Beer, Maine & Me

Beer, Maine & Me says good-bye - thanks to any readers out there...

2008-08-02T18:49:00.002-04:00

Over the past 6 months I've drank enough beer to put on more than a few pounds and enjoyed meeting a ton of people both in the real word and the cyber one. I am however sad to say that I've relocated out of state and will no longer be posting to this blog (it is about Maine afterall and I no longer live in Maine...). My wife and I have moved down to Northampton, Massachusetts for both career and family reasons.

Hopefully I'll start a new blog of sorts down here in the Pioneer Valley. If you're reading this and live in the area shoot me an email. I'd love to meet some other beer lovers to hang out with!

Thanks to anyone whose ever read anything I wrote on the site! Cheers!

Russ

Hopfen Weisse (Brooklyn Brewery)

2008-07-12T22:06:00.007-04:00

I had to uncork this bottle as a follow up its German cousin the Schneider-Brooklyner Hopfen-Weisse. It can only get better considering this is basically the same beer, but brewed by Schneider's Hans Peter Drexler at the Brooklyn Brewery with American hops. What a great idea to collaborate on this type of project. I hope to see some other American and European breweries do something similar in the future.

Pours pale, cloudy dark orange. There is some yeast sediment floating around the glass as proof of the bottle conditioning. Never a bad thing. The head is big and fluffy and the carbonation levels seem to be spot on. Its not a beautiful looking beer but its not worth judging it just yet.

Smells nice and citrusy. The hops are definitely in the foreground while the spicy, clovey yeasty smells are in the background. There is some bitter orange that really hits the nose when I take another whiff of this one. Overall, its very intriguing.

Wow, what a smooth drinking beer. The malt and hops are very well balance. There is some sweet citrus mingling the spicy yeast tastes. Its like biting into a juicy, hoppy orange. Well, that sounds a little strange but thats what I come up with. I have to say that I quite like this beer. Its very refreshing with quite a lot of flavor and that high ABV is pretty much undetectable.

Cheers to both Brooklyn and Schneider!

BEER FACTS

Name: Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse

Style: Pale Weissbock

Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery

Location: Brooklyn, New York, USA

Container: 750 ml. corked bottle

Malts: Pale Wheat & Barley

Hops: Amarillo & Palisade

ABV: 8.5%

IBUs: ?

Hopfen Weisse (Brauerie G. Schneider & Sohn)

2008-07-12T20:46:00.009-04:00

This a beer that combines the brewing prowess of two great beer countries. The old and the new. The big and bold with the practical and the genuine. The Schneider and Brooklyner version of the Hopfen-Weisse uses German hops and is brewed at the world famous and historic Schneider Weissbier Brewery in Kelheim.

Below is a great description of this joint venture that I found on the importer's site:

Schneider & Brooklyner Hopfen-Weisse is a collaboration between brewmasters Hans-Peter Drexler of the Schneider Weissbier Brewery and Garrett Oliver of The Brooklyn Brewery. Now, once again, together they bring you a small batch of their joint creation, a pale weissbock robustly dry-hopped with the Hallertauer Saphir variety grown in the fields near the Schneider brewery. Hoppy, zesty and supremely refreshing, Schneider & Brooklyner Hopfen-Weisse is a delicious blend of Bavarian craftsmanship and American ingenuity.

Pours a glowing orange color that is cloudy with yeast and a big, fluffy head. The bubbles show a nice steady stream of carbonation. This beer looks amazing in a tall glass. I can't wait.

At first the smell is spicy, clovey with some of that familiar banana smell that can be attributed to the yeast. The bitter and slightly citrusy hop aromas follow the strong spicy smells. This is quite a unique smelling brew.

That uniqueness continues with the first sip. That spicy, clovey taste is present but the nice floral and citrusy hoppiness quickly joins in. What a great blend of wheat, yeast and hops. I'm so used to hoppy beers like pale ales, IPAs and porters that this is a pleasant surprise. Its not super hoppy but the presence of the precious bittering flower is much more so in this beer than in any other wheat beer I've ever had. I can't wait to try the Brooklyner version of this one brewed with American hops.

One small thing that I do note about this beer is that it is pretty heavily carbonated compared to the other beers I've had from Schneider. I don't think that really takes away too much from this beer, but its definitely noticeable.

Prosit!

BEER FACTS

Name: Schneider & Brooklyner Hopfen Weisse

Style: Pale Weissbock

Brewery: Brauerei G. Schneider & Sohn

Location: Kelheim, Germany

Container: 500 ml. bottle

Malts: Pale Wheat & Barley

Hops: Hallertauer Saphir

ABV: 8.2%

IBUs: 40

Péché Mortel (Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel)

2008-07-11T21:41:00.006-04:00

I finally decided to indulge and pick up a bottle of this much talked about coffee stout from north of the border. This is also one of the few coffee stouts I've seen that is brewed with fair trade coffee. It gets incredible reviews online and as the style is one of my favorites it was hard to pass up (even at close to $6 a bottle).

From the Dieu Du Ciel site:

Péché Mortel (French for "Mortal Sin") is an intensely black and dense beer with very pronounced roasted flavours. Fair trade coffee is infused during the brewing process, intensifying the bitterness of the beer and giving it a powerful coffee taste. Péché mortel is brewed to be savored; we invite you to drink it in moderation.

Pours an amazing jet black color with a beautiful coffee colored head. Another perfect replica of one hell of a giant shot of espresso. The head is thick and clings very tightly to the side of the glass. We are off to a great start...

Smells of fresh coffee grounds and sweet cream. There is also a mellow smoky vanilla smell that reminds me very much of the pipe tobacco my grandfather smoked. Dark chocolate bitterness also hits the nose. Lots of strong inviting smells really draw you in!

Taste is fresh, strong, bitter Italian espresso followed by semi-sweet chocolate and rich cream. Amazingly smooth on the tongue and although the alcohol instantly warms you, it is in now way noticeable and in fact hides extremely well. All those great smells come out in the taste and provide for a very enjoyable and satisfying beer.

Actually, that is an understatement. This beer is truly incredible. Péché Mortel is one of those rare beers that lives

up to all the hype. Santé!

BEER FACTS

Name: Péché Mortel

Style: Imperial Coffee Stout

Brewery: Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel

Location: Montréal, Quebec, Canada

Container: 11.5 oz. bottle

Malts: ?

Hops: ?

ABV: 9.5%

IBUs: ?

Blue Fin Stout (Shipyard Brewing Co.)

2008-06-30T20:45:00.002-04:00

The old Blue Fin label had a picture of the bluefin tuna, a fish that had a huge presence in the Gulf of Maine. The new label is a nice homage to the ships that were once built in Maine, or at least that is my take on it.

Pours a deep dark brown with a very big dark, coffee colored head. Lot of carbonation from the minute the cap is popped.

Smells of rich roasty malt and light coffee notes. There is also the familiar Ringwood yeast smell as well. No real subtle smells, mostly dominated by the dark malts.

Taste is rich, roasted malt with some dark chocolate or mocha tastes. The carbonation is definitely very strong in the mouth, not sure if this bottle was just shaken up or something but the carbonation is much more than expected in a stout. I've had this on nitro out on Peaks Island a number of times and really enjoyed its smoothness. I think I prefer that quite a bit over the bottled version.

BEER FACTS

Name: Blue Fin Stout

Style: Stout

Brewery: Shipyard Brewing Company

Location: Portland, Maine, USA

Container: 22 oz. bottle

Malts: ?

Hops: ?

ABV: 4.7%

IBUs: ?

Brewed in Maine

Farmhouse Ale (Smuttynose Brewing Co.)

2008-06-30T20:17:00.006-04:00

Its bittersweet to see Smutty's Farmhouse Ale in the stores nowadays. That means that the Big A's days are numbered but it also means another delicious beer is now available!

The label reads:

Our Farmhouse Ale is an homage to traditional European beers brewed quenching the thirst of farm workers or "Saisonares".

A unique Belgian Saison yeast is used to impart a mixture of spicy, fruity & earthy notes along with lip smacking palatability.

Pours a slightly cloudy, clean, crisp orange color. The head is stark white and about an inch of fluffy goodness. Lots of bubbles make this beer look alive and quite refreshing.

Smells spicy and funky just like it should. Lots of sweet apple smells also combine with the organic/earthy notes and even some hints of leather. This smell is exceptional.

Taste is more of that spice and funk that comes from the yeast strain. The sweet fruit tastes are also present with a nice dry finish. Its an excellent example of the style in my opinion. Actually, this is probably one of the best saisons that I've had. The Smutty Big Beer series is pretty much flawless so far this year.

BEER FACTS

Name: Farmhouse Ale

Style: Saison/Farmhouse Ale

Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company

Location: Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA

Container: 22 oz. bottle

Malts: ?

Hops: ?

ABV: 7.5%

IBUs: ?

The Smuttynose BIG BEER Series is:

Baltic Porter - mid-January
Imperial Stout - mid-February
Maibock - early April
Big A IPA - early May
Farmhouse Ale - early June
Wheat Wine mid-August
Barley Wine - early October
S'muttonator Double Bock - mid-November

Novare Res announces upcoming beer events!

2008-06-29T20:51:00.005-04:00

10 different Allagash kegs on tap at one time? Rare Dogfish Head beers and the chance to meet Sam Calagione? The largest selection of Rogue drafts at one time ever...anywhere? Are you kidding me? Mark your calendars folks, your summer just got a whole lot better.

Big Bear Black Stout (Bear Republic Brewing Co.)

2008-06-27T23:07:00.004-04:00

Talk about excitement! A Russian Imperial Stout from Bear Republic. This is the style that can really make it or break it for some breweries. Considering what Bear Republic has done with the Hop Rod Rye and the Racer 5 this is definitely in line to be an incredible beer.

Pours slightly viscous with a nice coffee colored head. Its amazing how smooth this beer pours. You can really see the just how thick and rich this beer is going to be based on how it fills the glass.

Smells of sweet coffee, bitter chocolate with a toasted malt side as well. It definitely comes across as a roasty, slightly smoky strong stout. No complaints from the smells, overall it is rich and appealing.

Taste is oh so smooth. Its way too drinkable for being over 8%. The dryness is there in the finish but before that comes a lot of deep dark sweet malt tastes. The sweetness really draws you in and the strength is hardly noticeable. Excellent beer.

