Fair State Brewing Cooperative: IPA

Fair State Brewing Cooperative: IPA

Hops: Horizon, Chinook, Crystal, Cascade, Simcoe, Centennial

ABV: 6.2%

IBU: 60

Availability: Year-round

@untappd says: 3.78/5

Let’s foster some cooperation on the Windowsill today!

I love a good brewing Co-op, so I was excited to discover a new one this past weekend: Fair State Brewing Cooperative. So what exactly is a brewing co-op? According to CrafttBeer.com, co-op refers to “an organization that is owned by its members, rather than outside shareholders.” You pay your membership dues, and you have a say in how the business is run and, most importantly, a share in its profits. The first ever Cooperatively owned brewery was Austin, Texas’ Black Star Brewing, which opened up in 2010 and inspired President & CEO Evan Sallee to start Fair State in Minnesota with 250 members on board in 2014.

Today’s Windowsill brew, just named IPA, is a dry pale ale brewed with malted wheat and six types of hops: Horizon, Chinook, Crystal, Cascade, Simcoe and Centennial. One thing I love about brewing cooperatives, is that their brews often seem like a cooperative effort, too. Lots of hops in this one, but not a lot of bitterness. Floral aromas and nice, dry finish made for a pretty tasty beer. Looking forward to tasting something else from Fair State.

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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!

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Front Porch Brewing: Reverse Mermaid

Front Porch Brewery: Reverse Mermaid

Hops: Citra, Simcoe, Mosaic

ABV: 6.3%

IBU: N/A

Availability: Rotating

@untappd says: 3.9/5

Behold! A majestic mythical creature is on the Windowsill today!

A couple of weeks ago, I took a trip to Vermont. On the way home, needing to pee, I remembered that my good friend, @beer_shark, had told me about an up-and-coming brewery in Wallingford, CT named Front Porch Brewing. I decided to stop by, and picked up a couple of four-packs. Front Porch was founded in 2017 by four partners (I had trouble tracking them down, but one of them is West Haven, CT native Ryan Voytek. I’m hoping that, as time goes by and this brewery continues to grow, we’ll all know a lot more about these guys. Check out some photos from my brief visit!

The Reverse Mermaid was quite delicious. It’s a double dry-hopped IPA brewed with Citra, Simcoe and Mosaic hops. I love those hops on their own, and they combined really nicely in this beer! I also love the can art! It brings up an interesting philosophical debate. Would you rather be stranded on an island with a mermaid (human on top, fish on the bottom, like Ariel), or a reverse mermaid (fish on top, human on the bottom)?… Think about it.

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Veracious Brewing Company: 29 Pews

Veracious Brewing Company: 29 Pews

Hops: Citra, Other “Brewery favorites”

ABV: 6.1%

IBU: N/A

Availability: Year-round

@untappd says: 3.74/5

Pew! Pew! Beer and product review on the Windowsill today!

I’ve been looking to buy my own growler for a while now, and when I saw this Stanley 64oz growler on sale on Amazon I figured, why not take the plunge? This past weekend, I took it out for a spin! What’s good about this product? First of all, it’s stainless steel, which is good for many reasons. I love my stainless steel coffee cup because it keeps my coffee hot, or iced. This growler works the same way. It’s double wall vacuum insulation keeps your beer cold, and does a better job of keeping your beer pressurized than a glass growler with a screw top does. Speaking of the top, that’s lined with stainless steel too, so your beer only touches pristine stainless steel. My other favorite thing is the heavy-duty handle, which makes pouring super easy. Did I mention it’s leak proof and dishwasher safe? Really solid product. This growler, or any other stainless steel growler with a vacuum seal, is a better option. Glad I purchased this one! If you want a more robust review, check out my IGTV channel!

And now, the beer inside this kickass growler! I purchased this brew on my visit to Monroe, CT’s Veracious Brewing Company. The 29 Pews is their “house” IPA. Why 29 Pews? Well, the tasting room at Veracious is paneled with wood from 29 re-purposed church pews. That’s why it’s 29 Pews, and that’s why it’s the “house” IPA. As far as the hop build, it’s made with heavenly Citra hops as its base, and four other “brewery favorites.” It’s full-flavored and very drinkable. Solid choice for my Growler, I think.

For the purposes of full disclosure, I want to say that I purchased this on my own. However, I was approached by the company after posting it in a story of mine, so you will probably see more Stanley products on my sill in the near future. All reviews will be honest, though.

 

Russian River Brewing Company: Blind Pig IPA

Russian River Brewing Company: Blind Pig

ABV: 6.1%

IBU: 70

Availability: Year-round

@untappd says: 4.19/5

We’re going bucket list blind on the Windowsill today!

