Yuengling Lager

I RE-discovered one of my favorite beers, the Yuengling Lager, this past weekend, when visiting the Seneca Lake wineries with a group of great girlfriends.  Drinking beer while exploring the Finger Lakes region of New York State seems blasphemous but I happily support my decision of packing a tasty cooler of brews for our bus trip to and from the wineries.  Now that I'm in beer review mode, to switch to wine just wasn't going to happen, and surprisingly we discovered a winery on our trip that was brewing its own beer!  It was like hitting the jackpot, because we decided to do our picnic lunch at Wagner's Winery which had a beautiful back deck area overlooking Seneca Lake.  In addition, to the beautiful view, we indulged ourselves with an assortment of  Wagner's homemade brews.  Their lengthy beer selection ranged from stout, IPA, lager, pilsner, bock and a seasonal. My two favorites were the Grace House Honey Wheat and the Dockside Amber Lager. I didn't take notes but if you want more information on their beers, check out this link: http://www.wagnervineyards.com/Beers

Back to my old stand-by, the Yuengling Lager, which is from the oldest brewery in America dating back to 1829. The brewery, located in Pottsville, PA has a historic timeline you can learn about, if you follow this link: http://www.yuengling.com/our_story/ 

After all these years, I still think their lager, in a can, is pure deliciousness! Here's why:
Taste:  Aroma is a tad nut-like with a mild malt candy flavor that is not too sweet; slightly carbonated

Color: Out of the can it pours a golden amber


 Thickness: Soft white frothy head that lingers for a little bit after the pour; a light mouthful with a creamy fullness on the tongue that quickly fades


ABV:  Only 4.9% resulting in a high drinkability as it goes down a bit too easy!


Mom Factoid:  As, gasp, Memorial Day weekend approaches, Yuengling is an excellent brew for a BBQ & hanging out with friends and their brood!

Runabout Red Ale & Pamola Xtra Pale Ale

I took a much needed, SOLO, field trip to Sebago Brew Pub, in the Old Port, during ACBW (American Craft Beer Week), to sample some special brews! I told the husband this was my variation of him going for a SOLO morning run!  He said, "Go! Have fun but what should I feed the kids?" 
Anyway, once I got there, the environment at the pub was lively and full of excitement for the release of rare craft beers!  The menu of beer, not food, was long & descriptive!
I first attempted to sample a never before released beer called 'Lunch' produced by The Maine Beer Company (remember Mean Old Tom?) but that keg had already kicked (mind you it was only 6PM!)  So, I went with another Maine brewery, Baxter Brewing Company, known for reintroducing quality beer in a can. I tried their pale ale which ironically was on draft and not in a can!
After polishing that pint, I knew I needed to look at a food menu, since I rarely have more than one beer in a sitting, due to my title of MOM & sleep deprivation!  Anyway, I went out on a limb, ordering buffalo chicken tenders and proceeded to request a Sebago Runabout Red Ale to pair with the food!
While waiting at the bar to eat, my people watching & eaves dropping skills were in full on mode, and I happened to hear someone chatting about Lunch.  I politely joined in the conversation and mentioned how bummed out I was that I missed my chance at trying that beer!  The woman, who called herself Rory, empathized with me & cheerfully proclaimed that she knew where and when I could try Lunch!  All of a sudden, I was in the "in" crowd and was readily soaking up their secret club information about Lunch:
-go to RSVP Beverage store in Portland
-at 4pm the following day
-Lunch will be poured & sold in bottles! 
I nodded fervently while receiving these tips and said, "Thanks, I hope to be there!  But, don't judge me if I also have my two little ones in tow!" 
Stay tuned to see if I finally get to taste Lunch! 
 
Beer descriptions from the menu @ Sebago:  (My thoughts on the beers are beneath each of  the brief summaries)

Baxter's Pamola Xtra Pale Ale (4.9% ABV):  "A pale brewed with a proprietary blend of North American 2-row malted barely, including barley grown in Northern Maine's Aroostook County.  Bright golden in color with a creamy head. Subtle malt and hop aroma."
CQC: pour produced a golden straw color; little head with mild to moderate carbonation; nice & light finish; overall a good beer

 
Sebago's Runabout Red Ale (5% ABV):  "Our red ale has a malty sweet taste that comes from 3 different types of caramel malt. It is a clean, well-balanced beer that started as a seasonal ale.  It was so popular with regulars that we started brewing it year round in 2002" 
CQC:  pour produced a cranberry hued liquid; bursts of sweetness erupted with each sip; head stayed frothy & filled the mouth; delicious!

 
For a complete list of all the beers served at the event go to: http://portlanddailysun.me/node/25265

Twilight Brewing

On the VERY first day of American Craft Beer week (May 16-22), I'm VERY excited to be reviewing two home brews made by Twilight Brewing out of Binghamton, NY. Technically, TB hasn't been officially reviewed, so I feel honored to expose their beers to the loyal "followers" & readers of Mom's Malt Barley Blog! 
Naming your brew has power & prestige and in Twilight's case, they creatively tied their brews to an occasion-the Kentucky Derby! So, drum roll, the two beers getting reviewed are called: Along The Rail Pale Ale and Horsie-Weizen!
Now, for the results from their first public appearance!
 
Along the Rail Pale Ale: 

Taste:  Vibrantly fresh with a noticeable crispness! There was a subtle bite coupled with a carmel sweetness! Overall, the beer was delicious!

Color: Appearance was a deep amber

Thickness: the pour produced a plentiful & frothy head! Mild-to-moderate thickness with a smooth and creamy finish.

ABV: 6%  

Horsie-Weizen: 

Taste: pleasant on the palate with lemon overtones (lemon wedge was placed in the glass as directed by the brew master); no bitterness

Color: a beautiful chrome 

Thickness: after the pour there was a tiny head with a pretty array of sediment particles (the yeast); a balanced carbonation produced a light mouthful & finish

ABV: 5%

Mom Factoid:  When you raise kids, it's natural to want them brought up in a supportive community beyond their family members.  Proudly, I was raised for most of my childhood in Binghamton, NY as were the creators of Twilight Brewing. We share our hometown with Rod Serling, the creator of the Twilight Zone. He had this to say about his hometown: 

"Everybody has to have a hometown.

Binghamton's mine.

In the strangely brittle, terribly sensitive

make-up of a human being, there is a need for a

place to hang a hat or a geographical womb to

crawl back into, or maybe just a place that's

familiar because that's where you grew up.  When

I dig back through my memory cells, I get one

particularly distinctive feeling-that's one of

warmth, comfort and well-being.  For whatever

else I may have had or lost, or will find,

I've still got a hometown.

This nobody's gonna take away from me."

Clown Shoes Clementine White Ale

After watching the Curious George episode on PBS, where the Man in the Yellow Hat & George are stuck in the subway, for the 100th time, with the three year old, I was propelled to get this review written.  I know, what does Curious George and brew have in common?  Well, that remains to be seen, but in this particular episode there is a clown in the subway and the most recent brew I tasted was produced by a brewery called Clown Shoes which is located in Ipswich, MA.
I had heard of this brewery--Clown Shoes through some "research" of craft beer blogs and the following link will give context to their name: http://www.clownshoesbeer.com/about/


Taste: very light with a citrus peel aftertaste...not that enjoyable!


Thickness: very carbonated--too much for my liking as it seemed more like a soda than a beer


Color: an orange silhouette


ABV: 6%


Mom Factoid: Most days being a SAHM (Stay At Home Mom) means you need to have a ton of tricks and a great sense of humor, very similar to a clown, minus the red squeaky nose! Another thing you have to have is an outlet or two from the repetitiveness of spending your days with little people.  I've found that reading and writing are great outlets for me....along with tasting a variety of brews :)  One of the best things I've read lately is a fellow blog called 'Dear Life, It's on. Love, Me'.  This blog truly makes me laugh out loud every time there is a new post.  All clowning aside, you should check it out too for a unique perspective on life at:  http://dearlifeitson.com/

Magic Hat's Scrumptious Spring Lager

By far, the best signage I've seen this year is from Magic Hat.  Their Scrumptious Spring Lager label caught my eye in Wegmans. I was captivated by the colors and hence took more than one look at it in the cooler.  I ended up getting some, back in April, while visiting my parents and actually took notes on my tasting but left the notes there.  However, upon returning to Binghamton this past weekend for Mother's Day, (may I add that my ten month old son decided to officially call me "mama" on MD...true story) I found my notes and decided this brew and particularly its label were worth the wait for the official review.

