Life On Tap

Dan pops another brew from a recent haul: Miles, The Prince Trudy, a Dortmunder/Export Lager, from an unfortunately closed brewpub.

STYLE: Dortmunder/Export Lager
ABV: 5.6%
IBU: N/A
AVAILABILITY: 16 oz. cans (While they last?)
SPECIAL NOTE: Brewpub officially closed 11/30/2024

Stats above taken from the brewery’s can.

Gold in color with a beautiful, white, fluffy head.

Earthy, floral, and herbal notes from the hop bill with some grainy/biscuity malt and hint of minerality.

Grain/biscuit notes continue on the palate, with the minerality and herbs hitting late and on the finish.

Soft carbonation accentuates the notes from the palate and mouthfeel.

I could definitely see kicking back a few of these pretty easily. A nice, warm Bavarian pretzel would be perfect with this, though memories of cheese curds (when I could still have them) linger as well.

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 # 397: Trudy appeared first on Life On Tap.

Dan has another brew from a recent haul: Dutchess Ales Volpe, an Italian Pilsner with Spalter Select, Hallertau Mittelfrüh and Saphir hops.

STYLE: Italian Pilsner
INGREDIENTS: Pilsner malt; Spalter Select, Hallertau Mittelfrüh and Saphir hops
ABV: 5.2%
IBU: 30
AVAILABILITY: 16 oz. cans/Draft (Rotating)

Stats above taken from the brewery’s can and website.

Crystal-clear and straw-yellow with a fluffy, white head.

Herbal notes lead off with floral notes and lemon coming in after.

Floral notes continue with a nice minerality hitting on the mid-palate, with straw, bread and lemon zest in the mix as well.

Crisp, dry, and very easy-drinking.

I would consider this a porch drinker for sure. Pairing-wise, I was feeling lighter bar fare, but oysters might also be a fun play.

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 # 396: Volpe appeared first on Life On Tap.

From a recent haul, Dan samples his first brew from Rejects Beer Co, their Mole Stout, a dry stout with cinnamon, cocoa, and chipotle.

STYLE: Dry Stout (with adjuncts)
INGREDIENTS: Cocoa, cinnamon, and chipotle pepper
ABV: 5.25%
IBU: N/A
AVAILABILITY: 16 oz. cans/Draft (Seasonal)

Stats above taken from the brewery’s can and website.

Beautiful, deep/dark brown with a light tan head.

Chipotle, followed by cinnamon and then the cocoa, reminiscent of Mexican Hot Chocolate flavors.

All of the ingredients are very well balanced, with none overpowering the others. Earthiness and a hint of spice from the peppers and cinnamon and a nice “warming” feeling.

More body than a typical dry stout for me, and very pleasant mouthfeel.

A lovely dessert beer without the typically high ABV or finishing gravity. Pairing-wise, I was feeling braised meat or Cabeza de Res, but churros are an obvious dessert play.

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 # 395: Rejects Mole Stout appeared first on Life On Tap.

For Baltic Porter Day 2025, Dan enjoys another collaboration beer from Strong Rope Brewery: Lily’s Elixir, with NYC Pink Boots Society.

STYLE: Baltic Porter
ABV: 6.8%
IBU: N/A
AVAILABILITY: 16 oz. cans/Draft (Seasonal)
COLLABORATION: NYC Chapter of Pink Boots Society
SPECIAL DAY: Baltic Porter Day 2025

Stats above taken from the brewery’s can and website.

Dark brown with some ruby-esque coloring along the edges with a beautiful, tan head and some fine lacing on the glass.

A mix of dates, figs, dark fruit, molasses, and caramel.

Fruitcake-like, with dark fruit, dark molasses, and dark caramel continuing from the nose burgeoning on sticky dessert notes.

Super smooth and velvety mouthfeel with a soft, reserved carbonation that enhances the flavor profile.

I had no idea that Baltic Porter Day was a thing, but thanks to Craft Beer & Brewing Podcast Episode 395, I do now! Next year, I hope to find more Baltic Porters to celebrate. Pairing-wise, I wanted something a little more gamey a la venison medallions with a nice reduction or just go dessert with fruitcake-like items.

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 # 394: Lily’s Elixir appeared first on Life On Tap.

Dan cracks a collaboration beer with Widow Jane Distillery from Strong Rope Brewery: Baby’s On Fire, featuring proprietary flaked corn.

STYLE: American Amber Lager
INGREDIENTS: Proprietary “Baby Jane” corn flaked by New York Craft Malt
ABV: 5.6%
IBU: N/A
AVAILABILITY: 16 oz. cans/Draft (Seasonal)
COLLABORATION: Widow Jane Distillery

Stats above taken from the brewery’s can and website.

Deep amber in color with a huge, fluffy, white head.

Malt sweetness with corn, grain, and a hint of caramel.

Gentle, toasted sugar sweetness blends with malt/corn character.

Medium body and weight despite the lower ABV with carbonation providing a great mouthfeel.

