Tasting Beer by Randy Mosher

Tasting Beer: An Insider's Guide to the World's Greatest Drink by Randy Mosher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a great must read for any beer enthusiast. You'll learn many aspects of craft beer like styles,ingredients, history, recipes and so on. It has an easy to read style and the author is passionate about the subject but does it without being an arrogant beer snob.

View all my reviews

I hated beer the first time

I hated the first time I tried a beer. In all fairness I was probably around 8 years old and in the mid 1970's. This was time of Led Zeppelin and the dark ages of American brewing. Most of what was left was the huge conglomerate beers that had fizzled and watered down to a pale yellow fizzy drink. Of course as an elementary school aged kid I was oblivious to what status of the beer world was. I remember beer being a clear pale yellow with some slim white fizzy head. It was probably a Michelob or Schlitz as I remember those being the ones my uncles and their friends drinking a lot. I think it was one of my uncles who offered it to me(can't be sure though). I remember it having an odd smell and taste. Did not like it one bit. I think the grown ups that were around got a chuckle out of the yucky face I made. It did leave a lasting impression though. It was a long time before I had another one.

Even through my teenage years I never developed a strong interest in beer. I think I had remembered my sip so I wasn't that interested. I did have it a couple of times but it never stuck well. The few times I did drink to excess it was with liquor. A high school football game and peppermint schnapps(which I still can't stand the smell of to this day but that's another story) my senior year being my first not-so-memorable moment.

The funniest story from my teen years involving beer was in the case when we didn't even get to drink it. A friend of mine had an older sister who was cool enough to buy for us. A group of us pooled our money and went off to get it. The catch was that we had to use canoes to get there. We lived near the ocean with a river running through marshes. We used two canoes as I believe there were 4 or 5 of us. We paddled down a certain point. My friends sister went and got a six pack of Michelob which had a cone like bottle at the time with a gold label wrapping the top. We soon headed back. I'm not sure what triggered but just as we passed a wooden bridge both canoes tipped over. everyone and contents. I was not the greatest swimmer so I stuck near the boats. Fortunately we all made  it to shore. The our ill gotten beer did not though. Sadly attempts to salvage them were unsuccessful.

The time I went into the Army did help with my beer awareness a little bit but I was still stuck to the hard stuff although I'd still have a beer or two. It grew a little more aware being stationed in heart of old beer country Germany(then West Germany). I was introduced to terms like Export, Bock Doppelbock and so on. I learned it came in different colors and strengths. After awhile drinking them you'd go back to a Budweiser and swear you're drinking water.

When I came back to civilian life I was of course disappointed by the selection which hadn't changed much. The few German beer available like Beck's or St. Pauli Girl were not even close to same. Samuel Adams was still relatively new but that was about it. I soon just fell into a rut of just purchasing normal beer like Coors(which was new to the region.) , Budweiser or something like that.

For the next couple of decades I was really just an occasional beer drinker. Perhaps buy six pack or have a beer on a social occasion but that was about it. The only beer that made an impression on me in that time was George Killian's Irish Red. I still love it to this day. That didn't really do anything spark any change.

Around the year 2009 I decided to quit smoking and soon after I regained my taste buds. This included beer. It first I started with usual brew like Miller High Life and my old favorite Killian's Irish Red. It didn't happen until I spotted some miscellaneous beers in shopping basket marked for clearance at a local liquor store. One of them happened to be one called Anchor Liberty Ale. I was intrigued by it's pregnant pear shaped bottle. It's eagle and anchor adorning looked patriotic and yet had a rustic look to it. It even had a quick story about the beer on the label.

I brought this Liberty Ale home along with a few others. Something about the moment I poured it in the glass grabbed my attention. Had a pale hazy yellow body with an inch thick snow colored pillow top head. Had a unique, to me at the time, pine and grapefruit aroma. The taste had a mild citrus bitterness. It finished crisp and dry. It seemed like something clicked inside me.I didn't know beer could taste so incredible and different from mainstream football commercial beers.  It was from that point I was hooked on craft beer.

