Draught Lines Holiday 2017

BEERS FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR

Holiday List

draught lines holiday 2017

Get TO KNOW COLBY CHANDLER

OF BALLAST POINT

BEER IN KIND DOCK STREET BRINGS joy to the world

draught lines holiday 2017 ON THE COVER: The folks of Dock Street Brewery

From left to right: founder Rosemarie Certo; writer, website editor & marketing coordinator Renata Certo-Ware;

VP Marilyn Candelero and brewer/sales & marketing specialist Sasha Certo-Ware

25

10

15

16

contents 10 BEER IN KIND DOCK STREET BREWERY BRINGS JOY TO THE WORLD ALL YEAR LONG

BY CHRIS MUNDEN

15 THE BOOKSHELF GREAT READS MAKE GREAT HOLIDAY GIFTS 16 COLBY CHANDLER OF BALLAST POINT GETS DRAUGHTED 25 NO BRAINER ENTERTAINING CHIMAY BEER WITH CHIMAY CHEESE Editor in Chief Maryanne Origlio

Art Directors/Photographers Loren Leggerie Michael Kuchar

Senior Editor Maureen McCoy

Contributing Writers Jessica Lawrence Doug Williams

Guest Writers Lew Bryson Chris Munden Steve Hawk

Mark Your Calendars Eat This Drink That Food & Drink Festival | Oaks, PA

A Few Words From The Editors...

Dear Beer Aficionados,

December 1-2, 2017 – Great Philadelphia Expo Center

Question: What are the best beers to drink this winter?

Running of the Santas | Philadelphia, PA

Answer: Any that suit your mood and taste great!

December 9, 2017 – Field House & Electric Factory

T

his is the time of year when you’re going to start getting emails with subject lines that sound something like this… The Ten Best Holiday Beers of 2017, The Rarest Brews to Drink This Winter, The Only Beer You Need to Wow Your Friends at the Holidays.

Big Philly Beerfest | Philadelphia, PA January 12-13, 2018 – Pennsylvania Convention Center

For more information about these events, and others visit our website: draughtlinesmag.com

You get our drift.

Ok, we’re guilty of falling into that same kind of trap.

Who doesn’t want to know about the latest and greatest? That’s what drives news cycles. And it’s fun to write about the newest beer trends. But Draught Lines has always had another mission and that is to showcase all that beer has to offer – be it an old standby or the newest craze.

Sierra Nevada still life courtesy of artist Jean Childs Buzgo

For an electronic version of this publication, visit: draughtlinesmag.com Like us on Facebook facebook.com/draughtlines Follow us on Twitter @draughtlinesmag Follow us on Instagram @draughtlinesmag Check us out on YouTube youtube.com/draughtlines

draught lines

is a publication of Origlio Beverage. All rights reserved.

3000 Meeting House Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154

That’s why Lew Bryson penned his article “Beer Belongs”. It’s a reminder that there is always a beer to enhance any occasion – even if it's sitting on the back porch with your dog. Intrigued by Lew’s “Beer Belongs” piece, we then asked some of our favorite local brewers which beers (not any of their own) they have on hand during the holidays. Dock Street’s Sasha Certo-Ware and Sly Fox’s Brian O’Reilly both love Sierra Nevada Celebration. Coincidentally, or maybe not, Celebration inspired Bucks County artist Jean Childs Buzgo to paint a still life of the beer and its bottle. She explains why this IPA is so meaningful to her in Hop Art. That’s just a “sample pour” to whet your appetite. We hope sometime in the near future there’s a moment when you can curl up on the couch – beer in hand, and enjoy this edition of Draught Lines.

So deck the halls! Mazel the tov! It’s the holidays and beer gives us every reason to celebrate.

Sincerely, The Draught Lines Editorial Staff

R

AVE EVIEWS

Kellerweis Cranberry Sauce

I

t goes without saying, cranberry sauce is essential to any holiday feast. Although many of us enjoy it straight from the can (ridges and all), this deliciously simple recipe, made even better by a jolt of Sierra Nevada Kellerweis, will make you think twice about which cranberry sauce you’ll serve. The beer’s yeast produces fruity esters that complement the intensely sweet and tart cranberries. You won’t be disappointed with this one, and it’s an easy way to up your culinary game!

Ingredients 1 cup Sierra Nevada Kellerweis 12 oz. fresh cranberries 1 cup sugar 1 orange, juiced Zest of 1/2 orange

Preparation In a thick-bottomed pot, combine Kellerweis, cranberries, sugar, orange juice and orange zest. Fill a glass with the remaining beer to sip while you proceed.

Bring contents of the pot to a simmer, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes.

Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

Pro Tips from Sierra Nevada • Can be made a week in advance • Stir into pancake mix for an awesome breakfast • Spread on a turkey sandwich for leftover perfection - Recipe courtesy of Sierra Nevada

BEER REDISCOVERED

Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale

By Steve Hawk

D

Don Russell, a.k.a. Joe Sixpack

on Russel, better known as Joe Sixpack, which was also the name of his long-running Philadelphia Daily News column, loves holiday beers. In fact, one of the three beer books he’s written is about them exclusively. The title says it all, Christmas Beer: The Cheeriest, Tastiest, and Most Unusual Holiday Beers. So when asked to recommend a kick ass holiday beer that gets overlooked, Russell didn’t hesitate for a second.

His choice – Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale. First brewed in 1995, Russell says this beer is a classic. In fact, it made his Christmas book’s “Top 50 Greatest Holiday Beers”. And, it’s not just the beer’s perfect holiday flavor that earned it that ranking. Russell is nostalgic by nature, and this beer oozes nostalgia right down to its very name. You see, Mr. Fezziwig is a character in Charles Dickens’ novel, A Christmas Carol. He’s the antithesis of the main character Ebenezer Scrooge. “He’s kind, good-spirited and ethical – exactly what the Christmas season is all about,” Russell explains.

Old Fezziwig is one of Sam Adams' earliest holiday offerings. It’s a spicy, bold, winter warmer, bursting with the classic holiday spices – ginger, cinnamon and orange peel. The rich malt character is a showcase for sweet toffee, caramel and roasty chocolate flavors. And, as is true of most winter favorites, the alcohol level is slightly higher to warm your insides.

“Everyone is looking for a new, great beer for the holidays,” Russell adds. “The problem with new ones is that it’s easy to forget the standard bearers. Sam Adams Old Fezziwig is one of my personal favorites. It doesn’t get much better than this.”

Old Fezziwig is available in the Sam Adams Winter Classics variety pack, which also includes Boston Lager, Winter Lager, Oatmeal Stout, Chocolate Bock and Amber Bock – the perfect collection to share with loved ones this holiday season.

Editor’s Note: Sadly, Russell’s Joe Sixpack column is no more, but that doesn’t mean he’s given up on beer. Russell still writes about beer, hosts tastings and runs festivals. He is currently developing a beer-focused TV show, so stay tuned…

T

he holidays are here. It's a time of annual change, as we zip up the fleece, change our shopping and see different foods at the markets and on menus.

No more swimming and picnicking, it's hay rides and bonfires, and soon it will be time for skiing and snowballs. Gifting and re-gifting, family and friends, parties and feasts: it's that time of year, and you'll enjoy it more if you remember this one thing‌

8

draughtlinesmag.com

BEER BELONGS

By Lew Bryson

That was the title of an advertising campaign the U.S. Brewers Foundation came up with in 1945, and ran for 10 years – a beautifully executed series of magazine ads that showed beer in American life. On the back porch, at the ballfield, at the beach, at the holiday table: beer was shown as part of America. “Beer is the kind of beverage Americans like,” the text would read.

“It belongs – to pleasant living, to good fellowship, to sensible moderation. In this friendly, freedom-loving land of ours – beer belongs.”

B

eer is the everyday drink with food, with friends, with your dog on the deck in a reflective moment. Beer belongs in the clink of glasses, in the relaxation after a day's work and in the celebration of a project completed, whether a highway bridge built, software debugged, or a sidewalk shoveled free of snow. Some of my best memories are occasions where beer belonged: a lazy fall afternoon with siblings, a wake that was a celebration of life, weddings and reunions.

And yet, beer is perhaps becoming too precious, too special, to belong everywhere. The move to smaller breweries with inviting taprooms is a good one; it's always good for people to gain a closer connection to how beer is made and where it comes from. But when that becomes the only place where people do their beer drinking, it can be limiting. Beer gets squeezed out of other occasions.

The tasting room is always fun, and the beers are interesting, oneof-a-kind. But a good craft beer bar, or your favorite distributor, or your beer-enabled supermarket has something even better: variety.

Not just the portfolio of one brewer, but a vast selection from a universe of brewers! A bar can deliver draught-only specialty beers that you may not see anywhere else. And your beer store makes it easy for beer to belong wherever you go. Packaged beer is portable: you can take it wherever you go, in your fridge or cooler, in your

trunk or your backpack. Bottles and cans are packed fresh at the brewery with up-to-date technology these days, so you can buy them with confidence.

Beer particularly belongs to this time of year, when the holidays come. Every brewer outdoes themselves to produce something special. It is a tradition of the industry to say “thanks!” to the customer with something new, or something limited, or something very special. They are beers that are celebratory, that embrace the festive menus of the season, that reflect the bounty of harvest season.

If you're looking for wine to match your menu, beer can do that too (and all in one easy stop). Wine's acidity and sparkle meet their match in an array of carefully crafted sours like you'll get from The Bruery or Cascade. American sours are very popular, and are getting to the level of the European classics. If it's rosé's fun and frolic you're looking for, try a beer like Coppertail Whoops!, a fun, fizzy Berliner weisse with cranberry and hibiscus, Ballast Point’s tart, cherry, wheat ale Sea Rose or Rodenbach Fruitage, comprised of authentically aged Rodenbach blended with young Rodenbach ale, with added cherries and elderberries, now that's a glassful of cheer!

Maybe you're looking for something in the bourbon line for your wintertime sipping. You know there are plenty of beers that have the big, fat flavor of the bourbon barrel, a whole pile of them.

The stores and bars are literally full of flavors, and right now is the best time of year to taste that variety. And with the new relaxation of the case law, you can sample to your heart's content. That's the whole point of having a craft brewing revolution, after all: to try new things and drink old classics.

For instance, it's pumpkin time. The demise of pumpkin beer has been greatly exaggerated by the beer media (who tend to get tired of things much more quickly than the people who actually drink the beer). They are still delicious, still fun, still out there, and beers like Dogfish Head Punkin never skipped a beat. It's still got all the fun you remember.

Then you're into the shank of the season, when the holiday and winter beers come out; it's the most wonderful time... for a beer!

There are beers that are packaged like the holiday gifts they are, where brewers put a little something extra into it all. I just dropped in at Merchant du Vin, the importers of Samuel Smith, and they have all 25+ years of the beautiful, hand-painted, Samuel Smith Winter Welcome labels, each with a charming scene of winter joy.

Don't stop going to the tiny tasting room; it's fun, it's fresh, it's cool.

But keep exploring because beer belongs on your table, in your fridge, on your skiing trip, on top of your snowman!

Have some fun, have some laughs, have a beer.

draughtlinesmag.com

9

Beer in Kind Dock Street Brewery Brings Joy to the World All Year Long

By Christopher Munden

10

draughtlinesmag.com

C

raft beer pioneer Dock Street Brewery has been committed to local philanthropic efforts since it opened in the 1980s. “Paying it forward” is a codified, organized enterprise. It’s as much a part of Dock Street’s image, as its reputation for award-winning craft beer.

“One of the coolest things about our company is that this aspect of our work is important to everyone who works here,” says Sasha Certo-Ware, a brewer who handles marketing and sales for the

brewery. “No one has the official title ‘community outreach coordinator’, because it’s something we’re all interested in.”

Most breweries will donate a few cases or a keg to a fundraiser, but Dock Street’s annual budget includes a spreadsheet's worth of support for local organizations. After the beer maker opened its first brewpub in Center City, it began organizing annual winter coat drives and Thanksgiving food drives.

draughtlinesmag.com

11

This spirit of community engagement intensified after it moved to the Cedar Point area of West Philadelphia a decade ago. “One thing that drew us to the area is how involved everyone is in the community – our customers and also our staff,” says Certo-Ware.

“Most of our staff volunteer in local organizations, and we have a really low turnover, which helps us forge bonds with the community.”

For several years, a free, annual music festival solidified these bonds. Dock Street teamed up with neighboring non-profit Books Behind Bars to send dictionaries and reading material to prisoners. Last Christmas, the brewpub coordinated a toy drive with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. They continue to sponsor events and fundraisers for nonprofit groups, focusing on those that benefit the West Philly community, on education and literacy or on LGBTQ and women's rights.

In 2015, the brewery launched its biggest, most popular philanthropic effort to date: Rare Beer for School Supplies.

“A lot of our customers are teachers, so we would hear about all of the things local schools were lacking in the wake of budget cuts,” says Certo-Ware. Every week, he sits down to discuss brewery operations with the company’s major decision-makers, including his mother Rosemarie Certo (founder of the brewery), sister Renata (writer, website editor and marketing coordinator), VP Marilyn Candeloro and head brewer Mark Russell. At first, their thought was to dedicate a portion of bottle sales toward local schools. But teachers persuaded them that instead of donating cash to the schools, which could get lost in red tape or diverted to infrastructure needs, the most effective way to help students would be actual donations of school supplies.

Dock Street's newly designed cans

In return for an 8 ounce pour from a keg of specially aged, rare beer, customers are invited to donate school supplies – pencils, books for classroom libraries or paper – which then go to West Philadelphia schools. “Every three months we’ll send truckloads of pencils and reams of paper to a school,” exclaims Certo-Ware.

This fall, Dock Street collaborated with Mighty Writers, which mentors 2,500 kids across Philadelphia in after-school writing programs, with a “text to donate” exchange: if you show the brewery that you donated to the nonprofit, you get a free pour of a special brew.

The programs are good for business and good for the community.

“It’s one of the ways we spread the word about our beers,” says Certo-Ware. When Dock Street announced plans to launch its own cannery, one of the first things that came to mind was a “cans for cans” food drive. “We like to do something positive with our marketing,” he says. “We don’t help anyone by taking out a billboard or a magazine ad.”

The brewery’s commitment to the wider world also extends to reducing their carbon footprint. When possible, Dock Street uses locally-sourced ingredients; spent grain goes to local farmers and composters; and the company announced plans to use 100% wind energy for all of its operations.

Dock Street’s lights may be powered by wind, but the brewery itself is powered by a huge, kind heart.

12

draughtlinesmag.com

Mighty Writers Book Drive

Another Winning Year for Dock Street Dock Street took home a bronze medal for their Man Full of Trouble Porter in the Brown Porter category at this year’s GABF! Be on the lookout for two Dock Street seasonals: Bubbly Wit, a Belgian-style witbier and Prince Myshkin’s Russian Imperial Stout, brewed with roasted and chocolate malts.

DRINKTHESE

NOW

Holiday Happiness

Samuel Adams White Christmas ABV: 5.8% An unfiltered white ale with a unique, festive twist, White Christmas’ crisp wheat character combines with warming holiday spices for a flavorful yet refreshing brew that’s perfect for the season.

