Beer of the Week

The beer: Wild Card 002

The brewery: Olde Mother Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "The second in our wild card series deals a winning hand with layers of toasted bread crust, roasted hazelnut, caramel, and a hint of cocoa, all wrapped in a smooth, easy-drinking body. Rich enough to satisfy, yet balanced enough to keep you coming back for another pint."

Would I buy it again? I happened to be back in Frederick this past weekend, and felt like getting a beer from one of the old haunts. And I chose a nice brown ale. Did I necessarily taste all the things implied by the description? Not exactly, but it was still very good, and more importantly, they didn't make it too hoppy. It was a pleasant, malty beer, and so I'd happily get it again. 

Beer of the Week

The beer: Penn's Apple Ale

The brewery: Aristaeus Craft Brewing Company, Langhorne, Pennsylvania

Description (from the website): "A recipe inspired by a historic recipe from Gulielma Penn, wife of Pennsylvania founder William Penn, in their family recipe book. Penn’s Apple Ale (crafted with pressed heirloom apples from Manoff Market and Cidery in New Hope) is a light, approachable interpretation of the recipe that showcases a bright apple character balanced by a clean malt backbone and crisp, refreshing finish. Brewed in collaboration with Pennsbury Manor."

Would I buy it again? This isn't a hard cider, but an apple-flavored beer. Plus, there's the historical angle going, both of which made me very intrigued to try this beer. But the taste was, for me, not great. It's quite tart, and tart isn't a flavor I love in my beer. It did grow on me a bit as I drank it, but still, I don't think I would buy this beer again. Fun to try, not so fun to drink.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Horror Fest

The brewery: New Ridge Brewing Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Description (adapted from an Instagram post): Horror Fest was blended with some London Porter and this year's Festbier, conditioned on vanilla beans and pumpkin pie spice. It's reeaaal goob. (Their word, not mine.)

Would I buy it again? New Ridge remains closed to the public after the January fire at their brewery, but they are still making beer somewhere, and have been the exclusive brewery of choice at any and all community event in the northwestern Philadelphia area. So, while at the local Oktoberfest, I couldn't resist trying their pumpkin ale. And it was great. Lots of good pumpkin flavor, enhanced by the vanilla, and properly malty. Supposedly they're due to open the brewery back up in January next year, which I can't wait for. Every beer I've had from them has been quite good and worth having again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Doppelbock

The brewery: Warwick Farm Brewing, Jamison, Pennsylvania

Description (from Untappd): "Often referred as a beer that tastes like 'liquid bread.' This lager has notes of toasted bread, toffee, and maltiness. We extended our lager process to 8 weeks to ensure this beer is clear and clean."

Would I buy it again? As one might expect from a beer named quite literally after the style of beer, this doppelbock is a pretty basic one. Nothing fancy, nothing daring or bold. Which is both a good and a bad thing — it's good because it tastes great, but it's bad because I have no compelling reason to spend more money on this than on a cheaper, more readily available doppelbock. If I was at the brewery, I would of course buy this again, it's delicious. But if I see it sitting on the shelf of my nearest beer distributor? Probably not.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Love Fest

The brewery: Love City Brewing Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Description (from Untappd): "Love Fest is our take on a traditional German-style Oktoberfest. In keeping with tradition, this beer is brewed with 100% German malt from Weyermann Malting in Bamberg. Notes of toasted bread, dark fruit & caramel, with a lightly sweet, clean finish."

Would I buy it again? So there's some good news and some bad news with this particular beer. The good news: the beer tastes great. The hops have been tamed here, and the malt shines through. Definitely one of the better Oktoberfest beers I've had. The bad news: As you can see from the image, the pour job was atrocious. The beer's about a third foam, which is way too much, in my personal opinion. Considering the size of the mug it was poured in, you're kind of getting scammed out of a good amount of beer. It might be safer to buy this beer in a can; at least then you know how much you're getting.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Stockton Red Maple Coffee Porter

The brewery: Hidden Sands Brewing Company, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey

Description (from Untappd): "Debuting our Collaboration with Stockton University, our Red Maple Coffee Porter using a blend of red maple syrup locally produced and Vermont dark robust maple syrup. Typically conditions on locally roasted Ocean City Coffee Company beans."

