Matt's 2011 Beer Travels (January - Mid-May)

For beer?  Will travel!

2011 was not simply my most prolific beer sampling year ever--it was also the year in which I visited more breweries and brewpubs than during any other since I first fell in love with craft brews.  The fact that I tried so many beers is attributable in large part to the fact that I traveled so widely during the year and was able to sample multiple brews at a given location.  In fact, out of the 725 beers that I tasted for the first time in 2011, a whopping 403--solidly 56%--came as a result of my journeying.  These beers were enjoyed in a multitude of ways ranging from brewery tour samples at the production facilities to mealtime flights at brewpubs and, perhaps best of all, beers brought home from the region.  On one trip in particular back in May I brought home over 60 bottles of beer found mostly or only in the Midwest.  I got to enjoy them in the comfort of my home and reflect on the great times that I had had around the time of their purchase!


In total, I visited forty-eight different breweries and brewpubs over the course of 2011.  Out of these, I went to forty-three for the very first time.  I was fortunate to have been to so many awesome spots, many of which I would love to return to sometime in the future; only an extremely small minority wound up being forgettable.  A full twenty of the locations came in one trip that included large cities like Chicago and Cleveland as well as small villages like Flossmoor, Illinois.  Each place was memorable for one reason or another and all of them contributed to the color and variety of the most expansive road trip I have gone on since tackling the Alaska Highway back in 2008.

Since I intend to write up a full review of every brewery and brewpub I've visited, I won't say much about any of the places here unless they truly stood out for one reason or another.  Any location that had been visited during a previous year will be noted as such; all others were experienced for the first time in 2011.

Weyerbacher Brewing (Easton, Pennsylvania)
Weyerbacher is a great place to go if you're looking to sample a number of beers of varying styles.  Their tasting room is a part of the storage and brewing facility and you can walk right up to the counter and try whatever they have on tap.  Even cooler is that if there's something that you wanted to scope out and it's not on tap, they'll open a bottle of it just to pour you a sample, regardless of whether anyone else is interested in it at the time.  Very cool place and one that I've already been back to!

Dogfish Head Brewery/Brewpub (Milton, Delaware & Rehoboth Beach, Delaware) (OLD)
Dogfish Head's two Delaware locations remain my all-time favorite places to go for beer.  There's always something new brewing at the eatery in Rehoboth Beach and the food is flat-out phenomenal.  The brewery offers five free samples just for walking in the door and whatever they have on tap during a given day is bound to have at least one gem (and more than a few powerful brews!).  The mecca of craft beer in my humble opinion.

Fordham Brewing Company (Dover, Delaware)
I actually found out about the Fordham Brewing Company from Beer Whisperer Nicole.  She had gone down for her birthday and impressed me so much with her love and affection for both the beer and the people that I made it a point to take my own journey barely a few weeks later.  The beer was tremendous, the people were even better, and, they remembered Nicole and her husband Matt specifically despite having seen at least a hundred other people during the time between their visit and mine.  Amazing brewery and a must see for any beer fan.

Iron Hill Brewery (Newark, Delaware)
I actually visited Dogfish Head, Fordham, Iron Hill, and Victory Brewing all in the same day (a very, very bad idea--the beer was phenomenal and I wound up enjoying over 100 ounces throughout the day).  The beer at the Iron Hill Brewery was great (it's actually a brewpub--I did not get to sample the food) but the parking situation was insane.  It's technically located in and around the University of Delaware so parking is literally at a premium (a quarter was worth 6 minutes or maybe 12 at one of the few meters I saw).  Definitely worth planning ahead in terms of the parking if you're visiting this spot.

Victory Brewing (Downingtown, Pennsylvania)
Victory Brewing is often touted as one of the best microbreweries in the country.  Perhaps unsurprisingly, their brewpub was also rated the best either in the state of Pennsylvania or the city of Philadelphia (I can't remember--too much beer!)  Regardless, it's an award-winning facility with a few legendary beers.  What's great about it is that you can get a sampler of any five beers they have available; go with a friend and you can try ten different beers.  The samples are huge but they are mostly lagers and, being the ale guy that I am, I wound up feeling underwhelmed by the quality of the brews.  Don't get me wrong--they are incredible, just not my cup of tea...or pint of, well, you get it.

John Harvard's Brewpub (Lake Grove, New York) (OLD)
Made a few trips out to Lake Grove in 2011, especially after the Pumpkin Spice Ale came out.  An annual trek for me and my wonderful wife Heather!

Blue Point Brewing (Patchogue, New York) (OLD)
Had a much better visit when I went in 2011 as I was able to enjoy almost ten new brews.  An awesome value either way as the samples are free (though it doesn't hurt to tip your pourer!)

Brick House Brewery (Patchogue, New York)
Almost literally up the block from Blue Point (it's within five minutes--still quite close!), this brewpub offers a nice sized flight of their beers plus a seasonal option from Blue Point.  A decent spot with standard brewpub fare in terms of food.  If you're in town for Blue Point, then you should definitely make it a point to swing by the Brick House for some grub (and some more beer!)

Triumph Brewing (Princeton, New Jersey)
One of the most uncomfortable brewpub experiences of my life.  When Heather and I walked in, we were not expecting the bougie environ that is the Princeton Triumph Brewing.  The beer was delicious but be prepared to drop fifteen bucks for a salad and more than ten for a small portioned appetizer.  Yeah...one of those places.  Totally wasn't expecting it, which is what made the situation so uncomfortable. 

River Horse Brewing (Lambertville, New Jersey)
River Horse is a great little spot that churns out a number of solid brews.  My all-time favorite was sampled on my one trip to the brewery last year--a saison that will probably never see the light of day in terms of production and distribution.  It was absolutely delicious but from what the brewers said, it seems like it was a one-off type of deal--a real shame!

Triumph Brewing (New Hope, Pennsylvania)
I'll admit, I was nervous about visiting this place after my previous experience with its sister location in Princeton...but for as stuffy and uninviting as its predecessor was, this place was all the more awesome.  There was a pool table, a stage for live music, and just an overall fun vibe.  Plus it was within throwing distance of the River Horse brewery; I could see one from the other across the river that separates Pennsylvania from New Jersey.  Basically, if you're going to River Horse you have to stop here as well and vice versa.

High Point Brewing (Butler, New Jersey)
Another spot I found out about through Nicole, we all visited the brewery together in 2011.  Brewers of the Ramstein beers, all of which are traditional German styles, High Point opens its doors to the public exactly once each month for two hours.  I've never understood places that are like that and frankly it's a huge put off to me.  I've been to places like 16 Mile Brewing in Georgetown, Delaware where the entire operation is literally two guys and a handful of other supporters and they avail themselves almost every day of the week either for tours or for sales.  If a place that small and busy can make more time for its beer lovers to roll through, then why can't other places do the same?  The shame of it where High Point is concerned is that the beer really is great, you just have to use the rhythm method to figure out when you can time getting some.

Triumph Brewing (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
I completed visiting the trifecta of Triumph locations with a trip to Philly on a nasty, rainy day last year.  This one was my second favorite of the three though it definitely seemed like it'd be an awesome place to go for a beer and to hang out if you're in the area around the weekend.  The beer was mostly good and the food was tasty.  I'll definitely swing by again later this year when I go to try Pat's and Geno's for the first time.

Yards Brewing (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Yards was definitely one of my favorite locations from 2011.  As soon as you walk in the door you're greeted and presented with a token for a free brew.  The bar itself is pretty spacious and you have the opportunity to sample a broad array of beers ranging from their standard offerings like the Yards Brawler to the Ales of the Revolution series.  If you're not up for sitting at the bar, there is plenty of other seating available and a pool table that you can enjoy.  Though I did not get to take the tour during my first visit I plan on doing so when I go back sometime later this year.

Heartland Brewery (New York, New York) (OLD)
I visited a few different Heartland locations in 2011 including two new ones.  Really the only brewpub option that's worth exploring in the city but if you're more interested in the beer than the food then you should consider the craft beer bar Rattle N' Hum instead.

Matt's Top 100 Beers Sampled In 2011 Part IV (25-1)

THE TOP 25 BEERS I SAMPLED IN 2011!

Ye Olde Four Pack Of Beer

25 Fraoch Heather Ale
Much as it was fitting to have the George Washington Porter at #50 on my list, having the Williams Brothers' Fraoch Heather Ale at #25 is appropriate given the lengths through which I had to go to in order to obtain it.  I don't recall when I first heard about the style of beer but I knew that I would someday track it down given the fact that my wife's name is Heather and it sounded like her ideal beer style.  I had managed to find only one online (the aforementioned Fraoch) and traced its distribution to Maryland--the nearest point to me at a mere three-plus hours away.  I meant to go a number of times and never did but then one fateful day I met David--a server at Cloverleaf Tavern who happened to be quite familiar with both Delaware and Maryland.  He told me of a magical place called State Line Liquors; his description made it sound like the Disney World of beer and liquor.  After vowing to visit the store (and encountering the Fraoch Heather Ale yet again in the 1,001 beers book), I made it a point to go on a 2011 trip to the Dogfish Head brewery.  I had an enormous list of beers that I wanted to purchase but at its top was the Heather Ale.  You cannot imagine my excitement when I showed my list to one of the employees at the store only to be directed immediately to the beer with the following words, "It's the one that looks like a castle."

