"If God wanted us to filter our beer, he wouldn't have given us livers" -Bumper Sticker from Bell's
No beer journals this time. Why bother? The staff of the Valpo Brewfest provided a "Beer Notes" section on the back of their program. You could scribble furiously away as you dissect the beer sample that was just poured for you. Of course, you'd have to put the beer down, and who has time to do that?
One thing noticeable right away, and something I also fell victim to, was that inevitably the crowd can be heard comparing one beer festival to another. So here I'll vent a little, in hopes that maybe a staff member will stumble across this critique and keep these ideas in mind for next year.
1. If your brewery is going to be attending an event, make sure someone with vast knowledge of your beer is pouring it. Too often we came across some young guy paid by the distributor to top off the three ounce sample. When I asked about the beer he would be reading a cheat sheet. Really? I can read a beer label too. What's the unique factor that's going to wow me? The local brewers certainly represented and were very passionate about their product, otherwise I felt like I was talking to a marketing undergrad with his first job out of college.
2. If you have VIPs, treat them like VIPs, don't tease. Sure, we were allowed to enter the premises and peruse the beer selection an hour before the general public. And yes we had access to rare beers and some great food samples to complement them. But when there are 200 VIPS and only four specialty beer stations something will be missed in that first hour. My friends and I decided to go around to the other beers and grab a taste before the masses came. We went back to the VIP tent about a half hour after the general admissions crowd came in and all the food and rare beers were gone. Blue Chip did this better when each booth at VIP brews throughout the whole day.
3. Don't run out of beer, especially the good stuff. Arguably a brewer would want to appeal to the farthest reaching audience to gain customers. However, at a brewfest where the attendees are expecting brilliance, bring massive amounts of your Oktoberfest or Pumpkin ale, because I don't need to try another pale ale or IPA. Bring enough bottles or kegs for 1,500. That's 500 ounces based on 3 ounce sample size. If you can't bring 42 bottles with you, why bother? And if you want to offer variety I can understand that, but why not master one trade instead of being the jack of all?
4. On a positive note, getting quality food vendors was the best idea ever. Although a hot dog, burger, or piece of pizza would have been good, Stout BBQ pork ribs, carne asada tacos, and bison chili was great.
The best in show: Rogue Ales Chocolate Stout. I had a bomber of it waiting in my fridge, so after we returned from the brewfest, the four of us shared it.
My personal favorite: Bluegrass Brewing Company's Bourbon Barrel Stout. Deliciously smooth and bourbon sweetness made this a great beer.
Honorable mentions:
Woodchuck Pumpkin Cider - This was offered with a food pairing of pumpkin carrot cupcakes. It was pretty damn tasty.
Rogue Ales - Every stout they had. Adrian enjoyed all three in one visit, starting with Oatmeal, then Chocolate, than the Russian Imperial. Escalating in intensity and thickness, you can imagine how the well balanced Chocolate could be the best at the fest.
The only beer to give the Chocolate stout a run for its money was North Coast Brewing's Brother Thelonious. Although I was not personally overwhelmed by it, Brett and Rob were raving about it.
Immediately following the Valpo Brewfest was Beer Geeks one year anniversary. I'll be talking about those beers tomorrow.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Valpo Brewfest - Delicious Irony
"It's like rain on your wedding day,
it's a free ride when you've already paid,
it's the good advice that you just didn't take,
Who would've thought? It figures."
-Alanis Morissette, "Ironic"
Wilk: You know, there is an effort to redefine craft beer into "gourmet" beer.
Rob: It's funny, you say redefine, I say ruin. Beer is for the common man. People complain about the billion dollar breweries, but you know what, they make a billion dollars because people keep buying them. It's like wine tasting. Wine tasting is on the tail end of the bell curve. It's no longer this bourgeois thing that relates to the upper crust, it's for the common man. Now craft beer is coming up the bell curve and it's starting to be reserved for...
Wilk: The damn hipsters.
Aside: I only discovered later that when I looked up the word bourgeois to spell it correctly that it is a term to describe a member of the middle class, of which I believe Rob would include himself. Unless common usage has turned the definition of bourgeois into snobbery the word was used incorrectly in the context (sorry Rob). In any case, I understood his point perfectly when he was making it.
Rob: Exactly.
Wilk: Well, the hipsters drink PBR.
Adrian: Yeah, but they do that to be ironic. We drink PBR because we have no problem with how it tastes. They drink it because they feel they're being cool based on the irony. "Look, we're drinking crappy beer."
As this dialogue continued into ranging topics, a group of twenty-somethings rambled in. The most obvious offense was the gentleman wearing a tweed blazer over his t-shirt while a fedora rested on his head. His black rimmed spectacles and unshaven face complemented his whole look perfectly. He certainly tried to give the appearance of someone who didn't care how he looked, but the meticulous nature of his clothing selection was very apparent.
Wilk: If anyone ever needed a definition of the word "hipster," there he is.