The beer is a seasonal release, amber lager, only available from January 15th to March 31st, from Magic Hat, which is a Vermont brewery, located in South Burlington.  I've enjoyed their beers over the years but never run into this one before, and I found it to be very good.

Taste: layered with sweet butterscotch not hoppy or sour in the finish

Color: Garnet with caramel overtones

Thickness: moderate head...goes down quite easily

ABV: 5.1%

Mom Factoid:  Magic is an interesting concept in childhood.  On the one hand, you want your kids "believing" in the impossible and on the other hand you're constantly answering their "why" questions about everything!  Recent example from the 3 year old:  "Mom, why do we have legs?  Why do I have a big toe? Why do we have eyes?"  Typically, I feel propelled, when I have the patience, to give her concrete information.  Yet, it is a "magical" experience to watch their minds figure things out on their own and discover life's mysteries in front of you.

April Quads: Lake Placid Ubu Ale, Abita Turbo Dog, Sam Adams Noble Pils & Rising Tide Daymark American Pale Ale

Since April is the fourth month, I'm attempting to write four mini reviews in one post!  Time is running out for the month & I'm not pleased that there is only one review published on the blog.  To clarify, I've tasted more than one delicious brew this month but haven't had the time to sit down and write about the tastings.  So, let's get the party started!

The Lake Placid Ubu Ale is beyond yummy--perhaps, one of the best beers I've tasted in 2011.  I had this when I was visiting Binghamton earlier in the month and both my dad & I couldn't keep enough of them on hand.  There's a cool story behind this English-style ale from their website: "In 2000, the Lake Placid Pub was a stop for some White House interns accompanying Hillary Clinton on a trip through the area as she contemplated running for the Senate. The interns enjoyed the atmosphere and especially enjoyed Ubu Ale, the brewery's flagship beer. After hearing the story of Ubu's namesake, the friendly chocolate lab with a nose for great beer, the interns decided to bring some of the deep garnet English Strong Ale to President Clinton as a gift. Once he tried the brew, the President had the White House aides call the Pub to get more Ubu Ale for a party at the White House!"


Taste: silky smooth with a caramel malty finish--delicious!
Color:  deep brown with maroonish tones
Thickness: mild to moderate with a cream colored head of bubbles that create a pretty froth
ABV: 7%
MomFactoid: Story on the bottle says that the village of Lake Placid, NY, was once a home to a legendary chocolate lab named Ubu! My kids would LOVE a dog as would the husband but honestly, I think we're a cat family.  What about you?

Keeping with the dog theme, let's move onto Abita's Turbo Dog, which is a dark brown ale brewed with Willamette hops along with crystal and chocolate malts.  This brewery is located in Louisiana but their beers can be found nationwide & their Purple Haze is one that I look forward to reviewing in the warmer weather, which should be here soon! 
Back to their flagship brew, the Turbo Dog:

Taste: Very smooth with roasted nuts and chocolate bursts in each sip
Color:  Super dark brown with an almost tan head of frothy bubbles
Thickness:  Moderate to rich; not overwhelmingly thick
ABV: 5.6%
Mom Factoid:  Thinking that a trip to the Gulf Coast would be a great family trip.  Anyone been there & can recommend spots to visit, besides New Orleans?

I'm lacking a smooth transition from dogs to Sam Adams seasonal Noble Pils, but most days I don't have smooth transitions with my kids when we move from one activity to the next, but move on we do.  So, the Noble Pils, a traditional Bohemian Pilsner, is an award winning brew from Sam Adams.  According to its label, it is one of the only brews that uses all 5 Noble hops from the world's oldest growing region.  Moreover, the seasonal late winter released beer, from January to March, is a reminder to us that the warm days of spring are just a few weeks away.

Taste: According to the husband, he tastes flowers! Not sure which ones, but I agree that there is a floral spring quality in the sip with a crisp finish that isn't bitter!
Color:  Goldish bronze with yellow undertones
Thickness:  light and airy
ABV: 4.9%
Mom Factoid:  I recently traveled to Boston to see a Harvard Women's Lacrosse game & driving along Storrow Drive brought back tremendous memories of having attended school at BC. I can't wait to road trip again & explore the Boston Aquarium & Science Museum with the little duo!  Perhaps, for the sake of the blog, I can fit in a stop at a Beantown brew pub too!

