Russian River is a truly outstanding brewery; I’ve reviewed Pliny The Elder and Consecration in previous posts. So I’m now happy to report on two more of their superb offerings. I broke open a bottle of Russian River Supplication (Russian River Brewing Co.; Santa Rosa, CA; American Wild Ale; ABV: 7.0) this evening to share [...]
I had the good fortune to try a Lagunitas Wilco Tango Foxtrot Ale (Lagunitas Brewing Co.; Petaluma, CA; American Strong Ale; ABV: 7.8) the other day. Affectionately called WTF by most people, it’s a limited release by the brewery and definitely lives up to its billing. WTF pours a dark reddish brown and the nose [...]
I’m a huge fan of barley wines, so when I heard that Weyerbacher brews an oak aged version of their Blithering Idiot, I was definitely eager to try it. Weyerbacher Insanity (Weyerbacher Brewing Co.; Easton, PA; Barley Wine; ABV: 11.1) is a wonderfully eclectic ale and my new favorite barley wine. It pours a hazy [...]
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special Reserve 16 is one of my favorite beers of all time. Now this brewery has improved on it with another outstanding ale. Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special Reserve 18 (Harviestoun Brewery Ltd.; Alva Clackmannanshire, Scotland (UK); Old Ale; ABV: 8.0) is a robust old ale aged in 18 year old whiskey casks. [...]
I recently read an article in Men’s Journal magazine naming the Top 25 Beers in America for 2009. One of them, an ale from Flying Fish in New Jersey, was voted the Best Belgian Style beer. Being an former resident of the Garden State, and having friends who know the owners of this brewery, I [...]
Spring is in full swing now, and the warmer weather has me thinking of a nice session beer. There are several fruit beers that are perfect for this time of year. Sea Dog Blue Paw Wild Blueberry Wheat Ale; Sea Dog Brewing Co.; Bangor, ME; Fruit / Vegetable Beer; ABV: 4.6. Blue Paw is a [...]
We stopped by BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse in Pinellas Park on Sunday for dinner, and noticed that they had an abbey ale as the special on draft. Beer Advocate had it listed as retired, but BJ’s is brewing it again. I can definitely attest, after a couple of pints, that everything’s back to Normal! BJ’s [...]
It’s an annual right of passage at the beginning of February that two world renowned Imperial IPAs make their mark upon the craft beer world. The first, Russian River Pliny The Younger (Russian River Brewing Co.; Santa Rosa, CA; Imperial India Pale Ale; ABV: 11.0), has become the Holy Grail for many beer enthusiasts. While [...]
With the explosion of the craft beer industry, it seems like ales and lagers are giving wine a run for its money as the drink of choice. In fact, many breweries have started to age their ales in oak barrels which give them a distinct wine like character. This “crossover” is producing beers that appeal [...]