Who ever cares,
Im back. I am finally starting to sort out all the confusions and inconsistencies I have had in the past months. I am hoping to have much more info to post soon and I cant wait to be tasting and brewing again.
I hope to get some readers and some new beer and food enthusiasts, I hope to expand the pallets of the new generations and create new believers ing the craft beer flavors, profiles, and ideals.
4:18 am I should probably get some sleep. I am yet to be tired. I just know this year is going to be a great one and I hope everyone else is as hopeful and excited as I.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Monday, May 16, 2011
End of an Era
As my Junior year comes to a close and my first brew is half is fermenting I feel some relief and some sadness. Almost like saying goodbye to an old friend moving away. Not that I am being sentimental but I think it is a good feeling.
1) I can relax. I don't have to worry about term papers of group projects or exams for a few weeks.
2) I can pay more attention to my extracurricular activities. i.e. Brewing and Drinking oh and writing....
3) I can be more scientific and proactive in my brewing. Such as Yeast harvesting, equipment modification, more reading about different and foreign aspects of brewing that I am still unaware of. I plan to read more about brewing chemistry. I am very interested in water composition, and enzyme breakdown.
3) I get a promotion, and raise at work so I can actually afford to get more brew things. Mostly odds and ends and ingredients. I don't want to expand yet, I just want to be more efficient at what I am already doing. Maybe if I can get my hand on a hops seedling I will plant that. I do want to do a dry-hopped beer sometime and from what I understand I should have a full size plant by August ready for harvest and drying.
That's all I have for tonight. Just thought I would keep you updated.
This weekend: RIFT meeting thoughts and overview, and Brooklyn Brewing Tasting... maybe some homebrew reviews too but I don't want to push it.
1) I can relax. I don't have to worry about term papers of group projects or exams for a few weeks.
2) I can pay more attention to my extracurricular activities. i.e. Brewing and Drinking oh and writing....
3) I can be more scientific and proactive in my brewing. Such as Yeast harvesting, equipment modification, more reading about different and foreign aspects of brewing that I am still unaware of. I plan to read more about brewing chemistry. I am very interested in water composition, and enzyme breakdown.
3) I get a promotion, and raise at work so I can actually afford to get more brew things. Mostly odds and ends and ingredients. I don't want to expand yet, I just want to be more efficient at what I am already doing. Maybe if I can get my hand on a hops seedling I will plant that. I do want to do a dry-hopped beer sometime and from what I understand I should have a full size plant by August ready for harvest and drying.
That's all I have for tonight. Just thought I would keep you updated.
This weekend: RIFT meeting thoughts and overview, and Brooklyn Brewing Tasting... maybe some homebrew reviews too but I don't want to push it.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Sam Adams Tasting and Brewing....
At school in the Culinary Museum we had a Sam Adams and Wisconsin Cheese tasting. I don't have much to say about any of this except that I thoroughly enjoy cheese much more then I use to.
And Two bottles of Sam Adams Wee Heavy and Artisan Bleu Cheese don't sit right with me. I thought I was going to puke... not that it wasn't delicious which it was but within a half hour of that I was in pain.
Sam Adams:
So with the Sam Adams tasting we had a selection of 6 beers.
I will review 4 of them because if your reading this blog I can assume you have had Sam Lager and Sam Light... If not, stop reading HAVE SOME NOW! I only say that because these were the two beers that got me to fully enjoy the bounty of all that is malt, hops, and yeast (I already appreciated water).
I digress. The other four beers are slightly more obscure then the first two but mainstream for the most part.
Summer Ale:
Color: Yellowish Gold... Lighter then most
Clarity: Mostly Clear
Nose: Citric, Spicy, some Floral notes
Taste: Crisp Citrus, Smooth Spicy
Recommendations: Bacon Cheddar Kobe Burger... A nice bowl of almonds... Fruit Salad. Basically anything you might want at a 4th of July BBQ
If Sam Summer was an amplifier and the volume knob was a drink-ability knob it would go to 11... because it's 1 higher and have dwarfs dancing around stone henge.
Sorry about that. I was watching Spinal Tap earlier but I am also serious too.
