This week’s six pack of the week (SPotW) comes from Warrensville, Illinois and (like most sports fans) feel the need to take some shots at the Chicago sports community – we apologize in advance.  Warrensville has Two Brothers Brewing which has produced some fantastic stuff for 15 years and is following the latest craft beer trend and putting their stuff in cans.  We’ve had some stuff from Two Brothers before and it didn’t hit it out of the park, but we’ve never met a beer we wouldn’t drink so we’ll try them again…

Other Beer Friend Reviewed Rye Beers: Sixpoint Righteous Ale - Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye - Founders Red Rye PA

Brooklyn Brewery’s main line of beers sticks mostly to old world, traditional styles.  Easily drinkable beer with nothing over-the-top.  Something you can always count on being delicious to almost any group of people.  Their Brewmasters Reserve collection?  Out of control.  In the best way.  They will be bringing the whole entourage of brewmaster brews as well as some surprises.

2009 Monster Ale
AMA Bionda
2007 Black Chocolate Stout
Radius
Concoction
Mary’s Maple Porter
Sorachi Ace
Winter Ale
Blast

After reading that I am actually a bit afraid to find out what the “special surprises” are going to be. 

Mission Dolores is located at 249 4th Avenue between Carroll and President streets, Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Tuesday, February 21 – Fat Tuesday Blowout @ Standings, Mahattan AND Fat Tuesday with Abita @ One Mile House, Manhattan

We couldn’t escape an events list without at least mentioning Mardi Gras this Tuesday.  Yes, the holiday famous for beads, breasts and booze is on Tuesday.  Most often the preferred beverage choice is some fizzy light brew or a tropical storm named ice blended rum drink.  In the craft beer world it’s always Abita.  And why not?  Craft brew from Louisiana makes sense.  However, many of these events leaves me a bit disappointed – having only one or two on tap (most of the time just Abita Light).

For this Mardis Gras the Beer Friends did the leg work for you and found the two best Abita Mardis Gras events in New York at Standings and One Mile House.

AtStandings you will get the Purple Haze, Jockamo IPA, the New Select Barleywine and Bock.  Plus, in good Standings fashion, they’ll be free pizza at 8 served alongside what they’ve named their “incendiary Cajun spice bar.”

One Mile House will be pouring Restoration, S.O.S. and Andygator alongside 3 tons of beads for your wearing pleasure.

Happy Mardi Gras.

Standings is located at 43 East 7th Street upstairs, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, East Village Manhattan.

One Mile House is located at 10 Delancey Street between the Bowery and Chrystie Streets, NoLita, Manhattan.

Thursday, February 23 – Greenport Harbor Tap Takeover & Supeh Freekeh Debut @ Bierkraft, Brooklyn:

This is one hell of an event.  I wish I was there right now, but I guess we’ll all just have to wait until Thursday.  They’ll have 15 brews on tap including the debut of “Supeh Freekeh”  a triple collaboration between Greenport Harbor, the LES restaurant Back 40 and Bierkraft.  Check out the list:

Other Side IPA
Black Duck Porter
Spring Turning Saison
Chinook’red
Harbor Ale
Anti-Freeze
Wheesh’d Scottish Ale
Canard Noir 2011
Triton
Supeh Freekeh (draft and cask)
Anniversary #2
Strong Ryeland
Hammer & Sickle Imperial Stout

They suggest calling in sick beforehand.  I suggest taking the whole week off.

Bierkraft is located at 191 5th Avenue between Berkeley and Union streets, Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Phil’s Pre-Game #1 Founders Red Rye – always one of my favorites, and just as good this week on draft as it was last week for the Founders event. A good mix of bitter and sweet, the rye doesn’t disappoint.

Brad’s First Pre-Game Victory Yakima Glory – this Black IPA always surprises me because it doesn’t have the roasted malt taste I find with most Black IPA’s. This is always surprisingly drinkable and delicious.

Brad’s Second Pre-Game Ballast Point Calico Amber Ale – this Amber ale always surprises me because it has more of a bite than the typical Fat Tire, Bristol Mass Transit and Breckenridge Avalanche Ale I grew up drinking. This time I long for the old days and want a smoother Amber taste than a bite.

Phil’s Pre-Game #2 Ballast Point Calico Amber Ale – Brad brings up a good point, it a got a good bite, more than I usually expect from Ballast Point. Crisp and bitter, maybe a little more than you would expect from an amber, I think it strays a little into pale ale territory, but that’s a good thing.

Phil’s First Breckenridge Vanilla Porter – good god this is a great beer. We had this the last time there was a Breckenridge event here and loved it then just as much as I love it now. I really think this is quickly rising to the top of my looked for favorite beers list. It’s just so smooth and delicious, the sweetness is great because it’s not a sugary sweetness, it’s got that nice natural sweet you get from smelling a bottle of vanilla extract, with that great porter malt to counter it.

Brad’s First Breckenridge Vanilla Porter – always delicious. Since Phil hates bourbon I’ll comment on that. Idle Hands does a hard alcohol tasting with a brewery and often they are connected. This Breckenridge Bourbon is made in Breckenridge, Colorado with the water from the mountains themselves and has a interesting ride. The smell is maple-y sugary and the taste hits with the alcohol taste, smooths out and then light burn on the way down. This is very good – not as harsh as Knob Creek but not as smooth as a Basil Hayden… Somewhere in the middle. Very drinkable neat and probably too good to mix with.

Brad’s Second Breckenridge Agave Wheat – This is pretty awesome. I’m not a hater of the wheat beers like the other Beer Friend at the bar (who shall remain nameless). I enjoy the lighter taste and crispness of the beer which (unfortunately) makes it REALLY easy to drink.

Brad’s Third Breckenridge 72 Imperial Cream Stout – Holy Sweet Batman! this might be a little much for my taste. It’s labelled as a chocolate stout which I don’t agree with – but that might because I couldn’t (even after a 8 oz) get over the sweetness. I’ll have to try another later to get a better view.

Phil’s Third Breckenridge 72 Imperial Cream Stout – so my second beer was really another Founders Red Rye so we’ll just remember that from before. But for the cream stout it was really good! Not quite what I was expecting for a cream stout, usually I think of the creamy ones as, well, creamy. This is a little more on the bitter side, but in the best way. It’s a cream stout with a better bitter end for the taste than we are usually used to. Kinda more along the lines of a coffee stout than any other, but still is good one for the masses.

Today we revisit a favorite brewery on the Colorado Brewery Tour 2010 – Left Hand Brewing. Left Hand is moving across the US with the much anticipated (for this Beer Friend at least) Milk Stout Nitro, so in the meantime we figured we’d feature a special release as the SPotW to tide us over. Fade to Black is a great series in which Left Hand brews a dark beer with a different twist each year. Volume 1 was a Stout that poured of licorice and with a 8.5 ABV was nothing to mess with. Volume 2 was a Smoked Baltic Porter with 7.8 ABV and a decent smoky taste, and finally Volume 3, a Pepper Porter at 7.2 ABV. The ABV is a good thing because if the pepper taste doesn’t slow you down, maybe the higher ABV will. Spicy! Series beers! Metallica!

We are hanging with our special guest tonight, David from Libatious.com so he’ll chime in on the Founders tastings…

We are definitely excited, but we’re a little early so we started with some appetizers:

Phil’s pre-game: Rogue Chipotle Ale – being an Oregonian native Rogue Always has a special place in my heart. This one is not really what you would expect. I was thinking it would be more of a pepper taste, but not so. Mostly what I get is the pale ale taste with hint of the smokiness from the peppers, and maybe just a tingle, but no heat. Very good.

