I grabbed the L’Ultima Luna by Birrificio Del Ducato in Italy from my local bottle shop, and was told by the clerk that this was an amazing English Barleywine. Aged in oak barrels for nine months that previously contained “great Italian wines,” I am expecting a nice additional layer of barrel and wine flavors.
I was fortunate enough to receive Friek, a limited one-time release Kriek Lambic, from Odell Brewing Company in Fort Collins, CO. Traditionally, Kriek is a Belgian-style beer that is brewed by fermenting a Lambic with sour cherries. Some may be more familiar with Framboise, another Belgian-style “sour” but instead of sour cherries, it’s fermented with raspberries. The Friek, however, is both!
Every now and then when browsing through the beer selection at your local store you stumble upon something you have never heard of, with a strange name and at a decent price. That is what happened with the Schneider Aventinus from Private Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn GmbH (that is the only time I’ll make you read that). This Weizenbock from Kelheim, Germany claims to be “Germany’s Original Wheat-Doppelbock,” this should have an interesting combination of flavors with an old world style.
Philadelphia Brewing Company, one of my local favorites, released their newest beer in their “Select Ale Series.” Kilty Pleasure, a Scotch Ale, reads in at 8% ABV, respectable for the style. After recently having their winter seasonal Shackamaximum, an Imperial Stout, I’m excited to see yet another intriguing addition to their line-up of stellar beers.
Middle Ages Brewing Company, out of my birthplace Syracuse, New York is one brewery with a Barleywine on their year-round rotation. Druid Fluid, an American Barleywine at 9.5% ABV, is made in a traditionalist fashion at the brewery. They still do not have any computerized systems pre-measuring their beers, instead they do the measuring and mixing by hand.
