Rare Opportunity

Founder’s Nemesis CONFIRMED!

Founder’s Brewing has been a VERY popular addition to the Atlanta beer scene in 2010.   Some of the limited offerings came and went in a matter of hours – namely Backwood’s Bastard.  Well, if you missed that rarity there Continue Reading →

Smuttynose Extravaganza & Cask Tonight!

On Friday, Feb 12th, Taco Mac Metropolis will be tapping a cask of Smuttynose Old Brown Dog.  But it doesn’t stop there!!  6 unique kegs with accompany the cask, including 2 rare oak aged versions of Smuttynose’s small batch big Continue Reading →

Yuengling Bock Hits the Southeast!

I wrote about Yuengling Bock on this site a year ago when I had it on draft on a trip up north.  Yuengling Bock debuted in 2009 in limited draft offerings to celebrate Yuengling’s 180th Annivesary.   Bock was last Continue Reading →

Posted in Founders Brewing, New Releases, Rare Opportunity

Founder’s Nemesis CONFIRMED!

Founder’s Brewing has been a VERY popular addition to the Atlanta beer scene in 2010.   Some of the limited offerings came and went in a matter of hours – namely Backwood’s Bastard.  Well, if you missed that rarity there is yet another for you to jockey for – Founder’s Nemesis.  Started arriving in Atlanta today!

If you take a look at Founder’s website it is nothing short of ambiguous about what Nemesis actually is.  From their description –

“What you have here is a rarity. A special, one-of-a-kind ale that is only made once a year. Sometimes that’s all. Forever. No more. Nada. Limited-time only. You never know what you’re gonna get. But you can be sure that it’ll be damn tasty.”

2009 marks the first release of Nemesis.  It will be brewed in VERY limited batches and sold in bottles.  This year’s run will apparently be a Maple Bourbon Barrel Aged Wheat Wine.   The oak barrels were used to aged Michigan maple syrup at one point, as they were also used to age bourbon.   Estimated ABV 12+% ABV.

Official Description –

“The 2009 release of Nemesis is best described as a Maple Bourbon barrel aged wheat wine holding 12.5% abv and 70 ibu’s. The barrels have been resting deep in the mines of Grand Rapids for nearly 9 months which have been most effective in developing a great product. The Bourbon barrels we used in this creation were once used to age Maple syrup from northern Michigan, then emptied, and procured for our use in aging this beer. The combination of American oak, Kentucky Bourbon, Michigan Maple syrup and our golden/tan wheat ale has provided a delicious malty sweet ale distinctive of strong vanilla and bourbon notes.”

Sightings – The Porter Beer Bar (via @curtdawsey)  9 pm 2/16. (SOLD OUT)

Tower ATL ( Buckhead) – Had a few earlier today. 2/17  Must ask employee for bottles.

Green’s (Buf Hwy) – 4 pks – 17.99, low quantity. 2/17, 5.45 pm  (via  @Matthew_Kiefer)

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Casks, Now Tapping, Rare Opportunity, Smuttynose Brewing

Smuttynose Extravaganza & Cask Tonight!

On Friday, Feb 12th, Taco Mac Metropolis will be tapping a cask of Smuttynose Old Brown Dog.  But it doesn’t stop there!!  6 unique kegs with accompany the cask, including 2 rare oak aged versions of Smuttynose’s small batch big beer series.  Here’s your starting lineup —

Old Brown Dog CASK — Brown Ale, 6.7% ABV.  Dry Hopped with Willamette. Hoppy brown ale brewed with Willamette & Cascade. Full bodied, hoppy, with a nice malt backbone.

Baltic Porter — Baltic Porter, 8.7% ABV .  Creamy porter with hints of raisins, coffee, and chocolate.  Nice malty presence.  Usually released in 22oz bombers.

Imperial Stout — Imperial Stout, 10% ABV.  This stout has some noticeable hops, and coffee in the finish.   Carmel malts, and noticeable alcohol, but well balanced.

The Terminator G-Bock — Doppelbock, ?? %ABV.  Oak aged version of the offering.  Part of Smutty’s short batch series.  Full of caramel malts, bready malts.  Sweet in aroma, and some sweet in taste.  Lightly hopped. Drinkable.

Wheat Wine — Wheat Wine, 10.7% ABV.  Alcohol tones present in the barleywine reminiscent ale.  Citrus, fruity.  Some sweet and of course wheat.

Oak Aged Big A IPA — Imperial IPA, 9.6% ABV. Oak aged edition of this small batch big beer series.  Balanced IPA with grapefruit aromas and flavors.  Floral with some caramel malts.

Short Weiss — Berliner Weissbier, 3% ABV.  Strawberry aroma and flavor.  Fairly strong carbonation,  with some tart and some malts.  Also some citrus.  Somewhat sour — intentionally.

Cask taps promptly at 6pm, February 12th!

Taco Mac Metropolis

933 Peachtree St NE Atlanta, GA 30309

(678) 904-7211

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, Rare Opportunity

Yuengling Bock Hits the Southeast!

