Dogfish's Fort, Not for the Meek

Brewery: Dogfish Head (Milton, DE)
IBU: 49
ABV: 18%
Style: Fruit Beer

No, I haven't gone soft on you.

I know some of you that read this blog, probably just caught the "fruit beer" style and thought that perhaps Tone has lost it since the 12 Beers of Christmas countdown.

Listen, if you are going to judge before even tasting a beer, then check your ego at the door. Now, I will admit, I'm not the hugest fan of lambics or beers that a "tart" quality to them. But again, the more I write in the blog, and the more I talk to other craft beerheads, and the more I taste, err, "research", the more my taste buds are opening to new and unique styles. After all, Pumpkin Beers are in the "Fruit and Vegetable" beer category, and you know my stance on Pumpkin Ales.

Also, admittedly a fan of Dogfish Head, I had heard about this beer when my girlfriend Michelle mentioned that they had it on draft down at the Plan B Burger Bar in Milford. I also remember hearing about it before when we visited the brewery back in July, but never really looked into it. I knew it was a limited release, had something to do with raspberries and was pretty strong.

So this past Friday, we went out to one of our favorite places, Mikro... and luckily they still had a few taps left on from their Dogfish Tap Takeover on Monday. First I had the Dogfish Ta Henket (more on that later), then New England Brewing's Ghandi-Bot, and lastly ended with the focus of this post, Dogfish Fort. Served in a signature Dogfish glass, complete with laser-etched logo on the bottom. It had about an inch of white head that quickly dissipated, on top of an orange/golden color. The nose was FULL of raspberry sweetness. If you've ever had the 120 minute, imagine the love child of a raspberry lambic and a 120. Along with the fruits, you know that there's some booze, simply by the nose. Bring on the taste.

WOWZA... You know in Mike Tyson's Punch Out for Nintendo when Little Mac had a "star" and you got to punch your opponent with a really strong uppercut?? Yeah, that's what this is. Hello 18%. But I knew what I was getting into, and I'm not the least bit upset about it. It wasn't as sweet as I thought it was going to be. It had a complex mouthfeel full of malts and bready sweetness. Slightly syrupy. A sipper no doubt. If you have this on a cold winter night, you WILL be warm after a glass. After two glasses? Enter Sandman.

This beer is what I'd like to call a game-changer. After all, I found out later that it is considered the World's Strongest Fruit Beer. This little puppy clocks in at 18%. If you start your night with it, your taste buds will be somewhat shot. And chances are, you won't need too many more beers (if any) to be well on your way. It's heavy, its sweet, its rich... What a second... Desserts can be heavy, sweet, and rich... Do we have a pairing here?! While I did just have this beer on its own (because believe me, it can TOTALLY stand on its own), Head Brewmaster, Sam Caligione suggested pairing the Fort with a chocolatey dessert. Something that would match up well with fruit and maybe some dark chocolate.

I found it to be absolutely delicious. Full bodied, full flavor, boozy, mild tartness, malty... great end to the evening. Overall: A

If you can't find this on draft... snag a bottle even if you don't have any sort of event to drink it at. Given the high ABV, this will age very nicely I think. Perfect for after dinner. But, its rare - so if you see that bottle on the shelf, do NOT delay.

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Earlier, I mentioned the Ta Henket from Dogfish. This beer is an absolute enigma to me. Long story, short, I bought a bottle for a New Years Eve party to share with a bunch of friends. As I poured out the beer for people, there was a definite "FUNK" that I'm not used to when it comes to beers, especially unique offerings like the Ta Henket. I don't know if the beer got skunked, but it had a tunafish smell to it. It poured a straw pale yellow color and had little to no head on it. Bottomline: The grossest beer I ever tasted/smelled. I dumped 3/4 of the bottle down the sink.

Now that being said...

I noticed that Mikro had it on draft. I was determined to give Sam and his vision of the Ta Henket another try. After a small sample, I was happily surprised with the outcome. Very light, dry... lots of champagne like carbonation... had the same color hue to it, but the taste was absolutely 180 degrees different from the last time I tried it. It was fantastic... everything that I hoped it would have been on New Years Eve.

So, if you see this on draft, I highly recommend starting your night with it. All of the light qualities make it a perfect match for a Fried Calamari, Cheese Plate, or Mussels appetizer. In the bottle... I'm not 100% sold on buying it this way. Maybe we just got a bad bottle on New Years, who knows. Sam Caligione does describe that he used wild yeasts to ferment the beer. Perhaps its just not conducive to bottling.

