Witbier Triple Threat Match

     Hope everybody had a great Fourth of July. Went too fast didn't it? Well, whatever you all did, hope you enjoyed yourselves. Beer? Yes, this is a blog about it, and the beer today I will review is a style of beer called Witbier. Witbier is a style of beer from Bavaria, meaning "white beer", which gets its name from the yeast and wheat proteins that stay suspended, giving the beer a hazy, cloudy, appearance. This type of beer is very light and refreshing on hot days like the ones that have been hovering around us lately. I will review three very good American brewed Witbiers.
     First up, from Dexter, Michigan, comes the Calabaza Blanca. A rich, artisanal brew, this hazy number is modeled more after a Belgian Biere Blanche (basically a Belgian variation on the Witbier style). At 4.8% ABV, this guy is oak barrel aged, with a spice character and hazy goodness. The color is a hazy yellow-orange, a nice foamy head, with a smooth spicy start, and a nice, dry and citrusy finish.
      The second beer reviewed is from Cleveland, Ohio, called Holy Moses White Ale, from Great River Brewery. Named after the founder of the city, at 5.4% ABV, this beer is as refreshing as it is complex. The kicker? Like other Witbiers, it is brewed with coriander spice and orange peel, but Chamomile is placed towards the end of the brewing. The result? The chamomile gives the beer a nice herbal and floral boost, making it a more refreshing brew. You can smell the chamomile at first scent, blending in quite well with the orange zest and coriander.
      The third and last beer in this blogpost is closer to home, from Easton, Pennsylvania to be exact. The beer is called, quite simply, Blanche. This beer is also modeled on the Belgian Biere Blanche. This one checks in at 4.6% ABV, and uses Cacao orange peels to blend in with the coriander spices, thus giving a tart, but spicy taste. This one also has a wonderful haziness, although lighter than the two others mentioned beforehand. It is also surprising mild.
      Now, which one wins? I will go with the Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca. It is so unique and so full of flavor. It is well balanced, and goes beyond the call of duty, well, for a Witbier/Blanche anyway. I can also drink this with dinner, primarily one with grilled chicken or game hens and garden salad. not to say the Holy Moses or Blanche are bad, they are both also outstanding. They just won't hold a candle to the Calabaza Blanca. Well, there you have it. A Witbier triple threat match with three great beers, and one tough winner.
For more information (if you care) :

www.weyerbacher.com
www.greatlakesbrewing.com
www.jollypumpkin.com

Rosee D' Hibiscus

   Today's beer review is on Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel's Rosee D' Hibiscus. Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel, from Montreal, Canada, has won accolades at many beer festivals for there beers, and this one continues that tradition. This one is a wheat beer, brewed with spices and hibiscus flowers. The color is a light, pink-red hue. Upon first sniff, you can really smell the hibiscus, some rose water, as well as some coriander. Upon first taste, really tangy, light, with a little bit of sweetness, perhaps from the flowers. There are also hints of nutmeg and vanilla here as well. The mouthfeel is light and refreshing, very thirst quenching indeed. Food pairings: Fruit salads, garden salads, soft, creamy cheeses.
    The Rosee D' Hibiscus is one unique beer, full of flavor and originality, all at about 5% ABV. Upon first taste and scent, you can see why it is a medal winner. With a combination of unique ingredients, this one defies categorization. Don't let the name fool you. The beer is that good.

