Events for Week of May 24, 2010

Catskeller in Tampa, FL- put it on the list!

Sorry I am late! We are back from a whirlwind trip to DC: “Hello” Pizza Paradiso, Brickskeller, Old Dominion Beer, Stoudt’s Brewing Co….but we are back to Seattle and ready to blog. Thanks for sticking with us during our trip!

And your events for the last week in May.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Green Flash Gravity Cask: Peekskill, New York

6:00PM- 12:00AM@ Birdsall House

They will be tapping two gravtiy casks from the Green Flash Brewing Co.: American ESB at 5.6% ABV and an Imperial Red Ale at 8% ABV.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Goose Island Beer Dinner: Beavercreek, Ohio

7:00PM- 9:00PM @ Spinoza’s Gourmet Pizza and Salad

This menu includes an amazing five course meal paired with beers from Goose Island Brewing Co. This menu is ridiculous and Matilda is a beer not to be missed.

1. “Summertime” German-Syle Kolsch paired with House-made Soft Pretzel with Roasted Garlic Aioli
2. “312″ Urban Wheat Ale paired with Bruschetta with Goat Cheese and Roasted Yellow Pepper-Cilantro Pesto
3. “Sofie” Belgian Style Farmhouse Ale paired with a salad of Mache Lettuce, Chilled Wild-Caught Sea Scallops, Honey Roasted Pecans, and Lemon Caper Vinaigrette
4. “Matilda” Belgian Style Pale Ale paired with Hearth Baked Pizza with Pesto, Lump Crab, Pine Nuts, Goat Cheese, and Roasted Chilies
5. “Pere Jacues” Belgian Style Abbey Ale paired with Strawberry Cheesecake with Belgian Chocolate Sauce
6. “Night Stalker” Imperial Stout (part of the Goose Island limited “Heavy Weight Beer Collection”)

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Southern Tier Brewery Night: Tampa, Florida

7:00PM-9:00PM @ Datz Deli

Southern Tier is considered one of the top ten breweries in the US of A by all three authors of bb.com.  Go to this now, stat! Check out this tap list, its unspeakable:

MOKAH Chocolate Coffee Stout- 1 of 3 in Tampa
JAVAH Coffee Stout
OAK AGED UNEARTHLY Imperial IPA- Very limited
Inequity Imperial Black Ale
HOP SUN
BIG RED Imperial Red
HOPPE Imperial Pale Ale
BACK BURNER Barley Wine- Very Limited

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Belgium Beer Festival: Cinncinati, Ohio

11:00AM- 10:00PM @ Catskeller

Flights will be available of full pours by the glass. The draft lineup will feature all Belgian-style ales, most from Belgium and some others produced outside of Belgium but inspired by the traditional style. Beers on tap include: Urthel Samaranth; Bosteels Tripel Karmeliet and Huyghe Delirium Tremens.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Friday Night Flights: Florence, Kentucky

6:00PM-7:00PM @ Party Town

Ok, this place is called Party Town and each week at least eight beers are available for you to try at a cost of two dollars.  This Friday from 6-7pm you will be joined by the best brewery in St. Louis, Missouri: Schlafly. Schlafly’s Quadrupel, Grand Cru, Export IPA, and a blend of their bourbon barrel aged Barleywine and Pale ale will all be on tap.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

San Francisco Giants’ Brewfest: San Francisco, California

3:00PM -6:00PM @ AT&T Park

In addition to a ticket to the game in the Brewfest section, this $20 ticket package includes entrance to the private pregame Brewfest party in Lot D from 3pm-6pm, with complimentary samples of delicious regional and world beer styles provided by the participating breweries.  Come to this first time event and be a part of beer history!

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Brew At the Zoo: Baltimore, Maryland

1:00PM-7:00PM @ the Maryland Zoo

Animals and alcohol- done and done. Brew at the Zoo and Wine, Too! couples food and beverage with music and fun! Tickets are required and include unlimited beer and wine tastings, a commemorative tasting glass, 3 live bands per day, and access to food, snack, artisan, and commercial vendors.  Tickets will be for sale online VERY soon. Buy early and save!

