Eastward Ho!

We are currently situated in an interesting slice of American brewing history.  All breweries start small, even Adolphus Busch and Frederick Miller started with modest breweries before becoming the global mega powers they are today.  The key advantage that AB-InBev and MillerCoors currently have in the market, is time.  These brewery empires were built over more than a century of brewing and brand recognition.  American craft brewing as we know it today, is roughly 25-30 years old.  You don't tackle a giant overnight, but you also don't become a fixture in the industry without growing.

Sierra Nevada, New Belgium and Lagunitas have all recently realized that to meet the demand of their products, they have to grow.  Not simply grow the size of their brewhouse, but grow the size of their companies.  This happens in two ways, through contract brewing or through building new breweries.  Contract brewing is cheaper, and has historically been the most popular option with craft brewers up to this point.  Building new breweries is expensive, but it increases the size of the business while still ensuring full control of the end product.  Opening a new brewery is clearly the ideal scenario, but its prohibitive cost makes it difficult.  The Boston Brewing Company, the largest American craft brewery, has done both with a long history of contract brewing and a more recently emphasis on opening new breweries as seen in Cincinnati.

Sierra Nevada

The first brewery to make the announcement of an expansion this year was Sierra Nevada in January.  A location 12 miles south of Asheville, North Carolina was chosen for its water quality and thriving beer culture.  The brewery will initially produce 300,000 barrels with room for expansion.  For reference, Sierra Nevada is currently brewing somewhere in the ballpark of 1 million barrels per year in Chico.  Both flagship beers and seasonal releases will be brewed at the new facility.  The new brewery is scheduled to open in 2014.

Does this affect Indiana?  Probably not.  There's a chance there will be a perceivable difference in the quality of the beer, but it's unlikely.  It's possible they might pass the transportation savings on to us, but that's also unlikely.

New Belgium

Hot on the heels of Sierra Nevada, New Belgium announced last week that they were also planning on building an additional facility in Asheville.  Instead of building outside of the city, New Belgium is developing a brownfield site in the River Arts district of Asheville.  While Sierra Nevada mentioned water quality as a major factor in the location choice, New Belgium cited the city's sustainability, bike paths and greenways.  Of course they were also drawn by the outstanding beer culture.  New Belgium's expansion is planned to have a capacity of 400,000 barrels, exceeding the plans of Sierra Nevada, though it should be noted that Sierra Nevada's primary brewery is larger than New Belgium's.  The new brewery is scheduled to open in 2015.

Does this affect Indiana?  Probably not.  Much like Sierra Nevada, there's a chance that the quality of the beer might change, but it's doubtful.  The bigger impact would be New Belgium's ability to distribute into more states east of the Mississippi River.  Currently 17 of the 22 states New Belgium does not distribute to are east of the Mississippi River.  Of the 5 remaining, 2 are Hawaii and Alaska.

Lagunitas

In a completely surprising move, Lagunitas announced via Twitter earlier this week that they would be building an expansion in Chicago.  Lagunitas' expansion will be built in an existing film sound stage in the Douglas Park neighborhood, just west of Pilsen and a few blocks north of the California-Cermak Pink stop.  The decision to build a brewery in Chicago instead of another city (because Asheville is probably looking for a trifecta) seems to be more of an emotional one.  Tony Magee, founder of Lagunitas, is a Chicago native.  The Lagunitas expansion is the biggest of the 3, weighing in at 600,000 barrels, equivalent to their existing brewery.  The schedule is also more aggressive, with a planned opening of 2013.

Does this affect Indiana?  Most likely yes.  It's hard to imagine a brewery producing 1.2 million barrels of beer annually with a brewery in Illinois wouldn't distribute to Indiana.  Lagunitas is typically priced at the same entry point as Sierra Nevada is grocery and liquor stores, so you'll have one more low cost craft option.

What happens next?
That's a good question, and one up for speculation.  With these 3 expansions, 3 more craft breweries will be producing well in excess of 1 million barrels per year.  It seems like a new classification of brewery is in order.  A brewery producing that much beer can't claim to uphold the same beliefs and practices as smaller, local breweries, but that also doesn't mean that they should be automatically cast into the same pile as breweries that put profits above consumers.  Sam Adams faced the same issue a few years back when they grew outside of the definition of a "craft brewery." Their response was simply to continue brewing good beer and place a focus on their philanthropic efforts towards the craft beer community.  As a result, hardly anyone noticed that they outgrew the classification.

Perhaps more importantly, what happens to the craft beer community in Asheville.  In a community with 10 breweries (give or take), what happens when not one but two giants come to town.  Will the community help each other and develop into one of the country's top beer destinations?  Or will the new breweries cannibalize the existing breweries' profits?

Share your thoughts about these new developments and the rapid growth of the industry in the comments!

KOTBR #140 | Back to the Basics

We decided to dedicate this roundtable to the classic American craft beers. As part of my mourning process, I have decided to dedicate my review to the classic Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.

Anchor Steam is cool shit. It is an easy drinking beer that burps with a mild hop flavor, which really should be a characteristic that all beers are reviewed upon. When it comes to classics, Anchor Steam is the king kong of classics. It literally is in a category of its own. It is the Peyton Manning of beers... redefining the category, elevating its games, a beacon for others to strive towards. Peyton's Colts locker and Anchor Steam bottles...It is sad when they are empty.

Bell's Amber is a less hop/more malt beer. It is a sweet, creamy, tasty beer that makes your tastebuds ring like the bells of St. John's Church after one of Peyton Manning's victories during the 2006 Super Bowl winning season and post-season when the Indianapolis Colts were undefeated at home.

Samuel Adams Boston Lager is a smooth and tasty lager with a hop profile that will please most craft beer drinkers. I enjoy finishing off one of these Boston favorites in Indianapolis just like I enjoyed watching Peyton Manning finishing off Boston's favorite football team in the AFC Championship in Indianapolis. I still keep my ticket stub from that game in my wallet.

For me, Goose Island Honker's Ale is a middle of the road beer. It is not bad, there is nothing that is off-putting, but there is nothing that is over the top exciting about it. It is still a winner though. It makes me think of Peyton's performance in Super Bowl XLI against the Chicago Bears. Not bad, nothing off-putting, nothing over the top. But still a winner.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is a clean, crisp beer with just enough malt to support the respectable hop profile. While Sierra Nevada is the name given to a geographic area of California and Nevada, it is Spanish for "snow covered mountain range..." Which can be found around the Mile High city of Denver where Peyton will now call home. It's a bit of a stretch making that connection, but we didn't review Oskar Blues. And I'm certainly not toasting Peyton's memory with a fuckin' Coors Light or Blue Moon. But I will toast my QB with a Sierra Nevada.

Peyton Manning: 5.0 mugs.

As you may have noted - and perhaps only if you read the site through traditional internet browsers - last month we attempted a craft beer classics theme. Now as we approach the end of another month, we're finally following up with a roundtable in that vein.

Maybe you've had Anchor Steam. Maybe you've even had Steam and forgotten how good it is. I'd say it's the very definition of bready. It's a light and chewy beer, an easy drinker, with a sweet hint reminiscent of Hawaiian sweet rolls. If I'm out on a bender (it happens quite a bit), and I've found my palate destroyed by bigger beers, I can always count on Anchor Steam to reset everything. Light enough to keep things mellow, tasty enough to compete with much bigger beers. Steam is my go-to everyday drinker. That's my definition of perfect. 5.0 mugs.

I was recently asked by a friend what better beers I might recommend for an upcoming wedding. In a situation where you'd like a little something for everyone, Bell's Amber would be a fine selection. Sweetness was the first thing I noticed, but this beer has a little bit of everything for everyone. Sweetness up front, a slight soapiness in the middle, and a little hoppy finish. 3.0 mugs.


Sam Adams Boston Lager is an easy beer for craft beer drinkers to pick on. It's available everywhere, it's not particularly distinctive, and it's sort of beer that serves as a gateway for folks looking to make that first step into better tasting beer. But it's also a brand that many folks never move away from. There's something weird about a brand-dedicated better beer drinker; it's like having the just enough of the cataracts removed from your eyes to see the next car, instead of the whole road in front of you. I think it's important to remember that most of us have happily drunk Sam Adams before, even if we've moved on. Revisiting the beer, the first thing I picked up was what I thought was a hint of raspberry. Digging deeper, I don't think it was that distinct. But there is a lively fruit flavor there, like an ale yeast sort of thing, hoppy, lively, and the beer reminds me of Anchor Steam - against each other, Sam is fruity, Anchor is bready, but body and finish seem close. But if anything, Sam Adams might have too much of that fruity flavor. If you're wondering how that makes a 1.5 mug difference, shut up. 3.5 mugs.

Next up was Goose Island Honkers Ale, a beer with that sort of (what I'd call) dirty or earthy hoppy flavor, followed up with a sweet and lightly fruity finish. This beer has the least character of the lineup so far, but maybe it's sort of "what's your character of choice?" Because I have no history with this beer, I don't have any reason to consider it much further. Not my thing. 2.9 mugs.


