The FeBREWary meeting will be held on Saturday the 20th. This is one week later than usual, due to the Blue-Gray Brewerianna Show 11-13 Feb.
The Beer Style of the Month (BSTOM) will be Barleywine, with a vertical of Bigfoot graciously offered by Robert Fondren.
In addition, the meeting will be held at Lyle Brown's house. Lyle is celebrating his 50th Birthday! We will have burgers on the grill after the meeting, and there is no specific end time projected for this event.
Please send Lyle a note if you will be attending, so he can send you his address and directions. We will not be publishing that on the internet!
Email Lyle
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Date / Style of November Meeting
The next FABTS meeting will be held at Kybecca on November 14th, 2009. The style for November is Brown Ales. Looking forward to it.
October FABTS Meeting
This month's FABTS meeting was held at Kybecca today. The style of the month was Harvest Ales. During the meeting we sampled the following beers.
I think the two winners in the group were the Popperinge Hommel and the Clipper City.
- Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale (Michelob)
- Otter Creek Oktoberfest Autumn Ale
- Smuttynose Pumpkin
- Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale
- Cottonwood Pumpkin
- Popperinge Hommel (hop harvest!)
- Southern Tier Pumking - imperial pumpkin
- Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale
- Great Divide Fresh Hop Pale Ale
- Clipper City Heavy Seas Mutiny Fleet "The Great Pumpkin" Imperial Pumpkin Ale
- Fordham Close Encounter Harvest Ale
- Fisherman’s Pumpkin Stout
- Arcadia Ales Jaw-Jacker (ale with cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg added)
- Founder's Harvest Ale
- Weyerbacher AutumnFest Ale
- Mendocino Autumn Lager (only noticed as I type that is states "Märzen style")
- Great Divide Hibernation Ale (old ale – not specifically labeled a harvest beer, but hibernation prep is certainly autumnal in nature)
- Lupulus, an amber from Brasserie Les 3 Fourquets (7.5%)
I think the two winners in the group were the Popperinge Hommel and the Clipper City.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
April FABTS Meeting
April was our 4th installment of Big Beers. I think we finally finished all the Strong beers. We also had a special toast at 2pm to coincide with the CAMRA Cask Ale Week. A reporter and photographer were there from the Free Lance Star to document the World Record attempt. Check out the status of the world record toast here. We toasted with Lyle's Trafalgar Premium Bitter. A great session beer he plans to brew at The Pub.
After the toast we sampled a total of 19 beers. Here's the list and a few tasting notes.
Moa Original Lager (New Zealand’s native Moa is the only beer to be fermented in the bottle, like French champagne. This was a donation from Chad.)
Dogfish Head Fort '06
Dogfish Head Fort '07
N'ice Chouffe Christmas Ale
Weyerbacher Fireside Ale
Troegs Flying Mouflan (This was a donation from Edwin at Virginia Wine Experience)
Unibroue Edition 2005
Bell's Hell Hath No Fury
Lost Abbey The Gift of the Maji Bier de Gaarde
Lyle's homebrew with bret Vinnification
Lyle's Flanders Red
Avery Brabant Barrel-aged Wild Ale
Avery Collaboration Not Litigation '08
Maredsous Dubbel
Dogfis Head Immortal Ale
Sonoran Brewing 100
Jimbo's Saison homebrew
Green Flash Le' Freak
Holy Mackerel Special Golden Ale
We're finally finished with the Strong Beers. Next month's meeting is scheduled for May 9th and the Styles for the month are Maibocks, Trippels and Golden Trippels.
After the toast we sampled a total of 19 beers. Here's the list and a few tasting notes.
Moa Original Lager (New Zealand’s native Moa is the only beer to be fermented in the bottle, like French champagne. This was a donation from Chad.)
Dogfish Head Fort '06
Dogfish Head Fort '07
N'ice Chouffe Christmas Ale
Weyerbacher Fireside Ale
Troegs Flying Mouflan (This was a donation from Edwin at Virginia Wine Experience)
Unibroue Edition 2005
Bell's Hell Hath No Fury
Lost Abbey The Gift of the Maji Bier de Gaarde
Lyle's homebrew with bret Vinnification
Lyle's Flanders Red
Avery Brabant Barrel-aged Wild Ale
Avery Collaboration Not Litigation '08
Maredsous Dubbel
Dogfis Head Immortal Ale
Sonoran Brewing 100
Jimbo's Saison homebrew
Green Flash Le' Freak
Holy Mackerel Special Golden Ale
We're finally finished with the Strong Beers. Next month's meeting is scheduled for May 9th and the Styles for the month are Maibocks, Trippels and Golden Trippels.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
March FABTS Meeting
The March FABTS meeting is this Saturday, March 21st at Kybecca on Plank Road. We are on our 3rd installment of Big Beers. The January meeting focused on the Dark Big Beers. Think Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot or North Coast Russian Imperial Stout. The February Big Beers meeting had lighter and hoppier big beers; barley wines mostly. Our 3rd installment will be whatever Big Beers we have left over. The partial list of beers we have so far is below.
2x 12oz Sierra Nevada Torpedo (7.2%)
2x 12oz Starr Hill The Gift (Hellerbock - 6.5%)
2x 12oz Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA (9%)
2x 12oz Victory St. Victorious Doppelbock (8.5%)
2x 12oz Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA (8.50%)
1x 750ml Brasserie Artisinale de Rulles Biere de Gaume Tripel (8.4%)
1x 750ml Dogfish Head Fort 2006 (17%)
1x 750ml Dogfish Head Fort 2007 (17%)
2x 12oz Sierra Nevada Torpedo (7.2%)
2x 12oz Starr Hill The Gift (Hellerbock - 6.5%)
2x 12oz Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA (9%)
2x 12oz Victory St. Victorious Doppelbock (8.5%)
2x 12oz Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA (8.50%)
1x 750ml Brasserie Artisinale de Rulles Biere de Gaume Tripel (8.4%)
1x 750ml Dogfish Head Fort 2006 (17%)
1x 750ml Dogfish Head Fort 2007 (17%)
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Capital Ale House this week
On New Years Day at 5pm, Capital Ale House will be tapping two very special, limited edition kegs from Dogfish Head Brewery!
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout - 18.8% ABV for $10.50.
Dogfish Head Fort Delaware - 18% ABV for $10.50. (The world's strongest fruit {raspberry} beer.)
On Sunday, January 4th, CAH is hosting a Bell's Beer & Cheese Tasting. 5 Bells beers and 5 cheeses for $10.00 per person.
Next weeks Steal-the-Glass night (January 6th) is featuring Bells Brewery. They are going to have Bells Amber, Best Brown and Cherry Stout.
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout - 18.8% ABV for $10.50.
Dogfish Head Fort Delaware - 18% ABV for $10.50. (The world's strongest fruit {raspberry} beer.)
On Sunday, January 4th, CAH is hosting a Bell's Beer & Cheese Tasting. 5 Bells beers and 5 cheeses for $10.00 per person.
Next weeks Steal-the-Glass night (January 6th) is featuring Bells Brewery. They are going to have Bells Amber, Best Brown and Cherry Stout.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
FABTS December Meeting and Homework
The December FABTS meeting is scheduled for December 13 at 1:30pm. Lyle and Robyn Brown have cordially invited us to their house for the meeting. The style of the month is obviously Christmas / Hanukkah / Winter beers. I know we'll have a few multi-year verticals (Mad Elf, Weyerbacher, Rouge's Santa's Private Reserve) and other great seasonal beers from this year. The plan is for this meeting to be a small Christmas meal, with food. Dave F said he would be willing to do a turkey breast. Everyone attending should plan on bringing something to snack on. I'm looking forward to it!
For security reasons, Lyle does not want to post his address. Anyone interested in attending the December FABTS meeting please send an email to the FABTS email list or leave a comment to this post and we'll make sure you get the address and directions.
As I was reading Dave Turley's blog, Musings Over a Pint, he ran across and article from the website Art of Drink. Entitled Imbibers One Hundred, the author has compiled a list of 100 drinks that he believes everyone should try, at least once. He writes:
Instructions:
1) Copy this list into your blog, with instructions.
2) Bold all the drinks you’ve imbibed.
3) Cross out any items that you won’t touch
4) Post a comment at Art of Drink and link to your results.
OR
If you don’t have a blog, just email the list of one's you've tried to the FABTS mailing list and post the number in the comments section.
