Catamount and Guinness 250 - Fun In The Sun (with beer of course)

So yesterday in the first true great summer day we had a little brewing party. It was a blast. We made a nice farmhouse ale and enjoyed 8 hours in the sun. If you have ever read anything about brewing you will know that the first rule of brewing is “Relax, have a home brew”. So in keeping up with the traditions of beer brewing, we drank. And drank, and drank.

First we drank a home brew (we had a nice bock & saison on tap).

Next we had a combination of Star Island Single by Smuttynose (http://www.smuttynose.com/beers/full_time_beers/star_island_single.html) . This is labeled a Session ale brewed with spices. The beer was OK, but I don’t agree with their categorization. I would say it is a simple summer ale. Nice on a hot day, but not something I would probably buy again.

Third we enjoyed some more home brews.

Fourth came the recent Irish immigrant – the Guinness 250 (http://www2.guinness.com/en-IE/Pages/250.aspx?me=ctdw3c55r12xa0i5neq3wf55) . This beer was released in the US only 1 week ago in celebration of Guinness’s 250^th anniversary. I really liked it. It was not crazy spectacular, but it was good.

Fifth round we went for something more stiff. Great Divide’s (http://www.greatdivide.com) Espresso Oak Age Yeti. It is a keeper. Strong and powerful and definitely a sipper. It would pare nicely with a desert.

Sixth round we went back to homebrew. Yummy.

Seventh round we went for another special. It was the Double IPA from the LongTrail Brew master Series. (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/94/48780 ).

The eighth was really water first, and than more homebrew.

Ninth we had a Harpoon 100 Barrel Series – Catamount Maple Wheat. I know, I know. Because I am right there with you. Maple in a beer. But it was goooooooood. I realize I had a few brews in me, but I thought it was subtle but spectacular. We unintentionally did save the best for last. (http://www.harpoonbrewery.com/index.cfm?cdid=124616&pid=28516)