Pre-gaming the Red Sox at Fenway - 8.19.10

Went to the Red Sox game at Fenway last Thursday (8.19.10) with a bunch of people from work and had a little pre-gaming festivities at my place. I thought it'd be a great opportunity to do a little tasting, some old and some new. I had gone to New Hampshire last year and stopped at a little brewery up in Conway..Tuckerman Brewing Company. Not a bad little place. Very small time brewers, but exceptional beers (the ones they let us sample at least). Brought some back and found a Headwall Alt laying around, just waiting to be drank!

4.75% abv..thick, foamy head, similar to a rootbeer float, faded into a nice lace.  slightly malty and hoppy aroma, beautifully dark pour.  Not an overwhelming presence, medium-bodied.  A mild, nutty, mixed bitter/sweet taste fading into a slightly hoppy finish, leaving hints of caramel/toffee.  very smooth and easily drinkable, my first Altbier, or German Brown Ale, definitely a nice beer for a cool evening!

Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout!

Already?  I'm on a drunken roll!  Sat down to watch the Pat's pre-season opener and had to enjoy a drink while doing so! Definitely wanted to try one of the Samuel Smith's and have only heard people talk about the Oatmeal Stout...so why not be a follower and just go with the flow!

Recent Additions and the Samuel Adams Brewery

Yes...it's hard to believe, I had never been to the Sam Adams Brewery until this past week.  I plan on making it a monthly pilgrimage!!  30 minutes of free beer?!  (yes, the tour's free, the beer's free, even a 7oz glass is free!  just an optional donation to local charities at the end) There's no thinking involved in that decision.  Simply amazing.
They give you the standard background of the ingredients of beer and what each does, tell you about the fermentation process, nothing fancy.  What's surprising is the size of the place...probably not much bigger than your standard CVS.  And this is one part of the largest American-owned American brewery???   I mean, yeah, there are 2 others (PA and OH), but you must imagine that the Boston one supplies at least most of Massachusetts.  Incredible.
After the quick tour, they bring you into a pub-style tasting room and give you almost free reign over pitchers of Sam Adams for 30 minutes.  We had Boston Lager, Summer Ale and the Boston Brick Red.

..so it begins

Well, it's been underway for 24 years now, but this form of documentation has just begun...
It's not an extension of some male ego, or done under the assumption that I think everyone in the world cares what I think or do or say, but as a way for me to share my adventures exploring the endless libations of this world, to get all my randoms thoughts in one place and maybe share a photograph or two..a snapshot of what's running through my head... as a 'permanent storage unit' for my memories and experiences.  If you're curious and/or enjoy it, please join me along the way...