Nashville Beer Geek

Bottle Browsing in December

2009-12-27T14:04:00.000-08:00

Some of this news may be old to some of you, but I figured I should let the cabin dwellers know. For high gravity selections, Yazoo Sue smoked porter is now bottled. Even better, the recipe has been altered to have more body and the ABV is at 9%. The 4 paks are going quick. Look for my review of it soon! Seasonal
Christmas beers from Lakefront and Schlafly are still available. I also spotted Shipyard Prelude, which is their holiday English Strong Ale. Brooklyn Brewery will be distributing high gravity beers sometime in January. Hopefully that means we will get the Black Chocolate Stout?

For the beer stores, some products from Saranac have hit the Nashville market.Yazoo Hop Project 23 and 24 are in 4 packs for a limited time. New Belgium has some special releases worth seeking out, including the Lips of Faith Biere De Mars and the highly acclaimed La Folie. La Folie used to be a rare and sought after beer, and is held in high regard for sour beer lovers. It sells for $13.99 per 22 ounce, but it's worth every penny if you love sour beers. I will warn you, it's not for the pedestrian palate.

Franklin now has another Brewpub! Battle Ground Brewery located at 108 Bridge Street is now open. The brewer is Fred Scheer, who came from Boscos in Hillsboro Village. From what I understand, they are not brewing on premises yet. The current beer line up was contract brewed at Terrapin Brewing Co. in Athens GA.

That's it for now. If I left out anything, please leave a comment. Cheers!

Smitty

Twitter and Flickr-

2009-11-17T06:46:00.000-08:00

The streams for this blog seem to have issues. Hopefully the source of the problem will determined soon.

Community Blog?

2009-11-06T09:10:00.000-08:00

As you can see, I am making changes to the blog. My goal is for the site to be a primary reference for the Nashville beer scene. I am thinking along the lines of an "Ale Street News" concept, but with a primary focus on Nashville. In order to do that, I would need the help of other beer enthusiasts in the area. Would anyone be interested in being a guest or staff blogger for site? I can easily set up permissions and log-ins. Entries can be on any of the following:

Craft beer reviews
Place reviews
Homebrewing
Food and Beer pairing (any chefs?)
Distribution
Industry news
Interviews with brewers

Or it can be anything else as long as it relates to craft beer and Nashville. The only rules are no politics and that you have to follow the site formatting to be consistent. I think guest participation will keep the site fresh and current, as well as further promote the local beer culture. Shoot me an email if interested.

Smitty

New Belgium Hoptober- Beer Review

2009-11-02T19:30:00.000-08:00

Yes folks, I just posted a review not too long ago. What gives? I wanted to post my thoughts on New Belgium Hoptober before it's off the shelves until next year. This seems to be getting scarce. I should have reviewed and posted earlier. Oh well.

New Belgium Hoptober Golden Ale -
New Belgium Brewing Inc.- Fort Collins, CO

Description: Five hops and four malts make Hoptober Golden Ale a veritable cornucopia of earth. Pale and wheat malt are mashed with rye and oats to create a medium-bodied ale with creamy mouth feel. Centennial, Cascade, Sterling, Willamette and Glacier hops form a bonfire of citrus notes, fruity cheers and a bold finale. ABV: 6% 40 IBU Available in 6-packs and on draught ABV- 6%

Smitty's Review: Sampled at about 45 degrees. Pours golden with a white head and webby lacing. Nice aroma of lemon and floral hops. Refreshing mouth feel, with a body that is the lighter side of medium. The malt profile is a nice melding of pale Belgian wheat malts, rye, and biscuit countered by a bold but not overdone citrus and herbal hoppiness. Bitter finish with grassy and grapefruit rind notes. This is a great session beer with lots of depth. A fairly hoppy beer, which seems to be out of character for this brewery (not that there is anything wrong with that). I like the fusion of American rye pale ale with the Belgian golden ale traits. This exceeded my expectations, so much that I tried to buy another six. I came home empty handed after looking at two local Krogers! Is Nashville slowly developing a taste for hoppy beers? Hmmmmm.......

Rating*: 9 out of 10

Recommended Food Pairing: White cheeses (Montery /Pepper Jack, Chihauhua), Grilled Shellfish, Chicken, Tilapia

Value: Average to Good ($8-9 per six)

Beer Audience: Craft beer drinkers (as long as they can tolerate a moderate level of hop bitterness)

Where To Buy: Craft beer stores and grocery stores that carry the New Belgium line.

* rating system based on aroma (1 pt), appearance (1pt), palate (2 pts) flavor (3pts), comparison to other commercial examples of the style (3pts)

Blog Updates

2009-11-01T11:21:00.001-08:00

I have been on a mission to find a blog template that I like. So far I have not been able to find one. However, I was getting sick of the old scheme, so I have changed the header and made some changes to the fonts/color scheme. I have also added some new "gadgets" so that readers have more reasons to frequent the blog. There is now a photostream, which will feature my beer related photos. I also have the ability to upload photos from my Iphone.

At the recommendation of The Beer Snob, I set up a Twitter account. This way I can send news feeds or "tweets" about what I am drinking, new beers on the shelves, or beer events.

Cheers

Smitty

Boulevard Seeyoulator Doppelbock- Beer Review

2009-10-29T19:31:00.000-07:00

Yeah yeah I know. It has been awhile since I reviewed a beer. Starting up a new business has been sucking up all my free time. The good news is that I have not stopped shopping for beer. This time the victim will be Boulevard Seeyoulater Dopplebock, which is from their smokestack series.

Boulevard Seeyoulater Doppelbock -
Boulevard Brewing Co - Kansas City, MO

Description: A Doppelbock aged on cedar, it will be released along with Bob’s ‘47 Oktoberfest near the end of August. Medium amber in color, Seeyoulator offers a heady, estery banana aroma. A luscious maltiness predominates, with balancing notes from Hallertau hops. Cedar aging lends just a hint of spice to the finish. ABV- 8.5%

Smitty's Review: Sampled at 45 degrees in my new (and favorite) Samuel Adams beer glass. The pour is a nice copper amber with a dissipating beige head and spotty lacing. The nose is very inviting, with notes of berries, vanilla, and caramel malts. Medium bodied with a smooth mouth feel. Flavor of caramel and Munich malts that are quickly overpowered by the cedar characteristics of sawdust, pepper, herbs, and tobacco. The malts and cedar also give this beer some bourbon nuances, especially with the amount of residual sweetness. The finish is semi-dry and spicy, with more cedar that lingers on the palate. I think this is the first wood-aged Doppelbock that I have tried. This was enjoyable, but I doubt that I would make a repeat purchase at this price point. Ayinger Celebrator is still my Dopplebock of choice in Nashville.

Rating*: 8.0 out of 10

Recommended Food Pairing: White cheeses (Gouda, Havarti, Guyere), Venison, German Cuisine, grilled pork. The cedar aging would also pair well with some mild to medium cigars.

Value: A tad on the pricey side ($11.99 per 750ml)

Beer Audience: Beer aficionados, fans of German-style beers

Where To Buy: Midtown Wine and Spirits, Graces Plaza Wine & Spirits, Red Dog, Cool Springs Wine and Spirits, most liquors stores with a craft beer section.

* rating system based on aroma (1 pt), appearance (1pt), palate (2 pts) flavor (3pts), comparison to other commercial examples of the style (3pts)

Nashville Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival

2009-10-27T06:32:00.000-07:00

I should have posted this earlier, but better late than never. I am not a fan of bourbon, but I sure love BBQ and Beer. This event on being held at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium on November 7 from 12 noon to 7pm. Go to the website for more information and tickets.

Cheers

Smitty

Random Brews News- October

2009-10-20T05:19:00.000-07:00

I am happy to report that my trip to the Great American Beer Festival (GABF)was....uh...great! Congratulations to local brewpub Blackstone Brewery for capturing a gold medal in the Brown Porter category. This honor was awarded for their St. Charles Porter. I may sound like a homer, but I think it's the best brown porter I have tried in my several years of beer traveling. Check back later for a pictures and a report on my GABF trip.

Several seasonal beers are on the shelves, including Octoberfests and Pumpkin Beers. One of my favorite pumpkin beers is Schlafly Pumpkin Ale. It is available at most liquor stores with a high gravity beer section.If you have not tried it, you won't be disappointed (unless you hate pumpkin spices)

Cool Springs Brewery is now open. I tried to stop by for a late lunch and they were about to closed for the afternoon. I am not sure why, but they were getting ready to install a new sign. Perhaps that had something to do with it. I left disappointed as I was looking forward to trying their beers and pizza. I am not sure when I will be on that side of town again, but I will report back when I do. If any of you have been there, feel free to post your thoughts in the comments section.

Wine Down Main Street in Franklin is fast approaching. The tasting will be held November 6th from 7 to 10pm. Don't let the event title fool you, they are going to feature high gravity beers tasting according the release:

"In addition to hundreds of wine selections available for tasting, organizers have announced a new High Gravity Beer Section that will be located at Landmark Booksellers and Cadence Bank during the event. There will be approximately 15 to 20 High Gravity Beers to taste, including brands such as: Stone, Dogfish Head, Rogue, Ommegang, Duval and more."

My hat is off to the organizers for understanding that beer is just as sophisticated as wine. Advance tickets are available online or on the Boys & Girls Club website

Hallmark Volkswagen
620 Bakers Bridge Rd.

Character Eyes
407 Church Street, Suite 1

What's in Store
407 Main Street

The Faye Snodgrass Gallery
344 Main Street

Boys & Girls Club of Franklin / Williamson County
129 W. Fowlkes St, Suite 1000

Boycott Monster Energy Drinks

2009-10-19T05:49:00.000-07:00

I am the type of guy that likes to keep politics to myself, and I rarely take an activist mindset. For those who have not read this story, Hansen Beverage Company is using their huge corporate coffers to bully Vermont-based Rock Art Brewery. Rock Art makes a beer called "Vermonster" and Hansen is the maker of the Monster energy drinks. Here are some excerpts from a Hansen Beverage Company letter sent to some fellow beer bloggers:

Please note that Hansen Beverage Company presently has not filed a lawsuit against Rock Art Brewery, LLC.

Hansen had sent a "cease and desist" letter to Rock Art Brewery on September 4, 2009, after learning that Rock Art had filed an application to register a federal trademark throughout the United States in connection with "Vermonster" in July 2009.

