Every year at The State Fair Of Texas they push the heavily battered envelope of deep fried goodness with an array of wonderful(and sometimes frightening) deep fried experiments. There have been Deep fried Twinkies, Snickers, cheeseburgers, Coca-Cola, and even Pig’s feet. But the item that immediately caught my cholesteric eye was the FRIED BEER!!! HOLY SHIT!!! FRIED FUCKIN’ BEER!!!
There have been other experiments involving beer in batter but I think this is the first time the beer is left to stand alone. In this case in a pretzel pocket deep fried until golden brown. Oh, sweet honey in the rock! They do not mention what kind of beer is used so there would have to be more experimentation….at my house. I would love to use Dogfish head Forte and drizzle raspberry cream over it. Maybe a Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin Ale sprinkled with cinnamon. The possibilities are endless….and deadly.
Mark Zabel, the frickin’ genius who created this culinary gem should have a holiday named after him. Below is the CBS news report.
This is both proof of the amazing times we live in and how robots will destroy humanity. Robots and Computers are already running a majority of everyday life on earth. Banking, Infrastructure, food processing, energy. Soon the time will come when the Machines will be our masters. There was a recent skirmish with the computerized break systems in Toyotas “malfunctioning”. Several were killed or injured and a major car manufacturer was almost destroyed. While these young pioneers at The Willow Garage may think they are helping humanity, the reality is, they are enabling the Robot Rebellion.
This Robot makes us think we can be more productive while drinking or be able to relax more while at leisure. It’s actually lulling us into trusting and eventually becoming dependent on it for the sweet nourishing nectar that is beer. Eventually the Robot will be showing up with beers while we are showering, helping the kids with homework, or first thing in the morning when we are getting out of bed. When we finally are to drunk to figure out what the hell is happening, the Robot will subdue us and send us to a slave camp to build more robots while being served beer…and..maybe even wine.
Don’t get me wrong, this is an amazing advancement in drinking technology. But we also must proceed with caution and use the Robot responsibly. I hate to see a day when the Robot will be making beer choices for us.
The other issue I have is this Robot is lacking some sweet tits. But that’s a whole other Blog….
The folks at BrewDog hate your liver. The previous winners of the “Strongest Beer In The World” title with their Sink The Bismark now have returned to finish you off with this monstrosity. The appropriately titled, “The End Of History”, has an ABV of 55%. Just to give you a reference point, Budweiser’s American Lager is 5%. A 12 pack of America’s “King Of Beers” is around $12.00. A bottle of “THE END OF HISTORY” is $765….yeah..that’s right $765. It’s described as a Blond Belgian Ale style and comes in a bottle that’s stuffed into a mounted animal. Some squirrels, some rabbits. Either way, you are going to be having a serious conversation with that dead squirrel after finishing a bottle of this bowel blaster. You can get more info from the short documentary below if you can understand what these these guys are saying through the thick Scottish brogue. Or maybe they’re just shitfaced.
The American Craft Beer Fest is the largest East Coast Beer Festival featuring over 80 brewers and over 400 beers. 400 BEERS!! Last year I was amazed at how poor my judgement was using a 2oz sampling glass. Make sure you pay attention to the Alcohol By Volume(ABV)! I couldn’t help it, they were all so delicious! This is one of the best organized beer events I’ve been to. Here are some of my notes from last year. Many of the brewers debut a new or special beer for this event. The Fest is preceded by Boston Beer Week, a variety of events not only to celebrate the fest but also condition your liver for the big event at The Seaport World Trade Center. The US is the greatest beer brewing country in the world and this is a great event for those who are unfamiliar with the American Craft Beer movement. Don’t worry about your lack of beer knowledge, there will be many experts that will be more than happy to give you the low down on beer styles and brands while you sample their art. This is the time to dive in, take notes, and enjoy. Below is a list of brewers and a link to get your tickets in advance(which I highly recommend):
86 brewers pouring over 400 craft beers!
American Craft Beer Fest is the largest and most diverse celebration of American Craft Beer on the east coast. We’re talking 86 American brewers pouring over 400 craft beers for you’re tasting enjoyment! Commence drooling and we hope you do indeed enjoy your beer tasting experience.
Important notes on the beers:
- All beers are subject to change and availability
- All pours are 2ozs (or less)
- Listed percentages are alcohol by volume (ABV)
- Rinse stations can be found throughout the venue
- Respect Beer.
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21st Amendment Brewery (CA)
Booth #540
Hell or High Watermelon (Wheat Beer / 4.9%)
Brew Free or Die IPA (American IPA / 7%)
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Allagash Brewing Co. (ME)
Booth #519
Allagash White (5%)
Allagash Curieux (Bourbon Barrel-aged Triple / 11%)
Allagash Victor (Belgian Strong Ale w/ grapes and wine yeast / 9%)
Bourbon Black (Bourbon Barrel-aged Belgian Stout / 9.3%)
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Atwater Block Brewery (MI)
Booth #755
Vanilla Java Porter (6%)
Dirty Blonde Ale (American Wheat / 4.5%)
Double Down (Imperial Amber Ale / 7%)
Teufel (Weizen Dopplebock / 10.9%)
Atwater Double IPA (7.5%)
Sticke Alt (7%)
Ur Pils (7%)
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Bear Republic Brewing Co. (CA)
Booth #758
Racer 5 IPA (California IPA / 7%)
Nor Cal (California Bitter / 4.6%)
Red Rocket (American Amber Ale / 6.8%)
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Beer Works (MA)
Booth #526
Biere de Schwarz (Belgian Dark Ale / 8%)
Utter Weizen (Weizenbock / 7.5%)
Patriot Pils (Bohemian Pils / 5.5%)
Belgian Quadruple (10.5%)
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Berkshire Brewing Co. (MA)
Booth #538
Steel Rail Extra Pale Ale (American Pale Ale / 5.2%)
Hefeweizen Ale (4.5%)
Nitro Coffee Porter (6.2%)
Nitro IPA (5.5%)
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Blue Hills Brewery (MA)
Booth #522
Blue Hills India Pale Ale (American IPA / 6.6%)
Imperial Bomber (Imperial Red IPA / 9%)
Wampatuk Wheat (German Hefeweizen / 5.4%)
Black Hops (India Black Ale / 6.4%)
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Boston Beer Co. (MA)
Booth #746
Boston Lager (Bohemian Lager / 4.9%)
Coastal Wheat (Wheat Ale /w Lemons / 5.3%)
Kosmic Mother Funk (Belgian Sour / 7%)
Samuel Adams Belgian Style IPA (5.7%)
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Boulder Beer Co. (CO)
Booth #556
Hazed And Infused (Dry Hopped Amber Ale / 4.8%)
Mojo (IPA / 7.3%)
Sweaty Betty (Bavarian Wheat / 6%)
Flashback (India Brown Ale / 6.88%)
Cold Hop (British IPA / 6.8%)
Kinda Blue (American Blueberry Wheat / 5.5%)
Mojo Risin (Double IPA / 11%)
Single Track (Copper Rye Ale / 4.9%)
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Brewery Ommegang (NY)
Booth #521
Witte (Belgian White Ale / 5.1%)
Rare Vos (Belgian Amber / 6.5%)
Hennipin (Saison / 7.7%)
Ommegang Abbey (Abbey Dubbel / 8.5%)
Three Philosophers (Quad / 9.8%)
BPA (Belgian Pale Ale / 6.7%)
Zuur (Flemish Brown / 5.3%)
Tripel Perfection (Tripel / 8.9%)
Ommegeddon (Brett Saison / 8%)
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Brooklyn Brewery (NY)
Booth #516
BLAST! (Double IPA / 8.2%)
Dark Matter (Whiskey Barrel-aged Strong Brown Ale / 7.5%)
Summer Ale (Golden Ale / 5%)
