Time to Catch Up, How About With Some More IPAs?!

Laptop needed repairs again. I'm almost certain that the world doesn't want this blog to exist! So in an effort to catch up, I will put a few of the great IPAs I have had lately all in one post. All of these IPAs were beers I was waiting very impatiently to try, and I have been lucky enough to snatch them all up!

First up is a fantastic Double IPA: Victory's Dirt Wolf. It took quite a while for this beer to arrive in Virginia Beach, but it was worth the wait! It pours a light, clear gold with a thin off white head. Citrus hops are tangy on the nose, along with a sweet malt backbone. A taste reveals tons of orange and grapefruit flavors. These citrus flavors are followed by just a little malt sweetness. Bitterness is powerful but it is so balanced by these malts and citrus flavors that it is not at all overwhelming. This beer is phenomenal, and I hope it becomes available in larger quantities in this area soon.

Next comes one that just started distributing to Virginia relatively recently: Cigar City Jai Alai. This beer is well sought after in beer trading circles, and I had wanted to try it ever since I first caught wind of it on Instagram. Unfortunately, this beer seems to be only going to Western VA so far, so I had to wait until I took a trip out that way to get some. Jai Alai pours a semi clear gold with a fluffy off white head. The nose on this beer is amazing, with lots of floral and citrus hops assaulting the air. Forward flavors are a lot of orange citrus hops. After that comes just a slightly sweet malt backbone. It finishes just a little bitter, but very smooth. The balance here is killer, and it lives up to the hype. I won't be driving out to Richmond in order to get some more of this, but if I head out that way for something else I will certainly try to get some more. I haven't heard anything about this coming to the beach yet, but hopefully it will be here soon! I would love to try more Cigar City beers!

One of the first beers I reviewed on this blog was Sixpoint's incredible Resin (see that post here). So when I heard about Hi-Res, a beer in which they try to take hop flavors to another level, I knew I had to have it. As soon as I cracked this can my nose was slammed with odors of both citrus and pine hops that got even stronger as I poured. Hi-Res pours a clear, dark gold with a fluffy, slightly off white head. The first flavors I detected were some subtle sweet malts, followed by some hop flavors that I have never quite experienced before. Citrus hops come first, with hints of both grapefruit and orange. Pine flavors come next, but just as a light follow up and not at all as abrasive as many piney hops can be. Finishes bitter, but not overly so. The real danger here is all those great flavors cover up any hint of the 11.1% alcohol that may be there. So crack one of these bad boys with caution, because if you try to drink that whole four pack on your own you may find yourself quite tipsy.

Last one I am going to put on this post is Bear Republic's Apex "Special" IPA. I am not sure what is special about it exactly, other than it is delicious! Apex pours a clear gold with a big, fluffy head. The nose is huge, with lots of citrus and floral notes filling the entire room! This stuff leads nice, light, and smooth with some amazing citrus notes. It is followed by malts that are quite sweet, but quickly replaced by bitter, hoppy goodness. Like the rest of the beers on this post, the real thing that makes this stand out is the balance! All of the flavors play off of each other smoothly. This is the best Bear Republic beer I've had so far!

A Happy Mistake: Lagunitas Sucks and Brown Shugga

Every now and then something happens that throws a wrench in your game plan. That happened to Lagunitas back in 2011 when they were unable to produce their annual release of Brown Shugga. As a result, they released the self deprecating Lagunitas Sucks and proclaimed it a Brown Shugga substitute. It was received so well that they make it every year. Recently I tried both, and I figure its appropriate to discuss them together.

First up we have Brown Shugga. Lagunitas doesn't claim a style here, so we will just call it a strong ale, weighing in at a big 9.9% ABV. It pours a crystal clear brown with a beige head. The nose is surprisingly light for a big beer, with just slight hints of malts detectable. The flavor is less subtle. Tons of sweet malt flavors forward accompanied by some (who would have thought) brown sugar notes. It finishes pretty boozy, but not as much as you would expect from a beer of this strength. It is a solid offering, though not a stand out favorite of mine.