In order to protect Hansen’s valuable Monster Energy(R) trademarks,Hansen is legally obliged to, and routinely sends, cease and desist letters to any entity and person who use or attempt to register similar trademarks for products that are similar or related to Monster(R) products.

Please see the attached response from Hansen Beverage Company about the cease and desist letter sent to Vermonster.

Regards,

Consumer Relations
Hansen Beverage Company

This is nothing more than needless corporate bullying. Do they honestly think that a 10% Barley Wine is "similar or related to" a n0n- alcoholic energy drink? Did they send a cease and desist letter to Ben and Jerry's for their Vermonster ice cream sundae? How about Brooklyn Brewery for their Monster Ale? Not that I am aware of. That is probably because those companies have the funds to fight bogus trademark infringement claims.

Hansen Beverage Company chose Rock Art Brewery because they know they are too small to fight back. Please watch this video from Rock Art brewer Matt Nadeau explaining the ordeal from their end. They want him to cease and desist selling a 10th annivesary beer that he has already bottled!

It's maddening that Hansen Berverage Company would threaten the livlihood of Matt and his employees over a product that HAS NO SIMILARITY to their product. Hansen knows they can't win in court, but they also know that Rock Art does not have the funds to fight them.

I am praying that a ground swell of negative publicity will force Hansen to back off and leave Rock Art alone. Spread the word. Tell your local beer store to stop carrying Monster and to tell their reps why. If your kids drink that Monster crap, make them switch to another brand. Do whatever you can to send a message that needless corporate bullying of a small business will not be tolerated.

Cheers

Smitty

Heading to the Great American Beer Festival

2009-09-25T06:24:00.001-07:00

Yes I know that I have been neglecting the blog. I am just swamped with ramping up the new business for 2010. I am heading out the door to attend my first Great American Beer Festival. I will report back with photos.

Before I go, I wanted to let you all know that there are a few new beers on the shelves. The first one is Terrapin Depth Charge, which is a collaborative beer between Terrapin (Athens GA) and Left Hand (Colorado). It is a blend of the Left Hand Milk Stout and Terrapin Wake and Bake Coffee Oatmeal Stout. Folks, this is a great beer if you love stouts. Grab one while you can.

Stone Vertical Epic 090909 has also hit the shelves. I bought mine at Midtown Wine and Spirits, but I had to ask for it (they keep it in the back with a two bottle limit). This series is collectible, so hurry before they are gone. If you want my opinion, I thought this year's version is underwhelming. Gotta run!

Smitty

My Sob Story- Can Anyone Help Me Out?

2009-09-08T06:40:00.000-07:00

Sorry for my hiatus. I am been working many hours trying to build up my new business. I logged into Facebook this morning and found out some devastating news. I no longer have tickets to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver. It's a long story, but my friend and I were told that we were set. The problem now is that all sessions are sold out. I have been planning this trip for over a year, and my travel arrangements are made.

If any of you beer aficionados know ANYONE who has extras, I will pay face value and any service charges. I am looking for two tickets, preferably to the Saturday afternoon session. Thanks!

Smitty

Help Me With My Nashville Beer Map

2009-07-28T11:14:00.000-07:00

I am not sure if any of you have looked at my downtown beer map, but I am getting ready to expand it to include the surrounding areas. My goal it to have a comprehensive beer map that caters to beer aficionados. I can't visit every single place, so I am looking for some suggestions. Here are the two maps and the criteria:

Metro Nashville Beer Map- All beer retailers and bars that carry and promote craft beer. A sports bar with Blue Moon and a token micro does not count. Neither does an Irish bar that serves Guinness. For a bar to qualify, they must have multiple craft beer offerings and cater to craft beer drinkers. I know that I may be leaving off fun bars with good patrons, but I want to focus on the beer selection. The same criteria goes for the retailers. So far I plan to add Red Dog, Woody's Smokes and Brews, Boscos Cool Springs, Cool Springs Wine and Spirits, Stones River (M'boro), 3 Crow Bar, Graces Plaza Liquors, Whole Foods Green Hills, 12 South Taproom, and Old World.

Metro Nashville Craft Beer & Dining Map- Do you want to go out for a nice sit down meal and drink a good beer with it? I want to promote the local restaurants that have multiple craft beer offerings on the drink menu. So far I have Margot Cafe, Cabana, PM, Ombi, Flyte, Boundry, and Radius 10.

Please email me your suggestions with an address, phone number, web address, and a brief description (including an approximate number of craft offerings). Hopefully we can assemble the best comprehensive beer map for locals and visitors.

Smitty

July Beer of the Month- Stone 13th Annivesary Ale

2009-07-22T15:42:00.000-07:00

I have a lot of extra time on my hands, so I figured I would review a beer. This time I am adding a few new things to my format, including a rating system. The intent is not to judge beers, but to give you blog readers a gauge on how much I like the beer. I will also factor in how the beer compares to other commercial examples of the style. I understand and appreciate that taste is subjective, especially when it comes to craft beer.

Stone Brewing 13th Anniversary Ale gets to be the lucky victim for this round. It's a one time limited release, so I wanted to give you my thoughts before it disappears for good. This is classified as an American Strong Ale, but you may see it informally referred to as an "Imperial Red Ale." I was told by a beer partner in crime (let's call him Craig) that Stone put 4.5 pounds of hops per barrel, making this their hoppiest beer to date. I am intrigued. Let's pop the cap on this bad boy.

