Newport Beach, a miniseries

Having already critiqued the IPA from Upstream brewery, I opted to take the photo op with Glenwood Canyon Brewery's No Name Nut Brown Ale.  We drank both growlers on our Friday evening in Newport Beach with some grilled lemon chicken and shrimp courtesy of the Baker family.  Special thanks goes to Colin for the prep, the Todd for the final bake, Leslie and Jenny for the sides, and my ravenous hunger that led to a perfect meal.

Our growler of the Upstream IPA had seen better days.  Having spent three gruesome days at the bottom of the car's passenger seat, the growler tipped over at one point and deposited some of its contents into the grooves of the vinyl floor mat.  D'oh!  (Is that trademarked?)  This means the seal was not exactly the tightest and our precious liquid had grown flatter every second.  Either way, we popped the bottle into the freezer to get up to optimal drinking temperature.  We like cold beer!

The IPA still tasted pretty damn good.  Up to this point I was still not sold on the hoppy goodness that some beers had to offer so I was definitely looking forward to moving on to the brown ale.  And baby, it was oh so good.

The pour out of a growler is not as graceful out of the tap or a bomber.  The caramel, honey color of the ale is inviting on a brisk Newport evening.  With minimal head you can dive right in, and that's just what I did.  The aroma was very nutty with a beautiful touch of hops.  The description from the brewer is simple: "A classic brown ale with plenty of malt and a subtle touch of hops.  Surprisingly smooth!"  I don't know what caught the brewer off guard as I haven't met a brown ale that wasn't smooth.  It didn't take me aback and I doubt it would take you for a ride either.

Unfortunately for us, it does not appear that the Glenwood Canyon Brewery distributes their beer anywhere outside of Glenwood Canyon.  Fortunately for us, the trip to Glenwood Springs is incredibly gorgeous and with the Rockies as a backdrop how could you not want to go there.  It took me to get to Newport Beach to appreciate the beer I obtained two days prior.

Points west

Denver has more microbreweries than you can imagine visiting in one night there.  This presents a problem for a man looking to critique beers.  As I bid a fond farewell to Denver, I knew it is probably possible to find a microbrew wherever you may go.  We ventured west along I-70 and found ourselves looking lunchtime right in the eye.  Amid the Glenwood Canyon we land at Glenwood Springs and sit down at the Glenwood Canyon Brewery for what my father has dubbed, "The best damn beer cheese soup I've ever had in my life."

With about six hours of driving still ahead of us, Dave and I agreed that a lunchtime beer was not an option.  We both ordered the beer cheese soup in a spectacular bread bowl.  Now, I'm not entirely sure I ever had beer cheese soup before, but I can say confidently that the Glenwood Canyon Brewery has a damn fine concoction on their hands.  This satisfied my beer requirement at the pub, even though it didn't come from the tap.

Without even bothering to taste any of their beers, we opted for a growler of No Name Nut Brown Ale.  We now had our second growler of the trip on our way to Newport Beach, California. 

West of Denver is the beautiful Rocky Mountains and west of that is Utah.  Unfortunately we did not get to find the one microbrewery in Utah we could find on the Internet.  We continued southwest until we stopped for the night at St. George, UT.  After talking with the hotel front desk we discovered that there's really only one bar and it's called "The One and Only."

Don't go to "The One and Only."  I had to settle with a Michelob Amber Bock.  At least we made it to Newport.

Denver

I wouldn't want to label my trip to Great Divide Brewery as a pilgrimage, but it certainly had that feel to it.  After drinking the YETI for my first microbrew review I almost felt I owed them some loyalty.  Luckily for me, Great Divide did not disappoint and my stay there was certainly memorable.

I sampled five of Great Divide's beers and Dave, my traveling companion (although in realty I'm his), sampled the other five.  Of those ten beers, not a single one was disappointing.  The only disappointing aspect was the fact that we were heading to a Rockies game and we could not take a growler to go.  Since their beers are available where I live, I wasn't entirely heart broken.

Two beers that really got my attention at Great Divide were their seasonal fare: Chocolate Oak Aged YETI and the 17th anniversary wood aged Double IPA.  The YETI, unlike the original, has an even more intense flavor and is even complemented with cayenne undertones.  It makes for rich, roasty, spicy flavor.  If you're are going to choose between the two, I'd recommend the original YETI.  The cayenne flavor lingers on a bit too long.  The Double IPA is lacking the usually bitterness you would expect to find.  When I asked the bartender about the IBU content he told me around 50.  The brew was smooth and flavorful with the perfect touch of hops.

Wilk sneaking a peek at Great Divide aging barrels

After Great Divide we walked up to Breckenridge Brewery directly across from Coors Field.  I started out with the requisite flagship brew, Avalanche Amber Ale.  The perfect amber color was a beautiful sight after the amber attempt from Upstream.  The beer went well with the wings we grabbed.  There is a reason this is Breckenridge's most popular beer, it's damn good.  Afterwards I switched to their Scotch ale and was also pleased with the result.  I regret that I can't give a thorough analysis of these beers because the visit was more about socializing with friends than critiquing beer.  Both styles were great and if I come across any other Breckenridge beers I will pick them up willingly.

Home of 70 on tap microbrews from around the world and twice as many bottles

After the game we went to Falling Rock Tap House where I continued sampling the best Denver had to offer.  I went with two more selections to round out the evening: Left Hand Brewing Company's Milk Stout and Bull and Bush's Man Beer.  Left Hand redeemed itself completely after the TNT fiasco.  The Milk Stout was so deliciously creamy, it was as if I was drinking a White Russian.  Bull and Bush's Man Beer was a hoppy amber that was perfectly bitter and refreshing.  I think after the spoil of Denver microbrews I may have found my hop desire.

Stay tuned for points west...

Upstream Brewery, Omaha, Nebraska

I have to stand up and applaud microbreweries that really want you to enjoy your beer.  Upstream Brewery in Omaha, NE has twelve taps behind the bar and their "Taster's Row" includes all 12 beers for $11.95 in convenient 2.3 ounce taster shot glasses.  Most flights give you 5-8 beers of the best stuff, but Upstream has no problem throwing all 12 your way even if they are horrible beers.  Granted the brewers of Upstream probably enjoy every beer they make.

Without further ado, from left to right in a clockwise fashion:

O! Gold Light -  American style light lager with balls.  Bold, smooth taste but surprisingly less alcohol than Miller Lite at 3.8%.

