Where Indie Video Games and Craft Beer Unite
This is the flagship beer for Big Ditch Brewing Company and I can tell why. It’s got a hoppy taste without hitting you over the head with it. That being said, I wasn’t a fan of the aftertaste. Overall if you’re an IPA fan, then this is a great beer for you.
Where to Find it: Big Ditch Brewing Company, Buffalo NY
ABV: 7%
Style: India Pale Ale
Availability: Year Round
Taste/Smell: Smells a little tart and tastes hoppy, in a good way
Rating (out of 10): 7/10
Admittedly I hated IPAs (India Pale Ales) for a long time. I felt they tasted like turpentine (seriously, don’t ask how I know what turpentine tastes like).
I didn’t understand the hype. Craft beer aficionados rant and rave about them and Pliny the Younger and Pliny the Elder are treated like the Holy Grail of IPAs.
I’ve become more accepting of them in no small part to the efforts of Stone Brewing Co out of San Diego, CA, and soon to be out of my home city of Richmond, VA.
Enjoy by 12.25.15 is part of their effort to show what a difference fresh beer makes. We’ve all accidentally bought that stale six pack. We’ve all had that awful beer. They’re trying to change that by making a large statement about when the beverage should be enjoyed by.
I had the Enjoy By 10.31.15 (admittedly a week late) but it was a well executed batch of flavors.
Its Christmas cousin is no different. It’s hoppy, yes, but the citrus and pine notes don’t beat you over the head. The clear, crisp amber color of the beer is inviting and familiar.
As the name implies, you won’t want to wait on this one.
Where to find it: Wegmans, Beer Shops, anywhere fine Stone beers are sold
ABV: 9.4%
Style: India Pale Ale
Availability: Limited
Taste/Smell: Citrus and Pine, tastes hoppy but mellow enough to be enjoyable
Rating (out of 10): 9/10
@Hawknight
Where to find it: Wegmans
ABV: 10%
Style: Imperial Stout brewed with Chocolate
Availability: November Release
Taste/Smell: Chocolate
Rating (out of 10): 8/10
The Joe Latté Vanilla Coffee Stout by CB Brewery of Honeoye Falls, New York is a beer that takes you to Christmas and other seasonal get-togethers where coffee is served later in the evening with dessert. My initial impression was the balanced coffee and vanilla taste and the smooth creamy texture. This beer is not bitter and I almost forget that I am drinking beer in the first place. The color is dark due to it being milk stout and the dark malt makes a perfect complement to the vanilla flavor. The beer has a sweet taste as well.
I give the Joe Latté Vanilla Coffee Stout 9 out of 10 for the perfect balance of flavor and texture. I definitely recommend it if you can find it for your seasonal parties.
Where to find it: Western New York Wegmans and most supermarkets; Beers of the World; CB Craft Brewers in Honeoye Falls.
ABV: 5.5%
Style: Coffee Stout
Availability: Seasonal
Taste/Smell: Coffee and Vanilla flavors and smells, dark color
Rating: 9/10
Sean Peters
@seanfinity
It’s what we’ve been hinting at for some time now, but the moment has finally arrived…the Pumpkin Party is HERE! We decided to do a mashup of a review that includes the TinyBuild Games, Party Hard, with a slew of Pumpkin-flavored craft beers. Not only that, we do it at a party while there is a killer on the loose.
Pick up the game by visiting STEAM and you can find the brews all over the Continental US.
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
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 –
Hill 145 Golden Ale – 4% ABV
Dam Buster British Pale Ale – 5% ABV
Black Lager – 5% ABV
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.
I’d heard the name Lost Borough Brewing Company tossed around a few times in conversation at other breweries in the area. They had some interesting looking brews on their website, but I finally decided I had to check them out in person when they showed their Sour Raz, a raspberry-flavored sour beer.
Located off Atlantic Ave in Rochester, NY, just around the corner from the original Sticky Lips, a local BBQ restaurant that doesn’t get nearly as much attention as it should. The tasting room isn’t huge. The walls are adorned with their merchandise, Rochester posters and an educational graphic about the process of how beer is made, a nod to the founders’ teaching background.
Another notable display is their Brew Crew, where for $100 per year, you not only get a spiffy stainless steel tumbler for your exclusive use every time you visit, but numerous other perks. Once the term ends, you get to take it home. Unfortunately for you, it’s sold out until March 2016.
What isn’t sold out (at least of this writing) is the Jug Club, where for $120, you get 12 free fills of a similarly spiffy stainless steel growler.
That aside, they had eight beers on tap on the day of my visit. The newest was the Sour Raz. As the brewery hasn’t been around for a full year, they’ve been playing with different styles and varieties of beer to see what Rochester is thirsty for. If you’re very polite, they will let you see their beer guide which lists all of the creations they’ve released since they opened.
I started off with the $7 flight which gave me a chance to try four beers. I selected Sour Raz, Amber Ale, Borough Bock and Oblivion Black IPA.
Sour Raz looked and tasted, to me, like a raspberry lemonade. They brewed the sour beer with 24 lbs of fresh raspberries. At 3.2% ABV, the low alcohol content and lightness of the brew makes it a natural summer beer. Sour beers are not for everyone, but I enjoyed it a lot. It came very close to Uberlin from Strangeways Brewing in terms of tartness. The color was a pale cloudy pink and barely resembled a beer, but that is by no means a criticism.
The Amber Ale and Borough Bock were darker beers that tasted similar. To be honest I couldn’t tell the difference. They were delicious but didn’t stand out to me.
The Oblivion Black IPA, however, was a standout (which we may see again on Brewelist). It resembled a porter or stout and was dark as night. It was heavy but not so much it beat you over the head. There was definitely hoppiness to it, and I’m finding that I do quite enjoy Black IPAs. My husband, who is into IPAs in general, said there was something about it that he didn’t quite care for but he couldn’t figure it out. Oh well.
The other really excellent thing is that they are very into education (it was founded by some Technology Teachers) and are more than happy to discuss it with people in the bar. They can likely recommend something you’ll like from their selection and don’t keep secrets about what they’re brewing next.
My husband and I are already planning our next adventure to The Lost Borough Brewing Company, and if you’re in the neighborhood, I’d encourage you to check it out as well.
”He was a wiseman who invented beer.” – Plato
Greetings and salutations to all from the glorious Commonwealth of Virginia! My name is Sean and it is my mission to introduce the world to the wonderful beer and similar beverages being created here. We are fortunate to have several different breweries and cideries being showcased during Virginia Craft Beer Month during August of this year. I have taken the liberty of visiting the following breweries in celebration: Ardent Craft Ales, Isley Brewing Company, and Strangeways Brewing Company, all located in Richmond, Virginia.
Ardent Craft Ales was my first stop in my whirlwind tour. They have a large outdoor beer garden in addition to a comfortable indoor seating area near the bar. I sampled their Virginia Common Lager, Saison Farmhouse Ale, India Pale Lager, and Honey Ginger Summer Ale. The Virginia Common Lager (5.3% ABV) had a decent drinkability with a slight crispness and balanced flavor. The saison (6.7% ABV) had a spicy kick that accompanied a rustic flavor with an unfiltered quality. The India Pale Lager (4.9% ABV) featured a lighter hop flavor and aroma than traditional IPAs. The aroma comes from the dry hopping during fermentation. My favorite sampling was the Honey Ginger Summer Ale (7.8% ABV). The ginger spiciness coupled with the sweet tang of the honey made for a treat for the palette. It won a silver medal at the Virginia Craft Brewer’s Conference.
Quite literally around the block in the Scott’s Addition neighborhood of Richmond, Isley Brewing Company features a variety of interesting beers served in their comfortable tasting room. They had about ten beers to choose from on tap and I sampled: “Dark Palm” Chocolate Dunkelweizen, “Off the Boulevard” Red Ale, “The Bribe” Oatmeal Porter, “Choosy Mother” Peanut Butter Porter, and “Jah’s Fire” Barley Wine. The Dark Palm (5.5% ABV 11 IBU) was a real treat as I enjoy darker beers. It featured a light coconut flavor combined with cocoa and coffee notes due to the malt. It made me think of an Almond Joy or Mounds bar without the overpowering sweetness. Off the Boulevard Red Ale (5% ABV 16 IBU) was surprisingly drinkable. I t wasn’t overly hoppy and I got a hint of apple in the aroma. The Bribe (6.6% ABV 19 IB) was a malty, balanced porter. It had notes of coffee and cocoa similar to the Dark Palm but with a more bitter mouth feel and taste. The Choosy Mother (6.6% ABV 19 IBU) had a similar character to The Bribe but with a delicious peanut butter flavor and aroma. The peanut butter went well with the dark malt of the porter. I think I enjoyed that beer the most. Jah’s Fire was my first barley wine and it had a strong fermented taste with noticeable savory umami qualities. Although not one of my favorites, it had an interesting flavor.
Strangeways Brewing Company rounded out my beer adventure. The atmosphere and variety of beers on tap is best described by their motto, “Think strange, drink strange.” On this visit, I tried “Eternal Youth” Biere D’Apricot, “Wake Me Up Before You Gose,” “Albino Monkey” White Ale, “Woodbooger” Belgian Brown Ale, “Phantasmic” East Coast IPA, and “Gwar Blood” Red Ale. Eternal Youth (5.2% ABV 15 IBU) had a balanced, slightly sour apricot flavor while the beer had some of the rustic qualities one would find in a saison. Wake Me Up Before You Gose (4.6% ABV 10 IBU) is a style of sour beer called gose that originated in Northern Germany and is made mostly from fermented wheat. This particular beer was conditioned in ghost pepper rum barrels which lent a slight vinegar aroma and flavor. Albino Monkey (5% ABV 25 IBU) had a very peppery aroma, with a spicy flavor and hint of orange. It was lighter in body and crisper than a Blue Moon for comparison. Woodbooger (6.0% ABV 20 IBU) had a sharp roasted aroma with hints of cocoa and vanilla which combined for a complex, refreshing flavor. Phantasmic (7.0%ABV 70 IBU) featured a strong piney aroma with a crisp, surprisingly drinkable flavor over hoppier West Coast IPAs. Gwar Blood (5.5% ABV 70 IBU) gets its name from famous costumed heavy metal and Richmond native band, Gwar. The flavor of this red ale is hoppier than some other red ales I have tried, including the Phantasmic.
Ardent, Isley, and Strangeways are but three of over a hundred craft breweries and cideries to choose from in Virginia. Their uniqueness and creativity in bringing out less common traditional methods and steering traditional varieties in new directions benefits the beer enjoying community as a whole. I am happy to celebrate craft beer in Virginia not just during the month of August, but year round as well.
— Sean Peters, Contributor