Last up, we revisited Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. The beer features a flowery hop flavor, with a slight hint of soap and a (not overpoweringly so) sweetness. Balance is key here, as the beer has a strong enough hop presence for hop-heads, but doesn't overpower. The Oxford Companion to Beer notes "an early devotee was Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, whose fans in turn started to enjoy the brew". Damn you, hippies! 4.0 mugs.


Anchor Steam is the wise man of craft beer. It is over 100 years old and yet it doesn't throw a fit every time someone says that the first American craft breweries opened in the 70s. In fact, it seems that everyone forgets how much this beer is a part of American brewing history. Anchor Steam is a beer that I never fully appreciated when I was first getting in to craft beer. Perhaps I wrote it off as a light beer, unworthy of my adventure for more hops and alcohol. Maybe I just never really ordered it for lack of knowing what it was. Whatever the case may be, I can certifiably say that today I very much enjoy this beer. It rides an enjoyable line between wheat and pilsner, combining the yeasty aroma of a wheat with the delicate yet perceivable crisp, hop bite of a pilsner. A bit of lemon peel keeps the wheat flavor in the picture. Not only is this a great summer beer, it's also a great year-round beer. Very refreshing. 3.5 mugs.

On the day I turned 21, a visit to Chumley's in Lafayette landed me at my first craft beer. Bell's Amber stuck out as something that would be a good middle-ground upon which to launch my craft beer future. In that first Bell's Amber, I was not disappointed. Both hops and malt were present and I knew that I had set foot in a glorious new world of craft beer. Unfortunately, the Bell's Amber I tried in this round did not taste like the same beer. Or maybe it was the same beer but my memory captured a much different flavor experience. Instead of being greeted with a delightful balance of bitter hops and sweet malt, the beer I took a drink of could be better described as Bell's Not-Quite-Best Brown. Maybe the crane of the old packaging took the hops with him, I don't know. It really has been a number of years since I've tried this beer. The new Bell's Brown has a sweet aroma that is backed up by the flavor of brown sugar, toasted bread, walnuts and almonds. Kind of like a Newcastle but better. I feel I ruined a childhood memory. 3.0 mugs.


Sam Adams Boston Lager is a beer that I am constantly surprised by. My apologies for Jim Koch for always thinking his beer is going to be sub-par. It's not that I don't drink much Sam Adams, it's that whenever I drink it I tend to be in a bar that offers around 4 varieties of beer; Budweiser, Miller Lite, Coors Light and Sam Adams. Clearly being placed in that cast of characters would decrease one's desirability. Naturally I always order the Sam Adams, and am pleasantly surprised by the friendly burst of German hops and balancing malt sweetness. It's as if each time I seem to forget that this really is a good beer. Grapefruit and honey in the nose immediately reminds me that I'm about to be greeted by a strong presence of hops and malt. Ruby red grapefruit, toasted malt and caramel round out the flavors and I'm left satisfied with my beer choice. Cheers to your undeniable place in craft beer history, Jim. 3.75 mugs.

Honkers Ale, much like Bell's Amber, is another beer that I remember being hoppier. I blame everyone who makes a 100+ IBU beer for ruining my perception of hoppy. Everyone is to blame but myself. Nonetheless, Honkers Ale does still have a noticeable hop presence. One of my favorite things about Goose Island as a company is that they chose the ESB style for their flagship beer. If you've engaged me in deep beer discussion, you likely know that ESB is my favorite style. The delicate balance of hops and malt with a body that is friendly to the palate is something that is difficult to master. Honkers Ale has a sweet aroma, reminiscent of oranges and honey, but the flavor doesn't quite match the Blue Moon label that the aroma describes. An orange-like sweetness is paired with lemon bitters, toffee and caramel. This is a well-balance ESB that would make a fine gateway beer for anyone newly introduced to craft beer. 4.0 mugs.


Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is practically unfair in this review. Since the dawn of craft beer time, Ken Grossman has been throwing hops in our faces like it has always been 2009. This is the beer that defined American Pale Ale. The beer that made us all realize that in America, we do everything bigger and better. Fuck yeah. This beer drew a line in the sand and told everyone that if you're going to brew a Pale Ale in America, you have to bring the hop thunder. First brewed in 1980, this beer changed craft beer forever, and it continues to be the benchmark for American Pale Ales. The grapefruit and lemon zest aroma is huge, matched only by the grapefruit and orange bitter flavors. Toasted grain and caramel balance out what would otherwise be a hop smack to the face. This isn't the big IPA and DIPA monster that today's craft beer drinkers are used to, but it should be compared to the English Pale Ales that previously defined the style. From this point forward, America made the craft beer rules. Fuck yeah. 4.0 mugs.

