The Beer Thrillers

Tag: IPA – American

  • Two Hearted Ale: A Timeless Classic from Bell’s Brewery

    Two Hearted Ale: A Timeless Classic from Bell’s Brewery

    Two Hearted Ale (IPA) by Bell’s Brewery (photo courtesy of Bell’s Brewery)

    Two Hearted Ale Review: A Timeless Classic from Bell’s Brewery

    When it comes to American IPAs, few names resonate as strongly as Two Hearted Ale. Brewed by Bell’s Brewery, this iconic beer has consistently ranked among the top in various beer competitions and is beloved by craft beer enthusiasts. Let’s dive into what makes this ale a timeless classic.

    Two Hearted IPA by Bell’s Brewery

    Beer: Two Hearted IPA
    Brewery: Bell’s Brewery
    Style: IPA – American
    ABV: 7%
    IBU: 55
    Untappd Description:

    Brewed with 100% Centennial hops from the Pacific Northwest and named after the Two Hearted River in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, this IPA is bursting with hop aromas ranging from pine to grapefruit from massive hop additions in both the kettle and the fermenter.

    Perfectly balanced with a malt backbone and combined with the signature fruity aromas of Bell’s house yeast, this beer is remarkably drinkable and well suited for adventures everywhere.

    Appearance

    Two Hearted Ale pours a vibrant amber color with a slight haze, topped with a frothy, white head that lingers beautifully. The carbonation is lively, contributing to the visual appeal and ensuring a refreshing sip every time.

    Aroma

    The aroma is where Two Hearted Ale truly shines. It bursts with the scent of fresh pine, citrus, and floral notes, thanks to the generous use of Centennial hops. There’s a subtle malt sweetness that balances the hoppy bouquet, making it inviting and complex.

    Taste

    On the palate, Two Hearted Ale delivers a harmonious blend of hop bitterness and malt sweetness. The Centennial hops dominate with flavors of grapefruit, pine, and resin, while the malt backbone provides a smooth, slightly caramelized sweetness that rounds out the bitterness perfectly. The finish is crisp and clean, with a lingering hoppy aftertaste that invites you for another sip.

    Mouthfeel

    The mouthfeel is medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, offering a smooth and slightly creamy texture. This balance ensures that Two Hearted Ale is both refreshing and satisfying, making it suitable for any occasion.

    Overall Impression

    Two Hearted Ale by Bell’s Brewery is a benchmark for American IPAs. Its well-balanced profile of hops and malts, combined with its iconic aroma and flavor, make it a must-try for any craft beer lover. Whether you’re a seasoned beer aficionado or new to the world of IPAs, Two Hearted Ale is a timeless classic that never disappoints.

    Pairing Suggestions

    To enhance your Two Hearted Ale experience, try pairing it with spicy foods like buffalo wings, bold cheeses like blue cheese, or even a hearty burger. The beer’s hoppy bitterness complements spicy and rich flavors, making it an excellent companion to a variety of dishes.

    Final Thoughts

    Bell’s Brewery has crafted a masterpiece with Two Hearted Ale. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its exceptional quality and flavor. If you haven’t tried it yet, now is the perfect time to see why this IPA is considered one of the best in the world.

    My Untappd Rating: ****
    Global Untappd Rating: 3.94 (as of 7.23.24)

    Literary Connection: Hemingway’s “Big Two-Hearted River”

    Big Two Hearted River by Ernest Hemmingway

    One of the unique aspects of Two Hearted Ale is its connection to Ernest Hemingway’s novella, “Big Two-Hearted River.” The beer’s name pays homage to this classic literary work, which is set in Michigan’s wilderness, much like Bell’s Brewery itself.

    In Hemingway’s story, the protagonist, Nick Adams, finds solace and healing in nature after the trauma of war. The serene and restorative qualities of the river in the novella mirror the experience of savoring a Two Hearted Ale. Just as Nick reconnects with himself through the simplicity and beauty of nature, enjoying a Two Hearted Ale can be a similarly grounding and enriching experience.

    The beer embodies the spirit of the story—simple yet profound, familiar yet deeply satisfying. For fans of both craft beer and literature, this connection adds an extra layer of appreciation and enjoyment.

    I just recently finished the novella, and it immediately clicked in my had the connection between Hemingway’s “Big Two Hearted River” novella and the beer by Bell’s Brewery (Two Hearted River IPA / Ale). Its amazing how I never put the connection together before I picked up the novella at the Hershey Public Library and read it.

    We also reviewed the novella as well.

    You can read our review here:

     

    FAQs about Two Hearted Ale

    Q: What is the ABV of Two Hearted Ale?
    A: Two Hearted Ale has an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 7.0%.

    Q: Where can I buy Two Hearted Ale?
    A: Two Hearted Ale is widely available in many liquor stores, supermarkets, and online beer retailers. Check Bell’s Brewery’s official website for a store locator.

    Q: What awards has Two Hearted Ale won?
    A: Two Hearted Ale has won numerous awards, including being named the best beer in America multiple times by the American Homebrewers Association.

    Q: Can I visit Bell’s Brewery?
    A: Yes, Bell’s Brewery offers tours and has a taproom where you can sample their beers. Visit their official website for more information on visiting.

    More Articles About Bell’s Brewery

    Busy Week

    Whew, what a busy week. On a personal note, just wanted to say what all has been going on with us. In the past week we did our video review of The Acolyte’s finale (Episode 8) with Knights of Nostalgia. You can view that here: The Acolyte – Episode 8 Review. Then on Thursday, we (Ben, Amy, and Josh) hung out with Jesse and Amanda of Sworn Brewing to do a one year follow up article with them (look for that soon), and then on Friday and Saturday it was Ffej of July (Ffej of July 21!), then Sunday Josh got to go to the Boneshire Mug Club Meeting (I unfortunately had to work), and then tonight is the Foo Fighter’s Concert. Tomorrow and Thursday (Wednesday and Thursday) we are going to be in Richmond Virginia visiting breweries like The Veil and The Answer, as well as doing some sight seeing and visiting other breweries.

