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| Doing the "Ale Pose," my homies Hamp Covington and Dan Rosen won the judges' top pick for their GANGSTER Tennessee Whiskey Barrel-Aged MAZURT Russian Imperial Stout. |
Meet the winners and entire list of casks including their descriptions!
Whaddup Everyone!
Since posting the seemingly countless events involving
beer for the first month of 2015 here, one of the standouts was undoubtedly
last Saturday’s 11th Annual Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting put on
by one of Georgia’s top reasons we are kicking ass regarding craft beer, Brewtopia’s
Owen Ogletree.
Taking place at both the T.MAC-Prado
and 5 Seasons Brewery in Sandy Springs, I had the honor of judging with
a group of distinguished, certified aficionados including my assigned partner and good friend Phil Farrell (voted the nation’s Beerdrinker of the Year in
2011). About 20 of us met at the Chapter Room at 8 a.m. to rank about 40
overall impressive submissions by existing and emerging breweries from the
U.S. and U.K.
Some of the cool things about cask ales include…
- how there will never be one of the same due to
how the brew is still "alive" to the very last drop thanks mostly to the yeast and flavors still developing
- the taste enhancers the majority of
contestants inventively add including cocoa nibs, vanilla beans, maple syrup,
peppers, etc.
- the alteration of carbonation and texture (smoother,
often less effervescence)
- and being unfiltered, which also affects the mouthfeel, appearance and sometimes flavor compared to what is sold commercially.
Basically, these are 40-plus “one and dones”
created by some of the most acclaimed brewers in the world. We are talking local beer slingers such as Monday
Night (who was also the chief sponsor along with All About Beer Magazine), SweetWater, Wild Heaven, Second Self, Wrecking Bar, Max Lager's, Red Brick, Burnt Hickory, Red Brick, Three Taverns, Terrapin, Athens, Georgia’s
Creature Comforts, to New
Belgium, Oskar Blues, Heavy Seas, Green Flash and even
Old Speckled Hen across the pond to name just a FEW!
Anyway, after taking a break around noon, the
judges got some grub and chilled out for a bit before coming back to join the
public from 3 to 6 p.m. and collectively get our sip on! (I kicked it with Catch
22’s Richard Miley and his fiancé Corey at 5 Seasons Westside, Cypress Street Pint & Plate, and World Of Beer ).
Before I list the winners (but no losers
overall) and all entries, I especially want to thank those folks who pulled me
aside to show love for this website and recognition for the hard work I have
been putting in. That means a lot!
Okay, and now for the winners. Below lists not
only the first, second, and third place winners in different categories
including Classic Style (straight up), Specialty (pimped out with
various additions), and U.K. submissions voted by the judges, but also
the People’s Choice. Major dap goes to the aforementioned Mazurt, plus Creature Comforts, Old Speckled Hen and Cherry Street for earning top honors! As a bonus, I have all of the incredible submissions complete with detailed, mouth-watering descriptions to further illustrate how extraordinary this event was. (Besides my photos included in
this post, check out my Instagram (@realalesharpton) and Twitter (@alesharpton)
for some play-by-play action.)
Now here we go regarding who took home medals
and hella bragging rights:
The Winners
Classic Style
First Place - Creature Comforts Dayspring Grisette
Second Place - Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye
Third Place - Oskar Blues Pinner Throwback IPA
Specialty
First Place - Tennessee Whisky Barrel-Aged Mazurt Russian Imperial Stout
(RIS)
Second Place - Monday Night 3 A.M. & Single
Third Place - Red Brick Cinnanilla Imperial Stout
United Kingdom Beer
First Place - Old Speckled Hen
Second Place - Ilkley Mary Jane IPA
Third Place - Old Golden Hen
People's Choice
Cherry Street O.A.S.I.S. (Old As Sh** Imperial Stout)
Congrats!!!!
The entire list
of entries plus descriptions…
01 - 5
Seasons Booze Hound English-style
ale was aged three months in a Heaven Hill Elijah Craig barrel before its
secondary fermentation in the cask. A delicate malt character complements notes
of vanilla, oak and a warm, bourbon finish.
