Jack's Abby Brewing - Barrel Aged Framinghammer Baltic Porter

When I went to Boston a few weeks ago, I had a mental list going of breweries I absolutely had to try. While the list was packed near the top, the brewery I most wanted to try was Jack's Abby. I had heard a lot about them from people in the Boston area and absolutely none of it was negative. So before I left (and after trying their fantastic Hoponius Union) I made sure to grab a bottle of their Barrel Aged Framinghammer to bring back to San Diego. At #172- Barrel Aged Framinghammer.

Barrel Aged Framinghammer pours a rich, black color with a half finger khaki colored head. The head didn't look like much, but it left some pretty substantial soapy lace down the sides of the glass with each sip. The smell was a bit faint off the pour, but I could pick up a light bourbon note mingling with vanilla, cocoa and some charred wood. There was a faint espresso note in there as well.

The beer opens on a great sweet note with vanilla, brownies, bourbon and dark chocolate hitting the palate initially. The middle pulls the sweetness back a bit as notes of charred wood, burnt coffee grounds and a faint touch of booze hit next. The finish comes in with just a touch of astringency and brings some dark chocolate and just a touch of anise. As far as mouthfeels go, you're going to be hard pressed to find a beer with a better one than this. The beer has a lush, velvety texture that really complements all of the sweeter flavors in here. This is a fantastic beer and Jack's Abby has used the barrel here to near perfection. The bourbon is definitely an element here, but you would never call it the star. And to me, that's how a barrel aged beer should be. Now I just have to figure out how to get more of this.

Final Grade: A

Top 250 Beers Tasted: 127

Jack's Abby Brewing - Hoponius Union

This past weekend, I took a trip to Boston to see my youngest sister graduate from Boston University. All in all, it was a pretty fantastic trip. The weather was perfect, I didn't pick up any weird diseases or ghosts from the semi-sketchy old bed and breakfast we stayed at, and Morgan Freeman even showed up at the graduation to receive an honorary degree. A trip to Boston wouldn't be complete without checking out some of Boston's numerous fantastic beer bars, so the first night of the trip, my sister took us to perhaps the most famous beer bar in Boston, The Publick House.

The Publick House is known for having a kickass selection of Belgian beer (and it does). As it turns out, the food at Publick House may be right up there with the beer. If you go, do not miss the Publick House Burger. Usually, house burgers don't get me all hot and bothered, but this one...Good lord. Anyways, back to beer. I'll admit, I was really impressed by the selection of Belgian beers at The Publick House. But when I saw another beer on the menu, the Belgians didn't stand a chance.

Usually, lagers don't really do it for me. Sure, there's a time and place for them, but it's rare that I'll bypass an attractive stout or IPA on a beer menu for a lager. But over the past few months, one lager has been making quite a commotion and I just had to see what the fuss was about. At #123 - Jack's Abby's Hoponius Union.

Jack's Abby is a Massachusetts brewery that specializes in lagers. While it seems like that wouldn't make it in the extreme style-leaning craft beer world of today, they seem to be making a pretty good name for themselves. Hoponius Union, an India Pale Lager (which they say is an IPA that's brewed like a lager) has quickly become their flagship beer. Hoponius Union pours a clear, light copper color with a thin bone white head. The aroma was fantastic, with some grapefruit jumping out of the glass right away. Some soft bready malt, lemon peel, sage, and mango could be found in the smell as well.

The taste opens with a juicy smack of grapefruit and pine with a light, biscuity malt backbone. The finish brings just a touch of pine resin, but the taste never really strays deep into the bitter end of the spectrum. The mouthfeel is remarkably smooth and crisp. I could (and would) drink a ton of this beer if it was distributed this way.

While I don't have a lot of experience with IPLs, this was by far the best I've ever had. The flavors in here rival those of nearly any IPA out there while retaining the drinkability of the best lagers. If you are going near the Boston area in the future, I highly recommend seeking this beer out. And while you're there, do not miss the Publick House. I don't care if Morgan Freeman hadn't been involved. I would call this trip a success based on the visit to The Publick House alone.

Final Grade: A

Top 250 Beers Tasted: 118