February 3rd, 2009
Recommended Beers
16 great beers available in the North East
In December, we were asked to create a list of beers for a local holiday gathering (sorry for the delayed post). The requirements for this list were the following:
* Must be currently available (obviously for the holiday consumption).
* Select two beers from 7 or 8 different categories
We thought, oh — this is simple. Well, it was easy to locate amazing beers that are available, but drilling them down to top 2 per category became tough.  We selected beers that would be liked by a beer guru and beers that would impress a new comer. Along with the list of beers, we provided the Commercial description for the beer and created a fun – Beer Guy description for the beer.
Hope you Enjoy.
Sean
2Beerguys.com
Drink Craft Beer, You’ve Earned It!!
in no particular order…. and obviously not a complete list of awesome beers
PALE ALES:
* SIERRA NEVADA PALE ALE (CHICO, CA)
Commercial Description: Our most popular beer, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, is a delightful interpretation of a classic style. It has a deep amber color and an exceptionally full-bodied, complex character. Generous quantities of premium Cascade hops give the Pale Ale its fragrant bouquet and spicy flavor.
2beerguys says: This pale ale is a classic example of an American Pale Ale. Typically, an American Pale Ale is hoppier than a British style Pale, and this one sits on the extreme end of that spectrum. Loaded with tons of delicious hops, this guy blurs the line between pale ale and IPA, and is the most popular pale ale in America – ABV: 5.6%.
* PEAK ORGANIC PALE ALE (PORTLAND, ME)
Commercial Description: A complex hybrid between a West-Coast Pale Ale and a British-Style Pale Ale. Cascade hops impart citrusy, hoppy notes in the nose. The use of organic Caramel Malts give this a smooth, almost sweet finish. 41 IBU’s (International Bittering Units) pushes this brew to near IPA (India Pale Ale) status.
2beerguys says: Organic beers are creating a new explosion in the craft beer market. The Peak Organic Pale Ale is a prime example of an organic beer that will knock your socks off. However, organic is just an added perk as the beer stands alone on its merit as a great example of a pale ale – ABV: 5%.
INDIA PALE ALES:
* FOUNDERS CENTENNIAL IPA (GRAND RAPIDS, MI)
Commercial Description: Selected as a benchmark for the Beer Judge Certification Program used in all American based beer judging. Centennial IPA has quickly become the IPA of choice. Pour yourself a pint of this complex flavorful ale and bask in the frothy head’s floral bouquet. Relish the immense citrus accents, achieved by the abundance of dry hopping. This ale’s sweet, malty undertones balance the hop character with a finish that never turns too bitter.
2beerguys says: The people at the BJCP are smart. There’s a good reason this beer is a benchmark for judging IPAs…it’s damn good. The aroma if filled with wonderfully heavy citrus hops before you even get the glass to your nose, and the flavor is perfectly balanced with sweet maltiness up front, finishing with a killer bitter end – ABV: 7.2%.
* CAPE ANN BREWING FISHERMANS IPA (GLOUCESTER, MA)
Commercial Description: Same exceptional quality 2 row barley as the Brew, flavored with several exotic hops for a distinct hop character! Well balanced and very flavorful.
2beerguys says: Brewed in downtown Gloucester, the Fisherman’s IPA is well-balanced between malts and hops. Leave it to Fisherman’s to pack a wallop of an IPA in a small bottle; if you’ve ever been to Gloucester, you’d understand that they know how to drink – ABV: 5.5%.
BROWN ALES:
* SMUTTYNOSE OLD BROWN DOG ALE (PORTSMOUTH, NH)
Commercial Description: Old Brown Dog has been cited as a classic example of the “American Brown Ale” style of beer. Compared to a typical English Brown Ale, Old Brown Dog is fuller-bodied and more strongly hopped.
Old Brown Dog has been around for many years. It was first brewed in 1988 at the Northampton Brewery. In 1989 it won a silver medal in its category (American Brown Ale) at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver.
2beerguys says: The Old Brown Dog is an awesome representation of a brown ale. Gorgeous color accented by a nice aroma of nuts and allspice, and the taste is just bitter enough to have some bite – we hope it doesn’t leave a mark ABV: 5.9%.
* HARPOON SESSION BROWN ALE (BOSTON, MA)
Commercial Description: Harpoon Brown is brewed to accentuate the sweeter, rounder notes derived from six different malts, including a de-husked chocolate malt that adds a hint of chocolate. The blend of these malts produces a beer that is complex and delicious without being heavy. This drinkable beer is perfect as a session beer or paired with foods.
2beerguys says: In March of 2007, Harpoon reached back into their bag of tricks and released Session Brown Ale. What is a session beer you ask? A session beer is a beer that is lower in alcohol and can be consumed in larger qualities without feeling the negative effects. The Harpoon Brown is light in body and not overpowering ABV: 4.3%.
STOUTS:
* IPSWICH OATMEAL STOUT (IPSWICH, MA)
Commercial Description: Ipswich Oatmeal Stout – Deep, rich, and malty with hints of chocolate and coffee. It’s what espresso would be if it had the gumption to be beer. We use three different hop additions, specially selected crystal malts, roasted barley, and oatmeal to give it a soft and silky mouth feel. Makes a great dessert. Or meal.
2beerguys says: When you’re sitting around a warm fireplace, crack open a growler of Ipswich Oatmeal Stout. Not only will you be relaxed by the warmth of the fire, the Oatmeal Stout will lure you into a sense of calmness with its rich chocolaty taste. Support your local brewery and you will not be let down by the Oatmeal Stout 7% ABV.
* BROOKLYN BLACK CHOCOLATE STOUT (BROOKLYN, NY)
Commercial Description: This is the famous Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, our award-winning rendition of the Imperial Stout style, once made exclusively for Catherine the Great. We use three mashes to brew each batch of this beer, achieving a luscious deep dark chocolate flavor through a blend of specially roasted malts. We brew it every year for the winter season. It is delicious when newly bottled, but also ages beautifully for years.
2beerguys says: The Brooklyn Black Chocolate stout is near and dear to Sean’s heart. This power of this stout is often underestimated and underappreciated. The medium bodied stout is rich and creamy, with hints of dark chocolate. This is a seasonal offering that can be kept around for a while and will mature with age ABV: 10.1%.
FRUIT BEERS:
* HARPOON RASPBERRY UFO (BOSTON, MA)
Commercial Description: We have added natural raspberry flavor to our UFO Hefeweizen to create this beer. Consistent with the hefeweizen style, this beer is unfiltered and cloudy with a solid foamy head. UFO Raspberry has a distinctive, hazy rose color. The scent of fresh raspberries hits the nose immediately, along with a subtle bready aroma from the wheat and yeast. The body is light and the unfiltered yeast provides a soft mouthfeel. The taste of the fruit compliments the beer nicely, neither overwhelms the other. There is a faint sweetness on the palate, which finishes cleanly in a semi-dry, tart finish.
2beerguys says: As a departure from their straight UFO, the raspberry version packs a punch of raspberries and citrus in the aroma, with much more assertiveness than the original. It drinks with a bittersweet taste up front, finishing just slightly bitter, leaving a very crisp and clean finish. Super refreshing ABV: 4.8%.
* SEA DOG BLUE PAW BLUEBERRY ALE (PORTLAND, ME)
Commercial Description: Our unique contribution to the fruit ale category features the nutty quench of wheat ale combined with the delightful aromatics and subtle fruit flavor contributed by Maine wild blueberries.
2beerguys says: The Blue Paw is a silly name for such a great beer. Take a moment and remember Grandma’s blueberry cake. Do you remember it? Can you smell it? Add a little confection sugar on top? Is your mouth watering? If so, this is the same experience that you’ll have when you try the Sea Dog Blue Paw ABV: 3.5%.
WINTER/HOLIDAY BEERS:
* HARPOON WINTER WARMER (BOSTON, MA)
Commercial Description: Winter Warmer was Harpoon’s first seasonal beer. It was designed to be enjoyed during the holiday season. When you bring a glass of this dark copper ale to your lips to take your first sip you will notice the aroma of cinnamon. There is no aromatic hop added that might overpower the distinct spice scent. The medium body of this beer is formed from caramel and pale malts. These create enough body to support the spices without making the beer excessively rich. Bittering hops are added to counter the sweetness of the malt and spice. The finish of the beer is a blend of cinnamon and nutmeg. The combination of these two spices results in a balanced, pumpkin-pie flavor.
2beerguys says: Have you ever made a ginger bread house? Have you ever eaten it afterwards? If so, at any point did you wish you could drink the ginger bread house? Well, your wish has come true. You’ll unlock a bottle full of Christmas and a whole lot more when you open the Harpoon Winter Warmer ABV: 5.9%.
