Tonight I had the other beer I'd taken away from Sterling Street Brewery, their Otherwise IPA.
It poured out of the 32 oz. growler with an undesireably wasteful big head, but the citrussy scent was fantastic. And for a 6.9% ABV, the booze didn't register at all. Light and breezy, the beer goes down smoothly with a pleasing aftertaste. A nice blend of Citra and Amarillo hops. Next time I'll snag it in a 4-pack of fresh cans, which is actually a better value than the small growler. A very good IPA.
I had today off, and was running errands in the area anyway, so I decided to check out Clinton, MA's Sterling Street Brewery.
I had a pint of their Down With the PumpKIN' pumpkin spice ale, and at the bartender's suggestion I forewent the cinnamon/sugar rim (which would have been my inclination as well). It had just the right amount of seasonal flavors without being overpowered. And at 5.1% didn't pack a huge punch. It'll be my baseline for all other beers of this type this autumn. Highly recommended! Also, the place itself was clean and airy, and the staff was super friendly and knowledgeable.
I left with a pair of pint glasses, a 32 oz. growler of their Otherwise IPA (for another day) and a 4-pack of 16 oz. cans of the DWtP. I'm definitely glad I stopped.
*SIGH*
I was looking at various venues in Boston to see if there were any interesting live shows coming up, and sadly, I stumbled upon an old hangout only to find out that it's closed its doors for good.
TOAD in Cambridge was a huge haunt of Jay's, and I spent many evenings over the years bending my elbow with him at the bar. It was a nice little place at the top of the mountainous stair climb of the Porter Square T stop.
Often there was live music, and we (Jay, Brian, Gavin, etc...) got to see a few good shows there, including blog favorite Abbie Barrett doing bluesy versions of her "Dying Day" album songs, plus a lot of Neil Young covers. Add in the bonus of Christopher's Restaurant being right next door, and TOAD was truly the place to be for a night of inexpensive fun with friends...
Thanks for the great service, fun lineups, awesome beer and fantastic memories. You will be missed.
I hadn't had a beer in over three weeks, and Saturday night when I jumped back in I decided to try Laser Cat Imperial IPA from Medusa Brewing Company out of Hudson, MA.
A nice dark pour, not too foamy, I was hit by the mix of hoppy and tropical scents. It is a good blend of hops and citrus, and despite being 8.0%, it doesn't have a boozy nose. Very smooth, with great flavor, and not too bitter, not too sweet. I think a road trip to the source is in order...
