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By Scottie, March 5, 2010 12:54 pm

Sixpoint Craft Ales

After fifty years of low quality beer, Americans are finally coming to their senses – and the craft beer industry is witnessing amazing growth! This should be wonderful news, right? Well, overall yes, but with an increasing number of impostor craft beers (those created by the mega-breweries of ABInBev, Coors, and Miller) popping up in supermarket aisles, many open-minded beer drinkers are left stumbling.

Impostor craft beer, as I call it, is a weak attempt at creating “craft beer” with low quality ingredients, lack of imagination, and massive marketing budget. Needless to say, another great venture brought to you by Anheuser-Busch. Thank you very little.

Fortunately, as we all know, there are many amazingly-new microbreweries opening all over the country. One microbrewery definitely worth checking out is Sixpoint Craft Ales out of Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY.

Background:

Sixpoint Craft Ales was founded in 2005 with limited funds in a small 800 square foot garage in Red Hook, Brooklyn. This small craft brewery is a prime example of the growing number of diverse and talented microbreweries across the country. They appreciate both the history of the beer industry and of their community in Brooklyn.

The Meaning Behind the Name:

Our logo – a unique combination of the brewer’s star and nautical star – combines the rich history of each and takes on an entirely new meaning. We pay homage to the ancient craft of brewing, but at the same time recognize our modern role and duty to interpret the art on our own terms. We remind you that we are from Brooklyn, and that we are proud to represent. Above all else, we help you to navigate through the endless ocean of various beers, bringing you back home to quality, back to Sixpoint Craft Ales.

Brewing: What’s their secret?

Sixpoint believes in using traditional brewing practices, such as using a hand-made hardwood mash paddle, yet have the creativity and forward thinking necessary to create amazing and unique brews.

Beer Mantra:

Sixpoint’s President and Brewmaster, Shane Welch, sees Sixpoint and its staff as more than simple producers of beer.

We are producers of beer, yes, but we are also scientists and philosophers and perhaps most important, educators. Teaching people about the science and the art of craft brewing the Sixpoint way is one of our most important tasks, and something we approach with honor and dedication.

Now those are some tasty looking beers!

Scottie’s Choice:

I’ve had the pleasure of trying several brews from Sixpoint (reviews to come) and I was thoroughly impressed. If you have the opportunity, look for their Russian Imperial Stout – it will blow your mind.

Sixpoint Craft Ales is a perfect example of how the craft beer industry is growing in America. If you haven’t had the opportunity of trying their beers, check out their site or follow them on Twitter to see if their beer is available in your area.

Cheers to Sixpoint Craft Ales!

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By Scottie, February 21, 2010 12:10 pm

The Beer Wench

I recently had the privilege of participating in the Beer Wench’s beer blogger interview series. Click here to check out the full interview!

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By Scottie, February 16, 2010 10:41 pm

BrewDog's James and Martin with a couple bottles of Sink the Bismark

James Watt and Martin Dickie, those innovative and competitive Scots from BrewDog Brewery, have created the world’s strongest beer….again; but when is a beer no longer a beer? At 41% ABV, many question whether BrewDog’s latest high alcohol concoction should even be considered a beer at all.

Last year, BrewDog unveiled the Tactical Nuclear Penguin, a 32% ABV (alcohol by volume) brew that broke the record for the world’s strongest beer ever brewed by humans…or penguins for that matter. Recently, Kleinbrauerei Schorschbräu, from Germany, one upped the Scots with their ridiculously strong Schorschbock, a behemoth of an Eisbock with 40% ABV.

Not to be outdone, Martin and James have waged war on the Germans and their new weapon is Sink the Bismark. Sink the Bismarck is a quadruple IPA that is frozen four times to drive the alcohol content to an astounding 41% ABV (not that the previous record holder’s ABVs weren’t astounding).

So what is this new ABV champion all about? Here is how BrewDog describes their new beer:

This is IPA amplified, the most evocative style of the craft beer resistance with the volume cranked off the scale. Kettle-hopped, dry-hopped then freeze-hopped for a deep fruit, resinous and spicy aroma. A full-out attack on your taste-buds ensues as the incredibly smooth liquid delivers a crescendo of malt, sweet honey, hop oils and a torpedo of hop bitterness which seems to last forever.

How much alcohol is too much? Have the Scottish punks (they are the self-proclaimed punks of the beer industry) gone too far? Well, this isn’t the first time that BrewDog has created a controversial beer. Their Tokyo (an 18.2% ABV Imperial Stout) was removed from some UK retailers because the messaging on the label was said to promote binge drinking. One can only imagine what the “watchdogs” think of BrewDog’s latest super brew.

