Triple IPA - The Beer Thrillers

14 Great High Grade Octane IPAs You Should Be Trying

B. Kline — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 17:55:00 +0000

14 Great High Grade Octane IPAs You Should Be Trying

Fall is Fading Away

As autumn’s pumpkin spice craze gives way, it’s prime time for beer aficionados to circle back to the hop-infused delights that sparked our love for craft brews. With winter’s cozy warmers on the horizon and the decadent season of barrel-aged stouts soon to impact our holiday budgets and merry spirits, this November interlude is ideal for an IPA detox.

The craft beer scene might witness a feigned weariness towards hop-centric beverages, yet India Pale Ales remain the reigning choice for the discerning crowd. The rise of the ‘session IPA’—a lower alcohol iteration designed for extended hop enjoyment—has skyrocketed, becoming the trendiest addition to the craft beer repertoire.

Conversely, the high-alcohol end of the spectrum is where IPA artisans excel, infusing maximum flavor into every bottle. While double and triple IPAs fetch top ratings and prices, a discerning choice in this premium category ensures a rewarding experience. Below is a curated list of twelve exceptional, potent IPAs that perfectly complement the shorter days and cozy evenings of the season.

14 Great High Grade Octane IPAs You Should Be Trying

Here are fourteen examples of some high octane (high ABV) IPAs you should be trying this fall / winter season. They will certainly keep you warm in the cold months, and keep the hop heads amongst all of us happy.

Avery Maharaja (Boulder, CO, 10-12% ABV):

Avery Maharaja (Boulder, CO, 10-12% ABV)

Avery’s Dictator Series offers the Maharaja, a giant among IPAs, crafted with traditional hops like Centennial and Columbus, and paired with the contemporary Simcoe. This concoction delivers a symphony of citrus, tropical, and pine notes, harmonized with a caramel malt foundation. With time, the Maharaja’s complexity unfolds, revealing almond and toffee nuances, setting it apart in the ultra-IPA market.

Green Flash Green Bullet (San Diego, CA; 10.1% ABV):

Green Flash Green Bullet (San Diego, CA; 10.1% ABV)

This seasonal offering from Green Flash utilizes New Zealand hops to deliver a spiced-up IPA experience with a classic pine resin profile.

Other Half All Green Everything (Brooklyn, NY, 10.5% ABV):

Other Half All Green Everything (Brooklyn, NY, 10.5% ABV)

All Green Everything is a testament to Other Half’s reputation as New York’s buzzworthy brewery. This modern hop behemoth, while acknowledging the virtues of moderation, predominates with grapefruit, mango, and pineapple flavors, crowned with a resinous finish. Its less sugary profile elevates it above its East Coast imperial IPA counterparts.

Stone RuinTen (Escondido, CA, 10.8% ABV):

Stone RuinTen (Escondido, CA, 10.8% ABV)

Stone’s triple IPA, RuinTen, balances the tartness of Citra hops with Columbus’s spicy notes and Centennial’s floral essence. Despite its strength, it’s not overwhelmingly bitter, offering layers of brown sugar and chocolate amidst the expected fruity and resinous undertones. This harmony distinguishes RuinTen within Stone’s acclaimed IPA lineup.

Dogfish Head 120 Minute (Milton, DE, 15-20% ABV):

Dogfish Head 120 Minute (Milton, DE, 15-20% ABV)

The iconic Dogfish Head’s Minute IPA series is headlined by the 120 Minute IPA, a trailblazer in the extreme IPA category since its debut in 2003. At an arresting 18% ABV, its potent alcohol content is expertly paired with a bitter yet fruity hop profile. Regarded as a beer that matures well, the 120 Minute is an investment in both flavor and a spirited buzz.

MadTree Galaxy High (Cincinnati, OH; 10.2% ABV):

MadTree Galaxy High (Cincinnati, OH; 10.2% ABV)

MadTree’s imperial IPA taps into Southern Hemisphere hops to present a fruit-forward flavor palette, marked by notes of peach, orange, and mango, balanced against a backdrop of pine.

Port Hop 15 (San Marcos, CA; 10% ABV):

Port Hop 15 (San Marcos, CA; 10% ABV)

Port’s Hop 15 is a masterpiece, blending 15 hop varieties added at 15-minute intervals, producing a complex brew where tropical and citrus notes meet biscuit and caramel for a balanced taste.

Founder’s Devil Dancer (Grand Rapids, MI; 12% ABV):

Founder’s Devil Dancer (Grand Rapids, MI; 12% ABV)

Released annually, Founder’s Devil Dancer is a testament to the longevity of hoppy beers, offering a rich tapestry of tropical, earthy, and citrus hop flavors supported by a robust malt base.

Oskar Blues Gubna (Longmont, CO; 10% ABV):

Oskar Blues Gubna (Longmont, CO; 10% ABV)

Oskar Blues’ Gubna, an annual changing brew, is notable for its unique combination of spicy rye malt and Sorachi Ace hops, offering a distinctive taste worth trying even out of season.

Ballast Point Dorado (San Diego, CA; 10% ABV):

Ballast Point Dorado (San Diego, CA; 10% ABV)

Known for the popular Sculpin IPA, Ballast Point’s Dorado is a gift to hop lovers, with a resinous, fruity profile and a smooth finish, concealing its alcohol content with finesse.

Starr Hill Hopfetti (Crozet, VA; 10.2% ABV):

Starr Hill Hopfetti (Crozet, VA; 10.2% ABV)

Celebrating Starr Hill’s anniversary, the Hopfetti is a harmonious mix of six hops and golden oats, resulting in a creamy, slightly sour tropical profile with a hint of vanilla.

Harpoon Leviathan (Boston, MA, 10% ABV):

Harpoon Leviathan (Boston, MA, 10%ABV)

With its roots in the East Coast IPA movement, Harpoon’s Leviathan is a powerful double IPA that combines classic and modern hops for a citrus-pine flavor blend.

Aslin Pinkies Up (Alexandra, VA, 18.4% ABV):

Aslin Pinkies Up (Alexandra, VA, 18.4% ABV)

Aslin’s Pinkies Up Quadruple IPA has an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 18.4% If you’re seeking an IPA that breaks from tradition and offers a unique tasting adventure, Aslin Beer Company’s Pinkies Up is a must-try. This innovative brew captures the imagination with its unexpected twists on the IPA genre. Crafted with a blend of premium hops and a creative twist of ingredients, Pinkies Up tantalizes the taste buds with a symphony of flavors that both challenge and delight. Each sip delivers a sophisticated profile of nuanced hop bitterness, complemented by an undercurrent of subtle fruit and floral notes. It’s a beer designed not just for casual sipping but for those moments when you want to indulge in something a cut above the ordinary. As the name suggests, Pinkies Up is about elevating your beer experience, inviting you to enjoy a brew that’s crafted with a touch of finesse and a nod to the connoisseurs of the craft beer world.

Troegs Independent Brewing – Scratch 501: Triple Perpetual IPA (Hershey, PA, 12% ABV)

Tröegs Independent Brewing’s Scratch #501, also known as Triple Perpetual IPA, elevates their esteemed Perpetual IPA to new heights. As part of their momentous Scratch series, this iteration arrives as their boldest yet, boasting a robust 12% ABV. This Triple IPA amalgamates a myriad of beloved hops, resulting in a sticky, citrusy hop explosion that delivers an artisanal and mechanical marvel. It’s a brew that commemorates the journey from their first Scratch offering to this 501st creation, embodying a craft that’s as audacious and complex as it is grounded in brewing tradition. They released it at the same time as Scratch 500 – Double Perpetual IPA. It is a limited scratch beer, so no word on if they will re-make or re-brew it. It is still currently available in their tasting room and general store on draft; and for crowler and growler fills.

High Octane IPAs

High-octane IPAs stand as titans in the craft beer landscape, catering to those who seek both intensity in flavor and potency. From the aromatic hop fields to the artful brewers’ tanks, these robust IPAs—like Avery Maharaja’s complex citrus notes, Stone RuinTen’s balanced bitterness, and the innovative hop profiles of Other Half All Green Everything—have defined a new pinnacle of beer craftsmanship. Including the unparalleled strength of Aslin’s Pinkies Up and the boldness of Tröegs Triple Perpetual IPA, these brews are not just drinks but experiences, crafted for moments of bold indulgence and savoring the zenith of brewing alchemy.

Check Out Our Recent High ABV Article

Looking for other brews that are high ABV? Then check out our recent article:

Sipping on the Edge: Exploring the Top 5 Highest ABV Beers

A Series of Craft Beer Articles

This is just one of several in a series of over arching ‘craft beer’ related articles. Several alone in a ‘flagship’ series. In the next few weeks there will be some more that come out as well. I would like to have this general level of different ‘craft beer articles’ that everyone can kind of jump to and read and use for informative purposes, and give a better understanding for the other articles on the site.

Some of these articles are about definitions (like “What is Craft Beer?“) and others are about Craft Breweries in general like the Top 50 Producing Craft Breweries, etc.

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

MAPS OF BREWERIES

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

Troegs Independent Brewing is Releasing Scratch 500 and Scratch 501 – Double Perpetual IPA and Triple Perpetual IPA

B. Kline — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 14:35:00 +0000

(Article Updated to include new photos.)

Troegs Independent Brewing Is Hitting a Milestone

Who would have guessed when Troegs Independent Brewing started their unique scratch system – their version of research and development – that here we would be; at Scratches 500 and 501

In recent years they’ve been pumping them out nearly weekly between their Scratch System and their even smaller R & D Scratch System. Leading up to their Oktoberfest Week they released several scratches all at once – Scratch 497: Schwarzbier, Scratch 498: Lemon Lime Radler, and one – that John Trogner himself said they would never make – Scratch 499: Rauchbier (a smoked beer).

Feels like it was just yesterday and I was drinking the Scratch 400 and reviewing it: Scratch 400 – Pre-Prohibition Lager. And here we are, three years later, celebrating the release of scratch 500 (and 501).

Scratches 500 and 501 will both be released on Thursday, October 19th, 2023 at the Troegs Brewery on Hersheypark Drive in Hershey, PA.

Scratch 500: Double Perpetual IPA

Scratch number 500 is Double Perpetual IPA. Take the Perpetual IPA you love… and double it! (Well, more like 1.5x it… for a real double Perpetual IPA… we’ll get to that in a bit).

Double Perpetual IPA will be clocking in at around 9-9.8% ABV. (Perpetual IPA is 7.5% ABV.) Double Perpetual IPA will be a brewery exclusive release on October 19th, 2023.

This is being both canned and kegged, so there will be four packs and cases, as well as draft at the brewery. Unlike the debacle that was the nightmarish release of the first batch of Double Nugget Nectar – this release; Double Perpetual IPA – will most likely have some sort of case or four pack limit.

