Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Brews and Reviews: Guinness' Blonde American Lager

Guinness recently launched what they call their "Discovery Series", which is an attempt by the Irish brewing giant to respond to the ever growing craft beer market. Many other macro brewers have also made attempts to either invent beers or revitalize old recipes in an attempt to still be a player in the ever growing craft beer market.

The Guinness Blonde American Lager is not only brewed in the states (Latrobe, PA, home of Rolling Rock) but will be heavily marketed over here as well. Guinness plans on releasing a West Indies Porter and Dublin Porter across the pond in this same series. Personally, I'd rather try a porter inspired by the description of taste from a sea log from 1800 than another cold brewed American Lager.  I think we've got quite enough of those over here. Though in their defense, it isn't a style micro-brewers are rushing to make.


Having lived in the Midwest all of my life and having been through that "having almost no money for beer" portion of college, I've had my fair share of the well known American Lagers.  The Guinness variety of American Lager, however, did not taste like the typical stuff you'll see on tap at any chain establishment.

For one, this beer had a bit of a bitter bite to it.  This was especially surprising, given both the style and the fact that Guinness doesn't usually manufacture beers with bite.  The bitter taste was almost off putting as it's not expected.  This could've been due to the fact that the beer wasn't kept on ice for very long during the tasting at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival over this last weekend in September.

In older times, this is how beer samplings were conducted with Lords and Ladies. Good thing we have ice and modern refrigeration... 


In terms of its color and appearance, this beer will look exactly like you'd expect it to; a light golden blonde coloring with a small amount of foam on top. It resembles the appearance once would expect from the most popular beers here in the states. Besides the aforementioned bitter taste, the beer also has a mouth feel resembling that of other popular Adjunct Lagers found in the United States as well. Considering this beer is an American Lager, the people at Guinness have made nothing too terribly surprising or unique with this brew.

If this Blonde American Lager was an attempt to win back some micro brew fans, the longstanding Irish stout brewer missed their mark dearly.  This beer feels like its meant to insert Guinness' name among the Miller and Budweiser crowd, rather than those who flock to their local tap rooms to try something distinct and different.  For those who enjoy a lighter variety beer, the Blonde American Lager offers that same "soda like" beer quality while also giving you a bit of a bitter taste that some may enjoy.  Consider this beer something that goes better with tailgating than something you'll want for a quality tasting.

Monday, September 29, 2014

Recap of the 2014 Autumn Brew Review

Photo courtesy of Allegra Smisek
The 2014 Autumn Brew Review took place on Saturday at the historic Grain Belt Brewery complex in Minneapolis.  The weather was warm, the craft beer drinkers were out in force and the breweries all brought their A-games.  I had lofty goals of getting out and trying all the beers that I highlighted in the program.  I even made a spreadsheet.  I know that some of you office monkeys who are reading this are thinking that you make spreadsheets every day, but I don't even make my bed, so a spreadsheet is definitely next-level stuff.

My plan was to focus on the MN breweries and then maybe hit some of the other ones if they had something really intriguing or special on tap.  As with all plans, sometimes one veers off-script and changes some things up.  I didn't make it even two-thirds of the way through my spreadsheet, but it was not for lack of trying.  I was not side-tracked by what typically plagues fest-goers; getting separated from the group then spending way too much time trying to find them or waiting in a line for that incredibly rare beer that everyone and their brother has been talking about.  Instead, I found myself spending more time talking to the people pouring the beers and really inquiring about what they had.  As a result, the time absolutely flew by and I have less beers to talk about for this review.  However, I came away understanding a lot more about what festivals should be about.  I immersed myself in the camaraderie and symbiotic relationship between those that market and create beer and those who talk and imbibe this wonderful creation we call craft beer.  

The first beer that really wowed me was something that I had not had before.  I don't know if it was the higher than fall-like temperature or the fact that I was wearing a prototype of a Nicaraguan designed Spankx for men, but I was in the mood for an IPA.  The Brau Brothers Smash Simcoe IPA was just what the doctor ordered.  I feel that sometimes, a brewer can really show their mettle when they use fewer types of hops or malt in a beer.  That way, the particular hop is front and center and the flavor is deftly on display.  Of course, that gives very little room for error and anyone with a decent palate will be able to tell if the brewer missed their mark.  This fine beer accomplished everything one would want in an IPA.  It had citrus notes and was incredibly refreshing, while at the some time, showcasing the Simcoe hop.  The program indicated that it is a taproom exclusive so maybe the next time you feel like a beer trip, maybe set your coordinates for Brau Brothers and try this along with many of their other great beers.

