Monday, April 30, 2012

4/30/12 Otto's Double D

So a couple of days ago one of my colleagues brought me some beers from when he went to Otto's in State College, PA. So the other night when I was sitting down to eat my chipotle black bean burger I decided to have the Otto's Double D IPA. Now as everyone who reads my reviews regularly knows that I am not a huge fan of IPAs so take my ending comments with a grain of salt. The temperature was 40.5 degrees with a small head at 1 11/64" and a rocky off white head appearance. The head lacing was excellent and a head the dissipated quickly with soft carbonation. The clarity and color were sparkling and gold respectively. The taste and aroma were a mixture of citrus, floral and an earthy taste. The finish length was long with a dry mouth feel and back tongue hit. The body lacing was excellent and overall not bad for being an IPA but I still have not been converted to the IPA band wagon and think I will always be hard pressed to find one that makes me say that I want another one. Thanks for reading and as always drink responsibly.







Information from Otto's website


Double D IPA

Otto's Double D IPA Label

Big Imperial . Packed with Centennial, Columbus, Palisade, and Cascade hops. Makes the tongue tingle and body warm and fuzzy inside.
ABV 9.2%  •  Available in 12 oz six packs, 22 oz , cases and kegs!




Friday, April 27, 2012

4/27/12 Ommegang Abbey Ale

So last night after work I decided to try another beer I received from a colleague at work. I had gotten 4 beers from Ommegang and all were unfiltered but one. I still decided to go with an unfiltered one because it has been a while since the last time I had one. All of these beers had crazy high ABV's so I new I was in for a good time. Just remember that when you sit down to have one of these. I decided to have a Ommengang Abbey Ale. The temperature was 43.0 degrees with a huge 6" head with a fizzy medium brown appearance. The head lacing was excellent and the head dissipated slowly. The carbonation was little with a murky clarity and a red body color. The aroma and taste were a mixture of burnt caramel, clove, and dark cherry. The flavor was light with a long finish length and a dry mouth feel. The tongue hit was towards the back and the body lacing was excellent. Overall I would say it was an A. My wife had a sip and enjoyed it also. I thought it was something different from the beers I have previously reviewed. It had a slightly sweet taste with a very subtle hint of bitterness that made it just an excellent beer. Thanks for reading and as always drink responsibly.






Information from Ommegang website



Abbey was Ommegang's first beer and was styled after Dubbels produced by Belgian Trappist monks. A deep, rich and malty ale, Abbey uses several Belgian specialty malts and spices resulting in a very aromatic, flavorful beer.
Deep burgundy in color, topped by a dense tan head, Abbey Ale is rich on the palate but with a dry finish. Suitable for cellaring, Abbey develops wonderful caramel, fig, and currant notes with age.
Abbey is in a class of its own when it comes to food friendly beers. Rich, chewy and fruity, the dubbel mimics the palate sensations of drinking a big zinfandel or cabernet sauvignon. If you know these wines, you know Abbey. Its flavor profile perfectly complements charcutterie, game meats, linguini with cheese, meatballs, and red sauce.
And just like its grape relatives, Abbey Ale is amazing in the kitchen. Using it like a red wine in a Bolognese, with demi-glace and mushrooms for a sauce, or for marinating chicken - it works beautifully. Combine one part Abbey and two parts beef stock as an amazing base for French onion soup, or reduce with rosemary and some stock, mound it with butter and top a steak.
Malts: Pils, amber, Munich, aroma
Hops: Styrian Golding, Spalt Select
Spices: Coriander, sweet orange peel, star anise, licorice root, cumin
Yeast: Ommegang House Yeast
OG 18.2 degrees plato
FG: 4.1 degrees plato
ABV: 8.5%
IBU: 20
Nutritional Information from myfitnesspal.com

Ommegang - Abbey Ale (Estimate Only)

  1.   
Calories220Sodium0 mg
Total Fat0 gPotassium0 mg
Saturated0 gTotal Carbs5 g
Polyunsaturated0 gDietary Fiber0 g
Monounsaturated0 gSugars0 g
Trans0 gProtein0 g
Cholesterol0 mg  
Vitamin A0%Calcium0%
Vitamin C0%Iron0%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.





Wednesday, April 25, 2012

4/25/12 Troegs Nugget Nectar

So this was another great week of trivia at Dorko's in Mount Carmel, PA. The team of the RZA was on their game all night long. I captured the elusive trifecta (50/50, mid round trivia, and trivia win). The crowd was large and the chants for the RZA to go back to Minersville were heard throughout the bar. This however is what the RZA lives for. It feeds our need to continue our dominance and we encourage every and all challengers to come to Dorko's on any Monday night and attempt to dethrone the raining champions. It was fantastic and now Dorko's is letting the winning team take the trophy home so we can take pictures with it. Last night I decided to have one of the Nugget Nectar from Troegs which I had gotten on my trip to the brewery. The temperature was nice at 45.1 degrees with a large head at 2 34/64" and a frothy off white head appearance. The head lacing was excellent with a slow dissipation and soft carbonation. The clarity was normal with an amber color and a floral aroma and grapefruit taste. The flavor was moderate to heavy with a long finish length. The mouth feel was dry with a back tongue hit and excellent body lacing. Overall it wasn't a bad beer but I am not a huge fan of IPA's or grapefruit so it was a real hard sell for me. If you like IPA's and/or grapefruit you'll probably love this. Thanks for reading and as always please drink responsibly.