NBC Connecticut Visit CT's Leading Brewery: Thomas Hooker!

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Don't forget, 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month are Hooker's Open Houses!! 5p-8p, $10.

#DrinkLocal

The skinny on beer and resolutions

I can’t watch TV recently without seeing four to five commercials, back-to-back about weight loss. Jennifer Hudson is singing about her new body, Janet Jackson is touting her new plan and Marie Osmond is trying to read cue cards through her injected lips and tucked face while her before and after photos flash on the screen. Ok, we get it - thank you media.

Well, its 2012 and everybody is setting new fitness goals and looking to shed the extra holiday cookies they indulged in.

A friend of mine said the other day, “I think I am going to quit beer while I try to get into shape and just drink wine and hard alcohol.”

This got me thinking … why is beer the bad guy? The calories in beer come from the alcohol (ABV), so what is the bottom line? Do you really save calories drinking light beer that tastes like water or suffering through vodka and soda waters all night?

I started doing some research and it’s tough to find consistent figures. Calorie counts on alcohol seem to be all over the map. There is also the old standby that all alcohol is bad when you are starting a new diet regimen … blah, blah, blah. We don’t want to give up our social life, we want to live and be healthy. Besides, studies show that moderate alcohol intake can lower cholesterol, decrease stress, aging and chronic illness. I am aware that exercise and a balanced diet produce similar benefits so do both, everything in moderation right?

I pulled all of these figures from various sites on the net so take into consideration brands, flavors, and your pour. On average here is the side by side comparison:

Shot of vodka: 70-100 calories
Shot of whiskey: 80-100 calories
Shot of tequila: 80-100 calories
Shot of Bacardi: 95-110 calories
Glass of red/white wine: 100-135 calories
Light beer: 70-110 calories
“Regular” beer: 120-160

“Regular” beer and wine are pretty close in calories, as are light beers and hard alcohol. That is if you are drinking hard alcohol alone, without soda or juice.

By comparison if I went out and chose a Sam Adams Boston lager (160 calories) instead of a Bud Light (110 calories) I am consuming 50 additional calories. Food wise that is equal to two slices of pineapple or half an apple, something that takes about 10 minutes of walking/physical activity to burn off.

My problem is that when I drink a beer that tastes like water, it usually goes down like water. When I am drinking a delicious beer with body and flavor, I take my time and enjoy it. In short, I drink fewer good tasting beers and still get more alcohol in my system, (because regular beers have a higher ABV) it's a win-win.

Treat it like a treat, because it is.

If you are someone who regularly drinks beers with a higher than normal ABV (7% or higher) those calories will add up quicker. My friend Jen and fellow craft beer lover found a great post on Simplybeer.com that breaks down the calories of beer based on the ABV. This is really easy to use and remember. Click here to check it out.

That aside, when I do reach for a light beer here are my top 5 picks:

GUINNESS 120 cals
I love Guinness. People are often shocked that this is a low calorie beer because it’s so creamy and rich. Hands down a great beer to sip and savor without feeling like you are on a diet. I would rather have this than any dessert.

SAM ADAMS LIGHT 124 cals
I am partial to Sammy lights because I live in Boston. It’s malty, caramel toasty flavor goes down smooth and easy but has enough gusto that is not made for guzzling.

AMSTEL LIGHT 95 cals
Its marketing is better than the beer, “The beer drinkers light beer,” but it’s one of the top imported beers in the U.S. and has a better flavor than most light beers out there.

CORONA LIGHT 99 cals
This is a beer that always finds its way into my cooler when I am heading to the beach. I can only drink it with a lime as the night goes on it tastes better.

COORS LIGHT 102 cals
Don’t judge! I know I am talking about Coors light on a craft beer blog. (My co-blogger is going to kill me) Call it nostalgia, but when I know it’s going to be a long night, I nod toward Coors. The Coors Brewing Company sits at the base of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and some of the freshest waters are used in its brews. Also, who doesn’t want to know when their beer is SUPER COLD! 

In 2012 resolve to be happy and healthy, without giving up what you love – BEER!!
Cheers and Happy New Year!

The First Beer of Xmas Old Man Winter Gave to Me, a 50 degree day in December... ?

Southern Tier
Old Man Winter Ale
Brewed with 3 varieties of hops, and 2 malts
Limited Seasonal – released in November
7.7% abv

Southern Tier is responsible for Pumking, one of my favorite launch pumpkin beers and the winner of the McGrath and Stinchon 2011 pumpkin beer taste off which also happened to take place on my birthday. (UNFOTUNATELY because it was my birthday … we moved on to heavier things and the beer bracket was taped to my sister’s fridge. ANNND there it remains … along with an overdue November beer blog post – sorry Tony!!)

I like Southern Tier. They put out bold, flavorful, in your face beers. I have never had a Southern Tier beer and thought 'ehh … so what?' I either love them or hate them. So when I saw Old Man Winter at the packie I thought, alright, let’s give it a go.

First let’s do some research, to the website:
With the onset of winter, the brewer’s mind turns to providing warmth. For our winter seasonal, we offer a rich and complex amalgam of hops and barley that will put the feeling back in your toes and lift your spirits above the snow. OMW throws a deep and inviting hue with a thickness that clings to the glass and the warmth of an open flame. Because of its high alcohol content, Old Man is a heady brew that encourages sipping and pondering its essential richness. Drink it fresh now, or cellar a few bottles to see how this old man becomes wiser with age.

Now to the beer.

The Pour:
Two fingers of fluffy foam with lots of big bubbles. A nice lace is sticking to the glass and it’s a clear amber color, pretty light for a winter beer.

The nose:
Very hoppy. It’s grassy, bready, cannabis like (hey they are cousins), I also get clove and smoke (… hmm, am I at Dave Matthews Band concert?)

Taste:
Follows suit with the smell. Very earthy, hoppy flavor. It’s a dry, medium bodied mouth feel. The smoky malts cover your tongue with a bite at the end. Dry mouth anyone …? Yes, that resin flavor is here. I also get some pine. I have to say, for a hop-head in training, this is very drinkable and biscuity. I usually don’t like a strong hop flavor but this isn’t overly aggressive. I bet on draught this would be so much better. I know, all beers are better on tap, but I feel like it would make a huge difference here.

Pairing:
Something salty. Right now I am craving a prosciutto Panini, something with salty meat and buttery focaccia bread. I am thinking hearty sandwich or a big bacon cheese burger (or is that just the DMB munchies talking? … just kidding)

Overall I would give this beer a B. Honestly it’s the first time that I haven’t LOVED or HATED a Southern Tier beer, so cheers to that. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Stay tuned for the cousin tag-team toast and review on Christmas.

2 Turtle Doves Flying Over Belgium...

Brewery: Brouwerij Corsendonk
ABV: 8.5%
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale

They say that your tastes change every 7 years... Over the last year or so I've really tried to branch out and try things that I normally wouldn't try. Take saisons for example. I usually steer clear of the light, spicy, somewhat tart variety... or Sour Beers... or even Belgian styles. The more I try, the more I find that I'm actually ENJOYING some of these styles. Take the New England Brewery Co's 668 Neighbor of the Beast, a Belgian Strong Pale Ale. Normally... that's a style I want NOTHING to do with. But being local, and attempting to be open-minded I jump in with two feet. It's FANTASTIC. Light, crisp - but a high ABV to keep you from slugging it down. So when one of the brew managers at my local Packy suggested the Corsendonk Christmas Ale, I went with a re-newed confidence.

...and I came out with an unimpressed palette.

The Christmas Ale poured a dark mahogany color with a good fluffy light tan head. It settled a bit, but remained throughout most of the glass.

The nose was... interesting. There was a strong ginger scent, with fruity notes as well. My buddy and I felt like it smelt almost like a ginger ale. I'm picking up some orange zest, too. I didn't get anything malty, bready, OR spicy in the nose. (Am I drinking the same beer that these BeerAdvocate users are describing?)

Looking back... the nose was the BEST PART! And that's not saying much. Anyway... Taste-wise, I was just uninterested. Belgian yeasts were obviously present giving the beer a tart quality, with a little extra dark fruit sweetness. You know those weird Orange Chocolate things that come out every holiday season? They're supposed to be this delicacy but I never did like them. That's kinda what I'm picking up here. Semi-sweet chocolate with some orange notes. Lots of carbonation going on, too.

The finish is like a champagne... bubbly, dry... and leaves you palette, saying - that's it?

