Kane Second Reef

It’s been awhile since I posted. It’s been crazy at work (funny how popular clinical trials are now) and the free time that I’ve had, I have spent running on the treadmill downstairs. The blog also turned 10 years old this year. In short, I’ll still be posting, just not as regularly, but hopefully more than every two month. Let’s get to the beer.

ABV: 8.1%

Style: American Double/Imperial IPA

Trivia: According to wikipedia.com, “The Banzai Pipeline, or simply Pipeline or Pipe, is a surf reef break located in Hawaii, off Ehukai Beach Park in Pupukea on O’ahu’s North Shore. A reef break is an area in the ocean where waves start to break once they reach the shallows of a reef. Pipeline is known for huge waves that break in shallow water just above a sharp and cavernous reef, forming large, hollow, thick curls of water that surfers can tube ride. There are three reefs at Pipeline in progressively deeper water farther out to sea that activate according to the increasing size of approaching ocean swells.”

Random: I went to Oahu as a kid and wasn’t the biggest fan of it. It was the most developed of all of the islands.

The beer poured with a one finger, pure white head. It took awhile to dissipate and left a small amount of lacing on the glass. The body was hazy and bright yellow. There was no carbonation visible. The nose had some lemon and orange zest without much else. The taste had some citrus flesh, specifically grapefruit and orange. Booze came through as well. The body was on the heavier side with moderate carbonation. It had a quick finish with citrus. I enjoyed this beer a lot and would definitely have it again.

Untappd Rating: 4.5/5.0

Kane Morning Bell – Barrel Aged

It’s been a crazy few weeks at work, which has left me a bit exhausted. We haven’t been going many places, although New Jersey seems to be opening things up. New Jersey now has a mandate that you have to wear a mask in public, which given the increase in case is probably a good thing. We’re one of a few states that are not seeing large increases, which is a good thing. Anyways, let’s get to the beer.

ABV: 9.2%

Style: American Double/Imperial Porter

Trivia: According to wikipedia.com, “Morningbell is a psychedelic rock band based in Gainesville, Florida. The band was formed in 2000 by brothers Travis Atria (vocals, guitar, lyricist) and Eric Atria (bass guitar, theremin, backing vocals). Stacie Thrushman/Atria (keyboard) joined the band in late 2001, while Chris Hillman (drums) was recruited in 2007 as the band’s 6th drummer.”

Random: The cats have spent all day sleeping. They’ll probably get up around midnight and go crazy.

The beer poured with a half a finger of head that dissipated quickly. There was no lacing left on the glass, but a slight crown on top of the black body. The body had no visible carbonation because of the color. The nose was filled with oak and vanilla along with cocoa. The taste had a lot of chocolate and cocoa with some bourbon and vanilla. The booze was present and quite warming. The body was on the thicker side with moderate carbonation. The finish was lengthy and sweet with chocolate and bourbon. This was outstanding and I would definitely have it again.

Untappd Rating: 4.5/5.0

Kane Driftwood – Bourbon Barrel-Aged

One of the benefits of Kane home delivery is getting some limited releases that I wouldn’t normally get since I’m about an hour away. Let’s see how this one was.

ABV: 14.6%

Style: American Brown Ale

Trivia: According to wikipedia.com, “Driftwood is wood that has been washed onto a shore or beach of a sea, lake, or river by the action of winds, tides or waves. It is a form of marine debris or tidewrack. In some waterfront areas, driftwood is a major nuisance. However, the driftwood provides shelter and food for birds, fish and other aquatic species as it floats in the ocean. Gribbles, shipworms and bacteria decompose the wood and gradually turn it into nutrients that are reintroduced to the food web. Sometimes, the partially decomposed wood washes ashore, where it also shelters birds, plants, and other species. Driftwood can become the foundation for sand dunes. Most driftwood is the remains of trees, in whole or part, that have been washed into the ocean, due to flooding, high winds, or other natural occurrences, or as the result of logging. There is also a subset of driftwood known as drift lumber. Drift lumber includes the remains of man-made wooden objects, such as buildings and their contents washed into the sea during storms, wooden objects discarded into the water from shore, dropped dunnage or lost cargo from ships (jetsam), and the remains of shipwrecked wooden ships and boats (flotsam). Erosion and wave action may make it difficult or impossible to determine the origin of a particular piece of driftwood. Driftwood can be used as part of decorative furniture or other art forms, and is a popular element in the scenery of fish tanks.”

