Craft Beer Radio

On Thursday, June 3rd, Jeff and I produced our first ever podcast of Craft Beer Radio [9.71 MB]. It was intended to be a small, short test episode to make sure all of our equipment worked and that we could actually fill up time. To our surprise, we ended up with over 40 minutes of non-horrible material. We still consider this a test episode, as we are still gaining our podcasting legs, but we offer it here as an example of what our show will be like.

On this edition, we cover two examples of Imperial or Double India Pale Ales. We describe the genre, including its history, and discuss two excellent beers:

Beers Reviewed:

• 90 minute IPA - Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
• Stoudt's Double IPA - Stoudt's Brewing Company

We also discuss the craft brewing industry in general and why we appreciate craft brews more than mass-market macrobrews.

We hope you enjoy this podcast and get a good idea of what kind of show we want to be.

In this episode we introduce you to the Hefeweizen, cover some basics of the brewing process, share some thoughts about beer marketing, and of course taste a few beers.

This episode was a rough one. Talk about a sophomore slump! Neither Greg or I were in the zone tonight and this episode is edited heavily to whip it into shape. I'd throw a few more metaphors in this paragraph but I've got to go take a hike and pound the pavement.

Thanks to everyone who downloaded our test episode. In the 6 days it has been available, it's been downloaded 145 times. We did receive some good feedback but would like some more. Tell us what you thought, good or bad - we want to know.

Beers Reviewed:

• Penn Weizen - Pennsylvania Brewing Company
• Pyramid Hefeweizen - Pyramid Breweries

Corrections:
It's Fosco & Jack's Kickass Podcast not Fosco & Jason like I spoke on the podcast. It must of been sub-conscious payback for them calling us the Craft Beer Show. Sorry Jack.

In this episode we debut our craft beer news review and cover our first lager, the pilsener style. This is our best episode yet.

We have had 100 downloads of episode 2! Thanks to everyone who took the time to listen to it.

Beers Reviewed:

• Sunshine Pils - Troegs Independent Craft Brewery
• Prima Pils - Victory Brewing Company
• Stoudt's Pils - Stoudt's Brewing Company

After a brief hiatus, we're back! This week, we discuss the Belgian White, or Witbier. This spiced wheat ale can really quench your summer thirst.

Beers Reviewed:

• Wolaver's Witbier - Otter Creek Brewing
• Bell's Winter White - Kalamazoo Brewing Company
• Allagash White - Allagash Brewing Company
• Ommegang Witte - Brewery Ommegang

We also talk about what it takes to get started on your first home brew, if you are so inclined.

Homebrewing Links:

• Northern Brewer
• Starter Kit
• How To Brew

Beer Tasting Sheets:

• Rate Beer Tasting Sheet (PDF)
• Beer Flavor Wheel

For this episode, we review the balanced, malty English and American Brown Ale. We discuss a little news, and welcome the influx of iTunes users.

Beers Reviewed:

• Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale - Samuel Smith Old Brewers (UK)
• Uncle Nut's Nut Brown Ale - Edenton Brewing Company (NC)
• Brooklyn Brown Ale - Brooklyn Brewery (NY)
• Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale - Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (DE)

Links:

• Pop The Cap
• Craft Beer Radio T-Shirt

We had a few extra brown ales and we didn't want to make the main show too long so we put up the other two beers, plus a false start, and some humorous jabber while we were setting our levels. I didn't add this to the podcast feed, but if you want these on the feed just let us know.

Beers in the Extra Content:

• Wolavers Brown Ale - Otter Creek Brewing Company (VT)
• Troegs Rugged Trail Nut Brown Ale - Troegs Independent Craft Brewery (PA)

This week we discuss Amber Ales. This is sort of a catch all category for beers too dark to be a pale ale, and too light to be a brown ale or other dark style. The four beers we review on the show are all very different from one another.

Beers Reviewed:

• Red Seal Ale - North Coast Brewing Company (CA)
• Bell's Amber - Kalamazoo Brewing Company (MI)
• American Amber Ale - Rogue Ales (OR)
• Boont Amber Ale - Anderson Valley Brewing Company (CA)

Links:

• Feable Weiner - Thanks for the Music.
• Beer Tasting Flavor Wheel

More fun with the extra content. a Short Discusion on Ipod's messing with Greg's Bios, Capri-Sun's and the Timecube.

Links:

• Timecube

Beers in the Extra Content:

• Red Tail Ale - Mendocino Brewing Company (CA)
• Yards Extra Special Ale - Yards Brewing Company (PA)

This week we discuss the style of Extra Special Bitter. We taste several American variations on this classic English Style. Also in the show are listener email, news, events, and Macro Muck.

Beers Reviewed:

• Redhook ESB - Redhook Ale Brewery (NH,WA)
• Brutal Bitter - Rogue Ales (OR)
• Hot Shot ESB - Great Divide (CO)
• Flying Fish ESB - Flying Fish (NJ)

Links:

• Description of IBU's

Episode 6 extra content.

We play with our new mixer, Talk about what we've been drinking and upcoming show styles, Greg discusses aggressive beer. We close up chatting about some TV shows.

Beers in the Extra Content:

• Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale - Flying Dog Brewery (CO)
• Untouchable Pale Ale - Speakeasy Ales & Lagers (CA)

In this week's episode we cover the American Pale Ales, and get caught off guard by the amazing variety among the different beers. We also read some emails and cover beer news of the week.

Beers Reviewed:

• Clipper City Pale Ale - Clipper City Brewery (MD)
• Philadelphia Pale Ale - Yards Brewing Company (PA)
• Blue Heron Pale Ale - Mendocino Brewing Company (CA)
• Poleeko Gold Pale Ale - Anderson Valley Brewing Company (CA)

Television shows, pet peeves, psychoacoustics, and two more beers!

Beers in the Extra Content:

• Denver Pale Ale - Great Divide Brewing Co. (CO)
• Summer Ale - Mendocino Brewing Co. (CA)

In this week's episode we cover a vareity of Summer Seasonals. These are beers of different styles that are brewed seasonally for the summer. Giving these beers our traditional end of show ranking proves to be a very difficult task.

Beers Reviewed:

• Summerfest - Sierra Nevada (CA)
• Anchor Summer Beer - Anchor Brewing Co. (CA)
• Summer Solstice Cerveza Crema - Anderson Valley Brewing Co. (CA)
• Harpoon Summer Beer - Harpoon Brewery (MA)

• Pop The Cap
• Beer Drinker of the Year
• Ontario Beer Trail
• Vote for Us.

This week's style is the fruity Belgian Saison, a farmhouse ale that was traditionally brewed in the Winter, to be consumed throughout the Summer months. Different from our usual styles, the Saison hits us with some unique flavors.

Beers Reviewed:

• Yards Saison - Yards Brewing Company (PA)
• Saison De La Soeur Golden - Heavyweight Brewing Company (NJ)
• Hennepin - Brewery Ommegang (NY)

Links:

• Vote for us on Podcast Alley.com
• LA Times Craft Beer Article
• Craft Beer in Cans
• D's Six Pax and Dogz

Where else can you go for a podcast on programming, Quantum Mechanics, the Unified Field Theory, and Trappist Beers?

I was really freaking tired and didn't do any editing, so this extra is raw, very very raw.

Beers in the Extra Content:

• Dreadnaught IIPA - Three Floyds (IN)

This week, we try some seasonal stouts meant for easy Summer drinking, and find that some fit the bill more than others. We also cover the usual news and emails. Also, e-mail us and suggest some Oktoberfest beers to try!

Beers Reviewed:

• Blue Ridge Steeple Stout - Frederick Brewing Company (MD)
• Peg Leg Imperial Stout - Clipper City Brewery (MD)
• Stone Imperial Russian Stout - Stone Brewing Company (CA)

Links:

• Vote for us on Podcast Alley.com
• Take our Survey, Win Some Beer
• Basic Brewing Radio

This week, we begin a two part show on the quintessential Autumn beer: the Oktoberfest. Three European examples are tried (with one failed attempt) along with a local Pittsburgh choice.

Beers Reviewed:

• Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest
• Köstritzer Oktoberfest
• Spaten Oktoberfestbier
• Penn Oktoberfest

Links:

• The Belgian Shop
• Info About Skunked Beer
• Vote for us on Podcast Alley.com Starting Sept 1st.

In Episode 1 of the Craft Beer Radio Interview Series we interview Scott Smith of Pittsburgh's newest microbrewery East End Brewing Company.

We quickly pound out part 2 of our Oktober, well, fest, with a few American Oktoberfests. Then we go on a sojourn to a local tavern to try out the Spaten we couldn't drink last time.

