Next week, Speaking of Beer’s going dark:
Xingu Black Beer [alternatives: Sam Adam's Black Lager, Saranac Black Forest, New Belgium's 1554]
and
The Czar, from Avery Brewing Company. [alternatives: Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout, Victory Storm King Stout, Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout]
Fans of black beers, rejoice! The rest of you…well what the heck’s wrong with you?
Just click on the “Recipes” link on the right side of the main page, and revel in all that is Eat Your Beer. Whenever there’s a new EYB installment, the recipe will follow shortly.
Eat well.
Prebeer Preamble: Today’s show examines beers pulled from the mists of the past and poured into the nice clean glasses of the present. I think I actually use the word “scholarly” in the intro, but don’t be put off… HEY! Where the hell are you going?! ….Anyway, for anyone who’s left, let’s drink some resurrected beer!
Beer #1: I’m joined by Eric, fresh off of a 7-show hiatus from SoB, to drink some Fraoch Heather Ale. The style claims roots predating King Aurthur, and it’s brewed without even a whiff of hops. Are we talking some radical departure from our favorite libation, or is it called “ale” for a reason?
Interbeer Interlude: Beer As Folk. “Fritz Maytag’s Sumerian Beer Project.” About 15 years ago, Anchor Brewing Company owner Fritz Maytag embarked on a challenging beery adventure: to recreate, using authentic recipes, ingredients, and techniques, the very first recorded beer consumed by humans. Find out how it all turned out, and why YOU should know the name “Ninkasi.”
Beer #2: Eric and I now turn our attention to Adam. No, not the Biblical founder of humanity…we’re talking about the flagship brew from Portland’s Hair of the Dog Brewing Company. It’s a modern interpretation of a long-lost German strong ale, sort of a super-charged altbier. With a little help from HotD’s Alan Sprints, we work our way through this complex creation.
Beer Geek Moment: “Gruit.” Long before European brewers embraced hops, another herbal addition preserved and bittered beer. This complex mixture of plants not only gave medieval ale its balance, it also gave medieval ale drinkers everything they needed to party like it was 1399.
Postbeer Postscript: Eric and I now attempt to evaluate these historic ales, with nothing to go on but our palates and our brains. Then again, that’s all we ever have to go on, isn’t it? Anyway, tune in and find out what we think!
OK, things aren’t exactly going to be easy next week. I’m guessing about 5 % of drink-alongers will be able to scare up both of these brews, so get creative with the alternatives if you can’t find the Show Beers. Or, alternatively, get something completely different that you really enjoy drinking and just have that while you listen.
Enough apologizing, here are the beers:
Fraoch Heather Ale from the Williams Brothers Brewing Company [alternatives: if any local brewery produces a "heather ale", and you can't find Fraoch, go for it!]
Adam from the Hair of the Dog brewing company [alternatives: maybe a good doppelbock like Ayinger's Celebrator, or a nice barleywine like Young's Old Nick or Flying Dog's Horn Dog]
If you’re playing “guess the theme”, I’ll give you one hint: I’m a big fan of zombie movies.
Prebeer Preamble: Autumn is upon the Northern Hemisphere. You can tell because the leaves start turning colors, and everyone starts grabbing Oktoberfest beers. This malty German brew, and styles inspired by it, are now brewed world-round, year-round. Today we drink a couple, and talk a bit of history. Just a bit, I promise…
Beer #1: I’m joined by fellow Farpoint Media podcaster, and notorious fan of German beer, Jack Mangan for a Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest. He’s a lover of their weisse beer, but does Jack flip for the Märzen? And, while we’re at it, what the heck IS a Märzen?
Interbeer Interlude: Eat Your Beer. “Hefeweizen Chicken” Michael R. Mennenga and I discuss the role of sugar in beer cuisine, then Mike unloads with an almost unbearably delicious-sounding recipe that involves a signature German beer style.
Beer #2: So what does the US have to offer this storied, traditional style known as “Oktoberfest”? Well, Jack and I find out by experiencing a little OktÃ…Â from the Widmer Brothers’ Brewing Company in Portland, OR. Are we talking Oktoberfest here? I mean, it says so on the label, right?
Beer Geek Moment: “Reinheitsgebot” You may (or may not) have heard of the Bavarian Beer Purity Law of 1516 prior to this point in your life. Regardless, you’ll definitely know all you need to know after this Moment.
Postbeer Postscript: Jack and I go to town on the scores here. Who’s gushing, and about which beer? Tune in and find out!
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