Opal

The Tugawar anchor in Beer vs. Wine of the culinary world. This is the beer to lure to wine people to the other side. A citrusy, tropical, sauvignon blanc feel and not too hoppy Farmhouse Ale that goes the  distance. This beer is so well balanced and drinkable, I think it's a benchmark in the style. 

www.firestonebeer.com

Gimme 5 with Todd Haug of Surly Brewing

I'm thinking Gimme 5 will be a once a month thing. September is compliments of master brewer and super shredder Todd Haug. Not only can he write great music, he also has Surly coiled like a snake and ready to strike. "Hell" is coming....

BT: Congrats, you have a new Brewery under construction. Tell us a bit how Surly has grown and how much more "Hell" you'll be able to brew.

TH: Thanks Dave! Can't wait to have one of your bands play there! Eight years in and we've been adding new production equipment and staff every year. In 2014 we are brewing at 42,000 BBLs annual production. With new brewery in addition to existing brewery, which we are keeping,we should be able to produce 65,000 BBLs in 2015. Regarding Hell production we can make 720 BBL batches at the new plant compared to our current 64 BBL (we are brewing about 90 BBLs/week of Hell currently). But,Hell takes longer to produce so until we get more fermenters at Surly MSP next spring we'll be limited to about 360 BBLs/wk of Hell production :-)

BT: Your gateway beer?

TH: Early teenage years-

PBR,MGD

17+...I blame my band mates in Powermad, especially Jeff Litke.

Anchor Liberty Ale

Sheaf Stout

Pete's Wicked Ale-when it had Pete the dog on the label

Summit Great Northern Porter

"Rare" keg of Samuel Adams Boston Lager at my 21st BDay party

BT: Brewing mentor?

Jon Lindberg-former Summit Brewing

Dick Cantwell-Elysian Brewing

BT: Preferred brewing soundtrack?

TH: METAL! GoatWhore, High on Fire, 1349, Amon Amarth, Municipal Waste, Opeth, Bloodbath, Cannibal Corpse, ETC! METAL and some EDM for a change.

BT: What's on deck for new beer styles/collaborations?

TH: EIGHT-Oat-Wine in Rye Whiskey Barrels out this fall

First ever Barrel Aged Darkness, 30K bottles going out end of October kicking it off with 2 big metal shows October 24 & 25th.

SOOO many ideas that I haven't been able to realize since being maxed out! Next year!

But a few.....

Draft only No Hop Saison brewed with Dandelion greens,on tap now

Draft only-Licorice Porter for Uncle Acid and the Dead Beats first show in  MSP, Oct.1st.

1349 Black Ale collab with 1349, Lervig and Surly out in bottles late this fall!

Stone Berlin 2016

More I can't discuss yet.......

ww.surlybrewing.com

Apex Predator

This beer rips, hunt it down. A muscular dry hopped Saison with tons of fruity flavor that will make you stalk bars, bottles shops, your friends house or any other place that carries Off Color Brewing. Mr. Laffler has definitely marked his territory with this one. 

www.offcolorbrewing.come

A Night To End All Dawns

New Jersey bringing it. The big stout game is a rough one and the focus of bigger, bolder and more viscous are the usual chess moves here. The thing is, it's pretty difficult to make one truly stand out amongst the heard and against the warriors. Kane Brewing has done this. This killer beer is released once a year and worth the trip to stand in line or hunt down. The Tony Soprano of stouts in NJ. 

www.kanebrewing.com

Chevalier Bertrand Du Guesclin

Or you can just say Chevy.  The first Foeder conditioned beer from Three Floyd's. There is a ton a flavor going on here. Sour, funky and blueberry goodness, well balanced and refreshing without anything going out of bounds. In the Sour Beer Volleyball Championships, the Floyd's have Gabrielle Reece spike this one down your throat. Be stoked. 

www.3floyds.com

Black Albert

My favorite stout from Belgium. Blacker than black and a 13% flavor steamroller that will as they say...tattoo you from the inside. No light can penetrate this Cthulhu like liquid, no palate can escape the oozing fog like flavors of chocolate, carmel and coffee AND no memory will forget this amazing beer. 

*Black Albert is also 1/4 part of the Voltron "Baller Stout" made for Three Floyd's 15th Anniversary. 

www.struise.com

Gimme 5 with Three Floyd's Chris Boggess

Welcome to the first Gimme 5. Gimme 5, like the rest of the beer related things on this blog, is for fun. 

A little fun fact look, without going full nerd. Ladies and Gents...Three Floyd's head brewer and hair metal flag flyer, Chris Boggess.

