Speaking of Beer

Easy peasey, rice and cheesey (as my kids like to say…), this week, we’re talking about two well-distributed international brews:

Spaten Optimator [alternatives: Paulaner Salvator, Ayinger Celebrator]

and

Hacker-Pschorr Weisse [alternatives: Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier, Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier]

And if you have one, pick up a bottle of your favorite beer as well. You know, the one you like no matter what anyone says. Yeah…THAT one…

Prebeer Preamble: The frozen and ruggedly beautiful country of Norway has given rise to many things: Vikings, Protestants, and lutefisk being but three examples. But did you know the word “ale” descends from the Old Norse word for “fermented grain beverage”? Today the Draco Vista Review Krew (plus Anna from Washington) and I dive into beers produced from one of Norway’s oldest breweries to see how the legacy is holding up.

Beer #1: We start off with the cornerstone of the Ringnes stable, Ringnes Pilenser. As it turns out, the brewery that produced this beer has only recently been acquired by European mega-brew conglomerate Carlsberg (hailing from Denmark). Tune in and listen to what happens when one Scandanavian country takes over another’s “national brewery.” [hint: think "chicken scissors"]

Interbeer Interlude: Heatland Brews. “Goose Island Harvest Ale” Pubcasters Phil and Lingo from the Brit and Yankee once again contribute some enlightening entertainment featuring a beer from the Plains (home to many folks of Scandanavian descent, so it fits the show’s theme!). This time, Chicago’s storied Goose Island Brewey gets the spotlight, with their seasonal Harvest Ale. How does it rate according to the Brit And Yankee? Tune in and find out!

Beers #2 and 3: The Review Krew plus Anna now reach for two other Ringes products, Lysholmer Double Ice and Ringnes SkjÆrsgårds Pils. They pour out suspiciously light and spritzy, and your intrepid drinkers begin to wonder what characteristic, if any, distinguishes them from one another. Is this what they serve in Valhalla!?!

Beer Geek Moment: “Viking Age Ale” Way back in the last millenium, Norwegian folks were enjoying the juice of the barley with some enthusiasm. What they were drinking and how it was made are the subjects of today’s Moment.

Postbeer Postscript: We return with the scores, and with all these reviewers and beers, there are numbers aplenty. We also manage to work in some words, as a genuine Scandanavian Warlord (named Peter) skypes in to set us straght on the pronunciations. Hey, I got “Ringnes” right….

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (3088)

So some of you may be wondering when Show 40 will be heading down the feed. The answer is “soon,” hopefully in the next few days.

So, what’s the deal? Well, I’ve found in the last 1.5 years of doing this that most shows just seem to fall together naturally, and practically write themselves. But every now and then comes an episode that appears doomed to thrash and kick during the creative process, and only reluctantly gets shoved out the door into the podosphere. Circumstances align against it, as if someone doesn’t want the information to come out. Such a show is Show 40.

The good news is, Show 41 is pretty much done (it’s one of those “write themselves” episodes), so there won’t be any significant delay in its arrival.

Sorry for the wait, and thanks for your patience.

Thanks to Devona and Mary for this link.
Apparently, after strenuous exercise, a beer is better at replenishing your precious bodily fluids than water. Well, gotta go hit the treadmill….

I said the beers for the last show were tough to find, and several people shamed me for that assertion (who knew Breckenridge’s 471 IPA was on tap in so many places?). Well, this time around, I think it’s safe to say most of you won’t find these beers. Unless you live within driving distance of a fjord, that is.

Try to find, if you can,

Ringnes Pilsener, Lysholmer Double Ice, and Ringnes SkjÆrsgårds Pils [alternatives: really, if you can't find these, just get a nice light "import"--a.k.a "green bottle"--pilsner that you enjoy]

This show caters to those north of the 50th parallel, and those who love them (or were, like me, descended from them), but it’s a lot of fun for everyone else too (promise).