It’s cold, making it a perfect time to drink a barleywine. Following on the heels on a non-existent beer “Black Ops” is Brooklyn Brewing’s “Monster Barleywine”.
Commercial Description:
Brooklyn Monster is a classic barleywine, a style of ale originally brewed by the Continue Reading →
Personally speaking, this is one of my favorite offerings from Heavy Seas Brewing (Baltimore, MD). Previously in 12 oz bottles, this barleywine joined the Mutiny Fleet (big bomber series) last year. Hugh Sisson and I shared a 4 year old Continue Reading →
Each year Shmaltz Brewing releases an anniversary beer. The recipe is bigger and more complex than the last. The 12th Anniversary was 12 malts, 12 hops, 12% ABV. 13 – 13 malts/13 hops, 13% ABV. This year marks 14 Continue Reading →
Volume 3 of Sierra Nevada’s 30th Anniversary celebration series has arrived! 2010 marks the 30th birthday of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company from Chico, California. To celebrate, the brewery is releasing 4 very special collaboration beers. Just to recap – Volume Continue Reading →
Seems like Founder’s 2009 edition of Nemesis – a maple bourbon barrel aged wheat wine at 12% ABV was just here months ago. Well, last night I heard a rumor (while sitting at a bar, go figure) about 2010 details Continue Reading →
Brouwerij De Molen is a small craft brewery in the south Holland Provence of the Netherlands founding in 2004. The name De Molen translates to “brewery in the mill” as the brewery is actually in a windmill. This windmill – named “De Continue Reading →
It’s cold, making it a perfect time to drink a barleywine. Following on the heels on a non-existent beer “Black Ops” is Brooklyn Brewing’s “Monster Barleywine”.
Commercial Description: Brooklyn Monster is a classic barleywine, a style of ale originally brewed by the butlers to the English and American aristocracy. Brewed from three mashes of heirloom British malt and spiced with aromatic American Willamette, Cascade, & Fuggle hops. After 4 months of aging, it has a magnificent burnished copper color, an aroma redolent of sherry, citrusy hops & fruit, a soft, warming, complex palate, a spiritous finish, and a strength of 10.8%.
Style: Barleywine Hops: Willamette, Cascade, American Fuggle Malts: Scottish Floor Malted Marris Otter & English 2-Row
Taste Expectations: Full malt flavor, molasses & toffee. Caramel, dried fruit. Citrus, bit of warming alcohol.
Personally speaking, this is one of my favorite offerings from Heavy Seas Brewing (Baltimore, MD). Previously in 12 oz bottles, this barleywine joined the Mutiny Fleet (big bomber series) last year. Hugh Sisson and I shared a 4 year old cellared edition of this at Brick Store Pub last year, and that made me a lover of this beer for life.
Commercial Description: Our English style barleywine – rich, malty, and opulent. Great at time of release but will benefit from bottle aging for many years to come. VINTAGE DATED.
Style: Barleywine (English style, lighter on the hops)
Taste Expectations: Caramel malts, touch of dark fruits. Slightly boozy. Malts turn a bit sweet as it warms. Toffee, touch of chocolate.
Availability: 22oz bombers. Some draft. Nov-Dec seasonal. Vintage dated
Each year Shmaltz Brewing releases an anniversary beer. The recipe is bigger and more complex than the last. The 12th Anniversary was 12 malts, 12 hops, 12% ABV. 13 – 13 malts/13 hops, 13% ABV. This year marks 14 years of brewing at Schmaltz. So in good fashion this year packs a whopping 14 hops, 14 malts, 14% ABV.
Founder Jeremy Cowan is quite the writer. His labels if you take the time to read them are legendary. I asked him about how he does it one time, he just said it takes time. I think he topped himself with this one:
At age 14, is Shmaltz Brewing still the throes of adolescence? After publishing Craft Beer Bar Mitzvah, a new small business saga, I’ll leave it up to you, Dear Reader. As with many 14 year olds, this years Jewbelation is all about Hands, Hearts and Farts. 14 is the numerical value of the Hebrew word for “hand.” The human hand contains 14 digital bones and 14 joints. 14 items to fill the Passover seder plate, narrating the Exodus of the Hebrews – “and with a might hand did the Revolution bring us out of Egypt.” Jacob labored 14 years to earn marriage to Leah and Rachel. Over a lifetime, the average American spends 14 days kissing. Valentine’s day, Feb. 14, dates to a pagan festival for the she-wolf who suckled mythical founders of Rome, Romulus, and Remus. 14 lines structure a sonnet. Romeo and Juliet unfolds 14 days before Juliet’s 14th birthday. Carbon 14 dating proves the age of organic materials. Woody Allen, now married to his once not-daughter and not a spokesman for American Apparel, received 14 Oscar nominations for best screenplay and directed 14 other actors in nominated performances. 14 Jews serve in the senate. The current Dalai Lama is the 14th leader of the Tibetan people. A hummingbird’s heart flutters about 1400 beats per minute. Dr. Oz reported on Oprah that humans fart on average of 14 times a day. At age 41 and in our 14th year of brewing, the numerical sychronicity will happen only once in my lifetime. Here’s to being here now… L’Chaim!
Volume 3 of Sierra Nevada’s 30th Anniversary celebration series has arrived! 2010 marks the 30th birthday of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company from Chico, California. To celebrate, the brewery is releasing 4 very special collaboration beers. Just to recap – Volume #1 was an imperial stout. Volume #2 a helles lager. Volume #3 – a barleywine. Sierra’s description –
“Jack McAuliffe is the original microbrewer. McAuliffe’s tiny New Albion Brewery in Sonoma, California inspired countless brewers to start small-scale breweries of their own. Jack agreed to guest brew this very special ale with us in honor of our 30th anniversary. This American barleywine is a nod to the big ales New Albion served at their legendary summer solstice parties. It is robust and complex — brewed with 100% American Cascade hops.”
If you have had a chance to try volume 1 and 2, you already know how exceptional these beers are. If you haven’t, my suggestion is get tasting. This barleywine is great now, and will cellar quite well.
Availability: 750 ML corked & caged. Draft offerings. 1 time anniversary brew.
Seems like Founder’s 2009 edition of Nemesis – a maple bourbon barrel aged wheat wine at 12% ABV was just here months ago. Well, last night I heard a rumor (while sitting at a bar, go figure) about 2010 details already surfacing. Finally, a friend of the brewery pointed me over to The Wine and Cheese Place which confirmed the rumors.
Nemesis is different every year. Also from the The Wine and Cheese Place Blog the 2010 Nemesis details –
“The 2010 release of Nemesis is best described by our brewing team as “a dark barley wine that pours black with a subtle mahogany hue. Brewed with 5 malts and no shortage of hops for a pleasantly bitter booming flavor. Roasty and toasty with a multitude of tastes that melts on your tongue”. — Founders”
So, the follow up to last years wheat wine is a barleywine! I called Founder’s Brewing and they would only disclose it’s shipping first week of September. My mouth is watering.
More info and arrival dates to follow – Follow me on Twitter: @ATLBeerMaster
Brouwerij De Molen is a small craft brewery in the south Holland Provence of the Netherlands founding in 2004. The name De Molen translates to “brewery in the mill” as the brewery is actually in a windmill. This windmill – named “De Arkduif” is quite historic as it was built in 1697! Brewer Menno Olivier was a beer enthusiast/home brewer before hitting this big time. RateBeer.com has listed De Molen brews in the “Top 10 Dutch Beers” over the past couple of years. They finally hit stateside in 2008, and have made a quite a splash among connoisseurs. All the beers are brewed on converted dairy equipment, and hand bottled on site at the brewery in Holland. Even the labels are hand made on site.
3 new beers have made it to the U.S. They have received high ratings among the beer reviewers. They are bold, unique and very distinct.
Bommen & Granaten – Barleywine – 13% ABV. There’s plenty of fruit like orange, tangerine and sweet apples. It’s powerful and full bodied but still easy going. Although the name would suggest otherwise, it’s our favourite amongst the female clientele yet also highly appreciated by the other sex. Well hopped as always, but the obvious alcohol and the massive malt and fruit character restrict the hops to the background, only to reveal itself in the finish. Full bodied, notes of champagne. Champagne mousse after pouring in the glass. Grapes and a hint of mandarin curacao in the aroma, together with a hint of vin mousseux. Malty sweet flavor, immensely full bodied, with mandarine curacao and vinous notes. Thick mouthfeel, just a touch of yeast in the aftertaste. Huge beer.
Heaven & Hell – Imperial Stout, 10.2% ABV. Twice the amount of dark roasted malts used, massive Imperial stout. This is a mad one. Black brown colour with a thick and creamy tan head that can be added to as you wish if you give the bottle a swirl. Give this beer time to breathe and blossom into something truly stunning. Chocolate and alcohol are right there at the front but do not at all overpower the gorgeousness that is underneath. Full of leather, vanilla, amazing wooden notes, beautifully floral character from the hops, thick Belgian chocolate, much character. The flavour of crazy wooden tartness. An extremely bitter finish seems to come out of nowhere and is what really makes this quite unique. Superb width in the mouth and coats the whole palate beautifully.
Engels (Not pictured)– Bitter, 4.5% ABV. Our attempt at creating a real English cask ale. And we certainly succeeded. At the Great British Beer Festival our Engels was appreciated by all that tried. Cask ale from the continent? Yeah! Also available bottled by the way.
All the above are the commercial descriptions of these new brews.
Availability: By the 12oz bottle. Capped and waxed. Estimated retail – around $10.
Looking for these? Hop City has Bommen & Granaten & Heaven & Hell. Green’s Beer – All three.
It’s cold, making it a perfect time to drink a barleywine. Following on the heels on a non-existent beer “Black Ops” is Brooklyn Brewing’s “Monster Barleywine”.
