Middle school Me to adult Me: You’re writing a post about how good social studies is? Who have you become, man?
Because of all the awesome Trillium Brewing Company beers I bought on my craft brewery road trip two weeks ago, I’m still getting around to posting about the other awesome breweries I hit up with my buddy, the Galley Cookin’ Beer Snob. Today, I want to talk to you a bit about Castle Island Brewing Company. It was the second stop on our tour, and we weren’t there for very long—just took a quick look around and bought cans—but I was pretty happy with the spot, and the beer I took home.
Does this label take you back to middle school, or what? (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Window Sills)
The coolest thing going on at Castle Island while we were there was the Can derby. I’m not sure the rules, or how it all works with the signups and such, but a large space within the brewery was used to create a race course, and entrants made cars out of beer cans to battle it out for supremacy. You can see one of the cars in the photos below. It was pretty awesome, and makes me definitely want to go back to CIB when I have more time to spend there.
About the social studies: It’s a rotating series of single hop hazy IPAs from CIB, from which eight beers have been released: Citra, Ella, El Dorado, Simcoe, Ekuanot, Azacca, Mosaic and Amarillo. I managed to grab a four-pack of the Amarillo, and I was pretty happy with it. The Amarillo hop produces some great tropical aromas and notes of ripe Mandarin orange. I dug it. Didn’t mind doing the homework on this one at all. I also picked up a four-pack of the Dream Police, a spiced porter, that I’ll review down the road sometime.
Head over to Instagram to check out more photos from my visit!
Sometimes the ocean needs to get put in its place!
As I keep mentioning, I went on a big ol’ beer road trip a couple of weeks ago. My buddy, @galleycookinbeersnob and I spent an entire Saturday traveling around Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, hitting up as many breweries as we could get to. Our final stop was Groton, CT’s Outer Light Brewing Company.
Tell me you haven’t punched the ocean before… I’d call you a liar. (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Window Sills)
We started out with a flight, which you see up on that nice in-house Windowsill at the brewery. I tried the Bring In the Dancing Lobsters (a cherry milk stout), the Libation Propaganda (a coffee stout), the SUBduction (an IPA with El Dorado, Citra, Citra Lupulin Powder and Equinox hops) and today’s official Windowsill beer (keep scrolling), the Punching the Ocean—a double IPA dry-hopped with Galaxy, Citra, Nelson and Mosaic.
The taproom itself was cool—I wish I had more time to chill out there—and all of the beer was really tasty. I definitely recommend this place if you’re in the Groton area. Have a flight or two and take home some cans!
Check out photos from my trip to Outer Light on Instagram, now!
Grey Sail Brewing of RI: Wheelhouse Series: S.O.S.
Two weekends ago, I took a beer road trip with my buddy, Galley Cookin’ Beer Snob. We started with by driving to Trillium Brewing Company in Canton, and we ended up hitting up several other breweries on the way home. One of those breweries was Rhode Island’s Grey Sail Brewing of RI. We didn’t stay for long, just long enough to check out their unique taproom, drink a couple of pints and scarf down a pizza, but it was a freaking awesome place.
First of all, the taproom. You can see from the photo—check out the Instagram post below—that it basically looks like a house. Guess what… it looks like a house on the inside, too. I’m pretty sure that’s because it’s built in an old house. I mean, check out that Windowsill!
Grey Sail Brewing of RI: Wheelhouse Series The Pearl on the Windowsill. (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Window Sills)
As I mentioned, the beers were pretty solid. Both of the pints you see on the Windowsill above are part of Greysail’s Wheelhouse Creative Ale Series. In 2018, Greysail decided to create a new, limited edition beer every two months.
The first photo you see is of the S.O.S., which was the third release in the series. It’s a New England IPA hopped with Ekuanot, and dry-hopped with Vic Secret, Bru-1 and Topaz. Super juicy and hazy! The second beer is The Pearl, which was the fifth in the series. It’s not just a stout—it’s an oyster stout, made with Watch Hill oysters. Don’t forget the Cacao nibs and vanilla beans, too.
I managed to snag a couple of take home cans and bottles, but I’ll show you guys those another day. If you haven’t checked out Greysail, make sure you do. Great brews, and an awesome place!
Check out some cool photos from my stop. The taproom is unreal!
