Assault Android Cactus and Brewfist Space Man India Pale Ale

Happy Friday our lovely Brew Bros and Brewelettes!

So, when you’re playing a game called Assault Android Cactus from Witchbeam, you’d expect to be drinking a Cactus-type beer. Unfortunately, we live in Upstate NY where everything has been pumpkinized and there’s no cactus beers in sight. We decided we’d try the next best thing and pair this amazing game with a spacey-type beer in the Space Man India Pale Ale from Brewfist. It’s a unique pairing to say the least and we can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it after listening to the episode below!

Pick up the game by visiting their STEAM page, and find the brew at your local import spot!

Check our Facebook page for updates, along with our Twitter and Instagram. We also have an UnTappd account where you can see what we’re drinking; and you can catch us on iTunes for your listening pleasure.

Any ideas you have for a game to play and a drink to go along with it? Email us: brewelist@gmail.com.

Stay Thirsty and Play Indie!

~Casey and Jackie

The 5 Beers I Will Never Stop Loving (Or Drinking)

Once upon a time I was able to keep up with all of the new craft beers being released. Those days are long gone now – partly because I no longer earn my living talking about beer online and partly because there are just too many new beers coming out to make that a feasible goal.

I am a very big fan of trying new things, so I don’t mind. In fact, I very much appreciate having the option to order something I’ve never had before almost every time I go out.

At the same time, having so many options, in so many places, so regularly, has made me realize which of my old standbys really have staying power. The list of beers that I keep coming back to time after time, year after year, is relatively short but each beer on it has passed the tests of time and fierce competition with flying colors. While it’s weird to think of the idea of “classic craft beers” – I suspect that it may someday be a thing. In the meantime, I will share my list of abiding favorites. Here they are:

tumblr_inline_nwlv40jOUR1qdteir_400

5. Victory Prima Pils
Out of the five beers on this list, Prima Pils is the one I seek out least often – but whenever it’s there, I’m always glad to see it. A classic thirst-quencher easy-drinker, it was my first favorite pilsner and that will never change.

tumblr_inline_nwlvayXvYT1qdteir_500

4. Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale
You’d think that a beer originally released in 1997 might have lost its edginess by now but that’s certainly not the case. There’s fruit, pine, bitterness, bite – and best of all, balance. It’s the beer that taught me what a sipping beer is and it’ll always have a place in my heart – as well as my fridge.

tumblr_inline_nwlvesGnWu1qdteir_500

3. Unibroue La Fin Du Monde
This beer makes you wonder if the Canadians couldn’t teach the Belgians a thing or two about brewing. The first time I had it was in Montreal, upon the recommendation of a friend (thanks again, Deron) and I haven’t stopped loving it since. I try to pay it forward by recommending it to anyone just getting into beer and I still buy it regularly for myself. I consider the fact that it is now available at Wegmans a blessing, as it is my all-time favorite blend of yeasty, fruity, spicy, and boozy.

tumblr_inline_nwlv2qWRMT1qdteir_500

2. Founders Porter

A classic example of the style, this beer is everything you could want in a porter and it’s not at all pretentious about it. Dark, velvety, and dominated by the chocolate and caramel malt flavors, this is the beer that made me fall in love with porters and I will always be grateful.

tumblr_inline_nwlv1mlRIK1qdteir_500

1. Great Lakes Christmas Ale

This post was actually inspired by Great Lakes Christmas Ale, which was released today. At this point, it’s a holiday season tradition for me – and one of my favorites at that. It’s spiced, it’s sweet, and it’s oh so nice. Maybe the fact that I can’t have it all year round makes me appreciate it even more when I can? Either way, I can’t wait to get my hands on some ASAP.

This post was submitted by the lovely Elizabeth Chatterton. Make sure you follow her other fascinating articles on her blog, Words of Chatter.

20xx and Stochasticity Project HiFi+LoFi Mixtape

Happy Friday our lovely Brew Bros and Brewelettes!

Today, we’re happy to share with you our episode featuring 20xx from Battery Staple Games and Project HiFi+LoFi Mixtape from Stochasticity. Why would we combine this Mega Man-inspired game with such a craft brew as this? Well, take a listen to the podcast below and find out!

Check our Facebook page for updates, along with our Twitter and Instagram. We also have an UnTappd account where you can see what we’re drinking; and you can catch us on iTunes for your listening pleasure.

Any ideas you have for a game to play and a drink to go along with it? Email us: brewelist@gmail.com.

Stay Thirsty and Play Indie!

~Casey and Jackie

Knucklehead Craft Brewing – Webster’s Finest Craft Brewery

Hidden on a back road of Webster, NY is the almost-year-old Knucklehead Craft Brewing.

The converted former Grocery Store is now a cozy tasting room for their six flagship beers and a rotation of seasonal and special edition brews. On October 8, 2015, they released Ichabod’s Gourded Ale, which is their take on the fall pumpkin ales.

