Green Flash Brewing Co. – West Coast IPA

Feb 4

Posted by Joe in Beer Reviews | No Comments

Well hello there my little friend! Aren’t you a bitter little bugger? That’s what I said to my Green Flash Brewing Co. West Coast IPA. Why is it a west coast IPA you might ask? Well the brewery is in San Diego, and if the recordings of 2Pac have taught me anything it’s that California is very much on the west side. If you need any more reason that that then you’re against 2Pac and against me and I suggest you move along.

The beer has a sharp piney aroma too it. Lots of hops all up in your grill. Notes of grapefruit come into plat also. I’m excited kids. The first ship has a big sharp bite too it. All about the hops, not to overpowering but defiantly the main focus here. Strong, dry and bitter finish rounds everything out. Really a great example of an American IPA. I love freedom and I think if 2Pac was alive today, which he very well may be, he’d be proud of this one.

Green Flash Brewing Co. - West Coast IPA

Green Flash Brewing Co. - West Coast IPA

Journey Brewing Company

Feb 1

Posted by Joe in Drunken Rants | No Comments

I can’t tell you anything about their beers, when they’re opening or how drunk I’m going to get off of their offerings but I can tell you I’ve know the owner since I saw a little youngster and he’s a great guy. Brian, along with his wife are just getting the process going for opening their Denver based brewery and you all should hop over to Facebook and become a fan. Every time you become a fan an angel gets their wings. I couldn’t think of anything more creative.

Click here to become a fan and get more info.

The Village Idiot – I Miss You So

Jan 29

Posted by Joe in Drunken Rants | 1 Comment

For whatever reason I’ve been thinking about The Village Idiot a lot lately. For those of you outside of the NYC area The Village Idiot was a bar located in Manhattan on the corner of 14th and 9th. It closed over 5 years ago but there’s not a day that goes by without me looking out the window and getting a little misty about the wonderful magic that went on there, or how I’d probably be dead if it was still open.

When I first moved down to the city about 10 years ago I didn’t really know anyone. So when a guy at my job, Rob, asked me if I wanted to get a few beers I hopped on the chance. We eventually became good friends and did a decent amount of drinking over the next few weeks around the Union Square area. I was a single man then and had no ties at home so I wanted to explore this fine city and all the bars it had to offer. One day he took me down to The Village Idiot. Little did I know that place would change my life in ways people only read about. The first time we walked in it was about 5 in the afternoon and the bartender was piss drunk, topless and wearing her underwear on the outside of her pants. I was in love. We eventually nicknamed her Chim-Chim and over the next few months became big fans of her work. The bartender who came on for the night shift was in a better state, but as the night when on she got closer and closer to Chim-Chim status. That’s the kind of bar this was.

The jukebox was full of old country music, the beer was cheap and there was an endless supply of peanuts for your consumption. Of course the first time we were there and I went to eat some Rob grabbed my hand like that scene in “Raiders of the Lost Ark” when Indy goes to eat the poison date. You didn’t eat the peanuts. What you did do though is get drunk and thrown them at each other, the bartenders never really seamed to care, sometimes even joined in. The more booze you got in you the worse it would get. Eventually I’d be eating the peanuts.

Over the next couple years the idiot became the spot I would go anytime I got a chance to do some serious drinking. People I knew would complain about the fact that is smelt like vomit, you’d often see cockroaches on the floor and transvestites were regulars. I didn’t care, I loved that damn place. One night I got so drunk there that when I got home I felt that I had to eat something to keep from getting sick. Unfortunately soup was the only thing in my apartment. I spilt some on the floor and neglected to clean it up before putting the pot on the stove and sitting down. When I saw the soup boiling over I ran into the kitchen, slipped on the wet floor and hit the pot which shot boiling chicken soup into my face. The scream I let out was one of the loudest I’ve ever heard. The next day my face was so messed up that people at work forced me to go to the emergency room. I waited two hours for a doctor to give me a sample size Neosporin and a pamphlet on reconstructive surgery. I was not happy. Luckily the burns healed and I’m not a freakish mess today, but I can thank the idiot for that experience.

One night I got off the bus and had to pee so bad that I decided to run the three block hike to my apartment. I got four steps into my job and fell flat on my face, cutting up my hands on the sidewalk. Another night I didn’t notice an air conditioner coming out of a house window and walked head first into the corner. When I moved out of the area a little piece of my head was still embedded into corner of that AC unit. Another night I was there with a buddy of mine and proceeded to do more shots then I’ve ever done in my life. Unbeknownst to my friend every time I took one I put the shot glass in his bag. When we went to leave his bag must of weight at least twenty pounds and to this day he still have those shot glasses. That was also the same night I learned just how expensive a strip club can be in NYC.

I don’t drink nearly as much as I use to back then and I’ve cut hard liqueur completely out. I can say The Village Idiot was the first place I tried Brooklyn Lager and in many ways opened me up to the world of craft beer but I’d be bullshitting if I said I went there for fresh brews. I think we all had a bar like the Village Idiot at some point in our lives, and if you didn’t you’re really missing out on something. After it closed a little part of me died and I spent the next few years trying to find a spot that could take it’s place. I never did. Which is probably for the best really but still the Village Idiot will always hold a special little place in my heart. I rarely go down to the meat packing district anymore. It’s gotten a lot classier, which is a major reason why the Village Idiot couldn’t afford the rent anymore, but when I do and I walk by the old spot I still get a little misty. It’s been occupied by a few different restaurants over the years and I always wonder if the people eating there know what had been on those floors years ago. For their sake I hope not. Go bless you Chim-Chim, whoever you are.

Sierra Nevada – Harvest Series Wet Hop Ale

Jan 27

Posted by Joe in Beer Reviews | No Comments

When I was in middle school for three days I tried to work at the strawberry farm near my parents house. I failed miserably. Outside of being color blind and not being able to tell what a ripe strawberry liked like I also learned quickly that my husky frame did not do well with manual labor. People like me aren’t meant to be in the field for more then ten minutes at a time. I burn easily.

All this makes me appreciate Sierra Nevada and their Harvest Series. A series of beers that is made with freshly picked hops from Yukma Washington and brought directly to the brewery. A lot of people do a lot of picking to make this happen. Yes I’m 99% sure there’s a machine they use to pick the hops but still, it sounds like a lot of work.

I got my hands on their 13 release of the Wet Hop Ale in the series. A sparky little brew with a big hop bite to it. I don’t really know what makes a beer sparky but it sounds kind of nice and then 24 oz bottle that this comes in is doing me good right about now. Joe’s getting a buzz people! But let’s step back for a minute. The aroma of this one like a magical field of hops that just sprouted in my apartment. Little bit of malt and citrus some around too but all about hops. The taste, oh the taste my friends. Sharp hop bite with a nice amount of bitter going on. Great fresh hop taste. Not that I know what fresh hops taste like but I assume it’s like this. Sweet malt taste that balances everything out. If you like the hops, and I bet you do, you should give this one a go. It’s up there on my list of favorite IPAs.

Sierra Nevada - Harvest Series Wet Hop Ale

Sierra Nevada - Harvest Series Wet Hop Ale

Flying Fish Brewery Company – Exit 1 Bayshore Oyster Stout

Jan 18

Posted by Joe in Beer Reviews | 1 Comment

Let’s take a trip on the happiest road in the world my friends. A magical road that leads to a land of sunshine and gumdrops. A trail so full of wonder and delight it could only be called one thing, the New Jersey Turnpike. Saw that coming didn’t you? You may of heard about the good people over at Flying Fish Brewing and their Exit Series line of beers that celebrate every exit on the greatest highway in the nation. Each stop on the trip highlights another great thing about New Jersey.

Last week I got my hands on their Exit 1 Bayshore Oyster Stout. “Oyster?!” you might be saying right now, “What kind of shit are they trying to pull here Joe!?”. Well I’d first as you not to swear, this is a family site. And second I’d say yes they do actually put oysters in the beer, Delaware oysters to be precise, and it’s wonderful. They give the beer a great creamy texture without any of the strange flavor you might be thinking you’ll get. The beer as more of a rich chocolate flavor and coffee aroma. A bit of a smokey armoa and flavor also but all around a really great beer from what is so far a great series of brews.