Local 1 (Belgian Strong Golden Ale / 9%)
Brooklyn Buzz Bomb (Braggot / 8%)
Brooklyn Sorachi Ace (Dry-hopped Saison / 7.4%)
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Cambridge Brewing Co. (MA)
Booth #724
CBC HefeWeizen (5.5%)
Three Rings (Belgian Pale Ale / 5%)
Spring Training I.P.A. (6.3%)
The Colonel (Porter 6.5%)
The Audacity Of Hops (Belgian Double IPA / 8.5%)
Sun King (Belgian Summer Pale / 4.0%)
Cape Cod Red (American Amber Ale / 5.5%)
Cape Cod IPA (American IPA / 6.5%)
Cape Code Beach Blonder Ale (American Golden Ale / 4.8%)
Cape Cod Summer Ale (Bavarian Hefeweizen / 5.5%)
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Cisco Brewers (MA)
Booth #549
Whale’s Tale Pale Ale (English Pale Ale / 5.6%)
Indie Pale Ale (American IPA / 6.5%)
The Grey Lady (Belgian White Ale / 4.5%)
Bailey’s Ale (Hoppy Blonde Ale / 5.4%)
Cherry Woods (Oak-aged Cherry Wheat Ale / 4.7%)
Lady Of The Woods (Oak-aged Belgian White Ale / 5%)
Dark Woods (Oak-aged Stout / 7.7%)
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Clipper City Brewing Co. (MD)
Booth #560
Loose Cannon (American IPA / 7.25%)
Small Craft Warning (Imperial Pilsner / 7%)
Red Sky At Night (Saison / 7.5%)
Siren Noire (Chocolate Stout / 8%)
Below Decks (English Barley Wine / 10%)
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Clown Shoes (MA)
Booth #714
Hoppy Feet Black IPA (India Black Ale / 7%)
Brown Angel Double Brown (Strong Brown Ale / 7%)
Clementine (Wheat Beer)
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Coastal Extreme Brewing Co. (RI)
Booth #551
Newport Storm Hurricane Amber Ale (American Amber Ale / 5.2%)
Newport Storm Summer Ale (IPA / 6.1%)
Newport Storm Rhode Island Blueberry Beer (Kolsch / 5%)
Newport Storm Cyclone Series Neo (American Pale Ale / 7%)
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Cody Brewing Co. (MA)
Booth #736
Cody’s Pub Ale (American Pale Ale / 5%)
SOS (Belgian American Hybrid Ale / 5.8%)
Wheeler Oatmeal Brown (American Brown Ale / 5.7%)
Dog Daze Summer (Summer Hefeweizen / 4.5%)
Gee Man’s Hypnotic Tonic (American Strong Ale / 8.5%)
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Defiant Brewing Co. (NJ)
Booth #744
Defiant Muddy Creek Lager (5.5%)
Defiant Little Thumper (Ale / 5.2%)
Defiant Belgian Style Tripel (9%)
Geary’s Pale Ale (English Pale Ale / 4.5%)
Geary’s Summer Ale (Kolsch / 6%)
Geary’s Imperial IPA (8.2%)
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Goose Island (IL)
Booth #544
Fleur (Belgian Pale Ale / 7%)
Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout (Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Coffee Stout / 13%)
India Pale Ale (English IPA / 5.9%)
Matilda (Belgian Pale Ale / 7%)
Sofie (Belgian Farmhouse Ale / 6.5%)
Imperial Brown Goose (Bourbon Barrel Aged Strong Brown Ale / 9%)
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Gritty McDuff’s Brewing Co. (ME)
Booth #525
Original Pub Style (Golden Pale Ale / 5%)
Vacation Land Summer Ale (Pale Ale / 5%)
Black Fly Stout (Stout / 4.9%)
Best Brown (Brown Ale / 5.2%)
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Harpoon Brewery (MA)
Booth #536
Harpoon IPA (5.9%)
Harpoon Belgian Pale Ale (5.8%)
Harpoon Summer Beer (Kolsch / 5%)
UFO White (American White Ale / 4.8%)
Leviathan Big Bohemian Pilsner (Imperial Pilsner / 9%)
Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Pott’s Landbier (Landbier Lager / 4.8%)