Beers Reviewed:

• Brooklyn Oktoberfest - Brooklyn Brewery (NY)
• Stoudt's Oktoberfest - Stoudt's Brewing Company (PA)
• Victory Festbier - Victory Brewing Company (PA)
• Spaten Oktoberfestbier - On Tap

Links:

• Vote for us on Podcast Alley.com

Today we begin our two part series on Trappist Beers, brewed by only a select
few monestaries in Belgium. Be sure to listen to our review of the vaunted
Westvleteren 12! We also taste Orval and Achel 8 Brune.

Beers Reviewed:

• Orval - Brasserie d’Orval S.A.
• Trappist Achel 8 Brune - Brouwerij der St.Benedictusabdij de Achelse
• Trappist Westvleteren 12 - Brouwerij Westvleteren

Links:

• Michael Jackson's Article on Achel
• That Bass Deserves a Beer
• Trappist Beers and Monks
• Brew Like a Monk Book
• Dogfish Head Fall Releases
• Vote for us on Podcast Alley.com

Rankings:

• Jeff - 1. Westy, 2. Achel, 3. Orval
• Greg - 1. Westy, 2. Orval, 3. Achel

We continue to sample beers from the six Trappist breweries. Will these final three stand up to the well-received first three?

Beers Reviewed:

• Rochefort 10 - Brasserie de Rochefort
• Chimay Grande Reserve - Bieres de Chimay
• Westmalle Trappist Tripel - Brouwerij Westmalle

Links:

• Call our comment Line: 206-202-BEER
• Widmer Turns 21
• 2005 Brewing Industry International Awards
• Vote for us on Podcast Alley.com
• BJCP Style Guides

Rankings:

• Jeff - 1. Rochefort, 2. Westmalle, 3. Chimay
• Greg - 1. Chimay, 2. Westmalle, 3. Rochefort

This week, we taste beers made with our favorite summer gourd and autumn icon, the pumpkin. Typically spiced with pumpkin pie spices, these beers at times defy convention.

Beers Reviewed:

• Saranac Pumpkin Ale - The Matt Brewing Company (NY)
• Post Road Pumpkin Ale - Brooklyn Brewery (NY)
• Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale - Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (DE)
• Wild Goose Pumpkin Patch - Frederick Brewing Company (MD)

Links:

• Call our comment Line: 206-202-BEER
• Chasse-galerie The Bewitched Canoe
• BJCP 21A. Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer
• Beer T-shirts not for boys.
• Ben Franklin commemorative beer competition
• Alaskan Airlines
• Coors Light Macro Muck

• Jeff - 1. Dogfish, 2. Post Road, 3. Saranac, 4. Wild Goose
• Greg - 1. Dogfish, 2. Post Road, 3. Saranac, 4. Wild Goose

This week is part 1 of a two part series on the dark, malty, roasty American Porter. We find that the porters tend to be malty, roasty, or occasionally malty and roasty. Imagine that!

Beers Reviewed:

• Coal Porter - Atlantic Brewing Company (ME)
• Stove Pipe Porter - Otter Creek Brewing (VT)
• General Washington's Tavern Porter - Yards Brewing Company (PA)
• Rogue Mocha Porter - Rogue Ales (OR)

Links:

• BJCP Style 12B Robust Porter
• Monks Speak Out
• Call our comment Line: 206-202-BEER
• Vote for Us
• Great American Beer Festival 2005 Winner List
• Homebrew ban
• Ben Franklin's Commemorative Beer

Rankings:

• Jeff - 1. Yards, 2. Rogue, 3. Leg Humper, 4. Coal Porter, 5. Otter Creek
• Greg - 1. Coal Porter, 2. Rogue, 3. Leg Humper, 4. Yards, 5. Otter Creek

We continue to taste American Porters, and get blindsided to learn that one of our favorites may not be the star we once thought it was.

Beers Reviewed:

• Edmund Fitzgerald Porter - Great Lakes Brewing Company (OH)
• Blackhook Porter - Red Hook Brewing Company (WA/MA)
• Sierra Nevada Porter - Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (CA)
• Anchor Porter - Anchor Brewing Company (CA)

Links:

• BJCP Style 12B Robust Porter
• Name That Style

Rankings:

• Jeff - 1. Sierra Nevada, 2. Anchor, 3. Great Lakes, 4. Wild Goose, 5. Blackhook
• Greg - 1. Sierra Nevada, 2. Great Lakes, 3. Anchor, 4. Wild Goose, 5. Blackhook

Since Greg is sick, I thought I'd feed your CBR hunger with an interview that I did this weekend. I interviewed Lew Bryson, a freelance beer writer, who has written articles for several publications including the Chicago Tribune and the Ale Street News. He has just released an updated version of this Pennsylvania Breweries Book, the third edition. Listen in as Lew and I pretty much just chit-chat about beer.

Links:

• Lew Bryson's Web Site
• Lew's Books on Amazon.com
• Lew's Books on Barnes & Noble.

Make sure you get the 3rd edition of the PA book, both of those sites list older editions also.

Jeff and I are both hop-heads, so we relished the thought of comparing one of our favorite styles, the exquisitely hoppy American IPA. We weren't disappointed in these tasty selections.

Beers Reviewed:

• Stone IPA - Stone Brewing Company (CA)
• Tuppers Hop Pocket Ale - Old Dominion Brewing Company (VA)
• White Hawk Original IPA - Mendocino Brewing Company (CA)
• HopDevil Ale - Victory Brewing Company (PA)

Links:

• BJCP Style 14B American IPA
• Hoppier beer healthier?
• Cheese Paring Plates
• New Glarus to boost capacity
• Fill 'er up - with Coors
• Bud Pong Canned
• Boston Beer Co. reports 15% profits.
• AB Beer and Food College Course

Rankings:

• Jeff - 1. Stone, 2. Tuppers, 3. White Hawk, 4. Hop Devil (bad bottle)
• Greg - 1. Stone, 2. White Hawk, 3. Tuppers, 4. Hop Devil (bad bottle)

It's Hops are on parade this week with our second part of the American IPA Series. This week we find some surprisingly balanced IPA's, another winner from that brewery in Colorado, and enjoy a special 1 time only treat from Lion Brewing.

Beers Reviewed:

• Harpoon IPA - Harpoon Brewery (MA)
• Titan IPA - Great Divide Brewing Company (CO)
• Hop Ottin' IPA - Anderson Valley Brewing Company (CA)
• Stegmaier 100th Anniversary IPA - Lion Brewery, Inc. (PA)

Links:

• BJCP Style 14B American IPA
• Wisconsin Brewers, Wholesales Compromise
• Bad Elf wins Connecticut
• Coors Flat, Except Blue Moon.
• Beer Cast Brew Podcast

Rankings:

• Jeff - 1. Titian, 2. Stegmaier, 3. Harpoon, 4. Hop Ottin', 5. Barley Creek
• Greg - 1. Titian, 2. Harpoon, 3. Stegmaier, 4. Hop Ottin', 5. Barley Creek

During Greg's recent trip to Japan, he interviewed Brian Dishman, co-brewmaster at Sapporo's Otaru Brewery. All beer under the Otaru label are authentic German reinheitsgebot beers. Brian talks to us about his background, his process, and the difference between lagers and ales. It's different than what you think!

Links:

• Otaru Beer (English)

Preshow Content

Post Show Content.

Talk about a switch-up. We go from one of the hoppiest styles last week to a style that is one of the least hoppy ones. This week we explore the malty, peaty, smoky world of Scottish and Scotch ales.

Beers Reviewed:

• Old Chub - Oskar Blues (CO)
• Belhaven Scottish Ale - Belhaven Brewery Company Ltd. (Scotland)
• McEwans Scotch Ale - Scottish Courage Ltd. (Scotland)
• SkullSplitter - Orkney Brewery (Scotland)

Links:

• BJCP Style 9C Scottish Export 80 Shilling
• BJCP Style 9E Strong Scotch Ale
• Turbo Tap, Home Edition.
• Festival of Wood and Barrel-aged Beer Results
• A-B Enters the Spirits Game
• Washington Brewers Guild Winter Beer Fest
• Pacific Brew News Podcast

Rankings:

• Jeff - 1. McEwans, 2. Belhaven, 3. Skull Splitter, 4. Old Chub
• Greg - 1. Bellhaven, 2. McEwans, 3. Skull Splitter, 4. Old Chub

You may find yourself going to a bar that does not carry a decent collection of craft beers. What, then, are your options? We taste some of the most common selections and forget to do the What Beer am I.
 

Homebrewers: Want to brew the same recipe as us and compare the differences? Email us and help us decide on what to do.
 