Stone 13th Anniversary Ale-
Stone Brewing Co. - Escondido, CA

Description: Stone 13th Anniversary Ale pours brilliant deep red with a light tan foam. Up front, the aroma is all piney, resinous and citrus hops. Upon tasting, the hops are still on the front, and they are balanced with the malty, toffee like flavors contributed from the blend of crystal and amber malts used in the brewhouse. The finish is deliciously bitter, with a touch of warmth provided by the 9.5% alcohol. Bitterness comes in at 90+ IBU.

Smitty's Review: Sampled at 50 degrees. This pours a beautiful dark copper amber with a dense beige head that diminishes to a clingy wisp. Nice bold aroma of caramel malts, fruity ale esters, and fresh hops. Heavier side of medium bodied with average carbonation. Initial flavor of dark caramel, toffee, maple, and scorched sugar that quickly transitions to an assertive piney and herbal bitterness. Finish is dry with a clingy grapefruit rind hoppiness, with notes of diluted molasses and nutty malts. Somewhat boozy and it warms the windpipe as it goes down. This beer is loaded with hops, but there is a generous amount of maltiness to counter it. Overall, this is very bold and complex. I hope they find a way to add this to the regular line. I like this better than Double Bastard or Old Guardian. If you are not into strong beers, don't say I did not warn you.

Rating*: 9.0 out of 10

Recommended Food Pairing: BBQ, grilled meats, cheese (blue, pepper jack)

Value: Average to Good (7.99 per 22 ounce bottle)

Beer Audience: Hopheads, beer aficionados

Where To Buy: I purchased mine at Midtown, but any liquor store that carries the Stone line should get this. Very limited.

* rating system based on aroma (1 pt), appearance (1pt), palate (2 pts) flavor (3pts), comparison to other commercial examples of the style (3pts)

New Brews And Other News- July

2009-07-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

I am still busy with the job hunting, so I am going to try and cram a bunch of info into this post. For starters, Yazoo Hop Project #16 is on the shelves and on draft, with #17 due out this weekend. You can identify #16 buy looking at the bottling date on the label, which should be notched for the fourth week of June. Speaking of Yazoo, they are current working on construction of a new and larger facility down in the gulch. Congratulations to Linus and crew! They will also be unveiling their first high gravity beer at the Music City Brewers Festival. It will be a smoked porter using cherry-smoked malt.

The Music City Brewers Festival will be held on July 25th, with two sessions. The second session is sold out, so get your first session tickets before those are gone. It appears that the organizers have worked out the major kinks from previous years. One of my fellow beer aficionados told me that I had "grumpy old fart syndrome" and that I needed to give it another shot. So after a long hiatus from the event, I AM GOING! I will be attending the first session, so shoot me an email if you want to meet up.

Franklin is getting a new brewpub! The Nashville area beer scene continues to grow. Hell yeah! Guido's New York Pizza is going to open a microbrewery. I do not have any information on when they expect to be operational. Heresay is that the brewer came from Two Rows. If so, then you can expect some quality brews because I have sampled their beers on two occasions.

Stone 13th Anniversary is in Knoxville, which makes me wonder why we don't have it yet. The truck would need to pass by Nashville. The folks at Mid Town Wine and Spirits assure me that they are supposed to get it and will call me when they do. It is an American Strong Ale that is getting great feedback from the online beer community.

For those living on the east side of town, I found a bottle shop with a great selection. Hermitage Discount Tobacco and Beer is located at 3682 Bell Road, near the Stewarts Ferry Pike exit off of I-40. From the outside, it looks like a typical beer and cigarette store that you see all over town. Don't expect much ambiance or beer knowledge from the staff, but you won't be disappointed with the choices. Domestic beers included Stone, Yazoo, Dogfish Head, Terrapin, Schlafly, Avery, Victory, Boulder, New Belgium, Boulevard, Starr Hill, etc. They also had a nice selection of European imports, including the Paulaner line. Needless to say that I am pleased that I no longer have to drive from Hermitage to downtown to purchase good beer. Now if only an east side liquor store would carry a nice selection of high gravity beers, I will be a happy beer geek.

That's it for now. Cheers!

Smitty

Summer Beers For The Miserable Nashville Heat

2009-07-01T21:11:00.000-07:00

I was browsing through all my posts and realized that I give lots of attention to high gravity beers. Rest assured, I do enjoy lighter beer styles. Summer is upon us are upon us and I bet you all get invited to cookouts, especially with the 4th of July approaching. My problem is that many of the hosts provide a cooler full of crappy beer. Instead of bringing a food dish, I bring my own cooler and use the occasion to introduce people to better beer. Some people will enjoy them, and others will want to stick with their "ice cold smooth beer with no aftertaste." Here are my suggestions of locally available bottled beers, ideal for those summertime cookouts. I will break it down by styles. Grab a seat, this blog post is longer than usual:

Hefeweizen (serve at 39-45 degrees)
I love "hefes" and I will drink them year around, but their refreshing character make them ideal summer beer. The key is to try and get a fresh bottle, as these beers do not age well and there are some old bottles sitting on the shelves ( I just had one). Some people like putting a lemon wedge in the beer (I choose not to), which is sometimes frowned upon by beer geeks. To me, it's just a matter of preference, just like adding spice to your food. I always roll the bottle and pour the yeast sediment at the bottom into the glass. There are lots of nuances in this style and each one carries varying degrees of phenols and esters such as banana, bubble gum, clove, and vanilla. Nashville has a decent a selection , so here are my picks:

German Imports (in no order as they are all good examples of the style)-

Ayinger Brau Weisse
Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier
Paulaner Hefeweissbier
Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier
Hacker Pschorr Hefe Weisse
Schneider Weisse Original

Domestic Hefeweizens:

Sierra Nevada Kellerwies - Brand new beer to their product line and one of the best Hefeweizens I have had in a very long time. They nailed it. Highly recommended.
Yazoo Hefeweizen- local beer that is available all year round. A tad thinner than the German examples, but still full of the Hefeweizen phenols and esters.
Victory Sunrise Weissbier- New to town and definitely worth trying.

Wit Beer (serve 39-45 degress)
This style shares similar characteristics to Hefeweizens, and are brewed with coriander and orange peel. The following are some locally available suggestions, listed in my order of preference:

Hoegaarden - Benchmark for the style, although it was better before the InBev takeover
Victory Whirlwind Wit- New to Nashville and welcome in my beer fridge anytime
Boulevard Zon- Solid and priced just right
New Belgium Mothership Wit- Organic and brewed with wind-produced energy.
Wittekerke- Wit beer in a can! Beware of old cans on the shelves
Sam Adams White Ale- Easy to find seasonal
North Coast Great White- Not as good as the ones above, but still worth a try
Blue Moon (Coors)- Perhaps my snobbery is surfacing here, but c'mon. You can get this beer EVERYWHERE. Branch out a little. There are better examples of the style.
Blanche De Bruxelles- A tad too thin for me, but this also has a slight herbal mintiness
Shock Top (Anheuser-Busch)- WARNING- I highly recommend you skip this one.

Lagers and Pilseners (serve at around 45 degrees)
Approximately 96% of US beer sales are macro brewed products. Of that 96%, the largest portion belongs to light lagers. No problem. Our job is to introduce friends and family to something better and ween them off the industrial-made swill. It still amazes me that people have loyalty and brand affinity with such crappy beer. The following are on the Nashville shelves and will hit the spot on those 90+ degree afternoons by the grill.

Victory Prima Pils- New to town and an excellent domestic Pilsener. This has extra spicy European hop bitterness, which may be too assertive for the pedestrian palate.
Brooklyn Lager- Also new to town, this is a great Vienna lager with a nice balance between the pale malts and european hops. Not quite as bold as Prima Pils.
Pilsener Urquell- A benchmark for the style, this is a real Pilsener. Miller Lite is not.
North Coast Scrimshaw-A balanced Pilsener from a great CA brewery.
Victory V Lager- A nice clean Dortmunder/Helles that won't bombard your palate. Great with sushi.
Starr Hill Jomo Lager- Somewhat new to town and brewed in VA. Balanced and clean.
Bitburger- Try giving this to the Heineken, Bud, Coors, and Miller loyalists. This tastes better because the Germans don't load their lagers with adjuncts. Serve at 40 degrees

Saison (serve at 50-55 degrees)
For beer geeks and those with casual beer drinkers with the adventurous palate, you can't let the summer go by with out drinking a saison. The origins of this style go back to Belgium where it was brewed for farm workers to consume during the late summer harvest. As far as I am concerned, the best Saison you can get in Nashville is Saison Dupont. I have tried about 40 saisons, and this one is my favorite. Pair this beer with some grilled wild caught salmon and you won't be sorry. However, Victory V Saison is a new arrival to town and is worth seeking out.

Other
Miscellaneous styles that you can throw into the cooler for some variety. Serve the Berliner Weisse and Kolsch at 39-45 degrees. The others should be at 45-50 degrees:

Anchor Steam- a California Common (lager fermented at ale temperates) and a classic
New Belgium Skinny Dip- low alcohol and low carb Ale with kaffir lime leaves. Introduce this to Michelob Ultra drinkers. If they stick with Ultra, then they are a lost cause.
Dogfish Head Festina Peche- A Berliner Weisse, which is a rare style in the US. Brewed with peaches, this is acidic and mildly sour. Strangely addictive.
New Belgium Fat Tire- An Amber Ale with a huge cult following. A good gateway beer
Schlafly Summer Kolsch- Kolsch is a great style for summer, and this is a solid example.
Terrapin SunRay- A regional unfiltered German style wheat ale brewed with honey
Brooklyn Summer Ale- A simple, straight forward Blonde Ale. Not too bold on the palate
Sam Adams Summer Ale - Easy to find spiced Wheat Ale when you can't run to the beer store. Seasonal.

That's it for now folks. Have fun over the 4th of July and don't set your neighbor's house on fire with those roman candles. And remember that "tasting the cold" is a marketing slogan for stupid beer drinkers. Cold temperatures numb the taste receptors. Take the beers out of the cooler and serve them at the proper temperature. If you convert anyone to craft beer, feel free to tell them about my blog. Heh heh. Don't forget that Blackstone and Boscos usually have good summer beers on tap.

