Taking the Lead

Brewer-Bear Republic Brewing Company

Beer- Racer X Double IPA

Style- American Double IPA

ABV- 8.30%

IBU- 100

Description- Racer X pours a slightly hazy golden orange with foamy off white head that lingers for a bit and leaves behind a thick lacing on the glass.  The aroma is extremely enticing with a citrusy fruit assault up front with big notes of tangerines and grapefruit followed by more subtle hints of pine and floral backed by sweet malty undertones giving way the apparent balance that is within this beer.  The taste is a bitter assault upfront from the hops with big flavors first, most notably grapefruit, tangerine, and mango followed by a very mellow sweet malty backbone which is quickly trailed by one final splash of hop resin kicking the taste buds before the very dry finish takes over and leaves the palate feeling very refreshed.  This medium bodied beer has an excellent full mouth feel that manages to deliver a nice hop bomb and sweet malty backbone without any sticky resinous feeling behind in the mouth.  The carbonation is absolute perfect and makes this a very easy drinking DIPA with no hint of the 8.3% ABV apparent whatsoever.  An absolutely stellar example of the DIPA style!

Food Pairing – As with most IPA’s Racer X pairs perfectly well with spicy dishes, especially Mexican and Thai, I highly recommend trying this with some spicy carne asada tacos for an eye opening and mouthwatering experience.  Racer X also pairs very well with some spicy homemade chili that is perfect for the impending cold winter nights.  Another wonderful spicy dish to try with this beer is Chicken Tandoori, a traditional Indian dish that is very heavy handed with the spices, Racer X delivers enough hops to enhance the spiciness but also enough malt to cool the palate down in between bites.  If you are looking more for a night of beer and cheese pairings trying pairing this with bolder cheese such as  Roquefort from France, Stilton from England, or a simple aged cheddar also pairs just fine.

The Final Word – Bear Republic has gained quite the reputation for wonderful beers, especially in the IPA category.  Racer 5 IPA has been on top 10 IPA lists since its first release upon the public.  What Bear Republic managed to do was make a bigger version of Racer 5 without losing any of the balance and drinkability.  Racer X has been brewed and released in limited quantities over the years and this has aided to the allure of this beer.  Thankfully this year there seems to be a bit more available, so get out there and hunt this world class beer down while you can still find a bottle!

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Where can I get it? -  Racer X was released in limited quantities to select markets in mid-October.  Those markets include: California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and Virginia during mid-October.  So if your state is listed hunt this one down it is a must have!

What is a Double IPA?

 

Brief history: Imperial, or Double IPAs (DIPA), have a history that is a bit hard to pin down, though many attribute the DIPA creation to Russian River owner Vinnie Cilurzo. He was head brewer of Blind Pig Brewing in the mid ‘90s and started the style with his aggressively hopped IPAs, which he has continued making at Russian River. The style has continued to grow in popularity, with IPAs and their variants being the most popular craft beer style available today. Cilurzo himself has carved out quite the niche for the style he created with his highly desired Pliny the Elder.

Standard characteristics: The DIPA style is very hop-forward and is a style that many breweries use to showcase new hop varieties or experiment with a wide combination of hops. Though they are very strongly hopped, they should still have a clean and dry finish. Drinkability is very important to the style, so DIPAs should not be heavy sipping beers, but instead be a pint that can be enjoyed without a lingering sweetness or heaviness on the palate.

Nose: The aroma is dominated by hops, which can lead to a wide spectrum of detectable aromas; citrus fruit variations are almost always present. A background grain or grassy note from the malt is detectable along with a wide gambit of hop aroma ranging from pine to fruits to cat pee (yes, cat pee). In higher ABV styles, an alcohol heat can be picked up in the nose. Typical ABV for this style ranges from 7.5 to 10.0 percent.

Body: The body for DIPAs can range from light to medium-full depending on the malt bill for the beer. Carbonation is typically fairly high for the style, which can combine for the overall dry impression the beer leaves on the palate. The overall impression should be a smooth, highly drinkable beer.

