29 July 2011

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–29 July 2011 (21st Amendment Brewing Hop Crisis w/Shaun O’Sullivan)

WILKFridayBerbuzz8I’ve followed along as 21st Amendment Brewing started back in 2000 and progressed to where they are today.  Maybe it was the fact that I simply liked their name and what it stood for (the 21st Amendment repealed prohibition), or maybe it was the fact that I simply liked their beers…but either way it’s been a fun ride.

Today’s guest on the Friday BeerBuzz, Shaun O’Sullivan, is the co-founder and brewmaster at 21st Amendment.  I remember a few weeks ago calling Shaun and as we spoke about doing today;s show Shaun was actually crossing the Golden Gate Bride…so needless to say 21st Amendment Brewing Co is located in San Francisco and it’s just 2 blocks from Giants Park.

21st Amendment brewing began with a dream to bring back the neighborhood brewery not only as a place to buy a fresh beer, but as a gathering place for local neighborhoods, and after talking to Shaun it’s apparent that 21st Amendment has succeeded.
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21st Amendment has a ton of great beer, but I really wanted to sample their Hop Crisis Imperial IPA.  Ever since I broke news of this new brew from 21st Amendment, I’ve been anxious to try it…and what could be better than to try it with Shaun.

This is a big beer for sure.  At 9.7% ABV and 94 IBU it's big in flavor and really big in ABV…but be not afraid.  This is a tasty Imperial IPA with an interesting backing oak flavor created by the addition of the oak spirals.   After just one taste I can tell you I really like beer and the way Shaun decided to deal with the Hop Crisis.

Try this one for yourself and see if you don’t agree.  Thanks

to  Shaun O’Sullivan from 21st Amendment 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.

27 July 2011

Friday BeerBuzz–The Teaser 29 July 2011

WILKFridayBerbuzz8In case you missed it, last week we welcomed Brian

O’Reilly from Sly Fox Brewing on the Friday BeerBuzz to help us taste Pikeland Pils.  This brew is one of Sly Fox’s flagship beers and for good reason.  It’s a very tasty brew and I think Brian for not only creating such a yummy pilsner, but also for joining us on the show to talk about it.

So what will we be sampling this week?  Hint: This week we’re creating a hop emergency and inviting the brewmaster on to help us take care of it!

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).

22 July 2011

Friday BeerBuzz The Video 22 July 2011

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–22 July 2011 Sly Fox Pikeland Pils with Brian O’Reilly

WILKFridayBerbuzz7We’ve been welcoming some really great guests on the WILK Friday BeerBuzz this summer, and today’s guest was no exception.  I always love sampling a new beer with the brewmaster, and I especially enjoy that interaction when our brewmaster is from one of our local breweries. 

imageToday Brian O’Reilly from Sly Fox Brewing joined the Friday BeerBuzz team to help us sample his GABF award winning Pikeland Pils.  Pikeland Pils is regarded as one of the nations best pilsner-style beers winning the the GABF gold medal in 2000 and 2007.  And as is all of that isn’t good enough, Pikeland Pils is available in can packaging.  Sly Fox was one of the first craft brewers in the mid-Atlantic region to embrace the benefits of can packaging, and Pikeland Pils is a perfect beer to can.

Sly Fox Brewing has always been quietly brewing great beers and winning medals for their craft, so I personally was very excited to talk to Brian about the upcoming expansion into a Sly Fox production brewery in Pottstown.  This new 30K sq. Ft. brewery will triple Sly Fox’s production and with the installation of a new canning line they’ll be able to package 60 cans per minute (more great beer for us!)

Finally I think it was nice of Brian to help us figure out how many cans of Sly Fox will fit in the crisper drawer in our refrigerators…..now I’m heading home to measure mine!


 

Thanks

to  Brian O’Reilly from Sly Fox Brewing, 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.

20 July 2011

Friday BeerBuzz–The Teaser 22 July 2011

WILKFridayBeerbuzz4Last we we finally hooked up with Larry Bell from Bell’s Brewing and sampled Bell’s Oberon.  Larry was a fun guest and I really enjoyed the story about how Oberon was given it’s name (all while sampling some great Oberon.)  Thanks again to Larry for joining us on the air.



So what will we be sampling this week?  Hint: This week we’ll be sampling another great summer brew named after the village square that the brewhouse is on!

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).

15 July 2011

Friday BeerBuzz–The Video 15 July 2011

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–15 July 2011 (Bell’s Oberon w/Larry Bell)

WILKFridayBeerbuzz3As much as holiday beer season may be my favorite time of year, I really love the wide selection of great summer beers that hit the market every year.  I especially like the traditional wheat beers that hit the market every May, and today’s beer choice is one of my favorites.

I first sampled Bells Oberon at a party a few summers ago, and I remember not only thinking it was a classic wheat brew, but I also loved the packaging.  The bright  Blue over orange with the bright orange cap really stood out for me, and I always love watching the reaction people have to the bright package and the beer itself. 

Oberon is a 5.8% ABV classic wheat beer with a slightly banana/clove flavor and a citrusy finish.  What also stands out for me is the silky mouthfeel, which I suspect indicates the predominant wheat malt in the grain bill.  It finishes clean like a summer beer should, and it is a very easy drinking beer…and I think what I find most appealing is that it still has a lot of body so I find it to be a very satisfying summer brew.

