Archive for Beer a Day
Wolaver’s Wit Bier
Posted by: | CommentsOrganic beer? I thought all beer was organic, at least until robots take over and demand the synthetic stuff.
But apparently we’re talking organic as in “no pesticides”; which is okay, because once they come, no pesticide is going to get rid of the robots, anyway.
Wolaver’s is one of the “nation’s original certified organic breweries“. According to the label, Wolaver’s beers “contain no preservatives, are not pasteurized and, like all fresh foods, will change over time”; and it warns this beer is “naturally cloudy due to a high percentage of raw local wheat”.
I’m intrigued, but starting to get a little concerned; I’ve had blind dates that came with fewer disclaimers.
Wolaver’s Wit Bier is a Belgian-style white. It poured yellow and a bit cloudy, without the strong aroma I was expecting — the label said the Wit Bier would taste of orange peel and coriander, so I was expecting it to smell like a Blue Moon. The first sip was surprisingly bitter — I guess I had expected it to taste like a Blue Moon, too.
The first half of the beer actually tasted like a pale ale with just a hint of citrus, and the coriander began to pop through as I continued to drink. It was interesting — but not well balanced.
I found a fair amount of sediment at the bottom of the bottle, so halfway through my brew I up-ended the bottle, tapped and rolled it side to side, and coaxed the yeast into the glass. I swirled it around a bit and the result was transformative — the beer became extremely cloudy, but sweeter. And the sweetness held the rest of the flavors together.
I’d like to see the robots figure out THAT trick.
Not a bad beer, but not great either. This is probably a beer I’d enjoy more if it were on tap, instead of sitting in a bottle since April of last year. Organic beer is surely better fresh. And that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make, if it keeps the robots away.
Coors Light
Posted by: | CommentsMy, how times have changed.
I used to drink Coors Light at a friend’s house while eating pizza and playing PlayStation in college.
Tonight, I drank Coors Light at home while eating rigatoni pasta with steak and portabella mushrooms. And I would break out the Wii, but I can’t stay up late because I have work in the morning.
The Silver Bullet hasn’t changed, though. I know you don’t want to hear about how there’s almost no foam on the pour from the can, or how the sickly pale yellow of the beer looked less like actual beer and more like the third cup from an over-used tea bag.
You don’t care, and you shouldn’t care.
This beer is an old stand-by. When you’ve spent the day clearing brush from the yard, chopping wood for the fireplace, or driving your four ton 4×4 through the Rocky Mountains to fix some problem up on “the Rig” (or whatever they do in those commercials) — then if you’re like me, the last thing you want to do is to spend time appreciating your beer.
Sometimes I just want to drink my beer, not buy it flowers or invite it upstairs for heavy petting.
Coors hasn’t messed around with the formula for Rocky Mountain Refreshment, but they’ve sure been a leader in package innovation. Converting the beer case into a travel cooler is pretty nifty in my book. And I don’t know if the “vented” wide mouth can with its Frost Brew® Liner and temperature indicator really make the beer taste any different, but those features sure give Coors something to advertise.
If you don’t believe me, just try building an ad campaign around Nana’s used Lipton bag.
Blue Point Brewing Toasted Lager
Posted by: | CommentsThis weekend I’ll be heading to NYC to celebrate my birthday with friends, so I thought I’d turn to The Blue Point Brewing Company of Long Island to get a little New York flavor this week.
Fortunately, Toasted Lager by Blue Point Brewing tastes much better than I image New York does. In fact, the Toasted Lager won the 2006 Gold Award for American Style Amber Lager at the World Beer Cup Awards.
The beer is beautiful in the glass, a rich amber. Good foam head that dissipated quickly.
After having such strong-flavored beers over the last few days, the Toasted Lager tastes even better. The malt is very well-balanced; not too sweet, held up by just a light bitterness. There’s a little bit of spice I recognize from one of my Winter Lagers, but I can’t place it. There’s just enough to make it very well-rounded for taste, but not enough to dominate the taste.
I really enjoy this beer, and I genuinely would like another. The beer is relaxing and refreshing but doesn’t cop out — there’s real flavor here in the Toasted Lager. Maybe this is a good omen for my trip to New York?
If you’d like to try Blue Point brews, they have distribution throughout New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
Duvel
Posted by: | CommentsDuvel will forever be associated with my wedding.
I discovered Duvel while seeking a wedding reception venue with my wife and her parents. The event sales person plied me and my father-in-law with champagne and then bought us dinner.
Luring me with premium food and drink can be a very effective strategy, and our sales person must have seen me coming a mile away.
“Order what you want,” she said. “It’s on the house, and we’ll talk about your decision afterward…”
My father-in-law is a Coors Light man, but during the dinner our waiter suggested Duvel. After goggling at the per-bottle price on the menu, we remembered that somebody else was paying and ordered a round.
In the end, I think there were at least 3 or 4 rounds, but it’s hard to keep track of any 8.5% ABV beer. They tend to make you forget how many you’ve had, especially one that is so incredibly drinkable. Duvel goes down smoothly, and the only hint of its high alcohol content is that warm feeling washing over you toward the end of the first glass.
We weren’t in much shape for negotiating after that meal, but we still managed to book the venue with one important condition — that Duvel be available throughout the reception for the me and the Father of the Bride.
Ever since discovering Duvel, my father-in-law and I usually have a few glasses of Duvel when we get together. Tonight was no exception. He and I have birthdays coming up, so we had a birthday toast with Duvel tonight.
With a sly smile, and knowing the rules of this challenge expressly forbid drinking a second beer, he offered me another. “You sure? It’s really good! Guess I’ll have to drink it for you…” I’m on Day 3 now, but already it’s becoming apparent how difficult this regimen will be.
The bottle describes Duvel as an…
“…intense, aromatic, and beguiling ale. This Belgian favorite is best enjoyed chilled with discerning friends or good-looking strangers.”
I describe Duvel as “somewhat like a strong wheat beer”. But that’s really not doing it justice. You’re just going to have to try this Belgian Golden Ale yourself. And if you can, make sure you are at a Belgian-style pub eating a bowl of steamed mussels. Duvel goes with many foods, but nothing pairs with Duvel quite like steamed mussels.
Pouring Duvel is an art in itself. Take care not to upset the bottle — if you disturb the beer, it’s apt to get angry and explode all over the room. Learn from my mistakes — you don’t want to pour a $9 bottle of beer on the kitchen floor, do you? Follow the instructions on the bottle’s label and “Pour Unhurriedly”.
To learn more about the Duvel tulip glass, and for a step by step tutorial on the proper method for pouring Duvel, visit DuvelUSA.com.
Gonzo Imperial Porter
Posted by: | Comments“I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they’ve always worked for me.”
– Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (1939, born – 2005, cannon fodder)
I’ve never had Gonzo Imperial Porter before, so beer #2 will be a real treat for several reasons. The least important of which is I’m quite partial to porter.
Gonzo Imperial Porter celebrates and honors the life of Hunter S. Thompson. Bruce Paine, a Beer A Day reader and self-styled warrior poet, introduced me to the works of the good doctor several years ago. Most recently, Paine loaned me a copy of The Rum Diary, early work by Thompson and entirely accessible.
The artwork on this bottle is great, by Ralph Steadman. And I’ve never had a bad experience with anything beneath a Steadman label.
Pouring the beer is to watch a syrupy waterfall crash into your glass. It whipped up almost a full finger of foam, and the beer literally hissed at me! A dark ring developed around the mocha head, and after nearly a full minute the foam collapsed on itself, leaving a small island in the middle.
I’m sniffing it now — there’s almost no aroma, which is surprising, especially because I’m using a tulip glass that should really concentrate the smell.
First sip — wow — unexpected, delicious. It’s a porter that dances on the edge.
The description printed on the bottle reads:
“Dark, malty and mysterious, this beer is as complex as the man it celebrates. Brewed to honor the life of Hunter S. Thompson, Gonzo Imperial Porter is an assault on your taste buds with just the right amount of irreverence thrown in.”
I’ll agree completely with the first sentence. The initial sip is surprising. The malt is strong, toasted and sweet. Another sip — stronger, the toasting comes clear and it almost has a raisin quality. Keep sipping and the smoky aroma really comes through. It’s as if you need the taste in your mouth before you can fully appreciate the aroma; the taste and the smell build upon each other, layer upon layer. But unlike the bottle description, I’d say this beer doesn’t quite assault the taste buds — it lays siege to them.
Dark. No light makes it through this beer. I can see my reflection clearly in the glass, the roundness distorting my face, not entirely like Steadman’s gonzo artwork, but not entirely unlike it either. I would expect such a dark beer to be thicker on the tongue, but the malt and fruit work to keep it just light enough…
Only halfway through and I’m already feeling this beer hit me. IBU is 85, 7.8% alcohol by volume. Glad I had a big dinner.
I’m going to sit back and enjoy the last half of this beer now. I’m feeling good; and though I’m certain this is not true, my imagination and this smoky taste are working to send puffs out of my nose, mouth, and ears.
Let’s leave off with a final quote, printed on the label:
“Good people drink good beer.”
– Hunter S. Thompson
