Brewer’s Alley 1634 Ale

Posted on June 27, 2009 by Al

Beer-a-Day #178

My wife’s dear friend Ellen took our kids to see a movie, leaving us with an hour and forty-five minutes to kill.

So, of course we went to a brewpub.

On tap was the new “1634 Ale”, brewed to celebrate the founding of the Maryland colony. From the press release:

“1634 Ale” was created by Tom Flores, master brewer at Brewer’s Alley, following research of historic recipes and raw materials available in centuries past. “We used ingredients that would have been found in the austere conditions of early colonial Maryland,” said Flores of his rye-based ale recipe that also includes malted wheat, molasses and caraway. Flores says caramel and dark malts round out the flavor of the “lighter bodied ale.”Flores’ potable recreation has captured the attention of industry officials and the media alike who have sampled “1634 Ale” in the past month. “Early reports of the beer’s upcoming release were published in “Beverage Journal,” the Maryland / DC industry trade publication, as well as in the mass media and on beer blogs, – raising interest in the ale,” said Flores. Maryland State Governor, Martin O’Malley was among state officials who sampled the “1634 Ale” on Maryland Day, March 29, in Historic St. Mary’s City.

Phil Bowers, president of Brewer’s Alley, Inc., says that he is proud that his brewery was called upon to create the beer but not surprised that beer was incorporated into the state celebration. “Fermented beverages such as beer and hard cider were something of a necessity in the New World, where drinkable water was scarce,” he said, particularly within the early- discovered Atlantic coastal regions, such as St. Mary’s City, where inland water was brackish.

It certainly was interesting, with a number of unusual flavors, but none of them overpowering. I thought it was rather good.

Update: Brewer’s Alley is also bottling the 1634 Ale. Look for it at your local retailer.

Red White and Brew in Brunswick, MD – July 3, 2009

Posted on June 24, 2009 by Al

Sadly, I’ll be out of town that weekend. But if you’ll be in the Central Maryland area this may be of interest to you. Especially if you like small Maryland towns.

Details about the Red, White, and Brew event in Brunswick, Maryland on July 3, 2009

Rock Bottom Lumpy Dog Light Lager

Posted on April 30, 2009 by Al

Lumpy Dog Light Lager Beer-a-Day #120

I decided to take a break from the disappointments of light lager imports in green bottles. So, instead, I got myself a fresh-brewed domestic light lager that never saw the inside of the bottle. (Besides, my boss invited me to Rock Bottom. How could I say no?)

Light golden color with nice lacing. In the aroma I get a bit of orange zest but it’s otherwise clean. Nicely refreshing with a light to medium body and some pleasant hop bitterness. This is good.

Seats still available for Brewer’s Alley Valentine’s Day Beer Dinner

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Al

Brewer’s Alley

Presents

Valentine’s Beer Dinner Menu

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

^{1st Seating 5:30-7:30 pm}

^{2nd Seating 7:30-9:30 pm}

^KÖLSCH^{Welcome Beer}

^{Carrot Ginger Shooters}^{Puree of Sweet Carrots and Ginger with a Creamy Vegetable Soup}

^{OWEN’S ALE}

^{Roasted Organic Beet Tower}^{Organic Beets, Goat’s Cheese Mousse, Red Beet Reduction, Frisee, Truffle Oil and Stacked Lavash Crisp}

^{MARYLAND’S 375TH ANNIVERSARY ALE}

^{House Cured Organic Salmon}^{Layers of Duck Trap Cured Salmon and Caper Dill Cream Sauce with French Beans}

^PILSNER

^{Smoked Diver Scallops}^{Dry Packed Scallops Lightly Smoked with Beechwood Chips and Served with a Micro Arugula Salad}

^RESINATOR

^{Dorsey’s Pork Tenderloin}^{Slow Cooked and Stuffed Pork Tenderloin, Creamy Thyme Polenta and Cherry Glaze}

^{OATMEAL STOUT}

^{Chocolate Marquis Cake}^{Layers of Flourless Chocolate Cake and Chocolate Ganache With Fresh Raspberries and Crème Anglaise}

^{$45 per person plus (6% tax and 18% gratuity)}

^{Reservations Required 301-631-0089}

^{124 N. Market St. Frederick, MD, 21701 (map)}

Flying Dog Dog Schwarz

Posted on February 2, 2009 by Al

Beer-a-Day #33

As usually happens once a year or so, my FOAM meeting this month was held at the Flying Dog Brewery in Frederick, Maryland. For the trivial cost of $5 for a glass, I could sample everything they had on tap.

