Hang on to your Nutcrackers!

So the holidays are upon us and so are all the wonderful holiday brews! This is both good news and bad news. Good news = a lot of good beer. Bad News = a lot of good beer consumed on top of a lot of great food!

Nevertheless, I always try and find a holiday brew I've never had before and give it whirl each season. This season I decided to try Boulevard Brewing Company's Nutcracker Ale. Some people are down on this beer because of its lack of creativity, I mean come on people, its beer!

Image courtesy of www.boulevard.com

This beer kind of reminds me of an IPA but with a big bold holiday flavor to it. What does the term "holiday flavor" mean? I'll explain. Those normal spices of an IPA come out but with an extra hint of some winter flavors. The two main ones I pick up on are a strong toffee flavor and also a strong caramel flavor. The color of the beer is also very nice, a deep reddish-brown color that evokes even more of that holiday flavor. I usually stay away from Boulevard Brewing, not for quality reasons, but for loyalty reasons. Being a St. Louis resident I am partial to the locally owned and operated brewer, Schlafly. Sometimes it pays to switch things up, and I am glad I did, this Nutcracker ale did not disappoint, but don't worry Schlafly, your still my brewer of choice!

Also, I would like to wish a Happy Holidays and thanks for following us from Shaun and I! 

 -Scott

16 years of awesomeness from Stone Brewing

For those of you in the know, know that you can recognize a Stone Brewing beer from the other end of the bar. That signature gargoyle sitting atop a clever name for well-deserving beer. That gargoyle always catches my eye whether I see it in the grocery store or at the bar. I like that about Stone Brewing. They want you and the people around you to know that you are drinking a Stone beer. They also put a little story on each bottle, whether it pertains to that beer or not depends, but nonetheless it makes it more than just a beer, its a drinking experience, if there is such a thing.

I love that gargoyle

This particular IPA is just what it name says it is, a 16th anniversary IPA. Perhaps what sets it apart is the fact that according to the bottle it is aled with a lemon verbena, an Argentinian seasoning often described as "more lemon than lemons" and lemon oil. This really means nothing to me except that it adds, in my opinion, a VERY noticeable finish to an otherwise strong, spicy IPA. The bitterness of the hops comes through strong and rightfully so as this actually a double IPA. The ABV on this beer is 10% and boy can you tell, the high alcohol provides another bite to the finish that lets you know what you're getting into, something I can appreciate. Also, the aromatics of this beer are phenomenal. I usually don't obsess or even harp over the aroma of a brew, but damn, this beer smells great!

This particular bottle was the last bottle on the shelf at my local store, however I do believe that Stone Brewing has produced all of their previous anniversary ales for most of the year. If that's not the case don't worry, they will definitely release a 17th anniversary IPA sometime next year. That's the other great thing, they've made an anniversary IPA every year since their second year in business. So if your wondering what's so special about the 16th anniversary the answer is nothing, Stone Brewing just loves making great beer, and thats why I love them! 

-Scott

Shaun Here with yet another review for your reading pleasure!

O'Fallon Black Hemp. Brewed with hemp seeds. It didn't really sound appealing to me but having had their Hemp Hop Rye and enjoying that very much I figured I would give it a whirl. According to Beer Pulse it isn't supposed to be available until January. (see their comments here)

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=776458954166429253#editor/target=post;postID=5753404098184246094

But I suppose thats one of the benefits of living in Saint Louis.

Black hemp is a really good beer, It has a wonderful Dark bitterness and a host of complex flavors. One of which is the toasted hemp seeds of course. They are not overpowering but instead compliment the rye hoppy flavor with a hint of wheat to temper the bitterness.

It struck me as being the stouter version of their hemp hop rye.

very very good, not too heavy, great balance of flavor, Thumbs Up!
4.25 out of 5...

If you like stouts and bitters you'll love it!

Shaun here,
Another beer review coming your way.


BELGO! Belgian style IPA from New Belgium
On the box it says "where hops go to disco" I thought that was both funny and after tasting it .....appropriate. One of my major complaints of many "self proclaimed" IPA's is that the hop content is lacking. Not the case here. Belgo has a very hoppy aroma and flavor. There isn't a ton of sweetness as with many traditional "true" IPA's. I suppose this is the Belgian influence. Its a pleasant beer that gets better as you drink more of it. It starts with a fairly intense bitterness which people who aren't real big hop fans may find offensive but after the second or third drink this quickly subsides and you start to pick up on the floral hop flavor. This is after all what the IPA experience is all about. So I would definitely recommend giving this one a try. However, I wouldn't make plans to drink more than three in a sitting. Its pretty filling and it has 7% alcohol content. Four out of five... Try it and let me know how you like it.

Octoberfest... In November!

Well October may be over, but that doesn't mean Octoberfest is. Okay, well maybe it is too. Nevertheless you can still enjoy a Sam Adams Octoberfest, even though its not October. 

Best Beer Ever? 

Where do I start with this beer. It has been a perennial favorite of mine ever since I started drinking craft beers. Before some of you freakout about how Sam Adam's isn't a craft beer company, let me explain. While Octoberfest is mass produced seasonal beer, Sam Adam's has done a magnificent job of marketing this beer as if it were a limited release from a local brewery and when you drink it, it certainly feels/tastes that way. Living in Saint Louis, the biggest competitor in the O-fest market is probably Schlafly's O-fest, which is equally delicious. Don't get me wrong, I love all things Schlafly (for the most part) however, there is a definite sweet finish with Sam Adam's O-fest that I personally find appealing. 

To be honest, there is not one thing I dislike about this beer, even the label is something I appreciate. The various shades of blue, orange, and brown perfectly evoke the colors of fall, in my opinion. Also, the deep red-amber hue of the beer adds to the fall coloring. This beer is the perfect bridge between the heavier brews of the winter and the lighter, fruity brews of the summer. Just enough spice to remind me that the holidays are coming and just enough malt and citrus to make me appreciate the lighter brews of the summer. The slight hints of toffee and caramel are also nice reminders of what I love in heavier brews. Another great thing about this beer is that it is relatively easy to home brew a Sam Adam's O-fest clone, which means you can have great tasting Octoberfest year-round! 

This may end up being the most controversial thing you see on this blog, but in my opinion Sam Adam's Octoberfest is the best seasonal beer I have ever had. I know thats a bold statement, but if you have some other suggestions, let me know and I'd love to try em! 

-Scott

Shaun here,
Here another review for you... Unfortunately I had the displeasure of trying Sarajevo. Its a Bosnian beer and it was disappointing to say the least. I bought a six pack of bottles and took it to a friends house to give it a try. My friend knocked the six pack off the top of the fridge and broke four of them. At first I was a little bummed out, then I opened one of the survivors and tried it. After that I was happy he broke the rest. It tasted like a PBR that had sat in the sun for about a year. In it's defense, I did procure the beer from a gas station so there is the possibility that it could have been old stock or something but even beyond the "skunkiness" I could find no redeeming qualities at all. When trying new beers you cant always pick a winner, and this was one of those times. It gets a rating of ZERO out of uh... pick a number.......

Not good...at all. 

Shift Beer!

Ahh the shift drink.

So I'm a waiter and as any waiter/bartender will tell you, sometimes the best part of the night (aside from the tips) is the end of the night. Probably the next best thing to celebrate the end of a night (or day) of hard work is the much anticipated, shift drink. The one (or more, depending on your bosses mood) drink you get to enjoy on the house, a little reward for the hard nights/days work that helps you relax and get back to your life outside of work. Well, New Belgium brewing has come out with the perfect shift drink...Shift Pale Lager.

While this beer is a relatively new creation for New Belgium (released in March 2012), the taste is very traditional. New Belgium utilizes four different types of hops, all unique to America, yet they also utilize those traditional European malts of Pale and Munich. This combination delivers just enough spice to the flavor without it overwhelming the finish. In fact, the finish is quite crisp and clean. As far as the aroma goes, there are floral and citrus over tones along with a strong smell of toasted crackers or bread. New Belgium's website references a touch of honey, but that is something I didn't pick up. As far as appearances go, it looks the just way it should, clean and crisp with just a bit of copper mixed in.

Another unique thing about this beer is New Belgium's decision to sell it exclusively in tall-boy cans. I can offer no explanation for this, except that maybe they wanted it to have more of a casual look and feel, considering it is a shift beer.

Whatever the case, this is a new staple for me. I really enjoy this beer and the fact that it only comes in tallboys means its just enough to take the edge off after long shift on my feet. Tell us about your shift drink habits and what you think of New Belgium's Shift Pale Lager in the comments below!

-Scott

Shaun here,
First beer review as promised....

Wooden Nickel IPA from Crown Valley Brewing Co. in Ste. Genevieve MO.

                                                           His job is to drink and smile

This is a great example of an American style IPA. It starts out with a burnt caramel flavor with some pleasant bitterness. There is a residual smokey flavor that tends to hang on the palate a while and compliments a unique roasted hop type of motif. It has a surprisingly crisp beginning and a clean finish. It does not have quite the floral aroma that one would expect from a traditional IPA or the sweetness. As such, one could make a strong argument that it would fall into the category of an American Pale Ale which is akin to the British Pale ales or Bitters.

Overall I give this a strong 4 out of 5 and commend Crown valley on taking a classic and making it their own.

Anybody who has the opportunity to sample this beer definitely should. And please let us know your thoughts.

Welcome Craft Beer Enthusiasts

While most of you have already read about Shaun and understand the purpose of this blog, I am here to do a little introduction for myself. While I have not been as fortunate as Shaun when it comes to my international exposure to breweries, I have visited many local breweries. As a St. Louis resident of course I've visited the famous Anheuser-Busch brewery, Schlafly Bottleworks, and Highlands Brewing Company. My interests not only lie in the enjoyment of craft beers, but also the process of making those beers. While the goal of this blog is to offer reviews, opinions, and criticisms of craft beers, we will also offer critiques and opinions of methods within the craft beer process. Shaun and I look forward to sharing our thoughts and feelings on all the beers we try as we go through this process! We also would like to hear from you, feel free to sound off on your opinions in the comment section below or on twitter or Facebook, which we will be launching in the coming weeks!

Be sure to check back next week for our very first beer review of Crown Valley Brewing's Wooden Nickel IPA!

-Scott

Hello craft beer enthusiasts

Shaun here,
My friend and classmate Scott and I are about to embark on a class project. We have elected to use craft beer reviews as a format. In the coming weeks we will be sampling many craft beers and offering up our opinions. We hope to get a dialogue started in order to share thoughts with other craft beer enthusiasts. I have been a beer drinker for over 20 years and have visited many famous breweries such as the Guinness brewery at St. James Gate, Dublin:

I have also visited the Heineken brewery in Amsterdam, Netherlands And spent a month in the U.K. sampling all the cask ales I could find which were nothing short of amazing. Domestically I have made a pilgrimage to the Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo, Michigan. And of course the famous Anheuser Busch Brewery, Schlafly Brewery and the Trails head brewery as I am a resident of Saint louis. I enjoy all styles of beer and sincerely hope we get many suggestions of new beers to review. In the coming weeks I welcome everyone to comment on our posts and offer critiques of our reviews.