The Beer Blogger - Ep. 3 - November 2012 - Dogfish Head "Bitches Brew"

The Season of the Bitch

I've finally found it!  After seeing Dogfish Head brewery featured on Discovery Channel's "Brew Masters" it became apparent how great of a brewery they are.  Sam Calagione - founder and president of Dogfish Head brewery in Delaware, has consistently dared to brew very, very different beers.  Take for example their "Midas Touch" which they took residual chemical samples of broken pottery vessels from the tomb of King Midas - and brewed a beer based on the chemical analysis.  Their popular (and delicious) "Chicory Stout" brewed with roasted chicory, organic Mexican coffee, St. John's Wort, and licorice root.  Or, the amazing crazy beer "Pangaea" with ingredients from all seven continents. 

Think of that the next time you're drinking a domestic "Lite" beer!  I'VE FINALLY FOUND IT!  Dogfish Head's masterpiece "Bitches Brew".  Brewed in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Miles Davis' seminal album of the same title.  I looked and looked around my usual bottle shops - nothing.  I had talked to an acquaintance who had tried it (for $30) EPIC!  But I couldn't find it anywhere!  A recent road trip and a little bit of serendipity, and I found a bottle for $13.99 in all places a mall!

The Beer Blogger - Ep. 2 - September 2012 - Capital Brewery Autumnal Fire

Catching Up

Since the last post I've been trying as many Oktoberfest beers as possible.  For those of you who don't know - Oktoberfest (or Marzen) style beers are generally more full bodied, made with more malt, have a more aggresive hop profile and generally higher alcohol content.  The Oktoberfest beers historically were brewed in early spring and left in the cellars until they were brought out for Oktoberfest during the last week in September, leading up to the German Reunification Day that falls on  October 3rd. 
Ok, so that's your history lesson; and now on to the beer. 

New Glarus Staghorn - I'm biased when it comes to New Glarus because everything they do is great.  This beer had a really smoky malt taste and left kind of a warmth after drinking - overall great beer.
Rating: 4/5

Hinterland Oktoberfest - Never tried anything from this brewery out of Green Bay.  Beer came in pint bottles.  More hop taste in this beer as compared to other Oktoberfest beers. 
Rating: 3/5

Capital Brewery Oktoberfest - Much darker tasting malt profile on this one, great smooth finish with an almost sweet aftertaste.  Nice!
Rating: 4/5

Leinenkugel's Oktoberfest - Kind of a dulled down and sweeter malt taste, gently hopped.  An Oktoberfest reccomended for the first time Marzen drinker.
Rating: 3/5

Sprecher Oktoberfest - Not sure what was going on when they made this one.  Tastes more like an IPA than anything else.  No thank you!
Rating: 2/5

Samuel Adams Oktoberfest - Outstanding!  Great hop to malt balance.  Very drinkable, not overpowering.  Really smooth with a sweet aftertaste.
Rating: 5/5