Tag: iowa beer baron

Beer Review #115: Boulder Beer Shake Chocolate Porter

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shakeWhat makes being beer drinker great is getting to try all the fantastic styles that are out there. I’ve spent a lot of my beer drinking time (and money) going after some of the big barrel-aged beers, imperials, and doubles that sometimes it feels great to just sit back and revisit some of the styles that have been around for while. With the eruption of craft beer on the market I love when breweries revisit and tweek or shake-up (no pun intended) classical styles. Boulder Brewing (www.boulderbeer.com) has done just that by taking what was their original porter and putting a little spin on it.

This chocolate porter can play into any part of your day. A nice breakfast brew with your coffee and pancakes, a nice midday brew with a bowl of soup, a nice supper of a ribeye and potatoes, or even better, perfect with that brownie and vanilla ice cream. A dark black pour with chocolate and caramel sweetness, this brew incorporates chocolate wheat into the mix. If you’ve had Young’s Double Chocolate Stout or Sam Smiths Organic Chocolate Stout then you will really enjoy this brew. Here’s more from the brewery:

 Our twist on the traditional american porter, Shake chocolate porter is black in color with rich, dark chocolate aromatics and flavors and subtle coffee-like notes. This unique brew blends five different grains, including Chocolate Wheat, that along with cacao nibs create a devilishly delicious chocolate finish with a velvety mouth feel.

 When you open up a rich, chocolatey brew like this you usually aren’t able to have 2-3, but with this one, you can easily put down a few and feel pretty good about yourself. No forced drinking with this one. I’m not too familiar with Boulders’ offerings but I know they really connect with this brew.

REVIEW

STYLE: Porter

ABV: 5.9%

PURCHASED AT: Johncy’s, North Liberty, IA

POUR: Deep black pour with a medium tan head.

AROMA: Chocolate and coffee dominate.

TASTE: Chocolate really shines through from the cocoa nibs.

Ratebeer.com rating: 97

Beeradvocate rating: 88

Overall: B

My recommendation: Really great for a dessert beer, but also works well on its own.

Stone Go To IPA, Founders Centennial Cans coming soon!

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Stone will be the latest brewery coming out with a sessionable IPA as their Go To IPA is slated to hit markets in March this year. The advertisement below gives you an idea of what to expect from the this brew. Also coming in the next few months will be another can option coming from Founders. This time it’s their Centennial IPA hitting the canning line.

Got news? Drop me an email!

stone

Founders Imperial Stout hitting Shelves 1/7/14

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FoundersSomething to help Eastern Iowans get through this extreme cold might be found at your liquor store. According to a tweet from @johncysliquor, Founders Imperial Stout will be hitting Eastern Iowa shelves on Tuesday, January 7. More info on this terrific brew from the brewery:

A fine companion to end a meal or relax in front of the hearth with, this robust ale will cellar well for years. Brewed with ten varieties of malted barley this stout is extremely smooth, complex and rich in body. We recommend serving at cellar temperature. Sit back and enjoy its richness and complexity, you’re about to drink the ultimate winter warmer.

RATEBEER:           100/100
BEERADVOCATE: 97/100

Stone Enjoy By 2-14-14 Coming to Iowa 1-15-14!

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stone enjoy byMore Stone Enjoy By will be making its way to Eastern Iowa shelves with the estimated arrival date of January 15th! Here’s more from beerpulse.com:

Escondido, CA) – Stone Brewing Co. is now going big with its newest edition of Enjoy By 02.14.14 IPA.

The company is adding onto the previously announced list of several states for 02.14.14 IPA distribution with the beer now making its way to more than half of U.S. markets.

It will ship next week with availability expected to begin the following week.

Check out the full list of markets below.

 

LOCATION ETA STATUS HASHTAG
Arizona 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #AZ
Connecticut 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #CT
Delaware 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #DE
Florida 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #FL
Georgia 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #GA
Iowa 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #IA
Illinois 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #IL
Kansas 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #KS
Massachusetts 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #MA
Maryland 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #MD
Maine 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #ME
Michigan 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #MI
Minnesota 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #MN
North Carolina 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #NC
Nebraska 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #NE
New Hampshire 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #NH
New Jersey 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #NJ
New York 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #NY
Pennsylvania 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #PA
Rhode Island 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #RI
South Carolina 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #SC
Southern California 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #SoCal
Tennessee 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #TN
Texas 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #TX
Virginia 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #VA
Vermont 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #VT
Washington 01/15/14 Fermenting #EnjoyBy #WA

Best “NEW” Brew of the Year: Double IPA

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2013Continuing on with the “best of the year”posts keep in mind these are beers that I’ve had for the 1st time ever this year and we are moving onto the double/imperial  IPA category. A very tough category to pick one winner as I had quite a few brews on my list. But, after weighing each carefully I came to a conclusion that some might not agree with, especially since Pliny the Elder did not win as I enjoyed that brew for the first time this month. Now, I’m not saying Pliny isn’t a good beer, it’s actually an excellent brew, I just happened to enjoy the one I picked a bit more.

A brewery that seems to do no wrong when it comes to beers and one that is so in demand it is hard to find anything of theirs outside of Chicago, 3 Floyds Brewery has been dominating ratings, taste buds, and the IPA/Double IPA category. With fine ales such as Dreadnaught, Arctic Panzer Wolf, and the ever elusive and constantly sold out Zombie Dust, they are top-tier in this category (and others). Just when you think that they couldn’t do any better they bring to you my Double IPA of the year…….Apocalypse Cow!

