Beer of the Week (5/28-6/3) and North Country Brewing Co.'s Ohio Debut Party

Poster and list of events for Big Tap In Week

As part of Big Tap In Week sponsored by Vintage Estate and Magic Tree, I attended the North Country Brewing Co.'s Official Ohio Launch Party. Tuesday, May 27th marked the first day that North Country was sold in Ohio and it was only available at Magic Tree and Vintage Estate.


   At Magic Tree, the party officially started at 7pm, though people were there early in anticipation. The gong rang, Phil Reda, the owner of VE and MT gave a speech and the launch was underway. Trivia kicked off shortly after, which included some questions about North Country Brewing's history and location (did you know their current location was once a morgue?). The wizards in the kitchen whipped up four specific dishes for the night that combined NC's beer with some of their ingredients. Cans of Slimy Pebble Pils, Bucksnort Stout, Station 33 Firehouse Red and Paleo IPA were all availabe and the Firehouse and Pils were on draft.

Advertisement for North Country's Ohio Launch Party at Magic Tree

Luckily enough for me, this week's Beer of the Week, Station 33 Firehouse Red, was purchased by the guys from North Country, who bought all attendants their first North Country beer that night. This Irish Red Ale (section 81) is their flagship beer and its very tasty. So thanks North Country, I enjoyed the brew:

Station 33 Firehouse Red

Appearance: Dark copper, almost brown with about a finger-width cream head. Lighting was a bit rough, but it appeared a touch hazy.
Aroma: Sweet malts, definite caramel presence, maybe a tinge of booze at the end.
Taste: Mild caramel flavors are the most present part of the taste, though there is also some sweet malt flavor. It finishes with a bitter dryness that leaves the palate begging for another sip. This beer is extremely drinkable.
Mouthfeel: Moderate carbonation, medium-bodied with a long dry, bitter finish
Overall: This is a solid flagship beer for North Country. This is not one of my favorite styles, as it is not overly-complex in flavor or aromas, but this is a sturdy version of the Irish Red Ale. I'd prefer this over the commercially available imports (ie Murphys, Smithwicks) any day. The dry finish is a desirable effect.
3.44

I know a lot of my friends have enjoyed at least one Station 33 at some point.
What do you think? Agree with my rating? Like North Country?
Let me know and let's get one together,

KevBot

Beer of the Week 5/21--5/27: Columbus IPA

Columbus Brewing Company IPA

So for this week's Beer of the Week I ventured down Interstate 70 to Columbus, Ohio. Though it's not necessarily "local," it is regional and it is one of my favorite, commonly available IPAs. Columbus IPA really breaks away from the stereotypical IPA, which should interest non-hopheads.
   Though Columbus IPA carries with it the traditional elements of IPAs, there is one particular feature that separates it from the rest: it's floral aroma and flavor.  The aroma invites the palate to prepare itself with scents of faint malt sweetness, pine, orange zest and citrus, and substantial floral notes. The taste is similar to the smell with malts, mild pine, orange and citrus, but is dominated, completely and utterly, by floral hop flavors. This beer is like drinking a recently blossomed flower and its magnificent. To date, I would struggle to find another easily accessible IPA that captures the floral essence of hops as well as this one. Yet it doesn't completely abandon the parts of IPAs that hopheads love: fruity, pungent, and bitter flavors.
   One of the reasons some people avoid IPAs is due to the style's pungent, bitter hop presence. However, at only 50 IBUs, this beer brilliantly incorporates mild bitterness, but allows the floral aroma and flavor to bloom throughout the drinking process. The sweet malt backbone also helps to balance some of the bitterness.
   This beer is difficult to find in the Pittsburgh area, but a trip to Boardman/Youngstown, Akron or west toward St. Clairsvisville/Zanesville on I-70 may yield positive results. I recently picked up two bottles at Vintage Estate in Boardman, Ohio. They've also had it on draft at VE. At their sister location, Magic Tree, they occasionally have some Columbus Brewing Company offerings, including Gold Medal winning Uncle Rusty and the ridiculously delicious Double IPA, Bodhi. So you may find it there. If I see it around Boardman or Youngstown, I'll be sure to alert you via Facebook or Twitter.