02 -
Beavertown Black Betty Black IPA (UK
- 7.4% ABV). Our concept revolved around the old chewy sweets "Black Jacks
& Fruit Salads." We wanted a big IPA, laced with slight roasted malts
and aniseed, blended with tropical aromas of Pacific West Coast hops.
03 -
Boulder Slope-Style Winter IPA is
a full-bodied red ale with a big, piney hop kicker at the finish. With a
perfect blend of five malts and a blast of Nugget, Crystal and Horizon hops,
this cask is a cold weather IPA that's off the rails! ABV: 6.4%, IBUs: 60.
04 -
Brooklyn Dry Irish Stout. A
blend of dark roasted, pale and flaked malts produce rich coffee and chocolate
flavors followed by a clean, dry finish. This cask version weighs in at a
sessionable 4.7% ABV.
05 -
Burnt Hickory Mother of Mercy is
a variant of our Eerie Von XXX Spiced Apple Ale - a brown, 8% ABV ale with
apples and apple pie spices infused with vanilla. It's an evil "apple pie
à la mode."
06 -
CHAMRA (Cool Hipsters AdMire Real Ale) Mild - A traditional English-style dark
mild ale with toasty, elegant malt flavors and a clean, subtle finish. 3.5% ABV
with no vanilla, no coffee, no chili peppers, no whisky barrel and no mint.
07 -
Copper Creek Deez Wee Cranberry Nuts - A 9% ABV wee heavy aged on toasted pecans and
cranberries. Made from the first runnings of the brewpub's malty Scottish ale.
08 -
Creature Comforts DaySpring -
A traditional Grisette brewed with locally-sourced wheat and a highly aromatic
strain of Brettanomyces yeast. A bright, barnyardy aroma
precedes light citrus/fruit flavors and a bone-dry finish in this saison-like
golden ale with a light body and 4.8% ABV.
09 -
Green Flash Serrano Chili Double Stout with cinnamon and cocoa nibs - A spicy twist on our
classic Double Stout, with notes of cinnamon and chocolate melding with a bold,
roasty character, finishing with a subtle, spicy chili kick.
10 -
Harviestoun Old Engine Oil (UK
- 6% ABV) is a remarkably smooth, creamy, 6% ABV porter with a beautiful,
velvety mouthfeel. Enjoy flavors of coffee, slightly buttered toffee, roasted
malt, dark chocolate, earthy hops and a mild cherry ester.
11 -
Heavy Seas Cross Bones Session IPA.
A crisp, refreshing, 4.5% ABV hoppy ale bursting with floral and citrus notes
backed by a satisfying, malty backbone. This cask contains additional hops and
a dose of applewood.
12 - Left
Hand 400 Pound Monkey. Any
monkey can dump 400 pounds of hops into a kettle and call it an IPA, but it
takes control and restraint to make a graceful English IPA. Enjoy this special
cask that's dry-hopped with four ounces of Boadicea.
13 - Moon
River Depravity or Divinity Abbey-style Dubbel with fresh ginger and cranberries in
the cask. "Dubbel D" is an 8.3% ABV, malty-sweet brew with hints of
raisin and plum from dark candi syrup and spicy yeast esters. Will it bring you
closer to Depravity or Divinity?
14 -
O'Dempsey's Your Black Heart Russian Imperial Stout. With an upfront deep roasted flavor,
countered by the smooth, sweet taste of chocolate, this 90 IBU, 9% ABV cask
packs flavors augmented by additions of Madagascar vanilla beans and cocoa
nibs.
15 - Old
Golden Hen (UK -
4.1% ABV). This quaffable English golden ale is made with the finest pale malts
and Galaxy hops. Look for subtle tropical fruit notes and a deliciously smooth
finish.
16 - Old
Speckled Hen (UK
- 4.5% ABV). A classic English bitter with a rich, amber color and graceful
fruity aromas accentuated by gorgeous toffee malt complexity and a refreshingly
dry finish.
17 -
Oskar Blues Pinner Throwback IPA.
Pale malts, aromatic and carapils are thrown together to create the backdrop
for a blend of nine different hops. Tropical citrus and sweet fruits lace the
aroma and flavor, while toasted bread notes emerge in the finish. 4.9% ABV.
18 - Rahr
& Sons Snowmageddon Imperial Oatmeal Stout is named to commemorate the collapse
of our brewery's roof in 2010, due to heavy snowfall. In this cask, we've infused
fresh, organic mint and roasted cocoa nibs to create
"SnowMintCocoageddon."
19 - Red
Brick Cinnanilla Imperial Stout.
The base beer is our newest Brick Mason release - an imperial stout based on
our 20th anniversary recipe. Its big notes of dark chocolate and espresso beans
are complemented by subtle additions of vanilla and cinnamon.
20 -
Service Brewing Wheat Wine shows
off a deep amber color with an aroma of apple, raisin and honey. With assertive
notes of sweet malt, followed by light hints of spice and fruit, this potent
brew ends with a complex, warming finish.
21 -
Thomas Creek Coffee Oatmeal Stout with blueberries and maple syrup is an 8% ABV, creamy black
ale with a dark roasted flavor and delectable coffee aroma. Additions of fresh
blueberries and pure maple syrup add an interesting allure.
22 -
Three Taverns Dubbel Shot is
an 8% ABV oatmeal coffee Belgian-style dubbel with an addition in the cask of
bourbon-infused coffee nibs, cocoa nibs and vanilla beans.
23 - TN
Whiskey Barrel-Aged MAZURT RIS.
In the hills of Tennessee, whiskey is king. A fast car, Daisy Mae and a gallon
of hooch. Our Russian imperial stout is brewed with deep roasted Kenyan coffee,
Vermont grade-B maple syrup, Madagascar vanilla, organic Peruvian cocoa nibs
and GA wildflower honey. This MAZURT RIS version was recklessly aged in a TN
whiskey barrel. 13.6% ABV.
24 -
Twain's Nelson Blaster Oatmeal India Red. Boom! Get blasted with New Zealand Nelson Sauvin hops in
this 6.3% ABV, wildly dry-hopped ale that'll rock your face! Brewed with
Columbus, Citra and Chinook, then dry-hopped in the firkin with Nelson Sauvin.
25 - Wild
Heaven Invocation Belgian-style
strong golden ale with cranberries, ginger and cinnamon. Belgian aromatic malts
provide hints of dried fruit, while added cranberries and spices amp-up the
complexity. 8.5% ABV.
26 -
Abita Vanilla Oatmeal Stout is
a cask version of Naughty Quaker aged with Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans.
Expect pronounced flavors and aromas of vanilla and dark malts. 6.5% ABV, 35
IBUs.
27 -
Cherry Street O.A.S.I.S. (Old As Sh** Imperial Stout). The 40th birthday beer made for our
over-the-hill brewer Chris, this 10.1% ABV imperial stout is infused with cocoa
nibs and vanilla beans soaked in Sarsaparilla whiskey.
28 - Dark
Star Revelation (UK
- 5.7% ABV). Pale ale with Chico ale yeast and Warrior, Cascade, Columbus,
Crystal and Chinook by the sack full - then dry-hopped using our 'Hoptimizer'
industrial-sized hookah. Expect plenty of tangerine, citrus and tropical fruit
flavors.
29 - Eagle
Creek What Time is it? Peanut Butter & Jelly Time! We started with our roasty, dry Irish
stout and crammed it full of honey-roasted peanuts and fresh local
strawberries. It's a very light-bodied beer with flavors that remind you of
being a kid.
30 - Hobson's
Manor Ale (UK -
5.5% ABV) - Brewed to celebrate England's Severn Valley Railway Manor Class
steam engines, this amber ale offers aromas and flavors that reflect fresh
grains, hops and biscuit crust.
31 -
Ilkley Mary Jane IPA (UK
- 6.0% ABV) is a trans-Atlantic India Pale Ale that relies on English hops for
bittering and North American hops for a floral aroma. Based on an award-winning
Yorkshire ale, this version boasts notes of honey and a pleasant, lingering
bitterness.
32 -
Ilkley Mayan Chocolate Chipotle Stout (UK - 6.5% ABV). They may not have gotten all their
predictions right, but they knew how to brew great beer! Inspired by an ancient
Mayan recipe, this extraordinary stout is velvety smooth, bittersweet, and has
a subtle, smoky fire in its belly.
33 -
JailHouse Slammin' Melons. A
voluptuous handful of juicy Huell Melon hops went into this cask of our popular
Slammer Wheat. Look for cantaloupe and honeydew aromas backed by a base of
pilsner and wheat malts. 5% ABV.
34 -
Jekyll Hop Dang Diggity IPA double
dry-hopped on cedar. After sitting on dry-hops for several days, this bad boy
went straight from the fermenter into the cask, where we added a second dose of
dry-hops, along with aromatic cedar chips.
35 - Max
Lager's Mystery Cask -
A blend of Scotch ale, Rye Doppelbock and Imperial Stout primed with a krausen
of Hopsplosion. This beer sat in the cask with toasted oak for two years,
proving that the brewer sometimes forgets he made a cask!
36 -
Monday Night 3 A.M. & Single is
a cask version of Eye Patch 6.2% IPA aged on coffee, vanilla and dark Godiva
chocolate. This bold-flavored cask screams, "I just broke up with my
cheating boyfriend, so I'm gonna eat whatever I want - straight from the
carton!"
37 -
Mother Earth IPA -
Light copper in color, with an intense hop aroma and bitterness from our
hopback that allows fresh hop cones to take this IPA to unexpected places. This
special cask includes a dose of a hybrid strain of Cascade and Chinook whole flower
hops grown on our own estate.
38 - New
Belgium Portage Porter dry-hopped
with US Goldings. A 6.3% ABV dark ale with notes of coffee, chocolate, toast,
hops and smoked almonds. An upfront sweetness and slight, roasty bitterness
give way to a creamy, dry finish.
39 - Red
Hare Rumple-Sticky-Stouts-Kin is
our Oatmeal Sticky Stout with a kick of dark chocolate and one other special,
boozy ingredient. Can you guess its name?
40 -
Second Self JunIPA is
an IPA inspired by gin. Brewed with Amarillo, Centennial and Ahtanum hops plus
juniper berries, the beer is then dosed with juniper and rosemary - producing
flavors similar to a citrusy gin.
41 -
Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye.
Rye's black pepper-like flavor has been prized by distillers and brewers for
centuries, and this character comes to life in Ruthless - a rugged IPA with
fruity, citrusy and herbal hops countered by dry, rye spiciness.
42 -
Southbound The Reaper is
a fruity, spicy, warming Belgian style quad with toasted coconut, toffee and
coco nibs. 9.6% ABV.
43 -
Starr Hill Belgian-Style Tripel with
red wine-soaked oak chips offers aromas of fruit, spice, pepper, coriander and
wood followed by sweet and spicy palate notes highlighted by earthy hints,
tannins, mild hop bitterness and alcohol warmth. 9.5% ABV.
44 -
SweetWater Chicks Dig It. IPA dry-hopped with Nelson Sauvin and
Simcoe hash, with a generous amount of fresh raspberries and a hint of mint.
45 -
Terrapin Wake 'N' Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout. This delicious cask is infused with
vanilla beans, four pounds of raspberries, and primed with grade-B maple syrup.
9.4% ABV.
46
- Wrecking Bar Oatmeal Cookie Porter - A traditional brown porter brewed with flaked oats for
added smoothness, and infused with rum-soaked dark raisins, Indonesian cinnamon
bark and a touch of vanilla to emulate a freshly baked oatmeal raisin cookie.
47 - Yes
Face Brass Monkey Nuts.
A 4.0% ABV, English-style session brown ale meets Georgia's state bean -- the
peanut. The result is nuts!
And again,
there were no losers in this joint so a congratulations to everyone! Just like the last ten ACATs, we all had a blast! Don’t miss
2016’s!
Cheers!
Your homey,
Ale
* By the way, good lookin' out to my brother Lamont and whoever took that shot of me with the crowd. I was a buzzin' like my cousin to remember who it was. For real, my memory does really suck sometimes. Forgive me.
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