Posts Tagged ‘Porter’

After a rather crazed Labor Day weekend (wherein the Cha Cha Hut made its official commercial debut), we decided to journey to Oliver’s Discount Beverage in Albany to restock a quickly dwindling cellar. I once stated the selection here is much smaller than Half Time in Poughkeepsie, but what is there is truly amazing. I always find a ton of interesting new brews when dropping into Oliver’s So much so, I can’t remember the last time we made the trip to Half Time. Plus – the Oliver’s staff seem to be really excited to be selling something other than the endless stream of BMC we see going out the door.

Bombers
Southern Tier Imperial Pumking Ale
Southern Tier Imperial Mokah (chocolate & coffee stout)
Southern Tier Imperial Cherry Saison
Southern Tier Imperial Heavy Weizen
Dogfish Head Fort (brewed with pureed raspberries)
The Bruery Black Orchard
Brown’s Whiskey Barrel Aged Porter
He’Brew Rejewvenator Harvest Ale
Avery Fifteen Anniversary Ale
Avery Collaboration Not Litigation Ale
Red Hook DB Double Black Stout with Coffee

40 oz.
People’s Pint Tap & Die Malt Liquor

6 Pack
Wolaver’s Certified Organic Will Stevens’ Pumpkin Ale
Brown’s Oatmeal Stout
Sierra Nevada Kellerweis
Atwater Block Brewery Vanilla Java Porter
Boulder Beer Mojo IPA

I haven’t really done much of a restock lately to the cellar. We’ve been a bit too busy around OAB HQ drinking various foamybeers – our own line of brews. A recent trip to pick up more brewing supplies lead us to drop by Oliver’s discount Beverage in Albany. so, the latest beerventory…

Growlers
Cave Mountain Hefeweizen (bought at the brewery on $8 browler Sundays)

6 packs
Widmer Drop Top Amber Ale
Widmer Drifter Pale Ale
Saranac Summer Brew
Wolaver Ben Gleason’s White Ale
Sherwood forest Friar’s Belgian White ale
Boulder Brewing Hazed & Infused
Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA

12 Pack
Smutty Nose Sampler featuring Shoals Pale Ale, Old Brown Dog, IPA and Robust Porter

Bombers
Long Trail Brewmasters Series Double IPA
Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere
Jolly Pumpkin La Roja Amber Ale
Arcadia Ales Cocoa Loco
Arcadia Ales Cereal Killer
Southern Tier Jah-Va Imperial Coffee Stout
Southern Tier Iniquity Black Ale
Smuttynose Really Old Brown Dog Ale
Smuttynose Gravitation Belgian Quad
Ommegang Biere de Mars
He’Brew Jewbelation 12
Elysian Bifrost Winter Ale
Flying Dog Wild Dog Weizenbock

Saturday March 7, 2009 meant a trip to Albany to check out The Watchmen. As there are no decent theatres in the general vicinity of Ohabeer HQ, we have to travel over an hour to see films (usually Albany or Kingston). For that reason, we generally only go to those films we feel are cinema worthy. It also usually means making a day of it wherever we choose to go see films.

With that in mind, we made plans after seeing the film to get a little lunch, grab a few home brewing supplies and finally get over to a legendary Albany pub.

Fox & Firkin Pub (Colonie, NY)
112 Wolf Road, Colonie, New York 12205 (518) 453-2369
A bit of an update on the Fox & Firkin Pub. Back in February 2009, we had lunch here and were impressed by the beer selection. Sadly, one month later is appears they are “undergoing some changes” (said our mildly ineffective waitress) and I’m guessing that means LCD beer. Other than what I am guessing were some left over Dogfish Head 120 and 90 minute IPAs, all of the interesting crafts from a month ago were gone. I had a couple of the Dogfish 90s. Sadly, this really leaves us without ANY place to get a good beer and some lunch in the Colonie Center area. If anyone out there has suggestions leave them in the comments.

Hennessy Homebrew Emporium
470 North Greenbush Rd (Route 4) Rensselaer, NY 12144 (518) 283-7094
I needed to get a couple of cases of bottles for an upcoming stout bottling, so decided to check with the beer crowd on Twitter for Albany suggestions. Three of the four responses recommended Hennessy Homebrew Emporium. I would like to thank all those that did. It’s a great well stocked store with a friendly knowledgeable staff. I chatted for a bit about sanitizing options, possibly buying a few hops rhizomes, various options when I am done with this bottling thing (want to go keg) and beer in general. One just can’t help but fall into a conversation in a home brew store. The prices are great. It’s fairly easy to find. Plus, they give demonstrations and are hoping to expand soon. All in all an excellent find and some place I’ll be returning to often.

