Dogfish Head Chicory Stout

Over Christmas break, Cathy and I were able to sneak away to the Winking Lizard and grab a beer in between last minute shopping, eating, and family time. I was able to finally get a chance to drink the Winter seasonal from Dogfish Head, Chicory Stout.

This stout was very strong on the coffee flavor and the addition of the roasted chicory was a very nice touch. I do enjoy chicory brewed in my iced coffee and this very much reminds me of that. It pours a seriously dark chocolate color with a nice tan head. Smells were roasty, if that is even a word, and overwhelmingly like coffee (which is good in my book). The only thing that bothers me about this beer was the black licorice/anise. That is probably one of my least favorite flavors and when I get a taste of it, it takes over my taste buds.

I'm glad I got a chance to finally have a taste of this beer. Dogfish does a great job experimenting with flavors and isn't scared to take a chance. Since stouts aren't really my favorite style to begin with, I'll probably pass the next time I see this one.

Happy Drinking!

Who: Cathy
Where: Winking Lizard
Price: $$$
Score: 3 / 5

Craft Beer Heaven: the Borzone III

The Borzone Flag

With the holiday season in full force, I thought I'd give a little shout out to one of my homes, away from home. My brother-in-law has one of the greatest home bars around and when we head back to Cleveland I always pop in to watch some sports on the big screen(s) and have a beer or 2.

Craft Beer!

Joe is a regular visitor to the blog checking in to see what beers I have tried and trying to find a few that I haven't to have stocked when I visit. One of our yearly traditions is the day after Thanksgiving. While most are out shopping for Black Friday deals, Joe and I sit at the bar and enjoy ourselves a long day of football and early season college hoops.

Big Screen behind bar

Joe has a great setup and can show multiple games at once. He has a huge HD screen behind the bar, a giant projection on the wall and a PC to show online games at espn3.com/BigTenNetwork/etc. He also is a collector of "mini" helmets and has the full NFL set as well as 99% of FBS college football schools. Each week he sets up the helmets based on the weekly match-ups! If you look close you can see the 2011-12 bowl match-ups.

2011-2012 bowl season

If you aren't into sports, you can walk around and check out all of the "Air Band" instruments or the home made bar top, constructed of old CD boxes from the 80's and 90's. There is even a tv in the bathroom so you don't miss a single play!

Air Band guitars

Bar top

TV in bathroom!

You can follow along with the Borzone on twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/theborzone

Cheers and Happy Drinking!

Brewery Roadtrip: Market Garden Brewery - Cleveland, OH

Beer Sign in the Market Garden Brewery

Over the Thanksgiving holiday I was able to sneak away with my brother-in-law Joe and head up to the Market Garden Brewery in the Ohio City neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio. The brew pub opened earlier this year (2011), right next to the West Side Market and also near the Great Lakes Brewery. It is worth the trip to downtown Cleveland for a few tasty beers and a really cool atmosphere. I think they brew some pretty distinct beers and are in good hands...

Brewmaster, Andy Tveekrem, has been a professional brewer for 20 years and prior to this venture has been the Brewmaster at Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Delaware (2004-2009), Frederick Brewing Company in Maryland (2000-2004), and Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland (1991-2000) (Source: Market Garden Brewery)

Taps at the Market Garden Brewery

I was able to sample the Viking Pale Ale and the Festivus Ale (paying homage to the Costanza non-Christmas holiday in Seinfeld), "It's a Festivus, for the rest of us!". Both were pretty good choices on my part and I would love to stop back and tick off a few more for my beer list. My only concern about the beers is the number of beers on tap. While having a choice is a great thing, my worry is that with so many beers to attend to, does the quality suffer? I can't answer that question now because I've only had the 2 to think about, but it is a question that I will bring back with me on my next visit.

Festivus Ale

The brew pub is a re-purposed grocery store and poultry shop and the marriage between new and vintage is done right. It's pretty easy to see how this place could have been a hopping place to grab a beer back in Cleveland's heyday but yet still feels new and in the right place. I love that this is right across the street fro McNulty's Bier Markt and down the street from GLBC. I'm hopeful for another beer stop to make Ohio City a destination for craft beer (if it isn't already). Ohio City seems to be going through a Renaissance, much like Over-the-Rhine in Cincinnati. What is old is new again.

Cheers and Happy Drinking.

Visit Great Lakes Brewing for Prohibition Celebration

December 5, 1933: The 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified, thus repealing the 18th Amendment and bringing an end to the era of national Prohibition of alcohol in America...and Great Lakes Brewing Company is celebrating the 75th Anniversary of this momentous occasion in history!

Visit GLBC December 5 and 6, 2008 for:

* Prohibition Menu Specials All Made With Alcohol!!!!

- Spicy Tomato Bisque with Burning River Pale Ale: $6.00
- Mixed Greens Salad with Edmund Fitzgerald Porter Scallion Dressing: $7.00
- Flank Steak with Eliot Ness Amber Lager Demi Glace, Veggie Valley Mashed Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables: $16.00
- Apple Tart with Bourbon Sauce: $5.00

* Drink Specials
* Keep The Glass Special: GLBC Pilsner Glasses
* Prohibition Pils On Tap
* Prohibition Propaganda and Decorations
* Big Band Music
* Flapper and Depression-Era Costumes!

