tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36493617818100279772024-03-14T07:00:21.526-04:00TriState Beer Blog - The Best of Craft Beer online from Rockland, Westchester and Bergen CountyWe are a group of craft beer lovers from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut who write reviews of craft beer online, do beer rating, blog about beer, share brewery reviews, and discuss microbrews. We enjoy visiting brew pubs, beer halls and gardens, beer festivals, and beverage stores in the Rockland, Westchester, Fairfield and Bergen County area and sharing our experiences with others.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335812835283530985noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-45327349540484883632013-04-07T15:45:00.000-04:002013-04-07T15:45:47.650-04:00Starting a craft beer business<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hey there!! Sorry about the lack of posts. My intention was to start writing about the trials and tribulations of starting <a href="http://growlerandgill.com/" target="_blank">Growler & Gill Craft Beer Shoppe</a> back in October when we first opened. Unfortunately, since we've opened, the reception from the community has been so over-whelmingly positive that we haven't had time to catch our breath much less write about it. All I can say at this point is that I hope I don't get too many opportunities to write. That would mean that things are still going well. Some of the quick stats I can report are:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">* We started with about 500 different bottled beers and now we have over 650</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* We have gone through countless kegs on our 16 rotating taps</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* We have added menu of beer-centric food</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* We have had over 25 breweries in for free beer tastings</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* We are planning an outdoor beer garden behind our store</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* We have embarked on our first beer festival called the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1361918269"></span>Lower Hudson Valley Beer Festival<span id="goog_1361918270"></span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Like I said, I don't know how much time I'll have, but I will try to give regular updates</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Cheers!!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Mike</span><br />
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<br />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335812835283530985noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-18801624290773797802012-12-02T21:42:00.001-05:002012-12-02T21:42:35.030-05:00Holiday Cheer<b id="ecxinternal-source-marker_0.9400940237101167" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><br style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;" /></b>
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Thanksgiving in Connecticut and in addition to the traditional Chardonnay and
Cabernet, this year I presented a variety of craft beers to accompany the meal.
While this new twist on the holiday beverage selection was met with some
initial opposition, it soon became apparent that craft beer could hold its own
against wine for any meal.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The first
beer I presented was a Belgian Triple from St. Feuillien It paired very well
with a creamy goat’s milk triple cream brie by Portneuf, and a more aggressive
gorgonzola. The crisp, bright notes of the St. Feuillien balanced out the
richness of the cheese, but were never overpowering. It is this balance that
also let the triple work well with the sweet, briny shrimp we served as a
second appetizer. Again, some clung to their trusty Chardonnay, but those who
tased the St. Feuillien, agreed it was a welcome addition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For the main
course, I wanted to offer two distinctly different beers based on what the
guests wanted. For those who wanted to stick with white wine, I offered a
clean, crisp Radeberger Pilsner, and for those who preferred a stronger red, I
offered a Maredsous Abbey Brown Ale. These two beers masterfully handle the
complexity of flavors at a Thanksgiving table (turkey, mashed potatoes,
stuffing, cranberry sauce, etc). The Radeberger was a nice counter-balance to
the rich, buttery flavors, while the Maredsous was a fine compliment to creamy
potatoes, earthy stuffing, and herbed, roast turkey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For the
desert, a classic pumpkin pie, the craft beer was a clear cut homerun. I
presented two seasonal winter ales: Southern Tier 2XMAS, and Ithaca Cold Front.
The cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves notes were nothing short of brilliant when
paired with the very same ingredients in the pie. Yes, I know, a tasty pumpkin
ale could have served the purpose, but I had an alterior motive: to bring these
very ales to the Christmas dinner table. All in all, it was a grand meal, and
helped support the case that craft beer is a good meal’s best friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Happy
holidays to all,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mark<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</b>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335812835283530985noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-83437492759999643482012-11-16T21:58:00.000-05:002012-12-09T07:43:06.456-05:00Keegan's Brewery - Kingston, NY<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Built in an unassuming brick factory on the outskirts of </span><span style="font-size: large;">Kingston , NY </span><span style="font-size: large;">is Keegan's Brewery. The low key facade hides a large space that looks as if it could house well over 100 people. There is a huge projector TV that shows NFL games on Sundays. The menu is short but very well prepared.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Their beer list is diverse but their flagship is aptly named Mother's Milk Stout. It's rich and creamy like a chocolate shake. For those who need even more flavor, try their Jo Mama's Milk Imperial Stout. It adds a dose of coffee to all that sweetness and jacks the ABV up to 8%. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you are lucky, like we were, you'll catch Tommy Keegan at the bar. We sat and talked beer for a while. He spoke of living upstairs above the brewery for the first couple of years before his beer really caught on. Tommy is about as down-to-Earth as they come. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Makes me happy when I tap one of his kegs at <a href="http://growlerandgill.com/" target="_blank">Growler & Gill</a> to support a local business man who is also a great guy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335812835283530985noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-23221576026462303232012-09-30T11:09:00.000-04:002012-09-30T11:09:01.272-04:00Terrapin Pumpkinfest Review: The Perfect Marriage of Pumpkin Beer and Oktoberfest <br />
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Terrapin Pumpkinfest Review: The Perfect Marriage of Pumpkin Beer and Oktoberfest</div>
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Autumn is the greatest for seasonal beer releases, simply because that's when Pumpkin craft beers and traditional Oktoberfest beers are released. Why did it take this long for somebody to come along and decide to brew both together? We don't really know but we're glad that Terrapin finally came to the mind blowing decision to do so.</div>
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This wasn't exactly the easiest task either, traditionally an oktoberfest is a lager and a pumpkin beer is an ale. This meant that Terrapin had to find a way to mix the two beer styles and marry their flavors effectively at the same time. The end result was pumpkinfest, a pumpkin lager.</div>
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They did an impressive job albeit difficult circumstances. The beer stands up very much so overall as a pumpkin beer rather than an oktoberfest.</div>
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The smell has a very strong smell of pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices but also opens up with a very rich malty scent.</div>
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The taste itself initially is more akin to a traditional oktoberfest beer but on the back end opens up to a pumpkin flavor with plenty of pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon, vanilla, cloves, nutmeg). But what keeps it balanced in between the pumpkin and oktoberfest is definitely the marriage of the pumpkin flavors with a bready and caramel malt flavor all throughout.</div>
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Overall it is an impressive brew, it might not be my first choice for the fall season but it does accomplish two beer styles in one. I'm rather excited to see if other breweries take on this task, I'd be interested to see what others could come up with.</div>
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Check last weeks first pumpkin review of the season (Dogfish Head Punkin Ale).</div>
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Terrapin Pumpkinfest 7.5/10</div>
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Mike Nacleriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07152982105536492340noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-43747911465902930532012-09-24T23:58:00.001-04:002012-09-24T23:58:51.982-04:00Beer Barrel Bourbon Whiskey: Not What You Think It IsNo, we didn't just title this post backwards. This one really is about Beer Barrel Bourbon Craft Whiskey not Bourbon Barrel Aged Craft Beer.<br />
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The one and only New Holland Brewing Co and Artisan Spirits of Michigan has elected to start reversing this great barrel aging process. It's well known in the craft industry that old bourbon barrels make for great beer, but nobody yet has tried this reverse process (nobody we know of at least).<br />
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New Holland will be using barrels from their famed Dragon's Milk Stout which itself is aged in Bourbon Barrels.<br />
<br />
Here's some information from New Holland itself,<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">"<span style="color: #1c0200; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Beer Barrel Bourbon is first aged in new American oak barrels for several years, before a three month beer-y slumber. The beer-barrel aging lends biscuity notes and a smooth malt character to the robust whiskey tones of toffee and caramel."</span></span><br />
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I don't know about you guys, but this is something I'm rather excited for. I love beer, I love whiskey and I really love Bourbon Barrel Aged Beer. It seems only logical that most of us out there seeking artisan crafted drinks will naturally enjoy Beer Barrel Bourbon.<br />
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Keep an eye out this goodness should be released on the first of October.<br />
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http://newhollandbrew.com/spirits/whiskey/beer-barrel-bourbon/<br />
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<br />Mike Nacleriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07152982105536492340noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-88895278700903637412012-09-20T11:24:00.000-04:002012-09-20T11:24:04.400-04:00Beer and Nuclear Weapons; A Match Made In Heaven?According to "Operation Teapot" a government funded study on the effect of nuclear explosions on commercially packaged beverages beer will be drinkable post apocalypse.<br />
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Now I'm not going to sit here and pretend I know anything about nuclear weapons or an impending apocalypse but I sure as hell know beer. Check out this great blog for the details of the test in a more scientific manner, http://nuclearsecrecy.com/blog/2012/09/05/beer-and-the-apocalypse/.<br />
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What we're taking away here at the Tri State Beer Blog though is plain and simple. Our obsession with drinking and keeping plenty of beer in our "cellars' is now entirely justifiable. If the world does indeed meet it's end on the 21st of December this year through some means of nuclear war and you happen to find yourself in a bunker made of stolen trailers and food trucks (http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-09-12/news/33794904_1_doomsday-bunker-trailer-kissimmee-police) beer must be your drink of choice.<br />
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Take this as a sign from the beer gods and go out and buy more beer than you already do, on a weekly or dare I say daily basis.Mike Nacleriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07152982105536492340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-57082705133641706012012-09-18T14:12:00.000-04:002012-09-18T14:12:28.955-04:00Pumpkin Season Is Upon Us: Dogfish Head Punkin Beer Review<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPrqrlFw1B9WT8w7CeNiQfu5o5Vl9GJGHiw1ERKMe6qSvVlM6gEUPrFzDYTy92_EVxs6fKzf6QleEIi985-Hvk9Nzfjj8hX9kYmGgwCxroSzYW0aHyrNl9QwfbV0F2nbPmNv9-yztzoM/s1600/lens7899321_1257623312pumpkin-beer-pumpkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPrqrlFw1B9WT8w7CeNiQfu5o5Vl9GJGHiw1ERKMe6qSvVlM6gEUPrFzDYTy92_EVxs6fKzf6QleEIi985-Hvk9Nzfjj8hX9kYmGgwCxroSzYW0aHyrNl9QwfbV0F2nbPmNv9-yztzoM/s1600/lens7899321_1257623312pumpkin-beer-pumpkin.jpg" /></a></div>
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Craft Beer Pumpkin season is upon us. Yes it might be a little early, but who am I to tell these
breweries to put Pumpkin production on hold until the fall weather has taken
over. It’s a real catch-22,
because as much as I’d love to hold off on grabbing and drinking these pumpkins
until Mother Nature has given me the okay, they’re fresh RIGHT now. What’s better than fresh beer? Well
nothing obviously.</div>
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With that said, I’m going to review our first pumpkin beer
of the season or should I say our first Punkin. It may not be the highest rated Pumpkin brew on Beer
Advocate but it certainly is the most reviewed, crushing the competition.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyVgu-iDmEbIoRnkpCIrwnhX3hIOe_maaGkCoSZNCKo9smuwIq_2-Dw1OK2bfsm9IWhJ1encV72Y9kSM_Q4J_0zja88fXDzrviDfVe1fPppKRqngt88ClmMUY6eNqV0kKKyz-m2rXLb0/s1600/IMG_3435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyVgu-iDmEbIoRnkpCIrwnhX3hIOe_maaGkCoSZNCKo9smuwIq_2-Dw1OK2bfsm9IWhJ1encV72Y9kSM_Q4J_0zja88fXDzrviDfVe1fPppKRqngt88ClmMUY6eNqV0kKKyz-m2rXLb0/s1600/IMG_3435.JPG" title="Dogfish Head Punkin Ale" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dogfish Head Punkin Ale with a Sandwich</td></tr>
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Pumpkin brews can really be divided into two sectors, full
bodied and light bodied. Punkin is
certainly part of the former group.
