Beer Trading Extras

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Administrator

I’m a beer trader but I’m still a little bit on the fence on the right or wrong of it all. On the wrong side, rare beer has widely become a trading chip and it isn’t uncommon in traders to buy beer solely for its trade value. Yes, I feel a little guilt as my collecting and trading actions may very well keep other locals from actually drinking the beer. Right or wrong, I brush off the guilt by accepting that the competition for rare beer among enthusiasts, collectors or traders is a win some, lose some proposition. For me, the guilt washes away as I visualize the memory of someone else taking that last four-pack of Epitome right in front of me just moments after missing out on the last Bourbon County Vanilla Rye on Black Friday. I just chalk it up to scoring the next time – because there certainly will be a next time.

On the positive side, there are so many craft beers that have limited distribution that the trading takes on the same feel as someone that is a collector of rare items. Frankly, I look at this blog as my collection. I can’t save a bottle of beer forever but I can certainly catalog it. There is a certain thrill in acquiring the difficult to find.

Along with acquiring the trophies for the collection comes the opportunity to try some other limited quantity or lesser known beer that come in the form of beer trading extras. These are “throw-ins” to trades and are typically beer that wouldn’t be found in your trade partner’s state. They aren’t meant to even out deals, it’s just the generosity of the trade partners and it adds to the Christmas morning feel of receiving a package.

The following are a beer trading extras that I’ve received over the last month or so…

Valor – a Red Ale by 14th Star Brewing, Saint Albans, Vermont
Tasting: April 9, 2015
Style: Red Ale
Beer #: 724
ABV: 5.4%

Came as a bonus in a trade in which I acquired four fresh Lawson’s Sip of Sunshine. I like that a portion of the proceeds collected in the sale of this beer go to help Purple Heart Reunited. This organization works to return medals of valor to servicemen.

Delivers on the advertised happiness. IBU is listed as 40 (light) and that seems about right. Bitterness might be a little clunky but it delivers a nice mellow caramel. Has its flaws but a really an easy drinking beer. I’ll put Valor at 85 points.

Bourbon Barrel Stout Clay Street Series BBC by Bluegrass Brewing

Tasting: April 9, 2015
Style: Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout
Beer #: 725
ABV: 8.6%

Bluegrass Brewing Clay Street Bourbon Barrel Stout BBC

Acquired as another beer trading extras in a deal that saw me acquire Bo & Luke by Against the Grain. This may very well be the worst beer I’ve ever had. I think it’s infected as I’m sure the bourbon barrel didn’t lend the cider and musty basement flavors. Drain pour – 59 points.

Woodsmaster by Short’s Brewing

Tasting: April 9, 2015
Style: Ale
Beer #: 726
ABV: 9.5%

Clove of the yeast encroaches on the opening flavors. Seems a bit off a little butterscotch. Boozy and I don’t taste the advertised maple syrup or pecans. Tastes like a mediocre home brew. 72 points.

Trippa (Triple Rice Imperial India Pale Ale) by Kuhnhenn Brewing

Tasting: April 11, 2015
Style: Imperial IPA
Beer #: 727
ABV: 12.25%

This one came as a bonus in a trade that saw a couple of other Kuhnhenn legends (4D and Solstice) come back my way. The unfortunate thing is that as a bonus beer, I can’t complain that this bottle is just about six months old. I’m sure the hop dropped out of it as this bottle comes across sweet and boozy hot with only some residual hop resin. On the plus side, I like a sweet boozy IPA. I’ll peg Trippa at a pleasant 90 points.

Spotted Cow by New Glarus

Tasting: April 11, 2015
Style: Cream Ale
Beer #: 728
ABV: 4.8%

I cringe when I think of cream ale. It brings back too many memories of buying cases of Genesee Cream Ale for $7 a case back when we were in high school. Yes, I’m that old.

Spotted Cow is a bit yeasty some lemon, creamy textured, clunky in bitterness. It’s mediocre at best 82 points but still better than Genesee Cream Ale.

Winter Wheat by High Point Brewing

Tasting: April 14, 2015
Style: Wheat
Beer #: 729
ABV: 9.5%

Ramstein Winter Wheat by High Point Wheat Beer Company

Since I’m writing about the give and take of bonus beer – here’s a beer that I included as a bonus in my last trade. High Point Brewing has been making world class German-style beer for about twenty years and they release beer under the brand – Ramstein. They are located about two miles from house and these bottles don’t wander very far from the brewery. It is as local as a local bonus gets. This bottle of Winter Wheat was given a perfect score by the Alstrom Brothers, founders of the Beer Advocate website.

Mellow roasted flavors over some mild cocoa. Some black cherry and blackberry notes as well. Very smooth and drinkable and the lack of any heat makes the 9.5% alcohol a dangerous factor. I have to admit I was surprised as the style isn’t in my wheelhouse but a very solid 89 from yours truly.

Read Beer Advocate review of High Point Brewing

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Destihl Brewing Abbey’s Single & Hoperation Overload

Posted on June 18, 2014 by Administrator

About twenty years ago, a co-worker told me that his uncle was starting a micro brewery somewhere in Illinois. The uncle was looking for a way to make his beer unique amongst the then new wave of offerings from other first generational craft brewers. My suggestion to him (via his nephew) was to put his craft beer in cans. My rationale was that the can is a better beer package. Why? — light is beer’s enemy and can turn hops “skunky”; cans don’t create dangerous chards or tears of disappointment when dropped. To boot, aluminum chills beer faster. I also argued that no other craft brewer was offering canned beer and that his beer would stand out on shelves. I lost contact with the nephew but occasionally I’ll wonder if the uncle is successful and running a renowned brewery.

