a few more additions to the cellar

I've now got a Sweetwater Festival 2010 in the cellar, also the last of the Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Ales.

I also picked up an Oktoberfest mug and a can of Paulaner, I really just wanted the stein.

He'Brew Jewbelation, 12-14 & Vertical

I had the pleasure of drinking up the last 4 of Shmaltz Breweries He'Brew Jewbelation series beers. I had missed the 8-11 by only a week being out in the Caribbean with my family for Thanksgiving.

Each of them is a special Dark, High Gravity brew, the 12 seemed more mellow and heavy, the 13 a bit more harsh with alcohol. The 14 was again mellow and the Vertical although it is a combination of all the brews (8-14 I believe) was even more harsh along with a very heavy alcohol burn. All were really good, and I would NEVER turn down a malty dark beer such as these.

5 Seasons Brewing

Duvel Collector's Glass from The Porter Beer Bar, ATL

Went to Little Five Points in downtown ATL, and had dinner along with a few beers. The Duvel (Red) I got netted me this very cool glass.
The description from the website:

"The complex graphic design that Denis Meyers used to create the Duvel Collection glass was a result of the mix of intuition and precision that characterises his work, where artistic licence meets the rigour of typography."

Coffee Oatmeal Stout

The table is always crooked.

Very coffee and chocolate.

Southern Tier Imperial Lager

At Summits Wayside Tavern, Cumming GA

I just don't make it here often enough. They have pint nights all the time and even had them EVERY day in October. I should try to make it to the last few, Tiger Lager and then Gordon Biersch St. Arnolds
on Friday.

Innis&Gunn Oak Aged Rum Barrel

Went to the Porter Beer Bar in Atlanta, GA. Downtown in Little 5 Points.

This was all about the Rum casks, not as heavy as some Whiskey cask ales I've had a bit malty and oak there too. The atmosphere at the Porter is all about the beer, the bar doesn't have any TVs but does have music (artsy stuff and a bit elevator like). You do get to face a very large collection of beer glasses, all styles. They seem to pride themselves on serving a beer in the correct glassware, often times with the beer's brewer and even the name printed on it.

The food there is excellent as well, I had the Sweet potato ravioli and the Shrimp and cheese grits is to die for.

Winter beer from last year

This was a wonderful sipping beer. Scadlis Noel. It was a huge bottle, 8.7 oz I think, but contained a powerful punch of alcohol. Very malty and sweet along with a nice hazy cloudy brown color.

Smyrna Beerfest 2010

As usual
I met up with my friends from Beer Connoisseur Magazine, Lisa and a buddy here. Ended up buying a hat this time, got to help my friends. Heard they are going to be at the Hoptoberfest next week on Oct 2nd. The Smyrna fest is generally always a small one, the beer selection was OK, lots of the regular stuff and I tried to mainly try new beers over just having all the beer I could. I needed to get back to my neck-in-the-woods for the Gator game about 7pm so I wasn't going to over do it.

I've only had one of the four beers here before the beerfest, The HIPA was OK but the one on the far left was a "berry" beer and the Hex was just too light for my tastes. Budweiser has now commercialized and dumbed down the craft beer market as well.

ie. nice labels but the beer is just sub-standard.

These girls were having the most fun you can have at a beerfest with your clothes on. They danced whatever dance the person who finished a bottle wanted and I'll bet they even made up a few that afternoon.

Florida Beer Company

Florida Beer Company Panorama

Florida Beer Company

Went here during my visit to Melbourne, FL to see my parents over Labor Day, (for the week).

They have a pretty big place and had just finished a High Gravity IPA called Swamp Ape that had released into several local pubs but was not yet in bottles. They implied that stuff should be at stores in about 3 weeks.

The rest of there beer selection was just the regular lagers and pilsners with the occational American wheat.

Week 52, Stone Imperial Russian Stout

Very chocolately and roasted with a nice bitter finish.

