Homebrew: Tavern Tan Rye Extra Pale Ale

My friend Dave plays drums for the local band Tavern Tan and recently asked me to brew up something tasty and sessionable for an upcoming show. I came up with what I call a rye extra pale ale. Not only does the rye taste great, but these guys are also no stranger to rye whiskey.

The "extra pale ale" part comes from the lowered bitterness. And, I wouldn't want to call this beer a blond ale, because frankly, American blond ales usually suck. But I also kept the pale ale name because this should have a great hoppy character from the late hop additions despite the low IBUs.

For 5 gallons:

7# Maris Otter
2# Malted Rye
1# Victory Malt

1.33 oz. Mt. Hood @ First Wort Hop
1 oz. Mt. Hood @ 5 min
.67 oz. Mt Hood @ 0 min

Wyeast 1056 American Ale

IBU: 26
SRM: 7
SG: 1.051 (after I poured a quart of water in)
FG: 1.008
ABV: 5.6%

Tasting notes after a week in the fermentor: Big bready flavor with rye and toast followed by mild citrus spice and respectable bitterness (on par for a pale ale). A bit yeasty though.

Someone at the FDA needs a reality check

Nine students at Central Washington University were recently hospitalized and Four Loko is to blame. For anyone unfamiliar with Four Loko, it's a 12% fruit-flavored malt beverage with an undisclosed amount of caffeine (it's more than enough). It's about $2 for a 24-ounce can and widely available and convenience stores like 7-Eleven. It's basically like combining a 6-pack of light beer with a couple cups of coffee in one convenient can. Sounds like an awful idea right?

Frankly I think it's a bad enough idea that if adults want to imbibe, that's their choice/problem. Four Loko isn't the only drink like this. If the Blue Raspberry flavor isn't to your liking, you can pick up a can of Watermelon-flavored Joose (only 10% ABV), or make a vodka-tonic with some 3 A.M. Vodka.

My only problem is that the FDA has included a craft-brewed coffee stout on their list of caffeinated alcoholic beverages. I don't know who thought singling this beer out was a good idea, or would even warn of the potential pitfalls of a delicious stout, but I'm disappointed that nobody can recognize the difference between a "$2 blackout in a can" and a spendy, well-made beer. I'd hate to see legit coffee beers with negligible amounts of caffeine getting dragged into this mess.

One of these things is not like the other:

List of Manufacturers of Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages

Charge Beverages Corporation
Products: Liquid Charge, Liquid Core, High Gravity Core

United Brands Company, Inc
Products: Joose, Max Vibe, Max Fury, Max Live, 3Sum

Phusion Projects LLC
Products: Four, Four Loko, Four Maxed

Point Blank Beverages Co.
Products: Torque

Hard Wired Brewing Company, LLC
Products: Hard Wired

Mix Master Beverage Co
Products: 24/7

Catalyst Beverage Company
Products: Catalyst

New Century Brewing Company
Products: Moonshot

Melanie Brewing Co
Products: Evil Eye

Thomas Creek Brewery, LLC
Products: Mobius Lager

Diageo North America, Inc
Products: Smirnoff Raw Tea Malt Beverage

Constellation Brands
Products: Wide Eye

The P.I.N.K. Spirits Company/Prohibition Beverage Inc
Products: P.I.N.K. Vodka, P.I.N.K. Tequila, P.I.N.K. Rum, P.I.N.K. Gin, P.I.N.K. White Whiskey, P.I.N.K. Sake

Delicious Brands Inc.
Products: Lotus Vodka

Sovereign Brands
Products: 3AM Vodka

Moet Hennessey/Millennium Import LLC
Products: Belevedere IX

Shotpak Vodka
Products: Gravity Vodka

Wingard USA (Importer)
Products: V2 Vodka with Caffeine, Everglo Vodka

LeVecke Corporation
Products: Vicious Vodka with Caffeine

Rocktail Drinks/Liquid Manufacturing LLC
Products: Slingshot Party Gel

Cold Spring Brewing Company/Atomic Brands
Products: A:M Carpe Noctern

808 Spirits Co.
Products: 808 Mango Beat

Gaamm Imports Inc.
Products: Booya Espresso Silver Tequila with Caffeine

Ithaca Beer Co.
Products: Ithaca Eleven Malt Beverage with Coffee

Gluek Brewing Company
Products: Gruv Malt Beverage with Guarana

MHW, Ltd and Niche Import Company
Products: Agwa De Bolivia

Rizer Spirits Inc
Products: XZO Vodka with Caffeine, Taurine, and Guarana

ELF Gardens Pumpkin Ale

I spent Sunday afternoon at a friend's place that we like to call ELF Gardens brewing up a pumpkin ale for Halloween. While sparge was slow and I was shooting to mash a few degrees hotter, all went well. Here's the recipe, it's based off an ESB, a favorite style of mine. I figure I'll add a tsp pumpkin pie spice at bottling and pull off a plain growler for myself.