Sixpoint Apollo

    It's been awhile hasn't it? Well, I'm back with a brand new review based on a beer that has been getting some well deserved attention: Sixpoint's summer seasonal brew, Apollo. For those of you who want to know what or who Apollo is, he is the Greek god of the Arts. For those who want to know about the beer, well, here  you go: It is a light, refreshing twist on the near-ancient Kristallweizen.
    At first pour, it has a nice light and glowing golden yellow hue (light SBM for all of you beer geeks out there). More than likely, that hue is pretty inviting. Nose wise, I smelled wheats, grains, and citrus, all of which complimented each other very well, having me think of a "citrus bread funk" scent. Mouthfeel: Very smooth and easy drinking, no heaviness here. Light on the palate and very cleansing. Now for the taste: a nice citrus twang, with a little bit of sweet tart sting at the end. It also benefited from having a nice grain aftertaste, which added some character to an already character-filled weissbeir.
    Now onto food pairings. since Apollo is sort of an unofficial hybrid of a Kristallweizen and Hefeweizen (yes, there is some yeasty, nutty goodness in this beer, but in slight amounts), I would recommend salads, grilled chicken, and mozzarella sticks.
   Sixpoint has done it again. These guys continue to brew and can beers that really push the bounds of what one brewery can do with they are given. Whatever they get, they really give beer drinkers some good gifts. Since it is named after a god, it is a great offering which leads me to ask a question: Do gods drink beer? Weren't some gods worshipped with beer during those nights of ancient debauchery? Whatever the case, the Apollo is a canned gift from above.
   

Beer sampling at work

Today's blog will be a short one. Usually at work (Wine Library), I am trying new things almost everyday, from strong cheeses to wines to beer. Since this is a beer blog, I will quickly talk about beer sampling. Today, we sampled a whole spectrum of American craft beer, ranging from good to bad to "what in the hell is this shit?"
So, I will now present a list of beer I and others at work sampled, and quick dishes about each one. Ready? Here goes:

Halcyon Imperial IPA - A five star British masterpiece, filled with good hops and smooth mouthfeel.

Old School House Imperial Stout - The way a stout should be, full of heavy cream and malty goodness. Grab that slice of double chocolate cake.

MacTarnahan's Spine Tingler Belgian Style Tripel - Not bad, but they are far better Tripel beers out there.

Manly Men El Hefe Wheat Barleywine - What? Is it a barleywine? A wheatwine? Both? I tasted this twice. It tasted like something you would do if you a pour's worth of both styles and placed them in a plastic cup.

Rogue Voodoo Bacon Doughnut Maple Ale - This one has been generating a ton of buzz since its debut, both positive and negative. My take? Meh. It's as if someone took a plain donut, wrapped it in bacon, covered it in powdered sugar, and slathered it in maple syrup. Rogue's biggest gamble yet.

That's it. See you all soon.

