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Beer, Maine & Me (100 items)

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July 12, 2008
22:06
Hopfen Weisse (Brooklyn Brewery)
» ‎ Beer, Maine & Me

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I had to uncork this bottle as a follow up its German cousin the Schneider-Brooklyner Hopfen-Weisse. It can only get better considering this is basically the same beer, but brewed by Schneider's Hans Peter Drexler at the Brooklyn Brewery with American hops. What a great idea to collaborate on this type of project. I hope to see some other American and European breweries do something similar in the future.
Pours pale, cloudy dark orange. There is some yeast sediment floating around the glass as proof of the bottle conditioning. Never a bad thing. The head is big and fluffy and the carbonation levels seem to be spot on. Its not a beautiful looking beer but its not worth judging it just yet.
Smells nice and citrusy. The hops are definitely in the foreground while the spicy, clovey yeasty smells are in the background. There is some bitter orange that really hits the nose when I take another whiff of this one. Overall, its very intriguing.
Wow, what a smooth drinking beer. The malt and hops are very well balance. There is some sweet citrus mingling the spicy yeast tastes. Its like biting into a juicy, hoppy orange. Well, that sounds a little strange but thats what I come up with. I have to say that I quite like this beer. Its very refreshing with quite a lot of flavor and that high ABV is pretty much undetectable.
Cheers to both Brooklyn and Schneider!

BEER FACTS

Name: Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse
Style: Pale WeissbockBrewery: Brooklyn BreweryLocation: Brooklyn, New York, USAContainer: 750 ml. corked bottleMalts: Pale Wheat & BarleyHops: Amarillo & PalisadeABV: 8.5%IBUs: ?

20:46

Hopfen Weisse (Brauerie G. Schneider & Sohn)

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July 11, 2008
21:41
Péché Mortel (Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel)
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I finally decided to indulge and pick up a bottle of this much talked about coffee stout from north of the border. This is also one of the few coffee stouts I've seen that is brewed with fair trade coffee. It gets incredible reviews online and as the style is one of my favorites it was hard to pass up (even at close to $6 a bottle).
From the Dieu Du Ciel site:
Péché Mortel (French for "Mortal Sin") is an intensely black and dense beer with very pronounced roasted flavours. Fair trade coffee is infused during the brewing process, intensifying the bitterness of the beer and giving it a powerful coffee taste. Péché mortel is brewed to be savored; we invite you to drink it in moderation.
Pours an amazing jet black color with a beautiful coffee colored head. Another perfect replica of one hell of a giant shot of espresso. The head is thick and clings very tightly to the side of the glass. We are off to a great start...
Smells of fresh coffee grounds and sweet cream. There is also a mellow smoky vanilla smell that reminds me very much of the pipe tobacco my grandfather smoked. Dark chocolate bitterness also hits the nose. Lots of strong inviting smells really draw you in!
Taste is fresh, strong, bitter Italian espresso followed by semi-sweet chocolate and rich cream. Amazingly smooth on the tongue and although the alcohol instantly warms you, it is in now way noticeable and in fact hides extremely well. All those great smells come out in the taste and provide for a very enjoyable and satisfying beer.
Actually, that is an understatement. This beer is truly incredible. Péché Mortel is one of those rare beers that lives up to all the hype. Santé!

BEER FACTS
Name: Péché MortelStyle: Imperial Coffee StoutBrewery: Brasserie Dieu Du CielLocation: Montréal, Quebec, CanadaContainer: 11.5 oz. bottleMalts: ?Hops: ?ABV: 9.5%IBUs: ?
June 30, 2008
20:45
Blue Fin Stout (Shipyard Brewing Co.)
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The old Blue Fin label had a picture of the bluefin tuna, a fish that had a huge presence in the Gulf of Maine. The new label is a nice homage to the ships that were once built in Maine, or at least that is my take on it.
Pours a deep dark brown with a very big dark, coffee colored head. Lot of carbonation from the minute the cap is popped.
Smells of rich roasty malt and light coffee notes. There is also the familiar Ringwood yeast smell as well. No real subtle smells, mostly dominated by the dark malts.
Taste is rich, roasted malt with some dark chocolate or mocha tastes. The carbonation is definitely very strong in the mouth, not sure if this bottle was just shaken up or something but the carbonation is much more than expected in a stout. I've had this on nitro out on Peaks Island a number of times and really enjoyed its smoothness. I think I prefer that quite a bit over the bottled version.

