Dogfish Head - Red & White Review

Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewing

Type: Belgian Wit

ABV: 10%

Sight: This brew pours from the bottle a beautiful hazy light-cherry red that is nearly impenitratible to light. A little foggy sediment doesn't completely settle at the bottom. The head pours thin and bubbly white, and dissolves to a scarce film on the surface.

Aroma: Sweetness of grapes and of a very, very light malt front this nose. With a second inhale there is a nice spike of alcohol with a little bit of spice that could be that coriander. The pinot noir juice smell hits at the end of the deeper inhale.

Taste: Alcohol is the big taste that comes forward the most. There is a nice fading of that alcohol into a warming wine grape sweetness that leads to the mid-point of the brews body. A nice mellow dryness comes through well leading to a touch of the coriander spice and cherry juice. The finish is very light and clean.

Overall: I was looking forward to this brew, after seeing it at the brewpub in Rehobeth...Couldn't find it around Baltimore, until recently. I enjoyed this, but was a little disappointed in the overwhelming taste of alcohol...I know it is 10% ABV but I was hoping for more of the Pinot Noir flavor than the alcohol. The mouthfeel is medium to full with a fairly clean and light aftertaste. There is a very good complexity of flavors throughout which make this a very desirable brew. If you get a chance to get this, make sure you grab it while you can.

Score: 8.3/10

Avery Brewing Co. - Indian pale Ale Review

Brewery: Avery Brewing Co.

Type: India Pale Ale

ABV: 6.5%

Sight: Translucent orange that has a dark tone to it. Deep yellows will show when displayed in front of light. The head pours white and thin, then leaves a creamy film on the surface.

Aroma: Re-diculous hop presence with healthy notes of grapefruit, orange and lemon tickling the nostrils nicely. A mellow sweet light-malt follows through the second inhale. I so hope the taste stands true to the nose.

Taste: Wow...Actually surprised that the malt is what flows first to the tastebuds. A great sweet malt, with a heavy dosing of dry piney floralness mixed within. The citrus comes through nicely by way of pops and crackles, breaking through the malt body. The finish is soft with a hint bitter that I enjoy.

Overall: Well I was hoping that I would be satisfied with this IPA when picking it up at the store...I was more than impressed with it to say the least. Floral-citrus-malt-bitterness that was well balanced and flowed evenly from start to finish. The mouthfeel is light to medium and the finish leaves a nice tart bite on the tongue that I wish I could keep all day.


Score: 9.0/10

Saison Du Buff - Dogfish Head Version Review

Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Type: Farmhouse Ale

ABV: 6.8

Sight: A nearly opaque nice dark-grain yellow with some clearing towards the bottom of the glass. Plenty of carbonation bubbling from the bottom to the bright-white soapy head that seals the surface of the brew.

Aroma: Notes of orange peel and lemon bounce off a hefe-esque light malt backbone. Spices are ringing through on second inhale, Parsley and rosemary are the more dominant.

Taste: A mild malt that cradles the citrus and spice very well. Orange zing with a bite of lemon ride through til the uniqueness of the Italian spices try to make an appearance. Rosemary and parsley are the only spices I can pull from the palate, but it is good that I can distinguish the spices of this version better than the other two.

Overall: Definitely digging this colaboration from three of the country's best breweries...This one is right up there with the others in sense of an overall beer...the thing that is unique to this one from the other two is that I taste more of the flavors more distinctly than previous versions. The malt is crisp and defined, the hop presence is there, but more muted than the Stone version. The spices of Italy are more pronounced than in the other versions. So it is better on some fronts and comparable on others. This one falls right in the middle of the three. Mouthfeel is light to medium, with a mild aftertaste of tart. Hope to see more colab's of this quality from other breweries in the future.

Score: 9.1/10 

Crispin Cider - The Saint Review

Brewery: Crispin Cider Co.

Type: Hard Cider

ABV: 6.9%

Sight: This is a very elegant...Lemon Italian Ice in the color...almost a light neon-yellow that is more opaque than translucent. A very good intial judgement comes from the pour.

Aroma: Very sweet inhale of apples, white grapes, and a touch of maple syrup.  More apple and a hint of yeast and alcohol tingle nose. The very subtle maple syrup added makes this a smoother more evened body than the classic Crispins I've had before.

Taste: I have had the Classic Blue Line of Crispin and enjoyed them completely...but with "The Saint" the addition of the maple syrup and Belgian yeast bring it up too another level. The spice of alcohol is still there but it isn't as intense, due to the added sweet and creamy texture from the syrup. The Belgian yeasts are a nice touch adding an even more unique dimension. The mouthfeel is full and creamy...It will coat the back of your throat. Aftertaste is mellow to non-exsistent. I think this would pair great with a nice filet of Sea Bass.

Score: 8.8/10

Long Trail Brewery - India Pale Ale Review

Brewery: Long Trail Brewing Co.

Type: India Pale Ale

ABV: 5.9%

Sight: This brew pours a cloudy sunburst golden brown, with yellows shining through at the bottom and top. The head pour evenly throughout, as to not leave a over/under thick head.

Aroma: The nose is Re-diculous on this one...I can almost taste the pine needles and orange slices in the inhale. These smells are balanced and truely inviting, just sitting on the table in front of me.

Taste: The tongue gets a very lax malt on the front with some of the hoppiness coming over the top. Citrus of orange and lemon break through with the malt carrying the flavor profile through to the end of a light tingle of alcohol.

