Matthew's Blog

2009-10-21T18:58:00.001-04:00

You need to check out this page which is full of home brewer's setup they have at home. Some of them are pretty interesting and have given me some great ideas for a new setup.

http://www.brewzilla.nl/?brewhalla

2009-10-08T00:29:00.002-04:00

Ok so next up on the brewer's table in Nevaeh Poh 1.2 It will soon get an an upgrade as I will be going completely all grain. This one might take some tweaking as I have to figure out how to take a 5 gallon part grain/part extract and turn in into all grain 16 gallon batch. Only time will tell...but let me tell you this...hops...yes hops...will dominate this brew and your tastebuds!!!!! (evil laugh)ha ha ha ha ha!

2009-10-08T00:05:00.002-04:00

oooohhhh....this was a special treat. Ommegang Brewing's Witte! This 5.1% abv brew was right one with a true Belgian Wit! This brew had an orange/lemon taste/aroma to it that just caught my taste buds by surprise. Not too hazy like most wits....Kinda reminds me of Allagash White with more citrus taste to it. Tart...nice bitterness...a little sour. Hmmm....I would say this one kicked Hoegaarden in the ass and said "what's up bitch?" Honey taste is kicking in....this is kinda unique.....medium bodied.....definitely likin this one. Go Beligium! (lol) 4 out of 5 fo this style!

Ahh...an English ale.....Theakston's Old Peculiar! This amber beer is definitely on the sweet side. Kind similar to New Castle in body and bitterness (not IPA bitterness). It had a malty nose to it...good lacing (not that I really care) and a sweet aftertaste. Kinda grassy taste....typical of your Euro amber. Medium body. Not really impressed....3 out of 5.

Ok so tonight I got to try 3 beers I have not had before...starting with the Stone 13th Anniversary thanks to a good customer of mine! This 9.5% abv brew was awesome!!! You could hardly taste the alcohol in this one which really surprised me. It was definitely on the sweet side for this style (strong ale). Medium body, dark colored. A little piney taste...more citrus and malty I think. Kinda hoppy for such a beer....not like an IPA though. Caramel taste....hmm...definitely. Different. Agressive....yet kinda reminds me of Arrogant Bastard....4 out of 5 fo sho!

2009-10-07T23:45:00.002-04:00

Ok so finally the Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout. Ok so maybe I got spoiled by the last one cuz I was kinda dissappointed....but this one was a little too much on the sweet side. It had nice roasted malt flavors/aroma but for some reason I just wasn't feeling this one. I would say if you like Oatmeal Stouts to definitely give this one a try because it is very drinkable. This 4.95% abv stout is the session beer of stouts. It has a good body and good flavor to it! (but compared to the Breakfast Stout....um......yea.......maybe not lol) 3 out of 5!

My wife actually gave it a try! I was surprised, but so was she after my reaction with this brew! She kinda liked it! (not bad for a Miller Lite drinker! lol)

OMFG!!!!!!! This stout is from Founder's Brewing Co. Let me just say HOLY SHIT!!!!! This has to be one of the best Stouts I have ever had. The name "Breakfast Stout" is true to it's name. It has everything one is looking for in starting their morning (or evening) out! This 8.3% abv. brew has a great coffee, chocolate taste/aroma! Alcohol is well hidden in this one. Semi-sweet! Goes down so smooth. Great carbonation! Full bodied, roasted malts, thick (not like Guinness Draught), but ooohhh mannn this one hit the spot! I could actually drink this every day during the winter months! If anyone wants to brew a stout...style it after this one! I must say this is definitely a must try!!! I honestly can't say enough about this brew.....wow! I give this stout a 6 out of 5! (Very F'n impressed!)

Next up was the Rogue Juniper Pale Ale. This 5.2% abv American Pale Ale was a pretty decent brew. More of a session brew in my opinion as it had some nice hoppiness to it, but one you could drink quite a few and not fall off of your bar stool! It had some citrusy aroma/taste, little piney (not much) and had great clarity! This was a little lighter colored than most pale ales and the ibu's were probably a little lower than most pale ales, but deliciously fruity none the less. Not sure what a Juniper berry tastes like, but again it had a fruity taste to it. I give this one a 3 out of 5!

Ok so last night I got to try some new beers we haven't yet had at the store. First up was the Founder's Harvest Ale! At 75 Ibu's this one was blistering on the tongue full of hops...it was almost like whole hops were sitting in this beer! Full of hop bitterness, this 6.5% abv brew was excellent! Good carbonation, good hoppy/piney aroma. Bitter aftertaste....mmmmm. This had a little fruitiness to it but man was this a tasty hoppy brew! If you want to test your taste buds to the hoppiness max give this one a try. 5 out of 5!

2009-10-01T23:46:00.002-04:00

ha ha just for shits and giggles I got a sampe of the Bud Light Golden Wheat. I figured why not since I'm about ready for bed. Well let me tell you that first off I applaud the attempt...but to pair Bud Light with wheat....doesn't make sense...why not just make a wheat and call it it's own name (they might sell more!) Well anyway this light beer has a little less carbonation than Bud Light itself, yet it's almost as if I'm drinking a carbonated Tropicana O.J. with alcohol. Not very impressed. Definitely a strong presence of oranges in this one...not so much any spice. Alcohol is around 4% abv which is normal but damn...bud light? I know I try not to down it because it is bud light but come on! Might as well have a bud light lime if I don't feel like bud light orange! ha ha! 1.5 out of 5. :(

This was a homebrew that another customer gave me. I guess his son(in-law?) is a homebrewer. This porter was pretty decent. Nice mouthfeel, little on the sweet side. Notes of coffee, very light bodied though. Decent enough for a session though the carbonation might be a little too much for this style. 2 out of 5.

oooh...I really enjoyed this one!!! Perfect night for it as well considering the temp. This had a nice malty aroma/taste! Dry, robust character....medium body. Almost black in color! Hints of coffee/caramel/butterscotch notes. Awesome brew. Kinda mellow...semi-sweet. 4 out of 5...definitely a MBA (must brew again!)

Next up was an amber colored brew. Faint malt aroma, light-medium body. Higher abv than the previous one. Semi-dry aftertaste. Good carbonation, good malt character. Amber ale maybe? 3 out of 5!

Ok so tonight I finally got to enjoy some quality homebrews from Tom. First up was a gold color brew. Strong citrus aroma, good carbonation. Light body, smooth, sour aftertaste. Hints of coriander, orange peel, sweet on the palate. Hmm...if I had to pinpoint a style I would probably say a Saison? Decent brew....3 out of 5!

2009-10-01T23:43:00.002-04:00

I can't seem to find the picture of the 90 minute "Randallized" but let me tell you this...Holy Hoppy! This one tasted completely different from the 90 minute. I would say is spent a good 1/2 hour soaking in the cascade hops inside the Randall before exiting into a pitch which then entered my glass which then entered my mouth for me to enjoy! This thing was BITTER!!! I would say it is safe to assume the alcohol content is still the 9% abv that the 90 normally is but holy crap was this bitter, hoppy, smoother, much more enjoyable! I can see where it could be over-the-top to some hop heads but I enjoyed it very much! 5 out of 5 and a 10 out of 5 for creativity!

2009-10-01T23:31:00.002-04:00

ha ha now that's just funny!
The one and only "Randall" (btw...that is the 90 minute IPA hook up to it and it is filled with cascade hops)!