Not only was the beer's container the coolest I have ever seen, the brew itself was incredible.  The floral notes of the heather penetrated every sip and its light effervescence rejuvenated me with each quaff.  The Fraoch Heather Ale wound up being even better than I had hoped, thus rendering its acquisition all the sweeter.


24 Unibroue La Fin Du Monde
I had seen La Fin Du Monde a few times but hadn't thought much of it other than the awesomeness of its name.  When a buddy of mine told me that he had had it and that it put him out cold, I knew that I had to try it.  I saw it at Joe Canal's in Iselin, New Jersey--one of my favorite beer distributors--and picked it up immediately.  Not too long afterwards I wound up purchasing a bottle of Three Floyds' Dark Lord--a behemoth of a beer that warranted a special occasion for its opening and consumption.  I thought also of the bottle of La Fin Du Monde that I had chilling in my refrigerator and it dawned on me: I should drink both in honor of the coming Mayan/Zombie Apocalypse in 2012.  I decided to have La Fin Du Monde on December 21st, 2011 to mark the supposed beginning of the final year of mankind and opted to have both a Dark Lord and Alaskan White on New Year's Eve--the former at the end of the 31st and the latter as my toast to bring in the new year.

La Fin Du Monde was and is a killer brew that is certainly strong but it's also quite delicious--perhaps disarmingly so.  According to its personal page on the Unibroue website, it has won more awards than any other Canadian beer.  Having enjoyed a full bottle, I can understand why.

http://www.unibroue.com/en/beers/la_fin_du_monde/


23 Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale
How do you make an already phenomenal beer better?  You oak age that bastard (well, Arrogant Bastard in this case).  It was one of the first oak aged beers that I had had but it was far and away the most awesome.  It was smooth and sweet in all the right places, tickling and teasing my tastebuds on its way down the hatch.  It's a beer I have literally yearned for as I've passed it on my way to purchasing a new batch of untried brews...but someday soon we shall reunite.  It's been too long!


22 Tommyknocker Hop Strike Black Rye-IPA 
I have enjoyed every Tommyknocker beer that I have had but the Hop Strike was the first one to take my breath away.  The hop explosion that detonated in my mouth on that first sip was nearly overwhelming (and by overwhelming I mean hallucinagenically delicious) and left me weak-kneed, craving for more.  I consumed it greedily and wished secretly that I had a case of it to bring home.  Without a doubt my second favorite black IPA of all-time...


21 Stone 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA
...and on to the first!  Stone is known for producing some extraordinary brews that are hopped to an insane degree.  Who better, then, to make a black IPA--a style that has its strength in its hops?  I had this beer the same night I had the cherry stout that they had brewed...which might account for why said stout wound up losing favor.  This beer was so big--so huge--that it dwarfed anything else that I had that night and for some time afterwards.  It was an expensive bottle ($15 for a double-deuce) but it was so worth it. 


20 Tripel Karmeliet
I had this tripel the same night that I had the Tommyknocker Hop Strike and couldn't believe how good it was.  Without question, it was one of the most incredible beer-drinking nights of my life.  Though I am a fan of tripels, I had never encountered one that really impressed me until consuming the Tripel Karmeliet.  Complex and intricate with interlacing flavors, notes, and nuances, it was easily the best beer of its kind that I have had.  If I had to describe it in two words they would be elegant and flavorful.


19 Ramstein Oktoberfest
For a long time the Oktoberfest/Marzen style of beer was my favorite.  I looked forward to September and October each year in large part because they brought with them the opportunity to sample more brews of my preferred genre.  After having had a bunch of flat-out forgettable offerings in 2010, my interest began to wane.  When I had a few more new ones in 2011 and found that there was little variety in the flavors and textures of even the good ones, I almost wrote off the style completely...until I heard about High Point's Ramstein Oktoberfest.  It wound up being a part of the PhD at Cloverleaf and Beer Whisperer Nicole had tried it at the unveiling up at the brewery citing its awesomeness.  When I finally had it, I found that its delectability was transcendent; this wasn't a beer--it was a revelation.

I doubt I will ever encounter another Oktoberfest that can hold a candle to this one but it doesn't matter because the simple fact that I had it at all is enough.


18 Goose Island Pepe Nero (2011)
As awesome as the Tingly Tongue was, the brew called Pepe Nero proved to be even more fantastic.  Its creaminess served as the perfect counterbalance to its peppery bouquet and overtones amid other spice notes.  I had it first at the Goose Island brewpub in Chicago and have had it twice since; each time I think I have enjoyed it a little more.  Some people like to have a bottle of wine on hand at all times--I wish I could do the same with Pepe Nero.


17 Lagunitas Sucks Holiday Ale
Probably the most surprising entry on my list if for nothing other than the fact that it was total happenstance that I came upon the beer in the first place (chronicled here in a previous entry: http://www.thebeerwhisperers.com/2011/12/lagunitas-sucks.html).  With that said, I wasn't expecting anything in particular when I opened the beer but was left stunned by how incredible the brew was.  I understand that it came about because of a production era with Lagunitas' renowned Brown Shugga but I say screw it!  Make THIS the year-round brew!  It is superior to an already incredible beer (the aforementioned Shugga) and is hands-down the best Lagunitas beer I have had among a field of nearly a dozen very, very solid brews.


16 Mikkeller Beer Hop Breakfast
Another hybrid sort of beer, the Beer Hop Breakfast is an oatmeal stout brewed with coffee and has an enticing hop aroma and backbone running through it.  Basically, it lets me check off almost every box on my ideal beer list: oatmeal stout, chocolate flavors, made with coffee, and a hoppy disposition.  It's like the oatmeal stout equivalent of a black IPA with coffee thrown into the mix.  A personal favorite not simply in 2011 but of all-time.


15 Kona Brewing Wailua Wheat
I snagged a bottle of the Wailua Wheat when I placed my last order with Brewforia.  I thought that I had already had it but figured I would grab something other than the Fire Rock Pale Ale that I had purchased previously.  During my very first sip I knew not only that I hadn't tried the beer during my trip to the brewpub in Kona, Hawaii but also that there was something very, very special about this beer.  Upon reading the bottle's label, I came to find that that something special--the beer's je ne sais quoi, if you will--was the inclusion of passion fruit.  The aroma was both grassy and fruity--sweet but with the freshness of nature wafting out of my tulip glass.  I've seen the beer get slammed on sites like Beer Advocate for not being a traditional wheat beer, for not having a strong wheat constitution, and for having too faint a passion fruit taste and I haven't understood the criticism.  Maybe I just got a great bottle but this was one marvelous brew!


14 Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence Stout
Decadent.  Think of the best chocolate that you have ever had--the richest, most incredible treat of your life.  Then imagine a lava cake made entirely out of that chocolate...and then having that lava cake transformed into a beer.  Now you're finally approaching how amazing Ommegang's Chocolate Indulgence Stout is.  When I first had it, it came across as sweet in both its aroma and flavor profile; the second bottle seemed a bit more bitter but still delicious.  Both times, though, I felt like I was enjoying the most expensive dessert on the menu of a five star restaurant. 

A caveat: if you're a newcomer to stouts, hold off on trying this beer.  You will likely find it bitter and will not be able to enjoy it in its purest form.  When you've had a few oatmeal stouts, coffee stouts, and other stouts with strong chocolate bodies, then come back and give this one a whirl.  You will be amazed...


13 Captain Lawrence Captain's Reserve Imperial IPA
The most sessionable imperial IPA I've ever come across--the Captain's Reserve is on my short list for best IPAs of any style and definitely within the top 25 beers I've ever had.  It's arguably the perfect imperial IPA and I cannot wait to make a trip to the new facility upstate to try it again.  Thankfully said facility will allow Captain Lawrence to begin distributing their beers in twelve ounce bottles so hopefully I will be seeing it soon in a store near me! 


12 Flossmoor Station Pullman Brown Ale
I read about this brown ale in the 1,001 beers book prior to my trip to Chicago and sought it out specifically in the small village of Flossmoor, Illinois.  It had everything I was looking for in a brown ale: a beautiful mahogany color, sweet, rich maltiness, and smoothness throughout its taste.  The next time I am going to the Midwest I will make it a point to stop back in and to enjoy some more of this magnificent brew.