10# Marris Otter Pale Malt
1.5# CaraMunich 10L
.5# 120L
7 lb pumpkin, cubed and baked at 375F for 60 min, added to mash
4 lb acorn squash, cubed and baked at 375F for 60 min, added to mash

Mash for 60 min at 151F
Efficiency 80% (not including converted starch from the pumpkin/squash)

1 oz. Liberty Hops at 60 min
1 oz. Liberty Hops at 30 min
1 oz. Liberty Hops at 1 min

Wyeast London Ale Yeast

SRM Color: 12 (medium amber)
IBU: 29
OG: 1.066
FG: 1.008
ABV: 7.6

Good Beer from Good People: Ithaca Brute, Trout Hop, and People's Pint

I've had a good streak this week of amazing beer and it's largely been at the hands of fellow beer friends. Usually I'll seek out brews that are new to me, interesting (but not always good), or stuff that isn't overly expensive.

Maybe it's karma, maybe I've just found the right people, but I'm going to be sure to pay back all the good brews that have come my way lately.

Brute
Ithaca Beer Company
American Wild Ale | 6.50% ABV

A- / 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

A big thanks to my friend Keith for sharing a bottle from Ithaca. This was a fantastic sour that reminded me of the best gueuzes I'm sampled. The main difference between this and its Belgian counterparts was the lack of the barnyard character that make a lambic extra funky. This, instead a had a lightly sweet, but mostly sour herbal lemon tang. The oak aging adding a subtle candy vanilla while the champagne yeast helps with a dry finish to round the beer out. If you like sours, you need to find this.


The People's Pint Imperial Stout
The People's Pint
Russian Imperial Stout | 9.20% ABV

A- / 4.1
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

Label reads: 2008, Bottle #879. Thanks to Speakorspasm for this one.

Yum. I'm not a huge fan of the style, but this is a tasty beer. I like the mild fruity, juice character in the middle of this beer. It's surrounded by smoke, roast, chocolate, and espresso, but the sweet cherry and strawberry make a tasty contrast. The aroma a bit like red wine for the subtle esters, however, there's still alcohol in the nose. The body isn't overly thick like some of the bigger RIS's, making this reasonable a dessert beer, but also decent for any time you want a big stout in your glass.


Trout Hop Black IPA
Grand Teton Brewing Co.
Black IPA / Cascadian Dark Ale | 8.50% ABV

A- / 4.15
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 5

Oh wow, I didn't realize this was stronger than a normal IPA. I've had a fair number of black IPAs lately and this is one of my favorites. The balance of bitter grains and hops leans toward to fruity citrus. Still there's a light and tasty creamy cocoa, mild espresso, and black grains. The hops are a touch juicy with a little apple and white grape before the orange rind and grape fruit kick. The finish is dry and roasty with a bitter tang. I'd have another pint. Good luck finding this one. It's at the top of the style.


Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen
Paulaner Salvator Thomasbraeu AG
Märzen / Oktoberfest | 5.80% ABV

B+ / 3.95
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Ah, I love the original Oktoberfests. I wish I'd had this earlier in the season because these put everything in perspective. The aroma and flavor are a smooth caramel flavor that finish with light roasted flavors and a hint of hops. The flavor is fairly clean and there's nothing remotely off. Basically it's tasty and very drinkable. I'd drink a stein-full anytime.

New England Beer Follow Up

I didn't drink everything on my list while in Providence and Boston a couple weeks ago, but damn I had some good beer. Over the course of the day, I hit up Cambridge Brewing Co, Deep Ellum, and American Craft with friends and here are a few of my favorites from the trip.


Clown Shoes Black I.P.A.
Clown Shoes
American IPA | 7.00% ABV

B+ / 3.9
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

Had a glass at Deep Ellum along with some tasty Parmesan fries. This is a pretty decent take on the style. The malt background is a bit more like a Irish dry stout than anything with its dry and bitter roasted character. The hops are predominantly citrusy and amplifies the dry character. Unfortunately, the hops and malt blend instead layering flavor.


Session In The Rye
Lawson's Finest Liquids
Saison / Farmhouse Ale | 4.50% ABV

A- / 4.15
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 5

Rare Batch #142, Bottle #51.

I think this is a great session beer and Belgian ale. The yeast spices are subtle like a true Belgian and there are mellow layers of barley and rye backed by balanced floral citrus hops. The aroma has a mix of spicy rye bread and vanilla coriander. The bread carries over into the taste with a slight cocoa note and crust.

For the strength, this is a complex beer that's also quite drinkable. It's a shame this is a small-batch brew.


Pied PIPA
The People's Pint
American IPA | 5.20% ABV

B / 3.65
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 4

I picked up a bomber for $5 while in Boston and think this is better than a B-. Sure, the beer is undercarbonation and has no head, but it's pretty tasty overall. The hops bring a big, smooth mix of floral and citrus rind flavors and aromas. There's a hint of a nutty malt backbone and a dry bitter finish (though the finish does fall a bit flat. It's not the biggest or most bitter IPA, but it's a fine beer to drink a bomber of solo. It's a little juicy, a little earthy, and all good. Sort of reminds me of a lighter version of Victory Hop Devil.


"The Wind Cried Mari..." Scottish Heather Ale
Cambridge Brewing Company
Scottish Gruit / Ancient Herbed Ale | 4.40% ABV

A- / 4.05
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4

Had a glass with Sunday beerunch at the CBC and it was a great beer for my eggs benedict. I'll often say a beer tastes like bread, but none have matched the fresh whole-grain taste of this brew. The herbal additions match the seeds and spice of a craft-baked loaf (if that makes sense) and the light lavender with wildflower honey. This is one of the most interesting beers I've had in a while. Check it out.

