New Brew Thursday: 'Middle Aged Genius' from Trillium and Bissel Brothers

I recently made the trip back to one of my favorite breweries in the world, Trillium. Now, while I was able to visit the Fenway location a few months back I had not been to the new Canton location and let me tell you it didn’t disappoint (thanks Freddy Foreshadowing for the next post) as it was beautiful. I made the trip so I could not only visit this amazing brewery but so I could also try the newest collaboration between Trillium and Bissel Brothers, something I look forward to each year and this year with ‘Middle Aged Genius’ it was another smash success.

‘Middle Aged Genius’ pours into the glass a hazy yellow with a small white head. it has notes of sweet tropical fruit that battle each other for nostril supremacy with none able to gain the upper hand that leads to a rich, sweet, and citrusy aroma. The taste is fantastic. While it has been awhile since I have had ‘Baby Genius’ it’s significantly older counterpart amplifies everything I loved about it. ‘Middle Aged Genius’ has a rich mouthfeel that coats the entire palate with a rich, creamy, and citrus flavor with a sliding scale of bitterness that starts at the tip of the tongue and mellows to the middle. Clocking in at a respectable 7% ABV you’ll be able to finish the glass and open a second… or third.

New Brew Thursday: 'All Simcoe Everything' from Other Half

This past weekend I made it back to Bayberry Beer Hall in Providence. Now not only is this one of the best beer halls in the state due to their incredible tap/can list but they have amazing food and cans/growlers to go. As I was leaving I saw a few beers from Other Half that I was very intrigued with, one of them was ‘All Simcoe Everything.’

‘All Simcoe Everything’ pours into the glass an almost neon-yellow color with a thick white head. it has notes of tropical pineapple and mango that blend together into a nice sweetness at the end. The taste is fantastic. Coating the entire palate with a thick and luxurious mouthfeel it hit you with an initial juiciness that effortlessly transitions into a slight bitterness that starts at the back of the tongue and lingers ever-so-slightly. Coming in at an impressive 8.5% abv it is not overly boozy and it will not start to hit you until you’ve realized the glass is nearly empty. ‘All Simcoe Everything’ is another fantastic Imperial IPA from Other Half so if you like IPA and Simcoe hops you’ll love this one.

Cooking With Beer: IPA Queso Dip

With the big game right around the corner, you need a great dip in order to really set your party up for success and there is no greater dip than a queso dip. Gooey, melty, and spicy the perfect queso dip can be the cornerstone for your party and by adding beer… it is all the better. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I have been working on perfecting this recipe for the last few years. Tinkering with spices, beers, and peppers to ensure that this recipe is perfect in every way. Now that I have cracked the code for the perfect beer cheese dip I will share it with you.  

When it comes to the beer, an IPA will be your best bet and not just any IPA will do the job. This is a job for the New England IPA (e.g. hazy boi). West Coast IPAs will make the dip too bitter, while East Coast and English IPAs won’t make much of a difference and the juicy hop of the New England style is perfect. When it comes to ABV I would stick to 5% to 7% as any higher will give the dip a weird boozy taste. For me, using ‘Julius’ from Tree House Brewing has been the perfect beer but if you cannot get ‘Julius’ any beer that follows those guidelines is perfect.

Now here’s the recipe:

Ingredients:

¼ cup canola oil

2 poblano peppers

1 jalapeno pepper

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon chili powder

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 tablespoons flour

1 cup whole milk

½ cup IPA beer

2 cups shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded monetary jack cheese

1 cup shredded low moisture-full fat mozzarella cheese

1 roma tomato

salt and black pepper to taste

 

Method:

Roughly mince the peppers being sure to de-seed them. I like to keep some of the veins of the jalapeno for the spice but if you do not like a lot of spice just remove it all. Using half of the canola oil (about two tablespoons or so) sauté the peppers until softened using a large sauté pan. Then add in all of the spices and stir for about one minute or so until the spices are fragrant.

Next, add in the rest of the oil and stir until all of the peppers and spices are coated. Then add in the flour to start the roux. Cook out the raw taste of the flour for a few minutes until the flour is light golden brown and then add in the milk in stages roughly ¼ of a cup at a time. This will ensure that there are no lumps in your roux. Once all of the milk has been added stir until thickened and then add in the beer ¼ cup at a time.

Once the beer has been incorporated and thickened as well, add in the cheddar cheese. After the cheddar has melted slightly then add in the monetary jack and mozzarella and fold in until melted. Once the cheese has melted add in your diced and de-seeded tomato and gently fold in.

Finally, you can transfer your dip into the serving tray or serve in your cast iron pan. Optionally, you can put this under the broiler to crisp up the top if you’d like as well.

New Brew Thursday: 'Jjjuiceee Machine' from Tree House Brewery

Happy New Year everyone! Or Hoppy Brew Year if you please. One of my new years resolutions (aside from the usual one of losing weight) was to write more. Not only because I love to blog but because there are dozens of new breweries to visit, new recipes to experiment with, and new beers to try. So, when I saw that Tree House had brewed a new batch of ‘Jjjuiceee Machine’ a beer that I have been dying to try I knew I had to trek up to Canton for some cans and let me tell you two things. 1. Going to Tree House on random weeknights after work for a pour and cans is one of my new favorite things and 2. This beer is insane.

‘Jjjuiceee Machine’ pours into the glass with a deep and hazy orange with a nice white head. It has complex notes of orange, mango, and tropical citrus that battle each other for nostril supremacy and the nano-second one gets the upper hand the other two pounce to take it back. The taste? Sublime. Now, to be fair, ‘Juice Machine’ is one of my favorite offerings from Tree House and I am a little biased but this beer is insanely delicious. The initial pillowy-soft taste of mango perfectly transitions to a big, juicy, hoppy bitterness with a subtle taste of orange and tropical fruit. It then gives way to a long bitterness that lingers on the middle of the tongue.  With a thick and luxurious mouthfeel the coats the entire palate you’ll be able to taste every part of this beer. Clocking in at a dangerous 8.6% ABV you’ll be at the bottom of the glass before you start to feel it. ‘Jjjuiceee Machine’ is nearly the perfect DIPA in every way and quite possibly not only my new favorite from Tree House but one of my top favorites overall!

TL;DR: ‘Jjjuicee Machine’ from Tree House? Yeah, it’s alright.

New Brew Thursday: 'Bigger Peach' from Tree House Brewery

 Aside from walking their picturesque grounds and picking up my cans, one of my favorite things about visiting Tree House is their draft offerings. Not only because of how good Tree House is on draft but because they are constantly adding offerings that add variations to their classics. Whether it is adding guava or pineapple, adding oreo or marshmallow these are the things that make visiting Tree House all the better. Now, with them adding dried fruit to their IPAs and other additives you can take those rare delicacies home and there is no finer example of this than ‘Bigger Peach.’ A variation of ‘Very Hazy’ with you guessed it… Peach.  

‘Bigger Peach’ pours into the glass with a soft orange color and a nice white head. The sweet notes of peach hit you right away and hit you with wave after wave of their sugary sweetness with the slightest of hints of candied orange on the very back end. The taste? Exceptional. While I am a little biased as ‘Very Hazy’ is one of my absolute favorites ‘Bigger Peach’ takes the peach flavor of the Haze line-up and cranks it to 11. The sweetness of the peaches hits you right away but then gives way to a slight bitterness that lingers ever-so slightly on the middle of the tongue. With a thick mouthfeel it coats the entire palate with sweet peach and a soft bitterness. Clocking in at a dangerous 8.6% ABV you’ll be 90% though the glass before it you start to feel it.

‘Bigger Peach’ is a dangerously delicious beer, and you NEED to try it.

Rhode Trip: Grey Sail Brewing

(The next part in a multi-part series as we complete the Rhode Island Brewer’s Guild Passport. To learn more about the passport and download the app click HERE) 

In my last post, I discussed venturing out of our immediate location to visit new/different breweries and that in visiting those breweries we can be greeted with something truly amazing. This past weekend I made the trip to Grey Sail Brewing down in Westerly and while I have been there before, it is a brewery that I love visiting and if you have not been there, you should.

         
                                    

Grey Sail Brewing is a two-building operation, one building hosts the brewery with can, bottle, growler, and merchandise sales and the other hosts the taproom. While the brewery is in a standard warehouse, the taproom is an old Westerly mansion with the beer garden in the side yard. I have always stated that the best breweries remind you of drinking at a friend’s house and I have to say that drinking at Grey Sail is like drinking at your rich friend’s house. The space inside the house is really quaint, it is where the service bar is along with a few rooms with tables for indoor drinking. However, it is the outdoor beer garden that is truly a thing of beauty. It has several tables under a tree providing ample shade, along with more picnic tables underneath a long overhang. Both areas over look a vibrant lawn and beautiful water fountain that convey a sense of peace and calm. Near the picnic tables is a wood-fired pizza oven that pumps out some of the best wood-fired pizza you have ever had.

The Beer? Fantastic! I first grabbed a flight of a few of their offerings along with one of my favorite Grey Sail beers and they were all great. ‘Hazy Ho’ was light with a nice juicy hop, ‘Hazy Day’ the unfiltered Belgian had a nice malty taste with a lingering finish, and ‘Adrift’ was hoppy with a lingering bitter finish but ‘Captain’s Daughter’ stole the show. ‘Captain’s Daughter’ has been a staple in the Rhode Island beer community for years and has been prominently featured on draft lists across the state and it has served as my ‘Go-To’ Double IPA for years. I know this beer, I love this beer, and it is awesome both on tap and from a can. However, having fresh ‘Captain’s Daughter’ from the brewery is a life changing experience. The juiciness from the mosaic hop plays beautifully with the citra hop and leads perfectly into the piney flavor from the chinook hop and has a nice long finish. If you like ‘Captain’s Daughter’ you owe it to yourself to visit the brewery and try it fresh. Additionally, for those who may not like craft beer, they have mixed cocktails and hard seltzers from the distillery next door that are also phenomenal.

While Westerly is well off the beaten path for many of us, it is an absolute must visit to thoroughly enjoy the Rhode Island craft beer scene.

Grey Sail Brewing is located at 63 Canal St. Westerly, RI 02891. For more information about their offerings and the brewery click HERE.

Part one: Long Live Beerworks

Part two: Buttonwoods Brewery

Part three: LineSider Brewing Company

Part four: Taproot Brewing Company

Part five: Community Bruin (CLOSED)

Part six: Shaidzon Beer Company

Part seven: Moniker Brewery

Part eight: Six Pack Brewing

Part nine: Lops Brewing

Rhode Trip: Lops Brewing

(The next part in a multi-part series as we complete the Rhode Island Brewer’s Guild Passport. To learn more about the passport and download the app click HERE) 

Now I have written about my “Rhode Islander quirks” before, but one of the big ones is complaining about driving anywhere that is more than 15 minutes away. Now I have gotten better as the years have gone on and now it really only applies when traveling inside the state but it is still one of my, and many other peoples, quirks. This quirk exists because here in the Ocean State we are cursed with so many good options within five to ten minutes of our immediate location and it is often hard to venture out (insert TLC ‘Waterfalls’ joke here). However, it is when we venture out that we find new and equally amazing places. None more so than Lops Brewing. Located in Woonsocket it is more than 15 minutes from where I live but it was worth the trip.

Lops Brewing is located on the first floor of a multi-story building that might actually have some apartments above it. It also has an outdoor patio. While we went back in late March and were greeted by a small snow squall it was still very nice and dog friendly, so Mr. Bradley had fun as well. Inside is a slightly narrow tap room with several tables and a service bar with incredibly friendly staff. Classified as a Nano Brewery, a concept I am learning more and more about, it has that perfect feel of a small local bar with a nice warm feeling to it.

Now all of the positive aesthetics do not mean anything if the beer is not good. But here, the beer is fantastic. While I cannot remember specific tasting notes on all of them, all of the IPAs were fantastic with the session IPA being one of my favorites. However, the big standout and I mean BIG standout was ‘Breakroom Snack’ their peanut butter and jelly porter. While peanut butter stouts/porters are quickly rising up my power rankings I have always found that PB&J stouts and porters are a bit off, but not this one. With the perfect peanut butter taste up front that perfectly transitions into a nice sweetness that rounds things out and doesn’t linger too long it was an absolute treat.

