High & Mighty Beer Company
February 23, 2010 by Parker
Filed under Brewery Profiles
High & Mighty Beer Company began in 2006 as an offshoot of Shelton Brothers beer importing company. Will Shelton took his idea for a novel German-style ale to Paper City Brewery in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and Beer of the Gods was born, to extraordinary commercial success, critical acclaim, and unabashed adoration from beer geeks the world over. Eventually, Will discovered that he enjoyed selling the beer he made even more than he did the splendid beers that Shelton Brothers imports, and in June 2008, he abandoned his brother to focus on making American beer that added an American attitude to the best of European beer styles.
High & Mightly beer is currently made at Paper City, but look for High & Mighty to open a brewery of its own in 2010.
Harpoon St. Patrick’s Festival 2010
February 22, 2010 by Parker
Filed under Beer Fests
The 2010 Harpoon Brewery St. Patrick’s day celebration will take place on Friday, March 6th and Saturday, March 7th. Plan to show up to the South Boston brewery early because there WILL be a line. This celebration is a rain or shine event – it will be hosted under huge tents, with the outdoor section opening up behind the brewery as the weather allows.
As you know, nobody does a celebration of life, beer, and music quite like Harpoon. The city of Boston will be in attendance, so make sure you are too!
Tickets will be sold at the door, starting at 5:30 on Friday, and 2pm on Saturday. Free shuttles will run from South Station to the waterfront brewery regularly.
A peak into this years event from the Harpoon website:
What is Harpoon St. Patrick’s Festival all about?
- Come dance the jig, enjoy Harpoon beer, and celebrate St. Patrick!
Honest Town Brewery
February 21, 2010 by Parker
Filed under Brewery Profiles
Honest Town Brewery is located in Southbridge, Massachusetts. It was founded in 2005 and takes its name from one of the proposed names for Southbridge. Honest Town Brewery brews three year round beers and many specialty brews, which are available seasonally. Its brewer s Michael Labbe, who can be reached via e-mail at brewer@12crane.com. Labbe is also the American Beer coordinator for the Great British Beer Festival in London England and the head cellar man for the New England Real Ale eXhibition, and cellar man for the British Beer Company’s pubs.
Honest Town Brewery’s year round beers include Padraig’s Irish Red, a dark ale with a unique red color and a crisp finish from malted barley; S.O.B or Southbridge Ordinary Bitter, the brewery’s lightest offering which provides easy drinking and a light malt aroma and crisp hop finish; and Blueberry, a light, refreshing ale with a taste of blueberry. Seasonally, Honest Town Brewery offers an American Pale Ale, Hefe Weizen, Antul’s 80 Shilling, Imperial Sturbridge Coffee Roasters Stouth, Honest Town Uberraschen Hefeweizen, Honest Town IPA, and Carpall Dorche Stout. Its present seasonal offering is the Capall Dorche Stout, which is black and velvety smooth with a rich, creamy feel. It contains mild roasted flavors and a cocoa and milk chocolate finish. It contains Nugget and East Kent Goldings hops.
Honest Town Brewery is a part of the 12 Crane complex, located at 12 Crane Street, Southbridge, Masachusetts. Its phone number is 508-764-1100. There, one can enjoy Honest Town Brewery offerings at the Dark Horse Tavern.
Visit http://www.12crane.com/honesttown/index.php to learn more.
Opa Opa Brewing Company
February 21, 2010 by Parker
Filed under Brewery Profiles
The Opa Opa Brewing Co. was founded in Southhampton Massachusetts by Dan Kramer, Dennis Bates (Brewmaster), and Tony Rizos. Following the success of their Southampton brewery they opened a second one in Williamsburg, Maine. They are located on Route 10 (169 College Highway) in Southampton, MA.
