New Beer!

83 Days before GABF.  That is just over 11 weeks.  We will start to see a lot of new beer going into the GABF season.  There will be updates and descriptions on all the new beers regularly.  This is a great time to review your beer knowledge as we will have some of the biggest beer fans and aficionados descending on our great city for a 5 day orgy of beer drinking and celebrating.  We are located only 4 block from the GABF venue which caters to nearly 40,000 beer drinkers in 3 days.  Last year we saw over 3,500 guest at Euclid Hall in 3 days.  If you don't feel ready, lets talk about how we can get you ready.  

We have a handfuls of new unique beers.  Here are tasting notes on these gems, if you have any questions please ask me.  These will be added to our cellar list and will only be available while supplies last.  Enjoy.

Maui Sobrehumano Palena 'Olo   6.%ABV  12 oz  can

Maui (Maui, Hawaii) / Jolly Pumpkin (Dexter, Michigan) Collaboration with Hawaiian Lilikoi and Michigain Tart Cherries

A:  Pours a hazy deep bronze with a modest head and minimal lacing.

S:  Mild hops, caramel malts and mild fuity tartness that smells of both, passion fruit and tart cherries.

T: Slightly sweet malts with tart fruits and a solid hop bitterness. 

M:  Medium-light in body with adequate carbonation and a slightly sweet and tart finish.

Pairings:  This would be great with a Chopped Salad, Spatzle, Crabwich, Cheese plate, Chips and dip, and would go nicely with Waffle Ice Cream sandwich and the Lemon Meringue Pie.

Dogfish Head Indian Brown  7.2%ABV   12 oz bottle

Dogfish Head Brewing Co, Milton, Delaware

This is the original hybrid. A cross between a Scotch Ale, an India Pale Ale and an American Brown, Indian Brown Ale is well-hopped and malty at the same time.

A:  Pours a dark brown, nearly black color with a robust tan head that leaves thick lacing.

S: Aromas of bittersweet chocolate, coffee and brown sugar with a hint of nuts.  This beer has a complex bouquet of aromas that finish with earthy and herbal hops.

T:  Rich malts up front followed by mild piney, earthy hops in the end.  Coffee and bitter chocolate.

M:  Medium- Light bodied with a rich and creamy texture and lively carbonation that feels soft rather than prickly.

Pairings:  Waffle Ice Cream Sandwich, Brat Burger, Sausages, Tri Tip.

Dogfish Head Positive Contact - Imperial Witbier (Collaboration with Deltron)

Dogfish Head Brewing Co, Milton, Delaware

300 lbs of organic Fuji apples = total addition of 25 gallons of fresh pressed cider

4lbs. of cilantro

Cayenne

Overall, Positive Contact is characterized by its bright spritzy cider character and autumnal herbal quality derived from the cilantro, cayenne, and yeast.

A:  Pours a lightly hazy golden color with a lofty creamy white head that offers a rich lacing on the glass.

S: Sweet and malty up front, apples, Belgian Wit yeast, bananas, and mild cayenne.

T: Creamy apple, citrus, mild herbal cilantro meets modest smokey cayenne and Belgian yeast characteristics.

M: Medium bodied with light-med carbonation and a creamy texture with a dry finish.

Pairings:  This is a great food beer.  Try this with goat cheeses, Kampachi Crudo, Crabwich, Chicken Sandwich, Salads, Eggplant Talleggio.

Crooked Stave Surrette Reserva  Sour Saison  6.2%ABV   750mL

 (Barrel Aged Surrette)

 Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project   Denver, CO

A:  Pours a rusted orange color with a modest white head

S:  Tartness up front.  Lots of bright fruits blend with mild funk and delicate oak. 

T:  Again bright fruits, mild funk and hints of wood.  

M:  Light-Med (thin) and creamy with a crisp finish.  This is an incredibly finessed beer.

Pairings:  Crabwich, Weisswurst, cheese, Chicken Sandwich, Salads, Chips and Dip

New Belgium /Lost Abbey Brett Beer    American Wild Ale    7.5%ABV    22oz

New Belgium Brewing Co Ft. Collins, CO & Lost Abbey Brewing Co. San Marcos CA

A:  Pours a hazy light golden straw color with a thin white head.

S: Grainy and tropical fruity hops (pineapple, lemon zest, mango) with a delicate Brett funk.

T:  Bready malts and ripe fruits with a perceived sweetness, mild earthy  funk

M: Medium- light bodied with a creamy texture and active carbonation.

Pairings:  Salads, cheese plate, crabwich, weisswurst, chicken sandwich

Timmermans, Oude Gueuze LE, 750ml, 5.5%, Gueuze

A: Sustained pop from the cork, wispy gunsmoke from the bottle. Pours a hazed glowing orange, tinged with pastel yellows on the outer edges. Frothy white suds around the rim, not especially sticky, settling to a thin ring at the edges. Second pour, a finger of white foam seemed to last for a bit longer. Swirling brings a momentary congregation of sparkly, soapy bubbles, that leave as quickly as they came. This stuff is charged like champagne, nonstop streams of carbonation.

S: Lactic aromas of Greek yogurt, also white wine, lemon, and minerals. Slightly funky but seemingly mild in that department. Second pour yielded some wet hay and musty barn blanket notes.

T: Sharp lemon sourness, wet stone minerality, crabapple, some tannic oak dryness in the finish. Nothing off about this, it's clean with prickly champagne carbonation, feels somewhat light, not far off from Boon Oude Gueze with a bit more lemon sharpness to it. Easily drinkable and particularly quenching in hot summer weather.

M: Feels light and effervescent with a strong lingering finish

D: Overall fantastic Gueuze that’s lively, bright, and explodes with flavor.

Food Pairings:  This funky, complex gueuze is not for everyone.  We recieved only 6 bottles so getting this to the right people is key.  Think to pair it with delicate yet complex foods like the mussels, scallops, grilled cheese, cheese plate, and possibly veal schnitzel.

Boulevard Love Child #2     American Wild Ale   9.6%ABV   750mL

Boulevard Brewing Co, Kansas City, MO

A:   Pours a hazy reddish brown color with an off white head and delicate lacing.

S:  Light tart cherry, lemon balm , vinegar, oak, vanilla, and bourbon.

T:  Sour cherries, lemon tartness, wild funk, followed by rich fruity and toffee malts finishing with wood, vanilla and bourbon .

M: Medium bodied with adequate carbonation and a puckering sourness and intensely dry finish.

Pairings:  Cheese, oysters, salads.