At the time, it struck me that the hype that many beers were being given was not living up to my perhaps unreasonable expectations. Much like the follow-up release from a bands debut smash, one’s strong presumptions can be quickly knocked down to reality by that first listen, or first sip. As my palate grew and matured, so did my belief that a beer should taste a certain way. After yet another beer disappointed me, Hop Snob was born.
In the past year, Hop Snob has treated me very well and introduced me to some amazing people in the beer scene and beyond. While Snob and Snobbery has negative connotations in the beer industry, I’ve never viewed myself as a true beer snob. While Thrillist gives us ’19 Types of Beer Snobs’, I don’t really view myself fitting in to any one of them. Turns out, I know what I like to drink and I prefer to drink good beer that fits my taste.
As for my taste, that has actually changed over the past year. When I was introduced to my first sour beer 9 months ago, I would have laughed at you if you had told me that sour would be one of my beer styles of choice. Fast forward 9 months and I’ve had some great sours from Wicked Weed, Paradox, Four Quarters and even the elusive Backacre, which I was fortunate enough to share a second bottle of just last evening.
I also would have laughed at you one year ago if you had told me that in 365 days time that I would amass 1,700+ Twitter followers just talking about beer. While most are strangers, some are bots and a few have nothing to do with beer at all, a handful of these 1,700+ followers are good friends. I don’t know where I would be on May 5, 2015 had it not been for Twitter and these fine folk that I now get to call my friends.
So, here’s to you, ALL 1,768 of my Twitter followers. I’d like to thank you for coming along for the ride and I’m extremely excited to see where the next year brings me, my palate, my liver and Measured Methods.
Seemingly, as fast as 2014 came in, it is exiting and it’s been an interesting year to say the least. I’ve drank some incredible beers, brainstormed and launched Measured Methods with a great cast of characters and had an opportunity to meet some amazing people in the Vermont beer scene. This post is dedicated to those I’ve met along the way.
On Cinco de Mayo, May 5th of 2014, my alter ego ‘HopSnobbery’ was launched. I certainly cannot say born as I’ve always had a tendency to drink IPAs and hoppy beers. It donned on me that May evening that many of my tweets on my personal account were about beer and before I scared off the folk that followed me for my ‘day job’ tweets, I was better off starting another account. For the last seven months I’ve tweeted about beer day and night, have opened my palate up to many different ales and lagers and most important, had the outstanding opportunity to meet and acquaint with many a fine folk. For those that question the ROI of social media, I give you my answer: RELATIONSHIPS.
Through Twitter, I had the chance to meet the gentleman that curates www.vtbeer.org and the @VTbeer handle on Twitter, Jim Welch. Without a doubt, Jim is the biggest proponent of the Vermont beer scene I know. With no agenda, favoritism or even compensation for his efforts, Jim has created THE go-to site for beer news around our fine state. Keeping tabs on our 40 breweries in operation (and growing soon!), as well as a number in planning, and even the closed breweries, it has been a pleasure to get to know Jim. I don’t know many people that will leave an event after paying $10 cover AND then give you three different homebrews and a Goose Island BCBS, but I do now know Jim and he did do that. To Jim – CHEERS to you, one of my most favorite beers of 2014, 14th Star Brewing Company Quad D’Erable.
I don’t even recollect how or when exactly in 2014 I met Steve Gagner of 14th Star Brewing Company, but I am glad I did. Sure, he makes some mighty fine beer and I’m thankful for that. But it’s the heart of Steve that I’m most appreciative of. Steve is the type of individual that should you have never met him, you’d hear stories and think ‘yeah, he has an agenda’ or ‘that can’t be true’. But each person I talk to about Steve has yet another story to add and nary a bad word. His generosity seems to know no bounds and no one should question his dedication – to our country as an Army Captain, to his craft and business and most certainly to his community of St. Albans and Franklin County. On a busy Saturday afternoon in October, while knee deep in construction at their now new location, Steve took his ever valuable time to offer a private tour and show off his new space. An hour turned to two and then we made our way to the now former home of 14th Star for a private sampling. Two hours turned to three and I won’t soon forget leaving with great memories, as well as a new glass, t-shirt, growler and two bombers of the previously mentioned Quad D’Erable. Whether over a beer or lunch at the Farmhouse or during the craziness of the 14th Star grand opening on Veterans Day, I’m truly fortunate to have had the chance to chat and laugh with Steve. CHEERS to you Mr. 14th Star, a beer that absolutely blew me away at first sip in 2014, Bissell Brothers The Substance.