BEER FACTS

Name: Big Bear Black Stout

Style: Russian Imperial Stout

Brewery: Bear Republic Brewing Company

Location: Healdsburg, California, USA

Container: 22 oz. bottle

Malts: Belgian & English roasted barley and Crystal malt

Hops: Chinook & Cascade

ABV: 8.1%

IBUs: 68

Schneider Weisse (Brauerei G. Schneider & Sohn)

2008-06-27T19:12:00.009-04:00

Georg I. Schneider created the original Schneider Weisse recipe back in 1872. Little did he know that the beer he brewed would one day be the benchmark for the style. Fast forward 136 years later and Georg's great-great-great grandson Georg VI. Schneider is overseeing a brewery that still produces beer brewed with that original recipe along with an array of other wheat beers such as Aventinus and Edel-Weisse.

Pours a beautiful, rich, dark peach color with a huge, thick fluffy head. Its probably darker than some would expect since a lot of the American hefeweizens tend to be lighter in color. As the remaining yeast drips into the head of this beer it plunges into the beer and leaves a milky trail. Looks very appealing.

Smells of cloves, cinnamon and spice, yeast and a bit of apple and banana.

Tastes of spice and cloves at first with a nice refreshing follow through. Its a very refreshing beer with some juicy fruit qualities that make it ridiculous drinkable on a warm day. Nothing too overpowering, just a great clean, crisp beer.

Beers like this are part of the lore that is the German beer tradition. There's a reason why this beer is still being brewed after all these years, its high quality and delicious.

BEER FACTS

Name: The Original Schneider Weisse Hefe-Weizen

Style: Hefeweizen

Brewery: Brauerei G. Schneider & Sohn

Location: Kelheim, Germany

Container: 500 ml. bottle

Malts: Wheat & Barley

Hops: ?

ABV: 5.4%

IBUs: ?

Mongolian Dark Beer (XAP XOPYM)

2008-06-25T21:10:00.008-04:00

The Mongolian mystery beer has been poured! Thanks to my friend Dan for hauling this little beauty back from a recent trip to Mongolia. He had it stuffed in a shoe and it survived unscathed. Now if only I could find some information about this beer! I know its a dark beer and I know its "the Mongolian premium beer" but the label tells me those things. Everything else remains a mystery for now.

Pours a dark auburn color that is clean and clear when held to up to the light. Based on the carbonation and the color I will go with this being a dark lager. Its also my guess that Mongolia is a lager drinking country. The head is about a finger in thickness and very rich. Not a bad looking beer.

Smells of dark malt, some apple or dark fruit along with a sweet buttery-ness. There is also some caramel notes and dark bread.

Tastes very much like dark German wheat bread! There are also some hints of sweet fruit. The taste is very refreshing as its definitely beer you can drink nice and cold and there is little to no aftertaste. A pretty basic dark lager but extremely easy to drink. Its the best Mongolian beer I've ever had!

BEER FACTS

Name: Xap Xopym Dark Beer

Style: Dark Lager

Brewery: XAP XOPYM

Location: Ulanbaatar, Mongolia

Container: 12 oz. bottle

Malts: ?

Hops: ?

ABV: 5.3%

IBUs: ?

Kate the Great Day is here!

2008-06-23T22:30:00.005-04:00

Tuesday, June 24th is Kate the Great Day at the Portsmouth Brewery down in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. If you haven't taken the day off of work then you can pretty much kiss your chances of getting a bottle of this bad ass Russian Imperial Stout good bye. People are coming from all over to get some of this stuff and you can expect there to be quite a crowd queued up for the rather limited supply (only 10 barrels were produced).

At 2:27 pm this year's batch of what was named the best beer in America (according to BeerAdvocate magazine) will go on sale. It should be quite a scene as the hype over this beer spread across the internet pretty damn quickly and once its gone...its gone!

If you're going, this is what you need to know:

~ Bottles are $10 each and you are limited to two per day (like its going to last more than one)

~ Selling will be done like a deli counter, grab a ticket/number and come back when its your turn, I suggest going to the bar to sample all the other great beers.

~ Unfortunately growlers are not being filled

~ Bottles are being sold downstairs in the Jimmy LaPanza Lounge and not in the little retail store adjacent to the brewery

~ Bring donuts to sell to the crowd if you are getting there early (which I recommend as well)

~ Do the Smuttynose Brewery tour if you have the time, its a little out of town but a great tour (with free beer)

~ Have fun and get to know some other beer lovers. There is going to be quite an array of people in Portsmouth from all over. I would expect a beerfest atmosphere during the afternoon hours.

If anyone has an extra bottle for this poor guy who has to work tomorrow please let me know!!!!

so innocent yet so sought after

Old Stock Ale (North Coast Brewing Co.)

2008-06-23T21:54:00.005-04:00

This is one of those beers that you can put away and forget about for years if you have the patience. I don't have the patience right now, although I'll probably grab some of these at some point and put them in my cellar (a.k.a my closet). Everything North Coast puts out is solid so I will hold this one to those sort of high expectations.

Weighing in at 12.5% alcohol, the Old Stock Ale is a heavy looking beer as it comes out of the bottle. Once its made its way into the glass its a very rich dark auburn brown color with wisps of redness. Not much head on this one and the carbonation level is minimal as far as I can tell. Its a great looking beer.

Smell is very rich and sweet brown sugar and dark brown bread accompanied with dark stewed fruit. Some apple cider vinegar notes are present as well that lead to some red wine characteristics. This is another very complex beer as far as smell goes. So many strands to pull apart!

Taste is absolutely delicious from the first chewy sip. Very balanced. Sweet malt tastes combine with some toasted dark bread and some more bitter notes quite well before the alcohol dryness hits you at the end. The sweetness and the bitterness play off each other nicely and the warming from the alcohol is a nice little feature as well. You'll definitely want to give this beer a chance to warm up a bit so you can experience all the flavors it has to offer. You'd be crazy not to love a beer with such complexity and strength.