From Harvard we move on to the Portland brewery, Rising Tide, and its newest release, their Daymark American Pale Ale. According to the bottle, a Daymark is a navigational tool used on the water, which connects, in my mind, to the rowers one always views while driving along the Charles River (which I did last weekend when I was heading into Harvard Stadium to view the women's lacrosse game). However, it wasn't the name that captured my attention of this brew, it was the bright yellow label.  Wow!  I immediately equated the vibrant label to spring and even further to daffodils and Easter. Given this was last week, when I was grabbing sandwiches at the Cheese Iron in Scarborough, I had to hope that warmer weather was approaching & that spring was lingering.  This internal hope was realized when the temperatures reached close to 70 degrees and the sun was shining brightly on Easter, here in the Portland region. The Daymark is a perfect selection for a sunny, joyous day.

Taste: light & slightly sweet; not lemony rather a dew drop scent and taste in the mouth
Color: bronzed caramel coin
Thickness:  very light with minimal bubbles & head
ABV: 5.5%
Mom Factoid:  Dedicating this review to a close friend's mother, who's favorite color was yellow & who sadly died two years ago, during the month of April from lung cancer. I thought of you, Jeannette, and your beautiful family when I toasted my glass of Daymark on Easter!

Ithaca Beer Company's Excelsior! Series

I had VERY good intentions of trying to come up with a brew challenge during March Madness but couldn't quite pull it off this year....perhaps, Thing 1 and Thing 2 had something to do with my lack of time! So, onward and upward, a motto which works out perfectly with the beers I have had the privilege of tasting lately.  My friend, Jeff O'Neil, affiliated with the Ithaca Beer Company, sent along speciality beers from their Excelsior! Series for me to enjoy. 
The Excelsior! Series is IBC's:

• "handcrafted speciality beers, issued in extremely limited runs. They meld complimentary flavors while defying existing style guidelines.  These beers are unfiltered, hand-packaged and bottle-conditioned.  Each one is alive, has a unique personality and may be cellared indefinitely." 

The two Excelsior! Series beers that I will review, as the blog's twelfth and thirteenth beers, are: White Gold and Thirteen Anniversary Ale.  I will save the Sour Blueberry Ale for later this spring or summer.


Both the White Gold and Thirteen came in pint bottles with unique labels describing their contents. The White Gold is characterized as a "Rustic Pale Wheat Ale" with Belgian influence. Additionally, the ale is brewed with "domestic barley and French wheat malts."
The Thirteen is described as a "Double Hoppy Wheat Ale" that has been brewed with "raw and malted wheat and flaked oats, assertively hopped with Citra and Sorachi Ace, spiked with an addition of orange and lemon peel and vigorously fermented with an American Ale Yeast."

Before I give my analysis of these two beers, let me just say that in receiving them, I felt like I had reached rock star status. Yes, Jeff and I are friends, but to taste beers that aren't typically available to the public felt really special and given that I just celebrated a special day--my 35th birthday--it was cool to sample these Excelsior! Series beers as a means of enhancing the celebratory spirit one feels as they age!

Onto the White Gold:

Taste:  a hoppy very full flavored sip with a gardenesque floral scent

Color:  extra golden like a bruised lemon peel

Thickness:  especially bubbly producing a frothy head

ABV: 8%

Now the Thirteen Anniversary Ale:

Taste:  the lemon was very pronounced, but not tart & helped to yield a refreshing sip; very aromatic, smelled like a spring day with each pour

Color:  beautiful orange hues that contrasted the bits of sediment floating in the glass

Thickness:  medium to moderate head; quite smooth

ABV:  Happy Birthday to ME as it was 8.9%

Mom Factoid:  Sometimes, you have to decide when is the best time to get your kids sugared up!  Obviously, there is no magic moment to watch a sugar high, but since it was my birthday, I allowed the cake with an intense sugary frosting to be eaten prior to dinner by the three year old!  It was fun and out of the ordinary and allowed for more time before bed to get the sugar out of her system!  Cheers to a new year and more beer :)  Thanks for reading!
 **If you are interested in learning more about the Excelsior! Series beers, check out this link:
 http://ithacabeer.com/excelsior.php