Epic Sour Apple Saison (5/10)

Epic Brewing, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, produces this Belgian style Saison ale.

The aroma is of cinnamon and apples.

The flavor is a touch sour like many saisons, but then becomes bitter, and finishes sour.  I got hints of sour apple and cinnamon, but these were far milder flavors than you might expect given the name of the beer.  I can't say that I really loved it, but it wasn't terrible either.  I'm giving it a 5/10.

Beer Advocate rates Epic Sour Apple Saison 81-83 out of 100.  I guess they liked it a bit more than I did.

I tried this locally at The Daily Growler in Upper Arlington, but have seen it on the shelves at The Andersons General Store, Cost Plus World Market at Tuttle (the source of the photo at the left), Giant Eagle Market District at Kingsdale.  Whole Foods Market may carry it, since they have a good selection of Epic's products, but I did not see it there on a recent visit.

ABV: 8.1%
IBU: unknown
My Rating: 5/10

Thirsty Dog's Mayan Last Dog (5/10)

For the record, I was not one of those people who thought the world would end when we reached the end of one of the Mayan calendars on December 21, 2012. Still, when I saw Akron-based Thirsty Dog Brewing Company's Mayan Last Dog beer, I was intrigued enough to buy it.

The label says "This may be the last beer you ever drink. Say goodbye to all you know and love with this bittersweet, big bold, black beer filled with old world and traditional Mayan spices, including honey and cocoa nibs. Drink heartily, then rest in peace."

The beer pours a deep, dark black. The head is thick and beige, lasting a very long time.

The aroma is undeniably chocolate.

The flavor starts with a deeply roasted grain (practically burnt) flavor. This backs off to a porter-like beer flavor. I get a hint of chili pepper, or some kind of pepper. A bit of coffee is in there as well. There is an earthy element to the flavor as well. It is much more like a porter than a stout in flavor. If there is a hops element to the flavor, it is hidden under the coffee and chocolate.

I don't hate the beer, but I don't love it, either. Ratebeer gives it a 67. Beer Advocate gives it an 83 or "good". I am inclined to back Ratebeer on this one. It isn't a bad beer, but not one I am in a hurry to have again. I'm giving it a 5/10.

Since this was a limited-edition beer from Thirsty Dog, I'm not sure where you could find it today.  One possibility might be Boulevard Carryout, but I can't say for certain I've seen it there.

ABV: 7%
IBU: unknown, best guess 28
My Rating: 5/10

Dogfish Head Tweason' Ale (7/10)

Dogfish Head produces several beers that are very unusual, and yet very enjoyable.  Their Ta Henket and Noble Rot are two examples.  Ta Henket, brewed from an ancient Egyptian recipe translated from the original heiroglyphics, has a very distinct and exotic flavor.  Noble Rot, brewed with some wine-making grapes, is also very different and tasty.

Tweason'Ale is a gluten-free beer designed for those who love beer but have health conditions that prevent them from ingesting gluten.  It's brewed with sorghum and a malty buckwheat honey instead of the usual barley.  The beer is a seasonal brew, released "in between seasons" four times a year.

The beer pours a gold color, with a white head that doesn't last very long (as you can see in the picture).  The aroma is a bit fruity, with notes of strawberry and honey to it.

The flavor combines several sour elements, including molasses, strawberry, and apricot, with a touch of maltiness.  It reminds me of their Festina Peche beer, which is brewed with peaches. It's probably at approximately the sourness level of a typical lemonade.  I found it very light and easy to drink.  Others who sampled it with me felt that it was a bit too sour for their liking.

The editors at Beer Advocate rate it 83 out of 100, or "good".  The visitors to the site rate it lower, at 74 or "average".  I enjoyed it much more than they did, rating it 7 out of 10 or "above average".

I've had this at The Winking Lizard Tavern on Bethel Road and at the 2012 Columbus Summer Beerfest.  I've seen this at Weiland's Gourmet Market and Boulevard Carryout but have not noticed it anywhere else.