Not many people are going to be able to afford to binge drink the Bismark though, since this rare beer will set you back a cool £40 for a 330ml bottle. BrewDog also provides an explanation of their sometimes misunderstood approach to brewing.

We want to do all we can to promote a new and responsible approach to beers in this country. We want the public to learn to understand, appreciate and respect beer. At BrewDog, we want to highlight a different approach to beer, one which focuses on quality ingredients and craftsmanship and not marketing budgets, volume sales and binge consumption. Many fall down the monolithic corporate brewers rabbit hole, we are on a mission to open as many people’s eyes as we can.

So when is a beer no longer a beer? I say if a beer is brewed with the four traditional ingredients – barley, hops, water, and yeast – then it should be considered a beer, regardless of the ABV. These Scots are always pushing the envelope of what is possible. They create beers (whether it be 6% ABV or 41% ABV) that they want to brew and they certainly don’t give a damn what anyone thinks, which I find refreshing.

Congrats to BrewDog for once-again redeeming the crown as being the brewer of the world’s strongest beer! Now all I have to do is get my hands on one of these comatose-inducing concoctions.

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By Scottie, February 9, 2010 10:46 pm

Snowmageddon can't stop ChurchKey

Snowmageddon, Snowtorious B.I.G., SnowFuckYourself, Snowpocalypse – call it what you like – D.C. had one hell of a snowstorm this past weekend.

What do you do when record amounts of snow fall on a city that is ill-prepared for any type of winter storm (probably only 3 plow trucks total in the District)? Drink craft beer, bar hop, and get into a snowball fight with 3,000 Washingtonians of course.

Thursday night, before a single snowflake had even touched the ground, D.C.’s inhabitants were acting as if the Apocalypse was upon us. Lines in Whole Foods and Harris Teeter grocery stores were reportedly three hours long. People were buying enough food, water, and alcohol to last a nuclear disaster. It’s only snow people – let’s not overreact.

As the snow began to fall Friday, word of a massive organized snowball fight began to spread on Twitter and Facebook. Loving any chance to throw snowballs at complete strangers, I immediately accepted this invitation!

Saturday morning, we (myself and thousands of other DC residents) trekked down snow-filled streets towards Dupont Circle, the site of the snowball fight. En route, there were cars completely buried in snow, street lamps knocked over, and cars crushed by massive fallen trees. Not to mention plenty of tumbling pedestrians along the way.

Arriving at Dupont was an awakening; a crazed but fun-loving battle field. For the most part, people were not taking the snowball fight too seriously, although there was the occasional ice chunk being thrown here and there. At one point, a group of people stormed the center of Dupont with an American flag as if they were storming the shores or Normandy or raising the flag at Iwo Jima. The whole experience brought back fond memories of Spain’s La Tomatina (largest tomato fight in the world) from a few summers ago.

No snowy day in D.C. is complete without beer, so I decided to head to Pizza Paradiso, ChurchKey, and Bourbon for some craft beer goodness. First stop – Pizza Paradiso in Dupont Circle. This spot has a diversified offering of craft beers with 16 draft beer selections, 80 bottled beers and one casked ale. I sipped on Troegs Mad Elf and then tried some hot mulled wine; a specialty only offered in D.C. during wintery-weather.  The sweet aroma of wood fired pizza made the experience seem almost like a  ski lodge in the District.

Later, we made the snowy hike to ChurchKey on 14th street. ChurchKey, one of my new local favorites, has a collection of 555 different beers which cover the full spectrum of styles, regions and flavor possibilities. After a Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron and an Italian Saison by Piccolo Birrificio, I headed back to Adams Morgan to meet some friends at Bourbon for a couple of Stone IPAs.

The snow brings out the kid in everyone. Never before have I seen people snow shoeing up New Hampshire Avenue. People hugging, laughing, and frolicking through the streets of AdMo. Sledders using anything from trash bags to sheets of linoleum to slide down snow covered-steps. Trudging through the snow covered city and drinking craft beers made for one enjoyable and snowy weekend. Although, it looks as if Mother Nature and Jack Frost aren’t finished unleashing their hell upon the Nation’s capital – the snow is still falling and the wind is really howling!

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By Scottie, February 1, 2010 9:25 am

Beer Wars

Beer Wars is a documentary that provides a behind-the-scenes examination of the ultra competitive beer industry. Director Anat Baron, former General Manager of Mike’s Hard Lemonade, reveals the obstacles small breweries must overcome to make their mark in an industry dominated by an evil empire of mega breweries.