Dogfish black and tan (Chicory Stout/Pale Ale)...yummy...you get the best of both worlds here!

ooooooohhhhh.....75 MINUTE IPA!!!! This one was definitely in between the 60 and 90 as far as almost everything goes with those two. It has the color of 90, yet the hoppiness of it is in between. Awesome...for those that can't decide to go 60 or go 90....go 75!!! ha ha 5 out of 5!

Shelter Pale Ale was the first order of business! First off this 5% abv pale ale is one of their flagship beers. This delicious copper color pale ale has a nice floral aroma with a medium body to it. Taste is light and citrusy with hints of pine...more on the citrus side though. Nice bitterness too it with a little lingering aftertaste (not much compared to the 60 & 90 min). All in all a great starter for someone will to get hoppy! 4 out of 5!

well it's about time....

2009-10-01T23:18:00.003-04:00

The bar!

The front door!

Of course while we are down in Ocean City, MD we had to take a short road trip 25 min north to Dogfish Head Brewing Co.

Next up was this lil bugger! HOP-OCALYPSE! This brew from Clay Pipe Brewing Co. out of Frederick, MD was awesome. Full of hop flavor/aroma! Definitely pack with hops! Had more of a piney taste/aroma with a lot of bitterness to it. This amber colored IPA was around 6% abv and had a terrific mouthfeel. All in all this one gets a 3 out of 5!

Ok so sorry it has been so long since I have posted, I have been pretty busy of late. Anyway here goes so shit from the past month or so. Down at the beach I had a chance to re-introduce myself to the Pyramid Brewing Company's Apricot Wheat (changed to "Audacious Apricot Ale"). This 5.1% golden colored Fruit Ale was delicious! Best Apricot beer I have had to date. Light bodied, fruity aroma, sweet tasting. Obviously the apricot taste/aroma is very much present. Went down very good (great summer session). All in all for a fruit ale I would definitely have to give this one a 4 out of 5! If you don't like apricots...well that's just too bad cuz you are missing out!

2009-09-01T20:58:00.002-04:00

Ok so Saturday (8/29) Steve and I bottled our IPA Nenaeh Poh. We got 30 16oz. bottles out of it which somehow we came up a little short, but oh well. Anyway we are going to give it 2-3 weeks to let it carbonate and then we will give it a try so we will keep you updated!
ps. pics of the beach and the "Randall" will come soon!

2009-08-25T22:21:00.002-04:00

What's up? Well Steve and I are sitting on our balcony watching the waves come in so I figured I would just give you an update on what's going on. Well yesterday we stopped at Dogfish and checked out their brew pub and tried something so f'n awesome I can't really describe it. I will post a pic of this contraption they had that made hoppiness happiness! Anyway just wanted to say hi from Ocean City Maryland and I will upload pics when I get the chance. By the way Dogfish has a 75 minute IPA that we are going to try on Thursday so it should be pretty sweet! Til then....surfs up!

2009-08-16T10:47:00.002-04:00

Ok so it's been about a week now so Steve and I decided we are going to take the next step in our beer process. After we sterilized our fermenter and siphon, we took some Simcoe and more Warrior hops and put them in the secondary fermenter. Then we siphoned the beer out of the primary and off into the the secondary it went! Oh how exciting. Dry hopping at it's best!!! I'm glad we used the Simcoe and Warrior because they are high alpha acidic hops so they should give it a great hoppy aroma/taste. Anyway, we are leaving it in the secondary for two weeks so when we get back from the beach it should be time to bottle it! Til then....

2009-08-09T23:38:00.003-04:00

Next up was the Founder's 6.6% Red Rye PA. This one was a particularly interesting one as the taste is a little on the hoppy side. I get citrusy notes from the smell and taste. Almost like a well balanced Pale Ale. It has a decent body, little carbonation and could honestly pass for a pale ale except it has something that just sticks out when I taste it. I read up on it and apparantly it was dry hopped which gives it that floral aroma/taste. It has such a hoppy taste but it has something bread like in it. I dunno...but for a rye ale this would be a definite purchase. 4 out of 5.

Next up was a brew from Founder's Brewing Company. This was the Dirty Bastard scotch ale. This one I was quite impressed with. It has been awhile since I have tasted a good scotch ale. This Grand Rapids, MI scotch ale clocks in at 8.3% abv. It had a very dark color and was loaded with nice malty tastes. Toffee and caramel tastes, a little sweet. Good body and good carbonation to this one. Man how I have really grown to enjoy a good scotch ale. This one gets a 4 out of 5!

OK so Steve and I were sitting outside watching the Yanks sweep the Red Sox tonight so we decided to try some beers tonight. First up was the Victory Helios which is a 9.5% abv Saison. This one was not impressive as far as Saisons are concerned. It actually smelled like a hefeweizen but when I tasted it, it had some sweet and sour notes to it. The aftertaste was not pleasant at all. Took Steve about 20 minutes to finish it lol. It was a little fuller bodied saison than most I have had. Little pepper type flavor, spicy I guess. 2 out of 5. :(

update:

2009-08-09T18:23:00.002-04:00

Ok so we started with 3 gallons of water that we started to heat...then we steeped the Victory Malt and the Crystal 60L malt for about 25 minutes. Then we heated it up to a boil for another 25 minutes. After that we then took the Cascade hops and added them to it for about 10 minutes. Then we took the Warrior hops and put them in and boiled for another 10 then added that last of the Cascade hops for another 15 minutes. ( I plan on using more Warrior hops to dry hop it once it goes in the secondary fermenter) After the boil we put it in my bathtub filled with cold water to cool it. Once it was down to about 70 degrees, we topped it off with 2 more gallons of warm water. Then we siphoned it into the primary fermenter...added some yeast making sure it was stirred well then stored it. It has been about 24 hours now and their is some bubbling action already which is cool. I'm gonna let it sit for about 5-7 days then put it into the secondary fermenter to get some clarity and dry hop it. So we shall see!

S&M IPA

2009-08-08T16:04:00.002-04:00

Ok so me and my buddy Steve decided it was time to start brewing again. So I finally got my shit together...ordered supplies and well, I have the Saturday afternoon off so why not brew?!
Anyway here is the recipe I'm using for the S&M IPA.

H2O (thank you captain obvious!)
8oz. Crushed Victory Malt
1lb of Crushed Crystal 60L Malt
6.6lbs. of Plain Light Malt Extract
1oz. Cascade Bittering Hops
1oz. Cascade Finishing Hops
4oz. Warrior Hops
Muntons yeast

I will keep you updated on how everything goes!

2009-07-25T19:04:00.002-04:00

So finally I get to try a good ol homebrew from Tom!!!! (about time!!!) Anyway his wife stopped in with two samples (both which were gone in about 20 min.) I do have to say that I really did enjoy this brew. First off it had a specific sour taste to it that kinda reminded me of the Penn Weizen which is copied from a southern german recipe. This one had lots of citrus flavor, a nice malty aroma...sort of banana taste? Not much spicy accent to it (which I prefer). Alcohol seemed decent (4.5% +?) Great carbonation...not too much...not too little. Good lacing on the glass. Medium body with a good mouthfeel to it...dry almost. Tart! Color was just like a wheat beer should be. I noticed that there was little sediment in the bottle which is ok (some brewers leave a little in there for extra flavor) which is fine with me. All in all I would really have to say this is a good hefe! Congrats Tom...brew some more!!!! 3 out of 5!

2009-07-25T18:52:00.002-04:00

Finally a decent brew to enjoy.....what? you say Brooklyn out of a can? YES!!!!! Believe it or not it is the same damn beer that is in the f'n bottle. Anyway...pour it into a glass and quit being an ass. This fine brew is a good session lager. This 5.2% abv lager has a little dark color to it. Decent body (typical lager body) and a slight malt aroma. Not really any signs of hops but hell this beer tops Yuengling any day of the week. Good carbonation and a decent aftertaste makes this brew a great summer beer. Not too much into lagers but this one definitely takes the taco...lol.... 4 out of 5!

Ok....I swear this New York one was like drinking a Yuengling Lager but with a higher price tag...really? They claim they are a "craft" brewery but yet they use corn and other cheap "macro" ingredients. Man I have to be honest, I was really dissappointed in these. Guess I really won't be recommending these to any of my customers except the macro ones. This gets a 2 out of 5.

Next up was the New Jersey Lager. This one was a little darker than the PA lager...not much body/taste. Slight malt aroma, but other than that...a glorified Yuengling Lager light lol.1 out of 5.

So the other night I got to try a couple of beers new to the Zoo. Hometown Brewing came out with a few beers and each one is going to be the name of a state. So naturally I tried the ol PA lager first. Not much taste to it as far as hops and malt...more like a macro pilsner. Considering it is contracted through Lion Brewery (Lionshead) it actually kinda tastes like Lionshead. Eh...for a thirst quencher...1 out of 5.

2009-07-08T22:22:00.002-04:00

Next up was the Shiner Hefeweizen. I was quite surprised with this one. Now let me tell you that this 5.28% abv hefe was decent. It is not up to par with the Sierra Kellerweis or some other good German weiss beers, but for someone who has never had one, this would be a go to beer. It has a citrusy/fruity/spicy taste and aroma. Banana flavor? Good mouthfeel, low carbonation. Decent! 3 out of 5!

Ahh...Shiner Bock...the Yuengling Lager of Texas as I refer to it. It has some similar qualities as the Y. Lager, but it is better tasting. This 4.4% abv dark lager was a little on the sweet side. I couldn't taste any hop character in it at all. A little maltiness to it, but this tastes more like a macro than a craft. hmm...kinda dissappointing if you are into "better beers" like me. When I say better beers I say beers that use better ingredients not cheap ones. Beers that aren't massed produced on the scale of A-B, Miller-Coors-Molson, Pabst, etc..... Anyway, it does have a slight roasted taste to it (kinda reminds me of Michelob Amber Bock), it has a light body with high carbonation. I would buy a case for some non-craft drinkers to tempt them into the craft scene. I would kinda see this as maybe a gateway beer for the Miller/Bud/Coors drinkers. 2 out of 5.

Next up was the seasonal Sierra Nevada Kellerweis. This is a great weiss! Full flavored! This 4.8% abv hefe had a pretty complex flavor to it. It has a touch of citrus and yeasty flavors/aroma to it. Doesn't really seem on par with most american hefeweizens I've had. Can't pin it down...it's just different. Definitely has a clove taste to it, yet it is not too overpowering. I Great summer beer for sure...I will be buying quite a few more cases! 4 out of 5!

Ok so I got to try a couple of beers tonight! First up is New Belgium Brewing Company's Fat Tire! (I used to live in Phoenix, AZ and every bar had this on tap...kinda like Yuengling Lager around here) I honestly haven't had this in about 8-9 years since I lived there, but it was nice to have it again. A customer brought this one back from South Carolina. So I had it and I thought that this 5.2% abv amber ale poured an amber color (after all it is an amber ale lol). It had a good malty taste with and a little nutty flavor to it (not like a brown ale...seemed different somehow). Good mouthfeel to it...not really sweet, mild bitterness to it. Good carbonation. Definitely a session beer that would replace any macro. Overated?...probably but none the less a good brew. For the style it gets a 3 out of 5.

2009-06-26T23:40:00.001-04:00

Clove...banana....citrus...mediun bodied

2009-06-21T16:23:00.002-04:00

Here was my nightcap. Rogue Dad's Little Helper (considering father's day haha). This 7.2% abv malt liquor was decent. Gold color, mild citrus aroma. Not anything like Hurricane or Colt 45 or any typical macor malt liquor. The taste was a little on the bitter side...slight pale malt taste. No sign of hops anywhere. Might try another down the road but probably wouldn't buy a case. 2 out of 5.

Here is one I haven't had in awhile and figured to give it a review. The Harpoon IPA. This 5.9% abv IPA used to be one of my standby ipa's when I was younger (and craft beer was hard to find). This one is a very well balanced brew. Light amber color, floral aroma, nice hopped up taste, not as bitter as I prefer but an easy drinkin IPA. 3 out of 5.

Next up was the Widmer Drifter Pale Ale. I was very impressed with this 5.7% abv American Pale Ale. It had a nice floral aroma, medium body, and nice amber color. Taste was hoppy, bitter, and malty. Citrus notes in there as well. Very easy to drink. 3 out of 5.

Next up was the Widmer Drop Top Amber Ale. This 4.8% abv amber ale was a good medium bodied ale. It had a nice malt aroma with hints of hops. Mouthfeel in this one was very nice...not too strong or overpowering, a little on the bitter side. Taste was nice...malty and hoppy. Good session brew. 4 out of 5.

Ok so last night I tasted a few beers I had got the other day so here goes. First up was Widmer Brother's Hefeweizen. This 4.7% abv golden wheat beer was delicious! It has all of your typical American wheat beer flavors--lemon, light malt, minimal spice taste. Citrus aroma, cloudy....perfect for a summer beer! 4 out of 5!

2009-06-18T10:31:00.002-04:00

Last but not least was a red ale from Green Flash Brewing out of San Diego County. This red ale is probably more of a "red" ipa. Nicely hopped up with that piney/citrus aroma and taste. Great mouthfeel to it. Medium body with a little bitterness to the after taste. (This is all I drank while pouring for the 2008 Pints for Pets) This is a solid brew. Definitely try it! 4 out of 5!

Next up was the 2009 Sierra Nevada Harvest Fresh Hop Ale (also known as the Southern Hemisphere). This 6.7% abv brew is awesome! This IPA has everything one would expect...great hop character, piney/citrus aroma, grassy/hoppy taste..somewhat bitter. Very firm...5 out of 5!

This first one was from Boulder Brewing Co. I got to try this one at the Pints for Pets and was impressed. It had a lighter hop aroma than I'm used to coming from a dry-hopped ale. The alcohol is 4.85% abv which is pretty low for a nicely hopped up beer. Nice hop/fruity aroma/taste. It was a little thin in the mouth but for a hop head this would be considered a great session beer! 4 out of 5!

2009-06-17T17:19:00.002-04:00

Ha ha, my son wasn't even a thought in the back of my head when we last won the cup. I'm glad him and I got to share this! (Glad I finally got to shave my face too...man I looked a lot older with it)

Oh hell yea! I've been waiting for this for a long time!

Success! With over $112,000 raised I'm glad I did my part (with the help of family and friends). You all should be proud!

For game 7 of the Pens game I had to resort back to my coveted Nugget Nectar...then on to something different. Rogue Mom's Hefeweizen. Boy was this tasty for a hefe. Cloudy color, 5.2% abv, hardly any citrus/spicy aroma, more malty in my opinion. I honestly wouldn't even classify this as a hefe, maybe an APA? Anyway it was a little dry tasting, mild bitterness. Definitely different. OK with me..I like going against the norm. 4 out of 5!

2009-06-17T17:14:00.002-04:00

Sorry it took so long to get back here, I have been very busy the last couple of weeks. First off, the Pints for Pets was very successful and I would like to personally thank everyone for coming. It was a blast and I think it went very well. I was able to try some of the few different beers that I haven't been able to get ahold of like some East End, Intercourse, and Bullfrog. They brought some very good beers.

