Sarah and I both stumbled on the same article on Boston.com yesterday. It's all about the Breweries of Vermont. With more breweries per capita than any other state, Vermont is home to some really, really great craft brewers.
To date we have visited the Vermont Pub and Brewery and Magic Hat Brewing Company, both in Burlington, Long Trail Brewing Company in Bridgewater Corners, Harpoon Brewery in Windsor, and Jasper Murdock's Alehouse at the Norwich Inn. Nevertheless, we still have our work cut out for us. With 21 breweries in Vermont, we'll have to make several more weekend trips to the Green Mountain State.
If you have been to any of these on Boston.com's list, or the ones we've been to, let us know!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
Blogger Spotlight at Seacoast Beverage Lab
I was contacted earlier this week and was selected as the first "Blogger Spotlight" over at Seacoast Beverage Lab, run by Brian Aldrich - a fellow beer blogger and homebrewer. Brian does a great job at blogging about the seacoast of New Hampshire (my home state) as well as Maine, and is a lover of beer just like us here at BrewEngland.
Please take a moment to visit his blog to give a read.
Cheers!
Please take a moment to visit his blog to give a read.
Cheers!
Cure Me I'm Irish - Update
I wanted to share the good news with everyone that Magic Hat Brewing Company is the latest brewery to be confirmed for the Cure Me I'm Irish event in March. They will join Mayflower Brewing Co., Cape Ann Brewing Co., and Blue Hills Brewery in pouring samples of their fine craft beers for all of you!
If you haven't picked up your tickets yet, click here to be directed to the event page. Tickets are currently discounted to $60, but will increase to $75 after February 15th. So, get your tickets now, save some dough, and help save a child's life!
There's still more to come on this event, so please check back often!
If you haven't picked up your tickets yet, click here to be directed to the event page. Tickets are currently discounted to $60, but will increase to $75 after February 15th. So, get your tickets now, save some dough, and help save a child's life!
There's still more to come on this event, so please check back often!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
British Beer Company Opens New Location
If you weren't aware, the British Beer Company - a Massachusetts based restaurant company, opened their 10th location last week in Franklin, MA. My buddy Mike lives in Franklin and told me a few months ago that the BBC was planning on opening a new location in his town, but I hadn't heard that they in fact opened. But, as I was cruising through the blog of Norman Miller, aka: the Real Beer Nut, today, I found out that they have.
Here's the official press release:
"The British are coming to Franklin, Massachusetts!
In Great Britain, Ireland and across Europe, the pub or “local” is the center of town life: a place to relax, refuel the body and spirit, share news and be entertained. The British Beer Company is excited to bring this same atmosphere and service to the community of Franklin.
The BBC offers an eclectic menu, unparalleled beer, wine and cocktail choices and an array of free live entertainment at all their locations. Settle in to one of the several snugs (a private cozy booth) and enjoy a traditional flaky Pasty Pie (chicken and leek perhaps), a crisp Wensleydale salad or a tasty bar pizza (traditional, gluten free or with multi grain dough). Most important; the BBC wants customers to relax and enjoy themselves. At the BBC servers don’t throw a check on the table before the meal is done and rush customers out the door.
Massachusetts owned and operated, the BBC is a refreshing alternative to the surrounding cookie cutter chain restaurants. It’s easy to see why they’re growing so fast – with Franklin being the tenth BBC location to open in Massachusetts since being founded in 1997. Each location has a unique vibe and personality all its own, yet shares its best features with its other siblings – for example, the carefully crafted mahogany bars shipped in from the UK. The BBC in Franklin boasts 36 tap lines of imported brews and specialty craft beers, 91 bottled beers from around the World and Franklin’s first cask conditioned ale. Live entertainment at the BBC is always free with live bands Friday and Saturday nights. Unique lunch and dinner specials are available daily (a couple weeks after the opening).
Whether it’s a business lunch, an after work get-together, a family dinner in friendly surroundings or a late night soirée fueled by great music over pints with friends…the BBC is destined to be Franklin’s new and only local."
Sarah and I during our first visit to BBC Walpole
If you haven't been to a BBC, you really should go. To date Sarah and I have been to the Pembroke location once and the Walpole location several times; however, we plan on visiting the Franklin restaurant soon! They always seem to have a great line up of American Craft Beers as well as some great British offerings - typically by Fuller's (and a few others). They also have a very extensive bottle selection; however, I have kept exclusively to the draft beers so far.
Although we haven't reviewed any of the restaurants, you can expect one soon. We haven't visited the Walpole location in a few months, but on a good day we can get there in about 10 minutes. The food is great, the beer is equally as good, and the service is typically very good. They have had a few bad reviews on Yelp, but honestly we have never experienced anything close to that. So, if you find yourself anywhere near one of these restaurants, definitely stop in for a bite to eat and a few pints!
