New Belgium Skinny Dip

North Carolina just began distributing New Belgium products, so I picked up a case of Skinny Dip (Look for a review of Fat Tire soon!). The Skinny Dip has a nice sweet aroma with a bit of citrus hint. The color is a nice amber. The taste is fruity and a little hoppy, but very complex with hints of fruit and malt. This is a very clean and refreshing beer for the summer and the beach. The alcohol content is 4.2% ABV.

Weeping Radish Corolla Gold

Prior to the anticipated trip to the Weeping Radish Brewery, I got a bottle of the Corona Gold at dinner tonight. It had a sweet floral aroma to it. The color was a nice light gold color. The taste was malty and sweet with a nice hop compliment as part of the after taste. The alcohol content is 6.0%. I really like the freshness and cleanness of the beer, as there are no preservatives added to the beer.

Harrisburg Brewers Fest 2009

I attended Harrisburg Brewers Fest 2009, hosted by Troegs and for the benefit of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Luckily, the weather held out for the second session and it was an excellent time. The following are my my tasting notes and pictures of the beers to accompany:

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Allagash Tripel- This beer was sweet and you definitely taste the alcohol content. It had a fruity aftertaste, comprised mostly of banana, and was very enjoyable. The alcohol content is 9.0% ABV.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Bethlehem Hefeweizen- The Hefeweizen had a floral aroma, and it tasted a bit flowery. It was very fresh tasting and had a nice hop bit on the after taste. The alcohol content is 5.2% ABV.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Bullfrog Beesting Saison- The Saison was very clean and smooth with a hint of honey. I thought the color was also excellent. The alcohol content is 7.0% ABV.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Capital City Fuel- This beer was very potent in the coffee taste and I really liked the beer. It was one of my favorites of the day. Its aroma was like waking up in a coffee shop and the alcohol content was noticeable. As Alyssa put it, “Damn.” I am not sure of the alcohol content, as no information was available online.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Capital City Autume Saison- The Saison was sweet and malty. It was not dry and had a very smooth after taste. The alcohol content is 6.0% ABV.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Dogfish Head Festina Peche- This beer was white in color and had no aroma. It did not seem like it was going to be bad when I first sipped it, but the tart and bitter after taste kicked in. It was very sour and I hated this beer. This was the worst beer I tried all day, and I do not plan on sampling this again. It is a shame that Dogfish Head let me down with this beer. The alcohol content is 4.5% ABV.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Erie Derailed Black Cherry Ale- This had a nice rose color. It had a sweet smell and a sweet malty taste, all due to the cherries. This was a very good beer. The alcohol content is 5.0% ABV.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Great Divide Saint Bridget's Porter- The porter had a bit of a bite and was nutty. It had a nice chocolate taste with a dark color to it and was very smooth. The alcohol content is 5.6% ABV.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Great Divide Samurai- This was a rice beer and was very clean. It had a refreshing and crisp taste and was very smooth. The alcohol content is 5.1% ABV.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Great Divide Wild Raspberry- The smell of raspberries was in the aroma. It had a sweet taste and the raspberries were a compliment, not overpowering. I really liked the color, as it was a deep red. The alcohol content is 5.6% ABV.

Note: My boy Mike and I decided to mix the Great Divide Porter and the Great Divide Wild Raspberry for a chocolate covered raspberry. It was EXCELLENT, and I highly recommend doing this if you have both bottles.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon Wheat- I could smell the watermelon in the aroma. It tasted somewhat like a watermelon Jolly Rancher. It was extremely carbonated, which I saw as a downside. It was also poured out of a can. The alcohol content is 5.5% ABV.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Left Hand Milk Stout- The Milk Stout was excellent and one of my favorite beers of the day. It was very smooth and very nutty. I was surprised at its clean after taste, but that made the beer. The alcohol content is 5.9% ABV.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Manayunk Schuylkill Punch (Raspberry Lager)- The Raspberry had a sweet smell. I thought this beer was had a nice taste, but was a little tart on the after taste. I thought it might be a little too fruity for a beer. Overall, it was decent. The alcohol content is 7.0% ABV.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Market Cross Tell Me Rye Ale- The Rye Ale had a dry taste, but was very clean and crisp. It was very smooth and easy to drink. I was not able to find any information on the alcohol content.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Marzoni's Maibock- The Maibock was very malty and sweet. I thought it had a nice hop compliment to round out the flavor. I was unable to locate any alcohol content information.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Marzoni's Weizenbock- The Weizenbock was sweet with a hop accent. It had a very floral aroma and a good body. I was unable to located any information on the alcohol content.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Philadelphia Rowhouse Red- I liked the dark red color to the Rowhouse Red. It smelled very sweet and had a nice hop balance. It was a very enjoyable beer. The alcohol content is 5.0% ABV.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Sly Fox Weiss- The Weiss had a floral aroma and was sweet tasting. It was slightly hoppy, but maintained a good balance of malt and hops. The alcohol content is 5.6% ABV.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Unita Brewing Company Solstice Kolsch- The Kolsch was very crisp, smooth, and clean tasting. One of things I love about kolsches is that they are refreshing, and the Solstice lived up to that billing. It was also a little dry with the after taste. I was unable to locate any information on the alcohol content.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Stegmaier Midsummer White- I received this beer after a bad pour. However, it was sweet with a fruity taste. The alcohol content is is 5.0%.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Thirsty Dog Irish Red- This was my favorite beer of the day. I had no expectation for this beer and was thoroughly impressed. It was sweet with a nice bite. The beer was well rounded ancd completely enjoyable. Alyssa also commented “Damn” to this beer. I was not able to locate any information on the alcohol content of this beer. Interestingly enough, BeerAdvocate has this beer listed as retired and no longer brewed, so it may be making a comeback.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Thirsty Dog Old Leghumper- The Old Leghumper is a porter. This was a little nutty and a little dry. It had a sweet chocolately flavor and was very enjoyable. The alcohol content is 6.7% ABV.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Union Double Maibock- This beer did not have an aroma. It was spicy and had a dry taste, but a smooth after taste. I was unable to find any information on the alcohol content.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Voodoo Gran Met- This beer was sweet and spicy. It had a great opaque color and was enjoyable. The alcohol content is 10.0% ABV.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Weyerbacher Zotten- This beer was just released on June 3. It had a significant hop content, but not overwhelming. It had a floral aroma and a dry after taste. The alcohol content is 6.0% ABV.

From Brewer's Fest 2009

Yards IPA- The IPA was nicely hoppy, Its aroma led me to believe that it was going to be extremely hoppy, but this was not the case. The alcohol content is 7.0% ABV.

Roller Coaster Bra Test

Hot Babes Test Bras on a Roller Coaster - Watch more Funny Videos

This one is for the fellas. What is better than riding a roller coaster? Watching babes in underwear test their bras while riding a roller coaster at Alton Towers in England.

There's plenty of ups and downs in this video. This a great video with an excellent "supporting" cast.

Comfort Wipes

Here is a commercial for you to enjoy. And yes, it is a real product.

What is the need for this type of a product?! Are we seriously this lazy? Also, what is up with the woman in the middle of the video saying she doesn't want to be a burden to loved ones? Does anyone else have someone wipe for them? I cannot believe a product like this has been made, and defintely do not plan on buying one.

Ithaca Apricot Wheat

The second Ithaca beer I opened was the Apricot Wheat. The beer has a cloudy amber color, hinting at the apricot ingredient. The aroma is very sweet and fruity, smelling of apricot. The taste is also fruity (insightful, huh?), with a clean and fresh after taste. The alcohol content is 4.9% ABV. This is a very easy drinking beer and I think that most beer drinkers would enjoy it. It isn't too complex, so the enthusiasts may be a little disappointed, but I still think it is quality and tasty.

US Loses to Italy 3-1

The USA took the field today to play Italy in the FIFA Confederation Cup and came up short 3-1. While this is certainly a disappointment, there were a few bright spots throughout the game: The US lead at half-time and generally playing toe-to-toe with the Azzurri while at even strength. The red card changed the composure of the game, as fatigue finally overwhelmed the Americans. Overall, here is my reaction to the game:

1. Giusseppe Rossi has turned out to be a tremendous talent and a tremendous loss for the United States. His goals were stunning, especially the last one, as it was struck on the up-bounce. That is a very difficult ball to strike, and Rossi expertly finished.
2. Why is Ricardo Clark still getting a National Team call up? I have never been a fan of Clark, and I do not foresee ever being a fan. Even as a player on the Houston Dynamo, Clark is reckless and always seems to be out of place, usually fouling to regain the advantage after being outclassed by a player. This played out today with his (arguably soft) red card.
3. Landon Donovan continued to be clinical in his finishes from the penalty spot. When Donovan takes a PK, it is a guaranteed goal.
4. I imagine that practice over the next two days is going to require the midfielders to mark players when they are about 30 yards from goal. Two goals were given up from that distance and there was nothing Tim Howard could do to stop them, as he was screened from the shooter. Pressure needs to be applied to the ball carrier in the final two-thirds of the field.

