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Can Release at Peekskill Brewery

August 2, 2016 / approachable beer / 0 Comments

One of the first places I checked out upon moving into the Hudson Valley was Peekskill Brewery. Nestled along the Hudson River in Peekskill, NY this brewery was a place I’d heard good things about the beer and the food. At that point they were distributing draught beer to some bars or selling growlers out of their brewery down by the river (though not in a van). I wasn’t disappointed by the food, the location or the beer and have been back several times. Recently their beers are more readily available on tap at many places around NY. I’ll admit this has cut into my trips up. Then they started canning their beers. Unfortunately, I completely missed the first release. What can I say? Life, ya know… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. I wasn’t going to miss out again when 2 of my favorite PB beers were being canned for the first time. It was such a good time and experience. I’ve even included a little gallery of pics at the bottom.

First the beers:

Higher Standard is a great imperial IPA. I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying it several times and have never been let down. It packs a punch at 9.5% ABV but with Simcoe and Citra hops it has a little west coast/east coast thing going on. It’s not all bitter or juice. There is some resiny bitter, unmistakable citrus and a malty character that comes in late. It’s a great beer from start to finish.

Amazeballs may be my new favorite PB beer. I know I had it in the past but I don’t remember enjoying it so damn much. First, gotta love a fun name for a beer (The can is equally as fun). Second, G alaxy hops. This American pale ale is crushable on so many levels. It goes down smooth, it’s lower ABV of 4.7% means you can down several and it tastes amazing. It’s fruity, juicy deliciousness. Light bitterness, not malty and those Galaxy hops are more than enough to make this a fast favorite.

Now about that can release. I don’t know what it looked like later but I got there at about 11am and there were a few people milling about. By 11:15 my cold beer was in the car and I was enjoying their outdoor festivities. They had a T-shirt stand, which was also where you paid cash for your beer, a tap stand with a few beers available and a BBQ stand ready to server a plate of chicken or pulled pork with 2 sides for $10. With picnic tables in the shade and an amazingly comfortable late July Saturday at our disposal my wife and I each got a beer and kicked back to relax for a bit. I enjoyed the tried and true Eastern Standard while my wife was introduced to C.R.E.A.M. ale. She had 2. I think she might have found a style of beer she enjoys besides dark stouts and porters. We also split a plate of the BBQ. It may have been the most succulent pulled pork, ever. I don’t know if they were cheating with that au jus it was being served in but it was well worth the $10. My wife is still trying to figure out what made that potato salad.

The only negative I can point to was the fear I had for the poor guy working the cooler. After we gave our order and paid at the T-shirt/cashier stand we were directed into the brewery and cooler to pick up our beer. The guy handing out the beer was doing his best Spider-Man impression. He was jumping around on kegs and seemingly dangling from the pallets of beer cans while collecting and placing orders into cardboard carriers. It was impressive and kind of terrifying. I assume he lived as I heard no news of a tragic beer avalanche and the ensuing search for a missing employee.

All in all it was possibly the most enjoyable beer release I’ve been to. Good times.

Bartlett – Plan Bee Farm Brewery

August 1, 2016 / approachable beer / 0 Comments

Recently my local grocer started carrying bottles from Plan Bee Farm Brewery. This is a very exciting development. I’m new to saisons/farmhouse ales/wild ales/sours. I want to try these beers, I want to support local craft brewers and I want good representations to try since I don’t know what “good” really is. Enter Plan Bee Farm Brewery. Plan Bee specializes in these styles of beer and by all accounts their beers are a good representation.

I’ve gone to two of their bottle releases, previously held at at the Beacon Farmers Market, and enjoyed both beers purchased. As with any bottle release it can be time consuming, hot, slow and occasionally disappointing if you are on the outside looking in for scoring a bottle. They now have their own farmstand to sell their bottles out of, if ever planning a trip check their schedule and hours here. If all you are looking for is a taste of these delicate and delicious beers there is a new option. DeCicco’s Family Markets now carry Plan Bee bottles in their grocery stores. This family run chain of grocery stores have some of the most robust and well curated craft beer selections in Westchester County NY. Thus far I have found Plan Bee to be readily available, no line, no waiting and no wondering. It’s a beautiful thing.