Honey Raspberry Ale - Ever have berry flavored vitamin water?  I bet it tests better than this sorry excuse for a beer.  Find Leinenkuegel's Berry Weiss and enjoy it more.

GramGram's Munich Helles - Upstream's seasonal lager is watered down and doesn't even pack the same umph as the light.

American Wheat - Upstream's seasonal wheat is watered down fruity wheat beer.  The lighter beers were so effortless to drink I just tilted back the shooter and took down the rest of the beer with one gulp.  Probably shouldn't judge these beers on the samples but if you aren't willing to order a pint after a taste, why bother?

Capitol Premium Pale Ale - Hoppy.  This is a pale ale but Upstream classifies it as an amber beer.  The amber hue is in the beer and the hops are really intense.  Even my traveling companion found it to be unbelievably hop intensive.

Firehouse Red - Finally!  A sample that was worth drinking.  Not as deep a red as some other ambers and with a good hop balance, this red lends a smooth taste with a nice carmel undertone.

Flagship India Pale Ale - Hell Yeah!  Upstream is not lying when they dole out this IPA.  The hops are overwhelming.  If you let this beer linger on your tastebuds for longer than a heartbeat you will get the Keystone Bitter Beer face.  Of course, that's the real intent, right?  Knowing my disdain for IPAs you will be surprised to find that the finish on this brew is much smoother than the hop content would suggest.  Since this is Upstream's flagship brew, we bought a growler and I will provide a full breakdown later in the week.

Dundee Scotch Ale - Roasted malty goodness.  This is the first dark beer in the sampling group and Upstream should stick to this spectrum because the darker beers were so much better than the lighter ones.  This was the fan favorite.

Justa' Porter - By far the lightest porter I ever encountered.  This beer was more crimson than the Firehouse Red.  Coffee undertones and a smooth finish made this brew delicious.

LeeRoy Jenkins Imperial India Brown Ale - WOW.  No, I don't wow the beer, but if you don't get the reference please Google.  The hop content was so intensely aromatic but the brown ale tempers the bitterness.  In the end, I didn't know whether the beer was bitter or smooth.

Giandwa Imperial Rye Brown Ale - This beer I will "wow."  It was good.  Great finish, nice dark color and aroma, my style of brew.

Cask Conditioned Ale - Darkest hop beer I ever had.  Out of the 12 beer taster row, I had one beer too many and should have stopped with number 11.

If you find yourself in Omaha, venture downtown and stop by the Upstream brewpub and try yourself some beer.  The seasonal selection obviously varies and the brewery standards are worth drinking.  The pints went for $4.50 and the growler was $12 so the value is there.  You can also get a taster of any beer for $1 so you don't have to blow money on a beer you won't like.

Nutritional Information

When the major brewers decided it was time to battle for the love of the health conscious American, I scoffed at the idea.  Michelob Ultra and the introduction of light beer as a diet concept was something that was laughable moreso than laudable.  My first encounter with Michelob Ultra ironically occurred at about the same time I started on a rigorous workout regimen.  The joke of course, was that my gym had a bar right above it and on Tuesdays it was $1 taco night and my friend and I would wash down our meal with some good old Michelob Ultra since we were dieting after all.

Diet friendly beers could have been big beers way to market the drink to ladies always concerned with figure.  However, the lot of commercials that played on a loop were geared toward the men in the crowd.  Ever fearful that spirits, like always diet friendly vodka, were starting to chip aware at market share, big beer needed to reel in the key demographic.  So we get our favorite beers manipulated into MGD 64, Budweiser Select 55, etc.

I always joked, "Hey, if you are worried about how many calories are in your beer, you probably shouldn't be drinking beer."  But how could I argue with the calorie minded folks who enjoy an ice cold lager or ale?  With the major brands, it actually is easy to find calorie and carb content.  As I've ventured into the world of craft beer brought out by microbrews, it's harder to track that information down.  Mostly this is because the small brewers probably do not take the time to measure the information, even if they knew how.

Here are some quick tips to keep in mind when consuming beer:

• Generally, the higher the alcohol content, the higher the calories.  This is why Mich Ultra, Select 55, and MGD 64 taste an awful lot like water left to bake in the sun and then rechilled.

• Darker beers have higher calories (alcohol content) and more carbs.  This is based in part by the malts used to produce the beer.  That chocolatey undertone comes with chocolatey carbs.

• If your beer has an alcohol content between 4-5% you can probably expect anywhere from 100 - 150 calories depending on the style.  For example, a pale ale with that alcohol content might be on the low end of that spectrum whereas a stout with the same alcohol content would be on the high end.

• If your beer has an alcohol content between 8-10% you can probably expect anywhere from 250-400 calories depending once again on style.

As with any food or drink you enjoy while dieting it is best in moderation.  96 calorie Miller Lite adds up quickly when the company and conversation goes on for hours and you drink a steak's worth of beer.  Don't let that get you down though.  If you want to go for another brew just remember 3 miles on the treadmill and it will easily melt away.

Illiana Mayfest, or The Culmination of American Craft Beer Week

You would think that a fledgling blogger would be prepared to do all the research necessary to write a comprehensive review of such an important event.  Naturally, I witnessed attendees scribbling copious notes in, and I'm not kidding here, their beer journals.  As I enjoyed sample after sample of what the microbrews of Indiana and Illinois offered me I couldn't help but wonder if the keepers of the journals were enjoying themselves as thoroughly as I was.  Then again, I'm sure it was the company I was keeping that made Illiana Mayfest an event I'll plan on attending as long as they hold it.

I'm not going to run down a list of every brewery that made the trek to Crown Point.  If you are interested please visit www.illianamayfest.com.  I tried to sample at least one beer from each brewery but I know I missed a handful.  Here are the highlights from a very worthwhile venture:

Two Brother's Brewing Company, Warrenville, IL - The Kentucky Bourbon Beer served by Two Brother's was deemed to be "Best in Show" by both my brother and I.  In the past, the only style of beer that I've encountered aged in bourbon barrels tended to be stouts or porters.  Kentucky Bourbon beer poured almost like an IPA with a darker, honey color.  The aroma was sweetly bourbon and the taste was creamy goodness.  This one didn't go down as quickly as the other samples, but it was darn tasty.  Two Brother's also made a lasting impression on Brett with their White Beer.  Much like Blue Moon, the White Beer was laced heavily with coriander and the only thing missing was the orange slice.  The floral undertones were quite noticeable and Brett kept comparing it to "biting a bunch of rose petals."  He did indicate however that it is the most unique beer he had encountered in a while.

