Booze...in 200 Words or Less: Victory Brewing Company Saison du BUFF

Victory Saison Du BUFF
Was at Whole Foods - near childrens' play area of all places - when I spied cases of this collaborative beer with Stone and Dogfish Head being stored. Asked personnel if they new when it would be available. They didn't. Checked website two days later. There it was, not only in bottles, but also ON DRAFT! Grabbing my growler, I headed out for a fill-up! The growler guy was a real winner. Here, I thought there was just one version of the beer, but it turns out that the esteemed breweries collaborated on the recipe, and then all three were able to go off and use the ingredients in the way they saw fit. After tasting this, I would be very excited to taste the Stone and Dogfish Head versions - Stone being a brewer that I would see as superior to Victory and Dogfish Head being one that I would probably describe as inferior by a slim margin. Victory's features some seriously dry, piney notes; a rustic, wheaty, almost flowery scent; and a picture-perfect golden color. Drinks like a light (yet complex), smooth specimen, but packs a fairly serious punch.
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The Pizza Project
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Booze...in 50 Words or Less: Stone Brewing Company Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale

Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale
Losing track of amount of times I went to Whole Foods Plymouth Meeting and accidentally picked up a stout/IPA combo. Still, figured anything by Stone would rule. Was right. Heavy, creamy head like a stout, but fierce, bitey flavor that never lets you forget that you're drinking hoppy beer.
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The Pizza Project
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Growler Wars: AleSmith vs. Voodoo

Two growlers. Two beers. Two frosted glasses. One winner.

AleSmith Nautical Nut Brown Ale
The color on this San Diego-based brewer's English brown ale actually borders on black. It gives off serious malts as well as definite coffee notes. There is a bit of a spicy, peppery flavor and the first sip is both smooth yet vibrant and spiky. There is a bit of a sour, vinegary feel at points, but overall this brown is way better than run-of-the-mill.

Booze...in 50 Words or Less: Lagunitas Wilco Tango Foxtrot

Lagunitas Wilco Tango Foxtrot
Heard keg of this ale by California's beer geniuses had arrived at local watering hole. E-mailed to see when it would be tapped. "Not until next week." Shattering! Until I saw 22-ouncer at Whole Foods. Shockingly, think it's just OK. Somewhere between brown ale and IPA. Struggles to find balance.

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The Pizza Project
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Growler Wars: Free Will vs. Stoudt's

Two growlers. Two beers. Two frosted glasses. One winner.

Free Will Brewing Company Citra Pale Ale
Never heard of this brewery before buying this beer. Turns out that they are based in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. Based on this product, they are a beer maker to look out for. The beer has an amber coloring and packs a powerful, hoppy scent and taste. The power is more along the lines of an IPA. I tasted a note of caramel and a significant blast of grapefruit. A very nice balance between a heavy-hitting hop monster and an easy-drinking pale. One of the better beers I've had in a while.

The Freezer Case: Whole Foods Fresh from Our Kitchen (Homemade)

Are you someone who loves cheese on your pizza? If so, this pizza from Whole Foods Plymouth Meeting is for you. I, on the other hand, am a person who likes sauce on my pizza. This isn't the pizza for me.

Let me get some positives out of the way early: The crust has a very nice texture. It's firm and floury with a crunchy cornmeal feel. They do something interesting with the pepperoni as well. Rather than cut it up into a bunch of pieces, they layer about five or six large pieces on the pie. I'm sure people can go either way with this, but I preferred it to the Wegman's school of pepperoni application, which is to cover every inch of the pie with the thin meat circles. It should also be said that the pepperoni's taste really stood out. It was both smoky and spicy. Finally, the wife liked the taste of the cheese. And that's a good thing for her because there was a ton of it.

The cheese layer was so thick, I could not see a hint of tomato sauce. When I turned the pizza sideways, the cheese layer was actually thicker than the crust. There were moments when it was actually difficult to swallow. What sauce was there was very ordinary. In other words, this is not the pizza for me. However, if you are down with mozzarella overload, run, don't walk, to get this pizza.

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The Pizza Project
Just a nibble: http://twitter.com/ThePizzaProject
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Booze...in 50 Words or Less: Victory Helios Ale

Victory Helios Ale
Bought a 22-ouncer at Whole Foods in Plymouth Meeting for $3.49. An absolute steal. This tremendously distinct saison boasts a golden color, a thick head, and a citrusy, slightly bitter finish. Has a floral, lemony scent and a ginger kick that compares to Hitachino Nest's stellar White Ale.

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The Pizza Project
Just a nibble: http://twitter.com/ThePizzaProject
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Booze...in 50 Words or Less: Flying Fish Red Fish

Flying Fish Red Fish
Look at this! Here's a beer so new we seem to be reviewing it before Beer Advocate (maybe I just couldn't find their review?). Anywho, I was recently nonplussed by the pedestrian nature of Flying Fish's variety pack, but this was enjoyable. Dark and hoppy, yet smooth and easily digestible.

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The Pizza Project
Just a nibble: http://twitter.com/ThePizzaProject
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Booze...in 50 Words or Less: Troegs Troegenator Double Bock

Troegs Troegenator Double Bock
Bit of a letdown. At Whole Foods' Cold Point Pub, I bought a ticket for a beer. Went up to get it. Got stuck behind dude getting growler. The growler kicks. Whole negotiation ensues. Serious rigamorole. What are you gonna do? Some tasty hints of caramel, but nothing transcendent.

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The Pizza Project
Just a nibble: http://twitter.com/ThePizzaProject
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Booze...in 50 Words or Less: Arcadia Brewing Company Whitsun Ale

Arcadia Brewing Company Whitsun Ale
When the wife picked this Michigan-based brewery's product up from Plymouth Meeting Whole Foods, I thought it was going to be a basic wheat beer. But it's something much more: a witbier/pale ale combo with citrusy scent and flavor along with the hoppy kick of a decent IPA.

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The Pizza Project
Just a nibble: http://twitter.com/ThePizzaProject
Single slice: http://www.facebook.com/ThePizzaProject
The full pie: http://thepizzaproject.blogspot.com/

The Blue Route Taco Truck at Whole Foods: Eat the Tacos, but Hold the Chicken

There was a time when I probably would not have been caught dead in a Whole Foods. They quite simply did not have enough unhealthy options for my fat-and-sugar-loving palette. But now that the wife has me eating healthy (fruits and vegetables can taste good; how about that), I find myself going there a little more often. Plus, the fact that they serve beer not only in six-packs, but incredibly cheap growlers helps.

Well, add one more line to that list of reasons not to dread going to Whole Foods: they have tacos!

This past Thursday, the wife, myself, and Saucy Jr. checked out the Blue Route Taco Truck, a charmingly underadvertised haven for the taco lover on the roof of the market chain's Plymouth Meeting store. They had a Happy Hour deal (one that I believe will still be going on every Thursday for a few more weeks) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. where you could get three tacos for five dollars as well as one of their selection of canned beers for $1.99, and we figured, "Heck, why not? It's fun for three people to eat for less than $14. Let's give it a try."