The folk that congregate around the #VTbeer hashtag on Twitter are a passionate bunch. There may not be many, but those that do share their knowledge and their passion for beer. Jeff Baker, who goes by @APhilosophyOf, and who is also the Director of Fluid Assets at Farmhouse Tap and Grill, takes it one step further and shares his knowledge and passion in the Burlington Free Press for his column ‘Hops & Barley’. I knew I had to get to know Jeff after reading his article staking a claim for Vermont to be recognized for its own style of IPA. We finally did meet in the Beer Garden at Farmhouse and through my numerous additional trips to his curated taps, I’ve had the opportunity to chat more and more. A bit mad scientist (have you seen his hair?!?) and a bit Sherlock Holmes (have you seen his hats?!?), Jeff is a huge asset to the Burlington and Vermont beer scene. He’s always working, so you can’t buy him a beer, but should you have the opportunity to, please do so from me. Put it on my tab. To know me is to know my liver – and my palate and I appreciate every single tweet, and even a Facebook message, that Jeff sends letting me know what is on at his bar. To Jeff – CHEERS to you a Yarrrggghhh!!! from Lawson’s Finest Liquids and Tree House Brewing.
For those that haven’t had the chance to check out The Growler Garage in South Burlington, you should make a point of visiting. A cool, laid back atmosphere lends to good conversation and good drinking. During my first visit to the Garage, I had the opportunity to meet the Northern Bayou crew – Ben Lee (Northern Bayou Cold Brew) and his beautiful fiancée, Amanda Breazeale (Northern Bayou Apothecary). Although we’ve only had the chance to hang out and talk a few times, they did host the only bottle share I attended in 2014. Warm, generous, funny and engaging, Ben and Amanda are a dynamic duo that upon saying ‘goodbye’ to them, I immediately look forward to saying hello again. You should also know that anyone alone that can get me to drink cold coffee deserves an award and recognition. To Ben and Amanda – CHEERS to you, a beer that is a fitting name for a great couple, Lawson’s Finest Liquids Double Sunshine.
I’ve saved the best for last. The best #BeerGirl that this guy could hope for, that is. Someone who was a stranger as 2014 started, but is now a trusted friend and a partner in the Measured Methods team as the year concludes. I’ve lost count of our numerous ‘lunches’ over the year. We’ve had brewery runs. We’ve had business meetings. We’ve had dozens and dozens of absolutely incredible beers. My bank account may be lighter, but I’m richer for having met you, LipstickNLager. You’re engaging, intelligent, outgoing, beautiful AND know your beer? I’d call that a total package. I look forward to seeing where 2015 takes you with Girls Pint Out and Measured Methods. The #VTbeer scene is a better place because of you and since #VTbeerian of 2014 has already been taken, I’ll deem you #BeerGirl2014 in my book. To LipstickNLager – CHEERS to you, Maine Beer Company’s Dinner.
To all the others I’ve had the chance to meet along the way in 2014 – fellow drinkers, brewers, tweeters and more – I can’t wait to see you again in 2015. CHEERS and enjoy. 10, 12, 16, 22, 32 or 64 ounces at a time.
On a wet and dreary October Fall day, the timing seemed right to venture out and visit a Vermont brewery outside of my local region. With LipstickNLager in tow, we made our way from Burlington, down Interstate 89, through Waterbury and Stowe and into the town of Morrisville. What was once a community that was passed through by beer enthusiasts on their way to Hill Farmstead in Greensboro Bend, Morrisville has become a destination in itself due to the arrival on the Vermont beer scene of Lost Nation Brewing.
Having been open barely a year and a half, Allen Van Anda & Jamie Griffith have done an awfully good job at what they set out to do from day one with Lost Nation: brew an honest beer. It took me a year after their opening to try their ‘flagship’ Gose, a traditional German beer style brewed with coriander and sea salt. Without the word hop in the description, I had always been skeptical. However, during a visit to the Mule Bar in Winooski in May where I didn’t find myself particularly inspired by the selections, I gave the Gose a whirl. As I said on Untappd: ‘Didn’t know what to expect. I like it quite a bit!’
