Matt's 29th Birthday Beers

Happy Birthday to me!

I've always been a big proponent of saving special beers for special occasions.  Certain brews are made with the utmost care and attention to detail or have rare and unique ingredients that warrant a little extra reverence on the part of the drinker.  I'm fortunate to have a number of truly auspicious beers in the house at the moment and I was trying to figure out which ones I should enjoy for my twenty-ninth birthday today.  For the past two years, my most special days (my birthdays and Father's Days) were celebrated with Dogfish Head beers and/or spent at the brewery and brewpub in Delaware.  Therefore, I decided that I would enjoy a vertical-ish tasting of two vintage Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPAs as my special celebratory brews.

When I went to the WOCAAW a few weeks ago, I was looking forward to the opportunity of purchasing a rare bottle of beer either from Sam's personal collection or just straight from the brewpub.  While we were in Rehoboth Beach having lunch, I saw that they had a bottle of 120 Minute IPA from '07.  2007 was one of the most special years of my life because it was the year I got married, the year I took my first plane ride, as well as my first trip to Hawai'i (among myriad other amazing great experiences and moments) and so, for me, it holds a special place in my heart.  Thus, when I saw that one of my favorite beers had that particular vintage available, I jumped on it.

I decided to pair the '07 120 Minute with one of the very first bottles of the same beer that I purchased back in 2011.  The Analog-A-Go-Go was my first experience with the beer and I made sure to take advantage of the chance to buy multiple bottles at the brewery.  I drank a few and decided I would try to cellar the others (sans the cellar--we're in a duplex, after all!).  I thought it would be a great opportunity to try the '07 and the theoretically well-aged '11 side-by-side to examine their similarities and differences.  Plus, I wouldn't need to drink anything else for the night!  I decided to use my '12 WOCAAW tasting glass for the '07 because I picked both up at the event and then the '11 AAGG tasting glass because that was also where I grabbed the '11 bottle.  It seemed fitting and it offered me a great chance to enjoy equal sips from equally appropriate glassware.



They are the same...and yet different!

'07 on the left, '11 on the right

It became evident immediately from both the bouquet and the appearance of the beers that the aging had a scaled profound effect on both.  The older vintage had taken on a darker, moodier hue while the younger one maintained at least a semblance of its former color.  Both had undeniably changed with the '07 resembling a scotch ale more than an imperial IPA, and the '11 a dark American pale ale.

As disparate as the beers were in appearance, their noses and flavor profiles varied to an even greater degree.  The '11 had a smooth, velvety alcohol pop to it that offered a hint of the hop bomb that awaited.  The '07, on the other hand, had a rich, syrupy, scathing alcoholic punch that fired directly out of the tasting glass and into my nostrils.  I had expected the mouthfeels of both to have been smoothed out by the aging and, though they were, the '07 was surprisingly thick.  As a matter of fact, the flavors that came through that initial sip were a near perfect marriage of the 1995 vintage Samuel Adams Triple Bock that I had had a few weeks ago and the familiar hot, alcohol-laden IPA smack that the 120 Minute is famous for.

In contrast to its elder brethren, the '11 tasted almost exactly like a fresh batch of 120 but smoother.  It still was undeniably an IPA but there were new flavor notes that were poking through--a delicate sweetness that pervaded each sip that ordinarily doesn't accompany a glass of the potent potable.  The '07, on the other hand, had transmogrified into something that seemed more like a blend of a powerful barleywine and an American strong ale than an imperial IPA.  Undertones of dark, vinous fruit began to emerge alongside a suddenly thick and almost malty foundation.  The hops were still there but they were no longer the dominant feature with so many new nuances vying for tastebud attention.

Overall, I enjoyed them both thoroughly and I can say that I will likely never have two bottles of 120 Minute side-by-side ever again.  Clearly attempting to turn an 18%+ abv behemoth into a session beer is ill advised but it certainly made for an interesting evening.  Midway through my taste comparison, I wound up falling asleep upstairs in our living room.  The problem was that I didn't know that I had fallen asleep and so I thought my dream was reality.  When I blinked in the dream and was then suddenly looking out at the television from atop the chaise, I was totally confused as to where I was and how I got there.  It was a 120 Minute IPA induced Inception moment.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a totem to examine...

Cheers!

--Beer Whisperer Matt

The Porterhouse Brewing Company Review

The Porterhouse Brewing Company in Dublin, Ireland

As thrilled as I was about getting to drink Guinness in Ireland when I went in 2009, I was equally curious about the beer scene overall.  I did some research and found that there were two other microbreweries/brewpubs in Dublin that had excellent reputations, the larger of which was the Porterhouse Brewing Company.  On our first night in Ireland, my wife and I headed over to the Porterhouse to sample both their brews and their food. 

Sliotar, live!

The first thing that struck us as we entered the building was just how large and busy it was.  Music was blasting, people were bantering, and there was just an overall great vibe coming from inside.  There were a number of different seating areas including at two different bars on the first floor.  The dining area was located on a higher floor and so we made our way up.  We wound up getting a really great seat because we were positioned directly above the live band that would be providing the entertainment for the evening.  As we got settled in, we couldn't wait to get our hands on both the food and drink menus as we were ravenously hungry and in the mood for some truly awesome beer.

