March 12, 2007
March Madness
March is just one of those months. There's so much going on - it's busy, it flies by, but it's really a great month. Just think about the flurry of activity in March - high school state championships all over the place, college hockey playoffs (as a UMaine fan, it was hard to bring that up - sorry), NCAA March Madness (including local D-III women - Bowdoin and USM), college baseball gets underway, Red Sox spring training (and all the panicking and predicting that comes w/it), Daylight Savings Time, St. Patrick's Day (my favorite - someday I will spend it seeing Dropkick Murphy's in Boston and my life will be complete), first day of Spring, last day of Winter, the Ides of March (sorry Gaius), the end of the Quarter for anyone with their fingers on some sort of financial/sales results, the salmon return to Capistrano (Lloyd, Dumb & Dumber - 1994), and I know, I know - it's the anniversary of the discovery of Uranus.
But what about beer you ask? Well, there's a lot going on there as well. My fridge speaks directly to it. Before I sat down to these thoughts tonight, I had Magic Hat's spring seasonal hI.P.A and Shipyard's 2007 Brewer's Choice Honey Porter from which to choose. I'm still enjoying the cold weather brews, but am also grabbing some spring seasonals off the shelf. And let's be clear - me not having a glass while writing this would be kind of like Rick Steves doing a travel show piece on Tuscany from an office in Newark. Just wouldn't make sense or instill any confidence whatsoever.
So - here are a couple of must trys before this month is over.
BEFORE it's gone, you must try Shipyard's 2007 Brewer's Choice Honey Porter. It's sure to be gone as soon as the mercury-substitute rises (I'm nothing if I'm not environmentally correct). In my entry on this season's Holiday/winter offerings, I mentioned that I thought porter was an underappreciated style - this porter will help with that. If pale ale is a dark beer for you - I challenge you to try Shipyard Honey Porter. You won't be sorry you did. It's a highly drinkable brew with a nice play between Crystal, Chocolate and Black malts - Warrior and Tettnang hops - and orange blossom honey. Thank you Bruce Elam!
Now, that was a winter offering that will be taking it's leave of us soon - what about the 'spring' stuff?
I discovered a little gem from Magic Hat called Magic Hat hI.P.A. I'm not always all geeked up about Magic Hat's offerings - but this IPA from them is absolutely fantastic. If you're a hop-head like me, you're gonna get fired up as soon as your nose gets close enough to get a big floral whiff of the Warrior hops. Again, drink it from a glass please. This ale is like a lamb stew that's been simmering in a crock pot all day - it tastes as good as it smells. It's an IPA, but it's a seasonal brew for Magic Hat - only available through May. So get on it and go get you some.
And St. Patrick's Day? For those of you not destined to drink 8 gallons of some green colored domestic swill - try something Irish or Irish-style. Yeah, I will probably have some Guinness or some Murphy's Irish Stout - maybe a Smithwick's or a Magner's - but you realize that red ale can be an Irish style ale, right? And the best Irish-style red ale around is Casco Bay Riptide Red. That's my pick for St. Patrick's Day 2007 - Casco Bay Riptide Red Ale.
Slainte,
Scott Dutton
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Scott-if you can break free on St Patty's there will be a group of Portland folks at Brian Boru's at 8AM. It would be an honor to buy you a black and tan...I'll find you
Posted by
March 13, 2007 10:42 AM
scott!
love your writing every week. such a thorough list of dates to remember in march................ might i add that March 18 is the 4th anniversary of U.S. Invasion of Iraq? hopefully you will not need to keep this date on your list for next year but this weekend, i say, at risk of being a kill-joy, chug a few favorite brews in memory of the troops and their sacrifice. ever wonder what brew they have over in the green zone to go with the McDonalds burgers and fries? thanks,
susan
indialantic, FL.!
Posted by
susan hiesterMarch 14, 2007 11:08 AM
So glad I stumbled upon this blog as I've recently endeavored into homebrewing which, in turn, has expanded my beer horizons. I'm wary of Magic Hat offerings myself, but if you like hops, you will love their "Roxy Rolles" brew -- outstanding hop flavor. Perhaps you've already had it. As far as I.P.A.s go, not only is Dogfishhead 90 min IPA the best IPA I've tried, it's one of the best beers period -- definitely worth the extra $ for an occasional treat. Thanks for the Honey porter recommendation - I'll keep an eye out for it. Enjoy St. Paddy's Day everyone!
