Beer Tasting: Frank

One of Community Beer Work's best selling creations is Frank, an American Pale Ale.  For my review of Community Beer Works see this review.  Community Beer Works has earned respect in the Buffalo craft beer scene with consistently delicious and fresh beers.  Buffalo's first nanobrewery admirably seeks to "Embeer Buffalo", and turn Buffalo into a modern day craft beer destination.

President Ethan Cox leads the charge for Community Beer Works in their task to become a neighborhood integrated brewery.  Ethan Cox has written the book on the history of beer in Buffalo.  Buffalo Beer: The History of Brewing in the Nickel City, written by Michael Rizzo and Ethan Cox, is now available at Barnes & Noble (by clicking here). 

Having been to Community Beer Works a few times, I can say that the beer is always high quality and fresh.  For National Craft Beer Week, I purchased a growler of Frank at the local Consumer's Beverages outlet.  Here is a picture of my Frank.

Community Beer Works: Frank

ABV: 4.6%

Style: American Pale Ale

Rating: 88/100 with 37 reviews at Beeradvocate.com

 Why is this beer named Frank?  Who is Frank exactly?  According to Ethan Cox:

He's the quintessential Buffalonian, the "I gotta guy for that" guy - down to earth, jocular, unpretentious, equally at ease with a Blue or CBW, drinks at the corner bar.

He's sort of the avatar or manifestation of the CBW ethos.  We make damn good beer, not precious unicorn teardrop beer.

Frank poured a pale to deep gold and showed an ample foam that dissipated after a half minute into a retentive half-finger head.  The aroma of Frank is pine and a tad bit of citrus.  Frank is made with Zeus, Centennial, and Zythos hops.  Zeus hops (of CTZ trio fame) are known for being aromatic and pleasant, and Frank certainly possesses those categories in aroma and taste.  Centennial hops are another hallmark addition to American-style ales, and Frank benefits from these hops as well.  Frank is rounded off by the addition of Zythos hops, which impart some tropical and citrus tones to the taste- but not a lot.  More so, Frank smacks of raw hop oil resin and is a little sticky and sweet.  The mouthfeel is light to medium and Frank finishes dry.

There is a distinct and recognizable quality about Frank that renders this beer highly drinkable.  Frank is a blend of American-style hops but not overpoweringly so.  And there is a base malt sweetness, but not ostentatiously so.  There is nothing offensive about Frank; a sign of balance and blend success.

Frank gets the job done.  In a blizzard, or in the heat.  In a bar, or on the job.  But always in Buffalo.

Beer Tasting: Boomenator

Continuing along with National Craft Beer Week and the desire to drink local beers, I picked up a growler of Hamburg Brewing Company's Boomenater.  Hamburg Brewing Company is located in the Town of Hamburg, NY, about a 20 minute drive south and a bit east of downtown Buffalo.  I have heard from many people that the tap room is a wonderful drinking space with a great atmosphere.  To date, I have not been able to visit the brewery myself, although I have certainly had numerous Hamburg beers at local festivals.  I plan to visit Hamburg Brewing Company this Sunday, May 17th, for their "Farm to Pint" event.

Boomenater is billed as a German style bock.  There is some amazing history surrounding the birth of the "bock" beer.  Bock beer is assumed to have been originally produced in the German city of Einbeck.  In the early 1600's, a German brewer was hired by Munich officials to make copious amounts of this beer.  Many Catholics would consumer this beer as "liquid bread" during the Lent season.  Other spinoffs of bock beer exist, including doppelbock (stronger bock) and Maibock (produced in May). 

Boomenater was on tap at a local Consumer's Beverage outlet, so I decided to give this beer a try.  I poured Boomenater into my Pilsner glass and the result is shown below.

Hamburg Brewing Company: Boomenater

ABV: 6.0%

Style:Bock

Recently added on Beeradvocate.com

Boomenater poured a brown to ruby-brown color and displayed a half-finger head and good lacing.  The aroma of Boomenater is sweet and bready, with some nuttiness and gentle spice notes.  Neither of the hop strains used in making Boomenater, Magnum and Perle, produce strong hop bitterness or aroma.  The flavor of Boomenater is predominantly sweet malt in the front, with a clean bitterness in the background.  A bit of spice does round out the taste, including an earthy, minty feel.  Toffee and "brown ale" flavors are also noticeable.  There are quite a few different malts used in the creation of Boomenater, and their caramel impact occludes any real hop detection.  The mouthfeel of Boomenater is syrupy and full.

Overall, Hamburg Brewing Company's Boomenater achieves the traditional bock style: malt domination balanced with subtle spice hops.  I would recommend this beer on a thermometer-challenged night in winter or spring.  

Beer Tasting: Hayburner American IPA

To kick off National Craft Beer Week, I decided to review one of my favorite local beers, Big Ditch Brewing Company's Hayburner American IPA.  Hayburner American IPA is one of the best local beers being produced.  And I'm not just saying that because co-founder and president Matt Kahn led my microbiology students on a brewery tour a couple weeks ago (although that was very cool).  Hayburner American IPA is one of the best local beers because that's the way co-founder and head brewer Corey Catalano want it to be.  As with all Big Ditch Brewing Company beers, both Matt and Corey spend considerable time and effort to ensure that Hayburner American IPA is produced with consistency and quality.  As a result, Hayburner American IPA has quickly become a favorite local IPA by Buffalo beer drinkers.

