Archive for June, 2009

• @Whineaux glad you liked the review. I'm working on catching up…more soon. in reply to Whineaux #
• 2nite on the grill: tialpia fish tacos w/sour cream&lime slaw. #grilling #
• Beers 2nite: Smuttynose Robust Porter-nice but thick 4 summer.Saranac Summer Brew-lager&lemonade. Very crisp perfect summer grill beer. #
• Going to be in the Catskills (NY) this Sunday? Here's something to do: brewin' @chachahut grill club: http://chachahut.com/events/ #
• @AlaskanBrewing Glad you went Flash free. I advise clients against Flash unless audio/video content. Looking forward to your new site. in reply to AlaskanBrewing #
• July 1st: Victory Brewing @ Blind Tiger Ale house in NYC: http://bit.ly/NWCAC #

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Brewery: Long Trail
Location: Bridgewater Corners, VT
Style: Double IPA

Having enjoyed the the other member of the Brewmaster Series (Long Trail Coffee Stout), I could not pass up the opportunity to try the Double IPA. Add to this the fact Oliver’s Discount Beverage was selling bombers for $3.99 and it was a slam dunk to pick up two for the cellar.

As I have mentioned in several IPA reviews, I spent many years avoiding the hops. Stouts, porters and ambers were the standard drink for me. At the beginning of the warm weather here at OAB HQ, I declared this spring and summer the season of “Embrace The Hops”. I’ve gone out of my way on each cellar restock to find at least one hop bomb or big hop beer – much to the dismay of Mrs. Ohabeer. (She is decidedly not a hop fan…) While the Long Trail Double IPA does not qualify as a hop bomb, it certainly satisfies my desire for something hoppier than my usual fare and was declared by Mrs. Ohabeer: “too hoppy”.

It pours a slightly cloudy gold color with a clean foamy white head. The aroma is definitely an DIPA: large hop scent – citrus with a faint flower and malt scent. The flavor is a lovely balance of citrusy hops, a subtle balance of malt with a touch of flowery hop at the end. Mrs. Ohabeer and I discussed the citrus profile and decided it comes through mostly as lemony. It’s a medium light bodied IPA with a bit of “tongueyness”. By that I mean, it’s a slight bit dry on the end leading to that strange sort of feeling on the tongue. If you’ve encountered it you know what I mean. It’s not a bad thing – just a little unexpected in an DIPA.

Certainly lighter than most DIPAs in body, it’s 8.6% ABV is nicely hidden in the balance of citrus hop and sweet malts. A very mellow DIPA that could easily sneak up on you if you’re not careful. At $3.99 a bomber, drinking several – while economical – may not be the most advisable session on a BBQ afternoon.

• @alfiala so want to hang with the hearse hippy AND own the hearse in reply to alfiala #
• Just finished High School Musical 3. Seen all 3. Also saw I'm Not There & Grand Theft Parsons. Just how I roll movie-wise. #
• @techcommdood strange. The Butternuts folks said they were botlling the Harvest in 750ml. Still like it enough to look for cans. in reply to techcommdood #
• @beeraday I thought the Hercules DIPA was very tasty. I have a review up at ohabeer.com in reply to beeraday #
• @MondayNight sounds amazing. Did you use fresh Ginger or dried? in reply to MondayNight #
• @techcommdood where did you score the porkslap farmhouse? Loved it on tap @ Andes Hotel Beer Fest. Been looking for bottles. in reply to techcommdood #
• @Starbucks McNulty's NYC French roast cinnamon cold brewed 12 hours & served on ice w/2% milk. #coffee in reply to Starbucks #
• Grill heating for @chachahut portobello & black bean burgers. Topping w/Grown Up Salsa. #grilling #
• @eurodog thinking more about linking to product page. Properly done flash CAN be cut/paste txt. Plus flash sucks on mobile. #webdesign in reply to eurodog #
• @AlaskanBrewing please say you're not making an all flash wankfest. All flash websites are a pain for those of us who write about beer. in reply to AlaskanBrewing #
• Pre-grillin' beer: Jewbelation 12. Damn this is a yummy beer! Big malt w/nice flower hops backend. Massive and a bit buzzy. 12% burns a bit #

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Brewery: Long Trail
Location: Bridgewater Corners, VT
Style: Imperial Coffee Stout

Question: what do you do when you see a bomber for a brewery’s Special Edition series prices at $4.99?

If you answer is anything other than “Buy it without thinking” I have serious doubts about your sanity and fiscal responsibility.

So it was that I encountered the Long Trail Brewmaster Series Coffee Stout in a bomber at the remarkable price of $4.99. Without thinking – I picked up a bottle. I now wish it had been more, but that’s another story.

For full disclosure, I am a big coffee junkie. I brew via French press, prefer to grind my own beans and feel most coffee stouts fail to actually impart a coffee profile. To me, if you are going to call it “coffee stout” – it sure as hell better have a coffee taste. To their credit, Long Trail has accomplished this task creating a decent low priced stout with a solid coffee base.