The Zen and Art of Pouring a Beer

Pouring a beer is one of my favorite subjects. Nothing is more mouth watering than the sight of cold brew properly poured and awaiting consumption. Knowing some brewer put his heart and sweat into making this just for you. It's his personal gift to you one glass at a time. He certainly hopes you like it because if not he's out of a job. It's not just out necessity of feeding family though, it's also his dream create something wonderful. 

The way it's poured influences the way it's tastes, smell's and looks upon presentation. Let's face it, one of the most wonderful things about beer is the way it looks presented to you in the glass. First impressions matter. Of course there is the classic image of a golden colored beer with the snow white head in a glass sweating from condensation. 

Beer writers, geeks, pundits and so on do debate about this. So here in this throw my two cents into the debate. I recently came upon this subject in the book, "Tasting Beer" by Randy Mosher, which sparked my interest in this subject. I hadn't paid attention to this subject for quite awhile. In Randy's book he recommends a vigorous straight down the middle of the glass. Taking your time and letting the foam settle. This way it releases more of the carbonation trapped in the brew making it less gassy.

The late Michael Jackson  recommends using more of tilted pour using more of side of the glass. He recommends a tiled glass at first and gradually bringing the glass to a straight up and down. Still coming up with a creamy long lasting head. It his book "Great Beer Guide" he show a few different methods for different styles , although from the pictures it looks all very similar. Some styles foam up quicker like a Hefeweizen verses a barleywine.

As an experiment I'll try the different type of pours on the same beer. All in the name of science of course. First will be a poured totally down the side of the glass. Second will start near the bottom near with the glass at a steep angle then gradually bringing straight. This will be the Jackson method(or close to it)Thirdly will the Mosher method which is straight down the middle. Here we go!

1. The down the side method

Pouring down the side of the glass is described as "for sissies" by beer writer Randy Mosher. The after the pour the beer has about a pinky finger thick head. It fades quick to a thin coating. The IPA looks and feels well carbonated. The brew is bitter and bubbly. When finished it it leaves little lacing at all on the glass..

2. The Jackson Method.

This way I started with the glass at slight 20 degree angle and pour down the side a little and quickly brought it vertical. At first glance the head was slightly bigger at about a full finger but still faded relatively quick. It did seem a little less carbonated while drinking. Didn't notice a lot differetn about taste. Bitterness was about the same. Bubbles weren't as active inside the beer.

3.The Mosher Method. 

This is plain and simple. Pour straight down the middle and don't worry about being gentle. First you'll notice that it foams up quickly. It may take a few minutes to pour a full beer. Another thing is that the the brew is visibly less carbonated as less bubbles are noticed. The head is enormous and pillowy. When your consuming it's less fizzy feeling than you the other pours. It goes down smoother perhaps even less bitter. I didn't notice very much change in the taste or aroma.

Summary

I think many like myself grew up on the idea of fizzy cold beer. In the dark days before the craft beer revolution that's pretty much all their was. If you're happy with cold and fizzy then by all mean keep on with the first method. In the second pour a little less carbonation and more head(insert sexual innuendo here) this maybe the way to go. If you'd like a smoother less gassy experience then the third way is way to go. Doing this experiment has been an eye opener as far as what to expect in those tiny bubbles.

I think the edge goes to the Randy Mosher method. It's a smoother and perhaps more mature way of consuming brew. I didn't notice much of any difference in taste or aroma. The head was creamier and gave a nice appearnce upon presentation. Of course personal taste always prevails. I'd encourage others to experiment, which is always fun with beer.

Cheers!

Sources:

Tasting Beer by Randy Mosher

Great Beer Guide by Michael Jackson

Special thanks to Shiner Wicked Ram IPA

  

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Beer of the day: Yuengling IPL

 

I thought this was an interesting new offering by America's oldest brewery, Yuengling. I had so much confidence in this I tried it out as a six-pack. I usually don't like buy a six of something I haven't had before because if I don't like it I'm stuck with 5 more beers I don't like. I've had good luck with Yuengling before so I did take a chance. At first I thought I'd made a mistake as I wasn't that impressed by it. It had an onion like taste which reminded me of a  Ballast Point Grunion which I didn't like too much either. 

So one night I decided to just finish off the rest , 3 at this point. As each one passed, at different occasions, my opinion softened. I've either grown used to the taste or after a buzz of a couple of them it didn't matter anymore. It does have that typical bitterness of the style it does finish smooth. 

It's still not my favorite Yuengling but it's not bad. It's worth a try.

I give it a 3 out of 5 stars.

Samuel Adams Boston Lager (2015 re-review) | Chad'z Beer Reviews #839

Trust Your Own Taste

Trick photo: Glass of beer hidden in picture. 

I stink at beer reviews. I admit I’m one of those that checks in at Untappd on my iPhone when I drink anything resembling a malt beverage. I buy my mix-a-six weekly and feebly attempt to review them at Ratebeer.com(along with the usual Untappd check in). It’s usually just a few sentences and I pick some numbers to rate them as best I can. As much as I drink beer I admit I’m no expert in them and in how they review them. I’ve read books and watched many Youtube videos but I’m afraid that still not an expert.

In the beginning of my craft beer renaissance about 5 years ago I found the beer review sites like Beer Advocate and Ratebeer. Let’s add the element of beer review videos on Youtube. I even tried a few videos; they were so bad I took them off-line. I do read some others opinions on beer but I feel I’m the best judge as to whether I like something or not. It is interesting though to see what others think of what you’re drinking. It sort of brings us all together in a  kinship of the suds.

I will give a shout out to the one beer reviewer, Chad Polenz, that I seem to consistently come back to. I think I first discovered his beer reviews on Youtube and he also writes reviews online. I don’t always agree with what he thinks about certain beers but he does put in an honest effort. His reviews are descriptive and well thought out.

My rant here is inspired by an interesting article in All About Beer called, The Agony and Ecstasy of Beer Reviews” by Heather Vandenengel (say that name 5 times fast)which weighs the pros and cons of online beer review sites such as Beer Advocate, Ratebeer and Untappd. These sites have their good and bad points. One is that you can get first-hand accounts of what a beer may be like. Let’s face it with over 3000 brewers to choose from in the United States alone it can make for tough decisions in the beer isle. It’s serious business I tell you. On the other hand your also trusting the word of unknown strangers (for the most part) in what a beer may taste like.

Just because a beer is rated high doesn’t mean you’ll like it. Back when I was a craft beer newbie I saw a 4-pack of DogFish Head 90 Minute. It was proclaimed the best on the packaging and online reviews backed that up. I spent the $15 bucks for a 4-pack(what you’d pay for a 30 pack of old frat boy beer) figuring it was a safe bet. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I may have finished the first beer but I was not impressed. In fact I thought it was awful. It even turned me off to IPA’s for long time awhile. I was a relative newcomer to craft beer and in some ways I still am. In a bit of irony I love DFH 60 minute.

 I use the social media sites as a way to keep track what I’ve tried and whether I liked something a lot. Anyone who has spent any time in their local beer store can tell you the sheer number of choices you have can be overwhelming. You want to try them all. Some can also be pricey so you also want to spend wisely at the same time. It’s hard to trust your random reviewer online. So many variables come into play when you taste a brew. They could be in a local bar and just drank 3 shots of Fireball and downed a dozen 5-alrm Buffalo wings and meanwhile they posted a review of the beer they used to dose the fire in their belly. How accurate is that? Eating the wrong food or drinking your 10th Imperial IPA at a local beerfest(probably more chicken wings).

Don’t get me wrong I do think these sites serve a purpose. Like keep track of what you’ve had. They add an element of fun and being social. Isn’t that part of what beer drinking is about? It’s a social lubricate in many ways. As far as serious reviews go I’d take them with a grain of salt. Maybe think of them like finding a good auto mechanic, when you find a good one stick with them.