Over the course of the run of Scratch Series Beers – numerous beers have “graduated” to become full fledged beers. Like Grand Cacao, Haze Charmer, Nimble Giant, and most recently Cyclops Teardrops.

Perpetual IPA (the original, the singular, the highest selling IPA in Pennsylvania) was one of the very first graduates of the Scratch Series and the research and development system used by Troegs Independent Brewing.

Expect this beer to have even more citrus, even more sticky and piney notes, and be even MORE Perpetual… it’ll be DOUBLE PERPETUAL!

Scratch 500: Double Perpetual IPA with original Perpetual IPA (photo courtesy of Troegs Independent Brewing)

Scratch 501 – Triple Perpetual IPA

Did you think Double Perpetual IPA was enough? No way! We need a Triple Perpetual IPA!

If you thought Perpetual IPA was a big IPA at 7.5% ABV…. and then if you thought Double Perpetual IPA at 9-9.8% ABV was a BIG BIG IPA…. then wait til you get ahold of Triple Perpetual IPA… rocking in somewhere from the 11 – 13 % ABV range (or so the legends go).

All of your favorite hops from Perpetual IPA – Cascade, Chinook, Nugget, and Citra are ramped up to the max for this big strong, powerful (triple) IPA.

This will be kegged only, and be released on draft only at the Troegs Brewery. You will be able to get crowlers and growler fills of it to go.

You can look for Triple Perpetual IPA to be released October 19th, 2023 when the Troegs Brewery opens at 11:30 AM.

For More Information on Troegs Independent Craft Brewing

According to Untappd, Troegs Independent Craft Brewing is a regional brewery with 148 unique beers listed (despite this release putting them over scratch batch number 500). They have 2.3 Million ratings and as of 10.09.23 have a global average rating of 3.79. Their Untappd bio reads:

“Founded in Pennsylvania in 1997 by brothers John and Chris Trogner, Tröegs Independent Brewing is driven by a sense of adventure and curiosity. Our brewery has been built by family, friends and kindred spirits who share a love of great beer. Together, we all make Tröegs. You might know our Perpetual IPA, the best-selling IPA in Pennsylvania. Or the dark, malty and crisp Troegenator. You may have come across such iconic beers as Nugget Nectar or Mad Elf in your beer travels. Perhaps you’ve been lucky enough to try one or two of the hundreds of experimental Scratch Series beers we’ve brewed over the years. Whether you’re already a member of our extended family or you’re just getting to know our brewery, there’s always something new to discover with Tröegs.“

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

MAPS OF BREWERIES

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

Beer Review: Hop Bender (Local Craft Beer)

B. Kline — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 16:05:00 +0000

Hop Bender by Local Craft Beer

Lets Do the Bender Hop

Its another Monday (groan), but ya’ll know what that means? Futurama! This week its episode six – Related to Items You’ve Viewed – an Amazon parody episode. I’ll get into the episode in a bit, but as you all know, every Monday I’ve been doing a “Futurama” themed beer, book, or other review (or article). Followed up by doing an episode video review when I get a chance. (I am slowly getting behind schedule on that, but keep your eyes peeled and locked on our YouTube channel page.)

Futurama Mondays

Thus far, these are the Futurama Monday articles:

Beer Review: Hop Bender by Local Craft Beer

Hop Bender by Local Craft Beer

Beer: Hop Bender
Brewery: Local Craft Beer (LCB)
Style: IPA – Triple New England / Hazy
ABV: 10%
IBU: 15
Untappd Description: This Beer is 40% Hops

Another excellent Tavour purchase that makes me wish I picked up more. But wooooo boy, at 10% you can’t be plugging too many of these away early in the day. I do enjoy the can art too. Turning Bender into a Fermenter is pretty cool, and fitting like we saw in “The Route of All Evil” episode.

Back of the Hop Bender can label

I enjoy the back of the can label as well, giving the description of the beer and how to preserve it. (Remember – always drink your hazies fresh!)

So enough about the can, lets get into this beer, lets crack it open and enjoy it.

Right away, on first crack and pour, you get hit with a rush of hop aroma. Like a Bender fist to the nose full of hop aromatics. This is super hop strong. Notes of pine resin, grapefruit, mango; all come flourishing through on the nose. Possible notes of pineapple and tangerine as well but its kinda muddied in there with all of the other hop aromas.

Appearance is your typical hazy IPA (not that there’s anything wrong with that – thats how its supposed to be). Nice golden hue, opaque, lovely pillowy foamy head, interspersed bubbles, nice lacing on the glass, golden wheat orange coloring. A beauty to behold.

And now its time to take our first sip…. and wow, this slaps hard – harder than Mom does! (Not my mom…. the Futurama Mom.) This is strong, but it is also so easy. This is far too smooth for a TIPA (Triple IPA) and far too smooth for a 10% beer. Kinda reminds me of Nimble Giant in that aspect – far too smooth and you can catch yourself drinking a few before realizing it. This is definitely in that category of “dangerous”. But in a good way (with modest self control). This is a very juicy, full hazy (T)IPA. Immediate notes of grapefruit, mango, pineapple, and tangerine. There is a medley of flavors all vying for your attention on first sip – in equal parts it seems – you get the mango, the pineapple, the tangerine, and the grapefruit. But as you drink it, you start to pick up some more notes and characteristics; like pine resin, earthy, and a bit of a forest floor to it as the hop notes really sink into you and take hold. “Bite my shiny metal ass” this is a damn good beer and I am really kicking my (shiny metal) ass wishing I had gotten more.

All in all a wonderful TIPA that lives up to its name. Thankfully this isn’t just some ‘bad’ beer with a pop culture / mainstream / nerd culture name slapped to it to make it sell. (Because lets be honest, a lot of craft breweries do this.) But this Bender-iffic beer absolutely nails it, and is a great drink. Just don’t expect to go all Zoidberg on this and drink it all up at once, or you’ll be snoring like The Professor in no time.

My Untappd Rating: ****
Global Untappd Rating: 4.06 (as of 8.21.23)

Related to Items You’ve Viewed

This might be the most (old school) Futurama episode of the season so far. On first watch, I didn’t really care for it, but on second and third watch, the episode completely grew on me and is probably my new favorite of the season. This and ‘How the West was 1010001’ episode are neck and neck.

I will go into much further and detailed analysis and review of this in the video review (that should be hopefully coming out soon).

Local Craft Beer

For more information on Local Craft Beer, the following comes fro Untappd. Local Craft Beer is a micro brewery from Tehachapi, CA United States. They have 346 unique beers and over 66,000 ratings, with a global average rating of 4.02 (as of 8.21.23). Their Untappd description reads: Distributed in many states and countries around the world, we are most known for our IPAs, Hoppy Lagers, and heavily Fruited Sours. With 2 locations to serve you, Our Brewery/Taproom is located in Tehachapi, Ca and our Brewpub/Bowling Alley located in Lancaster, Ca.

You can find them at the following social media pages:

Hop Bender by Local Craft Beer (LCB) via Tavour

All of Our Nerd Content

Here’s all of our nerd content, served up best in one single place. Enjoy!

I know ya’ll here for the nerd reviews. So check out our other nerd reviews below:

Star Wars:

Futurama

Lord of the Rings:

Magic the Gathering:

New Belgium Teams Up with Magic the Gathering for Vastwood Seer IPA

Zelda:

Rick and Morty:

Beer Review: Peace Among Worlds (Cushwa Brewing Company)

Space Balls:

Beer Review: Moon of Vega (Equilibrium Brewery)

Game of Thrones:

The Simpsons:

Back to the Future:

Beer Review: Back to Reality (Three 3s Brewing Co)

Scrooged:

Beer Review: Scrooge IPA (Iron Hill Brewing)

Groundhog Day:

A Christmas Story:

The Peanuts:

Pro Wrestling:

Soccer:

World Cup:

Phillies:

Drunk Phils Fans and Rotunda Brewing Company Collaborate Together on Jam the Batter sWheat Tart

Matrix:

Matrix Monday

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:

Beer Review: Terpenes in Time (BAREBottle Brewing Co)

HP Lovecraft / Cthulhu:

Beer Review: Azathoth (Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company)

Seinfeld:

The Muppets:

Other:

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

MAPS OF BREWERIES

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

If you would like to help keep the blog running soundly and smoothly, you may donate to us to help us keep the costs of the blog to a minimum. We greatly appreciate it. Thank you. (Clicking this link will take you to the page to make a donation. Thank you very much for helping us stay afloat!)

Beer Review: I Apologize For Nothing (Fourscore Beer Co.)

B. Kline — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 14:42:42 +0000

I Apologize For Nothing (by Fourscore Beer Company)

Another Futurama Monday

Welcome back for another Futurama Monday! Did you know Hulu has the episodes up basically at midnight?! I didn’t! I thought it was like Disney+ and other services where a new episode usually airs at 3:00 AM EST, but I got on last night and the newest episode was on already at 12:54 AM (EST) when I checked it out. Totally awesome and good to know I can get an early jump on each Futurama episode (since I only get to bed usually around 1 AM – 2 AM every night anyway).

Today’s Futurama themed beer is an older beer – but I did the review quite a while ago, and saved it. I had been waiting and deciding when to post the review – and then found out that the series was coming back and I thought – perfect, I’ll just wait to post it when the new season comes up. So here it is, now to be posted with the new season.

I Apologize For Nothing (pictured with Hedonism Bot on the label) came out for the Fourscore Beer Company’s 3rd Anniversary Celebration last year. (And coincidentally, they are ramping up their celebrations for this upcoming week which will be their fourth anniversary celebration. Check their Facebook page for all of their announcements. You can also see Wade Leedy posting in the Gettysburg Beer group as well about information.) Fourscore Beer Company did a big 3rd Anniversary Celebration last year with a lot of new releases and I Apologize For Nothing was one of them.

I Apologize For Nothing

I Apologize for Nothing!

A memorable quote from one of the more tertiary characters of the show – Hedonism Bot. He is only in 14 episodes and 3 of the movies, and rarely has more than one or two lines – one of which is the above line (repeated a few times over the various episodes).

In 3003, Hedonismbot attended the Big Robot Party (4ACV08). In 3004, he attended the Calculon–Coilette wedding (4ACV13), and asked Fry to write an opera (4ACV18). In 3007, he saw the professor‘s doomsday devices (BBS). In 3008, he was present at the League of Robots when Bender entered the league (TBWABB). In 3009, he attended the Violet Dwarf Star Implosion (ITWGY). In 3010, he supported Proposition ∞ (6ACV04), he made a big party to celebrate his wedding to a house (6ACV07), saw Amy and Kif at the Hip Joint (6ACV08), and attended the 100th Delivery Party (6ACV12). In 3014, he was with the Planet Express Crew and the Simpsons during “the end of the world” (SABF16).

