What’s on tap 8.3.11

1. St. Louis Frambroise
2. Southerntier backburner
3. Kwak
4. Youngs chocolate stout
5. Lucifer
6. Mikkeller centennial
7. Fullers Honeydew
8. Maredsous Triple
9. Kostriker schwarzbier
10. St. Bernardus ABT 12
11. Scalds peche Mel
12. Reissdorf Kolsch

Just Tapped: Sixpoint Belgian Double IPA

Last night we tapped a Keg of Sixpoint‘s Belgian Double IPA at 10.2% abv.  This is apparently a really rare brew (only three reviews on beeradvocate.com).  This is a hyrbid style of a strong Belgian Style Ale and Double IPA.  This beer is hop forward as you would expect from a strong IPA, yet is extremely drinkable.  This beer was flowing last night, and we don’t expect it to stick around for long.  Get down to Burp Castle and have a taste…while you can.

Cheers,

Tom

Photo by Talkie21 Studios (via flickr)

Bigfoot is on Tap!

Bigfoot has once again been spotted, and this time it’s at Burp Castle. This once elusive beer has been around a little more readily in the past couple years, but this is our first Keg of the season. Bigfoot is a Barley-wine Style Ale.

For those who are not familiar with the barley-wine style…it is not a wine, but a very complex and strong ale. The style originated in England, and was a big robust and often fairly sweet beer. While the American Barley-Wine is a relative of its English counter part…the American version is made with substantially more hops, and resembles a Double IPA except with a stonger malt backbone.

Bigfoot is one of the strongest beers that Sierra Nevada brews at 9.6% abv. To quote the late famous beer writer Michael Jackson:

“…Bigfoot^® captures the imagination, and its character is as big as the name implies, with a huge hoppiness in its earthy aroma, a chewy palate, and a great depth of flavor.”

This year is the 25th anniversary of Sierra Nevada’s Bigfoot, and should be on tap for a while longer. Get on down to the Castle and try it while it’s available.

Cheers,

Tom

Duvel Green Draft was on Tap.

Yes, Duvel Green Draft is on tap at Burp Castle but don’t expect the Duvel you know from the bottle. Duvel Green Draft is the only version of Duvel that is kegged, and is a totally different beast. Michel Moortgat explains it best to BeerAdvocate.com:

We in the brewery have enjoyed for decades the fresh, light taste of the ‘single-fermented’ Duvel, and we have traditionally cold-filtered and bottled a small portion of this beer for sale, but only at the brewery and a few selected locations in Belgium. The beer was labeled with a green label, as the nickname ‘kleine’ Duvel (or ‘Green’ Duvel) was used to describe the beer taken at a young stage of the brewing process of Duvel.

When BeerAdvocate asks: “Is this Duvel Green on draft the same beer as the classic bottle conditioned Duvel?“ , and Moortgat responds:

Yes and No. Duvel and Duvel Green are both brewed in the same installations, using the same ingredients (water, two-row summer malts, Saaz and Styrian Golding Hops) but as explained Duvel undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle while Duvel Green is cold filtered and packaged in kegs.

Duvel Green is certainly not a new beer, yet clear differences do exist between classic Duvel and Duvel Green in bottle or in keg.

The ‘classic Duvel’ is a sophisticated, full-flavored and aromatic Belgian Golden Ale, with clean, refined, silky sweet dry taste, while a ‘Duvel Green’ on draft has a gentle hoppiness, soft carbonation, and a subtle, smooth dryness with hints of fruitiness. The beer is not refermented, but is does have young Duvel flavors emerging from the first fermentation.

Two separate beers, yet from the same family. Familiar taste characteristics, but clearly different.

Duvel Green weighs in at 6.8% ABV (compared to 8.5% of the bottled Duvel). Stop in soon and try it for yourself. For more on Duvel Green from Beeradvocate.com and Mr. Moortgat click here.

Cheers,

Tom

**Duvel Green kicked last night (11/12/08).  We will let you know when a new keg goes on.  I hope some of you Burp fans got to try it.

Coming Soon: Arcadia Coco Loco Triple Chocolate Stout

Tis the season for Chocolate Stouts, and we have a keg of Acadia’s Coco Loco that we will be tapping either tonight or tomorrow! Coco Loco is an American Chocolate Imperial Stout brewed in Battle Creek, Michigan. This stout is 7% ABV! Stop in and have a glass.

Beer Adventures in NYC

One of the best things about our rotating taps is the idiosyncratic ways that breweries get represented. For example, although my favorite beer in the world the Houblon Chouffe has officially kicked as of Wednesday, the La Chouffe Golden Ale (their flagship) was put on in it’s stead. If you loved the smooth golden but somewhat bitter brew, or if you thought it was a bit too floral or bitter for your palate, you should try the new Chouffe. It hides its prodigious 8% alcohol even better than the Houblon and has a delicate spice profile that makes it a perfect late autumn nectar. For a beer with the alcohol and craftsmanship, its a steal. If you come in on Sunday or Monday, I’ll be in my mischievous Chouffe hat.

Until next time,

Trevor

Coming Soon: Atwater Voodoo Vator Dopple Bock

Just in time for Halloween we will be tapping a keg of Atwater Block Brewing of Detroit’s Voodoo Vator Doppel Bock. Even for a doppel bock this one is strong at 9% abv. Here is a little bit about the beer from the people at Atwater Brewing:

This one is black and sweet! Its malty character is derived from two carmel malts along with Munich malt to create the smoothest high gravity beer this side of the “pond”.

This beer is not exclusively a Halloween Beer, and is guarunteed to keep you warm thru the cold days ahead.

This keg should be tapped tonight or tomorrow so stop in soon and grab a glass!

Just Tapped Last Night!

Last night we tapped a keg of Southern Tier‘s Harvest Ale!

Here is what Southern Tier has to say about it:

Harvest Ale is our celebration of the changing weather and the sowing of hops and barley that will be used in our upcoming brews. We usher in the fall with a classic English style Extra Special Bitter of the highest order. Deep ruby in color with an even deeper hop flavor… in fact, we throw fresh English hops into every brewing vessel, then dry hop after fermentation to impart a zesty kick. This beer has real hop character that mingles with fresh malted barley for an experience that will make you wish it were fall year ‘round.

Style wise it is a ESB (Extra Special Bitter), and it weighs in at 5.7% abv.

Come Check it out!