11 Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA
The Holy Grail of beers--it took me years to get my hands on some of this delectable IPA, mostly due to an insane increase in popularity coupled with a reduction in distribution to New York and New Jersey.  If it weren't for an amazing array of other incredible beers filling out the top ten, this one would certainly have landed in a higher position.  120 Minute is, in my estimation, the de facto hop-head IPA.  It's one of the most powerful beers around ranging from 15% to 21% abv depending upon the vintage, which is both a boon and a detriment to the beer.  The high alcohol content is in part what gives the beer its character but it also renders it immensely dangerous to the consumer--not because of any health concerns but more that it is SO good that you will find yourself looking to treat it like your favorite session beer instead of as the gentle giant that it is.

It's one of the only beers that I would drive almost seven hours round trip just to purchase a six pack.  Hell, who am I kidding?  I'd drive double that...but I'd probably want to pick up a twelve pack or a case, not to make the trip worthwhile but to have more of this ambrosiac brew!

THE TOP 10

10 Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel
I have to give a shout out to Lev over at Holiday Beverage on Amboy Road in Staten Island for introducing me to this beer.  I was picking up the bottle of Beer Hop Breakfast when he pointed out this bad boy sitting next to it.  He had had both and said that though the one I wanted was good, this one was exceptional; to say that he was right would be an embarrassing understatement.  In short, the Beer Geek Brunch Weasel does everything that its brethren does only better and to a larger degree.  It too is an oatmeal stout but not simply an oatmeal stout: it's an imperial / double oatmeal stout--twice as awesome!  And it's not simply brewed with hops and coffee--it is made with some of the most expensive and decadent coffee in the world!

If they made a bourbon barrel aged version of this beer, I'm pretty sure it would make me collapse with excitement!


09 Captain Lawrence Brown Bird Brown Ale
There are a handful of beers--a truly brief list--that I have dreamt about after having tried them; the Brown Bird Brown Ale is one of them.  Not only did I dream about it multiple times after I had it last year, I thought about it the entire day and the day after while I was enjoying a family trip upstate.  It's a nearly perfect brown ale and it's not even among their steady rotation of beers!!!  The last time I was at the brewery it wasn't there (in truth I had driven there just for the Brown Bird) and I was told that it's a beer that the head brewer throws into the mix when he needs to fill some space on the tap line.

%^&*(!^$)!&$!!!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?

I told the guy that it was one of the best beers and brown ales I've ever had and he laughed, saying that a lot of people say that (himself included) and that he doesn't understand why it doesn't get more love.  So if you're reading this, please, Scott, consider making this beer a year-round addition to the lineup!  It is inimitable in its awesomeness!  INIMITABLE!!!

The coolest bottle art I've ever seen,
hands down.

08 3 Floyds Dark Lord Imperial Stout (2010)
From the moment I saw the bottle of Dark Lord in the 1,001 beers book, I knew that this beer would be summed up in only a single word: epic.  I couldn't believe that I was going to be going to Chicago (and, consequently, pit-stopping in Muncie, Indiana along the way to visit the Three Floyds brewery) in May when Dark Lord Day (the one day in the year where the beer is released during the eponymous festival) was April 30th.  I vowed to go in 2012 and was hellbent on making the trip out there later this year but for a variety of reasons I realized that it probably wasn't going to happen.  Thank God for eBay!  I popped on and managed to pick up a bottle for a reasonable price without having to go through the nearly thirty-hour round trip drive or multi-hundred dollar plane trip and car rental to attend the 2012 Dark Lord Day ceremony.  Plus, I was obtaining a bottle that had been aged for almost two years when I purchased it--a pretty sweet deal in its own right.

As evidenced by the picture above-right, the beer is simply a black hole and the bottle artwork is frame-worthy.  I had previously held North Coast's Old Rasputin as the pinnacle of Russian Imperial Stouts but Dark Lord obliterated any and all supposed retainers to its throne.  Don't get me wrong--Old Rasputin is still ridiculously good, it's just that Dark Lord seems to have come from a completely different universe let alone playing field--a place where the fabric of spacetime is made up of strings and particles of Russian Imperial Stout instead of, well, whatever they're made up of in this far inferior universe.

Bottom line: this is an epic, EPIC beer; I can only imagine what the festival accompanying its release must be like and hope someday to attend it in the flesh!


07 Dogfish Head Raison D'Extra
The dark horse of this list, it's one that almost didn't make it because I almost didn't buy it.  I mistook it for an overpriced bottle of Raison D'Etre but had it pointed out to me that this one was different.  When I took a closer look at the bottle I saw that the design was slightly different and that the label said "extra" instead of "etre."  On account of the purported rarity of the brew, I picked up a bottle for me and one for Nicole.  After doing some research and finding out that the beer weighs in at a mind-boggling 18% abv, I grabbed one more to age.  I enjoyed the original bottle out of a snifter and felt like I was sucker-punched by its potency.  It was delicious and seemed to sing a siren song not unlike the 120 Minute IPA.  This one, though, was sweeter and warmer--almost like a bourbon in the fire it created on its way to my stomach.

To date, I have had exactly one bottle of this and it kills me that I don't have more because it was truly an awakening for me as a beer lover!


06 Milwaukee Ale House Block Head Brown
I had this on our second run through of Milwaukee on our way back to Chicago and, ultimately, home last May.  It edges out Captain Lawrence's Brown Bird by a nose and is truly the definitive brown ale.  I didn't just dream about this beer during the ensuing weeks and months--I fantasized about it!  Truly a stellar beer whose incredible taste and character would be besmirched by even the sweetest of words that I could offer in supplication. 


05 Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special Reserve 40
For my 1,000th beer, I knew that I wanted to enjoy something special--something extravagant.  I had seen an assortment of Harviestoun brews for sale at State Line Liquors on my first trip in and, though the 12 and 16 year versions sounded good and were reasonably priced, I was drawn to their most expensive, most aesthetically appealing bottle: the Special Reserve 40.  Stout aged in barrels that held single malt scotch for forty years?  The concept is awe-inspiring when you think of when the journey of that thousandth beer began almost half a century ago.  The beer itself was incredible--probably the single smoothest beer I have ever enjoyed.  I could easily develop a taste solely for this magnificent brew but, much like with most high end scotches, it's just a financial impossibility.  Still, for my 1,000th beer?  It was worth the splurge!


04 Empire Barleywine BB 2009 (Aged in a Heaven Hill barrel)
I have never had Heaven Hill bourbon before but when I tasted this brew, I was smitten.  First, the fact that it was a barleywine that was bourbon barrel aged was something I had never seen before let alone enjoyed.  Second, the fact that it tasted so much like Jack Daniel's truly put it over the top.  I'm not sure of whether or not there is a similarity between Jasper Newton Daniel's charcoal mellowed whiskey and the Kentucky bourbon that made this beer the best barleywine I've ever had...but I'm more than willing to investigate.  This brew singlehandedly altered my perspective on a style that I had little to know interest in and enjoyment of. 


03 Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery Mango Mama
This is certainly one of the most interesting brews on the list and it's one that I still dream about today.  While we were in Minneapolis on our road trip earlier in the year, we decided to visit the Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery among a few other local brewpubs.  As was the case with most of these spots, I had no idea of what types of beers they made--I just knew that they were ones I had never had before.  As I perused the menu, I saw that they had an IPA on the list, which was to be expected as the style has become a relative staple of most places these days.  What I found interesting, though, was the "Mango Mama" listed under the seasonal brews section.  It was the same IPA that I had seen earlier only aged on mangoes and so we included it in our flight.  When it arrived, the bouquet was alluring: the traditional hoppy aromas associated with hearty IPAs along with the sweet scent of mangoes.  One sip was all I needed to take to know that this beer was worshippable.  It was also one of those moments where you ask yourself, "Oh my God, why aren't more places doing this!?"  My wife, too, fell in love with the beer and we enjoyed some good-natured bantering about which of us should get to finish the sample.  I wanted so terribly to take back a growler with me but we had already loaded up on a variety of beers to bring home, there was no way I could justify it.



In my heart of hearts, I hope only that I will find this beer--or something even approximating it somewhere down the line.


02 Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)
I had heard of Founders KBS intermittently throughout the past few years but I never paid much attention to the talk about it.  I had enjoyed both the Founders Breakfast Stout and the Founders Dirty Bastard/Backwoods Bastard in 2010--truly loved the lattermost, in fact, so when I found out that the KBS was a bourbon barrel aged version of their awesome breakfast stout, I added it to my beer bucket list.  Unfortunately, as with all phenomenal brews, this one is extremely hard to come by in New York.  Fortunately, though, fate smiled upon me in the guise of one of my old co-workers.  A budding beer aficionado, he informed me that the Whole Foods on Houston Street in Manhattan had gotten a shipment of KBS and was selling it one bottle per customer.  He had already procured some for himself and so he asked me if I'd want him to do the same.  I kindly asked if he would mind obliging and, generous as he is, he said that he had no problem hooking me up.  I knew that it would be some time before I would see him and so I asked Heather to go and see if she could grab a bottle too.  As luck would have it, I just so happened to be in the city the next day and managed to grab a bottle for myself, thus bringing my total to three.

