Friday, May 31, 2013

The Philly Beer Top 50 - Part 8

Philly Beer Week is pretty much the biggest beer thing ever this side of the Great American Beer Festival when it comes to the not-shitty side of the Mississippi, so needless to say I'm stoked to be writing the 50-Beer Countdown To Philly Beer Week for the Philadelphia Weekly.

And hey, I care for you (not really), so I'm happy to divide it up into handy little five-beer lists like this. So here are five of the 50 beers available in Philly that you MUST drink. Part 8 of 10!

Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Weyerbacher-Double-Simcoe-IPA-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-36-207582071.html

Magic Hat #9
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/Magic-Hat-9-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-37-207888921.html

Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/Dogfish-Head-Indian-Brown-Ale-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-38-207889361.html

Victory Prima Pils
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/Victory-Prima-Pils-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-39-207889481.html

Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/Firestone-Walker-Union-Jack-IPA-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-40-207889651.html

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Shiner finally comes to Philly!


Shiner Bock is kind of a legend. In Texas, years before Stone and Dogfish Head and so many other major craft brands were household names, Shiner was King Shit. If you live in or near Pennsylvania, you know how Yuengling is a mainstay to such an extent that you need not even order it by name. "Lager" will do. And it's EVERYWHERE.

Shiner Bock is like that in much of Texas. You can't escape it. I remember visiting Austin in the early 1990s, and even then Shiner painted the landscape. In many circles, it's just what you drank. At the time, it was one of the brews that made me realize beer could taste good. Along with brews by Samuel Adams, Brooklyn, and Sierra Nevada, it was an eye-opener. Drinking a Shiner rather than some can of cold, yellow, tasteless beer wasn’t just a matter of drinking a beer, it was making a statement.

Fast forward to today. Shiner is no longer just a regional thing, widely known in Texas and surrounding states but known only by reputation outside its region. They’ve spread to 43 states, making them one of the most widely distributed craft beers in the nation. Shiner arrived in New Jersey about two years ago, and now, just in time for Philly Beer Week, it has landed in Philadelphia.

That's kind of a Big Deal.

See, Philly is one of the top beer cities in America. Few places have a better selection of great beer bars, local breweries, and strong beer culture. So a legend like Shiner arriving there, that's no small thing. I suppose you could think, "Who cares?" After all, Philly has TONS of amazing beer. The question would be valid. You can drink a different beer every day of the year in Philadelphia and it would take a long, long time to run out of good things to drink.

But if you care about how craft beer got to where it is today, you should care about Shiner, even if only to appreciate the roots of the embarrassment of riches craft beer fans enjoy today. Originating from the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas, they were founded way back in 1909, but barely managed to scrape 1 percent of beer consumption in Texas in the decades since. Things began to pick up in the 1980s and 1990s, and exploded in the 2000s. Now, they are the 4th largest craft brewery in the nation.

Shiner brews a number of beers, but their flagship is Shiner Bock, a deep brown lager with notes of nuttiness and molasses, yet with the easy drinking of a pale lager. It is unusual for a bock beer to be an American brewery’s flagship – bock is a traditional German style that tends to be dark and strong – but Shiner Bock has proven to be popular. Perhaps it’s because it does so well in merging flavor with accessibility. This isn’t some mind-blowing brew that will change the way you think about beer, it’s just a beer that tastes nice and goes down just as nice. No wonder Texans gobble it up.

Others include Wild Hare Pale Ale, which is a fairly traditional pale ale that leans more towards English traditions than American – the hopping is nice but not aggressive – Bohemian Black Lager, a smooth lager with roasted tones that make it nice to have with red meat, and Hefeweizen, their take on a traditional German wheat beer.

These days, Shiner probably won’t be life-changing for many craft beer drinkers. Their beers are just too approachable, too traditional, and too accessible for those who want the envelope pushed ever further afield. But that’s also what makes them such an attractive brewery. It’s the kind of beer you have when you don’t want to wrestle with notes of sugar-dappled plums and lemon grass roasted with chipotle and French oak barrels. It’s the kind of beer you have when you want a beer.

One would think Philadelphia would welcome that.

Shiner Bock is now spreading across Philly just in time for Philly Beer Week.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Reps from Shiner sent me a few bottles of their beer. I drank them.

The Philly Beer Top 50 - Part 7

Philly Beer Week is pretty much the biggest beer thing ever this side of the Great American Beer Festival when it comes to the not-shitty side of the Mississippi, so needless to say I'm stoked to be writing the 50-Beer Countdown To Philly Beer Week for the Philadelphia Weekly.

And hey, I care for you (not really), so I'm happy to divide it up into handy little five-beer lists like this. So here are five of the 50 beers available in Philly that you MUST drink. Part 7 of 10!

Shiner Bock
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/Shiner-Bock-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-31-206962551.html

Goose Island Sofia
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/Goose-Island-Sofia-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-32-206964401.html

 Ithaca Apricot Wheat
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/Ithaca-Apricot-Wheat-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-33-207236381.html

Blue Point Toasted Lager
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Blue-Point-Toasted-Lager-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-34-207245441.html

21st Amendment Back in Black
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/21st-Amendment-Back-in-Black-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-35-207574421.html


Wednesday, May 29, 2013

The Philly Beer Top 50 - Part 6

Philly Beer Week is pretty much the biggest beer thing ever this side of the Great American Beer Festival when it comes to the not-shitty side of the Mississippi, so needless to say I'm stoked to be writing the 50-Beer Countdown To Philly Beer Week for the Philadelphia Weekly.

And hey, I care for you (not really), so I'm happy to divide it up into handy little five-beer lists like this. So here are five of the 50 beers available in Philly that you MUST drink. Part 6 of 10!

Fegley's Hop'Solutely
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Fegleys-HopSolutely-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-27-206299301.html

Victory Storm King
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/Victory-Storm-King-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-28-206301371.html

St. Bernardus ABT 12
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/St-Bernardus-ABT-12-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-11-203822451.html

Green Flash Palate Wrecker
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Green-Flash-Palate-Wrecker-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-29-206639581.html

Troegs Mad Elf
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Troegs-Mad-Elf-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-30-206646331.html


The Philly Beer Top 50 - Part 5

Philly Beer Week is pretty much the biggest beer thing ever this side of the Great American Beer Festival when it comes to the not-shitty side of the Mississippi, so needless to say I'm stoked to be writing the 50-Beer Countdown To Philly Beer Week for the Philadelphia Weekly.

And hey, I care for you (not really), so I'm happy to divide it up into handy little five-beer lists like this. So here are five of the 50 beers available in Philly that you MUST drink. Part 5 of 10!

Dogfish Head Aprihop
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Dogfish-Head-Aprihop-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-22.html

River Horse Tripel Horse
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/River-Horse-Tripel-Horse-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-23-205957481.html

Yuengling Lager
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Yuengling-Lager-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-21-205643831.html

Oskar Blues Mama's Little Yella Pils
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Oskar-Blues-Mamas-Little-Yella-Pils-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-25-205962681.html

21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/21st-Amendment-Hell-Or-High-Watermelon-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-26-206294801.html


Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Quick Sips: Dogfish Head Festina Peche

Seasonal beers are awesome. Winter beers are best, spring beers are fantastic, autumn beers are classic, and summer beers? Well, they can be all over the map, but when they're good, they're GOOD.

Dogfish Head Festina Peche is a summer beer.

And I love this beer. I love it not because it's a low(ish) alcohol beer by a brewery that mostly does BIG beers, but because it drinks awesome.

This is a delicious beer, but it's not for everybody. It's nicely tart, not quite on the level of a sour candy, but tart enough so that it has a mouth-puckering snap at the finish. Some may find that off-putting, but if you enjoy tart foods and fruits, or sour alcohol drinks, you'll probably enjoy this.

It's made with peach puree, just enough to lend it tasty fruit overtones but not so much that it screams out, "This is a fruit beer!" It's a great balance, fruity enough to be a flavorful and refreshing summer drink, but thanks to the tartness, not so fruity that it tastes like a lame wine cool.er

Even better, at just 4.5% ABV it's pretty low alcohol for Dogfish Head, and plenty low enough so that you could put quite a few of these back on a summer day. And it is indeed PERFECT for a summer's day. Like most Dogfish Head beers it won't be cheap -- it runs about $9 a four-pack -- but the cost is worth it.

Count me in for three or so four-packs every summer.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

The Philly Beer Top 50 - Part 4

Philly Beer Week is pretty much the biggest beer thing ever this side of the Great American Beer Festival when it comes to the not-shitty side of the Mississippi, so needless to say I'm stoked to be writing the 50-Beer Countdown To Philly Beer Week for the Philadelphia Weekly.

And hey, I care for you (not really), so I'm happy to divide it up into handy little five-beer lists like this. So here are five of the 50 beers available in Philly that you MUST drink. Part 4 of 10!