New England Beer Hit List

Next weekend I'll be driving up to Providence, RI and Boston to first visit friends, and then second, drink all their (good) beer. It's been a about 4 years or so since I pulled up a stool in this neck of the woods, so there's plenty of work to be done. Here's a few of the brews that'll be on my radar.

Berkshire Brewing Co. Lost Sailor IPA
Frankly I'll be trying to get my hands on anything and everything from BBC. And luckily, it appears most craft beer bars are ready to help me out. This English IPA has actually been on my want-to-try list for years, as I love this seldom-brewed (in the US) style.

The People's Pint Extra Special Bitter (ESB)
While I can't decide if the brewery name is more socialist, populist, or democratic, I'm pretty certain this beer will eb mighty tasty. This is also another favorite style of mine that I find particularly pleasant if I'm having a couple beers. In fact, I'll be having an ESB tonight with dinner.

Element Brewing Co. Dark Matter
Being classified as an "American strong ale" means this beer could be just about anything except boring. I can be fairly certain it will be good, but hope to be surprised by how the beer does it.

Mayflower Porter
Mayflower Brewing opened back in 2008 and I've heard nothing but praise for this traditional American craft brewery. That, and I love a good porter.

Haverhill Leatherlips IPA
I really only know two things about Haverhill. One, all their labels have pinup girls on them. And two, they only make tasty, tasty brews. I'll start by looking for their flagship beer and work my way through the rest of the lineup if possible.

Clown Shoes Black IPA
Any brewers with balls big enough to name their brewery "Clown Shoes" had better know what they're doing. My research indicates they do, and that this beer rocks.

Bike Ride Beer

I've had a few good rides lately with either a beer stop, or with cold brew waiting at the end. When you're sweating bullets in the summer heat, even a well-rounded drinker like myself, will grab for the lighter, drinkable beers. Here's a few of the fine ales I've been sipping when I get out of the saddle.


Namaste
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Witbier | 5.00% ABV

B+ / 4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

I split a large bottle at Little Ortino's in Schwencksville, PA. The beer poured a hazy light gold with a soft white head. The mix of subtle spice dominates the flavor (not in a bad way) while there's a smooth Belgian wheat background. The individual spices don't stand out so much as just melt together from the orange peel, to the coriander, then lemongrass. All in all a tasty beer, near the top of the style.


Stegmaier Summer Stock Lager
Lion Brewery, Inc.
American Pale Lager | 5.00% ABV

B / 3.65
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 4

Picked up a case (under the name Summer Stock Pils) while visiting friends in Scranton. Not a bad beer at all. The label has some nonsense about being a German style pils, but I think the flavor is plainly American. The malt is smoother, bready, and with just a hint of inoffensive corn. This is followed up by a grassy hop kick with a share of orange rind. The lager finishes with a mild, spicy bitterness. All in all, it seems like a tasty and somewhat traditional American take on the pilsner.


Devotion Ale
The Lost Abbey
Belgian Pale Ale | 6.25% ABV

B+ / 4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 4.5
rDev: +2.7%

On-tap from a friend's kegerator. I know it's a touch strong, but this comes off like a Belgian session ale. It's light, tasty, and I could drink it all day.

The Tettanger hops had a slightly sharp and interesting herbal flavor in addition to the spicy citrus background. There's a smooth grain and bread flavor with hint of subtle Belgian fruit esters. My only complaint is that the flavor can seem a touch muted at times. I suppose this is on the hoppy side of a Belgian pale ale, but it's still very drinkable. Check this beer out.

Drinking Minnesota Again

As summer rolls on, it's getting harder to keep track of all the great beer we're surrounded by - or at least write at length about it. So to keep things concise, here's what's up: I'm back in MN for a couple weeks enjoying the fine weather, bike lanes, new Twins stadium, and lovely local beers. Here's a bit of what I've been sipping lately.


Saaz Pilsner
Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery
Czech Pilsener | 5.70% ABV

B+ / 3.95
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Had a pint at the brewpub. I'm a fan of pilsners and single-hop beers, so this was exciting to find on the seasonals menu. This has the look and body of a classic Czech pils, but the hops dominated the beer. Aside from a hint of grainy, biscuit malt, richly floral and spicy hops that are a touch fruity without being sweet. The bitter finish is a bit soft, but still sizeable. This is tasty, but fairly drinkable beer. Check is out if you can.

Lonely Blonde
Fulton Beer
American Blonde Ale | 4.80% ABV

C+ / 3.15
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | drink: 3.5

On-tap at Acadia Cafe. I'd enjoyed Fulton's Child of Vine and hoped this would prove tasty as well. But frankly I was let down with Lonely Blonde. It's just another clean, grainy blonde ale. I already know what 2-row barley tastes like and there's nothing new here. Plenty of other breweries have made this same beer for years, there isn't much reason to single this one out.


MN Tan
Lift Bridge Brewery
Tripel | 8.50% ABV

B / 3.7
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

I heard this was supposed to be more red or pinkish, but it was just a clear amber. The lingonberries impart a pleasant tart tang, but overall, this beer could use a little more Belgian character - it's a bit too clean. I'd say the same of Lift Bridge's Farm Girl (not enough yeast character), but this is still a respectable Belgian with a earthy and lightly fruity character. Worth checking out for something different.