While I do not get to Woonsocket often, I can now safely say that each time I go there I will be stopping at Lops.

Lops Brewing is located at 122 North Main St. Unit 1A Woonsocket, RI 02895. For more information about their offerings and the brewery click HERE

Part one: Long Live Beerworks

Part two: Buttonwoods Brewery

Part three: LineSider Brewing Company

Part four: Taproot Brewing Company

Part five: Community Bruin (CLOSED)

Part six: Shaidzon Beer Company

Part seven: Moniker Brewery

Part eight: Six Pack Brewing

Brewery Trip! Dorchester Brewing Company

Back in 2016 when I was doing bar prep and getting ready to move out of Boston I had heard of a new brewery opening in Dorchester. While I did not visit back then, I was able to back in April during our Boston trip and while I had always heard good things about the brewery they COMPLETELY blew away my expectations.

Dorchester Brewing Company sits near a busy intersection on Massachusetts Ave. in Dorchester. While I would not go strolling around too far past this area it is in a relatively good section of Dorchester. The taproom inside is quite nice but the two stars of the show are the outdoor patio and the rooftop deck. While I was not able to check out the roof deck the patio was awesome.

The draft list was exquisite. They had a variety of styles on their tap list which I am always a fan of, however, it was their IPAs that instantly called my name. My flight had three and while all were fantastic it was their imperial pilsner that won the day. It was crisp, clean, and would be the perfect beer on a hot summer day. Additionally, I was able to grab a sip of my girlfriend’s (now fiancée, not a big deal but sort of a big deal) Russian Imperial stout that was perfectly textbook and absolutely delicious. The food was also amazing. While we had other dinner plans and just split an order of loaded fries they were awesome as well.

Dorchester Brewing Company is one of the best breweries in the city bar none, and you had better believe that the next time we visit Boston we will be back.

New Brew Thursday: 'Black Cat Sees All' from Long Live Beerworks

Personally, I am a big fan whenever breweries amp up or combine two of their featured beers. Obvious examples are 25% of Tree House (King Julius, Gggreennn, Super Sap, Very Hazy, etc.) and my favorite beer, ‘HeavyMettle’. However, when I was finally able to get my hands on Long Live’s ‘Black Cat Sees All’, a combination of the amazing ‘The All Seeing Eye’ and ‘Black Cat’, my expectations were high. Not only did this live up to those expectations, it is my new favorite beer from Long Live.

‘Black Cat Sees All’ pours into the glass a hazy, almost fluorescent yellow with a thick and bright white head. It has soft notes of melon, pineapple, and tropical fruit that all build off one another to delight the nose. The taste is exceptional. With a rich and luxurious mouthfeel that coats the entire palate it has a big juicy flavor profile with a soft, but building, bitterness that lingers on the front of the tongue after each sip. That bitterness then compounds with each subsequent sip. Despite clocking in at 8.5% ABV it is not overly boozy and you’ll be nearly done with the glass before you’ll start to feel it. ‘Black Cat Sees All’ is the perfect Long Live beer in every sense of the word.

New Brew Thursday: ‘It Was His Birthday And They Didn’t Even Care’ from Evil Twin Brewing

The birthday theme continues with tonight’s #NewBrewThursday. When I got my case from the New York City Brewers Guild this beer definitely caught my attention. Evil Twin is always good for not only great beer but some of the best names in the community and ‘It Was His Birthday And They Didn’t Even Care’ is an all time name. While my birthday was this past weekend and many people did care I did think to save this one for a #NewBrewThursday review and it lived up to my expectations.

