Samuel Adams Longshot Double IPA

Sam Adams Longshot Double IPA:

This home-grown recipe from Mike McDole of California has a pretty serious hoppy kick. With 7 varieties of American hops addes, this blend has a very definite grapefruit juice thing going on. Extremely floral and pleasantly bitter, this Longshot has a lot going for it. The body is a solid medium with a decent malt base. I'm figuring there's some wheat in there somewhere too, since this light-colored IPA is cloudy and tongue-teasing.

I can't help but compare this brew to some others I've had: Longshot Double IPA reminds me a little bit of Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA (only not quite as rich) and Victory Hop Wallop (only ot quite as bitter). All three have an alcohol content of about 9% and all three are capable of satisfying a hop-head's desires. Sam Adams Longshot Double IPA is definitely worth a try.

Citizens, let me know if you might have more colorful descriptions or more accurate comparisons. Keep in mind that I've placed this particular beer in some pretty rare company so let me know what you think.

Representation: .95
Accessibility: .89
Style: .925
Personal Preference: .90

Total: 3.665 Flags

Flying Fish Exit 11 (Presidential Brief)

What: Flying Fish Exit 11
Where: PJ's Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: July 15, 2009, 10:02PM
What-have-you: Flying fish exit 11 is da bom-diggity. Wheaty and smooth yet a bit tart to quench the thirst. Lotsa hops but not to be confused with an IPA. Freakin' awesome!

From the Flying Fish website: "Exit 11 is an American-style wheat beer brewed with English ale yeast and three Pacific Northwest hops, Columbus, Palisade and Amarillo. It is brewed with 50% Belgian pale malt and 50% white wheat, and is an ideal summer thirst quencher, with its bouquet of tangerines and apricots." (http://www.exitseries.com/exits/exit11.php)

Read a review of Flying Fish Farmhouse Summer Ale
Read a review of Flying Fish Imperial Espresso Porter

Long Trail Blackbeary Wheat

Long Trail Blackbeary Wheat Beer. This review begins with an admission of guilt. Being an amateur cartoonist, I could not help but pick up a six pack of Long Trail's Blackbeary Wheat due to its funny and well-done label art depicting a cartoon bear (in glasses) on the verge of being pumelled by his wife with a rolling pin as he steals a blackberry (blackbeary) pie. I am guilty of being wooed by beer artwork, but I vow never to judge a beer by its cover. A long sniff into the bottle and a first swig reveal a pretty recognizable but timid taste of blackberry. Swigs 2 through 6 and you can taste the blackberry only as a finish. Pay attention as you swallow, you can taste it right there on the back of your tongue. What this beer scores low in style, it makes up for in accessibility. Its a fruit flavored beer I don't feel pressured to float an actual piece of fruit in, and I welcome a second and third bottle. On the neck label, Long Trail writes that the beer is "finished with a hint of Blackberries in the kettle," and that is what you get, a hint. Not too much, just enough, which makes this drinkable, and a novel summer beer to take to parties or just to admire and laugh at the label. Kitschy? Maybe, but smooth, not overpowering, and good enough to go back for more.

Long Trail Blackbeary Wheat

Representation: .8
Accessibility: .9
Style: .7
Personal Preference:.8

Total: 3.2 Flags

Pour-a-Palooza

The first annual Pour-a-Palooza presented by the Pour House in Westmont, NJ was a hoot and a holler, a blast and a half, an unmitigated success! Everyone present seemed to share in a spirit of community and appreciation for the guest of honor: beer. The Pour House folks who worked their butts off all deserve a "hats off" salute. The staff all worked very hard to make the event fun and safe, but a few names must be mentioned: Thank you, Bob and Jacky for putting the pieces in place. Thanks to Jake for bringing in all the great breweries and beers (and special thanks to Jake for supplying Ferment Nation with our own tent!!). Thanks also to Kurt for keeping us involved and for working his butt off all day, keeping our beer cold. Looking forward to Kurt-a-Palooza!!

Some other shout-outs go to Chris from Hunterdon (the exotic sample king), Andy from Flying Fish (good sport, taking a turn in the Dunk Tank), Vicki and Kelly (for holding down the inside bar), and the Ferment Nation Cabinet (for just doing you).

The beers were so varied and plentiful that it's tough to give full reviews of all those little samples. I will, however, run down some standouts from my perspective:

Weyerbacher: Frighteningly smooth heavy hitter Merry Monks is always appreciated but never necessary. Fourteenth Anniversary Wheat Wine Ale is big and beautiful, different yet not off-putting. It's sweety and wheaty and 11.8%. Holy crap.

