I recently spent sometime cleaning my beer cellar out and came across the Tripel Overhead from Mother Earth Brewing out of Kinston, North Carolina. I purchased this back in August while on vacation down at the Outer Banks. Mother Earth really impressed me when I tried their IPA Sisters of the Moon, so I’m looking forward to this one.
Clipper City Brewing Co., makers of the Heavy Seas brand, recently released Plank I, an Olde Style English Ale matured on yellow poplar wood. Commonly known as the tulip tree, the intent was to impart a distinct woodiness to the beer; hence the “Plank” series name. From the beer, I expect an interesting flavor from the wood with a robust, dark Old Ale profile.
According to 21st Amendment Brewery out of San Francisco, CA the idea for their Hop Crisis Imperial IPA came about a few years ago when hop prices shot through the roof. So, what did they do? “We made the biggest, hoppiest IPA we could imagine and aged it on oak for good measure.” At 9.7% ABV this oak aged Imperial IPA in a can could prove to be genius or clearly missing the mark.
My friend Justin graciously brought back a 2009 vintage of the Pere Jacques from Goose Island during a recent trip home for me. As with most Dubbels, I’m anticipating the malt profile is going to be greatly enhanced with age. Recently purchased by InBev, Goose Island’s Pere Jacques is a yearly release and not yet available in the Philadelphia market.
One of my favorite breweries that simply doesn’t distribute to Philadelphia is Ska Brewing Company in Colorado. They make, in my opinion, one of the most delicious hoppy IPAs out there, Modus Hoperandi. When I was on vacation I picked up two 12 ounce bottles of their Pinstripe Red Ale, which is part of their flagship line.
