LIQUID HERO BREWERY

United States Brewpubs

YORK, PENNSYLVANIA

Next to pristine Sovereign Bank Stadium on the outskirts of York’s industrial center lies LIQUID HERO BREWERY, an enticing red-bricked microbrew pub opened in 2012. Co-owners Matt De Prato, Christian Quinlivan and Josh Hoke, all present on my initial May 2013 sojourn to this Lancaster County hotspot, present a fabulous array of stylistically diversified ales.

In the maroon-walled tasting room are six wood tables and a seven-seat bar (where a large TV, blackboard beer list, tap handles and several collectible bottles reside). Rustic wood crossbars, exposed ceiling ducts and gray concrete floors give the elevated backroom brew tank area an oldfactory feel. Local Pennsylvania wines (listed on a sign near the Dogfish Head insignia) are available at the brass top bar as well as appetizers, salads and entrees (Fish & Chips, Cuban Pretzel Melt, Bacon Cheeseburger and Triple Decker Sandwich).

Settling at the middle of the bar next to Quinlivan, and soon after, De Prato and Hoke, the gracious bartender serves nine samples in beautiful six-ounce goblets. My wife is totally pleased by the awesome wheat beer triumvirate available this Saturday afternoon.

Liquid Hero Brewing Company 50 E North St York, PA Pubs - MapQuest

First, we share soft-toned Hero Weizen, a mildly creamed banana-clove-centered delight with lemony orange brightener and wispy white wheat sedation. Then comes Schweet, a fruitful strawberry wheat ale caressed by cranberry-raspberry-blueberry tartness to its Graham Cracker spine.

Blending the Schweet with Hero Weizen, The Mix brings candi-sugared crystal malting and sharper hop astringency to sweet ‘n sour strawberry-raspberry fruiting and ancillary banana-clove-bubblegum nuances (while arguably bettering the two original brews).

Liquid Hero’s flagship offering, American Hero Amber Ale, goes beyond mainstream sessionability with its coarsened hop-spiced bittering and toasted caramel malting receiving a mosy earthen dewing.

Brand new Pale Ale sharpened its citra-hopped bite with juniper berry bittering and mildly perfumed orange-lemon-grapefruit serenity.

Even more pungently engaging, Irregardless Citra-Hopped IPA coated its hop-oiled peach-pineapple-mango tropicalia with a serious ethanol kick.

Collaborating with nearby Bube’s, dry-bodied Black IPA brought black licorice illusions to chalky dark cocoa and chocolate ascendance, leaving a trail of dried fruited resonance.

Smooth nitro-injected Imperial Stout placed nutty chocolate sweetness next to hop-embittered cherryskin, cola and cocoa illusions. Just as worthy, Adam’s Stout loaded molasses-tarred vanilla fudge richness onto dark chocolate, coconut and cocoa nibs undertones and hop-charred coffee bittering.

Combining the talents of three experimental homebrewers with humble beginnings, Liquid Hero has become an instant staple in this factory town known as White Rose City.

www.liquidhero.com

www.liquidhero.com

BENNY BREWING COMPANY (MARTY’S BLUE ROOM)

United States Brewpubs

Just a quick update! We've received... - Marty's Blue Room | Facebook  Benny Brew Co. Index

NANTICOKE, PENNSYLVANIA

Talk about your successful traditional family-run neighborhood joint! Serving agrarian mining villagers, local businessmen and familial denizens living inside the inconspicuous uphill Sheatown section of Nanticoke with authentic Cajun food since 1984, MARTY’S BLUE ROOM expanded its red brick-fronted, white clapboard-sided residential boundaries under the guidance of convivial husband-wife Jim and Joanie Schonfeld. By 2010, Schonfeld’s son began brewing operations under his own name as BENNY BREWING COMPANY, utilizing a single-barrel Sabo system with four fermenters.

