Keeping My Head Above Water

Nightmare Brewing Company
Mizuharitsuke
Triple India Pale Ale brewed with Moshio Salt
Triple Dry hopped with Pacific Sunrise, Talus and HBC 630 hops
11.3% ABV
North Haven, CT
Founder and Phantom Brewer: Billy Powell

Deep hazy orange-golden with a white head that fades. Before even pouring, I can smell pineapple! After it’s in the glass that pineapple is still persistent, and then mango, and tangerine. It’s crisp and fresh and super nose friendly. Sipping that mango and pineapple along with papaya, lychee, and melon…it’s a delicious tropical fruit bowl with a shake of salt (I always put salt on fruit. Makes the flavor pop more). There’s also a little grass hanging out in the back This would be so good with pulled pork or actually pour it over the pork before you start slow cooking it. Yum!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: GROSS! If you could only see how scrunched up my face is.

I’m a saltaholic, but I did not know the history of Moshio salt that ranges back 2,500 years. The labor intensive production had kind of been lost until a 1984 dig on Kami-kamagari isle unearthed a treasure trove of pottery, shakers, and clues to how the salt was derived from the seaweed/seawater process. There’s a modern adaptation now, but it’s still a whole lot of work. Now, to address Mizuharitsuke’s label. That’s a whole other can of worms or seawater. It’s a really truly gruesome form of crucifixion (from Japan) where you’re tied to a cross during low tide and then here comes the waves and then high tide. If lucky you pass on day one, if not…well you might be there a while to think about your transgressions. I think I’ll stay on good behavior while sipping my IPA and keeping my head above water.

#beer #tripleipa #ipa #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit #Nightmare #NightmareBrewing #NightmareBrewingco #Moshio #pairswithcheezits #northhaven #ct @nightmarebrewingco @BeerBoutiqueNYC @twelve.percent.beer.project @twelve.percent.nyc.metro @hkarlphoto @worldbyglass @cheezits

A Good Fresh Roar

Off Color Brewing
Apex Predator
Farmhouse Ale
Malts: Pils, Flaked Wheat, and Honey Malt
Hops: Crystal, Sterling
Secret Techniques: Free-Rise Fermentation, Prey Selection
6.5% ABV
Chicago, IL
Brewers and founders: John Laffler & David Bleitner

Golden with green hints with lots of active bubbles and frothy foam. Apple sweetness greeting my nose, along with pineapple, lemon hints, and a teeny tiny funk after a bit. It’s a crisp, dry and delightful sip of apple, tangerine and others from the citrus bowl, lemongrassiness, and mellow lemon fizz that is not tart with malt.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: NO NO NO NO NO! Gives a metallic taste…bleah

This majestic beast has a gentle side that you can kick back with but enough of a roar to knock down the spiciest of dishes. Would also be awesome with shishito peppers to cool that one in ten surprise, or even better yet Carolina Reaper Ribs. I can already feel the sweat down my neck.

@BeerBoutiqueNYC @offcolorbrewing @ocmousetrap @twelve.percent.beer.project @twelve.percent.nyc.metro @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #ale #farmhouseale #ビール #啤酒 #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife #chicago #IL

Golden Levitation

Omnipollo x Evil Twin Brewing
Even More Bianca
Raspberry Maple Pancake Lassi Gose
Sour Ale with Raspberries, Vanilla, Milk Sugar, Marshmallow flavor & natural flavors
7% ABV
Brewed and Packaged by Twelve Percent
North Haven, CT

Deep hazy raspberry pour that almost goes purple with a raspberry light pink head. There’s scents of milky/creamy raspberry candy, sugary marshmallow fluff, and vanilla. Sipping tart and sweet raspberry candy with a small squish of grapefruit/tangerine, the creamy center of an Oreo, and of course some vanilla. Oooh it’s like raspberry/strawberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream on top, yeah that’s it…well minus the biscuit dough part. This berry baby has a little weight or oomph to it. I definitely can’t drink more than one or I’ll be waddling. Just slowly sip and enjoy.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: meh, doesn’t do much…all the flavors overpower it

Now this is one happy brewery pairing! I feel like I found the golden ticket or should I say egg, and on that note a levitating one. BTW these are limited, so if you want one…go get it now!

@BeerBoutiqueNYC @omnipollo @eviltwinbrewingnyc @twelve.percent.beer.project @twelve.percent.nyc.metro @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #ビール #啤酒 #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #sourale #sour #gose #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife #dualipa

“Then I’m Gonna Kiss Your PINEAPPLE!”

