30 December 2011

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–30 Dec 2011 Philadelphia Brewing Co PA Pale Ale w/John Rehm–The Video

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–30 Dec 2011 Philadelphia Brewing Co PA Pale Ale with John Rehm

WILKFridayBeerbuzz2XmasThe holidays are always a special time, and the craft beer industry is no different.  We toast our friends and family, we share our beverages, and in a holiday tradition, we always try to think locally, buy locally and drink locally.  We’ve supported our local breweries over the last few weeks with Penn Brewery, Breaker Brewing Co and this week I wanted to end the year on that same note.

wilkToday we chose Philadelphia Brewing Co Pennsylvania Pale Ale as our beer of the week.  Pennsylvania Pale Ale, or as many call it PA Pale Ale or even PPA is a great easy drinking LOCAL Pale Ale.  This great American Pale Ale is brewed just down the pike in the Kensington section of Philadelphia.  Philadelphia Brewing Co is in a brewery that dates back to 1885 (Weisbrod & Hess Oriental brewing) and it was re-opened in 2001 by Bill & Nancy Barton.  One of the things I really love about Philly Brewing Co is their commitment to supporting the local community.  From their support of local farming to brew Harvest from the Hood, to their support of XPN radio with their Broadcaster Brown, PBC is a local brewery, heavily involved with their local community…and I think that speaks well of any brewery.

It was very exciting to have Chief Brewer John Rehm join us to sample PA Pale Ale.  John gave us some great insight about what goes into brewing this citrusy-hopped pale ale, and also explained how it gets that wonderfully balanced flavor.  John also talked about how the brewery was designed to be environmentally friendly and even how PBC has been recognized and being one of the top 5 sustainable breweries.

Be sure to check out Philadelphia Brewing Co Pennsylvania Pale Ale (or as I like to call it Philly Brewing PPA) for yourself.  This is a great Pale Ale and one that is brewed locally.

Thanks

to John Rehm from Philadelphia Brewing Co, Nancy, John & Joe for yet another fun Friday. 

The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together.

As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE.

28 December 2011

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–20 Dec 2011 The Teaser

WILKFridayBeerbuzz2XmasWe had a fun and festive pre-Christmas show last week, and it was lots of fun welcoming Andy Rich, Head Brewer from Penn Brewery, on to the show to help us sample St. Nikolaus Bock.  This is a wonderfully malty seasonal lager that will be a perfect beer to toast in the holiday season with family & friends….so be sure to get out and try some for yourself.

So what will we be sampling this week? Hint: The name of the beer includes the name of the brewery of a recent Friday BeerBuzz guest, and of course it’s another local brewery & brew master!

Tune in at 8:30AM and see what beer we sample on the Friday BeerBuzz on WILK…bringing good beers and good people together. (103.1FM or wilknewsradio.com).

24 December 2011

WILK 2011 Friday BeerBuzz Over-Extended Holiday Spectacular The Video Part 1–Alesmith Yulesmith

WILK 2011 Friday BeerBuzz Over-Extended Holiday Spectacular–The Video Part 2

WILK 2011 Friday BeerBuzz Over-Extended Holiday Spectacular–The Video Part 3

WILK Friday BeerBuzz Over-Extended 1-Hour Holiday Spectacular !

WILKFridayBeerbuzz2Xmas
A Big show demands a big graphic….and today we certainly had a BIG show.  In fine WILK Friday BeerBuzz tradition, we present to you our Over-Extended 1-Hour Holiday Spectacular BeerBuzz.  Every year on Christmas Eve & New Years Eve we over-stretch our resources and bring you a show featuring multiple guests, multiple beers, multiple posts and multiple opportunities to mess up…
Winking smile

Our show today was 1-Hour long and featured 4 segments and a ton of different traditional (and non-traditional) holiday beers, along with some great food, and some really great guests.  A big thank you to Rocky Rhodes from KRZ for joining us for all four segments, as well as Mrs. BeerBuzz, BeerCam & my pal Tom….cheers everyone!

WILKXmas1Segment 1:  Up first was a segment I like to call “warming up.”  They always tell you to stretch before you exercise, and this non-traditional holiday beer was a stretch.  In fine BeerBuzz tradition, our first segment is always hoppy (like last year’s Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale) so today we featured AleSmith Brewing  YuleSmith Holiday Ale.  Yulesmith is brewed twice a year featuring a lighter Summer version and today’s Holiday Version.  This big 8.5% ABV Imperial Double Red Ale was a perfect way to start the show and a perfect way to stretch our taste buds.  This beer is readily available so try it for yourself.

WILKXmas2Segment 2:  After our first segment, the timing was right to have a little snack, so today we welcomed chef Tony Graham from Madison’s in Nanticoke.  To call Tony’s treats a “snack” was a tremendous disservice to all the time and effort Tony put in to feeding us today.  I presented Tony with the challenge a few weeks ago, to create food based on our featured beer AND feed a mixed vegetarian/non-vegetarian crowd (OK I was the ONLY vegetarian!) and he definitely rose to the occasion with some great food.  Our beer for segment two was a classic winter seasonal from one of my favorite Mid-Atlantic breweries and one of our most well-versed master brewers.  For Segment 2 we featured Garret Oliver’s classic Brooklyn Brewing Black Chocolate Stout.  This big 10% ABV Imperial Stout is a winter & holiday classic and it paired incredibly well with Tony’s food.  Once again Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout is readily available, and more importantly so is the food Tony prepares every day at Madison’s on Washington St in Nanticoke….be sure to stop by and try some of Tony’s amazing entrées.

WILKXmas3Segment 3:  We have another tradition on the Over-Extended Holiday BeerBuzz, and we held true to it again this year.  Every year we feature one of the brews from The Bruery’s 12-days of Christmas series.  Last year we did 3 French Hens and this year we featured Patrick Rue’s Four Calling Birds.  This big Belgian Strong Dark Ale comes in at 11% and it was the perfect step up from our previous beers.  Four Calling Birds is the fourth beer in the series and while it is meant to be aged until the end of the series in 2019, it still tastes wonderful today.  This one had notes of gingerbread and holiday spices and I definitely recommend you get out and try this one now.

WILKXmas4Segment 4:  I always try to finish big on our holiday show, and today that really worked out well.  Our guests for segment 4 were Chris Miller & Mark Lehman from Breaker Brewing Co.  It was fun to get an update on the progress of the new Breaker Brewpub & Brewery opening on Northampton St in Wilkes-Barre Twp., but even more fun sampling what I’m calling the Belsnickler Surprise.  We’ve tested the theory that this big Belgian Quad ages well, but today we took that even further not only tasting multiple vintages of Belsnickler, but also a very special Oak-aged Belsnickler…and they were all fantastic.  A big thank you to Mark & Chris for sharing their time and some really rare (and limited supply) vintages of Belsnickler.

By the time we were done, we definitely set a new indoor record for cup-usage, but  In the end it was a great Friday BeerBuzz Over-Extended 1-Hour Holiday Spectacular.  The food, beer, chatter, friendship & fun are what make the holidays special, and today I think we really had a special Friday BeerBuzz.

Thanks

to Mark & Chris from Breaker Brewing, Tony Graham from Madisons, Rocky Rhodes from KRZ, Mrs. BeerBuzz, Tom, Nancy, John, Joe & Katie for yet another fun Friday.

The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together. There is a TON of video footage for this show & BeerCam footage so a

s always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE

WILK Friday BeerBuzz - BEER CAM - 24 Dec 2011

23 December 2011

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–23 Dec 2011 Penn Brewery St Nikolaus Bock w/Andy Rich

WILKFridayBeerbuzz2XmasThere’s always something special about the holiday season, and sharing a great beer with family & friends to toast the season.  This is my favorite time of the year for seasonal craft beers, and what better way to celebrate the Christmas-Eve-Eve Friday BeerBuzz than with a great PA state brewery.

Penn Brewery is Pittsburgh’s oldest & largest brewery, and one of my favorite.  They produce a wide variety of beers, but they are well known for their authentic German styles.  Penn Brewery also is proud to brew within the Reinheitsgebot beer purity traditions using only barley, hops, water & yeast to create their classic lagers.

imageToday we we enjoyed a classic Münchener Dunkel Bock Bier from the Pennsylvania Brewing Co called St Nikolaus Bock.  St Nik is a winter seasonal that uses traditional 2-row barley and German hops to produce a wonderful seasonal bock beer.  This beer is dark, with lots of body and some big malty flavor, perfect for a cold winter’s night and even better to share as a holiday gift or Christmas toast.

It was a pleasure for all of us to welcome Andy Rich, Head Brewer at Penn Brewery on to the show to help us sample St Nik Bock.  Andy has an extensive brewing background and it was no accident that we chose to sample Andy’s favorite Penn Beer, St Nik Bock.  Andy gave us some great insight as to what goes into brewing St Nik, and many of the other beers coming out of Penn, and also told us some great stories about the early days of Penn brewery.

St Nikolaus Bock is a classic holiday bock and a great beer to share with friends and family as you toast the upcoming holidays.  Happy Holidays to all of our listeners, readers, viewers, friends and families for helping us bring good beers and good people together.  We love doing the show and we couldn’t do it without all of you.

Thanks

to Andy Rich from Pennsylvania Brewing Co, Nancy, John, Mrs. BeerBuzz & Joe for yet another fun Friday. 

The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together.

As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE.

21 December 2011

Friday BeerBuzz–The Teaser (23 Dec 2011)

WILKFridayBeerbuzz2Xmas

As we wind down the holiday gauntlet, I look back on the year and think how fortunate we’ve been to have some of the greatest craft-beer guests join us for some delicious seasonal and holiday craft beers.  Last week we had a fantastic time talking beer (and Arabic translations) with Paul Kavulak from Nebraska Brewing.  Paul joined us to sample his 2011 GABF GOLD award winning Melange a Trois and I’m excited to report that Melange has already become one of our all-time favorite show brews.

So what will we be sampling this week? Hint: Our guest this week joins us from the big city, and he’s bringing a Saint with him.

Tune in at 8:30AM and see what beer we sample on the Friday BeerBuzz on WILK…bringing good beers and good people together. (103.1FM or wilknewsradio.com).

AND don’t forget….our Friday BeerBuzz Overextended 1-Hour Holiday Special.  The first holiday week airing will be 11AM on Christmas Eve (12/24)  Mark your calendar!!!