I can't even pair this up with any food really... It's nothing I'd want to start my night with with some light nosh... it's nothing that I'd like to have with my meal because of the orange and chocolate qualities... and it's nothing I'd like to end my meal with or have with dessert because it's just light and uninteresting.

As much as I've branched out over the past year, I guess I have to chalk this one up with the fact that MAYBE I'm just not a big fan of Belgians yet. The BeerAdvocate users gave this an all-around exceptional 92, while the Alstrom Bros gave it a "WORLD-CLASS" 98. Is today backwards day or something?

Overall: D

...so if it is true that your taste change every 7 years, I'll try this guy again when I'm 35.

Let's look at the silver lining here... sadly, my last post (before our #1) is the worse one I've had so far in this countdown. But the good news? It's kinda rare and chances are you won't be able to find it anyway. You aren't missing much. Bah Humbug.

The 3rd Beer of Xmas: Slumbrew's Porter Sq. Porter

Slumbrew’s Porter Square Porter
6.5% ABV
31 IBU

Back-to-back posts of hyper New England beers.

Today I am giving a nod towards my NEW backyard brewer, Slumbrew.

I reside in Somerville, Massachusetts known for its dog-friendly, boutique, foodie, hipster atmosphere. Neighboring city-dwellers often scoff at Somerville, referring to it as “Slumerville,” I assume this is where they pulled the name. I say to those finger pointers – ‘Ha! I pay less for rent and it’s easier for me to find parking -- so get outta my square.’

Regional politics aside, Somerville is located just north of Boston and has great restaurants and beer bars, come visit! (Sorry for those who live outside of Boston, you probably won’t be able to get your hands on this Porter)

According to its website Slumbrew has been 15-years in the making. From extensive beer tasting, traveling, and trial and error, founders Caitlin Jewell and Jeff Leiter finally birthed Slumbrew this year, and are partnering with regional breweries (like Ipswich) to create and bottle their suds for wide spread commercial release. Their mission is to brew unique, ingredient-driven beers that challenge common notions of what a beer should taste like.

Well, I’m in.

I picked up two bombers from Jerry’s Liquors in Union Square and brought them to an early Christmas party for a tasting. (Locals this beer is also available on tap at the Foundry and Johnny D’s. Like them on facebook for more deets)

The pour:
It has a foamy, two-finger, light brown head with some staying power. It took about a minute to taper down. A thin line of lacing now remains and I think it’s here for good. No light is passing through this thing. It’s as black as midnight.

Nose:
At first I get wafts of coffee, chocolate and molasses … followed by the faint smell of metal and then finally dry oats.

Taste:
This first sip is bitter with a roasted, smoky malt flavor. Second sip, here comes the dark chocolate. It feels like I bite into baker’s chocolate, or something with a very high cocoa content … ah-ha! Then I read the label:

“Brewed with cocoa powder and conditioned with cacao nibs from Taza Chocolate…”

Taza Chocolate is stone ground organic chocolate ALSO made in Somerville. Now the taste makes perfect sense. Could I be drinking a fresher, more local product? Doubtful. Just put some marshmallow Fluff on the top and let’s celebrate. YES, Somerville also founded Fluff … Google that shizz.

The aftertaste is a strong, like espresso. This porter covers your whole tongue and is somewhere between medium and full bodied. It’s creamy and dry. Now that I am halfway through the bomber, my face is flushed with tavern tan and I feel warm and cozy, but not full. This is a good thing.

Foodage:
If I was doing an easy night in, I would pair this with a stinky blue cheese. My mom’s salty shepherd’s pie, with a good layer of sharp cheddar cheese on the top would also be pretty amazing.

Overall I liked the Porter Square Porter and I am excited to see what else Slumbrew puts out. I will be on the lookout – Grade B+

Slumbrew.com
tazachocolate.com
marshmellowfluff.com

4 Calling Beers (Birds)... starring Hooker and the Heartland.

Brewery: Heartland Brewery
Style: Strong Ale
ABV: 8%

We're getting close the end of our little countdown... so I wanted to do something special for good ol' #4 on our list. And before I start anything, I have to point out that this next beer would not be possible without my sister, Christine... She found this little gem (thanks to my other sister, Beth) at the HEARTLAND BREWERY located at Union Square in NYC (among other NY sites). I have to admit, one of the reasons, Kate and I wanted to do this blog is to help educate people that might be nervous about trying a new beer or simply just want to learn more about craft beer in general. Honestly, since we've started this blog I feel like I've learned so much more. And yet, there's still a ton that can be taught. Next week, my buddy Joe and I are kegging up our FIRST homebrew - a Bourbon Barrel Aged Oatmeal Stout. An Oatmeal Stout recipe with French Oak Cubes soaked in Jim Beam's Devil's Cut Bourbon (thanks to knowledgable and beautiful @MichelleFunaro for the bourbon suggestion).