Flat 12, Indianapolis, IN - One of the last beers I sampled was Blanco El Diablo.  Now, I haven't taken a formal Spanish class in over ten years, but something tells me if Flat 12 intended this beer to be called "White Devil" they should have went with El Diablo Blanco.  Either way, this beer is brewed and then ages in barrels over chili peppers.  The spice flavor doesn't come rushing in with the drink, rather it stalks you quietly and zaps the back of your mouth when you swallow the brew.  If you let it sit on your tongue too long, you'll get the same burning sensation in your nose.  There is a distinct waxy taste to it almost as you finish.  I kept hinting to my friends that this would be the perfect beer for your bratwurst.

Moylan's Brewery, Novato, CA - I don't know if this is the same Moylan's that was there, but this is where Google led me.  That's okay, because they indicate a Moylan's Irish Red and I definitely sampled it while I was at Mayfest.  I'm a huge fan of ambers and you usually get a lager feel when you order one up.  This Irish Red was so smooth and I will once again use the word creamy to describe how well this beer flowed and tasted.  It was by far the best red I've had in some time.  It definitely outshone the other ambers at the festival.

Crown Brewing Company, Crown Point, IN - Of course I have to give a tip of the hat to the hometown hero.  Only open since 2008, Crown Brewing has an award winning Imperial Porter.  As you may well know, I definitely have an affinity for that style of beer.  The Porter was good, but was definitely not the best I've ever enjoyed.  There was nothing to distinguish it from the others even at their own sponsored festival.  However, Crown Brewing hit it out of the park with their Weizenheimer Weiss.  To be fair, I did not try this beer.  Brett and Kim both agreed that this was their "Best in Show."  Who am I to argue with them?

On a general note, I have to get over myself and jump on the IPA bandwagon.  It appears that no brewery can be complete without offering some variation of these hoppy brews.  It should be noted, as I was reminded by my brother, that Americans love cold beer.  Even though it has been recommended that ales reach a warmer temperature there is no separating the mind from desiring icy cold refreshment. 

I will probably never take a notebook with me on any journey involving beer.  I have mentioned before that I believe beer should be enjoyed in the best way you know how.  I will offer my best description of the beers I try, and hope to lead you in a generally good direction.

Michelle volunteered to be the designated driver so there is no Michelle factor.  Remember, drink responsibly and respect beer.





Brett, Wilk, and Adrian







Michelle and Kim





Obovoid

Brewer: Boulder Beer Company, Boulder, Colorado
Alcohol Content: 6.8%

Official Description from Brewer:

Obovoid - 1. An ovoid with the broad end toward the apex.  2. A fun word!

"Something tells us that you're going to love Obovoid Oak-Aged Oatmeal Stout.  Perhaps it's the color - as dark as deep space.  Or the aging on oak that adds an earthy character to its roasted notes.  Maybe you crave the bittersweet chocolate finish derived from the abundance of black and chocolate malts.  Or quite possibly the rich, smooth mouthfeel and creamy, off-white color head tickle your fancy.  But most likely, it's the perfect blend of "all of the above" that makes Obovoid a stout lover's dream"

Wilk's Take:
As we already know, Hoppin' Frog's B.O.R.I.S. was the impetus behind this blog.  Therefore, when I am searching the shelves at WiseGuys for beers to celebrate American Craft Beer Week how could I not stop and stare at another oatmeal stout.  The one oddity about Obovoid is that Boulder Beer Company limits the release of this beer from October-December.  The date stamped on the bottle is January 18, 2011.  Lying can be oh so delicious sometimes.

Obovoid poured perfectly.  The color, as I'm sure you've noticed in the last three posts, is nice and dark and oh so beautiful.  I promise I'll move to IPAs next week.  In the meantime I am totally in love with this week's selections.  Obovoid had a bold yet smooth aroma that is very inviting and keeps it's scent from start to finish.  The roasted malt yields a chocolate and toffee note.

Once you take in Obovoid you need to let it linger in your mouth.  The aroma and the warmth of your own breath bring out this intense flavor that is very velvety.  The finish is intensely coffee however, which could be the only drawback in this beer.  Much like B.O.R.I.S., Boulder ages this ale with oak.  The R.I.P. and the Silk Porter from earlier in the week were not aged near oak and you can clearly tell the difference.  Now, the earlier beers were porters and this is a stout, but this should make no difference.  Porters can easily be aged in oak barrels.  I'm saying oak should be the way to go in the future, but for the sake of keeping this blog going I will diversify.

Suggestion: Run to the Internet, go to Boulder Beer Company and find where you can land this brew.  Drink away and enjoy aplenty.  It was very smooth and very easy to drink.  With the lower alcohol content it is easy to drink.

Value: $7.50 for a 22oz bottle.  Obviously I appreciate the beer.  The value, that's a different story.  At only 6.8% ABV I am shocked for a stout.  I'd rather buy a more potent beer for that amount.

Michelle Factor: Not applicable.  Michelle refused to take a swig of this brew, with it looking and smelling like all the rest she didn't want to walk down a path that she's already taken.  Needless to say, she'd probably not enjoy it.

R.I.P. - Russian Imperial Porter

Brewer: Bluegrass Brewing Company, Louisville, Kentucky
Alcohol Content: A mystery to me

Official Description from Brewer:
Another mystery to me

Wilk's Take:
I have become a slave to the Russian Imperial Porter.  I am not sure if I can go back to drinking any other beers.  That poses a problem of course because these porters tend to be quite heavy.  BBC as they affectionately call themselves does not even list this particular beer on their website and there is nothing on the bottle that indicates how they wish to portray their beer.  All of this is moot because it is one delicious beer.

RIP poured perfectly.  The liquid in whole form in the glass gives the perfect coffee tone one expects in a porter.  However, I had the wonderful fortune to catch a single drop in the light and it gave off an inviting caramel color that made me stop for a brief second.  The aroma was beautiful.  All the roasted malts were absolutely perfect.  The coffee scent that is prevalent in other porters was not as distinct with RIP.  The chocolatey undertone was definitely there.

I savored this beer.  I couldn't get over how rich and full of flavor it was.  The taste is not over powering.  Roasted malts and bitterness gave way to a dark sweetness.  The first drink is like making the mistake of eating baker's chocolate.  It is so bitter, but it quickly melts away as you give the brew time to play with your taste buds.

