Tag Archives: beer

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:
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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 10/7/15

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This will be short and sweet. You can even hold your breath and read the entire post. I promise. Try it…

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From left to right: bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, good.

The end.

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!

Winesday Wednesday 9/23/15

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Holy crap, it’s Wednesday AGAIN? Where does the time go?! With that, Happy Winesday Wednesday, friends!

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So last week I headed over to a local craft beer market (Hops and Barley- they don’t have a website..WHAAAAAT). The shop was a bit boutique-y and they didn’t have an abundance of beer as I was expecting, but they still had a decent new-to-me selection AND a bunch of brews on tap for growler fills. Ahh, if only I were local. Anyhoo, I was in a pinch for time and threw together a mix and match 6 pack:

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I’ve yet to try the Southern Tier Harvest and the Brown’s Brewing Co Cherry Razz, so I’ll let you know about those next week. Of the ones I DID try..

Uinta Brewing Punk’n Harvest Pumpkin Ale

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 From the website: 

DESCRIPTION

This sessionable pumpkin ale is brewed with fresh pumpkin and seasonal spices.

TASTING NOTES

Malt and hops accented with roasted pumpkin and spices of the season. A subtle hint of vanilla and honey. Punk’n is a wonderful compliment to foods with nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove flavors. Try it with roasted turkey, squash or pumpkin ravioli, peach cobbler, or pumpkin cheesecake.

I was excited to find a pumpkin ale I’ve not yet tried, BUT….womp. I am sad to report there is approximately ZERO trace of pumpkin in this brew. However, it wasn’t a bad tasting beer! Just tasted like a typical harvest/fall beer. I wouldn’t cross it off my list, I just wouldn’t add it to your pumpkin beer tasting list.

Angry Orchard Summer Honey

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From the website: Our Summer Honey cider is a light and refreshing cider with subtle notes of wildflower honey, perfect for those warmer months.

It must’ve been the wildflower honey that did it, but I did not care for this seasonal flavor from Angry Orchard. It just had a different (an unpleasant to me) aftertaste. I’d still with their original because it is the nice sweet and crisp taste you’d expect from a hard cider.

Shipyard Brewing Company Pumpkinhead

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To my fellow New Englanders, you know this beer so there is no description necessary. It’s not fall until you can order one of these puppies at a bar with a cinnamon sugar rim (SO MANDATORY). This is my favorite pumpkin beer of all time..I only wish I could have another…with aforementioned rim. So cinnamony and delicious I can’t even stand it!

Abita Pecan Harvest Ale

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From the website: 

Abita Pecan® Harvest Ale is brewed with pale, Munich, biscuit and caramel malts and Willamette hops. Real Louisiana roasted pecans are added in the brewhouse and give the ale a subtle nutty flavor and aroma. Crack one open for yourself.

This ale is excellent served with both red meat, seafood and, no surprise here, it’s also great with nuts! Try Pecan® Harvest Ale with Gouda cheese.

MIND= BLOWN. This beer was SO good and SO different. At first, it tastes like your standard fall/harvest beer but it has the most unbelievable toasted pecan finish! I need to get my hands on another one of these before I go home, because I have never come across a beer with this flavor. Maybe a brewery up in Alberta will catch on and make something similar??? wink. wink.

Oh guys…there’s also a wine a tried this week. (Read: One sip. But I can get all I need to know in that one sip! Plus, my mom likes it. It’s a smooth red that’s an easy drinker and would pair well with many foods.)

Chateau La Paws Red Wine Blend

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From the website:

A medium-bodied mixed-breed with dark cherry and raspberry notes.

Grape: Red Blend

Vineyard: California

Style: Opulent spicy red, soft tannins, rich fruit notes.

Pairings: BBQ, Grilled Steak, Roasted Vegetables

ABV:13%

In 2015 Chateau La Paws™ & Diageo Chateau & Estates are donating $100,000 to North Shore Animal League America to help fund the great work that they do to rescue, nurture, and adopt as many dogs as possible. We are proud to donate to this worthy charity and are excited to develop this partnership as we continue to grow this brand.

I IMMEDIATELY grabbed a bottle of this when I saw it because….DOGS. Insert googly-eyes emoji here. Please check out their site in the link above to read more about their cause and to see pics of all the shelter dogs they use on the labels!!

Ok, that’s it for this week. What are you drinking??

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?