This was very easy-drinking and I could see this being a great transition beer from lighter lagers to something heavier a la Doppelbock. Pairing-wise, this is also very versatile, but I was feeling roast chicken or even for braising various fish or fowl.

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 # 393: Baby’s On Fire appeared first on Life On Tap.

Dan pops open his sixth beer from Montclair Brewery: Jazz Brew Vol 2.0, a Belgian Dubbel collaboration with the Montclair Jazz Festival.

STYLE: Belgian Dubbel
ABV: 5.4%
IBU: N/A
AVAILABILITY: 16 oz. cans/Draft (Seasonal)
COLLABORATION: Montclair Jazz Festival

Stats above taken from the brewery’s can and website.

Deep golden in color with a gentle haze and big, fluffy, white head.

Breadiness a la baked bread hit me first followed by a light caramel note.

The caramel note continues from the nose similar to caramel candy followed by yeast influence comes in with herbal, earthy, and floral esters and then by a fruity element.

Fairly light in mouthfeel with a pillowy-soft carbonation.

This was a fascinating one, as it was a little lighter on the ABV perspective, but packed a flavor punch. Pairing-wise, I was feeling things with fruit/nuts like a light tagine dish or a comparative dessert flavor.

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 # 392: Jazz Brew Vol 2.0 appeared first on Life On Tap.

Dan pops open his fifth from a mixed case from Montclair Brewery: City Green, a farmhouse ale with rosemary sprigs from City Green’s farms.

STYLE: Farmhouse Ale
INGREDIENTS: Rosemary sprigs from City Green’s farms
ABV: 4.5%
IBU: N/A
AVAILABILITY: 16 oz. cans/Draft (Year-round)
COLLABORATION: City Green

Stats above taken from the brewery’s can and website.

Golden almost peach-like in color with a beautiful, white, fluffy head.

Beautiful ester profile, with an herbal/spice note from the rosemary as well as some earthy/floral notes with a hint of graininess.

Herbal and earthy notes persist from the nose, with a pleasant minerality popping on the finish.

Very dry and refreshing, with a light body and some scrubbing bubbles-like carbonation on the palate.

This is a great sipper, but would totally be food-friendly as well. I was feeling more chicken or rustic flatbread setup with some fresh herbs and more on the pairing front.

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 # 391: City Green appeared first on Life On Tap.

Dan pops open his fourth from a mixed case from Montclair Brewery: Poor Richard’s IPA, a “Traditional IPA” that gave great throwback vibes.

STYLE: India Pale Ale (IPA)
ABV: 7.0%
IBU: N/A
AVAILABILITY: 16 oz. cans/Draft (Year-round)

Stats above taken from the brewery’s can and website.

Orange/golden in color with a nice, white, fluffy head.

Orange and pine lead the aroma, no question.

Gentle hop bitterness with earthy notes hitting before pine with a gentle orange note persisting throughout.

Dry with a solid malt backbone assisting the medium mouthfeel and carbonation.

This was a nice OG East Coast IPA throwback for me, reminding me of many that I cut my teeth on in the oughts. Pairing-wise, you can go a lot of different ways, from Thai to spicy pizza, general pub fare, 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 # 390: Poor Richard’s IPA appeared first on Life On Tap.

Dan pops open his third from a mixed case from Montclair Brewery: Golden Buddha, a light-bodied golden ale brewed with passionfruit puree.

STYLE: Golden Ale
INGREDIENTS: Passionfruit puree
ABV: 6.33%
IBU: N/A
AVAILABILITY: 16 oz. cans/Draft (Seasonal)

Stats above taken from the brewery’s can and website.

Hazy and golden in color, with a white, fluffy head.

Passionfruit puree all the way with a hint of grain/yeastiness behind it.

Fruit continues on the palate, but is deftly balanced with the base recipe.

Refreshing and light-bodied but has a nice weight and mouthfeel.

This one would be a great porch-sipper or picnic/outdoor companion. Pairing-wise, fish tacos were my first thought, but a chicken salad with a nice slaw would work as well.

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 # 389: Golden Buddha appeared first on Life On Tap.

Dan pops open his second from a mixed case from Montclair Brewery: That’s My Jam, a light-bodied red ale brewed with raspberry jam.

STYLE: Red Ale
INGREDIENTS: Raspberry jam
ABV: 9.1%
IBU: N/A
AVAILABILITY: 12 oz. cans/Draft (Year-Round)

Stats above taken from the brewery’s can and website.

Amber with pinch of redness from the raspberry jam.

Raspberry for days in the form of fruit and candied fruit and a hint of grain behind it.

Raspberry continues throughout the the palate.

Light-bodied and in mouthfeel with the carbonation providing a nice scrubbing bubbles effect.

Once again, I am glad this comes in 12-ounce cans, because the alcohol is super well-hidden. This would be a great aperitif, though this would also be great with a Thanksgiving meal setup.

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 # 388: That’s My Jam appeared first on Life On Tap.