Evil and a Bayfront Blonde

Did you ever have a beer that was just pure evil?  The one beer that does you in every time you drink it?  I have!  The most evil beer in the world for me is Miller Lite.  I always swore that I would never review or write about beers like Miller Lite, Coors Lite or Bud Lite whether it be in my newspaper column or on this blog.  In my mind these are not real beers.  They are simply alcohol infused soda that try to taste like beer.  They lack in appearance, aroma and definitely taste.  However, even though they are sad imitations of beer, they are very popular among the masses especially here in the Northeastern part of Pennsylvania.

Two Saturday's ago, I attended a clam bake for the league that I bowl in.  Every year it is a fun event with lots of games, prizes, food and Miller Lite.  Yes, I said Miller Lite!  Also every year I swear that I won't drink it, but end up doing so because no other beer is available and the PLCB, Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board prohibits people from bringing booze in to the pavilion per the American Legions liquor license.  Well, this year was no different, I broke my promise to myself and I drank several glasses of Miller Lite.  It was a big mistake!

Why was it a big mistake?  Miller Lite is just plain evil.  It is the Nosbeeratu of beers.  It seems like it may be OK but then it sucks you dry the next day.  It is Vambeer, draining all the life from your body one sip at a time.  Its a Succbeerus, an Inbeerus, it's the Devil's Concbeerbine!  Yes, it is pure evil, the devil incarnate.  Every time I drink Miller Lite I spend the next three days on the hopper as it runs through my system like electricity running through a power line.  It's fast and furious and my bout with the pure evil was lost once again.  I became like the undead for three solid days.  Enough of this talk of evil beer.  Too much talk may invite it in to take your intestinal track to the lower bowels of hell. 

Several weekends ago, I did have a chance to drink a nice beer from the Western part of Pennsylvania and the city of Erie.  During the summer months, Mrs. Meister, my sister-in-law Amy, who by the way is also a lover of good beers, sit on our patio one or two days a week to enjoy the weather and a grog or two or three.  On this particular day, I had picked up a 12 pack of Bayfront Blonde which is brewed by Erie Brewing Company.  Here is my take...

THE REVIEW

Bayfront Blonde
Erie Brewing Company, Erie, Pa / 4.2% ABV

Sight:  This beer had a nice cloudy yellow to golden look with a pure white head that poured about 1/4 inch thick which reminded me of a German Wit beer  It had just the right carbonation which you can see as the beer settles in your glass.

Aroma:  Up front you get bready malts followed by hints of citrus (lemon and orange) and ending with a nice hit of honey.  The aromas were all distinct and rose in just this order with every sniff.  A complex but well placed aroma.

Taste:  With my first sip I got the malty breads right up front.  Like the aroma, the taste followed suit with citrus backnotes and ending with a really nice shot of honey.  Not super complicated, but well put together.  

Pairing:  I would pair up a Bayfront Blonde with a dozen clams, shrimp or some scallops.  It would also be good with most fish especially smoked trout or a Cajun catfish.  This beer would also be good with a tacos on your Taco Tuesday if you have one.

There was nothing complex with the Bayfront Blonde, just a nice smooth beer that you can enjoy all day because of its good taste and an ABV of just 4.2%.  This would be a great beer to drink at a clam bake instead of that evil Miller Lite.  Check out Erie Brewing Companies beers at www.eriebrewingco.com

A side note, thank you to Nimble Hill Brewing Co. for the email below.
Thank you for the very nice review you gave on our beers!  We also thank you for taking the time to come to our Tasting Room/Growler Den.                

You can always comment on my reviews here on The Beer Meister or send an email to thebeermeister359@gmail.com.  All responses are welcome. 
   

Family, Friends and a Celebrator Dopple Bock

It has been a few weeks since I have posted a beer review here on The Beer Meister because I have been very busy visiting with family and friends as well as traveling to a few breweries and brew pubs to test their brews and to plug this blog.  Over this time, I have had the chance to try some really good beers and also a few skunkers that I wouldn't recommend to my dogs.  I must say that the beers to review have been coming in and going down fast and furious.

About 3 weekends ago, Mrs. Meister's Aunt Angie and Uncle Bill were visiting from Florida so we were invited up to her cousin Tom and his wife Claire's house in Clarks Summit.  If you remember when my Beer Meister column was in The Times Leader, I chronicled my trip to the sunshine state to visit Angie and Bill by writing about the good times I had and the beer that I drank.  Anyway, I always enjoy going to Tom and Claire's house because I get to see all of our relatives and I know that Tom will have a few really good beers tucked away in the bowels of his refrigerator.  You see, Tom is not a huge beer drinker, however when he does drink one, it is a top of the line import usually from Germany.