Taste: Hops again dominate and create for a strong, varying, and complex flavor profile. High to absurdly high hop bittering occurs, but malt backbone should support the high hopping to create balance. Malt flavors will also be present, and some beers have a more malt-forward approach than others when it comes to the balance of the beer. DIPAs should be balanced and not have a harsh bitterness. IBUs for this style can reach 100-plus, although many dispute whether the human taste buds have the ability to perceive such high bitterness.

Food pairing: This aggressively hopped style lends itself to spicier and heftier pairings. Spicy Mexican, Thai, and Indian food all make for complimentary pairings. The DIPA style is also great to pair with pizza and burgers and can handle a huge amount of toppings. Though you can try pairing DIPAs with many fish dishes, avoiding salmon would be best, as it tends to create a semi-metallic taste on the palate.

Recommendations: DIPAs can be tough for some unacquainted with the bitterness of IPAs, so tread lightly if you are new to the style. This is also a style that has a lot of hype around it, with many breweries creating highly sought-after versions that are limited in availability (Pliny the Elder and Heady Topper). However, here are some recommended DIPA’s that are fairly easy to get in our market and are fantastic examples of the style: Racer X by Bear Republic; The Truth by Flying Dog; Double Jack by Firestone Walker; Double Wide IPA by Boulevard Brewing; Tricerahops by Ninkas; Rampant by New Belgium Brewing; Big A IPA by Smuttynose; and Heelch O’Hops by Anderson Valley.

Single Hop, Double Goodness

 

Beer: Double Simcoe IPA

Brewer: Weyerbacher Brewing Company

Style: American Double/Imperial IPA

ABV: 9.00%

Description: Double Simcoe pours a beautiful dark bronze with a slight haze and a soapy white head that doesn’t linger too long, but leaves a very thick lacing on the glass. The aroma is dominated by hops, with fruit scents being the most dominate, such as notes of mango, pineapple, and other tropical fruits up front with background highlights of pine and resin. A sweet malt floats in to make its presence known. The hops dominate the taste up front as well, with citrus fruit and pine assaulting the palate first that almost seems to stick on the tongue before the sweet malts wash over to cleanse the palate and leave a wonderful semi-dry finish. The body is in the medium-full range with moderate carbonation that creates a creamy body that is the perfect vessel for this hop assault. Another solid beer from a solid brewery!

Food pairing: The Simcoe hop is one of the more aggressive hops that many brewers use, so a beer made using all Simcoe hops is pretty powerful and can take over many dishes. Bold Mexican meals are amazing when paired with Double Simcoe, especially fajitas, and do not be afraid of making it spicy. Also try this brew with spicy Thai dishes and you will notice your palate picking apart all of the spices and the beer intermingling for an overwhelmingly enjoyable experience. Feeling more like a Sunday on the couch watching football? Double Simcoe is the beer to have on hand for a great pairing with all of your favorite football foods. This is a great pairing with pizza; feel free to pile on the toppings, but try to pile on some spicier toppings for a nice combination of flavors. Also pair this with a piled-high plate of nachos covered in cheese and jalapeños. This is a very versatile beer that can hold its own with a wide variety of dishes. The best pairings for this are ones that have a bit of spice and heft, but feel free to experiment!

The final word: Nearly all breweries have a version of an IPA or Imperial IPA, but not all are worth trying. Weyerbacher’s take on the style is just what you would expect from this award-winning brewery: perfect! The most difficult task that breweries face when creating an imperial IPA is balance. Many tend to be either too sweet or too bitter, but those who find balance are extremely enjoyable and drinkable beers. Double Simcoe not only highlights why the Simcoe hop is so popular among brewers, but the talents of the brewers at Weyerbacher. While this is the time of year many of us began the transition to porters and stouts, Double Simcoe is a beer that should be enjoyed year-round. Also worth trying is the unfiltered version of Double Simcoe; it makes for a very interesting side-by-side tasting.

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Where can I get it? Weyerbacher makes Double Simcoe year round, so if the usual haunts are sold out, request some and you will certainly be able to get it. Currently available in bottles at: Exit 190 Beer & Deli- Dickson City, PA; Krugel’s Georgetown Deli & Beer Wilkes-Barre, PA; and Wegmans, Dickson City, PA.