Do you like classic rock?  Sure you do -- who doesn't start belting out "CARRY ON MY WAYWARD SON!" whenever it comes on the radio?  That's the same way I feel about the craft beer classics.  There's a hearty comfort in these beers that I've had a hundred times and something about them makes me want to do manual labor.  They never seem to get old.


If you're like me, however, listening to classic rock radio for two or three days has you asking yourself more and more often, "Didn't I just hear that?" and you need go throw on some Mars Volta to mix it up.  The craft beer classics are like that in a way.  If all you drank was Honker's Ale for 3 days straight, you'd get pretty goddamn bored with it.  You need to throw a nice Hopslam or Bourbon County Stout in there to keep your palate interested.  The classics will always be the bedrock you return to, but you need to venture out and discover new things all the time.

You want more beer notes?  Of course not, but fuck it, here are 10 words or less about each:

Anchor Steam: Why don't I buy this more? 3.3 mugs.
Bell's Amber: Never pick it first but always like it. 3.6 mugs.
Boston Lager: Can't go wrong and it's available EVERYWHERE.  3.1 mugs.
Goose Island Honkers Ale: A classic of the midwest. 3.5 mugs.
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale: The get-it-everywhere choice for your hops fix. 4.2 mugs.


Anchor Steam Jason: 3.75 Mugs | Chris: 3.3 Mugs | Rodney: 3.5 Mugs | Mike: 5.0 Mugs | Gina: 4.00 Mugs
KOTBR Score: 3.91 Mugs

Bell's Amber
Jason: 3.33 Mugs | Chris: 3.6 Mugs | Rodney: 3.0 Mugs | Mike: 3.0 Mugs | Gina: 3.3 Mugs
KOTBR Score: 3.24 Mugs

Samuel Adams Boston Lager
Jason: 3.85 Mugs | Chris: 3.1 Mugs | Rodney: 3.75 Mugs | Mike: 3.5 Mugs | Gina: 3.6 Mugs
KOTBR Score: 3.56 Mugs

Goose Island Honkers Ale
Jason: 2.8 Mugs | Chris: 3.5 Mugs | Rodney: 4.0 Mugs | Mike: 2.9 Mugs | Gina: 2.95 Mugs
KOTBR Score: 3.23 Mugs

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Jason: 4.0 Mugs | Chris: 4.2 Mugs | Rodney: 4.0 Mugs | Mike: 4.0 Mugs | Gina: 4.00 Mugs
KOTBR Score: 4.04 Mugs

Seasonal Beer Overload

This time of year is the best for seasonal beers hitting the store shelves. It is my favorite time of the year for many reasons and great seasonal beer is just another thing to look forward to this season. The problem is that they are beers I want to stock up on, but they separate me and my money in an accelerated fashion.  I would say that November and December are my most expensive beer spending months of the year.  Too much awesome beer hits the shelves this time of the year.

Here are some of the beers I always look forward to each year:

Three Floyd's Alpha Klaus Christmas Porter - I love porter and this combines the wonder hop profile that is Three Floyds calling card with a delicious porter base. They do an outstanding job with dark beer and I would love to see a dark beer from them in six pack year round format (i.e. Hells Black Intelligencer).  This beer just hit town last week and will move pretty quickly.

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale - It isn't the holiday season unless I've bought  a six pack of this tasty seasonal IPA.  It just hit Indy a few weeks ago and for the price is an outstanding six pack for the season.

Deschutes - The Abyss Imperial Stout - I traded for a bottle of this beer several years ago and now it is the only beer I buy an entire case of bombers per year.  You can buy it online if you are fast enough, but trading for it is much easier.  It is not available to purchase in Indiana.

The Bruery's Four Calling Birds - I've enjoy this series based on the 12 Day of Christmas.  I usually buy two and drink one now and save one for the vertical.  This just hit Indy as well.

Goose Island Bourbon County Stout - I don't think there is a better bourbon barrel aged beer out there for the money.  This is usually easy to find but last year it was tough to find, and I hope it will stick around a bit this year.  The coffee bourbon county stout should be out soon as well.  This should hopefully hit town in the next few weeks.

Boston Beer Company's (Sam Adams) - Old Fezziwig Winter Warmer - It only comes in the holiday sampler pack, but I buy the 12 pack just for this beer. It isn't really a winter warmer to me, but however you want to categorize it the beer is delicious.  This is out around town right now.

