Life On Tap

Dan pops another one from the New York State box: Druthers Brewing Company The Dare, a traditional gose that medalled a little while back.

STYLE: Gose
INGREDIENTS: Salt, coriander
ABV: 5.3%
IBU: N/A
AVAILABILITY: 16 oz cans/draft (Seasonal)

Stats above taken from the packaging/website/Untappd.

Translucent and super pale/straw yellow, with a white, fluffy head.

Impression of tartness followed by the coriander and saline note.

The pleasant tartness has a delayed hit, with graininess coming first followed by coriander and spice.

Light in body and mouthfeel and fairly dry, but balanced with the tart with soft carbonation.

This one is pretty true to style, which is how I can see it being a medal winner. Pairing-wise, I was feeling seafood with fish tacos hitting my mind first, but cheese can always be fun with gose.

Cheers and remember:

Life’s a tap…drink up ’til it’s dry.

All music on this show came to us from the now defunct Music Alley.
Intro: “Meet Me At The Bar” by The Beer Drinking Fools
Outtro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

The post Episode #467: The Dare appeared first on Life On Tap.

Surprise, surprise…an off-the-beaten-path style: baltic porter, care of Rockaway Brewing Company The Grin Reaper.

STYLE: Baltic Porter
INGREDIENTS: 2-row barley base with T. Fawcett amber malt, T. Fawcett Crystal Rye, T. Fawcett Brown Malt, Roasted Barley, and Black Malt; fermented with their house lager strain
ABV: 7.4%
IBU: N/A
AVAILABILITY: 12 oz cans/draft (Limited)

Stats above taken from the packaging/website/Untappd.

Super, deep, dark brown and almost black with a medium brown head, almost like root beer.

Dried fruit, roast coffee, toasted pumpernickel bread, with hints of cacao, dark chocolate shavings, and a kiss of ash/cinder.

Many aroma notes continue here, but an intense dark fruit note persists throughout, with that dark, crusty bread element meeting it, high-percentage cacao/chocolate, that ashiness, and medium-dark coffee roast on the finish.

Medium body and velvety mouthfeel with smooth carbonation that rolls across the palate.

I think you’re seeing a trend here…I like to sample less popular styles since I do not see them that often. Since this has some heft to it, heavyweight pairings are on the table, such as meats, poultry, charcuterie, cold cuts, or anything in that ilk, but I was craving a Mexican mole dish.

Cheers and remember:

Life’s a tap…drink up ’til it’s dry.

All music on this show came to us from the now defunct Music Alley.
Intro: “Meet Me At The Bar” by The Beer Drinking Fools
Outtro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

The post Episode #466: The Grin Reaper appeared first on Life On Tap.

Dan cracks another from Back Home Beer, this time a fruited, hazy IPA named Homeland with sumac and apple cider in the mix.

STYLE: Fruited IPA
INGREDIENTS: Sumac, apple cider
ABV: 6.5%
IBU: N/A
AVAILABILITY: 12 oz cans/draft (Limited)

Stats above taken from the packaging/website/Untappd.

Hazy, light/burnt yellow-orange with a white, foamy head and some lacing on the glass.

Apple skin hits first, followed by some sweet apple fruit and tartness from the sumac, and a little citrus/lime zest.

The apple skin, fruit, and juice hitting first, with the malt bill coming after.

Fairly dry, with soft carbonation and light to medium mouthfeel.

This one was very intriguing, as it balanced the line between a hazy IPA and a fruit beer. Pairing-wise, I was feeling a nut-crusted fish or a lighter meat that would complement the fruit and hop profile.

Cheers and remember:

Life’s a tap…drink up ’til it’s dry.

All music on this show came to us from the now defunct Music Alley.
Intro: “Meet Me At The Bar” by The Beer Drinking Fools
Outtro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

The post Episode #465: Homeland appeared first on Life On Tap.

Another brew from Back Home Beer? YES, PLEASE! Yalda Queen II comes in with watermelon and sumac to enhance this American Lager.