Chocolate IPA (Cask)
Summer Beer w/ Candied Ginger (Cask)
Beer Of The Gods (Hoppy Blonde / 4.5%)
Purity Of Essence (Unfiltered Lager / 5.4%)
St. Hubbins Dubbel (6.5%)
Two-Headed Beast (Belgian Chocolate Stout / 4.5%)
Sono Distrutto (Espresso Stout / 4.2%)
Pas de Dieux (Saison / 5%)
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Hill Farmstead Brewery (VT)
Booth #722
Edward India Pale Ale (American IPA / 5.7%)
Abner India Pale Ale (Imperial IPA / 8.2%)
Smoked Baltic Porter (9%)
TBA
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Ithaca Beer Co. (NY)
Booth #759
Apricot Wheat (4.9%)
Ground Break (American Saison / 6%)
CascaZilla (American Red Ale / 7%)
Flower Power (American IPA / 7.5%)
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John Harvard’s Brew House (Cambridge, MA)
Booth #728
Demon D. P A. (Double Pale Ale / 7.7%)
Monticello Porter (Robust Porter / 7.8%)
Cripple Kriek (Belgian Brown w/ cherries / 6.5%)
A Spoonful Weighs a Ton (English Ale / 4.3%)
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John Harvard’s Brew House (Framingham, MA)
Booth #730
Long Trail Ale (Altbier / 4.6%)
Long Trail Pale Ale (English Pale Ale
Long Trail Double IPA (8.6%)
Long Trail IPA (English IPA / 5.9%)
Long Trail Belgian White (4.7%)
Long Trail Double Bag
Sea Hag IPA (6.2%)
668 Neighbor of the Beast (Belgian Golden / 8.5%)
Wet Willy Scotch Ale (10.5%)
Imperial Stout Tropper (9%)
Gandhi Bot Double IPA (9%)
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North Coast Brewing Co. (CA)
Booth #540
Le Merle (Saison / 7.9%)
Brother Thelonius (Belgian Strong Ale / 9.3%)
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Offshore Ale Co. (MA)
Booth #543
Islander Double IPA (8%)
Hop Goddess (Ameri-Belgo / 6.9%)
Menemsha Creek Pale Ale (American Pale Ale / 5.3%)
East Chop Lighthouse (Golden Ale / 4.7%)
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Olde Burnside Brewing Co. (CT)
Booth #554
Ten Penny Ale (Scottish Ale / 5.4%)
Dirty Penny Ale (Black & Tan / 5.6%)
Penny Weiz Ale (Belgian Wit / 5.3%)
Ten Penny Reserve Ale (Wee Heavy / 9.2%)
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OPA-OPA Steakhouse & Brewery (MA)
Booth #737
Opa Opa IPA
Red Rock Amber Ale
Opa Opa Watermelon Ale
TBD
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Oskar Blues Brewery (CO)
Booth #533
Dale’s Pale Ale (6.5%)
Mamma’s Little Yellow Pils (Pilsner / 5.3%)
Old Chub (Scottish Ale / 8%)
Gordon (Imperial Red Ale / 8.7%)
Gubna (Imperial IPA / 10%)
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Otter Creek Brewing / Wolaver’s (VT)
Booth #762
Otter Creek Summer Ale (American Wheat / 4.25%)
Otter Creek Copper Ale (4.6%)
Otter Creek Stovepipe Porter (5.4%)
Otter Creek Solstice (Pale Ale / 4%)
Otter Creek Imperial IPA (8.8%)
Wolaver’s Oatmeal Stout (4.8%)
Ben Gleason’s White Ale (4.3%)
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Paper City Brewing Co. (MA)
Booth #567
Radler Brau (Lt. California Common w/ lemon / 6%)
One Eared Monkey (Lt. California Common /w peach / (6%)
Summer Brew (Helles Bock / 7%)
Cabot Wheat (Hefeweizen / 5.5%)
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Peak Organic Brewing Co. (MA)
Booth #766
Peak Organic IPA (7.2%)
Peak Organic Summer Session Ale (American Pale Summer Wheat / 4.7%)
