Category Archives: craft beer

Winesday Wednesday 11/11/15

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Hi friends! Happy middle of the week to you!

  
Once again, not much new to share here. I haven’t been to a liquor store in AGES, so if Tyler doesn’t bring home anything new I pretty much have nothing to post.

I surprisingly didn’t drink a single thing this past weekend- just wasn’t feeling it. Plus, I really wanted quality sleep since Thursday night was pretty rough. 

But today (this morning) I made us some pretty delicious bevvies:

  
Coffee ice cubes + vodka + baileys + coffee = the best math equation ever.

Coffee ice cubes are the BEST. 

Michael shared a new beer, too!

 
 It’s a brown ale from Hill Farmstead in Vermont.
Yum! I used to not be a fan of brown ales, but have recently tried a couple that have been tastier than I thought!

Don’t forget to share any new booze finds/products so I can compile a Christmas Wish List!

What are you drinking this week?

Winesday Wednesday 10/14/15

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JUST when I thought I had exhausted my pumpkin beer for the year…

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Tyler picked up a bottle of this stuff for me..

Pumpkin-Patch

From the website: 

STYLE: Specialty Ale FOOD PAIRING: Dessert, Pork
TASTING NOTES: We made this beer with our own hops, barley and pumpkins.
15 INGREDIENTS: Rogue Farms Dream Pumpkins; Rogue Farms Dare, Risk, Carafa II & Crystal Wheat Malts; Rogue Farms Independent Hops; Orange Peel, Cinnamon, Cloves, Cardamom, Vanilla, Ginger & Nutmeg; Free Range Coastal Water & Pacman Yeast.
From Patch to Batch. Dedicated to Farmers and Fermenters.
750ml Bottle & Draft / 14° Plato / 6.1% ABV / 25 IBU / 75 AA / 25° L
I was a bit skeptical of this beer because I didn’t so much care for their voodoo doughnut bacon maple ale, but this one was a complete (and GREAT) surprise! It first tastes like a typical pumpkin ale, but has a subtle spicy finish that is so smooth you could slap it. I really loved it.
I raved about it so much that Tyler went back to the beer store for me the next day. I thought he picked up another of the same (just in case it was gone sooner rather than later) but he picked up yet ANOTHER winner:
angry-hessian-pumpkin
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From the website:
Every fall we produce our pumpkin ale, brewed with 60 kg of pumpkin as well as molasses, demerara sugar, crushed cinnamon sticks, pureed ginger, and crushed whole cloves and whole nutmeg – and oats for body. The result is pretty much pumpkin coloured, and very smooth and creamy. Close your eyes at the nose and you think there is a slice of pie on a plate in front of you, but when you fill your mouth the perception is more like pumpkin cheesecake, full of delicious flavour and mouthfeel.
To me, it had the same spectacular quality as the Rogue beer, just with a slightly happier finish. I’m not a hops person, but this has just the right amount of balance that I’d drink it again. And again. I think I’ll need to go back and get more of both before the fall beer season is over!!!
What are you drinking this week?

Winesday Wednesday: Common Roots Brewing Co

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I really think sometimes I should just call it Beersday Wednesday because I tend to share more beers than wines. Especially when I’m home because there are just so many beers to try! Doesn’t have the same ring to it though.

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Last Wednesday I ventured out to South Glens Falls to check out a new brewery, Common Roots Brewing Company. I actually found out about the place when I was at the beer store a few weeks ago and chatted up the cashier for a few minutes. Thank goodness I did, because I really liked the place!

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Of course, since I had never had any of their beers, a tasting flight was the obvious choice. They had 8 beers on tap (check out the link to their site as previously posted) and we could choose four for our flight. (only $5! Insert super excited/happy/drooly emoji here)

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My mom and I both got the same 4:

  • Haus Sour- I loved this one! I have yet to see a sour beer in Alberta, but I do remember trying one in Seattle last summer. It’s an easy drinker and I think it’s a great beer for those who aren’t normally beer drinkers.
  • Coffee Cup- This one was pretty good. It was a bit hard to get down because of the high alcohol content, but I could really taste the cold press coffee and the fact that it’s from a local coffee vendor is even better!
  • Spinner- I really like this one because of the grapefruit in it. Still a bit tough for me to thoroughly enjoy since it is a pale ale.
  • Daylight DIPA- Yeah, not sure what I was thinking when I chose this one since I’m not an IPA person, but it was neat to at least try their take on it.