    So its certainly been a busy last few days and a busy upcoming few days!

    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:

    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 Releasing Hopora on Monday

    Troegs Independent Brewing Releasing Hopora on Monday

    Troegs Independent Brewing will be releasing Hopora on Monday, July 15th

    Hopora Returns This Monday

    For its second year, the seasonal release of Hopora is here again. Last year Hopora was released for the first time by Troegs Independent Brewing – their newest seasonal beer and IPA. (Troegs Brewing Adds Hopora to Their Seasonal Hop Cycle Series.)

    Back for its second year, this new and popular IPA will be released at the brewery in Hershey on Monday July 15th (2024). It will then be going out to the full distribution footprint of Troegs within the week or so. (You can always use their brew-finder to find the beer.)

    Hopora IPA

    Let’s break down the new beer and take a look at its stats:

    • ABV: 6.2%
    • IBU: N / A
    • Availability: Hop Cycle (Seasonal)
    • Color: Hazy Gold
    • Hops: Citra, Solero, Chinook
    • Grain: Pale, Oats, Wheat, Unmalted Wheat
    • Yeast: London 3
    • Untappd Rating (Updated: 7.12.24) 3.82
    • Untappd Description: Hopora is a tribute to the hop spirit for a bountiful crop. Built on pale malt, oats and wheat, this IPA showcases Solero hops. Radiant notes of tropical citrus are supported by grapefruit rind and subtle pine from Citra and Chinook. Immerse yourself in the juicy aura of our crisp seasonal ale. We tatse tropical citrus, grapefruit rind, subtle pine.

    Find out more information on Hopora IPA at the Troegs Brewing Company web page for Hopora IPA: Hopora. Or on the Untappd page: Hopora IPA.

    You can locate Hopora IPA at distributors, bars, or restaurants using the Troegs Beer Finder here: Find – a – Troegs: Hopora IPA.

    You can also read up on Hopora IPA at Troegs Brewing Company’s blog: Fun to say and even more fun to drink… it’s Hopora IPA! (Troegs Blog).

    Hip Hop Hopora

    Hopora IPA by Troegs Brewing Company (photo courtesy of Troegs Independent Brewing)

    Troegs Brewing Company has introduced Hopora IPA – their newest seasonal beer as part of their Hop Cyclone Series. Releasing Monday July 15th 2024 when the brewery opens, Hopora IPA is a 6.2% ABV Hazy tribute to all things Hops.

    Hopora is a tribute to the hop spirit for a bountiful crop. Built on pale malt, oats and wheat, this IPA showcases Solero hops. Radiant notes of tropical citrus are supported by grapefruit rind and subtle pine from Citra and Chinook. Immerse yourself in the juicy aura of our crisp seasonal ale.

    Troegs.com – Hopora IPA

    A tribute to the hop spirit for a bountiful crop, Hopora was designed to showcase the radiant tropical fruit and citrus notes of Solero hops, the Hershey-based brewery said in a press release on Monday.

    Troegs Independent Craft Brewing Company has been long known for making some remarkable IPAs; seasonal and year round, as well as one off scratch releases. Some ‘hall of fame’ favorites from the local community are Nimble Giant, Perpetual IPA, Lollihop, Blizzard of Hops (and its bigger, bolder, badder cousin Double Blizzard of Hops), Field Study, Cultivator, Crimson Pistil, Hop Horizon, Hop Knife, etc, etc, etc.

    Troegs Brewing Company is set to hit their 27 year anniversary this week as well. This past week they released their Original Pale Ale (only on draft in the tasting room), as well as the return of Blackberry Tizzy.

    For More Information on Troegs Independent Craft Brewing

    According to Untappd, Troegs Independent Craft Brewing is a regional brewery with 151 unique beers listed (despite their being over 500 Scratches). (A lot of vintage and variants get consolidated into single unique listings as well.) They have 2.3 Million ratings and as of 4.2.24 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.“

    You can find them at the following social media pages:

    More Troegs Independent Craft Brewing Related Articles

    Looking for more Troegs in your diet? Here’s some other Troegs Independent Craft Brewing related articles we’ve written:

    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:

    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 Brewing Releasing Field Study IPA with Revamped Packaging

    Troegs Brewing Releasing Field Study IPA with Revamped Packaging

    Troegs Brewing’s revamped Field Study IPA packaging

    Troegs Brewing Releasing Field Study IPA with Revamped Packaging

    Its that time again of the year where Field Study IPA is released by Troegs Independent Brewing. Though this time its coming out with revamped and new packaging. Same beer, same recipe, just new packaging, new look. Its still the seasonal once a year Field Study IPA you’ve always loved, just now its recognizing that its thee Summertime IPA. It also goes from a green, more hop vine inspired logo and artwork to a teal, more bold, more colorful and eye catching look. This also helps distinguish it from the numerous other Troegs beers that have a similar look, color, or “hop” name (though Field Study IPA doesn’t have a “hop” name). Troegs Brewing certainly has no shortage of ‘hop’ names in their current and past library – Hop Horizon, HopBack, Hop Knife, Hopora, Blizzard of Hops, HopCyclone, etc.

    The new packaging really makes it stand out and is bold.

    The beer will be releasing shortly at both the brewery and their full distribution footprint. It will be sold in 12 oz bottles and 12 oz cans. Packaging for cans will be in six packs and twelve packs, and the same for the bottles.

    You can find it using their Brew Finder.

    Field Study Summertime IPA

    “In the hop fields we daydream and study, and at the brewery we tinker and test. For Field Study, dry-hopping delivers notes of ripe grapefruit, mango, pear and melon. Add a backbone of local rustic pale malt, and Field Study is just what we were after: a slightly hazy yet bright summer daydream come true.

    We taste: ripe grapefruit, pear, hint of melon. Hops: Citra, Mosaic, and El Dorado.”

