Leaf Restaurant Cigar Bar & Lounge... I Can't Be Leaf It

Oh man! This place is really out of place..... and thank god it is... If you like good food, Cigars, and Beer you'll love Leaf Restaurant Cigar Bar& Lounge: Located in and industrial park and connected to "The World Famous Smoke Shop" Leaf has got to be one of the best places for a relaxing night out in the  Valley. If your lucky you'll be there when "Tommy D" and the boys roll in for an impromptu piano sing-a-long. "Try to stump 'em I dare you!  -Shorty    P.S. Lots-o-beer to talk about when I find the time.

I Can't Be Leaf it's Not Butter! Spray!

"I'm the king of hops! There is none Higher! Sucka craft beers should call me sire!"

Fresh and delicious!

Latest brew review: Boulder Brewing's Hoopla Pale Ale. This is not the "king of hops!" but it's one drinkable Pale Ale. This beer has a nice floral nose to it, perfect frothy head, and a beautiful amber color. It lacked the strong citrus notes that I have come to love about the super hopped IPA's. Clean finish, crisp and not real bitter. You could easily session this beer. So folks not alot to say about this one. That's all for now.. check the vids below for some viewing pleasure! -Shorty, aka "The Beer Gnome"

BEER SPECS:
Hops: Nugget, Glacier, Centennial
Grains: Pale Malt, CaraRed Malt, Melanoidin Malt, Chocolate Malt
IBU: 35
ABV: 5.7%

Listen and watch as the brewers from B&B create this delicious libation!

The inspiration for the title of this post.

Abita Jockamo IPA

I picked up this IPA the other day.... I have had some stuff from Abita before, Turbodog and Purple Haze at the request of a friend from Louisiana and I have never been terribly impressed. I guess because I am a IPA guy at heart. So I was happy to find hoppy gem the other day. This beer boasts the citrus flavors you want in a IPA but is mild enough to be very drinkable. An ABV of 6.5% makes this a decent session or everyday brew but it does not rate high on our over all list. If your just getting into  hoppy libations this is a good way to ease yourself in. Enjoy! -Shorty
 
http://www.abita.com/brews/jockamo.php

It's never to hot for hot wings....

Top Secret! SHHHH!

IPA WINGS! Delicioso!

Even though we have been experiencing 100 plus degree temps here in the northeast, I have been hard at work in the lab (kitchen) formulating some delicious wing sauces for the newly opened Black & Blue Bar/Restaurant in Easton PA. Not sure which ones will make the bill yet but you can believe they are going to be good. Here is a sneak peak at an IPA inspired sauce I  made with our beloved Lagunitas Hop Stoopid. I'm also working on something insanely hot utilizing some Habanero and the mystical Bhut Jolokia (Ghost Chili) powders I recently purchased from a great website. http://www.myspicesage.com/ Check them out. I'll have some beer reviews up soon plus a peek at the 6th annual TUBE -A- PALOOZA that took place yesterday on the Delaware river?

Black & Blue

Just home from Black & Blue... Founders IPA and Double Simcoe on tap.... Awesome... and KJ decided to make it Bikini night for the staff in honor or this ridiculous weather we have been experiencing. This place is good. You should go there! -Shorty

Which Brew has reopened!

The once great drinking emporium in Easton, PA has now reopened under the name Black and Blue. Belly up and sample one of the 13 draft brews or their extensive bottle list. I'm sure they'll have something to tickle your fancy. Check them out.... Black & Blue is located at 683 Walnut St.  Easton, PA Regular hours are set for: Tuesday through Thursday, 4 to 11 p.m., Friday, 4 p.m. to midnight and Saturday, noon to midnight. Call before you go.... 610- 438-3604 as they are currently working under restricted hours.    -Shorty

"It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you" -Rakim

We have been on hiatus for over a year now but we are back on the trial of the Grail, reviewing beers, food and the establishments where we consume them. Hope all has been we'll see you on the trail.  -Shorty

The 80's were epic!

"Once I was lost..."

Once I was lost but, now I've been found..... the hop man is back in town. Not much postin' going on lately but, plenty of drinkin'. -Shorty

FLASH ahhhah!... Blee Blay Bla Bla Blub Blah!

GREEN FLASH! West Coast IPA: Hands down this is the best beer we have had in a while. Friday night Started out slow.... Headed out later than usual. Bitter Bob, Bernard, myself (Shorty), and the most recent Grail seeker Alfie D'orah. Didn't think much was going to happen'... then I got punched in the face around 11pm by Green Flash's: West Coast IPA. Pearly Baker's Ale House in Easton, PA currently has this delectable delight on tap. From start to finish this beer is a Hoprod! High marks in all categories (still not sure what they are). Alfie says, " not 2 fruity, Bartender 2 fruity!" This beer hits hard in the beginning with pungent floral aromas. The first sip bites with a bitter grapefruit twang that will have your taste-buds wanting more and more, and well, maybe just one more. As happened to us this very evening. Generously hopped, amber in color, and skillfully carbonated this craft beer is definitely on the trail of the Grail. Also worth mentioning, the evenings musical entertainment local reggae masters: The Trouble City All-Stars.

Green Flash Brewing Vista, Ca
West Coast IPA
ABV 7%
IBU 95

Elysian Immortal IPA 4.22.10

Had a chance to sample this delicious treat Friday afternoon. The regular crew wasn't present but I feel compelled to review it anyway. After speaking with the bartender about the 19 or so draft selections... I decided on Elysian's Immortal IPA. Golden/amber in color with a nice full head of creamy foam, seemed I was in for an early afternoon treat. A nice floral aroma greats you as you take your first sip and then a punch of piny hops. Nicely carbonated and full bodied this beer will not disappoint you. The finish is bitter but not overly so... the bitter hangs in just the right places and lets you know you are drinking an IPA.

Elysian Brewing Seattle, Wa
Immortal IPA
ABV 6.3%
IBU 42

Terrapin's Hopsecutioner IPA

Shorty's on his own for this one... A buddy of mine (Mikey PP) gave me a call today...said he had a beer that I had to try. Not knowing what I was in for I marched right over to his house to see what it was all about. This beer is real good! Lots of floral aromatics here and I'm sure there would have been more had I had a chance to pour this beauty into a pint glass and let her breathe. Six different styles of hops present, Warrior, Chinook, Centennial, Simcoe, Amarillo, and Cascade. All of them blended together to give you a true hop experience from beginning to end. A slight hint of grapefruit and piny bitter finish. This beer has a nice strong carbonation that helps keep it bright clean and crisp. -Shorty

Terrapin Brewing Athens, GA
Hopsecutioner IPA
ABV 7.2%
IBU 78

Long Trail's brewmaster Series Double IPA

We were expecting to really enjoy this one... Many of this small Vermont Brewery's selections are tasty... their IPA, Double Bag, and Hibernator brews are all high on our "drink-ability" list. Unlike the other half of our fight card for this evening, This 22oz. only set us back $3.99. I really wanted to like this beer, but, to quote B.B. after taking his first sip... "you won't be buying a case of this." To bad too because at that price I would have been back there quick picking some up. If we had to choose a winner of the two... it would be this one. Much easier to drink and not nearly as bitter. Like the Moyland's this beer had no real bouquet to speak of. It did however, have the strange taste of melon? Cantaloupe, or Honey Dew we couldn't really put our finger on it. It was a little strange but if you like "melons" then maybe you'll dig it. We were expecting a more traditional style Double IPA clean and bright, well balanced, with maybe that punch of citrus hoppyness that is oh so delicious. No such luck this time. And so our quest continues.... one bottle or pint at a time. Thanks for reading... -Shorty
Long Trail Brewery Vermont
Brewmaster Series Double IPA
ABV 8.6%
IBU 100+

Friday's Fight Card 4.16.10

Tonight's contenders are: Moyland's Hopsickle Imperial Ale and Long Trail's Brewmaster Series Double IPA!

Moylan's "Hopsickle" What's in a name?

What's in a name? I'll tell you... nothing! I had high hopes for this brew. I figured with a a name like Hopsickle and a price tag of $11.99 for 22oz., and 9.2% ABV it had to be good right? Wrong. One of the only notables for this beer is it's carbonation, it has a silky feel to it, not overly carbonated. On the downside is everything else. No real aromatics to speak of, the label speaks of a triple hopped flavor, but we couldn't find it, just bitterness from beginning to end and no hop flavor. "It's the white rind of a grapefruit." -B.B.
Moylan's Brewery Novato, CA
Hopsickle Imperial Ale
ABV 9.2%
IBU ?

Boulder Brewing's Mojo Risin' Double IPA

One of the three exceptionally hoppy brews we found on tap at Porters Pub last Friday night. A true BIG beer coming in at staggering ABV of 10%, this Double IPA hits you strong with floral aromatics and a fruity clean crisp hop finish. Though it has a high ABV it's not overly sweet and it is surprisingly easy to consume. Thanks for reading and remember to always "Salt the candle" -Shorty
Boulder Brewing
Mojo Risin'Double IPA
ABV 10%
IBU ?

Stone's Sublimely Self-Righteous

This beer is as good as they come. If you can find this on tap, get it! ~Shorty
Stone Brewery
Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale
ABV 8.7%
IBU 90

While I find this web logging beneath me, Shortenfellow and Robert have convinced me to place my higher thoughts into this network. So without further ado, I will now write to the masses. It appears Shorty has adequately informed you of the heightened numerical levels associated therein. I tend to be drawn to brown ales, so the color first attracted my attention as I watched the goblet delivered to a table nearby. While I typically don't allow petty stimuli such as this to call me to action, I was in the company of more earthly beings. Before ordering, I hesitated as the name was quite pretentious. While I do believe in a quiet confidence, this liquid refreshment has the nerve to be Self Righteous; so smug. But then the word Sublime did tickle my fancy, meaning uplifting or even transcendent. So perhaps this beer transcends the need to be sanctimonious. I will try it. Upon receiving the chaliced beverage, I was very pleased by the aroma. I would have enjoyed these moments longer had my dear guests not bellowed "Drink it, pussy." While I am not swayed by their name-calling, I prefer to avoid the visual attention, so I consumed my first mouthful. With a subtle swish around the cheeks and a controlled gulp, I was delighted, but moreso, I was taken aback... my goodness, this brown ale has hops. What a well-balanced combination. It was quite complex with subtleties I can't quite identify. Perhaps I'll have another to ascertain. Conceivably, this beer tasting and blogging is more refined and challenging than I suspected. For now, as Shorty mentioned "It's good; drink it." ~Bernard Bäch

Clipper City's Loose Cannon Hop3

Above is a very scientific look into one really great beer. The elaborate notations and conclusions are a result of three of the most sophisticated palates in the business.
Clipper City Brewing
Loose Cannon Hop3 Ale
ABV 7.25%
IBU ?

First Night Out!

Three friends have embarked on a quest in search of the hoppiest beer ever created. Tonight we traveled 15 miles to the tiny beer mecca in Easton, PA known as Porters Pub. Though they are well revered for their extensive beer list, they usually fall short when it comes to the hoppy delights that we so fondly seek. This evening however, we were pleased to find three strong contenders on the tap list. Clipper City's Loose Cannon, Stone's Sublimely Self-Righteous, and Boulder Brewing's Mojo Risin'. Stay tuned for an in depth review of each of these selections and many more as our quest continues. Thanks for reading... Sincerely, Bernard Bäch, Bitter Bob & Shorty