Endless Beers -

by snebbu

Endless Beer: Dogfish Head Beer Thousand

10% ABV

Every beer has a story. Dogfish Head continues on with their music series to bring you Beer Thousand. This time, it is Guided by Voices’ turn. To celebrate the band’s 20th anniversary of their record BEE Thousand: the Beer Thousand. For Dogfish Head, the title is not just a clever play on words, but is also born of a delicious formula. This formula is: 10 grains, 10 hop varieties, and 10 ABV (10x10x10). If anything else, you have to give credit to the brewery for their creativity and precision in crafting a unique and high-powered lager. Here’s the verdict:

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by snebbu

Endless Beers: Stone Xocoveza Mocha Stout

Stone sends us their most recent collaboration brew: The Xocoveza Mocha Stout. This weird name represents the sentiment of the true engineer of the beer: Chris Banker. Chris won Stone’s homebrew competition in March of 2013, where the champion wins the chance to brew their homebrew at the next level. Stone provides their facilities, expertise, and ingredients to create a bigger and even better version. The name is derived from the idea of a Mexican hot chocolate, which is what the beer is supposed to remind us of – sweet and spicy hot chocolate. Given the Mexican twist, Stone invited well known Mexican craft beer representatives of Cervecería Insurgente to join in the collaboration.

The suds include malts and specialty ingredients of a milk stout. Cocoa and milk sugars were added during the boil, which adds noted sweet and roasty flavors throughout the brew. Then, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, pasilla peppers, and coffee are added. The end result is a very complex flavor profile. While I don’t taste the chocolate as much as I do a sweet roasted coffee – it does remind me of a spicy hot cocoa. Here are the ES tasting notes:

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by snebbu

Endless Beers: Happy IPA Day!

You may not know it, but it’s National IPA Day! Donut day, coffee day, ice cream day…why not have a day for those of us who take pride in the name “hophead”? Well today’s that day. Many consider the IPA (India Pale Ale) to be the brew that really made a name for craft beer. The IPA is a bold, typically strong in alcohol content, and bitter (in a good way) brew that includes strong notes of citrus. Regardless, today is a day to try an IPA for the first time, try out a crazy new IPA flavor, or crack open your favorite IPA. In the spirit of this wonderful holiday, we worked with some of the best breweries in the nation to bring your our “National IPA Day Roundup.”

Sierra Nevada 2014 Hop Harvest: 6.5 % ABV

Sierra Nevada brings out this annual 5-bottle series that features a single hop, wet hop, fresh hop, and wild hop brews. I had the Equinox Single Hop IPA. Single hop meaning they used only one kind of hop to highlight the aromas and the bitterness. The brew is an easy drink that will put you in the mood for fall. The IPA has typical hop flavors you would expect and then the taste of fresh peppers and spices from the garden comes through.

by snebbu

Endless Beers: Stone Coffee Milk Stout

ABV: 4.2%

Born a limited release, the Stone Coffee Milk Stout survived longer than many other suds offered at the Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens. Brewery Trainer Brian Gallagher brewed the ten-barrel batch with Brewing Manager Kris Ketcham. The brew is made with milk sugar and whole coffee beans at a low alcohol content. While session beers are increasingly popular, session stouts are rare to find. The Stone “Coffee Laced” Milk Stout is released nationally on August 4. Here’s the taste!

Stone Coffee Milk Stout Profile:

Appearance: Black and dark – opaque

Aroma: Coffee hits the nose first, followed by flavors of chocolate and even a little bit of licorice

Taste: First taste is roasted coffee bitterness followed by semi-sweet chocolate. Then, sweet and creamy malty flavors come through.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and light going down. However, the brew finishes dry and crisp.

Overall: This is a pleasant surprise for a session brew. The brew has the light texture of a session brew, but the full flavors of a stout. The creamy and sweet notes of a milk stout come through from beginning to end of the drink. The bitterness of coffee beans begin the sip and chocolate follows. The beer is a good drink after dinner, or even during the day.

Suggested Pairings:

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by snebbu

Endless Beers: Our Top 10 IPAs

Summertime. Hot days, no more school, and yes, our fourth round of the beer exchange. This was one of my favorites—IPAs. I’m trying to savor these…but at the same time, you can’t let them sit too long, or they’ll go bad! While reviewing the exchange beers, and thinking about my favorite IPAs, I’ve done you the great pleasure of creating our “top ten IPAs” list. Here they are in no particualar order. You’re welcome.

10. Founder’s All Day IPA (ABV 4.7%)

IPAs don’t have to be high in alcohol content. Enjoy this bitter delight ALL Day…and more than once. Packs a punch of hops and malts without the dangers of having three on a hot day and feeling groggy for the rest of the day.

PHOTO: Founder’s

9. Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA (9%)

Hop. Garden. There really isn’t much more to say here. If you like the aroma and flavor of hops…this is the one for you.

PHOTO: Weyerbacher

8. Sierra Nevada Snow Wit White IPA (ABV 5.7%)

For those drinkers who are looking for something light and sweet…but still packing a hop-forward punch. The Snow Wit is surprisingly tasty with a refreshing sweet taste of summer.

PHOTO: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

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by snebbu

A Craft Beer Revolution? The Stochasticity Project Grapfruit Slam IPA

The announcement of the Stochasticity Project brings excitement and curiosity to those enveloped in the craft beer world (and beyond). The project dives in to the science of beer to create unique and strong (“Stone-like”) flavors in an innovative way. So you may be asking…what the hell is Stochasticity?

Stochasiticity is explained on the website as “a concept embraced and exalted by this special and unpredictable series of beers, where exotic notions, ingredients and ideas coalesce at an interesting and often unexpected endpoint.” Peruse the website further and you will soon realize that Stochasticity is Stone’s attempt at using science (like beer scientists) to engineer the perfect brew. The project highlights scientific equipment that is used to detect off-flavors, dissect the beer, and point out areas of flaws that will then be remedied. The PR promises a bold, flawless flavor.

And…Here’s how it tastes:

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by snebbu

Endless Beers: Innis and Gunn Original

We had our engagement party last weekend and were showered with gifts from our family and friends. Included in these gifts was a basket of beers from around the world, thanks to my future sister-in-law. I placed the selection in the fridge and they are officially “on reserve.” Earlier this week, during out FIRST snow storm of the week (we are on our second today), I tapped into the reserve. First stop on my trip around the world: Scotland. I cracked open an Innis & Gunn Oak Barrel Aged Original.

Crafted in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Innis & Gunn Original is what “started it all” for the brewery…and by accident. A whiskey distillery near the brewery was looking to infuse their barrels with a malty beer flavor. Innis & Gunn whipped something up and sent it to the distillery. After fermenting in the oak barrels, the distillery dumped it out for the Scotch goodness. However, later, Innis & Gunn received another call from the distillery—this time asking about the kick-ass beer left in the barrels. Thus we have Innis & Gunn Original.

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