Beer-a-Day #169
This English-style ale is brewed with Marris Otter and Caramel malts for a rich, reddish-copper color and smooth maly palate. The use of bittering & aroma addition hops balances the regal, sweet maltiness and imparts a softly perfumed aroma.
ESB is one of my favorite styles, and I’ve always had a weakness for redheads.
A lovely medium-dark amber with a beige head. Caramel malty goodness in the aroma. Nicely balanced with a just-right body. This is good stuff.
On my recent trip to Austin Texas I saw the Widmer Hefeweizen on tap which I know I’ve had before but it was so long ago that I don’t even remember it. I reviewed the Widmer Drifter back in January and really loved it so I just had to try a tall glass of the Hefeweizen. I’m glad I did. It was great – it was a bright golden yellow with a thick chill haze. The citrus hop and yeast aroma was delightful and the taste that followed was refreshing and well balanced. One of the best wheat beers I’ve ever had.
I recalled that distribution of Widmer to the northeastern U.S. was very spotty, even though I was told otherwise, but I was in for a pleasant surprise when I returned home. When I took a trip to restock my beer from my local candy store I found new candy. Widmer’s Drifter, Hefeweizen, and Top Dog Amber were sitting the shelf. They were also reasonably priced.
I grabbed the Drifter (my new “go to”) and the amber which I found to be very nice, just not my favorite style. I’ve already gone back for more of the Hefeweizen (which they have carried in the past, by the way) because it is such a great summer beer.
Now if I could only get my hands on their Broken Halo IPA…
Beer-a-Day #168
Uh-oh, it’s in a green bottle. Oh good, it’s not from Europe. Oh wait, it’s from New Zealand, which is even farther away.
And then they go and mock American Football right there on the label. They’re not exactly endearing themselves to me, and I haven’t even opened the bottle.
Once opened, the beer is obviously lightstruck. I get a waft of that skunky odor before I even pour it into a glass. Straw in color with a white head. For aroma, I get nothing but skunk. Not much taste, and what there is is pretty foul. This one will be poured down the drain.
It might be good when it’s fresh, but unless I find myself in New Zealand I won’t ever be buying this again.
Beer-a-Day #167
Ron recently compared-and-contrasted this with a Leinenkugel’s Classic Amber, and this came out as his wife’s choice. Since I also tasted a Leinenkugel’s Classic Amber recently, it only seemed right to taste one of these as well.
Besides, I like that this brewer donates some profits to charity and they’re local.
This Golden Ale is deep in color with a pleasing malt aroma. A distinctive medium bodied beer that finishes crisply with a slight malt sweetness and essence of citrus flavor with a subtle finish of Willamette hops.
I wouldn’t exactly call that a “deep” color, but it is a little darker than pale straw. Big, off-white head. Smells a bit fruity, but good. Mouthfeel is light with a crisp finish. It’s made with wheat but I hardly taste the wheat at all.
I agree with Ron’s better half: it’s more rounded and would go well with typical summer foods.
I guess bottles and cans are passé.
It looks like something an astronaut would use. Oddly, I picture an astronaut wearing a John Deere hat and with a big ol’ gut.
Of course, it also looks like the juice pouches my kids occasionally have.
BeerPaQ from the Beverage Pouch Group
The CarboPouch™ development allows craft draft beer brewers to fill on-site, a clean, ready-to-go Single45™ or Single25™ pouch with spout and cap. Storage and shelf-life requires refrigeration. Low-carbonated water and shelf-stable energy drinks can also be filled. The organoleptic film structure ensures no off flavor. The patented film structure is designed to handle the pouch “stretch” after filling and carbonation expansion. The automatic filling process is such that there is no headspace after filling. The three-side seal pouch has a smooth side comfort grip feature. The combination of these factors makes the CarboPouch™ a true economical innovation for distribution of craft draft beers to the consumer’s home. Sports functions now have a package!
