It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Beer-Year! (Part II)

The winter season offers a plethora of incredible beer drinking opportunities.  Despite the misconception that all winter brews are dark and heavy, there is a broad spectrum of beer styles that comprise the types that are available during the cold, dark months.  If anything, there are more higher abv beers than anything else, which is perfect because there is nothing more welcome on a frigid night than a strong brew warming you from the inside!  So whether you are a fan of lighter-bodied, fruitier beers or dark and stormy malt-bombs, there will be something to suit your fancy...but why not consider branching out and trying something different?  Below, I will enumerate the different styles that comprise the most common types of winter offerings with examples of the best I've had and their alcoholic content.  Hopefully you'll find something that you would consider trying!

If you like lighter-bodied beers, try a(n)...

RYE BEER

Rye beers are stylized as such because they use more rye than barley or use rye exclusively as the malt base.  They are similar to IPAs in that they have slightly hoppier characters than typical ales but they also have a strong malt flavor.  Rye beers tend to be more on the rare side in terms of what's on the shelves but if you can find one, pick it up.  I enjoyed the following:


Founders Red's Rye PA           6.60%                 A+
Sixpoint Righteous Ale             6.40%                 A-
Blue Point Rastafa Rye Ale      7.50%                  B+

Crossover beer for a hop head:

Tommyknocker HOP Strike Black Rye-IPA     7.00%                 A+

The Hop Strike is a smooth, dark black rye IPA that packs a wallop of delicious hops.  If you enjoy hoppy beers but aren't necessarily a fan of darker brews, give this one a shot!


BELGIAN STRONG PALE ALE

Belgian beers are often difficult for newcomers to the beer world to enjoy.  They're big bodied, powerful beers with very heavy and imposing tastes.  A lighter entry would be the title style, which is strong but in less of an in-your-face way that most Belgians tend to be.

Delirium Tremens Ale         8.50%                 A   

Note: Delirium Tremens is a great brew for a non-beer lover to try.  It's slightly fruity and lacks the traditionally malty "beer" flavor that some find off-putting.  Definitely worth trying!

Crossover beers:

Delirium Nocturnum           8.50%                 A
Delirium Noel                   10.00%                A-

Both of these brews are Belgian Strong Dark Ales--a style that I will explore in greater depth later in this entry.  If you enjoy the Tremens you might also enjoy one or both of these.


TRIPEL

Tripels tend to be yellowish-gold in color and have a sweet, fruity, malty character coupled with a typically powerful alcoholic punch.  The best examples tend to be deceptively light despite their high abv.  A great winter beer for the light-bodied lover!

La Fin Du Monde                              9.00%                A+
La Rullés Triple (Bière De Gaume)     8.40%                A
Chimay Tripel (White)                        8.00%                A
Westmalle Trappist Tripel Ale             9.50%                A


If you like hoppy beers, try a(n)...

AMERICAN DOUBLE/IMPERIAL INDIA PALE ALE

The odds are that if you're into hops, you're already familiar with this style but in case you aren't, this is the number one style to try during the winter.  Imperial/Double IPAs are often intensely hoppy and powerful in their alcoholic content.  The problem tends to be striking a balance between the strength of the hops and the beer's potency.  What tends to happen with the stronger beers is that it takes on a syrupy consistency and/or it has an almost cloying sweetness to it.  For the most part, the brews listed below avoid the aforementioned situation but for the ones that do not, their quality is so high that it becomes a non-issue.


Captain Lawrence Captain's Reserve Imperial IPA   9.00%             A+
Lagunitas Sucks Holiday Ale                                    7.85%             A+
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA                                   9.00%              A
Stone Ruination IPA                                                7.70%             A
Great Divide Hercules Double IPA                         10.00%             A
Dogfish Head Burton Baton                                    10.00%             A
Russian River Pliny The Elder                                   8.00%             A


If you like dark, malty beers, try a(n)...

