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Resurgence All the King's Men Smoked Cider Saison & WeyerBacher Blithering Idiot


Resurgence Brewing Company Cider Creek All The King's Men Smoked Cider Saison ABV: 7%

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, all the king’s horses and all the king’s men, couldn’t put Humpty together again,” and so the old nursery rhyme goes, though clearly they were not referring to this All the King’s Men, which is part local craft beer, part local craft cider from the collective minds of Resurgence Brewing Company and Cider Creek Hard Cider. All the King’s Men, a smoked cider saison, is a truly unique offering as our area’s first collaborative cider ale. This apple fritter-esque brew is made with smoked apples, cinnamon, 100% New York State fermented cider, saison yeast, malted barley, wheat, and hops. It pours a golden amber before strong apple overtones take hold. All the King’s Men is light, crisp, sweet, at times tart, remaining refreshing throughout—just like an apple. All the King’s Men manages to find a pleasant balance between the worlds of cider and beer, one that is better to be drank than simply read about. This exclusive brew is available in both bottles (if you can manage to get your hands on one that is) and possibly on draft in the future (a little birdie tells me that there is a barrel of this aging somewhere on the grounds of Resurgence). When is a beer not a beer? Or should that be when is a cider not a cider? You’ll have to decide for yourself.




Weyerbacher - Blithering Idiot
Style: English-style Barley Wine

ABV: 11.1%

When the cold and snow are the main topic for small talk, it must be Barley wine season. Have you ever wanted a beer to reach out and give you a big hug? This deep ruby-red/brown liquid is the perfect choice for anyone who wants that hug to be a sweet, malty, rib clinging beverage. It’s a beer that may even replace the warmth your grandmother’s hand knitted afghan once provided. Blithering Idiot from Weyerbacher has never jumped off the shelf into my arms, until now. With hints of raisins, prunes, toffee and wood, it is well balanced from start to finish. As it warms in the glass these flavors become more pronounced. Coming in at 11.1% abv, this guy packs a punch. Maybe that’s how this beer got its name. Sip, sip, sip, yup!?! The mouthfeel of this beer is a bit lighter than I expected, but not a disappointment at all. Light alcoholic heat in the finish could warm even the coldest heart. If you have the time and patience, this beer could be added to the cellar collection and left to mellow out over time. I am most certainly going to call this beer on the phone and chat later.

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