Head of the Pack

Brewer: Marley’s Brewery & Grille

Beer: Pack Dog Peanut Butter Ale

Style: Specialty Ale

ABV: 6.30%

Description: Pack Dog pours hazy russet amber with a thin off-white head that doesn’t stick around too long and leaves little in the way of lacing on the glass. The aroma is very pleasing and is dominated by peanut butter and sweet malts. The taste follows the nose and is controlled by peanut butter up front, followed by sweet malts rushing across the palate with very subtle hints of hops to provide a wonderful balance to what could be an overly sweet beer. The body of Pack Dog is in the medium range with moderate carbonation to provide a very smooth beer that cascades over the tongue and leaves a lingering malt taste on the palate. This is absolutely a distinctive beer that manages to create its own unique taste in a very crowded craft beer market.

Food Pairing: Pack Dog is a great beer for desserts, but it also has enough body and complexity to lend itself to a wider array of pairings as well. Try this beer with your favorite burger and do not be afraid to pile on the toppings. However, if you are looking for something to perfectly pair with this beer, I highly recommend an Elvis burger, a hamburger topped with bacon, bananas, and peanut butter. Rich and hearty meats go well with Pack Dog, such as ribs, roasted chicken, and flank steak. This is also an absolutely perfect beer to have with desserts, especially any that can be enhanced with peanut butter. The natural thought for dessert pairings would be with chocolate; whether it be chocolate cake, chocolate chip cookies, or whipped chocolate mousse, all are perfect with Pack Dog. Also try this brew with Tandy Cake, peanut butter brownies, or peanut butter pie.

The Final Word: There is certainly a reason that this beer won a bronze medal at this year’s Great American Beer Festival. While combining peanut butter and beer is not a totally new concept, many breweries tend towards darker beers as the base for the combination. Typically, peanut butter stouts and porters are what many of us see; however, Marley’s wanted to attempt something different and have a lighter colored and maltier base for the beer. This combination gives the beer its smooth body, moderate carbonation, and heavy peanut butter aroma and taste. Pack Dog is certainly a unique beer, but it did not win a medal simply by being only that – it won for being delicious.

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Where can I get it? Currently available on draft exclusively at Marley’s Brewery & Grille in Bloomsburg, PA.

Romeo’s Real Love

Brewer-Goose Island Beer Company

Beer- Juliet

Style- American Wild Ale

ABV- 8.00%

Description – Juliet pours a deep red raspberry with slight peach-like hues and a wispy white head that dissipates rather quickly and leaves very little lacing.  The aroma is perfect for the style with notes of sour funkiness coming up front backed with tart blackberries, oak, red wine, and berry sweetness rounding out the aroma.  Upon the first sip the Brettanomyces makes its appearance on the tongue with its wonderful tart punch.  The Brett is followed by sweet blackberries and quite a bit of barrel character also comes through with the oak and red wine making a strong presence as well with some very subtle spicing from the rye, but you would certainly not know that this is a rye beer.  The body leans more towards the thin side and is airy with very nice carbonation and Juliet has a very clean dry finish.  This is a top notch sour that competes with some of the best in the world.

Food Pairing – This is a beer that brings a lot of flavor and added complexity to any dish.  However, the thin body of the beer can create pairing combinations that overwhelm the beer so keep that in mind as you explore pairings.  This beer certainly lends itself to salads and is great with goat cheese salad topped with berries and any sweet vinaigrette.  Juliet is also fantastic with a wide range of seafood, try with smoked salmon, mussels, oysters, or shrimp, the bright effervescent characteristics of this beer add amazing layers of complexity and acidity that truly meld into all these seafood dishes.  Also try pairing Juliet with venison in a sour cherry sauce.