Smitty

June Beer of the Month- Terrapin Rye Squared

2009-06-18T19:03:00.000-07:00

This month I decided to go with a seasonal that recently arrived on the Nashville shelves. Rye Squared is a perennial regular in my beer fridge. If you like hops, rye, and higher ABV- this beer is a must. Grab some while you can!

Terrapin Rye Squared-
Terrapin Beer Company - Athens, GA

Description: Double the malt, double the hops, and double the flavor of the original Rye Pale Ale recipe. (Hence the name Rye Squared.) With its mammoth hop aroma, bitterness and flavor, this beer is not for the faint at heart. The Rye Squared clocks in at a hefty 8.5% ABV so double your pleasure and double your fun because Terrapin went a little crazy with this one! The first keg of Rye Squared went on tap at Tasty World in Athens on Monday April 25th 2005. A special thank you goes out to the newly formed Terrapin Keg Killers. We were told that Tasty World would put the Rye Squared on as soon as they finished off a keg of a "Select" beer they had on tap. When the Terrapin Keg Killers heard about this they went to Tasty world and finished off that other keg in record time. By 10pm on Monday they were enjoying the fruits of their labor when the first ever Rye Squared keg went online. Malt: 2-row pale, Munich, Malted Rye, Bisuit Malt, Honey Malt. Hops: Amarillo, Cascade, East Kent Goldings, Fuggle, Magnum

Smitty's Review: This sample started at around 45 degrees and was around 55 degrees when I finished. Pours a beautiful translucent dark copper amber with a dense two fingers beige head, with webby lacing. This beer has a nice floral hop nose mixed in with some fruity ale esters. The body sits somewhere between medium and full with average carbonation. The flavor starts off malty, with expected emphasis on rye accented by some caramel and toasted malts. This is quickly countered by a bold, but not overdone hoppiness that is spicy and bittersweet. Semi-dry bitter finish is resiny with accents of citrus, and a subtle amount of alcohol. This is somewhat warming as it goes down the windpipe. To sum this up, think American Strong Ale with a dash of whisky. This beer is just another reason why I love rye beers. Rye and hops work so well together.

Recommended Food Pairing: Spicy cheeses, BBQ, grilled meats and fish.

Where To Buy: Frugal MacDoogal (liquor store side), Midtown Wine & Spirits, and most liquor stores that carry specialty beers.

Browsing for Beer- June 2009

2009-06-06T18:37:00.000-07:00

I apologize if some of these beers are old news, but I was laid off a month ago and had to put my beer shopping on hold. Even worse, my beer budget was nixed. Conflict resolution is my specialty, so I looked for change underneath the couch cushions and took my change jar to coinstar. $28.57 is what I ended up with in my pocket. Not bad eh? So what are the somewhat new beers on the shelves?

Frugal MacDoogal (Liquor Store side):
Flying Dog Kerberos Tripel (in single 12 ounce bottles)
Stone Old Guardian ( Barleywine seasonal 2009 release)
Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA (six packs)
St Feuillien Brune (a very nice Abbey Dubbel)
Left Hand Widdershins (Barley Wine)
Left Hand Chainsaw (American Strong Ale, double version of Sawtooth)
Left Hand Goosinator (Dopplebock)
Terrapin Rye Squared (2009 seasonal- new batch)
Kulmbacher Eisbock!!!!!!!! (world class beer here, and one of Michael Jackson's favorites)
Terrapin Side Project "Monk's Revenge" (limited release Belgian IPA)
Shiner 100 Commemorator (Doppelbock)

Midtown Wine and Spirits:
Terrapin Side Project "Monk's Revenge" (limited release Belgian IPA)
Boulevard Two Jokers (a double wit, bottle condition corked 750)
Stone Russian Imperial Stout (2009 release)
Shiner 100 Commemorator (Doppelbock)

Specialty Beer Stores:
Brooklyn Brown Ale, Summer Ale, and Lager
Kona Wailua Wheat, Longboard Lager, Firerock Pale Ale (distributed by Budweiser FYI)
New Belgium Skinny Dip
Terrapin SunRay Wheat (now in six packs)

If you have not been to Trader Joe's, I recommend you swing by. It's a unique food shopping experience. They are the only store in town where I have seen Stone Smoked Porter, which is an excellent beer and not too heavy on the smoke. It pairs great with food off the grill. They also have two house beers contract brewed by Firestone Walker, Mission St. Pale Ale and Mission St. IPA. I have tried the IPA, and it's not bad for the price.

I also heard that Flying Saucer is now serving beers from Jolly Pumpkin. I have not confirmed this, but it I sure hope it's true. They are a great artisan brewery out of Dexter, MI specializing in Belgian and barrel-aged beers.

Now it's back to job hunting. It's brutal! If any of you know a company looking for an account manager (retail services, QA, sign or merchandising programs, etc.), let me know. I also do landscape design on a freelance basis can provide a link to my website. Send me an email if interested (centralgritlap@att.net). So what did I buy? Sierra Nevada Torpedo, Kulmbacher Eisbock, and Terrapin Rye Squared. It went over the $28.57, but my wife owed me a six pack for running and errand. Sadly, one of the Kulmbacher bottles suffered an early demise on my garage floor. Be careful with their flimsy packaging!

Cheers,

Smitty

www.seansmithdesign.com

Victory In Tennessee?

2009-06-04T20:12:00.000-07:00

Rumor has it that Victory Brewing Company will be distributing a portion of it's line here in Nashville around June 15th! After one frustrating month of job hunting, this puts me in a good mood. If you have not had their beers, you are in for a real treat. I can't even remember how many times I have stopped by their Downington, PA brewery and restaurant while on business.

The three beers we are supposed to be getting is Hop Devil, Prima Pils, and Golden Monkey. Hop Devil is an IPA that was influenced by Sierra Nevada Celebration. Prima Pils is one of my favorite American pilseners. For those that think that Miller Lite is a good pilsener (by the way it's an American light lager and NOT a pilsener), then you might as well stay home. Prima Pils has flavor! Golden Monkey is classified as an Abbey Tripel and comes in at around 9.5% ABV. While some Beglian beer purists may knock it, it's easy to drink and great gateway beer into the style. Be careful with it, too many too fast will hurt you bad. Real bad.

If anyone at Victory is reading this and needs a regional rep- I am not working. I need funds to stock my fridge with your beers! wink wink.

Smitty

www.seansmithde sign.com

May Beer Of The Month- Samuel Adams Imperial Stout

2009-05-15T09:17:00.000-07:00

Hello beer aficionados. I am back to review another beer that I have not tried. This month I decided to go with Samuel Adams Imperial Stout. This is part of their "Imperial Series" which have a higher ABV than their standard product line. I have a lot of respect and gratitude for Jim Koch and Boston Beer Company, especially for being the catalyst for the craft beer resurgence back in the early 90's. Their strong market presence is a saving grace in a sea of boring, watery pale lagers. By the way, did you know that Boston Beer Company is now the nations largest independent, publicly-traded brewery? Now to the beer.......

Samuel Adams Imperial Stout- Boston Beer Company, Boston MA

Description: Our take on the stout brewed by 18th century English brewers for the Russian Imperial Court of Catherine II. The special malted barley in this intense and massive brew delivers rich flavors like dark chocolate, coffee and anise. ABV- 9.2%

Smitty's Review: Sampled at about 50 degrees. Pours a viscous black with a one finger brown head. Strong dark chocolate aroma, with hints of mild coffee and cream. Full bodied with a feathery carbonation and slightly creamy mouth feel. Initial flavor of molasses and dark fruits that transitions to notes of black licorice, mild coffee, and non-aggressive bittering hops. Finishes with a hint of yeast, red wine, and a tad amount of alcohol. This is solid Imperial Stout without going into "extreme beer" territory. I would even go so far to say that this is sessionable for experienced craft beer drinkers, especially since this beer is sold in 12 ounce bottles (as opposed to 22 ounce "bombers"). For those with more of a pedestrian palate, this would be an ideal gateway beer into the Imperial Stout style.

Recommended Food Pairing: chocolate, creamy desserts, smoked foods, chocolate cake

Where To Buy: Frugal MacDoogal (liquor store side), Midtown Wine & Spirits, and most liquor stores that carry specialty beers.

Nashville Beer Geek now on Facebook

2009-05-02T07:33:00.000-07:00

I admit that I am a Facebook junkie, which makes me wonder why I did not think of making a Facebook page earlier. I got the idea from fellow local blogger- The Beer Snob. I hope some of you join and use the group to discuss the local and national beer scene. Click here to be directed to the page. Cheers

Smitty

Brooklyn Brewery Launch Party

2009-05-01T18:30:00.001-07:00

Brooklyn Brewery is coming to Nashville! Keep these new beers coming! The official launch party is one Monday May 4th 7pm at The Flying Saucer. Show up and try Brooklyn Lager, Brown Ale and Summer Ale. You can also meet the co-founder, president. and author of "Beer School" Steve Hindy. I may not be there because 7pm is the witching hour at my house.

April Beer of the Month - Guinness 250th Anniversary

2009-04-23T20:36:00.000-07:00

I realize that I skipped march. I am sorry about that. I do have a good excuse but I won't bore you with it. Normally I pick a beer that I am familiar with, but I am going to review one that I have not tried- Guinness 250th Anniversary Stout. Guinness was one of my gateways into the craft beer and I still enjoy a pint on occasion, even though a few fellow beer snobs give it a bad rap.

Guinness 25oth Anniversary Stout- Guinness LTD. ( Dublin Ireland)

Description: Using a unique brewhouse process that combines the use of stout and ale malt, it’s a distinctive carbonated stout with a clean, smooth finish. This is especially exciting, as we haven’t introduced a new stout to the US since 1967, when we first started importing Guinness® Draught.

Smitty's Review: Sampled at about 45 degrees. Pours a deep brown/black with a one finger tan head. Nice aroma of dark chocolate, dark roasted malts, and a hint of milkiness. Medium bodied but with a slightly watery mouth feel. Initial flavor of black patent malts and mild coffee that transitions to notes of tea, mild bittering hops, and unsweetened bakers chocolate. The semi-dry finish is somewhat husky, with some subtle flavors of chalk and green apple. At first, this beer tastes a little over attenuated (sweetness fermented out), but as it gets close to room temperature some small amounts of sweetness creep in to help balance things out. Overall this is underwhelming and average. To be honest, I am disappointed with this beer. One would think that Guinness would produce something more exciting, especially for their 250th anniversary. On the other hand, they are a macro brewery and I should not be surprised that marketing may have been more important than the beer. If you have the chance, you might as well try it since it's a limited release. If the opportunity passes by, don't be sad because I don't think you will be missing much. So far, I seem to be in the minority among the people that have tried it. To each his own. Cheers!

Recommended Food Pairing: Chocolate and chocolate desserts, grilled meats, oysters

Where To Buy: Most specialty beer stores

Browsing For New Beers.....

2009-04-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

With the mother-in-law heading to town, I needed to pick up some hard stuff to get me through the week (Whitney Neill gin to be exact). Off to Frugal MacDoogal I went. I did see some new beers on the liquor store side, including OP2, which is an 11% European Lager and stronger version of Orange Blossom Pilsner (which is new on the beer store side). Rogue Double Dead Guy in the fancy red bottle was a new sighting for me, although I had tried it on draft at Blind Pig in Champaign, IL. It is a nice beer if you enjoy American Strong Ales.

I then walked next door to see what was new at the beer store. Out of curiosity, I grabbed a bottle of Orange Blossom Pilsner, which was a Bronze Medal Winner at the 2004 Great American Beer Festival. Yazoo Hop Project #13 was on the shelves and is available for a very limited time. I am working on my third 4-pack. I can't wait until the #14 is released. Thanks to Linus Hall at Yazoo for given us a bottled local IPA. I spotted another limited release - Guinness 250th Anniversary. I am anxious to try this one, so check back for my review. Below is the official news release:

This year marks our 250th anniversary, so it’s time to celebrate! We’re happy to announce to you, the loyal 1759 Society, the launch of our Special Edition Guinness® 250 Anniversary Stout on April 24th.

We couldn’t be prouder of this stout. Using a unique brewhouse process that combines the use of stout and ale malt, it’s a distinctive carbonated stout with a clean, smooth finish. This is especially exciting, as we haven’t introduced a new stout to the US since 1967, when we first started importing Guinness® Draught.

It’s only available for a limited time, so on April 24th, pick some up at your local retailer or go out with some friends and try a pint of our brand new brew!

Thank you for being part of a magical 250 years.

Sláinte.

That's it for now. Let me know if you spot any other new beers.

Smitty

Beer Wars- One Night Only April 16th!

2009-04-08T07:33:00.000-07:00

For those who are interested, this will be shown at the Green Hills 16 and Opry Mills. Tickets are selling fast and can be purchased here. For those who are unfamiliar, here is the scoop from Fathom Events:

"Fathom and Ducks In A Row Entertainment present Beer Wars LIVE, an event dedicated to celebrating the American entrepreneurial spirit. This event will feature the world premiere of the groundbreaking documentary, Beer Wars, followed by a live panel discussion with leading independent brewers and experts. This exclusive event takes place in 440 movie theaters nationwide for ONLY ONE NIGHT on Thursday, April 16th. Tickets are selling fast - don't miss your chance to take part in the conversation about the future of beer and the American Dream.

Beer Wars LIVE will take you inside the boardrooms and back rooms of the big business of beer - a microcosm of American business today where the big are getting bigger, consolidation reigns and free enterprise often takes a back seat.

With over 95 million beer drinkers, beer is an American icon and is interwoven into our culture. Beer Wars tells the David and Goliath story of the American beer industry and introduces the who's who in beer while following the journey of small, independent brewers who are challenging the corporate behemoths.

The evening will feature Anat Baron's documentary Beer Wars, followed by a spirited LIVE panel discussion, led by Ben Stein. Ben will be joined by several of the country's leading independent brewers and industry experts, including Sam Calagione - Dogfish Head Craft Brewery founder, Rhonda Kallman - founder of New Century Brewing Company and co-founder of Boston Beer Company (Sam Adams), Greg Koch - founder of Stone Brewing Company, Charlie Papazian - Brewers Association president, Maureen Ogle - historian and author of Ambitious Brew and Todd Alstrom, Beer Advocate founder.

This inspirational event will provide unexpected and surprising turns and promises to change your opinion on those infamous 99 bottles of beer on the wall."

Surfing The Bottle Shops- April 2009

2009-04-01T09:51:00.000-07:00

Even though I am on antibiotics and can't drink until Friday, I decided to do my monthly beer run. As usual, I was not disappointed to see some new and seasonal beers on the shelves.

At Midtown (liquor store side), four seasonal Schlafly beers have returned- Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, Oaked Aged Barleywine, Irish Style Extra Stout, and Biere De Garde ( I have not tried this one yet). I also spotted all three Sam Adams Imperial Series- Imperial White, Imperial Stout, and Double Bock. For Stone Brewing fans, the 2009 release of Old Guardian has arrived. Dogfish Head World Wide Stout is back from a long hiatus, and comes in at a whopping 18% ABV! Another new beer I have not tried is the Heller Bock Lakefront Imperial Maibock.

Over at the Frugal MacDoogal beer store side, I spotted Oskar Blues Mamas Little Yella Pils and New Belgium Mighty Arrow Pale Ale.

That's it until next month. Happy beer hunting. Please report any other new beers you see as they show up to Nashville.