February 24th, 2010 Joe Sixpack
I won’t tempt you with the details about last night’s dinner with Tomme Arthur at Monk’s Cafe, other than to say I may have enjoyed the greatest cheese-and-beer combo ever. It came along in the fourth course, after the duck pate, salmon tartare, stuffed quail and osso bucco.
Lost Abbey Angels Share Grand Cru with Colston Bassett Stilton.
The Grand Cru is a sipping beer. Monk’s served a very small portion of perhaps 3oz. But that was plenty. The beer is a blend of 6 vintages of Angels Share, aged in brandy, bourbon or Cabernet barrels. This is a sipping beer, reminiscent of port, but better than any port I’ve swallowed. Its oak flavor is balanced with a palate-tickling salad of dried fruits, caramel and vanilla. I kind of think it might be a little much on its own - but paired with the Stilton, it excelled.
Normally, I’ve paired Stilton with barleywine, thinking that only a beer with massive hop bitterness could stand up to the funky blue. Instead, the ale’s boozy sweetness and fruit character brought out intense layers of chocolate flavors - yes, chocolate! - I’d never recognized in this cheese variety. While the beer cut through the cheese’s intense creaminess, the potent strength of this Stilton reigned in the ale.
A mouthful was a warm, sensuous kiss. I want to do it again.
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February 15th, 2010 Joe Sixpack
Count me among the many who don’t give a rat’s ass about the winter Olympics. But you don’t need to be into that sort of thing to appreciate the special that Devil’s Den (South Philly) is running throughout the games. Each night, the pub will tap a different Great American Beer Festival medalist.
Here’s the remaining lineup:
- Mon, Feb 15 - Steamwork Kolsch - Silver 07
- Tues, Feb 16 - Great Divide Old Ruffian - Gold 06, Bronze 09
- Wed, Feb 17 - Allagash Tripel - Gold 06, Silver 09
- Thurs, Feb 18Â - Tommyknocker Maple Nut Brown - Bronze 06
- Fri, Feb 19 - Flying Fish Abbey Dubbel - Silver 08
- Sat, Feb 20 - Great Lakes Edmond Fitzgerald Porter—Silver 08
- Sun, Feb 21 - Ithaca Cascazilla - Silver 08
- Mon, Feb 22 - Dogfish Head Midas Touch  - Silver 07, Bronze 09
- Tues, Feb 23 - Blue Point Toasted Lager - Silver 06 & 07
- Wed, Feb 24Â - Southampton Double White - Sliver 07, Bronze 06
- Thurs, Feb 25 - Dark Horse Scotty Karate - Silver 07
- Fri, Feb 26 - Stone Levitation - Gold 07
- Sat, Feb 27 - Sly Fox Pikeland Pils - Gold 07
- Sun, Feb 28 - Flying Dog In Heat Wheat - Bronze 06; Flying Dog Raging Bitch - Mid-Size Brewery on the Year 09
By the way, if you haven’t already, check out that Raging Bitch. It’s a Belgian-style IPA and it just might be the best new beer from Flying Dog since it moved to the east.
Posted in Beer etc., Events | 1 Comment »
February 12th, 2010 Joe Sixpack
- Cigar City Jai Alai @ Brady’s (Trevose) Bella Vista night (also Ballast Point & Boulder), today, 7 p.m.
- Founders Black Biscuit Barrel Aged Porter @ Union Jack’s on the Manatawny (Boyertown, Berks) Strong Ale Fest, Saturday (2/13), all day.
- Sweaty Betty @ Grey Lodge Pub (Mayfair) Boulder, Paper, Scissors night, Saturday (2/13), 7-10 p.m.
- Flying Dog Raging Bitch (half-price) @ Devil’s Den (South Philly) Anti-Valentine’s Day special, Sunday (2/14), 7-9 p.m.
- Ommegang Witte @ The Mad Batter (Cape May, N.J.) beer and cheese pairing, Sunday (2/14), 2 p.m.
- Bitto Honey IPA @ 3 Fish Pub (Port Richmond) Prism Brewing night, Tuesday (2/16), 7-9 p.m.