BEER FACTS

Name: Old Stock Ale (2008 Vintage)

Style: Old Ale

Brewery: North Coast Brewing Company

Location: Fort Bragg, California, USA

Container: 12 oz. bottle

Malts: Maris Otter

Hops: Fuggles & East Kent Goldings

ABV: 12.5%

IBUs: 36

5 Maine Beers I Still Haven't Tried...

2008-06-22T19:59:00.010-04:00

I can't believe there are still beers in this state that I've yet to try. Since I started this site about 5 months ago I've hardly drank the same beer twice and that goes double for those beers brewed here in Maine. Below are 5 local beers that have made my short list :

5 ~ Magic Hole IPA (Kennebec River Pub & Brewery) - One of very few IPAs here in Maine that I've yet to try. I'd also like to get my hands on their summer beer and see if it stands out against those here in Portland.

4 ~ Storyteller Doppelbock (Oak Pond Brewery) - I've yet to try ANY of Oak Pond's beers. They don't distribute down here in Southern Maine so I'll have to try and pick some up next time I head north. Storyteller is their winter offering and its sounds pretty good.

3 ~ Black Irish Stout (Maine Coast Brewing Company) - Another reason to get up to Bar Harbor and do some brewery tours. Maine Coast brews quite a few beers that I rarely see down in this part of the state. This one seems to be a standout, I'd like to see how its stands up to its neighbor Cadillac Mtn. Stout.

2 ~ Graveyard Coffee Stout/Burnt Meadow Mountain Peated Porter/Imperial Stout (Bray's Brewpub) - I love Bray's beers. These three tie since I've yet to try any of them and they all sound great. The good news is that they are ALL supposed to be on tap for Bray's One Night Stand when they have ALL of their 25+ beers on tap for one special night. I'm keeping my calendar open for Saturday, August 9th.

1 ~ Interlude (Allagash Brewing Company) - One of the most unique beers to come out of Maine (or the US for that matter). This Belgian style strong ale is brewed with two yeast strains (one of which is a house strain of Brettanomyces) and aged in French Merlot and Sirah oak barrels. This is one hell of a complex beer. I am saving my pennies.

Old Rusty's Red Rye Ale (Harpoon Brewery)

2008-06-22T19:05:00.005-04:00

I finally was able to find a bottle of this stuff. Not only do I love beers brewed with rye but this one also has my name (well, nickname) in the name! When it comes to your name there are three things you can never pass up:

1 ~ If a pub bears your name you must go in for at LEAST one pint (read McCarthy's Bar for more on that)

2 ~ If you're ever at a racetrack and a horse/dog bears your name you MUST bet on it regardless of the odds

3 ~ If you ever see a beer that has your name on the label you must buy and drink that beer

Old Rusty (a.k.a. Russ Heisner) was Harpoon's first employee. He was the brewer responsible for Harpoon's first beer, Harpoon Ale. I'm not sure what Russ does now for a day job, its not brewing, but the good fellows at Harpoon invited him back as a guest brewer on the 23rd installment of their 100 Barrel Series.

The Old Rusty Red Rye pours a deep, clean amber color with hints of reddish orange. Carbonation looks spot on as the head is nice and foamy and thick. As the head slowly fades it leaves a nice lacing behing and a half finger of foam thats bubbly and looks like the underside of a pancake thats yet to be flipped.

Smells of sweet fruit and apples abound. Reminds me of a weizenbock at first. Malty sweetness and some yeasty qualities round out the smells.

Taste is definitely unique. Its sweet at first with a dry spiciness in the finish that I'll attribute to the rye. The juicy apple smells that were apparent at first are a lot less noticeable in the taste. That being said, there is some sweetness that is very well proportioned. Their is no major hop presence with this beer but thats not a surprise based on the IBUs. Overall, its a nicely balanced rye ale that is extremely drinkable. I'm a fan. Cheers Old Rusty!

BEER FACTS

Name: Old Rusty's Red Rye Ale (100 Barrel Series #23)

Style: Rye Beer/Red Ale

Brewery: Harpoon Brewery

Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Container: 22 oz. bottle

Malts: ?

Hops: German Halletauer

ABV: 6.5%

IBUs: 38

Stone Smoked Porter (Stone Brewing Co.)

2008-06-19T21:14:00.004-04:00

Attention Stone sales reps in New England!!!! Please see this review as yet another blatant attempt to push the distribution of your products north to the great state of Maine. We promise to drink hefty amounts of your beers and thus keep your sales managers happy, hell you might even get a bonus and then you can take your whole family on vacation up to scenic Maine! Think about it...

Pours a ridiculously dark black color with a nice big (some would say huge), thick, rich fluffy light caramel colored head. Held to the light a little redness shines through but other than that, this one is black as night.

Smell is creamy coffee, dark chocolate, caramel, burnt sugars, dark malts and a nice hint of hoppiness. Its a bit hard to separate out the smokiness as this one smells very rich and roasty, like a nice cup of coffee. That smoked malt smell is somewhere hidden in there but I can't seem to find it. Regardless, this is a great smelling porter.

First sip and the first thing I notice is how smooth this beer feels in my mouth. Its like iced coffee. Tastes of bitter chocolate, coffee (of course) and some smokiness definitely stands out but its in no way overpowering. Its actually quite a nice balance with the smokiness. The West Coast hops are present as well in the finish and provide a nice bitter dryness. Wow, this is good.