‘It Was His Birthday And They Didn’t Even Care’ pours into the glass a cloudy greenish-blue with a small light blue head that disappears almost instantaneously. It has strong sugary-sweet notes of blue raspberry similar to a blue raspberry jolly rancher. However, it does have a slight hint of chocolate at the very end. It tastes great. With a light mouthfeel, the sugary-sweet blue raspberry taste dominates the pallet with a slight tartness that then gives way to a slight chocolate flavor before disappearing back into the sweetness of the blue raspberry. While characterized as a Sour IPA I was unable to detect any hop so if IPAs are not your thing, you’ll be sure to like it. Coming in with a dangerous ABV at 7% you’ll be nearly finished before you start to feel it. This beer is akin to sour alcoholic, blue raspberry cotton candy. Definitely making for a great birthday.

Rhode Trip: Six Pack Brewing

 (The next part in a multi-part series as we complete the Rhode Island Brewer’s Guild Passport. To learn more about the passport and download the app click HERE)

This past weekend was my birthday (Happy Belated Birthday to me) and while I am not much of a birthday person I did want to visit a brewery, but it had to meet two requirements. First, it had to be one of the few I had not been to on the passport, and next, it had to allow dogs. Six Pack Brewing in Bristol met both requirements so my girlfriend, Bradley, and I all got into the car and made the trek out there and let me tell you, we were not disappointed.

While located in a plaza with other businesses there are tables out front on the patio for a nice little outdoor area. The inside is quite spacious with ample tables and a couch more towards the back. However, what really makes the vibe of Six Pack are the owners and their professional greeter, Sheldon. Sheldon is an eleven-year-old Beagle/Italian Greyhound mix who is the first thing you see when pulling up. He and Bradley became great friends although the older Sheldon did not want of play non-stop with the one-and-a-half-year-old pup and would come over to us for extra pets. The owners are two of the nicest people you will ever meet and will not only spend extra time talking with you but your dog as well. The best word to sum up Six Pack? Cozy. Like going back to your parent’s house and having a beer, but in the best way possible.

Now this is not a blog about aesthetics or kindness, it is a blog about beer and let me tell you their beer is great. I was able to try a few of their offerings and I was very happy. The New England IPA had a hop blend that I had never encountered before that had a nice bitterness up front with a lingering funkiness to its finish. The West Coast IPA was textbook, with a big hop flavor and a long and lingering bitterness. Their cherry sour was light, flavorful, and perfectly tart. However, the peanut butter milk stout ‘Penny’ was the big standout. A rich peanut butter taste upfront that gives way to a rich and creamy finish, plus it was on nitro which is always a personal favorite.

While they are one of our newer breweries I am excited to see what they do next and will definitely be back. Plus, Bradley will want to see his newest friends again.

Six Pack Brewing is located at 87 Gooding Ave. Bristol, RI 02809. For more information about the brewery please click HERE

Part one: Long Live Beerworks

Part two: Buttonwoods Brewery

Part three: LineSider Brewing Company

Part four: Taproot Brewing Company

Part five: Community Bruin (CLOSED)

Part six: Shaidzon Beer Company

Part seven: Moniker Brewery

New Brew Thursday: 'Bad Dudes 3000' from Long Live Beerworks and Buttonwoods Brewery

Where were you approximately one year ago? A loaded question for sure. For me, I was one of the lucky ones, I was not laid off and my commute was reduced to simply walking across the hallway from my bedroom to my home office. In those tumultuous times two arose, two “bad dudes” and now they have returned. Jokes aside, the amazing team up last year between two of Rhode Island’s best breweries, Buttonwoods and Long Live to create one of the best collaborations that lived up to their hype is nothing short of amazing. When they released the sequel months later it was even better and now that they are returning for round three with ‘Bad Dudes 3000’ the bar is even higher. Do they live up to the hype? Yes, yes they do.

‘Bad Dudes 3000’ pours into the glass a hazy, deep yellow. It has overpowering notes of fresh fruit with melon being the most predominate. The taste? Exceptional. The Strata hop really steals the show with a big melon flavor that gives way to a slight bitterness that lingers just so on the middle of your tongue. The Galaxy, Citra, and Ekuanot hops all play nicely with one another as supporting actors to the Strata. It is super smooth and has a surprisingly soft mouthfeel and coming it 8.5% ABV you’ll be halfway through the glass before you start to feel it. However, in the interest of full disclosure. You can synthesize this entire review down to just one word: Dank. The pour? Dank. The smell? Fruity, but dank. The taste? Very dank. Get yourself to Long Live and buy this beer.

