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Profiled by Maria Devan for PGA

Pours a hazy honey orange color with golden and yellow highlight. As if the sun were shining from out of the beer. A fat pillowy head of off white foam that lasts and lasts and leaves plenty of lace.

Nose is bright, floral and fresh! Just brilliant with hop character that includes sweet and tangy pineapple softly sweet fresh orange, and a bit of citrus peel from both orange and from earthy grapefruit. There is a a small earthy pine in the background. For malt it has the scent of a light and flaky little biscuit.

Taste is outrageous! The active carbonation dances across the palate and enlivens the tongue to be ready to taste the brilliant hop fruitiness. Sweet, orange, bright orange peel, tangy pineapple and the just sweet, just dry and lightly breaddy biscuit. One of the best malts on a pale I have had lately. Crisp malt that is the dryness in this drink. The hops bite only a little and finish with a lingering sweetness that includes that lovely biscuit malt presence.

This beer was lively, fresh, had boisterous fruity flavors and was indeed a tiny beautiful something. One of the best pales I have had.

4.5

Welcome to the PGA beer rating system: one beer “Don’t bother.” Two: Eh, if someone gives it to you, drink. Three: very good, go ahead and seek it out, but be aware there is at least one problem. Four: seek it out. Five: pretty much “perfecto.”

_________________________________________Beer HERE

Maria Devan lives in Ithaca, NY and is frequent reviewer of beer and a beer lover deluxe.

In an effort to broaden my beer-tasting horizons, I decided to revisit IPA territory. I’ve had recent success with Goose Island’s India Pale Ale and Fuller’s Bengal Lancer, so I felt reasonably confident heading into the bar across from my office and ordering a pint of Dogtown Duck, produced by Venice Duck Brewery in Venice Beach, CA.

Peering over the shoulder of the bartender, I watched as the beer flow gently from the tap into my glass, producing a smooth and modest head. I had a better look at the color once the barkeep placed it before me – an even and healthy copper, not too dense.

So far it had been an amicable introduction, and the initial fragrance was just as polite. As a relative neophyte when it comes to beers that aren’t produced en masse, I tend to expect all IPAs to have the same level of hoppiness and, subsequently, a lively and prominent nose. Not so with Dogtown Duck. The gentle aroma led me into a refreshing first sip.

Goose Island, Bengal Lancer, and now Dogtown Duck…it was going to be a trifecta of blissfully brewed indulgence. I was ready to become a full-blown IPA evangelist.

I took a triumphant second sip.

Indeed, I was all set to trumpet the drinkability of every India pale ale being bottled. It was clear that my earlier unpleasant experiences were entirely my fault, for not having enough of a sophisticated palate. Well, bring it on!

I threw back my head and gulped down a hearty mouthful…and did all I could to keep it from coming back up.

Imagine one of those high-speed, time-lapse blooming flowers you might find in a nature documentary. That’s what flashed through my mind as an explosion of citrus coated the back of my throat. Whereas the other IPAs I recently enjoyed played nice with notes of lemon and blood orange, an aggressive grapefruit sourness went from underwriting to overpowering the flavor.

I stoutly finished my pint, feeling the full effect of the hops and every bit of Dogtown Duck’s 6.8% ABV. Luckily a plate of hot wings kept me from becoming too light-headed (note to self: never sample ANY beer when all you’ve had to eat that day is a cake donut).

Perhaps this is a lesson for IPA (and high alcohol-by-volume) newbies like myself. By pairing an India Pale Ale with an appropriately spicy meal, like Buffalo wings or a bold Asian curry, you not only temper the buzz but also allow its bigness and bitterness to dampen the heat and cut through the sauce.

To be sure, Dogtown Duck IPA ain’t no leisurely happy hour brew to enjoy with the interns and co-workers. It’s a beer with a quirky and audacious personality, just like the town where it’s brewed. I recommend trying a pint just as I would recommend visiting Venice Beach itself – count on an eye-popping time, but follow it up with familiar ground if you intimidate easily.

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Tom Dumenjich is a new writer here at PGA, but a beer lover and obviously lives on a cloud, if we are to believe his picture from Facebook! He and fellow PGA writer Tom Becham have been known to meet and discuss beer over, well beer… what else would you discuss beer over? Expect updates on Mr. Tom as he provides us more great reviews.

Profiled by Maria Devan for PGA

Pours hazy and like grapefruit juice. Yellow and with a big white head of foam that fell pretty fast. Leaves some lace.

Nose is citrus! Orange, grapefruit and a little sweet grass. The malt peeks it’s head out with a touch of sweetness on the nose.

It drinks lovely. Not a hint of alcohol on the palate. Just beautiful citrus. sweet orange, sweet earth, a touch of grapefruit and some grass. Finishes with a perfect bitter that does not reside too long and that reminds you to take one last notice of all that fruit. Malt is a bit of weight on the palate but has a sweetness that seems to come out of nowhere and so delicately. Drinks clear and fruity and finishes dry but with a bit of tartness to keep your mouth watering long into the finish.

Another fabulous beer from Hill Farmstead.

4

Welcome to the PGA beer rating system: one beer “Don’t bother.” Two: Eh, if someone gives it to you, drink. Three: very good, go ahead and seek it out, but be aware there is at least one problem. Four: seek it out. Five: pretty much “perfecto.”

______________________________________Beer HERE

Maria Devan lives in Ithaca, NY and is frequent reviewer of beer and a beer lover deluxe.

If she’s being a “parent” she’s being an ABUSIVE one the the opinion of… the professor.

A Florida state senator who has recently received thousands of dollars in donations from large beer distribution companies is proposing limitations on smaller craft breweries.

“I have five kids and unfortunately I feel like I’m being a parent in this process,” said Republican State Sen. Kelli Stargel on the senate floor on Tuesday.

Stargel is the sponsor of Senate Bill 1714 which passed in a 30-10 vote after senate debate.

The bill forces breweries that make more than 2,000 kegs of beer a year to sell to distributors – companies like beer giant Anheuser-Busch – which then sell it back to craft breweries for consumption in their own tasting rooms.

Records show that Stargel has received a $5,500 in campaign contributions from numerous large beer distributors since 2013. Anheuser-Busch, Miller-Coors, Pepin Distributing Co., and others have donated to Stargel in that period, with more donations from “Big Beer” stretching back to 2008.

The lawmaker tweaked her bill Monday, allowing breweries to sell 20 percent of their inventory above the 2,000 keg limit on-site.

Stargel says that small breweries have been exploiting a loophole carved out for Busch Gardens 50 years ago and that the new law will provide “certainty in the law to do what they are doing.”

“I know they don’t believe it,” continued Stargel on Tuesday. “And I’m sorry, I know my kids don’t believe it when I tell them they can’t do something, but sometimes I know it is what’s best.”

Opponents of the bill argue that the state’s growing craft beer industry will be stifled by the proposal. In 2007, Florida had six craft breweries. By 2013, the state has 50 with another 28 in the works, said Republican Sen. Jack Latvala in the senate debate.

“This is what this bill aims to stifle,” said Latvala who pointed out that the industry generated $69 million in 2012.

By going through a middleman, the price of the drinks will be marked up by 30 to 40 percent, a prohibitive increase for some small brewers.

Included in SB 1714 is a measure that craft breweries have actually supported. Florida breweries have long fought to allow 64-ounce growlers – glass or ceramic jugs that are popular in the craft beer industry.

Under current Florida law, only containers 32-ounces and less or 128-ounces or more are allowed to be sold. Florida is unusual in this regard. Forty-seven states allow the sale of 64-ounce growlers.

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Brad Alford

Written by Maria Devan for Professor Goodales

The SJPorr challenge is the hottest ticket in home brewing right now. Several years ago some home brewers from youtube created the SJPorr Experiment. It was meant to be an educational and fun way to discover the attributes of different ingredients with everyone brewing the same basic beer only with slight variations. Then they would trade beers and compare. The challenge has evolved over the years and this year they have the biggest participation ever and on an international scale. I spoke with a terrific home brewer and youtuber Brad Alford about what it’s like to be a home brewer and to be involved in this years SJPorr challenge.

Continue reading “The SJPorr Challenge: a Home Brewer’s Chance at International Acclaim”

BrewDog has issued a ‘formal apology’ to The Portman Group after the independent complaints panel found that the craft brewer had encouraged anti-social behaviour and binge drinking with its Dead Pony Club ale advertising – in breach of the alcohol marketing code.

Expressing ‘indifference and nonchalance’ at the ruling BrewDog went on to attack double standards in the industry which protect ‘gigantic faceless brands’ and stymie ‘creativity and competition’.

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Profiled by Maria Devan for PGA

Hi everyone today I have a a very special beer. This is Mikkel Borg Bjergsø ‘s collaboration with Grassroots, Wheat is the New Hops. Grassroots is a subsidiary of Hill Farmstead and Mikkeller is a phantom or a gypsy brewer who despite the fact he does not operate a brewery has won the title best Danish brewery twice and fifth best brewery in the world twice also. This is my first beer from Mikkeller ever.

Grassroots/Mikkeller Wheat is the New Hops

The beer pours with stately and pristine beauty to the glass. A lightly hazed and pastel lemon straw color with a crown of pillowy white foam that is slow to fall and clings to the glass leaving plenty of lace.

Nose is airy. The wheat is golden and subtly sweet grain. A bit of yeast that is powdery and silken on the nose. Instead of funky it’s more of a light dry scent and the brett is as light as a feather. There is a brilliant hop floral on this nose. Rose petals. For fruit a delicious ripe peach.

Taste is refined and demure. These flavors are all perfectly balanced and mysteriously complex. For an IPA that is rare. The malt is soft and gently sweet. The hops have the lightness of fresh rose petals. The yeast is shy and a bit sultry. The bitter on this one is perfection. It’s also gentle and somehow proper. The mouthfeel is creamy.

Rather than run roughshod over your palate like so many of today’s IPA’s this one is exquisite. It has polish and elegance. It’s a like a pretty bird that you have to stand far away to see or you might scare it away.

One of the best beers I have ever had. Cheers!

4.5

Welcome to the PGA beer rating system: one beer “Don’t bother.” Two: Eh, if someone gives it to you, drink. Three: very good, go ahead and seek it out, but be aware there is at least one problem. Four: seek it out. Five: pretty much “perfecto.”

___________________________________________Beer HERE

Maria Devan lives in Ithaca, NY and is frequent reviewer of beer and a beer lover deluxe.

ALBANY – Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday the state will spend $6 million to market New York’s wine and beer industry and seek to reform laws to expand distilleries in the state.

Cuomo held the second Beer, Wine, Spirits and Cider summit near the Capitol to tout the booming industry and hear recommendations on how to add new businesses.

He said he will introduce the Craft New York Act to simplify distilling manufacturing licenses and lower fees, expand marketing opportunities and modernize shipping laws. It would have to be approved by the Legislature.

Distillers have been on the rise in New York after laws were loosened in 2012 — when the first summit was held

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