Recently, friend and fellow Patch writer Dan Fontaine dropped by with 2 treats in hand.  Two different Russian Imperial Stouts by Stone Brewing out in California.  We checked out the regular and the Belgo Anise version.

Click here to see our dual review at Norcross Patch!

I assume Rob Ward and Chris Peters are just like you and me. They love beer and have their phones with them at all times. One day they decided to never be without a bottle opener again and viola, the Opena was born. After receiving monetary backing from the social funding platform Kickstarter, the guys have put the Opena into production for the iPhone 4. I’m sure with a little time, they’ll make one for you Blackberry/Android nerds out there too :] What do you think about the Opena? Interested in buying one? Do you already carry a bottle opener with you? Let us know in the comments below.

Today, we take a look at another saison style ale, Hennepin by Brewery Ommegang.

Click here to check it out on Norcross Patch.

I arrived at 5 Seasons about 45 minutes before the Social Media Day event for dinner and drinks beforehand.  I sat at the bar, where a knowledgable and friendly bartender named Gini greeted me with a menu and a smile and offered to answer any questions I may have about their original beers.  Gini said the lines run directly from the tanks in the brewery below to the tap so the beer is fresh.  You won’t find Bud Light or Miller Light here.  The beer, like the food, is all about what is in season.  I opted for a sampler of six of their beers.  I tried (pictured in order  from left to right) the Spring Bock Lager, the Mighty Leprechaun Ale, the Venus, the Big Ben Oatmeal Porter, and the Provence and Stepchild saisons.

The Spring Bock is a traditional German style lager made with German malts, hops and yeast, while the Leprechaun is a standard light ale (far better than beers with names you would call your friend or beers with the same last name as that former star Indiana Pacers guard whose sister is an announcer or Steve’s Band that sang about The Joker).  The Venus is a Belgian white beer brewed with coriander and orange as well as wheat, barley and oats.  Think 5 Season’s version of a Blue Moon.  I’m not a big fan of dark Porter beers, especially in the summer, but as porters go the Big Ben Oatmeal is quite drinkable.  This paired nicely with the Fish’n'Chips I ate for dinner which were also quite delicious.

My favorite beers by far were the saisons.  Of course, saison is French for “season” so it should come as no surprise that 5 Seasons excels at making “Season” beers.  The Provence Saison was my favorite.  This refreshing golden-colored beer had notes of tropical fruits, berries, apples, exotic spices and an earthiness, but it is the fresh lavender that gives the beer its unique and beautiful aroma and flavor.  Drinking this beer tasted like drinking a flower, but in a good way.  Drinking this beer took me back to the summer several years ago where I spent six weeks living in Juan- les-Pins in the Provence region of France.  During that trip, I went to Grasse, the perfume capital of the world, where lavendar and other flowers lining the Fragonard perfumerie grounds overwhelm your smell with sweet flowery goodness.  The 5 Seasons Provence Saison is a wonderful liquid re-creation of that experience.

The Stepchild Saison has similar flavor notes, but a higher alcohol volume.  This beer is a red color, very smooth, and dry and was created  with the thought, “What would a pinot noir taste like if it was a beer?”  To find out the answer to that question, you’ll have to order a Stepchild yourself.

The beers are constantly changing.  Much to my chagrin, 5 Seasons had just run out of a Peach beer, but a Watermelon Wheat beer is in the works and should be at the breweries soon (there are three 5 Seasons locations in the Atlanta area).  The brewery also taps a new cask every Thursday at 5:55 p.m. (going with the 5 theme from 5 Seasons).  They also have some specialty barrel-aged bottle beers available.

5 Seasons is definitely worth checking out.  Thanks to the AJC f or buying the first round and sponsoring the Social Media Day gathering at such a great local establishment.

Eric Scottsdale joins us for a look at Vrienden, a sour ale by New Belgium and Allagash.

Click here to check it out at Norcross Patch.

St Feuillien Triple

• Style:  abbey triple ale
• ABV:  8.5%
• Availability:  corked 750 ml bottles at fine beer stores, found at Dekalb Farmer’s Market months ago
• Price:  $7-8
• Grade:  B-

This upcoming Saturday the 18th, the Brewau will be held at the Athens brew facility.

Four cask ales and plenty of live music are on the agenda.  Thus far, we know 3 of the 4 casks.  Hop Karma with added coconut, Hopsecutioner plus mango, and Sunray Wheat with 3 berries incorporated.  And also the horrible pun of “Getting Lei’d” in the ad.

The fun runs from 5:30-7:30 during normal tour hours.

But what about for us been enthusiasts?  We have a couple of great local options here around Atlanta, but what other craft breweries are worth the potential trek across America?

The Street, a financial publication of all things, gives us a guide. 

While the article is annoyingly spread over 10 ad-heavy pages, there’s a lot of great info here.  If anything, seeing the picture of where Full Sail brewing is located in Oregon is worth the hassle alone.

Click here to check out The Street’s Top 10 Craft Beer Vacation Destinations.

I know it was for the best and a necessary step in advancing the reputation of this website. 

I knew it would be tough.  I knew he’d take it hard.  I knew emotions would run high.

What I didn’t know, however, was how much it would hurt and what a hole it would leave in my heart.

Please watch the video below.  I spent hours upon hours putting it together and it would mean a lot to me if you viewed it.  And Mikey, where ever you may be, you are missed.

So, without the Hooch, we may not have Sweetwater.  So yeah, it’s damn important!

Click here to check out my review at Norcross Patch.