31 August 2012

Friday BeerBuzz - Goose Island Pepe Nero w/Brett Porter

WILK Friday BeerBuzz - 31 Aug 2012 - Goose Island Pepe Nero w/Brett Porter (& Bourbon County Stout 2012)

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It’s always interesting to hear from a brewmaster, and it’s always a lot of fun talking beer with the man who creates it, but we had even more fun today with our brewery choice because their beers are brand spanking NEW in Northeastern PA.



Today we featured Goose Island Brewery, and for those following along, you’ll note that only a month or so ago Goose Island entered the Pennsylvania market.  For many years I hurriedly sampled Goose Island beers as I ran from one terminal to another at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport….they always had great beers and I can remember wondering why I didn’t see them in PA.

Jump ahead to a year or so ago and Goose Island was purchased by Anheuser-Busch bumping their distribution and production up considerably.  In fact Goose Island just announced that by Nov 2012 they will distribute in all 50 states.  Some may think this is not good news for Goose Island beer, but I would disagree…their beer is better than ever and now more available than ever before.
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Today we chose an interesting beer from Goose Island called Pepe Nero.  This is an interesting mix of a Belgian Farmhouse beer that uses black peppercorns in the brew.  Pepe Nero is an interesting combination of sweet and savory flavors with notes of nutty flavor and an earthy peppery finish.  The addition of black peppercorns accentuates the typical Farmhouse Ale peppery feel and finish and makes for a really tasty beer.  If you stop to savor the flavor for a moment, be sure to check out the dark mahogany color of this beer too…it simply looks and tastes wonderful.



Today we were lucky enough to talk to Goose Island Brewmaster Brett Porter.  Brett not only has a last name perfect for a brewer, but even a first name that is perfect for a brewer…and hopefully we will see him create a Brett-Yeast Porter someday.  It was really fun talking about Pepe Nero and the recent expansion of the barrel program and distribution at Goose Island.  It was also fun talking flavors with Brett & even a bit of food pairing for Pepe Nero as well.  This is a beer and style I’d recommend everyone try for themselves and see if you like it as much as we did.


Not many people realize that Goose Island has one of the largest barrel collections in the U.S……so as a bonus, the guys at Goose Island were nice enough to send us a bottle of Goose Island Bourbon County Stout 2012 and it was wonderful!  At 15% ABV, Bourbon County is a big beer for sure, and it is loaded with chocolate, boozy bourbon flavor that I really enjoyed.  Try this one for yourself if and when it does hit PA.

Thank you to Brett Porter from Goose Island

, 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

29 August 2012

Friday BeerBuzz - 31 Aug 2012 The Teaser

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Last week we had a great time talking to Dan Kenary from Harpoon Brewery.  Dan not only knows his “beer stuff” but he’s a great spokesman for Harpoon brewery & craft beer in general.  We were also lucky enough to sample some Harpoon Rich & Dan’s Rye IPA…a wonderfully hoppy Rye IPA and a beer you should try for yourself.

So what will we be sampling this week?  Hint:  This week we’ll be sampling a beer from a brewery that is both small and large at the same time.

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 August 2012

Friday BeerBuzz - Harpoon Rich & Dan’s Rye IPA w/Dan Kenary (Video)

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–Harpoon Rich & Dan’s Rye IPA w/Dan Kenary

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There are few honors in the beer world quite like having your name on a beer.  While many such brews are tribute-beers or one-off specialty-beers, it is even more rare if that beer is a year-round core beer…and even more rare for us to be lucky enough to have the beer and the person it is named after on our show today.

Today we were honored to feature Harpoon Brewery Co-Founder Dan Kenary and his new year-round Rich & Dan’s Rye IPA on the WILK Friday BeerBuzz..  Dan & Co-Founder Rich Doyle joined together in 1986 to open Harpoon Brewery so they are well deserving of a year-round beer being named after them, and this one is a good one.

Rich & Dan met in college…and 8 years later embarked on the journey we now know as Harpoon Brewery.    When they filed for a brewery permit they were granted License # 001—the very first license issued in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and they brought back brewing to Boston after a 25-year hiatus.
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In 2011 Harpoon added a new beer to their 100-Barrel series of beers called Rye IPA, and this beer was so popular, it went on to become the first year-round release in over 2-years, Rich & Dan’s Rye IPA.  This beer not only celebrates the journey Rich & Dan have shared but it even uses the original house yeast strain dating back to 1987!