List of Drinks You Must Try Before You Expire.
For security reasons, Lyle does not want to post his address. Anyone interested in attending the December FABTS meeting please send an email to the FABTS email list or leave a comment to this post and we'll make sure you get the address and directions.
As I was reading Dave Turley's blog, Musings Over a Pint, he ran across and article from the website Art of Drink. Entitled Imbibers One Hundred, the author has compiled a list of 100 drinks that he believes everyone should try, at least once. He writes:
Remember, this is just a list of things you should try, not the "best of the world" list. The list is about contrast and variation of flavour. I’m sure a few scotch addict’s, vodkaphiles and beeroholics will recommend a particular brand, but in most cases, this list is style specific, instead of brand specific. But please feel free to make recommendations.I thought it would be fun for all of us to play along and discuss this on the message board and at the meeting. I've got 47.
Instructions:
1) Copy this list into your blog, with instructions.
2) Bold all the drinks you’ve imbibed.
3) Cross out any items that you won’t touch
4) Post a comment at Art of Drink and link to your results.
OR
If you don’t have a blog, just email the list of one's you've tried to the FABTS mailing list and post the number in the comments section.
List of Drinks You Must Try Before You Expire.
- Manhattan Cocktail
- Kopi Luwak (Weasle Coffee)
- French / Swiss Absinthe
- Rootbeer
- Gin Martini
- Sauternes
- Whole Milk
- Tequila (100% Agave)
- XO Cognac
- Espresso
- Spring Water (directly from the spring)
- Gin & Tonic
- Mead
- Westvleteren 12 (Yellow Cap) Trappist Ale
- Chateau d’Yquem
- Budweiser
- Maraschino Liqueur
- Mojito
- Orgeat
- Grand Marnier
- Mai Tai (original)
- Ice Wine (Canadian)
- Red Bull
- Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
- Bubble Tea
- Tokaji
- Chicory
- Islay Scotch
- Pusser’s Navy Rum
- Fernet Branca
- Fresh Pressed Apple Cider
- Bourbon
- Australian Shiraz
- Buckley’s Cough Syrup
- Orange Bitters
- Margarita (classic recipe)
- Molasses & Milk
- Chimay Blue
- Wine of Pines (Tepache)
- Green Tea
- Daiginjo Sake
- Chai Tea
- Vodka (chilled, straight)
- Coca-Cola
- Zombie (Beachcomber recipe)
- Barley Wine
- Brewed Choclate (Xocolatl)
- Pisco Sour
- Lemonade
- Speyside Single Malt
- Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee
- Champagne (Vintage)
- Rosé (French)
- Bellini
- Caipirinha
- White Zinfandel (Blush)
- Coconut Water
- Cerveza
- Cafe au Lait
- Ice Tea
- Pedro Ximenez Sherry
- Vintage Port
- Hot Chocolate
- German Riesling
- Pina Colada
- El Dorado 15 Year Rum
- Chartreuse
- Greek Wine
- Negroni
- Jägermeister
- Chicha
- Guiness
- Rhum Agricole
- Palm Wine
- Soju
- Ceylon Tea (High Grown)
- Belgian Lambic
- Mongolian Airag
- Doogh, Lassi or Ayran
- Sugarcane Juice
- Ramos Gin Fizz
- Singapore Sling
- Mint Julep
- Old Fashioned
- Perique
- Jenever (Holland Gin)
- Chocolate Milkshake
- Traditional Italian Barolo
- Pulque
- Natural Sparkling Water
- Cuban Rum
- Asti Spumante
- Irish Whiskey
- Château Margaux
- Two Buck Chuck
- Screech
- Akvavit
- Rye Whisky
- German Weissbier
- Daiquiri (classic)
Big FABTS update... Finally recovered from the Mead meeting in August.
It's been a while since the website was updated. After the August Mead meeting at Kybecca (and the two days it took to recover), we had an Octoberfest beers meeting at Virginia Wine Experience in September. I really liked the setup Edwin Wyant has upstairs for the tasting, it's like a cool little pub / bar scene. Nice and cozy. Lyle brought the last of his winning Sam Adams Long Shot First Place beer, Bamberg Hellerbock. We also had beers from Penn Brewing, Left Hand, Mendocino, Ayinger, Victory, Hacker-Pschorr, Starr Hill, Bethesda Rock Bottom, Sam Adams and Paulaner.
Our October meeting was held at Kybecca and the style of the month was Harvest beers. This was the first meeting I hadn't made in a while, so I don't have that much in the way of details. The members that were there enjoyed Dogfish Head Midas Touch, Redhook Late Harvest Ale, Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale and numerous Pumpkin Ales from Saranac, Cottonwood, Wild Goose, and Weyerbacher.
Lyle kept on his winning ways in October. His Rauch Heller-Bock, brewed with Star Hill Brewing for the Pro-Am competition at GABF, won a Silver Medal!! We have been treated to this beer numerous times at our meetings and everyone agrees it's a great beer. It would go perfect with any smoked-meats or barbeque. Lyle also won Best of Show at the Valhalla Mead Competition!
The Fredericksburg beer scene also got a great new hangout. The Capital Ale House finally opened downtown at 917 Caroline Street. It features an 80 ft. ice bar, a cold case at celler temperature down in the basement for public viewing, a private dining room and a place to hang out in the back to play games and darts. They print out their vast beer menu every Friday. There are 62 beers on Tap and 300 in the bottle. Monday nights are $1.00 hamburger / $1.50 cheeseburger night, Tuesday night is "Steal the Glass" night. There's a featured brewery and when you order their beer you can take home the logo glass. Wednesday night is Two for One Wings night. And finally, on Sunday for brunch it's American Micro day when the best of their domestic drafts goes for $3.00/pint until 5:00pm. The place has been packed since it opened. I hope it stays that way and they have great success. The FABTS group christened the place on Friday November 7, when Lyle's GABF Silver Medal beer, Smoke Out, was tapped.
Aaron Zaccagnino, aka Zacc, posted a great summary of the Fredericksburg Brewing Insiders (FBI) of their National Teach a friend to Home Brew Day at Blue and Gray Brewing Company. They had a respectable turn out; about 30 folks were interested in the displays and had loads of questions. Pat did a fabulous job with "Sample" table. He had bowls of the various grains that people could taste with information cards for them, and bowls of hops for people to smell to broaden their sensory appreciation. Outside the Brewery they made 6 gallons of wort for an American Blond Ale and had hot dogs for those who stuck around to watch them brew. Roxbury Farms and Garden had a great display of all things available for the beginner home brewer. They even had Kenny Hunter of Coffer Roasters of Fredericksburg Gourmet Coffee who had set up with samples as well. Sounds like they had a great time. If you're interested in brewing, in addition to FABTS, please look into attending an FBI meeting and visit their website at www.Fredhomebrew.org.
The November FABTS meeting featured beers that you would serve at Thanksgiving. This would included anything that goes well with the traditional foods of the day. Of course, there was much emphasis on turkey, but we didn't forget the pumpkin pie, stuffing, cranberries, mincemeat, and all the trimmings. There were a lot of Belgian-style Saisons and Biere de Gardes, as well as Tripels.
Phew! Lots of stuff happened since August. The one consistent thing I will leave you with is that all of us should do our best to support our local beer establisments and I will try to be better about keeping up with the posts.
Our October meeting was held at Kybecca and the style of the month was Harvest beers. This was the first meeting I hadn't made in a while, so I don't have that much in the way of details. The members that were there enjoyed Dogfish Head Midas Touch, Redhook Late Harvest Ale, Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale and numerous Pumpkin Ales from Saranac, Cottonwood, Wild Goose, and Weyerbacher.
Lyle kept on his winning ways in October. His Rauch Heller-Bock, brewed with Star Hill Brewing for the Pro-Am competition at GABF, won a Silver Medal!! We have been treated to this beer numerous times at our meetings and everyone agrees it's a great beer. It would go perfect with any smoked-meats or barbeque. Lyle also won Best of Show at the Valhalla Mead Competition!