Beer Blast

I was recently checking on my beer selection and I noticed a broken bottle in a mix-a-six I bought last week. It looks as if top came right off it. It still had the bottle cap on the top part of the neck. The contents of the bottle was completely dry. It was a bottle of Pig's Ear Brown Ale from Woodstock Inn Brewery. I was disappointed to say the least and puzzled. Leaves me wondering what happened. I'm happy to hear any ideas. I'll be contacting brewery to see if they might have an idea. 

Cape Cod Red

Enjoying some Cape Cod Red by Cape Cod Beer. Where am I enjoying this? On Cape Cod of course. In a red cup of course! Having with some hot dogs and burgers soon. have a great summer day! 

The 7 Most Annoying Things Beer Snobs Say

The 7 Most Annoying Things Beer Snobs Say

Two kinds of people

The Craft Beer Revolution by Steve Hindy

The Craft Beer Revolution: How a Band of Microbrewers Is Transforming the World's Favorite Drink by Steve Hindy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An interesting look at the history of the craft beer revolution of the the past 40 years. It is written Steve Hindy of Brooklyn Brewery. It's a fairly easy to read and is certain to contain lots of interesting stuff for craft beer geeks who are interested in learning about the beginnings and behind the scenes action of the craft beer revolution. I recommend it for beer geeks.

View all my reviews

Happy National Beer Day!

On this day in 1933 beer was once again served(legally) marking the end of the failed Prohibition era. Cheers!

Happy Easter!

Samuel Adams HeliYUM

Beer of the day: La Ferme Urbaine Farmhouse Ale by Foolproof Brewery

For more about this brew click here. 

Beer of the Day: Sierra Nevada Golden IPA

 

Click here to find more about this brew. 

Beer of the Day: Bad Martha Martha's Vineyard Ale

 

Click here to find more about Bad Martha!

Money Can't Buy Happiness

Beer of the Day: Mayflower Spring Hop Ale

 

This brew from Mayflower Brewery in historic Plymouth Massachusetts is perhaps my favorite springtime brew. I couldn't wait for this to come out after this ridiculous winter we've had here in New England this year. A nice blend of an amber ale and a pine hop bitterness that isn't over powering to balance out it's light malt character.  This is one of my favorite local breweries and have rarely let me down with their selections. For more info you can visit them here.

Beer of The Day: Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Classic Guinness Ads: "After Work You Need a Guinness" -- Guinness Adverts

Beer of the Day: Anchor Saison

3.8

   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20

rjplumer (552) - Foxboro, Massachusetts, USA - MAR 16, 2015

Soft clear amber colored body topped with a two finger head. Bread and mild citrus aroma. Mild bitterness. Bold citrus body up front with a mild bread malt in the back of the palate. Lots of carbonation feel though you hardly see many bubbles looking at it. Felt like I perhaps expected more from Anchor. Although I think they did very well here and would be very happy to have again.

Beer of The Day: Sam Adams Light

If you need to go light beer this isn't a bad choice and you won't lose your craft beer street cred. Has a light malt taste that is a step above your normal macro pale lager. 

Bud Light Lime Evil?

The Evil Suds!

I was out at local Chinese Restaurant my girlfriend loves to go to because of friends and karaoke. Unfortunately beer selection is slim if your a craft beer fan. At first I ordered a Yuengling. Lately I had just been drinking the classic Sam Adams Boston Lager while there so I felt for something a little different. The Yeungling, although not terrible, wasn't doing it for me this evening. 

For the fun of it I ordered a Bud Light Lime. I've had this many times before here. Of course being a bit craft beer savvy I post a picture of this for the fun of in on craft beer Facebook page on  Beer Drinkers United and of course check in at Untappd. It didn't take long for the comments to come in at BDU. Mostly funny and the worst that came about it was a humorous exchange about "squirters" that someone seemed a bit naive about.

