This collaboration was the meeting of the minds and palettes from both breweries to determine and master the perfect drinking vessel for the IPA; a beer style of which has been mostly limited to the standard 16-ounce pint glass common to any bar. The unfortunate reality being that there is no truly unique glassware that enhances all the distinct and bold qualities of an IPA such as aroma, carbonation, head retention, and of course taste.

Well. That’s soon to change. Ken, Steve, and Brian Grossman and Steve Whitney from Sierra Nevada and Sam and Mariah Calagione from Dogfish went through a guided process with Georg Riedel from Riedel, the Austrian glassware maker most commonly known for its wine glasses, and several others from Spiegelau, the glass manufacturer, to explore a few IPAs with a dozen styles of glassware Riedel/Spiegelau felt was best suited. This of course was with the goal of finding a glass perfectly matched for the hoppy brew.

The first round used Stone’s IPA as the testing beer immediately eliminating half the glassware options.  The second two rounds featured beers from each of the brewers with the mindset that no one would know the best representation of the beer other than representatives of the brewery. The second round explored Sierra Nevada’s Torpedo resulting in elimination of two more glasses, leaving only 4. The final and third round in the process featured Dogfish Head’s 90-minute, a slightly higher ABV IPA than the Torpedo, and resulted in one glass as the clear and obvious choice.

This immediately sparked discussion and excitement from both breweries and talks of the possibilities of how this new glassware could affect IPAs not just in the U.S. but on a global level. They immediately started sharing notes on a few subtle changes they’d make to create a wider appeal to the glassware, especially in the restaurant and hospitality industry. And perhaps not surprising, how Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head could collaborate on a new IPA best suited for the glassware that both breweries will embrace with hopes that others in the industry and bars alike will follow.

At the end of the session, you couldn’t help to share in these two breweries excitement yet ponder if the glassware that they had selected really enhanced the beer as much as they all seemed to agree. Anxious to put it to the test, we of course sampled Torpedo ourselves from the newly discovered glass and to our surprise, all of the enhanced characteristics that the brewers had suggested from the increased head retention, enhanced hop aromas, and clean well balanced flavors were undeniable.

So, what is this magical IPA glassware, you ask? Well, we can’t say as of yet. Not only because we were asked to keep it hush-hush for the time being but because this 2-hour session was only the first phase of a much longer process that both brewers are about to undertake. So to let the cat out of the bag would be premature as what we saw today will be vastly different whenever this glassware goes public. From here the collaboration will include further enhancing and refining the base glass and perhaps even a new beer collaboration brewed to be best accentuated by the new glass. Suggestions seem to indicate that this venture will be something that hop-heads can look forward to in early to mid-2013.

Location:Iron Abbey

Hope you can come out and help us support the cause. We will also have a bunch of t-shirts and posters to be given away throughout the night!

Location:The Iron Abbey- Horsham, PA

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COMMODORE PERRY – AMERICAN INDIA PALE ALE – 7.5% ABV
PAIRED WITH THAI CURRY SOUP

BURNING RIVER PALE ALE – AMERICAN PALE ALE – 6.0% ABV
PAIRED WITH GARLIC CRUSTINIS, TOPPED WITH AGED ROQUEFORT BLUE CHEESE, DRIZZLED WITH A BALSAMIC GLAZE

ELLIOT NESS – AMBER LAGER – 6.2% ABV
PAIRED WITH MEMPHIS STYLE BBQ PORK SLIDERS ON MINI BRIOCHE BUNS

CONWAY’S IRISH ALE – IRISH ALE – 6.5% ABV
PAIRED WITH NEW ZEALAND LAMB, GARDEN VEGETABLES IN A CONWAY’S IRISH ALE DEMI-GLACE

EDMUND FITZGERALD – PORTER – 5.8%
PAIRED WITH HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES, TOPPED WITH TANNER’S VANILLA ICE CREAM, DRAPED WITH EDMUND FITZGERALD PORTER

Location:Jamison Pour House

** a few changes on this list: Lucky Dog is in Whitemarsh, and GiGi, The Bottle Shop, and The Dive should all be added as Philadelphia locations.

Heres the facts on this highly anticipated beer:

“There’s a lot going on in this beer with two yeast strains, copious amounts of wheat malt, and a big focus on ‘C’ hops to deliver a citrus explosion,” explains Green Flash Brewmaster, Chuck Silva. “In fact we lined up more than a dozen hop varieties in the brewery to select three hops with the biggest citrus character to dry hop the beer.

