Festival review, 6/4/11

I figure that I would and should write about the ACBF 2011 while it is still fresh in my head. And, I feel bad for not blogging last week, but the hardest part of keeping something up is keeping it up when it isn't new or exciting anymore. But, it was also a very busy holiday weekend here at the Musser household.

But, anyway, I just have to say how lucky I am to be even loosely affiliated with the wonderful beer culture that exists here in Boston. I wish that I could still be, to some degree. Not that I am not happy, but really, I like so many people that are already in the industry. Not all of them, because nothing is perfect, but enough. And, to even be recognized by Todd Alström, who does so much positive work to promote something so wonderful, and many others of the Beer Advocate crew, as a person who loves good beer, it's a good feeling. A feel of family and belonging. That I miss. Drunks? Not so much, but for those who enjoy good beer and good company, those will always be my people.

I thought, for fun, to stick to my rating system of beer, and use it for the fest. I'm not sure what it will show, but dammit, it's my blog post, I can do what I want.

Who? Beer Advocate

What? American Craft Beer Festival

When? 6/4/2011

Where? Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA

Hype 8 / 10: I look forward to every fest, being a volunteer or a patron. This one isn't necessarily my favorite, but comparing it to the fests at the Cyclorama, it is very much apples and oranges. It's great to have such a large fest where a lot of great breweries get a chance to shine. I got to try Boulevard next to Duck Rabbit next to Tullycross. Unless I were to travel to Denver, for the GABF, where else would I get a chance for such variety? But, the downside is that it is starting to take an effort to find beers that are different. I loved the imperial stout from Tullycross, which I have never even heard of and only visited because of the short lines. I wish I had visit more unknowns to me, now. But, the smaller fests, my favorite breweries are more likely to bring out the special beers that you'll only get to try once.

But, this is the fest where you really get to see all the beer-loving volunteers, and get a chance to know them. I'm at the point where I wish I was on a better friend basis with some of them. It's sad to see some awesome people only three times a year. But, perhaps that is what makes the fests so special, too.

Taste 12 / 15: Overall, of course, you know that the beer selection will be good. But, there are a lot of beers that I just don't like or don't want to drink again. It's a challenge, for I am a fan of drinking certain beers in the right situation. Like warmer stouts versus cold, crisp hefes. And I like to drink slow, too. I am not saying that the beer was bad, but I can definitely say that all the beers were not meant for me.

Memorability 14 / 15: What I will remember about this fest is that Beth got the job at the check-in booth, and I got to help wristband about 10,000 people. I loved it, because I got to be outside on a beautiful day and see a lot of excited, wonderful people. I do still thrive off of that churn-and-burn mentality that Starbucks had installed in me. But, I was polite to everyone, calling them friend, captain, or placated them with my smile. And, after that intense 90 minutes, the rest of my shift was easy. Filling in here and there. I also like to think/hope that this fest is the fest where people are starting to recognize us as cool people. Though, as natural introverts, I don't think that people gravitate towards us, but at least they seem to respect us. I know that this is a lot of tooting my own horn, but after three years of volunteering, I hope that we are turning a corner.

Environment 6 / 5: I am cheating a little bit here, but it really earns extra credit for the fantastic crew atmosphere that exists. Perhaps it appeals to my whole issue of needing to be needed, but when I can work with a bunch of recent strangers and get things done, I can't express that joyous feeling enough. And, for those people that I have known for a while, I look forward to seeing them every fest. And drunk/tipsy people... a lot of them are awesome. Not the drunk "yeah-dude"s, though. I can live without them. But the smiling normal people. Those, who I consider myself to be when I go out for beer, those are the people I can relate to. I would love to be part of a restaurant that caters to that European since of beer dignity. An early evening Novare Res, if you will. Why can't life be like this all the time?

X-Factor 4 / 5: Nothing all that exciting happened. It was interesting to see the fest clear out a little bit because of the Bruins game. And it was cool to see some awesome people as patrons of the fest. And the people in the industry who still like me for me, and not because I can buy their beer for business. I was sore and exhausted, though after the fest, where I don't stand on my feet that long anymore, and I don't stay up that late. But in the morning, I am glad that I am a part of a wonderful thing, and I encourage everyone else to join us some time.

Score: 44 / 50, B+

PS> The after brunch at CBC was great!

