Southern Tier Porter

Marcus Guiliano of Aroma Thyme Bistro and I tasted Southern Tier's Porter. Southern Tier makes some very good beers and their Porter is one of the best as it has received a 91 on our site.

Captain Lawrence Releases Rosso e Marrone!

We will finally be releasing the Rosso e Marrone!It has been a long journey for this beer to finally see the light of day…..

Over two years in oak wine barrels and then an additional 6 months in the bottle before it finally decided it was time. This is a sour ale, very different from most beers. The flavors are wine like and a bit funky. The two years in the oak barrels have imparted a nice dry oak character. We added both zinfandel and Merlot grapes to the beer a year into its aging which imparted a very nice wine like character.

The specifics….

Release Date: February 14th, 12:00pm
Production: 700 bottles (375ml)
Cost: $10 / bottle – CASH SALE ONLY
Limit: 4 per customer

This beer will be sold on a first come first serve basis….we will not save, pre-sell or reserve bottles for anyone, so please don’t ask.

Thanks for all your support and we look forward to an exciting 2009.

Sincerely,
Captain Lawrence
(914) 741-BEER (2337)
Location:
99 Castleton Street
Pleasantville, NY
www.captainlawrencebrewing.com

Home Brewing Contest at The Village Pourhouse

We don't talk nearly enough about homebrewing at The Foaming Head, but we thought that this was an interesting event for all of those who make their own beer. Draft Magazine posted this article about the event.

On February 12, the Village Pourhouse will be hosting a Homebrewing 101 workshop. "Experts will teach you the basics while you sip on Sam Adams Blackberry Witbier, Double Bock, White Bock, and Imperial Stout. Then, in late April, the masses will reconvene to judge the best homebrewed beers from around the city."

Obamagang

As we mentioned in an earlier post, Aroma Thyme Bistro got in two kegs of Ommegang's Obamagang. Chef/Owner Marcus Guiliano called me up and invited me in to try Ommegang's latest creation.

The description from Ommegang says that "The style lies between a porter and stout, with a bit of Kriek and a touch of chocolate blended in. "

Here is our first video blog with my tasting notes.



Obamagang poured a pitch black color with a huge tan head. The aroma on this beer is really wonderful. There were hints or figs, cherries, chocolate, some spicies, and even a bit of smokiness. The body is slightly sweet up front from the added kriek, with hints of chocolate and nice dark malts. The smokiness adds a very pleasant mouthfeel. The finish dries out the mouth nicely and the beer left plenty of hanging lace. The beer is well balanced and not overwhelming at all which tends to happens with some smokey beers. Really, a great beer. Let's hope Barack''s presidency can live up to this beer!

Biere de Mars

I tasted Brewery Ommegegang's Biere de Mars at Aroma Thyme Bistro with Chef/Owner Marcus Guiliano. Here is our video blog about the beer.

President Obama and New York Beer

EDIT: I have just confirmed that Aroma Thyme Bistro in Ellenville, NY will be getting a keg of Obamagang delivered today. I will be there on Friday January 23rd to host their monthly beer dinner and I will certainly be tasting this beer. You can look forward to a review shortly after.

Inaguration Day 2009 is rapidly approaching and what better way to celebrate then with beer? Not any beer but Barack Obama beer! Several breweries around the country will be making Barack Obama themed beer and two of them are right here in New York.

This article discusses the launch of Brewery Ommegang's Obamagang or the politically correct name of the beer, "Ale 2009".

This quote explains the reasoning behind the naming controversy. "Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, N.Y., had hoped to mark this historic inauguration with a single-batch brew called Obamagang, but federal regulators at the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau told them it was a no-go. “They said you can’t use anybody’s name for commercial purposes without their permission,” said marketing director Larry Bennett. The brewery has decided to re-christen the beer Inauguration Ale and plans to parcel out 600 kegs of the draft-only brew among select bars in Washington, Philadelphia, New York and other urban areas."

