Confessions of a Sober Cab - The Parental Version

Cousin Mark was getting married! Clearly that meant two things; his wonderful girlfriend would now be an official member of the family, and we were going to party! The hubby and I were in a pickle though, seeing as we both wanted to get a little pickled ourselves that evening. I knew that Andy would want to drink and celebrate with his cousin and I certainly didn’t want to ruin his fun by asking him to sober cab. Besides, I knew the only way I’d manage to get at least one dance out of the guy was to get him drunk enough to not notice he was dancing. I wanted to cut loose as well and enjoy my night drinking with my siblings in law. It’s not very often that we’re all in town together, much less for a party, and a wedding at that. Plus, craft beer loving Mark would be supplying the party with kegs galore of Schell’s Oktoberfest. I really enjoy their Oktoberfest and wanted to take full advantage of the bride and groom’s hospitality. We did have an option for a ride though… Ma and Pa Strom.

Our sober cabs for the evening. (Studio Veil photo booth)

 

Really, it was perfect. They were going the same place we were, at the same time! Those are of course, the most basic rules of carpooling. And since they planned on driving home we knew at least one of them would be sober. Which is the first rule of taking a sober cab – making sure your driver is actually sober. Besides, if your parents were like the majority of parents I knew growing up, they always stressed the same rule – don’t get in a car with someone who’s been drinking. Andy’s parents were no different. And just because we were now adults and could legally drink didn’t mean that they had stopped worrying. Sometimes I think they worry more especially because we can legally drink. So of course they weren’t going to tell us that they couldn’t give us a ride. Go back on what they’ve been preaching since we were sixteen? That’s something no parent ever really wants to do. Besides, Andy still mows their lawn and they really didn’t want to mess that up.

As a bonus, brother Bob and sis-in-law Nichole were rolling in from out of town and needed a ride too. It was a regular family reunion. As we piled six deep into the old minivan I got the distinct impression that Ma and Pa Strom were actually enjoying themselves. Ok, maybe not so much when we were hinting (and not so subtly) that we wanted to pregame the wedding at the bar near the church. The idea was shot down and instead we arrived early and found our seats with the rest of the Strom clan in the church. We were witness to a beautiful and touching wedding, complete with a family photo at the end. And then it was on to dinner, dancing, and a night of debauchery!

 

Photographic evidence of debauchery. (Studio Veil photo booth)

 It was the best of both worlds – a lovely family wedding and a night of beer drinking with the buds.  The beer was wonderful, as the Oktoberfest from Schell's always proves to be, and it was free and free flowing. The beer flowed so freely in fact that Mark’s loving cousins got together and rewrote the announcement on the marquee sign at the venue with a touching message for the loving couple. I did successfully get Andy drunk enough to dance with me for the last song of the evening and my mood got as ripped as my fishnets stockings did after a night of breaking it down on the dance floor.  The ‘rents drove us safely home and I could tell that they were touched by our drunken bonding in the back seats of their van. They had most of their clan safely in their care, giggling over a night of drunken escapades and fun. We took them at their word, to always let them know when we needed a safe ride home, and they in turn held up their end of the bargain. Who knew mom and dad would provide one of the best sober rides we’ve had in a while. Besides, they got to spend some time with the kids, even if we were a little extra bubbly, and what parent doesn’t like that?

This is what happens when you provide such good beer. (via Mark and Jess Strom)

 

So while you think your parents are the last people you'd like to get a sober ride from, remember that they really do want to see you just as safe now as they did when you were younger. And if you're going the same place already, why not take them up on a ride and carpool? Besides, you're a legal, drinking adult and they can't yell at you for drinking all the free beer you can hold! Consider your parents the next time you need a sober cab, and hey, if they need a ride, return the favor!

You Betcha, It Is Worth A Trip Up To The Fargo Brewing Company!

When most people think of Fargo, ND, they start quoting lines from the 1996 Coen Brothers movie.  Surely, there are quite a few people up in that area whom have grown tired of this, given the fact that Fargo is not even in MN (the actual setting of the movie).  However, someone once said, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."  By that logic, the movie and constant quoting of the lines from said movie are a way to pay homage to a place that flies under the radar.  People who live up in Fargo and its surrounding communities will tell you that Fargo's food and drink scene is on the upswing.  Driving around in Fargo, one notices an increase in eating and drinking establishments that tempt patrons with hip storefronts and neon craft beer signs in the windows.