STYLE: American Lager (Fruited)
INGREDIENTS: Watermelon, sumac
ABV: 5.5%
IBU: N/A
AVAILABILITY: 12 oz cans/draft (Limited)

Stats above taken from the packaging/website/Untappd.

Medium gold with a little chill haze out of the fridge, with a white, pillowy/foamy head.

Sumac hits first with some wafts of tartness followed by watermelon juice.

Sweet watermelon fruit, a hint of tartness from the sumac, and balanced marriage of both worlds.

Lighter in body…dry, crisp, and refreshing with soft carbonation.

As I mentioned, I generally will pick up some of anything I see in the case from Back Home. I can’t wait until they find their space, as the plans they have truly embrace their community-driven values. Pairing-wise, this could go with a great many of lighter foods, such as rice-based dishes, some tagine entrees, and more.

Cheers and remember:

Life’s a tap…drink up ’til it’s dry.

All music on this show came to us from the now defunct Music Alley.
Intro: “Meet Me At The Bar” by The Beer Drinking Fools
Outtro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

The post Episode #464: Yalda Queen II appeared first on Life On Tap.

Dan loves that Oxbow continues to carry the torch for Brett and table beers, such as Again & Again: refreshing AND full-flavored.

STYLE: Table Beer
ABV: 3.5%
IBU: N/A
AVAILABILITY: 12 oz cans/draft (Limited)

Stats above taken from the packaging/website/Untappd.

A little hazy, straw yellow in color, some lacing, and a white, foamy head.

Citrus, lemon zest, and grass on the nose.

Zest continues first, with the grassiness coming in on the mid-palate to mix with some hints of tropical fruit notes and a hint of acidity with touch of hop bitterness on the finish.

Light-bodied, refreshing and moderately dry with foamy carbonation.

Table beers and Brett beers are not as in fashion, so I am glad that I have access to Oxbow and others who are carrying this delicious torch. Pairing-wise, I felt that this beer was so enjoyable and full of flavor on its own, but r chèvre and lighter dishes with a fresh or light spice elements.

Cheers and remember:

Life’s a tap…drink up ’til it’s dry.

All music on this show came to us from the now defunct Music Alley.
Intro: “Meet Me At The Bar” by The Beer Drinking Fools
Outtro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

The post Episode #463: Again & Again appeared first on Life On Tap.

Dan cracks another pull from a familiar brewery: Radiant Pig Craft Beers Mostly Human, a light, Kölsch-style ale.

STYLE: Kölsch
ABV: 4.6%
IBU: N/A
AVAILABILITY: 12 oz cans/draft (Limited)

Stats above taken from the packaging/website/Untappd.

Yellow/gold in color, very clear, with small bubble carbonation and some faint lacing on the glass.

Blend of crackery malt with floral/spicy/earthy/herbal notes from the hops.

Crackery malt leads with a sourdough-like sweetness in the mid-palate, subdued hop notes, and finishes with a slaty minerality.

Small-bubble carbonation opens to a foamy and soft mouthfeel and dry, crisp body.

In case you had not noticed, I am generally snagging less-well sought after styles, LOL. I think you need to go lighter on a pairing perspective here, like lighter cheeses, flatbreads with shaved red onion or shallot, or just crush it outside wherever you are.

Cheers and remember:

Life’s a tap…drink up ’til it’s dry.

All music on this show came to us from the now defunct Music Alley.
Intro: “Meet Me At The Bar” by The Beer Drinking Fools
Outtro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

The post Episode #462: Mostly Human appeared first on Life On Tap.

A porter not yet tasted? Dan is so in! This time, we have Frog Alley Brewing Captain Ellis Porter, laden with English malt and US hops.

STYLE: American Porter
ABV: 6.4%
IBU: 40
INGREDIENTS: English chocolate and crystal malts; US-grown Warrior and Centennial hops
AVAILABILITY: 16 oz cans/draft (Year-Round)

Stats above taken from the packaging/website/Untappd.

Super dark brown, almost black with some nice off color highlights and lacing, with a tan almost mahogany-colored head.

