Matt the Beer Guy takes a break from beer brining his Thanksgiving turkey (he’s going with Snow Cap this year) to bring us his latest dispatch from the fermented grain front. There’s more than poultry filling the shelves of your local grocery store, and Matt has two words for you: Stout Abyss. Read on, friends…

Matt the Beer Guy

Howdy all,

So, after some consideration and singing of ditties in my skull, I’m thinking that S-T-O-U-T-Y-A-B-Y-S-S could function to the tune of the classic M-I-C-K-E-Y-M-O-U-S-E — not perfect, but functional. Which leads us to the arrivals:

• Deschutes Abyss ‘11 has arrived – one of the more anticipated releases of the year, just in time for the holidays. This year shows ample roasty notes, with a more complex barrel presence (as per my memory) and a touch of alcohol heat – flavors that should integrate with some cellaring, but drinking well as a nightcap/dessert beer now.
• Stone Vertical Epic 11/11/11 has arrived – Belgian amber brewed with cinnamon and chiles. Belgian yeast asserts itself initially with spicy, fruity notes. I lose the cinnamon, which shows a deft hand, and the chiles provide more feel than flavor, adding a nice depth. Overall, quite drinkable and “safer” perhaps than some previous VE vintages.
• Laughing Dog Dogfather ‘11 has arrived – rumor has it that all bottles are bourbon barrel aged, but I have yet to confirm — I’ll keep you posted when I know more.
• Odell Brewing Mountain Standard Imperial Black IPA – Holy Hops, Batman! Darker malts add color alone, not much roastiness – it’s really all about the hops, and well done at that.
• Odell Friek – combo Framboise/Kriek shows great fruit with an underlying tartness. It’s a Great American Beer Fest gold medal-winning barrel-aged sour, in limited supply.
• Ninkasi/21st Amendment Allies Win the War! Collaboration – strong ale brewed with dates and extensively dry-hopped with Pacific NW hops. It drinks big, with some fruitiness on the nose and in the flavor – reminiscent of a winter warmer.
• Lagunitas Sucks – Brown Shugga replacement, a well-hopped strong ale from the folks in Petaluma as a peace offering for those that inevitably are disappointed by this year’s lack of Brown Shugga. At least they got out in front on this one.
• TableRock HopHead IPA bombers arrive.
• New Belgium Frambozen arrives – seasonal Raspberry Brown ale.
• New Belgium Snow Day arrives – replaces 2 Below, but no tasting notes yet.
• Fresh Hop Mirror Pond returns.
• Epic/DC Brau Collaborative Imperial Pumpkin Porter returns.
• Alameda Brewing Papa Noel’s Olde Ale arrives – no tasting notes yet.
• Belgium Noel beers arrive, including: Affligem, Delirium, and Gouden Carolus.
• Collaborative De Proef/Sly Fox Saison arrives.

Thanks for reading, and as always if you would like for me to set some beers aside, please contact me. Enjoy your holidays — I’m beer brining the turkey again this year, though I’m switching to Snow Cap.

Cheers,

~m

“‘Twas weeks before Christmas but out in our store, Matt Gelsthorpe was bringing in craft beers galore.”

I’ll spare you any further rendition of my awful “Night Before Christmas” parody and simply let Matt the Beer Guy tell you about all the seasonal beers that have come into his little corner fermented grain paradise.  Deck us all with barrels of folly!

Howdy all,

I suppose the timing is fortuitous – the initial holiday set went up yesterday… and in addition to the usual line-up of notorious elves, mischievous reindeer, and drunken Santas, we’ve added:

• Haandbryggeriet Nissefar Ale – rich and warming Norwegian winter ale full of chocolate, caramel, and raisiny notes.
• Fantome de Noel – from one of the more well-respected Saison producers in Belgium comes this holiday treat – spiced with a secret blend.  Some dark malts add complexity to the funk we know and love from Fantome’s house yeast.
• Bourbon Barrel Aged Mikkeller – from via Toself, a self-proclaimed “gypsy” brewer’s spiced winter porter meets bourbon barrels – deliciousness results.
• Large format (magnums – 1.5L) vintage bottles of Belgian favorites Chimay Blue (‘07 &’09) and Gulden Draak (‘09 &’10).