Monday, May 31, 2010

*We will be camping this weekend, see you on Tuesday!*

Events for Week of May 3, 2010

d.b.a. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn- stop by for cask fest!

After a weekend of Hoppin’ Frog, Jolly Pumpkin, Naked City’s own brews and Rodenbach, I present to you, the next week of beer events.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Great Lakes Beer Tasting: Oakdale, Minnesota

4:30PM-6:30PM @ Cork and Barrel Wine and Spirits

Stop by and sample one of the greats from the Mid-West: Great Lakes Brewing Co. from Cleveland Ohio will be serving Dortmunder Gold (Dortmunder), Edmund Fitzgerald (Porter), Eliot Ness (Dark Amber), Burning River (Pale Ale) and Commodore Perry (IPA). Bring a business card and drop it in the bucket, at the end of the tasting we will draw a name for a six pack of beer.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

BrewDog Tasting: Hooksett, New Hampshire

4:30PM-7:30PM @ Bert’s Better Beers

Try out BrewDog from Scotland. Punk IPA, Rip Tide Stout, Dogma, Paradox Smokehead and Paradox Isle of Arran will be sampled.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Day of the Dogfish: Cincinnati, Ohio

5:00PM- 10:00PM @ Catskeller
Samples flights from Dogfish Head Brewing, a innovative brewery out of Delaware. On draft will be: Red & White; Black & Blue; Burton Baton; Chateau Jiahu; Palo Santo Marron and Midas Touch. Fingers crossed, as there might be some 90 Minute & Raison D’Etre available.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Southern Tier Brewery Night: Tampa, Florida

7:00PM- 10:30PM @ Mellow Mushroom

Southern Tier Brewing Co. ‘s IPA, 422, Unearthly Imperial IPA, and Iniquity Imperial Black Ale will all be on tap along with other Southern Tier bottles. GOOD TIMES.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Smuttynose Tasting: Somersworth, New Hampshire

4:00PM-6:00PM @ Somersworth Village Market

New Hampshire’s very own Smuttynose Brewing Co. is on the board tonight. Although the beers available for tasting have not been listed, fingers cross for their IPA and Wheatwine!

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Williamsburg Cask Ale Festival: Brooklyn, New York

1:00PM-1:00AM @  D.B.A.

Great place in BK (there is also one in New Orleans) – tonight (according to ratebeer.com) expect about 16 rare and tasty cask beers to be pouring over the weekend, all tapped at once, including beers not normally seen in cask in NYC. Beer range is courtesy of Alex Hall (BA: Imbiber) in conjunction with Ray Deter of ‘dba’.  Beer will come in half pint and 16oz measures, there’s no entry fee and you pay by the glass.

Italian Beer Festival: Seal Beach, California

11:30AM-11:30PM @ Beachwood BBQ

Italians are known for pizza, art, pasta and wine- but tonight, come sample 18 different Italian brews.

Great Week! At least three of my top ten breweries are having a tasting this week. This weekend we had the conversation of our top 10 US breweries. I could only come up with 9 off the top of my head.  What are your favorite breweries? Leave a comment or email me at jess@beerblotter.com with an event you want us to post or to just start a dialogue about your favorite brewery!

The Cellar: Beer Lineup Includes Cigar City, Great Lakes, Three Floyds & More

Wowsers. This Great Lakes Imperial Stout takes the cake.

Here are some sexy shots of recent interesting pulls from the cellar. We are going to be brief, but wanted to let you all know what we liked, and what some bottles are tasting like right now.

Great Lakes Blackout Stout (Imperial Stout): Cleveland, OH

ABV – 9%

Vintage – 2010

RateBeer – 100

Commercial Description –

A Russian Imperial Stout with a hearty malt body and bold hop flavor. Named after the infamous “Blackout of 2003” that left the northeastern United States in complete darkness, but resulted in old-fashioned neighborhood porch parties and fun.
Available in February & March.

One Sentence Note –

This high octane moster has a lot of mocha, coffee, and cinnamon flavor at a smoothness that you expect in your 5% stout, but at 9% you get so much more bang for your buck.