The Fredericksburg beer scene also got a great new hangout. The Capital Ale House finally opened downtown at 917 Caroline Street. It features an 80 ft. ice bar, a cold case at celler temperature down in the basement for public viewing, a private dining room and a place to hang out in the back to play games and darts. They print out their vast beer menu every Friday. There are 62 beers on Tap and 300 in the bottle. Monday nights are $1.00 hamburger / $1.50 cheeseburger night, Tuesday night is "Steal the Glass" night. There's a featured brewery and when you order their beer you can take home the logo glass. Wednesday night is Two for One Wings night. And finally, on Sunday for brunch it's American Micro day when the best of their domestic drafts goes for $3.00/pint until 5:00pm. The place has been packed since it opened. I hope it stays that way and they have great success. The FABTS group christened the place on Friday November 7, when Lyle's GABF Silver Medal beer, Smoke Out, was tapped.
Aaron Zaccagnino, aka Zacc, posted a great summary of the Fredericksburg Brewing Insiders (FBI) of their National Teach a friend to Home Brew Day at Blue and Gray Brewing Company. They had a respectable turn out; about 30 folks were interested in the displays and had loads of questions. Pat did a fabulous job with "Sample" table. He had bowls of the various grains that people could taste with information cards for them, and bowls of hops for people to smell to broaden their sensory appreciation. Outside the Brewery they made 6 gallons of wort for an American Blond Ale and had hot dogs for those who stuck around to watch them brew. Roxbury Farms and Garden had a great display of all things available for the beginner home brewer. They even had Kenny Hunter of Coffer Roasters of Fredericksburg Gourmet Coffee who had set up with samples as well. Sounds like they had a great time. If you're interested in brewing, in addition to FABTS, please look into attending an FBI meeting and visit their website at www.Fredhomebrew.org.
The November FABTS meeting featured beers that you would serve at Thanksgiving. This would included anything that goes well with the traditional foods of the day. Of course, there was much emphasis on turkey, but we didn't forget the pumpkin pie, stuffing, cranberries, mincemeat, and all the trimmings. There were a lot of Belgian-style Saisons and Biere de Gardes, as well as Tripels.
Phew! Lots of stuff happened since August. The one consistent thing I will leave you with is that all of us should do our best to support our local beer establisments and I will try to be better about keeping up with the posts.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
August FABTS Meeting - Meads
Our August meeting is fast approaching. The style of the month is Mead. Mead is a fermented alcoholic beverage made of honey, water, and yeast. It's also the oldest fermented alcoholic beverage. I don't know about you, but everytime I think about mead I envision being in 10th grade and having to read Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Mead is the perfect drink for Renaissance festivals to get in the mood. The BJCP has a great introduction to mead for those like me that are not as familiar with this drink.
We will be meeting next Saturday, August 9th, at Kybecca on Plank Rd. We will have at least 3 home brewed meads from our members plus some commercial examples. I made my first stop at State Line Liquors in Maryland and I finally know why everyone raves about that place. They have the best beer selection I've seen. I picked up a local Maryland meadery's offering. I suggest you take the few minutes to stop by if you're traveling up or down I-95 between Delaware and Maryland.
Here's the list of meads so far for our meeting:
Commercial
Medieval Mead (Berrywine Plantation - Mt. Airy, MD) - James Russ
Homebrews
Lyle Brown - 2 meads
Joe Gherlone
We will be meeting next Saturday, August 9th, at Kybecca on Plank Rd. We will have at least 3 home brewed meads from our members plus some commercial examples. I made my first stop at State Line Liquors in Maryland and I finally know why everyone raves about that place. They have the best beer selection I've seen. I picked up a local Maryland meadery's offering. I suggest you take the few minutes to stop by if you're traveling up or down I-95 between Delaware and Maryland.
Here's the list of meads so far for our meeting:
Commercial
Medieval Mead (Berrywine Plantation - Mt. Airy, MD) - James Russ
Homebrews
Lyle Brown - 2 meads
Joe Gherlone
Monday, July 14, 2008
Beers of the July FABTS Meeting
I couldn't think of a better way to show our patriotic side than drinking all types of American ales. We had a great assortment of beers. Thanks to Kybecca for hosting and donating the Anchor Steam and Coney Island Swordswallower and all the members that donated beers. (If I missed your donation, let me know.)
I picked out a few of what I thought were the group's favorites during the meeting and put them in an online poll. So be sure to vote in our July poll prior to our August 9th meeting.
American Ales
I picked out a few of what I thought were the group's favorites during the meeting and put them in an online poll. So be sure to vote in our July poll prior to our August 9th meeting.
American Ales
- Kona Wailua Wheat
- Legend Golden Ale
- Fiddler's Green Blond Ale
- Bosmo's Imperial Cream Ale - Joe Gherlone
- Alaskan Winter (Spruce) Ale - Joe Gherlone
- Avery Ellie's Brown Ale - David Turley
- Williamsburg AleWorks "400" Ale - James Russ
- Tommyknocker Imperial Nut Brown Ale - Joe Gherlone
- Anchor Steam Beer - Kybecca
- Coney Island Sword Swallower - Kybecca
- Boston Beer LongShot Grape Pale Ale - Joe Gherlone
- Bluegrass Brewing American Pale Ale
- Left Hand Jackman's American Pale Ale
- Butternuts Porkslap Pale Ale - Scott Fisher
- Butternuts Snapperhead IPA - Scott Fisher
- Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale
- Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale
- Flying Dog Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale
- Port Brewing Hop 15 - Joe Gherlone
- Bell's Two Hearted Ale - David Turley
- Victory HopDevil
- Southern Tier Hoppe - James Russ
- Moylan's Hopsickle - Joe Gherlone
- Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine - Joe Gherlone
- Alaskan Barley Wine - Joe Gherlone
- Old Dominion Millennium Ale - David Turley
- Bell's Kalamazoo Stout - David Turley
- Alaskan Smoked Porter - Joe Gherlone
- Applewood Smoked Honey Pumpkin Ale - Dave Frederickson
- English Spoken Here" English IPA - Joe Gherlone
- Radiant Copper IPA - Joe Gherlone
Saturday, June 28, 2008
July FABTS Meeting Style of the Month - American Ales
July is American Beer Month (for obvious reasons), so the style will be American Ales. This includes American Pale Ales, American Ambers, American IPA, even American-style Barleywines and American Wheat beers! Below are the BJCP ale styles with "American" in the style name along with their commercial examples.6. LIGHT HYBRID BEER
D. American Wheat or Rye
Commercial Examples: Bell's Oberon, Harpoon UFO Hefeweizen, Three Floyds Gumballhead, Pyramid Hefe-Weizen, Widmer Hefeweizen, Sierra Nevada Unfiltered Wheat Beer, Anchor Summer Beer, Redhook Sunrye, Real Ale Full Moon Pale Rye, Anderson Valley High Rollers Wheat Beer, O'Hanlon's Original Rye Beer
10. AMERICAN ALE
A. American Pale Ale
Commercial Examples: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Stone Pale Ale, Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale, Bear Republic XP Pale Ale, Anderson Valley Poleeko Gold Pale Ale, Deschutes Mirror Pond, Full Sail Pale Ale, Three Floyds X-Tra Pale Ale, Firestone Pale Ale, Left Hand Brewing Jackman's Pale Ale, Pyramid Pale Ale
B. American Amber Ale
Commercial Examples: North Coast Red Seal Ale, Tröegs HopBack Amber Ale, Deschutes Cinder Cone Red, Pyramid Broken Rake, St. Rogue Red Ale, Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale, Lagunitas Censored Ale, Avery Redpoint Ale, McNeill's Firehouse Amber Ale, Mendocino Red Tail Ale, Bell's Amber, Hoptown Paint the Town Red
C. American Brown Ale
Commercial Examples: Bell's Best Brown, Smuttynose Old Brown Dog Ale, Big Sky Moose Drool Brown Ale, North Coast Acme Brown, Brooklyn Brown Ale, Lost Coast Downtown Brown, Left Hand Deep Cover Brown Ale, Great Lakes Cleveland Brown Ale, Avery Ellie's Brown Ale
13. STOUT
E. American Stout
Commercial Examples: Rogue Shakespeare Stout, Deschutes Obsidian Stout, Sierra Nevada Stout, North Coast Old No. 38, Bar Harbor Cadillac Mountain Stout, Avery Out of Bounds Stout, Lost Coast 8 Ball Stout, Mad River Steelhead Extra Stout, Three Floyds Black Sun Stout, Bell's Kalamazoo Stout, Mendocino Black Hawk Stout
14. INDIA PALE ALE (IPA)
B. American IPA
Commercial Examples: Bell's Two-Hearted Ale, AleSmith IPA, Russian River Blind Pig IPA, Stone IPA, Three Floyds Alpha King, Great Divide Titan IPA, Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA, Victory Hop Devil, Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, Anderson Valley Hop Ottin', Dogfish Head 60-minute IPA, Founder's Centennial IPA, Anchor Liberty Ale, Harpoon IPA, Avery IPA, Mendocino White Hawk Select IPA
19. STRONG ALE
C. American Barleywine
Commercial Examples: Sierra Nevada Bigfoot, Great Divide Old Ruffian, Victory Old Horizontal, Rogue Old Crustacean, Avery Hog Heaven Barleywine, Bell's Third Coast Old Ale, Anchor Old Foghorn, Three Floyds Behemoth, Stone Old Guardian, Bridgeport Old Knucklehead, Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws, Lagunitas Olde GnarleyWine, Smuttynose Barleywine, Flying Dog Horn Dog, Brooklyn Monster Ale, Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot, Old Dominion Millennium, Left Hand Widdershins
June FABTS Meeting
We beat the heat on Saturday, 6/14/08 at Kybecca, with a few "Summer Beers!" So, what are summer beers? Lighter, crisper, and typically lower in alcohol so you can drink 'em all afternoon and stay upright. The best summer beers are custom-tailored for warmer weather. From wheat beers and fruit beers to summer ales and brisk lagers, we tasted a lot of what's out there.
