Ever since discovering the joys of craft beers with more flavor and complexity than the mass produced pablum of our youth that was passed off to us as beer, I have been a bottle snob. Cans were associated with that swill of the lowest common denominator. There was also the feeling that cans imparted a "tinny" taste to the beer, while bottles would keep the brews clean and fresh.

Along comes New England Brewing Company of Woodbridge, CT to try and get me (and presumably others) to change my mind. So far, so good.

It boggles me that I must have driven past this brewery a number of times. We often go to the New Haven train station when taking a train into New York city. And we also dropped our sons off at the New Haven train station many times during their college years. Depending on the route taken when returning home we would have driven right past New England brewing. So I should be able to find them easily in the future for a tour and tasting. And they sell growlers on the premises as well. So they will put their beer into glass after all.

The brew I sampled first is the Sea Hag, an IPA. Not sure of the derivation of the name, but it is cool. 

As you can see the beer has a light golden color. I found it to be lighter in color than most IPA's I've had lately. The lightness carries through to the body as well.

There is definitely a strong aroma of both pine and citrus that greets you when you bring the beer near. The first taste sensation is a malty one with a slight prickly sensation on the tongue. There is a pronounced citrus flavor in the aftertaste. The overall flavor of the beer dissipates quickly upon swallowing, but the citrus flavor did linger for a bit.

Overall an enjoyable and easy to drink beer. There are better and more complex IPA's out there, but this one is very drinkable and would be easy to have as a session, all night brew.

And it is has opened me up to the possibility of having quality microbrews from a can. 

For that alone I give Sea Hag IPA 7 mugs out of 10.

I searched their web site for an explanation as to why they decided on cans rather than bottles. They make a point of stating they were among the first microbrews to do so, but don't provide any reasoning. If I do end up there for a tour someday I'll be sure to ask and let you know.

And I look forward to trying more canned goods from New England Brewing.   

Again apologies for the picture. Kitchen remodeling is in full swing so not too many places to take a "nice" shot.

Also will be offline from now until the weekend. Will be traveling about four hours to attend a weekend wedding in Philadelphia. The good news (other than the wedding) is that I've discovered it's Beer Week in Philly. So with any luck will have some good brews, or establishments, or both, to report on.

Today we are looking at another offering from the Smuttynose variety pack, namely Finestkind IPA. As you can tell, even from this less than ideal shot, this is an unfiltered brew. Still it has a nice amber color, albeit cloudy.

The aroma was subtle. The smell of fruity hops you expect from an IPA was present, but not at all strong. 

The first taste sensation is an earthy one accompanied with a prickly bitterness on the tip of the tongue. This is usual for an IPA in my experience. This is followed by a slight fruitiness when you swallow.

The difference between this and most other IPA's I've encountered is how subdued the citrus scent and taste are. They are present, but not as noticeable. The bitterness and prickly sensations stay with you during the entire swallow. But the citrus, fruity  aroma and taste are too subtle to completely balance them. 

Don't get me wrong. This is a very drinkeable beer. It is just not as balanced or enjoyable as other IPA's I've sampled recently.

I give Smuttynose Finestkind IPA 6 mugs out of 10.

Wolaver's is a line of organic brews that is owned by Otter Creek Brewing in Middlebury, Vermont. I've been a fan of Otter Creek's for a while. They have a nice show room/tasting room on the outskirts of Middlebury that we enjoyed visiting a few years back when we were visiting that very picturesque town. 

I walked out of there with an Otter Creek glass, a 12 pack of home brews from one of their contests, and a heavy duty canvas bag to carry the 12 pack as my wife and I decided to walk back to town from there. (In case you're wondering a friend had dropped us off at the brewery, but the weather was so nice we decided to hoof it back to town.)

So the other day, when I saw a 12 pack of Wolaver's at a local store I couldn't resist. And as usual for anything Otter Creek related I was not disappointed.

One of the offerings was an India Pale Ale from Wolaver's. And it had everything you would expect in an IPA. 

Citrus aroma - check. Hoppy flavor - check. A slightly prickly sensation on the tip of your tongue with the first taste - check. That slightly bitter spiciness giving way to a full bodied balanced taste sensation - it's in there. 

As an added bonus there was a sweetness detected as I let the IPA sit in my mouth for a few seconds literally drinking in the flavors. 

All in all a nice balanced flavorful IPA. Not too bitter, but complex enough to be interesting. Just what I would expect from Wolaver's and Otter Creek.

I give Wolaver's India Pale Ale 7 mugs out of 10. Anyone who likes IPA's will enjoy this brew. And it's certified organic so it must be better for you and the environment!

Here is the second installment of our West Coast style IPA series.

As for the title, that is an homage to the old Firesign Theater comedy album and their routine of "Nick Danger - Third Eye".

As best as I can recall the routine went something like:

NARRATOR: ...he was ruthless...

BACKGROUND VOICE: ...i wonder where Ruth went?

But I digress. On to the beer!

Today we look at Ruthless Rye from Sierra Nevada. It advertises itself as a Rye IPA.

The brew does have many of the characteristics of an IPA. You'll notice the amber color - definitely darker than the Rebel IPA from Samuel Adams, reviewed in the previous post. But it shares many traits with the Rebel IPA. To begin with there is the immediate aroma of grapefruit as the glass is brought toward you. And a definite grapefruit taste greets you with the first swallow. There is some bitterness as you'd expect from an IPA, but it is subdued. 

The other difference noted was a spicy, almost peppery taste in the aftertaste as you swallowed the swig. This probably has something to do with the rye being the primary grain is my guess.

But whatever it is this is a very enjoyable beer. I liked the Rebel IPA but I like the Ruthless Rye even more. It is just as tasty, but if possible is better balanced and has more body to it than the Sam Adams offering. 

Definitely another session beer that you could drink for an extended period of time.

I'm giving Ruthless Rye from Sierra Nevada 8 mugs out of 10. And not just because it gives me an opportunity to make a Firesign Theater reference. Ultimately it is about the beer.

Recently I have come across a series of IPA's with similar tastes and characteristics. I'll be profiling them in upcoming posts beginning with this one.

First up we have Rebel IPA from Samuel Adams. It advertises itself as a "West Coast style" IPA. Not sure what that means other than they might be aiming at the Sierra Nevada market. (Is that a clue as to which IPA we'll be looking at next?).

At first glance it appears "West Coast Style" means lighter than normal. The color is definitely a shade or two lighter than most Sam Adams IPA's. And the taste and texture are also lighter. 

The aroma that hits you at first is the hoppiness you expect from an IPA. But there was something else I couldn't place at first.

Then I took the first swallow. Again there was the bitterness of hops, but it was well balanced, again with that different taste. At first I called it "citrus" but that was too generic. Then like a flash it hit me - grapefruit! The aroma and the taste were that of grapefruit. And that taste was present in the aftertaste after you swallowed as well.

This IPA is a tad on the bitter side, but overall it was balanced, clean and refreshing. This could definitely serve as a session beer. I certainly would not tire of it, and it would not be too filling or overwhelming in any negative way.

I may have been tempted to give Rebel IPA 8 mugs out of 10, but having tasted some similar brews in the class I am giving it 7 mugs out of 10. A very good and delicious beer, but it can be done better. How's that for a tease for next time?

Until then, drink well!

You'll recall I'm a big fan of Southern Tier brewing as it is. And then I came across this brew. According to the Southern Tier brewing website it is part of their standard year round offerings. But I came across it in the variety pack of the Imperial series that included the Iniquity brew that was the subject of the last posting.
Either way - Standard or Imperial - I'm in love.
IPA is my favorite general category of beer. And with 2X IPA from Southern Tier I have found my new favorite in my favorite category.
Look at that head. How could you not like that?
And then you drink it. You get what you would expect from an IPA, that first rush of citrus-flavored hops. But then you are in for a real treat. 
Yes there is plenty of flavor. You would expect that from a beer with over 8% alcohol. But what really grabs you is how smoooooth this beer is. For a double IPA, with that high an alcohol content and there is no bitterness, no overwhelming bite. Rather this might be the most balanced beer I've tasted. Especially given the hops and the strength. Not bitter, but no lightweight and not at all sweet. You could drink this one all night, but I wouldn't - it packs a punch!
I give this 9 mugs out of 10. It is the new standard against which I judge all other IPA's, if not all other beers. Well done, sirs!

Lost Sailor IPA from Berkshire Brewing Company.
First a point of clarification. This was the last gift brew I drank this holiday season, but it was not the last holiday brew consumed. As you may recall from my previous post my holiday ritual, beer-wise, is that the first and last beer drunk every season is Sam Adams' Old Fezziwig Ale. And sure enough the last Old Fezziwig was downed shortly after the beer you see pictured at left. So the holiday season is now officially closed in our household. Until next year Old Fezzie!
But before that occasion I drank Lost Sailor IPA from Berkshire Brewing Company, which was one of several BBC beers I received as a gift this Christmas. 
The beer has a very pleasing amber color as you can see. And you've got to love that head. 
As with all BBC offerings I've ever tasted the beer is clean, crisp and fresh. You get that hoppy sensation indicative of an IPA, but the Lost Sailor version is definitely lighter than many IPA's I've sampled. The bitterness from the hops is there, but subdued. There's just enough to add character to the brew and complement the flavor. And the taste does stay with you, but in a good way, as in it's not so light that it disappears as soon as you swallow.
I could definitely see myself drinking this beer often, but also not going out of my way to get it, especially for the 22 ounce bottle. There are so many heartier brews for this time of year, especially in the IPA family.
Still Lost Sailor does advertise itself as a session beer, which would certainly explain the lighter body and taste and lower bitterness compared to many more powerful substantive IPA's. So the brewer's mission is accomplished in that sense.
I am torn as to the score, but given the intent of the brewmaster, and the good clean flavor, I will round up and award Lost Sailor IPA 8 mugs out of 10.
Until next time have a good one. Or two.

I'll admit one of the highlights of the holiday season, at least at my age where I'm not breathlessly awaiting for St. Nick's arrival (well not quite as breathlessly anyway), is the arrival in stores of the various holiday brews and holiday beer variety packs.
One such pack I look forward to every year is the one from Sam Adams. Not because it's necessarily the best or the most intriguing, but it is among the most consistent of the microbrews available in New England. And it also has one of my favorite holiday offerings, Old Fezziwig Ale. I mean how can you not like that brew with that name? You don't even necessarily need to be a fan of Dickens or the immortal "A Christmas Carol", a character in that book being the namesake for the ale. I also find it quite tasty in a holiday spirit sort of way with the spices, etc. Being somewhat a slave to ritual I try to make sure the first and last special holiday beer I consume each season is an Old Fezziwig. When the last Old Fezziwig is consumed the holiday season is truly over.
But I digress. While Old Fezziwig was part of this year's Sam Adams Winter Favorites variety 12 pack this year, a couple of old standbys I'd always enjoyed were not. Specifically the Scotch Ale and the Holiday Porter. I always liked those two. 
There were some new varieties I had not experienced before, including the one pictured above, Juniper IPA. First of all may I point out the Guinness mug the beer is in. I have used it before in pictures but believe this time the harp logo on the glass is more visible than in previous shots. So wanted to point that out.
As for the beer. It will not be my favorite holiday brew, but it's not the worse either. And you have to give the people at Sam Adams kudos on coming up with something unique. It has the inherent bitterness and body of an IPA. But there the similarity ends. 
Your first sensation is tart, spicy, almost stinging as the brew hits your tongue. The juniper makes this a most interesting concoction. It helps if you're a fan of gin and luckily I am. And the flavor and body fill your mouth rather than disappear, but does not linger with any sense of unbalanced bitterness.
So it is a very enjoyable and special glass to hoist for the holidays. But a single glass is about all you'll be hoisting at one sitting. The unique stinging spiciness and flavor makes this a difficult beer if you're looking to down more than one of the same kind for a night. Definitely a good beer if you're drinking one, or to enjoy if you're going to be sampling more than one variety during the evening. A session beer, however, it is not.
Still for the uniqueness, flavor and balance and the taste of the holidays, I'm giving it 7 mugs out of 10. I will be happy if Juniper IPA is part of the Winter Favorites pack next year from Sam Adams.

I keep mentioning how I'm a big fan of IPA's, but I haven't reviewed one yet. So time to pull out one of my favorite IPA's from the archives. 
This is from one of my favorite breweries, Southern Tier Brewing Company of Lakewood, NY.
I found variety packs from this brewery at one of my favorite package stores (that's New England speak for liquor store). This particular establishment carries quite a variety of beers from many locations. 
It was the name that first caught my eye. From age 4 to about half way through the 5th grade my family lived in the town of Vestal, NY just outside of Binghamton. The region was referred to as the Southern Tier. So when I saw beers from a place called Southern Tier I had to pick it up. I have never been disappointed.
Southern Tier advertises itself as liking "vigorously hopped" brews so they were already on my good side before I had tasted a drop. Every beer I have tried from them so far has been good, but the IPA is outstanding. It just may currently be my favorite in the entire genre. 
The hops are strong in this one for sure. You get the bitterness you expect from an IPA. But it is nicely balanced so the bitterness does not overwhelm or get in the way of a very flavorful brew. This is an IPA you could drink all night, at an appropriate moderate pace of course. It will stand up to spicy or strongly flavored foods, but can be enjoyed immensely all by itself. The taste fills the mouth as they say and has the usual hoppy taste with tones of caramel from the malts. What more can I say? This is one of the smoothest, tastiest IPA's I have ever had. They also have an Imperial IPA that is allegedly much stronger than their "regular" IPA. Can't wait to find that one and try it.
I'm giving Southern Tier IPA 8 mugs out of 10 only because I'm harder grading IPA's than other styles. 
And they lose points because it turns out Lakewood, NY is closer to the southwest corner of New York state near Jamestown, hours from the Binghamton area. So while technically still Southern Tier, it is not as close to my old home as I thought when I first purchased these beers. Hey my scoring is nothing if not highly subjective and capricious. 
But all seriousness aside, if you're a fan of IPA's find this beer and drink it. And if you find other offerings from Southern Tier try those too. Like I said I have yet to find a bad beer from these people. And apparently it's not just me, they have expanded their operation dramatically in recent years and are shipping to more and more areas of the country. So find out what the excitement is all about.