The beer menu was extensive in its information and aesthetically interesting in its layout (pictured below).  I loved the fact that each beer had its own logo as well as a substantial amount of information regarding its history and its ingredients.  I really appreciate the fact that the brewers put that much effort into describing their beers because it shows that they truly care about the fruits of their labor.  I've found that when brewers have such a keen eye for detail, the beer tends to be equally meticulous in its brewing and thus winds up being awesomely delicious; that was undeniably the case here.  They also included a two-menu-page history of the brewery, which might not be legible in the photo but was certainly worth reading.

Wrasslers 4X Stout

The Porterhouse Revolution Part I

The Porterhouse Revolution Part II

In total, I was able to sample nine different brews, almost all of which were phenomenal (the only dud was an American Adjunct Lager called Chiller that was awfully similar to Bud Ice).  The Wrasslers 4X Stout was one of my favorites, enjoying a dark, delectable maltiness that was balanced by the lighter body typical of Irish Dry Stouts with relatively low abvs (5% in this case).  The beer that truly stole the show though was the Oyster Stout, which was unlike any stout I had ever had before.  Freshly shucked oysters are added to the conditioning tank, thus contributing a smooth sweetness that you simply cannot get from other ingredients.  I felt like I detected a slight briny quality as well but that might just have been a placebo effect from the knowledge that oysters had spent time mixed in with the beer at one point.

Another seemingly minor detail that stood out for me with regards to the beer was the coasters that the brews were served on.  Each one fit three sampler glasses with a special position for each respective beer.  Most places that offer flights of beer do so using a single tray that is often unmarked, leaving it up to the server to identify and to explain the beers to the customer.  Here, everything was laid out quite clearly, which I thought was a nice touch.

A light sampler and a dark with the
special coaster visible at the left-center

My wife and I were amazed when the food came out and we saw how incredible it looked.  We figured that our luck would have to run out at some point given how awesome the beer and the music was overall...but we were wrong.  Look at this gargantuan burger!  For a carnivore like me, it was like heaven on a plate (the first time we went I actually got the shepherd's pie but when we went back for a second night, I was fiending for this bad boy burger!).

Awesome on a plate

I did indeed go Pubbin' in Dublin!

We had such a great time that night that we wound up going back a second time later in our trip.  Ironically, the same band happened to be playing again.  We were able to relive the entire evening and enjoy ourselves anew!

Now, with most foreign brewery reviews, the biggest problem for most of our readers is the fact that they can't easily get to the places to try the brews (as most of our readership comes from the United States).  Well, with the Porterhouse, that won't be as big of an issue.  They actually opened a second location right here in New York City!  Located inside of the Fraunces Tavern building in downtown Manhattan, the Porterhouse offers its best line of beers while doubling as a craft beer bar.  You can't beat the opportunity to try authentic microbrewed Irish beer along side some of the best that the American craft scene has to offer!  If you're in the city, go and scope it out--you'll definitely find something that you like!  Plus it doesn't hurt that the bartenders are awesome and are full of the traditional Irish wit.  Seriously--you're all but guaranteed to have a great time!

GRADE

My grade for the Dublin location of the Porterhouse Brewing Company is an A+ because the combination of food, beer, and music simply cannot be beat.  The beers are well-crafted, the food is of extremely high quality, and the camaraderie/atmosphere that you'll find there epitomizes what drinking should be all about.  I give the New York location an A only because they do not have the same food and atmosphere, which are both a huge part of what makes the Dublin spot so unforgettable.  Both come with my highest recommendation for their respective offerings.

BEERS SAMPLED
Wrasslers 4X Stout
Oyster Stout
Plain Porter
Porterhouse Red
TSB (Turner's Sticklebract Bitter)
An Brain Blásta
Hersbrucker
Temple Bräu
Chiller

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

http://www.porterhousebrewco.com/index.php

Cheers!

--Beer Whisperer Matt

The Blue Point Brewing Review

Blue Point Brewing in Patchogue, New York

In May of 2009, my wife Heather and I visited the Blue Point brewery for the first time.  I was thrilled about going because the Blue Point Toasted Lager was among the first microbrewed beers that I had and it was the one that basically confirmed my status as a die-hard fan of craft beer.  It was sort of like the event horizon of beer drinking because, from that point forward, I couldn't look back on the typical macro swills that I would drink.

Located in Patchogue, New York right near the waters of Patchogue Bay, the brewery is about an hour away from southern Brooklyn, which makes it a perfect candidate for a day trip.  With tasting room hours available Thursday through Saturday and tours on Saturdays only, it makes for a great weekend getaway, particularly because the tasting room is completely free.  Going on Saturday means being prepared for a crowd as it is a very popular spot with the locals as well as those who travel from afar for their delicious craft beer.  Even still, the space inside where the tasting room is located is large enough to accommodate a decent sized crowd and any overflow tends to work its way out into the enclosed parking lot/loading dock area towards the back of the facility.

What's great about the tasting room (aside from the fact that the samples are free) is that there are often a large number of beers on tap--upwards of a half dozen to a dozen depending on the time of year.  For someone like me who enjoys trying as many new beers as I can, it represents a great opportunity to cover a lot of ground quite easily.  Plus, when the beer is almost universally awesome, you really can't beat it!

Aside from the tasting room, the tour is also pretty incredible.  We had an absolutely hilarious tour guide who was clearly passionate about both brewing and public speaking.  He was knowledgeable about all-things craft beer and had a panache for interacting with the crowd.  On the day that we went in 2009, there was a heckler who had clearly had too much to drink who kept interrupting the guide's presentation.  He managed to handle the man respectfully while maintaining his composure and keeping the rest of us entertained.  The tour was definitely worth it, even with the guy who couldn't handle his suds.