The Final Word – Juliet is just a stunning example of what a sour beer can be in the hands of a talented brewer.  The tart notes come through enough to make their presence but do not overwhelm the palate and leave with a very clean and dry finish, just what one wants in this style of beer.  Goose Island has gained a fantastic reputation for stellar beers whether it be Bourbon Country Stout, Matilda, or Sofie, they have an extensive list of world class beers.  Juliet is yet another feather in the cap for this fantastic brewery.

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Where can I get it? -  Goose Island brews Juliet as a rotating seasonal release in limited batches.  It may require some hunting, but is definitely worth your time in tracking down!

The Perfect Pumpkin

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Beer: Southampton Pumpkin Ale

Brewer: Southampton Publick House

Style: Pumpkin Ale

ABV: 5.50%

Description: Southampton’s Pumpkin Ale pours clear rich amber with frothy beige head that dissipates quickly, but leaves very little lacing on the glass. The aroma is simply amazing this time of the year. Notes of pumpkin pie, nutmeg, molasses, brown sugar, cinnamon, caramel malts, and vanilla all meld together and emanate out of the glass. Happily, the taste follows suite with the nose. The first taste to hit the palate is the sweet caramel malts, which are very quickly followed by all spices with cinnamon being the dominant one, followed by nutmeg and clove. In the midst of this, the roasted pumpkin makes a grand appearance, blended seamlessly with brown sugar before a very mild hop bitterness encroaches and wraps up the experience with a long dry finish. The body of the beer is a solid medium with moderate carbonation that leaves the palate invigorated instead of fatigued, as many pumpkin ales can with heavy spicing. This is an absolutely superb pumpkin ale that is a must-have this time of year.

Food pairing: Pumpkin ales are typically most at home at the end of the meal with a wide variety of desserts because of the sweetness and spicing. However, Southampton’s version of the style has created a beer that is perfect with a wide assortment of dishes. The best pairings for this beer are meats that tend to take on caramelized characteristics whilst cooking. Roasted chicken or turkey are obvious choices, so this is yet another pumpkin ale that is perfect with your Thanksgiving day meal. Another great pairing is venison dishes; try with venison stew, but use milder spices, or try Pumpkin Ale with a venison and wild mushroom stroganoff. Desserts are still a must to pair with this beer and the number one pairing would be with pumpkin pie; try making it with a graham cracker crust for an extra delicious match up. Southampton’s Pumpkin Ale is also a great beer to pack up for a night of sitting around a campfire, as the beer is a dream match for s’mores; the cinnamon graham crackers, smooth melted chocolate, and sugary marshmallows flawlessly melt into this delicious ale and at first sip almost seem like they belonged together all along.

The final word: While many pumpkin ales are heavy-handed on the spices and sweetness, Southampton has managed to brew one that delivers a lot in the aroma, but also has a perfect balance in the taste. The pumpkin and spice are certainly present, but do not hit you upside the head to make their appearance. This showcases the true talents of the brewers at Southampton Publick House. The seasons are changing now and stores are already stocked to the ceiling with Christmas items, so pumpkin ales may be starting to leave your fridges, but I cannot think of a better way to end the pumpkin beer season than with a pint or two of Southampton Pumpkin Ale.

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Where can I get it? Currently available in bottles at: Exit 190 Beer & Deli, Dickson City; Krugel’s Georgetown Deli & Beer, Wilkes-Barre; Backyard Ale House, Scranton


http://theweekender.com/news/WK_Food/961328/ID-TAP-THAT:-The-perfect-pumpkin

Fat and Juicy!

Brewer- Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

Beer- Fat Jack

Style- Pumpkin Ale

ABV- 8.50%

Description – Fat Jack pours a beautiful dark amber color with beige head and slightly orange highlights that doesn’t linger long but leaves a thin wispy lacing on the glass.  The aroma absolutely explodes with spices and roasted pumpkin; all the usual suspects are on display here: nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, a hint of ginger, and roasted caramelized pumpkins cut through with toasted caramel malts and molasses serving as background notes.  The taste is subdued at first but really opens up and shines one it warms a little in your mouth.  The spices really come through with cinnamon being the most dominant but the clove, nutmeg, and ginger are certainly present as well.  The caramel malt backbone blends perfectly in with the roasted caramelized pumpkin to create an extra layer of pleasure in an already enjoyable beer.  The medium body and moderate carbonation are perfectly in balance and Fat Jack does finish a bit more on the wet side with a lingering stickiness of sweetness and spice on the palate.

