A Grand, Epic “Museum of Beer”

Exciting plans are underway to build a Museum of Beer outside Pittsburgh PA.  From their website comes the following information:

We want to tell the fascinating ten-thousand year old story of beer, dating from its role in the origins of civilization through the booming craft beer movement. BREW will be a place to celebrate the totality of beer, to experience and enjoy beer in all its magnificent manifestations.

We will be focusing exhibits on many of the entertaining turning points through beer’s history. Sample exhibits may include:

• Origins of beer and civilizatino
• Beer in the middle ages
• Beer (and immigrants) come to america
• Beer and industrialization
• Prohibition
• World War II
• Corporatization of Beer
• Wonky beer stats
• Beers of the world
• Craft beer and it’s place in history
• Beer making, the art and craft
• Baseball, America’s pastime and beer
• Women in beer
• Beer laws, not so dry
• The spirituality of beer and spirits
• Beer in the media
• Beer heroes and villains
• Beer and your health
• Beer awards
• Beer in the news
• The future of beer

The founders promise Brew will not only be “epic” but “the most robust, broad-based, expansive beer museum of its kind. Brew will explore the sacred and profane aspects of beer, from gods and saints to grinches and villains in the story of beer.

Likening its size and scope to that of Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, three craft beer drinkers in Pittsburgh are formally announcing the launch of Brew: The Museum of Beer Wednesday night. Though other beer museums exist or are in development, founders promise Brew will not only be “epic” but “the most robust, broad-based, expansive beer museum of its kind.”

With an anticipated opening in the spring of 2018, the 50,000-square-foot scholarly museum plans to showcase historical artifacts and modern interactive exhibits likely to span subjects from immigration to health to laws to baseball to women to media. Additionally, visitors can eat and drink at a 300-seat brewpub, pay their respects at a Beer Hall of Fame, and learn about all 4,800 American breweries on a Brewers Wall covered with information about them.

Check them out at http://brewmuseum.com/ and support their efforts.  I am toasting them with a frosty cold one now :-)

T.O.R.I.S. the Tyrant Triple Imperial Stout

From the beginning, Hoppin’ Frog has won plaudits for it niche as a brewer of bold-flavored, high-alcohol beers.  In 2013, the last year that RateBeer ranked its entire Top 100, Hoppin’ Frog was rated the seventeenth best brewery in the world. It continues to make the site’s annual list of the world’s 100 best breweries.  It started with B.O.R.I.S. the Crusher Oatmeal Imperial Stout.  A few years later saw the release of the barrel-aged. D.O.R.I.S. the Destroyer Double Oatmeal Imperial Stout. When the new law Ohio law eliminating ABV limits went into effect at the end of August Hoppin’ Frog released T.O.R.I.S. the Tyrant Triple Oatmeal Imperial Stout which clocks in at 13.8 percent alcohol.

T.O.R.I.S., a big beast of a beer at 13.8 percent alcohol.  This super-tasty Triple Oatmeal Imperial-Stout is rich, dark, and flavorful – the way we like it – this beer is intense Karm calls it "the big brother of B.O.R.I.S.," referring to the brewery's B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher, the Bodacious Oatmeal Russian Imperial Stout. That big boy is 9.4 percent alcohol.

You would expect an ale weighing in with double digits in alcohol percentage to be boozy, but T.O.R.I.S. really isn't. It's extremely smooth, with chocolate in the nose and bittersweet chocolate on the palate. There's nothing harsh across the taste – no overwhelming roast or toast to mask any flavors. It's just a sippable beer, with a reddish, burnt sienna-colored head that dissipates as you drink.  Pull out your snifter for this one on a cold winter's night.

Rising Tide's Owner a New State Representative

From Maine Biz:

Heather Sanborn, the co-owner of the Portland-based craft-brewery Rising Tide Brewing Co., handily won the race to represent District 43 in the Maine House of Representatives.

Sanborn, a Democrat who has no prior political experience and has never before sought political office, according to the Portland Press Herald, defeated Republican Jeffrey Langholtz with 64.9% of the vote, with 100% of the precincts reporting, according to the New York Times.

A 2015 Mainebiz Women to Watch, Sanborn was also the president of the Maine Brewer's Guild from 2014-2016.

Rising Tide was also recognized in 2015 by Mainebiz as one Maine's fastest-growing companies.

The nonprofit organization Brewers of America lauded Sanborn's election, saying that the rapidly-growing beer industry needs to have brewery owners and employees run for office to have their voices heard on issues that directly impact the industry, including taxes, tasting room sales and depreciation costs.

Mari's 6 Pac 'N' Mor

I really enjoy coming here. There are thousands of beers to chose from, some in coolers, many more out on the shelves & floor. A very large import section.  I can always find something. Tons of Belgium and German brews as well as thousands of American Craft Brews. No bright lights, other than the coolers, so light skunking not an issue.

The first time I went, Mari, the owner took time to show me around. They have other staff who know their craft ales, so I can get help or advice when I need it. I like to window shop, so I will often browse around for an hour or so making selections., and I'm left to my own devices. Many times Mari or one of her staff have pointed out an interesting brew or had nice recommendations.

As I said before, thousands of beers to chose from. New stuff is coming in all the time. Seasonals are often on special display. The staff will let me know if something rare is available. Mix-a-six, and rows of bombers are available as well. They also have tastings Fridays and Saturdays. There is a tap area for in house tasting, and also growler fills. (Mari's now has their own growlers, which are pretty nifty looking, but they will fill any growler). Haven't tried any food, but a basic menu seems to be available which is nice if you are spending time shopping.