After a conversation with Jim of VTbeer.orgwhere he told me how much he enjoyed the Lost Nation beer and referred many people up to Morrisville, I knew I finally had to visit. As much as I tweet about beer (find me at @HopSnobbery), I rarely get to visit breweries outside of my home base of Chittenden County. Barely an hour after leaving downtown Burlington, and having navigated the construction in ‘downtown’ Morrisville, we found the filled parking lot of Lost Nation. Timing is always everything and we lucked into a vacating table after just a few minutes in the quaint tap room.
With six Lost Nation beers available (they also host guest taps), ordering the flights for only $5 was an absolute no-brainer. When in Rome, right? Two orders of the Gose, Vermont Pilsner, Petit Ardennes, Saison Lamoille, Rustic Ale and Pitch Black made its way to our table and after some obligatory photography that produced this image below, LipstickNLager tells me to ‘shut up and drink already’.
Moving from one glass of ultra-clean Vermont brew to the next, my taste buds were reminded that an enjoyable brew doesn’t have to be a big chewy, citrusy DIPA. The Gose is a great start to the Lost Nation cannon. A supremely drinkable, non-traditional brew, the salt is there, but not prominent. It is the most easily available Lost Nation offering, with bottles on-hand and kegs and casks making their way throughout tap houses in Vermont and now, a bit beyond.
The Vermont Pilsner was just what I want in a pilsner. Crazily drinkable. Clean from start to finish. No flavors jumping out or hiding. I found the Vermont Pilsner a surprise out of my flight. This was one beer that I wish I had found during the dog days of Summer and not on a chilly and rainy Autumn day. On to the Petit Ardennes and into the Saison Lamoille, it was the same story. Pleasant, smooth, flavorful beers that just beg to be drank.
The tap room never rested while we were there. The door was always opening and closing with guests coming and going. Pleasant wafts of scrumptious looking food was around us the entire time. The warm colors of the walls and the exposed wood beams of the space was exactly what you’d expect in Central Vermont. The staff was friendly and attentive the whole time we were there. Lost Nation really has the entire package going and going well.
With only the Rustic Ale and Pitch Black left in our flights, I raised the Rustic to my nose. What’s that I sense? HOPS! With the first four in my flight not being the typical hop-forward beers I normally enjoy when I’m drinking, I didn’t find myself missing that profile either. It caught me off-guard to get the hop aroma on the Rustic Ale and upon first sip, I was immediately pleased with what I had before me.
The Pitch Black, by name alone, says dark, bold, heavy and couldn’t be further from the truth. As the Lost Nation site describes ‘although the color is black, the beer drinks smooth and finishes clean with subtle notes of smoke and roast balanced by a gentle malt body and crisp hop finish’. The Pitch Black is the furthest removed from the other 5 in the flight, but still fit the theme of the flight. Clean, drinkable, smooth, sessionable, enjoyable. Just a treat from start to finish with all six beers that I was able to try.
One of the best parts of the visit was the ability to leave with a growler in hand and the affordability of the visit. Having brought a glass from home, I filled 64 ounces of the Rustic Ale for only $10. Being familiar with the Chittenden County prices of growlers, I almost had sticker shock at the bargain prices of the fill.
With well more then two dozen Vermont breweries left to visit, I must say I’m already looking forward to another visit back to Morrisville and Lost Nation. We missed their outdoor biergarten by one day, but whether it is back open or we have to hunker down in the tap room, I’m looking forward to trying some of Chef Erik Larson’s creations and drinking more great beer from Lost Nation.
Remember ‘Born on Dating’ from Budweiser? I do and at the time, it seemed silly. For a brewery that produces such massive volumes of a mediocre colored water, it seemed like a trivial thing at the time, but in hindsight, perhaps they were on to something. Even though they admit that their beer is good for well over 100+ days, will their clientele notice if they were to consume a Bud older than 200 days or even more? Maybe so and maybe not.
Fast forward many years to the craft beer boom we are currently experiencing. 3,000 breweries strong and growing by the day. Thousands more in planning. It has become more and more about local and about fresh. How fresh? How about off the canning line and into your hands fresh?!? That is what I experienced yesterday.
