Elijah's Libations

Close Call

2010-12-31T09:25:00.002-05:00

A very close call. Thankfully both the monks and the beer vats at Rochefort survived the fiery fury.

2010-10-13T21:31:00.000-04:00

He'brew: The Chosen Beer

2010-09-14T21:18:00.004-04:00

This comes via Grant: He'brew

I just quickly browsed the site, but it's a genius marketing idea. They have quite the distribution range, so if you get a chance to try it, let me know how it is. As for now, it's on my list for my Christmas visit home.

2010-08-17T02:05:00.005-04:00

While I was in America I had the pleasure of enjoying some of America's finest beer. I tried some new ones at 3 Floyds outside of Chicago, including a really delicious Belgian Dubbel. I had Skinny Dip by New Belgium and Coastal Wheat by Sam Adams. Both of these last two didn't have anything really stand out to me. But probably the highlight was stumbling upon a beer through a friend of a friend: The Maharaja Imperial IPA by Avery Brewing Co.

I'd never heard of Avery, but they're from Boulder, CO. This beer isn't cheap, but if you enjoy IPAs, I'd put this one on your list. Apparently it packs quite a whallop at around 10% ABV, but it hides it well. Sometimes I find IPAs to be too full of themselves, that is to say, too bitter in a bad way, not in a delicious hoppy way. Maharaja seemed to present a really strong hop taste, without being too overwhelming (balanced I suppose). Admittedly, it's been a few weeks since I had it, so I won't try to drag this out. Long story short, it's worth your time to try it.

Kim Jung Il's finest

2010-07-21T14:49:00.002-04:00

That's right, this is North Korean beer. Found it up by the border at a special shop. About on par with other rice based lagers (read: not too good, not too bad).

2010-06-07T08:14:00.001-04:00

Best Beer in America map (based on medals at contests)

Judies 9 Revisted

2010-05-06T08:33:00.007-04:00

My apologies (if anyone still reads this) for the slacking on the whole new posts and reviews on here. Part of the problem is the well known scarcity of good beer here, as well as a mixture of just plain being busy and being lazy.

Recently, I was able to go back to the brewpub in Seomyon with some friends. Enjoying some quality conversation with some delicious libations was refreshing. We stuck to the dunkel this time around.

Strongest Beer in the World

2010-04-13T01:13:00.002-04:00

A friend just sent me a link to a microbrewery in the UK called BrewDog. They're a fairly recent operation, but have been making waves with some of their products. They came out with an ale which sat at around 18%ABV, which put some people in Britain up in arms. I never understand these people who get upset because if people are going to binge drink, they're not going to do it with expensive beer, but rather with a bottle of cheap liquor which is much more cost effective. Anyways, the boys at BrewDog came up with a response for such criticism and calls for regulation. I heard about this on BBC, but had forgotten to look into the brewery.

Anyways, apparently they have just developed the world's strongest beer. Relying on some history, they've called it "Sink the Bismarck!" It's a quadruple IPA, and comes in at 41%ABV. I'd love to try it, but at 40 pounds a bottle, I think it'll be out of my price range for quite awhile, similar to Sam Adam's Utopias.

Check out their website and keep a lookout for any imports in the States.

Beer Wars

2010-03-19T22:24:00.003-04:00

I've heard of this film, but I haven't had a chance to watch it yet. It looks like a good take on the beer industry and the differences between the huge brewers and the small craft breweries in America. I think you can get it on netflix or other well known means. Here's the trailer (the embed isn't working). The official site has other information. Let me know if you get a chance to see it.

Newcastle Brown Ale

2010-03-16T20:07:00.004-04:00

No, I didn't get to drink this recently. But I did get to see a Newcastle t-shirt on a female student I passed in the hall. I think that ranks up there with the top "English you don't understand, but I can really appreciate" shirts I've seen. It probably doesn't top the various marijuana apparel I've seen around campus, which the students would be mortified about if they knew. Anyways, enjoy a Newcastle for me this week.

Angkor

2010-02-25T21:03:00.004-05:00

"My country, my beer" said the clerk as he handed me the can of Angkor. If I hadn't known this was the official slogan of this beer I would have been pretty impressed with this guy's wit. Like many things in Cambodia, Angkor beer uses Angkor Wat on it's logo. It is a common image used for national unity (see the flag), and thus a pretty good marketing tool, especially among tourists. While I did see Cambodians drinking it, a moto driver I met said that typically the locals drink the cheaper stuff.

Overall, I'd say that Angkor is your typical "premium" lager, and compared to some of the other beers I tried on this trip, it was premium! But in the vein of Budweiser, it was a pretty inoffensive beer, but still not all that great. Likewise, the big beer in Vietnam (especially for export) is Tiger which had similar qualities. The overwhelming choice of beer were lagers, as I only ran into one ale (at a brewpub in Nha Trang, more on that later) during the trip. Angkor was my go-to beer while we were in Cambodia, as even at tourist prices it wasn't that expensive.

Judies 9 Brau

2010-01-20T03:14:00.005-05:00

As I mentioned in my previous post, recently I had my first encounter with a Korean brewpub. Having peeked at the menu a few weeks before, we opted to catch a cheap dinner elsewhere and then head here for beer only. The second I walked through the door, a familiar smell snuck into my nostrils and dropkicked me...in a good way. The delicious aroma of malt hung in the air as we passed the primary bar, and through glass I could see some of their brewing operation, proof that they brewed there. The place was surprisingly big, especially for Korea.