NYC Trip - Four in one

    Hello all! Almost two weeks ago, I went out to the city across the river and went to one of the hottest new spots in the city: Beer Authority NYC, right around the Port Authority station on West 40th Street and 8th Avenue, in the Hell's Kitchen section of Manhattan. This place is HUGE, with three floors, a forth-coming growler station, a rooftop deck (also forth-coming, but with NYC politicians being NYC politicians, who knows when), and an awesome beer selection. But this blog is about the beer, and not the restaurant/bar (no offense to the owners), so I will now tell about the four beers I had that day (I wrote them down with details).
    First, I had the Flying Dog Underground Atlantic Lager. One of my favorite breweries, Flying Dog never disappoints, but I had never heard of this one. A gentle 4.7% ABV, this one hell of a lager. It is not only refreshing, but it has a certain bite and filling body that makes it seem heavier than it is. The hops are subtle at first, but then come on strong towards the end. This beer is going to be a killer this upcoming summer, I can tell you that, by the reactions of beer reviewers on-line and in person. Food pairings: Salads, grilled poultry and seafood.
    Next was Cigar City's Maduro Brown Ale. This brewery from Florida has become a cult phenomenon of sorts around the beer community for years now, and is slowing trekking out of the Sunshine State and heading northward. I heard so much about this particular brew, so I plunkered down for it. A first sniff, the oats, malts, and hops really come alive, with such a rich, toasty, and roasted amalgamation. Sipping this beer, well, it was better than I envisioned. I had to sip it, because it was so fucking good. The roasted malts and toasty oats really came together, giving this beer a unique flavor and taste like no other beer can deliver. I can have this beer with a special dinner or the holidays (Think turkey or smoked ham). As with other brown ales, this one has some sweetness, but more malty than sugary (could be the cocoa). Florida's best kept secret is now one of the country's greatest treasures. Smoked meats and dark chocolate work best with this beer.
   The next beer I tried was from Anderson Valley Brewing (yep, named after a valley in California). I have had a couple of their beers (Boony ESB was delicious, the Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout was a bit flat), but the name of this next one got my attention: Horn Of The Beer Barley wine. With a name like that, it better be good (it also didn't help that is was 81 degrees outside and I was ordering a Barley wine). Anyway, at 8.6% ABV this Barley wine seemed a little lighter compared to some others of its type (Brooklyn Brewery's Monster and Weyerbacher's Blithering Idiot come to mind), but it had something special: A lasting sweetness. Yup, this barley wine had some residual sweetness at the end of each sip, adding to a surprisingly full body and rich hops. Was I sure this one was less than 9% ABV? It really had a great flavor, and balanced mouth feel (think hops and pine syrup with a dash of nutmeg), strong complexity, but it still won't touch the two barley wines I mentioned above. Food pairings: Use as an digestive, and if you must pair it, a strong cheese like a Stilton works best.
   The final beer of the day was Lagunitas Brewery's Wilco Tango Foxtrot, or more affectionately, WTF. Lagunitas is a brewery that doesn't fuck around when it comes to making beer. From Maximus to Little Brown Shugga to the Frank Zappa Series (shame on the estate for stopping those), this brewery always takes the bar and raises it. Now on to the beer. An American Strong ale of the brown kind, this one packs a punch from all corners. The nose is very big, with coffee, cocoa and some orange peel hitting me up good. The taste has a port meets citrus digestive meets cocoa, with a roasted hop kick at the end (although the hops are very subtle here), hence the name of this brew. WTF am I drinking here? A one of a kind, take no prisoners, don't give me no bullshit kind of beer, that's what. It is also seasonal. Food pairings: Roast beef, lamb, dinners with fruit sauces.
   I know it seems like it was a lot, but I had good time in a good place with great beer. For more information about these beers, here are some websites:
 Flying Dog Brewery - www.flyingdogales.com
Cigar City Brewing - www.cigarcitybrewing.com
Anderson Valley Brewing Company - www.avbc.com
Lagunitas Brewing Company - www.lagunitas.com
Also, if want to know more about food and beer pairings, you can taste and try on your own at your place or favorite bar, or for less of a headache, do this:  www.craftbeer.com/pages/beer-and-food/pairing-tips/pairing-chart. Click "Download PDF" when you get there, and you're all set. Peace, folks!

21st Amendment Monk's Blood Dubble style

  You all know me, I am down for anything new to try, especially when it comes to beer. Today's review is on a canned beer called Monk's Blood, from 21st Amendment Brewery, straight out of San Francisco. A great brewery in its own right, they can every beer they have ever produced. Cans are better for beer anyway because they keep sunlight out, which can harm beer (green and clear bottles suck), and keep its fresher longer. When I saw that they had a canned dubbel, I was kind of surprised. Canned Belgian beer? So I decided to buy some and get myself a review.
   At first pour into my glass (this glass is necessary), it has a nice rich, brown hue. At first smell, there are malts, some baked bread and oak. Very rich indeed. Then there is the taste. Very well done, with the roasted malts, oak, brown sugar, and figs coming together to make a rich and succulent dubble that stands up to its brown glassed brethren. So tasty and decadent at the same time. I just love the way 21st Amendment puts a total effort into all of their beers. From light and fruity (Hell or High Water Watermelon Wheat) to wintry and warm (Fireside Chat) to hoppy (Brew Free or Die), this brewery really makes sure they are just as satisfied with their beers as much as their customers are. I'm one of them, and thanks for giving a damn about your drinkers guys. Monk's Blood keeps that winning streak going.
  Food pairings: Roasted and smoked meats and game, barbecue, and for you cheese lovers, French Morbier.