My Full Review:
Appearance: Pours a hazy orange with a thin, cream-colored head.
Aroma: Faint malt sweetness, some orange zest, citrus, mild pine, and substantial floral notes.
Taste: Matches the nose: orange zest, citrus, some sweet tangerine cream. Primarily floral, freshly-blossomed pungent flowers with a mild tang on the back palate. The sweet malt forms a steady backbone that does an exceptional job of carrying the floral tastes and light tangerine, orange and citrus flavors.
Mouthfeel: Stinging carbonation, medium bodied. The carbonation helps accentuate the "florality" of this beer and assists in lingering flower and orange/tangerine tastes on the back of the palate.
Overall: A well-balanced, medium-bodied IPA that deserves the high rating I've given it. The floral essence of this beer makes it unique and allows both hopheads and non-hopheads to enjoy it. Personally, one of my favorite IPAs. When I see this on tap or in bottles anywhere, I'm sure to purchase it.
Final Rating: 4.59/5

Can't find it? Let me know and next time I see it, I'll try to grab one for you!
Cheers and I sincerely hope you can find this beer,

KevBot

Beer of the Week 5/14--5/20: Rivertowne Old Wylie's IPA

This week's beer of the week is Rivertowne's Old Wylie's IPA. I had the pleasure of meeting brewmaster Andrew Maxwell at a Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week event at Rivertowne's North Shore destination, which I wrote about here. Andy was quite an interesting guy and way down to earth. He shared all sorts of information about how bottling beers, brewing and deadlines can make the job stressful, but rewarding nonetheless. This particular beer was researched, developed and perfected for over ten years by Andy and drinks really well. It's extremely refreshing and I'm sure you'll find it thoroughly enjoyable during the unseasonably blistering heat we've recently been experiencing.

Photo credit: craftcans.com

The can reads:

"Andrew Maxwell put over 1.5 decades of recipe development into this India Pale Ale, creating the fourth dimension of flavor. Combining four varities [sic] of hops produces a unique beer that has an aggressive hop flavor, bite and aroma without denying the presence of malt which I.P.A.s often lack." 

Here's my review:

Appearance: clear golden orange color, with a one-finger, white head

Aroma: pine and citrus

Taste: follows nose of pine and citrus, with added topical fruit flavors. Pine dominates up front that leads into citrusy lemon and finishes with sweet, light mango and cantaloupe notes and tropical fruits. Though the can says there's noticeable malt flavors, I'm not detecting much malt presence.

Mouthfeel: standard body for an ipa, not too thick or thin, lots of carbonation and bite: which is lovely because it helps accentuate the pine and citrus hops.

Overall: This is an excellent beer for this week in particular. It will be enjoyable during the hot days with its refreshing pine and citrus flavors and strong bite. Instead of grabbing a sprite or sierra mist, I'd recommend you toward the adult cooler, where you can fish for an Old wylie's ipa.

Final Rating: 3.69

Availability: This beer is brewed year-round, so enjoy it whenever you want, regardless of how hot or cold it is. You can find it at almost any craft beer store or bar in the greater Pittsburgh area. In fact, I even found it all the way in Clarksburg, West Virginia. So grab a can, drink up, and tell me how it you like it.

Cheers,

The Bot

Rivertowne Meet and Greet Review//Brewers Choice

Monday, April 28, 2014

North Shore, Pittsburgh, PA

Bottom (left to right): Brendan of East End, Matt of Hop Farm, and John of Helltown
Top (left to right): Brandon of Rock Bottom and Jeff of All Saints

Rivertowne North Shore hosted a phenomenal event at their North Shore location between PNC Park and Heinz Field last Monday that ended up being one of my personal favorite events of Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week.  It was a local tap take over featuring a Meet and Greet with the brewers of local breweries. I thought this would be an awesome event to attend and I was not incorrect.

   Sixteen regional breweries were represented by brewers, office personnel, friends and family alike. The draft list included one beer from each and excluded PCBW collaborations in an effort to showcase some of mainstays of each brewery. My favorite part of the event was being able to enjoy the beer in my hand and talk the person that made it. This rare occasion  sparked a question for which I needed an answer: which beer do the brewers themselves enjoy the most from their brewery?

   Now you might imagine this question involved a simple enough answer, but that was not the case. The general consensus was that there was no favorite and there were different reasons for this too. John, from Helltown Brewing, likened picking a favorite Helltown brew to "choosing between two of your own children: one gets good grades, the other writes great sonnets." While Brendan of East End Brewing Company admitted that he really enjoyed the Rojo Ahumado (which I reviewed a while ago), but also went on to clarify his "favorite" by saying that he enjoys all of East End's beers occasionally. His tastes change as do his preferred styles, which was a good thing "because a brewer or brewery that only enjoys one of their beers will focus only on that one style." I can't argue with that logic.

   And neither could most of the other brewers at the event. All the brewers I had the opportunity to chat with told a similar story. Their tastes changed, as most craft beer enthusiasts' preferences and palates likely do. But with a little poking and prodding, I received some answers.

The Brewers Favorite Brews:

North Country Brewing, Nate Troyan stated his current favorite is a collaboration saison with Voodoo Brewery, Teabagger.

Hitchhiker Brewing Co., Andy Kwiatkowski said his favorite beer was the Oatmeal Brown Ale, on tap at the event and soon at their brewpub in Mount Lebanon on May 10th. So stop by if you have a chance.

Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery, Brandon McCarthy raved about his Rambler Rye. He told me the story about how brewing a beer occasionally hits perfectly in some areas, but misses in others (ie head retention vs malts vs hops, etc). However, this one perfectly matched what he had in his head: liquid rye bread, spiced with cardamom.
Helltown Brewing, John, quoted above, said his favorite was their Spiteful Saison. But like the paragraph above mentions, he has a hard time choosing between his "children."

Pennsylvania Brewing Company, David Cerminara loves the taste and style authenticity of the Penn Cool River Kölsch.

Hofbräuhaus Pittsburgh, Aaron Reilly really enjoyed the Summer Pilsener, though I'm not sure if he meant the Bohemian Czech Pils or the German Pils.

Photo of Aaron and I at the Rivertowne Local Tap Takeover and Meet and Greet at PCBW2014

Meanwhile, other brewers gave me the same type of answer as John and Brendan, but provided other insight as well.

Rivertowne Brewing Company, Andrew Maxwell said he would drink whatever he was in the mood for, then talked a lot about brewing, canning and packaging deadlines, which was enlightening for me.

All Saints Brewing, Jeff Guidos said he likes all his beers. And we had an enjoyable and engaging conversation about how brewing beer provides an awesome breeding ground where both art and science intertwine.

East End Brewing Company, Brendan mentioned the Rojo Ahumado and how it was selling so fast because and it sort of sucked because he enjoyed it so much. He also forced a booming laugh from me when I asked him about his favorite part of #PCBW2014 so far: "it will be when its all over and I'm not waking up daily with a hangover."

Full Pint Brewing Company, Barrett Goddard admitted he prefers some beers over others, though did not say which. He also talked a little bit about their berliner weissbier, Paw Paw Berliner Weisse (which is a personal favorite of mine).

Overall, the event was awesome and likely one of my top 2-3 favorite events of #PCBW2014. The brewers were all friendly, informative and interesting. All of them answered any questions I had about their beers, brewing process, or how-to's for recipe research and design. Unfortunately, I was only able to talk to Hop Farm's Matt briefly, and the same with Blue Canoe's Justin Dudek (though I cannot wait to go up there and try the Snickers Stout, Heath Bar beer, or his meat beers-smoked sausage flavor IN your beer anyone?). I also did not have time to talk to any reps or brewers from Arsenal Cider House, Roundabout Brewery or Draii Laag--Hopefully we can meet up sometime soon.

Thanks to everyone who attended, organized, or participated in the event. I had a blast.

#PCBW2014: Beaver County Homebrew Club Showcase at Bocktown Beer and Grille

Sunday, April 27^th, 2014, Monaca, PA.

Bocktown Beer and Grille hosted the Beaver County HomebrewClub on Sunday as part of Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week. About fifteen members of the homebrew club showed up and poured samples of their beers for anyone interested in trying them. The homebrewers were knowledgeable, friendly and discussed their beers with pride and joy.

   The homebrewers and beer enthusiasts discussed brews that ranged in styles and brewing methods.  Variations on ales and lagers of all sorts were present. Overall, all the beers were the delicious rewards of meticulous labor, but some that I particularly enjoyed were: the Russian Imperial Stout, which had plenty of booziness and fantastic cocoa flavor, brewed by Dan Benedict; an “American-Style” Kolsch, brewed with home-grown centennial hops by Ralph Moore; a session IPA brewed with home-grown Zeus hops by Barry Covington, titled “Mount Olympus;” and the most interesting: Frankie Goes to Wheat, a wheat beer which included Frankenberry cereal in the grain bill, brewed by Mike Bobbish.

   The event made for an enjoyable Sunday afternoon with free, fresh beer and ample opportunity to discuss the beers with the brewers themselves. What more could you ask for?

Pictures from the event:

Jason Brandenburg pouring his cask-conditioned Hoedown Session Ale, Ralph Moore is pictured in the green shirt in the background

Picture of the Russian Imperial Stout and Mount Olympus Session IPA mentioned above

Jason Brandenburg posing proudly with his Hoedown Session Ale

Mystic Brewing's (Mike Bobbish) spot at the Beaver County Homebrew Showcase including Frankie Goes to Wheat/Relax Homebrew It

A list of kegged beers in the cooler available for sampling

More beers in the cooler, including the "American-Style Kolsch" mentioned above

Barry Covington pouring his Mount Olympus Session IPA (Mike Bobbish pictured in the white over-shirt to the left)

Cheers until next time,

KevBot

(P.S. Don't forget to keep checking the PCBW calendar for a list of events each day. Hopefully I'll see ya around.)

