'Ale' Sharpton beer editorial

A note about beer editorials for those who like to stay abreast of tastings, new releases and more. I want to try and bring attention to both classic and fresh sources for beer info.

Ale Sharpton, (yeah, really) is a great new face on the beer frontier, writing monthly for Jadore Magazine (http://www.jadoremag.com/magazine/jadorelifeandstylecold.html ). His schtick is traveling the country and sometimes the globe, tasting local brews, often in the brewery itself and with the Brewmaster.

Recently, I sat down with Ale at Sweetwater in Atlanta to taste the first release off the Dank Tank. This is the new 'one-off or experimental' fermenting tank the boys brought in so the brewmaster can get a few small batch (100 barrel) beers produced in a very informal way. His review of "The Creeper" (Belgian style Trippel 10%abv) is included in the January issue on IPA brews.

We went back a few weeks later and did a side-by-side tasting of 2008 and 2009 "Happy Ending", along with Brewmaster Mark Medlin, Minister of Propaganda Steve Farace and Sweetwater owner Freddy Bensch. Freddy's favorite beer from the brewery is a dry-hopped Imperial Stout (9%abv) that is insane, right outta the tap after only a few weeks in the tanks. An almost forest fresh blast of hops coated in a dew of yummy stout.

I have to admit that I loved the espresso notes on the 2008 bottle that I kept in the wine fridge all year, but it did loose all of the dry-hopping eruption that occurs in your nose and mouth with the fresh product. The 2008 being reminiscent of St. Peter's Old Style Porter or DuckRabbit Milk Stout, both winners in my snobby little black beer book.

All told, both were delicious in their own right to me. Freddy was adamant about NOT allowing Ale to review the 2008 at all or the 2009 until it was ready, illustrating his brewmaster heritage and focus on quality. For me, I will enjoy the aged 2008 (still have 3 big boys in the fridge) for what it has become and promote the 09' to be the most amazing Catch & Release brew from Sweetwater that I have had since.... well, 'the Creeper'.

And so I digress. Point of all this being, check out Ale Sharpton's articles in Jadore. He is a great resource to follow for a fresh new vision of our favorite beverage.

cheers!