Suggestion: Drink this beer.  It is better than the Topless Wych from 3 Floyd's yesterday and trumps the YETI in terms of the mild draw.  The flavor is magnificent.

Value: For $7.50 you get over 25 ounces.  The alcohol content has to be over 7% and it's just an enjoyable beer.  I think the value is there, but with BBC not really advertising this beer I couldn't tell you if it will be around any longer.

Michelle Factor:  Michelle was going to skip trying this brew.  In the end she acquiesced and put the glass under her nose.  She detected a sweetness in the aroma but when she drank it I got the same facial expression.  Maybe Michelle is more of a wheat beer kind of girl.

Beers of 3 Floyd's with Brett

Alpha King - "3 Floyd’s flagship beer, Alpha King is a big American pale ale that pours a deep amber with a creamy head. This ale is brewed with Centennial, Cascade, and Warrior hops giving it an intense citrus aroma and a crisp hoppy finish."

Gumball Head - "An American Wheat Ale, Gumballhead is named in honor of the underground comic book cat created by Rob Syers. Initially a seasonal summer beer, now brewed year round due to demand. This beer helped redefine American Wheat Beers. Brewed with Amarillo Hops and a generous portion of American red wheat, Gumballhead has a complex hop aroma with notes of grapefruit, lemon zest, marmalade and peach. These flavors combined with low bitterness make Gumballhead a refreshing American Wheat Beer that doesn’t suck."

Topless Wych - "A strong, full-bodied Baltic Porter with coffee and chocolate notes."

I started the afternoon with the Alpha King.  When you walk into a brewpub attached to the brewery you should probably start with the beer they identify as their flagship.  So I willingly went with my gut and ordered one up and finally let a professional pour me a beer.  As you can tell from the picture, it is very noticeable when you get a beer poured by someone who knows what he's doing.  I'm not going to lie, 3 Floyd's hit the nail on the head when it comes to describing this brew.  It is incredibly hoppy and does have that crisp citrus undertone.  This was a much better experience than Pride and Joy.  I gulped Alpha King down and, although I am not a big fan of hoppy beers, I could definitely see myself ordering it again and again.

My friend Brett has told me on more than one occasion that when push comes to shove he goes with Gumball Head.  I put in my order and the pour was once again spot on.  3 Floyd's brewers or tasters can truly define a beer.  The fruity and floral undertones to this wheat beer are as they describe.  The only downfall with Gumball Head is that I could not differentiate it from other wheat beers I've tried.  That's not to say Gumball isn't good, but to me, it's not special.  Brett, if you read this, take no offense.

To cap off my experience I went to my favorite style of beer, a porter.  I went with the Topless Wych because I was told it was better than the Hoppin' Frog Silk Porter I had the night before.  The pour, again beautiful, was inviting to my eyes.  The color was that of coffee and so was the aroma.  The coffee smell was strong with this one, but the taste revealed nothing of it.  Brett, who doesn't fancy porters, was really impressed with the taste of Topless Wych.  There certainly is a rich, roasted malt flavor to this porter that is so easy on the palate.  Unlike the YETI, you don't lose your taste buds with Topless Wych.

It certainly is an adventure dining with someone of opposite beer tastes.  I avoid IPAs and wheat beers like the plague and shoot for stouts and porters.  Brett goes the other way.  We're going to Illiana Mayfest together.  Should be a really great time and should lead to great beer discussion.



Silk Porter

Brewer: Hoppin' Frog, Akron, Ohio
Alcohol Content: 6.2%

Official Description from Brewer:
"Dark, robust and silky-smooth, with many flavors of roasted, toasted and caramel malts. Porter is an old-world beer style, so popular that it helped start the industrial revolution. Taste the history."

Wilk's Take:
Hoppin' Frog won me over the first time with B.O.R.I.S. so in honor of American Craft Beer Week I went to them for a 22oz. bomber of their Silk Porter.  I was hoping they could catch lightning in more than one bottle and took the opportunity to enjoy the next selection.  Silk Porter poured beautifully and left little head.  I'm starting to wonder if I'm leaving the glass tilted too long.  On the pour into a second glass it left a perfect 1" head that dissipate as soon as it formed.

Silk Porter looks like weak coffee sitting lukewarm waiting for ice and cream.  The liquid itself is not heavy even though the color is very dark.  I found nothing out of the ordinary with the aroma of Silk Porter and can't really describe the smell outside of that of dark beer.  When I tilted the glass to my lips the aroma remains prevalent.  As the porter sat on my tongue the carbonation attacked my taste buds like a soda.  This actually continues through the entire glass.

Silk Porter finishes with a very intense coffee undertone.  The taste that lingers in your mouth after the beer is a fading coffee flavor and of course, beer.  As far as flow goes, the beer is smooth and is a quick drink.  For a dark beer you are not knocked out by any roasted malts and can finish a glass as quickly as you could a lighter lager.

Suggestion: Drink it.  If you are a fan of porters you will not be disappointed with this one.  Personally, it's going to take a considerable change of heart if I decide to buy another Silk Porter again.

Value: A 22oz bomber for around $8.  You can probably get a porter that tastes as good for a better value if you look for it.

Michelle Factor: Not applicable.  Regretfully I drank this beer away from Michelle, however, based on previous beers with a heavy coffee flavor I can only imagine she would dislike this one equally.

*****DISCLAIMER*****
I have been doing nothing but inhaling drywall dust all day and my sinuses are probably not in the right frame of mind to be critiquing beer.  I poured this for my brother and he really enjoyed it.  My attitude was mostly negative.  I trust his judgment so have at it.

American Craft Beer Week

I find it to be serendipitous that I started a beer blog in such close proximity to American Craft Beer Week.  To think, this has been taking place for five years now and I am only becoming aware of the world of craft beer.  For more about the event and to find events in your area celebrating this wonder please visit http://www.craftbeer.com/.

My schedule of events is as follows:

Monday - Hoppin' Frog's Silk Porter
Tuesday - The Beers of Three Floyd's with Brett
Wednesday - Bluegrass Brewing Company's Russian Imperial Porter
Thursday - Boulder Beer Company's Obovoid
Friday - Craft Beer Sampling at Wise Guy's.  For more info http://www.wiseguysliquors.com/
Saturday - Illiana Mayfest at the Lake County Fairgrounds
Sunday - Recovery and preparation for my trip west

Heavy Seas Mutiny Fleet Below Decks

Brewer: Clipper City Brewing Company, Baltimore, Maryland
Alcohol Content:  10%

Official Description from Brewer:
"The Mutiny Fleet was 'berthed' by Heavy Seas brewers who were discovered secretly brewing small batches of big beers to amuse the palates of their fellow crew.  Since most secrets are best kept bottled up, we're bringing you these big flavor extrAARGHdinary brews in 22oz bombers.  Embrace your inner pyrate and joining the Mutiny!  An English style barleywine ale that can be enjoyed now or kept "Below Decks" as it becomes more complex as it ages."

Wilk's Take:
It has been said that your sense of smell has the best memory and that you can recall with complete accuracy the smells you experience.  As I shoved my nose into Below Decks I was reminded of not only beer, but sweet, sweet Communion wine.  To truly appreciate that, you have to understand that Serbian Orthodox Communion wine can be as sweet as it is bitter.  The smell of Below Decks can be mistaken for a sweet red wine.  Now, not knowing the process of brewing a barleywine beer I'm not sure if this effect is intended or not.  All I can honestly say is that my beer smelled like Merlot.  Does that even make sense?  Is Merlot fruity?

Below Decks poured like your favorite cola out of a 2 liter bottle left for a week or so to get nice and flat after the party where you ran out of Jack Daniels.  There was no head to be found anywhere and the "tiny bubbles, in the wine" showed very little carbonation.  The sweet, sweet sensation was very appealing and I dove in.  With an ABV of 10% I was expecting the best.

Below Decks is not heavy at all.  It flows smoothly from the glass to your tongue and settles there almost like a Kool-Aid.  To expand, when I drink Kool-Aid the sugar is very prominent and coats your tongue making each subsequent drink sweeter than the one before.  The ale is very distinctly beer and the fruity notes are very conspicuous but enjoyable.  You are not knocked around by the "wine" aspect of the brew.

It's hard to say what would happen to this beer if aged any longer than when I consumed it.  The year on the bottle is 2010.  I do not have the patience to store this beer and see what it would taste like in five years.  Then again, if the bottle is available at my local liquor store for a reasonable price I'm doubting it's an ale that anyone would let settle in their beer collection for any length of time.  I would probably reserve that honor for a bottle that cost roughly ten times as much.

Suggestion:  For my first foray into barleywine style, I think Below Decks was a good choice.  If you are an adventurous sort, pick it up for it will satisfy you and will not leave a lead weight in your gut.

Value:  As with all the other beers this week, Below Decks went for roughly $6 for a 22oz bomber.  For 10% ABV you'd be hard pressed for a better deal.  Don't think it to be cheap tasting though.  Below Decks certainly brings the quality you want in any ale.

Michelle Factor:  If you have ever seen a kid's face after eating brussel sprouts you can imagine what Michelle looked like when she tried this beer.  She lumped it with the YETI, a beer that she absolutely cannot stomach.  I guess the sweet notes were not enough to save this one for her.

Super Cold

Legally, I should not be downloading pictures from the Internet and using them here to promote my own self interest.  I believe that's copyright infringement.  I haven't consulted with my lawyers yet, but I'm playing it safe.  Although, I am sure the reading public out there can satisfactorily picture a bottle or can of Coors Light.

The new brain child from MillerCoors introduced last week is the concept of "Super Cold."  Now most of the press releases that have been posted on various websites fail to mention what temperature will allow the "Super Cold" bar to be activated.  After about 2 minutes on Google it appears to be around 29 degrees.

Now, as an American style light lager, we know that Coors Light yeast ferments at the nifty temperature of 34 degrees.  The mountains turn blue at this temperature.  This is actually a myth.  My refrigerator is set at 38 degrees and the mountains turn blue every time.  The bottle is lying to me!  It's telling me I'm enjoying the beer at the peak of freshness!  BUT WAIT!  If I put it in the freezer I can achieve the "Super Cold" status of 29 degrees!

In the press release, MillerCoors tells us that 70 percent of young beer drinkers put their beer in the freezer to enjoy it.  What they fail to mention is that most young beer drinkers buy their beer warm because it is cheaper and then throw it in the freezer so that it gets colder faster.  What about the beers we've forgotten in the freezer and they decide to get slushy?

Beware the marketing gimmick.  Of course, I'm sure we're all smart enough to do that.

Pride and Joy - Mini Review

Typically I would not spout off some nonsense, quick review but I'm opting to today.  I had the pleasure of dining out for lunch today and enjoying a pint of Pride and Joy from 3 Floyd's.  It was poured from the tap behind the bar.  The beer smelled incredibly hoppy and finished with a taste of grapefruit.  I'll be visiting 3 Floyd's next week and will probably learn more about this brew, but our initial introduction did not lead me to asking for this beer's number.

Kells Irish Style Lager

Brewer: Rogue Brewery, Newport, Oregon
Alcohol Content: To be fair to the brewer, 12 degrees Plato

Official Description from Brewer:
"Irish Style Lager with a smooth mellow flavor and an apple crisp finish."

Wilk's Take:
I don't even know where to start with this beer.  The bottle in front of me clearly reads "Kells Irish Style Lager" but when I go to the Rogue homepage I get a bottle labeled "Rogue Irish Style Lager" with the same picture of the withering Irish flutist wailing away on what looks to be a piccolo.  What do I even call this?  Where's the pithy name that defines the beer?  For this exercise I suppose I'll just simply refer to it as lager.

The lager poured cleanly out of the bottle and the fresh scent of beer made it to my nose as soon as I popped the cap off.  As you can tell from the picture the head on the pour was not very prominent.  The color was a slightly darker shade of yellow and clearly we were heading down a path we've headed down before.

I'm going to veer off the topic here briefly.  My apologies if we keep coming back to comparisons to Miller Lite.  The reason I started the blog with that particular beer is that most of my adult life has been spent kicking back with it.  I would venture to say that Miller Lite is the springboard from which all my knowledge of beer flows.

Back to the lager.  It was a very smooth drink.  I definitely went through the first glass much more quickly than I did some of my previously reviewed brews.  The reason behind this is simple: the lager is not strong at all.  12 degrees Plato roughly translates to around 4.8% alcohol by volume.  It is simply a notch above Miller Lite.