BT: Who or what is your earliest brewing influence?

CB: 2 answers - 1. My friends Lee Robberson and Laura Batchelor home brewed in college (mostly Laura, she was a domestic powerhouse, she could do anything by scratch and usually kick it's ass). I used to bum around at their house all the time and drank as much of their beer as possible. 2. My brother Tim bought me a Mr Beer homebrew kit when I was living in Houston. I made some really bad beer with it but realized making beer was cool. I was soon brewing professionally a year or so later. 

BT: What beer changed the game for you?

CB: Anchor's Liberty Ale 

BT: The one place you'd love to see your beer on tap?

CB: I'd like to see our beer(Space Station Middle Finger) on tap in the International Space Station.

BT: IN THE BEGINNING (Motley Crüe ref) What was the biggest hurdle to jump from home brewing to commercial brewing?

CB: The biggest hurdle was getting the job! The differences are so huge it's tough to compare them. 

BT: Preferred band to brew to and do you think it has an influence on the beer?

CB: I used to listen to a lot of Slayer brewing beer in the early days. The speed and intensity works perfectly with doing manual labor. It helps me focus therefore helping me make better beer!

Now it's not just one band or type of music anymore because we have lots of people working in the brewery. 

MEKONG

I can't believe I haven't written about this Richmond, VA jewel already. Mekong has won best craft beer bar in the nation two years straight (www.craftbeer.com) and the vote is coming up again. I'm hoping for a Threepeat 'cause this place is so special. The sickest beer selection, great staff, great food and amazing patrons. An amazing spot to learn about new beer styles and meet new people who are very enthusiastic about beer without any type of attitude. 

An Bui, the Chief Beer Officer is one of the greatest hosts of all time, as his knowledge and passion for beer is conveyed through generosity, finding those gateway beers for countless people.  A truly one of a kind experience/must visit destination. 

Monday Night all 50 taps are only $5...even Abbaye De Saint Bon Chien, which is on tap all year long!

Here, Beer is truly The Answer and be sure the try the Mekong Chicken Wings ;)

www.mekongisforbeerlovers.com

Brick Kiln

I consider Barleywine the Haymaker of beer in a sense. They're usually for the colder months and have a Big Ben like ABV, huge and you'll be on your way in no time. Jackie O's has a great track record with big beers and this is no exception. Remember Bambi meets Godillza? Sub out Bambi with The Raisinettes and you got Brick Killn.

www.jackieos.com

Grätzer Ale

The Grief/Dystopia split 7" record came with a razor blade and grim suggestion. This beer collab between 3 Floyd's and New Belgium looks the part, adorned with blood red ink and Zombies gaining speed to ghost ride the bicycles they've just stolen, but this dark pouring, smokey & lightly sour ale, drinks like a fresh breeze on a spring day. Light and crushable at 4.5%. Would be sick with cherries and chocolate. 

www.3floyds.com

www.newbelgium.com

Tired Hands Brewing

This small batch brewery in Ardmore, PA specializes in awesome. With a focus on farmhouse style, Saisons, Sours and a love for hops (think IPA Wrestlemania), all the beers here scream excellence. I have not had a bad beer from them. Tired Hands stands in a class of their own with all their beer having its own character among a sea of breweries who have similar idea. The pub itself has an ever changing beer and food menu to keep anyone coming back. TH is in my opinion, also a gateway for change, as I've seen many non beer folk converted within its halls. There is truly something here for everyone and if you haven't been already, pack your bags now. Cheers to TH for creating something simple, special and initiating change for beer drinkers. 

**A Tsunami of people flooded the pub upon the opening of their two year release party this past weekend, reaching capacity in just four minutes. 

www.tiredhands.com

Bohemian Pils

I want it to rain this beer and then I want to float down a river of it with a giant stein. So crisp, so clean and ever so refreshing. Low ABV, high flavor, endless guzzling. The only US pilsner that has made me feel like I'm in Prague drinking the freshest Czech pilsners from a Tank Bar. Possibly the best US style Czech pils. Benchmark beer. 

www.hardywood.com

Jever!

I love this German beer. Easy drinking pilsner that enables you to anchor yourself to any bar and talk about anything for hours and actually make sense. Session city.  They should hand this out at marathons instead of Gatorade. Reinheitsgebot, a lot.

www.jever.de

Bourbon Sour Porter

Almanac Brewing of San Francisco has it's own unique approach, coining the phrase "Farm To Barrel",  where they select a certain farm for each beer in the named series exclusively.

Tart, vanilla, bourbon and chocolate are what lurks in this gracefully complex beer. Lots of work went into this beer! Developed in twice used bourbon barells, (first bourbon, then beer) impregnated with sour cultures, then left to mutate and take on the qualities of it's host barrel and contents kinda how The Thing imitates other life forms. Don't let this one get away.

www.almanacbeer.com

Strangeways Brewing

Wampus Cat, Strangeways' Triple IPA just escaped and is wreaking wonderful havoc on taste buds citywide. This wild animal of a beer is one of many ongoing reasons to check out this Richmond, VA based brewery. Always experimenting and pushing beer boundaries, always something new to taste and always 25 house beers on tap!  From new releases to ever changing variants of flagships, Strangeways is the Frankenbeer of Richmond.
www.strangewaysbrewing.com

Genealogy of Morals

This beer made by Hill Farmstead Brewing is astounding. A wheat imperial stout with coffee, aged in various bourbon barrels for 15+ months and then bottle conditioned more even more.  A true liquid work of art and I actually think this gorgeous beer will convert wine snobs who shun beer. If Tom G. Warrior were a beer, he'd be this one.
www.hillfarmstead.com

Gudeløs

The Brewery Devil's Brew: Bryggeriet Djaevlebryg. This Godless stout is has its own spine, tasting on the sweet side with a sense of smokiness and a hint of licorice. Gudeløs also chooses it's own battle, for each bottle sold of this 9 FL OZ of the beast, one Danish Crown goes to the Danish Atheist Society.

Fear be gone!, bottoms up.

WWW.DJAEVLEBRYG.DK

BLAKKR

The Deicide Trifixion and Ghidorah have nothing on this hoppy, resiny, three way collaboration potion from the black depths of the IPA underworld. Three Floyd's, Surly and Real Ale have raised the bar with this yeast beast. Noseferatu of the incantation scent realm and BLAKKR than squid ink, these liquid evil tentacles render you submissive. 

www.3floyds.com

www.surlybrewing.com

www.realalebrewing.com

Czechvar!

The OG Budweiser, the real deal and one of the most easy drinking beers ever produced. If you haven't had this wonderful pilsner, then you need to hunt it down and taste the true greatness of this beer. If found on tap and fresh, you'll feel like you've discovered the fountain of youth after drinking a few of these. Desert Island Beer? Absolutely. 

www.czechvar.com

Jewbelation Fifteen

As soon as I typed Fif, all I could think of was Dave Chapelle."I plead the Fif..."Fif". Genius...anyway. "Fif"teen is the carmel, molasses, burnt sugar Exodus from sober to drunk. An American strong ale, that gets the job done and then some at...you guessed it, 15% alcohol. Minus my song and dance here, I thought this is a really good beer.  A lot of nice flavors blend with the high alcohol content and drink rather smoothly.

www.shmaltzbrewing.com

Red Howes

Much like Troubles' signature darkened doom rock, this Russian Imperial Stout is uniquely brewed with Allagashs' own Belgian yeast strain, then bombarded with cranberries. Similar to the down tuned tom flurries finely woven into the lead in of Victim of the Insane, the cranberries are a great subtle compliment to this stout. Find this limited release if you can and crank Psalm 9 while drinking. 

Note: Jeff "Oly" Olson, the OG drummer of the pioneering American doom metal band Trouble, is the brain behind this beer.

www.allagash.com

Hardywood Raspberry Stout

Richmond, VA's bellows brewery delivers the goods with this beer. Don't fear the fruit of this fine release. Raspberry & Chocolate are the Wonder Twins here and form a great balance of flavor without being too sweet, while having a body that gives Coco a run for her money. OG!

www.hardywood.com

Bitter Valentine

The tightrope walker of DIPA. This is all about great balance of sweet and bitter. Neither step on one another while the soft hop finish cascades over your palat. Williamsburg Alewerks crafted a Virginia gem. If Harry Warden only knew about this back then.....

www.alewerks.com

Hopslam

The cannonball at the sun bathing pool. This controversial double IPA is brewed with honey and deemed either the muscular hunk trying to impress chics, or a sloppy fat guy simply trying to amuse himself by soaking the those ultra violet vixens. Either way, Bell's 10% hop monster makes me want pull off a Flying Dutchman from 10 meters. 

www.bellsbeer.com

Dark Lord

One beer to rule them all. The fallen one who stands in flames, Dark Lord I summon thee.  This grim steed of a beers' hooves clap like thunder when poured and creates an oozing black death of chocolate, coffee and dark fruits that delightfully overpower it's imbiber.  The festival of the same name creates rabidness comparable to the needs of the zombies in 28 Days Later for beer geeks worldwide. Cut off the wax, release all the evil.
www.3floyds.com

Samichlaus

This was once considered the strongest beer in the world.  Still standing at 14% this carmelish, brandy like Dopplebock has a massive alcohol attack and hasn't deviated its style or purpose since it's creation in 1979. Brewed once a year on December 6th, this beer is great for ice fishing, sleigh riding or *hitching. 