On the day after Thanksgiving,  when most people were headed to the West Acres Mall in Fargo, ND, I set my GPS for the Fargo Brewing Company.  Having connected with them earlier in the year at the Autumn Brew Review, which coincided with their launch in the Twin Cities, I was pining to head up there and check out their operation.





The Fargo Brewing Company is located in a relatively large industrial warehouse between downtown Fargo and the NDSU campus.  Upon stepping inside, my olfactories were met with the familiar and intoxicating aroma of malted grains.  It was a busy day for them as they were releasing their 4th anniversary beer, Double Buster, an Imperial Porter.  When we got there, Zach Click, the Operations Manager was there to greet us and we chatted for a bit.  Then John Anderson, one of the owners came and began a very thorough tour of the facility.  The story of how it all started is chronicled on the brewery's website, but in short, the four owners all decided that each of them had an area of expertise that was right for opening a brewery.  They started in 2010 contract brewing out of Sand Creek Brewing Company in Black River Falls, WI.  Last March, they opened their current facility in Fargo complete with a taproom.  They operate on a 20 barrel system and they toured plenty of other breweries to make sure they laid out their brewery exactly the way that they wanted to streamline efficiency and production.  From the brewing kettles to the canning line, it all flows very well so that they can maintain a smooth flow from one part of the brewing process to the next.




One of the things that John is very proud of is how well their ownership group and employees work as a team.  About ten minutes into our tour, Chris Anderson, came up and started ribbing John for not putting a bucket under one of the fermenters.  They gave each other some "brotherly love" in the form of sarcastic banter and it was then that I really got to see why this operation works so well.  The same respect and admiration that they have for each other, they also have for putting out quality and tasty craft beer.



One of the most exciting things that they showed me on the tour was their barrel-aged souring program which is in the beginning stages now, but will eventually be a significant part of their seasonal rotation.  The water in Fargo lends itself well to dark and maltier beers, which is why their most popular beer is their Sodbuster Porter.  They had ten total beers on tap, 7 of which are regular offerings and 3 that are taproom trials of things that they are tweaking and experimenting with.  Their flagship beers consist of the previously mentioned Sodbuster Porter, Woodchipper IPA, Stone's Throw Scottish Ale and the Iron Horse Pale Ale.  In the interest of information dissemination, I tried several of their flagships and a few of the specialty beers that are taproom only offerings (Bent River Munich Style Helles and Deceiver Belgian Strong Ale) and was impressed by each one!  I brought a growler of the Woodchipper IPA home to a friend who is a very discerning IPA drinker.  He polished it off and has since procured more of the IPA in cans, which are available in most liquor stores in the Twin Cities.  He is quite taken with the IPA citing its cleanness and balanced flavor.

Driving around Northeast Minneapolis and seeing all the taprooms open, it is easy to forget that it was not that long ago that there was no craft beer scene over there.  Fargo Brewing Company can boast being on tap at 33 of the establishments in the Fargo area.  Over the weekend of September 27th, they launched distribution in the Twin Cities.  While craft beer is catching on mightily in Fargo, North Dakota was the last state in the union to have a craft brewery after prohibition.  In Fargo, they are the biggest craft brewery with their sights set on expansion.  They referenced Fulton, and how they quickly outgrew their space and had to expand as being a driving force behind settling on the taproom site.  They will be able to expand and stay in their same facility for a long time.  There is plenty of space to add more brewing capacity.  With John's culinary background, one of the things that is important to them is brewing beer that can pair well with food.  They are already planning on opening up a restaurant on site that will allow him to do beer pairings.

The Fargo Brewing Company's zymurgical offerings are spot-on and delicious, but the reason I will go back is because of the people and passion behind their beers.  The time that Chris and John took to show me around that day was the epitome of hospitality.  They answered questions and really enjoyed talking beer.  I was thinking I would be lucky if I got to briefly talk with the owner, but the fact that they spent an hour and a half showing my wife and I around their brewery speaks to their generosity and sincerity.  They want to put their personal touch on everything and make sure each and every person who walks into their taproom feels like they are welcome and valued.  Craft beer is still in its infancy in Fargo, but the people at the brewery have gone to great lengths to get people in the doors and feeling welcome.  They host Trivia Mafia events and even have a night called "Yoga on Tap."  The Fargo Brewing Company is gathering a following of faithful beer enthusiasts who are proud to call the taproom their gathering space.  So, do yourselves a favor and plan a weekend getaway to head up and have a pint or two.  You will be in for a nice surprise when you see the burgeoning craft beer culture developing in a city that desperately deserves it.