When we arrived at Tom and Clarie's house we were greeted with smiling faces, hugs and kisses and the fantastic aroma of marinara sauce with meatballs simmering on the stove.  OMG, did it smell good!  Angie and Bill are renowned throughout family circles for their pasta and meatballs which are served at almost every get together.  Now that all of the hello's have been completed, I asked if there was any beer.  In anticipation of my question, Tom said yes there is, so follow me to the fridge in the garage.

When Tom opened the door of the refrigerator, it was like a scene from a movie where one thing stands out in a halo of golden sunshine with angels singing.  You know what I am talking about.  Encompassed in this halo of heavenly light was a bottle of Celebrator Dopple Bock from Ayinger Brewery in Germany.  This was the one, the beer that I had to have right at that moment.

THE REVIEW

Celebrator Dopple Bock
Ayinger Brewery, Ayinger, Germany / 6.7% ABV

Sight:  This beer pours an opaque dark brown color with reddish hues throughout.  A really gorgeous color.  The head was a tan color, thick and hearty that lasted for quite some time.  A really nice looking beer.

Aroma:  With first sniff you will get a bread like sweetness followed by back notes of caramel and chocolate.  As this beer warms up a bit, it transforms somewhat to include faint hints of currents and cherries.  A very complex and delightful aroma.

Taste:  Have you ever tasted heaven?  As you sip this beer, you will taste a malty chocolate and caramel combination right up front followed by back notes of cherries and what I thought may have been black pepper.  Like the aroma, as this beer warms up, the flavors really pop.  This was a smooth and complex tasting beer with all of the flavors hitting the palate just at the right time.

Overall, this is one of the best beers that I have tried in quite some time.  Its smoothness and complex aromas and flavors will delight your senses.  At a 6.7% ABV, you can enjoy a few Celebrator Dopple Bocks when gathering with family and friends.  I would recommend pairing up this beer with a big slab of chocolate cake, a slice of cheesecake drizzled with chocolate and strawberry or while simply eating strawberries (thanks Becky).  I can tell you one thing, around the holidays this year, I will have several bottles of Celebrator Dopple Bock in my refrigerator.  For more information about this beer and more beers from Ayinger Brewery, go to https://www.ayinger.de/cms/index.php/startpage.html    As for the Meister Meter below, you will rarely see a beer get a 5.  It has to be extra special and the Celebrator Dopple Bock is just that. 

     
5= Outstanding
4= Very Good

3= Good

2=Fair

1=Skunk

      

       

Feeling Nimble (Hill) in Tunkhannock

One of my goals this summer is to try to get to many, if not all of the local breweries in the NEPA area.  So far my travels have taken me to Susquehanna Brewing Co. in Pittston and Breaker Brewing Co. in Laurel Run.  In between, I took a road trip and hit Mad Fox Brewing Co. in Falls Church, Virginia.  I will say this, I enjoyed our local breweries much better than Mad Fox.  Many people in our area think that they have to go out of town to get good beer.  Let me tell you, the beers brewed in NEPA are in most cases much smoother with more flavor.  Cudo's NEPA Brewmasters for a job well done.

Last weekend, Mrs. Meister and I decided that we wanted to go out to grab a bite to eat and to try a few new beers.  We were looking for a place that we had not gone to yet that brewed their own beer.  After a little research, we settled on Nimble Hill Brewing Company out on Route 6 in Tunkhannock.  I had tried a few Nimble Hill brews in the past and liked them so I thought it was time to check out what they call their Tasting Room & Growler Den.  This was a 25 to 30 minute ride from the Meister Mansion so we buckled up and hit the road.

When we pulled up to the building we were greeted by a very colorful sign that promoted wine slushes.  Now you may be thinking why wine slushes at a beer tasting room?  However, Nimble Hill also makes their own wine using grapes from their own vineyard.  When inside, we first encountered the wine tasting area where we politely asked, "Where do we get the beer?"  They directed us to the right and through an opening and we found the beer tasting room which had several people drinking and relaxing. 

As we walked up to the serving area, we were greeted by a woman named Gloria.  She asked us if it was our first visit to Nimble Hill and of course we said that it was.  She then said, "Ok, let me give you the spiel".  Gloria ran down the beer list like she had brewed them herself.  She was very knowledgeable when it came to the beers that they had on tap.  The beers that we chose for our flight were the Flinke Hugel, Hop Bottom IPA, Wit Raddler and the Russian Imperial Stout.  After a few minutes, Gloria came over and set down our multi colored flight of beers as you can see from the picture on the left.  Now a major decision needed to be made.  Which beer do I drink first?  I decided to go with the first beer on my left and go clockwise.

THE REVIEWS

Since there are 5 beers, I will shorten my review of each for the sake of not making this too long.

 Nudder Pilsner / 4.6 ABV

Sight:  This Czech style Pilsner had a bright yellow color with a pure white head that rimmed around the inside of the glass.  This had a typical pilsner color to it.

Aroma:  When I took a smell, I didn't get too much.  Of course with a Pilsner all you should get is a good old beer aroma.  The aroma totally fit the profile.

Taste:  With my first sip I tasted exactly what I thought I would taste, a smooth traditional Pilsner with a slight bite at the end.  This was a nice tasting beer that you could drink all day long.  Like Nimble Hill says, "I'll Have a Nudder" and I would.

 
5= Outstanding

4= Very Good

3= Good

2=Fair

1=Skunk

          

Flinke Hugel Helles Lager / 5.0 ABV

Sight: This Helles Lager had a beautiful golden color and a hearty white head that lasted for some time.  This was a really good looking beer.

Aroma:  When I smelled this beer, I got a very crisp aroma of malty earth tones followed by a little fruity sweetness.  Not overly complex but it's not supposed to be.   

Taste:  Very smooth!  Up front you get breadiness followed by citrus back notes from the German yeast and Magnum hops.  This was another really good beer that you could drink all day long.  The ABV is right too.
 
5= Outstanding

4= Very Good

3= Good

2=Fair

1=Skunk

 

Hop Bottom IPA / 7.0 ABV

Sight:  This IPA has a nice somewhat cloudy light orange to golden color with a white head of about 1/2 an inch thick.  Once the head dissipated it left a nice rim around the inside of the glass with a "head island" in the middle. 

Aroma:  Upfront I could smell the grapefruit like flavor of the citrus hops.  A traditional IPA aroma.

Taste:  Again, another smooth tasting beer from Nimble Hill.  Off the top, let me say IPA all the way!  This had a well balanced IPA with a shot of citrus up front followed by what I thought was a back note of orange.  A must try for IPA lovers.
 

5= Outstanding

4= Very Good

3= Good

2=Fair

1=Skunk

 

 

Nim Wit Raddler / 4.8 ABV

Sight:  This Wit Raddler has a Cloudy yellow color like straw with a white head that dissipated rather quickly.  This had the look of a traditional German Wit Beer

Aroma:  Right off the top you can smell coriander, orange and lemon with back notes of ginger.  An outstanding smelling beer!

Taste:  With my first sip a tasted a well balanced Wit Beer.  You get a bit of yeast, wheaty malts followed by the spices that ends with a shot of lemon at the end and a little banana like flavor.  The lemon comes from Nimble Hill adding Turkey Hill Lemonade.  I really liked this beer!
 


5= Outstanding

4= Very Good

3= Good

2=Fair

1=Skunk

Turbo Diesel Russian Imperial Stout / 10.0 ABV

Sight:  As you can see by the picture above these reviews, this Imperial Stout stands alone.  It has an opaque dark, almost black color that you cannot see through even when held up to the light.  The head was light brown and lasted for quite a while.

Aroma:  This beer smells great!  With your first sip you will get chocolate, caramel and coffee up front with a slight back note of alcohol.  It is 10.0%.

Taste:  If you like stouts, then you have to try this one.  Upfront you will taste the chocolate with hints of caramel and coffee.  On the back end I tasted what I thought were prunes with a sherry like finish.  The sherry like finish is because this beer is aged in Port wine barrels. 

 5= Outstanding

4= Very Good

3= Good

2=Fair

1=Skunk

 

Overall I was very impressed with the 5 beers that I chose at Nimble Hill Brewing Co.  All of them were smooth and tasty.  I would recommend that you take a road trip and swing by Nimble Hill to try a few for yourself.  It will be worth the drive.  To get more on Nimble Hill you can go to their web site at http://www.nimblehillbrewing.com    

A Virginia Vacation With a Mad Fox Flair

Outside of Mad Fox Brewing

This past week Mrs. Meister and I headed south to visit our son Jim, his wife Manuela and our beautiful granddaughter Kai.  While there, we did some fishing, ate some great meals and took a swing by a local Euro Gastro Brewpub called Mad Fox Brewing Company.  Mad Fox is located in the town of Falls Church and is renowned for its fine food and handcrafted beers.  Locals in the area rave about the beer like it is the nectar of the gods. So, of course I had to go check it out along with their food and atmosphere.

Beer Vats When You First Walk In

When we got to Mad Fox, all of us went inside where we were greeted with a smile and a warm welcome.  Then came the big question, would you like to sit inside or outside?  The inside of the place was really nice, but since the weather was outstanding we decided to sit outside at street level.  If you have never been to Falls Church, it is a thriving town filled with plenty of bars, restaurants and unique shops along with a few big chain stores which are tucked away in high rise like buildings.  It's a really neat little culturally diverse town with something for everyone.  

My Flight of Beer

Once seated, I immediately went to the beer menu to see what I might order to quench my thirst and to review.  One of the beers that is spoken highly of is their Orange Whip IPA.  I was told that it was a huge local favorite so I knew right away I had to try it.  As I looked over the beer listing, a few others caught my eye so I thought why not get a flight of 4 beers.  I ordered an English Summer Ale, an Altbier, the St. James Irish Stout and of course the Orange Whip IPA.  A nice variety to say the least.  So, lets start the beer rolling with my take on the beers pictured above from left to right.

English Summer Ale / 5.2 % ABV (Meister Meter = 2)

Sight:  This ESA had a very light clear yellow color from top to bottom along with a high quantity of effervescence.  When ordering a flight at a pub, its really hard to determine the beer's head since you don't see it being poured.  I will say that this one had a nice pure white head when it arrived at the table which lasted through several sips.  A pretty typical looking Summer Ale.

Aroma:  Up front you smell a simple beer aroma of hops and barley with back notes of citrus.  Nothing really great to smell just very simple.  I expected more.

Taste:  Right off the top I could taste bready malts with very slight hints of citrus (grapefruit).  This was a pretty good plain English Summer Ale.

Overall I was not really that impressed, however, this was a very simple English Summer Ale that if kept on ice could be an all day drink at a summer picnic or clambake.  I would pair this up with simple grilled food like a hot dog, cheeseburger or chicken.

Orange Whip IPA / 7.5 % ABV (Meister Meter = 3)

Sight:  This IPA had a nice dark amber color with orange hues throughout the glass with a nice cream colored head that lasted a bit.  Not a typical looking IPA but I really liked the way it looked.  I was starting to get excited. 

Aroma:  Up front you get that IPA-like hoppy aroma followed by back notes of citrus ending with a shot of orange.  A nice complex aroma for an IPA.  I am now totally intrigued to see what this tastes like. 

Taste: Yep, this is certainly an IPA all the way.  Right up front you can taste that typical IPA hoppiness along with the grapefruit back notes followed up with a slight flavor of orange.  I was a little disappointed since I was expecting a little more orange. 

Overall I was disappointed with the Orange Whip IPA since it was so highly regarded.  I was expecting big flavor.  Again, a nice IPA that could have used a little more orange to take it to another level. I would pair this up with barbecue ribs or chicken.  It would also go well with a pork chop, red potatoes and green beans.  With a 7.5 % ABV this beer will sneak up on you.

Altbier / 5.9 % ABV (Meister Meter = 4)

Sight:  Since I really like drinking German Altbiers, I couldn't wait to dive into this one.  What I saw here was a nice darker yellow color with amber hue's throughout the glass and an off white head that rung the glass for a long time.  I would say a nice copper like color which is typical of a good looking Altbier. 

Aroma:  With your first whiff, you smell roasted malts and nuts with hints of caramel followed by back notes of chocolate.  A well balanced blend of aromas. 

Taste: With my first sip I could taste the bready malts and caramel followed by hints of what I thought were vanilla and orange ending with chocolate.  This was a very flavorful, well balanced beer on the tastebuds.

Overall this was my favorite beer of the day at Mad Fox.  A nicely blended beer that looked good, smelled good and tasted good.  I will say that as this beer warmed up a bit, the flavors popped a bit more.  I would pair up the Altbier with a smoked pork shoulder or grilled salmon. 

St. James Irish Dry Stout / 4.2 % ABV (Meister Meter = 2)

Sight:  Since I am Irish and my first name is James, this beer selection was a no-brainer.  This is the last of the 4 beers in my flight of Mad Fox selections.  As I looked at my Irish Stout, I saw exactly what I expected, a very dark beer with a light brown thick head.  The head actually lasted through my tasting of the 3 other beers.  Impressive!  

Aroma:  With your first whiff, you get a slight aroma of chocolate and caramel and nothing more.  For an Irish Dry Stout the aroma was weak.  I was totally perplexed at what Mad Fox was trying to do here.  Now I didn't know what to think.  The beer looked good, but was very weak in aroma.

Taste:  Well, let me just say that I did not save the best for last.  This was a weak attempt to reproduce an Irish Dry Stout.  I did get the flavors of chocolate, caramel up front with coffee on the back end.  It seemed watered down and on only slightly flavored.  I really expected the flavors to slap me in the face but it instead all I got was a brush of wanted flavors.

Overall this was my disappointment of the day.  A good looking stout that simply lacked flavor.  If you want to try an Irish Stout for the first time, this would not be the one.  If I had to I would pair this up with nothing.  I know that is harsh, but that's how I see it.  As an Irishman, I am disappointed all around.