Next up, however, is the happy mistake dubbed only as Sucks. Sucks pours a crystal clear light gold with a big, fluffy off white head that leaves behind a ton of lacing. The nose is big and hoppy, with lots of citrusy tangerine notes. Those citrus notes follow through in the flavor. There is a lot of grapefruit flavors, and the bitterness is subtle but present. This stuff is incredibly delicious and refreshing, and at 7.8% ABV, it is a little more drinkable than the beer it substituted. This has become a go to IPA for me. Not only is it unbelievably delicious, but the price is way below what it could be for a beer of this caliber (Under $10 for a sixer!). Between this and Hop Stoopid, Lagunitas is killing it in the IPA department.

The Bier Garden

Welcome to my first post about beer restaurants in the area! Today I'd like to share with you a little gem out in Portsmouth, VA: The Bier Garden. I had heard about this place a couple years ago, and just had not made it out there until early this past January. Is it worth it? Well I went there a total of three times last month, if that is any sign. This place has it all, but let me break it down for you real quick.

Atmosphere and Service: The Bier Garden is a tiny little nook of a restaurant squeezed between larger establishments in downtown Portsmouth. Step in off the busy streets and you are transported to the home of the German grandmother you may or may not have ever had. It is a homely little place with modest furnishing, including a heated outdoor patio and a bar. It is quiet, with festive German music playing softly in the background. Two out of the three times I went a happy little German lady who I believe is the owner's wife was hanging out in the front room with little ones I assume were her grandchildren. You are hit with a warmth before you even get to the beer. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable of the menu and beer list. They make you feel at home, and I really dig that.

Food: Of course if you are going out to a restaurant, you are probably there primarily for the food. The first time I was there, I got a Cordon Bleu sandwich on the most heavenly pretzel bun I have ever tasted. I mean you could eat this thing without the sandwich. In fact, they will sell you a fresh warm one on its own so you can do just that! Add a side of tasty, vinegar based potato salad and I'm in heaven. The next couple visits I got bratwurst and knockwurst, both of which were also phenominal. Even if your dinner mates are not into beer (my wife is not), they will still get to enjoy the great food!

Beer: In the end, this is a beer blog, and I am sure that is what you are all interested in. Well fear not, because The Bier Garden has a MASSIVE list of beers available. Their main focus is imports from Belgium and Germany, but they also carry a great selection of craft beers from the states as well. Just don't go in there expecting to get a Bud Light. They don't carry that nonsense. Get yourself a real lager or German bock, you'll be glad you did. Anyways, here are the beers I tried!

First up was an Ayinger Ur-Weisse, a Dunkelweizen weighing in at a very drinkable 5.8% ABV. Ur-Weisse pours a light, hazy gold with a fluffy white head. The nose is nice and light with notes of banana and a hint of wheat. Flavors open up with tart apple flavors that kind of caught me off guard followed by light and amazing banana notes. It finishes light, smooth, and dry. This beer is absolutely delicious. Unfortunately I don't believe it is available in our local Total Wines. I will certainly be checking out Grape and Gourmet to see if they carry it, as this could easily become my go-to summer beverage.

Next up is a Tripel from Corsendonk known both as Agnus and Abbey Pale Ale (7.5% ABV).  It pours a hazy, brown-yellow with a white head. The nose is a strange blend of lemons and apples. It opens up with a really bizarre tartness with some yeast and clove notes. The rest of the flavors are really hard to place. There is a hint of spices, but I couldn't tell you what those spices are. There is also an unusual lemon flavor without being sweet. At first sip I didn't think I cared for this beer, but its complex flavors grew on me as I drank it.

On my next visit I tried one with a heck of a name: Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel (9% ABV). As the name kind of implies, this beer falls in between a couple of styles. It pours a hazy light gold with a stark white head. The nose consists of a slightly bitter banana smell and hints of yeast. The flavors lead out with smooth banana yeasty flavors with a hint of grapefruit. It is really light in the mouth, and finishes quite bitter for a Belgian beer. This beer is an amazing cross between an IPA and a Belgian Tripel. I really enjoy the combination of citrus hops and banana flavored yeast. Luckily, this one is readily available at Total Wine or Whole Foods here in Virginia Beach.

Last up is Hofbräu Münchner Weisse, a 5.1% Hefeweizen from Germany. It pours a hazy gold with a bright white head. The nose is yeasty with notes of banana and pears. Forward notes consist of light, subtle banana flavors. These are followed up with a little spice and tangy pear notes. It is not my favorite Hefeweizen, but it is still a solid offering and worth a try if you are looking for something nice and light.