ABV: 6%
IBU: unknown
My rating: 7/10

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant - Columbus, OH

The Gordon Biersch brewery restaurant is located in downtown Columbus near the Nationwide Arena, North Market, and Greater Columbus Convention Center (within walking distance of all of these).

The restaurant is clean, cozy, and slightly up-scale in appearance.  There is a large bar area with comfortable booths and tables in the back.

The menu features appetizers, flatbreads, salads and greens, tacos, burgers, sandwiches, and entrees.  The entree selection includes bistro steak medallions, beer-battered fish and chips, lobster and crab cakes, stuffed and baked chicken, New York strip and grilled shrimp, and more.

I visited the restaurant during the afternoon when there was virtually no crowd.  I ordered their artisan grilled cheese sandwich with a cup of lobster bisque on the side.  (It's pictured at the bottom of this post.)  The sandwich was everything you'd want it to be. The sourdough bread was slightly crispy.  The cheese layer was thick and flavorful from the combination of Grueyere cheese, smokehouse bacon, and avocado mayo.  It was delicious.  The lobster bisque was thick, creamy, and went down easily.  I didn't find much lobster in it, but the flavor was definitely there.

Every time I've been there, the service has been excellent.  The staff is always friendly and helpful, and seems to have almost a sixth sense about when you need a refill or some other assistance.  I've never had to wait for them to appear or flag them down.  (Then again, I've only ever been there at unusual hours when they're unlikely to be so busy.)

The centerpiece of the restaurant, for us craft beer lovers, is the beer menu.  As of this writing, the seasonal brew is a German Kolsch style beer they call Sommerbrau.  It's yellow with a slightly coarse white head that dissipates slowly.  It's a very easy and refreshing beer to drink. I also tried, and very much enjoyed, the Marzen.

The "regular" beer menu features the following:

• Golden Export - a "delicately hopped" light lager


• Hefeweizen - a traditional unfiltered German wheat beer


• Czech Pilsner -a classic Pilsner with saaz hops


• Marzen - a Bavarian lager which is mildly sweet


• Schwarzbier - a light bodied dark lager with a dry, coffee finish

I've had the Marzen and some of their other seasonal beers in the past.  I generally like all of them, as the brewmasters at Gordon Biersch haven't succumbed to the "how hoppy can we make this style?" tendency of many brewers.  Most of their regular beer menu comes in at under 21 IBUs, with the hoppiest of them being the Czech Pilsner, which clocks in at 36 IBUs (about the upper limit of my personal tolerance).  I know for some of you even the Pilsner wouldn't be hoppy enough.

When I last checked with the bartender (in 2012), there was one Wednesday each month when they tapped a keg of beer and offered it free (or at a minimum legal price) to everyone in the place until it was gone.  I'd recommend finding out if this tradition is still in place and learning when the next tapping will be.  The beer is definitely good and you'll want to try it.

If you like good food and (mostly) traditional German styles of beer, you'll enjoy Gordon Biersch's brewery restaurant.  Expect to spend around $20 per person for an entree and a beer, or more if you order appetizers, desserts, and additional drinks.

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
401 North Front Street
Columbus, OH 43215

Phone: 614-246-2900

Artisan Grilled Cheese and Lobster Bisque

The Main Bar Area (off hour)

Gordon Biersch Marzen

Gordon Biersch Summerbrau

Kulmbacher Kellerbrau (8/10)

German brewer Kulmbacher produces this unfiltered lager.

It pours a cloudy coppery brown, which is not surprising for an unfiltered beer. The head is a bit more than finger thick. It is off white in color and creamy looking. Thin rings of lacing are left behind on the glass.

The aroma is a mix of malty caramel sweetness and alcohol.

The flavor is exceptionally well balanced, neither especially malty or overly hoppy. The flavor is consistent from the first sip through to the aftertaste, which is very mildly bitter.