Pricing seems fairly reasonable to me, occasionally some prices scare me, but I pretty much stick to the mix-a-six.  Pricing tends to be in line with what you might find elsewhere but definitely cheaper than some of your craft bars. It would be nice if all beers were priced, but the staff will answer any question about that, and it does seem that this has improved over the past year. I understand that with a big selection and turnover, it might sometimes be hard to to price every single bottle. I did have a problem early on with some out of date beers, but Mari took back the unopened ones for credit, and told me to let her know if I found any more. Still, as always, check bottle dating if possible. If in doubt, or no dating, decide for yourself.

Overall, well worth a visit.   Check them out at 835 Hiesters Lane, Reading, Pennsylvania, 19605

Tequila Barrel Aged

I just had the opportunity to taste a wonderful Imperial Stout from Prairie Artisan Ales, their Branson Jamboree,which is an Imperial Oatmeal aged in Tequila Barrels.  I was admittedly unsure of the combination at first but they artfully pulled it off!!

A nice subtle blend of the imperial stout's rich, decadent chocolate and coffee flavors with the Tequila's agave flavor gives it a  delicate balance.  The nosed is heavy on the cedar like agave aroma with only subtle hints of the imperial stout.  However on the palate the full flavor of the imperial stout explodes with only a slight hint of the tequila lingering.  As you "chew" on it the tequila begins to expose itself a bit more and the vanilla and roasted coffee from the Oatmeal Stout begins to fade a bit.  Truly a complex beer and at 8.4% not that high of an ABV.

More brewers will assuredly be experimenting with this new style of aging and I look forward to their future offerings.

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen

A truly unique style and brewed by my friend's at Mason's up in Brewer ME, a shout out to them!!!!  This is a beer with the richness of a doppelbock and the grainy complexity of pumpernickel bread. Hefeweizen yeast accents the aroma.  THE Classic Smoked Beer!!!

Bamberg and Smokebeer (the Germans call it "Rauchbier") belong together, a liaison which was not without consequences.  Schlenkerla has become a magic word for a long time, but many do not know where this word originated. Its roots lie within the Frankish vernacular, in which "schlenkern" is an expression for walking not straight - just like a drunken person does. Allegedly one of the former brewers had a funny way of walking due to an accident, or maybe due to the beer, and so he was called the "Schlenkerla" - the little dangler. The ending -la is the typical diminutive for the Frankish dialect. After a while, the residents of Bamberg also called the tavern Schlenkerla, and even though the sixth generation of brewers now taps the beer, the name has remained. Even in the phone book and the internet you can find the brewery under the name Schlenkerla. Today it stands for the tavern, the brewery and, most importantly, for the Smokebeer.

Just like its ancestral Cousin this Smokebeer is a dark, aromatic, bottom fermented beer. No doubt: there are stronger beers, but nevertheless, one should not underestimate Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier ... it can make you "schlenker" quite a bit. Its smoky flavor is being achieved by exposing the malt to the intense, aromatic smoke of burning beech-wood logs.. After mixing it with premium-class hops in the brew, it matures in cellars into a mellow, magnificent-tasting beer.


The connoisseur drinks it slowly with relish, but steadily and purposefully. He knows, that the second "Seidla" (half-liter) tastes better than the first, and the third even better than the second. He drinks during the morning pint and during the afternoon break. He drinks it in the evenings, drinks it alone and with company, especially with company, as "Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier" makes one talkative and exuberant.

Enjoy!!!!!!!  I'd give it a  5 star rating but recognize the smokiness is certainly an acquired taste :-)

ECLIPSE

What is ECLIPSE? Each year California's FiftyFifty Brewing Company takes a lucky portion of their DEEP and DARK Totality Imperial Stout and ages it in barrels formerly used to make world-famous spirits such as Woodford Reserve and High West Bourbons.

As the robust totality takes on influence from the barrels, and the essence of their former contents, a completely unique stout is born. Each aging is unique and its traits and personality reflects the barrels that housed them.

Produced in minuscule batches, the Eclipse series is almost entirely pre-sold before release. the High West Rye, Woodford Reserve and decadent coffee stout. Eclipse stouts are rare, age-worthy and collectible.  I was fortunate to try some of the bottles and highly recommend the whole series nut sample them, decide for yourself and let me know your feedback!!!

Welcome

Welcome to what promises to be a great and exciting journey through the burgeoning world of Craft Beer.

I remember when this whole trend began and have not ceased to be amazed at the wondrous new opportunities surfacing every day in terms of new and unique styles, ponderous flavors and the excitement/promise held by each new brewery opening.  Not to mention the ever enjoyable ancillary world of home brewing.  As I approach close to 2,500 different beers tasted friends have urged me to start documenting my experiences and thus this blog.

I hope to share with you at least weekly, if not more frequently, exciting new beers tasted, their tasting notes and recommendations and commentaries/reviews on different beer bars, brewpubs and breweries I have had the pleasure of visiting.  I invite any and all input from my readers on what they liked or disliked about a particular beer or style or place.  Your experiences will not always align with mine, your likes and dislikes will not match mine and that is fine ... half the fun is in the chase and learning about the new beers out there :-)

So together let's trip the light fantastic down the yellow brick road of Craft Beer.  Please be sure to share this blog with your friends and your watering holes.  I would love to see the number of followers grow!!