To my fellow lagers lovers: here's one to try...

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Providence, Feb 8, 2013.

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  1. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,181) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    “Jack's Abby certainly made pale lagers DIFFERENT by adding more hops. I really dig what they're doing by the way, I definitely enjoy their beers.”

    Good to hear! That is great input!!

    Cheers!!!!!!!!
     
  2. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,088) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Based on your quotation earlier, and from previous posts, I assume you dig hoppier lagers (like Jever)? If you haven't already, you should definitely check out Jack's Abby, they most certainly make some great beers. Ironically they still haven't made a pilsner. They're an all lager brewery with an extensive list of beers, so it is a bit surprising.
     
  3. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,181) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I would very much like to try Jack’s Abby American Pale Lager beers. You may already know this but in the BA American Pale Lager category, Hoponious Union is No. 1 and Jabby Brau is No. 2. I have not had a lot of beers that are of the American Pale Lager category but I did enjoy drinking:

    · Brotherly Suds (BS2) which is rated No. 16
    · Bell’s Quinannan Falls

    Cheers!

    P.S. I do not know much about Jack’s Abby but I am not too surprised that they don’t brew a Pilsner. It seems to me that they are trying to do ‘different’ things there and I applaud their efforts to march to the beat of a different drummer!
     
  4. lucas1801

    lucas1801 Initiate (0) Apr 5, 2012 Massachusetts

    Maibock Hurts Like Helles(Maibock/Helles Bock), Fire in the Ham(Rauchbier), Smoke and Dagger(Rauchbier), Saxonator(Doppelbock) and Copper Legend(Marzen) are there most traditional brews and are done to style. No Pilsner yet, but I wouldn't be surprised to see one at some point.
     
  5. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,181) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Thanks for that reply! As I mentioned in my prior post: “I do not know much about Jack’s Abby …”

    It appears that only Smoke and Dagger(Rauchbier) is the only year round beer of the five you listed, is that correct?

    Since you seemed very well informed about Jack’s Abby, has there been any discussion about them distributing outside of Massachusetts? It is very challenging to appreciate the beers from a brewery that is only distributed in its home state.

    Cheers!
     
  6. lucas1801

    lucas1801 Initiate (0) Apr 5, 2012 Massachusetts

    Smoke and Dagger is the only year round of those listed. They recently expanded the brewhouse by 80% by adding 2 80 BBL tanks and one more 40 BBL tank, which will help them make more specialty beers like the upcoming collaborations with Lawson's and DC Brau. At this time no plans to distribute out of state except maybe some draft to other NE states, they can hardly meet the demand here.
     
  7. BearsOnAcid

    BearsOnAcid Pooh-Bah (2,215) Mar 17, 2009 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Is Smoke and Dagger really a traditional Rauchbier? I'd call it more of a black lager/smoked porter hybrid.

    Lashes was delicious (released last fall). It might be my favorite beer from them. The Baltic Porter should be out soon too.
     
  8. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,181) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    It would appear that Jack’s Abby agrees with you:

    “Smoke & Dagger
    Cloaked in mystery, this dark black beer skirts the line between a schwarzbier and smoked porter. The use of a small percentage of traditional Beechwood smoked malt adds complexity and balances the liberal use of chocolate malt. Notes of roasted grains, beechwood smoke, and coffee accompany a full bodied-and sweet chocolately malt character. Smoke & Dagger uses locally grown unmalted barley from MA.
    OG 14.5 Plato / IBUs 25 / ABV 5.8%”

    I have to say that I salivated when I read this description! Jack’s Abby sounds like a very innovative brewery to me!!

    Cheers!
     
  9. commis

    commis Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2009 Massachusetts

    When I tell people about SnD, I generally call it a smoked Shwartzbier of sorts. It gets the point across.
    And I agree, Lashes might be my favorite. That or RIPLeffect.
    I'll add as well that I'm still buying Lashes and it's holding up miraculously. No that it hasn't faded a touch but it's really sturdy. I buy one on my way home from work 2-3 times a week. HU I find to make it five weeks before I start noticing any significant fade. Not sure when RIPL was released but it's really sturdy as well.
     
  10. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,181) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Wow! Lashes reads really tasty too!