Fiddlehead Brewery, after being open just two and a half years, has seen amazing growth. By the start of year two, Fiddlehead IPA was available in over 200 locations on tap solely in Vermont. In the last 6 months, Fiddlehead has gone from those 200 locations and growlers at the brewery only to the latest craze in the craft beer industry: canning. Thanks to Iron Heart Canning of Connecticut, the fantastic beers of Fiddlehead have found a new home in 12 and 16 ounce cans. With a few canning runs of Second Fiddle and Hodad under their belt, it was announced recently that Fiddlehead would be canning every few weeks. The demand for each run of Second Fiddle, Fiddlehead’s first widely released Double India Pale Ale (DIPA), has grown immensely and the last batch sold out in under an hour, direct from the brewery on Shelburne Road (Route 7) in Shelburne, Vermont.
Fast forward to yesterday – August 21, 2014 and coincidentally, my birthday, but that is not the point, the date that Fiddlehead announced they would have their MasterMind DIPA available for a full canning release. Having been brewed in September 2013 & January 2014 for a brewery only beer, it was a bit unknown, at least by me, as to what could be expected. Having never had the beer before, I ventured to 6305 Shelburne Road, just up the road from the famous Shelburne Museum and directly across the street from the Shelburne Vineyard at 10:15. A full 45 minutes before the doors were to open and was greeted with a light line:
What better thing to do while waiting in line than to talk about beer, right? I chatted up the gents in front of me and those 45 minutes passed rather quickly as dozens joined the line behind us. Notice the tail of the big yellow truck in the picture above? That is Iron Heart Canning and I thought it curious that they were onsite and working at 10:15 in the morning. Having never been to a can release at Fiddlehead or any other location, I had presumed that the cans were done the day before and then sold the following day. Understanding space constraints at most locations, holding onto hundreds of cases of filled cans is not ideal or most of the time, not even practical.
Space constraints aside, I was a bit shocked to see firsthand how the MasterMind was being delivered. After watching the first 12 or so customers walk in and out immediately with their 4 packs, or case, or 2 cases or more, the line started to slow down. As I approached the bar, I understood why. The cans were coming out FRESHLY CANNED DIRECT FROM THE LINE. What? Could this be happening? We all want to think our beer is fresh, whether it has a dating system or not, but, to actually watch the cans come out of the back room, drenched in condensation and spillage? Could this be right? Indeed it was, as I watched as Matty O., the proprietor and founder of Fiddlehead, personally carrying cases from the back into the retail location to his adoring fans.
This can’t be the norm I thought. 15 minutes into the can release and I am literally watching the line drop beers into the hands of awaiting drinkers? I’m not going to complain. Why, yes, I’d love a free sample of your Mellow Mike pale ale while I wait 3 minutes for perhaps the freshest beer I’ve ever seen, why not?
Let us think about this freshness for a few more seconds…….
Fast forward 30 minutes and I’m poking around the shelves of The Beverage Warehouse in Winooski, If I picked up 50% of the beer on the splendid shelves of the best craft beer seller in Northern Vermont and tried to locate a ‘born on date’, do you think I would find them? My guess would be no. The more I try to find a date on a bottle or a six pack rack, the more I’m flustered and confused why dating is not more prevalent within craft beer. If you haven’t read Jeff Baker’s (@aphilosophyof on Twitter) column from the Burlington Free Press, he wrote a great article on being informed about beer dating that you can read here.
Now while not all beer is meant to be consumed fresh, my personal beers of choice – pale, IPA, DIPA – is best suited and drank while as close to kegging, bottling and canning as possible. What I experienced today almost seemed beyond that. Right out of the tanks and into 12 ounces of pure joy. My hope is that everyone can experience beer not only this good, but this fresh. Do yourself a favor and go out of your way to try it sometime. It doesn’t have to be MasterMind, or even Fiddlehead. per se. I can tell you that I’ve never been one for lines, but after this experience and being treated to a brewer delivered case right off the line, I’m now sold. Oh, it also helps that what is inside the can is FANTASTIC.
Enjoy and #DrinkFresh: 10, 12, 16, 22, 32 or 64 ounces at a time.
On Thursday (May 8th), I made a point of getting over to the Magic Hat Artifactory in South Burlington. I take the location for granted as it is only a “hop”, skip and a jump from me at any given point in time. It had been quite a while since I had been there, mostly as their beer is so easily available throughout Chittenden County. But also, I haven’t been the biggest fan of their beers as of late. I miss Lucky Cat, Fat Angel, Blind Faith and the Magic Hat of old. The reason for my visit was Big Hundo, a 100 IBU, 9% ABV IPA that is only available in Vermont. Ironically, my last visit to Magic Hat that I recall was for a 106 IBU special that Magic Hat had only in the Artifactory a number of years ago.
