Blonde Ale - The Beer Thrillers

Beer Review: Koffee Kake Ale (Victory Brewing)

B. Kline — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 16:45:37 +0000

All the Hype

All aboard the hype train! Choo Choo! C’mon everyone, get on board! So does this live up to the hype? Is it just a novelty beer? Should it be made again? Is it TASTY? Does it taste like coffee cake (or “koffee kake”)? So many questions! Hold on, we’ll get to all of them, settle down! I suggest you grab a beer, relax, and enjoy the review.

I first reported about Victory Brewing and TastyKake setting this up, collaborating, and announcing that it would be upcoming back in October 2023 – Victory Brewing Company and Tastykake Company Team Up for Koffee Kake Ale (October 5th, 2023) – and then, before its actual released, we discussed the upcoming special release at the brewery and its distribution here – Victory Brewing and Tastykake Collab Koffee Kake Ale to be Released on December 22nd.

Immediately the response was pretty overwhelming – “OMG” “whens it coming out” “how can we get it” “that looks amazing” “the Philly in me wants it so bad”, etc. I know Josh of MasterMindX Studios was jonesing for it.

So let’s dive into this and see if it lives up to the hype, shall we?

Beer Review

Beer: Koffee Kake Ale
Brewery: Victory Brewing Company
In Collaboration With: TastyKake
Style: Blonde Ale
ABV: 6%
IBU: 35
Untappd Description: This very tasty collaboration between Victory Brewing Company and Tastykake takes the delicious flavors of Tastykake’s Koffee Kake into a sweet ale with notes of pound cake & cinnamon

First, a quick recap of the beer: the Koffee Kake Ale by Victory Brewing Company is a unique collaboration with Tastykake, inspired by the flavors of Tastykake’s Koffee Kake Cupcakes. This blonde ale has a 6% ABV and 35 IBU. The beer has received mixed reviews, with some praising its distinct coffee flavor and its ability to provide a different beer-drinking experience. However, others have noted a bitter or less expected flavor.

Color and Appearance

The Koffee Kake Ale’s golden hue, typical of a blonde ale, and its moderate white head presented an alluring appearance in the glass, setting the stage for the unique flavor journey that was to follow. As I explored this brew further, I couldn’t help but reflect on the diverse range of opinions it has garnered. Some have lauded its distinct coffee-infused taste, while others have found its flavor profile to be unexpected or slightly bitter. This dichotomy of reactions only added to the intrigue of this unconventional ale.

Aroma

The aroma of the Koffee Kake Ale is reminiscent of coffee and cinnamon, providing a sensory prelude to its distinctive flavor profile. This smells like cracking open a bag of Tastykake Koffee Kakes, it is on point, and absolutely nails what it says it is. One of the worst things about some beers is when the label and the smell don’t match up, one tells you they get notes of X and Y, but you smell Z. Thats certainly not the issue here.

Taste

Upon savoring the Koffee Kake Ale, one encounters a blend of flavors that includes prominent notes of coffee, subtle hints of maple, and a touch of sweetness. This unique combination offers a truly distinctive and unconventional drinking experience. This is a type of beer that is going to get a lot of interest and different thoughts, reviews, and comments from people. A lot of people I talked to wished this was a stout rather than a blonde ale to begin with; but personally I think this works well as a blonde ale. Some have lauded its distinct coffee-infused taste, while others have found its flavor profile to be unexpected or slightly bitter. This dichotomy of reactions only added to the intrigue of this unconventional ale. The reviews have a bit mixed to say the least, some finding it surprisingly tasty, while others have mentioned that it brings a different flavor profile than expected. Personally I enjoyed it. It makes for a nice, one off beer. I couldn’t sit and drink the six pack of it all at once, but as a novelty, every once and a while beer, its fun and tasty. You get the notes of cinnamon, coffee, its sweet but not too cloying, its generally a well rounded beer all things considered. Josh (of MasterMindX Studios) who isn’t a big beer person, went out and got it and said he ‘enjoyed it’, that it ‘lived up to its name’ but that he could tell its a ‘gimmicky beer, and a novelty beer, but its not bad’. I think that is probably going to be the summation of this beer for most people.

My Untappd Rating: ***.75
Global Untappd Rating: 3.61 (as of 1.17.24)

In conclusion, the Koffee Kake Ale by Victory Brewing Company is a beer that defies convention and offers a truly distinctive flavor experience. Its collaboration with Tastykake and the unconventional taste make it an intriguing option for beer enthusiasts looking to explore new and unique offerings. Whether you find yourself captivated by its coffee-infused notes or intrigued by its unexpected flavor profile, this ale is undoubtedly one that warrants consideration for those seeking a new, different, unique beer. All in all, its at least worth a shot. The six pack of this at West Connection Beer Vault was 14.99$, so its not an unreasonable price by any means.

Other Notable Collaborations

Looking for other Craft Brewery and Corporate World Team – Ups? Then check these out:

Some Articles About Victory Brewing Company

The Best Pennsylvania Breweries for Summer Beers
From Philly to Pittsburgh: Pennsylvania’s Top Craft Breweries You Must Visit
Sipping on Tradition: A Guide to Craft Beer Flagship Beers
Victory Brewery in Kennett Square Fire and Explosion
Victory Brewing Company and Tastykake Company Team Up for Koffee Kake Ale
Beer Review: Koffee Kake Ale (Victory Brewing and TastyKake)

More Information on Victory Brewing Company

The following comes from Untappd. Victory Brewing Company is a regional brewery from Downingtown PA. They have 911 unique beers, and over 2.8 Million reviews, with a global average rating of 3.67 (as of 1.17.24). Their Untappd description reads: Co-founders Bill Covaleski and Ron Barchet The story of Victory Brewing Company starts on a school bus in 1973 when fifth-graders Ron Barchet and Bill Covaleski stepped aboard, on their way to a new school. The two became fast friends and remained so, even as they grew up and went to college on opposite coasts. Just months out of college, Bill’s appreciation of good beer and access to his father’s home brewing equipment inspired him to explore the hobby. That same year (1985), Bill gave Ron a home brewing kit as a Christmas gift. With that, both Bill and Ron developed their love of the craft, and a friendly rivalry grew between the two. The good-natured competition pushed Bill and Ron to become accomplished.

They have the following social media pages:

Tastykake – Koffee Kakes

Looking for more information about Tastykake and Koffee Kakes? Check out this link here:

Koffee Kake Cupcakes (Tastykake)

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.

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!)

(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.)

