Red Brick Smoked Vanilla Gorilla

Today's beertography is from Eric aka @BEERgeekATL. It features the Red Brick Smoked Vanilla Gorilla. Formerly known as Atlanta Beer Company, Red Brick prides itself on being the oldest brewery in Georgia. But it has no current plans to distribute outside of the South. So get visitin'! You can follow Red Brick brewing on Twitter here.

If you would like to have your photos featured on the site, please email them to beertography@gmail.com. Or if you're on the go, you can tag your tweet with #beertography and/or mention me @beertography.

Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA

Today's submission comes from Lianne Price and features the deliciously dangerous Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA. I thought this would be a timely post since Dogfish just announced on Monday that a brand new batch of 120 was being shipped out to its wholesalers. 120 in a bottle is great, but 120 on tap is even better and that's what Lianne got to experience:

Today I had Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA on tap. First time I tried it, and loved it! (though my heart still goes to the 90 Minute)

If you would like to have your photos featured on the site, please email them to beertography@gmail.com. Or if you're on the go, you can tag your tweet with #beertography and/or mention me @beertography.

Goose Island Rare Bourbon County Stout

Today's beertography comes from Michael Kiser of GoodBeerHunting.com and features the impeccable Rare Bourbon County Stout from Goose Island. Here's what Michael had to say about his submission:

It was only brewed once, aged for two years, and then bottled in 2010. It has a massive flavor profile and is considered one of the world's best. We cracked it in my buddy's beer cellar over some ping pong alongside some other Bourbon Counties going back to 2008.

Michael has a plethora of great beertography on his site, so check it out today!

If you would like to have your photos featured on the site, please email them to beertography@gmail.com. Or if you're on the go, you can tag your tweet with #beertography and/or mention me @beertography.

Avery Joe's Premium American Pilsner

Beertography of the Day - Tuesday September 27th

Today's photo comes to us from Kyle Park of Hops & Circumstance and features Joe's Premium American Pilsner from Avery Brewing Company. Kyle describes the Joe's as a the perfect beer for cooling down after a long homebrewing session.

Follow Kyle on Twitter @HopsBlog


If you would like to have your photos featured on the site, please email them to beertography@gmail.com. Or if you're on the go, you can tag your tweet with #beertography and/or mention me @beertography.

Newcastle Werewolf and Winter IPA

I was recently contacted by Newcastle to see if I wanted to try their two newest seasonal releases, Werewolf and Winter IPA. I've always had an appreciation for Newcastle because their Brown was one of the first non-light beers that I actually enjoyed.

The Werewolf is described as a Blood Red Ale and should be available on the market now. Maybe I'm just a jaded craft beer drinker now, but to me this tasted a bit like Newcastle with a slight fruit injection. Perhaps this would be a good beer to try to get a die-hard Newcastle drinker to expand their palate.

The other forthcoming Newcastle seasonal and the one I was more excited to try was the Winter IPA. As an English style IPA, one has to approach this beer much differently than an American hop bomb. Hops are used to impart a more subtle bitterness, rather than an explosive palate-wrecker.  While I prefer more hop character in my IPAs, this is not a beer I would complain about. I would probably place it in the same category as the Werewolf, where I can see it being used to lure mainstream drinkers into more complex and flavorful territory.

You can read more about Newcastle's seasonal line at beernews.org.

Harpoon Leviathan Triticus

Beertography of the Day - Monday September 26th

Today's photo comes to us from Matt Garland of Tapped Craft Beer and features Harpoon Leviathan Triticus. To me it looks like this beer has some kind of perfect storm of dissipating head. Or perhaps a four-leaf clover would be more accurate?


If you would like to have your photos featured on the site, please email them to beertography@gmail.com. Or if you're on the go, you can tag your tweet with #beertography and/or mention me @beertography.

NYC Brewer's Choice 2011

Last night I had the pleasure of attending one of the most prestigious events of NY Craft Beer Week, NYC Brewer's Choice at City Winery. Curated by Jimmy Carbone of Jimmy's No. 43 as well as Beer Sessions Radio, the event featured brewers, owners and brewery reps pouring their beer directly for the attendees. Rob Tod from Allagash and Garrett Oliver of Brooklyn Brewery were just two of the many in attendance. Each brewery brought something new, interesting, rare or just plain delicious and then the beers were paired with various local food vendors' dishes.



It certainly was quite a crowd for a good majority of the event, but that just means a lot of friendly familiar faces.



White Birch Brewing Company out of New Hampshire brought one of the most interesting beers of the event, their Wild Oak Aged Imperial Stout.



Greenport Harbor out of Long Island had one of my favorites of theirs, the Leaf Pile Ale. Other favorites included the Barrier Brewing Frau Blucher, Cross Roads Outrage IPA and the Schmaltz Geektoberfest.



Toward the end of the night, Garrett Oliver made a great speech about the importance of what's happening here in New York City (and across the country). He said that its not a trend, its a return to normalcy. Truer words can't be spoken about the craft beer movement.





Happy Brewmaster, post-speech.



One of the most popular pairings at Brewer's Choice was cheese. In case you've never tried it, beer and cheese go great together. Way better than wine and cheese. But my personal favorite dish of the night was Nita Nita's Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Chorizo. It sounds like an odd combination but it was amazing. Definitely making a point to visit them in Williamsburg very soon.



One last sip for the road.

Bell's Octoberfest - Happy Fall!

Beertography of the Day - Friday September 23rd

Today's photo comes to us from Tom Bricker aka @wdwfigment and features Bell's Octoberfest. Today is the first official day of Fall (don't listen to those people that say Labor Day is the official end of Summer) so I thought this would be a great photo for today. Now, who wants to send me some Bell's?

Feel free to check out Tom's Flickr Page.


If you would like to have your photos featured on the site, please email them to beertography@gmail.com. Or if you're on the go, you can tag your tweet with #beertography and/or mention me @beertography.

Cooperstown Strike Out Stout

Beertography of the Day - Thursday September 22nd

Today's photo comes to us from Jesse Caldwell aka @jcshithead and features Cooperstown Strike Out Stout. I particularly liked how you can actually see rays of sunlight coming through the photo in front of the bottle.


If you would like to have your photos featured on the site, please email them to beertography@gmail.com. Or if you're on the go, you can tag your tweet with #beertography and/or mention me @beertography.

Brooklyn Brewery The Companion Release Party

This past Monday evening I was graciously invited to attend the release party for the latest in the Brooklyn Brewery's Brewmaster Reserve series, The Companion. It may sound a bit like a strange name until you learn that its literally the companion to Brooklyn Brewmaster Garrett Oliver's newest achievement, The Oxford Companion to Beer. The beer itself is a 9.1% wheat wine brewed with 55% wheat malt to give it a light fruitiness you wouldn't normally expect. You'll notice that it doesn't taste like its 9% so take it slow!



Garrett addresses the crowd about the importance of beer.



I'm patiently waiting for my copy of the near-1000 page hardcover book to arrive. Once it does I'll post a more comprehensive look inside.



Four giant fermenters greet you as you step through the main entrance at the Brooklyn Brewery.





New to me! Since the last time I visited the brewery, their expansion has continued at a rapid pace. ABout where you see that mass of piping used to stand a full wall. Now it is gone and even larger fermenters have been set up toward the back of the brewery. Expansion = More Beer = Good.



Another cool addition to the brewery is this wall installation which features some of the brewery's history in photos.



Cheers!

21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon

Beertography of the Day - Wednesday September 21st

Today's photo comes to us from Colleen Murray and features 21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon with a little city named Denver in the background. Timely, as I'll be arriving in Denver in just 8 days for GABF! Can't wait.


If you would like to have your photos featured on the site, please email them to beertography@gmail.com. Or if you're on the go, you can tag your tweet with #beertography and/or mention me @beertography.

Dartmoor Brewery Jail Ale

Beertography of the Day - Tuesday September 20th

Today's photo comes to us from Neil McDonald and features Dartmoor Brewery Jail Ale from the United Kingdom. Here's Neil's description:

The picture was taken at my local pub “The Front” in Falmouth, Cornwall, UK. The particular beer in question is brewed by Dartmoor Brewery and as you can see is called Jail Ale.

Check out Neil's website Mash.Sparge.Boil.

I'm continuing with last week's trend and will be posting photos once per day Monday thru Friday. If you would like to have your photos featured on the site, please email them to beertography@gmail.com. Or if you're on the go, you can tag your tweet with #beertography and/or mention me @beertography.

Freaktoberfest 2011

This past Friday, New York Craft Beer Week kicked off with a scream as Freaktoberfest took over Southpaw in Park Slope Brooklyn. Sponsored by Shmaltz Brewing Company, Freaktoberfest featured a plethora of beers, bands and of course, freaks like the remarkable Donny Vomit above. If you haven't seen Donny's act yet, I won't spoil it for you, but lets just say that he uses that drill very...interestingly.



Southpaw was packed to the gills with beer geeks celebrating the start of the 4th Annual New York Craft Beer Week.



Beers came from all over the place at Freaktoberfest, with some of my favorite offerings coming from Smuttynose, Kelso, Sierra Nevada and Victory.



Mr. Chris Cuzme was there to represent his new brewery, Wandering Star. Great stuff. Seek them out if you haven't had them yet.


My hang partners for the night, Giancarlo & Sarah of Beer Union. Check out their coverage of Freaktoberfest as well.

Hopworks Urban Brewery Flight

Beertography of the Day - Monday September 19th

Today's photo comes to us from Brian Aldrich aka @SeacoastBevLab and shows off a flight of Hopworks Urban Brewery's beer out of Portland, Oregon. Hopworks, or HUB was one of the breweries I failed to visit when I visited Portland last Spring. But thankfully I'll be featuring HUB in an upcoming post about Organic beers. Oh did I not mention that? HUB is 100% Organic and Sustainable. Very cool.

Check out Brian's website at seacoastbeveragelab.com.

I'm continuing with last week's trend and will be posting photos once per day Monday thru Friday. If you would like to have your photos featured on the site, please email them to beertography@gmail.com. Or if you're on the go, you can tag your tweet with #beertography and/or mention me @beertography.

Allagash Curieux & Southern Tier Pumking

Beertography of the Day - Friday September 16th

Today's photo comes to us from Richie Wilson, the Senior Broadcast Producer for Howard Stern's Howard TV. If you've been following this site recently, you know that we've featured a few Stern staffers' beertography including Richie's fiance Rachel Fine and former Howard TV employee John Suscovich aka The Foodcyclist who I also interviewed earlier this year. Richie's submission features him enjoying the last drops of the Allagash Curieux along with fellow Stern show member incomparable Richard Christy who is finishing off a Southern Tier Pumking, his faaaaaavorite.

Thanks to Richie and Richard for their contribution!

NOTE: this week there will be no separate Poll posting. Get your voting on RIGHT NOW over in the right column. Polls open until Monday afternoon.

If you would like to have your photos featured on the site, please email them to beertography@gmail.com. Or if you're on the go, you can tag your tweet with #beertography and/or mention me @beertography.

Cerveza Cuello Negro

Beertography of the Day - Thursday September 15th

Today's photo comes to us from Beer Writer extraordinaire John Holl. John recently visited Chile to judge beers for the Copa Cervezas de America 2011. The photo features the Cerveza Cuello Negro and here's what John had to say about it:

Last weekend in Chile I took this shot of the award-winning Cuello Negro stout while on a horse farm in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. You can't really make it out, but that's a Chilean flag in the background.

Check out John's website BeerBriefing.com and follow him on Twitter @John_Holl. I also highly recommend purchasing the book Indiana Breweries which John co-authored with Nate Schweber.

If you would like to have your photos featured on the site, please email them to beertography@gmail.com. Or if you're on the go, you can tag your tweet with #beertography and/or mention me @beertography.

He’Brew Hop Manna IPA

Beertography of the Day - Wednesday September 14th

Today's photo comes to us from Kristin S. aka @irishillini and features He'Brew's Hop Manna IPA. Kristin paired this beer with some good Mexican food. Cheers Kristin!


If you would like to have your photos featured on the site, please email them to beertography@gmail.com. Or if you're on the go, you can tag your tweet with #beertography and/or mention me @beertography.

NY Craft Beer Week Kicks Off Friday with FREAKTOBERFEST!

It's that time again. Yes, a very important time for craft drinkers in NY! The 4th Annual NY Craft Beer Week kicks off this Friday, September 16th from 7pm to 1am at Southpaw in Brooklyn. Here's the description of the event:

Step Right Up and join us at the official kick-off party for New York Craft Beer Week. Come and drink some of the finest American craft beers in the country with representatives from over 20 different breweries. 2 floors of music, New York's finest burlesque, freaks, oddities and human curiosities! Admission is $50 which includes a tasting glass and unlimited tastings for the duration of the festival. Limited capacity of 400.

Check out some photos from Freaktoberfest 2010.

Breweries Pouring at Freaktoberfest:
Shmaltz Brewing Company, Smuttynose, Captain Lawrence, Ithaca, Ommegang, Lagunitas, Victory, The Bruery, Allagash, Greenport Harbor, Oskar Blues, Left Hand, Ballast Point, Two Brothers, Pretty Things, Sixpoint, Cape Anne, Sierra Nevada, Goose Island, Stone, Founders, Cigar City, Bear Republic, Speakeasy, Harpoon, Sly Fox, Southampton, Kelso, Empire, Brooklyn Brewery, Dogfish Head, Avery, Wandering Star, Barrier.

Pick up your NY Craft Beer Week Passport and get your tickets to Freaktoberfest via TicketWeb today. See you there!

2007 Cantillon Iris

Beertography of the Day - Tuesday September 13th

Today's photo comes to us from Stephen Lyford and features 2007 Cantillon Iris at Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia, PA. I had the pleasure of visiting Monk's for the second time over Labor Day weekend, and it is definitely one of the best beer bars in Philly, make even the East Coast. If you're ever in town, be sure to visit.