It is a full-bodied brown ale with just subtle hints of the pumpkin
characteristics. Unlike some of
the sweet, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar bombs that other breweries produce.</div>
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The beer pores a beautiful light amber color with a veracious
white head that really sticks around in the glass for some time. The smell is not a smack in the face of
pumpkin but more subtle pumpkin with hints of various spices. As for the flavor it is a brown ale
through and through, far more nutty flavor in this one than most pumpkin
ales. The taste begins with the
nutty brown mixed with the pumpkin flavor and some cinnamon, and it finishes
off with a slight spice that doesn’t overwhelm the palette as other pumpkins
do.</div>
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There’s a reason that Dogfish Head is quickly becoming one
of the nations largest microbreweries, they make damn good beer in ever
sector. Per the usual they do so
with a twist, this is set apart from the others because it’s not your typical
spice bomb but a full bodied well-rounded brown ale with pumpkin flavors mixed
in well throughout.<br />
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Check out last years Great Pumpkin Tasting done by the Tri State Beer Blog right here, http://tristatebeerblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/great-pumpkin-tasting-results-and.html<br />
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Rating:<br />
Dogfish Head Punkin Ale 8.5/10</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Mike Nacleriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07152982105536492340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-73858357603985169302012-09-08T06:30:00.000-04:002012-09-08T06:30:07.964-04:00City Swiggers - Reviewing an NYC Craft Beer Bar/Bottle Shop<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylrzL1iUQcBqk9owrvfaEV2BEE431XMTZQraG-2XED9IKunAoPin-xMar8eisfkLykvb6KliiZy-vl6o2WkgeV15MMA2xoTvjUKCByJvH73wRaJjeT1MTL9DpXl_Acv1sceSmj-6S1vk/s1600/IMG_3400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylrzL1iUQcBqk9owrvfaEV2BEE431XMTZQraG-2XED9IKunAoPin-xMar8eisfkLykvb6KliiZy-vl6o2WkgeV15MMA2xoTvjUKCByJvH73wRaJjeT1MTL9DpXl_Acv1sceSmj-6S1vk/s320/IMG_3400.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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City Swiggers is a brand new beer bar that opened it's doors on the Upper East Side of NYC in late 2011. It has been making waves in the <a href="http://tristatebeerblog.blogspot.com/search/label/new%20york%20city" target="_blank">NYC Craft Beer scene</a> ever since. Over the past few years bottle shops and beer bars have sprung up all over Manhattan but City Swiggers is the first of it's kind on the Upper East.<br />
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The Upper East has always had the "ritzy" feel to it and thus most people assumed it was a wine neighborhood. Due to the explosion of high quality craft beer in the past several years, beer now transcends class levels.<br />
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The Upper East Side establishment is multi purposed. If you're just looking to pick a few up you can do that. If you're trying to sit down and have a beer off tap they do that too. Lastly, if you find the bottle you're looking for and simply can't make it home without cracking it open, they do that too.<br />
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Now if you're a true Craft Beer Geek you know where all the great spots to pick up your latest Haul in NYC are. More specifically you sure as heck know which places are going to gouge their prices, and so you don't go there anymore.<br />
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City Swiggers has some of the best prices I've ever seen in the city that never sleeps. I might even dare to say that their prices were as good or lower than prices I've seen outside of the expensive bubble that is Manhattan. <br />
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As for the location itself the beer shop/bar has a nice location on East 86th and the setting itself is a great scene. Beautiful Hard wood floors and pristine white walls littered with paintings, this place is definitely not the beer distributor down the block from your house.<br />
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The space is long and narrow with wood shelves in the front full of domestic craft and as you move into the back it changes to steel shelves full of international brews. I guess they ran out of funding and couldn't afford wood for the whole place?<br />
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As for the real meat and potatoes of this joint (the beer). The selection was rather solid, nothing spectacular but they definitely had selections you can't simply find in your local grocery store. Some more difficult to come by Sours or Barrel Aged brews would have been to my liking and I'm sure many others.<br />
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At least they allow mixed sixers, which is one of my overall pet peeves about bottle shops, making my own sixers is simply a must. And they also allow you to crack the bottle open right there for a respectable 4 dollar corkage fee, who doesn't want to knock one back while they figure out what they're taking home?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURRxV4r4igq42Fc4iv1VpTt0OZVAsabVaPka61wF5Ea82cZZiQzVXsAzCfpE4yR3Mv3cij_Q_SPDcVgVLVz2_2fCN7vO1spamziKbx5SHyC6KWs-ci-vCsQSo_CPfTPlIsZZvJ-g_Uug/s1600/IMG_3402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURRxV4r4igq42Fc4iv1VpTt0OZVAsabVaPka61wF5Ea82cZZiQzVXsAzCfpE4yR3Mv3cij_Q_SPDcVgVLVz2_2fCN7vO1spamziKbx5SHyC6KWs-ci-vCsQSo_CPfTPlIsZZvJ-g_Uug/s320/IMG_3402.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The only other downside was the customer service. I spent about 20 minutes in the store along side three other customers. There might have been a total of four words spoken. This falls squarely on the shoulders of the man behind the counter (the owner maybe? if only he spoke to me I might know). I made a concerted effort to strike up conversation with the owner and even one of the other customers, no dice.<br />
<br />
A knowledgable fellow behind the counter can make all the difference, especially if he's friendly and strikes up conversation with his customers. I will always prefer a boisterous beer shopping experience full of conversation with my fellow customers and the "craft expert" behind the counter.<br />
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All in all it was a good experience, and next time I'm on the Upper East Side I'll be swinging by City Swiggers again, although I won't be heading up there just for the sole purpose of visiting.<br />
<br />
For a similar experience well north of the City in Putnam County, check out one of our review of <a href="http://tristatebeerblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/hop-in-beacon-ny.html." target="_blank">The Hop</a> in Beacon, NY.<br />
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<br />Mike Nacleriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07152982105536492340noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-52090881664523642612012-09-06T15:47:00.000-04:002012-09-06T15:47:03.786-04:00Stone Collaboration With Stillwater and Evil Twin Brewing Details - The Perfect CrimeStone, the SoCal Craft Beer giant, has been leaking details of their newest collaboration beer in conjunction with Stillwater of Maryland and Evil Twin Brewing of Minnesota via their twitter feed in the past several hours.<br />
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"The Perfect Crime" as it will be called is set to be brewed by Brian of Stillwater, Mitch of Stone and Jeppe from Evil Twin Brewing. To produce the Smoked Black Saison with Oak Smoaked Wheat they will employ the following hops and malts. They will be using Cluster, East Kent Goldings and Chinook Hops, as well as Wheat Malt, Oats and Carafa for the malt.<br />
<br />
All of this information has been pulled together through Stone's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feed.<br />
The photo below of Jeppe of Evil Twin was found on their Instagram.<br />
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<br />Mike Nacleriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07152982105536492340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-1225814812250949732012-07-20T08:37:00.000-04:002012-07-31T12:58:12.912-04:00Growler & Gill Craft Beer Shoppe reaches it's goal!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlcLYAaCvX7Hra8oPdVDNBue9ODbt5IxQ9uwM4zIygs4zuiHnB9d7fhKycMG1Lbmvt-7OZYENro5gDyEyARw-jt8wQbM15gyIJu8n7FFoA2lp8EDU7pG7u3K2esneRRjBhr8JN7HVtG-j/s1600/Print+screen+sucessful.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlcLYAaCvX7Hra8oPdVDNBue9ODbt5IxQ9uwM4zIygs4zuiHnB9d7fhKycMG1Lbmvt-7OZYENro5gDyEyARw-jt8wQbM15gyIJu8n7FFoA2lp8EDU7pG7u3K2esneRRjBhr8JN7HVtG-j/s320/Print+screen+sucessful.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Wow!! We were blown away by the support<a href="http://growlerandgill.com/" target="_blank"> Growler & Gill Craft Beer Shoppe</a> received on our Kickstarter campaign. 95 people from our community and across the country each donated between $10 and $1000 to see us succeed. Now we can't fail. We have begun the process of picking local contractors from Rockland County to begin the hard job of turning our space in Nanuet into a cool, comfortable place to enjoy craft beer. We will be posting pictures both here and on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/growlern.gill#!/GrowlerAndGill" target="_blank">Growler & Gill's Facebook</a> page as work progresses. So stay tuned!!Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335812835283530985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-8284983585608059652012-06-17T06:03:00.000-04:002012-06-17T10:27:06.679-04:00Help Kickstart our Craft Beer Shoppe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29YrK0uGCU_32-neATaSU-4Rq_lf95Kbz3gjqY8A_GGKcztfdG3rG7XGGbxhYnv_kjNPYoO3FLRJoLf5Mz9uXtca2J-zAo82OInUdTubUUa7IPAjSPHK1OkCm-yI3R1YKsFusyNw_XL1L/s1600/Logo+with+no+background.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29YrK0uGCU_32-neATaSU-4Rq_lf95Kbz3gjqY8A_GGKcztfdG3rG7XGGbxhYnv_kjNPYoO3FLRJoLf5Mz9uXtca2J-zAo82OInUdTubUUa7IPAjSPHK1OkCm-yI3R1YKsFusyNw_XL1L/s320/Logo+with+no+background.png" width="288" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Doreen and I have embarked on a craft beer journey more exciting than any of our previous adventures. We've decided to open <a href="http://growlerandgill.com/" target="_blank">Growler & Gill Craft Beer Shoppe</a></span><span style="font-size: large;">. We have secured a space and are now in the process of making it into a cool comfortable spot to experience the world of craft beer. To that end, we have turner to Kickstarter to help us out. Check out our </span><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1664982611/growler-and-gill-bringing-craft-beer-to-the-hudson?ref=home_location" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"> Kickstarter Video</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> and become part of our Beer Odyssey! You can also follow our progress on </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Growler-Gill-Craft-Beer-Shoppe-and-Tasting-Room/292050720872155" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> or </span><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/GrowlerNGill" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> . If you are a Craft Beer lover or have friends who are, please Share this page with others by using the Facebook and Twitter buttons below. Cheers!!</span>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335812835283530985noreply@blogger.com0148 East Rt. 59, Nanuet, NY 10954, USA41.094715412025977 -74.005022048950241.082748912025977 -74.024763048950192 41.106681912025977 -73.9852810489502tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-3984573795673699572012-05-27T06:35:00.000-04:002012-05-27T06:36:52.185-04:00Bud Light Platinum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fdVOBjFBF3J0h-vivjpumklnybjVypdOkwdZQyEH0jTWHJcXIOllCfvsF9-ML-m7uPtBtne5OfWU6jLUkS_4YNI3lSwJta1dYcwm8_qKgP299znvWRbOAJZcI_aKUCmScX43n2h0r2iy/s1600/I+never+drink+Bud+Light+Platinum.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fdVOBjFBF3J0h-vivjpumklnybjVypdOkwdZQyEH0jTWHJcXIOllCfvsF9-ML-m7uPtBtne5OfWU6jLUkS_4YNI3lSwJta1dYcwm8_qKgP299znvWRbOAJZcI_aKUCmScX43n2h0r2iy/s320/I+never+drink+Bud+Light+Platinum.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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By Tom</div>