WINTER WARMER

Winter warmers are the quintessential, eponymous brews of the winter season.  They are dark, malty, and often have a variety of common winter spices in them like cinnamon, orange peel, and ginger.  Their complex character can be a turn-off to some but if you enjoy enough of them, over time your palette will adjust and you will begin to notice the nuances that make each winter warmer unique.  Here are some of the best I've had:

Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale                          5.90%                A+
Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome Ale                     6.00%                A-
Our Special Ale 2010 (Anchor Christmas Ale)      5.50%                B+    
Our Special Ale 2011 (Anchor Christmas Ale)      5.50%               B+ 
Weyerbacher Winter Ale                                       5.60%                B
Flying Dog Brewery K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale          6.40%                B-


SCOTCH ALE/WEE HEAVY

Scotch ales are great because they are sweeter and more full-bodied than American Amber/Red Ales though the two are similar in many regards.  Scotch ales are higher in alcohol content and often have a pronounced roasted malt/caramel flavor.  These beers are great middle-of-the-road brews because they're not as dark as porters and stouts nor are they as light bodied as beers of similar strength.

Founders Backwoods Bastard          10.20%                  A++
Founders Dirty Bastard                       8.50%                  A
Samuel Adams Scotch Ale                  5.40%                  A-

NOTE: The Backwoods Bastard is aged in bourbon barrels which gives it tremendous bourbon and vanilla flavors while increasing the alcohol content.  If you can find this beer, get it!


Related brew:

Brooklyn Winter Ale     Scottish Ale                            6.00%     B
Blue Point Winter Ale    American Amber/Red Ale      5.50%     B                                
NOTE: A Scottish Ale is similar to a Scotch Ale but it is not the same.


AMERICAN BARLEYWINE

Barleywines tend to be hit-or-miss with me.  My palette has definitely adjusted a great deal since my first sip but I still can't say that I love the style save for a few stand-out examples.  Barleywines are always super strong in their abv and often intense in their flavors.  Most often there is a sweet, fruity quality to it that seems to struggle against the thick, sticky body.  These beers are great to sip at by a fire though!

Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine                       15.04%       A
Empire Barleywine 2010                                            12.50%       A
Great Divide Old Ruffian Barley Wine                         10.20%       A
Stone Old Guardian Barleywine Style Ale 2010          11.10%        A-
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale (2009)      9.60%       B+
Blue Point Old Howling Bastard                                  10.00%       B



AMERICAN/ENGLISH BROWN ALE

The English incarnation of the brown ale is the original and tends to have a nuttier character to it though a few will have fruity overtones.  The American version is almost identical, substituting American ingredients for their continental counterparts.  A malty brew that isn't usually as thick or dark as a porter or stout.  If you enjoy Scotch Ales or American Ambers, this should be your next venture as you move deeper into the world of heavy beers.

American Brown Ales
Captain Lawrence Brown Bird Brown Ale       4.80%              A+ 
Flossmoor Pullman Brown Ale                         6.00%              A+
Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale                       7.20%              A       
Sixpoint Brownstone                                        5.70%              A-
Cooperstown Striker                                                                A-
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron                    12.00%             A-       
Empire Brown Ale                                             5.80%              A-
Big Sky Moose Drool Brown Ale                      5.10%               A-

English Brown Ales
Milwaukee Brewing Company Block Head Brown   5.30%              A+     
16 Mile Harvest Ale                                                 6.10%              A-
Wychwood Hobgoblin                                             5.20%              A-
Goose Island Nut Brown Ale                                   5.20%              A-
Sprecher Pub Brown Ale                                         4.80%              A-
Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale                                 5.00%               B+       


BOCKS/DOPPELBOCK
Bocks are dark, strong lagers that are quite different from the ales that we've explored thus far.  Lagers have a distinct flavor and mouthfeel that are preferred by some and avoided by others.  Bocks and their stronger brothers the doppelbocks are thick, malty beers where the malt is the dominant feature.  The odds are that if you've had a dark beer during the wintertime, you enjoyed a bock and didn't even know it!

Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock                       5.60%                   A+
Samichlaus Bier                                              14.00%                  A+
Samuel Adams Winter Lager                             5.50%                   A
Ayinger Celebrator Dopplebock                        6.70%                   A
Smuttynose S'muttonator (Big Beer Series)         8.50%                   A
Tröegenator Double Bock                                  8.20%                   A
Tommyknocker Butthead Doppelbock               8.20%                  A-
Spaten Optimator                                              7.20%                   B-


NOTE: Samichlaus was, at one point, the strongest beer around.  It is incredibly powerful despite its 14% and should be approached cautiously.  It is a beer that can destroy people and it is VERY strong both in flavor and alcohol.  Give it a shot but don't feel bad if you can't finish a bottle--many people find that they can't!