Overall: More of a malt body than expected...There is a decent hop linger of the citrus without much of a bitter of dryness usually found in IPA's...Mouthfeel is light to medium and there really isn't much of an aftertaste to speak  of. The intense nose had me so looking forward to the taste but was a little let down...Not bad but then again not great.

Score: 7.8.10

Schmaltz Brewing - Coney Island Brewing - Sword Swallower Hop Lager Review

Brewery: Coney Island/ Schmaltz Brewing Co.

Style: "Steel Hop lager" IPA

ABV: 6.8%

Sight: It pours a pleasant golden-brown that has a translucent cloudiness that fades as it warms. The head comes out a half-inch thick with an off-white color.

Aroma: A very strong caramel malt nose that doesn't let up throughout the sniff. There is an undertone of hoppy floral and citrus notes of pine and grapefruit. A little tingle of alcohol shows at the end.

Taste: Malt and dryness are the great upfront tastes that come through...A sweet caramel malt that coats the tongue with a thin clingy film. Orange and lemon are those citrus notes that I mentioned with the aroma. The citrus tastes bleed from front to back well...as the brew finishes with a tad tartness at the corners of the tongue.

Overall: A solid brew from a great brewing company. Malty goodness that has a nice hop presence leading to a creamy medium mouthfeel with a nice tart close. On a side note I love the creativity of not only the brew itself but the concept of the marketing for the Coney Island Line...the circus "freak" images and names add the the creativity of the brand.

Score: 8.7/10

Butternuts Beer & Ale - Snapperhead IPA

Brewery: Butternuts Beer & Ale

Style: Farmhouse India Pale Ale

ABV: 6.3%

Sight: A nice cloudy sunset orange body with hints of browns, and yellows throughout. A fluffy bright-white head pours out neat to a full head of at least an inch thick. It dissolves to a very thin film that laces the inside of the glass up to an that inch.

Aroma: Malt, orange zest, pine, and yeastiness are what first come forward for me in this one. The malt holds well throughout the inhale with a twinge of caramel to boot.

Taste: Smoothness of caramel malt with a mild overtone of bitterness begin this one. Some of that citrus flavor of grapefruit pops through well in the middle. The finish comes through with a little creaminess that lends to a little dryness.

Overall: I was interested on numerous times to get this one while at the store, but shyed away because of the gimmicky label on the can(all of the can designs are funky cool). Didn't want to get it just because of the design. The mouthfeel is medium with a fluffy creaminess that helps lead to the aftertaste of a hint of floral-sourness.

Score: 8.6/10

Dogfish Head - My Antonia Imperial Pilsner Review

Brewery: Dogfish Head Brewing Co.

Type: Continually-Hopped Imperial Pilsner

ABV: 7.5%

Sight: It pours a crystal-clear bright golden-yellow that shows nice carbonation from the bottom to the top. A thick bubbly pure white head comes out of the bottle quick, and nearly overflows the glass. It then dissipates to a 1/4" thick film on the surface.

Aroma: Sweet light malt front that gives way to a nice hoppy overall tone to the nose. The deeper the inhale the more floral pops your gonna get...Fresh-cut grass, light citrus of lime, and maybe a little yeast. There is a smidge of caramal sweetness to end it.

Taste: As I described in the aroma, I get a matching creamy mouth of caramal sweetness with a very aggressive hop undertone. Lends more to a Hefe/Pale than a Pils to me. Citrus bitterness of lime from the hops is pleasant and not overpowering. Some grain notes mix in well between the other flavors.

Overall: Was very satisfied with this (C.H.I.P.)Continuously Hopped Imperial Pilsner. Got the hops and dryness I love, and also finally got a decent beer in the pilsner style, that was in dy'er need in the American Beer market. Mouthfeel is medium with a creaminess the helps hold the sour bitter aftertaste that lingers on the tongue.

Score: 8/10

Nebraska Brewing Co. - IPA Review

Brewery: Nebraska Brewing Co.

Type: IPA(Firkin)

ABV: 6.5%

Sight: Beautiful amber brown that is clear and dark. Actually very surprised at the nice head I got from the firkin pour. Nice bubbly white topper that holds for a while.

Aroma: I get an actually more mellow citrus/floral nose than I was hoping for. A mild sweet of orange and a zest of lemon are the notes that break through subtly. Very inviting and non-obtrusive.


Taste: Malty and dry up front with a awesome zing of pine punching the back of the throat hard. It flows well from front to back where a tad of alcohol warmness come through.



Overall: Not too bad...more malt than i think a traditional IPA should be, and not as bitter as I'd like it, but the is dryness there definitely. Mouthfeel is medium, leaving a decent aftertaste of more malt that holds the tongue well.


Score: 8.4/10

Devils Backbone - Kung Pow "Enter The Hop" Far Eastern Influenced IPA Review

Brewery: Devils Backbone Brewery

Type: Far Eastern Influenced IPA(Firkin)

ABV: 6.8%

Sight: A nice hazy light-orange that is translucent with hints of yellow and brown peeking through.

Aroma: Sweet floral tones of tangerine and possibly grapefruit run amuck. This nose is tremendous and enhances the anticipation for the taste.


Taste: Malty sweet to start, then the hop bitter hits very well. Twinges of citrus are prominent throughout. Flavors balance well all the way through. No one flavor dominates the others.

