Fat Heads Sorcerer

Cleveland and Pittsburgh . . . What a long colorful history these two cities have between them . . .

It would seem that we have a peace offering of sorts in our midst, Fat Heads Brewery and Saloon located in North Olmsted, Ohio. It was only a matter of time before Fat Heads Saloon in Pittsburgh's South Side decided that pouring the great beers of the world was no longer enough, and have begun to brew beer also!

Take a great brand like Fat Heads, pair it with a fantastic brewer like Matt Cole, and you have yourself a winning recipe!

The first offering available in the local Pittsburgh area, Fat Heads Sorcerer.

Fat Heads Sorcerer, 9% ABV:

The beer is described as a Belgian-styled Dark Ale. The color is brown with an amber hue. Nice, sturdy, bone white head that holds steady and laces very well. Ripe fruit and heavy malt in the nose. Upon entry, you are hit with big malt, ripe fruit, and hints of fig. The beer coats the mouth nicely, then dissipates ever so slowly . . . Yummmm. This beer cleans up well as it finishes . . . Leaving a wonderful, malty, Belgian Candy Sugar sweetness that pleases, does not offend, and begs you to take another swig. Heat? None found here. This beer is clean and soft, which is key when dealing with this style of beer.

After quaffing Sorcerer, I am only more curious of what Brewer Matt Cole has to offer us. If Sorcerer is any indication, we should be very excited about the future!

"Chill out man, have a beer!" -Fat Heads

Don't forget about the Second Annual Fat Head's Brewer's Ball from 6:00-9:00 this Friday, May 1, 2009 at the South Side's I.B.E.W. No. 5's Circuit Center. This event benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Ticket cost is $60 in advance and $65 at the door and includes craft brews, food, and entertainment. Sure to be a fun time had by all! Please come out and show support for this great cause.

Part of your reward for attending is an opportunity to try four new Fat Heads Brewery and Saloon beers; Goggle Fogger Hefeweizen, Head Hunter IPA, Bean Me Up Coffee Stout, and Pack a Wallop Pale Ale.

Blue Point Rastafar Rye

Blue Point Rastafar Rye, 7% ABV:

This beer is copper in color. Good malt in the nose . . . heavy bread with subtle hop and rye spice. Nice malt weight up front; creamy mouthfeel, flavors of caramel, the crust of bread, hints of brown sugar, subtle apple brandy, and spice. There are just enough hops present to balance this beer, and let the malt coat and work the inside of the mouth. This ale has a nice, semi-dry, spicy finish. Honestly, I'm not sure that I have had a rye ale that serves up and features the rye the way that this beer does . . . It's all about the rye in this beer. At 7% ABV, this beer comes off malty, and frankly, that's exactly what I like about this beer. It's not overly-hopped and hiding the rye, like many other rye ales that I have tried. Rather, it stages some of the great qualities that rye has to offer; subtle apple brandy notes, and a spicy, dry characteristic to the finish. This beer succeeds in exactly what it sets out to do; take the great qualities of rye addition to the mash, and throw them in your face. You want some rye? I got your rye . . .

Southampton Biere de Garde

So, what is biere de garde? That's a discussion that could take quite some time. In a nut shell, biere de garde (beer da gart) means beer for preserving or storing. A biere de garde is a French Farmhouse style with a long, debatable history. Southampton Biere de Garde is a tribute to this classic style.

Southampton Biere de Garde, 7.2% ABV:

Appearance is beautiful . . . Light amber in color. Stylistically correct spritzy carbonation. Delicate malt, ripe fruit, spice, and hints of apple in the nose. Medium bodied with nice malt and ripe fruit upfront that leads way to earthy spiciness. Finishes semi dry and clean with underlying apple flavor and hints of lemon. Coats the mouth with a nice malty slick that sticks around for quite some time. The coating left on your mouth is reminiscent of a high quality, lightly sweetened iced black tea . . . Very pleasing, very pleasant. I love the subtle apple flavor and spice that hangs out for minutes as the beer finishes.

Southampton Biere de Garde: Yet another outstanding beer from the boys at Southampton!! I challenge you to find another American brewer that brews a biere de garde that comes this close to this classic style. As a matter of fact, scratch that. Trust me on this one. Don't waste your time. There is not much room at the same table where Southampton Biere de Garde sits. Don't believe me? Then do some research. And while you're at it, find a bottle of Southampton Biere de Garde, buy Phil Markowski's book, "Farmhouse Ales; Culture and Craftsmanship in the Belgian Tradition," and prepare to digest the one literally and the other figuratively. . . . Now, doesn't that just taste and feel good? I know it does.

Like food with your beer? Roasted duck or pork, duck or pork confit, ostrich, game birds, and pasta with cream sauce are just a few things that will pair great with Southampton Biere de Garde.

Moylan's Hopsickle Imperial Ale

Friday happy hour found me with a Moylan's Hopsickle Imperial Ale in my hand. The label calls it "Triple Hoppy". So what exactly is a Triple Hoppy Ale?

Moylan's Hopsickle Imperial Ale, >100 IBUs, 9.2% ABV:
The color is copper. Pungent citrus, pine, and herb hop in the nose with a hefty malt background. The malt is present, but outweighed greatly by the hop vapor being released in this beast. Big malt upfront that is quickly replaced by citrus, pine, and herby resinousness. This beer is extremely bitter! Moylan's calls it a Triple Hoppy Ale, and they ain't lying!! This beer has the weight of a Double IPA, and the hops of a Triple IPA . . . Uhhhh, nevermind . . . That's just stupid . . . Of course, there's no such thing as a Triple IPA . . . sorry, Founders Devil Dancer and Dogfish 120. This Hopsickle Ale is a hop assertive Double IPA with the stress on the hops! As previously stated, Moylan's is not lying when they call Hopsickle a Triple Hoppy Ale. Call yourself a hophead? If so, you will be elated! If you're like me, a hopheadless, beer-loving fool that appreciates hops . . . you will find Hopsickle to be a hoppy Double IPA. If you don't like hops, don't even smell this beer. Stay far away. It's not for the faint of heart.

10 minutes after leaving the bar . . . hops still in affect.

This beer is extremely rare to find on draft in the Pittsburgh area. As stated, Hopsickle has the weight of a Double IPA, but is not nearly as malty sweet as a Double IPA. Hopsickle on draft is quite a treat.

Who's pouring this wonderful beer on draft locally?

Harris Grill
Rivertowne Inn
Smokin Joe's Saloon
Fat Heads Saloon
D's 6 Pax & Dogz
Carl's Tavern (3386 William Penn Hwy., Monroeville)
Bocktown Beer
Mad Mex-Cranberry
Mad Mex-Robinson