The Mad Elf

I cannot lie, I do enjoy Troegs Mad Elf. I can't sit around and drink a six pack of it, but to have one every couple days definitely helps to keep warm.  

The best part of having to buy a case (hopefully these laws change fast so we can get quality bottle shops) is that you have put a six pack in the cellar and save it for next year. Mad Elf is one of the best beers to hang onto. The flavors develop, alcohol settles and it becomes a great beer. 

If you haven't ever had Mad Elf, it is an 11%, Belgian style ale, brewed with cherries. One of my friends doesn't like it because he compares it to cough syrup. I don't see it that way, but to each their own. 

Did you get some Elf yet this year? 

On a Personal Note:

Hello again. I missed doing fun posts. I need to get back into it. I hope you can forgive my absence. It is a fun time when life gets into the way. 

The Final Four- 2012 Beer Bracket

It comes down to these four teams. The best of the best from the East (Troeg's Nugget Nectar), West (Green Flash West Coast IPA), World (O'Hara's Stout), and Big Beers (North Coast Old Rasputin). Next weekend we will have our 2012 champion.  Fortunately, many people will have the ability to drink the winner, as all four beers are available in many places.

It will be an IPA vs Stout final (if you consider Nugget Nectar an IPA). There is the possibility of having an All-California final- with both Green Flash (San Diego) and North Coast (Fort Bragg) located in the Golden State. So much excitement.

And the Full Bracket:

Nectar of the Gods- Troegs Nugget Nectar

 

It is the greatest time of year. That time when something so great gets released into the wild. It is kind of like the DNR stocking the streams with fish. The anticipation builds, and finally, we are able to go at it.

It is Troegs Nugget Nectar season.  Sure, some people like the overpriced Bell’s Hopslam- I am not saying it isn’t good, because it is great. But for me to save a bit of money and to get a beer that I like more, it is priceless.

I fell in love with Nugget Nectar 5 years ago. At that time, I was just getting my head into the craft beer waters. This was a new beer on tap that sounded intriguing, and it was from Troegs, so I had to try it. I have been immersed in its glory ever since.

The “Imperial Amber” looks, smells and tastes like heaven. Sure it isn’t for everyone, if you don’t like hops, it isn’t for you. The blast of bitterness, aroma and taste can dissuade many from the drink, but for me it pulls me in; makes me open a second bottle; helps me realize why I do love craft beer. It is everything that I could ask for. For me, this is the one beer to have on a deserted island.

So if you see it on the shelves, on tap or if you are lucky enough to be where a firkin is available, grab yourself a Nugget Nectar.

Troeg's Splinter Black

It was 14 degrees in the car when I started it at 6 a.m. this morning.  Why would I be getting into the car at 6 in the morning?  Troeg's was having the second release of their Splinter series, Splinter Black.  I did not have the Splinter Blue, but decided to have a bit of fun and stand in the freezing cold.  I have been a fan of series and sometimes do not completely understand their allure, but they usually are very good beers.

After trying a friend's awesome IPA homebrew the night before, we headed up to Troeg's and got in line for our wristbands.  We got to the line about 6:30, and were given #190 and #191.  I guess we weren't as crazy as I thought we were.  Standing in line, we found some people got to the parking lot around 4:30, many others showed up at 5 and even more were there before 6.  It was cold.  Some brought other special release beers (none of which I tried, due to my strict no beers before 11a.m. stance).  Scattered around the waiting line were bottles of Dechutes The Abyss (2009), Victory Dark Intregue, Terrapin Wake n Bake, Voodoo Brewing's Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and many more.

This morning showed to me the stregth and determination of beer geeks throughout Central/Western/Eastern Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and probably many other states.

Mad Elf and the Troegs Ticket

This might be the only time I would think about buying a case of Troegs Mad Elf.  Don't get me wrong- I enjoy having a bottle or two, but could never even thing about drinking a case, until now (from their newsletter):

ISO: Tröegs Ticket and Classic Mad Elf Labels!


Starting next week an extremely limited number of Mad Elf cases will be shipped randomly to beer distributors in our home state. The purchaser of these cases will have the opportunity to be one of the first people to see the new Tröegs Brewery in Hershey when we open in the fall 2011.