Beer Review: Baltimore Blonde (Guinness Open Gate Brewery)

B. Kline — Sun, 04 Jun 2023 20:04:06 +0000

Baltimore Blonde by Guinness Open Gate Brewery (Baltimore, Maryland) – poured straight from the can

Guinness Brewery

Before we deep dive into the beer review, let’s do a little bit of a look back at Guinness Brewery, especially its involvement in Baltimore. Now, in light of their taking the production of this beer (the Baltimore Blonde) out of Maryland, and moving it up to New York, I think now is a good time to take a look at the beer and the brewery.

(For more information, on Guinness Brewery’s closing of their Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore, and moving production, check these two articles out: Guinness Brewing is Closing Their Maryland Production Facility and Guinness Baltimore Blonde Beer Production Moving to New York.)

The History of Guinness Brewery in Baltimore: A Rich Legacy of Craftsmanship

Guinness Brewery Open Gate Baltimore

The Guinness Brewery in Baltimore holds a rich and storied history that spans centuries. From its humble beginnings in Ireland to its expansion across the globe, Guinness has become synonymous with exceptional craftsmanship and quality brewing. In this section, we delve into the captivating journey of the Guinness Brewery in Baltimore and explore the legacy that has made it a revered name in the world of beer.

A Heritage of Brewing Excellence

The roots of the Guinness Brewery can be traced back to 1759 when Arthur Guinness established the original St. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin, Ireland. With a vision to create exceptional brews, Arthur Guinness laid the foundation for a legacy that would transcend borders and captivate beer enthusiasts worldwide.

In 2018, Guinness ventured beyond its Irish homeland and set its sights on Baltimore, a city known for its thriving craft beer scene and vibrant culture. The decision to establish a brewery in Baltimore was driven by a deep appreciation for the city’s rich brewing heritage and the desire to contribute to its dynamic craft beer community.

A Celebration of Baltimore’s Spirit

A can of Baltimore Blonde produced at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore, Maryland

The Guinness Brewery in Baltimore is more than just a place of production; it is a celebration of the city’s spirit and character. Nestled in the heart of the historic neighborhood of Relay, the brewery pays homage to Baltimore’s industrial roots while embracing the spirit of innovation and creativity that defines the city.

By incorporating local influences and engaging with the Baltimore community, Guinness Brewery has seamlessly integrated itself into the fabric of the city. The brewery acts as a gathering place, inviting locals and visitors alike to immerse themselves in the world of craft beer, experience the artistry of brewing firsthand, and forge lasting connections.

Reviving a Legacy of Collaboration

One of the defining aspects of Guinness Brewery in Baltimore is its commitment to collaboration. The brewery works hand in hand with local businesses, artisans, and community organizations to create unique and memorable experiences for beer enthusiasts. Whether it’s hosting beer festivals, partnering with local chefs for food pairings, or collaborating with artists to showcase their talent, Guinness Brewery embraces the spirit of collaboration and embraces the diversity of Baltimore’s creative scene.

Through this collaborative approach, Guinness Brewery in Baltimore continues to write a new chapter in the brewery’s long and illustrious history. It remains dedicated to upholding the values of quality, craftsmanship, and community that have been integral to Guinness since its inception.

The Guinness Brewery in Baltimore stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of a brand that has shaped the beer industry for centuries. With its deep-rooted heritage, commitment to quality, and celebration of Baltimore’s spirit, the brewery offers a unique and immersive experience for beer lovers. Raise a glass and toast to the history, craftsmanship, and innovation that the Guinness Brewery in Baltimore represents. Cheers to the next chapter in the extraordinary journey of Guinness beer.

Guinness Baltimore Blonde: A Refreshing and Flavorful Craft Beer Experience

Welcome to the ultimate beer review, where we delve into the extraordinary world of Guinness Baltimore Blonde. In this comprehensive blog article, we will explore every facet of this craft beer masterpiece, from its captivating appearance to its perfectly balanced flavors. Prepare to embark on a sensory journey as we uncover the secrets behind this refreshing and flavorful brew. Whether you’re a seasoned beer enthusiast or simply curious about trying something new, Guinness Baltimore Blonde is sure to captivate your taste buds and leave you craving more.

Brewed by the renowned Guinness Brewery, a name synonymous with exceptional quality and rich brewing heritage, Guinness Baltimore Blonde pays homage to the vibrant city that inspired its creation. Born amidst the thriving craft beer scene of Baltimore, this brew captures the spirit and energy of the city in each sip. It is a testament to the dedication and innovation of the master brewers who sought to create a beer that would not only stand out in flavor but also celebrate the local community.

Crafted with precision and passion, Guinness Baltimore Blonde represents a harmonious fusion of traditional brewing techniques and modern creativity. The meticulous attention to detail is evident in every aspect of this beer, from the carefully selected ingredients to the precise brewing process. The result is a beer that not only satisfies the palate but also tells a story—a story of craftsmanship, community, and the pursuit of excellence.

So sit back, grab a pint of Guinness Baltimore Blonde, and join us on this remarkable beer adventure as we explore the nuances of its appearance, aroma, taste, mouthfeel, and pairing possibilities. Get ready to unlock a new level of appreciation for craft beer and discover why Guinness Baltimore Blonde has become a favorite among beer lovers and connoisseurs alike. Let us raise our glasses and toast to the artistry and flavor that Guinness Baltimore Blonde brings to the world of craft beer. Cheers!

Beer Review: Baltimore Blonde

Baltimore Blonde by Guinness Open Gate Brewery

Beer: Baltimore Blonde
Brewery: Guinness Open Gate Brewery
ABV: 5%
IBU: 19
Untappd Description: A light, crisp blonde ale brewed using Citra and Mosaic hops. This beer recipe was updated by the brewers at the Open Gate Brewery and Barrel House in Baltimore, MD, creating a drier, more drinkable beer.

Hope your ready, maybe even having a beer, possibly a Baltimore Blonde yourself, and ready to read about the beer. Lets go!

Appearance

As you pour Guinness Baltimore Blonde into your favorite glass, you’re greeted with a mesmerizing golden hue that immediately catches the eye. Its radiant and crystal-clear body resembles a picturesque summer sunset, evoking a sense of warmth and relaxation. Topping off the beer is a frothy, creamy white head that enhances its visual appeal. As the head settles, delicate lacing clings to the glass, adding an elegant touch to this already captivating beer.

Aroma

Before taking your first sip, take a moment to savor the enticing aroma of Guinness Baltimore Blonde. The beer presents a harmonious blend of floral hops, subtle citrus notes, and a gentle malt sweetness. Close your eyes and let your senses transport you to sprawling hop gardens and vibrant citrus orchards. The aroma sets the stage for the tantalizing flavor experience that awaits.