Brad’s pre-game: Rogue Chipotle Ale – Agreeing with Phil – I hate it when that happens. The pepper taste needs to be stronger especially after having Stones Vertical Epic 11.11.11 and Left Hand Fade to Black Vol 3 recently. Even a friends Jalapeno Saison had a stronger taste… But this is pre-kick off and I can’t expect much in the pre-game festivities.

Brad’s Second Pre-Game Nectar IPA – Yep, it’s been that kinda day. Good basic IPA taste, nothing overpowering and surprised at the 6.8 ABV but easy to drink and I should hurry because the Founders Rep just showed up…

Phil’s Second Pre Game Blue Point Sour Cherry Imperial Stout – Leaves a little to be desired. The stout taste is there and the cherry taste is there, but neither is present enough to be really good. Its like they both started to fight, but then gave up and went home. The cherry taste is thee, but it’s too strong to be a hint, but of weak to be the main flavor, plus being there it cuts the stout taste back to a tie for second place.

Brad 1st Official Tasting Founders Red Rye PA – We’ve reviewed this – I love it, drinking it now – still love it.

David also first tasting Founders Red Rye PA – these notes may be a little tainted by the awesome Mezcal tasting that is happening simultaneously. Beautiful copper pour with fantastic hop aroma. The hops are well balanced by rich roasted malts, and a crisp, clean rye finish.

Phil’s 1st Official Tasting Founders Red Rye PA – always one of my favorites in bottles, and definitely when it’s on tap. In the bottles it’s got a much sharper taste, but coming off the draft it’s much much smoother with a better blend of the favors. A little sweet with a good balance from the rye at the end.

Brad’s Second Official Tasting Dry Hopped Pale Ale – this is a lot different than what I get from the bottle. In a sizer I get a lot more of the Piney hop flavor, but this small sample I get a lot more flower hops, but it’s a nice change.

David’s second tasting Dry Hopped Pale Ale – agree with Brad that this very different than the last time I had this beer in a bottle. The hops are definitely still there, but much more of a floral, citrus taste than I remember.

Phil’s Second Tasting Dry Hopped Pale Ale – a third vote for this being much different than from the bottle. I’m used to the piney note scoring straight out of the bottle. This one off the tap is much more floral an sweet, but in the best way, with a good little bit of the citrus.

Phil’s Third Tasting Double Trouble Double IPA – is be is pretty much like I remember from the tap. Good strong hope flavor without being really really bitter. You can taste the hops but the sweetness that comes through helps curb the. It’s at the end. Being a double IPA that’s pretty much it for this one. A good standby.

Brad’s Third Tasting Double Trouble – This is good but not great, I just recently had Resin from Sixpoint and that blew me away, also I’ve had Devil Dancer from Founders and thought that was amazing so this leaves me wanting something more from the “Double IPA” style… But this is also dangerous because the high ABV is noticeable…

David’s Third Tasting Double Trouble – Overall, it is hard to find any fault with this beer…great hop flavor, nice aroma, and good balance of sweetness. But I can’t say it’s a standout, and may seek other DIPA’s given the choice.

Phil’s Fourth Tasting Founders Porter – just a good strong beer. This one for me is probably one of those ale defining beers. I might be a little strong for that, but I’ll stand by my decision. Good, dark and smokey with a great malty back end that is mostly smooth with enough bite to remind you. What you’re drinking. Absolutely one of my fav’s.

Brad’s Fourth Tasting Founders Porter – I love this beer – In a review with Brew York New York I likened this to a milk porter and I stand completely behind that. smooth and creamy – this carries like a cream stout with more roasted malts.

David’s Fourth Tasting Founders Porter – this is a great porter. Creamy, roasty porter with raw cacao notes and just enough hops. A truly robust porter that is thoroughly enjoyable.

Brad’s Fifth Tasting Founders Dirty Bastard – this is a good night cap but I’m searching for something more. This Wee Heavy is a better Wee Heavy than most but I’ve grown to expect more from Founders and honestly, never disappointed. I just think my palate is on overload and I need a break… And then I notice Breakfast Stout in bottles…

David’s Fifth Tasting Founders Dirty Bastard – a nice Wee Heavy with characteristic malt sweetness and hop-forward character. Good stuff to end a fantastic night.

Phil’s Fifth Tasting Founders Dirty Bastard – it s the usual. Good, but compared to what we’ve had tonight. It’s a distant finish. Usually a good way to go, but being the mildest of the offerings of the vending it’s a bit difficult not to get down on the taste. Malty and good, but a bit watery with a little hops on the front. All in all good, but not my favorite way to end the evening.

Brad’s Nightcap Founders Breakfast Stout – Couldn’t be happier…

And that, ladies and gentlemen concludes our live blog tonight. Thanks so much to Idle Hands, Founders Brewing, and Illegal Mezcal for a great night. Seek these out, you’ll thank us.

Over the hump… 101.  Feels good.  Idle Hands in Alphabet City NYC does some great events – one happened a few weeks ago was one to remember.  Empire Brewing came in and swept 3/4 Beer Friends away (1/4 of the Beer Friends couldn’t make it – otherwise they would’ve been batting a thousand).  Two staples you can find of Empire Brewing are their Cream Ale and the IPA, but we became resourceful and got our hands on a growler of Strong Ale.  The beer is delicious, the events are great and we’ll buy you a pint if you spot us there!  Beer Events!  101! Drink Local!

“I’d like to thank my friends and family, those that supported me in low times, thank you Gigi, my little girls watching at home and most of all the academy, thank you!”  It needs a little work, but we had barely any time to work on it (or about 100 weeks…)  We made it.  100 reviews.  100 videos of a “bunch of boring dudes drinking beer on camera.”  This week we return to one of our favorite breweries – Sixpoint from Redhook, Brooklyn.  The Beer Friends have always been huge fans of Sixpoint and it was like Christmas when we could get their stuff in cans.  We quickly ran out and reviewed our favorites, our new favorites, newer beers to Sixpoint, old standby’s, and their first seasonal.  Now this Black IPA/Stout mix - Diesel comes along and confuses some people on it’s exact style and admittingly the Beer Friends were confused as well – until we went to the source and sought out the truth.  Thanks to all the viewers out there who caught us for the first 100, and keep watching for the second 100!

Tuesday, January 31 – Tuesday Night Tasting: Porters @ Bierkraft, Brooklyn:

It’s still cold enough to grab a dark brew.  At least Bierkraft thinks so.  Bierkraft’s own beer expert Chris Balla is going to teach you about something dark.  They’ll even have a special pour from England  - RCH’s Old Slug.  Get there early.

Bierkraft is located at 191 5th Avenue between Union and Sackett Streets, Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Tuesday, January 31 – Abita Night @ The Pony Bar, Manhattan:

The Pony Bar will be hosting New Orleans favorite craft brewer – Abita.  They’ll be pouring a wide selection of your favorite Abita brews alongside some promised rare and new releases.  John Guhring, Abita’s NYC man, will be on hand to start some Mardi Gras in your pint glass.

The Pony Bar is located at 637 10th Avenue on the Northwest corner of 45th Street, Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan.

Wednesday, February 1 – Beer, Bourbon and Rock with 21st Amendment @ Idle Hands Bar, Manhattan:

Last week’s Beer, Bourbon and Rock with Empire Brewing Company was a blast.  This week is sure to be a repeat.  21st Amendment out of San Francisco will be bringing their best.  You’ll be treated to two pints, a sampling of tastes and some fine bourbon.  Oh, don’t forget to grab your free tater tots from upstairs.

Idle Hands is located at 25 Avenue B Downstairs between 2nd and 3rd Streets, Alphabet City, Manhattan.

Wednesday, February 1 – Founder’s Night @ The Stag’s Head, Manhattan:

The famed Founders Brewery will be bringing their stacked lineup to the taps at Stag’s Head this Wednesday.  I could spend some time comparing Founder’s to some all-star brewery team in order to convince you to attend this event.  Or I could just show you the list and you could decide for yourself.  Enjoy.

