Sour - The Beer Thrillers

Mellow Mink Brewing is Closing

B. Kline — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 22:45:11 +0000

Mellow Mink Brewing’s Closing Announcement

Mellow Mink

This. One. Hurts. Some places, some breweries, just become a part of you and part of your craft beer experience, and world, and enjoyment. As we see more and more breweries closing this year, and the upcoming years, some are going to hurt more than others. Each person is different, and each brewery’s closing will affect people differently; but this one really just hurts. Matt and Cole are such wonderful people, who have done a lot for the beer community, have made a tremendous brewery and bar experience, and have been such wonderful people to talk beer with, this absolutely hurts. Like The Alementary and their closing, Mellow Mink Brewery held a very special place in our hearts here at The Beer Thrillers. We just want to go above and beyond to say thank you to all Matt and Cole and have done for the community.

Mellow Mink Brewing is located at 4830 Carlisle Pike in Hampden Township (4830 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050).

Mellow Mink Brewing is a craft brewery located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, known for its unique and innovative approach to brewing. Founded by Matt Miller and Cole Taylor, Mellow Mink specializes in producing a wide range of craft beers, with a particular focus on sours and barrel-aged brews. The brewery has gained a reputation for its meticulous brewing process and the use of high-quality ingredients, ensuring each beer offers a distinct and memorable flavor profile.

The brewery’s taproom provides a welcoming and stylish environment for patrons to enjoy their beverages. With a sleek and modern design, the taproom offers a comfortable space for beer enthusiasts to gather and savor Mellow Mink’s diverse selection. In addition to its regular lineup, the brewery frequently releases limited-edition and seasonal beers, keeping the menu fresh and exciting for visitors. The taproom also hosts various events, including beer tastings, food pairings, and community gatherings, enhancing the overall experience.

Josh and Ben hanging out with Matt and Cole at Mellow Mink Brewery (January 2020)

When our blog was still new and baby fresh, Matt invited Josh and I out to their brewery to have a behind the scenes tour and get an intimate look at their operation, their beers and their sours, and we had such a wonderful time hanging out with Matt and Cole and spending hour and hour after hour talking about beer to no end. (See: Brewery Visit – Mellow Mink Brewery) I can’t thank Matt and Cole enough for that experience, as we learned so much from it all, and more importantly – just had a wonderful night.

Mellow Mink Brewing is Closing

As more and more breweries are closing, theres a lot of dynamics at play, and a lot of reasons for why they are closing. There is certainly a ‘bubble bursting’ in the craft beer industry, no matter how much some will tell you otherwise. And there is so many reasons and things that go into what makes a brewery great, or what will keep it standing out, and will keep people going back. The loss of Mellow Mink will be a big blow to the Central PA and the Harrisburg area and Harrisburg adjacent beer area.

Here is their announcement posted to social media:

Mellow Mink Brewing’s Closing Announcement

Today, it is with a heavy heart that we announce the upcoming closure of Mellow Mink Brewing. We have cherished the opportunity to serve our fans and community for the past six years. We are deeply proud of the beers and cocktails that we crafted, and the all-inclusive environment that we fostered. We now plan to wind-down brewing and taproom operations and close permanently by the end of August 2024. We hope you will visit us again before we are gone – we will be releasing several small batch and full-scale blends that are currently in the tanks. Thank you all for your love and support over the years!

Mellow Mink Brewing – Facebook Post

The out pouring of support started immediately right after they made their announcement and posts. The love the community has for them clearly shown, sadly, not enough support was given while they were fully in operation.

But, please everyone, lets go and visit them throughout July, and August, until their last day. Lets show Matt and Cole all the support we can while the doors are open — and afterwards. Let them know how much they are loved by the community. How great their sours are, and how much their stouts, and IPAs, kicked butt as well.

I just want to reiterate how much love we have for Matt and Cole and all the staff at Mellow Mink Brewery, and wish the absolute best for all involved in the future and everything they do. Lets all raise a pint to Matt, Cole, the staff of Mellow Mink, and the brewery itself!

(Join us, Josh, Ben, and Amy, as we will be visiting Mellow Mink, Friday – July 5th, after 6PM.)

For More Information on Mellow Mink Brewery

The following comes via Untappd.

Mellow Mink Brewing is a microbrewery from Mechanicsburg, PA. They have 478 unique beers and over 34,000 ratings, with a global average rating of 3.88 (as of 7.2.24). Their Untappd description reads: “Mellow Mink Brewing is an all inclusive craft brewery and taproom in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. It is our goal to bring the traditions of both old and new world brewing excellence to our home on the west shore of the Susquehanna River. We strive to brew creative and delicious craft beers of the highest quality.”

You can find them at these social media platforms:

Brewery News

Interested in finding out about many other brewery openings, new locations, closings, movings, and in general brewery news? You can check out our links below:

Thank You For Reading

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

Cheers.

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

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

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

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

MAPS OF BREWERIES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

These Summer Beers Are Slapping… Again

AmyMWolfe — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 02:54:23 +0000

These summer time beers are slapping again. Is “slapping” still trendy to say?

Martin House Brewing Company Pickle Beer – Best Maid Sour Pickle Beer

Summertime – Will Smith

This is the time of year when I don’t have the urge to drink all of the heavy stouts and porters. I reach for the IPAs, Kolsch, Lager, and sometimes a Saison.

I’ve already annoyed my boyfriend by playing Will Smith’s Summertime in anticipation of warm weather and cold beers enjoyed outside. Last year I wrote about summer beers (What is Your Summer Time Go to Beer?) …Which reminds me I need to make a trip to Ever Grain Brewing (…even though we were just there a few weeks ago for an Alzheimer’s Association Social).

I meant to review this beer two years ago. Best Maid Tropical Punch Pickle Beer by Martin House Brewing Company. A surprise pregnancy delayed this review because I wanted to fully enjoy the brew myself. I mean I’d give the baby daddy a few sips if he wasn’t repulsed by pickles. (Editor note: There is just no way in good faith I could take a sip or two of this and comment favorably, so I figure its best altogether to just abstain from the drinking process. Drew and I did have a few sips of the Spicy Pickle Beer by Martin House Brewing Company about four years ago during COVID.)

Untappd Review of the Pickle Beer by Martin House Brewing Company

Pickle Rick

“Ages well” gave me hope I could still give it a successful tasting and review. It comes in with a 4.7% ABV according to Untapped. It has an overall rating of 3.54, which is obviously biased against pickles. I mean if you haven’t dreamed of becoming a pickle you really shouldn’t try this beer. (Editor note: Its almost impossible, by law in several countries completely impossible, to even mention pickles and not mention Pickle Rick. Therefore I have included the relevant GIF to satisfy the requisite “Pickle Rick” requirements as per the laws of Turkmenistan, Albania, Uruguay, and the sovereign planet wide governments of the planets Tralfamadore, Bespin, and Uranus.)

I was just trying to find the best segway to Pickle Rick.

Tropical Punch Pickle Beer (TPPB) is simply described as Fruit Punch and Pickle Beer. Maybe when I let it age two years some of the fruit punch dissolved? I didn’t get much of the tropical fruit taste but mostly pickle. This is definitely a beer that has pickled flavor to it. If you aren’t a pickle fan beware! This reminds me of the joyous feeling that pickles give you when you are replenishing your sodium level under this hot summer weather. Happy Summer Beer Drinking!

Untappd Stats:

Beer: Best Maid Tropical Punch Pickle Beer
Brewery: Martin House Brewing Company
Style: Sour – Tomato / Vegetable Gose
ABV: 4.7%
IBU: 8

Global Average Rating: 3.54 (as of 6.28.24) out of 1,163 Ratings

Martin House Brewing Company Pickle Beer – Best Maid Sour Pickle Beer

Drink More Beer!
- Amy

Busy Last Few Weeks

Editor Jumping in: It has certainly been a busy last few weeks! On the 15th, we had my father’s surprise 70th birthday party. I would like to thank Amy tremendously for helping my mom and sister set it up and ti went off perfectly. We had a Social or a Mixer up in State College at Champ’s Bar, one in Camp Hill at Ever Grain Brewing Company, and we have had a whole lot more. Just this past week, on Tuesday we were at Troegs Brewing when the Calder Cup was there (see our Instagram for a picture of myself – Ben – drinking from the Calder Cup), and then on Wednesday we were hanging out with Drew at Boneshire Brew Works (and then later afterwards, Drew and I did our video review of the newest Acolyte episode), and then yesterday (Thursday) we stopped in at YAH Brew to drop off a Raffle Basket made by Grandma SueAnn for their event on Sunday for CJ. If you are able to come out on Sunday to YAH Brew, please do! They are hosting an event for CJ to help pay for medical bills after he was hit by a woman running a red light, he has lost part of his leg, and as we all know, medical bills aren’t cheap. So please come out to YAH Brew in Hershey PA from 3 PM to 8 PM on Sunday – June 30th.

There’s even more events and things that have been keeping us busy that I’m forgetting, but suffice to say, there’s been a lot going on. Which is why I am always so appreciative when Amy gets time to write (I try and take Scarlet on long walks to help give Amy the time to write these articles), so its so great to see her get to write and to see what she comes up with and to see what she wants to write about, and to keep her column series going. Its not quite weekly like it used to be, but she is still writing, and being very active behind the scenes with helping to keep this blog humming. So gigantic kudos to her. For all she does for the Alzheimer’s Association, as well as being a mom, a bonus mom, and everything else that she does.

Please make sure to check out her other articles below.

Cheers!

-Ben.

Amy’s Column Series

Since getting back to writing for the blog after a short hiatus, Amy has started up a weekly column style writing for the blog. You can find these articles here:

Thank You For Reading

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

Cheers.

MAPS OF BREWERIES

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

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

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

Halloween Candy and Beer Pairings

AmyMWolfe — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 01:45:08 +0000

Leftover Halloween Candy

We all know we have leftover Halloween candy. Either from buying too much to give away, or from your kids going out and getting it (and you ‘trick or treating’ yourself using their bags while their asleep). Or just using your 11-month old dressed up as an Ewok to get candy that she can’t even eat yet….

….not naming names…

But so, we all have leftover Halloween candy. So lets have some fun and pair it up with some beer!

Amy is here with a mid week hump day column, to give you some beer and candy pairing advice.

Halloween Candy

Admittedly I drink lots of beer and admittedly I have a sweet tooth. Absolutely a beer pairing with the Halloween candy is in order. I mean, how many pieces of Halloween candy have you gotten into? Pair it with a beer and let’s enjoy the mixed flavors

So what candy do you have left?

Candy and Beer Pairings

Let’s break it down by styles and what can pair up with each style.

Stout or Porter

King Crunch by Manayunk Brewing Company

Stout or Porter – Pair it with the peanut butter cups! I’m going to start here because my favorite are the Reese’s peanut butter cups. Pairing the creamy peanut butter cup with a dark and rich stout or Porter takes you on a flavor rich joyride.

(See Beer Review: King Crunch by Manayunk Brewing Company.)