So where does the name Hayburner American IPA come from?  The description provided by Big Ditch Brewing Company reads:

Mules, known long ago as "Hayburners", were the workhorses behind the construction of the Erie Canal.  This IPA is equally dependable, and is extremely satisfying at the end of a hard day's work.

So we have these "long-eared robins" to thank for the name given to this Big Ditch creation.  Here is a picture of my Hayburner American IPA:

Big Ditch Brewing Company: Hayburner American IPA

ABV: 7.0%

Style: American IPA

Rating: 89/100 and 21 ratings on Beeradvocate.com

Hayburner American IPA pours a clear to ever-so-slightly hazy pale gold, with a one-finger retentive head that survives the pint.  The aroma of Hayburner American IPA is predominantly citrus with a backdrop of pine.  The taste of Hayburner American IPA is not as citrus up-front as the aroma suggests.  Instead, Hayburner American IPA is a nice balance of strong hop bitterness, caramel malt sweetness, and grapefruit and orange.  The Warrior hops used to create Hayburner American IPA add a clean hop bitterness, the Falconer's flight hops add a Northwest pine touch, and the glacier hops add a gentle fruit aroma.  Carapils malt provide just the right amount of sweetness but don't overpower the hops flavors.  The mouthfeel of Hayburner American IPA is moderate and the carbonation is right.  The alcohol level of Hayburner American IPA is fairly high, but concealed by crisp clean hops.

Overall, Hayburner American IPA is a well-balanced and refreshing American IPA packed with structured flavor.  Hayburner American IPA is on the stronger side but very drinkable and balanced.  Order a pint of Hayburner American IPA and you will quickly taste why this beer has become a Buffalo favorite.

Remember to drink local this week to celebrate American Craft Beer Week.  And remember to stop by Big Ditch Brewing Company in the very near future as they open their doors and unveil their new tap room to the public!

Beer Tasting: White Aphro

From Empire Brewing in Syracuse, NY, comes White Aphro (short for aphrodisiac) a witbier style beer.

 Last week, a perfect amalgam of nerdiness overcame me on the way home from work.  On May the 4th, also known as "Star Wars Day" for the popular phrase "May the 4th be with you", the local Consumer's Beverages had a growler special entitled "The Empire Strikes Back".  During this event, customers could stop into their local Consumer's Beverages outlet and purchase of a growler of either Empire IPA or Empire Brewing Company's White Aphro.  Customers were then automatically entered into a raffle for a Darth Vader growler set.  The Jedi mind powers of persuasion succeeded, and I stopped into Consumer's Beverages for a growler of White Aphro.

Empire Brewing Company has been cool before craft beer was cool.  Here is a video from Empire Brewing Company and their beers, with discussion of White Aphro at the 7:23 mark.

Empire Brews All video

Having lived in Syracuse between 1998 and 2000, I recall (most) nights heading down the steps leading into Empire Brewing Company and pondering just what I was doing in this strange basement surrounded by a bunch of large metal vessels.  During these years, I really did not deviate too far from mainstream "not-to-be-named lagers" and the taste of an IPA was overwhelming and foreign.  But I do recall Empire Brewing Company's beer to be quite intoxicating and full of fresh taste and flavor.  But that was a long time ago in a brewery far, far away.

And yet Empire Brewing Company has survived all these years (since 1994) in the popular and high demand Armory Square market.  This Syracuse brewing staple has felt the pressure to expand due to increased craft beer thirst, and plans to open a new Farmstead brewery in Cazenovia, NY, located southeast of the city.  This Farmstead brewery plans to be one of the largest craft beer makers in the state.

Farmstead Brewery

So seeing Empire Brewing Company beer available on tap here in Buffalo made me happy.  Having White Aphro reminded me my early grad school years at Syracuse University.  And having White Aphro on May the 4th reminded me of Star Wars.  What a great nostalgic place to be.

Here is a picture of my White Aphro:

Empire Brewing Company: White Aphro

ABV: 5.75%

Style:Witbier

Rating: 83/100 and 94 ratings on Beeradvocate.com

White Aphro pours a clear to slightly cloudy white, with noticeable yeast sediment present.  The aroma of White Aphro is bready, citrus, and spicy, with notes of lemon, coriander, and ginger.  The taste of White Aphro is actually lighter than the aroma at first, with wheat malt and cereal flavors predominating the palate.  The lemon, coriander, lavender, and honey follow soon after.  The mouthfeel of White Aphro is moderate and smooth.

White Aphro is a craft-beer crossover, designed in witbier style.  But what sets apart White Aphro from other beers in the style is the presence of unique spice and citrus blends.  Drinking White Aphro makes me reminisce of Armory Square exploits.  I hope to return to Syracuse to explore the evolution of craft beer at Empire Brewing Company.

Beer Tasting: CPA: Citra Pale Ale

Today's beer review is of CPA: Citra Pale Ale from Odd Side Ales.  Located on the west coast of Michigan in Grand Haven, Odd Side Ales opened their doors in 2010.  I have not seen this beer available in Western New York.  Lucky for me, many wonderful Michigan beers accompanied my brother-in-law during his last visit to Buffalo.  And I'm happy to be writing about CPA: Citra Pale Ale.

