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    Exit 9

    April 13, 2011
    / Beer Review /
    1 Comment

    Name – Exit 9
    Country – United States
    Type – American Red Ale

    Just one more day of work!  That is all and then tomorrow I head to PA.  And to celebrate I am having a Philadelphia area brew.  Sure they are from Jersey and sometimes us PA and NJ folks don’t get along.  Jug handles and full service gas stations?  Really Jersey?  But they consider Philly their home market just over the Delaware River.

    I’m having the latest in the Exit Series from them.  A series that celebrates (yes celebrates) the New Jersey Turnpike.  While many snicker at the thought of anyone glorifying this stretch of road (I’ll give you a minute to), the beers that I have had in this series are anything but lame. Exit 4 is the best tripel I’ve probably ever had.

    This one, Exit 9, is a hoppy “scarlet” ale in tribute to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.  It is their university that is just off of exit 9 of the turnpike.  And if you know me then you know I love a hoppy red ale.

    It pours into my New Belgium glass a murky red color.  There is a good sized sandy colored head on top and it leaves some good lacing along the glass.

    The moment I started pouring the beer I got the huge citrus hop smell.  Placing my nose closer it’s even bigger.  Lots of scents of grapefruit and pines.  I even get a slightly biscuit malt aroma in the back.

    But if you are looking for balance in the taste you won’t find much.  This is a hop bomb.  Tons of citrus and pine hops leave a great hop flavor and nice bitter finish.  Tiny bit of malt backing just to make it not overboard.

    So Flying Fish said this is a hoppy beer and they weren’t kidding.  This is exactly what I wanted and hoped for in this beer.  Just a big assault of hops in a red ale.

    I highly recommend  this latest creation in the Exit Series especially if you are a hop head.

    Grade – A

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    Heading to the Motherland;Is This My Destiny?

    April 12, 2011
    / Announcement /
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    Yes I took another weekend off from doing a video review.  But unfortunately I was not off in general as I did work this past weekend.  I have to do it once a month and it sucks for sure.  Ten days in a row of working is no fun.  But the typical payoff is 4 days in a row off after that.  But for me it’s a little different.

    I’m taking my vacation Thursday.  That’s right, ten days of work followed by ten days off.  And I am heading back to the motherland (Pennsylvania) to spend some quality time with family, friends and my ever good friend beer.

    Plans already include trips to Dogfish Head, Weyerbacher, Yards and Iron Hill.  I also have a number of bars and stores in mind to visit.  And I can’t forget about getting a real cheesesteak.

    And as I close down my days of work and start getting ready my mom sends me a picture that is a bit of a blast from the past.

    Yup that is me.  I didn’t always have a beard and shaggy hair.  But it seems that even at a young age I was attracted to the suds.  Maybe this is my destiny.  The beer world was calling me.

    And let’s nevermind that it is a Heineken in my hands.  We all started off with the commercial things right?

    Well I guess only time will tell.

    But as you have come to know I am not always an active blogger when I am on vacation.  It will most likely be the same again.  But I will try my best to get some content up here.  I guess it is better to tell you all I will do nothing and surprise you with something rather than promise something and give nothing.  Am I right?

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    Coney Island Human Blockhead

    April 7, 2011
    / Beer Review /
    3 Comments

    Name – Coney Island Human Blockhead
    Country – United States
    Type – Doppelbock

    Remember how I said in my review of Karnival Kolsch that I was dreading summer arriving?  Well sure enough it seems like it has arrived.  Hot and humid days have been rolling in.  And the season for light and refreshing beers like wheats and lagers is here.  Unfortunately this lager that I am reviewing is anything but light.

    Human Blockhead, from those ever fun folks at Shmaltz, is a doppelbock that weighs in at 10% ABV.  Holy crap!  And as much as the names Karnival Kolsch and Human Blockhead seem to flow into one and other by name they really don’t.  It’s a huge step up.

    I pour this baby into my glass and it is a deep red color.  A sandy off white head develops on top of the brew and leaves some lacing on the glass.

    The nose is a lot of what you expect from a doppelbock.  Hints of caramel, cherries, bready malts, the gang is all there.

    There is a lot more of the same in the taste with the sweet caramel and cherries flavors.  There is some slightly roasted malt hints in there and then an earthy hop taste to balance things out.  The alcohol is a little hidden at first but comes out more as it warms up.

    I have to say that the beer is exactly what I would expect from a 10% doppelbock.  It has all the qualities of the style just turned up a few notches.  Maybe it’s up to 11.  Or maybe they just adjusted settings to make it 10.  Who knows?

    In the few of the Coney Island Lagers I’ve had from Shmaltz I am seeing that they really push the boundaries on the styles.  Whether it be a pale lager or marzen or in this case a doppelbock.  They make them new and unique.

    And with the release of a barrel aged version of Human Blockhead this I look forward to even more sideshows in my life.

    Grade – B+

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