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I stopped by my local beverage center today and saw that they were doing a tasting...of Bud Light Lime and Bud Light Platinum. I thought to myself, “seriously?”. I did want to at least taste the new Platinum and I saw this as a good opportunity to try it for free. No need to try BL Lime - I actually like that one under the right circumstances. The BL Platinum is sweeter version of Bud Light with a 6% ABV and it comes in a cool blue bottle. AB Inbev, who owns Budweiser, is trying to win back some people who have left the fold for better craft beer. If I was at a party and that’s all there was, I’d probably have a few too many, but I wouldn’t choose it over anything decent. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHgGRS9ZLV_y4ElAcmcSg31FKqjv_4m80RYII4v2BXJ98p8yzL8fJMSYqk1nwSpSJQvTt-HOfW1V2IvcnoQILJaHDYct6dN0djdLX8MlT_eW5n82qJsHPindSfnc-NesBBYK4zJ4d-Amd/s1600/Bud+Lime+cap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHgGRS9ZLV_y4ElAcmcSg31FKqjv_4m80RYII4v2BXJ98p8yzL8fJMSYqk1nwSpSJQvTt-HOfW1V2IvcnoQILJaHDYct6dN0djdLX8MlT_eW5n82qJsHPindSfnc-NesBBYK4zJ4d-Amd/s1600/Bud+Lime+cap.jpg" /></a></div>
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The girl doing the samples was young and very pretty...I think she liked me because I got a cool hat.</div>
<div>
OK, anyone who asked could get one too. I also tried 3 of the “Shock Top” beers: Raspberry Wheat Ale, which was actually OK, not too sweet, very light; Lemon Shandy which is horrible, I don’t like lemon in beer, all other citrus - yes, lemon – no. Finally there was Shock Top Wheat IPA. It doesn’t taste like an IPA, it only has the very mildest hop flavor but I think it’d be an acceptable hot day beer. This one in particular might be a good starter beer for someone looking to broaden their horizons from the macro brews. A baby step. That’s the best I can say for these “macro-craft” beers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4qz6_AE6ImqGQ3HlFJbu1eFIbTP9xpeZvo6Dhn4zpthriDWOinx1ptXh5MVe44s0FzBz-UlkDFxxT7ScRoLQihka919m0xb5zYKwjilWdhgRUGqnBFP4n3OZ4jdhP16CQ-PaAdzbUpwJ/s1600/Shock+Top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4qz6_AE6ImqGQ3HlFJbu1eFIbTP9xpeZvo6Dhn4zpthriDWOinx1ptXh5MVe44s0FzBz-UlkDFxxT7ScRoLQihka919m0xb5zYKwjilWdhgRUGqnBFP4n3OZ4jdhP16CQ-PaAdzbUpwJ/s1600/Shock+Top.jpg" /></a></div>
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I don’t think I’d ever actually buy any of these unless the choices were extremely limited. I felt a twinge of guilt as I, donning my new Bud Light Lime cap, paid for my bombers of Hop Stoopid and Hop Manna IPA. Hop Manna is a really nice, refreshing IPA which is significantly lower on the bitterness scale than Hop Stoopid, somewhat reminiscent of Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra. Though Hop Manna is made here in NY by Shmaltz Brewing, the cascade, citra and centennial hops give it that wonderful west coast aroma and taste. Mission accomplished!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34Ams89jVoxXV7ZqM7lYrEfShyphenhyphenrXNx1gtgAW7JyOcNNcLToeFbufMQIt1A_QEgQ8TjX3y-34PCuL219Gzt_PVmgIxdOrFo72CDFr9OugSVJDHE8r0QCm46h-U_nK2Ey4eHHDB92OqWH0l/s1600/Hop+Manna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34Ams89jVoxXV7ZqM7lYrEfShyphenhyphenrXNx1gtgAW7JyOcNNcLToeFbufMQIt1A_QEgQ8TjX3y-34PCuL219Gzt_PVmgIxdOrFo72CDFr9OugSVJDHE8r0QCm46h-U_nK2Ey4eHHDB92OqWH0l/s400/Hop+Manna.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335812835283530985noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-20527035558838897912012-05-14T05:31:00.002-04:002012-05-14T05:31:51.822-04:00Dos Costas Oeste<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1V9XMkJE4gZG5lJa8I81_mmqXCEbCE4q608S15x5NSl4Z9ZeN_OwIrJf-zaBu3Up9yBGVkxyY25kAuPLJtMM697-4U_rtWxaFAPunD29jkcNylIwdPYnOQgB0wxznMy7bO8i0WTFUYsn6/s1600/Dos+Costas+Oeste+3+Bottles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1V9XMkJE4gZG5lJa8I81_mmqXCEbCE4q608S15x5NSl4Z9ZeN_OwIrJf-zaBu3Up9yBGVkxyY25kAuPLJtMM697-4U_rtWxaFAPunD29jkcNylIwdPYnOQgB0wxznMy7bO8i0WTFUYsn6/s400/Dos+Costas+Oeste+3+Bottles.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy Mother’s
Day beer lovers!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We broke into my
brother’s stash of “special” bottles over the weekend to celebrate the holiday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the beer frig were some hold overs from
the fall like <a href="http://tristatebeerblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/great-pumpkin-tasting-results-and.html" target="_blank">Pumpking</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and three bottles
with matching labels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88Vl7yS0su5Kv7Jz7XLGJ_kx0ZM6cL-3tOhz6kzlKlf_As5IAOw8QAfsgT_GrJRvksvRgJiU_a1Fvx6VAaB4b_OZw6HDlDYD8XeBoQw0Qh366ZLJ23sjgQCxt95AE5MjZKkHHJK6RqmXZ/s1600/Dos+Costas+Oeste.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88Vl7yS0su5Kv7Jz7XLGJ_kx0ZM6cL-3tOhz6kzlKlf_As5IAOw8QAfsgT_GrJRvksvRgJiU_a1Fvx6VAaB4b_OZw6HDlDYD8XeBoQw0Qh366ZLJ23sjgQCxt95AE5MjZKkHHJK6RqmXZ/s320/Dos+Costas+Oeste.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These beers
are a collaboration between <a href="http://tristatebeerblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Cigar%20City%20Brewing" target="_blank">Cigar City Brewing</a> in Tampa FL and <a href="http://tristatebeerblog.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Bruery" target="_blank">The Bruery</a> in
Placentia, CA, hence the name, which translates to “Two West Coast Breweries”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both breweries produce outstanding beer so I
was expecting quite a treat. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, Why
3 different bottles?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turns out that the
brewers wanted to experiment with aging this saison in 3 different types of
wood: Cedar, Grapefruit wood and lemon wood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The bottle we opened over Mother’s Day dinner was the red -labeled,
cedar variety. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFp2ImGZYbWERqftIvZ0SWTaIX65E0mORCBX0efx-BumjlMUGuuCfl7oHYyKRD4oYpda7LvqtXJHW_-lTSmnXGZQkhC1Qa8aAArNXl-NGB0VLSqjSyuKxjUFMpjB2GOPBeGUxyQiqUPC1b/s1600/Dos+Costas+Oeste+in+glass.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFp2ImGZYbWERqftIvZ0SWTaIX65E0mORCBX0efx-BumjlMUGuuCfl7oHYyKRD4oYpda7LvqtXJHW_-lTSmnXGZQkhC1Qa8aAArNXl-NGB0VLSqjSyuKxjUFMpjB2GOPBeGUxyQiqUPC1b/s320/Dos+Costas+Oeste+in+glass.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So on a beautiful May afternoon, I poured this deep
orange beer into a goblet and took in its aroma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could detect Belgian yeast and coriander,
but could not pick up the other ingredients right away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sister-in-law Irene noticed the orange
scent, but no one could tell that ginger is also used in this brew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These flavors mixed well on the palate as we
drank it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fruity overtones made it
perfect for this spring day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At 9% ABV,
it’s not meant to drink all day long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But as a precursor to a great meal it was right on the mark. </span>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335812835283530985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-63828109360847054662012-05-03T06:04:00.000-04:002012-05-03T06:04:37.512-04:00Sugar Plum - Cigar City Brewing Co.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3l-uXsgzEi3xzhrJ-T-KgdgSirpK6hM93_XKE3Fhc2tXjb_68draA3gaZ2aq1KSIC8E0Vde7X36OVT4LfStpII2U4uEsC56gGc-R5A24y2fH4gPm4HmkXeLXDXSsFAuZKzW-ctk2hmBQ/s1600/Sugar+Plum+Cigar+City.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3l-uXsgzEi3xzhrJ-T-KgdgSirpK6hM93_XKE3Fhc2tXjb_68draA3gaZ2aq1KSIC8E0Vde7X36OVT4LfStpII2U4uEsC56gGc-R5A24y2fH4gPm4HmkXeLXDXSsFAuZKzW-ctk2hmBQ/s320/Sugar+Plum+Cigar+City.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I just
picked up this beer on a whim because I saw the word "sugar" on the label. I was also anxious to try another offering from <a href="http://www.cigarcitybrewing.com/" target="_blank">Cigar City</a> which does exceptional things with malty beers.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s a
seasonal beer brewed in Tampa, FL and meant to be enjoyed at
<a href="http://tristatebeerblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/holiday-ales-at-brewhouse-south-norwalk.html" target="_blank">Christmas</a> time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know it’s getting into
spring, but I have trouble saying “No” to dark, sweet beers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bottle did not even make it into my frig,
so it’s being poured at about 50 degrees which is probably just about right for
this <a href="http://tristatebeerblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/beer-chili.html" target="_blank">brown ale</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8NF9vcmI2JZ56jLADYJA-yjNu07XSRtHEJG3LRYSoysWaqkJ5eDPmaGusanVzKmj8XnIrwqh3uuAvY1PRrsod4pQVGJKrLj9Gf3SsYk7yV1Z8Pw8R_71BnymVmXCJmLTh51jzk38Zw7s/s1600/Sugar+Plum+Cigar+City+Brewing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8NF9vcmI2JZ56jLADYJA-yjNu07XSRtHEJG3LRYSoysWaqkJ5eDPmaGusanVzKmj8XnIrwqh3uuAvY1PRrsod4pQVGJKrLj9Gf3SsYk7yV1Z8Pw8R_71BnymVmXCJmLTh51jzk38Zw7s/s320/Sugar+Plum+Cigar+City+Brewing.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It has an amber hue with
a healthy tan froth on top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The head
dissipates slowly leaving a fine lace on my glass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nose is more malt than fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The taste has a nice balance of toasty malt and
raisin sweetness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It reminds me of their
