Life On Tap

Earlier in the pandemic, Dan cracks another one via a beer exchange from Wisconsin: Eagle Park Strawberry Puree.

Eagle Park Brewing Company Strawberry Puree

STYLE: Overfruited Sour AleINGREDIENTS: Strawberry puree, vanilla, and marshmallowABV: 6.0%AVAILABILITY: 16-Ounce Can, DraftStats above taken from the brewery can.

Appearance

Thick, hazy, and very reminiscent of Snapple Kiwi Strawberry in color: pink and mauve.

Aroma

Straight up virgin strawberry daiquiri. Vanilla with a hint of marshmallow sugar. Reminds me of the strawberry candies with the drawn strawberry on the outside…you know the ones you found at various businesses, doctors offices, or even your grandma’s place.

Taste

Strawberry smoothie transitioning into candy. The tartness cuts the sweetness to make this inherently adds to the quaffability.

Mouthfeel

Soft, supple, and glides across like a freshly-juiced smoothie.

Overall

Laura had said to open it over the sink, but I had let it settle in the fridge post-shipping and successfully completed a slow release. Pairing-wise, I definitely favor dessert: complement strawberry shortcake or mixed berries with sabayon or paint your palate with cheesecake. I guess you could also try it with a salad with strawberries as well.Many thanks again to Laura H. in Daddy Porter’s Beer Group for the share.

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

Earlier in the pandemic, Dan cracks open a collaboration from Hacienda Beer Co., Psychedelic Boss Battle, via a beer exchange from Wisconsin.

Hacienda Beer Company Psychedelic Boss Battle

COLLABORATOR: Maplewood Brewing Company (Chicago, IL)STYLE: Rocky Road-Inspired Imperial Stout (Double Mash)ADJUNCTS: Marshmallows, cacao, almond flavoringABV: 14.0%AVAILABILITY: 16-Ounce CanStats above taken from the brewery can.

Appearance

Deep, dark brown, with a lovely, Tan head.

Aroma

Chocolate and fudge, almost brownie off the bat. Almond extract mixes with toasted marshmallow to give the Rocky Road impression.

Taste

Rollercoaster of flavor, with the sweetness peaking in the third quarter. Chocolate, followed by dark chocolate nibs, marshmallow following interspersing with some nuttiness. The aftertaste is the last scoop/bite of Rocky Road at the bottom of a cup/cone.

Mouthfeel

Big and mouthcoating with residual sugar.

Overall

This is best to share given its high ABV. Dessert within itself, but could go with a Bavarian Creme donut or cheesecake. Savory-wise, it would be interesting to try with a coffee-rubbed steak. Many thanks again to Laura H. in Daddy Porter’s Beer Group for the share.

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

Earlier in the pandemic, Dan cracks open another from Working Draft Beer Company, Hindsight, via a beer exchange from Wisconsin.

Working Draft Beer Company Hindsight (Chapter 4)

STYLE: German PilsnerINGREDIENTS: Pilsner malt, Hallertau and Tettnang hopsABV: 4.8%AVAILABILITY: 16-Ounce CanStats above taken from the brewery can.

Appearance

Medium yellow with a big-bubbled, white head.

Aroma

German pilsner notes: bready, hint of biscuit, with an earthy, noble hop aroma.

Taste

Crisp, bready with a hint of toasty malt note in the mid-palate, and a nice minerality on the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel

Light and dry with a kiss of hops on the refreshing finish.

Overall

German fare of brats, spaetzle come to mind, but a lot could go nicely with this. Many thanks again to Laura H. in Daddy Porter’s Beer Group for the share.

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

Earlier in the pandemic, Dan cracks open Eagle Park Brewing Company’s Set List IPA, via a beer exchange from Wisconsin.

Eagle Park Brewing Company Set List

STYLE: American IPAINGREDIENTS: Three malts, three hopsABV: 6.5%AVAILABILITY: 16-Ounce CanStats above taken from the brewery website.

Appearance

Light orange, hazy, with a beautiful, fluffy head.

Aroma

Tropical: mango, passionfruit, a little guava. A little fresh pine and navel orange note behind all that.

Taste

Citrus and tropical juice meet underripe fruit, with some resin, pine, and a hint of citrus zest towards the finish. Reminiscent of Five Alive for those who have had it.

Mouthfeel

Moderately dry and smooth across the palate.

Overall

To pair? Seafood for me…soft shell crab for starters with some lighter fare. I honestly can see me kicking back on a porch or patio just enjoying this one. Many thanks again to Laura H. in Daddy Porter’s Beer Group for the share.

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

Earlier in the pandemic, Dan cracks open Working Draft Beer Company’s Above Ground Pool (Chapter 2), via a beer exchange from Wisconsin.

Working Draft Beer Company Above Ground Pool (Chapter 2)

STYLE: American Light LagerHOPS: HallertauABV: 3.4%AVAILABILITY: 12-Ounce CanStats above taken from the brewery website.

Appearance

Light straw/gold, super clear, white fluffy head.

Aroma

Noble hop aroma, earthiness, herbality, bready almost crackery yeast element.

Taste

Crispboi! Crisp, dry, easy-drinking. 1 Liter Stein, please! Good balance and restraint between the noble hops and malt.

Mouthfeel

Light and smooth and goes down easy.

Overall

Very approachable and sessionable. Definitely want this with German beer hall food, so bring out the brats, spaetzle, 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 FoolsOuttro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

Earlier during the pandemic, Dan tasted another NY beer, Arrowood Trickster, an earthy/roasty dark lager that he picked up with a TapRm order.

Arrowood Farm Brewery Trickster

STYLE: Dark LagerINGREDIENTS: chocolate wheat with coffee, Light Munich, pilsner, and Vienna malts; NY Mt. Hood and Perle hops; foraged Chaga mushrooms, maple syrup; house lager yeastABV: 4.7%AVAILABILITY: Draft and Occasional 12-Ounce Can (LIMITED RELEASE)Stats above taken from the Arrowood Farm Brewery website.

Appearance

Beautiful, medium/dark brown beer with a very effervescent, off-white head.

Aroma

Earthiness, roastiness, with a hint of carob.

Taste

Roast and earthy elements continues on the palate, with a hint of chocolate and maple sweetness ending in a clean, dry finish.

Mouthfeel

Supple mouthfeel, accentuating the earthy and roasty notes from the malt and Chagas.

Overall

Mushroom in begs for mushroom in a dish. Mushroom-based stew or even a cheesesteak with mushroom and peppers is where my mind went. Another tasty one from Arrowood…snag it if you can. Again, I would love to see the brewery in the post-pandemic future.

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

Earlier in the pandemic, Dan cracks open Young Blood Beer Co’s Fiscally Responsible Florida Man, the first in a beer exchange from Wisconsin.

Young Blood Beer Co. Fiscally Responsible Florida Man

STYLE: SaisonADDITIONS: Lemongrass, lime zest, pink peppercornsABV: 4.5%AVAILABILITY: 16-Ounce Can (Limited Release)

Appearance

Hazy/unfiltered, dark/burnt yellow with a big fluffy, white head.

Aroma

Lime zest leads off with lemongrass wrapping up.

Taste

Lime zest and lemongrass continue towards a clean finish with a hint of peppercorns.

Mouthfeel

Lighter on the palate with a soft, pleasant carbonation.

Overall

Fish or cactus tacos with a pasano aioli would rock with this. This is one you can definitely enjoy a few of over a meal, at the pool/beach/party. Whether or not an actually fiscally responsible Florida man would actually taste like this, that’s up for debate. Thanks again to Laura H. in the Daddy Porter’s Beer Group for sharing.

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

Earlier during the pandemic, Dan tasted Ebbs IPA No. 1, an intriguing, hazy, and floral IPA brewed in Brooklyn that was in a TapRm order.

Ebbs IPA No. 1

STYLE: India Pale Ale (IPA)ABV: 6.0%AVAILABILITY: 16-Ounce Can (Year-Round)

Appearance

Hazy, brilliant yellow with a lacy, white head.

Aroma

Mixture of various flowers with geraniums leading with a muddled pineapple-esque note.

Taste

Floral notes continues along with the muddled pineapple now in juice form and fairly dry.

Mouthfeel

Lighter on the palate with pleasant carbonation.

Overall

Lighter fish and salads on the savory side, with banana bread and similar fruit/nut-based recipes on the sweeter side. Definitely an intriguing and more modern/alternative take on hazy IPA

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

Earlier during the pandemic, Dan tried Dutchess Ales Arcadia, a tasty spring pale ale that was in a TapRm order.

Duthchess Ales Arcadia

STYLE: Spring Pale AleINGREDIENTS: Floor-malted US and UK malts, oats, wheat & dry hopped with fresh Sultana & Falconer’s FlightABV: 5.2%IBU: 25AVAILABILITY: 16-Ounce Can (Spring Seasonal Release)Stats above taken from the brewery website.

Appearance

Hazy, medium yellow with a gorgeous, white head.

Aroma

Lemon from the hops up front with an overripe and dried mango.

Taste

Just off-dry with fruit overtones on top of the malt bill. It reminds me of lemon-based custard and a hint of fresh herbality on the finish.

Mouthfeel

Soft, supple mouthfeel with a light, fluffy carbonation.

Overall

As per the the style, I would say this is a verdant beer, and it evokes a sort of rebirth of life that occurs with the spring season. I would love to have this with an herb-rubbed branzino or other flaky fish. Trying this with fondue might also be a fun pairing.

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

Earlier during the pandemic, Dan tasted Greenpoint Beer & Ale Company’s Constant Reassurance, a juicy oat pale ale that was in a TapRm order.

Greenpoint Beer & Ale Co. Constant Reassurance

STYLE: Oat Pale AleINGREDIENTS: Oats added to the grain bill, plus Mandarina Bavaria, Mosaic, and Hallertau Blanc hopsABV: 4.8%AVAILABILITY: 16-Ounce Can (LIMITED RELEASE)Stats above taken from the brewery website.

Appearance

Hazy, dark yellow/light burnt orange with a fluffy white head.

Aroma

Tangerine up front with mandarin orange backup and a hint of overripe papaya.

Taste

Tropical rollercoaster with a citrus passenger. Papaya note from earlier mixes with underripe mango, tangerine, and other citrus. The lactose is gently-used here.

Mouthfeel

Smooth and round with an almost vinous-like quality, possibly care of the lactose.

Overall

Seafood for sure. Your choice of fish, shrimp, soft shell, etc. Fried fish tacos for a more casual feel to balance with the juice/hop presence.

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