Sneak Peek For What's Coming In 2012

COMING IN 2012

Happy Thanksgiving from gulp!

Happy Thanksgiving from us here at gulp!

Enjoy some great food and even better beer!

See ya soon with some new beer reviews

-Steve-

Cigar City Good Gourd

Oh baby, we're on a roll this week at gulp! If my research is correct, this is the busiest beer review week in gulps! short history. It's actually quite sad if you think about it. I've been running the blog for about 11 months, and this is the first week where we've reviewed almost the same number of beers as there are days in a week. I wish there was a prize for this. Oh wait, I run the blog, so I get to drink the great beer. Game, set, match.

So, earlier today I reviewed a great Terrapin beer: Pumpkinfest. Well, this evening I'm coming at you with a really special beer from a really great FLORIDA brewery. Good Gourd from Cigar City Brewing based in Tampa, Fl. Cigar City Brewing has been around about 3 years and have totally revolutionized the beer scene not only in the cigar city of Tampa, but the entire state of Florida. So much so that they were the only Florida brewery to win a gold medal at this year's Great American Beer Festival.

If you're a Florida citizen, I imagine that you know Tampa is known as "cigar city" due to their rich cigar history. Cigar City Brewing has grasped that by the horns, and presents it with almost all of their products. Take one look at their logo, and it's quite obvious how much they enjoy the rich history of Tampa. Many of their beers have built into their labels, or names, hints of the history of the area.

I myself have only had 1 Cigar City beer: Jai Alai IPA. I had it at their tasting room in Tampa over the summer (I think I've had it once before that, but don't remember). It was a really good IPA. Cigar City has many other standard offerings though: Maduro Brown Ale, White Oak-aged Jai Alai IPA, Cubano-style Espresso Brown Ale (which is in my fridge), and Jose Marti American Porter. They also have special 750mL regulars: Bolita Double Nut Brown Ale, Guava Grove Farmhouse Ale, and Improve Oatmeal Rye India-style Brown Ale. Just look at that list. I'm sure you notice how unique these guys are, along with today's earlier brewery, Terrapin. Cigar City also takes pride in using local ingredients as frequent as possible, which is something they should be applauded for.

Tonight, I am very excited to try the Good Gourd 750mL seasonal from Cigar City. I've read that it is pretty comparable to Pumpking by Southern Tier; some say it's even better than said pump-king. I'll of course be my own judge of that. On their website, Cigar City writes a playful intro to the description of the beer by saying "Legend has it that when a pumpkin comes into the world it is possessed by either a good or an evil spirit". Well, they think that at Cigar City, they got all the good. We are told to prepare for real pumpkin flavors, spices, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. All the great ingredients to a really good pumpkin beer. I should note that this is an Imperial Pumpkin Ale. The Gourd is sittin pretty at 8.5% ABV... and being 750mL, I suggest bringing a friend along for the ride. However, in my case, my wife isn't here tonight, and my dogs still don't like beer, and I'm not a huge fan of keeping an open bottle in the fridge, so, we'll just see where this goes (wink, wink).

Upon popping the cap, the bottle let out a little fizz noise. I've had this in my fridge for about a month or so... I'm hoping that doesn't ruin anything. I let the bottle sit for a few minutes as well so it wasn't as cold when I poured the beer. It was a bit difficult to get any scents from the bottle, but upon pouring into my St. Bernardus snifter glass, I was catching the cloves, spices, and a little bit of nutmeg. No shockers with the golden copper coloring. At this point, there should be a special name for this color. Let's go with copper pumpkin shall we? This is the last pumpkin beer of the season that I'll be reviewing, so I figure we better make it interesting.

The Gourd has a medium body feel, and is not overly complex on the way down. It's very smooth, and you can certainly catch all of the different flavors and spices at different points of the drinking. I do wish I knew what the Jamaican allspice smelled like pre-brewing because based on my research of this beer, it is pretty apparent throughout. It isn't as heavy on the nutmeg as Pumpking is; but I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing. Without a doubt, it knocks the doors off of any standard pumpkin ale. Compared to Pumpking though, I'd say they're neck and neck.

Now that the beer has had some time to warm up, the carmely texture is really shining, as well as the different spices. It's almost become a different drink than when completely cold, and it's fantastic. I'd say it's complex, and a bit edgy on the way down. Without a doubt, it helps the case. I'd say the only thing missing is some whipped cream to go on top to finish the pumpkin!

Well folks, that about wraps up this seasons pumpkin beers. Pumking and Good Gourd are without a doubt the two most amazing pumpkin beers out on the market. With Good Gourd being our feature tonight, I strongly recommend you find some before the season is over. Gulp it down with family and/or friends, but savor every sip because it won't be back until next year. Thank you Cigar City for making an incredible product. I'm looking forward to having the Espresso Brown Ale very soon!

Terrapin Pumpkinfest

Happy 11-11-11! I have the day off, so in beer speak, that means we're drinkin early today! I'm actually planning on reviewing two beers today. I'd love to do three, but the second beer is large and I plan on milking it for a while. Until then, I have a fantastic Terrapin product to talk about: Pumpkinfest. I've never had it before today, so I'm really looking forward to it because Terrapin has some solid-solid beers. I think they're slowing becoming my favorite craft brewery. What a love story.

A little about Terrapin. They're based out of Athens, Georgia and have three year-round beers: Hopsecutioner, Rye Pale Ale, and Golden Ale. I've had the first two (I think I wrote about Hopsecutioner), and they were pretty good. They have three seasonal offerings: Pumpkinfest (new to the lineup), Moo Hoo Chocolate Milk Stout (OMG), and Hop Karma Brown IPA. Finally, they have four "Monster Beers": Wake'n'Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout (which I had earlier this year and was unbelievable), Big Hoppy Monster, Monk's Revenge (Belgian IPA), and Hopzilla (Imperial IPA). They also have some random side projects and collaborations too - including Hoptaneous Combustion (a SMOKED Double IPA - which was intense). So I'd say that is quite a line up of very, very unique beers; and as I said, I've had several and they've all been amazing.

On to Pumpkinfest. This beer is pretty unique for a couple reasons. One, it's a lager and not an ale. Most pumpkin beers are ales and incorporate different ingredients. Since the main brewer at Terrapin is a bit of a nutcase, they decided to do Pumpkinfest differently. It's actually the combination of a german style oktoberfest beer and a pumpkin ale (aka a 'hybrid'). Therefore, while there was about a pound of pumpkin used in the brewing, the malts are very germanesque. All in all, I am expecting a quality brew here.

As you've probably noticed, I've been on a pumpkin beer kick. However, some of the latest "non-imperial" pumpkin beers have been flat for me. Combine that with my high thoughts of Terrapin, I've got high hopes.  The beer pours the standard golden/copper hue that you normally see with a pumpkin beer. Thankfully, right off the bat, I was hit with nutmeg and clove scents; a good sign of a really good pumpkin beer. The spices are pretty complex for a pumpkin beer, which kinda gives it that tie-in to the oktoberfest/pumpkin beer, which is pretty cool. The back end is a little big hoppy, but certainly big on the spices. It's pretty smooth all around, and is a pleasure to drink.

Overall, this is a solid offering from Terrapin. Of the non-imperial pumpkin beers, this one tops the list for me (yes, above Pumpkinhead from Shipyard - which would be #2). It's 6.1% ABV, so while drinkable, it could have you topsy-turvey after a few. I definitely recommend this beer while we're still in the fall, and before the winter beers start taking over the shelves. Heck, they kind of have already. So, what are you waiting for!? Get out there and buy the latest from the crazy green turtle!!

Buffalo Bill's Brewery - America's Original Pumpkin Ale

Tonight we're picking up where we left off last night. I had originally planned to review this beer yesterday, but I got sidetracked. Plus, my wife wanted to do a review, so I helped her with that. Anyway, tonight's beer review is Buffalo Bill's Brewery, America's Original Pumpkin Ale. I think out of all of the pumpkin beers, this one is probably the easiest to find in stores. Touted as an "ale brewed with real pumpkin and natural spice flavor", the bottle really suggests that you are about to be hit with some pumpkin madness. Well, we'll be the judge of that.

The Buffalo Bill's Brewery website educates us on their five main beer bottle offerings: Orange Blossom Cream Ale, Alimony IPA, Blueberry Oatmeal Stout (which sounds pretty intense), Imperial Pumpkin Ale, and the America's Original Pumpkin Ale. Suffice it to say, Buffalo Bill's wasn't created to brew regular beers.

Now, today is November 9. So, I've had probably about 6-8 different pumpkin beers this season. At this point, Pumpking is far and away winner of best pumpkin beer. I haven't gotten to Good Gourd yet, but I have a feeling that beer will be just as good as Pumking. But, I guess what I'm driving at is I'm getting a litte tired of the pumpkin beers; so, Buffalo Bill may suffer in it's review. I suppose I'll try to be as objective as Fox News....