Beer list from the meeting. Sorry, I forgot to get who donated what.
- Blue and Gray Classic Lager
- Blue Moon Honey Moon Summer Ale
- Blue and Gray Virginia Hefeweizen
- Rogue MOM Hefeweizen
- Brooklyn Summer Ale
- Saranac Pomegranate Wheat
- Smuttynose Summer Weizen
- Magic Hat Circus Boy
- New Holland Zoomer Wit
- Mendocino Summer Ale
- Dogfish Head Festina Pêche
- Southern Tier Hop Sun
- Brooklyn Summer Ale
- Tröegs Sunshine Pils
- Old Dominion Beach House Golden Pilsener
- Clipper City Red Sky At Night
- Brasserie de Blaugies Saison De L'Epeautre
Saturday, March 1, 2008
March FABTS Meeting
The March FABTS meeting will be on March 8th at 1:30PM at Bangkok Boulevard. The style for March is BJCP category English Pale Ale. Specifically, sub-categories 8A (Standard / Ordinary Bitter), 8B (Special / Best / Premium Bitter), and 8C (Extra Special / Strong Bitter). Below are the Overall Impressions and Commercial Examples from the BJCP style guide. I will update the FABTS beers when I hear what people are brining. As always, any style of homebrew is welcome and appreciated.
8. ENGLISH PALE ALE
8A. Standard/Ordinary Bitter
Overall Impression: Low gravity, low alcohol levels and low carbonation make this an easy-drinking beer. Some examples can be more malt balanced, but this should not override the overall bitter impression. Drinkability is a critical component of the style; emphasis is still on the bittering hop addition as opposed to the aggressive middle and late hopping seen in American ales.
Commercial Examples: Fuller's Chiswick Bitter, Adnams Bitter, Young's Bitter, Greene King IPA, Oakham Jeffrey Hudson Bitter (JHB), Brains Bitter, Tetley’s Original Bitter, Brakspear Bitter, Boddington's Pub Draught
FABTS Beers:
2 15oz Tetleys Bitter (widget in can) (Kevin B.)
8B. Special/Best/Premium Bitter
Overall Impression: A flavorful, yet refreshing, session beer. Some examples can be more malt balanced, but this should not override the overall bitter impression. Drinkability is a critical component of the style; emphasis is still on the bittering hop addition as opposed to the aggressive middle and late hopping seen in American ales.
Commercial Examples: Fuller's London Pride, Coniston Bluebird Bitter, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Adnams SSB, Young’s Special, Shepherd Neame Masterbrew Bitter, Greene King Ruddles County Bitter, RCH Pitchfork Rebellious Bitter, Brains SA, Black Sheep Best Bitter, Goose Island Honkers Ale, Rogue Younger’s Special Bitter
FABTS Beers:
2 15oz Ruddles County (Kevin B.)
1x 12oz Fuller's London Pride (Rob A.)
1x 19oz Bluebird Bitter (Kybecca)
8C. Extra Special/Strong Bitter (English Pale Ale)
Overall Impression: An average-strength to moderately-strong English ale. The balance may be fairly even between malt and hops to somewhat bitter. Drinkability is a critical component of the style; emphasis is still on the bittering hop addition as opposed to the aggressive middle and late hopping seen in American ales. A rather broad style that allows for considerable interpretation by the brewer.
Commercial Examples: Fullers ESB, Adnams Broadside, Shepherd Neame Bishop's Finger, Young’s Ram Rod, Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery Pale Ale, Bass Ale, Whitbread Pale Ale, Shepherd Neame Spitfire, Marston’s Pedigree, Black Sheep Ale, Vintage Henley, Mordue Workie Ticket, Morland Old Speckled Hen, Greene King Abbot Ale, Bateman's XXXB, Gale’s Hordean Special Bitter (HSB), Ushers 1824 Particular Ale, Hopback Summer Lightning, Great Lakes Moondog Ale, Shipyard Old Thumper, Alaskan ESB, Geary’s Pale Ale, Cooperstown Old Slugger, Anderson Valley Boont ESB, Avery 14’er ESB, Redhook ESB
FABTS Beers:
2 15oz Old Speckled Hen (widget in can) (Kevin B.)
1x 12oz Old Speckled Hen (bottle) (Rob A.)
2X Welsh ESB 16oz (Lyle B.)
2X Fullers ESB 16oz (Lyle B.)
2X Bass 12oz (Lyle B.)
2X Sierra Nevada ESB 12oz (Lyle B.)
2X Whitbread 12oz (Lyle B.)
2X Fullers 1845 16oz (Lyle B.)
2x 15oz Greene King Abbot Ale (widget in can) (Rob A. and Scott F.)
1x 15oz Black Sheep Monty Python's Holy Grail Ale (Rob A.)
2x 12oz Lakefront (from Milwaukee) ESB (Scott F.)
Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Pale Ale (Joe G.)
Redhook Copper Hook and/or ESB (Joe G.)
8. ENGLISH PALE ALE
8A. Standard/Ordinary Bitter
Overall Impression: Low gravity, low alcohol levels and low carbonation make this an easy-drinking beer. Some examples can be more malt balanced, but this should not override the overall bitter impression. Drinkability is a critical component of the style; emphasis is still on the bittering hop addition as opposed to the aggressive middle and late hopping seen in American ales.
Commercial Examples: Fuller's Chiswick Bitter, Adnams Bitter, Young's Bitter, Greene King IPA, Oakham Jeffrey Hudson Bitter (JHB), Brains Bitter, Tetley’s Original Bitter, Brakspear Bitter, Boddington's Pub Draught
FABTS Beers:
2 15oz Tetleys Bitter (widget in can) (Kevin B.)
8B. Special/Best/Premium Bitter
Overall Impression: A flavorful, yet refreshing, session beer. Some examples can be more malt balanced, but this should not override the overall bitter impression. Drinkability is a critical component of the style; emphasis is still on the bittering hop addition as opposed to the aggressive middle and late hopping seen in American ales.
Commercial Examples: Fuller's London Pride, Coniston Bluebird Bitter, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Adnams SSB, Young’s Special, Shepherd Neame Masterbrew Bitter, Greene King Ruddles County Bitter, RCH Pitchfork Rebellious Bitter, Brains SA, Black Sheep Best Bitter, Goose Island Honkers Ale, Rogue Younger’s Special Bitter
FABTS Beers:
2 15oz Ruddles County (Kevin B.)
1x 12oz Fuller's London Pride (Rob A.)
1x 19oz Bluebird Bitter (Kybecca)
8C. Extra Special/Strong Bitter (English Pale Ale)
Overall Impression: An average-strength to moderately-strong English ale. The balance may be fairly even between malt and hops to somewhat bitter. Drinkability is a critical component of the style; emphasis is still on the bittering hop addition as opposed to the aggressive middle and late hopping seen in American ales. A rather broad style that allows for considerable interpretation by the brewer.
