Can-ping trip

Hello Citizens,

Packing the coolers up for a quick camping trip has become even easier in the past few years since craft beer drinkers have survived the Canned Beer Apocalypse.  Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that discerning beer drinkers can enjoy their beverages of choice in convenient pack-in-pack-out containers.  And Mama's Little Yella Pils is a perfect for other "pilsner" drinkers.  But wait... there's more.

Sly Fox flies the flag of canned beer as well.  Their drinkable brews work great right out of the can or poured into an opaque plastic cup for discretion.  Royal Weisse, Pikeland Pils, and Phoenix Pale Ale pack enough flavor into a nifty aluminum package to satisfy the pickiest beer drinker.

21st Amendment has given us a smooth, not uber-hoppy, EZdrinkn IPA.  I haven't tried too many of 21st Amendment's brews but now I'm on board to sample all of them.  Well, not so much "Hell or High Watermelon," which I have tried and didn't like.  That's why it's not pictured here.  But Brew Free or Die IPA is now on my short list for barbecues, tailgaters, and camping trips.  Spread the word and bring this brew with you next time you're on the invite list to a party.

Genesse Cream Ale is just one of those beers.  It has survived through thick and thin.  It was one of the biggest beers in the world, considered a high quality brew.  In my recent memory, however, it has been regarded as one of the cheaper "slummin' it" kind of beers, especially since the massive ramp-up of the craft beer movement in the early to mid 90s.  But I gotta tell ya, Genny is still a go-to beer for El Presidente and the Cabinet.  And what better way to celebrate smooth, creamy, well-balanced Genny than cracking open a 24 oz. flavor grenade from Rochester, NY.  An American original and a true stalwart of camping trips.
So when you're filling up your cooler with brews for whatever event you happen to be planning, don't forget about the Canned Beer Apocalypse.  I'll never give up some of my favorite beers in bottles but there are occasions when cans just suit the purpose.  Don't be afraid, Dear Citizens, there are many amazing options available.  When you run across a canned beer that blows you away, don't forget to email us pictures and reviews so you can make your voice heard.  Thanks and Cheers!

Three Beers at Standard Tap (Philly Beer Week 2010)

Philly Beer Week 2010

Folks who drink locally to the Philadelphia area (including pretty much everyone in the Delaware Valley) know and love Standard Tap. Carrying beers brewed in this area (almost exclusively), Standard Tap is a go-to stop on any beer bar tour -- Especially during Philly Beer Week.

Philadelphia Brewing Company Fleur de Lehigh:

This is a PBC special beer brewed with ginger and lemongrass. I'm a sucker for ginger, and Fleur de Lehigh does not disappoint. It is a yummy spiced brew. It's fresh and clean with a light and refreshing ginger essence. I wonder if it wouldn't be a little sassier out of a bottle, with more air and carbonation, and possibly a teensy bit of yeast in the bottom of the bottle? Either way, this beer is very summery and oooh wait -- this may be great with sushi. Interesting for newbies, but a touch weird if you're not that adventurous. Ginger ale freaks should check it out also, as well as those beer drinkers who have enjoyed Left Hand's Juju.

Twin Lakes Pale Ale:

This is quite a mellow pale ale. There's just a touch of citrus mixed with malt. It has a kinda-dry finish but it isn't very sharp. The color is straw-like and there isn't much head to speak of. This is extremely drinkable for sure, and a clear recommendation for those folks who like a chilled-out session beer. Not overly challenging, but sometimes you don't want to be challenged by your beverage.

Sly Fox O'Reilly's Dry Stout:

A fantastic representation of this beer by Sly Fox. I've had it many times and truthfully, it's been hit or miss. Maybe it's very sensitive to a less-than-perfectly-clean tap system or something but O'Reilly's can be magnificent or mundane, depending on who's pouring it. Standard Tap offers a sensational pint. Sly Fox has some really nice offerings, and in the Presidential opinion, O'Reilly's Stout is the best among them. So very easy to drink, this dry Irish stout has an awesome blend of bitterness and smoothness. And the Standard Tap never disappoints.

So there you have it. Standard Tap has thus far and will continue to fire it up for Philly Beer Week 2010. I am hoping to make it back sometime in the very near future. Please email your Philly Beer Week experiences or your Standard Tap experiences (and pics, if you got 'em) to president@fermentnation.com. Thank you for your patriotism!

IPA in a Can Showdown (Citizen Review)

IPA in a Can Showdown:

What do you get when the VP of the The Ferment Nation sits down with two very opinionated beer drinkers to review three IPA beers currently available in cans? You get a showdown! Since I forgot to have my fellow beer drinkers sign the standard Ferment Nation Citizen Reviewer Release Form (Form #FN-201983.32.B, to be supplied in triplicate directly to El Presidente), let's call them Citizen E. and Citizen N.

As a preface to the criticism and praise, it was pretty great that we could even review more than one craft brewery IPA in a can. Cans are great for coolers and for keeping beer cold, they are probably less expensive to produce for breweries, are easier to stack and transport and less prone to destruction if you drop one. BUT, I could not name off the top of my head a single craft beer available in a can other than Dale's Pale Ale. So why the reluctance on the part of craft breweries? Not sure. Maybe its a pride thing- big breweries use cans, craft breweries use casks and bottles? I guess we will see in the future, but I say, especially for summertime, let's see more cans!

So, we were three reviewers drinking three IPA beers in cans. We conferred with initial tastings and then secondary tastings, and then passed judgment on all three as to the order of quality in taste and representation as India Pale Ales. Here are the notes that were taken. In the interest of propriety and politeness, I will say that the views expressed in the following notes do not necessarily represent the views of The Ferment Nation.

1. 21st Amendment Brewery - Brew Free or Die IPA

- No smell/can smell

- Awful “yommy” aftertaste

- Great design on can

2. Caldera Brewing Company IPA

- Funky

- Cat piss mell

- Not undrinkable, but close

- Can design and green tab bad calls

- More like a pale ale

- Stinky stinky

- Lightest color of the three

3. Sly Fox Route 113 IPA

- Grassy, excellent aftertaste

- Bite that we were looking for

- Nice can

- Nice caramel hue

- Does not taste like it came out of a can

The clear winner was Sly Fox's Route 113 IPA. In second place was 21st Amendment, and coming in last was Caldera. And although Citizen E. has a connection to Suzanne Woods of BeerLass.com fame, I will not doubt her opinion as being unduly influenced. I totally agree with the overall judgement. As a final comment, I would say that all three IPAs fall short of outstanding representatives of the style like Green Flash's West Coast IPA, or even recent favorites of mine like Bell's Two Hearted Ale and Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA. Obviously, now there are a whole lot more craft beers in cans than a year or two ago, and producing beers in cans could be the future, but it looks like there is still much work to be done. And so we wait, patiently, thirstily.

Sly Fox Hop Project (Citizen Review)

Sly Fox Hop Project:

"Sweet but not overly sweet. A

good mix between bitter and sweet

hoppy but not overwhelming -- a

steady, hoppy ale."

Representation: 1.0

Accessibility: .75

Style Points: 1.0

Personal Preference: .75

Total Score: 3.5 Flags

--Reviewed by Citizen Cheryl Selah