As far as I could tell they only have two beers that they brew there. We opted to begin with a heffewiezen. As mentioned before (see last post) they brought it out in a growler.

(from a cameraphone, sorry)
My only complaint was that the beer was too cold. Too cold? Elijah are you in idiot? Well, sometimes, but that's besides the point. The beer was seriously too cold. That's great perhaps if you have a cheap lager and you just mowed the lawn in the middle of summer. But this was at a brewpub, with what I was hoping to be a decent brew. When I first smelled the beer I could hardly pick up anything. My first mouthful was also not very impressive as my tongue couldn't pick anything up except cold. Thankfully as time progressed and I tried to warm up the glass with my hands, the flavor came out a little more. A good solid wheat flavor with some fruity hints, especially near the bottom of the glass. They had done their homework and it was poured in a proper glass, which maximized the flavor near the bottom.

We then tried their dunkel beer. This was also served a bit too cold, but as bypassed the growler this time around, it wasn't as noticeable. "Dunkel" in German means "dark." I haven't had many in my day, but I guess they span the spectrum from light brown all the way to pretty much black. This particular one was definitely towards the latter. It was smooth, but also a little bit to chew on. The malt flavors were also nice, with a strong roasted flavor. This brew explained the strong malt smell I encountered on my grand entrance. Needless to say, I was a fan.

As noted many times in this blog, I don't get to experience quality beer very much here, so this was a real treat. A little bit on the pricey side, but split among a few friends, it's almost the same as buying some imports at the store, and clearly fresh beer is better. Looks like I'll have to return sometime in the near future. I apologize from the less technical side of this review for those who enjoy that, but I was somewhat distracted by talk of ecclesiology and church planting most of the time...

Growler

2010-01-15T02:09:00.004-05:00

Last night some friends and I took the opportunity to visit Judies 9 brewpub here in Busan. I'll write more about it later, but I was intrigued by the manner in which they served the beer. We ordered 2L of beer together, so I figured we'd get a big pitcher. Instead, they brought it out in a growler. I've heard about growlers, but I'd never seen or experienced one myself.

While I'm not sure it's the best way to serve beer in house, it did look classy which is half of this Korean brewpub's goal I think. But the concept in itself is genius for small brewpubs (or just breweries)who have a loyal local following. It saves on bottling costs (or do it before you are able to offer widespread bottle sales) and is also good for the environment! Who can say no to reusable containers?! What a great way to get fresh beer to the consumer! They know if they use a growler that it'll be beer on tap, not something that's been bottled for awhile. If you have a microbrewery in town and you're about to host a party, why go buy a bunch of 6-packs when you can fill up a couple 2L (67oz) growlers with fresh beer for about the same price (or cheaper?)?

I'm not sure if anyone else is as intrigued about this idea as I am, but I can see why many breweries use this method.

Paulaner Hefe Weissbier Naturtrub

2010-01-14T21:54:00.004-05:00

Recently one of the local grocery stores here has been expanding their imported beer selection. First they ran a special at Christmas with a build a 5-pack idea. Even though the beer is still about twice as much as you'd pay in the States, it's encouraging to see more options available to Koreans.

I picked this German beer up about a week ago. It claimed to be from Munich, so I figured I should at least give it a shot as I don't see many German brews here (even at Oktoberfest!).

When I poured the beer I was surprised a bit by the color and the lack of cloudiness that is usually typical in German wheat beers (caused by not filtering out the yeast). Side note "hefe" means "yeast" in German, hence why hefeweissbier and hefeweizen are usually cloudy as they're unfiltered. I quickly realized the reason for a more transparent beer. As I only have a half glass (hard to find big glasses here), I have to pour the bottle of beer twice. Sure enough, on the second pour, the beer was much more cloudy and there was more flavor which of course makes sense when you consider how a this type of beer is supposed to be poured. Some people might not like the stronger yeast flavor that is often present in unfiltered brews, but I'm a big fan. When I brewed in the U.S., we bottle conditioned pretty much every batch as it was the easiest (and for some, the most preferred) way to carbonate the beer. Each bottle then was unfiltered to that extent and there were always some stuff floating around in the beer no matter the type we were brewing. Some fellow brewers and consumers didn't like it as much, and wouldn't pour out the last of the bottle just to avoid most of it which had settled on the bottom. I don't mind things floating in my beer, especially in a homebrew. I find it adds character and is a good reminder of the process. But to each his own.

Overall it was a solid wheat beer. Nice hints of citrus, light on the mouth with a smooth finish, not too carbonated, and a solid flavor. It's just too bad that it was cold outside when I had it. Wheat beers in the summer hit the spot, but this one was still a nice treat.

Homebrewing in Korea

2009-12-28T23:53:00.003-05:00

Sorry it's been awhile. Things were busy for awhile here.

The other day I was talking to a friend and he informed me that a few years ago, homebrewing was quite the trend in Korea. I was quite shocked to hear this because in my experience, and my knowledge of the free market, most Koreans haven't bothered to acquaint themselves with quality beer and the big companies surely aren't suffering by pumping out their pisswater.

After doing a little research on the internet, I found some encouraging information. This article is by a guy who discovered homebrewing in England and starting a club in Seoul which quickly gained widespread press.

