Field Trip: VIP Night at Noble Crust – Wesley Chapel

Posted on by mashingin

1SignOutdoor_editedOn Saturday, July 15, the Noble Crust hosted a VIP Night and Preview Party for their new location in Wesley Chapel, and we were fortunate enough to receive an invitation to cover the festivities.  Here’s your first look at this fantastic new restaurant taking up residence at the Shops at Wiregrass.

Serving as a benefit for The Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Foundation, this VIP Night event acted as the perfect platform to introduce the community to Noble Crust and its philosophy that is clearly built on generosity and hospitality.  From the hostess at the door to the proud ownership mingling with the crowd, the entire crew at Noble Crust does absolutely everything they can to make you feel at ease and at home when you visit their restaurant.

And what a beautiful restaurant it is.  Before you enter the restaurant proper, you easily glide through a cozy patio space that has been designed with the ability to tame the Florida heat with breezy fans and a gentle misting system.  As you walk through the front door, your eyes feast on a gorgeous space that includes comfy social dining areas, an immaculate open kitchen, clever lighting that provides a warm ambiance, and one of the most stunning bars in the area.

Take a seat and your attention suddenly shifts to the alluring aromas wafting from the kitchen.  With a menu comprised of seasonal Italian dishes that retain a Southern soul, your options are many.  You can nosh on tasty appetizers such as Deviled Crab Arancini and Ricotta Gnocchi before selecting a main course that could range from one of several of Noble Crust’s incredibly balanced and delicious pizzas to Rigatoni & Short Rib Ragu or some Southern Fried Chicken.  After polishing off your first two courses, be sure to look over the dessert menu because you are definitely going to want to finish off your meal with a slice of Lemon-Buttermilk Pie or a jar of Warm Chocolate Budino.  Finally, and this goes for your entire meal, your Noble Crust experience is not complete unless you pair these delectable dishes with something from the bar.  It could be a of glass wine, a tasty brew from their carefully curated beer list, or one of their many ambrosial house cocktails.  Just find the flavor that best suits you, settle in, sip away and fully savor the complete dining experience that Noble Crust provides.

We could go on and on about our time at Noble Crust, but it is probably best to let our photos do the talking from here on out.  Check out the photos below and, most importantly, be sure to check out Noble Crust – Wesley Chapel as soon as possible.  The restaurant opens to the public this week, and their staff is polished and ready to go.  Make it happen and enjoy what may just be the finest dining option now available in Wesley Chapel.  Prost!

 

**Click any photo below to enlarge, read descriptions, and/or view the gallery as a slideshow**

The Noble Crust impresses before you even walk through the door.
Guests settle in at the bar.
We kick things off with some refreshing cocktails: P.C. Shrubbery and Blue Basilito
House Meatballs and Deviled Eggs hit the table.
The Crispy Grouper Sliders are both beautiful and delicious.
Crooked Thumb Brewery’s Trippel was a gorgeous paring for the Ricotta Gnocchi
Eye catching lighting softens the atmosphere, creating a wonderfully comfortable environment.
Created specifically for the event, the Noble Cure was incredibly popular all night long.
Deviled Crab Arancini.
An impressive array of fine spirits behind the bar.
Relaxed vibe at the bar.
The Noble Manhattan
Fresh pies in the window! The Country Ham and Noble Pig.
Guests were all smiles.
Managing Partner Will Perez talks with guests.
A plate of Whipped Ricotta destined for a nearby table.
Pisco Punch was a popular selection on our end of the bar.
A bar that absolutely drips with class and elegance.
The bar selection at Noble Crust has a little something for everyone.
Wines flowing on tap.
The Noble Manhattan was also a popular selection throughout the evening.
Cycle Brewing’s Cream and Sugar, Please Stout and the Lemon-Buttermilk Pie proved to be a magical pairing.
The list of bottled and canned beers is well thought out and has options for all tastes.
The alluring presentation of Changes in Latitude.
Brandi hard at work behind the bar.
An experimental Faux Filet dish from Chef Rob Reinsmith.
I closed out my evening with a finger of High West Campfire Blended Whiskey alongside a jar of Warm Chocolate Budino.
The line meticulously assembling perfect dishes.
The F.G. B.L.T.: fried green tomatoes, Tabasco-honey glazed pork belly, pimento cheese
Decisions, decisions. Banana-Coconut Cream Pie backed by Bad Blood and a Hibiscus Sling.