With all of the hype surrounding Mad Fox Brewing Company and their reputation for good brews I must say that I was not impressed.  Their beers looked good but were lacking in hardiness of flavor.  The brew pub itself was very nice, the employees friendly and the food was good.  You can check out Mad Fox Brewing Co. at madfoxbrewing.com   


            

AMERICA'S BEER / HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

As I sit in the house on this 4th of July holiday due to a pending storm that appears to be brewing, I thought about what would America's National Beer?  There are so many beers, good and bad, made in the U.S., but what would or should be tagged as our National Beer.  What would the parameters need to be to determine this honor?  Would it be looks, taste, packaging or the most popular beer based on sales to the American public.  That last one is a scary thought for me because we would have to automatically include Coors, Miller and Bud since they seem to be the go to beers in these United States.  Don't get me wrong, The Highlife and Coors Banquet are OK.  As for Bud, I'd rather drink swamp water.  I will not even give you my opinion on Coors Lite and Miller Lite because I simply don't want to waste my time describing terrible beers.

As I pondered more and more on this topic, I also wondered if other countries have official beers.  Per say, I was not able to find any
"official" designated nations beer, however I did find the most popular  beers by country which you can see on the map to the right.  I also found out that China produces the most beer in the world followed by the U.S. and then Brazil.  Yep, the Chinese are ahead of us in beer production along with everything else.  Lets go America, drink more beer so we can be #1!  I also found out that the #1 beer in the world rated by the The Daily Meal is Toppling Goliath Brewing Company Kentucky Brunch Brand Stout.  Believe it or not, a few "beer" web sites rated Bud Lite as the #1 beer in the world.  I'm thinking they were going by sales and not taste.   

So, what would be America's Beer?  This question is like how was the universe created so I had to go on a mission.  I jumped in the car and went to several beer stores, bars and deli's to look over the inventory to try to determine what would be America's Beer.  After a lengthy and exhausting search I came up with.....drum roll please..... PABST BLUE RIBBON BEER!

THE REVIEW

PABST BLUE RIBBON BEER
Pabst Brewing Co., Milwaukee, Wisconsin / 4.74 ABV

Sight:  My Blue Ribbon poured a very light yellow color with a hefty pure white head that actually spilled over the top on my glass.  The head lasted for quite a long time then finally dissipated into a small "head island" in the middle of the glass.  Other than that, this is a plain looking beer.

Aroma:  It simply smells like beer.  You can smell the rich malts and breadiness along with very subtle,ever so subtle hints of sweet corn.  Again, a plain old fashioned beer aroma.  The smell actually took me back to my childhood when my parents would have cookouts in the back yard and drink Steg, Pabst and Gibbons.

Taste:  If you are expecting some flamboyant tasting beer, just turn away, just turn away.  PBR is simply a decent smooth beer that has that old school beer flavor.  You will not taste hints of this or that, back notes of anything, just a beer flavor with a slight bite to it.  This was beer before beer became what it is today.

If you are wondering and I'm sure you are, how did I come up with PBR as America's Beer.  First off, just take a look at the can.  It's all American red, white and blue.  It was established in the beer capital of the United States, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and has been around since 1844.  It has survived 2 World Wars, Prohibition, The Great Depression and the influx of foreign beers.  In 1893 PBR was voted America's Best Beer.  At its peek in 1977, Pabst produced over 18 million barrels of beer and in 2015 won the Best Large Brewing Company of the Year Award at the Great American Beer Festival.  Yes, America's Beer, award winning, smooth, simple, cheap and has been around for a long time.

If you think I am crazy, just go over to Price Chopper in Edwardsville and grab a pounder.  You may be surprised with what you taste.  You can pair up PBR with a grilled hot dog or cheeseburger and some potato salad at your next cookout.  If you are looking for an all day go to beer, PBR is it.

If you have a beer in mind for America's Official Beer, send it over to me with your review and I will post it here.  You can be a Guest Meister.

        
5= Outstanding

4= Very Good

3= Good

2=Fair

1=Skunk

Glory Days - A Reunion With An Old Friend

TBC The Princess IPA 
Breaker Brewing Co. / Wilkes-Barre, PA. / 8.9 ABV

First off let me apologize for not getting a beer review on here for a few weeks.  I had some technical difficulties with my laptop that made my monitor not work.  However, now I am up and running and ready to review a beer.

A few Saturday's ago, I had the chance to meet up with an old friend Warren "Savy" Savitz to catch up on things, have a few beers and to reminisce about our high school days.  If you remember the song Glory Days by Bruce Springsteen, our high school days would be it.  More on that is coming up.  After a few text messages, I decided that we should meet up at Breaker Brewery in Laurel Run at about 6:00 PM.  They have great beer made on the premises and the atmosphere is outstanding.  I had to decide because Warren lives in Tennessee and had no idea where to go.  The pressure was on so I wanted to pick a place where we could talk without screaming and a place that might not be too jammed.  Let me say I chose wisely.

At 6 we both arrived, met in the parking lot, shook hands and had a good man hug.  It has been a long time since our days back on Warren Avenue in Kingston, so we headed right in to sit down and catch up with a cold beer.  As we caught up, our conversation turned to drinking beer while we were underage.  When we were 16 years old, we bought our first two 6 packs of Pabst Blue Ribbon from a local establishment that was well known for serving minors.  I will not mention the name of the place to protect the innocent or would it be the guilty.  I will say that it was in North End Wilkes-Barre and had a reputation of giving beer to anyone.  I think if a baby crawled in there they would have sold beer to him or her.  I know back then, in 1974 or 75, the law did not crack down on underage drinking like they do now.  I think if Breaker served Pabst we would have gotten one just for old time sake.

Once we got the beer back home, we drank a few cans and then had to figure out what we were going to do with the rest.  As we sat and pondered, we came up with the idea of burying the beer behind my garage.  You might think that this was a dumb idea, however we had a master plan.  When it got dark, we snuck behind the garage and dug a hole about 3 feet deep.  The beer went in the hole in a small wooden crate like object and then we covered it with dirt, leaves and pine needles to make it match the surroundings.  It was brilliant!  Being underground kept the beer cool and we always knew where it was.  We also knew that no one really wanted to go back there because it was kinda spooky. It was the perfect place.  Neither one of us could remember whether we eventually got caught, but we did have a great laugh.

TBC The Princess

As the night went on, we talked more and more about our "Glory Days" of drinking beer at parties and at the beach in Wildwood among other things that I will not mention.  About half way through the evening, Warren asked me if The Beer Meister was going to review a beer.  I told him yes I was and immediately pulled a piece of paper out of my pocket and asked the bar tender for a pen.  By the way, our bartender at the back bar was great.  Now my big decision came, what beer do I review?  When I decide to review a beer, I randomly pick something that I have never had before and go from there.  After looking over the beer menu, I settled on TBC The Princess IPA.

THE REVIEW

Sight:  When My Princess arrived (no it was not in a horse drawn carriage), I could see a cloudy yellow colored beer with a very slight tint of orange.  The picture on the right does not do it justice.  It looked really good, almost like a German Wit Beer.  The head was pure white and slight but lingered around for quite some time.

Aroma:  When I took my first sniff of The Princess, I got aroma's of earth tones and pine along with citrus.  If I was not mistaken, the citrus was Strawberry in nature.  I also got a very, very slight hint of vanilla bean.  It smelled great.  Now I was like a dog drooling for a taste.

Taste:  Now it was time to take a sip.  At first taste, you get a slight IPA like bite, but after it hits the back of your throat WOW!  I was able to taste a well balanced blend of piney earth flavors, bread malts along with back notes of citrus and vanilla.  Just after I swallowed, I tasted very subtle hints of the strawberry.

Overall, I really liked TBC The Princess.  It had complex aromas and flavors along with the taste of a subtle IPA.  I would recommend pairing this beer with Breakers Old Bay Mac & Cheese or their Pastrami Cuban Sandwich.  If you haven't had the chance to go to Breaker Brewing Co. I suggest you jump in the car right now.  Its such a great place to meet up with new and old friends to have a few beers and something to eat.  You can check out their beer and food menu at http://www.breakerbrewingcompany.com.  You can reminisce about old times or you may even create some of your own "Glory Days".  Thanks "Savy" for a great night.  We will do it again next time you are up this way or if I get to your neck of the woods.

5= Outstanding

4= Very Good

3= Good

2=Fair

1=Skunk

              

 

    

The Beer Meister / He's Back!

Innis & Gunn Bourbon Aged Dark Ale 
Edinburg, Scotland /ABV 7.4%

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​After taking some time away from writing about beer, I have decided to come back with this blog entitled The Beer Meister (Of course, what else would it be). Like my articles in the local newspaper, I am not going to write about the everyday beers like Coors, Miller and Bud. What I am going to do is to give you an everyday Joe's take on all different types and styles of beer in the hope of broadening your beer horizons. I will use what I call the S.A.T.'s of beer, Sight, Aroma and Taste. I will always give you my honest opinion.  I will also visit bars and restaurants to review beer and their overall selection. Whether you agree or disagree with me, I want to hear from you at thebeermeister359@gmail.com. I will also throw in some history on the beer, a personal story or two as well as what type of food to pair up with your beer. This blog is in its infancy and I plan on it growing as time goes on. I will be posting old reviews that ran in the newspaper and hopefully have a podcast in the very near future. Enough of the serious stuff, it's time to talk about beer.

Spring can be a funny time here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. One day you have snow and temps in the 20's while the next day is sunny and in the 50's. Yesterday, was one of those really nice days. This pleasant weather gave me the opportunity to get outside to do some spring clean-up of the front and back yard. I did some raking and sweeping of the winter junk that was left and actually filled 2 bags of yard waste.  After getting everything done that I wanted to (how about that for a change), I headed to the shower to clean off all of the winter filth. Of course, next in line would be a few cold beers on the patio and possibly a fire.  Before I hit the shower, I thought to myself, " You better go check on the beer supply". Good thing I did, because I was very low and that meant a trip to Leo Beer on Welles St. in Forty Fort . By the way, Leo has a great selection of beer at very reasonable prices. You can also buy 12 and 6 packs. So off I went to Leo Beer where I found some very interesting beer.  The one beer that really peeked my interest was Innis & Gunn Bourbon Aged Dark Ale. It seems that the latest beer craze involves the aging of beer in or on oak from Bourbon barrels. I like beer and I like bourbon, how could it be bad? When I got home, I placed the beer in the fridge, hit the shower and then lit a fire on the patio. Now it is time to relax.

THE REVIEW

SIGHT:   With the wind blowing and the fire blazing, I poured my Innis & Gunn (in the kitchen) and what I saw really got me excited. This beer poured very dark brown, almost black in color along with a healthy beige head of about 3/4 of an inch thick and a hefty dose of carbonation.  It poured just like what we would call, "A TV Beer" .  This was a good looking beer with a long lasting head.

Aroma:   Since this beer looked so good, I was very intrigued to see what it smelled like. In many cases, the aroma of a beer will give you a preview of how it tastes.  As I brought the glass up to my nose, I got very subtle hints of smokiness.  No, I did not pour the beer outside by the fire.  I also got slight notes of a bread like sweetness and of course bourbon.  No one aroma stood out over the other and all were very subtle.

Taste:   As I took my first sip (in my kitchen), I got a smokey flavor up front followed by hints of possibly caramel followed by earthen tones and ending with a back splash of bourbon. Very interesting.  Like the aroma, none of the flavors overpowered the other but worked well together.  This beer went down easy and finished smooth.

Overall, I really liked this beer. It was a perfect fit for a cool day and a late afternoon fire after a long day of working around the house. It had good flavor and went down easily. I would recommend pairing this Dark Ale with a steak on the grill or roast beef. Don't forget the baked potatoes and asparagus. If you would like to try the Innis & Gunn Bourbon Aged Dark Ale, take a run over to Leo Beer on Welles Street in Forty Fort. You can actually get a 4 pack to test it out. If you want to find out about the other beers brewed in Scotland by Innis & Gunn , you can go to their web site at www.innisandgunn.com.

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5= Outstanding

4= Very Good

3= Good

2=Fair

1=Skunk

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A Warmer For The Winter

Harpoon Winter Warmer 

Harpoon Brewery, Boston, MA. / 5.9% ABV

Tradition:  The transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on in this way. 

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The Holiday Season is upon us and many families around NEPA and around the world are steeped in

traditions that date back through many generations.  From Jolly Old St. Nicholas to adorning the top of the tree with a star, year after year we all feel the need to keep up with old family traditions.  We decorate the house, put up the tree and maybe even a platform with an old Lionel train.  I actually have an old Lionel that my mother gave to my father for their first Christmas together.  Don’t ask me the exact year, but it was in the mid 1940’s.  Through the years, my family has kept with several holiday traditions that I still practice to this day.  For example, I have these three little cloth elves that go back to my grandmothers day.  These elves date back to the early 1920’s and look like the current Elf on a Shelf that is being sold today.  Um, I wonder where they got the idea for the shelf sitting elf?   

Every year, someone in the family has to hide these elves somewhere on or in the Christmas tree after all of the lights and decorations have been carefully placed.  Then as the days go past leading up to Christmas Day, we have to find these elusively placed pixies.  When you see one you yell out to let everyone know that you found one.  My son Greg has become an expert in hiding these imps.  There have actually been years that no one in the family could find at least one of these.  It’s always a mystery.

Another tradition that I have is the placing of the “Alien Eye” ornaments.  These two ancient bulbs are about as big as a softball and have three huge eye like decorations adorning their three sides.  Before any other ornaments go on, I bring in the Alien Eyes and carefully place them on the tree.  These two decorations actually date back to the early 1900’s as well.  Just to let you know, my wife hates these ornaments.  Every year she asks my why do we have to put these ugly things on the tree?  I tell her tradition, it’s a tradition.  Over the years I have waited to hear them smash on the floor followed by an oops.  It would be like the leg lamp in the Christmas Story getting mysteriously broken.  They are fragile’.

Along with all of our holiday traditions, I always like to make sure that I have a tasty traditional winter beer on hand for family and friends.  One of my favorites is Harpoon Winter Warmer.  This winter brew is crafted by the Harpoon Brewery in Boston, Massachusetts.  Harpoon was started in 1986 by three friends, Dan Kenary, Rich Doyle and George Ligeti who loved drinking beer together but found that their choices were somewhat limited.  In June of 1987, a warehouse on the Boston waterfront was transformed into a brewery where they could brew good beers and drink them with friends.  This would be the location of where the first Harpoon Ale was made.  Since then, Harpoon Brewery has come a long way.  While they kept their original trade mark beer the same, Harpoon now has several brews including seasonal offerings such as their tasty Winter Warmer.

