver $15

The Beer

For tix

Big Weekend on the Way

This is a quick heads up for Saturday (8/15). Here in Philly with so much good beer flowing there is always potential for a big beer day. This Saturday call it the perfect beer storm. Four events around the city will have you wishing you could be in more than one place at one time. Take the week and figure out a good game plan. Cheers!

Capones
Canadian Breakfast Stout and Others
11:00am, PAYG
Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout
Founders Maple Mountain Brown
Ballast Point Sea Monster
Stone Double Dry Hopped IPA
Russian River IPA TBD (Blind Pig or Pliny the Elder)
Voodoo Got Gas? Nitro IPA
Brew Dog Paradox Isle of Arran

The Grey Lodge Pub
13th Anniversary! 13 Events in 13 Hours!!
11:00am-11:00pm
11am: Dock Street Triskaidekaphilia Premier and Wurst Breakfast
12pm: Levity (Comic) & Levitation (Stone Brewing) with Cali-Belgique, Levitation, & 13th Anniversary
1pm: 101 at 1pm with Philly Brewing
2pm: Brooklyn Brewery Hour featuring Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout (2008 and 2009) on tap and a sixtel of Brooklyn Intensified Coffee Stout.
3pm: Weyerbacher Beer Barrel Bingo
4pm: Victory Pils and Phils and Really Old Old Horizontal!
5pm: Grey Lodge's Bar Mitzvah with Stoudt's
6pm: Six Sixpoint Sixtels at Six
7pm: Flashback with Boulder Flashback
8pm: Yards Crazy 8's at 8!
9pm: Sly Fox Chicken and Egg Party
10pm: It's Always Sunshine-y at the Grey Lodge featuring Keller Troegs Sunshine Pils
11pm: Flying Fish Exit 11 at 11

Devil's Den
Pucker Up! Sour Fest
12:00pm-12:00 am
Come out to the Devil's Den where we will be pouring all things sour, tart & funky.
All week long there will be a draft tower of sour. Try Flemish Reds.
Flemish Bruins, Guezes, Lambics, Wild Ales & Beliner Weisses.
Draft List : Dogfish Head Festina Peche, Beersel Framboise, Rodenbach Grand Cru, Petrus Oud Bruin, Ommegang Rouge, Ballast Point Sour Wench, Bacchus,
Dock Street Dunkel Berliner Weisse, Itchegems, St Loius Gueze, Cantillion Gueze,
Russian River Consecration, Monk's Cafe Sour, Cuvee des Jacobins,
Duchess de Bourgonge & Doc's Sour Cherry Cider.
Bottles : Rodenbach Grand Cru, Petrus Aged Pale Ale, Duchess de Bourgonge,
Etch Kreikenbier, Giradin Guze Black Label, Russian River Consecration,
Russian River Tempation, Camtillion Old Lambic, Cantillion Rose,
Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabazza, Ommegang Biere de Mars, Lipziger Gose,
1809 Berliner Wiesse, Lost Abbey Carnevale, Pretty Things Mr Sysiphus

International Great Beer Expo
Where: The Philly Naval Yard
Tickets: Online $45, the Door (if available) $60, Designated Driver: $10
Session I: 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm (doors open at 11:30 am)
Session II: 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm (doors open at 5:00 pm)

Fire + Meat + Beer = Good

In my sales life I lived by the K.I.S.S principle. Remember to Keep It Short and Simple. Last night I applied that idea to dinner. Four simple components pulled together to make a great meal. Meat (steak), starch (potato), vegetable (asparagus) and beverage (beer) was everything needed for a killer meal.

Anytime I get the chance to fire up the grill my inner caveman comes to life. This summer I’ve been in front of the flame no less than three days a week. Call it full on Cro-Magnon mode. Unlike my spear toting Cro-Mag brothers I only handled the meat to apply a nice spicy smoked pepper dry rub. I gave the asparagus a quick olive oil and garlic bath and the potatoes were seasoned with ground pepper, fresh basil and a little butter. The asparagus hit the grill first in the trusty seasoned grill pan and just as they started to get those dark roasted streaks the steaks joined them on the flame. The only part of the meal I won’t take credit for is the potato preparation. The mysterious Kelleigh worked her cooking magic on those. After a few minutes on each side the perfectly seasoned steaks hit medium and then took a spot on the plate next to the veggies and spuds. Dinner was served on the deck under the stars. Voila!


The beer component of this most perfect and simple meal was the all-too-affordable (under $4.00 for a bomber) Long Trail Double IPA. I’m not enough of a foodie to say that I chose this beer because it paired well with grilled meat and veggies. My insatiable craving for hops is the reason the cap was popped.

The Long Trail DIPA started off great. I don’t often make a big deal out of how a beer looks in the glass but from the murky orange hue to the pristine snowy white head this pour was primetime worthy. The aroma is fairly floral. Citrus and mangos mix with a slight booziness. From the smell I expected a sweeter beer upfront but instead it’s tarter with a grapefruit quality. The sweetness works its way in before the bitterness takes over the tongue for a nice finish. Overall the Long Trail DIPA has a good balance. Not too sweet or heavy on the bitter made for a solid DIPA experience. For the price you really can’t go wrong.

Don't Forget the General at the P.O.P.E

I heard a rumor that if you have a drink or two or three that it’s possible that you may have a memory slip. Funny, I forget who told me that. I tend to blame my forgetfulness on me just being me. However, since this information was presented to me last week by Russ Czajka (General Lafayette Brewer) over a couple beers at Capone’s Saison event, beer may have been a factor.