Commercial Examples: Fullers ESB, Adnams Broadside, Shepherd Neame Bishop's Finger, Young’s Ram Rod, Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery Pale Ale, Bass Ale, Whitbread Pale Ale, Shepherd Neame Spitfire, Marston’s Pedigree, Black Sheep Ale, Vintage Henley, Mordue Workie Ticket, Morland Old Speckled Hen, Greene King Abbot Ale, Bateman's XXXB, Gale’s Hordean Special Bitter (HSB), Ushers 1824 Particular Ale, Hopback Summer Lightning, Great Lakes Moondog Ale, Shipyard Old Thumper, Alaskan ESB, Geary’s Pale Ale, Cooperstown Old Slugger, Anderson Valley Boont ESB, Avery 14’er ESB, Redhook ESB
FABTS Beers:
2 15oz Old Speckled Hen (widget in can) (Kevin B.)
1x 12oz Old Speckled Hen (bottle) (Rob A.)
2X Welsh ESB 16oz (Lyle B.)
2X Fullers ESB 16oz (Lyle B.)
2X Bass 12oz (Lyle B.)
2X Sierra Nevada ESB 12oz (Lyle B.)
2X Whitbread 12oz (Lyle B.)
2X Fullers 1845 16oz (Lyle B.)
2x 15oz Greene King Abbot Ale (widget in can) (Rob A. and Scott F.)
1x 15oz Black Sheep Monty Python's Holy Grail Ale (Rob A.)
2x 12oz Lakefront (from Milwaukee) ESB (Scott F.)
2x 12oz Coopers Pale Ale (Kybecca)
1x 15oz Greene King Olde Suffolk English Ale (Old Ale) (Rob A.)Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Pale Ale (Joe G.)
Redhook Copper Hook and/or ESB (Joe G.)
Sunday, January 20, 2008
February FABTS Meeting - Strong Ales
The February FABTS meeting will be on February 9th at 1:30PM at Kybecca. The style for February is BJCP category Strong Ale. Specifically, sub-categories 19A (Old Ale), 19B (English Barleywine), 19C (American Barleywine), and one in the Scottish and Irish Ale category, subcategory 9E (Strong Scotch Ale). Below are the Overall Impressions and Commercial Examples from the BJCP style guide. I will update the FABTS beers when I hear what people are brining.
As always, any style of homebrew is welcome and appreciated.
Strong Ales
19A Old Ale
Overall Impression: An ale of significant alcoholic strength, bigger than strong bitters and brown porters, though usually not as strong or rich as barleywine. Usually tilted toward a sweeter, maltier balance. “It should be a warming beer of the type that is best drunk in half pints by a warm fire on a cold winter’s night” – Michael Jackson.
Commercial Examples: Gale’s Prize Old Ale, Burton Bridge Olde Expensive, Marston Owd Roger, J.W. Lees Moonraker, Harviestoun Old Engine Oil, Fuller’s Vintage Ale, Harvey’s Elizabethan Ale, Theakston Old Peculier (peculiar at OG 1.057), Young's Winter Warmer, Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild, Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome, Fuller’s 1845, Fuller’s Old Winter Ale, Great Divide Hibernation Ale, Hudson Valley Old Man Ale, Cooperstown Pride of Milford Special Ale, Coniston Old Man Ale, North Coast Old Stock Ale
FABTS Beers:
19B English Barleywine
Overall Impression: The richest and strongest of the English Ales. A showcase of malty richness and complex, intense flavors. The character of these ales can change significantly over time; both young and old versions should be appreciated for what they are. The malt profile can vary widely; not all examples will have all possible flavors or aromas.
Commercial Examples: Thomas Hardy’s Ale, Burton Bridge Thomas Sykes Old Ale, Robinson’s Old Tom, J.W. Lee’s Vintage Harvest Ale, Fuller’s Golden Pride, Young’s Old Nick (unusual in its 7.2% ABV), Whitbread Gold Label, Lakefront Beer Line, Heavyweight Old Salty
FABTS Beers:
19C American Barleywine
Overall Impression: A well-hopped American interpretation of the richest and strongest of the English ales. The hop character should be evident throughout, but does not have to be unbalanced. The alcohol strength and hop bitterness often combine to leave a very long finish.
Commercial Examples: Sierra Nevada Bigfoot, Rogue Old Crustacean, Anchor Old Foghorn, Victory Old Horizontal, Brooklyn Monster Ale, Avery Hog Heaven Barleywine, Bell’s Third Coast Old Ale, Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot, Three Floyds Behemoth, Old Dominion Millennium, Stone Old Guardian, Bridgeport Old Knucklehead, Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws, Left Hand Widdershins
FABTS Beers:
9E Strong Scotch Ale
Overall Impression: Rich, malty and usually sweet, which can be suggestive of a dessert. Complex secondary malt flavors prevent a one-dimensional impression. Strength and maltiness can vary.
Commercial Examples: Traquair House Ale, Orkney Skull Splitter, McEwan's Scotch Ale, MacAndrew's Scotch Ale, Belhaven Wee Heavy, Broughton Old Jock, Scotch du Silly, Gordon Highland Scotch Ale, Founders Dirty Bastard
FABTS Beers:
As always, any style of homebrew is welcome and appreciated.
Strong Ales
19A Old Ale
Overall Impression: An ale of significant alcoholic strength, bigger than strong bitters and brown porters, though usually not as strong or rich as barleywine. Usually tilted toward a sweeter, maltier balance. “It should be a warming beer of the type that is best drunk in half pints by a warm fire on a cold winter’s night” – Michael Jackson.
Commercial Examples: Gale’s Prize Old Ale, Burton Bridge Olde Expensive, Marston Owd Roger, J.W. Lees Moonraker, Harviestoun Old Engine Oil, Fuller’s Vintage Ale, Harvey’s Elizabethan Ale, Theakston Old Peculier (peculiar at OG 1.057), Young's Winter Warmer, Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild, Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome, Fuller’s 1845, Fuller’s Old Winter Ale, Great Divide Hibernation Ale, Hudson Valley Old Man Ale, Cooperstown Pride of Milford Special Ale, Coniston Old Man Ale, North Coast Old Stock Ale
FABTS Beers:
19B English Barleywine
Overall Impression: The richest and strongest of the English Ales. A showcase of malty richness and complex, intense flavors. The character of these ales can change significantly over time; both young and old versions should be appreciated for what they are. The malt profile can vary widely; not all examples will have all possible flavors or aromas.
Commercial Examples: Thomas Hardy’s Ale, Burton Bridge Thomas Sykes Old Ale, Robinson’s Old Tom, J.W. Lee’s Vintage Harvest Ale, Fuller’s Golden Pride, Young’s Old Nick (unusual in its 7.2% ABV), Whitbread Gold Label, Lakefront Beer Line, Heavyweight Old Salty
FABTS Beers:
19C American Barleywine
Overall Impression: A well-hopped American interpretation of the richest and strongest of the English ales. The hop character should be evident throughout, but does not have to be unbalanced. The alcohol strength and hop bitterness often combine to leave a very long finish.
Commercial Examples: Sierra Nevada Bigfoot, Rogue Old Crustacean, Anchor Old Foghorn, Victory Old Horizontal, Brooklyn Monster Ale, Avery Hog Heaven Barleywine, Bell’s Third Coast Old Ale, Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot, Three Floyds Behemoth, Old Dominion Millennium, Stone Old Guardian, Bridgeport Old Knucklehead, Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws, Left Hand Widdershins
FABTS Beers:
9E Strong Scotch Ale
Overall Impression: Rich, malty and usually sweet, which can be suggestive of a dessert. Complex secondary malt flavors prevent a one-dimensional impression. Strength and maltiness can vary.
Commercial Examples: Traquair House Ale, Orkney Skull Splitter, McEwan's Scotch Ale, MacAndrew's Scotch Ale, Belhaven Wee Heavy, Broughton Old Jock, Scotch du Silly, Gordon Highland Scotch Ale, Founders Dirty Bastard
FABTS Beers:
Saturday, January 12, 2008
January FABTS Meeting - Stouts
The January FABTS meeting is today, January 12th, at 1:30pm at Bangkok Boulevard in Central Park. The style of the month is Stouts.
For the benefit of the students in the BJCP class, this month's beer list is categorized by BJCP Style Guide. Categories for the individual beers were determined by Beer Advocate. I've included the Overall Impression and Commercial Examples from the style guide.