Beer Advocate rates this as "very good" or 85/100. I like it, and agree that it is a very good (but not great) beer.

I've seen this beer for sale at Kenny Road Market, The Anderson's General Store in Dublin, Giant Eagle Market District in Kingsdale, Whole Foods Market in Dublin, and Whole Foods Market in Upper Arlington.

ABV: 5.4%
IBU: unknown, estimate 18-20
My Rating: 8/10

Bavik Wittekerke (7/10)

Brouwerij Bavik in Belgium produces Wittekerke, a witbier.  There are several varieties of Wittekerke offered, including some with raspberry, passion fruit, and other flavorings.  This review focuses on the common "plain" variation.

Wittekerke pours out of the glass with quite a bit of carbonation, resulting in a really thick white head that's perhaps 3-4 fingers tall.  The head lingers a bit before dissipating.

The flavor is very pleasant, and very mild.  There is no detectable presence of hops, but there is a hint of citrus and Belgian spiciness.  It's a very easy beer to drink, though nothing overwhelmingly unusual or special about it.  The Beer Advocate reviewers seem to agree, giving it an 81 out of 100, or "good" rating.

Although I had this at The Winking Lizard Tavern on Bethel Road, it's available at other retailers such as the Giant Eagle Market District at Kingsdale.

ABV: 5%
IBU: 11
My rating: 7/10

The Barrel and Bottle–North Market

The Barrel and Bottle is a beer and wine store located inside the North Market.  If you're in the parking lot and enter through the main doors in the center of the building, it's down the left-hand walkway, across from CaJohn's hot sauces.  Compared to a number of the Columbus area retailers I've profiled here, it's one of the physically smaller shops.  Don't rule it out on that basis, however.  It has a lot to offer.

Just outside the shop (as pictured at the left) you'll see a nice selection of craft beers.  This includes local beers like those from Elevator Brewing Co., regional beers like Great Lakes Brewing Company's products, beers from across the U.S., and from overseas.  All this in a fairly confined space.
On my visit in June 2013, I saw beers from Unibroue, Kentucky Ale, Heavy Seas, Elevator, Great Lakes, St. Peter's, Samuel Smith, Chimay, St. bernardus, La Chouffe, Westmalle, La Trappe, and quite a few others.

Many of the beers are sitting at room temperature on the shelves, but a good number are available chilled in a refrigerator unit.  The refrigerated options during my visit included beers from Bear Republic, North Coast, Mad River Brewing, Abita, Harpoon, Founder's, Hinterland, Goose Island, Weyerbacher, Mission Brewery, Shiner, and more.
The Barrel and Bottle also features a growler filling station where 32-ounce "flip top" or "beer buddy" bottles and 64-ounce growlers can be filled.  Samples can be purchased, typically for $1 each.  Growler pricing is based on the beer offered at the time. During my visit, it ranged from $10.99 to $21.99.  That's a pretty reasonable price from what I've seen.  Drafts available during my visit included Seventh Son Humulus Nimbus (a "super pale ale"), Seventh Son Old Stone Fort (an oat brown ale), Victory Dark Lager (a Dunkel), Jackie O's Dark Apparition (a Russian Imperial Stout), and Great Lakes Lake Erie Monster (an Imperial IPA).

Larger "bomber" sized bottles, 4-packs, 6-packs, and a few individual (smaller) bottles are available for purchase.

Not pictured here (because I'm not terribly knowledgeable about wines and can't tell you much about them) is their relatively large wine selection.  Also available are several craft ciders.

Owners Jen Burton and Collin Castore have done a great job with the shop.  It's inviting, cozy but not crowded, and offers a well-chosen beer selection.  I saw many of my favorite beers on the shelves there, including Karmeleit Tripel, St. Bernardus Abt. 12, Gulden Draak, Gulden Draak 9000, Dogfish Head Chateau Jiahu (not easy to find), Hoppin' Frog BORIS the Crusher, Unibroue La Fin Du Monde, and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. 

