Early Fall #RoundUp

Philadelphia is almost back to its normal self after the Papal Visit.  And just in time!  Here comes Fall and pumpkins and spices and and and...!  Here are a couple of things that get me pumped about Fall. 



Face Cleaner - Malin + Goetz
Brown Ale - Bell's Beer
High Tops - MH 988 by New Balance
Waterproof Jacket - Barbour
Mademoiselle Jumper - APC
Foam Symmetry Vol.3 No. 4 - Finisterre UK
Suunto Core All Black Military Watch
Chemex Coffee Maker - Crate & Barrel
Navy Winter Sock - Norse Projects
Drafting Pencils - Rotring

More Posts Like This - HERE

Beer Review (50): Anderson Valley Brewing Company - Fall Hornin'

Brewery: Anderson Valley Brewing Company Beer: Pumpkin Ale | Beer Advocate Score: 82 Abv: 6.0%

It's officially Fall here in Philadelphia and we've already been to the bottom of a quite a few pumpkin beers. This is a new variety I've never had before.  Anderson Valley Brewing Company calls Boonville, CA home and has a wide range of offerings that hit shelves nationwide.  This pumpkin beer had all the makings of a delicious beer, but seemed to miss the mark.  Maybe it's because I've been spoiled by this amazing one. It has a decent BA score, so let me know what you think of it!

Beer Review (48): Deschutes Brewery Twilight Summer Ale

             Brewery: Deschutes Brewery Beer: Blonde Ale | Beer Advocate Score: 83 Abv: 5%

It was a Sunday afternoon and extremely hot here in the city of brotherly love.  The quest was initially for iced coffee and quickly took a turn.  It was hot.  The streets were packed and the Corner Foodery was calling out to us.

I stood before the refrigerators packed with cold ones and began sweeping through for a new beer to try.  Of course there were many I haven't had, but it always seems Deschutes churns out solid beers every season.  So I grabbed a Twilight Summer Ale and got cracking.

This baby is seasonal and only out on shelves until September.  You have plenty of time to grab some, but know this ain't a beer you can bring to your Halloween party, unfortunately.

This may have been the first time I had a mouth full of Amarillo hops, but let's be honest, I'm not really sure.  Either way, it was a curious and distinct flavor that sat on the tongue for awhile. Absolutely delicious and refreshing.  As you can see above it poured a nice golden/amber color with a bubbly head.  I'd say this would be a perfect camping beer or something to quench the thirst on a hot summers day.  And how about that pretty label, eh?

5 Beers for Spring and Summer You Will Love

As Spring rolls through and turns into Summer, the beer selections get lighter, zestier, hoppier and more delicious.

1.  St. Bernardus Tripel - Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV
This classic Belgian Tripel is rated 95 by Beer Advocate and hailed as a favorite by many.  You really can't beat a beer brewed by monks for a couple of hundred years.  They are doing something right for sure.  Let it breathe for a minute and the bready yeast notes come out.  Then the spice and citrus flavors will hit you.  Delicious.

2.  Bell's Oberon Ale - Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Gotta say this one is pretty hoppy.   A wheat beer with a lot of punch, perfect for cutting through the heat and cooling you off after a long bike ride to the...er...pub.  Rated 86 by Beer Advocate and is another good beer by Bell's.

3.  Sneak Attack Saison - 21st Amendment Brewery 
Sweet with a subtle spiciness that hits right after the first swallow.  Pour a light yellow and is a general good beer to start the saison season off with.  Packable, comes in a can, and perfect for a camping trip.  

4. Grapefruit Sculpin IPA - Ballast Point Brewing Company
Y'all know the Sculpin IPA is one of the best IPAs on the market and by far my favorite.  Beer advocate agrees and give is an astonishing 98 rating!  How could the Sculpin IPA get any better you ask?  Well just give it a touch of grapefruit flavor and you can die happy. 

5. Hennepin (Farmhouse Saison) - Brewery Ommegang
Pair with a big plate of cheese and unbutton your pants a lil' bit.  This one is gonna be a wild ride for your taste buds.  The perfect example of a Farmhouse Saison.  Beer advocate rates it in at 93.  This is a seriously sophisticated saison.  Spiced just right.  Smooth, crispy and it comes in a fancy big bottle too. 

