Trillium Brewing Company: Puny Partridge

Trillium Brewing Company: Puny Partridge

Style: American Pale Ale

Special Notes: Part of Trillium’s Small Bird Series of American Pale Ales.

Hops: Mosaic, Nelson Sauvin

Malts: Maris Otter, Naked Malted Oats, Dextrine

ABV: 5.0%

IBU: N/A

Availability: Rotating

@untappd says: 3.91/5

A little birdie told me there’s a kickass Pale Ale on the Windowsill today!

Have you heard of Trillium Brewing Company’s Small Bird Series of American Pale Ales? Don’t worry, no actual birds were harmed in the making of the series. They’re all named after diminutive versions of popular birds. It’s also a way for the brewery to denote that the beers in this series have a smaller ABV than their typical cans and bottles.

Trillium Brewing Company: Puny Partridge
Look at that adorable little partridge! (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Window Sills)

So why is the series named after small birds? Is there a particularly enthusiastic ornithologist in the midsts at Trillium? Not exactly. According to Trillium’s own Twitter, the series was inspired by a typo. It seems someone was trying to type “Little Brewster” (a small island in Boston Harbor), and it was autocorrected to “Little Rooster.” From that mistake arose inspiration, and the rest is history.

Thus far, on my sill, I’ve had the Little Rooster and the Itty Bitty Goose, but several others have been released: Skimpy Sparrow, Tiny Chicken, Pocket Pigeon, Stumpy Duck, Treecreeper (Note: Trillium doesn’t say this is part of the series on its site), Pipsqueak Penguin and today’s avian-inspired brew, the Puny Partridge.

This one was yet another solid pale ale from Trillium. It might be small on ABV, but the Puny Partridge is big where it matters most: flavor. Mosaic and Nelson Sauvin hops provide do most of the work with the taste and aroma of the brew. Citrus and tropical fruit galore. Super refreshing! The Puny Partridge, and the rest of this series, are definitely not for the birds.

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. Trillium Brewing Company: Puny Partridge . A little birdy told me there’s a kickass Pale Ale on the Windowsill today! . Have you heard of Trillium’s Small Bird Series of American Pale Ales? Don’t worry, no actual birds were harmed in the making of the series. They’re all named after diminutive versions of popular birds. It’s also a way for the brewery to denote that the beers in this series have a smaller ABV than their typical cans and bottles. . So why is the series named after small birds? Is there a particularly enthusiastic ornithologist in the midsts at Trillium? Not exactly. According to Trillium’s own Twitter, the series was inspired by a typo. It seems someone was trying to type “Little Brewster” (a small island in Boston Harbor), and it was autocorrected to “Little Rooster.” From that mistake arose inspiration, and the rest is history. . Thus far, on my sill, I’ve had the Little Rooster and the Itty Bitty Goose, but several others have been released: Skimpy Sparrow, Tiny Chicken, Pocket Pigeon, Stumpy Duck, Treecreeper (Note: Trillium doesn't say this is part of the series on its site), Pipsqueak Penguin and today’s avian-inspired brew, the Puny Partridge. . This one was yet another solid pale ale from Trillium. It might be small on ABV, but the Puny Partridge is big where it matters most: flavor. Mosaic and Nelson Sauvin hops provide do most of the work with the taste and aroma of the brew. Citrus and tropical fruit galore. Super refreshing! The Puny Partridge, and the rest of this series, are definitely not for the birds. . ABV: 5.0, IBU: N/A, Rotating availability . @untappd says: 3.91/5

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Tree House Brewing Company: Present Moment

Tree House Brewing Company: Present Moment

ABV: 5.4%

IBU: N/A

Availability: Rotating

@untappd says: 4.14/5

Don’t live in the past, don’t live in the future. The Present Moment is just right!

Sorry. Had to get deep in the intro this morning. Sometimes I need a reminder that I can’t get too far ahead of myself and, conversely, nobody should ever dwell on the past. What better way to remind myself of that, and get back to posting, than with one of the better pale ales I’ve had in quite some time?

The Present Moment was, simply stated, the right beer at the right time for me… the right time being any time I want something tasty! Tons of Australian hops in this Tree House Brewing Company delight—sadly, I don’t know which specifically—and the flavors include some passionfruit, pineapple and plenty of citrusy goodness. Very hoppy. Very delicious. Perfect for right now.

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Toppling Goliath Brewing Company: Pseudo Sue

Toppling Goliath Brewing Company: Pseudo Sue

Hops: Citra

ABV: 6.8%

IBU: 50

Availability: Year-round

@untappd says: 4.21/5

Is Jurassic Park happening on the Windowsill today?

