Thanks to my friend Chris P., we had his last two cans of The Heady Topper.  I have to tell you, it’s really funny what you smell when you open the can….GRASS!  Yes, it is like when you eat a steak where the cow was grass fed and you taste the grass, here you can smell grass.  As instructed, we drank from the can.  The hops were outstanding and tasted malty at first.  On second sip, the hops faded and it became a smooth balanced aromatic beer.  As the beer warmed towards room temperature, the hopiness returned.  It then turned into an almost “rustic” type of beer.  All in all, I don’t know whether this is the greatest of all time, but it clearly is up there.

Had the Offshore IPA on draft at Barcelona Tapas to go along with the heavier Chorizo, Octopus and Figs.  Great way to accompany them.  A medium bodied IPA, not too hoppy, but an initial harsh tongue, but then it settles in and produces a very nice flavor. I would recommend this for someone who likes some flavor but not too much by way of hops.

Spent a snowy afternoon with my friend Bobby having some tapas and beer at  Barcelona Tapas on Beacon Street in Brookline.  The Stoudt’s Gold Lager was a great way to start.  A Munich style Helles Beer that was crisp and aromatic.  It was styled after the “light” in color beers of Munich.  This went well with the Kale salad and the Beet salads that we started with before the tapas.  It was certainly too light and fruitful for the heavier chorizo, octopus and figs.  But as a great session beer with some light foods or just to quench your thirst, it can’t be beat. This is a beer that I will get this summer to keep in the fridge.

Just an FYI,  Stoudt’s Brewery offers retail sales, tasting and I believe a restaurant in Adamstown, PA.

Went to Stoddard’s in Boston with some friends after a meeting. I am not a big wheat guy, but I am a big Troeg’s guy, (Thanks in part to my NJ friend,Gary).  This was a very flavorful wheat.  The draft was poured nicely by the bartender. Draft of course .  very fruitful with several different flavors. Low ABV which is nice when you want to mix it up a little when there are about 15 taps . All in all a very tasty wheat, even though I would only have one.

What can I say.  From the first sip until the last it is truly FANTASTIC!!!  This is not your typical Belgium. It has a nice carbonation and a very subtle flavor. I think I tasted banana.  It was a great dinner companion to a perfectly cooked swordfish chop. Pouring it into the glass it seemed almost unfiltered with a nice one inch head. Some might say this is like a light saison. At $16.97 a four pack at Wegman’s, I won’t jump to put it in my regular session rotation, but I will be happy to share an occasional bottle or 4 with my friends