If you're at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Nationwide Arena, or in the vicinity for any other reason, you'll want to check the shop out.  While you're there, you'll be able to sample the many other sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the North Market.

The Barrel and Bottle
North Market
Phone: 614-221-5550

Growler Filling Station

Some of the bottled beer selection

Refrigerated selections

Other bottled selections

Barley's Point of Origin Belgian Ale (7/10)

Barley's Brewing Co. runs two restaurants in the Columbus area.  The Barley's Brew Pub on North High Street across from the Convention Center may be the more well-known, but there is also Barley's Smokehouse on Riverside in Grandview.  Both offer micro-brew beers in a wide variety of styles.  Point of Origin, reviewed here, is their Belgian golden ale.

It pours a slightly cloudy yellow-gold, with a thin white head.  There isn't a lot of aroma, but you'll pick up some citrus and perhaps a bit of alcohol.

The flavor begins fairly mild and balanced, which then gives way to orange zest or orange peel and mildly bitter hops.  I pick up a little Belgian spice in there, but it definitely takes a back seat to the citrus and hops.  Aftertaste is decidedly bitter and hoppy, and it lingers for quite a while after you drink it.

Perhaps I'm having a bad day, or perhaps this isn't the best glass of Point of Origin.  Last year, I had several pints and even an entire growler and absolutely loved it. This year, the closer I get to the bottom of the pint the less I'm enjoying it.  Last year I'd have given it a strong 8/10, maybe a 9/10.  Based on this glass, I can really only give it a 7... and most of that's on the past experience and not this particular pint.  I'll have to try it again as I attend a convention downtown this week.

IBU:  Unknown, but I'd guess in the 25-30 range
ABV:  Unknown
My Rating: 7/10

Great Lakes Holy Moses (8/10)

Located in Cleveland, Ohio, Great Lakes Brewing Company produces a wide range of beers, including pale ales, lagers, and a porter.  Along with these, they produce a few seasonal beers such as The Doppelrock (a double bock), Eliot Ness (an amber lager), a Christmas Ale, and the beer we're examining here - Holy Moses. Holy Moses is a Belgian wit ale, spiced with orange peel, chamomile, and coriander.

It pours an amber color, and is just barely cloudy.  It has a thin, white head that dissipates fairly quickly.

The flavor is fairly typical for a wheat beer, but has an element of smokiness to it that's unusual.  There is also a touch of bitterness that appears to come more from its grain bill than hops.  On balance, a really nice wit and one I'm happy to drink again.  The Beer Advocate crowd rates it 87 out of 100, or "good" as well.

I had this at The Winking Lizard Tavern on Bethel Road, and have not noticed it at any local retailers.  Great Lakes products are pretty widely distributed around town, but this particular brew doesn't appear to be.

ABV: 5.4%
IBU: 20
My rating: 8/10

Elevation Beer Co.–False Summit Quad (9/10)

Elevation Beer Co. is located in Poncha Springs, Colorado.  They produce a wide range of beers, including the First Cast IPA, Mount Blanca Saison, Little Mo' Porter, Senorita Horchata, Third Base Belgian Tripel, Apis IV Quadrupel, Oil Man (a malt and bourbon lover's beer), False Summit Bourbon Barrel Aged Quadrupel, Signal de Botrange Belgian Ale aged in oak barrels, 8 Second Kolsch, Decade X, and Prostator Smoked Doppelbock.

If you've followed this blog for any length of time, you probably know I am a big fan of Belgian style beers.  Belgian Quadupels are perhaps my very favorite beer style.  They're dark, usually a little sweet, and have an extremely complex flavor profile.  You'll get hints of dark fruit, spices, caramel, and various other flavors.  When I saw Elevation Beer Co.'s False Summit in a shop in Fort Collins, Colorado, I had to buy a bottle.

