Saison DuPont

What: Saison DuPont
Where: Pour House, Haddon Twp, NJ
When: Saturday, April 23rd, 2011
What-have-you: Highly respected across the globe, Saison DuPont never disappoints. The warm glow of this hazy saizy puts me in a nice place, like a rustic farmhouse in Belgium aglow with candles that light my way home from the fields.  

Experience the glow

On tap at Pour House

North Coast Old Rasputin

What: North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout 9% abv.
Where: El Presidente's house.
When: The Eve of Final Judgment, Friday, May 20th, 2011.
What-have-you: So much to say, so little time left. This hearty brew leaves nothing to be desired in terms of flavor and body; it's as dark and mysterious as the mad monk on the label. Never bound by time and space, Old Rasputin has international ties: American brewery, English tradition, Russian court. Deep roasted flavors, chocolate and coffee as one would expect. Maybe some anise? It's warming but not boozy.
I love it. I really love it. In fact, I'm feeling fairly immortal myself now that I've come to the end. The END???...

Hoffstetten Saphir Bock 7.4% abv at Farmer's Cabinet (Presidential Brief)

What: Hoffstetten Saphir Bock
Where: Farmer's Cabinet, Philadelphia, PA
When: Saturday, April 30th, 2011
What-have-you: Malty Austrian brew with a dingy, earthy flavor. Like a maibock with a focus on pale flavor and earthy hops.  Upon recommendation from the knowledgeable staff, the Saphir Bock turned out to be a good match for a rich, buttery toast with a smoky escargot.  The dish was rich, but didn't need to be cut too drastically with an uber-clean pale ale.  The bock style worked perfectly with the dish as a complement.  I tried a swig of a smoked barleywine on tap but I felt that it might compete with the food, so I opted for a slightly lighter brew.  Very happy with my decision, I enjoyed both the food and the beverage!

Caught somewhere between a Presidential Brief and a food pairing, this quickie review is sailing under two flags.  Please email us and let us know if you enjoy the combined focus.  Perhaps you prefer the beer reviews exclusively... Drop us a line and let us know.  Make your voice heard, dear citizens!

Hoffstetten Saphir Bock

Duck-Rabbit Barleywine at the Perch Pub (Presidential Brief)

What: Duck-Rabbit Barleywine
Where: The Perch Pub, Philadelphia, PA
When: Saturday, April 30th, 2011
What-have-you: Super-rich barleywine with a touch of hops.  It's rich and drinkable, but at 11.4% abv, it's certainly a sippin' tea.  You might not want to drink more than one of these puppies.  Awesome for after dinner or maybe lounging with a good book.  Of course, good luck keeping some of this brew handy, since it's pretty rare around these parts.  Which is why I couldn't pass up this fine beverage on tap.  Kudos to the Perch for snagging a keg of this awesome barleywine!

Duck-Rabbit Barleywine

Oskar Blues Mama's Little Yella Pils (Presidential Brief)

Happy Mother's Day!

With a nod to the Stones (and their mums, of course), Oskar Blues has given moms everywhere a little helper.  the President and Vice President of the Ferment Nation share a lot of things, the most important of which is our MOM.  Happy Mother's Day, Mom!  So in honor of Mamas everywhere, enjoy this re-post of Mama's Little Yella Pils from OB.

What: Oskar Blues Mama's Little Yella Pils 5.3% abv
Where: BAR (Philadelphia, PA)
When: August 3, 2010
What-have-you: "Oskar Blues 'Mama's Little Yella Pils' @ 5.3%. Smooth with a lil hoppy bite. Comparable to Troegs Sunshine Pils or Victory Prima Pils perhaps."

Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale at Giumarello's

What: Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale
Where: Giumarello's Haddon Twp., NJ
When: Saturday, April 9th, 2011
What-have-you: So smooth and groovy. Rich and malty with just enough hops to dry it out a bit. Not usually a brown ale guy, but this one is rockin'. I wouldn't mind putting this up against a Boulder Flashback IBA in a head to head tasting.

