Sunday, July 28, 2013

Beer Review: Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout



Okay, so let me start off by saying I have no idea what Fark.com is and no idea who Drew Curtis is.  I'm sure you are a cool guy Drew and I'm sorry I don't know you or your website.  I do however know who Wil Wheaton is.  He plays John Cusack's brother who searched for a dead body in Stand By Me and was also in the kick ass Sean Astin movie Toy Soldiers.  And of course, I know who Greg Koch is.  He's the quirky, bearded homeless guy that hangs out at Stone Brewing.  Just kidding. #beardjealousy

stoled from Greg Koch's Facebook page

But seriously though when the internet went nuts over the new collaboration brew Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout I just didn't really get all the hubbub. The hubbub is that Stone Brewing collaborated with Wil Wheaton(apparently a home brewer in addition to being a geeks heartthrob)and Drew Curtis.  Nerds went ballistic.  I was just excited about another Stone beer.

All I know about Big Bang Theory is she is in it.

Wheaton would represent the wheat(of course) in the beer, Curtis the rye and pecans(he is from Kentucky) and Stone does the rest. I didn't watch Star Trek, never heard of w00tstock, don't watch Big Bang Theory and don't know Fark.com.  Am I not "geeky" enough to understand this beer?  I'm just a former jock who loves beer and if I watched Big Bang Theory it would be to watch Kaley Cuoco's fine ass only.  Yeah, I'm that guy.

Thankfully "geeky" doesn't matter in the beer world.  All that matters is the taste and this beer is seriously tasty!

Here is my review:

Brewery:  Stone Brewing

Beer:  Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout

Style:  Imperial Stout

ABV:  13%

Louisiana Availability:  Yes.  RETAIL:  Steins Deli, Elio's Wine Warehouse and Martin Wine Cellar. DRAFT:  Avenue Pub, Bulldog(Uptown and Midcity), Ancora and DBA

Price:  $7.99

Appearance:  Pours coffee black.  Head was minimal as was lacing.

Smell:  I allowed this one to warm up a bit and I think the beer was better for it.  The aroma was more prevalent the closer to room temperature the beer got.  Nice hints of coffee, chocolate, vanilla and tobacco(yeah really!).

Taste:  As in the nose I tasted hints of coffee, chocolate and vanilla.  Also has a slight nutty flavor. Nice balance of bitter and sweet with a hint of spiciness from what I assume is the rye.

Mouthfeel:  Viscous with low carbonation.

Overall:  GREAT brew!  I think aging this bad boy would really help an awesome beer become better. Hell, as hot as it is outside right now waiting for it to be cold outside would be a good idea!  I struggle drinking stouts during summer anyway!  I will be grabbing another one to open up this winter for sure!  Grab some while it's still out!

Score:  4.5 out of 5 Buddhas  photo 4.jpg

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha








Thursday, July 25, 2013

More Sweetwater Coming To Louisiana Stuff: Official Stuff



Not that no one knows that Sweetwater is already coming but here is the official release announcement from them:


SWEETWATER BREWING COMPANY FLOWS WEST TO LOUISIANA AND ANNOUNCES DISTRIBUTORS

Atlanta craft brewery taps into New Orleans, North Shore/Covington and Baton Rouge markets starting August 19

 ATLANTA (July 2013) – Rolling in hot on the heels of their recent entrance into the state of Kentucky, SweetWater Brewery is brewin’ up another big launch for the locals of Louisiana this August. SweetWater recently underwent a $19 million expansion now putting to good use their newly renovated 250-bbl brewhouse, tank farm and expanded packaging hall. These rollouts are the first time the brewery has opened up distribution into new states since 2008 due to previous production capacity.

Louisiana marks the eighth U.S. state to be included in brewery’s distribution footprint. SweetWater has partnered with Southern Eagle Distributing in New Orleans, Champagne Beverage Company in North Shore/Covington, and Mockler Beverage Company in Baton Rouge. Beers will begin flowing on draft taps starting the week of August 19.

“We’ve received a boatload letters requesting us to bring our brews to the Big Easy, and we’re finally ready to find our way further West…it’s finding our way back that may be the tough part,” said Dave Guender, vice president of sales with SweetWater Brewing Company. “We hear the redfish are biting and the hot weather’s got folks thirsty, so now is as good a time as ever to bring our brews to the fine folks in Louisiana!”

SweetWater is bringing their unpasteurized ales to the area starting with 420 Extra Pale Ale on draft at on-premise bars and restaurants, alongside six-packs and 12-pack variety bottles in off-premise grocery stores, package stores, and specialty bottle shops including:


  • 420 Extra Pale Ale - SweetWater’s 420 Extra Pale Ale is a West Coast style pale ale with big hops and a crisp finish. First brewed on April 20, 1997, this beer has developed quite the following in the Southeast. 420 is extremely well-balanced which makes it a perfect introduction to a new town…that’s why we say “drink ‘em if you got ‘em!”
  • SweetWater Blue - SweetWater Blue is a unique, lighter-bodied wheat ale enhanced with a hint of fresh blueberries. This brew’ll give folks a good whiff of a blueberry influence, with a subtle taste and an extra clean finish. This ain’t no fruit beer, but it is our breakfast beer, and perfect for hanging outside on a hot Louisiana day.
  • SweetWater IPA - This mammoth India Pale Ale (IPA) is dry-hopped to the gills delivering a kick-you-in-the-teeth hop chop. The brew is unfiltered and, like all of our beers, always unpasteurized to leave all the natural flavors intact. SweetWater IPA recently won first place in a blind tasting against 15 of the best IPA’s in the country held by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  • SweetWater Tackle Box - The SweetWater Tackle Box variety pack is a hefty 12-pack collection featuring three of SweetWater’s favorite year round brews, along with a fourth style of a little something special in each box.