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I made sure Wes was wearing his Pint Sized shirt for out visit and the brewers got a kick out of it.

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While we were there, we were advised a local food truck would be there on Friday, so my mom and I made sure to come back! If you checked out my Weekend Recap, you’ll remember I had that AWESOME pulled pork quesadilla with my beer. Mmmm so good.

I know for a fact if I didn’t live so dang far away I’d be frequenting this place. The brewery was made up really nice and I saw on social media that they offer extended hours for football games, trivia nights, gears and beers, and even yoga! I’m actually hoping to make it to one of their monthly yoga sessions before heading back to Calgary. Umm yoga + beer= googly eyes.

What are you drinking this week?

Have any local breweries near you? Please share!

Weekend Recap

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Another great weekend in the books! Which also mean one week closer to going home..womp. Friday: Obviously the day started with pancakes! The consistency of these are way different than the ones I make at home..I now know just how awesome … Continue reading →

Winesday Wednesday 9/16/15

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Hi there! Happy Winesday Wednesday! Sorry for the no show last week- we had to play catch up after a unexpectedly long layover from the day before. But, I was able to get to the beer store at some point last week and enjoyed 3 different drinks that I’m excited to share with you!

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Not only is alcohol extremely less expensive in the states (WOOOOO FREAKING HOO) but there is also a larger variety. So you can probably imagine how giddy I was to take my first trip to the beer store this visit. I managed to narrow it down to three different drinks:

Coney Island Brewing Co Hard Root Beer

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I lucked out because they sold singles of this one. I didn’t want to buy a 6 pack and get stuck with 5 extras in case I didn’t like it! Good news- it was SO good. It tasted exactly like root beer with just a bit of alcohol-y finish. I would definitely drink this again..many times. So maybe it would have been ok to buy the 6 pack?!!

Citizen Cider Unified Press

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Of course I had to pick up a hard cider and man oh man is this a goody.

From the website: 

Made from 100% locally sourced apples, never from concentrate, the Unified Press is Citizen Cider’s flagship cider that keeps you wondering where it’s been your whole life. This naturally gluten-free cider is an off-dry, crisp, clean and refreshing cider that keeps you coming back.

AVAILABILITY: Forever

Apples pressed at Happy Valley Orchard in Middlebury, VT.

Manufactured in Burlington and Middlebury, VT.

Pairings: Pork, soft cheese, spicy food, smoked fish, rustic bread & butter.

It’s 6.8% ABV but I kid you not it tastes just like a premium apple cider sans alcohol. And now I want one. Good thing I have two left in the fridge. Highly recommend this! Bonus: It’s from Vermont. That’s where Ben and Jerry’s comes from.

Two Road’s Brewing Company Roadsmary’s Baby

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From the website: Roadsmary’s Baby is a traditional pumpkin ale with a Two Roads spin, it’s aged in rum barrels for added complexity and depth of flavor. The result is a smooth drinking ale with notes of pumpkin, spices, vanilla, oak and a touch of rum.

Ok…hmmm. I’m still not 100% sold on this one but I think it’s because I drank it wrong. I was actually in a craft beer market earlier today and was chatting with the guy there about it and he said darker beers have to be served at warmer temperatures in order to experience the full flavor. Well DUH! I’m an idiot and totally forgot all about this and drank it ice cold. Ugh. It wasn’t until I got to the very bottom of the can did I actually appreciate the flavor (it took me about 2 hours to finish, so it wasn’t that cold by the end). Good thing I have 5 more in the fridge.

So those were my drinks for last week..I’ve stocked up on more beer (AND WINE!) this week and can’t wait to test them out and share with you next week!

PARENTS (or childless folk who have friends with children and need to bring them relief in the form of alcohol) READ THIS: Top 6 Wines That Pair Best With Your Child’s Crappy Behavior

What are you drinking this week?