One of the benefits of visiting the Artificatory is free samples. It’s a nice treat and normally the room is full of people enjoying. I arrived at 3:45 and had my way up the bar. I had a Ticket to Rye IPA first, as I figured that the ‘light’ 80 IBU’s was a safer bet to start with than anything stronger. It was good. Not great. (Sounds like Magic Hat from the last 5 years, right?) After I made my way to the Big Hundo. The 100 IBU ‘moniker’ definitely drew me in. In the past, I’ve been a huge fan of the big IPA’s that brag about their 100+ International Bitter Units. I was surprised that this beer didn’t have the tongue punch that I have been accustomed to on traditional big beers. It was more smooth and even flavored than I expected. I wasn’t overly excited about it, but it was a good, drinkable beer. The beauty of Magic Hat is their ultra-affordable growler fills. I was pleasantly surprised that they filled non-Magic Hat 64 ounce glasses and was happy to retreat to the vehicle to get my Infinity Brewing glass. For only $10, I was able to walk away with four pints of a local brew.
Of note: I popped the cap on Thursday evening and finished the beer on Monday, May 12th, while watching “24: Live Another Day”. I was very happy to taste a more floral finish than I had on the initial Thursday of my growler fill. I think I actually enjoyed the beer more as it aged as I did when it was fresh from the tap.
Fast forward to today – May 13th, and I stopped by Rick’s U Save Beverage & Filling Station to get some gas and some fine bottled beer for American Craft Beer Week. I’ve only been into Rick’s once (and filled a growler there at the time), but I thought I would see what they had for beers. I picked up my first Hop Valley Citrus Mistress (AMAZING) as well as a few other singles and 4 pack of Jack’s Abbey Mass Rising Double IPL. I just tweeted earlier this evening that IPL’s are the Black IPA’s of 2014. I’d never had any of the beers I purchased, but was interested and excited to try all 4. I was even more happy and ecstatic when I realized that the Mass Rising was 100 IBU’s and 8% ABV. After my delicious Citrus Mistress (an incredible 80 IBU West Coast IPA), I decided to delve into a Mass Rising. The nose was strong and the taste was there to support. After having a Hoponious Union from Jack’s a few week’s back, I had high expectations from the Mass Rising and I wasn’t disappointed. I am ecstatic at the great IPL’s that are suddenly available. (you can even count me in as a fan of the Magic Hat Dream Machine). The Mass Rising had a much more hop forward flavor than I expected from an IPL, but it was warmly welcomed by me and I tackled this blog post unexpectedly. While I had intent to write about IBU’s after my Big Hundo experience, I had not anticipated comparing it to another beer.
I’m not sure if there is an overall moral of this story, other than to not judge your IBU’s by their number. You can stereotype a beer by it’s type, brewery, IBU’s or label, or you can go into it with an open palate and open mind. I now choose the latter.
This feels a bit like the pressure of the #FirstTweet that was sent this morning, ironically on Cinco de Mayo. What to do? What to write? Why am I doing this? Where are we going? Why am I in this handbasket?
Truth is more and more of my tweets on my personal account were being hashtagged with #craftbeer and that probably isn’t for all of my followers. Also, it hit me while in the middle of my first ever bottle of Lawson’s Finest Liquids Chinooker’d IPA: I am a hop snob.
I have become addicted to the chase of the eternal hop bomb. I like my IBUs and I like the tongue punch that the big beers offer: The Alchemist’s Heady Topper, Victory’s Hop Wallop, Lawson’s Double Sunshine IPA. It seems like the more lip smacking, the better. But no two IPA’s are nearly the same, especially when it comes to Imperial IPA’s.
I know no two palettes are the same and don’t consider mine any more refined than anybody else’s, but I have come to realize that after chasing the ‘Best IPA’, that I can stick close to home (that being Vermont) and know that a majority of what we can get here in State seems to be better than what is offered abroad.
I don’t want to stick to reviews – there is plenty of that out there already from people that know what they’re talking about. I don’t want to just stick to pictures – Lord knows that there is Instagram for that. I have no real intent. I just plan on using @HopSnobbery – both the Twitter and the Blog for spreading my love of craft beer by “many means necessary”.
Hop Snobbery 