Green Flash Trippel

I was at the Nugget Market in Roseville the other day and was happy to find cases of new Green Flash beers - Imperial IPA, Barleywine & Trippel. We've sampled both the IIPA and BW on the previous shows, but this was my first experience with the Trippel.

The aroma is pretty sweet with hints of apple and cinamon present. No hops noted and mild yeast character.

The appearance was what you expect - golden color, suspended yeast (bad pour on my part) with a white fluffy head.

Taste starts fruity sweet with some honey type notes. As with aroma, getting some apple in the taste - similar to a cooked apple or apple sauce. Hop bittering is moderate - on the mild side. Finishes sweet with a lingering bitterness.

With a medium body, soft carbonation and mild alcohol warming, this beer is very easy to drink. I can't say this is my favorite option from the guys at Green Flash, but for an American made Trippel, this is very nice.

If you see this in your area, and like the Belgian styles, you won't be sorry to pick up a bottle of two for your future enjoyment.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Dark Beer Night - PBN's Farewell to Winter

We at PBN figured we'd better get to some of our stashed stouts before Summer is fully upon us. Thanks to Jamie and Craig for sending out some great beers - really a great show of strength from our East Coast brewers.

The Lineup:

• Meantime IPA
• Smuttynose Robust Porter
• Victory Dark Lord
• Dark Star
• Brooklyn Dark Chocolate Stout
• Brew Bubbas Kentucky Breakfast Stout
• Brooklyn Winter - oops

Also featuring some catching up with Mark, Mike and Rick, a conversation regarding upcoming shows and a cameo by Tracy as she weighs in on the Brew Bubbas Kentucky Breakfast Stout.

Yeah, we had us a good time. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Direct download

Soberment

OK...tap tap tap....is this thing on????
Oh...OK..uhhhhhhh
what do I say now?
It was a great night at the Beermann's Where?Hause Beers
of mass consumption.
Except for the fact that the only IPA on was the nitro version
that for some odd reason just isn't as good as the regular
re-poured IPA.
Hopefuly soon there will be a new PBN article as to why re-pouring
completely and utterly RULES.
OK then off I go..I gota date at the Auburn Ale Works and I need to carbo
load for the ride there tomorrow morning.
Until Such time.

Show Recorded

Mike, Rick and Mark did record a new show last night (4/26) - Porters and Stouts

Victory Dark Lord
Smuttynose Robust Porter
Brew Bubbas Breakfast Stout
Brooklyn Dark Chocolate Stout
Brooklyn Winter - oops
Dark Star
Meantime IPA - calibration beer

Audio should be posted soon - in the next couple of days.

Mark and Rick plan on being at the Rubicon for Women in Brewing days this weekend - may or may not record.

We also plan on sitting with Brian Ford, owner and head brewer of Auburn Ale House, to talk about the place, try some beer and get a first look at a place set to open in a few weeks.

A Night at The Rubicon (Sacramento)

Hell yeah, this place is still The Place. On a spur of the moment decision, Mike thought it would be a good idea to head down after work for a pint or four. Knowing that Mike is smart as a whip, I accepted his invite and was there in short time. They had a couple guest taps, and some seasonal beers that were worth trying.

First Up: Purple, their Maibock. Bready sweet to begin, wonderfully balanced with a moderate spiced hop. Thoroughly enjoyed this beer.

Next: IPA - if you haven't had it in a while, it still kicks ass.

Next: Black Butte Porter. On tap and repoured, this is just a beautiful beer. Man, it was tough not getting a second pint, but that spot was reserved for...

Final: IPA - yup, it was that good.

Sampled their Old Foghorn and couldn't drink it. Really not a something I wanted to even try to like. Found out it was 2 years old. Man, can a beer like that really age that poorly?

Also sampled their Old Ale, which started nice, but then got a pretty crazy cough syrup thing going on in the end. One taste was enough.

Met some cool woman, named Rye of all things. She was awesome, loved the IPA, so how bad could she possibly be? And, her name was RYE! She claims to have never tried a Rye IPA before. I think Mike was on the road to setting her straight.

- Rick

About Time?

Pacific Brew News Blog? This might just be a crazy idea.

Rick's Top Beers

Top Beers - Off the top of my head

The Pales and Easy Drinking Beers
1. Sierra Nevada Celebration
2. Blue Frog Hefe
3. Franziskaner Hefe
4. Full Sail Session Lager
5. Hopf Hefe

The Hopped List
1. Russian River Pliny the Elder
2. Moylan's Hopsickle
3. Lucky Lab Super Duper Dog
4. Pizza Port Hop 15
5. Alpine Pure Hoppiness
6. Dogfish Head 90 Minute
7. Bear Republic Racer 5
8. Walking Man Homo Erectus
9. Sequoia Log Splitter
10. Lagunitas/Sonoma Farmhouse Hop Stoopid

The Sours - a limited list
1. Hansen's Oude Kriek
2. Russian River Temptation
3. Cantillon Gueze
4. Russian River Supplication
5. New Glarus Raspberry


The Light Darks (non-Imperials)
1. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
2. Alaskan Smoked Porter
3. Stone Smoked Porter

The Heavy Darks
1. North Coast Old Rasputin
2. Stone RIS
3. Rogue RIS
4. North Coast Old Stock
5. He'Brew Jewbelation (2005)

Barley Wines
1. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot
2. Midnight Sun Arctic Devil
3. Lost Abbey Angel's Share
4. Anchor Old Foghorn
5. Rubicon Winter Wheat Wine