Beers Reviewed:

• Yuengling Lager - Yuengling Brewing Company (PA)
• Sam Adams Boston Lager - Boston Beer Company (MA)
• Negra Modelo - Grupo Modelo S.A. de C.V (Mexico)
• Sierra Nevada Pale Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (CA)

Links:

• Vote for us on Podcast Alley in December.
• BJCP Style 3A. Vienna Lager
• The Science of Beer Goggles

Rankings:

• Jeff - 1. Sam Adams, 2. Sierra Nevada, 3. Negra Modelo, 4. Yuengling
• Greg - 1. Sam Adams, 2. Sierra Nevada, 3. Negra Modelo, 4. Yuengling

The first of 3 shows on winter seasonal beers. With snow on the ground, and beer in my glass, I can't but help to think of the opening song from Bad Santa, "It's the most wonderful time of the year."

Beers Reviewed:

• Winter Solstace - Anderson Valley Brewing Company (CA)
• Winter Hook - Red Hook (WA)
• Old Fezziwig Ale - Samuel Adams (MA)
• Winter Welcome Ale - Samuel Smiths (England)
• Christmas Ale - Great Lakes Brewing Company (OH)

Links:

• Off Flavors Article.

Rankings:

• Jeff - 1. Winter Solstace, 2. Fezziwig, 3. Lancaster, 4. Great Lakes, 5. Winterhook
• Greg - 1. Winter Solstace, 2. Fezziwig, 3. Lancaster, 4. Winterhook, 5. Great Lakes

In this episode we taste several west coast winter seasonal beers and to our surprise we didn't care for some of the beers that our listeners have been buzzing about. However we end the show on a high note with this year's offering from Anchor.
 

Beers Reviewed:

• Ebenezer Ale - Bridgeport Brewing Company (OR)
• Our Special Ale - Anchor Brewing Company (CA)
• Jubelale - Deschutes Brewery (OR)
• Full Sail Wassail - Full Sail Brewing Company (OR)

Links:

• Oskar Blues Releases Two Hand-Canned Seasonal Beers
• Parliament members question why Young's Bitter was replaced with San Miguel
• A-B Seasonal Beer Round Two
• History of Philly Craft Brewing
• Belgian Pronunciation

Rankings:

• Jeff - 1. Anchor, 2. Ebenezer, 3. Mad Elf, 4. Jubelale, 5. Wassail
• Greg - 1. Mad Elf, 2. Ebenezer, 3. Anchor, 4. Jubelale, 5. Wassail

The third and final week of our winter seasonal beer special. It by far was not a exhaustive survey of the winter seasonal landscape, but we made small dent. The selections this week were all good, even the one from Golden Colorado, but there was one beer in particular that knocked our socks off.
 

Beers Reviewed:

• Celebration Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (CA)
• Winterbraun - Lost Coast (CA)
• Brown Shugga' - Lagunitas Brewing Company (CA)
• Holiday Porter - Samuel Adams (MA)
• Winterfest Ale - Coors Brewing Company (CO)

Links:

• CBR Frappr Map
• Joe Owades Dies
• House (and Senate) of Beer
• InBev outbids A-B for Chinese brewer

Rankings:

• Jeff - 1. Brown Shugga', 2. Holiday Porter, 3. Celebration, 4. Winterbraun, 5. Winterfest
• Greg - 1. Brown Shugga', 2. Winterbraun, 3. Holiday Porter, 4. Winterfest, 5. Celebration

The final show of the year and the maltiest show of the year. This week we tasted 1 American and 3 German Dopplebocks plus we discuss some of the most memorable beers of 2005.
 

Beers Reviewed:

• Sudwerk Doppel Bock - Sudwerk Brewing Company (CA)
• Celebrator Doppelbock - Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer KG / Brauerei Aying
• Salvator Doppel Bock - Paulaner-Salvator-Thomasbraeu AG
• Spaten Optimator - Spaten-Franziskaner-Brau

Links:

• CBR Frappr Map

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Celebrator, 2. Sudwerk, 3. Optimator, 4. Salvator
• Greg - 1. Celebrator, 2. Optimator, 3.Sudwerk, 4. Salvator

Episode 25 Postshow content

Episode 26 Postshow content

Episode 27 postshow content

Storm King Stout 2001 vintage. - Victory Company (PA)

Episode 27 Preshow content

Fat Dog Stout - Stoudt's Brewing Company (PA)

In this episode we have some killer beers, lots of listener feedback, and we have our first 'do over' beer where we re-examine the Stone Imperial Russian Stout, to see if we like it more now that it's icy and cold outside.

Beers Reviewed:

• Black Chocolate Stout - Brooklyn Brewery (NY)
• Expedition Stout - Bell's Brewery (MI)
• Stone Imperial Russian Stout - Stone Brewing Company
• Storm King Stout - Victory Company (PA)

Links:

• VOTE for us on Podcast Alley!
• All About Beer Alaskan Brew Cruise
• Ben's Beer Blog
• Celis to Brew Again in US?
• Goose Island & A-B in talks.
• Warmest Beer in Town
• Carlton Big Ad

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Expedition, 2. Brooklyn, 3. Fat Dog, 4. Storm King, 5. Stone
• Greg - 1. Expedition, 2. Brooklyn, 3. Fat Dog, 4. Storm King, 5. Stone

What beer am I clues:

• I am an American Double Stout.
• I am 12% abv.
• I was made only once.
• I part of my name is a number.
• I have five other brothers that are also stouts made by this brewery.

Episode 28 Postshow.

The first of two weeks on Barleywines, the perfect winter warmer to get you through January and February. We taste some that are very malty, and others that are hopped like an IPA. Join us as we attempt to get through the highest alcohol show to date.

Beers Reviewed:

• Old Nick - Youngs (England)
• Old Foghorn - Anchor Brewing Company (CA)
• Talon - Mendocino Brewing Company (CA)
• Old Numbskull - AleSmith Brewing Company (CA)

Links:

• VOTE for us on Podcast Alley!
• Liquid Solutions
• Beverages and More (BevMo)
• Beer Pong Makes Forbes.com?!
• Heineken to Launch a Light
• Is it possible for Alabama to become more unfriendly to beer?
• Brewer uses Jesus in an ad.
• Beermapping.com

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Old Salty 2004, 2. Old Numbskull, 3. Old Foghorn, 4. Talon, 5. Old Nick
• Greg - 1. Old Foghorn, 2. Talon, 3. Old Salty, 4. Old Nick, 5. Old Numbskull

What beer am I clues:

• I am an English bitter
• I am brewed in a brewery owned by a father and son.
• I am 4.3 % abv with 35 IBU's
• I have the color of a "golden sunset."
• I am the flagship beer of this brewery that is also the home of a famous brewing school.

Episode 28 Preshow content

Episode 20 Postshow - James Spencer coffee porter.

Episode 29 Preshow content

John Barleycorn 2005 - Mad River (CA)

Week two of Barleywines. We wrap up several months of winter beers by tasting some great examples of American style Barleywines and chat a bit about Jeffs BJCP exam. Stick around till the end and see what we blow on the breathalizer.

Beers Reviewed:

• Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (CA)
• Old Horizontal - Victory Brewing Company (PA)
• Old Boardhead - Full Sail (OR)
• Fred – Hair of the Dog (OR)

Links:

• VOTE for us on Podcast Alley!

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Victory, 2. Fred, 3. Bigfoot, 4. John Barleycorn, 5. Full Sail
• Greg - 1. Bigfoot, 2. Fred, 3. John Barleycorn, 4. Victory, 5. Full Sail

What beer am I clues:

• I am a robust porter
• My Alcohol By volume is 5.8%
• I am brewed by the same brewery as beer named after a dead federal agent and a vampire.
• My namesakes, namesake was the president of an insurance company in Wisconsin.
• Stop in and have a pint of me after you are done viewing some broken guitars and the Tommy exhibit.

Florian is a brewer at Anheuser-Busch who brews some of the specialty beers including Winter's Burbon Cask Ale and other interesting beers. Tune in and see what other styles of beers they experiment with, I think you might be surprised.

We didn't have time to get beers of the same style to this week we are mixing it up a little bit with some beers out of the cellar. We had some skunking issues with two of the beers, but the other were a-ok.

Beers Reviewed:

• Summit India Pale Ale - Summit Brewing Company (MN)
• Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner 2005 Harvest - Boston Beer Company (MA)
• LaConner India Pale Ale - LaConner Brewing Company (WA)
• Loose Cannon - Clipper City Brewery (MD)
• Adam - Hair of the Dog Brewing Company (OR)

Links:

• VOTE for us on Podcast Alley!
• Drinking joins smoking as cancer risk
  
• Distributors balk at racy beer label
• Ebay Auction for Naming Rights to a Fermenter.
• Wine Drinkers Buy Healthier Foods
• Trappist Brewery Photographs
• John Barleycorn Folk Song
• How Hangovers Work
• Gluten Free Beer in the Burgh

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Adam, 2. Tuppers, 3. Sam Adams, 4. LaConner
• Greg - 1. Adam, 2. Tuppers, 3. LaConner, 4. Sam Adams

What beer am I clues:

• I am a bock made with cocoa from Ghana.
• I am aged on a bed of chocolate.
• I am served in a 750 ml bottle and I am made by a sixth generation brewer.
• I am the third bock to be offered by this brewery, one of which came in a small corked bottle.

