HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

This will be the last post of 2017. I hope that everyone had a great year and was able to taste many new brews that were on store shelves or at their local taproom. There was definitely a lot of good drinks to go around.!! I hope that everyone is looking forward to what the new year of 2018 has to offer. With all good fortune, it will bring peace, happiness, and of course, some damn fine new brews to taste and sample.

Our favorite breweries will definitely have some new brews in the works to go along side of the seasonal favorites that we have come to expect. So it should be a good year indeed!!!

But honestly, I want to wish everyone a safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Ring it in with a bang, but once again, BE RESPONSIBLE: DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. After you have drank whatever adult beverages of choice (and it will probably have been more than a few), preferably beer, but champagne is allowed as well (it is a new year after all), please spend the night, UBER, LYFT or CAB it to wherever you need to go.  

HAVE A VERY SAFE AND VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Enjoy the night of festivities, and I will start up again and see you all on the flipside of a brand new year.

AND AS ALWAYS, RAISE A PINT OF ALE, STOUT,

 A FLUTE OF CHAMPAGNE, A SNIFTER OF SCOTCH, OR WHATEVER ELSE TOMMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BRING AND ENJOY!!!!!!!!! CHEERS

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!

With this post I just wanted to take the time to wish everyone a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS and a SAFE, FUN, and HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON. Since this is the season of family, friends, giving, and of course maybe a few holiday parties thrown in for good measure, safe and responsible drinking (or tasting as we like to call it!!) is very important. The cold chill of the winter air might tempt you to drink a few more to stay warm. There is nothing wrong with that as long as you have your plans already figured out of how to get where you need to go after: Or if possible, just spend the night - if those friends of yours will allow it. There is no reason to take a chance with the law, or worse, your life or other lives by doing something stupid.

OK. I will stop my preaching now.

There are a whole slew of seasonal winter brews out there to taste and sample. From complex Vanilla Cocoa Nib Stouts to Barrel Aged Stouts and Porters, to higher ABV Barley Wine Ales, (all of which I have wrote about in earlier posts - actually I did not write that much on Barley Wine Ales - SOON THOUGH!) I guarantee that there is something out there that you have not tried. The point is, with this holiday season pick up some winter seasonal brews and taste them with your fellow beer snobs, just do it responsibly.

I will do my best to post next week. It will be the 26th after all and who knows how that morning will turn out!!!! I might need a BLOODY MARY OR 2 while I am writing!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday with plenty of beer [and food!] to go around and fill those empty bellies!!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!

AND AS ALWAYS, RAISE A PINT OF ALE, STOUT, OR BARLEY WINE AND ENJOY!!!!!!!!! CHEERS

BARREL AGED GOODNESS!!!!!

A little bit of Barrel Aged Goodness

One of the hot trends at the moment is of course Barrel Aged Brews. While not new to the Midwest, actually, some of the first releases of this type of beer came from Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin, these beers are popping up all over the place from different breweries around the country. Not all of the barrel aged beers are Bourbon though. I have seen (and tasted) whisky (OK fine, Bourbon is technically whiskey), Rum Barrel, Gin Barrel, and even Tequila Barrel beers. While these beers will almost always have a much higher ABV, it is the flavors that make them unique.

Over time, oak barrels breathe with temperature changes. They expand and contract with the heat and the cold. As this happens, the liquid inside them gets absorbed in to the porous oak and then squeezed out over and over again. This process is what gives the beer (and additionally the original spirit that occupied the barrels, and to a certain extent, wine also) the flavor profiles of the beverage. Encompassing flavors from the spirit barrels that they are aged in, gives these beers really distinct flavors that set them apart from the rest. For example, the bourbon barrel aged will take on additional flavors of smoke, char, and vanilla from the barrel, while the tequila aged beers may take on additional sweetness, vegetal, or a fruitier bouquet from the blue agave plant (which tequila is made from).

The most difficult property about these “soul-warmers” is also the most difficult to control: And that being, with the higher ABV comes controlling the flavor of the additional alcohol. If stored for too long in said barrels, the alcohol just becomes overbearing and you will definitely feel the “heat and the burn” at the end finish. And because with spirits the alcohol content is so much higher, the longer it sits in the barrel, the more the alcohol [and flavor] will be absorbed from the wood into the liquid.

This aging (and alcohol content) is also noticeable in wine as well: especially in Ports, Sherries, and Dessert Wines. If aged for too long you will also taste the alcohol in the wine. Although it is not as strong tasting and you will get no “burn”. But you might get a worse hangover depending on how much you drink!!!

One of my personal favorite Bourbon Barrel Aged Beers is Dragon’s Milk from New Holland Brewery (Michigan). This beer was one of the first to be released (2001) using the aging method: And I have to say, it still holds up after all the years. The balance is near perfect for the bourbon flavors of vanilla and smoke, with a hint of caramel sweetness that blends with the slight coffee and cocoa from the different malts used to brew the beer. But most importantly, there is no alcohol “burn”. Clocking in at 11% ABV, as I said the balance is near perfect. It will definitely warm you up!!!!! It must be the Dragon’s Breath. "Can't you see all around you the Dragon's Breath?" - Merlin, The Magician (from the film Excalibur)

 

Another one of my favorites is Allagash Brewing’s (Portland, Maine) Curieux. At 11% as well, it is also rich but balanced. Is has some of the same flavors as the Dragon’s Milk (coffee vanilla, etc.), but while both of the beers use Nugget Hops, Curieux also uses Hallertau Hops (where Dragon’s Milk uses Glacier Hops instead, that imparts some plum and blackberry) which lends a slight floral characteristic [nose and flavor] to the beer as well which I do not get from Dragon’s Milk.

One more for the books is Founders Brewing (Grand Rapids, Michigan) CBS (Canadian Breakfast Stout) Imperial Stout. At a higher ABV at 11.7%, what makes this one unique is that after being brewed with coffee and imported chocolates, it is then stored in bourbon barrels that have been used to age pure Michigan Maple Syrup. This gives a very sweet flavor to the beer that has a heavy viscous, almost port-like quality. This is a perfect beer to be enjoyed as an after dinner or dessert style beer. This one can be a bit hard to find though if you do not live in Michigan.

The only downfall to these aged beers is the price. A four-pack of Dragon’s Milk can cost anywhere from $16.00 to $20.00 where a single bottle (22 ounce) Of Curieux is around $22.00 and even The CBS single bottle (22 ounce) can be more: Usually around $25.00.

So while it might be easier on the wallet to taste these in turn and not all at once, they are definitely worth the money and should be sampled. Of course there are many other aged brews out there on the market, but with these 3 is a good place to start.

So taste away throughout the winter while it is cold outside. These are not the sort of beers that you want to drink in the middle summer when it is 100 degrees out. However, one last thing about aged beers is that you can lay them down for about a year or even longer and they will still be fine. That gives you time to stock up and drink them whenever you like!!!!!

So get out there and get sampling: And as always, RAISE A PINT OF ALE BARREL AGED BEER AND ENJOY!!!!!!!!! CHEERS

Where to Start for the WINTER!!!!

Where to Start For the Winter - Or Stay Warm!!
Well the cold chill of winter is upon us. While it is not technically winter until December 21^st, and in Southern California who knows if winter will arrive at all, considering it was around 100 degrees outside on Thanksgiving, (I went hiking – then came home and had a few chilly ones) those winter brews are out in full force.

From Smokey Marzens, to thick Coffee Stouts, to flavorful Barrel Aged Brews, there is something out there for everyone’s palate. And with the colder weather, the higher ABV of some of these brews is probably what the doctor [would] order to keep warm on those chillier nights.

 Barrel Aged Beers are starting to appear en mass (however, I will have a separate post for those soon) and this is an interesting trend because you will taste some unique flavor profiles. Coffee Stouts and Porters as well as Cocoa or Vanilla Stouts and Porters are also very popular for this time of year.

As with summer brews, there is definitely a connection between winter weather and what people tend to drink. Maybe it is more psychological than anything else, but I am guilty of it too. I would rather drink a Smoked Porter in the Winter and a Shandy in the Summer. Not that there is anything wrong with switching them out: Why the hell not. Although, I also do not want to feel as filled up in the summer either so the lighter beers are good for that reason. For me at least, this trend continues in to the realm of wine also. I would rather drink white in the summer (while grilling) then red.

BUT HEY, I SAY DRINK WHAT YOU WANT WHEN YOU WANT. WHO CARES, AS LONG AS YOU ENJOY IT!!!!!!

So while diving into the usual assortment of winter styles of beer, why not get silly and pull out some of those summer brews that you are sitting on and waiting to drink: Maybe if you are too full from foraging at a holiday party or relaxing in a hot tub, who knows, it might be a good excuse to crack one of those open!!

DO YOU EVER REALLY NEED A GOOD REASON!!!!!

AND AS ALWAYS, RAISE A PINT OF ALE STOUT AND ENJOY!!!!!!!!! CHEERS

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!

A HAPPY THANKSGIVING OF GOOD BEER!!!! 

So Thanksgiving is a few days away and I know a lot of people will be travelling to different states: And I do not mean the state of confusion while being stuck in the airport lines!!! But once you reach your destination, relax, get settled, and then get out to the local grocery store or liquor store and start sampling some different local beers from the state [and city] you happen to be visiting. What better way to learn about the trends and trendsetters of the industry.

A lot of the smaller breweries cannot distribute their product over state lines so it can be very difficult to get a hold of regional beers (depending on where you live). But since the holiday travelling puts you in their territory, why not venture out and see what is available.

The holidays are a time for family and friends, good food, get-togethers and yes, maybe a few parties, but what better way to celebrate than with a good brew: Well, you could have a glass of wine or a scotch as well (and as I probably will since I am also an avid drinker of both!!). But the point is to celebrate good times, thankfulness, and the upcoming year. 

So get out and celebrate the holidays (responsibly), and in the next few weeks leading up to the new year, I will be listing some good seasonal beers to seek out and find so you can sample some good brews in whatever state (even confusion) that you are in!!!!

CHEERS, PROST, KANPAI!! 

And as always, RAISE A PINT OF ALE AND ENJOY!!!!

And the winners are (Part 3)

Which one takes my top spot (Part 3)?

OKTOBERFEST has come and gone but the beers remain. For the last two weeks I started a top twelve of my favorite Oktoberfest/Fall Season brews. I listed the first eight (5-12). Today I will continue with the top numbers 4-1. Lets see how surprised you will be!!!

There were some surprises this week as well. There always is, but at least one in the top 4 will probably raise a few eyebrows. There is room for debate on the entire list but I do stand by my choices and order. Regardless if you agree with my list or not one thing is for certain: You should at least try them all (or at least a few) and then make you own assessment of the beers. Hey, if you are feeling confrontational, (HAHA) leave a comment or two and see where I may have went wrong. But once again, all the beers on this entire list are good drinking brews that are worthy of your own taste buds.

 So if you can, try to grab one of these brews before they get retired or at least leave the shelves for another year.

SO, HERE ARE THE FINAL FOUR...

#4 - PAULANER OKTOBERFEST

Let's just start by saying that this beer is one of the proud few that gets to be served at the one and only Oktoberfest event in Munich, Germany. Since 1818 they have been brewing this beer and it is fantastic. Very light and crisp, but with a darker amber hue, this lager has lower carbonation but slightly higher {ABV} than other lagers, it starts easy but finishes on the strong side. A perfect drinking/savoring brew. Pair it up with some smoked mackerel for a truly great taste experience!!!!

#3 - SHOCK TOP - TWISTED PRETZEL WHEAT- LIMITED RELEASE

This is a unique beer. A limited release, surprisingly this beverage, from a major brewer no less, takes such a high spot on my list. At first sip you are wondering what you taste: Bready, salty, slight sweetness? Well all of the above and then it hits you: You are dinking a pretzel. It is the liquid equivalent of drinking a beer and eating salty pretzels. Not too much is going on the nose. A little caramel notes and that is about it. A very nice experimental beer that while it is not perfectly balanced, and probably would turn off some beer snobs, its curiosity and definite taste texture make it claim the first of the top three. Well done for trying something different. I like to give accolades to breweries that think out of the box.

#2 - WEIHENSTEPHNER - VITUS

This is BAVARIAN BREWRING at its BEST. This light, crisp single bock goes down smooth and makes the drinker want another one. With a nose that consists of dried apricots and citrus, the full bodied liquid gives even more with a taste profile that consists of banana and spice. After tasting you might actually confuse it for a wheat beer instead of a bock. Because it is a bock, it has a higher ABV as well clocking in at 7.7%. Definitely get your hand on a few of these. It is a good drinking brew for the fall season and beyond. A VERY SOLID spot at #2. Well deserved. Very few beers are this perfect!!!!!

#1 - SHIPYARD PUMPKINHEAD WHEAT

So we finally come to the number 1 spot. Shipyard's Pumpkinhead Wheat (ironic too that this post is on Halloween) is everything that a Autumn brew should be and more. With a golden brown color that gives off a sweetness on the nose of caramel it is already starting in a good direction. What truly makes this beer stand out though is the balance that is has with the flavors. One sip, and then another and you are going to get flavors of pumpkin, clove, spice, nutmeg, and baking spice. It is almost like pumpkin pie in the bottle. But as I said, the balance is near perfect. Not one of those flavors overpower each other. After a swish around the palate, you still taste them all. No stand-outs. I really cannot recommend this brew enough. I think it is the most well balanced pumpkin wheat on the market. Very few come close. CONGRATULATIONS TO SHIPYARD AND  THEIR PUMPKINHEAD WHEAT!!!!! MY FAVORITE FOR THIS OKTOBERFEST AND AUTUMN SEASON!!!!

So there are the final four. I think I might list a few honorable mentions as well in the next few weeks before switching over to winter beers which should be hitting the store shelves soon if not already. But that just means more beer sampling for me. Nothing really wrong with that!! I hope you enjoyed my selections and I really hope that is stirs some debates in your beer drinking crowd. Because realistically, that was the point. To get out and try something new and argue!!!

AND AS ALWAYS

RAISE A PINT OF ALE (SOMETHING FROM MY LIST PERHAPS) AND ENJOY

CHEERS

And the winners are? (Part 2)

Which one takes my top spot (Part 2)?

OKTOBERFEST has come and gone but the beers remain. Last week I started a top twelve of my favorite Oktoberfest/Fall Season brews. I listed the first four (9-12). Today I will continue with numbers 5-8.

There were some surprises this week as I was trying to figure out which ones made the list and the order. But all things considered, they are all good brews that are worthy of your own taste buds.

 So if you can, try to grab one of these brews before they get retired or at least leave the shelves for another year.

SO, HERE ARE THE NEXT FOUR...

#8 - LEFT HAND BREWERY, MARZEN - LAGER

Very nice balance on this brew. Biscuity up front, with a bread-like nose, it is rounded off at the end with a dry, slightly spicy finish thanks in part to the Noble Pedigree Hops. Finish the stein and have another!!!!

#7 - SIERRA NEVADA / BRAUHAUS MILTENBERGER COLLBORATION

This is the 2nd year (that I know of) that Sierra Nevada partnered with Brauhaus Miltenberger to create an original Oktoberfest. The 2016 version was fairly nice, but the 2017 is that much better. I really liked this beer. The Amber Hue gives off a nose of toasted malt with a bready backbone. With a VERY slight bitter finish (and I mean almost hardly noticeable) it is extremely crisp that gives off cereal notes to your taste buds. 

#6 - SHORTS BREWING - NOBLE CHAOS

The taste of the Autumn Season in a bottle!!!!! With toasted malt, caramel flavors and its subtle hop bouquet, this beer definitely stands out. It could be VERY easy to drink a six-pack and not know it. It is well balanced and has a clean and neat finish. The only problem is that this beer is hard to come by unless you live in Michigan. Those damn distribution laws!!!!

#5 - KARL STRAUSS OKTOBERFEST

Another good beer for the price. With a deep golden color, that is produced from the Vienna and Munich Malts, there are nutty overtones and toasted malt that are so well balanced you might think that the beer came straight from Germany. The Perle Hops rounds out the neat finish. This beer definitely nails it considering the size of the production. See, bigger breweries can make an great product if they try.

So there are the 2nd four. Check back next week and I will rate numbers 4 through 1.

 SEE WHAT BREW TOOK THE TOP HONOR. YOU MAY BE SUPRISED!!!

AND AS ALWAYS

RAISE A PINT OF ALE AND ENJOY

CHEERS

And the winners are (part 1)......................

Which one takes my top spot?

So now that OKTOBERFEST is officially over, (and as grueling as it was:), I was fortunate enough to taste a large amount of Autumn style beers at different events,  breweries, and at tastings throughout the Midwest and West Coast.

There were some definite highlights, such as Great Lakes Brewing's (out of Cleveland, Ohio) Oktoberfest, which has a nice balance of toasty malts with a little bit of spice, and a uniqueness of have having raisins added which gives it a little sweetness on the palate. But yet there were some letdowns as well.

Now of course there will always be the staple beers such as the varieties from Paulaner, Weinhepstephaner, and Spaten, so those of course are going to be great. Hey, they were made for Oktoberfest and the fall weather!! But it was some of the lesser known ones that blew me away.

 

In the next few posts, I will rate my top twelve Autumn Brews that I thought met or exceeded expectations. I will try to focus on the non-mass marketed beers but I have to say,  there were some stand-outs from the bigger breweries as well. Some of them made my list, and that is what makes this fun. You just never know!!!

SO, ON WITH THE LIST...

(well the first four anyway........)

#12 - AYINGER, OKTOBERFEST - MARZEN
This beer has a nice Amber Hue with a lot of malt flavor going on, but it also has a sweetness accent (because of the Bavarian Malts). It finishes with a bit of dry spiciness on the palate and a very subtle hop background.

#11 - AVERY BREWING IMPERIAL OKTOBERFEST
Right off the bat, I really liked this beer. Unfortunately, I cannot rate it higher because to me it is more of a winter brew considering that it is and "imperial" which means a higher alcohol (9.7% ABV) content. But is was marketed as an Oktoberfest so it made the list. The HEAVILY toasted malt is overwhelming at first, but there is a toffee sweetness that meshes in the mouth as well. This beer is definitely a throwback to a dopple bock style. It is too bad that Avery has discontinued this beer. If you are lucky, you might be able to still find a bottle or two.

#10 - LEINENKUGEL'S HARVEST PATCH SHANDY

This one is a bit lighter than most on this list because it is a shandy, but it is great when you have those Autumn temperatures of 90+ degrees (which it was in the Midwest in September). With notes of allspice, nutmeg, and pumpkin there is definitely the flavors here but the balance is a bit off. Possibly because of the higher production volume. But it is still nice and light!!!

#9 - SHINER OKTOBERFEST
For the price point, this is a good beer. Is it great? Well probably not, but it is not bad either. The dark orange/yellow color gives off some nice malt with faint hop overtones. Maybe a few more tries with the recipe and they will nail it. Once again, it is the price that has it on this one.

So there are the first four. Check back next week and I will rate numbers 8 through 5.

AND AS ALWAYS

RAISE A PINT OF ALE AND ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!

CHEERS

Just in case you missed it last time......

The One and Only Original Oktoberfest {AGAIN}!!!!

To spare everyone the task of doing research on looking up the origins of the original OKTOBERFEST, I did the research for you: And also so you do not have to scroll through older posts to find it, I am going to repost my OKTOBERFEST origin story. So read on fellow beer geeks and enjoy!!!!!!

Well fellow beer snobs, it is that time of year again. The wonderful time of year to celebrate the coming of autumn, Halloween, and the colder weather. What better way to celebrate this time then with an selection of fine fall brews at an Oktoberfest celebration. That is the best way I can think of to ring in the season!!!!!!

Now of course, if you can make it to Germany (the birthplace of the Oktoberfest) then more power to you. If not, throw one of your own parties. All you really need is some good friends, good food,  and a great selection of Oktoberfest beers.

Munich, Germany is THE home of the celebrated event of the fall season. Started in 1810, it is a 16 day festival that starts towards the end of September and runs through the first week of October. The festival attracts more then 6 million locals and tourists every year and it keeps on getting bigger. With carnival rides, games, mountains of food, and of course rivers of beer (in 2007 nearly 7 million liters of the golden liquid were consumed), it is definitely one of the biggest parties in Europe. Originally, the festival ran through the first Sunday in October, however, with the reunification of Germany in 1994, the schedule was altered a bit and now the festival culminates on October 3rd (and a perfect day to post this article!!!!!!) which is German Unity Day.

Started in 1810, the first party was actually for the wedding of King Ludwig to his new Queen Theresa. Held in what was know as "Theresa's Gardens" (and still is), all of the citizens were invited to attend. In the years that followed, an agricultural show was added as well as horse racing to promote German culture. The annual opening kick off parade which started in 1850, has roughly 8,000 marchers all dressed in traditional German costumes, is one of the highlights of the entire event. One new tradition that started in 1950 was the tapping of the first keg. At 12:00PM, the mayor taps the keg which is accompanied by a 12 gun salute. That is respect for the brew!!!!!!!!!

Traditional German food is always served which includes, Hendl (roast chicken), Schweinebraten (roast pork), Schweinshaxe (grilled ham hock), Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick), Knodel (potato or bread dumplings), and Reiberdatschi (potato pancakes). You will also find the assortment of sausages, krauts, and Bavarian delicacies as Obatzda which is a spiced cheese-butter spread.

STOP: HOLD ON: Now this is a very important fact. Only beer that is brewed in Munich and which conforms to the Reinheitsgebot may be served in the tents at Oktoberfest. What is the Reinheitsgebot? This important (and hard to pronounce - if you do not speak German) word is the Purity Order of Bavaria. Sometimes referred to as the German Purity Order, it is a regulation of the production of beer in the Holy Roman Empire. Instated in 1487 by Albert IV, Duke of Bavaria, this order stated that beer could only be made with 3 ingredients: Water, barley, and hops. The order was passed to keep the other grains available (such as wheat and rye) so they could be used for baking bread, and thus not have a shortage and a spike in bakery prices. We Germans do like to drink!!!!!!!

The brewers that can produce beer under this order are Paulaner, Spatenbrau, Lowenbrau, Hacker Schorr-Brau, and Augustiner-Brau. These beers will be the only beer that one will find being served at Oktoberfest. Any of these fine beers pair very well with the German cuisine that is served. Or if one prefers, they can always skip the food to save more room for the liquid diet. Although, that could have some very intoxicating effects which are accelerated.

While I have never been to Munich for Oktoberfest, I was fortunate enough to attend the Oktoberfest in Dublin (hey, the Irish drink like fish too!!) on the Docklands 4 years ago. Judging by how insanely fun and festive that was (once again the Irish) I can only imagine Munich is escalated by a factor of 100. This is one party that is definitely on my bucket list. Munich AND ESPECIALLY the beer tent better be ready for me when I arrive. 

So get ready to throw back a couple of Oktoberfest brews and have a great time.


AND ONCE AGAIN

Loosen your LEDERHOSEN and unstrap your DIRNDLS and get out to an OKTOBERFEST!! And as always, RAISE A PINT OF ALE (well this time a GERMAN LAGER) AND ENJOY!!!!!!!!

CHEERS

Oktoberfest is Upon Us!!!!!!!!!

The Oktoberfest is upon us!!!!!!!!

{Back} On the road again (thanks Willie!!), I am coming from the number one beer state – Michigan. I am working, having more book signings at Oktoberfest events at breweries around the Metro-Detroit area. There is definitely a change in the weather, being that Autumn starts this week, (well almost as it was 85 degrees over the weekend) and the attitudes of serious beer drinkers across the state. There are A LOT of good brews being poured from the numerous taps across the city and state: And the focus is on all those fall seasonal beers.

Having already sampled a few from breweries such as Fillmore 13, Stumblin' Duck, and the oldest brewery in the world Weinhenstephaner (circa 1040), let me just say that there are some DAMN good beers being released. I am impressed on the recipes that I have had so far.

With most of the events starting this past weekend, Oktoberfest runs through the beginning of October (see an earlier post for the history of Oktoberfest, or maybe I will repost it if you do not want to look for it!!!!!!!). With Lederhosen, Dirndls, and Accordions everywhere, the only thing left is to fill up the steins with the German Beers, eat your full of German Sausage, and of course, everyone’s favorite, the staple: German Red Cabbage!!!! Well, maybe a little German Potato salad too!!!!

I am going to be signing books and searching out these Oktoberfest events and sampling as many seasonal brews as I can over the next couple of weeks before I head back to the Golden State. Although, I will still be tasting in California when I am back as there are some fall beer festivals coming down the pipeline in the Los Angeles area as well. The breweries should have some good fall beers coming out. The only problem is that they have to try to make the time and fit them in between their mass production of IPAs. However, California is not as big on the Oktoberfest festivities as my German counterparts in Michigan, but nonetheless, I am sure that I will find a couple of hidden gems.

So wherever you are, for the next couple of weeks, search out what local Oktoberfest events are in your area and get out and enjoy one of the fall seasons great cultural experiences with good friends, good food, and GREAT BEER!!!!

So loosen your LEDERHOSEN and unstrap your DIRNDLS and get out to an OKTOBERFEST!! And as always, RAISE A PINT OF ALE (well this time a GERMAN LAGER) AND ENJOY!!!!!!!!

CHEERS  

A New Season of Good Beer

A New Season (?) of Good Beer Ahead!!!!

First off, I hope that everybody had a wonderful Labor Day Holiday and did some fine beer tastings or beer and food pairings. Good food, good friends, and definitely GREAT BEER!!!

In roughly ten days the official change of the seasons will be upon us. As a diehard boater, I get emotional and sad to see the summer season go away (as it is my favorite time of year) and succumb to the fresh colors of Autumn. I love the long days, the BBQ's, boating on the water, lake and ocean,  (I swear that I was a PIRATE in a former life) and enjoying the good company of family and friends (with a beer of course). However, as it is bound to happen every year (well soon maybe not with the way that global warming is effecting the climate) that change of seasons also brings in a change of malt beverages to extenuate the flavors of the upcoming fall harvest.

With the resident fall beers approaching, actually they are probably starting to pop up on store shelves already, it is time to start all over again with a taste and palate swap. From the lagers, to the ryes, to even the ciders, there is going to be a good beer drinking season ahead. So in the next couple of months, we will have to delve into some of those exceptional fall beer offerings to see {and taste} what is is going to be pouring down the old gullet. And of course, this will all be leading up to the crème de la crème of ALL beer festivals, the one and only OKTOBERFEST!!!!!!

PROST, PROST, PROST!!!!!!

And as always, RAISE A PINT OF ALE AND ENJOY!!!!!!!!! CHEERS  

A Little Labor Day Grillin'

A Little Labor Day Grilling Guide!!!!

Well, since this upcoming weekend is the Labor Day Holiday and the unofficial end of summer (but we do not want to think of that), I figured that it would be a good time to talk about some basic beer and food pairings for all of those that are going to be BBQ’ing and grilling over the weekend.

Food pairings are not just for wine you know. While any great BBQ, whether it is burgers, hot dogs, or chicken, can totally be enhanced with an ice cold beer (in the words of Jimmy Buffet – Cheeseburger in Paradise) who doesn’t enjoy a good burger with a beer. But I am talking about going a few steps further and moving beyond the typical “standard” BBQ offerings.

For example, grilled chicken is a popular protein to grill. Now if you were going to cook this with a little spices or salt and pepper, a good beer pairing would be a light Amber Ale. The slightly sweet and citrusy flavors of the ale would definitely compliment the aromatic flavors of the grilled chicken. However, if you were planning on smoking or using a BBQ sauce on the chicken instead, then I would probably go for a porter because of the toasted flavors of the beer would balance out the smoke or BBQ flavors.

Another favorite for the backyard pit are grilled pork chops. Instead of just throwing them on the grill, lets get a wee bit little silly and spice it up by adding a bit of homemade apple relish glaze on the top. Add a side of potato salad or macaroni salad, or to even stay on the crazier side, how about a Roasted Quinoa salad? I am not knocking potato salad as it is one of my favorites: The more the better, but why not change it up? So now that we have the main course and the sides, what kind of beer would pair well? In this case, I would suggest a Belgian-Style Dubble or even an IPA. The intense characteristics of the grilled pork fat would stand up great and compliment the hoppy and bitter flavor of the IPA, while the fruitiness of the Belgian Ale would pair nicely with the apple relish glaze. And even an American Brown Ale would match very well with the roasted Quinoa.  In this case though, I guess you would have to drink three beers to experience all of the distinct flavors: Definitely not a bad way to start a barbeque!!!

If you like shellfish (however, don’t compliment yourself or people might think you are shellfish), clams or mussels pair great with a German Hefeweizen. I enjoy steaming the clams and mussels in a white wine, garlic, basil and thyme sauce. The hefe pairs very well with this dish because it brings out the salinity of the seafood while at the same time rinsing and cleansing the palate. A Belgian Saison would also go great with this dish. Since we are still cooking shellfish, I also love to cook shrimp. After they are cleaned, I put them on the grill and cook them up for a bit. Once they are almost finished, I glaze them with a homemade lemon garlic sauce. Sometimes I will thicken it with corn starch, but you can also keep it thin and for a bit lighter main. However, pair this with an American Wheat Ale and you are in shrimp heaven. The slight tart flavor of the ale meshing with the citrus of the lemon is like a splash of liquid sun soaked fields. Or in other words, it is just a great combination and has an amazing flavor profile.

For those of you who are on the lighter side of grilling (or vegetarians) and wanted to make a salad instead either as a side or main course, you cannot go wrong and pair it with a Belgian Witbier. The aromas of orange and coriander adds to the zest of a light citrus dressing on the salad and also will bring out the flavors of feta and/or goat cheese (if used).

So with all those main dishes (I hope you are all hungry now) beer can also be paired with cheeses and desserts. For example, an English Style Pale Ale would complement a nice Brie or Blue Cheese. Just as snobby as those wine folks!!!! And on the dessert side, Cheesecake would go great with a Barley Wine or Fruit Lambic.

So my three big rules when pairing food with beer (and this also applies to food and wine pairing as well) Are:

1). Match Strength with Strength – light and delicate foods deserve light and delicate beers, stronger flavors of foods pair up with stronger beer flavors. You do not want to overpower one or the other with too heavy of flavors.

2). Balance – look for flavor profiles and balance each other out. A sweeter beer will balance out the spiciness (chili heat) of the food: Where as a hoppy beer would only emphasize the heat.

3). Look for the common ground – while balance is important, look for some common flavors. I.E. - the nuttiness of an English Brown Ale would complement the nuttiness of an aged Asiago Cheese. An Imperial Stout has chocolate and cocoa characteristics that would pair with sweet desserts.

And that is my beginner’s guide to pairing!!!!!

P.S. I also must mention, although this is not a pairing but more of using beer as an ingredient, and it is also one of my Mom’s favorite dishes to make: It is beer can chicken. Essentially, you put the entire chicken on the grill; raise it up and with the can of beer open stick the beer can in the bottom of the bird. This way as the meat cooks over the grill it takes on some of the flavors of the beer (depending on what kind you use) and it makes the chicken extremely moist where it literally falls off the bone (the chicken also gets a bit loopy from the beer intake!!!!). Good stuff. I think my Mom drinks half the can of beer first though. Cannot imagine why?

So get out and cook some good food this weekend and pair it up with some damn good beer!!! And as always, RAISE A PINT OF ALE AND ENJOY!!!!!!!!! CHEERS