BEER FACTS
Name: Blue Fin Stout
Style: StoutBrewery: Shipyard Brewing Compa nyLocation: Portland, Maine, USAContainer: 22 oz. bottleMalts: ?Hops: ?ABV: 4.7%IBUs: ?Brewed in Maine
20:17
Farmhouse Ale (Smuttynose Brewing Co.)
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Its bittersweet to see Smutty's Farmhouse Ale in the stores nowadays. That means that the Big A's days are numbered but it also means another delicious beer is now available!

The label reads:
Our Farmhouse Ale is an homage to traditional European beers brewed quenching the thirst of farm workers or "Saisonares".
A unique Belgian Saison yeast is used to impart a mixture of spicy, fruity & earthy notes along with lip smacking palatability.
Pours a slightly cloudy, clean, crisp orange color. The head is stark white and about an inch of fluffy goodness. Lots of bubbles make this beer look alive and quite refreshing.
Smells spicy and funky just like it should. Lots of sweet apple smells also combine with the organic/earthy notes and even some hints of leather. This smell is exceptional.
Taste is more of that spice and funk that comes from the yeast strain. The sweet fruit tastes are also present with a nice dry finish. Its an excellent example of the style in my opinion. Actually, this is probably one of the best saisons that I've had. The Smutty Big Beer series is pretty much flawless so far this year.

BEER FACTS

Name: Farmhouse AleStyle: Saison/Farmhouse AleBrewery: Smuttynose Brewing CompanyLocation: Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USAContainer: 22 oz. bottle
Malts: ?Hops: ?
ABV: 7.5%IBUs: ?
The Smuttynose BIG BEER Series is:

Baltic Porter - mid-January
Imperial Stout - mid-February
Maibock - early April
Big A IPA - early May
Farmhouse Ale - early June
Wheat Wine mid-August
Barley Wine - early October
S'muttonator Double Bock - mid-November
June 29, 2008
20:51
Novare Res announces upcoming beer events!
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10 different Allagash kegs on tap at one time? Rare Dogfish Head beers and the chance to meet Sam Calagione? The largest selection of Rogue drafts at one time ever...anywhere? Are you kidding me? Mark your calendars folks, your summer just got a whole lot better.
June 27, 2008
23:07
Big Bear Black Stout (Bear Republic Brewing Co.)
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Talk about excitement! A Russian Imperial Stout from Bear Republic. This is the style that can really make it or break it for some breweries. Considering what Bear Republic has done with the Hop Rod Rye and the Racer 5 this is definitely in line to be an incredible beer.
Pours slightly viscous with a nice coffee colored head. Its amazing how smooth this beer pours. You can really see the just how thick and rich this beer is going to be based on how it fills the glass.
Smells of sweet coffee, bitter chocolate with a toasted malt side as well. It definitely comes across as a roasty, slightly smoky strong stout. No complaints from the smells, overall it is rich and appealing.
Taste is oh so smooth. Its way too drinkable for being over 8%. The dryness is there in the finish but before that comes a lot of deep dark sweet malt tastes. The sweetness really draws you in and the strength is hardly noticeable. Excellent beer.
BEER FACTS

Name: Big Bear Black Stout
Style: Russian Imperial StoutBrewery: Bear Republic Brewing CompanyLocation: Healdsburg, California, USAContainer: 22 oz. bottleMalts: Belgian & English roasted barley and Crystal maltHops: Chinook & CascadeABV: 8.1%IBUs: 68

19:12

Schneider Weisse (Brauerei G. Schneider & Sohn)

» ‎ Beer, Maine & Me

17:36

Schneider Weisse (Brauerei G. Schneider & Sohn)