One of the most popular hops that beer drinkers enjoy is Citra hops (cone shown below) released by Hop Breeding Company in 2007.  Citra hops contain a fairly high alpha acid content, and thus this hop is predominantly used in crafting IPAs.  Brewed exclusively with Citra hops, CPA: Citra Pale Ale is the flagship beer of Odd Side Ales.

Here is a picture of my Odd Side Ales CPA: Citra Pale Ale:

Odd Side Ales: CPA: Citra Pale Ale

ABV: 5.75%

Style: American Pale Ale (APA)

Rating: 91/100 and #45 in style on Beeradvocate.com

CPA: Citra Pale Ale poured a slightly hazy pale orange with a long lasting creamy foam head that topped off the glass nicely.  The aroma of CPA: Citra Pale Ale is the predominant citrus and pine that Citra hops are known for.  CPA: Citra Pale Ale starts off sweet, followed by a cascade of fruit flavors including grapefruit, pineapple, lemon, and mango.  CPA: Citra Pale Ale leaves the palate with a pine taste and a dry crisp mouthfeel.  CPA: Citra Pale Ale is a very drinkable American Pale Ale.

Overall, this is great beer if you're looking to explore Citra hops.  You will be able to gather all the information you need about what Citra hops smell and taste like.  Odd Side Ales has done a good job matching up the correct malt for the job and the barley does not overpower the Citra hops. Instead, the caramel malts in CPA: Citra Pale Ale reinforce the citrus and floral flavors of the star of the show: Citra hops.

Beer Tasting: 2xOne

Have you been wondering why the 2015 seasonal version of Southern Tier Brewing Company's popular 2xOne tastes different than the 2014 version?  The 2015 single varietal series is made the pairing of a different type of hop and malt.  You might very well miss this distinction as the lettering on the label is fairly small and off to the top right of the front label.

2014 2xOne: Mosaic hops and special pale malt
2015 2xOne: Equinox hops and superior pale malt

Equinox hops are a very trending hops these days, and more breweries and starting to use this hops in their creations.  So what's the difference between Mosaic and Equinox hops?  Here's a quick comparison:

Mosaic hops:

     Alpha acids: 11.5-13.5%
     Beta acids: 3.2-3.9%
     Total oil: 1.0-1.5 mL / 100g

Equinox hops: 

     Alpha acids: 14.4-15.6%
     Beta acids: 4.6-5.1%
     Total oil: 2.5 - 4.5 mL / 100g

Interestingly, Mosaic, Equinox, and the very popular Citra hops all originate from Hop Breeding Company and Select Botanticals Group, with farms found within the Yakima Valley in Washington state.  Both Mosaic and Equinox hops are fairly alpha acid forward, but the big difference with Equinox hops is the total oil content.  This high total oil content will lead to a variety of complex flavors.  And notice the tight cone structure of Equinox hops ("Do you even know how to cone, bro?").  Both Mosaic and Equinox hops can produce a very bitter IPA due to the high alpha acid content.  However, differences in the total oils flavors is what distinguished these two hops.

According to the Hop Breeding Company website:
"Mosaic hops impart a complex array of tropical fruit, citrus, berry, herbal, earthy and pine characteristics."
"Equinox hops impart a pronounced aroma profile with citrus, tropical fruit, floral and herbal characteristics. Specific descriptors include lemon, lime, papaya, apple, and green pepper."

Here is a picture of my Southern Tier 2xOne (2015):

Southern Tier Brewing Company: 2xOne

ABV: 8.1%

Style: American Double / Imperial IPA

Rating: 88/100 with 20 ratings on Beeradvocate.com

2xOne poured a light gold with a spirited one-finger white head.  The aroma includes honey, pine, bubblegum, and bread.  The taste of 2xOne is floral, lemon, grapefruit, and green pepper.  The flavors do give way to a slight alcohol feel at higher temperatures, but at lower temperatures the alcohol is masked extremely well.  The mouthfeel of 2xOne is average and the carbonation is fine.

Overall, 2xOne is not as traditionally hoppy as one would expect.  By that I mean that there is no overwhelming bitterness.  Instead, 2xOne is flavorful in different ways.  I've never used "green pepper" as a descriptor on a beer before, but there is definitely a fresh and crop-like spice to 2xOne.  I've noticed a similar flavor with Mosaic but Equinox is definitely more "resiny".  At 8.1% you may only need 2 x 1 = 2 of these beers before you realize just how intoxicating yet smooth 2xOne really is.  Therefore, 2xOne gets high marks for drinkability.  But by no means is this single varietal lacking in flavors.

I'm hoping that this seasonal series by Southern Tier Brewing Company continues the trend of pairing a unique malt and hop in 2016.  2xOne is a very good beer produced with a popular trending hop.

Beer Battle: Valar Morghulis vs. Three-Eyed Raven

I am a bit behind on blogging, and also on Game of Thrones.  So this is the perfect time to catch up on both beer and lore and launch the first ever "Beer Battle" between two Ommegang creations: Valar Morghulis and Three-Eyed Raven.  Both of these beers have been inspired by the violent HBO series Game of Thrones, so what better way to rate these beers than to let them battle to the death!  So what does that mean?  Basically, a Beer Battle is where both beers are reviewed and a winner is selected at the conclusion of the review.