……

Hedonismbot’s behaviour resembles that of a rich decadent Roman noble of ancient times, and he is a great patron of the opera with his very own box in the Metropolitan House of Opera – he even commissioned Fry to write an opera in which Fry would perform the Holophonor (4ACV18).

Hedonismbot also enjoys a number of unconventional hedonistic pleasures, including being covered in chocolate icing, sex orgies and robosexuality.

Hedonismbot was to be married to a house in the suburbs in July of 3010, but the night before, he held a bachelor party where, due to a nuclear powered stripper malfunctioning, he was the only survivor. It is unclear if he was married or not, but as evidenced by a party in September, his hedonistic ways of promiscuity have not changed.

In a season three commentary, Matt Groening points out the importance of the name being Hedonismbot and not Hedonistbot – he is not only hedonist, he is the actual personification of hedonism.

In 3013, Leela called him a senator (7ACV21).
Hedonism Bot – The Infosphere (Futurama Wikipedia)

As his name suggests – he is a robot based around hedonism. Kind of a Caligula styled design and character attitude, all about wanton and based lusts.

Beer Review: I Apologize For Nothing

I Apologize For Nothing by Fourscore Beer Company

Beer: I Apologize For Nothing
Brewery: Fourscore Beer Co.
Style: IPA – Triple New England / Hazy
ABV: 10%
IBU: N / A
Untappd Description: Built off a base of American 2 Row and Chit malts with loads of malted and flaked oats and a very large dose of powdered Australian Sauvignon Blanc whole grape powder. Hopped in the kettle with Calypso and Centennial Cryo and triple dry hopped with Kohatu, Citra Cryo and Emerald Spire. The grape powder provides a melon forward aromatic profile that is followed by notes of under ripe pineapple and pine needles. The grape follows through in the flavor on top of a soft and juicy base. More floral notes are present here along with watermelon rind, candied pineapple and bright citrus

Bammo! Hedonism all over on this big bad TIPA (Triple IPA). It hits you right out of the gate as you start to pour it with a heady aroma of hops knocking those hedonistic senses right out of you. The Citra really shines on the nose and aroma, and you get a wealth of fruity flavors ranging from grape, pineapple, and a bit of mango and grapefruit to kind of round it out. This is a bright, juicy, powerful beer, just from the aroma alone.

The appearance is a beautiful light straw color, with a wonderful fluffy, cloud like head to it. Very soft, very pillowy, airy and light looking. (Don’t let that fool you though.) It is opaque and hazy like a New England hazy IPA should be, no real noticeable floating sediment, and as you drink it, it left wonderful lacing on the glass.

Already I know this is going to be a killer beer. As good as an explosion at Hedonism Bot’s bachelor party. (“There was bodies everywhere…. and then the explosion happened!”) Big time carbonation and continued fermentation here; big fruit flavors and the grape powder adds a nice tartness. There is a lot of flavors and interactions going on with this big bad boy of a TIPA. The tartness is paired with sweeter, gummies citrus notes Sweet, but TIPAs need that to counter the booze. The sweetness does counter balance the tartness nicely, and the hops, even New England / Hazy TIPAs can get a bit too much hop character, too much hop bite, and can be too green – they just need that fruit, that sweet, that wealth of flavors and aromas to counterbalance – otherwise it can be a bit too much, especially the higher ABV they get, the more boozy they can sometimes taste and feel. This is a very intricate and balanced beer with a lot of nuanced tastes and notes to be discovered as you drink it. Its not a sipper like a bourbon barrel aged barleywine or anything, but certainly not one you can crush or should be drinking too fast. Definitely don’t think its a four – pack in an evening type of beer either (more like one or two at most).

My Untappd Rating: ****
Global Untappd Rating: 3.95 (updated this to reflect today’s date – 8.7.23)

How the West Was 1010101010

(I don’t even know if I have the right binary above, but lets go with it.) Quick thoughts on today’s episode – I enjoyed it. So far might be my favorite episode of the season. Dwight does sound off, not sure if they recast him, or if its a thing of aging, but he sounds off. I did enjoy Roberto, Borax Kid, and all of the little character arcs of the episode. It was just a fun, old school, zany Futurama episode. Not all of the jokes fully landed, but they were still on brand for the most part, and were fun. They didn’t have to do much exposition in the episode, and I just enjoyed it. Was just a fun, Futurama episode of old.

For More Articles About Fourscore Beer Company

Check out our other Fourscore Beer Co. articles:

For More Information on Fourscore Beer Company

Check out their social media pages:

Fourscore Beer Company on Untappd

The following information on Fourscore Beer Company comes directly from Untappd:

They are a micro brewery from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. They have 614 unique beers with a global average rating of 4.07 and a total number of ratings of over 109,000 (as of 8.7.23). Their Untappd description reads: Handcrafted beers at your hometown brewpub.

All of Our Nerd Content

Here’s all of our nerd content, served up best in one single place. Enjoy!

I know ya’ll here for the nerd reviews. So check out our other nerd reviews below:

Star Wars:

Futurama

Good News Everyone, Futurama is Back: Exploring Futurama – Inspired Craft Beers
Book Review: Futurama and Philosophy (edited by Courtland Lewis)
Futurama Episode Review – The Impossible Stream and Mead Review: Omicron Persei 8 (SpaceTime Meadery)
Mead Review: Omicron Persei 8 (Space Time Mead and Cider Works)
Futurama Episode Review – Children of a Lesser Bog and Beer Review: Stay on Target (Allusion Brewing Company)
Beer Review: I Apologize For Nothing (Fourscore Beer Co.)
Futurama Episode Review – How the West Was 1010101010

Lord of the Rings:

Magic the Gathering:

New Belgium Teams Up with Magic the Gathering for Vastwood Seer IPA

Zelda:

Rick and Morty:

Beer Review: Peace Among Worlds (Cushwa Brewing Company)

Space Balls:

Beer Review: Moon of Vega (Equilibrium Brewery)

Game of Thrones:

The Simpsons:

Back to the Future:

Beer Review: Back to Reality (Three 3s Brewing Co)

Scrooged:

Beer Review: Scrooge IPA (Iron Hill Brewing)

Groundhog Day:

A Christmas Story:

The Peanuts:

Pro Wrestling:

Soccer:

World Cup:

Phillies:

Drunk Phils Fans and Rotunda Brewing Company Collaborate Together on Jam the Batter sWheat Tart

Matrix:

Matrix Monday

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:

Beer Review: Terpenes in Time (BAREBottle Brewing Co)

HP Lovecraft / Cthulhu:

Beer Review: Azathoth (Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company)

Seinfeld:

Other:

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

MAPS OF BREWERIES

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

Beer Review: Phantomania (Fourscore Beer Company)

AmyMWolfe — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 13:26:40 +0000

Fourscore Beer Company’s Phantomania

Beers…. Mmmmm….. Beers….

There are so many things to unpack about this beer. I feel like I’m always on the hunt for the next tasty hazy IPA…and let me tell you I like them hazy! That perfect Hazy IPA reminds me what it feels like when Homer has that drooling eye roll moment.

Homer drooling, thinking of Fourscore’s Beers

The tropical and citrusy aroma of Phantomania quickly took me away to a better place than central pa during a freezing rainy day! It must be this fabulous hop combination. It ends on a bitter taste, but it just cleanses that palate and you are ready for the next satisfying sip.

Beer Review

Beer: Phantomania
Brewery: Fourscore Beer Co.
Style: IPA – Triple New England / Hazy
ABV: 11%
IBU: None
Untappd Description: For our foray into using Phantasm Powder (a thiol rich substance derived from NZ Sauv Blanc grape skins) we chose a triple ipa with various forms of Citra and Motueka hops. The grist is compromised of a base of American Pilsner malt, British Golden Promise and malted oats, backed by touched of flaked oats CaraFoam, wheat malt, and unmalted wheat. Hopped in the Whirlpool with Citra Incognto and Motueka, and a double dry hopped with doses of Phantasm Powder, Citra Cryo and more Motueka before a final dose of Citra Spectrum. The aroma is sweet lime peel, white gummy bear and pink grapefruit driven, leading to a creamy body. The flavor is straight lime sherbert with hints of ripe mango, leading to a finish that’s a little dry with a hint….

[Untappd doesn’t give nearly enough characters to describe this beer. And If you caught Fourscore’s FB post it continues with (…a hint of cleansing bitterness)]

I am in complete agreement, there are not enough characters in an untapped description in order to describe Phantomania.

I had never heard of phantasm power….is it just me?? I quickly ran to the google-later to conquer my questions. According to Bisonbrew.com “Phantasm Powder is a brand new product from New Zealand. It’s basically pulverized freeze-dried Sauvignon Blanc Grapes. What it contributes to beer is a massive charge of thiols: compounds that drive intense tropical fruit flavor and aroma.” Ah, that is where the tropical citrusy cloud comes from. Chef’s Kiss!

Seth’s Chef Kiss

Hang on just a minute. As a former wino, ok wino currently in remission, sauvignon blanc grapes are a favorite. I suppose it depends on how good each season is for how readily available or how tasty each grape skin. In November Porchdrinking.com reported it is still “one of the most unique and hard-to-get beer ingredients on the market today.” https://www.porchdrinking.com/articles/2021/11/03/phantasm-powder/

Please tell me we aren’t going to pretend to not talk about the elephant in the room. Am I the only one that had no idea that ABV was 11%? This nice, light, citrusy beer is a BEAST. I can easily say this is one of my top 10 fav beers of 2021. Yes, this Phantasm powder has been boggling my mind since then! I intend to drink many more beers with phantasm powder to compare. Let’s be honest I’ll be drinking many more beers regardless, but load up on this good stuff.

It’s still available on top and 4 packs to go. You can find it here at Fourscore Beer Co’s Menu.

Thanks For Reading

Thanks for reading everyone! Be sure to check out the ongoing March Madness brackets. You can go here to read the rules and vote: The Battle of the Breweries (2022) -March Madness – The Beer Thrillers Way.

Thanks for reading everyone!
Be sure to drink more beers!

-Amy

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

Beer Review: Missile Toad (Ever Grain Brewing Co.)

AmyMWolfe — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 12:01:16 +0000

Missile Toad by Ever Grain Brewing Co.

Missile Toad

When this tasty season treat came out last year when we were all stir crazy from quarantine I went on a long, long adventure with my friend the Missile Toad. I am normally not a fan of the grapefruit notes in my beer, but this triple IPA holds up with a high ABV, very light straw color and a not so boozy taste.

Beer Review

Beer: Missile Toad
Brewery: Ever Grain Brewing Co
Style: Triple New England/HAZY
ABV: 10.5%
IBU: None
Untappd Description: “Seasons greetings from a hop rocket of holiday happiness. Exploding with juiciness, this hazy Imperial IPA combines citrus notes with a soft piney finish. It’s like a tropical vacation in the middle of winter.”