Bell's Expedition Stout - This was the first beer I ever put in my beer cellar.  I don't like this beer fresh, but getting a new sixer of it each year when it comes out is a tradition.  Expedition turns into one of the finest imperial stouts available after a year of age on it.  This is one of the best beers you can buy without any type of shit show associated with trying to find some of it.  Last years batch is still out on the shelves right now and this years batch will be along soon.

Wild Card -

Goose Island King Henry Barleywine - I had this at the festival of barrel aged beers a few weeks ago and thought it was outstanding. Goose Island is having a black Friday event to begin selling the beer, but I hope we see some distribution to Indy.

What seasonal beers do you look forward to drinking?

Cheers!
Matt

Sierra Nevada Brewmaster Meet and Greet - Binkley's

On Wednesday, October 12th, Binkley’s and Monarch Beverages brought Steve Dresler, Brewmaster of Sierra Nevada to town and tapped 8 Sierra Nevada beers. Life and Limb, Ovila Saison, Estate Homegrown Ale, Northern Hemisphere, Torpedo, Tumbler, Kellerweis, and Sierra Pale Ale.

We were only able to share 2 pints, but I wish we could have tried them all.


Life and Limb - This is the second edition of this beer and a collaboration between Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head. The beer has combined yeast strains from both breweries and maple syrup from a family farm of Sam Calagione. It results in a high alcohol, yet delightfully drinkable beverage worthy of seeking out. It is bready and chewy and has swirling flavors of dark fruit and raisin. The good news is that you can currently find this beer on liquor store shelves. It is definitely worth seeking out, and you may even still find it on tap at Binkley’s (if it is still there, it won’t last long).

Harvest - Matt recently highlighted wet hopped beers and this is an excellent one. It has a beautiful nose, of pine and citrus thanks to the cascade and centennial hops. This begs to be drank while it is young. It would do this beer a disservice to not enjoy the wonderful hop aromas. The lacing it leaves on the glass is abundant, like white foam waves. While the nose is strong, the bitterness is approachable, mild even. Among the hoppy goodness is a tinge of malt sweetness. You may find this one around town as well.


First, Mr. Dresler was a salt of the earth kinda guy. He was incredibly gracious and though we only got to spend a few minutes talking to him, we had a very enjoyable conversation. We chatted a bit about Estate and how it is made. All of the barley and hops that are used in the beer are organically grown on nine acres of the brewery’s property. Those nine acres yield enough to brew between 800 and 900 barrels. That sounds like a lot of beer, but when you distribute as many places as Sierra Nevada, those barrels go pretty quick.

Thanks to Mr. Dresler for dropping by at Binkley’s and down in Bloomington for the Big Red Beer Fest. Thanks also, to Monarch and Sierra Nevada Rep, Steve Thiel, for making it all happen. We also hope Mr. Dresler enjoys his stay and gets his luggage at some point!

KOTBR #112 - Flashback at The Northside Social

Far out! Imagine my surprise when I learned that the 70’s have returned! Okay, so only in the Hebrew calendar is it the seventies (Rosh Hashanah marking the beginning of year 5771), but this is enough of an excuse for me to haul out my platform shoes, dust off my polyester leisure suit, drape gold jewelry across my hairy chest, and make my way onto the disco floor.

Studio 54 is long gone. And discotheques are in short supply in Indianapolis. But I had heard of this new Broad Ripple establishment called the Northside Social. So I laced up my blue disco quad roller skates and headed up the Monon. But what did I find? A restaurant full of people, sitting around, talking, enjoying their meals and the extensive craft beer tap list. But where’s the dance floor? Where’s the disco ball? Where are the balconies where I can get my freak on? Nowhere. For those livin’ and lovin’ the disco scene, this place is a complete disappointment.

I couldn’t find any blow, poppers, or Quaaludes at the Social, so I opted for a beer instead. First up, Sierra Nevada Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale. To put it in Disco-ese, Sierra Nevada is the Bee Gees and Tumbler is “Stayin’ Alive.” This brewery is almost as old as disco itself. But like disco, it proves to be relevant in spite of its age with a wonderful lineup of seasonal and special brews. Tumbler is an example of that. It has a malty base with a slight bitter ending. There was a bitter hit like coffee and a toasty nose. The thin body made it easy to drink and, if I were workin’ up a sweat on the dance floor, the salty sweat would have brought out the maltiness even more. I suppose salty food would do the same thing. But all that food would just get in the way of my dance fever. 3.25 Mugs.