* ANCHOR CHRISTMAS ALE (SAN FRANCISCO, CA)
Commercial Description: The brewers of Anchor Steam Beer are proud to announce the release of our thirty-fourth annual Christmas Ale. Every year since 1975 the brewers at Anchor have brewed a distinctive and unique Christmas Ale, which is available from early November to mid-January. The Ale’s recipe is different every year—as is the tree on the label—but the intent with which we offer it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life. Since ancient times, trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons, appears born anew.
2beerguys says: Purchased for pennies on the dollar after filing for bankruptcy, and resurrected by Fritz Maytag (yes, those Maytags), Anchor Steam Brewing Company is one of the oldest running craft breweries in America — since prohibition. Fritz is actually credited as starting the craft beer revolution. Thanks Fritz! They have revolutionized the beer industry by brewing lagers in warm temperatures – also known as steam beers. So, from their Christmas tree to yours, enjoy their Christmas Ale ABV: 5.35%.
SPECIALTY BEERS:
* PEAK ORGANIC ESPRESSO AMBER ALE (PORTLAND, ME)
Commercial Description: A robust amber ale brewed with locally roasted, organic fair trade espresso. The espresso is a dark Sumatran blend, which adds a toasty character in the front palate. This plays nicely off the sweet malty flavors found on the back palate of this amber ale. The espresso is Maine roasted in collaboration with local hand-crafted roaster Coffee by Design in Portland. It is produced in partnership with Transfair, a non-profit that works towards giving farmers and farm workers a livable wage and supporting efforts to sustain environmental stewardship in the communities. This is the first Fair Trade Certifiedâ„¢ beer brewed in the United States.
2beerguys says: Have the long days working got you down? Do you feel a little sluggish and thirsty when you get home? If so, the Peak Organic Espresso Amber is for you. With the rich roasted smell, this medium bodied amber ale often mistaken as a cup of coffee (and has as much caffeine as one). Take the challenge, how far can you hold it from your nose and still smell it? Let us know ABV: 6.8%.
* STONE DOUBLE BASTARD (ESCONDIDO, CA)
Commercial Description: For nine years Arrogant Bastard Ale has been shocking palates and turning the brewing world upside down. The beer has accurately been described as an “angry” beer with a massive flavor profile. Both adaptations, OAKED Arrogant Bastard Ale and Double Bastard Ale, easily fit that moniker, but words like complex, rich, intense, and sophisticated can describe this year’s offerings as well.
“Each beer possesses very different flavor characteristics and complexity, while retaining the intensity of the original Bastard,†said Stone Head Brewer Mitch Steele. “Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale has the strong flavor of American oak, vanilla, and malt, while the Double Bastard Ale is a huge beer, dominated by malt, fruit, fresh hops and alcohol.â€
2beerguys says: Don’t let the name fool you. Yes. It’s a bold beer with a bold name. There’s no sneaking up on you with the Double Bastard. Walking proud and carrying a big stick, the Double Bastard will knock you on your butt faster than you can spell antelope. The Double Bastard contains a sweet malt caramel flavor which will leave your mouth asking for more ABV: If you have to ask big man, you can’t handle it.
LAGERS:
* SAM ADAMS WINTER LAGER (BOSTON, MA)
Commercial Description: The first thing one notices in a Samuel Adams Winter Lager is its color: the deep brown of winter. Then comes the magical aroma which promises something special on the tongue. The warm aroma of cinnamon and ginger which blends with the roasty sweetness of the malted barley and hint of citrus from the orange peel. And after that first sip the promise is fulfilled. On the palate Samuel Adams® Winter Lager is rich and full bodied, robust and warming, a wonderful way to enjoy the cold evenings that come with this season.
2beerguys says: As with the Boston Lager, the Winter Lager walks the line between a lager and an ale in terms of taste. The aroma is moderately malty with some caramel notes, and the taste is bittersweet with some nice caramel smoothness at the back end which gives a light, sweet finish ABV: 5.8%.
* VICTORY PRIMA PILS (DOWNINGTON, PA)
Commercial Description: Heaps of hops give this pale lager a bracing, herbal bite over layers of soft and smooth malt flavor. This refreshing combination of tastes makes Prima a classy quencher in the tradition of the great pilsners of Europe. Dry and delightful, this is an elegant beer.
2beerguys says: The overriding theme here is clean. The Prima Pils is just what we’re looking for in a Pilsener, giving us the nice clean pale yellow color with a very healthy frothy head. The aroma is light and crisp, with a taste that starts mellow and then puts the hops on display with a clean bitter finish ABV: 5.3%.