Late or never, which is better? We hope the former. Check out this episode that was recorded 2 full months ago. It was pretty good when we recorded it but it has conditioned nicely in the cellar for 2 months to mellow out the palate.

Beers:

• New Belgium - Ranger IPA
• Port Brewing 4th Anniversary
• Odonata Saison
• The Bruery - Melange #3

Rankings:

• Greg - 1. Melange, 2. Odonata, 3. Port, 4. Ranger
• Jeff - 1. Melange, 2. Port, 3. Odonata, 4. Ranger

• Preshow -
• Postshow

Recorded a long time ago but newly posted. Blue Moon Grand Cru in front of your steaming naked eyes.

In this CBR Quickie we taste two beers from Sun King Brewery. From Indianapolis, Indiana.

• Sunlight Cream Ale
• Osiris Pale Ale

To make up for almost forgetting our anniversary last time we break out a quartet of tasty beers. one of which is older than the show.

Beers:

• Karl Strauss 21st Anniversary
• JW Lees Harvest aged in Calcados Barrels
• Williamsburg Ale Works Wolfe's Trap Ale
• Allagash Odyssey

Rankings:

• Greg - JWLees, Odessy, Karl Strauss, Williamsburg
• Jeff - JWLees, Karl Strauss, Odessy, Williamsburg

• Preshow -
• Postshow

We realize with just a few minutes left in the show that this is our 5th anniversary. It continues like it started, with a wimper ;) Thanks to super listener Mike for supplying the beers. To Greg for making the drive to my place 160 times over the past 5 years. To Heather for letting me do this silly thing. And finally to all of you for listening. I appreciate it. Jeff.

Beers:

• Alesmith Anvil ESB
• The Bruery - Rugbrød
• El Camino (Un)Real Black Ale - Stone / 21st Amendment / Firestone Walker
• Black Lightning Porter

Rankings:

• Greg - Black Lightening, RugBrod, El Camino, Ale Smith
• Jeff - RugBrod, El Camino, Black Lightening, Ale Smith

• Preshow - St. Arnold's Root Beer
• Postshow

Kick back for an enjoyable time with Brian Dunn, Owner of Great Divide Brewing Co and Brett Joyce, President of Rogue Ales as they pour some favorite specialty releases and pair them with artisan cheeses. Expect to be wowed by these balanced yet assertive beers that are revolutionizing the craft beer world.

Join Doug Odell, Founder of Odell Brewing Company and Patrick Rue, CEO/Founder of The Bruery for a tasting of some of their rare barrel aged beers. Patrick will share Oude Tart, a Flemish Red aged in red wine barrels and Black Tuesday, a 100% bourbon barrel aged Imperial Stout – 19.5% ABV. The Bruery is quickly gaining a loyal following and is already considered an influential force in the craft brewing community. Odell Brewing Company is renowned for pioneering innovative brewing techniques and beer styles, including a growing variety of Barrel Aged beers. Join Doug Odell, as he pours Saboteur, Brett Barrel Brown Ale and a surprise beer TBD. You won’t want to miss this!

Mike McManus of Brewery Ommegang teams up with Bobby Flay-conquering chef Teddy Folkman for Savor 2010. Teddy is the well-known executive chef and co-owner of Granville Moore’s Belgian Beers and Gastropub. Chef Teddy will prepare his special fare with one Ommegang ale and pair it with yet another. Sit back and enjoy as Mike and Chef Teddy infect the crowd with the tasty art of pairing of Belgian-style food and ales. Finally, Ommegang will cap the beer and food pairing with a special comparison tasting of a brand-new Ommegang exclusive beer; a beer unavailable anywhere except the brewery.

Ron Lindenbusch of Lagunitas Brewing Co in Petaluma CA shows the contrast between Lagunitas IPA and their current version of the ‘evolved’ IPA…the super sought after Hop Stoopid. Head Brewer Todd Charbonneau, of Harpoon Brewery Boston pours Harpoon IPA and Harpoon’s Leviathan IPA to show how Harpoon is pushing the IPA limits on the east coast. Cheeses from each coast will be paired with each beer. Learn about the differences in the recipes, coastal drinking and brewing trends, and brewing styles. Hopheads won’t want to miss this one.