Beer of the Week: 4/23--4/29: East End/Lavery Collaboration: Rojo Ahumado

Photo Credit: TotallyCoolPix

Rojo Ahumado, or "Red Smoke," can be used to indicate a location, signal a warning, or in some soccer matches, celebrate a big goal. I would certainly light a few flares in honor of this beer and all it brings. This beer has nothing to do with soccer or signaling locations (to my knowledge) and earned its name from the amber, or red, color of the beer's body and beer style (amber ale) and the smoked malts with which it was brewed. The beer is ideally named, as both tastes come across pleasantly.
   The beer is a Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week collaboration between East End Brewing (Pittsburgh, PA) and Lavery Brewing (Erie, PA). It was brewed at East End's facilities (March 21) after the two groups also combined to brew "Steel City Saison" at Lavery's brewery on March 11th.

My review:
Appearance: a very dark amber, bordering on brown with a solid cream-colored head that lingers for a bit.
Aroma: I'll admit my sinuses are acting up a bit, so I'm not totally committed to this category-but both smoke and spice are blatantly obvious.
Taste: tastes like an amber, but with the added kick of smoked malts, which come through fantastically, followed by moderate spiciness. The real heat from this beer isn't noticeable after only one sip, but it builds and it lingers on the back of the palate and is especially noticeable after breathing out. There's also a certain grit about this beer that is emphasized through earthy and woody tones that complement the amber backbone well. The earthiness is likely from the chili pepper flavors and the wood from smoked malts. There's also faint hints of cherry and vanilla.
Mouthfeel: carbonated, but not too overdone. overall its very smooth. the spice is perfect because its not overly dominant, but you know who's in charge: like the perfect coach or a successful boss, it dictates and directs without too much interference.
Overall: This is a really good beer. The amber backbone provides an ideal canvas for this well-crafted beer. Initially noticeable smoke flavors part ways for a perfect amount of spice and heat to finish off a fantastic collaboration between two great local breweries. I'm really impressed at this collab and hope I have a chance to chat with the East End or Lavery folks about this beer some time during PCBW14.

Photo from Scott's blog at East End's webpage. Sure looked like a lot of fun. I'll certainly search out the Steel City Saison during #PCBW14

Make sure you get a pint of this during PCBW14 or afterwards if its still around, you will not regret it.

Cheers,
KevBot

Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week

What's better than a nice, cold craft beer? How about an entire week of them...and the brewers that created them and information and food pairings as part of a week long celebration?The biggest week for craft beer in Pittsburgh starts on Friday, April 25th 2014 as Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week 2014 (PCBW14) kicks off. I'll dedicate some posts to previewing PCBW14 through Friday by highlighting some of the events I look forward to most, a special Beer of the Week collaboration (Tuesday night), and some discussion about venues, breweries and brewers involved.
    Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week 2014 runs Friday, April 25, 2014 through Sunday, May 4th, 2014 with events happening at various locations throughout Pittsburgh and its suburbs. The week "will highlight the Pittsburgh region’s craft beer culture, expanding the reach of craft beer through education, collaboration, cooperation and responsible libation." And PCBW14 kicks off with a bang by emphasizing the aforementioned values in quite a unique way.
   One of the most anticipated and most unique events of the week is part of the opening day: Commonwealth Press Beer Barge. Two boats tied together, more than 35 breweries, live bands and craft beer fans will take Pittsburgh's three rivers by storm on Friday night. The event, likely the most popular of the week, sold out its tickets in just four minutes! So if you're reading this and do not have a ticket, unfortunately you will not be able to attend this highly-regarded event. But as long as you follow this blog, you're in luck as you can read a review of the event because I'll be volunteering with a buddy as a beer server.

 

Maybe you don't want to read about such an awesome event if you can't attend, don't worry: there are A LOT of other tap take-overs, beer dinners, samplings & tastings,  and much, much more to look forward to this week. I'll have details about some of these offerings throughout the week, but if you want to check it out for yourself, give this calendar a look for yourself (with customized dates, event-types, and neighborhoods for easy searching).

   For more information and alternative experiences and articles check out these driven and devoted beer bloggers, whom will also provide content throughout the week.

Brian Meyer, author behind the splendid @CraftBeerAcademy twitter account and blog under the same name.
Jason Cercone, 'lead conspirator behind breakingbrews.com ' <--a  blog featuring some of the best content around: style definitions, debates and reviews.
Gwin, Hunter and the rest of the Beer Gaggle team will be attending events and writing up pieces from differing perspectives during PCBW14. Their blog here.

Look forward to posts from all these authors and perhaps a few more I missed during PCBW14. Short summaries of blog entries will be linked through the Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week blog directly to each of our pages, so you can read the intro and decide if you'd like to continue reading (which I would recommend).