Taste

With your taste buds primed, it’s time to savor the flavors of Guinness Baltimore Blonde. The beer showcases remarkable balance, offering a crisp and zesty combination of citrusy hops and a delicate biscuity malt backbone. As you take your first sip, the hops deliver a pleasant bitterness that intertwines with the underlying malt sweetness, creating a symphony of flavors that dance across your palate. Each subsequent sip reveals new layers of complexity, inviting you to explore the beer’s intricacies further.

Mouthfeel

The mouthfeel of Guinness Baltimore Blonde is a testament to its craftsmanship. The beer’s medium body glides effortlessly across your tongue, providing a velvety smoothness that enhances the overall drinking experience. The carbonation, lively yet gentle, imparts a refreshing effervescence that uplifts the flavors and invigorates your senses. As you reach the end of each sip, a clean and dry finish leaves you yearning for the next indulgence.

Pairing

Guinness Baltimore Blonde is a versatile beer that complements a wide range of culinary delights. Its refreshing nature makes it an ideal pairing for seafood dishes, such as grilled shrimp or fish tacos, as it harmonizes with their delicate flavors. For a contrasting experience, try pairing this brew with spicy barbecue chicken wings, allowing the zesty hops to tame the heat and elevate the flavors to new heights. The possibilities are endless, and each pairing unlocks a new dimension of taste.

Final Thoughts

Guinness Baltimore Blonde stands as a true masterpiece in the world of craft beer. Its captivating appearance, enticing aroma, perfectly balanced flavors, and velvety mouthfeel make it a must-try for beer enthusiasts and novices alike. Whether you’re enjoying it on a sunny day, sipping it alongside a delicious meal, or sharing it with friends, this brew leaves an indelible mark on your taste buds. Raise your glass and immerse yourself in the brilliance of Guinness Baltimore Blonde. Cheers to exceptional craft beer!

My Untappd Rating: ***.75 / ****
Global Untappd Rating: 3.56 (as of 6.4.23)

Summary

In summary, Guinness Baltimore Blonde is a beer that effortlessly combines visual appeal, enticing aromas, harmonious flavors, and a luxurious mouthfeel. Its versatility in pairing with various culinary delights further enhances its appeal. This craft beer gem deserves a spot on every beer enthusiast’s list. So, go ahead and experience the refreshing and flavorful journey that Guinness Baltimore Blonde has to offer. Embrace the craft, embrace the flavor, and savor every sip. Cheers!

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.

-B. Kline

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.

Looking for good local stouts or green beer this St. Patty’s Day?

BKline — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 11:25:00 +0000

Liquid Noise’s “A Little Extra – Goin’ Green”

Ready to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day 2021? Since… well… we really didn’t get to last year? Suddenly got an extra 1,400$ in your bank account on St. Patrick’s Day morning and not knowing what to do with it? Why not help out those restaurants that have been hurt for this past year!

Its incredibly crazy to see how its been a year since COVID mitigation efforts started, since shut downs were instituted, and we were all locked inside our homes watching Tiger King on Netflix. Looking back at the memories of the blog and my own and seeing just how little we were all prepared for everything happening… how things unfolded, watching event after event get cancelled, shut down or lock down after shut down and lock down, protocols instituted, changes to restaurants, etc…. its so crazy and surreal and unbelievable to look back on. What a time to be alive?!

Reminds me of Frodo and Gandalf discussing “crazy times to be alive in”:

Frodo: I wish it need not have happened in my time.
Gandalf: So do I, and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.

But here we are, a year out from all those shenanigans (ahh, what a great word to use on St. Patrick’s Day), and its time to celebrate. So what do you do? Let’s help out our local craft breweries instead of just jumping into the Guinness and Irish Car Bombs, let’s look at some of the great craft brewery offerings!

Stouts

There is no shortage of amazing stouts in the area; and by area, I am speaking of my area – which is the Central PA area. Think Hershey, Harrisburg, Middletown, Hummelstown, Annville, Palmyra, Mechanicsburg, etc.

There are plenty of great stouts and we can look at some of them right here. Let’s start with my home town of Hummelstown.

Rubber Soul’s 317 Stout
Rubber Soul just released a brand new coffee stout to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and its named 317 (…if you can figure out why they named it that, please let our intern know, he’s very confused about the name, because the area code is 717).

317 Stout by Rubber Soul Brewing Company

Click here to read our Beer Review: 317 Stout (Rubber Soul Brewing Company).

It is a lovely, roasty, toasty, coffee stout. Its a Stout – Irish Dry, and its only 4.9%. The Untappd listing for it is:

Beer: 317
Brewery: Rubber Soul Brewing Company
Style: Stout – Irish Dry
ABV: 4.9%
IBU: None
Untapped Description: Roasty and smooth with a cold coffee finish from the Elementary cold brewed coffee.
Global Untappd Rating: 3.81 (as of 3.17.21)

This would make for a lovely chaser to some Jamison Whiskey, or possibly even could be a wonderful substitute for a Guinness in a Irish Car Bomb.

Troegs Independent Craft Brewery
Let’s stroll over to Hershey now and see just how many different offerings Troegs has in the stout division. (Hint – there’s a few).

First up: JavaHead Stout:

JavaHead Stout by Troegs

Beer: Java Head
Brewery: Troegs Independent Craft Brewery
Style: Stout – Coffee
ABV: 7.5%
IBU: 60
Untappd Description: JavaHead is like a day at Tröegs; it’s hard to tell where the coffee ends and the beer begins. This creamy oatmeal stout is infused with locally roasted, cold steeped coffee through our HopBack vessel, releasing subtle hints of cocoa, roasted nuts and dark mocha.
Untappd Global Average Rating: 3.7 (as of 3.17.21)

They also have two versions of their Chocolate Stout; regular and on Nitro. My preference is the Nitro (but I also tend to prefer Nitro most times in general, so take that for what it is). They are the same beer.