2009-05-26T23:41:00.002-04:00

mmm...aren't you jealous? I love my job!

Oh hell yea...it's victory beer time! So the Pens advanced to the Stanely Cup finals for the 2nd year in a row (hopefully winning this time around) so I decided to bust out something I got (thanks to a good customer!). This is the Brooklyn Local 2. I'm not sure if you ever got around to trying the Local 1 which was a Belgian Golden Ale (better than Duvel in my opinion), I was looking forward to this! This is a strong Belgian Dark bottle conditioned ale! @ 9.0% abv, this brew warms the tastebuds! It starts with a fantastic malty aroma smell/taste that is followed by a fruity and spicy taste. Can't pinpoint the fruit but man this beer is f'in great! Not much hoppiness to it, yet it just holds something herbal in it. WOW! Love it! For this style this definitely gets a 5 out of 5...too bad the price is absurd....try it~!

Ok I had to throw this one up there! This was a great 2 on 1 with Guerrin scoring off a sweet ass pass from Sid......can you say Lord Stanely?

2009-05-26T23:30:00.002-04:00

So tonight I had a Magic Hat Circus Boy. @ 5.4%, this Hefeweizen was actually pretty decent. I really have never been a huge fan of Magic Hat but this beer had it's typical hazy yellow color, citrus aroma, notes of fruit and clove. I (normally don't put a lemon/lime in the beer) enjoyed this one. Not too complex yet actually refreshing! I give this a 4 out of 5!

Ok so tonight the Pens swept the Easter Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes! Yeaaahhh!!!!! So this is an update pic of my "beard". This is honestly the longest I have ever let my hair get...i prefer clean shavin. Anyway I updated my profle (www.beardathon.com/penguins/ums7/profile.aspx). Let's go Pens!!

2009-05-22T13:03:00.002-04:00

Next up was the Oatmeal Stout. I was very impressed with this one! I usually enjoy these darker beers over winter but hey..it was free! Anyway, this 4.9% stout was delicious! Chocolately, roasted maltiness was found from the first sip to the last. This full bodied beer was a little creamy with minor carbonation. It had nice bitterness to it with a little sour taste. Great finish! 4 out of 5! Next up was Pandora's Bock. I was not impressed with this 7.5% winter bock had a very sweet candy like taste to it. It was very light bodied and slight malt aroma/taste. Thumbs down...I did not enjoy this one at all. 1 out of 5.

Ok so I got a couple more Breckenridge beers the other day and tried them, but forgot to post them...good thing I write things down! First up was the Pale Ale. At 5.7% abv, this Pale Ale had the bitter hoppiness to it. Not quite like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, but never the less a good brew. Kinda reminded me of Troeg's Pale Ale. This copper colored ale had grassy/piney notes, citrus taste, and just the right amount of bitterness to it that made it all right! For a pale ale...4 out of 5!

2009-05-22T12:45:00.002-04:00

So I saved the IPA for last! The 6.5% abv Long Hammer is true to it's IPA form! Plenty of hops were added into this one. The hop hammer dropped down onto this with it's piney aroma/taste. Medium bodied, amber color. Most don't like the type of bitterness that it has (must be the certain types of hops used in this) but I do. The hoppier the better (just my opinion). Not much lacing on my glass but I really don't give a rat's ass about lacing...sure it looks good but it's all about the beer...not the lacing. I give this one a 4 out of 5!

Next up was the ESB. This is probably their flagship beer as I have had this one many times. Ok so this 5.7% abv bitter beer is everything I expect in a bitter...copper color, malty taste, little notes of hops, medium body. This bitter tasting beers is a good ESB but not compared to the true ESB's from England like Fuller's. Definitely worth trying in my book though! 4 out of 5!

Ok so last night I got to try out some other Red Hook products...first was the Slim Chance Blonde Ale. At 3.9% abv, this session beer was very light. Not much malt taste, little bitter. Slight citrus taste. I know most blonde ales are on the light bodied side, but this almost seemed like a light beer ha ha. Overall, nothing to write home about. Something different for a change. Good for a summer time picnic type beer...3 out of 5!

Next up was the Red Hook Copper Hook. At 5.7% abv, this Spring Amber Ale was delicious. It had a stronger taste than compared to the Magic Hat Roxy Rolles. I was impressed! It has more malt taste, not quite the hoppiness than I had expected. Medium bodied beer that went down very smooth. This one gets 3 out of 5!

Ok so the other night I got a chance to try some new beers. First up was the Magic Hat Roxy Rolles. This 5.8% abv winter amber ale was a good smooth winter brew. Little notes of hops, more malt aroma/taste. Hints of spice and fruit (grapefruit?) Session beer for the winter! 3 out of 5!

2009-05-16T12:20:00.002-04:00

Next up was their Pikeland Pils. @ 4.9% abv this cloudy golden pils is a decent one. It has a dry, citrusy taste to it, crisp tasting. This is decently hopped yet not too much. Aroma of grains and yeast...a little bitter. Surprisingly good! Not my favorite style of beer, but one to have every now and again. 3 out of 5!

The other night I tried some canned craft beer which I have had before, but I haven't rated them yet so here it is! Slyfox Brewing is out of Phoenixville, PA. The thing about canned craft beer is that it will prevent oxidation, and you do not have to worry about sunlight (UV Rays) attacking your beer. All cans now have a special liner on the inside to prevent that "metallic" taste. Besides you should always drink your beer out of the appropriate glass anyway! Besides that here is the Royal Weisse. @ 5.4% abv this one is a definite buy! It has that good German wheat taste to it with a nice subtle hoppiness to it. Hazy yellow color, light body with a wheat and banana taste to it. mmm...5 out of 5 for this one! Don't over look this just because it is in a can..try one!

2009-05-16T12:06:00.002-04:00

Last up is the Agave Wheat. Typical 4.2% abv in this one. Not sure if I taste the Salmiana Agave. (not sure what that even is ha ha) I did like this wheat beer though. It seemed to have a good blend of wheat character, sour/citrus/honey taste, and a light body, perfect for summer. Now don't get me wrong this is no Franziskaner or Konig Ludwig Weiss, but definitely one to try. All in all I give this a 3 out of 5!

Next up was the Summer Bright Ale. @ 4.5% abv this is pretty much your typical summer ale(wheat ale). Pours a hazy copper/yellow color. Very light bodied, smooth. I noticed a little citrus taste similar to most wheat ales I have had. Nice wheat aroma, perfect for a hot summer day. This is probably better than Sam Adams Summer Ale (which is too citrusy for me). 3 out of 5 beer chips.

On Wednesday I got some samples of Breckenridge Brewery's beers. Breckenridge is a brewery out of Denver, CO. First up was the Avalanche Amber Ale. Medium copper color and a light bodied beer. This one is definitely for easy drinking @ 5.41% abv. Not too much comes out of this beer. Subtle caramel malt, a little on the sweet side. Not a bad beer, I would get this once in a while for something different. 2 beer chips out of 5.