*Hitching: Hanging on to a friends car bumper while they drag you down an icy street as fast as possible.

http://www.schloss-eggenberg.at

Bomb

Indeed! Huge chocolate and coffee flavors that will powdercoat your mouth, tongue and brain. The mild heat from the chilies at the finish is so rewarding, (kinda like riding the Alpine slide without falling off) it gets you stoked and satisfied.
This Oklahoma treat is pretty hard to come by in my neck of the woods, so I suggest stock piling on site. Definitely don't drink too cold, savor this wonderful beer.
www.prairieales.com

Heady Topper

I don't know how The Alchemist achieved transforming a Morten Andersen field goal kick into a hoppy godly liquid, but they did. The Alchemist focus on one moment with this Great Dane of Double IPAs and they nail it each time. 93 MPH & 126 ft per second of raw power are the equivalent of how fast you'll fall for the flavor of this unfiltered beer. Laces Out!!

www.alchemistbeer.com

Lion

The King of the jungle is also the King of the shelf. Pound for pound in taste and value, this stout from Sri Lanka out muscles and fells all long necks on the supermarket plains with it's suffocating flavors and alcoholic stealth pouncing. 

Roaring, not boring. 

www.lionbeer.com

Abrasive

The first double IPA in Minnesota demands your attention. When the tab is pulled, this white phosphorus hop grenade explodes, filling your nostrils with floral shrapnel. Your taste buds will run the gauntlet, happily running over mines of fruit flavors, destroying any and all thoughts of disappointment. This beast of a beer is seasonal, so get it while you can. 

www.surlybrewing.com

Lagunitas: The Story

Ya love beer and reading? This is the best way to do it! Great story about a man/great brewery forging their own path without compromise.  A very punk read, kinda like Motley Crüe: The Dirt of the brewing world in a book strangely. This book made laugh multiple times and cry even. A great read! You won't be able to put it down and it will be done before ya know it. Bonus, it makes you thirsty. 

www.lagunitas.com

Darius The Giant

Aged for a year in Heaven Hill barrels, each packed with 50 lbs of Balaton Cherries, this sour beer stands in its own league and has become a fan favorite at the Raleigh Rare Beer Tasting.  Darius The Giant has been at the fest two years straight and the keg kicks faster than anything else.  Haw River is raising the bar with this beer. 

www.hawriverales.com

Tartare

The one beer to rule them all for me at this past weeks beer festival in Raleigh, NC. The Raleigh Rare Beer Tasting had lots of different beer to sample from each style, both unique and rare for either the area or in general.  Tartare took the cake for me. This Berliner Weiss really shined with all it's tart lemony-citrus sharpness like a one inch palate punch without the pain. The Champagne of the North has some weight behind it.
www.bearrepublic.com

Black

Brewed by Mikkeller (The worlds first "Gypsy" brewer as far as I know). Russian Imperial Stout at it's finest. There is a series of Black aged in various barrels, this one is Cognac. Beautiful chocolate and coffee malt melody with just the right sweetness. At 17.5%, the alcohol is ninja like in presence while wielding Dim Mak.

www.mikkeller.dk

Pliny The Elder

The hop herald of California and once proclaimed best IPA in the nation, (breweries keeping one upping each other in the hop world) Pliny is a world class beer. Not widely available and usually gone from stores in the blink of an eye, this beer is awesome as deserves all the hype it gets. The label says it all by stressing four or five times to drink the beer fresh. Do not age, drink fresh. The fresher the better. I've had it it only three days old and it was stunning. 

www.russianriverbrewing.com

The band.

Our tentacles starting twitching again yesterday in Richmond VA, with the addition of our new full time bass player. The man is Aaron Dallison of the mighty Keelhaul. 

A whole other layer has been exposed, expanding our sonic range further beyond limits. 

Keep up with us here: www.facebook.com/Thebraintentacles

Of Love and Regret

This amazing cozy pub in Baltimore, houses Brian Strumkes' Stillwater Artisanal Ales line along with top quality guest beer, mead and wines from across the globe. They offer half pours of all the taps, which I love and think is a great idea. The food pairings are also top notch with a pretty diverse menu, but not too overwhelming. Get the three cut house blend Classic Burger, it's in my top 10 burgers, easily. 

