Week Long Beer Tour
by
E 
The following story narrates a week in my life; albeit not a
typical week, as I do not have the money or liver to keep up that rate. But
all in all, still a fun week, which yielded many new beer ratings.
So it all began on Monday 6/21. I left work on time to make
it over to the Drafting Room in Spring House, PA. The summer solstice meant
that they were tapping their special 10th Anniversary IPA. So after
a few pints spicy hop nectar, brewer Chris Trogner finally showed up with a keg
of their Dream Weaver Wheat. A very nice and super cloudy German Hefe. During
the course of a pint of this hefe, the lady next to me, feeling nervous (seeing
as how she was in the witness protection program… or so she said) accused me of
taking notes on her. It wasn’t until I showed her my little notebook, until
her mind was eased, but it was time for me to head out. So I bought a very
over priced bottle of Sam Adams Chocolate Bock and a growler of the 10th
Anniversary IPA, and bounced.
The next day was somewhat of a break, where I went over my
friend Tom’s house in Delaware for some casual sampling. I was responsible for
bringing most of these: Westy 8, McNeills Champ Ale, Great Divide Hercules
IIPA, Clipper City Heavy Seas Winter Storm, and a 6 oz sample of the 10th
Anniversary I had bottled the night before. So we enjoyed a couple brews and
then I jumped in my car, and drove an hour back home, making sure to hit the
Grey Lodge Pub in Northeast Philly. The main reason for stopping here was for
my 24th Dogfish Head rating, the DFH Weedwacker Wit. Weedwacker is
a filtered wit, light on the spices and not quite to style. It could still be
refreshing on a hot day.
On Wednesday, June 23 Sly Fox Brewer Brian O’Reilly was up
on stage to show off his second skill. Not only is he an amazing brewer, but
tonight he took the stage with a member of his old college band. I met up with
my buddy Brian, his wife, and his daughter, as well as their friend Carla. As
it turned it, it was one of the first times that there were two Anniversary
IPA’s on this night. Now tonight, while enjoying dinner we had a pint of the
Target IPA, Simcoe IPA, Instigator Doppelbock, and Irish Stout. Brian O’Reilly
never ceases to amaze me. The doppel and Irish Stout were both extremely
enjoyable, while these Anniversary IPA’s really can help anyone learn what a
specific hop tastes like. I really look forward to December 10th
when Sly Fox will have 10 IPA’s on tap, as well as releasing their Double
IPA!! I also took home a growler each of those IPA’sJ.
Thursday night a friend of mine, named Sean was gracious
enough to invite me to his homebrew club’s (The Glub Club) session beer
competition, where everyone got to judge. This contest was held at the General
Lafayette Inn and Brewery. My personal favorite was a porter brewed by Dan
Boss, even though the winner of the contest was a guy named Russ Rczajka who
brought the “Summer Gold” a British session-style ale. Tonight, Manayunk
assistant brewer Bill Young brought a 5 liter keg of a freshly brewed
“California Dreamin”. This is a wonderful California-style IPA which weighs in
around 55 or 60 IBUs and 6.5% abv. Other beers sampled tonight were the GLI
Imperial Stout and Pacific Pale Ale, both on cask.
Friday night brought me back to Sly Fox, where I met up with
a friend of mine from Washington DC, Jeff, his wife, and new-born son. Traffic
was not friendly to them, and forced me to enjoy a Jake’s ESB before they got
there. I think, when ever a brewer with O’Reilly’s skills, brews an ESB the
brewery should really do it justice and throw it on cask. Not that I am
complaining (because they don’t even have a beer engine at the Phoenixville
location), it was still an amazing ESB, I just wonder what a cask would have
done to that? Hopefully the new brewery and pub in Royersford, which opens
later this year, will include one. I followed the ESB with the French Creek
Helles (my least favorite of the night, but what can you do, my palate needed a
break from the previous week). We sat down to dinner and I imbibed in a Royal
Weisse and Pughtown porter. The Royal Weisse is a German Hefe, and much more
to style than the sour bottle I had last month. In my rating I note that
Pughtown porter seems to be 3F’s Alpha Klaus’ little brother. For some reason
it does not work as well. This porter is VERY hoppy, with very low roasted
notes. As much as I wanted to, I was not able to raise my rating here.
Saturday saw me kickin it with Brian (from Sly Fox on
Wednesday) once again. This time he drove his brother James, myself, and
friend Tim up to Bethlehem Brew Works. As soon as we sit down in the
Steelgaarden, we see none other than a bottle of the Fantôme BBB Babillard,
staring us in the face. While the bartender put that on ice for a moment, we
took the time to order 2002 vintages of Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer and
Cidre Dupont Réserve. What an amazing beer drinking day, today has turned out
to be! At some point during the night, I wanted to make my plans for the next
day, would I hit my 5th brewery in five days? Call 411 and ask for
the Dogfish Head brewpub phone number. As the bartender reads me their “standard”
offerings, the last selection really piqued my interest. For that last beer
was called Dogfish Head Sweet Home Amber Lager and was brewed by the entire
crew at the brewpub, with each person adding an ingredient. OK that made up my
mind, I decided to cut my sampling a little short tonight in order to save up
money for the next day. The bartender at Bethlehem was gracious to deliver a
pint of the Bethlehem Brew Works Zomerbier, gratis! I finished my sampling at
the Steelgaarden with a Mirabelle, which is a plum lambic that was just brewed
by Bethlehem. Quite the tasty lambic, being from an American brewer. Brian
drove us back to his house, where we finished the night splitting a Gumballhead
(courtesy of Jeff!) and an 04 Stone Imperial Russian Stout between the four of
us.
Unfortunately for me, I woke up Sunday with a slight
hangover. But I was on a mission, for it was Sean’s birthday, and I needed to
meet him down the Delaware shore today. So I packed up myself after some
breakfast and head on down to the shore. I got to the Dogfish Head brewpub way
too early, so I began to sample the Sweet Home Lager, followed by their Liquor
de Malt on draft. One important piece of information on the Lager, the secret
ingredient is Anisette, which was subtle and complimented the brew
wonderfully! Now by this time I ordered some food and was wondering where Sean
was, so I ordered a Weedwacker Wit. Main reasoning behind this was to see if
it was any different on draft at the brewpub. Still a nice refreshing ale, not
quite sure if I can call it a wit, but I enjoyed it none-the-less. I wonder
why they filter this one? Personally for me, I try to rate beers on enjoy
ability, not by rating to style. Of course, a trip to the DFH brewpub is not
complete without a fresh 90 min IPA pint, which is always a treat. Finally
Sean shows up with his girlfriend and we share one more pint, before brewer
Mike shows me around the small brewery they have in the “other room”. Anyone who’s
visited the brewpub knows the chalkboard that says, “Imported, from this
room”. Upstairs from the brew kettles is the distillery where all of the
Dogfish Head liquor is made. Following the tour, free samples of this liquor
is offered, however I needed to decline because today I have a two and a half
hour drive back to King of Prussia. So I purchase my two bottles of the Liquor
de Malt, and finish my pint of 60 min IPA. I say goodbye to Sean and his
girlfriend and head out on the road.
What a week that was, surely not to be forgotten, and not
sure if my liver can repeat this any time soon.