» ‎ Beer, Maine & Me

June 25, 2008
21:10
Mongolian Dark Beer (XAP XOPYM)
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The Mongolian mystery beer has been poured! Thanks to my friend Dan for hauling this little beauty back from a recent trip to Mongolia. He had it stuffed in a shoe and it survived unscathed. Now if only I could find some information about this beer! I know its a dark beer and I know its "the Mongolian premium beer" but the label tells me those things. Everything else remains a mystery for now.
Pours a dark auburn color that is clean and clear when held to up to the light. Based on the carbonation and the color I will go with this being a dark lager. Its also my guess that Mongolia is a lager drinking country. The head is about a finger in thickness and very rich. Not a bad looking beer.
Smells of dark malt, some apple or dark fruit along with a sweet buttery-ness. There is also some caramel notes and dark bread.
Tastes very much like dark German wheat bread! There are also some hints of sweet fruit. The taste is very refreshing as its definitely beer you can drink nice and cold and there is little to no aftertaste. A pretty basic dark lager but extremely easy to drink. Its the best Mongolian beer I've ever had!
BEER FACTS

Name: Xap Xopym Dark BeerStyle: Dark Lager
Brewery: XAP XOPYMLocation: Ulanbaatar, MongoliaContainer: 12 oz. bottleMalts: ?
Hops: ?
ABV: 5.3%IBUs: ?
June 23, 2008
22:30
Kate the Great Day is here!
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Tuesday, June 24th is Kate the Great Day at the Portsmouth Brewery down in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. If you haven't taken the day off of work then you can pretty much kiss your chances of getting a bottle of this bad ass Russian Imperial Stout good bye. People are coming from all over to get some of this stuff and you can expect there to be quite a crowd queued up for the rather limited supply (only 10 barrels were produced).

At 2:27 pm this year's batch of what was named the best beer in America (according to BeerAdvocate magazine) will go on sale. It should be quite a scene as the hype over this beer spread across the internet pretty damn quickly and once its gone...its gone!
If you're going, this is what you need to know:
~ Bottles are $10 each and you are limited to two per day (like its going to last more than one)
~ Selling will be done like a deli counter, grab a ticket/number and come back when its your turn, I suggest going to the bar to sample all the other great beers.
~ Unfortunately growlers are not being filled
~ Bottles are being sold downstairs in the Jimmy LaPanza Lounge and not in the little retail store adjacent to the brewery
~ Bring donuts to sell to the crowd if you are getting there early (which I recommend as well)
~ Do the Smuttynose Brewery tour if you have the time, its a little out of town but a great tour (with free beer)
~ Have fun and get to know some other beer lovers. There is going to be quite an array of people in Portsmouth from all over. I would expect a beerfest atmosphere during the afternoon hours.
If anyone has an extra bottle for this poor guy who has to work tomorrow please let me know!!!!
so innocent yet so sought after
21:54
Old Stock Ale (North Coast Brewing Co.)
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This is one of those beers that you can put away and forget about for years if you have the patience. I don't have the patience right now, although I'll probably grab some of these at some point and put them in my cellar (a.k.a my closet). Everything North Coast puts out is solid so I will hold this one to those sort of high expectations.

Weighing in at 12.5% alcohol, the Old Stock Ale is a heavy looking beer as it comes out of the bottle. Once its made its way into the glass its a very rich dark auburn brown color with wisps of redness. Not much head on this one and the carbonation level is minimal as far as I can tell. Its a great looking beer.

Smell is very rich and sweet brown sugar and dark brown bread accompanied with dark stewed fruit. Some apple cider vinegar notes are present as well that lead to some red wine characteristics. This is another very complex beer as far as smell goes. So many strands to pull apart!

Taste is absolutely delicious from the first chewy sip. Very balanced. Sweet malt tastes combine with some toasted dark bread and some more bitter notes quite well before the alcohol dryness hits you at the end. The sweetness and the bitterness play off each other nicely and the warming from the alcohol is a nice little feature as well. You'll definitely want to give this beer a chance to warm up a bit so you can experience all the flavors it has to offer. You'd be crazy not to love a beer with such complexity and strength.

