Bay State Brews

Dedicated to the local breweries of Massachusetts

[baystatebrews]

Beer Review: Cisco Brewery's Grey Lady

Type: Witbier

Alcohol Content: 4.5%

I don't have much experience drinking witbiers, but I think I'm off to a good start.  This Belgian-style wit from Nantucket's own Cisco Brewery has a very crisp and refreshing taste that occasional beer drinkers seem to love, but a deep and rich ginger and spice flavor that avid beer drinkers can appreciate.

The aroma is pretty bland and the crown is short lived without much flavor, but that doesn't bother me too much in this case since it's such a carbonated and refreshing drink.  At just 4.5% alcohol it makes for easy drinking, even for those of us who don't drink much craft beer.  I showed this one to my roommate and his girlfriend and even she could appreciate all of the flavor it had.

The aftertaste is fairly smooth and the spice flavor lasts for a good while, leaving a really pleasant taste in your mouth.  I originally tried this at a friend's apartment during the Bruin's game but decided to hold off on writing a review because it was such a quality brew.  

This time around, I drank it with a buffalo chicken flatbread pizza and the mix of buffalo sauce with the strong spices in the beer worked perfectly together.  Every sip I took brought the buffalo flavor back to life and added a little sweetness to the experience.  I would love to have it again with a similar meal.

Rating: 8.5/10

[baystatebrews]

Beer Review: Cambridge Brewing's Big Man IPA

Type: Indian Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 6.8%

ATTENTION everyone who can't stand the strong bite of an IPA: Give this one a try.  

Cambridge Brewing is on to something with this brew.  It's much darker than most IPA's and has a distinct malty finish that you normally get from a lager or stout.  It has a fruity aroma that doesn't sting your nostrils the way most IPA's usually do, instead its a very smooth and mellow scent.

It had a pretty light and frothy crown that disappeared after just a few sips.  I would've preferred it to be a little thicker, since it had such a malty taste.  

To be honest, if I didn't know what beer I was drinking, I wouldn't even think this was an IPA.  I would've thought it was a really sharp lager with a lot of hops in it or a dark ale... and that's a compliment.  Most people who don't drink craft beers find IPA's to be overwhelming, but I don't get that from this one.  Just a real clean finish that leaves a fruity aftertaste with just enough bite to leave you wanting another sip.  

Rating: 8/10

[baystatebrews]

Beer Review: Backlash Beer's "War" Rye Farmhouse Ale

Type: Rye Ale

Alcohol Content: 6.5%

I'm not gonna lie - I'm judging this book by its cover a little bit.  How could you not?  The label is an epic medieval battle and the name of the brew is WAR.  Turns out, this is the second of four beers in Backlash's Apocalypse series.  This variety is a tart rye ale made from Belgian yeasts that give a very earthy and natural taste.

It has a fairly strong aroma and a carbonated crown that compliments the bitterness and cleanses the pallet.  I just so happen to be drinking this with a chicken dinner and the combo worked out about as well as I could have hoped for.  It's very drinkable but is just thick enough to let you enjoy it slowly.

Overall, I'm VERY impressed with this one.  I've never seen it on tap at any of the local watering holes, but I'm definitely going to start keeping an eye out for anything by Backlash.  Expect more from them on here soon.

Rating: 9/10

[baystatebrews]

Beer Review: Boston Beer Co.'s Curious Traveler Shandy

Type: Shandy

Alcohol Content: 4.4%

So last night I ended up watching the Bruins game at Whiskey's in Boston and I spotted a beer on tap that I didn't recognize (A pretty cool looking one, too).  Turns out it was the Curious Traveler Shandy from Boston Beer Company, the owners of Sam Adams.  I didn't know it was a summer shandy at first, so I was really surprised when I tasted what I thought could have passed for lemonade.  Now I love a good summer brew but the sweet lemon flavors in this one were too overwhelming.  The aftertaste was pretty bitter and gritty and made me feel like I was drinking the last sip of a Mike's Hard Lemonade.  