Black Lager:
Color: Black, Espresso
Clarity: What does that matter? It's Black
Nose: Roasted, Nutty, Coffee
Taste: Dark Chocolate, Espresso
I wasn't very interested in Black Lager. It just wasn't my cup of tea or beer, but worth a try. I have nothing negative to say but I personally wasn't a fan.
Latitude 48:
Color:Dark Amber
Clarity:Mostly Clear
Nose: Floral, Piny, Some nut notes
Taste: BITTER, piny, floral, some caramel
Many of you probably know I am an IPA nut and this was right up my alley. Great beer for tastings sharp strong cheeses with some astringent qualities.
Wee Heavy:
Color: Brown
Clarity: Translucent
Nose: Vegetative, Oaky, Nutty
Taste: Have some odd carrot tones, oaky, butter
Wee Heavy and I said before with the bleu cheese did a number on my digestion but was very good. It was actually a great pairing. If I were to use is practically with it's pair cheese I would do Crab and Macadamia Nut stuffed Crimini with blue cheese crumbles finished in a broiler or salamander to toast the cheese, but that's just me.
Now onward and upward.
Brewing:
This past Saturday I made my first brew batch. All and all I was impressed with myself. It didn't go perfect but better then I anticipated. This Thursday I plan to attend a meeting of a local brewers club and hope to pick up a tip or two for my next batch which I will hopefully start in 2 weeks. I hope to have a new batched finished and bottled every three weeks starting next week.
And Here is a standing list of equipment and ingredients I am looking into. Many are money savers and expansionary.
And Two bottles of Sam Adams Wee Heavy and Artisan Bleu Cheese don't sit right with me. I thought I was going to puke... not that it wasn't delicious which it was but within a half hour of that I was in pain.
Sam Adams:
So with the Sam Adams tasting we had a selection of 6 beers.
I will review 4 of them because if your reading this blog I can assume you have had Sam Lager and Sam Light... If not, stop reading HAVE SOME NOW! I only say that because these were the two beers that got me to fully enjoy the bounty of all that is malt, hops, and yeast (I already appreciated water).
I digress. The other four beers are slightly more obscure then the first two but mainstream for the most part.
Summer Ale:
Color: Yellowish Gold... Lighter then most
Clarity: Mostly Clear
Nose: Citric, Spicy, some Floral notes
Taste: Crisp Citrus, Smooth Spicy
Recommendations: Bacon Cheddar Kobe Burger... A nice bowl of almonds... Fruit Salad. Basically anything you might want at a 4th of July BBQ
If Sam Summer was an amplifier and the volume knob was a drink-ability knob it would go to 11... because it's 1 higher and have dwarfs dancing around stone henge.
Sorry about that. I was watching Spinal Tap earlier but I am also serious too.
Black Lager:
Color: Black, Espresso
Clarity: What does that matter? It's Black
Nose: Roasted, Nutty, Coffee
Taste: Dark Chocolate, Espresso
I wasn't very interested in Black Lager. It just wasn't my cup of tea or beer, but worth a try. I have nothing negative to say but I personally wasn't a fan.
Latitude 48:
Color:Dark Amber
Clarity:Mostly Clear
Nose: Floral, Piny, Some nut notes
Taste: BITTER, piny, floral, some caramel
Many of you probably know I am an IPA nut and this was right up my alley. Great beer for tastings sharp strong cheeses with some astringent qualities.
Color: Brown
Clarity: Translucent
Nose: Vegetative, Oaky, Nutty
Taste: Have some odd carrot tones, oaky, butter
Wee Heavy and I said before with the bleu cheese did a number on my digestion but was very good. It was actually a great pairing. If I were to use is practically with it's pair cheese I would do Crab and Macadamia Nut stuffed Crimini with blue cheese crumbles finished in a broiler or salamander to toast the cheese, but that's just me.
Now onward and upward.
Brewing:
This past Saturday I made my first brew batch. All and all I was impressed with myself. It didn't go perfect but better then I anticipated. This Thursday I plan to attend a meeting of a local brewers club and hope to pick up a tip or two for my next batch which I will hopefully start in 2 weeks. I hope to have a new batched finished and bottled every three weeks starting next week.
And Here is a standing list of equipment and ingredients I am looking into. Many are money savers and expansionary.
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Friday, April 29, 2011
Another Sunny Day
So it has officially been 4 weeks since beerfest... I am a lazy POS aren't I?
I guess I should talk about it for a bit.
At Fest they had what you might expect from a New England beer expo.
Sam Adams (nothing special I took a few notes from a tasting I had of only them a few weeks ago and will talk about that later)
Harpoon... Long Trail... Otter Creek
none of which had anything innovative or very interesting to taste or show me. I think it was Harpoon that had the TRIFECTA which was a blend of three of their brews in one tasting and that was interesting. Kind of classy fratboy status but interesting none the less... after the first 2.5 hours one of the people I was with just went around to each stand asking them to mix all their beers. I hope that tells you how uninteresting Beerfest actually was. Don't get me wrong I had a great time and tasted VERY MANY good beers but I was expecting more. More as in the innovative, creative concoctions that these craft breweries have thought up. I basically wanted to be a guinea pig, but alas I was merely a patron.
I was impressed but 3 stands. 2 of which were not even beer.
Firstly Original Sin Cider
The reason I was attracted to this was the pictures and logos. They have all these cool illustrated pinups and their logo is really neat.. yeah I just said neat.
So I went to taste. Their apple is ok at best but their Pear Cider was awesome. I was not expecting it to be that good after having their apple.
Secondly
Woodchuck Cider
Good Cider... only apple I thoroughly enjoyed their Summer Cider. Still too sweet for me I couldn't have more then one.
Lastly the best thing I had at beerfest
Period. end of story. If you see any of the three beers they offer at you liquor store pick them up. They are expensive but if you are a beer enthusiast it is worth it. I just checked out the price at my local liquor store earlier and it is 9.99 for a four pack of the Oaked which is my favorite and 10.99 for a four pack of the Rum Casked. Pick these up and give them a taste then tell your friends and have them tell their friends and maybe we can get an Innis & Gunn here in the US and not pay $30 for 12 beers.
Thats my beerfest review. If it isn't any better in the fall then I won't be going to the spring unless someone pays me.
I guess I should talk about it for a bit.
At Fest they had what you might expect from a New England beer expo.
Sam Adams (nothing special I took a few notes from a tasting I had of only them a few weeks ago and will talk about that later)
Harpoon... Long Trail... Otter Creek
none of which had anything innovative or very interesting to taste or show me. I think it was Harpoon that had the TRIFECTA which was a blend of three of their brews in one tasting and that was interesting. Kind of classy fratboy status but interesting none the less... after the first 2.5 hours one of the people I was with just went around to each stand asking them to mix all their beers. I hope that tells you how uninteresting Beerfest actually was. Don't get me wrong I had a great time and tasted VERY MANY good beers but I was expecting more. More as in the innovative, creative concoctions that these craft breweries have thought up. I basically wanted to be a guinea pig, but alas I was merely a patron.
I was impressed but 3 stands. 2 of which were not even beer.
Firstly Original Sin Cider
The reason I was attracted to this was the pictures and logos. They have all these cool illustrated pinups and their logo is really neat.. yeah I just said neat.
So I went to taste. Their apple is ok at best but their Pear Cider was awesome. I was not expecting it to be that good after having their apple.
Secondly
Woodchuck Cider
Good Cider... only apple I thoroughly enjoyed their Summer Cider. Still too sweet for me I couldn't have more then one.
Lastly the best thing I had at beerfest
Thats my beerfest review. If it isn't any better in the fall then I won't be going to the spring unless someone pays me.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
You drink too much and write too little
So currently I can't sleep and I have felt terrible about my neglect to this raving piece of garbage that is my journalism. I currently have a novel's worth of notes from all the delicious malt beverages I have been drinking and will catch up on that in the near future, but until then I guess I will release some rage into this preposterous rantings.
My time in this school year is coming to a close. This has been an eventful one at that. Socially and intellectually more enjoyable then many of the last 14, but contrary to popular belief intellectual expansion is not found in classrooms and lecture halls it can only be found in yourself. I have never realized it before but it is utterly true. The more of yourself you put into your endeavors the more you will learn and gain from them. Maybe not words of wisdom, I am only 21. I can merely relay my experiences to you and this is all this blog is about. I don't care if I have 600 followers or still merely me I just like to share my experiences to anyone that will listen.
If you don't know the title of this post is from Californication. A few of my friends from work watch the show and I thought I would check it out since it is on instant play on Netflix. Pardon the swearing I know there might be younger readers I hope not but there probably are. Fuck cable online television is cheaper and in many cases higher quality not to mention you can watch premium shows without paying for the big fancy HBO, Stars, or Showtime.
Now I probably just ruined my blog and the lively hood of all television pirates throughout the world but oh well. Sue me. No seriously don't I am broke and will lose everything I don't have. I can just see Ted Turner and Mike Eisner surfing the web reading that I advocate television piracy. I would be black bagged. Wouldn't that be hilarious.
I guess that's all I have for the night. I will probably watch one more episode of Californication and go to sleep. Sweet dream and Handsome nightmares to all.
My time in this school year is coming to a close. This has been an eventful one at that. Socially and intellectually more enjoyable then many of the last 14, but contrary to popular belief intellectual expansion is not found in classrooms and lecture halls it can only be found in yourself. I have never realized it before but it is utterly true. The more of yourself you put into your endeavors the more you will learn and gain from them. Maybe not words of wisdom, I am only 21. I can merely relay my experiences to you and this is all this blog is about. I don't care if I have 600 followers or still merely me I just like to share my experiences to anyone that will listen.
If you don't know the title of this post is from Californication. A few of my friends from work watch the show and I thought I would check it out since it is on instant play on Netflix. Pardon the swearing I know there might be younger readers I hope not but there probably are. Fuck cable online television is cheaper and in many cases higher quality not to mention you can watch premium shows without paying for the big fancy HBO, Stars, or Showtime.
Now I probably just ruined my blog and the lively hood of all television pirates throughout the world but oh well. Sue me. No seriously don't I am broke and will lose everything I don't have. I can just see Ted Turner and Mike Eisner surfing the web reading that I advocate television piracy. I would be black bagged. Wouldn't that be hilarious.
I guess that's all I have for the night. I will probably watch one more episode of Californication and go to sleep. Sweet dream and Handsome nightmares to all.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Am I loud and clear, Or am I breaking up?
We live on front porches and swing life away. We get by just fine here on minimum wage... in a Rise Against mood
So in recent days I have tastes three beers that have tasted mostly the same two of which are imports Bass and New Castle and one is from what I understand "supposed" to be an import it is Monty Python's Holy Grail Ale (tempered over burning witches) but this English themed beer is brewed and bottled in Rochester NY.
These three brews are pretty good depictions in my mind of what a English Pale Ale is they were all dark amber and malty almost like eating steel cut oatmeal and what I recommend for these is a bunch of friends sitting around eating greasy bar food. Definitely a social bunch of beers not that EVERY beer isn't but these beers just tasted like hooliganism. (I thought I made that word up but spell check says it's real)
Now for the IPAs
Ok this thing was a beast of an IPA. The most intensely hopped beer I yet tasted. When I say this was bitter I mean this stuff will rip the fillings right out of your mouth and I say that in the most endearing way possible because it was quite delicious but definitely not for everyone.
Ithaca: Flower Power IPA
This has been my absolute favorite IPA so far. Extremely complex but I can't figure out if it's solely because of the hops of something else. It tastes like lemonade, potpourri, and beer, again, in all the best ways. This one was actually recommended to me by Cat's coworker, and I recommend it to all of you. If you don't know if you like IPAs this might change your mind.
Now for the Bocks.
So this is some info on Bocks because I was unclear myself. I thought a bock can only be brewed in December and served by April and this is true for Australia but I can not find a definitive answer for the rest of the world.
Traditional bock is a sweet, relatively strong (6.3%–7.2% by volume), lightly hopped lager. The beer should be clear, and color can range from light copper to brown, with a bountiful and persistent off-white head. The aroma should be malty and toasty, possibly with hints of alcohol, but no detectable hops or fruitiness. The mouthfeel is smooth, with low to moderate carbonation and no astringency. The taste is rich and toasty, sometimes with a bit of caramel. Again, hop presence is low to undetectable, providing just enough bitterness so that the sweetness is not cloying and the aftertaste is muted.
this information was true for both bocks I have recently had they were both very malty and almost creamy in the smoothness category. I will probably pick another one up next weekend to find any major differences.
Oh, one of the bocks I tasted was Narragansett's and it was quite good. I know I have bad mouthed Gansett in the past and I will still bad mouth there lager because that shit's gross but if a Gansett Girl gives me a bock or stout I will take a swig.
Now to end this one I will give you my FAVORITE so far.
Samuel Adams: Scotch Ale
This is a malty sweet smooth creation that I wish I thought of first with the pallet of a triple malt scotch and the sociability of a Sam Adams this is a true social lubricant. I was enjoying myself with Cat's friends when I had this one so it is hard to make recommendations for this but the beer itself is worth having and having more then one. I almost wanted to pick up a full case as soon as we left Cat's friends. If I ever throw a kegger this is what will be in it.
I am sorry these are not in my usual format but most of these beers were impromptu tastings and I didn't have my notepad and some of them I didn't have a glass for color and clarity, but I kind of like this social format more of a review then informative. I may stick with this style at least until I get a new camera.
We're OK until the day we're not. The surface shines while the inside rots. we raced the sunset and we almost won. we slammed the breaks but the wheels weren't on... I said I was in a Rise Against mood
So in recent days I have tastes three beers that have tasted mostly the same two of which are imports Bass and New Castle and one is from what I understand "supposed" to be an import it is Monty Python's Holy Grail Ale (tempered over burning witches) but this English themed beer is brewed and bottled in Rochester NY.
Now for the IPAs
Green Flash Brewing: West Coast IPA
Ok this thing was a beast of an IPA. The most intensely hopped beer I yet tasted. When I say this was bitter I mean this stuff will rip the fillings right out of your mouth and I say that in the most endearing way possible because it was quite delicious but definitely not for everyone.
Ithaca: Flower Power IPA
This has been my absolute favorite IPA so far. Extremely complex but I can't figure out if it's solely because of the hops of something else. It tastes like lemonade, potpourri, and beer, again, in all the best ways. This one was actually recommended to me by Cat's coworker, and I recommend it to all of you. If you don't know if you like IPAs this might change your mind.
Now for the Bocks.
So this is some info on Bocks because I was unclear myself. I thought a bock can only be brewed in December and served by April and this is true for Australia but I can not find a definitive answer for the rest of the world.
Traditional bock is a sweet, relatively strong (6.3%–7.2% by volume), lightly hopped lager. The beer should be clear, and color can range from light copper to brown, with a bountiful and persistent off-white head. The aroma should be malty and toasty, possibly with hints of alcohol, but no detectable hops or fruitiness. The mouthfeel is smooth, with low to moderate carbonation and no astringency. The taste is rich and toasty, sometimes with a bit of caramel. Again, hop presence is low to undetectable, providing just enough bitterness so that the sweetness is not cloying and the aftertaste is muted.
this information was true for both bocks I have recently had they were both very malty and almost creamy in the smoothness category. I will probably pick another one up next weekend to find any major differences.
Oh, one of the bocks I tasted was Narragansett's and it was quite good. I know I have bad mouthed Gansett in the past and I will still bad mouth there lager because that shit's gross but if a Gansett Girl gives me a bock or stout I will take a swig.
Now to end this one I will give you my FAVORITE so far.
Samuel Adams: Scotch Ale
This is a malty sweet smooth creation that I wish I thought of first with the pallet of a triple malt scotch and the sociability of a Sam Adams this is a true social lubricant. I was enjoying myself with Cat's friends when I had this one so it is hard to make recommendations for this but the beer itself is worth having and having more then one. I almost wanted to pick up a full case as soon as we left Cat's friends. If I ever throw a kegger this is what will be in it.
I am sorry these are not in my usual format but most of these beers were impromptu tastings and I didn't have my notepad and some of them I didn't have a glass for color and clarity, but I kind of like this social format more of a review then informative. I may stick with this style at least until I get a new camera.
We're OK until the day we're not. The surface shines while the inside rots. we raced the sunset and we almost won. we slammed the breaks but the wheels weren't on... I said I was in a Rise Against mood
Thursday, March 24, 2011
An Experiment in Social Lubrication: Part One
Friends, Romans, and other sorts of belligerent drunkards
My sincere apologizes for my negligent posting in recent weeks. I have been overwhelmingly busy with school, work, traveling and other miscellaneous events.