Barely a few weeks later, I went to Holiday Beverage and was looking for one random beer or another when I was engaged in conversation by the owner.  We were chatting it up and as we were doing so I happened to look up and saw that they had not only the KBS in stock but four-packs available.  I walked over mid-conversation and clutched one of the beloved packs in disbelief.  This began an entirely new conversation and when the clerk saw how enthused I was not simply about Founders but about craft beer in general, he sent me off with a free Founders pint glass.  Gotta love it!

As for the beer itself...there aren't enough superlatives to describe it aptly.  A traditional breakfast stout in nature, the coffee flavors are wonderful...but the bourbon...oh mama, the bourbon smooths it out and fills it with warmth and depth before launching it to empyrean heights.  It is almost impossibly good and, from what I have been told, when properly aged it becomes even better.  I've managed to use what self-control I have available to refrain from enjoying two of the precious bottles in the hopes that I shall transform a brew fit for a king into something that would be revered on Mt. Olympus or in the halls of Valhalla!


AND THE #1 BEER(S) OF 2011 ARE...

I know, I know...beers?  Plural?  What a cop out!  I thought long and hard about what beer should be granted the number one spot--the best beer out of the SEVEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE that I tried in 2011.  I vacillated, I flip-flopped, I wrung my hands and sweated it out--putting one beer there only to swap it with the other.  I called in an expert and in the midst of drafting my quandary, I found the solution (I was writing to my wife, for the record, because she's an expert on me and I knew that she would know just what to tell me; ironically enough, it was precisely the conclusion that I came to as I clicked "send" on the email).  Reflecting back on my most prolific beer-drinking year, I found that it was a time not simply of stouts and porters but one of IPAs and barleywines.  The light and dark joined forces, intermingling as they balanced one another out, taking the forms of delicious, memorable, and ultimately extraordinary brews.

And so I realized that I could not pick only one top beer for my list for there was not any one style that dominated.  2011 was the year of the light and dark beers and so I have selected one of each to serve as my co-greatest beers of the year.  Without further ado...

THE LIGHT CHAMPION

01 Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA (Cask Conditioned)

When I attended the 2011 Dogfish Head Analog-A-Go-Go I had no idea that I would be experiencing the greatest single day of beer drinking that I have ever known.  When I saw first that they would be having the 75 Minute IPA, I was thrilled...but then I saw that they also had the 120 Minute IPA.  I had checked in advance and knew that they would have it on tap at the brewpub...but to have it at the festival (and not have to wait even a few more hours) left me salivating.  It took a little while for the behemoth to be unleashed but I was among the first on line to get it once it was ready.  As I received my pour, I was told that this was the cask conditioned version--not even just the regular one.  I asked what I could expect and was told a dangerously smooth and easily drinkable version of the beer with more balanced and nuanced flavors coming through along with the hydrogen-hop bomb that was to be expected.  I took that first sip...

...and was changed forever.  My mind was blown, my tastebuds were taken on a spirit quest, and I was left shaken from head to toe.  Not only was it even better than it had been described, it was the most sensational thing I had and have ever tasted.  The only problem with the beer was that it diminished the awesomeness of everything else I had that day...and I had a lot of great beers that day.  In fact, this list is populated with almost every one of the Dogfish Head cask conditioned beers from the festival because they were all truly pedastal-worthy...but none could hold a candle to the 120 Minute.  Even the 75 Minute IPA--a beer I had looked forward to having for what seemed like forever, paled in comparison.  Hell, even the regular 120 Minute IPA that I wound up having at the brewpub later that day couldn't measure up!


It was that good.

Fortunately, the regular 120 Minute IPA is a close enough approximation to the cask conditioned version that I can pretend from time to time that I'm enjoying the greatest light beer I have ever had.  And to Sam and the entire Dogfish Head family, I'd like to extend a heartfelt thank you not simply for making such an incredible beer and hosting such an unforgettable event back in June, but for continuing to innovate, staying true to your original vision while expanding in a multitude of incredible ways, and for brewing the delicious, off-beat, off-centered ales that have made you a household name in the world of craft beer.  Cheers!

THE DARK CHAMPION

01 Cricket Hill Bourbon Barrel Paymaster Porter (aged in Jack Daniel's barrels)

Anyone who knows me well knows that I enjoy drinking and sharing beer and whisky as well as creating drink recipes; I'm sure if you asked anyone who knows me remotely will tell you that I love Jack Daniel's.  Jack has been my go-to drink since I first started to enjoy liquor with a Jack and Coke being my all-time favorite drink.  You can imagine my excitement, then, when early in 2011 I see on Cloverleaf Tavern's Facebook page that they are featuring a beer aged in Jack Daniel's barrels.  I dropped everything that I had going on that night, rounded up some friends, and made the nearly hour long trip out to Caldwell to get my hands on a pint of this precious brew.

The first sip of Cricket Hill's illustrious beer wasn't just a revelation nor was it simply an introduction to the greatest beer I've ever had; it was a life-defining moment--something that I will never forget.  That first luscious sip was like having the meaning of life whispered in my ear in some beer-related universe; it showed me not simply what amazing beer was but what beer, as an entity, could be--its potential in its purest form.  For me (and my tastebuds), that first sip was like the union of soulmates--a perfect union of one of my favorite styles of beer with the unaltered magnificence of the essence of Jack Daniel's.  It was like listening to the beer and the whiskey in stereo, with one flavor riveting one ear drum while its counterpart was sensationalized with the seductiveness of the other.  I have not merely dreamt of this beer: it haunts me to this day.  I can conjure its flavor to mind at will but each time the memory grows a little more vague...a little more distant.  Someday, its recollection will be lost forever and I will be left simply with the knowledge that, one cold night at Cloverleaf, I had the greatest dark beer that I will ever encounter.


Thanks for reading my list!  I hope 2011 was a great beer-year for you and that 2012 proves to be even greater.  A huge thanks to all of the brewers for making the beers on the list, to the servers and bartenders who hooked me up with them, to the friends that I drank with, and, most importantly, to my wife Heather for joining me on this journey and for understanding that it's not about drinking beer as much as it is about the quest towards ultimate beer enlightenment.  Sláinte!

--Beer Whisperer Matt

Matt's Top 100 Beers Sampled In 2011 Part III (50-26)

50 Fortitude's Founding Father (George Washington's Porter)
The story behind this beer might just be even more amazing than the brew itself.  Never in my life have I worked harder to sample a single beer than I did with Fortitude's Founding Father.  Early in 2011 I found out that during an archaeological dig, George Washington's personal recipe for beer had been uncovered and it was determined that, aside from distilling his own spirits, he brewed his own beer.  Since the New York Public Library owned the rights to the recipe, they decided to collaborate with the Shmaltz Brewing Company to commemorate their centennial by having them brew a mere twenty-five gallons of the porter exactly as directed in Washington's recipe.  The beer would be served at a gala for the library on May 23rd but it would be available briefly to the public at a bar called Rattle 'N Hum on the 18th. 

I wound up having to go to Queens on the 18th for something (having just returned from my gargantuan beer drinking journey to Minnesota the day prior) and so I met up with my buddy JT.  Together, we journeyed into the city on a nasty, rainy day.  We decided that it would be prudent to get to the bar early to stake out a spot and to find out what the distribution would be like.  When we arrived at 2:30 the place was nearly empty and so we had the freedom to plan out the rest of the afternoon.  To make a long story short, it was pouring out and our plans to head elsewhere for food and to return later were destroyed.  I saw that the bar offered flights of any four of the beers they had on tap (numbering more than 30 in total) and so I ordered one...and then another.  We got food there and watched with horror as the hours flew by and people began to crowd into the small bar.

In short: it was a zoo.  The press came and had first dibs on the beer.  After they were done, it was opened to the public...and it seemed like every single person in Manhattan was in that bar.  You couldn't move because there were just so many people--four and five deep going from the bar to the wall.  I managed to wrestle my way through the crowd and up to the bar where the bartender that we had befriended earlier hooked me up with my one precious sample.  It wound up being a decent porter--nothing truly to get hot and bothered over--but what made it worth the time and effort (and the spot of #50 on my list) is the history behind it and its rarity.  Plus, I nearly recreated a scene from the Cyclops episode of Ulysses on my way out...but that's a story for another entry!


49 Tun Tavern Maple Brown Ale
Tun Tavern is the only microbrewery located in Atlantic City.  I wasn't sure of what to think on my way in because most satellite versions of restaurants and the like that exist in Atlantic City are mere shells of their established selves.  As Tun Tavern is a standalone spot, I thought that it might be good and it wound up far exceeding my expectations.  The beer overall was quite good but their Maple Brown Ale blew me away.  Sweet, syrupy notes complemented the rich maltiness of an excellent brown ale.  It's a beer I would make the hour and change trip down for again!


48 Captain Lawrence Captain's Kölsch
Beer purists argue that Kölsch beers are brewed only in Cologne, Germany and that any other beer of the same ilk is merely a Kölsch style brew.  Minutiae aside, the best Kölsch style beer that I have had, hands down, is Captain Lawrence's.  It embodies everything good about the style--light, crisp, and refreshing--while somehow transcending it in the process.  Amazing.


47 Captain Lawrence "Freshchester" Pale Ale
American Pale Ales are as commonplace as cola in the beer world and so it takes a truly spectacular brew to make a splash in the style.  The "Freshchester" Pale Ale does just that.  I don't know how Captain Lawrence can have so many A and A+ graded beers from me but I have just been routinely (and pleasantly) surprised by everything I have had from them.  This might just be the definitive American Pale Ale.


46 Great Divide Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti
I'm always excited when a favorite beer style is brewed with a favorite ingredient and then aged in a favorite style.  Chocolate imperial stouts are awesome in general but when they're oak aged?  Forget about it!  Smooth, velvety darkness with undercurrents of luscious vanilla and oak flavors--that's what Great Divide's exceptionally tasty brew is all about.


45 Captain Lawrence Pleasantville Smoked Porter
Hands-down the second greatest smoked porter I've ever had and, quite possibly, the second best smoked beer in general.  Captain Lawrence knocked it out of the park with this one--just the right balance of smokiness and maltiness enjoined with the dark earthy hue of a great porter.  This one is killer!


44 Brooklyn Brewery Local 1
Of all the beers I enjoyed at the Brooklyn Brewery happy hour (and I enjoyed MANY that night), the Local 1 stands out as the most memorable.  A Belgian Strong Pale Ale that warrants mention in the same conversation as the likes of Duvel, Delirium Tremens, and Pranqster, Brooklyn's Local 1 sparkles with clear, crisp flavors.  Want to impress your guests at your next house party?  Screw the champagne--snag a few bottles of Local 1 instead.


43 Appalachian Brewing Hefeweizen
Hefeweizens are both as generic and diverse a style as you can find.  Though most employ the tried-and-true banana and clove flavor profile, the nuances of the other ingredients are often what wind up fighting for your attention.  Appalachian's offering induces more of a fight between a greater variety of quality flavors than any other hefeweizen I've had.  If you're a fan of the style, you have to make the trek out to Harrisburg to try this beer!


42 Lancaster Brewing Milk Stout
Milk stouts are interesting in that they are brewed with lactose to give them extra character and a subdued sweetness.  They really are noticeably different from your everyday Irish Dry Stouts and Oatmeal Stouts but, when done well, they are delicious.  Lancaster does it best so if you see a bottle somewhere, pick it up!  You won't be disappointed.


41 Alaskan Amber
One of the beers that made me salivate as I read its description in the 1,001 beers book, the Alaskan Brewing Company's Alaskan Amber singlehandedly set me out on a journey to procure beer from the Last Frontier.  I had grown bored with American Amber / Red Ales but the ABC incarnation revivified my interest and reinvigorated my palette for the style.  Truly world-class for its genre!


40 River Horse Saison Brewers Reserve
The River Horse Saison is one of my favorite beers because I had it purely by chance.  I visited the brewery on a day-long trek through Jersey hitting up various brewpubs and microbreweries.  On the day I visited they just happened to have this saison on tap.  It had strong citrus/grapefruit flavors--something picked up on by numerous other drinkers--and yet there was absolutely no addition of any fruits during the brewing process.  The brewers claim that it comes from the strain of yeast they used but whatever the source, it made for one incredibly refreshing beer!


39 Goose Island Matilda
Matilda...my first experience with brett (no, not Favre).  After reading about the renowned strain of yeast in so many beers in the 1,001 book, I was stoked to be able to encounter a beer brewed with it.  Brewed with brettanomyces yeast--a type with a VERY distinct flavor often described as "barnyard-like," the Belgian Strong Pale Ale packs a flavor punch that was unlike anything I had had before.  It is definitely not something for the casual beer drinker but it's worth exploring for its complexity.


38 Lagunitas A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale
One of my first forays into Lagunitas-land, A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' stood out for having an awesome blend of fruit and hops in both its bouquet and palette.  An awesome beer all-around!


37 Schlafly Pumpkin Ale
The best pumpkin ale I tried in 2011--it's like a pumpkin pie in a bottle.  TRY IT THIS FALL!!!


36 Goose Island Tingly Tongue
Tingly Tongue titillated me with its description of Thai peppercorns and chilis fleshing out its body.  I expected a peppery beer unlike anything I had tried (much like I did with Matilda) and I was not disappointed.  It was spicy and peppery--unlike many other beers brewed with chilis.  The peppercorn came through loud and clear and, though slightly overpowering, offered a great starting point for the warmth that the chili peppers ultimately developed further.  A unique beer I am grateful to have tried!


35 Dogfish Head Sah'tea
Part of what I love about Dogfish Head is their interest in taking the old and making it new again.  It's not every day that you get to enjoy a beer that was popular in 9th century-Finland.  Yeah--NINTH century.  As in the 800s.  EIGHT HUNDREDS!  This style of beer has some incredible history behind it and Dogfish Head's version is filled with some powerful spices that all leave a lasting imprint on the palette.  I have a bottle chilling in the fridge and I can't wait to open it, drenching my tastebuds in this amazing ancient brew.


34 Stone Smoked Porter
THE smoked porter, Stone absolutely destroys the competition with their huge brew.  If you're even remotely interested in smoked beers, try this.  There's nothing else to be said!


33 Lagunitas Wilco Tango Foxtrot
Few beers balance malts and hops better than Lagunitas' WTF beer.  This could just be a life-changing beer for you if you're on the fence about either hoppy or malty beers!


32 Founders Devil Dancer Triple IPA
While at the Founders brewery in Grand Rapids, Michigan last year, I was able to sample a variety of awesome brews.  Most were delicious, some were strong, but the Devil Dancer Triple IPA nearly put me on my ass.  Maybe it was the collective effort of all of the beers I had sampled prior to tackling this...or maybe it's the 12.50% abv that did it but, either way, this is one of the best Imperial IPAs I've been fortunate enough to enjoy.  If you see it, try it!!!


31 Captain Lawrence Liquid Gold
Exactly as advertised: this one is liquid gold.


30 Innis & Gunn (Rum Edition)
I'm pretty certain that this was the first rum aged beer that I have had and possibly still the only one.  As a fan of bourbon barrel and wine cask aged beers, I expected to enjoy this beer and found that I wound up loving it.  The rum added a sweetness to the beer that was distinctly from the spirit and yet it somehow managed to transcend the individual identities of the beer and the rum in isolation.  Simply delicious!


29 Maui Brewing CoCoNut Porter
This is probably my all-time favorite porter.  It makes me think of Hawaii (even though I haven't been to Maui, I can still picture myself nursing one of these bad boys on a beach on the Big Island or on Oahu) and thinking of Hawaii makes me happy.  Perfect blend of rich coconut flavor and smooth, creamy porter texture.  You'll be hooked instantaneously!


28 Dogfish Head Black & Red
When I saw the Black & Red on the menu back in October I almost didn't add it to my sampler as I thought I had already tried it once before.  After reading the description, though, I realized that this was a completely different brew from both the Black & Blue and Red & Blue that I had previously had.  THIS beer was its own entity: a wonderful stout brewed with organic mint.  Think Andes candy, grasshopper cookies, or Girl Scouts thin mints transformed into a beer.  Brewing magic!


27 Dogfish Head Burton Baton (Cask Conditioned)
It's interesting that the Burton Baton would be cask conditioned as it is already an oak-aged blend of an IPA and an old ale...and yet somehow it worked.  Really, really well.  I think there was only one beer I had more of the day of the Analog-A-Go-Go.  Man I hope they do that again this year!


26 Russian River Pliny The Elder
Pliny had been built up by a number of hopheads who proclaimed it to be an IPA among IPAs from the land of hops (the west coast).  Though it really was incredible, I feel like it doesn't stand out necessarily from other awesome IPAs like Sierra Nevada's Torpedo and other northwestern-hopped beers.  I really should try a vertical tasting of the best west coast IPAs to see if Pliny deserves the adulation but it is without question one of the best IPAs in the world.

Matt's Top 100 Beers Sampled In 2011 Part II (75-51)

75 Lakefront Snake Chaser Stout
A traditional Irish Dry Stout, the shout-out to St. Patrick with the name and label of this beer was an awesome touch.  For a non-nitro Irish Dry Stout, this one is particularly awesome--snag a bottle if you see it!


74 Samuel Adams Black & Brew Coffee Stout
One of the newer beers on the list, the Black & Brew Coffee Stout was included in the Samuel Adams Winter Variety Pack along with such classics as the Sam Adams Holiday Porter and Old Fezziwig Ale; it definitely warrants its place in the collection.  Smooth and creamy with delicious coffee flavors and toffee/caramel notes, the Black & Brew became a new Sam favorite for me late last year.


73 Flossmoor Station Dean's Beans Coffee Stout
Yet another awesome stout (and another coffee one at that!), Flossmoor Station's offering had a tremendous espresso flavor that kicked hard but went down smooth.  Arguably their second best beer and one of the top coffee stouts I've ever had.


72 Milwaukee Brewing Louie's Demise
Among the phenomenal beers on tap at Milwaukee Brewing were a few oddball standouts.  Louie's Demise--a scottish ale with a VERY strong flavor profile--was insanely good and a VERY big beer.  Definitely an off-the-beaten-path type of brew but one worth sampling to expand your palette!


71 Milwaukee Brewing Devil's Advocate
Much like the previous entry on the list, the Devil's Advocate was a wickedly powerful beer that seemed to defy categorization.  A Belgian Strong Ale, this one packed a wallop of flavor and was definitely a powerful awakening for my palette! 


70 Dogfish Head Urkontinent
A quintessential Dogfish Head brew, the Urkontinent was released as a collaboration with search engine powerhouse Google last autumn.  I sampled it on October 1st when we visited the brewpub in Rehoboth Beach for my wife's birthday.  It was a delicious and immensely diverse dark brew with a panoply of powerful flavors vying for attention.  Its ingredients list is expansive and reflects the global unity that Google seeks to create through its products.  Scope out the full list here: http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/brewpub-exclusives/urkontinent.htm


69 Uinta Punk'n Ale
I had a few new pumpkin ales this past year thanks to Cloverleaf Tavern's PhD program.  The Uinta was a spice-heavy, delicious offering that reminded me more of Southern Tier's Pumking (the pinnacle of pumpkin ales, in my book) than some of the more pumpkin-centric brews on the market.  Definitely one to keep an eye out for later this year!


68 Founders Apricot Swarm
Having had Dogfish Head's Aprihop earlier this year and finding it unpaletteable (arguably the only brew from them I've ever truly disliked), I approached Founders' Apricot Swarm with extreme caution.  What I found was a ridiculously delicious beer that serves as the PERFECT spring and summer quaff.  The apricot flavor was balanced perfectly by the light body and light effervescence of the beer.  Something I look forward to trying again someday!


67 Yards General Washington's Tavern Porter
A brew that is part of a stellar lineup called the Yards Ales of the Revolution series, GW's Tavern Porter is reminiscent of porters of old; one could easily imagine ponying up to an 18th century pub and ordering a pint of this dark beauty.  If you're in Philly, make a point to seek out the Yards brewery and order a flight of these Revolution(ary) beers!


66 Appalachian Brewing Susquehanna Stout
Appalachian Brewing was another gem in a year filled with a diversity of brewpubs and breweries.  I had been in a good groove with trying new stouts and I hoped that the Susquehanna would not disappoint.  Far from it!  This one went down as one of the best stouts I've ever had let alone in 2011.  If it weren't for such stiff competition, this one would definitely have finished in the top 30 or higher.


65 Fuller's Vintage Ale 2010
Fuller's Vintage Ale was one that I splurged on during a trip to State Line Liquors in Elkton, Maryland.  It was extremely pricey for a single bottle of beer but having read of its ever-changing but consistently impeccable nature in the 1,001 beers book, I knew that I had to procure one for myself.  I still haven't figured out how I feel about the old ale style of beer but I know that the 2010 Vintage Ale was a memorable brew.


64 Samuel Adams Sample A Oaked Ale
The Boston Beer company will host samples of proposed additions to their lineup from time to time.  I was fortunate to be at Cloverleaf one night when they were sampling two such brews.  I had a difficult time choosing which one I liked more as they were both incredible but this oaked ale reminded me of a Stone brew that I had had earlier in the year and based on that alone, I knew that I loved it.  The strong oak and vanilla notes made this one of the tastiest beers I had.


63 Samuel Adams Sample B Maple Wood Porter
The other beer available for sampling that night, the Maple Wood Porter blew me away with its sweet maple syrup flavor coupled with its dark malt and caramel body.  Absolutely a homerun for Sam Adams and a brew that I hope to see sometime in the future!


62 Captain Lawrence Nor'Easter
Captain Lawrence wound up being one of my favorite breweries in 2011 due in large part to the consistently tremendous quality of their beers.  I had sampled quite a few on my first visit to the brewery but the Nor'Easter was one that I bought to enjoy at home.  A beast of a winter warmer (a Belgian Strong Dark Ale, to be specific), this brew chimes in at a healthy 12% abv and was aged in bourbon barrels thus offering that little extra something that made it rise above the rest.  Strong dark fruit notes coupled with the sweet bourbon flavor to make this beer truly exceptional.


61 Fordham Brewing Scotch Ale
I visited the Fordham Brewing Company based upon a recommendation by Beer Whisperer Nicole during a trip down to Dogfish Head.  I was EXTREMELY glad that I did.  I will be reviewing that trip and experience in a single entry later on but what I will say now is that they had a huge variety of beers available for sampling...and the scotch ale wasn't technically even one of them!  After speaking with Dan and Katie (two Fordham employees on staff that day) about the beers they made throughout the year, I fell in love with their description of and fervent affection for their Scotch Ale.  I was bummed that it was slated for a release that would be months away but was thrilled beyond words when they managed to find a warm bottle sitting beneath the bar.  Though they were extremely reticent to share it with me because they were afraid that it wouldn't be in prime condition and would thus not represent the true character of the beer, my enthusiasm convinced them that it would be fine.  Not only was the beer INCREDIBLE (even in its warm state), it wound up exceeding the hype that had been built up about it.  It became my all-time favorite Fordham beer and it's one that I look forward to enjoying fresh on tap later this year!


60 Captain Lawrence Saison
In my experience, saisons have tended to vary from "decent" to "complex and richly delicious."  The Captain Lawrence offering falls into the latter category with a fresh, earthy flavor profile that serves as exemplar of the best the style has to offer.  I wish only that I had snagged a bomber to bring back with me.  I suppose there's always a trip in 2012 to rectify that mistake!

The Lancaster Brewing Company Variety Pack

59 Lancaster Country Cream Ale
2011 was a year of many themes, one of which was the "awesome beer miscellany" category, which was comprised, in part, of incredibly creative beer packaging.  When I visited the Lancaster Brewing Company last year, I saw this variety pack and knew right away that I wanted it, as much for the clever packaging as the awesome beer.  Sadly, the Country Cream Ale was not included in it but I was able to sample it at the brewpub.  Arguably the best cream ale I have ever had, it was smooth and delicious...almost dangerously so.  I could see myself drinking far too much of it purely because of its silken texture and easy quaffability!


58 Lancaster Hop Hog India Pale Ale
Based upon the sheer quantity of IPAs that I had in 2011, I've found that I have developed quite a discerning palette with regards to the style.  Basically, I know on first sip whether an IPA is good or bad and, in many cases, I can tell based solely on an inhalation pre-taste.  The problem with this is that it has become increasingly difficult for me to grade IPAs fairly as I tend to score them based on the beer's quality in isolation as well as its standing in its particular category (for example: a winter warmer might be decent in and of itself but if it's among the best in its style, it will get a higher grade).  Since I have had so many IPAs, it has become harder to grade them fairly...unless they are incredibly good, like the Hop Hog India Pale Ale.  Definitely in my top 15 favorite IPAs and worth scoping out if you're a hophead!


57 Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale (Cask Conditioned)
Dogfish Head's Indian Brown Ale, like most of its brews, offers a unique twist on a tried-and-true style.  The cask conditioned version was insanely delicious as it smoothed out the wrinkles found in the standard version and enhanced the dark, sweet flavors with the oak and vanilla notes that came from the cask.  A beer that transcends the time of year, the cask conditioned Indian Brown Ale is a beer for all seasons.  If you're lucky enough to try it, consider yourself blessed!


56 Matt Brewing Saranac Vanilla Stout
I enjoyed this phenomenal stout thanks to the generosity of Beer Whisperer Nicole who brought me back a variety of beers from the Utica-based brewery when she visited it late last year.  I had never heard of a vanilla stout and was thus excited to try it; it did not disappoint.  The vanilla flavor weaved itself perfectly with the traditional maltiness of the stout and I can only imagine how much more amazing this beer would be if aged in bourbon barrels!


55 Water Street Black IPA
Just as I was falling in love with Black IPAs, I visited the Water Street brewpub in Milwaukee.  They offered one as part of their specialty beers and it made my interest blossom into full-blown infatuation.  The perfect blend of hops and dark character, this is one of the best beers I had on my trip to the northern midwest!