New arrivals include:

• Laughing Dog Cold Nose – winter seasonal.
• Jolly Pumpkin La Parcela – sour, spiced pumpkin ale – one can taste all of those flavors.
• Sam Adams Vixen – chocolate chili bock.
• Sam Adams Tasman Red IPA – uses Tasmania grown hops to impart a fruity character that helps to balance the sweet malt notes before giving way to a dry, bitter finish.
• Sam Adams Winter Brewer’s Selection 12pk arrives – features Chocolate Bock and Black and Brew Coffee Stout in addition to the standard favorites.
• Grand Teton Black Cauldron Imperial Stout ‘10 vintage – (limited) smoky, briny, roasty, with perfect body for the style – enjoy now or continue to cellar for 18-24 months.
• Anchor Old Foghorn Barleywine style Ale returns.
• Rogue Good Chit Pilsner – full of traditional floor-malted goodness – you really can taste a difference.
• Saison Silly – blended Saison features an aged beer blended with a fresh one to balance sweetness, fruitiness, and bitterness – different interpretation of the style, also a bit darker than anticipated but pleasant.
• Sierra Nevada Celebration returns – the go-to winter IPA is here and surprisingly bright and bitter.
• A few more cases of Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head collaboration Life and Limb 2 have arrived.
• Boulevard Nutcracker Ale returns – previous vintages featured a beautiful candied blood orange nose and flavor – high hopes but no tasting notes yet.
• Cascade Lakes will slowly phase out their IPA for the new Cyclops IPA (both on shelves currently).
• Buffalo Bill’s Alimony IPA arrives.
• Alaskan Smoked Porter ‘11 vintage arrives – speaking of which, Thursday, 11/10, at the Wine Shop from 4:30-6PM – Alaskan Smoked Porter Vertical Tasting.
• Ninkasi Winter 4pk arrives, featuring exclusive Imperiale Stout.
• Beer Valley Delta 9 IPA arrives – imagine Leafer Lite – nice hop flavor and bitterness with a little flash of sweet malt tucked in between.
• Rogue seasonal arrivals include: Mogul Madness (dark IPA), Santa’s Private Reserve, and Yellow Snow IPA.

On to the events — it’s shaping up to be a busy month:

• Wednesday, 11/9, at 13th St. Pub is Uinta Brewing, part deux — times TBD.
• Thursday, 11/10, at the Co-op Wine Shop, Alaskan Smoked Porter Vertical – may include some other fun vintage stuff as well as the Perseverance Imperial Stout.
• Thursday, 11/17, at Bittercreek – Firkin Fun featuring Odell Brewing – be the first to taste the Idaho Mild Ale, collaboratively brewed for the upcoming Footprint Regionale blend.
• Thursday, 11/17, at Bier:Thirty in Bown Crossing (formerly Brewforia Bown) – Stone tap takeover – 10 taps of Stone goodness.

As always, thanks for reading.  And on the horizon, we should see Deschutes Abyss and North Coast Old Rasputin XIV the week of Thanksgiving.

Cheers,

~m (Matt the Beer Guy)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Those of you who know and love Odell Brewing Co. will want to make it over to the Wine Shop on Thursday, October 20, where Matt the Beer Guy will regale you with great beer and epic tales of brewing. If you haven’t experienced Fort Collins’ “other” craft beer phenomenon, we’ll be happy to introduce you.

Here’s a little word association game for you. When I say Fort Collins, you say…

If “beer” was your answer, Matt Gelsthorpe, the Boise Co-op Beer Guy, would like to plant a big, foamy, wet one on your cheek. But you might just prefer that he pour you a Bourbon Barrel Stout at our Odell beer tasting taking place on Thursday, October 20 from 4:30 to 6:00 pm at the Co-op Wine Shop (4% of proceeds from the beer you buy goes to our latest Shop for Good recipient, Simply Cats, by the way).

Dave Krick (far left) and Matt (far right) pose with one of the brew staff at Odell Brewing Co.

Matt the Beer Guy was recently in Fort Collins where, in addition to visiting our friends at New Belgium Brewing, he and local restaurateur Dave Krick represented the Gem State in concocting Odell Brewing Co.’s new Footprint Ale – a fermented grain tribute to the ten states that make up the brewery’s “distribution footprint.” As Odell describes it:

There are ten states that make up what we call our distribution footprint. Each state made a unique contribution to Footprint. This artful ale is our tribute to these states in which our beer is available. The result is a crafty collective of regional flavors:

Colorado – Hops and barley

Arizona – Prickly pear

Idaho – Barley and hops

Kansas – Wheat

Minnesota – Wild Rice

Missouri – Oak Barrels

Nebraska – Corn

New Mexico – Green Chiles

South Dakota – Barley and honey

Wyoming – Wheat

50% ale brewed with honey, 10% ale brewed with honey and aged in wine barrels, 40% ale brewed with honey and natural flavors added

ABV: 9.5%, 750ml bottle

Prickly pear and green chiles? I’m so there.

During Matt and Dave’s Excellent Beer Adventure (why wasn’t I invited?), they offered Idaho’s contributions of barley and hops to Odell’s fermentation process. While the glorious results won’t be available until February 2012, we’ll console you with five different Odell vintages (including the new winter seasonal, Isolation Ale) at our upcoming tasting.

Here's lookin' at ya!

Those of you who know and love Odell Brewing will want to make it over to the Wine Shop on Thursday, where Matt the Beer Guy will regale you with great beer and epic tales of brewing to match. If you haven’t experienced Fort Collins’ “other” craft beer phenomenon, we’ll be happy to introduce you. As a long time fan of New Belgium, discovering Odell has certainly given me a new appreciation for the Fort Collins brew scene.

So…sing along with me now: “The brewer in Odell, the brewer in Odell, hi-ho the derry-o, their beers are all so swell.”

While most people have more immediate associations when you say “October” and “beer,” Matt the Beer Guy is here to remind us that the Autumnal Equinox is a time for hop harvests as well as Oktoberfests.

Howdy all,

The annual arrival of the fresh/wet hop ales has started:

• Deschutes Fresh Hop Mirror Pond – first time bottled, they use Oregon-grown heirloom Cascades, which impart a dank and resinous nose and firm bitterness, coupled with the characteristic Pale Ale body and a subtle caramel malt finish – yum!
• Bridgeport Hop Harvest Imperial Fresh Hop Ale – typically involves Oregon-grown Centennials, but rarely typical in aroma and flavor – no tasting notes yet on this vintage as it just arrived.
• Not a fresh hop, but hop-driven Belgian selection Poperinge Hommel Ale returns – Poperinge is a hop-growing area in West Flanders, Belgium, and Hommel is the local word for hops – wonderful, well-hopped golden ale, and a value at under $3 a bottle.
• Rogue Double Chocolate Stout returns – most popular of the Rogue Double Series – stock up for the holidays because it will not last long.
• Full Sail Sanctuary Dubbel Ale returns – no tasting notes yet.
• Beck’s Oktoberfest 12-packs arrive – good quality Oktoberfest at a good price.
• Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest arrives – no tasting notes yet, but those Midwesterners generally do a nice job.
• Rainier cans arrive – Rainier: the future’s PBR? Only time will tell.
• Out of the cellar come two selections from the Scottish outfit, BrewDog: Paradox Macallan and Mikkeller Collaboration Devine Rebel Barleywine – could just be the chill in the evenings, perhaps it was the Scotch that I enjoyed over the weekend…whatever the case, I felt it was time to raid the cellar.

The next Beer Tasting at our Wine Shop is Thursday, October 13th, from 4:30-6PM featuring Fresh Hop Ales.  I will have details on upcoming local brewery events soon as well.

The Ram just tapped this year’s Oktoberfest, and it’s good – toasted and caramel malt notes ride right up to the finishing hop bite, leaving a clean finish that demands another sip.  I’m a fan.

Wish your local brewers luck before next week as a number of them have entries in the Great American Beer Festival in Denver.

As always, thanks for reading!

Cheers,

Matt the Beer Guy

Matt the Beer guy is feeling a nip in the air, which turns his thoughts toward Fall fermented grain beverages.  He shares his latest “harvest” of brews with us.  Here’s to Oktoberfest!

Howdy all,

Little bit of a chill in the evenings…don’t mind at all though as the fall seasonals begin to pour in:

• Sierra Nevada Tumbler Brown – just the right amount of rauch malt provides an interesting counterpoint to this toasty, sweetish offering – very easy to find yourself looking for a refill.
• La Trappe Oak-Aged Quad returns – dessert, nightcap… around the campfire, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more enjoyable “only beer of the night.”
• Both the Black Boss and the Zywiec Baltic Porters return.
• Coniston Bluebird Bitter returns.
• Alameda White Wolf Imperial IPA returns.
• Wittekerke Rose in cans?!? Oh, yes…and oh, my!
• Thiriez Extra – French farmhouse ale whose house yeast is the trendy Saison/farmhouse ale yeast for any number of American craft breweries currently – I advocate trying the original – dry-hopping provides some delicate grassy aromatics that foretell the hop edge on the back of this beer; light spice with some doughy pilsner malt notes.
• Big Sky Slow Elk returns – one of my faves from the folks in Missoula.
• Ninkasi Maiden the Shade returns.
• Punk’n from Uinta should be in tomorrow.
• Stone 15th Anniversary Escondidan Black Ale finally arrives – guess the Cascadians aren’t the only ones adept at the style.
• Stone Cal-Belgique IPA returns.
• Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale arrives.
• Paulaner Oktoberfest six packs arrive.
• Ayinger Oktoberfest 1/2 liters are in.
• New Belgium Hoptoberfest returns – perhaps my favorite seasonal from these guys – love me some Glacier hops.
• Hale’s SuperGoose returns – everything you love about the original, only more.
• Italian LoverBeer enters the fray with Madamin, a barrel-aged sour beer (limited quantities available).
• RCH Pitchfork arrives.

In event news, look for more info on the upcoming OktoberQwest next week – a German-inspired beer garden with tents, dirndls, and lederhosen at Qwest Arena in late September.

Also, the 2nd Annual Boise Beer Bus is taking reservations and filling up.  This year, the bus departs from Idaho Distributing on Monday, Sept.19th, for Victor, ID, home of Grand Teton Brewing.  Once there, you and your bus-mates will decide upon a beer style and name with head brewer, Kevin Bolen (formerly of the Boise Ram) acting as host, guide, and of course, brewmaster.  You brew Tuesday AM, returning to Boise Tuesday evening.  $249 includes (gratuities not included) beers, meals (with the exception of Tues. breakfast), transportation, and luxury accommodations at Teton Springs Resort – highly recommended if your budget and schedule allow.  Please contact me or Scott McMichael at 208.941.6764 for more info or for reservations.  Last year was a blast, and the resultant beer was the Oh Coaly Night Imperial Holiday Porter – fantastic!   Enjoy your holiday weekend!

Thanks for reading.

Cheers!

Matt the Beer Guy

When Co-op Beer Guy Matt Gelsthorpe excitedly tells you about his “new arrivals,” don’t bother breaking out the cigars.  A pint glass would be more appropriate.  Here are his latest bundles of fermented joy.

• Boulevard Tank 7 Dry-Hopped Farmhouse Ale returns.
• Boulevard Collaboration #2 arrives – the other White IPA from the Deschutes/Boulevard project; whereas the Deschutes Conflux 2 emphasizes the hop character, the Boulevard interpretation focuses more on the spice character…still very bright and drinkable for all the different flavors competing within it.  You can find it next to the Conflux in the bomber door, top shelf.
• Sam Adams Octoberfest returns – that’s right, folks, we’re in the home stretch, heading into Oktoberfest quickly – I really enjoy autumn… the maltier, slightly heavier bodied beers pair beautifully with food and crisp, cool nights.
• Pyramid Juggernaut Red Ale returns – very approachable red that showcases characteristic caramelly malt sweetness with good hop balance.
• Chateau Rogue First Growth Single Malt returns – the next in the series, quite a hoppy little blonde ale.
• Kapuziner Schwarz-Weizen returns – not quite as rich and a bit lighter in body than the Franziskaner Dunkel Weiss, but enjoyable nonetheless.
• Kulmbacher Pils returns – it’s been a couple of years, but glad to have it back – one of my favorite German Pilsners — so crisp, so quaffable.
• Black Sheep Brewery has released a companion to the Holy Grail Ale called Black Knights Reserve: roastier with more malt sweetness than the original.

Thanks as always for reading.

Cheers,
Matt the Beer Guy

Summer, and Matt the Beer Guy is tending his garden of refrigerated chrome and glass.  Here’s a report of his latest harvest of hop and grain libations. 

Howdy all, there are a handful of new arrivals this week:

• Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ Wild — a strong wheat ale featuring the characterful Westmalle yeast strain; Westmalle being one of the Belgian Trappist breweries (their Tripel is quite nice, btw).
• Black Boss Baltic Porter — Polish offering that is dark, rich, and boozy, with some molasses notes and some sweetness; nothing says summer like a Baltic Porter (both the Black Boss and Zywiec weigh in >9%ABV and <$2/half liter).
• Zywiec Baltic Porter — Another Polish offering – no tasting notes yet.
• Primator Premium Lager — One can never have too many easy drinking Czech lagers from which to choose.
• Bison Honey Basil Ale — Summer seasonal – no tasting notes yet.

Events:

• Thursday, 7/28 — From 4:30-6PM at the Co-op Wine Shop — New Belgium Idaho Beer Ranger Kris will stop by and host a tasting of NB beers, including Fat Tire, Ranger IPA, Somersault, Belgo IPA, and Trippel.  We’ll add Le Terroir and Transatlantique Kriek for those that crave sours; additionally, enter for your chance to win a NB backpack.
• Thursday, 8/4 — First Thursday Beer and Cheese at the Front Door, featuring Uinta Brewing.
• Saturday and Sunday, 8/6 and 8/7 at Ann Morrisson Park – Barley Bros. Traveling Beer Show (formerly the Boise BeerFest).

Next week promises more events as a number of our reps will come to town for the BBTBS — and they like to host events beforehand.  I will keep you posted as I know more.

Hope to see y’all Thursday.  As always, thanks for reading. 

Cheers,

Matt the Beer Guy

Summer is here, and Matt Gelsthorpe, the Boise Co-op Beer Guy, wants to remind you all that it is the “saison” to be hydrated.  We’ll let him explain this little play on words.

Howdy all,

Been a busy few weeks… here’s the skinny:

• Snake River Brewing Pale and Pako’s IPA are now available in cans – a regional favorite, now in a convenient, outdoor activity friendly package – 20 minutes in an ice chest, and you’re good to go.
• Ninkasi Summer Bomber 4-packs are here, featuring exclusive Nuptiale Cream Ale + Radiant + Maiden in the Shade + Total Domination (and you save $$$).
• Grand Teton Grand Saison – next Cellar Reserve release, offering plenty of traditional flavors – spicy yeast character and noble hops overlaid on a light malt base.
• Sierra Nevada Ovila Saison – no tasting notes yet.
• Deschutes Cascade Ale – imagine Mirror Pond or even Twilight, but lighter and more refreshing, and you’re headed in the right direction for liquid relief from these summer days.
• Birrificio del Ducato L’Ultima Luna – Calvados barrel aged Italian Barley Wine that shows ample Calvados aromatics with a promise of booze (13+%) – pours smooth with a touch of carbonation, fruity with an overripe apricot finish – dessert beer worthy of some vanilla ice cream.
• Odell Brewing Woodcut #5 – oak-aged Belgian-style Quad – no tasting notes yet, but please read this release from head brewer Joe Mohrfeld:

As many of you who have had a single serve offering from us know, our single serve offerings are 100% bottle conditioned. This is a process that involves reintroducing yeast and wort to the beer before bottling to begin a secondary fermentation that produces all of the carbonation naturally in the bottle. We believe this process provides more complexities and fuller flavors for beers like Woodcut or Hiveranno than typical force carbonation. As a result of this process you will notice that carbonation levels in our single serve beers increase over time, especially when stored warm. Due to this increase in carbonation over time in the bottle we choose to release our single serve beers on the lower end of the carbonation range. After many sensory tastings of each particular beer during the bottling conditioning process we decide that a carbonation level is appropriate for that style of beer and release it to all of you. For our most recent releases, Hiveranno and Woodcut 5, we once again released them on the lower end of our acceptable carbonation levels knowing that if cellared warm the carbonation will continue to rise. Knowing that some people prefer lower carbonation levels for some styles and some prefer higher carbonation for the same styles we pick an acceptable range for each beer and release them when they reach that range. If you prefer a more prickly carbonation level you can cellar your Odell single serves warm and allow the flavors to develop and carbonation to increase, and if you like your beers slightly more English style on the lower end, keep them cold after purchase and drink them sooner.

The Saison/Farmhouse Ale style is catching on here in the area – Payette Brewing just released their Leaning Barn Summer Ale on draft around town.  It is another example of this style: light, quenching, with a fruit front and dry, slightly spicy finish – I’m still trying to figure out how to have only one!

Returning selections include: Lagunitas Undercover Shutdown Ale and Lucky 13, Epic Straight Up Saison and Sour Apple Saison, Uinta Dubhe Imperial Black IPA, Boulevard Zon (so refreshing and pleasurable to quaff), Full Sail LTD3 Pilsner, Rogue Somer Orange Honey, Abita Abbey Ale.

On to the events:

• Odell Brewing Sampling Event at the Piper Pub on Friday, July 8 at 5PM.
• Idaho Brewer’s Festival at Lakeview Park in Nampa, 7/8-7/10, offers a wonderful selection of brews from around the state.
• Thursday, 7/14 at the Boise Co-op Wine Shop: Cascade Lakes Brewing – 4:30-6PM (hoping for some limited releases to surprise you with).
• Saturday, 7/16 at the Ram – AHA Rally with Charlie Papazian. Come join the AHA and mingle with local homebrewers and internationally recognized author and “man who launched 10,000 homebrewers,” Charlie Papazian.  Relax, have a homebrew!

Speaking of which, I’m still sorting the last bits of the 4th Annual Organic Homebrew Contest, but I can tell you that Chris Hillman’s Dirty Hippie Hef took 1st Place and will be brewed by Payette Brewing in the coming months for release around town – hopefully in time for Oktoberfest (German style for a German-inspired event, just sayin’).

Thanks as always for reading.  Stay hydrated.

Cheers,

Matt the Beer Guy