16 December 2011

WILK Friday BeerBuzz The Video–16 Dec 2011 Nebraska Melange a Trois w/Paul Kavulak

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–16 Dec 2011 Nebraska Melange a Trois w/Paul Kavulak

WILKFridayBerbuzz7The Friday BeerBuzz on WILK knows no boundaries.  We’ve been reaching out to Massachusetts, California & Oregon in the previous weeks…so why not Nebraska…and this time it’s not just the state where our brewery calls home, but also the name of the brewery.  Nebraska Brewing has leapt on to the craft beer scene, and not only generated excitement locally, but also here in PA.  We’ve sampled Hop God and several other Nebraska brews, but today we wanted to sample their Melange a Trois.



wilkMelange is a Belgian-style ale aged 6-months in Chardonnay Wine barrels, but it’s way more than just that.  The Melange of three characteristic; dry on the tongue, sweet on the palate and wine-like in it’s finish, make for a very special and unique beer.  Flavors of white grapes, oak and perhaps even coriander make for not only a complex beer but an elegant one at that.

It was also exciting to have Nebraska Brewing President & Brewer Paul Kavulak join us to talk about the origins of the brewery and Melange.  It was also exciting to sample a beer that just won he 2011 GABF Gold Medal in the 2nd most competitive category at the Great American beer Festival—Wood & Barrel-Aged Strong.  This is a great beer and one you should seek out and try for yourself when it is released in a few weeks.

Thanks

to Paul Kavulak from Nebraska Brewing, Nancy, John & Joe for yet another fun Friday.

The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together.

As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE.

14 December 2011

Friday BeerBuzz–The Teaser 16 Dec 2011

WILKFridayBerbuzz7I’ll admit that Rogue Ales hold a special place in my craft beer world, so it was a lot of fun to welcome Brett Joyce, President of Rogue Ales on to our show last week.  Brett is a great spokesman for not only Rogue, but also craft beer in general.  Our thanks again to Brett for waking up early to join us while we sampled Santa’s Private Reserve.

So what will we be sampling this week? Hint: We’ll AGAIN be waking our guest up early this week, but this time only 7:30AM, tune into see what state we’ll be visiting and why the number 3 is significant. 

Tune in at 8:30AM and see what beer we sample on the Friday BeerBuzz on WILK…bringing good beers and good people together. (103.1FM or wilknewsradio.com).

09 December 2011

Friday BeerBuzz–The Video 9 Dec 2011 Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve w/Brett Joyce

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–9 Dec 2011 Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve w/Brett Joyce

WILKFridayBerbuzz15Back in Oct 2010 we were lucky enough to have Sebbie Buhler from Rogue Ales join us on the Friday BeerBuzz to sample the beer that carries her image on the label, Chocolate Stout.  It was a very special show, and a wonderful beer. 

Back when Mrs BeerBuzz & I were first dating, the very first beer we shared was a Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar, and it was no surprise to anyone that for our wedding, we had a custom labeled Rogue beer for our guests….so as you can see Rogue is a very special brewery for me personally.

Leap forward to 2011 and I was absolutely committed to getting another Rogue beer and guest on our show, and what a wonderful combination to feature:  Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve, and Brett Joyce, President of Rogue Ales.

wilkSanta’s Private Reserve is what I would certainly term a non-traditional holiday ale.  Anyone familiar with the St Rogue Red that Santa’s Private Reserve is based on will know it is decidedly hoppy; in fact is is a double dry-hopped version of St Rogue Red.  I also think it is funny to note that brewmaster John Maier uses a mystery hop called “Rudolph” in Santa’s Private Reserve, and even Brett was sworn to secrecy.

Brett is a great spokesman for Rogue Ales and I think that comes from his background at Rogue.  Brett’s father Jack Joyce was driving force in the creation of Rogue Ales in 1988, and Brett has been with the brewery for a long time, starting out washing kegs and working his way to become their president.  It was very exciting to talk to Brett not just about our beer of the day, but also some of the other ventures Rogue has undertaken from distilling to micro-barley malting.  I was a big fan of Rogue Ales over 15 years ago, and that fondness for their craft continues today.

Thanks

to Brett Joyce from Rogue Ales, Nancy, John & Joe for yet another fun Friday.

The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together.

As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE.

07 December 2011

Friday BeerBuzz–The Teaser 9 Dec 2011

WILKFridayBerbuzz15I’ll admit last week’s beer & guest were both very special for me.  Back in the 1980’s when I was first learning about craft beer, I always remember Anchor Brewing Christmas Ale as one of the very first brews that made me excited about craft beer, and I thank Mark Carpenter for not only brewing the beer, but for getting up at 5:30AM to talk to us about it.

So what will we be sampling this week? Hint: We’ll AGAIN be waking our guest up this week at 5:30AM to talk holiday beer, and this one is VERY familiar and very non-traditional for a holiday ale. 

Tune in at 8:30AM and see what beer we sample on the Friday BeerBuzz on WILK…bringing good beers and good people together. (103.1FM or wilknewsradio.com).

02 December 2011

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–The Video 2 Dec 2011 Anchor Brewing Christmas Ale w/Mark Carpenter

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–2 Dec 2011 Anchor Christmas Ale w/Mark Carpenter

WILKFridayBerbuzz8Back in my early days of exploring craft beer, brother-beerbuzz was always nice enough to share his yearly beer-gift from Fritz Maytag.  Back in the early 1980’s Anchor Brewing was fairly rare on the east coast, and their Christmas Ale, even more so.  Year after year, I’ve sampled and enjoyed Anchor Christmas Ale, and it has honestly been one of the brews that excited a passion in me for craft beer and the wide varieties of brewing techniques used to brew it. 

