Beer #360 – Hop Wallop by Victory Brewing Company

Hop Wallop by Victory Brewing Company

It is hard for me to believe that at this time next week, my journey will be over. It will come to an end on November 28th but until then I have, including today’s beer, 6 left.  Lets get drinking!!!

Beer #360 is Hop Wallop by Victory Brewing Company.  This American Double or Imperial IPA has an ABV of 8.5% and is brewed in Downingtown, Pennsylvania.

Into another Pennsylvania brewers, Sly Fox, pint glass this went.  The color of this beer was a clear orange or golden amber.  It had a very thin white head. The nose smelled heavy and syrupy with grapefruit and bready malts.  Hops up front with grapefruit & orange peel (basically a nice citrus fruity overall flavor) and then it gets malty and sweet with caramel mostly.  The body is pretty heavy, sticky & syrupy…it coats as it soothes…and the carbonation is pretty low. Nice and smooth with moderate bitterness coupled with the ABV hidden really well, makes this very drinkable.

I make no bones about…IPAs and DIPAs are probably my favorite styles of beer and this didn’t disappoint.  An excellent brew from Victory!

And then there were 5…

Rating: A+

Read Full Post »

Beer #356 – Otto Ale by Victory Brewing Company

Otto Ale by Victory Brewing Company

Back to Pennsylvania I find myself for beer #356.  I have already had 52 (53 if you include tonights) beers from Pennsylvania in this 365, the most from any state.  Otto Ale is my beer of choice for tonight brewed by Victory Brewing Company from Downingtown.  This is classified as a Smoked Beer and has an ABV of 8.1%  Interesting to note here is this Belgian Dubbel styled Smoked Beer was created based on the experiences Bill Covaleski and Ron Barchet (co-founders of Victory Brewing Company) had on their trip to Bamberg, Germany in 1987.

Into my new glass, a Long Trail Brewing Company glass that the fine folks at Oak Tree Wine & Spirits (http://www.oaktreebuyrite.com/) gave to me after my purchase there today, went this dark amber brew with a very nice sized thick tan colored head.  The nose was smoky (think camp fire), malty and a bit fruity with raisins and I thought I got a whiff of some grapes.  It started off with a slightly sweet caramel malt flavor that melted off into a lightly smoky flavor similar to Liquid Smoke (if you cooked with this…you know what I mean).  There was a bit of brown sugar here too.  The fruits I picked up on in the nose didn’t really translate in the taste.  It had a medium body and some very fine light carbonation that made this creamy.  The alcohol was hidden very nicely here.

This was an interesting beer.  I really didn’t get the Belgian Dubbel aspect of this but I do find myself really enjoying the smokiness found in this style.  If you dig Smoked Beers or Rauchbiers, give this one a shot.

Cheers again to Oak Tree Wine & Spirits in South Plainfield, New Jersey as they were my go to beer store for the majority of this 365.  I will be visiting them in the future as their selection of beers is really unmatched where I live.  Team that up with a very knowledgeable and friendly staff and the little things like a free Long Trail & Sly Fox glass that will make them my go to beer store for many years to come.

And then there were 9…

Rating: B

Read Full Post »

Beer #349 – Pale Ale by Troegs Brewing Company

Pale Ale by Troegs Brewing Company

I hate being sick…nothing tastes right or smells good.

So this will be another non-review but I will drink it…it shouldn’t react with DayQuil or Zicam right…right???

Beer #349 is Pale Ale by Troegs Brewing Company from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  This is an American Pale Ale with an ABV of 5.4%.

I poured it, I drank it.

Maybe tomorrow I will feel better…I hope…

And then there were 16…

Rating: n/a

Read Full Post »

Beer #343 – Extra Special Ale by Yards Brewing Company

Extra Special Ale by Yards Brewing Company

KingBob and and his merry band of Princes, Jesters and Peasants now moves on to the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia.  From this city in Pennsylvania comes our next brew, beer #343 which is Extra Special Ale by Yards Brewing Company.  Their version of an Extra Special/Strong Bitter has an ABV of 6% and was Yards Brewing Company’s first beer brewed.  Cool…lets give it a taste…shall we?