Formerly one-room saloon, Roman’s Cafe, Marty’s rustic country comfort proves to be therapeutic. Entering the diner-styled homestead for a two-hour jaunt, May ’13, my wife and I grab a table across the left side 14-seat bar where twelve taps pour Benny’s current four libations (fermented in the windowed brew tanks) plus Bud, Labatts, Yuengling and Hofbrau for the macro-brew masses.

The blue-tiled ceiling, Harp lager signpost and Blackboard Beer list capture the eye as we settle into the cozy cafe. Though we don’t ‘Go Cajun’ this afternoon, Maryland crab soup and garlic-breaded parmesan-cheesed bruscetta provide excellent fodder for Benny’s appealing fare.

Brisk citric-spiced perfume-hopped spritzer, Summer Ale, opened the session with easygoing splendor. Centrist-like Amber Lager enticed honeyed malt sweetness with chestnut, pine nut and resin variables.

Gose-like beige-hazed moderation, Wit, brought herbaceous notions (lemongrass, eucalyptus, peppercorn) to sweetly perfumed orange peel, lemon zest, mandarin orange and yellow grapefruit crisping. Its coriander salting and fern-like freshness add further delicate luster.

Hopenstein India Pale Ale layered woody Simcoe hops atop dry grapefruit-peeled juniper berry bittering and juicy tangerine-orange-peach tang.

Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, soft-focus Oatmeal Stout (nitro version) mingled black coffee bittering, creamy cappuccino frothing, chalky cocoa coarsening and wood-burnt chicory.

Coal mining posts, dirt roads and farming mules may be a thing of the past in this rural northeast Pennsylvania hideout, but Marty’s peaceful easy feeling re-creates Concrete City’s abandoned smalltown atmosphere.

www.martysblueroom.com

KUKA BANANA NUT BROWN ALE

Beers A-Z

Enthusiastic mahogany-hued English-styled brown ale inundated by fizzy banana ripeness over nutty mocha richness. Escalating browned banana sweetness seeps into coffee-stained maca root influence and crème brulee nicety to molasses-soaked Graham cracker spine.  Charcoal respite deepens brazen hop-charred bittering and subtle brown chocolate roast. A darker malt-forward banana beer that counters the lighter, more affluent Wells Banana Bread Beer.

Andean Kuka Banana Nut Brown - Where to Buy Near Me - BeerMenus

Kuka Banana Nut Brown Ale (12oz NR - 4/6) - (LOW GRAVITY SERIES)

KUKA IMPERIAL RYE IPA

Beers A-Z

Better in this rye setting than Kuka’s IPA/Pale Ale versions due to more radical flavor profile. Radish-like maca root influence offers mild cacao nibs tease to honeyed raisin rye breading and chocolate-soured butternut-pecan-chestnut-walnut conflux. Stylish grapefruit, orange and pineapple fruiting gains exposure over time. Pastry-like sugaring, port wine tannins and peat-y earthiness infiltrate busy backend of inconspicuously alcoholic (9.4% ABV) medium body.

Imperial Rye IPA – 9.4%: brewed with Maca Root, 20% Rye Malt

KUKA AMERICAN IPA

Beers A-Z

Though not necessarily an enhancement to the overall India Pale Ale styling, its advertised ‘perfect balance between Kuka’s Pale Ale and Rye IPA’ finds maca root influence in a similar profile as the former. Lemon-candied lime juicing and mild orange-peeled souring pick up reedy hop astringency. Decent, but inessential.

 KUKA – Andean Brewing Company

(UINTA) COCKEYED COOPER BOURBON BARREL BARLEYWINE

Beers A-Z

Shifty garnet-coppered barleywine never fully integrates bourbon barrel influence. Buttery smooth groove develops as oncoming sherry wining deepens black cherry-pureed fig, raisin and plum fruiting alongside sappy molasses sugaring. Astringent hop bittering lingers thru vanilla-fudged dark chocolate finish. On tap at NY Wing Factory, sweet bourbon luster drops off precipitously and casual dried fruiting lacks pertinence.