The New Brew Review

Profiles of some of this week's anticipated beer deliveries. A welcome to those who are new to our Bottle Blog. Every Monday through Friday, we blog about the world of beer, wine and spirits, along with related topics like food and travel. Please check back often, to stay up to date with Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge.

Ballast Point Sea Monster Imperial Stout

A beast of an Imperial Stout. Sea Monster Imperial Stout explores the darkest reaches of the traditional oatmeal stout. This bold, rich brew first lures you in with roasted coffee notes, then grabs hold with hints of bittersweet chocolate and currant. Backed with a perfect hop balance, you’ll soon discover this is one monster of mythic proportions. 10% ABV, 65 IBU's.

Fegley's Brew Works Blueberry Belch

Made With Real Blueberry Fruit. Each 15bbl batch is made using 150 pounds of 100% real fruit, and no added sweeteners or flavors.

Blueberry Belch is a fantastic summer session beer that pairs well with poultry and salads, as well as earthy cheeses like camembert and fontina. It goes great with the PA Dutch and German dishes at Fegley’s Brew Works in the Lehigh Valley, and it's a hit at brunch with egg dishes, pancakes, waffles and bacon.

With a definite aroma of blueberries, this slightly cloudy (unfiltered real fruit) ale has notes of blueberries that stand out on the initial taste with a pleasing acidity. The fruit flavor follows throughout combined with a satisfying breadiness, and its moderate carbonation brings back the great flavor again…and again…

Voted Best Summer Ale, Philadelphia Summer Ale Fest 2011. 4.2% ABV, 10 IBU's.


Also look for Fegley's Brew Works Space Monkey, a Saison/Farmhouse Ale brewed with real raspberries.

Dogfish Head Festina Peche

A refreshing neo-Berliner Weisse, Festina Peche is available in 4-packs and on draft during the sweaty months.

Sadly, there are only a few breweries left in Berlin still brewing the Berliner Weisse style, which is characterized by its intense tartness (some say sour). There were once over 70 breweries in Berlin alone making this beer!

In addition to fermentation with an ale yeast, Berliner Weisse is traditionally fermented with lactic cultures to produce its acidic (or green apple-like) character. Served as an apertif or summertime quencher, Festina is delicately hopped and has a pale straw color. To soften the intense sourness, Berliner Weisse is traditionally served with a dash of essence of woodruff or raspberry syrup.

In Festina Peche, since the natural peach sugars are eaten by the yeast, the fruit complexity is woven into both the aroma and the taste of the beer so there is no need to doctor it with woodruff or raspberry syrup. Just open and enjoy!

Lagunitas NightTime Ale

There are two kinds. There is the DayTime kind, which is bright and welcoming and then there is the NightTime kind, which should never be confused with the DayTime. NightTime is dark and deep and may take you to unexpected places, places that the DayTime cannot. But then, the NightTime is not suited for ordinary life and ordinary tasks. In fact, NightTime may be the answer for that sort of thing, meaning that those sorts of things may never get done. Things take time in the NightTime, things slow down and you can pause (you have to, actually) and investigate carefully to find that level of objective detachment that is only possible under the spell of the NightTime. Seek the Day, but fear not the Night. 8.6% ABV, 73 IBU's.

Left Hand Homefront IPA

It’s more American than apple pie, It’s an American IPA. Burnished copper color with a creamy white head. An aggressive aroma of pine followed by a nice citrus finish reminiscent of lemon curd and orange peel. Biscuit, honey, and grapefruit pith notes play ball on your tongue, followed by a memorable dry bitter finish.

Nearing the end of the beer’s fermentation, orange zest and maple bats are added to the tank. Louisville Slugger sends each participating brewery specially engraved bats to add to the aging process.

Originally developed in 2011 by Fremont Brewing Co. and Center of the Universe Brewing Co., Homefront IPA will be released by seven additional breweries this year: Left Hand Brewing Co., Cigar City, Perennial Artisan Ales, Sly Fox, St. Arnold’s, 21st Amendment, The Phoenix Ale Brewery, and Stone Brewing Co. All sales of Homefront IPA will go towards Operation Homefront, a national non-profit providing emergency assistance to military families and wounded warriors.

A good beer with a good cause.