13. Stouts
13A. Dry Stout
Overall Impression:
A very dark, roasty, bitter, creamy ale.
Commercial Examples:
Guinness Draught Stout (also canned), Murphy's Stout, Beamish Stout, O’Hara’s Celtic Stout, Dorothy Goodbody’s Wholesome Stout, Orkney Dragonhead Stout, Brooklyn Dry Stout, Old Dominion Stout, Goose Island Dublin Stout, Arbor Brewing Faricy Fest Irish Stout
FABTS Beers:
2x 12 oz bottle Guinness Draught Stout - Lyle Brown
2x 12 oz bottle Beamish Stout - Lyle Brown
2x 12 oz bottle Murphy's Stout- Lyle Brown
2x 12 oz bottle O'hara's Celtic Stout - David Turley
2x 12 oz bottle Lakefront Brewing Snake Chaser Irish Style Stout - James Russ
1x 12 oz bottle Shipyard Brewing Bluefin Stout - James Russ
2x 12 oz bottle Dominion Oak Barrel Stout - David Turley
13B. Sweet Stout
Overall Impression:
A very dark, sweet, full-bodied, slightly roasty ale. Often tastes like sweetened espresso.
Commercial Examples:
Mackeson's XXX Stout, Watney's Cream Stout, St. Peter’s Cream Stout, Marston’s Oyster Stout, Samuel Adams Cream Stout, Left Hand Milk Stout
FABTS Beers:
2x 12 oz bottle Mackeson Triple XXX Stout - Joe Gherlone
2x 14.9 oz can Young's Double Chocolate Stout (actual chocolate in it) - Joe Gherlone
2x 12 oz bottle Lancaster Milk Stout - David Turley
13C. Oatmeal Stout
Overall Impression:
A very dark, full-bodied, roasty, malty ale with acomplementary oatmeal flavor.
Commercial Examples:
Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout, Young's Oatmeal Stout, Maclay’s Oat Malt Stout, Broughton Kinmount Willie Oatmeal Stout, Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout, Goose Island Oatmeal Stout, McAuslan Oatmeal Stout, McNeill’s Oatmeal Stout, Wild Goose Oatmeal Stout
FABTS Beers:
1x 18.7 oz bottle Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout - Joe Gherlone
2x 12 oz bottle Wild Goose Oatmeal Stout - James Russ
Growler Vintage 50 Oatmeal Stout (maybe) - Chuck Triplett
13D. Foreign Extra Stout
Overall Impression:
A very dark, moderately strong, roasty ale. Tropical varieties can be quite sweet, while export versions can be drier and fairly robust.
Commercial Examples:
Lion Stout (Sri Lanka), ABC Stout, Dragon Stout, Royal Extra “The Lion Stout” (Trinidad), Jamaica Stout, Guinness Extra Stout (bottled US product), Guinness Foreign Extra Stout (bottled, not sold in the US), Coopers Best Extra Stout, Freeminer Deep Shaft Stout, Sheaf Stout, Bell’s Double Cream Stout
FABTS Beers:
2x 12 oz bottle Guinness Extra Stout - Lyle Brown
13E. American Stout
Overall Impression:
A hoppy, bitter, strongly roasted Foreign-style Stout (of the export variety).
Commercial Examples:
Sierra Nevada Stout, North Coast Old No. 38, Avery Out of Bounds Stout, Three Floyds Black Sun Stout, Mad River Steelhead Extra Stout, Rogue Shakespeare Stout, Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout, Deschutes Obsidian Stout, Mendocino Black Hawk Stout
FABTS Beers:
2x 12 oz bottle Mendocino Black Hawk Stout - David Turley
2x 12 oz bottle Bell's Kalamazoo Stout - David Turley
2x 12 oz bottle Dogfish Head Chicory Stout - Dave Fredrickson
13F. Russian Imperial Stout
Overall Impression:
An intensely flavored, big, dark ale. Roasty, fruity, and bittersweet, with a noticeable alcohol presence. Dark fruit flavors meld with roasty, burnt, or almost tar-like sensations. Like a black barleywine with every dimension of flavor coming into play.
Commercial Examples:
Samuel Smith Imperial Stout, Courage Imperial Stout, Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, Rogue Imperial Stout, North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout, Victory Storm King, Bell’s Expedition Stout, Dogfish Head World Wide Stout, Thirsty Dog Siberian Night, Stone Imperial Stout, Avery The Czar, Founders Imperial Stout, Newport Beach John Wayne Imperial Stout, Great Lakes Blackout Stout
FABTS Beers:
2x 12 oz bottle Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout 07-08 (no actual chocolate in it) - Joe Gherlone
2x 12 oz bottle Bell's Java Stout - Scott Fisher
Homebrew
Pretty Heavy Pale Ale - Dave Fredrickson
Smoked Pumpkin Ale - Dave Fredrickson
For the benefit of the students in the BJCP class, this month's beer list is categorized by BJCP Style Guide. Categories for the individual beers were determined by Beer Advocate. I've included the Overall Impression and Commercial Examples from the style guide.
13. Stouts
13A. Dry Stout
Overall Impression:
A very dark, roasty, bitter, creamy ale.
Commercial Examples:
Guinness Draught Stout (also canned), Murphy's Stout, Beamish Stout, O’Hara’s Celtic Stout, Dorothy Goodbody’s Wholesome Stout, Orkney Dragonhead Stout, Brooklyn Dry Stout, Old Dominion Stout, Goose Island Dublin Stout, Arbor Brewing Faricy Fest Irish Stout
FABTS Beers:
2x 12 oz bottle Guinness Draught Stout - Lyle Brown
2x 12 oz bottle Beamish Stout - Lyle Brown
2x 12 oz bottle Murphy's Stout- Lyle Brown
2x 12 oz bottle O'hara's Celtic Stout - David Turley
2x 12 oz bottle Lakefront Brewing Snake Chaser Irish Style Stout - James Russ
1x 12 oz bottle Shipyard Brewing Bluefin Stout - James Russ
2x 12 oz bottle Dominion Oak Barrel Stout - David Turley
13B. Sweet Stout
Overall Impression:
A very dark, sweet, full-bodied, slightly roasty ale. Often tastes like sweetened espresso.
Commercial Examples:
Mackeson's XXX Stout, Watney's Cream Stout, St. Peter’s Cream Stout, Marston’s Oyster Stout, Samuel Adams Cream Stout, Left Hand Milk Stout
FABTS Beers:
2x 12 oz bottle Mackeson Triple XXX Stout - Joe Gherlone
2x 14.9 oz can Young's Double Chocolate Stout (actual chocolate in it) - Joe Gherlone
2x 12 oz bottle Lancaster Milk Stout - David Turley
13C. Oatmeal Stout
Overall Impression:
A very dark, full-bodied, roasty, malty ale with acomplementary oatmeal flavor.
Commercial Examples:
Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout, Young's Oatmeal Stout, Maclay’s Oat Malt Stout, Broughton Kinmount Willie Oatmeal Stout, Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout, Goose Island Oatmeal Stout, McAuslan Oatmeal Stout, McNeill’s Oatmeal Stout, Wild Goose Oatmeal Stout
FABTS Beers:
1x 18.7 oz bottle Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout - Joe Gherlone
2x 12 oz bottle Wild Goose Oatmeal Stout - James Russ
Growler Vintage 50 Oatmeal Stout (maybe) - Chuck Triplett
13D. Foreign Extra Stout
Overall Impression:
A very dark, moderately strong, roasty ale. Tropical varieties can be quite sweet, while export versions can be drier and fairly robust.
Commercial Examples:
Lion Stout (Sri Lanka), ABC Stout, Dragon Stout, Royal Extra “The Lion Stout” (Trinidad), Jamaica Stout, Guinness Extra Stout (bottled US product), Guinness Foreign Extra Stout (bottled, not sold in the US), Coopers Best Extra Stout, Freeminer Deep Shaft Stout, Sheaf Stout, Bell’s Double Cream Stout
FABTS Beers:
2x 12 oz bottle Guinness Extra Stout - Lyle Brown
13E. American Stout
Overall Impression:
A hoppy, bitter, strongly roasted Foreign-style Stout (of the export variety).