The next new beer I had set my sights on hailed from up north at Bemidji Brewing Company.  They had several good selections, but the one the piqued my interest was their special release of an Espresso Porter.  This beer was very much coffee forward, but where some might worry about the coffee taking over, I felt that it was just right.  Dark like the soul of someone who goes around literally taking candy from babies, this beer looked and smelled like every porter I have ever written about in my diary.  I would tell you to head up to Bemidji based on this beer alone, but they had several other offerings that made me excited to make the trip up there sometime in the not too distant future.  

I spent a lot of time in this corridor of MN breweries
Not every brewery was new for me.  There is always the excitement about the tried and true breweries that never disappoint.  I will be the first to admit that there was a time when I would see Summit on a menu and think, "Summit EPA is good, but I want something different."  Those days are long-gone.  Summit has upped their game in the last couple years and they are now releasing so many beers that make you think critically about what you are putting into your proper glassware.  Last year, Summit brewed their Rebellion Stout, and it was on the shelves for about as long as one can stand listening to Kim Kardashian speak.  This beer was on tap at some of the fine beer bars in the cities and I remember really wishing that I had been able to get my hands on more than just a six-pack of it.  The complexity and depth of flavor when the beer was fresh put it into a class by itself.  I remember listening to Damian McConn tell our BBSU class that this beer would be even better if one had the self-discipline to let it cellar for a while.  Well, I drank all of mine and I am glad that Summit has folks who understand how to stave off the siren call of a great stout because they released this beer midway through the fest and it made me very happy to be there.  Time has rounded out some of the flavors of this beer and while I didn't feel like the dryness was as sharp in this beer after being aged, some of the the other flavors were allowed to come to the forefront making it a very special drinking experience.  

Some other notable beers I tried came from Bent Paddle(Best of the Fest Award winner for their Double Shot Double Black), Surly(Winner of the best brewery and best display award), Bent Brewstillery, Tin Whiskers Brewing Co., Fargo Brewing Company, August Schell Brewing Co., BauHaus Brew Labs, Lakefront Brewery, Inc., Blacklist Artisan Ales, and Hammerheart Brewing Co.



I am curious what your favorite beers were from the Autumn Brew Review.  Tweet us @beerploma and let us know what you thought of the festival and the myriad of beer offerings.  What were your favorites?  ABR being one of the better festivals that happens in MN, I know that there were many people enjoying what our beer scene has to showcase.  Now, the bittersweet reality is setting in that I have to wait a whole year to do this again and, perhaps more depressing, I have to find a way to get out of these Nicaraguan Spanx.  

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Adventures of a Beginning Homebrewer: Drink It, Don't Dump It!


It’s been a busy summer for this guy! I can’t complain as I have been busy with ALL fun stuff! Traveling Wisconsin with my band, Marked 4 Deletion, heading to far away beer establishments, hitting up beer festivals, and occasionally just relaxing at my cabin. It’s been great, but with being busy comes sacrifice. The schedule has to give somewhere! Sadly, I accidentally sacrificed beer....


I had brewed a couple beers this spring. I kind of lost track at how long they were in my little brewery and didn’t bottle them when I should have. That should be no problem right? As I learned with the raspberry wheat (click here) I know that I can sit on these for a bit and everything will be A-ok..... That is unless you fail to notice that the fluid in the airlock dries up, rendering the air lock useless!


That’s right, I exposed ten gallons of beer to the outside contaminated world! TEN GALLONS!!! And yep, it got infected. So time to dump it down the drain, right? Whoa, whoa, whoa... Wait just a minute here. That is a lot of beer. There has to be a way to save it.



(Infected Beer)



The good news for a slacker like me is that there IS a way to save it! Campden tablets. I discovered these little lifesavers when I had a batch of nut brown contaminated (not due to slacking). Basically these little guys kill everything and give your beer a final fighting chance.



Here’s how you save your beer. You will need to use one tablet per gallon of beer. Just crush em up and add them to your beer (make sure to re-sanitize an airlock). Now you will need to wait a week or two for the Campden to do its work.



Keep in mind that Campden will also kill your yeast. So you need to go to the store and get another yeast packet if you are going to bottle condition/carbonate. I know this is a few more bucks out of pocket, but isn’t 5 gallons of beer worth a couple more dollars? Pitch the yeast, wait another couple weeks and bottle the beer (don’t wait a couple weeks and you will have exploding bottles I am willing to bet!)





(Campden Tablets & Sanitizer)





A couple things about saving your beer with Campden tablets. Although your beer is totally save to drink, you may have some very subtle off flavors. These off flavors increase in time, so you need to drink your saved beer sooner rather than later. Aging a beer saved with Campden is an exercise in futility.... Unless you like drinking gross things.