Rich & Dan’s Rye IPA is a wonderful beer…it’s loaded with spicy hops that balance out the Rye flavors perfectly, it’s slightly grapefruity, with wonderful mouth-feel and a really clean dry finish.  At 6.9% ABV and 70 IBU this beer has no shortage of hops and it’s actually very easy drinking even for it’s higher ABV.  Try it for yourself and see why this beer is not only a new year-round beer, but how it celebrates the journey that Rich & Dan and everyone at Harpoon brewery have taken.

Thank you to Dan Kenary from Harpoon Brewery

, 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

22 August 2012

Friday BeerBuzz–24 Aug 2012–The Teaser

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Last week we sampled a really interesting beer from Terrapin Beer & Shmaltz Brewing called Reunion 2012.  This beer has a great story and it benefits a great cause.  We also got to hang out with Spike Buckowski from Terrapin to help us sample Reunion.  Lots of exciting things going on at Terrapin and it was great hearing abut them from Spike.  DO get out and try this beer.

So what will we be sampling this week?  Hint: This week’s beer is named after the brewery’s founder and this is his first appearance on our 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).

17 August 2012

Friday BeerBuzz - 17 Aug 2012 Terrapin Reunion Ale 2012 w/Spike Buckowski

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–Terrapin Reunion Ale 2012 w/Spike Buckowski

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We’ve loved many of our Friday BeerBuzz guests and had a great time with each and every one of them, but today’s guest holds a very special place in our pint glasses.  Spike Buckowski joined us back at the very beginning of the WILK Friday BeerBuzz.  We featured Big Hoppy Monster and Spike was one of our very first phone guests on the show.  Naturally the beer was great and Spike was a lot of fun talking beer with.

When Spike release his Side Project #14 (aka Tom Foolery) I knew we had our April Fools Day beer & guest and Spike didn’t let me down.  Of course this unusual Black Saison was delish, and we even convinced Spike to give up some details on the next TWO Side Project beers including Phlux Capacitor (which didn’t hit the beer-media until months later)…but perhaps my favorite part was Spike’s Carmen Elektra massage going on while we did the interview.  wink wink….

With all the great news coming out of Terrapin lately, we decided we were overdue having our pal Spike join us again….and with Terrapin celebrating their 10th Anniversary… today was the perfect day
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It was a lot of fun talking about Spike’s adventure in New Zealand (with Boundary Road Brewing) and even more exciting to get all of the details on the Terrapin brewhouse expansion.  I knew when I saw photos of the new fermentation tanks with a “Coming Soon--More Terrapin Beer” sign on it we were in for good news.

Not surprisingly my favorite part of the show was tasting the Terrapin / Shmaltz Reunion Ale 2012 –”A Beer For Hope” with Spike.  This beer is loaded with flavors and complexities, as well as a hint of vanilla cinnamon & cocoa to balance it out.  This is the 6th Reunion beer to honor Virginia MacLean and benefit the IMBCR so it certainly is a”Beer for Hope.”  We should also note that this is a co-brewed beer with among others our guest from a few weeks back, Jeremy Cowan from Shmaltz Brewing….so it was a perfect fit.

No Spike Buckowski show can end without pumping Spike for details on the next Side Project Beer….and of course Spike does not disappoint…What will Side Project #18 be?? You heard it her first….Terrapin Side Project # 18 will be LIQUID BLISS….a peanut butter chocolate porter (dry-hopped with Georgia peanuts)!  Be sure to watch the video for more details.

Thank you to Spike Buckowski from Terrapin

, 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

15 August 2012

Friday BeerBuzz–17 Aug 2012–The Teaser

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Last week we experienced and odd but entertaining microphone-takeover on the Friday BeerBuzz.  Turns out Mrs. BeerBuzz & her pal Kellie played ninja-craft-beer-warriors and took over the show.  They did a great job, we enjoyed a great beer and it was a ton of fun….so much so I expect you may see them both again…

So what will we be sampling this week? Hint: This week we be reuniting with a 3-time guest on the show and he’ll be featuring a really special 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).

10 August 2012

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–10 Aug 2012–Ladies Night w/Blanche de Bruxelles

WILKFridayBerbuzz15It’s not often that I feature a sessionable beach beer on the Friday BeerBuzz.  It’s less often that I feature that sort of beer three weeks in a row….but what perhaps happens least often is that I am involved in a microphone beer-radio-show takeover by a team of semi-hostile thirsty lady craft beer emissaries….so much to my surprise, guess what happened today?



