Elysian seasonal!

Last night I had the opportunity to have dinner with one of my best friends in the entire world at a restaurant that I have been favoring in the last few months.  (They in-house pickle vegetables, which is probably one of my most favorite things to eat.) While dinner was out of this world, ie we had brussel sprouts that were to AMAZING, I had a beer that I had never had before, and was really thrown for a loop.  A good one at that.

To start, I had an Elysian Peste Chocolate Chili Ale.  This beer is #4 from their 12 Beers of the Apocalypse series.  I didn't quite know what to expect, so sort of naturally I asked for a sample, and to my surprise, it was a pretty interesting beer, so much so that my "date" ordered the same.  It was nothing like I was expecting, and I was nicely surprised.  It was a lightly colored almost amber colored beer that was not overwhelmingly chocolate flavored nor chili flavored.  I didn't get much of either, but drank very well and very easily.  I was expecting a much darker beer most likely because of the chocolate in its name, but it wasn't.  I think what got me most about this beer, is that I kind of expected to hate it, and loved it!  (I'm NOT a fan of any Rogue type beers like this AT ALL.)  So if you can find this one off from Elysian, CHECK IT OUT!  (even though the reviews on some websites are not the best...)

Ack!

Alright, so I've been slacking.  Majorly.  Working in the corporate restaurant world has kept me from discovering some awesome beers out there.  It also happened to be winter, which isn't the best for my beer loving self.  (Too heavy on the IPA's) However, since it is now SPRING, it means SAISON time!!!

Definitely again, one of my favorite beer times of the year, (Fall, is obviously my favorite) spring is full of delicious, grassy, citrusy, beers.  As I get back into enjoying beers and spending more time out, I'll be more willing to share my experiences.  So, please, my dear friends, I promise, I'll be spending more time on my "project" I have here before you.

Keep posted!

Its my favorite time of year!

Its finally here.  Its PUMPKIN and OKTOBERFEST beer time!  Ohh how I love this time of year!  It seems to me like it starts sooner and sooner each year, and lasts longer and longer, but I'm ok with that! As the selection of these beers gets larger and larger, I have a select few that I consider my standbys that I count on being awesome year after year.  With that being said, I've compiled a list of my absolute top 5 favorites, that I've tried.  

#1.  Voodoo Brewery Headless Horseman Imperial Pumpkin. 

This has to be one of my ALL time favorite beers ever experienced.  To be completely honest with you, I wasn't surprised that it was incredible because Voodoo makes some solid beers.  Coming out of Meadville, PA, this beer is a pumpkin beer on NITRO.  Yes, have you heard of that before?  I hadn't either, so I actually had to go to a bar I wouldn't normally frequent to drink this.  It is perfectly creamy, smooth, darker in color for a pumpkin beer, and has a ever so slight vanilla taste to it to go along with the cinnamon and nutmeg spices.  So delicious and a must try if you can find it! 

#2. Southern Tier Brewing Company Imperial Pumking.

This beauty coming from Lakewood, New York, comes in a few different varieties.  I've been able to try it in its true form and oak aged.  This is a much lighter in taste and texture pumpkin beer than #1, but nonetheless, incredible.  I prefer it in its oak aged format (on draft) only because I believe that it takes on a more vanilla like character when aged, although I will NOT pass it up in its true form!  Definitely love that this beer has become popular because it means that I can find it almost year-round!

#3. Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale.

Often the first pumpkin beer to be released every year, or the first that I see pop up, is this wonder from Easton, PA.  Its a lighter in pumpkin flavor beer than most, but again, packs enough flavor to be in my definite top 5 and does not disappoint me ever.  Weyerbacher makes some pretty heavy hitters, and this one will and does sneak up on you if you have more than a few! 

#4. Victory Festbier.

Oh gosh how I love this beer and look forward to it!  Coming from Downingtown, PA, this is Victory's take on an Oktoberfest beer.  I've had it in bottle form and on draft at the brewery.  I'll drink this beer in any format given to me, and I'll drink more than a few.  Its a very easy drinking fall amber lager beer when you just want a little bit of flavor.  

#5.  Victory Moonglow Weizenbock.

Another one of my favorites comes from Victory.  Moonglow is a classic.  Again, I've had this in both bottle format and on draft at the brewery, and I'll again, drink it in any format given.  Moonglow is malty, sweet, slightly citrusy, and with very mild caramel and vanilla like notes.  This beer is also unfiltered, thus makes it a nice transitional beer for the fall weather.  Definitely a must to get your hands on this beer that should be making an appearance sometime shortly in the area!  

With those top five, I also have three that are worth mentioning.  I really enjoy New Holland's Ichabod Pumpkin, Great Lakes Pumpkin, and actually really like Sam Adams Oktoberfest.   I haven't had enough memory on these to fully comment on their character, however, I've enjoyed my share of Sam Adam's Oktoberfest.  I actually have a bottle aging from last year! 

And, just to throw it out there, I have two worth staying away from.  Dogfish Head's Punkin, and Sly Fox's Oktoberfest.  Dogfish's is very generic, and doesn't do much for me at all.  Its actually a bit hoppy, which is something I don't want to experience when drinking a pumpkin beer.  Sly Fox, well, just doesn't make the best beers out there.  

Now get out there and enjoy these wonderful beers, we all know they won't be around for that much longer!!! I know I'll be taking in my share! 

Cheers,

Jaclyn. 

Hello Beer World!

Welcome to my blog all about things beer!  

As I sit here with a "Champagne of Beers" I present to you, my wise audience, my wonderful blog on everything beer!  After years of working in the restaurant business and a few people telling me I should write about my love and dedication, here I am!  I am a craft beer lover, self proclaimed not serious foodie, a brewer, and a master BS'er, all of my skills which I will be sharing with you!

My plan is to let you into my "beer world" and update and inform you of what's new, old, trending, and awful about the Philadelphia and beyond beer scene.  I'm excited to present this to you, and hope that you will be enjoying my posts!

Thanks!
Jaclyn