Some of the beers brewed by Opa Opa include Opa Opa Light, which is a crisp malt with a low-calorie pilsner style lager; Kix Brew, which is a light bodied ale with low bitterness and a smooth finish, and Opa American Wheat, which was a Silver Medal Winner at the Great American Beer Festival in 2006. Other beers of Opa Opa Brewing Company that have won awards include the Honesty 57 Pale Ale, which won the Silver Medal at the 2007 Great International Beer Festival; and the Opa Opa Red Rock Amber, which won the Gold Medal at the Great International Beer Festival in 2005 and 2007. Opa Opa also creates many seasonal brews such as the popular Opa Blueberry Lager.
The success of Opa Opa has spread around the country. Many restaurants and bars on the east coast have began to sell their brews including Massachusetts, Florida, and Connecticut. They have also been featured in various local publications such as Business West and The Republican, as well as on CBS 3 Springfield.
The Opa Opa Brewing Company is located at: 162 College Highway Southampton, MA 01073. They give weekly brewery tours, and can be contacted at 413-527-8282.
For more information, visit http://www.opaopabrewing.com.
Great Boston Beer Marathon 2010
February 17, 2010 by Parker
Filed under Beer Fests, News and Events, Pub Crawls
The Great Boston Beer Marathon is Boston and New Englands largest pub crawl. Last years attendance reached nearly 2,000 people, and this year will be even bigger.
The 2010 takeover of Boston will be happening July 10th, might as well be on board.
The 2010 bar list will be coming shortly. In the meantime, here’s a list of the bars featured in last year’s Great Boston Beer Marathon:
01. House of Blues
02.House of Blues Restaurant
03. Church
04. Big City
05. Joshua Tree
06. Bleacher Bar
07. Game On!
08. Harrys Bar & Grille
09. La Verdad
10. The Lansdowne (formerly Jake Ivorys)
11. An Tua Nua
12. Who’s on First
13. Sports Depot
14. The Kells
15. The Draft
16. Soul Fire
17. Jillians
18. Lucky Strike
19. Tequila Rain
20. Boston Beer Works
21. The Baseball Tavern
22. Our House
23. Cask N’ Flagon
24. Olivers
25. Common Ground
26. Wonder Bar
Learn more and register for the Great Boston Beer Marathon at their website
Great Boston Beer Marathon from Beer Marathon on Vimeo.
Sebago Brewing Company – Slick Nick Winter Ale
February 14, 2010 by Parker
Filed under Ales, Beer Reviews, Winter
Sebago Brewing Company – Slick Nick Winter Ale
Slick Nick Winter Ale
THE POUR: Sebego’s Slick Nick Winter Ale pours a light and clear amber.
THE AROMA: A malty spice, usual for a winter beer. Not an overpowering smell here.
THE TASTE: Smooth, and and slightly sweet. Very crisp, and I would almost say “light” for a winter ale. Lots of caramel malts produce the sweetness.
THE DECISION: A malty winter ale, and a nice one. The sweet-spiciness works well and produces an original winter brew that stands out from the pack. I wouldn’t say it is in the head of the pack, but stands out nonetheless.
THE GRADE: B+
Peddler’s Daughter Nashua NH – Harpoon Beer Dinner
February 9, 2010 by Parker
Filed under Beer Dinners
Peddler’s Daughter Irish Restaurant invites all Friends of Harpoon to come enjoy a four-course beer dinner on Wednesday, February 10th from 7 to 9 PM. Each course will be paired with a Harpoon beer (or in the case of dessert, Harpoon Cider) to highlight the flavors of both the food and the beverage.
MENU
Starter
Crispy Chicken Crouqette
filled w/ Manchego Cheese, Pears & Roasted Garlic
served over a micro green salad w/ blood orange vinaigrette
paired w/ UFO White
1st Course
Grilled Duck and Veal Bangers & Mashed
atop Whipped Sweet Potato Champ w/ Grilled Green Onion Gravy
paired w/ Harpoon Celtic Ale
Main Entree
Surf & Turf
Irish Curry Braised Short Rib over a grilled shrimp potato boxty & sweet chili emulsion
paired w/ Harpoon IPA
Dessert
Apple & Oats Bread Pudding
w/ cider soaked dried cranberries, fresh cinnamon cream & vanilla creme anglaise
COST
$40 per person. Reservations are requested.