Rhode Trip: Moniker Brewery

(The next part in a multi-part series as we complete the Rhode Island Brewer’s Guild Passport. To learn more about the passport and download the app click HERE)

While I have never done it, I think my assumption that opening a brewery in your own dedicated space is no easy task. Obtaining the licenses, equipment, and décor along with fine-tuning your recipes, hiring staff, and the hundreds of other things that I cannot even comprehend. I can also make the assumption that doing it during a global pandemic is even harder. But this is exactly what Moniker Brewery did and I for one am glad they did it.

Moniker has a great location right off West Fountain St. in Providence and is located across the street from Beer On Earth and just down the road from Bayberry Beer Hall making this one of the places to be come summertime. Along with a quaint taproom it has two patios, one in the front and the other on its side. The back bar has about a dozen or so taps which makes me excited for their future.

While we were there I was able to get two flights and try all of their offerings and I was quite impressed. The IPAs were nice and hoppy, their pale ale ‘Modern Chemistry’ has a nice hop but a crisp finish, and their lager was crisp, clean, and very refreshing. However the big standout was their coffee porter ‘Hypercaffium Spazzinate’ which was exceptional. It had strong roasty notes of coffee and a rich, but light, mouthfeel and a big coffee finish that lingers and builds with each sip. It was so good I had to get a four-pack to go. While Moniker is one of our newest breweries I am very excited to get back to there and see how they use their space, location, and try more of their beer.

Moniker Brewery is located at 432 West Fountain St. Providence, RI 02903. For more information about their offerings and to make a reservation click HERE

Part one: Long Live Beerworks

Part two: Buttonwoods Brewery

Part three: LineSider Brewing Company

Part four: Taproot Brewing Company

Part five: Community Bruin (CLOSED)

Part six: Shaidzon Beer Company

New Brew Thursday: 'Mega Treat' from Tree House Brewery

Early last week Tree House had both ‘King Julius’ and ‘King Jjjuliuss’ in cans so I knew that I had to try and get up to Charlton. I have not been able to get to Tree House in a few months so I was eager to get up there but due to work and the weather I was not sure I would be able to. However, when they announced ‘Mega Treat’ I knew I had to get up there as it had been on my must try list since it was first brewed last year. I got a few other cans as well, but I was most excited to try ‘Mega Treat’ and it did not disappoint.

‘Mega Treat’ pours into the glass a hazy dark yellow with a thick white head. It has strong sweet notes of candied tropical fruit with a heavy emphasis on the sweetness that gives way to the softer fruit. The taste is amazing. While ‘Treat’ and ‘Super Treat’ have an initial bitterness ‘Mega Treat’ is an absolute juice bomb from start to finish. It has a thick and luxurious mouthfeel that coats the palate and tongue and is an impossible combination of soft and juicy with a slight lingering front-of-the-mouth bitterness. Coming in at 8.7% ABV it is just boozy enough to stop you from crushing it. ‘Mega Treat’ is a definite must try for all those who love their hazy boys.

Rhode Trip: Shaidzon Beer Company

(The next part in a multi-part series as we complete the Rhode Island Brewer’s Guild Passport. To learn more about the passport and download the app click HERE)

As we continue our Rhode Trip let me take you back to last weekend. Right after leaving Tilted Barn we decided to head down the road to Shaidzon Beer Company. A little off the beaten path in West Kingston and located in a complex with other businesses, they are where Proclamation use to be (a very Rhode Island phrase/occurrence). Currently, they are only serving in their outdoor space due to COVID-19 and this seating area is located towards the back of the building with multiple picnic tables and chairs around propane fireplaces, it has the feel of drinking in a friend’s backyard.

While there are available heaters, last weekend when we went it was absolutely frigid with a blustery wind that whipped right through the beer garden. Despite the less-than-ideal conditions the beer was top notch. I ordered ‘Rachard’ which is a Peach IPA brewed in honor of Rachard Nash, a member of the staff that tragically passed away. It was a super juicy and hazy IPA that was almost too crushable. My girlfriend ordered ‘Winter Nightz’ a rich and robust stout that was perfect for such a cold day.

While spirits were high as we sat there bundled up near our propane fireplace we had to leave early because of the cold. I definitely wanted another pour but settled for some To-Go cans instead. Shaidzon continues to be one of the great breweries in the state and a place you need to make an effort to go to… Just make sure you are wearing the right clothes

Shaidzon Beer Company is located at 141 Fairgrounds Rd. West Kingston, RI 02892. For more information about the brewery please click HERE

Part one: Long Live Beerworks

Part two: Buttonwoods Brewery

Part three: LineSider Brewing Company

Part four: Taproot Brewing Company

Part five: Community Bruin (CLOSED)

New Brew Thursday: 'Creatures of Magic' from Burlington Beer Company

Christmas this year was pretty good for yours truly. Aside from spending time with my family, after quarantining of course, I got some pretty solid gifts. Two of which were beers from Burlington Beer Company, a brewery that I had not tried before. I had seen their cans in the liquor store and always put them on the “maybe next time” list, but I was very happy that I finally had a chance to try them and they didn’t disappoint because opening ‘Creatures of Magic’ tonight was a great choice. With a  funky can that prominently unicorns, sphinxes, yetis, and Cthulhu I was already happy even before I had my first sip.  

‘Creatures of Magic’ pours into the glass a devastatingly hazy yellow with a small white head. It has strong notes of melon and citrus with a slight note of pine. it has a great and juicy mouthfeel and a fantastic taste. A little research on my part states that the hops used are Mosaic, Simcoe, and Ekuanot. While I have never had Ekuanot hops and cannot find them in the beer the Mosaic and Simcoe hops play really well with one another. The Mosaic provides that initial juiciness with the Simcoe coming in at the end to give a slight lingering sweetness. The oats help to coat the mouth with a thicker mouthfeel. Coming in at a perfectly balanced 6.5% ABV it is a great beer for sitting and sipping.

Rhode Trip: Tilted Barn Brewery

(The next part in a multi-part series as we complete the Rhode Island Brewer’s Guild Passport. To learn more about the passport and download the app click HERE)

While it has been a while since the last #RhodeTrip entry I can assure you that I have been frequenting many of our fine breweries but more on that in future posts. Those who know me know that I have been preaching the good word of Tilted Barn since I first tried ‘The Chosen One’ back in 2016 and my love of this brewery has only grown since then. I had made multiple trips to the old barn and with them only doing to-go cans during the pandemic I eagerly awaited the opening of the new barn, plus seeing it take shape with each trip down only heightened this anticipation. When it opened and the pictures were posted online my expectations grew even higher.

Now, I have a history of being let down due to having unrealistically high expectations. I had been trying to lower these expectations as the pictures gave Tilted Barn a “Tree House” type vibe, which is an INSANELY high bar but with each picture I just could not help myself. Let me be the one to tell you though, Tilted Barn’s new location is one of the most beautiful breweries I have ever been to.

Located on top of a hill that overlooks the farm, the outdoor patio area has a breath-taking view of the entire farm. Inside there is a picture-perfect wooden bar with a dozen taps and refrigerators full of cans. The front facing windows let in the sunlight that showcases the white tile floors, light brown wood, and open atrium for an absolutely gorgeous entryway. I was seated on the second floor that has artwork of their cans and a view of the actual brewery. 

The woodwork on the second floor is stunning. While my knowledge of the subject is very limited it looks like the various joints are fitted with pegs and not screws which really fits into the rustic feel of the barn. Even more exciting are all of the tanks on the lower level which filled my head with joy for the beers that are about to come down the line… and speaking of beer.

While they are not doing flights they are doing six ounce pours of all offerings and I was allowed to order two at once. I was able to try a few offerings as my girlfriend ordered something different than I did. However, my two standouts were ‘DDH Cactus’ which was juicy, hoppy, and full of flavor. There was also ‘Lawn Boy’ which was the first Tilted Barn Lager I have had. It was crisp, clean, and perfect for a hot day… or in this case a supremely cold one. I hope it is brewed again once the weather turns. Also there was 'Tupelo' an Imperial Stout named after one of the brewery dogs. It had great notes of both chocolate and coffee and is a perfect cold weather beer. 

