Beers #110-115

Got a few new samples over the past week or so.

110/365: Church Brew D'Pomme Rye Saison:
From growler, courtesy of John C. Mild fruity character, bit of apple juice and light tart quality. Yeasty esters and a bit of banana and bubblegum. Medium golden amber clear with no head. Medium body with medium carbonation. Starts with neutral fruity character. Honey and mild apple cider vinegar tang. Yeasty bubblegum finish with orange tang and lasting juicy character.  Saison  66/100

111/365: Penn Overlook IPA:
From bottle at Nap’s. Skunky hop aroma. Sulfury, vegetal, eggy, and a bit of noble hops. Medium amber clear with foamy white lacing head. Medium-light body with medium carbonation. Starts dry with lots of hop bitterness. Mild malt sweetness with some vegetal notes. Big bitter dry finish with lasting harsh bitter in the after.  India Pale Ale  44/100

112/365: East End Pennsyl-tucky Uncommon:
From growler. Tart nose, roasted barley and smoky, with light chocolate and some spicy character. Dark brown hazy-clear with thin brown head. Medium bodied with medium-high carbonation. Starts tart with cherries and sour mash. Kind of like a brown sour but more acidic, less sweet. Nice tart finish with roasted smooth finish and after.  Traditional Ale  74/100 

113/365: Helltown Rapture:
On tap at Burgatory. Fresh hoppy grassy nose with neutral fruit sweetness. Dark amber clear with thin white lacing head. Medium body with medium-heavy carbonation. Starts fairly dry with huge hop flavor and bitterness. Big bitter finish with alcohol warming and a bit of neutral fruity character. Big bitter after.  India Pale Ale   74/100

114/365: New Holland Black Tulip Trippel Ale:
On tap at the Knick. Light bubblegum and yeast. Bit of fruity ester with mild alcohol vapor. Medium golden pale clear with thin white head. Medium-heavy body with medium carbonation and alcohol warming. Starts sweet with honey, bubblegum esters, light chalky yeast and alcohol notes. Big sweet finish with light smooth after.  Abbey Tripel  72/100

115/365: Lancaster Black Boar IPA:
On tap at the Knick. Rich malty and chocolate nose, with light coffee grounds and light hops. Dark black clear with thin off-white lacing head. Medium body with medium-high carbonation. Dry roast black patent malt, dusty with carbonic tang. Dry bitter finish and after. Tasty black IPA.  Black IPA  76/100

Hoping to get somewhere tomorrow for a few pints in celebration of the end of Spring semester, and next weekend (May 18), I'm excited to be going to the Pints for Pets festival in Altoona!

14 Years and a Good Steak

Yesterday was my 14th wedding anniversary. Hard to believe sometimes, but then again both of our 20th high school reunions were/are this summer. Anyway, to celebrate we went for dinner last night to Nap's Cucina Mia here in Indiana. We try to get to Nap's once a month and we never have a bad meal there. Nick, the son of the owners, spent a year in Italy for part of his culinary training. The menu is small, compared to other places in town, but the food is just freakin' outstanding. Homemade pasta & sauces, fresh local produce and meats, prepared while you watch (the kitchen is behind the 'bar' and place only seats perhaps 50 people).

Normally we get pasta, but last night I finally got the filet (mignon), frequently a special, and it was without a doubt the best piece of steak I've eaten in town. It's not cheap, but it is delicious. Superb crust, seasoned with salt, pepper, and maybe something else. Rich and buttery on the inside, and almost fork tender.

So if you're local and haven't been, or if for some reason you plan to visit Indiana - do yourself a favor and have dinner at Nap's.