Archive for June 29th, 2009

• @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.)