Here's the official press release:
"The British are coming to Franklin, Massachusetts!
In Great Britain, Ireland and across Europe, the pub or “local” is the center of town life: a place to relax, refuel the body and spirit, share news and be entertained. The British Beer Company is excited to bring this same atmosphere and service to the community of Franklin.
The BBC offers an eclectic menu, unparalleled beer, wine and cocktail choices and an array of free live entertainment at all their locations. Settle in to one of the several snugs (a private cozy booth) and enjoy a traditional flaky Pasty Pie (chicken and leek perhaps), a crisp Wensleydale salad or a tasty bar pizza (traditional, gluten free or with multi grain dough). Most important; the BBC wants customers to relax and enjoy themselves. At the BBC servers don’t throw a check on the table before the meal is done and rush customers out the door.
Massachusetts owned and operated, the BBC is a refreshing alternative to the surrounding cookie cutter chain restaurants. It’s easy to see why they’re growing so fast – with Franklin being the tenth BBC location to open in Massachusetts since being founded in 1997. Each location has a unique vibe and personality all its own, yet shares its best features with its other siblings – for example, the carefully crafted mahogany bars shipped in from the UK. The BBC in Franklin boasts 36 tap lines of imported brews and specialty craft beers, 91 bottled beers from around the World and Franklin’s first cask conditioned ale. Live entertainment at the BBC is always free with live bands Friday and Saturday nights. Unique lunch and dinner specials are available daily (a couple weeks after the opening).
Whether it’s a business lunch, an after work get-together, a family dinner in friendly surroundings or a late night soirée fueled by great music over pints with friends…the BBC is destined to be Franklin’s new and only local."
Sarah and I during our first visit to BBC Walpole
If you haven't been to a BBC, you really should go. To date Sarah and I have been to the Pembroke location once and the Walpole location several times; however, we plan on visiting the Franklin restaurant soon! They always seem to have a great line up of American Craft Beers as well as some great British offerings - typically by Fuller's (and a few others). They also have a very extensive bottle selection; however, I have kept exclusively to the draft beers so far.
Although we haven't reviewed any of the restaurants, you can expect one soon. We haven't visited the Walpole location in a few months, but on a good day we can get there in about 10 minutes. The food is great, the beer is equally as good, and the service is typically very good. They have had a few bad reviews on Yelp, but honestly we have never experienced anything close to that. So, if you find yourself anywhere near one of these restaurants, definitely stop in for a bite to eat and a few pints!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Tuesday Night Tasting - Blue Hills Brewery: Dunkelweizen
Blue Hills Brewery - Canton, MA
Dunkelweizen, Wampatuck Winter Wheat*
6.9% ABV, 1pt 6oz
This beer pours a medium dark amber brown concoction. It has a slight head, that disappears almost instantaneously. That's okay though, because it's better not to mess around and get straight to the drinking. Of course, it should be noted that the Dunkelweizen has a nice sweet aroma, but has a slight and subtle smokiness. You can also pick up tones of caramel and butterscotch too!
The flavor is a nice blend of sweetness with a malty backbone. It's quite dry, but clean and smooth going down. It's not very bitter, but not too sweet at the same time.
While drinking this beer, I though it would be a great barrel aged beer! I'd love to see what additional flavors and aromas the oak or cherry wood barrels would give this beer. I have to say, this is my favorite Blue Hills Brewery beer so far!
With a medium to moderate mouth feel, this beer leaves you wanting more! I chose to drink mine out of an imperial pint glass, so I was stuck with just a little more than a pint; however, considering this beer is extremely drinkable, I should have picked up another bottle. I had one with my Thanksgiving dinner, and it was quite enjoyable.
Now I realize that I say a lot of the beers I review are drinkable, but I honestly wouldn't say so if I couldn't continue to drink these beers. I've been somewhat critical about a few Blue Hills Brewery beers in the past, but between the Black Hops I reviewed in September, and this Dunkelweizen, it has breathed new life into my interest in the brewing company. I love small companies, not just breweries, and local ones at that. Located just a few towns over, Blue Hills Brewery has made a name for themselves in a short time, and is picking up recognition all over the region. I just picked up another bottle of the Black Hops too, so I'm interested to see how it has progressed over the past few months.
I strongly encourage those of you in reasonable driving distance of a good package or liquor store to grab one of these Dunkelweizens. Blue Hills Brewery does a few variations on the Wampatuck Wheat beers, including the straight up Wampatuck Wheat as well as their Wampatuck Watermellon Wheat beer. I hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed the Winter Wheat!