It was very cool to have Larry Bell join us on the phone to talk about Oberon.  Who knew the original name of the beer was supposed to be Solsun and that copyright issues blocked the name after the label design was complete….and I was really surprised to find that Larry’s choice of Oberon was based on a 6th grade play where Larry starred as Oberon….very cool story to go with a very cool beer.  Try this one for yourself while it’s still around (on 12oz bottles and 5L mini-kegs)…..because when summer’s gone…so is Oberon.

Thanks

to  Larry Bell from Bell’s 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.

13 July 2011

Friday BeerBuzz–The Teaser (15 July 2011)

WILKFridayBeerbuzz3

Last Friday was a ton of fun…first off we welcomed our pal Nate Saar, brewmaster for Bullfrog Brewery into the studio to talk beer…but more importantly we got to try not one but two of Nate’s newest brews, Somnus Viduata and Peche Panache…both great beers and both continue the great brewing traditions that the frog is famous for.

So what will we be sampling this week?  Hint: This week we have one of my all-time favorite summer seasonals and one of my favorite labels of all time….and we might even have a guest!

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).

08 July 2011

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–8 July 2011 (Bullfrog Brewery Somnus Viduata)

WILKFridayBerbuzz11Back when I first started chasing great local craft beers, I encountered the Bullfrog Brewery in Williamsport, PA.  Their beers were 1st class, their food was fantastic and they had some great music and entertainment.  Many years later, I’m happy to report that Bullfrog Brewery keeps getting better and better.  Whether you visit for their classic Edgar IPA or their new creative brews, you will not be disappointed.

BullfrogLogoToday we welcomed brewmaster Nate Saar into the studio to sample two of his latest creations.  Nate has been brewing at the frog along side our pal Terry Hawbaker for over 5 years, so while his name may seem new to some, he has a ton of great brewing experience at Bullfrog brewery.

imageNate brought up his new

Somnus Viduata

for our sampling pleasure.  Somnus is a Coffee Saison….yes that’s correct….a coffee infused saison.  This 5.5% beer is loaded with flavor and an interesting beer to sample.  When most people sample a Saison they’re expecting a light yeasty farmhouse ale…and Somnus will not disappoint…however the scent and flavor of coffee is prominent so expect to be surprised. 

Somnus Viduata is Latin for Sleep Deprived and the coffee boost is there for sure…..with ethically sourced Columbian Magdalena coffee from Alabaster Coffee Roaster & Tea Company in Williamsport….be sure to sample this one.

Nate was also nice enough to also bring up his new Peach Panache.  This 5% ABV brew is a great partial wheat ale with tons of peach flavor (80 lbs of puree in each batch).  Panache uses a Saison & Brett yeast combo to give this brew a refreshing, yet complex flavor…..I really enjoyed this one.

Thanks

to  Nate Saar from Bullfrog 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.

Friday BeerBuzz - The Video 8 July 2011

06 July 2011

Friday BeerBuzz–The Teaser 8 July 2011

WILKFridayBerbuzz11Last week we sampled one of my all-time favorite blended brews from Liefman’s….Cuvee Brut.  This beer holds the rare distinction of being a great flavorful beer that is both rare and readily available in PA.  Don’t miss out on this one.

So what will we be sampling this week?  Hint:  This week’s brews will arrive with their brewmaster and One of these beers will make sure you’re awake for 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).

01 July 2011

Friday BeerBuzz The Video 1 July 2011

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–1 July 2011 (Liefman’s Cuvee Brut)

WILKFridayBerbuzz8It is always my saying that a big weekend deserves a big beer.  One year ago in honor of a big weekend, I brought you Three Philosophers on the Friday BeerBuzz and over a year later, it is still by far our most complimented, loved and talked about beer.  With that in mind, I set out to bring in another great brew to honor the big 4th of July weekend.

imageMy search started 10 years ago when I discovered a now-discontinued beer that quickly became one of my absolute favorite beers.  It was a small bottle, wrapped in green paper, corked and caged and full of wonderfully complex flavors.  That beer was Liefman’s Glühkriek, a great Belgian beer that was a blend of Liefman’s famous Goudenband brown ale and a Liefman’s cherry Kriek.

imageSadly Liefman’s Glühkriek was discontinued many years ago, but I’m happy to report it may be back.  For today’s show I showcased a new beer from Liefman’s called Cuvee Brut that I think has the potential to live up to the standard set by Three Philosophers.  Not only does it contain cherries like Three Philosophers, but it also is brewed by a Duvel owned brewery like Ommegang Three Philosophers.

imageCuvee Brut is a complex blend of an aged brown ale that is macerated with fresh cherries (about 28 lbs. per 26 gallons).  Next the blend is aged for a year before being blended with Liefman’s other to famous brews, Goudenband and Oud Bruin to form Cuvee Brut.

Needless to say the blend is complex and amazing and because of the aging and blending, the brewery is only able to brew it once a year.  The good news is Cuvee Brut is readily available in NEPA so be sure to get out and try some now.  The flavor is sour and sweet with flavors of oak, almond, vanilla, and of course cherries.  Do not wait….go get this and try it before it’s gone again.



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.

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