Friday, August 28, 2015

Field Yield



A beautiful evening with music, friends, and beer. And not just any ol' beer . . . but a brandy-spankin' new beer! Life is good!

For the second concert in the hopyard at Two Roads, they introduced they're latest brew - Field Yield.  Field Yield (5.3% ABV) is an American Pale Ale brewed exclusively with hops harvested from Two Roads' very own  cascade and centennial hop vines. It was just right for drinking on a warm summer evening - bright, flavorful, and refreshing, juicy with a snippet of hoppy bitterness. Delightful and delicious.


The music was groovin'. Jon Slow opened up the evening with a mix of classic songs and his own tunes.  His acoustic style made an enjoyable background for chillin' with a cold brew (or two(ish)).

He was followed by Hitch and the Giddyup. Their bluegrass stylings were fun and energetic; they got folks clapping and dancing. I'd say that they were rockin' but that's not exactly accurate since, you know, bluegrass. They were flippin' awesome!

I hope Two Roads squeezes in a few more of these concerts before the cold weather sets in - good times!




Thursday, August 27, 2015

Black Hog Brewery - private event



I was invited to attend a private tasting and bottle share event at Black Hog Brewing. I was lucky enough to be selected to receive an invitation due to the recommendation of not one but two Black Hog staffers. I was excited and honored to accept.

Not only did I get to participate in a massive bottle share but I also got the first taste of Black Hog's anniversary beer - Hog Water IPA.

I arrived to find a small but impressive array of beer bloggers. beer enthusiasts, brewers, beer geeks, and even the occasional beer snob - many of whom were already known to me. Hugs and beer all around!

Including several Black Hog beers, I consumed about 40 different beers many which were rare and difficult to obtain. The bottle sharers were very generous with their contributions - the variety was incredible.

We were even treated to a Hillside Brewing mead and Russian imperial stout. Super yummy.


Before the bottle sharing frenzy began, we started out with brews from Black Hog. They're offerings are well crafted and tasty.

The Hop Collective CTZ (5.5% ABV) American IPA - this brew was delightfully bitter and had a super fresh hoppiness that was simply amazing. Wicked good brew!

Coffee Milk Stout (5.5% ABV) - Wow! It had all the smooth creaminess that I expect from a milk stout. An excellent offering.

Disco Pig #2.1 (6.5% ABV) Brett Golden Sour Ale Aged in Cab Franc Barrels - I have a passion for sours. This one does not disappoint - mouthwateringly tart.

Disco Pig #3  (6.3% ABV)La Rouge Trois is a collaboration with Oxbow Brewing Company Flanders Red Ale - light and fruity with a nice tang of sourness.

Disco Pig #4  (6.5% ABV) Lime Maguey - an intriguing combination of flavors. The lime and agave give it a kind of south of the border flavor. Refreshing!

Hog Water (7% ABV) American IPA - has a wonderful combination of hops that is bright and refreshing. A little crisp with a hint of dankness.

A great beer and a rockin' good time! I'm looking forward to attending their anniversary celebration!





Saturday, August 22, 2015

Shore 2 the Pour




It's been a year since I started training to run Two Roads Brewing Company's annual Shore 2 the Pour 5K.

I started training diligently - walking and (sort of) running as often as possible. Hitting the gym. "Running" other 5Ks.

Here's what I learned along the way. I f'n hate running. I really and truly hate it. All you so-called runners who supposedly love to run, all I can say is what-the-f^ck-ever. Running sucks.

Throughout the year I ran several 5Ks - by "ran" I mean that I mostly walked. Most of those 5Ks were beer related. Will run for beer - that's my motto. There's no other thing that can motivate me to run.

What's worse than running? Running on sand, shells, and rocks.

Although the Shore 2 the Pour is pretty much a flat course, it is pretty much all sand, shells, and rocks. But there's beer. Lots and lots of beer. So, you know what? Bring it on!!

I did it! Along with several hundred other people.






And do you know what else? I didn't finish last. That was my goal - not to finish last. It's not a lofty goal but at least I met it. In fact, according to the official race results posted on the internet, I ran a 7-minute mile and finished in 21 minutes.

If it's on the internet it mus be true. Right?