Mahar’s
1110 Madison Ave Albany, New York, 12208-2248 (518) 459-9416
We have been trying to make it to Mahar’s since a friend who knows we like great beer told us about it three years ago. Only problem is it does not open until 4pm and we’re usually no where near it at that time. This time – however – it worked out perfectly as it was (sort of) on the way back home from Hennessy’s. It’s a great smallish space with a very very authentic British local ale house feel. Very few seats – mostly bar rails to set your glass on while you stand. A fairly older mixed crowd – 30/40 somethings mixing easily with old timers. The beer list is massive focusing a great deal on European brews. They had six cask engines all running brews from Middle Ages Brewery in Syracuse, NY. As I am a cask fanatic, I set about having a few…

Mr. Ohabeer had:
Middle Ages Mahar’s 20th Anniversary Ale: nice simple dark ale. Slightly sweet with hints of caramel. (Cask engine)
Middle Ages Kilt Tilter Scotch Ale: Scotch style porter tasting greatly of chocolate and raisins. (Cask engine)
Middle Ages Wailing Wench: a strong ale with a big hops taste. (Cask engine)

Mrs. Ohabeer had:
Middle Ages Mahar’s 20th Anniversary Ale: nice simple dark ale. Slightly sweet with hints of caramel. (Cask engine)
Harpoon Winter Warmer:lovely copper ale with a nice spicy edge. (In bottle)
Middle Ages Mahar’s 20th Anniversary Ale: She decided to try this out on draught rather than cask engine. A completely different beer. More carbonation and much sweeter. Plus – as she put it – more “lacing, because I AM a sewer.”

Sadly a bit of a mar in the otherwise nice evening was the somewhat dick-ish attitudes of both the Slayer t-shirt wearing bartender and the biker dude/hippy owner. I get it – that whole “We got attitude so deal with it fuckwit! You don’t like? Then get out!” Really though. The owner refers to US craft brews as “US crap brews”. I’m quite glad we did not run into this guy until we were leaving. Probably would not have stayed as long as we did. Sad really – the beer is pretty good. The place is nice and chill. A couple of people actually brought in slow cookers with free chowder and chili. The attitude from behind the bar might just keep me from wanting to return very often. And I’m certain Mahar’s will not care one bit if I do…

Brewery: Left Hand Brewing
Location: Longmont, CO
Style: Porter

begin rant:
First of all – if anyone from Left Hand reads this – your fricking flash wankfest website is not cool, not helpful and runs like sludge. I do not need some sort of virtual beer experience when I am trying to get info on your brews. I’m sure the design company who built it was able to buy several Herman Miller chairs with the billable from your site, but it really was not worth it.
:end rant

I feel better now. Much like I feel when having a Left Hand Black Jack Porter. (Yes – cheesy segue…) I somehow missed writing about this back in the PorterFest 2008 – 09 week. Not that this should be overlooked. It is a great porter. One of my favorites.

It pours dark, but looks deep reddish brown when held up to the light. A foamy light brown head leaves a bit of lacing. There is a chocolate aroma during the pour.

This is what I would call a lighter porter. Not very dense, it has a smooth but thin taste. Good level of the coffee and chocolate expected in a porter just not as big as some during the PorterFest. This could be a great gateway porter for those intimidated by bigger brews. It also makes a great porter for a night when you want something lighter than the usual porter fare.

Now if only they would do something about that website…

When Mrs. Ohabeer and I venture our of the Ohabeer HQ and end up in a bar, it is most likely I am ordering beer. Living in upstate NY does not often afford one the opportunity for the fine art of mixology – I haven’t had a decent margarita since leaving NYC – so that the beer gods for the in roads made by craft beers even at local bars. Invariably, I’ll bring along the handy iPod Touch to see if there is WiFi in the bar (thus allowing for twittering while drinking) and to make notes on the beers drank. As I am attempting to be social while out drinking, I do not take any sort of detailled tasting note, but just something quick and simple.

So, here is the first installment of Random Beers in Various Bars wherein I clean out the notes I have on recent nights out.

Fox & Firkin Pub (Colonie, NY)
112 Wolf Road, Colonie, New York 12205 (518) 453-2369
When heading to the Colonie/Albany area for shopping, we used to hit the Old Chicago for some lunch and a great selection of craft beer. Sadly, they went out of business in January 2009. Luckily, this chain pub is located right across the street. It’s the usual ersatz English pub filtered through a marketer’s vision, but that do have an excellent beer menu. With lunch I had a Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA (on tap. lovely hoppy pale ale) and Rogue Dead Guy Ale (in a bottle. nice cloudy copper color. Smooth ale with what tastes like a hint of honey). They also carried the Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA, but as I had more shopping to do, I took a pass.

