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    New Imports Now Arriving in South Florida

    October 12, 2010
    / Beer News /
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    I tend to always mention anytime a new US craft brewer arrives in South Florida but we rarely hear about the international brews that come down here.  Well that is about to change.

    Starting yesterday, our favorite craft beer distributor, Fresh Beer has begun carrying products from Belukus Marketing Inc.  Orders are now being accepted and here is a list of the brewers from Belukus that Fresh will be carrying.

    • DeKoninck
    • Konig
    • Lefebvre
    • Malheur
    • Timmermans
    • Wells

    Fresh will not be carrying Belhaven or Youngs as they are specifically distributed by Gold Coast down here.

    Many of you may not be familiar with some of these breweries but a lot you may know of Wells for their extremely popular Banana Bread and Bombardier brews.

    You can look forward to seeing these items hitting shelves probably sometime next week at your favorite beer stores.

    For more information on Belukus and the fine beers that they carry head on over to their official website.

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    Vine & Barley Welcomes Ballast Point to Florida

    October 8, 2010
    / Beer Events, Beer News /
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    While this doesn’t relate directly to South Florida it is big news for craft beer in Florida as a whole as Ballast Point Brewing Company out of San Diego, California as made their way to the Sunshine State. (They aren’t in South Florida yet, only Central. For now!)  And to welcome them to the state the always amazing Port St. Lucie beer bar Vine & Barley is going to have a little event for them.

    On Wednesday October 13th they will be tapping 5 kegs of brews from Ballast Point.  The beers will be on tap starting at 2:00pm and will be available ALL DAY LONG for a special price of $3.95 a glass.

    Here is a list of the beers they will be pouring.

    Sculpin IPA
    The Sculpin is a testament to the humble beginnings at Ballast Point. Recently winning a gold medal at the World Beer Cup, Sculpin showcases bright flavors and aromas of apricot, peach, mango & lemon. The lighter body also brings out the crispness of the hops. The Sculpin fish has poisonous spikes on its fins that can give a strong sting. Ironically, the meat from a Sculpin is considered some of the tastiest. Something that has a sting but tastes great? Sounds like a Ballast Point India Pale Ale.

    Big Eye IPA
    If you love India Pale Ales, Big Eye will be a welcome addition to your repertoire. You’ll revel in Big Eye’s bitter, hoppy flavor thanks to the American Columbus and Centennial hops that are used to flavor and dry hop their flagship IPA.

    Yellow Tail Pale Ale
    There’s no wonder why their Pale Ale is so popular-it is skillfully crafted in the style of the Kolsch beers of Cologne, Germany. They’ve chosen German hops for aroma, and rounded out the recipe with a blend of American and German malts. If you like a lighter brew but also like the complexity of craft beers, then Yellow Tail Pale Ale is for you.

    Calico Amber Ale
    Inspired by traditional English ESBs, Calico Amber Ale is as American as it could be. A rich complexity comes from four types of malt-but it’s those distinct American hops that offer a crisp bitterness and unique floral aroma. To round out the traditional-English-yet-very-American Amber Ale, they use a proprietary yeast to develop a fruity, Madeira-like richness.

    Wahoo Wheat
    Summer days and ocean waves inspired this Belgian Witbier-styled Wahoo Wheat. Brewed to be light and refreshing-with a unique citrus character that comes from adding orange peel and coriander to the boil. A special yeast contributes to this beer’s refreshing tangy flavor-quite different from the banana and clovey Hefe-Weizens of Bavaria.

    So if you can make it up to PSL next Wednesday be sure to stop by Vine & Barley and enjoy some great beers from Ballast Point.

    Vine & Barley
    1680 SW St Lucie West Blvd
    Port St Lucie, FL  34986
    www.VineAndBarley.com
    772-446-7550

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    Shark Attack Double Red Ale

    October 6, 2010
    / Beer Review /
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    Name – Shark Attack Double Red Ale
    Country – United States
    Type – American Red Ale

    I love big hoppy red ales.  Having tried this ones little brother, Shark Bite, before I had to grab this one when we were in Colorado.  I know the smaller version is great so my standards are high on this one.  Am I building myself up for a let down?  We shall see.

    Port is the sister company of Lost Abbey and the brother company of the brewpub/pizza parlor chain of Pizza Port in the San Diego area.  If you know about one and not the other, take this advice from me.  They make awesome beer.  So how about we get on to the beer shall we?

    As I poured the beer into my imperial pint glass I admired the beautiful deep red color of the beer.  There was a decent, maybe two finger off white head.  There was a slight bit of lacing left on the glass.  Not as much as I anticipated.

    The smell smacks you in the face with big malts and hops.  Perfectly blended to not have one over power the other but still have them combine to be a giant part of the scent.  I get a little bit of wood in the scent as well and I don’t even think this is aged in any type of barrel.

    The first sip is amazing.  The citrus hops blend so well with the malts to make a fantastic taste.  Small hints of caramel jump out at you as well through the tasting.  You do get some of the 9% ABV in the taste and more so as the beer warms up.

    Absolutely great beer here.  I found myself having to not rush through the bomber because I enjoyed it so much.  I wanted to savor it but at the same time just keep drinking it.  Good thing I did pace myself as that alcohol can creep up on you fast if you are really enjoying it.

    Of course Port is not available in Florida but if you can get your hands on this or you have a friend heading out west that is willing to bring you back beer, then you must have this.

    Grade – A

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