DUBBEL
Dubbels are Belgian beers with faint dark fruit aromas and flavors.  They are often powerfully brewed, strongly malted, and more carbonated than the typical brew.  These brews take a little getting used to!

Chimay Première (Red)                 7.00%                A+
Ommegang (Abbey Ale)                8.50%                 A
Smuttynose Winter Ale                   5.10%                 B




BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE  &  AMERICAN STRONG ALE
Strong ales tend to be an all-encompassing genre that captures beers in excess of 7% abv.  Belgian Strong Dark Ales are more potent versions of the Belgian Dark Ale style.  They are extremely strong, dark, and will bear similarities to other styles like barleywines, brown ales, and stouts.  These beers also necessitate a bit of an adjustment period but they can be mind-blowing once you're used to them!

Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale         7.20%                  A+
Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence            7.00%                 A+
Stone Double Bastard Ale                       11.20%                 A+
Chimay Grande Réserve (Blue)               9.00%                A+
Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale                    7.20%                A
Lagunitas Brown Shugga'                        9.99%                A
Lagunitas Wilco Tango Foxtrot                7.83%                A
St. Bernardus Xmas Ale '09                    10.00%                A
Shmaltz He'Brew Jewbelation Fourteen   14.00%                A-
Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre                    8.00%                A-
Ommegang Adoration Ale                       10.00%                A-
Brother Thelonious                                  9.40%                B+


STOUTS & PORTERS

Stouts and porters are the darkest and bitterest of the typical winter beers...but in many ways, they are also the best.  Porters tend to have the more intricate flavor spectrums, often including things like coffee and chocolate that complement that traditionally burnt overtones of the beer.  There are many smoked porters that pair incredibly well with barbecued and grilled foods.  Stouts can also be infused with coffee and chocolate but their bigger bodies and roasted flavors separate them from their porter brethren.  Neither style tends to be huge in terms of its alcohol thus resulting in strong sessionability.  There are more potent varieties, though, that should be treated with respect as they pack quite a punch.  Stouts and porters, in general, though are arguably my two favorite styles, regardless of the time of year!

American Porters
Stone Smoked Porter                                         5.90%               A+
Maui CoCoNut Porter                                        5.70%              A+
Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter               5.80%               A
Kona Black Sand Porter                                    6.50%               A
Anchor Porter                                                    5.60%               A
Ithaca Gorges Smoked Porter                            7.50%               A
Samuel Adams Holiday Porter                           5.90%               B+
Tommyknocker Cocoa Porter Winter Warmer   5.70%               B+

English Porters
Cooperstown Benchwarmer Porter        6.30%      A
Nøgne-Ø Winter Ale                             8.50%      A-


American Stouts
Mikkeller Beer Hop Breakfast                       7.50%                A+
Samuel Adams Black & Brew Coffee Stout   5.80%                A
New Holland Dragon's Milk Oak Barrel Ale  9.00%                A-
Dogfish Head Chicory Stout                          5.20%                A-
Saranac Vanilla Stout                                     4.80%                A-


English Stouts
Cooperstown Strike Out Oatmeal Stout         4.60%                A
Orkney Dragonhead Stout                             4.00%                A


Oatmeal Stouts
Heartland Brewery Farmer Jon's Oatmeal Stout  6.00%               A+
Founders Oatmeal Stout                                     4.50%               A

American Double / Imperial Stouts
Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)       11.20%               A++
Mikkeller    Beer Geek Brunch Weasel              10.90%               A++
Founders Breakfast Stout                                    8.30%               A+ 
Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout                            7.50%               A
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout                        18.00%               A
Great Divide Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti                9.50%               A

NOTE: The follow brews were all aged in scotch barrels and have VERY strong whisky characteristics.  I would stay away from them unless you're either very adventurous or a huge fan of scotch whisky.

BrewDog Paradox Smokehead                                         10.00%      A+
BrewDog Paradox Springbank                                          10.00%      A+
BrewDog Paradox Macallan 1987 Macallan Sherry Cask  10.00%      B+
BrewDog Paradox Speyside                                              10.00%      B

Russian Imperial Stouts

North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout       9.00%             A+   
Founders Imperial Stout                                            10.30%             A
Great Lakes Blackout Stout                                      9.00%             A   
Stone Belgo Anise Imperial Russian Stout                10.50%             A       
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout                             10.00%            A
Smuttynose Imperial Stout (Big Beer Series)              9.80%            A-       
Weyerbacher Old Heathen Imperial Stout                  8.00%            A-
Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout                                9.50%             A-       
HaandBryggeriet Dark Force                                    9.00%             A-   
Victory Brewing Storm King Stout                            9.10%            B+ 


I'd recommend trying any of the beers above this winter season...but I'd highly recommend trying a few!  This is a great time to broaden your beer horizons with a few choice brews no matter what your preferred style is.  If you've had any of the brews I've logged here or have any questions about them, feel free to drop me a comment or an email--I'd love to hear about it!