Peak Organic King Crimson (Imperial Red Ale / 9.1%)
Peak Organic Espresso Amber Ale (6%)
Peak Organic Weiss Principal (Imperial American Pale Wheat Ale / 9%)
Peak Organic Nut Brown Ale (English Brown Ale / 4.7%)
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Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project (MA)
Booth #514
Fluffy White Rabbits (Hoppy Belgian Triple / 8.5%)
Jack D’Or (Saison Americain / 6.5%)
Baby Tree (Quad / 9%)
Saint Botolph’s Town (Rustic Yorkshire Brown Ale / 5.9%)
February 27th, 1832 (English Strong Ale / 10.5%)
Babayaga (Rustic Stout / 7%)
Fieldmouse’s Farewell (Rustic Golden Ale)
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Rapscallion (MA)
Booth #768
Rapscallion Honey (Extra Pale Ale / 4.5%)
Rapscallion Premier (Belgian Inspired Blonde Ale / 7%)
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Redhook Ale Brewery (NH)
Booth #552
Long Hammer IPA (American IPA / 6.5%)
ESB (5.8%)
Blonde (5.3%)
Right Hook Red (American Red Ale / 5.2%)
Live Free or Rye Roggenbier (4.8%)
Eisbock 28 (11%)
Big Ballard Double IPA (8.6%)
Treble Hook Barley Wine 2007 (Fri Only) (10.1%)
Treble Hook Barley Wine 2009 (Sat Only) (10.1%)
Single Barb IPA (American IPA / 7.7%)
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Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery (MA)
Booth #741
Cinco de Mayo (Jalapeno Lager / 5%)
Improper Hopper (American IPA / 6.2%)
Munich Gold (German Export Lager / 5.3%)
Whitey Belgian (Belgian Wit / 4.8%)
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Rogue Brewery (OR)
Booth #757
Double Mocha Porter
Chipolte Ale
John John Juniper
Double Dead Guy
Hazelnut Brown
Dry-Hopped Red
Brutal IPA
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Sebago Brewing Co. (ME)
Booth #541
Frye’s Leap IPA (American IPA / 6.2%)
Full Throttle Double IPA (8.2%)
Milestone (Imperial Red Ale / 9.2%)
Barleywine (10.2%)
Hefeweizen (4.2%)
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Shmaltz Brewing Co. (CA)
Booth #756
He’Brew Rejewvenator ‘10 (Dubbel/Doppelbock with Concord Grapes / 8.2%)
He’Brew Bittersweet Lenny’s RIPA (Rye Double IPA / 10%)
He’Brew Genesis Ale (Amber Ale / 5.6%)
Coney Island Albino Python (White Lager / 6%)
Coney Island Sword Swallower (Hoppey Pale Lager / 7.2%)
Coney Island Human Blockhead (Strong Amber Lager / 10%)
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Shipyard Brewing Co. (ME)
Booth #761
Shipyard Export Ale
Summer Ale (American Pale Ale)
Shipyard Wheat Ale (American Pale Wheat Ale)
Sea Dog Blue Paw Wheat Ale (Blueberry Wheat Ale)
XXXX IPA (Imperial IPA)
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Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (CA)
Booth #545
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (American Pale Ale / 5%)
Summerfest Lager (Bohemian Pilsner / 5%)
Southern Hemisphere Harvest (Fresh Hopped Strong Pale Ale / 6.8%)
Hellraiser (Chocolate Chili Pepper Imperial Stout / 10.2%)
Charlie, Fred and Ken’s Bock (Imperial Helles Bock / 8.2%)
Wood-Aged Old Ale (Bourbon-barrel Aged Ale / 9%)
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Six Point Craft Ales (NY)
Booth #553
Sweet Action (American Blonde/Cream Ale / 5.5%)
Bengali Tiger IPA (7%)
Righteous Ale (Rye Ale / 6.5%)
Brownstone Ale (American Brown Ale / 5.7%)
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Smuttynose Brewing Co. (NH)