BEER FACTS

Name: Old Stock Ale (2008 Vintage)Style: Old Ale
Brewery: North Coast Brewing CompanyLocation: Fort Bragg, California, USAContainer: 12 oz. bottleMalts: Maris Otter
Hops: Fuggles & East Kent Goldings
ABV: 12.5%IBUs: 36
June 22, 2008
19:59
5 Maine Beers I Still Haven't Tried...
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I can't believe there are still beers in this state that I've yet to try. Since I started this site about 5 months ago I've hardly drank the same beer twice and that goes double for those beers brewed here in Maine. Below are 5 local beers that have made my short list :

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5 ~ Magic Hole IPA (Kennebec River Pub & Brewery) - One of very few IPAs here in Maine that I've yet to try. I'd also like to get my hands on their summer beer and see if it stands out against those here in Portland.

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4 ~ Storyteller Doppelbock (Oak Pond Brewery) - I've yet to try ANY of Oak Pond's beers. They don't distribute down here in Southern Maine so I'll have to try and pick some up next time I head north. Storyteller is their winter offering and its sounds pretty good.

3 ~ Black Irish Stout (Maine Coast Brewing Company) - Another reason to get up to Bar Harbor and do some brewery tours. Maine Coast brews quite a few beers that I rarely see down in this part of the state. This one seems to be a standout, I'd like to see how its stands up to its neighbor Cadillac Mtn. Stout.

2 ~ Graveyard Coffee Stout/Burnt Meadow Mountain Peated Porter/Imperial Stout (Bray's Brewpub) - I love Bray's beers. These three tie since I've yet to try any of them and they all sound great. The good news is that they are ALL supposed to be on tap for Bray's One Night Stand when they have ALL of their 25+ beers on tap for one special night. I'm keeping my calendar open for Saturday, August 9th.

1 ~ Interlude (Allagash Brewing Company) - One of the most unique beers to come out of Maine (or the US for that matter). This Belgian style strong ale is brewed with two yeast strains (one of which is a house strain of Brettanomyces) and aged in French Merlot and Sirah oak barrels. This is one hell of a complex beer. I am saving my pennies.
19:05
Old Rusty's Red Rye Ale (Harpoon Brewery)
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I finally was able to find a bottle of this stuff. Not only do I love beers brewed with rye but this one also has my name (well, nickname) in the name! When it comes to your name there are three things you can never pass up:

1 ~ If a pub bears your name you must go in for at LEAST one pint (read McCarthy's Bar for more on that)

2 ~ If you're ever at a racetrack and a horse/dog bears your name you MUST bet on it regardless of the odds

3 ~ If you ever see a beer that has your name on the label you must buy and drink that beer

Old Rusty (a.k.a. Russ Heisner) was Harpoon's first employee. He was the brewer responsible for Harpoon's first beer, Harpoon Ale. I'm not sure what Russ does now for a day job, its not brewing, but the good fellows at Harpoon invited him back as a guest brewer on the 23rd installment of their 100 Barrel Series.

The Old Rusty Red Rye pours a deep, clean amber color with hints of reddish orange. Carbonation looks spot on as the head is nice and foamy and thick. As the head slowly fades it leaves a nice lacing behing and a half finger of foam thats bubbly and looks like the underside of a pancake thats yet to be flipped.

Smells of sweet fruit and apples abound. Reminds me of a weizenbock at first. Malty sweetness and some yeasty qualities round out the smells.

Taste is definitely unique. Its sweet at first with a dry spiciness in the finish that I'll attribute to the rye. The juicy apple smells that were apparent at first are a lot less noticeable in the taste. That being said, there is some sweetness that is very well proportioned. Their is no major hop presence with this beer but thats not a surprise based on the IBUs. Overall, its a nicely balanced rye ale that is extremely drinkable. I'm a fan. Cheers Old Rusty!