Hefeweizen

Hawley Hefeweizen by Wallenpaupack Brewing Company

Hefeweizen – Pair it with the Twix or anything caramel. Something about the breadiness of a hefe and the taste of the shortbread and the caramel. I thought it was still there with most other caramel candies too.

(See Beer Review: Hawley Hefeweizen by Wallenpaupack Brewing Company.)

Sour

RAR Brewing – Out of Order: Blue Milk

Sour – Pair it with the Hot Tamales! They still make those, right? Or an Atomic Fireball. The sweet and sour from the beer. Anything spicy pairs perfectly with a good sour beer.

(See Beer Review: Out of Order – Blue Milk by RAR Brewing.)

Pilsner

Pulisic Pilsner by Jackass Brewing Company

Pilsner – Pair it with the red licorice or anything similar to twizzlers. Ok don’t laugh but use the twizzler like a straw. I know, I know, don’t roll your eyes at me. Try it! That sweet biscuit-like taste of a pilsner meshes perfectly with the sweetness of red or cherry licorice.

(See Beer Review: Pulisic Pilsner by Jackass Brewing Company.)

Brown Ale

Fing-Longer by Turning Point Beer

Brown Ale – Pair it with the snickers or anything that has both a sweet and a salty. The depth of flavor in a brown ale pairs perfectly with the sweet and salty fight going on in your mouth!

(See Beer Review: Fing-longer by Turning Point Beer.)

Cream Ale

The White Russian (forefront) by Jailbreak Brewing Company

Cream Ale – Ok, hear me out; pair it with Candy Corn. You need a refreshing cream ale to wash down all the sugar from the candy corn. I mean, who really eats candy corn?

Whats Your Favorite Candy?

Whats everyone’s favorite candy? Mine is Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (…just in case you need to dispose of any, you know where to send it). Ben loves Kit-Kats and Twix. What is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!

What have you found to be the best beer and candy pairings? Let me know in the comments as well! Can’t wait to hear from ya’ll!

Drink More Beer!
Amy

Amy’s Column Series

Since getting back to writing for the blog after a short hiatus, Amy has started up a weekly column style writing for the blog. You can find these articles here:

(And please take a moment to fill out Amy’s survey on her ‘Holiday Weekend and Bomber Bottles‘ column.)

Thank You For Reading

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

Cheers.

MAPS OF BREWERIES

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

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

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

Highway Manor Brewing Temporarily Closed For Remainder of 2023

B. Kline — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 14:48:00 +0000

Highway Manor Only Temporarily Closed

Closed? Permanently Closed? or Temporarily Closed? I guess it all just depends on who you ask. If you ask the owner of the brewery the answer would be “Temporarily Closed”; if you ask Google the answer is “Permanently Closed” and if you ask Facebook it would be “Complicated”.

After our piece – Highway Manor Brewing Has Seemingly Been Closed – was published on October 26th, 2023, PennLive’s writer Sue Gleiter followed up and released her article on October 30th: Brewery in Cumberland County is closed for now.

Unable to get a response myself from Johnnie Compton III (who had previously reached out to me about the opening of Highway Manor – Highway Manor Opening in Camp Hill – as well as to do beer reviews for them); Compton did respond to Gleiter, giving her quotes for her article.

Despite no public announcement of any kind on any social media platform, despite the Google page listings and searches showing a “Permanently Closed” section for the brewery, and despite some really odd and troubling comments by people online, Johnnie Compton III tells Gleiter that Highway Manor Brewing is only temporarily closed, and that he is planning on re – opening in 2024.

Their liquor license as per PLCB ended in December 2022, and Compton is saying that he will be renewing it start of January 2024 and plans to reopen the brewery starting 2024.

Controversy

Firstly, let’s go over again the controversy during COVID. As stated in the previous article – Highway Manor Brewing Has Seemingly Been Closed – Highway Manor Brewing had some “controversy” over signs they had on their door.

On December 27th, 2020; PennLive ran an article discussing how Johnnie Compton III took the sign down; primarily at the urging of his daughter.

In the most recent of pandemic-related controversies, a West Shore brewery owner has taken down a sign that brought allegations of racism to his door.

Johnnie Compton III, owner of Highway Manor Brewery in Camp Hill, said once the COVID-19 regulations hit his business, he and his staff put up “funny signs” to alert customers to their new methods of operation.Controversial sign on central Pa. brewery gone after owner says joke was ‘misconstrued’

The second shut down for restaurants, businesses of the social sort, casinos, etc; was done as a way to curtail problems with COVID – 19 that might arrive during the holiday seasons of Christmas and New Years Eve after Thanksgiving.

Johnnie had stated that he and his staff enjoyed putting up signs on their door, as well as internally during the tumultuous 2020 as a way to bring levity to the time. And with the second shut down, he was ‘agonizing’ over what to put up next when he thought of his “TO GO ONLY – BLAME CHINA” sign; thinking it was funny.

I’m sick of hearing about COVID.Johnnie Compton III – Owner and Head Brewmaster for Highway Manor Brewing

The sign was originally posted on Wednesday, which was the 23rd. Compton stated that only the day of the PennLive article did the sign go viral on social media. (But it seems the sign was both up longer than Wednesday, despite the article and Comtpon saying so, and that it made the rounds of social media sooner than had been stated as well.)

While talking about it with his staff, someone made a joke about the coronavirus coming from China, which Compton said is a simple fact. With that, came their latest sign:

“TO GO ONLY BLAME CHINA” with the taproom’s hours and Compton’s phone number listed alongside it.

While the sign went up on Wednesday, Compton said it was only in the last day or so that the sign began making its rounds on social media and people began complaining about it, with some calling him a racist.

One post viewed by PennLive said the person was trying to support local businesses when they saw the sign. “So ignorant and xenophobic,” the person wrote, adding they would not be returning.

Compton said people have been messaging and calling him, including a woman who called him at 9:30 p.m. Saturday to call him a racist.

In the end, he said he decided to take the sign down.

“People are misinterpreting it, clearly,” Compton said.Controversial sign on central Pa. brewery gone after owner says joke was ‘misconstrued’

Writing controversial signs certainly isn’t new for Compton at the brewery; previously he had written one sign saying: “Wear a mask by order of the Big Bad Wolf.”

For more information on the controversy, you can read the full news article here: Controversial sign on central Pa. brewery gone after owner says joke was ‘misconstrued’ by PennLive.

Comments, Reactions, etc.

After our story was posted and went onto social media, there were numerous remarks, replies, and comments from several people about the brewery. Most of them pretty troubling or at least interesting to say the least. Here is some snippets of some of the comments.

I stopped in a few months ago and the doors were locked and the lights were off.. no mention on FB that they were closed that day. Kinda figured this was coming.
Redditer – Mustang46L

I remember when they were only selling their beers in Philly and NYC. When we asked him why we can’t get it in Harrisburg, he said “Harrisburg isn’t ready for my beer”. Then he proceeded to show his ass during COVID times.

So I am not taking this as a huge loss.
Redditer – Ed5275

Guy has very questionable hygiene with his beer production. Also that manor was more of a crackhouse.
Redditer – clownus

This is my shocked face😐. Johnny has not exactly built up goodwill with anybody, always looks for shortcuts and has gone out of his way to piss off customers. Pretty talented brewer but just a terrible person and businessman.
Redditer – Live_Podcast_Junkie

I went there once last year and actually had a pretty good time with a few good beers and I tried going there earlier this year once and all the lights were off like they were closed at like 8 pm on a Saturday night which I thought was weird but the door was open.. I yelled in asking if they were open but got no response and left. It was definitely interesting.
Redditer

Google says open….. sign on door says open!!!! But closed!! UPDATE YOUR HOURS!!!!!! May actually have good beers ….. but I will never know!!!!! 5pm on a Monday!!!!!
Google Reviewer – Josh Elkins (3 months ago)

I’m confused why a brewery would put themselves in a position to only target a certain percentage of consumers in the area. We do not drink sours so will never visit and that could be the thought of other beer lovers. Just my opinion but it cuts revenue a good bit and that’s bad business. I’m sure the place is creative but as of posting this, the place looks abandoned and there are tons of others around.
Google Reviewer – Amanda McBride (5 months ago)

I really debated putting this review up, but I feel like people need to know about the owners of this establishment. An incident occurred while I was there that they drove their forklift into my unoccupied, legally parked car. They then tried to buy me off (at a discounted price of repairs, of course) and threatened my safety when I reported it to the police and insurance company. This establishment is shady at best. If you want to worry about damage to your vehicles and being threatened by the owners- then this is your place.
Google Reviewer – Lisa Rose (1 year ago)

I went there last Saturday around 1:00 PM and it was a confusing experience. The hours on the building said they were open, the door was unlocked, but no lights were one. There was a Futon mattress on the floor in a side room and no one was around. It looked abandoned, or closed for a while at the least. Not sure if this is closed permanently or what.
Google Reviewer – Matt Hendrick (8 months ago)

Stating its a Temporary Closure

In the PennLive article, Johnnie Compton III tells Sue Gleiter that its just a temporary closure. That he’s currently helping his family’s business – Miracle Steel, Mechanicsburg PA.

Highway Manor Brewing Co. at 2238 Gettysburg Road in Lower Allen Township appears to no longer be in business and is listed on Google as closed, but owner Johnnie Compton III said he decided to take a year off and will reopen in January.

“I was too busy,” Compton said, noting he’s noticed a rash of other breweries closing and many struggling to find enough employees.
Brewery in Cumberland County is closed for now – PennLive

The PennLive article doesn’t give much more information than that quote – which was added in the update to the article (original publish time was October 30th, 11:35 AM, and the updated time was October 30th, 5:53 PM). The updated edit byline states that the article was updated to include his quotes.

The remainder of the article goes on to discuss the start of Highway Manor Brewing, how it got its name, and how Johnnie Compton III got involved in sour beers and brewing.

Currently the business has made no public announcements of any kind about the business itself. Be it closed, temporary closed, or permanently closed. Their social media is still quiet, and their last Facebook post still remains the April 16th one. Their official website is still active, even including their “hours of operation”, with no word on any sort of closure.

For More Articles on Highway Manor Brewing

Highway Manor Brewing Has Seemingly Been Closed
Highway Manor Brewing Temporarily Closed For Remainder of 2023
Brewery Opening: Highway Manor
Brewery Review: Highway Manor
Beer Review: Dreams of Orgonon (Human Robot) (had at Highway Manor Brewery)

For More Information on Highway Manor Brewing

The following comes from Untappd. Highway Manor Brewing is listed as a micro brewery from Camp Hill, PA. They have 54 unique beers and over 27,000 ratings, with a global average rating of 3.69 as of 10.26.23. Their Untappd description is blank.

You can follow them on the following social media platforms:

The brewery’s location was: 2238 Gettysburg Rd, Camp Hill, PA 17011.

Brewery News

Interested in finding out about many other brewery openings, new locations, closings, movings, and in general brewery news? You can check out our links below:

Thank You For Reading

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

Cheers.

