Category: Beer

Guest Review of Toppling Goliath Mornin’ Delight and Assassin Release

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tgMy friend, the Beer Counselor, wrote a nice little write-up on the morning in Decorah as well and I thought I would share that here. Further props for one of the best breweries in the business:

I just want to take a moment and echo the Baron’s words. We walked in the door and were greeted by high fives and excitement from the employees who undoubtedly had a long day ahead of them. The owner was there. He shook our hands and literally thanked us for coming. He asked if we had been able to get some Dorothy’s new world lager in our area. He also let us know we could get a free sample of Assassin before we bought it. Try to imagine Three F’s offering up a sample of DL before you put your money down. (No intended disrespect to Three F’s they could do that at DL day but I have a hard time imagining it) The people of TG were first class all the way.
The beer was simply amazing. I was first drawn to TG by their high quality line of hoppy beers. Golden Nugget, Pseudo Sue and Millenium Falcon are among my favorites. I was happy to have a brewery in Iowa making world-class beers that would make anyone envious. I had high hopes for the stouts but wondered going in if they would be a one trick pony with a gift for hops. My first sip of Morning Delight blew me away!!! I sat in amazement and sipped that beer. I have never experienced flavors like that previously and I fell in love. I followed that beer up with a 3-4 ounce sample of Assassin and was again so impressed with the incredible flavors that burst forth. I finished with a glass of Naughty Temple and could not stop grinning like a fool. I actually left without drinking a Pseudo Sue. I never thought I could be in Sue’s lair and leave without her sweet bite.
Now if Clark reads this and finds it in his heart we would like to come back for a Kentucky Brunch release sometime.
Thanks for everything to everyone we met while there (employees and patrons) for making it a high point in my beer travels memory!

Guest Review of Toppling Goliath Mornin' Delight and Assassin Release

1 Comment

tgMy friend, the Beer Counselor, wrote a nice little write-up on the morning in Decorah as well and I thought I would share that here. Further props for one of the best breweries in the business:

I just want to take a moment and echo the Baron’s words. We walked in the door and were greeted by high fives and excitement from the employees who undoubtedly had a long day ahead of them. The owner was there. He shook our hands and literally thanked us for coming. He asked if we had been able to get some Dorothy’s new world lager in our area. He also let us know we could get a free sample of Assassin before we bought it. Try to imagine Three F’s offering up a sample of DL before you put your money down. (No intended disrespect to Three F’s they could do that at DL day but I have a hard time imagining it) The people of TG were first class all the way.
The beer was simply amazing. I was first drawn to TG by their high quality line of hoppy beers. Golden Nugget, Pseudo Sue and Millenium Falcon are among my favorites. I was happy to have a brewery in Iowa making world-class beers that would make anyone envious. I had high hopes for the stouts but wondered going in if they would be a one trick pony with a gift for hops. My first sip of Morning Delight blew me away!!! I sat in amazement and sipped that beer. I have never experienced flavors like that previously and I fell in love. I followed that beer up with a 3-4 ounce sample of Assassin and was again so impressed with the incredible flavors that burst forth. I finished with a glass of Naughty Temple and could not stop grinning like a fool. I actually left without drinking a Pseudo Sue. I never thought I could be in Sue’s lair and leave without her sweet bite.
Now if Clark reads this and finds it in his heart we would like to come back for a Kentucky Brunch release sometime.
Thanks for everything to everyone we met while there (employees and patrons) for making it a high point in my beer travels memory!

New Samuel Adams Longshot Variety Pack Released

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samSam Adams new Longshot variety pack is now available. The pack includes 2 of the following beers; Zack Adams Magnificent Seven, (an Imperial IPA using 7 different hops), James Schirmer’s Beerflower Wheat (American Wheat), and Dave Anderson’s Strawberry Lager. This variety pack should be available at all beer stores in Eastern Iowa but feel free to drop a line letting us know where you found it. Press release courtesy of http://www.beerpulse.com.

(Boston, MA) – Samuel Adams is proud to announce that the much-anticipated Samuel Adams 2012 LongShot Variety Six-Pack hits shelves this month, fulfilling the dreams of three winning homebrewers by giving them the chance to see their hard work brewed, bottled and distributed nationwide. The winners, Connecticut resident Zack Adams’ Magnificent Seven and California resident James Schirmer’s Beerflower Wheat, triumphed over nearly 1,000 competing homebrews to become the 2012 Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest winners. In addition to James’ and Zack’s winning brews, the variety pack will also include Samuel Adams Employee Homebrew Winner Dave Anderson’s Strawberry Lager.