    Field Study IPA is a 6.2% American style IPA.

    It is a popular seasonal beer from Troegs Brewing with an average Untappd rating of 3.79.

    For More Information on Troegs Independent Craft Brewing

    According to Untappd, Troegs Independent Craft Brewing is a regional brewery with 151 unique beers listed (despite their being over 500 Scratches). (A lot of vintage and variants get consolidated into single unique listings as well.) They have 2.3 Million ratings and as of 4.2.24 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.“

    You can find them at the following social media pages:

    More Troegs Independent Craft Brewing Related Articles

    Looking for more Troegs in your diet? Here’s some other Troegs Independent Craft Brewing related articles we’ve written:

    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:

    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.)

  • Beer Review of Pliny the Elder: Is It the Best Double IPA of 2024?

    Beer Review of Pliny the Elder: Is It the Best Double IPA of 2024?

    Pliny the Elder by Russian River Brewing Company

    Introduction

    Pliny the Elder, brewed by Russian River Brewing Company, is one of the most celebrated Double IPAs in the craft beer world. Since its introduction, it has consistently ranked high on beer lists and won numerous awards. In this review, we’ll delve into what makes Pliny the Elder so special and whether it still holds up in 2024.

    History and Background

    Russian River Brewing Company, located in Santa Rosa, California, was founded by Korbel Champagne Cellars in 1997. Vinnie Cilurzo, the current owner and brewmaster, took over in 2003. Pliny the Elder, named after the Roman naturalist and historian who first documented hops, was one of the early trailblazers of the Double IPA style. Its creation set a new standard for hoppy beers and helped popularize the style.

    Russian River Brewing Company

    Russian River Brewing Company, founded in 1997 in Santa Rosa, California, has become a cornerstone of the American craft beer movement. Initially started by Korbel Champagne Cellars, the brewery underwent a significant transformation when Vinnie and Natalie Cilurzo took ownership in 2003. Under their stewardship, Russian River quickly garnered a reputation for producing high-quality, innovative beers. Vinnie Cilurzo, a pioneer in the industry, is credited with brewing the first commercially marketed Double IPA, which set the stage for the brewery’s future successes.

    Russian River’s commitment to excellence is evident in their diverse beer portfolio, which includes both hop-forward beers and expertly crafted sour ales. Their flagship beer, Pliny the Elder, has become a benchmark for Double IPAs, celebrated for its balance and complex hop profile. In addition to Pliny, the brewery is renowned for its barrel-aged sour beers, such as Supplication and Consecration, which showcase their expertise in blending and aging. These beers have not only won numerous awards but also have captivated the palates of beer enthusiasts around the world.

    Beyond their beer, Russian River Brewing Company has played a significant role in fostering a sense of community within the craft beer industry. They host the annual “Pliny the Younger” release, a much-anticipated event that draws beer lovers from across the globe to their Santa Rosa and Windsor locations. This dedication to community engagement extends to their philanthropic efforts, with the brewery regularly supporting local charities and causes. Through their commitment to quality, innovation, and community, Russian River Brewing Company continues to be a leader in the craft beer world, inspiring brewers and drinkers alike.

    Russian River Brewing Company is a pinnacle in the craft beer community.

    Appearance

    Pliny the Elder by Russian River Brewing Company

    Pliny the Elder pours a clear golden amber with a moderate, foamy white head that leaves a nice lacing on the glass. The beer’s clarity and color are immediately inviting, signaling a well-crafted brew. The head retention is impressive, maintaining a thin cap throughout the drinking experience, which enhances the visual appeal.

    Aroma

    The aroma of Pliny the Elder is a delightful bouquet of fresh pine, citrus, and floral notes. There’s a dominant scent of grapefruit and pine needles, complemented by subtle hints of malt sweetness. The aroma is robust and tantalizing, setting high expectations for the taste. As the beer warms, additional nuances of tropical fruits, such as mango and pineapple, become more apparent, adding to its complexity.

    Taste

    On the palate, Pliny the Elder delivers a complex yet balanced flavor profile. The initial taste is a burst of citrus and pine, with grapefruit and orange zest leading the way. As the beer settles on the mid-palate, notes of resinous pine and floral hops become more pronounced. The malt backbone provides a slight caramel sweetness that perfectly balances the hop bitterness. The aftertaste is clean and crisp, with a lingering bitterness that invites another sip.

    What sets Pliny the Elder apart is its ability to be intensely hoppy without being overwhelming. The interplay between the hops and malt creates a harmonious balance that many Double IPAs struggle to achieve. Each sip reveals new layers of flavor, making it a beer that you can enjoy both quickly and thoughtfully.

    Mouthfeel

    Pliny the Elder has a medium body with a smooth, slightly dry mouthfeel. The carbonation is just right, providing a refreshing effervescence without being too fizzy. The beer feels well-rounded and satisfying on the tongue, making it easy to enjoy despite its higher alcohol content (8% ABV). The finish is dry and crisp, encouraging the next sip.

    Overall Impression

    Pliny the Elder lives up to its legendary status. It’s a well-balanced, flavorful Double IPA that showcases the best qualities of hops and malt. Whether you’re a seasoned craft beer enthusiast or new to the world of IPAs, Pliny the Elder is a must-try. It’s no wonder this beer has remained a favorite among beer aficionados for years.

    Rating: 9.5/10

    Food Pairings

    Pliny the Elder pairs wonderfully with a variety of foods. Here are some suggestions:

    • Spicy Dishes: The beer’s hoppy bitterness can complement and cool down spicy foods like buffalo wings or spicy Thai curry.
    • Grilled Meats: The citrus and pine notes enhance the flavors of grilled chicken, pork, or steak.
    • Cheeses: Pair with aged cheddar or gouda for a delightful contrast between the beer’s bitterness and the cheese’s richness.
    • Seafood: The beer’s bright, citrusy notes complement the delicate flavors of seafood dishes like grilled shrimp or fish tacos.
    • Desserts: Try pairing with a citrus-based dessert like lemon tart to highlight the beer’s fruity notes.