MAPS OF BREWERIES

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

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

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

Getting Sworn In: A Sneak Preview of Sworn Brewing

joshdoncevic — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 16:00:00 +0000

Head Brewer and Co – Owner Jesse Mills greets Amy, Josh, and Ben at Sworn Brewing Company to give The Beer Thrillers a sneak peek of the brewery.

Getting a Look at Sworn Brewing

This is going to be a long post about the soon to be brewery – Sworn Brewing Company coming to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Josh, Amy, and I (Ben) got to come out and visit Jesse and Amanda at Sworn Brewing and get to hang out for a bit and check out the place in a behind the scenes look.

Firstly, I want to say sorry for it taking so long to get this article out. It has been super hectic here at The Beer Thrillers HQ, and with all of us writing this article. We had a crazy busy weekend – and busy week – when we got out to visit. (Saturday – Amy and I were in Vandergrift celebrating Allusion Brewing Company’s Battle of the Breweries Win; Sunday – a friend of mine invited me to go with to Philly to watch the Premier League games, and then Monday – Amy, Josh, and I got to visit Sworn Brewing Company.) (And this was all on top of the other stuff we had going on, most of which is articles you can find on here.) (Speaking of that – you can read the Allusion Articles here: Allusion Brewing Company Celebration Party and An Alluring Trip Out To Vandergrift For Allusion Brewing Company’s Appreciation Party.)

I have also been very busy with our “Futurama Monday” – which has been a new blog article as well as new YouTube video essay each Monday.

This is also Josh’s first time jumping back in and writing with us since 2021. So welcome back Josh! Good to have you back buddy!

So before I hand things over to Josh, I’ll give a quick set up to this, and then we will go from there.

The Set – Up

Amanda and Jesse are married and co – owners of Sworn Brewing Company. Jesse is also head brewer. We heard about them opening up their new brewery in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and I reached out to Amanda when I saw a post of hers’ on one of the beer groups. We locked down a meeting date – July 24th, 2023 – and all set to go. So Josh, Amy, and myself met with Amanda and Jesse and got a walk through and a sneak peek look at the upcoming brewery.

For this article, I’m going to let Josh start us off, then switch over to Amy, and then I’ll wrap things up and conclude the article. Please let us know in the comments section what you think of this, and if you like how this article looks and reads. (Josh and I did a similar article when we got a behind the scenes look at Mellow Mink – and Amy and I did similar with a sneak peek of The Beerded Goat).

Getting Sworn In – A Behind the Scenes Look at Sworn Brewing Company

The entrance to Sworn Brewing Company in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

Oh … hey there. It’s that other beer nerd that used to do beer reviews. Long time no see, right? An even longer time since I’ve written a review, let alone been here to co-author a brewer interview. Perfect time to come back, right? Thought so. I could waste your valuable time reading more drivel or I could just cut to the chase. Probably best if I just got stuck in about the visit Amy, Ben, and I had at a small brewery called Sworn Brewing Company located off East Trindle Road.

Sometimes one just needs to let opportunity in when it knocks, lest one be left out in the cold, so when the chance to visit a brand new, not yet open, brewery came across my notifications, I may have had to invite myself (okay, who am I kidding, I totally invited myself) to check the place out and get to know the new face. Truth be told though, Jesse Mills is no new face in the brewing scene. He knows his way around a Fermenter and Brite tank as he’s got some serious chops, having been in the business for over a decade. An excellent starting point and will make for great conversation. Upon arrival, I’m greeted with a quaint location tucked behind the Atlantic Pools and slot in near a black Subaru WRX STi (don’t worry about the car bro, we’re here for beer). Ben and Amy haven’t yet arrived, but no harm I figure, I’m early so I’ll just walk in and introduce myself. Step through the glass door with a small sign denoting what was once a catering business is now a brewery and step into a remarkable little place. I’d never have guessed that Jesse and his wife Amanda had been working tirelessly for a month prior to put the place right. A month? Wait … *checks notes* … yep, a literal month since the spot was purchased, did the new owners turn the key and renovate the inside. And what a transformation they’ve done. The floors still bear the character of tire prints from being a garage and then the spots and spills of a catering hub, but they are as clean as ever, given the elbow grease put into them. A corrugated metal and Australian wood bartop adorn the rear quarter of the space, adding function, form, and beauty. The walls were painted dark to add an air of comfort and warmth, and the overhead Edison lights help to drive that feeling home. Even with the place 80% complete, I feel immediately welcome, as if this brewery has been here forever. Jesse is gleefully explaining how things will look when Ben and Amy finally walk through the door. FINALLY! We can get down to business and talk shop with the rightfully excited owners.

Sworn Brewing Company Patio

There’s something beautiful in watching someone who is passionate about their field of expertise talk about what makes them happy. In the few hours we spent with Jesse, I don’t recall ever seeing the mile wide smile leave his countenance. His joy was infectious and I know I’m not the only one that feels this way. The brewery is small on purpose, not because droves of people aren’t invited, but because a personal, individual approach is more easily achieved. Customers aren’t going to be seen as a number, but as friends or family. While that will come off as a negative to some, personally I see it as their greatest strength. In keeping things small, the beer will only benefit from this approach because scaling production up means many of the nuances and subtleties are glossed over or don’t have the chance to be experienced. I could go on and on about what was discussed, but there are two other authors waiting for me to finish gushing over the splendid time and laughs shared, so I’ll button up and discuss one of the liquid libations afforded to our visit.

Sworn Brewing Tap List

One such drink was called “Dreams Debunked”. This pineapple and strawberry kettle sour sits low on octane and high on enjoyment. With the outside reaching deep into the 80’s (and 90’s the week after), this sweetheart of a sipper could function quite nicely as a break from midday chores or a sweet treat at the end of the summer’s day. Tropical waves wash over your sense of smell and suddenly the absence of sand beneath your feet becomes apparent. You’re still in Central PA, but your nose is on a beach (lucky devil). Honestly, I could have lived in the nose of Dreams Debunked, but not tasting it would have been a disservice to our hosts, so … bottoms up! As in the description, so too on the tongue does pineapple show up first. And it does so in a very dominate fashion, almost to the point where I questioned if strawberry was included. Almost. You see, there was a bit of a time element to this tart concoction and not enough of it had elapsed. There was plenty of time left in our visit, which meant there was plenty of time to get acquainted with our hosts and this beverage. Good thing too, as the more my taste buds became used to the liquid, so too did more flavor notes appear. The once king pineapple had abdicated its throne to allow its equally tart and sweet partner time in the limelight. The bottom third of this sample is glorious, almost jammy (or marmalade for our Commonwealth constituents) strawberry. The flavors and fruit mentioned in the description are, in fact, present and accounted for. All it needs is a little time and patience. Speaking of time and patience, Sworn Brewing Company is not yet open, though the target is set for September. I’ll be honest, I can’t wait to get Sworn in. How about you, Amy?

Josh

Dreams Debunked by Sworn Brewing Company

Sworn To a Good Time at Sworn Brewing

It was just a few weeks ago The Beer Thrillers gang was invited for a sneak peek of the new Sworn Brewing company and taproom. Owners Jesse and Amanda Mills were there to show us their second home. The minute you walk in you can tell these 2 have poured their heart and soul into opening this nano – brewery.

I mean that type of passion should be evident by this quote from their Facebook page “We will strive to make sure the highest quality items we can get our hands on will be used in every single process. Everything that comes out of our taps, every single small batch of beer that we make will go through a rigorous quality control process. If it does not meet our standards, it will never be consumed by the customer. We are not here to cut corners, we are here to make sure we can provide you with the best possible experience that you deserve, what the craft brewing industry deserves!”

We also got the sense of feeling pretty comfortable like they were trying to create a second home for us and the rest of our beer drinking friends. Well actually, there are plans to accommodate our liquor and wine drinking friends as well, stay tuned. Jesse Mills adds using local distilleries and wineries is very important to him and the rest of the Sworn family.

When they served us our first taster of beer Amanda has put down some chips with queso and some salsa as well. The queso and salsa were house made and intentions of putting it on the menu were also discussed. Both Amanda and Jesse started talking about the same passion about these ingredients as they did about the beer they just served us.

Chips, queso, salsa, and Dreams Debunked

But let’s back up a second. We were given a taste of the Dreams Debunked fruited sour with Pineapple and Strawberry. This lightly fruited sour has an ABV of 4.2% and lightly dances on the tongue. The fruit is not overpowering in anyway. What excited me the most was the pairing of the smoked queso along with the Dreams Debunked.

Dreams Debunked by Sworn Brewing Company

Homer Drooling Over Dreams Debunked

The smokiness of the queso with the salt from the chip paired with the sweet from the Dreams Debunked also helped accent the two different flavors. When I first started drinking DD I tasted strawberry by the end and including the queso I tasted the pineapple.

Jesse also commented, when they are setup and ready, they will be making fresh bread to go along with the house made queso as well as other items for dipping.

Happy Hump Day!!!!

So… We hung up some lights and made some bread for a test run we are more than excited to share additional details as we continue to progress. Opening date info is coming soon just a few more items to complete
Sworn Brewing Company – Facebook Post About Bread

(Photos courtesy of Sworn Brewing Company’s Facebook Page)

Sworn will be welcoming food trucks to go along with their beverage pairings.

Don’t let the unyielding passion for high quality products steer you away thinking it is a serious crowd. When you walk into the bathroom you are greeted with a picture of Mr. Jones above the toilet and as you would turn to use the toilet or hopefully walk towards the sink to wash your hands you are greeted with a picture of Craig Jones the Movie Friday.

Jesse and Amanda are giggling right along with us as they tell us they can’t wait to hear the first customer walk in there and bust out laughing from seeing the pictures.

This is your place to hang out and for everyone wanting an excellent product, welcoming atmosphere and something relaxing and not so serious. We can’t wait to add this spot to our frequent stops.

A Look Behind The Sword at Sworn Brewing Company

As I said at the top of the article, discussed getting to meet with them, and we did get to on Monday – July 24th. Amy and I dropped Scarlet off at my parents after Amy came home from work and then we were off to Mechanicsburg. Hit a little traffic on the bridge, but got there in no time.

Josh beat us there, but we were immediately greeted by Amanda and Jesse. Both super awesome and wonderful people. They showed us around the place, talking about the brewery’s past – as a catering business (twice over) and a car shop.

It was great listening to their plans for the building itself. They discussed the bar top, the wood of it, the corrugated steel for the outside of it, the epoxy used on the wood, etc. The attention to detail is incredible with Jesse.

The story of them trying to pain the tiles of the ceiling for the bathroom was hilarious, and thus why only the bathroom has the black tiles and not the whole brewery.

Jesse is very focused on his beer and discussed his past brewing experience – both professionally and as a home brewer. The brewing system at Sworn Brewing Company is going to be a 1 BBL system. Not much bigger than home brewing for Jesse. He said he prefers it this way – it lets him be more precise, dialed in, and make the exact beer he wants.

With Jesse and Amanda we got to discuss a great number of topics big and small. From the brewery itself, to past brewing experiences, to consumer experiences, to new breweries in the area – and old breweries in the area – to competitions in brewing, to traveling for beer (Vermont, New Hampshire, The Answer, etc.), we discussed beer groups and beer blogs – both good and bad – online, Untappd, and the other factors that will play into how successful a brewery is.

