Single-wide IPA does the trick in a Dogfish Head IPA glass...

Who says a double-wide is the only way to go?  Retrying a recent McLean beer club entry, I poured a nice golden Single-Wide IPA from Boulevard Brewing Company, StL MO for a low-key nightcap.  It provided the classic IPA hoppy nose, but not any bitterness.  What made it especially tasty was using my new Dogfish Head IPA glass.  They style of the glass forces your nose into the glass to get an extra whiff of hops + it has this unique base that is intended to help creating a constant head - not sure I experienced that (though I didn't give it much time) but it did make drinking this pleasant IPA unique.  I'd recommend the Single-Wide if you are looking for a classic easy to drink IPA.
Prost.

McLean June Tasting Results

June's tasting was a potpourri of European lagers, including Laverstock Park Farm's organic offering (England), the Greek competitor Mythos, Estrella Damm (brewed in Barcelona since 1876), and Austria's Salzburger Stiegl.  With only six participants this month, our tasting resulted in a tie between the Laverstock and Damm beers.  Mythos, unfortunately, reminded us that the Greeks have been focusing lately on economics rather than intoxicants.  And, the canned Stiegl brought up the rear.  In an effort to break the tie, a runoff was held, which resulted in a second tie - an unprecedented event for the drS Beer Club.

Memphis Blues and Beer...

A recent trip to Memphis brought another opportunity to try out the local craft brew scene.  Each restaurant or bar we visited had at least one local on tap - a coincidence? Likely not, it's more of an  establishment criteria.  Tasty results are presented below.
Prost.

Locales Pub - Downtown. Left to right: Lazy Magnolia Pale Ale - A hop-o-rama beer that is nicely drinkable; good nose, somewhat fruity; but, can be overwhelming to un-initiated. Yazoo Sly Rye Porter - nice and smooth; standard porter;  Yazoo Pale Ale - smooth, easily drinkable, good session beer.

Rendezvous - Downtown - the classic and famous rib joint.  Ghost River Golden Ale - a nice compliment to ribs, chicken, slaw, and beans.  Nice golden color, slight maltiness, good session beer.

Salt Lake - 3/3...Red Rock

Our SLC visit was capped off with a visit to Red Rock.  The atmosphere was lively and we were treated to stories from a bar partner who just had spent a week of solitude in the southern part of the state - lonely for conversation, good with stories, hankering for good beer.

We paired our dinner of wild Alaskan salmon with an Elephino Double IPA.  At 8.1 ABV it only came in the bottle (to adhere to Utah beer laws), but it was worth a 6-pack.  It was smooth with a controlled hoppiness with a hint of malt and a nice amber hue.  Fantastic!

Salt Lake City - #2/3...Uinta

Located in an industrial park south of downtown SLC, the trip to Uinta was worth the drive, but just far enough from our home base that we didn't risk settling in for 1-2 more.  The pub attached to the brewery was comfortable; we got there before 5 and were greeted by locals and employees justing getting off work.  (Looked like they were taking advantage a their daily freebie).

We had a few tasters, but particularly enjoyed the shown below - Wyld Extra Pale Ale on the left, Cutthroat Pale Ale on the right.  Each were good session beers, but probably not worth a trip out of downtown during future visits.

Salt Lake City - #1/3...Squatters

Once again a 'work' visit to SLC required welcome stops at some of our favorite brewpub stomping grounds (thankfully within walking distance of each other and the hotel) - Squatters and Red Rock - but we pulled in a visit to Uinta.  Prost.

Squatters - how could we not try everything they had on cask:  Porter, Oatmeal Stout, Golden Ale.  All were smooth, as you would expect, flavorful, and tasty enough to ask for seconds.  Nothing overpowering, or extraordinary, just good beer.

Spacebar Visit from 6/4/2013

I had these:

Bells Berliner Weisse – Tart.  On the initial sip, I regretted getting it because it was very tart.  I got used to the tartness and enjoyed the rest of the beer.  I’d get it again if I was in the mood.

Fort Collins Red Banshee – Caramel/toffee.  Just OK.  No issues drinking it.

Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti – I expected more from this.  I had heard good things of the Yeti but I thought this was too oaky.  I’ll have to try the un-oaked version.  Someone else got the Southern Tier Milk Imperial Stout on nitro and I thought that was much better than the Yeti.