PPS> I wear my blue KU hat at the fests so that I will recognize myself in photos. Not luck yet. Though I will need a less sweated-in hat for social functions soon.

Featured Beer, week ending 5/15

So, I went to The Asgard for the first time a few weeks ago. I decided that it was time to actually face the mass crowds at a bar after Friday. It was a rough going at first. I cannot stand that many alpha personalities in one room. But, once we found who we were meeting and carved a little niche, then I started to feel much better.

Who? Bershire Brewing Company Dean's Beans Coffeehouse Porter, South Deerfield, MA

What? Robust Porter, 6.2% ABV

When? 5/13/11

Where? The Asgard, Cambridge, MA

Original Tweet: BBC Coffeehouse Porter. Nitro! I can tell because of the bubbles. It is the coffeehouse porters to end all coffeehouse porters. A-

Hype 9 / 10: This is the fickle thing about a hype rating. I knew of the CHP before I really knew that BBC existed, or even much knowledge about different styles at all. But once I finally tried it, back when I started getting into beer, I knew it was a winner. So, it's not like there was a build up to it, but finally trying something that was always there. Good thing it was awesome, AmIRight?

Taste 15 / 15: I'm torn, because I know that this beer is awesome as it is, and it doesn't need the added element of nitro to make it taste better. Unlike, you know, some marco-stouts that are out there. But, nitro is a fun presentation style and it should be a feature, but not a mandatory type thing. I liked that the Common would serve, because that's how I planned, it off of a normal tap. I strongly feel that you shouldn't have to add to a beer at the end to make it taste good. Like, I hate orange wheels on my Allagash White. Seriously? With all that said, though, nitro CHP is so rich and creamy, it is like coffee-icing beer. Which would lead to coffee-beer icing in the future. It just weighs on your tongue, lacing your taste buds with the micro bubbles of foam. And I have never had a better coffee flavored beers. And there are some good ones.

Memorability 15 / 15: I sadly have to stop and think of the other fine brews from BBC, besides CHP, when listing them off. It defines a style for me and that is the best praise I think a beer can get. Like Saison Dupont is the king of the Farmhouses, I truly believe that this is the coffee-flavored porter that everyone has to try.

Environment 4 / 5: Taking in to account the whole experience of the night, I much would rather have had a table and been able to talk quietly with my friends. Good thing this was my second beer of the night, because if I was grading Southern Tier Gemini I had first, it might have been a 1 or 2!

X-Factor 4 / 5: No real X-factor to speak of, other then being reliable and readily available. If a restaurant has a nitro line that they care about, this is what they should have on it, if not, something like Left Hand Milk Stout. But, again, I press that this beer is so good that you do not have to do anything fancy with it to make it enjoyable.

Score: 47 / 50, A

Featured Beer, week ending 5/8

Since I have taken more of an active interest in work, I feel like I am slowly progressing my genereal education. That said, I picked up a shift at the Celalr for the first time since March, and I still feel like there are huge gaps in my knowledge. If things had worked out in a perfect world, where I worked in the industry, and took an active interest in my education, then, well, let's say... there would be smaller gaps in my education.

Who? Peak Organic Hop Noir, Portland, ME

What? Cascadian Dark Ale (Black IPA)*, 8.2% ABV

When? 5/2/11

Where? Craft Beer Cellar, Belmont, MA

Original Tweet: Peak Hop Noir. I think that I have a favorite black IPA and this is it. All the balance that you would want, just dark and dandy. A-

Hype 9 / 10: I didn't know about it until it was offered to me for Brew Year's Eve. I asked Peak if they had anything that would taste great on a nitro-line, and I was told that this was just brewed and could work real well. I mean, great, for a night that is all IPAs, what else would you want to have? And it was great, except for the part where the gas was still on when I was changing the valve and something important and tiny ricocheted across the cooler, among the 50 or so kegs crammed in there. Thank goodness Peak got smart and started bottling these great beers, though. They are 3 for 3 with excellent bombers. (Espresso Amber and King Crimson)

Taste 15 / 15: It is the best beer of this style that I have had. Others, seem to have something missing. They are either overly roasted malts, or taste just like IPAs that happen to be black. I'm sure someone out there loves those other beers, that's fine. But what I want from an Black IPA is something that is reminiscent of an IPA, but doesn't change everything, either. I think Peak captured magic in a bottle (ha!). The roasty malts are don't kill the hops, or vise versa. Balance and flavor is such a difficult game

Memorability 15 / 15: Besides this and 21st Amendment Back in Black, I don't remember anything immediately when it comes to naming beers in the category. And Peak is the first one I think of. Plus, having popped up a couple times in the last six months (really, has it only been within six months? Wow!) with a catchy name and a fantastic sales rep, you gotta love it.