I asked for another beer, something a bit more trippy. What I received was Clipper City’s Loose Cannon IPA. I have to say, this brewery didn’t heed the advice of the Hues Corporation. This Loose Cannon is will certainly “Rock the Boat”. Golden in color, dry in finish, the hops weren’t overwhelming but left the beer with a bit of sweetness. It is a sticky beer leaving a sticky taste in my mouth. Not quite the same experience as the ones I have with my party drugs. But enjoyable none the less. 4.33 Mugs.

Despite the all the great food and great beer consumed at the Northside Social, nobody was interested in joining me by the fire exit, in the bathroom stall, or in the back alley. This boogie man wanted to get down tonight. I didn’t want to stop ‘til I got enough. But this dancing machine couldn’t find anything to cure his night fever. I left the Social. Alone with my thoughts. Pondering if disco could really be dead? What could I do now?

Oh, look, there’s a casting call for “Cats”…


What is it about the unnecessary use of the definite article that lets you know that whatever you're dealing with takes itself a little too seriously? There's nothing like putting the word "The" in front of your title to let us know that you're full of yourself.

I wanted to dislike The Northside Social on that premise alone. Or maybe it was the fact that every time we tried to stop by for a casual visit, the parking lot was full. Or maybe it was the strange choice of location. The Northside Social is an upscale looking restaurant with an upscale looking clientele, more fitting to Carmel than Broad Ripple. Usually I find that the numbers don't add up and that these sorts of places are a parody of what they attempt to be, but The Northside Social makes sure the emperor is fully clothed and serenaded with a crappy upbeat jazz soundtrack.

At this point you're probably thinking I didn't like the place. It's hard to argue with great service, a solid beer selection, and reasonably priced and delicious food, and The Northside Social delivered all three. It wouldn't be my first choice as a night out in Broad Ripple, but that says as much about me as it does about the establishment.

Back to the beer selection, or in this case, our selection of beer: We started with Sierra Nevada Tumbler Brown, a beer I had read rumblings about online. Cola-colored, slightly chewy, with a light front, a very "beery" middle, and a hoppy snap to finish, it's a very serviceable brown. Nothing to go crazy about, but definitely worth your beer dollars. 3.33 Mugs.

Our second selection was Clipper City's Loose Cannon Hop3 IPA, a triple IPA regular old IPA from Baltimore's Clipper City Brewing Company. This beer is not the giant hoppy beast you might expect out of a triple IPA, This beer might be exactly what you'd expect out of a IPA, and is a sweet and malty beer with perhaps a little more balance on the malt side. As much as I love a DIPA or Triple IPA with a malt balance, this one goes just a hint too far in that direction for my tastes. It's not quite hoppy enough for me, but that's not to say I didn't enjoy it - in fact I enjoyed it quite a bit. 3.97 Mugs.

This review was edited after a reader's comment alerted me to the fact that Hop3 is not actually a triple (or double) IPA. The score and my thoughts remain the same.


"Why the hell is the parking lot always so full?" Ooh, I'd love to know the story that prompted the sign on The Northside Social's door to read "Proper Dress Attire Required - Sleeves Required for Gentlemen". Is that a big issue in Broad Ripple? Are roving bands of sleeveless hooligans running amok in the village?

Those thoughts and questions ran through my head upon entering The Northside Social. As we took our seats and I was able to take in the atmosphere a little bit, I admit that I became a little confused at the vibe The Northside Social is going for. Decor, classy. Menus, classy. The multitude of TVs in the restaurant area, hmmm, interesting twist there. Would that keep me from coming back? Nope, not even close. Especially when the food and service is so good. Plus, whenever the waiter suggests anarchy, that's extra brownie points in my book.

We chose Sierra Nevada Tumbler, and it proved to be very fine, in my opinion. Caramel malty with a clean finish. I would like it to be a little bit sweeter, but that is my taste. 3.12 Mugs

The Loose Cannon from Heavy Seas has a wonderfully huge grapefruit nose with just a little hint of pine. With an aroma that strong, I expected a thicker body than what was there. I appreciate that the same strong citrus aroma also followed through into the flavor. 3.95 Mugs


I wasn't alive during the 70s, so I have a hard time making any analogies. Brown was a predominant color in 70s fashion, and Tumbler is a brown ale, so there you go. FLASHBACK! Overall this is a pretty standard yet solid brown ale. Toasty grains and yeast in the aroma with light caramel, cocoa and pecans in the flavor profile. I would guess Maris Otter might be the base malt. The body is fairly watery, which makes this a beer you'll drink quickly. Not a brown ale to seek out, but certainly a good one. 3.4 mugs