Troegs Chocolate Stout

Beer: Chocolate Stout
Brewery: Troegs Independent Craft Brewery
Style: Stout – Milk / Sweet
ABV: 7.1%
IBU: 41
Untappd Description: Our lush and layered Chocolate Stout showcases the best of an anthology of malts and grains: the soft, coffee-like bitterness of roasted barley, the rich caramel notes of Special B, the subtle sweetness of chocolate malt, and the silkiness of oats. Cocoa nibs add the depth of dark chocolate, and a touch of Madagascar vanilla puts a bow on this roasty winter warmer.
Global Untappd Average Rating: 3.79 (as of 3.17.21)

The Nitro version has a different description:
Six different malt varieties, cacao nibs, dark chocolate, lactose, oats, and vanilla combine to produce a decadent Chocolate Stout. Dispensing via nitrogen yields a lush, velvety texture and rich, smooth finish.
It also has a higher global rating – 3.94. (As of 3.17.21)

Grand Cacao by Troegs

This is their latest newcomer to their stout market, and it is possibly my favorite. You can see our review of it here: Beer Review: Grand Cacao (Troegs Craft Brewing).

Beer: Grand Cacao
Brewery: Troegs Independent Craft Brewing
Style: Stout – Milk / Sweet
ABV: 6.5%
IBU: None
Untappd Description: Welcome to Grand Cacao. This deliciously decadent stout is built on a foundation of rich chocolate malt, caramel malt and roasted barley. Cold-steeping on Peruvian cacao nibs and natural vanilla doubles down on the smooth symphony of chocolate, and a splash of milk sugar delivers a velvety sweet and creamy finish.
We taste: milk chocolate, roasty grain, hints of sweet cream.
Global Untappd Average Rating: 3.63 (as of 3.17.21)

Tattered Flag Brewery and Distillery
Lets bounce over to Tattered Flag in Middletown now, who have never had any shortness of wonderful stouts on their menu. Just looking at their Untappd menu they currently have at their brewery in Middletown:

Leprechaun Wraith
Peppermint Wraith
Coconut Stout
War Bonds Breakfast Stout
Black is Beautiful

And they have a guest tap of Our Town Brewery’s “Bar Room Hymnal”. Which, I was just at last Friday. You can check out my trip to the Lancaster Breweries in one of my latest travelogues here: “Hiking Turkey Hill Point and Visiting Lancaster’s Newest Breweries – Cartel Brewing, Our Town Brewery, and Big Dog Brewing”.

Let’s look at Leprechaun Wraith:

Leprechaun Wraith by Tattered Flag

Beer: Leprechaun Wraith
Brewery: Tattered Flag Brewery and Distillery
Style: Stout – Other
ABV: 12%
IBU: None
Untappd Description: Our Pastry stout base aged in ex Irish whiskey casks for months before conditioning in stainless over marshmallow cream and vanilla. Its like an Irish Car Bomb in a bottle!
Global Average Untappd Rating: 4.01 (as of 3.17.21)

Sounds perfect for tonight’s at-home festivities!

Boneshire Brew Works
Boneshire Brew Works has a wonderful stout of their own that they have for March each year, called Grattan Irish Stout. This is one that is definitely worth a pickup of a 4-pack every year, or at minimum a pint on draft.

Grattan Irish Stout by Boneshire Brew Works

Beer: Grattan Irish Stout
Brewery: Boneshire Brew Works
Style: Stout – Irish Dry
ABV: 4.5%
IBU: None
Untappd Description: This stout is traditionally dry and super drinkable. Beware of the Leprechaun while drinking this one.
Global Untappd Average Rating: 3.9 (as of 3.17.21)

Be sure to read our review of it here: Beer Review: Grattan Irish Stout (Boneshire Brew Works).

Rotunda Brewing Company
We would be amiss if we didn’t mention Rotunda Brewing Company’s stout – aptly named: IRISH CAR BOMB. We got to have this before their Kegs and Eggs event last year; right before the shut down (just mere days before the shut down). You can read about the event here: Kegs and Eggs (2020) at the Batdorf – Rotunda Brewing Company.

And you can read our review of the beer here: Beer Review: Irish Car Bomb (Rotunda Brewing Company).

Irish Car Bomb by Rotunda Brewing Company

Beer: Irish Car Bomb
Brewery: Rotunda Brewing Company
Style: Stout – Irish Dry
ABV: 5.5%
IBU: None
Untappd Description: On Nitro.
Global Average Untappd Rating: 4.17 (as of 3.17.21)

Rotunda’s Brewery Pub in Hershey also has a few other stouts on hand if you want to give them a try:

Lady Morrigan Nitro Stout
Grasshopper Brownie Imperial Stout
Death by Decadence
Car Bomb: Imperial Stout (not the same as the one above)

Green Beer

Maybe you don’t want a stout, maybe you don’t like doing Irish Car Bombs and don’t feel like dropping Jamison and Bailey’s into a local craft brewery’s stout. Maybe you just want a good… old fashioned…. green beer?

Well, you are still in luck!

Staying with Rotunda, they released a green beer at their brew pub in Hershey called Green Goodness.

Green Goodness by Rotunda Brewing Company

Beer: Green Goodness
Brewery: Rotunda Brewing Company
Style: Sour – Fruited Gose
ABV: 6.9%
IBU: None
Untappd Description: Kettle sour with lactose and conditioned on 7 fruit and vegetable purees.
Untappd Global Average Rating: 4 (as of 3.17.21)

Liquid Noise
Now let’s head across the river to Marysville and see what they have to offer for St. Paddy’s Day. They’ve gotten quite a bit of buzz lately about their recently released green beer in celebration of St. Paddy’s Day. They were even featured on ABC27 News: Liquid Noise on Good Morning ABC27 News.

Liquid Noise’s St. Patrick’s Day beer: A Little Extra – Goin’ Green

Beer: A Little Extra – Goin’ Green
Brewery: Liquid Noise Brewing Company
Style: Blonde Ale
ABV: 5.5%
IBU: 30
Untappd Description: Light in body, green in appearance. What else Do you expect on St. Pattys Day?
Global Untappd Rating: (No Average formed yet. Not enough check-ins yet.) (3.17.21)

So let’s celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

Ok, now its time to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! And lets do it safely everyone. Still obey precautions and rules and laws. What is everyone planning on doing today? What are your big plans for the day? I’m thinking low-key for myself, as I have a lot of writing to do, and not sure on what all to do tonight. But I might be persuaded to go out and enjoy myself some St. Paddy’s beer. Where at? Maybe a nice dinner with bangers and mash? Or Shepherd’s Pie? Who knows! I have about 2% Irish in me, but on St. Patrick’s Day we’re all Irish for the day! So let me know in the comments what you are planning to do for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day!

As always, be safe, be careful, and use Uber or Lyft if going out and celebrating too excessively. Be sure to mind the precautions, and rules, we’re almost there. The light is at the end of the tunnel. April 4th we all will be back to a far more normal world (I cannot wait to drink at a bar again!). Until then everyone, cheers and slainte!

