Posted in Harpoon Brewing, New Beers

Harpoon Summer Beer

Harpoon Summer Beer is a Kolsch style ale. Originating in the Rhineland city of Cologne (Koln), Kolsch ales have the characteristics that many people associate with lager beers. Kolsch is brewed with an ale yeast, but like other northern German light ales, it is straw gold in color and light bodied. The flavor is mild. The hopping levels provide a crisp, dry finish that make this beer particulary refreshing.

Style: Kolsch
Availability: 12oz bottles, Draft. April- August, seasonally

5% ABV, 20 IBUs

Brewed since 1999

by Reid Ramsay June 1, 2011

Posted in Beer News, Cool Stuff, Great Cause, Stoudts Brewing

Ex Gratia Benefits Alex’s Lemonade Stand

Another feel good beer story. Stoudt’s Brewing has created “Ex Gratia” benefitting Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF). The foundation began with Alex, a little girl diagnosed with childhood cancer. She created a lemonade stand in her front yard to raise money to give to doctors to help find a cure for children with cancer. One day she made a whopping $2000 dollars. Sadly, Alex lost the fight in 2004 at the age of 8.

The foundation is still active, helping raise money for cancer research. Enter Stoudt’s. Jodi Stoudt teamed up with Osteria in Philadelphia. Osteria provided Lemon marmalade, which Stoudts infused into the brewing of Karnival Kolsch. The result is a light, sweet, lemony beer great for summer, great for the cause.

The kegs will be distributed around Philadelphia. All proceeds be donated to ALSF. A pint will sell for about 8 dollars a glass; each keg raising about $1000 dollars. Check out the video about the beer. Ex Gratia is latin for “Of Favor.” (Love Jodi’s hat she’s wearing in the video BTW.)

by Reid Ramsay May 24, 2011

Posted in New Releases, Terrapin Beer Company

Terrapin Twilight Road Warrior Debuts Today

Terrapin Brewing is releasing a very small batch kolsch, with the first kegs tapping today. The beer is Twilight Road Warrior Kolsch, brewed in honor of the Athen’s Twilight Criterium, a professional bike race held in downtown.

The first of the few kegs produced will tap today at Classic City Brewfest in Athens. The rest will be available at select places during the Twilight. Spike Buckowski, brewer at Terrapin tried to mimic the exact process and ingredients that make German style kolschs great. Proceeds from the beer sales benefit the Twilight Foundation which oversee’s the race.

There will be a special after hours tour & fundraising party at Terrapin benefiting the Twilight. For more info check out Online Athens.

by Reid Ramsay April 10, 2011

Posted in Dundee Brewing, Tastings

FREE BEER: Dundee Ales & Lagers

Tonight’s free tasting at Octane Coffee features beers from Dundee Ales & Lagers. Dundee is based out of Rochester, NY. Come explore this brewery absolutely free. Here’s the lineup –

IPA – 6.3% ABV. Columbus, Chinook, Willamette hops. Caramel 60 & Crystal 70 malts. Spicy & hoppy.

Kolsch – 5.6% ABV. Not a lot of American brewed Kolsch on the market. This brew has Mt Hood,Galena and Hallertau hops with wheat malts.

Stout – 5.8% ABV. Rich beer with chocolate and coffee flavors. Galena hops, with big malt bill: Chocolate, Coffee, Caramel 60 & Roast Barley.

Pale Bock – 6.5% ABV. Yeah, the name is confusing. It’s a German Maibock. (Spring bock.) A light version of your bock beer. Simple ingredients – Magnum, Czech Saaz hops. Lager yeast. Crisp and malty sweet.

I will be running this tasting starting at 5:30 pm! See you at Octane! It’s free. Seriously. Don’t be stupid. As always, this tasting is brought to you by Hop City Craft Beer & Wine!

Octane Coffee
1009-b Marietta Street Northwest
Atlanta, GA

by Reid Ramsay July 21, 2010

Posted in New Releases, Stoudts Brewing

New in Bottle – Stoudts Karnival Kolsch

Stoudts Brewing from Adamstown, Pennsylvania just released a new seasonal that pairs well with this warmer weather. Karnival Kolsch is German style ale, brewed with German malts and hops. The kolsch style was first brewed in Cologne, Germany, and is still a bit of a rare brew. Not a lot of brewers make it. Lighter in body and bitterness than your standard German lagers, you’ll find kolschs to be clean, light straw yellow, and crisp, with some hop character. You might even detect some sweet tones in the finish.

Karnival Kolsch has some fruity, sweet tones in it’s palette. Its very balanced and crisp. It’s a session beer (less than 5% ABV) so it’s easy to drink a few in a row. Kolsch is a great beer in warm weather. (Did I mention that?)

Ingredients-

Hops – Hallertau (German Noble Hop)

Malts – Red Wheat

4.8% ABV

22 IBU’s (Low bitter)

Availability – March-May. 12oz/6pks & Draft

Fun Fact – Karnival Kolsch uses a top fermenting ale yeast, but is also lagered at a colder temp. Gives this beer a smoother palette and mouthfeel.

by Reid Ramsay April 2, 2010

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