They had a couple of Wild Goose offerings on tap, as well as a large portion of Flying Dog’s “The Pack”, “Canis Major” and the spring seasonal: Garde Dog Biere de Garde. Three offerings caught my eye today:

First was the Wild Goose Pumpkin Patch Ale. Pumpkin ale is a bit out of season, but it is a guilty pleasure of mine so I decided to have that first.

Then I found out that on the hand pump was the Wild Goose Oatmeal Stout. Not only was it on cask, which was unusual enough, but this batch had been further dry-hopped. The silky-smooth hand-pumped oatmeal stout combined with the spice of dry hops made for an interesting combination.

But what made the biggest impression on my was Dog Schwarz, part of their Wild Dog series. I don’t usually like smoke beers, but this one was nicely balanced. Frankly, from the first sip I was craving bratwurst.

You don’t need to join a Maryland homebrew club. Flying Dog offers tours and tastings every Saturday.

Dos Equis at Fajita Grande

Posted on January 26, 2009 by Al

Beer-a-Day #26

Today’s beer is the fairly ubiquitous Dos Equis from Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma. When I go beer shopping, it’s not generally a brand I’ll pick up. However, when I’m in the mood for Mexican food it’s my libation of choice. (I much prefer the Amber over the Lager.)

Essentially, this is an excuse to tell you about my new favorite restaurant: Fajita Grande.

This is a little, unassuming storefront restaurant on the Golden Mile in Frederick, Maryland, nestled in behind KFC in the Willowtree Plaza shopping center. The lighting is a little too bright and the floorplan a little too open, killing any romantic ambience. While some of the wall decorations seem like they might be genuine, it’s mostly the same sort of tchotchkes and marketing posters and such any restaurant would get.

Fajita Grande But, it has several things going for it.

For one thing, the staff there is very friendly and attentive. We never fail to feel welcomed. Multiple people stop to say hello and to check if there’s anything we need.

Secondly, the food is delicious. The salsa is fresh. From some acquaintences we have from south of the border, the food is also authentic. (We’re told that the rice is the best there is in a wide radius.)

Thirdly, the prices are more than reasonable. I can feed myself, my wife, and my two kids for under $20. Add in a couple of cervezas and we’re still looking at under $35. And they’re not skimpy portions, either. Did I mention it’s delicious? Sadly, they seem to have discontinued their “Kids eat for 99¢ Mondays”. Still, at $3.95, the kids’ meals are quite reasonable.

I highly recommend it. Be sure to stop in when you’re in Central Maryland.

Fajita Grande
Mexican Restaurant Bar & Grill

Rt. 40 West in the Willowtree Plaza (3 Willowdale Drive)
Frederick, MD 21702
(301)698-8989

What’s Amberine?

Posted on August 21, 2008 by Al

One of the highlights of my small local weekly newspaper is the articles that they reprint from the newspaper of 100 years ago. What a small town paper thinks of as news is fascinating. Scores from games at the YMCA. A new house is almost complete. Farmers are glad for recent rain.

Today, my darling wife was looking through this week’s edition when something caught her eye that she knew I’d be interested in.

August 7, 1908

ARRESTED FOR SELLING AMBERINE IN BRUNSWICK

The question whether “amberine,” the substitute for beer manufactured for sale under the Byrd local option law in Virginia, can lawfully be sold in prohibition territory in Maryland will likely come up at the September term of the Circuit Court in Frederick county.

Sheriff Myers, of Frederick, on Wednesday last arrested Frank Woods, at Brunswick, on the charge of violating the law against the sale of intoxicating beverages in Brunswick, which is a prohibition district. Woods, it is alleged, has been selling “amberine” at Brunswick. “Amberine” resembles beer in practically all particulars, but contains a smaller amount of alcohol than ordinary beer.

Woods was taken to Frederick before Justice C. H. Eckstein, where he waived a hearing and was released in $200 bail pending the action of the grand jury.

Brunswick hasn’t moved very far from the Prohibition days. There’s only one bar in town, no restaurants with an on-premise license, and two liquor stores.

But, what the heck is “amberine”? Sure, they describe it briefly in the article, but I’ve never heard low-alcohol beer called that befor.

Well, happy for an opportunity to learn something new, I turned to the intertubes to get some more information. Wikipedia? Nothin’. Okay, Google. Well, some results, but nothing about beer or a relation. I got the name of a woman on MySpace, what appears to be a large fishing lure a kind of fish, a (faux) precious stone variety of moss agate, a dietary supplement, a song, and a model of motherboard by ASUS.

Even my search for “Byrd local option law” came up empty, but I suspect I just didn’t get the search term right.

So, can anyone enlighten me? Where can I learn more about this?

Barley and Hops: The Best Bargain in Town

Posted on August 5, 2008 by Al

Our dear friends Jacqueline and Kirk have five children. Since they’re not made of money, dining out is not something they do very often. However, after we gushed about our Sundays at Barely and Hops in Frederick, Maryland, they agreed to meet us there this past Sunday for a late lunch.

As I’ve mentioned before, not only do kids eat free on Sundays, but their core beers are available in $2.00 pints.

Corralling seven kids, even the best-behaved, is always going to be a challenge. However, a combination of paper covering the tables, crayons, and build-your-own pizzas kept much of their attention.

But the biggest appeal was to us budget-conscious parents. Where else could a family of seven gotten an decent meal at a real restaurant for $20 plus tip? (Okay, granted, the youngest is still a baby, but still.)

The staff was friendly (and patient), the food delivered in a timely manner, and the beer was good. The kids even ate most of their food (another challenge, as you parents already know).

If you go, I recommend the middle of Sunday afternoon. The lunch crowd has dispersed and the dinner crowd has not yet arrived.

All in all, I heartily recommend it.

July 26 Event at the Flying Barrel, Frederick, Maryland

Posted on July 16, 2008 by Al

The Flying Barrel is a homebrew and winemaking supply shop as well as a Brew-on-Premise located in Frederick, Maryland. On July 26, 2008 they are having an open house of sorts.

Plan to be Here
Saturday, July 26, 2008
10:30-3 PM
3 Great Reasons

BEER: Brian Gruner, the Best of Show winner at the Great Frederick Fair will be here doing an all-grain batch of beer demonstration! Bring all your brewing questions.

WINE: MDCrush‘s Rob will be here to take orders for this year’s Californian grapes and giving samples of his wine, made from the grapes he imports.

MEAD: Dave Pugh and Buck Reed, two long-time mead makers will be here with samples of their mead and related honey beverages. National Mead Day is August 2nd. We’re a week early.

Directions

Happy Birthday to me

Posted on June 5, 2008 by Al

My birthday was last month. (I’m 41. Thanks for asking.) To celebrate, my family took me to see the Frederick Keys play the Lynchburg Hillcats. The Keys are a Class A minor league ballclub in the Carolina League and are part of the Baltimore Orioles farm system. They get their name from Francis Scott Key, who was born in Frederick County, opened his law practice in Frederick city, and whose final resting place is in the cemetery across the street from the stadium.

I’m no great fan of baseball; football is more my style. Oh, I did a few years in organized youth baseball (Little Loop and Babe Ruth) and signed up for a couple of turns of corporate softball, but I have no skills. I find Major League baseball boring and overcommercialized*, and have no great love for Major League ballplayers. However, I can follow and enjoy a game.

A number of things that appealed to me:

I promised the kids I would take them some time. We never did get to it last season, and they asked about it virtually every time we went by the stadium, which is a couple of times a week.
There were fireworks planned for after the game, another big appeal for the kids. (And me, to be honest. I love fireworks.)
Minor league ballplayers haven’t yet been spoiled by fame and money.
Without overly long breaks for commercials, games actually finish in less than two hours.
The best seats in the house, which only seats a few thousand people, are $11 each.
Both Barley and Hops and Brewer’s Alley serve their beer at Harry Grove Stadium.

The day turned out even better than I expected. It was a beautiful day with clear, blue skies. There had been rain in the forecast but it held off until after we left, and the temperature was just perfect. (In other words, my wife was cold.) A previous game had been rained out, so we now had a double-header. My family also got me a gift certificate for my favored beer retailer.

The concessions are a bit on the pricey side, but still much less than you would pay at a Major League ballpark. Heck, they are less than you would pay at a movie theater. Between innings there were the obligatory contests and little goofy events. (If you’ve seen Bull Durham you’ll know what I mean.) They had a chicken dance contest on top of the visitor’s dugout, had a couple of kids race around the bases in opposite directions, had a show from kids learning to juggle, and even had three guys—dressed as a hot dog, soda cup, and popcorn bucket—race to determine which item would be discounted for the rest of the inning.

We ate hot dogs and popcorn. The girls had cotton candy. And, of course, my wife and I had 20-ounce cups of craft-brewed beer from the local brewpubs. Somewhere in there we watched, with varying degrees of attention, the Keys split the double-header with the Hillcats. Followed by a very nice fireworks show.

Everybody had a great time which, after all, is really what I wanted.

* Sure, the same could be said for the NFL and I wouldn’t disagree. But my enjoyment of football is usually enough to overcome these drawbacks. Not so baseball.

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