Sunday, November 20, 2011

Beer Haul, Vermont Style

 As seen here I made a successful beer trip to Vermont.  Below is a list of beer I did get, also got to try a few different ones around Burlington.  Did miss out on Double Sunshine which was on tap at the place we had dinner, but they ran out shortly before we got there. I was in tears.




  • Alchemist's Heady Topper
  • Nor, a collaboration with Hill Farmstead and Cigar City
  • Daybreak, a collaboration with Hill Farmstead and Mikkller
  • Hill Farmstead's Abner
  • Hill Farmstead's Birth of Tragedy
  • Hill Farmstead's Twilight of the Idols
  • Hill Farmstead's Civil Disobedience 3
  • Rock Art's Vermont Hop Harvest
  • and two that I just happened to see and get, Rogue's Chipotle Ale and Dogfish Head's Bitches Brew
All in all a successful trip, and my wife didn't want to kill me more than three times.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Sam Adams Tasman Red - Beer Review

This isn't going to be a full beer review, because I stopped by Lowell Beer Works and had a glass of their new beer Godzilla, and well it kicked my ass.

Trying a few different beers tonight because, well I am a huge drunk and I am chasing that legendary badge in Untappd.  Anyway this has all lead me to Sam Adam's Tasman Red. Well actually a trip to Redstone Liquors did this, but I digress.

So at some point Sam Adams released a new line of beers, I say new line, because well the bottle looks different.



I have no idea where they came from, but they include a Blonde Barleywine, a Double IPA (I Will drink this later), a Chocolate Chili Bock and this, a Red IPA.

Whenever I think Red IPA I dream of Troegs Nugget Nectar, which is basically the best beer I have ever tasted, this is not that, but fear not this is still really good.  The bottle lists out some ingredients and I am sure they are all in there, but the one that catches my eye is Galaxy Hops. This is the hop that I am in love with currently and yes I fall in love with hops, want to fight about it?

Anyway, the beer, first we smell. The nose has the galaxy hops for sure, then some smoke to it. I look again at the bottle and see there are topaz hops too, no that's not the smell. WAIT! There is Roasted Dehusked Malt, that has to be it. Either way I like this nose, lets hope that the flavor holds out.

Taste...ok this is a winner, good mouth field, and the taste is solid. Some bitterness, but a good balance. There is grapefruit, some roasted malt, and some well normal maltiness. The finish is grapefruit, which I have been told is from the hops, and its something I enjoy...greatly.

I have always been a fan of Sam Adams, they make really solid beers, but nothing that really pushed outside of a certain comfort zone. This zone should be called the SAMS Zone. This is different from everything Sam Adams does, and this is a really good Red IPA. It's no Nugget Nectar, but its no slouch, and the price at about 5.99 a bomber is phenomal. Not sure how long they will prodcue this, but grab it while you can.

Wait...this wasn't suppose to be a full review...shit