Booth #559
Rouge De Shire (Sour Raspberry Ale / 5%)
Smuttynose IPA (6.9%)
Gravitation (Quad / 11.5%)
Star Island Single (Belgian Abbey Single / 5.3%)
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Southampton Publick House (NY)
Booth #563
Double White (Witbier / 6.7%)
Saison (8%)
Abbot 12 (Quad / 10.5%)
Altbier (5%)
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Southern Tier Brewing Co. (NY)
Booth #558
Unearthly IPA (Imperial IPA / 9.8%)
Hop Sun (Summer Wheat Ale / 4.5%)
Mokah (Imperial Stout w/ Coffee & Chocoalte / 11%)
Farmer’s Tan (Imperial Pale Lager / 9%)
Jah-va (Imperial Coffee Stout / 12%)
2XIPA (Double IPA / 8.2%)
Oak Aged Unearthly (Oak-aged Imperial IPA / 9.5%)
Backburner Barley Wine (9.1%)
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Stone Brewing Co. (CA)
Booth #763
Stone IPA Cask (Dry-hopped w/ Centennial / 6.9%)
Stone IPA Cask (Dry-hopped w/ Chinook / 6.9%)
Stone IPA Cask (Dry-hopped w/ Amarillo / 6.9%)
Stone IPA Cask (Dry-hopped w/ Nugget / 6.9%)
Stone IPA Cask (Dry-hopped w/ Columbus / 6.9%)
Stone 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA
Hopback Amber Ale (6%)
Sunshine Pils (German Pilsner / 5.3%)
Troegenator Double Bock (8.2%)
DreamWeaver Wheat Ale (Hefeweizen / 4.8%)
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Tuckerman Brewing Co. (NH)
Booth #561
Tuckerman Pale Ale (American Pale Ale / 5.3%)
Tuckerman Headwall Alt (German Brown Ale / 4.5%)
Tuckerman 6288 Stout (American Stout / 6.2%)
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Uinta Brewing Co. (UT)
Booth #540
Cockeyed Cooper (Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine / 11.1%)
Labyrinth (Oak-Aged Black Ale / 13.2%)
Tilted Smile (Imperial Pilsner / 9%)
Detour (Double IPA / 9.5
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Victory Brewing Co. (PA)
Booth #557
Braumeister Pils (German Pilsner / 5.3%)
Sunrise Weissbier (Bavarian Hefeweizen / 5.6%)
Pursuit Pale Ale (American Pale Ale / 5.1%)
Hop Wallop (Imperial IPA / 8.5%)
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Wachusett Brewing Co. (MA)
Booth #565
Blueberry Ale (Wheat Ale / 4.5%)
Green Monsta Ale (English Pale Ale / 6.4%)
LARRY (Imperial IPA / 7.5%)
Ryde (Rye Ale / 5%)
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Weyerbacher Brewing Co. (PA)
Booth #752
Merry Monks’ Ale (Tripel / 9.3%)
Fifteen (Smoked Imperial Stout / 10.8%)
Double Simcoe IPA (9%)
Verboten (Belgian Pale Ale / 5.9%)
Hops Infusion (IPA / 6.2%)
#
White Birch Brewing (NH)
Booth #718
Aloha Ale (Wit / 7%)
Belgian Style Pale Ale (9%)
Berliner Weisse
Oak Aged Tripel (10%)
Wrigian (Belgian Rye Ale / 9%)
Bohemian Tripel
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Woodstock Brewery & Inn (VT)
Booth #555
Pigs Ear Brown Ale (4.3%)
Pemi Pale Ale (5.7%)
Raspberry Weasel Wheat (4.13%)
Red Rack Ale (Amber Ale / 5.5%)
Cogsman Ale (English Pale Ale / 5.6%)
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Wormtown Brewing Co. (MA)
Booth #716
Seven Hills Pale Ale (American Pale Ale / 4.5%)
Be Hoppy IPA (American IPA / 6.5%)
Worcester’s Bravest (Belgian Wit)
Blonde Cougar Summer Ale (American Blonde / 5%)
Turtle Boy Blue (Blueberry Wheat Ale / 5%)
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Hit this link for a full list of ticket outlets and Session Times. We hope to see you there!