Slainte!

-B. Kline

Be sure to keep following the March Madness and our Battle of the Breweries (2021) Brackets. We are down to the remaining 12 breweries, so hop over and vote!

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, 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.

Two Beer Reviews: Hazy Burd (Ship Faced Brewing) and Pin-Up Girl Basic Witch (Janky Brew Co) at Maxie’s Brewhouse after hiking Sunset Rocks

BKline — Sun, 22 Nov 2020 03:30:00 +0000

Hazy Burd and Pin-Up Girl Basic Witch

So tonight’s post won’t be your typical beer review. This will be a double beer review, and even though I’ve done a few of them in the past, this is a bit different than that. I’ve done a couple of multiple beer reviews in the past (typically flights at a brewery), and I’ve done two other articles that were dual (two) beer reviews. They were: Fresh Fest and Trail Day Pale Ale (by Troegs Brewing) and Pineapple Kolsch (Desperate Times) and Dry Irish Stout (Riverbend Hop Farm and Brewing). (Riverbend Hop Farm and Brewery just recently closed their doors which makes that review interesting in hindsight, you can read about their closing here – Riverbend Hop Farm and Brewery Announces Closing.)

Today’s double review comes from Maxie’s Brewhouse in Shippensburg. Its two different breweries / brewers that I’m reviewing (Ship Faced Brewing and Janky Brew Co). Maxie’s Brewhouse is kind of interesting. Its like an agglomeration of home brewers that rotate on their tap list and you can order. A friend of mine – Matt Kauffman – who ran the beer blog TBC (Tribeeratops Beer Club), which was a blog for him and a bunch of his friends, and he began homebrewing and turned it into TBC – Tribeeratops Brewing Company.

When we stopped in, they had a sheet of their draft specials. I’m not sure what their full menu was, or how many different beers or brewers were on tap, but on the sheet they had a 4$ beer from Olde Bedford, a 4$ hard cider, and then some 3$ draft specials from Ship Faced Brewing and Janky Beer Co. I had messaged Matt on my way in, and he told me he no longer brews for them. So I’m not sure what all else they had on tap, but these were the ones they did have on tap for certain. Their Facebook page showed a flight with different beers than I saw on their draft special sheet, so they must’ve had a pretty good variety of beers on draft but I just didn’t see a menu list of them anywhere. You can find Maxie’s on Facebook here: Maxie’s Brewhouse LLC.

Yesterday, I had hiked the Pine Grove Furnace State Park and did Pole Steeple with my dog Leela. Today me and my friend Ming hiked Sunset Rocks and some of the Appalachian Trail and did some of Camp Michaux and the walking tour of it; which is all in Gardners Pennsylvania. Shippensburg was about a fifteen – twenty minute drive from the hike, and I hadn’t been to Maxie’s yet to get to try some of these new brewers, so we hopped over there for our lunch / beers.

On the Sunset Rocks / Appalachian Trail hike my hiking beers for the day were – Green Machine by Boneshire Brew Works and Animal I’ve Become by Ever Grain. Both fridge pulls that were of IPAs that are starting to get up in age (canning for this Green Machine was a bit ago), but both still held up very well and were excellent trail beers.

Animal I’ve Become and Green Machine – my hiking beers

It was a very nice hike, we did about 5 some miles of hiking counting the Camp Michaux walking tour and CCC / POW camp that we walked through, as well as the Appalachian Trail we walked through. The Sunset Rocks overlook view was very pretty, even with the cloudy weather. Temperature wise it was great, hot and sweating when we were hiking, but not too cold or too warm when we were standing still.

I’ll post some pictures of the overlook view, Appalachian Trail, and Camp Michaux at the end of the article if you want to see them. I also have some links for more information about Camp Michaux at the end as well (mainly, because I knew nothing about this camp before we hiked the area, so hopefully this will be informative for other people as well).

But in the meantime, let’s get to the two beers and review them.

First up….. Hazy Burd.

Hazy Burd by Ship Faced Brewing

Beer: Hazy Burd
Brewery: Ship Faced Brewing
Style: IPA – New England
ABV: 6.3%
IBU: None
Untappd Description: (Blank)

Ship Faced Brewing is listed on Untappd as a nano brewery from Shippensburg, and has 13 unique beers, 199 total ratings and an average rating of 3.76.

This is a bright yellow to golden New England style hazy IPA. Thin white head to it but with nice bubbles and left nice lacing on the glass. Its hazy and opaque with some sediment and floaters. Its light looking and a bit watery looking.

Aroma is pretty hoppy, floral and citrus. No earthy or grassy or pine hop notes. Some creaminess or vanilla aroma but very mild. Mostly floral or citrus hop notes, some peach, mango, maybe faint grapefruit aroma.

This is a pretty solid and standard New England IPA. There’s not a whole extreme lot to discuss, but it is a solid beer. Its a bit watery, a bit papery thin in mouthfeel, but it has good flavor. Its smooth and has either lactose, vanilla, or a lot of flaked oats to give it a smooth / silky taste and slickness to it. Its easy drinking and pretty crushable. No hop bite, no real IPA bitterness, just the juiciness that comes from a New England IPA. Hop flavors are peach, mango, light grapefruit, perhaps a bit of melon rind, no earthy, no zest or citrus, no grassy or pine or bitterness. I can’t say anything bad about this beer, its good, clean, juicy, tastes great, has a little bit of sediment, a little watery and thin, but nothing bad, no off flavors, no bad aftertaste, nothing you’re burping up hours later. This is a perfectly fine and delicious beer.

My Untappd Rating: ***.75
Global Untappd Rating: 3.77 (as of 11.21.20)

Next up is…. Pin-Up Girl Basic Witch.

Pin-Up Girl Basic Witch

Beer: Pin-Up Girl Basic Witch
Brewery: Janky Beer Co
Style: Blonde Ale
ABV: 4.5%
IBU: 30
Untappd Description: Brewed with local coffee and has a dash of pumpkin spice with Tahitian vanilla bean

Janky Beer Co on Untappd is listed as a Contract Brewer through Shippensburg Pennsylvania. With 45 unique beers, 895 ratings, and an average global rating of 3.92. Their Untappd description reads: A one off one of a kind brewery working in Maxie’s Brew Pub.

This was an interesting beer. It looks and doesn’t look like a blonde ale, and doesn’t taste much like one at all. (None of these things are negatives, just statements.) It more reminds me of a pumpkin beer or yam beer than a blonde ale, especially the tastes. The appearance is a hazy, darker blonde ale than normal, with more of a darker golden orange coloring than a lighter yellow to golden look.

