Market Garden Brewery - Hop Soup

"Hoppiness = Happiness"

Second up on the flight is Hop Soup, which is 7% ABV.

"Brewed with 10 lbs per barrel of freshly picked Centennial hops from Yakima, along with some CTZ pellets for additional bitterness. If you trust the numbers, we've got 185 IBUs in there. We had to use our lauter tun as a hop strainer to brew this one, which made for an interesting brew day, but the results were worth it! It has a great raw, resinous hop flavor and is still highly drinkable."

Overall average rating: 6.75/10

It is a very pale amber color with a lot of lacing, which has Chris concerned. The aroma is crisp and gives off a lot of citrusy hops and wheat essences. The taste has a front tongue bite and a bitter hoppy start. The second hop hits the middle of the tongue, and there is a smoother hop finish.

Shawn- This is way too hoppy for my palate. The flavors are sharp and crisp, and it is extremely drinkable if you like hoppy beers, 6.5/10.
Angela- Considering the amount of IBUs in this, it is not the hoppiest beer I've ever had, although it is still not something I'd probably drink again, 5.75/10.
Chris- I <3 hops! I can feel the hops three different times. I'd consider it more of an Imperial IPA because it is flavorful without as much bitterness, 8/10.

Market Garden Brewery - Festivus

"a Festivus for the rest of us"

We ordered the beer sampler flight, so we were able to taste all 12 of their beers.

The first is their Festivus Ale which is 7.5% ABV.

"Smooth, spicy (allspice, ginger & cinnamon), malty with an elegant finish thanks to carmelized wort and a bit of bron sugar, this beer is sure to make the holidays brighter! According to the Seinfeld model, Festivus is celebrated each year on December 23rd. Those attending Festivus may also participate in the 'Aiting of Grievances' which is an opportunity to tell others how they have disappointed you  in the past year, followed by a Festivus dinner, and then completed by the 'Feats of Strength' where the head of the household must be pinned. What are your Festivus Traditions?"

Overall average rating: 8.0/10

The beer is a straw/light amber color, with a cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice aroma. We taste ginger, allspice, wheat, and a little barley. There is a front tongue bite although it is not too hoppy.

Shawn- I don't think this is necessarily the best beer to start a progression with, but this has great drinkability. It is a very original adaptation of a Christmas ale and it is very well done, 8/10.

Angela- This is very delicious with all of the Christmas spices. It is a great cold weather beer - in fact, I am watching it snow as I drink it. I am excited to see what's to come if this is the starter, 8/10.

Chris- This is a delicious seasonal beer, borderline Belgian, although I wish it had a touch more body, 8/10.

Market Garden Brewery, Cleveland, Ohio

Our brewery trip this month was to the Market Garden Brewery in Cleveland, Ohio.

It just recently opened and is open 364 days a year. It is more specifially in Ohio City next to the West Side Market. The brewery also features Cleveland's first American brewpub.

Andy Tveekrem is the Brewmaster at the Market Garden Brewery. Andy has been a professional brewer for 20 years and prior to this venture has been the Brewmaster at Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Delaware, Frederick Brewing Company in Maryland, and Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland.

The menu boasts a good amount of pub food (snacks, sandwiches, and tacos), as well as market fare (meant and cheese boards, soups and salads, and entrees). They sell wine by the glass, "large format geek beers," beers from other breweries, and beer cocktails - their brews mixed with various liquors and liqueurs to create a different perspective on the mixed drink. Check back for more!

Happy Thanksgiving with The Bruery Trade Winds

Ironically, we celebrate this Thanksgiving with The Bruery Trade Winds, their summer seasonal, purchased at Vintage Estates.

This Belgian-style Ale is brewed with rice and Thai basil. Thie Belgian and Southeast Asian inspired Tripel brings spice from the East and yeast from the West. "Since there is fresh Thai basil in this Tripel, it is best enjoyed fresh. The ideal serving temperature is 45° F, and it will taste best served in a tulip/wine glass." It has 25 IBUs and is 8.1% ABV.

Overall average rating: 7.0/10

It pours a beautiful Belgian color - a cloudy, straw color - with a thick white head and a lot of lacing. We think we smell oats, as well as basil, rice, wheat, and citrusy hops. The taste has a lemony bite and is more hoppy than other Belgian tripels, although it is a fairly good attempt at an American version of this style. There is a slight dryness, most likely the rice, and it is sharp and refreshing.

Shawn- They made the basil flavor relevant and it has a super clean flavor enjoyable any time of the year, 7.5/10.
Angela- I like it, but I think I would personally enjoy it much more with food (Rex suggests a ribeye/steak dinner with sweet onions), 6.5/10.
Chris- I like this because of its delicate flavors, although I think it can use a little less lemon, 7/10.


*You may remember our previous beer from this brewery, and I said I thought it would be better with Thanksgiving dinner. Well, I bought a bottle and drank it with my meal. I think it helped the flavors somewhat, but not as much as I'd hoped. I still think these beers are better with a meal than by themselves. -Angela

Lost Coast - Great White Beer

Our next beer is from Eureka, California, and is Lost Coast Great White Beer purchased at Vintage Estates.

The labels from this brewery are always very colorful and fun. It has "light, unfiltered two-row malted barley, unmalted wheat, crystal clear mountain water, and ale yeast. It is spiced with coriander and a secret blend of Humboldt herbs that give it a delicate citrusy flavor." It si 5.0% ABV.

Overall average rating: 5.9/10

The beer pours a cloudy, straw yellow color with a white head. The aroma gives off essences of wheat, barley, a sweet hop citrus, lemon (a little Summer Shandy-ish), and some coriander. The taste is light with wheat and a slight hop linger. It has a mainly front tongue bite with a little side tongue linger. It also has a slight tart/sour lemon finish.

Shawn- You can taste a slight trace of coriander in the finish, and it is refreshing with unmuddled flavors, 6/10.
Angela- It is a sessionable summer beer; good for a hot day, 5.5/10.
Chris- It is something I would suggest to someone starting out on craft beer. I enjoy the style of it being more tart than sweet, 6.25/10.

Lagunitas - Censored Rich Copper Ale

"Life is uncertain. Don't sip."

Our fifth beer on our tour of the Western U.S. is Lagunitas Censored Rich Copper Ale purchased at Vintage Estates.

"The original name of this original ale was originally derived from an origin so heinous that we cannot reveal its aboriginal oregeny. Sorry." The net contents are 12 fl oz of malt, hops, yeast, and water. This beer is from Petaluma, California, is 1.065 OG and 6.75% ABV.

Overall average rating: 5.7/10

The beer pours a amber/copper color with a white head. The aroma is a light citrus hop as well as being richly sweet. The taste has a side tongue bite with some back tongue lingering. It is crisp and refreshing as well as smooth and sweet with a hop finish.

Shawn- The flavors don't develop as much as I'd like, but it is very refreshing. It's an above average hot day beer, 6/10.
Angela- It's an okay beer. I don't find it particularly memorable, but it is a good sessionable beer, 5.5/10.
Chris- It says it's rich, but it's only really rich in the sweetness. It's more of an amber ale from the look and smell, 5.5/10.

Anchor - Steam Beer

Next up is Anchor Steam Beer purchased at Vintage Estates.

This beer is from San Francisco and its name comes from "the 19th century when “steam” was a nickname for beer brewed on the West Coast of America under primitive conditions and without ice. While the origin of the name remains shrouded in mystery, it likely relates to the original practice of fermenting the beer on San Francisco’s rooftops in a cool climate. In lieu of ice, the foggy night air naturally cooled the fermenting beer, creating steam off the warm open pans." It is one of the smallest and most traditional breweries in the world. The brewery is unique for its brewing process, which has evolved over many decades. This beer is 4.9% ABV.

Overall average rating: 6.3/10

The appearance is a translucent goldeny orange color with a white carbonated head. We smell wheat, citrus hop (cascade?), and barley, as well as another unidentifiable sweet aroma. The taste is lightly citrus and sweet with a filtered hefeweizen-y wheat flavor.

Shawn- I find this beer to be drinkable, although not outstandingly remarkable. I rated it as high as I did because of the absolutely unique way it is brewed, 7/10.
Angela- It is a good sessionable beer, 6/10.
Chris- It is a good summertime/lawnmower beer. I would rate it higher if it was more flavor forward, 6/10.

Stone - Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale

"You're not worthy." ~ "The Arrogant Bastard would, would you?"

The next beer on our Western U.S. tour is Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale out of Escondido, California, purchased at Vintage Estates. (The Arrogant Bastard beers actually have their own website as well.)

The write up on the website is worth reading - very well-written, including "It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth." This beer is ale aged with American oak wood chips. The ingredients are "Nothing but the finest barley, most aggressive Hops, cleanest water, our proprietary yeast strain and abundant Arrogance... all with oak chips." I twas first released in November 2004, the IBUs are classified, and it is 7.2% ABV.

Overall average rating: 6.2/10

The appearance is red and translucent with an off-white carbonated head. The aroma is of oaked malt and citrusy hops. The hop aroma is more pungent than expected because of the oaked factor - it really tingles your nose but it is still not overwhelming. The taste hits all over the tongue, but primarily the sides and back. There is a lot of citrusy hop flavor as well as a pine needle finish. The hops seem to overpower whatever malt flavor there is.

Rex: The pine reminds me of hemlock.

Chris: Apparently I'm drinking poison.

Angela: Here's to you, Socrates! Cheers!

Shawn- "Hoppy doesn't make me happy." There is too much hop flavor for the subtle wood to be tasted - where did the oak go?! The oak should be a dominant flavor, but there is little to no wood (giggity), 6/10.
Angela- It is much too hoppy for me, and I would probably not drink it again, 5.5/10.
Chris- I like this because the citrus of the hops is more forward than their bitterness. There is a delicious blend of oaked hops. The amount of citrus in the taste and aroma becomes more pungent and apparent is aged products, 7/10.