Good Drinking: Sam Adams Latitude 48

I try to blog weekly, but lately I've been too busy drinking beer to post here. Tonight, though, I'm taking a break to look back on a few of the gems from the last few weeks. Nothing rocked my world, well nothing new did. (I had a 2005 Cantillon Lou Pepe Gueuze that was amazing, but I've already written about that.) But so far if things keep up, this is going to be a good beer-filled summer.

Samuel Adams Latitude 48
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
American IPA | 5.80% ABV

A- / 4.05
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

I'm a fan. This beer has a wonderful mix of malt and hop flavor, but with dominating hops. The aroma is a mix of cornbread with melon, strawberries, and orange peel - nice and interesting. A sweet tangerine flavor opens the flavor and its quickly followed by dry, cracked wheat and pepper. Hops quickly rush in with bitter orange peel and pine. I love that this is an unusual beer that's plenty bitter and still very drinkable. I'll look forward to this coming out in 6-packs. Thank you Boston Beer.


Bell's Oarsman
Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Berliner Weissbier | 4.80% ABV

B+ / 4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 4.5

Had a pint with brunch at the Sidecar in Philly. This turned out to be a tasty replacement for a mimosa and made a nice compliment to my huevos rancheros. The beer appeared an opaque yellow with a slice of lemon. The beer, while not very tasty, had a wonderful mix of creamy bread with toast and wheat cracker flavors. There were mild hints of citrus, but on the whole it was a bit clean for the style. Still, a very tasty beer and worth checking out.


Buffalo Belgian Bitter
Brouwerij Van den Bossche
Belgian IPA | 8.50% ABV

B+ / 3.95
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Split a friend's bottle from a case he picked up at Shangy's. Poured from a 750ml into a chalice is appears a slightly hazy yellow. It reminded me a bit of a wit beer, making for a subtle and delicate pale Belgian. It begins with a sweet, pastry-like malt and yeast character and finishes with a light floral and earthy hop flavor. It is hoppy for a Belgian, and it tastes and drinks beautifully, but it's along the lines of Hommelbier, not approaching the bitter sensation of even your average American pale ale.


Poperings Hommel Bier
Brouwerij Van Eecke N.V.
Belgian IPA | 7.50% ABV

B+ / 3.95
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 4

On-tap at Monk's in Philly, served in a tulip. Went great with my bowl of mussels. I would have liked a bit more hop flavor and bitterness, but this was still a great Belgian ale. There's a mellow spicy flavor that never overwhelms the character, but certainly defines the beer with subtle pepper, dry herb, and lemon peel. For the strength, the body is still easy to drink (like it should be for the style). Overall, this is really a classic worth picking up.

195 Bottles? I'm 2,000 Beers In

I recently recorded my 2,000th beer review, which isn't much by some standards, but I think it's a pretty background to talk knowledgeably about beer. I try to actually remember what I tasted about every beer and will drink something again (instead of something new) if I can't remember what to expect.

Anyways, here's my 2,000th review. It was a German Helles lager, which is smoother drinking than a pilsner, with low hop levels and minimal bitterness. It's still full of bready malt and yeast character, and makes a great session beer. Imperial stouts and double IPA's are delicious, don't get me wrong, but I'm more impressed by lower-alcohol beers like this that are just as complex as beers twice their strength.

Mahr's Hell
Mahrs Bräu
Munich Helles Lager | 4.90% ABV

B+ / 3.95
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Ordered a bottle at Tap and Table. Served with a tall Mahrs glass stein, the beer was a beautiful clear gold with a tall white head - we're off to a good start. There's the appropriate hint of sulfur in the aroma with light bread crust. This is a true German lager. It doesn't have the most unique or compelling flavor, but it's super drinkable and tasty. The subtle bread and grain flavors are complimented by a small spicy hop kick in the finish.

RYEmenocerous

New beer's a brewin'. I thought long and hard about what beer I'd like to make for the Ryemenocerous after brewing the Hiphopopatamus. And the Hiphopopatamus was so deliciously hoppy, I decided to go in the opposite direction. This beer will be an English-style bitter/pale ale brewed with a big share of rye. Instead of being big nd bitter, it will be immanently drinkable. It's currently bubbling away and should be ready by the end of May.


RYEmenocerous
Size: 5 gallons
Color: 9 HCU (~7 SRM)
Bitterness: 30 IBU
OG: 1.036
FG: 1.008
Alcohol: 3.6%

Grain:
6 lb. Maris Otter pale
1.5 lb. Rye
.5 lb. British crystal 60L

Mash: 60% efficiency

Hops:
1 oz. Kent Goldings (5% AA, 60 min.)
1 oz. Kent Goldings (5% AA, 15 min.)
1 oz. Kent Goldings (aroma)

Yeast: Wyeast London ESB Ale 1968

Oh and for anyone that doesn't know why I'm using this ridiculous names. Here's the original Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros from Flight of the Conchords:

Yeah, Portland Kicked Ass

My week in Portland, OR flew by, and try as I might, I was not able to wipe out the city's beer supply. Still, I had tons of amazing beers, met a lot of great brewers, and got well-acquainted with a couple relatively new styles: the single-malt ale and Cascadian dark ale (black IPA). Here are a few of my favorites that I took notes on below.