Oh, and one more: Molson Golden.
OK, it’s not really a great beer, but drinking it this week during the city’s Barstool Olympics is at least a great cause. Five local sports bars will be bringing you all the Winter Games action starting tonight, while raising money for the Fraternal Order of Police Survivors’ Fund through the sale of Molson (at a cheap 3 bucks per pint). Check out the Games (and the beer) at:
- Smiths Restaurant | Lounge (Rittenhouse Square)
- Kite and Key (Spring Garden)
- New Wave Cafe (Queen Village)
- South Philly Bar & Grill (Passyunk Ave.)
- Swift Half (Northern Liberties)
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February 2nd, 2010 Joe Sixpack
This looks kinda fun: Dawson Street Pub (Manayunk) is doing live theater. This month the joint will present “You’ll Never Take Me Alive,” described as a four-act show “exposing the horror and supernatural that surround us every day. ” Usually, I go to bars to avoid just that, but I’ll give it a shot.
The performances are written, produced and performed by local artists. Shows are 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 12-13, and 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 21st. Tix are $10. Call (215) 482-5677 for info.
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January 18th, 2010 Joe Sixpack
Three things I learned about Saison Vautour in just 5 minutes on the phone with Ryan Michaels, brewer at McKenzie Brew House (Chadds Ford), where I’ll be the guest speaker at their inaugural Belgian Beer Reserve Dinner on Thursday. (Tix are just $39, still available.)
- Vautour is French for vulture. The guys at the brewery saw a bunch of them flying overhead and decided to name their Saison after them. Saison Vautour has won GABF gold twice in the past 3 years, and it’ll be one of the featured beers at Thursday’s dinner.
- The current version was made with a touch of Brettanomyces, which gives it just a funky edge.
- Starting in February, Saison Vautour (which has mainly been available by bottle only) will be on tap year-round at both McKenzie’s locations.
Something else I didn’t know: McKenzie’s is now doing some barrel-aging. We’ll be serving two varieties on Thursday.
Come join me - especially you city-dwellers. This is a great opportunity to get a taste of the very best from a suburban brewpub that’s been making waves with its farmhouse ales for quite a few years.
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January 7th, 2010 Joe Sixpack
Johnny Brenda’s just posted a beer event at Philly Beer Week’s calendar for Saturday, Jan. 30th. The event features the following:
- Sly Fox Incubus
- Weyerbacher Merry Monks
- Stoudt’s Triple
- Manayunk Triple (Monk from the ‘Yunk)
- Iron Hill Triple
- Riverhorse Triple
- Flying Fish Exit 4
- Legacy Euphoria
- Victory Golden Monkey
- Dock Street Prisoner of Hell
The name of this event? The Trouble with Tripels.
Posted in Beer etc., Events | 1 Comment »
December 14th, 2009 Joe Sixpack
Who knew so many people were yearning to combine the relaxation of yoga with the flavor of beer? It’s the ultimate zen, I suppose.
Anyway, just a heads up for dawdlers: Just 3 seats remain for the class this Friday (12/18).
Pre-registration is a must. Details and sign-up here.
UPDATE: THIS SESSION SOLD OUT.
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December 10th, 2009 Joe Sixpack
I just finished rounding up our inventory for XFEST ‘09 at the Penn Museum tomorrow (Friday, 6-9 pm). We’ve got some pretty amazing stuff, including that Nogne-O collaboration with Stone & Jolly Pumpkin. There’s also a few vintage brews, including ‘08 Anchor, SNBF & Sly Fox.
If you haven’t gotten tix, yet, they’ll be available online till noon tomorrow via this link. Otherwise, tix are available at the door.
