If you've been beer shopping lately you may have noticed Sierra Nevada's Beer Camp mixed 12-pack (10 bottles + 2 cans). The beers contained within come from 12 breweries across the U.S. that Sierra Nevada partnered with, all of which are probably familiar names even if they aren't generally available in your market.
The Beer Camp Across America tour starts this Saturday in Chico, Calif. with tour stops in seven cities. Portland wasn't chosen to be one of those cities (or anywhere in Oregon actually) but that didn't stop my favorite watering hole from getting in on the action. Last night The BeerMongers had a tap takeover in which they had all 12 of the beers available - and not just pouring from those 12-pks, oh, no, they were All. On. Tap.
I won't bore you with a blow by blow account of each beer but two of my favorites were Ninkasi Brewing Double Latte Coffee Milk Stout and Bell's Brewery Maillard's Odyssey Imperial Dark Ale. Ninkasi doesn't get a lot of love from me these days but they really hit it out of the park with this coffee beer. And Bell's, well I'm happy whenever I can get my hands on a beer from this upper Midwest mainstay and their Dark Ale was right up there with some of the best they make.
Two others I feel compelled to mention are Victory Brewing Alt Route Altbier and Asheville Brewers Alliance Tater Ridge Scottish Ale (made with sweet potatoes). Neither are styles I gravitate towards mostly because they tend to be too malty for me but both of these were nice beers that I'd happily order again.
If you get a chance to try these beers on tap, do it. Even if not, grab one of the 12-pks, a couple of friends and sample your way through all the offerings. I bet you find at least a couple you'll want more of.
A new year is upon us, a clean slate with endless possibilities. I started mine off with a trifecta of big beers from near and far.
Since recovery is best accomplished with delicious grease and beer it was a no brainer to head to Fire on the Mountain for wings and fries, which I accompanied with Humble Brewing's Imperial Pale Ale. If you read my last post you know I'm an IPA girl, not a pale ale girl but taking into consideration that this was an imperial pale ale (8.5% ABV) it ended up having enough heft to suit me just fine.
I got into my regular groove with my next beer - an IPA, ok, really a double IPA. While out beer shopping a couple days prior I ran across DirtWolf from Victory Brewing, a Pennsylvania brewery that generally turns out a fine product. This was as good as other brews I've had from them with a great aroma and hop forward flavor.
Continuing to up the ABV ante and add the proverbial cherry on top, the next beer was dessert. A gift from one of my generous friends, Peanut Butter Porter from Beer Engineers, lived up to expectations. This 12% ABV sipper gave off a pleasant peanut aroma and had a mellow yet pleasant more-vanilla-than-peanut-butter flavor.
I hope your 2014 started out well. Did you kick it off with something(s) new or take comfort in your favorite beer(s)?