This week we are taking a look at 4 specialty beers from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery from Milton, Delaware. While they make some beers that adhere to traditional beer styles, Dogfish Head is also known for pushing the boundries of craft beer and put out some pretty wild beer. Tonight we are going to check out 4 of these 'off-centered ales for off-centered people'.

Beers Reviewed:

• Midas Touch
• Au Courant
• Pangea
• Raison D'Extra

Links:

• VOTE for us on Podcast Alley!
• New High Alpha Hop
• Beerdrinker of the year finalists
• Here's to Beer
• RateBeer - Best Beer
• Anheuser-Busch 4Q Earnings Drop to $201M
• Global Beer Belgian Beer Tour

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Midas Touch, 2. Au Corrant, 3. Immort Ale, 4. Raison D'Extra, 5. Pangea
• Greg - 1. Midas Touch, 2. Au Corrant, 3. Raison D'Extra, 4. Immort Ale, 5. Pangea

What beer am I clues:

• I am an award winning Farmhouse Saison, 7.5% abv.
• I am named for a Flemish explorer from the 1600's
• My brewery is located on a former hop farm.
• My four siblings are also Belgians Style Ales
• Sports fans would especially enjoy a trip to my brewery.

This interview is with Chris Trogner of Tröegs Independent Craft Brewery in Harrisburg Pennsylvania. In our chat with Chris we discuss the background of Tröegs and the Beers that they make. We also discuss some upcoming experimental brews where they are going all Dr. Frankenstein on some of their existing brews.

• The Lew Bryson Interview with John Trogner that was mentioned in my interview.

n this episode we try four beers that are made with Rye. This was our first time really taking a look into what Rye imparts on beer. Not only do we try rye for the first time, but we also are introduced into three breweries that we have don't have access to locally.

Beers Reviewed:

• Red's Rye - Founders Brewing Company (MI)
• Black Rye - Founders Brewing Company (MI)
• Hop Rod Rye - Bear Republic Brewing Co. (CA)
• Tarrapin Rye - Terrapin Beer Company (GA)

Links:

• Craft Beer up 9% over 2005
• Belmont Station, Portland Oregon
• Brewing Scholarships
• Despite Increase in Sales, Redhook Posts Q4 Loss

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Black Rye, 2. Tarrapin, 3. Hop Rod, 4. Red's Rye
• Greg - 1. Black Rye, 2. Tarrapin, 3. Red's Rye, 4. Hop Rod

What beer am I clues:

• I am a Belgian Golden Ale, 7.6% abv
• I don't play jokes, although my name suggests that I do
• My brewery's location suggests that I am heavily guarded
• One of my sibling beers is named for a marine mammal

In this episode we take a look at Milk/­Sweet stouts, a variation on the classic stout formula. Will the sweetness be enjoyable to our pallette or turn us away?

Beers Reviewed:

• Mackeson XXX Milk Stout - Whitbread PLC (UK)
• Lancaster Milk Stout - Lancaster Brewing Company (PA)
• Youngs Double Chocolate Stout - Young & Co's Brewery PLC (UK)
• Bells Special Double Cream Stout - Bell's Brewery (MI)

Links:

• Beer Drinker of the Year Crowned
• Brew Year's Eve
• American Craft Beer Week to be held May 15-21, 2006.
• Anderson Valley goes Solar.
• Grolsch gets Distro Deal with AB.

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Mackesons, 2. Bells, 3. Lancaster, 4. Youngs
• Greg - 1. Bells, 2. Mackesons, 3. Youngs, 4. Lancaster

What beer am I clues:

• I am an imperial porter.
• I was made as a commemorative beer for a journalist who once said " I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity but they've always worked for me."
• The artist that designed my label was Ralph Steadman.
• There are eleven other beers in my litter.

We interview Craft Beer Radio Listener, Tom Schmidlin. Oh yeah, he also won the beer drinker of the year competition. We discuss his beeryness and his experiences from the competition.

• More about the Beer Drinker of the Year.

We revisit the style that is Witbier, or Belgian White, this wheat ale is typically spiced with lemon or orange peel and coriander. We last tasted witbier in episode 3 and in the time since Jeff has grown to like this style.
 

Beers Reviewed:

• Hoegaarden White Ale - Brouwerij van Hoegaarden (Belgium)
• Blue Moon Belgian White - Coors Brewing Company (CO)
• Blanche De Chambly - Unibroue (Quebec)
• Holy Moses - Great Lakes Brewing Company (OH)
• Wittekerke - Brouwerij Bavik (Belgium)

Links:

• Washington Brewers Self Imposed Tax.
• Gluten Free Beer in Melbourne
• Beer Fights Heart Disease
• Oscar Blues Grows 92% in 2005
• Boston Beer Company up 7.2%
• New Capacity at Stone
• Old Dominion Sells

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Hoegaarden, 2. Great Lakes, 3. Wittekerke, 4. Blue Moon
• Greg - 1. Hoegaarden, 2. Wittekerke, 3. Great Lakes, 4. Blue Moon

What beer am I clues:

• I am a dry stout.
• From my namesake, you can be the first in the U.S. to see the sunrise
• Although I am a beer, my name may confuse you with a car.
• I have been a world champion
• I am made by a brewery named after a town.
• My brewery also makes syrup, so you can make your own soda.

This week we sample beers that have fruit added, in some the fruit was subtle and others the fruit hit you over the head. Speaking of hitting you over the head, the final beer of the night weighs in at 18% ABV.

Beers Reviewed:

• Fort - Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (DE)
• Éphémère (Cranberry) - Unibroue (Quebec)
• Liefmans Frambozenbier - Liefmans (Belgium)

Links:

• CBR Printable Cards
• Gluten Free Beer Festival
• Belgian Beer Pronunciation Guide
• Beer Pouring Robot
• Stealing Kegs for fun and Profit!
• Corona dumps importer
• Hot and cold running beer
• Boston Beer Eyes Possible Expansion

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Unibroue, 2. Fort, 3. Liefmans
• Greg - 1. Liefmans, 2. Fort, 3. Unibroue

What beer am I clues:

• I am a Russian Stout made by a new brewery.
• I am hand bottled, labeled, capped, dipped in wax, signed, and numbered.
• I come in 22 oz. bottles and only 1,200 bottles were made.
• I am made by a former brewer of the Angelic Brewing Company in Madison, Wisconsin.
• My name comes from the Russian word for "Big," but you may know me best by a ballet company of the same name.

Wild Beers invade the CBR Studios, This week we taste lambic beers. Sometimes fruity, sometimes sour, these beers can be a real treat if you are ready for their complex flavors.

Beers Reviewed:

• Lindemans Framboise - Brouwerij Lindemans (Belgium)
• Sam Adams Cranberry Lambic - Boston Beer Company (MA)
• Rose De Gambrinus - Cantillon (Belgium)
• Organic Gueuze - Cantillon (Belgium)

Links:

• The New Image of Miller?
• InBev might sell Latrobe Brewing
• Penn Brewing to boost production 50 percent
• Venue bans 'strong beers' to keep fans in order
• Dogfish Head Announces Golden Shower Imperial Pilsner.
• a Top 100 beers list, Yuengling curently 1st?
• Bud Select Most successful new beer.
• Lindemans Announces Apple Lambic
• Terrorists Target Beer Cans

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Rose, 2. Gueuze, 3. Sam Adams, 4. Lindemans
• Greg - 1. Rose, 2. Lindemans, 3. Sam Adams, 4.Gueuze

What beer am I clues:

• I am a wit beer.
• I am named after a type of shark.
• I am made by a brewery founded by two women.
• I have a brother who is an amber ale with a cat on his label; another
  brother who is a stout with a pool ball on his label; and a brother who is
  an IPA that had an elephant on his label, but we had to change it because it
  was politically incorrect.

We've decided to change our show's format in order to appeal to more listeners. We present to you, the reformulated JEFF AND GREG'S X-TREME BEER SHOW! WOOOO!

This show we taste the results from the Craft Beer Radio Multibrew Experiment. Several of the brewers join us via skype as we discuss the similarities and differences amongst the beers.

This is the innagural show in the new Craft Beer Radio Studios. Tune in as we explore several Belgian style beers from the Quebec Brewery Unibroue.