Evil Genius Santa!! I Know Him! ABV: 7.2% This holiday saison brewed with rose hips, chamomile, black currants and dark Belgian candi syrup is deep, complex and intriguing.

Dogfish Head IPAs for the Holidays Dogfish Head’s awesome new gift pack, featuring a To/From tag, makes a super festive gift for the craft beer drinker who wants to celebrate the holidays with a superb assortment of hoppy brews. This limited edition variety pack includes: Sixty One, 60 Minute IPA, 90 Minute IPA and Indian Brown Dark IPA. Lagunitas Willettized Coffee Stout ABV: 11% This rich and malty Imperial stout is vintageized in Willett whiskey barrels. It’s a chocolaty, coffee-y, smoky, bourbon-y beast of a barrel-aged thing.

Weyerbacher Berry Monks ABV: 9.3% A variation on Weyerbacher’s classic Belgian tripel, Berry Monks is brewed with cranberries, orange peel and ginger. It’s great on its own or paired with your favorite holiday dish.

Sly Fox Christmas Ale ABV: 6.3% This highly-anticipated holiday beer delivers a flavorful combination of cloves, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice, backed by caramel malt and holiday cheer.

Allagash Hibernal Fluxus ABV: 7.5% Because “fluxus” is Latin for change, Allagash brews a different recipe every year. This year’s version harmoniously blends a saison and a milk stout, making for a silky, dark beer with a hint of spice. Its black body and brown foam are the result of a grain bill containing 2-row malted barley, multiple roasted malts, Munich malt and local oats. The saison yeast adds mild, tropical fruit esters and a rustic spice, while the addition of rich lactose sugar is tempered by the beer’s slightly bitter finish.

Firestone Walker Mocha Merlin ABV: 5.5% With an infusion of dark coffee, a dash of cocoa nibs and a touch of seasonal wizardry, Firestone Walker's Velvet Merlin oatmeal stout has been transformed into Mocha Merlin – a roasty, chocolaty brew that will warm your soul on a chilly winter’s eve.

HOP ART

Sierra Nevada Celebration Fresh Hop IPA A beer that inspires brewers and artists alike

P

Original oil painting by Jean Childs Buzgo

ainters mix colors and use brush strokes to communicate memories and emotions. Brewers combine hops and malt to convey in liquid form something that cannot be expressed verbally. And other times, people who are passionate about both find a way to express a memorable beer-drinking experience. That’s what award-winning Bucks County, PA artist Jean Childs Buzgo has done in her still life, Sierra Nevada Celebration IPA. Celebration was the first craft beer Buzgo, an accomplished impressionist painter, and her husband ever enjoyed together. “One sip and we were hooked,” Buzgo explained. “The rich flavor was unlike anything else we had ever tasted before. To this day, whenever I drink Celebration, it takes me back to the good times we shared drinking it. It’s that memory I tried to convey in my painting, which was originally done as a gift for my husband. I've painted Sierra Nevada several times, but the original hangs in his office.”

The label that graces Celebration IPA (a rustic log cabin nestled in the snow) is as iconic as the beer itself. But instead of just reproducing that image, what you see above is Buzgo’s impressionistic painting of both the bottle and the IPA poured into a glass. The picture visually communicates Celebration's distinct flavor as a component of a memorable drinking experience.

“When I look at things,” Buzgo says, “I see a picture. In the case of Celebration, the colors I saw – the warm red-amber hues of the beer and its fluffy white head – struck me as something I could feel. And looking at the painting, I hope you can too.”

Buzgo is represented by The Silverman Gallery in Buckingham, PA. Her entire portfolio, which includes many more beer-themed paintings, may be viewed at jeanchildsbuzgo.com. She gladly accepts commissions.

TB

the bookshelf

GREAT READS MAKE GREAT HOLIDAY GIFTS The Beer Geek Handbook

Living A Life Ruled By Beer

By Patrick Dawson

Patrick Dawson’s The Beer Geek Handbook is a colorful and hilarious read that manages to be both lighthearted and essential – even surprising with its insights. With illustrations by Greg Kletsel and chapters like “Tips For Getting The Most Out Of A Brewery Release,” this handbook has something for every beer geek looking to “tap into a brave new world!”

Ancient Brews

Rediscovered & Re-Created

by Patrick E. McGovern

Longtime fans of Dogfish Head’s Ancient Ales (like Midas Touch and Sah ‘Tea), which were brewed from ancient beer recipes, should most definitely pick up Patrick E. McGovern’s Ancient Brews: Rediscovered & Re-Created. McGovern doesn’t just profile the oldest alcoholic beverage in history, he takes the reader on a journey into ancient civilizations that were just as obsessed with beer as we are! Dogfish’s Sam Calagione says he believes this book has the power to “galvanize brewers to carry Dr. Pat’s and my torch of brewing creatively in a way that honors the ancient past.”

Rising to the Occasion

The Best Toasts for Any Celebration

By Paul Dickson

The holidays are a time of gathering with friends and family to break bread, share a couple of beers and toast to health and happiness. That’s why Paul Dickson’s Rising to the Occasion makes such a great stocking stuffer! Dickson has collected hundreds of toasts ranging from the playful to the profound – one for just about every celebration imaginable.

draughtlinesmag.com

15

gets draughted

16

draughtlinesmag.com

COLBYof Ballast CHANDLER Point Gets Draughted You may think of San Diego-based brewery Ballast Point as the “Sculpin Brewery,” and you’d have good reason. . .

Sculpin and Grapefruit Sculpin, Pineapple Sculpin, Habanero Sculpin and the new Unfiltered Sculpin – blew up big in the past three years. People grabbed it in bottles and cans, drank it on draught and talked about it all the time. People who were brand new to craft beer suddenly thought they knew everything about it. The only thing they really knew was that they liked Sculpin. They didn’t know Ballast Point or the work of specialty brewer Colby Chandler.

And that makes sense.

But until you get to know Colby, you don’t know Ballast Point.

draughtlinesmag.com

17

S

culpin was the breakout beer for Ballast Point, the one that transformed them from a great local brewery to one whose beers were in demand across the country.

It’s a great story.

But most importantly for beer lovers, the story continues to evolve – just like their award-winning beers, thanks in no small part to Colby.

D.L. What’s the job description of a specialty brewer for Ballast Point?

C.C. Well, no matter what’s down on paper, it’s the best job in the world.

D.L. Glad you think so. Can you be a little more specific?

C.C. A journalist for San Diego Magazine called me a “beer and flavor innovator”. His words, not mine. But my team and I do make two or three different beers every week in our R&D brewery/ restaurant in the Little Italy section of the city. We have total creative freedom to brew what we like and what we would want to buy.

D.L. Couldn’t you do the same thing in the brewery?

C.C. The initial reason to have an R&D brewery was to take the place of the Home Brew Mart that Jack White, the brewery’s founder, opened in the early 1990s. He was a homebrewer and Home Brew Mart was a business he started that sold homebrewing supplies. Ballast Point didn’t exist until 1996.

D.L. So Ballast Point’s roots are in homebrewing?

C.C. Yes. Jack opened a “back room” brewery behind the homebrew shop. His first employee, Yusseff Cherney, a fellow homebrewer, created Ballast Point’s first beer. It was called Copper Ale [later named Calico Amber and then California Amber].

D.L. How do you stay true to your homebrewing heritage?

C.C. Our “Roots to Boots” program let’s an employee think up a new beer and we make it in our Little Italy restaurant. We have made so many different beers there. It’s hard for us to pick which ones to brew again. So we let the employees vote. Sometimes we let the public vote. It keeps us relevant. We’ve made hundreds of recipes and we’ve sold every drop of beer. That says a lot about the direction of the whole team and where we’re going.

D.L. Sculpin is Ballast Point’s flagship. Were you involved in making that beer?

C.C. I was in a funny way. Two Home Brew Mart employees, Doug Duffield and George Cataulin, each brewed gold-medal-winning IPAs. When they looked at the recipes, they realized that they were similar. I worked with them to meld the two recipes into one. My version of their two beers is the Sculpin you know today.

D.L. What made Sculpin such a standout?

C.C. It was one of the very first “juicy” IPAs, where the fruity notes of Simcoe and Amarillo hops came out over the more typically bitter, piney hops of the West Coast style.

D.L. How do you describe Sculpin?

C.C. I taste peach, mango and apricot, with an underlying grapefruit note. Grapefruit Scuplin is more citrus forward. Sculpin starts out as a bright beer, but the grapefruit makes it even brighter, so it's 18

draughtlinesmag.com

a bit like a drinkable, IPA shandy.

D.L. Can you get behind session beers?

C.C. We’ve been doing them all along – Bonito Blonde, Mango Even Keel, Longfin Lager. I call them "beers for grownups" because you can enjoy a few of them without passing out on the couch.

D.L. What’s up with the new Fathom IPA? C.C. I know it’s confusing to have another beer called Fathom. This new one is less hoppy and very drinkable.

D.L. It’s beginning to get a bit chilly here on the East Coast. Which Ballast Point beer would you drink on a cold day in December?

C.C. That’s an easy one, Victory at Sea (VAS) Imperial Porter. It’s got roasted coffee notes from dark malts and some actual cold brewed coffee from San Diego’s own Café Calabria, not to mention a touch of vanilla. It’s a big one, but it’s smooth, dry and balanced.

You should try it with Tiramisu – it’s mind blowingly delicious, if I do say so myself.

D.L. Any new flavors for VAS? C.C. There’s a coconut and a peanut butter version available now.

D.L. Tell us about Sea Rose. It’s an amazing sour.

C.C. It’s a tart, wheat ale with cherries and pomegranate. This is my "champagne" for New Years. If you add prosecco, it’s an amazing cocktail. For the holidays, we do Sculpin with dinner and dessert is Sea Rose and probably Red Velvet, too.

D.L. Somebody called Red Velvet the stout that takes the cake.

C.C. Our Red Velvet oatmeal stout is a real crowd pleaser. Like the cake that inspired it, the deep, red color comes from beets, which add a rich, earthy character that complements the chocolate flavor and aroma. The foamy head of the nitro pour is our “icing”. But this liquid dessert still finishes like a beer – not sweet, but just as satisfying. It’s only 5.5% ABV. It’s a good food beer too. I’ve had it with Humboldt Fog (fresh goat cheese), Chipotle BBQ sauce on baby back ribs and rhubarb pie with strawberry ice cream.