Cheers until next time,
KevBot

Local Winners of National Notoriety

Local Winners of National Notoriety

Recently Denver, Colorado just hosted just hosted the WorldBeer Cup International Competition, a competition developed by the Brewers Association in 1996 “to celebrate the art and science of brewing by recognizing outstanding achievement.” After judging was complete, Northeast Ohio, and by distribution Western PA, have a lot to celebrate.

            Four beers from Northeast Ohio received celebratory remarks at the World Beer Cup this past week. Among them, one of my personal favorites (link first article), Willoughby Peanut Butter Cup Coffee Porter, took home gold in its category.  Fat Head’s (North Olmstead/Cleveland/Pittsburgh) took home two prizes, while Thirsty Dog in Akron and Columbus Brewing Co. in Columbus each took home one.

Willoughby Brewing Co.: Willoughby Peanut Butter Cup Coffee Porter won the Gold Medal for category 9, “Specialty Beer.”  This style was characterized by “any beers brewed using unusual fermentable sugars, grains and starches that contribute to alcohol content other than, or in addition to, malted barley.” This beer finished first of thirty contestants.

Thirsty Dog: Barrel-Aged Siberian Night won the Bronze Medal for category 22, “Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout.”  This category includes any and all stouts with an alcohol percentage greater than 6.5% abv. These beers must be aged for any period of time in wood barrels (whiskey, oak, bourbon, sherry, wine, etc) and the presence of the original beer may or may not be apparent.  From the categorical definition by the World Beer Cup, “Ultimately a balance of flavor, aroma and mouthfeel are sought with the marriage of new beer with wood and/or barrel flavors.” This beer finished third of seventy-two entrants.

Fat Head’s Brewery: Head Hunter won the Silver Medal for category 87, “American-Style India Pale Ale.” IPAs are perhaps the hottest ticket in craft beer right now as they’re loved by both beginners to the craft beer scene, as well as experienced connoisseurs.  The style demands rigid appearance, allowing for some haze from hops.  The aroma and taste of the beer is heavily reliant on “citrus-like, piney, resinous or sulfur-like American-variety hop character” with “medium maltiness present.” This beer finished second of 224 contestants (the highest total of entrants).

Fat Head’s Brewery: Bonehead Red won the Silver Medal for category 90, “Imperial Red Ale.” Imperial Red Ales are dark amber in color, full of hops and balanced by medium to high caramel malt character. The alcohol should be perceived and the hops provide a biting edge.

            The Gold Medal winner was Columbus Brewing Company’s Uncle Rusty, noted here because it may occasionally be available regionally, as Columbus is available in and around Youngstown, Ohio.

You can find the official 2014 winners page here and specific style criteria here.

Ever try any of these? Think they deserve the award, or were they sold short? Perhaps you feel they are overrated? Have your say below.

Cheers til next time,

KevBot

Beer of the Week 4/9--4/15: Full Pint Rye Rebellion

Full Pint's Rye Rebellion:

The label reads "Western PA has a rebellious past regarding whiskey, especially rye whiskey. In honor of the brave men who stood up to the tax collector we have created Rye Rebellion, an imperial stout brewed with four different types of rye and aged in rye whiskey barrels."

It's brewed with "Malts: Pils, Crystal, Aromatic, Roasted Rye, Crystal Rye, Flaked Rye, Chocolate Rye and; Hops: Columbus and Tettnang."
AbV: 11%

My review (on Beer Advocate):

Appearance: Pitch black, no visible light coming through the beer. Thin tan head that disappears almost immediately

Aroma: Whiskey aromas are dominant. Faint hints of chocolate, maybe some roasted malts. Some noticeable alcohol is present in the nose too.

Taste: this beer starts with whiskey and a gritty rye flavor that competes with chocolate and alcohol for full attention of the palate. The former pair narrowly edges the latter, though it’s a fairly tight contest that suggests a very well balanced beer. As the drink warms, some sweet touches of caramel are faintly detectable.

Mouthfeel: The gritty rye flavors are mitigated by the chocolate malts. A stinging mouthfeel from whiskey and rye is rapidly laid to rest by smooth chocolate and roasty flavors, but makes a brief appearance on the back of the palate. The lingering flavor is light alcohol and chocolate.

Overall, this is a pretty good beer. I’d prefer either: 1) some more full-bodied whiskey flavor (though I’m not a whiskey drinker); or 2) more malts and less whiskey. The beer seems to be caught in between the two areas, though it’s not necessarily a bad thing. I certainly appreciate this beer for what it’s worth.

Final Rating: 3.81

Full Pint has really risen in my list of favorite locals lately. This is certainly one of them. It's a really good beer and I'd suggest one for any slow-sipping occasion, two if you're enjoying a nice relaxing night by yourself with a group of fellow craft beer enthusiasts (or a stressful day at work).