I have SO many delicious malted beverages to tell you about and I am going to start what is in my flagon right now. I apologize my camera is still busted so I will just be posting images from the internet.
Harpoon: Leviathan Imperial IPA
Color: Amber
Clarity: Slightly Cloudy
Nose: Citrus and Floral, Very Hoppy
Taste: Much hops but not the most bitter I have had recently I will get back to that soon enough.
Recommendations: grilled shrimp or salmon or any other fish grilled on an open flame.
So on to my next order of business. Uncorking the Past beer tasting.
I have to start this segment out by saying Man was I feeling social anxiety at Brown U. I seriously don't belong there.... I can't wait to go back.
I have pages upon pages of notes and literature and information given at the event but I seriously doubt you want to know ALL of it. I will say Patrick McGovern and Sam Calagione make one hell of a team and I look forward to seeing them again in the future because they are some crazy smart guys with crazy smart ideas.
Some interesting facts before I get into the brews themselves.
In ancient times alcohol consuming cultures lived up to twice as long as non-alcohol drinking culutres
All mammals are instinctively drawn to enjoy and partake in fermented food and drink
The consumption of alcohol can be dated back to Paleolithic Man
Drum roll please....
Dogfish Head: SAH'TEA
Nose: Spicy, Herbal
Taste: Like Chai Tea and Grass... but in a good way
this one wasn't talked about very much but it was at the tasting and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Dogfish Head: Chateau Jaihu
The oldest of the four tasted with a recipe dating back to 7000bc
Containing rice, muscat grapes, hawthorn fruit, and malt barley
Nose: Banana and Citrus
Taste: Very light due to the rice, citrusy and fruity, light floral
Recommendations: Orange Cake (appearantly that's what the paper says)
Dogfish Head: Theobroma
Honduran drink of the GODS
Made with chocolate and ancho chilis
Nose: Chocolatey and some sweet spice
Taste: Chocolate and complex
Recommendations: Toasted Nuts and Roast Chicken
and I guess I will call it quits for right now but comment and let me know what you think... facebook and twitter accounts can follow.
My sincere apologizes for my negligent posting in recent weeks. I have been overwhelmingly busy with school, work, traveling and other miscellaneous events.
I have SO many delicious malted beverages to tell you about and I am going to start what is in my flagon right now. I apologize my camera is still busted so I will just be posting images from the internet.
Harpoon: Leviathan Imperial IPA
Color: Amber
Clarity: Slightly Cloudy
Nose: Citrus and Floral, Very Hoppy
Taste: Much hops but not the most bitter I have had recently I will get back to that soon enough.
Recommendations: grilled shrimp or salmon or any other fish grilled on an open flame.
So on to my next order of business. Uncorking the Past beer tasting.
I have to start this segment out by saying Man was I feeling social anxiety at Brown U. I seriously don't belong there.... I can't wait to go back.
I have pages upon pages of notes and literature and information given at the event but I seriously doubt you want to know ALL of it. I will say Patrick McGovern and Sam Calagione make one hell of a team and I look forward to seeing them again in the future because they are some crazy smart guys with crazy smart ideas.
Some interesting facts before I get into the brews themselves.
In ancient times alcohol consuming cultures lived up to twice as long as non-alcohol drinking culutres
All mammals are instinctively drawn to enjoy and partake in fermented food and drink
The consumption of alcohol can be dated back to Paleolithic Man
Drum roll please....
Nose: Spicy, Herbal
Taste: Like Chai Tea and Grass... but in a good way
this one wasn't talked about very much but it was at the tasting and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The oldest of the four tasted with a recipe dating back to 7000bc
Containing rice, muscat grapes, hawthorn fruit, and malt barley
Nose: Banana and Citrus
Taste: Very light due to the rice, citrusy and fruity, light floral
Recommendations: Orange Cake (appearantly that's what the paper says)
Honduran drink of the GODS
Made with chocolate and ancho chilis
Nose: Chocolatey and some sweet spice
Taste: Chocolate and complex
Recommendations: Toasted Nuts and Roast Chicken
and I guess I will call it quits for right now but comment and let me know what you think... facebook and twitter accounts can follow.
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