I made my monthly round to my beers stores and it did not come home empty handed. For starters, Stone Brewing 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA is here on a very limited basis, so grab it while you can. I wasted no time! As mentioned in my last post, Terrapin Side Project 11 Boom Shakalager Bavarian Style Imperial Lager was now on the shelves.
Making its debut in the Music City, Rahr & Sons Brewery released the Ass Kisser Double IPA. I have not tried it yet, but I will post a comment once I open my bottle. You all know I am a sucker for Double IPAs.
Sam Adam Long Shot Series is FINALLY being distributed in Nashville. Available in mixed six packs, these beers are the winners in a nationwide homebrew competition of over 1500 entries. The winners for 2010 are Lemon Pepper Saison, Mile High Barleywine, and Old Ben's Ale. I just finished the Lemon Pepper Saison and I found it to be a very good twist on the style. It was a very balanced blend of pale wheat malts, herbal hops, citrus, and peppercorns that transition to a nice dry finish.
Expect the great west coast offerings from Moylan's to be here very soon. I know that I am excited, especially about the hoppier side of their product line.
The beers just keep coming to Nashville. It's hard for me to keep up! For starters, Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere is now on the shelves! Yes the 750 ml bottle is $10.99, but it's worth every penny. This is an outstanding Saison from Jolly Pumpkin, a small artisan Brewer out of Dexter MI that specializes in Belgian beers.
On a recent trip to Midtown Wine and Spirits, I spotted Flying Dog Raging Bitch Belgian Style IPA. I have not tried this one yet, so feel free to leave a comment and let everyone know how you liked it. I grabbed a six pack of the special release Schlafly American India Pale Ale. If you love IPAs like I do, this is also highly recommended. It is somewhat similar to Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPA, but has much more intense citrus hop flavors, especially in the grapefruit bitterness department. I dig this one so much that I just may go grab a few more 6 packs before it's gone.This Midwest brew can head to head with the West Coast IPAs. Get it. You won't be sorry, except for when you still taste hops when you are drinking your morning coffee.
McNeill's Brewery added a few more offerings to the Nashville market. Look for the Extra Special Bitter and Dead Horse IPA.
Finally, the marketing department at Terrapin kindly sent me a press release of beers to expect this month, as well as next month. They are as follows:
June Releases:
Side Project Volume 11 - Boom Shakalager: Spikes latest improvisational beer creation is a lager crafted with all German malts, hops and yeast "for an aggressive flavor that will wind most anyone's cuckoo clock!" That last part is straight from Spike. This amber beer has balance of sweetness and bitterness complimented by a bombardment of citrus from a dry hopping with German Tettnanger hops. 22oz bottle
Gamma Ray - This is our second vintage of this massive wheat beer brewed with local Georgia coast Tupelo and Sourwood honey. At 10.8% ABV the Gamma Ray got a real punch but tasting this well balance beer you wouldn't know it. We love it for its broad pairing potential and intense flavors. 12oz bottle
Double Feature - Session Two of the Georgia Theater Sessions - This special series of beers, there will be four, is a fundraiser to support rebuilding the Georgia Theater, an Athens Ga landmark that burned down in 2009. This session is named for the period around 1918 when the theater was renovated into an art deco movie house. This "Belgian-Style Dubbel" is brewed with 100% Belgian Malts and authentic Trappist yeast and has all the characteristics of a fine Trappist Ale. 22oz bottle
As a special bonus, each 22oz bottle will be in a sealed container and one box of each release will contain a Golden Ticket for a lifetime pass to the rebuilt Georgia Theater. The ticket from session one has yet to be found!
July Releases:
Reunion Beer - A Beer for Hope - Belgian Style Scotch Ale - This is the second time Terrapin has participated in this annual fundraiser for the Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research. With all the malt back bone of a traditional Scotch Ale, this beer combines malt, hops and a nontraditional Trappist yeast to place this beer in a category all its own. 22oz bottles