Roasted malt element leads with shaved dark chocolate and some hop resin notes.

The roasted element continues with a French espresso with a subdued hop resin finish.

Light to medium in body with foamy carbonation and soft mouthfeel.

I love me some porter for sure, so I usually will snag one I haven’t tried if I see it. Pairing-wise, I was going pub burger or barbecue and other items of that ilk like stewed meats.

Cheers and remember:

Life’s a tap…drink up ’til it’s dry.

All music on this show came to us from the now defunct Music Alley.
Intro: “Meet Me At The Bar” by The Beer Drinking Fools
Outtro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

The post Episode #461: Captain Ellis Porter appeared first on Life On Tap.

Dan sees yet another rare style, altbier, and snags it as well: Artisans of Astoria from Singlecut in celebration of/with Steinway & Sons.

STYLE: Altbier
ABV: 5.2%
IBU: N/A
AVAILABILITY: 16 oz cans/draft (Limited)
COLLABORATION: Steinway & Sons

Stats above taken from the can/website/Untappd.

Beautiful, deep orange with hints of amber with a small, off-white head.

Rich, hearty breadcrust from a multigrain bread for days.

Untoasted breadcrust, a hint of fruitiness, and a gentle, floral hop presence.

Lighter in body with a creamy mouthfeel and soft carbonation.

Altbier is yet another style that I so rarely see, so I naturally picked this up. Pairing-wise, I would trend lighter with mild to medium cheeses or a Bavarian pretzel with fix-ins.

Cheers and remember:

Life’s a tap…drink up ’til it’s dry.

All music on this show came to us from the now defunct Music Alley.
Intro: “Meet Me At The Bar” by The Beer Drinking Fools
Outtro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

The post Episode #460: Artisans of Astoria appeared first on Life On Tap.

Dan saw Transmitter Brewing BNY7: Steam Beer, and had to snag this California Common to enjoy, since it doesn’t come around often.

STYLE: California Common
ABV: 5.4%
IBU: N/A
AVAILABILITY: 16 oz cans/draft (Limited)

Stats above taken from the can/website/Untappd.

Beautiful, deep amber and fairly clear with a frothy, off-white head and some lacing on the glass.

Toasted bread crust with earthy and floral hop notes.

Malt-forward, with toasted multigrain bread with crust leading with some faint hop notes.

Almost medium body with a smooth mouthfeel, and soft and foamy carbonation.

California Common is yet another style that I so rarely see that I will usually snag at least one. I was feeling pizza at the time for pairing, but it is a fairly accessible style and can go with a number of foods.

Cheers and remember:

Life’s a tap…drink up ’til it’s dry.

All music on this show came to us from the now defunct Music Alley.
Intro: “Meet Me At The Bar” by The Beer Drinking Fools
Outtro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

The post Episode # 459: BNY7 appeared first on Life On Tap.

Dan cracks and mentally transports himself to the French countryside with his second French-Style Pilsner ever, Wayward Lane Brewing’s Sanson.

STYLE: French-Style Pilsner
ABV: 4.8%
IBU: N/A
AVAILABILITY: 16 oz cans/draft (Limited)

Stats above taken from the can/website/Untappd.

Crystal clear, straw yellow in color, with a white, healthy, foamy head.

Bread, flour, and spicy European hops.

Super clean, crisp, with a stoney minerality, breadstick, and an earthy hop note.

Fairly dry, light in body and on the mouthfeel, with foamy carbonation.

This is my second French-Style Pilsner, as I had my first for Episode # 450: Fur-Bearing Trout. I want to drink a few of these outside on a porch or at a picnic or barbecue. Pairing-wise, goat cheese flatbread hit my mind first, but generally lighter fare with shallots or rustic French favorites would fit.

Cheers and remember:

Life’s a tap…drink up ’til it’s dry.

All music on this show came to us from the now defunct Music Alley.
Intro: “Meet Me At The Bar” by The Beer Drinking Fools
Outtro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

The post Episode # 458: Sanson appeared first on Life On Tap.