"In Korea, homebrewing is not easy. It is very difficult to get good malt and hops, not to mention yeast! There is only one local homebrew supply shop here...However, the situation here is getting better, because the Korean laws were recently changed. Before the new laws, building and operating a microbrewery was illegal. Koreans only had three big breweries from which to choose, and they only brewed lagers. Importing beer was next to impossible, because of the enormous duties and restrictions. As a result, most Koreans simply did not know about the many varieties of beer that are brewed worldwide. Now, after the new laws were passed, many, many Koreans are learning about the numerous styles of beer." (bold added)

This guy also runs a microbrewery in Seoul. The site is in Korean, so maybe only Alvin will want to check it out. Too bad I didn't discover this until after my trip there last weekend. Another time perhaps.

Another site I found was called Homebrew Korea. A guy decided he wanted to continue homebrewing and so set up a website and forum for other foreigners who wanted to do the same.

Unfortunately a lot of this activity and supply stores are up by Seoul, but now it has me thinking of possibilities...

A Pleasant Surprise

2009-12-03T01:40:00.006-05:00

As I wandered into the GS25 convenience store to pick up a beer to watch with a movie my eyes casually wandered over the selection. This particular chain usually has a few imports for those looking to splurge. Heineken, Asahi, Carlsberg, etc. I was about to try a Carlsberg when something caught the corner of my eye. A flash of blue surrounded by a gleaming white light.

"No, it can't be..."

I turned and looked. There it was. That old familiar label, with a brewer and patriot saluting the drinker. Yes, there was a Sam Adams Boston Lager staring back at me. Five of them in fact. Unfortunately they were running over $3, which can buy me two meals at the cafeteria, so I only picked up one. The interesting thing is that the label had Japanese on it, meaning that it was originally destined for that market. I guess seeing as Busan is so close to Japan, they shipped some over here. No complaints from this end.
I'll be keeping an eye on this particular store to see what other gems they dredge up. Here's to hoping for more similar surprises in the future.

Japanese label

Japanese on the label, and the Korean import sticker

Sam Adams Coastal Wheat

2009-11-11T05:45:00.002-05:00

Has anyone tried the Coastal Wheat in the Winter Classics Variety pack? I've just heard about this new beer and since I can't get it here in Korea, I would love to hear some feedback. I find it interesting that they would put a wheat beer in the winter pack. Don't get me wrong, I think the folks at the Boston Beer Company know more than I do, but traditionally wheat beer is consumed more often in the summer.

Let me know. If you don't have a blogger account, shoot me an email!

Coopers Best Extra Stout

2009-11-04T02:48:00.005-05:00

Living in America, and on the East Coast specifically (while putting in some time in the Midwest), I haven't encountered many beers from "Down Under." Really the only knowledge of Australian beer came from Grant who had some Foster's and said it tasted like, "kangaroo piss mixed with apple juice." Judging from that description, I hope to never crack open a Foster's. Even with this scathing review in mind, my curiosity overcame me when I saw an Australian stout for sale at the local Home Plus (local being still on my island). The bottle intrigued me as it said it was A) a stout, B) Australian, and C) the brewery in question claimed to have started in 1862. I looked the brewery up online and they encourage homebrewing which merits them major brew points.

It was a bit expensive (a good 1500 won more than Hoegaarden-next to be reviewed?), but not unreasonable, so I decided to give it a try. Besides, if it turned out to be a great stout, then I had essentially just found beer gold. Dark, rich, flavorful liquid gold. Since such a thing is especially scarce in Korea, I knew what I had to do.
Appearance: The beer had a nice dark brown color, about on average for most stouts. Low carbonation, especially when compared to the Black Beer "Stout" I've been drinking here. Thin head, which dissipates quickly, although there's good lacing on the glass. Due to the size of the glass, I had to pour twice, and in the second pour there was a ton of floating yeast residue. This is typical for beers that have been bottle conditioned, but I'm pretty sure there was more in this than any of the homebrews I've done. I would have poured more carefully if I'd known there would be that much (although I'm not adverse to drinking it).

Smell: Oh boy, this beer smelled delicious. There was a strong coffee smell and some good roasted malts. I think I also detected a honey or chocolate scent. I never pinned it down, but I'm leaning towards honey as it was a sweeter smell.

Taste: To be honest I was a bit disappointed by the taste. Perhaps my hopes were too high by the delicious smell. Regardless, I found the stout to be bitter, which is normal for stouts, but I thought this was perhaps more due to burnt malt. It had a fuller taste once I allowed it to warm to a proper temperature. There was a nice strong hops taste in the finish, and a coffee aftertaste (take it or leave it). 6.3% ABV.

Coopers Best is a decent stout. Nothing really special and nothing that really detracts from it since some might prefer the bitter taste. Definitely better than any stout made in Korea. I was really hoping for the coffee aroma to come through in the taste, and the same goes for the honey. I love bitterness when it's a hops bitter, but I thought this one was a bit more like burned malt. The copious bottle conditioning yeast might be a deterrent for some, although much of that might be easily solved by a careful pour. Overall, I'd say it's worth checking out, although I wouldn't put it near the top of my stouts list. I'll be trying it again as the weather cools outside, and perhaps I'll change my mind.

Extra Note: I hadn't noticed this until just now, but the bottle actually said "bottle fermented." I'm wagering this means the same thing as bottle conditioned, but if not, then 1) it explains the extra yeast, and 2) I'm severely confused.