THE REVIEW

       

Sight:  When you pour your Harpoon Winter Warmer you will see a beautiful dark copper color with a soft white head that pours about an inch and a half thick.  The head will dissipate quickly so make sure you get your fill of this eye candy.  Even though this beer looks dark, it is still transparent through the entire glass.

    

Aroma:  In the true tradition of a Winter Warmer style beer, Harpoon has blended several spices together to create a heavenly aroma.  When you take your first sniff, you will get the aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and a little ginger along with strong toasted malt.  It is almost like smelling fresh gingerbread coming out of the oven.

Taste: As for the taste, let me say it is just as good as the aroma.  At first sip you will get hit with the cinnamon and nutmeg followed by the clove and then a slight back note of ginger.  The after taste combines all of these flavors together along with a smooth toasted malt ending.  As you continue to sip this Winter Warmer you will continue to enjoy its complex flavors even more.

    

Overall, Harpoon Winter Warmer is one of my favorite beers to sip on Christmas Eve while enjoying the lit tree with all of the gifts piled high around it.  Of course there are Christmas songs on to heighten the Holiday mood.  There is nothing like relaxing by the tree with a cold Winter Warmer.

I would highly recommend that you give this beer a try, you won’t be disappointed.  Harpoon also makes a few other good winter beers like Chocolate Stout (5.9% ABV), Czernobog Russian Imperial Stout (10.0% ABV) and UFO Gingerland (5.2%ABV).  You can pick up Harpoon Winter Warmer at any of our wonderful local beer distributors.

   

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5= Outstanding

4= Very Good

3= Good

2=Fair

1=Skunk

DIRTY LITTLE FREAK

Dirty Little Freak

Duclaw Brewing Co.  Baltimore, MD / 5.8% ABV

I was sitting at home on a cold, snowy Sunday afternoon and thought it was a perfect time to have a drink.  The ground outside was white and the temperature was at a cold 24 degrees.  I figured a nice bourbon or a scotch would be in order because of the weather outside. In my mind I also entertained the thought of having a short glass of 18 year old Jameson Irish Whiskey.  My first move was to open the refrigerator door to explore all of my possibilities and there it was the perfect beer for the occasion.   It was a bottle of Dirty Little Freak.

From experience, Duclaw Brewing Company makes good beer.  They make a very nice chocolate & peanut butter stout named Sweet Baby Jesus, a blueberry citrus wheat called Funk and a really tasty Blonde Ale named Bare Ass Blonde Ale.  I have to say that Declaw does a great job with infusing different flavors in their brewing process without losing the actual taste of the beer.  When I saw their Dirty Little Freak offering I had to dive in.

THE REVIEW

 

Sight:  As you open the dark brown bottle and pour this Little Freak of a beer you will see a delicious dark amber color followed by a thin tan head.  I don’t know about all of you, but when I pour a beer I like to tip the glass for the first half of the pour and then straighten it out for the last half.  This prevents a “head overload” all over the table.  As this beer settles, it maintains a slight foamy head in and on the side of the glass.

Aroma:  At first whiff, you definitely get the aroma of sweet chocolate.  I closed my eyes and thought I had just opened a Hersey’s candy bar.  Behind the chocolate aroma you can catch the roasted hops smell along with a very slight hint of coconut and caramel.  My mind immediately went to a warm tropical island, which would be a great place to be on a cold snowy day.

Taste:  As I came back to reality I took my first sip of Dirty Little Freak.  Delicious!  I am not a big fan of super sweet beers but this was just perfect.  The chocolate flavor was perfectly balanced throughout the entire drink.  Along with the consistent chocolate flavor you will taste an initial back note of caramel and then a secondary back note of coconut.  As you breathe through your nose you will taste all of these flavors combined.   This beer was very smooth going down with very little after bite.

If you like beer and chocolate and who doesn’t, I recommend that you try Dirty Little Freak. It’s a smooth beer that holds it chocolate flavor throughout your drink and then teases you with some caramel and coconut back notes.  Personally I would pair this up with a Fuente Double Chateau cigar and a round of PGA golf on TV.  This chocolate freakish beer is brewed by Baltimore, Maryland based DuClaw Brewing Company.  They also brew beers name Guilty Filthy Soul, Naked Fish and their most famous beer Sweet Baby Jesus.  You can pick up a Dirty Little Freak at Wegman’s in Wilkes-Barre.

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5= Outstanding

4= Very Good

3= Good

2=Fair

1=Skunk