Contact info:

Twitter: @fullpintbrewing

Website: http://www.fullpintbrewing.com/

Availability: This is a seasonal, but I know for sure you can find it at Vintage Estate in Boardman, Ohio and Whole Foods Market in Wexford, PA among many other places I'm sure. Keep an eye out for this bad boy and let me know what you think in the comments below!

Enjoy good beer and good friends,

KevBot

"Double Brew" Doubles Expectations

New Castle Double Brew Doubles Expectations

“I believe nicotine plus caffeine equals protein,” professional golfer John Daly once proclaimed for the media. Unfortunately we know this isn’t true, but I’m sure many of us wish it were. If you add alcohol to the mix though, you may end up with a new chemical reaction for muscle building: the kinds of muscles that forge unforgettable memories. And this year’s first annual Double Brew, hosted by Two Rivers Artisan Coffee, in downtown New Castle provided just the right concoction of delicious beers, tasty coffees, full-flavored cigars, fine arts and any combination of the like you could conceive.

   I’ll be blunt: the Double Brew doubled my expectations, which were already astronomically high.  Volunteers and workers were scattered throughout New Castle’s marvelous Riverplex, pouring coffee and/or craft beer, serving buffet-style hors d’oeuvres, promoting cigars or performing live exhibitions and displaying varying forms of art.  However, the best part of the night was the “double brew.”

   Hector Marquez and Cassie Shore perfected the “double brew” by producing some wonderfully unique combinations of Two Rivers’ coffees and varying types of alcohol. Hector worked his black magic with Voodoo Brewing’s beer and TR’s carefully-selected coffees from Intelligentsia.  Meanwhile, Cassie was conjuring up ancient spirits of her own by mixing flavored hard liquor and hario-system pour-overs. Beyond the delicious double-brews and craft beers available, other artists and aficionados plied their trades throughout the night.
   Cigars, live paintings, art exhibits and clay pottery were also available to stimulate the senses in place of, or in addition to, chemical substances. Slippery Rock Cigars offered their knowledge of tasty tobaccos, including some flavored cigars of mango and mint chocolate chip, though their more traditional offerings satisfied my palate just fine (and complemented the rest of the night splendidly). Another artist, Thomas McNickle, created a lasting memory of the night by painting with Two Rivers’ coffees and giving it to the highest bidder during a Chinese Auction, which also featured various local artists, businesses and organizations that donated goods and services. The Hoyt Center, a co-sponsor of the event, also assisted by adding a unique artistic element to a fine charitable event, benefiting New Castle’s fireworks celebration in July 2014.
   New Castle’s fist ever Double Brew was a fantastic charity event that mixed all of the best aspects of local artists, businesses and connoisseurs of their respective crafts. I look forward to the next event down at the Riverplex and especially next year’s Double Brew, which although fantastic this year, has room to grow and excel even further.

   If you're interested in any more information about Voodoo's Wynona's Big Brown Ale, Two Rivers' Aristan coffees, the Hoyt Center, or any other parts of this article that caught your attention, let me know and I'll be more than happy to tell you about them, or point you in the proper direction.

Thanks for reading,

KevBot

Coming soon: 

Tasting notes of Hector's and Cassie's delicious mixes.

Slideshow pictures of the event

Homebrew Review #1: "IBU-tiful"

Since I'm doing the whole local brewing scene, I thought I'd share a review of most recent homebrew: "IBU-tiful," which is an IBU-tiful learning experience, if nothing more. This is only my second homebrewed batch, so I was not expecting a whole. I won't bore you with the details of how we brewed it, the recipe or the mistakes made and laughs enjoyed, so here's my review:

Stock Photo of IBU-tiful: 3/6/2014 (not the sample reviewed)

Appearance (2): Way over-carbonated (seemingly). Poured into pint glass, carefully and slowly. 3 inch head of cream/beige color. The head on this beer does not disappear. Three minutes after pouring and it’s still two inches thick. Opaque, lighter amber to rustic brown color.
   The beer itself isn’t ugly, but the head retention has created a pile of clumped foam in the beer that is extremely unpleasant to look at…

Aroma (3.5): bready sweet malts, faint hop scent of spicey, piney, earthy variety.

Flavor (3.75): Bitter up front. The sweeter malts (are not present)/give way to fruity hops: tropical, some pineapple notes. At the back of the palate the malt sweetness returns and leaves a temporary lingering of a nicely balanced malt/hop effect. The scent and flavor do not match very well. Perhaps this has to do with the aroma hopping of Fuggle, which is very distinctly different from the bittering/flavoring hops we used (Warrior, Simcoe, Amarillo).

Mouthfeel (3): Carbonated, but not as much as one would anticipate prior to tasting (based on head retention). After letting it sit for a few minutes, the bubbling ceased. However, it is certainly over-carbonated for an IPA.