Korean "Octoberfest"

2009-10-16T21:10:00.008-04:00

Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. The ad had just said that it was a Beer Festival. It was only when I looked down at the ticket that I realized that I was going to Oktoberfest...Korean style.

The banner over the stage said, "Octoberfest: world famous celebration of German beer." Guinness. Heineken. Asahi. Hite. Guess which of these is German?

That's right, none of them. Instead, to make it an authentic Oktoberfest, we had some German food (and other food, including kimchi, of course) and Koreans walking around in lederhosen and Bavarian traditional dresses. Besides that, it was all Korea, all the time.

Loud. Break dancing. Hip-hop. Drinking games. Dancing girls. Korean pop and techno music. Dancing. A sea of Korean faces. A smoking corner (as if we weren't all breathing the same air). Prizes. Overall it was a really interesting cultural experience, and a lot of fun!

The line for the Guinness tap. Proof that Alvin might be right about some Koreans liking quality beer. They knew what was up. I guess if you're paying that much to get in, you don't waste any time with the Hite.
We tried to make a Black & Tan with Hite. It didn't work out that well because the spoon was Korean, so it was a bit larger than Western ones which made it difficult to control the Guinness flow.Asahi. I also had it on tap. A pretty decent Japanese beer. Seemed kind of sweet, but that was probably due to drinking it in proximity of Guinness.
Guinness! One of the last beers you'd normally expect to drink at Oktoberfest. But man, do I love it.

2009-10-15T20:20:00.004-04:00

Last night I dreamed I was drinking Fat Tire. It was cold, delicious, refreshing and free. I woke up to the disappointing realization that there probably wasn't a drop of it to be had for thousands of miles. Drink a little extra for me, Iowa friends.

In other news, I think we're going to try to hit up Beer Festival 2009 at the Busan Lotte Hotel. "Guests can enjoy beer unlimitedly from all over the world." Yes, unlimitedly. Even if they can't use real words, the idea of an open bar is very enticing. The idea of unlimited Guinness at said open bar is even more enticing. I have faith it'll be worth every single won spent to get into the festival.

Brewery update: Looks like there is a microbrewery in Busan (maybe two?), so that's the backup plan if we can't get into the festival. From the Korean website, looks like they have some decent looking stuff. Hopefully it tastes as good as it looks.

Oasis

2009-09-28T20:54:00.001-04:00

Mmm...good beer to a parched soul in a foreign land. A truly refreshing oasis of malt and hops. Costco wins. Let me explain myself. A Costco opened this summer in Busan. Say what you will about economic globalization, etc. but Costco had a sampler pack of European beers. Leffe Blonde (Belgium), Beck's (Germany), Beck's Dark, and Lowenbrau (Germany). Some friends and I tried these last weekend.

I'd tried Leffe Tripel and Quadruple while in Europe and thoroughly enjoyed them. They were strong Belgian brews in the monk tradition, although I don't believe they're technically Trappist beers. I've seen the Blonde in the states but never purchased it. It was a nice blonde, golden in color, a light body and a subtle taste. Personally, I prefer a more complex taste, but I wasn't complaining about this product of Belgium. 6.6% ABV for those who care.

The Lowenbrau tasted much better than what I had remembered from trying it in a mix and match 6-pack at Ross' place one time. I was informed that there's a place in Wisconsin that makes beer under their name which is sub-par, so that was probably the place of origin for the skunky beer I had in Iowa. This one was a much better example of something brewed in Munich. 5.2% ABV

The Beck's was decent. I can't say it's a favorite yet, but it might top the Lowenbrau. The only time (I think) that I've had Beck's was outside the train station in Berlin while eating a donner. The Beck's Dark was a first for me. I didn't taste much of a difference between it and the regular Beck's, but I didn't drink them side by side to truly compare. Perhaps another time.

Oh how I love the global beer market.

Respect Beer

2009-09-22T00:45:00.004-04:00

Reviewing beer is really a daunting task one you think about how many different types/styles of beers there are, much less individual beers. Usually I think that I've had a fair amount of experience in tasting and trying numerous beers in the last year and a half or so. Homebrewing also helped as I was introduced to the process of making ale and all the steps and ingredients that went into each of the different beers we made. When I look at some of the reviews people post online, it's easy to get intimidated or at least be in awe since some of these guys have been trying beers for decades. I believe even the beginner beer drinker can pick out certain flavors both in aroma and taste, but some of these guys pin point all kinds of flavors. It's just overwhelming at times. How can I even pretend to know what I'm talking about in comparison to these guys? But some of my fears have been eased by the guys at Beer Advocate: http://beeradvocate.com/. They're very knowledgeable, but they keep it pretty low key. I highly encourage anyone reading this to check out their site. It's a wealth of info and you can find out not only about other beers but also the whole brewing process (homebrewing friends take note). "Respect Beer" is their motto which I highly respect in its own right. Anyways, I'd still consider myself a noob at beer reviews, but I'd encourage others to try it. It's nice to think about the beer you're drinking, even if your reviews don't look very professional (hasn't stopped me, right?). Again, everyone should check out that site, it a wealth of useful information.