The documentary reviews a brief history of the beer industry in America over the past century. Highlights include Prohibition, the rise of TV advertising, the decline of the local brewery, and the emergence of the three mega breweries – Anheuser-Busch, Miller Brewing, and Coors Brewing Company (movie filmed before recent mergers). This is the real story of beer in America – how it went from good to bad, and how demand for good beer is changing the market once again. If you like cold hard facts and random statistics, this movie is for you.

Anat Baron features the stories of micro and craft breweries. One of the craft breweries highlighted is Dogfish Head, a personal favorite. Sam Calagione (Dogfish Head founder) discusses his passion for beer as well as the unruly competitive tactics of the three mega breweries. He has created a niche market for beer drinkers that appreciate not just good beer, but great beer. Dogfish Head stands out from the competition by creating quality beer made from the highest quality ingredients. They also focus on taking an innovative approach to old world recipes. “If it’s already on the market, we aren’t interested in making it,” says Sam Calagione.

Dogfish Head and every other brewery featured in this documentary tell the same story – an unfair marketplace for small breweries in North America. It’s truly David vs. Goliath. These mega brewers have an unlimited amount of resources in terms of marketing and advertising budgets, but they also seem to control much more, i.e. politicians in their pockets?

What’s to come for the privately-owned craft breweries and micro breweries in America? Only time will tell, but there has definitely been an emergence of new breweries entering the marketplace since this documentary was created. Could the rise of social media sites like Twitter and Facebook be the ultimate tool of promotion for smaller breweries? Maybe Beer Bloggers and Beer Evangelists will continue to gain the attention of beer drinkers in America? Let’s hope.

Beginning today, Beer Wars is available to rent On Demand through Digital Cable and Satellite providers Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox, Cablevision, Charter, Insight, Bresnan, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-Verse, Dish Network and DirecTV. It is also available for download on iTunes, Amazon Video On Demand, Xbox 360 and PS3.

Beer Wars definitely opened my eyes to the challenges that micro and craft brewers face when taking on the mega breweries. Here’s an idea, count how many beer commercials will be featured in the Super Bowl next weekend? The cost of one commercial airing during the Super Bowl outweighs the typical marketing budget of a micro brewery for an entire year. This is a movie that all beer drinkers need to watch.

Beer Wars website: http://beerwarsmovie.com/

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By Scottie, January 31, 2010 4:12 pm

Saint-Martin Cuvée De Noel

Not Your Typical Winter Seasonal Beer.

Brasserie De Brunehaut was founded in 1890 in the Belgian town of Brunehaut. In 1990, the brewery relocated to an updated facility with modern equipment.

Brasserie De Brunehaut grows all of their barley and wheat used for brewing, guaranteeing quality and consistency in their beers. All of their beers are bottle refermented in 33cl & 75cl bottles, which adds to the overall complexity of the beer.

Today, the brewery still follows recipes developed by the original monks in 1890. They produce three styles of beer – Abbey, Organic, and Regional. The Saint-Martin Cuvée De Noel is one of Brasserie De Brunehaut’s Abbey ales.

Appearance:

Murky brown color with a slight ruby hue and a large khaki colored head that dissipates quickly. The dissipated head leaves behind some nice lacing.

Smell:

There is a very pronounced spiced aroma backed by notes of sweet candied sugar and caramel.

Taste:

Again, a very strong holiday spice flavor that is complimented by candied sugar, caramel, and hints of malt sweetness. At 8.5% ABV, the alcohol is noticeable but very subtle.

Mouthfeel:

The mouthfeel is much lighter than I was expecting. There is a crispness that I found unique for this style of beer.

Drinkability:

The light and crisp mouthfeel, combined with the very subtle alcohol presence makes this an easy and enjoyable drink.

Overall:

I had heard good things about the Cuvée De Noel and had been trying to find this beer for sometime in DC, which never happened. I was finally able to grab a bottle from the Foodery in Philly over the holidays.

This beer was definitely a surprise in a bottle. I was expecting a medium to full-bodied beer; a dark beer with a thick and coating mouthfeel – expected characteristics of winter seasonal beers. Instead, the Cuvée De Noel had crisp flavors with a much lighter body; making it a very drinkable. This is not your typical winter seasonal, but an enjoyable drink nonetheless.

Brewery website: http://brunehaut.com/

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By Scottie, January 25, 2010 10:37 pm

The Naked Pint

The Naked Pint, by Christina Perozzi and Hallie Beaune, provides a balance of wit and humor over beer history and facts. This makes for a worthwhile read that anyone can enjoy – whether you’re new to craft beer or a wily old veteran, you will walk away learning something new.