Food pairing –Fat Jack is certainly a beer that is complex and hearty enough to blend with most dishes on any Thanksgiving Day table.  This is a beer that is perfect with candied yams, with the yams highlighting the sweetness and spice profile of the beer, and Fat Jack adding a bit of dryness to the yams.  Fat Jack is also a dream pairing with cranberries and roasted turkey, the sweetness and tart of the berries add another layer of complexity to an already complex beer, while the roasted and caramelized skin of the skin mimics the caramel malt beer of Fat Jack and seemingly melts into the beer.  The pairing with any pumpkin desserts also goes without saying and do not be afraid of any rich and hearty desserts as well, this is a beer that can undoubtedly hold its own against them!

The Final Word – Sam Adams may be one of the largest craft breweries today, but it is still a brewery that is creating award winning beers and Fat Jack is yet another great beer in a long list of great beers from this brewery.  Fat Jack bills itself as being a “Double Pumpkin” ale with a boasted “28 pumpkins per barrel” use of the ingredient to create an imperial pumpkin ale that is a cut above the rest.  Pumpkin ales have existed far back into history, but the imperial pumpkin ale is a relatively new beer and comes from the bigger is better mentality that Americans tend to have, not that I am complaining at all!  Fat Jack certainly belongs at the table during Thanksgiving or any gathering that involves friends and loved ones and helps create a festive atmosphere and is to be enjoyed by all!

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Where can I get it? -  Warlock is available where ever Sam Adams products are sold, however it is available in limited quantities and many shops are already sold out.  So call around for this one to ensure you have it on your table this Thanksgiving!

7 Must-Have Pumpkin Beers

There are a plethora of pumpkin beers on the market now, so much so that it can be overwhelming when deciding which ones to choose. There are many great go-to standards, like Southern Tier Pumking, Stegmaier Pumpkin Ale, and Dogfish Head’s Punkin. These are all wonderful pumpkin beers, but if you are like me, you want something more - more intense flavor, more body, and even more ABV. This list contains pumpkin beers with ABVs of at least eight percent that are incredible that you should definitely be drinking.

1. Avery Brewing Company - Rumpkin: This 18.53 percent ABV imperial pumpkin beer that has been aged in rum barrels is not for the faint of heart and should be enjoyed slowly. The rum adds a lot of complexity and is also the perfect complement to the huge amount of pumpkin and spices in this full-bodied beer. This is truly a pumpkin explosion and is perfect for the fall season.

2. Souther Tier - Warlock: Sure, we have all enjoyed Southern Tier’s wonderful imperial pumpkin beer Pumking, but Warlock is really where this brewery’s talents shine. Warlock is the perfect blend of a full imperial stout and a delicious pumpkin ale, making for a thick and creamy stout with a wonderful pumpkin aroma and flavor we crave this time of year.

3. Weyerbacher - Imperial Pumpkin Ale: This is a personal favorite of mine and is just an amazing example of the style. It’s also made very close to home here in Pa. The aroma explodes with pumpkin spices and the full body holds a wonderful pumpkin taste. Not to mention the eight percent ABV makes it a great beer to warm you up on a cool fall night.

4. Elysian - The Great Pumpkin: Elysian is a brewery that has set the standard for what pumpkin beer should be with its amazing Night Owl pumpkin ale. It’s only natural that their imperial pumpkin ale, The Great Pumpkin, now sets the standard for imperial pumpkin ales - not to mention that it was the first imperial pumpkin ale ever.

5. Long Trail - Imperial Pumpkin: This perfectly balanced imperial pumpkin explodes with pumpkin spice aroma and taste, but still manages to leave a lingering dry finish on the palate. Also at eight percent ABV, this is certainly one pumpkin ale that is not only delicious, but provides a wonderful bang for your buck.