    Brewer’s Notes

    Pliny the Elder was first brewed in 2000 and was one of the first commercially brewed Double IPAs. It is named after the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder, who first mentioned hops in his writings. The beer is brewed with Amarillo, Centennial, CTZ, and Simcoe hops, which contribute to its distinctive aroma and flavor. The brewing process involves multiple hop additions, including a generous dry hopping stage, to maximize the hop character.

    Untappd notes: 8% ABV, 100 IBU, and has over 280,000 ratings, with a global average rating of 4.5.

    Untappd description reads: “PLINY THE ELDER – (Double IPA) Brewed with Amarillo, Centennial, CTZ, Cascade, Warrior, and Simcoe hops. Well-balanced with malt, hops, and alcohol. Slightly bitter with aromas of citrus, pine, and floral”

    Comparisons to Other Double IPAs

    When comparing Pliny the Elder to other Double IPAs, its balance and drinkability stand out. While some Double IPAs can be overwhelmingly bitter or overly sweet, Pliny strikes a perfect harmony. Beers like The Alchemist’s Heady Topper or Tree House Brewing’s Julius offer different takes on the style, with Heady Topper leaning towards more intense bitterness and Julius showcasing juicy, fruity hop flavors. Pliny the Elder, however, maintains a classic profile that has stood the test of time.

    Pliny the Elder and Nimble Giant are two highly esteemed Double IPAs that showcase the diverse approaches to the style by their respective breweries, Russian River Brewing Company and Tröegs Independent Brewing. Pliny the Elder is celebrated for its balanced profile, offering a harmonious blend of pine, citrus, and floral hop notes, supported by a subtle malt backbone that provides a smooth, drinkable experience despite its 8% ABV. Nimble Giant, on the other hand, leans towards a more robust and juicy hop character, with prominent tropical fruit flavors such as mango and pineapple, alongside resinous pine and a slightly sweeter malt presence. Both beers are exemplary in their own right, with Pliny the Elder appealing to those who appreciate a classic, well-balanced Double IPA, while Nimble Giant caters to those who enjoy a more fruit-forward, intense hop experience.

    Consumer Opinions

    Pliny the Elder has garnered a cult following over the years. Beer enthusiasts often praise its consistency and quality. Many reviews highlight its balanced hop profile, clean finish, and the ability to enjoy multiple servings without palate fatigue. The beer has become a benchmark for the Double IPA style, with many breweries aiming to replicate its success.

    Untappd

    My Rating: ****.5
    Global Untappd Rating: 4.4995 (or 4.5) (as of 2.26.24).

    Conclusion

    Pliny the Elder is a benchmark in the world of craft beer, particularly within the Double IPA category. Its masterful balance of hops and malt, combined with its rich history and consistent quality, make it a beer that every craft beer lover should experience. Whether you’re revisiting it or trying it for the first time, Pliny the Elder is sure to impress.

    Pliny the Elder stands as a testament to the artistry and dedication of Russian River Brewing Company. Its ability to balance intense hop flavors with a smooth, drinkable malt backbone sets it apart from many other Double IPAs. This beer has not only withstood the test of time but continues to be a benchmark in the craft beer industry. Its consistent quality and refined complexity make it a must-try for both seasoned beer enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

    Moreover, Pliny the Elder’s legacy is bolstered by its historical significance. As one of the first commercially brewed Double IPAs, it paved the way for an entire genre of hoppy beers that have become staples in the craft beer world. The beer’s namesake, Pliny the Elder, who first documented hops in his writings, adds an intriguing historical depth that complements its modern-day acclaim. This blend of history and innovation has helped Pliny the Elder maintain its iconic status.

    In summary, Pliny the Elder is more than just a beer; it’s a symbol of the craft beer revolution. Its harmonious blend of flavors, rich history, and the unwavering dedication of Russian River Brewing Company make it an enduring favorite. Whether you’re enjoying it for the first time or revisiting an old favorite, Pliny the Elder offers a consistently exceptional experience that continues to set the standard for Double IPAs worldwide.

    Some Other Popular Beer Reviews

    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:

    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.)

  • First Cut IPA Releasing Thursday – February 22nd

    First Cut IPA Releasing Thursday – February 22nd

    First Cut – Mango IPA – by Troegs Independent Brewing is releasing on Thursday, February 22nd, 2024.

    First Cut – Mango IPA – Is Coming

    The fan favorite First Cut IPA is coming out on Thursday – February 22nd. This year its coming out in 16 oz pounder cans for the first time ever. It will also be seeing a small local distribution footprint, ontop of being released at the Troegs Brewery in Hershey, PA.

    First Cut has achieved “cult following” at this point, and there’s no reason to wonder with how delicious this beer is. First Cut IPA is always a highly anticipated release at the Troegs Brewery. First Cut marks the beginning of the hop season (though its coming out earlier and earlier each year, its coming out a little bit before the first shoots of the hops are popping up…. there is still snow on the ground in Hershey and Central PA afterall). Signaling the beginning of the hop growing season, when the first shoots start to break through the surface, and the hop farmers cut some of the early shoots (they make an excellent meal – check out our hop omelet recipe: Hop Shoot Omelet), to help facilitate the growth of the hops.

    Its early spring and this is the growing season – or will be shortly – and the return of green to Central PA. So come on out to Troegs Brewery on Hersheypark Drive in Hershey, and pick up some First Cut IPA to celebrate!

    First Cut IPA Notes

    First Cut IPA is an American IPA, clocking in at 6.2% ABV and 45 IBU. It has a global average rating of 3.79 on Untappd (as of 2.20.24), and the description there reads: “Each spring, hop growers dust off their pruning shears and trim the first shoots, bolstering the bines for a rich growing season. First Cut – a mouthful of silky Simcoe and a touch of mango – is a nod to this ritual, without which the world would be a less hoppy place.”