Andes Hotel (Andes, NY)
110 Main St., Andes, NY 13731 (845) 676-4408
You just have to love a bar with snowmobile parking. We ventured here one Saturday drawn by their local cable ads claiming the most craft beers in the area. Given the area we live in, that could have meant three. Luckily, it was around 30 with several on tap. Started with the Southern Tier Unearthly Imperial IPA on tap served in a goblet. Very hoppy rich gold ale with a thick head. 11% ABV limited me to one of these. Followed with a pint of Southampton Porter on tap. A thinnish head on a nice deep chocolate colored brew. Good balance of maltiness to chocoloate sweetness with a slight coffee back end. Finished the night with a Snapperhead IPA on tap. This might have been a mistake after the Southern Tier IPA. There is a bit of hoppiness, but mostly I am getting nothing. Could have fried the tastebuds? Might have to try this another time. Though the more I drank, the better it got. Also available at Andes Hotel: Weyerbach, Abita, Sierra Nevada, Anchor, Brooklyn, Yuengling, Ommegang, Magic Hat, Leinenkugel and more. They even have a few imported Belgians.

Baba Louie’s Pizza (Hudson, NY)
517 Warren Street, Hudson, NY 12534 518.751.2155
Had lunch here. Very nice artisanal pizzas. Excellent toppings. Had a couple of C.H. Evans Kick-Ass Brown Ales. Solid simple brown ale.

Spotty Dog Books & Ale (Hudson, NY)
440 Warren Street, Hudson, NY 12534 .T 518 671 6006
This was an amazing find. They were having a beer tasting that evening, but we could not stay that late. It is a bookstore with a bar. Nice selection of crafts on tap. The real story is it is located in what was the original C.H. Evans brewery space and so their core beers are from C.H. Evans. I went with a Dogfish Head Raison D’Etre (on tap) as I had not had it in a while. Such a great brew. I love the fact you can taste the raisins without it being too cloy. Mrs. Ohabeer had a Chatham Porter (also on tap). Nice rich color and a decent porter taste.

Brewery: Mad River
Location: Blue Lake, CA
Style: Scotch Porter

Not quite sure how I missed reviewing this during PorterFest ‘08-’09, but here it is now. Mad River Scotch Style Porter is a fine porter – not remarkable but certainly good.

It pours nicely. Dark black color and a head that quickly falls.it has a creamy feel with nice tones of smokey coffee. There is a very subtle sweetness that makes this a great winter porter. It went nicely with some snow-b-qued burgers we had recently. 6.7% ABV is not going to get you flying very fast (sometimes a good thing) allowing you the chance to indulge in a few of this utility porter.

Brewery: Butte Creek
Location: Chico, CA
Style: Porter

Another slightly underachieving porter. While it had a nice creaminess and a hint of smoke, that was pretty much it for this brew. Almost no head. The bottle claims a chocolate finish that simply was not there. No hints of coffee either.

It’s certainly a satisfying beer, but not if what you really want is a porter.

Brewery: Troegs Brewing
Location: Harrisburg, PA
Style: Porter

Our next entry into PorterFest ‘08-’09 comes from the usually solid Troegs Brewing. Now, Troegs Dead Reckoning Porter is certainly no BEERFAIL, but it’s not much of a porter either.

It looks and pours more like a very dark ale. None of the usual porter creaminess. No thick head. Missing the chocolate/coffee aroma/taste. Pretty unimpressive as a porter, but a fine “dark ale” if such a thing exists outside of Belgium. This couldn’t even be called a Belgium dark ale.

Brewery: Great Divide
Location: Denver, CO
Style: Porter

Read the description in the graphic above.

St. Bridget, a legendary Irish saint, created a sensation by turning her bathwater into beer.

How could you NOT love a porter named after such a saint? If I could turn bathwater to Saint Bridget’s Porter I’d be the cleanest human on the planet.

This is an incredible porter. Big robust with a thick thick head. It heads more to the coffee end of the porter spectrum only hinting at chocolate. Malty malty goodness. No bitterness and definitely no cloyness.

Currently the leader in PorterFest. This will have you warm and toasty on any cold winter night.

Brewery: Cisco Brewers
Location: Nantucket, MA
Style: Porter

Breaking with the usual 12oz delivery method during PorterFest, I was intrigued by the 650ml of Cisco’s Moor Porter. I was not disappointed, though it did lack some of the usual porter characteristics.

The pour – as a porter should – was dark, creamy and having a big caramel head. What was a bit different is it appeared to be less thick a porter than most. Tasting revealed it did in fact feel thinner – like a slightly watered down porter.

Happily, nothing was ACTUALLY watered down. The taste is deep and smokey without being bacon-y. It has a bit of a sweet aftertaste but does not cross into cloy. The head stick around pretty much all the way through making for a bit of beer mustache fun.

Certainly an interesting introduction to Cisco Brewers and one that will have me trying more of their brews.