Now Tapping

Posted in Founders Brewing, Now Tapping

Now Tapping – Founder’s Brewing’s Backwoods Bastard @ Brickstore Pub

Founder’s officially arrived in Georgia yesterday and if that wasn’t enough to look forward to, now you have the first wave of taps.  Much to my excitement the first I have found is Backwoods Bastard!

If you are a fan of bourbon oak aged beers, look no further.   Especially if you enjoyed Red Brick 15 or if you were lucky, Brooklyn Black Ops.  Backwoods is a Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy much like their year round beer Dirty Bastard.  However, this scotch ale spent time in bourbon oak, changing it’s character for the better.

Vanilla is my favorite flavor added to bourbon aged beers – and you will find it in abundance here.  Be on the look out for bourbon, oak, and dark cherry flavors in this one.  Caramel malts from the scotch ale round this one out.  It’s a little boozy, some might find this one a sipper, but let me tell you – it’s fantastic.

Backwoods Bastard is a limted seasonal release by Founder’s Brewing.  Apart from draft offerings, it’s sells in 12 oz. 4-packs – $12-$14 available now.

10.2% ABV

Where?  Brickstore Pub  When?  Right now!

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Dogfish Head, Now Tapping, Rare Opportunity, Sierra Nevada

Dogfish/Sierra Nevada “Life & Limb” Tapping!

For people still looking for a taste of Life & Limb, or want more of this well talked about beer, be at The Grange in Decatur, Ga @ 6 pm Today – 1/12/10.

Tap flows until it’s gone.

More info on Life & Limb HERE

The Grange

426 West Ponce De Leon Avenue
Decatur, GA 30030-2443
(404) 270-9950

Twitter – @thegrange

www.thegrangepublichouse.com

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Belgium, New Releases, Now Tapping

Now tapping – Fall Wild Ale by New Belgium

Fall Wild AleA little while ago, I wrote about the arrival of La Folie and Bier de Mars, part of the Lips of Faith collection from New Belgium Brewery.  (Find it Here.)  “Lips of Faith” brews are small batch “special effort” brews by NB.  Today Fall Wild Ale – another from the Lips of Faith lineup hits taps and soon shelves.

Fall Wild Ale is an American Wild Ale.  American Wild Ales are essentially beers that have been introduced to yeast strains like Brettanomyces (used in many Belgian style ales.)  Brett yeast is considered a “wild” yeast, adding a special flair, or funk (its a good thing)  to a beer.  (Want more about Brett yeast? Click Here)

Fall Wild Ale is spiced with schisandra, also know as Magnolia vine. It is a shrub that produces a berry the Chinese call “Five Flavor Fruit” because it contains all five basic flavors — sweet, sour, salty, spicy, bitter.   This berry gives Fall Wild Ale an interesting palate.

All in all, this dubbels carries 8.5% ABV.  Lots of malty, spicy, and fruity flavors to expect when tasting this ale.   Drinking Fall Wild Ale will give you a little more understanding of Brettanomyces based beers, and the intentional fruity, funk that comes with them.

Tapping alongside Fall Ale is La Folie, the Flemish sour ale by New Belgium.

Where? Various Taco Macs. Metro, Perimeter and Prado for sure.  When? By noon.

Wild Ale on shelves?  Soon.  More to come.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Anchor Brewing, Now Tapping

Anchor Christmas 2008/2009 Tapping @ Taco Mac Metropolis

Anchor Christmas - 2009

Anchor Christmas – 2009

It was 1975 when Anchor Brewing (San Francisco, CA) starting releasing a “Christmas Ale.” I use parenthesis because Christmas ale isn’t exactly a style like say — IPA or Bock. Anchor Christmas is actually considered a “winter warmer” style ale.

Winter warmers are English strong ales, brewed during the winter months. Winter warmers have a strong malt presence, dark in color, with a touch of sweet taste on the palette. You won’t find winter warmers under 5% ABV. Glancing over as list of warmer ales, many begin at 6% and go to 8% or higher. The higher ABV makes these ales a good candidate for cellaring.

Anchor Christmas is a different recipe every year, as it has been since ’75. The bottle label traditionally depicts a tree, which is also different with each year. Christmas ’09 has already hit shelves in 6 packs — (yes, its almost Halloween) — 6 pack — 9.49, Magnum bottles — 14.99 @ Hop City.

Tonight — October 29th, Taco Mac Metropolis is tapping Anchor Christmas 2008, and 2009 side by side to compare changes in the recipe. Typically, this beer cellars very well, and I bet the ’08 will not disappoint.

Tapping @ 6 pm.
Merry Christmas, and Happy Halloween…

by Reid Ramsay