54 Appalachian Brewing Water Gap Wheat
I've had plenty of wheat beers and hefeweizens in my time.  Unfortunately, most of them are unforgettable...but not the Water Gap Wheat.  The flavor profile of this beer was awesome and it kept enticing me to take a sip even as I sampled the other beers on the table.  Probably the best of its kind that I have ever had.


53 Dogfish Head Coco Loco
I was excited to try the Coco Loco because I had just recently found out about the Maui Coconut Porter.  I think I saw something about it on a Travel Channel or Food Network show that was centered on the Hawaiian islands.  I managed to find and purchase the Maui porter thanks to Brewforia.com but I had to wait a long time for the beer to come back in stock and to ship.  During that time, I visited the Dogfish Head brewpub and saw that they had a coconut based beer on tap.  The Coco Loco was my first foray into coconut beers and it filled me with excitement for the potential of this ingredient.  I love coconut and getting to enjoy it in a beer was a wonderful treat!


52 Empire Brewing Wheatwine
The only wheatwine I have ever had, I found Empire Brewing's offering to be complex and delicious.  I'm not a huge barleywine fan so I was intrigued by the possibility of a wheatwine.  I wound up enjoying it a great deal and felt that it offset the often overwhelming thick body and syrupy nature of typical barleywines.


51 Empire Brewing Barleywine 2010
Out of all of the things that I dislike about barleywines, this brew had NONE of them.  It was sweet but not overly so with a mature fruit body that took center stage.  Far and away the best barleywine I've ever had and one of the strongest beers of 2011 for me at 12.50% abv.

Matt's Top 100 Beers Sampled In 2011 Part I

Some contemplation, pre-flight

2011 was hands-down the most prolific beer-sampling year of my life.  Not only did I nearly double the entire number of unique brews that I consumed between 2006 and 2010 (a total of 470) in one year, I wound up averaging almost two new beers a day having had 725 different beers between January 1st, 2011 and December 31st, 2011.  Now, the majority of these beers came from samplers that averaged four ounces per beer and, if I was on a road trip, the odds are that I had only two ounces or so of a bunch of those.  Still, there were a number of pints, bombers, and bottles thrown into the mix as well so I would estimate that the average quantity consumed per beer would be around 8 oz (accounting for the 2 oz samples and 22+ oz bottles), which would total roughly 5,800 ounces of beer.

It was a lot.

In 2011, they lined 'em up and I put 'em down

With all that beer came a surprising amount of good experiences; I definitely came to find what I enjoyed and didn't enjoy.  2011 was undoubtedly the year of the dark beer and the IPA as the bulk of what I tried fell into one of those two categories (stouts, porters, and brown ales, in particular with regards to the former).  There were plenty of good beers, a relative dearth of terrible ones (thankfully), and a few that left an indelible mark on both my palette and my heart.  Most were solid beers but ultimately unmemorable.  Out of the rest, I have chosen the best 100 that I tried in 2011.  The ones at the bottom of the list were decent and likely memorable for the wrong reasons but they were still better than most of the other unlisted beers; the ones at the top...well, let's just say, I still dream about them and can conjure their tastes purely from memory!

So, without further ado, here are my Top 100 Beers of 2011 in reverse order.

100-76

100 Flying Fish Bourbon-Aged (Jack Daniel's) Abbey Dubbel
I had really high hopes for this beer because of its Jack Daniel's aging but it wound up being the most distressing beer that I had all year.  The Jack flavors were there but were trapped within what I can describe only as a Dimetapp taste that overpowered the beer.  It was powerful, it was drinkable, but, ultimately, it made the list for tasting like cough medicine.


99 Lindemans Faro Lambic
I had managed to enjoy a wide variety of beer styles in 2011 and I closed the year with fewer than ten styles (based upon my research) in existence that I haven't tried.  The Faro lambic was one of the last new ones that I had enjoyed but it, too, is memorable for the wrong reasons.  Admittedly, I am not a huge sour beer fan but I can understand and appreciate their place in the beer spectrum.  The Faro was awesome because it was not just sour but ultra-ultra-sweet.  Rock candy winds up being involved in the brewing process at some point (I believe), which would explain the uber-sweet and sour battle going on with this beer.

98 Big Sky Moose Drool Brown Ale
I managed to buy some obscure and difficult-to-obtain beers courtesy of an awesome distributor called "Brewforia" (visit their site here: http://brewforia.com) in 2011--purchases that were driven in large part by the 1,001 Beers book that BWN gave me for my birthday.  Big Sky's Moose Drool was not only a beer in the book but it was also from Montana--a state I had yet to have a single brew from.  This was a respectable brown ale and is one I look forward to drinking again someday...perhaps on draft at the brewery itself!

97 Sprecher Shakparo (Fire-Brewed African Style-Ale)
Of all the beers I brought back with me from the Sprecher brewery, it was the Shakparo that I was most interested in trying.  It was (I believe) my first gluten-free beer and was, as I remember, extremely tasty.  Definitely worth tracking down, especially if you know a beer lover with Celiac's disease.

96 Baltika #6 Porter
I had low hopes for this beer made and bottled in the Russian Federation.  Russians are not known for their love of beer let alone their brewing of it...but this is a really good porter.  I was pleasantly surprised by this brew and it made me take a step back and reevaluate my personal bias towards certain beers; my newfound openmindedness has led to some great beer-drinking experiences!

95 Great Lakes Blackout Stout
I enjoyed this stout on my last visit to the Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland.  A solid stout that packed a punch.  Wish they would bottle this along with the Edmund Fitzgerald!


94 Orkney Dark Island
All of the Orkney brews are strange, interesting creatures.  The Dark Island is a scottish ale (not to be confused with a scotch ale/wee heavy) that is imbued with an incredible spectrum of flavors, particularly in its bouquet.  Scope out all of Orkney's releases if you can!


93 Dogfish Head Ta Henket
I had fallen in love with DFH's Ta Henket before I even tried it.  My wife and I had watched each episode of the Discovery show called "Brewmasters" that followed Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione as he set about crafting new beers in the DFH way.  The Ta Henketpetri dishes to collect airborne yeast to be used in the fermentation process.  Here's a link to a brief synopsis about the beer:  http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/occasional-rarities/ta-henket.htm


92 Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA (Cask Conditioned)
Back in June I had the good fortune to attend the first ever Dogfish Head Analog-A-Go-Go festival.  It was a fun-filled day that was dedicated as much to sharing music and ideas as it was enjoying great beer with likeminded people.  The featured beer of the day included special versions of DFH classics that had been aged in oak casks thus imbuing them with tremendous flavors and smooth finishes.  Yards Brewing also contributed a few cask conditioned ales as well.  The Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA was a standout among the crowd and improved on an already smooth and sessionable (in my opinion) IPA.


91 Samuel Adams Wee Heavy (Imperial Series)
I won't lie--I was as excited about the awesome design of the six pack holder as I was about the beer (it's green and has dragons and castles on it--enough said!)  Scotch ales can be hit and miss (some are incredibly boring and routine while others stand out for one reason or another) but Sam Adam's Imperial Wee Heavy stands head and shoulders above most of the crowd.  Its smokiness is reminiscent of a solid blended scotch whisky and its dark, swirling tides will lull you in if you aren't careful.  One of the best beers I've ever had from the Boston Beer Company!



90 Chelsea Brewing Black Hole XXX Stout
I hadn't even heard of the Chelsea Brewing Company until I was going to a Johnnie Walker scotch tasting event at Chelsea Piers.  I was researching places to drink craft beer in Manhattan and found that the aforementioned sports complex had its own brewery on the premises.  After the scotch tasting, my buddy Carlos and I headed over to the brewery to sample their offerings.  Most were decent but the Black Hole XXX Stout was incredible.  If you're in the area, swing by and check it out!


89 Goose Island Fleur
I felt like I had died and gone to beer heaven when I visited the Goose Island brewpub in Chicago in May of last year.  The sheer quantity of beers on tap and the ability to sample whatever I wanted left me exploding with anticipation.  One of the beers I tried towards the end of my meal was the Fleur--easily the pinkest beer I have ever consumed.  The description on the menu read, "Rose color, strawberry and hibiscus aroma, sweet and tart berry flavor, crisp body" and was 100% accurate.  A bit sweet and tart for my tastes but a memorable beer nonetheless!

88 Brewdog Storm (Islay Whisky Cask Aged IPA)
Islay is known for its uniquely peaty scotch.  Even fans of the smokiest of scotches have a hard time adjusting to the strong combination of flavors that make Islay scotches what they are.  As a Scottish landowner of Irish descent (no joke--look at the picture to the left!) I can speak accurately of the potency of Islay whisky and know both of its power and its potential.  The upstart brewery Brewdog clearly knows as well when they chose to age their IPA in Islay whisky casks.  The result is precisely what you would expect: a hop-bomb drenched in seawater, iodine, and Islay peat flavors.  This one will put hair on your chest!