Co-owners Len and George can often be seen behind the bar, serving beer and making conversation with patrons, who, for the most part, are regulars. Every time I’ve visited, it’s been busy. Every seat around the bar is filled and the other bartenders, including family members of the owner, are friendly and attentive. Parking can sometimes be a challenge when they are really busy, but it’s worth it.

We stopped in and selected the Ichabod’s Gourded Ale after trying a small sample. The Ale is 7.6% ABV and pours a golden orange color. It’s heavy on pumpkin taste and an appropriate amount of spice without the sweetness that seems to plague some pumpkin ales. It’s extremely drinkable, which is dangerous considering the ABV.

Knucklehead Craft Brewing's Limited Edition take on the Pumpkin Ale, Ichabod's Gourded Ale.
Knucklehead Craft Brewing’s Limited Edition take on the Pumpkin Ale, Ichabod’s Gourded Ale.

If pumpkin isn’t your poison of choice, they also offer a solid selection of flagship beers that hit all the major categories. My personal favorites are Kathys Kreme Ale and their Knockout Stout.

If you can’t make it to the tap room, you may find their beers at various establishments in the Rochester area.

If you miss out on Ichabod’s Gourded Ale, don’t be sad. They’re releasing their Maple Vanilla Porter on Thursday, October 22nd at 4:00 PM.

Silversmith Brewing Company

You know what we should do today? I think we should ride our bikes around in 90 degree weather and start day drinking around 10am.

These were *mostly* the words that came out of my fiancees mouth, and when you’re visiting Niagara-On-The-Lake around Labor Day; well it’s kinda what you do. We knew that we had a bunch of wineries that we wanted to hit up, but also included on our itinerary was the inclusion of two Breweries; one of which I will talk about now.

Sweaty, a little bit tired, and very thirsty, we approached the Silversmith Brewery. From the outside, it looks a bit like a place where weapons are made. I would imagine that was the point, as the name implies that Smithing has been done there at one point. When you go in, there are stained glass windows and a peaked ceiling. Scratch the idea of weapon forging, this was a converted church. Wood and iron all over the place, it’s very all very beautiful and medieval looking.

We took our seats at the expansive bar and ordered a flights which I will get to in a minute. While the alcohol is on full display, they also had offerings of food that included Brats, wings, Po’ Boys, and pickled watermelon rinds. We didn’t sample any of the food items though, as we had already eaten breakfast. Let’s get to the alcohol though, which we gladly sampled before noon.

Bavarian Breakfast Wheat

  • 5.2% Alcohol by VolumeThis was my least favorite of the lineup. It had a crisp and refreshing taste, but a little too soft for my tastes. I can understand why they call it a ‘Breakfast wheat’, as I could see this going well with their brats or even a waffle.

Hill 145 Golden Ale – 4% ABV

  • They call this beer their ‘patio crusher’ and as soon as you take a sip you’ll know why. The Hill 145 is a PERFECT Summer beer. It’s so light and crisp and perfect for entertaining people on your deck while simmering up some tasty ribs. Really loved this beer.

Dam Buster British Pale Ale – 5% ABV

  • The Dam Buster is what I would refer to as a “classic beer.” It’s really good for any occasion and the hints of butterscotch make it smooth and refreshing. It has light hops and really hearkens back to a traditional British Ale.

Black Lager – 5% ABV

  • The Black Lager is their flagship beer and I can certainly see why. I’m a fan of dark beers in general so I’ll be a bit more biased, but damn if this isn’t just a fine tasting brew. Not heavy at all with that 5% abv; it goes down smooth and leaves an aftertaste of chocolate and coffee. I had half of the flight and then just went ahead and ordered their special of a pint glass and beer for $10 dollars and couldn’t be happier. If you only have time for the one beer when you visit, this is the one you get.

Overall, Silversmith was a perfect place to stop and get our day-drink on. The waitstaff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable as we asked them questions about the beers and establishment. If you happen to be in the Ontario area, please take the time to make your way to Silversmith Brewing Company, because you will not be disappointed.

You can visit their website to learn more about them here: Silversmithbrewing.com. Also make sure you follow and like their page on Facebook for interaction, news, and great photos.

11999040_10153695886635955_1607696124170717326_n

Jotun and Orkney Brewery Skull Splitter Ale

This edition of the Brewelist podcast, we explore the fantastic and mythical Jotun, from Thunder Lotus Games. The game features a kick-ass Viking woman who takes down powerful creatures and we knew we need something equally as strong to pair with it. In comes the Skull Splitter Ale from Orkney Brewery.

I hope you enjoy the episode as much as we enjoyed recording it for you all. If you’re interested in picking up the game, visit the Steam link HERE. Go out to your local craft beer import spot to get the brew!

Check our Facebook page for updates, along with our Twitter and Instagram. We also have an UnTappd account where you can see what we’re drinking; and you can catch us on iTunes for your listening pleasure.

Any ideas you have for a game to play and a drink to go along with it? Email us: brewelist@gmail.com.

Stay Thirsty and Play Indie!

~Casey and Jackie