New Brewery in State College ... Happy Valley Brewing Company is a Winner

Tsar Bomba: Russian Imperial

Lately, I have been meeting-and-greeting with Happy Valley Brewing Company.  So fun.  This place makes outstanding beer!  Being the malty flavor-seeker I am, I migrated towards their robust, full-bodied selections: the Scotia (BIG and delish Scotch Ale!), Tsar Bomba (Russian Imperial to be reckoned with!), and the Headknocker Barleywine ... complex and warming.

The big boys are not for everyone.  :)    So, I shall comment on the other varieties from HVBC ...

We did a sampler ... I believe that, by now, I have tried most of their brews.  The IPAs and Pale Ales are true-to-form, and impressive to IPA experts.  The "Family", as they call it, is their standard draft list comprised of beautifully-crafted concoctions, including a lovely brown ale, stout, pale ale, loftbier, and ipa.

Yay for another decent brewery in Centre County; I have no doubt the local clientele are eager and satisfied! The place is hopping most nights of the week.  Typical me, I prefer the slower time of day; try them at lunch on a weekend for a chill, enjoyable vibe.  Scoot up to the bar on a bench for two, and order your favorite libations.  Cheers!

P.S.  The Mac and Cheese is absolutely phenomenal ... not that I eat that kind of thing.  Also, the whole fish (trout) I've had twice already, and would order again any day.  Yummy!

I Love Pinocchio's Beer Garden ... Firestone DBA: Imperial Special Bitter

Thanks, Pinocchio's.  Thanks, Dan.  

At the start of the year, we spent a little time in our favorite hometown (and everybody's, for that matter): Media, Pennsylvania.  We went to our favorite place in the world to buy-and-try diverse beers: Pinocchio's Beer Garden.

We ended up having an amazing experience with their chief beer officer (CBO), as I refer to him now: Dan.  It was an educational and delicious experience, that Sunday afternoon.

I left with a few exceptional bottles, including the Limited Release Firestone Double DBA Imperial Special Bitter, 2013 Vintage.  I cracked it opened in late March, 2014.

The Firestone Imperial DBA was amazing, and a bit cloyingly sweet ...little touch of hops.  Butterscotch, maple syrup, toasted coconut, more butterscotch.  Dessert to some; just regular joy-in-a-glass for me.

(January 4, 2014, March 29, 2014, April 19, 2014)

Finally ... Northern California Wine Tasting: Wente

If you know me personally, you may know that I am slightly mortified by the fact that I had never done proper wine-tasting in any of the famous North or Central regions of California.  This month, I got lucky and found myself in convenient vicinity to these wine areas outside of San Francisco.  Finally!  

Our great team did a lovely, diverse tasting at Wente Vineyards, in the Livermore Valley, Central California.

Wente is the longest running, family-owned winery, and produces one of the first and most famous versions of the Chardonnay varietal, cloned by many other wineries today.  Cheers!

Wente Chardonnay is pleasant: buttery, apple pie, vanilla.
Wente Cabernet has plums and coffee: rich, tannic, and smooth.