Would I buy it again? Unfortunately, I wasn't absolutely blown away by this beer. It was okay, but the coffee aspect really dominated. I didn't get all that much maple syrup here, which is what I was looking for. It wasn't overly bitter or anything, so the maple was doing something, but this beer just felt a little boring.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Split Decision

The brewery: Abita Brewing Company, Covington, Louisiana

Description (from the website): "Why choose just one? This crisp, clean lager is infused with the classic trio of Neapolitan flavors – luscious strawberry, rich cocoa, and smooth vanilla – for a surprisingly refreshing twist on dessert. Light-bodied with a hint of sweetness and a creamy finish, it’s nostalgia in a bottle."

Would I buy it again? There was a big question on my mind when I bought this beer: Could it manage to retain its lager-ness while including the bold flavors proclaimed on the label? And the answer is ... not really. Don't get me wrong, it's a solid beer and I liked drinking it, but it does not feel like a lager. As to the actual question of whether I would buy this again, yeah, I probably would. Is it a pure lager? No. Is it still tasty? Yes. 

Beer of the Week

The beer: Damnation

The brewery: Russian River Brewing Company, Santa Rosa, California

Description (from the website): "Damnation, the first in our long line-up of Belgian-inspired beers, is a medium-bodied golden ale. We ferment Damnation with a Belgian yeast strain that gives it notes of fruit and spice. Damnation is refermented in the bottle to create its fine carbonation. Pour slowly, allowing the natural yeast sediment to remain."

Would I buy it again? Russian River is a big name in the beer world. It has the fifth-highest rating of all the breweries on Untappd, with their Pliny the Elder IPA leading the way in terms of their offerings. I didn't figure I'd ever have a Russian River beer, seeing as the brewery is on the far side of the country, but lo and behold, there's a beer shop within walking distance that sells all sorts of interesting and rare beers. 

So, was Damnation worth the $10 price tag? Uh, no. Don't get me wrong, it was pretty good. I was initially put off because the beer is surprisingly bitter, but I quickly grew to appreciate the depth of flavor. It's really pretty good, and the bitterness gives way to a more traditional Belgian beer flavor. But it's still not worth $10. No way. Half the price, maybe, but since that probably won't ever happen, I do not see myself buying this beer again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Dreambuild

The brewery: Love City Brewing Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Description (from Untappd): "This West Coast-Style Pilsner is brewed with German Pilsner malt and hopped with Riwaka, Chinook, and Citra hops. Dreambuild is a clean, crisp, lightly hoppy lager beer with assertive notes of sweet pink grapefruit, pineapple, and citrus."

Would I buy it again? This was a decent beer. Not great, a little hoppier than I would have preferred, but not excessively so. It was very good to drink after a long day outside, but it's not something I would go for in most circumstances. It's just the old adage again: If you're competing in the Yuengling market, you have to do something special, and this beer just didn't.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Caramel Cookie Bar

The brewery: Southern Tier Brewing Company, Lakewood, New York

Description (from the website): "Satisfy your sweet tooth! Milk chocolate and gooey caramel wrap around sweet cookie for a smooth taste of your favorite candy bar. Take a break from ordinary and taste something so crave-worthy, one is never enough!"

Would I buy it again? Is it really a surprise that Southern Tier hit again with this imperial stout. They do such a good job making these beers feel distinct from each other. There's caramel here, but also some chocolate. But in terms of flavor, that's it; a lot of imperial stouts struggle with too many flavors, a problem which this beer avoids. I would definitely buy this beer again; just a warning though, at 10%, you probably don't want to have more than one in a night.

Beer of the Week

The beer: House Stout

Brewed by: Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, New York

Description (from the website): "House Stout is a seasonal expression crafted in harmony with the rhythms of upstate New York. This classic dry stout is light and smooth, with layers of roasted malt and a hint of smokiness, reminiscent of the classic sugar houses that populate the hills of the Adirondacks. Gently rounded by a touch of sweetness, a result of secondary conditioning using maple syrup sourced locally from the Upstate New York Maple Syrup Collective. House Stout pays tribute to the annual sugaring season, when sap is transformed into one of our region's most sought-after and cherished gifts. Maple conditioning adds nuance and depth, finishing with a lingering maple note that complements the stout’s roasty character. Ommegang House Stout is our ode to the forest, sugar shacks, and timeless craft that makes this season so special."

Would I buy it again? The maple finish adds a lot to this beer, giving a nice subtle bit of welcome sweetness to what would otherwise be a pretty dry and smoky stout. Not that I don't like that sort of beer, but the maple gives it a real drinkability that you don't always see. I would definitely but this beer again. 

Beer of the Week

The beer: Cheat Day

The brewery: Southern Tier Brewing Company, Lakewood, New York

Description (from the website): "This decadent brew is a full-bodied dessert dream, crafted in collaboration with Perry’s Ice Cream to bring their indulgent flavors to life in beer form. Layers of brown sugar sweetness swirl with rich brownie batter, while brownie pieces and cookie dough add deep, doughy complexity to this Imperial Ale. Each sip tastes as good as diving spoon-first into your favorite pint after a long week—it’s Cheat Day! The ultimate pour for those who believe dessert should be savored, not skipped."

Would I buy it again? Does Southern Tier ever miss with their imperial ales? Certainly not with this one. It was very chocolatey and malty, feeling very much like a brownie in beer form. I would absolutely buy this beer again. I might even do it on a warm day. 

Beer of the Week

The beer: Gojaira

The brewery: Japas Cervejaria, Louisville, Kentucky and São Paulo, Brazil

Description (from the can): "Meet our monster Gojaira: she is so angry that she won a Dank IPA to make her stop blowing off steam. Distracted people may confuse its aroma with that of a much-debated herb. This aroma is called 'dank,' a combination of resinous, herbal, citrus, and tropical fruit aromas of certain hops. Yes, it's just hops, there's nothing illegal here! Strata, Columbus, Simcoe, Citra, and Mosaic mix with a smooth malt base for this delicious trip."

Would I buy it again? I hate doing this because I absolutely love the can (that's why I bought this beer), but oh boy, is this beer bad. The initial taste is okay, but the aftertaste is acrid and bitter. If you've ever had Malört (unfortunately, I have), the aftertaste is extremely similar. It tastes like a sweaty sock smells. It might actually be a top five worst beer. I'll keep the can, but never in my life will I buy this beer again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Summer Love

The brewery: Victory Brewing Company, Downington, Pennsylvania

Description (from the website): "You never forget your first love. And we bet you'll never forget the years of celebrating all that's great about summer with Summer Love by your side. Baseball. Beach Days. BBQs. This Golden Ale delivers big flavor and big nostalgia through a fine balance of clean pilsner malts and citrusy, earthy Simcoe and Tettnang hops.​"

Would I buy it again? So, this beer was a bit hoppier than I was expecting, but it also had a nice juiciness to it as well. I actually didn't know what this was (other than a beer from Victory) and I thought it was a pale ale, not a golden ale. It's quite good though, very pleasant to drink, and I would buy it again. 

Beer of the Week

The beer: Mimosa Saison

The brewery: Boulevard Brewing Company, Kansas City, Missouri

Description (from the website): "This French oak cask-aged blood orange Mimosa Saison makes it easy to bring that carefree brunch energy anywhere. Bright blood orange meets the lively character of a Belgian-style saison, creating a bubbly, citrus-kissed celebration in a glass. Wherever you raise it—noon, midnight, or somewhere deliciously in-between—it’s brunch."

Would I buy it again? So, what we have here is a beer that I can tell is very well made and quite good, but just isn't quite for me. There's a lot of orange flavor, it's relatively light and easy to drink, but the citrus comes in a little strong. Unfortunately, I'm just not that much into citrus. So, I would pass in the future, but if you like the taste of orange and mimosa, this beer will be right up your alley.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Framinghammer

The brewery: Jack's Abby Craft Lagers, Framingham, Massachusetts

Description (from Beer Advocate): "Savor the decadence of 'Gingerbread Framinghammer,' an imperial Baltic Porter that's pure dessert indulgence. This lager is a luxurious blend of cozy spices and sweetness, recreating a holiday favorite in liquid form. Immerse yourself in the opulence of flavors and elevate your lager experience."

Would I buy it again? This is a really good beer. It's got some really good sweet and spicy flavor to it, so it does come off as quite sugar cookie-like. And since it's a Baltic porter, it's still got a lot of strong beer flavor as well. So not too sweet. It would be a great beer for the winter. Too bad I'm drinking it in July. If I can find it again in November, then I'll definitely buy this again. For now, probably not.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Whooo-Berry

The brewery: Rusty Rail Brewing Company, Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania

Description (from Instagram): "Crisp lager. Smooth blueberry. Light body. Clean finish."

Would I buy it again? I haven't been the biggest fan of blueberry-flavored beer in the past, and this particular example didn't change my tune. The initial taste was okay, but the finishing note was weak and watery, at least to me. It just felt like this beer was missing something. Not terrible, but I wouldn't buy it again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Honey Orange Tripel

The brewery: New Belgium Brewing Company, Fort Collins, Colorado

Description (from the website): "This tripel is crafted with the very best ingredients. We source wild honey from the African Bronze Honey Company, a member of the Fair Trade Federation and a certified B-Corp. Old Town Spice Shop—a local Fort Collins favorite—also helps us grind fresh Seville orange peels the day before we brew. The result of this collaboration? A citrusy sweet Belgian-style beer that never fails to delight."

Would I buy it again? I love doppelbocks, but I don't think any beer masters the art of high ABV and sheer drinkability quite like a tripel. And this is no exception. At 10%, it's twice as potent as your standard beer, but it's incredibly pleasant to drink. It's got a nice honey flavor mixed with a bit of citrus, which hides the alcohol very well. This isn't the first one of these I've had, so the answer is yes, I would buy it again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Just Like Himmel

The brewery: New Ridge Brewing Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Description: No description for this one, but it's a Vienna lager. Annoying, but seeing as the brewery burned down at the end of January and they're currently rebuilding, I think we can forgive them this time around.

Would I buy it again? I went through quite the range of emotions when I first found New Ridge Brewing Co. on Google Maps. 

"Oh nice, a brewery that's like a mile away. That's a nice easy walk. Let's see what they've got on tap ... oh, they're closed. They had a big fire."

So, when my girlfriend and I went to a free concert at a nearby park and saw that New Ridge were serving beer, I had to buy some. Clearly from the image I was not prepared for beer reviewing. But the beer was great, which is fitting, because Just Like Himmel won gold in the Vienna lager category at the Beer World Cup. It was malty and had a lot of heft, but was still perfectly pleasant to drink outside on a warm evening. I would happily buy this again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Conway's Irish Ale

The brewery: Great Lakes Brewing Company, Cleveland, Ohio

Description (from the website): "Named for Patrick “Pa” Conway, our founders’ grandfather and a beloved traffic cop who’d agree this smooth, full-bodied Irish Ale is just the ticket."

Would I buy it again? Irish red ales are an underrated warm-weather beer, and this is a fine example. Easy to drink, has some pleasant maltiness, and a decent but not overwhelming amount of hoppiness. Plus, it's got a higher ABV that most Irish red ales I've had, which is nice. It's not spectacular, but it's a great drinking beer. I'd definitely buy this again.