Inside of the tasting room is also a small gift shop area with some pretty sweet swag.  You can find some cool stuff, so if you're into supporting your local craft brewery (and who isn't!?) you should definitely consider picking up a shirt, a hat, or whatever will tell the world that you're a fan of Blue Point brewing.

GRADE

I give Blue Point Brewing an A+ because they offer a tremendous, diverse array of beers for free, as well as a free tour on Saturdays.  Since the beers are delicious, the tours are informative and entertaining, and the gift shop offers some really awesome stuff, I can say confidently that there really isn't anything more that you could ask of a brewery.  One of my first favorites and, after visiting over seventy different breweries and brewpubs, it's still one of the best I've been to.  The Blue Point Brewery comes with my highest recommendation.

BEERS SAMPLED (Over the course of two visits)
Blue Point Toasted Lager
Blue Point Winter Ale
Blue Point Blueberry
Blue Point Hoptical Illusion
Blue Point Oatmeal Stout
Blue Point No Apologies Imperial IPA (AMAZING!)
Blue Point Golden Ale
Blue Point Pale Ale
Lessing's Local Ale (contract brewed for Lessing's)

WHAT ELSE TO DO IN THE AREA

If you're looking to grab some grub, I'd definitely recommend visiting the Brick House Brewing Co. brewpub located less than five minutes away from Blue Point.  The beer there is decent and the food is solid.  The odds are, though, that you'll be heading back west at some point so I would also suggest stopping off either at John Harvard's in Lake Grove or at Buffalo Wild Wings in North Babylon if you're a wings person.  There is also an awesome Tanger outlet center located nearby in Deer Park, so if shopping's your thing, you can't go wrong there either.

For more information about Blue Point Brewing, please visit their official page here:

http://www.bluepointbrewing.com

Cheers!

--Beer Whisperer Matt

Dogfish Head WOCAAW 2012 Tasting Notes

Given the length of my review of the 2012 edition of Dogfish Head's Weekend of Compelling Ales and What Not, I thought it prudent to separate my tasting notes from the day into a separate entry.  Each of the fifteen beers featured at the festival in Milton will be accompanied by a photo of the information placard that was found at its respective pour location.  I would have loved to have reviewed the ones from the brewpub in Rehoboth Beach as well, but in the interest of full disclosure, I can remember only bits and pieces about the beers (I had had sixteen samples by the time I got to the brewpub) and so I cannot in good conscience attempt to rate or describe them to any great degree. 

The order of the WOCAAW beers will reflect that of which we consumed them, not the order in which they appear on the souvenir beer log card.  The grades for each beer represent the grade that I applied in my beer list, while the position number refers to its status as a favorite out of the fifteen beers from the event.

#1 Red & White (2011)

Red & White has always been one of those middle-of-the-road beers for me--one of the few that hasn't truly wowed me from Dogfish Head.  With that said, the version on tap at the event seemed a little bit smoother than the bottled version that I had had previously and featured much sweeter, more nuanced flavors.  There was a certain wine-like quality to it that likely came from the pinot noir juice that is used in the fermentation process.  It is undoubtedly recognizable as a witbier, mostly because of the spices (coriander and orange peel), but its overall flavor spectrum is harder to pin down.  Most witbiers live and die by their spice profiles whereas the Red & White utilizes its spices more as a complement to the vinous fruit elements that make up its body.  Overall, a very enjoyable brew and a great way to start off the day.


My grade: A-
Position: 13 / 15

# 2 Black & Blue (2011)

Much like the Red & White, the Black & Blue enjoys a relatively high alcohol content for its style (10.00% for both, a witbier and a fruit / vegetable beer, respectively).  The latter, however, makes a left turn from the former in its flavors.  Powerful fruit/berry notes rise from the glass in its bouquet and coats the mouth during the taste.  Its Belgian base can be witnessed both in the color and in the underlying flavors, particularly as it pertains to the yeast.  Still, the fruit is what demands attention.  Many beers of this style suffer from the "too much of a good thing" issue but Black & Blue enjoys a balanced panoply of flavors that begins and ends with the berries and also contains a welcome tartness.

Black & Blue was paired with some delectable Askinosie chocolate and, as such, that must be taken into account for its tasting.  I found that taking a small bite of the chocolate and then a sip of the beer with the chocolate still in my mouth made for a divine tasting experience.  Sipping the beer and then eating the chocolate also worked as they served to complement and bolster each other nicely.  Definitely a solid pairing.


My Grade: A-
Position:  11 / 15

#3 120 Minute IPA (2011)

My co-#1 beer from last year was the 120 Minute IPA that I had at the Analog-A-Go-Go and the regular 120 Minute came in at #11.  This year, the 2011 vintage almost stole the show again.  It was slightly smoother than the standard 120 Minute but the warm combination of syrupy hops and alcohol still dominate the palette.  What made this beer so interesting this time around, though, was its pairing with the manchego cheese.  This awesome sample had a buttery earthiness to it that paired extremely well with the 120 Minute.  In a way, it brought out the earthy characteristics of the hops and smoothed out the syrupy alcohol notes that came through.  I'm curious as to how well the cheese would have paired with, say, the Chateau Jiahu or Ta Henket but it was a home run as far as I'm concerned with the 120 Minute.


My Grade: A+
Position:  2 / 15

#4 Immort Ale (2011)

The Immort Ale was one of my least favorite brews of the day.  On its own, it's an excellent beer and the powerful assortment of flavors meld together finely but as a part of the festival, it seemed out of place.  I feel like you could have gone from any one beer to any other and it would have been a smooth, seamless transition but going from nearly any beer to the Immort Ale just wouldn't have worked.  The peat-smoked barley gave it a strong scotch-like character that would have been pleasant in isolation but I think it was just too jarring to follow up the other milder, smoother beers with.  I think that a better pairing might have been the El Diablo Verde (and by pairing I mean table-mate) because of the flavor palette of the latter beer.  Ultimately, though I have enjoyed the Immort Ale before, I didn't appreciate it fully as a part of the WOCAAW.

My Grade: A-
Position:  14 / 15

#5 Namaste

Another witbier, Namaste offers a very different experience from the Red & White.  This brew adheres more closely to the traditional definition of a witbier, especially with its stronger, sweeter orange overtones and coriander foundation.  The addition of lemongrass gives it a competing citrus aspect that simultaneously works with and vies against the orange.  It also offers a more floral scent to the beer that I found appealing.

Namaste was paired with goat cheese, which, for me, was a new one.  I don't have much experience with that type of cheese and so it was a bit of an exploration process for me.  The cheese itself was good but it went from having a cottage cheese consistency to a cream cheese one while I had it in my mouth, which, in and of itself, was quite strange.  It didn't really seem to do much for or against the beer but it could just be because my cheese palette is not all that advanced.  Overall, a really good beer and a decent pairing.


My Grade: A-
Position: 10 / 15

#6 Sah'tea

The Sah'tea is one of my all-time favorite Dogfish Head beers.  The fact that it's a representation of a style that dates back to the 9th century just adds to the beer's mystique and allure.  I love the complex spice profile that comprises some interesting additions such as cardamom and juniper berries.  The thing that I enjoy most about it though is the black tea flavor; it's unlike anything I've ever had in a beer.  A sip of this beer yields a variety of flavors all contributed by the spices, the rest of which include cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and black pepper.  This seemingly motley mix of ingredients works amazingly well together and being able to have this beer on tap was an unforgettable treat for me.


My Grade: A+
Position:  6 / 15

#7 Chateau Jiahu

I had forgotten just how much I loved this beer until I had it at the WOCAAW.  The Ancient Ales line of beers are among my favorite Dogfish Head offerings and the Chateau Jiahu might just be my second favorite behind the Sah'tea (the Theobroma is in close contention for that spot).  Chateau is based on a style of beer that is 9,000 years old.  NINE THOUSAND!  It's a delicious mix of wine-like flavors but much sweeter and palatable than the Red & White and similar brews.  The marriage of muscat grapes, hawthorn berries, and orange honey blossoms makes for a deceptively smooth and balanced brew.  This is one of those "if you haven't tasted it yet go out and buy a bottle now" beers.  Tremendous!


My Grade: A+
Position:  7 / 15

#8 Ta Henket

Ta Henket is another Herbed / Spiced beer that is a part of the Ancient Ales line.  Unfortunately, for as unique as it is, it doesn't offer nearly as much in the way of desirable flavors as its brethren.  The WOCAAW version seemed overly yeasty and biscuity.  There was clearly a smattering of other flavors battling for attention but, all in all, it just tasted like liquid bread.  Maybe it was just that something was taken away from it because it followed the Chateau Jiahu (which was awesome), maybe it wasn't a good fit for the event, or maybe I'm just no longer a big fan of the brew.  Either way, I was ultimately underwhelmed by this one.


My Grade: B+
Position: 15 / 15

#9 My Antonia

I've always had an ambivalent relationship with My Antonia with one exception: I had a bottle that was brewed in conjunction with Italian brewer Birra Del Borgo, which was phenomenal.  The regular edition of the beer is touted as a lager for ale lovers but I'm not sure that it's an accurate description.  I am, without question, an ale lover but I do enjoy lagers as well.  With that said, I like those lagers to offer something different from the ales (after all, it's the reason I'm drinking them) but My Antonia seems to be almost too close to being an ale for my liking.  Instead of being a solid lager that will appeal to ale lovers, it strikes me more as an attempt at a crossover type of brew.  It's sweet and smooth but it's ultimately a one-note beer for me.

What was cool about the WOCAAW version of the My Antonia, though, was that it was paired with an awesome pretzel that was provided by the Dolce Bakery.  They used Dogfish Head's spent grain to make the pretzels, which is an example of a wonderful and environmentally conscious attempt to try to make the most out of every part of the brewing process.  The pretzel was delicious and was just what I needed at that point in the day.  It paired well with the My Antonia but, again, it didn't bowl me over like the manchego did or the apricot cheese.


My Grade: A-
Position: 12 / 15

#10 Aprihop

Aprihop was one of my most pleasant surprises of the day.  I had mistakenly associated the Festina Peche in my mind with the Aprihop and so when I took my first sip I was blown away by the incredible (and unexpectedly unexpected) flavor profile.  It melds the best of an imperial IPA with the sweet-but-not-cloying flavors of apricots.  It reminded me a lot of one of my other top beers of 2011, which was a mango IPA.  The Aprihop, as an IPA, is actually better than the Mango Mama but the fruitiness of the latter was a little bit more enjoyable.

