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    Solstice D’hiver

    Name – Solstice D’hiver
    Country – Canada
    Type – American Barleywine

    Appearance – Poured a very deep red, almost brown color.  It had a very thin off white head that was gone before you knew it.

    Smell – Dark fruit and some toasted malts hit the nose.

    Taste – More of the same from the nose and it ends with a very small bit of a earthy hops taste.

    I’m not the biggest fan of barleywines so I was hesitant to get this but when it was mentioned that the price had dropped after the holidays I figured why not give it a try.  If hadn’t known this was a barleywine going in I would have called you crazy for telling me such.  Compared to most others I have had this is rather calm.  The hops and barley tastes are not really that present to me.  It really reminded me more of a dark Belgian beer or maybe even an old ale.  All in all it wasn’t bad, not great, but not bad.

    Overall Grade – C+

    2010 Jupiter Craft Brewers Festival and Field of Beers This Weekend

    This weekend is one of the biggest beer weekends in the state of Florida and it happens a mere 30 minute drive north of me in Jupiter, FL.  Like last year it will be a two day event with the Field of Beers taking place on Friday evening and the Festival itself on Saturday afternoon.

    The Field of Beers is a traditional beer and food pairing.  Fifteen breweries and brew pubs are paired up with a chef to make food with their beers.  The patrons then walk around and sample as they please.  It will again take place at Roger Dean Stadium in the beautiful Abacoa area of Jupiter, FL.  Do note that there is one 300 available spots for the Field of Beers so make sure to get your tickets early.  Here is a list of the participating breweries and brew pubs for the Field of Beers.
    Anchor Brewing Co. – San Francisco, CA
    Bells Brewery – Kalamazoo, MI
    Big Bear Brewing Company – Coral Springs, FL
    Brewzzi – West Palm Beach/Boca Raton, FL
    Brooklyn Brewery – Brooklyn, NY
    Corner Cafe & Brewery – Tequesta, FL
    Flying Dog Brewery – Frederick, MD
    Gordon Biersch – Miami, FL
    Inlet Brewing Company – Jupiter, FL
    Left Hand Brewing – Longmont, CO
    Oceana Coffee – Jupiter, Florida
    Saint Somewhere Brewing Company – Tarpon Springs, FL
    Star Hill Brewery – Crozet, VA
    Stone Brewing Co. – San Diego, CA
    Swamphead Brewery – Gainesville, FL
    Victory Brewing Co- Downingtown, PA
    Widmer Brothers – Portland, Oregon

    Then Saturday is the 2010 Jupiter Craft Brewers Festival.  This year they have move the location of the event from the the small green in the center of Abacoa into Roger Dean Stadium right across the street.  This should allow for more spacing out of the boths and people in general.  As you may have read I missed this event last year and was none to pleased (we will agree to disagree as to who was at fault).  So I have my ticket already purchased this time and am really looking forward to it.  The list of breweries, brew pubs, cigar shops and restuarants participating is staggering and I can’t even begin trying to list them all here.  Larry Bell of Bell’s Brewery comes to this festival every year to pour beer.  So you will get a chance to meet one of the men responsible for some great beer.  There is also a silent disco, which you have to see to believe, and a best dressed monk contest.  This is after Inlet Brewing’s mascot of sorts for their Monk in a Trunk Organic Amber Ale.

    So this is definitely going to be a definite can’t miss weekend.  I unfortunately can not make the Field of Beers but will be at the festival on Saturday.  I will try my best to tweet highlights along the way but I tend to get way into the festivities to remember to tweet at things like these.  I also look forward to being able to hang out with some of the great beer folks down here in South Florida.

    Head over to the website to take a look at all the details and purchase tickets.  If aren’t purchasing tickets you better get there early or you might miss out as well.  Don’t be me from last year.

    The Bruery is Coming to South Florida

    The title pretty much says it, the Bruery is coming to South Florida.  And it’s probably a lot sooner than you think.  Thanks to the fine folks at Fresh Beer Inc. the Southern California brewery will be in Florida this week.  When the store nearest you ordered their’s will determine whether you see it on the shelves this week or next week but within a couple weeks you should be able to find them in Palm Beach, Broward and Dade counties.

    Good news is that we are getting the full line of their regular brews along with the seasonals that aren’t actually sold at the brewery only (*cough*Black Tuesday*cough*).  This excites me because that means we will be getting Two Turtle Doves, which I have had a few times before.  I also had the chance to sample Saison Rue and White Orchard last week and can’t to try a few others.

    I have been eagerly waiting for this arrival since I have heard about them.  If you are in South Florida and don’t know who they are then do pick them up when they get here and enjoy!