Beer

The calendar thins out a bit here at the end of May. That's easily explained, though, by the impending Philly Beer Week, which begins May 31. I won't be listing any of the scheduled events here from May 31-June 9 since there's way too many, not too mention they have a website, and an app I believe, that does its job in gathering them all together in one place. Might I put a spreadsheet together

I first encountered Whitewater's new beer Hoppelhammer in The Purty Kitchen last month. It made its debut at the Belfast Beer Festival last November but sold out quickly -- draught and bottled -- long before I got to try it. The recently-refurbished and thoroughly craftified Purty was the Monkstown stop on a recent DART-based pub crawl and that's where I spotted the beer on the blackboard. A bottle was kindly donated by the management and shared around. It was tasty enough to warrant a proper review at a later stage.The opportunity arrived, again unexpectedly, some weeks later on a visit to The Brewer's House in Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone. This village pub has been transformed into a foodie haven while still retaining its essential pubbiness. At the centre of the offer is the beer, and it's likely to stay that way as the on-site pilot brewery is expanded later this year into a full-size kit. There was some remarkably well kept Belfast Ale on cask and surprise Hoppelhammer on keg.This stuff is 6% ABV and very well balanced between the big malt and big hops. Even from the very start the aroma mixes sweet 'n' sticky with a dusting of citrus and sherbet. Colourwise it's a rich dark Lucozade orange. The hops lay the first punch: bittersweet marmalade, followed quickly by a spreading warmth -- it could definitely pass for stronger than it is. I was expecting a layer of toasty malt, like you often get in English IPAs of a similar strength, but none of that is permitted. The hops continue to throw shapes, running through grassy, to tangy and metallic, and finishing on a mouth-watering bitter bite. For all of its power it's a very drinkable beer and I was well able to throw back two pints as an accompaniment to my lamb and in lieu of a dessert.Whether big-and-hoppy is just a fad for 2013, or whether this really is part of a new wave in Irish brewing remains to be seen. I'm just happy to have the 'hammer while it's here and hope that it's worth Whitewater's time to keep it going. Buy it if you see it.

“Crafting a Nation” spends 90 minutes fussing over exactly what makes America’s craft beer so special but never talks taste.

It’s been a little while since we reported on new beers from New Belgium. So let’s get to it already Introducing Paardebloem and Pluot into the Lips of Faith Series family. First off is Paardebloem, another collaboration in what is now New Belgium’s sixth with Salt Lake City brewery Red Rock Brewing. As with prior Lips of Faith beers Paardebloem uses unique ingredients, outside the usual malt & hops. For the new addition to the L.o.F. Series the brewery included peach juice, dandelions, Grains of Paradise, and many other organic ingredients. Thrown into a barrel this beer is blended with brettanomyce, New Belgium’s house Belgian ale yeast, and a touch of wood-aged sour beer. Paardebloem pours a light, hazy gold but will make you sit down at 9%. Second is Pluot, which is made from pluot juice. To the uninformed this is a hybrid of a plum and an apricot and has been described by the brewers as a light golden ale, with fruity aromas and distinct esters. Like PAadebloem this is brewed with N.B. house Belgian ale yeast and brettanomyces. Do not be surprised if you pick up whispers of spice and sense a malty backbone from 10 percent’er. Look for both of these beers to be on the shelf now. As always if you don’t find it at your grocer of bar, ask your server or grocer to buy some! Cheers About New Belgium Brewing Company New Belgium Brewing, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, is recognized as one of Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work and one of the Wall Street Journal’s Best Small Businesses. The 100% employee owned brewery is a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Business as designated by the League of American Bicyclists, and one of World Blu’s most democratic U.S. businesses. In addition to Fat Tire, New Belgium brews eight year round beers; Ranger IPA, Rampant Imperial IPA, Shift Pale Lager, Sunshine Wheat, 1554 Black Ale, Blue Paddle Pilsener, Abbey Belgian Ale and Trippel. Learn more at www.newbelgium.com.

I have been on the road all day so am just seeing now that one of my favorite beer bloggers Simon "Reluctant Scooper" Johnson of England has passed away. I never met Simon talked now and then through emails, tweets and blog comments. I completely enjoyed his writing, his optimism, bimbles and - perhaps more than anything else - his sheer interest and joy in so many things. And his humour. Here's his bio:A bloke who likes beer. What, you want to know more? OK. Ex face-painting clown, lives in the English Midlands, works with data, loves pork pie, hates couscous. Married with one barbecue. Knows some brewers and publicans. And politicians. And, ahem, "characters". Has written for papery stuff like Beer (the CAMRA quarterly magazine), Gin & It (UK drinks journal) and Beeradvocate (US beer magazine) but is still holding out to be the pub reviewer for Country Gentleman's Pig Fertilizer Gazette.Not sure many others could have pulled off the craft rope post or levened it with a bit of meaning as he did. And he thought to give thanks, too. He loved Orval. He helped with the grunt work of the OCB wiki. A friend has posted photos of how he spent last Saturday with Simon, goofing around. His sense of infectious fun came in everything he wrote.His blog can be found here and responses to the sad news can be shared on Twitter under the hashtag #RIPscoop. My thoughts are with his family and friends.

West Sixth says logo lawsuit is 'frivolous'; Magic Hat says it tried to work ... - #beer #logos

#bbpBox_337362692669050881 a { text-decoration:none; color:#D0001E; }#bbpBox_337362692669050881 a:hover { text-decoration:underline; } @beerpulse BeerPulse 1 case each of Lost Abbey Red Poppy & Port Hop-15 back online for ordering at @CraftshackBeer http://t.co/KuyHZR518R #sponsored 6 minutes agoReplyRetweetFavorite

Baseball fans at Miller Park will be able to quaff Bernie's Barrelman Ale ... - #beer #logos

This week’s Beer of the Week over on Food GPS is from California’s Brouwerij West.  And instead of giving extra tasting notes or talk of ingredients, I thought I would focus on the odd but endearing labels that they have on their bottles…. What do you think of their artwork?

(Seattle,WA) – Way back in 2006 or ’07, I got a call from Darren Gamache of Virgil Gamache Farms, the hop growers who bro…The post Elysian Konishiki Imperial IPA Returns From Retirement appeared first on thefullpint.com.