Give Shmaltz proprietor Jeremy Cowan some credit – not many craft brewers will release the same beer four different times with very slight variations in the recipe. But Cowan, in his search for the perfect IPA recipe is doing just that with Hop Manna. Test Batch number four, brewed with more varieties of hops than… Read more »
The craft beer industry could use more folks like Chris Lohring from Notch Brewing. In a marketplace crowded with ‘me-too’ IPA’s and boozy beers that that put you to sleep after a just single glass, Lohring is proving that unrecognized styles and session offerings can still find favor amongst consumers. The latest installment in his… Read more »
Give the folks at Ninkasi some credit — they brew quality beer that isn’t overdone but still creative. And if you are looking for a good example, look no further than Imperiale Stout, a new offering only available in their winter four-pack. What Imperiale does incredibly well is exactly what the beer geeks will complain… Read more »
It’s always nice to try Belgian-inspired beers from U.S. craft brewers – especially a GABF medal winner. And give the folks at Karl Strauss some credit — just because they are near the beach doesn’t mean they can’t brew up a solid quadruple ale. Two Tortugas, the second installment in the ‘Twelve Days’ series checks… Read more »
By now, it’s well known that we tend to favor beers that are unique and offer characteristics that are not only imaginative but unlike anything we have already sampled. It makes sense that when the likes of Dogfish Head and The Bruery get together on a collaborative brew, a unique offering emerged. Faster, Bigger, Better,… Read more »
The great thing about Lagunitas is their consistency. When we pick up one of their offerings, we pretty much know what we are getting into. That said, sometimes their beers seem to run together. As with all beers we sample, we look for something distinct or creative — something that sets it apart from all… Read more »
IPA lovers in Massachusetts rejoice! There is a new west-coast style IPA on the market that deserves your attention. The Somerville based startup branding itself under the ‘Slumbrew’ moniker released Flagraiser IPA at the end of October and take it from us —it’s a hop lover’s dream. Columbus, Crystal and Galaxy hops shine bright in… Read more »
Continuing their project that began on February 2, 2002, Stone Brewing Co. continues with Vertical Epic 11/11/11. As per their plan, the 2011 release shares little in common with those of previous years. Each beer is designed to be aged and enjoyed sometime after 12/12/2012, but we cracked open a bottle early just to see… Read more »
We know great beer was made to be enjoyed, but now we are kicking ourselves for opening Bourbon Barrel Stout —only because we don’t have any more. Very rarely does a beer get delivered to our office that, when sampled, leaves even those who don’t always get the opportunity to partake in a review session… Read more »
The problem with most craft beer we try isn’t that it’s not ‘full flavored’ or that it’s not drinkable. The problem is that there simply is too much of the same beer in the marketplace. But every once in a while, a beer comes along that makes us want to keep sampling new brew after… Read more »
With all of the new breweries sprouting up each day, it’s easy to forget the big players who have been making quality brews for a while now. In celebration of 25 years in the craft beer business, Alaskan Brewing created Perseverance Ale.We love that the nation’s 12th largest craft brewer went the route of silk-screening… Read more »
It’s not often you get the privilege of sampling a unique and incredibly creative pale ale. But it’s even rarer when that beer has yet to earn distribution in the states, and comes from over 5,000 miles away. 961 Beer’s, Lebanese Pale Ale is quite a refreshing take on an old classic. Brewed with virtually… Read more »
After much tinkering in the Boston brewery, the brewers are ready to release the very first beer in the collection — Samuel Adams Griffin’s Bow. Through experimentation with different recipes and aging techniques, the brewers took the traditional barleywine style to the next level and created this oaked blonde version, a variation they had never… Read more »
You have to respect Flying Dog for not releasing their Pumpkin offering early, like most brewers are these days. This one — which hit the mid-Atlantic in 6-packs and on draught — is certainly worth the wait too. While many other offerings in the category will pour a deep orange or pale color, Flying Dog… Read more »