So how do you know if you bought the special case? There are no markings on the outside of the case but once you open it two things will make the case special – there will be an envelope taped to the lid of case containing a Troegs Ticket and 12 of the bottles will adorn our classic Mad Elf logo.

If you get one of these special cases, read the Tröegs Ticket, follow the directions and keep one of those special bottles, as you will need it, along with the ticket, to get a special behind-the-scenes tour of the brewery next fall from the Tröegs brothers.

Good luck if you buy a case.

Think Willy Wonka style.  Hopefully, the lucky few that get the golden ticket have a good time, and maybe it might just be me!

Beer Series

For whatever it is, there is a certain allure about drinking beers that are released in a series.  Recently, I have had the opportunity to partake Vertical Epic 10-10-10, Three French Hens and Scratch #35.  These beers are a part of a series that have will have the next bottle released a year later.  They are special releases, but not as limited as beers such as Dark Lord, Pliny the Younger, et cetera.

The Stone Brewing Vertical Epic series have been around since 2002; the beers are released on the matching month, day and year.  The first was released February 2, 2002 (hence 02-02-02).  This year's Vertical Epic was released on October 10, and is a Belgian Strong Ale that has honey and spices. 

The Bruery's 12 Days/Years of Christmas series is in its third year.  It started with Partridge in a Pear Tree, last year's release was Two Turtle Doves, and this year gives us Three French Hens.  These beers are all Belgian Dark Ales, but each has a twist.  A portion of the Three French Hens is aged in French Oak Barrels. Two Turtle Doves features cocoa, taken from the turtle chocolate candies.  Partridge in a Pear Tree was a Belgian Dark Ale that helps form the base of the future beers.

Troeg's Scratch Series are one-off beers that the brewers make when they want to try something out.  It could be an IPA, saison, Belgian pale ale or stout.  The sky is the limit, and sometimes the beers have been bad, and sometimes the beers have been so good they put it into production (like the Flying Mouflan).

These two lines of beers are very good, and I have enjoyed them immensely.  But what makes them special?  Being special releases helps.  Knowing when the beers are released (Vertical Epic on the matching day, The Bruerys around Christmas) allows beer geeks to plan on them.  I have found that they are great beers.  The Vertical Epic 09-09-09 has been one of my favorite beers to drink.  And has lead me to pick up the beer whenever I see it on the shelves.  The Scratch Series is different, as the beers are released on a more random basis.

These series are very intriguing, and have lead to many people being happy.  The Vertical Epic series is always highly regarded, the 12 Days/Years of Christmas are always great Holiday beers and the Scratch Series are always well crafted beers that leave you wanting more. 

I look forward to finding and trying more beer series, and eventually becoming addicted to them all.

Troegs Scratch #30- Bock

After a good workout, yes a workout, I decided to open the last of the Troeg's Scratch series that I had in the fridge.  It was Scratch #30, a Bock (some say a Jerman Bock, apparently a Helles/Mai bock).

It poured a nice light brown (a little darker than the picture makes it out to be), with a nice size head that disappears quickly.  The head leaves a nice lacing on the glass.

The nose presents a very nice hop/malt balance- but no over the top smells come about.

First sip is delicious.  Second sip recognizes a nice sweet, bready taste that is backed up with a good amount of hops (drys everything out).  Surprisingly, this is 7% abv, I would have never guessed.  As with the smell, neither hops nor malt dominate the taste.

This beer also has a nice balance of Carnation that allows the beer to be smooth going down.  A very medium to light body doesn't hold you down after drinking.  This is a very drinkable beer, and being the 7% could consider this dangerously drinkable-- the kind I like. 

Wish I could get more.  If you can find some of this anywhere, pick it up now!

All I want for Christmas....

This is my Christmas list this year.  First off, my Five beers that I have enjoyed and want more of this year.

1. Stone Vertical Epic 09/09/09.  This was the first porter that I have enjoyed in a while.  The beer has more of a sweetness, not much burnt maltness to it.  Delicious.