Random: Flotsam and Jetsam are the names of the eels in “The Little Mermaid.” I saw that film in theaters as a child.

The beer poured with no head whatsoever. The body was dark brown and I couldn’t see much carbonation. The nose was filled with bourbon and vanilla. There was brown sugar and booze as well. The taste had a lot of booze upfront, but given the ABV, no surprise there. It had brown sugar, brown bread, molasses and some caramel. The bourbon was strong as well with a nice smoky note. The body was thick and had light carbonation. The beer had a lengthy and sticky finish with brown sugar and lots of bourbon. This was an outstanding beer that was a real treat to have.

Untappd Rating: 4.0/5.0

Kane Sneak Box

This is a beer that I swore that I had reviewed before, but clearly hadn’t. Let’s crack it open.

ABV: 5.4%

Style: American Pale Ale

Trivia: According to wikipedia.com, “As with most American small craft, its origin is not well documented. It is generally accepted that Captain Hazelton Seaman invented the first sneakbox about 1836, in West Creek, New Jersey. It was usually built of Atlantic white cedar wood, known by many as Jersey cedar, which was once plentiful throughout the mid-Atlantic states. It was conceived as a low-profile, lightweight, seaworthy hunting craft that one man could easily handle in any of the weather conditions likely to be encountered in the Jersey marshes. The first printed description appeared in Forest and Stream on April 3, 1874 in a short letter from Robert B. White. White included a rough dimensional drawing that is recognizably a sneakbox.”

Random: I miss going on boats on vacation. They’re always so calming.

The beer poured with a one finger, white head that was rather thick. It dissipated at a moderate pace and left some lacing on the glass. The body was bright yellow and cloudy with only some visible carbonation. The nose was huge for the style. It was filled with some pine and herbal notes and quickly transitioned into lots of pineapple and mango. The taste was even better. It was a total tropical fruit bomb with pineapple, mango and papaya and then a pleasant grassy note came through with cilantro. The body was super light with a lot of carbonation. It had a medium length finish with fruit. This beer was flavorful and outstanding. I would definitely have this again.

Untappd Rating: 4.0/5.0

Kane Stained Glass

Work has gotten crazy busy and as a result, has limited my ability to post every night as well as my consumption. So, I’ll be posting as much as possible, but daily may be difficult. Anyways, let’s get to the beer.

ABV: 6.7%

Style: American IPA

Trivia: According to wikipedia.com, “Medieval stained glass is the coloured and painted glass of medieval Europe from the 10th century to the 16th century. For much of this period stained glass windows were the major pictorial art form, particularly in northern France, Germany and England, where windows tended to be larger than in southern Europe (in Italy, for example, frescos were more common). In some countries, such as in Sweden and in England, only a fragment of an originally large amount of stained glass have survived to this day. Stained glass windows were used predominantly in churches, but were also found in wealthy domestic settings and public buildings such as town halls, though surviving examples of secular glass are very rare indeed. The purpose of stained glass windows in a church was both to enhance the beauty of their setting and to inform the viewer through narrative or symbolism. The subject matter was generally religious in churches, though “portraits” and heraldry are often included, and many narrative scenes give valuable insights into the medieval world.”

Random: I love stained glass. Val and I have a lighting fixture that eventually we need to mount that is stained glass.

The beer poured with a huge, four finger, pure white head that was incredibly thick. It took a long time to dissipate, but once it did, left a lot of lacing on the glass. The body was slightly hazy and bright yellow in color with a decent amount of carbonation. The nose had a lot of grain up front with some wheat and cereal notes. Then, it went into lots of pine. The taste had a lot of pine as well with some lemon balm notes that quickly went into grain and rice. The body was on the lighter side with a lot of carbonation. It had a quick finish with lemon. I thought this was a solid and refreshing beer that I would definitely have again.

Untappd Rating: 4.0/5.0

Kane Coastal Plain

It was a long day at work today and I could definitely use a beer.