other brown ale called Bolita, only with more sweetness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like the way the sweetness mellows the
dryness so my mouth isn’t too chalky like it can get after a stout like Guinness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I would prefer a darker color and a little more
creamy mouth feel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bolita has the
creaminess down better IMO.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall, I
found this to be a solid brown ale with lots of flavor</span>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335812835283530985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-22432025460067167672012-04-24T05:30:00.001-04:002012-05-03T18:08:35.546-04:00Hoppin’ Frog Silk Porter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3lBP1TlUwS6qZYC_Y9vlCrWy_rpDiq4whPaKVmUL37D70p8Hj6Iy2Cg7cKmybsFkOElIMzL35cVnB-3qK25LQbDpzI1LfHM6ihjRFTXt6MW_JWB0ykTioZG7SJyt1q3Y0POyKG7ohFfO/s1600/Hoppin+Frog+Silk+Porter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3lBP1TlUwS6qZYC_Y9vlCrWy_rpDiq4whPaKVmUL37D70p8Hj6Iy2Cg7cKmybsFkOElIMzL35cVnB-3qK25LQbDpzI1LfHM6ihjRFTXt6MW_JWB0ykTioZG7SJyt1q3Y0POyKG7ohFfO/s320/Hoppin+Frog+Silk+Porter.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The weather
here in New York has taken a turn for the worse and it feels like we are back in
March again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s cold and drizzly with no
sign of the sun for the last couple of days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s the perfect time to break into a porter!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Hoppin’ Frog Silk Porter is brewed in Akron, Ohio and I bought it back in January to warm the cold nights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a 22oz bomber with a 6.2% ABV that set me back
$8.29.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I’m expecting big things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Here’s the report:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pour: Completely
opaque, dark as motor oil <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Head: Foamy and
tan head that leaves a healthy lace after a few minutes<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nose: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slight chocolate that is followed by a taco
smell<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Taste : Toasty,
trying to be chocolate by not quite achieving it. Not bad, just not enough
chocolate to make me happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A little toasty
bitterness lingers in my mouth which is not unpleasant (“Like”)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mouth
feel:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Definitely lives up to its name:
silky as can be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9v4tHA5bPgJepSmf7sYJgk3nhoERK0y2TxxkQ4fjTLpf-eF0vbIscN3kKr6oI-TpE5SLUC8kp3dblLMwP-kyY10o4aQcR1POY-IF3Q9VuxFHcEec0LYiImWajP5nSLBhoQnBDM1FFMAk/s1600/Hoppin+Frog+Silk+Porter+in+Glass.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9v4tHA5bPgJepSmf7sYJgk3nhoERK0y2TxxkQ4fjTLpf-eF0vbIscN3kKr6oI-TpE5SLUC8kp3dblLMwP-kyY10o4aQcR1POY-IF3Q9VuxFHcEec0LYiImWajP5nSLBhoQnBDM1FFMAk/s320/Hoppin+Frog+Silk+Porter+in+Glass.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overall:
Nice drinking experience. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Misses the
mark by just a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m thinking that
the age might have something to do with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The bottle says “Keep Refrigerated” which I did not heed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though it has been stored in my garage which hasn't been above 50 degrees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, I’d love to have
another fresh one to compare it to right now while its fresh in my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will have to find one and give it a taste
before the weather warms up and I’m on to lighter beers for a while. <o:p></o:p></span></span>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335812835283530985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-38560619433859908052012-04-13T07:10:00.000-04:002012-04-13T07:10:15.442-04:00Breukelen Bier Merchants – Craft Beer Store or Bar or Both?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisezaFeCinujlvHxbqitTezqjsOWntlRBv98EQKN76Fk7ULHjtmuqtht33Lymr1TIB7tYTUcL163BACjm3zsYQPassGXYt5SRegAV4NsKL1gKUhomqJuhupGc1DwCDXkBXvLagp8bk4ozA/s1600/Brooklyn+Bier+Merch+(BBM)+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisezaFeCinujlvHxbqitTezqjsOWntlRBv98EQKN76Fk7ULHjtmuqtht33Lymr1TIB7tYTUcL163BACjm3zsYQPassGXYt5SRegAV4NsKL1gKUhomqJuhupGc1DwCDXkBXvLagp8bk4ozA/s320/Brooklyn+Bier+Merch+(BBM)+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brooklyn is a hot bed of craft beer activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone has heard of the popular Brooklyn Brewery and the up and coming Six Point Brewery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What many people are not aware of is that this borough has spawned several of the best beer stores and bars in the Tristate area.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some of these establishments are actually both beer store AND bar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They routinely get the highest ratings on beer web sites by beer geeks and novices alike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://breukelenbiermerchants.com/index.html" target="_blank">Breukelen Bier Merchants</a> in the Williamsburg section has created a craft beer lovers heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was there recently with a friend and we were able to experience, first hand, what all the buzz is about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_we0NS_uvZMHkOZAov9yn4tNMblZgcfhHXN6Z9BxuJ1cAn2UAWXpFPX8H9ArP2WrS0-p_WjHWbRlQ2tmScijSNlDu8CWUgEUhKoVsTnbIJFE3gQu3IXogxzIW_inLCc_7ztJ6Kd5px0f/s1600/BBM+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_we0NS_uvZMHkOZAov9yn4tNMblZgcfhHXN6Z9BxuJ1cAn2UAWXpFPX8H9ArP2WrS0-p_WjHWbRlQ2tmScijSNlDu8CWUgEUhKoVsTnbIJFE3gQu3IXogxzIW_inLCc_7ztJ6Kd5px0f/s320/BBM+3.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I walked into this beer “store” my first impression was: “this would be a cool place to hang out”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The comfortable tables and furniture, along with the board games and picnic tables in the back, made me feel like staying for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They boast a bottle inventory 500 beers strong; any of which can be opened right there and consumed in the store. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heaven you say, wait there’s more. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3Csq_LPIJ-M2UtoKdGLa2Fu9SmqzlodtyBG3EcDgRtREp0VtNkWa8yza7nx2ppmIkhN7v4jV5BS7kZRtqMCP2A6yv3a4f7rCorwq1gDjMQg6e1Eb0qZEKaz9igaw36s2UUn84YkiNnKK/s1600/Sony+April+12+2012+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3Csq_LPIJ-M2UtoKdGLa2Fu9SmqzlodtyBG3EcDgRtREp0VtNkWa8yza7nx2ppmIkhN7v4jV5BS7kZRtqMCP2A6yv3a4f7rCorwq1gDjMQg6e1Eb0qZEKaz9igaw36s2UUn84YkiNnKK/s320/Sony+April+12+2012+028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I could also choose from 16 draught beers from all over the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chose a hefe weisse from <a href="http://www.uintabrewing.com/" target="_blank">Uinta Brewing Company</a> (pronounced "winta") in Salt Lake City, Utah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was light and lemony; perfect for a spring day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I was hungry, I could have indulged in a pressed sandwich or cheese plate, but I was there for the beer.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfY92PRlZ0be2_gpSuaPGBuA3Vwl6FZi1bo6voBg_isjL_PJwuG5bD7mvTWPse-P208M1dws9nAB_P0fRfnZscl6dr4j1P0pNVvRDSILyhD0M1JLcMSBH4mGIJToyFlnUpjT4krDEs4zDu/s1600/BBM+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfY92PRlZ0be2_gpSuaPGBuA3Vwl6FZi1bo6voBg_isjL_PJwuG5bD7mvTWPse-P208M1dws9nAB_P0fRfnZscl6dr4j1P0pNVvRDSILyhD0M1JLcMSBH4mGIJToyFlnUpjT4krDEs4zDu/s320/BBM+5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We spent some time talking to one of the owners who said that they will be celebrating their one year anniversary next week with three days of activities and events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said, “We have been really well received by the neighborhood and our second year should be even better as the craft beer movement grows”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYNIuw839WdHxBrSQ_rGd27aKM17nRzQnqkZ35OmKzsslhbuLEz1Y1leRk3X2HeLSO4_6M7aytqiPeruIdxXWDXlls7UhbugEBGuYxsUEgiRyORsCEpg6Xc7q7CQQRsMwZpMTWCwuGp9M/s1600/BBM+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYNIuw839WdHxBrSQ_rGd27aKM17nRzQnqkZ35OmKzsslhbuLEz1Y1leRk3X2HeLSO4_6M7aytqiPeruIdxXWDXlls7UhbugEBGuYxsUEgiRyORsCEpg6Xc7q7CQQRsMwZpMTWCwuGp9M/s320/BBM+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before we left, I had to fill up a growler to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.boulderbeer.com/" target="_blank">Boulder Buffalo Gold</a> is brewed in Colorado and at 4.5% ABV is a fantastic session beer. No, I didn’t sit down and kill the whole 64 oz right there in the store; though I imagine I would have been allowed to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took it home and split it with my wife over dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This beer has one of the sweetest finishes I’ve experienced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It tastes like it’s made with honey though I haven’t confirmed that yet.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So if you find yourself in Brooklyn, or anywhere in the city for that matter, get your butt down to the Bier Merchants and experience a little slice of heaven in New York.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335812835283530985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-26560963415020835292012-04-08T06:49:00.002-04:002012-04-09T05:59:36.517-04:00The Hop in Beacon, NY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZa8CunwAzSWXU9RW-GpMRQ0eLVKnr-2isyGN7znhBGNwsNg6BGPmO2vrGote_uHU-pQcEJT1EZnrSvbiuhRh7pN3n9obVBu85tBjzXqpNm-H1L8WRvpD_mfUWZo_J_JRMyVcvnAwofmJ/s1600/thehopmainpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZa8CunwAzSWXU9RW-GpMRQ0eLVKnr-2isyGN7znhBGNwsNg6BGPmO2vrGote_uHU-pQcEJT1EZnrSvbiuhRh7pN3n9obVBu85tBjzXqpNm-H1L8WRvpD_mfUWZo_J_JRMyVcvnAwofmJ/s400/thehopmainpic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy Easter everyone!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a fun pre-holiday experience last night at the grand opening of a new craft beer store in the Hudson Valley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Hop in Beacon, NY opened its doors about a month ago, but yesterday officially announced its intentions of bringing craft beer to Dutchess County and beyond.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This cute little store at the end of Main Street has a fine selection of about 100 different beers for sale "to go" and another six on tap for growler or glass fills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> They also have a section of local artisinal "beer" foods like cheeses, pickels and all kinds of sauces. Their menu currently consists of a few sandwiches, soups, salads and some creative uses of beer and ice cream for dessert.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixc7XcU-2vLqjauPTbPNOLro4-J-CXjAjHPxDqUHMJ0ewpoTCNGes42C82KHdGwgnnDpE0ZFZngzB5WGcAmjXbSiWr_LVX5ftBlj1PG3_j3-vIZjD5emrE9Miih-yadtNnqQZ6-kLjp3mY/s1600/Hop+Beer+Board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixc7XcU-2vLqjauPTbPNOLro4-J-CXjAjHPxDqUHMJ0ewpoTCNGes42C82KHdGwgnnDpE0ZFZngzB5WGcAmjXbSiWr_LVX5ftBlj1PG3_j3-vIZjD5emrE9Miih-yadtNnqQZ6-kLjp3mY/s320/Hop+Beer+Board.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My wife Doreen and I arrived about a half hour early and the place already had a decent sized crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People were ordering goblets and pints of draft beer and wandering around the store browsing the wine racks filled with 750ml bottles of craft beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We made our way to the bar and ordered a Dogfish Head Red and White and a hefe weissen from Sixpoint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The latter was a little light for my taste but the Dogfish was exceptional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a combination of a Belgian White Ale with red wine and it really works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fruitiness of the grapes and the slight hopping blended well on the palate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhl5TClTes4eBmN7DMT5EaGgH-QofbzxQgzwLR8ealww1eM8mRNAdK61DNtMRmGvMLZc0ZuDVPIzQOjCu_zf0jteYCXiHWdDCwN16AvM8LSFklqYTf37o5np9fhdlc521-Yi-5St5nF0s/s1600/Hop+Beer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhl5TClTes4eBmN7DMT5EaGgH-QofbzxQgzwLR8ealww1eM8mRNAdK61DNtMRmGvMLZc0ZuDVPIzQOjCu_zf0jteYCXiHWdDCwN16AvM8LSFklqYTf37o5np9fhdlc521-Yi-5St5nF0s/s320/Hop+Beer.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We each ordered a grilled cheese that was made with caramelized onions and was delicious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> WE met the rest of our group</span> at the long, communal table in the center of the store that doubles as display case for some of their 12 ounce offerings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all received wrist bands from John Kelly who, along with 3 other locals, owns this establishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John and one of his partners are Culinary Institute grads and it shows in the design of the store (he built the communal table) and the presentation of the food and drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wrist bands were to be used along with a ticket for one free beer at the “beer garden” behind the store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>We walked out and around back to a fenced in area containing about a dozen tables, propane heaters and most importantly, more kegs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were pouring selections from Colorado’s Left Hand Brewery, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lagunitas from California and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Westchester’s own Captain Lawrence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had the Captain’s Kolsch and found it crisp and refreshing. I was able to sample Left Hand’s Smoke Jumper which is an Imperial Porter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This beer, which pays tribute to the brave souls who fight forest fires, had a wonderful smoked cheese flavor finished with a chocolate kiss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 9% ABV had a warming effect on this chilly night.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlUMS-6oOBdfW1mgUgP36sE5pes9xvr143V1EU_-vvswemMCp4HbWdlunidq9xO4DfiZasDgXJ4gvyAZeTvHi-AbZ1cDvYJ61HyHCzgReLSwxivrJndc9kU0-eHedfG-wUGuOy5NbutQn/s1600/Founder's+Better+Half+Label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlUMS-6oOBdfW1mgUgP36sE5pes9xvr143V1EU_-vvswemMCp4HbWdlunidq9xO4DfiZasDgXJ4gvyAZeTvHi-AbZ1cDvYJ61HyHCzgReLSwxivrJndc9kU0-eHedfG-wUGuOy5NbutQn/s320/Founder's+Better+Half+Label.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back inside, we discovered that we could order any 750 ml bottle in house and drink it there for a $7 corking fee. So we split a Founder's Crumudgeon's Better Half which is brewed in bourbon barrels with maple syrup and molasses. The sweetness led off every sip and complemented the whiskey finish nicely.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDqjj8PWu3mw62SO3vVKBWaHTLwJ79wSRaZ7C7RbnJzqXCV9yp6M9rN4hVZL0yEw1o1GCvqvP2ZlHgwT-dRUxBgzxs5lIb5bOA45BFNxIYs1bMT5RQ5xI9gqd9ghxICnqGCQuAWByE3Em/s1600/Joe+Irene+Brain+C.+and+Dor+at+the+Hop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDqjj8PWu3mw62SO3vVKBWaHTLwJ79wSRaZ7C7RbnJzqXCV9yp6M9rN4hVZL0yEw1o1GCvqvP2ZlHgwT-dRUxBgzxs5lIb5bOA45BFNxIYs1bMT5RQ5xI9gqd9ghxICnqGCQuAWByE3Em/s320/Joe+Irene+Brain+C.+and+Dor+at+the+Hop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The overall feel of the The Hop was one of cool NYC beer bar in upstate New York.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is not much else I could ask for in a craft beer store other than more selection on the bottle side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they just opened and I’m sure they will be adding to their list as time goes on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This, along with the rotating tap list, will require another visit in the near future <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What? Someone’s got to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cheers!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335812835283530985noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-69696813092336140192012-04-01T16:53:00.002-04:002012-04-01T16:59:49.676-04:00Heady Topper at the Blind Tigerby Rich<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7lTwXMa1nyLBw0qI-VCbWV3MVGRTUKs6mZAScrWy5BgzspU6icuh1f8CNA71USIbODKyYbxNmHUQH4BledetAywjpgWFn1OX-y_d4BQqo0tKya280OVCaAWEAjE4E_sqQOeaJibvVnFn/s1600/Blind+Tiger+NYC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7lTwXMa1nyLBw0qI-VCbWV3MVGRTUKs6mZAScrWy5BgzspU6icuh1f8CNA71USIbODKyYbxNmHUQH4BledetAywjpgWFn1OX-y_d4BQqo0tKya280OVCaAWEAjE4E_sqQOeaJibvVnFn/s1600/Blind+Tiger+NYC.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My friend, Doc and I had a nice day yesterday. We went into NYC for a Film Forum to catch a documentary about the recently deposed president of The Maldives. What you might find more interesting is that we stopped at the Blind Tiger for lunch before the movie and The Pony Bar on the way home. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IScwKw0MiCJIIfwIoxcSQm2FkyTJ27RjxB279JnIsA7EhbfPS7sbf66kwkvkH0gmJ9uPm093ZySEUkgStTBI_6w3rNCngUKzFug4qcj5XJ4ugaX5kRPRwEgh1LqVhQ50z8TWAZOdyyUT/s1600/alchemist+heady+topper+label.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IScwKw0MiCJIIfwIoxcSQm2FkyTJ27RjxB279JnIsA7EhbfPS7sbf66kwkvkH0gmJ9uPm093ZySEUkgStTBI_6w3rNCngUKzFug4qcj5XJ4ugaX5kRPRwEgh1LqVhQ50z8TWAZOdyyUT/s320/alchemist+heady+topper+label.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The bartender at The Blind Tiger mentioned that they had a special event pairing Vermont beers and cheeses. He recommended an Imperial IPA called Heady Topper from <a href="http://www.alchemistbeer.com/" target="_blank">The Alchemist Brewery</a> in Waterbury, Vermont. He mentioned that the ale is available in cans but is rarely seen on tap outside the brewery. It was, as you'd expect, a real blast of hops with enough malt smoothness to balance it somewhat but with 120 IBU's and 8% ABV this is not for the faint of heart. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxsO9hKWIXBwWn7md1eZV5kltu-f-tn3MJ0B9xqjxIDNK5z3rg1Co3R_LDfoFmPo-g86rEwGDMb8XQ2hZ80lYGjbzZkX51zFdFVmkp7KSjVOXFwINN9S3M4YyfZpMkv9zlFhoM_wYR66S/s1600/Flying+Dog+Wildeman+IPA+Label.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxsO9hKWIXBwWn7md1eZV5kltu-f-tn3MJ0B9xqjxIDNK5z3rg1Co3R_LDfoFmPo-g86rEwGDMb8XQ2hZ80lYGjbzZkX51zFdFVmkp7KSjVOXFwINN9S3M4YyfZpMkv9zlFhoM_wYR66S/s1600/Flying+Dog+Wildeman+IPA+Label.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Pony Bar was offering a <a href="http://flyingdogales.com/beers/#/ThePack/Wildeman" target="_blank">Flying Dog WildemanIPA</a> as one of it's cask ales. The ingredients sounded interesting, among other things it contains elderberry and lavender. So, I thought I'd give it a try. It turned out to be one of the stranger brews I've had in a while. The lavender came through and we both thought the ale had an<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>interesting, almost medicinal quality. I asked the bartender if she had tried it and she poured herself a sample. She said it was weird but she liked it, definitely worth a try if you come across it. </span>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335812835283530985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-37802230825335856322012-03-25T07:07:00.000-04:002012-05-03T18:13:33.202-04:00Dogfish Head Saison du Buff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaarF14EkkFUFh-4lPsVJz-0sF-oQTsXw-UvRNxUDQqlFjheG0xL7F9zry1d1QFTRvXrMNQFhsmMXw3KvH5sJ7ICDLjTG4wYxCv2wcaHG8q5DHHwCxsbSbsFNYnISXvRjjt3tqnB5aRnbS/s1600/Dogfish+Head+Saison+du+Buff+label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaarF14EkkFUFh-4lPsVJz-0sF-oQTsXw-UvRNxUDQqlFjheG0xL7F9zry1d1QFTRvXrMNQFhsmMXw3KvH5sJ7ICDLjTG4wYxCv2wcaHG8q5DHHwCxsbSbsFNYnISXvRjjt3tqnB5aRnbS/s320/Dogfish+Head+Saison+du+Buff+label.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This beer comes with quite a pedigree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a collaboration between Dogfish Head, Victory and Stone Brewing Company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t aware of the history of BUFF until I did some research.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turns out that this beer is named for a meeting held by the heads of the three breweries back in 2003.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>9 years ago Sam Calagione of Dogfish, Bill Covaleski of Victory, and Greg Koch from Stone formed Brewers United For Freedom of Flavor and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>called a press conference to bring attention to the lack of choice in the mainstream beer world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the time only one journalist felt the need to attend. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fast forward to 2012: the craft beer wave has made these brands household names and turned Sam into a rock star.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Funny how things can change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unfortunately, mainstream beer hasn’t changed: it’s still watered down and, for the most part, tasteless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To show the world just how interesting and flavorful a beer can be, these three brewers have concocted a brew containing parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme (yeah, just like the song).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’m here to tell you: It works!