Archive for May, 2009

• Heading out to pick up brew supplies: more cherry wheat,an amber and a coffee stout are planned. Perhaps one more. Getting another primary. #

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Brewery: Hook & Ladder
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Style: Golden ale

I had been quite impressed previously with the Hook And Ladder Backdraft Brown Ale, so when I came across a six of their Golden Ale I decided to pick it up.

Unfortunately – while I came to understand it a bit after the six – it was a bit of a disappointment. Hook and Ladder claims this is a medium bodied beer. I disagree. It’s actually fairly light for an ale. A nice clean golden colored ale with almost no head, it has a faint hops + malt scent but nothing really prominent. The taste is fairly nondescript. Sure – there’s some malt in there. A little hops, I guess. Mostly, though, I am struck by how very generic it is. Kind of BMC actually. No opinion at all and even less boldness. I have to say, I really was surprised to find out this was 5.5% ABV. I would have guessed MUCH lower.

It did turn out to be a decent beer for steaming sausage and peppers on the grill. I also came to appreciate it as a beer I could drink when I really just wanted something simple that I did not have to think about or experience. It would make a great gift to give someone who is a bit afraid of real craft ales, but overall I believe Hook and Ladder could do better.

• Andes Hotel craft beer fest was excellent. Ommegang Biere de Mars-incredible. Day’s best:Butternut Harvest-a sour farm house ale. #
• Andes craft beer fest: Such a great selection of beers. If you’re near Andes NY you’ve got 1:45 to get yourself here or be a loser. #
• Today May 30th Andes NY – American Craft Beer Fest @ Andes Hotel http://bit.ly/dSIfg I’ll be there after 3pm. #
• @techcommdood cool. Won’t add a thing. Did it really take a month to finish in the primary? Or did you just leave it a month? in reply to techcommdood #

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Brewery: Saranac
Location: Utica, NY
Style: Summer ale

While I am off at the Andes Hotel American Craft Beer Fest and up in Albany hitting Hennessey’s Homebrew for a few supplies, I’m rolling out a couple of ale reviews. These are basically utility ales with little opinion or boldness, but perfectly serviceable for what they are. Today, it’s Saranac’s Summer Ale. Tomorrow: Hook and Ladder’s Golden Ale.

The Summer Ale comes as part of Saranac’s “Beers of Summer” sampler. It’s a limited release and not available in six packs. This is a nice clear gold ale with a very light head. Very carbonated. There’s a decent malty scent balanced out by a small bit of flowery hops. It’s a very light bodied ale with a clean crisp taste. Tones of citrus and spices combine with the maltiness and light hops to make for a very refreshing ale. at 4.7% ABV this is certainly in the session category.

Not comething I would necessarily seek out, but certainly a fine ale for anyone looking for something light bodied with a bit of flavor but not too bold.

• @techcommdood Honey amber sounds incredible. Picking up the ingred. this weekend. Wonder if there is a spec. grain I could add. in reply to techcommdood #
• @techcommdood Been using the iPod Touch app LoseIt! to track food and exercise. Lost 15 lbs in 8 wks. Plus learning a lot about my recipes. in reply to techcommdood #
• Coffee cinnamon crusted pork loin on Weber w/@foamybeer My Cherry Amore Wheat & friends from down the road. #BBQ #
• @BeerQuestTV Nothing better than Blind Tiger in Manhattan (in my opinion) Alan and the crew are great and know their beer. in reply to BeerQuestTV #
• The History of Beer Cans: http://bit.ly/Z9lAg
  (I prefer bottles myself…) #

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Brewery: Smuttynose
Location: Portsmouth, NH
Style: Old Ale

We were looking for something simple but slightly big to go along with our Cha Cha Hut Chili Chicken and decided Smuttynose Really Old Dog Brown Ale would do the trick. We probably should have noted the 10% ABV before opening, but that’s another story…

This pours a medium brown with a light head that falls quickly. The scent is full of malt with a touch of chocolate and something else we could not put our nose on. Upon tasting we figured out the mystery scent: raisins. Or at least some sort of dried fruit. The dark fruit flavor plays well off the dark malts making for a very delicious beer. I moderate bodied beer, it’s not too sweet and balances the flavors (including some slight hoppiness) well. Plus, it stood up well against the spicy chicken making for a perfect pairing. Certainly one we’ll be heading back for again.

Tuthilltown Spirits
14 Gristmill Lane, Gardiner, NY 12525
Phone: 845.633.8284

After 5 years of legislative navigation and applications processes, Tuthilltown Spirits Distillery is proud to bring you the FIRST New York Farm Distillery Whiskey tasting room since PROHIBITION.

I am a HUGE fan of their spirits. They make my favorite bourbon (Hudson Baby Bourbon), an amazing rum and a vodka that recent Russian guests at the Cha Cha Hut Grill Club raved about. I’ve had the opportunity to visit the distillery on several occasions and the crew there are friendly, gracious and above all a wealth of distilling knowledge.

So, it is great news indeed to find out they will now be open to the public so everyone can experience the marvels of small batch distilling. You can tour the distillery, taste their Hudson Whiskeys and Vodkas, and shop for spirits, whiskey cured barrels, t-shirts, private barrelings and more.

Hours of operation are:

Tasting Room (no reservations necessary)
Thur-Monday 11-6pm

Tours
Sat-Sun 12pm and 3pm

Tours by reservation only (please call 845.633.8284 for reservations). There is a capacity of 15 people on each tour, so please book in advance to be sure you have a spot. Larger group tours and additional times are available by appointment.

Tuthilltown welcomes groups including but certainly not limited to whiskey groups, bus tours, enthusiasts, Bartenders Associations, retailers/bar/restaurant staff outings, corporate outings, media, special event requests, etc. Please contact them for further info on group visits.

Tours and Tastings both include a complimentary Hudson Whiskey nosing glass and 10% off of any Spirits purchase that day.

(Of note to the home brewers out there – they have whiskey cured barrels for sale VERY reasonably priced. An excellent purchase for adding something special to that stout or porter aging. I’m planning to do a foamybeer coffee stout in one and let it age until sometime in the late fall.)

• @bootleggersbrew black phoenix sounds interesting. Coffee stout or something wacky? in reply to bootleggersbrew #
• This Saturday May 30th Andes NY – American Craft Beer Fest @ Andes Hotel http://bit.ly/dSIfg #

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Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Style: Strong Dark Ale

I remember having the Local 1 when it came out and not thinking much of it. Still – as a long time Brooklyn Brewery fan – I decided to roll the dice on Local 2 and hope for the best. I certainly am glad I did.

I’m guessing my preference for the Local 2 comes from preferring the darker Belgian styles. Local 2 is definitely a dark Belgian. Deep brown with a lovely thick creamy head that holds amazingly. The aroma is big on malt with a nice citrus and yeast undertone.

The flavor was incredible. This is a big bodied beer with lots of sweet malt, honey, a touch of citrus and the spiciness you’d expect from a Belgian style dark. The 9% ABV does not come through in the taste – no alcohol harshness – but it definitely sneaks up on you while drinking.

I’m thinking I might be heading back to this for at least one for the cellar, I’m betting this will be a great winter warmer. That is – if I can resist drinking it before then…

• @brooklynwino feel the same about brewery sites. Way too many flash wankfests. Completely unnecessary. in reply to brooklynwino #
• With July 4 on Sat. are you taking Fri. or Mon. or both off. Vital to planning an @chachahut holiday BBQ. #BBQ #

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