Rob, Adrian, and Brett nod approvingly and laugh.
Rob: Who wants to go back to the VIP tent and grab one of the specialty beers? There is one in there that paired beautifully with the smoked gouda. Oh! and did you try that peppered salami?
it's a free ride when you've already paid,
it's the good advice that you just didn't take,
Who would've thought? It figures."
-Alanis Morissette, "Ironic"
Wilk: You know, there is an effort to redefine craft beer into "gourmet" beer.
Rob: It's funny, you say redefine, I say ruin. Beer is for the common man. People complain about the billion dollar breweries, but you know what, they make a billion dollars because people keep buying them. It's like wine tasting. Wine tasting is on the tail end of the bell curve. It's no longer this bourgeois thing that relates to the upper crust, it's for the common man. Now craft beer is coming up the bell curve and it's starting to be reserved for...
Wilk: The damn hipsters.
Aside: I only discovered later that when I looked up the word bourgeois to spell it correctly that it is a term to describe a member of the middle class, of which I believe Rob would include himself. Unless common usage has turned the definition of bourgeois into snobbery the word was used incorrectly in the context (sorry Rob). In any case, I understood his point perfectly when he was making it.
Rob: Exactly.
Wilk: Well, the hipsters drink PBR.
Adrian: Yeah, but they do that to be ironic. We drink PBR because we have no problem with how it tastes. They drink it because they feel they're being cool based on the irony. "Look, we're drinking crappy beer."
As this dialogue continued into ranging topics, a group of twenty-somethings rambled in. The most obvious offense was the gentleman wearing a tweed blazer over his t-shirt while a fedora rested on his head. His black rimmed spectacles and unshaven face complemented his whole look perfectly. He certainly tried to give the appearance of someone who didn't care how he looked, but the meticulous nature of his clothing selection was very apparent.
Wilk: If anyone ever needed a definition of the word "hipster," there he is.
Rob, Adrian, and Brett nod approvingly and laugh.
Rob: Who wants to go back to the VIP tent and grab one of the specialty beers? There is one in there that paired beautifully with the smoked gouda. Oh! and did you try that peppered salami?
Friday, September 23, 2011
Social Media
To supplement the blog I've also been more active on Twitter. The handle is rather obvious: @BeerMeWilk. I'll be working on my own Facebook page (independent of my own Facebook page (confused yet?)) and showcase some of the craft brewers that I've had the pleasure of meeting, through their products only. Also, 2012 looks to be the year that the adventure of brewing beer may commence. Brett has been chomping at the bit ever since the Illiana Mayfest and I might actually dive head first with him into the foray. Stay tuned for those details. In the mean time, spread the love and the word and bring people into the craft beer fold. While you're at it, click on an ad or two, just so our beer brewing venture can be supplemented by ad income! FYI, I've made $10 since May. Exciting, isn't it?
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Milestone in Local Craft Beer Movement
A hearty congratulations goes out to Beer Geeks for their one year anniversary. From one fledgling business venture to another!
The craft beer movement seems to be alive and well in northwest Indiana thanks to the efforts of not only Three Floyd's, Figure 8, etc. but also of Beer Geeks for showcasing the finest the nation has to offer in the way of specialty brews. Beer Geeks offers the perfect alternative to your run-of-the-mill saloon giving the patron not only variety, but classic bar ambiance: dim lighting, real darts (not that cheap, plastic shit), knowledgeable bar staff, and really great live music. The venue may be small, but the intimacy makes the experience that much better.
You can find Beer Geeks on Facebook and join their over 2,800 friends www.facebook.com/beergeekspub and you can also follow them on Twitter @beergeekspub.
The craft beer movement seems to be alive and well in northwest Indiana thanks to the efforts of not only Three Floyd's, Figure 8, etc. but also of Beer Geeks for showcasing the finest the nation has to offer in the way of specialty brews. Beer Geeks offers the perfect alternative to your run-of-the-mill saloon giving the patron not only variety, but classic bar ambiance: dim lighting, real darts (not that cheap, plastic shit), knowledgeable bar staff, and really great live music. The venue may be small, but the intimacy makes the experience that much better.
You can find Beer Geeks on Facebook and join their over 2,800 friends www.facebook.com/beergeekspub and you can also follow them on Twitter @beergeekspub.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Beers and Bears
No words from the brewer other than to say it is made with Belgian Dubbel yeast. "Tangy hops and spicy aroma" *Yawn* I'm sorry Clipper City, you didn't bother to critique your own beer? Well don't you worry, my thoughts are below.
Dead Guy Ale from Rogue Brewery in Newport, Oregon. Alcohol Content: 16 degrees Plato. From the brewer: "In the style of a German Maibock, using our proprietary Pacman ale yeast. Deep honey in color with a malty aroma and a rich hearty flavor."In a world of possibilities, especially one in which a friend opens a refrigerator door and offers a world of different tasting beers, the last thing a person would ever think is to try the same beer three times. You would almost be a fool to grab the Miller Lite and drink nothing but that. I mean, the Bud Light Lime in the fridge was tempting, but instead I reached in and grabbed the Dubbel Cannon.
