Oskar Blues Gubna Imperial IPA

Oskar Blues Gubna Imperial IPA:

'Allo, Gubna. Disestablishmentarian to say the least, Oskar Blues pulls out all the stops to bring beer drinkers an IPA of imperial proportions. The can is merely a transportation device, of course, and it barely contains the floral hoppy goodness that bursts forth from this imperial IPA.

The pour is similar to that of the Gordon -- bubbles swirl in the rich body of the beer before floating upward toward the head. The bubbles bring a nice light aroma to the surface as well. The color is very light gold and only slightly hazy. It reminds me of an American Double IPA like Victory's Hop Wallop or Smuttynose Big A IPA... but don't let looks fool you! Gubna isn't as light as those beers (did I just say that?). The richness of Gubna is more akin to an Avery Maha Raja, Weyerbacher Double Simcoe, or Founders Devil Dancer. It's right up there in flavor but seems to be the most Accessible of the bunch. A certain sweetness mellows out the bitterness of the hops and smooths over the aftertaste. The sweetness is not vanilla and oaky, like Dogfish Head's Burton Baton, but rather more floral like Founders Double Trouble. Powerful, yes. Overpowering, no.

(It may seem as though I'm comparing Gubna to a lot of beers. I am. The experienced Hop-Head needs nuanced descriptions to get the full effect, right?)

I've had this brew several times from a can and once on draught. The experience is always richly rewarding. Hop-Heads, don't die without checking out Gubna. It satisfies your bitter buds with some serious hoppage but still leaves you wanting more. How many more? That's the rub. The richness of the brew and the slightly sticky, floral hop essence mask a pretty serious abv%. Gubna weighs in at 10% abv so you may want to limit yourself to just one. Use it as a nightcap, perhaps. I had a late dinner last night (Greek style turkey burgers with spinach inside, topped with dijon mustard) and it was a nice complement: savory yet not off-putting.

If you get your hands on a Gubna, dear citizen, email a review to El Presidente. We at the Ferment Nation would love to share your opinions and pics. Cheers!

Oskar Blues Gubna Imperial IPA:

Representation: 1.0

Accessibility: .90
Style: 1.0
Personal Preference: 1.0

Total Score: 3.90 Flags

Dogfish Head Festina Peche (Citizen Review)

What: Dogfish Head Festina Peche
Where: Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: July 17, 2010

Representation: 1.0

Accessibility: 1.0

Style Points: 1.0

Personal Preference: 1.0

Total Score 4.0 Flags

Reviewed by Citizen Sara B.

Hoppin' Frog Bodacious Black & Tan

Hoppin' Frog Bodacious Black and Tan:

With the first whiff or two, this beer, although the percentages favor IPA @ 67% to 33% stout, smells more stout that IPA.  And even though this is a 22oz. bottle weighing in at 7.6% abv, I still like to take the first sips right out of the bottle.  This is quite interesting.  Does not really have the floral or citrus tones you might expect from a "mostly IPA" beer.  Instead, it is like a crisp tasting stout, with a slightly bitter aftertaste that lingers on the tongue.

I am already thinking of comparing this to a Samuel Smith beer, so let me differentiate.  It does not have that lovely Samuel Smith uber-bitter volcanic effervescence that you need to watch closely as you pour the beer into a glass.  This beer is dark with a nice toasted almond colored head, that lingers for a while but then dissapates in the glass.  But is has that really smooth, satisfying dark beer flavor that I love from Samuel Smith beers.  I hope Hoppin' Frog realizes how much of a compliment this is coming from me.

You do not really taste the 7.6% abv, which is nice, and I am still fascinated by the really nice bitter aftertase that lingers.  With my first burp, too, there is no hoppy/floral/citrus taste you might expect from an IPA or even a partial IPA.  As a note to readers: anyone expecting this to taste like an IPA should be forewarned that it does not.  This is a really good tasting beer (Personal Preference and Style points will be high for sure), so this beer does well by me, but hop-heads might want to pass this one up.

I am not quite sure how I will score Representation, because it is a black and tan.  So many bars will serve Guinness-based Black and Tan beers (I prefer Bass to Harp, even though there are some Irish die-hards who would consider this treasonous), and you have Yuengling's bottled Black and Tan, which holds some fond memories for me.  And you have the Black and Tan at Stewart's Brewpub (Highlander Stout with their Governor's Golden Ale [I think]).  But I will stick with comparing to other bottled beers, so I think Representation will also be high.  I cannot stress enough that this is quite a nice beer.  I will definitely buy and drink this again.