Visit the Peddlers Daughter for more information
B&G/Harpoon Brewery Island Creek Oyster Stout Launch Dinner
February 9, 2010 by Parker
Filed under Beer Dinners
Join B&G Oysters for a beer dinner tomorrow, Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 to celebrate the unveiling of Harpoon’s Island Creek Oyster Stout.
B&G Chef Stephen Oxaal and The Butcher Shop Chef Robert Grant, Harpoon Brewery, and Island Creek Oysters have collectively created an amazing four-course beer dinner at B&G Oysters featuring the launch of the Island Creek Oyster Stout, the 30th installment of the Harpoon 100 Barrel Series.
A limited-batch creation, The Island Creek Oyster Stout features a rich body and smooth feel that is especially perfect for pairing with oysters.
Start the evening with passed appetizers, freshly shucked oysters from the Island Creek Oyster Bar, and samples of Harpoon beers. Stay on for a seated dinner featuring fabulous dishes from the chefs, each thoughtfully paired with a seasonal Harpoon beer.
Harpoon Brewer Katie Tame and Island Creek’s Skip Bennett will be on hand to discuss the collaboration and beer as well as to walk through dining room for table talks throughout dinner.
MENU
Passed Appetizers
paired with Harpoon Celtic Ale
Island Creek Oyster
prosecco mignonette
Island Creek Oyster Ceviche
blood orange
Fried Island Creek Oyster
tartar sauce, celery
Island Creek Oyster Chowder
oyster crackers, potato
Vegetable Crudite
bagna couda
Ricotta Gnocchi
beurre monte, truffle oil
Beet Cured Salmon
horseradish, blini
Baked Stuffed Clams
chorizo
Sit Down Menu
Yellowfin Tuna Carpacio
avocado, crème fraîche, black radish vinaigrette
paired with UFO Hefeweizen
Rock Shrimp
black trumpet risotto, smoked butter
paired with Harpoon IPA
Pork Belly
island creek oyster stout, cabbage puree, brussels sprouts
paired with Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Island Creek Oyster Stout
Chocolate Cake
ganache, carmelized walnuts, korova
paired with Harpoon Leviathan Baltic Porter
Cost:
Cocktail Hour Only (6 to 7 PM): $30 per person
Seated Dinner (7:30 PM): $75 per person, includes cocktail hour
Wachusett Brewing Company – Winter Ale
January 27, 2010 by Parker
Filed under Beer Reviews, Winter
Wachusett Brewing Company – Winter Ale
Wachusett Winter Ale
THE POUR: Wachusett Winter Ale pours a lightly clouded, red-amber.
THE AROMA: A mild sweet malt smell, with light spiced hops. This beer is labeled as a “Classic Scotch Ale” with little spices. As you would expect, the aroma is that of a classic ale. Nothing out of the norm here.
THE TASTE: Smooth, and malty mouthfeel, with light spice and mild hops. This is a classic ale – not too spiced up as in other Christmas/Holiday seasonals.
THE DECISION: Maybe a little too ordinary – yet highly enjoyable. This is a great holiday go-to, when you are in the mood for a mellow, yet full-bodied Winter Ale.
THE GRADE: B+
Bottling to start at Boston Beer Works
January 14, 2010 by Parker
Filed under News and Events
You’ll soon be able to purchase Boston Beer Works craft beer at local beer stores in the greater Boston area. As I understand, the popular Boston Brewer and Restaurant is in the midst of receiving their distributors license. I was lucky enough to grab a six pack of Fenway American Pale ale from the GM on my last visit.. and Beer Works fans will NOT be disappointed. It almost tastes better than on tap. Full review to come after my next bottle, but I am very impressed. Can’t wait to see these at stores. In the meantime, pickup a Growler or a bomber of select favorites at any Beer Works locations! For more information, read our post on Boston Beer Works.