My Top 5 Favorite Beers This Winter

1. Dogfish Head - Indian Brown Ale  
I recently posted about my new found love for this hoppy, yet caramel-y flavored beer.  Nutty and strong and goes well with a sugary treat.  Like a true connoisseur, I paired it with a Ghirardelli brownie. $

2. Duvel - Belgian Golden Ale
When you think of Belgian beer, you think of Duvel.  World class beer and highly ranked and favored over many others.  This here is a great drink.  At an 8.5% ABV, you'll be feeling it after one pint.  This, my friends, is the true champagne of beers.  $$

3. Left Hand - Milk Stout
The best milk stout, IMHO, on the market these days.  Perfectly sweet from the lactose and nicely carbonated.  Quite filling, but very satisfying. $

4. Oskar Blues - Old Chub Scotch Ale (Nitro)
This one came as a surprise because I typically shy away from nitro beers.  Old chub was a delightful and strong Scottish ale.  Beer advocate gives it a very high score, as do many willing and daring taste testers.  Do try! $

5. Rogue - Hazelnut Brown Nectar 
Just, wow.  I love a good nut ale, but this here English brown ale with a very nutty, hazelnut tone is delicious.  Just go buy it, I'll let this one speak for itself.  $

Give some of these a go and let me know what you think.  If you've had some before what are your thoughts?  What have you been drinking??

Cheers!

Beer Review (42): Indian Brown Ale by Dogfish Head Brewery

Brewery: Dogfish Head Brewery Beer: Brown Ale | Beer Advocate Score: 95 Abv: 7.2%

Hey all you guys out there!  This here is my favorite nut ale on the market so far.  I'm not a huge fan of Dogfish Head, I know can you believe it, but this one takes the freakin' cake!

It's perfectly balanced with sweetness, nuttyness, and a bit of an alcohol punch.  You will enjoy this, You will want more.  You will not believe how yummy it is!  Have I turned you into a believer yet?

This is a scotch ale/pale ale hybrid.  We are calling it an American Brown ale!  I call the damn thing a nut ale to be simple.  As you can see it pours a deep brown color with a flat tan head.  Very, very good.

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As a side note I am currently doing a 24-day challenge diet.  I'm on day 7 of the challenge and really, really, really, missing beer!  Can you tell from this post?? ;)

Beer Review (41): Avalanche Ale by Breckenridge Brewery

Brewery: Breckenridge Brewery Beer: Amber Ale | Beer Advocate Score: 75 Abv: 4.4%

Christmas has passed and if you're like me, you're back to the grind.  The holiday was a good way to hit the reset button and get a little rest before the new year.  

My sister got me a nice little mix of beers for Christmas.  Here we have the Breckenridge Avalanche Ale.  Like a typical amber ale it pours a deep brownish red color.  The low alcohol content makes for a nice and easy drink.  The reviews on this guy were a little disappointing, but I actually found it to be quite nice.  Crisp, clean, and a touch of caramel flavor.  Breckenridge is a new brewery to me so there is much more to explore with them.  

I hope you had a nice holiday!  Did you drink anything tasty? 

Beer Review (40): Jubelale by Deschutes Brewery

Brewery: Deschutes Brewery Beer: Winter Warmer/Strong Ale| Beer Advocate Score: 89 Abv: 6.7%

Ah, winter warmers, the perfectly spiced brew to get you through the holiday season with LOTS of cheer.  This is the first time trying the Jubelale by Deschutes Brewery.  It had a nice dark rum and amber colored pour with a tan head.  Lightly spiced, medium hop and nicely flavored.  Caramel, bread, nutmeg and a touch of vanilla.  Grab a six pack for Christmas afternoon.