Each year, founder and brewer Jim Koch and the other brewers at Samuel Adams recognize the most talented homebrewers for their world class brews through the Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest. When Samuel Adams began the contest more than 16 years ago, it was Jim’s dream that it would be a springboard for aspiring brewers, bringing attention to the quality of homebrewing, and perhaps launch a career or two. To date, Bob Gordash, winner of the 1996 LongShot Homebrew Contest, and Don Oliver, winner of the 2006 Samuel Adams Longshot American Homebrew Contest, have gone on to become professional brewers, turning their homebrewing hobby into a career. Through the contest, Jim encourages homebrewers across the United States to follow their dreams and test the boundaries of beer, just like he did when he brewed the first batch of Samuel Adams Boston Lager® in his kitchen in 1984.

Aspiring homebrewers have another shot at achieving their dream by entering the 2013 Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest. Those interested can check online at http://www.samueladams.com/longshot for contest rules, regulations and information on purchasing a homebrewing kit. In addition, they can view Jim Koch’s video, “The Art of Homebrewing” offering his personal tips on making a successful homebrew. Entries will be accepted this spring and the winners will be announced at the 2013 Great American Beer Festival.

What Jim Koch, Samuel Adams Founder and Brewer has to say about the winning brews:

“Having started as a homebrewer nearly thirty years ago, I know firsthand the challenges and personal rewards of developing and brewing a quality beer at home. We’re seeing more Americans try homebrewing than ever before, and the unique brews that are coming out of this experimentation are a testament to the ever changing landscape of craft beer today. Year after year, I’ve been so impressed with the quality of entrants and the creativity of the brews submitted to the Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest by aspiring brewers, and this year the competition was especially steep. Zack’s Magnificent Seven, James’s Beerflower Wheat and Dave Anderson’s Strawberry Lager are extraordinary brews, and we are honored to give them the Samuel Adams seal of approval. Because of their hard work and passion, we’re excited to make their dreams a reality by sharing their brew with beer lovers across the country.”

How they were picked as the ultimate 2012 winning brews and brewers
A panel of industry judges including Tony Forder from Ale Street News, Win Bassett of All About Beer, Bob Townsend of Atlanta Journal-Constitution and other beer writers John Holl, Jay Brooks, and Marty Nachel joined Jim Koch in selecting the consumer winners. Together, they selected the winning brews based on the American Homebrewers Association Beer Judge Certificate Program guidelines. Each beer was carefully evaluated on the aroma, appearance, flavor and mouthfeel according to the style category under which it was submitted.

Samuel Adams employees also competed in their own annual homebrew competition. The staff contest challenges employees to channel their passion and knowledge for craft beer by experimenting in their own kitchens. Once all the employee homebrews are submitted, Jim and the other brewers spend a day tasting their entries and select three finalists. The finalists are sent to the Great American Beer Festival (GABF), for the final showdown. Attendees at the festival sample the employee homebrews and vote for their favorite. The crowd at the 2012 GABF chose Dave Anderson’s Strawberry Lager as their selection.

How to get your hands on the beers:
The 2013 Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest Variety Six-Pack is available nationwide for a suggested retail price of $8.99 – $10.99 (price varies by market) per six-pack beginning in April. The variety pack will include two bottles each of Zack’s Magnificent Seven, James’ Beerflower Wheat and Dave’s Strawberry Lager.

Tasting notes from the brewers:
James Schirmer’s Beerflower Wheat is an ideal balance of smooth, sweet malt flavors with an exotic kick of citrus and herbal notes. Brewed with hot summer weather and fun gatherings in mind, this American wheat beer pours a dark amber color, and imparts a light floral and sweet aroma with the delicate flavors of hibiscus. Beerflower Wheat is a medium bodied brew that finishes crisp and refreshing on the palate.

Zack Adams’ Magnificent Seven is a showcase of seven American hop varieties that impart a big piney and lingering resinous flavor. A true Imperial American IPA, this brew pours a rich bronze color. The slightly sweet malt character is pleasantly balanced by a pronounced hop bitterness with grapefruit, pine and earthy notes from the American hops. This medium-bodied IPA also delivers caramel, citrus, lemon and piney aromas.

