Salutations, beeraholics!

Welcome to the first issue of the fall edition of the Kentucky Kernel’s Beer Column. This summer, the esteemed brew guru Alex Wright visited most of the craft beer oriented establishments around Lexington, from Country Boy to Lexington Beerworks.

For the next semester, I will be giving my own reviews of Lexington’s wonderful craft beer locales, as well as reviewing beers from around the world, reporting on craft beer news and spouting about any brew topics that come to mind.

This summer, I lived in southeastern Virginia for an internship. When I wasn’t working, I was either biking or browsing the local breweries, tap houses and grocery store beer caves. So for my first column, I will be reviewing my 5 favorite regional beers I tasted while in Virginia.

1. Apple-Achian Pie Stout – Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company (8%)

While I was driving back from a trip to West Virginia in July, I decided to stop at Virginia’s Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company Basecamp. I wound up buried in the mountains of eastern Virginia with no cell phone service at a giant, rustic log building. The warm, frontiersy atmosphere of the Basecamp was second only to their phenomenal beer selection. Their Apple-Achain Pie Stout really knocked my socks off. It’s a black beer, brewed with apple butter, fresh ginger, molasses, and apple pie spice. Truly an outstanding combination of flavors, it is a unique beer that had me begging for more at the bottom of my glass. Unfortunately, this scintillating beverage is only available on tap at Devil’s Backbone establishments … for now.

2. Oak Barrel Stout – Fordham & Dominion Brewing Company (6%)

The Oak Barrel Stout doesn’t immediately leap off the shelf, but I was flooded with pleasant surprise as I took my first few sips. This brew is smoky and thick, hopped with vanilla beans and oak chips for a delightfully rich flavor. It poured smoothly, with a small tan head that didn’t linger. The smell isn’t much to write home about, but its silky taste and gentle finish make up for it a thousand times. This beer has been my lifeblood for the last three months. Even the aftertaste is outstanding. Brewed in Dover, DE., this beer is dark, it’s deep, and damn, it’s dreamy.

3. Great Dismal IPA – O’Connor Brewing Company (7.5%)

Third place goes to Norfolk-based O’Connor Brewing Co.’s Great Dismal IPA. This beer is named after the Great Dismal Swamp, which straddles the Virginia-North Carolina border. However, everything about the beer is far from dismal. This black IPA is sharp, but full bodied. It poured like a charm and wasn’t overwhelmingly hoppy. I cooked my fair share of shrimp and crab-based dishes because I was so near the ocean this summer, and this IPA paired splendidly with seafish. I recommend this beer to any fan of beers with a bite.

4. Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout – Flying Dog Brewery (5.5%)

This stout caught my eye on my first visit to the beachside Yorktown Pub. My nostrils were teased with faint smells of the ocean, and the beer’s mahogany body and greyish head intrigued me. I tasted a coffee overtone mixed with a hint of smoke and salt. Sweet and salty combinations are my favorite, so this was an excellent beer for me. I expected more of an oyster flavor, but wasn’t disappointed in the brew’s actual taste. Flying Dog donates some of its proceeds from this beer to the Oyster Recovery Partnership, which helps restore oysters in the Chesapeake Bay area.

5. Penn Quarter Porter – DC Brau Brewing Company (5.5%)

On my way out of Virginia, I took a lengthy detour up to Washington, D.C. While I was there, I had the pleasure of visiting DC Brau, a popular District-based brewery. The Penn Quarter Porter stole my heart as soon as the bartender started pouring. A lengthy head dissipated steadily from the bottom up. It is jet-black, velveteen and pleasantly refreshing. The combination of coffee, chocolate and oats, with a tiny hint of nuts and caramel, made this beer a definite winner for me. Smooth as can be from start to finish, this is a truly exceptional beer for anyone in the DC area with even the slightest craft beer interest.

And there you have it! I’m looking forward to seeing what the Lexington breweries have been working on lately, and to seeing where this column goes this semester. ‘Til next time, beer pals!

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