Here’s a video from 2008’s Fest. The event has become bigger every year:
On a recent foray to Mystic, CT to raid the local record store, Mystic Disc and seek good drinking, I imbibed in the locally produced brews from the Cottrell Brewing Company. The Cottrell family first made their name manufacturing quality printing presses for the world in the late 18th and early 20th century. Now the great great Grandson of old CB Cottrell, Charles Cottrell Buffum Jr. has taken the old factory building in Pawcatuck, CT and turned it into a brewery. I wish we could do that with every abandoned factory.
The Yankee Ale is an American Amber Ale and very drinkable with a amber/copper color and a thin sudsy head poured from the tap at the overly chic AZU. The first sip was a taste of malt and grain with a slight sweetness, maybe caramel? Overall very earthy. It actually reminded me more of a dark lager. The finish had a very slight hint of hops with no bitterness and was crisp and refreshing. It was a perfect accompaniment with my Blackened Ahi Tacos and Shrimp Cocktail with extra horseradish in the cocktail sauce. I could drink a few of these and I did. Not alot that punches me in the face, but still a great session beer.
I later had a pint of the Mystic Bridge IPA at the Captain Daniel Packer Inne(I hate it when places put the colonial “e” on the end of the name, like “shoppe”, but this place was great) From the tap it was a clear copper color witha creamy thick head. It had a strong aroma of floral hops and sweet grapefruit but the first taste was much lighter. The hops and citrus was much more subtle and it the malt became more distinguished. It’s a full bodied brew withhigh carbonation and the finish was sweet with hops and honey. Much like the Yankee Ale, very drinkable.
This is just what I needed. A craft brewery walking distance from my house. Unfortunately for me, the beers made by the Wormtown Brewing Company are pretty damn good. Which means I’ll probably be spending more time there than with my family. Some people start their experimentation with beer in college, but Wormtown Head Brewer, Ben Roesch, was able to turn it into a career while the rest of us just continued getting hammered. Roesch started home brewing in a closet in his off-campus house while attending UMASS Amherst. From there he landed brewing jobs at Cambridge Brewing Company, Wachusett Brewing Company, Nashoba Valley Winery, as well as a few others. But as a Worcester native, Ben wanted to bring it back home to the Heart Of The Commonwealth. He was introduced to Thomas Oliveri, the owner of Worcester favorite Peppercorn’s, who recognized brewing greatness when he saw it. Together they transformed an ice cream shop into the first brewery Worcester’s had in over 40 years.
There were additional beers we covered but apparently our crew(the camera guy and me) become technically challenged when filled with fine brews. Below is a run down of the few I remember:
Worcester’s Bravest Ale is a Wheat Ale with a light sweet citrus taste and a crisp finish. It has a nice aroma of coriander and wheat and a hazy golden color. Not only is this a very refreshing, drinkable ale, but every sip is for a good cause. Part of the proceeds from the sale of this brew are donated to The Leary Firefighters Foundation and WPI’s Fire Safety Lab. The first batch was brewed with local firefighters.
The Be Hoppy I.P.A. is a rich brew with a taste of pine and grapefruit rind. The aroma itself will make hop-heads beg for mercy. It pours a beautiful bronze/copper color with a foamy head. It has a 6.5% ABV but there is little alcohol taste, just sweet sweet hops and a hint of caramel. It’s name comes from the famous happy face logo that was created by Worcester’s own Harvey Ball.