Pale Ale
Centennial IPA
Red’s Rye PA
Dirty Bastard
Porter
Double Trouble
Breakfast Stout
Imperial Stout

The Stag’s Head is located at 252 East 51st Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, Upper East Side, Manhattan.

Thursday, February 2 – Flying Dog Tap Takeover @ Bierkraft, Brooklyn:

Flying Dog has been on a New York City tear recently.  They’ve been popping up all over the place.  And we couldn’t be happier.  This week they are taking the taps at Bierkraft.  We couldn’t be happier about that either.  Check the list:

K9 CrusierWinter Ale
Kujo Imperial Coffee Stout
Brewmaster’s Reserve Imperial Hefeweizen
Stranahan Barrel Aged Gonzo Imperial Porter
Doggie Style Pale Ale
Snake Dog IPA (cask and draft)
In Heat Wheat
Tire Bite Golden Ale
Raging Bitch Belgian-style IPA (cask and draft)

Bierkraft is located at 191 5th Avenue between Union and Sackett Streets, Park Slope, Brooklyn.

This video takes us back to our roots in a different way, when apparently we couldn’t frame a shot… Imagine that Graham is talking when you hear his voice (because you don’t see him often) and check out this review from Sierra Nevada. Sierra Nevada made the news this week by announcing a East Coast Brewery Site so we decided to toss up a review of their new seasonal, Ruthless Rye.  Ruthless joins the recent rye brews (Founders, Sixpoint) but with a interesting twist – watch to find out!  Be sure to check out our ever growing collection of Sierra Nevada reviews – Torpedo – Southern Harvest – Ken and Fritz 30th

Phil here tonight we are live logging from the awesome basement bar Idle Hands in New York City for Empire Brewing’s tasting night. The brewery is joined by Finger Lakes Distillery for a little compare and contrast. Paul and Graham will do the comparing and I will probably be the contrasting opinion……so sit tight, we’re gonna grab an intro beer and a burger and when the party gets started we’ll let you in on the fun!

Phil’s First: we have started off the evening with the Finger Lakes Distillery White Pike Whiskey. I am definitely the farthest thing from a whiskey fan here at The Beer Friends, but I have to say that this one out of all of the times I have had whiskeys in the past, this is the ONLY time I have not been completely turned off and can finish the one shot taster. I actually could have a full serving of this, which coming from me, says a lot.

Graham’s Thoughts

Enticing creamy corn nose that makes you want to drink it all right away. It Drinks with a string corn flavor but it’s quickly eclipsed with a warming sensation. Note: not burning, just warming. This whiskey is too smooth for the word burning. And delicious. Corn delicious that begs you to come back for more. And it’s clear. Boom.

Paul’s thoughts

This was a revelation for me. I have had a few corn whiskeys and none of them have been particularly delicious. This whiskey was sweet and easy to drink. Aged for only 18 minutes, it has almost no flavor of the barrel. It’s incredibly easy to drink and absolutely delicious. I will look for and purchase this whiskey to keep on my shelf at home.

Phil’s First Beer: Empire Scotch Ale

This beer is great. Bar none. empire’s brewmaster was kind enough to be here and give us a little history lesson on Scotch beers and where/why they come from. The beer is very dark, in the best way. Very smooth and clean, with a pleasant bitter taste. Not sweet, and you really only taste is one on the front half of your tongue. All in all this is one you should keep an eye out for.

Graham’s First Beer

As the man said – I don’t like overly sweet beer so I made this one malty and dry. Exactly the way a scotch ale should be. Flavored by peat not sugar. I’ll drink to that.

Paul’s First Beer

To call this beer weak will be an insult to the brewmaster, but I will do it anyway because to anyone who’s had some craft Scotch Ales will notice that this beverage is not as sweet as other Scotch ales. This Scotch ale doesn’t punch you in the face like other Scotch ales do. Absolutely delicious, Empire continues to impress the more I drink.