Overall: Truely dug it. I've been wanting to try something from DBB for awhile, and should have by now(only 1 hour or so away). They have won many medals at many competitions including GABF, which increased my eagerness to try them. The mouthfeel was medium with a mild pinch of an aftertaste on the roof of the mouth is pleasant.



Score: 8.7/10

Oliver Ales - Freddies Revenge "A Nightmare On Pratt St." Review

Brewery: Oliver Ales

Style: Seasonal Pumpkin Ale...from Firkin

ABV: 5.8%

Sight: A nice crystal clear auburn-brown, with hues of red popping through in the right light. Light off-white bubbling is on the surface.

Aroma: Nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon radiate from the glass with the pumpkin overtones keeping the nose in check. malt holds well throughout the sniff, with a little alcohol near the end

Taste: I am probably wrong on this but I get a nice creaminess of toffee in the front of this smooth ale. Pumpkin comes through well next...not weak, but not overpowering either(just right). The seasonal spices are presented on the appropriate levels not too strong and not to weak. A very nice malt sweetness holds things together well.

Overall: All of the flavors are balanced nearly perfect, no on component dominants another. The mouthfeel is light to medium with a nice creaminess coating to the mouth. Nothing lingers in the aftertaste, This is a true "pumpkin" ale not a "pumpkin spice" ale...Once again Brewmaster Stephen Jones put out an excellent brew.

Score: 9.2/10 

Baltimore Beer Week 2010 Friday(Day 9), Saturday(Day 10) & Sunday(Day 11) Review

This is the final update for Baltimore Beer Week 2010...Friday(10/15), Saturday(10/16), and Sunday(10/17).

Friday was an uneventful day for me, I did a little solo pub crawl around Fells Point starting at Bertha's Mussels. I looked through the schedule and knew they were having Stoudt's Oktoberfest as a special, I like Oktoberfests and the Stoudt's is one of the better ones out there. I also went there for the free pint glass give-away with purchase(I collect glasses).

After hanging out at Berthas roughly 30 minutes I decided to hit my next stop...Duda's Tavern. They had a Flying Fish Oktoberfest beer on special also. I haven't seen many if any Flying fish on tap around town so I wanted to get there to try one while it was around. Not as good as the Stoudt's Oktoberfest but an okay beer. Again hung there for about 20 minutes and rolled out to my next place...This time headed to Alexanders Tavern.

It was the start of the Flying Dog 3 day Indoor Block party, where they were gonna have all kinds of Flying Dog Beers for $3.00 a pint with free glassware...Kegs would be continuously switched as they were kick for the 3 day event.

Once I got there though, it was so busy...elbow to elbow...not my kind of good time. I like bars with atmosphere(Alexanders does), but when it is overcrowded I don't have fun...So I did an about-face and walked across the street to Max's Taphouse for the East Coast vs. West Coast event...I was sooo looking forward to trying the Brooklyn Brewing - Detonation Ale from the Brewmaster's Series...So when I got there I did indeed ask for it.

It was not a disappointment at...Citrus hop to the "enth" degree for the nose, strong alcohol character with a decent balance of malt and hops for the taste, with a sweet full body throughout. A very good brew from Mr. Oliver and co. This too was the only brew I had at this bar, before hitting my last stop for the night....

Right around the corner from home is this "new" bar with nice a granite bartop, hardwood floors, a projection TV along with numerous other flat-screens...I think I've been here before, oh well yes I have....It is the gorgeous new "Alonsoville" upstairs bar at Alonsos Restaurant.

At Alonso's they were having an Oskar Blues  Brews & Bar-B-Que event. Live Blues, Brews & and a menu of Bar-B-Que foods. They had alot of Oskars beers on tap(the whole line-up) with a special firkin of Dale's Pale Ale Dry Hopped and Old Double Bagger Barleywine. I new a fellow blogger was there hanging out also, so that made another reason for me to check it out. I walked in and sat next to Brad from BeerInBaltimore, said hello to the owner Steve, and was introduce to a rep from Legends distributing here in Baltimore. He shat the poop for about an hour about beer the Beer Bloggers Conference I'm going to in a few weeks out in Boulder, Co. I had the excellent barleywine and got a few Oskars can beaded necklaces. Good conversation and good beers...can't go wrong with that combo.


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On Saturday October 16th, it was time for the long waited for event at Pratt St. Ale House for the Seventh annual "Chesapeake Real Ale Festival". 40 Firkins of specialty brews from around the world...Brewdog, Devils Backbone, Evolution, JW Lees are just a sample of the brews that were here for us to try as much as we wanted. I tried about half of the available brews with Devils Backbone - Sorachi Ace hop infused "Kung Pow" Pale and Pratt Streets very own Oliver Ales - Freddy's Revenge(A Nightmare On Pratt St.) Pumpkin Seasonal, standing out to me as the most original and best tasting. I tried a brewery from Pearl Island, Ny new to me called Defiant Brewing. They offered a Belgian Witte that was okay but nothing to write about unfortunately. I also got a chance to try Nebraska Brewing Co. for the first time...They offered an IPA. It was okay as well, hop was dull with no real pop. One othe unique brewery that was there and actually had a above average brew was Barrier Brewing Co. from Oceanside, NY. Their offering was called Bulkhead Red, and it was nice an malty sweet with a good amout of floral hop presence. I will be checking them out in the future.

