"He's no good to me dead..."

Who all loves Star Wars? I for one am a big fan. Who all loves beer? I mean... yeah... you're here reading this now aren't you? well, Monday Night Brewing peaked my mutual interest with their Han Brolo Pale Ale.

This unfiltered pale hits you very sweet upfront, and fades to a bitter hop towards the end of your journey. Not bad in any sense. I learned that they used milk sugars in this brew as well, which gives it a chewy feel on the palate. One of the side effects of having that lactose is a smooth silky feel over the tongue. I initially didn't notice the citrus tones in the brew, I was more focused on the maltiness, but i learned that Monday Night claims notes of grapefruit and tangerine. I guess the power of suggestion lends some meaning, cause i now find those notes. 

Overall, I enjoy this brew from one end to the other. I could do without the lingering bitter aftertaste, but it's not uncommon on these types of brews. Just keep that in mind if its not something you enjoy.

So, with disregard to Han saying, "Never tell me the odds",  Taylor gives this Rebel Scum 3.7 out of 5 parsecs.

What Are Friends For?

Really though, what are friends for if they don't share good beer? Fortunately, I have great friends! One of my best friends recently moved to his wife's homestate of Virginia. One of the craft brews he found in stores there was this Tumwater Porter put out by Washington's own Fish Brewing Company.

Now I know this isn't a Virginia brew, but I haven't seen them here locally to me in TN. I have to say, this is a pretty darn good porter. Medium body, yet full of flavor. It has seven different malt varieties, including cocoa. That explains why it has such a rich chocolatey, creamy profile. Also, pleasantly nutty without being too much. It is very balanced. It ends you off with a smooth, dry finish. 

It's a very drinkable and full of complexities. Even though I prefer a heavier porter, or even a stout, I'd drink this one again. I really enjoyed it and if you're a porter fan, you will too. If you have these at your local market, pick up a case before you leave.

Taylor gives this one a 3.5 out of 5.

For the Tennessee Natives

Those who know Nashville know that craft beer is taken in all seriousness. There are a few greats that people worldwide know all too well. Yet there is one great TN brewer who has escaped my radar, until now.

My father-in-law (owner/operator of popular Nashville food truck, Funk Seoul Brother) commandeered this locally longed for brew. It's so good, that the taproom supposedly had a line of 350+ people trying to snag a case of this limited release Double IPA. I guess my father-in-law likes me okay enough to gift me a can of this "Nashville Gold". Anyway... here it is.

Bearded Iris Brewing employs Old World fermentation techniques mixed with modern innovation to "bring you a beer that's as skillfully designed and delightfully unique as the flower for which it's named".

Their Mood Ring Double IPA definitely fits that bill!

It is brewed with raspberries, for which I owe the ruby red color to. Then it's accompanied by a hint of vanilla and some lactose, as well as some hops common to an IPA. It has an excellent fruity flavor profile, and is very smooth. Although the fruit flavor is somewhat upfront, it does not come close to "wine cooler status". It is a somewhat tart raspberry hint that compliments the bitter hop quite well. 

Overall it is an excellent Double IPA, and I can understand why the Tennessee locals desire it so much upon it's release. I do personally prefer some other IPA's due to my liking for less "fruit forward" brews. At any rate, however, if you ever have the means to get in line at the taproom, do it!

Oh, and don't worry, this beer is on their list of recurring releases.. so you'll have your chance.

All things considered, Taylor gives this flower a whopping 4 out of 5.

"Well Your Left Hands Free..."

The band Alt-J may talk about a left hand being free in one of their hits, but you will want to make sure yours has a bottle of Left Hand Brewing Co.'s Milk Stout firmly in grasp.

For those unacquainted with these brewers, they claim to have a sense of balance in their beer by saying, "A healthy dose of all things in a balanced way keeps your right brain feeling good and the left brain knowing it’s all good... ...Everyday we strive for that perfect balance between malt and hops..."