The tropical vacation we all wish we should go on. Ah yes, the part of the holiday season I look forward to, holiday beer releases. They don’t all provide a high ABV and the MT will quickly sneak up on you.

That first sniff is a wonderful citrusy aroma. The Citrus flavors in this TIPA carry on and linger but are not overpowering. Just when you think that is about all this beer has to offer the light pine taste comes in and you glide down to a soft landing that combines this subtle tropical citrus taste and somehow delightfully pine taste

I first tasted this one a year ago before reading the description. A pine and a citrus flavor description beforehand would have given my taste buds a SCARE. The light tropical flavor with an aroma of a citrus sleigh ride bring back that thrill of getting your first crate of grapefruit or oranges over the holiday season. It didn’t matter if you ate them until your mouth was raw, that fresh citrus flavor was unmatched and you craved it.

The pine flavor. I thought I would hate it. Right away I envisioned picking pine needles out of my teeth, maybe a slight sticky sap feeling crossed my mind too. “little full, lotta sap”

This is the magic of drinking a well brewed beer. The flavor and aroma you end with brought back some of the first memories of rounding the corner to dive into your pile of presents on Christmas morning. That thrill of making sure your siblings were in-tow when you raced to the tree and that light pine scent danced around you as you believed in the magic of Christmas. But as an adult, I also believe in the magic of holiday beer releases.

In case anyone is looking for a Christmas present for me, I wear a size – 4pack of Missile Toad!

Drink more beer!
Cheers,
– Amy

Beer Review: Virtually Inseparable (Celestial Beerworks and Turning Point Beer)

BKline — Sun, 10 May 2020 19:00:24 +0000

Virtually Inseparable by Celestial Beerworks and Turning Point Beer

This was a juicy, big, bold, IPA that was sent to me as part of that Texas beer mail package. I’ve done a few other reviews from the beers sent to me – Road Trip Snacks, Thursday (2016), Islla en el Cielo, $#!+ Ton, Daebak, Chocolate Confidential, Sunshine and Opportunity, Azathoth, Citraquench’l, Paradise Lost, Irish Table, Athena, Vanilla Ice Cream Stout, Reve Coffee Stout, and Ghost in the Machine. (In short, I love getting beer mail; and love doing beer reviews of them!)

This is another gem from a beer mail / beer trade. Haven’t had too many misses on my beer mail and beer trades (thank the maker). While we’re all stuck inside due to the snow squalls and cold May weather here in Central PA; lets check this out.

Virtually Inseparable (a quarantine collaboration between Celestial Beerworks and Turning Point Beer)

Beer: Virtually Inseparable
Brewery: Celestial Beerworks
Collaborator: Turning Point Beer
Style: IPA – Triple New England
ABV: 10%
IBU: None listed
Untappd Description: A “virtual collaboration” with our cyber pals at Turning Point Beer. It’s a triple IPA brewed with Citra, Strata and Sabro. It has aromas of passionfruit and pineapple, and is jam packed with flavors of coconut, mango, taffy, and melon. It has a soft and fluffy mouthfeel and is the absolute brightest 10% glass of juice.

Interesting hops for this – Citra, Strata, and Sabro. People seem to be on the fence with sabro hops (some love it, some hate it).

This looks pure orange juice. Bright, beautiful golden orange color. Little foam to the head, not crazy head to it, but enough to be good. The bubbles are interspersed and varied. This is certainly hazy, with a few ‘floaters’ but nothing egregious.

Aroma is strong, super strong hoppyness. As obvious as the appearance of the beer is, the aroma kicks in as soon as you crack the can and lets you know right away that this is a Triple IPA. You get immediate notes of coconut, passionfruit, mango, pineapple, and a bit of melon.

Lets take this opportunity to look at the hops involved in this delicious triple IPA:
* Sabro – Sabro is an aroma hop that is notable for its complexity of fruity and citrus flavors. It imparts distinct tangerine, coconut, tropical fruit, and stone fruit aromas, with hints of cedar, mint, and cream. Sabro’s pedigree is the result of a unique cross pollination of a female neomexicanus hop.
* Citra – Citra hops are now one of the most coveted aroma hops in the US and have a strong citrusy profile with elements of grapefruit, lime and tropical fruit.
* Strata – Bittering with Strata brings a nice balanced bitterness. Flavor and aroma additions bring out the fruity side with tropical fruit and fresh berry brightness. Brewers say that dry hopping deepens the grapefruit and dank/herbal/cannabis elements.
(Information comes from Yakima Valley Hops, Hopslist, and Learn.Kegerator; respectively for all three.)

This has a soft mouthfeel. Its very juicy, very dank, but extremely drinkable and no booze or strong bite despite its 10% ABV. The flavor this is fantastic. You get notes of coconut, passionfruit, mango, slight berry notes, a bit of citrus poking through at points (primarily in a tangerine or orange taste), a little bit of pineapple. I think the biggest hop fruit flavor is mango, which explains why I enjoy it so much, thats always one of my favorite hop or fruit flavors in beers. (Funny because I don’t eat mangos as actual food, but love the flavor of them in beer.) There is little bits of floaters in this, but nothing you actually taste or detect as you drink. There is no dryness to this, and very little bitter or hop burn as well, its just genuinely a smooth beer, with a decently heavy mouthfeel but overall it tastes light and airy but still juicy. It goes down relatively quickly too, especially for a 10% beer. Having multiples of this around could be a danger that’s for sure.

My Untappd Rating: ****
Global Untappd Rating: 4.46 (as of 5.10.20)

This was a wonderful beer to have at home, sitting relaxing, after I did a 10+ mile walk with my dog (Leela) walking the Conewago Recreational Trail. I walked it from the start on Rt. 230 near where Elizabethtown begins, and took it all the way to the Lebanon County line (where it becomes the Lebanon Valley Rails and Trails) and, went a bit further, than turned around. After the walk, stopped at Moo-Duck to support local breweries. I got a taco flatbread pizza, and a crowler of Hades Chocolate Rye (which I drank later that night with my friend and was delicious).

We’re rolling through May everyone, its now May 10th, which means we’re 1/3rd of the way through the month. I hope everyone is having a wonderful May, and is enjoying the blog, hopefully also, everyone is staying safe, staying (primarily) home, helping local small businesses and breweries, and doing their part to beat this virus. We’re all in this together.

Would love to give a shout out to all the hard working nurses, doctors, people who are volunteering for their communities by handing out lunches at schools, taking care of elderly, or doing whatever they can for their fellow neighbors and people. And a big thank you to people still working at some of the ‘centers’ of this; grocery store workers, cashiers, hospital employees, medical professionals, firefighters, etc. Thank you to all of you!

We’ll get through this. We’ll get back out there to life, and we’ll all sit down for some beers together! Until then, cheers from afar!

-B. Kline

Hoppy Easter – IPAs

BKline — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 00:00:50 +0000

In honor of Easter (and what a weird Easter this is too), and since we’ve all been stuck inside all day. I figured I’d do a listicle of some of the IPAs we’ve reviewed. I’ve done a few other listicle articles (not too many, as I’m not a huge fan of them), but I figured its been a while, and since its Easter, lets do a “hoppy” one about the various IPAs we’ve reviewed.

Firstly, the other listicles I’ve done:
* Our Most Viewed Articles (September, 2019)
* Some Old Posts (September, 2019)

From our friends at Let Us Drink Beer Blog:

ETA IPA by Wild Leap Brew Co.

Beer Review: ETA IPA (Wild Leap Brew Co.)

Beer Reviews by J. Doncevic:

Colonization by Adroit Theory

Beer Review: Colonization (Adroit Theory)

Beer Review: EBK – Gashadokuro (Ghost 782) – Adroit Theory

Envie and and Envie 4XDH by Parish Brewing

Beer Reviews: Envie and Envie 4XDH (Parish Brewing)

Beer Review: Ekuanot Astronaut (BAREbottle Brewing Co.)

Ghost in the Machine by Parish Brewing

Beer Review: Ghost In The Machine (Parish Brewing Co.)

Enigma by Anchorage Brewing

Beer Review: Enigma (Anchorage Brewing Company)

Ectogasm by Drekker

Beer Review: Ectogasm (Drekker Brewing Co.)

After a few months of us doing the beer reviews, I added the category – styles; where you can click through to find your favorite style or if you want to check out reviews for a particular style. I haven’t gotten to go back through and add the old reviews to the new categories, but I will. In the mean-time, we currently have 26 (and growing) in the IPA Category. You can find it by clicking it here: Categories: Style: IPA.

IPA Beer Reviews by B. Kline:

40th Anniversary Ale by Sierra Nevada

Beer Review: 40th Hoppy Anniversary Ale (Sierra Nevada Brewing Company)

Icicle by New Trail Brewing

Beer Review: Icicle (New Trail Brewing Co)

Trial by Wombat by Thin Man Brewing

Beer Review: Trial by Wombat (Thin Man Brewery)

Furious IPA by Surly Brewing

Beer Review: Furious IPA (Surly Brewing)

Back to Reality by Three 3s Brewing

Beer Review: Back to Reality (Three 3s Brewing Co)

Pete’s Secret Stache by Revision Brewing

Beer Review: Petes Secret Stache (Revision Brewing Company)

Loki by Karl Larsen at Newfangled Brew Works

Beer Review: Loki – Wild IPA (Newfangled Brew Works)

Doppelganger by Tree House Brewing

Beer Review: Doppelgänger (Tree House Brewing)

This is the Way by Broken Goblet

Beer Review: This is The Way (Broken Goblet)

Julius by Tree House Brewing

Beer Review: Julius (Tree House Brewing)

The Hog by Boneshire Brew Works

Beer Review: The Hog (Boneshire Brew Works)

Citraquench’l by Heist Brewing

Beer Review: Citraquench’l (Heist Brewery)

Moon of Vega by Equilibrium Brewing

Beer Review: Moon of Vega (Equilibrium Brewing)

Paradise Lost by Southern Prohibition Brewing

Beer Review: Paradise Lost (Southern Prohibition Brewing)

Fuzzy Nudge named by Ffej by Troegs Independent Brewing

Beer Review: Fuzzy Nudge (Troegs Independent Brewing)

King Sue by Toppling Goliath

Beer Review: King Sue (Toppling Goliath Brewing Co.)

And there are plenty more too! From breweries like Boneshire Brew Works, The Millworks, Tattered Flag, South County, New Trail, Troegs Brewing, Anchorage Brewing, Rotunda Brewing, ZeroDay Brewing, Newfangled Brew Works, and so many more! With more getting added constantly.