I was very pleased with what Mr. Stephen Jones Brewmaster of Oliver Ales put together.  All in all, I was completely impressed with the overall experience, from the beers to the food, and the atmosphere.



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So Sunday October 17th came and the grand finale for Baltimore Beer Week 2010 arrived with the inaugural Baltimore Beer Festival at Canton Waterfront Park. Anticipated this event due to the tremendous amount of vendors showing up, the great location, and the showing of the Ravens/patriots Football game on a Big LCD screen.

My father and I got there right at 11am when they were supposed to be letting in the VIP ticket holders. They weren't really ready for us but let us in anyway...we quickly hit the VIP tent area where they had a few beers that were only available to us...The Judges Bench sponsored the VIP area and exclusively served up Southern Tier Brewing DIPA - Unearthly, Uniboue - Terrible and Boulder Beer - Never Summer Ale(Firkin). After getting some brews we walked around to see what else there was to offer. All kinds of breweries were here, along with many reputable food establishments. Nicks Fish House was where we chose to grab our grub...A combo of Half a Crabby Grilled-Cheese & half of a Real Beef Steak sub. Both were great and i would definitely recommend going down to south Baltimore to get them both.

We continued to go to booth after booth getting beers before we stood in the area near the big TV to watch the football game. Basically after we got watching the game we mellowed out with the drinking...one here one there...and at half-time we headed home.

This week was "Re-diculous" in so many ways...Great events, great beers, great friends old and new, along with great supporters and venues. If this is the way it's gonna be for each Baltimore Beer Week we only have the sky as the ceiling.

Standout events for me other than Opening Tap, during the week were the Heavy Seas Urban Pyrate Cruise...Flying Dog event at Alonso's Restaurants' new upstairs bar "Alonsoville"...Dogfish Head event at Alewife with Sam Calagione...Chesapeake Real Ale fest at Pratt Street Ale House with Oliver Ales.

Inaugural Baltimore Beer Festival Beers Announced

Alright I got an early edition of the official program for the Inaugural Baltimore Beer Festival that is happening on this Sunday October 17th at Canton Waterfront Park.

So without further a-do I am gonna list them now for you to paruse:

Judge's Bench Pub - Southern Tier - Unearthly & Unibroue - Terrible (VIP Tent only)

Boulder Beer Co. - Sweaty Beetty & Hazed & Infused

Victory Beer - Fest Bier & Srorm King

Crispin Ciders - Original & Honey

Oskar Blues Brewing - Dales Pale Ale & Mama's Lil Yellow Pils

Lagunitas Brewing Co. - IPA & Pale Ale

Harpoon Brewery - IPA & Hefeweizen

Saranac Brewing - Black Forest IPA

Fordham Brewing Co. - Copperhead Ale & Scotch Ale

Old Dominion Brewing - Oak Barrel Stout & Hop Mountain Pale Ale

Troegs Brewing Co. - Hopback Amber Ale & Dead Reckoning

Duclaw Brewing Co. - Mad Bishop & Celtic Fury

Leinenkugels Brewing Co.  - Sunset Wheat & Creamy Dark

Stillwater Artisanal Ales - Stateside Saison & Autumnal

Flying Dog Brewing - Doggie Style & Raging Bitch

Sam Adams/Boston Beer - Octoberfest & Cherry Wheat

Spaten - Franziskaner, Muchen & Salzburger Stiegl

Heavy Seas Brewing - Loose Cannon & Marz-hon

Evolution Craft Brewing - Rise Up Stout & Lot #3 IPA

Guinness Stout - Foreign Stout

Oliver Ales  - Dark Horse & 3 Lions

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Jack & Kens Ale, & Northern Hemmisphere - Harvest

Magic Hat Brewing Co. - #9 & Hex

National Bohemian - Natty Boh cans

Lancaster Brewing Co. - Octoberfest & Milk Stout

Duvel USA - Green

Brewery Ommegang - TBD

Dogfish Head Brewing - TBD

Baltimore Beer Week 2010 Tuesday(Day 6) & Thursday(Day 8) Review

Making the turn and going down the backstretch of Baltimore Beer Week 2010, i continued my tour of the events in town, by stopping by Ryleighs Oyster Bar & Restaurant for the Leinenkugels Platetoberfest event(small plates and a Leinenkugels beer, keep the pint glass)...They tapped the brand new Oktoberfest seasonal from the Wisconsin brewery. I had one and it was pretty good, malty sweet that hangs nicely til a light bitter finishes it off. All in all it was an ok first stop on the way to Little Havana for the B.A.R.C.S. animal shelter Home Brew Competition.

Once at Little Havana, I paid the $3.00 fee for the unlimited sipping cup of the brews and started-a-tasting...I wish i had brought my notepad to keep a better track of what i drank and which ones I like to make a better vote than i did.

There were about 20 or so different beers that ranged from an IPA to Stouts to a basic Red ale. The beers weren't to bad, better that what I have tried on my own so far. I voted for the Breakfast in America, and Pantyhose brews...I wish I could remember exactly what they were in more detail, but i do remember i did go and get a second sample from both.







Lastly that night I headed down to Alewife to have a little food and to get a glass of the Crispin Artisanal Ciders firkin of aged in White Zin Barrels Cider called "Porthos". They also tapped a fresh-hopped firkin of Victory Beer - Hop Devil.