ABV: 5.4%

Style: Vienna Lager

Trivia: According to wikipedia.com, “Vienna lager was developed by brewer Anton Dreher in Vienna in 1841. German-speaking brewers who emigrated to Mexico in the late 19th century, during the Second Mexican Empire, took the style with them. Vienna lager is a reddish-brown or copper-colored beer with medium body and slight malt sweetness, while Mexican Vienna lager, developed by Santiago Graf, has a somewhat darker color and roasted flavor. The malt aroma and flavor may have a toasted character. Despite their name, Vienna lagers are generally uncommon in continental Europe today, but can be found frequently in North America, where it is often called pre-Prohibition style amber lager, as the style was popular in pre-1919 America. Notable examples include Brooklyn Lager, Samuel Adams Boston Lager, Great Lakes Eliot Ness, Devils Backbone Vienna Lager, Abita Amber, Yuengling Traditional Lager, Dos Equis Ámbar, August Schell Brewing Company Firebrick, and Negra Modelo. In Norway, the style has retained some of its former popularity, and is still brewed by most major breweries.”

Random: I missed out on ordering Kane this week, so I’ll have to place an order next week. With everything opening up, I hope they continue the delivery service.

The beer poured with a fluffy, three finger, pure white head. It dissipated at a moderate pace, but left no lacing on the glass. The body was bright yellow with some haze along with lots of carbonation. The nose had a lot of bread with some grainy malt. It had a slight sweet scent as well. The taste started with some sweet malt with honey and a touch of flowers and quickly went into a white bread note. There was some caramel at the end. The body was on the heavier end of the style with a lot of carbonation. It had a long finish for the style with caramel malt to finish. I thought this was a pleasant, robust lager that I would have again.

Untappd Rating: 3.5/5.0

Kane Indicators

This weekend flew by, probably since work has been crazy lately. Time for a review beer.

ABV: 7.4%

Style: New England IPA

Trivia: According to wikipedia.com, “New England IPAs (also referred to as Hazy IPA or Juicy IPA) are a style of IPA invented by The Alchemist’s John Kimmich with his beer, Heady Topper. They are characterized by juicy, citrus, and floral flavours, with an emphasis on hop aroma with low bitterness. They also have a smooth consistency or mouthfeel, and a hazy appearance. These characteristics are achieved using a combination of brewing techniques, including the use of particular strains of yeast, the timing of adding the hops, and adjusting the chemistry of the water. The style has become popular among New England brewers. New England IPAs need not be brewed in New England. It was officially recognized as a separate beer style, the Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale, by the Brewers Association in 2018. A variation on the style is the milkshake IPA, which adds lactose to make a New England IPA more creamy.”

Random: Our cats have spent the entire day sleeping in their beds. It’s a rough life for them.

The beer poured with a thick, two finger, white head. It too awhile to dissipate and left some lacing on the glass. The body was a bright yellow with no visible carbonation due to the haze. The nose was filled with fruit. I got mango, peach, apricot and some kiwi as well. The taste was just as fruity as the nose. I got the same peach and apricot and kiwi with some pineapple as well. It was pleasantly bitter. The body was on the thicker side with moderate carbonation. The finish was lengthy and sticky with tropical fruit. The beer was excellent and had lots of bright flavors. This is worth finding.

Untappd Rating: 4.0/5.0

Kane A Space To Fill

I really enjoy having breweries able to deliver directly. I would be lucky if I got one or two trips a year into Kane and now I can order weekly if I wanted to.

ABV: 8.4%

Style: American Double/Imperial IPA

Trivia: According to wikipedia.com, “Ocean Township is a township located in east central Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. Ocean Township consists of three main unincorporated communities: Wanamassa, Oakhurst and Wayside. The township is divided into two zip codes, 07755 (Oakhurst) and 07712 (Wanamassa & Wayside, main city Asbury Park). Small portions have Allenhurst (07711), Deal (07723) and Long Branch (07740) zip codes. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township’s population was 27,291, reflecting an increase of 332 (+1.2%) from the 26,959 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,901 (+7.6%) from the 25,058 counted in the 1990 Census.”

Random: We haven’t been to Asbury Park since before COVID. They have a Korean taco spot that is amazing.

The beer poured with a two finger, white head. It was loose and dissipated at a moderate pace. There was some lacing left on the glass. The body was light yellow with some haze and moderate carbonation visible. The nose had some fruit to it. Specifically I got pineapple and orange. There was some booze as well. The taste was bright and had a lot of fresh citrus. There was orange and grapefruit and some pineapple came through next. The alcohol was there, but not overwhelming. The body was on the thicker side with moderate carbonation. It had a lengthy and sticky finish with citrus. I enjoyed this beer and would search this one out.

Untappd Rating: 4.0/5.0

Kane Sideshore

Work has been insanely busy, so we’ve spent the weekend doing nothing. I did crack open a few beers, so let’s see how it was.

ABV: 4.8%

Style: Czech Pilsener

Trivia: According to wikipedia.com, “The city of Pilsen began brewing in 1295, but until the mid-1840s, most Bohemian beers were top-fermented. The taste and standards of quality often varied widely, and in 1838, consumers dumped whole barrels to show their dissatisfaction. The officials of Pilsen founded a city-owned brewery in 1839, called Měšťanský pivovar Plzeň (German: Bürger-Brauerei, English: Citizens’ Brewery – now Pilsner Urquell), which was to brew beer in the pioneering Bavarian style. Brewers had begun aging beer made with cool fermenting yeasts in caves (lager, i.e., German: gelagert [stored]), which improved the beer’s clarity and shelf-life. Part of this research benefited from the knowledge already expounded on in a book (printed in German in 1794, in Czech in 1799), written by Czech brewer František Ondřej Poupě (German: Franz Andreas Paupie) (1753–1805) from Brno.”

Random: I have never been to the Czech Republic before. Once traveling is safer, I would definitely go.

The beer poured with a two finger, pure white head. It dissipated slowly and left a nice amount of lacing on the glass. The body was mostly clear and light yellow in color. There was a lot of carbonation visible. The nose had some grain with mineral water. There was also a touch of sweetness. The taste was crisp and clean with grain and mineral water. I didn’t pick up a lot of sweetness. The body was light with lots of carbonation. The finish was quick with grain. I enjoyed this beer and it went down easily. I would have this one again.

Untappd Rating: 3.5/5.0

Kane Whitehall

Val and I purchased a replacement mini fridge for our basement. We got it down there, unpacked it and realized that it was broken. We repacked it and brought it back up, which means that I definitely deserve a beer.

ABV: 7.2%

Style: American IPA

Trivia: According to wikipedia.com, “Whitehall is a road in the City of Westminster, Central London, which forms the first part of the A3212 road from Trafalgar Square to Chelsea. It is the main thoroughfare running south from Trafalgar Square towards Parliament Square. The street is recognised as the centre of the Government of the United Kingdom and is lined with numerous departments and ministries, including the Ministry of Defence, Horse Guards and the Cabinet Office. Consequently, the name ‘Whitehall’ is used as a metonym for the British civil service and government, and as the geographic name for the surrounding area. The name was taken from the Palace of Whitehall that was the residence of Kings Henry VIII through to William III, before its destruction by fire in 1698; only the Banqueting House survived. Whitehall was originally a wide road that led to the front of the palace; the route to the south was widened in the 18th century following the destruction of the palace. As well as government buildings, the street is known for its memorial statues and monuments, including Britain’s primary war memorial, the Cenotaph. The Whitehall Theatre, now the Trafalgar Studios, has been popular for farce comedies since the mid-20th century.”

Random: Before the pandemic, I was supposed to take a trip to our UK site. Definitely had to put that one on hold.

This beer poured with a thick, one and half finger, pure white head. It dissipated at a moderate pace and left some lacing on the glass. The body was very hazy and bright yellow. Due to the haze, I couldn’t see much carbonation. The nose had a lot of citrus and grapefruit up front with a touch of a floral note. The taste had the same citrus and grapefruit but also some green melon. The floral note wasn’t apparent on the taste. There was some grass too. The body was on the lighter side of the style with a lot of carbonation. It had a lengthy finish with grass. I really enjoyed this beer and would

Untappd Rating: 4.0/5.0