Beer Review: Bete Blanche Tripel by Elysian Brewing

  As I said late last week, this blog will be about beer only. Well, here we go: this review will be about Elysian Brewing Company's Bete Blanche Tripel. Elysian Brewing Company is based out of Seattle, Washington, has been brewing beer since 1995, at the genesis of the craft beer revolution of the mid to late 1990s. This offering, a Belgian Style Tripel, is a new arrival to my store and occupation space, the Wine Library. The cool art of the label had me hooked. Okay, not really, but the big ingredient on the label sure as hell did: Belgian Candy Sugar. Belgian Candy Sugar? That's right, this a tripel with some sweetness. Keep in mind, most Belgian brews will have some sort of a sweet component, whether it be dried figs, brown sugar, or molasses, in small hints. This one is no different.
  At first pour, the color is a faint orange-yellow, kind of like a sun-beaten pile of hay. Now the nose. There is some malty sweetness on the nose, as well as some lightly roasted wheat and grains. The taste, as I explained earlier, will have some sweetness. But that sweetness blends in with the wheat and grain mouthfeel of this beer. It doesn't overpower, it blends right in, adding a caramel like oomph to that wheat and grain. In turn, the wheat and grain combination helps keep that sugar in check. Let's not forget the hops also corral the sweet wheat of this beer, and gives it a balanced finish like no other tripel I have ever had.
  Now on to food pairings. This tripel is best with cheese like St. Andre (rich and creamy), or spicy Cajun cuisine(to balance the sweetness). Another note about this brew: it is a spring seasonal.
  Elysian Brewing has become a cult brewery out west, and now their travels eastward will solidify that status and make it legendary. I am currently eyeing their Immortal IPA, which also looks like a winner. Hell, looking at their website, everyone of those beers seem legendary. It looks like I have favorite new West Coast brewery. For more information on the brewery, check it out at : www.elysianbrewing.com

Dogfish Head 75IPA worth it?

   This past week, Dogfish Head brewery released an "inbetweener."  In between 60-Minute and 90-Minute, there lies this beer review: 75 Minute IPA. Yup, on the label with Groucho Marx (Originally, it was Johnny Cash, but the Cash estate put forth papers). It also says it is brewed with maple syrup. Interesting. okay, let me take this further.
   The color is a little on the light side, sort of like a yellow-orange-tan. At first sniff, it has those DFH style dry hop style all over it, but you smell a little whiff of some maple bark goodness. As I sipped it, I can taste slight hints of the maple connecting with the citrus of the hops, thus having a little syrupy pickup to the citrus flavor and characteristics of the hops. Kind of close to having some tasting characteristics of a berliner weisse, but not quite.
   Would I drink this beer again? Sure. But will I really recommend it? It is a hard sell that's for sure. Why? Some more advanced palates may be turned off by the maple-enhanced hops. Others will clamor for the less intense 60-Minute or the more citrusy but bigger 90-Minute, or the super-charged power of the dry 120-Minute. Dogfish Head is known for taking odd and exotic ingredients to make some very impressive brews (SahTea, Theobroma), and not so impressive (Ta Henket). Also, like many craft brewers,  they take the time hear and read feedback. To this, I say the 75-Minute IPA is a high risk maneuver.

Gluten free beer head to head

  Every beer drinker knows what happens down the line after drinking tons of beer. No, I am not speaking of  cirroshis, or public drunkenness or a bad hangover, I speak of coeliac disease. When you acquire coeliac disease, your body cannot process wheat protein properly, so you have adjust to a gluten-free diet to maintain overall health and continuance of your life span. That also means you have to cut beer. Yes, it is a pain and a hassle to give up your favorite intoxicant loaded with dextrose, oak, fruit, brettanomyces, or other heavenly ingredients. Well,not really.
   You can still drink beer, just make sure it is truly gluten free. Well, this special beer review deals with that. I bought two beers from work today: Estrella Damm Daura, and Dogfish Head Brewery's newest offering, Tweasonale. Let me start off with the Estrella Damm Daura.
    The Daura is Estrella's gluten-free offering. An award winning brew all the way from Spain, this one collected a whole boatload of medals. Besides that, this beer is quite refreshing loaded with flavor. It pours clearly and neat, kind of like a light canary yellow. At first sniff (yes, sniff!), you can smell hints of malt and grains. Weird, but when you drink it, it hits you. At first you think, "There is some wheat in here!" Not quite. It tastes like there is some wheat in there, but as any discerning beer drinker knows, wheat isn't the only grain there is. I taste some oats here, and it is very subtle. The maltiness is also low key, but well balance and the complexity dies down as you sip. No wonder this beer won its awards, Estrella managed to make a filling and refreshing without compromising flavor or taste. No plastic aftertaste either (Red Bridge anyone?).
   The second beer here is Dogfish Head's Tweasonale. First off, funky labeling! Kinds of reminds me of something out of a Little Feat album. Anyway, this one has a lot more flavor than the Daura. At first sniff, you smell honey, strawberries, and raspberries. Sweet? Not really, but it does have some tartness. No, it is not a geuze (how fucking cool would a gluten-free geuze be?), but that tartness adds another dimension to how light, crisp and refreshing this beer  is. That also gives this beer a slight advantage over Daura, but Daura is a little more rustic and deep. As far as food compliments go, for the Daura, gluten-free pasta with sauce works. For Tweasonale, some soft light cheeses would work for that tartness.
  Conclusion: Gluten-free does not suck. It takes some getting used to. If you want to live and nice, healthy life, does what you must and be careful. There are a lot of options of gluten-free beer out there, so use caution. To your health.

More information: www.estrelladamm.com
                             www.dogfish.com

Beer for brunch? Why the hell not!

    As I take a mini-break from Holiday Hell and Brimstone, I want to relate to you the lovely brunch I went to this past Sunday. I took a trip across the river to the world famous Blind Tiger Alehouse (281 Bleecker Street in Manhattan). This was a Founder's Brunch, where of course, the beers on special were from Founder's, a brewery from Michigan (that deserves all of their accolades). Anyway, I ordered pancakes, eggs overeasy and sausage, and washed it down with three beers, two from Founders, and one from Dieu Du Ciel (a brewery from Canada) .
   The first beer I had was the Founder's Canadian Breakfast Stout. Now I see (and taste) what employees and customers have been raving about. This stout is loaded with rich cocoa, smoky maple, and sweet molasses. It went down so smooth and neat, it actually enhanced the syrup on my pancakes (battered with Brooklyn Weisse BTW).
  The second beer I had with brunch was CBS' heavier older brother, the Kentucky Breakfast Bourbon Stout. I've had this beer before, with its intense richness, the sweet spice of the bourbon, deep color and smooth stout flavor. Much, much bigger and creamier than CBS, Kentucky Breakfast Bourbon Stout just beckons you to take a ride.
  Lastly, Dieu Du Ciel's Solstice D'Hiver helped finish brunch off right. A barleywine style, this little motherfucker packed a punch. Full of herbs, spices (vanilla for one), sweet elements (raisins, honey), this one was the best beer I have ever had from this brewery. The color, with its dark brown tone, just gives you the impression of being a stout, but one sip will leave you feeling otherwise. Brunch was great, Blind Tiger as always, fantastic (see ya 12/31!), and interesting patrons and their conversations keep me open and inclusive. Just the way a Sunday should always be.

P.S.  For those interested about more information about the beers I reviewed and the Blind Tiger Alehouse, here you go:
Founder's Brewery: www.foundersbrewing.com
Dieu Du Ciel: www.dieuduciel.com
Blind Tiger Alehouse : 281 Bleecker Street, New York, New York www.blindtigeralehouse.com

Double Shot of Wolaver's - beer review

  I am a little behind on blogging due to this crazy, shortened holiday week, but here is a beer review. This time, I will focus on Wolaver's beers. Wolaver's is a subsidiary of Otter Creek Brewing, based in Vermont. This is OCB's organic beer line (even though beer in itself is an organic product), which uses fresh, additive-free ingredients which fall under fair trade guidelines. Now, on to the beer.
  The first one I will review is the Alta Gracia Coffee Porter. Based on Graham's suggestion, I decided to buy a six pack. Let me tell you all this: intense! Really! Upon your first sip, you will definitely taste the coffee's freshness, but also, a lot of spice and bite. You want fresh coffee? Drink this beer, but sip it slowly. The coffee in this beer is big and spicy, and you will also get that on the nose. As you sip, the coffee will then get a little bit of a hazelnut/vanilla combination on the palate, with a nice smoky finish at the end, thus eliminating any trace of sweetness. Then again, aren't porters known for their spicy, smoky character? Food pairings: Roasted or smoked meats, salty or smoked cheeses.
  Based on the above paragraph, I decided to go ahead and pick the Oatmeal Stout. Very delicious. The organics work much better and are more balanced on the palate than the Alta Gracia Coffee Porter. The oatmeal does stick out, but blends in with the hops and malts along with hints of milk and  flax seeds (yes, flax seeds), giving me a well-rounded beer. Smoother and creamier with being overpowering, this Oatmeal Stout is definitely worth an encore. Cheers! Food pairings: Cheesecake, double chocolate cake, or hell, oatmeal cookies.
  For more info on these beers, head on to Wolaver's Facebook page, as their website is under construction, or go to Beer Advocate and read some reviews. For more on Fair Trade products, go to www.fairtradeusa.org/
 NOTE: For those who read my first review on Great Divide's beers, I stupidly forgot to mention their website. It is : www.greatdivide.com

A little beer review

As promised, I would do reviews of some beer that I have been drinking. As the Wine Library's Beer Stock Guy, I think writing such reviews would help be an asset to the store and my reputation. Without delay, here are the reviews. The beer in question is that of Great Divide Brewing Co., based out of Denver Colorado.

Denver Pale Ale: A nice light, hoppy ale. Pale in color, but smooth in taste, a beer where the hops are subtle but does overpower the overall balance of its taste or complexity. The finish is light and clean, thus being one of the more refreshing pale ales I've had. Food compliments: Hamburgers, hot dogs, fish and chips.

Titan IPA: This is the Denver Pale Ale's bigger, hoppier, cousin. As with most IPAs, big on hops, bitter but smooth, a feeling that is both refreshing and dry on the palate. The hops on the Titan are dry, but density and complexity of those give a nice, big and thorough taste, hence the name. The first beer I had from this brewery long ago, it is as good now as it was then. Big and better (and bitter) do this beer justice. Food compliments: Mexican food, Indian food, some curries.

Hibernation:  This is the brewery's holiday offering. Based on the English-styled Old Ale, this beer warm is big and warm, spicy and malty, but very balanced and palateable. The malty character works well with the robust character of the hops and spices, the finish is quite hearty and well, big. I could go on and on about the old English styled beers, but that's for another time. One of the better holiday beers I've had, GDBC's Hibernation is well worth talking about. The best beer in the GDBC Variety Pack. Food pairings: Roasted game and pot roast.

Yeti Imperial Stout:  I am a sucker for stouts, and in my opinion, the bigger and creamier they are, the better, and this one does not disappoint. The malts, the roasted coffee beans, the dark cocoa, it's all there. Throw in some hops for good measure, and you've got yourself a beer worthy of its namesake. The roasted coffee/cocoa notes and aftertaste leave you wanting more. It's a good brew, one you want to save two or more of for a long while (think six months to two years), or drink a cold, chilly night alone or with that someone. Don't fear this monster, embrace it. Food pairings: Chocolate cake, oysters (shucked), or oyster soup.