The picture to your right is from my visit to Wyeast Labs as part of a tour put on by the Oregon Craft Brewers Guild. We trying several beers that differed only in yeast strain - very cool. The day also had a visit to Full Sail Brewing where brewmaster Jamie Emmerson pulled bottles of Session off the line for us to drink. I may never have a fresher beer.


Thomas Fawcett Single Malt Bitter
New Old Lompoc Brewery
English Bitter | 3.40% ABV

A- / 4.1
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

On cask at the brewpub. This beer blew me away. I've never had a great low-alcohol bitter on cask in the US before, let alone that the beer is US-brewed. The flavor is a little spicier than the Baird Maris Otter, with jasmine and cake frosting notes mixed with the bread crust and biscuit malt notes. Man, I wish there were more beers like this. I mean, it has so little alcohol that it actually helps hydrate you, but it has all the complexity of a beer twice its size.


HUB Lager
Hopworks Urban Brewery
Czech Pilsener | 5.10% ABV

A / 4.3
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Had a pint at the Horse Brass with friends. Man this is a heck of a beer. I certainly wouldn't mind having a liter-stein of it. There's a soft, bready malt character with very mild hints of spice and vanilla. There's also a note or toast and a little citrus. The beer is dry and super drinkable, and frankly, I'm glad I have the self-control to move along.


Black Bear XX Stout
Alameda Brewhouse
Foreign / Export Stout | 6.80% ABV

A- / 4.1
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Split a bomber with friends. Nothing surprising about the appearance, big and black with a tan head. I really enjoyed this stout because it wasn't the usual thick, chewy stout. Instead it was a touch lighter, like an export stout should be, with two dominant characteristics: dry roasted black malts and sweet cocoa chocolate. Heck of a beer, check this out.


India Pelican Ale
Pelican Pub & Brewery
American IPA | 7.50% ABV

A- / 4.2
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

I split a bomber at Bailey's Taproom... but ended up enjoying most of it. Despite the extra strength, it hardly felt like a heavier IPA. In fact, I had no problem finishing my pint. What I really loved about this beer was that it covered a lot of different hop flavors - floral to earthy to citrus - and balance them all well to make a slightly juicy, and wholly delicious IPA. Yum.

Portland Hit List

Monday afternoon I'm flying out to Portland, OR, also know as Beervana (don't tell Belgium), for the International Association of Culinary Professionals annual meeting. Yes indeed, I am a culinary professional thanks to my work with beer. In fact, I'll be presenting a 90-minute talk on Oregon beer and Oregon-grown ingredients with Full Sail Brewing and Rogue Ales.

I certainly hope to meet a lot of other drink-oriented professionals and make some new friends, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I was most excited about the beer. Portland earned its Beervana moniker from the fact that the city is home to 32 (or is it 33 now?) breweries. That's more than any other city in the world. The state itself has more than 100 breweries and while the national average for craft beer consumption is at 5% of the beer market, Oregon's craft beer share is about 30% of the market and I'm told it approaches 50% in Portland. I mean shit, these guys are serious about their beer.

I'll only have a six nights to make my way through the hundreds of great beers this city and state offer, but I'm going to try my hardest to sip their best-of-the-best. When in doubt, or lost, I'll be ordering whatever is local, unavailable back home, new, and fresh.

Pre-Trip Top 10 Beers to Try in Portland

1) India Pelican Ale - Pelican Pub & Brewery - I've been reading about this top-rated IPA for years. No more will I have to drool over my keyboard.

2) Flora Rustica - Upright Brewing - I got to savor a bottle of Upright's Five and now I want more. This, apparently, is Upright's finest.

3) Dunkel - Heater Allen - I love a well-made German lager and you're hard pressed to find better brews of classic styles.

4) Oatis - Ninkasi - An allegedly divine oatmeal stout. I look forward to being the judge of that.

5) HUB Lager - Hopworks - Having tried their big, hoppy beers, my mouth is watering for their session beer.

6) Sang Rouge - Cascade Brewing - These guys make the best sours in the Pacific NW.

7) Workhorse IPA - Larelwood - Oregon loves its hops and I'd love to taste this prime example of that.

8) Black Bear XX Stout - Alameda - Mmmm. Foreign stout. This will make a great dessert beer.

9) Copacetic IPA - Amnesia Brewing - Yes, I'm going to be drinking lots of fantastically bitter IPAs.

10) Kölsch - Double Mountain - Another great session-weight beer from an award-winning brewery.

For more on how awesome these folks are, you can read my IACP article here.

New Beer: Urthel Saisonnière

I'm lucky enough to live in a one of the country's leading Belgian beer markets* but it was still a nice surprise to walk into Abe's Cold Beer and find one of Belgium's newest brews. It comes from Urthel, which also makes the monumentally tasty Urthel Hop-It and Hibernus Quentum. The Flemish outfit is young by European standards - only brewing since 2000 - but they know how to cook up a tasty beverage. Check this out:

Urthel Saisonnière
De Leyerth Brouwerijen (Urthel)
Saison / Farmhouse Ale | 6.00% ABV

A- / 4.25
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

This beer is gorgeous. It poured a brilliant clear gold with a big, tall head. As I drink it down, there's a perfect web of thick lacing. Thankfully, the beer character delivers as well. The flavors holds a floral and spicy mix of coriander, pepper, lemon, while there's a mild toasty note from the malt. This saison is complex enough that you could sip it for hours, yet light and lively enough that you can easily enjoy a few. Check this fine Belgian out.

