Defiant IPA on Cask

Last month, I stopped into Aroma Thyme Bistro in Ellenville, NY for their monthly cask beer night. Marcus decided to go local with an IPA from Defiant Brewing Company in Pearl River.

The IPA poured a hazy, golden orange yellow color with a thin, off white, bubbly white head. The nose had a distinct floral hop aroma with a little malt sprinkled in. The body was smooth, no carbonation with some more malt, a little honey, and some very interesting tea-like flavors. The finish was a nice mixture of dry and bitter. Overall, this was a a great brew to throw in a cask. I thought the body was well balanced and the hops rounded out nicely. This is a very solid offering from Defiant.

2010 Flour City Brewer's Fest Is Canceled

One of my favorite things about the craft beer community are the various festivals that take place across the state. These festivals allow beer lovers to sample plenty of beers, meet some of the people who brew their favorite beer, and socialize with fellow craft beer nuts. One of the better beer festivals in the state is the Flour City Brewer's Fest in Rochester, NY. We attended last year's brewer's fest and had a great time.

Unfortunately the 2010 Flour City Brewer's Fest has been canceled. Last week we received an e-mail from Rohrbachs who runs the Fest. Owner John Urlaub writes: "The main reason for suspending the festival for a year is due to many ambiguous regulations from the State Liquor Authority that we would like to get clarification on before hosting another brewer’s fest."

The good news is that the FCBF will be return in 2011. Rohrbachs is planning on making several changes to the Fest and has asked for input. If you have any feedback, you can e-mail him at john@rohrbachs.com .

Empire Brewing Company's White Aphro

Ommegang Names New Beer

Ommegang's 2010 Innovation program is off to a great start and details on the next few beers are starting to be released.

Stan Hieronymus over at Brew Like a Monk writes that Ommegang has announced the name of their sour ale that will be released in July/August.

he label states: “Zuur – or Sour – is our collaborative Flemish sour brown ale. A beer whose style arises from the mists of brewing history. It uses mixed fermentation, real fruit, significant aging, and master blending.

All of these are ancient and revered Belgian techniques. This unique Flemish sour brown ale is complex, tart with a touch of sweetness, lightly malty and gently hopped. Zuur is a unique blend created in collaboration between Brewery Ommegang and Brouwerij Liefmans.”

Here is the schedule for Ommegang's 2010 Innovation Program.

-- Jan-Feb: Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence Stout. Very slightly revised for the 2010 edition.

-- March-April: The new Ommegang BPA (Belgian-style Pale Ale). It’s 5.8%, with citrus and tropical fruit aromas.

-- May-June: Ommegang Tripel (the name is not yet confirmed). Around 9%, spiced.

UPDATE: Check out our review of the Ommegang tripel!

-- July-August: Ommegang Sour Ale. Around 6%. This is an Oud Bruin style beer made in collaboration with Liefmans of Belgium. Name to be determined.

-- September-October: Ommegang Scotch Ale. A new Belgo-Scotch mash-up, Bennett says. The name and recipe are still under construction.

-- November-December: Ommegang Adoration returns. It’s 10%, malty , big and spicy. May be tweaked a bit.

Beers of the World to Open New Location

The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle is reporting that the Angotti Beverage Corporation will be opening a new Beers of the World in Henrietta. The new store will join the other two Beers of the World locations currently in Henrietta and Batavia.

The new store will be located in the former Wegmans store at 2599 E. Henrietta Road and should be open by June.

Beers of the World is a must stop for any craft beer fan visiting Rochester. They already have one of the biggest beer selections in the country, and the new location will house one of the biggest beer stores in the country in terms of square footage.