Dave Anderson’s Strawberry Lager is a bright and fresh wheat beer, with a strong strawberry character balanced with toffee and citrus notes – the brewer’s vision of the perfect summertime beer to enjoy after a round of golf on a hot day. Brewed with fresh strawberries, this beer pours a bright golden color and imparts a malty sweetness with hints of lemon and earthiness. Strawberry Lager finishes with a wonderful intensive strawberry flavor without being overwhelming and leaves a lingering creamy sweetness on the palate. Dave has worked as a member of the Samuel Adams Packaging Operations team since 2007.

Learn more:
To watch the Art of Homebrewing Video visit: http://www.samueladams.com/longshot
For Samuel Adams recipes and pairing suggestions visit http://www.samueladams.com
For additional information and to locate a retailer visit http://www.samueladams.com

Toppling Goliath Mornin’ Delight and Assassin Release Review! YUM!

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tgtgThis past Saturday morning a few friends and myself made the trek from Cedar Rapids up north to the wonderful city of Decorah on a beer pilgrimage. I’ve talked about Toppling Goliath (www.tgbrews.com) many times on this blog with all of it being positive and this weekend they etched themselves into a beer-lovers heart forever. Saturday they released their seasonal Mornin’ Delight and Assassin beers to a lucky number of fans that made the journey to Decorah. tgassassin

Upon arriving I was relieved that we were there early enough (10:30 for a noon release) that there wasn’t a line of people waiting outside trying to get in. In fact, we were able to go into the tap room, receive our numbers, and then sit down for a couple of glasses of beer. When we entered we were greeted by Clark, the owner of the brewery, who encouraged us to sample some of the beers before actually purchasing them. I’ve had the pleasure of briefly chatting with Clark on a few occasions, and each time he is always friendly and sincere, he is what makes craft beer great. Everyone from TG was exceptionally friendly and open to a fun conversation about beer.

linklink1We all went right to the bar and were able to order Mornin’ Delight on tap! A great surprise for all us! I’m going to describe this beer but I don’t think my description will do it justice. You smell maple, coffee, chocolate, and you get all of those in the flavor. The best way to put it is it tastes like a chocolate chip pancake with syrup and a cup of coffee. It is that damn good! and it made the trip to Decorah easily justified. Such a treat to have at 10:30 on a Saturday morning; the perfect breakfast. As we waited for our numbers to be called out we were able to converse with people from surrounding states, as well as watch a group of guys bringing in some hard to find bottles of beer and doing a nice little beer sampling.

beerWe must have been enjoying our beer too much because we missed our numbers being called, but beer people, being as great as they are, let us jump to the front of the line to get our brews. The Mornin’ Delight had a limit of two 12 oz bottles at $10 a piece, only 300 were made, and if you get a chance to try this brew it comes highly recommend it. They were also releasing Assassin. Assassin is their Imperial Stout brewed with coffee in rye whiskey barrels. So, we got our beers, headed back into the taproom to get our growlers filled and a few t-shirts. Unfortunately they didn’t have my size of t-shirt but I was able to get a growler of pseduoSue filled to enjoy at home. The cool thing about waiting for the growler fill was seeing guys from Surly brewing busting their asses helping wash glasses and being very helpful without having to do so.

If anyone is wondering what a blueprint for a successful brewery looks like; get Toppling Goliaths’ blueprint. Make good beer first, be excellent hosts to your customers, and everything else just falls into place.

I really can’t describe how great this experience was and how amazing the staff is at Toppling Goliath. Beyond friendly, so helpful, and how they relate to their customers and how cordial they are make it easy to fall in love with this brewery. My buddy, the Beer Counselor, said it best…”god damn, there’s really nothing left to say.”  I’m hoping this is my first of many trips to Decorah, and I’m counting down the days until Mornin’ Delight is released next year! I can see this being as big as some of the major releases around the country, think of it as Dark Lord Day for Iowa. Toppling Goliath is a major player in the craft beer scene! Life is good when you can make a beer haul like that!

Toppling Goliath Mornin' Delight and Assassin Release Review! YUM!