As far as smoked porters go, Stone's definitely stands out as one of the best. Another one to try and get your hands on are Alaskan Smoked Porter (arguably the best in the world).

BEER FACTS

Name: Stone Smoked Porter

Style: Smoked Porter

Brewery: Stone Brewing Company

Location: Escondido, California, USA

Container: 22 oz. bottle

Malts: ?

Hops: Chinook & Mt. Hood

ABV: 5.9%

IBUs: 53

Imperial IPA (Green Flash Brewing Co.)

2008-06-18T21:10:00.004-04:00

Green Flash is out of San Diego County. The name refers to a "rare optical phenomena that occurs shortly after sunset or before sunrise, when a green spot is visible for a short period of time above the sun, or a green ray shoots up from the sunset point." I grew up out on the West Coast and never experienced one, but then again I really didn't know what it was or where to look for it. Its does sound pretty amazing. Anyways, lets get back to the beer.

According to the Green Flash site:

San Diego-style IPA, as it has come to be known by many, is super-hoppy, high gravity, yet highly quaffable ale. Our Imperial IPA is created in this new tradition with intense hop flavors and aromas from a unique blend of Summit and Nugget hops. It's all about the hops!

Pours a brilliant, glowing orange color. Its a great looking beer with a big fluffy stark white head. Once that head fades, it leaves a lot of lacing inside the glass. I really can't get over the color of this beer.

Wow, talk about an intense smelling beer. Its ridiculously hoppy. Lots of grapefruit, pineapple, orange and some pine. You can just about smell the stickiness from the hops. My guess is if you spilled some of this on you, that hop smell might never go away. I don't think I'd mind too much.

Taste is more of the grapefruit and pineapple sweetness at first followed by a tongue drying (and lashing) by the massive amount of West Coast hops. Its a very bitter IPA that is definitely leaning towards being a one-sided hop monster, but hell if you're a hop head this is your kind of beer! Did I mention it cracks the century mark when it comes to IBUs? I love it for what it is...

BEER FACTS

Name: Imperial India Pale Ale

Style: Imperial/Double India Pale Ale

Brewery: Green Flash Brewing Company

Location: Vista, California, USA

Container: 22 oz. bottle

Malts: ?

Hops: Summit & Nugget

ABV: 9%

IBUs: 101

Aventinus 2002 (Brauerei G. Schneider & Sohn)

2008-06-17T21:57:00.006-04:00

A lot of things happened back in 2002. According to the nice little gift wrapping around this aged bottle of Aventinus (and history as well), it was the year the Euro came into existence and the year Jimmy Carter was awarded a Nobel Peace prize. It was also the year the final piece of debris was removed from the World Trade Center and Brazil beat Germany to win the World Cup. It also happens to be the year that this particular beer was brewed and put away to be enjoyed on this night six years after its slumber.

According to the tag that hung around the neck of the bottle:

Aventinus, the world's oldest top fermenting wheat-doppelbock, has received accolades for the perfect balance of fruity spiciness (banana, clove, vanilla) and notes of chocolate (crystal and dark malts).

In addition, the beer has demonstrated wonderful aging potential with aromas and flavors of softer chocolate, clay and sherry when aged for three years or more.

Therefore in 1999, the Schneider brewery decided to age 240 cases of Aventinus each year in their historical ice cellar in Kelheim with each batch held for a minimum of three years.

Pretty interesting stuff. Anything aged in an ice cave sounds pretty sweet and this particular beer is so great that I am excited to see what age can do and how it compares to a fresh bottle.

Pours a murky, muddy ruby red to brown color. Carbonation levels are surprisingly active and the head fluffs up to a few fingers in thickness before slinking away. Its definitely not a head as big and fluffy as that of the fresh Aventinus.

The smell is prunes, raisins, some alcohol and a bit of chocolate and caramel. There are also hints of raspberry, burnt sugars and some sour notes. There are so many smells to try and sort out. Every time you stick your face in the glass you'll get a different smell.

Taste is very smooth and a lot more mellowed out. The fresh apple juiciness that the fresh Aventinus has is not anywhere near as apparent with this aged bottle. Its more subdued and like caramel coated granny smith apples. Lots of sweet sugar, some bitter fruits, raisins and dates. Its a very complex beer with lots of layers of taste that seem to have developed with age. As this glass warms the adjectives start to pile up.

I'd be interested to see what a vertical tasting of this beer would yield. I also wonder if the three year old bottles boast some flavors that have since dissipated with the bottles that are six years old. I guess, I'll be on the look out for other vintages.

If you've had an Aventinus than you've had an experience thats hard to match. The aged version is an even more special experience as those great tastes have evolved and changed. Its a great way to form a comparison. The 2002 vintage Aventinus is just one more reason I love beer.

BEER FACTS

Name: Aventinus (2002 Vintage)

Style: Weizenbock

Brewery: Brauerei G. Schneider & Sohn

Location: Kelheim, Germany

Container: 500 ml. bottle

Malts: Crystal & Dark

Hops: ?

ABV: 8%

IBUs: ?

who doesn't like to open presents?

