15 Beers of Christmas – Hibernator
December 27, 2010 by justin · Leave a Comment
On the fifteenth, and last, day of Christmas…
Hibernator is right. My whole break I have hibernated. With Snowzilla and all it has made sense, and I really needed the rest. I am about to come out of hibernatoon in a few days and I think that this beer is approperiate thinking of that. Overall, I spent 1/2 a month on Christmas/Winter Ales, what a blessing and treat.
The Long Trail Hibernator is a nice Scottish Ale. Redish orange in coulour and earth in its flavour. Slightly sweet and strong. Smashingly swell beer. I could drink this all winter long, which in Vermont and Western Mass is a long time.
Otter Creek Alpine Black IPA
November 24, 2010 by justin · Leave a Comment
I love IPA, I love my dark beers. This is a match made in Vermont! Otter Creek’s Alpine Black IPA, seriously good stuff here. It is rather light in mouthfeel with a slightly toasty flavour not found in most IPAs. But the hops, they shine! This is a great addition to the Otter Creek lineup.
Long Trail Ale
September 28, 2010 by justin · Leave a Comment
So went to fancy dinner at work and I am always so disappointed with the beer selection. I work at an an elite college. You would think that they could drum up a descent beer selection! Long Trail! Yep, the finest beer available, Long Trail Ale. Now, nothing is wrong with Long Trail, it is a fine beer. However, I expect more.
The Long Trail is the oldest long-distance trail in the United States. It follows the main ridge of the Green Mountains from the Massachusetts-Vermont line to the Canadian border as it crosses Vermont’s highest peaks. (Green Mountain club has more info, and I yanked these sentences from them) For most people in New England when you say, “Long Trail” they think you are asking for a beer, not wanting to go for a hike!
The beer, is a German Altbier. Altbier is really just a German brown ale. I find Long Trail a fine session beer, little high on the ABV (4.6%) for a session but it works.
Long Trail Ale is just a mellow beer. It is malty and smooth. The malts are just right there. The hops back the whole scene up but really play more of a supporting role. Nice.
Nice night under the tent, and a fine ale.
Howl Black Lager
February 20, 2010 by justin · Leave a Comment
So sorry to disappoint. I know, I was supposed to be talking about the Dogfish Head 120min IPA. However, tonight I went to a potluck at a friends house and I brought Howl Black Lager from Magic Hat with me and so I’ve been drinking that and honestly the 120 needs space of its own. Tomorrow, I promise.
The Howl Black Lager is only the second Magic Hat beer that I really like. Their beers are good, don’t get me wrong, but they are so fruity. When I first saw it I thought of Allen Ginsberg’s poem Howl. I wondered if there was a connection. Maybe I am the only one finding literary connections with Magic Hat’s most recent brews. The other Magic Hat beer that I like is Wacko (hard to find right now as it is a summer seasonal). Wacko is coloured by beets and of course I immediately thought of one of my favorite books, Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins. The missing ingredient being found in this Magic Hat beer and Tom Robbins writing style being truly wacko. But, I don’t think that they were thinking of either of Ginsberg or Robbins when they were brewing.
This schwarzbier does pour black but not really “as night” like they say. The aroma is of toasted malts with hints of coco and hops. The lacing is be-a-u-ti-ful. The lager is light in body and crisp. The flavour is malty with hints of coffee and charcoal and a grassy bitter hop finish. Very drinkable, unlike most Magic Hat beers, in my opinion. Jinx, the beer Howl replaced, was one of my least favorite beers so I am just delighted.
So drink this beer and humour me, listen to Allen read his poem Howl while you are at it.