We’ve been running this blog since late May last year. I (B. Kline) have done a few podcasts (for both beer and pop culture). I am also doing a Beer Education series right now, with a running table of contents. You can see the table of contents (so far) below:

The Beer Education Series:
* Beer Education: Series
* Beer Education: Syllabus
* Beer Education: Introduction
* Beer Education: Module One: The History of Beer Brewing
* Beer Education: Module Two: Barley and Malting
* Beer Education: Module Three: Water

Hopefully (fingers crossed) there will most likely be Module Four released and posted tomorrow.

I hope everyone had a wonderful, hoppy, and happy Easter. It wasn’t my usual, but it was an Easter spent with family. So that in and of itself made it a good day. Got to do some grilling for Easter dinner:

Grilling Easter Dinner

Nothing beats grilling and drinking a wonderful (D)IPA like Time Keeper by Fourscore Beer Co.

So from us here at The Beer Thrillers to your family, we hope you had a wonderful hoppy Easter. Please stay safe, and cheers everyone!

Have a Hoppy Easter!

Brewery Event: Bottle Share (Tattered Flag)

BKline — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 15:31:53 +0000

Tattered Flag and Breweries in PA’s Bottle Share (February 8th, 2020).62+ Tickets were ‘sold’. Packed house down in the brewhouse of Tattered Flag. (Thats me in the red Pizza Boy shirt, and my friend D. Scott to my left.) (Photo Courtesy of Chad Balbi – Breweries in PA).

On February 8th, 2020, Tattered Flag and Breweries in PA co-hosted an event at the Tattered Flag Brewery in Middletown PA. It was a ticketed event and promoted across Tattered Flag’s social media and Breweries in PA’s social media (their Facebook page and their Facebook group). Tickets were free. Welcome to all that were to come out. According to Justin (brewer for Tattered Flag) 62 tickets were given out. Myself and my friend were two of those tickets, and so let me take you through the event.

Let’s back this up a bit from the time of the event. Starting with the event itself. It was first announced near the beginning of the year. Luckily it was a Saturday I was able to get off from work (a rarity in my case). And my friend D. Scott was also off and along for the idea. So, the premise of the event is simple – bring 2-3 (or more) beers. Everyone who comes to the event, does so, and once the event is underway you place your beers in the corresponding coolers (IPA, Sours, Wheats and Kolsches, Stouts), and then after everyone has grouped up, you start cracking beers and sampling and moving on.

The premise is simple and neat. Anyone whose ever done a beer / bottle / can share or swap at home with friends, its the same premise just on a much larger scale. (A 62+ person scale that is.)

Leading up to the event my friend stopped at Breski’s Beverage and picked up a four-pack of larger beers to bring with. He grabbed Thief Share (2016) by Strange Roots Experimental Ales, Blue Farm (2017) by Free Will Brewing Co, a German Chocolate Cake Stout from a brewery I’m drawing a blank on, and New Holland’s Dragon’s Milk (2019).

I had set up to do a beer trade with a guy from Eureka California. We were both set to send our packages on either January 31st, or February 1st. (I sent on 31st and showed proof.) He unfortunately, kept saying he would get to it… and get to it….. and he kept NOT getting to it…. and NOT getting to it. Finally, he promised he would expedite it next day to make up for its tardiness…. and I get a message from him “Sorry, it’d be 200$+ to expedite, so I sent it regular. Sorry it won’t be there in time.” …..Massive annoyance and disappointment on those fronts. So at last second, I had to figure out what I was bringing.

Unfortunately I had just ran through my cans from Tree House brought home by my friend D. Arndt. If I would have known…. I would have brought the Sap, Autumn, Julius, Haze, or Doppelganger I had. So I likewise stopped at Breski’s Beverage and picked up some beer for the event. I got Grimm Artisanal Ale’s I Still Love the Old World (2018), Lickinhole’s Virginia Black Bear, Clown Shoe’s Coffee Sombrero, and Trial by Wombat (mainly for the name and picture).

Saturday morning comes and I do my typical morning chores and errands and take Leela (my border collie) for a run. D. Scott is Ubering to Tattered Flag, and I’m going to meet him there. Planned to get there at 10:40, but ended up getting there closer to 10:50 with our tickets and my beer and meet him just inside the door. He shows me the beer he’s bringing and we go over our small sample size. At just a bit before 11AM, Justin comes through and tells everyone to follow him down into the brewhouse.

Since 2018 I’ve done some volunteer canning work with Tattered Flag – though recently they’ve stopped using volunteers now that their employee force is big enough to keep it all done in-house, so I’m quite familiar with their brewhouse and back of the brewery operations and location.

At the time, there’s not too many people yet. Maybe 15-20. Justin goes over the rules. (Big rule: don’t touch any valves. Little rule: throw your trash away. Big rule: DON’T TOUCH ANY VALVES. Little rule: put your beers in their appropriate tubs.) They had bussing tubs with a label for each: IPA, Sour / Saisons, Wheats / Kolsches, and Stouts. Bigger bottles were kept in the front or where room was for them.

The guys from Breweries in PA introduced themselves. And then we were off to the races (…or beers). Talked with the lady from Breweries in PA and she was saying how the Dayman can was the last “known in the wild” can to exist, due to them getting hit with a Cease and Desist from Disney. And we talked about Disney with recent news, and how past places have gotten hit with some C & D’s.

After sampling Dayman, and then Nightman, I saw a lovely looking Smoked Porter big bottle. Unfortunately I forget the name of it, and it appears I never checked it into Untappd (something I didn’t do too good of a job of). (Just like pictures, unfortunately I took no pictures of the event either, so I have no pictures of my own, and had to try and remember the beers I tried for Untappd later on.) So whoever brought the big bottle Smoked Porter, I’d love to know what it was. ….but also… oh boy that carbonation! As soon as I popped the cap on it, it just gushed. Foam everywhere, so much so that I had to set it down under the table over the grate, it just wouldn’t stop, for a good solid 2 minutes it kept going. (So yes, I apologize for being ‘that guy’, but….. it wasn’t my fault!)

A cache of the beers at the bottle / can share. Photo courtesy of Justin Hoak.

Me and D. Scott kinda hovered over the Stouts area. Talked to Justin and his girlfriend Aimee, about recent events with Tattered Flag, as well as Hibrewnation that took place, as well as the upcoming Prototype Brewery and Meadery and the Prototype Invitation Brewing Event.

The beer share at Tattered Flag. Photo courtesy of Justin Hoak.

After a few more samples, me and D. Scott headed back into the caverns a bit, where there was more space, as by now we were likely up to about 40+ people in attendance. And out by the brite tanks and fermenters it was getting pretty crowded. After a bit, the guys from Breweries in PA brought a few of the bussing trubs out into the side-room where we used to do the labeling for Tattered Flag’s canning run. They brought out a few beers of each type as well and so there was now a more mixed variety in the different areas.

While in the side-room, I branched out a bit from my stouts and sours and had a few IPAs. Bearded Iris’ Homestyle, Psycho Simcoe by Three 3’s, Ex Novo Brewing’s Spirits of the Dead, and Double Luv by East Branch Brewing. Hanging out, talking with D. Scott and some of our fellow drinkers in the area, we also cracked open the Black Tuesday (2017) by The Bruery, which was amazingly fantastic. While discussing the ridiculously high ABV on it (19.5%), one of the guys talked about the beer he brought from Nimble Hill, a Maple Stout in their Mysteria Series, that was a 25%. I’ve always been a huge fan of big ABV beers…. so my ears and eyes and nose, and mouth, all perked up. The kind gentleman went back and got it and brought it out. After a bit of a struggle getting the cork off of it, we each drew a good sample size of it (and I won’t lie and say I didn’t have two samples of it).

The description on Untappd for it reads:

MAPLE SYRUP STOUT
This super limited creation is an off shoot of Turbo Diesel.
But instead of using hops, we added a few gallons of maple syrup and a dash of molasses and fermented it to the limits.
The result is a thick dessert stout with a strong maple syrup and imperial stout finish, followed by hearty warming from the 25% abv. Served without carbonation for a smooth and velvety finish.

It was smooth, dry, but with an amazing maple syrup flavor. Tasted like drinking a maple syrup wine. It was pretty much fantastic. And the nice 25% ABV to it, certainly didn’t hurt. I would like to throw a shout out to Ryan Haraschak. Fantastic, gorgeous gem to bring to the bottle share! Kudos my man!

We also tried a gentleman’s RIS Homebrew that was wonderful as well. And somehow, quickly, we realized we were approaching the end of the time for the bottle share, so me and D. Scott went back by the fermenters to try some of the beers still over there.

While hanging out there, and chopping on some tortilla chips, the Harris Brewery guys came in. Got to talk to Harris guys for a long time about their upcoming brewery, black culture in brewing and craft beer, Allison Hill, the impact their hoping to make, the old Coke-Cola building / factory on the corner of 19th and Derry, the obstacles their having to overcome for their brewery, their GoFundMe vs. the Kickstarter, and much more. We also drank from their growler of their collaboration with The Vegetable Hunter which was fantastic. If you would like to support the Harris Family Brewery, and add to their GoFundMe you can do so here:

Harris Family Brewery Start-Up Go Fund Me

Shaun Harris posing at the end of the bottle share. Photo Courtesy of Harris Family Brewery.

As the time dwindled down, we quickly tried to sample a last few beers. There was an Intuition Ales that I tried with a large dragon on it (wax sealed originally, no idea on the name), as well as two Hegemony Anniversary Beers from St. Boniface. Also back to back Black IPAs; one from Pour Man’s Brewing – Black Market, and the other from Heavy Seas – Night Swell. Also tried the 2SP and WaWa coffee stout – Winter Reserve. As well as a last sampling of the Candy Hearts by New Trail Brewing.

As it wrapped up, they told us to take anything we wanted that was unopened. Seeing my Lickinghole Virginia Black Bear unopened I grabbed that, as well as an IPA from Mainstay Brewing and one of the bakeries from The Bruery. My buddy grabbed a couple and we put them in the six-pack holder and took them out to my car and then came back in to use our free beer and food discount.

Tattered Flag with the (free) ticket, being the gracious host was giving one free pour with the ticket as well as 10% off food. D. Scott got an order of loaded chips, and I got Because I Was Inverted (Chocolate Covered Strawberry). His free drink was either the Custardy Tropic Like Its Hot or the Custardy Black Crumble. We had also sampled these in cans during the bottle share.

