ITH Beer Guide

13oz of Maybe I'm Wrong, a hazy IPA featuring a bunch of NYS ingredients.    A break in our scheduled "fast" from beer. As mentioned, giving up beer for 40 days wasn't about subtracting something from my life--or trying to prove some point. It was more about adding in more healthy habits--the ones that often fade away through the holidays and into the heart of winter.  So, I'm not going to beat myself up for breaking fast for a day this past weekend (yup less than a week into the 40 day exercise). Why? Because it was 70 friggin degrees and you don't get too many opportunities to sit outside with the love of your life and enjoy a pint on an early March day in Ithaca.  And since I was breaking fast, I enjoyed it with a trifecta of our favorite experiences: a pint a Lucky Hare in Press Bay Alley, a pint at Liquid State after a nice walk with the doggos, and finished the evening with a pint on the deck.  If it hits 70 degrees again before March is over (or a day

One could say it has been a while. A lot of things have happened over the last few years and I haven't had the energy (or honestly interest) to write here anymore. But, every once and a while the itch comes back. So, here I am again putting fingers to the keyboard. And what better timing than as spring approaches--a time for renewal and rejuvenation! It is also the time of year where folks may commit to giving something up for Lent. As a former Catholic, the thought of doing so always nags at me this time of year, though I rarely follow through completely. Fun fact: the etymology of Lent is tied to the idea of the lengthening of days and the spring season. There's a related word for this in the Mohawk language to represent the month of March: Ennisko:wa View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lofttan (@lofttan) As I think of the days getting longer and the coming spring, I thought less of taking something away this Lent, and more of adding something int

This year Ithaca Beer Company is jumping on the hoppy train and released a spring Box of Hops. Of course Flower Power, the old stand-by, was there.  Returning from a couple years back was also Pacific Gravity. I've previously been on record as to preferring it over Creeker, although I need to test that officially as this version came out a bit "hot". There were also two new offerings, which will be the focus of this post. From  My Beer Buzz : Brewed to commemorate our Tough Mudder Race on Earth Day, Mudder Earth is a soft and slightly hazy IPA featuring a hoppy flavor profile of pineapple, papaya, berry, melon and bubblegum. The addition of Nelson Sauvin hops, known for a distinct white wine, grape and gooseberry profile make for a complex and distinctive character. Malts: 2-Row Pale, Oats, Wheat, Honey Hops: New Zealand Nelson Sauvin, Mosaic ABV: 7.5% Missing Link is new slightly hazy double IPA featuring Hopsteiner’s experimental hop varieties #09326 and #063

For over a month I've been meaning to put together a bucket list of beer for 2019, but I just haven't been able to carve out the time. The beginning of a new semester always seems to kick my butt. I've even been nearly non-existent on twitter the last couple of weeks! However, I see the "finish" line approaching as we are about to turn the page on January, so here goes! Ithaca(ish) This past year brought us the great addition of Liquid State to the Ithaca beer scene. It is one of our favorite places to go and enjoy a pint, especially given how kid-friendly they are. Also, Salt Point opening in Lansing gave us an option on that side of town. While seating may be limited, they too are family friendly, and the quality of the beer has been a nice addition. This year, I'm planning on checking out two others, one growing and one brand-spanking new. Summer Hill Brewing out in Groton has been up and running with tasting hours when possible. Unfortunately, those h

According to a press release at My Beer Buzz, Ithaca Beer Co will be adding to its lineup of variety packs. A lineup that currently includes just the one fall Box of Hops. Coming in February, they will release a Box of Sours featuring two familiar faces: Cayuga Cruiser, a tart berliner weiss style ale, and Raspberry Soiree, a fruited berliner weiss style ale. Joining those two will be two new fruited kettle sours: Passionate One with--you guessed it--passion fruit juice, and Früt containing grape juice and cranberry juice and puree. The Passionate One sounds like a very interesting mix to me that I'm looking forward to trying--a sour, tropical blend featuring wonderful Galaxy hops. But let's be real, I'm mostly excited about another Box of Hops... Following Box of Sours, a spring Box of Hops will be out in mid-March. Of course Flower Power, the old stand-by, will remain. Returning from a couple years back will be Pacific Gravity, which I'm happy about. I've pr

Yep. It's happening. I said I wouldn't last year , but this year? After overindulging in food and drink throughout the holidays, I'm in need of hitting the reset button. A reset on my health. A reset on my wallet. A reset on my time. So, I'm taking January off...ish. We had a few beers the night we returned to Ithaca on January 1st, but other than that I currently have just two "cheat" days planned (a birthday party and a celebration friends have planned at a brewery). There were a lot of beers consumed over the last couple of weeks. A few snapshots.  While I may not be imbibing much over the next few weeks, I do hope to actually write more. I'm excited about a number of openings in the coming year and plan to highlight that in coming posts. Here's to 2019 and all there is to come! Catch you on the flip side.