The bottle states “Made with Vermont Coffee Company Coffee” and to a coffee geek that’s a good thing. Vermont Coffee Company has a fairly good reputation for quality roasting and that come through in this brew. It pours a jet black with a dark brown head that falls fairly quickly. It’s a big imperial stout scent – huge on roasted malt – with a very heavy coffee tone. Think morning coffee brewing crossed with a big stout.

The taste carries this combo through – big stout taste with a nice bitter coffee tone. Here is where I think most people discussing coffee stouts part ways. If you prefer a smooth mellow roast coffee – most coffee stouts are going to be a fail for you are they tend to use a stronger coffee flavor. If the brewer has decided to go LCD and use a coffee extract or cold brew coffee – the bitter edge is gone and the hardcore coffee geek is unimpressed. To me, if you’re not a fan of strong coffee – why are you buying and drinking a big coffee stout? The Long Trail is a big bitter coffee taste – like a great fresh cup in the morning – and finishes with a hint of chocolate.

My only real complaint is it is a bit thin on body. If this had been a bit thicker – it would have been a damn near perfect coffee stout. Excellent aroma. Solidly balanced bitterness. A nice mid-range 8% ABV makes it no session drink but fine for the seasoned professional. All for the low low price of $4.99. I certainly hope to run into this again soon.

My favorite alehouse in New York City – Blind Tiger Alehouse – is having another event that makes me regret ever leaving NYC in the first place. (Not that the OAB HQ in the mountains isn’t pleasant and all…)

Victory Brewing @ Blind Tiger
Date: July 1, 2009
Time: 4pm
Location: Blind Tiger, 281 Bleecker St., NY, NY

Wednesday July 1st @ 4:00PM, the Blind Tiger will be hosting the folks from Victory Brewing Company!

The List:
Victory Baltic Thunder
Victory Throwback Lager
Victory Wild Devil
Victory Saphir Weisen (Craft Brewers Conference beer, single hopped)
Victory Tradition Pilsner (Craft Brewers Conference beer, single hopped)
Victory Schwartz Pils
Victory Hallertau Mittelfreu Pilsner (Craft Brewers Conference beer, single hopped) Victory Hop Devil
Victory Prima Pils
Victory Golden Monkey
Victory Storm King
Victory Braumeister Pils (Spalt select)
Victory Whirlwind Wit
Victory Sunrise Weiss
Victory Harvest Ale
Victory Bags Packed Porter
Victory ESB
Victory Rauch Porter
Victory St. Boisterous
Victory Abby 6
Victory Abby 8
Victory Donnybrook Stout
Victory St. Victorious
Victory Lager
Victory Hop Wallop
Victory Festbier
Victory Mad King Weiss
(They might even throw in one more special treat)

(If anyone happens to go to this, please drop back by Oh…a beer and leave a review in the comments.)

• @GolfPut @reply bots based on keywords are twitter bottom feeders. Drinking outdoors @ golf course doesn't = golf lover. in reply to GolfPut #
• Best outdoor drinking @roxburyny: the deck @ Sheperd Hills Golf Course. Stunning view-great staff-BMC beer with a weisse & hefe. #

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• @mrsohabeer making grilled pineapple & coconut ice cream. 1st in the line of @chachahut grilled ice creams. #
• @BrewinSudsSoap pretty good. Need to tweak dressing for better kick but pineapple poblano & BBQ chicken was great. #BBQ in reply to BrewinSudsSoap #
• Working up a new recipe: BBQ chicken sandwich w/grilled poblano&pineapple salsa & sour cream poblano&pineapple sauce #
• Why does the rain always stop AFTER I'm finished grilling. Glad I put up a tent for grilling. #grilling #BBQ #

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• @ab_iron hmmm as the coffee cinnamon rub recipe is an @chachahut secret sharing is not allowed. However purchasing is an option. in reply to ab_iron #
• The @foamybeer Ring My Belgian coming along nicely in bottle. 3wks and mellowing a bit. Still big big clove. #
• Grillin in a thunderstorm: coffee cinnamon flank steak,blackened asparagus&grilled plantains. #BBQ #

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• @brewed4thought oh I'm sure the haters will show. Not going to defend Bud but certainly will defend the American Ale brew. Nice simple ale. in reply to brewed4thought #
• Never thought I'd say this: Bud American Ale pretty decent session ale. Mild hops w/moderate maltiness. Certainly worth the price on tap. #
• Dinner last night: @chachahut chili chicken:smoked thighs grilled in chili sauce. Served w/tortillas & @foamybeer Itsa Stout&3 Hour Tour #

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• Dinner: @chachahuf chili chicken:smoked thighs then grilled in a chili sauce. Served on tortillas. Also @foamybeer Itsa Stout&3 Hour Tour #

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