    You can find out more information on First Cut IPA at the Troegs website here: First Cut – Mango IPA.

    Each spring, hop growers dust off their pruning shears and trim the first shoots, bolstering the bines for a rich growing season. First Cut – a mouthful of silky Simcoe and a touch of mango – is a nod to this ritual, without which the world would be a less hoppy place.

    We taste: juicy mango, green pineapple, honey

    First Cut – Mango IPA

    For More Information on Troegs Independent Craft Brewing

    According to Untappd, Troegs Independent Craft Brewing is a regional brewery with 158 unique beers listed (despite their being over 500 Scratches). (A lot of vintage and variants get consolidated into single unique listings as well.) They have 2.3 Million ratings and as of 2.20.24 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.“

    You can find them at the following social media pages:

    More Troegs Independent Craft Brewing Related Articles

    Looking for more Troegs in your diet? Here’s some other Troegs Independent Craft Brewing related articles we’ve written:

    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:

    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.)

  • Unraveling the Mysteries of Hops: The Heart and Soul of Craft Beer

    Unraveling the Mysteries of Hops: The Heart and Soul of Craft Beer

    A single hop hanging on the vine.

    Unraveling the Mysteries of Hops: The Heart and Soul of Craft Beer

    In the vibrant world of craft beer, one ingredient often steals the spotlight for its pivotal role in brewing: hops. These green, cone-shaped flowers are not just a cornerstone of beer making; they’re the soulful artisans of the beverage, intricately weaving together the tapestry of flavor, aroma, and bitterness that defines many of our favorite brews. But what exactly are hops, and why do they play such a crucial role in the creation of craft beer? Let’s dive into the hoppy heart of the matter, exploring the technical nuances, varieties, and the art of hop utilization in craft brewing.

    The Botanical Backdrop

    Hops, scientifically known as Humulus lupulus, are perennial plants in the Cannabaceae family, which interestingly includes cannabis. These climbing bines (not vines) are cultivated for their female flowers, or hop cones, which are prized in brewing for their unique contributions. Hops have been an essential ingredient in beer for centuries, originally added for their preservative qualities, but their role has evolved significantly with the craft beer movement.

    The Multifaceted Role of Hops in Brewing

    Thompson Island Brewing visiting Troegs Brewery for a collaboration brew – adding the hops to the brew kettle.

    The magic of hops lies in their complex chemical makeup, including alpha acids, beta acids, and essential oils. Each of these components plays a pivotal role in the brewing process:

    • Bitterness: Alpha acids are responsible for the bitter flavor in beer, a counterbalance to the sweetness of the malt. Through the process of isomerization during boiling, these acids transform, imparting the quintessential bitterness that beer aficionados cherish.
    • Aroma and Flavor: Essential oils in hops, such as myrcene, humulene, and caryophyllene, are the architects of aroma and flavor. These oils are more delicate and are often added at later stages of brewing or during dry hopping to preserve their volatile profiles, contributing everything from floral and citrus notes to earthy and spicy undertones.
    • Preservation: The antimicrobial properties of hops have been leveraged since ancient times to extend the shelf life of beer, making them an early and natural preservative.

    Exploring the Hop Varieties

    Hops growing on the arbor at The Beer Thrillers headquarters. (Centennial and Chinook hops growing together on the arbor.)

    The craft beer renaissance has ushered in an era of hop exploration, with brewers and enthusiasts alike delving into the diverse world of hop varieties. Each type brings its own unique flavor and aroma profile to the table, influencing the character of the beer:

    • Noble Hops: Traditional varieties such as Saaz, Tettnang, Hallertauer, and Spalt, known for their mild and balanced profiles, perfect for classic European-style beers.
    • American Hops: Varieties like Cascade, Centennial, Citra, and Simcoe stand out for their bold, citrus, and piney characteristics, driving the American craft beer movement’s love for intensely aromatic and flavorful IPAs.
    • New World Hops: From Australia and New Zealand, varieties such as Galaxy, Nelson Sauvin, and Motueka offer unique fruity, tropical, and sometimes vinous notes, expanding the palette of flavors available to brewers.

    The Art and Science of Hop Utilization

    Craft brewers wield hops with both precision and creativity, carefully selecting varieties and determining the timing of their addition to achieve the desired bitterness, flavor, and aroma. This can range from bittering hops added early in the boil to capture their alpha acid potential, to late addition and dry hopping methods aimed at maximizing the aromatic and flavorful essence of essential oils.

    The exploration of hops in craft beer is a testament to the ingredient’s versatility and central role in brewing. From the bold and bitter to the subtle and aromatic, hops continue to inspire brewers to push the boundaries of beer, crafting unique and memorable experiences for enthusiasts around the globe.

    As we’ve journeyed through the hop fields and into the brewery, it’s clear that hops are much more than just an ingredient; they’re a bridge connecting science, art, and tradition in the craft beer community. Whether you’re a seasoned brewmaster, a homebrew hobbyist, or simply a curious beer lover, the world of hops offers endless possibilities for discovery and delight. Cheers to the humble hop, the heart and soul of craft beer’s boundless creativity!

    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:

    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.)

     

     

     

  • Beer Review: 60 Minute IPA (Dogfish Head Craft Brewery)

    Beer Review: 60 Minute IPA (Dogfish Head Craft Brewery)

    A pint of Dogfish Head’s 60 Minute IPA

    Beer Review: 60 Minute IPA (Dogfish Head Craft Brewery)

    Dogfish Head’s 60 Minute IPA has long been a herald of the American craft beer movement, standing out as a consistent and refined example of an India Pale Ale. Here’s a detailed review of this iconic brew:

    Appearance:

    The 60 Minute IPA pours a clear, golden amber color with a frothy white head that dissipates gradually, leaving a nice lace on the glass. The beer’s clarity and color are inviting, promising a classic IPA experience.