Beer Review (38): Philadelphia Brewing Co. Kenz O'Lantern

Brewery: Philadelphia Brewing Co. Beer: Pumpkin Ale | Beer Advocate Score: 73 Abv: 4.5%

A darker, hazier beer than expected when I poured it into my pint glass at the Corner Foodery on Sansom Street.  Lots of ginger and spice flavors, a palate-pleaser for all pumpkin beer lovers.  This one surprised me because I tend to gravitate away from PBC beers.  I would have it again and loved the design on the bottle.  Brewed in the Kensington area of Philly, they coined a nice name for this one, the Kenz O'Lantern.  Very cool.

Beer Review (27): Anchor Brewing Co. Liberty Ale

Brewery: Anchor Brewing Co. | Beer: American IPA/Pale Ale-ish | Beer Advocate Score: 88 Abv: 7.00%

The word is that this beer was first brewed in 1975 in San Francisco.  Sort of an old-timer, but clearly standing the test of time.  I can see why!  This beer has a percentage of yeast and dry hops to keep you interested, and cascade hops that refresh and invigorate.  Grab some of the stubby bottles from your local corner store and enjoy!

A little bit of Anchor Brewing Co. history:

Year 1871: "Gottlieb Brekle bought an old beer-and-billiards saloon on Pacific Street near Russian Hill for $3,500, transforming it into the brewery that, twenty-five years later, would be renamed Anchor." here

Beer Review (26): Sixpoint Brewery Global Warmer

Brewery: Sixpoint Brewery | Beer: Red Ale | Beer Advocate Score: 88 Abv: 7.00%

We have a little bit of can action coming your way today.  Now, normally I would avoid this type of beer solely on the annoyingly tall and thin can it's packaged in.  Think Red Bull can.  But, feeling open to change, I grabbed it out of the refrigerator at the Corner Foodery on Sansom and gave it a go.

Very strong hops on this Red Ale and it completely overpowers the overall spiciness it's trying to achieve.  I like that it was a change from the stouts and porters I've been enjoying this season, but it was very overpowering.  It poured, as you can see, a very nice amber color with a yellowish head.  This is the first beer from Sixpoint I didn't care for too much.  Anyone out there have it?  I reviewed a Sixpoint Beer last year, here.

Beer Review (24): Ice Breaker Winterfish Seasonal Ale by FishTale

Brewery: Fish Brewing Company | Beer: Winter Warmer | Beer Advocate Score: 84 Abv: 7.5%

A light gold ale with a bit of winter warmer spices you're used to--malt, caramel, and spice.  Something a little different in this ale, though.  I sensed a bit of dry hop and grapefruit or citrus.  It packed a powerful punch and was a crispy beer all the way through.  This is a first for me from Fish Brewing Company and I'll definitely give them another try here in 2014.

I gotta tell you guys, I did it!  I had over 100 different varieties of beer in 2013!  I explained my little goal in an earlier post, but I did it, I brought it full circle last Saturday.  I make my parents proud!

Beer Review (18): Blue Point Brewing Co. Pumpkin Ale

Brewery: Blue Point Brewing Company | Beer: Pumpkin Ale | Beer Advocate Score: 77 Abv: 6.0%

This dark-amber pumpkin ale spelled fragrant and spicy immediately after cracking it open.  The smell was wondrous and lovely, but the taste...not that memorable.  The spice to pumpkin ratio seemed lacking and the body felt weak and boring.  Not one of my favorite pumpkin beers this season, but not one to skip altogether.  The complexity of the spice notes got me through the brew, but in the event I had the option to go for round two, I most likely would've picked something else.

Looking for more Pumpkin beers?

Weyerbacher
Elysian
Saranac
Smuttynose
More to come...

Beer Review (6): Lancaster Brewing Co. Winter Warmer Ale

 

Brewery: Lancaster Brewing Company | Beer:Winter Warmer Ale

Beer Advocate Review Average (rAvg): 86

This beer surprised me and had a smooth and mellow flavor. I was expecting something with more of an abrupt cinnamon or nutmeg tone right up front. Rich, creamy mouth feel with a sugary syrup like finish. A winter warmer toned down compared to the Harpoon, spice-wise. Goes best with a project in the garage. Probably not safe to pair with the use of power tools.