A press release from Ommegang stated "The TTB won’t let us call the beer Obamagang on the keg label. So it will be known legally as Inauguration Ale 2009, but the tap handles will be more . . . um . . . direct. The style lies between a porter and stout, with a bit of Kriek and a touch of chocolate blended in. It will be on draft only, beginning with the inauguration – in limited areas including DC, NYC, Syracuse, Philly, Chicago and Boston. We will donate a percentage of sales to charities in the respective cities where the beer is sold, and we’ve asked our distributors to match our donations and pick the local charities. (Also please note that the beer is not an endorsement of Obama.)"

This article tells us that some of Sixpoint Craft Ales' Hop Obama beer will be available for inauguration day. When Sixpoint started selling the beer in March and then brought it back from August to election day. The brewery sold 504 kegs, but not all of it was drank. Barkeepers decided to store some away and break it out on Inaguration Day. No word yet on what New York bars will have the beer, but Cambridge Common Restaurant in Massachusetts has sent out a Facebook invite claiming to be "the only (known) beer bar, on the planet, to be pouring this brew".

Please do not ask me why the folks at the Alcohol and Tobacco Tan and Trade Bureau will allow Sixpoint to have the President elects name in their beer, but shut down Ommegang. It is as confusing to me as it is to you. Maybe the new President will explain the hypocrisy to the ATTTB, or whatever the hell initials they use.

The picture was provided by http://www.its-pub-night.com/ a fantastic beer blog based in Portland, Oregon.

Shmaltz Releases Human Blockhead

Shmaltz is releasing their newest beer in their Coney Island Lager series. Here is the press release.

Greetings Friends,Lager Freaks & Beer Geaks...Step Right Up!!!Shmaltz Brewing Company, handcrafters for well over a decade of HE'BREW - The Chosen Beer, celebrates the release of Coney Island Human Blockhead(TM) (Tough-As-Nails Strong Lager). The latest seasonal attraction in their new line of sideshow-inspired Coney Island Craft Lagers(TM) will be appearing at several special NYC events happening this winter including a tasting event this Thursday, January 15 at Galapagos Art Space. Donny Vomit -The Human Blockhead from the Coney Island sideshow, will show off his shocking act and Great Britain's comedy duo Frisky & Mannish will perform. Burlesque will be led by Leggs Malone, Gal Friday and Nasty Canasta, and DJ Mikey Palms will be on the wheels of steel. Are you available to come by and taste Shmaltz Brewing's latest spectacle? We will also host an event on Tuesday, January 20 at Spring Lounge (NYC, 7pm) w/ Donny Vomit and beer specials. Pound for pound, Coney Island Human Blockhead(TM) is a finely crafted professional. 8 specialty malts of barley, wheat, rye, and oats create an enormously developed body. Juggling 6 hop varieties from European Noble roots to American Pacific Northwest new school flavors balances this weighty task. Traditional proprietary Lager yeast shines true elegance on this innovative recipe for a complex demonstration of pure enjoyment. 10% alcohol nails it home. Coney Island Human Blockhead(TM) will be available in 22 oz. bottles and a very limited supply of kegs at specialty shops and select bars nationwide this January - April 2009 (and through Summer 09 in NYC only). Proceeds help Coney Island USA, a 501(c)(3) Arts Non-Profit fulfill its mission to defend the honor of lost forms of American popular arts and culture in Brooklyn's historic Coney Island neighborhood.For more information, please view the attached press release and visit the website link listed below.

www.shmaltz.com

History of “He’Brew – The Chosen Beer.’’

I came across and interesting article the other day. William Brand of the Contra Costa Times explains the history of Shmaltz Brewing Company's He'Brew beer.

The original idea for the beer originated between Shmaltz owner Jeremy Cowan and a high school buddy. The beer remained an idea for about a decade until the craft beer scene began to explode in San Francisco and Cowan went to a "`brew on premises’" shop and experimented with his idea. When demand for the beer exploded, Cowan moved his brewery across the country from San Francisco to Sarasota Springs, N.Y.

Brand does a great job on this article and is a good read for both Shmaltz and craft beer fans alike.

2009 Brewery Ommegang Specialty Beer Release Schedule

We just received a press release from Ommegang stating when their specialty beers would be released in 2009.