Aroma is one hundred and ten percent spice beer, like any pumpkin beer, the spices are overwhelming and all you smell. I couldn’t even smell coffee on this or any distinguishable characteristic of a blonde ale, but got lots and lots of spices. Nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, and probably some other spices I’m not really able to distinguish. I don’t think its ‘too much’ but it is a bit overpowering, and I would go as far as saying its definitely more than a ‘dash’ of the spices.

This is an interesting and tasty beer. I got very little coffee but the spices are very overpowering on this. There might be coffee that intermingles and makes the taste of the spices jump out more, but what you take notice upfront and right away is the spices. They really leap out and tackle your tastebuds. This has a stronger and heavier mouthfeel than the New England IPA earlier (Hazy Burd), but its still somewhat light being only a 4.5% blonde ale. Its smooth to drink and has a nice slick, smooth, creaminess most likely from the Tahitian Vanilla Beans, but you don’t really taste the vanilla. This isn’t boozy or heavy, but it also feels heavy, mostly I think because it has a good mouthfeel and the spices, so its more of a sipping beer than one to drink quickly, and I certainly wouldn’t drink a four pack or anything of this at one sitting due to the spices being a bit overbearing. This was an enjoyable beer, a bit overhanded on the spices, (I was burping the taste of this beer for a few hours afterwards), but still a good, well crafted beer that I’d get again.

My Untappd Rating: ***.75
Global Untappd Rating: 3.7 (as of 11.21.20)

Overall both beers were enjoyable. I wish I would have asked about what their full menu was and maybe did a flight or something, got to try more than just the two, but for 6$ the two drafts were not bad. Ming got cheesesteak egg rolls for 8$ and we shared fries for 3$, so not a bad bit of food and drink for relatively low price. (They might want to do a better job of saying what all beers they have than just that special list, maybe it was on a different part of the QR code, not sure.)

If again in Shippensburg, I’ll make sure to stop in. When we were there at 3:30-4, it was empty (we were the only ones in until a couple came in right before we left). They were doing live music in the evening though so I’m sure it would pick up.

The following will be the pictures and the links about Camp Michaux.

Pictures of Sunset Rocks overlook:

Sunset Rocks Overlook at Gardners, Pennsylvania

Pictures of Camp Michaux:

Camp Michaux and Appalachian Trail to Halfway Spring

Links for further reading on Camp Michaux:

Tomorrow I will – hopefully – fingers crossed – toes crossed – hopefully – have the first article from the Indy trip done. (No matter what, I will have an article, as I’m still doing my November 30 for 30.) So be on the lookout for that.

Also, be sure to check out some of our other beer reviews in recent history:

Thanks for reading everyone, hope you enjoyed the ‘dual beer’ review, and enjoyed the pictures from the hike.

Cheers!

-B. Kline

The Trip to Rickett’s Glen

BKline — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 20:38:39 +0000

Rickett’s Glen in Benton, Pennsylvania

Sunday me and my friend Ming traveled to Rickett’s Glen to hike the waterfall trails there. Planned, as I mentioned in the previous article here on the blog – A Road Trip to Ricketts Glen. We had planned this out a few weeks before, but left things kind of open ended. It was basically just a simple plan: Sunday – drive to Rickett’s Glen, walk waterfalls, drive home. With of course, a brewery on the way up, and one on the way home, possibly more if time allowed.

So, as I’ve done in the past with road trips and brewery visits, I’ll give a recap of our day here. This post was meant to go up Monday, but didn’t quite work out that way. Though, Monday did see the beer review of Boneshire Brew Works‘ Pandemic Pils go live on LetUsDrinkBeer’s blog (a site I contribute and write for occasionally) as well as on our blog here. (To see the review on their blog – click here: LetUsDrinkBeer Pandemic Pils, and to see it here on my blog – Beer Review: Pandemic Pils by Boneshire Brew Works.) I definitely knew it wasn’t going up Sunday night when we got home, just no chance of that happening.

Thus this was started on Tuesday, but unfortunately I had to pause and finish today (Wednesday) due to chores around the house, mowing, walking the dog, (yadda yadda yadda, boring crap, boring crap, boring crap), but mostly because I had to head over to D. Scott’s to do a podcast (as well as our first YouTube video) with D. Scott, Esty, and Skott. This was our time travel podcast where we discussed time travel in movies, books, and TV shows. Namely Back to the Future, Terminator, Looper, and a host of others (shout outs to Rick and Morty, Futurama, Austin Powers, and Avengers: End Game). That will be going up soon – both for the podcast and the YouTube video. I will make sure to edit this and include the links to those when they are uploaded. You can check out the Podcast channel itself here: So a Mexican and a Scott Walk Into a Bar…. (Be forewarned – language is a bit in the R category, and most of the episodes are titled “WTF Did I Just Watch”, so you can figure out and parse out what the W… T… F… stand for.) This was our first podcast / YouTube video and our first podcast with Skott on as well, so we’ll see how it goes. I enjoyed Abomz World (Ever Grain and Abomination Brewing collaboration), Wookie Monster (Fourscore Beer Co), and Buddy Shots (Cycle Brewing) while on the video. Finishing up the night with County Line IPA by Neshaminy Brewing. (But enough about that and those beers, lets get to the road trip.)

So, like I said before I interrupted myself, me and Ming planned to take this road trip from Hummelstown (he picked me up) to Rickett’s Glen which is in Benton, Pennsylvania. (See map below). It’s a roughly 2 hour and some minutes drive (depending on speed, traffic, etc.). According to Google Maps its a 2HR-8Min drive.

The Google Maps travel route from Hummelstown Pennsylvania to Ricketts Glen Pennsylvania.

As I noted in my previous article here – A Road Trip to Ricketts Glen – we planned on hitting a brewery on the way up, and then one (or more) for dinner on the way home. Some of the breweries I had google mapped and looked up (in the vicinity of Ricketts Glen or at least along RT15 and RT11 – which are the main roads we would be on) were:

Selinsgrove Brewing
Isle of Que Brewing Co.
Jackass Brewery
Eclipse Craft Brewing
Turkey Hill Brewing
Old Forge Brewing Co.

Ming gets to my house around 11AM. We load up the backpacks, I add a four-pack in for the actual hike (New Trail’s Hammock, Troegs’ Scratch 415 and 417, Pizza Boy’s The Pen is Mightier). We head out. Stopping at the Sheetz by those strip clubs once you get near Little Buffalo and then we are fully out on the road.

Looking at the breweries on my phone, we decide to stop at Isle of Que Brewing Co. first.

Isle of Que Brewing

Its just a little over noon when we get there. We are the first to enter for the day, and as soon as walk in, the bartender / owner / brewer Mike immediately recognizes me from the blog here. Which was a bit surreal as it was definitely a first to be recognized for the blog, and especially remotely (not a local [to my area of living] bar or brewery). Was definitely a very cool moment. Ordered a flight, while Ming had a water (since he was driver and basic DD for the day).

Mike was a super cool and chill dude. We talked about podcasts, YouTube, breweries, the COVID-19, quarantine and lockdown, how its affected his business, how the local area of Selinsgrove is / was during the pandemic, etc.

My flight consisted of: Peanut Butter Ale, Coal Wrecker Region Raspberry Ale, Black IPA, and Sexual Chocolate Stout. Mike gave Ming a sample of the Queban Joe (a coffee porter) which I stole a sip of.

Black IPA
Coal Wrecker Region Raspberry Ale
Peanut Butter Ale
Sexual Chocolate Stout

My ratings for the beers on Untappd (and their global average ratings):

Peanut Butter Pale Ale – ****.25 / 3.91 (as of 6.16.20)
Coal Region Wrecker Raspberry Ale – **** / 3.93 (as of 6.16.20)
Black IPA – ***.75 / 3.58 (as of 6.16.20)
Sexual Chocolate Stout – **** / 3.47 (as of 6.16.20)

I would have ordered another flight or perhaps a pint, but Ming wanted to get to the trail, so I paid and we headed out. Selinsgrove Brewing was closed, so we were on the road to Ricketts Glen. Which we arrived at around 2-2:15PM.

For those who’ve never been to Ricketts Glen, it is absolutely gorgeous. We had a beautiful day, sunny, bright skied, no clouds, gorgeous day. Not too hot, just a beautiful early June day (June 14th, 2020). Just an absolutely beautiful gorgeous day. We had a fantastic hike with no problems. It was possibly the most ‘populous’ hike I’ve ever been on (most of the places I’ve hiked, I don’t see anyone on the trails, or if I do its a one time passing), here, its like caravans, and occasional slow-downs at different waterfalls. This is a map of our hike:

Our hike of Ricketts Glen recorded using MapMyRun (a walking / running / hiking / biking GPS recording app)

I will say there is parts of the hike that are ‘difficult’ for those who might have walking issues or leg problems. Overall, most of the hike is easy to moderate, but there is a few places at some of the various waterfall areas where the steps are tough and can also be a bit slick. Plus, if you actually get close to some waterfalls, its also tough and hard, and I wouldn’t fully recommend doing that.

Here is a gallery (of a LOT of pictures) of our hike:

My hike with Ming at Ricketts Glen, Benton Pennsylvania

The hike lasted about four hours roughly, and was a good, fun, nice, beautiful hike and trip. As you can see from the pictures, I did enjoy the four pack I brought with me; which consisted of:

Troegs Independent Craft Brewing: Scratch 415 – Witbier
* My Rating: ***.75 / Global Rating: 3.77 (as of 6.16.20)
Troegs Independent Craft Brewing: Scratch 417 – Orange-Lemon Peel IPA
* My Rating: **** / Global Rating: 3.89 (as of 6.16.20)
New Trail Brewing: Hammock
* My Rating: ****.25 / Global Rating: 4.37 (as of 6.16.20)
Pizza Boy Brewing: The Pen is Mightier
* My Rating: ***.75 / Global Rating: 3.89 (as of 6.16.20)

After our hike, we hit the bathroom one final time, loaded back up, and checked out the breweries map to see what is available and where we would have dinner.

There were several that we looked up – Eclipse Craft Brewing, Pine Knotter Brewing, Old Forge Brewing, and Turkey Hill Brewing. According to the Google Maps and their Facebook (I made sure to check both), Turkey Hill was going to be open til 7PM, and Old Forge was to be open until 9PM. Turkey Hill was closer to Ricketts Glen / Benton than Old Forge, so we decided we’d go to Turkey Hill Brewing, and then from there go to Old Forge Brewing since they were opened later.

Turkey Hill Brewing Co.

We arrived at Turkey Hill Brewing Co. at roughly 6:20-6:30PM, and find out their actually open until 9PM. As we got back there, our reception returned to our phone, and we started getting inundated with texts. Our co-workers were getting called back into work (with Friday, June 19th, Dauphin County Pennsylvania goes green, our work was reopening). So everyone was seeing who got called, how they got called, what information they had, etc. Everyone had different ideas, theories, and stories of their call-backs.

While Ming went and talked to Don about his department that got called back, and their evening plans, I ordered a flight. We sat outside under a beautiful tree, and had a small little table in front of us, it all felt like sitting and eating at a family picnic at someone’s house for say Memorial Day or Fourth of July or Labor Day. Very informal, very interesting, and there were couples all around on various other benches eating in a similar fashion. Due to the current circumstances they do a generic flight of six, so that’s what I got. Once Ming came back from his call, we ordered small things of food (Don was making him dinner, so we weren’t going to get a big meal – just appetizers). I got fries and Ming got Asian Tuna.

Blond Ale
Red Ale
Belgian Triple
Stout
IPA

The fries were very good, and Ming said he loved the tuna (no way was I having any as I’m allergic to seafood). The beers were also very good.

The beers (not in the particular order I had them in above):

Donny’s Irish Dry Stout
* My rating: ***.75 / Global Rating: 3.73 (as of 6.16.20)
Inflategate NE IPA
* My Rating: **** / Global Rating: 3.74 (as of 6.16.20)
St. Abban’s Irish Red Ale
* My Rating: ***.75 / Global Rating: 3.56 (as of 6.16.20)
Oliver’s Twisted Belgian Pale Ale
* My Rating: ***.50 / Global Rating: 3.3 (as of 6.16.20)
Urban Abbey Apricot Pale Ale
* My Rating: ***.50 / Global Rating: 3.69 (as of 6.16.20)
Barn Dance Blonde Ale
* My Rating: ***.50 / Global Rating: 3.44 (as of 6.16.20)

The atmosphere there was very beautiful, laid back, and wonderful. The staff was also really nice, wore their masks, handled the food and drinks and everything very nice. Wonderful all around. The beers were good as well. Overall the venue was beautiful, and I’d love to come visit it – outside of a pandemic – and get to really experience the place, as it looked wonderful.