The Aprihop was paired with this ridiculously good cheese that was made with apricots.  It was a crumbly cheese with bits of apricots infused within.  Oh man...it was, hands down, the best cheese I've ever had.  I wish only that they would have offered a name for it or at least a place that I might be able to find it.  I would love to do an Aprihop/apricot cheese pairing again in the future at my leisure.  Tied for the best pairing of the day and easily one of my favorite beers.


My Grade: A+
Position: 5  / 15

*NOTE: Beers eleven through fifteen do not have information placards; three were offered inside the brewery gift shop while the other two were poured near the small batch demonstration area outside.

#11 Midas Jitos

Midas Jitos was one of the more interesting beers of the day.  It was Midas Touch run through a Randall of limes and mint, thus transforming it into a mojito-esque beer (hence the name).  Midas Touch by itself is an awesome beer that combines the sweetness of mead with the tart acidity of wine; the Randallized version took these variegated flavor elements and slammed them together, thus melding them with the cool, refreshing mint and the refreshing citrus notes of the limes.  It's definitely a beer that I would love to get my hands on in the summer as it would be the perfect quaff for an afternoon spent relaxing on the beach.  It's delicate enough to stand up to a summer evening's toast but thirst-quenching and flavorful enough to be enjoyable beneath the relentless summer sun.  Delicious!

My Grade:  A
Position: 8  / 15

#12 Dirty Fermentini

Part of why I love Dogfish Head is the way that it experiments fearlessly and unapologetically with flavors and ingredients.  Some brewers that use "extreme" ingredients do so as a way of flexing some sort of muscle, basically beating their fans over the head with the attitude that "they (the fans) will try anything we make because they are devoted to us."  Dogfish Head, as a brewery, also brews with its fans in mind but it's always been more of a "hey, we're trying this out, why don't you join us?" sort of angle.  It's a huge part of what appeals to me about the brewery and is something that is clearly evident in beers like Dirty Fermentini.


Dirty Fermentini boasts an audacious array of ingredients that are essentially based upon those that would be found in a dirty martini, with olives and juniper leading the charge.  Hoppy, peppery notes also bleed through but it is the characteristic olive flavor that dominates.  This one is a you-have-to-taste-it-to-believe-it type of beer and was one of the highlights of the day for me.


My Grade: A-
Position: 9  / 15

#13 Palo Santo Marron

Palo Santo is another beer that I forgot how much I enjoyed.  It's an awesome, sweet brown ale that enjoys an almost-bourbon barrel aged-like quality to it in the form of strong vanilla and caramel notes.  There is an undeniable earthy/oak-like quality to it (it's not oak but I don't know how to categorize it) that comes from the fact that it is aged in vessels made of Palo Santo wood.  If you're a fan of brown ales and bourbon barrel aged beers, then you should definitely give this one a whirl.  It's dark, powerful (12.00% abv!), sweet, luscious...just amazing.  Another highlight from the event!


My Grade: A+
Position:  4  / 15

#14 El Diablo Verde

My number one brew from the WOCAAW and one of the best of this young beer year.  It's unlike anything I've ever had before.  It was paired with these delicious nachos and it complemented them better than any other pairing (except for the Aprihop...but it's close).  In a way, it was almost as if the beer was an ingredient in the nachos.  If you loaded up on the fixin's, took a bite of the nachos, then a sip of the beer, you'd feel like you just had a complete tasting experience.  The beer was brewed with jalapeños and cilantro, both of which come through loud and clear and yet work perfectly with the imperial IPA base.  The spicy, hoppy IPA couples with the two aforementioned ingredients to turn the beer, effectively, into some sort of mind-blowing liquid nachos.  The fact that this beer was an employee collaboration makes it even more exciting because it could portend of even more unforgettable beers to come.  Easily my favorite beer of the day amid a crowd of very strong competitors.

My Grade: A+
Position:  1 / 15

#15 Burton Baton

I took a sip of my Burton Baton sample, put it down, went into the gift shop, and bought a four pack to take home.  There aren't many beers that can have that type of impact on me but this one clearly did.  An oak aged blend of an English old ale and an imperial American IPA!?  Are you kidding me!?  AWESOME doesn't even begin to describe it.  It's mellow, it's sweet, it's hoppy (in that wonderful Northwest way), and, best of all, it's smooth.  Drinking Burton Baton is like listening to Barry White read you a bedtime story.  Done.


My Grade: A+
Position:  3  / 15


The Weekend of Compelling Ales and What Not was an awesome time and I'm truly looking forward to attending (hopefully) the Analog-A-Go-Go later this year.  There might be only one thing that Dogfish Head does better than brew beer and that would be throwing an incredible party.  Thanks again and cheers to everyone there for making this such an unforgettable weekend!


--Beer Whisperer Matt

Holiday Beverage: The BEST Place To Buy Beer On Staten Island

As a New Yorker, I have access to a plethora of incredible craft beer thanks to the city's status as a major center for distribution; as a Staten Islander, I have remarkably limited options in terms of where I can buy my beer locally.  Sure, I could drive to Brooklyn, Manhattan, Astoria, or New Jersey and visit some of the great beer depots there...but then I have to pay the thirteen dollar toll to come back (twelve on the Goethals) not to mention sit in traffic and deal with the actual drive to those places.

Enter Holiday Beverage.

Located on Amboy Road just off of Richmond Avenue, it is at once accessible and expansive in its beer offerings.  While most craft beer spots on the island offer as much or more macrobrewed beer as they do microbrewed, Holiday clearly caters to the true beer aficionado.  They do sell the generic mainstream swills (because, after all, they sell) but the first thing that you see upon entering the small store is the tremendous selection of craft beer.  Again, many supposedly craft beer-friendly spots tend to have the more ubiquitous (though still delicious) Samuel Adams, Magic Hat, and Blue Point brews and little else; Holiday has all of these and more.