The P.O.P.E (Pub On Passyunk East) is hosting The General Lafayette. Six of the General’s beers are on tap this evening (08/06/09) including Fugazi South Philly Lager. Brewmaster Chris Leonard will be on hand so head over, drink a few and show your support. Now if I could only remember how to get there. Just kidding.

Pale Ale Project Heads to Earth

If you haven't been keeping up with Brian O'Reilly and Sly Fox's Pale Ale Project 2009 now is your chance to catch up. The Sly Fox crew heads to Earth Bread + Brewery on Friday (08/07) to give us all a liquid cram session. The first seven Pale Ales in the project take over the taps at 6:00pm. Tasting flights available.

The Pale Ales

WGV

Willamette

Boadicea

Crystal

Liberty

Marynka

Sovereign

6:00-9:00PM, PAYG

Onward to 150. McGillan's Olde Ale House

AHHHH!!!! I hate when life steps in the way of a good time. This was my situation yesterday when work kept me from the Party-of-a-Century-and-a-Half at McGillan's Olde Ale House. The festivities were punctuated by the tapping (courtesy of honest Abe Lincoln) of 1860 IPA (brewed for McGillian's by Stoudt's Brewing Co.). The party kicked off 150 days before the bar's 150th anniversary year. That's some serious staying power. To go along with the celebration McGillan's is also hosting authors who have written about the bar. Three of the five writers just so happen to dabble a little in beer literature. So, it's your chance to listen to a reading and have a beer with guys who do this writing thing for a living. Don "Joe Sixpack" Russell kick started the readings at last night's bash. If you missed it, like I did, don't worry you still have the chance to toast to the longevity of McGillan's and catch two more beer authors reading from their ale stained pages. Cheers!

From McGillan's website
Lew Bryson, author of 4 regional brewery guides, including PA Breweries, will be on hand to chat about breweries & brewpubs on Tuesday, August 11. In his guide, Bryson calls McGillin's
“a great place to have a beer with a buddy or your spouse, and they have some really good stuff on tap.” Bryson is managing editor of Malt Advocate magazine and a blogger.

American crime novelist Duane Swierczynski, who wrote about Frank Castle’s escapades in Philadelphia for Marvel Comic’s “The Punisher, on Tuesday, August 25. For the comic book, he created an historic tavern, called "Interesting Times Pub," modeled after McGillin's. Brave New Worlds will be on-hand with the newly-released trade paperback. Swierczynski is author of The Big Book o' Beer: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Greatest Beverage on Earth.

More on the authors and events leading up to 150

To the Ship and Triumph

While many headed to Brewery Ommegang this past weekend for Belgium Comes to Cooperstown , one of the best annual beer events in the country, I had to reach back a couple weekends for my last road trip experience. Kelleigh and a friend were headed to a wedding just north of downtown New Hope and I played the role of their chauffeur. Before I get kudos for being a nice guy I did agree to drive knowing my huge upside. The wedding road trip placed me between two breweries I hadn't visited in years.

Once the ladies were taken care of I headed straight to Milford, New Jersey to the Ship Inn. The ship was the first brew pub established in NJ since prohibition. The setting of the brewery is almost too picturesque. A stylish Victorian building over looking a sleepy creek on a quaint main street. As nice as the setting is I traveled to the idyllic spot for some of the best British style beers in the area. Staying with tradition I started with a cask ale.

Served at room temperature the Best Bitter was a lightly carbonated amber colored ale had a gentle malty aroma. The hops were mild and a fruity, nutty, tea quality came out quick with a few sips. The bitterness came in at the end but the taste remained mild throughout. Ringwood yeast rules in this house and creates a very good cask ale.

Sitting in the Ship it's easy to forget you're in Jersey. Obviously British pubs are the influence but thankfully it's not done in an overblown Disney fashion. It's just a warm, open comfortable space that doesn't give off the typical bar vibe.

Looking at the menu I kept with the British theme and ordered the sampler plate. Sorry that I can't remember the name of everything (that's why there is a wonderful picture) but the Scotch egg, the cheese and onion pie and the pasty were fantastic. A sausage wrapped egg with a side of fried everything. Ohhh yeah! How can you go wrong? I Combined that with two pints of Brown Ale and I was in English heaven.

After cleaning my plate and saying good bye to a few people at the bar I headed south to the heart of New Hope to catch at least one beer at Triumph Brewery. If there is Ying to the Ship Inn's Yang then Triumph is it. Where the Ship is historic, quaint and warm, Triumph is modern, loud and flashy. Not a bad thing just different. It's what you would expect to find in New Hope. The space is huge and stylish with a cool hang out feel. Perfect for the flood of tourist that take over the town on warm summer evenings. By the time I arrived my time was very limited. Remember this chauffeur was still on the clock (that would change) and the reception was winding down. No time to play. Straight to the big beer.

Triumph Double Witbier clocked in at 8.0 abv so saith the chalkboard. The color of the beer was quite shocking. Think a slightly less orange glass of Tang and almost as hazy. A little unnatural looking. The aroma was a shot of alcohol, citrus (lemon, tangerine), banana and clove. Those flavors followed in the taste but the big malty wheat quality was an aggressive smack to the face. This beer doesn't hide the 8%. Its big. As much as I like a bold extreme brew this one seemed a bit artificial. I admit that I had to rush it down but a toned down version of this might work a bit better.

After getting a few calls from Kelleigh I soon showed up at the reception on time. Too smooth. The benefit for being a nice guy was a great day at two good beer stops I hadn't visited in years. The bonus of the evening, Kelleigh took the wheel for the journey back home. Thankfully my driving duties were officially done.