Sixpoint Brewery Goes Lo-Res for the Summer

Posted on by mashingin

Processed with VSCO with n3 presetSixpoint Brewery (Brooklyn, New York) recently introduced Lo-Res Sesher IPA as its latest Limited Release and first ever 8-pack.

Now that the heat of summer has firmly established itself across the country, the crew at Sixpoint Brewery believe “it’s time for a sesher.”  Session IPA that is, and their take on this now ubiquitous style is Lo-Res Sesher IPA.  Where Sixpoint’s fan-favorite Hi-Res IIIPA may have “magnified the Resin,” Lo-Res is here “to change the resolution.”  This easy drinking India Pale Ale has been heavily dosed with Mandarina Bavaria hops to “provide a huge citrusy blast, while a pale, dry body finishes super clean and easy.”  Thanks to its 4.5% ABV, you can enjoy a couple Lo-Res Sesher IPAs “before things get pixelated.”

Lo-Res Sesher IPA is available now as a special Limited Release meant to be thoroughly enjoyed over the summer months.  You can find this tasty brew in 8-packs of 12 oz. cans (that’s right, it has two bonus lives!) and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, New York and throughout the rest of Sixpoint Brewery’s distribution network.  Prost!

Vital Information for Lo-Res Sesher IPA from Sixpoint Brewery

Release – Limited Release, launching July 2017
Style – American Session India Pale Ale
ABV – 4.5%
IBUs – 43
Featured Hops – Mandarina Bavaria
Availability – 8-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – http://sixpoint.com/beer-finder/

Funky Buddha Brewery Establishes The Living Barrel Series

Posted on by mashingin

BA_VNikolai_22ozFunky Buddha Brewery (Oakland Park, Florida) recently announced the creation of The Living Barrel Series, a line of specialty barrel-aged beers “with a new, enlightened look.”

To celebrate the growth of their brewery and its barrel-aging program in particular, the folks at Funky Buddha have now designated The Living Barrel Series as their official playground for all things barrel-aged.  These Limited Release brews have been carefully aged in a barrel cellar that currently houses “over five hundred oak casks of all types.”  We are talking about “hundreds of Bourbon barrels filled with everything from imperial stout to double brown ales; saisons aging in Chardonnay casks; and a multitude of unique wine and spirits casks including rum, tequila, and even luscious Cabernet.”

“Like the spiraling growth of a tree’s branches, so too are these beers transformed over time thanks to the maturation exclusively in oak wine and spirits casks. Unlike the ageless timber, these bottles are only available for a limited time.”

The Living Barrel Series will launch in the upcoming months with the release of the following three beers:

  • Rum Barrel-Aged Pina Colada, an Imperial Cream Ale made with real pineapple and coconut and aged in Jamaican rum casks for months. **UPDATE** Release Info: Rum Barrel-aged Piña Colada will be released exclusively in the Funky Buddha Tap Room on Sunday, July 30. 22 oz. bottles will be $20 each. Bottle limits are to be determined. **UPDATE**
  • Vanilla Bourbon Barrel-aged Nikolai Vorlauf – an Imperial Russian Stout aged for nearly two years in Bourbon barrels with whole vanilla beans added to the barrel. **UPDATE** Release Info: Vanilla Bourbon Barrel-aged Nikolai Vorlauf will be released exclusively in the Funky Buddha Tap Room on Sunday, July 30.  22 oz. bottles will be $20 each. Bottle limits are to be determined. **UPDATE**
  • Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dread Pirate Roberts – Powerful and ruthless, this beer takes no prisoners. Barrel-aged Dread Pirate Roberts is a rich and roasty Imperial Stout blended with real raspberry, chocolate, and coconut then aged for months inside bold, Bourbon barrels.