My list of beers sampled (that I was able to record on Untappd) was:
* Nightman (Stable 12 Brewing Company)
* Schmoojee Strawberry Orange Banana (Imprint Beer Co)
* Bible Belt (2019) (Evil Twin Brewing)
* Frucht: Fruit Punch (The Bruery Terreux)
* Churro Sombrero (Clown Shoes)
* Autumn Friend (Forest & Main Brewing Company)
* Spirits of the Dead (Ex Novo Brewing)
* Psycho Simcoe (Three 3’s Brewing Co.)
* Black Tuesday (2017) (The Bruery)
* Maple Stout, Mysteria Series (Nimble Hill Brewing)
* Double Luv (East Branch Brewing)
* Kriek Marriage Parfait (2015) (Brouwerji Boon)
* Black Market (Pour Man’s Brewing Company
* Night Swell (Heavy Seas Beer)
* Pack & Brass Coffee IPA (Wallenpaupack Brewing Company)
* I Still Love the Old World (Grimm Artisanal Ales)
* Bourbon Barrel Aged Hegemony Anniver7ary Reserve (Blue Wax) (St. Boniface Craft Brewing Co.)
* Bourbon Barrel Aged Hegemony Anniver8ary Reserve (Blue Wax) (St. Boniface Craft Brewing Co.)
* Cold Pro (Union Craft Brewing)
* Winter Reserve Coffee Stout (2SP Brewing Company / WaWa)
* Candy Hearts (New Trail Brewing Co.)
* Homestyle (Bearded Iris)
* Custardy: Blackberry Crumble (Tattered Flag)
* Custardy: Tropic Like Its Hot (Tattered Flag)
* Thief Share (2016) (Strange Roots Experimental Ales)
* Blue Farm (2017) (Free Will Brewing Co.)
* Gingerbread Crunchee (Other Half Brewing Co.)
* Double Vice Coffee Porter (Grist House Craft Brewery)
* Chili Nelson Hazy Habenero (The Vegetable Hunter)
* Winter Wassailand (The Vegetable Hunter / Harris Family Brewing)
* Dayman (Stable 12 Brewing)

These are the ones I remembered / checked-in on Untappd anyway. There were so many more I didn’t get to try, some I definitely wanted to. I saw some Aslin cans, I believe 4th Anniversary Sours, that I missed out on, as well as a few Other Half’s and similar. In the comments – for those of you who went – I’d love to see what you brought, had, and what was your favorites.

This was a fantastic event. I’ve been to some friend / home beer bottle / can shares, and its always a blast. Passing around beers, sampling, and talking about beer and just hanging out with good people. The craft beer community is an exceptional and diverse community and its so great to talk to so many different people. Bottle shares are like mini-brewfests in a way, sampling a ton of different beers from different places / breweries that you most likely won’t get into contact with. Its not a bad way to kill a Saturday morning, thats for sure.

My favorites that I got to sample were: Black Tuesday (2017) by The Bruery and the Nimble Hill Maple Stout Mysteria (the 25%). D. Scott said his favorite was also the 25% Maple Stout as well as the Custardy: Blackberry Crumble.

It was great of Tattered Flag to put up some of their own beers in the share, a great gesture on their part. Also, humorous note, I think I did see a Blue Moon in one of the tubs, not 100% sure though, but I think I did. Kudos to whoever brought that. I did think it’d be funny to bring a single Coors Light bottle or Miller Lite High Life bottle and sneak it in, but didn’t know how it’d go over.

The Kill Shot from the Beer Share at Tattered Flag hosted by Tattered Flag and Breweries in PA. (Photo courtesy of: Chad Balbi)

As you can see from the kill shot, there was a ton of great beer brought in, and sampled and served. Breweries from all over Pennsylvania, as well as numerous other big breweries like Other Half, Bearded Iris, Aslin, Dogfish Head, Brewery of Omnegang, Grimm Artisanal Ales, as well as some homebrew, and some heavy PA hitters like Free Will, Tattered Flag, Strange Roots, Imprint Beer Co, Dancing Gnome, Troegs Independent Craft Brewing, and New Trail, and even upcoming brewery Harris Family. It was a wonderful and diverse selection, bottles, bombers, growlers, crowlers, cans, and even wine bottles.

Interested in reading some reviews of beers from some of these places, you can check out my beer blog: The Beer Thrillers. We’ve reviewed beers from Tattered Flag like: Should Have Put Him Into Custardy, Inexplicably Juicy, Pink Guava, Fatum Series: Member Berries, and more. New Trail’s Broken Heels. Broken Goblet’s This Is The Way, Burn Them All Away. Boneshire Brew Work’s The Hog, Dillston, Harrishire (with Harris Family), Sunburst, Good Walk Spoiled, Road Less Traveled, and more. Wolf Brewing collaboration with Tattered Flag – Imperial Churro and collaboration with Imprint – Wolf Prints. Rotunda Brewing’s sWheat Tarts: Mango Guyabano and Juicy Fruit. Troegs Independent Craft Brewing’s Fuzzy Nudge, Coco-Nator, and Scratch 400. You can check out our brewery visit and recap (and review) of Mellow Mink and their Scarlet Sunrise. Or our brewery reviews of Battlefield Brew Works and Cushwa Brewery. Or the recent, unfortunate news of the closings – Crystal Ball and Stoudt’s.

You can also read our other article on Breweries in PA: Touring the Breweries that Surround Harrisburg. (Also located here: Breweries Around the Outskirts of Harrisburg.)

We are currently listed on FeedSpot’s Top 100 Beer Blogs at #9, and have been there for a few weeks now (moved up from #11). (If you would like to write for us, you can contact us through our contact page. Or if you would like us to write for you.)

You can check us out on Facebook as well as Twitter. Or just search for us – Facebook – The Beer Thrillers – and on Twitter – @thebeerthriller.

The blog is ran by me – B. Kline, and mainly written by me, but other writers for the blog include J. Doncevic, AJ Brechbiel (of Default Brewing). We also have Let Us Drink Beer Blog do some contributions as a guest writer.

I also do podcasts with D. Scott and Esteban – So a Mexican and a Scot Walk Into a Bar… where we discuss beer, pop culture, movies, TV shows, and much more. Always hilarious and always insightful, so make sure to check that out as well.

(Ok, that concludes the article for Breweries in PA. The rest from here on out, is just for the Beer Thrillers faithful and my blog only. Its also a little more personal and detailed than the above, so keep reading if you want to hear more.)

So as per usual with me, after the beer share event, my night didn’t end. It was about 3:30-4PM by the time we finished up at the Tattered Flag bar. Way too early to call it a day. Being in the area, we decided to check out the Lancaster Brewing spot off of Eisenhower Boulevard in Harrisburg. Neither me nor D. Scott had ever been there. And this checks off a “new brewery location” that I want to do each month. (January was Liquid Noise Brewing, so February will be Lancaster Brewing, and hopefully March – before they close up – will be Stoudt’s.) Its funny that neither of us have ever been here to this location. Its so close, and we’ve jumped and hit all of the Harrisburg breweries numerous times before.

While there we met up with friends D. Arndt, Youngblood, and Youngblood’s girlfriend. I did a flight, D. Scott got a draft of their eggnog, and I have no recollection of what the others got. My flight included:
* Jam Series #22 Mexican Style Lager
* Jam Series #21 Gingerbread Spiced Brown Ale
* Lancaster Lager
* Jam Series – Track #20 Eggnog Blond
* Jam Series – Track #19 Chili Smoked Baltic Porter
* Winter Warmer

Lancaster Brewing Company’s Spiced Gingerbread

All were pretty tasty. I enjoyed the Smoked Porter the most with the Spiced Gingerbread coming in second. Wasn’t a huge fan of the eggnog blond, but I’m not a fan of eggnog so kind of knew that going into it. Drew loved his, but then again, he’s a huge eggnog fan. So mileage may vary on that type of beer.

Lancaster Brewing Company’s Mexican Lager

Finally around 730-8PM or so we left and went to D. Arndt’s house, where we hung out with him and his fiance Kat and his dogs (the one of which is a Corgi named Indiana Bones). While there he had a can of Intemperance by Tree House which was absolutely delicious.

Intemperance by Tree House Brewing

Look for me to be adding the Intemperance to my series on Tree House. Also, most likely tonight Doppelganger will be going up to finish what was originally the series. But now, with the addition of Intemperance, the series will be going from 5 to 6, making it a nice easy and sensible six-pack. Makes sense for a beer blog (a beer blog making sense?!), I like it.

So, this was supposed to be written and was supposed to go up Sunday, the 9th. But… work was crazy, as it was a ticket promotion give-away and we were swamped there, and afterwards, I was supposed to go to D. Scott to watch the Oscar’s (and drink the remaining of the beer share beers), but… Haley forgot the crowler of Rotunda Brewing Company’s ‘Beautiful Trauma’ that I got her, so I had to swing back to work and then deliver it to her at Irgo’s Tavern. Where I then proceeded to stay and play pool with several co-workers until 1AM. So obviously… no posting that night.

Then Monday I did go over to D. Scott’s and we watched Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (finally got around to seeing it, fantastic movie, and Tarantino is still just as good as he always was). So once again, no blog posting Monday. But, last night I did start this, and sadly, only after editing, getting to finish it this morning. Sorry for the delay in things, but I rather edit and make sure I like the way blog looks, and that there’s no misspellings or grammar problems or anything (though I’m sure one or two will still sneak through). There’s two ways to write:

“You either write sober and edit drunk, or write drunk and edit sober.”

I also finally got that California beer mail Tuesday. Looks like some delicious brews to drink down and dive into and review for you all.

California beer mail.
California beer mail

So definitely expect to see some beer reviews come out of that 10-pack. There’s a lot of tasty ones (I am super looking forward to the Chocolate Donut porter.)

Blog news – I am going to be trying to get 2 blogs up a day for the next few days to catch up some of the beer reviews I’m behind on. Fingers crossed anyway. This blog post is also going up on Breweries in PA’s website, so you’ll be able to check it out there (albeit abbreviated). Once its live, I’ll come in and edit this to include it here.

Tomorrow (Thursday, the 13th), I have yet another funeral to go to. This time my Uncle (mother’s brother in law) passed away. (Last Thursday was a funeral for my Great Uncle, my father’s Uncle.) In the evening Funck’s in Palmyra is doing a tap takeover for New Trail. I might be stopping out for that (might not, depends on time). New Trail makes some great beers, so I’d love to check it out.

Some beer reviews that are due up are Doppelganger and Intemperance, New Heights I Cannot Tell a Lie, Boneshire Brew Work’s Anagnorsis, Revision’s Pete’s Stache, Rivertown’s Triple Belgian, and much more. So be on the lookout for a lot of beer reviews coming at you in the upcoming days.

Like I said earlier in the post (mainly for the Breweries in PA page), please check out our Facebook, Twitter, and other social medias, and please click follow, like, subscribe, both on those platforms and here on the blog itself. You can enter your e-mail at the bottom to get notifications immediately whenever a new blog post hits the internet, and we’d greatly appreciate it. We also love it when you use the ‘rating’ at the bottom so we know how we are performing, and click the LIKE down below as well. Also, even more importantly, we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, feedback. So leave us a comment, or two, or three, or forty-four. I try to respond and reply as quickly as I’m able to. And if you ever want, you can contact us at our contact page and leave me a message.

Thanks everyone so much for reading, and hopefully you enjoyed it, and if you were at the event, hopefully you had as much of a blast as I did (and D. Scott). (Which speaking of, be on the lookout for some new podcasts on LOST Seasons 3 & 4, Fullmetal Alchemist, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and potentially / possibly / hopefully BoJack Horseman.)

Cheers everyone!

-B. Kline

Tattered Fag and Breweries in PA’s February 8th, 2020, Beer Share – the final kill shot.

End of the Year – 2019

BKline — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 14:46:39 +0000

(Just a quick note, late addition on this, this is going to be a two-part article. First part a look-back at The Beer Thrillers articles of 2019, and the second part about our top beers, top breweries, and other happenings of 2019 for myself personally and the blog, and some of our friends in general. So make sure to check out both parts.)

So its the end of the year… end of decade even…. and thus its time to reflect back on where we came from, how we got to where we are, and where we are going. Humanity, since the inception of time, and creating of calendars and years and New Years Eves and New Years Days have always taken the last few days of each year to look back on their year, their life, and reflected, and thought about how they could better themselves, come up with “resolutions” for the upcoming year, and join in with friends and families as they ring in the new year. “New Year New You.”

We here at The Beer Thrillers are going to do something …. similar. Not fully introspective though, because we don’t take ourselves that seriously. But just a fun look back at the year that was 2019. I can’t speak for my co-writers, but I can say for me, personally, 2019 had its fair share of ups, downs, in-betweens, lefts, rights, diagonals, crosses, bounces, turns, jukes, and jives. But I’m still here and better for it all. But I’m not going to go on and on too much about myself personally.

Rather, I’m going to write about how the blog has done, where we started from, where we’re headed, etc. And yea, I’ll probably get a little personal. But nothing deep or philosophical or introspective. More along the lines of what were some of the best beers, breweries, or events I’ve done of the year. So don’t worry, the blog will uphold the Seinfeld idea of “Nobody learns, nobody grows, nobody hugs”.

Scratch 375 – CocoNator by Troegs Independent Craft Brewery

I started this blog back on May 17th, 2019. (This year!) It was a Thursday, my girls (my daughters) were at school, I was bored, and trying to figure out what I’m doing / was doing. I needed something for my days off while the kids were at school, something that was fun, something I was passionate about, something that let me feel like I was being creative, using my talents, and something I knew about. I’ve been reading blogs, and news sites, and all kinds of things about beer for so long, and I have a lot of experience drinking… …and writing… that I figured why not combine the two? I was feeling like I was in a rut, my job is the same its been for the past seven years, I wasn’t doing anything outright ‘creative’ and needed an outlet for it, and we are in a review culture. I do all kinds of reviews all the time, in small nondescript and unimportant ways. Like reading books when I’m finished, I write up a review of them when I check them off on GoodReads. Same with Untappd, when I drink a beer, I write up a small (Tweet size) review of it. I also felt, I was in a unique spot to start this up. I was getting to a spot where I knew enough people “on the inside” or “in the business”, and I was also doing stuff beyond just being a consumer; like home brewing, growing hops, helping can at Tattered Flag, being engaged in conversations with home brewers and professional brewers a lot, that I felt like I could provide some interesting conversations and articles to the world.

Mainly…. I was looking to not be bored, and to do something I love doing – writing and drinking beer.

So I started the blog up on May 17th, 2019. Basically having no clue what I was doing. I started up using WordPress and here we are. Its still WordPress, albeit the ‘weaker’ version (fingers crossed come sometime the new year, I switch over to the more advanced version, where I have more control over the site and the appearance). I did a little bit of research, chose a name – which to be frankly speaking – the name “The Beer Thrillers” just popped up to me. Nothing too deep or crazy or interesting behind it. I was honestly conjuring up the idea that it would be me, and a few of my friends writing, thus the “Thrillers” and not “Thriller”. I thought me, Drew, Dan maybe, and a few others would all writing all kinds of blog posts and contributing. Maybe some of the insiders in the business I know too… …while this hasn’t happened exactly; I have enlisted friends and other writers over the year to help out. (More on that as I get to their participation.)

Outside of creating the home page and starting up the site, my very first article on the blog was a beer review of Troegs’ Scratch 375 – The CocoNator. As far as first time articles go, I have no problems with it. Counting the writing of my colleagues and fellow contributors and cowriters to the blog, we’re now up to 130 blog posts (this being #131). I definitely think I’ve come a long way from that first blog. But I also like to think I laid the foundation there. I set up a system for how the beer reviews (I do) are written, presented, and I hope they are written in a fun, interesting, educational, and most importantly entertaining way.

Boulangerie Stout – Imperial Churro by Tattered Flag and Wolf Brewing Co.

When I started this in May, I had just gotten a couple of cans from my shift manager at work – Jordan and used them a the base for my first few beer reviews. The CocoNator was quickly followed by two South County beer reviews – Painting with Light (May 19th) and Sundrifter (May 30th). Also during this time, from my recent volunteer work helping can at Tattered Flag I worked with and gotten quite a few of their cans (hard work and sweat at their brewery resulted in many cans of whatever beer was being canned that day, as well as lots of other cans they still had from past canning runs). Two of these resulted in the beer reviews of Boulangerie Stout – Imperial Churro (May 22nd) which was a collaboration between Derek Wolf of Wolf Brewing Co. and Tattered Flag and You Hoppin’ On Me? (May 24th).

Canning Day at Tattered Flag

I was trying to write fast, furiously, and get some articles out there as a starting blog, I knew content was going to be the main driving force (and still is). Quality content even better. Hopefully I provided the quality content. I guess thats all up to you guys to decide, but I like to think I did (or at least, like I said, hope I did). As you can see from my picture of the Imperial Churro; often times in the background or foreground or beside the beers you’ll see some of the recent books I’m reading, as well as my dog Leela – especially if I’m drinking at home where she typically has to get her nose into the business of all involved. On May 27th, I conducted a bit of a science experiment when I found an old (over a year old) Black and Blue Tastee from The Veil. I had gotten a four pack from one of my favorite bartenders – Chris – who had traveled down and muled some back up. I wrapped up May, my first month of writing for the blog, with my first beer review from a bar – Warwick Hotel – on May 31st with a beer review of Cinnamon Toast Crunch by Collusion Tap Works.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch by Collusion Tap Works

May finished, and my first month done; even if I had only started late in the month on the 17th, I felt accomplished with the blog. I published 9 total blog pages; which included the home-page, the author-bio page, the contact page, and other necessary background pages. Word was slowly trickling out about the blog, I was up to 59 visitors and 121 views. Not a bad first month – especially considering it was basically just two weeks (the 17th through the 31st). Lets say I was “pleased as punch” with the start of the blog. June was looking bright!

June started with a beer review from the Bissell Brothers Brewing Company – Baby Genius on June 3rd. Followed up by a bottle of LazerSnake by Three Floyds on June 9th.

Baby Genius by Bissell Brothers

On June 13th, I did my first multiple beer review, and my first beer flight review – from Troegs Independent Craft Brewing – of course. What other place would I do my first beer flight review? Troegs was basically my initiation into the craft beer scene when I was ….cough turning 21…. and was the start of my craft beer love. Troegs is still a wonderful brewery, a fantastic venue there in Hershey, and overall holds a definite soft spot in my craft beer loving heart.

A flight of beers from Troegs Brewery

June 14th ended up being my first “double blog post” day. Earlier in the day I had stopped in at Tattered Flag to pick up a four-pack, had a beer, and when home, wrote a review, and later that night, with my daughters, I stopped in at Boneshire Brew Works, had a beer, and did a review before bed. At Tattered Flag I had the Abra Collabra beer, and at Boneshire I had the Sunburst beer. A week later I did my first brewery review, when I took my oldest daughter to Gettysburg for the day to visit the battlefields and monuments. Before visiting the sites, we stopped for lunch at the Battlefield Brew Works. A day later I was back at Warwick for another beer and review – Manayunk’s King Crunch.

An interior picture of the Battlefield Brew Works brewery.

Around this time, looking to expand, I enlisted the help of a buddy and fellow craft beer aficionado and enthusiast, and Boneshire lover – Josh Doncevic. We had a few talks at Boneshire Brew Works, and we chatted on the Central PA Whalerz group, and discussed this and that and everything beer related, and I thought he’d be a perfect fit for the blog – and he is and still has been. And on June 27th, he took his plunge into the world of blogging with his first beer review Northmont by Yellow Bridge.

Northmont by Yellow Bridge, J. Doncevic’s first beer review here on The Beer Thrillers.

A flurry of beer reviews followed – Should Have Put Him in Custardy, a beer flight from Hershey Biergarten, helped close out June and start July with Josh’s review of Ectogasm. June saw the blog grow by massive leaps and bounds, we went from 59 visitors in May to 848 visitors in June with 1100 some views. July was looking to be a great month for The Beer Thrillers, and it certainly delivered some amazing beer reviews! Pink Guava, Inexplicably Juicy, Miami Vice, Old 51, Dillston, Saison and Hurry up and Wait, a beer flight from Tony’s travels up north at the Black Gryphon, Wolf Prints, and Mango Guyabano sWheat Tart.

On July 19th we launched our Twitter page. Which just a few days ago, we hit our 100th follower! (Time for me to plug in here and suggest everyone head over there briefly to follow us, then come back here.) On July 23rd we also started our Instagram page. I will be the first to admit that we don’t do as much with Instagram, primarily because I don’t know enough about it yet. Looking to learn more about it in 2020 and get that page going a lot more.

July continued with some more beer reviews like Enigma, Green Zebra and Next Coast, Good Walk Spoiled, another beer flight from Troegs, and Road Less Traveled. I ended the month by discussing my upcoming road trip with my daughters.

July also saw some fun and interesting events I got to do for the first time. I lost my Ffej of July cherry, getting to make it out to possibly the biggest, baddest, most sickest birthday bash / lawn party ever. Me and Drew also attended the Moo-Funk Home Brew event as well. July was certainly a fun month, but August was looking to be even better.

Straub’s Brewery in St. Mary’s

August started off with a bang, I took my daughters up north PA to visit Elk Country, then we visited Straub Brewery, then we went to Kinzua Bridge and after that stopped at Logyard Brewery and next door to it was Twisted Vine Brewery. That was Day One. Day two saw us hitting the Pittsburgh area. First at dawn we hiked McConnell’s Creek, then went to ShuBrew before going into Pittsburgh proper and visit the city where we did a whole slew of things like see Fort Pitt, take the Duquesne Lift, check out medieval Catholic relics, stop by a Jewish synagogue, see the outfield wall still standing, and we also checked out a few breweries like Cinderlands Warehouse, The Church Brew Works, and we finished the day staying at a motel right next door to Yellow Bridge Brewing. Day Two was a lot busier than day one, but just a much fun.

The altar at Church Brew Works

Olde Bedford Brewing in Bedford PA

We didn’t slow down for Day Three. We had a whole host of driving to do on day three. We started at Bushy Run to watch the reenactment and check out the events, then went to the Alleghany Portage and Railroad Museum, and then went into Johnstown to see the Johnstown Flood Memorial and there we checked out the brewery Stone Bridge Brewing. From there we Staple Bend Tunnel Trail and then we stopped and paid our respects at the Flight 93 Memorial. On the way back home to the Hershey area we stopped at Olde Bedford Brewing.

Was a fun three days where we got to see lots of cool places, museums, memorials, monuments, and nine breweries to boot. Can’t beat that!

The beer reviews weren’t going to slow down in August either. Ghost in the Machine by Josh , a beer flight at Twisted Bine, Juicy Fruit sWheat Tart, and Caucus Race 6.0. Then shortly before my oldest daughter’s birthday I took her and my second oldest down to Antietam to see the battlefield there and on the way back home we stopped at Cushwa Brewing. Which I did a brewery review of.

Cushwa Brewing in Maryland

They have since moved out of that building but they are still close by to the location. August still had plenty more beer reviews for you guys starting with Harrishire, Kettle Sour Series – Raspberry, Ghost in the Machine by B. Kline, Good Vibrations, and then I did a dual beer review from two beers I had at a Harrisburg Senators game – a Pineapple Kolsch and a Dry Irish Stout, Reve Coffee Stout, Rye for an Eye (my birthday blog post and beer), and that closed out the month of August. As for events in August, me and my friend Ming went to the Lancaster Brewfest and afterwards went to Mad Chef Brewing (my first time there) which was an overall fun event.

Taco and a Beer – a fantastic birthday treat, even belatedly

Moving onto September started with my cashing in my birthday taco coupon at Newfangled Brew Works and had a really tasty Kettle Sour from them. In September I wrote a piece for Breweries in PA and also posted it on my blog – the version on the blog is found here: Breweries Around the Outskirts of Harrisburg (9.6.19). It has become one of the most popular pieces on our blog, and I believe it has done very well for the Breweries in PA crew as well. Beer reviews certainly didn’t slow down: a flight of Levante and Tattered Flag beers, a flight of Troegs beers, Fresh Fest and Trail Day Pale Ale, a flight of beers from Mount Gretna Brewery, and Spundae.

September also saw me do our first listicle articles. With two – one celebrating our oldest posts – and one celebrating our most viewed posts. Followed by, as always, more beer reviews – Key Lime Pie, They Burn Them All Away, AuZealand, a flight of Ever Grain beer, Vanilla Ice Cream Stout, and a Sour Blueberry wrapped up September.

October started off with a couple of Boneshire Brew Works beers – Tried and True (Mango) and Iscariot. I then got to attend Dr. Alison Feeney’s seminar and event at Mid-Town Scholar “For the Love of Beer“. Afterwards I went to The Millworks and had a flight. I did a book review of Dr. Alison Feeney’s book – For the Love of Beer. We finally joined Facebook on October 17th, you can find our Facebook page here. We are now up to 154 followers on Facebook, hoping to grow more! Did a beer review of Salted Caramel Moo-Hoo next.

Midwest Coast Brewing

I was contacted back in September by Midwest Coast Brewing Company to do an advertisement article and announcement article about their brewery opening. And I think it turned out very well. This was the first time a brewery reached out to us and asked us to do a piece for them and I think it turned out very well. I did a bit of an interview with the owners / brewers, and talked about their brewery’s opening. This has led to Mellow Mink reaching out to us and inviting us to their place to check them out and do an article (January 2nd we’ll be doing that).

J. Doncevic did a review of Ekaunot by Barebottle. We then covered Rotunda Brewing Company’s rebranding of Irv’s Pub into Rotunda Brew Pub. Also did a news article on Pennsylvania breweries that won at the 2019 GABF. That was my first straight up news article for the blog.

More beer reviews: Athena, Sour Me Peach, Irish Table, Envie and Envie 4X, Yuengling’s Hershey’s Chocolate Porter, and to wrap up the beer reviews of October I did Fatum Series: Member Berries. We also covered Boneshire Brew Works’ 3rd Anniversary Celebration.

November was a crazy month for me. I challenged myself to doing 30 blog posts, one per day – MINIMUM, and I am proud to say I achieved that and met my goal. It was certainly daunting a task, but I did achieve it.

Here’s the list of my articles in November: Pumpkin Stout, St. Thomas, Walker Station Stout, a flight by ZeroDay, King Sue, Intergalactic Warrior, s’Mores LazaRIS, There’s Nuttin Butter Than a Nice Pair of Camo Pants, Secret Machine, Broken Heels, Animal Adjective, 556 Stout, Boat Drinks, a flight of Tattered Flag – Newfangled Brew Works – and Cox Brewing beers, Alpha Abstraction, Double IPA, Lager, Birra Di Levante, Tickle Parts – Passionfruit, a flight of beers from Appalachian Brewing Company, Default Brewing, Darwin’s Salted Forehead, Newfangled Pils, Gotta Get up to Get Down, Paradise Lost, Moon of Vega, Citraquench’l, Azathoth, a flight of Troegs including Mad Elf, and finally a review of Official BBQ and Burgers – Pizza Boy’s second location. WHEW! That was a lot to get out, you can read about it in the November Recap.

November also saw Default Brewing join us here at The Beer Thrillers. Headed by AJ Brechbiel, they are a group of home brewers who will be providing home brewing articles for the blog from time to time. They gave us a welcoming post in November: Cheers from Default Brewing.

I also started up a collaboration with Let Us Drink Beer blog. Where we would be guest writing and contributing to each other’s blogs occasionally. They are down south, and with us being here in PA, it seemed like it’d be a nice fit. Provide some information and beers and breweries that readers might not normally get to see. They posted their first article “Five Must See Breweries in Atlanta” in November.

Josh also wrote two beer reviews in November: Ghost 782 and Ghost 779.

December started off a little slower here for us, probably because I was a bit tired from November, or perhaps just because its the holiday season, I don’t know. But my first beer review was Ice Dreamz. I did a few more beer reviews in December – My Watch Has Ended, The Hog, Scrooge IPA, Sap, and Autumn.

Default Brewing gave us an introduction to their crew: “Meet The Crew at Default Brewing“.

I covered the guest blogging that was going on and Let Us Drink Beer gave us a review of Koki Bunni.

Finally, the last article posted in all of 2019 (outside of this one now) was a travelogue of me and Drew brewery hopping around Harrisburg. Starting at Boneshire Brew Works, and going to The Vegetable Hunter, The Millworks, The Sturges Speakeasy, and ZeroDay Brewing. Was a fun day jumping around from place to place.

Hopefully you enjoyed this look back on 2019 with The Beer Thrillers. The second part of this article will most likely be posted January 1st, possibly before work, possibly after work. I have to leave for work now, and work until (at least) 8PM, and will most likely be going right out to enjoying New Years Eve festivities with my daughters. Tomorrow I work 10-6, and afterwards will be doing a podcast with Esteban about LOST.

The second part of this series will cover top beers, top breweries, and other things about the year for The Beer Thrillers and myself. For example – podcasting.

So make sure you check out part two then as well!

As always, I hope you have a Happy New Year, enjoyed the blog, and continue to do so! Without you, we don’t need to write, so we hope you are having as much fun and entertainment with this as we are!

-B. Kline on behalf of The Beer Thrillers staff.

My hop arbor in the rain

Triple IPA - The Beer Thrillers

14 Great High Grade Octane IPAs You Should Be Trying

Fall is Fading Away

14 Great High Grade Octane IPAs You Should Be Trying

Avery Maharaja (Boulder, CO, 10-12% ABV):

Green Flash Green Bullet (San Diego, CA; 10.1% ABV):

Other Half All Green Everything (Brooklyn, NY, 10.5% ABV):

Stone RuinTen (Escondido, CA, 10.8% ABV):

Dogfish Head 120 Minute (Milton, DE, 15-20% ABV):

MadTree Galaxy High (Cincinnati, OH; 10.2% ABV):

Port Hop 15 (San Marcos, CA; 10% ABV):

Founder’s Devil Dancer (Grand Rapids, MI; 12% ABV):

Oskar Blues Gubna (Longmont, CO; 10% ABV):

Ballast Point Dorado (San Diego, CA; 10% ABV):

Starr Hill Hopfetti (Crozet, VA; 10.2% ABV):

Harpoon Leviathan (Boston, MA, 10% ABV):

Aslin Pinkies Up (Alexandra, VA, 18.4% ABV):

Troegs Independent Brewing – Scratch 501: Triple Perpetual IPA (Hershey, PA, 12% ABV)

High Octane IPAs

Check Out Our Recent High ABV Article

A Series of Craft Beer Articles

Thank You For Reading

Troegs Independent Brewing is Releasing Scratch 500 and Scratch 501 – Double Perpetual IPA and Triple Perpetual IPA

Troegs Independent Brewing Is Hitting a Milestone

Scratch 500: Double Perpetual IPA

Scratch 501 – Triple Perpetual IPA

More Troegs Independent Craft Brewing Related Articles

For More Information on Troegs Independent Craft Brewing

Thank You For Reading

Beer Review: Hop Bender (Local Craft Beer)

Lets Do the Bender Hop

Futurama Mondays

Beer Review: Hop Bender by Local Craft Beer

Related to Items You’ve Viewed

Local Craft Beer

All of Our Nerd Content

Thank You For Reading

Beer Review: I Apologize For Nothing (Fourscore Beer Co.)

Another Futurama Monday

I Apologize For Nothing

Beer Review: I Apologize For Nothing

How the West Was 1010101010

For More Articles About Fourscore Beer Company

For More Information on Fourscore Beer Company

Fourscore Beer Company on Untappd

All of Our Nerd Content

Thank You For Reading

Beer Review: Phantomania (Fourscore Beer Company)

Beers…. Mmmmm….. Beers….

Beer Review

Thanks For Reading

Beer Review: Missile Toad (Ever Grain Brewing Co.)

Missile Toad

Beer Review

Beer Review: Virtually Inseparable (Celestial Beerworks and Turning Point Beer)

Hoppy Easter – IPAs

From our friends at Let Us Drink Beer Blog:

Beer Reviews by J. Doncevic:

IPA Beer Reviews by B. Kline:

Brewery Event: Bottle Share (Tattered Flag)

End of the Year – 2019