DFH Indian Brown Ale

Dogfish Head Namaste at PJ Whelihan's (Presidential Brief)

What: Dogfish Head Namaste
Where: PJ Whelihan's Haddon,  NJ
When: Friday, April 15th, 2011
What-have-you: Ultra cloudy with some citrus notes and a pleasant tartness. Perhaps some white and black pepper in the nose and finish, drying it out just a bit. I kinda get french fries in the aroma and some metallic zing at the end. If Magic Hat No. 9 and Allagash White had a genetically engineered love child, Namaste would beat him up on the playground.

DFH Namaste

Terrapin Rye Pale Ale at Giumarello's (Presidential Brief)

What: Terrapin Rye Pale Ale
Where: Giumarello's, Haddon Twp, NJ
When: Saturday, April 9th, 2011
What-have-you: Classic beery brew with a touch of rye funk.  Terrapin has lots of good stuff to offer, including this light-bodied 5.5% abv classic.  Extremely drinkable. 

Terrapin Rye Pale Ale

If you're interested in Rye's big daddy, check out Rye Squared.  Double the pleasure! And check out our Presidential Brief of Rye Squared while you're at it:
Rye Squared Presidential Brief

Iron Hill Brewery Dry Irish Stout on Nitro (Presidential Brief)

What: Iron Hill Dry Irish Stout on Nitro
Where: Iron Hill Brewery, Maple Shade, NJ
When: Saturday, April 2nd, 2011.
What-have-you: Smooth and drinkable at 3.8%. A lil coffee bitterness but mostly mild. Got a little Guinness in there, as well as some Sly Fox O'Reilly's and some Stewart's Highlander.  It's all day.

Dry Irish Nitro from Iron Hill

Iron Hill Maple Shade, NJ

Cask-Conditioned McMaster Scotch Ale from Iron Hill Male Shade, NJ

Malty and sweet with a roasty undertone. Definitely a smooth and creamy cask offering with a jazzy wee-heavy "caramelcohol" tang. Just invented that word, by the way.

Abita Andygator (Presidential Brief)

What: Abita Andygator 8% abv
Where: Blue Monkey Tavern (Merchantville, NJ)
When: Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011
What-have-you: The name sounds like a dopplebock, but this pale brew is balanced like a session lager. Malty in a non-roasted way, with a smooth mouthfeel and an undertone of that floury pilsner flavor, which could be a result of the lager yeast and the Liberty hops. A sneaky 8% for certain.

Abita Andygator

Enjoyed at The Blue Monkey Tavern

Presidential Brief: Firestone Walker Double Jack IPA 9.5%

What: Firestone Walker Double Jack IPA
Where: Pour House, Westmont, NJ
When: Saturday, March 19th, 2011
What-have-you: Big IPA with floral muscles on a malty skeleton. Hoppy enough to satisfy a craving, but a little rich to drink all night. Not quite Gubna... Think Flower Power on crack.




Double Jack

Newcastle Brown Ale

What: Newcastle Brown Ale
Where: At Houlihan's Cherry Hill, NJ
When: Sunday, March 13th, 2011
What-have-you: Newcastle is a perennial favorite. Smooth and a touch malty. A hint of hops, but not at the fore. It's a session brew that you can order with pride when you're not in the mood for something wild and crazy.

Newcastle

Presidential Brief: Lagunitas Fusion IV

Lagunitas Fusion IV American Double/Imperial Pilsner:
American Double/Imperial Pilsner with a sticky malt backbone and grapefruity notes. Not bitter exactly but hoppy just the same. Gubna meets West Coast? Lagunitas does it again! I love it!

Dubuisson Scaldis Bush Ambree Belgian Strong Ale 12%

Lighter and dryer than I expected. But it's strong, make no mistake. Some fruit notes like white grapes and perhaps a bit of pear. This is my last brew of the night, as well it should be. I think it would rock a sharp cheese plate and jazz up a white fish dish.

Stoudts Old Abominable (Presidential Brief)

What: Stoudts Old Abominable.
Where: The Pour House, Westmont, NJ.
When: Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011.
What-have-you: Haven't had this one in FOREVER, and never on tap. It's really awesome. Either I didn't give it a fair shake before, or the brew is just better than it used to be...but I recommend it highly. A little mild and dry, with a pinch of hoppy bitter, I may not tag it as a barleywine right away. It is deep with a malty sweetness and a finish that you think is super clean. Then some hops return for an encore.