A few weeks back, Nerdsense was able to attend Spencer Brewing’s Open House at Saint Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, MA.
We had a great time walking through their pristine facility, chatting with several of the monks, and sampling some delicious beers.
This video is a quick snapshot of our self guided tour of the brewery, followed by a brief review of their latest release, Monk’s Reserve Ale, a Belgian-style quadrupel.
Cheers!
This is Spencer Brewing’s latest beer and it’s a big one! It’s a 10.2% Belgian Quad! Be sure to check out onsite video at Spencer’s Open House which includes a mini review as well. Cheers!
Style: Belgian Quad
Container: 12oz Bottle
Glassware: Spencer Glasses
Notes: The recipe development phase of this Quad stretched over three years and 13 experimental brews. The Spencer monks sought an alternative to the use of spices for flavor enhancement by pushing the boundaries of traditional Trappist Quad malt profiles. (10.2%)
Rating: 4.5/5
Whoa! I forgot to release this. This video is from May!
Thanks to AllThingsBeer510 for sending this my way!
Style: IPA
Container: 16oz can
Glassware: Long stem snifter
Notes: This beer uses a proprietary English yeast strain and is completely unfined and unfiltered. Tons of apricot, peach and pineapple hop flavors from the use of Galaxy, Mosaic, Simcoe, and Citra hops. (7%)
We’ve reviewed a vertical of Ten Fidy, Ten Fidy by itself, Java Bourbon Barrel Aged Ten Fidy and Rum Barrel Aged Ten Fidy. Now, it’s time for just plain ole Bourbon Barrel Aged Ten Fidy…it’s actually not plain at all…it’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Ten Fidy for christ sakes!
Style: Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
Container: 19.2oz stove top can
Glassware: Treehouse Teku’s
Notes: Aged through four seasons and from a blend of the top Bourbons around, this Ten Fidy has morphed into a monster of cranked up flavor. Espresso, burnt sugar, rich chocolate, caramel notes are now driving alongside the vanilla, oak, bourbon from the barrel and been smoothed out during maturation. (12.9%)
Rating: 4.5/5
Our other Ten Fidy reviews!
Ten Fidy Vertical 2012-2015
Java Bourbon Barrel Ten Fidy –
Rum Barrel Aged Ten Fidy
Ten Fidy 2016
In the latest episode of Nerdsense, your humble hosts take a big crack at the Spider-Man film franchise. We give an overview of both Sam Raimi’s and Marc Webb’s contributions to Spidey’s film legacy, and then finish with our take on the web crawler’s latest cinema outing, Spider-Man: Homecoming.
How does the new film stack up to the five previous entries? How does Tom Holland’s interpretation of Peter/Spidey differ from Tobey Maguire’s and Andrew Garfield’s?
Check out this episode to find out all that and more. Cheers!
We drank Triple Berry Seltzer… Don’t judge us.
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Another variant of Dialed In makes its way to the table! Is it as good as the Sauvignon blanc we reviewed previously? Tune in to find out!
Style: Double IPA
Container: 16oz can
Glassware: 16oz Snifters
Notes: This iteration of Dialed In is a fresh, juicy Double IPA intensively dry hopped with Galaxy and Citra. Pouring a vibrant, hazy gold; aromas of white wine, tropical fruit, and citrus swirl around the nose. Upfront flavors of grassy hop, orange juice, and pineapple coincide with vinous notes from the mid-fermentation addition of Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer juice. Soft and creamy with moderate bitterness; Medium-Light bodied with a crisp, dry finish. (8.5%)
Rating: 4/5
Defenestration!!! A hoppy blonde from Russian River. Sounds like my kind of lady!
Style: Hoppy Blonde
Container: 375 mL bottle
Glassware: 16oz Snifters
Notes: This beer is not any particular style, just something Vinnie has been working on for a while. It’s VERY dry, bitter, hoppy, and full-bodied. (6.5%)
Rating: 4/5
It’s crowler time! We’re joined by Mike’s brother, Josh as we crush 32 ounces of delicious Grimm juice!
Style: DIPA
Container: 32oz Crowler
Glassware: 16oz Snifters
Notes: The beer has a soft mouthfeel, gorgeous yeast-free haze, some hop floaties, and some of the loveliest lacing and foam you’ve seen on a beer in your life. Cloudbusting #4 is brewed with Wai-iti, Waimea, and Motueka. (8%)
Rating: 4.5/5
This is Curiosity 36! Our first in the Curiosity series. There are lots of rumors surrounding what this beer is and the rumors are true…it’s fucking delicious.
Style: DIPA
Container:64oz Growler
Glassware: 16oz Snifters
Notes: Fruit fucking salad in a glass (6.7%)
Rating: 4.75/5 (It’s a 5….we’re dumb)
When a Double IPA called OH-J is handed to us, you know we have to review with a little extra criticism. It’s a ballsy move to call something Oh-J given the New England juice bomb craze we’re currently. So does it stack up? Watch and find out!
Cheers to Corey for hooking us up!
Style: DIPA
Container: 16oz Can
Glassware: 8oz Flutes
Notes: A carefully selected arrangement of late-addition hops produce a pure citrus punch. 0% fruit. Fresh, never frozen. Not from concentrate. (8.1%)
Rating: 4.5/5