I ordered the cider along with an order of Duck-fat fries and the Cubano sandwich. The cider was great. I had it at home once and enjoyed it, but the wine barrel aging adds an even more elaborate palate to give your taste buds a workout. I could go on and on about the Cubano...Pork loin, Virginia Ham, Swiss cheese and a Re-diculously good mojo dressing...all the ingredients meld perfectly and the roll was toasted just right to seal in the flavors. The little spinach salad that was a side to the sandwich was basic in presentation but the Warm Bacon dressing was awesome...i could have eaten a whole salad of just the spinach and dressing been happy also.

On Wednesday, I decided to take the day off to recoup and get ready for the rest of the week ahead.

So, Thursday comes and I already knew where I was gonna be before the week started...Alewife...This night was on the radar because Craft Beer Icon Sam Calagione of  DogFish Head was going to make an appearance. I got there about an hour before Sam was supposed to be there, found a spot at the Bar(completely surprised), and ordered the Victory - Hop Devil in the Firkin left over from last night. The Dogfish Head beers along with six specialty brews from Boulder Brewing co. weren't available til 7pm, so i hung out an talked to a friend(Scott) while waiting.

When the man of the evening arrived he was followed in with an entourage like a rock star. He came up to the bar ordered some beers for his friends and started mingling with the guests. I didn't waste time getting over to him.

I asked him to sign a bottle of 120 minute IPA, along with getting a picture with him. I also asked him if he was going to the Beer Bloggers Conference, he quickly told me that he was staying at home to watch the kids while his wife would be there. After the quick convo I let him get back to mingling with the others there. I stayed for one pour from the DFH taps...Palo Santo, had it many times before and love it.

Headed to Metropolitan Coffeehouse and Wine Bar in Federal Hill to meet up with Tom from Evolution craft Brewing but he must have moved on to his next destination. Hopefully I meet up with him before the end of Baltimore Beer Week.

Well, 3 more days ahead of us, maybe I'll meet up with some of you either at Pratt Street Ale House for the Real Cask Ales festival on Saturday or the Inauguaral Baltimore Beer Festival at the waterfront in Canton, on Sunday... I will be out and about tonight also just don't know where I'm heading yet.

Baltimore Beer Week 2010 Sunday(Day 4) & Monday(Day 5) Review

Continuing on my crusade through the Baltimore Beer Week 2010 events, on Sunday I woke knowing that the Ravens were playing Denver, and I was gonna plant myself in front of my TV and relax a little. I also had a few tasks to accomplish for the day.

First was the Stillwater Artisanal Ales Special Release Brew that had a very limited number of bottles made. It was at Max's Taphouse at 10:00am which coincided with the date 10.10.10. I got to Fells Point at about a quarter til 10 and there was a line already waiting of about 20 people. I got in line and waited til they opened the door...the only thing is, the way we were waiting(from the corner-front door extending north on Broadway) was incorrect. They opened the door near the old Club 723 entrance...so the people who had been waiting for a while were now doing an about-face and were at the end of the line. Funny to the newly arrived and angering to the ones who'd been there a while. Nevertheless, we got in(me 6-7 in the door), paid our monies and had a chance to talk to Brian Strumke, the creator of the fine ales. Fairly docile, in and out...I picked up the Rare-Beer 101 Series "Requisite" an Imperialistic Stout(numbered 70 of the 101 made). Rumour has it that some of the beer got wasted accidentally during packaging, so only 60 total made it out alive. I also got the Autumnal, a German/Belgium intermingled farmhouse ale. I am torn between opening the Requisite to try it, or not opening it because of its rareness...only time will tell.

After the purchases I went home to settle in to watch the Ravens and enjoy some relaxation on the couch.

Later, after the Ravens pummeled the Bronco's, I got ready to head down to Fells Point once more for the Urban Pyrates Heavy Seas Brewing Cruise the Inner Harbor. My father and I got down there just before 6pm and there were a few people waiting...The ship "Fearless" was a little late in it's arrival, but all was well because I got to chat with @Phil_From_Md., maker of Hoplates(chocolate infused with Hops) and Beer In Baltimore about beer and things from this week. Once the Ship arrived we borded, put on our Pyrate garb, and finally got to drinking. Heavy Seas beer on the ship were Loose Cannon, Small Craft Warning, Marzen, and Pale Ale. Dad went first and regularly to Marzen, and I went with Loose Cannon most of the night. We did get some extra samples of DIPA and Great'er Pumpkin from our wench. Chris Farley, brewery manager and a cool cast of Pyrates were there to make the cruise around the harbor a very entertaining and enjoyable experience...we shot water cannons towards tourists at Harborplace, yelled "Aargh" at other people on boats, did the Limbo and ran a conga-line. Completely worth the time and would recommend Urban Pirates to anybody planning an event.

On Monday, I originally was gonna take the day off, but two things prevented me from doing so...but when i tweeted that i was in fact staying in, @Plank10 called me a "slacker". I also got wind of a very big deal going on over at Alonso's Restaurant, so adding them together and Alonso's being very close, I went.

Boy was I glad i did...Flying Dog's Matt Crow was in the house, along with the owner Steve. The "Big Deal" was that local radio station 98 Rock was there doing the Monday night Ravens Playlist or tonight they called it "Bitch-Session" in honor of Flying Dog...This time the Ravens that were there to play whatever they wanted were Jarret Johnson, Todd Heap and the Big Deal - Joe Flacco. As I understand it Joe Flacco doesn't do many of the publicity events, so this was a big deal for the fans.