Flying Fish: Summer offerings couldn't be more appropriate with Extra Pale Ale and Farmhouse Summer Ale providing tasty relief from the delicous danger mentioned above. Sooooo drinkable.

Yards: ESA is unbelievable. Thomas Jefferson's Tavern Ale is also unbelievable. Try to believe it, I dare you.

Stone: Cali-Belgique is really good but I'm not coming up with words right now. I'll have to sit down with one or two and concentrate on the verbage. It's awesome, though, make no mistake.

Dear Citizens, we here at the Presidential Offices look forward to South Jersey's next event (Rumor has it that an Oktoberfest of sorts may be in the works!). Please be advised that in the upcoming week or so, some citizen reviews will be appearing on the blog: that's our way of saying a special thank you to everyone who came and visited us at Pour-a-Palooza this past weekend. Jack and Cheryl, we love you guys extra much because of how seriously you were taking the beers and the reviewing process. And sorry, Erin, but the Stone event in Wildwood has already passed : (

Anyhow, enjoy the accompanying slide show of all the cool pics. If you have any of your own that you would like to see on the site, please email them to us ASAP. And be on the lookout for those citizen reviews!

Thanks Again,

El Presidente

Dogfish Head Burton Baton (Presidential Brief)

What: Dogfish Head Burton Baton 10%abv
Where: The Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: July 7, 2009, 11:48PM
What-have-you: Like 9O Minute IPA with a touch of Raison aged in a cask of magical wine.

Read a review of Burton Baton (in bottle)

Read a review of Raison D'Etre

--From the office of the VP

Manayunk Brewing Co.'s California Dreamin' Imperial IPA (Presidential Brief)

What: Manayunk Brewing Company's California Dreamin' Imperial IPA
Where: Manayunk Brewing Company (Manayunk, PA)
When: July 8, 2009, 10:36PM
What-have-you: Damn good IPA. Not exactly imperial according to my specs but hoppy n malty.

--From the office of the VP

New Ferment National Gear

Check out the new T-Shirt exclusively made for the Pour-A-Palooza event happening Saturday July 18th at PJ's Pour House in Westmont, NJ!

Show up to Pour-A-Palooza wearing one of these shirts and receive extra special secret swag from El Presidente himself!

Lagunitas 'Lil Sumpn' IPA (Presidential Brief)

Here at the Ferment Nation, we are trying to keep up with El Presidente's busy schedule. So, we are introducing a new kind of mini-review, entitled appropriately enough, "The Presidential Brief." Think of it as a tasty telegram, a pourable postcard, just a taste of a taste. Have a look below, and feel free to e-mail El Presidente your own report from the field. Maybe it will make it into the Presidential Brief.

What: Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale 7.7abv
Where: PJ's Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: June 8, 2009, 11:17PM
What-have-you: 'Lil Sumpn' is light and dry tasty! Floral hop aroma grapefruity lovely. Drinkable 4 sure.

Also from Lagunitas, see a review of Lagunitas Brown Shugga'

--From the office of the VP

Happy 4th of July!

So what does El Presidente bring to a Fourth of July Barbecue? After a heated internal debate, Stoudts American Pale Ale and Troegs Sunshine Pils were the winners. Here's why:

My first selection was the Stoudts American Pale Ale. This pale ale is flavorful and crisp and just a little bold. It's guaranteed to complement just about anything you could possibly put on the grill. Besides that, the packaging is the perfect for the Independence Day holiday, proudly sporting the Red, White, and Blue.

Here's to the Army and Navy and the battles they have won... Here's to America's colors -- the colors that never run. May the Wings of Liberty never lose a feather.

Next selection: Troegs Sunshine Pils. This pilsner is easy-drinking but not at all wimpy. Boasting plenty of taste, Troegs Sunshine Pils is the perfect upgrade to the shiny cans of stuff that coolers all across America contain at this very moment. And that sunshine on the label... I don't know if I can trust him but he looks great on this beautiful sunny day.

Just so you know, there are plenty of other choices that you may want to investigate on your way to the celebration. These are some of the other brews that almost made it to the Presidential BBQ: Yards Philadelphia Pale Ale; Yards Thomas Jefferson Tavern Ale; Victory Prima Pils; Victory Hop Devil; Anchor Summer Beer; Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager; Sam Adams Summer Ale.

Enjoy your 4th of July celebration responsibly and be sure to watch the obligatory video footage of the little manequin boy getting his hands blown off by illegal fireworks. I know my Independence Day wouldn't be the same without it.