Posted by
March 14, 2007 04:37 PM
I was never too keen on Magic Hat after gagging down their Not Quite Pale Ale and realizing with horror that they knowingly flouted the German Purity Law (beer must contain water, barley, yeast and hops ONLY) and added some mysterious non-beer contaminent! What the.....!
Porter, the working-man's beer, is a very underrated style. My favorite, number one, regardless of style beer is Anchor Porter, a luscious, chocolate-like, creamy-dreamy taste experience.
March is mud season, the season for dark, muddy Porters that are a little less heavy than the Outmeal and imperial Stouts and Barly Wines of Winter. It sort of breaks in the palate slowly until we see the new artwork on Geary's Summer Ale.
Posted by
DickMarch 15, 2007 12:12 AM
Thanks Susan. Yes, you might add that - unfortunately. But it's good for us to be reminded in this time of 'page 4' awareness to which the troops are often relegated these days. I will almost certainly drink a few tomorrow, and I shall absolutely drink one to them. No doubt they have access to some brew, but I shudder at the thought of what it might be. Ah who knows, history records that the brewing of beer originated over in that area a couple/few thousands years ago - so maybe there's some good stuff around.
Scott
Posted by
SDMarch 16, 2007 04:47 PM
Oh yeah, and props to Dogfish Head IPA! I don't think I've mentioned that one yet here in the infancy of this blog, but it is absolutely one of the best IPA's on the market, and one of the best beers in the RSVP cooler door. Where is Dogfish Head from - I think it's Delaware. It is, and always has been, extremely difficult for craft brews 'from away' to crack this market. Too much great stuff in our own backyard. a huge testament to the Dogfish Head product and persona.
Roxy Rolles was respectable.
Posted by
SDMarch 16, 2007 04:55 PM
Dick - you've always got something solid to contribute.
MH Not Quite Pale Ale is Not Quite Good. I didn't even know about the contaminant - blasphemers.
Porter is the working-man's style, well stated. I'm sensing a resurgence. Gritty's Mud Season Porter?
Geary's Summer is on the shelf now (I'm not the hugest fan of that being so in mid-March, but who am I). Fantastic artwork again. It is a brilliant and properly supportive of local arts thing that they do w/ that - deserving of it's own blog entry soon to explain to all, methinks.
Posted by
SDMarch 16, 2007 05:12 PM
im proud of you
Posted by
robie clarkeMarch 17, 2007 09:46 AM
I'm glad to hear you're a fellow lover of Dogfish Head IPA -- I grab mine at Madden's Beverage in Saco or Oak Hill in Scarborough if people are curious as to where they can find it. A visit to their website is very interesting and you're correct about them being out of Deleware. The creator has a book out and you can read some of it on their site - good for a quick read. I generally loathe the idea of "flavored" beers, but if you like pumpkin pie, their "Punkin' Ale" is a great brew in the fall. If I could, allow me to make one more "best in style" reccommendation: I was never a huge Weizen fan until my friend went down to Tully's in Wells to share with me the wonder of Schneider's -- both styles I tried (both light and dark) were absolutely amazing. If you can find it, I guarantee it will be one of your all-time favs. Hope you had a great St. Patty's day!
Posted by
JeffMarch 19, 2007 05:42 PM
Dogfish Head is actually named after a point in Boothbay Harbor, ME. Sam (the owner of Dogfish Head)spent summers in Maine. So its sort of a Maine beer...
Posted by
StanMarch 23, 2007 11:45 AM
Jeff - whoa - Schneider's? That's what great about this forum - learning something new. I do not know Schneider's. On the internet, I found a Schneider's Brewery from Argentina that has pretty large production. They have 3 styles, a blonde/pilsner style, a 'fuerte', which they say is modeled after Oktoberfest/mazer styles, and then a 'negra' or black (obviously), which they call dark and sweet. I'm guessing that's what you found at Tully's. I'm on the lookout - and will snag it if I see it. And will check Tully's next time I'm in Wells. Thanks for the heads up.
Posted by
SDMarch 25, 2007 11:44 AM
Hey Stan - That is awesome. I had no idea about the Dogfish Head connection to Maine - makes total sense to me now (and I actually feel much better about regularly choosing their IPA now). Good info - thanks.
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