I wrote about Yuengling Bock on this site a year ago when I had it on draft on a trip up north.  Yuengling Bock debuted in 2009 in limited draft offerings to celebrate Yuengling’s 180th Annivesary.   Bock was last produced  by the brewery40 years prior.  It was so well received last year it is returning (and has arrived) this year for not only draft offering, but this time – bottles.

After the release last year, Yuengling was flooded with calls asking where to find Bock Beer and where to buy bottles to take home and share.  Also, even though there was a demand for it, Bock’s distribution didn’t make it out of the northeast.  2010 will see not only the return, but the expanded release of Yuengling Bock.

Bocks are strong lagers, which began traditionally brewed for special occasions and limited batches.  Bocks are typically stronger in ABV using dark malts.  Yuengling Bock is just that, as its 5.1% ABV which is strong than the popular lager at 4.4% ABV.  In the Bock aroma, you will notice stronger sweet malty tones, with some similarities to the traditional lager.

Availability – January 18th, 2010 for 10 – 12 weeks.   12oz/6 packs, and draft offerings.  (Tower – In Stock, Hop City – Today)

Special Tap Parties this Friday 2/12/10  – Debuts on Taps at most Taco Macs in Atlanta at 5 pm!

Fun Fact – The artwork is based on the original artwork from 1941 that can be found on display in the Yuengling Gift Shop in Pottsville, PA.  Also, Yuengling is America’s oldest brewery, and is still American owned.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Rare Opportunity, Red Brick

Red Brick – Beer and Tricycles!

I would hope by now you have been on a tour of a brewery. Basically, tour the brewery, taste the lineup, talk with friends. Don’t get me wrong, I love it. I don’t care how many times I have toured a brewery, it doesn’t get old.  Let’s take this a step further. Want to tour a brewery, try their lineup, and race tricycles? Then get over to Red Brick tonight.

This once a month addition to the Red Brick tour, anyone (over 21! DUH!) can participate in the race. Organized into 4 person teams, racers pedal around the brewery relay style. COSTUMES ENCOURAGED! Races will take place in sessions up until June 2010. Overall winners of the race sessions win a party at the brewery. (1000 dollar value.)

Tapping at Red Brick for the tour tonight are Red Brick Blonde, Pale, Brown, plus 2 more potentials. Red Brick Octoberfest was so popular, it’s already gone. There are great things happening at Red Brick these days, so stay tuned.

Drink beer. Pedal hard.

2010 Trikey Schedule!

Session Three
7th Race: Wednesday, January 27, 2010
8th Race: Wednesday, February 24, 2010
9th Race: Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Session Four
10th Race: Wednesday, April 28, 2010
11th Race: Wednesday, May 26, 2010
12th Race: Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Follow me on Twitter – @atlbeermaster

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Great Cause, New Releases, Rare Opportunity, Terrapin Beer Company

Terrapin Brewing to Release Georgia Theatre Benefit Beers

Heard of the Georgia Theatre in Athens, GA?  Tragically, it was taken in a bad fire back in June of 2009.  Georgia Theatre was an Athens landmark for music.  Big bands like REM, David Alan Coe, B-52’S and Widespread Panic have played there.

Terrapin Brewing, stationed in Athens, has announced a series of beers honoring the beloved landmark, and raise money for its rebuild.  The series will be called “Terrapin’s Georgia Theatre Sessions,” and will contain 4 beers released over the course of 2010.

Series lineup in order of release —

Iron Tankard Old Stock Ale (MARCH) — Full details of this beer forthcoming, Old Stock Ale commemorates the original iron swimming pool that resided in the building when first built in 1889.

Double Feature Belgian Dubbel (JUNE) — In honor of the building’s conversion to the Elite Theater in 1935.  Elite Theater showed its last film —“Brotherhood of Death” in October of 1975.  It would not be the last time it was used as a movie theater.

Sound Czech, Czech Pilsner (SEPTEMBER) — Georgia Theatre opened as a music venue from 1977 – 1981.  It reopened again as a music venue in 1989 until the fire in June ’09.

Hoptaneous Combustion Imperial IPA (DECEMBER) — Remembering the fire that destroyed the theater.

Each release will be available in 22 oz bottles in limited quantities sold only in Athens and Atlanta.  Each of the bomber bottles will be individually boxed.   4 “Golden Tickets” will spread out over these releases.  If you are lucky enough to find a Golden Ticket, it will mean you just won a lifetime ticket to the Georgia Theatre when it reopens.   Terrapin is also speculating there could be some special goodies for the winners also.

There WILL be special cask events held in both Athens in Atlanta for each beer’s release.  Believe me; I will let you know when and where.

Be on the lookout for these beers, and help Terrapin get the Georgia Theatre doors open again…

Check out more on these benefit beers on  beernews.org

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Casks, Meet the Brewer, Rare Opportunity

Meet the Brewer, Jerome Rebetez of Brasserie Franches-Montagnes

Another exciting event in an already exciting week in beer in Atlanta.  Tomorrow, Swiss Brewer/Owner Jerome Rebetez of Brasserie Franches-Montagnes from Jura, Switzerland makes his way to Brickstore Pub.

