Author: Matt

Matt is the Co-Founder and Resident Beermeister of ModernThirst.com. He was born and raised on the west side of Cincinnati. From his humble beginnings as a Burger Light and Hudy Delight drinker, he has developed a palate for some of the America’s best beer, bourbon and wine. He has enjoyed visits to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and countless breweries. In 2013 he became more serious about homebrewing, and has hopes to continue to expand his brewing hobby. Matt resides in Cincinnati with his wife and two daughters. Twitter @GaterMatt, email [email protected].

Well, Wine Fest 2014 was a success. I was lucky enough to attend with a good friend and future ModernThirst wine contributor, Jason Beem.  Jason is very knowledgeable and has an extensive wine collection in his personal cellar, and is in the wine industry as a Director with JT Wines.  Having an expert such as Jason had a clear advantage:  I did not waste my time, tongue or liver on bad wines. By picking and choosing what we were tasting allowed us to chat with and get more information from the distributors and even the wineries themselves.  I also learned…

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There are many American breweries that make Belgian beers. Now it’s time for those Belgians to admit that we brew a good beer as well. This is a great interpretation with great hoppiness and tremendous mouth-feel, but you still know that it is Belgium brewed. Cheers!

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Tonight marks the grand finale of a favorite event for wine snobs everywhere.  The Grand Tastings of the Cincinnati International Wine Festival showcases over 600 wines from over 130 wineries. The thousand of attendees are also treated to hors d’oeuvres, live music and wine souvenirs.  Tickets will are still available at the door, and a complete tasting guide is available here. Check back on ModernThirst for photos and reviews, If we remember….

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I finally found the perfect evening to open a growler of Galaxy High by Mad Tree Brewing. A fantastic IIPA with New Zealand Galaxy Hops (one of my favorite hops for Homebrewing!) Enjoy whatever is in your glass this evening…cheers!

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Bill’s post on the Goose Island Bourbon County Barleywine prompted me to grab this out of the refrigerator.  While I am sure it won’t stand up to the Goose Island…this is a very good take on Barleywine style.  When breweries put tasting notes on the bottle, sometimes I think they are reaching a bit, but this label provides a succinct description of what to expect  “….an aroma of sherry, hops and fruit and a soft warming, complex palate”  With all of this and a 10.1 % ABV it is still very drinkable.  Now the bad news, Brooklyn is no longer…

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Beware, zombies are everywhere right now! On your TV, in the local multiplex and even in the library. While I haven’t got caught up in the latest brain eating craze, there is one Zombie related item that I can rally behind and that is the much coveted Zombie Dust American Pale Ale by Three Floyds. This is a near perfect beer, be sure to grab it if you ever see it. Expect a detailed review in the future, and watch out for the undead.

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We are in the midst of the very popular New York City Beer week. Please let us know if you participate in any of the events, we would love to hear about your tastings and experiences.

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After our plans were changed for Presidents’ Day weekend, I found myself home from work today without any real plans.  While I was initially disappointed in the changed plans, it gives me a perfect opportunity to brew a batch of beer! What am I brewing today?  Well it may not surprise you but it is an IPA.  I decided to name it Presidential IPA, but then after a quick search, I discovered there is some beer out of Arkansas with the same name,  now I’m considering naming it William Henry Harrison, the US President that happens to be buried just…

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Stone Brewing recently announced their first session IPA via twitter link, named Go To IPA This will be a direct competitor of Founders All Day IPA. The idea behind these IPAs is that they are ‘sessionable’ meaning you can drink them one after another. Usually this means lower alcohol, less bitter (and hopefully less expensive). Founders did make a decent beer in the All Day, but I think they did leave room for Stone to one up them. We will see when it is released. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments section. We will do a…

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