Join Greg Engert, Beer Director of Neighborhood Restaurant Group, as he
discusses the exciting craft of pairing real food and real beer. Engert will draw upon his experience presiding over the tasting menus of Rustico Restaurant & Bar, and—more recently—Birch & Barley/ChurchKey, (where he is also a Managing Partner) to pair four rare American Artisanal brews with a four course-tasting menu designed by Birch & Barley’s Executive Chef, Kyle Bailey. This is your opportunity to see how the appreciation of craft beer has been elevated to the next level in our nation’s capital, and has found itself perfectly placed at the tables of this white-hot restaurant.

John Dannerbeck of Anchor Brewing will taste and de-construct O.B.A. (Our Barrel Ale). Plan to taste the OBA, the rye whiskey that had aged in the barrel previous and the various beers that made up the final blend. This will be a real treat.

Gary Fish, Founder of Deschutes Brewery partners with a local renowned DC chef from the Think Food Group to present a fun and educational salon focused on food pairings with several of the Deschutes line up of craft beers.

Ro Guenzel, of Left Hand Brewing Company and Brian Buckowski, of at Terrapin Brewing team up with Red Apron Butchery, part of The Neighborhood Restaurant Group in D.C., to present a selection of local cured meats paired with their beers. Chef Nathan Anda of Red Apron, gave Ro the idea for the smoker used for making the malt that goes into Left Hand’s famous Smokejumper and other beers. Two beers from each brewery will be paired with or used to make four different cured meats from Red Apron. Sure to be a hot ticket!

Joining us from Beervana (also known as Oregon) is Full Sail’s Executive Brewmaster Jamie Emmerson and CEO & Founder Irene Firmat who will offer a rare chance to sample two of their favorite beers: the dark and robust 2006 Black Gold Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout (from the brewmaster’s private cellar) and the golden and delicate LTD#2 (a Pale Bock). Taste the broad spectrum between these two exemplary Oregon craft beers paired with chocolate covered cherries and some Oregon artisan cheese from Pholia Farm’s. One lucky Salon attendee will take home a selection of 3 vintage bourbon aged beers hand selected and signed by the brewmaster himself.

We received a package from Clown Shoes Beer out of Ipswitch Massachusetts. Jeff didn't want the funny names and lables to effect Greg's reviews so we did the blind to him. Turns out, Greg likes their labels. As for the beer? Tune and and find out.

Beers:

• Clown Shoes Clementine
• Clown Shoes Brown Angel
• Clown Shoes Black IPA

Rankings:

• Greg - Clementine, Brown Angel, Black IPA
• Jeff - Clementine, Brown Angel, Black IPA

Coriander, Cardamom, Caraway, Grains of Paradise; Brewers have added many seeds to their beers over the years. But perhaps none are as distinctive as the seeds (or "beans") of the Coffea family of trees. Hulled and roasted, these beans form the foundation for one of other most widely drunk beverages in the world. Today we taste five coffee beers and see, once again, what the humble coffee bean has to offer.

Beers:

• Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout [BA]
• Peak Organic Espresso Amber Ale [BA]
• Ballast Point Victory at Sea [BA]
• Williamsburg Alewerks Coffeehouse Stout [BA]
• Troegs JavaHead Stout [BA]

Rankings:

• jeff - lagunitias, peak, ballast, coffehouse, javahead
• greg - coffeehouse, ballast, peak, lagunitias, javahead

• Preshow - homebrew pale ale
• Postshow

Four Limited Edition Imperial Stouts. Will they live up to our expectations? Film at 11.

Beers:

• Boulevard Dark Truth Stout
• Sierra Nevada XXX Anniversary: Fritz and Ken's Ale
• Brooklyn Black Ops
• Hoppin Frog Barrel Aged B.O.R.I.S.

Rankings:

• Greg: Black Ops. Sierra Nevada, Dark Truth, Hoppin Frog.
• Jeff: Hoppin Frog, Black Ops, Dark Truth, Sierra Nevada

• Preshow
• Postshow