Loose Cannon is a stellar double IPA. Or maybe it's a triple IPA, I don't know. Are pirates retro? Sure, let's say they are. Arrrrrgghh. Tons of grapefruit aroma from the hops with a bit of lemon peel and chamomile. Lots of delicate spice notes in the body, including juniper, dry spruce, orange peel and rose hips. Grapefruit and tangerine hop flavors. This is one of my favorite readily available DIPAs, lots of malt to balance lots of hops. 3.9 mugs


I'll close out this roundtable by returning to Jason's 70s theme because the Northside Social strongly reminded me of one of the 70s most under-appreciated television programs. Before David Letterman hit the airwaves in NBC's post-Tonight Show time slot in 1982, that slot was occupied by Tomorrow. This program, which was a talk show that began airing in 1973, was hosted by Tom Snyder. Snyder's contagious laugh and congenial manner gave the show a laid-back vibe. The show featured just Snyder and his guests having an informal chat as if they were sitting in his living room. And Snyder always seemed to have interesting company willing to stir things up a bit, whether the company was the Clash, KISS, or John Lydon of the Sex Pistols. There was an intimacy to Snyder's interviews, yet they often seemed to skirt the edge of chaos. As you can imagine, it made for entertaining television. Look up the show on YouTube for a more vivid illustration.

The Northside Social gives off the same welcoming yet chaotic vibe as Tomorrow. On the welcoming side are the friendly servers, the muted and contemporary fixtures, and the corner space featuring cushy chairs and sofas. As for chaos, the Northside Social is like a noisy living room, with all the televisions and wall-to-wall clientele. But the high ceilings sufficiently dampen some of the noise, so you can converse yet soak in the lively atmosphere.

The beers that we reviewed rounded out a well-though-out tap list. Sierra Nevada Tumbler Brown Ale is a nice representation of the American Brown Ale style. Tumbler displays notes of sourdough bread, caramel, and malt, conveyed through a medium bodied mouthfeel. 3.50 mugs.

Heavy Season Loose Cannon Hop3 Ale is a beer with which I'm already familiar through my visits to the Corner Wine Bar, where they have it on tap. Loose Cannon is pineapple, citrus, and soap in the nose, along with slight sweaty funk. Its flavor is heavy on the pine notes with a light caramel and molasses back. The mouthfeel on this beer is medium, and I find it a very drinkable IPA. 4.00 mugs.


Sierra Nevada Tumbler Brown Ale
Mike: 3.33 Mugs | Gina: 3.12 Mugs | Rodney: 3.40 Mugs | Jim: 3.50 Mugs | Jason: 3.25 Mugs
KOTBR Score: 3.32 Mugs

Heavy Seas Loose Cannon Hop3 Ale
Mike: 3.97 Mugs | Gina: 3.95 Mugs | Rodney: 3.90 Mugs | Jim: 4.0 Mugs | Jason: 4.33 Mugs
KOTBR Score: 4.03 Mug

KOTBR #95 - Life, Limb, and Lost Roundtables

This continues our series of lost roundtables where we throw off the shackles of traditional numbering systems in order to promote anarchy. Not really.

Keeping up with the newest in limited release beers has become a futile exercise - you might be on top of things for a while, but eventually you end up with a beer closet full of things you have to find special occasions for or make excuses to drink.

But when the two craft beer heavyweights that are Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada combine forces, I can't help but pay attention. Back when I went around asking for suggestions on beer for aging 21 years, Dogfish's Sam Calagione suggested that I might check out the Dogfish/Sierra Life and Limb - a 10% ABV strong, dark beer that defies style characteristics (more here) - saying, "Any of our beers over 15% abv should last for that long. Also – the Life & Limb beer Dogfish and Sierra brewed together that comes out in November would be good for this sorta thing."

Well 21 years is too long to wait for me, and the downtown Indy BW3's was lucky enough to acquire a keg or two of Life and Limb for tasting now. So when BW3's Sam gave us the heads up, we headed downtown.

Because Sam Calagione suggested this beer would stand up to 21 years of aging, I expected a monster. Instead the beer starts surprisingly mild, at least when cold. What happened over the next hour was interesting, though, as the flavors grew and my palate pushed me to savor what was in front of me. It's rare that any beer can hold my attention for an hour anymore - usually something that rich will wear me out.