Amanda and Jesse are very community focused. They love their location, love Mechanicsburg, and want to see both thrive. They live in Dillsburg which didn’t have any good locations suitable for them, so they opened up shop on Trindle Road.

Dreams Debunked (photo courtesy of Sworn Brewing Company’s Facebook page)

Dreams Debunked was absolutely amazing. A wonderful, delicious sour. From this alone – I know I can’t wait for the brewery to open up and get to try the rest of that tap list he’s preparing.

The brewery itself is very inviting. With the roll up bay door and the entrance leading you right to the bar, with all of the available seating (including a table reserved for their parents at all times – complete with LEGO Flowers), the entire place is just very homey.

Sworn Brewing Company (photo courtesy of their Facebook page)

Listening to Jesse and Amanda discuss their plans for the future – with food trucks, home made bread, the world renowned hot dog vendor that they know personally, and so much more – it will be fantastic. This will certainly be a great boon to the town and the brewing community in the area.

Jesse Mills comes with a great brewing background, having home brewed, and brewed professionally. He’s beaten some great local breweries in home brewing competitions, as home brewed with a group and worked with Derek Markel, and professionally brewed with Sign of the Horse Brewing.

(Plus rumor is that they are Bengals fans… so I mean… right there they gotta be good folk right?! Can I get a Who Dey?!)

This is what we love about the small breweries. Seeing how much they support, impact, and help out communities. And knowing that your money is going to a family that loves what they do, and wants to give back to their community, want to grow in their craft, and support their family and friends.

Congratulations to Jesse and Amanda Mills, we cannot way to come back for Sworn Brewing Company’s opening – and many more times in the future after that.

B. Kline

Sworn Brewing Company

For more information on Sworn Brewing Company, you can find them on the following social media pages:

Josh, Amy, and I

Again – I want to reiterate that Josh, Amy, and I (B. Kline) greatly appreciated the opportunity to come out and get to check out Sworn Brewing Company. It was a wonderful time getting to hang out with wonderful people and we can only help this gets them more attention before their opening. If you are reading it – I cannot recommend that you stop out and visit them enough.

Look for them to be having announcements about grand openings, soft openings, and more around the beginning of September.

Josh

We welcome Josh back after a hiatus of writing. At the end of this article I will post a link to Josh, Amy, and Ben’s most viewed articles. But for now, check out his Beer Review of Ghost in a Machine by Parish Brewing Company.

Brewery News

Interested in finding out about many other brewery openings, new locations, closings, movings, and in general brewery news? You can check out our links below:

Author Articles

Amy’s Weekly Column Series

Since getting back to writing for the blog after a short hiatus, Amy has started up a weekly column style writing for the blog. You can find these articles here:

Brewfests with Anxiety (Amy’s original weekly column start)
I’ve Missed Drinking (A Look at Non Alcoholic Beers)
Beer and Pretzel Review: Legends and Lore (St. Boniface Brewing Company) and Garlic Parm Pretzels (Pretzels.com)
Peanut Butter Eggs, Easter, Beer, and YAH Brew’s Shimmy Shake (Beer Review)
Cox Brewing Company: Back to Their Roots
Amy’s Day Off
It Was All A Dream (A Visit to YAH Brewing)
Just Another Weekend (A Hike at Saint Pete’s Trail and Hares Hill Brewing)
I’m Pretty Darn Lucky (Happy Mother’s Day)
Ready to Kick of the Summer
Beer Review: Beer Devil IPA (Niagara Brewing Company)
World MS Day
Have you ever picked a beer based on the can art?
Happy Father’s Day
What is Your Summer Time Go To Beer?
Holiday Weekend and Bomber Bottles
Baby’s First Ffej
We Can’t Always Be a Glutton Right? – Perfect Portions and Allusion Brewing Company
Beer Review: Pocono Punch (Barley Creek Brewing Company)
You can find all of Amy’s articles here: Amy’s Archive of Articles.

(And please take a moment to fill out Amy’s survey on her ‘Holiday Weekend and Bomber Bottles‘ column.)

Josh

Some of Josh’s beer reviews:

B. Kline

Some of Ben’s articles:

Thank You For Reading

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

Cheers.

MAPS OF BREWERIES

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

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

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

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

Happy Father’s Day

AmyMWolfe — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 01:21:46 +0000

Happy Father’s Day Everyone!

Happy Father’s Day

I hope everyone gets to spend some quality time with their father or a father figure in their life. I happened to find a good one for my daughter. Ben loves to be able to be the one to tuck Scarlet into bed each night and tell her how much he loves her.

I grew up with a dad that worked hard to provide for the family and made sure to tell me I was loved. He taught me how to ride a bike and how to drive a car. Most importantly he taught me not to take crap from anyone. He spent endless hours teaching me how to pitch in softball and practice soccer. It’s a shame that man doesn’t exist anymore.

Ben wasn’t quite ready for the picture, but still. Happy Father’s Day from the Full Pint and the Half Pint

Breakfast Brunch

When I thought of what I wanted to do for Ben, besides a present, I immediately thought we’d take him out for breakfast. It’s our favorite meal to eat out. My very first thought was it must be Sunday Brunch at YAH Brew.

Before even getting there, I knew we’d order the Breakfast Tots. I’ve been dreaming of them since last visit (It Was All a Dream – Our Visit to YAH Brew) but I still wanted to try something else. Bacon breakfast tacos were a solid choice. Neither one of these disappointed us and we enjoyed every morsel.

Country Club Brewing’s “The Easton Assassin” and YAH Brew’s “Pup Pup Pass” (…and Scarlet’s Formula)

Both of these brunch choices perfectly complimented the Pup pup pass, a fruited sour inspired by the “liquid marijuana” cocktail, and the Country Club The Easton Assassin, an Imperial Stout. The Pup pup pass is an 8% fruited sour that is deceiving with it’s very clear hue and the powerful fruit taste socks your tastebuds. Also, conditioning on the rum soaked barrels gives it a bit of a boozy flavor.

After we licked our fingers from the yummy brunch, we decided to finish by splitting an IPA together. Mom’s Spaghetti is a 5.8% Mid west style IPA. It has a bit of green to the taste but it is every bit of your delicious Hazy IPA we all have been enjoying nonstop. YAH Brew is always an excellent choice for a Sunday Brunch but it was even better to be able to celebrate Scarlet’s first Father’s Day with Ben!

A Great Father’s Day

We had to peace out quick to get ready for a family BBQ. We got to celebrate Ben’s dad and Ben’s brother-in-law for Father’s Day! Happy Father’s Day to all the Dad’s out there!

(You can see more of our visit and pictures at our Instagram page – The Beer Thrillers on Instagram.)

Drink More Beer!

-Amy

Amy’s Column Series

Since getting back to writing for the blog after a short hiatus, Amy has started up a weekly column style writing for the blog. You can find these articles here:

Brewfests with Anxiety (Amy’s original weekly column start)
I’ve Missed Drinking (A Look at Non Alcoholic Beers)
Beer and Pretzel Review: Legends and Lore (St. Boniface Brewing Company) and Garlic Parm Pretzels (Pretzels.com)
Peanut Butter Eggs, Easter, Beer, and YAH Brew’s Shimmy Shake (Beer Review)
Cox Brewing Company: Back to Their Roots
Amy’s Day Off
It Was All A Dream (A Visit to YAH Brewing)
Just Another Weekend (A Hike at Saint Pete’s Trail and Hares Hill Brewing)
I’m Pretty Darn Lucky (Happy Mother’s Day)
Ready to Kick of the Summer
Beer Review: Beer Devil IPA (Niagara Brewing Company)
World MS Day
Have you ever picked a beer based on the can art?
Happy Father’s Day
You can find all of Amy’s articles here: Amy’s Archive of Articles.

More Information on YAH Brewing

As per Untappd – YAH Brew is a micro brewery from Hummelstown, Pennsylvania. They have 38 unique beers with a global average rating of 3.91 (out of over 1,000 ratings) as of 6.18.23. Their Untappd description reads: “Production brewery located in Hummelstown, PA. Follow our socials for info on limited releases and festival info so you can enjoy our beer!”

You can find them on the following social media platforms:

Our articles on YAH Brew:

YAH Brewing’s First Can Drop
YAH Brew Coming to Hershey in Spring 2023
YAH Brew in Hershey Now in Open (Soft Opening)
Peanut Butter Eggs, Easter, Beer, and YAH Brew’s Shimmy Shake (Beer Review)
It Was All A Dream (A Visit to YAH Brew)

Father’s Day Pictures and Videos From YAH Brew Today

Thank You For Reading

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

Cheers.

-B. Kline

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

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

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

Craft Beer Styles: Exploring the Wide World of Flavor

B. Kline — Tue, 09 May 2023 06:32:03 +0000

Craft Beer Styles

When it comes to craft beer, there’s a world of flavor out there waiting to be discovered. From hoppy IPAs to malty stouts, each beer style has its own unique characteristics that make it a delight to savor. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most popular craft beer styles, along with their key attributes and what sets them apart.

IPA: The King of Hoppy Beers

A draft IPA poured at a local bar

India Pale Ales, or IPAs, have taken the craft beer scene by storm and have become a popular choice for beer enthusiasts around the world. Known for their distinct hoppy bitterness, IPAs are a complex and flavorful beer style that many have come to love. In this article, we’ll explore what makes IPAs so popular, the different sub-styles of IPAs, and why they’re the king of hoppy beers.

What Makes IPAs So Popular?

IPAs are popular for a reason – they’re bold and full of flavor. IPAs are brewed with a higher hop-to-malt ratio, giving them a more bitter taste and distinct hoppy aroma. The bitterness comes from the alpha acids found in hops, which also give IPAs a wide range of flavors such as pine, citrus, and floral notes. The bitterness of IPAs can also be balanced out with the use of different malts, which add sweetness and complexity to the beer.

Sub-Styles of IPAs

While all IPAs have a distinct hoppy bitterness, there are many sub-styles that have unique characteristics. Some of the most popular sub-styles of IPAs include:

West Coast IPA: This sub-style is known for its intense hop flavor and aroma, with a strong malt backbone to balance out the bitterness.
New England IPA: A hazy and juicy sub-style of IPA that is brewed with fruit-forward hops, giving it a tropical and citrusy flavor profile.
Black IPA: A dark and hoppy sub-style of IPA that is brewed with dark roasted malts, giving it a roasted, coffee-like flavor.
Double IPA: A stronger, more intense version of the IPA, with a higher alcohol content and a stronger hop profile.

Why IPAs are the King of Hoppy Beers

IPAs are considered the king of hoppy beers for several reasons. First, they offer a wide range of flavors and aromas, making them complex and interesting to drink. Second, they can be paired with a variety of foods, from spicy dishes to grilled meats. Third, they are versatile and can be brewed in many different sub-styles, giving beer enthusiasts a wide range of options to choose from. Lastly, IPAs are perfect for those who love bold, complex flavors and are looking for a beer with a lot of character.

IPAs are a popular craft beer style that offer a unique and flavorful drinking experience. With a wide range of sub-styles to choose from, there’s an IPA out there for everyone. So, whether you’re a fan of the West Coast IPA, New England IPA, or any other sub-style, grab a cold one and enjoy the king of hoppy beers.

Stout: The Dark and Delicious Brew

A roasty, malty, tasty Stout

Stouts are perfect for those who prefer a beer with a rich, roasted flavor. These beers are typically dark and heavy, with notes of coffee, chocolate, and caramel. While there are many sub-styles of stouts, the most well-known is the Irish dry stout, brewed with roasted barley and has a dry, bitter finish. Other popular sub-styles include oatmeal stouts, milk stouts, and imperial stouts.

Stouts are a beloved beer style that have been enjoyed by beer enthusiasts for centuries. Known for their dark and rich flavors, stouts are a complex and satisfying brew that can be enjoyed year-round. In this article, we’ll explore what makes stouts so popular, the different sub-styles of stouts, and why they’re a delicious and indulgent brew.

What Makes Stouts So Popular?

Stouts are popular for a reason – they offer a deep and complex flavor profile. Stouts are brewed with roasted malts, which give them a rich and deep color and flavors like chocolate, coffee, and caramel. The use of different malts can also give stouts hints of smokiness, nuttiness, and even fruitiness. Additionally, stouts are often brewed with a higher alcohol content, which adds to their warming and indulgent nature.

Sub-Styles of Stouts

While all stouts have a distinct dark and rich flavor, there are many sub-styles that have unique characteristics. Some of the most popular sub-styles of stouts include:

Milk Stout: This sub-style is brewed with lactose, which gives it a creamy and sweet flavor.
Imperial Stout: A stronger and more intense version of the stout, with a higher alcohol content and a more complex flavor profile.
Oatmeal Stout: A smooth and silky sub-style of stout that is brewed with oats, which adds a creamy texture to the beer.
Foreign Extra Stout: A sub-style of stout that is brewed with more hops, giving it a bitterness that balances out the richness of the roasted malts.

Why Stouts are a Delicious and Indulgent Brew

Stouts are considered a delicious and indulgent brew for several reasons. First, they offer a complex and rich flavor profile that is perfect for sipping and savoring. Second, they can be enjoyed year-round, making them a versatile beer style. Third, stouts can be paired with a variety of foods, from desserts to grilled meats. Lastly, stouts are perfect for those who enjoy a warming and satisfying beer that is full of character.

Stouts are a popular beer style that offer a deep and complex drinking experience. With a wide range of sub-styles to choose from, there’s a stout out there for everyone. So, whether you’re a fan of the creamy Milk Stout or the intense Imperial Stout, grab a cold one and enjoy the dark and delicious brew.

Sour: The Funky and Tart Brew

A sour beer just freshly poured

Sour beers are a relatively new addition to the craft beer scene, but they’ve quickly become a favorite among those who love a tart, tangy flavor. These beers are typically brewed with wild yeast strains or bacteria that produce lactic acid, giving them a sour taste. There are many sub-styles of sour beers, including gose, berliner weisse, and lambic. They’re perfect for those who love a little funk in their beer.

Sours have been gaining popularity in the beer world for their unique and distinctive flavor profile. These funky and tart brews have a distinct sourness that sets them apart from other beer styles. In this article, we’ll explore what makes sours so popular, the different types of sours, and why they’re a great choice for beer lovers.

What Makes Sours So Popular?

Sours are popular for their unique taste, which is a result of the brewing process. The sourness in these beers comes from the use of specific bacteria and yeast strains that produce lactic acid during fermentation. This acid gives sours their tart and tangy flavor that is often described as refreshing and crisp. Additionally, sours are known for their complexity, with flavors that range from fruity to funky.

Types of Sours

There are many different types of sours, each with its own distinct flavor profile. Some of the most popular types of sours include:

Berliner Weisse: A German-style sour that is often brewed with fruit syrups to balance out the tartness.
Gose: A sour that is brewed with salt and coriander, giving it a unique and salty taste.
Lambic: A Belgian-style sour that is brewed with wild yeast strains, giving it a funky and complex flavor.
Fruited Sour: A sour that is brewed with fruit, adding a fruity sweetness that balances out the tartness.

Why Sours are a Great Choice for Beer Lovers

Sours are a great choice for beer lovers for several reasons. First, they offer a unique and refreshing taste that is perfect for those looking to try something new. Second, sours are versatile and can be paired with a variety of foods, from salads to seafood. Third, sours are often lower in alcohol content, making them a great choice for those who want to enjoy a few beers without getting too tipsy.

Sours are a popular beer style that offer a distinctive and refreshing taste. With a variety of types to choose from, there’s a sour out there for everyone. So, whether you’re a fan of the salty Gose or the fruity Fruited Sour, grab a cold one and enjoy the funky and tart brew.

Belgian: The Complex and Spicy Brew

Chimay Triple – A great example of the Belgian beer style

Belgian beers are known for their complex flavors and aromas, often a result of the use of unique yeast strains and spices. These beers come in a variety of sub-styles, from the fruity and spicy saison to the rich and malty dubbel. Belgian beers are perfect for those who love a beer with a lot of character and depth.

Belgian beers have a long history and are known for their complex and spicy flavors. These brews are crafted using traditional brewing methods and unique ingredients, resulting in a flavor profile that sets them apart from other beer styles. In this article, we’ll explore what makes Belgian beers so popular, the different types of Belgian beers, and why they’re a great choice for beer lovers.

What Makes Belgian Beers So Popular?

Belgian beers are popular for their unique and complex flavor profile. They are often brewed with a combination of malted barley, wheat, and other grains, along with spices and herbs like coriander, orange peel, and cloves. The yeast strains used in Belgian brewing are also unique, giving the beer a distinct fruity and spicy flavor. Additionally, Belgian beers are known for their high alcohol content, which adds to their warming and satisfying nature.

Types of Belgian Beers

There are many different types of Belgian beers, each with its own unique flavor profile. Some of the most popular types of Belgian beers include:

Belgian Dubbel: A dark, malty beer with notes of raisin and chocolate.
Belgian Tripel: A golden beer with a complex flavor profile that is often described as spicy and fruity.
Belgian Saison: A light and refreshing beer with a dry finish and a hint of spiciness.
Belgian Witbier: A light and refreshing beer brewed with coriander and orange peel, giving it a citrusy and spicy flavor.

Why Belgian Beers are a Great Choice for Beer Lovers

Belgian beers are a great choice for beer lovers for several reasons. First, they offer a unique and complex flavor profile that is perfect for those looking to try something new. Second, Belgian beers are versatile and can be paired with a variety of foods, from spicy dishes to rich meats. Third, Belgian beers are often high in alcohol content, making them a great choice for those looking for a warming and satisfying beer.

Belgian beers are a popular beer style that offer a unique and complex drinking experience. With a variety of types to choose from, there’s a Belgian beer out there for everyone. So, whether you’re a fan of the malty Belgian Dubbel or the fruity Belgian Tripel, grab a cold one and enjoy the complex and spicy brew.

Pale Ale: The Refreshing and Sessionable Brew

American Pale Ale – photo courtesy of Craft Beer.com – American Pale Ale: A Style that Changed Everything

Pale ales are a great choice for those who prefer a lighter, more refreshing beer. These beers are typically brewed with a balance of hops and malt, giving them a crisp, clean taste. While there are many sub-styles of pale ale, the most popular is the American pale ale, brewed with American hops and has a citrusy, piney flavor. Pale ales are perfect for those who want a beer they can drink all day long.

Pale Ale is a classic beer style that is known for its refreshing taste and sessionable nature. This beer is brewed using a blend of malted barley and hops, resulting in a light and crisp flavor profile that is perfect for any occasion. In this article, we’ll explore what makes Pale Ale so popular, the different types of Pale Ale, and why it’s a great choice for beer lovers.

What Makes Pale Ale So Popular?

Pale Ale is popular for its refreshing taste and sessionable nature. It is a light and crisp beer that is perfect for drinking on a hot summer day or for a casual evening with friends. Pale Ale is brewed using a blend of malted barley and hops, which gives it a distinct hoppy and citrusy flavor. Additionally, the lower alcohol content of Pale Ale makes it a great choice for those looking to enjoy a beer without getting too buzzed.

Types of Pale Ale

There are many different types of Pale Ale, each with its own unique flavor profile. Some of the most popular types of Pale Ale include:

American Pale Ale: A hoppy and citrusy beer with a crisp and refreshing finish.
English Pale Ale: A maltier and less hoppy beer with a more balanced flavor profile.
Belgian Pale Ale: A fruity and spicy beer with a crisp finish.

Why Pale Ale is a Great Choice for Beer Lovers

Pale Ale is a great choice for beer lovers for several reasons. First, it offers a refreshing and sessionable drinking experience that is perfect for any occasion. Second, Pale Ale is versatile and can be paired with a variety of foods, from spicy dishes to lighter salads. Third, the lower alcohol content of Pale Ale makes it a great choice for those looking for a beer that won’t leave them feeling too buzzed.

Pale Ale is a classic beer style that is loved for its refreshing taste and sessionable nature. With a variety of types to choose from, there’s a Pale Ale out there for everyone. So, whether you prefer the hoppy and citrusy American Pale Ale or the fruity and spicy Belgian Pale Ale, grab a cold one and enjoy the refreshing and sessionable brew.

An Incomplete List of Beer Styles

Here’s 100 different beer styles. This is by no means a definitive list, but its a list, a hundred different styles for you to choose from. This just goes to show and emphasize just how diverse the craft beer world is.

American Amber Ale
American Brown Ale
American Pale Ale
American Wheat Ale
Belgian Dubbel
Belgian Tripel
Belgian Quadrupel
Belgian Strong Ale
Belgian Witbier
Berliner Weisse
Bière de Garde
Black IPA
Blonde Ale
Bock
Brown Ale
Cream Ale
Czech Pilsner
Dunkelweizen
English Bitter
English Brown Ale
English IPA
English Pale Ale
English Porter
Farmhouse Ale
Fruit Beer
German Pilsner
Gose
Helles
Hefeweizen
Imperial IPA
Imperial Stout
India Pale Ale
Irish Red Ale
Kölsch
Lager
Lambic
Märzen
Milk Stout
New England IPA
Oktoberfest
Old Ale
Oud Bruin
Pale Lager
Pilsner
Porter
Rauchbier
Red Ale
Russian Imperial Stout
Saison
Schwarzbier
Scottish Ale
Smoked Beer
Sour Ale
Spiced Beer
Strong Ale
Vienna Lager
Wheat Beer
Wild Ale
Winter Warmer
Baltic Porter
Belgian Blonde Ale
Belgian Dark Ale
Belgian Golden Strong Ale
Belgian Pale Ale
Belgian Saison
Belgian Specialty Ale
Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Belgian White Ale
Belgian IPA
Brett Beer
California Common
Chili Beer
Coffee Stout
English Mild Ale
English Old Ale
English Strong Ale
Flanders Red Ale
Flemish Brown Ale
Gluten-Free Beer
Gruit
Historical Beer
Imperial Red Ale
Irish Dry Stout
Kentucky Common
Kvass
Lichtenhainer
New Zealand Pilsner
Oatmeal Stout
Pennsylvania Porter
Piwo Grodziskie
Pumpkin Beer
Roggenbier
Rye Beer
Sahti
Scottish Export Ale
Scottish Heavy Ale
Scottish Light Ale
Smoked Porter
Sour Brown Ale
Specialty Beer

This list covers a wide range of beer styles from all over the world, from classic Belgian ales to German lagers to American IPAs. Each style has its own unique characteristics, from the malty sweetness of a brown ale to the hoppy bitterness of an IPA to the tartness of a lambic. No matter what your taste preferences are, there’s a beer style out there for you to enjoy.