I'm not too sure about all this "balance" mumbo jumbo. Perhaps it is just my poorly educated palate? Or simply my preference to more "nutty" stouts? At any rate, this wasn't my favorite. Does this mean that I hate it? HA! Heck no. This sweet stout has a proper roasty-toasty coffee feel to it, with a good amount of bitters from the hops, just as any stout deserves. It has the creamy feel any reputable stout with milk sugars should have. It does seem a bit lighter in flavor as other stouts, mainly because I don't feel the requirement to almost chew it as I drink. You may, then, be wondering what warrants the reservations I have. Well, simply put, Left Hand kind of over-hyped this brew for me. They claim that "America’s great milk stout will change your perception about what a stout can be." That just doesn't sit well with me. I have had many other stouts that I would rate higher than this. Again, not to say this brew is BAD in any way, just doesn't stand up to the words that are behind it. 

All things considered, it is a beer that is worthy of purchase. Just don't get ahead of yourself and hope that it's the best stout you'll ever have.

Taylor rates this beer a 3 out of 5

Mahalo Maui Brewing Co.

Aloha my fellow craft beer Ohana! 

Today we are gonna take a trip down to the Hawaiian islands with Maui Brewing Co.'s flagship Coconut Hiwa Porter.

This dark ale can totally "hang 10" with the rest. What stands out right up front is the distinct flavor of toasted coconut. That rich full flavor is followed by tones of a creamy mocha. Please don't let that scare you off however. Maui Brewing made sure that this brew stayed true to the robust flavor that a porter should have. If you're a fan of dark ales, this should definitely be a staple in your beer fridge, if available. Not to mention it pairs fantastically with homemade chocolate chip cookies.

 (Thanks honey..)

Taylor gives this Hawaiian native a 3.5 out of 5.

Bosnian Beer?

When anyone goes on a vacation and ask me if I want a souvenir, I always request a local craft brew. This time, I got to experience a treat to a beer from the land of Bosnia.

My great friend, and cousin, just returned from a month long trip to Bosnia, and surrounding European countries. What better souvenir than a local beer that I would never be able to have otherwise! So here it is...

Niksicko Dark Beer

Pronounced: Neek-Shesh-Co. It reins from the country of Montenegro, just south of Bosnia to be exact. This beer is quite delicious, given its mysteriously vague title of "dark beer". It is dark....and full of complexities. It had a reminiscent "bitter hop" flavor more common to an IPA, and a smooth nuttiness likened to a porter or even a stout, but without the feeling of having to chew it before swallowing. The finish was dry from whatever hops were used. It made me feel like it was a hybrid between an IPA and a Porter, then it hit me... BLACK IPA! Eureka! 

What is a Black IPA you may ask? Well, a Black IPA, or Cascadian Dark Ale, is an ale that ranges from dark brown to pitch black and showcases malty and light to moderate roasty notes and are often quite hoppy generally with the use of American hops.

Anyway, if you ever find yourself in Bosnia, or heck, if you live there and are reading this now, hunt down this brew. Its a delightful beer to have, and quite frankly, if you're in the beautiful country of Bosnia, you have to enjoy it with a beer.

Taylor rates this experience a 4 out of 5.

Have a beer you're not too sure about? Leave a comment for us on Facebook or here, and we will check it out for you!

No please, we want recommendations... free beer is also accepted.

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Huntsville and the 805

Ah, Huntsville. A place I've visited many times throughout my life, yet I haven't actually explored the local scene very much, if at all. Luckily, some of my best friends have recently moved in the area and showed us around town this past weekend. One of the notable places (at least for the sake of this blog) is Campus No. 805! 

The old school has been revamped for the use of cool shops and small businesses, and more up my alley, a couple of fantastic breweries. So obviously we had to check them both out! 

Numero uno on the list is Yellowhammer Brewing.

Yellowhammer is quite exceptional in the craft brew industry. Its no wonder that head brewer Keith Yager was named Brewmaster of the Year in 2016  at the inaugural Alabama State Beer Championship. A high caliber of brews, and many of them are on tap. (pictured bellow)

My choice, after a few free samples, was Groovy Dan's Groovy IPA.

Among the many IPA's offered, this was the one that really caught me. It features a nice body, with an exceptional amount of hop to it. Overall it is a dry IPA, to my satisfaction. Yet, it retains a smooth finish at the end. Needless to say, I was happy with my choice.

Taylor rates a 3.5 > 5 for this groovy brew.

My wife chose a brew seemingly a bit more fruity, yet still packed a full flavor.

Belgian Pear Pale Ale

This Pale had a very noticeable pear tone, but remained on the safe side of the "wine-cooler status". I would hardly call this fruity though. It had a wonderful array of hop flavor that kept it full bodied, while still feeling light.

Taylor rates a 3 out o' 5

Last on the list is my good friend Tyler's choice. He went with with one the seasonals, the Frankenhammer Belgian Strong Ale.

This brew had a very wonderful "Nutty" scent, and a bold flavor and an almost creamy finish. Upon research, Yellowhammer explains it as a "malty palette that finishes dry with a slight chocolate roast and woody finish." 

Taylor gives this a 4 out of 5 (at least for the season...ha.) 

Next, we went Straight to Ale... no really...that's the brewery.

The place itself was pretty cool to visit. As you make your way, you pass through where all the magic happens...

...and then you walk in. 

Seems to be a typical brewery pub, bright, loud, TV's and music and an array of taps to choose from. But hey! We're with locals remember? They then take us to a secret door, that leads to the "Speak Easy". A dark room with booths, tables, and taps where you can just chill and enjoy the delicious food and brew. I got a flight here obviously.

My choices were the flagship Monkeynaut American IPA, Pumpkin Lilly Flag Pumpkin Milk Stout, He ain't Hefe German Style Hefeweizen, and the Monkeyhot Habenero IPA.

All were exceptional and delicious in their own ways, especially the flagship Monkeynaut. However, the Monkeyhot was something I have never experienced. Essentially its the flagship, just with a bite of habenero. It doesn't burn the mouth, rather it burns in the back of your throat as would a typical bourbon. With the spice, its almost like taking the dregs of a hot toddy and pouring the Monkeynaut right over it. Quite an experience.

My second favorite of the flight was the Pumpkin Milk Stout. As a white girl would say, I just can't even. Dumb hipster jokes aside, this stout was actually light on the whole "PSL" craze that happens this time of year. It had a full body, and a creamy finish, as would any milk stout. The nuttiness of the brew reminded me of coffee, and the pumpkin flavor was definitely a good fit in there.

Notable mention was the Brother Joseph Belgian Dubbel

  

If you're planning on having an array of brews here, this Dubbel is a perfect start. "It's a gateway into other beers and food" is how my friend Tyler described it as he sipped. It's definitely one to try.

Taylor rates Straight to Ale Brewery a 4.5 out of 5, just to keep them humble.

All in all, the 805 is a great place to chill with friends on a Saturday evening. Plenty of good brews and foods to choose from between the two breweries, and a plethora of activities to join in on throughout the old campus. (like axe throwing)

So if you find yourself in Huntsville, Alabama, defintily stop on in!

Schafly Brewery

So I decided to post. It's been awhile guys. This doesn't mean that I have not been drinking beer it just means I am not slowing down enough to compose my thoughts and write them down.
  We took a short weekend in St Louis and stopped by Schafly Brewery for a taste. As you enter the tap room you'll notice two areas to enjoy a brew. We took the one to the right. There are twelve taps to choose from and since I would be driving later that day I decided on a white lager. This beer was not the average lager that you normally buy from St Louis, if you know what I mean. It provided that smooth lager taste light and airy with a subtle hint of citris and tartness that is reminiscent of a sour.
Matt gives the Schafly white a 3.5 of 5

Here's some pics of our visit.

Kayaking and Beer: The Dynamic Duo.

What better way to spend a lovely end of summer Saturday than with good beer and a kayak on the river? I honestly can't think of much! That's just how I intended on enjoying two excellent craft brews, one even being a Nashville, TN native. We started our relaxing river excursion at the Narrows of the Harpeth in Pegram, TN. A beautiful and easy 3 hour paddle from point A to point B with no worry to be had......

 Brew Numero Uno: Terrapin Maggie's Peach Farmhouse Ale

 

This was such a refreshing ale, while not entering the realm of "wine-cooler status" with its peachy flavor. The seasonal ale from Terrapin has a delicate balance of hops with peaches and spices that give it delicious and noticeably fruity flavor and aroma, yet the Golding hops used in the brew keep that sweetness from becoming undesirable for my preferences. Albeit I probably would not grab this brew anytime other than summer activities, but hey... that's is probably why the Georgian Brewmasters dubbed it a seasonal. If you have any more activities to be had for the remainder of the summer, grab yourself a case of these and enjoy! 