The nose on this beer is tootsie roll and (Rod will love this) hot slot car track¹ - a sort of burnt sulfur thing, slightly smokey and boozy together. The flavors are what you might expect - sweet dark fruit, grape, and a finish that works its way up your nose. Just a bit boozy.

You could definitely age this beer, but I like it right now. If you're lucky enough to find some (both bottles and kegs are pretty limited), I think you'll be happy either way. 4.29 Mugs


I had high expectations going into this one. The quintessential America Pale Ale brewery paired with the definitive extreme beer brewery. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I certainly was expecting something good. On tap, Life and Limb pours like an imperial stout. It also smells like an imperial stout with lots of dark chocolate and molasses characteristics. At first taste, I'll admit that I was a bit set back by the alcohol. The alcohol was a bit more warming than I expected and will definitely aid in the improvement of this beer over a few years. I found chicory reminiscent of the Dogfish Head Chicory Stout and traditional imperial stout flavors such as molasses, dark chocolate and oak. Life and Limb contains an intriguing sweetness that I can best characterize as cherries and honey. The finish is surprisingly dry, seemingly a result of a touch of hoppiness on the back. I'm eager to see what this one tastes like in a few years and I've already tucked away a bottle. 4.15 Mugs


I thought Life and Limb was pretty good, though definitely rough around the edges and a little boozy. I'm sure everybody has already said this, but it'll probably be better with a couple years aging. 3.9 Mugs

Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head Life and Limb
Mike: 4.29 Mugs | Chris: 3.9 Mugs | Rod: 4.15 Mugs | Gina: 4.05 Mugs
KOTBR Score: 4.09 Mugs

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¹I know that references like this one have a very limited audience, but if you know what I'm talking about and have a chance to drink the beer, I think you'll be surprised that I don't just make this stuff up.

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, Ed Wank geeks up the classic Black and Tan

With St. Patrick's Day quickly approaching (and the Beer Geek's St. Patrick's Day at Deano's Vino approaching even more quickly), it seemed like a good time to look at other traditions commonly associated with St. Patrick's Day and how we can geek them up a bit. Guest blogger Ed Wank takes a look at how a beer geek can get their black & tan on...

Greetings, fellow Beer Geeks! Wank here from ‘The Wank & O’Brien Show’, mornings on 97.1 HANK-FM. Listeners of the show or readers of the sadly-now-defunct ‘Indy Men’s Magazine’ might’ve noticed that I’m a micro/craft/import beer geek myself, hence my sudden appearance on the site as a guest blogger.

With Saint Paddy’s day mere moments away, and as if you NEEDED another excuse to quaff a pint, might I suggest a spin on the classic Black & Tan? The basic model is, for my money, one of the finest inventions ever to come out of, er, Britain. It’s not an Irish delicacy, although I’d consider it something of a sacrilege to float any other dark beer besides Guinness on top of a pale or bitter draw.

The name itself has been applied to coonhounds and Irish paramilitary troops from the early part of the 20th century, but most Yanks apply the moniker to a draught of Harp or Bass Ale with Ireland’s most famous stout drizzled atop to cascade gently down into the paler brew. Physics and appearance are not congruous in the Black and Tan – dark stout is, of course, in reality less dense that the lighter draw that lies beneath, hence the division of color in the middle of the pint.

For years I’d ordered Bass on the bottom and Guinness on top, since the Ale gave my personal palate a more satisfying finish than Harp. A few months back on a winter night at Binkley’s, a new inspiration suddenly struck. My tastebuds couldn’t make up their minds between a creamy Guinness or a snappy, Cascade-crisp Sierra Nevada. So I ordered a Sierra and Guinness Black and Tan.

The barmaid’s reaction belied the fact that I’d not been the first to propose this blend. The result was decent, but still a little thin on the finish. My second order put a Bell’s Two Hearted Ale in the lower half of the glass. Boom! This one ranked a ten on a scale of one through five. Further experimentations have led me to drop Three Floyd’s Alpha Kings (thank, you Munster, Indiana!) and Delaware’s Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA below the most famous of the Emerald Isles, both equally tasty experiments.

The results of layering the world’s most famous stout over any of these burly US micro-ales is downright symphonic: the gentle, almost mocha-tinged notes of the stout giving way to a crescendo of carbonation, hops, bitterness and body. Of all the combinations, though, the most satisfying had to be my second order: Kalamazoo’s Two Hearted with Vitamin G drizzled on top. My requested 60-40 mix of Michigan to Ireland made for the perfect Americanization of a drink from across the pond. Good medicine to steel oneself against an onslaught of snakes. Cheers!