(For those wondering why a Columbus, Ohio, beer blog is talking about a Colorado beer, there are several reasons.  First is that this beer may someday appear on shelves in Ohio.  If so, you'll want to know what it's like.  Also, some of you reading this may find yourself in Colorado, and have a chance to try the beer.  And there are other reasons, which boil down to "It's my blog and I want to help you find the good beers, and avoid the bad ones.")

False Summit is made with Two Row malt, Belgian Pale Malt, and Dark Candi Sugar.  It's balanced with Northern Brewer and Saaz hops.  After brewing, it's aged in Breckenridge Distilling Bourbon Barrels.

The resulting beer is simply outstanding.  It's loaded with great flavor.  I picked up the dark fruits, vanilla (from the oak barrels), Bourbon (also from the barrels), caramel, oak, and spice.  There is virtually no bitterness, and a lot of sweetness.  I wish I'd been able to bring a case of this back to Ohio with me, it's that good.

My hat is off to the brewmasters at Elevation for producing such a fine beer.

Because this is a small brewery in a small town, there aren't many reviews for it on Beer Advocate and other sites.  As of this writing, the one review on Beer Advocate rates it 4.26 out of 5, which works out to about an 85/100.  That meshes well with my own rating of 9/10.  Should you find yourself somewhere that this beer is available, don't hesitate to try it.

ABV:  11.1%
IBU: 30
My Rating: 9/10

Founders KBS Tasting at AWS

Back on April 11, I had the opportunity to attend the Founders beer tasting event at Ale Wine & Spirits (AWS) in Powell.  AWS has a tasting pretty much every Thursday and Friday, open to all their customers who purchase a ticket.  The April 11 tasting was for five different Founders Brewing Co. products.  Your $10 ticket allowed you to sample Founders' All-Day IPA, Breakfast Stout, Curmudgeon, Dirty Bastard, and the star of the event Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS).

I'm not an IPA fan, but I did find the All Day IPA to be a more pleasant version of the style.  It is by no means a beer that I love, but if I was somewhere that only IPAs were on offer, this would be one I'd ask for… Like all IPAs, it's hoppy and bitter, but unlike many of them, it's not overwhelmingly so.

Curmudgeon is probably my favorite of the Founders beers.   Dirty Bastard isn't bad, either.  Breakfast Stout is a fairly standard coffee-flavored stout.

Approximately 30-40 people attended the tasting.  A chance to purchase the leftover bottles of KBS (one per person) were randomly drawn at the conclusion of the event.  Unfortunately, I wasn't one of the winners.  In the end, that was fine with me.

Kentucky Breakfast Stout is the Bourbon barrel aged version of Founders Breakfast Stout.  I like it a little better than standard Breakfast Stout, but I can't say that it lived up to the hype I'd read about it beforehand.

For example, Beer Advocate rates it "world-class" and gives 95-100/100 ratings.  It's good, but not that impressive to me.  I'm willing to admit that I may have missed something here, given the very small sample size (see photo at right), but I didn't find KBS to be significantly different or better than Alltech's Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout (which Beer Advocate rates only an 84 or "good" rather than world-class).  The Alltech beer has the same strong coffee flavor, the same vanilla and Bourbon notes found in KBS, and a very similar mouth feel.   Founders KBS might feel a tiny bit thicker or creamier, but I can't say that it's different enough or better enough to justify the hype to me.  Your mileage may vary.

If you live or work near the Powell area, you should drop by and check AWS out.  If beer tastings like this sound like fun, get on their email list.  Once a week, they share information about the upcoming tasting, what's available to fill a growler, and any new beers they've gotten in.

The Brew Kettle–Dark Helmet (7/10)

If you're not familiar with the Mel Brooks movie "Spaceballs" you may not understand the name of Strongsville, Ohio's The Brew Kettle's Dark Helmet.  The movie is a spoof of science fiction films like Star Wars, and features a villain named Dark Helmet (who is patterned after Darth Vader in Star Wars, and played by Rick Moranis).  Being a science fiction and Mel Brooks fan, I couldn't resist this beer when I saw it on the shelf.  But given that it's an Imperial Schwarzbier (with "The Schwartz" being Spaceballs' equivalent to Star Wars' "The Force"), I only bought one bottle since "Imperial" is often a code word for "hoppier than it needs to be".

