Firkin A! It's Craft Beer!

Re-Brand Coming Part II

Crack and I have tentatively decided on a new name for the blog.  It could change, nothing is in stone yet, but I think we hit upon a winner.

When I buy the domain name, I'll announce the name.  Until then, we will be working behind the scenes to change the banner and look of our site.  I'm thinking we will announce by this weekend.  Stay tuned!

Cheers,

VW

Rebrand Coming

We will be rebranding the blog in the next few days.  Our purpose is to separate it further from my political blog and eventually register its own domain name.  We are deciding on a knew name and if anyone as any suggestions, we will certainly entertain them - maybe even offer them a beer while we entertain.

I love politics and I love good beer.  Some folks who don't like politics might be turned off by the name. 

Look for the rebirth soon. Until then, pour a cold one and keep cool.

Cheers!

VW and Crack

Give Me A Pouch Of Beer To Go!

In the history of brewing, a lot of containers were employed to store and transport beer.  From bowls to clay jars to pails to jars to bottle to cans, we've adapted the latest in technology to get our beer home.  When we were able to bottle it, it allowed us to ship it over longer distances.  Cans made transporting and drinking beer even easier.  Cans were perfect for trips to the beach or the barbeque because they didn't break like bottles.  Early cans left a metallic taste, but for most beers of the day, that might have been an improvement.  Today, modern aluminum cans are lined so they don't spoil the taste.  Oskar Blues, a Colorado brewery, sells their beer only in cans.

But technology marches on and the future is not the can or the bottle, it's the POUCH!

Check out the Carbopouch!

The company claims that their unique pouch will not add any taste to the beer.

The organoleptic film structure ensures no off flavor. The patented film structure is designed to handle the pouch “stretch” after filling and carbonation expansion.

They even have a 64oz "growler" size.

Will it take off?  I don't know, but I'd be willing to give it a try.

Cheers!

VW

I Am A Beer Snob

Yesterday, I went to to a friend's house-warming party.  We stopped and bought a nice bottle of wine for a gift and I saw they had a couple of bottles of Stone Imperial Russian Stout.  I bought one to cellar and I considered buying a six pack of something drinkable for the party because I know his brew of choice is Bud Light.  I decided against it thinking I didn't want to appear to be snobbish. 

He bought a nice home and he's certainly justified in showing it off.  He offered me a Bud Light, half apologizing because he knew I'm into craft beers.  I thanked him for the beer and assured him that it was fine.  I told him that it was no big deal and that I'm not a snob.

He grabbed a bright blue can advertising "superior drinkability" from the cooler and handed it to me.  I promptly popped the top and took a swig.  It wasn't awful.  Obviously if it tasted really bad , no one would drink it.  They don't advertise "superior flavor", but it is what it is.  It's a watered down American Adjunct Beer that boasts a 4.2% ABV and 110 calories.  (The Stone RIS I bought earlier is 10.4% ABV)  Even though Bud Light is made with rice, you can taste a kind of faint corn sweetness and zero hop bitterness.  They say hops are in there, and I'm sure they aren't lying, but I didn't taste or smell any evidence.  It accomplished what it was made to do - it washed down my burger.  Since the flavor is nominal, it's main attributes were that it is ice cold and carbonated.  You could slam down a few of these on a hot day and I'm sure that's what they mean by "drinkability". 

I decided after that, that I might just decline next time.  If someone offered me something I didn't really like to eat, I wouldn't eat it so why would I drink something just not worth drinking?  Next time I'm invited out where I know that the beer being served has "superior drinkability", I just might pick up a six pack of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale or even some Sam Adams to bring along.  

Cheers!

VW

Drink It Religiously

When ever I travel, I usually look around for a brewpub or a craft brewery.  In August of 2007, my company sent me up to Eastern Ontario for a couple of months and then again in March and April of 2008.  I was in the Trenton - Belleville area about 120 miles east of Toronto, right on the 401.  It's a beautiful area on Quinte (Kwintee) Bay.  The Bay of Quinte is a snake like bay on Lake Ontario that starts near Kingston in the east and ends in Trenton and the mouth of the Trent River in the west.

While eating dinner on my first trip at a little seafood restaurant in Belleville one evening, I asked what they had on tap.  The waitress went through a list and mentioned "Holy Smoke".  The name intrigued me so I asked her about it.  She told me it was from a little brewery called Church Key and it had a smokey bite to it.  I asked for a sample and fell in love on the spot.  It was the first time I ever had a smoked beer (Or Rauchbier for you purists.) and Holy Smoke was heavenly!  I could imagine myself eating a  big slab of ribs with some potato salad and washing it all down with a pint of this smokey, malty nectar.

