Hales Ales Brewery Supergoose IPA - Beer Review

Found: Yokes
Brewery: Hales Ales Brewery (Seattle, WA)
Beer Name: Supergoose IPA
Beer Style: IPA
ABV%: 7.1%
Price: $5.59 / 1 pint 6 oz

I've started to really enjoy IPAs and like many fledgling hop heads out there, I am starting to look for the harder hoppier stuff.  If you like bitter bite and the floral notes of an IPA I heartily recommend Supergoose.  Its so good, no wonder the mascot is wearing a cape!  It's even got CW falling head over heels for more hops....

 

 The pour shows a golden slightly hazy brew with about 1 finger of white head made of medium bubbles.  The fine lacing of this brew is everything a brew connoisseur should look for.  The aroma is intensely strong floral hoppiness, with notes of piny hops as well.  The flavor again is of strong floral hops that charge all the way through the body and to the finish.  There are hints of citrus and a medium bite of bitter in the end.  Overall a very smooth mouth feel, the hops don't leave you high and dry.  Today, I would rate this my favorite IPA!

NW Bearded Brewer's Grade:

 

Elysian Brewing Company Dragonstooth Stout - Beer Review

Found:  Yokes
Brewery: Elysian Brewing Company (Seattle, WA)
Beer Name:  Dragonstooth Stout
Beer Style: Imperial Oatmeal Stout (from EBC's website)
ABV%:  7.5%
Price:  $4.79 / 1 pint 6 oz

This brew just called to me from the beer aisle with an extremely colorful label.  It reminded me of a dragon tattoo a Yakuza hitman might wear.  The pour brings a dark liquid that is opaque all the way through.  Held up to the light, there is a reddish hue around the edges of the glass.  There is a dark thick head with medium sized bubbles with staying power, and leaves lacing waterfalls down the entire glass.  Aroma brings forward dark coffee and some floral hoppiness.  CW also recognized espresso and cocoa.  Flavor starts with mild dark chocolate, coffee and a medium bitter hits the top of the mouth.  Very smooth mouth feel and a medium body.  CW said after a sip, "Yummy!  I'm really learning to like stouts more."

NW Bearded Brewer's Grade:

Iron Horse Brewery Mocha Death - Beer Review

Found: Main Market Co-op
Brewery: Iron Horse Brewery (Ellensburg, WA)
Beer Name: Mocha Death
Beer Style: Stout
ABV%: 7%
Price: $3.49 / 1 pint 6 oz

This beer is an offshoot of the very popular Iron Horse Brewery Irish Death (apparently the favorite beverage of Central Washington University).  Pours a black and opaque, similar to when someone shuts off the light while your taking a shower (you get a little scared).  1 finger of creamy tan head that fades quickly with little to no lacing.  Aromas of dark roasted coffee beans and espresso.  The flavor is similar with a heavy coffee smack in the face.  Not overly sweet with a medium bitter from the coffee and a dark chocolate finish.  I found the coffee balances the sweetness nicely (I personally think that IHB's Irish Death is too sweet).  If they started serving this at my favorite coffee shop, I wouldn't be mad about it...

NW Bearded Brewer's Grade:

New Belgium Brewery Fat Tire - Beer Review

Found: Bottles
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing
Beer Name: Fat Tire (Can)
Beer Style: Amber Ale
ABV%:  5.2%
Price: $1.39 / 12 oz Can

There has been a lot of talk about Craft Breweries starting to use cans instead of bottles.  Arguments for seem pretty convincing since the cans are air and light tight (the two enemies of brew). 
I have had Fat Tire in a bottle before, and I wanted to see if there was any difference between the two.  Here goes...

Pour shows a light amber color with extreme clarity.  Three fingers of coarse bubbles in the head that produces fine lacing in waterfalls all the way down the glass.  Aroma gives off the scent of home made bread rising by a wood stove.  Nutty flavor with caramel notes, honey and alcohol.  All of the flavors are very delicate.  Crisp and smooth mouth feel with a medium body.  Overall a very light and refreshing brew.