2. Troeg's Nugget Nectar.  I am looking forward to this beer coming out again.  We were fortunate enough to get some in August, and I still have a bottle for over New Years.  But there is nothing better than Nugget Nectar out of a cask.

3. The bottles of Flying Dog's Raging Bitch.  I know they will be out soon, but it should be now.  I can't wait to get this and share it with my friends who cannot get it.

4.  Jolly Pumpkin anything.  So glad the Michigan Brewers Festival allowed me to sample their beers, and then the present from my brother to enjoy WeisenBam and La Roja.  I just want more.

5. Kuhnhenn Brewing's Solar Eclipse Imperial Stout.  One of my favorites from the MBF.  Their Simcoe Silly was almost just as good.

6. Basically any of the other delicious samples from the MBF, New Holland, Arcadia, and Short't to name a few.

7. I was happy to be introduced to Koningshoeven.  It was requested that I try it, which I thoroughly enjoyed, by the chef at Jack's Bistro because they were out of...

8. Witkap Pater Dubbel.  Grape Kool-aid.  I don't know why, but I get grape kool-aid from it.  Yes, I know there is other stuff, but what blew me away was the grape kool-aid.

9. My Base Beers.  They are the special beers that no matter what, you know what you are getting, and it is a good one.  60 Minute IPA, Racer 5, Yuengling Lager, etc.  It doesn't matter.  It established the style for me.

10. My next beer, because that is my favorite kind.

The Sweet Nectar of the Gods

Pulled the cap off of a bottle of Troeg's Flying Mouflan last night. I will call it sweet hops. The south has sweet tea, so the north can have sweet hops. Much more maltier than Nugget Nectar, has the strong backbone of hops that one would expect. Very very drinkable, maybe dangerously drinkable. Overall, a very nice beer. Go find one.

St. DogfishSierraRougeStone Day

Down at McGoverns last Thursday and Saturday, I choose the ever faithful Duvel (thursday) and Guinness (Saturday). Both days after getting my first beer, the Guinness tap ran dry as I was ordering one. As they were replacing it, I decided to not wait and have a Murphys. Oh how I always forget about Murphys. The lovely black beauty. Simple stout, most would compare with any other Irish stout, but for some reason I always get a little more taste out of it, compared to a Guinness. Delicious. And never forget, Tomorrow is irish beer day.

Who is the patron saint of IPA's? When is their day?
If there was a patron saint of IPA's, I would have to guess it would be Saint DogfishSierraRogueStoneTroegs Day. He sounds like a good guy. Maybe a little Racer 5 tangled in between. But you can't forget that midwest Bell's Two Hearted Ale (I would through Victory in there, but Victory Day, I believe, is already taken). Whne would this day take place?

Wednesday No-Pint night

Yesterday, after work I met Eric at Max's to grab a beer. It was their pint night, so we usually come home with some new glassware, but the beer du jour was Blue Moon Honey Moon. Which in my honest opinion, it is bad. To be completely honest, I don't like anything Blue Moon makes. (That could be due to Blue Moon being a Molson Coors beer.)

So the bartender looked at me and said one word: "Nugget?" He meant Troeg's Nugget Nectar, which I believe is the most delicious beer made. As my pint was poured, Eric came in, and didn't order the NN. He chose to go with the Sierra Nevada Harvest (wet hop). His reasoning made sense. Go up in hoppiness. Both beers when down well (he had the NN second, I had the Harvest.)

After those two hoppy beers we knew what we were getting into. The Victory Hop Wallop was up next. Many people consider this to be the most bitter beer they have had... so have I. And that is not to mention the 8.5% that goes with it. Victory does not list and IBU for the Hop Wallop, but I would bet it is above 120 ibus. (For comparison the Sierra Nevada is at 60-65, the NN comes in at 90ish). It is quite a mouthful.

I love beer that is as hoppy as it gets. The NN is different though. Whether it is the hops used or how they brew it, I have always felt the bitterness was there, but it was more of a sweet hoppiness, so sweet you can almost taste it through the nose. I have found it very attractive. I have heard that some people get bad brews out of the bottle from this beer, I never have.

Anyone else like extremely hoppy beers? Which beers do you like that are hoppy?