IPA (Harpoon Brewery)

2008-06-16T22:30:00.003-04:00

One thing that I will always love about Harpoon is the fact that they made an IPA their flagship beer. You've got to love that. Go anywhere in Boston and chances are you'll find Harpoon on tap, its pretty much everywhere. I'm sure its been the gateway IPA for many hopheads in the Hub and surrounding suburbs. I can't even begin to imagine how many pints I drank while living in Allston, Brighton, Cambridge, Quincy etc...

Harpoons site has this to say about their IPA:

The high hopping of Harpoon IPA is not only noticeable in the nose but especially in the finish. The lingering bitter finish of this beer is not harsh or astringent, but crisp and pronounced. This is created, in part, by dry hopping – a technique that involves adding fresh hops to the conditioning beer to provide a fresh hop aroma.

Pours a sunshiny golden yellow color with a nice fluffy head that leaves some great lacing along the sides of the glass. Carbonation level is pretty nice with lots of bubbly activity. A great looking pour that makes this beer look really refreshing.

Smells like nice fresh hops, some hay and grass, a little yeasty along with some slight citrus notes. When you get a fresh pint of this the hop smell is very strong and extremely inviting.

Taste is bitter, crisp and dry in a nutshell. To be more specific its citrusy hops, slightly spicy and very bubbly on the tongue. This is a beer that really reminds me of having some pints outside in Boston. Its a wonderful summertime beer or anytime beer at that. Harpoon's IPA is an all around tasty IPA. Not a hop bomb but a solid example of the style.

BEER FACTS

Name: Harpoon IPA

Style: India Pale Ale

Brewery: Harpoon Brewery

Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Container: 22 oz. bottle

Malts: 3 different malts...?

Hops: Cascade

ABV: 5.9%

IBUs: 42

Old Rasputin (North Coast Brewing Co.)

2008-06-16T20:52:00.004-04:00

Grigori Rasputin was a Siberian peasant turned mystic and healer. His life is full of mystery and intrigue and his death even more so. What a great namesake for this style of beer. I honestly can not think of a better name for a Russian Imperial Stout and this label is one of my all time favorites.

Pours india ink black with the viscosity of a thin motor oil. Its a beautiful site to see that big coffee colored head form on the top of this beer. It looks so inviting, so perfect. As the head slowly fades it leaves very thick lacing on the side of the glass.

Smells of strong dark malty goodness, citrusy bitter west coast hops and fresh brewed black as night coffee. Who would have ever thought those three distinct smells could come together and be so amazing. Along with those more intense smells comes a faint smell of alcohol. I love the smell of this beer.

Taste is chocolate milk, bitter citrusy hops, coffee and sweet cream. There is a nice smooth, silky mouthfeel with this beer with nice carbonation and an almost immediate warming sensation from the alcohol, which also provides a dryness in the finish.

This is the real deal when it comes to Russian Imperial Stouts being made in America. Look on the list of top tens from anyone who loves this style and this one will be near the top. Lately I've been drinking a lot of this on tap at Novare Res, they've had it on nitro and its even creamier and pretty much heaven in a glass.

BEER FACTS

Name: Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

Style: Imperial Stout

Brewery: North Coast Brewing Company

Location: Fort Bragg, California, USA

Container: 12 oz. bottle

Malts: ?

Hops: ?

ABV: 9%

IBUs: 75

Q & A with Ken Grossman (Sierra Nevada)

2008-06-16T20:26:00.003-04:00

Back in 1980, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company brewed their first batch of beer, a pale ale. Little did Ken Grossman and co-founder Paul Camusi know that the beer they had brewed would one day be known as one of the beers that helped kick-start the US craft beer industry.

Almost 30 years later, Sierra Nevada is still one of the industry leaders. I wanted to find out a little more about some of their new releases, their outstanding commitment to sustainability and few other things so I contacted the company.

You can imagine my surprise and immense gratitude when I received the answers to my questions from none other then Ken Grossman himself!

Thanks Ken for all that you've done for craft brewing and for answering my questions.

Cheers!

(RHP) Sierra Nevada's been releasing some excellent new beers of late, can we look forward to some more surprises in the future? If so, any hints?

(KG) Yes, we are starting to release some new beers, as well as distribute some beers that had only been available at our taproom in the past. Additionally we are bottling our Chico Estate Harvest Ale in August – very limited release (probably Chico only). This will be made from hops picked from our organic estate hop field. We should also have a few more surprises out in the next year that are still in R&D, look for them or keep in touch.

(RHP) I've been reading about all the work Sierra Nevada has been doing when it comes to sustainability. In a nutshell, where does SN stand right now when it comes to carbon emissions, recycling, reusing etc..?

(KG) Along with incorporating as many sustainable practices within our day to day production (recycling, optimization of water usage, cutting down on packaging materials) we have been working on many initiatives for quite a few years to reduce our operational impact on the environment.

Here is a list of some of what we have done:

The first brewery in the country (as far as I know) to join the carbon registry to track and certify our carbon emissions. We have completed our audit for 2006 and will have 2007 completed soon.

Received the State of California WRAP award (waste reduction/recycling award) for many years, and have been recognized as one of the top recyclers in the State for our efforts.

Installed one of the largest co-generation fuel cell plants in the world (1MW) several years ago fueling it in part with methane produced from our onsite wastewater plant.

We are also just completing one of the largest private solar projects in the country, we have already commissioned a 400kW array, by the end of the year we will have over 9000 panels producing 1.4MW of power. We should be able to produce almost 80% of our electrical power with these two combined clean technology systems.

Put in a system a few years ago to capture clean and re-use CO2 from fermentation.