Poured into the glass, Dark Helmet lives up to its name.  It's dark brown, almost black, but not opaque.  It's relatively clear for its color, and you can see through the edges of it.  There is very little head, and it's an off-white color.  It dissipates in a minute or so.

The aroma is malty, with a strong coffee scent to it.  A bit of dark chocolate is also present.

The flavor is consistent throughout the sip.  The hops presence is far milder than I'd expect for something with "imperial" in the name.  The main flavor component is a dark-roasted malt, balanced with an equal amount of hops, resulting in a very balanced beer.  It's smooth, and quite easy to drink.  There is a slight hops aftertaste but it's not unpleasant.

Beer Advocate rates Dark Helmet 84/100 or "good".  That's very close to my own 7/10 rating for this beer.  It's a nice beer, and one I can imagine purchasing again or drinking at a beer festival.

At the time I purchased this in May, Dark Helmet was available at a number of shops around Columbus.  I've seen it at The Andersons near 161 and Sawmill, Kenny Road Market, Ale Wine & Spirits of Powell, Palmer's Beverage Center, and Weiland's Gourmet Market.

New Belgium Brewing–Fort Collins, CO

New Belgium Brewery Entrance

New Belgium Brewing Company is located in Fort Collins, Colorado. In 1989, its founder took a bicycle tour on a "fat tire" mountain bike through European villages known for their brewing prowess. As he did so, founder Jeff Lebesch gained knowledge and ingredients for brewing his own beer. When he returned to the United States, he began brewing small batches of beer at home for family and friends. Eventually, he turned it into a business. That business is now an employee-owned brewing company with over 400 employees in 29 states. New Belgium brews a number of year-round, seasonal, and limited edition beers. Their year-round line includes Rampant (an imperial IPA), Ranger (an IPA), Fat Tire (Amber Ale), Sunshine Wheat, Shift (pale lager), 1554 (black ale), Trippel, Abbey (a Belgian dubbel), and Blue Paddle (Pilsener Lager).Visiting the brewery is quite an experience.  It's clearly a very social, fun place.  You can see that from the minute you arrive. There are people using hula hoops outside and playing a game called Rolle Bolle.

New Belgium Tasting Room Tap Handles

Inside the barstools are made with old bicycle wheel rims.  There is a bicycle hanging on the wall which can be spun around its pedals, a store filled with New Belgium souvenirs, and best of all a bar where you can sample the various New Belgium brews.  Small samples (4-5 ounces) cost $2.  Full-size samples cost $4 each.  The proceeds from the samples are donated to charity.

During my visit, I had the opportunity to try several of the New Belgium beers:

Fat Tire is a very nice amber ale.  It's not bitter (at only 18.5 IBUs) and has a very nice flavor, carbonation, and finish.

Tasting Room Refrigerators

Abbey is a perfectly-made Belgian Dubbel. It's a hint more bitter than Fat Tire, but not a beer you'd actually describe as bitter.  It's one of my favorite beers of the style.

Trippel, as its name implies, is a Belgian Trippel style beer.  It's a bit hoppier than some Trippels, but not overwhelmingly so.  I enjoyed a couple of these at a party later.

The beers that really impressed me during my visit were their "Lips of Faith" line.  I found the Cascara Quad to be an excellent Belgian Quadruppel, which reminded me a bit of Ommegang Three Philosophers due to the use of Cascara Cherries in the beer.  If you have the chance to try this beer, I can't recommend it strongly enough.

Brewing Equipment

While I liked Feijoa and some of the others, Abbey, Trippel, and Cascara Quad were my favorites.  I had the good fortune to enjoy more of all three of those later during my visit to Fort Collins.

