West Connection Beer Vault - The Beer Thrillers

Sweet ‘n’ Savory

AmyMWolfe — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 16:07:47 +0000

Being Able to Find the Perfect Mix of Sweet and Savory Feels Like a Miracle

Being able to find the perfect mix of sweet and savory feels like a miracle. This necessarily doesn’t mean that it must include something spicy but that is always an option.

I’ve been told recently that spicy doesn’t have to be scary, so be daring with me if you tend to shy away from the heat. But I won’t be doing that this evening, ha!

Homer drooling over a hamburger

I’m writing on here about paring foods from time to time. One thing I get stuck on is either find flavors that are matchy or find flavors that are complimenting but different. One random night after work. Ya know, when your exhausted but just need some sort of nourishment. We grabbed Pillar of Beasts from 3 Floyds Brewing at West Connection Beer Vault (we had picked this up in a mix a six, alongside several others, including the recent pumpkin beers I had with Grandma SueAnn) to have with burgers and onions from the grilled and garlicky sauteed green beans.

It. Was. Amazing.

I legit wasn’t picking this out on purpose. It was an evening where we grabbed beer and some food to shove down our tired gullets to try to make it through the week. First of all; barleywine. It’s a favorite so we knew we couldn’t go wrong. It was the perfect combo of sweet and savory. The flavors mixed so well until I realized they were all gone.

This comes rocking in at a 13.7% ABV according to Untapped. This definitely qualifies as a BIG DAMN BEER! #BDB

Homer Drooling over beer and food

Pillar of Beasts has a 4.21 overall rating (on Untappd) and is described as “Our latest Barleywine Ale brewed with Salted Caramel, vanilla beans, and cocoa nibs then aged for 12 months in bourbon barrels. Taste the scrumptiousness.” You can see our post on Instagram about the beer here: Pillars of Beast – The Beer Thrillers on Instagram. (Please be sure to give us a follow on Instagram. Thank you!)

Pillar of Beasts by 3 Floyds Brewing with dinner

Pairing the sweet barleywine with a savory burger and garlicky green beans was one of the best decisions I’ve made since I decided to date the creator of The Beer Thrillers.

Drink More Beer!
- Amy

Amy’s Column Series

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 #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of August 2024.) 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.)

Pillar of Beats by 3 Floyds Brewing (photo courtesy of Untappd)

It’s Pumpkin Time! (Grandma SueAnn and Amy Review Zombies and Double Zombies are People Too and Braaaiins!)

AmyMWolfe — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 13:44:58 +0000

It’s Pumpkin Time!

So…. a couple leaves have changed color on the tree in our front yard. So…. it’s technically not too early, right? I can talk about pumpkin spice now? They were the first ones I saw in the store and I had to grab a couple for me and Grandma SueAnn to enjoy. (See: A Beer Review by Grandma SueAnn [Beer Review: Braaaiins! by Spring House Brewing Company].)

We were shopping at the local Weiss and I saw it on an end-cap and I had to have it. Braaaiins by Spring House Brewing Company. I grabbed the 4pack with the approving nod from the boyfriend. I could hardly wait long enough for them to chill. Grandma SueAnn was in agreement; kicking our pumpkin beer drinking season off with a loved classic was the way to go. The first pumpkin beer of the year, near end of August, and I had to grab it!

Braaaiins! by Spring House Brewing

Once chilled this pumpkin ale is the perfect beer to kick off Autumn with. It is described on Untapped as “our pumpkin ale is brewed with generous amounts of real pumpkin blended into the mash. The subtle fresh pumpkin flavor is enhanced by the addition of a touch of traditional autumn spices and sweet dough, thus creating a beer with an orange amber color, warm pumpkin aroma, a bold malt center and a crisp finish. We are proud to offer you a balanced and delectable fall treat. Suitable for zombies.” It has an 8.5% ABV so I isn’t anything to mess around with. It has an overall rating on Untapped of 3.70.

Zombies are People Too by New Trail Brewing

On another occasion we swung into West Connection Beer Vault in Hummelstown (find West Connection Beer Vault on Facebook). Amongst the mix of six we picked out were two from New Trail Brewing. (We also scored a fantastic Barleywine by 3 Floyds Brewing – Pillar of Beasts. See Ben’s beer review of that here: Beer Review: Pillar of Beasts by 3 Floyds Brewing.)

Zombies Are People Too and Double Zombies, two pumpkin beers from the mid – Central PA brewery up in Williamsport. They clock in at a 5.7%ABV and an 8.5% ABV respectively. My first instinct was to see if Grandma SueAnn could tell the difference between the two New Trail pumpkin beers. (Because who better to try out new pumpkin beers with than Grandma SueAnn?) Yes, the Double Zombies has a higher ABV but Double Zombies is also supposed to be packed with, according to Untapped “twice the strength, maple syrup, vanilla, and pumpkin spice.” Grandma SueAnn thought she tasted just a bit more spice to Double Zombies but she happily helped me drink both pumpkin beers.

Overall though we enjoyed both of the New Trail pumpkin options. In the mid-state (Harrisburg area) you can find them at your different beer distributors and bottle shops like Breski’s Beverages, West Connection Beer Vault, Brass Rail, Bradford Village Beer and Soda, as well as at your grocery stores like Wegmans, Weiss, and Giant. You might even be able to find them in some gas stations like Rutters, WaWa, or Sheetz. So be on the lookout and the hunt!

Check out our Instagram post about the pumpkin beers: Pumpkin Beers on The Beer Thrillers @ Instagram. (And be sure to follow us on Instagram at: https://instagram.com/the_beer_thrillers).

Both are wonderful beers for this time of year and will definitely get you into that fall and pumpkin season feeling!