2009-05-07T22:44:00.002-04:00

This one is the Sly Fox Brewing Co. (known for their canned craft beers) Christmas beer from 2008. Their commercial description says that if this doesn't get you into the Christmas spirit then truly are you a scrooge. I have to laugh at that but then again it could be true! So anyway I decided that after 5 months I would give this one a try. Surprisingly this one only clocks in @ 5% abv...unless it has gone up from the "aging"! So here is my take. The first thing I tasted when I took a sip was clove...I though uh oh..clove isn't exactly my favorite spice (ha ha). Then came the chocolate taste-mmm. I was quite surprised because I didn't think there was going to be any chocolate in this one. After a few sips it almost seemed like it was a mint chocolate taste....with clove ha ha if you can believe that! After a few more sips the ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and all-spice come into the picture. This has a decent level of sweetness to it but for a christmas beer it is a lot lighter bodied than the color (dark red) gives away. Definitely different. For a christmas beer that isn't dark or hoppy (the way I prefer) I gave this one a 4 out of 5...try this instead of Harpoon Winter Warmer!

2009-05-07T22:38:00.003-04:00

WOW...Voodoo Brewing's Love Child...this is their Gran Met (Belgian Strong Ale) aged for a couple months with
passion fruit, cherries, and raspberries. This one is 9.5% abv so it does pack a kick...yet you could never tell. Their is a slight warming alcohol taste that is definitely overpowered by the fruit punch taste to this "lambic". The smell is definitely unique as well as you can pick out the raspberries and cherries (not so much passion fruit...then again I'm not really sure I ever smelled a fresh passion fruit!) A little on the sweet side but not like your traditional lambic style beers (like Lindemans). Good carbonation...great mouthfeel..not too dry, yet my mouth was watering for more! This one is definitely complex tasting and gave my tastebuds a good test. 5 out of 5 for sure!

2009-05-07T22:32:00.002-04:00

Pours a copper color with lots of floral/piney aroma. Generous amounts of hops were poured into this one! Definitely a little on the citrus side and not as bitter as most I like...more balanced with the amounts of malts in this. At 7% abv, this is definitely one I could keep in my fridge at all times. Well deserved rating of 5 out of 5 beer chips!

2009-05-04T22:14:00.002-04:00

Ok so round 2 of the playoffs started...unfortunately we are 0-2 to start.. I have entered the beard a thon that the Pittsburgh Penguins are hosting (www.beardathon.com/penguins/Ums7/profile.aspx) to donate please visit this site!!!! This goes to a great cause (the Mario Lemiuex Foundation).

2009-05-04T22:03:00.003-04:00

Ok this one is the celebrated Dogfish Head Aprihop....mmm...this is definitely a unique beer! Copper color and medium body this brew is not really a true apricot beer except in aroma..and a mild apricot taste. This one has the hops that one would expect yet the fruity aftertaste/aroma just catches the tastebuds. Mild hop taste/mild aprihop aroma....not too bitter not too tart. This is definitely a unique beer...in fact a fav of mine. 5 out of 5 beer chips for this one!

Ok up now is a pic of me and my beard for the 2nd round of the Pens.....

2009-04-29T09:25:00.002-04:00

Next up was Sol. This mexican brew actually wasn't bad! It definitely has more body to it than Corona, and more taste. It pours yellow with a good amount of carbonation. Little on the sweet side with a little citrus taste to it. Actually one of the better Mexican beers out there. 3 out of 5
Ok I came across a Bud Light Lime. Seriously I'm not joking. Ha ha I know you are probably thinking why am I even going here? Well, to be honest with you I just thought what the hell I will just give it a try and see what happens. Guess what? I didn't die from it! ha ha. Well, this very light brew does not taste like a bud light, it honestly tastes like a watered down margarita! This would definitely be a summer beer for when I am done mowing the lawn or doing some landscaping. I almost feel like I should put some ice in it or something and put it in a margarita glass or add some tequila to it ha ha! So how is this one scaled? 2 out of 5...for its drinkabilty.( lol )

2009-04-19T00:30:00.002-04:00

Tonight I got the chance to sample the Spaten Dunkel. Well what can I say, this is your typical Euro Dunkel which comes in @ 4.9% abv. This brew is sweet and light bodied (like Newcastle) yet has that Euro bittnerness to it (almost skunky). Actually not a bad brew! Hardly any hoppiness to it...more maltiness than anything. Roasted malts but nothing compared to a good ol fashioned American Craft brew. Overall not bad...3 out of 5 beer chips....try it!

2009-04-15T23:32:00.002-04:00

OK so tonight (4-15-2009) I had decided to go with a 1/2 of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale for the hockey playoffs. I have been going with 1/6 kegs just for the variety but this is the playoffs! You might not know but we watch all of the games outside and weather has no factor in that. So we are going to see if we can go through a 1/2 of the Pale Ale in the playoffs. First let me tell you that the Pens won the first game 4-1 in which we dominated almost every aspect of the game. Second, we (Steve, Ben, and I) dominated almost every aspect of the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. That is the game plan and as long as the Pens keep winning I will keep you updated on my kegs (lol). LET'S GO PENS!!!!!!!!!

2009-04-15T23:15:00.002-04:00

HA HAHA HA...you all may laugh...but Augustiner has been around for quite awhile. This is your typical light lager that has a slight malt backround with little hop aroma/taste yet it is very thirst quenching. A little sweet and not bitter at all as this one is what is known as a lawnmower beer....give it a try if you are thirsty! 2 out of 5

Ok so I got a sample from Ben (our newest employee) and I had to give this one a go since it has been awhile (sort of). This one is a 5.3% abv Pils that definitely has a very citrus taste. Almost sour with somewhat of a sweet aftertaste. This is unique as it quenches the thirst after a long day..in the end nothing special....but good I supposed. For a pils I give this 3 out of 5.

Hmm...Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA...this one clocks in @ 9.0% abv...and let me tell you...if you want an imperial IPA...this is the one to have. It starts off with a fruity/grassy aroma..followed by the bitterness that could bite one's head off. Then the taste tickles one's tongue as it plagues it with hops. This one has a very earthy/piney taste to it that only the true hop drinkers can truly appreciate. For an imperial IPA this one gets 5 out of 5!

Ahh...the all new Samuel Adams Blackberry Wit. This one is truly a great specimen. This one has all of the taste of blackberries yet it is not overly fruity as one would expect. It has strong hints of fruit..yet light enough for a session beer. Give me this one in the summer anytime! 5 out of 5!

First up is the Stan Sral "I do IPA". This one was aged for 4 years and definitely had a fruity taste to it. Due to the age which was longer than most I have tasted, overall it wasn't bad. Like I stated it definitely had a fruity taste to it...I think it lost most of it's hop aroma/taste. 3 out of 5

2009-04-15T23:09:00.003-04:00

Ok...so I have been away for awhile...and I am going to update this into 1 big update! So here it is....first up is the Paulaner Hefeweizen. This is probably considered number 1 in the world when it comes to a good Hefe...I would probably go with Franziskaner but anyways here is my take. Cloudy like a hefe should be...not to yeasty like one would expect. This one is definitely has a citrus taste to it compared to most. Goes down fast as one would expect. Higher carbonation than most yet still has somewhat of a spicy aroma/taste. 4 beer chips out of 5

Accident

2009-04-15T22:41:00.002-04:00

Well...2 Fridays ago some $%^&* t-boned me in the Brew Zoo parking lot and totalled my car...so I have been dealing with that crap for awhile...sorry I haven't been posting anything! I'm back and I will be updating things once again!

2009-03-31T11:02:00.002-04:00

Ok so last night I got a chance to try Victory Brewing Co.'s newest brew, the Wild Devil (in a 1pint 6oz corked bottle). This 6.7% abv brew was very tasty! It was slightly more carbonated than I had anticipated and it had a little sour taste to it. Complex malt flavor. Had a little citrus taste, yet slightly hoppy. From the information I have gathered they basically took their infamous HopDevil and subjected it to a wild yeast strain during fermentation...and this does not taste anything like HopDevil. Kinda similar to a belgian style ale I would assume. For this interesting brew I proudly give this a 5 out of 5 beer chips!