Westbrook Brewing Co.
Pineapple Shake IPA
Hazy Milkshake IPA brewed with lactose, vanilla, and pineapple
Unpasturized, non-homogenized, & brewed fresh
7% ABV
Mt. Pleasant, SC

Hazy orange gold that has a lot of active movement and a small white head. Pouring and here comes sniffs of pineapple, tangerine, mango, and a little vanilla. First sip and well that’s a wakeup call and It’s all there… the pineapple, vanilla, and the creaminess. But that’s not all, there’s lemon, kumquats and a sliver of mango. I’m really digging this Milkshake IPA.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: uh no ack horrible

So I find myself trying another SC beer, and man have things changed since I was a kid there. I remember bars not having free pour and having to get mixed drinks made from mini bottles. Now look at my childhood home state. There’re breweries popping up everywhere and they are damn good. Westbrook has a taproom with a rotation of 22 taps, and if you want to just pop by and head home, there’s bottles, cans, and crowlers. There’s one can I wish I could’ve gotten my hands on. They collaborated with the South Carolina Aquarium and made a DIPA “Drinks Well with Otters”. You have to see the video on FB Watch. Oh and for those of you who are worried, as it says in the video, “No otters were intoxicated during the making of this video.”

@westbrookbrewingco @BeerBoutiqueNYC @twelve.percent.beer.project @twelve.percent.nyc.metro @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #ビール #啤酒 #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #IPA #milkshakeipa #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife #mtpleasant #SC #otter #otters #b52s

Where’s My Plane Ticket?

Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co.
Sour Passionfruit
American Sour Ale
Brewed with passionfruit
6.5% ABV
Charleston, SC
Brewing Director: Cameron Read

Hazy golden light orange with a small white head. Immediately breathing in a mix of passionfruit and bouquet of funky flowers flying all over. Well, tongue say hello to a salty citrus tangy blend, and next the passionfruit puree pops out. Ooh then some pineapple crush. It’s juicy and addictive and doesn’t back down. Bring on the summer heat because this refreshing can will keep you cool.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Love it! Makes everything more zippy and zingy.

Well, well, well…this may have me thinking of booking a ticket in the future to my home state. If this sour ale is anything like the rest of Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co.’s brews then I’m all in. Also what a restaurant menu (they have a wood-fired brick oven and a Polish smokehouse)…there’s house cured 2 year speck (I ❤️ speck), homemade hotdogs, pizza (like: Peach & Ricotta with House-made cayenne salami, fresh basil & honey), and two of my favorite things in the world…PIMENTO CHEESE and BOILED PEANUTS! I’m starving right now and would love all of that ASAP. Oh and might as well, throw in a few cans of their Sour Sherbet. Yum!

@eobrewing @BeerBoutiqueNYC @twelve.percent.beer.project @twelve.percent.nyc.metro @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #sour #sourale #americansourale #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife  #passionfruit #Charleston #SC #eobrewing #fruitedsour

Am I In The Back Of A Bakery?

Evil Twin Brewing
Cookies ’N Cream ’N Chocolate ’N Chili ’N Cookies
Imperial Pastry Stout
12% ABV
Queens, New York
Founder, owner, brewer: Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø

Super deep dark brown with tiny caramel head that quickly flees. Oof direct hit to the nose here of massive chocolate cookies and fresh baked brownies, chocolate croissants, brown sugar, and vanilla. This smells so good! Am I in the back of a bakery? First sip and wooooowheee! Full on dark and sweet chocolate, coffee, ice cream sandwich with extra cookies, and a pinch of spicy pepper that grows as you drink, but not too much. Just helps even everything out.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: I thought I would hate it but it’s fine. Brings out more deep chocolatey bursts.

Dang Evil Twin is always so darn good in any style beer they create. I grabbed this Imperial Pastry Stout when it was still blazing outside, but today is the perfect day for it on a lazy rainy weekend. Perfect sipping while I’m relaxing post a crazy week, and it has turned on the radio that lives in my head to a favorite Tom Waits (Ice Cream Man) and the memories that go with it.

@EvilTwinBrewing @BeerBoutiqueInc @twelve.percent.beer.project @twelve.percent.nyc.metro @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #imperialstout #imoerialpastrystout #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife  #jeppejarnitbjergsø #EvilTwinBrewing #tomwaits

 

 

 

Follow That Cat!

Fat Orange Cat
Double Walkabout
Imperial Sour with Passionfruit, Orange, and Guava
8.7% ABV
North Haven, CT

Very thick/hazy orange and guava smoothie pour. Delightful exotic wafts of passion fruit, guava, orange, tiny squeeze of tangerine, and lemon/lime candy. Oh this is absolutely freaking delicious! Passion fruit, Valencia oranges, guava, and that lemon lime squish. This tastes like a perfect beach drink that on the other hand is really healthy and full of vitamin C, but you and I know that this “walkabout” can creep up on you and get you totally tipsy (ok maybe more than a little tipsy). And here’s the thing, I don’t care! I’m on a happy wander through the wild, just following that Fat Orange Cat wherever it leads me.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Pfffft, ack, ack, ack! Noooooo! That was worse than a hairball.