German Bierfest 8-28 Atlanta

The beerfest down in Woodruff Park last Saturday was a ball. Lots of interesting people and some not so bad beer. I have to say that I generally don't really like German beer (bier) but the dunkels made it an OK day. Very early on I was taking some photos of one of the bands playing early and ended up wearing some of my beer, I can be a klutz at times.

I met up with Dan and Kathy about 3:30 and then promptly lost them when we went off for another refill of our cups. Tried to find them by going back to where I originally saw them but still couldn't find them. Got a text about 5:30 from them asking if I had "ditched" them. Certainly not.

It rained about that time as well, just started as a drizzle and got under some trees with everyone, then all of a sudden the bottom fell out and we all ran for the "tents". Hung out for about 10-15 minutes and it cleared right up. Many people didn't really get wet at all.

one slipped through my fingers

I didn't get to the Highland Beerfest this year, it may have even been the first year or it is what was once the Creative Loafing Beerfest. I'm thinking about the German Beerfest this weekend and then next month there is the Grayson Blues and Beerfest so...

Week 51, Avery duganA IPA

Almost to the end of the 52 Weeks of Beer this year. I will be trying it again next year but I need to be a bit more creative as far as photography goes.

Week 50, Fort Collins Brewery - Double Chocolate Stout

Very chocolatey, this one was a pleasure to drink and by the time I got to the bottom of the bottle I could feel the double part of the name.

Heritage Sandy Springs Beerfest

Didn't get to stay long since Becky and the brother, Brian didn't feel up to an extended stay. It was quite warm and was beginning to sprinkle when we left so I didn't feel all that bad having to leave. It was a slower festival and therefore you could get beers rather quickly. It was s First Annual event so I expect it to be a bit larger next year. Too many lighter beers for my taste, some IPAs but almost all were either lagers, hefe and the like. The Florida Beer Company's Mac in Black was a tastey one and there were several browns and the offerings from Jailhouse Brewery were all there, great IPA and a good Stout as well.

We stopped in before the fest at the Ship and Anchor down the road and I had a great meatloaf with mash potatoes and fried onion, wow.

Week 49, Sierra Nevada - Celebration Ale 2009

It still was quite Hoppy, but not much different than other Sierra Nevada brews.

Forgot to post this when I took it.

Week 48, Nogne O, Special Holiday Ale

Collaboration between Stone and Jolly Pumpkin Breweries. An interesting spiced Dark Ale. Licorice is one of the heavier aromas and tastes from this brew.

All around a very nice enjoyable beer and at 8+ ABV gives you quite a buzz.

$750 Beer in a Stuffed Animal

Very odd indeed BrewDog. Actually, done by a taxidermist, not a seamstress.

Additions to the "Cellar"

Six more new beers in the "cellar" in the last 24 hours.

The 30th Anniversary - Fritz And Ken's Ale and the Charlie, Fred And Ken's Bock both from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Also, I picked up a Southen Tier Mokah and the Heavy Seas Mutiny Fleet all from the Beverage Superstore in Suwanee.

Then the next day during lunchtime at work I stopped in at Total Wine and picked up a Terrapin Double Feature - second in the Georgia Theater series and a Laughing Dog CSB, CSB-Crotch Sniffing Bastard, basically just because of the label. Shown on the right.

Week 47, Sweetwater Dank Tank BSP Quad

Red Hook Brewery

A photo from my trip/tour of the Red Hook Brewery in Seattle Washington.

They had lots of these conditioning tanks in a nice cool room, or should I say warehouse.

Week 46, Blue Moon Grand Cru, Coors?

Tasted a bit like a belgian, I just can't seem to forget this is now owned by Coors Brewing.

Also can't seem to get away from the black background.

Week 45, Atlanta Brewing Red Brick 15th Anniversary

Aged in Bourbon barrels, very bourbon tasting but good. I've got another bottle that I'll be cellaring for a bit more. This one was about at 6 months, not all that mellow yet.

Week 44, Unibroue Quatre-Centeime 2008

Ales on Lees, fruity and slightly tart.

Week 43, Dominion Oak Barrel Oatmeal Stout

Dark, with coffee and smoke

Week 42, Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot Barley Wine

At 11.1% alcohol even one 12oz beer can make you a Blithering Idiot.

:)

I love girls who love good beer, and who don't wear shirts!

From Flickr, Bonnaroo 2010 in TN.

The only reason this is here is it looks like these gals like good beer. Doesn't look like Bud Light in those glasses!

The Beer Cellar

Cellar is now below 70 beers, I'd like to keep it in the neighborhood of about 30-40 actual cellar-able beers and about 10-15 beers I haven't had before or duplicates of cellared beers I'd like to try before allowing them to age much. So, no more than say 50-60 beers at any time.

Now that I look at that number I'd like to decrease it some, maybe only 40-50 beers at a time and not much over 30 beers in the cellar.

I should also be drinking at least one or maybe two beers out of the cellar every month just to keep things moving. Problem is that I don't sit at home enough days of the week to get in the mood to pop open one and do the whole photo and writeup, I just need to get in the groove, Sundays for 52 Weeks and then possibly every-other Sunday add in a beer out of the cellar, or maybe on Tuesday I'm usually home on Tuesdays.

Week 41, Dominion Baltic Porter

A winter brew that I've finally gotten to. It was mostly smoking and slightly heavy on the tongue. The 6.5 alc wasn't so bad, not winey, rather smooth.

Hard for me to distinguish this Porter from any other Stout, I do have a stout by Dominion so I may have that next.

I'm still behind on my 52 Weeks of beer

I've got one in the queue -40- (photo taken just need to upload and post) but it's still at home.

Here is another photo from the Beer Connoisseur Festival.

It's actually week 42 and need to catch up soon.

Week 39, Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale 2009

I used to love Sierra Nevada's products.

Malty but not sweet, good but I'm afraid I like stuff with a bit more character now.

They all seem too much alike.

All the beers in the back is a tribute to the fact that I'm trying to catch up. I've got over 30 new beers to drink and about 70 in the whole inventory including beers I'm cellaring. I really need to get some of these taken care of before they just get too old (mainly the lower gravity beers and IPAs)

Beer Connoisseur Magazine & Taco Mac Beerfest

The first annual, I hope, beerfest. Went with the brother and I am really thankful he was there to make sure I got home. Otherwise I may still be there. A wonderful selection of beers from the likes of Duck Rabbit, French Broad, and Heavy Seas to mention a few with higher than normal gravities. Then there was the great selection of local brews from Sweetwater, Red Brick, Terrapin, and O'Dempsey's (brewed through Red Brick). The Jailhouse folks were not there, boo.

Week 38, St Peter's Old Style Porter

Poured a dark brown clear light tan head, slight coffee aromas with some chocolate. Taste was mostly coffee with some smokeyness. Light on the palete but smokey at the finish.

Week 37, Josephs Brau Dunkelweizen

Josephs Brau Dunkelweizen Appearance is a hazy brownish amber with a light tan head. Slight vinegar-wheat yeast & citrus aroma. Slight vinegar with a molassas taste. Light on tongue smooth.

more plans, Pints at the Prado, June 12

The Beer Connoisseur Mag and Taco Mac are having a tasting festival on June 12, you know I'm there. I wonder if my little "friend" Becky wants to go.

See festivals at the upper right to get your tickets.

Week 36, Val-Dieu Triple

I'm so far behind on my blogs here, I've got about 3 breweries that I went to in Seattle and also a beerfest in East Atlanta to write about. I'm also on Week 36 of my 52 Weeks of Beer on Flicker as you can see and it's currently Week 40! Only 12 left (after I catch up on the next 4 beers. I may try to get them done on Memorial Day, not much else to do but go to the pool and then cookout on the grill about 4pm.

EABF, East Atlanta Beerfest

Took the MARTA to limit the chances of getting ourselves in trouble.

Got up just before 10:00am and left the house about 10:30 to get to the MARTA early enough to catch the bus from the Inman Park station to Brownwood Park. Ended up walking instead, maybe not the best idea, Brian was feeling the pain about the time we got there. Waited in line for about another 15 minutes until they finally let us in at 1pm. We went straight to the food and had lunch. They had lamb-bugers, quite good actually.