It had quite a nice clear amber color just a bit on the dark side.  The head was creamy, off-white and about a finger width in size.  It left some really cool lacing on the glass.  The nose was fairly light and consisted mostly of caramel malts and a faint fruity smell that I couldn’t put a finger on.  I took a sip…the caramel malts hit me first.  There was a pleasant toast like flavor there also.  It was ever so slightly sweet.  There is a decent hoppy bitter bite near the back of this that I enjoyed.  I thought I picked up a bit of a nutty almost earthy thing in here also.  The fruitiness I picked up on in the nose did not translate to the taste.  It had a medium body and was pretty light in the carbonation.

This was pretty solid.  It was a pretty decent beer from the City of Brotherly Love.

Rating: B

Read Full Post »

Beer #332 – Verboten by Weyerbacher Brewing Company

Verboten by Weyerbacher Brewing Company

Ding…ding…ding…I hit the 600 mile mark on my bike today.  I’m pretty happy with that since 90% of that is on dirt whether it is singletrack or rail-trail.  I am shooting for 700 miles which should be reachable but I really don’t like riding in the cold so I guess that will be up to what Mother Nature provides.  The most I have done in one year is 980…I don’t think that will be attainable.  Maybe next year I will shoot for 1000 miles.  On to the beer.

Beer #332 is Verboten by Weyerbacher Brewing Company, a Belgian Pale Ale brewed in Easton. Pennsylvania with an ABV of 5.9%.

Appearance – A cloudy amber with a super thin off-white head.

Nose – Pretty light smelling with cloves and bananas.

Taste – Spicy and hoppy with bit of pepper, some cloves, and an orange rind flavor.  Nice bitter bite.  Finished on the dry side.

Mouthfeel – Midway between medium and light with an ample amount of stinging carbonation.

Overall – Decent brew but I wouldn’t go out of my way for it.  Just another beer in the long line of 365.

Rating: C

Read Full Post »

Beer #320 – Double IPA by Stoudt’s Brewing Company

Double IPA by Stoudt's Brewing Company

TGIF…and boy do I feel like I could use a weekend right about now.

Beer #320 is Double IPA by Stoudt’s Brewing Company brewed in Adamstown in the neighboring state of Pennsylvania.  This American DIPA or Imperial IPA has large ABV of 10%.

I like the ANTMO style of doing the review…so I will continue.

Apperance – Cloudy orange amber with a slight off-white head.

Nose – Big & malty caramel struck me first.  Pineapple juice, honey, herbs & alcohol make up  the rest of the aromas.

Taste – Nice and sweet with pineapple juice like flavor up front.  Then it gets malty with the sweetness of the caramel.  It had a pleasant bitterness…not too much or too little.  There was a very slight alcohol taste that got a bit stronger as it warmed up.

Mouthfeel – Fairly heavy body, a bit thick & a bit syrupy.  Very smooth with it being a bit under carbonated.  The ABV is hidden nicely.

Overall – A very good DIPA.  Not the best I have had but I enjoyed it.  I liked the more noticeable pineapple flavor…it was quite the change of pace from the typical grapefruit.

Rating: B+

Read Full Post »

Beer #319 – Allegheny Pale Ale by Pennsylvania Brewing Company

Allegheny Pale Ale by Pennsylvania Brewing Company

For nights I’m not feeling it…like tonight, I will be going back to a blogging style I used briefly.  I call it the ANTMO style.  Appearance, Nose, Taste, Mouthfeel, & Overall.

Beer #319 is Allegheny Pale Ale by Pennsylvania Brewing Company.  Another brewed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this American Pale Ale has an ABV of 5.6%.

Appearance – Amber color, no head..boo, hiss, boo.

Nose – What nose?  Very little scent of grass or possibly hay.

Taste – Oh…there is the malts but they are very underwhelming with a bready flavor.  Hops kick in the with a citrus orange rind like flavor and bitterness.  Funky aftertaste I couldn’t place.

Mouthfeel – Medium body, decent carbonation, a bit smooth.

Overall – Ehh…this did absolutely nothing for me.  Below average, forgettable but not truly horrible.  I finished it…I guess that is a good thing.

Rating: D

Read Full Post »

Beer #318 – Penn Dark by Pennsylvania Brewing Company

Penn Dark by Pennsylvania Brewing Company

All of those gorgeous 80 degree days I think are finally behind us here in NJ.  It is time for some fall weather to kick in.  Not that that is a bad thing with temps in the 60′s.  As long as the rain stays away…it will make for some really pleasant days and cool nights.  And with the lower temperatures, I slowly roll on to the conclusion of my 365 Days Of Beer.

Beer #318 is Penn Dark by Pennsylvania Brewing Company brewed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Their version of a Munich Dunkel Lager has an ABV of 5%.

This beer poured a dark brown with a hint of red to it when held up to the light.  There wasn’t any head to speak of whatsoever.  The nose was roasted malts, dark fruit like plums, and a bit of chocolate.  I could taste the slightly sweet roasted caramel nature of the malts most of all her with some nice nutty flavors.  The plum I got on the nose really didn’t come out in the flavor neither did the chocolate.  I did get a dark bread like pumpernickel flavor throughout most of the mouthful.  The body was not quite medium bordering on being light.  Not really watery…just light.  The carbonation was a bit on the low side and that made this quite smooth.  It went down real easy.

This was a pretty good beer…I think I may have a few more of these in the basement that I will have to indulge on.

Rating: B

Read Full Post »

Beer #311 – AutumnFest by Weyerbacher Brewing Company

Beer #311 – AutumnFest by Weyerbacher Brewing Company

AutumnFest by Weyerbacher Brewing Company

What a gorgeous autumn day it was today.  I got a chance to go for a quick 10 mile ride on my lunch break at work…part road…part canal towpath.  It is always nice to be able to get away from the desk and just pedal.

So I figured why not have an autumn themed beer for #311.  AutumnFest by Weyerbacher Brewing Company is that beer.  Brewed in Easton, Pennsylvania…this American Amber or Red Ale has an ABV of 5.4%.

AutumnFest poured a nice amber with a bit of gold to it.  The head was tiny and white.  The color reminded me of autumn.  It had the nose of grains and toasted malts…very bread like.  I took a sip, it was slightly sweeter than I thought going by the smell.  The caramel flavor was pretty prominent along with bread or more like toast flavor.  There was a fruit component in the taste also…I thought apples…but not quite.  It had a dry finish, a medium body, above average carbonation, and was a bit on the crisp side.  It went down real easy.

This was a fairly good beer…not outstanding and not horrible either.  It reminded me more of an Oktoberfest than an American Amber.  Enjoy!

Rating: C

Read Full Post »

Beer #307 – Oktoberfest Beer by Lancaster Brewing Company

Oktoberfest Beer by Lancaster Brewing Company

I think during the month of September and now the start of October, NJ somehow moved to Seattle.  It seems like everyday we have had rain…very annoying.  I don’t mind the rain but man…enough is enough.

Beer #307 is Oktoberfest Beer by Lancaster Brewing Company.  This is another in my Oktoberfest fest from the home of the Amish…Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Their version of an Oktoberfest or Marzen has an ABV of 6.5%.

Into my Yankee (go Yanks!) glass this went with a nice amber color with no head.  There was quite a lot of tiny little bubbles rising to the top.  The nose was light again with caramel and bread but no grassy hop like aroma from the previous Oktoberfests I have had.  The taste was mostly sweet (slightly) caramel with some bread.  There was a bit of wheat and grains here also.  It had a nice crisp finish to it, moderate carbonation, and medium body.  This was another Oktoberfest that was quite drinkable.  I guess that is the point since anytime I have seen photos of people with a beer in hand at an Oktoberfet in Germany, the glasses are huge.  They are 1 liter or 2.11 pints of beer…yum!!!

This was a decent version of a Marzen.  The version from Brooklyn was better though.  Prost!

Rating: C

Read Full Post »