Even the next morning it seemed somewhat active. In the midst of posting something I couldn't find the post. After a few minutes I realized the post had been removed. At first I was a bit annoyed at this. I even post on the page about it too. From what I gathered though I never got an official explanation the page admins have a policy of removing "macro" beer picture because it's a Bud product. 

I can understand if a post goes abusive or hateful it's time to pull the plug but this posting had not. I wasn't liking this "zero-tolerance" policy about pictures of macro-brews such as I did. I guess it just went against my own more open beer policy of including macrobews. The craft beer geeks adamant exclusion of anything remotely "big beer"is one of the things I've grown not not to like about the craft beer scene. I can't understand not wanting to drink macro pale lagers. So don't drink them and leave people be. Everyone has a different tastes. I think some beer geeks live a such a small world that they don't realize 9 out of 10 beer drinkers still down the golden suds of the big brews.

I'm secure in my beer cred that I can have a macro beer occasionally and still not fall far from the tree. 

I think the main part of what bothered me was that I look at beer culture as including big beer along with the smallest microbrewery or home brewer. It's fun to debate beer at times but not when it it becomes mean or exclusionary. Even the biggest Brewers started off small somewhere. Perhaps some have lost some of their original luster but they are a part of the beer culture like it or not. I still enjoy beer history and breweries a. Enjoy beer for beers sake.

Samuel Adams® Summer Ale

I can't wait for this! It's a summertime favorite of mine. After the winter we've had around here it'll be refreshing. I love how Jim Koch describes his beer. You can tell he really loves his beer and knows it very well.  His enthusiasm and genuine personality shines through.  Come on summer!

Guinness Brewmasters: St. Patrick's Day

Miller High Life Delivery Man Windell Middlebrooks Dead at 36

RIP Windell Middlebrooks

How to pour the Perfect Guinness.. in case you forgot

Beer of the Day: Bass Pale Ale

It's all about the Bass!

Enjoyed at the Marshland Restaurant in Sandwich, Massachusetts located on Cape Cod. Paired wonderfully with fish and chips. 

Beer of the Day: Guinness Draught...in Ireland

My girlfriend is on a trip to Ireland this week with her son. It's part of a class trip for her son. Of course she had to try the local Guinness. She of course says its better than what is served elsewhere. It's creamier and more flavorful.She couldn't even finish the pint she was served. I'm of course full of envy.

I've heard constant testimony that to really enjoy Guinness is to have it in it's homeland of Ireland. I've yet to have the privilege of enjoying in it's native land. It is on my bucket list of things to do. That is having a pint of Guinness in a Pub in Dublin. Just something about the mystique and history behind it.

Guinness Commercial: Empty Chair

King of Golden Suds

I was feeling rebellious to craft beer community so I picked up this 25 ounce can of the golden suds  otherwise known as Budweiser! You might ask why 25 ounces? I imagine because this is the king of beers! Only mere mortal peasant beers come in a ordinary conformist 24-ounce can.  It's awesomeness just can't be contained in just 24 ounces.

In order to try and maintain my craft beer street cred, and to rebel against my first act of rebelliousness, I'm using my snifter glass which is the official glass of the fussy beer drinking snob. I got this glass at the most recent beer fest I went to which surprisingly I saw no Budweiser booth. I must have missed it. Maybe being the king of beers they didn't feel the need to bow down to the commoner types at the beer-fest.I thought they'd fit in between Samuel Adams and Sierra Nevada just nicely.I can hear the Clydesdale's fussing in the background as I pour.

Of course we all know if the Darth Vader had an official beer of the evil empire it would be this would be the one. It is the infamous symbol of big macro corporate beer. It even hurts beer snobs to say the word "Budweiser".

What exactly is evil about this beer? Is it because of it representing corporate beer? Is it the beer itself? Maybe the bully type of marketing and sales techniques they allegedly use? Maybe it's a combination of all of the above.

