Small Batch Beer Company

What is one thing that makes attending a wedding even better? How about checking out a new brewery the same day! I am often times at fault for trying to cram too much into a single day, but this little visit with all of Mrs. Hacksaw's family was perfect. Small Batch Beer Company in downtown Winston Salem is about as small a batch as you can get to be a brewery. Take a look at the brewing system these guys use!

Beer Tasting: Green Flash Le Freak

Green Flash Le Freak Belgian Imperial IPA

9.2% ABV, 101 IBU

Enjoyed on 8.3.2014

I like to think of this beer as the nerdy kid who has a really hard time in high school. Then, when he gets to college, he learns to embrace his quirks, laugh at himself, and ends up rolling up to his high school reunion as the head of some multi-million dollar start-up company. In any case, this beer a prime example of when outside-the-box thinking has really paid off.

You Might Need A Beer Cave.

Hi I'm Lauren, the Mrs. Hacksaw half of things!

First there's something I should say, I really don't like beer.  I prefer a nice cider, a glass of wine, or a mixed drink with way too much sugar.  Oh but I do love this guy, my claim to fame in the "Lauren likes a beer world." However, one thing I do love is the creative aspect of being the wife of a brewer.  The beer names, the homemade labels, and the creative storage solutions that come with all of the crap supplies! I don't mean to scare any potential brewers off, it's great stuff, but where are you going to store a 24-quart stock pot and the rest of your essentials?

When we moved into our house we had this stunning closet...

I kid.  I mean seriously, how many jackets do you need, and how would you even hang them?  Before we moved in, I knew this would be much better used as a Beer Cave.

Learn to Brew - Part 1

Learn to Brew!

This is the first in a series of posts detailing how simple it really is to start brewing beer.  Tune in next week to get the schedule and procedure for your first brew day!

Part I:  The Tools

When I tell people that I brew my own beer, often I’m met with a look of disbelief.  Maybe some folks are impressed, but I usually get the impression that their first thought is “Really?  But you’re just a normal guy...” Truer words were never spoken (or thought).  I am just a normal guy, and there really is nothing special about me, or any other homebrewer, that gives us the unique talent to create our own delicious brews.  All it takes is a love of beer, a willingness to learn, and a few extra hours here and there.

My hope here is to convince anyone that if I can brew great beer, so can you!  This post will talk about the equipment you need to start out.  And really, it's not that much.  When I first started brewing I spent about $100 to get my equipment and my first set of ingredients.  Kits like these run about the same cost and come with everything you need except a pot, bottles, and caps.  Here, we’ll start by laying out the bare bones basics and throw in a few “extras” along the way.  (Note:  This post will talk about the requirements for extract brewing.  We’ll hit the upgrade to all-grain in a later post.)

Beer Tasting: Southern Tier 2XIPA

Southern Tier 2XIPA

8.2% ABV

Enjoyed 07.25.14

An after work invitation to the local Ogden tap house provided the inspiration for this delightful ale. While many other options were available I had not had this particular beer on draft before.

Homebrew Recipe: Sandy Toes Pale Ale

This delicious, summery, easy-to-drink Sandy Toes Pale Ale recipe was made in late spring with the goal of creating an easy drinking beer that could be enjoyed while sunning on the Wilmington beaches.  As evidences by the name, it did not disappoint!

Beer Tasting: Dogzilla Black IPA

Laughing Dog - Dogzilla Black IPA

6.8% ABV, 18.7 SRM, 69.3 IBU

Enjoyed 7.20.2014

My lovely wife came home with this one as a surprise after a particularly annoying week at work.  She’s a keeper, that one.

Recently I've noticed an uptick in the amount of black IPAs out there.  This style basically takes the dark, roasty malt character of a stout or porter and fuses it with the hop-centric flavors and aromas of an IPA. Dogzilla pours nice and dark, but not too thick, with a lovely cream-colored head, which recedes fairly quickly.  Immediately, you can detect the floral tones of the hops in the nose. There are not much of the coffee/chocolate aromas, but perhaps they are just muscled out by the hops. From the first sip, it’s clear that the crew at Laughing Dog nailed the balance on this beer.  It’s not too much of anything.  Nor do the dark malts and the hops clash in their battle for attention.  Rather, it starts out sweet and chocolately, gracefully fades to some floral hop flavors, and finally exits with just enough lingering bitterness to leave you craving another sip.  As it warmed, I noticed some dark berry type flavors shining through as well.

If you like stouts and IPAs, but are a little wary of the whole black IPA wave, I would highly recommend this one as a good starting point.  Unlike some others I’ve had, it doesn’t assault you with malt astringency and then hop bitterness.  Instead, the flavors get along like they were meant to be together.

--Jacob