    Aroma:

    This brew greets the nose with a bouquet of floral and citrus hops. There are notes of grapefruit, orange peel, and pine, underscored by a subtle malt sweetness. The aroma is balanced; it’s hop-forward without being overpowering, setting the stage for what follows in the taste.

    Taste:

    On the palate, Dogfish Head’s 60 Minute IPA delivers a beautiful harmony of hop bitterness and malty backbone. The hop profile is complex, featuring flavors of citrus, particularly grapefruit and lemon zest, followed by pine and a bit of herbal quality. The malt presents itself with hints of caramel and biscuit, providing a solid foundation that complements the bitterness rather than clashing with it. The transition from the initial hoppy bite to the underlying sweetness is smooth and well-executed.

    Mouthfeel:

    Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the 60 Minute IPA has a crisp and somewhat resinous mouthfeel that makes for a refreshing drink. It’s neither too heavy nor too light, striking a nice balance that makes it quite sessionable for an IPA.

    Finish:

    The finish is moderately dry with a lingering hop bitterness that invites another sip without becoming too intense. It’s clean and does not leave an overly resinous aftertaste, which can be common in more aggressively hopped IPAs.

    Overall Impression:

    Dogfish Head’s 60 Minute IPA is an exemplary craft beer that balances accessibility with complexity. It’s crafted to appeal to both newcomers to the IPA style and seasoned hop aficionados. Its method of continuous hopping over 60 minutes during the boil provides a unique depth and variety to its hop character, which is showcased beautifully throughout the drinking experience.

    Food Pairing Suggestions:

    This IPA pairs wonderfully with spicy foods, grilled meats, and sharp cheeses. The hop bitterness cuts through the richness of fatty foods and complements spicy dishes beautifully.

    Conclusion:

    The 60 Minute IPA remains a staple in Dogfish Head’s lineup for good reasons. It is approachable yet sophisticated, making it a go-to IPA for many beer lovers. Whether you’re a craft beer enthusiast or a casual drinker looking to explore the style, the 60 Minute IPA is a compelling choice that won’t disappoint.

    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:

    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 Brewing to Release Second Cut this Spring

    Troegs Brewing to Release Second Cut this Spring

    Second Cut Double Mango IPA (photo courtesy of Troegs Brewing)

    Troegs Brewing to Release Second Cut

    Troegs Independent Brewing is set to release Second Cut – a bigger version of First Cut – this Spring (Spring 2024).

    Much like they’ve made “double” versions of their other beers – Double Nugget Nectar (Nugget Nectar), Double Blizzard (Blizzard of Hops), Triple Nator (Troegenator), and most recently Double Perpetual and Triple Perpetual (Perpetual IPA) – they are making a ‘double’ version of First Cut.

    First Cut represents the first cuttings of the hops as the hops begin to grow, a pruning to let them be able to create big and strong vines.

    Where First Cut is typically a late February – March release, Second Cut will likely be end of March to middle of April for its release. The beer will be a double IPA brewed with mango as well as Comet and Simcoe hops and it will clock in at around 9.5% ABV. It will be released at the brewery in 16 oz pounder cans, both as singles and as four packs. There is possibility of distribution, but it is doubtful.

    First Cut

    The First Cut is a fan favorite and has a bit of a ‘cult following’ at the brewery. It is a 6.2% IPA – American style, with 45 IBU. Its typically released late February to early March each year at the brewery in Hershey. It has over 52,000 ratings on Untappd with a global average rating of 3.79 (as of 10.13.23). The Untappd description reads: Each spring, hop growers dust off their pruning shears and trim the first shoots, bolstering the bines for a rich growing season. First Cut – a mouthful of silky Simcoe and a touch of mango – is a nod to this ritual, without which the world would be a less hoppy place.

    More Troegs Independent Craft Brewing Related Articles

    Looking for more Troegs in your diet? Here’s some other Troegs Independent Craft Brewing related articles we’ve written:

    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 their being over 500 Scratches). They have 2.3 Million ratings and as of 10.13.23 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.“

    You can find them at the following social media pages:

    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:

    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.)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Tree House Brewing Company Announces the Hottest Beer of 2023 – Jalagreeño

    Jalagreeño by Tree House Brewing Company – The Hottest Beer of 2023!

    The Hottest Beer of 2023

    Tree House Brewing Company just announced what might be the hottest beer of 2023 – Jalagreeño. Are you ready for it? Can you handle the heat? You can’t handle the heat!

    I know my friend Drew from Knights of Nostalgia is already salivating at the idea of this beer, we’ve certainly had some hot beers over the years. Drew is always the first in line at the brew fests for the spicier beers like Conyngham Brewing Company‘s Jalapeno Lager and ZeroDay Brewing‘s Mango Habanero; amongst others that we’ve (well, particularly him) tried over the years.

    So needless to say, I’ll be on the hunt to get this for Drew when its released.

    Jalagreeño Announcement

    Tree House Brewing Company posted the following on their social media platforms:

    The hottest beer of 2023:

    Jalagreeño!

    🔥
    💚
    🐐

    #dontknockittillyoutryit

    Tree House Brewing Company – Facebook Post

    . . .

    While we have you.. for a behind-the-scenes look at our photography program, we produced a fresh video to bring context to the time, energy, and intention we have always put into our photographs – enjoy!

    Tree House Brewing Company – Facebook Post

    They posted this on their Facebook account at 11:28AM today (1.6.23). As well as on their other social media platforms following.

    What is Jalagreeño?

