Extreme Beer Fest Part 2 - The Fest

I'm finally at a point where I can sit down and write about the weekend and beer fest so I wanted to share some highlights.  First things first though, Boston is an amazing town and a great beer town to boot.  We walked by (and stopped in) so many bars carrying great craft beer I couldn't even begin to name them all.  I'll just say that if you're ever in Boston you must check out the Sunset Grill and Tap.  It's amazing.  And also, go to Zaftigs Delicatessan for breakfast.  Your soul will thank me.

There was a hell of a line to get in to the festival.  We got there about 20 minutes until opening and out of the thousand people there we were likely numbers 900 - 905.
 









The line wrapped around three sides of the block.  Once the doors opened things went pretty quickly.  Based on last years experience, the guys and girls split up and the guys spent the first 30 minutes tasting beers from smaller companies like Allagash and Cisco while the initial rush to Dogfish and Sam Adam's died.

It is important to note here though that I did have an opportunity to taste Samuel Adam's holy grail, Utopias.  Those in the know are aware that this beer is 27% ABV, is only brewed once every two years in limited quantities and fresh pulls a hefty $175 per bottle.  Older vintages will command upwards of $500.  It is thick and smooth like a bourbon or cognac, yet still retains the malty sweetness of a very high gravity beer.  Swirling it produces a film that clings to the glass and takes several seconds to subside.  It is to be sipped and enjoyed several times over several years.  My only advice:  get a bottle if you can and savor it.





Before I get to the list of beers tasted I wanted to mention Randall the Enamel Animal from Dogfish Head.  You can see it in the picture below.  Basically, a tube is stuffed with hops, orange tree wood, espresso beans or whatever else you could dream up and the bear is forced through it on the way to the tap.  You basically end up with a very dramatic aroma and flavor effect that you might only get after aging or dry hopping for some time.  Was it kind of a novelty, yes.  But are they on to something, I think so.






From these guys I was fortunate to try the 120 minute IPA through Randall with whole leaf American Hops and the Burton Baton through Randall with orange tree chips.  There's not enough space to write about it here, but let's say that it was a treat.  I'm a 120 fan through and through, and Burton is one of my favorite beers by far and wide.  So having this special version was truly a treat.  Those who know the 120 are probably asking how anything could be any hoppier.  Well, Randall is the answer.  And the addition of the orange flavor to Burton made it all the more smooth and drinkable.

I also had the fortune to try their Black Thai (which was brewed with Edamame), Red and White through Randall with orange peels and a heaven and hell (World Wide Stout mixed with 120, both through Randall).  This is why Dogfish is and will continue to be one of my favorite beer brands.  That and Sam was walking around greeting people and having the time of his life.  The man truly enjoys what he does, as well he should.

So, what was tasted?  Here's the list in it's entirety.  I won't review anything as trying to do so would be near impossible.  If you've been to a big fest you know that after so many tastes your reviewing skills begin to diminish.  I will however point out some personal highlights and things I think anyone reading should try.  So here goes.

Allagash 
2008 Interlude brewed with brett (Brett is wild yeast) aged in french oak Merlot and Syrah barrels
Bourbon Black Belgian Stout aged in Jim Beam bbls (great beer, good luck finding it)

Avery
duganA IPA (This is a must find, new in their demon series, blew me away)
The Beast Grand Cru
Mephistopheles' Stout
Black Tot Imperial Oatmeal Stout

Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adam's)
Utopias
Chocolate Chili Bock (inspiring me to make a chili beer that has some heat)


Brewery Ommegang
Ommegeddon (I don't typically like Saison's, but this was good)

Cambridge Brewing
Weekapaug Gruit (for those not in the know, gruit is an ale brewed with spices.  Spices were used before hops were discovered to balance beer.  They are very good and worth your taste if you get a chance)


Captain Lawrence Brewing Co
Captains Reserve IIPA

Cisco Brewers (NKOTB.  They've been operating 18 months)
Lady of the Woods French Oak and Chardonay bbl aged
Dark Woods (both of these beers are worth a buy if you see them)

Dark Horse Brewing Co.
Double Double Crooked Tree IPA  (I had high hopes but was let down by this quad IPA.  It fell flat for me)


Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Burton Baton meets Randall w/orange tree chips
Red & White meets Randall w/orange peels
120 minute IPA meets Randall w/whole leaf hops
Black Thai
Wrath of Pecan

Founder's (how I love thee)
Canadian Breakfast Stout
Double Trouble
Spite Pepper Pale
Hand of Doom
Kentucky Breakfast Stout

Harpoon Brewery (fast becoming a favorite through their Leviathan series of Imperial Ales)
Wood Aged Leviathan Baltic Porter
Leviathan Red (this is a must try for any fan of a Red.  It pushes the style because if you didn't know better you might think you had a DIPA on your hands!)

Lagunitas Brewing Co
Hop Stoopid
Cappucino Stout

Russian River Brewing Co  (they had Pliny the Elder shirts proclaiming, "No Randall.  No Problem."  Loved the friendly competition)
Pliny the Elder (always a great IPA)
Pliny the Younger (may be better than the Elder.  I will have to try it again and decide)

Shorts Brewing Co
Key Lime Pie (Holy shit if this didn't taste like lime and graham cracker)
Caramel Apple Ale (Holy shit if this didn't taste like apples, skin and all)
Richs Rye Ice

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co
Hoptimum  (This may be my favorite IPA of the show.  Find it, try it, love it)
Sierra Nevada deserves an aside here too.  I asked the guy about Hoptimum because on the bill was listed "Torpedo Hops".  So I had to know what the torpedo was.  They have a 6 foot tube in the middle of the fermenter and the pack it with whole leaf hops.  The circulate the beer through it and it comes out of holes near the top.  This all happens while fermentation is occurring for the first five days.  Brilliant!

Smuttynose Brewing Co
Bacon Brown Dog (Old Brown Dog dry hopped with bacon...bad idea)
Potato Maple Porter (potatoes placed in the mash.  Good meat and potatoes beer)

Southern Tier Brewing Company
Unearthly IIPA (153 IBU's.  The son of a bitch is bitter!)
Gemini (blend of Unearthly and Hoppe Imperial Pale.  Very fruity and hoppy)
Iniquity Imperial Black Ale (find a bottle of this and thank me)

Stone
2010 Old Guardian Belgo Barley Wine (I don't usually go for barley wine's but I liked this enough to try it again)

So 40 beers were tasted.  I'd say not bad.  There may have been a few more than that which were handed to me by Meg or other friends that I didn't capture, but that's the short list anyway.  If you have a chance to get out to Boston for EBF 2011, I strongly encourage you to do so.  Ticket's go on sale mid-October and sell out fast so plan for it.

I was inspired while there to brew up a chocolate chili stout, so I think Kevin and I will be attempting that this weekend.  We'll also be bottling The Bitter Belgian, transferring Uncle Ester's Weibier and tasting (for the first time) the Jet Pack Irish Red Ale!  I'll be sure to let you all know how it goes.

Until then.






Respect Beer. Drink only the exceptional.

-Mike