Maybe it’s the fact that it’s just too “hipster”.  Maybe it’s the “chalice”.  Maybe it’s the “ritual” of the pour.  Whatever it is, I always avoid ordering this when I am out.  However, when you are offered a Stella at the home of a friend, and where the other choices are the BCM. (Bud, Coors, Miller), the choice is easy.

It’s crisp, clean and has a light flavor.  Yes it’s Belgium, but no it’s really just another light lager.  Grade wise probably a C+.  But, when you are with friends and family, it’s not always about the drink.

St. Joseph’s Abby in Spencer, MA released it’s first Trappist beer this week.  It is unique in the sense that is the first Trappist beer to be launched in the U.S.  I can’t wait to try it and report on it here.

This is the Boston Globe article:        http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/01/10/trappists-spencer-tap-monk-mystique-launching-brewery/FBgfeHbf5lr5NjOfP8Jd8J/story.html

Had a wonderful Birthday Dinner with some of my closest friends.  One such friend, Louis, treated me with a barrel of Jack’s Abby, Jabby Brau for the Kegorator.  The Brau on draught is a real treat.  It is a local Framingham, MA  beer brewed just up the street from me.  It is known as a session lager and has only 4.5% ABV which means you can sit back and enjoy the ride.  I think at times that I taste a German or Czech Pilsner, but also taste some hops in the beginning.  I like it a lot as did most of my guests.  Hopheads would certainly shoo, shoo this beer.  As an added bonus, my friend Jane, brought over a nice six bottle pack that I will look forward to enjoying soon. Happy Birthday to ME!!!!!

Oh, and if anyone is wondering, the other keg is the Cisco Whales Tale Pale Ale.  Gotta love Bob at Framingham liquors. He’s magical. You ask for a keg and a few days later, VOILA, it appears!

My good friend Lynne and I shared a nice dinner at the Chophouse last night.  As always, the service is excellent and the food is top notch.  Started with a tender sashimi app and the “firecracker” roll.  Yes, it’s a steakhouse, but the fish is a nice way to balance out the dinner.  I had a bone-in sirloin which was cooked a perfect medium rare, and Lynne had the surf and turf.

Anyway, now to the beer.  Why do they call the Offshore IPA on draught an IPA?  There was hardly any hoppy flavors, seemed much more like a lager to me. It was fine, but, who wants fine?  The Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale, pictured above is a typical farmhouse ale with a nice Belgium type flavor some cloud to the pour and some citrus.  Of course the 8.5% ABV makes it the last of the two beers that I had because I was driving home. All in all, I could have been drinking a Gansett because it’s not always about the beer and food but, about the friendships and conversations.

Here I am with my friend, Diego Escobar, owner of the Abraxas Lounge in South Beach, and a beer connoisseur.  He has more beer knowledge in his pinky than most of us have with years of study.  Unfortunately, on New Years Eve 2013/2014 the lease on Abraxas was up and Diego had to close one of the best beer bars around.  It was one of the only bars that served no food so people could still smoke cigarettes.  However, most people were gracious enough to go outside onto the porch.  The best part is that you could BYOF (bring your own food)  Great beer selection and knowledgable staff.  I forget what I was drinking in the photo, but I did have a great Widemer Brothers Imperial IPA.  Could taste some citrus and possibly some caramel.  Amber color and very little head. Overall a good B to B+.
Diego is now searching for a new location and when he finds it, I will let you all know.  Wherever he goes, it is a MUST go to beer bar.

So, when we were in Cordoba last summer, we came upon this cute little restaurant that served a local microbrew.  Of course I had to try all three at lunch. Pours a little cloudy with strong citrus flavors. Not bad for an 85 degree day walking around the city.

After a 12 hour pub crawl last year, we  just want to end the night with a slice of heaven.  We scouted this 24 hour place near our hotel only to find it closed….???

In 2013, one third of the way through the pub crawl, we came upon Houston Hall, 222 W. Houston,  NYC.  It is an old carriage house and the place is enormous, as was the Pretzel.  They serve local beers and I borrowed this quote from their website.

“Houston Hall ales and lagers are brewed by Greenpoint Beer Works, which was first established to produce all beer for Heartland Brewery. It has since branched out to make beer for Sixpoint, Southampton, Empire, Blue Point, Kelso, He’brew and even Rheingold.”

Our new favorite place in NYC. Looking forward to heading back on March 14th 2014.

Friday night went to Ward 8 for the first time. Grabbed two seats at the bar, which was full at 5:30.  Started out with a Maine Peeper Ale on draft which was tasty and perfect temperature.  Moved up a notch to Framingham Mass’s own Jack’s Abby Smoke and Dagger.  Usually, I am not a smoked beer type of guy, but this beer is one of my favorites. Just a hint of smoke and flavors of some coffee and chocolate.  After a dozen oysters (ice cold) and a dozen shrimp, finished the night on a light note with a Session Pils.  Great light  beer with a little body.  Can’t wait to go back. Neither the Bruins nor Celtics were in town and the place was jammed.  It’s a block from the TD Garden and I can’t even imagine what it will be like on game night.

The best 2 euros spent. Ever.