New Brew Thursday: 'Permutation 109' from Trillium

I Have not featured a Trillium beer on "New Brew" yet. But today my aunt and uncle came into town in for a family wedding this weekend I figured I had to break out something good and here we are.

'Permutation 109' is of course part of Trillium Permutation line which I have always been impressed with. While I can almost never remember some of the numbers of my favorites but their Triple IPA that was the inspiration for 'Plane Over Car Over Train Over Boat' was simply amazing. Their take on a typical Lager was one of the best I have ever had and their Gose that was the most beautiful shade of pink was nearly perfect. So, needless to say that when I heard the description of what 'Permutation 109' was, an imperial stout with toasted almonds and coconut with vanilla and coffee I knew I just had to have it.

I had this bad boy in the cellar for a few months so needing something both amazing and unique now seemed like as good of a time as any to open it. Like most imperial stouts the head had a beautiful deep brown color and its time in the cellar mellowed the overly malty smell that will often plague most imperial stouts. The initial notes are very soft with a light smell of coffee and vanilla with only mild notes of coconut. The taste is actually quite similar as well with the initial flavors being that very same coffee and vanilla with the toasted coconut and almond rounding it out. For an imperial stout clocking in at 12.4% ABV it has a remarkably lighter mouthfeel  than I was expecting as well. Moreover, for having that high of an ABV it does not suffer from it and it is very drinkable (even on a day when it's around 85 degrees).

That being said if you are able to trade for a 'Permutation 109' or see it on a tap list or in a cellar Sunday line-up I highly recommend getting one, or whatever the limit may be.

New Brew Thursday: 'Single Shot' from Tree House

On my trip to Tree House I was able to pick up a wide variety of cans and a couple bottles. One of which was 'Single Shot' which sounded just heavenly on the can list. When it comes to coffee milk stouts I have routinely been disappointed by multiple different breweries. To me, a coffee milk stout should taste like an alcoholic version of coffee milk. A beer that is both sweet and rich with strong notes of coffee. Now being a Rhode Islander I have had more coffee milk than I care to admit and for years my favorite coffee milk stout was from Narragansett because it perfectly encapsulated what a coffee milk beer should be largely in part to its inclusion of Autocrat Coffee Syrup. My preferred coffee syrup when making coffee milk.

It should come as no surprise that 'Single Shot' has bested the 'Autocrat Coffee Milk Stout.' With a rich dark head and the aforementioned strong notes of coffee this beer looks and smells absolutely perfect. The first sip is rich and creamy with a very subtle sweetness that lingers on the palate well after the beer is gone. Flavors of both chocolate and coffee are present that really show just how rich and creamy this beer is. 'Single Shot' is an awesome and the perfect morning beer. But it is also good at any time of day.

Brewery Trip! Tree House Brewery

Last Wednesday while on twitter I happened across something magical. Tree House had just announced a run of King JJJulius. I panicked, as I had heard the stories of this mythical and delicious beer and knew I had to get to Charlton ASAP. However, with the annual RI Bar Association Meeting along with some family events I could not get out there until Saturday so I suggested to my girlfriend a trip to this amazing and scenic brewery. I also mentioned that Burgundian Waffles was going to be there and that sealed the deal.

Now I have had Tree House beer on numerous occasions but I have only been out to the brewery in Charlton one time before. I had forgotten just how beautiful it really is. Nestled in the countryside on a cozy hilltop with a scenic view of the valley below it is one of the prettiest breweries that I have even been to. While getting there can be difficult for yours truly I am definitely going to start venturing out there more frequently.

We got there roughly an hour early so we were guaranteed our allotment of not only King JJJulius but some other offerings and part of a father's day present for my dad. We could not have picked a better day weather-wise as it was perfect, both warm and sunny. With the line moving very fast and before we knew it we had already gotten our cans/bottles (King JJJulius, Haze, Hibiscus and Dragon Fruit Tart, Sap, Single Shot, Treat, Triple Shot, and Impermanence) and our drink tickets. I did have time to run to the bar and grab a pour of 'That's What She Said' which was just an exceptional. This Milk Stout brings numerous compliments that would make Michael Scott simply respond with this beer's name.

We next we got our waffles which were also amazing (we both love Burgundian Waffles) and then got back in line for our final pour. I went with 'Perfect Storm' and she went with 'Triple Shot Chocolate Truffle' and we headed outside to sit on the Adirondack chairs and look out on this beautiful almost-summer day.

Now I have said multiple times that my favorite beer is 'Heavy Mettle' by Trillium but 'Perfect Storm' may have taken that title. This wasn't just a beer but an experience as to what an IPA can be. This double IPA packed to the brim with Simcoe and Citra hops is an absurd combination of tropical sweetness and juiciness that is out of this world. My girlfriend's 'Triple Shot Chocolate Truffle' was also amazing but 'Perfect Storm' was something exceedingly special and while this was the first, and so far only, time I have had this beer but I will be crossing my fingers in the hopes that I am able to get back up there for the next batch.

New Brew Thursday: 'Clever Girl' from Revival Brewery

This week's New Brew Thursday is a little different as I was able to spend it with my extended family and it gave me (and by extension them) the opportunity to try 'Clever Girl' from Revival.

We all met up at my sister's house for a night of conversation and delicious Indian food. At all family gathering I am always the one with the interesting craft beer and with this recent release from Revival I knew I had the perfect beer to bring.

'Clever Girl' has a lot going for it even before your first sip. The name is a callback to the famous line from Jurassic Park and the label is simply hysterical with a Velociraptor holding a completed rubik's cube. Just saying the name and thinking of the label is enough to put a smile on my face but this beer is more than just a fun name/label. This self described paloma sour interestingly enough does not pour bright pink but more of an orange with a slight pink hue. It has a very light and crisp mouthfeel and the initial wave of grapefruit is very tart with just a little sweetness to help balance things out. However what really takes the beer up another notch is the smokey, sour aftertaste that lingers just long enough to make it an awesome sour.

I would highly, highly recommend getting down to the brewery to try this perfect summer beer as soon as possible.

End of the Rhode

This past Sunday was a momentous occasion. My girlfriend and I visited Grey Sail down in Westerly, RI and not only did we have a lovely time at what is one of the nicest/most unique tap rooms that I have been to but we finished our Rhode Island Brewers Guild Passport.

The Rhode Island Brewers Guild started the passport a some time ago and I started mine roughly a year ago. The passport has all of the members of the Rhode Island Brewers Guild and anytime you visit one of the breweries and make a purchase you can obtain a stamp. Visit half of the breweries and get a free pint glass, visit all of the breweries and get the Rhode Island Brewers Guild Beer which is amazingly named 'End of the Rhode.'

We got version 3.0 of 'End of the Rhode' which is a saison with lavender which I was lucky enough to try at the Ocean State Beer Fest last year and immediately loved the beer. The lavender is an amazing addition to this traditional sasion. The notes are very lavender forward as well as the aftertaste and the subtle citrus notes and flavor perfectly balance the beer.

The Rhode Island Brewers Guild passport was updated recently and now has 22 breweries on it. Not only does it give you and excuse to travel all around Rhode Island and drink delicious craft beer while supporting local business. You have the chance to get something out of it. If you haven't started your passport yet just visit any of the Rhode Island Breweries and ask about it so you can get your first stamp.