Both Beaune and Perozzi are renowned Beer Sommeliers from LA and their knowledge and passion for great beer is obvious in their writing style.

The creative and colorful cover of the book sets the tone for what awaits inside. Over the course of reading, I felt as if I were on a journey through craft beer enlightenment.

The book begins with Beer 101, which provides a great base of information for someone new to craft beer. Advanced topics include informative sections on specific beer styles, cooking with beer, proper glassware and beer supplies, home brewing recipes, and more.

The section on Bock beers exemplifies the cleverness and personality of this writing duo. The section is entitled, “I Wanna Bock with You: Bock Beers” – “This beer’s for you if you like: Getting kicked in the head. Goats. Freezing things. Toffee and Chocolate. Full-bodied richness. The Zodiac.” I love it!

The Naked Pint is not the end-all-be-all craft beer reference guide, but then again, it never tries to be. What it tries to be is a clever and fun read that both current and future craft beer lovers can enjoy.

Thank you Cristina and Hallie for writing such an entertaining and informative book on a subject that I truly love. It’s great to see more women in the craft beer scene – they bring a feminine flair to the Naked Pint that is refreshing compared to the text-book style of writing found in many books on the subject of craft beer.

This book’s for you if you like: Sass. Knowledge. Fun. Laughter. History. And of course… GREAT CRAFT BEER!

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By Scottie, January 13, 2010 6:53 pm

The Big Hunt

Last week, I attended a tweet-up session hosted by the Flying Dog Brewery. Flying Dog Brewery is Maryland’s largest brewery and the reigning Great American Beer Festival mid-sized Brewery of the Year.

The event was the official DC release of Flying Dog’s very limited Biere De Garde, appropriately named the Garde Dog. They were also serving the Raging Bitch, a Belgian-style IPA brewed to commemorate their 20th Anniversary.

Both beers were very enjoyable, but if I had to choose a favorite, I would have to go with the Raging Bitch. The name alone gives it an edge.

The Garde Dog is Flying Dog’s take on the classic French Biere de Garde style. This style of ale is traditionally brewed in the winter and spring to avoid problems with yeast that can sometimes occur in the warm summer months.

The Garde Dog is a beautiful golden color and pours with a shallow white head. It has a sweet and toasted aroma with hints of caramel and citrus fruits.

There is a nice overall balance to the flavorings of this beer. The citrus fruit flavors are complimented with caramel and a spicy malt sweetness.

Garde Dog’s light mouthfeel and average alcohol content (5.5%) make it a very drinkable beer that would be perfect on a warm summer day.

The following video is of Matt Brophy, Flying Dog’s Executive Brewer, describing the Garde Dog.

The Raging Bitch, on the other hand, is a completely different animal; it’s one feisty son-of-a-bitch! It weighs in at a formidable 8.3% ABV.

This brew has a beautiful citrus aroma with hints of clove, floral hops, and spices. The taste is just as good as the smell, if not better. The herbal hop bitterness and citrus flavors blend beautifully with hints of creamy sweet malt and a slight bite from the 8.3% ABV. Be careful, this bitch bites.

This was the first Tweet-up I have attended and definitely not the last. It’s easy to have a great time when you are surrounded by craft beer lovers, drinking delicious beer, and talking about Hunter S. Thompson and the Gonzo lifestyle.


Raging Bitch

Brewery website: http://www.flyingdogales.com/

Big Hunt website: http://www.thebighuntdc.com/

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By Scottie, January 6, 2010 9:02 am

"Who loves amazing craft beer and partying in Philly?" she asks. THIS GUY

Why go to Philadelphia for New Year’s? Well, Philly is one hell of a beer and food centric city. I haven’t been there since I was legally permitted to drink, and I had 6 beautiful and party-lovin’ ladies offering to be my tour guide. SOLD!

I arrived in the early evening on Wednesday the 30th and immediately cracked open a Pilsner Urquell. After a couple of drinks, the tour guides and I headed to Monk’s Cafe. I had heard countless good things about Monk’s and I wanted to see for myself if this Belgian beer emporium lived up to all the hype.

The beer selection was better than I had imagined. The “kid in a candy store” reference comes to mind. To kick things off, I started with a Pliny the Elder on tap. This was the first time I have had the Elder and I was simply blown away. You really can’t ask for much more out of an IPA/Double IPA. Following the Pliny, I had a delectable Rochefort 8, some amazing Brussels Mussels, and a 17.5% ABV Mikkeller Black to wash it all down.