D.L. What’s your favorite beer?

C.C. I drink beer that enhances the moment, and the food I’m eating, because I’m a foodie at heart. Before coming to San Diego I owned a restaurant. I was the chef and I brewed beer. Not pairing food with beer is a wasted opportunity because one enhances the other.

D.L. You’ve done smoked lagers brewed with Thai peppers. Is that just a gimmick?

C.C. It all goes back to being a foodie. I love savory flavors in beer.

Those flavors are already there, so when we add a spice or a vegetable, it pops out a flavor in the beer that’s been there all along.

It enhances, not detracts from the beer. It’s like having a food and beer pairing in a glass. By the way, you can’t get those flavors in wine.

D.L. Ok, if you don’t have a favorite beer, is there one that has inspired you?

C.C. Yeah. Off the top of my head, Orval is one because it’s like four different beers in the same bottle. At first you taste the hops, then as it matures and the yeast works on it, the hops fade and you get sour notes, which years later will be different still. It ages gracefully.

D.L. Will IPAs always be the best selling craft style?

C.C. That’s not going to change anytime soon, but there are kids turning 21 who don’t want to drink their dad’s bitter beer. Every-

one knows hops. Soon I think the drinkers will rediscover malt.

Even in a really hoppy beer, you need a nice, complex malt to make a stand out beer.

D.L. Are you down with that?

C.C. IPAs put us on the map, thanks to hops. That was our foundation to make more interesting beers. We’re strong in all styles and because we brew balanced beers, we are very comfortable with malts. Besides, I love giving adults new flavors to taste.

D.L. Is it true that the name Ballast was chosen because it refers to the weight and balance old ships needed to keep from keeling over?

C.C. Yes, that’s part of it. The old sailing ships would load up on cobblestones before they would sail back to Europe. They needed the weight in the cargo hold to balance the weight of the fails.They called it ballast. San Diego’s on the Pacific Ocean and it’s a reference to our city’s heritage. Plus it refers to the kind of beers we make. They are flavorful, but balanced. There is tons of meaning there.

R&D Brewery and Restaurant in Little Italy

D.L. What do you say to people who think Ballast isn’t the same since it was purchased by Constellation Brands?

C.C. Hey, it’s the American Dream. Constellation wants to get great liquid to consumers. As a brewer, that’s my goal too. Besides, I see it as an opportunity to learn from them. They have great wines in their portfolio, like Opus. I’m stoked about getting into wine and beer hybrids. The partnership with Constellation gives me access to some of the best wine barrels in the world! I want to explore a merlot style of beer. This could be the ticket for that.

Ballast Point Virginia Brewery

Ballast Point Tasting Room in San Diego

DJ Spinning Records at the New Brewpub

Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats in Rehobeth Beach, DE

draughtlinesmag.com

19

A

festive change of pace

Even award-winning brewers like to celebrate with someone else'’s beer rewers spend every waking Bbreweries hour with their beers and their on the brain. They don’t

have a ton of time to experience the brews created outside their own walls. It’s like the slogan on the side of each 2SP can… “Everything we can’t drink, we can!”

After reaching out to some of our favorite local brewers, we learned that each one is still a beer hunter at heart. They are eager to try all the new releases they can, to rack up those Untappd check-ins.

So with the holiday season upon us, we asked them which beers (other than their own) make their holidays merry and bright.

20

draughtlinesmag.com

Ryan Krill Cape May Brewing Co. While Cape May Brewing may conjure up memories of enjoying a few bottles of refreshing Summer Catch down the shore, when the weather turns chilly, owner/brewer Ryan Krill reaches for something with more of a kick. “This time of year, Heavy Seas Siren Noire is always on the top of my list.” The chocolate stout clocks in at 9.5% ABV and uses almost 3 pounds of Belgian coco nibs per barrel. “Sipping a big, bold, chocolaty, boozy stout is my ideal beverage in front of a fire.”

Mike Contreras 2SP Brewing Co. Even though 2SP is one of the Delaware Valley’s newest and hottest breweries, Mike Contreras’ favorite wintertime brew comes from a brewery almost 250 years-old. “Unlike a lot of people, the holidays are a great time for me, it’s the rest of the year that’s awful,” says Contreras. “Scaldis Noel is the bounty of enduring the year, and it rewards me with all the sweet cherry, fig, plum and caramel characters that a free spirit at the church of carbohydrates loves so much. I can't recommend this beer enough.”

Trevor Hayward Evil Genius Beer Co. Evil Genius knows a thing or two about what makes a great winter seasonal. Their own holiday Belgian-style ale Santa!! I Know Him! is deep and complex, designed to spice up those cold winter months. But when co-founder Trevor Hayward is looking for a little variety, where does he turn? “If I can't drink an Evil Genius, one of my favorite Christmas beers is Great Lakes Christmas Ale. It's well balanced, and is the epitome of Christmas in a glass.”

Brian O’'Reilly Sly Fox Brewery For a brewery that is constantly innovating and adjusting the recipe for their Christmas Ale, Sly Fox Brewmaster Brian O’Reilly prefers a stalwart winter classic when he’s not enjoying a beer of his own.

