Our Tastes-- Luponic Distortion #1

Bottled 5/24/16, this one hung in there with me until I could give it a whirl. 001, is the first in their revolving experimental hop series and it lives up to the description. Great frothy citrus nose that gives way to citrus up front and resin on the back taste. I wonder if they will continue to use the heavy wheat malt base to allow the hops to come forward. Finishes clean and dry with a well balanced 5.9%abv. I'm not sure I've ever actually bought a Firestone Walker beer, but as long as friends keep buying it for me, I'm good. I'd have another...if it didn't come in 1 packs and wasn't out of production!

Brew Batch #77 (or AG #2) REINKE'S REVENGE 2016 AG

Last Saturday was momentous! Not only did we revive Reinke's Revenge, but I got to brew it all grain for the first time with Red at BlackStone Brewing Company. Of course the master brewer had to tweak my initial AG recipe but with 7 different grains and 46lbs of them, we knocked out roughly 10 gallons of this (almost) annual favorite. Hop subs were Perle (Pur-lay) and Willamette (Wu-LAM-ett) to yield a OG 22.2 P animal. Wee Nay Nay even knocked out this snazzy video to commemorate the event and those spiffy Tshirts;) The beer's namesake may plan a trip to the TapHouse early next year to draw a half pint with us. 

link: https://youtu.be/Q5lHnmQvFn4

TnDC Field Trip #24 Reinke's AG

Last past weekend I got to brew with Junk and Red and there was so much to post, I broke it down into separate entries. Junk and I traveled to Flying Saucer (Nashville) where we were known as the "Mid Duders" on the tab to have the new BlackStone HangTime Pale Ale. Great new brew from BS. HangTime has a lighter body and slightly sweeter maltiness than my "go-to" PA Sierra Nevada. It doesn't seem to have that slight harshness that SN has. At 5.3%, this one has become my new favorite in the pale ale category. Also tried my first Dark Horse beer. I watched the series this brewing company had on TV and just wanted to be able to say I had one of their beers. Crooked Tree IPA finished with a good dryness with it's 6.5%. Picked up a couple 2016 Election pint glasses while we were there. A quick stop by Cool Springs Brewery yielded a Pecker Wrecker IPA and Drunkin Pumpkin. That seasonal brew was awesome, more the "pie" than gourd type. And lest we not forget my first ever orphan bourbon experience supplied by Wee Nay Nay.

Brew Batch #75 42-A IPA

Kegged tonight so I can send some bombers home with Junk for Red(I hope)! Same wonderful hue I remember. You want a bomber, come have a pint! FG 1.012+0.002 @77F, to give 7.88%abv (1st one 7.43%). I love the yeast profile on this one. The 1275 Thames Valley rounds out the chewy Cascade dry hop well.

BlackStone Taproom Now Open

A long time in the making but BlackStone Brewing's taproom is finally open. This highlight flick showcases the 16 tap spread. All beers are BS core, seasonal, specialty with 2 nitro and a homebrew. Oh yeah, homebrew. Using a half barrel system Red & homebrewer sling out a Pro-"Amish", not Amish, batch at BlackStone caliber to the masses. Got wood? BlackStone does. Corsair barrels housed their Baltic Porter for a bit as the Belle Meade barrels currently house Black Belle. Tours on Saturday and Sunday (can't ask for Arto, he's off I'm sure;) Blackstone restaurant has closed but current hours are M-F 4-8, Sat 12-9 and Sunday 12-6 for the taproom. Raise a pint and thank Kent for slapping endosperm since 1994. (still working on video upload, try this link) Wee Nay Nay fixed the video for me so I"m reposting from July. (Review of TapHouse visit to follow)

Our Tastes-- Good Gourd

Good Gourd, is a fantastic Imperial pumpkin offering from Cigar City. I'm admittedly one of those "gobble up all things pumpkin" this time of year. Shipyard is a standard, Schlafly, BlackStone (of course), DFH Punkin (damn those hand made growlers!) This one pours an awesome deep amber with a sweet nose that explodes of Yankee Candle company pumpkin pie! The taste of the special spices is truly incredible. Made with Ceylon cinnamon, Jamaican all-spice, Zanzibar cloves and nutmeg; it gives me the feeling of having pumpkin brew on a Caribbean island as it warms with a hint of pirate rum and smooth vanilla. Part of the Alfalfa and "mole-vision" Babs Bootleg train, I only wish I had sprung for a growler!

Brew Batch #75 The GIPA

Kegged today and the swill is very promising. First impression is that I'd like a little more grapefruit. But we'll let Junk be the final word on whether or not it becomes a regular. FG 1.008+ 0.001 @74F, to yield a solid 7.5%.