This list includes a variety of beer styles, from traditional Scottish ales to innovative smoked beers to experimental specialty brews. Each beer style has its own unique history and brewing techniques, resulting in a wide range of flavors and aromas. Whether you prefer a classic German wheat beer or a modern sour ale, there’s a beer style out there that’s perfect for you.

Most Popular Beer Styles

The popularity of craft beer styles can vary depending on the region and the preferences of the local beer drinkers. However, some of the most popular craft beer styles in the United States include:

IPA (India Pale Ale)
Pale Ale
Stout
Porter
Wheat Beer
Amber Ale
Pilsner
Hefeweizen
Brown Ale
Belgian Ale

IPAs are currently the most popular style of craft beer in the United States, with a wide range of sub-styles such as West Coast IPA, New England IPA, and Double IPA. Pale Ales, Stouts, and Porters are also widely popular among craft beer enthusiasts, especially during the fall and winter months. Wheat beers like Hefeweizens and Belgian Ales are also popular, particularly during the warmer months of the year. In recent years, sour beers and other experimental styles have gained popularity among craft beer drinkers as well. Overall, the craft beer industry offers a wide variety of styles to suit a range of tastes and preferences.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the world of craft beer is a vast and exciting one, full of different styles, flavors, and aromas. Whether you’re a fan of hoppy IPAs, rich Stouts, refreshing Wheat beers, or spicy Belgian Ales, there’s a craft beer out there that’s perfect for you. By exploring the different styles and experimenting with new brews, you can expand your palate and discover new favorites. From small local breweries to large regional operations, the craft beer industry is growing and evolving, offering something new and exciting for beer lovers everywhere. So raise a glass to the wonderful world of craft beer, and cheers to all the delicious brews yet to be discovered!

Craft beer has become more than just a beverage, it’s a culture, a community, and a way of life. The passion and creativity of the brewers, the camaraderie among beer enthusiasts, and the uniqueness of each brew all contribute to the magic of craft beer. With so many styles and varieties to choose from, there’s always a new adventure waiting to be had. From seasonal releases to limited edition collaborations, the world of craft beer is always evolving, providing endless opportunities to try something new.

As the craft beer industry continues to grow and expand, it’s important to appreciate the artistry and skill that goes into each brew. By supporting local breweries and independent operations, you’re not only enjoying delicious beer but also contributing to the community and culture that surrounds it. The passion and dedication of the people behind the craft beer movement is truly inspiring, and it’s something that deserves to be celebrated and cherished.

In the end, craft beer is more than just a drink, it’s an experience. It’s a way to connect with others, explore new flavors, and discover something truly special. So next time you reach for a cold one, take a moment to appreciate the craftsmanship, creativity, and passion that went into creating that perfect brew. Cheers to the world of craft beer, and all the wonderful things it has to offer!

A Series of Craft Beer Articles

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

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

Thank You For Reading

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!

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.

Drunk Phils Fans and Rotunda Brewing Company Team Up With ‘Jam The Batter’ Collaboration

B. Kline — Tue, 17 May 2022 13:08:06 +0000

Jam the Batter (sWheat Tart) – A collaboration between Rotunda Brewing Company and Drunk Phils Fans

Drunk Phils Fans and Rotunda Brewing Company Teaming Up

As an avid Philadelphia Phillies fan (god have mercy upon my soul), I’ve always followed various Philly related blogs and pages (like Crossing Broad, Drunk Phils Fans, etc, etc.), and obviously I’m quite an avid drinker and beer fan as well (shocker right?!?) so I immediately jumped when I saw Drunk Phils Fans was teaming up with a beer – and with local favorites Rotunda Brewing Company of all breweries. Such a perfect fit!

So I immediately reached out to Drunk Phils Fans to get the low-down on their page, the beer, and everything else.

The Drunk Phils Fan

You will most likely know Drunk Phils Fans from their Facebook page: Drunk Phils Fans. They currently have 24, 977 likes and 26, 588 followers. So needless to say they have been around and garner quite a bit of attention. You can follow their website here: Drunk Phils Fans .com.

So I asked them some questions about how they started up, what they are, what they are up to, and how their beer collaboration with Rotunda Brewing Company came to be.

(For brevity’s sake, I will have The Beer Thrillers abbreviated to ‘TBT’ and Drunk Phils Fans abbreviated to ‘DPF’ after the first usage.)

The Beer Thrillers: How did you start the Drunk Phils Fans page? (How long ago, when/where/how, etc.) How has it evolved since then?
Drunk Phils Fans: This all started as a blog, which was named the same and first post was in 2010. I then started a FB group in 2010 and then switched over to a page once the group hit 1000 followers. The idea for the blog was to highlight some past Phillies season and players (mostly “forgotten” players, as well at to talk about prior and upcoming games. The FB page was always intended to be some of the talk and chatter you may hear at the local pub from intense Phillies fans. On Point, sometime irreverent analysis of the front office, games, players, opponents, etc

Rob G is an original member that is still providing content. The page evolved by adding in some talented authors: Chris D, who does all of the meme work and we added Waz, Al, Russell, Sean and Ashley as people providing content and helping to manage the page. I can’t point to a single element of how or when the page became more popular, but I constantly hear that people go to our page because of great content and valid observations/talking points about the team. Some of our posts did go “viral” with over a million views, but the growth was organic by building the audience through content.

TBT: How did this beer idea come up? Did you reach out to Rotunda Brewing? Did they reach out to you? What interested you in this beer and this brewery?
DPF: It has always been a dream of mine to have a beer that I created or somehow named/linked with me. I figured once the page got a large enough audience, it would be more enticing for a brewery to collaborate with us.

My wife and I went to Hershey this winter for a weekend getaway and toured some of the Hershey area breweries. Rotunda was on my list for two reasons: 1. A DPF fan, Brent, is a manager at Rotunda and offered a brewery tour for me and an insight on their process and facilities and 2. Rotunda has a GREAT lineup of different styles of beers, all highly rated and respected on Untappd, so I knew I had to try them. With Brent being a big DPF fan and me being a fan of Rotunda, I think it was a good match and I do not remember who “made the first move” while talking collaboration. To me it seemed mutually advantageous.

TBT: Stevie Glick absolutely nailed it with the logo. Just want to throw that out there right now, he does their artwork for them, and is absolutely phenomenal.

TBT: Did you have any input on the beer; style, ingredients, recipe, etc? Did you help them brew it?
DPF: We did have input on style. I am not a particular fan of IPA, so I did not want this beer to be of that style. I am a huge fan of darker beers and stouts, but wanted a beer for the summertime. So we collaborated with the sWheat line that Rotunda is well known for and created a fruited sour at 5.9%. We did send Rotunda about 30 name ideas for the beer, of which “Jam the Batter” won because of the double entendre of jam in the baseball sense and the fruit we are adding to the beer often seen as a jam. I did not physically help with the brewing process, mostly because of proximity to Rotunda from my home in Philly. However, it is something I would like to be involved with in the next go round!

TBT: What are some of your favorite breweries? Favorite beers? Go to beers? Preferences when it comes to alcohol in general?
DPF: Fave Breweries: I will do a top 5 in the Philly area no particular order. Rotunda, Imprint, Human Robot, Troegs, and 2SP.

Fave Beers: This answer could be really long, so I will try and give the Cliff Notes. If I go to a corner bar that does not have craft beers, I will have Miller High Life, In the summer, I am a huge Hefeweizen fan. My fave is Weihenstephaner. In the Winter, especially leading up to Christmas, I look forward to the Troeg’s Mad Elf release. Otherwise, I spend a lot of the winter trying different dark beers (Stouts and Lagers). I have recently gotten into Rum and Bourbon Barrel Aged Stouts even more and will always try them when available. I am also a Union season ticket holder and recently really liked 2SP’s Delco Lager. Supremely drinkable with a lower ABV.

TBT: Any other big plans with the page? Any other beer related collaborations in the works / in the future or anything you are interested in trying or wanting to do?
DPF: We are currently having a beer release party at Rotunda on May 21st at their Annville location from 1-4. We are also having some Phillies Watch Parties at local bars: May 25th at Jerzees Glenside and June 26 at Nick’s Roast Beef Cottman along with a special guests, Corner Sports Podcast where I will be in the show with them live on-site 1-3, followed by the Phillies game at 4. We would also like to do these watch parties at interested breweries in the near future. As far as the future of the page, we hope everyone loves our Rotunda collaboration and would love to collaborate with them or another Philly / Montco / Bucks brewery for a playoff beer for the Phils! I’d like to be more hand on to learn the process and work that goes into each step. I guess the big dreams would be a brewery of our own at some point. I dreamed of having a beer and that came true, so who knows!

sWheat Tart Series

Rotunda Brewing Company has been well known for their sWheat Tart series for a while. (We’ve even covered a few various sWheat Tarts here on the blog for beer reviews. You can read them here: Juicy Fruit sWheat Tart – Beer Review and Mango Guyabano sWheat Tart – Beer Review.) It is possibly their most popular line of beers, and they have done just about every imaginable flavor profile and combination with them. Definitely be on the lookout for this series whenever you see them in cans or whenever you visit either of their brewery locations in person (the Annville Brewery or the Hershey brewpub.)

Rotunda Brewing Company Tailgate

On May 21st (2022), the Rotunda Brewing Company is hosting a Tailgate party to celebrate the release of ‘Jam the Batter’. From their Facebook page:

“We’re releasing a collaboration beer with our friends at, Drunk Phils Fans and throwing a kick ass tailgate at our Annville location, this Saturday from 1-4 pm! Wear your best philly gear and drink some of our new Jam The Batter sWheat Tart, loaded with thick mango, pineapple & strawberry puree! More details to come! Drunk Phils Fans Rotunda Restaurant & Brewery“
Rotunda Brewing Company (Facebook)

It looks to be a fun time, and I might be able to squeeze it into my busy schedule and stop out for a bit. Hope I get to see some of you out there. And we can all root on the Phillies and drink some delicious beers.

Philadelphia Phillies

I would be amiss to make this article, and not mention the Phillies even a little bit. They are currently sitting at 17 – 18 and 5.5 games behind in the NL East. Its a long season, and the Mets are looking tough this year, but we also all know how the Mets are…. so hopefully late season Phils can kick it into overdrive. Looks like we are coming out of a current slump and are starting to hit stride. (And my dad recently put down a 100$ wager at Hollywood Casino that the Phils will win the division, so for his sake, lets go Phils!).