The label is what catches your eye, and if you are familiar with 3 Floyds, you know they make killer labels. Now, what makes this brew a little bit different from other double IPAs, is that it is made with lactose. Lactose is what gives milk stouts their sweet, creamy richness. I was kind of apprehensive before cracking this bottle for that reason but after that first sip all of that went out the window. Sweet, but not too much, a lot orange juice flavor for me, and the creaminess from the lactose made this a wonderfully easy drink which is relatively frightening considering the 11% abv. Some negative reviews I’ve seen have knocked the sweetness, but I didn’t think it was nearly as sweet as others said. A beer to seek out to say the least. Here’s more from the brewery:

This complex double India pale ale has an intense citrus and floral hop aroma balanced by a velvety malt body which has been augmented with lactose milk sugar. With this different take on an IPA we have brewed an ale that is both pleasing to drink and, once again, “not normal.” Cheers! 100 IBU 11.0%ABV

I dont’ see this one as often, it is only a limited release during the summer, but if you see it, but it, (actually buy as many as you can), and enjoy as much as I did.

Three Floyds2013 New Imperial IPA of the Year: Three Floyds Apocalypse Cow
ABV: 11%
Ratebeer:         99
Beeradvocate: 94

BEST “NEW” Brew of the Year: Imperial Stout

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2013A friend of mine, The Beer Counselor, suggested that I post best new brews that I experience for the first time this year by category. It sounds easy enough but when I went through the list of brews I had it turned out to be quite challenging.

For the first installment I went through my list of Imperial Stouts. I’m going to do a separate entry for barrel-aged so I can automatically take them out of this category. I thought that would make things a bit easier. My list included:
*Toppling Goliath Assassin
*Dogfish Head Bitches’ Brew
*Backpocket 1st Anniversary Stout
*New Holland Dragon’s Milk
*Mikkeller Black Hole
*To Ol Goliat
*Stone Farking Wheaton WOOtstout

And then I came to the winner. It’s really hard not to pick Toppling Goliath’s Mornin’ Delight. Not only is it my winner in this category, but it might be my favorite beer of all-time. I’ll never forget the first time I had it, the release at Toppling Goliath tasting room in Decorah. I rode up with a few friends expecting to get a pretty tasty brew, but instead I was blown away by a complex, flavorful, imperial stout that I couldn’t get enough of. I said it then, and I’ll say it again, this beer is breakfast in a bottle. Coffee, chocolate, maple syrup. An amazing brew that I hope I am lucky enough to get to try again in 2014.

mornin' delightBEST NEW IMPERIAL STOUT EXPERIENCED FOR THE 1st TIME: Toppling Goliath Mornin’ Delight

New To Shelves: Evil Twin Beers

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evil twinHy-Vee on Oakland Road just sent out this message. I’m guessing these beers are going to go very fast so make sure you try to get your hands on these. Here ya go!:

We have another limited beer release for you and if you didn’t  get your hands on some bourbon county stout. This would be a great opportunity to grab a bourbon barrel aged imperial stout. This is Eviltwins Imperial Biscotti Break aged in bourbon barrels for 9 months. This would be great to drink now or sit on for several years. We also have a couple cases of Justin Blabaer, a blueberry berliner weisse. This beer is outstanding and is now retired so get some while it’s available. And as always when you buy 4 or more out of our bomber bottle doors you save 10 %.

 Eviltwin Imperial Biscotti Break Bourbon Barrel Aged 22 oz

21.99 per bottle

 Evil Twin Justin Blåbær (Brunello Wine Barrel Aged) 22 oz

11.99 per bottle

Madhouse Iowa Hops IPA Release Party Info

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madhouseJust received the following email from Madhouse Brewing. Sounds like a fantastic time and I really enjoyed the Iowa Hops IPA last year. Check it out!

It’s time to celebrate! Each December we officially release our Iowa Hops IPA beer at Jasper Winery along with their new vintage wines. Join us Thursday, December 12, 2013, from 6-9pm to celebrate with a free, open to the public, beer, wine, and food tasting experience. We’ll be releasing our 2013 Iowa Hops IPA, made with Iowa grown hops. Jasper Winery will be releasing their 2012 Iowa varietal dry reds wines, including Marquette, Noiret, and Norton. You’ll make your way through the winery visiting tasting stations where we’ll pair wine and beers with food samples from local producers and restaurants. Live music will be provided by Tony Williams. The first 100 people (beginning at 6pm) will receive a complimentary cork screw or pint glass. 

 

New this year: Everyone (21+) who attends will receive a ticket for the chance to win free wine/beer for a year! Prizes will be given including a free case of wine or beer every month for a year. Local grape and hop growers will be on hand to talk about growing these products in Iowa. Special Release Party discounts of 25% off case purchase and 10% off ½ case, night of the event only. 

Stone Enjoy By 11.12.13 hits Eastern Iowa Shelves

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stoneThe state of Iowa is lucky enough once again to be receiving Stone Brewing’s incredibly delicious Enjoy By IPA. We are one of 19 markets getting this shipment, so get it while you can and enjoy it (no pun intended). Arrival is today (Wednesday). More from Stone:

You have in your hands a devastatingly fresh double IPA. While freshness is a key component of many beers – especially big, citrusy, floral IPAs – we’ve taken it further, a lot further, in this IPA. You see, we specifically brewed it NOT to last. We’ve not only gone to extensive lengths to ensure that you’re getting this beer in your hands within an extraordinarily short window, we made sure that the Enjoy By date isn’t randomly etched in tiny text somewhere on the label, to be overlooked by all but the most attentive of retailers and consumers. Instead, we’ve sent a clear message with the name of the beer itself that there is no better time than right now to enjoy this IPA.