The one time I have used this before in the above mentioned Nut Brown (I called it Slutty Nut.... because it had an infection, but luckily it cleared up with a bit of medicine!) the results were great. Weirdly it was one of the best beers I have made. I have even had requests for me to make it again! Hopefully these two turn out the same way.



If you ever have an infection in your beer, don’t just automatically dump it. Instead let your beer at least try with Campden Tablets!

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Cooking With Craft Beer: Bittersweet Chocolate and Stout Ice Cream

Here is the recipe that we used on the 3 Growlers show for Bittersweet Chocolate and Stout Ice Cream:

This recipe was found on Allrecipes.com here:  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Bittersweet-Chocolate-and-Stout-Beer-Ice-Cream


Ingredients:
  • 1 Pint Heavy Cream
  • 1 Package of Chocolate Chips (we used semi-sweet)
  • 3/4 Cup of Sugar
  • 1 Pint of Local Stout (We used Big Wood's Morning Wood)
  • Any additional topping (nuts, whip cream, etc, we don't recommend any more chocolate, it's pretty rich at this point)

 Directions:

  1. Heat the heavy cream in a saucepan over medium-low heat until it begins to bubble. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate and sugar until melted. Slowly stir in the stout beer. Cover and refrigerate until completely cooled.
  2. Pour the chilled mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's directions until it reaches "soft-serve" consistency. Transfer ice cream to a two-quart lidded plastic container; cover surface with plastic wrap and seal. For best results, ice cream should ripen in the freezer for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Watch our 3 Growlers Episode to watch us make the ice cream:




Sunday, September 21, 2014

Brews and Reviews: Tin Whiskers Schottky Pumpkin Ale Review

One of the things many craft beer drinkers look forward to every year is the release of their favorite pumpkin beer.  This is also a bone of contention for many because pumpkin beers are released earlier and earlier every year.  In a perfect world, the beer would be released at precisely the right time for all the consumers who drink seasonally.  The minds at Tin Whiskers must have heard the complaints from the masses and felt sympathy to the plight of the seasonal drinkers.  On Friday, September 19th, Tin Whiskers released their Schottky Pumpkin Ale.  Named for a German physicist who helped develop the theory of electron and ion emission phenomena.  Now, I don't really understand much of what emission phenomena of electrons or ions is, but I can tell you that the Schottky Pumpkin Ale hits the mark for those who crave the unique combo of pumpkin pie spice and actual pumpkin flavor in your fall beers.

I have to admit that I am an unabashed pumpkin beer fan.  I love the season of fall and I love what different brewers can do with this style of beer to make it unique and special.  The Schottky Pumpkin Ale has a wonderful color that is a medium caramel with an orange that probably falls between 12-15 SRM.  It has a nice foamy 1/2 inch head that enhances the aromatics.  The 5.5% ABV and 26 IBU make this beer something that can be enjoyed multiple times during the span of en evening.

 The nose is very inviting and immediately make you feel like sitting down for a nice slice of pumpkin pie.  The beer is spiced with pumpkin pie spices and the allspice and nutmeg really star. The aroma is not too overpowering and allows you to fully experience all the other sensory things happening in this beer without them becoming muddled together.

As you taste it, you first notice the pumpkin pie spices.  Then, the flavor changes to focus your palate on the pumpkin flavor itself.  This is nice because one of the complaints that is often heard about pumpkin beers is that the brewer was too heavy-handed with the spices and the other flavor subtleties are lost.  That is certainly not the case with the Schottky.  The pumpkin flavor is clean and balances out the sweetness from the spices.

The mouth feel is a combination between a nice spice tingle and then a balanced and dry effervescence.  This is a very crisp pumpkin ale that makes it a nice and drinkable choice.  It has a robust feel to it without being too heavy.

Tin Whiskers released this beer just in time for the fall.  They celebrated the release last Friday night and the feedback and sales have been positive.  They brewed three batches of this beer to ensure that it will be around for the better part of fall.  However, I would make plans to get down there and have a pint of this delicious fall seasonal sooner than later.  You don't want to end up like Linus at the end of It's A Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown because you didn't get a chance to try it; cold, alone and sucking your thumb in your neighbors garden.  That scenario only ends well for cartoon characters.

Brews and Reviews: Tin Whiskers Brewing Company

Since becoming an avid craft beer drinker in 2005, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for a brewery with a unique concept and brand.  I am drawn to creative names for beers and eye-catching tap handles.  There is something comforting and familiar about being able to pick a favorite beer brand out of a lineup of a myriad of taps at a bar.  From the names of their beer all the way to their robot logo and tap handles, Tin Whiskers is a recognizable brand that will only continue to grow, and it is in large part to the approachability of their beer.