Pourapalooza

[CLICK HERE FOR POUR-A-PALOOZA 2010 Detials!]

Greetings, Citizens!

El Presidente here to let you know about an upcoming event that has everyone here at the Orval Office bubbling with excitement. South Jersey is about to rock a BEER FESTIVAL within walking distance of the PATCO rail system. This fine event is known as POUR-A-PALOOZA (or Pourapalooza ... if you're not into the whole hyphenation thing).

Presented by The Pour House in Westmont, NJ, this tented event will go on rain or shine on Saturday, July 18th from Noon til 4 pm and will play host to a virtual who's who of local breweries as well as a few guests from farther out of town. Among the dignitaries in attendance:

Victory, Flying Fish, Otter Creek, Sly Fox, Stoudts, River Horse, Konrad, Left Hand, Hunterdon, Troegs, Yards, Harpoon, New Castle, Southampton, Red Hook, and Weyerbacher. Not a bad guest list, eh?

We here at the Presidential Offices are anxiously awaiting the event. In fact, your own El Presidente will be attending the festivities with special giveaway items for the citizenry of the Ferment Nation! As our guests you will be given the motive, opportunity, and means to conduct your own reviews of the beverages you sample on the POUR-A-PALOOZA fairgrounds. Submitting reviews at the festival not only increases your chances of winning FREE Fermentnation swag but also puts you in the running to be published on our blog and our website! Citizen reviews are on their way!

After personally experiencing the festive atmosphere of the Victory Beer Dinner, I cannot wait for the POUR-A-PALOOZA to get rolling. The Pour House is a quality outfit run by people who care about beer and beer drinkers. This event promises to deliver every penny's worth of excitement ($25 advance tix include a food voucher but $30 door tix do not) with live bands inside and craft brews flowing indoors and out!

Come visit me at the Ferment Nation's Diplomatic Outpost on Saturday, July 18th 2009. POUR-A-PALOOZA will be held on the grounds of The Pour House: 124 Haddon Ave, Westmont, NJ [see a map]. See you there!

Taste Victory

Victory Brewing Company's Beer Dinner at the Pour House in Westmont, NJ was a resounding success! All the guests seemed to enjoy the event immensely. Speaking for myself and the Veep, the food and beer pairings were expertly matched and the entire event went off without a hitch. Thanks to the staff of the Pour House for bringing Victory into our backyard. Kudos to the waitstaff for awesome service. Special thanks to Pete Danford from Victory who briefly introduced the event and then generously spent time at each and every table answering questions and conversing with the guests.

First thing first: Before any talking or eating came the beer. An introductory beer was served in a take-home Hop Devil pint glass. Pretty cool. The first beer was Victory's infinitely drinkable Lager, a German-style lager with a refreshing light body and color. I recently had this beer in a bottle and much prefer it on draft!

The first course was an arugula salad dressed with a light vinegrette (is it possible for food to be light and rich at the same time? Mission accomplished.) and topped with fried gorgonzola. Creamy and wonderful. Powerful good. Victory's Braumeister Pils accompanied this course. The German-style single-hop unfiltered pilsner gives body to a normally extra-light brew. A bit hoppier (and a bit deliciouser) than your average pilsner. I prefer it over Prima Pils by just a smidge.

Mad King's Weiss came next. A little sweetness and spice blends with citrus in an un-tart kind of way. Made with Belgian yeast and malts and German hops, the flavors perfectly complemented the scallops they accompanied. Crusted and slightly singed, the scallops were topped with a fresh salsa. The first two courses with the brews could stand alone as a nice, light summer meal. But then again, why stop if you're on a roll?

Wild Devil rocks. Smooth as all get-out on tap. A touch of wildness from the wild Brettanomyces yeast gives Wild Devil a funk that I like. It finishes a little less hoppy than traditional Hop Devil, but that is just what the lamb chops needed. Potatoes au-gratin and charred asparagus finished up the hearty main course. Lamb has a little wilder flavor than your average meat (especially when done to perfection) and Wild Devil shared the spotlight with the chops. Sublime.

Desert was a fried ice cream pastry with real whipped cream and fresh mint leaves. Good Lord. Smooth and sweet with fresh ingredients but not overwhelming... just like the Baltic Thunder that finished off the meal. I said it before: Boom! Perkuno's Hammer is not completely lost after all.

Extreme diligence went into pairing, preparing, and serving these awesome courses. I had an enjoyable evening that was worth every penny ($40 is a steal!). Thanks again to the Pour House and to Pete Danford from Victory. And I apologize, Pete, for conducting half of our conversation with lamb bones hanging out of my mouth: The Wild Devil made me do it.

Read a review of Victory's Hop Devil
Read a review of Victory's Golden Monkey
Read a review of Victory's Whirlwind Witbier
Read a review of Victory's Hop Wallop

Victory Hop Devil

Victory Hop Devil:

The brewers at Victory have laid it out pretty clearly in their own description of Hop Devil:

"Bold, spicy, and menacingly delicious..." I could probably end my review right there ... but you know I won't.

Hop Devil has just the right blend of style and accessibility to bring with you to any event: party, tailgater, barbecue, wedding, monster truck rally, or memorial service. Its versatility allows for pleasurable drinking from the bottle as well as on tap. Even when poured into a plastic cup so as to avoid being pinched by security, Victory Hop Devil represents the finest in American IPAs.

Perhaps Victory's Hop Devil holds such a special place in my heart because it was one of my "gateway beers" into the craft world. Even still, whenever I go back to Hop Devil for refreshment and bold, spicy hop action I realize that nostalgia doesn't play a part in my enjoyment of this devilish beverage. Everyday usage or special occasion, Hop Devil satisfies every time. 6.7% abv is just right, too: Enough to provide body and warmth, but easy enough to sweat out while playing horseshoes or standing really close to a bbq grill.

By the way, Victory Hop Devil on cask: One of my fave IPAs on cask? Must be a winner, right? Answer: that depends. Here's the skinny: Had it twice at bars in Philadelphia (awesome bars, at that) but was disappointed. I wasn't sure how I would feel about it when I had it at the Victory brewpub in Downingtown, PA but I figured it was worth a shot (the third time being a charm and all that). My hunch was right... It was AWESOME!!! My conclusion: perhaps it simply doesn't travel well. Fresh as hell at the Victory location is definitely the way to go if you are in the mood for some hand-pumped VHD.

Also of note: Be on the lookout for Victory Wild Devil on the loose near you. It's Hop Devil brewed with wild yeast. I enjoyed it the first time I had it and I look forward to experiencing it on tap at Victory's Beer Dinner on Thursday, May 28th at the Pour House in Westmont, NJ.

So as for the scoring of Victory Hop Devil, what would you expect if I told you this brew is in the running for my one "desert island" beer. There is competition, but not a whole lot. Perfect score.

Victory Hop Devil:

Representation: 1.0

Accessibility: 1.0

Style: 1.0

Personal Preference: 1.0

Total Score: 4.0 Flags

Brandywine Valley Craft Brewer’s Festival

From the Office of the ToastMaster General:

So, I had these two pints…

ok, maybe it was more like two 4 oz. sampler glasses, but what’s the difference when
the supply is virtually unlimited. Such is the beauty of the “beerfest”. In this case,
it was The Brandywine Valley Craft Brewer’s Festival hosted by Iron Hill Brewery at their Media, PA location.

20 Breweries, 50+ beers and 4 hours. Here we go…

Appalachian - no show = Booo!

Bethlehem Brew Works - LocoLime

makes for a refreshing refreshment

Dogfish Head – 90 Minute IPA and

Raison D’Etre - nuff said

Flying Fish - was hoping to see Exit 4;

I did not. Dubbel & Farmhouse

Iron Hill – didn’t taste much here because

I live blocks away; chose pastures new

Lancaster – strawberries and milk; what

else would you expect from the farm

country?

Legacy - Hoptimus Prime & Euphoria!

McKenzie Brew House - I plan to spend

more time at this establishment ASAP!

Nodding Head - nodding side-to-side that

is; worst sample of the day kept me

from trying the rest; unfair? probably

Philadelphia - Fleur de Lehigh wins most

unique award

Riverhorse – Double Wit a welcome sight

Rock Bottom – Prussia’s Pride IPA = Yum

Sly Fox - yes canned beer can be great

Stewart’s - solid stable; very impressed;

Double IPA, Mojo Rye-zen and more

Stoudt’s - APA is a classic

Triumph - 2 of my top 5 live here; a

quintuple was born; yes, really.

Troegs - lazy selections; expected more;

Dream Weaver & Sunshine Pils… again

Victory - only slightly less lazy than

Troegs; Braumeister Pils & Sunrise

Weyerbacher - Merry Monks are my

friends forever

Yards – General Washington made a mean

Porter

Random notes:

I’m not sure why Appalachian didn’t show and they may have an acceptable reason, but this is Philly, so I say boo.