Ravens being there was great, and it added to the great bar I was at, along with the brews available. I started with a Doggie Style Pale Ale from the firkin, which is a classic. Second I had a Ragin' Bitch...A mellow but still aggressive IPA, great bitterness with a sweet malt body. Finally, while talking to @Scott_Cover, we talked about something we heard of, Half Ragin' Bitch and Half Dogtoberfest...making a Bitch-Fest...so I got one. It wasn't bad, so I finished that and rolled out.

All said, another couple of good nights out and about during the Baltimore Beer Week 2010...Six more days to go.

Saison Du Buff - Victory Brewing Co. Version Review

Brewery: Victory Brewing Co.

Type: Farmhouse Ale

ABV: 6.8%

Sight: Slightly foggy golden-yellow throughout with a pure white thin head that pours quickly out of the bottle. There is some mild carbination rising from the bottom to the minimal film on the surface.

Aroma: Sweetness of grapefruit lead things off with an orange zest popping off of a a light malt base.

Taste: Citrusy with a bit of a yeasty undertone. Grapefruit, lemon, orange, with a hint of clove possibly thrown in. A very light malt backbone holds things together well and supports the unique seasonings that are inter-mingled within. Supposed to get sage and rosemary, but i am not able to seperate them completely from each other. There is a little dryness at the end that i love.

Overall: Superbly done. I enjoyed this one from Victory a little better than the Stone version, which i gave a 9.1/10. The flavors are a little more balanced in this version, with nothing overpowering the others. The mouthfeel is light and a slightly sour/sweet aftertaste holds the corners of the tongue pleasantly.

Score: 9.2/10

Baltimore Beer Week Friday(Day 2) & Saturday(Day 3) Quick Review

Well, day 2 of Baltimore Beer Week 2010 started off for me with a mild head ache that i really couldn't shake until i had my first beer of the day.
That first beer was at a small craft beer & sports bar in the heart of Brewer's Hill...Elliotts Pour House

It's a cozy, sports friendly bar with a number of TV's, pool table, ping pong table, a digital jukebox, and a 20 Craft Beers tower that was salvaged from the old Crabby Dicks in Fells Point. Selection was good...anything from Abita - Purple Haze, SmuttyNose - Old Brown Dog, to Northcoast - Schrimshaw Pilsner & Boulder Brewing - Sweaty Betty. I had a Blue Point Brewing - Hoptical Illusion, and one of my fav's Evolution Primal Pale Ale. The crowd for the BBW2010 was a little thin, but that could have been because the few events they have scheduled start after this weekend. One specific event I know of is a version of the sweet 16 tournament, but with beers. They have carefully thought out the bracketing and have every beer on tap for you to taste and vote on, narrowing down the field til they get a champion. This event starts on Wednesday October 13th, right after happy hour at 7pm.

Overall, Mike the bartender was knowledgable of what he served and was very friendly and personable. If you want a good Craft Beer bar that feels like a neighborhood sports bar, without elbow to elbow crowding, this is a good choice. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

Second on the night was an ol' standard, Max's Taphouse, in Fells point...If you don't know about Max's, you've been under a rock for 20 years...This is, and I don't exaggerate, one of the best Beer Bars in the country, and simply the best in the region.
We sat down, at the surprisingly open end of the bar. It was Evolution Craft Brewery Big Ass Draft Night...32oz drafts for $6...It included Menangerie #3 which is a RE-diculous brew. I got my father a Brooklyn lager, a good intro beer for a craft beer newbie. I had a Victory Brewing - Hop Devil, I know, not that unique but was in the mood. We also had a plate of Grrek nachos, which were okay, and a set Guinness wings that were, dare i say it again RE-diculous. My only complaint that night was the bartender(won't say his name), was a ASS. Yes it was crowded, so a girl trying to get any bartenders attention was having trouble. After a few minutes i raised my hand to get our bartenders attention, and did...When he got to her, he started to correct me for assisting her stating "I would have seen her, I don't need your help"...Arrogance is ugly, and this guy was the elephant man. Just because you work for a great bar, don't act like an ass to your customers.

On the third day was the annual Das Best Oktoberfest with the usual corral of Beer-Bellys, Maryland Micro-brews and contest of craziness. There was a little bit of eveything for everyone. Spices, cheese non-profits and even a electrolosys company was there promoting or selling there wares. A few breweries you might not see or get to that often, because of the location of size. Franklin's Brewery, Barley and Hops Brewpub, & Johanssons Dining House & Brewery were some of the unique small breweries that were nice to get a few sips from. VIP hour was calm and friendly, but after noon it got crazy..Most of the breweries had the regular brews on tap, with some carrying new or unique beers offering sometimes for the first time this year. I had many beers, and all in all the fest was great for quality. My favorites were is this order:

1. Oliver Ales - High Tea
2. Heavy Seas - Winter Storm Cask
3. Barley and Hops - DIPA Double Deuce

Finally, I went to the grand opening of Alonso's restaurant, upstairs bar "Alonsoville". Steve, did a hell of a job turning an empty cavern of an arean into a beautiful bar, with a marble bar-top, exposed brick, hardwood floors, LCD tv's galore, and a Projector system for wathing the Ravens games. It was Evolution Craft Brewing night and the Owner Tom, Brewer Geoff, and Toms brother Bo were there to chat with fans of the brewery. I bumped into a few fellow beer dudes while there and met a few more. I had the Haymaker(conditioned in cask) and it was yummy. They also had Jacques Au Lantern pumpkin ale flowing through a real pumpkin into your glass. All in all so far so good this Baltimore Beer Week 2010, 8 more days to go.

