Belgian IPA

Smuttynose Homunculous

Smuttynose Brewing is brewing back a beer from the “Small Batch Series” dubbed Gnome.  This time around, it gets a new name, and pretty weird label.

About Gnome:
First brewed 2007.  The beer is an homage to hoppy Belgian style brews growing Continue Reading →

NEW RELEASE: Troubadour Magma

This new release heads to you from Brouwerij De Musketiers in Ursel, Belgium.   It’s Belgian tripel with an American IPA influence.  You may have seen the breweries 2 other releases – Obscura (Belgian Strong Dark) and Blond (Belgian Pale). Continue Reading →

NEW RELEASE: New Belgium’s Belgo

It seems like Belgian style IPA’s are catching on in the U.S.  American IPA’s are obviously quite popular, and adding a Belgian yeast to the brew gives the beer some depth that people seem to love.  New Belgium just recently Continue Reading →

NEW RELEASE: Flying Dog Raging Bitch

I know I have called people this.  However, I have never called my beer this. Until now.

Flying Dog Brewing ( Frederick, MD) finally released it’s 20th Anniversary brew- “Raging Bitch.”  Keep in mind this is reference to dogs – and Continue Reading →

Posted in Meet the Brewer

Meet Hildegard Van Ostaden Brewmaster of Urthel

If you’re in Atlanta, you’re in for a treat.  Hildegard Van Ostaden, Brewmaster from De Leyerth Brouwerijen Urthel in on American soil.  Urthel is based in Ruiselede, Belgium.

Brick Store Pub is hosting a meet & greet with Hildegard from 5-8 pm.  Tap List:

Hop-It: Belgian IPA, 9.5% ABV
Samaranth: Quad, 11% ABV
Saisonniere: Saison, 6% ABV

A rare opportunity indeed. Come grab a beer with myself & @AleSharpton.

Brick Store Pub – 4/14/11, 5-8pm
125 East Court Square
Decatur, GA 30030
@BrickStorePub

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Smuttynose Brewing

Smuttynose Homunculous

Smuttynose Brewing is brewing back a beer from the “Small Batch Series” dubbed Gnome.  This time around, it gets a new name, and pretty weird label.

About Gnome:
First brewed 2007.  The beer is an homage to hoppy Belgian style brews growing popular in the U.S.  Base beer is a Belgian style tripel brewed with White Labs Chimay yeast.  Very little of this beer has ever been available.  The name is an homage to Brasserie d’Achouffe.  It’s coming back into production, born again as Homunculous.

Label:
The Smuttynose Big Beer Series: big beers in big bottles, released seasonally in very limited quantities.  After years of gestation our highly regarded hoppy Belgian style ale, “The Gnome” has been reborn as Homunculous.  Impregnated with loads of hop character, balanced with malt sweetness & fruit esters derived from the Belgian yeast, this golden colored ale is ripe for the picking.  Share some responsibly with your gnomies.

Style: Belgian IPA
Hops: Vanguard Bittering Hops, Sterling Flavor Additions, East Kent Goldings Dry Hop
Malt: Weyermann Pilsner Malt, CaraHell (per Smutty)
Cane Sugar

Arrival: Spring 2011

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases

NEW RELEASE: Troubadour Magma

This new release heads to you from Brouwerij De Musketiers in Ursel, Belgium.   It’s Belgian tripel with an American IPA influence.  You may have seen the breweries 2 other releases – Obscura (Belgian Strong Dark) and Blond (Belgian Pale).  This is not only a new beer for Brouwerij De Musketiers, but new to the United States also.

From brewer Stefaan Soetemans:
The new Magma Tripel IPA provides a formidable hop presence and is dry-hopped with American Simcoe hops, but is also tempered by the fruitiness that comes from the yeast during the fermentation process.  At the 2010 Zythos Beer Festival, held annually in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, attendees from around the world were pleasantly surprised by Magma’s balance. The beer received a positive response from both Belgian and American beer geeks.  “Not to be pretentious, but I think it’s of the best of both worlds,” said Stefaan. “However, the intention was not to make a beer that’s loved by as many people as possible. We simply wanted to make an IPA that was smoother, one that could quench your thirst.”  Ultimately, Stefaan hopes that folks who try Magma will have the same reaction they did when they tried Obscura — one that goes beyond styles and categories, and focuses on the beer itself.  “That’s what I want to achieve with my beers. I want to see people expand their palates and go on to try other beers, other tastes, other flavors. It’s a mission.”

Style: Belgian IPA
Taste Expectations: Fruity hops. Grapefruit & citrus.  The tripel aspect shines through with some orange peel & spices. Effervescent.

Availability: Bottle re fermented. 11.4 ounce 4 pks.  Also available in 750ml.  Not yet shipping  to GA.

9% ABV


by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Belgium, New Releases

NEW RELEASE: New Belgium’s Belgo

It seems like Belgian style IPA’s are catching on in the U.S.  American IPA’s are obviously quite popular, and adding a Belgian yeast to the brew gives the beer some depth that people seem to love.  New Belgium just recently released their first full time IPA ( and I believe it’s first IPA at all) – Ranger IPA very recently.  It sells quite well.  This new release Belgo was just a natural progression.  It’s an aggressive IPA brewed with 5 different hop varieties.  Authentic Trappist yeast was used instead of an ale yeast.   Belgo joins this “Lips of Faith” series by New Belgium.

Ingredients:

Kettle Hops: Simcoe, Cascade, Amarillo, Willamette

Dry Hops: Cascade, Amarillo, Willamette

Flavor Description: Medium bodied, Belgo opens with citrus and floral tones from generous hopping, then gives way to soft fruit tones implied by the authentic Trappist yeast strain and finishes clean.

Availability: 22oz Bombers.  Limited draft offerings

8% ABV

70 IBU’s

Looking for this? 7/28 – Reported at Hop City

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Flying Dog Brewing, New Releases

NEW RELEASE: Flying Dog Raging Bitch

I know I have called people this.  However, I have never called my beer this. Until now.

Flying Dog Brewing ( Frederick, MD) finally released it’s 20th Anniversary brew- “Raging Bitch.”  Keep in mind this is reference to dogs – and all the FLYING DOG beers have dog references.  Raging Bitch is a Belgian IPA, the first by the brewer.  Flying Dog took  one of their American IPA recipes, and used a Belgian yeast strain.

Ingredients:

Hops – Warrior, Columbus, Amarillo. Dry Hop – Amarillo

Malts – 60L Crystal is the only specified

Yeast – Flying Dog “El Diablo” yeast (Belgian strain)

Label:

“Two inflammatory words… one wild drink.  Nectar imprisoned in a bottle. Let it out.  It is cruel to keep a wild animal locked up.  Uncap it.  Release it…. stand back!! Wallow in its golden glow in a glass beneath a white foaming  foaming head.  Remember, enjoying a RAGING BITCH, unleashed, untamed, un-bridled – and in heat – is pure GONZO!  It has taken 20 years to get from there to here.  Enjoy! – Ralph Steadman

Availability: 12oz 6pks.  Draft.   Limited Anniversary release.

8.3% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Atlanta Beer Week, Casks, Terrapin Beer Company

CASK ALERT! Terrapin’s Monk’s Revenge

I’m not sure if Ormsby’s in the Westside has tapped a cask before… If not this week during Atlanta Beer Week 2010 is their inaugural tapping.

Tomorrow at 6pm – Ormsby’s will be tapping a cask of Monk’s Revenge Belgian IPA in honor of beer week.

Details about Monk’s –

Monk’s Revenge is brewed with a malt bill like a Belgian Tripel, but with the hop content of an IPA.  The Belgian yeast comes from one of the 7 Trappist breweries.  Monk’s Revenge also uses dextrose, an adjuct was used to force carbonate Monk’s , and is the first time brewer Spike Buckowski has ever used it.

Ingredients —

Hops — Magnum, Columbus, Chinook, Centennial, Amarillo, Cascade, Simcoe

Malts — 2 Row, Pilsner, Munich Light, Aroma, Pale Crystal, Acidulated

9.8% ABV

99 IBU’s

Ormsby’s -5/18, 6pm
1170 Howell Mill Road
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 968-2033

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Casks, Terrapin Beer Company

CASK ALERT! Terrapin Monk’s Revenge

Monk’s Revenge, once a side project, has now joined Terrapin’s Monster Beer Tour.   Just a few weeks ago,  Atlanta saw the first 4 packs of this Belgian IPA.  Tonight at The Porter Beer Bar a cask of this beer will be featured.

Monk’s Revenge is brewed with a malt bill like a Belgian Tripel, but with the hop content of an IPA.  The Belgian yeast comes from one of the 7 Trappist breweries.  Monk’s Revenge also uses dextrose, an adjuct was used to force carbonate Monk’s , and is the first time brewer Spike Buckowski has ever used it.

Ingredients —

Hops — Magnum, Columbus, Chinook, Centennial, Amarillo, Cascade, Simcoe

Malts — 2 Row, Pilsner, Munich Light, Aroma, Pale Crystal, Acidulated

9.8% ABV

99 IBU’s

Cask Taps Tonight – 6pm!

The Porter Beer Bar

1156 Euclid Avenue Northeast
Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 223-0393

by Reid Ramsay