Show 47: Speaking of Oskar Blues
Prebeer Preamble: Every once in a while comes a beer that knocks my proverbial socks off. It can be some crazy new beast of a brew or a cool riff on an old style, but it gets me jazzed and has me falling prostrate before the goddess Ninkasi in effusive thanks for the mere existence of beer. As luck would have it, I recently ran across not one but two such brews, both from Oskar Blues Brewery, makers of Old Chub and Dale’s Pale Ale. The fact that they’re only available in cans makes it just that much cooler…
Beer #1: So who best to join me in sharing my new favorite beer? Why my original co-drinker Eric, that’s who. After a twenty-show hiatus, the guy who helped me start it all chills with me and enjoys a brew called simply Gordon.
Interbeer Interlude: Beer As Folk. “Dale Katechis.” Dale is the mind and madness behind Oskar Blues, as well as the namesake for OB’s hop-monster Pale Ale, and it was a real pleasure to sit down and talk with him for a while. Of course we cover the whole “can question,” but conversation spans more than just that. Tune in to hear about Dale’s thoughts on Hanna Montana…
Beer #2: Eric and I now try a Ten Fidy Imperial Stout. Recently, scientists claim to have invented the blackest black, but Dale & Co. beat them to it with this inky, hypnotically dark beer. And while the appearance evokes titters of glee, it’s when we bring them up to our mouths that the party really begins.
Beer Geek Moment: Carbonation and Conditioning. Among the most important, yet least appreciated, parts of any good beer are the bubbles. Just what do these tiny little wonders of nature do for the beer and how do they get in there? Listen and learn!
Postbeer Postscript: Eric has had to endure my practically obscene gushing about both beers today, so it’s interesting to see how the numbers shake out. Was Eric spending the show in quiet agreement with my enthusiasm, or secretly waiting to take these beers down?
March 13th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Hey Charlie,
This was a great show. I’ve been a listener now for a while (dating back to some shows in the middle summer). However, I really enjoyed the interview with Dale. I live out in Pennsylvania, and I don’t think I can get “Gordon,” although we do get Chub and Dale’s PA.
I was introduced to Dales Pale Ale two years ago at a DMB tailgate, and fell in love with it ever since.
Great Job as always! Keep up the good work!
March 13th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Thanks, Schlep! Hopefully Gordon (and Ten Fidy) will eventually make it out your way. I’m guessing the plan is to distribute everywhere the others go once they get the supply side cranked up. Meanwhile, enjoy your Victory!
March 13th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Nice show but eerie to listen to for me. The second craft brewery to can is in my neck-of-the-woods. He also named a beer after a military buddy. Although his buddy is not dead, it freaked me out a little bit. I recorded a show with him. http://goodbeershow.com/?p=352
Canning is expensive. That is why everybody bottles. Bottle labels cost nothing compared to rolls of printed aluminum. Especially when you want to introduce a new beer or do a special offering. Warbird Brewery ended up selling its canning machinery to a San Fransisco brewery that does a watermelon beer. Name escapes me at the moment.
I liked the female voice segment on carbonization. Nice touch.
Liked the show.
JeffreyT
March 13th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
JeffreyT bottles are cheaper if you have a perfect bottling line, I know a local brewery that used to bottle because their system was such a mess and they lost product too often from bottles breaking and then having to destroy 3ft of the production line beside the bottle. The owner said it wasn’t worth it and they were going to move to canning.
March 24th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Just reading over my review of the last year’s AZ Strong Ale festival, the one you were able to make Charlie and they had Gordon there evidently. It struck me at the time it wasn’t quite malty enough for balance.
April 1st, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Thank you so much for the Ten Fidy, it was simply amazing.
April 25th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Until tonight I was 3 episodes of Speaking of Beer tonight. I caught up while driving around Scottsdale and Phoenix. I’m in AZ on business (and stopping by WI3D tomorrow) so on the way to Magnum’s to stock up on items for the magic fridge, I was able to get my hands on some Ten Fidy. THIS IS AWESOME.
Thanks for the review Charley, I wouldn’t have picked it up otherwise.