Information from Troegs website

Tröegs Nugget Nectar

Alcohol by Volume: 7.5%
Hop Bitterness (IBU's): 93ish
Color (SRM): Straw/ Orange
Availability: Seasonal
Malts: Pilsner, Vienna, Munich
Hops: Nugget, Warrior, Tomahawk, Simcoe, Palisade
HopBack Hops: Whole leaf Nugget
Dry Hops: Nugget, Warrior
Yeast: Ale

Seasonal Brew (February)

TASTING NOTES

Squeeze those hops for all they’re worth and prepare to pucker up: Nugget Nectar Ale, will take hopheads to nirvana with a heady collection of Nugget, Warrior and Tomahawk hops. Starting with the same base ingredients of our flagship HopBack Amber Ale, Nugget Nectar intensifies the malt and hop flavors to create an explosive hop experience.

FOOD COMPLIMENTS

Cheese (Sharp, Blue, and Cheddar); Meat (Beef and Poultry)
Serving Suggestions:
Temp: 45-50° F  Glassware:  Pint Glass

NEWS & AWARDS



Nutritional information from myfitnesspal.com

Troegs - Nugget Nectar

  1.   
Calories240Sodium0 mg
Total Fat0 gPotassium0 mg
Saturated0 gTotal Carbs20 g
Polyunsaturated0 gDietary Fiber0 g
Monounsaturated0 gSugars0 g
Trans0 gProtein0 g
Cholesterol0 mg  
Vitamin A0%Calcium0%
Vitamin C0%Iron0%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.


Sunday, April 22, 2012

4/22/12 Uncle Cones Bar in Minersville, PA

So last night I was coming home from work and as I pulled up to my house and a former colleague of mine was getting out of his car. He asked me if I wanted to go get a beer and as typically the answer when somebody asks me this questions I said sure just let me tell my wife where I'm going. So we went by my favorite bar for hanging out with friends, Uncle Cones in Minersville, PA. Here is why its my favorite bar for hanging out with friends. It isn't usually super crowded but has a decent amount of people in it. You can go there and be able to talk to the people your with fairly easily. They have a decent amount of different things to do. You can shoot pool, play darts and they have Buck Hunter there too. Every so often they have a band but in my old age I don't go to see bands much if ever any more. Last night I had two beers I haven't reviewed yet but I didn't have  my rating sheets. So because of this I'll just give you a brief synopsis. I had an Original Honey Brown Lager which was pretty good. I'd probably rate it around a B+ to A-. It had nice hints of honey sweetness, an average finish, and a light flavor. The other beer I had was Bud Light Lime. The was also surprisingly good. I would actually put it at an A- for what it is. It basically reminds me of a Corona without having to put the lime in it. It had a very strong Lime flavor to it and a light flavor with an average finish length to it. I believe that everyone should have a bar like Uncle Cones in the bar repertoire. A bar that is close to your house that is just great to go to with friends. Overall it was another great night out at the bar and overall I would rate Uncle Cones as a superbly awesome place to go and have a beer and some good times.
Update 9/24/13: As of this date Uncle Cones is Currently closed




Thursday, April 19, 2012

4/19/12 Fallenbock from Erie Brewing Company

So last night I decided to sit down with another beer I have received from a colleague of mine. By now I would hope your realizing the only real reason I like going to work is because it always is affording me the opportunity to sample the great beers my fellow workers are enjoying in their down time. The beer I sampled last night was Fallenbock from Erie Brewing Company. Fallenbock came in at a nice temperature of 42.1 degrees with a small 1" head with a rocky light brown appearance. The head lacing was excellent and the head dissipated quickly. The carbonation was soft with a flat clarity and a brown color. It had a roasted aroma and chocolate coffee taste with a moderate to light flavor and an average finish length. The mouth feel was dry with a back tongue hit and good body lacing. Overall I would give Fallenbock an A-. It was a solid beer with good flavor and it was dark which I do enjoy but after having so many different dark beer I guess I was just looking for a little bit more. Thanks fro reading and as always drink responsibly.






Nutritional information from myfitnesspal.com

Erie - Fallenbock

  1.   
Calories230Sodium0 mg
Total Fat0 gPotassium0 mg
Saturated0 gTotal Carbs0 g
Polyunsaturated0 gDietary Fiber0 g
Monounsaturated0 gSugars0 g
Trans0 gProtein0 g
Cholesterol0 mg
Vitamin A0%Calcium0%
Vitamin C0%Iron0%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.


Information from Erie Brewing Company website

Flavor Profile

Oktoberfest Lager: Robust, roasted, chocolate malt flavor, followed with a clean and crisp finish. Chocolate Brown.

Alcohol by Volume:7.8%    Degree’s Plato:15    Hop Bitterness IBU’s: 16


Avalibilty: Seasonal    August - September



Beer Stories

History states that the first Oktoberfest was on October 12, 1810: For the commemoration of the marriage between Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Keeping up with Erie Brewing’s German brewing influence, our brewer creates Fallenbock, a classic Oktoberfest lager that is a harmonious marriage of classic malts and hops that has a wonderful clean and crisp flavor to celebrate Autumn and Oktoberfest.

Food Pairing

Cheese: Buttery, earthly cheeses (Brie, Gouda, Havarti, Swiss, Camembert, Fontina)

EntrĂ©e: Wild game meats, poultry, sausages, duck, pork; German, American cuisine, Italian pasta
Dessert: Chocolate desserts