2009-03-30T14:33:00.003-04:00

Last but not least was the drink of choice to my burger/chicken sandwhich was Steve and I split. The one comes from East End Brewing. It is their Big Hop IPA. An honest 5.8% abv, this IPA had a nice hop bite to it. Complex hop flavor to it...not too malty though. Definitely had some bitterness to it. Strong on taste this one gets a 4 out of 5 beer chips!

Next up was the Marzoni's Hoppy Saison. This 7.1% abv Saison definitely has some serious citrus taste in it...and the finish is dry and hoppy. Not sure what spices are used in this but it is a great brew! 4 out of 5 beer chips!

First was a sample of the Victory Prima Pils! This pilsner style sits @ 5.3% abv. This one has a dry finish with a nice hop taste/aroma. Pilsners generally are not my style of choice but, this one is clearly the best pilsner I have had. For the style this one gets 5 out of 5 beer chips!

Taps on hand....

The menu...

Outside patio...

more seating...

Inside seating area

Ok so we took a trip to Bedford to find out what all of the fuss is about the Jean Bonnet Tavern which is located on 6048 Lincoln Highway - Bedford, PA 15522 - Phone: 814.623.2250

2009-03-30T14:29:00.002-04:00

OK so Sunday (3/29/2009) Steve and I made plans to check out the Jean Bonnet Tavern. First, we decided on having a brew first! Steve still had some Sam Adams Old Fezziwig Ale from Christmas. This 5.9% abv brew is one of Sam Adams' winter brews. It is brown/red in color and has a medium body to it. Caramel/chocolatey notes...cinnamon taste as well. Decent beer to have right before the weather breaks for spring! 3 out of 5 beer chips!

2009-03-27T22:44:00.002-04:00

Ok so tonight I came upon the coveted Troeg's Flying Mouflan! They say it's like "pushing nugget nectar off of a cliff". Well this one is truly an experience. I am lucky enough to say that this beer even though it's 9.3% abv, this brew has the hoppiness one would expect from such a powerful brew. Dark brown color, you can taste the sweet dark maltiness of this brew. The hoppiness and bitterness that the Nugget Nectar has is very similar, taste and smell to it. Though the alcohol in this one kicks my ass! The maltiness in this one is extreme...definitely there, grassy notes and alcohol taste are there. I give this extreme brew a 5 out of 5 beer chips. I'm not into extreme beers like this one but damn this brew has what it takes to make me think twice about it! This one is definitely worth it if you are into extreme/double/imperial/ ipa's. Kudos to Troeg's! Maybe extreme beers has a place in my palate?

2009-03-24T23:14:00.003-04:00

Ok so I decided to go out and have a nightcap with Steve. We decided on Uno's since I live within walking distance and I decided to go for the Budweiser American Ale. This one I have had before, yet I have not rated it yet so here goes. This one is truly a big surprise! I expected this to be another run of the mill type beer that would not turn out well because it is Anheuser-Busch. Well low and behold if you are not snobby enough to try one, this 5.3% brew is amber in color and has a decent malty taste. Though it is a little thin in the mouth, it has a good finish. Not quite as hoppy as it claims ( distinctive hoppy finish) yet, it finishes up dry. Definitely kudos to them for this one. I would actually buy a case of this believe it or not. This one gets 3 out of 5 beer chips!
OK so tonight I decided on getting a 1/6 keg of Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA...boy was that a good decision! At 6.0% abv, this Dogfish flagship beer proves it's worthiness! This is a true IPA session beer! Aroma is hoppy yet fruity, body is medium with a copper color. This beer has a strong hop flavor that is well balanced with the malts. Not too spicy yet a little on the citrus side. Doesn't have that piney flavor some IPA's have. This one definitely gets a 5 out of 5 beer chips!

2009-03-24T08:26:00.003-04:00

Front row tickets to the Pens/Kings Game.....$253.00

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale....$7.75

Watching the Pens crush the Kings 4-1 with my son....priceless!

Kris Letang......

The Flower says No!

Evgeni Malkin

My son and I entering the Igloo

The soon to be "new Igloo"

The Igloo 3/20/2009

2009-03-16T22:17:00.002-04:00

Tried the Leinenkugel's Classic Amber tonight (3/16/09) and was quite impressed. Definitely session beer for sure. At 4.9% abv, this malty beer was very easy to drink. Not much of a hop taste to it but definitely somewhat spicy. This amber was a little more clear than I had expected but definitely something to try if you are into a Yuengling type beer. Try one! 3 out of 5 beer chips!

2009-03-15T18:36:00.009-04:00

face off

contemplating....on which move to bust out next!

yea what? oh they didn't know? ha they should recognize the Ums

school is in session

they didn't know about me

yea...

Ma team So we went to Mount Pleasant this weekend to play in a roller hockey tournament. We played well but yet we didn't win it all...next time!

2009-03-11T23:22:00.004-04:00

This used to be my favorite IPA til I came across the Nugget Nirvana ha ha. This one from Victory clocks in at 6.7% abv and it is packed with hops. The wonderful floral aroma just tickles the nose and the spicy/citrus/earthy taste engulfs the taste buds. Definitely a full bodied IPA, this lightly carbonated IPA delivers! 5 out of 5 beer chips!

Ahh...Weyerbacher Hops Infusion. What can I say? This 6.2% abv IPA definitely has a lot of malt characteristics among it's flowery hop aroma/taste. Not so much on the citrus side as some others I have had, but definitely a good brew! It is definitely on the spicy side as it is packed with 7 different kinds of hops. Great body! 4 out of 5 beer chips!

Next up in the Samuel Adams Imperial Stout. Whoa! @ 9.2% abv, this deep brown stout caught me off guard. I was expecting something a little different because all I really smelled was the alcohol and something like coffee. Definitely roasted malts here, this one was a little on the medium bodied side as I expect some more from it. Mouthfeel is dry, yet not as bitter as one would expect. This one receives a 3 out of 5 beer chips.

Ok so tonight I got the chance to try a few new beers as well as some i've had in the past. First off is the all new Samuel Adams Imperial Series Double Bock. This clocks in at 9.5% abv. This one definitely has a chocolate and coffee aroma to it. The presence of alcohol is definitely there in the taste and in the smell. Overall not too bad for an imperial! Deep amber in color, this malty brew was decent for the style. Nothing to brag about, but definitely worth giving a shot if you are into imperial double bocks. 3 beer chips out of 5!

2009-03-10T23:02:00.002-04:00

Ok so tonight the Pens won in a shootout tonight (3-10-2009) so I decided to have a victory beer! Tonight's choice was the Atwater Brewing Winter Bock. This 7.5% abv bock was surprisingly smooth despite the high alcohol content. It was really on the sweet side with a nice malt taste. Little hop taste to it as it goes down the throat. Funny thing is, it has such a sweet candy taste to it, it doesn't taste like your traditional chocolately malted bock! Hmm...I will be looking forward to this next year! 3 beer chips out of 5! gotta try one!

2009-03-09T23:26:00.003-04:00

OK so this one here I had awhile ago and forgot I had taken the picture so i'm posting this one now. This is the Voodoo Black Magick from Voodoo Brewing Co. out of Meadville, PA. This one dials in @ 15% abv. Minimal head/lacing. The taste of alcohol is definitely there, yet it has such a chocolatey/vanilla taste to it. It also has a bourbon taste to it due to the fact that it has been aged up to a year in bourbon barrels. Slight roasted malt taste..not much hoppiness to it but happiness it brings! It was rather a little on the thin side as far as the body but the complexity of the taste definitely made up for it. As far as imperial stouts goes...this one receives a 4 out of 5.