Each year starting in 1975 Anchor Brewing has brewed it’s now famous Christmas Ale, but rather than brewing the same beer every year, the guys at Anchor took a risk and changed the successful recipe every year.  Each year the beer includes not only a different specie of tree on the label, but an even more intriguing “mystery” ingredient.  I remember studying Anchor Christmas Ale year after year, obsessed with conclusively identifying the mystery ingredient and even more obsessed with the beer itself.

imageJump forward to 2011, and it was not only fun to sample Anchors Christmas Ale 2011, but also a real honor to sample it with master brewer Mark Carpenter.  Mark gave us some great insight on what goes into Christmas Ale and also the unique brewing process Anchor Brewing uses in all of their beers.  Clearly there is a rich history in brewing at this San Francisco brewery and Anchor still stands as not only one of the earliest west coast craft breweries but one of the very first US craft breweries.

We really enjoyed Anchor Brewing Christmas Ale and I really thought once again I had identified the mystery ingredient (juniper berries), but only Mark will know for sure.  Try this one for yourself, and see what you taste.

Thanks

to Mark Carpenter from Anchor Brewing, Nancy, John, Joe, & Bosco for yet another fun Friday.

The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together.

As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE.

30 November 2011

Friday BeerBuzz–The Teaser 2 Dec 2011

WILKFridayBerbuzz8It was a real blast talking to Jim Koch from Samuel Adams on our last show, and it helped that we were sampling Jim’s new Tasman Red Red IPA.  Jim is the voice and face of the craft beer revolution and it was a real pleasure to have him on the Friday BeerBuzz.

So what will we be sampling this week? Hint: We’ll be waking our guest up this week at 5:30AM to talk holiday beer, and what a historical holiday beer this one is!   

Tune in at 8:30AM and see what beer we sample on the Friday BeerBuzz on WILK…bringing good beers and good people together. (103.1FM or wilknewsradio.com).

18 November 2011

WILK Friday BeerBuzz The Video–18 Nov 2011 Sam Adams Tasman Red w/Jim Koch

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–18 Nov 2011 (Sam Adams Tasman Red w/Jim Koch)

WILKFridayBeerbuzz4

It’s not often that we get a chance to do a show like today’s Friday BeerBuzz.  Not only were were sampling some pretty interesting new beers, BUT we were joined by perhaps one of the most famous names in the craft beer industry, Jim Koch from Boston Beer Co.  It’s a special occasion for sure, and we chose some special brews to go with it.  Samuel Adams has just released a new series of beers they are calling Single Batch.  This new limited-edition series will start with four new beers, and as the series progresses the specialty beers will only be brewed & released one time.  The series includes Griffin’s Bow (Oak Blonde Barleywine), Third Voyage (Double IPA), The Vixen (Chocolate Chili Bock) & Tasman Red (Red IPA).image

These new single-batch beers continue the tradition at Samuel Adams of brewing big & extreme beers, started with their original 17.5% ABV Triple Bock back in 1994.  With the growth and expansion of the craft beer market, Jim has taken this opportunity to not only release some new and unusual brews, but also do it knowing that he can get them on the shelves and into the hands of the craft beer lovers.

It was a real blast having Jim join us on the show to help us sample the Tasman Red.  Tasman is a brew that uses Topaz & Galaxy hops grown near the Tasmanian Sea off the coast of Australia.  This big brew falls somewhere between an Amber ale & red IPA for my taste buds, and it was loaded with citrusy & toffee flavors.  This is perhaps my favorite of the new series.

We also talked about Third Voyage, and Jim filled us in on some great details about how Cascade hops grown in three regions of the world were exclusively used to flavor this brew, and flavor it they did.  The brew was inspired by Capt James Cook’s 3rd Voyage from England to New Zealand and on to the Pacific Northwest (the 3 regions where the Cascade hops were grown).  This beer is subtle for a double IPA, but a few sips in, there can be no doubt that it is big. 

While we didn’t feature them on the show today, I can tell you I’ve also sampled Griffin’s Bow & The Vixen and they are very unique beers.  Be sure to try these beers for yourself, before they are gone.  In theory (and based on sales) each of these beers will be brewed only once and new styles and varieties will be rotated into the single-batch series in their place.

On a personal note, it was wonderful to have Jim Koch on the show.  I consider Jim to be the face and voice of craft brewing.  His presence in the market and his drive to get people to reach beyond typical beers and try something better defines his passion for craft beer and it was an honor to speak to him.

Thanks

to Jim Koch from Samuel Adams, Nancy, John, Joe, & Bosco for yet another fun Friday.

The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together.

As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE

16 November 2011

Friday BeerBuzz–The Teaser 18 Nov 2011

WILKFridayBeerbuzz4


The logo is BIG and so is our upcoming Friday guest!  Last week we welcomed Chris Bowen into the studio to sample a tremendously special beer.  Chris lead a team of brewers & film-makers on a 2000-mile motorcycle ride to the Canadian arctic to brew a historically accurate version of Allsops Arctic Ale….and after carefully tending to the brew for 16 months, we were lucky enough to sample it last week.  A great story, a great beer and  a great guest….thanks again Chris !

So what will we be sampling this week? Hint: This weeks guest is a household name among craft beer lovers, and perhaps one of the biggest guests we’ve welcomed yet on the Friday BeerBuzz….DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW!  

Tune in at 8:30AM and see what beer we sample on the Friday BeerBuzz on WILK…bringing good beers and good people together. (103.1FM or wilknewsradio.com).

