Actual Beer Blogging!
Yeah, so this site is basically to support the podcast, but I realized the other day that it’s actually a BLOG too. Since I’m on a vacation through Northern California (a.k.a “beer country”), with a hop up to Portland (a.k.a. “you’ve got to be fucking kidding me! beer country”), I thought maybe I should record some of my beer observations for my loyal site-checkers (both of you, you mad crazy sunsabitches).
So far I’ve been hanging with family, and not getting out much, but I’ve discovered BevMo and have “gone to town” there. Two trips to this California “Beer Barn” have netted me many beers, both local and far-flung, and even inspired me to record a show with my brother-in-law (though I’ll leave those beers out of the following discussion so as to maintain a semblance of suspense for any listeners).
Highlights thus far:
Unibroue’s Don de Dieu. A wheat tripel. Like most of their beers, this one takes the phrase “belgian funkiness” and raises it to new levels. I swear, I kept thinking of Dr. Pepper when I was drinking this, but by the bottom of the glass Dr. Pepper became my favorite soda ever.
Lagunitas’ Censored (a.k.a. “The Kronik”). I’ve been aware of Lagunitas for a couple of years now, but always dismissed them as Stone wannabes. Sorry Lagunitas! This particular beer is great, like a homebrewer’s wild hair (”I’ll brew an Imperial Amber!”) gone horribly right. Skewed in the sweet direction, but with a nutty crystal malt finish and a healthy ABV. Good stuff, dood.
Mendicino’s Red Tail Lager. Yes, Lager. It’s a recent addition to their stable, and an obvious attempt to cash in on the undisputed success of their flagship beer. I’m pretty over-the-moon for Red Tail Ale, a great anytime easy drinking beer that nonetheless rewards your attention should you feel inclined to pay it. Ditto the Lager, but with that clean lager profile we all know and love. A “light beer” even a Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA lover can enjoy.
Marin Brewing Co.’s Hefe Doppel Weizen. OK, I’m not sure what to think of this one. By cranking up the Doppel, they lost a large part of the Hefe, if you know what I mean. It’ll give you a buzz, but much of the wheat beer personality is trampled by the strength (a relatively big 7% ABV). It was pretty chunky, too.
That’s all for now. I’ll keep you posted as the trip gets more beer-o-centric. Til then (as the man says), drink well.
July 4th, 2006 at 6:10 am
This weekend, I got a Boulder Beer Mojo IPA, which is really nice. I’d have to imagine you’re able to get it at home there in the southwest. I got it almost in a coin toss with the Hop Devil, which was a known quantity, one of my favorites. I opted for the unknown, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Definitely one of the hoppier IPA’s I’ve had in a six-pack.
Also, I got the Victory 10 Years Alt. I’m not sure if I would recommend it wholeheartedly. A darker beer that also presents a fair amount of hops, I don’t think it went well along with the Mojo. It seemed to have too many different taste components going on at once. Perhaps it was just too complex for fireside drinking up north.
Thirdly, we had Grain Belt Premium, in a can. When I’m buying fizzy yellow American beer, it is always my first choice, though usually in a bottle. Not much to say about it, better taste than your Bud or Miller, still nicely cheap, and a crowd-pleaser for those who haven’t come in the gateway just yet…
July 4th, 2006 at 6:26 am
Oh, and here’s some links:
Boulder Beer has a website full of Flash, so I can’t point directly to the Mojo IPA
10 Years Alt
Grain Belt Premium has been around forever, at the Grain Belt Brewery, then at the Minnesota Brewing company (previously operated as Schmidt), and now down at August Schell.
July 8th, 2006 at 10:46 pm
Hauling all those beers back to the homestead must cost almost as much as the vacation itself, but money well spent.
July 13th, 2006 at 8:44 pm
Actually fred the beers above never made it back…the final haul was mostly Portland stuff, and that was mostly Hair of the Dog. A few NoCal brews warranted a trip home as well. Listen for some of my spoils on Wingin’ It.