Last month we introduced you to Samuel Adam’s 2009 Utopias touting it as the World’s Strongest Beer. Little did we know that at the exact time that article was being written, BrewDog Brewery, out of Scotland were releasing their Tactical Nuclear Penguin. At Philly Beer Scene, we were fortunate enough to get our hands on this very limited release beer which most definitely will not be available commonly throughout the U.S.

Acai Berry Wheat Beer, an organic and refreshing brew.

With the push for more organic foods and beverages, it is no surprise that the beer world would inevitably pick up on the trend. The first to capitalize on the organic lifestyle was Northern California’s Eel River Brewing Company. According to their website, Eel River was the first American brewery to be certified organic by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF).

Bella Vista’s One Box to Beer Trading

As an adventurous but indecisive beer drinker, I faced a dilemma. About a month into my recent obsession with India Pale Ales, I was tramping the aisles of Bella Vista Beer Distributor when I noticed Abita’s Jockamo. I’m a sucker for creative names and labels – this one features a Mardi Gras Indian wearing a blue headdress. Likewise for decent alcohol-by-volume counts (Jockamo is 6.5 percent) and prices (this one was less than $30, a rarity for an IPA).

Get to know Mike Lubieski, area beer rep for Weyerbacher.

Philly Beer Scene: What did you go to college for and actually want to be when you grew up, prior to deciding to drink beer for a living?
Mike Lubieski: I actually graduated from University of the Arts with a Bachelor in Music. I studied jazz guitar while I was there and played a lot in the Philly area. I taught guitar and piano for a while and worked as an account manager for Hoshino USA (Ibanez guitars/TAMA drums). I actually still teach a little, but it’s only a few students. I still love music and wish I had more time to play. I really can’t complain with beer being the trade-off, though.

Does a brew that holds the reputation of being the world’s strongest beer classify as a weird beer? Samuel Adams Utopias has been around for almost eight years now and although only six editions have been released, every one of them has pushed the boundaries of extreme.

Definitely not the Abominable Snowman.

During the winter season there is nothing better than sitting by the fireplace with a glass of a nice, dark, roasty stout. There are so many options available but none with the vision or grandeur of the Yeti Series of offerings by Great Divide. “It’s all about creating an image of something huge. It’s kind of funny that we picked a Himalayan folklore creature but it’s what we picked.” Brian Dunn, owner of Great Divide, explains where the name of one of their brewery’s best offerings came from.