Cheers!

--Beer Whisperer Matt

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Beer-Year! (Part I)

Looks like Santa thinks I've been good this year!

Ahh, winter.  With the passing of the solstice, the days grow shorter, the nights colder, and our appetites for rich, hearty things deeper.  Sure the hot chocolate and egg nog will be flowing...but what about the beer-fan looking to guzzle something special during the holiday season and beyond?

Fear not!  I've got you covered.

This truly is the most wonderful time of the beer-year.  For reasons I cannot explain, many non-beer drinkers seem to choose this season over any other to try beer (summer is a close second but that tends to be limited to people looking for fruity beers to substitute for their calorie-laden sweet potations).  Maybe it's the spirit of the season or perhaps it's just the fact that cocktails don't cut it when you're warming up at your local watering hole.  Whatever the case may be, these folks could not have picked a better time to introduce themselves to one of the world's most consumed beverages.

Winter is a time of dark nights and dark brews.  Some of the best stouts and porters come out around this time and, generally, most Christmas/winter beers tend to be maltier, spicier, and browner than their warm-weather kin.  This isn't necessarily a bad thing (or isn't at all, if you're a fan of these styles of beer) but these brews tend to be stronger in both their flavor and alcoholic content, as well as heavier in their overall mouthfeel.  This can be off-putting to some and it presents a problem for the many who are just getting their proverbial feet wet in the world of beer.  Some won't even try a beer based solely on its color (beer bigots!) because they are assuming that it will be "too much" for them.  Many people even like to say that Guinness is too rich for them and that it's like a "meal in a can."  This kills me because Guinness has the same amount of alcohol as Coors Light and Bud Light!  Not only that, it has 126 calories per twelve-ounces which is less than Michelob Light!  Plus, the version of Guinness that we get here in the states is watered down compared to its European incarnation.  Definitely just a case of people agreeing with something simply because they heard it somewhere else!

Anyway, my Guinness diatribe aside, there are a ton of beers for all to enjoy during the winter and the holiday season in particular.  Since there are fewer holiday-specific beers, I'll begin by listing those and then get to the brews that are perfect for any point in the winter season.

CHRISTMAS

Many brewers release special Christmas beers or, as noted in an earlier entry, specially packaged brews designed to be given as gifts.  Some are gimmicky but most are solid brews.  Many times the recipe will change from year to year so it can be fun to stockpile a few varieties and hang onto them for awhile; you can break them out at some point down the road and do a vertical tasting.  Here are a few of the best beers that you can give for Christmas or simply enjoy among friends:

Goose Island Beer Co.  Christmas Ale  (American Brown Ale)

Brouwerij Huyghe  Delirium Noël  (Belgian Strong Dark Ale)

Tröegs Brewing Company  Tröegs Mad Elf  (Belgian Strong Dark Ale)

Anchor Brewing Company  Our Special Ale  (Winter Warmer)

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company  Celebration Ale  (Winter Warmer)

HANUKKAH

Most people probably don't associate Hanukkah with beer and, truthfully, I don't know whether or not it is permissible to consume alcohol during those eight crazy nights of festival lights.  Either way, why not raise a glass (or two) of one of these fine beers in honor of our Jewish friends (or in honor of yourself if you're one of our Jewish friends!):

 

Shmaltz Brewing Company  He'Brew Jewbalation (style varies--usually American Strong Ale)

Shmaltz Brewing Company  He'Brew Rejewvenator (style varies--usually American Strong Ale)

NOTE:  There's actually a really interesting story behind the Rejewvenator--scope it out at the bottom of the page here:
http://www.shmaltzbrewing.com/HEBREW/rj10.html

(Beer photos copyright Shmaltz Brewing)

KWANZAA 

Kwanzaa is another oft-overlooked beer holiday but that shouldn't stop you from enjoying an ice cold brew in celebration!  Here are two suggestions of beers that are fire-brewed in a traditional African style:

Sprecher Mbege Ale

Sprecher Shakparo Ale

Both of the beers listed above are gluten-free!  For more information, check out this link:

http://blog.sprecherbrewery.com/?p=229

Stay tuned for Part II where we will explore the best beers of the winter season!