2009-03-09T11:30:00.005-04:00

Sid the Kid wins another one in an amazing shootout!

Ahhh...of course one for the victory! This time it is the Samuel Smith Imperial Stout! Rich and flavorful! This dark colored beer has a roasted barley aroma, with it's complex malt/hoppy taste, this is truly an awesome imperial stout. 7.0% abv. 5 beer chips out of 5!

My dog Troy (Polamalu) watching the Pens game with us. He gives high fives when you yell touchdown during football games! Good boy!

AugustinerBrau Maximator. At 7.5% abv, this german doppelbock was excellent. Dark and robust with a coffee/roasted grain taste. Nice and malty. Definitely a must try if you enjoy doppelbocks! 4 out of 5 beer chips.

Ok so here is the Godfather of Brew pouring our next brew as we attempt to finish watching the 3rd period of the Pens game outside.

2009-03-08T15:56:00.006-04:00

Ahh...Pens...Dogfish.....can't go wrong
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron. 12% abv...got a smooth taste....malty yet almost like Teriyaki taste...different tasting for sure. Caramel type taste as well. Definitely worth trying! 3 beer chips out of 5

Steve enjoying some Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron

Ok so today Steve and I are watching the Pens vs. Caps...So I came across a few beers to try. First off was the Sam Adams Imperial White. At 10.3% abv...this imperial white was quite different than what I had expected. It is definitely a lot darker than what I thought it would be. I almost looks like an IPA or something. The alcohol is definitely there...you can taste it like it was JACK...not too much of a "white" taste to it. Not cloudy at all. hmm...2 out of 5 beer chips. Disappointed. :(

2009-03-05T00:01:00.003-05:00

My son, wife, and I watching the Yankees in Baltimore last year (Yankees scored 10 runs in 1 inning that game! It was truly awesome)

Luke, I am your father...ha ha...Me passing on wisdom of the game to the young grasshoppa that will rule the game.

Ok so here is my retirement fund...oh I mean here is my son playing baseball.....he was only 6 at the time.....

2009-03-04T23:57:00.004-05:00

Ok so here is a pic of me playing some ice hockey (kicking ass!) Figured I would throw this one up there for shits and giggles. ps.....bring it!

2009-03-04T23:47:00.002-05:00

Ok so on March 20th, I think it's a Friday you will have to watch the Pens game. I got tix to it and I am taking my son to it....we have seats right next to the opponent's sin bin. Watch as I will do something funny during the game...hopefully on camera. Maybe I will be holding a 16oz. Labatt Blue or maybe I will be doing something else.....either way check it out! GO PENS!!!!

2009-03-04T23:10:00.004-05:00

Ok...here is Stoney's....this beer is definitely something else. I know everyone knows me as the "Beer Geek", but it doesn't mean I won't try any lower end beers. Stoney's has been around for a long, long time. This is a lager type beer that is all grain...no added sugar or preservatives. It is very smooth and refreshing in that "I just got done mowing the lawn" type of beer. Who needs plain ol' H2O to rehydrate you when you have Stoney's! After all beer does rehydrate you faster than water! (not as quick as gatorade and such) Not bad but this beer does carry a premium price which I just cannot justify. 2 out of 5 beer chips!

Ooooh....Lionshead....college beer for sure but I figured I would throw this one up here since it has a cool puzzle underneath every cap. This is definitely a session beer as far as beer pong is concerned haha ha. This beer is made with hops, malt...and yea you guessed it...corn. Go figure...one of the cheapest ingredients to mass produce a beer like this. Actually it doesn't really have that MillerCoors/AB type flavor to it...a little sweet and definitely has (as Bud Light says D-rink-a-bilit-y) lol. Something decent on the cheap.....2 beer chips out of 5!

Ahh...this is a beer I have had before when I lived in Phoenix, AZ. A good IPA which was well balanced, yet still had a nice hoppy bite to it. At 6.8% abv, this one did have a kick to it which used to creep up on me and bite me in the ass! Has a unique citrus flavor with a pretty dry finish for an IPA. 4 out of 5 beer chips! Get your Mojo back and try one!

Saturday February 28th, 2009...Steve and I set out to Uno's to try some beers!!! We came across a few...here are some that I will review...the rest is up to Steve...the Godfather of Brew ha aha. First up was the Sam Adams Cream Stout. Wow what a beer....true to the cream stout gods...this stout goes beyond what I had originally imagined. A very sweet beer which is very rich and has a somewhat sweet taste. 4.9% abv is a relatively decent abv for a stout like this one, this brew is very easy on the palate and goes down very smooth. Chocolate and coffee notes I do taste, yet it is not overbearing. Definitely a good brew! 4 out of 5 beer chips for sure!

2009-03-01T15:42:00.000-05:00

10 Health Reasons to Drink a Beer

1. Reduces General Heart Disease - Vitamin B6, found in beer, preventsthe build-up of homocysteine, an amino acid which has been linked to heartdisease. Higher levels of homocysteine in our bodies can make us moresusceptible to vascular and heart diseases.
2. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) -Case studies have shown that 30-35% ofmen who drink beer in moderation are less likely to have heart attacks.Polyphenol, an antioxidant, is just as much present in beer as it is inred wines.
3. Reduces Risk of Coronary Thrombosis - Coronary thrombosis occurs whenthe opening of an artery becomes so small, the flow of blood is blocked.Beer acts as a blood thinner, reducing the risk of a heart attack.
4. Reduces Risk of Atherosclerosis -Beer boosts levels of high-densitylipoprotein (HDL), the good cholesterol, lowers insulin levels, which isgood for non-diabetics because it reduces the chance of developingatherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.
5. Reduces Risk of Kidney Stones - It is not 100% certain why kidneystones form. Genetics and diet have played a major role with thoseindividuals who develop them. Kidney stones may be reduced in middle-agedmen by 40%. Scientists are unsure if these results were due to the water,alcohol, or hops.
6. Insomnia - A common disorder that affects 1 out of every 10 adults. Agood night sleep is beneficial for you energy level and mood. The generalaffect of beer has a tendency to make one drowsy.
7. Cancer - The hops in beer contain xanthohumol, a powerful antioxidant.Concentrations of xanthohumol occur naturally in dark beer and can assistyour body in stopping the early stages of tumor growth.
8. Reduces Osteoporosis - Hops in beer contain phyto-estrogens, a compoundthat will help reduce hot flashes and fight osteoporosis in postmenopausalwomen. Beer should not be used as a replacement for estrogen therapy.
9. Lowers Cholesterol - Moderate consumption of beer has been shown toincrease the HDL cholesterol and lowers the low-density lipoprotein (LDL),also know as the “bad cholesterol” in postmenopausal women. Analyzed datasuggests more than one or two servings per day is not productive andconsidered detrimental.
10. Hypertension - Studies have shown a 14% lowered risk in high bloodpressure by women consuming two or three beers a week. Hypertension is adisease where the blood pressure is chronically elevated.An average 12oz beer contains 150 calories, no fat, no cholesterol, nocaffeine, and is 92% water."

2009-02-26T23:51:00.003-05:00

Tonight I sampled Sam Smith Oatmeal Stout. This has to be one of the best Oatmeal Stouts out on the market today. It clocks in at 5.0% abv which isn't too bad for a stout. It is obviously almost black in color. Very smooth, velvety and mellow with chocolately and malt notes. Very lightly carbonated. It has a unique bitterness to it. I give this 5 out of 5 beer chips. Gotta get your hands on one of these. Costs about $56.00 a case and worth every penny! Damn, those English in Tadcaster know how to make a good stout!

2009-02-24T14:59:00.008-05:00

Ahhhh....Hop Nirvana straight from the tap....

Finally everything is ready to go...just need to adjust fridge temp and co2 pressure. I am trying to keep my keg temp between the recommended temperatures of 36-38 degrees, and a c02 pressure between 12-14 psi.

See...I told you I put it on the side ha ha, second handle coming soon....
I opted to go for a side mounted spout instead of the door due to the fact that my wife and I still use the freezer. If I had done the door the tap handle would probably interfere with opening and closing of the freezer door, so the side it is!

Hole drilled, everything hooked up ready to...just need a co2 tank and of course...my 1/6 keg of Troeg's Nugget Nectar which was featured earlier in this blog.

Shelves out...rest of beer on the door

Da fridge.....

So I just opened up the conversion kit for my fridge. mmm...draft beer....

2009-02-23T23:27:00.008-05:00

This is the Dreamweaver wheat at 4.8% abv. Nice and cloudy the way it should be. This beer has a yeasty yet fruity taste to it. Can't pin down the fruit but man does this go down good! A perfect summer beer for sure. Has almost a spicy taste to it....pepper? I dunno but this beer is worth a try at 3 out of 5 beer chips!

Oooh this is the Rugged Trail Nut Brown Ale! I got a keg of this for my wedding. This beer went over with the crowd very well! At 4.4% abv I knew my guests would not be getting out of hand ha ha. This beer is very dark colored yet not as heavy as it looks. Definitely a good session beer with it's smooth taste and hints of chocolate notes. More on the sweet side than bitter which is just ok with me! 4 out of 5 beer chips!

Next up is the Hopback Amber. Delicious!! What can I say...an amber colored full hopped brew worthy of the Hop Gods. Well balanced. Nice malty yet very hoppy taste. Very floral/hoppy aroma. Damn...this is truly a great brew. (6% abv) 5 out of 5 beer chips!

First was the Troeg's Pale Ale. (5.4% abv) This brew is copper colored with a medium body. Good amount of hops in this which creates a very floral aroma and citrus taste. mmm 4 beer chips out of 5!

Tonight (Monday Feb. 23rd) I am trying out a variety pack from Troeg's Brewing Company. Since Steve is in Pittsburgh for a couple days I went at this alone.

Uno's

2009-02-23T11:37:00.007-05:00

My wife Kim (on the left) and her friend Amanda aka Red. Red hasn't been to Alcatraz yet but close! ha ha

Here is Steve, always up for an adventure.

Ahh...one of my standby beers. If I can't decide on anything I usually will go to this...I'm such a hophead! haha Anyway, this beer has a full body to it with a deep amber color. At 5.6% abv, this classic is one of Sierra Nevada's flagship beers. Complex in character, you can tell that generous amounts of hops were poured into this beer as the fragrant aroma and spicy taste warms the taste buds!

Saturday Feb. 21, Unos....We decided to come to Uno's because they normally have a great selection of taps (and bottles hidden along a wall that I think nobody knows even though there is glass that you can see through). Plus all of the bartenders are very cool! Today I decided to go with the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

2009-02-23T11:34:00.005-05:00

Friday Feb. 20th we had decided to go to a bar in Altoona called Fatty's Pub to see my friends The Wasp and Red Fury play. Wicked....except for that funny blonde chick that was hammered dancing around aimlessly. All in all a good night! They play at Fatty's every Friday night from 9pm-?? Come check them out!

2009-02-23T11:20:00.006-05:00

After the Pens won...and I finished my brown ale, I decided to have a victory beer. What better beer to choose than the classic pale ale! Marzoni's Patchway Pale Ale has a medium body with a wonderful hop aroma. It is very nicely hopped up. Great Pale Ale. 4 out of 5 beer chips! Way to go Bill!

ps. Bill Kroft is the Brewmaster here at Marzoni's! I will later do a feature on him!

So the first thing I did was order their current "brewer's choice" which was a Brown Ale. mmm delicious!!! An excellent session beer to watch hockey games! Nice brown color with some excellent lacing on the glass. This beer has an excellent malty/caramel taste similar to most brown ales I have had. Definitely worth giving a try! 4 out of 5 beer chips!!

Let's go Pens!! (Pens eventually won 5-4!)

Thursday Feb. 19th I decided to meet Steve after work to finish watching the Penguins game against the Montreal Canadians at Marzoni's. Marzoni's is the local brew pub located in Duncansville, PA. They have 6 regular taps and usually 2 rotation seasonals. They normally are brewing a Locke Mountain Light (3.7% abv), Amber Lager (6.1% abv), Highway 22 Wheat (4.7% abv), Avalanche IPA (6.9% abv), Patchway Pale Ale (5.5% abv), and their Stone Mason Stout (6.1% abv).

2009-02-18T21:50:00.009-05:00

Me enjoying the awesomeness of the Special Double Cream Stout!

Here is Steve enjoying his beer!

The next beer we are going to review is Bell's Special Double Cream Stout which is available at the Brew Zoo during the winter months. It runs about 6.1% abv. It is very, very smooth. It has a very mellow, robust notes and sweet taste. Excellent finish! We give this fine brew 5 beer chips out of 5!

Troeg's Nugget Nectar

2009-02-18T21:43:00.004-05:00

Today we are trying 2 different beers...1 of course is what you see...the Troeg's Nugget Nectar which is a Feb.1 release which is available for about 2 months. This is an Imperial Amber Ale (more like an Imperial IPA by the taste of it). It is a very hoppy beer with a wonderful aroma that you can smell as soon as you pop the cap off. The ibu's are around 93ish which we pleasantly surprised with. Very hoppy yet not as bitter tasting as one would expect. Well balanced for sure. Definitely one of the best beers I have ever had. Runs about $37.95 plus tax for a case. We used the Troeg's 12oz. glassware bought from Troegs.com. We give this beer 5 beer chips out of 5!

Partner in crime!

2009-02-18T21:26:00.002-05:00

This is my partner in crime Steve Harker...he will be going on many tasting adventures with me!

Brew Zoo

2009-02-18T17:16:00.000-05:00

Here is the Brew Zoo......a beer lover's paradise!

A little bit about me...

2009-02-18T17:05:00.000-05:00

First you should know a little about me! I am the Manager at Cassidy's Brew Zoo. We have the largest selection of beer between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. Over 600 different kinds of beer come and go through our store over the course of a year. We sell brand named macro beers such as Miller, Bud, Coors, etc.... as well as a huge selection of Craft beers and Imports. I have tried over 1200 different kinds of beer in my short lifetime. I am orginally from Hollidaysburg, but have travelled around the country taking up residence in Scottsdale, Arizona and Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. I have also played on a travelling roller hockey team that went to NY, NJ, OH, etc... During all of this time I consider myself lucky to be able to tasted many different beers. So here I am blogging about it so maybe I can teach something to somebody out there about beer! I am an advocate of beer, not a beer snob! There is no such thing as a bad beer, it's just there are some that taste better than others! Enjoy!

My first blog!

2009-02-18T16:34:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! After years of contemplating doing this I finally said what the hell and decided to get the ball rolling. This is my first blog and basically what is going to happen is I am going to take you with me on my adventures with beer. I will be traveling, tasting, rating, and writing about beer! So let the adventures begin!