Sadly, wrong. The official analog results posted after the race say something entirely different.



This is more like it. But, as you can clearly see, I did not finish last.








Whatever. There was beer. Lots and lots of beer. And sand. Lots and lots of sand.

Good times.





Friday, August 14, 2015

Bergamonster

Anyone who pays even the slightest attention to my beer drinking activities knows that, in the summertime, my go to brew is Road Jam. Two Roads brewery is practically stumbling distance from my house and I love relaxing in the beer garden with an nice cold brew and good friends.

Earlier this week Two Roads announced the latest release in their Road Less Traveled series - Bergamonster.

Of course, I popped in and tried as soon as I could. Then I had a Road Jam. :)

My understanding is that this monster of a beer is loosely based on Pilot Batch #3 that was released a few months back.






I can certainly taste the similarities, but this is very much it's own beer; kind of a distant cousin to #3.

Bergamonster is a American Pale Wheat Ale that weighs in at a heft 8.2% ABV.  It lives up to it;s name. It is bold but fairly drinkable.

You can really taste the mildly bitter orange peel and lots of spices. You can also feel the alcohol.

It's delicious but not a slam-down summer beer.

Get it while you can. It's not going to be around for long.



Sunday, August 2, 2015

Hopyard Music Series

A 21 and over crowd gathered to kick off Two Roads Brewing Company’s Hopyard Music Series on Sunday afternoon. The weather was summertime perfection. The atmosphere was that of a family get together (minus all the screaming children); complete with backyard games like cornhole, bocchi and even an occasional football or Frisbee flying through the air.

The tastes and smells delivered by Farmboys BBQ only served to add to the family picnic vibe. Those boys certainly do have some smokin’ barbecue.

From the newly inaugurated beer shed the beer was flowing. From the backdrop the hop vines were waving in the breeze. And from the stage itself the music was jammin’ – kind of like the Road Jam beer I was enjoying. I was in a very happy place.

The opening act was solo acoustic performer Tim Palmieri. He played an amazing set. Tim transitioned effortlessly from Johnny Cash to Frank Zappa to Ziggy Stardust and ended with the Beatles. He was fun and energetic and an amazing musician.

Tim was a tough act to follow but The Housatonic River Band picked up where he left off and played on. They rocked it out to the very end with songs from The Band, Tom Petty, Talking Heads, Creedence Clear Water Revival, the Beatles, and more.

Listening to music and relaxing in the Hopyard at Two Roads was a great way to spend the afternoon. Great music and cold beer shared with good friends both old and new. I can’t think of any place I’d rather have been. I can’t wait for the next concert in The Hopyard at Two Roads!

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Craft Brew Races - New Haven


It’s been nearly a year since I made the decision to start training so that I would be able to run Two Roads Brewing’s 2015 Shore 2 the Pour 5K.

In that time I’ve learned a something about myself. I really freakin’ hate running.  Really I do. Really.

However, so long as there is beer at the finish. When it comes to these runs the beer is like the carrot put before the donkey. I, my friends, am that ass and beer is my crunchy orange root vegetable.

Pour to the Short 5K is coming up in a couple weeks and I still plan to do it. In an effort to continue my 5K training, I signed up for the Craft Brew Race in New Haven.

It was a perfectly lovely day – clear and sunny if not somewhat hot but not at all humid. I was ready(ish). Well, not really ready but whatever there was the carrot to consider.

Off we go . . . ugh. I actually got off to a running start. I managed to run a little while – a very short little while – before slowing to a walk and my hubby left me behind in his dusty wake.

52 minutes and 59 seconds later I floated across the finish line.


Now where the f^ck is the beer?

Ahhh, there! I was surrounded by it's cold, refreshing, malty, hoppy goodness. 

So many beers, so little time. Too much beer really after being all overheated and sweaty from the road race.

I decided to focus on brews and breweries I hadn't sampled before. It was awesome to try  several new-to-me brews. Of course, there were some old favorites I had to drink, as well.

Although, I tried to limit myself, I did sample quite a few different beers.

Overall, the event was well organized, the route was nice, the run was . . . well, it was what it was . . . and the beer. BEER! An awesome day!