I was quite surprise by the terrific offerings from chain breweries, Brew Works, Triumph and Rock Bottom. I’ve ignored them for too long. There’s golden links to be found in those chains.

I can’t fathom why some vendors only brought bottles. Would it kill ya to tap a sixtel?

I’ve noticed a trend from some breweries to bring the basics (read boring and uninspired) to beer festivals and that bothers me. Especially, when they are sitting on a goldmine of other interesting and downright legendary beers. The best part of a tasting event is the chance to try new and unreleased beers.

The little lady was with me and her taste tends to the lighter beers, so I submit her Top 5 for those who appreciate the fairer selections.

Madam Speakeasy’s Top 5

1 Mojo Rye-zen – Stewart’s

2 Belgian Wit – McKenzie’s

3 Loco Lime – Bethlehem Brew Works

4 Weizen – Stoudt’s

5 Merry Monks - Weyerbacher

Many of these beers I’ve had before and loved, so not making the Top 5 is no indication of their quality. I tend to gravitate toward the new stuff (new to me at least) and my Top 5 will reflect that. Formal reviews will be left for El Presidente if he so chooses.

Kudos to Triumph for unveiling what may be the world’s first quintuple. It’s called Le Cinq and it’s a heavyweight for sure at 13.5%. Sheer daring alone would put it at #1 on my Top 5, but it makes the grade on all counts.

ToastMaster General’s Top 5

1 Le Cinq - Triumph

2 Prussia’s Pride IPA – Rock Bottom

3 Lockjaw Double IPA – Stewart’s

4 Mojo Rye-zen - Stewarts

5 Gothic Ale – Triumph

Honorable Mentions: McKenzie’s Smoked Porter, Stewart’s Maibock,

Legacy Hoptimus Prime and Euphoria, Philadelphia Fleur de Lehigh.

And last but not least, I bring you the High Priest of the beerfest. I want that brewery patch jacket!

--ToastMaster General

Dogfish Head Black & Blue

Dogfish Head Black & Blue:

Starts off like a Belgian strong ale. Flemish sour comes on... then just before you say, "Well, that's just not quite my thing..." the sour turns to tart and the fruit emerges (currants?). Kinda like a Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale with a tremendous set of cujones.

Served in a chalice, this sweet-tart-rich ale is worthy of a special occasion. Medium bodied magic happens when flavor pops like a berry between your teeth. Trouble is... here we linger between beer and wine and mixed drink. Tor true ale lovers, this is something tart and different but pretty strong fruit flavors prevail. Fruit beer drinkers need to be aware of the possibility that the ale-ish-ness may have the final say. Flemish sour lovers may be left not puckered enough, though ale lovers and hop heads could find it too much for their tastes. But this beer is too good to be left homeless! I'm not sure to cry tears of joy or sadness for Dogfish Head Black & Blue. The reason I love it is the reason others may turn away.

Different as anything. But Dogfish Head is always doing the experimental brewing with crazy results. Embrace the twist that Dogfish Head puts on beer. Subtle to mind-blowing, Black & Blue does not disappoint. But it may confuse you if you're not ready. By the way, I'm not sure but I think DFH B&B is somewhere between 9-10% abv. Another kick in the pants. Expect high style and preference scores, but a little low on the accessibility scores.

Dogfish Head Black & Blue:

Representation: 1.0

Accessibility: .79

Style: .975

Personal Preference: .895

Total Score: 3.66 Flags

Lagunitas Brown Shugga'

Lagunitas Brown Shugga':

That's something different! The easy-going brown ale gets a crafty, sweet makeover. This is a session beer that's spent some time in the weight room -- bursting with flavors that are defined and toned but not bulky. Brown Shugga' is mildly sweet in the way you'd expect -- earthy and deep with a tangy touch. Reminds me of a glaze. Boy, I bet it would be great with a baked ham!

The sweet yet not sweet taste of Brown Shugga' reminds me a bit of Dogfish Head Raison D'etre in the sense that it glows with an almost wine-like dryness despite the sweetness to the tongue. Not caramel, not fruit, but the brown shugga' makes its mark on the taste buds in a memorable way. Brown ale lovers have to give this beer a try. But be warned: Lagunitas Brown Shugga' packs a smooth punch at 9.9% abv.

Tradition, move over. This is a brown ale that has finally seen the next level without going too far over the edge.

Lagunitas Brown Shugga':

Representation: 1.0

Accessibility: .89

Style: .95

Personal Preference: .99

Total Score: 3.83 Flags