*this beer has a grain bill that's more than 60% wheat, as are their other Wampatuck Wheat beers!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Apricot and Soy Glazed Turkey Meatloaf
Sarah made us some double-beatloaf last night. I was extra pumped, as we haven't had it in forever. She usually tops it with a mango chutney, but this time she used an apricot and soy glaze. Let's just say, it was f'n good! It didn't hurt that it paired very well with the Magic Hat #9 I was drinking too!
The meatloaf included chopped onion, carrots, tons of great spices, y'know all the stuff that makes for a great meal. She also served an awesome pureed squash, mixed with cinnamon and Lawry's season salt. It should be noted, it was made without any fat - butter, etc. and was out of this world (if you like squash). She also served sauteed potatoes, which were good as well!
Head on over to the Pinkshoe Diaries to get the recipe! It's worth a try, especially if you're trying to lessen your red meat intake, or if you simply don't eat beef.
The meatloaf included chopped onion, carrots, tons of great spices, y'know all the stuff that makes for a great meal. She also served an awesome pureed squash, mixed with cinnamon and Lawry's season salt. It should be noted, it was made without any fat - butter, etc. and was out of this world (if you like squash). She also served sauteed potatoes, which were good as well!
Head on over to the Pinkshoe Diaries to get the recipe! It's worth a try, especially if you're trying to lessen your red meat intake, or if you simply don't eat beef.
Monday, January 3, 2011
A Wishful Thinking Letter to Gritty McDuff's
Dear Mr. McDuff,
I write to you today as I am a big fan of your beers. I am equally as big of a fan of your Portland brewpub. It is my hope that you will decide to open a new location, in my (current) home town of Braintree, MA. Sure, we’re outside of Maine, but that’s okay. Massachusetts is home of many great breweries, such as Harpoon Brewery, Samuel Adams, Mayflower Brewing Company, and many more. If Sea Dog Brewing can open up shop in Massachusetts, why can’t Gritty’s?
It seems almost every week I get an email from your company telling me about the great benefits of being a member of the Mug Club, or your happy hour specials. I mean, who can beat a burger for $5.99 and $3 beers? And on top of that, you give away free tickets to professional hockey games and brew beer specifically for pro basketball teams? I mean, c’mon. That’s just too awesome!
It’s just not fair that I have to travel 20-30 minutes to hit anything remotely resembling a brewpub. There used to be a Rock Bottom right down the street, but they unfortunately closed their brewery doors a few years ago. Though, I must say…your Old Port brewery is one of my favorite places to grab lunch and a few pints in the summer while visiting my parents in Old Orchard Beach. The great food, the fantastic copper bar top, the awesome beer…
I hope you will strongly consider expanding your enterprise into the great Commonwealth. Hey, we just got rid of the 6.25% tax on alcohol, so that should help business! Oooooh, wait. Brewers are still taxed an insane amount per barrel of beer they brew, though I’m sure Maine gets you guys on that one too!
Sincerely,
Adam Meuse
www.brewengland.com
...maybe I should send this? If you're not on the Gritty McDuff's email list, and live near Maine, I recommend signing up!
I write to you today as I am a big fan of your beers. I am equally as big of a fan of your Portland brewpub. It is my hope that you will decide to open a new location, in my (current) home town of Braintree, MA. Sure, we’re outside of Maine, but that’s okay. Massachusetts is home of many great breweries, such as Harpoon Brewery, Samuel Adams, Mayflower Brewing Company, and many more. If Sea Dog Brewing can open up shop in Massachusetts, why can’t Gritty’s?
It seems almost every week I get an email from your company telling me about the great benefits of being a member of the Mug Club, or your happy hour specials. I mean, who can beat a burger for $5.99 and $3 beers? And on top of that, you give away free tickets to professional hockey games and brew beer specifically for pro basketball teams? I mean, c’mon. That’s just too awesome!
It’s just not fair that I have to travel 20-30 minutes to hit anything remotely resembling a brewpub. There used to be a Rock Bottom right down the street, but they unfortunately closed their brewery doors a few years ago. Though, I must say…your Old Port brewery is one of my favorite places to grab lunch and a few pints in the summer while visiting my parents in Old Orchard Beach. The great food, the fantastic copper bar top, the awesome beer…
I hope you will strongly consider expanding your enterprise into the great Commonwealth. Hey, we just got rid of the 6.25% tax on alcohol, so that should help business! Oooooh, wait. Brewers are still taxed an insane amount per barrel of beer they brew, though I’m sure Maine gets you guys on that one too!
Sincerely,
Adam Meuse
www.brewengland.com
...maybe I should send this? If you're not on the Gritty McDuff's email list, and live near Maine, I recommend signing up!
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