In all, the new barn is amazing. It is sad losing the old barn as it was a cozy and intimate setting, but this new location really raises the stakes and will certainly allow for more experimentation and collaboration from one of Rhode Island best breweries. Plus, I’m pretty sure Matt is happy to have everyone off his front lawn.

Tilted Barn is located at 1 Hemsley Place. Exeter, RI 02822. For more information about the brewery, their beer, and to book a reservation please click HERE

Part one: Long Live Beerworks

Part two: Buttonwoods Brewery

Part three: LineSider Brewing Company

Part four: Taproot Brewing Company

Part five: Community Bruin (CLOSED)

New Brew Thursday: 'Broken Skull' from El Segundo Brewing Company

Gimmie a “Hell Yeah!” As soon as I heard one of my favorite wrestlers of all time, Stone Cold Steve Austin, had teamed up with El Segundo Brewing Company to make his own beer I knew I had to try it. The most surprising, WHAT? I said the most surprising part is that they teamed up to make an IPA. ‘Broken Skull’ is characterized as a West Coast IPA and while I have been pretty indifferent towards this style recently, ‘Broken Skull’ is making me change my mind.

‘Broken Skull’ pours into the glass a cloudy, but not hazy, light yellow with a white head and has subtle and soft piney notes. The flavor is fantastic, it has a classic West Coast IPA taste with an interesting twist. While it has the classic big hop taste that gives way to a long and lingering malty finish, the twist comes from the hops. Citra gives it that initial hoppy bite with Cascade and Chinook combining for a sweet and crispness right before that malty finish. Coming in at 6.7% ABV it is the perfect balance of boozy and crushable.  This beer is awesome, and that’s the bottom line!

New Brew Thursday: 'Wish I Could Turn You Back Into A Stranger' from Proclamation Ale Company

The other day I was able to get back to one of my favorite breweries in the state, Proclamation. Not only do they have some of the best beers, but they also have some of the best beer names. From ‘Breathing Life Into A Dead Ghost’ to ‘The Unyielding Wrath of the Alpaca Magi’ they are always good for a great beer with an even better name. This week’s New Brew Thursday is a perfect example.

‘Wish I Could Turn You Back Into A Stranger’ is an oak aged Brett IPA. It pours a very cloudy yellow-orange into the glass with a nice white head. The funk of the Brett and the oak is very prevalent on the nose with some light citrus on the back end. The flavor is fantastic. An initial lemon-lime tartness gives way to a subtle hop, that then gives way to a soft, but lingering tartness on the back of your tongue. With a light and surprisingly crisp mouthfeel and just boozy enough at 7.2 ABV this is worth the trip over to Proclamation and Oakville.

New Brew Thursday: 'DDH Green City' from Other Half

There are moments in history when time stops and you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing. Japan surrendering World War II, man landing on the moon, and when it was announced that Other Half would start distributing beer in Rhode Island. Jokes aside, I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and saw that several local liquor stores would start stocking this titan of craft beer and I was ecstatic. I was lucky enough to trade for some Other Half last year and it lived up to the ridiculously high expectations that I had. Now that I have a steady supply of Other Half I am filled with joy as tonight’s entry ‘DDH Green City’ has been on the wish list for a LONG time.

‘DDH Green City’ pours into the glass a hazy light yellow with a small white head. It has subtle sweet notes of orange with a small hint of pine that perfectly showcases its hop profile. This IPA with Centennial, Citra, and Simcoe hops is incredibly well balanced both on the nose and on the tongue. The flavor is fantastic. The sweetness of the Simcoe gives way to the piney bitterness of the Centennial with the Citra bridging the gap in between. Clocking in at 7% ABV it is very crushable up front but just boozy enough on the back end to remind you to slow down a bit. However, with that initial sweetness from the Simcoe, you won’t want to. This is a highly recommended beer from one of the best breweries in the country. Definitely pick some up if you are able to.