NW Bearded Brewer's Grade:

Boston Beer Company Samuel Adams - Brewery Tour

The Cider Wench and I took a trip out to Boston in October of 2009.  CW has some college friends back east from her time in Austria (I’m sure she’ll fill you in some time).  We ended up going through Maine and New Hampshire too, but Boston was our main focus…


CW and Kat at the Bleacher Bar

We met CW’s chum Kat at the Bleacher Bar.  If you love baseball this is the bar for you.  Located in the right field wall , you can sip a beer, eat a burger and gaze upon the hallowed grounds of Fenway Park.  Being the season (meaning we were in a bar around lunch time), we had chili cheese fries, Reuben sandwiches, and Samuel Adams Oktoberfest.  This was my first experience with an Oktoberfest style brew, and it was for lack of a better term….. magical.

“Once it hits your lips, it's so good!”…. Frank the Tank (Old School)
 

Reubens!

I picked up a new hat on Yawkey way and we worked our way to the entrance of the park for a tour.  No words can really describe the feeling of being there.  You can literally feel the history there.  Hopefully the photos will do it justice.  If you are ever in Bean Town, make sure to take this tour.

Now let’s talk about the second most popular place to visit in Boston, the Samuel Adams Brewery.  Getting there was fairly easy.  We grabbed the “T” from the B&B we were staying at.  Thirty minutes and a change of trains later, we reached our stop.  What we didn’t realize is the walk required from that point on.  There aren’t that many twists and turns, but you go through a neighborhood that doesn’t seem too friendly, especially if you’re not from there.

Finally we reached our destination.  Even though it was mid-October the temps were around 80 degrees and raining.  Inside we got our tickets and posted up near the giant fan they had set up in the lobby.  Our tickets were actual Sam Adams labels.  We were two groups back and the lobby was filling up very quickly.  Trying to cool down and contact CW’s friends to meet up with us made the time fly.  Unfortunately as we lined up, I realized my driver’s license wasn’t in my pocket.  I still had my wallet, but no driver’s license.  We almost missed the tour, but CW calmed me down and suggested we look in the Lost & Found after the tour.  See why I keep her around, she uses beer to avert crisis…. Jack Bauer has nothing on my lady.

 

I've got my ticket

The tour begins….

Have you ever watched a Sam Adams commercial…. You see the brewers (major beard envy) standing in front of giant copper kettles.   Jim Koch is there too, and he’s pouring fresh beer from a Sam Adams tap.  This is that place.  While it was the main brewery for a while, this site is now for research and development of new recipes and of course, tours.



We're smiling because there is beer in those kettles...

Finally after the awestruck feeling wore off, we made it to the Tasting Room (cue the light from the sky and choirs of angels).  The tables filled up quickly, but it turned out to be a good thing.  We grabbed stools near the front and got the first pours of each beer we sampled.



The tasting room at Sam Adam's Brewery

 I can’t remember the other two, but we definitely had Cherry Wheat.  CW became a big fan!  Plus… we got to keep our cool tasting glasses!



CW stands for Cherry Wheat in Boston...

Boston overall was a great experience, but the tour of this brewery was a definite highlight!



Great finish to a delicious tour!

Magners Irish Cider - Review

Found: Albertson's
Cider Name: Magners Irish Cider
ABV: 4.5%
Price: $2.99 for 19.2 oz

I have had Magners a few times before, but only at a bar. It seemed that whenever I asked if an establishment had Strongbow, they said "No" but they did have Magners. So it became the next best thing. I don't remember anything special about it, but it would do.

So when I saw this bottle of cider at our local grocery and for only $2.99 I figured I should give it a try.  It pours golden amber in color, darker than the last few ciders I have drank. It is clear and fizzy.  The taste is crisp and refreshing, exactly how I like it. I think this could be my go-to cider when I feel like enjoying a simple and refreshing drink.

I recommend this cider to anyone....and give it the Grizzly Adams.

NW Bearded Brewer gives it the Flavor Saver.