“One of the first holiday beers that really inspired me was Sierra Celebration. I still look forward to enjoying a few every year.”

Sasha Certo-Ware Dock Street Brewery Any fan of winter seasonals or beer history might have guessed that if there was just one beer on this list that was going to be repeated by more than one brewer, it would have to be Sierra Celebration.

Dock Street’s Sasha Certo-Ware says, “When the weather gets colder, I start to crave Sierra Nevada's Celebration IPA. I've always had tremendous respect for the brewery, and something about drinking a clean, fresh IPA around the holidays usually does it for me more than spiced ales or warmers.”

draughtlinesmag.com

21

22

draughtlinesmag.com

Beers for Everyone on Your Holiday List The days are getting shorter, festive music is already playing in Wawa, Grandma is planning her visit from Florida… and you haven't bought a single gift.

Fear not, we’ve got you covered. And who isn't a fan of one-stop shopping, especially when that stop is a beer shop.

YOUR PECULIAR YOUNGER COUSIN

YOUR ANGLOPHILE BROTHER-IN-LAW

YOUR AUNT SALLY

YOUR RED-EYED COLLEGE GRAD

A MOVIE FAN

HISTORY BUFF

YOUR RELATIVE/FRIEND WHO'S PLANNING A SURFING VACATION

THAT FAMILY MEMBER YOU DIDN'T ACTUALLY EXPECT TO SHOW

YOUR BROTHER'S GOTHED-OUT GIRLFRIEND

YOUR BACKPACKING COUSIN

Green Flash Le Freak Grandma is upset by all the tattoos and the ever-changing hair color, but you appreciate the outer stylings, and your freaky cousin will enjoy this unique blend of Belgian tripel and American IPA. Lagunitas Aunt Sally I mean, if you really do have an Aunt Sally, this is perfect.

Evil Genius Santa! I Know Him!!

With titles saluting all our favorite flicks, from Anchorman (I Love Lamp) to Friday (Bye, Felicia), Wedding Crashers (Ma! The Meatloaf!) to Billy Madison (O’Doyle Rules), Philly brewery Evil Genius has something for any movie fan. This dry, complex ale references the Xmas classic, Elf.

Port Brewing Shark Attack As my sister planned her trip to Australia, I sent her regular updates about all the deadly fauna she might encounter. It was as appreciated as this smooth, caramelly red ale will be.

Great Lakes Nosferatu Blood red in color with a toasty malt body lurking beneath, this rich, red ale has a bitter bite so good, it’s scary.

Wells Bombardier English Premium Bitter He dresses in tweed, quotes Peep Show and Churchill, and gets up early on Boxing Day to watch English soccer. He’ll love this.

Abita Purple Haze Beer may not be this person’s favorite intoxicant, but the tart, sweet raspberry lager goes down well with Hendrix and the munchies.

Dogfish Head Midas Touch The intriguing Ancient Ales from this Delaware brewery are based on millennia-old recipes recreated by archaeologists and beer experts. This sweet, yet dry beer, is made with ingredients found in 2,700-year-old drinking vessels from the tomb of King Midas.

Somewhere between beer, wine and mead, Midas Touch will please the chardonnay and beer drinker alike.

Sly Fox Christmas Ale Keep a few of these on hand to give to any yuletide guest… or to crack open for yourself, because Santa deserves a present too.

Jolly Traveler Pretty much anything from this Boston-based brewery would be fitting for your round-the-world tripster, but we especially enjoy this light, wintery shandy in the cooler months.

draughtlinesmag.com

23

Cocktails To Keep Holiday Spirits Light & Bright Indulge on a lighter note – with a hard seltzer cocktail. Fizzy and festive, these drinks are perfect when you don’t want too much holiday cheer going to your gut.

After checking them twice, these recipes made our “naughty, but nice list”.

Snow Melter

11/2

oz. lime juice 3 oz. silver tequila 5 oz. Truly Spiked & Sparkling Grapefruit & Pomelo 1 jalapeño, sliced Salt & chili powder (for rim) In a shaker, combine ice, tequila, lime juice and a few jalapeño slices. Pour mixture into margarita glass and top with Truly Spiked & Sparkling Grapefruit & Pomelo. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and some more jalapeño slices.

Cherry Mint Cheer

2 oz. White Claw Black Cherry Hard Seltzer 2 oz. white rum 1 oz. lime juice 1/2 oz. simple syrup 3 cherries 5-6 mint leaves Muddle cherries, lime and mint in a shaker with simple syrup. Add White Claw Hard Seltzer, white rum and ice. Shake gently to combine ingredients, without bruising the mint. Strain into glass.

24

draughtlinesmag.com

Jack Frost

1 oz. pineapple juice 1/2 oz. blue curacao 41/2 oz. Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Orange Mango Seltzer Sparkling sugar (for rim) Pour the juice and blue curacao into a champagne glass, top off with Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Seltzer and serve cold.

No-Brainer Entertaining

Forget wine and cheese, it doesn’t get any easier, or better, than serving Chimay beer with Chimay Cheese

F

inding the perfect food and beer pairing can be a daunting task. Sure, you know how to pick out a stellar beer, but crafting a memorable foodie experience isn’t always a cinch. Enter Chimay, one of only six remaining Belgian monasteries still making Authentic Trappist beers.