Beers Reviewed:

• Don De Dieu
• La Fin Du Monde
• Maudite
• Trois Pistoles
• Unibroue 15

Links:

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. 15, 2. Maudite, 3. Don De Dieu, 4. La Fin Du Monde, 5. Trois Pistoles
• Greg - 1. Trois Pistoles, 2. Don De Dieu, 3. Maudite, 4. 15, 5. La Fin Du Monde

What beer am I clues:

• I am 6% AVB
• I am aged in oak for 2 years
• I share a name with a famous Macedonian, but I certainly am not Macedionian
• Despite what you may think, do not live next to Homer.

Short Show this week as we record a show before Greg goes to Japan. As they say April Showers bring Maibocks.
 

Beers Reviewed:

• Stoudts Maibock - Stoudts Brewing Company (PA)
• Hofbräu Maibock - Staatliches Hofbräuhaus (Germany)
• Dead Guy Ale - Rogue Ales (OR)

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Stoudts, 2. Hofbrau, 3. Rogue
• Greg - 1. Hofbrau 2. Stoudts, 3. Rogue

Nope, this is not the return of the X-treme Beer Show, we promise. We really want to try these craft light beers and see what they are like so tune in and find out, Are Craft Light Beers oxymorons, or do they have some value.
 

Links:

• Missouri redefines beer
• Flying Dog Buys Frederick Brewing
• Great American Beer Tour
• Stone Brewing Company Liberates One of Anheuser-Busch's Finest
• The Bomb-Proof Hieneken Container
• The Bomb-Proof Case Website.

Beers Reviewed:

• Sam Adams Light
• Hieneken Premium Light
• Amstel Light
• Beck's Light
• Leinekugel's Light

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Sam Light, 2. Hieneken , 3. Leinekugels, 4. Amstel, 5. Becks
• Greg - 1. Sam Light, 2. Hieneken , 3. Leinekugels, 4. Amstel, 5. Becks

This week we taste beers from the other side of the international date line, it's a hodgepodge of styles from breweries that most of you have never heard of. Tune and and listen to our comments on the Red Rice Beer it was unlike anything we have had.

Links:

• 70,000 Empty Beer Cans found in a Townhouse
• Sam Adams Homebrew Contest
• Goose Island, Bud Deal near?

Beers Reviewed:

• Little Creatures Pale Ale
• Hitachino Nest Red Rice
• James Squire Porter
• Angry Boy Brown Ale

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Little Creatures, 2. Angry Boy, 3. Porter, 4. Red Rice, 5. Blond Ale
• Greg - 1. Porter, 2. Little Creatures, 3. Red Rice, 4. Angry Boy, 5. Blonde Ale

On this show we taste some of the great beers from Founders Brewing Company out of Grand Rapids Michigan. These beers stand out of the crowd and some are among the best beers we have had this year.

Beers Reviewed:

• Dirty Bastard
• Devil Dancer
• Breakfast Stout
• Ketcky Breakfast Stout
• Imperial Stout

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Kentucky Breakfast, 2. Breakfast Stout, 3. Dirty Bastard, 4. Imperial Stout, 5. Devil Dancer
• Greg - 1. Breakfast Stout, 2. Dirty Dancer, 3. Kentucky Breakfast, 4. Imperial Stout, 5. Devil Dancer

This week we mix in equal parts yeast, wheat, and a special guest, just to see what comes out. We taste several American Hefeweizens and a classic from Germany.

Oh yeah and I brain farted when preparing the notes, I must of put Redhooks info down for Harpoon. Harpoon is in Boston, not Portsmouth.

Beers Reviewed:

• Hacker-Pschorr Hefe Weisse - Hacker-Pschorr Bräu GmbH
• Brooklyner Weisse - Brooklyn Brewery
• In Heat Wheat - Flying Dog Brewery
• Bell's Oberon Ale - Bell's Brewery, Inc
• UFO Hefeweizen - Harpoon
• Summit Hefeweizen - Summit

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Hacker, 2. Flying Dog, 3. Brooklyner, 4. Oberon, 5. UFO, 6. Summit
• Greg - 1. Hacker, 2. Flying Dog, 3. Brooklyner, 4. UFO, 5. Oberon, 6, Summit
• Dayv - 1. Hacker, 2. Flying Dog, 3. Brooklyner, 4. Oberon, 5. UFO, 6. Summit

This week we compare 4 pilseners including one of the original pilsners and Greg gets geeky on the science of skunking.
 

Links:

• Giving Beer Its Place at the Table
• Suspension brews a bitter taste
• Goose Island Strikes Deal With Widmer
• Ingredient Labeling - It's Back

Beers Reviewed:

• Pilsner Urquell - Plzensky Prazdroj
• EKU Pils - Kulmbacher Brauerei
• Brooklyn Pilsner - Brooklyn Brewery
• Trumer Pils - Trumer Brauerei Berkeley

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. EKU, 2. Trumer, 3. Brooklyn, 4. Urquell
• Greg - 1. EKU, 2. Trumer, 3. Brooklyn, 4. Urquell

We must have angered the beer gods, another skunked beer in this show. On the bright side we had two good saisons with some very different flavors in them.

Beers Reviewed:

• Saison Dupont - Brasserie Dupont sprl
• Saison Vos - Sly Fox Brewing Company
• Fantome Saison - Brasserie Fantôme

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Saison Vos, 2. Fantome, 3. Saison Dupont
• Greg - 1. Fantome, 2. Saison Vos, 3. Saison Dupont

Bells created the Wheat Project. A listener sent us the Wheat Project. And now we drink the Wheat Project. It was cool to taste these beers side by side, with the different wheats and the different yeasts these were all significantly different.

Links:

• "Hop Physiology & Chemistry", Zymurgy Special 1997
• Hop Union Databook
• Designing Great Beers Amazon Link.

Beers Reviewed:

• Bell's Wheat Two Ale
• Bell's Wheat Four Ale
• Bell's Wheat Six Ale
• Bell's Wheat Eight Ale
• Bell's Wheat Love

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Six, 2. Eight, 3. Two, 4. Four
• Greg - 1. Six, 2. Four, 3. Two, 4. Eight

We try 3 beers that Jeff brought back from his trip to California, and one new arrival from Texas to our town. We also try a bit of a new format for the show, but don't worry, it's not x-treme.

Links:

• Draft Magazine
• Abita Growing

Beers Reviewed:

• Watermelon Wheat - 21st Amendment (CA)
• Black Bute Porter - Deschutes (OR)
• Fat Tire - New Belgium (CO)
• Shiner Bock - Spoetzl Brewery (Gambrinus Company) (TX)

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Deschuttes, 2. Victory, 3. Watermellon, 4. Shiner 5. Fat Tire
• Greg - 1. Deschuttes, 2. Victory, 3. Fat Tire, 4. Shiner 5. Watermellon

For all the hops that our last IPA show was lacking, this one more than made up for it. These guys embraced their inner humulus lupulus and were some impressive beers.

Links:

• Coast Guard Home Brew

Beers Reviewed:

• Hop Henge India Pale Ale - Deschutes Brewery (OR)
• Farmhouse Oasthouse IPA - Coast Range Brewing Co. (CA)
• Route 113 India Pale Ale - Sly Fox Brewing Company (PA)
• Racer 5 IPA - Bear Republic Brewing Company (CA)

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Farmhouse, 2. Racer 5, 3. Hop Henge, 4. Sly Fox
• Greg - 1. Hop Henge, 2. Racer 5, 3. Farmhouse, 4. Sly Fox

The 3 hour show

Here it is, the Beer Geer Round Table, Nearly 3 hours of conversation with some really good conversation. Beer Laws, Growlers, Raising your kids to respect beer. Are a few of the topics of conversation. Choose which one you want to listen to. 1 hour of highlights, or dive into the whole darn thing.

This week we find several wheat beers in the cellar that were sent in by listeners. Yeast or no yeast, ginger and a pile of hops? This isn't your ordinary wheat beer show.
Links:

• Anheuser-Busch tapping craft beers
• Molson Coors has Super Strong Quarter
• Beer Back on Top
• GBBF Results

Beers Reviewed:

• Circus Boy - Magic Hat Brewing Company (VT)
• Upland Wheat - Upland Brewing Company (IN)
• Gumballhead - Three Floyds Brewing Company (IN)

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Gumballhead, 2. Upland 5, 3. Sam Adams, 4. Magic Hat
• Greg - 1. Gumballhead, 2. Upland 5, 3. Sam Adams, 4. Magic Hat

*start fanfare*
Long long ago,
in a kitchen 5 miles away,
Greg and Jeff tested out an old
radio shack mixer for the first time.

50 Episodes, Take that Lucas! This week we revisit our roots, tasting the beers that we tasted in that very first test show among others. We have a bit more practice now so we want to try those crazy hopped beers one more time.