The story of today’s beer begins all the way back in 1994. Vinnie Cilurzo took his first swing at founding his own brewery in Temecula, California. There, he specialized in only a couple of year-round brews, one of which was an IPA. What was the name of that brewery? Blind Pig Brewing Company! Unfortunately, it failed, but Cilurzo took a job at, and eventually purchased, Russian River Brewing Company. For his new brewing endeavor, he brewed another IPA as an homage to his original recipe. The Blind Pig IPA was born.

Two things about this beer. First of all, the name “Blind Pig.” It’s not just an homage to Cilurzo’s old brewery. It’s also a Prohibition term. Back in the day, you could use the term to discreetly order beer from a speakeasy barkeep. Also, jars were known as pigs, and unmarked jars were “blind pigs.” The second thing to know about this beer is that it’s one of the standard bearers for the IPA style. If you like hops, you’ll love this one. The malts are barely there, and the hops are so strong, they’re almost sharp on the tongue. The new recipe is a little less bitter than the old one, (the original was 92 IBU, this one is 70) and Cilurzo has added a “small amount” of Amarillo and Simcoe to his old brew. If you get the chance to try this one, do it!

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Vanished Valley Brewing Company: Watershed IPA

Vanished Valley Brewing Company: Watershed IPA

ABV: 6.7%

IBU: N/A

Availability: Rotating

@untappd says: 4.14/5

Today’s Windowsill brew was so good, it vanished almost immediately!

Vanished Valley Brewing Company opened its taps in Ludlow, MA in 2017, and the tiny brewery slowly been getting a very big reputation. The name comes from an interesting story—four towns that disappeared from the face of the earth in the 1930s. Dana, Enfield, Greenwich and Prescott, Massachusetts were disincorporated and flooded in 1938 in order to create the Quabbin Reservoir, the largest inland body of water in the state. Along with the Wachusett Resevoir, it’s the primary supply for Boston. Sad those towns had to go, but water is important, and so is the great beer Vanished Valley brews.

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find out much about the Watershed IPA. I don’t know what hops are in it, or the malts, but I can say this: it’s very hazy, very hoppy and extremely good. Bright and hop-forward citrus (like tangerine and grapefruit) flavors and aromas, low bitterness and super pleasant. It’s also dry-hopped, which is always a great addition to an IPA. The Watershed is definitely worthy of the high rating from untappd!

Also, check out Instagram some photos from my visit to Vanished Valley!

Cellarmaker Brewing Co.: Alien Lifeform

Cellarmaker Brewing Company: Alien Lifeform

Hops: Galaxy, Mosaic, Simcoe, Centennial

ABV: 6.8%

IBU: 62

Availability: Rotating

@untappd says: 4.05/5

We’re getting out of this world on the Windowsill today, thanks to my good friend @beer_shark!

Let’s give a shoutout to the head brewer, and part owner, at Cellarmaker Brewing Company, Tim Sciascia. Sciascia graduating from, of all places, the New England Music Conservatory with a major in classical saxophone. All the while, he was developing his love for home brewing, and quickly got a job giving tours at Sam Adams. He soon moved out West, spending five years working his way up the ranks (and brew tanks) at Larkspur, CA’s Marin Brewing Company. Today, he’s responsible for some of the most buzzed about craft beer in the country.

The Alien Lifeform is an IPA brewed with tons of Galaxy hops, and a “cosmic dusting” of Simcoe, Mosaic and Centennial. It’s very hop forward, has a lovely tropical aroma and really does taste good enough to be made by Aliens. Anybody out there remember ALF? If you read the official description for this brew, you’ll know that the folks at Cellarmaker do. “This exploration in flavor reminds us of a day trip to Melmac. A different world with a green sky, blue grass and a purple sun.” If you know your ALF, and you have the Alien Lifeform in your fridge, you’re already running to make sure your cat is OK. Really awesome beer!

Head over to Instagram for this beer, and all of my other awesome Windowsill brews!

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The Alchemist: Skadoosh 23

The Alchemist: Skadoosh 23

Hops: Citra and Simcoe cryo hops

ABV: 7.0%

IBU: N/A

Availability: Rotating (with different recipes)

@untappd says: 4.26/5

Is someone performing the Wuxi Finger Hold on the Windowsill today?