The capacity of the Single45™ pouch is 16 oz. and the Single25™ capacity is 8 oz. StandUp Multi64™ (1.8 liter capacity) pouches are suitable for outdoor activities. Patent # 60,691,088
Would you drink beer out of that?
(via Boing Boing)
I’m not a fan of jazz music, but I am a fan of National Public Radio. The idea of pairing beer with music isn’t new, but this is an interesting approach, pairing a particular song with a particular beer (and vice versa).
The Six Pack: Pairing Summer Jazz And Beer : NPR Music
On porches everywhere this summer, people are soaking up the sticky heat with beer in hand and music in the background. Jazz and beer are natural companions, but no one wants to mix the two inappropriately. So I [Lars Gotrich] approached the Washington City Paper’s “Beerspotter,” Orr Shtuhl, to pair bottles with Charles Mingus, Sun Ra and more.
On a recent Sunday afternoon, Shtuhl and I picked up a selection of delectable, summery beers. Back on my front porch with two willing participants (thanks, Mark and Kelly), I would describe the artist and the song we were about to hear, play it and then ask The Beerspotter to pair the song with a beer based on its attitude, its backstory and its notes (and, yes, that does work both ways). Three hours later, we matched up six impeccable pairings.
Interesting. At the very least I have a few beers that I’ve not heard of that I need to try to find.
What’s a perfect beer/song pairing for you?
Beer-a-Day #166
Unlike yesterday’s selection, I actually did buy an extra one of these specifically to cellar for a year or so.
Like a fine port, Old Stock Ale is intended to be laid down. With an original gravity of over 1.100 and a generous hopping rate, Old Stock Ale is well-designed to round-out and mellow with age. It’s brewed with classic Maris Otter malt and Fuggles and East Kent Goldings hops, all imported from England.
Deep brown with red highlights. Head dissipates quickly; it almost looks like brandy. Cherry, viney, a bit of vanilla. Big flavor; now that’s a sipping beer.
I guess I’m out of excuses for not exercising.
Researchers in Spain have discovered that beer after a workout re-hydrates the body better than plain water.
It’s Better To Drink Beer After Exercise Than Water
Professor Manuel Garzon, a member of Granada’s medical faculty, made the finding after tests on 25 students over several months. Researchers believe that it is the sugars, salts, and bubbles in a beer that may help people absorb fluids more quickly.
The subjects in the study were asked to run on a treadmill at temperatures of 104F (40C) until they were close to exhaustion. Once they had reached the point of giving up, researchers measured their hydration levels, motor skills, and concentration ability.
Half of the subjects were given two half pints of Spanish lager to drink, and the other half were given just water.
Garzon said that the rehydration effection in those who were given beer was “slightly better” than those who were given only water. He also believes that the carbon dioxide in beer helps quench thirst more quickly, and that beer’s carbohydrates replace calories lost during physical exertion.
(via Uncle Jack)
Beer-a-Day #165
This is a limited release offering from Dogfish Head.
A blend of oak-aged English strong ale and our 90 Minute I.P.A.. Citrus notes from Northwestern hops meld with vanilla notes from the oak.
I almost considered cellaring this. But I’m not good with delayed gratification. Especially for something that sounds as delicious as this. Besides, I like this admonition on the label:
Please share it with loved ones and hoard it from the non-believers.
Beautiful deep amber in color, craggy head. Loads of aroma, with big citrusy hops and all that vanilla. It’s big and it’s good. I’ll be sipping this one.
Beer-a-Day #164
Our tribute to the town we consider to be “Gonzo Ground Zero”… Woody Creek White is a traditional Belgian-style Wit Beer, brewed with unique ingredients like orange peel and coriander, resulting in a refreshing and slightly citrus flavor, perfect for the “Dog Days of Summer”.
Pale and hazy, with a white head. Spicy and floral aroma. Crisp, with lemon zest, cloves, and a little bubblegum.