11 November 2011

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–11 Nov 2011 Canadian Arctic Alchemy w/Chris Bowen

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–Canadian Arctic Alchemy Ale w/Chris Bowen

WILKFridayBerbuzz15Back on July 23rd 2010, we welcomed Beau Baden from Fegley’s Brew Works into the studio to bring us a great new beer.  The beer was Arctic Alchemy, a great new brew based on the historic Allsops Arctic Ale.  The beer came with a great story and Beau told us about the upcoming adventure that Chris Bowen, Dick Gethin & John Chay were taking about to undertake.  Along with a film crew, the guys were embarking on a “2000-mile epic motorcycle journey” to the Canadian arctic to recreate the original Allsops Arctic Ale on primitive brewing equipment.

wilkLeap forward 16 months and we were very excited to welcome Chris Bowen into the studio to sample Canadian Arctic Alchemy Ale.  It was a real honor to get to sample some of the actual beer that was brewed in the Canadian Arctic and brought all the way back to PA, and it was well worth the wait!  According to Chris, “this beer followed the regiment of the original Allsops brewing process and has been barrel-aging and dry-hopping for over a year”…and that patience and hand crafting has certainly paid off.
Art by Image Works, Inc

Historically these beers came from the 1850’s, a time when refrigeration didn’t exist, and ships regularly traveled long distances…so they were brewed to survive the long shipboard trips.  The Canadian Arctic Alchemy Ale was brewed big, but loaded with great flavor and complexity.  I swear you can taste not only the history brewed into this beer, but also the amazing journey this special brew has been on.

ChrisBowenCanadienArcticAlchemyBe sure to check out more on the story of Arctic Alchemy on their website and be sure to watch for the upcoming film of their adventure coming soon from Albatross Film Studio.  Also stay tuned for more projects coming from Chris Bowen and his Hammersmith Ales home brewery.

Thanks

to Chris Bowen, Nancy, John, Joe, & Bosco for yet another fun Friday.

The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together.

As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE

09 November 2011

Friday BeerBuzz–The Teaser 11 Nov 2011

WILKFridayBerbuzz15We threw in a bit of a curveball last week, especially for a beer show.  For the first time in show history, we didn’t sample a beer.  Instead we invited Bret Williams, President & CEO of Woodchuck Hard Ciders to introduce us to not just cider, but several brand new Woodchuck Ciders.  We had a great time sampling their flagship Amber, their brand new session cider Crisp, and their seasonal Winter cider.  Thanks again to Bret for joining us.

So what will we be sampling this week? Hint: This week’s brewer won GABF gold in 2007 and co brewed another GABF winner this year, and our beer and guest traveled a long way to be on the show…and only on two wheels!

Tune in at 8:30AM and see what beer we sample on the Friday BeerBuzz on WILK…bringing good beers and good people together. (103.1FM or wilknewsradio.com).

04 November 2011

Friday BeerBuzz–The Video (Woodchuck Amber, Crisp & Winter w/Bret Williams)

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–4 Nov 2011 Woodchuck Cider w/Bret Williams

WILKFridayBerbuzz10There’s something amazing that happens when you talk to a guest that loves what they do.  That energy, passion & enthusiasm for their “product” shines through and makes for a really great conversation.  Today we were lucky enough to have such a guest on the show.  Bret Williams, President & CEO of Woodchuck Cider joined us on the Friday BeerBuzz to sample not only a classic cider, but also some really interesting NEW ciders.

imageNow I know what you’re thinking already….hey…we’re a beer show right…then why are we talking about cider?  Well the answer is simple.  We like cider…and so do many others. 

Anyone that remembers our Gluten-free show back in March, will also know we’ve featured a cider or two already. 

Cider is also a not-too-distant-cousin to beer and in fact, Woodchuck  802 Cider was originally created to appeal to beer lovers and even won the People’s Choice Award at the Albany BEER Festival…so why not enjoy a good cider on the show. 

It was really fun tasting Woodchuck Amber with Bret.  This classic amber cider (their flagship) is easy drinking, and has a strong family resemblance to some of the beers we’ve tasted on the show in the past.  It’s a classic cider you should try for yourself.  The Woodchuck Winter seasonal cider was dark, complex and rich, with notes of oak and some very subtle spice-like & vanilla flavors.  This one is a limited release so do not delay…get out and try some now before it’s all gone.  By far my favorite cider of the day was the brand spanking new Woodchuck Crisp.  This new addition to Woodchuck’s core ciders is their first sessionable cider and as Bret said, we believe this is the first ever “session cider” but don’t let that fool you.  Crisp is a clean easy-drinking, flavorful cider with lots of body and a really drinkable flavor.

We had a great time talking Cider with Bret and I really learned a lot about what goes in to making a good cider.  Bret Williams is a wonderful spokesman for Woodchuck and I can’t wait to try the rest of their cider varieties.

Thanks

to Bret Williams from Woodchuck Cider, Nancy, John, Joe, & Bosco for yet another fun Friday.

The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together.

As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE

02 November 2011

Friday BeerBuzz–The Teaser 4 Nov 2011

WILKFridayBerbuzz10Last week we had a great time, at least I THINK we had a great time.  It was our Halloween special and I’ll admit with the silly glasses on my costume, I pretty much couldn’t see anything in the room…but it certainly felt like we had a great time (check out our costumes HERE or HERE).  Thanks again to Sean & Christina Wolfe from the Scranton Brewers Guild and Chuck Yarmey from the Wyoming Valley Homebrewers for dressing up in costumes and bringing in some great home brewed beer…and don’t forget to join us all this Saturday (Nov 5th from 10AM-4PM @ Breaker Brewing Northampton St in Wilkes-Barre Twp) for the Teach a Friend to Brew Day.  See you there!



So what will we be sampling this week? Hint: : This week we have some beverages that you won’t expect, and if you do enough Facebook “research” you may even find that our guest is already promoting the show!!

Tune in at 8:30AM and see what beer we sample on the Friday BeerBuzz on WILK…bringing good beers and good people together. (103.1FM or wilknewsradio.com).

28 October 2011

BEER CAM–28 Oct 2011 Friday BeerBuzz Halloween Show

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–The Video 28 Oct 2011 Teach a Friend to Brew Day w/Sean Wolfe & Chuck Yarmey)

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–28 Oct 2011–Teach a Friend to Brew Day w/Sean Wolfe & Chuck Yarmey

WILKFridayBeerbuzz4I really love having our local home brewers join us on the Friday BeerBuzz….after all, the home brew clubs are the genesis not only for some amazing beers, but also for some future professional brewers.  We’ve had the Wyoming Valley Home brewers join us before, so I was excited to welcome back Chuck Yarmey, but it was also fun to have Sean Wolfe from the Scranton Brewers Guild and some of the guys from the other clubs in NEPA as well….and of course EVERYONE was in costume for Halloween!

The guys were with us to support the upcoming Teach a Friend to Brew Day, Nov 5th from 10AM-4PM.  The event will be held at the new Breaker Brewing Co (Northampton & Lehigh St—Wilkes-Barre) and it will feature home brewing demonstrations, and all sorts of great info from the Scranton Brewers Guild, Wyoming Valley Home Brewers, Waldorf Beer Club, Tunkhannock Homebrew Club & Saaz Scranton club.  Don’t forget, if you stop by you’ll also get a peek at the new Breaker Brewing facility in Wilkes-Barre Twp.


image
Speaking of Breaker Brewing, it was also a LOT of fun to break out the news about their new beers Coal Cracker, Susquehanna Sudds, Goldies Extra and maybe even Phoebe Snow…BUT perhaps the big breaking news of the day is that Breaker Brewing is aiming to have their Tap/Tasting room OPEN by the end of the year!  Congratulations guys….I can’t wait!

We had a great time sampling the Pumpkin Stein Beer the guys brewed as well as the other home brews.  Stein (German for Stone) beers use hot rocks to boil the wort, and how perfect is it for our Halloween show that the stones they used to brew this pumpkin beer are from head-stones.  Cheers to everyone in the clubs that joined us today and helped brew the beers we sampled.  I cannot repeat it enough that these guys brew great beers, and you should definitely come out and see for yourself on Nov 5th (10AM-4PM).

Thanks

to Sean Wolfe, Chuck Yarmey, the local home brewers, Nancy, John, Joe, and Bosco for yet another fun Friday.

The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together.

As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE.

26 October 2011

Friday Beer Buzz–The Teaser

WILKFridayBeerbuzz4Sometimes you just need to have fun.  Maybe it doesn’t make sense and maybe it doesn’t matter, but last week’s beer was all about fun and all about a great beer story.  We sampled Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel, and yes it contains a coffee brewed with coffee beans collected from Civet-poo (a cat-like weasel from Vietnam).  It’s not for everyone, but sometimes you just have to have fun…ad we did.

So what will we be sampling this week? Hint: : This week we’ll march out a Stone-cold spooky brew…and have a little party in the studio too—with costumes!  

Tune in at 8:30AM and see what beer we sample on the Friday BeerBuzz on WILK…bringing good beers and good people together. (103.1FM or wilknewsradio.com).

21 October 2011

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–The Video (Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel)

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–21 Oct 2011 Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel w/Mary Tellie

WILKFridayBerbuzz14

I always like pushing the envelope with tastes and ingredients in our show beers, and today I thought I’d march out the most unusual ingredient that we have perhaps ever tasted in a beer. Coffee….but this isn’t just any ordinary coffee and this wasn’t just an ordinary beer either.


wilkOur beer today was Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel…an Imperial Oatmeal Stout that is brewed with coffee…but not just any coffee.  This unusual brew uses a “special” coffee called Civet Coffee…and boy is it special.  Regarded as one of the most expensive coffees in the world, this coffee is made from the droppings of a Southeast Asian weasel-like Civet cat.  As the story goes, these animals eat only the best and ripest coffee berries, digest those beans and then the beans are collected from their droppings to make the coffee…and ultimately the beer.

Now don’t get too lost in the story of the bean.  Yes it’s a humorous story, and yes I couldn’t resist featuring it on the show…but keep in mind this is a really good Imperial Oatmeal Stout.  Brewed by gypsy brewer Mikkel Borg Bjergsø (aka Mikkeller), this big 10.9% ABV brew is definitely one you should try for yourself.

Thanks

to Nancy, John, Joe, and Bosco for yet another fun Friday.

The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together.

As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE.

19 October 2011

Friday BeerBuzz–The Teaser 21 Oct 2011

WILKFridayBerbuzz14Last week we welcomed Phin Demink from Southern Tier Brewing on the Friday BeerBuzz to sample his Blackwater Series brew Mokah.  This big Imperial Stout is loaded with chocolate & coffee, and it was a lot of fun to finally get Phin on the air.

So what will we be sampling this week? Hint: : This week we have a yet another perfect breakfast beer! 