 

 

Rum Barrel-Aged Pina Colada and Vanilla Bourbon Barrel-aged Nikolai Vorlauf will be released in the brewery’s tap room (and possibly see distribution throughout Florida as well) sometime between the “end of July and late August.” Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dread Pirate Roberts will be “released exclusively to . . . Imperial Club members in August, with any remaining bottles released to the general public thereafter.”  All three offerings will be available in extremely limited quantities of 22 oz. bottles.

Funky Buddha Brewery already has plans in place to release “2017 iterations of Morning Wood and Last Buffalo in the Park, plus a host of other surprises to come” as future offerings in The Living Barrel Series.  We will be sure to update you with more detailed information on these and any future releases in the series just as soon as we have it.  Stay tuned.  Prost!

Green Zebra Gose to be Next Release in Founders Brewing Co.’s ArtPrize Series

Posted on by mashingin

Green_Zebra_2017_Beer_Page_editedFounders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) has announced that Green Zebra, a Gose-style Ale brewed with watermelon and sea salt, will arrive in August as the latest offering to come out of the brewery’s ArtPrize Series.

For five years now, Founders Brewing Co. has been adding to a series of Limited Release beers brewed to benefit ArtPrize, an open international art competition which takes place each fall in the brewery’s hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan.  This year’s artful creation will be Green Zebra, a 4.6% ABV Gose-style Ale that highlights the satisfyingly refreshing flavor and aroma of watermelon while still honoring stylistic tradition by using sea salt to achieve a dry finish.

“ArtPrize is one of the most well-attended public art events in the world, and we are proud to continue our support,” said Co-Founder and President, Dave Engbers. “We love playing with expectations when it comes to brewing our ArtPrize beers and Green Zebra is the perfect example of that. The gose style is very unique and pretty unknown, even amongst craft beer drinkers, and we wanted to bring our version of it to a larger audience. For the first time ever, our ArtPrize beer will be available across our entire distribution network so even more of our fans can get to know this style we’ve fallen in love with.”

Green Zebra now joins Pale Joe, Spectra Trifecta, Mosaic Promise and Inspired Artist Black IPA to comprise the full-lineup of ArtPrize Series offerings. In keeping with a tradition that began with the releases of Spectra Trifecta and Pale Joe, the label artwork for Green Zebra “is an original work of art designed by a member of the Founders team.”  Jacob Wiseheart from the Founders taproom crew earned this honor by creating a piece that displays a “striking and intense use of color and dimension, perfectly suited to the lively, bright nature of the beer.”

Arriving as the first ArtPrize Series offering to debut in cans, Green Zebra will be available exclusively in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans for the suggested retail price of $9.99. Proceeds from the sale of Green Zebra go towards the sponsorship of ArtPrize.  This Limited Release offering will hit distribution by late-August, and you can expect to find it at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Founders Brewing Co.’s 46 state distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Green Zebra from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/ArtPrize Series. Launching in the Founders Brewing Co. taproom on August 15, 2017; full distribution expected by the end of August
Style – Gose
ABV – 4.6%
IBUs – 10
Added Ingredients – Watermelon & sea salt
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/find-our-beer/

Magic City Brewfest Regroups, Relocates to Avondale Park

Posted on by mashingin

MCBFfeatureAfter unexpected issues with a previous venue, Free The Hops has found a new home for the 11th Annual Magic City Brewfest at Avondale Park (4101 5th Avenue South,
Birmingham, Alabama) on Saturday, July 29 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

In a turn of events that absolutely no one saw coming, the Alabama beer scene was rocked a little over a month ago when Free the Hops had to announce the postponement of the Magic City Brewfest.  After a mad scramble and some diligent hard-work, organizers were able to lock down Avondale Park as the new venue for the iconic, original Free the Hops festival.  Sure, the date had to be changed and the event had to be trimmed down to one session as a result, but the 11th Annual Magic City Brewfest still promises to be one of the best yet by boasting over “175 types of beer from over 70 breweries.”  Since this event is absolutely packed with amazing beer, delicious food, incredible live entertainment and insightful beer classrooms, we have quite a bit of information to go over.  Let’s break it all down.

The Basics

What – 11th Annual Magic City Brewfest
When – One Session: Saturday, July 29 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where – Avondale Park (4101 5th Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama)

The Organization

“Free The Hops is a grassroots non-profit consumer advocacy organization whose successful lobbying efforts to reform hostile laws have helped make Alabama one of the most vibrant and welcoming beer markets in the USA. As a craft beer consumer advocacy organization, our mission is to work within our communities to educate the public, support the industry at large, and remain vigilant watch dogs on legislative processes. Started in 2004 by Alabamians with no ties to any alcoholic beverage business, Free The Hops was incorporated later that year and registered as an official 501(c)(6) non-profit in 2007. None of our members make any money off the grassroots effort.”

A New Focus

“This year, Free the Hops has overhauled their mission to focus more on education. We will be sharing a wealth of fun and useful knowledge, from an introduction to homebrewing and common off flavors in beer, to tips on pairing beer with food and maximizing your time at the festival. We will have an overview of the Cicerone curriculum, and details on various beer styles and serving methods.”

The Beer

In addition to showcasing over 175 beers from over 70 breweries, the 2017 Magic City Brewfest will also feature the following specialty releases:

  • Sponsored by The J. Clyde, the Alabama Cask Garden returns to feature one-off casks created by Alabama breweries exclusively for the Magic City Brewfest
  • The J. Clyde Fire Truck will be on-site to serve up some exclusive beers
  • This year’s Magic City Brewfest will also feature the Sister Cities Birmingham/Plzen Brewery Collaboration, a collaborative effort that had four Birmingham breweries (Cahaba Brewing Co., Avondale Brewing Co., Red Hills Brewing Company, and 5 Points Brewing) team up with breweries from Plzen, Czech Republic to create some exclusive beers for the festival.  Attendees will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite collaboration brew from this series

The full brewery and beer list for the 2017 Magic City Brewfest is in the process of being compiled.  Once it is completed, you can view it by following this link.

The Food

The following local restaurants will be on-site to serve up some tasty eats during the event:

Food is not included in the ticket cost.  Once inside the festival, attendees will be able to purchase tokens to exchange for food.

The Music

To keep the energy up throughout the event, the Magic City Brewfest will feature the musical stylings of The Yellow Dandies and Tropical Breeze Steel Band.

Ticket Information

Tickets for the 11th Annual Magic City Brewfest are on sale now for the price of $40 each, and you can purchase yours by clicking here.  That price grants you entrance into the festival, a commemorative tasting glass, the ability to sample over 175 beers, and access to live entertainment and educational classrooms.

We said it before and we will say it again: Now that all the details are covered, this is the part where we give the Magic City Brewfest – and this goes for its sister Rocket City Brewfest in Huntsville – our full, honest endorsement as one of the finest and best organized beer festivals in the country.  The circumstances behind the postponement were unfortunate, but the Birmingham beer community has bounced back from much more difficulty in the past.  Why? Because rally behind each other, and because we love our breweries, our city and our state.  So, let’s rally once again and sell out this Magic City Brewfest as a sign of appreciation to all the amazing people at Free the Hops that organized this event and inspired so much change over the years.  What say you?  Let’s do this.  Prost!

Bern’s Steak House Purchases Rare Imperial Decanter that is One of Five in the World

Posted on by mashingin

BernsBern’s Steak House (1208 S. Howard Avenue, Tampa, Florida) recently announced the acquisition of the Aevum Imperial Service Ritual, a “distinctive hand-made crystal objet d’art service vessel” created as a collaboration between Penfolds Wines and Saint-Louis.

When your restaurant is sporting a wine cellar containing more than 6,800 unique wine labels, 5,500 red wines, 1,000 white wines and more than 200 sparkling wines, it kind of goes without saying that you are a very well-respected citizen in the world of wine.  Even with that being the case, the people behind Bern’s Steak House are always looking for that next big thing that allows them to stand out from the pack of wine’s elite.  Well . . . they just found one now that they have purchased the Aevum Imperial Service Ritual.

Born out of a two-year collaboration between Penfolds Wines and the legendary, French crystal producer Saint-Louis, the Aevum Imperial Service Ritual is a rare, museum-quality crystal decanter that was created in recognition of “the first commercial release of only five 2012 Grange Imperial 6 litre bottles available on the planet.”  This collaboration marks “the first time Saint-Louis, who has been making handcrafted crystal objects in France since 1586, has collaborated with a global brand outside of Europe.”

“When talent, heritage and know how come together, the journey from craft to ritual can be truly extraordinary. The collaboration between Penfolds and Saint-Louis represents a marriage of two masters of their crafts. This is the first time something of this calibre has taken place and the first time that we have collaborated with a winemaker at this level.”

 

– Jérôme de Lavergnolle, Chief Executive Officer of Saint-Louis.

The decanter’s “statuesque design reflects a powerful and passionate union and painstaking hours of crafting and refining the perfect piece.”  Although this decanter may be strikingly beautiful in appearance, the Aevum Imperial Service Ritual’s beauty carries over into function thanks to being “designed in such a way that with a gentle tilt of the vessel you receive the perfect pour.”  Only five of these exquisite decanters exist in the world, and now Bern’s Steak House of Tampa is the proud owner of one of them.

Bern’s Steak House held an assembly ceremony for the Aevum Imperial Service Ritual earlier this week, and you can view a video of that installation by visiting the restaurant’s Facebook page (click here).  The restaurant also received a 6L bottle of 2012 Grange and smaller Saint-Louis spinning Crystal decanters to go along with the purchase of the Aevum Imperial Service Ritual.  Since it is not quite ready to drink, the wine is not yet for sale but the crew at Bern’s Steak House hopes that “generations of wine lovers can appreciate this stunning work of art” now taking residence at their iconic restaurant.  Prost!

 

Stone Brewing Geeks Out with 2017 Release of Farking Wheaton w00tstout

Posted on by mashingin

Stonew00tstoutbottleStone Brewing (Escondido, California) recently announced that it has once again teamed up with Drew Curtis and Wil Wheaton to create and release the 2017 vintage of Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout.

Now that comic convention season is in full swing, that can mean only one thing to craft beer fans: Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout is back!  This Limited Release brew is a nerd love-fueled collaboration between Drew Curtis, Creator of Fark.com; Wil Wheaton, Actor and Web Celebrity; and Greg Koch, CEO and Co-Founder of Stone Brewing.  These three collaborators put their mark on Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout by creating a massive Imperial Stout (a reference to “Greg’s lifelong quest for pushing the limits of ‘why the hell not?’ to make bigger, bolder beers”) that has been brewed with wheat (literally taking the “wheat” out of Wheaton. The name, not the man.) and finished off with pecans and bourbon barrels (a nod to Drew’s home state of Kentucky).  This all results in a 13% ABV Stout that “is a mind-blowing amalgamation of intense yet smooth flavors, perfect for a warm summer evening, a cozy winter’s night or the approaching destruction of the entire human race (be it externally or internally inflicted).”

Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout officially released on July 10 and will be available while supplies last.  This Limited Release brew is available in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, California, Virginia, and throughout the rest of Stone Brewing’s nationwide distribution area.  This beer never lasts long on shelves, so grab your supply of Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout while you can.  Prost!

Vital Information for Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout from Stone Brewing

Release – Limited/Collaboration, official release date: July 10, 2017
Style – American Imperial Stout
Collaborators – Drew Curtis, Fark.com Creator; Wil Wheaton, Actor & Web Celebrity; Greg Koch, CEO & Co-Founder of Stone Brewing
ABV – 13%
IBUs – 65
Featured Hops – English Target
Featured Ingredients – Pecans, wheat & rye
Treatment – One quarter of the beer was aged in Bourbon barrels
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Fun Fact – In reference to this year’s label artwork: “For this year’s bottle art, we were thrilled to entrust the task to heralded comic book writer and artist Walt Simonson. He was gracious enough to work with us in exchange for our donation to The Hero Initiative, a charity organization that provides retirement funds for golden-age comic book artists.”

Upland Brewing Co. Launches Distribution in Nashville

Posted on by mashingin

SoursLogoUpland Brewing Co. (Bloomington, Indiana) recently announced that it has officially partnered with Bounty Beverage to add Nashville, Tennessee to the brewery’s distribution footprint.

