Go East Young Man?

New Belgium brewery announced today that they'll be expanding distribution to Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland by September of this year.  This is great news and hopefully before long they'll be making their way up to New Jersey.  Fat Tire has long been considered a gateway to craft beer for many people.  It's similar to Yuengling on the East Coast.  It's seen at most bars in Colorado.  East Coast craft beer fans aren't celebrating for Fat Tire though.  This will bring New Belgium's celebrated Lips of Faith series to the mid-Atlantic region as well as the highly sought after sour beer, La Folie.

Bell's Hopslam

What better way to start this off than with one of the most hyped beers in the country?  Both a bane and a boon to beer store owners around the country every January, Hopslam is a double IPA brewed by the amazing Bell's Brewery out of Kalamazoo, MI.  According to the label, this behemoth of a beer comes in at 10% ABV.  You'd never know it on your first sip.  This is a beer where the alcohol will hit you long after you've finished.  With a name like Hopslam, you'd think it would really just come out and punch you in the face with hops.  That isn't quite the case here.  The bit of honey you get out of Hopslam makes it quite drinkable.  I find it to be relatively well balanced compared to other double IPAs I've had in the past.  It's not a particularly piney IPA.  There is much more of a citrus flavor here.  Like their regular IPA, Two Hearted, Bell's has knocked it out of the park again with Hopslam.  I only wish that Hopslam was brewed year round like the aforementioned Two Hearted.  Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to figure out how I'm going to get more than the two other bottles I have in my refrigerator.

Welcome to Brew Geekery

This is something I've been meaning to start for some time now.  Yes, I am a self professed beer geek.  I've developed a big love of all things beer over the past few years, and if you're reading this right now I'd assume you have as well.  Basically, this blog is going to be my sounding board on all things beer.  There will be beer reviews, brewery/brewpub reviews, and beer bar reviews.  The beer reviews won't really be in the style of a Beer Advocate or Rate Beer review as there are already plenty of those around the internet.  They'll just be my basic thoughts about whatever I may be drinking.  I'm also diving into the world of homebrewing so this will also act as the blog of a beginner homebrewer.  I'm going to attempt to write something every day.  Hopefully everyone will enjoy the ride.