BEER FACTS
Name: Old Rusty's Red Rye Ale (100 Barrel Series #23)
Style: Rye Beer/Red AleBrewery: Harpoon BreweryLocation: Boston, Massachusetts, USAContainer: 22 oz. bottleMalts: ?Hops: German Halletauer
ABV: 6.5%
IBUs: 38
June 19, 2008
21:14
Stone Smoked Porter (Stone Brewing Co.)
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Attention Stone sales reps in New England!!!! Please see this review as yet another blatant attempt to push the distribution of your products north to the great state of Maine. We promise to drink hefty amounts of your beers and thus keep your sales managers happy, hell you might even get a bonus and then you can take your whole family on vacation up to scenic Maine! Think about it...
Pours a ridiculously dark black color with a nice big (some would say huge), thick, rich fluffy light caramel colored head. Held to the light a little redness shines through but other than that, this one is black as night.
Smell is creamy coffee, dark chocolate, caramel, burnt sugars, dark malts and a nice hint of hoppiness. Its a bit hard to separate out the smokiness as this one smells very rich and roasty, like a nice cup of coffee. That smoked malt smell is somewhere hidden in there but I can't seem to find it. Regardless, this is a great smelling porter.
First sip and the first thing I notice is how smooth this beer feels in my mouth. Its like iced coffee. Tastes of bitter chocolate, coffee (of course) and some smokiness definitely stands out but its in no way overpowering. Its actually quite a nice balance with the smokiness. The West Coast hops are present as well in the finish and provide a nice bitter dryness. Wow, this is good.
As far as smoked porters go, Stone's definitely stands out as one of the best. Another one to try and get your hands on are Alaskan Smoked Porter (arguably the best in the world).
BEER FACTS
Name: Stone Smoked Porter
Style: Smoked PorterBrewery: Stone Brewing CompanyLocation: Escondido, California, USAContainer: 22 oz. bottleMalts: ?Hops: Chinook & Mt. HoodABV: 5.9%IBUs: 53
June 18, 2008
21:10
Imperial IPA (Green Flash Brewing Co.)
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Green Flash is out of San Diego County. The name refers to a "rare optical phenomena that occurs shortly after sunset or before sunrise, when a green spot is visible for a short period of time above the sun, or a green ray shoots up from the sunset point." I grew up out on the West Coast and never experienced one, but then again I really didn't know what it was or where to look for it. Its does sound pretty amazing. Anyways, lets get back to the beer.
According to the Green Flash site:
San Diego-style IPA, as it has come to be known by many, is super-hoppy, high gravity, yet highly quaffable ale. Our Imperial IPA is created in this new tradition with intense hop flavors and aromas from a unique blend of Summit and Nugget hops. It's all about the hops!
Pours a brilliant, glowing orange color. Its a great looking beer with a big fluffy stark white head. Once that head fades, it leaves a lot of lacing inside the glass. I really can't get over the color of this beer.
Wow, talk about an intense smelling beer. Its ridiculously hoppy. Lots of grapefruit, pineapple, orange and some pine. You can just about smell the stickiness from the hops. My guess is if you spilled some of this on you, that hop smell might never go away. I don't think I'd mind too much.
Taste is more of the grapefruit and pineapple sweetness at first followed by a tongue drying (and lashing) by the massive amount of West Coast hops. Its a very bitter IPA that is definitely leaning towards being a one-sided hop monster, but hell if you're a hop head this is your kind of beer! Did I mention it cracks the century mark when it comes to IBUs? I love it for what it is...
BEER FACTS
Name: Imperial India Pale Ale
Style: Imperial/Double India Pale AleBrewery: Green Flash Brewing CompanyLocation: Vista, California, USAContainer: 22 oz. bottleMalts: ?Hops: Summit & NuggetABV: 9%IBUs: 101
June 17, 2008
21:57
Aventinus 2002 (Brauerei G. Schneider & Sohn)
» ‎ Beer, Maine & Me

