Craft Beer Radio

Episode 26 Postshow content

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 27 Preshow content

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

Episode 27 postshow content

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

Episode 28 Postshow.

Episode 28 Preshow content

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.

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.

Episode 29 Preshow content

John Barleycorn 2005 - Mad River (CA)

Episode 20 Postshow - James Spencer coffee porter.

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

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

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