For those who love Bell's beers, you should read about this:
http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/bells/
I was recently in Chicago and heard about the map room, so
it was neat to see it mentioned in this article.
Baker
Saturday, January 31, 2009
The Stable
Here is a little sample from the site of our upcoming beer tasting.
check out www.amalgamatedbrewing.com/stable
Last night my wonderful wife and i ate a carbanara pizza and i had my
usual sampler platter of 6 different 3 oz beers.
here was my list:
Bell's Hopslam
Bell's Double Cream Stout
Anderson Valley Booneville Hop Ottin'
Bear Republic Racer 5
Boulevard Single Wide
Bell's Two-Hearted Ale
YES! 5 ipa's and a stout and i am loving St. Louis!
In reverse of my usual steps, i drank the double cream stout first. We were disappointed to find that one of our favorites; the left hand milk stout, is no longer there. Ashley tried the double cream and chose not to order one. I finished her sample and then mine.
It is a good stout, cream yes, but only for a moment. I would have liked it to linger a bit longer, but still enjoyed it thoroughly. I can't comment on the head since it was very small, but it isn't terribly dark like some other stouts.
Hopslam: Knowing that i was going to end with the two-hearted, and because i love Bell's and had never had this one, i was excited. I thought, surely hopslam will be even bigger than that fish laden bottled bliss known as the two-hearted. I was wrong.
This does not mean that it wasn't good, but it just wasn't that big. this beer had so much fruitiness and citris notes. I was delighted. The hops are not overbearing and you actually can taste the beer and can ignore the hops just to enjoy the rest. Again, i took this in after a cream stout and still the hops didn't slap me.
Hop Ottin': Now i know what you guys were talking about. This is a beauty. Very hoppy, but i could have a couple and not hate myself. I can taste some caramel and maybe some nut in the aftertaste and it ends sweeter than most other ipa's. I will have this again.
Racer 5: One of the mellower ipa's i had. It had one thing going though and that is smoothness and balance. It wasn't rough and it stayed consistent. It was low key which for someone trying to ease into the big ipa's would do well to try. But, for loves of monster ipa's, this little bear did not scare me.
Boulevard single wide: I was perplexed at this guy. VERY strong grapefruit taste at the end. more fruit than i've had in some fruity wheats. It also had the hops though. It seemed like the hops slapped the fruit from behind and then the fruit chased the hops down and kicked them in the balls. The hops cried and couldn't move and so the fruit won. I would have been very impressed if the hops had come back at the end and shot a spitball or something to get one last zinger but alas, brewing has not yet achieved this back and forth yet, at least not by Boulevard.
Bells' Two Hearted: While the little hops and fruit were playing grab-ass, Grandpa trout and his twin--the other Grandpa trout just looked at each other and laughed a really dirty old man wheez laugh in unison. They remember when they used to eat fruit and crap out hops bigger than both of them and still had time for love. This beer is liquid love.
check out www.amalgamatedbrewing.com/stable
Last night my wonderful wife and i ate a carbanara pizza and i had my
usual sampler platter of 6 different 3 oz beers.
here was my list:
Bell's Hopslam
Bell's Double Cream Stout
Anderson Valley Booneville Hop Ottin'
Bear Republic Racer 5
Boulevard Single Wide
Bell's Two-Hearted Ale
YES! 5 ipa's and a stout and i am loving St. Louis!
In reverse of my usual steps, i drank the double cream stout first. We were disappointed to find that one of our favorites; the left hand milk stout, is no longer there. Ashley tried the double cream and chose not to order one. I finished her sample and then mine.
It is a good stout, cream yes, but only for a moment. I would have liked it to linger a bit longer, but still enjoyed it thoroughly. I can't comment on the head since it was very small, but it isn't terribly dark like some other stouts.
Hopslam: Knowing that i was going to end with the two-hearted, and because i love Bell's and had never had this one, i was excited. I thought, surely hopslam will be even bigger than that fish laden bottled bliss known as the two-hearted. I was wrong.
This does not mean that it wasn't good, but it just wasn't that big. this beer had so much fruitiness and citris notes. I was delighted. The hops are not overbearing and you actually can taste the beer and can ignore the hops just to enjoy the rest. Again, i took this in after a cream stout and still the hops didn't slap me.
Hop Ottin': Now i know what you guys were talking about. This is a beauty. Very hoppy, but i could have a couple and not hate myself. I can taste some caramel and maybe some nut in the aftertaste and it ends sweeter than most other ipa's. I will have this again.
Racer 5: One of the mellower ipa's i had. It had one thing going though and that is smoothness and balance. It wasn't rough and it stayed consistent. It was low key which for someone trying to ease into the big ipa's would do well to try. But, for loves of monster ipa's, this little bear did not scare me.
Boulevard single wide: I was perplexed at this guy. VERY strong grapefruit taste at the end. more fruit than i've had in some fruity wheats. It also had the hops though. It seemed like the hops slapped the fruit from behind and then the fruit chased the hops down and kicked them in the balls. The hops cried and couldn't move and so the fruit won. I would have been very impressed if the hops had come back at the end and shot a spitball or something to get one last zinger but alas, brewing has not yet achieved this back and forth yet, at least not by Boulevard.
Bells' Two Hearted: While the little hops and fruit were playing grab-ass, Grandpa trout and his twin--the other Grandpa trout just looked at each other and laughed a really dirty old man wheez laugh in unison. They remember when they used to eat fruit and crap out hops bigger than both of them and still had time for love. This beer is liquid love.
Friday, January 30, 2009
It's all I got...
I had a Leinenkugel Fireside Nut Brown Ale tonight (left over from the Beer Club's 1st annual beer exchange) I had it because I didn't have anything else. I avoided it as long as I could.
So, here goes...
Dark dark amber
acidic
lingers on the tongue
lotta carbonation
nutmeg/all spice/pumpkin/cinnamon (all a blur)
a sweet beer
never again
done
why do this to your brewery? I've never been a fan of the seasonal---scratch--holiday beers that match flavor to the current holiday (pumpkin and thanksgiving, gingerbread/nutmeg and christmas).
So, here goes...
Dark dark amber
acidic
lingers on the tongue
lotta carbonation
nutmeg/all spice/pumpkin/cinnamon (all a blur)
a sweet beer
never again
done
why do this to your brewery? I've never been a fan of the seasonal---scratch--holiday beers that match flavor to the current holiday (pumpkin and thanksgiving, gingerbread/nutmeg and christmas).
Alpha is King
This ale is beautiful. I just wanted to throw this up and i will make some more remarks tonight. This is now one of my favorite pale ales. If the three floyds were named curly, larry, and moe; i would want to drink some mo floyd. some mo' floyd people.i just want to say "shemp" here at the end just in case anyone wants to try to be funnier than me by bringing him up.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye
At the first meeting of the local St. Louis Beer Club a few weeks ago, the Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye was one that was sampled. It didn't get off to a great start...
The label write-up was silly, though that shouldn't influence the taste we had a bit of a bias. From what I remember, we weren't too impressed (it's not a bad beer, we just had better that night). We didn't even take notes so I can't give an accurate review. If you want a review we'll have to sample it again, sorry.
We got the idea to sample the Hop Rod Rye because it appeared high on both Beeradvocate and Ratebeer's best beer list AND we couldn't find the Bear Republic that was HIGHER on the list than Hop Rod Rye.
enjoy and respect beer
The label write-up was silly, though that shouldn't influence the taste we had a bit of a bias. From what I remember, we weren't too impressed (it's not a bad beer, we just had better that night). We didn't even take notes so I can't give an accurate review. If you want a review we'll have to sample it again, sorry.
We got the idea to sample the Hop Rod Rye because it appeared high on both Beeradvocate and Ratebeer's best beer list AND we couldn't find the Bear Republic that was HIGHER on the list than Hop Rod Rye.
enjoy and respect beer
Review of Schlafly Coffee Stout
I've had the Coffee Stout a few times, each time I appreciate the creativity and craftsmanship. It tastes exactly as it sounds, coffee and beer. It's not bad - more of a novelty. I wouldn't work the sixer all night but it could be a good finisher. The last time I had it my comments were, "I could go for a piece of cheesecake".
Breakdown: nice and dark. moderate head. lingers on the tongue a bit (like coffee). coffee smell and aftertaste - well brewed, strong, black coffee (Kaldi's Coffee to be exact).
I like it
Breakdown: nice and dark. moderate head. lingers on the tongue a bit (like coffee). coffee smell and aftertaste - well brewed, strong, black coffee (Kaldi's Coffee to be exact).
I like it
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Has any one tried boonville Hop Ottin IPA?
I tried this tasty little beverage this evening and loved it! Its a very hopy (which was expected) IPA with a crisp citrus finish. Nice clear Carmel color. It had a smaller head, but sustatined well throughout the pint. The ABV for this IPA is 7%. I found this brew at Macadoodles in Joplin MO. Hopefully, you guys can find it in St. Louis too! Try it and let me know what you think. Its a good one, but not as good as Odells IPA.
News and Reviews
New beer from Yuengling-
I just read that Yuengling is producing their Bock for the first time since the 70's. It will be sold as a spring seasonal in early February.
FYI-Yuengling is America's oldest brewery since 1829 out of Pottsville PA. Unfortunately we can't find it here in St. Louis.
Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA -
This has been out for 2 weeks (barely). It's a new round for 2009. I'm looking forward to trying it. Torpedo is somewhat between an IPA and a Double IPA...7.4% ABV.
CaCow! Chocolate Milk Stout from Cambridge Brewing Company-
Hmmm...I've had Left Hand's Milk Stout and like it...
The beer: ABV 6.4%
Fast Fact about Milk Stouts: In the late 19th and earlier 20th centuries, doctors often prescribed Milk Stouts to pregnant and lactating women to aid in the production of milk for breast feeding their babies.
REVIEWS
I would like to start things with a review of the Goose Island Bourbon County Stout. Do you remember it well enough to review?
It is one of my top beers of the last 3 months. It has a nice dark color. Smooth to pour, little head and carbonation. It had a nice rich smell of bourbon. Each sip had at least 3 levels: 1. Bourbon 2. Stout 3. Bourbon. And that puppy lingers after the finish. So rich and syrup-y...I can't remember the ABV on that bad boy but at $6 a 12 oz. one is enough for me.
What do you think?
I just read that Yuengling is producing their Bock for the first time since the 70's. It will be sold as a spring seasonal in early February.
FYI-Yuengling is America's oldest brewery since 1829 out of Pottsville PA. Unfortunately we can't find it here in St. Louis.
Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA -
This has been out for 2 weeks (barely). It's a new round for 2009. I'm looking forward to trying it. Torpedo is somewhat between an IPA and a Double IPA...7.4% ABV.
CaCow! Chocolate Milk Stout from Cambridge Brewing Company-
Hmmm...I've had Left Hand's Milk Stout and like it...
The beer: ABV 6.4%
Fast Fact about Milk Stouts: In the late 19th and earlier 20th centuries, doctors often prescribed Milk Stouts to pregnant and lactating women to aid in the production of milk for breast feeding their babies.
REVIEWS
I would like to start things with a review of the Goose Island Bourbon County Stout. Do you remember it well enough to review?
It is one of my top beers of the last 3 months. It has a nice dark color. Smooth to pour, little head and carbonation. It had a nice rich smell of bourbon. Each sip had at least 3 levels: 1. Bourbon 2. Stout 3. Bourbon. And that puppy lingers after the finish. So rich and syrup-y...I can't remember the ABV on that bad boy but at $6 a 12 oz. one is enough for me.
What do you think?
Local St. Louis Beer Club announcements
Our next meeting will be in February at the Stable. Stay tuned for the exact date (either 2/15 or 2/16).
The next big event, "Beers of the World", will be sometime in March; it will also be "bring a friend" night.
The next big event, "Beers of the World", will be sometime in March; it will also be "bring a friend" night.
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