Desert beers (Terrapin Brewing Company)

Sometimes, in craft beer exploring, I just feel like trying something that is out of left field. Swirling and sipping different malt creations and combinations of hops can get taxing. I don't want really care if the proportion of hops are more mosaic or more cascade. These beers both hit our market at relatively the same time, and both are completely unique. When I posted pictures of each on Instagram, I had instant interest from trading people across the nation.

Please excuse the Michelob glass in the picture. I shared this with a friend at his lake house that is stocked with old glassware from our former employment at an AB wholesaler. Maggie's Blackberry Cobbler, is an imperial farmhouse ale with graham cracker and blackberry. The idea of a cobbler beer from the people that make wake and bake seems awesome but the choice of imperial farmhouse? That was completely lost on me. People asked me what I thought or how was it? I think it came out exactly as intended. Is there are larger production need for this beer? Probably not but I am grateful to occasionally enjoy the experimental labors of brewers like Terrapin. 

So you have made a peanut butter beer, and so have a few other people? Is it time to step up the little kid sandwich beer game? Absolutely. My opinion and answers to peoples questions about this beer is similar to that of the previous beer. The peanut butter flavor is familiar, tasting just like liquid bliss. The choice to use raspberry as the jelly was a brilliant brewing choice. It gives the finish a tartness that creates a fun complexity. I hope this beer pops up again when it is colder outside. I think the tart raspberry flavor actually helped make this dark beer more palatable for the summer season. Did I mention that both of these beers barely broke the $10 mark in the retail market? Keep it up Terrapin, and if all goes well I will be visiting for the hop harvest this fall. 

Spank (Smuttynose Brewing)

Happy 21st birthday to Smuttynose Brewery, from New Hampshire. This beer was a complete label buy. After read a little about the brewery, it's good they have a sense of humor. If you remember the setting of the good son with Macaulay Culkin, the shard cliffs of shear dreary rocks. That sounds exactly like where this brewery is in New England. In the 1870's Smuttynose island was even the setting for a gruesome double axe murder. I have to admit that my Smuttynose experience is limited to old brown dog, and finest kind IPA. I have been making efforts to try more of their beers, and this seemed like something there were proud of.

I have become more tolerate of Saisons as of recent. I try to stay away from the ones that seem very peppery. I have several that become almost undrinkable once the spice warms up. I grabbed this spank fresh and I am glad I did. The hops seemed very alive in this beer and showed up in the very beginning of the final act on my palette but faded cleanly. The malt in this beer was hearty yet light enough to allow the hops to shine. It has been over a month since I have drank this beer, but I believe the price point was fair at about $9 for the 22oz bottle. 

Lots of other interesting offerings have been popping up from Smuttlabs, including a brett beer. I will be tasting plenty more from these folks. You should check them out as well https://smuttynose.com/