87 3 Floyds Alpha King Pale Ale
The Alpha King produced by 3 Floyds was a solid brew--one worthy of its inclusion in the 1,001 beer books.  I was lucky that it was a part of the brewery's extremely limited sampler at its brewpub facility (more on that in a future post).


86 Yards Brewing Love Stout
I had such a blast visiting the Yards brewery even though I didn't get to take the tour.  The fact that they offered a variety of samplers enticed me all the more.  The Love Stout was on tap that day and it stood out among a solid group of dark brews.  Would love to have it again!


85 Uinta Brewing Dubhe Imperial Black IPA
The Black IPA (or Cascadian Dark Ale / American Black Ale) became a new favorite style of mine in 2011 thanks in large part to beers like this.  Dark in color, smooth in texture, and extremely hoppy in character, these awesome brews have a little bit of everything.  This one was surprisingly delectable.


84 Stone Belgo Anise Imperial Russian Stout
Stone produces some big beers with incredibly big personalities.  As an inchoate Russian Imperial Stout drinker at the time, I found the Belgo Anise to be a bit daunting.  It was brash, bold, and utterly delicious.  Totally worthy of my list in the "Year of the Dark Beer"


83 Baltika #3 Classic
For all the concern that I had regarding Baltika's porter, I had even more with their Classic--a Euro Pale Lager akin to ubiquitous macrobrews like Heineken and Stella Artois.  Baltika's offering, however, blew me away.  It had layers to it--subtle nuances you wouldn't expect out of something generally swilled in anonymous bars throughout the land.  Definitely one that I enjoyed.


82 Dogfish Head 75 Minute IPA (Cask Conditioned)
Ah...Johnny Cask's most renowned offering.  Dogfish Head's 75 Minute IPA became one of my most sought after brews--a holy grail of sorts--in 2010.  Having had the 60 and 90 Minutes, I found out about their 75 and 120 Minutes.  I knew that the 120 was a rare commodity but the 75 Minute proved to be even more elusive.  The other three (including the 120) were bottled but the 75 Minute was offered only on draft.  I knew that I would have to work to sample this incredible cask conditioned blend of DFH's 60 and 90 Minute IPAs.  I finally had my chance at the Analog-A-Go-Go last June and loved the beer instantly.  It was a perfect marriage of the two brews--a smoothed out version of the 90 coupled with a stronger, more potent version of the 60.  Had it not been for another special beer sampled that day, this one might rank even higher in my pantheon!


81 New Glarus Cabin Fever Honey Bock
I feel that I have enjoyed a steady, recognizable progression as a serious beer aficionado: I began quaffing the typical macrobrews offered everywhere, dabbled in the microbrew world with Sam Adams and its kin, and, ultimately, became a true craft beer lover.  I started to visit breweries and then brewpubs before ultimately making them integral parts of every trip.  During my trip to Chicago last year, though, I added a new facet: visiting local beer markets and Whole Foods stores.  When I went to the one in Milwaukee, I found a variety pack of New Glarus beers that I brought back home with me.  The Honey Bock served as the perfect winter brew and is one I wish I had in the house today (they're all gone, of course, because they were so good!)


80 Stone Cherry Chocolate Stout
Chocolate and cherries...they have gone together since the first caveman Valentine's Day two hundred and fifty thousand years ago.  Combining them in a stout?  Genius.  I enjoyed this beer at the Manhattan incarnation of the Dublin-based Porterhouse Brewing Company next to Fraunces Tavern and, though it was good, it wasn't great.  Stone was definitely on to something but the cherry flavors were overpowering and it seemed more forced than smoothly fitted.  Maybe if this one was aged it would be perfect but even as it is it's still worth a shot.


79 Southern Tier Choklat Imperial Stout
Chocolate was arguably my favorite beer ingredient last year and I've gained a new appreciation for the sheer diversity of chocolates and the flavors that they impart.  Southern Tier's Choklat is absolutely killer!


78 Cotrell Old Yankee Ale
A ridiculously tasty brown ale--this one was shared with me courtesy of The Rev on a night that also featured something called Beer Schnapps.  If beer is proof that God loves us (misquote, I know), then beer schnapps is proof that he loves some more than others.  Thanks Rev for sharing!


77 Pizzeria Uno Gust-N-Gale Porter
I know what you're thinking--Pizzeria Uno!?  There is exactly one Pizzeria Uno in the country (as we were told) that brews its own beer and, fortunately for me, it is located a mere half hour from where I live.  I went in with fairly low expectations and came out absolutely blown away.  The head brewer has a TREMENDOUS reputation for brewing solid beers and this porter is a perfect example.  Silky smooth with a solid body, this is one worth sessioning with!


76 Lakefront Fuel Cafe (Coffee Flavored Stout)
If chocolate was my number one favorite ingredient, coffee would have to be number two.  Lakefront brewing in Milwaukee offers a ridiculous array of amazing beers and the Fuel Cafe was near the top of the list for me.  A perfect blend of roasted malt and coffee flavors, this black hole of a stout will perk you up on the coldest winter day.  Plus, their distribution is expanding so if you're in New York or New Jersey, the odds are that you'll be able to find it bottled!

The Orlando Brewing Company Review

I'm sitting outside staring out into the pitch black night with a strong ocean breeze tickling the palm trees in front of me.  I can hear the ocean sighing as the surf tosses itself against the shore, staying for only a moment on its earthen edge before slipping back out into the darkness.  In my hand is a cold, fresh organic brew--the Orlando Brewing Company Brown Ale.

Earlier today I had the pleasure of visiting said brewery after a nice afternoon in Orlando.  I had just stopped off at the neighborhood Whole Foods to scope out their regional beer selection and saw that they had conveniently labeled the local offerings as such.  A few were from the Florida Beer Company but the majority were organic brews from the Orlando Brewing Company.  After picking up one of everything they had available, we then headed to the brewery so that I could see what they had on tap.

Rush hour was just kicking in but fortunately the brewery was located less than a mile off of I-4 where the worst of the traffic was brewing.  When we pulled into the lot, I was struck immediately by the similarity of the building to that of Blue Point Brewing and Captain Lawrence.  The main structure looked to be a giant warehouse with an outdoor seating area that looked like it would be filled to capacity on nicer nights.  After snapping a photo of the brewery sign, I turned and headed inside to their tap room.  A small table at the entrance offered a sign-up sheet for the brewery's newsletter surrounded by an assortment of bottles of the OBC's distributed beers.  The first two things that I noticed were that the drinking area was spacious and looked quite comfortable, as well as the incredible array of beer paraphernalia adorning the walls.  I was greeted by the bartender before I even sat down; I definitely felt welcome as I ponied up to the bar.

The Orlando Brewing Company offers two different samplers in their tap room: the standard collection of the brews that they bottle as well as a few others totalling eight in number and the "make your own" sampler of four brews, each of which is reasonably priced.  After explaining to the bartender that I had just picked up most if not all of what was available in bottles from the supermarket, she suggested that I try a smaller sampler of their IPAs and then a second one of whatever was left.  When she saw that there were only six non-distributed beers available she offered to give me small tastes of the other two to go with my sampler thus saving me the trouble of having to snag that second sampler.  The IPAs were all good or very good but the two favorite beers that I had, ironically, were the two that I had only tastes of.  The cleverly named Miami Weiss was light and delicious while their Eagle Stout was oatmeal stout par excellence, rivaling my very favorites of the style.  I was then given a taste of their Blackwater Dry Porter--another outstanding example of its beer genre.

Perhaps what is most impressive about the Orlando Brewing Company, though, is the fact that it is certified Organic and thus all of the beers it produces are organic as well.  For those unfamiliar with organic breweries, the distinction is hard-won and it signifies a commitment not only to using the purest (and often more expensive) of ingredients but also a dedication to providing consistently fresh and delicious beer.  At their tap room, they also offer a number of unfiltered beers, which are taken directly from the vat and are thus not infused with carbon dioxide during the latter brewing stages.  Instead, they are allowed to condition on their own resulting in a smoother, much less carbonated (some would say flat) mouthfeel, and a richer palate of flavors unavailable to those brews who spend some time in the bright tank.


GRADING
Overall, I was really impressed with both the beer and the location overall and thus give the Orlando Brewing Company a grade of A-.  If you are in Florida and are passing even remotely by Orlando then you would be remiss not to visit the brewery as it comes highly recommended.  The affordability of the beer, the substantial variety of organic offerings, the comfortable drinking space, as well as the ambiance and decor render the OBC a must-see location for the traveling beer lover.

For more information about the Orlando Brewing Company please visit their official website here:

http://www.orlandobrewing.com/index2.php