Widely known for developing innovative Sour Ales and “unique twists on traditional recipes”, Upland Brewing Co. has long been dedicated to producing “quality beers over the years by challenging and refining [their] craft, not by appeasing trends.”  This philosophy has certainly resonated with craft beer fans, increased their popularity throughout the country, and made Upland Brewing a household name in the American Sour Ale game.  After spending a year expanding distribution along the East Coast, Upland Brewing Co. has now turned back inland to bring their wood-aged beers to Nashville.

“Nashville is one of the most fun cities to visit on the weekends for us in the Midwest, but that’s not the only reason we’re launching our sours there. Not only is it paradise for music lovers, but the food and beer scene is one-of-a-kind. Thanks to our partnership with BountyBev, we know our sour ales will be welcomed and enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.”

 

– Dusty Howe, Upland’s Sours Brand Manager

Upland Brewing Co. officially launched distribution in Nashville this week with the following three Sour Ales:

  • Hopsynth – “We love hops, and we love sour ales, so our inventive brewers found a way to combine two of our favorite things. By dry hopping our blonde sour ale Basis, we developed Hopsynth as a well-melded, lighter, hoppier sour ale with full hop aromas and flavors. Huge wafts of piney, tropical and citrus hop aromas come from the glass. A touch of tartness complements the grassy and grapefruit hop flavors of El Dorado and Citra hops. It finishes dry with a bright hop flavor that stays with you.”  ABV – 6%
  • Iridescent – “This beer was developed through extensive experimentation by our brewers with different combinations of dried fruits and spices, using Basis as the base beer. Iridescent is a refreshing blonde sour ale, with aromas of apricot and ginger that are followed by tart and tropical flavors after aging in wine barrels for 3-4 months. As the name implies, the flavor of this sour beer appears to change subtly with each sip.”  ABV – 6%
  • Revive – “After extensive experimentation and feedback from our retail staff, customers, and brewing team, Revive was one of the first beers released out of the Wood Shop. The base beer is Basis, which was inspired by traditional brewing methods of Belgium brewing. The beer is aged for three to four months in oak barrels with pineapple fruit and whole chamomile flowers. That sweet tanginess of fruit combines beautifully with the floral aroma for a tart, dry, and refreshing sour ale.”  ABV – 6%

The three beers above are available in 500ml bottles, and Hopsynth and Iridescent will also have availability on draft.  You can expect to find these tasty brews available at Craft Brewed, Flying Saucer – Nashville, Frugal McDougal, The Hop Stop, and other craft beer establishments located throughout the city.  If you happen to be in the area, be sure to extend Upland Brewing Co. a proper welcome to the Nashville craft beer scene by giving these three beers a try at some point this week.  Prost!

 

Orpheus Brewing to Add Over and Over Pineapple Sour Ale to Year-Round Lineup

Posted on by mashingin

orpheuslogoOrpheus Brewing (Atlanta, Georgia) took to social media yesterday to announce that Over and Over Pineapple Sour Ale will soon be released as the brewery’s newest Year-Round offering.

Since the crew at Orpheus Brewing was bummed out over the idea of ever running out of their current Pineapple Sour Ale dubbed Again and Again, they decided to tweak and adjust that beer’s recipe to develop one that could be sustained as a Year-Round release.  That new beer is Over and Over, a 4% ABV kettle-soured ale brewed with pineapple juice.  For more details on this beer, here’s the full label description for Over and Over:

“The grievous cycle of transmigration of souls could only be broken after the mysteries of the gods were revealed to Orpheus. Those mysteries have been lost to time, so enjoy your endless loop.  We packed as much pineapple and brightness we could into this small, tart beer, for an experience you’ll actually want to repeat over and over.”

Over and Over Pineapple Sour Ale will be available on draft later this month and 12 oz. cans will follow shortly behind.  Once released, you can expect to find this new Year-Round brew available at craft beer-friendly retailers, bars and restaurants located throughout Orpheus Brewing’s distribution areas in Alabama and Georgia.  Prost!

Vital Information for Over and Over Pineapple Sour Ale from Orpheus Brewing

Release – Year-Round, launching late-July/early August 2017
Style – American Sour Ale
ABV – 4%
Process – Kettle soured
Added Ingredients – Pineapple juice
Availability – Draft & 12 oz. cans

Tasting Notes: Blackbeard’s Breakfast from Heavy Seas Beer

Posted on by mashingin

HSBlackbeardbottleIn this latest installment of Tasting Notes, we start our day as pirates do by cracking an early bottle of Blackbeard’s Breakfast Bourbon Barrel Aged Porter Brewed with Coffee from Heavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland).

The folks at Heavy Seas Beer release Blackbeard’s Breakfast once a year as a part of their Uncharted Waters Series, a lineup of barrel/wood-aged limited releases that exhibits elevated levels of brewing prowess.  This offering is an Imperial Porter that has been brewed with English malts and Dark Sumatra coffee from Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company.  Once the brewing is completed, Blackbeard’s Breakfast is finished off with a long rest in Bourbon barrels so that it may pick up notes of vanilla, oak and whiskey.  Weighing in at a sizable 10% ABV, Blackbeard’s Breakfast promises to be an experience that “will please coffee and beer connoisseurs alike.”  Blackbeard’s Breakfast had an official release schedule set from May to June, but you can still find this limited release gracing shelves (22 oz. bottles) and taps at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Maryland and throughout the rest of Heavy Seas Beer’s distribution footprint.

With all that background information now covered, I do believe that means we can allow the day-drinking and Tasting Notes to commence!

Tasting Notes for Blackbeard’s Breakfast (2017) from Heavy Seas Beer

Appearance: Blackbeard’s Breakfast fills the glass as an inky black brew that wears a full finger of brown sugar-colored foam.  Held to direct light, the darkness holds and the beer remains opaque, glossy and reflective.  The creamy head eventually gives out and is reduced to a thin, but complete ring.  Since the beer is slick on the glass, any lace that grabs ahold ultimately slips back down into the dark depths below.

Aroma: Dark sugars and molasses grab the nose immediately with a deep, rich sweetness.  Chocolate and caramel easily build off of that base, and the aroma opens further to expose subtle notes cherry, coconut and toffee. All of this is enrobed in a warm, comforting bourbon note that is filled with oak and vanilla tones. Just a waft of coffee breezes through at the end to finish off the profile.

Taste: Although nearly lost in the aroma, the coffee really finds its home here in the flavor.  Pronounced with a beautiful roasted character, the coffee acts as the ideal note to introduce all the flavors that await their moment.  Those flavors include notes of dark chocolate-covered almonds, nearly burnt caramel, creamy vanilla, brown sugar, and sticky toffee.  Bourbon laces itself through all these notes to administer the perfect dose of booze and woodsy character.

Mouthfeel: This Imperial Porter falls on the lighter side of full-bodied with a soft carbonation presence.  This makes for a chewy experience that still remains a bit silken.  Mostly sweet on the palate, the coffee and hops do add a necessary level of bitterness to keep the beer from becoming cloying.  Although they do take their time to clear out, this beer’s flavors are more than welcomed to linger.  Noticeable but not overwhelming, the 10% ABV adds a building warmth in the belly and throat to the experience.  The aftertaste is all molasses and roasted coffee.

Final Thoughts: If you have been looking for a wildly consistent and affordable Bourbon barrel-aged brew to stock up on, look no further than Blackbeard’s Breakfast.  This beer is exactly as it should be.  To start, it avoids the pitfall that many barrel-aged beers fall into, and that is completely losing the base beer behind the barrel character.  Blackbeard’s Breakfast is a big ol’ Porter and it reads as such.  Its English malts retain their integrity to lay a firm and established base of nutty, roasty, chocolaty and toffee-filled notes.  The coffee then enters the picture to support the malts with added roastiness while also lending a touch of balancing bitterness to the equation.  The bourbon waits for that foundation to be properly set before it glides in with its tones of vanilla, oak and booze.  The bourbon has personality, but it is not brash.  It knows it place and that is as a piece of a whole.  The base beer benefits from the Bourbon just as the Bourbon benefits from the base beer.  Blackbeard’s Breakfast finds this harmony, and it truly is a beautiful thing to experience.  Be sure to check it out before this year’s release disappears from shelves and taps.  Prost!