Black Beer Stout

2009-09-21T22:02:00.004-04:00

I spotted this beer while at the store the other day and grabbed it as soon as I saw "black" and "stout." Granted, I wasn't expecting much because it's a Korean beer, but I figured it had to be worth a try.
When I first smelled it I could smell some caramel which was nice. The color was a bit light for a stout, but it was still darker than the pisswater I last wrote about. It was a watery for something being labeled as a stout, but I could taste some roasted malt which was a good sign. There was a lot of carbonation, so that it almost looked like I was drinking coke. The beer was also bitter (not hoppy, just bitter) but I'm not sure if that was coming through more strongly because there wasn't much body to the beer. It had a standard 5% ABV which is somewhat low for a stout. The closest thing I could compare it to would be a Yuengling Black & Tan. Not too shabby for a brew made by Hite as they're apparently trying to improve some of their beer. I hear this is about as good as Korean beer gets, but I'm keeping my hopes up for something better. While Black Beer Stout wasn't really black or a true stout, it wasn't a bad beer either. I'll definitely be drinking it again in the future.

While browsing for reviews on this beer to compare ideas, I stumbled upon this site: http://beerasia.blogspot.com/ Apparently he's a British guy working in Thailand who has had lots of time to try many different Asian beers. Unfortunately, from reading some of his site, it seems that he confirms my deepest fears about the lack of almost anything worth drinking in Korea.

Still trying to track down this rumored microbrewery here in Busan.

Cass & Hite

2009-09-15T23:50:00.007-04:00

I have officially tried two of Korea's most popular beers. I had them on Saturday at the baseball game and then later when we hung out on the beach. The first one was called Cass.

What I particularly liked was the slogan, "Sound of Vitality." That's got to be a winner in the marketing world. It also included "fizzy" in the description which I've never seen before, probably for a good reason. Similar to the Silver Bullet (Coors Light) in taste?
The second one was Hite.
I think Hite is the Bud Lite of Korea. I see signs for it everywhere and more often than Cass. It also has a less classier slogan, so that fits the bill as well. Basically it wasn't very good.

One nice thing about the Korean beer companies is that they are looking out for their blind customers. I'm assuming this is braille on the cans. If it's not, I'm still going to say it is because I think the blind are entitled to their beer just as much as any other man.
So far I've only found subpar beer here. But I will withhold some judgment yet as I'm hoping to find some quality domestic beer somewhere in this country. It'd be like a foreigner coming to the U.S. and judging American beer on PBR or Milwaukee's Best. Granted, we have a bigger beer culture in the U.S., but still...At least at the baseball game everyone was drinking beer, but that might be due to the fact that security wouldn't allow Soju (rice liquor) into the game.

Craving

2009-09-09T07:00:00.003-04:00

This is what I really would enjoy drinking right now. Man, I love this beer. Especially if I had it with a big juicy steak...mmm.

I leave you with a quote:
"The selling of bad beer is a crime against Christian love." -- Apparently a law from the City of Augsburg in the 13th Century. Even if it's made up, I still like it!

Asia

2009-09-03T21:03:00.002-04:00

Ok, so the title is a bit broad, but I didn't know what to write. So far the only beer I've had in the Eastern Hemisphere were two beers on the plane over here. The first was called Kirin and had a dragon type thing on the label. I'd say it was comparable to Budweiser. The other one was also a Japanese one, but I failed to get the name. It wasn't as good.

The prospects of getting decent beer here is slim, both because there isn't much of a selection (and the imports are expensive) and because in general Korean Christians are a bit more fundamentalist when it comes to drinking, so I have to be careful. Also, "soju" (the national liquor) is more popular as it probably goes better with Korean food.

There is rumor of a microbrewery somewhere close to here. I'll let you know if this is true and if I visit it.

Bees Knees

2009-08-24T07:44:00.002-04:00

Well, it looks like I'm still in the U.S. and the Bees Knees is carbonated. I guess I'll have to drink it so it doesn't go to waste. Anyways, I tried it last night and was very pleased. It's a light honey ale. The closest thing I think of is Honey Moon (the summer seasonal from Blue Moon). The body is very light, with a gold color. This is a beer meant to be drunk in the summer. Light and refreshing but with a nice (almost sweet) taste as well. It is interesting that the one thing it lacks which is common in summer brews is citrus flavor. That's not a bad thing, but it is somewhat odd if you were using this is a seasonal beer.

Overall I'd say the summer brewing was a great success. My best wishes to Matt and the boys down in South Carolina this semester as they try some new brews. Micah has apparently brewed an IPA up in MN as well and I'm looking forward to hearing more about that as he expands upon that success. Anyone else brewed anything recently? Alvin, are you trying your hand this semester in Sioux Center? I think we still have a kit for sale...

Brewing Update

2009-08-18T00:10:00.003-04:00

A quick update on the homebrew situation. Matt bottled the last one on Thursday, which was a lighter summer one called Bees Knees. As seen in the name, it had honey in it as well. So that makes four for the summer. We did the Fat Tire clone, the Bear Claw Honey Ale, the German Kolsch, and the Bees Knees. Not too bad for about 10 weeks of work. Hopefully someone will enjoy my Bees Knees portion since hopefully I'll be gone before the batch is carbonated. If anyone is willing to drive here, they can have it.

I'm finishing the last of the Bear Claw right now and I think it's been my favorite one so far this summer. The color is dark, but not totally black. You can smell the honey in it but it's also in the taste. The beer is smooth but has some bite in the finish, which is a nice surprise. In that regard it kind of reminds me of the Black Dog Ale we brewed with Mossy Rat. That one seemed to have a almost a peppery taste on the tongue which spiced up the usual heavy flavors of darker beers. There also seems to be some hints of roasted malt coming through on this one which must have come from steeping the grain, but since this is a usual procedure, perhaps it was the type of grain used. Regardless, I'm thoroughly enjoying what is most likely my last homebrew until next summer (unless someone brings me some when they visit...hint hint).

A Health Reason to Drink Beer

2009-08-16T00:43:00.003-04:00

Another great reason to drink beer: healthy bones. The ladies should really add this to their methods of fighting osteoporosis. Spread the word and advocate for beer for bones!

Bier Garden

2009-08-13T08:36:00.005-04:00

A few nights ago a couple friends and I decided to head over to the Bier Garden over in Portsmouth. We took the ferry across the harbor to add to the experience. I'd never been so I wasn't sure what to expect. We walked in and found a good 15 beers on tap, then I looked over and saw a wall to wall set of refrigerators stocked to the brim with imports and some quality domestics. The beer menu was easily three times the size of the food menu. I had read some reviews of the place and most people agreed that one of the beers to try was Aventinus Wheat Doublebock. Seeing it on tap, I quickly decided to heed these recommendations. I was not disappointed.
As seen in the above picture, it has a nice caramel color. The first thing I noticed was the smell which I thought was quite sweet. I was in a bar which isn't the ideal for smelling, but I was still impressed. The taste matched the smell at first in that it was sweeter (although not too sweet), but then had a more biting (though not bitter) finish. The initial taste had hints of yeast kind of like in breaddough. The later part of the taste was complex but heavier. Someone remarked about something about oak which might have factored in (like in a cask). I found out later that this beer has over an 8% ABV which is nicely hidden in the flavors. I would highly recommend Aventinus, especially to those who enjoy bocks. They're not my favorite typically, but I really enjoyed this one. I believe that Aventinus makes other brews, but this is the one that seems the most popular. The next one I had was Young's Double Chocolate Stout.
By now I hope that it is obvious that I enjoy brews with chocolate involved. Chocolate usually adds a very nice flavor to a dark beer and compliments coffee flavors as well. So I figured I had nothing to lose in ordering this off tap as well. What I wasn't expecting was that the chocolate would factor so prominently in the flavor. Honestly this tasted a heck of a lot like a beer chocolate milkshake. I'm sure that doesn't sound very appealing, but it really was delicious. The downside was that then I was expecting a thick beer due to the color and the uncanny flavor. But it had a lighter body for a stout. The 5.2% ABV is believable because it doesn't have a thick body. I'd recommend this one to anyone who loves chocolate (it was a definite hit with the ladies) or enjoys darker beers.

So go procure these brews (or your favorites if you prefer) and sit for most of the night outside on a patio with friends. It's an obvious recipe for a great time.

Sharing

2009-08-03T11:08:00.004-04:00

So Matt and I were talking last night about homebrewing and I remarked that I was setting aside several for a couple relatives. Then I realized I've given out several other ones to friends this summer. All at once it hit me that I typically give away at least half if not more of my bottles from each batch. It's an odd phenomenon I suppose when you consider how much time goes into making the beer. But then again maybe it's not so crazy since I take pride in it precisely because of the effort that goes into it. So sharing it and hearing back that it was greatly enjoyed is quite satisfying in itself. Then again, I am giving away beer...that I spent time and money making. So maybe it is crazy. But I don't see myself stopping anytime soon. It's just too fun to share.

In other news I finally tried the Bear Claw Honey Ale that we brewed in early July and it was great. It reminded me very much of the Honey Porter which the fine fellows of Mossy Rat brewed last spring.

Chimay Blue

2009-07-16T15:07:00.006-04:00

My parents just got back from Belgium and my amazing mom brought me some beers. Two bottles of Chimay Blue and one of Westmalle Tripel (see previous post on this one). I think I had Chimay when I was in Europe in 2007, but if I did I don't remember it much. My mistake.

Chimay is a Trappist ale, meaning that is produced in a monastery. There are only a couple of these in Belgium which are certified to produce official Trappist products. They definitely put quality over quantity in their brewing. As I've said before, I love Belgian beer namely because of the Trappist ales. As Micah so eloquently put it, "Monks rock my face off. They'll give you a good beer and never steal your girlfriend."
I decided to have the first bottle of Chimay the other night. Now, apparently all Belgian beers are supposed to have their own glass/goblet. Not having one of these, I decided to experiment with a wine glass. The purpose is to have as much beer as possible exposed to the air for maximum flavor and smell (same reason you should pour bottled beer into a glass instead of keeping it in the bottle).

So I opened the bottle and poured half of it into my glass. The smell was very complex. Hints of fruit I suppose, but very puzzling overall. I should have taken my own advice and known that this would be a sign of what would come next. The head was prolific, and had some staying power. It was heavier than the typical foam which dissipates quickly. The color was a nice dark brown. With the first taste I knew it was definitely a Trappist. I think I would have gotten that if it was a blind taste test. The taste was exceedingly complex. I could taste spices, fruit, and other flavors, but I couldn't get much of a handle on it (I wasn't alone either. Other reviews online that I looked at later couldn't agree on hardly anything). For being a darker beer and having 9% ABV, this was an incredibly smooth and light (bodywise) beer. The alcohol hides in the taste until the finish where it bites and you notice the hops more as well since the carbonation isn't hiding it anymore.