Environment 5 / 5: I have never had a bad time drinking this. I had a wonderful time getting off in time for the countdown on NYE to sit with Beth and enjoy a beer or three. And every time I bring it home, it goes well with our food, and have never been disappointed. Though it is stronger in ABV, I think that there are enough hops in it that I will drink it sooner than later. I don't want to accidentally age it and be disappointed.

X-Factor 4 / 5: Had this beer a one time beer, and have been rated before I left the Common, then it would have been a 5. There is a little bittersweetness to the Brew Year's Eve. But, I do enjoy it, and I am happy to be able to have brought a few bottles home this past month.

Score: 48 / 50, A

*Not an offfical style guideline.

Also, if an 87 is a B+, should I rank a 97 an A+... hmm.

Featured Beer, week ending 5/1

Going out on a Monday night. Certainly one of the best things you can do, right? Who cares if you have to work in the morning? Well, that's just what Beth and I did, to meet up with our friends. We chose Deep Ellum, 1) For its central location 2) we have never been there before and we wanted to try. Little did we know that it was going to be Fluffy White Rabbits on Cask that night. The Brewer was there, plus a lot of the local beer geeks. Lucky us!

Who? Pretty Things Fluffy White Rabbits, Somerville, MA

What? Belgian Tripel 8.5% ABV

When? 4/25/11

Where? Deep Ellum, Allston, MA

Original Tweet: Pretty Things Fluffy White Rabbits (Cask). This was a nice thing to put on a cask. The hops are mellow, more flavorful. A must have! A-

Hype 8 / 10: Well, this is the beer's second time around the seasonal releases. I think that the key to good beer marketing is if you have a good beer but only put it out once a year, or longer, the the good will only fester into greatness. Imagine if Founder's KBS was available all year long? We would get to the point of, "Oh, it's too strong to drink that.. almost ever." But, as it goes, I look more forward to Pretty Things Historical Beers and Babayaga. But, seeing this also means the return of better weather. Or, at least it will after a few more years.

Taste 14 / 15: Tripels are fun because the are strong in alcohol, but easy to drink. It a good beer for someone who likes lighter beers, but wants to get drunk a little faster. Tripels in general are a great showcase of beer for someone who wants to expand their horizon. And Tripels do not tasty boozy at all. Which, really, is why they are great. With Fluffy, the hops were mellow, which I think was really due to the lack of carbonation. I know that it is a hoppy beer. I mean, it says so right on the label. I don't know how different hops are affected in a cask. I don't know if some shine, some fizzle, or Pretty Things just brewed their beer and put it into a barrel. I know that some people will add fresh hops at the end. But that's really the pleasure of drinking a cask, letting the flavors settle and mellow.

Memorability 13 / 15: I know every year that it's a beer that I need to drink. And I do. But I think that I need to go on a Tripel streak and really start to notice the differences in each kind. I gotta get me a bottle of Westmalle Tripel, to start, and then expand. You have to know where a beer comes from to really understand where the brewer is taking it. I know that I also liked the Sapient Tripel from Dark Horse. The latter being a more casual form of the style, but still respectable. But I am never like, "Damn, I have to have Fluffy White Rabbits, now!" But I do get a joy seeing it, and I know that's it good. It's just the taste that I have to be reminded of.

Environment 5 / 5: We had a great time at Deep Ellum. One of the biggest surprises was that one of our favorite bartenders from The Independent was now serving drinks there. She was thrilled to see us, and we were thrilled to see her. And then our friends came, and it was the first time we really had hanging out with them, just our couple and their couple. They are fantastically nice people and we look forward to hanging out with them again. But, even with that, a couple more awesome people showed up, and the night was maybe a round too long, but every smile and laugh was worth it.