*According to me.

I'll only say it once: I miss Belgium.

A year ago I was in Belgium. I'm not saying I haven't had a lovely weekend, I'm just not in Belgium.

Drinking really, really old beer: La Trappe Enkel

While picking up a case at Shangy's over the weekend, I took a quick look at their small shelf of single (and mostly expensive) bottles. To my surprise, there was something new-to-me, a couple large bottles of La Trappe Enkel - the table beer from the Koningshoeven monks of the Netherlands. Even more surprising was the best by date on the back of the label: November, 1996.

I've tried low-alcohol (under 6% ABV) ales before, and they're typically only worth pouring down your drain. In this case, though, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to try a roughly 16-year old trappist beer. I wouldn't exactly say I was rewarded for taking this chance and forking over cash for a beer that was probably forgotten about in some corner for at least decade. But it wasn't too bad. I dare say, somewhat enjoyable.

La Trappe Enkel
Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven B.V.
Belgian Pale Ale | 5.50% ABV

B / 3.55
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 3.5

Found at 750ml bottle at Shangy's in Emmaus PA for $11. The label read BEST BY END: NOV96, so take this review with that in mind. The cork looked a little soaked when I opened the bottle and the carbonation was a little low, but not too bad. The body didn't have any protein blobs like some old Belgians. However, like many well-aged beers, this has a strong leather character and I wonder if the cork didn't add the beer's earthy character. Aside from tasting a bit like a new recliner smells, there was just a light liquid caramel note, though the beer was exceedingly smooth. Buying a low-ABV beer this old is a gamble, but I'm glad I took it.

Oregon IPA

It's business time. In conjunction with a project on Oregon beers with Oregon-grown ingredients I'm working on for the International Association of Culinary Profesionals, I've made my own Oregon-centric beer. I couldn't get my hands on Oregon barley, but Jim at Indie Hops send me a pound of Centennial hops. I also used Oregon-cultivated yeast with Wyeast Labs' American Ale II yeast, a relative of the famous Sierra Nevada yeast strain.

I've haven't been this excited about a homebrew in a while. It's going to be f'ing awesome. Having the pound of hops sit out in my kitchen (see below) smelled amazing - I had a room full of hoppy goodness.

Hiphopapotamus
5 Gal Batch
Est ABV: 8%
IBU: 100+

10# Marris Otter Pale Malt
2# Vienna Malt
.5# American crystal 20L
.5# Cara-Pils
Wyeast American Ale II

Mash @ 152, OG: 1.073

2 oz. Centennial (10.5% AA, First Wort Hop)
1 oz. Centennial (10.5% AA, 45 min.)
1 oz. Centennial (10.5% AA, 15 min.)
1 oz. Centennial (10.5% AA, 10 min.)
1 oz. Centennial (10.5% AA, 5 min.)
1 oz. Centennial (10.5% AA, 0 min.)
2 oz. Centennial (10.5% AA, dry hop)

UPDATE 3/23/10: Transferred to secondary and added the dry hops. Tastes amazing with huge blend of spicy citrus flavors but need more aroma. There's even a little hint of the malt in there. Current gravity is 1.013 to put the beer at 7.8%.

Hops Before:


Hops After:

Interesting, Very Interesting: Atomium Grand Cru

Right after really, really ridiculously good-tasting beer, I also enjoy interesting beer. Last night at the Farmhouse, as usual, I opted for the new-to-me beers on tap over the known good stuff. Often, trying new beers when surrounded by sure-winners, there's a let down when the new brew is mediocre, boring, or just plain bad. Thankfully, Brouwerij Van Steenberge's Atomium Grand Cru didn't suck at all. In fact, it had one of the most interesting aromas (there was peppermint, wtf?) I've smelled in a long time. Check it out:

Atomium Grand Cru
Brouwerij Van Steenberge
Belgian Strong Pale Ale | 8.00% ABV

B+ / 4
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

On-tap at The Farmhouse in Emmaus, PA. Served in a red wine glass, it appears slighty hazy and amber with a tall, fluffy white head. It's funny, I'm used to finding beers that have great flavor but are a little dull in the aroma department. This was the opposite. It was bursting with coriander, cinnamon, and peppermint (unusual, but interesting). The flavor follows the coriander with a hint of orange peel - sort of like a wit, but without wheat character - and then a subtle but delicious candied apple malt flavor slides in before the beer finishes. Still, the beer's taste is too mild for a beer of this strength. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised to find a fresh take on this style.

Beer Reviews: Sexual Chocolate (Stout)

Yeah, it's still cold and the days are too short. The whimsy of winter warmers has petered out and and we're left with beers as black as night. It's time for stouts. Usually I stick with lighter dry Irish stouts - Beamish, Murphy's, and Guinness - but lately I had the chance to try a couple standouts in other stout sub-styles.

The first was Sexual Chocolate (incidentally also the name of a red-headed cricketer Ryan Sidebottom) from Foothills Brewing in North Carolina. I was lucky enough to be have a friend who found himself with a bottle of this rare and highly rated (#68 in the world on BeerAdvocate.com) brew.

The second beer was Otis, an oatmeal stout from Brooklyn's Six Point Craft Ales. I discovered Otis while making a mid-bike ride pit stop at the Spinnerstown Hotel. Otis is a strong session beer at 6.1% ABV, but damn I could have drained the keg all afternoon if I didn't have self-control.