That inspired me to find the out where it was brewed.  Google was up to the task and that next weekend, I headed out to the Campbellford area to find the Church Key Brewery.  It was about 30 miles away in the Ontario countryside in a little rural area called Pethricks Corner.  There are a lot of farms in that area and it was a bright, sunny day - perfect for a little road trip.  With Camera in hand, I set out to go to Church.

Church Key is actually brewed in an old church built in 1878.  When it was abandoned, John Graham bought it and turned it into a brewery.  

The Brewery is open every day at 10 AM and closes at sundown and you can go there and get a tour.  It used to be free, but the last time I was there, they were charging five buck canadian for the tour and tastings and you got to keep the glass.  More Pics here.

I liked all their beers with the exception of "The Lactese Falcon". I guess I haven't quite acquired a taste for sour Belgian ales and this one would be a bad choice to cut your teeth on.  Literally, I thought I was going to hurl!  It tasted like a cross between stinky old cheese, sour milk and dirty, fungal feet.  I haven't ever tasted dirty, fungal feet, but if I did, this is what I'd expect them to taste like.  I was surprised to have the gal at the tasting bar say that they quickly sell out of every batch they brew.  To each their own, I guess.

Their Northumberland Ale is the perfect hot weather thirst quencher, It's bright, citrusy taste is perfect for the summertime. 

Holy Smoke is my favorite of their regular line-up.  It's all about smokey, malty goodness.

They have a decent IPA called West Coast Pale Ale.  It's a bit thin on the mouth feel, but hopheads will probably like it well enough. 

I had a chance to taste their Cranberry-Maple Wheat Beer.  The cranberries give it anough tartness to offset the maple sweetness a little, but you could almost pour this stuff on your pancakes!  I liked it OK and my sister just loved it and brought a sixer back home with her.  

There is a bunch more I could write about Church Key and their beers, but I've gone on long enough. 

Where ever you may find yourself in the world (North America especially), look around for some good beers and microbreries.  Even if you don't have much time to spend, you just might find something new and different.  And if you are ever out on the 401 between Toronto and Kingston, take a short ride out into the country and go to church.

Cheers!

VW

Times Are Tough In Canada Too!

My friend Flag Gazer sent me a little news article yesterday about Molson retirees losing their beer ration.

2,400 retirees from Canada’s Molson are frothing mad at an announcement that the company will try to save about $1 million a year by cutting off the supply of free beer provided to retirees.

Retirees in Vancouver, Montreal and St. John's, Newfoundland, received a letter saying the company intended to standardize its perks across the country to current and past employees, the Toronto Star reported Tuesday.

After Jan. 1, current Newfoundland workers' allotment will fall from 72 dozen bottles or cans a year to 52 dozen, the company said. Retirees' free beer will fall from six dozen bottles a month to one dozen and will be phased out in five years, the report said.

Now that's bad news.

That's a lot of free beer!   I couldn't possibly drink that much and Molson's Canadian is an OK beer.  I drank a few pints when I was in Ontario last year,

I'm kind of surprised they get that benefit and I could see how that could get a bit expensive.  They say it costs them a bout a million a year.  They make  lots of money so they can afford it, but I suppose the bean (hop) counters are the ones driving this decision.

Maybe they'll change their minds.  After all, if the Canucks get cranky, they just might come down looking to burn the White House again.  We couldn't have that.  Let's hope Molson restores their ration!

Cheers

VW

Pouring Beer

Beer is different than other spirits when it comes to putting the liquid in a glass.  Wine and liquor are just poured in.  It might matter as to what kind of glass you pour it in, or temperature served, but by and large, you can slosh the booze or the wine a bit and no one will even notice - unless you spill it.

Pouring beer is another matter.  In order to full enjoy a good craft brew, there are particular ways to pour each style.  The pour really does effect the total experience, from visual to the aroma, and then the taste.  Smell is a big part of tasting

This first video is describing the famous Guinnes "Two-part Pour".  It'a also a good technique for any nitrogen tapped brew.

Next is a pretty good primer for other styles.

If you are going to drink beer, you need to do it right.  You might point out to your wine drinking friends that anyone can uncork a bottle and pour it in a glass, but it takes skillz to pour the perfect pint.

Now go practice!

Cheers!

VW

Hat Tip: Down To A Science

I'm a Fruity Guy

What can I say?  I like fruit, fruit-flavored stuff, and fruit-scented stuff.  Cantaloupes?  I'm in.  Kiwi Korean candies?  Yes, please.  Garnier Fructis shampoo?  Lather me up.  It's no different with beer.  I like fruit in my beer.  Which is not to suggest that I'll put some strawberries at the bottom of a Budweiser.  It's to suggest that there are a variety of fruit-infused beers out there that are delicious and refreshing.

There are a few that are somewhat commonplace: Pete's Strawberry Blonde (I liked this quite a bit...very noticeable strawberry flavor), Ephemere (from the people who bring you Le Fin du Monde...it's apple-y if not tremendously good), Sam Adams Cherry Wheat (one of my absolute favorites...I LOVE cherries), and a whole host of smaller brews with apricot, peach, blueberry, raspberry, and on and on.

