Rogue, thou art glorious. It was a chance purchase that introduced me to the awesomeness of the Chatoe line of bombers crafted at Brewers on the Bay in Newport, Ore., northwest capital of beer, Rogue Nation. First impressions of the OREgasmic Ale: nice, delicious coppery looking color; has a pretty good-sized head; the scent gives…
Brewology—The Mad Science Behind the Pint
This is the first in a series of articles I’ll be doing on craft behind the finished product. Interested in the science, chemistry and crafting behind brewing? Then read on! Keep in mind, I’m no brewmaster; this is simply my own knowledge and experience, so if you have something to add or comment on, please…
The Belgian Invasion Begins
Well, it’s that tough time of year for dark beer lovers. The invasion of the white ales has begun. Those super-sweet, high ABV beers, usually just called Belgians, have begun to arrive at local breweries. The Professor Emeritus and I were hanging out at La Cumbre on Thursday afternoon when the first arrived. The Professor…
Marble’s Imperial Porter is a beast
A snowy hump day here in the Duke City — slow times at the job, overcast skies, and the world’s worst drivers all add up to the perfect recipe to use a sick day and watch Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes on Netflix Well, I didn’t get to do that, but it sure sounded…
Lazy afternoons at Il Vicino
Stopped by the Il Vicino Brewery Canteen with E-Rock, Shilling, and the Professor Emeritus of Beer on a quiet Monday afternoon. There is something about the Canteen that just lends itself to a slow-down-and-enjoy-a-pint kind of day. Located at 2381 Aztec Rd. NE, the Canteen sits just about a block north and then a block…
E-Rock’s Lab: SanTan Winter Brews in Chandler, AZ
I will not profess to have the most discriminating palate when it comes to craft beers, but what I lack in refined tastes I more than make up for in curiosity. And so it is that, when faced with a weekend in the Phoenix area, I passed at a chance to revisit the well-established Four…
Tractor Update: One Step Forward
Tractor Brewing got some good news at the Nob Hill Neighborhood Association meeting on Thursday night. The governing panel voted on whether or not to push through an amendment to the ordinance that prevents packaged liquor sales in Nob Hill, which keeps Tractor from selling growlers out of its taproom. In a show of support…
Beer Battle: The Stoutest Stout of All Is…
Marble’s Oatmeal Stout, or at least that was how we ended up voting after the first NM Dark Side Brew Crew Beer Battle. The battle took place during halftime of the Super Bowl (if anybody out there expected us to watch Madonna, then clearly something is amiss in your knowledge of the Crew). We brought…
Tractor: Back in Black
Black IPAs are rare creatures who only come out at night. Well, not really, but whenever a brewery manages to obtain the rare hops needed to make such a concoction, it is not merely the right but the duty of beer lovers to jump at the chance to indulge themselves. Tractor has cranked out its…
La Cumbre: American Torpedoes
Dinner: Until this past Saturday evening, I had not had a decent American ale since the bomber of Rogue some months ago. Enter La Cumbre’s Barley’s Wine! A glorious combination of hops and a multiplicity of flavors all harmonized together in a crisp finish. This is a beer lover’s beer. The abundance of alcohol, as…
DARK SIDE BREW CREW 