Taylor gives this brew a 3 out of 5

Check out that Tennessee Sunset on the Harpeth River.

As the evening wound down to the end, we sat and enjoyed the sunset, and yet another delicious beer from our local Blackberry Farm Brewery.

Blackberry Farm puts out some good beer. This Screaming Cock Pale Ale is no exception. I myself prefer a pale ale or its distant cousin the IPA, so obviously I have high recommendations for such. I was quite surprised to find such a fruity first impression with this, that I just couldn't place my finger on. Upon research I couldn't really find much info on it, other than the questionable source that mentioned fruity tones of raisins and dried plums. Honestly, I can concur with that. Whether it be the power of suggestion, or the uncertain facts that may exist, I do not know. Despite not knowing anything about this brew, (Hops used, potential dried fruits, etc.) I honestly don't give a flying feather. Its a darn good pale ale and you'd be slightly crazed to pass this one up.

I, Taylor, drop a whopping 4 out of 5 for this angry chicken.

Narrows of the Harpeth time lapse

     

The Great Smoky Mountains and Good Beer

As a marriage approaches, a bachelor's trip is usually planned. Mine took place in Gatlinburg,TN this past weekend with some very good friends of mine! The Appalachians showed us a good time, and obviously good craft beer was consumed....

                                                                            Day 1

After the long 5 hour drive to the cabin, it was time to unwind and relax as we awaited the remainder of the crew to arrive. Yazoo's SUE was the brew of choice. This Imperial Smoked Porter is quite magnificent. Yazoo claims it to be a "big, rich, smoky malt bomb of a beer" and that it is. By smoking the barley malts over cherry wood, they achieve that immediate smoky flavor. It almost reminds me of delicious smoked bacon, and come on... who doesn't love that? It has a nice hoppy finish that come from the Galena and Perle hops used in this brew as well. Overall a good beer.
                                            I, Taylor, give Yazoo a 3.5 out of 5 on this porter.

Day 2

Up next was Delirium's Deliria Blond Belgium Ale. This beer was a bit ironic to have on this trip. After a day of hiking, spirited driving on mountain switchbacks, and seeing a black bear, this was a great ending adventure for my palette. The irony lies in the fact that this ale is brewed once a year to mark International Women's Day, and a group of sweaty, testosterone filled men enjoyed it. ( I honestly could've taken that bear on had it been necessary. ) Despite minuscule ironies, this is one good Blond Belgium. The pale blond color is exactly what you'd expect in this style of ale. ( Yet more irony. ) The aroma has a pleasant fruity background, almost mimicking a white wine with some hops thrown in for good measure. The flavor is similar, with fruity apple tones and a mild bitter finish. In the words of Ferris Bueller, "It's so choice, that if you have the means I highly recommend picking one up".

4 out of 5 for this Ale.

Please enjoy these sights from Day 2.

Cades Cove

 Black Bear

 Abrams Falls

Day 3

Ah, the final leg of our sojourn. Before we packed up and headed home, we stopped in to Smoky Mountain Brewery for some darn good beer. If you're ever in Gatlinburg, you have to make a stop here and try some beer. I did a 5 beer sampler and had choices between the Brew-master's specials, which included a citrus IPA and a rosemary infused Wit Wheat Ale, as well as the appropriately named Black Bear Ale and Smoky Mountain Honey Saison, all recommended by our waiter Joe. However, their Dark Ale Porter was what I found myself continually sipping. This desire became fertile, and gave birth to a growler...

5 out of 5 for great pricing, outstanding service, and wonderful brews. 

Thank you Smoky Mountain Brewery!

All said and done, Gatlinburg, TN is a great place for anyone wanting to get away to the eastern mountains. And good beer can easily be found there awaiting a glass to fill. Arrivederci my fellow craft beer enthusiasts and adventurers.

