Better Than That

I got an email yesterday morning from a reporter/blogger with the Lebanon Daily News in the central part of Pennsylvania who was taking a survey of the top beers brewed here in Pennsylvania. apparently Zymurgy magazine published the Brewers Association's top-50 beers and only one Pennsylvania beer found its way on to the list.

That lone Pennsylvania beer you ask? It was Troegs Nugget Nectar. Part of me isn't surprised that it was that beer, but what does surprise me is that only one Pennsylvania beer made it. I thought we did a lot better here in this state with our beer. Either that or I'm just biased since I live here.

The survey that's being taken of what it looks to be several beer writers and bloggers throughout the state of Pennsylvania and asks for our top ten beers brewed here in the state.

Speaking of geographical biases, there's no doubt that I'll throw in the local Monkey Boy from East End Brewing. The problem is that when a beer is pretty much only available here in the Pittsburgh area like Monkey Boy is, those closer to the other side of Pennsylvania most likely haven't had it.

Off the top of my head I think my list will even out in terms of West vs. East. I've always spoken highly of Yards brewing in Philadelphia. I'm pretty sure at least three of its beers will make my list. I've had my fair share of unhappiness when having one of the Victory Brewing Golden Monkey. Still, part of me feels this should make a Pennsylvania top-10 list. Now, to only find the time to get started with this next project.

Monday Rant: Chunnel

I'm at the point of driving within Pittsburgh that I avoid I-376 and the Squirrel Hill Tunnel at all costs. Especially on weekend when one lane or more are closed due to renovations. Hell with that. If you live in the area that I do, you'll notice the backups that occur throughout Squirrel Hill and the Homestead areas. That's due to people using the back roads to get to the parkway.

You wouldn't think that any of this has anything to do with craft beer, but for me it does. When I go to East End Brewing in Larimer to get my growlers refilled it's usually on weekends and I go through Homestead and into Squirrel Hill to get there.

The backups due to the tunnel closures have been harming my ability to consume some fine ales from East End. I realize that this is a somewhat selfish rant, but I've had enough of PennDot's inconveniences in my life. The trek through Squirrel Hill was already loaded with abnormal traffic patterns. This just enhances all of it.

I miss my favorite local beer in Monkey Boy. I want to be able to try the new Lord Nordsberry Belgian Ale. I want all of this, but without the hassle of sitting in traffic. Yay Pittsburgh.

Flowing Locally

I'm sure that many of us that live here in the Pittsburgh area are proud of the local breweries that offer some outstanding stuff on the market. I'm certainly not the most accomplished in terms of trying as many beers as I can, but there are a few beers that are brewed locally that I always find myself coming back to. It's kind of like that first love of your life. Alright, maybe I'm exaggerating. We still have some great stuff to drink around here. Here are the two I enjoy the most.

East End Monkey Boy

Whenever I get to a Pittsburgh bar, this is one of the first beer's I look for on a tap list. If I see it, I almost always grab a pint of it. Recently, I've started frequenting the new East End Brewing Company digs in Larimer to grab a growler or two of it. Unfortunately, you won't find cases or six packs of this beer. So, keep on the lookout in bars. You can also get the aforementioned growlers at the brewery location and at its growler shop in the Strip.

This is an awesome hefeweizen that's a hazy gold with a  foamy white head. It's nice and spicy and tastes like banana. It also has a very sessionable ABV at 4.8 percent. According to its brewer, this beer doesn't actually have banana in it. That just adds to the luster of this beer. Not only is this my favorite beer brewed in Pittsburgh, it's one of my all-time favorites.

Rivertowne Hala Kahiki Pineapple 

I keep telling you that I really enjoy fruit beers. Pineapple is an unlikely fruit that's used in beer. At least I haven't come across many that use pineapple. This beer also has an ABV of 4.8 percent and goes down nice and smooth.

This beer is somewhat spicy, but it its own unique way. There's a decent hop presence too. Oh and the fruitiness of the pineapple is fantastic. Rivertowne recently just started canning this beer. So, it's very accessible. I'm glad I got myself a case.

There are many more where these came from. We can't forget about other beers such as Rumplepilsen and White Lightning (which recently won a GABF award) from Full Pint as well as Pious Monk Dunkel from Church Brew Works.

Monday Rant: Fragile Standards

I made one of the more ironic discoveries during my craft beer travels last Friday when I ventured to the new digs of East End Brewing Company. I was craving a growler of Monkey Boy Hefeweizen. I also had heard a lot about the currently tapped Chocolate Covered Cherry Stout. So, I picked up a growler of that as well.

After I made the purchase of the aforementioned growlers, I stumbled across the ironic discovery on my way out. On the rack of East End memorabilia was a card labeled "Fancy Schmancy Glass - $5.) I looked up at the rows of glasses and was excited to see East End Brewing branded snifters. Pardon me if my classification is wrong, but it's definitely a cross between a snifter and a tulip. Still, that's far from the point.

It was ironic to me being that the craft beer community has been engulfed in the Dogfish/Sierra Nevada wine and IPA glass controversy. To me, this cleverly-named piece of glassware was a microcosm of the happenings of the past week. It's called a fancy schmancy glass. So, the namesake could be poking fun at the way some of us beer drinkers are about our glassware. It also could not be the reason it's named as such. That's why I thought it was both brilliant and ironic. That and five dollars for a good glass is a bargain. I instantly bought it.

I'll be damned if I didn't drink both the hefeweizen and the stout out of it. I did and it was wonderful. I plan on probably drinking all kinds of styles out of this glass down the road because it really doesn't matter.

I've fallen in love with this glass just as I fell in love with the Libby craft brew set my girlfriend got me for a Christmas gift one year. For me, the fun and enjoyment of different types of craft beer is drinking it the way you want to. There isn't any set standard. I've drank IPA's and fruit beers from a tulip. Pilsners and dunkels from a flute glass. You can bet the farm that I'm going to drink all kinds of different styles from my new East End fancy schmancy glass because the brewer probably intended all of his brews to be drank from it. Now, that's a great standard to drink by.

Beer Review: East End Monkey Boy

Serving Type: Draft

ABV: 4.8 percent

Appearance: East End Monkey Boy has a chroma of pale gold. It's almost a straw yellow. It's very hazy and foggy. The beer has an impressive crown atop the body. It's a vivid shade of white and is fluffy as well. The head also leaves plenty of lacing as the beer travels towards the bottom of the glass.

Smell: First, I got an aroma of sweet banana bread. If you sniff a little longer, you can pick of strong hints of wheat and clove. This beer also smelled somewhat spicy and peppery. A heavenly aroma.

Taste: The clove and pepper sensation really pops the tongue when this beer is consumed. There was also a flavorful sensation of banana that comes through slightly on the front, while a tad of hop character complimented it on the back. The carbonation provides for an awesome texture, too. Sensational flavor in this beer.

Overall Rating: 

This is one of the first beers I look for when I walk into a local pub or tavern. According to Scott Smith (East End's head brewer) there isn't any actual banana used in the brewing process! The yeast that's used goes a long way in creating that banana flavor that's there. The fact that there isn't any banana used in the brewing process just adds to the luster of this beer. It's sweet, spicy and has an awesome texture going down.