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A lot of things happened back in 2002. According to the nice little gift wrapping around this aged bottle of Aventinus (and history as well), it was the year the Euro came into existence and the year Jimmy Carter was awarded a Nobel Peace prize. It was also the year the final piece of debris was removed from the World Trade Center and Brazil beat Germany to win the World Cup. It also happens to be the year that this particular beer was brewed and put away to be enjoyed on this night six years after its slumber.
According to the tag that hung around the neck of the bottle:
Aventinus, the world's oldest top fermenting wheat-doppelbock, has received accolades for the perfect balance of fruity spiciness (banana, clove, vanilla) and notes of chocolate (crystal and dark malts).
In addition, the beer has demonstrated wonderful aging potential with aromas and flavors of softer chocolate, clay and sherry when aged for three years or more.
Therefore in 1999, the Schneider brewery decided to age 240 cases of Aventinus each year in their historical ice cellar in Kelheim with each batch held for a minimum of three years.
Pretty interesting stuff. Anything aged in an ice cave sounds pretty sweet and this particular beer is so great that I am excited to see what age can do and how it compares to a fresh bottle.
Pours a murky, muddy ruby red to brown color. Carbonation levels are surprisingly active and the head fluffs up to a few fingers in thickness before slinking away. Its definitely not a head as big and fluffy as that of the fresh Aventinus.
The smell is prunes, raisins, some alcohol and a bit of chocolate and caramel. There are also hints of raspberry, burnt sugars and some sour notes. There are so many smells to try and sort out. Every time you stick your face in the glass you'll get a different smell.
Taste is very smooth and a lot more mellowed out. The fresh apple juiciness that the fresh Aventinus has is not anywhere near as apparent with this aged bottle. Its more subdued and like caramel coated granny smith apples. Lots of sweet sugar, some bitter fruits, raisins and dates. Its a very complex beer with lots of layers of taste that seem to have developed with age. As this glass warms the adjectives start to pile up.
I'd be interested to see what a vertical tasting of this beer would yield. I also wonder if the three year old bottles boast some flavors that have since dissipated with the bottles that are six years old. I guess, I'll be on the look out for other vintages.
If you've had an Aventinus than you've had an experience thats hard to match. The aged version is an even more special experience as those great tastes have evolved and changed. Its a great way to form a comparison. The 2002 vintage Aventinus is just one more reason I love beer.

BEER FACTS

Name: Aventinus (2002 Vintage)
Style: WeizenbockBrewery: Brauerei G. Schneider & SohnLocation: Kelheim, GermanyContainer: 500 ml. bottleMalts: Crystal & DarkHops: ?ABV: 8%IBUs: ?
who doesn't like to open presents?
June 16, 2008
22:30
IPA (Harpoon Brewery)
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One thing that I will always love about Harpoon is the fact that they made an IPA their flagship beer. You've got to love that. Go anywhere in Boston and chances are you'll find Harpoon on tap, its pretty much everywhere. I'm sure its been the gateway IPA for many hopheads in the Hub and surrounding suburbs. I can't even begin to imagine how many pints I drank while living in Allston, Brighton, Cambridge, Quincy etc...
Harpoons site has this to say about their IPA:
The high hopping of Harpoon IPA is not only noticeable in the nose but especially in the finish. The lingering bitter finish of this beer is not harsh or astringent, but crisp and pronounced. This is created, in part, by dry hopping – a technique that involves adding fresh hops to the conditioning beer to provide a fresh hop aroma.

Pours a sunshiny golden yellow color with a nice fluffy head that leaves some great lacing along the sides of the glass. Carbonation level is pretty nice with lots of bubbly activity. A great looking pour that makes this beer look really refreshing.
Smells like nice fresh hops, some hay and grass, a little yeasty along with some slight citrus notes. When you get a fresh pint of this the hop smell is very strong and extremely inviting.
Taste is bitter, crisp and dry in a nutshell. To be more specific its citrusy hops, slightly spicy and very bubbly on the tongue. This is a beer that really reminds me of having some pints outside in Boston. Its a wonderful summertime beer or anytime beer at that. Harpoon's IPA is an all around tasty IPA. Not a hop bomb but a solid example of the style.