(RHP) I was over in Sweden recently and they had SN Pale Ale in all the government run liquor stores and I've seen it in England as well. Are there any surprising locations in the world where a person can find Sierra Nevada?

(KG) We export very limited amounts of beer, but we here about it getting bootlegged all over the world.

(RHP) With all this talk about hops shortages and elevated grain prices, will SN be affected in anyways that the consumer may notice?

(KG) Ever since a similar, but less severe shortage in the early 80's we have had long term contracts in place with our suppliers. We have ample hops in storage and contracted for the next several years. We actually sold, or did not take delivery of about 150,000 lbs. of surplus hops this year to ease some of the tight industry supply.

We also have long term supply arrangements with our malt suppliers, but costs are increasing considerably.

(RHP) Years ago I visited the brewery and drank some incredibily fresh Pale Ale, are there any special offerings at the brewery that aren't offered anywhere else?
k

(KG) Yes, we typically have about 15 different beers on tap at our restaurant, you have to go to Chico to sample most of them.

(RHP) I have to ask, who came up with the name for Bigfoot Ale?

(KG) My best buddy that I have known from early childhood Dave Sheetz, came up with the name one day in 1981 after a few beers while camping in the Sierra Nevada's.

Click the cap to read more about the history of Sierra Nevada

Gearhead Ale (Black Bear Brewery)

2008-06-16T19:31:00.003-04:00

Gearhead Ale is a bit of a mystery brew. I can't find any of the specs online and there aren't a lot of other reviews of it.

According to the Black Bear Brewery site:

Gearhead is a smooth flavorful red ale. Malty and hoppy enough, yet still mild and crisp.

Sounds simple enough.

Pours a hazy, reddish brown color with a thick fluffy head. The head slowly dissipates and settles in to a bubbly half inch of foam.

Smells a bit grainy, peppery and maybe a bit buttery. There is some faint sweetness but no real hop character is noticeable.

Tastes a bit thin and watery with a definite peppery flavor. There is also some slight malty characteristics and some hop bitterness but not a whole lot. The graininess that I smelled is also apparent in taste also a rather sharp, slightly metallic aftertaste is present. Gearhead doesn't pack a lot of flavor.

I don't know how long this bottle had been in the shop so it may or may not be old. I can't seem to find a date on it. Regardless, I'd love to get up to Orono for a hockey game and to check out the Bearbrew Pub and drink some of their beers on tap.

BEER FACTS

Name: Gearhead Ale

Style: American Amber/Red Ale

Brewery: Black Bear Brewery

Location: Orono, Maine, USA

Container: 22 oz. bottle

Malts:?

Hops: ?

ABV: ?

IBUs: ?

Brewed in Maine

Beer in Unique Places (Basel, Switzerland)

2008-06-15T22:03:00.007-04:00

Brewery: Unser Bier

Location: Basel, Switzerland

Unser Bier, a term that means "our beer", was founded 10 years ago by four beer lovers that had a fondness for homebrewing. Unser Bier was first just a club for homebrewers, a place where people could go and brew beer as a hobby. Once interest was piqued the brewery was founded. Its quite a remarkable story.

Located close to both the German & French borders, Basel is an amazing place. Its the third largest city in Switzerland with a population of 190,000 (edit). Its got all the goods that make it a great European city (historic architecture, art (edit), a river, a market place, culture and heritage etc...) but apparently it needed better beer.

Currently Unser Bier produces four different beers. According to the site, which is pretty funny:

We produce four different beers and occasional specials. Our first beer was an Amber beer. We wanted to produce a beer that is quite different from the usual lager beers served in Basel. Amber is also a lager but it is not hopped; it is not bitter. Women who usually don’t like beer tend to like it.

Our next beer was a pale beer, called Blond. It’s a little more bitter than the Amber. It’s a man’s beer. Our third beer was a black beer called Schwarz. It appeals to both men and women. We had some Irish people here recently and I told them that our black beer is just like Guinness but a little bit better. They were very upset about that. Weizen, wheat beer, is our fourth.

To read more about Unser Bier, there is a great interview with one of the owners (Simone Littlejohn) on the site which can be found HERE!

Beer from here instead of beer from there.

Novare Res Bier Café

2008-06-15T21:24:00.004-04:00

I've been meaning to write up something about Novare Res for awhile now. Its been up for a few weeks now and the buzz had really circulated around southern Maine and possibly into neighboring northern New England states. It truly is an amazing addition to an already vibrant beer community here in Portland.

Last week we had our third meeting of the Maine Beer Writer's Guild at Novare Res. Eric Michaud, the owner, was beyond generous about letting us beer-nerd-it-up at his establishment. He really treated us well and shared some amazing beers with us, including a couple bottles of De Struise Earth Monk and Taras Boulba. That was awesome.

Novare Res is an homage to Eric's love of great beer. The place itself reminds me of a European cafe. Its dark, brick filled and slightly cavernous. The two large rooms that make up the place really produce a relaxing atmosphere. There are big tables and benches (not to mention some pretty sweet church pews) along with the large brick bar in one and big leather couches in front of a fire place and some recently installed dart boards in the other. There is plenty of room for a lot of people to be comfortable. Now that its summertime Novare Res' deck is also getting a ton of use.

Currently Novare Res is pouring 25 different beers and should have a beer engine up and running soon. They also have 200+ bottles. If you are ambitious enough you can pay a $20 deposit and get a card with a rather extensive checklist of beers on it. Finish them all and get a 20-oz. glass chalice of your own that will be housed in a pretty sweet little "room". I am told you'll get 20-oz. pours for the price of 16 oz. ones. Considering the beer that Novare Res has on tap, thats a pretty good deal!

If you get hungry drinking all those great beers you can order up cheese and meat plates that are perfect accompaniments. They aren't too big and won't fill you up but they'll definitely keep you going.

It also looks like Novare Res will be hosting some brewery events soon. The site's "events" section mentions Dogfish Head, Allagash and Rogue (hell yeah, some West coast action here in Maine) with more details to come.

Overall, Novare Res has filled a niche very well here in Portland. The Belgian slant and the focus on hard to find beers with a definite attempt to educate the masses on what constitutes good beer is certainly refreshing.

Cheers Eric! Thanks for hosting us and thanks for making a lot of happy beer drinkers even happier here in Maine!

www.novareresbiercafe.com

Cadillac Mtn. Stout: Bombers vs 12 oz. bottles

2008-06-15T20:52:00.004-04:00

By now you've heard that Bar Harbor Brewing Company was sold and moved from its prior location (Tod and Suzi Foster's place) to a new location in Bar Harbor. You may have also heard that the bombers that were rather limited in supply are no longer being produced. Bar Harbor Brewing Company is now contract brewing three of their beers at Geary's in Portland for sale in six-packs.

Since there are a lot of fans of the BHBC beers that are concerned about the taste and quality of those beers they've grown accustomed to, I present my personal comparison of the "old" to the "new" Cadillac Mtn. Stout.

Looks like...

Bomber (old) - Pours a perfectly dark, pretty much black color. The head is nice, fluffy and coffee colored. The contrast of the very dark stout and that light colored head is one of the greatest things about a good example of this style. The head on this one doesn't good away quickly which I'll say can be contributed to it being a well brewed beer.

12 ouncer (new) - Pours inky black, a bit syrupy with about a finger's worth of coffee colored foam on top. The head lasts for a bit before slowly disintegrating leaving about a quarter-inch ring around the glass with some oily foam left in the middle.

Smells like...

Bomber (old) - Smells like dark roasted malt, a little sweet with slight hints of vanilla, chocolate and coffee.

12 ouncer (new) - Smell is very rich, tons of dark sweet maltiness, lots of coffee and caramel. A few more whiffs bring out some chocolate soft serve smells. All in all a very tasty smelling beer.

Tastes like...

Bomber (old) - Tastes very rich with a smooth creamy finish. Chocolate and coffee notes galore. Lots of malt sweetness with some well placed dryness. An excellent example of the style. Once you drink a bit of this beer, you'll understand what all the talk is about.

12 ouncer (new) - Taste is very roasty and sweet. There is a creamy texture on the tongue which gives way to some bitterness and dryness. There is an aftertaste with this one that was also present in the new bottle of the Thunderhole Ale. I really can't explain it, but its a sharp almost metallic taste that stays in your mouth for quite a long time. It doesn't ruin the taste of this beer and this is still a very good stout.

Overall...

Okay, we all know that you weren't going to brew a Cadillac Mtn. Stout outside of Bar Harbor that tastes exactly like the original. I will give some credit and say that the "new" CMS smells great and looks great and maintains some of the rich, roastiness that the original head. That being said, its is not the creamy, smooth beer that it once was. The bombers were definitely better and the smooth, sweet dry finish has been replaced with the astringent, cloying taste. Such is life, grab the bombers while you can. I've already talked to a number of people that have bought cases so its only a matter of time before they go extinct.

If you do happen to see the bombers grab one and grab a 12 ouncer and do your own comparison. I'll try and do the same for the Thunder Hole Ale and the Harbor Lighthouse Ale (which I think could end up being one of the best six packs of "light" beer available in Maine).

"New" Cadillac Mtn. Stout (Bar Harbor Brewing Co.)

2008-06-15T20:36:00.004-04:00

My second journey to the new world of Bar Harbor Brewing Company and their 12 oz. bottles brewed over at Geary's. Cadillac Mtn. Stout is going to be hard to replicate, I have to admit I have pretty high expectations. I absolutely love the bombers and find the beer pretty much close to perfect when it comes to stouts.

Pours inky black, a bit syrupy with about a finger's worth of coffee colored foam on top. The head lasts for a bit before slowly disintegrating leaving about a quarter-inch ring around the glass with some oily foam left in the middle.

Smell is very rich, tons of dark sweet maltiness, lots of coffee and caramel. A few more whiffs bring out some chocolate soft serve smells. All in all a very tasty smelling beer.

Taste is very roasty and sweet. There is a creamy texture on the tongue which gives way to some bitterness and dryness. There is an aftertaste with this one that was also present in the new bottle of the Thunderhole Ale. I really can't explain it, but its a sharp almost metallic taste that stays in your mouth for quite a long time. It doesn't ruin the taste of this beer and this is still a very good stout.

Once again, a new beer with an old name. Some of the old qualities are there but the taste and appearance are a little bit different and with beer that can make quite a big difference.

BEER FACTS

Name: Cadillac Mtn. Stout ("New")

Style: Stout

Brewery: Bar Harbor Brewing Company

Location: Contract brewed at Geary's in Portland, Maine, USA

Container: 12 oz. bottle

Malts: ?

Hops: ?

ABV: 6.7%

IBUs: ?

Brewed in Maine