Author: iabeerbaron

Beer Release News: Bell's Hopslam

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One of the most anticipated beer releases of the year is coming to a shelf near you. Originally reported as a late January/Early February release; some news that comes from http://www.beernews.org and Bells’ twitter account that they will be expecting Hopslam to arrive this week! Rejoice hopheads and beer lovers!!
In the dark about Hopslam? Here’s the commercial description:

Starting with six different hop varietals added to the brew kettle & culminating with a massive dry-hop addition of Simcoe hops, Bell’s Hopslam Ale possesses the most complex hopping schedule in the Bell’s repetoire. Selected specifically because of their aromatic qualities, these Pacific Northwest varieties contribute a pungent blend of grapefruit, stone fruit, and floral notes. A generous malt bill and a solid dollop of honey provide just enough body to keep the balance in check, resulting in a remarkably drinkable rendition of the Double India Pale Ale style.

There goes my paycheck! If you are in Iowa and have seen it, please let me know!

Beer Release News: Bell’s Hopslam

2 Comments

One of the most anticipated beer releases of the year is coming to a shelf near you. Originally reported as a late January/Early February release; some news that comes from http://www.beernews.org and Bells’ twitter account that they will be expecting Hopslam to arrive this week! Rejoice hopheads and beer lovers!!
In the dark about Hopslam? Here’s the commercial description:

Starting with six different hop varietals added to the brew kettle & culminating with a massive dry-hop addition of Simcoe hops, Bell’s Hopslam Ale possesses the most complex hopping schedule in the Bell’s repetoire. Selected specifically because of their aromatic qualities, these Pacific Northwest varieties contribute a pungent blend of grapefruit, stone fruit, and floral notes. A generous malt bill and a solid dollop of honey provide just enough body to keep the balance in check, resulting in a remarkably drinkable rendition of the Double India Pale Ale style.

There goes my paycheck! If you are in Iowa and have seen it, please let me know!

Beer Review #73: Boddington's Pub Ale

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Boddington’s is a beer that I thought was very good when I started going outside the realm of mass-produced light beers. Drank it frequently at various bars and restaurants, but lately it seems to be rather lackluster and missing some flavors. Maybe it’s too light? Maybe the body is too thin? Or maybe my taste buds have just expanded a bit. Is it still a drinkable brew? You bet, but instead of ordering one of these I’m looking for a great American Craft Beer or at least a Guinness. Usually around a $7-8 price tag for a four pack.

 I do love the can that the beer comes in. Anybody have this on tap? Maybe there would be a taste difference between can and tap.

Style: Bitter

ABV: 4.7%

Purchased at: Hy-Vee; Marion, IA.

REVIEW
Pour: Pale orange pour, nice thick head.
Aroma: Malty, caramel smell.
Taste: Bitter taste, somewhat bready and malty. Too watered down for me.
Overall: C

Recommendation: Not a terrible beer to order, but save the money and get something better. Try maybe a Honker’s Ale, or if you can get your hands on Surly’s bitter. Available pretty much everywhere with a decent selection. Thoughts?

Beer Review #73: Boddington’s Pub Ale

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Boddington’s is a beer that I thought was very good when I started going outside the realm of mass-produced light beers. Drank it frequently at various bars and restaurants, but lately it seems to be rather lackluster and missing some flavors. Maybe it’s too light? Maybe the body is too thin? Or maybe my taste buds have just expanded a bit. Is it still a drinkable brew? You bet, but instead of ordering one of these I’m looking for a great American Craft Beer or at least a Guinness. Usually around a $7-8 price tag for a four pack.

 I do love the can that the beer comes in. Anybody have this on tap? Maybe there would be a taste difference between can and tap.

Style: Bitter

ABV: 4.7%

Purchased at: Hy-Vee; Marion, IA.

REVIEW
Pour: Pale orange pour, nice thick head.
Aroma: Malty, caramel smell.
Taste: Bitter taste, somewhat bready and malty. Too watered down for me.
Overall: C

Recommendation: Not a terrible beer to order, but save the money and get something better. Try maybe a Honker’s Ale, or if you can get your hands on Surly’s bitter. Available pretty much everywhere with a decent selection. Thoughts?

IaBeerBaron 5th Annual Family Beer Festival Results

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Ok, finally getting to this. I’m pretty sure I have them in the right order, we lost the sheet but I think this is correct; if not someone let me know.
This years beerfest was marked by the unprecedented third straight victory for the IaBeerBaroness; another important feat accomplished was the first Iowa brewed beer won the competition. A very good selection this year, maybe the best. Notable happenings were the bringing of Bells Two Hearted Ale by two different people and having them finish in different spots (it’s a blind testing). Also, the argument between the ladies and gents over IPAs. The women do not like them, but they guys do. We did have IPAs show well, but not win. Onto the results.

1st PLACE: Great River Brewing Coffee Stout  —- an easy victory here as the Baronness delivers again.

2nd PLACE: Bells Two Hearted Ale —– my clear-cut favorite, the aroma won over the ladies, but the hops did not.

 

3rd PLACE: Victory Hop Devil —– a surprising third; either showing that hops are coming on or that they will never get 1st

 

4th PLACE: Celis Raspberry Wheat — I thought this one was terrible, but I don’t speak for everyone (I probably should though).

 

5th PLACE: Bells Two Hearted Ale — not a typo, entered twice and finished in two different spots.

 

6th PLACE: Left Hand Milk Stout —- One of my favorites, but this bottle tasted way off for some reason.

 

7th PLACE: New Belgium Fat Tire — A few years ago this might have won it.

 

 

 

8th PLACE:  Stone IPA — my entry into the festival; thought I had shot; love this beer! I stand by my entry!!

9th PLACE: Potosi Porter — Another last place finish for Tees Dees. He should have brought some Sun King from Indy.

Anyway, another great year, another fun year, but this one had more controversy to go along with the tasting. The Baroness continues to sit at the top of the throne, but is a marked lady as the rest of the family is already looking forward to next year.

Guest Review by sLiM: New Glarus Apple Ale

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Thanks to sLiM for another great review!

ABV: 4%

Style-Fruit Ale

As mentioned in earlier articles. New Glarus Brewing makes some of the best beers available in the country. I always make sure to get some anytime I am near Wisconsin. On my last trip, I visited Prairie Du Chien with some friends. I was planning on getting some various WI brews but I ended up leaving only with New Glarus products. One of them was a beer I haven’t tried before; Apple Ale. It is a thumbprint series beer that the clerk informed me is only available for 2 months a year. I sometimes enjoy the products of Woodchuck Cider which I do not believe is actually considered beer. This is, however, so I was hoping it would be a little different. It ended up being quite similar. It did not have as strong of an apple taste as the cider does, which I liked, but it still didn’t taste like I was drinking a beer. New Glarus makes some great fruit beers (see Belgian Red review) , but I don’t think this was quite on par with those.

Pour-Copper/light brown pour with very little head
Aroma-Nice apple aroma, no hints of anything else
Taste-Good solid apple taste; not too overbearing (Those of you who have ever tried Wild Blueberry Ale from a brewery that I can’t name right at the moment, it’s available around Iowa; will appreciate not getting flooded by alcohol and fruit flavor), unfortunately not much of what makes a beer taste like a beer.

Overall- C+. This is a good change of pace brew but nothing remarkable. Still, you have to appreciate how many different offerings a smaller brewery like New Glarus is consistently making available. A big reason they have been so successful is their creativity. A big part of brewing is and always will be a trial and error. This would still be considered a god beer by many peoples’ standards. But since I knew it was from New Glarus, I was kind of disappointed, guess that shows just how far they have come as a brewery.

Iowa Beer News: Another Brewery?

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Just received an emai from Reds’ Alehouse with news that they plan construction on brewery starting in 2012. Here is the offical quote.

“As we wind down 2011, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank each of you for giving us another great year at Reds. Lots of good times at the alehouse were had by old friends and new. We will continue to bring you the best food and service in the area, but most importantly we appreciate your continued encouragement of our growing niche in the craft beer world. 
 
2011 was highlighted by some great events like our first tap takeover, first beer breakfast, sold out beer dinners, and just for fun, a couple more tap takeovers. 2012 is looking to be an even bigger year for Reds with the anticipated construction of our own brewery right next to the restaurant. Things are looking up, and we have all of you to thank for it!”
 
Awesome news for those in and around North Liberty, IA. Keep the beer coming!

Beer Review #72: Boulevard Pale Ale

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Boulevard Brewing is the reason that I got into drinking craft beer and the reason why I can be kind of a prick or beer snob when it comes to talking or drinking beer. I’ve reviewed many of their beers in the past and after enjoying my time at Reds Alehouse with Boulevard’s tap takeover I thought it would be a good idea to review their flagship beer which is their pale ale.
A few years ago I would have considered this to be right up there with some of my favorite pales, but after drinking tons of pales, IPAs, and double IPAs, this beer just doesn’t stick out to me like it used to. Don’t get me wrong, it is still a pretty decent brew, just doesn’t have the flare that many in this category do, and maybe that’s ok. Boulevards’ heavy produced beers like their wheat, porter, and pale it seem are being overshadowed by their Smokestack Series.

The commercial description of Fresh Hop from Great Divide is:
“Boulevard Pale Ale is a smooth, fruity, well-balanced beer with year-round appeal. A variety of caramel malts impart a rich flavor and amber color, while liberal use of whole Cascade hops adds zest and aroma. Pale Ale is the first beer we brewed, and continues to be a perennial favorite.”

Style: American Pale Ale

ABV: 5.1%

Purchased at: Gary’s Grocery in Mount Vernon, IA

REVIEW
Pour: Cloudy orange, pour with nice white head.
Aroma: Citrus hops and sweetness from the malt.
Taste: Light on the hops that follows with the sweetness of the malt.
Overall: C

Recommendation: Still a solid beer that is very drinkable for just about any occasion. Boulevard is a brewery worth supporting, maybe not the flashiest beers, but they don’t have to be.

Restaurant Review: Zeppelins; Cedar Rapids, IA

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Reviewing based on my 2nd trip to Zeppelins in Cedar Rapids. My wife and I took both our kids out to eat and decided on this place. We had been here once previously and had enjoyed our experience. Walking into the place it has a really nice decor and the bar area is very nice. The first thing I always check is the beer selection and Zeppelins was surprisingly good, actually it was fantastic. They had a few seasonals and then many local brews; including stuff from Great River in Davenport, Peace Tree in Knoxville, but they also had one of my favorites; Bells Two Hearted Ale. Anytime that is offered on tap I am a happy man.
We were there on a Sunday, and they still had happy hour 2 for 1 specials which is always a nice treat.

My wife and I each had a Great River Stout, which is very good on tap. We also shared an appetizer of their cheese wontons which are served with some excellent honey mustard sauce.
My wife ordered a steak sandwich and I had the Zeppelin burger which was a burger with fried onions, bbq sauce, cheddar cheese, and a few strips of bacon. Both meals were fantastic! I would definitely get either meal again; my five-year olds’ chicken strips were very good as well. Family friendly, good food, good beer, tough to beat that combination. I think one downfall many people would see, would be the price. But I’m a believer in you pay for what you get and at Zeppelins you get some really excellent food. If you are in the Cedar Rapids area and want some great food, (not only burgers, but steaks, seafood, etc.) check it out! Check out the menu here! http://www.zeppelinscr.com/

Beer Review #71: Great Divide Fresh Hop Pale Ale

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I fell in love with Great Divide (www.greatdivde.com) products two years ago on my first trip out to Denver, CO. We hit a Rockies game and then decided to try Great Divide brewery and it would turn out to be one of the best ideas ever. We enjoyed trying many of their beers; Raspberry Ale, Yeti products, DPA, Titan, and many more. The bartenders were knowledgeable and the atmosphere was fantastic. Upon returning to the great state of Iowa, on one of my frequent trips to East Dubuque, IL to get some good brew I noticed they had Great Divide products!! I was ecstatic! They had the Yeti, Raspberry, and Titan, but I also noticed a bomber bottle of Fresh Hop Ale so I went with it.
The commercial description of Fresh Hop from Great Divide is:
“Brewing with fresh hops is a big endeavor, requiring four to five times the hop volume compared to using pelletized hops. Although the process is complex, it brings impressive results: Fresh Hop is an American-style pale ale with moderate hop bitterness marked by a unique and intensely grassy hop flavor and aroma.”
Shared this brew with my brother and we both thought it was damn good. To the review!!

Style: American Pale Ale

ABV: 6.1%

Purchased at: Family Beer and Liquor; East Dubuque, IL

REVIEW
Pour: Hazy orange, amber pour with nice white head.
Aroma: Tropical fruit and grassy smell.
Taste: Medium bodied hops with citrus and spice, a little grassy.
Overall: B+

Eastern Iowa Residents: Pretty sure that Great Divide has had to pull out of Illinois also due to high demand, but keep an eye out anywhere you go because hopefully it will be returning soon.