Didn't meet anyone I knew except for Glenn, the brewmaster at Jailhouse Brewing Company. Drank a few beers I wish I hadn't, a Gingerbread beer and a Banana beer. Other than that just the ordinary fair, A brewery I hadn't seen before, Bison had a couple of OK beers, an IPA that was good. Thomas Creek was there but I didn't see anyone from the brewery that I knew, no Katie.

American Craft Beer Week, is this week. I only found out on Wednesday and the only thing I have going is the East Atlanta Beerfest, EABF, on Saturday. There were a few things setup for the week that I just missed. They didn't really get the word out. Noticed that there were also events in Seattle.

just arrived back from Seattle, WA 3 breweries and a brewpub

I will be writing up a review of each, didn't get to do the "in depth" research I would have liked to. ie. drinking more, but I did a fair amount.

Missed about 3 other breweries that I hope to get to in the future, Pike Brewery, Hood Canal Brewery, and another one on an Island I can't remember at the moment. I've since added about 10 more to the list but who knows if I'll ever make it back to Seattle?

There's a new brewery in town...

Jailhouse Brewing Company

They have been here since about November 2009, Currently serving a Wheat, an IPA and a Stout. All brewed in the American way.

My Brother and I drove all the way down to Hampton, GA. Well I drove and he rode but whatever. We arrived at about 2pm on Saturday and were greeted but the co-owners, a husband-wife pair, Glenn and Melissa Golden. Glenn started the tour in the namesake room of the brewery, the Jailhouse, complete with original bars on the windows. Talked about all the different malts and grains used in his beers. This guy really knows his stuff and is willing to share all he knows.

We then moved to the brewing area and Glenn talked all about the process of temperature control, creating the wart and hopping. I think they have two 15 barrel kettles (mash and boiling) and three 15 barrel fermenters along with two larger conditioning tanks.

Slammer Wheat - American Wheat, unfiltered and very lager like. 5%

Mugshot IPA - an American IPA with Simcoe, Cascade and ??? Hops 6%

Breakout Stout - a Stout made in the American style. 7%?

I thought the Stout was absolutely wonderful and my brother who normally only likes Guinness like it a bunch as well. The IPA was not as hoppy as say a Sweetwater IPA but included enough pine flavor to make it very lip smackable. The Wheat was crisp and dry but just not my cup of tea. Something along the line of a Hoegarden would be more to my liking.

Quick overview of the shakedown is here --> The Shakedown
The places serving JailHouse Brews are here
The whole story from the beginning Starts Here

Week 35, Dogfish Head - Red & White

A: dark honey, reddish, off white head two fingers
S: honey malt rasin
T: malt honey
M: alcohol

Week 34, The Duck Rabbit Porter

A:brown headblack head died quickly three fingers
S: Coffee, roasted malt
T: chocolate smoked sour
M: slightly heavey sour bitterness at end

Week 33, Widmer Brothers Brewing, Cherry Oak Doppelbock

Hint of cherry and oak, not at all like the Cherry Stout by Bells which was way to over the top with the Sour Cherry.

Stone Arrogant Bastard, literally

From a special cask that I missed, :(

on Friday the 23rd.

Week 32, Chatoe Rogue First Growth Dirtoir Black Lager

Week 32, Chatoe Rogue First Growth Dirtoir Black Lager

A: black, very black. Brown head over half the glass
S: licorice and smokeyness dark malt sweet
T: coffee and coffee bitterness burnt coffee finish is clean very little aftertaste
M: slightly heavy but finishes cleaner and lighter

Sweetwater Brewing 420 Fest

Lots of beer and music, Earth Day festival thrown by the Sweetwater Brewery in Atlanta, GA

Week 31, Wychwood Scarecrow Golden Pale Ale

Trader Joe's 2009 Vintage Ale

by Unibroue

A: dark brown with light brown head died quickly S: Belgian grains T: tinny malty M: high carbonation