Beer Whisperer Matt

The Heartland Brewery Review

Heartland Brewery represents a chain of brewpubs based in New York City comprising seven separate, unique locations (I specify the individuality of the spots because each one has its own charm and its own high and low points and, as such, I will rate each location individually though the beer will be referenced generally since the brews offered are relatively uniform at all of the locations.)  I have downed many pints' worth of beer at numerous Heartland Breweries, as much because of the dearth of brewpubs in the city as the merit of the beer itself.  I find it amazing that in a city as populated and cosmopolitan as New York, there are exactly eight brewpubs on the island of Manhattan: the seven Heartland Breweries and the Chelsea Brewing Company (to be reviewed at a later date in time).  Granted, the sheer volume of pubs and "beer bars" for craft beer enthusiasts more than make up for it...but, at least to me, it's still a curiosity.  Perhaps the costs associated with setting up a brewpub coupled with the space one requires are the biggest contributing factors (especially when you consider the turnover of restaurants in the city--imagine going through the hassle of constructing a brewpub and watching it close two months later) but I really just don't know.

HB's House Brews

Mysterious shortage of brewpubs aside, Heartland is a solid choice to get your grub and drink on.  Every location offers the same stock set of house beers (pictured right) and all of them are quite quaffable.  The Indian River Light is your standard ubiquitous microbrewed Light Beer while the Cornhusker Lager represents a higher-end American Adjunct Lager (a form associated most with Budweiser and Coors because of their extensive use of adjuncts like corn and rice in their brewing).  The Harvest Wheat Beer is a decent American Pale Wheat Ale but it suffers from a citrus identity crisis: with the provided lemon it often times becomes almost puckerable (and thus unpleasant to drink) but, without it, it tends to lean towards the blander side of the beer style.  The best way to drink it is to try it first and see how lemony it is and just adjust accordingly.  The Indiana Pale Ale is Heartland's play on an American IPA and it's pretty good--especially for those who aren't into overly-hopped versions of the style.

Without question, my two favorite offerings are the deliciously malty Red Rooster Ale and the award winning Farmer Jon's Oatmeal Stout--arguably my all-time favorite Oatmeal Stout and top five stout in general.  Many brewpubs offer an American Amber/Red Ale that serves as its maltiest brew; you'd be hard-pressed to find a better one than the Red Rooster.  And as for the Farmer Jon's?  No matter what I wind up drinking over the course of a session at Heartland, I always have at least one pint of their acclaimed Oatmeal Stout.  It's smooth, creamy, and has just the right hint of chocolatey-coffeeness.  If there's only one beer you try there, let it be a Farmer Jon's.

A sample snapshot of seasonal brews

What I enjoy most about Heartland, though, is the ever-changing list of seasonal beers that they offer throughout the year.  They tend to have a solid rotation of repeat-offenders depending on the time of year but there is also a fair amount of experimental brews that make their way onto the list.  I'm pretty sure that the sample picture to the left represents a wintertime list but that's pure conjecture on my part.  What's great, too, is that there were five unique beers offered during that visit, each with its own flair.  I remember enjoying the two porters, in particular, as well as the Indie 500 Pale Ale.  The seasonals, by and large, tend to vary in their quality from the incredibly drinkable Mr. Atlas Imperial Pale Ale (weighing in at a hefty 8.40% ABV) to the less-than-stellar Blueberry Mint Golden Ale (I gave it a B- but it was awfully close to a C+).  The good thing though is that the offerings reflect the styles best suited to the various seasons (lighter beers like the Berry Champagne Ale and Summertime Apricot Ale in the summer, darker brews like the ones pictured left for the winter); there's something for everybody all year round.

One of the best aspects of the brewpub (and, truly, something that should be a standard across the board) is the fact that it offers samples of every one of their beers.  You can get a "Voyage of Beer"--a flight that is comprised of five ounce samples of all six of their house beers, or a "Seasonal Voyage," which consists of the six house brews as well as two seasonals (sometimes they choose one for you, like the Empire State Premium or another beer that they might be featuring--it all depends upon the individual location).  It's a great way to try a fairly wide variety of brews for a reasonable price (the Voyage runs around 10 bucks for the thirty ounces of beer--roughly five bucks a pint, which, if you think about it, is market price in Manhattan; the Seasonal runs closer to 14, which means you're shelling out two bucks per seasonal...but it's worth it AND I find that the waitstaff is accommodating when you order the Seasonal Voyage and ask for samples of the other seasonals later on, which is the best way to try everything they have available on tap. 