Phil’s Second Beer: Strong Ale

We have just been given the Strong Ale. As much as the Scotch Ale was delicious, this one for me is so much more in the right direction. Much more to my liking with the addition of a bunch of hoops to load the front end of the flavor with that great hoppy bitterness. This has now become my favorite Empire Beer. We learned here too that Empire really takes pride in differentiating between Hop sweetness and Hop flavor, and it definitely shows in the taste.

Graham’s Second Beer

Strong ale? What comes to mind? Probably not this. Cause although strong ales are awesome this one is awesomer. Crisply hoppy with a focus on the flavor profile of the hop rather than the bitterness. The master brewer said the inspiration came from Arrogant Bastard. Try less malty sweet with a better, much better hop flavor.

Paul’s Second Beer

This beer is awesome. I’m not sure it’s something I can drink it all year round. But I’ll take this beer anytime Labor day though Flag day. Quick crisp hop flavor at the beginning and a smooth finish. Impressively drinkable for a strong ale. I will be seeking this one out again and again.

Phil’s Third Beer: Wheat Wine

I had my reservations about this one, given my aversion to Barleywines, but I will admit tha this one is a good sipping piece of beer. Super cloudy with a touch of the “rotten”(my personal description) taste that I attribute to a Barleywine, but it’s sweet enough to counteract that with a touch of bitterness at the end to keep that super-sweet at bay.

Graham’s Third

Interesting but not too exciting. Sweet and slightly alcohol-ish. Almost a little watery, but not quite. Just a tad on the week side. I kind of want my barley wines to be a kick in the face. This is more a dirty look.

Paul’s Third

I am new to wheat wines and am willing to admit that. I am unsure how I feel about them. I have liked some a lot and I have had some that I am not so sure of. This one falls in the middle. It starts with a great flavor but as it rolls over it leaves a taste that lingers too long. I certainly do not dislike it, and I do enjoy drinking this beverage. This one will take another tasting to get an accurate reading. Perhaps a pint will be in order…

Phil’s Fourth: Empire IPA

Alway a favorite of mine, I hint this is a good balance, if not a little on the sweet side. As an IPA it’s really good, but for the hops SPF at this evening I’m gonna go with the Strong Ale.

Graham’s Fourth

The Empire IPA is to me a crisp citrusy IPA that is easy to drink but not over the top. What it lacks in eXtensive flavor it thrives in easy drinkability. A six-pack of something that I would buy and drink very often.

Paul’s Fourth

This is an IPA I’d like to see more. It’s very balanced but leaves a nice bitterness on your tongue. It’s a beer I enjoy but do not run into very often. I will echo Graham and say that if this was in a six pack I would seek it out.

Phil’s Fifth: Empire Amber

For the final offering from Empire tonight we have the Empire Amber ale. It s got an interesting taste to it. As ambers go it s good middle of the road. It’s got an almost coppery finish to it, taste wise, which isn’t altogether unpleasant. Overall for me I would like or hops, but being one of the resident hopheads that should go without saying. A good ending for tonight but I’ll take the strong ale any day.

Graham’s Fifth

Amber ales are not really my thing unless they are hoppy enough to be an amber IPA. This one isn’t quite but it is approaching something delicious. Something I would definitely order on multiple occasions. And I do appreciate the hops, however the style is always more malty for me than hoppy. Still, as usual Empire does it well – proving that New York State is truly the Empire State.

Paul’s Fifth

I am different than Graham and I enjoy ambers very much. This one stacks up and then some. The balance in this beer is spectacular. It’s incredibly drinkable and absolutely enjoyable. This is one of the beers they have started brewing in Brooklyn and is available in New York City(along with the Cream Ale and the IPA) and I look forward to finding this beer in more bars.

Keep an eye out for more and better beers from Empire as their new facility gets under way. This is definitely one to watch

Thanks so much to Empire for being here and to Finger Lakes Distillery too, Beer Friends signing off.