Want more? Full take away bottle shop upstairs in the lounge. 

Be sure to visit this place. 

www.ofloveandregret.com

Hop Ranch

Hop lovers and Victory fans unite. This is the hoppiest beer I've had from Victory so far and they did a bang up job on it. Screaming citrus at 9%, Victory has upped their own game with this easy drinking Imperial IPA. 

www.victorybeer.com

Oil

Jackie O's has done it again. This super rich Imperial Stout is one of the most delicious things I've drank in while. Thick, rich, chocolately coffee power aged in Woodford Reserve barrels. Stouts are habit forming for me, can you tell? This beer is one others will be measured against. 

www.jackieos.com

Resolute

I drank as many glasses as I could of this Russian Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels (10+ months), as I could. Virginias' best stout I think. Everything I like in a RIS, this 13.5% luscious beauty slaps you like five flavor fingers to the face without all the strong alcohol overtones. Said to be a one time brew, I hope they change their minds. Motto, motto. 

www.threebrosbrew.com

Back Masking

This sick oatmeal stout is a liquid seance. It communicates it's rich and creamy chocolate signals in tongues and proceeds to the brain, triggering worship. Serve upon the altar while spinning Slayer: Hell Awaits, backwards. 

Kudos to the Mark Riddick artwork. 

www.threefloyds.com

Cask Cafe

Richmond Virginia's newest bar is open air style, with two huge opening garage doors for maximum weather enjoyment. It's a really excellent place to soak up the suds and rays. A stellar rotating tap list from the freshest local (unique one off firkins) to global heavyweights to obscurities, there's something for here for everyone. Be sure to enjoy one of the fine locally made sausages (www.sausagecraft.com) or even bring some home, as they are also a small market carrying great beer, wine, cheese and of course sausage. 

Cask Cafe 

206 S Robinson St

Richmond, Virginia

Schonramer Pils

I love finding new beer that I didn't know about! This German-style pilsner from Bavaria is delicious. My glass was empty before I knew it. Session able as hell, full bodied flavor with a super light finish. I'd anchor myself to the bar for an all dayer with this one. 

http://www.brauerei-schoenram.de

Naja: The Royal Cobra

This awesome stout brewed by Jackie O's in Athens Ohio had me singing songs of praise after my first sip. Brewed with Indian spices (cardamom,cinnamon,cayenne,star anise & palm sugar) and clocking in at 12%, this a balanced, savory beer that I wanted an endless supply to sip from all night. Well done!

www.jackieos.com

Rock N Roll Ribs

This is Nicko McBrain (drummer) of Iron Maidens' restaurant. Being a drummer and a huge Maiden fan, I was pumped to go here. I actually cranked Powerslave on the way there like I was going to a concert. Rock N Ribs is adorned with everything Maiden you could think of! The gold albums, signed drum
heads, guitars and Eddie statues. Besides all the great Maiden eye candy, the food is really good. The menu reads like a concert day sheet with Load In and Sound Check apps, Headliner mains and Encore desserts.  Ribs we're my choice and they were excellent! Fall off the bone awesome to be exact. A side of Powerslave Slaw, garlic bread, corn on the cob and a bottle of The Trooper beer, I was stuffed for under $20. If you love BBQ and Metal, this is the ultimate destination.
www.rocknrollribs.org

Wynwood Brewing

Liquid Art is how these guys referred to their beer. Located in the art district of Miami and just down the street from Panther Coffee, they fall right into supporting the local art based community. Spray paint can tap handles are a real nice touch and the beer line up is legit. With a great comfortable tasting room and friendy staff in the know, Wynwood is a place to visit. Pop's Porter is sessionable and solid.  www.wynwoodbrewing.com

Keys Fisheries

The Lobster Reuben. The sandwich of sandwiches. I was blown away on how well swiss cheese, sauerkraut, thousand island dressing and seedless rye bread  worked together with Lobster. On the dock (Marathon Key, FL) and off the main road, do yourself a favor and detour for the amazing sando. The also have a huge menu full of fresh fish and seafood. What a great this place is. 

www.keysfisheries.com

Stiegl-Radler

This totally amazing beer from Austria rivals Arnold's one liners with ease. 3.8% awesomeness at its refreshing finest. A combo of beer mixed with grapefruit soda that will hit the spot at anytime. This beer is a gateway for flavor. Find it, try it, love it.
www.stiegl.at