The Tin Whiskers taproom is in the Rossmor Building downtown St. Paul.   The vibe of the taproom evoked memories of the taprooms in Colorado.   The abundance of windows and exposed brick provide a very industrial and clean feel which fits very well with their engineering-themed brewery.  The bright lights and long communal tables make this a natural space to gather and meet people.  They also have a nice long bar that you can belly up to and enjoy some nice conversation with other patrons, or the knowledgeable beertenders.  If you are hungry, the brewery shares the same building as Black Sheep Pizza, Sawatdee and Key’s Cafe.  If takeout or delivery is not your thing, then they encourage you to bring a picnic if you crave something to nosh while you imbibe.  The name, Tin Whisker, comes from an electrical engineering term for a soldering failure on a circuit board.  However, let me assure you, there are no failures when it comes to their portfolio of approachable beers on tap.  The lineup of beers at Tin Whiskers have several things going for them: approachability, depth,  and drinkability.  There is truly something here for everyone.  


If you are into hoppy beers, the Flipswitch IPA comes in at 6.2 ABV and 63 IBU and has plenty of hop presence.  Chinook, Citra, Warrior and Centennial hops are used in the boil and then the beer is dry-hopped with Citra and Warrior hops.  This beer is big on earthy, citrus and floral aromas and has a nice malty presence to make it a very drinkable and balanced American IPA.  The hop bitterness is not heavy-handed for this beer and I tend to prefer that when it comes to American IPAs.  


If you are into something refreshing, the Wheatstone Bridge American Style Wheat ale is something that is perfect for those Minnesota summer days.  What separates this from other wheat beers is the use of honey and chamomile which give it a very pleasant and complex flavor and aroma.  This beer is orange in color and is slightly cloudy.  The beer is light and effervescent and at 5.4 ABV and 20 IBU, it will appeal to a wide range of beer drinkers.  


If you are in the mood for a pilsner, the Parity Pilsner is a nice option.  This is a very balanced beer with a slight sweetness and just enough hop bite to give it a great flavor.  The slightly sulfuric yeast character, which I find incredibly pleasing in this style, is present and accounted for.  The beer drinks crisp and bright and is a nice addition. This beer is 5.8 ABV and 29 IBU, making it very drinkable and approachable.


Moving towards their malty selections we have the Ampere Amber.  I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of amber beers, so I was not expecting a whole lot from this offering.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that instead of the overbearing malty sweetness that I have come to dislike in amber beers, the Ampere Amber has a distinctly roasted malt character which makes the beer crisp and gives it an edge.  This beer, like most of their others, is very drinkable 5.3 ABV and 48 IBU and perfect for fall.


The Boolean Brown is one of my favorites from Tin Whiskers.  It has a roasted malt aroma that is so rich and inviting.  The flavor has a very nice biscuity and melanoidin flavor which balances out the sweetness from the malt.  The mouth feel is a little dry and the roasted malt gives it a nice bite that makes you want to enjoy another pint of this delicious beer.  


As we are entering fall, nothing says warm me up like a nice and flavorful stout.  In my opinion, the Short Circuit Stout (5.3 ABV and 31 IBU) embodies everything right about this style.  It is robust and roasty.  It is velvety and slightly sweet from the chocolate and lactose.  This is what I will definitely come back and have several pints of because it hits on all cylinders from flavor to mouthfeel.  If that wasn't enough to get you to put the coordinates in your smartphone and head on down there; Short Circuit is also available on Nitro!  Yes, imagine all the velvety goodness I described and add in the cascading smoothness of my second favorite gas.  Well, I don’t need to tell you that you know what you are going to do when the weekend hits.  


You can also order a Short Bridge, which is a half and half pour of the Short Bridge Wheat and the Short Circuit Stout.  Believe it or not, the chocolate from the stout and the sweetness from the wheat beer play very well together.

As a St. Paul resident myself, I cannot say enough about how excited I am to see Tin Whiskers putting out the beer that they do.  Whether you are a beer connoisseur or are just dipping your toes in the craft beer pool for the first time, you will find something to enjoy at Tin Whiskers
The atmosphere of the taproom is a great place to eat, drink and be merry.  

Friday, September 19, 2014

Brews and Reviews: Lucid Brewery's ORA


It's fall, which means it's time for Pumpkin in just about any beer that isn't labeled as a Oktoberfest. However, that doesn't mean that those are the only types of beer that exist in the "good" section of the beer aisle.  There's also the sometimes-ignored, but quite plentiful Amber Ale.