Commercial Examples:
Sierra Nevada Stout, North Coast Old No. 38, Avery Out of Bounds Stout, Three Floyds Black Sun Stout, Mad River Steelhead Extra Stout, Rogue Shakespeare Stout, Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout, Deschutes Obsidian Stout, Mendocino Black Hawk Stout
FABTS Beers:
2x 12 oz bottle Mendocino Black Hawk Stout - David Turley
2x 12 oz bottle Bell's Kalamazoo Stout - David Turley
2x 12 oz bottle Dogfish Head Chicory Stout - Dave Fredrickson
13F. Russian Imperial Stout
Overall Impression:
An intensely flavored, big, dark ale. Roasty, fruity, and bittersweet, with a noticeable alcohol presence. Dark fruit flavors meld with roasty, burnt, or almost tar-like sensations. Like a black barleywine with every dimension of flavor coming into play.
Commercial Examples:
Samuel Smith Imperial Stout, Courage Imperial Stout, Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, Rogue Imperial Stout, North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout, Victory Storm King, Bell’s Expedition Stout, Dogfish Head World Wide Stout, Thirsty Dog Siberian Night, Stone Imperial Stout, Avery The Czar, Founders Imperial Stout, Newport Beach John Wayne Imperial Stout, Great Lakes Blackout Stout
FABTS Beers:
2x 12 oz bottle Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout 07-08 (no actual chocolate in it) - Joe Gherlone
2x 12 oz bottle Bell's Java Stout - Scott Fisher
Homebrew
Pretty Heavy Pale Ale - Dave Fredrickson
Smoked Pumpkin Ale - Dave Fredrickson
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Musings Over a Pint - Tommyknocker Imperial Nut Brown Ale
Local beer-drinker and FABTS member David Turley maintains a craft beer blog called Musings Over a Pint. I thought his article yesterday regarding a beer for our first snow was great and got me in the mood for a pint or two. The leadoff paragraph is below...
=================================
We had our first snow fall of the season today. Nothing substantial, the ground covering didn't last the day, but it looked pretty none-the-less. In addition, the temperature is expected to be in the low 20's tonight. Seemed an apropos time to try out the Tommyknocker Imperial Nut Brown Ale I picked up last week. ...read more
=================================
We had our first snow fall of the season today. Nothing substantial, the ground covering didn't last the day, but it looked pretty none-the-less. In addition, the temperature is expected to be in the low 20's tonight. Seemed an apropos time to try out the Tommyknocker Imperial Nut Brown Ale I picked up last week. ...read more
December FABTS Meeting Beer List (Update 1)
The December FABTS meeting is coming up on December 8, 2007 at Kybecca. We have quite a list of beers going already. If you have anything to add, please let us know.
Lyle Brown
===================
Hook Norton 12 Days (Hook Norton Brewing Co. - Oxon, UK)
Jenlain Noël (Brasserie Duyck - Jenlain, France)
Fantome Speciale Noël (Brasserie Fantôme - Le Village de SOY, Belgium)
Oppigårds Winter Ale (Oppigårds Bryggeri - Hedemora, Sweden)
Nøgne-Ø Winter Ale (Nøgne-Ø Brewing Co. - Grimstad, Norway)
Corsendonk Christmas Beer (Brouwerij Corsendonk - Purnode-Yvoir, Belgium)
Dave Frederickson
===================
Mad Elf Holiday Ale (Troeg's Brewing Co. - Harrisburg, PA)
James Russ
===================
Pursuit of Happiness Winter Warmer (Clay Pipe Brewing Co. - Frederick, MD)
K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale (Flying Dog Brewery - Denver, CO & Frederick, MD)
Bad Elf Winter's Ale (Ridgeway Brewing Co. - Oxfordshire, UK)
Santa's Butt Winter Porter (Ridgeway Brewing Co. - Oxfordshire, UK)
Scaldis Noël (The Dubuisson Brewery - Pipaix, Belgium)
Smuttynose Winter Ale (Smuttynose Brewing Co. - Portsmouth, NH)
Roxy Rolles Winter Amber Seasonale (Magic Hat Brewing Co. - South Burlington, VT)
Odd Notion '07 (Magic Hat Brewing Co. - South Burlington, VT)
Santa's Private Reserve Ale (Rogue Brewing Co. - Newport, OR)
Celebration Ale (Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Chico, CA)
Abita Christmas Ale (Abita Brewing Co. - Abita Springs, LA)
Heavy Seas Winter Storm "Category 5 Ale" (Clipper City Brewing Co. - Baltimore, MD)
Delirium Noël (Brouwerij Huyghe - Melle, Belgium)
'06 Samichlaus Bier (Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg - Vorchdorf, Austria)
Scott Fisher
===================
Stoudt's Winter Ale (Stoudt’s Brewing Co. – Adamstown , PA )
Lump of Coal Dark Holiday Stout (Ridgeway Brewing – Oxfordshire , UK )
Rob Abbott
===================
1996 Samichlaus Bier (Brauerei Hürlimann AG -- Zurich, Switzerland)
*NOTE* - Hürlimann discontinued production of Samichlaus in 1996 when it was taken over by the Feldschlösschen Brewery. In the following years, many people clamoured for it and finally, in 2000, it returned, this time produced by Schloss Eggenberg.
Lyle Brown
===================
Hook Norton 12 Days (Hook Norton Brewing Co. - Oxon, UK)
Jenlain Noël (Brasserie Duyck - Jenlain, France)
Fantome Speciale Noël (Brasserie Fantôme - Le Village de SOY, Belgium)
Oppigårds Winter Ale (Oppigårds Bryggeri - Hedemora, Sweden)
Nøgne-Ø Winter Ale (Nøgne-Ø Brewing Co. - Grimstad, Norway)
Corsendonk Christmas Beer (Brouwerij Corsendonk - Purnode-Yvoir, Belgium)
Dave Frederickson
===================
Mad Elf Holiday Ale (Troeg's Brewing Co. - Harrisburg, PA)
James Russ
===================
Pursuit of Happiness Winter Warmer (Clay Pipe Brewing Co. - Frederick, MD)
K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale (Flying Dog Brewery - Denver, CO & Frederick, MD)
Bad Elf Winter's Ale (Ridgeway Brewing Co. - Oxfordshire, UK)
Santa's Butt Winter Porter (Ridgeway Brewing Co. - Oxfordshire, UK)
Scaldis Noël (The Dubuisson Brewery - Pipaix, Belgium)
Smuttynose Winter Ale (Smuttynose Brewing Co. - Portsmouth, NH)
Roxy Rolles Winter Amber Seasonale (Magic Hat Brewing Co. - South Burlington, VT)
Odd Notion '07 (Magic Hat Brewing Co. - South Burlington, VT)
Santa's Private Reserve Ale (Rogue Brewing Co. - Newport, OR)
Celebration Ale (Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Chico, CA)
Abita Christmas Ale (Abita Brewing Co. - Abita Springs, LA)
Heavy Seas Winter Storm "Category 5 Ale" (Clipper City Brewing Co. - Baltimore, MD)
Delirium Noël (Brouwerij Huyghe - Melle, Belgium)
'06 Samichlaus Bier (Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg - Vorchdorf, Austria)
Scott Fisher
===================
Stoudt's Winter Ale (Stoudt’s Brewing Co. – Adamstown , PA )
Lump of Coal Dark Holiday Stout (Ridgeway Brewing – Oxfordshire , UK )
Rob Abbott
===================
1996 Samichlaus Bier (Brauerei Hürlimann AG -- Zurich, Switzerland)
*NOTE* - Hürlimann discontinued production of Samichlaus in 1996 when it was taken over by the Feldschlösschen Brewery. In the following years, many people clamoured for it and finally, in 2000, it returned, this time produced by Schloss Eggenberg.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
October Meeting Notes - by Kevin Brown
1. Wiessen Brau
Or meadow brew as in the meadow in which Oktoberfest is held (supposedly also originally held) after many complaints from locals for a lighter more easily drunk beer some of the brewery’s have started to brew Wiessen Brau instead.
2. Höfbrau München (HB) - Donated by Kybecca
Joe - “Smell the aroma carefully. Sharp and pungent then immediately behind that, something like concord grapes, sweet like taste, Saaz.”
Dave - “Like a Heineken Plus.”
Joe - “That’s what Heineken is take the to the lowest common denominator and you get Heineken.”
Dave - “eh… I'm an ale guy.”
3. Weihenstaphaner Festbier
Hallertauer - more malt sweeter
4. Saranac Oktoberfest
Honey in the nose, toatsy and thin
5. Lancaster Oktoberfest
Diacetyl - Diacetyl is a product of yeast more so in lagers and the way you get rid of it is bring the temperature up to 60°F for two days and the yeast will consume a lot of the diacetyl.
6. Mendocino Oktoberfest
Very dry, like the way it pours, nice crowned head
7. Dominion Oktoberfest
Little old, roasted barley is obviously used to bring up the colour
8. Legend Oktoberfest - Donated by Kybecca
Dave - “I note something about diacytel, its got ass right in the middle of it."
Kevin - “When diacytel is really strong like this it kind of reminds me of strawberries and cream, like the fake flavour used in processed food."
9. Blue and Grey Oktoberfest
It's an old bottle when fresh this years was amazing, but this was a disappointment.
10. Stoudt’s Oktoberfest
It's decocted (take the thickest part of the mash and boil it and throw it back into the kettle, this converts a portion of the sugars to malliard browning reactions.
Dave - "Man that’s good shit."
11. Dogfish Head Dogtoberfest
Very nice, honey
12. Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest
All Hallertauer, identifiable as the Märzen
13. Paulaner
The malty cousin of Hacker-Pschorr with very similar flavours.
Joe - “Very nice.”
14. Spaten Oktoberfest
15. Clipper City Balto MärzHon
Acetalaldehyde (green apple) and a lot of acetone.
Dave - “Asselaldahyde, Assetlyahyde!"
16. Bell ’s Oktoberfest
Lyle “2nd best made in America. I say 2nd because Victory Festbier is first.”
17. Victory Festbier
Toast not roast. It got a gold in Vienna category.
The depth there... that’s the decocotion. It gives such a depth that it shows dramatically the significance of decoction.
** Other discussions **
Schneider und Sohn is the first non-Royal brewery allowed to brew wheat beers as before only royalty could brew with wheat, (Hopfen Weiss by Brooklynn and Schneider, but its for a very specific tongue you either love or hate it, very hoppy and very phenolic.)
Biergarten in Portsmouth has Eisbock on tap (the Aventinus Eisbock is where they take their weizenbock and freeze it removing the ice from the beer thus concentrating the flavor and alc % )
There are three main stays for supplies: B3 or Beer Beer and More Beer (www.morebeer.com), www.Williamsbrewing.com, and Homebrew USA (this one is for those events “oops I brew tomorrow and I need this”). A few others such as Northern Brewer and My Local Homebrew Shop (in DC 7 corners).
Or meadow brew as in the meadow in which Oktoberfest is held (supposedly also originally held) after many complaints from locals for a lighter more easily drunk beer some of the brewery’s have started to brew Wiessen Brau instead.
2. Höfbrau München (HB) - Donated by Kybecca
Joe - “Smell the aroma carefully. Sharp and pungent then immediately behind that, something like concord grapes, sweet like taste, Saaz.”
Dave - “Like a Heineken Plus.”
Joe - “That’s what Heineken is take the to the lowest common denominator and you get Heineken.”
Dave - “eh… I'm an ale guy.”
3. Weihenstaphaner Festbier
Hallertauer - more malt sweeter
4. Saranac Oktoberfest
Honey in the nose, toatsy and thin
5. Lancaster Oktoberfest
Diacetyl - Diacetyl is a product of yeast more so in lagers and the way you get rid of it is bring the temperature up to 60°F for two days and the yeast will consume a lot of the diacetyl.
6. Mendocino Oktoberfest
Very dry, like the way it pours, nice crowned head
7. Dominion Oktoberfest
Little old, roasted barley is obviously used to bring up the colour
8. Legend Oktoberfest - Donated by Kybecca
Dave - “I note something about diacytel, its got ass right in the middle of it."
Kevin - “When diacytel is really strong like this it kind of reminds me of strawberries and cream, like the fake flavour used in processed food."
9. Blue and Grey Oktoberfest
It's an old bottle when fresh this years was amazing, but this was a disappointment.
10. Stoudt’s Oktoberfest
It's decocted (take the thickest part of the mash and boil it and throw it back into the kettle, this converts a portion of the sugars to malliard browning reactions.
Dave - "Man that’s good shit."
11. Dogfish Head Dogtoberfest
Very nice, honey
12. Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest
All Hallertauer, identifiable as the Märzen
13. Paulaner
The malty cousin of Hacker-Pschorr with very similar flavours.
Joe - “Very nice.”
14. Spaten Oktoberfest
15. Clipper City Balto MärzHon
Acetalaldehyde (green apple) and a lot of acetone.
Dave - “Asselaldahyde, Assetlyahyde!"
16. Bell ’s Oktoberfest
Lyle “2nd best made in America. I say 2nd because Victory Festbier is first.”
17. Victory Festbier
Toast not roast. It got a gold in Vienna category.
The depth there... that’s the decocotion. It gives such a depth that it shows dramatically the significance of decoction.
** Other discussions **
Schneider und Sohn is the first non-Royal brewery allowed to brew wheat beers as before only royalty could brew with wheat, (Hopfen Weiss by Brooklynn and Schneider, but its for a very specific tongue you either love or hate it, very hoppy and very phenolic.)
Biergarten in Portsmouth has Eisbock on tap (the Aventinus Eisbock is where they take their weizenbock and freeze it removing the ice from the beer thus concentrating the flavor and alc % )
There are three main stays for supplies: B3 or Beer Beer and More Beer (www.morebeer.com), www.Williamsbrewing.com, and Homebrew USA (this one is for those events “oops I brew tomorrow and I need this”). A few others such as Northern Brewer and My Local Homebrew Shop (in DC 7 corners).
Sunday, September 30, 2007
5th Annual Blue & Gray Octoberfest
On Saturday September 29th, Blue and Gray Brewing Company of Fredericksburg, VA held their 5th annual Octoberfest. And while the Bowman Center in Fredericksburg can't match the atmosphere of "die Wiesn" in Munich, it was a great gathering.The historical background: the first Oktoberfest was held in the year 1810 in honor of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The festivities began on October 12, 1810 and ended on October 17th with a horse race.
In the following years, the celebrations were repeated and, later, the festival was prolonged and moved forward into September. By moving the festivities up, it allowed for better weather conditions. Because the September nights were warmer, the visitors were able to enjoy the gardens outside the tents and the stroll over “die Wiesen” or the fields much longer without feeling chilly. Historically, the last Oktoberfest weekend was in October and this tradition continues into present times. 
The Blue and Gray Octoberfest started the first year I moved to the region, 2002. Some of the mainstays have been at the festival since the beginning. Beer, Brats and Bavarian music. The beers this year were all of the normal Fredericksburg Brewing Company line of beers, Fred Red, Falmouth American Pale Ale, the Classic Lager and Stonewall Stout. I sampled the American Pale Ale. The hop character hits you right away with this beer. I think it's a little overpowering. The Fred Red has a malty sweetness and little hop flavor. I talked with some of the brewers there and they say that they make a 50/50, Half Falmouth, half Fred Red to balance out the flavor.
They had a little bit of the Hefeweizen left but that was tapped out in the first half hour. The other two specialty beers were a Baron von Steuben Oktoberfest lager and a Temporary Insanity Imperial Stout. The Oktoberfest was brewed back in February and has been lagering since then. It has a dark amber color and caramel malty flavor. As it warmed up I noticed hints of chestnuts. The beer drinks as smooth as milk with the bitterness hitting your tongue at the end. A very good Fest.
The Temporary Insanity Imperial Stout poured an opaque black with a tan head. The beer was medium-bodied and its mouth feel was a little thin for the style. But the beer had a great taste of coffee and bittersweet chocolate. Due to its 11% ABV you felt every swallow of beer on its way to the stomach. Very nice.
The entertainment provided was what you expect at Oktoberfest. German band "The Low N Brows" provided enough polka and waltzes for the crowd to get into the groove and played the "Ein Prosit" German drinking song enough to get the author thoroughly buzzed in the few hours we were there. The Spotsylvania Sheriff's K-9 Department also put on a demonstration of their tracking abilities. I knew I had had enough when I started heckling a cop. Cut me off! The crowd at the festival was very jovial and was still having a good time when I left. Congratulations to the Blue and Gray Brewing Company for putting on a great Oktoberfest.
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