1 Comment

tgtgThis past Saturday morning a few friends and myself made the trek from Cedar Rapids up north to the wonderful city of Decorah on a beer pilgrimage. I’ve talked about Toppling Goliath (www.tgbrews.com) many times on this blog with all of it being positive and this weekend they etched themselves into a beer-lovers heart forever. Saturday they released their seasonal Mornin’ Delight and Assassin beers to a lucky number of fans that made the journey to Decorah. tgassassin

Upon arriving I was relieved that we were there early enough (10:30 for a noon release) that there wasn’t a line of people waiting outside trying to get in. In fact, we were able to go into the tap room, receive our numbers, and then sit down for a couple of glasses of beer. When we entered we were greeted by Clark, the owner of the brewery, who encouraged us to sample some of the beers before actually purchasing them. I’ve had the pleasure of briefly chatting with Clark on a few occasions, and each time he is always friendly and sincere, he is what makes craft beer great. Everyone from TG was exceptionally friendly and open to a fun conversation about beer.

linklink1We all went right to the bar and were able to order Mornin’ Delight on tap! A great surprise for all us! I’m going to describe this beer but I don’t think my description will do it justice. You smell maple, coffee, chocolate, and you get all of those in the flavor. The best way to put it is it tastes like a chocolate chip pancake with syrup and a cup of coffee. It is that damn good! and it made the trip to Decorah easily justified. Such a treat to have at 10:30 on a Saturday morning; the perfect breakfast. As we waited for our numbers to be called out we were able to converse with people from surrounding states, as well as watch a group of guys bringing in some hard to find bottles of beer and doing a nice little beer sampling.

beerWe must have been enjoying our beer too much because we missed our numbers being called, but beer people, being as great as they are, let us jump to the front of the line to get our brews. The Mornin’ Delight had a limit of two 12 oz bottles at $10 a piece, only 300 were made, and if you get a chance to try this brew it comes highly recommend it. They were also releasing Assassin. Assassin is their Imperial Stout brewed with coffee in rye whiskey barrels. So, we got our beers, headed back into the taproom to get our growlers filled and a few t-shirts. Unfortunately they didn’t have my size of t-shirt but I was able to get a growler of pseduoSue filled to enjoy at home. The cool thing about waiting for the growler fill was seeing guys from Surly brewing busting their asses helping wash glasses and being very helpful without having to do so.

If anyone is wondering what a blueprint for a successful brewery looks like; get Toppling Goliaths’ blueprint. Make good beer first, be excellent hosts to your customers, and everything else just falls into place.

I really can’t describe how great this experience was and how amazing the staff is at Toppling Goliath. Beyond friendly, so helpful, and how they relate to their customers and how cordial they are make it easy to fall in love with this brewery. My buddy, the Beer Counselor, said it best…”god damn, there’s really nothing left to say.”  I’m hoping this is my first of many trips to Decorah, and I’m counting down the days until Mornin’ Delight is released next year! I can see this being as big as some of the major releases around the country, think of it as Dark Lord Day for Iowa. Toppling Goliath is a major player in the craft beer scene! Life is good when you can make a beer haul like that!

Beer Review #101: New Glarus Serendipity

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SerendipityLeave it to Dan Carey at New Glarus to take a bad cherry harvest, an okay apple harvest, and a great cranberry harvest, mix all those together and get a wonderful beer accident that only he can produce! Behold, Serendipity! A sour fruit beer that shows the skill of the brewmaster and also makes the beer drinker yearn for more from this great brewery (www.newglarusbrewing.com). While Spotted Cow seems to be the most recognizable of the brews that New Glarus produces, and it definitely has its place, they push out much more great beer than that. If you’ve never had their Double IPA, Raspberry Tart, Belgian Red, Black Top, Moon Man, Enigma and many more, it’s time to run up to Platteville or even head to Madison or New Glarus itself to check out more of their products.

Serendipity is considered a fruit/sour beer and you can definitely get the tartness from this brew. The flavors of all the fruits really do a number on your taste buds, and the beer pairs perfectly with brownies, chocolate cake, or even makes a great dessert on its own. You can throw this one in with the great fruit beers that are available in the U.S. From the brewery: 

Happy Accident Fruit Ale Severe Drought, we shared the farmer’s horror as Wisconsin’s cherry crop failed! Dan bought what cherries he could. The apple crop fared better. Then joy! A grand Wisconsin cranberry harvest. What will Dan brew with Apples, Cranberries and Cherries? Oh my! You hold the happy accident of Wisconsin’s favorite fruit aged in oak with an almost magical wild fermentation. Serendipity is a wondrous celebration that sparkles your senses and dances across your palate. A kaleidoscope of flavors discovered by accident in a sour ale! Cheers to the unexpected. Vielen Dank!

REVIEW

Style: Fruit/Sour beer

ABV: 5.1%

Purchased at: Woodman’s Market; Madison, WI.