Drink more beer!
- Amy

Double Zombies by New Trail Brewing

More Pumpkin Beer Reviews by Grandma SueAnn and Amy

Looking for more pumpkin beer reviews by Amy and Grandma SueAnn? Then check these out:

More New Trail Beer Reviews

Amy’s Column Series

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.

Oh Ever Grain: 7 Years, 7 Beers

AmyMWolfe — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 01:05:00 +0000

Oh Ever Grain!

Oh Ever Grain! 7 Years, 7 Beers indeed! When Ever Grain Brewing posted about the 7 YEARS, 7 BEERS!! On Sept 22 I immediately shared the post with my boyfriend. He’d understand this beer message share was serious beyond the 500 others I already sent him that day. (LOL)

(The Evergrain Brewing post on Facebook – September 22nd)

We previously picked up the Veneration of the Dead in a Crowler from West Connection. (See our Instagram post here: West Connection Vault Haul). Before I could pop that bad boy open I tasted it when I visited Ever Grain Brewery to catch up with some friends. (See our Facebook reel here: Sunday Funday at Ever Grain Brewery.)

(Ben insertion: Ben also got to crack open a Veneration of the Dead crowler for his Ahsoka review video with his friends Drew and Tim over at Drew’s YouTube channel – Knights of Nostalgia. He drank it for their Episode 8 Review: The Jedi, The Witch, and the Warlord.)

Veneration of the dead comes rocking in with a 14.2% ABV. It has an average rating of 4.37 on Untapped. It is a Stout – Imperial/Double Pasty and described as “For our 7^th Anniversary, a rich and luxurious Imperial Stout aged extensively in apple brandy and bourbon barrels and then conditioned on toasted hazelnuts, cocoa nibs, whole vanilla beans and a touch of maple syrup. “

Looney Toons Chef Kiss

I remember feeling the urge to do the chef’s kiss after I read the description of Veneration of the dead. I mean who could blame me? We are just entering stout season and a 14.2% stout will keep me warm on these chilly fall nights. Let’s also keep in mind this isn’t just a strong stout. This stout was also aged in apple brandy AND bourbon barrels. Both!

Those flavors come barreling at you as you sip on this tasty stout. The smell of a strong stout hits your nose. You are preparing for the rich flavors of hazelnuts and cocoa nibs to start with. But before you can process that the apple brandy and bourbon barrel flavors roll over you and remind you this is a boozy little b*tch. At this this point when it comes to letting the dog outside the chilly evening air isn’t bothering you at all. I’m ready to finish this glass out while finishing out watching the Giants and the Bills. Cheers!

Drink More Beer
Amy

Ever Grain Brewing and Hershey Bears

Just recently Ever Grain Brewing and the Hershey Bears announced a team up to make a beer for all of their home games at the GIANT Center as well as at The Chocolatier and the Bear’s Den at the Hershey Lodge. The beer is called the Bear’s Claw Pale Lager. You can read more about it here: Hershey Bears and Ever Grain Brewing Team Up to Create Bear Claw Pale Lager.

You can also see Ever Grain’s reel here: Ever Grain and Hershey Team Up.

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.)

Our Ever Grain Articles

For More Information on Ever Grain Brewing Company

The following comes from Untappd. Ever Grain Brewing Company is a micro brewery from Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. They have 276 unique beers and over 374,000 ratings, with a global average Untappd rating of 4.00 (as of 10.15.23). Their Untappd description reads: Ever Grain Brewing Co. prides themselves in using only the freshest, highest-quality ingredients, with a local twist. Our goal is to provide your taste buds with a new experience every time you visit our brewery. We look forward to sharing some stories with you over one of our hand crafted beers. Cheers!

You can follow them on the following social media pages:

Original Announcement

The following is their original announcement on Facebook – September 22nd:

7 YEARS, 7 BEERS!!! Here we gooooo….

Sorbetto #65

6% ABV

Our 7 year Anniversary celebratory Sorbetto batch featuring creamy milk sugar covered blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries with birthday cake!

Pulp Zombie in ”Primordial Booze”

8.4% ABV

The Pulp Zombie saga returns for our 7th turn around the sun! We traveled back in time for this version and added prehistoric amounts of Citra hops to a pillowy malt body make for a pulpy orange liquid reminiscent of the infamous Primordial Booze….

Suburban Transit

5.8% ABV

For this bright little number we brewed a pale with ties to our favorite things about west coast and east coast hoppy beers. A hybrid if you will. Bursting with rays of pineapple sunshine and grapefruit zest and followed with a gentle, tropical finish. This is one you can enjoy all day long!

Veneration of the Dead

14.2% ABV

A rich and luxurious Imperial Stout aged extensively in apple brandy barrels and then conditioned on toasted hazelnuts, cocoa nibs, whole vanilla beans and a touch of maple syrup.

Astro Cat

7% ABV

Brewed with some of our absolute favorite hop varieties for notes of ripe honeysuckle, mango sorbet, and stone fruit orchards. Making an insanely expressive drinking experience in this hazy IPA and brings new meaning to “Sip on the Unimaginable!”

Enchanting Rhino

10.5% ABV

A soft and voluptuous Triple IPA brewed with a blend of New Zealand and American hops. It’s enchanting aromas of ripe apricot, juicy mango, and white grape will leave you breathless!

Last but not least…

TDH Joose Juicy

6% ABV

Our beloved take on a New England IPA was taken to another level! Aggressively triple dry hopped with some serious hop poundage creating a smooth hoppy ride with dank pine and citrus notes.

Be sure to come in this weekend, only a few will be available out in the wild next week!

Don’t forget we also have LIVE music tonight at 7:30 with Honeypump Band!
Ever Grain Brewing Company – Facebook Post

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.

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!

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.