I will, however, give this beer the benefit of the doubt.  I was in the completely wrong atmosphere for it.  This shandy could be a suitable drink to go with a nice summertime seafood dinner, but not at night in a local bar during an NHL playoff game.  I might have to try it again and review it all over.

So if you want a relatively drinkable summer beer for the beach, you should give this a shot. Otherwise, steer clear.

Rating: 6/10

[baystatebrews]

Beginner's Guide to Beer Tasting

So over the next couple weeks I'm going to be featuring a lot of beer reviews.  For those of you following along at home, you may want to try some new beers of your own - I highly recommend it.  Unfortunately a lot of us don't know the first thing about how to distinguish a good beer from a bad one.  Let's turn to the Massachusetts beer guru, Sam Koch, for some instructions for how to taste beer.

[baystatebrews]

Beer Review: Ipswich Rye Porter

Type: Porter

Alcohol Content: 6.3%

Today we're trying out the Ipswich Rye Porter.  This seasonal specialty takes a traditional porter and flips it on its head by adding a deep chocolate malt taste to it which perfectly compliments the dryness of the rye flavor.  It has a pretty thick creamy texture that finishes pretty smooth with just a little hint of carbonation that hits you as it goes down.  

While chocolate is definitely the most prevalent flavor, you can taste bits of caramel and vanilla as well as some nutty earth-like flavors.  It's an interesting mix but it absolutely works.

Although 6.3% isn't too heavy for a thick porter like this, you're definitely gonna want to slow down and drink this beer slowly or enjoy it with a nice steak dinner.  DO NOT try to chug it. 

Rating: 8/10

[baystatebrews]

Beer Review: Newburyport Green Head IPA

Type: American IPA (Indian Pale Ale)

Alcohol Content: 7.2%

The slogan on the can is “The beer that bites you back” and from the instant I opened the can I could tell that would be true. I popped the top and was instantly hit with the strong hoppy aroma that lets you know you are drinking an IPA.

After the first sip, I couldn’t help but to say WOW. This beer has some serious flavor and bite. The flavor starts pretty mellow with hints of garlic and pine but becomes bitter and bold when you swallow, leaving you with a sharp aftertaste that isn’t for everyone. People who prefer lighter beers or smooth rich finishes should stay away from this one, but those of you who enjoy a real kick in the taste buds when you drink should look into it.

I will admit that when I first bought this beer, I was a bit skeptical. It comes from a small upstart brewery and generally IPA’s don’t come in cans because they have such a strong flavor that can be offset by the aluminum, but I’m glad I gave it a shot. Pair this with some sort of spicy pasta dish and it is definitely a good combo.

Rating: 7.5/10

P.S. A few buddies of mine and I noticed that no matter how long you let the beer sit, it's gonna spray when you open it, I think they're overfilling the cans. They should fix that.

[baystatebrews]

Beer Review: Harpoon Celtic Red

Type: Amber Ale

Alcohol Content: 5.6%

It's time for the first ever Bay State Beer Review.  For our debut, I've chosen Harpoon Brewery's Celtic Red Ale.  This Amber ale has a very distinct malt taste that is thick, yet drinkable.  It's not as heavy as the lagers that most people enjoy drinking in the winter but it's also much richer and hoppier than most summer varieties, making it the perfect beer to drink on a sunny spring day.  

The aftertaste is smooth and refreshing, not as much bite as a pale ale but also not as strong and overwhelming as most heavy beers.  The aroma is a little sour and some people claim it smells like bread crumbs or biscuits but I didn't notice that.  It definitely has a hint of caramel and hops which is probably why the taste is so smooth.

After a few sips I found myself thinking that the aftertaste was almost too smooth and made me forget that I was drinking a beer at all. I would've preferred a little bit more bite personally, but I would also rather there be not enough bite than too much. Overall, this is a very drinkable and enjoyable ale that I would definitely recommend for you and your friends to drink while you're outside pretending its summer on a 60 degree day.

Rating: 8.5/10

[baystatebrews]

Inside the New Sam Adams Can

A couple of weeks ago I posted about how Sam Adams was planning on releasing its Boston Lager and Summer Ale in a newly designed can in the near future.  Now we have some video to go along with the rough sketches.  In it, Boston Beer Co. founder, Jim Koch explains the science behind why the new design will optimize your "drinking experience."

So now that we know a little bit more about it, does it change your answer all?

[baystatebrews]

Breweries for Boston

Yesterday, the local craft beer community came together to raise money for those affected by the recent tragedy at the Boston Marathon.  The guys over at Jack's Abbey Brewing teamed up with Paul Sanford and The Tavern in Framingham for a fundraiser featuring beer from a number of local breweries.

I spoke with Sam Hendler, who started Jack's Abbey along with his brothers Eric and Jack in 2011, about how they were able to organize such a great event less than 48 hours after the bombing took place.  Here's what he had to say:

Here are some photos from the event:

The Tavern's entrance sign

A Jack's Abbey banner hung proudly above the bar

Tavern owner Paul Sanford gets ready for the event

A list of all the breweries who helped out

A special thank you

A raffle to win a great beer collection

A selection of cans/bottles available

Clown Shoes Miracle IPA and Stone Brewing IPA

Cambridge Brewing's Smokin' in the Valley  Amber Ale

Left Hand Brewing's Nitro Milk Stout

Left Hand Brewing's Good JuJu Pale Ale

Brash Beer's Smoglifter Milk Stout

Gaelic for "A hundred thousand welcomes."  Appropriate words.

By the end of the night, the breweries managed to raise $8,800 for The One Fund, and there was a line out the door to get in to The Tavern.  

To make your own donation, click here.

[baystatebrews]

Logo Contest: Mass Brewers Fest

Think you have what it takes to design the new logo for the 2013 Mass Brewers Fest?  Give it a shot!

The Mass Brewers Guild is asking for submissions from beer fans and are giving away prizes for your efforts.  All submissions will receive one free ticket to the fourth annual Mass Brewers Fest on August 30th, the winner will receive an 'ultimate prize pack' including six free tickets.

Submissions should be sent to [email protected] by May 3rd, the winner will be notified by May 10th.

Here is last year's logo, to get you started.

Image courtesy of http://www.massbrewersguild.org

[baystatebrews]

Boston Beer Summit

                                                  Image courtesy of Beersummit.com

On April 12th & 13th, Park Plaza Castle in Boston will play home to over 60 local, national and international breweries looking to showcase their stuff during the Boston Beer Summit.  The event will take place in three shifts; Friday night, Saturday afternoon and Saturday night.  Over 200 varieties of beer will be available for tasting.

Buy tickets here.

Boston Beer Summit started in 1999 and has grown every year since.  A ticket costs $42, but includes beer samples, a tasting mug and entertainment all night.  The event is a must for any self-proclaimed beer connoisseur or even somebody who just appreciates a good beer.

Here is a list of the breweries that will be participating, according to the events website, with links to all of their websites for more info:

Angry Orchard, Backlash, Bay State, Berkshire Brewing, Beveridge Soap, Black Sheep Brewery, Blatant, Blue Hills, Bob's Beef Jerky Hut, Boston Beerworks, Boulder, Brasserie de Saint-Sylvestre, Brasserie McAuslan, Brooklyn, Cape Ann, Carlsberg, Cisco, Crabbies Alcoholic Ginger Beer, DL Geary, Down East Cider, Duvel, Foolproof, Gardner Ale, Gina Cigar, Green Flash, Green Goblin Cider, Greene King, Grey Sail Brewing of RI, Grimbergen, Gritty McDuff's, Guinness, Harpoon, Heavy Seas, Hofbrau, Innis Gunn, Ipswich, Ireland on the Road, Julius Echter, Kennebec River, Kronenbourg, Lagunitas, Lexington, Moonlight Meadery, Narragansett, Newport Storm, Offshore, Olde Burnside, Opa Opa, Paper City. Peak Organic, Rince Cochon, Sam Adams, Saranac, Smithwick's, Southern Tier, St. Peters, Staropramen, Stiegl, Tap Brewing, Thomas Hooker, Three Beards Brewing, Tuckerman, Unibroue, VT Hard Cider, Weihenstephan, Woodstock Inn, Wychwood, Xingu Black Beer.

