Geyser Brewing Co.: Nitro Pilot Peak Pale Ale

I was sent off to Cody, WY in November. Reward for having survived about 9 months in New York. Cody only has 9,000 people, but like many Western towns, they have their priorities in order when it comes to beer. I picked up dinner at Geyser Brewing Co on the west end of town and ordered this Pale Ale on nitrogen which I’d never heard of before. I usually think of nitrogen with stouts and porters. In a typical keg, pressure is kept with carbon dioxide, but using nitrogen to pressure the keg alters the feel of the beer in your mouth. CO2 is tingly while N2 is smoooooooth. From Craft Beer:

“Nitrogen is largely insoluble in liquid, which is what contributes to the thick mouth feel. This effect is helped by a special piece of tap equipment known as a restrictor plate that forces the beer through tiny holes before it lands in the glass. That process causes the “rising” effect that is topped with the head. And it’s really only the bubbles on the sides of the glass that fall. Inside they are actually rising, as typically seen with a poured carbonated beverage.”

Back to Geyser’s Pilot Peak. A light gold color with a delicate hop flavour that jumps out a bit at the end of that sip. As expected it was very smooth with hardly any fizz, and that luscious creamy top. It could have been a bit more hoppy, but nitrogen does dull hop flavors. ABV was 6.5% Easy to drink.

Story Time!

I was in Cody on Roosevelt business, looking at old photos in the Buffalo Bill Center of the West’s archives. Admittedly, I arrived in town a little worried that it was going to be too quiet to be any fun. The road to Yellowstone is closed in winter, and the car I rented was not snow-worthy. I’ve been to Cody a few times before, but usually when it’s summer and packed with lumbering tourists.

My worries were completely blasted away. It all started at Geyser too….

I sat at the kind of quiet bar and ordered some food and the beer. The bartender asked for my ID and commented that it was from Connecticut. Low and behold, one of the waitresses was from Connecticut! Though in dramatic reveal she started out asking if I knew so and so- names I recognized from my high school. I was really confused as to why she would know folks from my rural CT town, and then she revealed that she’s a Nutmegger too and went to university with people from my hometown. I guess one benefit of living in a tiny state is that it’s grounds for instant conversation when you encounter other natives half way across the country.

Jackie was incredibly welcoming and I was introduced to Grace, a museum intern, at lunch the next day. These gals are so much fun. It’s such a shame that we live 1000+ miles away from each other. We took on the town the next night with some dancing at Cassie’s Super Club (cowboys, dead things, no NYC pretentiousness) where I learned to two-step. Then the next night (when Jackie ironically had to go to NYC) Grace and I had a blast and too much to drink at the Silver Dollar Bar (no body had their ear bit off during our visit) and Buffalo Bill’s original Irma saloon. Why not go to bed at 2 when you have to be up at 5am for your flight?

Best business trip ever.

 

Mystic Brews- Mystic Bridge IPA & Mystic Seaport Pale Ale

A certain drummer, who’s enthusiasm for Connecticut hasn’t expired yet (because he doesn’t live here), decided that a pilgrimage to Mystic Pizza was necessary to living. So we loaded into Hank (Poor Old Shine‘s instrument and body transporter) and set south towards Mystic and the site of a terrible 1980’s movie. To be honest I’ve never seen Mystic Pizza. But that’s because I avoid everything that comes from the 80’s. Including myself.

The pizza was not terrible. The beer was more interesting. We got two pitchers.

The light one is Mystic Seaport Pale Ale by Shipyard Brewing Co. out of Maine. The dark one is Mystic Bridge IPA by Cottrell Brewing Co. out of Connecticut. Well, I think that’s what they are. My notes ended with: “A little drunk. Can’t elaborate”. Sorry readers.

Here’s what I’ve got for the Bridge:

Persistent caramel head and not much aroma escaping from it’s frothy cap. The first taste is a bit hoppy and smoky. A bitter introduction followed with a watery, sweet aftertaste. It was ok. Whale (my fellow beer snob) said it had “front-loaded flavor”. Monk (the drummer on the right) said, “It’s good”. His snob level is lacking. Acordian/pumpy player, Max, said it was “more roasty” than the Seaport Pale Ale. Kathleen, was not a fan though and and proclaimed it “a butthead”. So there you go folks. The Mystic Bridge IPA is great if you want a Front-loading, good butthead beer.

Seaport Pale Ale:

This was a maltier beer with a golden, thicker head. To me, it seemed to have a fake-honey taste with some grass flavor thrown in for good measure. This was the second beer I tried. So, a little lacking on notes.

 

Story Time!

Let’s see, besides our epic Mystic Pizza Adventure, this conjures memories from the Mystic Aquarium. For one of my birthdays, someone got me a ticket to PET A PENGUIN. Yesss. So I went with my friend into a tiny room with one of the penguin wrasslers, and a Jackass Penguin. And a stethoscope. So while we sat on the floor, Mr. Penguin hopped about and investigated our shoes. The feathers are so dense (100/sq.inch) and felt almost like fur. We used the stethoscope to listen to his heart which was rapid-fire underneath his tuxedo suit. Probably one of the cutest things to ever happen in my life.

National Geographic photo