Sexual Chocolate
Foothills Brewing Company
Russian Imperial Stout | 10.00% ABV

A- / 4.2
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

I have to thank my friend Paul for sharing a bottle of this with me. While the legend is greater than the beer itself, this was still a top-notch RIS. The cocoa nibs impart a deep, dark chocolate flavor that's also earthy like a cocoa bean. The malts provide an array of chocolate cookie, graham cracker, toffee, bread crust, and plum notes. The body is thick like most, but there's enough bitterness to keep this from getting too sweet. The hops also add a pleasant, mild citrus taste, which aid drinkability, though this is a tough beer to do anything with but slowly sip... but I suppose that's ok.


Sixpoint Otis
Sixpoint Craft Ales
Oatmeal Stout | 6.10% ABV

A- / 4.05
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4

On-tap at the Spinnerstown Hotel. Served in a tulip glass, this beer appeared pitch black with a very short head. I really thought this was a great, albeit aggressive, take on the style. The flavor and aroma are full of big chocolate flavors up front with roasted barley around the edge. The malts are followed by a powerful citrus hops kick that provides a great bitter contrast to the cocoa notes. This is easily one of the best oatmeal stouts I've ever had.

Strong Lagers: Not just malt liquor

For the last week I'd been bumping into Sierra Nevada's new pale bock, Glissade, around town. On Saturday I finally got a chance to try it and it reminded me of the odd strong lager family of beers. Strong lagers can fit into styles like maibock or malt liquor, but on a whole they're lightly colored, lightly hopped, and fairly alcoholic.

Below I've pasted in reviews of some of the strong lagers I've had, and which oddly enough connect Sierra Nevada's new beer to Colt 45. Terrifying? Heart-warming? Meh? You decide.

Sierra Nevada Glissade Golden Bock
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Maibock / Helles Bock | 6.40% ABV

B- / 3.5
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | drink: 3

Ordered a bottle for $3.50 at Liberty St. Tavern and poured it into a pint glass. I read SierraNevadaBill's description of Glissade and it makes more sense when he calls it a "strong lager," because it really does remind of the European (and Russian) strong lagers I've had - but better. There's cool bready malts up front and in the nose. The barley is followed by a lot dry herbal hop character. The hops, frankly, are a bit thin and border on astringently bitter. Still, this brew is worth a try.


Stary Melnik Krepkoye
Pivovariya Moskva-Efes ZAO
Euro Pale Lager | 6.50% ABV

C+ / 3.1
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 3.5

AKA Stary Melnik Strong. Ordered a bottle at the Brickskeller... after they were out of the first nine beers I asked for. Anyways.

The flavor reminds me of peppermint and sweet bread. The appearance is a clear gold with a white head and there are no brewing flaws in the aroma or flavors. It was an interesting beer to try but I wouldn't order it again. The odd yeast character and malts are "ok" but not entirely pleasant. It's certainly worth a try for something different and not a bad beer.


Elephant Beer
Carlsberg Danmark A/S
Euro Strong Lager | 7.20% ABV

C / 3
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 3.5

Got a bottle from a friend, poured into a pint glass. Appears a clear gold with a short white head.

First things first, there's nothing patently offensive about this beer-bravo. That's not an easy accomplishment for a high-alcohol macro lager in green glass. The aroma is pretty non-existent however, I got a hint of strange scented candle-like spice I wouldn't expect in beer. The flavor opens with smooth bready malts and finishes with a big lager tang. In most beer this tang is unpleasant and astringent, but here it comes off more like a mix of strong perfume and fruit punch. Still not something you usually demand in a fine beer, but this could be worse.

Colt 45 Malt Liquor
Pabst Brewing Company / G. Heileman Brewing Co.
American Malt Liquor | 6.10% ABV

F / 1.55
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | drink: 1

It doesnt look horrible, just your typical mass-produced rotgut. The smell is at best, unpleasant. The mouth feel isn't bad, but the taste will make up for that.

I can only describe Colt 45 like this: Someone took a light-bodied beer, squated over the bottle, and farted. Beer + Fart = No fun for anyone.

I should also mention that if its your first time with a 40 of this, be prepared to get your ass kicked.

Rediscovering Modern Classics

I haven't completely run out of new beers around the Lehigh Valley to try, but new brews are generally getting more expensive and harder to find. The hunt is fun sometimes, but lately I've been revisiting great beers that I tried years ago and then forgot about in my quest to try, well, everything.


Honker's Ale
Goose Island
English Bitter | 4.20% ABV

B+ / 3.95
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Heck of a beer - the 6-pack didn't last too long in my fridge. While this beer is crisp and rich in flavor like a good American Pale Ale, it has the low alcohol and balanced taste of a classic English Bitter. I'd consider this a well-made hybrid of the styles. On one end there's a tasty mix of barley grain, dark bread, and wholegrain crackers, while the Styrian Golding hops present both earthy spice notes and fruity citrus rind. This brew covers a lot of different and complimentary flavors, all while keeping a light, drinkable body. This is a fantastic session beer.