    No word exactly yet on what it will be, but we can pretty much assume it will be a variant of Green. Most likely it will be Green with jalapenos thrown into the fermenter. Here is the stat lines on Tree House’s Green:

    Green (Tree House Brewing Company)

    Green by Tree House Brewing Company at The Beer Thrillers HQ

    Beer: Green
    Brewery: Tree House Brewing Company
    Style: IPA – American
    ABV: 7.5%
    IBU: 90
    Untappd Description: Our cross-continental IPA! Made with Australian and American hops, this tropical heavy IPA opens up in the glass with notes of hugely flavorful notes of lemon-lime, pineapple, orange sorbet, and tangerine. It has a soft but pointed bitterness and a rich, velvety mouth feel. Intensely kettle and dry hopped yet balanced and flavorful, Green is a beloved crew favorite here at Tree House!
    Global Average Rating: 4.43

    Tree House Brewing Company

    Tree House Brewing Company is considered one of the best breweries in the country (United States). They are a bucket list brewery and a “must visit” for many people. Untappd has them listed as a regional brewery from Charlton Massachusetts. They have 746 unique beers with a total of 4 Million ratings. They have a global average rating of 4.34 (as of 1.6.23). Their Untappd description reads: “Tree House Brewing Company brews a vast array of ales. The offerings vary based on the season, our moods, and innovations discovered in the midst of day in and day out brewing. Our artisan brewery knows no bounds and we are driven by an intense curiosity of ingredients and how they blend together to create something special.”

    For more information on Tree House Brewing Company, check out their social media pages:

    Beer Reviews We’ve Done

    Looking for some beer reviews of Tree House Brewing Company that we’ve covered? Then check these out:

    Other Related Articles

    Thanks For Reading

    This is definitely, 100%, a beer on our radar here at The Beer Thrillers. Mostly for Drew at Knights of Nostalgia, so we will try our best to get ahold of it when it’s released and do a beer review of it. Amy and I are looking on planning a trip up to some of the bucket list breweries of the VT, CT, MA area come November. So there should be plenty of good content about Tree House Brewing Company and others around that time!

    I just (while starting this article) received the e – mail that I was approved for the media credentials for the Craft Brewer’s Conference in Nashville, TN on May 7th through May 10th. Now to put in for that week off on our vacation bids at work (which have to be submitted on Sunday). Amy and I can’t wait. Never been to Nashville, and its actually a city I put down on our list of cities to visit this year. So looks like this is a huge win – win for us.

    Thank you all so much for reading. Remember: tomorrow our podcast with Central PA Pour will be hitting podcast and video sites and all of their social media platforms (as well as ours). So be on the lookout for that tomorrow. I can’t wait to get to watch and listen to Josh and I hang out with the boys from Central PA Pour. It was a blast and we hope you all like it as well.

    Thanks for reading everyone!

    Cheers All!

    -B. Kline

    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.

    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. 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 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 #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. 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!

  • Beer Review: Mangolorian (Brewery Fire)

    The Mangolorian by Brewery Fire

    May the Fourth Be With You! Been waiting to post this beer review up here on the blog. Been keeping it on the backburner just for this day. (This review has been written and revised and edited and updated time over time, and I’ve just been waiting for the perfect time to upload it – and what more perfect time than May the Fourth?)

    As anyone familiar with this blog will know, I am a huge Star Wars nerd and if there’s a Star Wars themed beer, then its gonna get reviewed as soon as I’m able to try it and review it.

    Back in early January me and my friend Ming hiked in Maryland and visited Flood Zone Brewery and Brewery Fire (January 2nd). Turned out Brewery Fire is known for their pop culture beers (they had Simpsons referenced ones, like Eat My Shorts Dude, and Star Wars themed ones, etc.). I had grabbed this as a four pack and took it with me to go.

    January 2nd, 2021

    Going back to when we visited the brewery and everything, lets start with the day. You can read more about it here: “Catoctin Mountain Hike, Flood Zone Brewery and Marketplace, and Brewery Fire”. This was a day hike me and Ming did in Maryland on the Catoctin Mountain, which then led to us stopping at the Flood Zone Marketplace and Brewery for food and drinks, and then at Brewery Fire on the way home.

    The hike was pretty and nice, but muddy (had rained two days prior). Flood Zone Brewery was very nice, and even had live music, which is always nice, especially back in January, where in Pennsylvania you wouldn’t have been even able to go into a brewery to sit and drink or eat (due to the second shut down of COVID-19), so that was a nice added treat. We then stopped at Brewery Fire on the way back home to Mount Joy – to drop Ming off before I headed home.

    Brewery Fire Mural

    We drank (well, I drank) outside, since Ming didn’t really feel like going inside and be around people more than he had to (can’t say I blame him on this really, COVID or no COVID). The coolest feature about the Brewery Fire venue was the large pop culture mural on their wall. Which you can see in this group of pictures I took here:

    Brewery Fire Mural

    How many pop culture references do you get? How many characters do you recognize? Hopefully it’s a lot. And its a pretty interesting and diverse grouping too, and I like the interchange of most of them. The artwork is also well done.

    Sad to say, Ming only got a few of the references. Do you think you can do better than him? Hopefully, if not, I doubt you’d be reading this blog anyway with the sheer pop culture references and nerd-isms that I throw on here.

    Brewery Fire

    As I’ve done with past recent beer reviews, I’m devoting a section of each review to the brewery itself behind the creation. Brewery Fire is a pretty small venue and brewery located on the backend of a bowling alley. Me and Ming had to do a drive through the parking lot to find it, even with the sign at the road, the actual location and entrance is a bit tricky and hard to find.

    According to Untappd, Brewery Fire is a nano brewery with 126 unique beers, and 6,480 ratings (as of 5.4.21). It has a global average rating of 3.89. The Untappd description reads: “Small batch craft brewery and tasting room.” They are located in Taneytown, Maryland. You can check out their Untappd page here: Brewery Fire (on Untappd).

    While I was there, I had a flight of their beers, and grabbed the Mangolorian as a four pack to take with me. My flight consisted of: Black Ka’kaRYE, The Chrystal Calls, The Hero of Canton Drinks the Best Rum in the House!, and Eat My Shorts, Dude. My ratings for them: Black Ka’karye – 3.75, The Chrystal Calls – 4, The Hero of Canton – 3.75, and Eat My Shorts – 4.