Basically the monks have done it again. They've created an amazing brew which is incredibly complex with so many subtleties. I know Protestants typically don't have the best view of the monastic tradition, but if it helps to cut them a little slack, they know how to make delicious beer. I'll see if I can figure it out a little more on the second bottle. If I have anything to add, I'll make a clear addition at the bottom of this post. I'll have to get Chimay Red as well, and compare the two.

The good news is that like Westmalle, you can pick this up in specialty beer shops. It'll cost you around $5 for a bottle, but I hope you'll take my suggestion and try it at least once. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Homebrewing

2009-07-09T00:21:00.002-04:00

So I guess I have neglected updating on brewing this summer. After getting a decent education and experience with Mossy Rat Inc. in Sioux Center, I decided to ask some friends here if they wanted to learn the art of homebrewing. My heart was gladdened when my question was met with many enthusiastic replies. After the equipment was bought, I chose a Fat Tire clone to be our pilot beer as to my great dismay they do not currently market New Belgium beers in Virginia. It turned out well although it lacks the characteristic Fat Tire aftertaste (toasted, right Alvin?). But the body and taste are similar, so it's a winner in my book.

The next brew was called Bear Claw Honey Ale. It has honey and chocolate and smells amazing. We just bottled it tonight so it should be ready to drink in a week and a half (has to carbonate). We tried it tonight, and although flat and warm, it tasted pretty good and you could tell it's strong. I'm excited to try it in its best form.

We also brewed a German style wheat beer recently. Right now it's in the secondary fermenter, so we'll bottle in a week or so. Should be a nice summer beer, although the color and body might be darker/heavier since we added extra malt.

Any suggestions for the next one? I was thinking maybe a Belgian Trappist Ale

Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale

2009-07-06T23:26:00.005-04:00

Ok, time to review another beer. Right now I'm drinking the above mentioned beer. Kevin brought it over the other night with some others and I traded for it since he had two.

For those unfamiliar with Dogfish Head brewery, they're based out of Delaware. Apparently they do fairly well for themselves since I've been to a few different chains of restaurants which carry their brew.

The first thing I noticed when I poured the glass was lack of much head (unlike the above picture). Definitely not a highly carbonated beer. This makes sense when you see the color which is a dark brown, though not as dark as the typical stout. Typically in my experience darker beers have less carbonation. I've decided to start actually noting the carbonation since that does factor into the taste (carbonation can accentuate the flavor but it can also overpower it in a sense since your tongue gets distracted by the bubble exploding on it). As I'm about 2/3 finished right now I can tell it has lost a lot of what carbonation it had which brings out more of the flavors.

The next thing I noticed was the hints of what I think are coffee and chocolate in smell (always smell your beer if you have it in a glass as it can help you to place certain flavors when you drink). This was good as I like beers with these flavors. By now I'm excited to give it a taste.

I took the first sip. I was right about the carbonation. It wasn't too overpowering (and again, by now it is pretty much non-existent with about 1/4 left). Then the finish. Definitely not too bitter, but with strong notes of coffee or something (this is not a scientific blog). The bottle says it has caramelized brown sugar, which might be this taste as well. Regardless, a strong taste, but not too overpowering like some might find stouts or porters to be. The actual body is quite light for a brown ale I thought, especially seeing at it has a 7.2% ABV which typically would require more malt making it a thicker beer.

Overall I'd say it was definitely a decent beer. I'm a fan of darker beers so that helps I suppose. I can't vouch for price since I didn't purchase this one, but I think I remember seeing it for a standard microbrewery price. For my readers in the Midwest or further, I'm not sure how available it is. Nonetheless, I'd recommend it if you can find it. Here's the link to more info on this brew (this is where they vindicate my intitial thoughts of chocolate and coffee).

P.S. Just a side note, but my mom tried my Sam Adams Summer Ale the other day and actually thought it was good! Score one for me!

The Exchange, or One of the Reasons I Started This Blog

2009-07-01T17:01:00.006-04:00

A very exciting part of meeting up with friends for a beer is what I like to call "the exchange." This little ritual is completed almost every time I drink with someone. It is an absolute sure thing if I haven't seen them for awhile. Heck, it even happens when I'm thousands of miles apart from someone via the interweb. Beer lovers love to exchange names of brews they've tried. It's kind of like talking about traveling while looking at someone's pictures from overseas. Or perhaps more closely related, discussing restaurants or recipes while eating a good meal. You get the point.

When it comes to beer there are thousands of different brews, so to try them all would be a Herculean task, albeit an awesome one. But for many of us on a college or slightly post-college income, we simply cannot afford this. Add to this the possibility of buying a 6-pack of something and hating it. There are two solutions for this problem. The first is the amazing idea many stores have of a "mix and match" or "build your own 6-pack" which allows you to try 6 different brews for the price of a more expensive 6-pack. I would highly suggest this method as it's a lot of fun and many stores have a decent selection. The other solution is the exchange. After drinking with various people you learn both who has experienced palates (typically with a passion to go along with it) and those who simply have similar tastes in beer to you. These are the people to trust. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying to ignore people who don't meet this criteria, because excellent suggestions can come from the least likely of places. But in general, just like with music, you know who you will trust with brew choices and recommendations. Likewise, as this is an exchange and not just a "take," you will learn what people like and hopefully be able to steer them towards brews they might enjoy. Perhaps this will happen more with more inexperienced (I use this term very loosely as I would not consider myself necessarily "experienced" even with all the brews I've tried) drinkers of good beer. Just a short time ago I was able to suggest a few beers* to some friends when we were at the Taphouse here in Norfolk. They were very appreciative as they all liked what they ordered and I was glad to help. No one wants their friends to not like what they're drinking.