ORA, a fall seasonal variety from Lucid Brewery, found my lips after a recent stop to JL Beers in NE Minneapolis.  The beer was a nice darkish red brew that went perfect with my burger and fries, but would've been even better suited for a Minnesota fall night with friends.  It's a great beer that tastes of fall, and feels of hearty warmth.  In other words, it is the Midwest in a glass.

People drinking this will notice it goes down quite smooth.  Some other reviews have even compared the drinkability of ORA to that of a soda, which I can to a point agree with.  It tastes a bit on the sweet side, but smooth enough to not be over powering to the casual beer drinker.  Consumers will find hints of caramel, cherry, herbs and smoky flavor; tastes perfect for the fall days to come. There's even a Pumpkin flavored variety, though the pint I had wasn't christened with the aroma found in Lattes or store-made cookies.

God my webcam sucks.
ORA is not a particularly potent beer; a 6.5% ABV with a 30 IBU.  It was still surprising to me that JL Beers listed it in the "Lighter" beers section of their beer menu.  It definitely drinks on the lighter side, though when taking into account mouth feel and appearance, hardly seemed comparable to a Coors Light or Surly Hell, which were also in the same section.

This particular brew has probably one of the smoothest feels I've ever had with an Amber Ale. It goes down like a lighter beer would, but still boasts a flavorful taste.  ORA does lack a bit on the carbonation, however.  As you can see from the picture above, the head on this brew doesn't stick around for long. After getting through much of the drink, it begins to lose its carbonation altogether.  Nursing this beer may lead to an entirely different taste altogether.

It's easy to write off ORA as just another un-impressive Amber Ale. But it's almost silky smooth mouth feel coupled with just enough smoky flavor gives this beer enough individuality, that ignoring it for at least a pint would be a sin. If your empty hand needs a nice cold brew to accompany you by that fall bonfire, Lucid's ORA would be a great choice. You can save the Pumpkin flavoring for that Thanksgiving pie.

Friday, September 5, 2014

Brews and Reviews: Bent Brewstillery's El Guerrero

This area is traditionally known for its abundance of lakes, summers that go by way to quickly and larger-than-life icons like Paul Bunyan and Snoopy.  However, lately there is something else happening and it is threatening to change what people typically associate with Minnesota.  Breweries are opening right and left, and with that boom, we are deluged with some delicious and unique imbibing options.  

Photo courtesy of bentbrewstillery.com
Bent Brewstillery’s selection of unique and complex beers are amazing additions to a landscape of libations that is growing both in breadth and depth.  Their fall seasonal, El Guerrero, a Chilean Double Stout, is out and definitely worth a try.  This special beer is brewed with honey, guava and merken, a Chilean pepper spice that has been used in gourmet cuisine for hundreds of years.  In the taproom, it is served on Nitro and it is also available in 750 ML bottles.  


This beer has a lot going on starting with the opaque color.  El Guerrero pours thick and the cascades culminate in a thick and creamy quarter-inch head that is light caramel in color.  The aroma of the beer is rich and chocolaty with subtle hints of coffee, merken spice and boozy goodness.  
While the look and smell of this beer are intriguing, it is the taste where this beer climbs into a class of its own.  At first, you are greeted with the roasted malt and coffee notes which leads nicely into an alcohol flavor that smooths into a rich chocolaty finish.  The thing that really balances this beer out and makes it something special is the gradual building heat from the merken spice.  It pleasantly builds at the back of the tongue and is never to the point of overtaking all the other flavor subtleties that are happening in El Guerrero.   The sweet notes from the chocolate and honey are balanced deftly with the Merken spice, roasted malt and coffee.  As it warms, the flavors and spice of the beer are all elevated and it leaves the drinker to do nothing but wonder how a single beer could have so many things happening.


El Guerrero’s mouth feel is velvety at first and finishes slightly dry from the heat of the pepper.  The dryness from the heat and the smoothness from the booze make this also a key factor in the beer’s overall balance.  If you enjoy a big body to your stout, this beer does not disappoint.


This beer is versatile and could be paired with the bold flavors of smoked meats such as brisket or ribs.  It would also marry well with a very good steak or blackened chicken.  If you wanted to pair it with a dessert, think ice cream or a decadent chocolate dessert like a cake or high-end dark chocolate.  

Bent Brewstillery prides itself on being unique and this beer is a terrific representation of that vision.  There is nothing quite like El Guerrero in this market and it is a welcome addition to the ever-growing portfolio of wonderful beers that Minnesota’s craft brewers have to offer.