NERAX 2014

It's NERAX time again, no need to dry clean your thneed though, the New England Real Ale Expostiton  has been marking the end of winter for more than 15 years and it's still going strong.

We  especially like the first two  nights of the four day fest when a good portion of the "can't get em here" UK session beers are in their prime . This year it is being held in a new location - the brand new Aeronaut Brewing space in Somerville, a promising new talent if the tasty session ipa on tap is any indication of future output.  We sampled a good number of the 2014 offerings and here are some favorites so far :

Stonehouse Sunlander - nice and crisp , actual Aussie hop flavor was detectable during the Weds. session.
Stonehouse Station Bitter - juicy and fruity flavor
Salopian Automation - watch out this one's a hoppy velvet sledgehammer at 7 %
Ridgeway Oxfordshire Blue - just like the description says light n fruity
Fyne Ales -Sublime Stout - an awesome US-y stout, loved even by the stout eschewers among us
Ridgeway Querkus - just the right amount of smokiness in this light porter
Cromarty Happy Chappy - nice grain-y drinker with a sharp bitter finish
One Love Inks Binka - very nice US dark malt drinker
Hill's Simcoe Pale - we had some of the extra chunky last pours of this before it it was reaped and it was excellent

NERAX 2012

The Hop Scholars are huge fans of NERAX (the New England Real Ale eXhibition), and here is a little summary of what we saw and sampled(Wednesday and Thursday night sessions).

Here is the view from the entrance:

Mr. Hop Scholar has attended both sessions so far(Wednesday and Thursday nights); Mrs. Hop Scholar joined the Mr. on Thursday night(thank you, babysitter!)  Here is the short list of favorites(in order):

Mallinsons – Galaxy , single hopped blast of flavor and bitterness, (kicked Thurs)

Leeds –Midnight Bell, complex dark fruit (kicked Thurs)

Harviestoun – Bitter and Twisted, ho-hum in the bottle but on cask this beer is excellent

Brecon – Pale Beacons, fruity , delicious

Hobsons –Town Crier, well balanced, excellent bitter

Montys - Mischief, excellent traditional strong bitter, a real drinker

Harviestoun – Old Engine Oil, incredible dark malt flavor and body for a 4% beer.

Fullers – ESB, old reliable

Somerville – Flag Raiser, excellent IPA

Jack’s Abby –Jabby Brau, India Pale Lager, great hop notes

Smuttynose – Finest Kind, OK in the bottle , exploding with dry hopped aroma and flavor on cask



Here is the Chief Cellarman Randy Baril with the casks on stillage.  Great job on conditioning the NERAX beers Randy!

Some of our Local Heroes, Dann Paquette from Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project and Jeff Leiter from Slumbrew, Somerville Brewing Company:

And finally, your humble Hop Scholars, expressing different opinions of a brew at NERAX(photo by Hop Scholar Friend and Co-Conspirator, Codemouse):

The Mr. will be continuing the adventure of sampling delicious real ales tonight with some great friends, and the Mrs. will join him again for the Saturday afternoon session.  Hope to see you there!  Cheers!