Although people's tastes can be different, friend's suggestions or warnings can be very valuable. But I would warn that both exchanging names and trying mix and matches will still have a bit of trial and error, as nothing can replace you actually experiencing the beer. Sometimes you can be surprised and I would highly encourage you to try beers before you write them off, especially by label or name. Sometimes you're going to be right to take warning, but sometimes you can hit gold.

So, anyone tried any good beer recently?

*One of the beers was from a microbrewery in Michigan which was recommended to me by a fellow member (Taco) of Mossy Rat Brewing Company. See how the process perpetuates itself?

Longshot Series

2009-06-28T20:11:00.003-04:00

One of my friends recently picked up the Longshot sampler pack from Samuel Adams. This is the top three homebrew recipes that won the last contest. I think they do it every year. Basically they'll remake the best brews and sell it with your face on the label so that you get your 5 minutes of fame. There was a Cranberry Witbier, a Double IPA, and some sort of Bock. I had the two latter beers and was pleased.

The bock was delicious, but the winner was definitely the Double IPA. This beer was without question the hoppiest beer I've ever tasted (perhaps the closest would be the Gumball one from Three Floyds near Chicago). The bottle said the creator used 7 different kinds of hops, and a lot of them. All I know is that it most certainly lived up to its name. While not being thick like a stout, it was a very heavy, strong and flavorful (and very bitter) beer. I would highly recommend this brew to any IPA lovers because it'll sufficiently fulfill your hops craving. Mmm...

For any wondering, I was told that the Cranberry Witbier wasn't overwhelmingly fruity and was rather refreshing, as any summer wheat beer should be.

If you see a sampler pack in your local beer emporium, I would suggest you go ahead and pick it up to try it for yourself. It's great to see a brewery encouraging homebrewers. One more reason that I love the Boston Beer Company.

Camping and Beer

2009-06-23T23:42:00.000-04:00

This weekend a bunch of my friends and I are planning on going camping. I'm really excited about this because it combines many of my favorite things: the outdoors, fire, friends, beer, etc. Last May a few friends and I went on a whirlwind tour to a bunch of national parks out west. One of the best surprises was finding out that national parks have well stocked beer coolers. And not just your typical American brews, there was always a smorgasbord of local microbrews. I found such gems as Polygamy Porter, Kilt Lifter, and Moose Drool (all hopefully will find their way into a future post about beer names). The government sure got something right on this note! What better way to relax after a long drive or day of hiking then to enjoy some quality beer around a campfire?

But wait, I'm going camping this weekend to a state park in North Carolina. They don't allow alcohol. In my experience this is typical of state parks. I don't understand what the difference is between national and state parks in regard to this rule. Last summer I went to Shenandoah National Park here in Virginia and was allowed to sample some of their beer cooler. But if I went 20 minutes away to First Landing State Park I wouldn't be allowed (though this rule has been broken, right Micah?). Oh the tangle of civil government.

Maybe this weekend I'll pack a flask...with some Sam Adams in it.

Start?

2009-06-21T21:06:00.000-04:00

Here we are. A fresh blog. Tons of possibilities and future ideas. A scrap piece of paper in front of me full of scribblings since Alvin first suggested I do this. I guess I'll start with the premise of this blog.

My hope for this is to give my take on some of my favorite beers, make suggestions, get feedback, and share my experiences both drinking and brewing. I'm sure it will evolve into other things as well, especially with Korea coming up and potential travels from there.

To start things off, perhaps I should share a little story about one of my favorite brews. Those of you who know me well enough will perhaps recognize the name Westmalle. But what you might not know is the story behind my love of Belgian Trappist (that means monks made it) Ale. Picture me almost two years ago, wandering around the streets of Brugge with my brother, looking part American backpacker and part homeless, with an awesome beard. We stopped in at a little hostel called Hotel Lybeer. Fessler stayed here when he backpacked in the 80's, and it has beer in the name, it has to be good right? They had a bar downstairs (gotta love Europe!) and so I ordered a beer that a missionary we stayed with the night before had recommended: Westmalle Tripel. The bartender poured it into its goblet and handed it over. I took a sip and instantly knew I had discovered something beautiful. It was light and smooth, yet strong (9.5%) with flavors I didn't even understand with my beer inexperience. I sat on the couch talking with a South Korean who had lived in Canada for the school year and was now backpacking around Europe too and sipped my beer enjoying every taste. I went to order another one a little while later and the bar was closed...or so the man said. WTF? Who closes a bar at 10:30? I was sorely disappointed. In my next 4 weeks in Europe, I only had it one other time, but I brought back a few bottles (much to the customs agents chagrin since I was underage) to share with friends. I've had a handful of times since then but at $5 a bottle here in the states (when you can find it), it's a luxury. But I contend that it's worth every penny that you'll spend on it. Prost!

My mom just sighed when I told her about this blog and I laughed.