The bats are finally starting to warm up with what we all thought they should be. Defense will be a struggle all season. And hopefully by trade deadline we can shore up the pitching staff and make this team a true contender. Long overdue for another deep playoff run and hopeful World Series.

Thanks For Reading

The May 21st date might just be as busy as the May 14th date was for me. First off, its my daughter’s 13th birthday. (So, preemptive and early Happy Birthday to Lilyana Rose.) Also, its the day of the Imprint “Haze” brewfest, as well as the Drunk Phils Fans and Rotunda Brewing Company’s beer tailgate. As well as a host of other personal stuff for me and other staff members here at The Beer Thrillers.

I would like to say thanks to the Drunk Phils Fans for letting me reach out to them and talking to them and exchanging e-mails. I can’t wait to try their beer. They are great people over there (and at Rotunda as well), so its looking to be a great thing all the ways around.

As always, I do greatly appreciate you all reading this. Let me know your thoughts, opinions, and ideas. Comments, suggestions, and otherwise. Always love to hear from my readers! Either by comment here on the blog, or through e-mail or our contact page. Let us know your thoughts!

Cheers all! And lets go Phillies!

-B. Kline

Beer Review: Sorbetto 42 (Ever Grain Brewing Co.)

AmyMWolfe — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 14:50:53 +0000

Sorbetto Number 42 by Ever Grain Brewing Co.

Sorbetto

There is a secret Sorbetto dance I perform when I see Ever Grain post they came out with a new Sorbetto. I might do a similar celebration dance for the yinzbetto series and Drippity announcements too. Since it’s so darn cold out, this dance was effective at also warming up my cold bones.

Yes, I’m still obsessed with the Sorbetto series. I just feel like Ever Grain gets me when it comes to this series. It was everything I needed in my life and well…. still need! The forty second one in the series does not disappoint! Check out my other Sorbetto review – Beer Review: Sorbetto 40 (Ever Grain Brewing Co.) or my other beer review from Ever Grain Brewing (Beer Review: Missile Toad)

(You can find other Ever Grain beer reviews here as well: All Together, Peanut Butter Udder One, Multiple Beer Review: Barrel Aged Barleywine, You Think Darkness is Your Ally?, 3rd Anniversary Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout, Cinn-a-Bunn).

And now, time for the review:

Beer Review

Sorbetto #42 by Ever Grain Brewing Company

Beer: Sorbetto Series #42
Brewery: Ever Grain Brewing Co
Style: Sour – Fruited
ABV: 6%
IBU: None
Untappd Description: Raspberry Swirl Sour Ale conditioned on raspberry, marshmallow, and vanilla. *contains lactose.

Does anyone have images of the Kool-Aid man bursting through brick walls at different points in their lives? Please tell me it isn’t just me!

Kool-Aid Man

That first sip of Sorbetto #42 I immediately visualize the Kool-Aid but in a Raspberry shape instead of the classic glass pitcher. When he bursts through the wall instead of bricks flying there are raspberries flying at your head, aggressively. I’m dodging the raspberries but then I get overpowered, and I’m soon buried by berries.

The Raspberry flavor is very much the HBIC in this Sour. There is no doubt about it. It’s a delightful mix of sweet and tart raspberries. That first nose and that first sip don’t leave anything else for you to play with on your tongue but raspberries. It’s just that moment when you think to yourself “ok, I’m about down with the raspberries…” the marshmallow and vanilla kick in and mellow out the fierce berry swirls. That second sip will whip you right back in the face with the berries, watch out.

Drink more beer,
Amy.

Ohhhhhhhhhh Yeeeeeeaahhhhhhhhhh

Thanks For Reading

Thank you for reading everyone. Have any questions, comments, or requests? Leave them for us in the comments section or on our social media pages! Thanks for reading! We appreciate you all checking in with us.

Beer Review: Out of Order: Tatooine Tart (RAR Brewing)

BKline — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 03:52:14 +0000

Out of Order: Tatooine Tart (by RAR Brewing) – Part of their Star Wars Out of Order Series.

Out of Order – Star Wars Series

While, this might not be as popular as RAR Brewing’s Out of Order Blue Milk, this was still a very good beer. That has become one of the most popular beer reviews I’ve done here on the blog. They initially released it as a solo beer release, and then included it again in their Star Wars series of Out of Order beers. (Don’t worry, I’ll be doing all of the Star Wars series as reviews here.)

The others in the RAR Out of Order Star Wars drop include: Blue Milk, Tatooine Tart (both mentioned here), Green Milk, Droid Juice, Yub Yub, RarwgWawggr, and Dark Side. The drop was a big deal and event at RAR Brewing back over the summer when they did it. I made sure to get my hands on the full drop (had a proxy there to get me the beers). Glad to be now getting to drink through the series.

The Book of Boba Fett

I’ll cover this more later, but as I did with last week, I’ll be releasing a weekly Star Wars themed beer review every Wednesday to coincide with the release of a new episode of ‘The Book of Boba Fett’. Last week I traveled to New Jersey to go to Bolero Snort Brewery to pick up a crowler of BoBull Fett just to review for the premier. You can read the review here: Beer Review: BoBull Fett (Bolery Snort Brewery).

I’ve already watched episode two this morning (just finished it actually), and so will give my thoughts on it at the end of the beer review. In the meantime, you can check out this interesting YouTube video by the Templin Institute:

Make sure you come back to the blog (of course!) after watching it.

Now… onto the beer review!

Beer Review

Out of Order: Tatooine Tart by RAR Brewing

Beer: Out of Order: Tatooine Tart
Brewery: RAR Brewing
Style: Sour – Fruited
ABV: 6%
IBU: None
Untappd Description: Our lactose sour base conditioned on Passionfruit, Limes, Simple Syrup, and a splash of our House Pastry Cream.

RAR Brewing is a brewery out of Cambridge Maryland, which I got to visit late last year. (Check out my travelogues through Maryland to read all about it.) It is a very hipster vibing place, very cool, sleek, and I absolutely loved it. There’s a Fett on the wall that looks spray painted (made to look that way), and several other nerdy nods. The laboratory add on is really neat and a great taproom sitting area. According to Untappd they are a micro brewery, with 630 unique beers and 403 thousand ratings. They have a global average rating of exactly 4 bottle caps as of 1.5.22. Their Untappd description reads: Based in Cambridge, MD on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay.

Cracking this one has a wonderfully sweet aroma, a nectar like sweetness to it. It smells sweet, like a juicy syrupy sweetness, almost perfume like in a way. Sniffing close hand in the glass I get hints of the passionfruit and the limes like the description says, with kind of a soft vanilla to it.

Appearance is very mellow juicy overlook to it. It looks like a more darker, moodier version of pineapple juice. Like a darker, not quite cloudy, but heavier looking fruit juice – some kind of organic juice (maybe like a pineapple or passionfruit looking dark juice). It definitely gives off ‘sweet’ vibes from the look of it.

This is a very sweet, juicy beer. There’s a slight tartness to it, but its so remote that I feel like its barely perceptible and its probably more a case of a ‘mileage may vary’ type of thing. It is a syrupy juicy. Borderlining too sweet, but not out of the realm of being completely too sweet (and definitely not near ‘undrinkably too sweet’). I get strong notes of passionfruit, a citrusy lime or zest, a syrupy juice, and a creamy, vanilla, undercurrent to it. It has a bit of a bite at the end, with just a hint of tart at the beginning, and mostly a very juicy middle, with each sip. It kind of rolls with your tongue on a sweet and then hits you with a bit of a sucker punch of sour / tart / pucker. I can see this possibly being ‘too sweet’ from some, especially those who might be hoping for or expecting some sour or puckering tartness, which they might feel is underwhelmed with this, but I think that sample size will be smaller. I think the Out of Order series is a bit of a niche market, and not true or genuine of beer consumption or drinkers overall. Its a bit of following the hype machine to some extent, but not 100%. There is definitely some leaning on the market and branding and cache of the namesake and series (ie. going from a Sandlot Out of Order series to a Star Wars Out of Order series to a Halloween Villains Out of Order series to a Christmas Movie Out of Order series, etc). There is some good flavors to this, and in comparison to the Out of Order Blue Milk, this is far more of a normal beer, but still pretty far from ‘normal beer’ if that makes any sense. You get some distinct flavors here, but they also tend to blur and blend together and make for a melting pot of flavors as well. Out of the two Out of Order beers so far, I want to say I like the Blue Milk one more, maybe more for novelty’s sake, but also more for distinctiveness too. This blends a bit too much with other similar beers to be somewhat completely distinguishable other than being able to say ‘it was tasty’ and ‘a good beer of its style’. Which it is all of that. There is nothing wrong with this beer, nothing is made off flavored, and no bad aftertaste, and nothing is wrong in its production or craft either. So in those aspects its what you want out of it. I certainly enjoyed this and it made for a great sipper while watching the second episode of The Book of Boba Fett.

My Untappd Rating: ****
Global Average Untappd Rating: 4.16 (as of 1.5.22)

Posting This Article

So… I woke up today at 4AM to be able to watch the episode and do this article. I wanted to write up most of it the night before, but went to Tattered Flag, had a few, and got home super late, and a bit too tired to write. So I woke up early to tackle it. Got to watching the new episode as I started working on this, and couldn’t finish in time before heading to work. I clocked out of work at 6PM, and was hoping to go home and get to finish this before 8PM and upload it… but my mom asked me to meet her at Rubber Soul, since my dad had a meeting. So who was I to say no to my mom? So, I met my mom at Rubber Soul, had dinner, and a few drinks, and then walked home (won’t lie… it was a bit chilly for a walk home tonight), and only at 8:45PM when I got home, did I get to start to finish this. (Well, I got home at 8:45… but then I had to clean up after my dog, who decided she would “go” in the kitchen while I was gone…. *shakes his fist at Leela*…).

But anyway, here I am getting to finish this up. Been a long day, and nearing 10PM, but its getting done. Hopefully next week’s article will be done before I go to work so I can upload it early.

The Book of Boba Fett – Episode Two

So, if you don’t want to read any spoilers for Episode 2 (and Episode 1 if you haven’t watched that), skip down a few sections. Because here I am going to give my thoughts on Episode Two – and by extension my thoughts on the show so far. I had actually written this all up this morning after watching the episode, and which is primarily why I didn’t get this article done until now. So, without further adieu, here’s my thoughts.

The Book of Boba Fett – Episode Two – The Tribes of Tatooine

Boba Fett

Is your typical “train the village” episode (in the flashbacks). The idea of “a little of the present” with a lot of the past (via dream/flashback) to show how he went from “Fett” to “New Fett” is an interesting storytelling model for Star Wars – albeit cliche in regular storytelling. I’m not so sure it works here with Star Wars/Fett/this story though. Mainly because their doing it with a character that people didn’t really want to see change. I might be speaking for too general a base here, but I feel like, most Star Wars fans wanted to see Fett be Fett. The old Legends Fett while not perfect, at least was still a Bounty Hunter, was what we saw on screen… didn’t take a complete 180 and went in a different direction of his character.