Happy 2009. Inauguration Ale (a.k.a. Obamagang)

January - February 6.2% ABV - Draft only

The TTB won't let us call the beer Obamagang on the keg label. So it will be known legally as Inauguration Ale 2009, but the tap handles will be more...um...direct. The style lies between a porter and stout, with a bit of Kriek and a touch of chocolate blended in. It will be on draft only, beginning with the inauguration - in limited areas including DC, NYC, Syracuse, Philly, Chicago and Boston. We will donate a percentage of sales to charities in the respective cities where the beer is sold, and we've asked our distributors to match our donations and pick the local charities. (Also please note that the beer is not an endorsement of Obama.)

Ommegang Biere de Mars

January - March 6.5% ABV - 750 ml bottle only

Belgian-style amber with Brettanomyces in the secondary fermentation, and also dry-hopped, making Biere de Mars amber ale with a bit of extra zing, extra tartness, and a touch of farmhouse funk. The original batch was brewed in the summer of 2008 for sale only at the brewery, but the response has been great, so here it comes for all.Ommegang Rouge Flemish Red AleApril - June5.5% ABV - Draft onlyAuthentic Flemish Sour Red Ale. Brewed with our Belgian partner Bockor Brewery and imported to the US. The beer is spontaneously fermented, and then refermented and aged at least 18 months in French oak casks. It's an unblended "Grand Cru- style" Flemish Sour Red Ale. Available on draft only, and an amazingly pleasurable drink.Ommegeddon Funkhouse AleJune - August 8% ABV - 750 ML bottle onlyOmmegeddon is an 8% ABV Belgian-style ale with a wild twist - a dose of Brettanomyces yeast and a blast of dry hopping. It's a strong blonde ale with a sharp citrus flavor that, like other Ommegang ales, has a dry finish. Its dryness and funkiness begat the name of Ommegeddon. This will be the fourth official brewing of the beer and we expect it to continue to evolve.

Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence

September - November 7.0% - Draft and 750 ML bottle

Since the 2007 - 10th Anniversary Edition - of Chocolate Indulgence Stout, our brewstaff and Department of All Things New and Delicious have been conducting research and experiments to further develop the character of the beer. We feel that the just-released 2008 batch has been honed to sublime levels of chocolaty / malty / decadent goodness - and that the 2009 brew will break some other new ground.

Ommegang Christmas/Noel/Winter Beer

November - December

It's never too early to start thinking of next Christmas. The final name, ABV and packaging are under wraps for now, but the beer will - probably - fit somewhere in the range of a high-gravity Belgian-style winter warmer, with an Ommegang twist.

The Beer Year

As a huge Syracuse Orangemen (My apoligies to the powers that be at SU. They will always be the Orangemen.) fan, I frequently visit syracuse.com for stories on the teams at 'Cuse. Occasionally, I will come across some good beer related material as Syracuse is a nice craft beer city with Middle Ages Brewing Company, Clark's Ale House, and many other great places to visit.

With the new year here, Don Cazentre wrote a interesting article on what beers go best with each passing month. Cazentre does a nice job pairing the months with beer styles and offers several examples of tasty beers for each style. He also offers a local example for New Yorkers to try.

January - Scottish ales
Middle Ages Kilt-tilter

February - Chocolate Beer
Landmark Vanilla Bean Brown Ale

March - Stout
Middle Ages' Black Heart Stout

April - Bitter
Saranac Pale Ale

May- Maibock
Sackets Harbor Brewing Company's Maibock

June - Saison
Ommegang Hennepin

July - German-style hefeweizens and Belgian wits.
Hefeweizen at Empire Brewing Co. in Armory Square.

August - Pilsner
Victory Prima Pils

September - Harvest Ales
Southern Tier Harvest Ale

October - Oktoberfest
Saranac Oktoberfest

November - Belgian-style Trappist or Abbey ales
Ommegang Abbey Ale from Cooperstown.

December - Winter Warmers
Wizard's Winter Ale from Middle Ages

Cazentre's local offering for Febuary was for those who do not like mixing chocolate and beer but for those who do, I would suggest Brooklyn Brewery's Black Chocolate Stout. These beers are vintage dated and age quite nicely so it is fun to buy a six pack and sock it away each year. Brooklyn also offers a pilsener if you are looking for a local beer to try in August.