Shoot, where was I... oh yeah. So Kate and I wanted to educate people on what's out there. Well - this next beer is more for the NY folks that read Beer411. I'm not sure how accessible this is in CT, MA and beyond.

So Christine brought me home a bomber of the Special Edition, Old Red Nose Ale from the Heartland Brewery in NYC. The website had 5.5% ABV but the bottle said, 8%. Perhaps because it was a Special Edition. It poured a dark amber color, with about two fingers of tan head. The clarity was also very murky... Even noticed a little sediment towards the end of the pour. I suppose if we are grading on prettiness, this would be a bad thing... but I ain't skurrrd. I'm going in.

The smell is very inviting... Sweet malts, spices and a slight orange/ginger zest are all present. Given the ABV, the sweet smell is probably attributed to some of the booziness that'll come with the taste. After all it is a Strong Ale.

DE-LI-CIOUS. Wow. There's a party in my mouth. But its not the kind of party where someone drinks too much early in the night and is a jerk. Or where the uninvited kids show up only to cause problems. No, no... everyone is getting along here. The sweet and spicy notes continue on the taste with a solid malty backbone. You get more of the roastiness as well. The most noticeable attribute is the warmth that I'm getting from the alcohol. This was my first beer of the night and half way through, I had a nice warmth from all of the booze. I also have to point out how smooth this drank.

REALLLY only for the NY folks... but if you have any friends or family in the NY area or are travelling to NY for the holiday, there are SEVERAL Heartland Brewery locations: (http://www.heartlandbrewery.com/). Tis the season for the Old Red Nose Ale.

Overall: A-

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Buuuut for those of you that have no such access to the NYC area... I have a little something for you too.

Brewery: Hooker Brewery
Style: Herbed/Spice Beer/Lager
ABV: 6%

I have a decent memory. But I usually have to write a lot of things down. And thanks to my smartphone, most things are easily remembered. CT's own Hooker Brewery is one of those beers that is good but sometimes not memorable. I really enjoy their Munich beer, Liberator, Octoberfest, and IPA... none of which I think to grab off the shelves first, but again, very good in my opinion.

(...And if you have the pleasure of joining them on the 1st or 3rd Friday of the month, they will treat you to one of their open houses from 5pm-8pm, $10. You get a Hooker glass and get to sample some of the freshest beer you will EVER have. One time, I was getting an explanation from one of the brewers in front of the fermenting tank, when he attached a pigtail to the tank and started give people a sample of their Octoberfest. To this day, this was the best Octoberfest I've EVER had. Check out their website... DEFINITELY worth stopping by if you are looking to get the party started on a Friday night.)

But here we have their Winter offering, the Nor'Easter. The pour follows suit of most of our Winter Lagers. Copper color... but surprisingly not much head on this beer at all. Only a thin white lacing near the top of the glass.

The smells are that of caramel, and... Apple Pie? Yeah, it makes sense. Malty, Bready sweetness as well with some brown sugar notes.

Spicy, yet balanced on the taste. There's a little clove going on here to join along with the sweet biscuitiness. Not sure what the IBUs are but definitely aren't very noticeable here, but that doesn't bother me one bit. Really enjoying the malt and spicy apple notes... like an apple pie right out of the oven. Did not think this was going to be well carbonated due to the pour, but was pleasantly surprised. Very nice.

For the CT people (or anyone else that has access to the Hooker Brewery), this in my mind is an absolute home run. There's a bit of extra sweetness that I got in this Winter Lager that I haven't really gotten yet this season. It's not that high in ABV, or bitter, or hopped... just a real solid Winter Lager. Pick this up for any holiday party... home or with work friends and you will look like a million bucks. Look at you... you with the tasty beer... supporting local economy... I purposely bought a six pack for this tasting, but you can believe that this is my staple for the rest of the season. Nice work, guys.

Overall: A-

Website: http://www.hookerbeer.com/