Absolutely nothing wrong with this beer. The "tangy hops and spicy aroma" were not there. I'm not saying this is a bad thing mind you. The aroma was grainy. This was no fruit laced hop scent, this was straight up hay bale-esque. At first whiff I thought I was at the county fair again feeding little pellets to sheep who wanted nothing more than to eat and not feel my paw on their head. But, what the hell, it's beer; let's go! Away I sipped, running over the taste combination in my mind. There really was nothing outstanding about this beer. It was good, but I wasn't tripping over myself to run out and grab a second one from the fridge.
No, instead I grabbed the Dead Guy Ale. Rogue let me down with the Irish Lager. Well, not sure if it let me down and I'm not about to read the review to confirm the thoughts in my own head (that's too much like work and I'd rather be compared to a flip-flopping politician than fact check). The Dead Guy Ale, even though it is a different style beer altogether, tasted surprisingly like the Dubbel Cannon. I said that aloud and Brett confirmed my suspicion. I was scared. I mentioned to my father not too long ago that I would have to abandon the blog because all this craft beer started to blend together into a deeper shade of gray. How could I ever brew and/or be a beer judge if I can't get a German Maibock and a Belgian IPA straight? Alas, maybe the brewers messed up. Yeah, let's go with that theory. Dead Guy Ale, Dubbel Cannon: discuss! Also nothing outstanding about this beer. It was good, but I wasn't tripping over myself to run out and grab a second one from the fridge.
No, instead I grabbed the Two Hearted Ale. Before I even lifted the glass to my thoroughly quenched lips my friend Brett said, "You know, that beer surprisingly tastes like the other two, maybe a little hoppier." Oh thank goodness he was right and wrong. Two Hearted Ale was definitely hoppier, but that made all the difference in the world to the taste. Finally a beer that wasn't like any of the others. However, after a couple roast beef sandwiches and two similar beers clogging my palate, I feel it would be a disservice to Two Hearted Ale to give it any further look tonight. It was delicious, but to fully describe the finer points of it would get me nothing but grief from those who actually trusted my opinion (of which there are few). Bell's doesn't really disappoint and just by grabbing this beer Brett decided we needed to drive to Michigan just to check out the brewery.
Well, this makes two blog posts in the weekend. Just to let you know, I have some pretty interesting bombers in my own refrigerator chilling for future consumption. Next weekend is the Valpo BrewFest of which my cadre and I have decided to be VIPs. The promise of sampling some rare brews was intriguing enough to show up an hour earlier.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Renewed vigor
For those of you who have supported this fledgling endeavor from the beginning, you will be quick to remember that the impetus behind it all was the misfortune of being handed an involuntary vacation from what was otherwise a very nice full time employment position. As the quest for craft beer continued, the means to procuring some of the finest brews available for sale in Northwest Indiana diminished significantly. No longer was Michelle willing to part with cash towards an unhealthy habit (in reality it was my fiscal responsibility getting in the way of my taste buds). As summer progressed and activities continued, I found myself with more and more Miller Lites and less Left Hand Brewing Company Milk Stouts.
I have, I am happy to report, finagled my way into the position of someone contributing to society rather than solely depending on it. As such, the funds necessary to pick up where I left off have materialized in the bank account. So with that, Beer Me Wilk has come back with renewed vigor.
However, as proud as I am to report that the blog will return, it is not returning to its former glory. I will only be providing weekly reviews of beer, relegating my exploration to Saturday and Sunday. My commute is rather long and by the time I get home I would rather simply enjoy a cold one and not wrap my head around trying to categorize it in the relative spectrum of good or bad. Saturday and Sunday afford me the opportunity to truly sit back, relax, and take in all a beer has to offer. It doesn't hurt that football is back on TV.
So to those who have been reading from the beginning, thank you. I write not only for my own amusement but for the smile I can put on your face. For those stumbling upon this by mistake, I hope the writing has convinced you to stay.
I have, I am happy to report, finagled my way into the position of someone contributing to society rather than solely depending on it. As such, the funds necessary to pick up where I left off have materialized in the bank account. So with that, Beer Me Wilk has come back with renewed vigor.
However, as proud as I am to report that the blog will return, it is not returning to its former glory. I will only be providing weekly reviews of beer, relegating my exploration to Saturday and Sunday. My commute is rather long and by the time I get home I would rather simply enjoy a cold one and not wrap my head around trying to categorize it in the relative spectrum of good or bad. Saturday and Sunday afford me the opportunity to truly sit back, relax, and take in all a beer has to offer. It doesn't hurt that football is back on TV.
So to those who have been reading from the beginning, thank you. I write not only for my own amusement but for the smile I can put on your face. For those stumbling upon this by mistake, I hope the writing has convinced you to stay.
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