6. Sam Adams - Fat Jack: This delicious “double pumpkin” ale fits in nicely with all the standard pumpkin ales this time of the year. The abundance of spices and hefty body makes this ale a real sipper. This is one that is a bit tougher to find though as the quantities released are very limited, but it is certainly worth tracking a bottle down to enjoy.

7. For number 7, there are two choices, but fortunately for us, these two wonderful beers come in the same package. These collaboration beers have been released in four-pack cans with two of each style made available.

(a) 21st Amendment/ Elysian Brewing - He Said Baltic Porter Pumpkin: 21st Amendment teamed up for this delicious Baltic porter seasoned with pumpkin. The thick and creamy body is the perfect vessel to deliver that wonderful pumpkin flavor. The aroma just explodes with roasted malts and hints of pumpkin spice. I could easily drink this beer every night this fall.

(b) 21st Amendment/ Elysian Brewing - He Said Belgian Tripel Pumpkin: The duo also created a delectable Belgian tripel seasoned with pumpkin. The initial taste is a bit odd, only because it is such a new blend, but after the first couple sips your palate adjusts and this wonderful Belgian tripel delivers subtle hints of pumpkin spice and makes for a very relaxing evening.

While some of these beers may be too extreme for the novice pumpkin beer drinker, for the experienced folks it is just another delicious walk in a pumpkin patch. However, if you are a longtime fan of the pumpkin ale style and have never tried imperial versions, do yourself a favor and get one from this list. The pumpkin beer season will be over before you know it and, unfortunately, so will these beers, so get out there and get drinking!

It Will Cast A Spell on You!

Brewer-Southern Tier Brewing Company

Beer- Warlock

Style- American Double/ Imperial Stout

ABV- 8.60%

Description – Warlock pours a deep pitch black with a thick tan head that doesn’t linger too long but still leaves behind a nice lacing on the glass.  The aroma is very similar to Pumking but with added roasted malt backbone which gives it more of a rich roasted pumpkin note as opposed to the sweet pumpkin aroma of Pumking.  The taste is also similar to Pumking but with a lot more complexities and creaminess on the palate.  The pumpkin spices hit the palate first before the roasted malt washes over delivering a creamy malt texture that allows the pumpkin flavors to linger long on the palate for a not so dry, but delicious finish.  The mouthfeel of Warlock is certainly full with a thick chewy malt profile, but is still extremely smooth and goes down very easy with very moderate carbonation.  Warlock is truly the perfect combination of Pumking and an imperial stout, but make no mistakes Warlock still delivers a beer that is amazing on its own even without Pumking’s existence.

Food pairing – Warlock is a dream pairing with rich and heavy desserts.  The creamy smooth body of this beer absolutely lends itself to decadent chocolate cake and the pumpkin spices add an extra layer of deliciousness to the pairing.  Another dessert pairing is a bit more obvious, pumpkin pie, or pumpkin anything really, will highlight the pumpkin flavors in this beer and blend seamlessly with the dessert and add some extra depth with the roasted chocolate malt.  For an unbelievable treat this fall season, try Warlock in an amazing beer float pairing with your favorite vanilla bean or pumpkin ice cream.  This is certainly a stout that is made to be paired with ice cream, however I do recommend picking up 2 bottles so you can try this beer on its own and also with the ice cream.

The Final Word – Southern Tier’s Warlock is the perfect marriage of Pumking and a thick and creamy imperial stout to create a creamy pumpkin dessert beer that is perfect for the fall season.  Pumpking has garnered a reputation as the true king of pumpkin beers and with good reason; however Warlock certainly deserves its recognition as well as a fantastic pumpkin beer.  It needs to be said though that this beer really gets more enjoyable as it warms up.  The aroma and flavors truly open up and the temperature rises.  So be sure to find this wonderful imperial stout this fall season and be ready to have a spell cast on you!

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Where can I get it? -  Warlock is available where ever Southern Tier products are sold, however it is available in limited quantities and many shops are already sold out.  So call around and hunt this one down, if you are a fan of Pumking than the time spent searching for this one will absolutely be worth it for you!