    “Lashes
    This hopbock lager balances an assertive Munich Malt character with an infusion of Super Styrian, Columbus, Palisades and Centennial hops. It's full-bodied and malty with a hop aroma that’s earthy and piney. Definitely an enjoyable beer for New England's cold winter days.
    OG 17 / IBUs 50 / Alc. 7.2% by Vol.”

    That is an interesting combination of hops!!

    Cheers!
     
  11. Stormfield

    Stormfield Pundit (921) Feb 21, 2011 Massachusetts

    Drive up to Framingham some Saturday afternoon and check out the brewery. They sell bottles and growlers. They always have some interesting brewery-only releases too. They just had a BA doppelbock, but I'm not sure what they have right now. Tastings are free.
     
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  12. BearsOnAcid

    BearsOnAcid Pooh-Bah (2,215) Mar 17, 2009 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I agree Lashes can probably hold up for a bit. The nose on it is killer which is why I loved it so much. RIPL was probably made around September. I believe it says on the label.
     
  13. lucas1801

    lucas1801 Initiate (0) Apr 5, 2012 Massachusetts

    It should say on ther label, the bottles sold as singles say on the label and the 4 packs say on the carton.
     
  14. BearsOnAcid

    BearsOnAcid Pooh-Bah (2,215) Mar 17, 2009 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Which is one reason it's annoying that stores break up the 4-packs and sell bottles individually.
     
  15. Pegli

    Pegli Initiate (0) Aug 30, 2006 Rhode Island

    Smoke and Dagger is definitely not a traditional rauchbier and I wouldn't consider Copper Legend a world class traditional Marzen/Oktoberfest but that Jabby Brau sure did taste good after shoveling 5ft snowbanks all day !
     
  16. lucas1801

    lucas1801 Initiate (0) Apr 5, 2012 Massachusetts

    I agree with that but I haven't seen Hoponius, Jabby Brau or Smoke and Dagger in singles lately.
     
  17. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,181) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    “Smoke and Dagger is definitely not a traditional rauchbier and I wouldn't consider Copper Legend a world class traditional Marzen/Oktoberfest …” Please don’t confuse me with herrburgess; I love him like a brother but he and I have very different tastes in beers, he has what I term “exceptional taste” while I am very happy to drink tasty beers regardless of whether they are brewed in a “traditional” manner. That Smoke and Dagger sounds like a very, very tasty beer to me. I am 99.99% sure I would like it and the fact that it is not “traditional” makes no never mind to me!

    “ ..that Jabby Brau sure did taste good …” I gotta tell you but the more I read (and hear) about Jack’s Abby beers the more I think they are a tasty brewery. If I ever make it to Massachusetts I plan on drinking as many Jack’s Abby beers as I can get my hands on!!

    Cheers!

    P.S. I hope that your back is feeling OK after the shoveling. It sounds like New England got walloped by Nemo (why they are naming winter storms is a mystery to me!).
     
  18. Pegli

    Pegli Initiate (0) Aug 30, 2006 Rhode Island

    My tastes lean toward the expansive as well but I guess it says something that I going back to Jacks Abby. I'm drinking a Smoke and Dagger now and the description is spot on - Schwarzbier with a hint of rauchmalt...my favorite offering I've had (Jabby, Copper Legend, and Hoponius).

    P.S. It's hard to tell with the drifts but we got in the ballpark of 20"...nothing a few pulls of Wild Cherry Brandy can't fix (which compliments the smoky S&D nicely BTW). If they're going to name storms it should be more like Winter Storm Odin, Ivan Drago, or something IMO...
     
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  19. BearsOnAcid

    BearsOnAcid Pooh-Bah (2,215) Mar 17, 2009 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I think it's less common but was seen a lot when they first hit shelves. I found singles of HU at Social wine last night.
     
  20. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,181) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    “Schwarzbier with a hint of rauchmalt”, that’s just gotta be tasty!

    I recently homebrewed a Northern English Brown Ale which I augmented with 1 lb. of Weyermann Smoked Malt. Needless to say but this beer was no longer a “traditional” Northern English Brown Ale; my ‘answer’ to that is: so what!?! That Smoked Brown Ale was truly tasty! IMHO, that is what the appreciation of beer is all about: drinking tasty beer that you enjoy!

    Cheers!

    P.S. Scott, I used five exclamation marks, whatcha think about that!?! Oh, it is now seven exclamation marks.:wink:
     
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