Turkey Hill Brewing

After the dinner and flight, we looked up Old Forge Brewing, checked to make sure it was due to close at 9PM and headed off. We arrived there at a roughly 7:30-7:45PM, possibly going on 8PM. And it was closed up and locked. So either they closed early or their Facebook (as well as Google Maps) was using old – pre-COVID-19 – hours of operation. So sadly, we missed out on that. We climbed back into the car and headed for home with Ming dropping me off around 9:45PM or so; maybe 10PM. (I was probably not the best judge of time by this point.)

All in all, it was an absolute blast, and a wonderful road trip. I highly recommend both breweries – Isle of Que Brewing Co and Turkey Hill Brewing. Going to have to try this trip again on a weekday where we can hit a few more of the breweries, and do the hike, with hopefully less people, and later hours of operation for the breweries, so we can do more of them.

The venue for Turkey Hill was beautiful. The building for Isle of Que was nice and small and quaint, reminded me of the Warwick Hotel in Hummelstown. I enjoyed both places, both staffs, and both drinks. (Probably give the nod to Isle of Que’s beers over Turkey Hill; but there was nothing wrong with Turkey Hill’s beers, they were average / adequate and were very good. I’ve heard from several people online since that they have phenomenal full food, so maybe next time I’ll stop there and have a full meal.)

Of the beers I brought with, I enjoyed all four as well, though I had three of the four before (the Witbier was the only one I hadn’t had before). I did a review for Troeg’s Scratch 417 before. The Hammock is a great NE-IPA; the Scratch 417 was a delicious IPA, the scratch 415 was a very tasty Witbier, and The Pen is Mightier is an interesting and tasty Sour IPA.

I also highly recommend Ricketts Glen. If you love hiking, love the outdoors, love beautiful scenery, love waterfalls, it was all amazing, and just gorgeous. You definitely won’t be disappointed by the beauty of it all, it does get crowded on weekends, but I don’t think once you get out on the actual trail it is that bad. Right now it was a bit awkward with some close proximity to people given the nature of the pandemic and concerns over it, but overall, I don’t think it was too busy, and never felt threatened by their closeness, nor worried. Doing the full hike path that we took though (as shown above) will take you roughly three to four hours, especially if you stop and take in each waterfall, viewing them, and taking pictures. (Also, of course, depending on your speed, gait, etc.). Ming and I are in our thirties, so use that as a barometer I suppose.

I know this wasn’t a typical road trip, and we really only hit two breweries, but felt like making it into a fun little write-up and blog post. Perhaps next time I take the trip I’ll be able to hit more breweries and make it into a bigger brewery related blog post. Also apologize for the massive photo dump in the middle of this post, at least you could skip them (and the horrible pictures of myself, I apologize for anyone who I scared with my appearance).

But, as always, thank you very much for reading. I appreciate any comments, questions, feedback, etc. If you have any recommendations for trails, hike paths, or breweries, I’d love to hear them! Let me know in the comments! Also, be sure to hit the follow, subscribe, and like buttons. Share with friends, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and thank you all so very much for reading! I love writing for you guys, so its always great to hear from you!

Cheers and happy trails!

-B. Kline

August (2019) Road Trip Series:

Rickett’s Glen (2020) Road Trip Series:

Other Brewery Hopping Articles:

My Article for Breweries in PA:

Touring Breweries Around Harrisburg

My Podcast About Breweries in Central PA:

Beers with Strangers – A Beer Thriller in Hershey

Some other brewery tour and road trip articles:

A waterfall at Ricketts Glen, Benton Pennsylvania

Beer Review: Baby Genius (Bissell Brothers Brewing Company)

BKline — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 01:00:59 +0000

Newly arrived to Breski’s Beverage today (6.3.19) Bissell Brother’s “Baby Genius” Session.

Got a notice from my local beer trading, muling, etc., Facebook group around 4-5PM that Breski’s Beverage was getting Bissell Brother’s in. Two can limit. So I definitely had to make a stop after work, no doubts about it. Bissell Brothers is one of those “sought after” breweries, and not one readily available in the South Central PA area.

Got there, grabbed my two cans from their walk-in cooler (where they keep all of their NEIPAs and a lot of their IPAs and beers), paid the 10.58$ (tax included) and left. Definitely can’t complain about two cold high-end brewery beers in an area that doesn’t see them for only 10.58$ (16oz cans).

So let’s dive into this beauty and see what we got here:

Beer: Baby Genius

Brewery: Bissell Brothers Brewing Company

Style: Blonde Ale

ABV: 4%

IBU: None Listed

Hops: Citra, Ella, Topaz

Untappd Write-Up: A hoppy, hazy blonde ale. Brewed with Citra, Ella, and Topaz hops.

Eclectic and Crushable

I’ve seen this listed as a “blonde ale”, a “session blonde ale”, and a “session NE Pale Ale”. The Untappd and their page list it just as a blonde ale and point out its lower ABV and its easy drinking and “crushable”-ness. And it definitely has easy drinking and crushableness in spades. Could easily pound more than the 2 allotment of these in a sitting, could see myself downing near a case while watching a baseball game, hanging out for a picnic, or a long mow-day.

Pouring this out it looks like a beauty in the glass. Light straw coloring with a bit of hazyness to it, cloudy, but still looks like a great beer. Head retention is strong and staying and no noticeable floaters or particulates.

The aroma is similar to most blondes and hefe’s. A light smell of hops but no noticeable hop overtly notes as you smell in.

For a light 4% there is no loss of flavor and fear not it is every bit as good and tasty as a higher ABV beer can be. The missing % won’t be missed and is actually nice to be able to drink 3 or more of these without getting the slightest buzz.

As typical of ‘hazy’ style beers (even if their not called NEIPA or New England style) it comes with a very soft juice taste. Soft, refreshing, but also crisp and clean, its smooth and easily drinkable and like I said above without the high ABV there’s really no buzz so no problem crushing these.

There is no hop bitterness and aftertaste or burn to this, the hops are softened, cushioned, its foamy and relaxing and not a typical ‘beer’ taste for those who don’t like the hop or “beer” taste.

It has some lemony notes but overall it steers clear of typical hop fruit or citrus notes, the lemony notes are about as close to citrus as this comes. Its not dry or sour or tart either as one would expect with lemony flavors in a beer either.

This is completely one to buy a case of, sit out on the back porch and spend the day chatting with friends, or relaxing and reading a good book (I’m personally currently reading Aldous Huxley’s ‘The Divine Within’) or watching a baseball game or getting all of your yard work and mowing done. Cheers and enjoy!

My Untappd Rating: ****.25

Global Untappd Rating: **** (As of 6.3.19)

-B. Kline