Well, here we are twenty years later and it seems that I was a visionary – every week comes news of a new craft brewery offering their wares in cans. This beer is from a small Illinois brewery called DESTIHL (my friend’s uncle?? – who knows). These both were bonus beers in a trade with Matt from Illinois.

Destihl Brewing Abbey’s Single

Tasting: June 18, 2014
Style: Belgian Ale
Beer # 548

Not much to say here, Abbey’s Single is a bit of a disjointed mess. Yeasty out of the gate and an onslaught of clunky bitterness. Doesn’t resemble citric or herbal bitterness – just bitterness. Maybe a wisp of black pepper. Yeasty aftertaste. Sorry, but down the drain at 68 points.

Destihl Hoperation Overload

Tasting: June 18, 2014
Style: Imperial IPA
Beer # 549

Whew! This one is better. I couldn’t see dumping two down the drain in back to back succession. Hoperation Overload is actually a pleasant surprise with a rich and creamy initial pop. Also noticeable upfront is a stiff malt backbone of caramel. Amazingly flavorful. Hops aren’t as pleasant as I’d like and frankly, they also have a clunky bitterness ala Abbey’s Single. Not a bad double IPA – 88 points.

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Last Chance IPA Weyerbacher

Posted on January 4, 2014 by Administrator

Last Chance IPA

Tasting: January 4, 2014
Style: IPA (sessionable)
Beer #: 510

Late last summer, a friend and his family were in town to see their eldest son off to college in NYC. We hosted a small dinner party and had an awesome time filling in the gaps since we last got together. On his arrival, my friend handed me a six pack of Last Chance IPA from Weyerbacher and he commented that he didn’t know what to buy, comparing the experience to buying golf clubs for Tiger Woods.

I’ve said this countless times about wine – and the same holds true for beer, “enjoying it with good company improves the opinion”. In this case – even the best company did not elevate Last Chance IPA. So, here we are months later with three lone bottles nested in my beer fridge. I’ve probably opened the door two-hundred times since then and haven’t had the desire to have one – nor have I offered one to anyone else.

Before I make the drink or dump decision, I’ll give Last Chance IPA one last chance. Up front, I’ll say that I like that this is a “cause” beer. Weyerbacher donates proceeds to rescue animal facilities. Regardless of my opinion of this particular beer, Weyerbacher is an outstanding brewer with a number of quality beers and I respect their efforts to help a worthy cause.

One other note – Last Chance IPA is another entry in the burgeoning category of “sessionable” beers. Sessionable meaning – moderate in alcohol by volume (ABV) so that one might enjoy a few over the course of an evening and still remain upright. Typically, these brews lack a solid malt base (needed for the higher ABV) and are over hopped – thus creating a one-dimensional beer. I guess if I had to pick amongst drinking a bud, drinking a sessionable beer or abstaining – I guess the choice would have to be the sessionable beer. Luckily, I haven’t been painted into that corner.

Pours a bright orange and you can’t help but notice the pungent hop aroma. Fizzy with a very clunky bitterness right out of the gate. I don’t pick up any citrus – just astringent bitterness very herbal. Really not much flavor or depth other than the bitterness. 69 points. I guess it’s the drain for the bunch.

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Kuka Banana Nut Andean Brewing

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Administrator

Tasting:June 13, 2013
Style: Fruit (Banana)
Beer #: 473

Kuka Banana Nut: Maca has been cultivated in South America for thousands of years. Its value as a food crop for the indigenous people of countries like Peru comes from its ability to grow in the poor soil conditions and low temperatures that are found in the higher elevations of the Andes Mountains. Maca has found its way to holistic medicine as a treatment for an iodine deficiency called hypothyroidism. However, the real herbal marketing push for maca comes in its claims that it boosts libido and increases male fertility. A limited clinical trial showed a wisp of evidence to back up the aphrodisiac claim. It also seems that glucosinolates found in Maca also produce side effects like goiters – swollen thyroid glands. A real risk-reward proposition.

A little more than three thousand five hundred miles from Peru is the Andean Brewing Company, located in Blauvelt, New York. Andean aims to unite ancient Andean ingredients and craft beer. Each label in Andean’s stable seems to include maca root as a featured ingredient.

Dave sent me out looking for Kuka. Even though I love the conquest of trying to find the hard to find, this one wasn’t much of a challlenge as it started appearing on shelves within a week after he laid out the challenge. They had a bit of a stumble at their initial launch last year as bottles were exploding on shelves. After a re-boot, they are back.

Only 5.5% ABV. Pours a dark brown with a strong shot of banana aroma. The banana translates in the flavor right up front but it gets phony and artificial soon after. Flavors in the middle are a bit muddled the best I can draw out under the phony banana is a little hazelnut and cocoa, but it gets overrun with an odd bitter finish that leaves a funky aftertaste. Frankly, I’m not enjoying this at all – time to go and re-boot my own beer choice for the evening. 65 points.

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Category Archives: Ratings: 60 – 69

Beer Trading Extras

Destihl Brewing Abbey’s Single & Hoperation Overload

Last Chance IPA Weyerbacher

Kuka Banana Nut Andean Brewing