X-Factor 5 / 5: It's all about the cask! I think that every beer should have at least one go around in a cask. Especially stronger or darker beers. I mean, you don't really want something light in a cask unless you know that you are going to sell it pretty fast. There is no carbonation to effect it. This, as a customer, is the closest you will get to knowing a beer without going straight to the factory itself. Back to Fluffy, this was great in a cask. I think that I will remember this pint when I see the bottle next time, and want to create a nice, refined, and fresh taste. You gotta love all the wonderful beer in the area, and this one is one of the best.

Score: 45 / 50, A-

Featured Beer, week ending 4/24

So, what I am basing my posts here off of is what I have tweeted for the corresponding week. And, lately on Twitter, I have only been tweeting beers that are new to me or of extreme note. Not much of either happened this week, so it will be a fairly random sampling. I like to have rules in place, or else everything will become too free thinking, and that's just scary. *In my best old man voice* And it will happen to you....

Who? Flying Dog Garde Dog, Frederick, MD

What? Bière de Garde, 5.5% ABV

When? 4/19/11

Where? Craft Beer Cellar, Belmont, MA

Original Tweet: Flying Dog Garde Dog. I like it a lot on first sip. Super clean, crispy, with a subtle complexity, but I am afraid it would get boring. B+

Hype 7 / 10: There was one customer at the Cellar who really wanted this, so I thought that eventually it would be worth the taste. But the first case, if I remember correctly, sold out really fast, and I didn't think much of it. Possibly because my employers also didn't think too much of it. Not that it was bad, but Flying Dog just really isn't on anyone's radar up here. But, in one of those swoops through the Cellar, I decided to finally pick up a bottle.

Taste 11 / 15: Granted, I am almost two weeks removed from drinking half the bottle, which I split with Beth. I think that I like Biere de Gardes in general, being that they are cousins with the Farmhouse/Saison family that I love so much. It is warm weather beer, and I am honestly trying to like the "lighter" beers more. But, there is more of a complex spice with the Farmhouse body, and it's something that I really guess you have to get used to. Granted, this is not the roll model for all Beire de Gardes, so I shouldn't judge all of them so harshly.

Memorability 10 / 15: This may even be high because I will remember the artwork more than I will remember the actual beer. It's really all I have to go off of right now within the style, so I will have to keep it in mind next time I go shopping. Though, it then popped up at Beck&Tony's party, in which I thought to myself, "Hey, alright!" Or maybe it was the other way around, and I was like, "Hey, alright! I have this in my fridge!"

Environment 4 / 5: It was an easy drinking dinner beer split with Beth. Nothing fancy, but I certainly don't have any negative memories with it. I wasn't drinking this beer out of shame or anything like that.

X-Factor 5 / 5: It's really about the artwork with Flying Dog. Yes, they do have a connection to Hunter S. Thompson, or more importantly, a connection with Ralph Steadman, who is famous for the Fear and Loathing logo. I think that it is pretty cool to have a recognized artist at your disposal every time you produce a beer. So, kudos for them. But, really, besides Raging Bitch, I have never really been that impressed with the brewery.

Score: 37 / 50, C

Wow, perhaps this grading scale more accurately reflects the beer. This is not a bad beer, but it think this certainly puts it in its place. I might be on to something!

Featured Beer, week ending 4/17

Believe it or not, I am actually trying to drink less beer. I don't have to have one every day. Or, if I do, I should be conscious of what else I eat/drink that day. Like, from July to April, I was on a tear of averaging two beers a day. And, while it was a lot of fun, my stomach and my health deserve a little better treatment. The new job actually has a lot to do with this. When you only have about 4 hours a day to be functional, I want to be able to enjoy my beer, and the after effects. I don't want to drink a beer and then have to worry about prepping the coffee maker the next day. A buzzkill, if you will.

Who? Cantillon Bruocsella 1900 Grand Cru, Brussels, Belgium

What? Straight (Unblended) Lambic, 5% abv

When? 4/14/11

Where? Craft Beer Cellar, Belmont, MA

Hype 9 / 10: Beth had to be the one to tell me how good and rare this stuff is. Now, I am not naturally a sour a drinker like she is. But, I have learned to love it over time. So, when she came home from work with this bottle, I thought more of the Brueghel artwork than the beer inside the bottle. But, once I started working a the little beer store, and the following shipment of Cantillon that arrived, I learned how special this stuff could be. And all without even tasting it. So, shame on me, I guess, for not really understand that I had something special for a while.