Rogue claims that the Irish Style Lager was brewed with the specific intent of floating Guinness on top of it.  Now, I have no idea why they felt the need to improve upon Harp or Bass, but some people are full of themselves and think they can do it better.  Now, no offense to the guys at Rogue, but a Black & Tan is already perfect the way it is and I would trust two beers from Ireland before I'd pour a Guinness over this.

When Rogue claims an apple crisp finish they are not blowing smoke.  Do not expect a hint of apple flavor when you finish your first swallow.  The drink is definitely crisp and can be enjoyed over and over.

Suggestion: If you're a fan of the American light style lagers, or even MGD, Budweiser, and Coors Banquet, you'll enjoy this lager (whatever the hell you want to call it).  It drank very smooth and easy and 22 ounces disappeared pretty quickly.

Value: I paid about $6 for a 22 oz. bottle.  The value isn't there.  Knowing you can pay roughly that much for a 12 pack of Miller Lite and enjoy more beer over time, that's a better route.  I wouldn't consider this so much a craft brew so to pay $6 seems silly to me.

Michelle Factor: "It tastes too bitter."  Also understand that Miller Lite is Michelle's springboard and she goes to that well often as well.  Don't believe her in her bitter analysis, the lager is smooth and crisp.

PranQster

Brewer: North Coast Brewing Company, Fort Bragg, California
Alcohol Content: 7.6%

Official Description from Brewer:
"Belgian Ales represent the height of the brewers' art.  Sophisticated brewing techniques, yeast blends and unique flavoring elements have elevated the beers of Belgium to the status enjoyed by wine in other countries.

PranQster follows in this tradition using a mixed culture of antique yeast strains that produce a floral nose, a full fruity flavor and a clean finish."

Wilk's Take:

I was first introduced to PranQster at the 2011 Blue Chip Brewfest in the pictured pint glass poured precariously to the blue 4 ounce line.  To be perfectly frank, I do not remember the taste of the sample oh so many weeks ago.  It took reviewing the pamphlet I received at the fest to even remember that I tried it there.  The reason I picked it off the shelf was the 750 mL bottle and the cork stopper entwined in a steel cage a la champagne.

PranQster poured nicely, but next time I'll have to have the camera more ready when I pour.  The picture above gives the ale more credit than it deserves.  The original pour left a thick head that slowly faded away before I could snap the picture.  When looking at the brew in the glass I was taken back to my youth.  If you've ever been to a cider mill, you've probably encountered freshly produced apple cider.  That's the look of PranQster.  Do not confuse this with Mott's Apple Juice.  There is no transparency in the glass.  The beer is thick and almost cloudy.

If PranQster looks like cider, it smells and tastes like it too.  The initial smell was really more of a sour apple Jolly Rancher.  How could that be?  I haven't had Zima in 10 years!  I digress.  The first sip yielded the taste of a sourer, less satisfying cider beer.  Imagine Woodchuck without the sweet undertone.  But, it was damn tasty.  I almost confused the beer for a more potent American style light lager (more on this later) but the sour cider taste eventually gave way to a sweet finish.  Not too sweet however, so don't think you're getting sugar water here.

With the cork as the main top of the beer, you really can't reseal the bottle for later consumption, unless you drink wine and have a cork handy.  I am certainly glad I did not.  While I was drinking the first glass I let the bottle sit on the counter and let the brew get warmer.  The second glass poured as equally as the first, but the flavor was much more intense than in the first glass.  I wasn't entirely sold while drinking the first pour, but the second definitely sold me on PranQster.

Suggestion:  PranQster is a good drink.  It isn't very heavy but it's not entirely light either.  The brew is a great balance with intense flavor as the ambiance invades the bottle.  As with ales, the closer to room temperature, the better the beer.

Value: $6 for a 750 mL bottle.  You can get two bottles of Boone's Farm at that price but you couldn't enjoy drinking them as much.  After drinking PranQster you are in a good place.  Rumor is you can also get a four pack, just not sure of the price.  For $6, pony up the greenbacks and enjoy.

Michelle factor: Michelle let this beer settle in her mouth before swallowing this time.  In the end she likened PranQster to a stronger Miller Lite (see I told you I'd mention American light style lager).

How well do you know your beer?

If you're like me, you enjoy a cold beer on a hot day.  Whether on the golf course, at a ball game, or after you spent eight hours toiling away at your landscaping you want to open the fridge, grab a bottle and hear that familiar "pfft" after cracking the cap and taking in that refreshment.

Beer consumption really is that simple.  I know that I defy this blog's very existence by returning to the fact that all most people want to do is enjoy a beverage.  When I dove into this I really had no idea how vast the world of beer is, and if you humor me, we can explore this world together and hopefully enjoy these brews even moreso than before.

Having said all that, there are only two kinds of beer in the world: Ale and Lager.  Basically you can compare the fermentation of yeast to sex, some like to be on top while others like to be on bottom.  This applies to the position of the yeast in the vessel and the temperature at which the fermentation usually takes place.

Ales like to be on top.  The yeast ferments near the top of the vessel and at high temperatures, anywhere from 60 - 75 degrees Fahrenheit.  Lagers like to be on bottom.  This results in fermentation occurring near the 35 degree mark.

Now, when you hear the commercial mention frost-brewed, you can believe it.  Coors Light, Bud Light, and Miller Lite are all American style light lagers.  With fermentation occurring at such a low temperature they can all lay claim to the frost-brewed fact.  And the next time you hear people drinking Guinness warm, don't be in shock.  As an Irish Dry Stout Ale, the fermentation occurred at a higher temperature and the beer is probably at its happiest closer to room temperature than you may think.

TNT

Brewer: Left Hand Brewing Company, Longmont, Colorado
Alcohol Content: 7.9%

Official Description from Brewer:
"I’m from the Chinese era Qing. Big batch of bad-ass brew, I will make you sing. Women on the left, men on my right. Ain’t got no corn, ain’t got no rice. I’m just malty nice. ‘Cause I’m TNT. Sometimes you’re not in the mood for what everyone else is having."

Wilk's Take:
This limited release from Left Hand Brewing drew my attention on the shelf with the words, "With Lapsang Souchong Tea."  According to Adagio.com, Lapsang Souchong is a black tea from China with a "famously smoky aroma and flavor."  Well, my curiosity got the better of me and I was roped into buying a Weizen, which is actually a beer I tend to dislike.

The pour flowed like you would expect an ice tea to pour.  As the liquid entered the glass, you are teased with a Guinness sensation as the head of the beer looks as if it is about to cascade down the glass.  This is short lived as the head continues to grow and grow until you get nearly three inches of foam at the top of the glass.  Not to worry, it dissipates in due time and you can ready yourself for consumption.

I held the beer under my nose for quite sometime, drawing the aroma over and over and trying to determine how to describe the scent.  At first, I was reminded of every other wheat beer I've ever encountered.  The wheat is almost sweet to the senses and as you explore further you can detect a hint of floral undertones, but surprisingly, the smokiness is not in the smell.

As the first sip entered my mouth all I could think of was smoked brisket.  The smoke was so powerful and overwhelming that I thought I just finished a cigarette.  Any indication that this was a wheat beer soon disappeared and all that your left with is the sensation of having spent a couple hours around a bonfire.  I'm going to digress here and give credit to the bonfire reference to Michelle.  She mentioned it and it made perfect sense.

Since this is my first foray into critiquing much of anything I will admit that I cheated a little bit with TNT.  I visited Beer Advocate and decided to see what others were saying about the beer before I tasted it.  On the advice of one of the posters I let the beer warm to room temperature.  I was promised a different tasting brew if I were patient enough.  This poster was right on the money and did not disappoint.  The smoke lifted, in a manner of speaking, and the wheat beer actually was hidden underneath.  However, the brewer makes specific mention on the bottle to keep the brew refrigerated, so it isn't Left Hand's intention to let that smokiness lift.

Suggestion: I would not venture down the black tea path with TNT.  The sweetness you would almost expect to find in a wheat beer is totally removed here and all you are left with are charred embers somehow captured in liquid form.  After the YETI yesterday and its roasted malt, TNT's promise of roasted malt is far short.

Value: The 22oz bomber went for about $9.  The markup is mostly there because it is a limited release beer.  As you can imagine, I do not see the value for the finished product.  There may be a good reason Left Hand decides to release this beer on a limited basis but I can't really think of one.

Michelle Factor: No grimace this time, but definitely a look of interest.  The smokiness was evident right away and Michelle could taste the tea before I could.  Granted, the smokiness really is the taste of the tea based on the tea description so I suppose I tasted it right away as well.  It's her favorite beer by far, but considering she said she wouldn't run out and buy it or ever really get a taste for it, that's not saying much.

YETI Imperial Stout

Brewer: Great Divide Brewing Company, Denver, Colorado
Alcohol Content: 9.5%

Official Description from Brewer:
"YETI Imperial Stout is an onslaught of the senses.  It starts with big, roasty malt flavor that gives way to rich caramel and toffee notes.  YETI gets its bold hop character from an enormous quantity of American hops.  It weighs in at a hefty 75 IBUs."

Wilk's Take:
As I tilted the bottle to fill my favorite pint glass I was reminded of synthetic motor oil spilling out of my car after 15,000 miles.  After I filled the glass I snapped the picture just to capture the perfect 3/4" head that finished the pour.  For a stout, you get the dark liquid you would expect.  Unusually, when held to the light I caught a hint of an amber hue that I never noticed in a stout before.  With that, I was ready to enjoy my dessert beer.

When you bring the glass to your lips you catch a whiff of the caramel and toffee notes the brewer insists is in the beer.  The smell is distinct and worth mentioning because it resonates continuously from the first sip to the last gulp.  This invites you to keep on keeping on and barrel through what you expect to be a rich beer.  Surprisingly, YETI is a smoother drink than the alcohol content suggests.  I tend to find that heavier beers are almost a meal and insist on smaller drinks than say (I'll go there) a Miller Lite.  This beer flowed as well as a Guinness, in that the darkness of the beer is deceiving to its actual consistency.

The toffee notes are more prevalent than the caramel and the roasty malt flavor is so bold that it can at times drown out the notes the brewer intended to display.  The rich flavor definitely leaves a finish in your mouth that you can't escape, not that you want to, but you'd be hard pressed to try and taste anything else after drinking it.  Great Divide suggests pairing the beer with grilled steak, strong cheese, or chocolate.  I think I'd skip the steak because as my favorite food I would hate to lose the flavor of the steak in the brew.  I can see the strong cheese because the stout might not over power it.  Chocolate, well, if you are that adventurous, I'd go with dark chocolate.

YETI was a recommendation from my brother so I gave it the old college try.  I probably would go back to the well for this over and over as it did not disappoint.  However, as mentioned above, my night would end with this beer.

Suggestion:  If you have YETI available, go and get it.  It is certainly on par with other stouts and Great Divide offers YETI in Espresso Oak Aged, Chocolate Oak Aged, and Oak Aged.  Buyer beware though, if you don't like roasted anything, avoid at all costs.

Value: I purchased a 22 oz bottle for around $8.  After finishing the bottle I feel I certainly got my money's worth.  Based on the alcohol content a 22 oz bottle could certainly relax you after a long day of work without having to mix a cocktail to garner the same effect.

Michelle Factor:  I joked with Michelle the other day that I should take pictures of her face after she tried every beer.  For this particular picture imagine she just smelled a freshly run over skunk.  I don't even know if that analogy truly captures the grimace that was on her face.  "It tastes like coffee!"  For a non beer drinker this is a no-no.

Cinco de Mayo = La Cerveza Mas Fina, Corona

Brewer: Grupo Modelo
Alcohol Content: 4.6%

Official Description from Brewer:
"The unmistakable color.  The one-of-a-kind taste.  The unparalleled flavor of relaxation.  All in one of the most recognizable bottles in the world."

This tells us nothing of the beer or the process in which it's brewed.  Much like MillerCoors, the Grupo Modelo marketing team is earning their paychecks.

Wilk's Take:
Beer with a citrus-y fruit topping.  The lime wedge in a bottle of Corona is as familiar as the label-less bottle itself.  Of course, on this particular occasion I tried the beer without the flavor assist.  It was, as I expected, really no different.  Corona didn't provide that satisfaction with the first drink that I've discovered with other beers, there was definitively no "Aaaaaaah" afterwards.

The clear bottle is an anomaly in the world of beer.  Most drinkers agree that light is a bad thing for a finished brew and brown is preferred, although green is disdainfully accepted.  If you want to believe the Corona marketing department, the clear glass is because the quality of beer is so good, there is nothing to hide.  Of course, the look of a Corona is that of any pilsner, yellow.