I can only assume Bartlett is named to reference the bartlett pear, the fruit of choice this beer was aged on. Opening the bottle I could smell pears immediately. There is a funkiness to this style of beer that I’m still getting used to but there was no mistaking the presence of pears. Saisons, or farmhouse ales, are complex if only because the flavors are more subtle when you get beyond the up-frontness of the style. Unlike more popular styles such as IPAs that punch you in the face with their man characteristic, bitter hoppiness or citrusy juiciness, a saison/farmhouse ale is tart, tangy, and/or spicy and work well with fruits. Initially I used to refer to them, tongue in cheek, as wines masquerading as beer. Turns out that’s not such a bad thing to say, many are aged in wine barrels.

What really struck me about this beer was the lightness of the flavors. That is not to say it lacked flavor, not in the least. It was slightly tart, lots of sweet fruity (mostly pear) notes dancing around that funkiness of a wild ale. There is no question pears were involved as they bring a slight sweetness forward to even out the tartness. The balance was so pleasing to a novice to this style. It poured a bright straw yellow color that was partly hazy and with a thick, bright, fluffy white head that dissipated quickly to a lingering thin white foam covering from edge to edge of my stemmed “wine” glass.

This was an easy drinking and enjoyable beer. I’d give it 4 out of 5

SatinSolitude_GingerMan — Satin Solitude - The Ginger Man NYC

Satin Solitude at The Ginger Man

July 29, 2016 / approachable beer / 0 Comments

On a recent trip into the heart of NYC my wife and I decided to swing by The Ginger Man, 11 East 36th St., for drinks before hopping on the train home. We’ve been to this craft beer bar before and knew we wouldn’t have trouble finding a few beers we wanted to try. Given the 70+ beers they typically have on tap, besides a well-curated bottle list, I settled on my usual, a stout. My wife couldn’t make up her mind so she chose 4 beers for a tasting fight. Considering the Midtown Manhattan location of this bar, it is pretty large for a beer-focused establishment. The food is decent, it’s clean and the staff has always been pleasant and attentive. I have never been there when it was truly slammed but on this night almost every seat at the bar was taken and most tables were occupied in some capacity. Still, we had no problem getting service and being looked after for the duration of our visit. If in NYC and looking for a nice craft beer selection The Ginger Man is worth a try.

For my beer choice, and with some reservations, I settled on Central Waters Satin Solitude. Having had mixed experiences with some Central Waters offerings I was a bit skeptical. I was in the mood for something I could get one glass of and sip on for a while. Imperial stouts are great in these situations. They are usually higher ABV. I prefer my stouts near room temp but a commercial establishment will almost never serve a beer like that. That’s alright because as they warm the flavors evolve and intensify creating a longer tasting experience.

Ah, I remember the days when I thought all beer should be served ice cold or it was skunked (So, so wrong and if you don’t know, now you know). Life was simpler back then… Santa Clause was real and the Easter Bunny wasn’t a creepy guy living out his furry fandom. – Clearly kidding here. I didn’t have my first drink until at least 14 or 15 and clearly I knew the truth about Santa by then. 😉

On first appearance it comes as expected, a tight half-inch tan head and jet black in the snifter glass. The nose is robust. Roasted malts and dark chocolate present first, there is certainly a coffee-ness to the smell, but then a sweetness comes through as well. It was a pleasantly complex aroma. The taste matched what I smelled. There were roasted malts at the start with some chocolate on the back end. The mouth feel was pleasing in its viscosity. Some Central Waters stouts I’ve had in the past seemed thin but this beer felt thicker, like a stout should feel. It was velvety smooth start to finish. I would say the overall experience of the body was medium to slightly thick. The sweet chocolate notes balanced nicely against the dark roasty flavors of this imperial stout. I cupped the glass in my hand, to help warm it a bit quicker, to get the full experience of this beer warming and opening up to reveal its true self. Overall I was very surprised at what an enjoyable beer this was. Nowadays, if it’s not some limited release, or brewers reserve something-or-other, standard styles end up being rather generic. Not this beer.

I give it a surprised 4.00 out of 5

Almanac Beer Co. – Cold Brew Coffee Barrel Noir

July 28, 2016 / approachable beer / 0 Comments

Recently I had the chance to try a growler of Almanac Beer Company’s Cold Brew Coffee Barrel Noir. This imperial stout, aged in Woodford Reserve bourbon barrels for 18 months was steeped with vanilla beans a coffee. It was delicious.

Almanac Cold Brew Coffee Barrel Noir

One of my favorite styles of beer is anything with coffee. I don’t care if it’s an IPA or a porter. If it’s got coffee included I’m trying it. A coffee stout done right might be the 2nd greatest thing next to a barrel aged coffee stout done right! There is something special about a thick roasty stout and the sweet undercurrent of bourbon or whiskey and the bitterness of the coffee/hops that are magical to me. Many try but few succeed. Cold Brew Coffee Barrel Noir is the former. Opening the growler and taking a whiff presents the distinct aroma of a coffee stout but there is definitely a bourbon presence as well. It was poured from the growler into a snifter style glass. It poured a nice tan head that lingered with tightly packed bubbles. Initially I was afraid the vanilla was missing but upon taking a sip I realized it’s there as a balance to the rest of the flavors in this beer. Mouthfeel is medium to slightly thick. The taste is as advertised. There is no doubt there is coffee in this big bodied imperial stout and the after taste balances with the sweetness from the vanilla and bourbon. As this beer warmed up the flavors melded into a perfect swirl of what I would describe as a vanilla cappuccino with a splash of bourbon.

Highly recommended 4.50 out of 5

Troegs – Nimble Giant

July 27, 2016 / approachable beer / 0 Comments

While perusing the beer section at my local grocery store I noticed they had 4 packs of Troegs Once a Year DIPA (IIPA – imperial india pale ale), Nimble Giant. I’ve enjoyed beers from Troegs like Nugget Nectar and Java Head Stout. This was my first IPA from the brewery located in The Sweetest Place on Earth, Hershey PA.

Nimble Giant side/back

I had no idea what to expect with this beer so I was shocked when the first think I smelled was pineapple. I don’t mean like I’m fooling myself into smelling pineapple I mean this straight up smelled of pineapple and hops. It was more delicate a nose than I expected but there was definitely a dank, malty aroma that ensures you are aware of it’s imperial IPA status.

It pours a clear orange with a fluffy fast dissipating head. Mouthfeel was slightly over carbonated to me. The pineapple flavor actually comes through in the taste but doesn’t overpower the other flavors such as grapefruit and floral notes. According to the label its IBU comes in at 69 which seems a little low for a imperial india pale ale. This results in a palate pleasing bitterness. There is a malty, booziness that I could have done without but you can’t have it all!

I look forward to drinking the other 3 cans of my 4 pack but I won’t crown this a fantastic DIPA.

It’s slightly above average, I give it a 3.50 out of 5.

A Trip to Tree House and a Taste of Julius

July 26, 2016 / approachable beer / 0 Comments

I recently made my first trip to the woods and farmland where Tree House has setup shop. Though a new brewery is coming soon for now the old location, which was the new location as of Dec. 2014 in Monson, Ma is the destination for some of the most sought after and highly regarded brews the New England craft beer scene has to offer. It was such an enjoyable experience I went back the following week for more beers to taste (and review soon!).