After the delicious food and drinks, we hopped a cab to the Eulogy Belgian Tavern for a couple of roasty Ten FIDYs from Oskar Blues. Delicious canned beer makes for a great nightcap.

New Year’s Eve began with a trip to Reading Terminal Market to hunt-down our lunch from the plethora of vendors, and later stopping at the Foodery (which sells no food, only beer) to grab beer for the pre-game celebration. The beer selection at the Foodery was on point; I created a mixed six-pack of De Dolle Brouwers Stout, Saint-Martin Cuvée De Noel, New Holland Dragon’s Milk, Stoudt’s Winter Ale, Hitachino White Ale, and a Terrapin Big Hoppy Monster. There were still some Pilsner’s back at the place, so no need to overdo it.

To ring in the New Year, our party of seven headed to Drinker’s Tavern (home of the original PBR ripcord, and “$40 buys the bar a shot” motto) to consume copious amounts of adult beverages. The selection of beer was nothing to rave about but the Dead Guy Ale and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale they were serving hit the spot. They certainly helped chase down all the random shots that people were passing my way. Drinker’s was a great time and a pretty good bang for the buck.

You (or at least I) would think that New Year’s Day would be somewhat tame after a crazy night of debauchery. This is not the case in Philadelphia, where New Year’s Day is when the real party begins. The people of Philly freak out over the Mummers Parade. “What the hell is a Mummer?” you may ask. Well, your guess is as good as mine. All I know is that people dress in elaborate-colorful-crazy costumes, have a parade, and party like it’s going out of style. If you’re in town for the holiday, this is a must-see event, just make sure to dress for the tundra.

My next day started with brunch and then a tour of the pubs by some old friends. My favorites included Johnny Brenda’s with lively Sly Fox Chester County Bitter and Victory HopDevil. Both were straight from the cask and very well-received. Also, Devil’s Den with Barbãr Winterbok and Boulder Mojo Risin’. After running, well actually cabbing, all over the city, I decided to meet back up with my tour guides and a fellow craft beer lover who was celebrating his birthday. Happy birthday Mark!

I joined the party – mummers, my tour guides, and several other thirsty patrons – at the Dark Horse. A very large establishment – easy to get lost in and many stairs to fall down. After shots, some sloppy-dancing, spilled drinks and drunken follies, it was time to call it a night. This was a great way to finish the three day craft beer bender that we were on.

Ringing-in the New Year Philly-style was an amazing decision. Drinking phenomenal beer, eating delicious food, and having exceptional company is the perfect way to spend any holiday.

Special thanks to my posse of beautiful party companions – Britt, Blaire, Erin, Alex, Maria, and Rebecca – for being the ultimate tour guides and tearing up Philadelphia with me. It was a New Year’s I will never forget…except for the parts I can’t remember.


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By Scottie, January 3, 2010 11:04 pm

Tasting Room

Over the holidays, I had the opportunity to get a private tour of the Erie Brewing Company – the only independently owned microbrewery in my hometown of Erie, PA. Bill Bleil, Vice President and Treasurer, was kind enough to allow me to sample some of their beers (reviews to come) and show me around the brewery.

Erie Brewing Company was founded in October of 1993 and has been growing in popularity in the Great Lakes region ever since. They support the Erie area by purchasing bottles, growlers, artwork, T-shirts, and tap-handles from local companies. The beautifully hand-carved tap-handles in the tasting room (pictured to the right) are made by the Amish.

In 2008, Erie Brewing company’s Railbender Ale, their flagship beer, won the Bronze Medal in the Scottish Style Ale category at the Great American Beer Festival. This past year it won the Gold Medal by finishing first out of 29 other Scottish Style Ales.

Vat of Mad Anthony's APA

Erie Brewing Company’s year-round beers:

• Railbender Ale
• Mad Anthony’s APA
• Presque Isle Pilsner
• Misery Bay IPA

Seasonal specialties:

• Drake’s Crude Oatmeal Stout
• Golden Fleece Maibock
• Derailed Black Cherry Cream Ale
• Heritage Alt
• Fallenbock
• Ol’ Red Cease and Desist

Erie Brewing Company’s beers are currently available in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee,
Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Oregon. Click here for more
information on retailers in these states.

Bottling Line

Although I grew up in Erie, Pa, I knew little about the local brewery. Over the years, the city of Erie has had breweries come and go, but Erie Brewing Company has survived because of its unique selection of award winning beers. This small microbrewery is a great example of the growth the craft beer industry is experiencing and it’s always great to see a local company succeed.

Thank you again Bill for the tour and keep up the great work!

Brewery website: http://www.eriebrewingco.com/