This past weekend, I fulfilled one of the dreams I’ve had ever since I got into the craft beer game: I visited The Alchemist. I got to Stowe, Vermont around 5:30 or so, and the lads and I immediately popped over to The Alchemist’s beautiful, state-of-the-art taproom—it opened officially in June of 2016—for a visit before closing. I was bowled over by the beauty of the building, the decorated tanks and artwork inside, and just how pristinely clean everything was. We quickly hustled over to the tasting bar, where they were pouring two-ounce samples of Heady Topper, Focal Banger and Holy Cow… for free! After we drank our samples, we all bought as much beer as we could carry and headed off to dinner. It was a brief visit, but at least I can say I’ve been. Bucket List Brewery visit…achieved!

Among the many cans of beer I purchased at Alchemist, was the Skadoosh. I did not know this before I drank it, but it turns out the Skadoosh is a rotating series of IPAs that Alchemist makes with different recipes every time. There have been 23 varieties up to this point, and I got variety 23—fresh from the canning line! This variety is interesting, in that it’s the first variety of Skadoosh to be 100% chyo-hopped. That means that only the concentrated lupulin of whole-leaf hops is used. You get all the intense hop flavor and aroma, without all the other stuff. The Skadoosh 23 uses Simcoe and Citra cryo hops. I really loved it. It’s super up front with the hops, but still very citrusy and tasty. Get down to Stowe and give it a try!

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Lock City Brewing Company: Figure Four +1

Lock City Brewing Company: Figure Four +1

Hops: Chinook, Amarillo, Mosaic, Citra, Galaxy

ABV: 7.2%

IBU: N/A

Availability: Rotating

@untappd says: 4.18/5

Are you ready to ride Space Mountain on the Windowsill today?

Let’s talk about wrasslin’, shall we? I’m not ashamed to say that I have been a fan of professional wrestling since I was a kid. Ric Flair is not my favorite person, but I can’t deny his impact on the industry. Over the last five decades, he’s become one of the most recognizable wrestlers in the history of the business. He’s a 16-time world champ—I know wrestling predetermined, but they put the championship on the very best performers, who put the most asses in the seats—a two-time WWE Hall-of-Famer and he’s wrestled all over the world in just about every legitimate company. As he says more loudly than anyone else, he’s the man. Perfect to be immortalized on a beer can label, if you ask me.

When I found out the Figure Four+1 was being released in cans, I had to get my hands on some. Thanks to my good buddy @drinkcraftscookwithcast for stopping by Lock City Brewing Company while I was stuck working my day job in the city. This beer is named after the Figure Four, Ric Flair’s infamous finishing move (was it ever not reversed by the good guy, though?). My brother put me in that hold once. It hurts. This beer, however, does not. The original Figure Four was an American IPA brewed with Chinook, Amarillo, Mosaic, Citra. For the +1 version, Lock City added a second dry hop of all Galaxy hops. Five hops! It’s a lovely juicy color, with great tropical aromas and flavor. Solid hoppiness on the finish, too. This beer is definitely a stylin’, profilin’, limousine ridin’, jeft flyin’, kiss-stealin’, wheelin’ dealin’ son of a gun, as Flair would say. Made me say “Wooooooooooooo!” when I took the first sip.

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Alewife Brewing Company: Death to Ego

Alewife Brewing Company: Death to Ego on the Windowsill

Hops: Azacca, Centennial, El Dorado

ABV: 6.1%

IBU: 54

Availability: Year-round

@untappd says: 3.9/5

Let’s set our egos aside in favor of good beer on the Windowsill today!

Yesterday, my good pals Mike and Christine introduced me to Alewife Brewing Company—a great brewpub in Long Island City, Queens. I’m really grateful that they did. Not only did Alewife have a Windowsill for me to put a beer on (although it was a tad dark), they also brew their own solid beers, and carry over two dozen craft beers from New York, and all over the country, too. I tried some delicious in-house beers, as well as other craft brew on tap from LIC Beer Project, SingleCut Beersmiths and Clown Shoes Beer. One nice detail you can see in the photos in the Instagram post below… at 8:29 PM, they printed out a new tap list. It replaced the 3:38 PM tap list. These guys are on top of their stuff. Oh, did I mention they also have delicious food? I devoured my burger so quickly, I didn’t even take a picture of it. If you’re in Long Island City, check them out!

It doesn’t matter how many craft beers a brewpub has, I have to judge them on the beer they brew in in their own barrels and tanks. Thankfully, the Death to Ego was tasty! It’s an American IPA, and the official description says it all. CITRUS. FRUIT. LOVE. If you ask me, those are some pretty key ingredients for brewing a good IPA. Thankfully, they also used actual ingredients—namely, Azacca, Centennial and El Dorado hops. Great combo! I wish I’d tried more of Alewife’s in-house brews to see how they stacked up to the Death to Ego, but I was too busy oogling the rest of the craft brew list. Oh well. Next time!

Head over to our Instagram to see more photos of Alewife Brewing Company, now!