Links:

• New Glarus to Expand
• Craft Beer up 11%
• Oh, no. Corona shortage!

Beers Reviewed:

• Stoudts IPA - Stoudts Brewing Company
• Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA - Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
• Newport Storm Chloe - Coastal Extreme Brewing Company (RI)
• Double Crooked Tree - Dark Horse Brewing Company (MI)

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Double Crooked Tree, 2. 90 Minute 3. Stoudts, 4. Chloe
• Greg - 1. Double Crooked Tree, 2. 90 Minute 3. Stoudts, 4. Chloe

August 14th to the 16th we were invited as guests of Anheuser-Busch along with 17 other beer writers to their 2006 Hop Harvest Tour. They flew us out to witness the harvest at their Elk Mountain Hop Farm in Bonner's Ferry Idaho right on the Canadian border. It was awesome to experience the harvesting of hops, and to see the scale of the operation. Of course there was beer during this event, and to our pleasant surprise we had some beers that would stand up to classic examples in their style.

• Our Photos
• Good Photos from the 1997 Tour
• Lew Bryson writes about the tour | More from Lew

Ok, last Star Wars Pun, I promise. We wrap up Double IPA's for now with 4 really good examples of the style. We discuss some critical feedback about the AB tour, some good email, and the return of Macro Muck.

Links:

• Brewing East End Harvest Ale.

Beers Reviewed:

• Blonde Hop Monster - Paper City Brewing Company (MA)
• Dreadnaught - Three Floyds (IN)
• Cohoho - Midnight Sun Brewing Company (AK)
• Hercules Double IPA - Great Divide Brewing Company (CO)

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Cohoho, 2. Blonde Hop Monster, 3. Dreadnaught, 4. Hercules
• Greg - 1. Cohoho, 2. Dreadnaught, 3. Hercules, 4. Blonde Hop Monster

This week we take a break from hops and visit a porter from each time zone.

Links:

• Internet Brewery

Reviewed:

• Saint Bridgets Porter - Great Divide Brewing Company (CO)
• Robust Porter - Smuttynose Brewing Company (NH)
• Eel River Organic Porter - Eel River Brewing Company (CA)
• Farmhouse Stone Fence Porter - Coast Range Brewing Company (CA)
• Old Fort Porter - Mad Anthony (IN)

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Eel River, 2. Smuttynose, 3. Fort Wayne, 4. St. Bridget
• Greg - 1. Smuttynose, 2. Eel River, 3. St. Bridget, 4. Fort Wayne

On Saturday Jeff helped Scott Smith from East End Brewing Company brew his new Fall Seasonal, Big Hop Harvest Ale. This is a wet hopped beer with fresh hops that were harvested from the vine and immediately packed and expressed delivered to the brewery. Tune in and learn what to do with 50 pounds of fresh hops, my vote was to roll around in them naked, but Scott had a better idea.

Since we jumped on the porter train, we decided to finish up the rest of the porters in the cellar. We have 3 more porters and to round out the show a special surprise for Greg.

Links:

Reviewed:

• Bells Porter - Bell's Brewing Company
• Point Reyes Porter - Marin Brewing Company (CA)
• Farmhouse Stone Fence Porter - Coast Range Brewing Company (CA)

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Farmhouse, 2. Bells, 3. Marin
• Greg - 1. Farmhouse, 2. Bells, 3. Marin

 
This week we pack up the studio and head on down to the Sharp Edge Creekhouse in order to get some fresh draft Oktoberfests. Loads of email this week, and we talk to the Hart the manager about his recent trip to Belgium and the Sharp Edges Belgian selection.

Links:

• Sharp Edge Creekhouse

Reviewed:

• Ayinger Oktoberfest - Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer KG / Brauerei Aying
• Spaten Oktoberfest - Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
• Paulaner Oktoberfest-bier - Paulaner Salvator Thomasbraeu AG
• Victory Festbier - Victory Brewing Company (PA)

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Ayinger, 2. Paulaner, 3. Spaten, 4. Victory
• Greg - 1. Ayinger, 2. Paulaner, 3. Spaten, 4. Victory

Sorry for the late show this week, but here it is. Kolsches, we try 4 American interpretations of the Kolsch.

Links:

• GABF Winners

Reviewed:

• Shiner Kolsch - Spoetzl Brewery (TX)
• Curve Ball Kolsch - Pyramid Breweries Inc. (WA)
• Hales Genuine Kolsch - Hales Ales (WA)
• Alaskan Summer Ale - Alaskan Brewing Company (AK)

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Hales, 2. Shiner, 3. Alaskan, 4. Pyramid
• Greg - 1. Shiner, 2. Hales, 3. Alaskan, 4. Pyramid

Next stop is in Boston to try some historically re-created beers. Boston Beer Company brewed 4 beers in the Brewer-Patriot collection and we give them a try.

Links:

• Interview with Jim Koch about the Brewer Patriot Collection.

Reviewed:

• James Madison Dark Wheat Ale
• Traditional Ginger Honey Ale
• George Washington Porter
• 1790 Root Beer

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Porter, 2. Rootbeer, 3. Dark Wheat, 4. Ginger Honey
• Greg - (randomly selected) 1. Rootbeer, 2. Dark Wheat, 3. Ginger Honey, 4. Porter

American IPA's that is what we drink this week. Greg has a wow beer. Jeff forgets what what plantains are called.

Links:

• Beer Geek Round Table Number 2
• NY Times Article on Porters

Reviewed:

• Crooked Tree IPA - Dark Horse Brewing Company (MI)
• Concord IPA - Concord Brewery (MA)
• Eel River IPA - Eel River Brewing Company (CA)
• Alpha King - Three Floyds (IN)

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Alpha King, 2. Eel River, 3. Darkhorse, 4. Concord
• Greg - 1. Alpha King, 2. Eel River, 3. Darkhorse, 4. Concord

"Usually a moderate to high hop flavor, often showing a citrusy American hop character." The BJCP Guide has it right, these APA's use generous amounts of hops to make some pretty good beers. Tune in and get it stuck in your head all week.

Links:

Perils of Globeerization
Tapped Out
Anchor Brewing fights to stay small.
Don's Alpha king recipe

Reviewed:

Boulevard Pale Ale (MO)
Back Road American Pale Ale (IN)
Lost Coast Pale Ale (CA)
Eel River Extra Pale Ale (CA)

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Lost Coast, 2. Eel River, 3. Boulevard, 4. Back Road
• Greg - 1. Boulevard, 2. Lost Coast, 3. Eel River, 4. Back Road

Extras:

• Preshow
• Postshow

• Boulevard Wheat
• Fred from the Wood - Hair of the dog

Oysters and Oatmeal, the perfect combination. This week we sample two of each. We discuss what does it mean to be imperial. Also: Yeast, vegan food, or cuddly little animal?

Links:

Sheraton Beer Program
Beer Geek Roundtable #2 November 30th 8:30 EST
Contact Rick about CBR Blind

Reviewed:

Yards Love Stout (PA)
Jamie's Oyster Stout
Harpoon Oatmeal Stout (MA)
Ipswitch Oatmeal Stout (MA)

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Oyster, 2. Harpoon, 3. Yards, 4. Ipswitch
• Greg - 1. Oyster, 2. Harpoon, 3. Yards, 4. Ipswitch

Extras:

• Preshow
• Postshow

Summit Great Northern Porter
Church Brew Works Smoked Porter

Preshow Content

Postshow Content

This show we pucker up and tase several American wild beers. This was one of our favorite shows, and we both add a new WOW beer to our list.

Links:

Bell's out of Illinois
Beer Geek Roundtable #2 December 7th 8:30 EST
Contact Rick about CBR Blind

Reviewed:

New Belgium La Folie (CO)
Russian River Sanctification (CA)
Joly Pumpkin La Roja Grand Reserve (MI)

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. La Folie, 2. Sanctification, 3. La Roja
• Greg - 1. La Folie, 2. Sanctification, 3. La Roja

Extras:

• Preshow
• Postshow

New Belgium Abbey

This week we taste a nice flight of subtle lagers (and an ale) to examine the nuances of each style. It's a quick show this week from the Thanksgiving holiday and business travel.

Reviewed:

• Schlafly Oktoberfest
• Boulevard Bob's 47
• Victory St. Boisterous
• Weyerbacher Autumnfest

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Schafley, 2. Victory, 3. Weyerbacher, 4.Boulevard
• Greg - 1. Victory, 2. Weyerbacher, 3. Schafley, 4. Boulevard

Extras:

• Preshow
• Postshow

• Export '33'
• Summit Hefeweizen
• Homebrew Saison

Coffee in the morning, Beer at night, and when the two shall mix, it is good. This week we get our morning fix with 4 coffee beers from two breweries that have been around the CBR track a few times, and two breweries that are making their debut. All I have to say is Red Bull who?