Overall (2.75): Not sure what to think here. The first few I had, when fresh, were delicious. They were overpoweringly bitter up front, but finished smoothly with notes of pineapple and citrus fruits. The malts weren’t as noticeable, which allowed the hops to really shine through.
This beverage is about a month older and has lost a lot of hop character (as expected) but is far from what I tasted awhile back. It’s not necessarily terrible, but I’m not exactly as proud of it as I was a few weeks ago: Drink Fresh if brewed again.

Perhaps I’m being a bit harsh here as others have enjoyed it and this is only the second batch. I really enjoyed it fresh, but I’m having doubts now. Looking forward to the next batch. Lots to learn from and to look toward the future.

Averaged out, my second batch of homebrew receives a 3.00. This isn’t terrible, but I’m sure there is a tad bit of bias here. The biggest lesson learned is how to approach bittering, flavoring, and scenting hops.

I still have some left to share, if you’d like one and I’ll be seeing you soon, let me know.
Cheers and thanks for reading,

KevBot

Beer of the Week 4/2--4/8: Great Lakes Chillwave

So here's a new feature I'll include on my blog each week. This is my "Beer of the Week" segment and it will highlight a different beer from "local" breweries. Local, for this blog's purpose, will include breweries located anywhere between Cleveland, Ohio to Erie, PA, down to Pittsburgh, PA and anywhere in between.

This week's beer is 'Chillwave' by Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland, Ohio. This double IPA was formerly known as 'Alchemy Hour,' but recently changed the name due to a lawsuit from Widmer Bros. for use of their trademarked "Alchemy" Ale.  The new name, after careful planning by the owners at GLBC, was selected to honor the insane surfers on the Great Lakes that look to ride any gnarly wave, regardless of temperature.

   The label reads:

"Great Lakes surfers work hard for their thrills. They wake before dawn, listening to the weather report like school kids hoping for a snow day. If the waves are wrothy, they ride. No matter the cold, no matter the season, no matter the frozen crystals gathering in their beards, or the wind-whipping, white knuckle conditions they must face. To these chill rust belt surf dudes, it's all good. Yeah, it sounds a little crazy, but we didn't craft our Double IPA for the faint of heart. With a flash of Mosaic hops and a kiss of honey malt, it's a rush in a bottle. Ride our Chillwave. Then go out and find your own."

This brew is phenomenal. Below, I've included my BeerAdvocate review. I would highly recommend this beer if you see it.

Appearance: Partially hazy, a blend of gold and copper color. small head, somewhere between beige and tan that rapidly disappears. 
Smell: tropical and citrus fruits. some alcohol on the end. Maybe some earthy or herbal scents.
Taste: stronger tropical and citrus flavors. Definitely some mango. Noticeable sweet malt flavors that complement the hops well without overpowering this fantastic dipa. Some noticeable alcohol tastes, but nothing worth fretting over. Like the aroma, there is some earthy hop taste and faint pine flavors.
Mouthfeel: Spot-on carbonation that allows the tropical/citrusy hops and sweet malts to linger on the palate long after the initial sip is finished. Only possible complaint is that it is a bit light.
Overall: this is really good. Plenty of different hop aromas and flavors happening while some sweet malt tastes lay a nice foundation for a lingering, pleasurable aftertaste.

Cheers until next time,

KevBot

New Castle Double-Brew!

NEW CASTLE, PA!

I have some wonderful news for you, for Youngstown, Ohio and for Pittsburgh and Meadville, PA.

Saturday, April 5th is a date you should save in your calendar. One of my favorite breweries in the region, Voodoo Brewing Company (98 on BA!) is pairing up with an incredible local coffee shop, Two Rivers Artisan Coffee to provide a unique, palate-challenging experience in the heart of downtown New Castle, PA.

I can't tell you how excited I am for this event. The guys down at Two Rivers have mastered just about everything there is to know about coffee. From pour-overs, to the aeropress, siphons and mixing drinks, they do it all: and they do it better than Starbucks or your favorite local coffee shop. For a few months now, they've been mixing craft brews with their coffees and perfecting this new, delicate balance of palate-challenging beverages.

   A few months ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Hector, Cassie, and a few others from Two Rivers at the Hoyt Center’s “Let’s Tailgate Brewfest” on the north hill in New Castle back in November. At this event they first tried, to my knowledge, their hand at mixing hand-crafted coffees with "traditional" craft beers. I made the mistake of waiting 4-5 months before coming back in to contact with them until a special event at the Magic Tree in Boardman, Ohio, where they combined five of their coffees with five different beers offered at the wonderful bar in Boardman.

   To avoid confusion, this is not your standard coffee-infused craft beer. Plenty of craft breweries include local coffee in their stout, porter or doppelbock recipes to add a stronger flavor. However, these are finished beers mixed with freshly brewed coffee to create a desired flavor that delicately balances the unique aromas and tastes of both to please avid fans of either.