Tune in at 8:30AM and see what beer we sample on the Friday BeerBuzz on WILK…bringing good beers and good people together. (103.1FM or wilknewsradio.com).

14 October 2011

Friday BeerBuzz The Video–Southern Tier Mokah w/Phin Demink

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–14 Oct 2011 (Southern Tier Mokah w/Phin Demink)

WILKFridayBerbuzz15It was fun to finally hook up with Southern Tier Brewing founder and brew master Phin Demink on today’s show.  We’ve been working schedules for months to finally get to chat with Phin, and it was worth the wait.

Southern Tier Brewing makes some of what I consider to be the most creative and flavorful brews distributed in PA, so it was a difficult choice to feature just one beer.  From their Crème Brule to their Pumking, I really like them all, but given that we’re a morning show, we thought Southern Tier Mokah would be perfect.


Mokah is part of Southern Tier’s Black Water Series and it is a wonderful blend of their JAHVA coffee imperial stout and their Choklat chocolate imperial stout…and the blend is wonderful.  Just enough coffee to make it’s presence known, a delicate touch of milk chocolate that lays on your palate and the big bold imperial stout to back it all up.  Mokah is not only big in flavor, it’s big in ABV coming in at 11% ABV so share this one with a friend or two…or perhaps a morning beer show team.

It was not only fun chatting with Phin about Choklat, but also some of the upcoming plans for Southern Tier.  I’m  excited to hear about the growth of Southern Tier and some of the plans they have for the future (with their brewery and beers).

Thanks

to  Phin Demink from Southern Tier Brewing, Nancy, John, Joe, and Bosco for yet another fun Friday. 

The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together

As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE.

12 October 2011

Friday BeerBuzz–2 Sept 2011 Troegs Perpetual IPA With John Trogner

Friday BeerBuzz–The Teaser 14 Oct 2011

WILKFridayBerbuzz11We always have a great time when Mike Hiller from Bavarian Barbarian joins us on the radio.  Mike brought up his new Grumpy Pumpkin Porter and we had a lot of fun sampling it.  Be sure to check out Bavarian Barbarian Grumpy Pumpkin Porter, before it’s all gone, and a big thank you to Mike for bringing it up.

So what will we be sampling this week? Hint: : This week we have a perfect early morning beer and of course the brew master will tell us why!  

Tune in at 8:30AM and see what beer we sample on the Friday BeerBuzz on WILK…bringing good beers and good people together. (103.1FM or wilknewsradio.com).

07 October 2011

Friday BeerBuzz–7 Oct 2011 Bavarian Barbarian Grumpy Pumpkin Porter w/Mike Hiller

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–7 Oct 2011 Bavarian Barbarian Grumpy Pumpkin w/Mike Hiller

WILKFridayBerbuzz8In July of 2010, the Friday BeerBuzz welcomed it’s first in-studio guest on the show…in Oct 2010 that same guest returned for one of the shows that earned the Friday BeerBuzz the PA Association of Broadcasters award…so today I was excited to have him return again as our first 3rd-time guest!  Mike Hiller from Bavarian Barbarian is always fun to have on the show, and today was even more exciting because of the special beer Mike brought up to sample.

imageGrumpy Pumpkin Imperial Porter is a new fall seasonal from Bavarian Barbarian Brewing, and quite a non-traditional one at that.  We’ve sampled pumpkin-based beers before, but never a pumpkin porter.  This brew had a great subtle pumpkin flavor laying on a perfect porter backbone and a big Imperial ABV & flavor.  The spices and notes of vanilla are also subtle, but in balance with all of the other flavors.  This is a very drinkable fall beer, but keep in mind the big 9% ABV may sneak up on you…but I guarantee it will make you far from Grumpy.

Check out Bavarian Barbarian Grumpy Pumpkin Imperial Porter for yourself before it’s gone.

Thanks

to Mike Hiller from Bavarian Barbarian, Nancy, John, Joe, and Bosco for yet another fun Friday. 

The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together

As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE.

05 October 2011

Friday BeerBuzz–The Teaser–7 Oct 2011

WILKFridayBerbuzz8Last week we had a lot of fun sampling Butternuts Beer Snapperhead IPA.  Of course it helped to have Seagram's Black in the studio (thanks to the Cork & Fork event)—but who couldn’t love a name like Butternuts, Snapperhead, Porkslap & Heineweiss!  This is a really affordable and flavorful IPA so be sure to try it for yourself.

So what will we be sampling this week? Hint: This week we’ll be sampling an all new fall beer, and of course the brewmaster will be joining us in the studio to help!

Tune in at 8:30AM and see what beer we sample on the Friday BeerBuzz on WILK…bringing good beers and good people together. (103.1FM or wilknewsradio.com).

30 September 2011

Friday BeerBuzz–The Video Butternuts Snapperhead IPA

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–30 Sept 2011 (Butternuts Brewery Snapperhead IPA)

WILKFridayBerbuzz7Today’s beer choice came from several different inspirations.  First off Butternuts Beer and Ales has to have some of the most creative and irreverent beer-naming going.  Who couldn’t love Porkslap Pale Ale, Moo Thunder Stout or Heinnieweisse Wheat.  But what sealed it for me was a conversation I had many moons ago with a now local brewmaster.

Back when he was making the move, Shawnee Craft brewmaster Leo Bongiorno shared a beer and a great story with me from his days at Butternuts.  I’ll leave out the funny details of many of the other names, but Leo’s story about today’s show beer made my mind up to feature Snapperhead IPA.