The taste of Corona entails that of North American pilsners, very light and very distinctly beer (that it tastes amazingly like Miller Lite).  The lime flavor provided by the wedge is primarily contained in the lime fruit that maintains itself on the bottle opening after you stuff it down into the liquid itself.  I even gave the bottle the traditional upside turn to get the lime to the bottom and back only to yield minimal results.

I must admit though, I do fancy Corona when the weather gets warmer.  It does provide a feeling of the beach even if you are far from it.  Of course, my brain could be conditioned to think that based on the successful marketing campaign they've been dishing out for years or my affinity for Miller Lite carries over to Corona because they taste eerily similar.  We may never know for sure.

Suggestion: If it's fajita night and a margarita doesn't sound appetizing, go ahead and order a Corona and keep up with the Mexican theme.  Today is Cinco de Mayo, that's really the only reason I ordered one up.  Otherwise, feel free to skip America's largest imported beer, because you're paying a premium when it isn't necessary.

Value: I paid $5 for a bottle of Corona at a casual dining establishment tonight because it is an import.  Don't ever do that.  Definitely not worth $5 a bottle especially since it was $2.50 pint night for domestics.  A case of 12 goes for around $10 at the grocery.  Not bad, but only buy it if you're having Mexican food and you're too cheap to shell out the money for tequila.

Michelle Factor: "So Michelle, what do you think of Corona?"  "It tastes like Miller Lite."  "Does the lime help at all?"  "No."  Enough said.

Miller Lite, the old standby

Brewer: MillerCoors
Alcohol Content: 4.2%

Official Description from Brewer:
"Our flagship brand, Miller Lite, is the great tasting, less filling beer that defined the American light beer category in 1975.  Today, Miller Lite is the ultimate light beer, known for its inherent quality of great taste."

Wilk's Take:
Ah Miller Lite, the victim of many a Notre Dame tailgate, White Sox game, and various barbecues and parties around the Midwest, the beer that competes with Bud Light for the love and affection of the masses.  This is the beer that reminds me of what I always envisioned beer drinking to be.  It brings me back to the days of smelling a beer from the opening of a pull tabbed Lowenbrau or Stroh's that my uncles would let me sip from.  This is a quintessential beer for me.  This is the American light-style lager that my friends would drink while debating football, politics, or women.  To me, this is the beer I think about when someone asks me if I want to grab a beer.

Crisp.  That's the first word I think about when I take a sip of an ice cold Miller Lite.  There is a certain crispness to it right before the bitterness hits your tongue.  It's like the sensation of an under sweetened lemonade.  The carbonation, a little heavy if you drink too quickly, tickles the throat as you take that first swallow.  And the finish, well, for an average beer it's an average finish.  You can't escape the fact that you just had a sip of beer and your breath will stink of it for several minutes.

Having said all the beautiful things about Miller Lite above, let's call it what it really is, water with alcohol content.  I mean, I'll drink the stuff without hesitation but it really is the average Joe's beer.  Couple it with Bud Light or Coors Light and you really won't know the difference.  Sure, the die-hards will tell you out there that they know, but taste tests (at least the one I witnessed in a great documentary entitled "Beer Wars") beg to differ with you.

All American light style beers pour the same and look the same in the glass.  The only variation is what hue of yellow emanates.  Miller Lite, poured lovingly into a pint glass, still looks like urine.  That's probably why a vast majority of people order Miller Lite in bottle or can form and rarely, if ever take it from the tap.  No one wants to be reminded that what they are drinking vaguely resembles the sample they had to give for their drug test.

Suggestion: Drink it, don't drink it, it's entirely up to you.  Beer drinkers know what to expect when it comes to drinking a Miller Lite.  If you prefer much bigger brother Bud Light, avoid Miller or buy it when it's on sale and the company you keep enjoys it.

Value: Still sells for around $12 for a 24 pack of bottles when on sale.  Most beer specials at your local bar include Miller Lite for $3.50 a 22 oz glass or even $2 a bottle.  Good for a cheap night of drinking and when you have to buy beer in massive quantities.

Michelle factor: Michelle has been known to take down a Miller Lite on occasion.  Of course, a Miller Lite means one and done.  As a non-beer drinker, Michelle would agree that Miller Lite is one of the reasons why she doesn't like beer.

For Starters...

For a little over two months now I have experienced unemployment.  Not entirely bad.  I get to sleep as long as the dogs will let me, keep the house in a perpetual state of cleanliness, and get to experiment with cooking dinner for my wife Michelle.  The drawbacks include dogs that constantly require my attention because they've been spoiled by it, an unhealthy obsession with video card games, and boredom.

So I've embarked on an endeavor that millions have taken before me, I've started a blog.  Not just any blog mind you, a blog that explores the world of water, yeast, hops, and grain.  Yes, as you have surmised from the title of this blog, I will be talking about beer.

My brother Adrian introduced me to Beer Geeks not so long ago.  If you live in Northwest Indiana and have not gone I suggest you try it.  The atmosphere is great and the exposure to new beers is phenomenal.  You can sample any of the rotating 20 beers on tap and decide where you want the night to take you.

On my most recent visit to Beer Geeks I had the pleasure of ordering a bottle of Hoppin' Frog's B.O.R.I.S., an oatmeal stout that is aged in oak whiskey barrels.  It was by far the best beer I ever had in my life.  It took me an hour and a half to drink a 22 oz. bottle and I had to lean on my brother to finish 10 oz. of it.  This beer is what led me to the idea of this blog.  If this is the best beer I ever had, what else have I been missing!

I am fortunate to live close to a liquor store that can accommodate the task of beer exploration.  Wise Guys has the old standbys as well as the craft brews that have been slowly chipping away at the beer market share.  The popularity of micro brews has created a new brand of beer drinkers in the 21st century and those with discerning palates are shelling out their hard earned cash to enjoy brands not called Miller or Busch.  Of course, the old standbys still go great with wings, pizza, and brats.  Craft brews will quickly spoil you though, so proceed with caution.

Do not come to my blog looking for the most thorough analysis of beer that it is no longer enjoyable to simply imbibe a pint.  I am a rookie at this and simply offering my own views of some beers that may not be easy to find or even known to you.  Just for kicks, I'll visit some of the beers that I've enjoyed over the years that are available at your favorite grocery store, convenience store, or gas station.

Feel free to offer suggestions on beer, stories of beer consumption, and your favorite pint!