3 Growlers Craft Beer Show: Third Street Jack'd Up Autumn Ale

3 Growlers: Paulaner's Oktoberfest

Check out our latest episode of 3 Growlers as we sample and review Paulaner's Oktoberfest:

The Pint Report: Big Wood Brewery's Wicked Ex IPA

We've all been through a tumultuous relationship at some point in our lives; one that seems like a great idea, full of some fun times, but ultimately leaves you feeling as though you are missing something, bored, or just feeling downtrodden.  For seasoned beer geeks, this describes their relationship with IPAs. Oh, they were that beer that got you started down this dark path of beer nerdery, but now you can't stand the site of them after either discovering more unique styles or having so many of them, the mere smell of one makes you cringe in horror.

But sometimes, beers like Wicked Ex from Big Wood Brewery out of White Bear Lake, MN make you remember why you fell in love with this rather popular style in the first place.  In the right kind of glass and the right temperature to show off its figure and taste, Wicked Ex rushes back all those early memories of you falling in love with IPAs and makes you forget, even for just a moment, whatever fancy style it is you are consuming/brewing now.

This brew has just enough of a bite to it that tickles the taste buds, but not too much that it repulses away the adventurous spirit.  That small hint of bitterness comes from the blend of Ahtanum hops, mixed with Cluster hops and a special blend from Northern Brewer.  The Anthanum hops give this brew that familiar citris and pine aroma and flavor that excite both the tongue and nostrils.

Oh, you may have found yourself steering away from beers of this variety, given your time and experiences with every other IPA that you've found nowadays, but the Wicked Ex is a Siren of this style.  It lures you in with an initial sweet flavor, then slams you up against the wall with that fresh bitter hop that will linger just long enough so that you don't forget it, but not too long so that you can't enjoy that burger and fries later on.

For beer purists, Wicked Ex tends to point in the direction of being a West Coast IPA, similar to other local Minnesota brewers who brag a similar style.  While this beer doesn't outright advertise itself as such, the fact the main hops hail from the Pacific NorthWest, coupled with the strong hoppy aroma of this brew, would suggest that is the style the brewer was going for.

Calm yourselves everyone, I'm married

It's ok to say you still love hoppy beers. It's even more ok to say that Wicked Ex IPA from Big Wood Brewery is one of those subtly unique beers that makes you think of those early days. Boasting an 80 IBU, the hoppiest of beers from the suburban brewery, this beer packs a nice little love bite that will keep you coming back for more.  Try not to daydream too much about this foxy beer; sure you may have moved beyond this type, but you still gave it your heart at one point in your life for a reason.

Brewing Goes Mobile: Fiz - The Brewery Management Game

Perhaps a couple of you knew me from before my time at Beerploma, when I was an aspiring video game reviewer and journalist. In the 6-7 years I spent writing about games, ranging from AAA titles on the console, to mobile indie titles so obscure, I don't even remember the titles, I came across a lot of unique stuff. But nothing quite as unique as the game Fiz: The Brewery Management Game. I actually reviewed for the last site I worked for, but wanted to revisit this title again, to expose it to my new beer drinking audience. You can read that review here.

Fiz, as the subtitle of the name suggests, is a brewery simulation game. While this may conjure images of some big complex game, it is actually a pretty simplistic and entertaining experience which works perfectly with mobile devices.  This seemingly simple concept, managing a brewery, actually is chock full of challenges and lots of different twists and turns.

While you probably won't become the next Surly or Boom Island Brewery, there is a lot of elements used in this game that any beer nerd, especially those versed in the art of crafting beer, will be able to appreciate.  Ingredients used in the making of the various brews are mostly real world ingredients; there are some fictional elements added in, but mostly for stat boosting or to improve the batch of beer.  The beer styles featured in this game will be familiar to all beer geeks, and does feature a great selection of styles. From Dunkles to IPAs, Irish Red Ales to Barleywines, Fiz offers so many choices to brew.

Another interesting thing this game does is put a focus on not only what you brew, but where you sell your tasty products.  Some bars cater to more German styles for example, while others are pretty sold on IPAs.  Some places even prefer your adjunct lagers to anything else.  Adding this in, gives this game a challenge, rather than just having players brew beers all willy nilly.

If you're looking for a mobile game that won't nickle and dime you every 10 seconds (Candy Crush anyone?) and still keeps you entertained and wanting to come back for more, consider grabbing Fiz today.  This was one of my favorite mobile games I've ever played, and I've even gotten a couple of the other staff here at Beerploma hooked on it well.

Get Fiz on Google Play for Android

Get Fiz on the iTunes App Store for Apple 

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!

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