At 23, Jerome Rebetez starting home brewing in his parents kitchen.  Focusing on unusual ingredients, the beers Jerome produced won him a contest in Switzerland designed to help you realize your dream job.   Taking the money from the contest, Jerome founded Brasserie des Freiberge in 1997.  (Brasserie translates to Brewery.)  In a short time, Jerome had jumped to the forefront for Swiss brewing.   His beers have a strong character, with a deep complexity, and very unique ingredients.  Franches—Montagnes contain special spices like Sarawak pepper, and sage.   These artisan ales are as individualistically crafted as European wines.

The beers of Franches — Montagnes have been in Georgia for a while now, and aren’t always easy to come by.  Franches — Montagnes  is a very small brewery with limited production.  This visit is especially exciting as its Rebetez’s first visit to the southeast during his yearly visit to the states.

Starting at 5 pm Brickstore will be tapping 2 rare casks —

Curvee  Alex La Rouge (Alex the Red) — Imperial Stout, 10% ABV.  Bourbon Vanilla, Black Tea Leaves, Black Pepper.  Hints of raw hopping ( aka wet hopping)

La Tarry Suchong — Amber, 6% .  Smoked Tea leaves.  Malts are smoked in Beechwood. Uses Lapsong Tary Suchong, a smoked Chinese tea.

Bottle offerings —

L’Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien — Sour Ale, 11% ABV.  Matured for months in oak barrels previous used to age wine.  Fruity wine like palette with sharp acidity.

La Dragonne (The Strap) — Black beer, 7% ABV.  Served warm. No carbonation or foam, yet has a strong aroma.  Uses various Swiss Christmas spices.  Sweet & Spicy with a bitter finish.

It all kicks off at 5 pm, 1/21/10.  Join Brickstore Pub and Jerome Rebetez in his first and rare trip to the south.

Brickstore Pub

125 East Court Square

Decatur, Ga 30030

www.brickstorepub.com

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Bell's Brewing, Casks, Meet the Brewer, Now Tapping, Rare Opportunity

Bell’s Brewing Tap Lineup for Larry Bell Visit!

For those of you headed to the Larry Bell meet and greet tonight at tonight at Taco Mac Metropolis, there is a full lineup of Bell’s beers tapping.

Here is the full lineup, get your glasses ready..

Amber — Amber Ale, 5.8% ABV.  Flagship Bell’s offering. Mostly Pale Malts, with some Munich & Caramel Malts.   Malty sweet flavor w/ nice American hop balance.

Porter — 5.6% ABV.  Dark malts with roasted tones.  Subtle chocolate & coffee tones.  Gold medal winner in Brewers Association World Cup 2008

Two Hearted Ale — IPA, 7% ABV.  Centennial hops. Pale & Caramel Malts.  More HERE.

3rd Coast — American Blonde, 4.8% ABV.  Brewed with Pale Malts, and a strong addition of American Hops.  Crisp, bitter, refreshing.   Year round offering.

Java Stout — Imperial Stout, 7.5% ABV.  Personal Favorite!  Sumatra coffee beans, blended with chocolate and roasted malts.  Full flavored, beautifully balanced.  Very short seasonal offering.

Double Cream Ale — Milk Stout, 6.1% ABV.  Sweet stout with roasted malts. Creamy, with subtle chocolate and coffee flavors.  Much more subtle than Java stout on the coffee side.

Winter White Ale — Witbier, 5% ABV.  American Wheat Ale, brewed with proprietary blends of Hefe and Belgian Yeasts.  Very light, wheaty, and fresh.

Best Brown Ale — Brown Ale, 5.8% ABV.  Strong malty character.  Toasted sweet malts. Hoppy  undertones.  Sweet finish.  Sold Oct — March.

Christmas Ale — Scottish Ale, 5.4% ABV.  Caramel and toffee flavors.  Bold without being overbearing, Christmas ale has sweet and malty notes with very little bitter in the finish.  Rare offering.  Grab this one.

Cherry Stout — Fruit beer/ Flavored Stout. 7% ABV.  Fantastic sour cherry flavor from Michigan.  Has a chocolate covered cherry flavor.  Subtle coffee.  Van Twee takes some inspiration from Cherry Stout.

Expedition Stout — Russian Imperial Stout, 10.5% ABV.  Strong on toasted malts. Chocolate aromas, bitter chocolate flavors on the palette.  Perhaps even some sweet molasses too.

CASK!! Cherry Stout — I had the opportunity to try this yesterday at Brickstore Pub.  Great cask offering, with subtle sour cherry flavors with a coffee/chocolate finish.  Well balanced and flavorful.

Van Twee- This draft offering is especially rare opportunity.  Bell’s brewery John Mallett collaborated with De Proef in Belgium  It’s a dubbel, porter blend with sour cherries, and beet sugar to bottle condition.  More on Van Twee HERE! 2 taps for Van Twee tonight.

There are delays with Hopslam, while it’s not completely ruled out, it’s not looking good.

It all kicks off at 6 pm!  See you there!

Taco Mac — Metropolis

933 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, GA 30309

by Reid Ramsay