It's Wicked Good

Well, wicked good is a bit of an overstatement but people from Massachusetts are known for loyalty. OK, loyalty to the Red Sox and generally the Patriots and Celtics. Sorry, hockey fans.

Today's brew du jour is Fisherman's Brew from the Cape Ann Brewing Company. We took the easy way out and acquired the variety pack - three each of Kolsch-Style Ale, American Amber Ale, Double Bock, and the IPA.

Let's start with the packaging. The general label looks like we're drinking with the Gorton's Fisherman. That's all well and good but the label for each brew is the same - except for the color and the name of the beer. So, we basically drank a 12 pack with Gordie. Our friends from Glouster, MA lost points for creativity. On to the brew review - in no particular order but from best to worst...

American Amber Ale - This one comes across as a good everday brew not unlike your Sam Adams Boston Lager. Refreshing taste with a fair amount of flavor that doesn't overpower the senses. You could have several and not get that Guinness-bloated feeling.

Double Bock - If you're looking for something a bit more extreme than the ordinary average ale this will be your choice. More flavor than you will find in the American and its rather sweet. The kind of beer that makes you want more even after you get that Guinness-bloated feeling.

Kolsch-Style Ale - It's fine. Neither exceptional nor offensive, you might finish one bottle and wonder if you had a Kolsch or sparkling water. Still, it carries more credibility than your friendly Miller Lite. If you drink based on status Kolsch won a Gold Medal at the 2007 Great International Beer Festival.

India Pale Ale - Don't drink the the IPA, it's awful. Seriously.

Cheers!

Hops Update

The hops above look pretty outstanding. Too bad they belong to somebody else. A good friend has been working his green thumb in Harrisburg, PA. He informs us some of the hops are sprouting buds - surely it's a matter of time until our friend is making homebrew with homegrown hops.

We were feeling pretty good about our hops until we received that picture. Because we are all about transparency here at Dumbarton our hops are pictured below.



We feel no shame - well, maybe a little.

Wabbit Season - Duck Season

Gheorge: once again picking up our slack. This time to review Duck-Rabbit beer. How can you resist a name like that?

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Enjoyed the porter this weekend. it's subtle and smooth, with just the right amount of roasted flavor. Got a beautiful nose - just what a porter should be. Not a great session beer - the taste builds pretty strongly after 2 glasses, but if you like porter, you'll enjoy the Duck-Rabbit. And i like the brewery's story, too.
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Cheers!

Crying Over Spilled Beer

Chicago area residents faces major rush hour delays this morning when a tractor trailer filled with beer overturned at 6:00 am local time. According to reports, "the truck was on the ramp from the southbound Tri-State to the inbound Eisenhower."

The upshot is there were no injuries and it was only a Miller Lite truck.

With the Bad Comes the Good

Yesterday, we discussed the merits of cutting a pension benefit that may or may not have benefited former employees. Today we bring you some positive spin.

New Belgium Brewing Company is based in Fort Collins, CO and knows a thing or two about employee satisfaction. After working with the company for one year, each employee gets a share in ownership and a free, custom-made bicycle. After five years the employee gets a free trip to Belgium...the country.

It's not all roses. According to CNN, the company has made some cutbacks in light of today's economy. For example, employees did not get their annual 8 percent raise (they only got 4 percent) and employees are no longer permitted to take home a free case of beer each week - we're noticing a theme.

No free beer but you still get ownership, a free custom bike, and a free trip to Belgium. Given New Belgium's reputation, the free beer will probably be back when the economy turns.

Cheers!

Pension Plans Under Attack

Some of us have been following the fates of the American auto industry. One of the great unknowns is what happens to the pensions of retirees, particularly if you're a GM retiree.

Let it be known here that the auto industry retirees are not alone in their plight. Yesterday, Bloomberg reported that Molson Coors is slashing a key pension benefit. Retirees who gave their life's blood to make beer will no longer get their 864 free beers they have been getting each year. Beginning January 1, 2010, retirees will get only 12 beers each month free. That's right, not even one per day.

The real bombshell: "In five years, the retirees won’t get any free beer from the Denver-based company."

You read that correctly. No more free beer for retirees. One employee, who asked to remain anonymous, was quoted as saying "why would I bother to work for M-C anymore? I mean, Coors beer isn't really worth buying."

Don't Call it A Comeback!

If you ever lived in upstate NY you know Genesee Beer has been here for years. According to a Triangle Business Journal article, North American Breweries (formed by KPS Capital Partners after purchasing Labatt USA and Genessee Brewing Company) is investing $10 million into the Rochester, NY company. The money, some of which has already been invested, will be used for repairs, equipment upgrades, and investments that will increase efficiencies.

We are particularly excited about this development not because it's the rebirth of a glorious, high quality brand. Rather, it's an old school favorite in Western New York best known by our parents and grandparents...and maybe we cut our teeth on it during the prohibition years.


Cheers!

"Pink Slips" - It's A Bit More Upscale

The 5-0: Magic Hat

Our friends at Gheorge took a break from the sports scene to give us a hand with the Top 50. Today they talk Magic Hat's Lucky Kat.

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"I'm a sucker for a good IPA, and I'm predisposed to like magic hat simply because I like their attitude, and they're from vermont, the state of my birth.

That said, I'm ambivalent on the Lucky Kat. It's got an odd finish, less hoppy and a bit less crisp than I would generally expect (and want). Reminds me of something i can't exactly place - maybe one of magic hat's odd seasonals from a year or so ago. Not bad, not great."
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Many thanks, Gheorge. Keep 'em coming. Cheers!