I'm switching things up a bit this week and will be posting beertography once per day Monday thru Friday. I've gotten so many great submissions I need to post them more frequently so I can catch up!

If you would like to have your photos featured on the site, please email them to beertography@gmail.com. Or if you're on the go, you can tag your tweet with #beertography and/or mention me @beertography.

Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale

Beertography of the Day - Monday September 12th

Today's photo comes to us from Nellie Sanchis and features Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale. Nellie says she took this shot while swimming in the Esopus Creek up in the Catskills a few weeks ago. Dale's is one of my go-to beers and is pretty widely available here in NJ.

I'm switching things up a bit this week and will be posting beertography once per day Monday thru Friday. I've gotten so many great submissions I need to post them more frequently so I can catch up!

If you would like to have your photos featured on the site, please email them to beertography@gmail.com. Or if you're on the go, you can tag your tweet with #beertography and/or mention me @beertography.

Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale

Fresh Hop beers are an amazing thing. Instead of utilizing pelletized hops, the brewer uses fresh-off-the-vine full cone hops that go directly into the beer. In the case of Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere, the hops are taken directly from New Zealand and flown to the brewery in California for immediate utilization. Using hops from New Zealand is a unique twist on the style as the base beer would be considered an American IPA.

Here's an excerpt from Sierra Nevada's website about the beer:

Our newest addition to our Harvest family is Southern Hemisphere Harvest. This is the first time we know of that an American brewer has put out a beer with fresh-picked hops from the southern hemisphere. The inaugural ale will debut in late April and will feature fresh Pacific Hallertau, New Zealand Motueka and New Zealand Southern Cross hops, all from New Zealand.

Like our Celebration Ale, the fresh hops in this beer are dried right after being picked then shipped immediately to Chico for brewing so that they retain their peak aromatics and flavors. To ensure the freshest hops possible, we went to the added expense of flying these hops from New Zealand to Chico so we could brew with them the week after they were picked.

If you've never had a Fresh Hop beer, you should seek one out immediately. Southern Hemisphere should be pretty widely available, but other great examples include Founders Harvest Ale and Great Divide Fresh Hop Pale Ale.

Boulevard Seeyoulator Doppelbock

The Boulevard Brewing Company's Seeyoulator Doppelbock is easily one of the best and most interesting Doppelbocks I've ever had. This was Boulevard's Fall 2010 entry into their fantastic Smokestack Series, and here I am posting about it nearly a year later. Thankfully the bottle stayed fresh and in my fridge and I didn't notice one bit of oxidation or any off-flavors. It was plain great. The cedar is what really brings this beer over the edge and at a sneaky 8.5%, you should make this one you share with a friend.

Here's what Boulevard's website has to say about it:

Doppelbock was first brewed in Munich around 1700 by the monks of Saint Francis of Paula, to sustain them through the Lenten fast. They called their full-bodied brew “Salvator.” Today it is customary to pay homage to the good brothers by giving doppelbocks names ending in “-ator.” Our version bids a fond aufwiedersehen to tradition, charting a flight path into bold new territory. Medium amber in color, it offers a heady, estery banana aroma. Rich maltiness predominates, with cedar aging lending just a hint of spice to the finish.

This one would likely be hard to find on shelves now, but if you see it anywhere its definitely still worth picking up. Or anything in the Smokestack Series for that matter.

Beertography of the Week

The polls are closed and CONGRATS to Eric San Juan for his submission of La Trappe Isid'or from the Netherlands. You can check out Eric's blog at shoegaze99.blogspot.com.

Since its a short week thanks to Labor Day and since I've gotten so many submissions lately, I'm taking a break and will resume Beertography of the Week this coming Monday 9/12.

Beertography on Google+
Beertography on Facebook
Beertography on Untappd

Beertography of the Week Poll

Which Submission Should Be Beertography of the Week?

It's votin' time! Here are the four selections from this week, and you decide who the winner will be. Since this is a holiday weekend, the poll will remain open until 2:00pm Tuesday. Thanks to everyone for participating.

Founders Double Trouble

Beertography of the Day - Thursday September 1st

Today's photo comes to us from @JohnStoffer and features Founders Double Trouble. Here's a little info about the beer from the Founders website:

An imperial IPA that was brewed to turn your world upside down. Hops will get you coming and going. Pungent aromatics up front pair with a malt-balanced backbone and a smooth bitter finish.

9.4% ABV
86 IBUs

Check out John's Photography at stofferphotography.com.

I'll be posting 1 photo submission per day followed by a poll at end of the week to determine the Beertography of the Week.

Would you like to have your photos featured on the site? Email your beertography to beertography@gmail.com or you can just tag your tweet with #beertography and/or mention me @beertography.