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Similar to how these 3 idiosyncratic brewers were able to meld their own personalities together for the collaboration, the four spices blend nicely into a refreshing saisson. Here’s my tasting notes:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30HluFDAonFs2LxFBz9QAZ4OnGKEFCN4cZG2fhfoyUoDwEhqxQt_vvQ_JlaNbGxyLQbTnUq5S7-UJcHSbKGDVZslnSumufRG1YHp7PQTUWCiippUop3mEJSVrBYO_dCuyTuPNQa_IXfKR/s1600/Dogfish+Head+Saison+du+Buff+bottle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30HluFDAonFs2LxFBz9QAZ4OnGKEFCN4cZG2fhfoyUoDwEhqxQt_vvQ_JlaNbGxyLQbTnUq5S7-UJcHSbKGDVZslnSumufRG1YHp7PQTUWCiippUop3mEJSVrBYO_dCuyTuPNQa_IXfKR/s320/Dogfish+Head+Saison+du+Buff+bottle.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pour: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Uniform fluffy white head<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nose:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Citrus with a slight hop fragrance<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Taste:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strong spice up front though one spice does not dominate, nice hoppy finish, not overpowering.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aftertaste:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I’m getting some of that rosemary on the back of my tongue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overall: Very refreshing and drinkable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At 6.8% ABV, it truly can be a go to session beer for the summer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335812835283530985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-49029391480017871382012-03-17T06:53:00.000-04:002012-03-17T06:53:47.177-04:00Wheat beers are Back!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHc0VP_yTxS0zgmNU0wZpELQT_ZMZ59PP6JF2-F2lGyA2jIJ2mJrwwU1UhVoSu3CD-zNvMCmyAlXoi6Zkmk1huBLo4AxpybkscBZJ8aPidjBDc1rzkB8vebuAOCY7rijFaaBxWXggq81Ux/s1600/Ithaca+Apricot+Wheat+and+Troegs+wheat+beers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHc0VP_yTxS0zgmNU0wZpELQT_ZMZ59PP6JF2-F2lGyA2jIJ2mJrwwU1UhVoSu3CD-zNvMCmyAlXoi6Zkmk1huBLo4AxpybkscBZJ8aPidjBDc1rzkB8vebuAOCY7rijFaaBxWXggq81Ux/s320/Ithaca+Apricot+Wheat+and+Troegs+wheat+beers.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spring is starting to show itself here in the North East.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The days are warmer, the robins have returned from their winter vacations and wheat beers have returned to the shelves of my local beverage store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last summer, I proudly declared my l love for fruit flavored brews on a <a href="http://thebrewclub.com/2011/09/07/two-raspberry-beers/" target="_blank">friend’s beer blog</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also <a href="http://tristatebeerblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/fruit-beers-of-summer-husband-and-wife.html" target="_blank">reviewed</a> several excellent examples on this blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I’m going to introduce you to offerings from two of the most popular craft beer breweries in this area: <a href="http://ithacabeer.com/" target="_blank">Ithaca Beer Co.</a> and <a href="http://www.troegs.com/" target="_blank">Troegs Brewing Co</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSSMHG5PkTeNxlidLUTcmjwS92yZKXEnJZG2kNF_MlWRk5Et59xxwaQ5VEmtXAVgfYNLDsSTN0sjnJVCohqzBLigc8dOSCXeSAI23uzQ6o3CQCV1gflB6iKHW_aYx5Z1P3nuVQ_KJuI_h/s1600/Toegs+Dream+Weaver+and+Ithaca+Apricot+Wheat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSSMHG5PkTeNxlidLUTcmjwS92yZKXEnJZG2kNF_MlWRk5Et59xxwaQ5VEmtXAVgfYNLDsSTN0sjnJVCohqzBLigc8dOSCXeSAI23uzQ6o3CQCV1gflB6iKHW_aYx5Z1P3nuVQ_KJuI_h/s320/Toegs+Dream+Weaver+and+Ithaca+Apricot+Wheat.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dream Weaver Wheat Beer from Troegs in Harrisburg, PA is a nice drinkable beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not a true “fruit” beer because no fruit is added during the brewing process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, like many wheat beers, it has sweet fruit-like overtones. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one has a banana and citrus taste that is very appealing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a 4.8% ABV it is the kind of beer you can bring to a cook out and have more than one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFm1UArtZcazMsUA2BE7lGTz7wBgvquip3Vw-W40NVelpO1IP0q1HxMrTFFxMvWjOxFlXv6ndx7TsXvXmMQ8VaV3TltL4W6mrtt5wc5FjlLd6A0Zc9fFmvSlXma_gjHfb2kdxhMVswopJD/s1600/Ithaca+Apricot+Wheat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFm1UArtZcazMsUA2BE7lGTz7wBgvquip3Vw-W40NVelpO1IP0q1HxMrTFFxMvWjOxFlXv6ndx7TsXvXmMQ8VaV3TltL4W6mrtt5wc5FjlLd6A0Zc9fFmvSlXma_gjHfb2kdxhMVswopJD/s320/Ithaca+Apricot+Wheat.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ithaca Apricot Wheat is brewed in our own upstate New York.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has a wonderful floral nose and pours a pale gold. It carries a foamy white head that lasts throughout its short time in my glass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The taste is not overly fruity; just an apricot finish that lingers and drives me to another sip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is one of the most popular beers in this class and it is easy to see why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With its nice light taste and 4.9 % ABV, it’s sure make its way into my outdoor beer drinking arsenal this season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335812835283530985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-6970460996077575822012-03-08T22:25:00.001-05:002012-03-08T22:28:37.671-05:00Eddie’s Roadhouse – Warwick, NY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZ8TdzuX1zFt5WPSwFGPGfKJrXPjTMxPVM1v-xE309UtpN03HfHr_YU9dWF83k7FXDuMkgtLgXpmyaQ6ZhmCrBEyf7CcZpKyESWVgRY_4L8aMH5q76XcFwvQmvFltm1GPo3MsKin5M1iz/s1600/DSCN0147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZ8TdzuX1zFt5WPSwFGPGfKJrXPjTMxPVM1v-xE309UtpN03HfHr_YU9dWF83k7FXDuMkgtLgXpmyaQ6ZhmCrBEyf7CcZpKyESWVgRY_4L8aMH5q76XcFwvQmvFltm1GPo3MsKin5M1iz/s320/DSCN0147.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let me tell you about a craft beer gem I came across recently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last weekend I dropped my son off at Mountain Creek Ski resort in Vernon, NJ and on the way home I called my friend Mark who lives in Warwick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had been raving about this great little bar on Main Street that served nothing but microbrews.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We met for lunch and I was impressed by everything I saw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68YWVbeMY478-pwjLpA7Mvf-1vtUbn8uQL6Fwd49RRoh_OP8ReWmZhpgEoFCZ8RaUnJVvXNEAzbdzw71XZRd0k-SLkx4TZ8P55gBZh7sAQk3Z0KmkWIEdeYvzDhIMdVmXwQvZ9V_LvWS-/s1600/DSCN0143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68YWVbeMY478-pwjLpA7Mvf-1vtUbn8uQL6Fwd49RRoh_OP8ReWmZhpgEoFCZ8RaUnJVvXNEAzbdzw71XZRd0k-SLkx4TZ8P55gBZh7sAQk3Z0KmkWIEdeYvzDhIMdVmXwQvZ9V_LvWS-/s320/DSCN0143.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first thing I noticed when I sat down at the bar was that there were no TVs in the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eddie, the owner’s son, told us that it was intentional in order to get people talking to each other. And sure enough, by the time I had left about an hour later, Mark and I had met virtually everyone at the bar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EcQ3QUCZpVu5g0J-OpAgDW4CSTYhuvDsYMDsWPVhSTTvbHoP6eIcDC9Y39lF0QLqQiFNLYkOONs2PhL9OfD8D9Iju7T02CyWMSoyhY5scH403TYqJBGjHzLp8iBhqHQCRWXUgkFCDtu1/s1600/DSCN0140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EcQ3QUCZpVu5g0J-OpAgDW4CSTYhuvDsYMDsWPVhSTTvbHoP6eIcDC9Y39lF0QLqQiFNLYkOONs2PhL9OfD8D9Iju7T02CyWMSoyhY5scH403TYqJBGjHzLp8iBhqHQCRWXUgkFCDtu1/s320/DSCN0140.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another thing I liked about Eddie’s is that they only serve craft beer. They have about 8 taps pouring micros and foreign brews, but no big national brands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ed said that if someone orders a Coors Light he directs them to an IPA he always has flowing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they want Guinness he lets them taste a brown or black ale and watches their face light up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSZ_0KBAoJN-UffqpKE5Y4XW2cNBADQFwwI_oKhok8OSXJNir1X61YEpEY11uYYVVoAM964WVgWCfZM8IF9C4yhY2IY38oV_FaGIuNlToPJRpsghgRvAqhGzDG1oiuO_iQSzvH9ENir5o/s1600/St+Bernardus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSZ_0KBAoJN-UffqpKE5Y4XW2cNBADQFwwI_oKhok8OSXJNir1X61YEpEY11uYYVVoAM964WVgWCfZM8IF9C4yhY2IY38oV_FaGIuNlToPJRpsghgRvAqhGzDG1oiuO_iQSzvH9ENir5o/s320/St+Bernardus.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I told him I had been drinking Belgians lately and he introduced me to St. Bernardus Abt 12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This abbey style quadruple ale is brewed by Brouwerij St. Bernard in Wantau, Belgium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A “quadruple” is a strong, dark ale with a higher alcohol content then a double or tripel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one has a 10% ABV that is hidden pretty well by the fruity over tones. It was served in a matching glass which really delighted me – I love when stuff matches.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMfYnRUf4t8MQpHbH70Ua6uqIiKM8wOjHzrZzXkgP34Mi-fsAg8eisLjaNuy0XS1luLR0djyDBsD7jfG1IJB88Jd-AbTcxCmWwMcgAC_doHoyLRiBWV6cBFXd0c_thXMNpvkHw2kja9V5/s1600/DSCN0137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMfYnRUf4t8MQpHbH70Ua6uqIiKM8wOjHzrZzXkgP34Mi-fsAg8eisLjaNuy0XS1luLR0djyDBsD7jfG1IJB88Jd-AbTcxCmWwMcgAC_doHoyLRiBWV6cBFXd0c_thXMNpvkHw2kja9V5/s320/DSCN0137.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Eddie Senior walked in shortly after and I was introduced to this energetic man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told me that he always wanted to own a restaurant and The Roadhouse was his “dream come true”. <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He and his son strive to create an authentic experience for their patrons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They go so far as to bring in bands that play exclusively original music and on Wednesdays novices get to perform at an open mic.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I ordered fries with gravy to accompany my second beer which was a black IPA from Stone Brewing Co.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fries were the perfect comfort food to complement the toasted flavor of the beer. It may have been cold outside, but I was feeling warm and toasty at Eddie’s Roadhouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> So, if you’re ever on your way home from the slopes, come in out of the cold and find some comfort in Eddie's Roadhouse.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg523dH1Q34o7ami01DPi0OKCBl2pvUGRn4wGEQb7VUGUSnHffhXc8-n8T0Kuhyphenhyphena1M7bRLEKJHcBF6XcmeSbeMesM3iMxRfpypbg0_Ltmw0pIfu-Zy2tJ59i8SUEreJm5v1Ze9FekZ6YHuf/s1600/DSCN0138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg523dH1Q34o7ami01DPi0OKCBl2pvUGRn4wGEQb7VUGUSnHffhXc8-n8T0Kuhyphenhyphena1M7bRLEKJHcBF6XcmeSbeMesM3iMxRfpypbg0_Ltmw0pIfu-Zy2tJ59i8SUEreJm5v1Ze9FekZ6YHuf/s640/DSCN0138.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335812835283530985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-63207904505757815012012-03-06T06:39:00.000-05:002012-03-06T06:39:55.749-05:00Abita 25th Anniversary Vanilla Double Dog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_CD-g1OW_kpIAgM8Nafke_E1mo2gp8JIdnt5iixTglFXtQGQwPNbfd8MmMhWZ8bxPofqAGy_Ri9N7x1jrP7mOn0iBwgjuktSV5pmQRXxhG9ebYpsSKsBYbjKyxx-t0rkWZkDbjCctxYx/s1600/Abita+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_CD-g1OW_kpIAgM8Nafke_E1mo2gp8JIdnt5iixTglFXtQGQwPNbfd8MmMhWZ8bxPofqAGy_Ri9N7x1jrP7mOn0iBwgjuktSV5pmQRXxhG9ebYpsSKsBYbjKyxx-t0rkWZkDbjCctxYx/s320/Abita+25.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is wonder that this Louisiana brewery could be making great beer for a quarter of a century and I’ve only been aware of it for the last few years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True, craft beer is having a huge growth in popularity all over the U.S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this is a beer I should have been exposed to in some form way before I actually sought it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s my impressions:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bottle: 22oz.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cost: $7.99<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Style: American Strong Ale<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ABV: 7%<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Color: Dark brown like root beer<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Head: Thick and creamy<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Smell: Nice vanilla nose with caramel overtones<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Taste:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The vanilla is there but not as strong as in the smell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A nice smooth mouth feel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a roasted taste that is pronounced and finishes off with just a slight bitterness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overall:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A fine beer and worth a second try<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335812835283530985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-31593054302935291542012-03-02T06:58:00.001-05:002012-03-02T16:12:17.343-05:00Burlington Brew Tour - Continued<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHScJmBPr2txizkX0jMVZgmbA0ElMQLNfC6zI6UruOk_f53LWs5jVwsvE3kooMuxIA3bqGs5gOfdOeEpUByNPw3ktqe2awQDMA1XEKPAqFTC4Kq_-SFk75rlKM8Z34cJUp6nPQzYaImnl/s1600/Burlington+Feb+2012+047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHScJmBPr2txizkX0jMVZgmbA0ElMQLNfC6zI6UruOk_f53LWs5jVwsvE3kooMuxIA3bqGs5gOfdOeEpUByNPw3ktqe2awQDMA1XEKPAqFTC4Kq_-SFk75rlKM8Z34cJUp6nPQzYaImnl/s320/Burlington+Feb+2012+047.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We made it through our first brewery stop at the Vermont Brew Pub and now we walked down the street to American Flatbread which makes craft beer under the name Zero Gravity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt ushered us in a side door and we were directed to a large table in this packed establishment that he had reserved for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The selection of beers was diverse and our group was becoming much more animated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all became experts at judging the beers color and after tastes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVc7pAz5XQB40dIX4U_3v84n_0U1DQvBIlS2ky3eAYPcxUyr5DBbN586Ada-v4nb1SbYr8wlzx0KAzJhSoHfSfEJfhptD_yVqf-aUiqcCkrKJHP5P_9DZlET7N2Mbj59Ycapfi2QKv8R3z/s1600/Burlington+with+Sony+camera+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVc7pAz5XQB40dIX4U_3v84n_0U1DQvBIlS2ky3eAYPcxUyr5DBbN586Ada-v4nb1SbYr8wlzx0KAzJhSoHfSfEJfhptD_yVqf-aUiqcCkrKJHP5P_9DZlET7N2Mbj59Ycapfi2QKv8R3z/s320/Burlington+with+Sony+camera+014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A personal favorite was the Ole Ale which had a dark, complex flavor. I decided to get a growler of this English ale to take back to New York with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was tough to watch all the brick oven pizza float by without having a slice, or two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doreen and I doubled back after the tour and had dinner here just to confirm how good their Margarita-style pizza actually was.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5quzCshKxHVASEO8q27Z-DXlSXZVMBKPaBSOJOkh-PCMlxZvwnfP-kmO5x7niSTlTEcRiqbDkMpUiYQAHQsAlewCY1ZTWES4eYI8-FRwSiTmkecfCIYmb7PAQw0YflFrL5VI8LA6FBjdj/s1600/Burlington+Feb+2012+059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5quzCshKxHVASEO8q27Z-DXlSXZVMBKPaBSOJOkh-PCMlxZvwnfP-kmO5x7niSTlTEcRiqbDkMpUiYQAHQsAlewCY1ZTWES4eYI8-FRwSiTmkecfCIYmb7PAQw0YflFrL5VI8LA6FBjdj/s320/Burlington+Feb+2012+059.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next stop on this, the German Brew tour, was the German beer garden 2 blocks away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We again entered through a side entrance and walked downstairs to a small bar room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were served a Franziskaner Weissbier and a selection of appetizers including wiener schnitzel and various types of bratwurst.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ex8RKm8zDfxSBXU8EPozTsOonZIwiDW61uArnC1P29Dkue-ARE-kVNI9JR8AjWCLqr12qMj-jyMG-wiCBzy5NSPJaCSqVHWYuCO3TAPlFzb_h5O2kbqxF7Aqpvpi7p12BHQXilbtqamU/s1600/German+Taps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ex8RKm8zDfxSBXU8EPozTsOonZIwiDW61uArnC1P29Dkue-ARE-kVNI9JR8AjWCLqr12qMj-jyMG-wiCBzy5NSPJaCSqVHWYuCO3TAPlFzb_h5O2kbqxF7Aqpvpi7p12BHQXilbtqamU/s200/German+Taps.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The food was delicious but not very filling; just enough to make you want to come back for a whole meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I followed up with a Kostritzer on tap that finished our European experience nicely.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh278cfY-QW18zn5XQKTKRcs_84a_mzn7R_Yh2Vbjes4GhGGTExowpdxUIpFp4NlmZM2liKo2IoTKTm1eoc2NWWNbndNFIjAtV8c27z5j4izJpA0DQg0lFh575ERi-hsVUe0-r5LcZs6geg/s1600/Burlington+Feb+2012+074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh278cfY-QW18zn5XQKTKRcs_84a_mzn7R_Yh2Vbjes4GhGGTExowpdxUIpFp4NlmZM2liKo2IoTKTm1eoc2NWWNbndNFIjAtV8c27z5j4izJpA0DQg0lFh575ERi-hsVUe0-r5LcZs6geg/s320/Burlington+Feb+2012+074.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The final brewery of the tour was Magic Hat about 5 minutes by van outside of town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would guess that the owner’s favorite holiday is Halloween because the whole place is done up like a costume party in New Orleans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interestingly, the founder of Magic Hat, Alan Newman, lives a few houses down from where we were staying in Burlington.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before he got into brewing, he started Seventh Generation which sells environmentally conscious products. He left Magic hat a few years ago to start another brewery called Alchemy and Science which I’ve heard makes a killer IPA.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyC0F0JQvdv1pwdhVkgQeqotbTVEwrIxC2COsrKJiC3hGVLRqw2DimrtmCZns4jpkuaK7ukBGAQ-XZ7LdJaGg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back to the tour: There is a rusty metal castle tower next to the brewery’s front door that Doreen and I had to climb get the perspective from 20 feet above the group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We entered the brewery and walked into a large, dark circular room that contained T-shirts along with other merchandise and a packed bar pouring Magic Hat’s most popular selections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The walls and ceiling were covered with all sorts of posters and whimsical masks and creatures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt started us off with a #9 and followed it with about 5 or 6 others that, to be completely honest with you, I don’t remember too much about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the visual stimulus, along with the previous tastings, made it tough for me to focus on what I was drinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yykIoVhV6Eyd7dyA-ZuR4pANQ2jQ_fXtpgq1_oWPutsW4U_3a8qVhLtiY8y14knif4QU4RYzgpWfyVRC21jnf_NBLNvVqChSj5w9mpZC0UAQ0sQbyX1wR7EbUhBIyFdjVqNqWL_h7ONC/s1600/Burlington+Feb+2012+080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yykIoVhV6Eyd7dyA-ZuR4pANQ2jQ_fXtpgq1_oWPutsW4U_3a8qVhLtiY8y14knif4QU4RYzgpWfyVRC21jnf_NBLNvVqChSj5w9mpZC0UAQ0sQbyX1wR7EbUhBIyFdjVqNqWL_h7ONC/s320/Burlington+Feb+2012+080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Matt took us for a short tour of the facility that included a history of the brewery complete with a cemetery for “dead” styles no longer produced there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A large glass observation area over looked the brew floor and bottling machinery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shortly after that, we were whisked back into the van and were on our way to drop folks off at their respective hotels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We decided to double back to town, grab dinner and cab it back to our cottage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall, I would highly recommend the tour for novice or experienced craft beer drinkers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt’s knowledge and love for the subject made it a special occasion that we won’t soon forget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4OMGWiPuNNyQALPDjSyuYen16R5OU7-K4Af1RQoJ7pQhlwiWt0LRAWBp06qa6ChROKLZzDY7kdgjnnCgJLil1FT9yJB23QHfRm-CUv6Btd2_uRVAUvD3psK10i1BEZbHfSXoJONPbLU_/s1600/Burlington+Feb+2012+103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4OMGWiPuNNyQALPDjSyuYen16R5OU7-K4Af1RQoJ7pQhlwiWt0LRAWBp06qa6ChROKLZzDY7kdgjnnCgJLil1FT9yJB23QHfRm-CUv6Btd2_uRVAUvD3psK10i1BEZbHfSXoJONPbLU_/s400/Burlington+Feb+2012+103.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335812835283530985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-47892821518797728592012-02-21T18:23:00.004-05:002012-02-21T18:42:05.893-05:00Burlington, VT – Day two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our first evening in Burlington was spent walking from restaurant to restaurant trying to find one that wasn’t completely booked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We settled on a seafood place called on <a href="http://www.shantyontheshore.com/" target="_blank">The Shanty</a> which was down by the lake on Battery Street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The crab cake was mostly breading but Doreen’s salad with goat cheese was right on the money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their house ale is made by Long Trail in Bridgewater Corners near Killington.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found it a little weak and watered down as I have Long Trail’s other offerings. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LNTGAKtnmw9sW3FnMxnQ0mRGC79f7jvIv1klO0BgTIuV6F44Md4ChFnl4EJeP4w6yGssusrnSDaRSQznzyqETa0G7BC7h_CMJjOro9LwSVd8d-L_LxzV_bOu7vqmrsqqJpWh5Tp6Axon/s1600/Burlington+with+Sony+camera+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LNTGAKtnmw9sW3FnMxnQ0mRGC79f7jvIv1klO0BgTIuV6F44Md4ChFnl4EJeP4w6yGssusrnSDaRSQznzyqETa0G7BC7h_CMJjOro9LwSVd8d-L_LxzV_bOu7vqmrsqqJpWh5Tp6Axon/s320/Burlington+with+Sony+camera+010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We got up early on Sunday and took a jog on the Burlington bike trail that runs along Lake Champlain and stretches 7.6 miles to the Winooski River.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We only did about half the trail, much of which hugs the rail road tracks and bisects Burlington’s many town parks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a shower and a light breakfast, we scheduled our pick up by <a href="http://www.burlingtonbrewtours.com/" target="_blank">The Burlington Brew Tour</a> which would transport us to four local breweries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt Taylor, the owner and operator of the tour, picked us up last and we squeezed into the van with a dozen other beer lovers .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He got us introducing ourselves and talking about our favorite beer styles on the short ride to the<a href="http://www.vermontbrewery.com/beers" target="_blank"> Vermont Brew Pub</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt has been brewing his own beer for over 8 years and was the perfect guide to the workings of the brewery’s production line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He explained the ingredients used to make beer, what each piece of equipment was used for and what made each beer unique.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMwJh9HPmnx2ylKBFHCpV62RM4SubruO9My75rwW15RvKJLhZB60c-zbGJH2KlyBNkP-_TbvljMMPYwokma_u21fW-4o2myLtF1bwc4iY24otAiqOoNk-R0aNRGLYKDMCndxOs51xVpgi/s1600/Burlington+Feb+2012+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMwJh9HPmnx2ylKBFHCpV62RM4SubruO9My75rwW15RvKJLhZB60c-zbGJH2KlyBNkP-_TbvljMMPYwokma_u21fW-4o2myLtF1bwc4iY24otAiqOoNk-R0aNRGLYKDMCndxOs51xVpgi/s320/Burlington+Feb+2012+041.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next, we were taken up to the pub and sampled six of the brewery’s most popular beers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started with a raspberry beer called Forbidden Fruit that’s made with 500 lbs. of berries per batch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found it a little too sour for my taste buds, but it was a big hit with the ladies in the group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was interested to try their brown ale called OSHAnanagans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It tasted much like a Newcastle Brown Ale from England and was missing some of the maltiness I’ve come to love in American Browns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My favorite of the flight was the Lake Champlain Chocolate Stout which is made from cocoa from Madagascar and lactose from a nearby farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was creamy, smooth with just a hint of bitterness like the chocolate it’s named after.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">More to come . . . </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkp9xoN4as3ZUZ-mudXOtXpyNkTHbCikArXsq1S3IgUxs7dCgZFxcOuLivqHYbGs_Tk3Ah9ZMvwhgRl0UEoGHcFlEcDCM1i09S1ZrHC6TVfSTfiJXDWgeS8_wFS3HSXwQS525DqHfm4pP9/s1600/Burlington+Feb+2012+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkp9xoN4as3ZUZ-mudXOtXpyNkTHbCikArXsq1S3IgUxs7dCgZFxcOuLivqHYbGs_Tk3Ah9ZMvwhgRl0UEoGHcFlEcDCM1i09S1ZrHC6TVfSTfiJXDWgeS8_wFS3HSXwQS525DqHfm4pP9/s320/Burlington+Feb+2012+044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335812835283530985noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649361781810027977.post-40915357300119322042012-02-21T09:11:00.001-05:002012-02-21T09:14:00.638-05:00Burlington VT – Craft Beer Mecca<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhaRvP4LWErDyUo4naPE1uR3j1wW21PMdR1Ke9Jceq1yCLzTfRaLdiIbEjImxFh-9pmMaIRaz0Fr9Zgpw3OoCv8hPywkh_WN1BTPkefU_c-83Zb2xVJwgg_xljoeDGShru3MGNUp-0PFd/s1600/Drive+to+Burlington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhaRvP4LWErDyUo4naPE1uR3j1wW21PMdR1Ke9Jceq1yCLzTfRaLdiIbEjImxFh-9pmMaIRaz0Fr9Zgpw3OoCv8hPywkh_WN1BTPkefU_c-83Zb2xVJwgg_xljoeDGShru3MGNUp-0PFd/s320/Drive+to+Burlington.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Hon, what kind of car is that behind us?” asks my wife Doreen. We had been making our way up the scenic back roads of eastern Vermont toward Burlington enjoying the views of cows, wide open pastures and the Adirondack Mountains in the distance. I had just ducked my head into a bag of food we packed to find a snack. When I looked up into the side view mirror an unmarked white sedan was following close behind us. “I think it’s a cop car”, I replied. We pulled over, the cop walked up to our car and said “Do you know how fast you were going through that town back there?" There was a 50 MPH sign directly in front of us, but apparently the speed limit dropped to 30 somewhere in the last mile or so. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p>.</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">While the cop was back in his car with Doreen’s documents checking to see if she was wanted in some other state, she was trying to understand how she could be getting her first speeding ticket ever here in Vermont. “I didn’t even see a town, much less a 30 MPH sign back there.” Agreeing, I said, “My head was only down for a minute and I missed that “town”.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our car was new and the temporary inspection sticker taped to the windshield was expired, so we did not voice any of our concerns to the police officer. He seemed more nervous than we were as he gave us our $42 violation and warned us about the small town up the road that can "really come up quick if you are not looking for it". As we drove away, we had some laughs about just how small this town must be if we didn’t even notice his town. Thus, started our President’s Day weekend in Vermont. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZROoKKdZHwGdYmWusfqumF0nA6YKKPcqBfFmTt9dB5nTuF5VGekInOUX1HJTdSuP9b1fk0wVGj_o7pLz4HodutcUL9CuemfPdc-LDpLUOO12T567djSQl7biuFRXuRFwkcClVbBiIh2j/s1600/Burlington+Vermont+church+street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZROoKKdZHwGdYmWusfqumF0nA6YKKPcqBfFmTt9dB5nTuF5VGekInOUX1HJTdSuP9b1fk0wVGj_o7pLz4HodutcUL9CuemfPdc-LDpLUOO12T567djSQl7biuFRXuRFwkcClVbBiIh2j/s320/Burlington+Vermont+church+street.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Luckily, we were only about 40 minutes out of Burlington and we had two days of spa treatments, great meals and, of course, lots of craft beers to look forward to. Vermont has more breweries and brew pubs per capita than any other state and most of them are found in and around Burlington its biggest city. Our spirits improved drastically as we drove by <a href="http://www.magichat.net/" target="_blank">Magic Hat Brewery</a> on our way into town. We found free public parking and walked to Church Street, which is closed for to vehicles and has some of Burlington's best shops and eateries. This pedestrian mall is the entertainment hub of the city and has a New Orleans feel to it. There are granite boulders jutting out from the road to sit on, statues to pose next to for a picture and street performers who will sing your favorite song for a dollar. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We were famished from the 5 hour drive, so we had lunch at Halverson’s and I ordered my first beer of the weekend: a Magic Hat #9. Significantly, #9 was the first real craft beer I ever tried and it’s what got me hooked on good beer. As always, the fruity aftertaste shines through in this “Not so quite Pale Ale” and it made me anxious to visit the brewery which we planned to do with <a href="http://www.burlingtonbrewtours.com/" target="_blank">BurlingtonBrew Tours</a> on day 2 of our stay. The toasted ham and Swiss melt was delicious and it gave me a reason to order a second local beer. Fiddlehead IPA is brewed about 5 minutes from where I was eating in Shelburne, VT. This beer was a little too hoppy for the time of day and the weather – winter brings out the dark beer lover in me – but it primed me nicely for my massage at Jirvana Spa across the street. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjV2yG6uu4SnD_BetVKfQ5sWSHDqblSm0pZrGSOzibWp3cx-b2zFtVUlHtxYjEkqRgDExzX5cVA5hvZmnmuk5dKf2LYVUrF4AJLYqQwa6jppH2G4NMGqyPqPelqbaoKd78XFpE5nOOhn2Y/s1600/Farmhouse+Tap+and+Grill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjV2yG6uu4SnD_BetVKfQ5sWSHDqblSm0pZrGSOzibWp3cx-b2zFtVUlHtxYjEkqRgDExzX5cVA5hvZmnmuk5dKf2LYVUrF4AJLYqQwa6jppH2G4NMGqyPqPelqbaoKd78XFpE5nOOhn2Y/s320/Farmhouse+Tap+and+Grill.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">An hour long deep tissue massage later and my body felt like warm butter. Doreen had booked a facial after her massage so I had some time to kill. A guy I met at the bar in Halverson’s told me that the place with the best craft beer list in town was <a href="http://www.farmhousetg.com/FARMHOUSE_BeerList_Web.pdf" target="_blank">The Farm House Tap andGrill</a>. So I walked the 20 or so steps and entered a packed Manhattan style bistro. The vibe was not for me but the beer list was impressive. They had micro beers from all over the US as well as many Germans and Belgians. I opted for a Black Moon from <a href="http://www.rockartbrewery.com/" target="_blank">Rock Art Brewing Co.</a> in Morrisville, VT. This black IPA had a nice smokiness that mellowed any bite from the hops. The 10% ABV was not detectable in the taste or by Doreen when I returned to the spa. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb99kDWyXmdl1lULmGAWfgK-BnNygvFusM3v0X_DB8gLv6PvPqe_XOV8zgjRDyqhXbMYc2qEP5fcTmEEn-8HjEgOMkMxgIBAKQ6sHRVsTkGlIt4VrGF21mQyD6qaPaqj9TN12JRQC_kwne/s1600/Burlington+with+Sony+camera+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb99kDWyXmdl1lULmGAWfgK-BnNygvFusM3v0X_DB8gLv6PvPqe_XOV8zgjRDyqhXbMYc2qEP5fcTmEEn-8HjEgOMkMxgIBAKQ6sHRVsTkGlIt4VrGF21mQyD6qaPaqj9TN12JRQC_kwne/s320/Burlington+with+Sony+camera+006.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We were staying in a cottage behind <a href="http://www.oneofakindbnb.com/" target="_blank">One of a Kind B & B</a> about half a mile north of Church Street. When we got there, Maggie the owner was not around but a note on the front door told us to make ourselves at home. And we did. This little cottage perched on the high banks of Lake Champlain was one of the best all-around accommodations we’ve found. The place was small but had everything we needed: bed, bathroom and kitchen. At $150 per night it would have been a great value even without the killer views across the lake to the snow covered Adirondacks about 50 miles away. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To be continued . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvEmFfOcVCJd1MM0Vyvo9asgc6La5xwqiChyphenhyphenB60yEwUTlJkjjdbxjw1nBLkvEEN8HcIbGwk6C_nF_h2_eOrINGpH9a9g-qhmgAgk32RcjJgDouxbOGTbrdXb7-ILo6_DIEvhVwEOtVbJk/s1600/Burlington+Feb+2012+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvEmFfOcVCJd1MM0Vyvo9asgc6La5xwqiChyphenhyphenB60yEwUTlJkjjdbxjw1nBLkvEEN8HcIbGwk6C_nF_h2_eOrINGpH9a9g-qhmgAgk32RcjJgDouxbOGTbrdXb7-ILo6_DIEvhVwEOtVbJk/s400/Burlington+Feb+2012+002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335812835283530985noreply@blogger.com4