The beer itself is brewed to be pleasant and unoffensive as possible. It's golden color is crystal clear. Despite it detractors it a sweet and unoffensive beer. I've tasted far worse macro lagers including the hipster favorite Pabst Blue Ribbon which I found quite awful. It does have a fuller flavor than it's lighter sibling Bud Light.

It makes me wonder at times what exactly makes a good or bad beer? Is it how well it conforms to tradition or craft. Is it how many people enjoy it? It's very debatable to say the least.

It's brewed to be a beer for the masses. Just like a politician running for office anything offensive  is taken out as to not offend anyone. It's to be consumed in massive quantities. That's why pale lagers became popular. People loved it to drink it in great quantity. If you look at the history of the style it took a lot of work to get the beer this light and smooth in the beginning.


I do believe in celebrating all beer and don't believe in deriding those that drink a certain brand or worry about who owns the company, unless they are owned by Taliban,ISIS, Nazi's, child pedophiles, anti-vaxxers or something like that. It's about what comes out in the glass in the end. The care, quality and craft in the brew will come out of the tap in the long run. To get all your panties in a bunch because of a buyout is immature and jumping the gun. If the quality lags then I can see it. I can't see jumping ship on a hard working brewery and it's workers because beer snobs turn their noses on a product that has more than likely gone unchanged besides ownership and financing.

I have a hunch that it's unlikely that AB-InBev will change much in those craft brewers it decides to buy. They know that the core of the craft beer fan base are watching and waiting for any change in product so I kind of doubt they would change, at least not while anyone was looking. They know they failed gain credibility with psuedo-craft beer like Shock-Top so they have shore up their brand with craft beer that all the start up work and credibility have already been established.

Be proud of what you drink and don't worry about what corporate beer suits or beer snobs think. Enjoy your beer wherever it comes from!  

Sierra Nevada Beer!

I'll be waiting by the door. 

Brewed The Hard Way

As we all know beer commercials are king during the Superbowl and this year's with  my hometown team New England Patriots verses Seattle Seahawks was no different. I did happen to catch the Budweiser talking smack against craft beer in their commercial entitled "Brewed the hard way". Which has the heavy drum beat and horn section marching through dissing craft beer snobs and bragging about being Beechwood aged and all that. I knew this would make for interesting fodder for craft beer enthusiasts on social media. I wasn't disappointed when I checked on line either.

Here it is if you missed it:

To me it say Budweiser isn't ashamed who they are as a macro beer. It isn't a beer to fussed over or analyzed but to be enjoyed by people who like to drink beer. I know those in craft beer circles have been getting their panties in a bunch about this and  I'm sure that was to be expected.

I kind of thought this was a ballsy move by Budweiser. They actually acknowledge the existence of the craft beer movement and they're  not talking it lightly. I think this is a good sign in a way. It means the craft beer community has gotten the attention of the big guys. Welcome to the big time.

Yes I've drank it!

I know Budweiser is synonymous with its parent company AB-InBev but this was a commercial about the Budweiser beer itself and it's brand. It's been taking a beating over the years especially from craft beer enthusiasts(including myself). I've made fun of those that drank this stuff in the past.


I think I've come to the conclusion that the beer community has room for the fizzy water beers too. It actually suits the occasion at times. If people like to drink it so what? To each his own. We should be celebrating beer drinkers all around. Beer consumption has fallen in comparison to wine and liquor. So brewers are fight for a smaller piece of the pie. Of course competition will become fierce. Perhaps the real enemy are those turning to wine and hard liquor instead of beer. Craft beer has been gaining ground in a smaller piece of the same pie as Budweiser and the like.

I'd rather see beer drinkers banding together rather than fighting against each other. If the beer community and consumption grows it makes everyone happy. Infighting does no one any good.

Before I get craft beer nerds crawling up my butt I'll say that I'm a huge craft beer fan and drink lots of it. Nine out of ten beers I drink are of the craft variety. Occasionally I'll have a macro beer and I survive and so will craft beer. I'm through picking on those that drink the big beers. If you want to fuss over beer that is quite alright and if you just want to drink it that it's that's fine too. We need all the beer drinkers we can get.

Cheers!

Rhode Island Brew Fest 2015

Had the pleasure of attending the Rhode Island Brew Fest at the Pawtucket Armory. I was originally slated to go to the early session but because my girlfriend wanted to be my designated driver but she could only go to the second session at 5:30pm. My past experience with these events is that you really should have a designated driver. Having many samplings do add up after awhile.

It was very crowded in the big hall was challenging working your way through the three main passages. After about one time around my girl tired of it and stayed near back where the music and food was while I worked my way around solo. The vendors were a mix of local and big name craft beer brewers. Big names Samuel Adams, Sierra Nevada, Magic Hat, Smuttynose were there. Some local names were Rhode Island's own Foolproof(who's brewery I've visited), Newport Storm, Narragansett and Revival and more.

My strategy was to try ones that I haven't tried before. My girlfriend wanted to enjoy my company later rather than having driving around a stumbling fool. I won't tell you about how she was at the Superbowl party the next night but I'll leave it at that. It was for my safety.

Here are some observations:

• Was disappointed Sierra Nevada's Hop Hunter IPA after the much talked about lawsuit by Lagunita(who was also there),that was quickly dropped.
• Finch's Beer out of Chicago could be filed under "Nicest Surprise" with their Nuclear Winter dark Belgian Ale and Secret Stache American Stout. I'm looking forward to finding those at my local bottle store.
• Best Swag Item would be Vermont's Magic Hat  with the "Magic Hat Condom". Yes I did take one. 
•  Under What I've been wanting to try but haven't got around to was Oscar Blues Ten Fidy which I was not disappointed by the least.

Here are some more scenes:

Smuttynose

Narragansett Brewing

Cisco Brewing out of Nantucket

My girl decided she had enough of being hit on while waiting around for me and it was nearing the end it was time to go. It was great time. I even collected a nice snifter glass which I'm enjoying some nice brew in now writing this. Now she says I owe her a wine tasting.

The glass, disappointed Mayflower Brewing was not there.

Beer of the Day: Narragansett Lovecraft Honey Ale

Narragansett Lovecraft Honey Ale

Style: American Blonde Ale

ABV: 7.0%

Narragansett Brewing Company

60 Ship Street

Providence, Rhode Island 02903

Web: Narragansettbeer.com/

In Collaboration with:

Revival Brewing Company

One Davol Square 

Suite 203

Providence, Rhode Island 02903

Web: Revivalbrewing.com

Beer of the Day: Samuel Adams Boston Lager

 

Samuel Adams Boston Lager

Style:Vienna Lager

Boston Beer Company

30 Germania Street

Boston, MA 02130

Web: samueladams.com

Beer of the Day: Geary's London Porter

 

Geary's London Porter

Style: Porter

D.L. Geary's Brewing

38 Evergreen Drive

Portland, Maine 04103

Web: Gearybrewing.com

Nor'Easter coming!

Post by All of New England.

National Beer Can Appreciation Day

Whats in your can?

For more about history of the beer can, click here.

Boston Beer: A History of Brewing in The Hub by Norman Miller

Boston Beer: A History of Brewing in the Hub by Norman Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An excellent guide to the history of brewing beer in Boston. It starts from the colonial period through the revolution years. Then through growth from ciders, ales and the later the lagers which exploded in popularity. Right up until prohibition which unfortunately cleared the playing field and only a few survived when the great experiment was lifted. After the World War the national beer companies eventually gobbled up the regional brands and the last brewery in Boston(Haffenreffer, which is now home to Boston Beer Company, aka: Samuel Adams)closed in 1964 it would 20 something years before brewing returned to the Hub. We get an early history lesson of the craft beer craze in the early 80's with the birth of Samuel Adam's Boston Lager and Harpoon brewery. Runs through to today with the newest brewery Trillium being latest on. A must read for those looking to learn more about Boston's past and present relationship with beer.