Baltimore Beer Week Opening Tap ceremony - Baltimore Museum Of Industry

Well, last night was the first night of Baltimore Beer Week 2010, and I was at the "Opening Tap" ceremony at the Museum of Industry in south Baltimore. Here's a little write up of the things that went down while there.

Walking into the museum was interesting, as i had never been there before and didn't know what to expect. In the main door, to the left sign in and pick up my tasting glass along with a BBW passport to use throughout the weekend. Go into the main show floor where there was a nice buffet style spread furnished by Mother's Bar in Federal Hill(salad, meatballs, and pasta). After the buffet there were Brewery after Brewery offering up the beers to the waiting masses. I will try to mention all of the Breweries that were there: Flying Dog, Leinenkugels, Red Brick Station, Magic Hat, Sierra Nevada, Evolution, Dogfish Head, Duclaw, Spaten, Stella Artois, Oliver ales, Samuel Adams, Saranac & Heavy Seas(Flagship Sponsor).

Baltimore Beer Week 2010 Opening Tap Ceremony from Jason Fellon on Vimeo.

I walked around for a while trying as much of the harder to find brews that were there. After the beers I settled in front of the "Tapping Table" so I could get a good view of the ceremony. At about 7pm they started it...A squire read from a scroll, bringing up to stage the orginizers and founders before the Firkin Tapper Duff Goldman, was brought up. He said a few lines, then proceeded with one swing to drive the tap without any trouble. After that we all got to try the Heavy Seas firkin that was finished with hops that were grown near Mount Airy Md. and also had Wye Oak tree chips involved in it's creation. It was very tasty and was completely enjoyable.

Once the tap was finished, i walked around and talked to some of the fellow beer people I know before heading to a few more opening night events around town.

Victory Brewing Co. - "Moonglow" Weizen Bock Review

Brewery: Victory Brewing Co.

Type: Weizen Bock

ABV: 8.7%

Sight: Deep dark amber-brown, that is opaque to an extreme. It pours with a thin head of off-white, that disappears quickly, leaving the surface naked to the elements.

Aroma: Lotsa malt that bleeds dark fruit and nose tingling spices. Alcohol is there in abundance, but not to an extreme that I don't want to inhale more and more of it. Sweetness is the main part and it is very attractive.

Taste: Sweetness and alcohol are in the forefront and are brutal on the tastebuds. Raisin, prune, plum, and grain make this, a very flavorful brew. The malt fades and lets the yeast come in near the end. The finish comes up blah, with a tad tart that I could take or leave.

Overall: I like the originality of the style, the lighter flavors of the dark-fruit are nice, instead of being to overpowering. The mouthfeel is medium, and there is a nice sweet, slightly tart aftertste that is uneventful. I wish there were more carbonation, to give this brew a more attractive tingle to the mouth.

Score: 8.1/10

Magic Hat Brewing Co. - HI.P.A. Pale Ale Review

Brewery: Magic Hat Brewery

Type: India Pale Ale

ABV: 6.7%

Sight: It pours a dull cloudy golden-yellow with clearing towards the bottom of the glass. A decent bright-white head almost fills the top of the pint glass, but fizzes out quickly, leaving a spotty-film on the surface.

Aroma: Very friendly nose, that is strong but not too overwhelming. Citrus of orange fronts everything with a very light malt sweetness that blends well and keeps the flow from front to end balanced.

Taste: Nose and tongue don't quit match. It has a more floral taste than the citrus, not bad though. The initial sip brings a very good dryness that leads to the florally/slightly citrus sweetness that is cradled in a very light malt body. It flows very well from front to back...dry hangs throughout, and finishes with a little warmth of alcohol and a mild sour aftertaste.

Overall: Not bad. Not great. I was a little skeptical of getting this when I saw it on the singles shelf due to the recent takeover by North American Breweries. I became a little dis-enhearted with a good Craft Brewery being taken over by a Macro entity. I thought though, nothing has really changed but who gets the $2.00 I spent on this single, so i grabbed it. Glad I did...I love hops and this seemed like it would be right up my alley. A light to medium mouthfeel that keeps more of the dryness of hops active than the bitterness. I still might by one if I'd see it again.

Score: 7.8/10 

Tuppers Brewing Co. - Hop Pocket Ale Review

Brewery: Tupper's Brewing Co.

Style: American Pale Ale

ABV: 6%

Sight: Very cloudy dark-orange brown main body with light highlights on the bottom that have hints of gold. The head pours an off-white and is ridiculous in the aggressiveness...overflowing the glass and then some.

Aroma: A sweet citrus tone bounces off of the pleasant lightly roasted malt body. Floral notes run crazy throughout this brew, with a modest tingle of orange-zest near the end of the inhale.

Taste: The first sip is very in-your-face with sweetness that is overpowered by a tremendously dry-hop bitterness. A little orange and lemon come to the front, but can't break completely through the intense hop presence that is still dominate from the beginning.