Links:

• Watch your beer around Carl Lewis
• No Santa's Butt in Maine
• Draft Magazine - Discount Subscription link coming soon.

Reviewed:

Atwater Vanilla Java Porter (MI)
Bells Java Stout (MI)
Lagunitias Capuchino Stout (CA)
Kona Pipeline Porter (HI)

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Lagunitias, 2. Atwater, 3. Kona, 4. Bells
• Greg - 1. Bells, 2. Lagunitias, 3. Kona, 4. Atwater

This is the second Beer Geek Round Table. We had 3 participants and lots of fun. If you are the people who like our post show better than the main show, then this is the show for you.

Preshow Content, we drank the Michelob Celebrate.

Post Show content, we drank the Third Street Bad Santa.

Winter Beers on the Winter Solstice.

This week we break from the bustle of the holiday season to drink some beer. We try some winter seasonals that we have not had before.

Links:

Draft Magazine

Reviewed:

Pyramid Snowcap '06 (WA)
Alaskan Winter Ale (AK)
Bridgeport Ebenezer Ale (OR)
Brooklyn Winter Ale (NY)

Ranking:

• Greg - 1. Alaskan, 2. Snowcap, 3. Ebenezer, 4. Brooklyn
• Jeff - 1. Alaskan, 2. Snowcap, 3. Brooklyn, 4. Ebenezer

Extras:

Preshow: Michelob Celebrate
Postshow: Third Street Bad Santa

Last Beers of the Year. We wrap up the year with Imperial Stouts, including the Dark Lord from Three Floyds.

Reviewed:

Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout (CA)
Lagunitias Imperial Sout (CA)
Eel River Raven's Eye Imperial Stout (CA)
Three Floyds Dark Lord Imperial Stout (IN)

Ranking:

• Greg - 1. Bear Republic, 2. Eel River, 3. Dark Lord, 4. Lagunitas
• Jeff - 1. Eel River, 2. Dark Lord, 3. Bear Republic, 4. Lagunitas

Extras:

Preshow: Sam Adams Winter Lager
Postshow: Cleanup

In this show Jeff gains a new appreciation for the Irish Red Style. It's a great start of 2007 as every beer was very good, and choosing the ranking was very hard.

Reviewed:

• Fraoch Heather Ale (Scotland)
• Kelpie Seaweed Ale (Scotland)
• Highland Gaelic Ale (NC)
• Three Floyds Brian Boru Irish Red (IN)
• Highland Bewing Tasgall Ale (NC)

Ranking:

• Greg - 1. Tasgal, 2. Three Floyds, 3. Heather, 4. Gaelic, 5. Kelpie
• Jeff - 1. Gaelic, 2. Tasgal, 3. Heather, 4. Three Floyds, 5. Kelpie

Extras:

Preshow: Highland Gaelic Ale
Postshow: Cleanup

This is an interview with the publisher of The Essential Reference of Domestic Brewers and their Bottled Brands. It's an interesting book with lots of information about american beers all in one place. We will be getting a copy to help prepare notes for the show.

CBR Listeners can purchase the book at the discount price of $39.95 if they purchase the book from thebeerbible.com or call 1-800-247-6553

Here is a sample of the book that we talked about in the interview.

We clean out some hoppy beers from the cellar while they are still fresh. We encounter some amazing hop aromas and one makes a delicious mistake. PS. we forgot to do WBAI, tune in next week for the exciting conclusion.

Reviewed:

• Deschutes Hop Trip (OR)
• Moylans Hopsickle Triple IPA (CA)
• Dragon Slayer IPA (CA)
• Elysian Immortal IPA (WA)

Ranking:

• Greg - 1. Hoptrip, 2. Hopsickle, 3. Immortal, 4. Dragon Slayer
• Jeff - 1. Hopsickle, 2. Hoptrip, 3. Immortal, 4. Dragon Slayer

Extras:

Preshow: Jubelale
Postshow: Cleanup

This Interview is with Bob Skilnik, author of Beer: A History of Brewing in Chicago. First let me say that this book is not only for Chicagoans; if you are interested in beer history this is a great book as well.

CBR Listeners can purchase the book at a 40% discount from the publisher Barricade Books by calling 201.944.7600.

Also you can get Bob's New book, Beer & Food: An American History From our Amazon.com Associate Link.

Steve Hindy of the Brooklyn Brewery chats with us about his book Beer School, the Brooklyn Brewery and their beers. Beer School is a must read for anyone who wants to start a beer business.

If you are interested in buying this book you can use our Affiliate Link: Buy Beer School From Amazon

This week we taste 5 different vintages of Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. We are joined in the studio by Keith Kost who writes a column for the Great Lakes Brewing News. The camera battery is dead so no photo this week.

Extras:

Preshow: Ginger Peach Double Brown
Postshow: Hop Wallop

Allo Governor, gimme a pint of bitter. This week we taste some Extra Special Bitters. We find that this style is all about balance, and even though they are called bitters, the hops should not steal the show, do you hear that American breweries? No photo this week, I'm posting from Raleigh North Carolina and the pic is on the camera at home.

Reviewed:

• Fullers ESB (UK)
• Boulder 25th GABF Beer (CO)
• Fullsail Equinox ESB (OR)
• Anderson Valley Boont ESB (CA)
• Otter Creek ESB (VT)

Ranking:

• Greg - 1. Fullers, 2. Boulder, 3. Fullsail, 4. Otter Creek, 5. Anderson Valley
• Jeff - 1. Fullers, 2. Boulder, 3. Fullsail, 4. Otter Creek, 5. Anderson Valley

Extras:

Preshow: ESB Homebrew
Postshow: Magic Hat 60 winks ale

This week we interview Dan Shelton from Shelton Brothers. They import some great beers such as Cantillon and Fantome as well as the notorious Santa's Butt, and Seriously Bad Elf. It's a long talk that covers lots to topics, from label approval, to importing and marketing expensive beer, and there is even a Rant about extreme beers and the BA top 100.

CBR is drinking homebrew and almost everyone listening is able to taste along thanks to the Sam Adams Longshot Homebrew Contest. Watch out for the Old Ale, that 10% ABV sneaks up on you.

Reviewed:

• Dortmunder
• Boisenberry Wheat
• Old Ale
• Deschuttes Hop Henge

Ranking:

• Greg - 1. Old Ale, 2.Dortmunder, 3. Boisenberry Wheat
• Jeff - 1. Old Ale, 2.Dortmunder, 3. Boisenberry Wheat

Extras:

Preshow: Sly Fox Dunkel
Postshow: Fullers London Pride

Roasty and Dark. Stouts take the stage early this march getting us ready for St. Patricks day. Jeff reports that he has found a new favorite imperial stout, and we have a discussion on the value of beer rating sites.

Reviewed:

Boulevard Dry Stout (MO)
Lost Coast 8 Ball Stout (CA)
Dicks Cream Stout (WA)
Deschutes Obsidian Stout (OR)

Ranking:

• Greg - 1. Boulevard, 2. Obsidian, 3. Loast Coast, 4. Sierra Nevada, 5. Dicks
• Jeff - 1. Obsidian, 2. Sierra Nevada, 3. Boulevard, 4. Lost Coast, 5. Dicks

Extras:

Preshow
Postshow
- Sierra Nevada Stout (CA)
- Starr Hill Dark Starr Stout (VA)

Are they Olde or Old? What we do know is, they're highly flavorful, high alcohol ales that give your tongue a workout. We welcome a special guest to join us in an Old Ale roundup.

Reviewed:

Eel River Triple Exultation (CA)
Alameda Papa Noel's Olde Ale (OR)
Arcadia Big Dick's Olde Ale (MI)
North Coast Old Stock Ale '04 (CA)

Ranking:

• Greg - 1. Eel River, 2. North Coast, 3. Arcadia, 4. Alameda
• Jeff - 1. Eel River, 2. North Coast, 3. Arcadia, 4. Alameda
• Aron - 1. Eel River, 2. North Coast, 3. Arcadia, 4. Alameda

Extras:

Preshow
Postshow
- Blue Point Toasted Lager (NY)
- Dogfish Head Red and White (DE)

por·ter (pôr'tər) n.
1. A person employed to carry burdens, especially an attendant who carries travelers' baggage at a hotel or transportation station.

Much like their namesake the porters we tasted on this show carried the heavy load of CBR. Every one was outstanding and while it made the show easy, the ranking was very very difficult.

Reviewed:

Boulevard Bully! Porter (MO)
Rogue Mocha Porter (OR)
Mill Street Coffee Porter Toronto, Canada
Highland Oatmeal Porter (NC)

Ranking:

• Greg - 1. Smuttynose, 2. Boulevard, 3. Mill St., 4. Rogue, 5. Highland
• Jeff - 1. Rogue, 2. Highland, 3. Mill St., 4. Smuttynose, 5. Boulevard

Extras:
Preshow
Postshow
Dark Horse Reserve Special Black Bier Ale
Smuttynose Robust Porter

Beer isn't for everyone, you know. We feel that beer is too limiting a subject, so we've decided to re-evaluate and change the show a bit. Join us on an immaculate journey of sensations - WINE sensations.

The Uncut Version of Gregory and Jeffrey's Immaculate Journey To The Wine Cellar.

The outbreak of spring causes an impromptu show. When Greg is in a hoppy mood there is little time to spare and we break out Single, Double, and Triple IPA's.

Beers:

• Slyfox Pikeland Pils
• Avery IPA
• Blue Dot Double IPA
• Weyerbacher Eleven, Triple IPA (PA)

Ranking:

• Greg - 1. Slyfox, 2.Avery, 3. Hair of the Dog, 4. Weyerbacher
• Jeff - 1. Slyfox, 2.Avery, 3. Hair of the Dog, 4. Weyerbacher

Extras:

• Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold
• Preshow
• Postshow

It's finally here, our much delayed Easter Sunday show. Sorry about that, but sometimes real work comes before fake work. In this one we try 3 Baltic Porters, discuss the definition of a craft brewer, and have a special guest on the show.

Beers:

• Southampton Imperial Porter
• Heavyweight Perkuno's Hammer
• Gonzo Oaked Imperial Porter

Ranking:

• Greg - 1. Southampton, 2. Flying Dog 3. Heavyweight
• Jeff - 1. Southampton, 2. Flying Dog 3. Heavyweight
• Brian - 1. Flying Dog, 2. Southampton 3. Heavyweight

Extras:

• Preshow
• Postshow

For number 75 we drink some sorta special beers to sorta mark the occasion, on this sorta great episode. This one was going to be called 4 Beers, but Jeff is a pansy lightweight who can't take one for the show.

Beers:

• Dogfish Head Chateau Jiahu (DE)
• Blue Frog Dry Hopped Poor Richards Ale (CA)
• Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard (CA)

Ranking:

• Greg - 1. Poor Richards, 2. Chateau Jihau, 3. Oaked Arrogant Bastard
• Jeff - 1. Chateau Jihau, 2. Poor Richards, 3.Oaked Arrogant Bastard

Extras:

• Preshow
• Postshow

We start the tour of Belgian Style Ales with the Blonde or Golden Ale.

Beers:

• Leffe Blonde
• Affligem Blonde
• Duvel
• Delirium Tremens

Links:

• Seen through a Glass Lew Bryson
• Brooklyn Local #1

Ranking:

• Greg - 1. Affligem, 2. Leffe, 3. Delerium, 4. Duvel
• Jeff - 1. Leffe, 2. Affligem, 3. Delerium, 4. Duvel

Extras:

• Preshow
• Postshow

As we begin our third year, we decide to go for broke and test our mettle with a super-sized show dedicated to brewing excellence. A special guest returns to help us soak up the alcohol of some big, powerful beers.

Beers:

• Flying Dog - Woody Creek White
• Roots Woody Organic IPA
• Three Floyds Dark Lord Imperial Stout
• Alesmith Speedway Stout
• Eisenbahn Defumada
• Brew Masters Private Reserve
• Lucky Lab - Super Duper Dog

Links:

Ranking:

• Greg - 1. Dark Lord, 2. Speedway, 3. Woody IPA, 4. Woody Creek Wit, 5. Smoked Lager 6. Super Duper Dog 7. Bud
• Jeff - 1. Speedway, 2. Dark Lord, 3. Woody Creek Wit, 4. Woody IPA, 5. Super Duper Dog, 6. Smoked Lager, 7. Bud
• Aron - 1. Speedway, 2. Woody IPA, 3. Woody Creek Wit, 4. Dark Lord, 5. Super Duper Dog, 6. Smoked Lager, 7. Bud

Extras:

• Preshow
• Postshow

On June 2nd Craft Beer Radio went to the Pennsylvania Microbrewers Festival hosted at Penn Brewing. We were armed with 2 sample glasses, a beer list, and a microphone. We discuss Penn's new Maibock Penndomonium, Kvass from East End, a new Pils from Great Lakes, Polish Beer, Ben Franklin, Hoppy Wheats the WV alcohol limit, and sample many beers.

Belgian Doubles, one of our favorite styles to pair with food. We run into a few spoiled ones, but we also hit a few gems.

Beers:

• Corsendonk Abbey Brown
• Chimay Red
• Bornem Double
• Affligem Double
• Anderson Valley Brother Davids Double

Links:

• Dancing Trout

Ranking:

• Greg - 1. Affligem, 2. Bornem, 3. Corsendonk
• Jeff - 1. Affligem, 2. Corsendonk, 3. Bornem

Extras:

• Preshow - Slyfox Royal Weisse
• Postshow - Cleanup Beers

Triple, Tripel, Trippel. No matter how you spell it, they are going to give you a lot to taste, and a lot of alcohol. If you like our strong beer shows, just wait to the end of this one.

Beers:

• Gouden Carolus Tripel (Belgium)
• Green Flash Trippel (CA)
• Anderson Valley Brother David's Triple (CA)
• Midnight Sun Epluche-Chlotte (AK)
• St. Bernardus Trippel (Belgium)
• Bournem Triple (Belgium)

Ranking:

• Greg - 1. Bernardus, 2. Anderson Valley, 3. Midnight Sun, 4. Green Flash, 5. Gouden Carolus
• Jeff - 1. Bernardus, 2. Gouden Carolus, 3. Midnight Sun, 4. Green Flash

Extras:

• Preshow - Brother David's Triple
• Postshow - Cleanup Beers

Beers:

• Weyerbacher Quad (PA)
• St. Bernardus ABT 12 (Belgium)
• Trappist Westvleteren 12 (Belgium)
• Sly Fox Ichor (PA)

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Westy, 2. Bernardus, 3. Weyerbacher, 4. Sly Fox
• Greg - 1. Westy, 2. Weyerbacher, 3. Bernardus, 4. Sly Fox

Extras:

• Preshow - Great Divide Wild Berry
• Postshow - Cleanup Beers

Salvation, Salvation, Collaboration. This week we try two beers named Salvation, one from Russian River and one from Avery. Then we try the beer that the brewers made together, Collaboration, not Litigation. Collaboration is a blend of the two Salvations and we decided that if they could do it, then why can't we? At the end of the show we try to determine just what ratio was used for the blend.

Beers:

• Avery Salvation
• Russian River Salvation
• Collaboration not Litigation

Ranking:

• Jeff - 1. Russian River, 2. Collaboration, 3. Avery
• Greg - 1. Russian River, 2. Collaboration, 3. Avery

Extras:

• Preshow -
• Postshow - Cleanup Beers

We have a special guest in the studio for episode 82, Scott Smith from East End Brewing Company. This week taste 4 smoked beers, fail to define craft beer, Jeff has an announcement, and is looking for a floor in Denver and we talk a lot about East End Brewing.

• Heavyweight Cinderbock (NJ)
• Left Hand Smoke Jump Porter (CO)
• East End Brewing Heritage Smokestack Porter (PA)
• Alaskan Smoked Porter 2006 (AK)

Rankng

• Jeff - Left Hand, Alaskan, East End, Heavyweight
• Greg - East End, Alaskan, Left Hand, Heavyweight
• Scott - Alaskan, Left Hand, Heavyweight, East End

Preshow -
Postshow - Cleanup

We have our first experience with beers from Lost Abbey/Pizza Port and it was quite the experience. Lost Abbey makes some stunning beers. And the show, it is what it is.

• Lost Abbey Judgement Day
• Lost Abbey Red Barn Ale
• Lost Abbey Avant Garde
• Lost Abbey Lost and Found

Rankng

• Jeff - Judgement Day, Red Barn, Avant Garde, Lost and Found
• Greg - Red Barn, Lost and Found, Judgement Day, Avant Garde

Preshow - Hereford & Hops Scottish Export
Postshow - Cleanup

It's the season for saison. Ha! After the great saison last week we decided to dive into the style head first with several American saisons. These run the gamut, both in flavor, and in alcohol - one is 4.5% while another is over 9% ABV.

• Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere (MI)
• Three Floyds Rabbid Rabbit (IN)
• Clipper City Red Sky at Night (MD)
• Victory V Saison (PA)
• Heavyweight Saison De La Sour Golden

Rankng

• Jeff - Bam, Rabbid, Heavyweight, Victory, Clipper
• Greg - Rabbid, Victory, Bam, Heavyweight, Clipper

Preshow - The Heavyweight
Postshow - Cleanup