If you plan on attending and want to know where your favorite brewers will be located, here is the tentative floor plan.

[baystatebrews]

Ipswich Ale Brewery 5 Mile Equinox Pale Ale Release Party

                           Image courtesy of Ipswich Ale Brewery.

On April 20th, Ipswich Ale Brewery will host a release party for their new beer, 5 Mile Equinox Pale Ale, from 12 - 4pm.  The brewery is located at 23 Hayward St. Ipswich, MA 01938.  

This new beer is just the latest in an extensive list of products offered by Ipswich.  Equinox, described by the brewery as a "medium-bodied pale ale crafted with local barley and oats from Alprilla Farm in Essex, MA culminating into a unique malty experienced that's balanced off with a citrus-like bitterness and a fruity hop palate," joins five other varieties in the companies "5 Mile" line.

Find out more about Ipswich Ale Brewery on their website.

[baystatebrews]

Gluten Free Beer Coming to Massachusetts

It seems like 'gluten free' is the new 'no carbs' diet fad these days, and the demand for gluten free products has reached the beer market.  Based out of Montreal, this will be the first American sale for BSG Brewery (Brasseurs Sans Gluten), which is one very few breweries in the world devoted to gluten free beer.  The beer will be available in 16 oz cans beginning the second week of April in three varieties; Glutenberg Blonde, American Pale Ale and Glutenberg Red.

BSG took home three medals in the 2012 World Beer Cup, sweeping the Gluten free beer category with gold for the Glutenerg Red, silver for the American Pale Ale and bronze for the Blonde.  Not too shabby for a brewery that was just founded in 2010.

For more info on BSG Brewery, check out their website.

[baystatebrews]

Sam Adams In A Can?

  Images courtesy of Sam Adams Brewing Co.

Quite simply, yes.  The Boston brewing legends have made the decision to release their Boston Lager and Summer Ale in a can early this summer.  According to the company's blog, the decision was made based on the fact that in warm weather a can protects the beer better from sunlight, as well as the fact that it is easier to bring with you to the beach, hiking, golfing, boating and BBQs.

The 'Sam Can' is not your ordinary can though.  Much like the company's famous 'perfect pint glass', the new can will be designed specifically to optimize your drinking experience.  The images , obtained from the Sam Adams blog, demonstrate the new can's wide lid, raised opening and an hourglass ridge all designed to make the beer taste better and go down smoother.

The can idea drew mixed reviews from Sam Adams fans, but I think it is a great way for the company to expand their product and cater to people who prefer cans to bottles.  I expect to see lots of people sipping Summer Ale from a can on the beach this summer.

[baystatebrews]

Bacon & Beer

This past week was Restaurant Week in Boston, and the local breweries participated in "Bacon and Beer" themed events.  All around Massachusetts, local breweries teamed up with local chefs and restaurants to showcase their best bacon dishes and craft beers.  One such event took place in Somerville, at PA's Lounge.  The "Bacon and Beer" Art Show featured local brewing companies Left Hand Brewing Co., Watch City Brewing Co. and Clown Shoes Brewery.

[baystatebrews]

Chris Dynia of Nowhere Brewing

Chris Dynia used to work as an architect, but he put his career on hold to pursue his passion for beer.  Dynia is in the process of opening his own brewery, Nowhere Brewery, and hopes to be open for 2013.  Here is what he had to say.