Aside from the standard beer offerings, Heartland also has an interesting Beer Cocktail list as well as a gimmicky "Beer Goddess" that you can try.  The former is great for anyone who enjoys mixing beer and liquor but unfortunately I am not one of those people.  The Raspberry Blonde is pretty good as is the Almond Sunset...but they're things you'd probably try only once.  The full list (along with their other cocktail offerings and brews) can be found here at this sample menu from the 8th Avenue location:

http://www.heartlandbrewery.com/8thAveMenu.pdf

The Beer Goddess is a three liter, 101.4 ounce glass that you can fill with a selected Heartland Brew.  It seemed AMAZING when I first started to frequent Heartland...but that was six or seven years ago when the novelty of such things still struck me (a very green beer drinker, at the time) as awe-inspiring.  I remember wanting to put the consumption of a Beer Goddess on my list of lifelong things to accomplish but the years have been kind to me and I've rethought that decision.  For one, it's insanely expensive and for another, it's extremely impractical.  Think about it--you're talking about two and a half forties of beer!  How quickly could someone possibly drink the entire thing (assuming they were to in the first place)?  By the time you'd even reach the halfway mark, the beer would be warming up and going flat at an ever-increasing pace.  Three-quarters of the way through?  The last thing you'd want after drinking eighty ounces of beer in one sitting is another twenty one flat and warm ones to go.

Now...we've covered most of the positives so it's time to get our hands dirty (literally, in one case) with the negative aspects.  As far as the beer is concerned, the biggest downside is the fact that they often run out of one or more of their seasonals at any given point.  This irritates me because many times I will stop in specifically to try the new seasonal only to be told that they've run out because it has been selling really well.  Though I am happy that the beer sales are high for their seasonals, I cannot understand how they can run out of a given brew, especially now with a few years' worth of sales data to show which beers, historically, have sold well.  The Pumpkin Spice Ale is John Harvard's biggest seller in autumn, drawing tons of people there solely for that brew...and I have never had a single instance of them running out of it.  I would even say that the number of times I have visited John Harvard's in autumn probably rivals the number of times I've visited Heartland Brewery in general and in the case of the former, I've never had a beer run out due to popularity whereas in the case of the latter, it seems to happen every time.  I just wish they would manage that better, particularly because the beers are so good.

As far as the food goes, it seems to vary greatly from location to location in terms of its overall quality.  The taste might be better at one spot but the proportions might be off.  I find it surprising that there can be so much inconsistency between the various spots given that they are all local (versus, say, one site being in New York and another in Omaha) and all serve relatively homogenous offerings.  The only location where the food was great both times I was there was the Radio City location.

Ambiance, too, changes from one location to the next.  This is unsurprising given the issue of space as well as surrounding neighborhoods and sites.  Far and away, the worst is the South Street Seaport iteration.  I've seen rats running around inside and it just has an overall run-down look and feel to it.  Thankfully, it is the only one that I've been to that's like that.  The best ones are the Empire State location (34th and 5th at the base of the Empire State Building) and the Radio City location (the corner of 51st and 6th).  The former has a spacious first floor with bar seating, bar tables, and a smallish dining area.  Downstairs though is an enormous eating area that is perfect for small and large parties as well as for families.  We actually had my wife's birthday celebration there back in 2009 and it was an awesome experience.  The latter is also great because of the large quantity of booths and the fact that they are very open to having children as guests (you need only check your stroller at the hostess' station)--something that you don't think of until you have kids...and then realize how un-children friendly some locations are.  The Union Square spot is great to grab a drink after work...but it is incredibly cramped and if you get claustrophobic it might not be the place for you.  I would rank the top three locations as follows:

1. Empire State (34th Street)
2. Radio City (51st Street)
3. Union Square (17th Street)

GRADING

Overall, I give the Heartland Brewing Company a grade of B+ because of the above-average beer offerings (with a few exceptional brews thrown into the mix) and the decent variety of food that they offer.  The biggest downsides are the fact that they seem always to be out of at least one if not more seasonals and the huge disparity in consistency from one location to the next in terms of food quality and ambiance.  On the flip-side, they are very beer-oriented (sponsoring the NYC Brewfest in 2010 and holding a homebrewing competition earlier this year) and the quality of the beer is always on-point.  If you're a beer fan and you're in New York City, you'd be remiss not to stop in and have a pint at a Heartland Brewery location; it, and the Farmer Jon's Oatmeal Stout, in particular, come recommended!