Though they do not have a particular specialty, that does not denote in any way that they do not have anything special.  In fact, I was one of the lucky few who was able to procure a coveted bottle of Founders' incredible KBS; to my knowledge, Holiday was the only place selling it on Staten Island.  Aside from the selection of occasional rare beers, they also offer a choice array of beers on tap that are available for growler fills.  Few if any places on the island offer this and what makes it even better is that the beers that are on draft tend to be among the best offerings of a given brewery.

Much to my delight, they are also beginning to expand their collection of barrel aged beers.  Among the most notable brews to have passed through their doors (including those scheduled for distribution later this year) are: Founders KBS and Curmudgeon's Better Half, Allagash Curieux, Sierra Nevada's Barrel Aged Bigfoot (due later this year), Firestone Walker Parabola and Sucaba (formerly Abacus now referred to as §ucaba), and Harviestoun's Ola Dubh.  There are also a number of breweries who are consistently well-represented on their shelves, including Dogfish Head, Sierra Nevada, Lagunitas, and Mikkeller (the single hop series of beers are currently being featured).

Sharing the shelves with the standard four- and six-pack offerings are an impressive number of big bottle brews.  The standard assortment of Belgians (Chimay, in particular) are present and accounted for but there is enough of a variety to hold the interest of even the most discerning beer fan.  The oddest thing that you will find, though, is the Dansk assortment of Meads, including their awesome Viking Blod.  With any luck, they will be able to get some distribution from the Long Island Meadery--the only distillery of its kind in the New York metropolitan area.

Aside from the great beers, what keeps me coming back to Holiday is the great cadre of guys working there.  Wayne, the owner, is always willing to offer help and to work with you if you're looking for something that they don't currently have but can order.  Gil is a Cicerone certified beer server while Will and Lev offer their own impressive and expansive level of beer knowledge to any conversation.  I've often spent upwards of an hour in the store just talking beer with them, which is great because they are all clearly enthusiastic about and knowledgeable of beer in its many forms.  Whether it's discussing beer trading or homebrewing, obscure nanobreweries or the biggest microbreweries, I know that the conversation will always be enlightening and enjoyable.

On Saturday, March 24th, 2012 the guys will be hosting an Oskar Blues tasting event at the store.  Representatives from the brewery will be on hand to offer both samples of their entire canned line of beers (minus the Ten Fidy) and information about one of Colorado's best producers of craft beer.  Gubna and Deviant will be available for growler fills, which will be quite a treat.  The event will begin at 2 p.m. but you might want to arrive a little early as word has been spreading fast about this great opportunity to enjoy some great Oskar Blues beers.

So if you're on Staten Island and you're looking for some amazing beer sold by a great group of guys, look no further than Holiday Beverage!  It's my go-to spot on the island and maybe it will become yours as well.

Cheers!

--Beer Whisperer Matt

Holiday Beverage is located at 4569 Amboy Rd just off of Richmond Avenue in Staten Island.  You can reach the store at 718.356.0100 and find all relevant information at their Facebook page here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Holiday-Beverage/364458030405?sk=info

or follow them on Twitter!  @HolidayBeverage




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Guinness Brewery Review

Guinness: my first true beer love

In May of 2009, I knocked three things off of my bucket list in a span of as many days: I finished grad school and earned my master's; I took my first trip to Ireland; and I visited the Guinness Brewery.  I had always wanted to go to the Land of Erin, particularly to visit Dublin, so the Guinness Brewery was, in a way, the Holy Grail of breweries for me.  It held an otherworldly allure--a supernatural significance that made visiting it seem more like a fantasy than something I could actually physically do.  Fortunately, St. James Gate isn't Tír na nÓg and thus I was able to step foot on its hallowed ground not long after my wife Heather and I had settled ourselves into our temporary home-away-from-home.


Contributing to the brewery's mythical stature were a number of rumors that I had heard from friends who had been there.  One was that the Guinness in Ireland tasted nothing like it does here in the States (it was, they claimed, infinitely better).  Another was that you could learn to pour a Perfect Pint at the brewery where you would be trained by a professional in the revered art.  What excited me the most, though, was what I was told about the ticket, which was in itself a souvenir.  Most places offer paper tickets as well as printable Internet vouchers to gain their entry but what made the Guinness brewery so incredible was that its ticket was actually a drop of the luscious liquid encased in plastic, immortalized forever.  The small spheroid came packaged in a plastic wrapper, which could be turned in at the top of the brewery for a free pint of Guinness.


More on that in a moment.


Now, I am a strong believer in fate and signs from the heavens.  After arriving at Newark airport and making it through the labyrinthine security stations, my wife and I decided to stroll around to kill some time.  I cracked up and had her snap the photo below, believing it to be portentous of only good things to come.

A Guinness-themed pub inside Newark airport...awesome!

Whenever Heather and I travel, we like to cover as much ground as possible thus maximizing whatever time we have to spend at a given location.  With that said, we began the day that we visited the Guinness brewery at Trinity College, seeing the Book of Kells in person for the first time.  After that, we enjoyed the Viking Splash Tour during which we learned a great deal about Dublin history and perfected our Viking Roars as we screamed at unsuspecting Celts on the streets.

No, seriously:

After the tour, we walked across the city to Kilmainham Gaol where we took yet another tour.  By the time we were finished there, it was well into the afternoon and we were exhausted.


And then I saw it.

A sight for sore eyes

Suddenly, I was renewed, reinvigorated, and reborn, not unlike the Phoenix!  I doubled my pace, practically sprinting my way from Kilmainham to St. James Gate.

St. James Gate, Dublin, Ireland

We were getting closer to the brewery...so close I could almost taste it (I could smell the familiar brewery scents, which only made me thirstier!).  We passed by a few other Guinness buildings, each serving as a beacon--a pinpoint of light in the darkness, leading us towards the holy land.

The modernized Guinness brewery

Right near the Storehouse

Then, after a very long day and many miles traversed, we finally arrived at the brewery.  I won't lie: I was almost hyperventilating, that's how excited I was.  I have been to only a handful of places that have transformed me into an overexcited child, literally jumping for joy as I waited impatiently to enjoy the moment of fruition for a cherished dream.

The sign outside of the visitor's entrance

We entered the facility and followed the clearly labeled signs to the ticket booth.  I had used a voucher online to purchase the tickets in advance but had made sure to confirm that I would receive an actual ticket in return.  Handing over my print-outs, I asked the woman to confirm one more time that I was correct and she nodded and smiled.  My heart started pounding as I held out my hand for what would surely be my most beloved souvenir of all time...and then I felt her shove two paper tickets into my hand.  The look on my face must have been priceless as it was certainly one of the most honest reactions I have ever given to anything in my life.  I asked her where the plastic ticket was and she told me that they stopped using them a few months ago.

Crestfallen doesn't even approximate what I felt at that moment.

The saddest kid at Disney, er, Guinness

Seeing my ridiculous disappointment, she offered to look around to see if they still had one lying around and thus hope was renewed...only to asphyxiate again a few minutes later.  When I asked why they made the change, she told me that the brewery had received a number of environmental complaints about the tickets.  Apparently, people would take them and light them on fire (!?) or toss them into the sewer.  I could not believe what I was hearing.  Suddenly, it felt as if the entire trip was ruined.  I understand that my reaction was not at all commensurate with what happened but in order to explain just how much I wanted that silly piece of plastic, let me say that the previous year (2008) I considered blowing an enormous wad of cash to take a day trip (a day trip!) from New York to Dublin just to go to the brewery to get that ticket.  Then, when I finally did go, to be told that they no longer had it...it would be like finding out that Mickey retired or that Vegas was disallowing gambling.

I couldn't muster a smile for the picture above...but after a few minutes, I realized that I was still standing in the Guinness brewery.  Then, you couldn't pry the grin off of my face!

Taken five minutes after the previous shot, and seconds
after I realized that I was at the home of Guinness!

What I loved about the place immediately was the fact that the tour was self-guided.  I appreciate a knowledgeable tour guide but hate the restrictive nature of a guided tour.  Plus, there were innumerable signs and arrows that directed you to the exhibits and through the facility making it almost impossible to miss anything; there was a lot to see.  The Guinness brewery was and is, hands down, the single most comprehensive tour experience that I have ever had.  Other macrobrewers offered comparable tours but they were ultimately spread out across a fairly large space; at Guinness, everything you need is literally under one roof.

Genuine surprise: I didn't know we'd be getting free samples
midway through!

The tour leads you through the facility essentially in the order of the brewing process.  Exhibits, artifacts, interactive kiosks, and videos are featured along the entire route, all of which describe both the history of Guinness and the way in which it makes its world famous stout.  Moving steadily higher, you will eventually see signs for the tasting room.  Here is where you can get your first free sample of Guinness.  The bartenders/pourers provide a recap of the brewing process and offer tons of interesting information about the beer and the brewery.

Among coolest of the things in the museum are the actual legendary 9,000 year lease that Arthur Guinness signed for the brewery and Guinness' chair (placed beneath his portrait).

The Declaration of Awesomeness
(The Guinness Lease)

'Tis himself!
(Arthur Guinness)

As you reach the upper stories of the building, you begin to encounter a number of awesome exhibits that demonstrate just how far-reaching the Guinness brand is.  There is almost an entire wing devoted just to Guinness' marketing throughout the decades.  There are tons of incredible displays (and far too many for me to post pictures of all of them here) so plan to spend some extended time here strolling through the exhibits as they are all amazing.  Arguably the coolest fact to come out of these portion of the brewery was the fact that Guinness used to be prescribed by doctors as a cure for a number of ailments.  As a funny anecdote, when we arrived home from the trip, my wife found out that she was pregnant with our first child.  She panicked because she had been drinking during the trip and so she told the doctor about it at her first visit.  He shrugged and said, "At least it was Guinness!"  (He also informed her that the alcohol posed no threat whatsoever because she was barely a week into her pregnancy at that point.)

Amen!

Part of what made our trip to the brewery so great was its timing: we were there during the 250th anniversary of Guinness.  As a result, they had a number of special events, activities, and exhibits in place.  Ironically, they had brewed a 250th anniversary special edition Guinness that had a different recipe than the other brews and it was available either only in the United States or only outside of Ireland.  It was a shame because it was incredible and I would've loved to have had it.  On the flip side, they did have the Foreign Extra Stout (pictured at right), which was not available in the United States and so later on in the tour I was able to visit one of the bars and purchase my very first bottle.  I really enjoyed it because it was essentially like a smoother version of the Extra Stout but with a slightly sweeter, more caramel-like flavor that complemented the traditional dark, roasty malt.

My wife is the best (I love her special request
at the upper right!)

As you near the top of the brewery, you come to the room where you can learn how to and perform your own Perfect Pour.  I turned in my voucher for a free pint of Guinness here so that I could partake in the pour and my wife held onto hers to enjoy the free pint up at the Gravity Bar at the top of the facility.  When we arrived, a group had just finished doing their pours and so I was able to talk to the bartender for a bit.  He was an awesome guy and was really enthusiastic about giving us the opportunity to perform the pour.  The technique involves utilizing the special Guinness tap handle (one that moves in two directions and controls the infusion of nitrogen (I believe) into the beer).  You begin by holding the glass at a forty five degree angle (the optimal tilt level for any perfect pour) and slowly fill the glass, straightening it as you approach the halfway point and then three-quarters filled.  At this point, the beer must rest and so you set it aside until it settles.  This is part of the secret and is actually a surefire way of determining whether or not you're in an authentic Irish pub: if you have to wait three minutes for your Guinness because the bartender is letting it sit, then they've been properly trained.  Otherwise, if it comes right over to you (probably filled halfway with head), then you're at an inferior spot.

After the beer has settled sufficiently, the final portion of the pour (performed by pushing the tap handle in the opposite direction) can commence.  Then, you can enjoy your Perfect Poured Pint of Guinness!  Here are some photos and videos of my experience:

Me preparing to pour my perfect pint

Above: the first half of my perfect pour. 
Below: the final portion.

My completed Perfect Pint and certificate

Best tasting pint of Guinness I've ever had!

Guinness foam moustache

After we finished up at the Perfect Pour room, Heather and I headed over to a small bar area.  It turned out that this wasn't the Gravity Bar but it was still an awesome place to drink.  It was relatively quiet since most of the patrons were upstairs at the main drinking area and thus we were able to enjoy a few choices brews in peace.  It was here that I enjoyed my first ever Foreign Extra Stout.  I thought it was awesome that we could purchase a number of different brews to drink but most of them were bottled so enjoying a flight or sampler was simply out of the question.

My first Foreign Extra Stout!

At this point, there was only one place left to visit: The Gravity Bar.  Apparently, it had been renovated recently and now offered a 360 degree panoramic view not simply of Dublin but of much of the surrounding countryside as well.  I don't remember if we could see as far as County Wicklow but I'm pretty certain that we were able to see Sugar Loaf Mountain so maybe we did.  The room is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass windows that offer breathtaking views but also a bit of edification as well: many of the windows feature quotes from famous Irish works of literature by James Joyce.  Here are a few shots of and from the Gravity Bar:

The "beginning" of Finnegans Wake (if you're familiar with
the epic tome, you know why that word is in quotation marks!)

Excerpt from The Dead--the greatest short story ever written.

A Portrait--the prelude to Ulysses

My personal favorite: Ulysses

The bar itself was just incredible.  The view was phenomenal, the beer was utterly delicious, and it was just an awesome place to drink.  The only problem was that it was packed.  Think of an Irish pub in New York City on St. Patrick's Day right after the parade.  That kind of packed.  Part of why it was as filled as it was is because patrons can bypass the entire tour and head straight up to the bar for a few pints.  While it's great for locals to be able to enjoy the bar in such a way, it does detract slightly from the tourist's experience because it makes it that much more difficult to enjoy the view (the photos above were timed very fortunately as people moved away from the windows).  Even still, it's a tremendously awesome place to drink my all-time sentimental favorite stout!

So technically this is where the tour ends and yet there was still one more awesome experience awaiting me: the Guinness Storehouse gift shop.  I spent almost an hour strolling through the aisles, examining the wares duly awestruck by the sheer quantity and diversity of goods available for sale.  I wound up purchasing bottles of Guinness Extra Stout with personalized labels printed out to bring back for friends and family and a ton of other stuff.  Honestly, you could do any one of the three options (the self-guided tour, visiting only the Gravity Bar, or visiting only the gift shop) and come out feeling completely blown away; to do all three makes this the all-time greatest brewery experience I have ever had.

My Grade: A++

Basically, if you are in Ireland (let alone Dublin) you have to make a pilgrimage to the Guinness brewery.  It's an unforgettable experience that is worth every penny.  Do yourself a favor and wear comfortable shoes, though, and allow enough time to explore the facility fully as there is a lot to see. 

POST-SCRIPT

Though I was admittedly crushed about not getting the drop-of-Guinness ticket, I refused to give up.  As soon as we got home, I popped onto eBay with the hope that I would find it.  I couldn't believe my eyes when I clicked "search" and found exactly one auction (an International one from Ireland, no less!).  Not only was it the exact ticket that I was looking for but it also had the original wrapping (the one that usually gets traded in for the free beer).  It turned out that the seller was the designated driver for his tour and wound up keeping the ticket intact.  The auction was a "Buy It Now" and you better believe that I clicked that sucker as quickly as I could.  A few days later, I finally held it in my hands, thus bringing an end to my saga.

The fabled object of my desire (the drop of Guinness
is located beneath the "OM" in welcome."

And so on this St. Patrick's Day, let me say thank you to Arthur Guinness for making a beer that transcends its liquid identity for so many, becoming an icon and a way of life: an emblem of Ireland and Dublin, in particular.  Sláinte! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

--Beer Whisperer Matt

From the Guinness brewery in Dublin, Ireland