Product - Butternuts SnapperheadNow don’t get me wrong…this is a great IPA.  It’s probably a little more malty than a traditional IPA, but the hop is there.  According to the Butternuts website (and be SURE to check out their website!) Snapperhead is “every bit as rich and a little less bitter that other American interpretations of the breed”…but only because they are “smarter and better-looking brew masters.”  And this sets the tone for their entire website and line of beers.

Be sure to try Snapperhead IPA for yourself.  It’s readily available locally and easily affordable….oh and what was the story Leo told me?  As it turns out, as much as the can has a fish on it…Leo tells me the beer was affectionately named after his grandmother who had lost her hair thanks to a skin condition, She had many different wigs which were at times confusing to “install” so because of that she actually had “snaps” surgically attached to her head (and each wig) to allow her to comfortably wear them.  A funny story for sure, and a great IPA.


Thanks

to Nancy, John, Joe, and Bosco for yet another fun Friday. 

The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together

As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE.

28 September 2011

Friday BeerBuzz–The Teaser 30 Sept 2011

WILKFridayBerbuzz9Last week we had a great time premiering Stone Brewing 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA…and an even greater time having head brewer Mitch Steele join us on the show to sample Stone 15.  A big thank you also to Lee Marren from Stone Brewing for joining us after the show to hand out samples of Stone 15 @ Krugel’s Georgetown Deli & Beer….all in all a wonderful example of “Bringing Good Beers and Good People Together!”

So what will we be sampling this week? Hint: This week we’re going hoppy (big surprise there huh?!) and we’re opening up a can so be sure to head on over to WILK to listen!  

Tune in at 8:30AM and see what beer we sample on the Friday BeerBuzz on WILK…bringing good beers and good people together. (103.1FM or wilknewsradio.com).

21 September 2011

Friday BeerBuzz–The Teaser 23 Sep 2011

WILKFridayBerbuzz15Last week we had a blast sampling Stegmaier Pumpkin Ale with out very own Lion Brewery brewmaster, Leo Orlandini.  Steg Pumpkin is a really easy drinking fall brew and it’s always fun sampling with Leo.

So what will we be sampling this week?  Hint: This week we’ve already given it up…at least sort of.  We’ll be sampling not only one, but TWO VERY SPECIAL STONE BREWING BEERS, we’ll have a great guest on the air AND we’ll be holding a Stone Tasting party Friday (9/23) night from 5-7PM @ Krugel’s Georgetown Deli & beer.  Come out and sample a VERY special Stone beer with us!  See you there.

Tune in at 8:30AM and see what beer we sample on the Friday BeerBuzz on WILK…bringing good beers and good people together.  (103.1FM or wilknewsradio.com).

16 September 2011

WILK Friday BeerBuzz The Video–16 Sept 2011 Stegmaier Pumpkin w/Leo Orlandini

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–16 Sept 2011 (Stegmaier Pumpkin Ale w/Leo Orlandini)

WILKFridayBeerbuzz3I’ll admit it was hard to postpone last weeks Friday BeerBuzz, but given the magnitude of the flooding in our area, it was an easy decision.  With so many friends and neighbors in harm’s way, it was the right thing to do. 

To make up for last week I thought we’d do a special show today.  I’m always happy when I can feature a local beer, from our local brewery and welcome the master brewer himself into the studio to sample it with us….and today we made that happen.  Joining us to sample the new Stegmaier Pumpkin Ale was our very own Lion Brewery master brewer Leo Orlandini.  Leo has been with us before to feature Oktoberfest, and we’ve also had a great time featuring Stegmaier Summer Stock & Holiday Warmer, but it was especially exciting today to feature a brand new beer in the Stegmaier lineup.

imagePumpkin Ale was added to the latest lineup of Stegmaier Seasonal beers, and for me it also carries the distinction of being the first Stegmaier brew to carry the new label design that I’ve held in my hand.  Recently the Lion Brewery did an overhaul on all of their Stegmaier labels, so I can honestly say it was fun to see one in person, and I think they look great.

Pumpkin Ale is a 5.5% fall beer, and it has a great subtle combination of pumpkin & spiced flavor.  I like the balance Leo found in this brew between the distinct fall flavors you’d expect in a traditional fall beer and the subtle flavors that make it very drinkable.  Not too much pumpkin, not too much fall spices, and just the right amount of flavor and body to carry you into cooler temperatures.

Thank you

to Leo Orlandini from Lion Brewery, Nancy, John, Joe, and Bosco for yet another fun Friday. 

The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together

As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE.

Lets Talk Beer!

We've added some tools to encourage interaction. First and foremost, you'll see the Recent Comments section up above. This list displays the most recent comments from individual posts. Feel free to comment on ANY post by clicking on the "comments" link at the bottom of any post, or any link in the Recent Comments section. We've also added a Followers section to allow you to follow our blog posts in your Google account.

Please also remember mybeerbuzz is very active on Facebook & Twitter and we DO support RSS feeds for posts and comments.

mybeerbuzz Traffic

Advertising

mybeerbuzz.com is not affiliated with any of the Ads by Google advertisers shown below. We run Google Ads as a way to help offset the costs to run this FREE blog....BUT if you do happen to click on any of these ads (even if you don't buy), we do eventually get a few pennies....literally.

  © Copyright 2010 mybeerbuzz.com

Back to TOP