   Since that fateful night at Magic Tree, where I “rediscovered” the art of the “double-brew,” I've spent some time getting to know the baristas at Two Rivers and came across this unique event combining their caffeinated brews and Voodoo's world-beating beers. This event should make any craft beer or caffeine fan overjoyed. These brewers know their materials and are masters of their respective arts.

This should be an epic night and the proceeds benefit the New Castle Fireworks Festival on July 11-12. Remember, New Castle is the fireworks capital of the world and the festival always creates a big bang in the community. Beyond the delicious beer and delectable coffee, there will also be my third favorite vice: cigars. Yes, that's right. Some high quality cigars will certainly complement the rest of the night's palate-challenging drinks and hors d’oeuvres exquisitely.

You can buy tickets here.

I hope to see you there. Feel free to get a hold of me anyway you like (twitter, facebook, email) and we can discuss the event in further detail if you wish,

KevBot

Welcome/Top 5

Hello and welcome to my first blog post here at Brews with the Bot. I'm Kevin and I'll keep you updated on bottle releases, brewpub and bar events and general information about breweries in the Western PA/Eastern Ohio region. I just recently surpassed my 1,000th distinct beer on Untappd and decided that I would share some of my passion for the industry with anyone interested.   Though I've certainly consumed more than 1,000 distinct craft beers since diving head-first into the craft beer world about 3 years ago, I only started keeping track thanks to Untappd. In fact, I can attribute a lot of my passion for craft beer and home-brewing to Untappd, with a special spot reserved for friends and acquaintances I've met all over the northeastern United States.
   The more I used Untappd, the more immersed I became in the ever-expanding and already immense world of craft beer. As I rated beers, I wanted to know more about how to properly do so, so I began reading how to do it. I researched beers and what types of hops, malts, and yeasts make distinct beer styles. Thus, my hobby became a passion.
   Over the next few blog posts, I’ll discuss my passion with you by discussing some of my favorite beers, the highest-rated beers I’ve personally consumed and my favorite brewpubs/breweries that I’ve visited. However, for this post I’m only going to discuss my five favorite unique beers.

Top 5:
   I ordered my top 5 in terms of the date that I first experienced them. They are not the highest-rated beers I’ve ever consumed and cicerones and experienced craft beer drinkers likely would not label them the best of their style. The five beers listed below are some of the my favorite beers, from small brewpubs/microbreweries that I’ve found most appealing to my palette.

1: Willoughby Brewing: Peanut Butter Cup Coffee Porter Willoughby, Ohio

   This beer was the first craft brew that I ever fell in love with. It smells of freshly roasted coffee and chocolate. It drinks the way it smells, but with the added delight of slight peanut butter flavors. If you're ever in the Eastern Ohio area and see this beer on tap, make sure you grab some. It's light abv allows the flavors to really rush forth from this beer.

2: Bullfrog Brewery: Segundo Plaga Williamsport, Pennsylvania

   A unique Saison/Farmhouse Ale aged in tequila barrels. Admittedly, I am not a fan of tequila, but the agave/tequila flavors in this beer made for splendid drinking. The scent is full of tequila/agave aromas and the flavor matches the nose. Bullfrog is excellent at making diverse Saisons with various fruit flavors and blends.

3: Zero Gravity Craft Brewery/American Flatbread: Gose the Destroyer Burlington, Vermont

   Perhaps this beer is the beneficiary of a fantastic experience, but I doubt it. This was my first introduction into the Gose style of beer. It is slightly sour, but more noticeable is the added English sea salt and coriander. I loved the beer when I had it and it has led to my new favorite style. I've never been to the Mediterranean Sea, but I imagine this is what the air tastes like out there.

4: Market Garden Brewery: ADHA 871 Cleveland, Ohio

   Named after the experimental ADHA 871 hop, this beer is bursting with minty, grassy, earthy and herbal tones. It is very resinous and the malt complements the hop profile very well. Drinking this beer reminds me of an early-morning tee time on a slightly foggy golf course, lightly covered in morning dew.

5: Nodding Head Brewery and Resturant: Lava Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

   To date, this is certainly the most unique beer I've ever tasted. An American Blonde Ale brewed with lavender and vanilla. Wow! The aroma is overwhelmingly lavender with slight hints of vanilla. It has one of the nicest noses of any beer I've ever had. The flavor assaults your palate with lavender flavors but its rescued by vanilla and balanced by light-to-moderate malts. I loved this beer and wrote a note for the brewer asking for some tips in creating something similar for my next home-brew project, but have not yet heard back.

Now for your thoughts: Have you had the opportunity to try any of these beers? What are some of the most uniquely delicious beers you've had the pleasure of drinking? Post below so we can discuss!

Cheers until next time,
KevBot