Valar Morghulis: "All Men Must Die"

In the Game of Thrones world of Westeros, the phrase Valar Morghulis means "all men must die".  An ominous logo for a no-nonsense abbey dubbel style beer.

Here is a picture of my Valar Morghulis:

Brewery Ommegang: Valar Morghulis

ABV: 8%

Style: Dubbel

Rating: #20 in style

Valar Morghulis poured a murky dark orange to brown color with a substantial ecru head that showed significant retention.  Valar Morghulis smelled predominantly sweet and malty with plum and caramel.  The taste of Valar Morghulis is much like the smell, with malt taking the forefront followed by blending fruit flavors.  The deep plum and pear flavor of Valar Morghulis is complicated by spice such as cinnamon and clove.  The syrupy sweetness gently acquiesces to a signficant alcohol burn on the palate.  Belgian yeast are present but not overwhelming.  Mouthfeel is medium and carbonation is appropriate.

Three-Eyed Raven: "From the darkness I watch you.  All of you, all of your lives, with a thousand eyes, and one."

This dark saison is a tribute to the deceptive character on Game of Thones called the Three-Eyed Raven.  This beer is rightfully billed to straddle styles between a saison and a dark beer.

Here is a picture of my Three-Eyed Raven:

Brewery Ommegang: Three-Eyed Raven

ABV: 8%

Style: Saison/Farmhouse Ale

Rating: 87/100 with 205 ratings on Beeradvocate.com

Three-Eyed Raven pours an opaque black with a thick khaki head.  The smell of Three-Eyed Raven is sweet and malty and the roasted malt smell is noticeable.  Three-Eyed Raven delivers a bitter and rich taste, with roasted malt and spice blending.  Three-Eyed Raven has a pronounced Belgian influence from the yeast choice.  There are also some saison-type flavors at work in Three-Eyed Raven, including some subtle funkiness that gets buried in the black.  Mouthfeel is sticky and yet light and the carbonation is low.

So who is the winner of this Beer Battle?  Make no mistake: these beers are both extremely well crafted and far superior to many beers.  But the decision of a victor was not a tough call in my opinion.  Valar Morghulis is packed with deep fruit and sweet malt and spice notes.  Three-Eyed Raven is a lighter but roastier style-straddling dark saison.  Three-Eyed Raven doesn't quite do the job of bridging a saison and a dark ale, and Valar Morghulis is comprehensively a better beer.  Therefore, the winner of this Beer Battle is....

Valar Morghulis!

Beer Tasting: Pantius Droppus

That's right, this review is of Ellicotville Brewing Company offering Pantius Droppus.  Quite the clever name for this Imperial IPA.  I actually ventured to Ellicottville Brewing Company today with my family.  I was not there to do a beer place review, but merely to get the family out of the house on a rainy afternoon.  I am planning a return visit sometime over the summer to devote a full afternoon for a beer place review.  But at least I had the opportunity to see where Pantius Droppus was made - as the brewing operation is intimately exposed on the pub side of the brewery - and I enjoyed a delicious brisket sandwich.

Ellicottville Brewing Company resides in Ellicottville, NY, and is about an hour south of Buffalo.  Ellicottville is a very popular destination during ski season and certainly during the fall festival that takes place every October, when the entirety of Western New York descends upon this tiny village.  Here is a copy of Ellicottville Brewing Company's beer release schedule.

Here is a picture of my Pantius Droppus:

Ellicottville Brewing Company: Pantius Droppus

ABV: 10.6%

Style: American Double / Imperial IPA

Rating: 88/100 with 64 ratings on Beeradvocate.com

Pantius Droppus poured a clear amber with a cream-colored light tan head that showed retention.  The smell of Pantius Droppus was sweet malt and citrus.  Citrus notes such as grapefruit and orange can be detected.  The taste was even more malty and bitter than expected from the smell.  Pantius Droppus possesses a very strong malt presence.  And Pantius Droppus is not lacking in the bitterness department either; a strong cascade hop presence is evidence once your palate gets past the malt wall.  There are also orange zest tones that attempt to balance off the malt and hops, but I'm not sure the citrus flavors complete their task.  The mouthfeel of Pantius Droppus is medium and maybe a bit sticky and carbonation is average.

Overall, Pantius Droppus would accomplish the task of making pants drop in about 2-3 beers, as this beer is very convincing at 10.6% ABV.  Pantius Droppus is a powerful sweet and bitter beer with slight citrus tones.  I look forward to returning to the Ellicottville Brewing Company sometime in the near future and trying Pantius Droppus on tap instead of in a bottle.

Beer Tasting: Ryan and the Beaster Bunny

Happy Easter!  The only "Easter-themed" beer I could find was from Evil Twin Brewing entitled Ryan and the Beaster Bunny (I haven't seen Pretty Things Fluffy White Rabbits around here, yet).  I picked up a 4 pack of this farmhouse style ale from Premiere Liquors.

Evil Twin Brewing is based out of Denmark, but brewed by Two Roads Brewing Co in Connecticut.  I have been impressed with many if not all of Evil Twin Brewing's beers, including Biscotti Break, Molotov Cocktail, and Yin and Yang.  I did not hesitate to pick up Ryan and the Beaster Bunny for a tasting.

