Delaware's Dogfish Head is certainly making a name for itself if it hasn't already. Dogfish Head's Aprihop IPA comes out March 1 and is available through the spring. Beers with the word hop in it are all the rage these days. (I'll explain in another post.)
Digging into my Crayola 64-count coloring box, the beer is a light burnt orangish in color. The hops give off a floral scent (I don't get the citrus smell that others get), and the beer also gives off a faint apricot aroma. The faint aroma of the fruit also matches the light but distinct apricot aftertaste, which slides straight into the bitterness of an IPA. Some have mentioned that this beer is not all that different than Dogfish Head's 60 Minute IPA, but with apricot. Last year, I remember tasting a stronger apricot flavor. While I'm not a fan of an overly fruity beers, this could stand a little more apricot flavor. Not much, just a tad. At 7% alcohol by volume, you don't want to drink too many in one setting.
The other major drawback is the price -- $9.99 for a four-pack. I'm sure there are reasons for the price, but that is expensive. I'd be more inclined to buy it again if $9.99 covered a six-pack. With that said, it's worth trying if you can.
Three and a half stars (out of five).
Quick facts
Availability: March 1 and throughout the spring
Alcohol by volume: 7%
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Commenting on the comments
In the old days, some might have called this answering the mailbag. But in the electronic world, there is no mailbag. I'm simply answering or responding to feedback, where no postage stamp, just an internet connection, is required.
AZ wants to know:
Great question, and it raises a philosophical-slash-mental issue. At face value, one might consider Pacifico a summer beer. However, if you're suffering from cabin fever and a Pacifico will get you out of the winter doldrums, then I consider Pacifico an anytime beer.
James wrote:
James -- thanks for taking note of my priorities. I'm in favor Guiness but opposed to green beer. Here's a question for the masses: Do they drink green beer in Ireland on St. Patrick's Day? To your question, no I have not tasted Dark Horse Ale or anything from Dark Horse Brewing Co. It appears the brewers make a spring/summer beer. However, it doesn't look this Michigan brewery distributes to the East Coast.
Robin wrote:
AZ wants to know:
"it's 55 here and sunny. but after the week of 20 degree weather it feels like 70. i'm looking forward to some spring time beer drinking. would you consider pacifico a spring time or summer beer?"
Great question, and it raises a philosophical-slash-mental issue. At face value, one might consider Pacifico a summer beer. However, if you're suffering from cabin fever and a Pacifico will get you out of the winter doldrums, then I consider Pacifico an anytime beer.
James wrote:
"I'm thrilled to see someone who has their priorities straight. I'm looking forward to drinking guiness and green beer next week for the holidays. I recently had Dark Horse Ale. Have you tasted this one? Very refreshing. I believe they're out of Michigan just like your Bell's. "
James -- thanks for taking note of my priorities. I'm in favor Guiness but opposed to green beer. Here's a question for the masses: Do they drink green beer in Ireland on St. Patrick's Day? To your question, no I have not tasted Dark Horse Ale or anything from Dark Horse Brewing Co. It appears the brewers make a spring/summer beer. However, it doesn't look this Michigan brewery distributes to the East Coast.
Robin wrote:
"i'm not so sure one should consider green beer "seasonal," but i love your attitude. I had a Smithwick's and a Guiness last week just to get warmed up! Hubby's been out west, spent the week drinking Fat Tire and noted that New Belgium DID have a spring-type brew on the grocery shelf. And, so far as artwork, Jeff: You can never go wrong with Flying Dog, huh??"Smithwick's and Guiness are two fine St. Patrick's Day choices. Can't go wrong there. Fat Tire - New Belgium, the maker of Fat Tire, needs to come east of the Mississippi. I have some friends in the Rocky Mountains, and I'll see I can't persuade one of them to ship a six-pack of the spring beer, Springboard, to me. According to New Belgium's web site, Springboard is an "ale brewed with wormwood, goji berries and schisandra." For you absinthe drinkers, you'll recognize wormwood as one of absinthe's ingredients. And Robin, you are correct on Flying Dog's artwork. An homage to Hunter S. Thompson, Flying Dog's labels are created by Ralph Steadman, a longtime friend of Thompson. Flying Dog started out in Aspen, not far from Thompson's home in Woody Creek. Flying Dog also makes a spring ale, Heller Hound Maibock, and it should be in stores now.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Raise a pint to Sister Julie
This story is too good to pass up. Not only does Sister Julie blog about her life as a nun, she occasionally talks about beer.