Two Hearted Ale
Bell's Brewery, Inc.
American IPA | 7.10% ABV

A- / 4.05
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Ok, this might be the best looking IPA I've ever had, but not the best. The appearance has a short creamy head with thick lacing. The aroma is just a general citrus punch, a little weak. The flavor picks things up a bit, but it's not as bitter as I expected. It's a smooth bitter that puts it on par with a hearty pale ale. Still, the taste is of wonderfully fruity hop juice. Not overly powerful, but nice. I'd like a little more kick, but it's still a great beer.


Pikeland Pils
Sly Fox Brewing
German Pilsener | 4.90% ABV

A- / 4.2
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

This beer looks amazing, it has a white head that won't stop and reminds me of Duvel. Smells of sweet, light malts. The flavor is bland at first but then the hops kick in. Overall tastes of long-lasting grassy, earthy hops with added grapefruit and a bit of fruity malt. A little hoppier than the imports I've had, more like Prima Pils. Actually it's a lot like Prima Pils, but I think I like this better. My can was a touch over carbonated, but it was still very drinkable.


Rare Vos (Amber Ale)
Brewery Ommegang
Belgian Dark Ale

B+ / 3.8
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

Had a bottle with seafood enchiladas at The Mission Restaurant in Syracuse, a great pairing. Rare Vos reminds me a bit of an amber Duvel, though not quite as the complex. The malts are sweet and mild with an apple, cherry, and berry taste. Very drinkable and tasty, but it might be overpriced if you're a budget beer shopper or think Rogue is too expensive.
I've heard people recommend this to beer noobs, but I dont think I'd do the same. The flavor is really all in the bitterness, so if you're not into that, tough.

Belgian Nightmares

With the local cyclocross scene finished for the year, talk among my cycling friends has turned to the Spring Classics, which begin in a little less than two months. For some of the lucky few of us who visited Belgium for the week of De Ronde, Gent-Wevelgem, and Paris-Roubaix, the thrill of the upcoming races is cut by the ache of being on the wrong side of the Atlantic. Still, there's enough memories and evidence to keep me happy for a few years before I'll really need to return.

One afternoon still haunts me through all the great beer I drank and happy miles I cycled. On the Tuesday before Gent-Wevelgem, I rode out to Wevelgem with Bill and Pryor on a mission to visit the Westvleteren monastery cafe - literally holy ground for beer and the home of the world's best beer.

I'd checked the website for hours and dates they were closed, but I missed that before Easter they were closed an entire week. Not only was my pilgrimage met with locked doors (see picture, right), but they were closed for the extent on my time in Belgium.

The grim discovery of my malted and hopped holy grail being closed stung, the beer gods soon smiled upon me. Later that week while overtaking our friendly tour guide Jan's home town of Retie - a town only described to us as, "you are in Retie, you must drink beer" - I told my sad-sack story to an sympathetic bar owner. With a slight smile he nodded and simply told me to return later that evening.

The owner talked to his bartender, who called his brother-in-law, who then brought in a bottle of Westvleteren 10, the best beer in the world. I was floored by the generosity as much as I was by beer's sweet taste. It was, without trying to pump up the hyperbole, heavenly nectar from godly people.

Yes, I'll never forget that those monks took a week off for Easter (so selfish, really). But like just about every beer or bike-related story I know from Belgium, there was eventually a very happy ending.

Drinking Minnesota

Yes, family and friends are the best part of coming home for the holidays, but diving into the local beer scene also ranks pretty highly. With nearly a dozen local breweries or brewpubs and countless good beer bars, a new local pint is never hard to find.

Here are a few highlights of my visit and beers to watch out for if you ever find yourself in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Festivus 2009
Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery
American Stout | 5.80% ABV

A- / 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

I ordered a pint at the bar and it appeared pitch black with a short tan head. This beer seems simple, but it's damn good. Upfront, there's a big and tasty coffee character followed by an amazing milk chocolate taste. These make for the best mocha beer I think I've ever had. The chocolate comes off creamy, like a milk stout. Drinkable and delicious, this is a great beer to celebrate the holidays and Festivus.

Summit Extra Pale Ale
Summit Brewing Company
English Pale Ale | 5.30% ABV

B+ / 3.95
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4

I see this beer around Minnesota so much, its easy to forget that its a quality brew. It's got a fairly unique (and its hard to find something unique these days) blend of malt sweetness with rich, roasted caramel that's complimented by a balanced bitterness of grassy hops. It's a great session beer and readily available around town. Thank you Summit.


Snowstorm 2009
August Schell Brewing Co., Inc.
Baltic Porter | 5.80% ABV

B / 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 4

On-tap at Three Squares in Maple Grove. I'm impressed that Schell's took on the style and didn't just try to make a strong porter like some other American-brewed Baltic's I've tried. This has the sweet light candy, or wine-like, chocolate note under the roasted malts. My only complaint is that the middle sweetness turns to more of an old-shoe note (like oxidation) that builds as the beer warms, but it's very light. Otherwise, this is tasty and to-style take on the Baltic porter.

Bender
Surly Brewing Company
American Brown Ale | 5.10% ABV

A / 4.3
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

A brown ale with balls. So much so, I dont even know if its really a brown ale. Dark brown, the color of a porter, with great tan lacing. Slightly roasted and sweet malty aroma. Taste is complex with roasted and chocolate malts, american hops, and maybe even oatmeal. I think I tasted oatmeal. Very smooth beer, kind of thick, but very smooth. Give me another.