So what do you think? Do you agree or disagree? Think the US will get ANY points in this tournament, with Brazil and Egypt left on the schedule?

Ithaca Pale Ale

I picked up an Ithaca sampler pack, so this is the first post of several related to that sampler pack. My first beer in the pack is the Pale Ale. The aroma is very floral, hinting at the hops to come in the beer. It has a nice dark amber color with a soft head. The taste is sweet due to the malt, but a clean and crisp after taste with a slight bite due to the hops. The Pale Ale reminds me of its counterpart brewed by Troegs. The alcohol content is 5.8% ABV. It is a refreshing summer beer and I highly recommend it for those warmer months.

Kostritzer Schwarzbier

My boy Matt basically put a bottle of Kostritzer Schwarzbier [Note: no website found] in my shopping basket at the beer store in New Jersey, so I decided to buy it. This beer is a black lager, and while not totally fitting for summertime, I decided to try it anyways. The pour is very dark, almost black, and very opaque. There is a strong malt aroma with it, almost chocolate-like. The taste is sweet with a nutty after taste. The alcohol content is 4.8% ABV. This beer is highly recommended for any day, but would be very comforting in the cooler months.

Dogfish Head Black & Blue

I realize that I have been on a bit of a Dogfish Head kick lately, but they do make some quality beers. I picked up a bottle of the Black & Blue. The Black & Blue is fermented with black raspberries and blueberries. I poured the beer into the glass, and noticed the reddish tint of the beer. It has a fruity smell, almost like a wine. As for the taste, it is a bit tart. I would have expected a little bit sweeter, but it leaves a dry after taste in your mouth, similar to a dry wine. The hints of black raspberries and blueberries are subtle. The alcohol content is 10% ABV, and is very noticable in the taste. Overall, the Black & Blue is not a bad beer, but it does not rank among my favorite Dogfish Head brews.

Dogfish Head Immort Ale

I saw an article on my Google Reader referencing Dogfish Head Immort Ale, so when I was in New Jersey, I decided to pick up a bottle to give it a try. It has a dark brown color when poured and the aroma includes some vanilla with a hint of the alcohol content. You can tell this is a strong beer from the aroma. When drinking it, you can tell that that the barley was smoked, but it has a sweet after taste due to the vanilla content. The alcohol content is 11.0% ABV, so it has the ability to knock you off your feet if you drink too much. I enjoyed this beer, as it has several layers of taste, making it very dynamic.

Penguins = Stanley Cup Champions!

Remember my post how Pittsburgh could be the ONLY city to ever hold the Lombardi Trophy and the Stanley Cup at the same time? Well, tonight it came true and remember where you read that fact first. I love the City of Pittsburgh!

By the way, as they won the cup, the song "We Made It" by Busta Rhymes with Linkin Park came on the stereo and I felt the lyrics were appropriate:

Together we made it

We made it even though we had our backs against the wall

Perfect for a victory for the underdog!

Unibroue Trois Pistoles

I picked up a bottle of Unibroue Tois Pistoles when I was in Jersey. I decided this would be my beer for the start of Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The pour reveals a very thick head with a slightly fruity aroma with some chocolate hints. The beer taste sweet at first, with a slightly tart after taste. This beer reminds me somewhat of Troegs Mad Elf, so if you like that, you will enjoy this beer. The alcohol content is 9% ABV.

Rock Art Brewery Golden Tripple

When I poured the Rock Art Brewery's Golden Tripple, I noticed the excellent dark amber color with a decent amount of carbonation. You can smell the aromatic hops after the pour, which is very enticing. The taste has a bit of a bite, but it is not all from the hops. Some of the bite comes from the ginger that is added during the brewing process. I found this beer to stand out from a lot of beer, and I would definitely try again. The alcohol content is 8.0% ABV.

Dogfish Head Midas Touch

I picked up a four-pack of the Dogfish Head Midas Touch. The beer pours a light amber color and the aroma of grapes is immediately present. It almost reminds me of a white white. The Midas Touch tastes very sweet with a slightly dry after taste. I am a big fan of this beer, as the honey accents the overall flavor. The alcohol contents is 9.0% ABV, so it also has a bit of a kick.