BEER FACTS
Name: Harpoon IPA
Style: India Pale AleBrewery: Harpoon BreweryLocation: Boston, Massachusetts, USAContainer: 22 oz. bottleMalts: 3 different malts...?Hops: CascadeABV: 5.9%IBUs: 42
20:52
Old Rasputin (North Coast Brewing Co.)
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Grigori Rasputin was a Siberian peasant turned mystic and healer. His life is full of mystery and intrigue and his death even more so. What a great namesake for this style of beer. I honestly can not think of a better name for a Russian Imperial Stout and this label is one of my all time favorites.
Pours india ink black with the viscosity of a thin motor oil. Its a beautiful site to see that big coffee colored head form on the top of this beer. It looks so inviting, so perfect. As the head slowly fades it leaves very thick lacing on the side of the glass.
Smells of strong dark malty goodness, citrusy bitter west coast hops and fresh brewed black as night coffee. Who would have ever thought those three distinct smells could come together and be so amazing. Along with those more intense smells comes a faint smell of alcohol. I love the smell of this beer.
Taste is chocolate milk, bitter citrusy hops, coffee and sweet cream. There is a nice smooth, silky mouthfeel with this beer with nice carbonation and an almost immediate warming sensation from the alcohol, which also provides a dryness in the finish.
This is the real deal when it comes to Russian Imperial Stouts being made in America. Look on the list of top tens from anyone who loves this style and this one will be near the top. Lately I've been drinking a lot of this on tap at Novare Res, they've had it on nitro and its even creamier and pretty much heaven in a glass.

BEER FACTS
Name: Old Rasputin Russian Imperial StoutStyle: Imperial StoutBrewery: North Coast Brewing CompanyLocation: Fort Bragg, California, USAContainer: 12 oz. bottleMalts: ?Hops: ?ABV: 9%IBUs: 75
20:26
Q & A with Ken Grossman (Sierra Nevada)
» ‎ Beer, Maine & Me

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Back in 1980, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company brewed their first batch of beer, a pale ale. Little did Ken Grossman and co-founder Paul Camusi know that the beer they had brewed would one day be known as one of the beers that helped kick-start the US craft beer industry.

Almost 30 years later, Sierra Nevada is still one of the industry leaders. I wanted to find out a little more about some of their new releases, their outstanding commitment to sustainability and few other things so I contacted the company.kYou can imagine my surprise and immense gratitude when I received the answers to my questions from none other then Ken Grossman himself!

Thanks Ken for all that you've done for craft brewing and for answering my questions.

Cheers!

(RHP) Sierra Nevada's been releasing some excellent new beers of late, can we look forward to some more surprises in the future? If so, any hints?

(KG) Yes, we are starting to release some new beers, as well as distribute some beers that had only been available at our taproom in the past. Additionally we are bottling our Chico Estate Harvest Ale in August – very limited release (probably Chico only). This will be made from hops picked from our organic estate hop field. We should also have a few more surprises out in the next year that are still in R&D, look for them or keep in touch.

(RHP) I've been reading about all the work Sierra Nevada has been doing when it comes to sustainability. In a nutshell, where does SN stand right now when it comes to carbon emissions, recycling, reusing etc..?

(KG) Along with incorporating as many sustainable practices within our day to day production (recycling, optimization of water usage, cutting down on packaging materials) we have been working on many initiatives for quite a few years to reduce our operational impact on the environment.
Here is a list of some of what we have done:
The first brewery in the country (as far as I know) to join the carbon registry to track and certify our carbon emissions. We have completed our audit for 2006 and will have 2007 completed soon.

Received the State of California WRAP award (waste reduction/recycling award) for many years, and have been recognized as one of the top recyclers in the State for our efforts.

Installed one of the largest co-generation fuel cell plants in the world (1MW) several years ago fueling it in part with methane produced from our onsite wastewater plant.

We are also just completing one of the largest private solar projects in the country, we have already commissioned a 400kW array, by the end of the year we will have over 9000 panels producing 1.4MW of power. We should be able to produce almost 80% of our electrical power with these two combined clean technology systems.

Put in a system a few years ago to capture clean and re-use CO2 from fermentation.
'''(RHP) I was over in Sweden recently and they had SN Pale Ale in all the government run liquor stores and I've seen it in England as well. Are there any surprising locations in the world where a person can find Sierra Nevada?
i
(KG) We export very limited amounts of beer, but we here about it getting bootlegged all over the world.

(RHP) With all this talk about hops shortages and elevated grain prices, will SN be affected in anyways that the consumer may notice?

(KG) Ever since a similar, but less severe shortage in the early 80's we have had long term contracts in place with our suppliers. We have ample hops in storage and contracted for the next several years. We actually sold, or did not take delivery of about 150,000 lbs. of surplus hops this year to ease some of the tight industry supply.
We also have long term supply ar

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Beer, Maine & Me (100 items)

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