Pour: Off-white, reddish hue, super thick head. Gorgeous ruby pour.

Aroma: Tart cherry aroma, with a bit of apple. Not much from the cranberries.

Flavor: The brewery calls it a happy accident, and it definitely makes you happy. I get somewhat of an apple cider flavor, with cherry flavor following. The cranberries add a perfect tartness to this beer. Excellent stuff!

Ratebeer.com rating: 100/100

Beeradvocate.com rating: 96/100

Overall: A

My recommendation: Yet another must try from New Glarus. Dan Carey continues to shine as one of the best craft breweries in America.

Peace Tree Brewing Upcoming Releases

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peace treePeace Tree is kicking out some new brews just in time for the warm weather and one of the those brews are going to be available in cans. Here’s the latest courtesy of the Peace Tree newsletter. Great start to the warmer months for beer in Iowa! Cheers!

First off, keep your eyes peeled for our newest brew, No Coast IPA, at a bar near you. This latest IPA is a very heavily hopped single IPA. It has great piney and citrus notes coming in at 95 IBU’s and 7.5% ABV. We will have it on tap here in the brewery starting April 4, and will be distributing to select accounts in Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Des Moines/Ames, and Omaha/Lincoln soon. Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up on where it will be on tap.

Also, as many of you may already be aware, we will be coming out with our Spring/Summer seasonal Sidekick Kolsch. We are really excited for this and you can expect to find it here on tap late next week, in bars by the later half of the month, and in CANS(!!!) early this Summer.

Madhouse Brewery Upcoming Releases

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madhouseMadhouse brewing is releasing a couple new seasonals in up coming months. I’m not sure if these beers will be a part of their Venture Series or just a couple new beers added to their seasonal schedule. The following information comes from www.madhousebeer.com.

May 1st- Maple Nutbrown.  This beer is made with Iowa maple syrup.

 

June 1st- Belgian Golden Ale.  Made with Nelson Sauvin hops.

 

Beer Review #100: Surly Hell

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surlyLike most people who have tried their beers, I have really taken a liking to Surly’s product (www.surlybrewing.com). Furious, Abrasive, Bender, and Coffee Bender are all fabulous beers that I’ve tried from them. Lately, a buddy and I have taken to ordering some beers from places like france44.com and halftimebeverage.com. France44 works out really well if you are in the mood for some Surly beers and with my buddy’s latest order he took a shot on a Surly beer neither one of us had tried yet.

I will be the first to admit that I haven’t had much experience with dortmunder or helles style beers but after trying Hell, it seems to me that Surly is doing this style justice. The name was kind of misleading to me at first; I was thinking of some sort of chipotle or pepper beer but instead, Hell is referring to the German word for light.  This beer was definitely light in the pour with a golden hazy pour with a nice sized head. Very bready and yeasty in the aroma. Definitely get the pils malt with the first few drinks and the bread follows through with a hint a lemon citrus. Slight hops follow to round out this extremely drinkable offering from Surly. Maybe the perfect accompaniment to a summer BBQ? I think this would do nicely.  Description from the brewery:

Finally, a Surly beer my German mother will drink. She says this one tastes like a bier from back home. Not unlike a Zwickel Bier from Germany, Hell is our filtered and fermented with lager yeast, American hops takes a back seat to the Pils malt sweetness and fresh bread aroma. The color is well… hell (Deutsch for light). It’s fiendishly drinkable, and you don’t have to sell your soul to get another.

The style of this beer isn’t one that is often talked about currently. IPAs, barrel-aged, sours, are dominating headlines with most craft beer drinkers but if you want to try different styles and try them when they are done right, I think Surly can be proud of this beer. This could also quite possibly be a great transition beer for those looking to get into the craft beer world. Rumblings of Surly wanting to expand a bit continues through the midwest and here’s hoping that they make it south to the lovely state of Iowa.

REVIEW

Style: Helles/Dortmunder

ABV:4.5%

Purchased at: France44.com

Pour: Golden straw color with a thick white head.

Aroma: Bread, yeast, light citrus.

Flavor: Lots of breadiness with lemon and bit of hops.

Ratebeer.com rating: 90/100

Beeradvocate.com rating: 88/100

Overall: B

My recommendation: A great beer for the style, extremely drinkable. Surly continues to do things and if you can get up north to Minnesota to get some, buy a bunch, or order from france44.com.