I miss blogging.........

I have given myself a new goal......actualy 2 new goals. 1. Brew more and 2, Blog more!

I've had 2 pretty significant life changing events happen to me this year....first, in January, I left my old company for which I had been at for 9 and a half years and started a new job. Second, and more importantly, I became a father!

Both experiences have been awesome. I wouldn't trade them for anything. But....it hasn't left much time for the 2 B's. I knew I wouldn't brew too much early on, but I never expected that I would slow...or almost stop....blogging!

So, I will once again try to blog AT LEAST once a week.

Tonight's post.....a review of Mayflower IPA. Hope you all have a chance to grab one!

Appearance: Amber/Copper in color. Nice 2 finger head that laces at first, but mid glass seems to dissipate.

Aroma: Slightly malty with nice citrus hops aroma. very nice and what I expect and IPA should be.

Taste: Nice bitterness from the hops is immediatley noticable. Not hugely bitter, but enough to remind you it's an IPA. the beer balances nicely with some bready and roasty malt flavor. Great mix.

Mouthfeel: Easy to drink. This beer goes down great and leaves you longing for more. carbonation is just right where your tongue gets prickled, but not like you're drinking a soda way too fast.

Drinkablility: Thank you bartender.....may I have another! I guess when you cruise through a 6 pack in an evening, it's a good beer!

Overall: A This is one of my new favorite IPA's. It helps that it's local, here in MA. I can't wait to get to the brewery!

Cheers,
Jason

Harpoon 100 Barrel Serises: Island Creek Oyster Stout

I've been out of the loop for a while now. My new job is a little more demanding than my previous one, so posting at work is not possible anymore. I'm trying to be better, so you'll hopefully start seeing more posts out of me.

Harpoon has been doing a series of beers called the 100 Barrel Series. They're small batch beers that were originally started as experiments for the harpoon brewers and employees. Some of the beers they've turned out have been amazing, Session 28: Glacier Harvest '09 Wet Hop Ale and Session 4: Barleywine specifically and others, Session 26 - Catamount Maple Wheat, I didn't enjoy as much. So when I saw adds for Session 30: Island Creek Oyster Stout I had to try it. The description sounds both frightening, and exciting as well.

"This smooth stout is brewed with freshly harvested Island Creek Oysters. The roasted nostes of the stout blend beautifully with the mineral flavors of the oysters."

Wait....you actually brewed this beer with real oysters???? I'm scared......but I have to try it! Hopefully I don't get any sand in my bottle! :-)

Appearance: Black! Very black! Perfect 2.5 finger coffee/tan colored head. As it sits, the foam becomes frothy, almost like the cream on the top of a cappuccino. Head laces nicely on the glass as I drink it down.

Aroma: Nice roasted malt aroma mixes well with hints of coffee and butterscotch.

Flavor: Just as it smelled, the roasted malt packs a nice punch without being overpowering. Chocolate and caramel are evident and play a nice wingman to the roasted malt. Part of me thinks I can taste the ocean, but the other part thinks my mind is playing tricks on me. No bitterness.

Mouthfeel: This is a chewy and full bodied beer as I expected. Silky smooth as it coats my mouth.

Drinkability: This beer was fantastic. Although, I think you could put this side by side with the same beer but brewed without the oysters and I wouldn't have been able to tell the difference. I was a little nervous at first....I wasn't sure what a beer brewed with Oysters tastes like, but it's damn good! Now I wish I could have found more than one of these. Definitely go try one if you find it.

Cheers,
Jason

Review: Sankaty Light - Cisco Brewers

I met some friends at the Oak Room in Boston and had the chance to try Sankaty Light from Cisco Brewers in Nantucket, MA. I can honestly say, this is my light beer of choice from now on!!

I did have one issue with this beer though. The bottle says Sankaty Light Lager (despite the picture on the left), but the website says it's an ale. I emailed the brewer to get to the bottom of it, so I'll update when I get an answer!!!

A: The beer is a light gold color with a thin white head that stuck around and left a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of light malts and a pretty strong dose of hops for the style.

T: The taste is light and starts out a little bready with very little malty sweetness. A nice clean burst of mild hops bitterness follows. The malt character is thin as you would expect. Overall, it’s quite refreshing. The after-taste is slightly bready with a nice hop aroma to finish it off.

M: Crisp and very smooth, light body, medium-to-heavy carbonation, clean and dry finish.

D: Tasty, goes down very easily, not filling at all, perfect when you want something light. It’s well-worth drinking on a hot day and you’re not looking to get too hammered.

Serving type: bottle