Apparently, Ryan and the Beaster Bunny was conceived Fanø, an island off the west coast of Denmark.   Evil Twin contracts out breweries in the United States to brew some of their beers.  Just so happens that Two Roads in Stratford, CT is the location for production of Ryan and the Beaster Bunny.  

Here is a picture of my Ryan and the Beaster Bunny:

Evil Twin Brewing: Ryan and the Beaster Bunny

ABV: 7.0%

Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale

Rating: 86/100 with 473 ratings on Beeradvocate.com

Ryan and the Beaster Bunny poured a clear golden color with a two finger foam head that slipped away gracefully.  Not much lacing to speak of.  The aroma of Ryan and the Beaster Bunny is lemon and citrus with some hints of herbs.  There is a very earthy smell to Ryan and the Beaster Bunny.  The taste of Ryan and the Beaster Bunny is almost Brett-like, with sour mixed in with funky herbs and floral notes.  The flavors of Ryan and the Beaster Bunny are difficult to lock down, but are definitely farmhouse and include banana, caramel, bubblegum, pepper, vanilla, and tartness.  The mouthfeel of Ryan and the Beaster Bunny is smooth to a bit on the carbonated side.  There is an ever-so-slight alcohol undertone but at 7.0% really not bad at all.  Overall I feel that Ryan and the Beaster Bunny is a solid farmhouse offering.

Beer Place: Flying Bison Brewing Company

A snowy late March day did not stop me from traveling to Flying Bison Brewing Company's new facilities, located at 840 Seneca Street just off Larkin Square center in Buffalo, NY.  I visited Flying Bison Brewing Company's new facility for the first time last January at Larkin Square's "Ice Fest".  Please see my review of that event by clicking here.  I earmarked a return to Flying Bison Brewing Company when the brewery wasn't as crowded, so I set aside the majority of a late Thursday afternoon to go scouting.  Flying Bison Brewing Company is a Buffalo beer staple and well known for production of such popular beers as Rusty Chain and Aviator Red.

 

Flying Bison Brewing Company new facilities.

Flying Bison Brewing Company was opened in 2000 in Buffalo's west side on Ontario Street.  You can still visit the website for their former location here.  The Ontario Street building was less than optimal for numerous reasons and Flying Bison Brewing Company recently moved to Seneca Street in October of 2014.  The new space is immense, state-of-the-art, and incredibly impressive.

You are immediately enveloped in ample space as you enter Flying Bison Brewing Company.  Banners and other beer signage adorn the walls in every direction, and beer paraphernalia pings your peripheral vision at every angle.  There are a few picnic tables and high-top tables to rest your pint glass as you enjoy a Flying Bison Brewing Company offering.  The brewing facilities can be seen through the glass behind the bar.
 

The Flying Bison Brewing Company brand is ubiquitous in Buffalo.

I approached the bar and was immediately greeted by Vincent, a person whom I had met previously at Village Beer Merchant, but had not associated with Flying Bison Brewing Company until after my first beer.  Just next to us, Flying Bison Brewing Company's  Tim Herzog was "talking shop" with a couple about crafting beers.  I'll admit to eavesdropping.  Conversations like this reassure me that I am in a beer space where people enjoy their craft and patrons visit to share tips and exchange tricks of the trade with professionals.

Flying Bison's Beer Board

I decided to try a flight of Flying Bison Brewing Company beers, including: Helldiver Oatmeal Pale Ale, Walk on the Mild Side English session ale w/U.S. hops, Barnstormer American Pale Ale, and Crème de Bison Milk Stout (limited and now gone, cask).  Assorted snacks are available at the brewery, such as pretzels and cheese.

A flight on the wings of the Flying Bison Brewing Company.

What I have learned to appreciate from Flying Bison Brewing Company is that their best-selling beers stay true to form while being adaptable.  After doing a review of Flying Bison Brewing Company's Aviator Red, I appreciate the craftsmanship required to ever-so-slightly modify an Irish style red ale and successfully complement a traditionally-intense malt sweetness with spicy hops.  To achieve this level of product takes time, tweaking, effort, and the willingness to adapt.

 Flying Bison's Helldiver Oatmeal Pale Ale

I decided to go with a pint of the Helldiver Oatmeal Pale Ale and was not disappointed.  I was happy to also be privy to a couple of experimental batches of beer, including a lactic acid laced sour and the star of the night, a milk stout entitled Crème de Bison.  You know the beer is good when the employees trickle from every corner of the building to pull a pint.  Crème de Bison was indeed delicious.  This also is testament that you can stop into Flying Bison Brewing Company on a random Thursday afternoon and score some sweet one-offs (pun intended).  Crème de Bison was drained before I exited the building.

Tim Herzog at the register and on the cover of WNY Craft Beer magazine.

Flying Bison's Black IPA

Perhaps most admirable about Flying Bison Brewing Company is their commitment to consistency.  And behind any brewing consistency must be a well-managed and maintained facility.  I requested a facility tour from Tim Herzog and he eagerly complied.  Although you can view the brewing facility from the tasting room, you really don't appreciate the vast expanse until you walk through the doors.

 Flying Bison's immense production facility.

New bottles had just arrived at the facility.

Tim exuded a proud parent vibe as he escorted us through the new Flying Bison Brewing Company production facilities.  I gathered the sense that all employees were happy to be in their new space, as well they should be.  Tim exhibited confidence as he returned every question I hurled in his direction with a swift and knowledgeable response.

Lined up and shiny vessels.

I was surprised to learn that all the vessels shown here are barely sufficient to supply the Buffalo area demand for Rusty Chain.  This summer, beer drinkers can look forward to Flying Bison Brewing Company in can format.  This mixed pack of cans is currently being distributed all over Western New York and will definitely have a place in your backyard BBQ festivities.

Cans are now available.

Tim Herzog is proud of his new facility.

Flying Bison Brewing Company is truly a Buffalo brewing cornerstone.  A tour of the new production facility is worth the visit.  If available, grab an experimental beer while you are there.  You never know, maybe that beer will become the next Rusty Chain or Buffalo Kolsch.


Flying Biston Brewing Company
840 Seneca Street
Buffalo, NY  14210

Beer Tasting: Aviator Red

I decided to end my St. Patrick's Day inspired week of Irish themed beer reviews with a local favorite, Aviator Red.  Aviator Red is an Irish style red ale produced by Flying Bison Brewing Company.  I am admittedly biased, as Flying Bison Brewing Company is well known and respected here in Buffalo.  Having said that, Aviator Red does not require my bias to stand atop the best Irish style reds being produced.

Flying Bison Brewing Company moved locations late in 2014, and having been to the new facilities I can say that the drinking space is very awesome indeed.  Flying Bison Brewing Company now helps anchor a Larkin Square renaissance, and significant revitalization is taking place in the area.  The warehouse style building has ample seating and plenty of bar space.  You can overlook the beer production process while perched at the bar enjoying a pint of Rusty Chain, Buffalo IPA, or Blizzard Bock.  Look for a full review of Flying Bison Brewing Company in the near future.

Here is a picture of my Aviator Red:

Flying Bison Brewing Company: Aviator Red

ABV: 5.5%

Style: Irish Red Ale

Rating: #9 in style

Aviator Red poured a deep ruby to brown with a spirited head that laced down the pint glass.  The aroma of Aviator Red is predominantly caramel sweet malt with a touch of spice.  The taste of Aviator Red was as expected from an Irish style red ale with malt shining through.  Where I think Aviator Red excels is the blend of other flavors surrounding the malt character, including Kent Golding hops.  Kent Golding hops are medium alpha acid level and impart a floral flavor to Aviator Red.  The mouthfeel of Aviator Red is light and the carbonation level is on target.

Aviator Red is certainly malt-centric, but I found Aviator Red to be not as malty as other Irish red ales.  There is a unique balance achieved by Aviator Red; malt dominance is balanced exceptionally well with hop modesty.  The successful blend of malt and hops renders Aviator Red a highly drinkable beer that is accessible to all beer drinkers.

Beer Tasting: Meabh Rua Irish Bog Ale

As the St. Patrick's Day Irish themed beer tasting week comes to a close, I've truly saved one of the best Irish red ales for last.  Brought to you by The White Hag Irish Brewing Company comes Meabh Rua Irish Bog Ale.  I picked this beer up at the last second at Premiere Gourmet yesterday, and I'm glad I did.  This beer is by far one of the most interesting Irish reds I have tasted.

White Hag Irish Brewing Company is located in Ballymote near Ireland's northwest coast, in Sligo County.  Ballymote is a very small town, and in addition to a brewery, boasts the famous Ballymote castle.  On August 22, 2006, New York City Michael Bloomberg unveiled Ireland's National Monument to the Fighting 69th infantry regiment of New York City.

The base of the monument contains a piece of steel from the World Trade Center.  Michael Corcoran was brigadier general of the Fighting 69th during the First Battle of Bull Run.  The reason why this monument was established in Ballymote is that Michael Corcoran was born in Carrowkeel, very close to Ballymote.

From the front bottle text:

"Meabh (pronounced Mave) was the infamous queen of Connaught, one of the four Irish provinces.  She was a legendary leader, and lover of men; a witch and a wonder.  Her ability to woe was often compared to a spell or a potion.  It's quite apt then that her name in old Irish literally translates as "Ale".  When enjoying a glass of Meabh Rua, the smooth, sweet, and smoky character will be reminiscent of the long red locks that cascaded down her shoulders and back.  But be careful, you might just fall under her influence, and you won't be the first."

Here is a picture of my Meabh Rua:

The White Hag Brewing Company: Meabh Rua

ABV: 8.2%

Style: Irish Red Ale

Meabh Rua pours a very dark red to brown color and struggles to maintain a consistent head (too cold when poured perhaps?).  The aroma is sweet smoky malt.  Meabh Rua tastes like a traditional red ale combined with a smoky peat undertone.  Sweet roasted malt takes the forefront with tastes of caramel, bread, and dark fruit flavors following close behind.  There is very little to no detection of pronounced hops.  And at 8.2%, Meabh Rua exhibits surprisingly little alcohol detection on the palate.  The mouthfeel is medium and a bit sticky and the carbonation level is low.  Overall Meabh Rua is the most intriguing Irish red ale I have tasted all week, combining both a traditional red ale with smoky depth.

Meabh Rua is a most authentic tribute to the historic Irish red ale style.  The beer is steeped not only with slightly smoky malts, but also history and tradition.  Meabh Rua contains all elements of a traditional Irish red ale but adds just enough smoky character to set this beer apart from the competitors and push the style.  If you are a fan of Irish red ales, do give Meabh Rua a try, and allow the infamous queen to cast a spell on you.

Beer Tasting: Cobblestone Stout

From our friends north of the border at Mill St. Brewery comes Cobblestone Stout.  Keeping in line with this week's Irish themed reviews, Cobblestone Stout is an Irish dry stout.  I purchased Cobblestone Stout from Premiere Gourmet in a pleasantly plump 15 ounce (440 mL) can.

Here is a picture of my Mill St. Brewery Cobblestone Stout.

Mill St. Brewery: Cobblestone Stout

ABV: 6.0%

Style: Irish Dry Stout

Rating: #29 in style

Cobblestone Stout is brewed in the theme of a traditional Irish dry stout, and this beer is certainly in line with the likes of other traditional dry Irish stouts I've tried with subtle distinctions.  This beer is full of gas.  Upon opening the can there is a release of beer gas, and immediately foam begins an attempt to escape the can.  The thick khaki coloured head rises and Cobblestone Stout pours very Guinness-esque.  The color of Cobblestone Stout is a dark brown to black and yet Cobblestone Stout retains a light-bodied look and feel in the glass.  The smell is of sweet roasted malt.  The taste is roasted malt with complexity supplied by coffee, chocolate, and walnut flavors.  In Cobblestone Stout, hops are not showcased, but are present.  The mouthfeel of Cobblestone Stout is silky smooth and light.  I found Cobblestone Stout to be well-balanced and true to Irish dry stout form.  At 4.2%, Cobblestone Stout is very sessionable and would be enjoyed by anyone with a penchant for Irish dry stouts. 

Beer Tasting: Lucky S.O.B. Irish Style Red

This week's Irish-themed beer comes to you from Frederick, MD, and Flying Dog Brewery.  Flying Dog Brewery is triangulated about 1 hour northwest of Baltimore and Washington, D.C.  Flying Dog Brewery is known for such craft concoctions as Raging Bitch Belgian IPA, Gonzo Imperial Porter, and Snake Dog IPA.  I've always been a fan of their creative cartoonish artwork and beer quality.  The beer I chose to review today is Lucky S.O.B. Irish Style Red.

Here is a picture of my Lucky S.O.B. Irish Style Red.

Flying Dog S.O.B. Irish Style Red

ABV: 5.0%

Style: Irish Red Ale

Rating: #52 in style

Lucky S.O.B. Irish Style Red pours a clear copper with an tan/ecru stable foam head.  The sweet caramel smell characteristic of an Irish red ale malt is present, along with nut and toffee.  Barely any hops are noticeable on the nose.  Lucky S.O.B. Irish Style Red tastes how it looks: very clean.  The taste is rich caramel malt and a nice crisp bite.  Other flavors detected in Lucky S.O.B. Irish Style Red include toast, grain, and very minimal hops.  A light tea-flavor is also evident.  The mouthfeel of Lucky S.O.B. Irish Style Red is medium-bodied and malty. 

One of the alleged ingredients in Lucky S.O.B. Irish Style Red is four-leaf clovers.  I don't really get a lot of clover taste from this beer, so I'll take Flying Dog's word on this one.  I do, however, hope that drinking Lucky S.O.B. Irish Style Red brings me the luck of the Irish.  Lucky S.O.B. Irish Style Red would make a good session beer due to drinkability.  Lucky S.O.B. Irish Style Red is very much in-line with the traditional Irish red ale style and quite tasty.

Beer Tasting: Guinness Extra Stout

In line with this week's Irish beer theme, this review is of Guinness Extra Stout brewed by Guinness Ltd. in Dublin Ireland.  This world-famous Guinness brand is known for production of stouts that require precise pouring methods that demand server and customer patience.  However, I was a bit confused as to the different kinds of Guinness beer available in the store.  I'm sure that nearly everyone who has ever had a beer has dried a Guinness Draught at the local bar at some point.  A picture of this popular brand, Guinness Draught, is shown below.  But there are other Guinness brands on the market, including Guinness Blond American Lager, Guinness Black Lager, and Guinness Foreign Extra Stout.

Let's compare five Guinness brand beers, all of which are available locally.
Name:                                          Style:                             ABV
Guinness Draught:                       Dry Irish Stout              4.2%
Guinness Extra Stout:                Dry Irish Stout:             6.0%
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout:     Foreign / Export Stout: 7.2% 
Guinness Blonde American Ale: American Pale Lager:    5.0%
Guinness Black Lager:                 Euro Dark Lager:          4.5%

Guinness Draught is found on taps and in stores all across the world.  However, Guinness Draught is ranked lower compared to Guinness Extra Stout.  Guinness Extra Stout is ranked #29 in the Irish Dry Stout category at Beeradvocate.com.

Here is a picture of my 22 oz. bottle of Guinness Extra Stout.

Guinness Ltd: Dry Extra Stout

ABV: 6.0%

Style: Irish Dry Stout

Rating: #29 in style

Guinness Extra Stout pours a dark black and has quite an impressive 2-3 finger tan colored head with significant and impressive head retention.  Of course Guinness is known for this characteristic feature of their beers, and special "how to pour a Guinness correct" schooling for bartenders is a training must-do.  Guinness Extra Stout has a predominant sweet roasted malt smell.  The roasted malt takes the forefront on the sip, and then bitter kicks in not long after.  There are also coffee and chocolate notes present.  The hops are present in Guinness Extra Stout, but certainly not the star of the show.  The hops do provide a bit of balance that would otherwise be absent.  Late in the taste of Guinness Extra Stout, alcohol warms the palate a wee bit and roasted malt pervades the nostrils.  The mouthfeel of Guinness Extra Stout is smooth and the carbonation level is moderate despite the large foamy head that remains even after the last sip of the pint. 

Now, I've had Guinness many, many years ago.  But during my craft beer transformation I had (mistakenly) associated this beer with other macro beers.  I'm not sure why I did that, but I am now seeing the error of my ways.  I'm not going to lie: I did not think I would enjoy Guinness Extra Stout as much as I did.  I found Guinness Extra Stout to be quite tasty and drinkable and wished I had bought another.  Guinness Extra Stout is a solid stout beer with more complexity than I had anticipated.  I am actually looking forward to trying a Guinness Foreign Extra Stout next.

Beer Tasting: Dry Irish Stout

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I am riverdancing out of my "IPA comfort zone" to bring you a review of my first (but not last) Irish stout.  Today's review is of Brooklyn Brewery's Dry Irish Stout.

Despite having a very dark color, the Irish dry stout style is characterized as light-bodied and easily drinkable.  You would never guess when you pour a glass that this style of beer would taste "light".  When brewed successfully, an Irish dry stout gains malt flavors from roasted barley and ample hops are blended neatly into the background.  You may be familiar with commonplace Irish dry stouts such as Guinness, Murphy's, and Beamish.

Brooklyn Brewery is located just across the East River from Manhattan and many fine beer have been created there.  Brooklyn Brewery is the crafter of such fine concoctions as Sorachi Ace, Brooklyn Local 1 and Local 2.  I've enjoyed those other beers so much that I was not the least bit hesitant to pick up an Dry Irish Stout for tasting.

Here is a video of brewmaster Garrett Oliver from Brooklyn Brewery explaining why brewing is much more complicated than wine making.

There are a number of very interesting videos on YouTube by Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster Garrett Oliver.  But in addition, Garrett Oliver is also the editor of the "go to" book on beer: the Oxford Companion to Beer.  I have referenced this book numerous times when constructing my science write-ups, and this book is an essential component of any beer-lovers collection.

But back to the Dry Irish Stout at hand.  Here is a picture of my Dry Irish Stout.

Brooklyn Brewery: Dry Irish Stout

ABV: 4.7%

Style: Irish Dry Stout

Rating: #46 in style

Dry Irish Stout poured a nearly opaque black with a fairly frothy tan head.  The smell is of roasted malt.  The taste of Dry Irish Stout is very roasty and toasty with coffee and hints of chocolate.  This beer is also a bit bitter, but not exceedingly so.  Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Dry Irish Stout is the carbonation level is quite high.  Dry Irish Stout leaves a very bubbly mouthfeel.  In this respect this beer is an oxymoron, as Dry Irish Stout really is a "light stout".

Dry Irish Stout is very sessionable at 4.7% with moderate to high carbonation and lots of roasted malts that attack the palate.  Dry Irish Stout would make a fine companion to Irish meat dishes (corned beef anyone?).  If you like Guinness, you will certainly enjoy Dry Irish Stout.

"It's the first drop that destroys you, there's no harm at all in the last." -- Irish proverb

Beer Tasting: Conway's Irish Ale

From Lake Erie neighbor city Cleveland comes Great Lakes Brewing Company and their Conway's Irish Ale.  Because this is St. Patrick's Day weekend, I will be reviewing a series of Irish-themed beers all weekend!

So what makes an Irish red ale?  Indicators of an Irish red ale are a sweet light-hopped tea-like flavor with pleasant toasted malt character.  Conway's Irish Ale is ranked #3 in the category of Irish Red Ale.  

So who is this Conway chap, and why is he pictured on this beer?  The Great Lakes website reveals that this is Patrick Conway, the grandfather of co-owners Patrick and Daniel.  Patrick Conway was a Cleveland policeman who directed traffic near the brewery for 25 years.

Here is a picture of my Conway's Irish Ale.

Great Lakes Brewing Company: Conway's Irish Ale

ABV: 6.5%

Style: Irish Red Ale

Rating: #3 in style

Conway's Irish Ale pours a clear amber color and has very little head retention.  The aroma of Conway's Irish Ale is of caramel and toasted malt.  The taste of Conway's Irish Ale is sweet, and bready.  There is little to no hop flavor at all, and Conway's Irish Ale does indeed go down smooth.  The mouthfeel is a bit creamy and maybe even a bit sticky, and the carbonation is very light.

Keeping with the traditional Irish red ale style, this beer is true to form.  Conway's Irish Ale is highly drinkable and leaves a sweet finish.  You would appreciate this beer if you don't like overtly hoppy IPAs and desire a very drinkable beer for this celebratory St. Patrick's Day weekend.