I like big butts, I cannot lie

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

  

Two kinds of people

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: 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

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.

Miller High Life Delivery Man Windell Middlebrooks Dead at 36

RIP Windell Middlebrooks

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.

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: 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.