 A crew from SweetWater will taste their way around the area with sampling celebrations and sponsored events Aug. 21 in Baton Rouge and Aug. 22 in New Orleans. For the full schedule and participating locations, visit www.facebook.com/SWHeadyPeddlersLouisiana.

 Online fans can wet their whistles too by following the Louisiana Facebook page for details on how to enter SweetWater’s “Catch a Trout Tap” contest rewarding the first locals to spot their tap handles with free SweetWater Schwag.

 To learn more about SweetWater Brewing Company and its full lineup, visit www.sweetwaterbrew.com.


 ### ABOUT SWEETWATER BREWING COMPANY: 

SweetWater Brewing Company is an Atlanta‐based craft brewery following the motto “Don’t Float the Mainstream!” SweetWater’s brews are unpasteurized and designed to be consumed fresh so distribution is limited to the Southeast. The award‐winning lineup of year‐round brews includes SweetWater 420, IPA, Blue, LowRYEder and Georgia Brown. SweetWater also features a Catch and Release series of beers available on a limited basis throughout the year, and an experimental, one‐time‐only Dank Tank series. SweetWater Brewery, open for tours every Wednesday, Thursdayand Friday from 5:30‐7:30 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 2:30‐4:30 p.m., is located at 195 Ottley Dr. in Atlanta. For more information about SweetWater Brewing Company, please visitwww.sweetwaterbrew.com. For more of a social relationship with SweetWater Brewing Company follow @sweetwaterbrew on Twitter and Instagram, and become a fan on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sweetwaterbrew.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Sweetwater Louisiana Release Date



Alright, as we all know Sweetwater Brewing is finally coming to Louisiana!  Here in New Orleans they signed with Southern Eagle Distributors and will be releasing August 19th.  I haven't heard where but one can only assume Avenue Pub.  As soon as I find out I'll let ya'll know.

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Thursday, July 18, 2013

NOLA Brewing Teams Up With New Belgium for Louisiana Craft Beer Week




NOLA Brewing will be teaming up with New Belgium Brewing on a collaboration brew for Louisiana Craft Beer Week which begins September 23rd.  The beer will be a Belgian single and will be made with Muscadine grapes.  The name of the brew is Swamp Grape Escape.  The release will kick off the week and is shceduled to be hosted at Avenue Pub.

Really looking forward to this one!  Sounds fun!

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Monday, July 15, 2013

Pumpkin Beers in July

Dear Breweries,

So recently I have seen a couple pictures floating around on Facebook that to me are a bit disturbing. These pictures are of pumpkin beers in July.

Now don't get me wrong I love me some pumpkin beers.  They are without a doubt one of my favorite seasonal beers.  Please note the key word there though- seasonal.  So, what's the definition of seasonal? According to Merriam-Webster:  of, relating to, or varying in occurrence according to the season.

Let me let you in on a secret:  July is not the proper season for pumpkin beers.  Just like March is not the proper season for summer beers. Just like September is not the proper season for Christmas beers.

Please stop with all this retardedness.  You're becoming just as bad as Walmart putting up Christmas decorations in September.

I'm sorry but I like my seasonal beers in the season they are meant for.  I can't in very good conscience drink these beers and fully enjoy them when it's 98 degrees outside.  Granted it's about 98 degrees outside in October here in Louisiana but that's not the point.

I for one will not support this behavior and all you other beer drinkers who care shouldn't support it either.  We can complain about it but the only way to stop it is not buy the beers in July.  September is an appropriate time for the release of fall beers and I will not buy them until then.  I guess this means that when I drink your beers they won't be at their freshest but YOU, the brewer, decided to release them too early.  That's on you.

Happy Holidays!

The Beer Buddha


You see how retarded that sounded?  Same thing as releasing pumpkin beers in July.  STOP IT!

Friday, July 12, 2013

New Orleans Brew News!!

Got some nice beer news today!



Brasserie Cantillon busted out there annual Zwanze Day list for 2013 and Avenue Pub will once again be host on September 14th!   I think I may actually be able to go for once!!

Avenue Pub is in some damn good company with bars like Church Key out of  D.C. and Monk's Cafe in Philly.  So great to see a New Orleans beer bar on this list.  Actually, you know what, lemme take that back.  ALL these other bars are in great company- The Avenue Pub!!  Take note anyone who comes up with a Best Beer Bar in NOLA list!  If AP ain't on it you screwed up.  Click here for Avenue Pub's Zwanze Day FB page.



In other news Abita Brewing hit me with a double whammy today.  First, they will be releasing Andygator in 6 packs. The anticipated release date is "sometime in early October."  I don't know if they are doing away with the 22 oz version.  I doubt it but I'm not sure.

And for you hop fans Abita will be adding a new Harvest beer to the lineup. It will be a grapefruit IPA called Grapefruit Harvest IPA. This brew will be releasing in December and it uses local grapefruits grown in Plaquemines Parish.  Looking forward to this one!

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

UPDATE:  Here is the label!