In a Chicago Tribune story, Sister Julie says:
In a post on her blog, Sister Julie writes about a trip to Breckenridge and mentions the beers available at Downstairs at Eric's. (I'm guessing the name of that establishment is an appreciative nod to Yaz's strong 1982 release Upstairs at Eric's.)
In a Chicago Tribune story, Sister Julie says:
She also owns an MP3 player and recently downloaded the new Snow Patrol to go along with a steady stream of Indigo Girls, Melissa Etheridge and religious music."A lot of people are fascinated by what a nun does on a daily basis, that a nun would talk about going for a bike ride or having a drink at a bar. I do have a couple bars I like. Chicago Joe's, right up on Irving Park, I love that place. Harp Beer is one of my favorites, and they serve that on tap."
In a post on her blog, Sister Julie writes about a trip to Breckenridge and mentions the beers available at Downstairs at Eric's. (I'm guessing the name of that establishment is an appreciative nod to Yaz's strong 1982 release Upstairs at Eric's.)
"fabulous pizza and a worthy selection of beers from across the globe."
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Redhook Copperhook spring ale
Redhook's Copperhook was the first spring beer I noticed in the grocery store, so I picked it up. It was on sale for $6.49. That's a fair price but I wouldn't go much higher. (I'll discuss my philosophy about beer prices in another entry).
Malts are sweet smelling, giving the impression of a somewhat sweet beer. But the citrus taste, lemon-like, balances any appearance of sweetness. I didn't catch the spiciness of the hops that others have. Copperhook is not a heavy beer -- you can put back more than a few without feeling full. Plus, alcohol content is moderate (4.5% by volume) -- you can put back more than a few without getting hammered. (PSA: Don't drive drunk).
The color of this beer is more amber than copper despite the name. Pictured on the label are salmon, and Alaska's Copper River salmon run is one of the most famous in the world. Because Redhook started out in Washington state and Copper River salmon are flown directly to Washington for shipment to the rest of the country, that could account for the name of the beer as well. (Aside: Copper River salmon should start showing up in grocery stores in May.)
(Update: My theory on the name is true, according to the linked story.)
Overall, this was a decent beer. Not my favorite but certainly worth purchasing again, especially if you're outside hanging with friends.
Malts are sweet smelling, giving the impression of a somewhat sweet beer. But the citrus taste, lemon-like, balances any appearance of sweetness. I didn't catch the spiciness of the hops that others have. Copperhook is not a heavy beer -- you can put back more than a few without feeling full. Plus, alcohol content is moderate (4.5% by volume) -- you can put back more than a few without getting hammered. (PSA: Don't drive drunk).
The color of this beer is more amber than copper despite the name. Pictured on the label are salmon, and Alaska's Copper River salmon run is one of the most famous in the world. Because Redhook started out in Washington state and Copper River salmon are flown directly to Washington for shipment to the rest of the country, that could account for the name of the beer as well. (Aside: Copper River salmon should start showing up in grocery stores in May.)
(Update: My theory on the name is true, according to the linked story.)
Overall, this was a decent beer. Not my favorite but certainly worth purchasing again, especially if you're outside hanging with friends.
Three stars (out of five).
Quick facts
Availability: mid-January to late April.
Alcohol percentage by weight: 4.5%.
Brewed since: 2001
Package format: Bottle, keg
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Bring on the spring
It's snowing right now, big heavy flakes. Winter is still here. But we sampled a taste of spring last week with the temperature in the low 60s, and my mind turned to fly-fishing for native brook trout in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The mountains are calling my name. I can just about hear the fiddle whispering through the pines, the banjo rushing up the trail and the mandolin winding down the mountain. Just a few more weeks before I am knee deep in a stream.
My mind is on the spring despite the weather. In my first post, I had debated starting out by reviewing a winter beer or a spring beer. It will be a spring beer. There's a six pack of Redhook Copperhook spring ale in my 'frig. It was the first spring beer I saw at my grocery store.
My mind is on the spring despite the weather. In my first post, I had debated starting out by reviewing a winter beer or a spring beer. It will be a spring beer. There's a six pack of Redhook Copperhook spring ale in my 'frig. It was the first spring beer I saw at my grocery store.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Welcome to my seasonal beer blog
I have toyed with this idea for some time now, and I know it's not the only such website in the vast blogosphere. Two winters ago, while hiking with my buddy Knab and our dogs, we discussed this idea, and he said to give it a go. A little over a year later, here it is. It's finally time to launch my season beer blog. Stop by. Stop by often. Stop by infrequently. Beer won't always be the topic. Sometimes, it will be music, books, the outdoors, hiking, fly-fishing, camping, sports, friends, family, life in general. Offer comments. Offer suggestions. Agree with me. Disagree with me. But mostly, we're here to have a good time sharing our experiences with beer.
