The Beer Tent

Aha! Thanks, I missed the prior post.

 

I do not know or understand the criteria for judging the taste of a beer. Most of it tastes like they should pour it back in the horse. I have recently taken up recreational drinking and would like to include more beers in my repetoire, but I just don't know that much about them. I seem to prefer the taste of a Lagar better than a Pilsner, I tend to enjoy Tsing Tao, Kiren, Michalob, but don't care for Budweiser, and most other domestic beers. I don't like sweet beers. I prefer to drink beer with sharp cheeses, fresh bread, and German food, or Thai. The micro-brewerys haven't registered with me yet. Is it required to drink copious amounts to qualify as a beer drinker? My step-son drinks 12 packs....I don't drink more than a few ounces of anything at a time. If I finish 12 ounces of fresh squeezed lemon aide, that's enough, I don't want more but it seems like that people that drink beer tend to drink that size serving several times in a row. Is that necessary or is that just drinking for effect? Is some degree of alcoholism required for enjoying beer?

 

Just cracked a cold Shiner Bock Ruby Redbird:


This is the first time I have come across this seasonal beer, but let me tell you it is WORTH drinking. Here is how the label describes the beer:

OK normally I seriously dislike fruit infused or flavored beers. I have drank most I have come across. From Sam Adams Cherry Wheat to a micro brewed beer from Colorado called Beary Beer (not a misspelling, it was berry flavored, and had bears on the label). I decided to give this one a try.

The Citrus aroma of this larger hits you first. If the label is true, it is not a citrus garnered from the hops like an IPA (that has a very "grapefruit" heavy nose from the hops used in the brewing). This beer's aroma is like sliced lemons and fresh peeled grapefruit. The first sip gives you the character of this fine beer. Dry, crisp, smooth as glass. The beer has a very nice gingery finish and as it warms closer to room temperature, the beer begins to bring forth impressions of drinking alcoholic ginger ale. The residual, back of the throat warmth and flavor imparted by the citrus/ginger combination makes it feel like it has a bigger alcoholic kick. I would recommend pairing this with a nice steak, some hot wings, or even just sitting on a deck chair sipping it after a long hot day in the garden.

I give this 10 feathers out of 10! As with anything YMMV.

 

Beer a scientific view...

Molecular Expressions Photo Gallery: The Beer Collection

 

Currently have homebrewed honey weizen and homemade hard lemonade on tap. Looking forward to cracking a 5 year old bottle of Chimay White this weekend. It's good to be a craft beer/homebrew lover.

 

Anybody else taking advantage of the Costco Hofbrauhaus Octoberfest brew? Crafty is thru his sixth case, and I conclude that I like it.

 

been brewing myownbeer for years now. i have three wine coolers i use. ihave seperate digital temp controlers foreach one. i keep one around 62 degrees for ales. one around 53 degrees for lagers and around 30 degrees for cold crashing. i just make 5-6 gallon batches myself. i used to do all grain, but my time is very limited anymore so i have gone back to using brewers best kits. i do stepon them a little. my average brews are around 7.5% abv. they always seem to go fast when company comes over. i had one that i finished the last of two weeks ago. it had to age for about 6 monthes before drinking. it ran around 11.5% abv. i want to make a barley wine for next christmas.

 

Sipping on a Sierra Nevada Torpedo

 

Good one!

A co-worker gave me a Sierra Nevada Hoptimum this morning. Its been sitting here on my desk, taunting me all day.

This same co-worker and I have been going back and forth with BIG IPAs lately. A local micro called Bell's put out their spring release of Hopslam, Atwater has Conniption Fit IPA, Shorts brewery has a couple good ones too ... Apollo Raisin, ContraversiALE, and Liberator. Let's see what else ...

Oh yes, Founders Brewery. They have a double IPA called Double Trouble. Excellent, along with all of their stouts. The Imperial Stout was just released for the year and came in at 10.6%!

Hoprocket, but I forget the brewery, was good.

Soooo many good beers lately.

 

I homebrew as well and I've knocked off the seasonal favorite of Oberon, which you may remember as Solstice. At least I think that was the name. Oh boy, its about time to get a couple batches together for the summer ...

I'm not sure I could knock off Hopslam though.

 

Had Leffe Blonde for the first time this past week.

Quite nice actually!

Byte