From the launch of the hostile takeover of todays Friday BeerBuzz show to the blaring of Kool & The Gang’s famous hit “Ladies Night” I knew Webster & I were in trouble.  I should have known if two guys tried to answer the beer question, “What beer do women like?” the outcome would not be good.  Mrs. BeerBuzz often tells me there is no difference in the craft beer world for men & women and today she and her pal Kellie came on with Nancy to prove that point.
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Today the ladies chose the classic Brasserie Lefebvre beer called Blanche de Bruxelles.  Mrs. BeerBuzz will recall sampling this rare beer at Monk’s Café in Philadelphia many moons ago and wishing it was more available…well now it is.  On draft and in bottles Blanche de Bruxelles is widely available in Northeastern PA and a great beer for summer.

Blanche de Bruxelles uses a 40% Wheat malt and unfiltered which accounts for it’s cloudiness…and the tastes of coriander and dried orange peel are prominent.  This beer is a traditional Belgian-style Wit or White and it doesn’t stray from that recipe very much.

This beer was originally named Mannekin Pis to commemorate the 1619 statue of the same name in Brussels.  After several US States banned the beer in the 1990’s, it was ultimately renamed Blanche de Bruxelles.  Regardless of your gender, check this one out for yourself…and despite what Webster and I may say, we had a lot of fun with today’s Ninja-Ladies-Night show takeover and we look forward to more Ninja-Craft-Beer-Ladies shows in the future.  So I leave you with one last thing to ponder ...to orange or not to orange? That is the question.

Thank you to Mrs. BeerBuzz, Kellie

, 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.

08 August 2012

Friday BeerBuzz–10 Aug 2012–The Teaser

WILKFridayBerbuzz15Over the last few weeks, we’ve launched a series of pure summer beers on the Friday BeerBuzz.  Last week we went non-traditional and sampled Wild Onion’s Hop Slayer DIPA.  It was tasty, loaded with hops and a great beer to enjoy on the beach.  Just be careful out there and be sure to STAY on the beach.

So what will we be sampling this week? Hint: This week we’ll stay traditional and enjoy a beer fit for a European beach…and one even the ladies will love.

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).

03 August 2012

Friday BeerBuzz - 3 Aug 2012 - Wild Onion Hop Slayer DIPA

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–3 Aug 2012–Wild Onion Brewing Hop Slayer DIPA

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Last week I started an impromptu series of summer beach beers.  We talked about important factors….cans for safety, easy drinking, refreshing and enjoyable by everyone in your beach-posse….and full of flavor.  I took a traditional route last week recommending an American Blonde Ale from Blue Point called Summer Ale.

While that beer answered the question, “What beer should you take to the beach?”  This week I decided to choose a less-traditional summer beach beer and perhaps answer the question, “What beer do I take to the beach?”

I’m a little less traditional with beach beers, and I prefer to leave belly-space free for candy, popsicles an donuts.  With that in mind I decided to choose a beer that’s a big stronger…BUT…no less “beachable.”



Todays beach beer comes from a brewery people are still becoming familiar with.  Known well in the Chicagoland area, Wild Onion Brewing Co is still finding it’s way into the vocabulary of craft beer lovers.  But don’t be fooled by any of that….Wild Onion beers are full of of flavor and they have built their reputation on drinkability and freshness.

Wild Onion Brewery and Onion Pub sit on a restored gravel quarry & private lake.  The building is also know for their timber-frame construction that uses timbers that pre-date the American Revolution.  Not only is it a beautiful structure it’s also available for banquets & weddings….thinking of a beer destination wedding…check out Lake Barrington, IN.
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Today I chose Wild Onion Hop Slayer.  This beer is packaged in 12oz cans and it uses the cool can-top-protecting caps & carrier.  Hop Slayer is a Double IPA and at 8.2% ABV, this is one you want to be careful with on the beach.   Be sure to keep it cold and re-apply your sunscreen while you enjoy it…drink it too fast and this one will burn you.  Hop Slayer is well balanced for it’s 100IBU and as the website says, it has a body so big you can almost chew on it.  Whether at home or on the beach, be sure to chew on this one for yourself.  Get to know Wild Onion Brewing Co…..you won’t be sorry you did.

Thank you to

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.

01 August 2012

Friday BeerBuzz–3 Aug 2012–The Teaser

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Last week we started our premier of summer-beach beers and it was a lot of fun trying Blue Point Summer Ale.  This is a great canned summer blonde ale with enough body to make it satisfying and a tart refreshing finish you’ll love on the beach.  Try this one for yourself and see what I mean.

So what will we be sampling this week? Hint: This week we’ll be following up with part II of the summer-beach beer series….but this beer has a name that isn’t in the flavor.

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).

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