Are you working today? I’m not, so I’m celebrating with a Trillium classic on the Windowsill!
Today is a day to celebrate the Presidents of the United States. No, not the band who sang “Lump;” the men—and, hopefully some day very soon, women—who run what I feel is one of the greatest countries in the world. I’m not going to get too deep into my politics for those of you who are just here for the beer, but let’s just say that I don’t think our current president is altogether worthy of a holiday. That doesn’t stop me from celebrating the holiday, though. Lots of good history behind the office, and hopefully a bright future!
Oh yeah. That’s that good stuff right there. Classic Trillium! (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)
For my Presidents Day post, I decided to go with a classic from one of the best breweries in the world—the Double Dry-Hopped Fort Point Pale Ale from Trillium Brewing Company. Both the original Fort Point and the DDH version were first brewed in 2013, and Trillium considers it to be their signature American pale ale. It’s named after their original location, the Fort Point section of Boston. It’s their “standard daily drinker.”
The hop bill is made up of Citra and Columbus hops, and the DDH version is double dry-hopped with copious amounts of extra Citra. All those extra Citra hops make for an even juicier, even more lovely pale ale. Lots of tropical fruit on the nose and tongue. This is one of the beers on which Trillium built its foundation, so it’s worthy of celebration. Pale ale perfection in a can!
How are you celebrating Presidents Day? Answer in the comments below.
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A quality brew has run aground on my Windowsill today!
If you know a little something about lighthouses, you know that New England is full of really beautiful ones. Trillium Brewing Company, always ones to puff their NE chests out and exhibit pride for this area of the country, have been honoring some of the best lighthouses in New England with a very cool series of beers named, appropriately enough, the Lighthouse Series. Thus far, there have been five of these releases: the Nauset Lighthouse, Butler Flats Lighthouse, Gay Head Lighthouse, Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse and today’s beer, the Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse. The series isn’t just designed to showcase a particular New England lighthouse, though. They also each let a specific hop do all the work.
Check out this coaster! Head to Instagram to find out where I got it! (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)
On Saturday, when I visited Trillium’s Canton location, they had the Cape Elizabeth on tap. It’s a Juicy, Hazy IPA brewed with Citra hops. It’s actually an iteration on the Marblehead Lighthouse, which was retired, tweaked and renamed because the brewery was made aware of another beer with the same name. I can’t say enough about how good this one was. Really awesome work on these NEIPAs from Trillium. Perfect for a foggy night. Or any night, really. Or the day.
The namesake lighthouse for this delicious beer is located in Casco Bay, Maine. It was built in 1874, and is nearly 70 feet high. Might be one I have to visit one day!
As always, check my post out on Instagram, too. Follow Beers on Windowsills for awesome craft beer!
“I’m an alligator, I’m a mama-papa coming for you / I’m the space invader, I’ll be a rock ‘n’ rollin’ Windowsill for you” David Bowie… sort of.
It’s common knowledge to SingleCut Beersmiths fans that owner Rich Buceta loves David Bowie. Bowie’s fifth studio album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, has been a huge influence on the Queens-based brewery’s beer names and label art. I always get a kick out of the Bowie-inspired names. Buceta really knows how to find those names, doesn’t he?
Are you an alligator, too? (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)
I’m An Alligator—formerly known as Cold Fire—is the “bigger brother” of another SingleCut IPA that has previously graced my sill, the Weird & Gilly. It’s a double dry-hopped DIPA inspired by Moonage Daydreams, a song Bowie originally recorded in 1971 with a band Arnold Corns, and subsequently re-released as the third track on Side one of Ziggy. I’m not sure what the hop recipe is for this one—SingleCut usually keeps that close to the chest—but, as the can says, it’s mega dry-hopped because “the Spiders demanded it.” Never disappoint the Spiders, I always say.
Like everything else SingleCut does, I’m An Alligator is phenomenal. Smooth, juicy and a little dank… Definitely one to chomp down on ASAP.
You know I wasn’t gonna make you Google this. Take a listen to the live version of Moonage Daydreams!
Check this one out on Instagram, too. Make sure you like and follow Beers on Windowsills!
Special Notes: Part of Sixpoint’s Infinite Loop Series of experimental double IPAs.
Hops: Cashmere, Idaho 7, Sabro
ABV: 8.2%
IBU: 20
Availability: Limited
@untappd says: 3.85/5
We’re dabbling in some cool hops on the WIndowsill today!
If you follow my sill, you know I have a soft spot in my heart for Brooklyn’s Sixpoint Brewery. I love their logo, and the unique slim cans they put all their beers in. Unfortunately, I have really only had their year-round brews… until now. Check out the Dabble, an experimental New England-style Double IPA!
Look at this work of art! (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)
This is a very special beer from Sixpoint. It’s the second release in their “Infinite Loop” Series of innovative DIPAs. Max Nevins, VP of Marketing at Sixpoint told Brewbound.com about the series:
“We created the Infinite Loop series to bring our small batch innovation to the entire Sixpoint network, while also ensuring we have a great tasting, innovative IPA available year-round. The Meltdown liquid just blew people away—it went so quick we were out of stock two months before we expected. We’re definitely going to go bigger for Dabble.”
I missed out on the Meltdown, but the Dabble features a great and unique hop lineup: Cashmere, Idaho 7 and a new breed of Sabro hops to which, according to Brewbound, The Hop Breeding Company granted Sixpoint early access. It was super juicy, with a lot of big hoppy flavor and aroma. Really bright and tasty!
On Sixpoint’s own blog, Brewing Manager Heather McReynolds said: “I just wanted to make the juiciest IPA we could with the best, freshest ingredients available to us. Something for the New York hop heads who love dat juice.”
I think Sixpoint did a pretty solid job!
Check this one out on Instagram. Follow Beers on Windowsills for more great craft beer!
There’s an epic battle on the Windowsill today. Who will win?
If you know anything about me, you know that I love collaboration beers with a passion. Can you imagine my absolute joy when I saw that one of my new favorite breweries, Beer’d Brewing Company, had decided to collaborate with one of my other favorite breweries, Pipeworks Brewing Company? That’s what we have on the Windowsill today… the Dogs Vs. Shinobi, a New England-style IPA with guava puree added that essentially mashes together the two breweries’ most iconic brews—the Dogs & Boats from Beer’d and the Ninja vs. Unicorn from Pipeworks.
I spoke to Beer’d’s Aaren Simoncini about this collaboration. Here’s what he had to say:
How did the partnership with Pipeworks come about?
Mike from Pipeworks has family in CT and had planned a trip back home to visit them. As luck would have it, Sarene Craft Beer Distributors, our Western CT distributor, also carries Pipeworks here in CT and thought it would be a great idea to put us in touch. We started the conversation and it was pretty obvious early on that our brewing styles were similar. We discussed some of our favorite ingredients and techniques and Dogs Vs. Shinobi was born!
How did you incorporate the two brands to make this one beer?
The final product is certainly a mashup of the two brands (there’s an IP issue preventing us from calling it Dogs Vs. Ninja). We talked about the beer we like to drink, and how we wanted those brands in a bit more of a sessionable ABV range. We also wanted a fruity punch to be included in the final product, and we both immediately gravitated to the Guava, as it plays so well with the Citra, Simcoe and Mosaic.
Check out the awesome label, created by Dan Hamilton. (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)
Who did the label for this can?
Dan Hamilton created the imagery for the can label. We started working with Dan a few years ago and love the fact that we can pitch him a cool name or concept and set him loose. We wanted to incorporate both brands without loosing our style and this is where we landed!
Anything else cool about this collaboration?
We love collaborations because they get us outside of our wheelhouse. They’re a great opportunity to learn a new technique or incorporate unfamiliar ingredients in someone else’s workshop. With all that said, it’s time for us to get outside of our wheelhouse, wink, wink, so keep your eyes out for the next step.
As for the Dogs Vs. Shinobi itself? I think you already know… It was awesome. Great mix of hops, and the guava made everyone so nice and fruity. Great collaboration!
Thanks to Aaren! I can’t wait to visit Beer’d myself in a couple of weeks!
Check this one out on Instagram. Make sure you follow Beers on Windowsills for more great craft beer!
Sometimes, you just need a cool brewery on the Windowsill!
I love when a brewery is good to its followers and fans. Back Channel Brewing Collective is one of the coolest breweries I have ever had the pleasure of interacting with on social media. It all started a week or two ago when, while perusing my Instagram feed, I ran into a post that featured a super delicious looking IPA… in a bowl. A bowl? Yeah. Straight up. Like a soup bowl.
I commented on the post, asking if the brewery distributed to CT, because the beer looked good and the bowl was kickass. I almost immediately got a DM from the company—actually by Josh Leddy, one of the owners and brewers—saying that they didn’t distribute to my area, but they wanted to send me something to try. How cool is that?
Look at this awesome crowler I got! (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)
About a week later, the beer mail came. Not only did Josh and Back Channel send me a 24.5 oz crowler of their brand new Gonzo IPA—they only sell beer out of their taproom, and Minnesota state law says they can only sell in 750 ml or 64oz containers—I also got… THE BEER BOWL!
Before we get into the bowl, let’s chat a bit about the brewery itself. Back Channel was founded in 2016 by Josh Leddy, Melissa Leddy (yep, they’re married), Mark Makarem, Matt Olson and Joe Meehan. Their brewery, which sits on a back channel of Lake Minnetonka, opened its taps in 2017. Not only did the location inspire the name, but Josh Leddy told me the other meaning of the name. “Backchanneling is a secondary, or secretive, way to pass information around,” said Josh. “So all of our beer names are descriptions of famous Minnesotans, or people with significant ties to Minnesota.” Their beer names act as hints to the identity of the inspirations for the beer itself.
OK. So why, exactly, does Back Channel Brewing have beer bowls? Josh actually sent me some marketing copy about this. It seems the gang was on a beer trip in Asheville, NC, and they plum ran out of clean beer glasses. They had to use bowls. In doing so, they realized how having such a wide opening for your beer made the aromatics of their IPAs pop like never before. Also, the care it took to take that sip—two hands, nice and slow—also added to the experience of tasting the beer. Hence, the official beer bowl was born.
Did I drink it out of the beer bowl? You bet your ass I did! (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)
I suppose I should talk about the beer, right? The Gonzo is an IPA brewed with Motueka and Strata hops. Josh told me that the batch completely sold out in five days, making it the fastest beer ever to sell out through their taproom. Why is it called Gonzo? Well, the brewery never really reveals who has inspired the name of a particular beer, but I did get one hint: someone from Minnesota was very involved with Jim Henson’s Muppets. My guess? Jerry Juhl—head writer for the Muppets Show. and native of St. Paul. Whether I’m right or wrong, the Gonzo was pretty awesome. Think Julius from Tree House Brewing Company… in a bowl.
My final evaluation of this experience? Back Channel is awesome. The Gonzo is amazing. The bowl? Although it’s a kickass souvenir, and it totally does everything Back Channel says it does with the aromatics, I’m probably more likely to use it for soup over beer in the future. I just can’t commit both of my hands for drinking every beer I ever taste for the rest of my life, lol.
Still, though, I have to give it up to Josh and the rest of the Back Channel crew. Their beer is legit, and I hope I get to try them again some day.
Check this out on Instagram now for a video of me using the bowl! Be sure to follow Beers on Windowsills for more amazing craft beer!
Digging into the archives for another Friday local brewery shout out!
My good friend @beernarrator posted a can of Powder Dreams from Captain Lawrence Brewing Company a few days ago, and it reminded me of just how strong the Captain’s can game has been of late. That, in turn, inspired me to dig through my photo archives for today’s Windowsill brew: The Tears of Green.
Let the tears rain down like a shower on this sexy label! (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)
Tears of Green is one of those fun, rotating series from the Elmsford, New York-based brewery. Thus far, they’ve released several versions of it, with the most recent being dry-hopped with Vic Secret and Citra hops. Today, however, we have the first version to be canned—the Motueka and Citra version. The beer was very solid, with bold tropical flavors and not a ton of bitterness. I definitely recommend it if you’re looking to try some of Captain Lawrence’s new-ish and best-ish (in my opinion) IPAs.
I also wanted to give a quick shout out to the brewery itself, which sold its first keg in 2006, and is still going strong 13 years later. I haven’t been there just yet, but I’ve always been an admirer. Cheers to the Captain, and cheers to Tears of Green!
Head over to my Instagram page for more awesome craft beer. Be sure to follow Beers on Windowsills!
