August 27, 2013

Good news:  Rickard's Cardigan is set to return this fall.  It may already be available if the Beer Store's website is to be trusted, and in single cans to boot.  I was getting concerned because after Oakhouse, I don't recall seeing any further seasonals but it could be that I wasn't paying attention.  At any rate, I am hoping it will be more readily available than last year.  With fall, concert season returns and I am looking forward to more glasses of Cardigan at Orwell's.   

August 26, 2013

186/834)  Home:  Hoptimum by Sierra Nevada of California, U.S.A.:  **;  at 10.4% abv and 100 ibu this is a genuine hop bomb;  the label reads:  "Aggressively hopped, dry-hoped AND torpedoed";  described as a whole cone Imperial IPA;  strong hop nose;  very intense hop flavours;

187/835)  Home:  Indian Brown Ale by Dogfishhead of Delaware, U.S.A.:  **1/2;  7.2%:  described as "A clean, well hopped brown ale brewed with caramelized sugar and hopped liberally and often";  has a stout-like nose;  there is a hop bite to the taste but it is well balanced by sweet caramel notes;  bitter hop after taste;  this is perhaps the very best Indian brown I have tried so far;

August 25, 2013

185/833)  Home:  Blue Moon by Blue Moon Brewing of Colorado, U.S.A.:  *1/2;  5.4%;  a Belgian style wheat ale brewed with coriander and orange peel;  mild citrus nose;  very mild, subdued; 

I have heard of Blue Moon but I have never tried it until now.  I don't think it is particularly fashionable, perhaps owing to its popularity.

August 24, 2013

It is time to vote on the Golden Tap Awards: 

<http://www.goldentapawards.com/vote/index.php/615538/lang-en>

Voting closes at 11:59PM on Tuesday, September 10th and the awards will be presented on Wednesday the 18th at the beerbistro.

August 23, 2013

184/832)  Home:  Chocolate Truffle Stout by Thomas Hooker Brewing Company of Connecticut, U.S.A.:  **;  7.1%;  "malt beverage brewed with cocoa";   a collaboration with Munson's Chocolate;  nose is sweet chocolate with a touch of alcohol;  it really does taste like a carbonated truffle though perhaps not quite so sweet;  Thomas Hooker founded the colony of Connecticut in the seventeenth century; 

August 22, 2013

183/831) Home:  Samuel Adams White Lantern by Boston Brewing Company of Massachusetts, U.S.A.:  *1/2;   a Belgian style white ale brewed with tangerine and orange peel, coriander and Grains of Paradise;  pours cloudy, honey coloured;  spiced nose;  mild tasting - a good summer beer;  lightly spiced flavours with a citrusy finish;

August 21, 2013

182/830)  Biergarten, LaGuardia Airport, Terminal C:  Red Rocket Ale by Bear Republic of California, U.S.A.:  **;  has a  rooty, bitter, hop nose;  earthy, bitter hop flavours;  quite strong tasting; 

It's farewell to Manhattan. 

I have never offered cash and had it turned down but at the Biergarten is credit or debit only.  It is worth noting that there is no duty free shop in LaGuardia, at least not in Terminal C.  Other than that, LaGuardia is not nearly as bad as I kept hearing.  It's not fancy but it is certainly not unpleasant.  I do have one regret.  With ten minutes to go before boarding I spotted Sierra Nevada Torpedo on tap at the Victory Grill but didn't think I should chance it.  I think I can get it at the beerbistro in a bottle and I probably will unless someone brings one home for me next week.

If memory serves, this is where Dorothy Parker, and others, held the Round Table sessions: