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Beer Showcases

PD’s own dissect beer. Leave the pretentiousness on the curb.

Heileman’s Old Style

February 22, 2013 | 2

If you live north of the Mason-Dixon Line, chances are the weather still stinks. But instead of listening to the overgrown rodent we call a “groundhog” for our meteorological forecasts, we can turn to an equally non-scientific sign that spring is just around the corner: pitchers and catchers are reporting to spring training.

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Trappist Achel Extra Brune

February 21, 2013 |

 9.5% ABV

Having just gone to the Cincy Winter Beerfest the evening before, I had a plethora of beers from which to choose for this review; however, there was a beer on hand that I have been waiting to open since Christmas, a gift from my brother in-law, who also has a predilection for good beers and a gives the best gifts: Trappist Achel Extra Brune. Read More

Fort Collins Brewery Doppel Bock

February 20, 2013 |

10.2% ABV

A few weeks ago, Fort Collins Brewery hired a Marketing Director for the first time. Honestly, I was pretty surprised a brewery with such a huge facility and a giant reach across the country didn’t have an in house marketer. I was lucky enough to be invited to meet the new director, Charles Stanley, over a pint of Fort Collins Brewery Doppel Bock.  Read More

Crystal Springs – South Ridge Amber

February 19, 2013 |

Crystal Springs Brewing Company – Boulder, CO

ABV: ~6%

South Ridge Amber pours a beautiful deep amber color with nice reddish hues streaking through the glass when held to the light. The beer has high clarity and proudly displays a dense aromatic head. Aromas of grapefruit, ripe bartlett pears, pine and fresh cut wild flowers are present.

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Amarcord – La Putena

February 14, 2013 |

It’s February and that means, it’s the beginning of award-season. Since the 2013 Grammys have come to a close, we can all start getting over Taylor Swift’s uncomfortable attempt at a fake British accent, JLo’s risque mid-life crisis dress, and the return of LL Cool J. Ok, I was a little excited about the return of LL Cool J. Anyway, it’s time to move on and get ready for the Oscars. In honor of award season, I am introducing an interesting, yet delicious, foreign brew from Italy: Amarcord’s La Putena. This beer is named after the Oscar Award-winning film “Amarcord,” which was directed by the late Italian film director Federico Fellini, who won four Oscars during his lifetime. Read More

Christian Moerlein Brewing Co. – Exposition

February 13, 2013 | 2

IBU: 28

ABV: 5.0%

In honor of Cincinnati Beer Week,I decided to showcase a gem from the Queen City herself: Moerlein’s Exposition Vienna Style Lager. According to Moerlein Lager House, this beer is “a tribute to Christian Moerlein’s first brews displayed at national expositions and crowned wherever exhibited,” so you know it’s gotta be good. Read More

21st Amendment – Marooned on Hog Island

February 7, 2013 |

ABV: 7.9%

IBU: Not Available

The can is awash with vignettes of a pair of deserters who jumped ship (quite literally) to escape the horrid beer stores aboard. Armed with only the items that could quickly nab – a gun, cocktail sauce, and the prize of the Captain’s beer store – they swam to the nearest shoreline. What kismet that they stumbled upon a tiny island inhabited by two kindly oyster farmers. The fast friends combined their powers and feasted together on campfire cooked meats and a special English-style stout that boasted a secret ingredient of oyster shells. I guess it would’t be so bad to be Marooned on Hog Island. (Click here for the unabridged tale.)

Wild Woods Brewery’s Berry Patch Wheat

February 6, 2013 |

Wild Woods Brewery’s Berry Patch Wheat is exactly what I’ve been looking for. You see it’s a gateway beer.  It’s the perfect beer to convert any tepid beer novice. Whenever I hear people casually sputter out the phrase “I don’t like beer” it feels like a mini heart attack turned mega aneurism. It’s like saying I don’t like cheese, or ice cream or America.

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Lindsay’s Smore’s Porter Nitro – New Belgium Brewery

February 4, 2013 | 1

ABV: 8.5%
IBU: N/A

You know one of the worst things about cold, miserable weather? Lack of camping. Experiencing the great outdoors, taking in some fresh air and cooking makeshift delicacies over an open fire. Camping is really the only time I ever eat marshmallows by choice (Easter Peeps not withstanding). There aren’t many better things than being with friends, drinking a cold beer and whipping up a batch of warm, gooey s’mores. So when I discovered Lindsay’s Smore’s Porter Nitro on my latest visit to New Belgium Brewery, I was pretty excited.

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New Belgium – Springboard

February 1, 2013 |

New Belgium’s Springboard is trying to pull a Jordan. Retired prematurely, away from the game – can it come back and regain the form it once had? Preliminary answer is yes.

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Jolly Pumpkin – Bam Biére

January 31, 2013 |

IBU: 25

ABV: 4.5%

Once upon a time I wrote for a beer blog. And then I drank the Westy 12  and my mind blew up and I stopped drinking or writing about beer. My brain can only take so much amazing… until I met Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere

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Big Woods Brewing Co. – Busted Knuckle Ale

January 30, 2013 |

27 IBU

7.2% ABV

The first time I went to Big Woods Brewing Company in idyllic Nashville, IN, I was seriously ill. Okay, not SERIOUSLY, but I did spend the previous night puking thanks to a winding car ride through Brown County, and a dinner of crab cakes. Sorry for that visual. Anyway, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to check out some new beer, but unfortunately I wasn’t really able to enjoy it either, so I was super excited when I heard my boyfriend’s parents were bringing us home a growler from their recent trip. Read More

Samuel Smith – Organic Raspberry Ale

January 29, 2013 |

ABV 5.1%

Samuel Smith makes four varieties of fruit ale – cherry, strawberry, raspberry, and apricot. I have tried all but the cherry and each are very similar. My favorite of the three is the Raspberry Ale. I am a bit bias though, because I like most anything raspberry.  For those who enjoy organic foods, you are in luck because this one is organic. Read More

Cincinnati Beer Week 2013: Embree’s Northern Dark Baltic Porter

January 28, 2013 | 1

Before I begin this review, I would like to give a heads up that this particular beer will most likely only be available to Ohioans, specifically Southwestern Ohioans. However, I am hopeful that this review will spark the interest of our national audience and perhaps even inspire them to take a little (or long) trip to the Midwest. I will promise you that it will be an awesome time! Maybe even a little too awesome seeing as The Business Insider just released its 2013 must hungover cities in the US and I am proud/embarrassed to say that five cities in Ohio made the top 25, making Ohio the most hungover state in the country! Shout outs: Akron, Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus, Cincinnati.  Read More

Boulder Beer – Rum Barrel Porter

January 25, 2013 |

ABV: 6%

Boulder Beer Company’s Rum Barrel Porter is another addition to their unique taproom-only offerings. I suspect this is not only a limited release but a nano batch as their regular lineup does not include a Porter. Oftentimes the more creative libations can only be found in a brewery’s taproom, so visit your local taproom often.

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Three Floyds Brewing Co. | Zombie Dust

January 24, 2013 | 2

ABV: 6.4 | IBU: 60

3 Floyds Brewing Co.’s Zombie Dust has become the only beer I MUST track down any time I’m back home in Kentucky, or fortuitously find myself … Read More

Leinenkugel’s Snowdrift Vanilla Porter

January 23, 2013 |

Most Midwesterns are familiar with Leinenkugel Brewing Company. They’re the pride of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and brew some pretty unique beers.

Leinenkugel is out with a new winter porter with a slight twist – vanilla. Read More

Sixpoint Brewery – Resin

January 22, 2013 |

ABV – 9.1%

IBU – 103

Upon cracking the top of this slender, green can, the snappy scent wafts up to warn the drinker: this is no lager. The first taste is a bit of a shock – though the carbonation is fairly mild – and this beer lets you know precisely what 103 IBU means. However, once a few more sips pass over your palate, Sixpoint Brewery Resin‘s zesty bitter grapefruit juice flavor begins to shine through. This is the beer I buy to take to a party, and upon arriving, proceed to hide it in the back of the fridge so I’m not forced to share. Read More

Trinity Brewing Oh Face Saison

January 21, 2013 |

Style: Saison
ABV: 4.8%

Background

Here in Colorado the temperatures have dropped into the negatives the past couple days. So you would think that I would reach for a dark and heavy stout but no I went straight for the light refreshing characteristics of a Saison, Trinity Brewing Oh Face. Oh Face is part of Trinity’s Office Space-themed beers and is a complex saison that is fermented with brettanomyces then brewed with spelt, oats, rye, and wheat. Finally, it is spiced with pumpkin and lavender. If things go well, this beer should be showing me its oh oh oh face if you know what I mean. Read More

Flying Dog Brewery – Raging Bitch Belgian Style IPA

January 18, 2013 |

ABV 8.3%,

60 IBU

The scene was Lebowskifest 2009 (Louisville, KY). My friend and I had just finished riding our bikes across the Commonwealth just in time to meet up with our fellow Dudeists at the annual meeting celebrating all things Lebowski. In the parking lot of the Executive Lanes, a young man smoking an electronic cigarette (a relatively new concept at the time) approached us, and offered us a beer form his portable cooler. He cracked open bottles of a Belgian Style IPA that reinvigorated by tongue, which was falling asleep after a few Miller High Lifes. He touted the beer as the best thing he had ever tasted, a bold statement both then and in hindsight.

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