Overall: It's hit or miss for me...I do like the hoppiness it brings and continues throughout the whole drink, but the way the hop is presented isn't the way i dig it. There isn't as much floral distinction it the taste...they are all melded together. The body is medium, that leaves a slight dryness on the tounge for a while after the drink is finished.

Score: 7.1/10

Weyerbacher Brewing Co. - Autumnfest Review

Brewery: Weyerbacher Brewing Co. - Autumnfest

Type: Seasonal/Oktoberfest

ABV: 5.4%

Sight: Medium toasted brown body with a half-fingers thick pure white head. Light carbonation continues from the bottom, until the first sip.

Aroma: Sweet caramel and roasted malt are the big scents coming from the glass. A little tingle of alcohol, with an underlying, very distant hop.

Taste: Very sweet up front as the malt comes across as candied sugars and dark fruit(maybe plum)...Whatever it is, it is good. Clean and refreshing up from with very little aftertaste. The body flows very well and the front is comparable to the finish where a slight tingle of alcohol hides.

Overall: Very easy drinking from front to back. Sweet and subtle with a creamy medium body that coats the tongue nicely. Malt dominates throughout in a good way where some fall seasonals fall short with the malt fronting of closing things out. Sweeter than most Oktoberfest, and that is what makes this one original.

Score: 8.9

Stone Brewing Co. Total Tap Tower Takeover Tour at ALEWIFE

I was so looking forward to this event when i heard of it about three weeks earlier. Imagine 40 taps of ultra-rare, exclusive, collaboration brews ready for you to enjoy for as long as they last that night...Wow! Greg Koch of the before mentioned Stone Brewing Co., was on hand also to celebrate in his handywork.

I got there roughly 10 minutes after the doors opened to VIP's and the line was already fairly long, but not a big deal...got to talk to a few guys while in line about what we were looking forward to trying first. For me it was the Vertical Epic Ales, specifically the 07.07.07 aged in red wine barrels, some of the Double Dry Hopped brews also.


Once in I found a place near the middle of this gorgeous new gastropub/bar, to camp out and mingle with some of the people I already knew, as well as maybe meet some new friends. I got the 07.07.07 that I talked about and believe me it was true to it's name "Epic". A nice nose that completely speaks of a red wine grape through and through...a light dryness and a lingering tartness flow throughout the 4oz. sample. This was the first taste tonight and made a re-diculous impression of how the night would flow.

While tasting the first beer Mr. Greg Koch came over and started talking about beer and what-not. He was a really down to earth and friendly guy that was completely approachable. He gave me and a couple of new friends some suggestions on what he would try from the list. I gladly went with his ideas of the collaborations, bourbon aged, and the verticals throughout the remainder of the evening.

All in all it was a very satisfying night, with some great people, sharing great beers from an original in the Craft Beer industry. I am so glad I was able to be at this once in a lifetime event, and I hope there would be similar events in the future.


I had a total of 11 of these rare brews while I was there and enjoyed all of them...Specifically the Vertical 07.07.07 Red-Wine, DDH IPA, DDH Ruination, 9th Anniversary Ale and the Smoked Porter with Chipotle were the stand outs for me, although having the chance to try any of these was a treat.

Here are the beers I tried:

1. 07.07.07 Vertical Epic Ale aged in Red Wine Barrels
2. Imperial Russian Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels(2008)
3. 9th Anniversary Ale
4. DDH 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA(Double Dry)
5. Old Guardian Barley Wine aged in Bourbon Barrels(2006)
6. Smoked Porter with Chipotle Peppers
7. Imperial Russin Stout 10th Anniversary GKOs Mad Man Mix
8. 21st Amendment/Firestone Walker/Stone El Camino (Un)Real  Black Ale
9. Ballast Point/Kelsey McNair/Stone San Diego County Session Ale
10. DDH Stone IPA
11. DDH Ruination IPA

Evolution Craft Brewing Co. - Jacques Au Lantern Review

Brewery: Evolution Craft Brewing Co.

Type: Seasonal/Fall Amber Ale with Pumpkin

ABV: 6.3%

Sight: Out of the growler it pours a gorgeous clear deep pumpkin orange with a tint of brown resinating throughout. The head comes out full and almost pure white, an inch or so thick, that after lessening leaves a foamy film on the surface.

Aroma: This is a real treat, pumpkin, clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg are definitely there...The unique thing is that they don't overpower anything. They are full and rich but don't hide the caramel malt body that is the beers base. Mild alcohol is there to tingle the nose on the inhale.

Taste: Clean, and crisp with a mild dryness being the first thing that hits ya. The malt is mellow and is a nice surface to bounce the spices off of leading to the sweet and light tart near the end. The middle is where it comes alive...ginger, cinnamon,and the main part, pumpkin are all represented in the correct strengths keeping it an all around above-average amber, but a great seasonal pumpkin beer, with it's originality.

Overall: Love it, can't say it enough. Just a great all around beer. It could be the balance between malt and hops along with the yeast strain that make this so good. Or, it could be the great combination of the traditional "Pumpkin" spices of nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon, along with some not so traditional spices of mace. ginger, and allspice that make it a original. Or maybe it is as simple as making it with an "Amber" base instead of the more fuller bodied based pumpkin beers out there. All I know is that it is an original. Mouthfeel is light-to-medium with a nice tart aftertaste in the finish.

Keep it up EVO! Another great effort.

Score: 9.3/10