View all my reviews

On To Arizona!

Brewed Awakening by Joshua M. Bernstein

Brewed Awakening: Behind the Beers and Brewers Leading the World's Craft Brewing Revolution by Joshua M. Bernstein
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A fun introduction to the world of craft beers and those that make them. A colorful and easy to read style and presentation. Many different brewers and and beers are introduced with many behind the scenes stories behind the brews. Great place to start if your new to craft beers or great place to bone up on your beer knowledge.

View all my reviews

Samuel Adams Growing Pains

A recent article by Andy Crouch in Boston Magazine has set the craft beer community abuzz regarding Jim Koch of Samuel Adam's (Boston Beer Co.) fame. In it Jim Koch berates a local hip beer bar's server(Row 34)  why they have no Samuel Adam's available.  Out of an estimated(per the article) 62 beer selections(24 on tap the rest in cans/bottles ) not one Samuel Adam's product. Not one of an iconic brand name of craft beer. Not one from a beer based in the same city the supposed. How is that? The owner's defense is that Samuel Adam's is a mediocre beer. Seriously? Out of over 60 (according recent commercial) selection's you can't find one worthy? Come on! That is a lame excuse. Even the worst dive bars at least have Samuel Adam's Boston Lager. My girlfriend's favorite Karoake dive bar/Chinese restaurant in the middle of nowhere , that you can count the beer selection on two hands, has it. This bar has shown you up "Row 34"!

Ok well I digress.

I do kind of see this as craft beer having growing pains. Everyone wants the newest and most current cool beer. I did see some of this at a small local beerfest that was just north of Boston recently. Of course Boston Beer Company had a table alongside everyone else. I thought it was cool that a big craft brewer came to a relatively small event. I did notice one sort of thing though. The most activity was around the smaller newer brewers with Sam's table being a little less going on. I did make sure to visit them for samples. I got the feeling that they were being a little snubbed which I thought was a little sad.

Part of the allure of craft beer is trying something new and exclusive. It's like feeling your in an exclusive club that no one has found. All of a sudden though everyone else does and now it's not cool anymore. Let's search for next big one.  It's still a relatively new in the last 30-40 years. I admit I like trying the new stuff too. It's cool and you get a sense of adventure just trying different brews. It's easy to forget with over 3200 breweries in the country that the old stand by's, the ones that got you there are left behind.

Part of it is that success has it's one curse too. Your no longer the cool kid on the block. Your the John Milner from the George Lucas movie(before Star Wars) "American Graffiti". John Milner plays the local dropout king of the hill cool guy with the fastest '32 deuce coupe in the valley. The challengers keep coming at you. One day you realize your era is coming to a close after another cocky (played by a young Harrison Ford) almost beats you at your own game. He realizes his days on top are numbered. 

Beer aficionados should not forget their roots by

shunning older craft beer makers and especially those that have been very successful and grown. Just because business has grown doesn't mean they now make bad beer or it is suddenly inferior. Judge the beer by what's in the glass and not by the brand name. Isn't that what really counts in the end?

Is Samuel Adams OVER?

Must be drinking a Sam Adams. Adding fuel to fire about hipsters shunning Samuel Adams beer.

Wasted: How the Craft-Beer Movement Abandoned Jim Koch

 This is an excellent article how the craft beer hipsters are leaving behind one of their own basically cause they're too big now. I don't buy the the fallacy that they brew mediocre beers. I've tried over 35(and still counting) and I've rarely found one that wasn't well made. They still win awards for their stuff too. Beer snobs suck! Enjoy the brew.





Wasted: How the Craft-Beer Movement Abandoned Jim Koch



and this too...



 Pete Brown: What's the difference between craft beer snobs and...:
Are we really chasing authenticity, flavour and story? Or just endless
novelty? If you follow North American beer writers on social me...