Jai Alai - A welcome gift during our trip to Florida

Cigar City Jai Alai IPA: Tampa, FL

ABV – 7.5%

Vintage – 2010

RateBeer – 99

Commercial Description:

Jai Alai India Pale Ale pays tribute to the original extreme sport. Jai Alai, a game native to the Basque region of Spain, is played on a court called a fronton. Jai Alai players attempt to catch a ball using a curved mitt, whilst the ball travels at speeds of up to 188 miles per hour! Proving they have a sense of humor the Spanish dub this game, with its ball traveling at race car speeds, “the merry game.” Tampa was once home to a busy Jai Alai fronton but sadly all that remains of Jai Alai in the Tampa Bay area is this India Pale Ale that we brew in tribute to the merry game. The India Pale Ale style of beer has its roots in the strong ales sent from England to thirsty British troops in India during the 18th century. To survive the journey the beers needed more alcohol and more hops (which act as a natural preservative). This “big” brewing practice made India Pale Ale one of the first “extreme beers” and a favorite among the Queens military men in India. Eventually it became a favorite style of the new crop of American brewers seeking more flavor and complexity than mass-market brewers were willing to offer.

One Sentence Note:

Sweet sugary hop monsoon batman – this malt goddess has a syrupy complexity with intense hop aromas, while remaining incredibly smooth drinking.

Three Floyd's 2009 Dreadnaught is hitting its bitterness decline - Drink Up!

Three Floyd’s Dreadnaught Imperial IPA: Chicago, IL

ABV – 9.5%

Vintage – 2009

RateBeer – 100

Commercial Description:

A hophead’s dream beer. This Imperial India Pale Ale has an opening salvo of mango, peach and citrus hop aromas that sit atop a pronounced caramel malt backbone. Although Dreadnaught is a strong and intensely hoppy ale, its complex flavors is both smooth and memorable. 9.5% ABV, 100 IBUs.

One Sentence Notes:

In October we bought two, consumed one immediately much to our hop-fiendish delight, and saved the other for 6 months to let the malts develop – a decent idea but its beginning to reach its bitterness decline, so drink up on this incredible beer! (we pushed that sentence a bit)

We previously discussed this one, but drank another. Lucky us.

Russian River Temptation Oak-Aged Sour Blonde: Santa Rosa, CA

ABV – 7.25%

Vintage – 2009 (1st batch of year)

RateBeer – 100

Commercial Description:

Is it beer, or is it wine? “Aged in French oak wine barrels for twelve months with distinct characteristics of fruit and subtle oak” sounds more like a description of wine than beer. But, of course, Temptation is indeed beer. Actually, Temptation is a Blonde Ale Fermented with a special strain of yeast, then aged in French oak chardonnay barrels. Flavors of wine and oak absorb into the brew throughout twelve months of aging. During this aging process, a secondary fermentation occurs using a yeast strain disliked by most brewers and winemakers called Brettanomyces. The “Bret” gives Temptation intriguing characteristics and a pleasant sourness. Temptation is re-fermented in the bottle to create its carbonation–a process commonly used to make fine champagne and sparkling wine. Spent yeast forms a thin layer of sediment to remain in the bottle.

One Sentence Notes:

We touched on it before, then re-sampled this champagne of beers (seriously, not High Life) whose sourness is not overpowered with intense malt flavors, making it perfect for the purist.

A pleasant surprise from your green brewers of oregon, Hopworks.

Hopworks Urban Brewery Organic Survival 7-Grain Stout: Portland, OR

ABV – 5.3%

Vintage – 2009

RateBeer – 98

Commercial Description:

Beer of the Ancients! Barley (Egyptian), Wheat (Mesopotamian), Oats (Egyptian), Amaranth (Aztec), Quinoa (Incan), Spelt (Mesopotamian), and Kamut (Egyptian) sustain the soul with a nutrients cultivated through the millennia. Finished with 15 pounds of cold-pressed Stumptown Hairbender espresso. Unlock the mystery entombed in darkness.

One Sentence Notes:

Holy smokes (literally) we were surprised by how incredibly well-crafted this NW stout could be with SEVEN ancient grains in the mash and a dump load of special Stumptown espresso – top NW single stout in my book, gets you your breakfast HOTD and pick me up.