A little about myself: I am 36, about to turn 37 in April. My first memory of tasting beer? I don't recall my age, my 8 or 9, and I had a sip of Black Label my uncle gave me. I didn't develop a taste for good beer until college, and I've been sampling beers, sometimes at a rapid pace, ever since. I also drink bourbon and red wine. I might occasionally write about those topics. There are few rules here, other than that I'll keep it mostly clean, and I'm here to have fun.
Let me get started with my beer declaration of facts I hold near and dear: I like almost all types of beer -- pale ales, ales, porters, stouts, lagers and pilsners. I generally don't like fruit-flavored beers but am not against trying one. For instance, I liked a single Mad Elf Ale but when I purchased a six pack, the fruit flavor was overbearing after a couple of bottles. Pumpkin ales can vary. I like a hint of pumpkin, but not a pumpkin pie beer.
I can say with absolute certainty that I put an empty four pack of Dogfish Head's Aprihop into the recycle bin. I enjoy beers with spices from time to time, especially Harpoon's Winter Warmer.
I do not like it when beer makers stock the shelves with winter beers in mid-October or earlier. Sometimes I buy a six pack just because I like the artwork. Sometimes, I buy a beer because the artwork features a topic that interests me, like Cutthroat Pale Ale because I love to fly fish for trout. Or Bell's Two Hearted Ale because it combimes good beer, trout, fishing and Hemingway.
I am not above drinking a Bud tallboy. I'll purchase an organic beer from time to time because it's the right thing to do. I am partial to Bell's Brewery on the west side of Michigan because I developed an appreciation for Oberon Ale back when it was called Solsun.
An evening in the kitchen cooking with my wife and tasting beers washes away the stress. Drinking and discussing beers with friends always makes for good conversation and good times. If it weren't for friends in college, I would have never started drinking more and more good beers. Well, I probably would have but it would have taken longer. I hope I don't come off as a beer snob.
That about does it for now. I don't know if I'll start with spring beers and or finish off the winter beers. I might just tell stories in between.
A little about myself: I am 36, about to turn 37 in April. My first memory of tasting beer? I don't recall my age, my 8 or 9, and I had a sip of Black Label my uncle gave me. I didn't develop a taste for good beer until college, and I've been sampling beers, sometimes at a rapid pace, ever since. I also drink bourbon and red wine. I might occasionally write about those topics. There are few rules here, other than that I'll keep it mostly clean, and I'm here to have fun.
Let me get started with my beer declaration of facts I hold near and dear: I like almost all types of beer -- pale ales, ales, porters, stouts, lagers and pilsners. I generally don't like fruit-flavored beers but am not against trying one. For instance, I liked a single Mad Elf Ale but when I purchased a six pack, the fruit flavor was overbearing after a couple of bottles. Pumpkin ales can vary. I like a hint of pumpkin, but not a pumpkin pie beer.
I can say with absolute certainty that I put an empty four pack of Dogfish Head's Aprihop into the recycle bin. I enjoy beers with spices from time to time, especially Harpoon's Winter Warmer.
I do not like it when beer makers stock the shelves with winter beers in mid-October or earlier. Sometimes I buy a six pack just because I like the artwork. Sometimes, I buy a beer because the artwork features a topic that interests me, like Cutthroat Pale Ale because I love to fly fish for trout. Or Bell's Two Hearted Ale because it combimes good beer, trout, fishing and Hemingway.
I am not above drinking a Bud tallboy. I'll purchase an organic beer from time to time because it's the right thing to do. I am partial to Bell's Brewery on the west side of Michigan because I developed an appreciation for Oberon Ale back when it was called Solsun.
An evening in the kitchen cooking with my wife and tasting beers washes away the stress. Drinking and discussing beers with friends always makes for good conversation and good times. If it weren't for friends in college, I would have never started drinking more and more good beers. Well, I probably would have but it would have taken longer. I hope I don't come off as a beer snob.
That about does it for now. I don't know if I'll start with spring beers and or finish off the winter beers. I might just tell stories in between.
If I could spend more days that concluded with a beer at a campfire in the mountains with my wife and dog (friends and family, too) after a day hiking and fishing for mountain trout ... someday.
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