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Dogfish Head – Chicory Stout

Jan 5

Posted by Joe in Beer Reviews | 1 Comment

People toss around the word “love” too much these days. You don’t love Snookie from “Jersey Shore” you’re just envious of her lifestyle and want to be a part of it. But my friends I’m going to go ahead and say it, I like Dogfish Head’s Chicory Stout. I want to date it. If it would have me I would take it away for a romantic weekend getaway and propose to it. We’d have a destination wedding and live happily ever after. My wife knows about this and is fine with it. Well let me clarify that she’s ok with me loving the beer but she thinks the fact that I want to date it is kind of weird. We all have our quarks though.

What makes it so good? It’s like drinking a big tall delicious cup of the best black coffee your. The best cup of coffee your undeserving mouth has ever tasted. Yeah think about it. The aroma is something children dream about at night. Dark chocolate notes dance along with the coffee aroma, both playing nicely with the chicory. The taste is so wonderful I almost cry every time I take a sip. If you’ve ever had coffee down in New Orleans, or at least some place that puts chicory in their coffee, you already have a good idea of what’s going on here. Dark a big dark roasted flavor that just perfectly balanced. The beers got big flavors all around and full bodies but drinkable. Just an all around great beer, it’s defiantly my favorite stout and possibly my favorite beer. There, I said it!

Dogfish Head - Chicory Stout

Dogfish Head - Chicory Stout

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Welcome to the Y2K + 10

Jan 4

Posted by Joe in Drunken Rants | No Comments

Let’s take a look back and reflect on all the exciting things we’ve been through together this past year shell we? We’ve drank a lot of beer, we’ve toppled a alt-rock superstar in the NYC marathon and we learned how to love again. Sure all of this was lost a few months back when the site crashed but that doesn’t make it any less meaningful. Wait, no I’m pretty sure it does. Anyway let’s move on and make 2010 the most acceptable year to date!

A lot of people have posted their beer picks from 2009. I’m not really sure how that’s going to help anyone but if I was forced at gunpoint to pick my favorite beer of last year I’d have to go with Dogfish Heads White Squall IPA. I’d then ask you why you’ve got a run to my head over some stupid beer pick. It made me want to hug and kiss the bottle, which I did. The wife is still mocking me. I wish I could put a link to my review of the beer but remember that crash we talked about? Man you never listen to me.

Favorite beer stop of the year would have to go to Stone Brewing out in San Diego California. An amazing location that if they would allow me to I’d move in. A great brewpub, an acre garden that you can hang out in and a big ass beer selection that allows you to try not only Stone’s beer but others from the area. Great time.

What’s in store for 2010 here at Beer And Joe? Well I’d like to promise you more posts but I won’t lie to you. I’m pushing for at least one a week, hopefully more. Let’s not lie to each other though. Hopefully some guest bloggers will stop by also because lets face it my grammatical errors can only keep people entertained for so long. But where ever this year takes us I will make this one promise to you, you’ll most likely be disappointed by me. You’re welcome!

Bear Republic – Racer 5 IPA

Dec 29

Posted by Joe in Beer Reviews | No Comments

A few months back on a trip out to California the wife and I took in the sights and flavors of wine country. That is we hit a couple of wineries and spent the rest of the time visiting local breweries. My wife is more of a wine girl but after a couple vineyards you’ve pretty much had it all. The breweries on the other hand, oh the breweries.

One of our stops was Bear Republic in Sonoma. It’s a brewpub that started back in 95 and has blown up over the years.  It was one of the first breweries I added to my list when we were picking out where we would hit. It was dreamy. The food was great and the beer was awesome. If you make it out that way I’d call you insane if you didn’t make a trip.

One of their beers you can probably find though is their Racer 5. A big old IPA that backs a big amount of hop flavor without being to over powering. Lots of citrus in the aroma, nice amount of fresh hops in there too. Like sunshine in a glass my friends. The taste has a nice hop bite to it without being too much. Very refreshing but still enough bitterness to be a great IPA. All around just a mighty tasty beer. Very drinkable for an IPA and has a nice punch to boot. Good times had by all.

Bear Republic - Racer 5 IPA

Bear Republic - Racer 5 IPA

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Long Trail Brewing Company – Winter White

Dec 24

Posted by Joe in Beer Reviews | 2 Comments

Here at Beer and Joe we don’t like to pick sides when it comes to Holidays. We like to keep it balanced you know, so no one is left out. That’s why I’m cracking open a Long Trailer Winter White today. Not a Christmas beer or something of that sort. No we’re making sure everyone can come to the party and tie one on. That’s the kind of nice people we are. Drink up Johnnie!

The beer is a part of Long Trail’s Brewmaster Series, a line of special beers they put out in small batches. I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying a couple other beers in this line and have been big time happy. You can toss a coffee stout and a double IPA in front of me though and 9 times out of 10 I’ll be happy. A Witbier on the other hand has got to have it’s shit together to make Joe happy. There’s a lot going on in the style and if anything is off it pops right out. So bring it mutha clucka!

Luckily for me Long Trail has done it again with this one. A nice citrus orange aroma coming off with a bit of yeast poking through. Pretty much what you’d expect and not overpowering. The taste is just dandy, peach flavor which is something I haven’t run across before but I like a lot. Almost tropical, doesn’t that sound nice? Some yeast aftertaste but all around a nice light clean beer. You could put down a few of these on whatever holiday you’re going to celebrate.

Long Trail Brewing Company - Winter White

Long Trail Brewing Company - Winter White

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Dogfish Head Brewery And Eats – Rehoboth Beach Delaware

Dec 15

Posted by Joe in From The Road | No Comments

I love Disney World, it’s by far my favorite place ever imagined, yeah I said it. It’s the happiest place on earth after all. But it doesn’t serve beer. Well alright Epcot does but still it’s a rough scene if you want to get a few in you, which I normally do.

Dogfish Head Brewery and Eats on the other hand serves beer, lots of beer in fact. And more importantly it’s all really wonderful. In fact you can get beer there that you can’t find in your local beer store. Beers that are being tried out and maybe one day will make it in a bottle, but maybe not. And for that fact alone Dogfish Head is my second favorite place on earth. Now I should be clear that there’s actually three locations, two of which I’ve been two. But the one in Rehoboth Beach holds a special place in my heart, mostly because it’s the original location where it all started and is only a few miles away from the brewery.

So a couple weeks back on our way home from Virginia my wife and I decided to stop at the brew pub. Actually we decided to make it our stopping point on the way home. We’d get into Rehoboth late on Saturday, stop at the pub for lunch on Sunday and head on home. But the moment we got into the car on Saturday I made it my mission to make it there in time for beers. What followed was a 6 hour drive into Delaware which landed us directly at the bar around 11 at night. We opted to go straight there and check into the hotel after which I thought was a good move.

Now by the time we got there the kitchen was closed. We were able to get a couple small pizzas but I was all about the beer. Their Chicory Stout might be one of my favorites so I started out with that sucker. It has a great coffee flavor with a big chicory punch to it. I’ve managed to find it in bottles recently but that’s a different post all together. But for me the best part of the night was getting to try their Wet Hop American Summer. Sure it’s a little late to be drinking a summer beer but it’s one of those I mentioned is only available at the brewpub so I wasn’t going to pass it up. It made me want to make a baby and it turns out it actually went on tap in October so it’s not a summer beer after all. Maybe a little misleading as far as a name but it’s a big hoppy lager, light and refreshing but still packs a nice hop back to it. I was a big fan.

The next day we headed over there for lunch. I should point out that the night before we actually closed the bar at 2 AM, something that’s pretty rare for my wife and I. But the next day we ended up having the same waitress. Awkward maybe but still kind of nice that most of the staff remembered us. The wife and I ordered a couple sandwiches and then I went to finish off the rest of the beer list. The 90 minute IPA is pretty easy to find around me but still it’s always a little better from the source. It also went pretty nicely with my jerk chicken sandwich which was lighting my mouth on fire. I had another chicory stout and then went for the other rare brew on tap. Their Black Thai is an Imperial Stout brewed with edamame and Thai basil. It is then fermented with a lager yeast and 250 pounds of pureed Oregon blackberries. In short it kicks ass. All around a great brew. Smooth and dangerous, you’d never know it’s an imperial. Finished off the meal well.

So spreading out the drinks over two days turned out to be a pretty good idea. The wife and I took the ferry back to NJ and by that time I had sobered up enough to finish off the drive. Everyone was happy! If you get the chance make the trip, it’s maybe not the best vacation spot for the middle of December but to a beer fan it’s worth the effort. Happy travels!