Smoky Mountain Brewery Facebook

Some images provided by : capture615

Oskar Blues' Pinner Throwback IPA

I came across this brew by total random happenstance. Due to my mountain climbing, outdoors-man background, the label drew me in with phrases such as "Pack it in, Pack it out" and "infinitely recyclable".
...But enough hippie mumbo-jumbo! This is an impressive IPA indeed! I'm not one to consider an IPA "refreshing" per say, but this is just that. This is due to the wonderful variety of hops that Oskar Blues has concocted, inciting flavors and aromas of tropical and citrus fruits, pineapple being a dominate flavor.Yet, the finish is smooth and nutty, a common aftertaste among IPA's. Fruitiness aside, this beer maintains that bold IPA "hop" that we know and love. All things considered, an IPA isn't my first, or heck...even third choice to end activities such as a good 5.11 climb or long hike, or even simply mowing my lawn. However, I feel as though this beauty would easily fill the beer void on such occasions.

So I applaud you Oskar Blues Brewery, for giving me a change of heart on when I feel an IPA is appropriate.
Henceforth, I, Taylor, give this beer a confident 3.5 out of 5. A worthy rating for any brew of this stature.

Evil Twin Brewing + Blackberry Farm Brewery's From Tennessee with Smoke Smoked Farmhouse Ale

So first of all, I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Taylor, Son of Matt, and I am putting my metaphorical "2 cents" into this blog. I feel like some life needs to be brought back into the fun we have here, even if it be some years later. So let's start with a brief rundown of my day, only then to be followed by a review of the aforementioned brew. Let us begin...
My day was filled with a hard day at work, topped off with building stresses from my upcoming wedding, only to be followed by the realization of my bank account hitting an all time low. All up until the moment i popped the cork on this delicious Smoked Farmhouse Ale by Evil Twin Brewing and Blackberry Farm Brewery. All my troubles were drowned away in the smokey aroma that filled my sniffer. As a Tennessee native, I can confidently say that the nail on this brew was hit directly on the head. Aside from the sensation of smelling a slow smoked rack of ribs come from a bottle, the flavor profile was just as exquisite. Not in a "Holy crap what am i drinking" kinda way. Rather, It was a sensation that was thoroughly enjoyed. As mentioned, this ale has a intoxicating smokiness that only seems to be compared to the BBQ from the state it was created in. A full bodied flavor was to follow, finished off with a smooth aftertaste.

My knowledge on beer is at present limited, but i give this beer a 3 out of 5 stars by itself. However, should you choose to accept, pair this Ale with a perfectly seared steak, and that 3 jumps up a grade to a 4.

Steak anyone?

Rappell, Beer, in that order.

So Zech tells me a couple years back that he enjoys lead climbing and rappelling. I'm thinking to myself that would be great fun, but having no equipment and too many irons in the fire already, I figure its a dream never to be realized. While in Utah we do a little rope work up to a cave in the side of the cliffs surrounding the little glacier lake we packed up to for a couple days, this really gets me thinking. For Zech its all in a days work as a master rope tech and firefighter.
Flash forward a year. We go camping to Fall Creek Falls State Park in TN, Zech brings his gear and we do some rappelling and climbing. Drink some good beers around the campfire. One of these was Porkslap Pale Ale.

 This Pale Ale is brought to you by Butternuts Beer and Ale and is a refreshing A.P.A.. Since we were camping I drank it straight from the red cup. It had a distinct Pale Ale flavor with a bite of something else. After checking Butternuts website I found that this was fresh ginger.I truly enjoyed this paired with the Brats on a stick over the fire. Matts rating? 3.5 out of 5.

Spring another year forward we find ourselves back at Fall Creek Falls. this time taking on a 135' rappell. check out my view from halfway down the rope.

 It was a blast! After that a good refreshing beer was in order and so I went for...

It was just that. A refreshing Wheat Ale with a nice soft infusion of blueberry. I am still not a sweets fan so this beer was a pleasant taste of beer and blueberry without pushing itself to wine cooler status. I would not drink this everyday but my preference still leans toward a dark hoppy beer, with that being said, this would define what a blueberry wheat should taste like. Thanks Sea Dog you've made a believer. Matt rates it a 3 out of 5.

Moab Brewery

     So I'm not doing a beer review. What? Sacrilege you might say! Just hold on a second and listen to my little story. So me and Zech and our families took a pilgrimage to the west to do some backpacking in the mountains and enjoy the beauty of the west. I had made the trip several times thru the years and made a loose itinerary so we could do some of the fun things to see. One of them was to camp a night near Lake Powell Utah, ride the ferry across and venture on to northern Utah the next day. Didn't happen. The custom van we borrowed is very particular about what gas it likes to run on, and ethanol it hates. The boy left us stranded in the middle of the Ute Indian Reservation. so after a tow bill, a night in a hotel, and a fuel filter change in the hotel parking lot, we were off course and heading north.
     As we drove thru the beautiful town of Moab Utah, Zech spies Moab Brewery. as we throw the families sideways heading into the parking lot, I'm thinking " What? We just ate an all you can eat pancake breakfast are you serious?" My mind was soon changed as we sat down to an awesome lunch and Beer Sampler. I have to admit The brewery has they're act together. I especially enjoyed the Rocket Bike Lager and the Dead Horse Amber Ale but truly there was not a bad beer there. We left with their Growler special and gladness in our hearts. Check out a few pics of our trip.

the sampler was amazing at moab brewery!

Had to try Wasatch breweries 1st amendment Lager while we were in SLC

Abita Strawberry Harvest

Abita has continued their strong offerings of malt pleasure. They continue to bring creativeness and great flavoring in their line of beers. Strawberry harvest is one of 3 of their Harvest collection and I must say is very refreshing. Has Matt's tastes changed since the beginning of this blog? Definitely. I have been selectively trying some of the fruity beers out there and this one is a keeper. I personally would drink this as a refreshing thirst quencher during summer months. Perfect for strapping on your float tube and spending a summers day meandering down the river.
Matt gives it a 3.5 out of 5

The Abita Springs unique flavor is present in the Strawberry Harvest. One of the things I find charming about this particular brewery is, that due to the craft nature of their process, there are little inconsistencies in their products. There are slight variations in flavor in one batch to the next. The spring water lends to a clean feel on the palate. All of Abita's offerings should be swirled a bit before the final pour, to really get the full effect. Definitely give this wheat beer for summer a try. Very refreshing.

Zech gives the Abita Strawberry Harvest a 3.5 out of 5  

Lagunitas IPA

This has been a staple in my fridge for the last month. Ever since the local convenience store has begun to carry it. I must say to bring a California beer all the way to our sleepy little world is a master feat. I am just proud to say we are finally getting some of these rednecks to try something other than the big 3 light beers. This IPA is truly a work of art, A fine blend of hops makes this Ale not just drinkable but delightful. Pours well and I must confess many times I drink it straight from the bottle. If it is available on your local shelf I highly recommend trying a pack today.

Matt gives this jewel of a beer 4 out a possible 5

Flying Dog Classic Pale Ale

Classic is Right! A traditional Pale Ale. No flashiness, just a clean crisp mix of malt and hops. Not as pale in color and no big fluffy head, but not bad. If you like a classic this'll do the trick. This paired exquisitely with white chili and Jim and Nicks biscuits.
Matt says 3 of 5

It's Flying Dog. Once I finally tried this brewery's offerings, I discovered that they do not produce bad beer. So again...It's Flying Dog. Drink it.

Zech gives it 3 out of 5

Four Hand IPA

As I first popped the top and took a whiff I drifted back in time to a smell that reminded me of Dad's homemade white wine. No doubt the smell of the yeast coming through. This beer had a crisp, dry hop flavor with a little yeast backdrop. A refreshing IPA, which may be good for someone who isn't ready for the big hop punch in the mouth. A few years ago this would've been all the hop I would want, now, almost not enough. I would drink this with a french dip sandwich and some homemade chips.
Matt is showing his hand with 3.5 out of 5

Yuengling Porter

America's oldest brewery has been brewing beer since 1829. I think they've seen some changes in the industry since then. don't you? That was before the west was won folks. This dark brewed Porter is a classic, excellent malted beer. How can you not respect a brewery that held on and didn't get swallowed up by the big boys? If you haven't ventured into the world of dark beers, start here. A "smooth" transition into the dark beers of the world awaits you.
Matt gives her a 4 out of 5

Victory Hop Devil Ale

Smell the Hop! Taste the Hop! Be the Hop! This is actually not named correctly. Sorry Victory Brewing, but I'm not seeing anything so devilish, it's more like an Angelic concoction of Hop goodness. This well done Ale has a nice blend of dry and sweet. This probably would have to be a beer to work up to if your not used to the strong hopped beers.
Matt likes this allot 4.5 out of 5