I love a good collaboration brew, and today’s beer is no different. However, the interesting part of this collaboration is that it’s not between two breweries. For this dino-inspired brew, Iowa’s Toppling Goliath Brewing Company—one of the best craft breweries in the country—collaborated with Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History. In 2016, Toppling Goliath was looking to distribute their beers to the Windy City, but ran into a legal snag with their Pseudo Sue and King Sue pale ales—they were named after the museum’s famous Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton, Sue, and that name and likeness were trademarked. Instead of waging a legal battle against the brewery, the museum reached out, and the two entities decided to form a partnership. The beers got a new label shouting out the Field, and a big release was planned at the museum. The rest, as they say, is history. Natural history.

Now let’s chat about the actual Pseudo Sue, because it’s amazing. This was my first beer from Toppling Giant, and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s a pale ale brewed with only Citra hops. It has a delicate body, with just enough bitterness to create a really lovely finish. One sniff is all it took, and the “ferocious” aromas of citrus and mango make it refreshing and oh so crisp. Believe the hype behind this Iowa brewery. They’re definitely doing the T-Rex proud!

Head over to Instagram to check this one out. Make sure you follow Beers on Windowsills for more great craft beer!

Mikkeller Brewing San Diego: Staff Magician

Mikkeller Brewing San Diego: Staff Magician

Hops: Mosaic, Citra, Nugget

ABV: 5.5%

IBU: N/A

Availability: Rotating

@untappd says: 3.77/5

Got some skillful magic on the Windowsill today!

Last time I had A Mikkeller on the sill, we talked about Mikkeller’s new San Diego location. This time, let’s talk about their even newer New York brewery. It’s located in Queens, New York, smack dab in the middle of Citi Field. While there’s no good reason to go see the Mets play these days (sorry, Mets fans), you should definitely take the time to go check out Mikkeller. It includes a 10,000 square foot brewery and restaurant, with a 20 bbl brewhouse and a lot of single batch fermenters. They have canning line too, as well as 60 taps. Plenty of beer to enjoy there, or to take home with you! The best part? It’s open year round! Even when the Mets aren’t playing, you can go have some good beer!

Today’s brew actually didn’t come from Mikkeller NYC The Staff Magician was brewed in the San Diego facility, and my good friend @crisaura got it to my Windowsill. It’s a hazy New England Pale Ale brewed with Mosaic, Citra and Nugget hops. At only 5.5% ABV, it’s also very sessionable. I actually drank this one in the shower, which is the Windowsill you see in the photo! Like just about everything else I’ve tried from Mikkeller, the Staff Magician was pretty solid, and I love the can art by @keithashore!

Head over to Instagram for more great craft beer, and more amazing Windowsills!

Zero Gravity Craft Brewery: Little Wolf

Zero Gravity Craft Brewery: Little Wolf

Hops: Horizon, Citra, Mosaic

Malts: Barley, Oats

ABV: 4.7%

IBU: 40

Availability: Year-round

@untappd says: 3.68/5

Something’s howling on the Windowsill today!

You can’t talk about Zero Gravity Craft Brewery’s Little Wolf Pale Ale without talking about Humulus Lupulus. No, that’s not one of those funny latin names they put under the Road Runner at the beginning of the cartoons. Humulus Lupulus is a plant. More specifically, a hop plant. While Humulus is the word used to describe the genus where all hop plants live, lupulus is the latin meaning “little wolf.” The plant was named this way because of its diminutive size, and the way it tends to grow, choking out all other plants like a wolf does sheep… or at least how they did back when the plant was named.
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The Little Wolf is a pale ale that I enjoyed during my trip to Vermont. Like with yesterday’s Wilson’s Plover, I have to thank @americanflatbread for the Windowsill. The beer is brewed with barley, oats and a solid combo of hops: Horizon, Citra and Mosaic. It’s definitely sessionable, absolutely crushable, and overall pretty damn tasty. The Little Wolf is a perfect complement to the delicious flatbread pizza we enjoyed for lunch that day.

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Springdale Beer: Yawp!

Springdale Beer by Jack's Abby: Yawp!

Hops: Chinook, El Dorado, Comet, Centennial, Denali

ABV: 6.0%

IBU: N/A

Availability: Limited

@untappd says: 3.81/5

Is that a herd of yeti on the Windowsill? Well, I highly doubt it. So what is it?

Let’s say you were known for one thing—like putting beers on windowsills, for example. But you dream of putting beers on other things, too! What do you do? Well, the folks at Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers kind of found themselves in a similar situation—you can’t make non-lagers if your company’s name says you only make lagers. How did they get around this problem? They created an offshoot brand, named Springdale by Jack’s Abby. Under this label, which was kicked off in 2016, they’re free to experiment with everything, from barrel aging to IPAs to pale ales to stouts—whatever they want! Will this inspire me to start a side-Instagram named Beers on Other Surfaces? Nah. I’m good. But I’m glad Springdale by Jack’s Abby is a thing!

What does “Yawp!” mean? No, it’s not just a group of yetis traveling together in a pack (sorry @urbandictionary). It’s actually basically a cry out. It can be used to express exultation, frustration or even just agreement, according to this can. It can even be used in reaction to drinking a really tasty American pale ale, like the Yawp! This one is hopped with Chinook, El Dorado, Comet, Centennial and Denali hops, which makes for a really hoppy and bitter brew. Did I like this one! Yawp!

Give a “yawp!” and a hoot over at my Instagram page. Like and follow for more great brews!

Maine Beer Company: Peeper Ale

Maine Beer Company: Peeper Ale

Oh boy. Looks like we have a peeper at the Windowsill!

The story of Maine Beer Company starts with family. Brothers Dave and Daniel Kleban started brewing as a weekend hobby in the mid 2000s. The two loved it so much, that Dave asked Daniel to be quit his job at a law firm and be his beer-making partner instead. Maine Beer Company started with a one-barrel system. In 2010, they bought a 15bbl brew house, and a 30 bbl fermenter. In 2013, they opened up a huge facility, complete with a taproom and a warehouse. What started as two brothers just “doing it right” has evolved into one of the more respected breweries in Maine. I also love that they partner with 1 Percent For the Planet a nonprofit that partners with companies who agree to donate 1% of their yearly profits to other nonprofits. Very cool!

The Peeper Ale is near and dear to the heart of the Kleban brothers. When they started, their goal was to perfect one recipe. They wanted to do one beer, do it right, and see if people would drink it. That beer was the Peeper Ale, named after the Spring Peeper, a frog that appears as one of the first signs of spring in the area. The beer was originally known as the Spring Peeper Ale, but the name was changed so it wouldn’t sound so seasonal. The Peeper is brewed with Amarillo, Cascade and Centennial hops, along with a grain bill of American 2-Row, Carapils, Vienna and Red Wheat. It’s light, citrusy, with notes of berries and pine—a really solid pale ale. The Kleban brothers really did do it right! Thankfully, with their operation much bigger these days, they make a lot of different beers. Glad I was finally able to have them on my Windowsill!

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Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.: Pale Ale

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company: Pale Ale

Hops: Cascade

Grain: Two-row Pale, Caramel

Yeast: Ale Yeast

ABV: 5.6%

IBU: 38

Availability: Year-round

@untappd says: 3.65/5

We have a California classic on the Windowsill today!

What’s left to be said about a classic pale ale like this one from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.? Well, let’s talk about Pale Ale for Trails. Starting this Sunday (Earth Day), and running through April 28, all of Sierra Nevada’s taprooms—Chico, Mills River and Berkeley—will be donating a portion of proceeds from every single Pale Ale served to the National Trails System. 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System Act, which was created to promote public access and preservation of historic outdoor areas, like the Appalachian Trail. So, as we head to the kickoff weekend for this charitable endeavor, go have yourself a Pale Ale!

You can’t really go wrong with the Pale Ale. It’s hopped exclusively with Cascade hops, which makes for a brew with some unique piney and grapefruity aromas. Overall, I thought it was solid. Not spectacular, but few classics ever are. It’s just a good, solid brew: smooth and drinkable, but also refreshing and complex. It took me way too long to get this one on the Windowsill, but I’m glad I finally did.

Check this one out on Instagram now. Like and follow Beers on Windowsills for more great beer!

Pipeworks Brewing Company: Lizard King

Pipeworks Brewing Company: Lizard King

Hops: Mosaic

ABV: 6.0%

IBU: N/A

Availability: Year-round

@untappd says: 4.04/5

In the land of the Windowsills, the lizard can is king!

The great Jim Morrison once wrote: “I am the Lizard King, I can do anything” in a poem named “The Celebration of the Lizard.” Although the verse was written in the point of view of a fictional author, fans of The Doors—possibly because the 60s were a hell of a time for drugs—assumed Morrison was anointing himself King of those little reptilian creatures, and the nickname stuck.

Pipeworks Brewing Company‘s Lizard King is an American Pale Ale hopped exclusively with Mosaic. It’s light, crisp and really delicious, with lots of incredible tropical, piney and citrusy goodness. One sip, and I really did feel like I could do anything! Is the Lizard King named after the great Jim Morrison? I wasn’t sure until I took a look at the description. A pale that “gets our mojo risin’?” Even Mr. Mojo Risin’ himself, Jim Morrison, could figure this one out, and he’s been dead since 1971. Also, how many nicknames can one man have?

Are you a lion in the street and roaming? Roam over to our Instagram to check this beer out!