* Guests are encouraged to dress up like it's 1933!

Original Calendar Event

Great Lakes Burning River

Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale.

One of my all-time favorite beers gets its name from the 1969 burning of the Cuyahoga River (really it happened: Burning Cuyahoga). The label shows the Cleveland skyline with the burning Cuyahoga River running through it. A nice play on an easy target if you want to make fun of Cleveland.

I have said before that I am partial to the GLBC and almost all things Cleveland (my wife, Indians, Cavs, Cuyahoga Valley Ntl. Park, etc.), but I think that many will agree that this is a solid American Pale Ale. It was in the running for my Session #21 favorite beer but since I hadn't reviewed it yet, I didn't want to choose it.

The beer pours a light copper color with slight white head a decent lacing. Very hoppy citrus and floral smells, but not overwhelming. This medium bodied beer makes it very drinkable and has a very hoppy bitterness at the beginning. You really get to taste the malt and caramel at the end making this a very balanced APA.

I think that GLBC really comes through on this brew and if you haven't given it a try yet, I would recommend that you do.

Who: Cathy
Where: Home
Price: $$$
Score: 5 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Feast of All Saints - Christmas Ale Style

On 11.01.08 (the Feast of All Saints), join the Great Lakes Brewing Company to celebrate the the early release of Christmas Ale six packs from 12:01 AM - 1:00 AM this Saturday, November 1, 2008 in GLBC's Gift Shop ($10.99/six pack)! Limited supplies available; certain restrictions may apply. Christmas Ale will officially be on tap at 11:30 AM on Saturday, November 1, 2008. Remember, 12:01 AM on November 1st is late Friday night going into Saturday morning...!

Happy Drinking!

Great Lakes Oktoberfest

Round 2 with an Oktoberfest brings us back to Cleveland and the Great Lakes Brewing Company.

This marzan style beer is close to the top of the field when it comes to the Oktoberfest brews. Maybe I am a bit biased, but Great Lakes brews almost all of their beers exceptionally well, and this one gave me the same impression.

Pours a nice light orange with an off white head. A nice mild spicy and earthy smell with caramel subtlety. The caramel becomes more apparent in the tasting. A very balanced combination of malts and hops. A very drinkable Oktoberfest and you could easily have more than a few without much thought.

Who: Cathy
Where: Home
Price: $$
Score: 4 / 5

Great Lakes Moondog ESB

Great Lakes Moondog Extra Special Bitter

Another fine brew from my favorite brewery. The April, May, June seasonal from Great Lakes Brewing Co. Extra Special Bitter name comes from the English meaning -- pale or translucent, as it is not all that bitter and hoppy. The name comes from the first ever rock-n-roll concert in 1952, which was held in Cleveland and was called the Moondog Coronation Ball.

Pours a nice golden orange/yellow and has a nice earthy tone with a small amount of hops at the end. A nice malty beginning and a hint of floral at the finish. Moondog is very easy to drink and I found myself drinking a couple at a time.

I would recommend this beer to anyone because of its smoothness. Another entry from GLB which I wish they brewed all year round.

Who: Cathy
Where: Deck
Price: $$
Score: 4 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Buckeye Brewing - Hippie IPA

Buckeye Brewing - Hippie IPA

Craft Brewer from Cleveland, Ohio.

My brother-in-law to be (3 weeks to go), Joe, took me to the Beer Engine in Lakewood, Ohio (10 mins from downtown Cleveland) to take in a few beers and a sandwich before we went to the Indians game.

I only had a sample of the other Buckeye beers but this one rules the roost of the one's I tried (mostly lagers). None of the others were worth getting a pint of...I always try to get the beer of the city/region that I am in since I can't get them back home in Cincinnati. The Beer Engine is the home of Buckeye Brewing so I had to start with them.

Hippie, pours a nice amber with a slight white head. Very much a beer for hop heads, as the explosion of hops is apparent from start to finish (smell, taste, after taste). There is also a caramel malt flavor. Other people didn't think this was quite as bitter as I did, but that was what truly came through in my tasting. Not the best IPA I have had, but was decent and I would probably get another if I ever went back.

Who: Joe
Where: Beer Engine
Price: $$
Score: 3 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Great Lakes - Conway's Irish Ale

Great Lakes Brewing Company - Conway's Irish Ale. From my favorite brewer. GLBC produces what I believe to be one of the best seasonal brews out there. I find myself wishing this beer was available all year round, that is why I probably enjoy it so much (knowing I can only get it 4 months out of the year). It is the Winter/Spring ale brewed from January to April. This typical Irish Ale is a beer best enjoyed with your Irish food favorites (potatoes, corned beef, etc). A little history lesson: the beer is named after the grandfather of the founders of GLBC, Patrick Conway, a Cleveland traffic cop who used to work in the same area as the brewery.

Who: Cathy
Where: The old apartment
Price: $$
Score: 5 /5