“This golden beer pours with beautiful, frothy white beer foam that lasts due to bottle conditioning. Gently rousing the yeast that settles in the bottle will result in a fuller texture and a more cloudy white appearance. The citrus aromas that jump from the glass are largely tangerine up front with other types of citrus notes that mingle with the Belgian yeast esters. Hop flavors of bitter orange zest dominate the brew and linger to the finish with a nice play of American and Belgian yeast combo.”
A beer with so many components can be held together with a “Linchpin”. The official “Linchpin” of this beer is the skillful collaboration between the two breweries to create a unique hop-forward brew. Linchpins are symbolic: two simple shapes that combine to strengthen a bond amongst many different pieces.
Linchpin White IPA will be released during the May 2012 Craft Brewers Conference in San Diego and will then be available in limited supply via bottle-conditioned 22oz bottles and by the keg for special release events nationally in May and June 2012.

The Annual Beer Barons Homebrew Competition held at the West Laurel Hill Cemeteries is returning for another year but is moving to the spring to hopefully ensure better weather.  They are also raising the judging standard and requiring BJCP credentials to judge.  The rest of the details are below:

Step in to spring with some suds at West Laurel Hill’s Third Annual Homebrew Competition, Tour, Tasting and Reception. 

Are you a homebrewer?  See how your brew measures up at this AHA-BJCP sanctioned event.  Both bottled entries and sixtel entries are welcome.  Brewers submitting a sixtel receive free entry for themselves and two guests.  Bottled entries are $7 per entry and must be received by Friday, May 11^th.    Certified BJCP judges are also welcome to apply.  

Not a homebrewer? Don’t miss one of West Laurel Hill’s most popular events!  Attend as a guest and you’ll have an opportunity to learn about Philadelphia’s rich brewing history.  Tickets are $25 per person including a tour of Laurel Hill and West Laurel Hill Cemeteries led by Pennsylvania brewery historian Rich Wagner, craft beer samplings and gourmet food.  Reservations are required and space is limited. For more information, to enter a homebrew or to purchase tickets call 610-668-4258 or e-mail Sarah at sjp@forever-care.com

Matt Guyer: To be honest, I was a bit lost and looking for something to hit me. I had quit my job in May of ‘97, an office job, and had  taken the summer off. I was thinking about moving out west with a friend, but then I started to talk to the guy who owned the beer store where I bought one, two, maybe hundreds of cases and he mentioned that he was looking to sell. Well, one thing led to another and…

PBS: What made you decide to get into the beer industry and when did you take-over the Beer Yard?

Matt: I had always enjoyed retail growing up, but at an early time decided that if I was going to do it, I would have to be the owner. I was not always thrilled with the way people I had worked for treated the customers. I started working in August of 1997, and was able to get the money aspect figured out, and then the business was transferred to me in June of 1998.

PBS: Since taking over the Beer Yard, despite the small size, you have turned it into one of THE beer destinations in the region. What is it that makes the Beer Yard so special?

Matt: As Steve from Global Beer Network would say, it is PASSION! I do have a beer passion as well as the guys that work with me. Other than passion, I think what has made the Beer Yard special has developed over the years. At first, it was the fact that we would track down a request for customers. I was always surprised that years ago, no stores would make an effort to find a case for customers. Then as our knowledge grew, it became that we would recommend some great beers that were off the beaten path. Now I think it is a little bit of everything. Oh, and good looks help too. That’s for you Laurie, Kelly, Joy and Sam. Not you, DF Sam.

PBS: How do you manage to cram so much beer into such a small place?

Matt: Big stacks. We stack ‘em high. That’s how we stay in good shape here; always moving beer. We also get multiple deliveries every week from most of our wholesalers.

PBS: Outside of selling cases upon cases of beer and harassing Andy at Teresa’s, what do you enjoy doing?

Matt: I also harass Gary, Melissa and Brian at Craft Ale House, spend time with my German Shepards Otto and Zoey, and my better half is afraid that I am having an affair with my Mighty Mac Chipper. I like to garden with native plants, a bit of biking, hiking and some days just going for a drive. PA is such a great state to go for a random drive.

PBS: Over the years you’ve gotten a few chances to travel the country and world in search of beer; what has been your favorite/most memorable experience?

Matt: Is it bad to say too many? Next time you see me out, buy me a beer and I’ll tell ya? This could be a regular column in Beer Scene.

PBS: What is your go to beer?

Matt: At a bar? Normally a good IPA/Pale Ale on draft. At home, Union Jack or Racer 5. But the first four months of the year, I devote myself to Double Trouble.

PBS: What would we find stocked up if we opened your fridge?

Matt: Tough question, we have a very big fridge. A lot of IPAs: Racer 5, Union Jack, Hop Notch, Yards, Double Trouble, Double Jack, Storm King. And now that the warm weather is here, Allagash White, Sly Fox Saison VOS and Pilsners; could we ask for a better place to have Pilsners than Philly? Prima, Pikeland, Sunshine and  Stoudt’s. But, the fridge is just the start. Do you want to see my beer cellar?