Starr Hill's Double Bass Double Chocolate Stout
| Tickle the Tastebuds - Beers & Breweries |
It's Valentine's Day in a bottle. And if you don't have a significant other who will appreciate this rich, chocolatey Starr Hill stout, then just treat yourself!
A part of Starr Hill's All Access program, Double Bass Double Chocolate Stout is available January through March. The deep brown ale smells smooth (don't ask me how smooth smells – pick up a bottle and see for yourself). The nose presents a touch of coffee, malts and alcohol.
The taste pops immediately with chocolate, followed up by a bittersweet chocolate caressing of the tongue. The initial flavors give way to vanilla undertone and malty goodness. The mouthfeel is full and smooth, with just enough tingle.
And at 7.8% ABV, the beer offers an immediate relaxing effect without sedating you.
Double Bass is brewed with a malt bill of Maris Otter, chocolate, crystal and Carafa II plus golden oats to give it the smooth body. Hops are appropriately subtle: Apollo (assumedly for the bittering effect of dark chocolate) and British hops East Kent and Goldings. Flavor adjuncts are cocoa power, cocoa nibs, vanilla beans and lactose.
Virginia-based Starr Hill Brewery recommends several pairings for this beer: hoisin-glazed baby back ribs, aged goat cheese or gouda, or a raspberry chocolate tart. I'd love to pair this with a creamy cheesecake, to provide complements in the richness and gratifying contrasts in the flavors.
Starr Hill Brewery currently distributes in Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington D.C. (use the beer finder for more specifics). Or stop by the brewery at 5391 Three Notched Road in Crozet, Virginia.
Hardywood's Membership Club
Such is the case with Hardywood's Family Tree Beer Club. At noon on Jan. 18, 2017, limited membership enrollment opens that allows you to get the best of the Hardywood beers – without waiting in the wee-cold hours of the morning, in long lines, while wondering if you've come early enough! Hardywood Family Tree membership includes:
To make the score even better: Packages will be available for pick-up at the Richmond brewery in February, May, August and November. Packages may be picked up by a proxy for those who are out of the area. Over the course of the year, packages are guaranteed to include Ruse, Foolery, Trickery, Cassowary, Gingerbread Stout and Kentucky Christmas Morning. The first package, available Feb. 4, will include the membership card, two bottles of Kentucky Christmas Morning and one bottle of Ruse. So set your alarm for noon on Jan. 18! (Or perhaps I should say, set your alarm for 12:01 p.m., to ensure that I get in first!) For further details and sign-up, visit the Hardywood Family Tree web page.
Starr Hill's Warm Up Winter Ale
But I shouldn't get ahead of myself. Though the beer pours with only a moderate head, the mouthfeel – I discover later – offers plenty of smooth bubbly. In the glass, the beer is a rich mahogany color with ruby-red undertones, nicely clear. The nose immediately speaks of winter spices, most strongly of nutmeg and cinnamon. Upon the first sip, my palate notes the spices right away – again the cinnamon and nutmeg predominate – followed by some toasty malts. The progression continues nicely, as a touch of sweet and vanilla take a bow at the end of each sip. The Starr Hill beer is made with 2-row, crystal and Munich malts and golden oats, Willamette hops, and special additions of cinnamon, cocoa, nutmeg and vanilla. The cocoa seems to be the lightest of the flavors (perhaps because I'm accustomed to beers that celebrate chocolate like a tacky lights tour celebrates the holidays). This beer appears on the brewery's Heavy Rotation list, a series that rotates four times a year, available in six-packs and on draft. Starr Hill Brewery currently distributes in Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington D.C. (use the beer finder for more specifics). Or you can stop by the brewery at 5391 Three Notched Road in Crozet, Virginia. For its 6.1% ABV, Starr Hill's Warm Up Winter Ale packs in plenty of flavor. Recommended pairings are malt-glazed roast turkey, gouda cheese and snickerdoodle cookies. But I'm happy just to let the ale warm up by insides all by itself. No need for complications when simplicity will work. Toast Virginia’s Apples During Cider Week
The multiple personalities of Virginia cidermakers come as no surprise. As producers of the commonwealth’s early alcoholic beverage, they have much history to celebrate, while as participants in the contemporary culinary and local craft movements, they draw inspiration from novelty and innovation. Virginia provides a natural home for craft cideries, with climate and geography that support healthy orchards. As a major apple-producing state, we rank sixth in the country in apple production. Governor Terry McAuliffe’s office reports that more than 416,750 cases of Virginia cider were sold during fiscal year 2016, up approximately 52 percent from 2015. Some of our cideries grow their own apples, beginning with existing orchards and/or planting new trees, while others have apples or juice shipped to their facilities. If early experiences with hard cider left a bad taste in your mouth, consider that contemporary craft ciders come in a range of styles to suit almost every palate.
Highlights include:Cider and chef’s specialty pairing dinnersSaturday, Nov. 12 at Courthouse Creek Cider. A five course dinner prepared by guest Chef Michael D'Aquanni paired with the creations of this Goochland cidery. Sunday, Nov. 13, 3-7 p.m. at Blue Bee Cider’s new Summit Stables location in Scotts Addition, featuring a roving menu inspired by classic “working” fare and prepared by top Richmond chefs: Dutch & Co., Stroops, Stock Provisions and Twenty Paces cheeses. Besides ciders from Blue Bee, guests can also enjoy ciders from Albemarle CiderWorks, Potter’s Craft Cider and Foggy Ridge Cider. Also featuring blacksmith and forging demos and product sales (from Blanc Creatives) and products from Paisley & Jade and Gather Home and Garden as well as music by the Mikrowaves. $35 includes food. Cider sold separately. Buskey Cider dinner at Blue Goat Monday, Nov. 14, 6 p.m. – Buskey’s first cider dinner pairs five courses created specifically for five Buskey ciders. $55 + tax & gratuity. Potter’s Cider dinner at Southbound Tuesday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m. – five-course dinner with five ciders includes a cask-conditioned pin of Oak Barrel Reserve with cinnamon and vanilla for dessert. $50. Call (804) 918-5431 for reservations $50. Weeklong opportunitiesPotter’s Cider and Ham Flights at Comfort Three Potter’s Craft ciders paired with three varieties of country ham, hand-selected by chef Jason Alley at Comfort. Monday–Thursday: 5-10; Friday–Saturday: 5-11; Sunday brunch: 11-4. Foggy Ridge Cider aperitif pairing at Heritage A sparkling cider cocktail and a small bite from Chef Joe Sparatta to kick off a phenomenal meal at Heritage. Other special events includeHome Cider Making Workshop at Blue Bee Tuesday, Nov. 15, 6-7:30 p.m. – Blue Bee Cider and Original Gravity Homebrew Supplies host a home cider making workshop, led by Blue Bee’s cellar team. Learn about evaluating juice, making additions before fermentation, monitoring progress during fermentation and options for customizing your cider before bottling. Workshop fee of $30 includes one gallon of juice, carboy with airlock, yeast, yeast nutrient, lab flask, and funnel. And
For more information and statewide events, visit the Cider Week website.
Scott’s Addition Halloween Booz Crawl
The neighborhood hosts four breweries, two cideries, a meadery and a distillery (with more in the works). Starting at 6 p.m., revelers can pick up Booz Crawl cards at any of the participating locations and receive three unique stamps. At the end of the night, trick-or-treaters can turn the card in at any location and be entered to win. Prizes include a $25 gift card from each producer. Seven drawings will take place from all collected and completed cards, and winners will be announced the following day. All locations will be holding their weekly events: tastings, full pours, food trucks and music. The Veil will also host a costume and dance party, from 6 p.m. to midnight. Ardent releases the Roggenbier, a German style using rye malt. Buskey Cider offers spooky dry ice cocktails. And Reservoir offers extended hours, just for this event (open till 9 p.m.) Spirited participants in the Booz Crawl include Ardent Craft Ales, 3200 W. Leigh St. Blue Bee Cider, 1320 Summit Ave. Buskey Cider, 2910 W. Leigh St. Isley Brewing Company, 1715 Summit Ave. Reservoir Distillery, 1800A Summit Ave. Three Notch’d RVA Collab House, 2930 W. Broad St. The Veil Brewing Company, 1301 Roseneath Rd.
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Occasionally, I'll receive news that I don't want to share. You know, like the favorite fishing hole or solitary waterfall hike – those secrets that are better when few know about them. When it comes to beer news that others really should know, though, I let professional integrity overcome selfish intent. (Damn integrity!)
Upon my first whiff of 
You can read more about Virginia cider in the October-November issue of Boomer Magazine and 
Richmond’s booziest neighborhood may just be the coolest for Halloween weekend 2016. The producers of fermented beverages have teamed up for the Scott’s Addition Halloween Booz Crawl on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 6 to 9 p.m. This trick-or-treat bar crawl will allow attendees to try the neighborhood’s variety of alcohol and to be entered to win prizes.