    Beer Review

    As you can see this was a beer I got in January, but drank that night, as well as several other nights. The review portion of this post was written in March after the latest time I had the beer. (Don’t worry, the IPA held up, plus, I had the notes from the first times I had drank it, in case it didn’t.)

    (This portion of the blog post has not been touched since it was written, the above sections were, and then the ending of the post was, but the actual review is as it was since March, with only the average rating changed to reflect the date and updated for any change in the overall score.)

    The Mangolorian by Brewery Fire

    Interesting note here – the beer on Untappd was originally The Mangolorian, as well as it saying so on the can, but if you look up the beer now, it is only just “Mangolorian” on Untappd. Not sure why the name change, but this is just an interesting fact that I’ve noticed from when I first drank it – January 2nd, til now – March 16th. So sometime in this period there was a name change at least insofar as Untappd goes.

    Beer: Mangolorian
    Brewery: Brewery Fire
    Style: IPA – American
    ABV: 6%
    IBU: 40
    Untappd Description: This beer is dry hopped with Vic Secret hops which is perfectly accented by a copious amount of Mango. This is the way.

    Obviously, this better be Mango flavored and scented, otherwise… well… that would just be a fail right? And that is most certainly NOT THE WAY. Thankfully, this is very mango forward, so problem solved, and it fits all criteria, and thus, adheres to the way.

    So lets start off with the appearance. It looks clean and crisp, it has a lighter color west coast IPA look to it, a bit bubbly and almost a champagne look to it with its effervescence. It is clear and see through with a nice amber hue. It has a decent small foamy head to it that retains for a fair bit of time, and it leaves some lacing on the glass.

    Moving on to aroma, you certainly get its namesake – it smells just like a Mandalorian would…. I mean… it smells very heavy mango. Not very heavy Mandalorian. Which is probably a good thing, because I can only imagine what a warrior trapped in Mandalorian armor would smell like after an intense day of bounty hunting…. *shudders*…. poor Baby Yoda (Gogru!). If you are a mango fan, then this is a treat, if not, you probably should just pass on this beer altogether. It has a very strong and upfront nose of mango, that then gets a bit hoppy, but the mango still is the strongest nose to this bad boy.

    I would best describe this as a ‘dry IPA’. Its the “old school” (god, do I feel old having to describe ‘regular’ IPAs as “old school”) West Coast style IPA. The mango is interesting in the flavor for this, compared to the nose of it. On the nose, I thought the mango was very strong and powerful, but in the flavor its a bit of a different story. And its almost a ‘by the can’ type thing. The one can I had, the mango flavor was pretty strong, but the other three, it was much more subtle and in the background. A friend who had visited the brewery before (unbeknownst to me, he had it at a different time, and I had never even heard of this brewery or knew he went there until we discussed it), he had it on draft and had two pints of it, he said it was subtle to slightly more upfront in draft. The first pint he said it was very much in the background instead of the forefront, and in the second it was a bit more forefront, but this could also be because it was his second draft of the same beer. It is a pretty light and crushable IPA, and not a hazard to drink the whole four pack yourself in one sitting. It only clocks in at 6% so it’s not too strong, and at 40 IBU’s, its not a palate wrecker. I wouldn’t label it a “Session IPA” but its certainly on the lighter side of things (for example – Troegs’ flagship IPA – Perpetual IPA – is a 7.5% and 85 IBU). This is sort of a dry IPA but still flavorful with a nice hoppy flavor and mango taste (be it forward or background). The Vic Secret hops are a nice combination with the dryness and the mango flavor. It has some champagne characteristics (possibly champagne yeast?) that ties in with the dryness. Nothing is off flavored, and nothing is too strong or overpowering or cancels out anything else, there’s no cloying, or poor taste, and the mouthfeel feels right on, not too heavy, not too slick or light. No bad aftertaste and nothing off putting.

    My Untappd Rating: ****
    Global Average Untappd Rating: 3.94 (as of 5.4.21) (Originally: 3.96 as of 3.17.21).

    Star Wars

    How is everyone else planning on spending May the Fourth? Last year I posted an article (a listicle) of some of our various Star Wars themed beers and activities – which you can see here: “May the Fourth Be With You (2020)“.

    Since then I’ve done quite a few more Star Wars themed beer reviews, and to see them, you can look at this list here:

    I’m sure there will be plenty more in the future. If you know of any Star Wars themed beers that should be on my horizon and on my wish list, please make sure to leave me a comment, and if you can help me track them down, all the better! I guarantee I’ll review them here on the blog.

    So how is everyone spending their Star Wars day? I’m currently working my way through Alexander Freed’s book 1 of the Alphabet Squadron trilogy “Alphabet Squadron” (aptly named huh?). I’ve been slow reading it, but it’s been pretty good.

    Also today – Bad Batch airs on Disney+, so I’ll be checking that out after work, as well as hopefully posting up a Star Wars themed book review. So be on the lookout for that this evening. (Fingers crossed.)

    To see the Bad Batch trailer, check that out here: Bad Batch Official Disney+ YouTube Trailer.

    Hope everyone has a tremendous Star Wars day! May the Fourth Be With You! And cheers everyone, there is light at the end of this tunnel of COVID, and its looking like we’re getting through it. People are getting vaccinated, places are opening up, the dawn is breaking. Like Star Wars always espousing about hope, so we are hopeful here too at The Beer Thrillers. Enjoy a delicious Star Wars beer today, speak like Yoda all day, and Be Kind to everyone and have a great day!

    Cheers!

    -B. Kline

    Thanks for reading everyone!

    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.

    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!

    The various pop culture / nerd culture beer reviews we’ve done here on The Beer Thrillers:

    Star Wars:

    Space Balls:

    Game of Thrones:

    The Simpsons:

    Back to the Future:

    Scrooged:

    A Christmas Story:

    Pro Wrestling:

    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:

    Other:

    More Info: