Beer 208 - Samuel Adams Latitude 48 IPA

Brewed by the Boston Beer Company at one of its breweries in the NE USA.  Bought at HEB Grocery and drunk at home in Katy while waiting for Patricia to call to say the problem at work had been found and she was ready to come home.

new on the web site: http://www.samueladams.com/index.aspx are details of The Melting Pot, a Brewmasters Collection of beers "inspired by some of the Worlds great beer styles".

Latitude 48 IPA is one of these beers.  The web site says "Samuel Adams® Latitude 48 IPA is a unique IPA brewed with a select blend of hops from top German, English, and American growing regions all located close to the 48^th latitude within the “hop belt” of the Northern Hemisphere.  The combination of hops in this beer creates a distinctive but not overpowering hop character.  The beer is dry hopped with Ahtanum, Simcoe®*, and East Kent Goldings hops for a powerful citrus and earthy aroma.  The hop character is balanced by a slight sweetness and full body from the malt blend. OG 14.8 deg Plato, 6.0% alc/vol."

Lots of hop character in this beer, perhaps a little bit too much for my taste.  It really needs a spicy or strong flavored food to couteract the aftertaste of the bitterness.  The web site suggests spicy buffalo wings.

Beer 207 - Lakefront IPA

brewed and bottled by Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee, WI.  This is the second of the four different beers I received from the Beer of the Month Club.  Drunk at home in Katy while planning for dinner, and starting preparation.

web site: http://lakefrontbrewery.com/main.html

Lakefront has been in business since 1987, the web site says Lakefront IPA "Pours a hazy orange with a rocky white head that lasts, and leaves soft lace on your glass as you sip this refreshing beer. American Cascade and Chinook hops dominate the aroma, yielding a citrusy, floral bouquet. The hops give a nice bitter bite to the flavor, but this beer is surprisingly well balanced with a full body and smooth malty flavor to back up the hops. It finishes smooth and crisp with a lingering hop flavor reminiscent of fresh ruby red grapefruit.
Goes well with any spicy food, historically Indian food as well as Thai, Cajun, or Mexican. Try our IPA with Buffalo wings, blackened chicken or pepperoni pizza. Beef dishes or fried seafood can stand up to the hops as well.  Ideal Serving Temp: 54-56° F.  6.9% alc/vol."

The hops do give a bitter bite to the beer, and it could have been better balanced with more of the malt flavor coming through.  This beer need spicy Indian or Mexican food as a match.

Beer 206 - Sierra Nevada Glissade

Brewed and bottled by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co, Chico, CA.  Bought at HEB Grocery and drunk at home in Katy while preparing dinner.

web site: http://www.sierranevada.com/

The web site says "As winter begins its slide toward the sunny days of spring, we bring you Glissade Golden Bock to help you enjoy the ride. Glissade is a remarkably mellow take on the traditional spring bock.
With restrained sweetness, we emphasize subtle malt flavor, balanced against delicate aromas of spicy and floral European hops. This complex balance helps Glissade slide across the palate—bracing us against the last cold nights of winter, while its bright golden color turns our thoughts toward spring. 42 BU, 3.2 Plato, 6.4% alc/vol"

A very pleasant drink, with a slight bitter taste in the background, balanced by the sweetness of the malt.

Beer 20 - Heineken

Drunk on August 7, 2010

Heineken

Brewed in Holland bought and drank at The Drake and Rebel's Honky Tonk Saloon while attending the Houston Press "Battle of the Bands" and then for donner at Raia's Italian Market on Washington Avenue in Houston TX. My antipasto and Patri's stuffed chicken breasts were excellent, Raia's is an excellent casual cafe.

I just wish I could say Heineken was excellent . I drink it because it is ubiquitous and the flavor remains constant. It's easy to drink, uncomplicated, well balanced and with simple flavors. But there is nothing exciting or interesting about Heineken, except for the occasional thought that somebody did a wonderful marketing job with this beer. Mediocrity triumphed over individualism, but we, Joe Public have been persuaded that the lowest common denominator is good, perhaps only because it is inoffensive and comes from overseas.

Beer 19 - Corona Extra

Drunk on August 6, 2010

Corona Extra

Brewed in Mexico bought at Spec's Liquor, Houston, TX drank at home in Katy, TX while waiting for Sofia to return from Austin so we can go out to dinner.

When I was much younger and visiting pubs on a regular basis in and around London I would drink lager and lime. Then I got a little older and gravitated to bitter and wherever possible "real ale". I lost the taste for lime in my beer, preferring, instead to enjoy the flavor of the beer the way the brew master intended and not modify the flavor because an upstart copy writer in Manhattan tells me a slice of lime in my Corona is cool and makes me look and feel sophisticated and hip.

But, perhaps eschewing the lime was a mistake. It may be that the lime improves the taste of Corona from the bland, insipid flavor that came out of this bottle. The initial smell of the beer did not bode well, there was a slight mustiness in the aroma that quickly dissipated and left behind the faint smell of day old socks in the laundry. I was hoping this would be like the Indonesian fruit, the duryan, which tastes heavenly if you can steel yourself to get past the terrible smell the fruit puts out. But I was disappointed. The beer was fizzy but the taste was flat and uninspiring and would undoubtedly have been improved by the lime which would have added some flavor. Perhaps Madison Avenue was not wrong after all. Not a beer to come back to, even on a hot day on the beach in Cancun, there are much better Mexican beers available.

Beer 18 - Unibroue Blanc De Chambly

Drunk on August 5, 2010

Unibroue Blanc De Chambly

Brewed in Chambly, Quebec, Canada bought at Trader Joe's, Camarillo, CA drank at home in Katy, TX while preparing turkey burgers, battered mushrooms and rice for dinner. 5.0% alc/vol.

The box the beer came in says" Blanche De Chambly (White of Chambly) was the first bottle-refermented ale produced by Unibroue. It is brewed from a blend of pale barley malt, wheat malt and unmalted wheat, into which we blend selected spices and hops.

Blanche De Chambly is only partially filtered, retaining its natural cloud of yeast that is a charactersitic of the original white ales brewed during the middle ages.

We recommend this remarkably refreshing and light bodied white ale with grilled fish, lemon chicken, artisan goat chees, mesclun, ceviche, mussels or oysters.

Blanche de Chambly is brewed in honor of the volunteer millitiamen who, led by Lieutenant Colonel Charles-Michel D'Irumberry de Salaberry (a French Canadian nobleman who served in the British army) fought and lost thier lives while defending the territory of Lower canada during the war of 1812.
Enjoy this beer before a meal as an aperitif or at a picnic. It is also a perfect refreshment at a barbecue."

Very pleasant to sip and enjoy the first taste, easy to drink with well rounded flavor. A nice aftertaste leaves a pleasing sensation in the mouth.

Beer 17 - Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale

Drunk on August 4, 2010

Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale

Brewed in Paso Robles, CA bought at Trader Joe's, Camarillo, CA drank at home in Katy, TX while preparing stir fry for dinner. 5.0% alc/vol.

On their web site Firestone issue a challenge to their "good friends across the pond" to match the freshness of the taste of DBA. They say "we've honored the great traditions of the great British Pale brewers of Burton-on-Trent using our patented Firestone Union oak barrels. You're left with a mild blend of vanilla and toasted oak flavor touched eith an elegant hint of English noble hops. DBA is the flagship of our company and wildly popular."

While the beer was very pleasant to drink and nicely balanced I am not sure that the claim to match a UK pale ale has been met.

Beer 16 - North Coast Brewing Scrimshaw

Drunk on August 3, 2010

North Coast Brewing Scrimshaw

Brewed in Fort Bragg, CA bought at Trader Joe's, Camarillo, CA drank at home in Katy, TX while preparing pizza for dinner.

The bottle says "water, malted barley, hops, yeast and that's all. Named for the delicate engravings of nineteenth century seafarers, this is a fresh-tasting pilsner style beer brewed in the finest European tradition with a subtle hop character , a crisp clean palate, and a dry finish"

An excellent description, the beer is easy to drink, has just a trace of body from the hops and leaves a pleasant memory on the finish.

Beer 15 - Stone Brewing Co IPA

Drunk on August 2, 2010

Stone Brewing Co IPA

Brewed in Escondido, CA bought at Spec's Liquor, Houston, TX, drank at home in Katy, TX while Patricia is preparing dinner. 6.9% alc/vol

Lots of stuff on the bottle "Gargoyle - A fearsome stone figure that has powers to ward off evil spirits. Our Stone Brewing Co. Gargoyle wards off modern day evil spirits such as chemical preservatives, additives and adjuncts."

"Stone IPA: To say that this IPA is deliciously hoppy, would be putting it modestly. And while we have manystrong suits, modesty is not exactly one of them. And so, we used a totally immodest amount of hops in the recipe for this gem of an IPA. The result? Big hop flavor and - courtesy of generous "dry hopping" - a big hop aroma. What about the bitterness you ask? You bet! We loaded a glorious amount of crisp and refreshing hop bitterness into this brew. The result is a true thing of beauty. First the aroma entices, then the flavor moves one to rejoice aloud. Ahem. Well it does for us anyway. In fact it makes us feel downright poetic. We know it will for you too."

"Our Philosophy: this should not be much of a mystery to anyone. After all, we hardly keep it a secret that we revel in our love for big character brews. Quite the opposite in fact - we love to shout about it. See, we simply have too much fun creating our brews by tradiotional artisanal methods to even think about brewing anything that's less than outstanding. And why should we? There's plenty of brews out there that cover the other end of the spectrum quite well, so we won't even try to go for mass-appeal. If you like big flavor you'll be happy with our philosophy. Cheers!"

The beer is bitter to start but smooth to finish, delicious.

Beer 14 - Anchor Steam

Drunk on August 1, 2010

Anchor Steam beer

Brewed in San Francisco, CA bought at Spec's Liquor, Houston, TX, drank at home in Katy, TX while preparing roast beef dinner for Patri and I.

The first taste of Anchor Steam is always a shock to the palate. The beer has a strong hoppy taste with a slight bitterness in the aftertaste. Well balanced, nice to drink but not a beer for the faint hearted.

Beer 13 - Boddington's Pub Ale Draught

Drunk on July 31, 2010

Boddington's pub ale draught

Brewed in Manchester, England, bought and drunk at the Tilted Kilt pub and eatery on highway 6 in west Houston. 4.7% alc/vol. The Boddington's breery was bought from Mr. Boddington in 1989 by Whitbread, then by Interbrew in 2000 then by AB Inbev in 2009. Boddington's is golden in color, it comes out of the cask full of foam but the beer quickly settles with a nice creamy head, it is medium in body and smooth, there are no sharp edges to the beer. The slightly sweet taste and clean, pleasant aftetaste went well with the blue cheese burger and fries.

Paticia and I went to the Tilted Kilt for a late lunch. Despite the name and many of the pictures on the wall, the place bears no resemblance to a British pub. It is a pleasant enough American sports bar with lots of TVs tuned to sports channels and waitresses wearing very short kilts and showing lots of cleavage In their halter tops.

Beer 12 - Boulevard Brewing Saisson-Brett

Drunk on July 30, 2010

Boulevard Brewing Co. Saison - Brett Ale

No 5 in the Boulevard Smokestack Experience. No 6810 of a total of 13,400 bottles produced. 8.5% alc/vol. Batch no 2009-2. Brewed in Kansas City, MO bought at Spec's liquor store, Houston, drank at home in Katy, TX while waiting for dinner to cook.

The bottle says "Our gold medal-winning Saison was the starting point for this limited edition ale. It was then dry hopped, followed by bottle conditioning with various yeasts, including 'Brettanomyces' a wild strain that imparts a distinctive eRyh quality. Though this farhoyse ale was given three months of bottle age prior to release, further cellaring will continue to enhance the 'Brett' character, if that's what you're after.
Our special limited release ales are produced in batches so small that we individually number each bottle. When they're gone they're gone."

An interesting taste, with floral overtones on the rear side of the tongue in the aftertaste. A slight bitterness adds nothing to the taste. The extreme fizziness of the beer when first poured from the bottle detracted a lot from the enjoment.

Beer 11 - Josephbrau Stockyard Oatmeal Stout

Drunk on July 29, 2010

Josephsbrau Stockyard Oatmeal Stout bottled in San Jose, CA bought at Trader Joe's in Camarillo, drunk at home in Katy, TX after burning 250 calorie on the stair step and stationary bicycle at the gym. 5.2% alc by vol.

Trader Joe's home brand. The bottle says "A deliciously creamy stout in the Irish tradition - with it's rich tan head intact, this deep and dark colored beer has the aroma and flavor of chocolate, roasted oats and coder - all derived from the specialty malts used in the brewing process."

The description is pretty good and the beer is pretty good, perhaps it could be improved with a little more body .

beer 205 - Breckenridge Lucky U IPA

Brewed and bottle by Breckeridge Brewery, Denver, CO.  Bought at HEB Grocery using their make-your-own-six-pack rack.  HEB had a great selection of beers in the rack at their store on Westheimer at Fountainview, Houston, TX.  Drunk at home in Katy, TX while preparing dinner of nutrisystem chicken breast smothered with tortilla soup and accompanied with roast corn on the cob.  Turned out quite delicious.

the web site: http://breckbrew.com/ is delightfully tongue in cheek and has recently added some nice recipes for cooking with, and enjoying with, beer.

The web says: "We like to think this is an ale for everyone who believes you make your own luck. We sure did. And the result is a well-balanced, soulful IPA with just the right amount of hoppiness. An even keeled ale that goes down clean and refreshing, but still lets you know it’s been doted on by the Brewmaster. It's true to it’s IPA heritage, but also highly drinkable. Lucky U. And we seriously mean that. 6.2% alc/vol, 68 BU."  The bottle says "A hoppy homage to a Denver landmark the Tivoli Brewery.  Drink up fortuitous one, help support the Tivoli Brewery preservation."

According to tivoli.org the Tivoli is a Denver landmark with history as interesting as its architecture. The first of its 12 buildings was constructed in 1866 as a brewery. The Tivoli was named after the world-famous Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark. It changed hands many times before brewing its last beer in 1966. In 1994, the Tivoli newly renovated, opened as one of the premier student unions in the country. Its role as a student union represents the recent history, but there is much more to the Tivoli story. The Tivoli Historical Timeline will acquaint you with its illustrious past.

Lucky U IPA is on the top end of bitterness for my taste.  In fact I found it to be too bitter to be really enjoyable.

Beer 204 - Shiner Double Wheat 102

brewed and bottled at the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, TX.  Bought at HEB and drunk at home in Katy, TX after dinner at the Saltgrass Steakhouse in Katy, where they didn't have any beers I haven't already triied.

web site: http://www.shiner.com/main.php

The web site says: "Our Double Wheat features a malt base containing 50 % Wheat. The wheat variety is Brundage, a soft white winter wheat released in 1997 by the Idaho AES. Double Wheat is a hybrid style which falls between a wheat beer and a wheat wine. Shiner 102 is an American style filtered double wheat ale, lightly hopped with aromatic Czech Saaz and WA Golding hop." The bottle adds that this is their latest anniversary ale ... pours a pale straw color with hints of sweetness ... crisp character of malted wheat are sure to refresh your senses. 6.2% alc/volume."

I enjoyed this beer as an after dinner drink (without the cheese) it was slightly sweet and easy to drink and a pleasant way to end the evening.

Beer 203 Youngs Double Chocolate Stout

Wells and Young's Brewing Company, Bedford, United Kingdom.  Bought at Spec's and drunk at home in Katy while preparing and eating pizza for dinner.

web site: http://www.wellsandyoungs.co.uk/

The web site says: "Luxurious and at the same time with a hint of decadence, Young’s Double Chocolate Stout has it all, delivering a satisfying, indulgent taste without ever becoming overly sweet.
Pale Ale and Crystal malt, Chocolate Malt, a special blend of sugars, Fuggle and Golding hops, real dark chocolate and chocolate essence are combined to deliver a stout of with real credentials."

The chocolate was easy to taste, but it was not overpowering, in fact it helped temper down the harshness of the stout and produce a drinkable beer, though I think the next time I drink it will be with ice cream and chocolate cake.  This did not go well with the pizza, though I enjoyed sipping it after dinner.

Beer 202 - Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout

Product of England, brewed and bottled at Yorkshire's oldest brewery, The Samuel Smith Old Brewery in Tadcaster, N. Yorks.  Bought at Spec's and drunk at home in Katy with dinner of stuffed peppers.

web site of US importer: http://www.merchantduvin.com/pages/5_breweries/samsmith_oatmeal_stout.html

The web site says: "At one time promoted as a drink for lactating mothers, oatmeal stout was described as nutritional on early labels. Oats are in the same family as barley, and a small addition yields great flavor and adds smooth body. Popular in the late 1800’s, the last oatmeal stout was brewed before the First World War until Samuel Smith reintroduced this style in 1980. Almost opaque, with an unusually silky texture and complex, medium-dry velvet palate. Bittersweet finish. Ingredients • Water, malted barley, cane sugar, roasted malt, yeast, hops, oatmeal, seaweed finings, carbon dioxide."

I like this beer much more than regular stout.  Perhaps it's the additional sweetness in the beer without the harsh taste of bitter chocolate.  Whatever it was this beer went down very nicely.

Beer 201 - Ayinger Brau-Weisse with Macaroni and cheese

Brewed and bottled by Braurie Aying in Aying, Germany.  Bought at Specs and drunk at home in Katy, TX with dinner of macaroni and cheese, steamed green beans and steamed carrots.

web site in English: http://en.ayinger-bier.de/?pid=263

The web site says "Top-fermented, light-colored wheat beer, Alcohol content: 5.1 %, Fragrance and taste of the “yeast-cloudy” wheat beer are distinguished by a refined top-fermented flowery-yeast character and an unmistakable, distinct banana aroma. First sensation on the taste buds is full-bodied, very soft and mild with a lively, champagne-like sparkle. A light, typical wheat beer taste is expressed, the bitter tone of which can scarcely be detected. The sparklingly refreshing Ayinger Bräu-Weisse will impress every wheat beer connoisseur with the first mouthful."

Couldn't have said it better myself.  The beer went exceedingly well with the macaroni and cheese, I enjoyed them together.  This was a good match perhaps because the fizz in the beer washed the cheese down and cleansed the mouth with each sip.

Beer 200 - Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout with Hamburger

Samuel Smith's beer is brewed in the U.K. at a small traditional British brewery in Tadcaster, Yorkshire.  This bottle was bought at Spec's liquor downtown Houston and drunk at home in Katy with dinner of Nutisystems hamburger patty, roast corn and steamed broccoli.
web site: http://www.samuelsmithsbrewery.co.uk/

The web site says "This distinctive type of beer was originally brewed to withstand the abuses of shipping in foul weather to Imperial Russia. It was a favourite of Russian nobility whose taste for the finest food and drink was world famous. A rich flavourful brew; deep chocolate in colour with a roasted barley nose and flavour that is a complexity of malt, hops, alcohol and yeast. Fermented in ‘stone Yorkshire squares’.  Serving Suggestions • Espresso coffee; Stilton and walnuts; baked sultana and lemon cheesecake; steak au poivre; caviar; rich apricot glazed bread; coffee trifle with roasted almonds. Best served at about 15°C. Ingredients • Water, malted barley,  roasted malt, cane sugar, yeast, hops, seaweed finings, carbon dioxide"

Unfortunately the taste of my dinner was completely obscured by the strong chocolate malt flavor in the stout.  Corn, broccoli and low fat hamburger meat are no match for a beer of this strength (7.0% alc/volume), strong taste and character and it doesn't help that stout is not one of my favorite tastes.  I've often said that the reason Guinness introduced 'extra cold' draught in the UK, was so that many people could get the cachet from drinking Guinness without actually having to taste the beer since the coldness numbs the taste buds.

Beer 199 - Ayinger Ur-Weiss with Pasta Shells

This is an authentic dark wheat ale - Bavarian Dunkel Weissen - brewed and bottled by Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer in Aying, Germany in accordance with the "Rheinheitsgebot" purity law of 1516.  The beer was bought at Spec's Downtown liquor store and drunk at home in Katy as part of a meal with Nutri-System spinach and cheese stuffed pasta shells in a chunky tomato, basil sauce and lightly steamed asparagus shoots.  (I know that sounds oxymoronic, having beer with Nutri-System, but!!)

Ayinger's web site (in English): http://en.ayinger-bier.de/

The web site says "“The union of wheaty freshness and dark malt often produces a fullness of taste and complexity”, explains the world-famous English beer commentator Michael Jackson. This also applies to the Ayinger Ur-Weisse, which is a strong amber-colored, yeast cloudy wheat beer. The beer is strong with the first taste and malty in aroma. The top-fermented, yeasty taste sensation is unmistakable. This beer is rich in sparkle and has just a touch of a special bitter quality. The fruity, malty mild aroma will have you won you over immediately! 5.8% alc/volume."

One of the nice things about drinking beer with food is the 'fizz'.  But that also means that the beer has to work well with the food.  The effervescent beer needs a food that matches well in taste or contrasts so sharply that both tastes stand out.  In this case the fizz and the slight yeasty taste went remarkably well with the lightly flavored basil tomato sauce and ricotta cheese and spinach in the shells.  An excellent marriage of tastes, a sip of Ayinger after a forkful of pasta and sauce made for a pleasant interplay of flavors in the mouth. 

Beer 198 - Heineken Light

Brewed in Holland by Heineken using "horizontal fermentation to give it a uniquely refreshing taste ... more style and substance ... and only 99 calories" Low calories, means low alcohol only 3.2% alc/vol.  The beer is only available in the US, (introduced in 2005) so it is probably bottled over here.  The beer was bought and drunk at Dave and Busters on Old Katy Road, Houston while we bowled (ten pin bowling) with friends of Patricia's from work. Though both our scores were very bad we had a fun night.

http://www.heineken.com/

I am not really a fan of light beers, all the ones I've tasted so far have been light in taste - little more than drinking flavored water.  I guess this was a nice beverage to wash down the hamburger sliders and french fries, but this is not a beer I would drink to satisfy a craving for taste.  Light in body, light in flavor and light in taste, acceptable as substitute for water, but that is about all.

Beer 197 - Wells Bombardier English Premium Ale

Product of England, brewed by Wells and Young's Brewing Co, Bedford, U.K.  Bought at Specs Liquor downtown store and drunk at home in Katy, TX while enjoying chicken pasta parmesan with asparagus and baby bay carrots at diner with Patricia.

web site: http://www.bombardier.co.uk/

The bottle says "Our own natural mineral water, the ripest English Fuggles hops and crushed Crystal malt deliver this experience of England in a glass. Peppery aromas give way to the perfect balance of malty richness, tangy hops and sultana fruit on the palate, with a long soft spicy finish. 5.2% alc/vol.

A very nice beer.  The taste was a little overwhelming for light colors and flavors of dinner, so I saved the best to savor after dinner and enjoyed every drop.

Beer 196 - St Bernardus Abt 12 Belgian Abbey Ale

Ah it's nice to be back.  My first beer after a four day hiatus suffering from a severe upper respiratory infection which the doctors treated with antibiotics to start with, then a combination sleeping aid/cough suppressant.  Now I'm also back to normal, so it is time to celebrate Nicola and Stephen's new son Austin Graham Morier, born on Thursday January 12th, 2011 in Bathgate, Scotland.

This is a fitting beer with which to celebrate Austin's entry into the world.  Brewed and bottle by Brouwerij St Bernardus NV in Watou, Belgium, bought especially for the occasion at Randall's supermarket near the Galleria, Houston and sipped all night at home in Katy, TX.

web site: http://www.specialtybeer.com/

A delightful beer, the bottle says "Brewery St Bernardus was founded in 1946 in Watou, Province of West Flanders in Belgium.  These exceptional quality ales are brewed by using only the finest malts, local grown hops, yeast and artesian water pumped from a depth of 500 feet..  After the brewing process these traditional ales are matured in tanks for three months before being bottle conditioned.  The result is a naturally carbonated "living ale" which can be aged for up to 15 years and will satisfy the taste of even the most discriminating connoisseurs.  "Bringing heavenly nectar within reach"  Abt 12 - abbey ale brewed in the classic "dubbel" style of Belgium's best Abbey ales.  Serve this noble and wonderfully balanced brown ale at 52-56 deg F in a goblet glass to best enjoy its delicious bouquet. 10% alc/vol"

The beer is, indeed, delightful.  A beautiful brown ale with a nice head in the glass when it is poured, a strong body and nice finish when being drunk and a satisfying light headiness after drinking a bottle on my own with only a small amount of food. Welcome to the world Austin.  You have wonderful parents and doting grandparents to look forward as you grow up.  We all love you.

Beers 194 - RJ Rockers Patriot Ale and 195 - Spaten Premium

Drunk on Sunday January 30th, 2011, when I'm not taking strong meds that don't allow me to drink.

Brewed and bottled by RJ Rockers Brewing Co, Spartanburg, SC.  Bought as part of the January selection from the Beer of the Month club. Drunk with lunch in Katy, TX.

web site; http://www.rjrockers.com/

the web site says "Our American pale ale is aggressively hopped with Challenger and Cascade and has a sweet caramel finish. The flavor that launched RJ Rockers – and brewer Mark Johnsen’s personal fave.
6.0% abv "

The bitter taste was a shock at first, and unfortunately the shock dd not go away.  The bitterness was not balanced by the sweetness of the malt.

Beer 195 - Spaten Premium

Brewed and bottled by Spaten Brau, Munich, Germany, bought at HEB and drunk at home from the bottle on Saturday Feb 5th as I worked in the garage.

the web site: http://www.spatenusa.com/0_start/index.htm

The web site says "This beer is our speciality. In 1894 Spaten became the first brewery in Munich to produce this brand of light lager. Flavor profile: Golden in color with a well-balanced hop-flavor. The full rounded body is a superb balance between hops and a malty sweetness. Original gravity: 11.7 %
Alcohol content: 5.2 %"

A nice beer with a little bit of a bite that actually added to the pleasure as I worked away building a tool rack and installing hangers for our recycling bags.

Beer 193 - New Belgium Trippel

Brewed and bottled by New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, CO, bought at HEB grocery in Houston, TX and actually drunk at lunch time on Saturday January 29th, 2011 when I am feeling much better than I was on this day.

web site: http://www.newbelgium.com/home.aspx

The web site says "Our Trippel Belgian Style Ale (pronounced triple) opens with a bold blast of hops that slowly gives way to the fruity esters implied by our Belgian yeast strain. In the Belgian tradition of brewing singles, doubles and triples, Trippel is the strongest with the longest fermentation. Remarkably smooth and complex, our bottle-conditioned Trippel is spiced with a trace of coriander. 7.8% alc/vol, 25 IBU with 17.6 OG." (I think when they say OG, they actually mean degrees Plato, which equates to an original Gravity of ~1.073 which also fits approximately with the strength)

I did like this beer, it was smooth and had a very nice taste, where the slight bitterness of the hops was nicely balanced by the slight sweetness of the malt and the hints of coriander.

Beer 192 - Rogue Dead Guy Ale with fruit and cheese

It occurred to me that if I am to drink beer with food, then why not serve the beer in a glass that is more conducive to concentrating the smell, and the taste and is more likely to foster sipping rather than chugging.  So here I am sipping Rogue Dead Guy Ale, brewed and bottled by the Oregon Brewing Co in Newport, OR with an afternoon snack of fruits and Mexican cheese at home in Katy, TX. This is the last of the bottle bought back by Rigo on his last trip, so I am now anxiously waiting on his homecoming from his current trip to see what additional treasures he has bought for me to try.

The blog date is a carry over from when I was sick last week.  This drinking (and eating) is actually taking place on January 23, 2011.

Rogue's web site is: http://www.rogue.com/

The web site says the beer is in the style of a German Maibock and should be drunk with pork or with hot and spicy food.  The description is "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."

The contrast in tastes was amazing and very enjoyable.  The blandness of the bananas and the cheese and the sweetness of the strawberries, blueberries and grapes were offset by the slight bitterness of the beer, yet neither taste was overwhelmed by the other.  A sip of slightly effervescent beer cleansed the mouth of one taste, added the slightly bitter taste of the beer and made the mouth ready for the next piece or two of fruit.  A very pleasant contrast of flavors and feel in the mouth.

Beer 191 - Delirium Nocturnum

Brewed and bottle by the Huyghe Brewery, Melle/Ghent, Belgium.  Since 1654, alc 8.5% by volume.  Bought at Specs downtown store and drunk at home in Katy when feeling almost human again after three days in bed.  The visit to the doctors this morning appears to have yielded results.  The antibiotics have relieved the pain in my throat and the over the counter medicine recommended by the doc - Mucinex DM - has eased the swelling so now I can actually swallow, though I still can't taste very much.

This beer does have some taste that I can feel sense through the soreness.  It tastes a little like coffee or chocolate in the background and I can feel the alcohol, perhaps it's just what I need.

Beer 190 - Paulaner Salvatore

Brewed and bottle in Germany

I liked this beer, perhaps because it had a pleasant taste even though my throat is exceedingly sore and I can't smell anything.

Beer 188 - Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat

I opened the bottle and drank the beer and went to bed.

I have the flu

Beer 187 - Erdinger Weizen

Brewed and bottle in Germany by Erdinger Weissbrau, bought at Specs downtown store and drunk at home in Katy with Nutrisystem dinner of beef stew with added carrots and broccoli after getting home late from work because Patri had stuff to finish.

The brewery web site is http://www.erdinger.de/en/company/brewery.html

The bottle says "Erdinger is brewed all naturally, using traditional brewing process.  Thank you for enjoyig Erdinger, the world's #1 Hefe-Weizen."  It appears that this is the Kristall beer on the web site, which is described "This specialty wheat beer gets its crystal appearance from a particularly long filtration process, known in the industry as "fine filtration", whereby the beer becomes completely clear.  This gives Erdinger Weissbier crystal its sparkling and refreshing character - which also makes it the ideal wheat beer for warm summer days."

I found the beer a little bland, to go along with the rather bland food proferred by Nutrisystem.  The beer was very clear and had  a good head when first poured, but the crispness I expected did not materialise and I was disappointed at the lack of taste.

   

beer 186 - Wells Banana Bread Beer

Brewed and bottled by Wells and Young's Brewing Co, Bedford, UK.  Bought at Spec's Liquor downtown Houston and drunk at home in Katy with dinner of cheese ravioli, asparagus and brussel sprouts after spending the morning working on an analysis of customers and revenue and the afternoon building a tool rack in the garage to hold the tools we moved from Katy.

The brewery web site is: http://www.wellsandyoungs.co.uk/ a really neat web site showcasing a really neat brewery.

The bottle says "Long ago ale was known as 'liquid bread'. We've used our long history of creating the finest malt blends and added fairtrade bananas to awaken the senses with a seriously fruity, rich yet surprisingly versatile banana bread beer.  An inspired brew made with our own natural mineral water and fairtrade bananas.  Tempting banoffee aromas and flavors are balanced by the silky richness of a masterful malt blend and the peppery spice of the freshest, ripest hops. alc by vol. 5.2%"

An interesting flavor, it did remind me of banana pudding (without the custard) The beer was not a great match for the ravioli but it still tasted great, different and unusual but still very good.  I enjoyed this beer.

Beer 185 - Samuel Smith's Organic Best Ale

Bottled by Samuel Smith Old Brewery, Tadcaster, England. Product of the United Kingdom.  Samuel Smith's brews at a small traditional British brewery, the oldest brewery in Yorkshire.  Bought at Whole Foods market, Westheimer, Houston and drunk at home in Katy with dinner of beef tips and rice as part of our Nutrisytem diet.

Web site: http://www.samuelsmithsbrewery.co.uk/
US Importer web site: http://www.merchantduvin.com/pages/5_breweries/samsmith.html

The bottle says "A delicately flavored golden ale in which subtle fruity esters from the Samuel Smith yeast strain interact with a background of maltiness and fresh hops.  Brewed with well water(the original well sunk in 1758 is still in use), organic malted barley, organic hops and yeast.  Fermented in 'stone Yorkshire squares'"

A delightful beer, well balanced, easy to drink and full of flavor.  This would make an excellent session beer.

Beer 184 - Belhaven Scottish Stout

Brewed at the Belhaven Brewery, Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland.  Bought at Spec's downtown liquor store and drunk at home before dinner.

brewery web site: http://www.belhaven.co.uk/row/index.php

The bottle says "Using a traditional Scottish recipe from the 1800's, this deluxe stout is brewed with pure Scottish water drawn from the Belhaven brewery well. The black beers exceptional qualities arise from the triple blend of malts crafted as only the master brewers at Belhaven know how. Alc 7.0% by vol.  This deluxe stout is brewed for a full roasted chocolate flavor with a hop character that complements a blend of triple malts.  Drink, Savor and enjoy."

A delightful beer, dark in color, strong chocolaty flavor and easy to drink and enjoy.  More of a beer to sip than to quaff, this would taste very nice with Cheshire cheese.

Beer 183 - San Tomas Hefe Weizen

Brewed and bottled by Inducerv S.A., Antioquia, Colombia.  Bought at La Catorce, Cali, Colombia and drunk at home in Katy, TX on the first day of our new diet.

web sites: http://www.santomas.com.co/ in Spanish

A nice head out of the glass, that stayed for a while.  Pleasant and easy to drink with a strong taste without bitterness.  Enjoyable without being memorable.

Beer 182 - Breckenridge 471 IPA

Brewed in Denver, CO.  Bought and drunk on draft at the State Bar on Travis Street, Houston, TX, while passing time and eating antipasto waiting for Sofia's plane to arrive from Miami.

web site: http://breckbrew.com/beer/ourbeers.html

This was a strong beer.  The web site describes it, "Hoppy? Brother, 471 IPA redefines hoppy. 471 is a small batch, limited edition ale that was created by our Brewmaster to separate the weak from the strong. 471 is a double IPA, that combines Pale, Munich, Caramel-30, Carapils and Torrified Wheat malts, with Chinook, Centennial, Simcoe and Fuggles hops. It has a big sweet mouthfeel, followed by more hoppiness than you've ever had at one time. Enjoy. A Double IPA, 9.2% ABV."

The beer is very hoppy, and very strong and that detracts a little from enjoyment of the beer.  The first sip knocks you back, then the bitterness is a little difficult to handle even when you know its coming.  The olives and strong cheese helped the beer, but it probably needs a strong Stilton and Carr's to mellow it enough to be enjoyable.

Beer 181 - Starr Hill Northern Lights IPA

Brewed and bottled by Starr Hill Brewery, Crozet, VA.  Another beer bought by Rigo while flying on the east coast in December.  Drunk at home in Katy with an improved DiGiorno three meat pizza (added mushrooms and more cheese).

The brewery web site: http://www.starrhill.com/ is a little slow to react and the blog is not up to date, but this is a very small craft brewery, so we can make allowances for the web site.

This is a great beer to enjoy with a well flavored pizza.  It is strong at 6.5% ABV and full of flavor. It is a typical IPA with a slight bitterness to start that comes from the hops and a strong flavor to finish.  I liked this beer with food, though it is probably not a good session beer.

Beer 180 - Erdinger Hefe-Weizen

Brewed and bottled in Germany by Erdinger Weissbrau.   Bought at Spec's Liquor, downtown Houston and drunk at home in Katy while Patricia prepared leftover Ajiaco for dinner (it is just a delicious second time round).

The brewery web site (in English) is: http://www.erdinger.de/en/company/brewery.html

On the web site the brewery talks about Weissbier and it appears they have changed the name of some of their beers for te American market.  As best as I can see Weissbier in Europe is Hefe-Weizen in American (I am unable to find out why the label changed)

The web site says: "Erdinger Weissbier is not only the undisputed classic in the Erdinger product range, it is also quite simply the wheat beer par excellence. It is brewed using fine yeast according to a traditional recipe and, of course, in strict accordance with the Bavarian Purity Law. Even today, the beer is still bottle-fermented in the traditional way; it takes three to four weeks for Erdinger Weissbier 'with fine yeast' to mature. Only the finest ingredients are used in its production. Years of experience and constant quality checks guarantee the beer's unmistakable flavor."

I was disappointed in the taste of the beer.  It poured nicely and produced and excellent head that dissipated fairly quickly.  The beer itself was bland and without much taste, not one of the better examples of wheat beer I have ever tasted.

Beer 179 - Hoegaarden Witbier

Brewed and bottled for Hoegaarden S.A., Hoegaarden, Belgium.  Another one of the beers bought back by Rigo on his last trip to the East Coast and drunk at home in Katy, while preparing Ajiaco (Colombian chicken, potato and corn soup with Colombian spices) for dinner.  Hoegaarden is owned by Anheuser Busch Inbev.  There is a good possibility that this beer is imported in bulk and bottled at one of the Anheuser Busch breweries in the USA.

The web site in English is: http://www.hoegaarden.com/en-us/home.html

The beer has been brewed since around 1445 when Monks brewed the beer using local wheat and added spices from the Netherlands East Indies, particularly curacao orange peel and coriander.In 1965 the recipe was revived and the beer was brewed once again, Artois took over in 1985, then Interbrew (the predecessor of AB Inbev) took control in 1987 and turned Hoegaarden into a global brand.

The web site says" The original wheat beer is the oldest and most famous of Hoegaarden’s range. When poured, it forms a soft, white creamy head and leaves a generous lacing on the glass. Its naturally cloudy, pale hue shimmers when viewed through the glass. With an aroma of orange peel, coriander and spice, its characteristic taste is entirely unique: smooth, light-bodied, and simultaneously sweet and sour, with a subtle, spiced citrus flavour. Best served in its traditional hexagonal glass. 4.9% ABV."

This is an excellent description for the beer.  The aroma's are subdued but noticeable and the taste is great.  I liked this beer, the flavors work perfectly with light tasting dishes like chicken soup and salads or mild cheeses like Gruyere or Feta.

Beer 178 - Magic Hat #9 Not Quite Pale Ale

The Magic Hat brewery is located in S. Burlington, Vermont.  Magic Hat is owned by KPS Capital Partners through its company North American Breweries.  This beer was bought back by Rigo on his last trip to the east coast and i drank it at home in Katy after spending new years day working on the new library in the house we created from the spare bedroom.  Unfortunately it appears we put a lot of books in storage instead of bringing them to Katy, so some of the shelves are empty.  No problem, though, I'm sure we'll soon fill them.

The web site: http://www.magichat.net/ has lots of flash video and has glitz as well as good information.

The web site says: "A beer cloaked in secrecy. An ale whose mysterious and unusual palate will swirl across your tongue and ask more questions than it answers. A sort of dry, crisp, refreshing, not-quite pale ale. #9 is really impossible to describe because there's never been anything else quite like it.  5.1% ABV" 

The beer is cloudy when first poured then after a while tiny white particles settle into the bottom of the glass.  Is this yeast settling out or the bleached remains of orange or lemon peel added to the beer.  An interesting nose and an interesting taste, no bad odors or flavors but notes of spice and fruit.  Pleasant enough, but  offputting enough that the flavors marred my enjoyment of the beer.