@fatorangecatbrewco @BeerBoutiqueInc @twelvepercentbeerproject @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits  #sour #imperialsour #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife #fatorangecat #hops #cats #catsofinstagram

 

 

 

Long Dreamy Drinker

Timber Ales and Casa Agria collaboration
Lost Memories
Imperial Stout aged on coconut and almonds
12% ABV
North Haven, CT
Brewer: Jason Stein

Darkest black coffee with a small caramel head. Smells like several boxes of assorted Girl Scout cookies have been opened, and I want to go wild in them. There’s rich chocolate, toasted coconut, almonds, cinnamon, and shortbread (my fave cookie). Oh this baby is thick and dense. Tastes like all of the scents and tons more coconut. This is a long drinker, and is better than a slice of chocolate cake or shall I go so far as to say a 4 tiered flourless chocolate cake. Heavenly and devilish at the same time.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Ack! Blerg! NOPE!

Lost Memories is a perfect name for this beer, since it stirred all sorts of cookies from the deep depths of my brain. Cheers to Timber Ales and Casa Agria’s working together and blowing my mind on how good an Imperial Stout can be.

@timber_ales @BeerBoutiqueNYC @twelvepercentbeerproject @twelve.percent.nyc.metro @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #timberales #imperialstout #jasonstein #worldbyglass #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #northhaven #CT

Brotherly Love

Nightmare Brewing Company
Sororicide
Imperial Stout with Honey Roasted Peanuts, Peanut Butter, Ecuadorian Cacao & Indian Vanilla
15.5 ABV
Brewed & Canned by Nightmare Brewing
North Haven, CT
Founder and Phantom Brewer: Billy Powell

Deep dark of night thick black coffee with a small brown head that runs away as fast as possible. Chocolate charges out of the can and up your nose during the pour along with coffee, creamy peanut butter, smoky burnt brownie edges, and a wiggle of vanilla. Oh man, first sip and second and then third and damn that’s good! Seriously! It’s like someone smashed chocolate peanut butter cups with brownies coated in espresso and then the vanilla hits you. Also a lick of the honey roasted peanuts. I’m in trouble now that this is 15.5%. Big trouble!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: NOOOOOOOOOO! I’d rather the Reaper come find me.

My last Nightmare was their “Colombian Necktie” back when they were still in search of new artists and Billy’s sketches were still being used. From this can alone, the open call really worked. Alexandros Pyromallis’s seriously intricate art rocks! Billy and his sister must have a very loving and mischievous camaraderie, for him to have her depicted doing what she loves (broadcasting on B95.5 FM  Albany from Poughkeepsie to Vermont.) and getting impaled by Death’s arm with a blood splattered garden gnome hanging out nearby. Just beautifully twisted. That being said, he did also create Matricide and Patricide brews for his parents. I guess you’ll know you’re truly and dearly loved by Billy if he dedicates beer and art to your potential demise.

@nightmarebrewingco @BeerBoutiqueNYC @inkrituals @twelve.percent.beer.project @twelve.percent.nyc.metro @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #imperialstout #stout  #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife #northhaven #ct

A Graceful Collaboration of All Parts

Public Access (in collaboration with Root + Branch)
Grandeza
Gose style ale w/pineapple + dragonfruit
8% ABV
North Haven, CT
Brewers: Ramón Manrique Hung, Anthony Sorice, and Ryan Mauban

Looks like a watermelon/grapefruit cocktail with a small light pink head. Beautiful scents of pineapple, dragonfruit, grapefruit, and spring flowers. This just smells delightful! Now on to the taste and there’s a salty mix of pineapple, dragonfruit, papaya, mango, and watermelon jolly rancher at the end. This is perfect for a sunny day and would be great for slow cooking pork!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: doesn’t change a thing

Public Access and Root + Branch are currently both nomadic beer projects, but Root + Branch is working on building their own space in Copiague, NY. Public’s Ramón Manrique Hung has a true American Dream story. From Venezuela, he knew he wanted more and made his way to the US, worked his way from the bottom up in the beer/bar world, and is now a US citizen and a Certified Cicerone® (beer sommelier). It is true as cheesy as it sounds, that if you have a dream and determination you can make it happen. As for the guys from Root, Anthony Sorice went from home brewing to full on professional through stints with Three’s Brewing, Coney Island Brewing, and most recently head brewer at Long Island City Beer Project. And to think he went to college for European History…hmmm. Not to forget is his partner Ryan Mauban who is also a Certified Cicerone® who has worked for Michelin Star chefs, and in 2017’s Wine Enthusiast Magazine, he was one of the only beer professionals picked for their Top 40 Tastemakers Under 40. All three of these guys deserve accolades for how far they have come and how fab their creations are. Also have to give a nod Public Access’ graceful label art by Gizem Karatas (you can see more of her designs on their site). I’ve been trying to find a her site/portfolio, so if anyone can point me to it, I would love to view it. If the rest of it is anything like these labels, it’s going to be beautiful.

@BeerBoutiqueNYC @publicaccessliquids @rootandbranchbrewing @gzmkaratas @twelve.percent.beer.project @twelve.percent.nyc.metro @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits  #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife #northhaven #ct #gose #ale