Hoppin' Frog Bodacious Black and Tan:

Representation: .90
Accessibility: .85
Style: .90
Personal Preference: .90

Total: 3.55 Flags

Brooklyn Lager (Citizen Review)

What: Brooklyn Lager 5.2% abv
Where: Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: July 17, 2010

What-Have-You: "Light and refreshing with a nice citrus front.  Not a traditional lager but great on a hot day."

Representation: .5
Accessibility: 1.0
Style: 1.0
Personal Preference: .70

Total: 3.2 Flags

Reviewed by Citizen Carol G.

The Coffee Bar (Philadelphia, PA)

The Coffee Bar:

It was a dark and stormy night in the city of brotherly love.  The Coffee Bar (the corner of 17th and Locust, attached to the Radisson Hotel) caught my eye a while back, but I was under the assumption that they only sold bottles, which is perfectly fine.  It is in good company, because only a block or two away is The Happy Rooster (also a bottles only establishment).  But then I started to see on their sandwich board outside their door that they were serving draught beers.

On their sign they listed having Great Divide Titan IPA!  Are you kidding me?  Couldn't wait.  But....had to wait, because they were out. Sucky.  So, I had to settle for Bell's Double Cream Stout and Troegs Pale Ale, both on tap.  Is the Bell's Double Cream Stout creamy?  You bet.  Also smooth, dark, but not very roasty.  Easy to drink, but it was a bit worrisome as it came in a smallish glass.  I have not yet checked, but I suppose it is fairly robust in the % abv department.

The Troegs Pale Ale was fine, but expecting Titan IPA, it was a bit disappointing.  It is smooth, mellow, not crisp like an IPA.  I shouldn't have to explain to readers of The Ferment Nation what a pale ale is like.  You get the point.

As for atmosphere, The Coffee Bar is interesting.  It serves coffee and is attached to a nice hotel, so there were some confused elderly hotel guests meandering about as well as some European cosmopolitan types (not bad on the eyes) and your standard gaggle of underage hipsters actually having coffee.  Their menu is pretty simple: anything you can fit on a pannini press.  I ordered the Monte Cristo and was not disappointed.  But my surprise came with my meal as they changed beers!  Smuttynose Big "A" IPA.  Sharp, tangy with an acidic aftertaste, which may seem bad, but oh, no!  Au contraire!  Quite nice.  Has a floral, hoppy aroma, and overall is quite a nice beer.

With a solid music selection, friendly service, good draught beers, and a menu of bottles to try out, this might be a good place to return to.  I'm sorry, what?  $10 beer + sandwich lunch special?! And a happy hour? And a block away from the PATCO station? Yes, I will be back very soon.  Thank you very much Coffee Bar.

Flying Fish Exit 4 (Citizen Review)

What: Flying Fish Exit 4 @ 9.5% abv
Where: Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: July 17, 2010

What-Have-You: (Special interjection from the VP) "Wow, I love Exit 4.  When this first came out in the bomber bottles, it blew me away.  On draught, and now in bottles, it is awesome.  I had it on draft at The Good Dog in Philly, and bottles always seem to be making their way into my fridge.  At 9.5% abv, you have to watch yourself, but in my opinion, Exit 4 is the best thing Flying Fish has made to date."

Representation: .70

Accessibility: .70

Style Points: .90

Personal Preference: .90

Total Score 3.2 Flags

Reviewed by Citizen Todd F.

Oskar Blues Gordon Ale

Oskar Blues Gordon Ale:

Described by Oskar Blues as an Imperial Red/Double IPA, this happily conflicted brew has a pretty big body and a mouthfeel like pineapple juice without the pulp. This imperial red/double IPA is described by OB as "Big. Red. Sticky." That about sums it up. In all actuality, this brew is hard to review because it is so sublime.

Pouring Gordon into a pint glass is a nice experience. The aroma wafts up and the bubbles swirl like a magic potion beneath the head. That's the flavor getting ready to greet you with gusto!

Complex in its composition, yet simple in its effect, Gordon reminds me just a bit of Victory's Yakima Twilight. Gordon is a little less hoppy but sweeter and redder. The hoppy bitterness doesn't pop to the front, but it certainly surfaces when the slightly syrupy, citrusy, floral goodness retreats a bit. There are plenty of malty flavors involved, but the result is more floral than earthy (refer to Ferment Nation's review of Yakima for contrast).

Hoppy but not bitter, sweet like a sticky bun, not like a donut... Whether double IPA or imperial red or whatever, I can't think of many beers like it. Stylish as hell, I love this brew! If any score is not quite perfect, it's Accessibility. 8.7% abv kinda precludes Gordon from being a session beer; And while this beer could confuse some folk, but twists my brain in a delightful way. Another gem from Oskar Blues.

Oskar Blues Gordon Ale:

Representation: 1.0

Accessibility: .895
Style: 1.0
Personal Preference: 1.0

Total Score: 3.895 Flags

Lancaster Gold Star Pils (Citizen Review)

What: Lancaster Gold Star Pils 5.1% abv
Where: Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: July 17, 2010
What-Have-You: "Lancaster Gold Star Pilsner.  Inoffensive but bordering on boring. Uncomplicated and accessible to people who like light and simple beers."

Representation: .70

Accessibility: 1.0

Style Points: .30

Personal Preference: .80

Total Score: 2.8 Flags

Reviewed by Citizen Cheryl S.

New Holland Ichabod Pumpkin Ale

New Holland Ichabod Pumpkin Ale:

I'm choosing to drink Ichabod from the bottle, since I believe that's how it can be enjoyed best. Pretty smooth and drinkable at 5.2% abv, ths seasonal offering from New Holland would look swell in a cooler full of ice with the Headless Horseman's menacing mug peering out over the cubes. Halloween party or a fall football tailgater could showcase Ichabod's fun artwork and easy-drinking flavor.

New Holland Ichabold Pumpkin Ale has a pretty light body and reminds me a lot of a pale ale eve though it pours out a hazy, orangey color, and New Holland itself describes Ichabod as an amber on the label: "Real pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg enrich this amber brew. Pairings: roasted poultry, root vegetables, peanut sauce, and caraway." So maybe a barbecue pit in a stadium parking lot would suit this brew nicely... chicken, sausage, some stew perhaps...

The pumpkin essence and telltale spices put New Holland Ichabod right in line with many other October seasonals. And like New Holland's brews as I have encountered them, Ichabod pumpkin ale is pretty cool but not overwhelming. It's one of the more drinkable ones out there and would be a great introductory beer for first-timers to pumpkin seasonals or into New Holland's offerings.

The bottom line is this: Ichabod smells and tastes like pumpkin but it finishes like a beer. (In the pantheon: somewhere between Elysian Night Owl and Post Road.) Some hoppy bitterness and malty sweetness appear in the distance but much like the Headless Horseman himself, comes up just a little short.

New Holland Ichabod Pumpkin Ale:

Representation: .87

Accessibility: .90

Style: .80

Personal Preference: .82

Total Score: 3.39 Flags

Dogfish Head Festina Peche (Citizen Review)

What: Dogfish Head Festina Peche
Where: Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: July 17, 2010
What-Have-You: "Sweet, sharp, the tiniest bit sour, as befitting its inspiration. Nicely bubbly. much better in draught. Reminds me of: The best fruit soda ever."

Representation: 1.0

Accessibility: 1.0

Style Points: .75

Personal Preference: 1.0

Total Score 3.75 Flags

Reviewed by Citizen Jack W.

October in The Ferment Nation

The leaves are falling on The Ferment Nation, but there's no time to enjoy the foliage.  El Presidente has already been to two Oktoberfest beer celebrations (The Haddon Pub Fest Octoberfest and The Blue Monkey Tavern's 2nd Annual Oktoberfest), and he is wasting no time getting prepared for the Beer Blogger Conference in Boulder, CO!  Be on the look-out for more Oskar Blues reviews in anticipation of this awesome event.

Also, Halloween is this month!  So, be sure to order your Ferment Nation Tombstone T-Shirt from CafePress.com.  The party never ends at The Ferment Nation.

We will continue to review new pumpkin beers, and here is a link to last year's pumpkin beer chart.  Print out your copy today.

Keep checking back for more insightful reviews, pertinent news, and kick-ass brews.

Haddon Pub Fest Octoberfest

Late September marks the return of the amazing tradition known as Octoberfest. Well is it Septemberfest or what?! Actually, it would begin at the end of September and roll into early October when Bavarian brewers needed some new kegs to restart their brewing endeavors for the autumn. But anyway, our friends at the Haddon Pub Fest fired up the trolley and organized the Haddon Township, NJ brewfest, October edition. The presidential motorcade visited the establishments we missed the first time around.

We began at PJ Whelihan's where we took advantage of the Sam Adams Octoberfest and Boston Lager on sale for just $4.00 for a pint mug. The trolley transported us to the Taproom... but more about that later...

Tom Fischer's was next on the journey. There were lots of people having fun at Tom Fischer's but most of them were completely unaware that there was a brewfest going on in town. They were just there enjoying some football on the tube and whooping it up on the weekend.

Cork never disappoints! Dale's Pale Ale on tap... fabulous! The Cabinet met up there and we celebrated the festive atmosphere with lots of great conversation and great beer.

Brewer's (formerly known as Pat's Pub) was equally festive and joyous, as was Treno (love the pizza, by the way). Everyone got into the spirit of Octoberfest, alright. But back to the Taproom:

The Taproom really did it up right, with the aforementioned $4.00 Sam Adams, but get this... Souvenir mug, free tee shirt, and really jazzy Oktoberfest atmosphere. The folks at the Taproom went out of their way to partner with Sam Adams for the party. The servers all looked festive in Alpine hats and suspenders, and some folks from Boston Beer were there in full Oktoberfest garb (thank you, ladies!). And hats off to the hearty fellow pouring beers up front and handing out those awesome mugs and shirts.

In conclusion, dear citizens, be it known that the Haddon Pub Fest organization is a pretty awesome party planner. And special props go to the Taproom for going the extra mile. I wonder if they have anything planned for Halloween...

Selin's Grove Brewing Co. Love Buzz Coffee Stout (Presidential Brief)

What: Selin's Grove Brewing Co. Love Buzz Coffee Stout
Where: Selin's Grove Brewing Co. (Selinsgrove, PA)
When: November 7, 2009
What-have-you: "So Coffeelicious.  Amazing coffee flavor, but lacking a little body."

Zötler Bier Korbinian Dunkel

Zötler Bier Korbinian Dunkel:

From the bottle: "Classic Bavarian dark lager. From Germany's oldest family-owned brewery. Brewed in accordance with the Bavararian Reinheitsgebot of 1516."  This beer already wins for snazziest bottle label design, there is a orange checkered design, and eagle or hawk with some kind of a castle tower in the background in one logo, and then there is a secondary design with a Bavarian hiker with ledehosen pointing at something. There are pictures of hops and wheat.  This label is all over the place, and I like it.

At first whiff (smell), I am not particularly liking this beer.  It has a distinctive German lager funk to it. Maybe I do not particularly like German beers or maybe lagers as a style?  I am not sure. I really love Warsteiner Dunkel, and it makes me wonder what kind of beer that is.  Lager? Ale? Not sure. I will have to check that out.

At the first couple of sips, my initial reaction is confirmed. not my favorite beer.  Here are my initial presumptions. Since I grew up in the Middle Atlantic, when I think lager, I think Yuengling, which is a pretty nice, standard drinking beer.  I like Yuengling Lager and i like Yuengling Black and Tan, which is a mix of their lager and porter.  El Presidente did not give a very favorable review of their Bock Beer, so that is one set of preconceptions. The other is that German beers do not have very great range of variety, because of the purtiy laws (please feel free to write in and disagree). Don't get me wrong, this isn't a horrible beer, but I drank this beer right after I drank North Coast's Old Rasputin, so you can understand the disappointment. I chose this beer because it was a "dark" lager, hoping that it would have some qualities that I could sing the praises of, but this didn't happen.

Since I do not often drink lagers, my representation scores will be low, but I admit that my scores will be skewed, because I tend to favor dark ales, stouts, and porters.  Accessibility scores will also be medium to low. There is a definite weird taste going on in this dunkel, and I don't think a regular craft beer drinker would necessarily order a second. I know I wouldn't. Style? Personal preference? Again, low, but with the caveat that I don't like this style of beer. At 4.7% abv, I want this to be a session beer, but there is no chance, I just don't like the overall taste of it to buy it again or to recommend it.

Zötler Bier Korbinian Dunkel:

Representation: .70
Accessibility: .80
Style: .60
Personal : .50

Total: 2.6 Flags