They even end it with a peyote / spiritual quest style ending.

I enjoyed the episode for what it was… and what they were going for. But… I dunno, I just don’t ‘want’ it. I guess is the best explanation for what I can give to this. We’ve seen a “train the villagers” episode in Mandalorian, we’ve seen it (a few times I think) in the Clone Wars show, we’ve seen it done on Rebels…. and… so this makes it roughly the 4th or so time its been done in Star Wars. The Ewoks/Rebels were kind of a shortened version of it too, to some degree. Its a trope, and a Star Wars/Western trope, thats becoming quite overused I think.

And I get that its integral to Boba Fett’s character, and his transformation from Bounty Hunter to Survived Man, to Respectful leader….

…but again, for lack of better explanation…. its just something I don’t want, and thats why I don’t like or care for it/about it.

When I think of Fett’s character, I don’t want to think of “Most Feared Bounty Hunter” “nearly dies stupidly” “resurrects himself as the Outsider coming in, and revamping the Natives and becoming Respectful Leader” type…..

Maybe that’s me? Maybe others will enjoy this ride. I hope they do, and I’m certainly going to finish out the show (there’s 5 more episodes). But so far, its not my cup of tea.

I also don’t feel like the writers/creators quite get logistics of things. Like how a planet with two suns and all desert, would be, ecologically, at night, at full day, etc. The things Fett survives through in Episode 1 is pretty…. uhh, lets just call them miraculous, and the way they depict people traversing the ground no problems, or walking through sandstorms, or just being outside in the desert at night (which would become absolutely freezing, especially on a twin sun planet that shows no moon and both suns are set)….. all of this just really makes me feel like they are going 100% for storytelling over logistics, rationality, etc.

Getting to the present day stuff…. I did ‘mark out’ / ‘geek out’, etc, over the Hutts appearing, and thought that was pretty cool. I wanted a lot more of the present day stuff in this episode (whereas last week, I thought the present day was a lot more weaker). Fett still comes off as comically naieve though in his interactions with EVERYONE. From the Hutts, to the Twi’lek bar owner, to the Mayor, to the Ninja himself, etc. The opening scene in Jabba’s Palace was also predictable and borderline ‘fan fiction’ level writing. “We want to show the Ninjas as being crazy, but … we still need him to give up the information…. so here we go”.

I am also seeing zero reason why Fett isn’t killed. Why isn’t the Mayor killing him? Or the Hutts? Or anybody else? Hes dispensable. Its not like he’s some kind of irreplaceable piece, or cog in a wheel. He has no real powerbase. All they show him to have is Fennec Shand, and two Gamorrean Guards, and 8D8 (the droid). So what retaliation happens from killing him? None it would seem. The Mayor could pinpoint kill the Ninja, why not have done that to Shand and the guards and attacked Fett? Why not have done all this in the street?

Which then begs the question, what was even the purpose of the street ambush last week? If it wasn’t just to further the plot along? We need Fett to come into contact with the Mayor in an adversarial way, here it is, and we need the Mayor to be the smaller fish to the bigger fish (ie. the Hutts). So lets do that. Fett gets ambushed, captures guy, guy gives intel, Fett goes to Mayor, Mayor gives intel on the bigger fish. Problem solved.

But none of that really makes sense. Especially given how easily Fett could be removed if they really wanted to. And they’ve shown us no reason why they SHOULDN’T do it.

Same as the past thing. The logistics of the train and everything makes no sense. So… they are bringing in Kessel Spice to Tatooine via the Syndicate. The Syndicate lands somewhere in Mos Eisley, Mos Espa, Anchorhead, wherever. And are train hovering it to somewhere else… most likely Jabba’s Palace for Bib Fortuna whose attempting to run Jabba’s old empire.

Why? Why do it in such a circuitousness way? And why provoke Natives just out there? For the * and giggles of it? Which also brings up the Biker Gang bit. So Fett attacks a Biker Gang that just happens to be in the area being all “Biker Gang from the 80s Cop Shows” and attacking local citizens, and Fett waltzes in, kills them/injures them, and steals their bikes, just to bring down this train.

If the train could be taken down this easily…. why was the Syndicate using it this way? There had to be a better way for them to do what they did.

I really did want to enjoy this episode, and what they are trying for this show, and I’ve loved Fett’s character in the past (…which might be the bigger problem here). But…. how they are doing it, and the logistics and rationality of what they are trying to do…. seems almost Sequel Trilogy level of poor planning, or skimming the surface level of storytelling.

As if they said to themselves:

We want to make a show about X (in this case – Criminal Underworld in Star Wars)
We want to use a main character people are riveted about
We want to use Boba Fett because we have been off/on planning on using him since we bought the property
We need to set it in a way that all people will be familiar with it (ie. set it on Tatooine, set it with Jabba’s Palace, use Boba Fett)
Lets combine all the above into one thing – so we’ll take the character (Fett) and making him a Godfather esque criminal lord (not quite a 1 for 1 apt analogy though), and do it based on his surviving the Sarlaac and doing it on Tatooine

Boom, thats what we got here. It feels surface level storytelling. Like their just not thinking everything out. Why wouldn’t character X do this? Why would Character Y do that? Why don’t they just do -this-? Why aren’t they just doing -that-? Etc.

I feel like I’m kicking it too hard here, because it looks like a lot of people love it, and enjoying it. And I do find it somewhat bare bones enjoyable. But I feel like there’s just no depth, and no real understanding to the material underneath it. As much as we want it to be. As much as we say “their doing so much Star Wars world building”… it feels like their not REALLY doing that. Their doing ‘member berries’ type world building for our own head enjoyments. “Remember Max Rebo… here he is…. again in a new cantina!” That one person’s long winded post on the TFN Jedi council forums about world building and stuff… all feels superficial here, even moreso. “Omg, they kept the same architectural structures of Tatooine buildings”…… well yea…. of course they would. Why wouldn’t they? Thats not so much as paying attention to detail, as just being smart. I don’t buy that as huge world building. Having Max Rebo there is not world building either — he was afterall on the giant barge that just FREAKING BLEW UP — but it all feels surface level storytelling stuff. Like what they did with the sequel trilogy. And I think thats where my annoyance level is here.

At the end of this, we might look back and go “this is similar to the ST” where it started off decently well, and they did some things like “remember that one guy…” but at the end of it, the pieces just don’t line up. That was part of my issue with Episode 1 of this… it felt not like a fluid, congruent thing, it felt like little veneer cracks, and things just didn’t align up, like pieces didn’t fully form together or fit. Like a puzzle where you purposefully manipulate the pieces to fit together rather than how their supposed to.

Ehh….. I’ll stop rambling here.

Whew…. that was long winded, and probably longer than the actual beer review, and completely altered and changed this entire article, hahaha. (I think I was under compliance for the grammar, SEO, and other algorithm things, until I posted that whole block in here).

Let me know what your thoughts are in the comments section, would love to hear what everyone else thinks of the show so far. Am I over analyzing it? Am I being too critical? Am I not being a fanboy enough? Let me know what you think!

Some Discussion Forums

For some more discussion on The Book of Boba Fett, you can read these discussion forums:

More Star Wars Fun

Well, just had a delivery van drop off my Lego.com order. On January 1st, they dropped several new Star Wars sets, (amongst lots of other new sets), and several were Hoth themed sets. So I picked up the Hoth AT-ST (Blizzard Scout 1) and the Hoth Battle Pack. Super excited to put these together in the near future!

For More Reading

If you are interested in our other nerdy, pop culture, and branded beer reviews, you can check out the following:

Star Wars:

Rick and Morty:

Beer Review: Peace Among Worlds (Cushwa Brewing Company)

Space Balls:

Beer Review: Moon of Vega (Equilibrium Brewery)

Game of Thrones:

Beer Review: Game of Thrones: My Watch Has Ended (Omnegang Brewery)

The Simpsons:

Back to the Future:

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

Scrooged:

Beer Review: Scrooge IPA (Iron Hill Brewing)

A Christmas Story:

Pro Wrestling:

Matrix:

Matrix Monday

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:

Beer Review: Terpenes in Time (BAREBottle Brewing Co)

Seinfeld:

Other:

Thanks for Reading

If you like Star Wars and like our Star Wars themed beers, be sure to check out every Wednesday while The Book of Boba Fett is airing, as I will do a new Star Wars themed beer each week!

Thanks for reading, and cheers everyone!

-B. Kline

Sour - The Beer Thrillers

Mellow Mink Brewing is Closing

Mellow Mink

Mellow Mink Brewing is Closing

Other Mellow Mink Articles

For More Information on Mellow Mink Brewery

Brewery News

Thank You For Reading

These Summer Beers Are Slapping… Again

These summer time beers are slapping again. Is “slapping” still trendy to say?

Busy Last Few Weeks

Amy’s Column Series

Thank You For Reading

Halloween Candy and Beer Pairings

Leftover Halloween Candy

Halloween Candy

Candy and Beer Pairings

Stout or Porter

Hefeweizen

Sour

Pilsner

Brown Ale

Cream Ale

Whats Your Favorite Candy?

Amy’s Column Series

Thank You For Reading

Highway Manor Brewing Temporarily Closed For Remainder of 2023

Highway Manor Only Temporarily Closed

Controversy

Comments, Reactions, etc.

Stating its a Temporary Closure

For More Articles on Highway Manor Brewing

For More Information on Highway Manor Brewing

Brewery News

Thank You For Reading

Getting Sworn In: A Sneak Preview of Sworn Brewing

Getting a Look at Sworn Brewing

The Set – Up

Getting Sworn In – A Behind the Scenes Look at Sworn Brewing Company

Sworn To a Good Time at Sworn Brewing

A Look Behind The Sword at Sworn Brewing Company

Sworn Brewing Company

Josh, Amy, and I

Josh

Brewery News

Author Articles

Amy’s Weekly Column Series

Josh

B. Kline

Thank You For Reading

Happy Father’s Day

Happy Father’s Day

Breakfast Brunch

A Great Father’s Day

Amy’s Column Series

More Information on YAH Brewing

Father’s Day Pictures and Videos From YAH Brew Today

Thank You For Reading

Craft Beer Styles: Exploring the Wide World of Flavor

Craft Beer Styles

IPA: The King of Hoppy Beers

What Makes IPAs So Popular?

Sub-Styles of IPAs

Why IPAs are the King of Hoppy Beers

Stout: The Dark and Delicious Brew

What Makes Stouts So Popular?

Sub-Styles of Stouts

Why Stouts are a Delicious and Indulgent Brew

Sour: The Funky and Tart Brew

What Makes Sours So Popular?

Types of Sours

Why Sours are a Great Choice for Beer Lovers

Belgian: The Complex and Spicy Brew

What Makes Belgian Beers So Popular?

Types of Belgian Beers

Why Belgian Beers are a Great Choice for Beer Lovers

Pale Ale: The Refreshing and Sessionable Brew

What Makes Pale Ale So Popular?

Types of Pale Ale

Why Pale Ale is a Great Choice for Beer Lovers