Founders Dirty Bastard
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Founders-Dirty-Bastard-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-17-204118431.html

Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Oskar-Blues-Dales-Pale-Ale-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-18-204893471.html

Terrapin Moo-Hoo Chocolate Milk Stout
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Terrapin-Moo-Hoo-Chocolate-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-19-204895221.html

Tröegs JavaHead Stout
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Troegs-Javahead-Stout-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-20-205399151.html

Fegley’s Insidious Imperial Stout Ale
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Fegleys-Bourbon-Barrel-Insidious-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-24-205961861.html

FU Sandy beer returns - in bottles!

Good news from the folks at Flying Fish in New Jersey: FU Sandy beer is returning! First brewed as a limited, one-time only beer to raise funds for Hurricane Sandy relief, FU Sandy was a wheat/pale ale hybrid that seemed as if it would have made a nice, zesty summer beer. Only about 100 kegs were made, and everywhere it was tapped those kegs were gone the same day. All proceeds went to Sandy relief.

Demand and interest was high. People wanted more. And now Flying Fish is delivering.

According to Flying Fish, "We're going to brew one batch of Sandy in kegs and then about 1,000 cases in the 750 ml champagne bottles that the Exit series beers come in.  We will continue our fundraising efforts by earmarking a portion of these proceeds to add to the $45,000 we've already donated to the rebuilding efforts."

Needless to say given my experience with Hurricane Sandy, the beer is close to my heart.

The beer will be available in June.

Monday, May 13, 2013

It's American Craft Beer Week!

From today to May 19, it's American Craft Beer Week, a week for celebrating all the awesomeness that is craft beer in America.

And it's a great time to do it, because there has never been a better time to be a beer drinker in America.

Pretty much forever, American beer has had a bad reputation. The world saw it (and sometimes still sees it) as watered-down piss barely fit for anything other than chugging. And sadly, for a long time that perception was pretty much accurate. While the easy-drinking Buds, Millers and Coors of the world have their place, for generations that's all American beer had to offer.

Not anymore. Anyone who knows their beer knows that following the trails blazed by Sierra Nevada, Anchor Steam, Boston Beer Co., New Albion and others, American craft brewers are making some of the best beer in the world. They're innovating. They're pushing boundaries. They're inventing at a remarkable pace. It helps that they have a rapidly growing base of support from the craft beer loving community in the United States. These are die hard beer geeks who demand quality from their brew. While the larger beer market remains stagnant under fierce competition from spirits and wine, American craft beer is enjoying double-digit growth.

No surprise there. Craft beer in America is arguably the most varied, flavorful, and inventive in the world right now.

So this week, tip back a glass or two of American craft beer and appreciate just how far we've come.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

The Philly Beer Top 50 - Part 3

Philly Beer Week is pretty much the biggest beer thing ever this side of the Great American Beer Festival when it comes to the not-shitty side of the Mississippi, so needless to say I'm stoked to be writing the 50-Beer Countdown To Philly Beer Week for the Philadelphia Weekly.

And hey, I care for you (not really), so I'm happy to divide it up into handy little five-beer lists like this. So here are five of the 50 beers available in Philly that you MUST drink. Part 3 of 10!

Tröegs Dreamweaver
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Troegs-Dreamweaver-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-12-204099481.html

Avery Brewing's Mephistopheles
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Avery-Mephistopheles-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-12-204100571.html

Founders All Day IPA
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Founders-All-Day-IPA-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-13-204110031.html

Rodenbach Grand Cru
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Rodenbach-Grand-Cru-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-14-204111951.html

Ommegang Hennepin
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Ommegang-Hennepin-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-204117901.html

Thursday, May 2, 2013

The Philly Beer Top 50 - Part 2

Philly Beer Week is pretty much the biggest beer thing ever this side of the Great American Beer Festival when it comes to the not-shitty side of the Mississippi, so needless to say I'm stoked to be writing the 50-Beer Countdown To Philly Beer Week for the Philadelphia Weekly.

And hey, I care for you (not really), so I'm happy to divide it up into handy little five-beer lists like this. So here are five of the 50 beers available in Philly that you MUST drink. Part 2 of 10!

Victory Golden Monkey
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Victory-Golden-Monkey-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-6-203062651.html

Flying Fish Exit 16
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Flying-Fish-Exit-16-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-7-203063151.html

Samuel Adams New Albion Ale
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Samuel-Adams-New-Albion-Ale-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-8-203063981.html

Tröegs Nugget Nectar
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Troegs-Nugget-Nectar-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-9-203611731.html

Stone Brewing's Oaked Smoked Old Guardian
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/philly-beer-week/Stone-Brewing-Old-Guardian-PWs-50-Beer-Countdown-to-Philly-Beer-Week-Day-10-203821411.html