Beer News

Odell Isolation Returns Oct 1

 On October 1, 2011, Odell Brewing’s winter seasonal Isolation Ale hits shelves.  Isolation follows St. Lupulin Ale.

“A funny thing happens here around summer’s end — our eyes start searching the skies for those first fall flakes. As we Continue Reading →

Bud Light Platinum?

Catching up beer goings on over the weekend, there was some Bud talk on BA over the weekend.

In a post from Beer Advocate creator Todd Alstrom, he found some info about a potential Bud Light Platinum in the Continue Reading →

Oakshire To Release Hellshire II

Oakshire Brewing (Eugene, OR) is adding on to the Hellshire lineup with Hellshire II.   Hellshire I was released in May, 2011 and was a barleywine aged in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels.  First run was limited to 120 Continue Reading →

Harpoon Oktoberfest Back For ’11

Taken from Harpoon Press Release:

BOSTON – As the first signs of fall settle into New England, so too does the arrival of Harpoon Octoberfest, a local favorite since 1989. Brewed with celebrations in mind, this full-bodied, seasonal beer is Continue Reading →

Posted in Beer News

Pay No Attention To The Bartender Behind The Curtain

I’m no one to tell what people what to believe, but Utah has some of the most restrictive and crazy laws surrounding alcohol and it’s sales of such.  Recent Utah law changes are restricting beer and liquor sales throughout the state, at what cost?  Tourism and entertainment? Restaurant sales?  These restrictions are industry killers.

Lets talk curtains.  Zion Curtains.

These “curtains” have been employed previously, and new laws will be bring them back.  They are meant to literally hide the bartender and taps and bottles from view as they pour the alcohol.

Senate President Michael Waddoups, a Republican and LDS member, has said that bar-like restaurants encourage underage drinking because “listening to the shaking of the drinks and the sights can make drinking attractive.” Despite the need for tourism, he says, “We are not going to become Las Vegas or New Orleans.”

Here are some more legal restrictions:

  • A 1 year restriction on the issuance of liquor licenses to restaurants that sell full strength beer IN VIEW of customers.
  • You aren’t allow to sell doubles (double mixed drinks etc)
  • No drink specials, happy hours, or discount pint nights
  • All bars must employ ID scanners to verify the age and identity of the drinker.

These restrictions are considered for forward progress.  Restrictions before included forcing individuals to buy private club memberships in order to drink! They would then give you airplane bottles and have you mix your own drinks.

I would be interested to find data on under age alcoholism caused by the clinking of glasses. [USAToday]

pic: Salt Lake Tourism

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News

Odell Isolation Returns Oct 1

 On October 1, 2011, Odell Brewing’s winter seasonal Isolation Ale hits shelves.  Isolation follows St. Lupulin Ale.

“A funny thing happens here around summer’s end — our eyes start searching the skies for those first fall flakes. As we welcome autumn’s first snow, we celebrate the return of Isolation Ale,” reads the label.  “Whether you ski, shred, or shoe, Isolation Ale will inspire you to make first tracks.”

There will be an Isolation tapping party on Saturday Oct. 1.   Local food truck favorites, StrEats Mobile Bistro and the Cupcake Cruiser will be onsite offering tasty bites to pair with the brew.

Style: Winter Warmer

Taste Expectations:  Malty, Spicy, Creamy.  Hint of cinnamon.

Availability: 12oz bottles, Draft.

6% ABV

[PressRelease]

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News

Bud Light Platinum?

Catching up beer goings on over the weekend, there was some Bud talk on BA over the weekend.

In a post from Beer Advocate creator Todd Alstrom, he found some info about a potential Bud Light Platinum in the works.

WHAT?

Per his post:

A recent AdAge article mentions it briefly in an unrelated topic and suggests it’ll be somewhere between 6% to 8% ABV; Bud Light is currently 4.2% ABV.“And Bud Light might be preparing a new line extension for Bud Light called Bud Light Platinum, with a stronger alcohol content by volume ranging from 6% to 8%, according to a report this week by beer trade publication Beer Marketer’s Insights, which cited discussion among distributors.

The website was registered by AB budlightplatinum.com

That’s all the speculation I feel like bringing you right now.  Just something to think about.

note: Image is just mock made by BSJ.  Not created by AB, or the brand…

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News

Rogue Voodoo Maple Doughnut Arrives, Has A Condom. Flavor: Confusing.

Rogue Brewing’s newest bit of creativity – Voodoo Maple Doughnut was made available over the weekend in Portland, OR.  This beer has gotten a lot of press surrounding it’s unique ingredient list.   Just to recap, it’s a maple bacon porter.  Brewed with maple syrup, bacon, smoked malt, and vanilla beans.

So with all this going on, what do people think?   While I am not in the habit of rating beer, I like many are wondering what is up with this one.  Apparently the pink bottle also comes with a pink condom. (Seemingly just for promo bottles)

From Portland Mercury: 

We had a quick tasting here at the office, and the results ranged from “no” to “oh!” to “jerky” to “campfire” to “that’s not good” to “I don’t like it.” It generally tastes like a dirty, ashy smoked beer without any of the subtlety of the finer Bamberger rauchbiers. The maple syrup notes pop up now and again, but the smoke flavor, along with fatty hits of unwanted bacon, dominate. Smoked beer enthusiasts might get a kick out of it, and perhaps it could pair decently with a porky, syrupy breakfast of some kind, but otherwise the blend of sweet and smoky is jarring.

No ratings have shown up on the big 2: RateBeer/ BA.  What’s left will apparently be hitting distribution.

Style: Porter

10 ingredients

Malts: Great Western 2 Row, Chocolate, Black, Biscuit

Extras: Maple syrup, apple smoked bacon, vanilla beans, vanilla extract

Pacman yeast, Free range coastal water.

Availability: 22oz PINK bombers

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News

Ten Fidy Arriving Early This Year

Oskar Blues Ten Fidy imperial stout in a can will be making an early appearance this year – as early as the first week in October.

According to a recent press release:

“Ten FIDY is no walk in the park to create; it’s a labor intensive beer.” Ten FIDY’s gargantuan grain bill is just short of 50 percent specialty malts that are packaged in 55 pound bags and loaded into the mill by hand.  The many bags of oats are poured directly into the mash tun. Oats and rice hulls are lugged up the 20-odd stairs to the top of the brew-deck to be placed near the mash tun. “We aren’t mashing it with a computer from a comfy control room. It takes hands-on craft brewing to make a big ‘ole can of eat-it-with-a-fork stout.”

If you are a stout lover, and haven’t had Ten Fidy you are really missing out.  This imp stout in a can has an impressive rating report card, and has been recognized in too numerous to count food columns and magazines as one of the best beers in America.

Style: Imperial Stout
Hops: ??
Malts: 2 Row, Chocolate, Roasted Barley, Flaked Oats

Taste Expectations:  Caramel, coffee, oatmeal, roasty flavors are silky smooth.  It’s as big and bold, yet sleek and recyclable.

Availability: 12oz cans, Draft.

10.5% ABV, 98 IBUs

Ten FIDY Returns from Chad Melis on Vimeo.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Oakshire Brewing

Oakshire To Release Hellshire II

Oakshire Brewing (Eugene, OR) is adding on to the Hellshire lineup with Hellshire II.   Hellshire I was released in May, 2011 and was a barleywine aged in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels.  First run was limited to 120 cases.  [PR on Hell I] Hellshire II will be an imperial stout, aged in bourbon barrels.

Deep within the recesses of the alcoves & antechambers of Oakshire Brewing lies another realm.  It’s a place where carefully fermented beers are laid to rest in oaken sarcophagi.  They slumber for aeons & emerge as wholly new & unique entities, fueling the malformed creatures that populate those blasted and eldritch wastes.  That place is HELLSHIRE.

Hellshire II is an Imperial Stout aged for 6  months in freshly emptied bourbon barrels.  Notes of vanilla, coconut, chocolate, roasted coffee, oak & bourbon intertwine with the beer’s complex malt flavors. It’s ready to enjoy now or can be cellared cool and dry for several years.  Cheers! Mat Van Wyk, Brewmaster.

Style: Imperial Stout
Availability:  22oz bombers
Arrival: TBA

10.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News

Harpoon Oktoberfest Back For ’11

Taken from Harpoon Press Release:

BOSTON – As the first signs of fall settle into New England, so too does the arrival of Harpoon Octoberfest, a local favorite since 1989. Brewed with celebrations in mind, this full-bodied, seasonal beer is widely available in 6-packs, 12-packs, and on draft beginning late August. It is also the featured beer at the brewery’s annual Octoberfest celebrations held at their breweries in Boston, MA and Windsor, VT.

Harpoon Octoberfest Specifications:
Style: Marzen
OG: 14.5 P
Color: Garnet Red 45 EBC
ABV: 5.5%
IBUs: 30

by Reid Ramsay