Life On Tap

Dan samples a GABF-award winning, sessionable American Pale Ale, Maplewood Charlatan, care of @daver earlier during the pandemic.

Maplewood Brewery and Distillery Charlatan

STYLE: American Pale AleINGREDIENTS: 2-Row, Light Munich, Dextrin, Caramalt, White Wheat; Warrior, Centennial, Amarillo, and Citra hopsABV: 6.1%IBU: 35AVAILABILITY: 16-Ounce Can (Limited)NOTES: 2018 and 2016 Medal Winner in the American Pale Ale category at GABFStats above taken from the brewery’s can and website.

Appearance

Medium yellow, with a great, thick, white head.

Aroma

Blend of pine and citrus from the hops ending with lemon, lime, and tangerine zest.

Taste

Balance is perfect here…the hop notes continue forward but are in unison with the clean flavor of the malt bill and yeast.

Mouthfeel

Soft mouthfeel and carbonation and not too heavy or light.

Overall

Super sessionable and would pair with almost anything you throw at it. I could definitely see this being a regular in my fridge if I lived in Chicago. I also loved the iconesque top hat on the can, which reminded me of the Noah from D.Grayman anime/manga.

Thank you so much to Dave aka @daver for sharing this during the pandy.

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 FoolsOuttro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

Dan downs Bingo Beer Co Dry Crispy, a rice lager with Hüell Melon and Lemondrop hops, care of @RVABeermeister earlier during the pandemic.

Bingo Beer Co Dry Crispy

STYLE: Rice LagerINGREDIENTS: Koji rice, barley; Hüell Melon and Lemondrop hopsABV: 4.4%IBU: 18AVAILABILITY: 16-Ounce Can (Limited)NOTES: Collaboration with North American Sake Brewery and Chef Adam Hall of SaisonStats above taken from the brewery’s can and website.

Appearance

Light, clear, straw yellow with a fluffy, white head.

Aroma

Lemon essence oil mixed with a hint of underripe honeydew melon.

Taste

Delicate balance between the rice/barley and the hops presenting with a nice minerality and slightly fruity finish.

Mouthfeel

Super dry and crisp on the palate with a pleasant, soft carbonation.

Overall

This rice lager is pretty true to style and immensely sessionable. If this was available, I would totally have these outside at picnics, barbecues, pool, beach, or concert venue for sure. Pair it with whatever you like, though I bet it would kill with Japanese food.

Thank you so much to Sterling aka @RVABeermeister for sharing this during the pandy.

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 FoolsOuttro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

Somehow, during the height of the pandemic, Dan snags a can of Trillium Brewing Mettle, which he enjoys while dreaming of a chicken sandwich.

Trillium Brewing Mettle

STYLE: American Double IPAINGREDIENTS: American 2 Row Barley, White Wheat, C-15; Amarillo, Citra hopsABV: 8.9%IBU: N/AAVAILABILITY: Draft, 16-Ounce Can (Year Round)Stats above taken from the brewery’s can and website.

Appearance

Medium yellow and hazy as all…you know.

Aroma

Orange juice concentrate meets a grape juice note.

Taste

Nice, fruity character with a hint of hop bitterness on the finish.

Mouthfeel

Soft, gliding across the tongue with a slightly off-dry finish.

Overall

Glad I was able to snag a can of this during the height of the pandemic. This can pair with quite a few different dishes, but I was craving a spiced, chicken sandwich at the time. This beer is a classic from Trillium, and I hope I can snag another can (or more) soon.

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 FoolsOuttro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

Dan says goodbye and “L’chaim” while reflecting on Passover themes with a final can of Schmaltz Brewing Company Exodus 2021.

Shmaltz Brewing Company Exodus 2021 (A Farewell to Shmaltz)

STYLE: BarleywineINGREDIENTS: Date, fig, pomegranate, grapesABV: 8.5%IBU: 50AVAILABILITY: 16-Ounce Can (Limited)Stats above taken from the brewery’s can.

Appearance

Deep, ruby red with a foamy, off-white to beige head.

Aroma

All the fruit from the ingredients (not much grape) with a nice sweet, burnt sugar note from malt.

Taste

Fruit sweetness merges with the malt, but a subtle hop bitterness creeps up a little on the finish.

Mouthfeel

Mouthcoating with a little oil texture with super soft carbonation.

Overall

This is it…the final beer from Shmaltz. As stated in this and the previous episode, they have been around and part of my drinking life, and they will be missed. If you have enjoyed their beers, I hope you have an opportunity to raise your glass and say, “L’chaim” once more.

Pairing-wise, I feel something a little gamey would be nice…lamb, goat, maybe even some venison. Some well-spiced tagine dishes would also be mega fun.

Thanks once again to Jeremy Cowan and Shmaltz for this final can of their brew!

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 FoolsOuttro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

In Part 1 of an appropriately-timed send-off, Dan picks up a final can of Schmaltz Brewing Company Bittersweet Lenny’s RIPA.

Shmaltz Brewing Company Bittersweet Lenny’s RIPA (Final Engagement)

STYLE: Double Dry Hopped Rye Double IPA (unfiltered)INGREDIENTS: Insane amount of malt and hopsABV: 8.5%AVAILABILITY: 16-Ounce Can (Limited)Stats above taken from the brewery’s can.

Appearance

Burnt orange burgeoning on red with a foamy, off-white head.

Aroma

Piney, dusty, earthy, resiny with a nice sweet, syrupy malt backbone.

Taste

Hop notes continue to lead on the palate, providing a nice bite with that syrup-like sweetness to meet it.

Mouthfeel

Mouthcoating with soft carbonation providing an impression of booziness.

Overall

This is nostalgia in a glass for me. Aroma and flavors bring me back to the days at the Old LOT Compound with the fam, friends, and correspondents tasting through brews. Pairing-wise, I wanted to go either buffalo, BBQ, or Thai Chile wings, though a pulled chicken or brisket sandwich would be fun too.

Stay tuned for Part 2!

Cheers and thanks to Jeremy Cowan and Shmaltz for this final can of this brew!

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 FoolsOuttro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

Care of “friends on tap”, Paige and Rick Didora, Dan dreams of being on a boat with this brew: Bent Paddle Brewing Company Venture Pils.

Bent Paddle Brewing Co. Venture Pils

STYLE: Pilsener LagerINGREDIENTS: Pilsener, 2-Row, Carafoam, Acidulated malt; German Tradition, Mandarina Bavaria, Sterling hopsABV: 5.0%IBU: 38AVAILABILITY: Draft, 12-Ounce Can (Year Round)Stats above taken from the brewery’s can and website.

Appearance

Clear, straw yellow in color with a tight-bubbled, white head.

Aroma

Earthy, floral, grainy from the blend of noble and other hops.

Taste

Clean, crisp, with a refreshing minerality possibly from their water profile.

Mouthfeel

Refreshing, light, and crisp with a fairly dry finish.

Overall

On a boat or off, this is a highly sessionable beer. Clearly this would pair with some lovely German fare, but I was craving a meat-based pizza or a shredded barbecue sandwich at the time of tasting. That being said, this brew would be pretty versatile with whatever is on your plate.

Cheers and thanks to Paige and Rick Didora for this brew!

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 FoolsOuttro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

Care of “friend on tap”, Charles Bockway of Brilliant Stream, Dan perks up with a coffee-infused pilsner: Big Timber Brewing Logger Joe.

Big Timber Brewing Logger Joe

STYLE: Coffee-infused pilsnerINGREDIENTS: Cold brew Guatemalan coffeeABV: 4.9%IBU: 35AVAILABILITY: 16-Ounce Can (Limited)Stats above taken from the brewery’s can.

Appearance

Dark golden in color with a generous, white head.

Aroma

Coffee leads off with a blend of earthy and flowery elements as well.

Taste

Coffee effortlessly glides between the pilsner malt and the gentle, earthy hop notes.

Mouthfeel

Refreshing, crisp, and light on the palate with a dry finish.

Overall

Paging all brunch beers! I would love to lead off with this there, as it is a bit on the lighter side, but the coffee note (I feel) makes it appropriate to drink before noon after a beermosa or Bloody Mary. Also pair it with poultry or wild fowl, cheese (Barely Buzzed for sure), and whatever you pair with pilsner.

Cheers and thanks to Charles at Brilliant Stream for this brew!

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 FoolsOuttro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

Care of “friend on tap”, Beer from VA, Dan pops open a refreshing gose perfect with tacos: Precarious Beer Project Lit Fam.

Precarious Beer Project Lit Fam

STYLE: GoseINGREDIENTS: Tomatillo, Lime, Sea SaltABV: 5.0%AVAILABILITY: 16-Ounce Can (Limited)Stats above taken from the brewery’s can.

Appearance

Beautiful, medium burnt yellow with a small, off-white head.

Aroma

Intense blend of lime juice, pith, and zest with the tomatillo.

Taste

Zesty and zippy lime takes to the forefront with a nice, bracing acidity.

Mouthfeel

Light mouthfeel with a pleasant level of carbonation to add to the food-friendliness.

Overall

100% a taco beer, but totally can work with other Mexican fare or other fish/seafood dishes. The fact that they used so much fruit and even added the lime skins in the hopback definitely lends to the different layers in the beer

Cheers and thanks to Hamilton and Michelle at Beer from VA for this brew!

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 FoolsOuttro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

Dan opens up his last beer ever from Folksbier, Sif, a session ale/table beer featuring Nordic strain Kveik yeast.

Folksbier Sif

STYLE: Table Beer/Session AleINGREDIENTS: Voss Kveik YeastABV: 4.7%AVAILABILITY: 12-Ounce Can (Limited)Stats above taken from the brewery’s can.

Appearance

Bright but hazy, straw to medium yellow in hue, with a cloud-like head.

Aroma

Similar to saison aroma with citrus as the focus with ruby red and a splash of clementine.

Taste

Citrus hop character leads with a nice “wheatiness” following up, finishing with a delicate but pleasing minerality.

Mouthfeel

The malt provides a nice chewiness that along with the soft carbonation, accentuates the weight of the beer on the palate.

Overall

Light, sessionable, food-friendly. Pair with appetizers like Thai Chili wings, fried calamari with a sweet chili aioli, or others that pair well with American wheat beers.

Cheers once again and thanks to the fine folks at Folksbier for their contributions to craft beer in NYC and beyond.

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 FoolsOuttro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

Dan picks up an experimental wheat IPA – Folksbier Kia Ora, which features experimental hop blend NZL-32-2 from Freestyle Hops in New Zealand.

Folksbier Kia Ora

STYLE: Experimental Wheat IPAINGREDIENTS: Experimental hop blend NZL-32-2 from Freestyle Hops (NZ)ABV: 6.0%IBU: N/AAVAILABILITY: 12-Ounce Can (Limited)Stats above taken from the brewery’s can.

Appearance

Hazy, medium to dark yellow, with a moderate white head.

Aroma

Wild nose with huge lime juice, zest, and rind notes a la lime spritzer.

Taste

Lime continues onto the palate with faint bitterness and lime “foam”.

Mouthfeel

Spritzy with a full, gliding mouthfeel from the wheat.

Overall

Calling all shrimp dishes for pairing! The spritzer element lends itself to cutting through any fat or spice flavors and will provide the “scrubbing bubbles” effect.

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 FoolsOuttro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers