Philadelphia Brewing Co. Shackamaximum Imperial Stout

Philadelphia Brewing Co. Shackamaximum Imperial Stout:

Still in the bottle, this beer definitely has "stoutish" aroma drifting up into my nose.  Not much in the carbonation / head department as I pour the beer into my mini pint glass.  The caramel suds quickly vanish around the edge of the glass.  After the first sip or two, I am already feeling the warming effects of this beer.  Since Philadelphia Brewing Company failed to print the % abv on the bottle (this bugs me), I am left wondering if the taste caught in the back of my throat and on the tip of my tongue as I lick my lips is from the beer's boozy presence of alcohol (what is the abv? I do not know) or perhaps the beer having been aged in French oak.  Perhaps the line on the label "We hope you enjoy sipping on this full bodied stout" (emphasis added) answers my question.  It's the alcohol.

Since I am having a minor issue with the booze flavor of this beer (feel free to write in and disagree), this beer is going to score low in accessibility points as well as representation.  There are plenty of other imperial stouts to choose from on the market, for both the casual drinker as well as the connoisseur.  Style and Personal Preference won't be much higher.  I have had enough stouts and imperial stouts to pretty quickly recognize a favorite, and this is not one of them.

I give the second half of the beer a more rigorous pour into the glass, and the head dissipates rather quickly with no quality lacing left on the glass.  PBC attempts to impart some historical knowledge on the beer label, writing, "In 1682 William Penn signed a treaty with the Native American leaders of the Shackamaxon village, which later became the district of Kensington, where our brewery is located today."  However, this beer, like many of the treaties with the Native American peoples, seems to leave me feeling a bit cheated.  I just hope they didn't lace the bottles with smallpox.  Overall, this beer is okay, but not great.

Philadelphia Brewing Co. Shackamaximum Imperial Stout:

Representation: .70
Accessibility: .70
Style: .75
Personal Preference: .75

Total: 2.9 Flags

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!