Starr Hill out of Charlottesville, VA introduced their Grateful Pale Ale at the beginning of May, a session pale ale that’s hoppy, but also refreshing enough for this warm weather. It pours a clean golden color with a thick, white head that smells floral and citrusy. Topaz, Chinook, Cascade and Centennial hops give it a citrusy, piney flavor, but it’s well-balanced and not overwhelming. Its taste is of bitter orange and slightly caramel-y as a balancer. With a light body and 4.7% ABV, it’s a good session alternative to a super-hoppy high-alcohol IPA.
Grateful Pale Ale will be available until the first of August, when it will be replaced by Starr Hill’s fall seasonal, Boxcar Pumpkin Porter.
It’s Suburban Beer Week 19468 again, with four venues around the area holding events as a small town response to Philly Beer Week. Tonight, at Lucky Lab Tavern in Royersford, is the “Thank God Its Victory” tap takeover. Victory’s Adam Gladish will be there for one of the greatest events he’s ever done.
The draft list below is enough to send anyone’s mouth a-watering.
A firkin of Double IPA that has been dry-hopped with the new experimental Mosaic hops.
One of the first kegs of Summer Love
Fresh Prima Pils (brewed on 4-30-13)
Abbey IPA (Brewed specifically for this event…a new beer that combines the Belgian qualities of a traditional Abbey ale and the hoppy goodness of an American IPA)
St. Victorious, a slightly smokey doppelbock
Everyone’s favorite Golden Monkey, a 9.7% Abv Belgian Tripel
As well as a secret beer that might be barrel-aged in nature
The event will be starting tonight at 5pm and going until 10pm
Stella Artois has introduced a new cider in 26 states, with further expansion possible in 2014. The Stella Artois Cidre (pronounced cee-druh) is a crisp, European-style cider, made with apples from wine-growing regions in North and South America and fermented in Baldwinsville, NY. Released on May 13, it’s just in time for warm weather.
The flavor is mostly red apple-y and peachy, with apricot accents and subtle hints of orange. The suggested serving is in a white wine glass with a semi-hard cheese such as manchego.
Ciders are gaining popularity in the U.S., with an 85% increase in sales between 2011 and 2012, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that more breweries are adding ciders to their repertoires.
Goose Island is celebrating its 25th birthday. In this video, they talk to the brewers that got their start at Goose Island, and about the future of the brewery.
We told you about the R2Hop2 Music and Beer Festival at Fordham and Dominion last week. Now’s your chance to win tickets to the event!
Entering to win is simple. First, go like the R2Hop2 Facebook page. Then comment on this post with your name, age, favorite Dominion/Fordham brew, and a link to your Facebook profile. Comments on this post may not show up publicly, but rest-assured, we will see them.
Click here for the details of the event and here to like the Facebook page.
The search is still on for two Golden Tickets, each awarding one lucky person a VIP invitation to the Philly Beer Scene Awards, being held May 22nd, as well as a private tour of Victory’s brewery in Downingtown, PA.
The two tickets were hidden inside two loose-packed cases of Victory Headwaters Pale Ale, now sitting on the shelf somewhere at a local distributor*. Victory doesn’t open its doors for public tours anymore due to a high demand for their brew, so this is a great opportunity to go see how some of your favorite beers are made.
The Philly Beer Scene Awards Ceremony, being held at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, is a black tie event honoring the best of beer culture in the Philadelphia area. Awards will be announced for categories such as Brewery of the Year, Brewmaster of the Year, Best Bar in Philadelphia, Best Distributor in the Suburbs, Best Beer Event and many more. Voting is open to the public, so go share your opinion now. Voting ends Tuesday, April 30.
Each VIP pass gives you and a guest of your access to the VIP tables at the front of the event, allowing you to mingle with your favorite local brewers, beer writers, bar owners and other personalities within the scene. Both ticket finders will also get to present an award on stage with Bill Covaleski, AND Philly Beer Scene will be picking up your tab** at the end of the night.
If you aren’t liking the odds of finding a ticket, don’t worry. There are a limited number of tickets available to the public, and if you act quick, you might be able to snag one.
*The cases are somewhere within Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Philadelphia and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania.
This saison holds a thick, frothy head over it’s beautiful effervescent amber body as it pours into a (suggested) tulip glass. Its scent calls up images of sweet-and-tart candies, citrus, apple and spices like clove and cinnamon. The flavor is sweet, but not overly so, with clove, malt, and apple at the front, and a peppery finish. It’s a smooth, medium-bodied drink with plenty of carbonation to keep it snappy and refreshing. Gigi’s is a beer best enjoyed slowly, so one can enjoy the flavors at different temperatures. 7.2 ABV
Saturday, April 27th, Fordham & Old Dominion Brewing is holding their annual beer and music festival, R2Hop2 at their Dover, DE brewery. This is their second year hosting this event, and they’re expecting upwards of 2,500 visitors.
This festival will feature Old Dominion’s specialty beers, such as Oak Barrel Stout, Cherry Blossom Lager, Rams Head IPA and Copperhead Ale. In addition to beer, five local bands will be playing throughout the day, including The Honey Badgers, Runaway Train, The Anytime, Anywhere, Splashing Pearls and Lower Case Blues.
Aside from beer and music (which should be enough to get you interested), there is also a keg toss, inflatable obstacle course, and sumo wrestling. There are also food vendors, including Fordham Bier Dawgs (made with Helles lager), Potato Pancakes and Vitale’s Italian Ice and Homemade Ice Cream.
Tickets are $20 in advance, and $30 at the door (those under 18 are free). Next week, we’ll let you know a way to win tickets to this event, so stay tuned.
This Saturday (the 13th) at noon, Railroad Street Bar and Grill in Linfield is tapping a keg of Evolution’s Incubator, a limited edition dry hoppy Belgian-style beer. To make this event even more appealing, they are donating all the proceeds generated by selling the beer to the Brad Fox Children’s Fund. Not only is this a great opportunity to try a limited edition brew, it’s also for a great cause.
Officer Brad Fox, an Iraqi war Marine Corp veteran and Plymouth Township police officer, was killed in the line of duty in 2012 when responding to a call on the eve of his birthday in September. He left behind his wife, Lynsay, and their two children. This fund was set up to help ensure for their future.
This Saison from Victory is just what you need to get in the right mood for this warmer weather. Pouring a hazy yellow-gold, Swing Session greets you with a crisp citrus and yeasty scent and large head. The taste is slightly fruity, spicy and somewhat tart, the strongest flavors being coriander, citrus and clove. It also has earthy, grassy hop notes, making for an overall tangy, zesty experience. Although it is very spicy, it’s not overwhelming. Weighing in a 4.5% ABV, this saison is true to its name.