BEERS SAMPLED AT HEARTLAND BREWERY LOCATIONS
(Note: beers sampled at the Heartland Brewery sponsored NYC Brewfest in 2010 are being omitted since they were not enjoyed at one of the brewpub locations.)

Buffalo Bock
Full Moon Barleywine
Indian River Light
Cornhusker Lager
Harvest Wheat Beer
Indiana Pale Ale
Red Rooster Ale
Farmer Jon's Oatmeal Stout
Not Tonight Honey Porter
Oren's Daily Porter
Empire Premium Beer
Indie 500 Pale Ale
Mr. Atlas Imperial Pale Ale
Smiling Pumpkin Ale
Summertime Apricot Ale
Berry Champagne Ale
HefeWeizen
Bavarian Black Lager
Belgian IPA
Grateful Red Lager
French Toast Ale
Kelly's Quad Bock 10th Year
Mother's Milk Maibock
Blueberry Mint Golden Ale
Black IPA


--Beer Whisperer Matt

For any further information about Heartland Brewery please visit their official website found here:

http://www.heartlandbrewery.com

Lagunitas Sucks!

One brewery's mistake, is a legion of drinkers'
reward!

Lagunitas is quickly becoming one of my favorite breweries.  Their beers are routinely of the highest quality and seem to please my palate perfectly in terms of both their hoppiness and maltiness.  More than that, though, they are a brewery with a discernible identity, part of which is an incredible sense of humor; this is no more apparent than with the brew pictured above.

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of trying Lagunitas' cherished autumn/winter release called "Brown Shugga'"--an American Strong Ale revered for its divine marriage of malted brown sugar and hops in its taste.  I looked forward to trying it again during the coming winter and while I was out shopping, I saw the beer pictured above.  I had assumed it was one that I had already enjoyed (I really need to find a way to have my beer list with me when I go shopping!) and I walked right past it.  My wife Heather was intrigued by it and decided to add it to our cart.  We wound up opening it last night but before we did, she read the fine print that runs around the border of the label.  Every Lagunitas brew has this--usually a message of some sort or a statement about the beer, in particular.  What is written tends to be both funny and informative...but this one might just be the best.  Around the bottle's label, it says the following:

"This sad holiday season we didn't have the brewing capacity to make our favorite season brew, the widely feared BrownShugga' Ale.  We're just out of capacity.  There is nothing cool about screwing up this badly and we know it."
Upon reading the admission of guilt, we understood the beer's strange title: "Lagunitas Sucks Holiday Ale Brown Shugga' Substitute."  Rare is the brewer who will own up to his or her error (see: Sam Calagione and the 120 Minute IPA disaster episode from Brewmasters) and rarer still is the brewer who can recover from said error in such a grand way.  As much as I loved Brown Shugga', the Lagunitas Sucks Holiday Ale is hands down one of the best beers I have ever had.  It is the ideal American Double/Imperial IPA and, in my opinion, is the perfect version of Dogfish Head's 120 Minute IPA.  The hop profile (at least to my palate) reminds me almost exactly of 120 Minute's but without the syrupy thickness produced by the high alcohol content (7.85% for the Lagunitas brew versus 15-18%+ for DFH's).  In essence, it's almost a sessionable 120 Minute IPA--every East Coast hophead's dream!

If you can get your hands on this mind-blowing beer, I recommend that you do so and fast.  Once word really starts to spread about how good it is, it won't stay on the shelves for long; as it is, the bottle my wife got was the last one in the store.

For more information about how Lagunitas Sucks came to be, please scope out the following link in which the brewers explain in a very self-deprecating manner the story behind the beer:

http://www.unnecessaryumlaut.com/?p=8532

Beer: The Perfect Gift

December is the harbinger of first snowfalls and holiday parties in the Northeast.  As the Christmas season moves further along, you might find yourself wondering what to give that special someone or what to bring to that festive get-together.  Beer, as in most situations in life, is the perfect answer.  There is a beer for every budget and every palette.  Wondering what to get for Dad?  Forget ties and socks--pick him up a thirty pack or two of Coors Light!  Struggling to find the right stocking stuffer for Mom?  A 12 ounce bottle of Anchor's annual "Our Special Ale" would fit exceptionally well.  Variety packs represent a great opportunity to give a novel gift while exposing the recipient to a multitude of beer styles.

Arguably the most important role that beer can play during the coming month is the "go-to" gift for holiday parties.  Nothing is worse than struggling to figure out what bottle of wine to bring to a get-together, only to arrive and find a dozen bottles sitting on a table, identical to your contribution.  Beer is gaining steam in the world of food, particularly with regards to pairings with high end cuisine.  Why not bring a bottle of Samuel Adam's Chocolate Bock to serve as a complement to dessert instead of that fifth of Pinot Noir?  Some beers can serve as desserts in their own rights (I particularly enjoyed The Matt Brewing Company's "Saranac Vanilla Stout" given courtesy of BWN for one) and others have an aesthetic value that rivals the cliche bottle of wine.  Many breweries make special beers just for Christmas (like the aforementioned Anchor brew) and a fair number of these come in the familiar 750ml size.  The attention paid to their presentation means that you can feel proud placing that bottle on the table alongside those decanters of vino.

If you can get your hands on them, there are a number of premium priced brews that rival traditional gifts of spirits.  A bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue retails for roughly two hundred dollars...but so does a bottle of Samuel Adam's Utopias.  Johnnie Walker Blue is ubiquitous; Utopias often requires a waitlist to be on a waitlist to get it.  Other brews like 3 Floyds' "Dark Lord" and a number of the Lost Abbey offerings are equally rare and thus highly valued among beer drinkers.  Then there are the crossover brews like Harviestoun's "Ola Dubh 40 Special Reserve"--a stout aged in 40 year old scotch barrels--the perfect gift for the beer and scotch enthusiast in your life!

Egg nog and hot toddies are great for beating those winter blues...but winter beers (often stylized as "Winter Warmers") can perform as well or better.  Many (like Sam Adams' Winter Lager) are brewed with familiar holiday spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.  Some of the more spice-laden brews are incredibly complex both in their flavor profile and their mouthfeel.  Why bring that fruit cake that no one will eat when you can pony up a six-pack of a winter warmer that everyone will enjoy?

Speaking of dessert...why not make some beer bread?  Miller offers a mix at its gift shop and Guinness has one available commercially (both are delicious).  Dark stouts can lift an otherwise boring chocolate cake by adding an additional layer of complexity and creaminess.  A weizenbock like Weihenstephaner's Vitus can liven up your Christmas turkey (or any poultry).  The earthiness of the hops in a stronger IPA can also bring new life to an herb-infused dish.

Beer.  It looks good on the table, goes great in your holiday dishes, and tastes even better going down.  It really is the perfect gift!

--Beer Whisperer Matt

Here are some suggestions to get you started:

Expensive/Rare Brews (if you can get your hands on them--probably not all that likely!)

Samuel Adams Utopias (this one drinks more like a spirit than a beer)

Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA (non-hopheads need not apply!  Extremely hoppy beer but incredible)

Founders KBS or CBS (INCREDIBLE coffee stouts)

Founders Backwoods Bastard (a bourbon-barrel aged scotch ale?  Exactly.)

Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel (another coffee stout--this one is brewed with the world's most expensive coffee...and it shows, believe me!)

Harviestoun's Ola Dubh Special Reserve 40 or 30 (stouts aged in scotch barrels whose age is reflected in the reserve number--40 or 30 years, respectively)

Stone 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA (another hop-heavy brew but this Black IPA/Cascadian Dark Ale/American Black Ale is absolutely delicious)

North Coast Brewing Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout (a powerhouse in the stout realm--not for the faint of heart!)

Goose Island Pepe Nero (2011) (one of the most interesting beers I've ever had--a Saison/Farmhouse Ale brewed with peppercorns.  Get this one for the more adventurous beer-drinker in your life!)

Captain Lawrence Captain's Reserve Imperial IPA (one of the best all-around IPAs I've ever had--definitely pick up a growler from the brewery or, if you're lucky enough to find a six pack, snag it!)

*NOTE: All of the beers suggested above have received an "A+" grade from me on my beer list and come with my highest recommendation.