The Turtle Boy Blueberry Ale is named after the Burnside Fountain Statue on the Worcester Common. Some have observed that the Boy and Turtle on the fountain appear to be engaged in an illegal act. Try not to think about that while enjoying this refreshing fruit brew. I am always wary of fruit beers because many taste like they have melted Popsicles in them. But the first sip of Turtle Boy tastes like fresh blueberries were mashed in the bottom of the glass. Slightly sweet and very drinkable.
Right now Wormtown beers are available in a few local bars in Worcester County, Cambridge, and Boston. You can also buy growlers at the brewery which is attached to Peppercorn’s on Park Ave. in beautiful Worcester.
“Larry” is a collaboration between The Wachusett Brewery and The Publick House in Brookline. It’s an Imperial IPA that was specially brewed for a Multiple Sclerosis Research Benefit last July. Apparently the “Larry” is a Publick House employee that convinced the Wachusett folks to work with Publick House owner David Ciccolo, and thankfully he did, because this brew is DELICIOUS!
As soon as I opened the bottle the aroma of sweet sweet hops invaded my head. After pouring it I could also whiff Pine, Citrus, and a hint of Berry. It had a butterscotch color with a creamy tan head that left a sudsy lace on the glass. This was one of those beers where I almost snorted some because I could not get enough of the aroma. I was like some Glue-head with my nose in the glass, huffing like a maniac. The first sip was sweet and buttery. The feel was creamy. The citrus and hops came barreling in at the finish. My mouth was left tingling.
I don’t care what people think, I’m just going to say it….I love Larry. Go ahead, tell everybody. I don’t care. I could spend the rest of my life with Larry.
If you find it grab it because it’s a limited edition. It’s also on tap at The Publick House. David Ciccolo has said there will be future collaborations and I’m very excited about that. But I will always…love…Larry.
This is technically a “Snakebite”(which I always thought was Tequila and Tabasco, but that’s actually a “Prairie Fire”) but since it’s ‘Gansett I thought it should be named more appropriately. I originally wanted to call it a “Rhode Island Green Card”, but since the country is experiencing a tumultuous immigration debate at the moment I backed off. Plus, it’s beer, and it’s supposed to be fun.(but then again so is an Irish Carbomb) I can tell you for sure, this is great standing over a grill on a 87 degree day.
My wife came home with a sixer of ‘Gansett Tall-Boys and a six of Magners Irish Cider. While Webering some steak tips and chicken shish kabob she asked me to hold her cider while she wrangled our three legged Beagle from running into the street. I took a sip of the Magners, then the Gansett…..mmmm…I immediately got a glass and mixed them half and half. Refreshing and not overly sweet, with a little tartness to the malt of the lager. The perfect elixer for a fat, hairy, sweat drenched guy standing next to a hot grill.
If you have a better name, post it in the comment section below.
It’s Session beer and Slow food. Hit this link to see for yourself. It’s Boston’s first Session Beer Festival. What the heck is Session Beer? It’s beer that is low in alcohol(5% or lower) but high in deliciousness. Session beer came from the factories and fields of Europe. Back in the day(late 1800’s early 1900’s maybe?) workers would like to tip a few back for lunch. To ensure the workers didn’t come back shitfaced, they would be supplied with Session Beer. It had low alcohol so the workers wouldn’t fall into the razor making machine and they would still be refreshed. There will be over 30 brewers at Slowfest and since the ABV is low I will try to sample them all. Below is a list of some of the Breweries that will be representing.
All the food the vendors will be using is locally produced. Slow Food Boston is one of the sponsors and they promote using seasonal locally produced foods. I’m all for that!
I’ll be there from 7pm-9pm on Friday, 4/23 but continues on Saturday. Make a weekend of it! It’s Session Beer, have a couple.