Taste 14 / 15: So, not knowing what I was tasting, I didn't know what to expect. Now, this beer isn't a punch in the mouth like some beers, but this is a beer that has to be appreciated for the subtleties. It's not carbonated. It's three years old. It is very gentle, like a fine wine. And, it has to drank at room temperature. Any chill to this would kill any flavor. And you have to sip it slow, so the flavor actually lasts. I mean, if you really want to drink this beer to enjoy, you have to go slow. This is not the type of beer that you can drink fast.

Memorability 15 / 15: It was sitting in our "on deck circle" for about four months. So we had a long time to appreciate the aesthetic value of the bottle. But, when I learned more about the brewery, I was actually afraid to drink it. It had to be a special evening. I mean, what better than on my anniversary. But the real lesson was about lambic in general. I knew, somewhere in the back of my head, know that lambics were a blend of both old and young beers. But this is the only readily (and I use that term very loosely) commercially available just aged lambic. The young will usually bring in a more powerful taste, though delicious in it's own right. This is what you have before you blend it. And I think that's pretty cool and I don't know why more people don't actually sell this version.

Environment 4 / 5: Yes, I know it was my anniversary, and it was very special. But I had to work the next day, and I tried my best to drink my glass for as long as possible. I think I had it for about an hour. But, when you have the alarm clock in the back of your head, it takes away from what it could have been. Is this the beer's fault? No, but it does leave a mark on my experience.

X-Factor 5 / 5: This beer brought out a new side of the beer lover in me. Like I never really had to search for so much history and taste subtleties in a beer. And that's really what I want to be doing now that I am not directly in beer any more. I want to challenged in beer. And I want to know as much as my good friends that are still in the business. Now, I may not be able to know first or taste everything, but sure as hell, I will appreciate everything that I do get to have.

Score: 47 / 50, A

Featured Beer, week ending 4/10

I am hoping with a set weekend, and I hope to be set for a while, that I get into a habit of doing the same thing every week at roughly the same time. A little CPR back into the blog.

Who? New Belgium Brewery

Vrienden (Allagash Collaboration)

What? Spice/herb/vegetable beer, 8.5%

When? 4/6/11

Where? On The Rocks Liquor, Lawrence, KS

Hype 7 / 10: This really only registered for me when Beth started talking about it. The first time I heard about it, I was all, "Oh, New Belgium. We won't ever see that." yeah, I know Allagash is in our backyard here, but I never let myself get excited about it. And I walked right past it when Beth shouted out, "Look at this!". So, it took me a while to actually get excited about it, after I already bought it. And then, strangely enough, Allagash releas

ed it the day that we were drinking it in Kansas.

Taste 14 / 15: In retrospect, the hype may make me rate the taste higher that I initially thought. But, I will have to admit that this is my first endive beer. Though I am now getting familiar with hibiscus and it's flavor profile (thanks Goose Island's Fluer!), I feel that there is a "false" sour beer aspect to it. Kinda a quick fix for those that don't have time to make a real lambic. I could be way off. With that said, I really want to try it again, and perhaps one from the Allagash bottle. I becoming very hipster about New Belgium, sorry.

Memorability 15 / 15: I think that I will remember the audacity of the New Belgium bottle verses the simplicity of Allagash. I really don't drink that many fruit beers, but when you throw a bunch of bretts into the mix, then things do get really interesting (which takes away from the "fake" sour taste I was talking about. Anyway, though, I tend to remember brewed-once beers. you're lucky to have them when you can.

Environment 5 / 5: When is having a beer a bad experience? Well, I am sure that maybe I will come across a time or two, but again, this was a beer that was a surprise on vacation.

X-Factor 4 / 5: Looking up this beer while I type this, I can't (quickly) find if the two beers are different. New Belgium promotes bretts and endives, Allagash promoted dandelions and elderberries. And they labeled with different ABVs, 9.3% being from Allagash. So, did I drink a different beer from the one that was available here? I don't know, and I am kinda confused about the whole thing. Also, since I am using Beer Judge classification, they don't have the Wild Ale category that I am looking for. I mean, there is no doubt in my mind that it can be classified as a fruit/veggie beer, but with all those bretts, you would pass it off as a wild beer like BA did. I advocate (sorry for the pun) a standard for beer classification, much like a library. Just sayin'

Score: 45 / 50, A-