All of these are good and have merit, and I drink them from time to time.  But if I'm going to do something, 7 times out of 10 I'm going to do it right.  And that means Lindemans. 

Lindemans is a Belgian brewery that has been brewing commercially since 1811.  They first came to the United States in 1979, the first lambics to appear in the States.  And they're still the best lambics to appear in the United States, according to the one central authority on this matter: me.

There are six varieties of Lindemans lambics: pomme (pear), framboise (raspberry), kriek (black cherry), peche (peach), cassis (black currant), and gueuze cuvee rene (unfiltered wheat beer).  I have tried all but the last two, and in fact learned about the existence of the last two while typing this with the link to their website open.  I am now, officially, desperate to try the other two varieties.

The first four are all unbelievable.  I'm particularly enamored with the peche, which is sweet and potent.  The framboise is probably the "best" of the group (kind of like how you really like the Steve Miller Band, but have to face the fact that The Beatles are the best band of all-time), and probably the most versatile...I'd probably drink it the way you'd drink wine, which is to say with some pasta or cheese.

The downside to these beers?  Price.  A 12 oz. bottle will cost you over $5 generally.  The 750 mL bottles will usually run $10.  It's worth it, though, especially to rich people like myself*.  The rest of you should definitely check it out, too.  DO IT!

*myself refers to my alter ego, Sir Reginald van Berryballs

A Beer By Any Other Name...

Do you remember when almost all beers had to have a German sounding name.  There were exceptions, but by and large, they all had some kind of Teutonic title even though you may be hard pressed to find a German actually brewing the beer.  The Germans were supposed to be adept at making good beer (or so goes the legend) so it stood to reason that beer should have a German sounding name.  From Stroh's to Blatz to Miller to Budweiser to Coors to Schlitz to Pabst, we drank German sounding beer.

These days, a name that indicates some kind of Germanic heritage is almost the exception.  It's usually an indicator that is is a mass market macro.  It's almost as if brewers these day regard a German sounding name as an anathema. 

Today, a brewer will choose a name based upon a host of factors that include anything from location to legend.  I love the creativity that goes into naming beers and breweries these days.

Here are some of my favorite interesting, intriguing and/or amusing names and brands.

• Polygamy Porter.  You need to have more than one!
• Alimony Ale.  Originally billed as one of the bitterest brews available - not so much anymore but still funny.
• Old Rasputin.  It's an evil brew. One of my favorites!
• La Fin Du Monde.  The end of the world!  I drank it last election! :)
• Old Engine Oil.  You know the marketing dept. was closed the day they named this brew.  I want to try it someday.
• Lump of Coal.  If you get this in your stocking, you'll know you've been a really good boy!
• Arrogant Bastard.  You are not worthy!  The web site is pretty funny.
• Rowdy Dick Amber Ale.  Every man should have one!  It's actually a pretty good ale.  It's brewed a couple of blocks from me.
• Delirium Tremens.  It's almost like naming a cigarette brand after emphysema or something.  Sheesh!

There's a lot more and I may do another one sometime.  Meanwhile, "I'll Have What the Gentleman on the Floor is Having."

Cheers!

VW

The Revolution Is Everywhere

Conconully, Washington is a tiny little town of about 200 (counting dogs, cats and some deer).  It originally started out as a mining town and now, it's only function is a sportsman's destination catering to hunters, anglers, snowmobilers and ATV fans.  It's a beautiful area and quite rustic.  See that little peg with the "A" on it, that's Conconully.

You are probably wondering why I mention it on here on a beer blog.  I'll get there, but indulge me a minute here.

The town sports a little general store and gas station.  The wife and I were out exploring that area and before we realized it, our gas level was getting low and we were concerned.  We got into town and were relieved to se a couple of pumps on an island at the general store.  It was almost 3.00 dollars a gallon, but at that point, I'd have paid four or more.

We got a few bucks worth of gas and we also thought we'd get us something to drink and maybe to snack on.  It was a bit early for beer, but curiosity compelled me to take a look at what they offered.

If I wanted something other than the usual BudweiserMillerCoors yellow fizzy stuff, I could choose from Full Sail LTD 2, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale, New Belgium Fat Tire Amber, and Moose Drool Brown Ale.  It does kind of beg the question as to why those brands, but that must be what their customers want.

It isn't the greatest selection, but it is something other than BudweiserMillerCoors yellow fizzy stuff.  To find that in a place like Conconully was a little surprising.  It means the craft beer revolution is everywhere!

Oh and when I mentioned deer as part of the population, yep, they has'em!  That was taken right in town.  Or is them little elk?  Who knows?

Cheers!

VW