The monks of Chimay have also been making award-winning Trappist cheeses for nearly 150 years. Their soft, mild and buttery cheeses pair perfectly with Chimay’s iconic ales, creating an intense flavor combination you won’t soon forget.

“After all these years, we’ve really nailed down some perfect combinations,” says Glatigny Hugues spokesperson for the monks. “Chimay Classique cheese is delicious when accompanied by a Chimay Grande Reserve. And the Vieuz Chimay cheese has a slightly bitter tang that pairs well with Chimay Cinq Cents.”

To maximize the experience, Hugues recommends taking a long, slow sip of your favorite Chimay beer, and then tasting the cheese without its rind – noting the light, smooth and silky texture of the fromage. Before going back for more beer, try the cheese again with the rind. Finally, take a generous mouthful of beer to mix both flavors in your mouth at once.

So the next time you’re planning on hosting a few friends, do yourself a favor and break out some of Chimay’s outstanding Trappist beers, paired with Chimay cheese and some nuts & fruit to cleanse the palate. Not only is it no-brainer entertaining, Hugues promises these pairings will take those flavors to a whole new level. “The bitterness in beer is one reason why our beers and cheeses go well together – but it’s also the sparkle and intensity inside everything Chimay produces.”

Some high-end cheese retailers stock Chimay’s cheeses regularly, but their entire lineup can be delivered right to your door via Amazon.

www.origlio.com draughtlinesmag.com

25

‘T

is the Season for Beer Greetings

THE BEST WAY TO SPREAD HOLIDAY CHEER IS SENDING A CARD ADORNED WITH BEER! Cheaper than sending actual beer, these cards are the next best thing. And you can shop for them online.

Inside: Blank Where to buy: Kegworks.com Cost: $19.99 per 8 pack (2 each of 4 designs)

Inside: So don’t steal that shit and end up on the naughty list.

Where to buy: TheInviteLadyShop on Etsy.com Cost: $4.00 per card 26

draughtlinesmag.com

Inside: Blank Where to buy: CafePress.com Cost: $3.49 per card

Inside: Blank Where to buy: DesignAsYouWish shop on Etsy.com Cost: $6.00 per card

Inside: Now that’s what I call Christmas dinner!

Where to buy: PaperCards.com Cost: $3.29 per card

Inside: Blank Where to buy: HiLoveGreetings shop on Etsy.com Cost: $4.00 per card

Inside: Blank Where to buy: WhataCardCards shop on Etsy.com Cost: $4.00 per card

Inside: Blank Where to buy: CynicsUnited shop on Etsy.com Cost: $4.50 per card

Inside: Blank Where to buy: McBittersons.com Cost: $5.00 per card

Inside: To: From: Season’s Greetings!

Where to buy: BeerGreetings.com Cost: $4.95 per card/6pk holder (beer not included)

draughtlinesmag.com

27

Pre-Game Dogfish Continues to Innovate with Liquid Truth Serum

D

ogfish Head’s newest winter seasonal, Liquid Truth Serum IPA, first appeared as a brewpub exclusive last year – it turned out to be such a hit that Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione decided to share it with the masses. So what makes this beer so off-centered? DFH brewers added every single hop to this IPA after the boil was complete, creating an IPA that is super hop-forward, without being overly bitter.

WinterFest Returns to Penn’s Landing

I

t’s not officially winter until Penn’s Landing is transformed into Philadelphia’s favorite winter wonderland! With an Olympic-sized skating rink overlooking the Delaware River, a winter garden and a rustic lodge with more beers on tap than ever before, a visit to Blue Cross WinterFest is sure to make your holidays merry and bright!

20 Years of Santas Running Through Philly

I

t’s time to get that Santa suit out of the closet for the 20th anniversary of Philly’s biggest (and naughtiest) holiday mega festival, benefitting local charities: Running of the Santas. Sponsored by Yuengling, this year’s epic event, which takes place on December 9th, includes a short (three block) run, drink specials and a hottest Santa contest. Live music from B Street Band, Trainwreck, Romeo Delight and Shot of Sothern, among others, will be playing at two different venues: Electric Factory and Field House. Buy your tickets today for $15.00 at RunningOfTheSantas.com – over 10,000 Santas are expected at this year’s event!

The Russian is Here!

O

ne of Philly’s most sought after and acclaimed beers, 2SP The Russian has returned! With 10 GABF medals (another gold this past September) and five World Beer Cup medals to its name, this Russian Imperial stout is balanced and big, clocking in at 9% ABV. Ask head brewer Bob Barrar to describe why The Russian is so successful and he’ll tell you that it’s simply “damn good.”

NEVER MISS A SINGLE ISSUE OF DRAUGHT LINES MAGAZINE! draught lines

Check out draughtlinesmag.com Attention Beer Writers

Draught Lines is looking for new writers to bring unique content and perspective to the magazine. If you love beer and love to write about how it enhances life, please send writing samples to mmccoy@origlio.com. We are eager to hear from you!

• Brewer Interviews • Recipes • Beer Book Reviews • Brew News • Past Issues • And More!

draughtlinesmag.com

31