Here’s the lineup:
From America’s Craft Breweries…
- Abita Christmas (Amber)
- Anderson Valley Winter Solstice (Spiced)
- Anchor Our Special Ale ‘08 (Spiced)
- Breckenridge Christmas Ale (Winter Warmer)
- Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
- Brooklyn Monster (Barleywine)
- Cape Ann Fisherman’s Navigator (Double Bock)
- Dogfish Head Chicory Stout
- Elysian Bifröst (Winter Warmer)
- Erie Ol’ Red Cease & Desist (Wee Heavy)
- Flying Fish Winter Grand Cru (Strong Pale Ale)
- Green Flash Nut Brown Ale
- Harpoon Winter Warmer
- Heavy Seas Winter Storm (ESB)
- Heavy Seas Below Decks (Barleywine)
- Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza (Strong Dark Ale)
- Lancaster Winter Warmer
- McKenzie Bier d’Hiver (Biere de garde)
- Port Santa’s Little Helper (Stout)
- Samuel Adams Winter Lager (Bock)
- Saranac Season’s Best (Vienna Lager)
- Shipyard Prelude (Winter Warmer)
- Sierra Nevada Big Foot ‘08 (Barleywine)
- Sly Fox Christmas Ale ‘08 (Spiced)
- Smuttynose Winter Ale (Dubbel)
- Stevens Point St. Benedict (Winter Warmer)
- Stoudt’s Winter (Red Ale)
- Troegs Mad Elf (Spiced, cherry, honey)
- Weyerbacher Winter Ale (Winter Warmer)
- Wild Goose Snow Goose (Strong English Ale)
- Yards George Washington Porter
- Yards Poor Richard’s Tavern Spruce
From the United Kingdom
- Bad Elf (India pale ale)
- Very Bad Elf (Pale ale)
- Criminally Bad Elf (Barleywine)
- Insanely Bad Elf (Strong ale)
- Seriously Bad Elf (Strong ale)
- Insane Bad Elf (Strong ale)
- Santa’s Butt (Porter)
- Samuel Smith Winter Welcome
From Belgium
- Affligem Noël (Strong dark ale)
- Barbar Winter Bok (Bock)
- Corsendonk Christmas Ale (Strong dark ale)
- Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux (Saison)
- La Moneuse Spéciale Noël (Strong pale ale)
- Noël Des Géants (Spiced)
- Pater Lieven Kerst Pater (Strong dark ale)
- De La Senne X-Mas Zinnebir (Pale ale)
- Abbaye De Saint-Martin Cuvée De Noel (Strong dark ale)
- Kerstmutske Christmas Nightcap (Dubbel)
From France
- Thiriez Bière De Noël (Winter Warmer)
From Denmark  Â
- Ølfabrikken Jule (Strong ale)
- Ølfabrikken Kloster Jule (Strong dark ale)
From Norway
- Nøgne-Ø Special Holiday (With Jolly Pumpkin & Stone)
- Nøgne-Ø Peculiar Yule (Spiced)
From Germany.
- Mahr’s Christmas Bock
- Mönchshof Weihnachts Bier (Marzen)
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December 8th, 2009 Joe Sixpack
Mrs. Sixpack and I are launching our first Yoga + Beer session just in time for the holidays. She’ll be teaching a one-hour yoga class at her studio, Yoga on the Ridge (511 Conarroe St., REAR, Roxborough), and I’ll be following up with a one-hour tutored tasting of Christmas beers.
It’s Friday, Dec. 18, 6-8 p.m.
Ladies - this is your opportunity to drag your man to yoga class.
Guys - yoga is a helluva workout and improves beer-drinking capacity. (OK, I made that last part up.)
Info and tix here.Â
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December 1st, 2009 Joe Sixpack
Just a last-minute heads-up here: As of noon today, there were just 4 seats remaining for tomorrow night’s Hoppy Holidays beer-sampling at Tria Fermentation School. I’m dragging out my PowerPoint & the folks at Tria have lined up a tremendous array of Christmas beers.
Tix are $45, which includes lots o’ beer with cheese & light snacks. Here’s the link.
If you can’t make it to the entire session, stop in before 6:30 p.m. at Tria’s 12th & Spruce location - I’ll be hanging out, signing books and trying to lay my hands on some of that Scaldis Prestige.
Haven’t gotten into the Xmas beer mood, yet? Here’s a blast from the past: last year’s NPR report by Neda Ulaby about Christmas Beer, largely recorded at Tria Cafe.
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