Any new beers you have been drinking? Pulled something from the cellar that has been there a while and want to share how its doing these days? Please add a comment below.

52 Weeks: Stairway to Belgium, Sarasota, FL

 

Stairway to Belgium: Sarasota, FL

Week 13 of 52

Stairway to Belgium

1359 Main Street

Sarasota, FL

Rank: #6 of 12

Beer Bar/Restaurant

BEERS ON TAP (at time of visit) —>

St. Bernardus Abt 12

Dogfish Head 90 min

Stella Artois

Smuttynose Old Brown Dog

and others…

BOTTLE OPTIONS: Oh so many…check out their bottle list here. We indulged in Saint Somewhere, Smuttynose, Weyerbacher….

FOOD OPTIONS:  Amazing food. This menu covers a lot. You have Belgium dishes such as Mussels and frites and stew, plus down home country food like AMAZING ribs and mac and cheese to salads, grilled wings and sandwiches. It doesn’t stop there with waffles as their main dessert option. So many different types of food to pair with the long list of beers. We may not be in Belgium, but we are in heaven.

BAR OPINION:

In order to access the restaurant, you walk up a flight of stairs and as you approach the top of the stairs, glowing in the background, is a large refrigerator full of bottles. To my left a row of about 10 taps.

The space itself is large and poorly decorated. I felt like I was in a cheap Italian restaurant as opposed to holding the cozy, humble qualities that I loved so dearly in Belgium beer bars.  Now, we know we are not in Belgium, and that this place has only been open 7 weeks, but with several amazing restaurants in the immediate area, its time to decorate.

Beer time. A 750 ml of Saint Somewhere Lectio Divina was shared. A farmhouse ale brewed by a Florida brewery, it was darker in color than expected, but funky and full of flavor. We had tried a bottle of Saint Somewhere’s Pays Du Soleil a few months back when it first hit shelves in Seattle. We were incredibly impressed and decided to jump on a Lectio Divina in the brewery’s home state. We weren’t disappointed with the beer, but we weren’t flattened by its finish. A little crisp for a true farmhouse ale.

Dogfish Head 90 min was enjoyed by half of the table, as this well balanced IPA was straight from the tap. We started some beer rookies out with this beer, and they loved it. Dogfish Head’s ales reach the widest spectrum of the beer drinking public. Flavor seems to be key.

Weyerbacher’s Blithering Idiot, a barleywine and Smuttynose IPA cured our longing for Midwestern/Eastern beers. Blithering Idiot resembles more of a strong Belgian bruin ale, as opposed to an English Barleywine – which is why I reached for this beer on Belgium night. At 11.5% – it will take you places – but without an extreme sugary flavor.

During our visit, we were hosted by a very friendly and seemingly knowledgeable waitress named Mischa. Mischa did much to ensure that we enjoyed our time at the restaurant.

She directed us to some wonderful food, including the pound of char-grilled chicken wings that I split between the Beer Garlic and Inferno sauces. I loved these wings. Over time, I have come to believe that a grilled wing is vastly superior to the fryer. Their inferno sauce is the better of the two.

We also enjoyed some flemish stew, frites, mac and cheese and florida ribs. All of the food was very good. We were most impressed with the frites, which were traditionally double fried, heavily salted and accompanied with a spicy aoli. Get them.

In the end, our waitress was pleasant, the beer selection keeps you preoccupied, and the food was above average.  Its a win.

Pointer: Sit by the window, it will distract you from the poor decor. Recommended. Go there.

Beer Blotter On Tour: A Trip to Florida Showcases Cigar City Brewing

We are down in Florida for a few days and we thought we would sample the local beer fare.

Of course, ourfirst focus is on the illustrious barrel aged beers of Cigar City. We will b visiting the brewery and taking a brief tour with owner Joey Redner on Tuesday. So, more to come then.

For now, we took a trip to Whole Foods in Sarasota to see the shelved options. We were lucky to grab the last six pack of Cigar City Jai Alai IPA an a wider of Dunedin Brewing’s Big Red. We had an excellent night indulging in both.

By the end of the trip we shoul have sampled a bevy of Floridian delights. We will share our feelings about some of the south’s best.

Stay tuned.