Backlash Uprising! Series 1 of 3: Catalyst

Backlash brewer Helger Pimentel has decided to make a series of double IPA's using a single hop varietal to showcase that particular hop's unique flavor profile. Beer number one in a three part series uses Amarillo Hops, a deliciously citrusy hop that also has a very good level of Alpha Acids in it to give it a bitter kick.
This beer pours so hazy that I'm pretty sure I was picking hop chunks out of my teeth after drinking it. But ugly beers also tend to taste delicious, and this beer was no different. The immediate smell is of grapefruity hops and some sweet cake. The malts never fully take a back seat but the hops are still the main attraction of this beer, and they're just delicious. The fresh grapefruit in the beginning gives way to wonderful bitterness in the finish. This beer was bright and vibrant with hops and is just excellent. I can't wait for the next two beers in the series to explore some other hop varietals.  I have my fingers crossed one of them is CTZ.

White Whale: Westvleteren 12

"Spend your money on the things money can buy. Spend your time on the things money can't buy." Haruki Murakami, The Wind Up Bird Chronicle.

Thanks to a wonderful gentleman over at The Tippling House, I have had the pleasure of getting my hands on some Westvleteren 12, one of the most sought after beers in the entire world. A beer that under normal circumstances would require a plane ticket to Belgium, a well timed phone call, and a registered set of license plates as I approached the abbey. Hell, even now it required being a preferred customer at a certain store and getting lucky in a lottery. 

Luckily, I was allowed to get my hands on Westvleteren 12, their Quadruple Ale. The Trappist Abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren started brewing beer in 1838, but the 2 World Wars would make it tough on them, and Brouwerij St. Bernardus stepped up to the plate in1946 with licensing to brew beer for the Monks. But that licensing agreement ended in 1992 and the Abbey decided to begin brewing their own beer again. Since then Westy 12 has been called one of the best beers made in the world. And in the years since 1992 some unforeseen circumstances arose and the Monks needed immediate money for repairs to the monastery, so suddenly, there would be a small amount of Westy for purchase. 

As for the beer itself, Westy 12 drinks almost more like a cognac than a beer, with serious hints of raison and apple, with wood that reminded me of delicious whiskey burn in the finish. I was lucky enough to get 3 bottles, and I'm sitting on 2 more hoping that the heat dies down and the richness of this beer comes out but it’s going to be very tough to wait. 

Ölvisholt Brugghus Lava Smoked Imperial Stout

Despite Iceland being the villains in the classic movie, Mighty Ducks 2, I had my arm twisted into trying a bottle of Lava, a smoked imperial stout from Ölvisholt Brugghua brewery, brewed on a farm
within a stones throw from the active volcano Helka.

Iceland had a prohibition in place on all "Strong" beer (over 2.25%) from 1915 to March 1st 1989, only allowing spirits and wine to be consumed by its citizens, but the idea of craft beer has slowly been crawling into the minds of the Icelandic people. Repeal day, March 1st became a beacon though, known simply as "Beer Day,"and beer has quickly become the most consumed alcoholic beverage in Iceland. And in 2007 two neighboring farmers with a passion for beer decided that Iceland needed some serious beer in their country. It's actually quiet hard to find out information on Icelandic beer, other than opinions of the best they have to offer, so I can't say this is the best beer in Iceland, but as far as I can tell it's the best beer I've ever had from Iceland, so that's a start.
And Lava is a serious beer. Immediately is smells like a smokey chocolate bar, wafting right out of the glass and into my nose. The taste though isn't as smokey, with a nice light touch in the entire body of the beer, but not overpowering the nice chocolate and coffee tastes in the malts. It's not terribly bitter, but the smoke goes down the throat replacing any missing hops with a nice tobacco mustiness. This beer straddles the line between smokey and malty, and I think it hits it fairly perfectly. It's still pretty hot with some alcohol burn in the front, but I think a few months would edge that away and leave a beautiful bouquet of smoke, chocolate and coffee. I'll probably wait to open the 2nd bottle for a few months and let it mellow just a touch, but not too much, cause I don't want that smoke to vanish, just dissipate slowly.

Rising Tide: Maine Island Trail Ale

Last Tuesday I drove to Portland, ME to watch my good friend and bandmate Brian get sworn into the National Guard, and was able to pick up a few wonderful things I can't get in Mass. One of those beers was Rising Tide Maine Island Trail Ale, a collaboration beer with part of the proceeds going to the Maine Island Trail Association, and simple, low ABV ale, the Maine Island Trail Beer. 2 Hops, Citra and Simcoe blend to make one of the tastiest post softball beers I've ever drank, and I knew this would be a perfect trail beer.
After a nice 15-1 lose on a typical 90 degree night in Boston I was incredibly thirsty and I wanted to help heal the wounds of defeat, and I needed a crisp and delicious beer for the job, and this beer was perfect for it. It poured a hazy cloudy mess of golden beauty beer, and the smell is floral and citrusy hops all over. The taste is completely fresh on the tongue, with the same citrus and flowers carrying over with some nice malty sweetness with very little bitterness. It's the definition of a great summer sipper, and along side Notch's Left of the Dial, might be the class of session hoppy beers that few others can come close to. A perfect summer beer.

Night Shift: Bee Tea

When Night Shift Brewing was first coming into existence, there was some good hype behind them and what they'd be brewing. A Belgian pale ale with three different yeast strains, a chocolate stout made with local cocoa nibs, and a wheat beer made with locally cut green tea from Mem Tea Imports. The first two beers were expected, but a belgian style wheat beer made with green tea was completely out of left field for a new brewery. Massachusetts was getting a good influx of ambitious brewers but in March 2012, Night Shift Brewing opened its doors and changed Boston's beer scene. Barrel Reserve Society, Sour Future Programs and amazing collaborations (Backlash, Urban Farm Fermentory) and Night Shift Brewing has become one of thee most important brewers in Mass, and a day trip to Everett is now mandatory for anyone that loves great local beer. Ever beer from Night Shift I've had has been excellent (I Haven't tried Viva Habanera yet cause it's a little terrifying), and much like Star Wars, going back to the original trilogy is always a great idea. Bee Tea pours so imposing, like a thunderstorm rolling into a delicious glass. It tastes just perfectly amazing, with nice wheaty malt and a perfectly balanced green tea backbone that makes a perfect pairing. It really holds up as one of the best beers made in state and beer made perfect for a hot summer night sitting out back and wanting to sip on a beer while watching the sox and forget your day job.

Terrapin: Wake N Bake

As I try and dig myself out of my 4th of July hangover I'm gonna just make a quick post on one of the best beers I've had last week. Terrapin Wake-N-Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout. Pouring black with a thin head it smells strongly of coffee and sweetness. It's taste is immensely smooth, with that delicious oatmeal sweetness carrying delicious coffee and chocolate. This was the prize of my trip to Virginia for stouts. If you find yourself south of the Mason/Dixon line I'd buy a case. This bottle was defiantly not fresh but it still tasted amazing, and might be the best breakfast stout I've ever had.

Jacks Abby: 2nd Anniversary

How Jack Hendler learned to make lagers like he did is completely baffling to me. Lagers, as a craft, seem like the precision in brewing is just that much more important because ales can have, and almost taste better, a little muddy while lagers are made to be clean. The fact to Jack's Abby has only been brewing commercial beer for two years is mind blowing. Hoponius Union, a beer that has instantly become one of my five favorite hoppy beers has only been brewed for a short time but its perfection is amazing.

But that's not the beer I'm here to praise, I'm here to talk about another beer from the brewers of Framingham. No, not this one, but yet another double India Pale Lager, 2nd Anniversary, commemorating two years of beautiful brewing. As soon as you hear the air rush from the bottle it's accompanied by a wafting smell of hops rising right up to the nose. It pours a beautiful golden with belgian lace clinging to the glass. The beer smells and tastes heavily dank, with citrus and pine and heavy bitterness over everything, but it finishes clean and dry. This is one of the best beers I've ever had. Period. Much like a planned trip to Vermont to buy some cases of Heady Topper, I have to budget in a case of 2nd Anniversary Lager because it's really so perfect.