The unfortunate part of my visit was that I could not take an actual tour of the brewery itself.  Tours usually book up a couple of months in advance, I'm told.  If you want to take one, I'd recommend scheduling it before you schedule your visit to Colorado.

For more information about New Belgium Brewing and their beers, see their web site.

Dogfish Head and The Daily Growler Let You Build A Beer

Representatives of Dogfish Head Brewing were at The Daily Growler in Upper Arlington on Wednesday, May 29, 2013.  (The Daily Growler is a great place to try new beers or fill up a growler with one, if you've never been there.)  I'd have announced this on our calendar page, but only found out about it the night before it happened.

They were present to showcase both the Dogfish Head beers on tap at The Daily Growler and to show off their Randall Jr. product.  Since I'm a big fan of several of the Dogfish Head beers (especially those in the Ancient Ales line, but also several others), I made it a point to be there.
I'd never heard of the Randall Jr., so I asked some questions about it.  It's a portable version of something they have at their brewery called "Randall the Enamel Animal". That device allows Dogfish Head to infuse a previously brewed beer with any flavor they want, right from the tap.  For example, they might run an IPA through fresh peaches and cilantro.  They might run a different beer through additional hops or fresh oranges.  The possibilities are pretty much endless.

Dogfish Head's Randall Jr.

The Randall Jr. (pictured at the left) is a portable version of that device.  It consists of a plastic cylinder with a screw-on lid and a strainer.  You put any kind of flavoring item you like inside the Randall Jr., such as fresh fruit, chocolate, coffee, ginger, or hot peppers.  Mash those items up to release their flavors, then pour in your favorite Dogfish Head beer.

At the May 29 event, Dogfish Head reps brought in several of the Randall Jr. devices and a range of items you could choose from (see the photo at the right).  You purchased a sample of any of the Dogfish Head beers on tap that evening (which included a 60-minute IPA, the Indian Brown Ale, and Black & Blue) and then selected the ingredients you wanted to infuse into that beer.  The reps mashed those flavorings up to release their juices, then poured in your beer sample and allowed it to steep for a few minutes.  When it reached maximum flavor potential, they poured it into a sample glass and you were allowed to enjoy it.

Beer Flavoring Options

During my visit, I had them mix the Indian Brown Ale with coffee, chocolate, and jalapeno peppers.  This amped up the beer's existing coffee flavor and added a very spicy and peppery note to it.  Not a bad concoction.

For my second sample, I had them mix Black & Blue with black cherries and ginger.  The resulting beer had a slightly medicinal taste to it, but was actually quite good.  The ginger seemed to work well with the beer.  I'm not so sure about the cherries.

The event was very well attended.  I counted at least 30 people inside the Daily Growler at one point, and several more had come and gone in all that time.

If you want to purchase your own Randall Jr., you can do that from the Dogfish Head web site.
I had the opportunity to have a nice chat with Wendy Domurat, Dogfish Head's Mid-Atlantic Sales Manager.  She recommended touring the brewery.  It's also clear that she's not just a Dogfish Head employee, but a lover of good beer as well. 

I would imagine that other local bars or beer shops will feature a similar event in the future.  If you get the chance, and you like Dogfish Head's products as much as I do, you'll want to check it out.

What's on Tap at Ale Wine and Spirits of Powell

Ale Wine and Spirits of Powell has Elevator Brewing's Big Vic imperial wheat IPA, Southern Tier's Live, and Thirsty Dog's Barrel Aged Siberian Night (only a little of that one left).

They've also gotten the following beers in recently:

Thirsty Dog's Barrel Aged Siberian Night...in bottles, one per customer
Thirsty Dog'S Wulver Barrel Aged Wee Heavy in bottles, one per customer
Heavy Sea's Holy Sheet...Abbey style ale aged in brandy barrels
Two Brother's Resistance....an IPA
Two Brother's Monarch

To buy the beers mentioned above, or for more information, see:

Ale Wine & Spirits

7560 Guardwell St., Powell, OH 43065

(740) 881-0318

www.alewineandspirits.com