"America's Original" poured a very nice golden orange/copper color, and fizzed with carbonation. The head was pretty nonexistent though. Upon first scent, there was a nice layer of pumpkin. It was nice to smell because the last couple pumpkin beers were labeled as pumpkin, but I was pretty skeptical that there was any pumpkin at all. This pumpkin is pretty drinkable, I'd say comparable to Pumpkinhead from Shipyard, but this one is a bit more watery towards the back. There's a little bit of spice, but nothing too heavy. There's also very light nutmeg, but it's not very prevalent.

Overall, this beer, which is supposed to be like "pumpkin pie in a bottle", sort of falls flat for me. I don't think the beginning carbonation did any favors for the rest of the drinking experience. It's smooth, but somewhat watery. The spices do also get lost within the drink.

Not sure how to end this one. I got it for 2 bucks at World Market, so, if you see it at your local retailer, it's cheap enough that if you don't like it, you won't feel bad about not liking it.

ABV: 5.2%

Surprise guest post! Cold Storage Florida Avenue Blueberry

Surprise, tonight is a double dose of gulp! The big surprise though, is that this review has been put together by Sarah, my wife. Actually, she wanted to do a review, so she drank the beer and took some notes. The beer she chose to review was Cold Storage Craft Brewery Florida Avenue Blueberry: "Ale with Blueberry Flavor Added". Cold Storage is based out of Tampa and is touted as "Tampa Bay's Youngest Local Brewery". They're so young in fact, that according to their Facebook page, they were founded this year! Don't know if that means, 2011 or 2010, but nevertheless, good for them!

On to the beer. Right off the pour, I was hit with the blueberry scent, which was essentially no surprise. A lack of BB scent would've been a disappointment considering the name of the beer. I also noticed a pretty high level of carbonation; this baby was sprtizin' and poppin' like a soda. Also no surprise was the light color; much like a light lager.

This blueberry beauty drank easy, but will a little zing in the malt department. Unfortunately, the more I drank, the more the blueberry flavors got lost in the carbonation and malt textures throughout. Although, those factors did contribue to a pretty high drinkability level, which I enjoy. Also of note is that the warmer this beer got, the worse it got. Unlike the pumpkin ales Steve has, which he says should "warm up" a little bit, I'd recommend keeping this ale cold to keep the flavors at "Bay".

Overall, it's no Seadog Blueberry, but for a brewery that just started out, I'd say it's a good start. If you see it at a bar, or on a shelf somewhere, support your local brewery and buy it! If you don't, stick to Seadog ;)

ABV: 4.5%

BISON Organic Gingerbread Ale

Greetings everyone. My fridge appears to be overflowing with pumpkin ales... and now "winter" ales. I've decided to leapfrog a few beers to get to tonight's review. On my to-do list is Cigar City Good Gourd, Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale, and Terrapin Pumpkinfest... but I thought this one was too cool to pass up. When it comes to holiday memories as a kid, there aren't many "things" that bypass gingerbread cookies. Well, tonight's beer takes gingerbread to a whole new level. Bison Brewing (out of Berkley, California - who also brew all organic beer) Gingerbread Ale is brewed with ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon. While the gingerbread man from Shrek wasn't decapitated to make this, it's safe to assume that with the big three ingredients, something close to gingerbread will be found. 

This gingerbread ale is the holiday offering from Bison. Note that it is a porter, so if you're not used to drinking dark beers, proceed with caution. I personally have come to really enjoy the depth offered from porters and stouts. I believe I poured this a bit haphazardly because the head was pretty big. The nice part about that though, as you see in the photo, was that it really highlighted the cocoa brown color. Unfortunately, the thick head didn't come with a powerful scent. I found myself searching for the big three (ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon). Granted, cinnamon doesn't really have a smell, but I was hoping to get some nutmeg in there. Overall, I wasn't too overpowered with any scents, including gingerbread. In general though, there was some chocolate and a bit of nutmeg. In the drinkability department, I was surprised. For a porter, it's actually quite drinkable. It's smooth, decent in carbonation, and it's not too bitter on the back end. In fact, the hops kind of peek through towards the end, which is a nice touch. 

Ultimately, if you look past the sell of gingerbread, it's a pretty decent beer. On my random sliding scale, I'd give this a solid B (like an 86-88 for you teachers out there). I especially like the little write up: "Our Spiced holiday porter is brewed with ginger, nutmeg and a touch of cinnamon, yielding the aroma of fresh backed gingerbread men! The chewy dark malt flavors are sure to smooth out that dinner with the in-laws."

6.0% ABV
Main Ingredients: Organic Malt, Organic hops, water, yeast, and organic spices

Can't hold me down WOB

Your menu online said you had this, then you didn't. Thank you Total Wine & More. Review coming soon.

Post Road Pumpkin Ale (Brooklyn Brewery)

Been a little over a week since the last pumpkin write up, so it's time for the next one. Tonight I'm drinking Post Road Pumpkin Ale, by the Brooklyn Brewery Co. I'm a little nervous for this beer considering the last pumpkin beer I had was probably one of the best on the market.

It poured a light goldy haze, and the short lasting head was a light biscuit color. There actually wasn't much scent either, which was a bit of a disappointment. All around, this is a light beer. There isn't much spice punch, or pumpkin flavor. There isn't much else to say about this beer. Overall, I'm kind of bummed with the product. But, as I said, Pumking was a tough act to follow, so that may be the issue. If you it on the shelf, I leave the choice the you.

ABV: 5%

Southern Tier Brewing Company Imperial Pumking

Here comes the beer review that everyone, well, maybe one or two people, were waiting for. Southern Tier Imperial Pumking. Let's get our standard history and data lesson in first.

This Pumpking came available from a 22 oz bottle. The label is black, orange, and gray with a pumpkin king in the middle. On the side of the label we're given our lesson: "Pumking is an ode to Púca, a creature of Celtic folklore, who is both feared and respected by those who believe in it. Púca is said to waylay travelers throughout the night, tossing them on its back, and providing them the ride of their lives, from which they return forever changed! Brewed in the spirit of All Hallows Eve, a time of year when spirits can make contact with the physical world and when magic is most potent. Pour Pumking into a goblet and allow it’s alluring spirit to overflow. As spicy aromas present themselves, let its deep copper color entrance you as your journey into this mystical brew has just begun. As the first drops touch your tongue a magical spell will bewitch your taste buds making it difficult to escape. This beer is brewed with pagan spirit yet should be enjoyed responsibly. " (http://www.southerntierbrewing.com/beers.html).

When first poured, there wasn't much head at all. However, it pours a very lovely golden rust orange color. The scents are a mixture of pumpkin pie, vanilla, nutmeg, caramel, and general "spiciness". A little bit of squash also peeks through if you smell hard enough. The back end is very light and smooth. There isn't much bite, but you can certainly feel the aforementioned spices and flavors. In fact, it goes down a bit like a light wine. It also reminds me a little bit of Weyerbacher Pumpkin, which had a bit more of a nutmeg flavor to it. 

Overall this is a fantastic seasonal beer, without a doubt the best one I've had so far. Full disclosure, I have yet to try Cigar City Good Gourd, which I've heard/read is quite the competitor. But, I strongly recommend getting your hands on this beer. I'm confident it will make you re-think your previous seasonal choices :) 

ABV: 8.6%



Thank you Steve.

Coney Island FREAKTOBERFEST

Red! Ack!

Tonight I'm drinking a very strange "oktoberfest" beer- FREAKTOBERFEST from the Coney Island Craft Lagers line of Shmaltz Brewing Company (the guys who make the "He'Brew"). It appears that the Coney Island line is for specialty weirdo beers. Let me tell you what, they hit the nail on the head with this beer. The bottle warns you that "this is not an oktoberfest..this is freaktoberfest!" Apparently I should've read the fine print better. For example: 6 malts, 6 hops, 6.66% ABV. Oh, by the way, the beverage is RED. Blood red. That was something I was not expecting, so needless to say, when I poured the freak, it freaked me out a bit! Even the head, which poured rather thick, was a light red color.
Smell wise, this is a strange beer. It is definitely not an oktoberfest, as there are no spices coming from this beer. In fact, it's more of a fruity/hoppy beer. The first sip was a complex ferris wheel of malt, hops, and fruit. Again, not what I expected from a beer with the name "-toberfest" in it. Given the spin, there isn't much lacing with this brew. The backend is a weird combination of sugar hoppiness. It kind of makes me wish I had an IPA handy to compare the two, because that's what this beer reminds me of; albeit, a poor IPA.
This was a strange beer. I think the color gimmick hurts its chances at being maybe a little better of a beer. I think I'd recommend it to someone if they want to try something different and get a laugh, but as far as trying to find a good beer, this isn't it.

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale

This is the first of the fall time brews to be reviewed this season. You know when there's a Dogfish Head product, it's bound to be special. Punkin Ale is really no different. The head built up into a fluffy light brown pillow right to the rim of the glass, which was entertaining. The scent is great with the nutmeg punching through at the top. This brown ale is spicy, with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon, two key ingredients in fall brews. There is a lack of pumpkin though, which was a bit disappointing. What wasn't disappointing though, was it's - macro defined - drinkability. A somewhat light to medium texture, so I could see a few of these being had in one sitting, which is a pleasant surprise.

What I really enjoy about the fall brews is that the color usually tastes the way it looks. What I mean is: with the brown coloring, I'd hope to get spiciness, brown sugar, biscuits; and that's what I'm getting. The contrast to that is, during the non-fall months, you may end up with an IPA or a more malty brown ale. I'd suggest buying this beer if you see it in the store. Like I said earlier, any Dogfish beer is bound to be special, and this beer is no different. So go be Off-Centered, like Dogfish wants you to be! 

It's Fall at gulp!

I've returned for your reading pleasure and beer education. The fall season is upon us, and concurrent with that is one of the best seasons for beer. I've put together a small collection of seasonal brews that I will be reviewing over the next month. I'll probably add more as the month goes on as there are more than the 7 pictured that need to be talked about. Continue checking back on the blog, and I think you'll like what you see and read! 

Left Hand Brewing Co. - Polestar Pilsner

Happy Tuesday people! This is a back-to-back week, one of the first in a long time. Thank you for stopping by to read today's review. The weather in Florida is reaching triple digits during the day, with the heat index, so today's review will feature a light pilsner from a brewery our of Colorado. Yes, that's two straight beers from out west, but trust me, there are some great products from that side of the Country. In fact, why don't we talk a little about the brewery: Lefthand Brewing Co. from Longmont, Colorado.

Lefthand Brewing Co.
Lefthand has quite a cool history. The story started in 1990 with a couple homebrewers - of course. In 1993, the two guys who founded the Brewery, Dick and Eric, started Indian Peaks Brewing Company, in honor of some regional geography and history. However, there was already a brewery with the same name, so they had to change to Lefthand in honor of Chief Niwot, from a local tribe. Niwot comes from the Arapahoe word which means "Lefthand". Pretty cool stuff. Anyway, in '94 Sawtooth Ale came out, and the groove kept on moving from there. In '98 the brothers merged Lefthand with Tabernash Brewing Company, based out of Denver. Fast forward to 2010, after a few sales, growth spurts, and money spending, the bro's have a massive brewhouse and have won numerous awards from their beer - including Polestar Pilsner (Bronze Medal, 2007, North American Beer Awards). So, now that you've gotten your daily history lesson, let's talk about the pils.

Polestar Pilsner
Polestar Pilsner is a great German-style pilsner. It is an American pilsner, but I say German-style because our European brethren tend to make their pilsners a bit more hoppy and bitter. Having said that, this opposite right hand offering is bitter and hoppy with smooth crisp finish. It pours a nice grainy yellow, with a thin foam head. You can see the suds raising the roof throughout. On the back end it's a bit spicy, but it's nothing to throw you back in your chair. This is a great beer, something I would highly recommend for a daily drink, or to substitute one of your favorite macro brews. And at 5.5%, it's certainly a beer that you can have more than once in one sitting.

If you're interested in more Lefthand Brewing products, I'd suggest the Sawtooth Ale (one of the first beers from Lefthand). I originally bought it to review on the site, but instead I just drank it to enjoy it. Other popular beers from the Lefthand are Milk Stout (Stout) and 400 Pound Monkey (IPA).

Great Divide Brewing Company - Colette Farmhouse Ale

Good Monday evening to my readers. I have been so terrible at updating the blog on a regular basis, so I'm thankful that you've come back for another read. Tonight's review will feature the first saison beer to be reviewed on gulp! Let's get right to it. 


What is a saison? 
A saison ale is, historically, a pale ale with low alcohol content. I wouldn't consider tonight's review a low alcohol content saison as it is 7.3% abv, which is on the higher end for a modern saison. In the old days, around 3% was standard. Anyway, saison is French for "season", in that Belgian farmers would drink the beers during the summer harvest season. They had to plan ahead though by brewing the beer in autumn or winter; and it also had to be strong enough during storage so it didn't lose to much alcohol by the time it was drinky time. Michael Jackson (no, not that MJ), a big name in the brew business, briefly describes a saison as "Seasonal summer style in the French-speaking part of Belgium. A sharply refreshing, faintly sour, top-fermenting brew, sometimes dry-hopped, often bottle-conditioned, 5.5 - 8 by volume."


Great Divide Brewing Company
I don't believe I've done a review on a Great Divide product yet, so I will indulge in a bit of history on them as well. These days, Colorado and Oregon are seen as two of the major states for micro-breweries. However, in 1994, when Great Divide was founded, such a scene hardly existed. I guess you could say that Great Divide, which opened up shop on the outskirts of Downtown Denver, helped to close the great divide. 

Photo taken with iPhone 4

Colette Farmhouse Ale
A little bit about the brew from Great Divide: "Colette is our homage to the beers that Belgian farm workers have enjoyed for centuries. Brewed with barley, wheat and rice and fermented at high temperatures with a special blend of four different yeast strains, Colette is fruity and slightly tart, with a dry finish that makes it that rarest of treats - a beer as refreshing as it is complex." 


One reason I was exited to try this beer tonight was to use my recently acquired Unibroue tulip glass. That might sound silly, but technically certain beers go better with certain glasses, and according to my "research", tulip was appropriate for this tasting. Now, up to this point, I wasn't sure if I had had a saison before. But, after I popped open the bottle and sniffed away, I was reminded of some recent beers I've had. The farmhouse ale pours a dark yellow - maybe best described as a carbonated liquid banana? The head was a fairly decent size, perhaps due to the tulip glass design. The smell is a bit sour, but fresh. On the way down it's a mix of spicy fruit and light ale. A bit spicier at the back end, but nothing overwhelming. 


Overall, this is a pretty good beer. Certainly easy to drink during our hot Florida summers. If you've never tried a saison, they're in season, so go grab a bottle and give it a shot!

Second post this week! New Grist Sorghum Beer (Organic)

We've hit a record here for the month for May - two posts in one week. It's part of my post-grad-school-empty-the-fridge master plan. Plus, it's a holiday weekend, so it's an even better reason to work on this type of thing. Before I get to the review of today's product, I do have a public service announcement: I'm going to eventually stop posting these updates to Facebook and do one of two things: rely on people becoming "subscribers", or followers, via the link to the right of this post (see the box that says "Subscribe to gulp!", or the "Become a follower" link) or I'm going to try to make a dedicated Facebook page. I'm trying to separate a few things on the 'net, so, yeah. Therefore, do your pal a favor and go ahead and become a legit subscriber or follower. If I eventually do the dedicated Facebook page, and I know you're a reader, I'll send you the dedicated link in a direct message. I'd prefer the first option I think though. 

Sorghum

Some organic stuff - New Grist Sorghum Beer

Today we have another beer that's been mocking me from my fridge since around February. I've been very skeptical in trying this beer because of the ingredients: sorghum and rice extract. First of all, I have absolutely no idea what sorghum is. Thank goodness for the internet! According to grains.org, "Grain sorghum is the third most important cereal crop grown in the United States and the fifth most important cereal crop grown in the world. The United States is the world's largest producer of grain sorghum followed by India and Nigeria. It is a leading cereal grain produced in Africa and is an important food source in India. Leading exporters are the United States, Australia and Argentina." (http://www.grains.org/sorghum). See, and you thought school was the only place where you could increase your knowledge! 

Unfortunately, I couldn't find much else out about the other ingredients used in the beer. The bottle is pretty vague, and the brewery website doesn't offer much either. I did, however, find an article from treehugger.com (hahaha, how ironic), that stated "the Lakefront Brewery along the Milwaukee River in Wisconsin, they not only offer organic beer but it’s also the first beer brewed without malted barley or any gluten-containing products to be authorized by the U.S. Government. Each batch is tested for gluten prior to fermentation, before being bottled and shipped. And, Lakefront was the first American brewery to produce a certified organic beer under its own label. The brewery began with only sixty barrels of production and sold them exclusively to taverns within "rolling" distance of their Milwaukee headquarters. Now, the beer is available for distribution in six packs of 12-ounce bottles." (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/08/new_grist_organ_1.php). Pretty cool, right? 

Lakefront Brewery

More about the brewery - Lakefront Brewery, Inc.

Lakefront Brewery is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, about 12 minutes northeast of Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers (which, by the way, we should all be fans of, considering...). The brewery was founded in 1987 by a couple bro's named Russ and Jim Klisch. What I like about their story is that they started brewing beer after reading a "how to brew beer" book. Moral of that story: keep at it home brewers! Anyway, following the book reading, Russ ended up building his own bottling machine in 1990 to handle the brewery's expanding popularity; and by 1998, 10 years after having sales of 72 barrels, the beer bro's were shipping 3000 barrels. 10 years after that, in 2008, after a move to their current location, they were 

shipping 11,000 barrels a year! How about that! 

This whole organic thing - doing thing's outside of the box -  is nothing new for Lakefront, because in 1992, they were the first brewery since the prohibition era to bottle a fruit beer! Lakefront Cherry Beer. In 1996, they were the first certified organic beer makers in the United States. Then, in 2006, they somehow convinced the government to change their policy on the definition of beer (at the time, beer had to be 25% malted barley). The reason for this was because the bro's wanted to create a gluten-free beer (which is the beer that will be reviewed today). Lastly, in 2007, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism announced the brewery as the first in the state and the first business in Milwaukee to receive the Travel Green Wisconsin award; which of course has to do with business related impacts to the environment. Not too bad for a beer company. 

The Beer

Look at the carbonation!

The reaction on Beer Advocate over this beer is very random. It's been given an average C- grade, but the written reviews express a generally positive, or at least curiously positive, view. I think it's just so unique of a beer that most people are at least glad to try it, but aren't comfortable with giving it a very high grade. I mean, when was the last time you had an organic sorghum beer? Exactly.

Upon pour, the head fizzled pretty quickly, and the carbonation unleashed like I had just poured a glass of champagne, which was very unexpected. There is also a very, very slight fruity aroma; emphasis on very, very slight. The colors are remnant of American lagers, but the flavor is an anomaly. I haven't had many ciders in my day, but I've tasted enough to say that this is almost trying to be like a cider. It's light and very crisp, and if it had stronger fruity flavor, I'd probably mistake it for a cider. The further down the glass I get though, I'm catching a few sour notes and a bit more fruitiness, and the crispness is still strong. Oh, by the way, it's 5.75% ABV.  

Overall I suppose it's not bad, but to me it's not really a beer per-say. I'd classify this as a wanna-be champagne lager, which is probably a made up term. Perhaps I should trademark that? If you see it in the store, and you want to try something a tad different, I'd say give it a shot. But, if you're looking for a "beer-beer", walk the other way and grab a Dogfish product, ha.      

Why hello. A new review? Sure! Saranac Pomegranate Wheat.

I know, I know. It's been literally just over two months since my last review. I know that I was barely grazing the surface with this blogging thing, but I was getting tired of trying to "find flavors" and "catchy lingo" to describe what I was drinking. So I decided to take a sabbatical. Over the last two months, I continued to try as many different beers as possible, all the while catching quite a bit of flack from my standard readers :) But, never fear, I think I'm ready to give this a third go 'round. What's that saying again? Third time's a charm? Sure why not. Let's give it a whirl!

Saranac Pomegranate Wheat

I've had this beer in my fridge for more than two months now. Probably closer to three. I bought it with the good intention of reviewing it rather quickly as I was intrigued by two things: 1) It's pomegranate wheat (described as "Wheat beer fermented with pomegranate juice"), and 2) It's from the region of the Adirondack's (i.e. the great northeast). According to the bottle, Saranac has traded loads of honey with some scary bears to get access to the pomegranate. Crazy guys. 

A little about the brewery

Saranac Brewery, part of the Matt Brewing Company, is located in Utica, New York. Like I mentioned in the previous paragraph, the region of the brewery is why I chose this beer. Well, there is more to the name Saranac. Saranac Lake is located about an hour southwest from Plattsburgh, N.Y.: the last town I lived in before my family moved to Florida. If you’ve read my blog in the past, you’d know that I do like to find beers from areas that I’ve either lived in, lived close to, or live in currently. Therefore, this was a great choice. Oh, and they provide some more information on the meaning of Saranac:

“Saranac. The word conjures up visions of clear lakes, open skies and breathtaking mountains. To the native people of our land, the Iroquois, the word means "Cluster of Stars." They lived with the beauty and serenity that was inherent to the lake and surrounding area. We borrow that name in the spirit with which it was created. We brew our Saranac line of beers from the pure water that flows from the Adirondacks and the grains that grow in its unspoiled soil.” (www.saranac.com/page/the-adirondacks)

Anyway, the Matt Brewing Company was founded in 1888 by a German-born immigrant, F.X. Matt I. At that time, the brewery was known as The West End Brewing Company. Since FX Matt founded the business, the MBC has been in the Matt family. The brewery is currently under the helm of the third and fourth generations of Matt family. This seems to be a trend in the beer business... unless you’re Anheuser Busch. They also have a segment of beers dedicated to Lake Placid which is of course located close to Plattsburgh, within the Adirondacks. 

The Beer

I do like to go to Beer Advocate before I drink beers to see what other people say. Currently the BA score is a B- with 262 reviews. It’s listed as an American Pale Wheat Ale, and 4.70% ABV (alcohol by volume if you forgot). Now, I’m not going to lie, I thought it was going to pour a little bit lighter with a slight red tinge, perhaps the pomegranate went to my head; so I was surprised that it looked more like a lager. There wasn’t much of a head, so no need in going any further with that. And unfortunately, there wasn’t a very distinct smell with this one either. 

The flavors are good. First and foremost, it’s a wheat beer, so I wasn’t expecting anything from left field; maybe just some fruitiness and maybe some tart. You can certainly taste a lacing of pomegranate, but it’s not as powerful as I thought, or hoped, it would be. 

I suppose my test on this is if I were at a bar with someone and this was on a list with 49 other beers, I don’t think I’d go crazy suggesting it. But, I do think I would point it out as something a little different. 

Shiner 102 Double Wheat

Today's review is the first "Double" Wheat to be featured on GULP! Spoetzel Brewery, based in Shiner, Texas, has been in operation since the very early 1900's. Their specialty beer is the Shiner Bock, a brew that's been around since 1913. The unique thing about today's review, the 102 Double, is that it's a filtered wheat. Typically wheat beers are left un-filtered, which is historically the "way to do it", and is known as a Hefeweizen. Those that are filtered are known as kristallweizen. Obviously both "ways" are quite German.

Pour! A very light gold color, actually almost like a lager. The carbonation levels are pretty obvious after the pouring. Not sure how I feel about this one.

Drink! Typically with the wheat beers, you can expect a more fruity flavor than other styles. Well, being a "hybrid" wheat, in between a "bright wheat beer and wheat wine ale", the flavors are a bit different than a non-hybrid. There's quite a tangy taste all the way through, with a very incredibly light scent. I'm not sure if the tang is from hops or what, but it's not what I was expecting... not really in a good way.

Thoughts! The Shiner 102, for celebrating 102 years of Shiner-ness, is just alright. I'm not too excited about it. If you zip over to Beer Advocate, you'll see that most folks there feel the same way. The tang back-end really doesn't do it for me. Like I said, you expect a certain thing with wheat's, I'm not sure the 102 delivered. Sorry Texas, not this time...

The Fort Collins Brewery - Rocky Mountain IPA

Hello readers! I hope everyone survived the first day back to work after the first day of Spring. If you live in Florida like I do, the weather has been awesome lately. I'm sure those of you up north, if anyone from up north even reads this, are happy to see the temperatures get outta the 50's and into the 60's. Oh wait a minute, I take that back, looks like the temperatures are still in the 30's and 40's in New England. Well... too bad! Time to move.

Anyway, welcome to the first beer review of GULP! "2.0!". I have survived the most difficult portion of my last semester of grad school, so I'm happy to get back to a somewhat normal schedule. Which now includes the blog! I'm going to continue tinkering with the layouts and designs - as you can see the top logo has changed a bit. Sadly no one responded to the chance of helping me design an actual logo, so I had to do my best. I'm also going to keep working on the format of the blog, the "GULP It Up", etc.

So the journey continues. The first beer review of the new session is a west coast offering. Coming from the heavy hitting beer state of Colorado, we have The Fort Collins Brewery, Rocky Mountain IPA. This isn't the first review of an FCB product. If you recall, during GULP! "1.0!", Retro Red was reviewed. It was a pretty good amber ale, so I was inclined to try another FCB offering. For some reason, there's a three-legged Elephant on the label. I wouldn't have noticed, however they went out of their way to point it out with the write-up on the side of the bottle: "Massive floral aroma lures you in while hop bitterness and malty sweetness mingle in symmetry. After all, great balance is key when you are only standing on three legs". Wordplay? Pun? Who knows...

Pour! Like most IPA's, this elephant ale poured a nice deep gold color and a surprisingly dark head. It wasn't dark like what you'd get with a Stout, but it did have very light amber tones. I wasn't expecting that.

Drink! Right off the bat you are hit with floral & hop. No surprise there; not only did the label warn us, but it is quite typical of an IPA. Bitter on the front end and bitter on the back end. Typical spices and hop hits throughout the entire GULP! experience. I sound like a broken record, but it seems that once you have one IPA, you might have had them all. I will say though, this IPA seemed a bit more powerful than the last, which if fine with me. Oh, and it weighs in a just over 6% ABV. Giddy up!

Thoughts! If you're a fan of the IPA style, I would highly suggest the FCB Rocky Mountain. Not to mention the three-legged elephant seems like a cool mascot. If you don't like IPA's, well, stay away... but do the elephant a favor and find him a four legged mate.