Driving to Monson, MA

Driving up from the lower region of the hudson valley it’s about 2 and a half hours, depending on traffic. Mostly major highways it’s an easy, if unexciting trip. After exiting the highways the drive becomes much more rural and enjoyable with tree lined windy roads and small towns with a roundabout and ice cream stand. The brewery itself is about 20 min beyond that point where you worry your GPS has the incorrect location. Fear not, if it’s a Tree House business day and you’re within 2 hrs of open or the “we’re gonna run out soon” twitter update, you will not be alone on the roads leading back to this temple of hops. If you’re still unsure and the 3 full parking areas aren’t enough reassurance you have found the place then the pungent sent of hops in the air as you stroll down the driveway looking for the end of the line should ease any remaining concerns. You are indeed in the right place. Come as you are, bring your dog, bring your kids, or just a friendly demeanor, and relax while they churn through the pleasant masses. On a can release only day (every Wednesday 12-6) I’ve never been there longer than an hour, and that was the Wednesday before July 4th. I haven’t had the chance to go on a growler fill day yet but from what I’ve read they keep that moving as well.

If planning a visit to Tree House there are 2 important things that will tell you everything you need to know. The Tree House Twitter feed and the on-tap page. Via their Twitter feed they respond to questions, give line updates and provide allotment/availability updates on a regular basis throughout the day. Beers available for purchase are announced almost exclusively day of or night before. Plan to be surprised and don’t worry you won’t be disappointed.

Tree House Brewing Co.

Julius

Now to this fine brew they call Julius. I’ve seen it referred to as The Doctor or Dr. J and I would love to believe they named it after the legendary Julius Eeeeeerving. My guess is its name has more to do with a drink stand that was once found in almost every mall around the country. When popping the top on a can of this American IPA it is an experience unto itself. Your nose is filled with the sweet, juicy hop profile they have mastered at Tree House. Poured from the can into a tulip for drinking you see the color matches what you’re already smelling, oranges. It’s almost eerie that a beer can instantly invoke the idea of an Orange Julius but, hence the name, that is exactly what happened to me. The tasting experience is silky smooth with a slight sweetness. This is balanced against the fruity citrus tartness and a very mild hop bitterness. This delicate dance of competing flavors creates a beer that laughs in the face of the hop bombs many micros throw out for IPA acclaim. This beer is a bit over hyped but for good reason, it is a masterpiece. I’m not going to go all BEST BEER EVER, but I will say it is a crushable beverage that I would buy above most other shelf offerings and other local favorites. Does it warrant a special trip to get your hands on some? YES! Is it a beer to hoard and trade like some kind of whale? Nah. Side note: We really need a stock exchange like value system for beer trading, just saying. Few beers warrant the level of hype they achieve but this comes close. It is a wonderful American IPA that any craft beer lover should get the chance to or, if in the area, make the effort to try.

Who We Are…

July 25, 2016 / beeradmin / 0 Comments

I’m just another guy who’s going around cataloging beers and breweries visited. I also think it’s important to voice some appreciation for the small businesses and entrepreneurs doing the hard work of creating the amazing craft beer scene we get to enjoy here in the USofA.

I am no expert. I’m not going to claim to be. I enjoy a fresh, tasty IPA as well as a dark, full bodied stout but if I’m at a picnic and all you’ve got is a keg of Miller Lite then get me a plastic cup and a shady spot to chill! Trying to get into fruited sours and saison’s? Follow along as I do the same.

These writings are intended to be informative and approachable. Been there, done that? Go somewhere else for deep dives and musings on adjuncts or yeast strains. May I suggest DDB’s Mariana Trench approach. Approachable.beer is going to be more like Lake Pontchartrain.

To start, I’ve got a few beers already lined up and plan to post a review every few days. Eventually I hope to provide ideas on where I’ll be going next and giving insights on how I search and pick beers I want to try. (Hint – Friends and the internets are great sources but knowing where to start can be difficult).

Thanks for reading-

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