Beer Review: Choc Brewing Spring IPA

The good thing about the craft beer world is if you are fairly new(or even an old pro) to it you aren't taking much of a gamble by mixing a 6 pack of beer. Most likely you'd lose more money by visiting http://pokergames.com online or playing street dice with Ray Ray at the corner. Craft beer is a safe bet.

At last count according to the Brewers Association we have a little over 2000 breweries in the United States and nowhere near enough time to be able to try all their beers. Due to distribution issues or even brewing capacity issues a lot of breweries beers most of us will never get to try.

That's where having friends in other states come in. They can ship you beer. It's pretty awesome. The husband of an old high school friend recently sent me some brew(Thanks Jamie!) We connected through her via Facebook because of our interest in beer. Gotta love Facebook!

They live in Oklahoma and he wanted me to try a beer from Choc Brewing called Spring IPA(which I can't find on their website) and sent me a couple of bottles. Obviously we can't get Choc Brewing here in New Orleans so I was excited about trying some! Below is my review but my advice is if you are in a state that carries Choc go pick some up!

Brewery: Choc Brewing

Beer: Spring IPA

Style: American IPA

ABV: 7.6%

Louisiana Availability: None

Appearance: The beer pours a nice cloudy orange with a nice white head. Lacing present.

Smell: Very nice. Aroma of grapefruit and pine along with a slight floral hint.

Taste: Crisp and clean beer. Nice grapefruit flavor with a nice bready maltiness. Very well balanced IPA. Not in your face like a lot of American IPAs are but still has a nice hop presence. Very approachable.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with medium carbonation.

Overall: Very solid brew from these guys. Very easy drinking IPA. Too bad it is seasonal and too bad we can't get it in New Orleans. This seems to be a theme.

Score: 4 out of 5 Buddhas

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Avenue Pub to Host La Chouffe Gnome Week June 6-9th

So how does one prepare for Gnome Week and the Worlds Smallest Toast?  By getting the smallest mug of course!  La Chouffe just sent me a Gnome Week Preparedness Kit.  I am now prepared!  Below are the details for Gnome Week courtesy Avenue Pub and some photos of the kit!  See ya there!

Gnome Week – June 6th thru 9th

• Wed. June 6th on the balcony – Houblon Chouffe, La Chouffe
• Thurs. June 7th on the Balcony 7pm – Biere de Soliel Nationwide Launch Chouffes summer seasonal: Amber coloured, fruity, hoppy, sparkling
• Fri. June 8th 5pm – Gnomegang release This delectable blonde ale is a co-creation of two famed farmstead breweries: Brewery Ommegang and Brasserie d’Achouffe. It employs five fine malts, two noble hops, and both of the distinctive Chouffe and Ommegang yeasts. You’ll enjoy the smooth drinkability, fruity aromas and flavors, and warming finish
• Sat. Jun 9th 6pm – Worlds Smallest Toast: Dress like a Gnome and get your first pour free plus $1 off all your Chouffe beers all night long! Gnome Hats,tshirts, key chains, free glassware!
• Gnome Thyself – Iphone App!

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Beer Review: Shiner Wild Hare Pale Ale

Last week I received an email from someone over at Shiner Brewing or their marketing people and they wanted to send me free beer. In the interest and integrity of this blog I respectfully declined. Pssh, yeah that's bullshit! You are DAMN skippy I want some free beer! This is my disclaimer. This was some free ass beer. Free beer always tastes better right?  Unless it's Bud Light Platinum of course.  On that note I did try and review the beer objectively. No seriously. Check it out.

 Brewery: Spoetzl Brewery

 Beer: Shiner Wild Hare Pale Ale Style: Pale Ale

 ABV: ???

 Louisiana Availability: I....think so? I gots mine for free in the mail.

 Appearance: The beer poured a nice copper color with a decent white head and nice lacing with very little head retention.

 Smell: Hints of orange peel, bread, brown sugar, grass.

 Taste: Very nice balance of hops and malts. Slight earthy, grassy bitterness with a nice fruity note. The beer is definitely on the maltier side. Less focus on the hops. Hops are present but the sweetness hides the hops.

 Mouthfeel: Medium body with medium carbonation.

 Overall: Not a great beer but a good, solid brew. Easy to drink and enjoyable. Tastes just as good in the bottle as it does in the glass so perfect for parties with no proper glassware.
 Score: 3.5 out of 5 Buddhas

 Cheers!

 The Beer Buddha

Green Flash Rollout Info

Three Day Roll Out at Avenue Pub

Tuesday June 18th

8pm Green Flash Trivia- with Green Flash questions and Green Flash giveaways on Tap: West Coast IPA Hop Head Red

Wednesday June 19th

7pm on tap: all of the drafts above plus: Founders Brewing and Green Flash collaboration Linchpin White IPA Double Stout Le Freak Saison Diego Belgian Trippel Bottle Pours: Rayon Vert

Friday June 21st

6pm All of drafts the above plus: Retro Extra Pale Ale Barleywine Imperial IPA Belgian Trippel Bottle Pours: Rayon Vert & St Feuillian Green Flash Collaboration Beire de L'Amite

Northshore Rollout

Barley Oak June 21st 7pm

The market in general will have the following beers and formats: Everyday Draft Items: West Coast IPA 1/6 Hop Head Red 1/6 Everyday Package Items: West Coast IPA 6/4/12 Hop Head Red 6/4/12 Double Stout 6/4/12 Rayon Vert 6/4/12 Imperial IPA 12/22oz Belgian Trippel 12/22oz Thanks to Polly for this information!!!

 Cheers!

 The Beer Buddha

WYES BEER WEEKEND KICKS OFF JUNE 1

New Orleans, LA - Friday, May 11, 2012 - If you find yourself with a hankering for beer – and lots of it – then
don’t miss a weekend of beer tasting with WYES. Join local and national beer companies and homebrewers for
two nights of beer sampling, beer talk, food, and entertainment.

On Friday, June 1, 2012 from 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. enjoy a relaxed evening of beer tasting during the WYES PRIVATE BEER SAMPLING. 

Julie Council’s Jubilee German Band will welcome guests to the Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots, 1751 Gentilly Blvd. in the Black Gold Room, 2nd Floor in the Derby Building.

Guests will enjoy 75 plus rare craft brewed beers, specially made cask and home brewed beers, as well as special one-off beers from local breweries. The majority of the beers sampled here, will not be at Saturday’s tasting, which include Abita’s barrel aged Abita Abbey Ale, Bayou Teche’s Cafe Brulot Biere Joi, Crescent City Homebrewers Pineapple Cilantro IPA, Lazy Magnolia Brewing Co.’s Southern Hops'Pitality, NOLA Brewing Company’s cask of Hurricane Saison, Saint Arnold Brewing Company’s cask of Elissa IPA, Tin Roof Brewing Co.’s Black Tin Coffee Porter, and many more! 

Since this event is limited to 250 guests, this is a perfect time to talk one-on-one with brewers, homebrewers, and other beer industry members. Tasting tickets are $50 which also includes food
provided by Zea Rotisserie & Grill, with snacks from Cabot Creamery, Jagerhaus German Restaurant, and Zapp’s Potato Chips. Tickets to Friday’s event can be purchased by calling (504) 486-5511 x 200 or by visiting Stein’s Market & Deli at 2207 Magazine Street.

When you hear the bagpipes from the Kilts of Many Colours you know it’s time for Louisiana’s oldest and largest beer event – WYES INTERNATIONAL BEER TASTING! 

For the 29th year in a row, attendees will enjoy a quarter-mile of beer sampling with over 275 beers! For the first time at this event, beer enthusiasts can purchase beer memorabilia from some of your favorite regional distributors. On Saturday’s event, be sure to get your MBA! Don’t miss the Master of Beer Appreciation classes, 15-minute seminars, on everything beer related from the art and science of home brewing to pairing your favorite beer and spirits with cheese. Enjoy performances by the New Orleans Ragtime & Dixieland Band while sampling tasty nibbles from Cabot Creamery, Cook Me
Somethin’ Mister, Cousins Products, Jagerhaus German Restaurant, and Zapp’s Potato Chips. Tickets are $30 to $35 in advance and $45 at the door. Purchase tickets online at wyes.org/beer through Ticketmaster; any Ticketmaster location; or with no processing fee by calling (504) 486-5511 x 200.

At both beer events – there is free parking, a raffle opportunity with a chance to win an enormous amount of beer, the 2012 WYES beer shirt designed by Lauren Thom of Fleurty Girl, beverages from Community Coffee and Kentwood Springs, and you must be 21 to attend.

For details on both beer events and to download the 2012 WYES beer brochure, which lists a majority of the
beers you will be sampling, visit wyes.org/beer. WYES encourages everyone to drink responsibly! United Cab
is the official taxi of the WYES beer events.

If you go look for me!  I will be at the Friday night event!

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha