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Beer’d Brewing Company: Dogs Vs. Shinobi

Beer'd Brewing Company: Dogs Vs. Shinobi

Style: New England-style IPA

Special Notes: Collaboration with Pipeworks Brewing Company. Guava added.

Hops: Citra, Simcoe, Mosaic

ABV: 6.4%

IBU: 5

Availability: Limited

@untappd says: 4.08/5

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.

Beer'd Brewing Company: Dogs Vs. Shinobi
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!

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. Beer’d Brewing Company: Dogs vs. Shinobi . 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, @beerdbrewing, had decided to collaborate with one of my other favorite breweries, @pipeworksbrewing? 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: . Me: How did the partnership with Pipeworks come about? . Aaren: 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! . Me: How did you incorporate the two brands to make this one beer? . Aaren: 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. . Me: Anything else cool about this collaboration? . Aaren: 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. . Thanks to Aaren! . ABV: 6.4%, IBU: 5, Limited availability . @untappd says: 4.08/5

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Two Roads Brewing Company: Two Evil: Saigon Scooter Selfie

Two Roads Brewing Company: Two Evil: Saigon Scooter Selfie

Style: Vietnamese-style Coffee Stout

Special Notes: Brewed with coffee, brown sugar and cream extract—in the style of Ca Phe Sua Da (Vietnamese iced coffee). Collaboration with Evil Twin Brewing and Heart of Darkness Brewery Saigon.

ABV: 9.5%

IBU: N/A

Availability: Limited

@untappd says: 4.05/5

Taking the Windowsill to Saigon today!

Have you ever heard of Ca Phe Sua Da? I hadn’t either. As it turns out, it’s a style of coffee that originated in Vietnam. According to Steamy Kitchen, “Vietnamese Iced Coffee is an intensely brewed coffee concentrate that drips down into a tall glass of ice and a big spoonful of sweetened condensed milk.” The result is a rich, creamy, smooth, sweet and intense coffee flavor that can be a bit shocking to those of us used to “regular” coffee.

Two Roads Brewing Company: Two Evil: Saigon Scooter Selfie
Sometimes a happy accident can lead to great inspiration. Like this label! (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)

Sounds good, right? Well, that’s what the Saigon Scooter Selfie is; a Vietnamese style coffee stout. It’s brewed with coffee, as well as brown sugar and cream extract. The beer is the latest—along with the Geyser Gose and the Pachamama Porter—in the Two Evil series of collaborations between Two Roads Brewing Company and Evil Twin Brewing. For this Vietnamese-inspired stout, brewers Phil Markowski (Two Roads) and Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø (Evil Twin) actually traveled to Saigon—they’ve traveled somewhere to brew all of the Two Evil beers—to work with Duane Morton, head brewer at Heart of Darkness Brewery.

The label is inspired by a real photo taken by co-founder of Two Roads Clem Pellani. Pellani was actually trying to take a video, but ended up taking selfie instead… on a scooter… in Saigon.

Much like the Vietnamese-style coffee, the end product of this collaboration was rich, creamy, decadent stout. The label describes it like a coffee milkshake, and that’s really what it is. I haven’t had another stout quite like it, and I really wish I had another. It also makes me desperately want to try the real Ca Phe Sua Da… so I think that’s what I’ll be doing next!

Head over to Instagram to check this one out, now!

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. Two Roads Brewing Company: Two Evil: Saigon Scooter Selfie . Taking the Windowsill to Saigon today! . Have you ever heard of Ca Phe Sua Da? I hadn’t either. As it turns out, it’s a style of coffee that originated in Vietnam. According to @steamykitchen, “Vietnamese Iced Coffee is an intensely brewed coffee concentrate that drips down into a tall glass of ice and a big spoonful of sweetened condensed milk.” The result is a rich, creamy, smooth, sweet and intense coffee flavor that can be a bit shocking to those of us used to “regular” coffee. . Sounds good, right? Well, that’s what the Saigon Scooter Selfie is; a Vietnamese style coffee stout. It’s brewed with coffee, as well as brown sugar and cream extract. The beer is the latest—along with the Geyser Gose and the Pachamama—in the Two Evil series of collaborations between @tworoadsbrewing and @eviltwinbrewing. For this Vietnamese-inspired stout, brewers Phil Markowski (Two Roads) and Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø (Evil Twin) actually traveled to Saigon—they’ve travel somewhere to brew all of the Two Evil beers—to work with Duane Morton, head brewer at @heartofdarknessbrewery. The label is inspired by a real photo taken by co-founder of Two Roads Clem Pellani. Pellani was actually trying to take a video, but ended up taking selfie instead… on a scooter… in Saigon. . Much like the Vietnamese-style coffee, the end product of this collaboration was rich, creamy, decadent stout. The label describes it like a coffee milkshake, and that’s really what it is. I haven’t had another stout quite like it, and I really wish I had another. It also makes me desperately want to try the real Ca Phe Sua Da… so I think that’s what I’ll be doing next! . ABV: 9.5%, IBU: N/A, Limited availability . @untappd says: 4.05/5

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Two Roads Brewing Company and Lawson’s Finest Liquids: Typecast Farmhouse IPA

Lawson's Finest Liquids and Two Roads Brewing Company: Typecast Farmhouse IPA

Hops: Wye Challenger, Cascade, Centennial

Special Ingredients: Vermont White Cedar, Connecticut Balsam Fir Tips

ABV: 6.5%

IBU: N/A

Availability: Limited

@untappd says: 3.7/5

We have a really atypical collaboration on the Windowsill today!

I love a good collaboration brew, so you know I was excited to find out that one of my favorite local breweries, Two Roads Brewing Company, and one of Vermont’s finest breweries, Lawson’s Finest Liquids, had come together to create a very unique Farmhouse IPA—the Typecast. For those of you know know Lawson’s story, it shouldn’t be a surprise that these two made a beer together. They already make a lot of beers together. If you’ve ever had any Lawson’s in a can, know that it was actually brewed at Two Roads. The two have had a solid contract brewing relationship for a while now.

Now onto the brew. A farmhouse IPA? Sounds wild, right? What is it? It starts out as a farmhouse ale (aka saison), and then it’s dry-hopped to perfection. One extra cool thing about this beer is that it uses all local ingredients. It uses Cascade and Wye Challenger hops grown in Connecticut, as well as Centennial hops grown in Vermont. The Typecast also includes Vermont white cedar and CT balsam fir tips in the boil. Overall, this brew wasn’t really for me, but it’s definitely an eclectic style, with some pretty good flavors that you might like. Cheers!

Check this one out on Instagram, now. Make sure to like this post and follow my page!

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Evil Twin Brewing and Lervig Aktiebryggeri: Big Ass Money Stout 3

Evil Twin Brewing and Lervig Aktiebryggeri: Big Ass Money Stout 3

ABV: 17.2%

IBU: N/A

Availability: Limited

@untappd says: 4.05/5

We’re all getting rich and wordy on the Windowsill today… Where’s the pizza?

Leave it to Evil Twin Brewing to concoct what is easily the craziest beer I’ve ever had on the Windowsill. The soon-to-be-Brooklyn bound brewery teamed up with Norway’s Lervig Aktiebryggeri to brew the Big Ass Money Stout 3, which features three essential bits of insanity. First, it has a 17.2% ABV. That’s knock-you-on-your-ass strong. Second, it’s made with a super popular Norwegian snack: a ham and peppers pizza named Grandiosa. Third—and I’ve saved the best for last—it’s made with Norwegian money. Yes. Money. Filthy, dirty, disgusting money. The currency is added after fermentation, essentially like a dry hop. Money! I had to try it.

Why would they do this? Well, for his third collaboration with Lervig, Evil Twin’s head nut, Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø wanted to make a truly Norwegian brew. He asked Mike Murphy—an American currently living in Norway and brewing for Lervig—to suggest ingredients that would make this beer uniquely Norwegian. Well, Norway’s roughly 5 million people consume 40 million of those pizzas, making it the country’s de facto national dish, so Mike suggested that. Jeppe wanted something to put the brew over the top, and Mike mentioned that Norway is one of the richest countries in the world. Money became the obvious choice. Has Evil Twin finally gone too far?

Oddly, no. I actually really liked the Big Ass Money Stout 3. If you’re into stouts, this is a good one to try. I think the beefy alcohol level—Jeppe and Mike set out to make the strongest beer in Norway’s history—covered up any residual money and pizza flavors (although, to be fair, I was eating pizza when I drank it). This just tasted like a really sweet and delicious stout. It was also really smooth, which I didn’t expect from such a high-alcohol brew. Evil Twin… you’ve done it again! I just hope Jeppe never brews in Iceland, which is known for a delicacy involving rotten shark meat.

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Evil Twin Brewing and Omnipollo: Half & Half Lemonade Iced Tea IPA

Omnipollo and Evil Twin: Half & Half Lemonade Iced Tea IPA

ABV: 7.0%

IBU: N/A

Availability: Rotating

@untappd says: 3.55/5

There’s no half steppin’ on the Windowsill today, just a little Half & Half!  

Omnipollo and Evil Twin Brewing are two of my favorite gypsy breweries, so imagine my excitement when I heard that the two have collaborated on an entire series of Lemonade-based brews. Thus far, in the series, the tag team has released Coffeenade, Rainbownade, Pink Lemonade, Old Fashioned Lemonade and today’s Windowsill brew, the Half & Half Lemonade Iced Tea IPA. I love the collaborative spirit of these two breweries, and am happy that they can make such experimental brews together.

That being said, I didn’t love the Half & Half. First of all, it was very heavy on the lemonade flavor. The sweetness from the iced tea was the next thing I noticed, and that wasn’t bad. In all, this was a very good lemonade iced tea mix. However, I didn’t like the way it worked as an IPA. I look forward to tasting the other collaborations someday, but this one missed for me. Too lemony, too sweet. Here’s hoping for better luck with the next one. I dig the label, though!

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Oliver Brewing Company (with Stillwater Artisanal): Whipped 2.0

Oliver Brewing Company with Stillwater Artisanal: Whipped 2.0

Hops: Citra, Simcoe

ABV: 8.0%

IBU: N/A

Availability: Limited

@untapped says: 3.91/5

Are you ready to watch the Windowsill whip? Great! There will be no nae naes, though.

Maryland’s Oliver Brewing Company and Stillwater Artisanal—a gypsy brewery based in Brooklyn, NY—have collaborated on many beers. Although Oliver started in 1993, and Stillwater is just a baby (2010), the two seem to work really well together. This is the first time I’ve had the pleasure of hosting one of them on my Windowsill, but it won’t be the last.

The Whipped 2.0 was a really interesting choice for my first from this team. It’s a double IPA brewed with over 500 lbs of pureed mangos, flaked oats, lactose (for mouthfeel) and vanilla beans. The hop profile is actually really nice, too. 130 lbs of Citra and Simcoe hops are used to give it a nice, juicy, tropical deliciousness. Top top it all off, it’s a Nitro beer! This brew combines everything, from aroma to flavor to mouthfeel. Superb effort!

Check this great collaboration brew on our Instagram, now!

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Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp Is on the Window Sill!

Beer Camp Around the World 2017

If you’ve been following Beers on Window Sills on Instagram, you know we’ve been powering over the Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Across the World 12-pack over the last six weeks. Well, We’re all done! I have to say, I was overall very impressed by these collaborations. I learned a lot about a lot of new breweries, and every beer ranged from good to great, in my book.

Check out all of my reviews below. I can’t wait for next year’s Beer Camp release! Continue reading “Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp Is on the Window Sill!”