OK, I finally got around to sitting down with that batch of IPA from a couple months ago. I got a bottle of Two Hearted (batch 8409) and filled out style sheets on both. Then, I tasted them side by side. Without some interactive magic, can you tell the difference apart?

Mine is the one on the right, and the focus kind of messed up my clarity a bit. It’s slightly more hazy, but it cleared up well. IPAs though should have a little haze from the hops.

I’m actually pretty surprised how close these are. Mine is a bit darker, likely from using Maris Otter vs US Pale. When tasting Bell’s I thought I got a bit maltyness from a Munich or Vienna, but in comparison, I think the Maris Otter makes up for it. I don’t plan changing the malts at all. The body is about right on, and mine was actually just a tad a dryer, which I kind of prefer, so no changes there.  read more »

Justin & James

Beer Bar
Date and time reviewed: Sat, 31 May 2008 21:14:30 EDT

Overall Score: 91.7
Selection: 4.75 | Service: 4.5 | Atmosphere: 4.5 | Food: 4.0

Reviewer: BeerSox

Located in a "college area", this is one of the better joints you may find (at least in any college area, not necessarily in all of Boston). Close to public transportation and Harvard University. Parking can be difficult.

On one wall there are doors that can be opened when the weather is nice. Thre is a long bar, along with several tables and booths. If you're looking to watch sports you may want to head somewhere else or be sure to sit near a TV.

The policy in this location is cash only. Not sure why, but they do provide an ATM in the back of the bar.  read more »

Well, the long wait is finally over. The Wedge Brewing Company has opened its doors with a very successful first day, as Asheville's beer population descended on the river arts district last night for a first look at the new brewery. Right now they only have one beer on tap, the Iron Rail IPA, which I would assume is named for the railroad tracks that run close to the building. The beer should be familiar to fans of brewer Carl Mellisas, who has always brewed a top notch IPA. As for the brewery itself, there is plenty of glass that allows you to look at the brewing operation, as well as having a small, U-shaped tasting room. If it gets too cramped inside, there is plenty of space to take your beer outside and enjoy the nice summerlike weather. For now, the brewery is going to be open from 4-9ish on Thursday and Friday nights. This should change as they get more beers online, and they are shooting for an official grand opening on the 18th of July. Here is a tentative release schedule for their beers:  read more »

Sapporo Breweries plans to sell a “space beer” beginning in November. The beer will be made with barley to be harvested this weekend descended from seeds that spent five months in 2006 aboard the International Space Station. Spokeswoman Momoko Matsumura said the test batch will produce 100 bottles. “We’re really looking forward to tasting it [...]

Next up in our journey down the Boulevard brewing company is the Pale Ale.
This ale pours a nearly luminescent dark golden color with a thin white head and ample carbonation. There is also a fair amount of dense debris here, indicating a secondary bottle fermentation. The first sensation in the mouth is a [...]

Just got my May-June issue of New Brewer. Its got the Brewers Association annual sales figures for craft brewers for 2007. Sam Adams (Boston Beer) is the fifth largest brewer in the U.S., behind 1. Anhueser-Busch, 105,150,000 barrels; 2. Miller, 40,150,000, 3. C00rs, 24,300,000, 4. Pabst, 6,100,000. READ MORE…